ã€ŠCelebrity Girl Is My Wifeã€‹


 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 1

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 1

    ¡°Ning Ran, please don¡¯t me daddy for being heartless. Hispany is suffering losses recently.

    Hence, there really isn¡¯t much money to spare. Besides, settling your mom¡¯s medical bills are like

    tossing money into a bottomless pit.¡±

    Luo Fei¡¯s voice was gentle but scornful.

    Suddenly, she changed her voice to a much gentler tone, ¡°Ning Ran, we are sisters and I really want to

    help you. You will get a million so long as you promise to do that for me. You can use the money to

    cover your mother¡¯s medical bills.¡±

    A shiver ran down Ning Ran as she knelt beside her mother¡¯s bed and started trembling.

    Luo Fei was not bothered with her silence, ¡°Ning Ran, you¡¯d better think it through. Your mother will die

    if you don¡¯t do that. Do you really want to see her die?¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s eyes reddened and she felt a throbbing pain inside as if she was stabbed by a de.

    I can¡¯t let my mom die! Definitely not!

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± A hint of despair shed through her eyes.

    Luo Fei smiled, ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡±

    They were at the Orchid Club an hourter.

    Ning Ran was still in hesitation but Luo Fei shoved her into a dark room.

    Then, a man pounced on her like an animal in darkness.

    Ning Ran endured the pain while hoping for this nightmare to end as soon as possible.

    However, this nightmare was an abyss which constantly pulled her deeper inside¡­

    In the next room, Luo Fei scrolled through her phone casually.

    Director Feng was unexpectedly fit despite being in his fifties.

    Luo Fei was thrilled when she thought about how the sweet and naive Ning Ran was being deflowered

    by someone like him.

    She wanted to see how Ning Ran was going to hold her head up high like before after this.

    Director Feng was the chief director of a huge show The Sound of Thunder. He made it clear to Luo Fei

    that the role of leading actress would be hers as long as she was ¡®obedient¡¯.

    But the woman didn¡¯t want to sleep with a disgusting and greasy old man like Feng. Hence, the most

    ideal solution was to arrange for Ning Ran to take her ce instead.

    Ning Ran was finally able to leave when the sun was almost up. Then, she headed over to the room

    next door.

    The frail woman stood there shivering uncontrobly with red eyes. ¡°Give me the money.¡± She

    muttered.

    Luo Fei studied Ning Ran from head to toe then threw a bank card at her with a sneer.

    ¡°You¡¯d better keep your mouth shut on this or you will regret it.¡±

    She said as she found her way out then entered the room next to it andid on the bed.

    Luo Fei prepared herself and gave the man a nudge.

    ¡°There, I have given my all to you. You must keep your promise, alright?¡±

    The man got up in the dimly lit room. ¡°I¡¯ll take responsibility for this. Thank you for saving me.¡±

    This wasn¡¯t Director Feng, that man sounded like duck quack.

    On the contrary, this man has a very deep and maic voice. It was so charming that Luo Fei

    shuddered.

    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Luo Fei reached her hand out to switch on the light.

    The man standing in front of her was tall, handsome and seemed to emanate a glow.

    Luo Fei almost let out a cry in shock upon taking a closer look.

    He was actually Nan Chen!

    The third son of the Nan family, the most eminent family in Flower City. His influence was so great that

    it could shake the entire city.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 2

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 2

    Luo Fei held her hand over her mouth and quickly put on a shy look on her face, ¡°That was my first

    time so you must take responsibility for it¡­¡­¡±

    He frowned slightly and handed her a name card, ¡°Of course, you can have everything you desire.¡± He

    walked out of the room after that.

    Once the door shut, Luo Fei bounced up in joy and kissed the name card and said happily, ¡°Flower City

    is mine from this moment on!¡±

    Ning Ran ran outside and looked for the nearest ATM. She inserted the card and checked the

    bnce. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw the bnce of one million. Thank god, there is hope

    in saving mom now.

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    With the card in her hand, Ning Ran hailed a cab and rushed to the hospital. She arrived at the ward

    and saw that her mother¡¯s bed was empty. She asked a nurse, ¡°Excuse me, where is the patient from

    bed 203?¡±

    The nurse looked up at her and frowned, ¡°So you¡¯re the daughter. Where were youst night? We

    couldn¡¯t get you?¡±

    She curled her lips as she said, ¡°What kind of daughter are you? You weren¡¯t even by her side when

    she passed away.¡± Ning Ran was shocked, ¡°What did you just say? What happened to my mother?¡±

    Ning Ran reached out to grab the nurse but she moved away with a look of disgust on her face, ¡°The

    patient from bed 203 was pronounced dead at 2:15am due to failure to rescue.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible! My mother was still fine yesterday! You must be lying!¡± Ning Ran lost focus as she

    muttered, ¡°This can¡¯t be¡­¡±

    Suddenly, she remembered something and rummaged through her bag frantically. She dropped all the

    items from her bag onto the floor and finally found the bank card.

    ¡°You must¡¯ve hidden my mother somewhere because she hasn¡¯t cleared her medical bills. I have

    money and I can pay now! I beg you. Please hurry up and save her¡­¡±

    The nurse sighed after seeing how devastated Ning Ran was and said, ¡°Go and im her body from

    the mortuary. Please have my condolences.¡±

    Ning Ran returned to school after she finished her mother¡¯s funeral arrangement.

    Nevertheless, she didn¡¯t talk to anyone but looked at her mother¡¯s photo on her mobile phone most the

    time.

    Ning Ran lost 7.5 kg within two months following her mother¡¯s death.

    One day, she fainted in ss and was rushed to the hospital by her ssmates.

    At the hospital, the doctor warned her, ¡°You¡¯re two months pregnant. You have to take care of nutrition

    or it will affect the baby¡¯s health.¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s face went deathly pale. She was struck by the shocking news.

    She actually gotten pregnant from just one crazy encounter.

    Her stepmother, Luo Yi, called her daughter immediately to break the news to her when she found out

    about Ning Ran¡¯s pregnancy.

    ¡°Feifei, that little rat Ning Ran is pregnant! I¡¯m sure your father won¡¯t hold back this time! He is gonna

    kick her out the house for sure!¡±

    Luo Fei¡¯s expression changed instantly when she heard that while filming at the set, ¡°Mom, you must

    make sure Ning Ran aborts the baby!¡±

    Luo Yi found it strange, ¡°Why though?¡±

    Luo Fei was sweating profusely, ¡°Don¡¯t ask any question! The fate of my glory and rich future depends

    on you now! You must make sure she aborts that child, okay?¡±

    Luo Yi was confused but she was aware of her daughter¡¯s concern over this matter. So she followed

    her husband to the hospital where Ning Ran was right away.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 3

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 3

    In the hospital, Ning Ziqiang pped Ning Ran hard right in front of the doctor.

    ¡°How much more shameless can you be! You¡¯re only a freshman at university and you got pregnant

    before marriage? You¡¯ve disgraced me!¡±

    The doctor didn¡¯t like what he saw and stopped him, ¡°Mr. Ning, please don¡¯t hit my patient. She is very

    weak so hitting her this hard could only lead to more problems.¡±

    ¡°What else could possibly happen to this shameless girl? I want the baby aborted!¡±

    The doctor had a troubled look on his face, ¡°Mr. Ning, she has underlying issues with fertility She may

    never be able to get pregnant again if she goes through an abortion.¡±

    Lying on the hospital bed, a trace of hope shed in Ning Ran¡¯s tired eyes.

    She looked at her father in a subconscious state.

    ¡°But we can¡¯t keep this child either! You must abort it even if it costs her life.¡± Ning Ziqiang¡¯s eyes

    reddened as he panted heavily like a savage beast.

    The light in Ning Ran¡¯s eyes dimmed gradually.

    What was she expecting?

    Her father had an affair with his secretary and left her mother to die. There was nothing he wouldn¡¯t do.

    Ning Ran¡¯s very existence was a constant reminder of how he had conspired and connived to get to

    where he was. Then, he even threw his wife and daughter out of the house. She was but a thorn in his

    flesh.

    Her tears flowed but she lowered her head obediently, ¡°I¡¯ll do as you say, dad. I¡¯ll get an abortion.¡±

    Luo Yi saw this and pretended to care as she said, ¡°Ziqiang, don¡¯t be mad at her. She is aware of her

    mistake. ¡°

    With a sympathetic look on her face, she stroked Ning Ran¡¯s swollen cheek gently, ¡°Look at you. You

    have hit her so hard. Ranran, don¡¯t worry. Your mother may be gone but I¡¯m here for you.¡±

    ¡°Just be a good girl and get the abortion done. Let¡¯s forget about this and move on. I¡¯ll treat you like my

    own daughter.¡±

    The touch of Luo Yi¡¯s slim, fair and tender hands wasforting. However, Ning Ran had to muster up

    all of her might to avoid being lured by her touch.

    She was aware that those were the words from a venomous snake.

    Ning Ran looked up at Luo Yi reliantly, ¡°Thank you Aunt Luo.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re family. You don¡¯t have to thank me.¡± Luo Yi said with a smile. A piercing cold darkness filled her

    eyes. What a fool. She no longer had to do anything now.

    Ning Ran said with a timid smile, ¡°Aunt Luo, I want to use the bathroom.¡±

    She looked so na?ve so Luo Yi agreed without a second thought.

    N?velDrama.Org ? content.

    Ning Ran walked out of the ward slowly towards the bathroom.

    Luo Yi returned to the ward after she made sure Ning Ran was heading towards the bathroom.

    She only realized something was amiss when Ning Ran had not returned after ten minutes.

    ¡°Ziqiang, do you think Ning Ran ran away?¡±

    Ning Ziqiang¡¯s expression changed and he bolted out of the ward immediately.

    Luo Yi checked the bathroom but there was no sign of Ning Ran.

    They ran out looking for her and saw a girl in clothes simr to Ning Ran walking away quickly.

    ¡°Ning Ran! Stay where you are!¡±

    The girl ran straight ahead without looking back when she heard the voice¡­

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 4

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 4

    Five yearster at Flower City International Airport.

    Cheng Xiangyun pushed her way through the crowd as she tried to move forward.

    At this moment, a beautiful woman and two children stepped out of the corridor.

    The woman wore a white sweater, a pair of ripped jeans and a pair of ugly looking flip-flops.

    Nevertheless, her beauty shone through her in attire.

    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Her delicate features only further entuated by the contour of her figure.

    She was holding a child in each hand. She looked around as though she was searching for someone.

    Her children were beautiful too with straight nose and eyes twinkling like stars in the night. They are

    like a pair of angels descended from heaven.

    They caught everyone¡¯s attention.

    ¡°Wow! Look at that mother and her two children! They look so stunning!¡±

    ¡°They have such good genes¡­I want to have babies like them too¡­¡±

    ¡°Over here, Ranran!¡± Cheng Xiangyun waved then pushed her way towards them.

    Ning Ran smiled when she saw Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Hello, Aunt Xiang!¡±

    The two children shouted together. They were so cute that Cheng Xiangyun couldn¡¯t help but let out a

    big smile.

    ¡°Aww, my angels¡­ I miss both of you so much!¡±

    They were actually fraternal twins where they looked simr and were dressed in boy¡¯s clothes,

    The boy, Ning Sirui, was quiet, cold and a genius withputer whereas his younger sister, Ning

    Sihan, was smart, active and had a huge appetite.

    Ning Ran handed the two children over to Cheng Xiangyun and said, ¡°Xiangyun, keep an eye on these

    two. I¡¯ll go and pick up my luggage.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun was attracted with these two adorable kids. She said to Ning Ran, ¡°Just go. I¡¯ll take

    care of these angels.¡±

    Ning Ran chuckled and went to collect her luggage.

    Five years ago, she saw a girl with simr figure in the bathroom after she left the ward.

    She gave the girl all the money she had on her and they exchanged clothes. Then, she had the girl to

    distract Ning Ziqiang and Luo Yi away from her. This was how she managed to escape and gave birth

    to her twins.

    At first, she had hesitation but now she was d that she had kept her babies.

    The minute Ning Sihan saw that her mother left, she slipped away when Cheng Xiangyun and her

    brother were not paying attention.

    Her mother wouldn¡¯t let her have ice cream but she had been having this craving for a long time. Now,

    she finally found her chance to do that.

    She bought an ice cream and was about to head back.

    Suddenly, there was a hugemotion in the VIPne and people started screaming.

    ¡°She¡¯s here! Luo Fei is here!¡±

    Surrounded by her assistants and bodyguards, Luo Fei walked out of the VIPne with her head held

    high.

    She had made it to Sound of Thunder and was going out with Nan Chen. Despite her mediocre acting

    skills, she had risen to stardom and became a celebrity in Flower City.

    Little Ning Sihan was frightened by the noisy crowd, so she squatted beside a pir shivering in fear.

    ¡°There is a kid over there and she looks scared. Feifei, you should go and carry her. You¡¯d definitely

    make it into the hot searches tomorrow doing that.¡± whispered Wang Xiaoou, the experienced manager

    who was walking next to Luo Fei.

    ¡°You know I much I hate kids.¡± Luo Fei had a look of reluctance on her face.

    Wang Xiaoou continued to persuade her, ¡°The filming of Sound of Thunder 2 is starting soon and we

    need some publicity.¡±

    With that Luo Fei walked towards Ning Sihan. She felt disgusted but kept a gentle smile on her face,

    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, dear girl. Let me carry you.¡±

    The instant Luo Fei picked up the child, her heart skipped a beat. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that

    she had seen this child from somewhere¡­¡­

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 5

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 5

    Luo Fei became suspicious as she held the child in her arms but masked in by putting on a

    professional smile in front of the cameras.

    ¡°Sorry, miss. My ice cream melted.¡± Said Ning Sihan in a childish voice.

    Luo Fei looked down and saw that the ice cream had melted and dripped onto her expensive red dress.

    Her expression changed instantly and she put Ning Sihan down heavily. A look of disgust took over that

    she had even forgotten to maintain her fake smile.

    Ning Sihan¡¯s face went pale with fear and quickly turned and ran away.

    Cheng Xiangyun waited anxiously and felt relieved when she saw the child running back.

    However, Ning Sirui was calm, ¡°I told you she will find her way back.¡±

    On the other hand, Luo Fei was furious, ¡°I have to go to the bathroom! This dress is so dirty now. I can¡¯t

    wear it like this!¡±

    Luo Fei entered the bathroom under escort. She saw a familiar face when she looked up.

    At first, she thought her mind was ying tricks as Ning Ran had gone missing for 5 years. No one had

    heard from her since.

    But she recognized this face. The face she had envied for almost 20 years.

    This person was Ning Ran.

    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Ning Ran, you¡¯re still alive!¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s expression remained unchanged, ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong person. My name is Ding Mi.¡±

    As she was about to leave, Luo Fei grabbed her by the hand.

    ¡°No, there¡¯s no way I¡¯d have gotten the wrong person. You are Ning Ran! Where did youe from?¡±

    Ning Ran couldn¡¯t be bothered with her. She brushed her hand off and walked out of the bathroom.

    Luo Fei wanted to run after her but stopped after a few steps.

    For now, she remembered that the girl she carried earlier looked very much like Nan Chen.

    That thought struck Luo Fei and she was stunned. She tried to run after Ning Ran without cleaning up

    the stain on her dress but she was nowhere to be seen.

    Wang Xiaoou, her manager saw Luo Fei running out of the bathroom like a crazy woman and she got

    anxious too, ¡°You¡¯re a celebrity. What do you think you are doing?¡±

    Luo Fei calmed down slightly. Then, she remembered the photos taken by the reporters. If those

    photos were published and Nan Chen happened to see them¡­..

    ¡°Hurry! Contact all the reporters who turned up today and stop them from publishing the photos taken

    today!¡±

    ¡°What happened? Why can¡¯t they publish the photos? This is such a great opportunity to gain publicity!

    You¡¯ve got to tell me why you have changed your mind out of a sudden.¡±

    Wang Xiaoou was a very sessful manager at Xinhui Entertainment. She was excellent at creating

    publicity and had facilitated a lot of celebrities to stardom so she was really confused with Luo Fei¡¯s

    behavior.

    There was no way Luo Fei would ever tell her what happened back then as she vowed to take this

    secret to her grave.

    She became a top actress in Flower City even with her second rate acting skills. Everyone showed

    great respect for her despite that.

    All of this was only because she was Nan Chen¡¯s girlfriend!

    If Nan Chen saw the photos of the child and became suspicious, he might order a search on her

    background and uncovered the truth about what happened five years ago¡­

    Luo Fei dared not think any further.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 6

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 6

    ¡°I never liked children so I don¡¯t like this method of creating publicity.¡± She avoided Wang Xiaoou¡¯s gaze

    as she exined.

    Wang Xiaoou saw right through Luo Fei¡¯s guilty conscience.

    Luo Fei was the type of person who would go all out to find ways to boost her poprity.

    However, she didn¡¯t pursue this matter as Luo Fei wouldn¡¯t talk about it.

    After all, the tone of their rtionship was strictly business and nothing more.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll pull some strings to keep the photos from being published.¡± ¡°However, we are living in a

    digital era and there are so many people taking photos here today. There is no guarantee that I can get

    every single one deleted.¡±

    Wang Xiaoou exined calmly. Luo Fei stood up and pointed at her angrily, ¡°I don¡¯t care! This is your

    job! You must take care of this! If even one photo was posted on the inte, it would be due to your

    ipetence!¡±

    Still furious, Luo Fei continued, ¡°I am Nan Chen¡¯s girlfriend! I¡¯ll end your career in Flower City if you

    don¡¯t clean this up!¡±

    Wang Xiaoou¡¯s face grew cold but she didn¡¯t argue any further.

    ¡°I will take care of this. It¡¯s gettingte. You should get some rest. We still haven¡¯t to attend the audition

    for Sound of Thunder 2 tomorrow morning. Even though the cast has been fixed there will still be

    reporters so don¡¯t bete.¡±

    Having said that, she turned and left leaving a bewildered and angry Luo Fei standing there like a

    statue.

    ¡­..

    It was only a 20 minutes¡¯ drive from the airport to Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s home.

    Through the car window, Ning Ran gazed at this once familiar sight of city with a feeling of uneasiness.

    She had finally returned after five years of absence.

    Raising both her children single handedly in a foreign country for five years had been tough for Ning

    Ran.

    She had stumbled upon a film crew that needed an Asian supporting actress by chance.

    The character was just a minor role which had very brief appearance. Although it didn¡¯t pay much, Ning

    Ran gave her best.

    She had brought life to an ordinary character and that led to her emergence as a talented actress.

    Later on, the director even added more scenes for her. She had sessfully made a name for herself

    with that character and even won some small awards.

    Her best friend Cheng Xiangyun had invited her to return to China as she managed to get Ning Ran an

    opportunity to audition for a key acting role.

    Apart from that, she also wanted to find out the reason behind her mother¡¯s sudden death and

    reimed what was rightfully hers.

    ¡°Ning Ran, we¡¯re here.¡±

    Ning Ran snapped out of her thoughts and dragged her luggage into the elevator with Cheng

    Xiangyun.

    As soon as she entered the house, Ning Sihan gave a sudden shout of surprise, ¡°Auntie, your house is

    huge!¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun was delighted, ¡°I am a sessful manager and I bought this house with my hard-

    earned money!¡±

    N?velDrama.Org ? content.

    Ning Sihan was a clever little girl and she added, ¡°Auntie, you¡¯re amazing!¡±

    On the other hand, Ning Sirui maintained an uptight expression but nodded in approval like an adult.

    Cheng Xiangyun was so amused by these siblings that she hugged and kissed them both.

    They entered the room and retrieved the script and the list of candidates for the audition.

    ¡°Tomorrow is the day for the audition. Here, have a look at the list. You can continue unpacking your

    stuffter.¡±

    Ning Ran nodded as she took a look at the list and saw Luo Fei¡¯s name on top of the list.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 7

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 7

    She frowned. Luo Fei was everywhere.

    Ning Sirui who was more sensitive noticed it and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, mommy?¡±

    Ning Ran forced a smile as she said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Mommy¡¯s just a little tired. That¡¯s all.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun heard that and said, ¡°You¡¯re bound to be tired since I had you rush all the way here

    with such a short notice.¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s fine. Xiangyun, please help me watch over Dabao (nickname for Sihan) and Erbao

    (nickname for Sirui). I¡¯ll go and get changed.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun responded and brought some food for the kids.

    Ning Sihan¡¯s eyes lit up when she saw the delicious food.

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    Her brother gave her a tug which prompted her to sit upright, ¡°Thank you, auntie.¡±

    Ning Sirui handed some food over to his sister before turning to look at Cheng Xiangyun who had a

    serious look on his face.

    ¡°Aunt Xiang, can you do me a favor?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun was shocked by his serious attitude and instinctively sat upright.

    ¡°What is it? I will definitely help you as long as it is within my capability.¡±

    ¡°Aunt Xiang, could you find jobs that are suitable for kids like us?¡±

    ¡°Find you jobs?¡± Cheng Xiangyun was astonished, ¡°What for? You¡¯re still so young.¡±

    Ning Sihan gulped down her food and raised her little hand, ¡°I know! It¡¯s because mommy is working

    very hard, so we want to find a job that pays well and help to split her burden.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun was both shocked and touched by what she had just heard. These kids were barely

    five and yet, they¡¯ve already thinking about relieving some their mother¡¯s burden.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ With such pretty faces like yours, it shouldn¡¯t be much problem getting jobs for you. You could

    sign up with anypany and be big stars. That way, you will get sponsors and make lots of

    money¡­¡±

    Their eyes lit up as they listened to what Cheng Xiangyun said.

    Suddenly, a voice came from behind.

    ¡°No, we can¡¯t let them work.¡±

    When the two children saw Ning Ran, they went silent and looked at Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Ranran, there are many children who made their debut these days. If they make it into the

    entertainment industry at a young age, they will have huge potential to make it big when they grow

    up¡­¡­¡±

    Ning Ran was adamant in her decision as the industry was tooplicated and these children are way

    too young. She did not want them to be exposed to the outside world this early.

    Ning Ran walked up to her children and hugged one in each arm, ¡°Dabao, Erbao, mommy knows you

    want to help share my burden. But you¡¯re still kids! Besides, mommy can afford to raise you.¡±

    ¡°But mommy, you clearly didn¡¯t want to go for the audition.¡±

    Ning Sirui¡¯s voice was so low it made Ning Ran shudder.

    So this kid noticed that she was unhappy.

    Ning Ran patted Dabao¡¯s head, ¡°Mommy is not unhappy. I just thought of something and that¡¯s all.¡±

    She made up her mind to go for the audition and tried for the role of the second female lead. She had

    finally returned and trying her luck to make more money, so there was no way she¡¯d run away from Luo

    Fei and the others forever.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 8

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 8

    Late at night, Ning Ran closed the script and rested her tired eyes.

    She picked up her wallet on the bed and opened it. There was a shiny button inside.

    That crazy night from five years ago had left her with two children and this button.

    The button was ck and intricate in design with the letter ¡°N¡± embossed onto it.

    Ning Ran fiddled with the button as her thoughts started to wander.

    Even she didn¡¯t understand why she held on to this button throughout these years.

    That night from five years ago was a nightmare to her.

    Ning Ran had never thought of looking for that man. Whenever the kids asked about their father, she

    would only tell them that their daddy was missing.

    N?velDrama.Org ? content.

    Ning Ran came back to her senses after a while, and put the button back into the wallet.

    The audition was tomorrow. Luo Fei would be there too, so she would definitely know who the man was

    that night¡­¡­

    The next day, at the Empire Hotel in Flower City on the set of the Sound of Thunder 2 audition.

    Luo Fei showed up at the audition in fancy clothes surrounded by her manager and assistants.

    The reporters who had been waiting for her quickly gathered around her.

    ¡°Ms. Luo, your film Sound of Thunder from five years ago was a great hit! What are your thoughts on

    starring in Sound of Thunder 2?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Luo, your acting skills has received mixed reviews from the audience since the release of Sound

    of Thunder. How confident are you for starring in Sound of Thunder 2?¡±

    ¡­¡­

    Luo Fei had not slept well the night before because of the incident from yesterday.

    When she heard the reporter¡¯s questions which indirectly mocked her acting skills, her face turned

    ck instantly.

    ¡°Shut up! Come and do it if you think you¡¯re that great!¡±

    Wang Xiaoou was startled by her sudden outburst and quickly urged the hotel security to escort Luo

    Fei into the building.

    ¡°How many times do I have to tell you this? Don¡¯t mess with the reporters!¡±

    Luo Fei snorted, ¡°I¡¯ve been putting up with them for a long time. They¡¯re just a bunch of useless

    reporters. How dare they shame me like that! What they make in a month isn¡¯t even enough for me to

    buy a lipstick¡­¡­¡±

    As she looked up, she saw a familiar face.

    ¡°Wait here. Don¡¯t follow me, and don¡¯t let anyonee near either.¡±

    Luo Fei strode towards Ning Ran after saying that and ignored Wang Xiaooupletely.

    Ning Ran turned around when she heard the footsteps and came face to face with a vicious-looking

    Luo Fei.

    Luo Fei saw that they were in a secluded corner with no one around and she asked, ¡°What are you

    doing here?¡±

    ¡°If you can be here, I don¡¯t see why I can¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re done with putting up an act? Didn¡¯t you say you were Ding Mi yesterday? What on earth are

    you doing here?¡± Luo Fei gritted her teeth in anger. This damned woman just won¡¯t leave me alone!

    ¡°Obviously, I¡¯m here to audition for the movie. I should get some tips from you, superstar Luo.¡± Ning

    Ran smiled at her with a cold look in her eyes.

    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about starring in Sound of Thunder 2! You get the hell out of here right now!¡±

    Ning Ran couldn¡¯t figure out why Luo Fei got so anxious whenever she saw her. Even if she made it

    through the audition, she wouldn¡¯t rece Luo Fei¡¯s role as the female lead anyway.

    ¡°Unfortunately, you¡¯re not the director. You don¡¯t call the shots here.¡± ¡°The more you try to stop me, the

    more certain I am to act in it.¡±

    Luo Fei¡¯s face twisted.

    It¡¯s only been five years and this b**** Ning Ran has gotten so much more annoying. Back then, all it

    took was just a little threat to shut her up.

    Luo Fei was about to continue when her phone rang suddenly.

    On the phone, Wang Xiaoou told her that the sponsor¡¯s representative would arrive soon and urged her

    to get changed quickly.

    Luo Fei¡¯s heart wrenched. Unfortunately for her, Nan Chen was the oneing over.

    She mustn¡¯t let Ning Ran show up before him at any cost.

    Things would go really bad for her if the two meet each other. Then Ning Ran would be suspicious

    about her children¡¯s look which bore resemnce to Nan Chen.

    With her phone gripped tightly in her hand, she looked at Ning Ran who had just left. Only then, she let

    out a chilling smile.

    As Ning Ran walked around, a man approached her, ¡°Hi, are you here for the audition?¡±

    Ning Ran was very alert. She nced through the guy¡¯s staff ID and nodded only after she was certain

    about his identity.

    ¡°Then pleasee with me.¡±

    As they walked further, the surrounding became quieter as well.

    Ning Ran was about to ask him something when the man suddenly turned around and covered her

    nose and mouth with a wet handkerchief.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 9

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 9

    At the entrance of the hotel, the sponsor arrived. The tall, handsome man, who stood in front was none

    other than Nan Chen. With a pair of cold eyes, thin lips and an imposing aura, it was almost as if he

    was a walking ice sculpture.

    ¡°Nan Chen! It¡¯s Nan Chen!¡± ¡°Wow, he¡¯s so handsome! He really is the most perfect man in Flower

    City!¡± Nan Chen ignored themotion around him and went straight into the hotel ushered by his

    bodyguards.

    Director Wang Yan immediately bowed to greet him, ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡¯re here!¡± Nan Chen responded with

    a cold ¡°Hm.¡± ¡°Honey, you are here!¡± Luo Fei said in a cute voice as she came up to him.

    In private, she wouldn¡¯t dare cling to Nan Chen like that. But fortunately for her, they were in public

    now. He didn¡¯t respond in kindness nor would he humiliate her neither.

    Luo Fei was about to wrap her arms around Nan Chen but pulled them back instantly when he red

    at her.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get started. Mr. Chen¡¯s schedule is very packed.¡±

    Assistant Jiang Zhe said immediately when he noticed that.

    At this point, Cheng Xiangyun had noticed that Ning Ran went missing. She was nowhere to be found

    and she didn¡¯t answer her phone either.

    At the set, the director announced the start of the audition. Then, when he realized Ding Mi was not

    present, his face turned gloomy as he thought he had embarrassed himself in front of Nan Chen.

    He arranged for the next actress trying for the same role to cover for Ding Mi.

    A rare opportunity was almost wasted just like that.

    Cheng Xiangyun grew increasingly anxious. She had searched the entire hotel and yet couldn¡¯t find

    Ning Ran. In the end, she tried calling home instead.

    On the phone, she heard Ning Sihan¡¯s cute voice, ¡°Hello, this is Aunt Xiang¡¯s residence. This is the

    beloved beauty Ning Sihan speaking¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Sihan, stop messing around. Has your mothere home?¡±

    ¡°No, didn¡¯t mommy go to the audition?¡±

    ¡°Yes, she did. But I can¡¯t find her anywhere now. Anyway, you just be a good girl and stay home. I¡¯ll

    hang up now.¡±

    With that being said, the line went dead.

    Sihan ran into the house and dove straight into the arms of her brother who was ying video games.

    ¡°Bro, something has gone bad! Mommy¡¯s missing!¡±

    Ning Sirui frowned, ¡°Didn¡¯t mommy go for the audition? Why would she be missing?¡±

    ¡°That was what Aunt Xiang told me. She said mommy went missing at the set.¡±

    Ning Sirui stopped talking and turned off the game immediately.

    He remembered Aunt Xiang mentioned yesterday that his mommy was going to the Empire Hotel for

    the audition.

    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    His meaty little hands typed away rapidly on the keyboard and within a minute; he had hacked into

    Empire Hotel¡¯s security system.

    Ning Sirui was very clever and had a strong interest inputer science.

    He had even won first ce in a programmingpetition while he was living abroad.

    As such, he was very proficient when it came to handling these sorts of things.

    As soon as he switched on the security cameras, he found out that the security system had been

    manually shut down in some areas inside the Empire Hotel half an hour ago.

    Ning Sirui frowned deeply, and called Cheng Xiangyun right away.

    ¡°Aunt Xiang, I think mommy¡¯s in trouble.¡± ¡°Could you try asking the front desk if there was anyone

    suspicious leaving with arge suitcase?¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 10

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 10

    Cheng Xiangyun had almost lost her mind by now. Hence, she did as she was told by the childish and

    yet calm voice on the phone.

    At the set, Nan Chen¡¯s expression grew impatient as he watched the performance of Luo Fei and her

    acting partner.

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Their acting were over acting with very stiff bodynguage and their eyes looked empty. It was a

    complete disaster.

    Nan Chen had lost all hope in Luo Fei¡¯s acting skills but she did have a huge fan base and could easily

    rake up a lot of views. So, he decided to give her an opportunity anyway in order to repay her for

    saving his life back then.

    However, some skilled actors were still required to produce a good film. It would be a very terrible

    movie if they relied solely on the actors¡¯ fame.

    He had hoped for the films invested by hispany to sell well but that didn¡¯t not mean he would put

    up with poor quality work.

    Theirpany¡¯s reputation would be badly affected if they kept producing terrible movies. They would

    end up lose more than they gained.

    As Nan Chen continued watching, he saw that practically none of the candidates that came for the

    audition were good in acting.

    It didn¡¯t matter if they were crying,ughing or even just maintaining a neutral expression. They were all

    overacting in their own ways.

    Jiang Zhe was getting very nervous as he watched from the side. As he was about to say something,

    Nan Chen¡¯s phone rang.

    Nan Chen frowned and nced at the stage, then stood up and walked away to a quiet spot.

    When Luo Fei saw that Nan Chen had left, she stopped her acting to follow him.

    She knew Nan Chen wasing for the audition but she hadn¡¯t even finished her part in the film which

    she had prepared for so long.

    But Jiang Zhe stopped her before she could take a step further, ¡°Ms. Luo, please do not disturb Mr.

    Chen.¡±

    Luo Fei gritted her teeth in anger but dared not take another step. It would not end well for her if she

    annoyed Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen had walked quite far away before he found an empty spot. His bodyguards secured the area

    behind him.

    He was about to leave after he finished talking on the phone when he heard a woman¡¯s faint cries for

    help.

    Nan Chen followed the voice and came to a door.

    As he tried to track the voice, it vanished out of a sudden.

    In the room behind the door, Ning Ran wiped her face in despair.

    Her nose and mouth were covered by a handkerchief so she held her breath subconsciously but still

    inhaled some of the drug and fainted.

    There was no signal on her cellphone.

    Ning Ran closed her eyes. She could hear the voice of her cute angels in her head.

    They had gotten out of bed really early today just to tell her, ¡°Give it your best, mommy!¡±

    No, there was no way she would give up now.

    Ning Ran dug out a card from her handbag and tried to unlock the door with it.

    Outside the door, Nan Chen frowned in confusion. Could it be that he had misheard?

    As he was about to leave, he heard a rustling noiseing from behind the door.

    Someone inside was trying to open the door.

    He stopped hesitating, took two steps back and rammed into the door.

    The door suddenly opened from the inside. He couldn¡¯t stop in time and fell on top of the person inside.

    The person had a soft body with a faint scent of orange blossom perfume. It instantly reminded him of

    that night from five years ago.

    Ning Ran¡¯s eyes flushed after being tackled to the ground.

    She struggled hard but the man was so heavy that she couldn¡¯t move at all.

    ¡°Let me go! I have to get to the audition¡­¡­¡±

    In the dim storage room, Nan Chen felt his entire body getting hotter as the woman struggled beneath

    him.

    He tried to prop himself up but slipped and fell back onto her.

    Ning Ran was both embarrassed and furious at this point. Then, she felt something hot sticking to her

    leg.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 11

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 11

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, you rascal!¡± She mustered up some strength and shoved the man off her. In the dark,

    a loud bang could be heard. She figured the man must have hit something.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t care about him, and ran out of there as fast as she could. The impact from the hit was

    quite hard and left Nan Chen dizzy for a while before he regained his senses.

    The bodyguards outside were also shocked to see a woman running out of the room, and quickly went

    in to check up on him. Nan Chen dusted himself off, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s head back to the set.¡±

    A woman that had the guts to shove him like that¡­ He wanted to find out who she was.

    Ning Ran bumped into Cheng Xiangyun who was on her way to the front desk. Cheng Xiangyun

    immediately brought her to the set without saying anything.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t have time to exin either, and the two rushed on forward. With Nan Chen absent, Luo

    Fei had also lost the will to keep acting and took a break.

    She nearly dropped the ss in her hand when she saw Ning Ran approaching the set. ¡°Sorry for

    beingte, director. I¡¯m Ding Mi, here to audition for the second female lead¡­¡­¡±

    Ning Ran was panting as she bowed apologetically at the director. The director¡¯s eyes lit up when he

    saw her. The woman before him had delicate facial features, a gentle personality and a pair of beautiful

    eyes.

    These were exactly the qualities he was looking for in an actress! Just as he was about to say

    something, Luo Fei¡¯s cold voice came from behind.

    ¡°She waste for such an important audition. She has no sense of professionalism at all! How could

    she possibly be a good actress?¡±

    The director¡¯s expression changed slightly. After all, Luo Fei was not someone he could afford to

    offend, and this actress waste indeed.

    He tried to be fair and questioned Ning Ran loudly, ¡°So, you¡¯re Ding Mi?¡±

    ¡°Why waste time on her?¡± ¡°Just kick her out for being so unprofessional!¡±

    Luo Fei saw that Nan Chen had returned, and became more anxious as she tried to get rid of Ning Ran

    as soon as possible.

    ¡°Yes, director. I had a little ident on my way here. I¡¯m sorry for the trouble caused. Please give me

    another chance.¡±

    She apologized sincerely and profusely in a graceful manner.

    Luo Fei wished she could rip Ning Ran¡¯s face off, but Nan Chen had gotten closer to them.

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    She forced a reluctantugh and greatly softened her tone, ¡°This is a professional film set. If everyone

    keeps getting things dyed like this, how are we going to film this movie?¡±

    The director got nervous as well when he saw Nan Chen, ¡°Yes, Ms. Luo is right. We must have

    principles as professionals. Please leave.¡±

    Ning Ran being the victim was not about to just stay quiet about it. She attempted to speak up for

    herself.

    But Luo Fei immediately walked right past her and said in a sweet voice, ¡°Honey, I don¡¯t want to work

    with an unprofessional woman like her. Would you please get her to leave?¡±

    Nan Chen gave Luo Fei a confused look, and turned to look Ning Ran in the eye.

    Ning Ran was stunned on the spot, and her jaw dropped.

    This man¡­ His face looks just like Dabao¡¯s and Erbao¡¯s¡­¡­

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 12

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 12

    Nan Chen frowned slightly at the sight of her.

    He had thought that this woman was special, but she turned out to be so shallow instead.

    Nan Chen knew he was good-looking, but she didn¡¯t have to humiliate herself like that.

    She stared at his face for a full minute, and felt like she might start to drool at any second.

    Nan Chen got goosebumps from his own imagination.

    He had wasted enough time on the set today. He really didn¡¯t feel like watching any more exaggerated

    acting from these women.

    As such, he nodded in agreement with Luo Fei¡¯s words and turned to leave.

    Luo Fei was delighted and subconsciously reached out to wrap her arms around his again.

    However, a cold gaze from Nan Chen had her arms frozen in mid-air.

    Ning Ran saw that he was about to leave, and quickly chased after him after she regained her senses.

    Luo Fei freaked out and attempted to grab her arm but ended up pushing Ning Ran forward instead.

    Ning Ran let out a scream as she crashed into the man.

    At that moment, everyone at the set was dead silent.

    Nan Chen spun around when he heard her voice but couldn¡¯t react in time. He was knocked down by

    Ning Ran who grabbed him by the waist.

    It took a while before someone finally reacted.

    Jiang Zhe was shaking as he stepped forward, ¡°Are¡­ Are you alright, Mr. Chen?¡±

    Ning Ran sat up, her face bright red, ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­ I really didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡±

    Nan Chen rubbed his left arm that was aching from the fall, and stared deeply at Ning Ran.

    He caught a whiff of the scent of orange blossom again. So it really was her in the storage room earlier.

    Luo Fei¡¯s eyes were red from anger, and pulled Ning Ran out of the way.

    ¡°Not only are you not punctual, you¡¯re also a scheming woman. Get lost!¡±

    The pull sent Ning Ran falling onto the ground again.

    She stood back up, feeling both embarrassed and furious.

    ¡°I only fell because Ms. Luo pushed me, and now we¡¯ve got this mister injured as well. Shouldn¡¯t you be

    apologizing instead of just ming me for everything?¡±

    Luo Fei¡¯s face went pale from that, but couldn¡¯t argue as there were too many people present.

    ¡°I only reached out to pull you away from Nan Chen because you were trying to get close to him¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t try to change the subject. I¡¯ve seen plenty of unprofessional women like you who only seek

    shortcuts in life. You¡¯d better get the hell out of here now!¡±

    ¡°I have a reason for beingte. I was locked up by someone who didn¡¯t want me to make it for the

    audition.¡±

    Ning Ran did not back down and insisted on defending her case.

    ¡°Haha, what sort ofme excuse is this?!¡± ¡°You¡¯re just nobody! Who on earth would risk going out of

    their way to harm you like that?¡± ¡°Did you really think Mr. Chen is THAT gullible?¡± ¡°You think you can

    just make up some random excuse and Mr. Chen would give you a chance?¡± Luo Fei retorted loudly.

    ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth.¡± ¡°When I came here, a man with a staff ID told me he was bringing me to the set.¡±

    ¡°Then, he knocked me out with a drugged handkerchief and locked me in the storage room. Luckily, I

    didn¡¯t inhale too much of it, so I was able to wake up quickly and escape.¡±

    Ning Ran red at Luo Fei as she said that. Luo Fei was right, no one else here knew who she was. If

    anyone were to hurt her, it would definitely be Luo Fei.

    Luo Fei started to panic upon hearing her words, and subconsciously tried to avoid her gaze.

    ¡°Every actor that came here wanted a chance to perform. There¡¯s no way anyone would miss it

    willingly, and I am no different.¡± ¡°Please give me a chance at this audition. If I get eliminated due to my

    poor acting skills, I will ept that oue without anyints. But I will not ept failure due to

    sabotage like this.¡±

    Ning Ran looked at Nan Chen as she said that.

    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    She could see that this man, who looked just like her son, was the real person of authority here.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 13

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 13

    Nan Chen hesitated for a moment. This woman in front of him looked thin and weak, but her stunningly

    beautiful. She had a pure look in her shiny eyes that seemed full of life.

    The entertainmentpany under the Nanshi Corporation was also thergest entertainmentpany

    in Flower City. As such, he hade across many actresses.

    Superstars and award-winning actresses included. However, none of them had a pair of eyes like

    hers. She had crystal clear eyes and a faintly charming gaze.

    It was as if her eyes could tell countless tales. Nan Chen turned around and returned to his

    seat. Everyone was shocked. Mr. Chen actually came back! He actually forgave the woman who

    knocked him over, and gave her a chance¡­¡­

    ¡°Chen, you don¡¯t have to care about her¡­¡­¡±

    Nan Chen shot her a nce before she could finish, and she shut up immediately. Everyone showed

    her great respect as they thought she was Mr. Chen¡¯s girlfriend.

    But Luo Fei knew very well how much she mattered to Nan Chen. With that, the director resumed the

    audition.

    ¡°Then, let¡¯s try the scene where the female lead reunites with the second female lead after a long

    absence.¡± ¡°In this scene, the Shen family¡¯s eldest daughter returns from Nanyang. She finds out that

    her mother is dead, and questions her second eldest sister about it¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Director, I can¡¯t do it. I¡¯m not feeling well.¡±

    Luo Fei hated Ning Ran to death. It killed her that she couldn¡¯t do anything about it in this situation.

    There was no way she would be willing to cooperate with Ning Ran and give her what she wants.

    Besides, Ning Ran was prettier than her. She was not about to be bested by her in front of Nan Chen.

    Of course, the director dared not offend Luo Fei either.

    ¡°In that case, you¡¯ll do this scene by yourself.¡±

    Without someone to pair up with, acting the scene became highly difficult for Ning Ran.

    On top of that, the director did not give her any time to prepare and had her start the scene

    immediately.

    Ning Ran lowered her head before raising it, and everyone was shocked.

    She was apletely different person from before. She went from a strong woman who fought hard for

    her opportunity, to a sad girl who¡¯d just lost her mother.

    Ning Ran was talking to the air, but no one found it awkward or funny. Instead, everyone was captured

    by her mncholic performance.

    Nan Chen¡¯s heart leapt as he watched the woman acting on stage.

    He had not seen such a great actress in a very long time.

    And besides, she seemed to be too immersed in her character. Or perhaps, she has experienced such

    an incident herself.

    His mind was racing, but he showed no changes in his expression.

    Luo Fei was getting increasingly anxious as she watched from the side.

    Since when did this woman get so good in acting?

    She looked at Nan Chen. He waspletely focused on watching Ning Ran¡¯s performance, as

    opposed to how he was towards her when she was on stage.

    Suddenly, Luo Fei thought of a good idea as she clenched her fists.

    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Nan Chen hates women who trade their bodies for favors, so if she¡¯d just¡­¡­

    An evil smile spread across Luo Fei¡¯s face at the thought of that.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 14

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 14

    Ning Ran had finished her performance rather quickly. But everyone on the set was dead silent, still

    captivated by her acting.

    ¡°Not bad!¡± Nan Chen¡¯s assistant, Jiang Zhe was the first to cry out. He figured that the boss would

    approve of it too, having watched the entire performance so seriously.

    As Nan Chen¡¯s most caring assistant, he naturally cared greatly about what his boss wants. The

    director too, let out a smile upon seeing that.

    This actress is great. If Mr. Chen¡¯s assistant has approved of her, surely Master Chen himself has

    too. He looked at Nan Chen, and waited for him to make the decision.

    At this moment, the assistant director walked over to Nan Chen. The assistant director bent over and

    whispered, ¡°Mr. Chen, Ding Mi asked me to tell you that if you give her the role of second female lead,

    she¡¯ll do anything you ask tonight.¡±

    With that, Nan Chen¡¯s newfound liking towards Ning Ran waspletely destroyed. This made him

    suspect if their previous encounter was just a setup by her.

    Nan Chen narrowed his eyes. She¡¯s overestimated herself if she thinks she can gain my favor by

    sleeping with me. Such a woman does not deserve an opportunity at all.

    Nan Chen stood up without saying a word, and walked straight out with a cold look on his

    face. Everyone at the scene was confused. Did she get his approval or not?

    ¡°So Mr. Chen, this actress¡­¡­¡±

    Before Jiang Zhe could finish his sentence, he noticed Nan Chen¡¯s look of indifference towards Ning

    Ran and understood his decision. He paused, and told the director, ¡°She didn¡¯t make the cut.¡±

    The set was in an uproar. She failed despite having such an amazing performance?

    Mr. Chen is too strict. If this level of acting still could not to satisfy him, then what would?

    Luo Fei smiled in delight. Hmph! So what if you¡¯ve got good acting, Ning Ran? I won¡¯t let you have a

    chance anyway. Ning Ran was dumbfounded as well.

    She¡¯d thought she did a great job, as everyone was still enchanted by her performance after it ended.

    But this Poker Face who looked so much like her son had refused to acknowledge her acting? How

    could he?

    She ran up to Nan Chen and stood in front of him.

    Everyone was shocked by her actions. This woman has the guts to stand in Mr. Chen¡¯s way!

    ¡°What did I do wrong? Why did you reject me?¡±

    Ning Ran raised her head and looked straight at him.

    Up close, his resemnce to her son was much greater.

    She had to keep reminding herself, ¡°This isn¡¯t my son! My son is not that old!¡±

    Nan Chen raised his eyebrows as he looked at the tiny woman in front of him.

    Even at such a close distance, no ws could be found on her delicate face.

    She does look great indeed, but that doesn¡¯t mean she can just tantly seduce him like that.

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    Nan Chen just eyed Jiang Zhe who was standing next to him without saying a word.

    Jiang Zhe understood immediately, and said, ¡°If Mr. Chen said no, that means no.¡± ¡°Miss, please stop

    wasting Mr. Chen¡¯s time.¡±

    ¡°But why?¡± ¡°Was my acting bad?¡± ¡°If I did something wrong, you can point it out and I can change it. I

    cannot ept you just rejecting me without any reason like this!¡±

    Ning Ran clenched her fists tightly as she stared at him with a determined look on her face.

    ¡°How dare you!¡± ¡°Who do you think you are, talking to Mr. Chen like that? Apologize!¡± Even the director

    was frightened by that.

    Mr. Chen was being doubted at the audition. If Mr. Chen was to me, then he, the director, would also

    be held responsible. He had to stop this ignorant little actress as soon as possible.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my acting? Tell me!¡± Ning Ran could not ept her defeat.

    She had a petite body, but stood up straight as if she had some great power hidden inside.

    ¡°You can¡¯t point it out, can you? That¡¯s because you don¡¯t know acting. You don¡¯t know art. You¡¯re not

    professional enough.¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re rich. But that doesn¡¯t mean you can just reject people as you wish

    like that, right?¡±

    That got everyone on the set silent once again.

    No one has ever dared to speak to Mr. Chen like that!

    This woman is crazy! She¡¯s done for! Her future in China¡¯s entertainment industry is over!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 15

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 15

    ¡°Let go of me! I must say it! The reason why it¡¯s so difficult to produce great shows these days is

    because these outsiders are leading us insiders! He controls everything with his money and decides an

    actor¡¯s fate based on his own personal preferences! He¡¯s just an ignorant capitalist!¡± Ning Ran got

    more and more furious as she spoke. Poker Face¡¯s anger boiled as he listened.

    Where did this woman get her courage from, questioning his professionalism like that in front of

    everyone? Did she get it from Fish Leong? (Fish Leong is a Mysian singer. Her second studio album

    was titled Courage.)

    Nan Chen¡¯s lips twitched, but said nothing.

    He was a man of few words, and had not spoken at all since he got here.

    He rarely spoke to anyone at all.

    To him, the wise do not bber. Those who talk a lot were all mundane people.

    Nan Chen arched his eyebrows and motioned for the bodyguard to take the woman away.

    ¡°You outsider!¡± ¡°You¡¯re bullying others with your power!¡± Ning Ran shouted in defiance.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, give her a chance.¡± Luo Fei suddenly came and begged him.

    Nan Chen looked at Luo Fei, and shot her a questioning look.

    ¡°She¡¯s said before, that she must get the role no matter what. If she doesn¡¯t get it, she would get her

    keyboard warriors to attack me online.¡±

    ¡°She would even say that I only got my role through your favoritism and biasness.¡±

    ¡°If she was that arrogant in front of everyone, she¡¯d surely do a lot worse behind the scenes.¡±

    ¡°She won¡¯t rest until she gets the role, Mr. Chen. Let¡¯s just give it to her.¡±

    Of course, Luo Fei said these to fuel Nan Chen¡¯s rage.

    Luo Fei was well aware of Nan Chen¡¯s admiration towards Ning Ran.

    Had she not ordered the assistant director to say those words to Nan Chen, Ning Ran would¡¯ve gotten

    the role for sure.

    Nan Chen did not lose his temper despite being scolded by Ning Ran like that.

    That worried Luo Fei. What if Nan Chen really gave Ning Ran the role?

    So, Luo Fei wanted topletely anger Nan Chen. If he got mad, not only would Ning Ran not get the

    role, but her future in the entertainment industry would be finished as well.

    She wanted to get rid of Ning Ranpletely through Nan Chen, so that she would never stand a

    chance ever again.

    However, Luo Fei had underestimated Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen had ruled the Nanshi Corporation business empire and triumphed the market. Obviously, he

    didn¡¯t aplish all that through luck alone.

    Although he does not like to express himself much, he understood the human nature very well.

    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Nan Chen saw right through Luo Fei¡¯s scheme when she did that.

    He was like a king. He didn¡¯t mind giving, but hated being used.

    Luo Fei¡¯s pathetic scheming was undoubtedly an insult to his IQ.

    As if he would let her have her way like that!

    He looked at Luo Fei, then at Ning Ran.

    Then he nodded his head.

    He left everyone in shock once again.

    Mr. Chen nodded. Does that mean he agreed with Luo Fei¡¯s suggestion? Was he letting this woman

    who talked back at him get the role of second female lead?

    Even the director was in disbelief and hurriedly tried to confirm it with him, ¡°Mr. Chen, do you mean that

    she gets the role?¡±

    Nan Chen nodded again without saying anything.

    Then without stopping, he walked right out.

    Cheng Xiangyun was sweating profusely. She felt as if she had gone through hell and back.

    She had been in the entertainment industry for quite a while and had heard of Nan Chen countless

    times, but had never seen him in person.

    All she knew was that he was a ruthless business tycoon whose words no one dared defy.

    Those who have crossed him have disappeared from the entertainment industrypletely with no

    chance of returning.

    So, when Ning Ran butted heads with him earlier, Cheng Xiangyun had thought that she was done for.

    But things took a huge turn, and Nan Chen had given Ning Ran a chance instead.

    This was all thanks to Luo Fei¡¯s ¡°help¡±.

    Regardless, it was great news that Ning Ran got the role in the end!

    Next, she had to discuss an important matter with Ning Ran, which was the resemnce of Nan Chen

    with Dabao and Erbao.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 16

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 16

    Luo Fei was mad with rage.

    She had intended to get rid of Ning Ranpletely through Nan Chen, but Nan Chen ended up giving

    Ning Ran the role of second female lead instead.

    Luo Fei could not understand where she went wrong, but the intelligent Ning Ran had seen right

    through her.

    ¡°Thank you so much! If not for your begging, I doubt I would¡¯ve gotten this opportunity. I guess blood

    really is thicker than water. I knew you¡¯d help me out.¡± Ning Ranughed as she said that to Luo Fei.

    ¡°Get lost!¡± ¡°Who the hell are you calling family?!¡± Luo Fei was furious.

    ¡°Is it frustrating?¡± ¡°You want to get rid of me using Mr. Poker Face?¡± ¡°Too bad for you, he was smart

    enough not to fall for it, and now I¡¯ve countered you instead. Don¡¯t you just regret yourself so much?¡±

    Ning Ran was unfazed, and kept a smile on her face.

    The calmer Ning Ran appeared; the angrier Luo Fei became.

    ¡°You b****¡­¡­¡± Luo Fei raised her hand, and was about to p Ning Ran.

    ¡°You want to hit me?¡± ¡°Go on, do it! A huge star bullying an ordinary actress? Let everyone here get it

    on camera!¡± Ning Ran motioned at Chen Xiangyun.

    Cheng Xiangyun whipped out her phone and got the camera ready.

    Luo Fei was trembling in anger as she put her hand down.

    Manager Wang Xiaoou was a wise person. She could see that Ning Ran was no ordinary person.

    If this goes on, Luo Fei would surely fall for Ning Ran¡¯s tricks and act inappropriately.

    So, she hurried on ahead to stop them, ¡°We still have other ns for today, let¡¯s go.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    ¡°I can¡¯t ept this! I must teach her a lesson!¡± Luo Fei was not letting go.

    ¡°Let it go, she¡¯s just a second female lead. Why get so worked up over her?¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t worth it.¡±

    Luo Fei thought about it, and agreed. She¡¯s just the second female lead. I am still the first. I¡¯ll have

    plenty of chances to get back at her on the setter on.

    Comforted and persuaded by Wang Xiaoou, Luo Fei finally left the scene.

    Nan Chen¡¯s car was headed towards Nanshi Corporation headquarters, where he would have an

    important meeting with the partners.

    In the back seat, Nan Chen closed his eyes and recalled the incident earlier.

    They were so close to each other when the petite Ning Ran had confronted him.

    Then, he had detected a faint smell of orange-blossom.

    That was the most unforgettable scent in his memory. It was like no other.

    On that night where he had intercourse with a woman in the clubhouse, that was the scent he detected

    from her.

    When he found out that Luo Fei was the woman, he granted her the title as his girlfriend.

    However, he had never smelled that refreshing scent on Luo Fei ever again.

    A few years went by, and he had almost forgotten that scentpletely. But today, he¡¯s found it again.

    As Nan Chen was lost in his thoughts, a sound from the mobile phone in the front seat snapped him

    out of it.

    It came from a video that his assistant Jiang Zhe was watching. Nan Chen took a peek at the screen

    and noticed that it was a video of Ning Ran¡¯s performance at the audition.

    ¡°Give me that.¡± This man who was silent the whole time had finally spoken, his voice as maic as

    ever.

    Jiang Zhe realized the noise from his phone had disturbed his boss who was resting, and said with a

    terrified look, ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Give it to me.¡± Nan Chen repeated those words again.

    Jiang Zhe handed the phone over.

    In the video, there was sadness in Ning Ran¡¯s eyes while an aura of silent sorrow surrounded her body.

    Even when reviewing her video, the effects of her captivating performance could still be felt.

    Nan Chen felt as if he could smell that faint scent of orange-blossom again.

    It was a shame that this actress was one who would resort to underhanded means in order to achieve

    her goals. She would even sleep with someone just to get the role. What a shame.

    As Nan Chen thought about it, he felt a rising sense of irritability.

    He rolled down the window and tossed the phone out.

    ¡°My phone!¡± Jiang Zhe cried out in shock.

    Then, he noticed the ice-cold look on his boss¡¯ face, and instantly cowered up, ¡°Never mind, I¡¯ll just get

    a new phone¡­ It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine¡­¡­¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 17

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 17

    Ning Ran and Cheng Xiangyun had left the hotel and got into Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s red Honda.

    ¡°Missy, you¡¯ve scared me to death today! Can you please not act so rashly next time?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just losing a role in a film. Why¡¯d you have to piss off Nan Chen like that?¡±

    ¡°If you really got on his nerves, my future in this industry would be ruined along with yours!¡± Chen

    Xiangyun still had some lingering fears as she recalled the incident earlier.

    Then, she stopped the car and turned to look at Ning Ran, ¡°Oh, by the way, don¡¯t you feel that Nan

    Chen¡¯s face looks rather odd?¡±

    Of course, Ning Ran understood what Cheng Xiangyun meant. She too, had been thinking about his

    uncanny appearance.

    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    But, she decided to y dumb, ¡°What do you mean? He just looked okay to me.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you notice how he looks so simr to Dabao and Erbao?¡± Chen Xiangyun stared at Ning Ran as

    she asked.

    ¡°They did look a little alike. Just a little bit, though. Let¡¯s not talk about him anymore.¡± Ning Ran replied

    faintly.

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t just a little bit! They looked like two peas in a pod!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on here? Is Nan Chen

    actually the father of Dabao and Erbao?¡± Her words hit Ning Ran like a bomb that exploded in her

    head.

    ¡°Stop talking nonsense.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°ording to your descriptions, the room was pitching ck, and you didn¡¯t know who the man was.

    How are you so sure that it wasn¡¯t Nan Chen?¡±

    ¡°What if it really was him?¡± ¡°My goodness, if Nan Chen really is the father of Dabao and Erbao, then

    we¡¯re going to be rich!¡±

    ¡°You could get any role you want, and get rid of anyone you want!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d be a well-known star, and I will be China¡¯s number one manager!¡±

    ¡°We would earn lots and lots of money together¡­¡­¡± It was as if Chen Xiangyun had gone into

    autopilot mode at the thought of all the richesing her way.

    ¡°Oh my God, are you possessed or something?¡± Ning Ran looked at Chen Xiangyun with disdain.

    ¡°I¡¯m not possessed. I¡¯m just too excited! I¡¯m going to be a godmother to Dabao and Erbao! That way, if

    Nan Chen takes them in as his children, I¡¯d be his rtive!¡±

    ¡°Oh my God! Me being rtives with the most powerful person in Flower City! I¡¯m going to be so

    sessful!¡± Chen Xiangyunughed and screamed in delight while her arms danced about in ecstasy.

    Even Ning Ran was a little scared by her.

    ¡°Sweetie, please snap out of it. I can¡¯t afford to send you to a mental asylum.¡± Ning Ran said as she

    patted Chen Xiangyun with a concerned look on her face.

    Cheng Xiangyun exhaled deeply, and calmed herself down a bit.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got to maintain a graceful image, as I am Nan Chen¡¯s rtive, after all! I must fit in as an upper-

    ss member of society!¡±

    Ning Ran eximed as she leaned back into her seat, ¡°Stop fooling around and start driving already!

    I¡¯m hungry!¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun was barely able to contain the excitement in her as she restarted the car.

    ¡°Let¡¯s bring Dabao and Erbao to meet their father tomorrow!¡±

    Now Ning Ran really got anxious, ¡°Leave my kids out of your madness!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? They have such a handsome and rich father like Nan Chen! Isn¡¯t that great?¡±

    ¡°Who said he¡¯s their father? That was all just your imagination!¡± ¡°Luo Fei told me that man was a

    director. Nan Chen has never been a director all his life.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Director?¡± ¡°You mean Luo Fei did it to get the role?¡± ¡°Her debut movie was Sound of Thunder. If that

    man was a director, then it could only be the film¡¯s director Feng Xiaoqiang.¡±

    ¡°But, that can¡¯t be right¡­ I¡¯ve seen Feng Xiaoqiang. He¡¯s a bald, greasy middle-aged man with a mouth

    full of yellow teeth. How could he be the father to Dabao and Erbao?¡±

    ¡°Feng Xiaoqiang.¡± Ning Ran murmured repeatedly.

    ¡°Yeah, the chief director of Sound of Thunder. If Luo Fei had done it to get the role, then the man would

    be none other than Feng Xiaoqiang.¡±

    Ning Ran whipped out her phone and entered ¡°Feng Xiaoqiang¡± into the search engine.

    The main results she got were scandals involving Feng Xiaoqiang and actresses, but those were all

    from two years ago. There had been no news of him for quite a long while.

    It was just as Cheng Xiangyun described. Feng Xiaoqiang was short and fat. He had a copsed nose,

    a big mouth with thick lips and a pair of tiny eyes.

    There were no way the amazing facial features of Dabao and Erbao could be the result of such horrible

    genes! It was absolutely impossible!

    Ning Ran felt disgusted just by looking at him.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 18

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 18

    Chen Xiangyun unlocked the house door. Dabao who was watching anime on the couch rushed over

    the second they heard the door open.

    ¡°Are you alright, mommy? Did you pass the audition?¡± Erbao asked in her childish voice.

    Ning Ran picked up Erbao, ¡°Mommy¡¯s fine, and the audition was a sess.¡±

    ¡°Then, should we celebrate with a feast?¡± Erbao gulped as she said that.

    Ning Ran reached out and tapped Erbao¡¯s little nose, ¡°You greedy little cat, all you think about is food.¡±

    Dabao also came out when he heard themotion from the study. Instead of jumping into Ning Ran

    like Erbao did, he just stood next to her as he looked at her.

    Ning Ran walked over and carried them, one in each arm.

    ¡°Dabao, how did you do it? How did you find out which room mommy was locked in?¡±

    ¡°It was easy.¡± Dabao said.

    He did not exin in detail, nor did he boast or gloat about it. He only said it was easy.

    All of a sudden, Nan Chen¡¯s face shed by in Ning Ran¡¯s head.

    He too, didn¡¯t talk much and was always quiet.

    He never said a word throughout their lengthy confrontation earlier.

    She looked back at Dabao. That faint coldness in his eyes and those thin lips that were tightly closed¡­

    He was basically a mini version of Nan Chen!

    This was too scary!

    Ning Ran couldn¡¯t bring herself to think any further. This is impossible! Absolutely impossible!

    ¡°Mommy, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Are you alright?¡± Erbao asked with her arms wrapped around Ning Ran¡¯s

    neck.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Mommy passed the audition, so let¡¯s go have a feast¡­¡­¡± ¡°Aunt Xiang will treat us!¡±

    ¡°Yay! Yay!¡± Erbao cheered.

    ¡°You¡¯re the one who passed the audition. Why is it my treat?¡± Chen Xiangyun said with a sad look on

    her face.

    ¡°Because you¡¯re richer than me.¡± Ning Ran¡¯s reasoned.

    ¡°You¡¯d be rich soon as well, if only you¡¯d just¡­¡­¡± Before Chen Xiangyun could finish, Ning Ran gave

    her a re and that shut her up.

    The two had agreed on their way home that they would not let the kids find out about someone who

    looked just like them.

    Their world was too simple and pure. She couldn¡¯t let anything bother or hurt them.

    ¡°Mommy, you and Aunt Xiang are hiding something from us.¡± Erbao had realized something was off.

    ¡°No, we¡¯re not. What would you like to eat, Sweetheart?¡± ¡°Aunt Xiang will treat you.¡± Chen Xiangyun

    said as she picked up Erbao from Ning Ran¡¯s arms.

    ¡°Ice cream, chocte, cakes, hotpot¡­¡­¡± Erbao started to list out food items one after another. After a

    long list, Chen Xiangyun concluded that she just wanted to eat everything delicious.

    ¡°Alright, as you wish.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s phone rang. She answered the phone as she walked into her room and shut the

    door behind her.

    ¡°Hello, Director Gao.¡±

    ¡°Xiangyun, I¡¯ve looked at the pictures of the twins that you sent me. They are just too beautiful!¡±

    ¡°I have an advertisement project forputer lessons for kids avable right now. Why don¡¯t you bring

    them over to try it out? If it works out, we could get them signed up right away.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re such close friends now, so you don¡¯t have to worry about the pay. It¡¯s so rare to find such great

    potential in child actors these days, so we have a lot of room for coborations in the future!¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun jumped in delight as she heard that.

    I¡¯m rich! I¡¯m going to be so rich!

    These twins are going to get famous even before their actress mother does!

    The pay for child actors was so high these days, even higher than adult actors! I¡¯ve really hit the

    jackpot this time!

    Cheng Xiangyun calmed herself down, and walked out of the room as if nothing happened.

    ¡°Ran, you must be tired. Why don¡¯t you get some rest? I¡¯ll take them out shopping and get them some

    nice clothes.¡±

    ¡°No, the kids can just dress normally. There¡¯s no need to spend so much on clothing.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°There is a need. They look so pretty! I¡¯ve got to get them some branded clothes.¡± ¡°You go on and get

    some rest. I¡¯ll bring them shopping now, and then we¡¯ll have dinner togetherter!¡±This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 19

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 19

    Chen Xiangyun sessfully persuaded Ning Ran to let her bring the kids out.

    Erbao put on a male outfit. With a hat on, the twins looked identical once again.

    In order to look more like her brother, Erbao even straightened her face and put on a cool expression

    like his.

    Director Cheng beamed in delight when he saw them arrive at the hotel for the audition.

    ¡°Just imagine how good the genes must have been to have produced such good-looking children!¡±

    ¡°This is amazing! These kids will be a big hit!¡± Director Cheng said excitedly as he tried to approach

    Erbao, but Dabao quickly stood in between them.

    Dabao made a motion simr to a traffic police stopping a car, as he warned Director Cheng not to

    come any closer.

    Mommy once said that Erbao is a girl, so I can¡¯t let strangers near her, let alone behave intimately with

    her.

    So Dabao must protect Erbao, and keep strangers away from her.

    The director was taken aback by this and looked at Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun didn¡¯t understand what Dabao was doing either. But since Dabao doesn¡¯t talk much,

    she could only look at Erbao.

    ¡°You¡¯re a guy, so you cannot juste near me like that.¡± Erbao said in her usual childish voice.

    All the staff on set burst out inughter. Erbao was just too adorable.

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    ¡°Why can¡¯t Ie near you?¡± The director asked her yfully.

    She was going to say, ¡°Because I¡¯m a girl.¡± but Dabao gave her a look, so she just kept quiet and

    pouted her lips.

    ¡°Director Cheng, why don¡¯t we get started with the audition? I¡¯ve got to send the kids home soon.¡±

    Chen Xiangyun said as she looked at her watch.

    ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s begin.¡± ¡°Our advertisement is about a learningputer for children. Through some

    simple controls, they can gain all sorts of basic knowledge. It¡¯s an upgraded version of a learning

    device. Here¡¯s a sample product.¡± Director Cheng said as he introduced the device.

    Dabao¡¯s eyes lit up when he heard that it¡¯s aputer, and started examining the device.

    But, his excitement turned to disappointment fairly quickly. Such a childish toy like this was too boring

    for him.

    To him, this didn¡¯t even count as aputer. It was just a smart toy at best.

    The crew got into position and the audition started.

    ording to the n, Dabao would hold the learningputer and read his lines, ¡°I can draw.¡±

    Erbao who stood next to him would say, ¡°I know calligraphy.¡±

    Dabao would then continue, ¡°I know English.¡±

    And Erbao would go on, ¡°I know Tang poetry.¡±

    Then, they would both say in unison, ¡°We¡¯re only kids but we are knowledgeable in all these because

    we use Genius Kids Learning Computer!¡±

    Just like superstars, the two showed no signs of being camera-shy as they stood in front of it.

    However, the problem was, Dabao refused to start saying his lines. His expression was also too cool

    and needed to be gentler.

    ¡°Sweetie, what¡¯s wrong? Why don¡¯t you start reading your lines?¡± Chen Xiangyun asked Dabao.

    ¡°It¡¯s childish.¡± Dabao replied.

    Cheng Xiangyun was speechless. She had forgotten that this child in front of her was a genius who had

    participated in the programmingpetition and won the championship.

    A learningputer like that was indeed too childish for him.

    ¡°We¡¯re just doing this for an advertisement. Once we get the money, we can relief mommy¡¯s burden

    with it. Would you please y along with it?¡±

    Dabao looked at Cheng Xiangyun, and nodded his head.

    But when the filming continued, Dabao still couldn¡¯t read his lines.

    He was too used to being quiet. To read out lines on the spot like was too much for him.

    ¡°Is it okay if I read out big brother¡¯s lines for him instead?¡± Erbao bravely suggested.

    The director had no choice but to make do with it, ¡°Then let¡¯s start filming. We¡¯ll just do some editing

    later on.¡±

    Without having to worry about reading their lines, the two adorable children cooperated perfectly and

    they managed to get it all done in one take.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 20

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 20

    7pm, At a children¡¯s restaurant.

    Dabao slowly picked up the food on his te with a fork, as he wondered if he should tell mommy

    about them shooting an advertisement earlier in the afternoon.

    Aunt Xiang had told them that they would be hiding this from mommy, and that they were just trying to

    relief her burden. Even so, Dabao couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of guilt in his heart.

    He felt that any form of lying towards mommy was wrong.

    Erbao didn¡¯t really care that much and was busy stuffing her greasy little mouth with food, while her

    gaze already moved on to the next snack.

    ¡°Ning Sihan, would you please mind your manners? You¡¯re a girl!¡± Ning Ran said with a frown.

    Erbao quickly wiped her mouth and sat straight with her legs closed, ¡°I¡¯m ady.¡±

    Her gaze, however, was still fixated on the food.

    Her brother was weak inparison. There was so much food, but he only ate a small portion of it. So,

    Sihan wanted to finish them for him.

    Dabao had already noticed Erbao¡¯s intentions. He pushed his te towards her, and motioned her to

    eat it.

    ¡°Thank you brother.¡± Erbao broke into a wide grin.

    ¡°Ning Sihan, I¡¯m warning you! If you keep eating like this, you¡¯ll end up bing a fat little girl sooner

    orter!¡± Ning Ran reprimanded her, but her eyes were gentle and filled with affection.

    ¡°I won¡¯t. I¡¯m a super beautiful girl that everyone loves! I¡¯ll never be a fat little girl!¡± Sihan said and

    went back to wolfing down her food again.

    Ning Ran turned to Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°Their births were only a few minutes apart. Why is it that Erbao¡¯s

    appetite is so much bigger than Dabao¡¯s?¡±

    ¡°Maybe their bodies are just built differently. She doesn¡¯t put on weight no matter how much she eats,

    just like you. It¡¯s been so many years, yet you still look like how you did in high school. I envy you so

    much¡­¡± Chen Xiangyun said.

    ¡°What¡¯s there to envy? I¡¯m like this because I¡¯m poor. Those with huge tummies are the ones that are

    wealthy.¡± Ning Ran said with a smile.

    ¡°Speaking of wealth, you¡¯ll receive a hundred thousand in your bank ount tomorrow. That should

    help you with their education fees and any other expenses. Everything costs money these days, it

    must¡¯ve been difficult on you.¡±

    ¡°A hundred thousand?¡± ¡°Is that the initial payment for the film?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Chen Xiangyun too, was hesitating on whether or not she should tell Ning Ran that the

    money came from her kids.

    Although these kids looked amazing, it was still their first debut work, after all. So, a hundred thousand

    was considered quite a high pay for what they did.

    Cheng Xiangyun did not take a single cent, and was going to give it all to Ning Ran. Being a single

    mother was simply too difficult a job.

    ¡°That¡¯s great! This is my first ie since my return! Thanks, Cheng. Here, a toast to you!¡± Ning Ran

    raised her ss of juice.

    ¡°To be honest, if these kids make it big, they might be more popr than you¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°There is no room for discussion on this. It is my duty to raise my children. I can¡¯t let them face the

    harsh realities of life at such a young age.¡± Ning Ran said, interrupting Cheng Xiangyun.

    Erbao heard that, and raised her head with her mouth still full.

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    ¡°Mommy, we want to help you relief your burden. It¡¯s too tiring for you. Brother and I can handle it.¡±

    Dabao nodded in agreement as well.

    ¡°No one talk about this anymore. I will not let my children suffer.¡± Ning Ran said firmly.

    Cheng Xiangyun saw how firm Ning Ran was, and didn¡¯t dare tell her the truth either. She told herself

    she¡¯d try to find another chance to tell her about it.

    ¡°The filming will start tomorrow, and we must be on the set at nine o¡¯clock. We can¡¯t bete on the first

    day. I¡¯ll look forward to your wonderful performance!¡±

    Ning Ran nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll y my part well.¡±

    Erbao put down her fork, and raised her meaty little fist, ¡°Mommy¡¯s the best!¡±

    Dabao nodded slightly as well.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 21

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 21

    Ning Ran woke up the next morning to see that the two rascals had already woken up and made her

    breakfast. Breakfast was simple ¨C two lukewarm toasts with two slightly powdered eggs.

    ¡°We made you this lovely breakfast to wish you a great first day. You¡¯re the best, mommy.¡±

    Erbao pulled up a chair and invited Ning Ran to take a seat.

    Ning Ran looked away in an attempt to keep her tears in.

    ¡°You two must be exhausted from waking up so early and preparing this breakfast,¡± said Ning Ran

    warmly.

    Two little heads shook like rattle-drums as the duo said, ¡°Nope, not tired at all.¡±

    ¡°You two are still young. You need to sleep in to grow up to be big and healthy. Don¡¯t wake up too early

    in the morning anymore, okay? Mommy will make my own breakfast,¡± Ning Ran said with a smile.

    ¡°Mommy is tired from working so you should sleep in. We¡¯re not tired at all,¡± refuted Erbao.

    Dabao nodded his head in agreement.

    After breakfast, Ning Ran rushed to the movie set.

    The female leads of the show ¨C Luo Fei and Zhao Mingjie had already arrived when Ning Ran was still

    en route.

    Luo Fei was a celebrity who usually came inte, but she came in early that day for some reason.

    While preparing in the dressing room, Luo Fei signaled everyone except Zhao Mingjie to leave.

    ¡°Ms. Fei, do you have something you wish to talk to me about?¡± Zhao Mingjie asked cautiously.

    Zhao Mingjie was a new singer with an average voice. After showcasing her sexy figure and

    provocative outfits in a couple of movies, Zhao Mingjie had be famous, but that was nothing

    compared to Luo Fei¡¯s fame.

    ¡°Mingjie, I wanted to reserve the role of the second lead in this movie was supposed for you, but that

    b**** -Ding Mi ¨C showed up all of a sudden and took what was yours,¡± Luo Fei told Zhao Mingjie.

    Zhao Mingjie¡¯s eyes started to fill up with hatred.

    ¡°The truth is, your acting skills are better, and as one of the sexiest women in the show biz, your body

    figure is better too. The role of the second lead should¡¯ve been yours. I was rooting for you,¡± said Luo

    Fei as she observed the change in Zhao Mingjie¡¯s facial expression.

    ¡°Ms. Fei, the role of the second lead has been given to her so I could only y the third lead,¡± said

    Zhao Mingjie in a frustrated tone.

    ¡°So you¡¯re just going to admit defeat like that? I feel bad for you,¡± said Luo Fei coldly.

    ¡°But there is nothing I can do either. After all, the director had given his orders.¡±

    ¡°Mingjie, do you trust me?¡± asked Luo Fei as she looked into Zhao Mingjie¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Of course I trust you, Ms. Fei. You¡¯ve always been my role model.¡±

    ¡°Okay, then do exactly what I say, and you will be able to take back the role of the second lead.¡±

    Zhao Mingjie¡¯s eyes shone as she said, ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    Luo Fei scanned her surrounding to make sure that no one else is around. Then, she fished out a bottle

    of ointment.

    ¡°That b**** Ding Mi always takes advantage of her beauty and does not normally wear make-up so

    she¡¯s probably not going to put on make-up at home.

    ¡°We¡¯ll put on our make-up first then pour the ointment into the remaining make-up. Her face will be all

    red and swollen like a pig after using that make-up.¡±

    ¡°Just think about it. Today¡¯s the first day of work. They can¡¯t shoot the movie if the second lead actress

    is all swollen like a pig.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s when I¡¯ll rmend changing the role of the second lead, and you will be able to rece her!¡±

    exined Luo Fei darkly.

    ¡°What is that?¡± Zhao Mingjie asked because she felt a little guilty about it.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. Just tell me, are you in or out? If you¡¯re out, then be a good girl and y the

    third lead honestly while letting that b**** bully you.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    ¡°Let¡¯s do it!¡± Zhao Mingjie said with determination.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 22

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 22

    Upon reaching the set, Ning Ran was surprised to see that Luo Fei was there first and even had her

    make-up done.

    Ning Ran instantly became suspicious because Luo Fei had always acted like a diva so why was she

    there so early?

    Director Wong YanYi greeted Luo Fei with a big smile, ¡°You¡¯re so professional, Ms. Fei, for getting in so

    early.¡±

    When he turned to Ning Ran, his smile disappeared, ¡°See that?!¡± ¡°Even a celebrity, whose work is

    better than yours, is working so hard and being professional!¡±

    Ning Ran thought, Better my a**! Or are you blind to the fact that Luo Fei¡¯s acting is terrible?

    Since when does arriving early equal to being professional? If so, then won¡¯t I be the representative of

    hard work and professionalism if I arrive on set at 2 in the morning?¡±

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t act on her frustration. Instead, she replied, ¡°Yes, yes, you¡¯re right, we should all learn

    from the celebrity. Well then, to show our professionalism, we¡¯ll sleep here tonight instead of going

    home.¡±

    ¡°Ning Ran, whatever do you mean? Why are you acting so weird?¡± Luo Fei was referring to the

    sarcasm and insult in Ning Ran¡¯s words.

    ¡°Ms. Fei, my name is Ding Mi. I may not be a celebrity, but it¡¯s still rude to have forgotten my name,¡±

    Ning Ran replied with a grin.

    Just you wait, Luo Fei thought, we¡¯ll see how arrogant you¡¯ll be after you put on the make-up and turn

    into a pig!

    In the dressing room, the make-up artist was helping the third female lead ¨C Zhao Mingjie ¨C apply

    make-up.

    Ning Ran nodded at Zhao Mingjie to greet her, but Zhao Mingjie gave her the cold shoulders.

    Ning Ran wasn¡¯t bothered so she just stood at the side watching Zhao Mingjie put on make-up.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like it being observed when I¡¯m applying my make-up,¡± Zhao Mingjie said coldly.

    Ning Ran replied with a smile, ¡°Oh yeah, I don¡¯t like that either.¡±

    Then, she left the dressing room.

    It was finally Ning Ran¡¯s turn after quite some time.

    Ning Ran peeked around to make sure that there was no one else before she fished out a box and

    handed it to the make-up artist ¨C Ms. Qiu.

    ¡°I got you this limited edition perfume when I was travelling overseas,¡± Ning Ran whispered.

    The make-up artist was shocked to receive a generous gift like that. The price of the perfume was more

    than ten thousand!

    ¡°This is too much; I can¡¯t ept it!¡± Ms. Qiu said, but she was also hesitant to reject such an amazing

    gift and give it back to Ning Ran.

    Of course, Ning Ran was not so generous that she was willing to spend so much money to buy such

    expensive perfumes just to give it away. Ning Ran¡¯s friend gave it to her, but she couldn¡¯t use it so she

    decided to regift it to Ms. Qiu.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Ms. Qiu, just keep it. That way, we can be friends. Plus, you¡¯ll be helping on the set every day

    anyway,¡± Ning Ran said warmly.

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just a small gesture, keep it.¡±

    ¡°Well, umm¡­ thank you,¡± said Ms. Qiu before carefully cing the perfume into her bag.

    ¡°By the way, Ms. Qiu, I need a small favor from you.¡±

    Oh, shoot! Thought Ms. Qiu, How do I refuse to do her a favor after epting a gift?

    ¡°The style is set by the screenwriting team. I¡¯m only responsible for carrying out their orders. If you¡¯d

    like a new style, you¡¯d have to get permission from the screenwriters,¡± said Ms. Qiu.

    ¡°Oh no, it¡¯s not about changing the style. It¡¯s just that I have a habit of using my own make-ups, will that

    be okay for Ms. Qiu?¡± Ning Ran asked sweetly.

    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s alright!¡± Ms. Qiu was relieved to hear that small request and agreed to it.

    ¡°Oh, and the bit where I brought my own make-up to set¡­ can we keep that a secret?¡±

    ¡°Sure, I won¡¯t say anything. That¡¯s not against the rules anyway.¡±

    ¡°Okay, thanks, Ms. Qiu.¡±

    Everyone was bbergasted when Ning Ran exited the dressing room.

    Even without make-up, Ning Ran was more beautiful than most women.

    Now that she had quality make-up on, her beauty was even more breathtaking.

    The baby blue cheongsam highlighted her curves, her thin waist, and those long, beautiful legs.

    At that moment, the style of a Ming Dynasty female sailor returning home was presented.

    She didn¡¯t even need any dialogue to perfectly portray this character.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 23

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 23

    Luo Fei was checking her watch while everyone was distracted by Ning Ran¡¯s beauty.

    The poison in the foundation should¡¯ve caused the skin to itch and swell in 10 minutes.

    The whole make-up process would definitely take more than 10 minutes.

    Plus, the foundation would¡¯ve been the first one to be used so the poison should¡¯ve started working

    before Ning Ran finished her makeup. But why was Ning Ran walking aroundpletely fine?

    Zhao Mingjie was also staring at Luo Fei nervously. Luo Fei red back to warn Zhao Mingjie not to act

    weird because others would be suspicious.

    The first scene was a battle between Ning Ran and Luo Fei.

    Ning Ran yed the role of an elder sister who lost her parents¡¯ affection after her two younger siblings

    ¨C the second sister yed by Luo Fei, and the third sister yed by Zhao Mingjie.

    This childhood jealousy grew as the trio entered adulthood. One rainy day, while the two younger

    siblings were distracted, the eldest pushed them both into theke.

    As such, Ning Ran yed the role of the antagonist who killed her siblings and tried to destroy their

    lives.

    The director wanted the very first scene to be lively so he chose the scene where Ning Ran used

    the youngest sibling of stealing a ne. Ning Ran¡¯s role was supposed to p Zhao Mingjie¡¯s role

    while Luo Fei¡¯s role, as the protagonist, was supposed to calm the antagonist down.

    The director wanted Ning Ran to act as a conflicted, bitter sister who had notpletely lost her

    kindness yet.

    Luo Fei¡¯s task wasparatively easy as she only needed to act as an innocent, rich woman who

    loved her family more than money.

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    Zhao Mingjie¡¯s role as the youngest sister was to be the victim of the eldest sister¡¯s abuse.

    Everything was ready.

    ¡°The Sound of Thunder. Act One. Take One. Action!¡±

    Inside a Ming Dynasty courtyard, Zhao Mingjie was on her knees begging Ning Ran.

    ¡°Sis, I swear, I didn¡¯t steal your ne. It wasn¡¯t me!¡±

    Ning Ran pped Zhao Mingjie in one, swift move. ¡°Stop denying it!¡± ¡°Return my ne now or I¡¯ll

    break your leg, b****!¡±

    Although it looked harsh, the p thatnded on Zhao Mingjie¡¯s face was very soft.

    This requires true acting skills ¨C to make it look like a real and painful p without actually hurting

    anyone.

    Next, Luo Fei was supposed to thug at Ning Ran¡¯s arm and talk to her nicely so that Ning Ran would

    stop hitting Zhao Mingjie.

    However, Luo Fei didn¡¯t do that. She rushed over and pped Ning Ran on the face. Hard.

    Luo Fei¡¯s p wasn¡¯t like Ning Ran¡¯s p where the p started fast and hard butnded softly on the

    cheek.

    Luo Fei¡¯s p started fast and hard, thennded faster and harder.

    After the p, Ning Ran¡¯s face became red with a mark of five fingers.

    Everyone was stunned. That was not how the scene was supposed to y out. The second sister was

    the main character who was sweet and would neverid a finger on anyone.

    The p shocked Ning Ran and got her confused so she called out, ¡°Director, she¡¯s not following the

    script!¡±

    The director snapped out of it and quickly halted shooting. Then, he said, ¡°Ms. Fei, that is not how the

    script goes, did you remember wrongly?¡±

    ¡°The original scene was terrible. Since the second sister is the main character, she must act strong to

    defend the youngest sibling and the rest of the family.¡± ¡°That is why I changed the scene at thest

    minute,¡± said Luo Fei.

    Everyone was taken aback. Changing the script at thest minute? Was that a thing?

    ¡°Ms. Fei, if you want to change the scene, you should¡¯ve told us beforehand,¡± said the director who was

    a little upset.

    You may be the star of the show, but I am the director. The way you do things is making me look bad!

    ¡°The script should not be in the way of producing a good movie. A good movie requires actors to act on

    their gut feelings. Is that not how the best scenes in cinema were produced? By ident?¡± said Luo

    Fei who was practically teaching the director how to do his job.

    The director was furious, but he dared not piss off Luo Fei because she was Nan Chen¡¯s girlfriend.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 24

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 24

    Ning Ran was quiet. She had suspected that Luo Fei would try to make things difficult for her and she

    was not the least bit surprised. That was why she had been careful ever since she set foot in the

    building.

    That being said, she never thought that Luo Fei would go so low as toe up with an excuse like that

    to hurt her. However, Ning Ran thought that the action was stupid.

    The director and screenwriters poured their hearts and souls into script. Changing the script as an actor

    is an act of disrespecting other¡¯s hard work.

    They may keep quiet about it, but the director, screenwriter, and everyone else involved in writing the

    script would be upset so she¡¯d be, in effect, pissing off a lot of people.

    That was truly stupid.

    That was also why Ning Ran didn¡¯tin even after being pped.

    ¡°What do you think?¡± the director asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°I¡¯ll follow your instructions. I¡¯m okay with it if you are,¡± Ning Ran said with a smile.

    Luo Fei was celebrating inside and thought, hah! All it took was one p to get you to shut up! Do you

    see how amazing I am right now?

    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    ¡°Then from the top, everyone in ce, action!¡± the director shouted.

    Zhao Mingjie was kneeling in front of Ning Ran, begging, ¡°Sis, I swear, I didn¡¯t steal your ne. It

    wasn¡¯t me!¡±

    Ning Ran pped softly as usual, then said, ¡°Stop denying it!¡± ¡°Return my ne now or I¡¯ll break

    your leg, b****!¡±

    ¡°Stop it, sis!¡±

    As per usual, Luo Fei added a dialogue, rushed over, and pped Ning Ran.

    This p was even worse than the one before, causing Ning Ran¡¯s face to be redder and more

    swollen.

    The director and camera operator felt bad seeing that.

    Ning Ran¡¯s eyes shone with anger, ¡°How dare you butt in!?¡± ¡°Are you in on this as well?¡±

    The second she finished speaking, Ning Ran raised her hand and¡­ p!

    A pnded on Luo Fei¡¯s face.

    Luo Fei was surprised by the p, and before she even got to react to it¡­ p!

    Ning Ran pped her across the face again. ¡°I knew you were a good-for-nothing idiot!¡± said Ning Ran,

    ¡°return my ne now!¡±

    ¡°Cut!¡± the director yelled.

    Now everything¡¯s all messed up, and it was impossible to keep shooting.

    ¡°Ding Mi, what are you doing? How could you p Luo Fei?¡±

    Ning Ran acted confused, ¡°Huh? Isn¡¯t the script changed?¡± In the show, the eldest sister is the

    antagonist. It wouldn¡¯t make sense if the all-powerful and evil sister just stands there and takes it while

    the sweet second younger sister ps her, would it?

    Moreover, the story of this show was about how the eldest sister, consumed by jealousy, bullied her two

    younger sisters while the other family members are away.

    So the eldest sister should be the boss. Wouldn¡¯t it be out of her character if she doesn¡¯t do anything

    even after being pped?¡±

    ¡°You b****, you¡¯re ying dirty!!¡± ¡°Director, are you going to take care of this? If you don¡¯t, I¡¯m leaving

    this movie!¡± Luo Fei screamed in a fit of anger.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Fei,¡± the director tried to pacify Luo Fei, ¡°Ding Mi is just too inexperienced. I¡¯ll get her

    to change.¡±

    The director turned to Ding Mi and spat, ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to change the script!¡± ¡°Act ordingly!¡±

    Ning Ran looked at him innocently then replied, ¡°I wasn¡¯t the one who changed the script, Ms. Fei did. I

    was just coordinating with her.¡±

    The assistant jogged over to hand Luo Fei an ice pack for her face.

    Furious, Luo Fei threw the ice pack onto the floor.

    Luo Fei thought to team up with Zhao Mingjie to bully Ning Ran even more, but Ning Ran was not

    affected at all. She even retaliated fiercely.

    Suddenly, all the employees were rattled and someone shouted, ¡°Nan Chen is here!¡±

    Ning Ran looked up and again, saw that handsome yet emotionless face.

    A face that looked just like Dabao and Erbao.

    Luo Fei cried aloud and ran to Nan Chen.

    ¡°Nan Chen, you must get justice for me. That woman changed the script without permission just to bully

    me. She pped me so hard that my face is all swollen.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s icy sight swept past Luo Fei¡¯s face to see that it was swollen with finger marks.

    Nan Chen¡¯s re became even colder. Luo Fei was, by reputation, his girlfriend, so which useless

    actress was stupid enough to publicly p his woman?

    By reputation, that p was synonymous with pping Chen right on his face!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 25

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 25

    Nan Chen¡¯s razor-sharp eyes squinted as he turned to Ning Ran.

    The assistant, Jiang Zhe, knew Nan Chen well and noticed that he is unhappy so he immediately

    asked the director in Nan Chen¡¯s ce. ¡°Director Wong, what exactly happened here?¡±

    Naturally, Luo Fei couldn¡¯t let the director exin the whole situation because she needed Nan Chen to

    think that she had been bullied.

    ¡°Tell him, director! The script doesn¡¯t have that scene in the first ce. That Ding Mi added it in thest

    minute and pped me, getting my face all swollen.¡±

    ¡°Everyone in this industry had to be nice to me as a sign of respect to Nan Chen, but that Ding Mi

    bullied me. If this news gets out, does that mean that everyone will start thinking that it¡¯s alright to hurt

    me?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m but an actress. Being pped is nothing, but Nan Chen¡¯s reputation is too important.¡± ¡°Director, if

    you don¡¯t do something about it today, I¡¯ll have to back out of this movie,¡± Luo Fei sobbed in between

    words.

    Luo Fei¡¯s acting skill had always been terrible, but this time, she aced it.

    The director¡¯s pressure became enormous instantly. He knew the truth, but Luo Fei was using Nan

    Chen to pressure him, and he had to admit defeat.

    The director walked towards Ning Ran, pointed at her nose, and shouted, ¡°What is wrong with you?!¡±

    ¡°Your role as the second female lead was granted by Nan Chen! You did not treasure this opportunity

    and caused so much trouble on set!¡±

    ¡°Go apologize to Ms. Fei now! If she doesn¡¯t ept it, I will cancel our agreement and hire another

    actress!¡±

    The director was desperate to show his dissatisfaction so he identally spat a little saliva at Ning

    Ran. Ning Ran moved her head to avoid the spewing saliva but she remained calm.

    Nan Chen arriving, Luo Fei lying, the director being pressured¡­ she had expected all that.

    If Nan Chen had taken a look at the previous two NGs, he would understand that the troublemaker was

    not Ning Ran.

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    But she knew he wouldn¡¯t do that.

    He was the king who controlled a corporate empire worth billions. He didn¡¯t have the time to figure out

    the truth behind these small matters.

    At that moment, all Nan Chen cared about was the fact that the woman who was known as his

    girlfriend had been pped in public. It didn¡¯t matter why she was pped.

    Anything done to hurt his reputation is a mistake.

    Mistakes must be rectified and apologies must be made. Nan Chen didn¡¯t care enough to listen to any

    exnation.

    An arm could never beat a leg, and as such the leg, being more powerful, would not need to listen to

    the arm.

    In this case, Ning Ran is the arm, and Nan Chen is the leg so she must apologize.

    If not, she would definitely lose that role, no questions asked.

    Opportunities like these were rare, and she had to think about the kids at home. She must make

    enough money to give them the best education and ensure that they could grow up healthily despite

    growing up in a family of a single parent.

    Ning Ran decided to apologize.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Fei, I was wrong.¡±

    Luo Fei smiled viciously at Ning Ran¡¯s defeat.

    ¡°What did you say? I couldn¡¯t hear you,¡± said Luo Fei gleefully with a hand by her ear.

    Ning Ran spat the words loudly and clearly, ¡°I. Said. I. Am. Sorry.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°If everyone is forgiven after apologizing half-heartedly, then the whole ce would be a

    disaster.¡±

    ¡°So, what now?¡±

    ¡°On your knees! p yourself until you¡¯re all bruised and swollen. Only then will you learn your lesson!¡±

    Luo Fei said harshly.

    Ning Ran frowned like she was thinking of something. Then, sheughed all of a sudden.

    ¡°What are youughing at? How dare you still show me that face!?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Fei¡¯s powerful stance reminded me of a saying I learned as a kid ¨C the fox using the lion¡¯s power.¡±

    ¡°When I was a kid, I could never learn this saying. Now, I finally understand what it meant, and so I

    laughed.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Fei is forcing me to go on my knees using Nan Chen¡¯s power. Nan Chen is a powerful man who is

    using his influence to force an average actress to go on her knees, how noble!¡±

    ¡°They say that to understand a man¡¯s true strength, one must examine his equal. Nan Chen treating

    me, an average actress, as his equal¡­ Wouldn¡¯t that ruin his reputation?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    She walked towards Nan Chen to re into that cold, emotionless face.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 26

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 26

    Nan Chen squinted his eyes like how he always did, staring back at Ning Ran. How smart, the storm is

    brought to me just like that?

    If I made you go down on your knees, then I would be oppressing the disadvantaged. Not just the

    disadvantaged, but the weakest of all. If I do so, wouldn¡¯t I Nan Chen, be aughing stock?

    A spark of interest could be seen gleaming in the man¡¯s eyes.

    People who are smart always love topete with their equal, exchanging tricks among themselves

    and spice things up.

    It has been quite a while ever since Nan Chenst encountered a woman who has the guts to y

    such tricks in front of him and he now feels that this is getting interesting.

    Nan Chen waved his hands slightly yet he still remained silent.

    This left everyone hanging. Does the boss mean that he is not going to pursue this matter anymore? Or

    does it imply that he would not listen to her nonsense and that she still had to beg with her knees

    down?

    ¡°Nan Chen, please do not listen to her¡­¡± before Luo Fei could even finish her sentence, Nan Chen

    raised his hand to interrupt her, signaling to her to stop.

    He beckoned to Ning Ran, hinting her toe closer to him.

    Ning Ran had puzzled look written all over her face. What does he meant by this?

    She hesitated for a while but eventually, she still moved closer towards Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen threw a nce at her, indicating that there was still too far a distance apart between them

    and that she should move even closer.

    Luo Fei was about to go crazy. The original intention was to make use of this opportunity to ce Ning

    Ran in a bad light, but now what has this situation turned into?

    What exactly was Nan Chen trying to do? Could it be that he found out that Ning Ran was thedy who

    slept with him back then?

    Impossible! That is totally impossible!

    Ning Ran inched closer again.

    The closer she got to him, the more diffident she felt.

    This man had such a magnanimous aura that wasparable to a ck hole, such that he could eat

    away all the confidence any person had while they were around him.

    Even a person as formidable as Ning Ran could feel shivers down her spine.

    She simply could not understand what was running through the mind of this man, who was as calm as

    God.

    Nan Chen lowered his eyes and when nobody was noticing, he then took in a deep breath.

    He smelt the scent of the fresh and sweet orange blossom again. The scent felt so far yet so close to

    him.

    Apart from Nan Chen¡¯s mother, there was no other person in the world that knew he has a heightened

    sense and sensitivity to smell.

    He could use his nose to tell the difference apart a variety of smells that were very simr. For

    example, he could tell the difference between a rose that has blossomed for three days and one that

    blossomed for five days. He could even set red wine from different batches apart despite them being

    manufactured in the same winery and in the same year.

    He had never once mistakenly consumed expired food products as his could tell whether the food had

    gone bad or not just by smelling it.

    His gift of extremely high sensitivity to smells had turned him into a ¡°smell freak¡± as he would not be

    able to tolerate the odor from the perspiration of those around him if they are not wearing new clothes

    or washing their hair every single day.

    However, Nan Chen has never told anyone that it was his sense of smell which enabled him to tell if

    others had changed their clothes or not.

    This was his secret.

    Nan Chen confirmed once again that the faint tinge of orange blossom scenting from Ning Ran

    was indeed the same as the one in his memory.

    Surprisingly, there was an inexplicable glee within him.

    The scene was quiet.

    Everyone¡¯s eyes were fixated on Ning Ran and Nan Chen. No one knew what exactly was going on

    between the two of them.

    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Even Ning Ran did not know what she herself was doing.

    She stood in front of the dashing man like a dumbmb before its shearer.

    However, despite the man in front of her giving her the ice-cold stares, he did not seem to have

    malicious intent.

    Just like that, he did not utter a single word and lowered his eyes as he remained silent, just like a

    monk entering a state of Zen.

    No other scenes could ever get as awkward and peculiar as this one.

    Ning Ran started to get more and more nervous as she really could not tell what was running through

    the mind of this man standing right in front of her.

    Was he considering how to punish her since she had offended him today?

    Just as everyone was anticipating a storm, Nan Chen stood up.

    Without a single word and action, he strode out of the room.

    Everyone froze.

    Now what does this mean? The storm isn¡¯t arriving? That was it?

    Jiang Zhe, the assistant of Nan Chen, was the first toe to his senses. He faced the crowd and

    said, ¡°Mr. Chen just dropped by to take a look as he knew that you are all starting work today. He still

    has something on, so he will make a move first.¡±

    Jiang Zhe was Nan Chen¡¯s messenger and whatever he conveys would be what was on Nan Chen¡¯s

    mind. No one would doubt him as he had never made any mistake.

    Ning Ran turned around and let out a big sigh. The woman was instantly relieved. That man had put

    too much of emotional stress on her.

    A silent and expressionless face could just be the most terrifying thing in the world. No one would be

    able to tell what he was thinking or nning to do. And the unbeknownst threat is suffocating.

    A thought struck Ning Ran. Is my Dabao going to grow up looking like this poker-faced man?

    Judging from the development of this current situation, she was afraid that Dabao would be a

    handsome emotionless man.

    What should I do?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 27

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 27

    Nan Chen left and Luo Fei¡¯s scheme was ruined. She would not dare to get Ning Ran on her knees

    again as she could tell that Nan Chen did not want to drive Ning Ran into a corner.

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    This was an oue that Luo Fei was most reluctant to face. Things were not progressing the way she

    wanted them to. She had no idea what exactly just happened.

    Nan Chen had been acting very strangely, but this man was too mysterious and it was impossible for

    anyone to see through his mind.

    ¡°Shall we proceed? Let¡¯s not make any more changes to this script. There will be a lot ofplications

    if we do so¡­¡±

    Before the director could even finish his sentence, his phone rang. It was a calling from Nan

    Chen¡¯s assistant, Jiang Zhe.

    He moved aside to pick up the call and there was a look on his face after he hung up.

    The assistant director walked over and asked him, ¡°What is it now?¡±

    The director replied, ¡°Jiang Zhe called to instruct us to increase the second female lead¡¯s screen time

    by at least thirty percent and make her go astray. She will then survived an ordeal, turned into a new

    leaf and finally understand that love is the key to forgiveness and hatred cannot lead to happiness.¡±

    ¡°Huh? If we make these changes, then wouldn¡¯t she be the female lead? Luo Fei¡¯s screen time

    isn¡¯t even as much as hers!¡± The assistant director eximed; his face full of concern.

    ¡°Yes I know, but Jiang Zhe said that this was Nan Chen¡¯s idea. We have no choice but to follow.¡±

    The assistant director strokes his beard, and said, ¡°This is not right. This insignificant person put Nan

    Chen on the spot just now, why would he increase her screen time? Now what does this imply?¡±

    The director shook his head and replied, ¡°I¡¯m not too sure, but all the while Nan Chen¡¯s way of handling

    things has always been unpredictable. The fact that he made a trip down today to check out the set is

    already a strange behavior. Such a busy man like Nan Chen had never made a visit here. But even

    though he did drop by today, it didn¡¯t seem like he came here specifically for Luo Fei.¡±

    ¡°What makes you think so?¡±

    ¡°Did you not notice that Nan Chen did not even look at Luo Fei straight in the eye? He did not even

    express any concern about her injury when he heard that she was being beaten up. This isn¡¯t how

    usual couples would act.¡±

    He added, ¡°If Nan Chen bristles with anger for his lover, this person who caused her pain would be in a

    horrible state. But now just look at what has happened. This person didn¡¯t suffer any consequences,

    but instead had additional screen time, making her a first female lead. Can you understand what is

    going on here?¡±

    The assistant director shook his head, and said, ¡°I don¡¯t understand. I really don¡¯t. Seriously! But since

    this was his request, let¡¯s just go ahead! Sugar daddy calls the shots.¡±

    While the two directors stood there making wild guesses, Ning Ran and Luo Fei on the other side were

    also at odds.

    ¡°You¡¯re in luck today. Nan Chen is too busy to care about you. But I¡¯m afraid this will not be the case in

    the future.¡± Luo Fei said as she pointed at Ning Ran.

    ¡°You¡¯re in luck today. Nan Chen is too busy to care about you. But I¡¯m afraid this will not be the case in

    the future.¡± Ning Ran mimicked what Luo Fei just said.

    Luo Fei was about to explode of anger. She shouted, ¡°Parrot talk? How cheap!¡±

    ¡°Trying to act as if you¡¯re powerful? How shameless!¡± Ning Ran replied cheekily.

    The camera man next to them bit his lip as hard as he could, try his best to hold backughter.

    Was this an argument or were they generating couplets? How could an argument be so neat?

    Luo Fei turned red in anger, and said ¡°You! you¡­!¡±

    ¡°I! I¡­?¡± Ning Ran continued to parrot Luo Fei¡¯s words.

    ¡°Luo Fei, you¡¯re a famous celebrity. Don¡¯t degrade yourself to the level of such people who y minor

    roles.¡± Zhao Mingjie said as she walked over to help.

    Ning Ran let out a coldugh and said, ¡°Riding on coat-tails?¡± ¡°If I am a minor role, then what are you?

    Don¡¯t forget that I am the second female lead, and you are merely just a third lead. My character

    oppress your character is numerous scenes on set. I can¡¯t assure you if I will be taking it real or not

    when that happens!¡±

    There was a tinge of fear in Zhao Mingjie¡¯s eyes.

    She witnessed Ning Ran verbally attacking Luo Fei with her own eyes. Luo Fei was an all-time first

    female lead actress, and besides, she was Nan Chen¡¯s woman. Despite all this factors, the fearless

    Ning Ran would brave herself to provoke her. What else could Ning Ran not do to her then?

    She did not dare to rebut Ning Ran and remained silent reluctantly. All she could do was to re at her.

    Luo Fei, on the verge of anger, vented it on Zhao Mingjie by giving her a p on the face and

    eximed, ¡°Your ipetency is to be med!¡±

    She just gave Zhao Mingjie a poisoned make-up foundation and get her to ce it in the washroom

    when Ning Ran was applying her make-up. And nothing happened.

    If the poison really got onto Ning Ran¡¯s face and caused her to have a swollen face, Luo Fei would not

    be the one to be med.

    Zhao Mingjie dare not make a single sound, instead she used her hand to cover her cheek.

    Ning Ran who was standing next to them, understood everything she heard and saw.

    Ipetent? Ipetent in what?

    Obviously it was something rted to Ning Ran! Ning Ran had to be extra careful in future.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 28

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 28

    ced on top of the redwood table were twenty over exorbitant and limited-edition bottles of perfume

    from various renowned brands ranges from a few to tens of thousand.

    Sitting behind the table was an emotionless but dashing man. He was frowning, and asked Jiang Zhe,

    ¡°Is that all?¡±

    ¡°Yes that¡¯s all, Nan Chen. We have looked through all the branded perfume brands across the globe

    and these are all the ones with orange blossom scent. That¡¯s all we have.¡± Jiang Zhe replied quickly.

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Nan Chen shook his head slightly.

    None of those were what Jiang Zhe was looking for. They were either too strong or too faint, and not

    the perfect scent he was looking for.

    Seeing the Boss shake his head, Jiang Zhe could feel an immense pressure that almost brought him to

    tears.

    What exactly happened that made Nan Chen have this urge to gather bottles of orange blossom

    scented perfume?

    Besides, he was still not satisfied despite all the bottles of perfume from renowned brands that were

    ced right before him. What next?

    ¡°Nan Chen, are we stepping into the perfume industry? The current manufacturing standards of the

    country are indeed rather low. There are almost no local brands that canpete with international

    perfume brands¡­¡±

    Nan Chen immediately raised his hand to interrupt Jiang Zhe¡¯s sentence.

    In fact, even Nan Chen himself did not know what he was trying to do. Perhaps what he wanted to find

    out was whether the scenting from thatdy was from a certain brand of orange-blossom scented

    perfume.

    Even if so, what has it got to do with him?

    He did not even know why.

    Nan Chen¡¯s irritation surged as he pointed to the perfume bottles on the table and waved his hand

    impatiently, signaling Jiang Zhe to discard them.

    The lowly standards of the scents made Nan Chen feel irritable.

    Jiang Zhe found a stic bag, and he carefully ced all the perfume bottles into it.

    All these are from renowned brands, and they were all so expensive. Giving any one of them to ady

    out there would be the key to picking them up. Wouldn¡¯t it be such as waste to throw these precious

    gifts away?

    After keeping the bottles of perfume into the bag, Jiang Zhe did not leave. Instead, he stood there,

    looking as if he was about to speak, yet nothing came out of his mouth.

    Nan Chen looked up and gazed at Jiang Zhe to see if he had anything to say.

    ¡°There is one more thing. A girl friend of mine gave me this picture as she is a fan of Luo Fei and

    knows that I have the opportunity to get close to her. She asked me to help her get Luo Fei¡¯s signature.

    This was taken by her when she went to wee Luo Fei¡¯s arrival in the airport.¡± Jiang Zhe replied

    carefully.

    Nan Chen frowned. Where did Jiang Zhe get the guts to pester him with such an insignificant matter?

    The atmosphere in the office became tense. Jiang Zhe immediately exined, ¡°This was originally a

    small matter, but upon seeing the person in the picture, I waspletely taken aback. I felt that it was

    necessary to inform you about this.¡±

    Nan Chen frowned harder than before. He was disinterested in Luo Fei how could he be interested in

    her photo? What has Jiang Zhe be of?

    Jiang Zhe shoved the photo to Nan Chen, ¡°Calm down Nan Chen. Look, do you find the child in Luo

    Fei¡¯s arms familiar looking?¡±

    The picture was ced right before Nan Chen. There was an obvious faked smile on Luo Fei¡¯s face as

    she carried an adorable child in her arms.

    Initially, Nan Chen only scanned through the photo with detests. However, after he caught a glimpse of

    the child, he could not help but reach out for the photo to take a closer look at it.

    Did someone photo shopped his baby picture into this picture?

    Upon seeing Nan Chen gaining interest in the picture, Jiang Zhe heaved a sigh of relief and said,

    ¡°Right? It does bore a great resemnce, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    Nan Chen reached out for his drawer and pulled out a rather old photograph. The child in the

    photograph seemed to be around four to five years old.

    The child in this photo resembled as the one that Luo Fei was carrying in her arms in the earlier photo.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 29

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 29

    Nan Chen stretched out his well-kempt fingers, and pointed to the child in Luo Fei¡¯s arms. He then

    pointed to the child in the photograph he fished out. He looked up at stared at Jiang Zhe.

    Jiang Zhe instantly understood what Nan Chen meant, and said, ¡°They look alike but they are not the

    same person. The child in the photograph is you, but you¡¯re not the one in Luo Fei¡¯s arms.¡±

    Upon finishing his sentence, Jiang Zhe felt that it somewhat sounded weird and there was a slight risk

    of offending Nan Chen.

    He immediately added on, ¡°What I meant was that the child in Luo Fei¡¯s arms in that picture should not

    have been photo shopped. I assume there is indeed a child who looks exactly like you. This was also

    the reason why I had to inform you of this.¡±

    Nan Chen sped his hands together with his fingers tightly inteced around each other. He ced

    them in front of his chest, like how he always did whenever he was deep in thought.

    He finally uttered a word, ¡°Investigate.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Nan Chen.¡±

    Upon receiving his order, Jiang Chen reached out for the photo on the table. However, Nan Chen

    covered the picture forcefully, preventing Jiang Chen from doing so.

    Jiang Zhe had no choice but to fish out his phone and take a snapshot of the picture.

    Being extremely efficient was the key to being Nan Chen¡¯s long term employee. An hourter, the team

    under him provided Jiang Zhe with a general outline of the investigation results.

    ¡°Luo Fei met this child coincidentally in the airport. There were a lot of reporters at the scene that day,

    and happens that the child fell down so Luo Fei carried him. This child is not rted to Luo Fei in any

    way.¡± Jiang Zhe reported.

    Nan Chen remained silent, hinting him to continue.

    ¡°Luo Fei is a famous celebrity. Carrying a child in her arms would present her as a loving person¡­¡±

    Nan Chen waved his hand, signaling at Jiang Zhe to skip past these details. Nan Chen was very clear

    what kind of tactics these celebrities would turn to in order to gain attention.

    He knew why Luo Fei would carry a child that she did not even know.

    Jiang Zhe continued, ¡°But there is one thing. The pictures that were taken at the scene did not get as

    viral as the previous pictures on the Inte. They only appeared on some we-media, and very quickly

    they were being requested to be taken down.¡±

    He continued, ¡°There are no traces of this picture left on the Inte. Obviously someone did some

    work. I was thinking that perhaps Luo Fei realized that this child looked like you and did not want to

    cause you any trouble so she asked the reporters to not spread the pictures around.

    Nan Chen waved his hand again to signal to Jiang Zhe to not analyze the details. All he needed was

    for Jiang Zhe to report to him about the investigation details and not his views as they were all wrong.

    Nan Chen knew exactly what type of a person Luo Fei was, and no one could be clearer than him.

    She would get hold of every single opportunity to gain attention no matter what it takes.

    If Luo Fei could tell that this child looked like Nan Chen, she would not take into consideration the

    impacts on Nan Chen. She would use this opportunity to gain attention and make generate the thought

    of this child being Nan Chen and her child, especially when the both of them were viewed as a couple

    by the outside world.

    But instead of doing this, Luo Fei chose to handle the pictures well without much attention.

    If Luo Fei really did all this for Nan Chen, she would let Nan Chen know about it to get credit.

    However she did not say anything and did all this behind his back.

    This was rather abnormal.

    There is usually something wrong if things were abnormal.

    Nan Chen had to find out what was the problem.

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    ¡°Get her to make a trip here.¡± Nan Chen sent out his order.

    ¡°Yes, Nan Chen.¡±

    Luo Fei received a phone call from Jiang Zhe and was on cloud nine as it was to get her to make a trip

    down to the headquarters.

    Although Nan Chen allowed her to be his so called girlfriend, Nan Chen has never once tried to let her

    get any closer to him.

    Nan Chen has never allowed her to visit his office or his house.

    It is only during social events where a female partner is necessary that Nan Chen would let her hold his

    hands.

    After the social event ends, Nan Chen would leave immediately without much interaction with her.

    However, Nan Chen unexpectedly invited her to his office. It would be her very first time to appear

    publicly in Nanshi Corporation using her title as thedy boss. What an emotional moment for Luo Fei!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 30

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 30

    However Luo Fei¡¯s imagination of employeesing to give her a warm wee with flowers and

    apuses were crushed.

    After Jiang Zhe fetched her in the carpark, he tapped his card to use the elevator meant for the

    executives and directly reached Jiang Zhe¡¯s office.

    This was Luo Fei¡¯s first visit to this ce, where the power of Nanshi Corporation were at.

    All kinds of orders would go through this ce before they could be sent out globally to instruct the

    various branches.

    He sat there, with all his attention gathered on the document on his hands. His attentive look was

    extremely charming.

    ¡°Nan Chen, Luo Fei is here.¡± Jiang Zhe gave him a gentle reminder.

    Nan Chen carefully ced the document down and rubbed his chin. Jiang Zhe knew there was none of

    his business, and he left the office

    ¡°Your office is so spacious with such renovations and good taste; I really love it.¡± Luo Fei praised.

    Nan Chen scanned through his office that was near to two hundred square meters. This was his

    brother, Nan Xing¡¯s idea for the renovation. It cost an enormous sum of over millions.

    But in Nan Chen¡¯s point of view, an office is used as a ce for work and not for parties. What was the

    point of making it so luxurious?

    The renovation style of this office was not of Nan Chen¡¯s liking.

    Upon hearing Luo Fei¡¯s liking for this office, Nan Chen frowned a little, but he did not make a single

    sound.

    There was nothing much to talk about since she was not the first person who gave thisment.

    Nan Chen who was always a man of a few words, felt even more reluctant to speak.

    He pressed the button on his table, to summon Jiang Zhe in.

    Nan Chen looked at Jiang Zhe, and pointed to the picture on the table, signaling to Jiang Zhe to help

    him question Luo Fei about this matter as he listened at the side.

    There was something that Nan Chen wanted to question Luo Fei about, yet he refused to speak to her

    directly but instead had his underling to ask on behalf for him. Luo Fei felt rather embarrassed.

    Jiang Zhe was stumped. He did not wished to be involved in this matter, but he could not defy his

    Boss¡¯s orders.

    ¡°This is the thing, Luo Fei. The main aim of asking you to make a trip down here is to get you to take a

    look at this picture.¡± Jiang Zhe said, as he lifted the picture off the table and passed it to Luo Fei.

    At first nce of the picture, Luo Fei¡¯s face turned pale.

    What she was worried about all along had finally happened.

    Nan Chen saw Luo Fei¡¯s reaction with his own eyes but he looked as emotionless as usual.

    ¡°This is a picture of me.¡± Luo Fei forced a smile, and tried to stay calm.

    Nonsense, anyone who is not blind can tell from the picture that it¡¯s you. Jiang Zhe thought to himself.

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    ¡°That child?¡± Jiang Zhe questioned

    ¡°I met this child in the airport. There were a lot of fans weing my arrival the other day. This child

    got frightened and fell down. As you should know, I¡¯m a very loving person so as expected, I carried

    him up. That¡¯s why people at the scene could produce this picture.¡± Luo Fei replied.

    Jiang Zhe looked at Nan Chen and realized that he was looking through his documents. He had no

    intention of speaking up.

    This was really difficult for Jiang Zhe. He knew what Nan Chen wanted to ask. But he did not know how

    to put it in words as only Nan Chen was in the position to ask.

    Thisdy standing right in front of him was not only a famous celebrity, but was also Nan Chen¡¯s

    rumored girlfriend. If he offends her, he would be in deep trouble. He did not dare to question anything

    that might be too sensitive.

    But by asking questions on the surface like this, he could not find out the truth. He had to dig into the

    details.

    Jiang Zhe had to use the right words to frame his question.

    ¡°Luo Fei, when you were carrying this child in your arms, didn¡¯t you notice anything peculiar?¡± Jiang

    Zhe questioned.

    ¡°He¡¯s very cute and adorable. I really liked him.¡± Luo Fei replied.

    ¡°Just that?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s just a child, what else could there be?¡± Luo Fei continued to act dumb.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 31

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 31

    Nan Chen dropped the documents in his hands heavily on the table.

    That shocked Jiang Zhe and Luo Fei so much that they both went silent.

    Nan Chen was very displeased at the fact that Luo Fei was still putting up an act of innocence.

    But at the same time, this only served to prove his conclusion that Luo Fei had intentionally kept him in

    the dark about the children. That was why she refused to let the press release the photos.

    He was not intending to speak to Luo Fei at all, but Luo Fei¡¯s pretense disgusted him so much that he

    had had enough of it.

    He got up from the chair, took the photo from Jiang Zhe and held it to Luo Fei¡¯s face.

    ¡°Whose child is this?¡± Nan Chen said in his usual deep, maic voice.

    Although Mr. Chen never talked much, he had a surprisingly nice voice. However, it also sounded cold

    at the same time.

    Luo Fei panicked even more.

    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    This was what she had feared the most. She was afraid that Nan Chen would find out about Ning Ran

    because of this child, and learns about what really happened back then.

    But fear as she may, Nan Chen had still found out about the photos and had begun to search for the

    mother of the child.

    Luo Fei went deathly pale. She tried to look calm as she said, ¡°How would I know?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a child I

    happened to meet at the airport. I don¡¯t know whose child that is.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    The temperature in the room seemed to drop a few degrees. Luo Fei took a step back.

    ¡°Alright.¡± Nan Chen said.

    Even Jiang Zhe couldn¡¯t figure out what his boss meant by ¡°alright¡±.

    What¡¯s ¡°alright¡±? What does he mean by ¡°alright¡±?

    He waved at Luo Fei, motioning her to leave.

    d that it was finally over, Luo Fei let out a sigh in relief.

    She nced at her watch and asked, ¡°Shall we have dinner together?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t had dinner

    together in quite a while.¡±

    Nan Chen did not respond. He just returned to his seat and looked at his documents.

    Luo Fei stood there awkwardly for a few seconds, and reluctantly left when she was sure that Nan

    Chen would continue to ignore her.

    She turned to look at Nan Chen once more before walking out the door, but he was still looking at the

    documents. It was as if he hadpletely forgotten about her existence.

    ¡°Ms. Fei, I¡¯ll see you out.¡± Jiang Zhe said with a bow, motioning her to leave.

    ¡°Piss off!¡± Luo Fei who was still filled with rage, yelled at Jiang Zhe.

    Jiang Zhe was taken aback. Did Luo Fei just tell him to piss off?

    He was Nan Chen¡¯s assistant, a very high ranked position in thepany¡¯s administration.

    Furthermore, he was the one closest to the ¡°king¡±. Most people would try to get on his good side, but

    Luo Fei had the guts to tell him to ¡°piss off¡±?

    Jiang Zhe¡¯s eyes went cold, but he kept hisposure. He smiled and said, ¡°Have a nice day, Ms.

    Fei.¡±

    Jiang Zhe had intended to send her off to the parking lot at first, but decided not to after she was so

    rude to him.

    ¡°A low-quality star like you dreaming to be thedy boss of Nanshi Corporation?¡± ¡°In your dreams!¡±

    Jiang Zhe cursed angrily under his breath after he saw Luo Fei enter the elevator.

    But when he looked up, he saw his boss walking out of the office.

    Jiang Zhe got scared as he didn¡¯t know if Nan Chen had overheard his rant.

    ¡°Get someone to follow her.¡± Nan Chen said to Jiang Zhe.

    Jiang Zhe understood what his boss meant after a giving it a brief thought.

    Luo Fei clearly knew who that child belongs to. That¡¯s why she had tried to keep it a secret.

    Now that they had startled her by confronting her about it, she would definitely make a move to clean

    up her mess.

    If they sent someone to follow her, track her whereabouts and find out who she¡¯s been seeing, they

    might be able to find some clues.

    It seemed the boss had taken an interest in the child. But you couldn¡¯t me him for it, considering how

    they looked so alike.

    Anyone else would be interested too if they found a child that looked just like them.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 32

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 32

    Luo Fei¡¯s car arrived at the Orchid Club parking lot.

    Luo Fei did not get out of the car immediately. She took out a ck bucket hat, a pair of big sunsses

    and a big face mask from her bag.

    She then put them on to ensure that no one could recognize her before entering the clubhouse from

    the side entrance.

    The worker who had been waiting there led her into a reserved private room, where a young man was

    waiting for her.

    He was dressed in ordinary looking clothes and had an obvious scar on the corner of his right eyebrow.

    The young man let out a surprised look and was very excited when he saw Luo Fei enter.

    ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting. How are you?¡± Luo Fei asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m doing alright. It¡¯s so good to see you! We haven¡¯t seen each other in 47 days!¡± The man stuttered

    from excitement.

    Despite his stammering, he clearly remembered the amount of days that they hadn¡¯t seen each other

    for. This showed how much Luo Fei mattered to him.

    Luo Fei said coldly, ¡°Lu Yong, my current status makes it inconvenient for me to meet you often, but I

    always have a spot for you in my heart.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Lu Yong got even more excited and wanted to hug Luo Fei, but he didn¡¯t dare to.

    ¡°I always have a special ce for you in my heart. That has never changed.¡± ¡°When the time is right, I

    will consider being with you.¡±

    Lu Yong could barely contain his excitement at this point.

    ¡°But at the moment, I need you to help me with something. There is a certain risk to it, so if you are not

    willing, I will find someone else.¡± Luo Fei said.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it! As long as it is for you, I¡¯m willing to do it!¡±

    ¡°Very well. Look for this person. She has a child with her. After you find out where she lives, I want you

    to make that child disappear.¡±

    ¡°Disappear?¡±

    ¡°Yes, disappear. I don¡¯t care if you strangle him and dump the body in the trash, or just simply sell him

    off. I just want him gone from Jiangcheng.¡±

    ¡°Why would you want to get rid of a child?¡±

    ¡°Because he is an abomination and should not exist in this world! His existence is a threat to me!¡± Luo

    Fei got worked up all of a sudden.

    ¡°But still, to do that to a child¡­¡±

    ¡°Are you willing to do it or not?¡± ¡°Like I said, I can look for someone else if you aren¡¯t willing to.¡±

    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Lu Yong had a troubled look on his face, but made up his mind anyway, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do it.¡±

    Luo Fei was delighted to hear that. She reached into her branded handbag, took out twenty thousand

    and gave it to Lu Yong.

    ¡°You¡¯ve just been released from jail not long ago, so it would be hard for you to find a job. You can use

    this money to get by for now.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t do it for your money. I do it because I love you.¡± Lu Yong turned down the money.

    ¡°I know that, but you still need money to survive anyway, so just take it. After all, you know my identity.

    If anything goes wrong with this and word gets out about it, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to look out for

    you.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If anything does go wrong, I¡¯ll take the fall by myself, just like how I did back then.¡±

    ¡°Good. Remember, her name is Ning Ran. She goes by the name Ding Mi now, and is in the same film

    crew with me. Every day, she will go home with her manager after we finish filming. You¡¯ll know where

    she lives by following them. Find out more about the child, and¡­ well, you know what to do next.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I know.¡± Lu Yong nodded.

    ¡°I know you love me, and would wish for me to be happy, right? Well, you can only ensure my

    happiness if you get this done for me.¡± ¡°Once I make enough money and can ensure a smooth life

    ahead, I will throw my status aside and be with you.¡± Luo Fei said and gave Lu Yong a kiss.

    Lu Yong trembled with happiness.

    Just as he tried to throw himself on Luo Fei, she pushed him aside, ¡°I¡¯ve still got business to take care

    of. I need to get going now.¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 33

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 33

    The second day of the filming was surprisingly smooth. Ning Ran was constantly on high alert against

    any tricks that Zhao Mingjie and Luo Fei might attempt to pull on her.

    To her surprise, neither of them made any moves towards her. They just did their part in filming

    normally. What surprised her even more was when the director told her that more scenes have been

    added on top of her existing ones. That way, she had be the de facto female lead instead.

    However, the director did not tell her that this was actually Nan Chen¡¯s decision. After she finished

    work, Cheng Xiangyun drove her home as usual. Neither of them realized that a man in a helmet had

    been tailing them on his bike the whole time.

    When they got home, they saw that Erbao had turned the living room upside down, while Dabao was

    researching aboutputers alone in the study as always.

    Ning Ran got a little angry, ¡°Erbao, why did you mess up Aunt Xiang¡¯s house like this? Didn¡¯t you

    promise mommy to be a good girl?¡±

    ¡°Mommy, I did all this on purpose.¡± Erbao said as she looked at Ning Ran with her shiny eyes.

    Ning Ran got angrier, ¡°Doing it on purpose? Why you little¡­¡­¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun quickly stopped her, ¡°It¡¯s fine! It¡¯s just a little messy. I¡¯ll just tidy it upter, so don¡¯t be

    too hard on the kids.¡±

    ¡°I was home with big brother, but he was doing research onputers all day. I got too bored, so I

    purposely made a mess to clean it upter. That way, I would have something to do.¡±

    ¡°I just haven¡¯t finished tidying up this time when mommy came home, so that¡¯s why it looks messy.¡±

    Ning Ran felt bad for leaving them at home like that. They must¡¯ve been bored out of their minds.

    ¡°Aunt Xiang has contacted the school, so we should be hearing from them soon. Once that¡¯s done, you

    can go to school! That way, you won¡¯t be so bored anymore!¡±

    As Ning Ranforted Erbao, Dabao came out and dragged Erbao into the study.

    The siblings have always kept many little secrets amongst themselves, and Ning Ran couldn¡¯t be

    bothered to care about that.

    Erbao was dragged into the study by Dabao who closed the door behind him.

    They then climbed onto a chair and looked at theputer screen. There was a photo that Dabao had

    found on the Inte.

    The man in the photo was sitting on a sofa, dressed in ck and staring into the camera with a cold

    gaze. He gave off a dominant aura.

    When Erbao saw the man, she subconsciously stroked her face. Then, she turned to look at her

    brother¡¯s face.

    ¡°He looks just like us!¡± Erbao eximed in shock.

    Dabao nodded his head.

    ¡°Who is he?¡± ¡°Is he our daddy?¡± Dabao almost fell off the chair from excitement.

    Dabao shook his head and pointed at the news headline that says, ¡°The huge ambitions of Nan Chen,

    the king of Flower City¡±.

    Erbao read the words one by one, ¡°Flower City¡¯s Wang Nan¡­¡­¡± (The headline could also be

    misinterpreted as ¡°Wang Nanchen of Flower City and his huge ambitions¡±, hence Erbao¡¯s

    misunderstanding.)

    She stopped at ¡°Chen¡± as she didn¡¯t know how to read that word.

    They had been living abroad up till now, and could speak Mandarin fairly well. However, there were still

    many words that they couldn¡¯t read, as they were still young kids after all.

    ¡°Chen.¡± Dabao taught his sister the pronunciation.

    ¡°So his name is Wang Nanchen?¡± ¡°But our surname is Ning, so he¡¯s not our daddy.¡± Erbao said

    disappointedly.

    ¡°No, his name should be Nan Chen. The King Of Flower City is just a title they gave him.¡± Dabao

    frowned as he analyzed it.

    ¡°His surname still isn¡¯t Ning though, so he still isn¡¯t our daddy.¡±

    Dabao frowned again. He felt that there was a problem with his sister¡¯s analysis.

    But he couldn¡¯t quite put a finger on what it was, exactly.

    After a brief moment of disappointment, Erbao¡¯s eyes lit up again, ¡°I¡¯ve got an idea!¡±

    Dabao looked at his sister, and gestured her to continue.

    ¡°He may not be our daddy, but we can introduce him to mommy to be her boyfriend!¡± ¡°He looks like us,

    so mommy will like him for sure!¡±

    Dabao¡¯s frown deepened further, ¡°You know the man?¡±

    Erbao shook her head innocently.

    ¡°Then how do we introduce him to mommy?¡± Dabao asked.

    Erbao was stumped too. That¡¯s right, we don¡¯t even know him, so how could we introduce him to

    mommy to be her boyfriend?This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 34

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 34

    After dinner, Ning Ran was washing the dishes in the kitchen, while Cheng Xiangyun was dragged into

    the room by the kids for a ¡°discussion¡±.

    ¡°Aunt Xiang, you made us two promises. You haven¡¯t fulfilled the second one.¡± Erbao said sternly.

    She looked too adorable when she did that. Cheng Xiangyun wanted to reach out and pinch her little

    cheek, but she moved off out the way.

    ¡°Aunt Xiang, we¡¯re talking about some serious business here!¡± Erbao raised her tone.

    Cheng Xiangyun quickly put on a straight face, ¡°Right, serious business!¡±

    ¡°You promised us that you would find mommy a boyfriend, but there¡¯s been no news so far.¡± Erbao

    said.

    ¡°Ah, so that¡¯s what this is all about? Yes, I did promise you that, but this isn¡¯t something I can rush.¡±

    ¡°Your mommy is very beautiful and talented, so I can¡¯t just find her any average Joe. He wouldn¡¯t be a

    good match for her.¡±

    Erbao looked at Dabao with a puzzled look on her face, ¡°What¡¯s an average Joe?¡±

    Dabao shook his head as he didn¡¯t know what it meant either.

    ¡°Ahem, what I mean to say is¡­ I must find her someone tall, rich and handsome.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you

    agree?¡± Cheng Xiangyun said.

    The two nodded in unison.

    ¡°So, we need to take our time with this. We must first find a suitable candidate. And when we do, I¡¯ll

    arrange for you two to check him out. After he gets your approval, we¡¯ll set up a date for him and

    mommy, okay?¡±

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    The two nodded in unison again.

    ¡°Aunt Xiang, is a CEO rich?¡± Erbao asked suddenly.

    ¡°What?¡± Cheng Xiangyun didn¡¯t understand what she said.

    ¡°Are CEOs rich people?¡± Erbao asked again.

    ¡°CEO?¡± ¡°Generally speaking, they should be rich. But if thepany isn¡¯t a big one, then they aren¡¯t

    that rich. However, if he is the CEO of argepany, then he should be quite rich. Why are you

    asking about this?¡±

    ¡°Then, is Nanshi Corporation argepany?¡± Erbao continued to ask.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Is Nanshi Corporation argepany? Is the CEO rich?¡± Erbao repeated with a serious look on her

    face.

    Cheng Xiangyun was shocked. Just what are these two children up to? Asking such a weird question

    like that.

    ¡°Oh yes, very rich!¡± Cheng Xiangyun said earnestly as she nodded repeatedly.

    If the CEO of the Nanshi Corporation couldn¡¯t count as rich, then no one else could.

    Dabao and Erbao looked at each other with a cheerful expression on their faces.

    ¡°Then let¡¯s introduce Wang Nanchen to mommy to be her boyfriend!¡± Erbao said in a mysterious tone.

    ¡°Wang Nanchen?¡± Cheng Xiangyun was puzzled. She had never heard of this name before!

    Dabao moved theputer over, and pointed at the screen for Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°The huge ambitions of Nan Chen, the king of Flower City¡±.

    Cheng Xiangyun instantly understood what they meant. Goodness, these two actually have their eyes

    set on Nan Chen!

    These kids sure have got some vision, targeting a godlike man like Nan Chen!

    ¡°His name is Nan Chen, not Wang Nanchen. And he¡¯s very rich!¡±

    ¡°Then he¡¯s our guy!¡± Erbao decided.

    Cheng Xiangyun almostughed at the thought of the ice-cold Nan Chen losing it if he found out that

    he¡¯s being targeted by these two angels.

    ¡°How did you two discover this guy?¡± Cheng Xiangyun asked curiously.

    ¡°Lookalike.¡± Dabao exined with just one word.

    Erbao added on in case Cheng Xiangyun didn¡¯t understand, ¡°He looks like us, so we think he would

    make a great boyfriend for mommy.¡±

    ¡°Well, he could, but¡­¡­¡±

    Xiangyun wants to tell you that your mommy had a fight with that man on the set, and are not on good

    terms now.

    To have that man be your mommy¡¯s boyfriend might just prove too difficult.

    But her words were stuck in her throat.

    They would be disappointed if they heard that.

    Anyway, I¡¯ll just give them my word for now. Who knows? It might juste true, after all.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 35

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 35

    ¡°Mr. Nan runs a very bigpany, so he has a lot of things to do. He is a very busy man, so it would be

    difficult to meet him.¡± Cheng Xiangyun exined to them how hard it would be to introduce Nan Chen

    to Ning Ran.

    Dabao and Erbao went into deep thought at the same time. Dabao held his cheeks with both hands,

    and Erbao followed suit. Cheng Xiangyun nearly fainted from how adorable they looked.

    ¡°Telephone.¡± Dabao had an idea.

    Cheng Xiangyun shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t have Mr. Nan¡¯s phone number. He¡¯s a big shot, and ordinary

    people like us wouldn¡¯t know his personal phone number.¡±

    ¡°Work telephone.¡± Dabao said again.

    ¡°You mean calling up hispany phone number to arrange a meetup? That would probably be even

    harder to do. Even if they¡¯re someone you know personally, you¡¯d still have to make an appointment in

    advance to see them. Seeing as we don¡¯t even know him personally, it¡¯d be so much more difficult to

    get an appointment with him.¡±

    Dabao frowned; Erbao scratched her head.

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    If none of that could work, what else could they do?

    ¡°Block him at the entrance.¡± Dabao came up with a new idea once again.

    ¡°That¡¯s out of the question. He doesn¡¯t go to work like how normal employees do. We don¡¯t even know

    when he enters and leaves the office.¡± ¡°And besides, the building security would chase us off.¡±

    Dabao¡¯s frown deepened. Erbao did the same as her brother to express her disappointment and

    sadness.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush this. Mr. Nan is also an investor in the film that mommy¡¯s in, so he will

    asionallye to the set. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll try asking the director when his next visit would be. When

    the timees, I¡¯ll take you there and you can talk to him directly, okay?¡±

    ¡°With such pretty faces like yours, I¡¯m sure that Mr. Nan would like you both. You two will definitely be

    able to do what others can¡¯t.¡±

    Dabao and Erbao both nodded their heads.

    ¡°What are you all chatting about?¡± Ning Ran entered the room.

    Dabao and Erbao turned to look at Cheng Xiangyun, and hinted at her to keep it a secret.

    ¡°Nothing much, really. These angels were telling me all about their experiences living overseas. We

    had a really nice chat!¡±

    ¡°Is that so? Then why do they look so nervous?¡±

    Naturally, Ning Ran saw right through her children¡¯s unusual behavior. She was their mother, after all.

    ¡°They¡¯re not nervous at all. We really did have a great chat! Dabao and Erbao are such mature

    children.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s time to memorize your vocabry. After that, it¡¯s bedtime.¡± Ning Ran said with a stern look on her

    face.

    When Dabao and Erbao heard what mommy said, they went back to their rooms to memorize the

    vocabry.

    Cheng Xiangyun motioned for Ning Ran to sit down to have a little chat.

    ¡°Say, have you really not thought about finding a boyfriend?¡± ¡°Do you really n to be single forever?¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you single as well? Talk about the pot calling the kettle ck!¡± Ning Ran shot back at her.

    ¡°It¡¯s different for me. You see, I do have suitors. I just set the bar a bit high, so I haven¡¯t agreed to date

    any of them.¡±

    That made Ning Ran unhappy, ¡°So you¡¯re saying that I should throw myself at others because no one

    likes me?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun waved at her, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t mean it like that! I meant to say that it¡¯s not easy for you to

    raise two children like that. So, why not find a man to help take care of them together? It¡¯d be a lot

    easier that way.¡±

    Ning Ran shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t want to get my kids a stepfather that they wouldn¡¯t like. These

    children are my life. To me, they are all that matters.¡±

    ¡°Then find one that they like and you¡¯re good to go! Take Nan Chen for example.¡±

    Ning Ran almost spat out the water she was drinking, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Poker Face?¡± ¡°He¡¯s such a jerk! Why

    would I even like him?!¡±

    ¡°Do you know how many women in Flower City wish they could date Mr. Nan? And you call him Poker

    Face?¡±

    ¡°But he really does have a poker face! On top of that, he doesn¡¯t talk much either. He¡¯s always got that

    entitled look on his face, and it irritates me just looking at it. Besides, don¡¯t you forget, he¡¯s Luo Fei¡¯s

    boyfriend!¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible for me to be with him! Are you kidding me right now?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun too, found this n to be too unrealistic.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 36

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 36

    The filming continued the next day.

    Luo Fei had privately suggested to the director that in order for everyone to be more serious at work,

    they should all put their mobile phones away when filming. This way, no one would be allowed to take

    private calls.

    The director had no choice but to listen to Luo Fei¡¯s suggestions. With that, everyone switched off their

    mobile phones.

    Once she was certain that Ning Ran could not answer her phone, Luo Fei went to the bathroom and

    called Lu Yong using another mobile phone.

    At Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s house, Erbao had just finished memorizing her vocabry for the day and was

    about to watch anime. Then, the doorbell rang.

    ¡°Mommy!¡± Erbao cried out in surprise and was about to open the door.

    But Dabao stopped her and hinted at her to keep quiet.

    Erbao got the hint immediately. Mommy usually came home veryte when filming, so it was unlikely

    that mommy would be back so suddenly at this hour.

    The siblings moved a chair to the door together. Dabao helped her sister climb up the chair and she

    looked out the peephole.

    A man with a scar on the corner of his eyebrow was standing outside the door holding a box of pizza.

    ¡°It¡¯s a man. He has food in his hand.¡± Erbao whispered to her brother.

    ¡°Food?¡±

    ¡°It looks like pizza.¡± Erbao licked her lips.

    ¡°Ask him.¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Erbao asked in her childish voice.

    ¡°I¡¯m the delivery guy! Your mom had me deliver this food to you!¡± Lu Yong replied.

    ¡°Okay!¡± Erbao got excited immediately when she heard there was food.

    But Dabao kept quiet, and told her not to open the door.

    ¡°Suspicious.¡± Dabao said.

    Although Erbao really wanted that pizza, she didn¡¯t dare open the door after hearing what her brother

    said.

    Her brother was much smarter and more experienced than her, after all.

    Lu Yong had thought it would be a piece of cake when he heard a child¡¯s voice. He started thinking

    about what he would do to these kids who were home alone.

    However, no one opened the door.

    He grew anxious and stopped ringing the doorbell. He tried knocking on the door instead, ¡°Open up!

    The food¡¯s gonna get cold!¡±

    ¡°Ask him for mommy¡¯s phone number.¡± Dabao said calmly.

    ¡°Did my mommy send you?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°Yes, she did. Now, open up! The pizza¡¯s gonna be hard if it gets cold!¡± Lu Yong was really losing his

    patience.

    He¡¯d thought it was an easy task. He didn¡¯t expect this child to be so smart and not open the door.

    ¡°Then, what¡¯s my mommy¡¯s phone number?¡± Erbao asked.

    Lu Yong found himself in a tough spot. He didn¡¯t have Ning Ran¡¯s phone number.

    ¡°I forgot the number.¡±

    He figured it¡¯d be easy to bluff his way through with these kids.

    Little did he know, those were no ordinary children. They were little geniuses.

    ¡°He said he forgot.¡± Erbao whispered.

    ¡°He¡¯s definitely lying.¡± Dabao nodded.

    ¡°Don¡¯t open the door.¡±

    ¡°Hurry up and open the door, kids! This pizza¡¯s really going cold!¡± Lu Yong was losing his temper.

    There was still no reply.

    Dabao ran into the living room, grabbed the phone and started calling mommy.

    But, mommy¡¯s phone had been switched off.

    He tried calling Cheng Xiangyun instead. It got through, but there was no answer.

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    ¡°Tell him we don¡¯t want it anymore, and have it returned.¡± Dabao whispered to Erbao.

    ¡°We¡¯re not hungry, Mister! We don¡¯t want the pizza, so you can return it.¡± Erbao said.

    ¡°How could you return it when it¡¯s already paid for?¡± ¡°Hurry up and open the door!¡± Lu Yong had lost his

    cool at this point and started kicking at the door.

    ¡°We really don¡¯t want it! You can have it, mister! Please go away, and stop knocking on the door!¡±

    Erbao said loudly.

    Lu Yong did not expect this child to be so difficult. He couldn¡¯t waste any more time on them.

    He put down the box in his hand, retrieved the tools from his bag and started to pick the lock.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 37

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 37

    The twins panicked when they heard the lock being picked. ¡°He¡¯s picking the lock!¡± ¡°What do we do,

    brother?¡± Erbao asked anxiously.

    ¡°We¡¯ll just have to call the police.¡± Dabao dialed 911 on the telephone. ¡°The number you have dialed

    does not exist.¡± Said the voice on the telephone.

    The number that Dabao dialed only worked overseas. Ning Ran had not told him that the number for

    the local emergency hotline was 110 instead of 911.

    ¡°How is it?¡± Erbao asked anxiously. ¡°I can¡¯t get through! What do we do?¡± Dabao frowned deeply. The

    lock was still being picked from the outside. Had they not locked the door from the inside as well, it

    would¡¯ve been opened by now.

    ¡°Yeah, what do we do?!¡± Erbao began to cry. They were just kids, after all. This was way too stressful

    for them to handle. If someone was trying to force their way into the house, even an adult would panic,

    let alone a child.

    ¡°Let me try again. Don¡¯t worry, big brother will protect you.¡± Dabaoforted his sister, even though he

    had also gone pale from fear. He dialed 911 again, but it was still useless.

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Suddenly, Dabao realized he had called the wrong number. ¡°911 isn¡¯t the number for the local

    emergency hotline?¡± Dabao asked Erbao.

    Erbao shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll check online.¡± Dabao rushed into the study. Erbao was afraid

    of being alone and rushed into the study with her brother, shutting the door behind her.

    Dabao did a quick search and found out the number local emergency hotline was 110 instead of

    911. Just as he was about to go back to the living room to make the call, the door had been forced

    open.

    Dabao quickly grabbed his sister¡¯s head and had her hide under the desk. The door to the study was

    kicked open and Lu Yong appeared before them.

    He had never seen such a beautiful face on a child before. At first nce, he felt like he¡¯d seen it

    before somewhere. However, he couldn¡¯t recall where at the time. The reason why it seemed familiar to

    him was because the child looked like Nan Chen.

    Lu Yong hated Nan Chen the most, as he thought Nan Chen was the one who stole Luo Fei away from

    him. Lu Yong has sworn countless times as he looked at Nan Chen¡¯s photos, that he would kill him

    sooner orter.

    But Nan Chen was the ¡°King of Flower City¡±. Lu Yong didn¡¯t even have a chance to get close to him.

    Besides, Luo Fei wouldn¡¯t let him harm Nan Chen either.

    Lu Yong was a little shocked as he saw this child¡¯s face. Why does he look so familiar? Where has he

    seen him before?

    ¡°Who are you?!¡± ¡°What do you want?!¡± Dabao tried to put on a tough act, but he was trembling in

    fear. ¡°You¡¯re the only one home?¡±

    Lu Yong looked at the child and felt his heart soften. He started to get hesitant. He wasn¡¯t evil by

    nature. He was just a man who was willing to do anything for Luo Fei because he loved her so much.

    ¡°Aunt Xiang went out to buy some groceries.¡± Dabao said calmly. Erbao was shaking uncontrobly

    under the desk. ¡°Aunt Xiang?¡±

    Lu Yong remembered that when he followed Ning Ran yesterday, there was another girl with short hair

    with her. The two had entered the house together. ¡°Please have a seat, mister. I¡¯ll pour you a ss of

    water.¡±

    Dabao walked towards Lu Yong and tried to lead him into the living room. That way, no matter what

    happened, his sister would be safe under the desk.

    Lu Yong was surprised at how calm this kid was, and began to suspect whether that short-haired girl

    was really shopping for groceries. Would she be home soon?

    If so, he would have to hurry it up and leave as soon as possible. ¡°Hey kid, you¡¯re Ning Ran¡¯s child?¡± Lu

    Yong asked.

    ¡°Yes, mister. Are you mommy¡¯s friend?¡± Dabao asked.

    Dabao was close to copsing from fear at this point. But he had to remain calm in order to protect his

    sister. He bit his lips every time he spoke, as the pain helped relieve some of his fear.

    Lu Yong didn¡¯t know how to answer the child¡¯s question. Obviously, he wasn¡¯t Ning Ran¡¯s friend. He

    hade here with evil intentions. But when faced with such a polite child, his hesitation really kicked

    in.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 38

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 38

    Lu Yong¡¯s phone vibrated. It was Luo Fei.

    ¡°Is it done?¡± Luo Fei asked softly.

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡­¡± ¡°Soon.¡± Lu Yong answered vaguely.

    ¡°What do you mean soon?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t even handle a child? Don¡¯t you want to be with me?¡± Luo Fei

    asked.

    ¡°Of course I do.¡±

    ¡°Then you¡¯d better get this done!¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t even handle such a small matter, how would I feel

    secure with you?¡± ¡°How would I dare get together with you?¡±

    ¡°I understand.¡±

    Lu Yong¡¯s eyes turned cold again after ending the call, and he looked at Dabao viciously.

    Then, at that moment, he finally recalled the reason why this child had looked so familiar. It¡¯s because

    he looked like Nan Chen!

    This child looked so much like Nan Chen, so it must be his child!

    Maybe Luo Fei had a child with Nan Chen, and decided to have someone else raise the child in order

    to keep it a secret!

    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Lu Yong¡¯s thoughts raced about as his feelings of hatred grew into a murderous intent.

    Step by step, he walked closer to Dabao.

    Dabao saw the vicious look in his eyes, and knew the man was about to hurt him.

    ¡°Mister, would you like some water?¡± Dabao forced the words out of his mouth.

    His voice was shaking and his eyes were red from the overbearing stress.

    ¡°Don¡¯t me me for this, kiddo. It¡¯s your fault being Nan Chen¡¯s child!¡± Lu Yong said in a cruel voice.

    At this moment, the sound of music came from the study. Erbao had switched on theputer¡¯s

    speakers.

    Lu Yong jumped in fright. There was someone else in there?

    Erbao knew why her brother had led the bad guy away, and she wanted to protect him too. So, she

    turned the music on as loud as possible, knowing that it would draw the bad guy back to the study.

    As long as he returned to the study, her brother would have a chance to escape.

    Lu Yong took a sharp knife out of his bag and ran towards the study.

    Then, he felt a chill down his spine as he stood there in shock.

    How did the child in the living room end up in the study?

    Is this house haunted?

    Erbao saw the confused look on Lu Yong¡¯s face and knew that he¡¯d mistaken her for her brother.

    He didn¡¯t know there were two kids in the house!

    ¡°Mister, would you like some water?¡± Erbao asked, imitating her brother¡¯s voice.

    Lu Yong stared nkly at Erbao. He was getting scared. Even the most vicious person in the world

    would be terrified in the face of such an abnormal incident.

    Then, a loud bang came from the living room. It was the sound of the teacup breaking as it hit the floor.

    Lu Yong ran back to the living room. Erbao hid herself under the desk again while his head was turned.

    Lu Yong arrived at the living room, only to find Dabao standing next to the sofa with an eerie smile on

    his face, ¡°Mister, would you like some water?¡±

    Lu Yong felt his legs going weak. He dashed back towards the study to see if the child from earlier was

    still in there.

    The child was gone, and the music had stopped too!

    He ran back to the living room again, but the child in the living room was nowhere in sight as well!

    The music started ying in the study again! He darted back and saw the child standing there, staring

    at him coldly with reddened eyes.

    Erbao was too scared. She wiped away her tears while Lu Yong was in the living room earlier.

    Lu Yong was petrified. This child could go from the living room to the study in an instant! This was no

    human!

    ¡°I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re a human or a ghost! I¡¯m going to kill you anyway!¡± Lu Yong cried out to steel

    himself.

    However, his body refused to move as he was still in great fear.

    Then, a noise came from the living room. It was the TV.

    Lu Yong was too afraid to turn around immediately. He slowly stepped backwards to the living room.

    When he finally turned his head, he saw the child standing there again, staring at him coldly with a

    remote control in hand.

    Lu Yong was on the verge of breaking down.

    With his knife in hand, he rushed fiercely towards the child standing in front of the TV.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 39

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 39

    At this moment, a strong knocking was heard from the door, ¡°This is the police! Open up!¡±

    When Lu Yong had returned to the study the first time, Dabao had hid behind the sofa and called 110

    using the portable phone.

    Lu Yong stopped in his tracks when he heard the police.

    He was in jail for intentional assault, and it had only been a few months since his release. If he were to

    be caught by the police again, he would be sent right back to jail once more.

    If he¡¯d spent another few more years in jail, Luo Fei might marry someone else.

    ¡°Mister, the police won¡¯t arrest you if you don¡¯t hurt me.¡± Dabao said tremblingly.

    Lu Yong was in confusion and had run out of ideas.

    He wasn¡¯t a smart person to begin with, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t have been used as a gun for hire by Luo

    Fei like that.

    ¡°If you hurt me, you won¡¯t get out of here either. If you open the door, I¡¯ll tell the police that you¡¯re just a

    deliveryman.¡±

    Dabao was shaking heavily but bit hard on his lips to keep himself from crying.

    ¡°Whoever¡¯s inside, I¡¯ll count to five! If you don¡¯t open the door by then, I¡¯ll break it down!¡±

    The policeman outside started counting down.

    ¡°Mister, go open the door and you¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    In a state of panic, Lu Yong tossed the knife aside and opened the door.

    The police rushed in and Dabao felt a sense of relief. His legs finally gave way and he slumped onto

    the floor with tears rolling down his cheeks.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, kids. It¡¯s alright now.¡±

    The police officer had never seen such a beautiful child in his life. He picked him up andforted him

    softly.

    Before he was done with one, another came running out of the study crying.

    ¡°And this is¡­?¡±

    Both the police and Lu Yong who had been put in handcuffs were stunned.

    ¡­¡­

    During lunch break, Ning Ran switched on her phone and saw over ten missed calls.

    Three of which, were from home. She got worried and called home but no one answered.

    She got even more worried as there was still no answer.

    She called Cheng Xiangyun. Cheng Xiangyun told her that she was visiting the school today and had

    forgotten her phone in her car, so she didn¡¯t hear it ring. She said she was rushing home now as she

    too, felt something had happened.

    The other missed calls were from unknown numbers, so Ning Ran tried calling them back.

    It was the police. They told her that her children are at the station and told her toe collect them.

    As Ning Ran burst into the police station all out of breath, she saw several policemen surrounding her

    two angels.

    Erbao was stuffing her mouth with the food given by the police as she chatted away with them. Thanks

    to the food, she had recovered quickly from her traumatic state.

    Dabao sat quietly next to his sister, showing no emotion.

    ¡°My angels, are you alright?¡± Ning Ran¡¯s tears started to fall.

    ¡°Mommy¡­¡­¡± Erbao came running and threw herself on Ning Ran.

    Dabao was less aggressive, and just snuggled next to his mommy.

    ¡°Your kids were very smart! Had they not bought us enough time to get there, the consequences would

    be dire.¡± The policeman said.

    ¡°Who¡¯s trying to hurt my children?¡±

    ¡°The suspect who broke into the room has been arrested on the spot. However, he does not admit to

    hurting the child, nor did he tell us his motives. We are still investigating this case.¡±

    ¡°Thank you so much, ma¡¯am! Sweetie, have you thanked the police officers?¡± Ning Ran said as she

    wiped her tears.

    ¡°Yes, I have.¡± Erbao said in her usual childish voice, ¡°She bought me a lot of food!¡±

    To Erbao, this was the most important part.

    ¡°Ms. Ning, I have to say this, no matter how busy you are with work, you can¡¯t leave your child alone at

    home like this! They¡¯re still so young, it¡¯s too dangerous!¡± The pretty policewoman said.

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s my fault. I¡¯m so sorry about this. I was busy contacting the school. I¡¯m so sorry, it¡¯s all my

    fault¡­¡± Ning Ran started to tear up again.

    ¡°Don¡¯t cry, mommy. We¡¯re fine! Big brother was really awesome! He was there to protect me!¡± Erbao

    reached out and wiped the tears from Ning Ran¡¯s eyes as sheforted her.

    Dabao didn¡¯t say a word. He nodded vigorously with a strong look in his eyes.

    With such children, Ning Ran couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore. She hugged them tightly and rocked them

    strongly in her embrace.

    As they were done filling up the paperwork, Cheng Xiangyun had rushed over to the station as well.

    The pretty policewoman loved the two kids so much that she personally saw them off at the door, and

    advised Ning Ran to have them go through counselling.

    A traumatic experience like this would¡¯ve cast a shadow in the child¡¯s heart, leaving behind a

    psychological illness. It may not show now, but it could affect the child¡¯s life forever.

    Only through professional counseling, would such a trauma be removed.

    She then handed Ning Ran a phone number, and told her that it was a really good psychologist who

    had worked with the police for a long time. She advised Ning Ran to bring them to him.

    Ning Ran thanked the police as she got into Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s car with the kids.

    ¡°It¡¯s all my fault¡­ I couldn¡¯t find a suitable school even after calling up so many of them.¡± ¡°None of this

    would¡¯ve happened if they were at school.¡± Cheng Xiangyun kept ming herself.

    ¡°It¡¯s not Aunt Xiang¡¯s fault! It¡¯s the bad guys!¡± Erbao said.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m to me. I shouldn¡¯t have just left them at home like that.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°We really need to find them a school. In the worst case scenario, we¡¯ll just send them to a normal

    private kindergarten first.¡± Cheng Xiangyun sighed.

    ¡°This is our only option for now.¡± Ning Ran said.

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    At this moment, the director¡¯s called and urged Ning Ran to get back on set.

    So the two split up. Cheng Xiangyun took the children for psychological counseling, while Ning Ran

    returned to work.

    ¡­¡­

    In the early morning of the next day, Ning Ran was woken up by a phone call from overseas. Ning Ran

    frowned as she saw the number. As she answered the phone, the person hurled abuse at her over the

    line.

    ¡°Calling me at such an hour, are you out of your mind?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the crazy one, Ding Mi! Why have you been ignoring my calls?¡± ¡°You still owe me money! Are

    you trying to avoid paying up?!¡± ¡°You promised me you¡¯d call me as soon as you returned to China! It¡¯s

    been so long since your return now, and you¡¯re still ignoring my calls and messages! You ungrateful

    little¡­¡­¡± The person on the other line went on and on as soon as the line got through, so Ning Ran

    couldn¡¯t even get a word in.

    She decided to put the phone next to her pillow and went back to sleep.

    ¡°Hello? Hello? Are you there? Damn it, Ding Mi! Are you listening to me?!¡±

    After a few minutes, the man started to realize that Ning Ran was not listening at all.

    Ning Ran then got back on the phone, ¡°A grown man like yourself nagging like an old hag? Have you

    no shame?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the shameless one! Forgetting about me once you got back to China like that¡­ When are you

    going to pay back the money you owe me?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s only a few hundred, man. It¡¯s not like you¡¯re strapped for cash right now anyway, so why are you

    rushing me like this? Besides, I borrowed the money from you fairly and squarely, so why should I be

    paying you back so soon?¡±

    ¡°You¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m busy. What did you want from me?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ming back to China next week! Come pick me up!¡±

    ¡°Why are youing back? You¡¯re not actuallying just to collect my debt, are you?¡±

    ¡°Cut the crap. Just remember toe pick me up.¡±

    ¡°By the way, didn¡¯t you say you¡¯re quite a big deal in China? I have something that I need your help

    with, is that okay?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°What is it? As long as it isn¡¯t finding you a boyfriend, I can help you out with it.¡±

    ¡°Could you help me find a school for my kids to go to? I¡¯ve only returned recently and I¡¯m not very

    familiar with the ce, so I wasn¡¯t able to find a good one.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, can you do it?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it if you promise toe pick me up.¡±

    ¡°Alright, I promise.¡± Ning Ran said with a frown.

    ¡°Bring your kids to Zhixing International Kindergarten tomorrow. Just give them your name, and the

    child can go to school there.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Of course, why would I lie to you? This is a piece of cake for me. Just remember toe pick me up!¡±

    ¡°Okay. But if you lie to me, I¡¯ll break your legs! Anyway, I¡¯m going back to sleep, so I¡¯ll hang up now.¡±

    Ning Ran hung up the phone straight away.

    After waking up in the morning, Ning Ran asked Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°What do you think of Zhixing

    International Kindergarten tomorrow?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun gave Ning Ran a puzzled look, ¡°You want to send your kids to Zhixing?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, is it bad?¡±

    ¡°No, on the contrary, it¡¯s too good. So good that most people wouldn¡¯t even consider it an option. It¡¯s

    the best kindergarten in Flower City, and it is also the most expensive one. It costs five hundred

    thousand a semester. And even with such an expensive fee, a lot of rich people couldn¡¯t get in either as

    they only ept 30 students in the city. There was someone who was willing to pay two million but

    even they couldn¡¯t buy their ce in there.¡±

    ¡°That great, huh?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t even know what¡¯s so great about it. All I know is, kids who can study in Zhixing are either from

    extremely rich or noble families. Their parents are the members of the elite in Flower City.¡±

    Ning Ran was starting to understand what she meant, ¡°So, a lot of people want to send their kids there

    because they want to get into that elite circle and build a high-endwork through their children¡¯s

    rtionship with fellow ssmates.¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. However, for a school to charge such high fees and still have so many parents willing

    to send their kids there¡­ That means their facilities must also be top-notch.¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I¡¯ll try bringing the kids there.¡±

    ¡°But you¡­¡­¡± Cheng Xiangyun stopped herself as she didn¡¯t want to hurt Ning Ran¡¯s feelings.

    ¡°I know I¡¯m not rich or from a noble family. But since my friend rmended it to me, I¡¯ll give it a shot.

    Who knows, he might have actually gotten me a spot there.¡±

    ¡°Who is that friend of yours, bragging like that?¡± Cheng Xiangyun got curious.

    ¡°His name is Tony. He¡¯s a buddy I know from abroad. He¡¯s a white guy with blonde hair.¡±

    ¡°Tony? Why does it sound like the name of a chief hairstylist?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, he does look like one too.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Mommy¡¯s talking about Blondie.¡± Erbao interrupted.

    ¡°You know him too?¡± Cheng Xiangyun pinched Erbao¡¯s puffy cheeks.

    ¡°Yeah, Blondie likes mommy and kept trying to win mommy over. But mommy didn¡¯t ept him.

    Blondie wants us to call him uncle, but we call him Blondie.¡± Erbao exined seriously.

    ¡°So he¡¯s your suitor?¡± Cheng Xiangyun looked at Ning Ran.

    ¡°I guess so. He looks decent and all, but he¡¯s too childish, so he wasn¡¯t my type.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°If he can really get you a spot in Zhixing Kindergarten, then he¡¯s definitely no ordinary guy.¡±

    ¡°Blondie said he¡¯s a superstar, and has lots of fans. People bought him satellites as gifts for his

    birthday!¡± Erbao said.

    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to his nonsense.¡± Ning Ran said.

    Then, Ning Ran called her director to ask for two hours of absence and brought her kids to Zhixing

    Kindergarten.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun was nervous as she didn¡¯t believe that a rmendation from Ning Ran¡¯s friend

    could earn them a spot that countless rich parents couldn¡¯t.

    ¡°My name is Ding Mi¡­¡­¡±

    The staff smiled the moment they heard it was Ding Mi, ¡°Hello, Ms. Ding, this way please. You can

    have a drink here while you wait. We¡¯ll conduct an admission interview for your children as per normal

    procedure. As long as they pass the interview, they can get enrolled immediately.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s jaw dropped. They could enroll just like that?

    ¡°Alright, thank you.¡±

    A beautiful teacher came over and ushered Dabao and Erbao into the room next to theirs for the

    interview.

    Erbao turned towards Ning Ran and waved her meaty little fist in the air, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, mommy. Brother

    and I will pass this interview!¡±

    Ning Ran smiled and nodded at her.

    She hadplete faith in her kids, as they were both geniuses.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 40

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 40

    As Ning Ran expected, the interview was very sessful.

    The beautiful teacher kept praising them, ¡°The children are excellent. In terms of reaction skills and

    logical skills, theirs is the best out of all the other children we have interviewed so far. Kids with such

    talents must be nurtured well, or it would go to waste. Ms. Ding, thank you for sending your children

    here. We believe these angels will excel tremendously in our school.¡±

    Ning Ran was very excited, ¡°Thank you, teacher! Thank you so much!¡±

    ¡°But, seeing as they¡¯re still so young, I¡¯d rmend them to stop doing advertisements during their

    school days. Although the children can make a lot of money quickly through advertisements, wasting

    the children¡¯s talents like that could be bad for them.¡± The teacher said.

    ¡°Advertisements? What advertisements?¡± Ning Ran didn¡¯t understand.

    ¡°The advertisements that your children did for theputer. I saw the advertisement online. They¡¯re

    quite popr on the inte now.¡± The teacher said.

    Ning Ran looked at Dabao and Erbao. Dabao lowered his head and Erbao turned her head to look at

    the bulletin on the kindergarten wall.

    Then, Ning Ran looked at Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°You got my kids to film advertisements behind my back?¡±

    ¡°I¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°How could you do that? I told you I won¡¯t let my kids go to work! I can afford to raise them myself!¡±

    Ning Ran was getting worked up.

    ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t me Aunt Xiang. We were the ones who begged her to do it.¡± Dabao spoke up.

    ¡°Yeah, mommy. me it on me. Brother and I just want to help earn some money. You have worked so

    hard for us!¡± Erbao said.

    Ning Ran was touched by that, and let out a sigh.

    ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. I did it without getting your permission. But let¡¯s not talk about this now, and settle the

    school fees first.¡± Cheng Xiangyun said softly.

    Of course, Ning Ran didn¡¯t have that much money. Five hundred thousand was all they managed to

    come up with after Cheng Xiangyun withdrew all her savings throughout many years.

    Ning Ran felt even more upset at the mention of money.

    Of course, Cheng Xiangyun wasn¡¯t the kind of person who would exploit children like that. Ning Ran

    just needed the money too badly.

    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    But then, the teacher¡¯s words surprised the two of them again, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about the

    school fees. The principal has told us that as long as there are no problems with the interview, these

    two angels can enroll here for free.¡±

    ¡°For free?¡± Ning Ran and Cheng Xiangyun couldn¡¯t believe their ears.

    This is Zhixing Kindergarten, after all. A school that many could not enter despite being willing to spend

    two million on. And they were enrolled for free?

    How was that possible?

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. Our principal has given us his word. Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Ding. You may leave the kids

    with us and go about your business. Remember to pick up the children in the afternoon, and give us a

    call if you need to extend your child¡¯s time at school.¡± The beautiful teacher said with a smile.

    ¡°We really don¡¯t have to pay?¡± Ning Ran still couldn¡¯t believe it.

    Cheng Xiangyun secretly motioned at Ning Ran to stop asking any further. That¡¯s hundreds of

    thousands that we¡¯re talking about here. If they say you don¡¯t have to pay, just ept the offer and stop

    bringing this up already! Are you stupid or something?

    ¡°Yes, you really don¡¯t have to, Ms. Ding. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±

    ¡°Alright then. Thank you, teacher. Dabao, Erbao, hurry up and thank the teacher!¡±

    ¡°Thank you, teacher!¡± The two kids said in unison.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go meet the other kids.¡± The teacher said.

    ¡°You can go now, mommy. Remember toe pick us up after school!¡± Erbao waved her hand.

    ¡°Alright, be a good kid and listen to the teacher, okay? Bye!¡±

    ¡°Bye, mommy!¡±

    ¡­¡­

    Nanshi Corporation, CEO¡¯s office.

    ¡°This is Ms. Fei¡¯s activities in the past few days. We have found no abnormalities so far.¡± Jiang Zhe put

    the documents on Nan Chen¡¯s desk.

    Nan Chen¡¯s face grew cold as he pushed the documents aside.

    He could care less about those useless records. He wanted clues.

    Jiang Zhe got nervous as he sensed something was wrong.

    ¡°Maybe they had missed out some details, so they couldn¡¯t find the kid.¡± Jiang Zhe said tremblingly.

    ¡°Worthless!¡± Nan Chen scolded.

    Jiang Zhe dared not say a word. By ¡°worthless¡±, he wasn¡¯t sure if his boss was referring to him or those

    under him. It might¡¯ve been both.

    ¡°Keep searching.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Chen.¡±

    Jiang Zhe opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but held his tongue.

    ¡°Speak.¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid we may not make any progress if we continue to follow Ms. Fei like this. She¡¯s a public

    figure, so she would often put on disguises when entering private clubhouses. The people below can¡¯t

    get in as they have no memberships, and they wouldn¡¯t dare to just barge in there after Ms. Fei either.

    So, they couldn¡¯t find out who Ms. Fei has been meeting inside. This is the reason why we weren¡¯t able

    to gather any clues.¡± Jiang Zhe carefully observed his boss¡¯s expression as he finished his exnation.

    Although Nan Chen was strict, he was also smart. He knew Jiang Zhe was not finding excuses, but

    telling the truth.

    It seems that to find that child, he would have to make a move on Luo Fei directly.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, I think there is no need to rush this. We¡¯ll be able to find the kids sooner orter. Ms. Qin

    has called and asked if you would like to head over today so that she can arrange her schedule to see

    you.¡± Jiang Zhe said.

    Nan Chen looked at the calendar on his desk. Time sure flies. Yet another week has passed, and it was

    time for his psychological consultation again.

    Nan Chen stood up and grabbed a ck coat, ¡°Prepare the car.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Chen.¡±

    Half an hourter, Nan Chen was sitting in front of Qin Lan.

    Qin Lan was Nan Chen¡¯s psychological counselor, and one of his very few friends.

    Nan Chen was a very cold person who was feared by many, but very few regarded him as a friend.

    He rarely treated others as his friend as well. Most of the time, he protected himself with a thickyer of

    armor. Only in front of Qin Lan, was he able to say many things that he usually couldn¡¯t, and be a

    normal person again.

    Qin Lan was a top psychological counselor in China, as well as a beautiful single mother.

    Qin Lan never mentioned who the child belonged to, and Nan Chen never asked her about it either.

    Everyone has secrets that they could never show anyone. That was how they would protect their

    individuality and self-esteem.

    Nan Chen closed his eyes, his long eyshes covering them. Qin Lan eximed. This was truly a face

    that could drive women crazy!

    On top of that, he was also an outstanding and incredibly rich person.

    God was too unfair, giving all the good things in this world to this cold man.

    ¡°Are you still not interested in women at all?¡± Qin Lan asked.

    This question that has been asked for many years is still being asked now.

    But surprisingly, Nan Chen did not answer it immediately this time.

    He seemed to be hesitating.

    This made Qin Lan very surprised. Could it be that this brick of ice has started to heal and became

    interested in the opposite sex?

    On one hand, the reason why Nan Chen has always insisted on having psychological counseling every

    week was to relieve the stress from work.

    On the other hand, it was to solve his own physical problems.

    All these years, he had never been interested in the opposite sex. To him, seeing someone from the

    opposite sex was like looking at a model in art. He found them to be good-looking, but simply had no

    interest in them.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 41

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 41

    Of course, this was not normal. Qin Lan had suspected that he was gay, but Nan Chen was not

    interested in the same sex either. In fact, he would even feel disgusted if they got too close.

    Then, Qin Lan thought that he could be suffering from an asexual disease. He would only love himself

    and refuse to ept anyone else regardless of their gender.

    Even someone as mighty as Nan Chen was shocked by Qin Lan¡¯s diagnosis.

    Only love me? That simply won¡¯t do!

    This disease must be treated!

    And so began his weekly psychological counseling sessions. As long as there were no important

    meetings or appointments, Nan Chen woulde to Qin Lan¡¯s clinic on time every week.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°What do you mean by that? Do you feel excited seeing the person? Is it a male or female?¡± Qin Lan

    pressed on.

    Nan Chen opened his eyes, ¡°Of course it¡¯s a female! I¡¯m not gay!¡±

    ¡°Alright, I get it. I didn¡¯t say you were gay either. What do you feel when you see her?¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s reply was beyond Qin Lan¡¯s expectations, ¡°I like her fragrance.¡±

    ¡°Have you slept with her?¡± Qin Lan asked.

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°So you mean you like her fragrance when you were standing face to face with her?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°What kind of person is she?¡± Qin Lan asked.

    Nan Chen went silent.

    Qin Lan found his silence perfectly understandable. It was indeed difficult to describe a person as it

    requires a lot of words.

    Nan Chen would rarely say more than ten words at a time, so how could he possibly describe a woman

    in great detail?

    ¡°In that case, I will ask the questions, and you just have to answer them.¡± Qin Lan said.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    ¡°Is she a beautiful woman?¡±

    Qin Lan realized how dumb her question was right after asking it. Even beautiful girls have failed to

    gain Nan Chen¡¯s interest, let alone ugly ones.

    Ning Ran¡¯s appearance shed by in Nan Chen¡¯s mind.

    He was surprised at how an actress that boldly insulted him had managed to leave such a strong

    impression in his heart.

    ¡°She¡¯s alright.¡± Nan Chen answered.

    ¡°Alright¡± was all he could manage to describe her with.

    Nan Chen hade across too many beautiful women who threw themselves at him.

    Therefore, Ning Ran could only qualify as ¡°okay-looking¡± as she was definitely not the prettiest.

    Qin Lan knew Nan Chen very well. Getting called ¡°alright¡± by this block of ice was equal to getting a

    score of 90/100 from him.

    ¡°Do you feel like sleeping with her when you see her?¡± Qin Lan asked.

    To a psychological counselor like Qin Lan, asking such questions are considered normal and not

    indecent, so she would not feel awkward for doing so.

    She is a doctor, and needed tomunicate effectively with her patients in order to solve their

    problems.

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Nan Chen remained silent.

    He wasn¡¯t embarrassed with the topic, however. He just didn¡¯t know the answer himself.

    He was uncertain if he had such feelings towards her.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± He gave her a three-word answer.

    ¡°That means you¡¯re feeling something! You¡¯re feeling something for a woman! Congrattions, you¡¯re

    no longer just loving yourself anymore!¡± Qin Lan said happily.

    Nan Chen opened his eyes and had a puzzled expression on his face, ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Of course! You¡¯ve never had such feelings towards anyone else throughout those years. Right?¡±

    Nan Chen kept quiet.

    ¡°Keep it up! Once you sleep with her, you should return to being a normal person.¡± Qin Lan said.

    Nan Chen narrowed his eyes.

    Sleep with her? A dignified leader of the Nanshi Corporation like himself, sleep with an ordinary actress

    who was disrespectful to him?

    This sounded absurd.

    Just as Nan Chen was lost in his thoughts, Qin Lan cried out suddenly, ¡°Oh, right! I almost forgot

    something important!¡±

    That snapped Nan Chen out of his thoughts, and he gave Qin Lan a questioning look.

    Qin Lan whipped out a mobile phone from her purse, ¡°A crook had broken into the house of a pair of

    twins yesterday. The kids were traumatized. Officer Wenqing from the police station had introduced

    them to me for psychological counseling. They looked so pretty! More importantly, they looked so much

    like you! Had I not known you personally, I would¡¯ve suspected that they were your kids! I had wanted

    to take a picture with them, but the brother refused, so I could only get one with the sister.¡±

    Qin Lan passed the phone over for Nan Chen to see.

    Nan Chen was stunned when he saw the picture.

    Wasn¡¯t that the child that Luo Fei was carrying? But the one she carried was a boy, so why is this one a

    girl?

    ¡°A girl? Are you sure?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Of course I am! They both look exactly the same, but the younger one is the sister, and the older one

    is the brother. They¡¯re fraternal twins.¡±

    Nan Chen took a deep breath. He had thought that there was only one child who looked like him, but

    now there are two of them!

    ¡°Who was it that came with them?¡± Nan Chen asked the main question directly.

    He was eager to find out who those kids that looked like him belonged to.

    ¡°It was a woman.¡±

    ¡°What did she look like?¡±

    ¡°She was quite pretty and dressed casually. Short hair, a loose T-shirt, a pair of jeans and sneakers¡­

    Quite the carefree look.¡±

    Nan Chen tried his best to associate her with the appearance of the two children in his mind. No matter

    how he looked at it, he couldn¡¯t help but see a tomboy, going by Qin Lan¡¯s descriptions.

    ¡°What about the guy?¡±

    ¡°There was no guy. By the way, the woman doesn¡¯t seem to be their mother either. They addressed her

    as Aunt Xiang.¡±

    ¡°Aunt Xiang?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. They had great pronunciation so I heard it very clearly.¡±

    Nan Chen was lost in thought.

    Suddenly, he asked, ¡°You keep a record of your patients, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I have the woman¡¯s phone number.¡± Qin Lan said.

    Qin Lan pulled up their files from herputer and retrieved the phone number.

    ¡°Are you sure you want to call her? Wouldn¡¯t it be a bit too sudden? The kids may look like you, but you

    are hardly close with women so I doubt you¡¯d have anything to do with them.¡± Qin Lan said.

    Of course, being himself, Nan Chen wouldn¡¯t make the call.

    He pointed at the number, and looked towards Qin Lan.

    ¡°You mean for me to call her?¡±

    Nan Chen nodded.

    Qin Lanughed, ¡°The kid from yesterday didn¡¯t like to talk much either. He would only nod or shake his

    head, and he looked so serious when he did it too! He looked like a mini version of Nan Chen!¡±

    Without saying a word, Nan Chen narrowed his eyes and pointed at the phone again.

    Qin Lan knew that once this block of ice has decided on something, nothing would be able to change it.

    He would not rest until she made that phone call.

    She dialed the number and heard a loud noise on the other line as the call got through.

    ¡°Hello? Who is this?¡±

    Qin Lan put her on speaker so that Nan Chen could hear Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s voice as well.

    ¡°I¡¯m Ms. Qin. You brought the two kids over to my counseling center yesterday.¡± Qin Lan said.

    ¡°Oh, hi, Ms. Qin! Is something the matter?¡±

    ¡°I just wanted to check on the kids. How are they? Did they sleep well? How is their mental condition?¡±

    ¡°Thanks for your concern, doctor! They are fine, at least for the time being. They don¡¯t seem to be

    showing any abnormal behavior so far. You¡¯ve been a great help! The impact from the incident seems

    to be gone now.¡± Cheng Xiangyun said.

    Qin Lan looked at Nan Chen who was listening next to her, and gave him a look that said, ¡°What¡¯s

    next?¡±

    Nan Chen traced the word ¡°invite¡± with his fingers on the desk.

    ¡°So, here¡¯s the thing. I am still a little concerned about the kids. Could you have their parents bring

    them over tomorrow?¡± Qin Lan said.

    ¡°If it¡¯s necessary, of course I would bring them over to see you, Dr. Qin. But their mother would be busy

    filming, so I will bring them instead.¡±

    Nan Chen thought to himself. Their mother is an actress?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 42

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 42

    Nan Chen shot Qin Lan a look. He meant for her to ask what film the mother stars in and which film

    crew she works in. As smart as Qin Lan may be, that expression was tooplicated for her to

    understand.

    She misinterpreted it as ¡°It¡¯s best if the mother would be able toe instead, as this would make

    communicating easier.¡± Nan Chen felt that her interpretation was fine as well, as it would be ideal if he

    could see their mother in person anyway.

    But Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s answer was still uncertain, ¡°The child¡¯s mother is really busy. I will try my best to

    get her to spare some time.¡± ¡°Alright, that¡¯ll be all for now, goodbye.¡±

    ¡°Goodbye, Dr. Qin.¡± Qin Lan hung up the phone, and eyed Nan Chen¡¯s cold face suspiciously. Nan

    Chen could see that Qin Lan had questions for him, but he didn¡¯t say a word. Instead, he just nced

    back at her and waited for her to ask away.

    ¡°Are you interested in the children or the mother?¡±

    Nan Chen crossed his fingers in front of his chest, as he asked himself the same thing. ¡°Have you

    really neverid hands on a single woman in all these years?¡± Qin Lan asked again.

    Nan Chen remained silent and just gave Qin Lan a look that said, ¡°Need you even ask? Of course I

    haven¡¯t.¡± ¡°But that actress is going around calling you her fianc¨¦¨¦. Why do you allow her to do that?¡±

    Qin Lan asked.

    That was because he could stop a lot of suitors by using Luo Fei. Besides, she¡¯s working in an

    entertainmentpany sponsored by Nanshi Corporation, so thepany would profit from her fame

    as well.

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    But Nan Chen found it too troublesome to exin, so he just shook his head.

    Qin Lan knew about this habit of his. He never used lengthy exnations as he never had to.

    With a position like his, he never needed a reason for doing something. Simrly, he wouldn¡¯t need one

    for not doing something either.

    So, why would he need to exin himself if he didn¡¯t need a reason to do it?

    ¡°Alright. Since you have neverid your hands on any woman, that child isn¡¯t yours then?¡±

    Nan Chen nodded.

    ¡°I was a little worried for you at first. If you really abandoned someone after having a child with them,

    the mother would be a victim. If they find you, they¡¯ll treat you like their cash cow and milk you

    dry. Of course, money may just be a number to you, so you don¡¯t really care about it. However, it would

    be a huge problem if it affects the reputation of the Nan family.¡±

    Nan Chen just listened to Qin Lan¡¯s analysis in silence.

    ¡°Alright, you keep interacting with that woman. If you find that she interests you, sleep with her, and this

    might just be able to cure you.¡±

    Qin Lan stood up and prepared to end the therapy session.

    But Nan Chen didn¡¯t move. He raised his head and asked Qin Lan, ¡°Time?¡±

    ¡°The time for the session next week? You¡¯re the busy one, so of course you¡¯ll be the one to decide on

    it. We¡¯ll arrange it based on your schedule, so you just have to inform me of the time in advance.¡±

    ¡°Child.¡± Nan Chen said.

    Qin Lan realized that he was asking about when the two children would being over tomorrow.

    ¡°Oh, we didn¡¯t agree on an exact time. It should be in the morning, I guess? You seem to really care

    about them. Are youing to see them in person?¡±

    Nan Chen nodded.

    Qin Lan was amused at the sight of him nodding like Dabao.

    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll inform you once we confirm the exact time of the appointment. You might scare the

    children if you showed up suddenly, looking exactly like them.¡±

    Nan Chen frowned. He had never thought about this before.

    ¡°How about this? When they arrive, I¡¯ll tell them that there is a man who looks just like them, and ask if

    they want to meet him. If they say yes, then you cane in. What do you think of this arrangement?¡±

    Nan Chen nodded once more, and Qin Lan felt as if Dabao was right in front of her, but she knew that

    was impossible.

    ¡­¡­

    Because the filming ended reallyte, it was already 12 o¡¯clock by the time Ning Ran got home.

    She was very tired and felt like she was falling apart.

    Both children were asleep. Ning Ran took a shower and went to the kitchen to get something to eat.

    Cheng Xiangyun heard the noise and rushed to the kitchen, ¡°You¡¯re not seriously going to eat at this

    hour, are you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you already have a bento on set?¡±

    ¡°That was at 6pm. It¡¯s almost 1am now, how could I not be hungry? I have to eat something.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t. You¡¯ll get fat if you eat now.¡± Cheng Xiangyun stopped Ning Ran.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m not fat anyway.¡±

    ¡°You aren¡¯t fat NOW, but you WILL BE if you don¡¯t control your diet. With all that screen time from the

    extra scenes the director gave you, you¡¯re practically the female lead now. You should seize this great

    opportunity to make your first film since your return to China a huge hit! That way, you will have a bright

    future ahead, and I¡¯d be the best manager as well!¡± Cheng Xiangyun said.

    ¡°Why do I get this feeling that only thest sentence is the most important one?¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°What are you talking about? Likemunities of interest, we benefit from each other. I¡¯m doing this for

    your own good as well as my own!¡±

    ¡°At least let me have a slice of bread, please? I promise I won¡¯t go overweight, alright?¡± Ning Ran

    begged.

    ¡°No, you can only have half a cucumber. Absolutely no touching the bread!¡±

    Ning Ran wailed, ¡°But then I will be too hungry to sleep! I¡¯m really hungry¡­ I don¡¯t want to live

    anymore!¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re not nning on living, then you might as well just starve yourself to death. Eating is just a

    waste of food for a dying person anyway.¡±

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll just have half a cucumber then¡­ What a miserable life I have¡­¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun only left the kitchen when she saw that Ning Ran had given up.

    She waited in the living room for quite a while, but Ning Ran still hadn¡¯te out of the kitchen.

    Cheng Xiangyun realized that she had been tricked, and ran back into the kitchen. There, she saw

    Ning Ran with yogurt in one hand and bread in the other as she wolfed it down hungrily.

    When she saw Cheng Xiangyuning in, Ning Ran quickly shoved thest chunk of bread into her

    mouth, and smiled triumphantly at her like a greedy child.

    Cheng Xiangyun red at her, ¡°Jeez, look at yourself! I heard that the male lead of our crew is a huge

    star, and would be arriving on set in two days. You need to watch your figure to leave a good

    impression on him. With his help, you could boost your poprity!¡±

    ¡°A huge star? Who is he?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not too sure myself. The original actor for the role had been rejected as he stalled for too long, so

    the film crew has been looking for a new recement. I heard they managed to sign up a new

    superstar recently. Everyone¡¯s looking forward to it in hopes of using him to boost their poprity.¡±

    Ning Ran sneered, ¡°I don¡¯t need others to help me get popr. I rely on my own capabilities.¡±

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t even be able to either, since he¡¯ll mainly be paired up with Luo Fei anyway.¡±

    Ning Ran became interested when she heard this.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I might just make a move too. If I do seed, Luo Fei would surely be so mad!

    That¡¯d be so much fun!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯d be difficult, as Luo Fei is well-known to be a master at that. She befriends whoever¡¯s popr

    and goes around sharing pictures of them eating out together, calling them her friends. They may have

    only had one meal together for all we know.¡±

    Ning Ran chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m already looking forward to that superstar¡¯s arrival.¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 43

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 43

    The next morning, Ning Ran dragged her tired body out of bed to personally send her kids to

    school. She felt bad for not picking them up from school, so she insisted on sending them to school.

    Erbao who had not seen mommy the entire day rushed towards Ning Ran and threw herself onto her,

    ¡°I¡¯ve missed you so much, mommy!¡±

    ¡°Have you been a good kid at school? Did you make any friends?¡± Ning Ran asked as she hugged her.

    ¡°Yes, I have! The teacher said we were really smart! Some of the girls were even trying to be

    brother¡¯s girlfriend!¡± Erbao said in a cute voice.

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. What would you kids know about dating?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s true! They were fighting to give him snacks, but he ignored them all. They shoved the snacks into

    his bag, but he gave them all to me instead! It was so yummy!¡±

    Ning Ran put on a stern face, ¡°You greedy little girl! You shouldn¡¯t just eat other people¡¯s food like that,

    got it?¡±

    ¡°They gave brother the snacks willingly to win him over! I didn¡¯t ask them for it.¡± Erbao pouted.

    ¡°Trying to justify your actions now, are you? Look, no more eating other people¡¯s food, okay?¡±

    Erbao wasn¡¯t happy with that but didn¡¯t dare talk back anymore.

    After sending the child to school, Cheng Xiangyun and Ning Ran went to the studio together.

    ¡°The psychiatrist called and asked me to send the children for a follow-up today. I¡¯ll send them there

    today after school is over.¡± Cheng Xiangyun said.

    ¡°In that case, I will ask the director for half the day off and go with them.¡±

    ¡°No, you don¡¯t have to. The psychiatrist said it¡¯d be better if the parent doesn¡¯t go with them, so I¡¯ll go

    instead.¡±

    Of course, Cheng Xiangyun was aware of Ning Ran¡¯s current situation in the crew. With the constant

    pressure from that superstar Luo Fei, things were already very difficult for Ning Ran as it is, even

    without taking leave.

    If she took leaves frequently, Luo Fei would definitely seize the opportunity to sabotage Ning Ran by

    ming her for slowing down the filming progress. Cheng Xiangyun lied to Ning Ran about the doctor¡¯s

    message so she could focus on her film.

    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll leave it to you. A friend of mine from abroad will be arriving tonight, so I need to go

    pick him up. I owe him money, so he won¡¯t leave me alone unless I do so.¡± Ning Ran said helplessly.

    ¡°You mean that guy who helped enroll your kids in school?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s Tony.¡±

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll go with you! This person was able to help enroll your kids in Zhixing Kindergarten with a

    single phone call, so he must be a big shot of some kind! I want to meet someone like that too!¡± Cheng

    Xiangyun looked very excited.

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother, you¡¯ll just end up feeling disappointed when you see him. He is a very shameless and

    ignorant boy toy. In fact, he¡¯s even more wretched than me.¡± Ning Ranined.

    ¡°Are you kidding me? It¡¯s hard to imagine anyone being more wretched than you though. He was able

    to settle a problem with a single phone call from overseas that many couldn¡¯t even with hundreds of

    thousand. How bad can someone like that possibly be?¡± Cheng Xiangyun said doubtfully.

    ¡°I have no idea how he did it either. But he¡¯s a really terrible person, so you¡¯re better off not seeing him

    anyway. Alright, I¡¯ve got to get going now.¡±

    ¡­¡­

    At five o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Cheng Xiangyun had arrived on time and picked up the kids from

    school.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to see Dr. Qin again. Don¡¯t be nervous, okay? Just answer whatever questions she asks,

    and do whatever she tells you to.¡± Cheng Xiangyun said.

    ¡°Alright, Aunt Xiang. We¡¯re not scared.¡± Erbao said loudly.

    Dabao nodded.

    Zhixing Kindergarten wasn¡¯t far from Qin Lan¡¯s clinic. Before going there, Cheng Xiangyun had called

    Qin Lan and told her that they would be there in ten minutes.

    When they arrived at the clinic, Qin Lan told Cheng Xiangyun that the kids didn¡¯t need to be

    apanied by an adult, so shee back in an hour to pick them up.

    Cheng Xiangyun knew that the kids were geniuses, and Qin Lan was introduced by a police officer

    anyway, so she could trust her. She handed the kids to Qin Lan, and went to the nearby supermarket to

    buy some groceries. She had nned to cook them a delicious mealter in the evening.

    Qin Lan started off by asking the kids some questions to check if they still showed any clear signs of

    psychological trauma from the incident.

    She was shocked at their performance. Be it their level of intelligence or their mentality, they were not

    like that of a four-year-old child at all.

    ¡°Sweetie, there is a handsome guy who looks a lot like you. He wants to meet you. Would you like to

    see him?¡± Qin Lan asked softly.

    Erbao looked at Dabao. She had to listen to her brother when it came to these things.

    Dabao shook his head.

    Mommy told us, we mustn¡¯t ept anything from strangers, and we mustn¡¯t follow strangers either. If a

    stranger approaches us, we must politely reject their advances.

    We haven¡¯t met that handsome man before. That makes him a stranger, so of course we mustn¡¯t meet

    him.

    ¡°Brother says no.¡± Erbao said.

    ¡°The handsome man isn¡¯t a bad guy. He¡¯s my friend. I promise you; he means you no harm.¡± Qin Lan

    exined.

    Erbao looked at Dabao again.

    Dabao still shook his head.

    If he has nothing to do with us, then there is no need to see him.

    Qin Lan¡¯s phone rang, it was Nan Chen. He told her that he had arrived at the clinic.

    That was fast of him. Usually it could take months just to invite him for a meal, and now he¡¯s rushed

    here so quickly for these kids?

    Does he value them over his friends?

    Qin Lan was a little jealous. These kids seemed to matter more to him than an old friend like herself.

    Qin Lan stepped aside and said softly to Nan Chen, ¡°I¡¯ve tried talking to them about it, but they refuse

    to see you.¡±

    Nan Chen too, was unsure of what to do. It was indeed rather sudden of him to try and meet them like

    this when he didn¡¯t even know them nor their parents.

    In Flower City, even famous celebrities and big shots would have to get in line for an appointment if

    they wanted to meet Nan Chen. But these kids had refused to see him even though he had personally

    come to meet them?

    This was such a huge turn of events. Nan Chen had never thought he¡¯d get rejected by someone, let

    alone by two children.

    The phone went silent, but Qin Lan knew Nan Chen was still listening.

    ¡°I can try talking to them again. Or maybe you could wait at the entrance and pretend that you bumped

    into them by chance?¡± Qin Lan said.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Nan Chen replied.

    Nan Chen hung up the phone feeling defeated. He hade here sincerely, after all.

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    In order to meet the kids today, he had asked Jiang Zhe to prepare some gifts: Two beautiful dolls and

    two boxes of snacks personally made by a famous pastry chef in Flower City.

    In order not to startle the kids, he even drove over by himself without his aides.

    And yet, he wasn¡¯t even able to see them after all that trouble.

    He couldn¡¯t just walk in there either as that would startle the kids, so he could only wait inside his car.

    Suddenly, a strong feeling of irritation started to build up in him. He exhaled slowly, took out his mobile

    phone and replied some work emails to calm himself down.

    Meanwhile, Qin Lan was still trying her best, ¡°The handsome man is just right outside now. If you won¡¯t

    meet him, should I tell him to go back?¡±

    Erbao looked at her brother, ¡°Since he¡¯s already here, why don¡¯t we see him? What if it¡¯s something

    important?¡±

    Qin Lan struggled to hold in herughter. This kid is so cute for thinking that people needed something

    from her.

    Dabao didn¡¯t answer immediately, as he was thinking about it.

    ¡°Besides, Dr. Qin is here with us, so we¡¯ll be safe!¡± Erbao tried to convince her brother using logic.

    Dabao knew that his sister loves to have fun and wants to meet him.

    Since there isn¡¯t any risk anyway, we¡¯ll just meet him then!

    Dabao nodded.

    Qin Lan let out a sigh of relief. This kid has finally said yes!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 44

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 44

    Nan Chen¡¯s phone rang. He immediately answered, ¡°How¡¯d it go?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯ve agreed to see you!¡± Qin Lan said excitedly.

    Nan Chen sighed in relief as well. Finally, a chance to meet them!

    That was not easy!

    ¡°May Ie in now?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    A few minutester, Nan Chen appeared at the door of the clinic with two dolls in his arms.

    Qin Lan was stunned. She had been friends with Nan Chen for many years, and had yet to see Nan

    Chen holding a doll.

    Nan Chen was like a god who stood at the top of the Flower City pyramid. He wasbelled as a cold,

    resolved, and distant person.

    But now, here he stood, holding two dolls childishly with an uneasy look on his face.

    Qin Lan frowned. Was this real Nan Chen?

    ¡°Nan¡­¡­!¡± Erbao cried out when she saw Nan Chen¡¯s face, but she had forgotten how to pronounce

    the word ¡°Chen¡± due to the shock.

    Qin Lan and Nan Chen were both surprised as well. This kid knew about his surname ¡°Nan¡±?

    ¡°It¡¯s Nan Chen.¡± Nan Chen said with a nod.

    Qin Lan was going crazy from this. Nan Chen had proactively introduced himself!

    This has never happened before!

    Nan Chen was like an icondmark on the three-square acrend of Flower City. Anyone with a little

    common knowledge would recognize Mr. Chen.

    But Nan Chen would rarely ever introduce himself proactively.

    But today, he had actually taken the initiative to introduce himself sincerely to these kids!

    ¡°Hahaha!¡± Erbao suddenly burst into a giggle, ¡°It¡¯s him! It¡¯s him!¡±

    Qin Lan and Nan Chen went silent again. What is she ying at this time?

    It¡¯s him, it¡¯s him£¿

    Dabao was calm and expressionless, but his eyes were bright.

    They had seen Nan Chen¡¯s photos on theputer, and had secretly plotted to introduce him to

    mommy to be her boyfriend. However, they couldn¡¯t carry out the n as they weren¡¯t able to see him

    in person.

    Now that this person was standing right in front of them, even Da Bao was surprised.

    ¡°I¡¯m Ning Sihan, and he¡¯s Ning Sirui. He¡¯s the elder brother, and I¡¯m the younger sister. But we¡¯re only a

    few minutes apart, because we¡¯re twins!¡± Erbao started to introduce themselves seriously in her usual

    childish voice.

    Nan Chen felt like the softest spot in his heart was being touched, or rather, struck.

    Erbao¡¯s cute smile from before had already won him over. He felt a strong, never-before-seen feeling of

    affection take over her, which softened his otherwise rock-hard heart.

    There was a terrifying sweetness in that kind of affection, which left Nan Chen captivated.

    Even he had no idea what was happening to him.

    Er Bao finished introducing herself and her brother, and waited for Nan Chen to respond.

    But Nan Chen seemed to be distracted. He just looked at Erbao and Dabao with gentle eyes and an

    affectionate look on his face.

    Qin Lan saw Nan Chen¡¯s expression from the side, and knew from her professional view as a

    psychiatrist that Nan Chen was in a state of submission.

    His emotions were affected and even controlled by the two adorable angels. His heart was filled with

    joy and happiness, and at this moment, he had removed that ¡°armor¡± that he protected himself with.

    He had gone from being a ¡°god¡± to an ordinary human.

    ¡°Mr. Chen?¡± Qin Lan called out to Nan Chen who was lost in thought.

    Nan Chen regained hisposure, ¡°Oh, hi, pleased to meet you.¡±

    Qin Lan¡¯s jaw dropped. Nan Chen was actually capable of such polite speech? And he was able to

    utter so many words at once?

    ¡°We¡¯re really happy too!¡±

    Erbao was delighted, and was about to walk over to Nan Chen excitedly. She liked this handsome man

    from the bottom of her heart.

    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    With the first being her brother, Nan Chen was the second most handsome man in the world!

    But Dabao stopped Erbao with his gaze, motioning her not to go near strangers.

    Erbao stepped back and climbed onto her chair.

    Because she was too short and the chair was a little high, her feet couldn¡¯t touch the ground and were

    dangling in the air.

    Nan Chen was also very happy to see Erbao walking towards him. He had wanted to get closer to

    them, but Dabao had stopped her.

    ¡°Doctor, we want to talk to him in private.¡± Erbao said seriously.

    Dabao nodded.

    Qin Lan felt sidelined. You¡¯re chasing me out of MY OFFICE once you see a handsome man?

    ¡°What do you want to talk about?¡± Qin Lan asked in curiosity.

    ¡°Something very important.¡± Erbao said seriously.

    Dabao nodded again.

    Nan Chen was shocked. These two angels wanted to talk to him alone?

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you wait outside? I¡¯ll talk to them.¡± Nan Chen looked at Qin Lan.

    ¡°But I have to be present. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t be able to exin to the parents if they show up.¡±

    Qin Lan was a person with professional ethics, after all. Although she could trust Nan Chen, she still

    found it inappropriate to leave the kids alone with Nan Chen.

    ¡°We¡¯ll keep it brief.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Sweeties, do you really want to talk to him in private?¡± Qin Lan confirmed with them once again.

    Dabao and Erbao nodded in unison.

    Nan Chen nodded as well.

    Qin Lan felt like she was losing her mind once again. The three simr-looking faces were nodding

    together with the same rhythm. It was as if she was seeing double, or rather, triple.

    After seeing them nod with 90% resemnce with each other, Qin Lan felt it was okay to let them talk

    in private.

    Qin Lan also deduced that these two children must have some sort of connection with Nan Chen.

    There was no way that they weren¡¯t rted at all!

    Because they looked so alike!

    Not just their looks, but their facial expressions and behavior too!

    It was like looking at two mini versions of Nan Chen and an erged version of Nan Chen, as if they

    were cloned!

    Especially the way Dabao looked when he was silent with that cold look in his eyes. Anyone else would

    definitely have thought that he was a mini version of Nan Chen as well!

    ¡°Alright, you guys carry on then. I¡¯ll just be outside, so feel free to call out to me anytime.¡±

    Qin Lan stood up and reluctantly walked out of her office, closing the door gently behind her.

    The three simr-looking faces were left staring at each other in the office.

    Both sides were full of curiosity towards each other, but at the same time felt like there was a long-lost

    sense of intimacy between them.

    That intimacy felt innate. Although they have never met, it felt as if they were reunited after a long

    absence.

    A phrase appeared in Nan Chen¡¯s mind, ¡°It is our first time meeting, but it feels like I¡¯ve known you

    forever.¡±

    Erbao was the first to break the silence, ¡°Are you really Nan Chen?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Nan Chen answered honestly.

    ¡°You¡¯re Nan Chen, the CEO?¡± Erbao asked again.

    Nan Chen¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°How did you know that I¡¯m a CEO?¡±

    Erbao waved her hand, ¡°That¡¯s not important. Just tell me, are you the CEO or not?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Erbao nced at Dabao, and they gave each other a look.

    It¡¯s him, there¡¯s no mistake about it!

    ¡°One will search high and low¡­¡­¡± Erbao scratched her head as she tried to say an idiom, forgot the

    rest after a few words.

    ¡°One will search high and low only to find it when one least expects to?¡± Nan Chenpleted her

    sentence.

    Erbao nodded, ¡°Yes! That¡¯s the one! Brother knows it, but it¡¯s too difficult for me.¡±

    ¡°So, you two have been looking for me?¡±

    ¡°Yes! Yes! Yes!¡± Erbao answered.

    ¡°Why were you looking for me?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    Erbao looked at Dabao for advice.

    They were looking for Nan Chen so they could introduce him to mommy to be her boyfriend. But, she

    hesitated as it seemed too inappropriate and awkward to say it.

    How could they put it into words?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 45

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 45

    Dabao was indecisive as well. If they went straight to the point, it would be inappropriate and mommy

    might get angry when she found out.

    After all, this was something that they had plotted with Aunt Xiang without mommy¡¯s approval. So, they

    could only remain silent. Nan Chen saw right through them and knew they had something that they

    were hesitant to tell him about.

    It was strange for such a young child to have unspeakable secrets. So, Nan Chen asked them an

    easier question, ¡°Are you two in school?¡±

    Erbao quickly answered, ¡°Yes! We¡¯re attending Zhixing Kindergarten.¡± Of course, Nan Chen knew

    about Zhixing. It was one of the projects under Nanshi Corporation¡¯s Education Group.

    Zhixing¡¯s hefty fee of five hundred thousand per semester was considered to be rtively high in

    China, and had a very limited number of spots as well. Children who could afford to study in Zhixing

    were generally from wealthy families, and could even be considered the elites of Flower City.

    But if one were part of such a high-end social circle, then Nan Chen should¡¯ve at least known about

    them.

    But as Nan Chen gave it some thought, there doesn¡¯t seem to be anyone with the surname Ning in that

    social circle.

    Nan Chen nodded, ¡°Can you tell me your daddy¡¯s name?¡±

    The two looked at each other once again.

    ¡°We¡¯ve never met him.¡± Erbao told the truth.

    Nan Chen¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°You¡¯ve never met him?¡±

    The two nodded in unison.

    ¡°Why?¡± Nan Chen couldn¡¯t help but ask.

    ¡°Daddy went missing, and we haven¡¯t found him yet.¡± Erbao said seriously.

    Nan Chen found it strange that a big grown man could just go missing like that. Could it be that their

    daddy is an idiot?

    That can¡¯t be. How could an idiot produce such excellent children?

    Besides, how could the father of these kids who looked like Nan Chen be an idiot?

    But Erbao had a serious expression on her face and answered the question without hesitation, which

    showed that she was telling the truth.

    Nan Chen understood that it must be the answer their mother gave them.

    She told them that he went missing because they were too young to understand theplicated affairs

    between adults.

    Nan Chen suddenly thought of his twin brother Nan Xing, whom he had assigned to theirpany¡¯s

    branch in Africa for training.

    Although Nan Xing and Nan Chen were twins, their personalities wereplete opposites.

    Nan Chen was silent, cold, emotionless, good at strategizing and has a huge vision.

    Nan Xing was lively, talkative, and likes to pick up girls. There were a lot of rumors between him and

    many celebrities.

    To put it in Nan Xing¡¯s words, ¡°To flirt with women is to do oneself and the universe a favor.¡±

    Although their personalities differed, their faces looked the exact same.

    Nan Xing had affairs with a lot of women. Could this pair of adorable angels be his children?

    ¡°Then, has mommy ever mentioned daddy¡¯s name?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    The two shook their head in unison.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, can I have your phone number?¡± Erbao suddenly asked.

    ¡°Sure! Feel free to call me if you need anything. But I didn¡¯t bring my name card with me today, so I¡¯ll

    write it down for you.¡±

    Nan Chen stood up and walked towards Qin Lan¡¯s desk to write his number down on a piece of paper.

    ¡°No need, just tell brother the number. He can remember it.¡± Erbao said.

    Nan Chen was shocked. He looked at Dabao, ¡°You can remember it if I say it once?¡±

    Dabao nodded with a confident look in his eyes.

    Nan Chen had only known one other person who could memorize his number after saying it once, and

    that person was himself.

    There were hundreds of executives under the listedpanies of Nanshi Corporation business empire.

    Every time they held a shareholders¡¯ meeting, Nan Chen would be able to address all the executives

    by their names when he shook hands with them.

    That led everyone to think that Nan Chen pays special attention to them. They felt honored and

    overjoyed to have Nan Chen to address them by name.

    But Nan Chen didn¡¯t actually make a deliberate effort to remember their names. He simply was able to

    remember names upon hearing them once, and recite them at will whenever he saw the person again.

    Nan Xing however, couldn¡¯t do it. He couldn¡¯t even remember the names of the executives in that

    single branch that he managed.

    He couldn¡¯t even recall the names of women he¡¯s dated a month after breaking up with them.

    On the one hand, it was because of his poor memory. On the other hand, it was because he¡¯s had too

    many ex-girlfriends so it was really hard to remember all their names.

    Nan Chen wanted to test out the memory of these kids that he suspects to be his nephews.

    And so, he read out his personal phone number only once.

    Erbao ended up frowning, ¡°Your number is too simple, even I can memorize it, let alone my brother.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s number was indeed too simple, because thest six digits were all 8. It was the ¡°emperor¡¯s

    number¡± given to Mr. Chen by the telmunication service provider of Flower City.

    ¡°This is my personal number. I have five other work contact numbers, but they¡¯re usually answered by

    my assistant or secretary instead.¡±

    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Nan Chen then read out five more phone numbers continuously without giving Dabao any time to

    memorize them.

    After he was done, he looked at Dabao, who remained expressionless.

    ¡°How many can you remember?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°The first one is¡­¡­, the second one is¡­¡­¡± Dabao calmly recited all the five phone numbers perfectly.

    Nan Chen was shocked.

    Even he couldn¡¯t have managed that himself!

    ¡°Have you been trained in shorthand?¡± Nan Chen looked at Dabao with an impressed look on his face.

    Dabao just shook his head.

    ¡°Brother has never received those trainings! He just has a good brain and can remember things well!

    He also won the programming championship! Brother is a genius, and so am I!¡± Erbao lifted her small

    chin proudly.

    Nan Chen felt like he was melting from their cuteness.

    ¡°Good, very good.¡± Nan Chen nodded his head happily.

    ¡°Can we go on a date?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°A date?¡±

    Erbao nodded, ¡°Friends go out on dates, right? You can treat me to a meal! I like strawberry-vored

    ice cream, and¡­¡±

    Erbao went on and on with her long list of delicious foods.

    He¡¯d heard of some of them, but waspletely clueless about the others.

    Erbao gulped as she continued.

    Dabao gave her a strict look, motioning her to be mindful of her appearance.

    Erbao realized she had acted out of ce, and quickly put on a serious face, ¡°Of course, I was just

    simply suggesting. You don¡¯t have to actually treat me to a meal!¡±

    The corners of Nan Chen¡¯s lips rose slightly. For someone like him, this counted as a smile.

    If a reporter were to capture that expression of his on camera, it would¡¯ve definitely made the headlines

    of the entertainment news, ¡°The ice-cold Nan Chen actually smiled!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll treat you.¡± Nan Chen answered affirmatively.

    In fact, he actually felt incredibly honored to treat these angels to a meal. This was a matter of utmost

    importance, even more so than having a meal with high-ranking guests visiting Flower City from other

    countries.

    Erbao was delighted and her eyes were filled with happiness, ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Yes, really.¡± Nan Chen said sincerely as he put on a straight face.

    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s settled then! One more question, can I bring mommy along? She¡¯s family, so I should be

    able to bring her along on our date, right?¡± Erbao asked.

    Nan Chen had a feeling that he was being set up, but he was enjoying it.

    ¡°Sure, of course you can.¡± He said affirmatively.

    ¡°Okay! Give me five! You mustn¡¯t go back on this promise, okay?¡± Erbao walked towards Nan Chen

    and raised her little hand.

    Nan Chen had never yed such a childish game before, but raised his hand anyway.

    He then noticed a baby smell on the child, and with it, a scent that Nan Chen was sensitive to.

    It was the fragrance of orange blossom!

    There was a very faint scent of orange blossom on this child!

    It was really faint though, and only Nan Chen could detect it.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 46

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 46

    Erbao held up her little hand and waited for Nan Chen to give her a high five.

    But Nan Chen had suddenly frozen, and just stared at her with his hand raised.

    Erbao was a little scared by that, and asked in a weak voice, ¡°Are you regretting it?¡±

    Nan Chen came back to his senses, and gently high-fived her, ¡°Of course not.¡±

    Erbao was happy once again.

    Nan Chen wanted to know why Erbao had this orange blossom scent on her, but he couldn¡¯t bring

    himself to ask her.

    He figured that they wouldn¡¯t be able to answer him anyway.

    Besides, even Nan Chen himself couldn¡¯t exin what the scent was about.

    After high-fiving Erbao, Nan Chen looked at Dabao, ¡°Shall we do a high-five as well?¡±

    To him, the high five didn¡¯t really matter. He just wanted to get closer to Dabao.

    But Dabao shook his head.

    ¡°Why not?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s childish.¡± Dabao replied.

    Nan Chen felt like he had just received a critical hit. Someone actually called him childish!

    The great Mr. Chen who was respected by everyone in Flower City, had just been turned down by a

    child!

    Nan Chen took a deep breath and calmed himself down.

    He stood up and handed the pastries he¡¯d brought to Erbao. Erbao was delighted, ¡°I love desserts!¡±

    He then picked up the huge doll, and hesitated if he should give it to Dabao.

    He was worried of being rejected again.

    His worries were justified, as Dabao was already giving him a look of rejection.

    ¡°Brother doesn¡¯t y with these. He¡¯ll call you childish.¡± Erbao added insult to injury.

    Nan Chen quickly put the doll down, ¡°I¡¯m not usually childish like this.¡±

    If people were to find out that Nan Chen was actually exining how he isn¡¯t childish to these adorable

    children, they would definitely drop their jaws in shock.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t understand it himself either. He had always done things his way without caring about

    what others would think of him.

    Why was he so bothered by these kids now?

    Then, he remembered something important and turned to ask Erbao, ¡°Can I get two strands of your

    hair?¡±

    Erbao stared at him with her big shiny eyes, ¡°What do you want my hair for?¡±

    Nan Chen thought for a while, but didn¡¯t know how to answer her question.

    ¡°DNA.¡± Said the knowledgeable Dabao next to him.

    Nan Chen almost fell over from the shock. This kid actually figured out that he had wanted the hair for a

    DNA test? Was there anything he doesn¡¯t know?

    Nan Chen admitted, ¡°I¡¯m collecting your hair to help find your daddy.¡±

    ¡°Take mine, sister is afraid of pain.¡±

    Dabao pulled a few strands of his own hair and handed them to Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen carefully wrapped the hair in a paper towel.

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t happen to be our daddy, would you?¡± Erbao asked.

    Nan Chen was startled, and immediately said firmly, ¡°No.¡±

    He was hardly close with women, so how could he possibly have children?

    ¡°Then why do you look so simr to us?¡± Erbao asked again.

    Nan Chen couldn¡¯t answer, as he didn¡¯t know why either.

    They could be the children of his twin brother who also looked just like him. That was the only possible

    exnation he could think of.

    ¡°There will be an answer to that.¡± Nan Chen said.

    There was a knocking on the door, and Qin Lan¡¯s voice was heard, ¡°Can Ie in now?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Erbao answered.

    Qin Lan came in and eyed them curiously, wondering what they could¡¯ve been talking about for so long.

    The usual cold look on Nan Chen¡¯s face returned, ¡°I¡¯ve got to go.¡±

    He really did have to go, as he was a busy man, after all. Even though it was already past office hours,

    there was still an important internal meeting waiting for him.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to meet the person who brought them here?¡± Qin Lan asked.

    ¡°No need.¡± Nan Chen said coldly as he got up and walked straight out.

    ¡°No need?¡± Qin Lan was confused, and followed him out the door.

    ¡°How was your little talk with them?¡±

    ¡°Very well.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Did you find out who their mother is?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask.¡±

    Qin Lan was even more confused at this point, ¡°You didn¡¯t ask? Then what were you guys talking about

    for so long? I thought your goal was to find out who their mother is?¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Nan Chen said.

    Qin Lan thought about it, and agreed. Of course it didn¡¯t matter to him, as he was still uninterested in

    women due to his illness, after all.

    ¡°Then, what were you guys talking about for so long?¡± Qin Lan was still very curious.

    ¡°We just had a little chat.¡±

    ¡°What was your little chat about?¡± Qin Lan was not letting go.

    Nan Chen had stopped talking.

    He was a man of few words to begin with. Such questions from Qin Lan were simply too boring for him

    to answer.

    We¡¯ve talked for so long, of course, we¡¯ve said a lot of things. You can¡¯t possibly expect me to repeat

    everything for you?

    So, Nan Chen chose to just remain silent.

    No one could make Nan Chen talk unless he wanted to.

    Qin Lan was a little annoyed, ¡°I¡¯ve created an opportunity for you to see the kids, and this is how you

    repay me? You won¡¯t even tell me what you talked about?¡±

    Nan Chen too, felt it wasn¡¯t right to treat one of his very few friends like this.

    He stopped in his tracks, ¡°We¡¯re going to have a meal together.¡±

    ¡°A meal?¡± Qin Lan was even more surprised than before, ¡°You¡¯re going to have a meal with them?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Nan Chen nodded seriously.

    ¡°Haha! This is so amusing! Mr. Chen actually inviting two kids for a meal together? Aren¡¯t you the most

    difficult person to invite in Flower City?¡±

    ¡°I am.¡± Nan Chen nodded.

    Nan Chen would only attend lunch or dinner events if they were really huge asions.

    ¡°But now a child has invited you.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Nan Chen reaffirmed it.

    ¡°Can I join you guys too? We haven¡¯t had a meal together in a few years.¡±

    As a friend of Nan Chen, Qin Lan felt a little sad when she said that.

    Did they even count as friends?

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Nan Chen, you¡­¡­¡±

    He ignored the angry Qin Lan and walked away.

    Cheng Xiangyun who came back from grocery shopping nearby saw the man walking in her direction,

    and her mouth opened wide in shock.

    She took a closer look. It really was Mr. Chen! He actually went to see a psychiatrist?

    A big strong man like him needs a psychiatrist?

    The man¡¯s aura was too strong for her to walk facing him directly, so she turned to a side to make way

    for him and bowed, ¡°Good day, Mr. Chen.¡±

    Nan Chen looked up at Cheng Xiangyun. He instantly recalled that she was the manager of the actress

    who was very rude to him. They had met on the set.

    He didn¡¯t like the actress, so naturally, he didn¡¯t take too kindly to her manager either.

    But he still greeted her with a slight nod out of respect anyway.

    He walked past Cheng Xiangyun, and she felt a gush of cold air as he passed by.

    She had wanted to say something along the lines of ¡°I am the agent of the actress, XX. I look forward

    to working with you, Mr. Chen.¡±.

    But, the sight of his cold handsome face left Cheng Xiangyunpletely speechless.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 47

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 47

    Cheng Xiangyun had thought of asking Qin Lan why Nan Chen was here, but decided not to. After all,

    they weren¡¯t close to each other, so it would be awkward if she did.

    Cheng Xiangyun brought the kids out of the clinic after Qin Lan said they were free to go.

    After they got in the car, Cheng Xiangyun noticed that Erbao was holding a box of snacks while Dabao

    was holding a huge doll.

    Although Dabao didn¡¯t like such a childish gift, Erbao liked it, so he had to help her carry it.

    ¡°Did Dr. Qin give you these? She¡¯s such a nice person, giving you gifts for visiting her clinic.¡± Cheng

    Xiangyun said.

    ¡°These are from Nan Chen.¡± Erbao replied honestly.

    Cheng Xiangyun who was about to start driving stopped the car in shock, and turned to Erbao in the

    child seat, ¡°What did you say?¡±

    ¡°We saw Nan Chen! The CEO Nan Chen!¡± Erbao said excitedly as she stuffed another piece of snack

    in her mouth.

    Dabao nodded.

    ¡°What happened next?¡± Cheng Xiangyun was ecstatic at how lucky she was getting.

    Nan Chen has seen these kids! Surely he could tell that they looked like him!

    He¡¯d have to be blind to not see that, and he clearly wasn¡¯t.

    So, Nan Chen would surely try to figure out why they look like him. The simplest logic would be that

    they¡¯re his children!

    Then, he¡¯d take them in! Ning Ran would be his woman, Erbao would be a princess and

    Dabao a young master!

    And then¡­¡­

    Cheng Xiangyun saw a gold mountaining closer and closer to her.

    ¡°Aunt Xiang, why aren¡¯t you driving? What are you staring at?¡± Erbao¡¯s voice snapped her back to

    reality.

    Cheng Xiangyun could barely contain her excitement, ¡°What did Mr. Chen say to you?¡±

    Erbao didn¡¯t understand, ¡°He¡¯s not that old, why are you calling him that?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun was at a loss for words, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it that way. It¡¯s what everybody calls him to

    show him respect. It reflects his status, not his age. Do you understand?¡±

    Erbao shook her head, ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Anyway, this isn¡¯t important. Just tell me, what did Nan Chen say to you?¡±

    ¡°He bought us gifts, had a little chat with us, and gave us his phone number. We¡¯re going on a date with

    him!¡± Erbao said happily.

    Dabao nodded.

    ¡°A date?¡±

    Dabao and Erbao nodded in unison.

    Cheng Xiangyun nearly jumped in joy, ¡°So he¡¯s taken you in?¡±

    ¡°He said he¡¯s not our daddy, but he will help us find daddy.¡± Erbao said.

    ¡°Why did he say that?¡±

    Erbao and Dabao shook their heads in unison.

    ¡°What happened next?¡±

    ¡°Nothing, that¡¯s all.¡± Erbao said.

    Erbao stuffed another piece of snack into her mouth, and her eyes lit up, ¡°This tastes so good! I love it

    so much!¡±

    With such delicious treats in hand, Erbao had stopped paying attention to Cheng Xiangyun, and forgot

    to tell her the part about Nan Chen taking their hair.

    Dabao didn¡¯t forget, but he didn¡¯t feel like talking.

    ¡°When will you meet him? I¡¯ll have to dress up nicely.¡± Cheng Xiangyun said.

    Dabao and Erbao just looked at each other without saying a word.

    ¡°Wait, what do you mean by that? Are you two leaving me aside now that you got a date with the

    CEO?¡±

    Dabao and Erbao kept quiet, and just looked at Cheng Xiangyun with an innocent expression on their

    faces.

    They didn¡¯t know how to respond. Nan Chen had only agreed for them to bring their mommy along, and

    Cheng Xiangyun wasn¡¯t their mommy so they didn¡¯t know whether they should let Cheng Xiangyun tag

    along or not.

    Then, Cheng Xiangyun smiled, ¡°You don¡¯t have a say in this, since you¡¯ll need me to drive you there

    anyway.¡±

    Dabao and Erbao looked at each other helplessly.

    The traffic became congested as the city lights slowly lit up.

    But Cheng Xiangyun was in such a good mood that she wasn¡¯t even bothered by the traffic jam, and

    even started to hum a little tune.

    ¡°Call and ask your mommy if she has finished work. We won¡¯t be eating at home tonight. I¡¯m treating

    you all to some seafood hotpot! This calls for a celebration!¡± Cheng Xiangyun said.

    ¡°Yay! Yay!¡± Erbao started cheering from behind.

    She didn¡¯t know what Cheng Xiangyun was celebrating, but she was happy as long as there¡¯s food.

    ¡­¡­

    Nine o¡¯clock in the evening, at Nanshi Corporation headquarters.

    Nan Chen finally finished his meeting and walked out of the meeting room.

    When he got back to his office, he took off his ck coat and did some stretching next to the window.

    The Nanshi Corporation building was an icondmark in Flower City. As he stood in his office, Nan

    Chen could see the entire city light upe nightfall.

    He raised his right hand to his nose and sniffed it. The faint scent of orange blossom was gone

    completely as he had washed his hands several times.

    The faint scent that only Nan Chen could smell had lingered on that hand because he high-fived Erbao

    with it earlier.

    Erbao had that scent on her hands.

    This was a wonderful day for Nan Chen. Meeting the two angel-like children made him feel like he had

    suddenly be a lot softer.

    I wonder what they¡¯re doing now? Nan Chen thought suddenly.

    Nan Chen looked at his watch and returned to his desk to start a video call with Nanshi Corporation¡¯s

    headquarters in Africa.

    Nan Xing could not be found in the headquarters as he was not in the office.

    Nan Chen tried calling Nan Xing¡¯s on his personal phone number instead, and he answered very

    quickly, ¡°Yes, big brother? It should be night time where you are, right? Did you need something from

    me?¡±

    ¡°Where are you?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    ¡°Why would you ask me that? You already know I¡¯m in Africa! You¡¯re the one who sent me here, right?¡±

    ¡°I mean your location. What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m working! It¡¯s only four in the afternoon here, office hours isn¡¯t over yet.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re in the office?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, where else would I be working? At a bar?¡±

    ¡°Then why couldn¡¯t I find you when I called your office earlier?¡± Nan Chen¡¯s voice got colder.

    ¡°Oh, I just stepped out for a bit. I¡¯m inspecting a project.¡± Nan Xing changed his excuse.

    ¡°You¡¯re lying again! I sent you to Africa for training, not partying!¡±

    ¡°Big brother, having someone like you in the Nan family is good enough! You don¡¯t need me to be that

    excellent! It¡¯s bad enough being sent to Africa like this, so please stop scolding me already!¡± Nan Xing

    said in a pitiful voice.

    ¡°There are two children here who look just like you, so I need to confirm if they are yours. Send some

    of your hair over, and I will have someone test them.¡±

    ¡°Children?¡±

    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Just do as I say, don¡¯t ask questions.¡± Nan Chen was getting a little impatient.

    ¡°We¡¯re twins, so we have the same DNA. Why don¡¯t you just test it with yours instead?¡± Nan Xing said.

    Nan Chen thought about it, and realized that his brother was right. He just told Nan Xing to ¡°work hard¡±

    and hung up the phone.

    He summoned Jiang Zhe to his office and tasked him with getting the DNA tested.

    Jiang Zhe had a nosy look on his face, ¡°You¡¯ve found the kids? Is their mother pretty? But, you¡¯ve

    never gotten close with women, so why¡­¡­¡±

    Nan Chen red at him coldly, and he went quiet.

    I almost forgot, not everyone likes their personal affairs pried into, such as this man in front of me.

    One must be very careful when prying into such things.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 48

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 48

    Flower City International Airport. Arge number of fans were guarding the exit of the international

    arrivals at the airport, holding flowers and signs of their idol¡¯s name.

    Despite having mobilized a huge number of security guards to maintain order, the entire exit was still

    very crowded.

    Ning Ran wondered who these fans belonged to as she was still stuck outside, unable to get in. This

    crowd was several timesrger than the one that weed Luo Fei when she arrived that day. Just

    how famous would that person have to be to attract such a crowd?

    ¡°Lunlun, I love you!¡± Confessions from girls could be heard from the crowd.

    ¡°Lunlun, I¡¯m yours!¡± A guy¡¯s confession was heard as well.

    Ning Ran took a deep breath. This Lunlun sure was something, being able to attract both males and

    females alike.

    Would these guys and girls end up fighting over theirpetition for Lunlun?

    Ning Ran took her phone out and called Tony, ¡°Hey, Blondie! What¡¯s taking you so long? There are a lot

    of crazy fans here at the airport! I can¡¯t get through them!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m almost there! And what do you mean crazy? They¡¯re just fans! Are you insulting the star or the

    fans?¡± Tonyined.

    ¡°Fans who mindlessly chase after their idols are crazy fans! That¡¯s what it says on the inte! I didn¡¯t

    come up with that term, so what are you yelling at me for anyway? Why aren¡¯t you out yet? Are you a

    snail or something?¡±

    ¡°Why are you so foul-mouthed, woman? You owe me money, and you¡¯re the one giving me attitude?¡±

    Tony retorted.

    ¡°I only owe you a little money! What are you getting so worked up about? Bring that up again, and you

    won¡¯t be getting a single cent from me!¡± Ning Ran yelled back.

    ¡°I¡¯m done talking to you! I¡¯ll get you back for thister!¡± Tony hung up the phone.

    Suddenly, the fans became more agitated. All kinds of screams and loud cries could be heard as they

    all rushed to the exit.

    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    The security quickly lined up and formed a wall to block off the fans who rushed forward.

    A young man wearing sunsses walked out of the passageway. He had blonde hair, fair skin, and a

    face as pretty as a girl¡¯s.

    The man wore a tight white shirt, a pair of ck culottes, and a pair of white leather shoes with red

    socks.

    The exquisite facial features and unusual fashion sense gave this such person an androgynous look

    that one could hardly identify the gender, if not for the obvious bulge from the Adam¡¯s apple on his

    throat.

    ¡°Lunlun!¡± Some fans started crying out of excitement.

    ¡°Lunlun! We love you forever!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the prettiest!¡±

    Ning Ran was curious as to whom this famous celebrity was.

    So, she squeezed her way to the front with all her might.

    Blondie?! That ¡°Lunlun¡± person that these fans were crying their eyes out for was Blondie?!

    Tony had always said that he was actually a huge star, and that someone had bought him a satellite for

    his birthday, but Ning Ran never believed him.

    They met each other when they were acting in a small drama series, and the pay for that show was

    terribly low. So, Ning Ran thought that if Tony really was a huge star like he said, he would definitely not

    ept such a low-paying job.

    But now, it seems that this guy really was a star? And a huge one at that?

    Zheng Lunlun ced his hand to his mouth, and blew a kiss at his fans.

    The crowd went crazy once again.

    ¡°I love you all! I thought you¡¯d have forgotten about me after I left for six months!¡± Zheng Lunlun said.

    ¡°No! We love you forever!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the prettiest!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m so happy to see all of you! Someone very important to me hase to pick me up today! I want to

    know where she is!¡± Zhen Lunlun said.

    The fans started searching high and low for that important person of his.

    How lucky that person must be, to be an important person to him?

    But they never managed to find the person.

    Zheng Lunlun sent Ning Ran a message, ¡°Why didn¡¯t youe pick me up? Pay up!¡±

    Ning Ran thought to herself. Are you trying to get me in trouble? If I were toe out right now, I¡¯d

    be targeted by all the fans!

    Zheng Lunlun¡¯s message came again, ¡°I¡¯ll give you ten seconds. If you don¡¯te out, I¡¯ll shout your

    name right away! My fans will find you in the crowd and you can kiss your peaceful life goodbye!¡±

    Right after he sent the message, a gray-haired woman rushed out of the crowd, ¡°Son, you are finally

    back! Mommy¡¯s missed you so much!¡±

    Apart from the white hair and slightly hunched back, she actually looked quite pretty. Her outfit was

    strange as well. She was dressed in the new style of the Republic of China, sporting a retro-looking

    blue cheongsam.

    The fans who were guessing the identity of that ¡°important person¡± let out a sigh of relief when they

    saw the olddy.

    ¡°Oh, so that important person is his mother!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s such a filial son, treasuring his rtionship with her like that!¡±

    Zhen Lunlun could only let out a smile in response.

    Ning Ran had actually rushed over straight from the set today. Her scene actually involved her hair

    turning white overnight from stress.

    But, the director thought it would be too exaggerated for hair to turnpletely white overnight like

    that, so he made her hair grey instead.

    It was alreadyte by the time they finished filming, so she didn¡¯t have time to get changed and remove

    her makeup. That was why she looked perfect as Zheng Lunlun¡¯s mother.

    ¡°Son, what are you still standing there for? Come home with mom.¡± Ning Ran grabbed Zhen Lunlun by

    the arm.

    Zheng Lunlun angrily put an arm around Ning Ran¡¯s shoulder and whispered in her ear, ¡°You b****,

    taking advantage of me like this! You¡¯re finished!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the one that forced me out like that! I¡¯m no pushover, okay?¡± Ning Ran replied with a smile.

    ¡°Mama Lun, you¡¯re so pretty!¡± Some of the fans pointed their phone camera at Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran quickly covered her face with one hand and put up a peace sign with the other, ¡°Thank you

    for supporting my son!¡±

    Zhen Lunlun squeezed her on the neck, ¡°Enough of that, you damned woman!¡±

    ¡°Squeeze me again and I¡¯ll pretend to be your grandma next time!¡±

    Ning Ran bantered with Zhen Lunlun while keeping a smile on her face as they headed to the parking

    lot.

    The fans were a little disappointed as they left the scene to avoid disturbing the mother and son any

    further.

    When he arrived at the parking lot, Zheng Lunlun pinned Ning Ran against the wall, ¡°You took

    advantage of me today! I¡¯ll remember this!¡±

    ¡°My dear son, mama was busy filming today. But then, you forced me toe pick you up, so I had to

    come here in my costume. You should be happy that you have such a young and beautiful mommy like

    me.¡± Ning Ran said with augh.

    ¡°I¡¯ll let bygones be bygones, but you must spend the night with me! Let¡¯s go book a hotel room now!

    We¡¯re gonna go at it all night!¡± Zhen Lunlun said.

    ¡°My son¡­ I¡¯m old now; I can¡¯t handle staying upte anymore. And I don¡¯t have time to y games

    either.¡±

    ¡°No, you must stay with me!¡± Zhen Lunlun insisted.

    ¡°Listen to your mother, be a good boy now.¡±

    ¡°Drop the act already! And stop taking advantage of me!¡±

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll stop acting as your mother anymore. But I will be filming tomorrow, so I really can¡¯t stay up

    late to y games with you. I have to go home and take care of my kids now. Go find some other girl to

    y with, alright? Be a good boy now!¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 49

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 49

    However, Ning Ran still ended up being shoved into Zhen Lunlun¡¯s luxurious sports car.

    ¡°Did you think you can just get away with owing me money and taking advantage of me like that? Think

    again!¡±

    Ning Ran gave him a helpless look. Owing someone money is a real headache, especially when the

    person is a teenager with an inte addiction.

    Back then, Zheng Lunlun had encountered a bottleneck while ying a game. At the same time, Ning

    Ran was in very difficult situation as Erbao was hospitalized and needed a lot of money urgently.

    So Ning Ran bluffed that she could help Zheng Lunlun level up his game by at least three levels if he

    would lend her fifty thousand.

    Zheng Lunlun didn¡¯t believe her, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll gift you an additional ten thousand in addition to the fifty

    thousand if you could really help me level up that much.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    So, Ning Ran let Dabao use Zheng Lunlun¡¯s ID, and he was promoted by the three levels after a while.

    Since then, Zheng Lunlun has regarded Ning Ran as a god. Whenever he encounters a level that he

    can¡¯t beat, he¡¯ll ask Ning Ran for help. Ning Ran had also discovered an easy way to make money, and

    would rip Zhen Lunlun off each time with extremely high prices.

    Zhen Lunlun knew about the difficult financial situation Ning Ran was in, so he willingly let her rip him

    off.

    And so the two formed an interesting rtionship asrades as well as a profound revolutionary

    friendship by never respecting each other.

    ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± Ning Ran asked Zhen Lunlun who was driving.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to visit someone, and then we¡¯ll book a hotel room and y till morning!¡±

    ¡°You must be tired from the long-distance flight, so you¡¯d better go home and rest. Let¡¯s have a meal

    together tomorrow, okay?¡± Ning Ran tried to advise him.

    ¡°No. We haven¡¯t seen each other in a long time, so we have to y a bit together no matter what. How

    could you just leave me and go home by yourself like that? Where¡¯s your team spirit?¡± Zheng Lunlun

    whined.

    ¡°You know that I¡¯m only with you because you¡¯re rich and stupid. I don¡¯t know anything about this team

    spirit.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°You took my money, so you have to listen to me. If you want to go home, just pay me back right now!¡±

    ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be like that. It¡¯s just fifty thousand! Once I get rich, I¡¯ll even smash you to death with

    my money!¡±

    ¡°You can say that to me when you actually do get rich! And besides, you owe me more than that. Fifty

    thousand is what¡¯s written on the official IOU, but the amount you owe me without an official IOU is way

    more than that!¡±

    ¡°Bro, are you kidding me? Even those who borrow money with an IOU may not pay up these days, let

    alone those without an IOU. Are you stupid or something?¡± Ning Ran argued.

    ¡°Are you trying to escape payment, you damned woman?¡± Zhen Lunlun shouted.

    ¡°Don¡¯t call me that, you sicko! Watch out before I smack you up! This isn¡¯t escaping payment! I¡¯m

    reasonably avoiding debt! Only a fool would pay back money that they borrowed with skill!¡±

    Zhen Lunlunughed, ¡°Well yed. I refuse to argue any further with a cheap woman like you. You

    either pay up right now, or you¡¯re ying with me tonight! It¡¯s that simple!¡±

    Although they bickered a lot, deep down inside, Ning Ran was grateful for this beautiful blondie.

    Life overseas was difficult. If not for blondie¡¯s helping her out during her difficult times, she didn¡¯t know

    how she would¡¯ve made it out either.

    So although she acted like she was forced to pick him up at the airport, she actually did it voluntarily as

    she had always been grateful to Blondie.

    ¡°How about this, let¡¯s find a ce, and I¡¯ll treat you to a meal and we¡¯ll have a drink. We can make an

    appointment to y games tomorrow, okay?¡± Ning Ran said gently.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll just go see someone first.¡±

    ¡°Is this person important? Is she your girlfriend? Why are we seeing her first?¡± Ning Ran was very

    curious.

    ¡°Do you think I¡¯d be bothering an old hag like you if I had a girlfriend?¡± Zhen Lunlun said.

    Ning Ran smacked Zhen Lunlun on the head, ¡°Call me an old hag again, I dare you! Have you ever

    seen an old hag that¡¯s loved by everyone? Are you blind or something?¡±

    Ning Ran realized she¡¯d just called herself ¡°loved by everyone¡±.

    ¡°You hit me again!¡± Zheng Lunlun was very annoyed, ¡°I¡¯m a superstar, okay! Could you show some

    respect?¡±

    Ning Ran remembered the incident at the airport, ¡°Oh right, you¡¯re really a superstar? That wasn¡¯t a

    bluff?¡±

    ¡°Ma¡¯am, you are too outdated. Don¡¯t you know that I appear on two hot searches every week on

    average? Don¡¯t you know that people call me ming Hot Lun in China¡¯s entertainment industry? That

    means I¡¯m a ming hot mess! Even before I went overseas, anything I post on my social media would

    make it on the hot search! Not only that, anyone who has appeared in a picture with me would also

    make it on hot searches!¡± Zhen Lunlun said proudly.

    ¡°Are you that famous? I rarely pay attention to the entertainment industry. Besides, aren¡¯t the hot

    searches in the entertainment industry all bought with money? As long as you are willing to spend

    money, you could make it there every day, so what¡¯s so great about it?¡± Ning Ran said unimpressed.

    ¡°I¡¯m not the same as those who buy their spot on hot searches. I make it there without having to do so.

    You know why? Because I look good!¡±

    Ning Ran agreed with him on that. He was androgynous yet not in a disgusting way, truly a remarkable

    legend in the industry.

    Nowadays, quite a lot of men have started crossdressing. Many male stars have applied thicker

    makeup than women, but most of them just do it to gain more views, while others end up getting

    criticized instead.

    But this guy was different. He could simply mix and match some clothes and easily look stylish and

    decent.

    As such, he could easily have scandals with both men and women alike, thus making it onto the hot

    searches naturally.

    ¡°If you¡¯re that famous in China, why bother going overseas?¡±

    ¡°I was driven out. They said I was only relying on my poprity instead of skill. So, they had me gain

    some experience and skills by training overseas rather than being a disgrace here.¡±

    ¡°Who drove you out?¡± Ning Ran was curious.

    The scariest person on earth.¡± Zhen Lunlun said with a scared voice.

    Ning Ran was even more curious now, ¡°Just who is it? Who could be that scary? Your parents? Your

    grandparents?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about him. All you need to know is that he¡¯s a scary person.¡±

    They had arrived at their destination before they knew it. He parked the car in front of an old fashioned

    vi.

    This was the oldest vi in Flower City. It was the Governor¡¯s Mansion during the Qing Dynasty. Later,

    an acting president changed it to an official residence. Muchter, the Nan family bought it and named

    it Commoner Residence.

    It is said that this piece ofnd was where the elites of Flower City are located, and that the people who

    live here must be the wealthiest of Flower City.

    Despite having a name like Commoner Residence, the Nan family that resided here were no

    commoners. On the contrary, they turned out to be the most influential household in Flower City.

    Of course, Ning Ran didn¡¯t know all this. She took a nce at the old vi, and thought that Zhen

    Lunlun¡¯s financial situation must¡¯ve been bad if he was staying in such an old house.

    ¡°Wait here, I will be right back. If you dare leave, we will no longer be friends, and I will sue you in court

    tomorrow to collect the debt.¡± Zhen Lunlun threatened.

    Ning Ran pouted her lips but nodded anyway.

    Zhen Lunlun got off the car and ran towards the vi.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 50

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 50

    Although the exterior of Commoner Residence looked aged, the interior has long since been

    modernized. It spanned over an area of   up to 20 acres and has been equipped like a modern vi,

    complete with a swimming pool, a garden, and a mini golf course.

    Zhen Lunlun ran up to the east wing, and was greeted warmly by the servant at the door, ¡°Master Lun,

    you¡¯re back! The third master is in the study.¡±

    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.

    He came to the study room, and knocked gently on the door. A voice was heard from inside, ¡°Come in.¡±

    He opened the door. Behind the antique desk, a man was sitting there, reading.

    There was a cup of tea on his right. Unlike his usual cool self, the handsome man exuded a refined

    aura as he sat between his books.

    ¡°Uncle, I¡¯m home.¡± Zhen Lunlun said as he bowed.

    Nan Chen looked up at Zhen Lunlun and frowned as he saw his outfit.

    Zhen Lunlun noticed Nan Chen¡¯s and exined, ¡°This isn¡¯t a skirt! They¡¯re culottes! It may look like a

    skirt, but they¡¯re actually trousers, so anyone can wear them!¡±

    Obviously, this exnation did not convince Nan Chen, as he still had a cold expression on his face.

    If the trousers looked like skirts, then what¡¯s the difference? You¡¯d still look like you¡¯re wearing a skirt

    anyway!

    What kind of man wears a skirt?

    ¡°As for the red socks, it¡¯s my natal year, so I¡¯m trying to get some good luck! I¡¯ll have you know, even

    my underwear is red as well!¡± Zhen Lunlun continued his exnation.

    ¡°Your natal year at 19 years old?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    Zheng Lunlun thought to himself. I thought Uncle Nan only studied finance and management. How

    does he even know about natal years?

    ¡°I¡¯m preparing for it in advance. Even though my natal year is still a few years away, it is always better

    to prepare in advance, right?¡± He could only try to justify himself.

    ¡°Three things.¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°I¡¯m listening, uncle.¡±

    ¡°One, dye your hair ck.¡±

    ¡°But uncle, it¡¯smon for artists to dye their hair these days! My pale yellow hair is actually quite

    conservativepared to those who go for colors like green¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Dye it ck!¡± Nan Chen repeated.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll dye it ck.¡± Zhen Lunlun had no choice but to agree.

    ¡°Two, no wearing skirts.¡±

    ¡°But these are culottes¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°No skirts!¡±

    ¡°Okay, okay, whatever you say, uncle.¡±

    ¡°Three. No applying thick makeup!¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t! I just applied some eyeshadow!¡±

    ¡°I said no!¡±

    ¡°Alright¡­ I¡¯ll do as you say, uncle¡­¡± Zhen Lunlun said disappointedly.

    ¡°Four¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say there were only three things? Why is there a fourth?¡±

    ¡°Four, continue your studies while you act.¡±

    Zheng Lunlun wailed. This was what he feared the most.

    As someone who enjoyed nothing more than ying video games, studying was the most agonizing

    thing for him.

    He was very terrible with his academics, so his uncle asking him to study felt like the worst thing that

    could happen to him.

    ¡°But uncle, I¡¯m nowhere near your level. You graduated from universities like Harvard and Oxford. I

    couldn¡¯t even make it into Flower City University. If you insist that I study, I can only apply for Lanxiang

    Technical Academy to learn how to operate an excavator, or New Oriental to study culinary arts. I can¡¯t

    get into a professional university like Beijing Film, because I can¡¯t do cultural studies! Besides, with a

    family background and genes like ours, we don¡¯t need academic qualifications to make a living! I was

    already so famous even before I started making money, so there really is no need for me to study!¡±

    Nan Chen narrowed his eyes as his expression grew colder.

    ¡°If not, then go back to training overseas.¡±

    Zhen Lunlun shrank back in fear. He didn¡¯t want to go back there anymore.

    In China, he was a huge star. Outside, he was just Tony.

    Nan Chen had forbidden him from revealing his whereabouts, identity and even attending any form of

    gathering while overseas.

    Zhen Lunlun had had enough of such a boring life. He didn¡¯t want to go overseas anymore.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go back to studying!¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s gaze softened a little.

    ¡°Take the day off tomorrow, and report to Director Wang from the crew the day after.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°What kind of show is this? You want me to y the male lead? But, I thought you didn¡¯t like me doing

    TV shows?¡±

    ¡°There is no suitable male lead for this show.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°What does that mean? Is there no one else here that can do it?¡±

    Nan Chen remained silent.

    After watching Ning Ran¡¯s performance, Nan Chen knew that Sound of Thunder 2 would be a big hit.

    This would be the most sessful series from Xingyue Entertainment that Nanshi Corporation has

    invested in.

    Nan Chen was prepared to make this show a ssic, not just for making a little profit, but to dominate

    in the annual drama awards as well.

    Although Ning Ran has great acting skills, shecked fame, and that would affect the poprity of the

    show.

    In this day and age where publicity was everything, even the best shows would surely result in failure if

    they did not gain enough attention.

    Luo Fei had a decent fanbase, but her scenes had been reduced a lot ever since the script was

    modified.

    Moreover, her acting skills were too mediocre. It would definitely form a huge contrast with Ning Ran¡¯s

    superb acting skills, bing the butt of the joke for the audience once the show airs.

    Therefore, Nan Chen needed to throw in another male lead of a simr caliber to match Ning Ran¡¯s

    acting and gain more attention.

    Only when all the conditions and elements are in ce, would this y be a ssic work of art

    with a great reception and high standards.

    So, Nan Chen thought of Zhen Lunlun.

    Although Nan Chen had not agreed with him getting into the entertainment industry, Zhen Lunlun loved

    acting since he was young and had demonstrated a shocking talent for it.

    He starred in a movie when he was five, and his performance had won him the best supporting actor

    award. That made him the youngest actor in history to ever receive that award.

    After that, everything skyrocketed for him. He looked the part for any role he yed, and could even

    y as female characters. His beautiful appearancebined with his godly talent in acting made him

    incredibly famous.

    However, the overwhelming public attention was getting too much for him, and he was losing himself in

    it.

    So, Nan Chen halted all his work in China and sent him overseas to calm himself down.

    Nan Chen understood the theory that all things would inevitably start to deteriorate once they reach

    their peak.

    He sent Zheng Lunlun abroad so that he would not overdraw his reputation and talent. He had to take

    up low-paying shows, suffer hardships and settle down in a country where nobody knew who he was.

    But in this day and age, celebrities cannot be absent from the entertainment industry for too long or

    they will be forgotten.

    So, when an opportunity such as this arose, Nan Chen decided to have Zhen Lunlun return and make

    aeback.

    This was beneficial for both the y as well as Zheng Lunlun himself.

    If Zheng Lunlun were to be a star, then Nan Chen would want him to be a ssic actor instead of some

    short-lived celebrity.

    Naturally, Zheng Lunlun was too young to understand his uncle¡¯s efforts and intentions, and could only

    do as he was told.

    Ever since he was a child, Uncle Nan was the one he had both feared and respected the most.

    Zhen Lunlun dared not ask any further as Nan Chen had gone silent.

    ¡°I¡¯ll give it my best. I won¡¯t let you down, uncle.¡±

    ¡°You mustn¡¯t reveal our rtionship to anyone. And I mean, ANYONE.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°I understand. I rely on my capabilities, not favoritism anyway.¡± Zhen Lunlun said.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 51

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 51

    When Zhen Lunlun exited the mansion, he saw that Ning Ran had fallen asleep in the car. What¡¯s

    amazing was that Ning Ran kept sleeping even after Zhen Lunlun started the engine.

    How tired was this woman? Or was she naturally talented at dozing off? Zhen Lunlun didn¡¯t feel right

    waking her up because she was sleeping so deeply and peacefully. Well, since she¡¯s tired, he may as

    well find a ce for her to nap.

    There¡¯s a six-star hotel called Cabins nearby. Zhen Lunlun stopped the car right in front of the hotel

    then got out to carry Ning Ran into the hotel so that she¡¯d have afortable ce to sleep in. He

    figured he¡¯d hang out with her after she¡¯s had a good nap.

    Ning Ran woke up at that moment and saw that Zhen Lunlun was trying to hug her. Startled, she threw

    a punch straight to Zhen Lunlun¡¯s face.

    ¡°What the hell?¡± Zhen Lunlun yelled. He was practically ambushed so he couldn¡¯t block it and got

    punched right in his handsome face.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Don¡¯te near me. I¡­ I know Taekwondo!¡± warned Ning Ran.

    ¡°Are you crazy? You fell asleep in my car so I figured I¡¯d find you a better ce to sleep in since you¡¯re

    clearly exhausted! Why the hell did you punch me?¡± Zhen Lunlun demanded angrily.

    ¡°Liar! You were trying to rape me!¡±

    ¡°Pfft! Me? Raping you? You wish! I won¡¯t touch you even if you beg me to! Get out of my car!¡±

    Ning Ran rubbed her sleepy eyes and got out of the car groggily. ¡°Why are we in front of a hotel?¡±

    asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°Because I saw that you were tired. I came here to get you a room so you could sleep better. I thought

    we could hang out after you took a nap,¡± exined Zhen Lunlun.

    ¡°I¡¯m not going into the hotel with you. If we bump into your fans, they would kill me!¡± ¡°Besides, it¡¯s not

    culturally appropriate for us to stay in the same room. I¡¯m heading home,¡± said Ning Ran as she turned

    to walk away.

    ¡°Hang on,¡± Zhen Lunlun stopped Ning Ran and said, ¡°you¡¯re just going to leave after punching me?¡±

    ¡°Well, what do you want then?¡±

    ¡°Keep mepany for a little while before you go home. You promised to buy me a meal and a drink

    anyway.¡±

    ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll stay with you for a couple of minutes,¡± said Ning Ran after checking her watch.

    In the mansion, the housekeeper ¨C Chai Hua ¨C entered the East Wing.

    ¡°Young Master Zhishen, as per your order, I followed Young Master Lun and saw that he went to the

    Cabins Hotel.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s staying in the hotel? All by himself?¡±

    ¡°No, not alone. He was with an olddy.¡±

    ¡°An olddy?¡± Nan Chen asked with a frown.

    ¡°That¡¯s right, an olddy. She has a head of white hair so she¡¯s probably older than I am, but she has a

    sexy figure and a beautiful face.¡±

    Chai Hua wasn¡¯t sure how to describe the woman he saw.

    Nan Chen¡¯s frown became worse. Why did Zhen Lunlun bring an olddy to the hotel?

    Zhen Lunlun is young and virile so there¡¯s nothing strange about him having a girlfriend, but if that

    girlfriend is an olddy, then Nan Chen won¡¯t allow it!

    What did his amazing nephew go through while overseas? How did his taste in woman change so

    drastically?

    Nan Chen stood up, grabbed his coat, and marched right out.

    Here at the hotel, the game is afoot.

    Three rounds in and lost.

    ¡°Damn, how are you so terrible at this? Aren¡¯t you an expert?¡± Zhen Lunlun threw his phone onto the

    bed, frustrated.

    ¡°I¡¯m having a bad day,¡± exined Ning Ranzily as she yawned.

    ¡°You¡¯re the goddess. Your game shouldn¡¯t be as bad as an amateur¡­ even on a bad day. What¡¯s

    happening?¡±

    That¡¯s because I¡¯m a fake goddess, thought Ning Ran, the real expert is my son.

    But I can¡¯t tell you that secret or you¡¯ll bother my son all day, asking him to y with you, and that¡¯d

    turn him into a gaming addict like you.

    ¡°Even the goddess turns into an amateur when she¡¯s having a bad day. It¡¯s normal. I don¡¯t want to y

    anymore, I¡¯m going home.¡±

    Ning Ran covered her mouth and yawned again.

    She was truly tired. She wouldn¡¯t have spent her time here if Zhen Lunlun hadn¡¯t helped her so many

    times before.

    ¡°Take a nap here if you¡¯re tired. We¡¯ll y again once you¡¯ve slept and be all energetic.¡±

    Gaming addicts are such scary beings. He had flown for more than 10 hours but wasn¡¯t tired or

    bothered by the different time zones at all. Instead, all he can think about was his games.

    ¡°No, thank you. Let¡¯s y some other time.¡±

    ¡°But you haven¡¯t bought me a meal yet.¡±

    ¡°I was nning to treat you to some beer and some street food, but I¡¯m too tired now. I¡¯ll treat you some

    other day. If you¡¯re really that dissatisfied or hungry, I¡¯ll order take out for you and have them delivered

    here.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it? That¡¯s what you were nning to treat me to?¡± Zhen Lunlun asked with bewilderment in his

    eyes.

    ¡°Of course. What were you expecting? Do I look like someone who can afford fancy dining?¡± Ning Ran

    refuted with a straight face.

    Zhen Lunlun was annoyed. ¡°Are you nuts? I¡¯m a celebrity! How could you treat me to street food?¡±

    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    ¡°You¡¯re the crazy one. Fine, if you refuse to eat cheap meals, I¡¯ll take back my offer. Goodbye,¡± said

    Ning Ran as she stood up.

    ¡°Alright, alright. Looks like you really are exhausted. Go home and rest. We¡¯ll meet up and y the

    game again some other day. Also, take off your wig already. You¡¯ll scare someone.¡±

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take my leave now. Bye, Mr. Celebrity,¡± Ning Ran joked as she took off the wig and put it in

    her bag.

    On the other side, Nan Chen was walking toward the hotel¡¯s front desk.

    The hotel was located near the mansion so many visitors of the Nan Family would stay there.

    Nan Chen had even personally brought several important visitors, such as foreign diplomats or

    business tycoons, to this hotel.

    That is why all the employees in this hotel were trained to remember the faces of all important

    members of the Nan Family. Employees must recognize and greet the Nan family members

    immediately and must avoid any conflict with them.

    The receptionist was bbergasted the second she saw Nan Chen.

    He was even more handsome in person. The photo only showed her his face, but it could not show her

    the aura and power radiating from him. Being near the actual person caused her to feel stressed.

    ¡°Good evening, Mr. Chen,¡± the receptionist greeted nervously with a bow.

    ¡°Which room is Zhen Lunlun staying in?¡± demanded Nan Chen coldly.

    ¡°In the presidential suite number 1888,¡± the receptionist answered without the need to check.

    The receptionist remembered the room number because Zhen Lunlun was a very important client.

    Moreover, the presidential suite number 1888 was the most expensive room in the hotel so it was easy

    to remember.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t say anything else. Instead, he turned and walked towards the elevator.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, the card for the elevator,¡± the receptionist quickly called after him.

    The elevator can only be essed using the key card to the room. Nan Chen turned around to grab

    the key card.

    The receptionist deliberately put her fingers close to the card so that she could touch the fingers of that

    handsome man, but her wish wasn¡¯t granted.

    Nan Chen walked up to the elevator for the VIPs and saw that the elevator wasing down from the

    18th floor.

    Finally, the elevator arrived on the first floor. Nan Chen had his head down when those doors opened

    because he wasn¡¯t nning on inspecting the person in the elevator, but he smelled a familiar perfume.

    The mild and graceful scent of the tangerine. Only a nose like Nan Chen¡¯s, which was even more

    sensitive than the nose of a guard dog, was able to detect that scent.

    He looked up.

    His eyes met Ning Ran¡¯s eyes, and both were stunned for three long seconds.

    They never thought they¡¯d meet each other like this.

    Both parties had terrible impressions of each other. Nan Chen thought that Ning Ran¡¯s acting skill was

    impable, but she was a terrible person who would do anything to get what she wanted.

    More importantly, she had always been disrespectful towards him!

    A man like him had always been idolized and worshipped by everyone. The only exception, the only

    person who dared to be disrespectful to him, was this unknown actress.

    Thatdy may be willing to tolerate this, but this gentleman refused to!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 52

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 52

    After meeting each other¡¯s eyes, Ning Ran shifted her gaze.

    Ning Ran did not like this man either because she thought of him as the dumb guy who used his

    influence to cover up for Luo Fei.

    However, the man standing in front of her was the biggest investor of the movie ¨C the Sound of

    Thunder 2 ¨C and was, therefore, her employer.

    Being under his employment, she must admit defeat.

    And so she nodded first to greet him.

    Then, he nodded in response.

    The two of them only nodded as a sign of respect but weren¡¯t interested in having an actual

    conversation.

    After that, Ning Ran stood aside to let Nan Chen enter the elevator. She did that as a sign of courtesy.

    Nan Chen wasn¡¯t in a hurry to get in the elevator either because it was also courteous to let the person

    inside the elevator to exit first.

    In the end, both parties stood there, motionless, waiting for the other to make a move first which, in

    turn, made things awkward.

    After realizing each other¡¯s intention, Ning Ran stepped forward to get out of the elevator.

    Unfortunately, Nan Chen had the same realization at the same time, and he moved forward too,

    causing both parties to knock on each other.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    The hotel¡¯s elevator doors were wide enough to let them both pass easily, but they somehow managed

    to knock on one another.

    Although his outfit made him look like a thin man, Nan Chen was well-built and muscr so Ning Ran¡¯s

    tiny body couldn¡¯t withstand this bump, and fell back a couple of steps.

    ¡°Damn it!¡± Ning Ran cussed.

    Nan Chen raised his brows. Having seen how naturally this woman cussed, he believed that she truly

    was vile.

    Ning Ran regretted after cussing because she does not normally cuss. She was definitely influenced by

    that idiot, Zhen Lunlun.

    That being said, she had already cussed out loud, and she wasn¡¯t a nicedy anyway.

    Besides, it¡¯s not like the man standing in front of her was any better.

    Ning Ran kept her head down. She didn¡¯t need to look up to know that the guy must have a scowl on

    his face.

    She walked so fast that she was practically fleeing from the elevator with her head down.

    After being bumped by that woman, Nan Chen sniffed the perfume on his suit and confirmed that this

    was the tangerine perfume.

    That perfume was like a curse that had been haunting Nan Chen all these years. For some reason, he

    could never forget that scent.

    There was nothing scary about not forgetting that scent, but he was terrified about not knowing why he

    couldn¡¯t forget it.

    Annoyed, the knock on the door was heavier than intended.

    ¡°I knew you¡¯de back¡­ Uncle?¡± said Zhen Lunlun.

    He wanted to keep talking but after seeing Nan Chen icy re, he swallowed his words.

    ¡°Who¡¯sing back?¡±

    ¡°No¡­ No one. I was just singing. I¡¯m waiting for you toe back, toe back¡­¡±

    Zhen Lunlun pretended to sing, but even he thought that was an awkward performance.

    He stopped singing abruptly because Nan Chen¡¯s re was horrifying.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t barge into the room because he was the uncle, and things would get ugly if there

    actually was a woman inside.

    He asked Zhen Lunlun with his eyes. May Ie in?

    Zhen Lunlun moved to the side with the door open. ¡°Pleasee in, uncle.¡±

    Nan Chen felt a little dizzy. He could¡¯ve sworn he smelled that tangerine perfume again.

    Don¡¯t think too much. It¡¯s just in your head. Nan Chen reminded himself.

    Nan Chen sat on the sofa and inspected everything in the room.

    Nothing seemed off, but the presidential suite was big enough to hide someone, and Nan Chen didn¡¯t

    feel right to inspect every inch of the room.

    Zhen Lunlun stood at the side. He didn¡¯t understand why his uncle came to visit in the middle of the

    night.

    No one spoke, and the room became eerily quiet.

    Zhen Lunlun couldn¡¯t stand the silence so he asked, ¡°Uncle, what are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Nan Chen answered.

    Then what the hell are you doing here in the middle of the night? Thought Zhen Lunlun. What? Did he

    sleepwalk?

    That moment, all Nan Chen could think about was how the housekeeper said that Zhen Lunlun had

    brought an olddy to the hotel.

    Was there an elderlydy hiding in the suite?

    Nan Chen denied it. That was impossible. His nephew is a handsome man. Why would he and an

    elderlydy¡­?

    But if that is not the case, the housekeeper wouldn¡¯t have said so¡­

    Nan Chen couldn¡¯t let it go.

    Nan Chen gestured the room and asked, ¡°Can I take a look around?¡±

    Zhen Lunlun was surprised. His uncle had seen it all, why would he be interested in checking out a

    hotel suite?

    Even though he didn¡¯t understand it, he agreed to it. ¡°Of course.¡±

    And so Nan Chen inspected every single room in the suite and confirmed that there was no woman ¨C

    elderly or young ¨C present.

    Moreover, the room was in perfect shape so nothing happened.

    Nan Chen calmed down.

    ¡°Do you have a girlfriend?¡± Nan Chen asked all of a sudden.

    ¡°Nope,¡± Zhen Lunlun answered then grinned, ¡°Did youe all the way here to see if I brought any

    woman to the room? I¡¯m an adult. It¡¯s normal even if I do have a girlfriend.¡±

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t respond to that.

    ¡°Don¡¯t stay in the hotel,e back home.¡±

    ¡°No way, I like the hotel. I can be noisy without bothering anyone here,¡± Zhen Lunlunined.

    To be honest, Nan Chen didn¡¯t care. He always thought that the young needed some space to be

    reckless.

    The only thing he wanted to say was, ¡°Be careful when choosing a girlfriend.¡±

    Zhen Lunlun understood then. His uncle thought that the only reason he¡¯d choose to stay in a hotel was

    so that it¡¯d be more convenient to invite women over.

    That was the purpose of this visit.

    ¡°Like I said, uncle, I don¡¯t have a girlfriend. If I do, I would bring her home and let you judge if she¡¯s

    good enough,¡± Zhen Lunlun promised.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    Then he stood up to leave.

    He¡¯s happy as long as Zhen Lunlun wasn¡¯t in the room with an elderlydy.

    As Nan Chen was leaving, he saw the secondary director of the Sound of Thunder 2 walking towards

    the hotel.

    ¡°Mr. Chen? You¡¯re here too?¡± the director greeted quickly.

    Nan Chen nodded.

    ¡°I happen to have a meeting with a friend to have a discussion here,¡± the secondary director said.

    ¡°Okay, then.¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Chen.¡±

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t pay much attention to the secondary director and walked out of the hotel with his head

    held high.

    On the way home, Nan Chen kept thinking about Ning Ran and the secondary director.

    Then he remembered that during the first screen test, Ning Ran once asked the workers to pass him a

    note that said she would do anything for that role.

    Both Ning Ran and the secondary director showing up at that hotel¡­ Was it just a coincidence?

    Or did she seduce the secondary director to get some sort of benefit?

    Having thought that, Nan Chen made a U-turn and returned to the hotel.

    At the hotel¡¯s front door, Nan Chen sat in his car instead of going inside.

    She was just a random actress. Her life choices had nothing to do with him.

    So why was he furious?

    ¡°Mr. Chen, shall I park the car for you?¡± the security asked cautiously.

    The security had been standing there for a couple of minutes, but Nan Chen¡¯s face was so grim that

    the security didn¡¯t dare to speak.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he stepped hard on the gas and his sports car roared and tore

    through the streets.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 53

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 53

    Ning Ran got home and fell asleep on the sofa, utterly exhausted.

    The next morning, her two precious children had woken up before she did and were making breakfast

    in the kitchen with Cheng Xiangyun.

    Having noticed that she was asleep, all three were tiptoeing around, worried that they¡¯d wake her up.

    ¡°Morning, mommy!¡± Erbao came running when he saw that Ning Ran had woken up.

    ¡°Morning, baby. Sorry that I was home sote yesterday and couldn¡¯t spend time with the two of you,¡±

    Ning Ran apologized.

    ¡°Mommy, I have something important to tell you,¡± said Erbao mysteriously.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°We met Nan Chen yesterday and he looks just like us!¡± eximed Erbao.

    Ning Ran was stunned and asked, ¡°Who¡­ Who did you meet?¡±

    ¡°Nan Chen! The handsome uncle who¡¯s a corporate executive,¡± answered Erbao.

    Ning Ran rushed into the kitchen immediately and grabbed Cheng Xiangyun while demanding, ¡°What

    the hell did you do?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to stop them from meeting?¡±

    ¡°Whoa, that wasn¡¯t me! I wasn¡¯t even there. They met by chance!¡± exined the innocent Cheng

    Xiangyun.

    ¡°A chance encounter? Between a corporate executive and two children? How is that even possible?¡±

    ¡°You arranged that meeting, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°I was already furious when you took the kids to shoot themercial, and I forbade you from using

    my kids as money grabs! Why did you do this too?¡±

    ¡°You would do anything for money, huh?¡± ¡°Even using children as tools?¡± Ning Ran was so furious that

    she spewed all sorts ofints at Cheng Xiangyun.

    Cheng Xiangyun was happily making breakfast and suddenly got yelled at for no reason at all. That

    upset her.

    ¡°Is that how you see me? As a monster who cared only about money?¡± Cheng Xiangyun demanded.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t used to!¡±

    ¡°You stupid woman. I worked so hard to find good roles for you to y in and helped you babysit all the

    time and this is the thanks I get from you?!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the idiot! You only care about money!¡±

    Erbao and Dabao heard their argument and hurried over to stop them.

    ¡°Mommy, you misunderstood. Aunty Xiang didn¡¯t arrange the meeting,¡± Erbao exined.

    ¡°Oh, Cheng Xiangyun, you¡¯re good. You even got my kids to lie for you.¡± ¡°Do you see me as an idiot? If

    you hadn¡¯t arranged that meeting, how could that poker face have met my children?¡±

    ¡°Ning Ran, you f***ing stupid b****¡­..¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun had always been a tough woman, and her fury had caused those cuss words to flow

    out of her lips like water in a river.

    ¡°Do not use bad words in front of my kids, woman!¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s words shook Cheng Xiangyun out of her furious rant.

    She shouldn¡¯t have used that kind ofnguage in front of the kids, regardless of the situation.

    ¡°Dabao, Erbao, go y outside. I need to have a long discussion with that unreasonable woman,¡± said

    Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Stop fighting, you two. Can¡¯t you talk nicely like actual adults?¡± Erbao said.

    That shut Ning Ran and Cheng Xiangyun right up.

    Arguing in front of the kids was not a nice thing to do.

    ¡°Mommy, you misunderstood. We met Nan Chen at the counselor¡¯s office. Aunty Xiang is innocent,¡±

    exined Erbao.

    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Dabao nodded.

    Ning Ran trusted Dabao more than anyone else. That kid was smarter and more observant than an

    average adult.

    If he said that was the case, then it must be true.

    ¡°I made a mistake, didn¡¯t I?¡± Ning Ran turned to Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Cheng Xiangyun turned around and refused to talk to Ning Ran.

    ¡°I acted that way and suspected you because you lied to me before and got my children to shoot a

    commercial.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry I med you,¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Cheng Xiangyun replied coldly.

    ¡°C¡¯mon, Aunty Xiang, forgive mommy. You¡¯re best friends, aren¡¯t you? Best friends don¡¯t fight,¡± Erbao

    tried to pacify Cheng Xiangyun.

    Dabao nodded in agreement.

    ¡°I¡¯m not her best friend. I don¡¯t have unreasonable and immature friends like that,¡± said Cheng

    Xiangyun, but she had obviously calmed down.

    ¡°It is my fault, but Xiangyun, thinks about it. If no one arranged for that meeting, why would the poker

    face be there?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°Now that you mentioned it, something does seem off¡­¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s poker face?¡± Erbao asked innocently.

    ¡°Don¡¯t chime in when the adults are having a conversation.¡±

    ¡°Your mommy refers to Nan Chen as ¡®poker face¡¯,¡± exined Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°But Uncle Nan Chen is so handsome. Why does mommy call him ¡®poker face¡¯?¡± demanded Erbao.

    ¡°What do you kids know about facial beauty?¡± said Ning Ran exasperatedly.

    Unhappy with the reply, Erbao refuted, ¡°I know plenty about beauty! Uncle Nan Chen is handsome. He

    is the second most handsome man after my big brother.¡±

    Dabao agreed with that statement whole-heartedly and nodded like a cute little bobble-head.

    ¡°Uncle Nan Chen even bought us gifts!¡± Erbao seemed determined to defend Nan Chen.

    ¡°He brought presents?¡± ¡°A corporate tycoon brought gifts to a chance encounter with two kids?¡± asked

    Ning Ran.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. Someone did arrange that meeting! Who could it be?¡±

    ¡°It must be the employees at the counseling office.¡±

    ¡°But that doctor is rmended by the police and seemed legit.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not implying that the doctor is bad or anything. He must¡¯ve known that poker face personally and

    noticed that the kids looked just like that guy.¡±

    ¡°The poker face has so many sexual partners so he must be worried that he could have two illegitimate

    offspring, and decided to investigate,¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°That analysis seemed prejudiced and aimed at making him out as the bad person,¡± said Cheng

    Xiangyun with a frown.

    ¡°Make him out as bad? If anything, I¡¯m being too nice! How good can a man be if he is willing to be with

    women like Luo Fei?¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°Okay¡­ fine. Please continue. What do you think will happen next?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯lle after my children! No, I won¡¯t let him take my children away from me!¡± said Ning Ran in a

    terrified voice.

    ¡°You¡¯re overthinking this. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s going to be that bad,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun while shaking her

    head.

    ¡°I worry that it¡¯s worse than I think. That poker face is so powerful in the city. How do I fight against him

    if he¡¯sing after my children?¡±

    ¡°But that theory doesn¡¯t make sense. Why would hee after your children?¡± ¡°Unless, of course, he¡¯s

    the father.¡± ¡°Otherwise, why would he steal your children? He¡¯s not in the human trafficking business,¡±

    said Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°So Uncle Nan Chen really is our dad! Yay!¡± cheered Erbao.

    ¡°No, he¡¯s not. Why are you so happy? What¡¯s so good about that poker face anyway?¡± asked Ning Ran

    who was confused by Erbao¡¯s reaction.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Uncle Nan Chen? He¡¯s handsome and rich,¡± refuted Erbao weakly.

    Annoyed, Ning Ran turned to Cheng Xiangyun andined, ¡°This is your fault. You taught my kid to

    be money-minded.¡±

    ¡°Dang! How is that my fault?¡± ¡°Besides, I think she¡¯s right. Mr. Chen is handsome and rich, what¡¯s

    wrong with that?¡±

    ¡°Whatever the case, I don¡¯t want my children to have any more contact with him. I forbid it,¡± said Ning

    Ran firmly.

    Oh no! Then we won¡¯t be getting that big meal from Uncle Nan Chen anymore! Thought Erbao.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 54

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 54

    Two dayster, at the set of Sound of Thunder 2, at 8 a.m.

    There were a lot of people on set, even the workers, especially the actresses, who needn¡¯te in that

    day, were there.

    They weren¡¯t there to observe the shooting. Instead, they were there to see that one person.

    Last night, out of the blue, the director ¨C Wang Yan ¨C sent out the message stating that the mysterious

    lead actor of the movie would be showing up the following morning.

    There had long been a rumor that the lead actor would be a renowned celebrity, but he had never

    shown up so everyone was curious.

    That curiosity was finally going toe to an end that morning so everyone showed up to see who that

    celebrity is.

    Luo Fei was putting on make-up while the third lead actress, Zhao Mingjie, was standing beside her.

    ¡°Ms. Fei, my investigation finally became fruitful. That b**** Ding Mi had been fine because she had

    been bringing in her own make-up and using them, so we¡¯ll have to find another way to get to her,¡± said

    Zhao Mingjie.

    ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± asked Luo Fei coldly.

    ¡°I am too dumb toe up with anything so Ms. Fei will have to take the lead. I can¡¯t stand that b****

    and want her gone too!¡± replied Zhao Mingjie.

    ¡°Are you saying that I spend my daying up with ways to bully others?¡± asked Luo Fei.

    ¡°No, no, that¡¯s not what I meant at all, Ms. Fei,¡± exined Zhao Mingjie.

    ¡°Then what do you mean? Let me tell you something. I have nothing against Ding Mi. I only wanted to

    get to her for you, to help you get revenge for having your role stolen by her. lied Luo Fei without even

    a hint of remorse.

    ¡°I know. I know you¡¯re doing this for me. That is why I¡¯ll do whatever you want, Ms. Fei, no matter what

    it is.¡± said Zhao Mingjie nicely.

    ¡°Do you have a good rtionship with the crew?¡± asked Luo Fei all of a sudden.

    ¡°No, not really,¡± replied Zhao Mingjie.

    Actresses like Zhao Mingjie loved to take advantage of their youth and beauty to climb up the corporate

    ladder. She would praise those who are more influential than her and ignore the rest so naturally, she¡¯s

    not close with anyone working behind the scenes.

    ¡°Do you need to shoot anything today?¡± asked Luo Fei.

    ¡°No, I came in today to watch Ms. Fei¡¯s scene with the mysterious actor. I wonder who that is?¡±

    ¡°The new actor is Zhen Lunlun,¡± answered Luo Fei with a smile.

    ¡°Huh? Him?!¡± Zhao Mingjie screamed, ¡°The man known to be the new favorite actor whose beauty is

    comparable to that of a model?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the one. The director wanted to keep him a secret, but I kept pushing so the director

    confessed,¡± said Luo Fei gleefully.

    ¡°Oh my god, I can¡¯t believe it¡¯s Zhen Lunlun! He was the hottest actorst year but disappeared all of a

    sudden. There has been a rumor that he went overseas to further his studies. This will be the first show

    he shoots after returning. Everyone will have their eyes on the show!¡± said Zhao Mingjie who couldn¡¯t

    contain her excitement.

    ¡°The team hired him just for me.¡± bragged Luo Fei.

    ¡°Back then, he only yed roles for the big screen. Ms. Fei, you really are something for getting a big

    shot like him to shoot a TV series with you!¡± eximed Zhao Mingjie with envy in her eyes.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. This is his first series, and he did it to be seen with me,¡± exined Luo Fei.

    ¡°That makes sense. Only a celebrity like Zhen Lunlun is good enough for a star like Ms. Fei.¡± praised

    Zhao Mingjie to get to Luo Fei¡¯s good side.

    ¡°Everyone will be distracted when Zhen Lunlun makes his appearance. Take that opportunity to put this

    in that b****¡¯s costume.¡± ordered Luo Fei as she fished out a small box and hand it to Zhao Mingjie.

    Zhao Mingjie opened the box to see a couple of short and non-reflective ck needles that were

    difficult to detect.

    ¡°The poison on these needles would cause the body to itch badly. If it is not treated in time, the body

    will swell and rot, and could not be easily cured after that.¡±

    ¡°That b**** had always imed to be professional. She wouldn¡¯t stop shooting even when her body

    itches. By the time we¡¯re done shooting, she would¡¯ve missed the opportunity to be treated, and her

    career would be over!¡± said Luo Fei with an evil glint in her eyes.

    Zhao Mingjie shivered. Luo Fei was too scary. She had so many tricks up her sleeves and all of them

    were designed to go for the throat.

    Zhao Mingjie was d that she had sided with Luo Fei. Otherwise, she would be on the suffering end

    of Luo Fei¡¯s cruelty.

    Are all celebrities that evil? Or must we all be that evil to be a celebrity?

    ¡°Why are you still standing here? Too chicken to do it?¡± growled Luo Fei when she noticed that Zhao

    Mingjie was just standing there.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it! I¡¯ll perform my tasks perfectly.¡± promised Zhao Mingjie.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, as long as that b**** goes down, the role of the second lead actress would definitely go to

    you.¡± affirmed Luo Fei with a sweet lie designed to con Zhao Mingjie.

    ¡°Thank you, Ms. Fei, I will do anything for you.¡±

    ¡°Aww, don¡¯t put it like that. We¡¯re only chatting. I never gave you anything or ordered you to do

    anything. I¡¯m just an actress, I can¡¯t be held responsible if anything were to happen,¡± warned Luo Fei

    coldly.

    ¡°Of course, I understand.¡± replied Zhao Mingjie. In her mind, however, she thought, You¡¯re good. You¡¯re

    putting all that on my te so that if anything goes wrong, I¡¯d be the only one who goes down.

    Despite her thoughts, Zhao Mingjie remained obedient. She understood that if she wanted to climb the

    ladder, she could not afford to go against someone like Luo Fei.

    No one else dared to use the dressing room because it was upied by Luo Fei so Ning Ran was

    using another dressing room.

    Cheng Xiangyun was giving Ning Ran the cold shoulder while standing beside her.

    The reason for this treatment was because Cheng Xiangyun thought that it was selfish of Ning Ran to

    keep the children from Nan Chen.

    However, despite the argument, they still had to work professionally.

    ¡°I heard that the male lead actor will being in today. He is an influential celebrity, and everyone is

    greeting him. Be smart and greet him when hees in. Don¡¯t be too proud, idiot,¡± said Cheng

    Xiangyun coldly.

    ¡°What is that supposed to mean? Since when I have been an idiot?¡± demanded Ning Ran.

    ¡°What you did two days ago was an example of a stupid act.¡±

    Ning Ran changed the subject before it goes sour. ¡°Who¡¯s the celebrity anyway?¡± asked Ning Ran, ¡°the

    team did a great job keeping him a secret.¡±

    ¡°The information had probably been leaked to the more famous actors, but no one would tell an actress

    like you.¡±

    ¡°Against her usual style, Luo Fei was here before we arrived.¡± ¡°She must¡¯ve done that to impress that

    celebrity.¡±

    ¡°That person must be an A-list actor to get Luo Fei¡¯s attention since she would¡¯ve ignored anything

    less,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°That¡¯s true. Praising the ones on top while ignoring the ones underneath her, that¡¯s her style.¡±

    The mere mention of Luo Fei¡¯s name got the duo back on the same side.

    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°He¡¯s here! The star is here!¡± A loud noise rang from the outside.

    A ck RV drove up to the set. Normally, an RV was only used when the person in question was

    extremely famous.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 55

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 55

    Ning Ran had put on her make-up, but she wasn¡¯t as excited as everyone else.

    ¡°Go say ¡®hi¡¯, leave an impression,¡± advised Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Pfft, as you said, he¡¯s a celebrity. He wouldn¡¯t greet an actress like me even if I get up to greet him.

    The entertainment industry is very cruel and I¡¯m not interested in making a fool of myself,¡± replied Ning

    Ranzily.

    ¡°This! This is why you¡¯ll never be famous despite your amazing skills! Any other actress would¡¯ve gone

    and tried to impress him!¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun stomped and yelled. She was angry that Ning Ran was wasting her talent by refusing

    to be diplomatic.

    ¡°That¡¯s not true. Maybe I¡¯ll get lucky one day and end up with an award or something,¡± joked Ning Ran.

    ¡°How are you still joking? Everyone else has gone to greet that celebrity! You should hurry too!¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun was worried so she dragged Ning Ran out of the room.

    At the same time, everyone was screaming and cheering outside to celebrate the arrival of the

    celebrity, causing the whole set to be lively.

    The ck RV had stopped for several minutes, but the door never opened and the curtains were pulled

    so no one could tell what was happening.

    The arrival of a celebrity was truly something else. He even waited in the car to build up the suspense.

    The director and Luo Fei stood in front of the weing party. The director was there to wee him

    on behalf of the workers while Luo Fei was there to wee him on behalf of the actors and actresses.

    Naturally, both the director and Luo Fei had already known that the man in the car is Zhen Lunlun. That

    is why they were willing to show up in person to greet him.

    Everyone else had no idea that Zhen Lunlun was in the car. They were only there because both the

    director and Luo Fei were nervous to meet this celebrity so the man in question must be a huge deal.

    That is why they are shouting to create a weing atmosphere.

    It¡¯s true what they say. Life really was like in the movies. Zhen Lunlun hadn¡¯t even begun acting, but his

    presence was already a show.

    Ning Ran was stuck in between the crowd, staring at that ck car. Annoyed, she muttered, ¡°Who the

    hell is that? Some sort of mental case? Staying in the car for so long, and¡­¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s lips were forced shut by Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s hand.

    ¡°You¡¯re the nutjob! Staying way back here and talking shit like that! Can¡¯t you be a little more

    proactive?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want to be famous?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun felt like this woman was giving her a stroke.

    Ning Ran was ufortable too, having her mouth mped shut like that.

    ¡°Promise you¡¯ll stop bullshitting and I¡¯ll let you go,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun.

    Ning Ran nodded immediately.

    That moment, the door of the RV opened, and a man wearing a ck leather jacket and a pair of jeans

    got out of it.

    That outfit used to be fashionable, but it had gotten out of style, especially after the elder generation

    adopted it.

    That being said, the young man standing in front of them had a muscr body, a handsome face, and

    a pair of mesmerizing eyes. All those attributes turned that supposedly dull outfit into a stunning and

    fashionable statement.

    That man truly was more beautiful than a model.

    Hell, he was practically an angel.

    Everyone cheered once more upon seeing that man.

    ¡°Zhen Lunlun!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Zhen Lunlun!¡±

    ¡°Oh my god, I think I¡¯m going to pass out! I can¡¯t believe Zhen Lunlun is here, on our set!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s really him! I¡¯m actually looking at him! In person!¡±

    There were a lot of female workers working behind the scenes, and at that moment, they had all gone

    nuts.

    The only exception was Ning Ran who muttered, ¡°I can¡¯t believe it¡¯s that idiot.¡±

    Everyone around was in a frenzy so no one noticed Ning Ran¡¯sints, not even Cheng Xiangyun

    who was also star-struck.

    Cheng Xiangyun shook Ning Ran¡¯s arm and screamed, ¡°I can¡¯t believe it! It¡¯s Zhen Lunlun!¡± ¡°Last year,

    he was nominated as the best and most influential Asian celebrity in the Times Magazines!¡±

    ¡°Really? Aren¡¯t you a little too old to be his fan?¡± teased Ning Ran who was staring like Cheng

    Xiangyun was some sort of weird creature.

    ¡°Yes, I am. I am his most loyal fan!¡± ¡°My life¡¯s dream is to be his manager!¡± imed Cheng Xiangyun

    while wearing a captivated expression.

    Ning Ran was annoyed by those words. What the hell? You¡¯re MY manager, and you dream of being

    someone else¡¯s manager? So you¡¯re not happy with me, huh?

    ¡°If I am his manager, then I¡¯d be able to spend all my time with him, every day, every night¡­¡±

    ¡°Halt! Wake up, woman! You¡¯re MY manager; please remember that I¡¯ll be famous someday too. Ning

    Ran¡¯s stern voice woke Cheng Xiangyun up from her daydream.

    At the same time, Zhen Lunlun took off his sunsses and waved at the crowd.

    ¡°Lunlun! Lunlun! We love you!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve always loved you!¡±

    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.

    The director ¨C Wang Yan ¨C stepped forward to greet Zhen Lunlun. ¡°I am the director of the show, Wang

    Yan, and I¡¯d like to invite you to our set. Our show is about to be big!¡±

    Luo Fei extended her arms to act like she knows him personally, and was asking for a hug.

    ¡°Wee, Lunlun. I am Ms. Fei.¡±

    However, Zhen Lunlun refused to be closed to Luo Fei, and had no intention of hugging her. Instead,

    he was peeking around like he was looking for someone.

    ¡°Go say hi. Now!¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun nudged Ning Ran to get her to go talk to Zhen Lunlun, but Ning Ran was hesitant so

    Cheng Xiangyun had to shove her.

    Unfortunately, Ning Ran was not expecting that, and in her excitement, Cheng Xiangyun pushed too

    hard, causing Ning Ran to fall.

    ¡°What the hell?¡± shouted Ning Ran who couldn¡¯t stop herself from cussing.

    Everyone was busy weing the huge star, Zhen Lunlun, when someone fell forward all of a sudden

    so everyone turned their gaze to Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran was hurt from the fall, but she looked up, put up a brave face and said, ¡°Go on cheering,

    don¡¯t worry about me.¡±

    On the other side, Luo Fei¡¯s arms were still stretched as she was still waiting for the hug.

    However, Ning Ran¡¯s fall got Zhen Lunlun¡¯s attention.

    Zhen Lunlun adjusted his sunsses and walked to Ning Ran while everyone was watching.

    Luo Fei was so angry that it was a miracle her teeth weren¡¯t ground into powder as she thought, That

    b****! Using a dirty trick like that to steal the show! How utterly shameless!

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± asked Zhen Lunlun as he bent down to hold Ning Ran¡¯s arm and help up.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± whispered Ning Ran.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to do my job. I¡¯ll be ying the role of the first male lead,¡± exined Zhen Lunlun.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone that you know me! I don¡¯t want everyone to think that I only got my role because I

    know you!¡± ordered Ning Ran.

    ¡°That would depend on your performance. y the game with me tonight!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m busy!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care! If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll get everyone on the set make things difficult for you!¡± said Zhen Lunlun

    slyly.

    Ning Ran was troubled. That a****** Zhen Lunlun was more famous than Ning Ran could¡¯ve guessed.

    The reaction of the weing party had proven that everyone will take his side if he decides to make

    things difficult for Ning Ran.

    Dealing with Luo Fei and Zhao Mingjie had already drained Ning Ran. If Zhen Lunlun chimed in, she

    would die of exhaustion.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 56

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 56

    ¡°We¡¯ll talk about thister.¡± The only strategy Ning Ran could think of was to dy the inevitable.

    ¡°Nope, no ter¡¯ and no discussions. You must spend the night with me!,¡± demanded Zhen Lunlun.

    No one, not even the person standing closest to the duo ¨C Cheng Xiangyun, was able to hear what

    they were talking about.

    Cheng Xiangyun could not contain her curiosity so she leaned in to eavesdrop on the duo.

    In the end, she could only make out thatst sentence ¨C ¡®you must spend the night with me¡¯.

    Cheng Xiangyun was so stunned that her jaw dropped, forming a huge and permanent ¡®O¡¯ on her face.

    She firmly believed that she heard right. Zhen Lunlun wanted Ning Ran to spend the night with him!

    Holy shit! Those two knew each other? And they¡¯re close! So close that Zhen Lunlun was demanding

    Ning Ran to spend the night with him!

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t want to talk to Zhen Lunlun, and she especially didn¡¯t want anyone to know that she

    and Zhen Lunlun were old friends.

    She didn¡¯t want to be known as the woman who was only sessful because she knew another

    celebrity personally.

    That was why, in a lowered voice, she said, ¡°Quit fooling around! Everyone¡¯s watching. We¡¯ll talkter.¡±

    Zhen Lunlun extended his hand to Ning Ran and said loudly, ¡°Hello, my name is Zhen Lunlun. It¡¯s nice

    to meet you.¡±

    Everyone was surprised while Luo Fei was so furious that she bit her own lips.

    Zhen Lunlun ignored a celebrity like Luo Fei who was weing him with her arms opened. Yet, he

    was warm and sweet when dealing with a nameless actress like Ning Ran? What the hell?

    Ning Ran reached out to shake his hand in response, but she realized that her hands were dusty from

    the fall so she quickly pped her hands clean then shook his hand. ¡°Hello,¡± said Ning Ran, ¡°I am Ding

    Mi.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Ding, you look just like an old friend of mine,¡± said Zhen Lunlun with a smile.

    This idiot was charming when he smiled, and he exudes a feminine aura that created a sense of

    warmth and familiarity.

    There were times when his smile was so dazzling that it confused the person looking at his smile.

    Yet, as dazzling as his smile was, it wasn¡¯t so overwhelming that it would make anyone ufortable.

    ¡°Do I?¡± said Ning Ran calmly.

    ¡°You do, except my friend isn¡¯t as stunning as you, Ms. Ding,¡± replied Zhen Lunlun.

    Upon hearing this, the women standing around them instantly became jealous because it sounded like

    Zhen Lunlun was flirting with Ning Ran.

    Many devoted fans were willing to die just to be on the receiving end of Zhen Lunlun¡¯s flirting.

    However, that was not the case with Ning Ran. She knew that the nicer Zhen Lunlun was to her, the

    more jealous the women on set would be, and she was not interested in being hated by them.

    If anyone decided to post rumors on the inte, Ning Ran would be attacked by an army of Zhen

    Lunlun¡¯s fans.

    Ning Ran did not want to enrage those deranged fans as the whirlwind caused by those fans could

    destroy her career.

    That was why she didn¡¯t respond to Zhen Lunlun¡¯s words. Instead, she turned around and walked

    away.

    Cheng Xiangyun followed behind and cornered Ning Ran before firing a series of questions. ¡°Be

    honest,¡± asked Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°How did you and Zhen Lunlun meet?¡± ¡°How long have you known

    him and what is the rtionship between the two of you? ¡°How close are the two of you? Have you

    been on a date? Did you sleep together? How many times did you two sleep together?¡±

    Ning Ran was stunned. She never realized just how ¡®creative¡¯ Cheng Xiangyun was. What kind of plot

    was she cooking up in that head of hers?

    ¡°Calm down, old woman. How am I supposed to answer all those questions when you fire them out like

    that?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°You¡¯re the old woman with two kids!¡± ¡°How am I old when I¡¯m not even married? I am a youngdy

    with a tough exterior and beautiful soul!¡± replied Cheng Xiangyun angrily.

    ¡°Fine, fine, I¡¯m the old woman, satisfied?¡± said Ning Ran, admitting defeat.

    ¡°Answer my question!¡±

    ¡°Which one?¡±

    ¡°All of them!¡±

    ¡°Alright, calm down, woman. I told you about him. I knew him because I owe him some money and he

    would use that to annoy me every once in a while to get me to y with him, that¡¯s all,¡± said Ning Ran

    innocently.

    ¡°When have you ever told me about him?¡± ¡°And what do you mean by ¡®y¡¯? Does he y with your

    body? Or do you y with his body? Or is it something mutual?¡±

    ¡°I have told you. He¡¯s Tony, the friend who just came back from overseas. I went to the airport to pick

    him up the other day.¡±

    ¡°Tony is Zhen Lunlun? I thought Tony¡¯s a hairstylist?¡±

    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go through this again. Tony is a great name, but a lot of hairstylists adopt that name so it

    became almost synonymous with being a hairstylist. However, that particr Tony, my friend, is Zhen

    Lunlun. Got it?¡±

    ¡°As for ¡®y¡¯, we¡¯re not ying with our bodies, we¡¯re just ying video games.¡±

    ¡°Video games? Which video games?¡± demanded Cheng Xiangyun who was determined to get to the

    bottom of it all.

    However, the assistant director interrupted the conversation to get Ning Ran to go put on her costume

    to begin shooting.

    ¡°I have to go, we¡¯ll talkter,¡± said Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran¡¯s costume for the day was not the tight cheongsam. Instead, she was to put on a rather loose

    outfit and she had worn a singlet underneath the costume so she was not pricked by the needles

    hidden in the costume.

    The mirror showed a sweet, Ming Dynasty woman standing there.

    Ning Ran was happy with her outfit and style. That is how she imagined a Ming Dynasty woman would

    look like.

    On the other side, Luo Fei was also changing her outfit until the assistant came in and said, ¡°Ms. Fei,

    the director said that you don¡¯t have any scenes to shoot today so you don¡¯t need to change.¡±

    ¡°What? I¡¯m the first female lead actress while Zhen Lunlun is the first male lead actor. Today is his first

    day on set. Shouldn¡¯t he and I share a scene? Why wasn¡¯t I included?¡± screamed Luo Fei.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. That¡¯s what the director ordered. They¡¯re only shooting the scene between Ding Mi and

    Zhen Lunlun today,¡± exined the troubled assistant.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go ask Wang Yan. There must be some sort of mistake!¡±

    That was Zhen Lunlun¡¯s first day, and Luo Fei was nning to get close to him when shooting their first

    scene together so that she could raise some eyebrows. That way, she¡¯d be able to use his fame to give

    her own name a nice boost.

    But the woman shooting the first scene with Zhen Lunlun had be Ning Ran. She refused to ept

    that!

    Hence, Luo Fei walked up to the director, all mad, and demanded, ¡°Director! There must be some

    mistakes. Why am I not shooting today?¡±

    ¡°No mistakes, Ms. Fei, we¡¯ve already sent out the notice. We¡¯re not shooting your scenes today,¡±

    rified the director with a grin.

    ¡°I never received any notice! And I never received the script either. In any case, I am the first lead

    actress! Now that the first lead actor is here, I should be doing a scene with him, not that b****, Ding

    Mi!¡±

    Luo Fei had always been good at hiding her distaste for Ning Ran and had always been polite to Ning

    Ran when others were present. However, she was too furious that day, and all the curse words came

    flying.

    Wang Yan was stumped.

    He¡¯d been in the entertainment industry for quite some time so he understood that Luo Fei was trying to

    use Zhen Lunlun to boost her fame, but he didn¡¯t have a choice, because that was the order of the

    boss ¨C Nan Chen.

    Although Luo Fei was still the first female lead actress on paper, the revised script had turned Ning Ran

    into the actual first female lead actress.

    But Luo Fei was unaware of the change in the script because she would have caused a scene if she

    did.

    Nan Chen wanted Zhen Lunlun and Ning Ran to shoot their scenes together first so that the duo could

    get to know each other and develop some on-screen chemistry.

    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    That was why Zhen Lunlun¡¯s first scene on set was the one between him and Ning Ran.

    Luo Fei standing there and demanding an exnation had made things rather difficult for him, the

    director.

    After all, he couldn¡¯t afford to offend someone like Luo Fei.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 57

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 57

    ¡°Ms. Fei, everything for the day has been prepared, and it¡¯s not wise to change that now. How about we

    shoot the scene between you and Zhen Lunlun tomorrow?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure an amazing celebrity like you

    won¡¯t mind little things like that, right?¡±

    Unfortunately, Luo Fei didn¡¯t ept it, and said, ¡°I do mind! I am the first female lead actress. Now that

    the first male lead actor is here, I should be the one to shoot the scene with him! Why should I let

    someone else have that opportunity?¡±

    Wang Yan is troubled and thought Shoot! What do I do now?

    The team had prepared everything ¨C from the costumes to the props ¨C so it was impossible to change

    at thest minute.

    Besides, it was the order of Mr. Chen, and Wang Yan didn¡¯t dare to go against those orders.

    ¡°Ms. Fei, you gave me no choice but to confess. The truth is, Mr. Chen had personally made the

    arrangements for today¡¯s shooting,¡± exined Wang Yan who looked troubled.

    ¡°Nan Chen ordered this? Impossible! He¡¯s swamped with work and didn¡¯t have time to look into small

    matters like these! You¡¯re lying!¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, call Mr. Chen and confirm with him. If he agrees to change what we shoot

    today, I¡¯ll make the arrangements right away!¡± said Wang Yan.

    Luo Fei was suspicious, but she didn¡¯t dare to call Nan Chen either.

    Besides, it¡¯s not like Nan Chen would pick up every time she called. She understood that Nan Chen

    didn¡¯t care about her.

    ¡°Wang Yan, are you using Mr. Chen to pressure me into obeying?¡± asked Luo Fei coldly.

    ¡°Whoa, hey now, I¡¯m not that brave. I¡¯m just telling you the truth. I¡¯m nothing but a small armpared

    to big guns like you and Mr. Chen. I can¡¯t afford to offend either one of you. Just think of me as an old

    fart, Ms. Fei, please don¡¯t make things difficult for me anymore.¡±

    Wang Yan was an experienced director and knew how to be political and say the right things.

    Since he had already lowered his stance, Luo Fei was not in the position to be difficult anymore.

    Of course, the main reason for her backing down was because she didn¡¯t dare to go against Nan

    Chen¡¯s orders.

    So she had to let Wang Yan do his job. ¡°Alright then,¡± said Luo Fei, ¡°To be honest, I am only mildly

    annoyed, I don¡¯t actually care about little things like that. Shoot her part, it¡¯s only one scene anyway.¡±

    Wang Yan was relieved to hear that so he replied, ¡°Thank you for understanding, Ms. Fei. I¡¯ll go do my

    job then.¡±

    At the same time, Zhen Lunlun had changed into his costume. He was born handsome so he didn¡¯t

    need much make-up. A couple of dabs here and there and a graceful man appeared in front of

    everyone.

    The director even included a hat in his costume to amodate his yellow hair.

    He looked down to prepare himself. When he looked back up, the aura of a spoiled brat was gone.

    He is the first male lead actor and was supposed to be the boyfriend of the first female lead actress ¨C

    Luo Fei. He was supposed to be swept away by Ning Ran¡¯s character who was the antagonist that

    stole her younger sister¡¯s boyfriend.

    However, the role of the first female lead actress had since been transferred to Ning Ran so the plot of

    the show would have changed too, and the duo would end up as a happy couple.

    In this scene, the two of them were meeting in secret. Zhen Lunlun¡¯s character was tempted yet too

    scared to act on his feelings. The psychological turmoil to be presented was ratherplicated.

    On the other hand, Ning Ran¡¯s character was supposed to make the first move and kiss the terrified

    Zhen Lunlun.

    Their eyes met. They didn¡¯t utter a word but took everybody¡¯s breath away.

    What a beautiful scene!

    A match made in heaven.

    Thedy was beautiful and so was the man.

    Zhen Lunlun¡¯s cute facial features helped made his role as a Ming Dynasty officiale alive.

    Moreover, he was born in a wealthy family so his actual lifestyle was not so different from his

    character¡¯s, allowing him to exude the aura of a young master easily.

    He didn¡¯t even need to put in much effort to act. Even the way he stood was enough to portray his

    character perfectly.

    Hence, the first scene was shot without a single NG.

    Luo Fei was grinding her teeth while standing at the side.

    ¡°Did you put the needles in that b****¡¯s costume? Why isn¡¯t she affected at all?¡± whispered Luo Fei to

    Zhao Mingjie who was standing beside her.

    ¡°Ms. Fei, it¡¯s definitely there. See that? That b**** scratched her waist a couple of times as she was

    shooting the scene. That¡¯s where I ced the needles. I think she was affected. She¡¯s just keeping it to

    herself,¡± said Zhao Mingjie.

    Luo Fei noticed that too, but she couldn¡¯t be sure.

    After all, even a small dosage of the poison on the needle would cause the skin to itch like crazy, and

    anyone would scratch so much that they would end up wing off their own skin.

    Yet, Ning Ran was ying her role as usual. Her dialogue was as scripted, and her expression was on

    point, almost as if nothing was happening.

    She didn¡¯t look like she was poisoned at all.

    ¡°Keeping it to herself? The itch is impossible to hide!¡± said Luo Fei, suspiciously.

    ¡°As you mentioned, that b**** prided herself as a professional actress and would neverin,

    regardless of how ufortable she is. Those little tricks with her hand prove that she is poisoned,¡±

    exined Zhao Mingjie.

    ¡°Then let her pretend she¡¯s fine,¡± said Luo Fei with deep hatred in her eyes, ¡°The longer she kept this to

    herself, the worse off she will be. Once the poison enters the bloodstream and spread all over her

    body, her skin would swell up and eventually rot.¡±

    ¡°It would take her at least two months to recover. The cost of dying production, even by a day, has

    dire consequences. They won¡¯t be able to wait until she has recovered.¡± ¡°She would lose that role, and

    you would be promoted to be the second lead actress of the show.¡±

    Zhao Mingjie was delighted to hear that and said, ¡°Thank you for your help, Ms. Fei. Truly, thank you.¡±

    Ning Ran was already pale when it was time for a break. She epted the water Cheng Xiangyun

    handed her and took a couple of big gulps.

    Her skin had been itching, but she didn¡¯t want to cause any trouble so she kept it to herself.

    Unfortunately, that itch became worse and worse until she couldn¡¯t bear it anymore, and her head

    started to feel a little dizzy.

    ¡°You seem a little off,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun who noticed that Ning Ran was sweating profusely.

    ¡°I need to use the bathroom,¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡±

    Ning Ran took off her costume in the toilet and saw that her body was covered in rashes and disgusting

    boils.

    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran realized that something was wrong immediately.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± asked Cheng Xiangyun who was waiting outside.

    ¡°It kinda looks like I¡¯m having an allergic reaction but it¡¯s worse. I think I was poisoned,¡± replied Ning

    Ran.

    ¡°Open the door, let me see.¡±

    The moment Cheng Xiangyun saw Ning Ran¡¯s skin, she screamed, ¡°Oh shoot! How did this happen?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I didn¡¯t eat anything weird. I started feeling a little itchy after we started shooting. Then,

    the itch worsened until I almost lost control a couple of times.¡±

    ¡°You should¡¯ve said something then. Why did you keep it to yourself?¡± ¡°We have got to get a doctor to

    take a look at this.¡±

    ¡°No, we can¡¯t. We¡¯re in the middle of shooting the show!¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°Is the show more important than your health? We¡¯re telling the director and getting a sick leave! Those

    boils are way too scary to be left alone!¡±

    And so the duo went to tell the director what was going on.

    Before Wang Yan even got to respond, Luo Fei chimed in and said, ¡°What a baby. Taking a sick leave

    over a little allergic reaction?¡± ¡°It costs tens of thousands to dy production for one day. Can you

    afford to pay for that loss?¡±

    Luo Fei¡¯s words were a clear instruction for the director: Do not let her leave!

    Wang Yan was pressured again.

    Not shooting the scene between Zhen Lunlun and Luo Fei was already stressful.

    If he were to grant Ning Ran¡¯s sick leave, he would further upset Luo Fei, and he may be fired if Luo

    Feiined to Nan Chen.

    Furthermore, Luo Fei was right. Putting a pause on the production would result in a huge loss.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 58

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 58

    Ning Ran could see that the director was troubled. If it had been the director who refused her request,

    she would¡¯ve epted it. After all, the director was the one in charge.

    But Luo Fei butting in and putting pressure on the director made Ning Ran upset. ¡°Director, who¡¯s the

    one in charge on this set? You? Or Ms. Fei?¡± asked Ning Ran pointedly.

    Wang Yan couldn¡¯t answer that since all the staff members are there.

    After all, he couldn¡¯t admit that Luo Fei was more powerful than he was. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be able

    to get anyone else to listen to him in the future.

    On the other hand, he can¡¯t go against Luo Fei either, because that was the sponsor¡¯s girlfriend, and he

    couldn¡¯t afford to offend her.

    Fortunately, Wang Yan was an experienced director and knew just how to deal with awkward situations

    like that.

    ¡°Ms. Fei was right. It¡¯s not really about who¡¯s in charge though, it¡¯s about what¡¯s best for the show.¡±

    ¡°So are you going to let me go or not?¡± Ning Ran felt like she was on herst leg.

    ¡°Maybe hold it in for just a little while longer?¡± suggested the director.

    Obviously, the director was siding with Luo Fei and making Ning Ran stay.

    ¡°What are you guys chatting about over here?¡±

    Zhen Lunlun walked over all of a sudden.

    ¡°Ding Mi is sick and needs to go see a doctor right away. We¡¯re asking for the director¡¯s permission

    now,¡± exined Cheng Xiangyun before anyone could speak.

    ¡°Sick? What¡¯s wrong? I knew I saw something off about you!¡± said Zhen Lunlun in a worried tone.

    ¡°I¡­¡± Ning Ran was too shy to say that her skin was itching.

    ¡°You look terrible! Come on, I¡¯ll drive you to the hospital.¡±

    Worried, Zhen Lunlun forgot that he was supposed to pretend they¡¯re not friends so he held Ning Ran¡¯s

    hand and walked off with her.

    Everyone was shocked.

    ¡°Ah, let me go! The director rejected my request.¡± Ning Ran tried to pry her hand off of Zhen Lunlun¡¯s

    hand.

    ¡°Director, why did you reject that request?¡± asked Zhen Lunlun after he turned around to face the

    director.

    ¡°Uh¡­ well, the production team has made the arrangements¡­¡±

    ¡°Arrangement my a**! Actors are not tools! How could you deny them medical attention when they¡¯re

    sick?¡± growled Zhen Lunlun.

    ¡°Lunlun, don¡¯t put it like that. That woman is extremely sly. She¡¯s just cking off¡­¡± interrupted Luo

    Fei.

    ¡°Who the hell are you, old woman? Who allowed you to talk to me like we¡¯re friends?¡± Zhen Lunlun cut

    Luo Fei¡¯s words short.

    Luo Fei was stunned and for a moment, she couldn¡¯t speak.

    Zhen Lunlun actually knew that Luo Fei was a third-rated celebrity. He was only out of the business for

    half a year so he was still up-to-date about the happenings of the industry.

    Besides, Luo Fei had another important role ¨C as his third uncle¡¯s girlfriend¡­ by reputation, at least.

    However, Luo Fei never had the chance to get to know Nan Chen¡¯s family so she didn¡¯t know that this

    famous and handsome celebrity was Nan Chen¡¯s nephew.

    Luo Fei even tried to create rumors of a love interest between her and Zhen Lunlun, but Zhen Lunlun

    had kept his distance.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll take you to the hospital. We¡¯re not shooting any more scenes today. I¡¯ll pay for whatever

    loss the production incurs,¡± said Zhen Lunlun in a domineering manner.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be reckless, Zhen¡­¡± Wang Yan tried to reason with him.

    ¡°I freaking hate heartless directors like you who don¡¯t treat actors like they¡¯re humans. Your actress is

    sick and you¡¯re pressuring her to keep working. If anything were to happen to her, would you be able to

    compensate?¡± demanded Zhen Lunlun.

    Wang Yan kept his mouth shut.

    Zhen Lunlun was the male lead actor appointed by Nan Chen himself whereas Luo Fei was Nan

    Chen¡¯s girlfriend.

    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    The duo being on opposite sides meant that he would be on the wrong side, regardless.

    And so he decided to act dumb and let the duo fight among themselves.

    Luo Fei watched as Zhen Lunlun took Ning Ran away. She wanted to stop them but was worried about

    pissing Zhen Lunlun off.

    The industry favors the famous ones so the more famous you are, the more powerful you are.

    Zhen Lunlun may be young, but he was famous. He was the man who was featured in the Times

    Magazine. She couldn¡¯t afford to make an enemy out of superstars like that. If anything, she needed to

    befriend him.

    Even if Zhen Lunlun was disrespectful towards her, she could notin and make things worse

    because that would destroy any future opportunities to ease things over.

    But Luo Fei was dissatisfied so she signaled Zhao Mingjie with her eyes.

    Zhao Mingjie understood what Luo Fei wanted her to do, but she didn¡¯t make a move.

    She didn¡¯t dare to.

    Even someone like Luo Fei was too scared to make a move, let alone a small fry like Zhao Mingjie.

    Zhao Mingjie may be manipted by Luo Fei, but she only let Luo Fei do so because she was getting

    something out of it.

    Zhao Mingjie knew that making a move at that moment would cause her to be hated so she didn¡¯t do

    anything.

    Luo Fei saw that Zhao Mingjie remained unmoved so she red at her angrily.

    Zhao Mingjie pretended to miss those signals. She wasn¡¯t dumb enough to make a move.

    Hence, with everyone watching, Zhen Lunlun held Ning Ran¡¯s hand like they¡¯re a couple and walked

    out of the set together.

    Luo Fei thought of something all of a sudden and took a photo of Zhen Lunlun and Ning Ran holding

    hands.

    When Ning Ran got into Zhen Lunlun¡¯s RV, her body was burning up and itching, even hurting a little.

    It felt like a nest of ants were underneath her skin, biting her while countless needles were stabbing into

    her.

    Even someone as strong as Ning Ran couldn¡¯t help but groaned in agony.

    ¡°Is it bad? What is going on?¡± asked Zhen Lunlun, worried.

    ¡°Her skin developed some boils. They were growing close together and looked disgusting. It didn¡¯t look

    like an allergic reaction, more like being poisoned,¡± exined Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Poisoned? How did she get poisoned?¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t know yet, but the first female lead actress and the third female lead actress have always

    hated Ning Ran so her being poisoned may or may not be the work of those two,¡± rified Cheng

    Xiangyun.

    ¡°F***! I will get to the bottom of this! What the hell is wrong with this production set?¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling my

    uncle!¡± said Zhen Lunlun.

    ¡°Your uncle? Who is that?¡± asked Cheng Xiangyun.

    That was when Zhen Lunlun remembered Nan Chen advising him not to let anyone know about Nan

    Chen being his uncle.

    ¡°My uncle is a doctor who practices Chinese medicine. I can ask for his medical advice,¡± lied Zhen

    Lunlun.

    ¡°Chinese medical practitioner specializes in observing the patient before giving medical advice. He

    can¡¯t give any advice without seeing the patient in person. Let¡¯s just go to the hospital instead.¡±

    ¡°Okay, then we¡¯re going to see the best dermatologist! I¡¯ll call them now and have them prepped.¡±

    Zhen Lunlun fished out his phone and began calling nonstop.

    He was a well-known celebrity and a member of the powerful Nan Family so he had friends in every

    industry.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t need to wait or fill out any forms when she reached the hospital. Instead, she was

    treated immediately.

    They drew some blood and ran some tests before injecting her with the cure.

    Since there were no dys, the poison was cured.

    That being said, the doctor wanted Ning Ran to stay in the hospital for a few days to observe her

    condition.

    After two long hours, Ning Ran finally felt better.

    She sat up and picked up the costume which Cheng Xiangyun had folded.

    ¡°Lie down¡­ What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°I want to take a closer look at this costume. I think there¡¯s something wrong with it,¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°No way. This costume was prepared by the crew, and I personally inspected it. Nothing was wrong

    with it when you put it on.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just a thought. I¡¯m not 100% sure either,¡± exined Ning Ran.

    Then, she found two thin needles that are well hidden in the costume.

    ¡°This must be it! These needles must be poisonous!¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°Huh? How did this happen? Who put them there?¡± said Cheng Xiangyun who was also surprised.

    ¡°Either Luo Fei or Zhao Mingjie, or maybe Luo Fei had herp dog, Zhao Mingjie, do her dirty work for

    her.¡±

    ¡°Those two women are vile! Damn it, I¡¯m calling the police!¡± said Cheng Xiangyun angrily.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 59

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 59

    ¡°Don¡¯t get the police involved!¡± Ning Ran stopped Cheng Xiangyun immediately.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to call the police. This is but a small case, and it¡¯s difficult to gather evidence.

    Moreover, once the police are involved, everyone would be terrified.¡±

    ¡°And if the media caught wind of this, it would be exaggerated which would cause trouble for everyone

    involved. I don¡¯t want that to happen.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun nodded in agreement, but said, ¡°I understand where you¡¯reing from, but are you

    really going to let whoever the culprit is get away with it?¡±

    ¡°I knew things like this would happen. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been careful, but I guess I couldn¡¯t prevent it all.¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t careful enough this time, I¡¯ll just be extra cautious from now on.¡±

    ¡°As for finding out who the culprit is¡­ Well, the answer is obvious so we don¡¯t actually need the police

    to help us figure it out.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, just let it be. I¡¯ll find a way to deal with it in the future.¡± ¡°Besides, I was

    treated in time, and am fine now. We¡¯ll just take this as a lesson learned.¡±

    Ning Ran acted calmly like she didn¡¯t care.

    The truth was, she did care, but her past experiences had taught her that hatred and jealousy were the

    most worthless emotions.

    All those years ago, her mom died with hatred in her heart. Ning Ran left the country while being

    pregnant and was consumed by hatred for the longest time.

    In the end, that hatred tortured her day and night like toxic worms feeding off of her and bing

    stronger as she grew weaker in a world of hopelessness and pain.

    It wasn¡¯t until her children were born that she understood that the hatred was only torturing her, while

    the man she hated was just fine.

    If that was the case, why even bother hating at all? Why not just make the best out of your life and be

    happier than the person you hate. That was the true path of salvation.

    Having survived those horrifying experiences, Ning Ran was able to let what happened on the set go.

    Ning Ran was trying to pacify the furious Cheng Xiangyun when ¡®the handsome Zhen¡¯, entered.

    ¡®The handsome Zhen¡¯ was Zhen Lunlun¡¯s nickname given to him by his online fans. The nickname was

    rather fitting for his image.

    Zhen Lunlun was holding a bag of food as he entered. They had all been so busy that none of them

    had had dinner yet.

    ¡°Feeling better? Since you¡¯re up, let¡¯s have dinner then after that, we can close the doors and do it

    again,¡± said Zhen Lunlun.

    Cheng Xiangyun was stunned by Zhen Lunlun¡¯s actions and words. Not only did he treat her like she

    was invisible, but he used phrases like ¡®do it again¡¯ in the hospital, a public ce! Does he have no

    shame at all?

    What made her even more upset was the fact that she could hear her heart beating faster and her face

    turning red whereas Ning Ran waspletely immune to it. ¡°Nope, we¡¯re not doing that,¡± said Ning

    Ran.

    Cheng Xiangyun wanted to hide her face and flee the scene. Those two were just too much! Using

    shameless and easily misinterpreted phrases like that.

    In order to prevent any awkward situations from arising, Cheng Xiangyun chimed in and said, ¡°Let¡¯s

    eat. We can have a private conversationter.¡±

    Ning Ran was feeling better and had be hungry.

    The takeout was surprisingly delicious, and both Ning Ran and Cheng Xiangyun couldn¡¯t help but

    praise it, ¡°Wow, this takeout is delicious!¡±

    ¡°Pfft~ these aren¡¯t ordinary takeout,dies. This is prepared by the head chef of the Phoenix¡¯s Heaven

    restaurant. I had someone pick up the meal and deliver it over. The head chef is internationally

    renowned so the meals he prepared are excellent,¡± said Zhen Lunlun.

    ¡°Prepared by an internationally renowned chef? No wonder it¡¯s so good,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°He¡¯s lying. It¡¯s probably from the stall on the streets. We only find it especially delicious because we¡¯re

    hungry,¡± said Ning Ran as she chowed down.

    ¡°See that? This woman is annoyingly stubborn. It¡¯s my least favorite part of you,¡±ined Zhen

    Lunlun.

    ¡°Like I care what you think of me? I would¡¯vepletely ignored you if it isn¡¯t for the fact that I owe you

    money,¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°See what I mean? I saved your life today. If it wasn¡¯t for me, you¡¯d never get treated in time and would

    probably be lying dead on the street right now! I can¡¯t believe how ungrateful you are.¡± ¡°Damn, I¡¯m

    angry,¡±ined Zhen Lunlun.

    ¡°Right? This woman has always been ungrateful. She lives in my ce, eats my food, and sleeps on

    my bed. Yet, I have never gotten a ¡®thank you¡¯ from her before.¡± Cheng Xiangyun joined in the protest.

    ¡°She sleeps on your bed?¡± Zhen Lunlun¡¯s eyes widened with astonishment, ¡°so the two of you¡­?¡±

    ¡°You think too much. I¡¯m not into her. She¡¯s just my manager. We have no personal attachment

    whatsoever and coexist only to exploit one another,¡± joked Ning Ran.

    The three of them were having a great time together inside the hospital room, creating a warm

    atmosphere.

    That was when they heard loud noises from behind the door. Cheng Xiangyun stood up to look outside,

    and d***! The corridor outside the room was crowded.

    The doctors, nurses, and patients ¨C even the ones holding a walking cane and the ones attached to an

    IV drip ¨C were all standing outside Ning Ran¡¯s room.

    The moment the door was opened, a middle-aged woman barged into the room and shouted, ¡°Lunlun!

    It really is you! I finally got to meet you in person!¡±

    That was the moment Zhen Lunlun realizes that he had forgotten to put on his mask before he entered

    the hospital and had been recognized.

    Once the news that the superstar Zhen Lunlun was inside the hospital got out, everyone and their

    family members came over to sneak a peek at that celebrity.

    It was not possible to avoid it so Zhen Lunlun had no choice but to face them. ¡°Let¡¯s talk outside,¡± said

    Zhen Lunlun, ¡°My friend is sick and it¡¯d disrupt her recovery if we talk here.¡±

    ¡°Request whatever you want. I¡¯ll be sure to fulfil¡­¡±

    Zhen Lunlun hadn¡¯t even finished his sentence before the middle-aged woman nted a kiss on his

    cheek.

    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    ¡­¡­

    Nanshi Corporation

    Nan Chen was reading the article that Jiang Zhe had shown him and was clearly annoyed.

    ¡°I called Director Wang to ask about what happened. Turned out, the reason Young Master Lun was in

    that hospital with the actress was because the actress was sick and Young Master Lun had to take her

    to the hospital.¡±

    ¡°It happened very suddenly so Young Master Lun probably forgot to put on a disguise and was

    recognized by his fans, which is why¡­¡±

    Jiang Zhe was in the middle of reporting the incident when his phone rang.

    ¡°It¡¯s Ms. Fei,¡± reported Jiang Zhe.

    Luo Fei knew that she would likely be ignored if she called Nan Chen¡¯s number directly so she called

    Jiang Zhe instead.

    Nan Chen signaled Jiang Zhe to pick up the call.

    Jiang Zhe swiped on his phone and put her on the speaker.

    ¡°Hello, Ms. Fei.¡±

    ¡°Assistant Jiang, is Master Chen busy? I would like to talk to him.¡± Luo Fei¡¯s voice rang from the phone.

    Jiang Zhe turned to Nan Chen who gave the orders with his eyes.

    Jiang Zhe understood instantly and replied, ¡°Mr. Chen is in a meeting at the moment. Is there anything I

    can help you with, Ms. Fei?¡±

    ¡°Okay then, here¡¯s the deal. The production was disrupted today because of the actress named Ding

    Mi.¡±

    ¡°The first male lead actor ¨C Zhen Lunlun ¨C came in today and that Ding Mi kept flirting with him, even

    went so far as to feign her sickness and insisted that Zhen Lunlun take her to the hospital.¡±

    ¡°Zhen Lunlun is a superstar so he refused but that Ding Mi kept pushing so he had no choice but to

    take her to the hospital.¡±

    ¡°Worse still, Zhen Lunlun was photographed at the hospital so the production had to be dyed.

    Everyone was furious. I thought there¡¯s a need to report this to Mr. Chen since this is his investment

    project.¡±

    After Luo Fei finished, she paused to check if there was any reaction from the other side.

    ¡°No problem, I¡¯ll report this to Mr. Chenter. Is there anything else?¡± asked Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°That Ding Mi is too troublesome. If this goes on, the whole n would be disrupted. Assistant Jiang,

    please advise Mr. Chen to rece the actress when the timing is right,¡± said Luo Fei.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m only an assistant so I¡¯m in no position to make any decision.¡±

    Jiang Zhe¡¯s reply was very political because he was a survivalist, and his employer was fuming while

    listening to this report.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 60

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 60

    After some time, Zhen Lunlun received a call from Nan Chen, demanding an audience.

    ¡°Wow, what a glorious room!¡± eximed Zhen Lunlun the second he walked in.

    What he didn¡¯t know was that the office was too luxurious for Nan Chen¡¯s taste, and the person

    responsible for designing the office ¨C Nan Xing ¨C was transferred to Africa.

    Zhen Lunlun turned into an obedient young man the second he saw Nan Chen¡¯s serious and grim

    expression.

    ¡°Uncle, what can I do for you?¡±

    With a horrifying expression, Nan Chen gestured to the tablet he¡¯s holding. The tablet showed a photo

    of Zhen Lunlun being kissed by the middle-aged woman.

    That photo was the third most searched photo on the inte.

    The second most searched photo was the photo Zhen Lunlun took with a bandaged patient.

    The winner of the petition¡¯ was the photo of Zhen Lunlun walking out of the set while holding Ning

    Ran¡¯s hand.

    The photo was blurry so Ning Ran¡¯s face couldn¡¯t be made out.

    Luo Fei took a photo at the time, but she didn¡¯t post it on the inte because she only intended to use

    it toin to Nan Chen.

    However, someone else on the set also took a photo and shared it with his friend who shared it with

    their friends, and the photo ended up on the inte.

    No one thought that Ning Ran being sick would cause the news of Handsome Zhen, who had not been

    mentioned in a while, to be featured on the front page again.

    The three photos sent three different stories: (1) the Handsome Zhen may be in a rtionship; (2) the

    Handsome Zhen was kissed by a middle-aged woman and; (3) the Handsome Zhen was a down to

    Earth man who took photos with patients.

    The story that the fan was most interested in was that of Handsome Zhen¡¯s possible rtionship.

    That was also the story that got under Nan Chen¡¯s skin.

    On the day of the first screen test, Nan Chen received a seductive letter from Ning Ran through the

    employees.

    Then, Ning Ran and the secondary director made an appearance in the hotel together¡­

    Well, they didn¡¯t show up together, but Nan Chen was convinced that they were together.

    This was worse than all the previous incidents because Ning Ran had shifted her attention to his

    nephew.

    That was unforgivable.

    Nan Chen pointed at the photo of Zhen Lunlun and Ning Ran holding hands together, and demanded

    to know what happened with his eyes.

    ¡°Uncle, that is Ding Mi, an actress on set. She was sick that day but the director refused to let her go so

    I had to bring her to the hospital.¡±

    Nan Chen was even angrier.

    It¡¯s just like what Luo Fei said! That Ding Mi feigned her illness to attract Zhen Lunlun¡¯s attention!

    Moreover, ording to Luo Fei, Zhen Lunlun didn¡¯t pay much attention to her at first, but she kept

    badgering him so he had no choice but to take her to the hospital.

    That woman truly was vile. She knew that Zhen Lunlun was a superstar and that a single photo with

    him would make her famous.

    ¡°So what if she¡¯s sick? Why are you so worried about her?¡± growled Nan Chen.

    Zhen Lunlun didn¡¯t dare to tell Nan Chen the truth ¨C that he and Ning Ran met overseas and Ning Ran

    yed video games with him.

    If he confessed, Nan Chen would scold him for hanging out with random people, and for wasting his

    time ying video games.

    ¡°We¡¯re working on the same show so we¡¯re colleagues and should look after one another,¡± answered

    Zhen Lunlun. His excuse was terrible though.

    ¡°The director is responsible for everything that goes on there. Why did you butt in?¡±

    The reply Nan Chen wanted from Zhen Lunlun was that Ning Ran kept badgering him and he had no

    choice but toply.

    That would match Luo Fei¡¯s report.

    But Zhen Lunlun didn¡¯t say that.

    ¡°She was too sick, almost like she was poisoned. It was so terrible and so urgent that I had to take her

    to the hospital.¡±

    That woman is maniptive, Nan Chen thought, she even got Zhen Lunlun to help cover up her lies.

    Women like that were just horrifying!

    ¡°Keep your distance and stay away from her!¡±

    Nan Chen was too emotionally exhausted so he made his request directly.

    ¡°Why? She¡¯s nice, and we¡¯re close friends.¡± Zhen Lunlun was confused.

    Zhen Lunlun¡¯s phrase ¨C ¡®we¡¯re close friends¡¯ ¨C shook Nan Chen to the core.

    He didn¡¯t realize that his nephew had been brainwashed to this extent. If they¡¯re close friends on the

    day they met, then what would happen if this went on for months?

    Ning Ran¡¯s acting skills were amazing, and if she were to y a role in the Sound of Thunder 2, the

    show would surely receive a great response.

    But he would never risk his nephew falling victim to that vile woman for the show.

    Nan Chen pressed a button to summon Jiang Zhe.

    Jiang Zhe was there quickly and asked, ¡°Master Chen, Young Master Lun.¡±

    ¡°Call Wang Yan, have him cancel the contract with that woman,¡± ordered Nan Chen.

    ¡°Which woman?¡± Jiang Zhe had no idea what was happening.

    ¡°THAT woman!¡± Nan Chen¡¯s anger had reached a new level.

    Jiang Zhe became aware of his mistakes immediately. He couldn¡¯t believe that he made an amateur¡¯s

    mistake. The woman that Nan Chen was referring to was definitely Ding Mi!

    ¡°Yes sir, I¡¯ll do that right away.¡± Jiang Zhe fished out his phone.

    ¡°No, uncle. Why? She¡¯s a great actress and we do great work together!¡± shouted Zhen Lunlun.

    The phrase ¡®do great work together¡¯ triggered Nan Chen.

    That woman was scary. It only took her one day topletely brainwash his nephew and made him

    lose his mind.

    That must not go on! He must get rid of that woman!

    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you dialing?¡± Nan Chen snapped at Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°I¡¯ll call right away.¡±

    Jiang Zhe was a little taken aback. Master Chen had always been cold and calcting and had never

    lost his temper. What was going on?

    Nan Chen wasn¡¯t sure why he was that furious either.

    Was that all for Zhen Lunlun?

    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Zhen Lunlun was a guy so it wasn¡¯t a big deal even if that woman used him to gain a little poprity.

    This was an era when everything was quickly forgotten. That incident would be reced by another

    one soon enough so it wasn¡¯t an issue at all.

    So why was he so angry?

    Nan Chen felt a little guilty if he was being honest because he was beginning to notice that he kept

    losing his cool when it involved Ning Ran.

    Zhen Lunlun dashed forward to stop Jiang Zhe from making that call. ¡°No, uncle, you can¡¯t do that to an

    amazing actress!¡±

    ¡°Young Master Lun, this is official business. You shouldn¡¯t be involved in Mr. Chen¡¯s decision.¡±

    Jiang Zhe had been working for Nan Chen for quite some time, and was, perhaps, the person who

    knew Nan Chen best. He could tell that Nan Chen was furious so he wanted to warn and rescue Zhen

    Lunlun.

    ¡°This is not an official business, this is personal! Uncle is the corporation¡¯s top executive, and he is

    abusing his powers to bully an actress. How is that official business?¡±

    ¡°If it is, then tell me. Which rule did Ding Mi break?¡± ¡°Why is she getting fired for being sick?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand why my uncle is so angry. Are you being misled by some hooligans?¡± said Zhen

    Lunlun loudly.

    Ever since he was a kid, Zhen Lunlun had always been afraid of Nan Chen.

    But he¡¯s going all out for Ning Ran.

    His friendship with Ning Ran was not something anyone else could easily understand. Ning Ran was

    the only friend he had when he was living abroad and was the only person who was brave enough to

    lay a hand on him.

    No one else could understand it, but Zhen Lunlun knew that he would do anything for Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen was shocked because Zhen Lunlun had never gone after him like that before.

    What kind of magic did that woman possess? How did she drive Zhen Lunlun that insane?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 61

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 61

    Jiang Zhe was stuck in between both parties.

    His employer wanted him to make a call, but Young Master Lun forbade him from doing so.

    Young master Lun looked like he was ready to sacrifice his life in that argument against Nan Chen

    which caused Jiang Zhe to worry.

    Nan Chen was practically a king, and no one had ever go against him like that before.

    Those who tried ended up in a terrible position.

    ¡°Calm down, Young Master Lun. I¡¯m sure Mr. Chen has his reasons for¡­¡±

    Nan Chen waved his hands to stop Jiang Zhe from going on.

    His eyes were as deadly and as sharp as razors when he turned to Zhen Lunlun and said, ¡°I want her

    fired, regardless!¡±

    The subtext was clear. Nan Chen didn¡¯t care if he¡¯s doing it for official or personal reasons, and he

    didn¡¯t care if Zhen Lunlun called him a bully. He just wanted Ning Ran gone!

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave too!¡± threatened Zhen Lunlun.

    Nan Chen¡¯s eyes became deadlier.

    ¡°If she leaves, then there is no point in taking part in this production. I quit my job to y the role in the

    Sound of Thunder 2!¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s lips twitched in anger.

    ¡°Fine! Leave and go back to where you came from!¡± said Nan Chen heartlessly.

    After that, Nan Chen ordered Jiang Zhe, ¡°Call Wang Yan now.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Chen¡­¡±

    ¡°Call. Him. Now!¡±

    Zhen Lunlun saw that Nan Chen was determined and knew that things would end badly if they kept

    butting head.

    He must change his strategy or things would escte.

    Nan Chen was more than just his uncle; he was also the top executive of the corporation.

    Zhen Lunlun wasn¡¯t sure if the uncle part of Nan Chen would soften, but he knew that the executive

    part of Nan Chen would never back down.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Zhen Lunlun apologized and snatched Jiang Zhe¡¯s phone away to hang it up. Then, he bowed down to

    admit defeat and to apologize.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, uncle. I shouldn¡¯t have talked back to you.¡± ¡°But this incident wasn¡¯t Ding Mi¡¯s fault. There

    were several poisonous needles hidden in her costumes.¡±

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t respond so Zhen Lunlun continued his exnation.

    ¡°After Ding Mi put on her costume, she felt unwell, but she kept it to herself until she finished shooting

    the scenes in the morning.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you can figure out why the needles were hidden in the costume,

    uncle.¡±

    ¡°Her manager wanted to call the police, but Ding Mi didn¡¯t want this incident to affect our work or ruin

    our reputation so she forbade it.¡±

    ¡°She even forbade us from telling anyone the truth. That was why I kept it to myself until this moment.¡±

    ¡°If uncle insists on firing a victim, there is nothing anyone can do, but uncle, you¡¯re one of the most

    powerful man. Shouldn¡¯t a man like you be a hero who seeks justice and help the wronged victim?¡±

    The clear-headed Zhen Lunlun was good with his words and was able to pacify Nan Chen which, in

    turn, allowed Nan Chen to judge the incident with a clear mind.

    That was the method one should use tomunicate with Nan Chen.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know about that.¡± Nan Chen looked much better.

    Before the exnation, Nan Chen was absolutely furious, but after hearing Zhen Lunlun¡¯s exnation,

    Nan Chen was only pretty annoyed.

    ¡°The needles are still with Ding Mi, and the hospital has her medical report and blood analysis. You can

    get someone to verify my story, uncle,¡± said Zhen Lunlun.

    Nan Chen¡¯s thoughtful eyes squinted slightly.

    Despite his intelligence, he could not figure Ning Ran out.

    Anyone else would have gone out of their way to make this a big deal, the bigger the better.

    But Ning Ran was trying to make it all go away. What was she trying to aplish?

    Was she truly so forgiving that she would keep quiet even after being treated so badly that she had to

    go to the hospital?

    Nan Chen turned to Jiang Zhe who understood what Nan Chen wanted immediately. ¡°I¡¯ll verify and find

    out more about this,¡± said Jiang Zhe.

    After that, Nan Chen turned to Zhen Lunlun and said, ¡°Whatever the case, you should keep your

    distance. If any rumors between you and her break out again, I won¡¯t so forgiving again.¡±

    ¡°Understood, uncle.¡± Zhen Lunlun said as he was finally able to rx.

    ¡­¡­

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t want to worry her children so she went home after her injections.

    Since she was treated in time and Zhen Lunlun made the doctors used the best and most expensive

    medicine, the boils were starting to fade, and her skin was no longer itchy.

    That being said, she would not be able to have anything strong like chili, alcohol or coffee.

    After dinner, Erbao started to show off the dance moves she learned at school, and the ce became

    livelier.

    They yed for a while before Ning Ran helped the children shower and made them go to bed. Then,

    she went to the study room to read her script.

    Erbao, in her cartoon pajamas, was only pretending to sleep. She snuck into Dabao¡¯s room to have a

    ¡®serious¡¯ discussion.

    ¡°Brother, why hasn¡¯t Uncle Nan Chen invited us out yet?¡±

    Dabao shook his head. How was he supposed to know?

    ¡°We¡¯re the only ones here, brother. If all you do is nod or shake your head, it¡¯d be difficult for me to

    carry the conversation,¡± protested Erbao.

    ¡°Busy?¡± Dabao only spoke one word.

    Erbao nodded in agreement. ¡°Good point,¡± she said. ¡°Executives do have a lot of work to do though¡­

    what is their job anyway?¡± Erbao was rather curious

    Dabao deliberated then said, ¡°Boss. Administration.¡±

    Erbao¡¯s face was filled with confusion.

    ¡°Boss equals managing people,¡± said Dabao who was still using as little words as possible.

    ¡°Meaning he has to look after a lot of people?¡± asked Erbao.

    Dabao nodded.

    ¡°Even more than the kids at our school?¡± Erbao asked again.

    Dabao wasn¡¯t sure because he had never been to the office before and didn¡¯t know just how many

    people worked under Nan Chen.

    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    However, he nodded anyway because there weren¡¯t that many people at their kindergarten so he

    figured that the number of employees working under Nan Chen must be more than the number of

    people at their school.

    ¡°What do we do? He¡¯s too busy to take us out. When will we be able to eat the lobster he promised to

    treat us to?¡±

    Despite being frustrated, the mere mention of delicacies still made Erbao salivate.

    Dabao didn¡¯t respond.

    Erbao sighed and continued talking, ¡°Even if Uncle Nan Chen is free, mommy forbade us from seeing

    him. What do we do?¡±

    Dabao shook his head.

    ¡°Don¡¯t just shake your head. Aren¡¯t you a genius? Can¡¯t youe up with something?¡±

    Dabao frown and thought you imed to be a genius too. If you can¡¯t figure anything out, how was I

    supposed toe up with anything?

    But Dabao was the elder sibling so he felt responsible and began to think while tiny mountains formed

    between his brows.

    Suddenly, his dark brown eyes glinted and he blurted, ¡°Aunty Xiang!¡±

    Erbao got the message immediately and said, ¡°That¡¯s right! We can ask Aunty Xiang to help us! If she

    agrees to it, we¡¯d definitely be able to meet up with Uncle Nan Chen!¡±

    Dabao nodded.

    ¡°I¡¯m not doing this for the food. I only wanted to meet up with Uncle Nan Chen again because I wanted

    to help mommy find a boyfriend.¡± Erbao was trying, unsessfully, to hide her intentions.

    Dabao didn¡¯t say anything, but he didn¡¯t buy the ¡®not doing this for the food¡¯ part of Erbao¡¯s speech.

    ¡°Finding a boyfriend for mommy is our first and foremost mission.¡±

    Dabao agreed wholeheartedly with that.

    ¡°But what if daddy shows up after mommy found a boyfriend?¡± said Erbao, worried.

    Dabao was also worried because that would be a problem.

    However, Erbao came up with a solution rather quickly.

    ¡°If daddy is rich, handsome, and can afford to buy us delicious food, we¡¯ll take him back, but if he¡¯s not,

    we¡¯ll kick him out!¡±

    Dabao nodded at first butter shook his head.

    Erbao¡¯s suggestion made sense on paper, but something felt off. Are daddies something they can

    reject if they don¡¯t like it?

    ¡°It¡¯s settled. We¡¯ll get Aunty Xiang to arrange a meeting and make a decision after we¡¯ve sent out the

    invitation.¡± Erbao had decided.

    Then, she fantasized about eating lobsters and other delicacies as she walked back to her room with a

    big grin on her face.

    The little monster had yed all day so she fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. As she

    slept, she grinned sweetly, dreaming about the lobster.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 62

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 62

    Two dayster, Cheng Xiangyun went to pick up the kids from the kindergarten as usual.

    The school¡¯s front gate looked like it was having an automobile exhibition. Even expensive cars like the

    Mercedes Benz looked cheap in that sea of Porsches and Maserati. There, only cars like Lamborghini

    and Ferrari could be regarded as ¡®luxurious¡¯.

    Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s car ¨C a Honda ¨C was basically regarded as a car driven by paupers.

    Cheng Xiangyun parked her car some distance away so that the kids wouldn¡¯t be made fun of because

    of it.

    The other kids wouldn¡¯t be able to tease Dabao and Erbao because they wouldn¡¯t know the truth.

    ¡°Aunty Xiang,¡± said Erbao sweetly as she dashed into Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s arms.

    Erbao was a naughty little fairy who would hug Cheng Xiangyun tightly every time they meet. Her

    sweet gesture had always melted Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s heart and made Cheng Xiangyun wished that

    those were her children, not Ning Ran¡¯s.

    Dabao, on the other hand, was as cool as he normally was. He stood obediently at the side while his

    Aunty Xiang dealt with his baby sister.

    Cheng Xiangyun held their hands and led them to her car.

    After getting into the car, the two kids climbed onto the baby seats and put on their safety belts.

    ¡°Aunty Xiang, what time would mommy be clocking off at work?¡± asked Erbao.

    ¡°Your mommy needs to work overtime today to make up for the dys caused by an incident two days

    ago so she¡¯ll be in quitete. We¡¯d probably be asleep by the time she reaches home.¡±

    ¡°So mommy won¡¯t be having dinner with us tonight?¡± asked Erbao.

    Cheng Xiangyun got suspicious. They didn¡¯t normally have meals with Ning Ran so why was Erbao

    asking about it all of a sudden?

    ¡°Sweetie, is there something you want to tell me?¡±

    ¡°Aunty Xiang, we¡¯re friends, aren¡¯t we?¡± asked Erbao.

    Cheng Xiangyun was surprised to hear that and answered, ¡°Yes, we¡¯re friends.¡±

    ¡°Friends keep each other¡¯s secret, don¡¯t they?¡± asked Erbao again. This time, she was deliberately

    making her baby voice cuter and sweeter.

    Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s walls came up instantly. That kid was smarter than an average kid. Did she have

    something up her sleeves again?

    ¡°What exactly are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°First, you must answer my question,¡± said Erbao as she showed off her big, round eyes.

    ¡°Yes, friends do keep each other¡¯s secret.¡±

    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    ¡°Okay, then you won¡¯t tell mommy if I have dinner with Uncle Nan Chen, right?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re having dinner with Mr. Chen? When?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet. I¡¯m still working on inviting him over,¡± said Erbao whose tone had suddenly turned

    more mature.

    Cheng Xiangyun chuckled.

    The kid may be smarter than average, but she was still a child, and there were things she simply could

    not understand.

    Mr. Chen was not the kind of person who would just hang out with anyone. In fact, he was notoriously

    difficult to get close to because he preferred being left alone.

    Manydies and socialites wanted to seduce him, but they never got the chance because he never

    even showed his face.

    Cheng Xiangyun didn¡¯t want to exin how difficult it was to invite Nan Chen over for dinner because

    she didn¡¯t want to crush Erbao¡¯s fantasies.

    She didn¡¯t want to let Erbao send out that invitation either because the rejection would¡¯ve hurt Erbao

    even more.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not do that, sweetie. Let¡¯s just have dinner at home without anyone else bothering us,¡± said

    Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°But I wanna invite Uncle Nan Chen over. He promised he¡¯d treat us to lobsters,¡± pouted Erbao.

    ¡°He¡¯s a very busy man. He doesn¡¯t have time for that,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Please promise me you¡¯ll at least try to invite him, Aunty Xiang,¡± said Erbao sweetly, ¡°pretty please?¡±

    ¡­¡­

    Nanshi Corporation

    Nan Chen was having a conference with a couple of high ranking executives, but he was distracted

    and kept checking his watch.

    He needed to catch a flight that night to make it to the 18th birthday party of a European princess.

    Nanshi Corporation was nning to build a huge scale construction site in that country. The project

    must be approved by the royal family.

    The birthday party in question was being thrown for the king¡¯s favorite daughter, and only the most

    prestigious and powerful individuals were invited to that party.

    Hence, Nan Chen could not afford to bete for that.

    Jiang Zhe noticed Nan Chen¡¯s worries so he reminded everyone, ¡°Mr. Chen needs to catch a flight to

    attend a European royal banquet. Please do keep things short and to the point.¡±

    Upon hearing that, the executives sped everything up.

    After the meeting ended, Nan Chen checked his watch and realized that he had less than two hours to

    catch the flight.

    Since the destination was in Europe, arge amount of paperwork and time would be needed to get the

    approval to use a private ne.

    Moreover, Nan Chen liked to keep a low profile so he rarely used his private ne. Instead, he chose

    to buy a first-ss ticket and fly to Europe on amercial ne.

    Nanshi Corporation was one of the major shareholders of the Hua Cheng Airlines so the moment Nan

    Chen bought his first-ss ticket, the airline stopped the sales of all other first-ss tickets to ensure

    that Nan Chen was the only person in first-ss.

    Even the first-ss stewards and stewardesses were to clear out of the cabin as Mr. Chen required

    complete silence during his flight. In a way, Nan Chen was chartering the entire first-ss section.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, do you need a change of clothes?¡± asked Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°There isn¡¯t enough time. I¡¯ll change after Inded. Have someone prepare a suit for me,¡± said Nan

    Chen.

    ¡°Understood, Mr. Chen.¡±

    The car was prepped and was ready to rush to the airport at full speed, but Nan Chen¡¯s personal phone

    rang the second the car left the parking lot.

    That phone rarely rang because less than thirty people were privy to that phone¡¯s number. Most of the

    people who did have that number were members of the Nan Family who wouldn¡¯t have called it unless

    there was an emergency.

    Hence, Nan Chen must be informed as soon as that phone rang, regardless of when or where, even if

    he was in the middle of an important meeting.

    Jiang Zhe handed the phone over quickly and reported, ¡°Mr. Chen, it¡¯s from the emergency line.¡±

    Nan Chen took the phone and was surprised to see that it was an unknown number. That shouldn¡¯t

    have been possible because everyone who knew that number would¡¯ve had their number recorded on

    the phone too.

    Since not many knew about this number, Nan Chen decided to pick it up. ¡°This is Nan Chen,¡± a deep

    voice traveled through the phone.

    ¡°Uncle Nan Chen! Is that really you?¡± a young and childish voice came from the phone.

    Nan Chen frowned in confusion. What is going on?

    ¡°Uncle Nan Chen, is it really you? Talk to me, will ya?¡± the childish voice came again.

    ¡°Yes, I am Nan Chen.¡±

    ¡°Yay! I am the prettiest superheroine ¨C Ning Sihan! Do you still remember me, Uncle Nan Chen?¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s frown disappeared and was reced by a slight upward curve of his lips.

    Sitting on the passenger¡¯s seat, Jiang Zhe was astonished. Did¡­ Did his employer smile after picking

    up the call?

    Nan Chen¡¯s smiles were so rare that it was practically an annual event. Who was the person, or rather,

    the magical unicorn that could make Nan Chen smile with just a phone call?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 63

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 63

    ¡°I remember,¡± said Nan Chen in a softer and kinder voice, ¡°hello.¡±

    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.

    Jiang Zhe was moved to tears. How many years had it been since hest heard his employer speak

    that softly and nicely? No, wait, it hadn¡¯t been years because Nan Chen had never spoken that way

    before.

    In all his years working for Nan Chen, Jiang Zhe had only ever heard Nan Chen use cold and

    emotionless tones to talk to, yell at, and even diss others, but he had NEVER heard Nan Chen being

    so sweet.

    Was that what the ancient wise men meant when they say that everyone can change for even metallic

    rods can be turned soft? Seriously, who was the amazing human being on the other side of the line?

    ¡°Yay! Uncle Nan Chen remembers me! Hah! I knew it! I¡¯m too cute to be forgotten, but do you

    remember what you promised me?¡± asked the owner of the cute voice.

    ¡°Remind me,¡± said Nan Chen in an even sweeter voice.

    ¡°You promised you¡¯d take me out for a meal. I waited and waited, but you never called me so I decided

    to call you.¡± ¡°I understand you¡¯re busy, but I¡¯m busy too! I have to go to school and get up early to make

    mommy breakfast. Very busy indeed.¡±

    Nan Chen wondered who the kid¡¯s mother was and thought of that woman as despicablyzy for letting

    a kid make her breakfast.

    ¡°So?¡± Nan Chen asked with a grin.

    ¡°So I took some time off today to invite you to have a meal together. I even put on a pretty dress just for

    you!¡±

    ¡°Today? Today¡¯s a little¡­.¡±

    ¡°I knew it! You¡¯re going to reject my offer. I¡¯m so sad. Top executives are so difficult. I¡¯m going to invite

    someone else!¡± said the child who hadn¡¯t even outgrown her baby voice yet.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t know how to respond to that. He couldn¡¯t exin how important that banquet was to a

    child, and he didn¡¯t need to either.

    Nan Chen rarely gave any exnation as to why he did what he did because it didn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s right

    or wrong. All it mattered was whether he was happy with it or not. Besides, he believed that nothing

    was ever right or wrong; it was all just a matter of perspectives.

    However, in that particr instance, Nan Chen wanted to exin himself, but he didn¡¯t know how to do

    so.

    Should he tell her that this banquet could decide the fate of a massive project? Or that everyone at that

    banquet was important politicians and business tycoons? Or that refusing to attend that banquet would

    mean being impolite to a royal family?

    None of that mattered to a child because she only cared about why he refused to spend time with her.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Uncle Nan Chen, you work. I won¡¯t bother you.¡±

    Nan Chen could hear the child¡¯s disappointment through the phone so out of the blue, he said, ¡°Where

    are you right now? I¡¯ll go pick you up and we¡¯ll have a meal together.

    Jiang Zhe turned his head around to face Nan Chen then pointed at his watch to remind Nan Chen that

    it¡¯s almost time for the ne to depart.

    Nan Chen ignored Jiang Zhe¡¯s warning.

    ¡°Really?¡± said Erbao happily through the phone, ¡°You¡¯re really going toe to get me? And we¡¯ll go

    have a meal together?¡±

    ¡°Yes, really,¡± said Nan Chen who was relieved to hear that the kid was delighted.

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll add your number to my WeChat contact list and send my location to you. What¡¯s your WeChat

    number?¡±

    Nan Chen rarely used the WeChat app, and the app wasn¡¯t installed in the emergency phone so Nan

    Chen signaled Jiang Zhe.

    Jiang Zhe took out his phone and quickly entered a series of numbers on the screen. That was the

    WeChat number that thepany had registered for Nan Chen, and the profile picture was the logo of

    the corporation.

    ¡°My WeChat number is¡­¡­¡± said Nan Chen who soon received and epted Erbao¡¯s friend request.

    Upon confirmation, Erbao sent him her coordinates.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, we can¡¯t afford to¡­¡±

    ¡°Cancel it,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°But didn¡¯t you just promise¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Cancel Europe Trip.¡±

    So Nan Chen wasn¡¯t ordering Jiang Zhe to cancel the deal he just made, but to cancel the trip to

    Europe?

    Jiang Zhe was utterly stunned. Nan Chen was aware of just how important that banquet was. Yet, he

    would rather cancel the whole trip than to break his promise.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, if we cancel it now, we would look bad and upset the royal family¡­¡± Jiang Zhe said

    cautiously.

    ¡°Have Nan Lei attended the party in my ce,¡± said Nan Chen.

    Nan Lei was the CEO of the Nanshi Corporation branch in Europe and was one of the key yers in

    the corporation.

    ¡°Mr. Lei may not be able to go in your ce. After all, you are the face of the Nanshi Corporation and

    this banquet is too important. The royal family even had someone personally deliver the invitation

    over¡­.¡±

    Nan Chen waved his hand and closed his eyes.

    Jiang Zhe stopped talking because Nan Chen¡¯s gesture was a sign that Nan Chen was busying up

    with a strategy.

    Nan Chen was the head of the Nanshi Corporation and was well aware of the dire consequences of not

    attending that banquet. He needed a good n.

    A few secondster, Nan Chen¡¯s eyes flung open and he said, ¡°critical illness.¡±

    Jiang Zhe knew what Nan Chen was saying even though Nan Chen¡¯s response was extremely short

    and to the point.

    The royal family would not be upset if they were told that Nan Chen was sick because it¡¯d mean that

    Nan Chen wasn¡¯t unwilling to attend the banquet, he was simply too sick to do so. That was a perfectly

    normal and eptable reason.

    However, there was another problem. The royal family won¡¯t believe in that excuse unless the news of

    Nan Chen being sick was made public. That would, in turn, cause the share price of thepany to

    drop drastically.

    How far would the share price fall? And for how long? The financial market had always been difficult to

    navigate, not even Warren Buffet could navigate it perfectly. The resulting loss was utterly

    unpredictable.

    Therefore, one must ask themselves. Was the meal so important that it was worth risking the share

    price?

    ¡°Mr. Chen, are you sure you want to do this?¡± asked Jiang Zhe to confirm his orders.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t speak which was his way of saying, ¡°Shut up and do what I say!¡±

    Jiang Zhe didn¡¯t say anything else and gestured the driver to take them to the coordinates sent by the

    WeChat app. After that, he called the secretary to draft a public notice that Nan Chen had fallen ill.

    Everyone in the office was worried and in a frenzy. Mr. Chen looked fine just a moment ago, how did he

    suddenly get so ill?

    ¡­¡­

    The small neighborhood Cheng Xiangyun lived in had never had a Rolls-Royce stopped by before.

    That day, one stopped by while being escorted by two luxurious SUVs which were used by Nan Chen¡¯s

    security details and employees.

    Jiang Zhe scanned the house then the surrounding and wondered how someone like Mr. Chen, who

    had always been picky about his surroundings, was willing toe to a ce like this?

    Just how beautiful is thedy that made his employer forgo a royal banquet?

    Nan Chen personally made the call, and the beautifuldy in question made her appearance moments

    later.

    What an immensely beautiful person! Her beauty could destroy cities and topple empires.

    A pair of identical faces with perfect facial features came running. ck and shiny hair, dark brown

    eyes, cute and round noses, soft pink lips¡­ They were wless like the sculptures in the museums.

    Behind those perfect duo was a woman who was a little rough around the edges. She was thin and had

    short hair, but her shoulders were broad and shecked feminine beauty.

    She was, for sure, a beautiful woman but her masculine aura was too intense.

    Jiang Zhe couldn¡¯t help but frown. It¡¯s normal for children to have perfect facial features, but their mom

    seemed a little¡­ manly. Plus, she looked familiar.

    Although they¡¯ve seen each other a couple of times on the set, Jiang Zhe didn¡¯t remember that Cheng

    Xiangyun was Ning Ran¡¯s manager.

    Cheng Xiangyun remembered Jiang Zhe though because, at the time, Nan Chen was basically mute

    and had Jiang Zhe do all the talking in his ce.

    ¡°Hello,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun nervously. Even someone as strong as Cheng Xiangyun would get

    nervous around one of the most important people in the Nanshi Corporation.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 64

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 64

    ¡°Hello,¡± Jiang Zhe greeted Cheng Xiangyun then bent down to greet the two little monsters, ¡°Hi.¡±

    Jiang Zhe felt a little dizzy looking at two identical faces, but he also felt the urge tough because

    Dabao was basically a mini-Nan Chen with his icy stare, emotionless face, and pursed lips.

    Jiang Zhe had been working for a man with a face like that for a while so he found it interesting that a

    mini version of that face existed.

    It was at that moment that Jiang Zhe understood why his employer changed his mind about attending

    the banquet. Those two tiny faces could melt any hearts and they were worth it.

    ¡°Are you the mother?¡± asked Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°Oh, no. Their mom is busy shooting a movie. I¡¯m their mom¡¯s friend ¨C Cheng Xiangyun.¡±

    ¡°Hello, Ms. Cheng,¡± said Jiang Zhe as he gestured politely, ¡°this way, please.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I think I¡¯ll pass,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun warmly, ¡°please pass my best regards to Mr. Chen.¡±

    Jiang Zhe was instantly impressed by Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s considerate gesture. It was obvious that Mr.

    Chen invited the kids but she could have joined and used that opportunity to get to know Mr. Chen.

    Mr. Chen would¡¯ve been courteous because that was how he was taught growing up, but he may or

    may not be happy about it.

    Cheng Xiangyun deciding not to ept that invitation and letting Mr. Chen spend some alone time with

    the two kids would surely delight Mr. Chen.

    Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s decision was smart because her action would¡¯ve left a good impression, and if an

    opportunity were to arise, she may be rmended by Mr. Chen.

    Unfortunately, Jiang Zhe was not in the position to make any decision so he ran to the car and told Nan

    Chen about Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s reply.

    Jiang Zhe returned shortly after. ¡°Mr. Chen wanted me to thank you and to give this to you,¡± said Jiang

    Zhe as he handed her a name card, ¡°This is my number. Should you ever need any help, please feel

    free to contact me.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun was ecstatic. Jiang Zhe was known as Nan Chen¡¯s right hand so a lot of people in the

    Flower City were nice to him, and Jiang Zhe could be a great help in dealing with most of the issues in

    the Flower City.

    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Jiang, thank you.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re wee. We¡¯ll be taking off now then,¡± said Jiang Zhe, ¡°And don¡¯t worry, Ms. Cheng, we will

    bring the kids back home safely.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun wasn¡¯t worried. The security details of the Nan Family were renowned in the city so

    the kids were the safest when they¡¯re around Nan Chen.

    ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Chen,¡± waved Cheng Xiangyun.

    Erbao and Dabao were unhappy with that arrangement. ¡°If you don¡¯t let Aunty Xiange with us,

    then we won¡¯t go either!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that they forbid Aunty Xiang from going,¡± exined Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°It¡¯s that I don¡¯t want to

    go. I have to stay at home in case your mommy suddenly came back. She would be worried if there

    was no one home, wouldn¡¯t she?¡±

    The two precious kids turned to each other and thought that it made sense.

    ¡°Then Aunty Xiang stay at home, and we¡¯ll take all the good food back for you,¡± said Erbao while

    Dabao nodded in agreement.

    ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll wait at home. Go on now, Mr. Chen¡­ ah, I meant Uncle Nan Chen is getting

    impatient,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun as she waved goodbye.

    Only then did the two kids walk to the Rolls-Royce with Jiang Zhe.

    Holding the name card, Cheng Xiangyun felt like she had just received a golden ticket. She kissed the

    name card and danced happily after Nan Chen and the others had left. ¡°I¡¯m rich! I¡¯m gonna be rich!¡±

    eximed Cheng Xiangyun.

    A couple of middle-aged women passed by and saw Cheng Xiangyun dancing like a lunatic. They

    wondered if she was insane, but her clothes were tidy and clean so that didn¡¯t seem to be the case.

    How weird.

    Cheng Xiangyun wasn¡¯t bothered by the middle-aged women¡¯s stare. She danced and hopped as she

    went back home.

    ¡­¡­

    The Phoenix Dance Restaurant was the Nan Family¡¯s go-to restaurant for treating important guests.

    Some of the restaurant¡¯s chefs participated in preparing the meals for international meetings and some

    were award-winning chefs. A couple of them were even responsible for making dessert for the

    president.

    Naturally, these chefs were the head chefs of the restaurants owned by Nanshi Corporations so they

    rarely prepare the meals themselves. At most, they would be coordinating everything in the kitchen.

    Upon receiving the news that Nan Chen would be heading over, all the chefs hurried over to personally

    prepare everything for the renowned Mr. Chen.

    Their mission for the day was to create the best meals for children¡­ wait, children? That was new.

    They had never received an order like that before.

    Since their customers were children, spicier or heavier vors were out of the question, but milder

    vors would affect the overall taste so they had to find the perfect bnce to aplish their mission.

    The chef responsible for making appetizers and dessert served the pre-cooked appetizers quickly to

    prevent the guests from waiting too long and getting bored.

    Erbao squealed with delight the moment she took a bite of the first dish.

    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Erbao was a master in tasting desserts despite her young age. She could taste the difference in

    cooking technique even if the same ingredients were used.

    In this case, the best ingredients were used by the best chef so an expert like Erbao was ecstatic.

    Nan Chen couldn¡¯t help but frown when he saw Erbao chowing down like that.

    The main dishes hadn¡¯t been served yet. If she kept going on like that, she would be full before the

    other dishes were served.

    He didn¡¯t want to say anything though because he didn¡¯t want to hurt the child¡¯s feelings.

    Fortunately, Dabao came to the rescue and said, ¡°Watch your manners!¡±

    Erbao settled down immediately and began eating slowly and politely. It was difficult for Erbao to

    pretend to be polite, but Erbao knew that it was important to impress Uncle Nan Chen.

    Moreover, she couldn¡¯t let her gluttony ruin her reputation of being the most beautiful heroine in the

    world.

    ¡°Stop. Wait for the main dish,¡± reminded Dabao.

    Erbao put the appetizer down right away and gracefully wiped her tiny lips with a napkin.

    Erbao¡¯s good upbringing was shown when she settled down like that. It was obvious that she had

    better manners than most kids her age, and that was all Ning Ran¡¯s effort.

    Nan Chen felt his heart melting. The effect these kids have on his heart was so intense that they didn¡¯t

    even need to say or do anything to soften him up. For some reason, he wanted to protect them and

    give them all the best things the world had to offer.

    Erbao clocked off from eating and sat there like a graceful youngdy.

    Dabao shot her a look, and Erbao understood immediately that it was time to talk for real.

    Eating delicious food was important, but so was their quest to find mommy a boyfriend.

    Erbao pretended to be an adult and put on the same expression her brother had on before she cleared

    her throat to begin her speech.

    Nan Chen¡¯s lips curved upward, and he sat up straight, ready to listen to the little babies¡¯ orders.

    ¡°Uncle Nan Chen, I have something I¡¯d like to discuss with you,¡± said Erbao solemnly.

    ¡°Ok, speak,¡± said Nan Chen as he also put on a solemn expression. However, he forgot that he was

    naturally solemn so anything more would make him look downright scary.

    Dabao and Erbao turned to one another, a little scared of that overly solemn expression.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 65

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 65

    Nan Chen did not realize that something was off about his expression, but he did notice the two kids

    looking weird so he said softly and sweetly, ¡°It¡¯s okay, just tell me, I¡¯m listening.¡±

    After confirming that Nan Chen wasn¡¯t angry, Erbao began talking.

    ¡°Do you like me?¡± asked Erbao.

    Nan Chen was surprised. Where was she going with this?

    Erbao didn¡¯t look like she was ying a prank or anything. In fact, she looked excited, waiting for Nan

    Chen¡¯s reply.

    ¡°Yeah, I do,¡± answered Nan Chen honestly.

    ¡°Do you wanna be with me?¡± Erbao asked again.

    Nan Chen was, once again, surprised. Why did it sound like she¡¯s flirting?

    The question she asked was a little difficult to answer. If he said ¡®yes¡¯, it would sound rather disgusting,

    but if he said ¡®no¡¯, he¡¯d break the kid¡¯s heart. Moreover, he did like to spend time with them or he

    wouldn¡¯t have canceled his trip to Europe for them.

    ¡°Erm¡­ What exactly are you trying to say?¡± asked Nan Chen who was a little overwhelmed with these

    questions.

    ¡°Do you want to be with me and my brother?¡± asked Erbao persistently while Dabao nodded at the

    side.

    Oh, so it¡¯s a question from both kids. Well, if Dabao was included in the mix, then there was nothing

    weird about it so Nan Chen nodded and answered, ¡°Yes.¡±

    Erbao and Dabao were obviously relieved to hear that.

    ¡°Then we think you need to get to know our mommy because we¡¯re always with mommy, and if you¡¯re

    with mommy, you¡¯ll be able to spend more time with us,¡± exined Erbao.

    The logic was sound, but Nan Chen sensed that they had something up their sleeves.

    ¡°Go on,¡± said Nan Chen.

    Erbao turned to Dabao to inquire him about her performance so far.

    Dabao nodded to tell her that he approved of her choice of words and performance.

    ¡°My mommy is a really pretty actress. I am the most beautiful woman, she is the second,¡± Erbao began

    promoting mommy.

    Nan Chen stopped himself fromughing and nodded to show that he understood.

    ¡°Mommy¡¯s name,¡± hinted Dabao from the side.

    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.

    ¡°Oh right, my mommy¡¯s name is Ning Ran,¡± Erbao quickly added.

    Ning Ran? Nan Chen spent some time thinking about the name, but he came up empty.

    Nanshi Corporation owned a couple of productionpanies and was pretty well-versed in the

    entertainment industry so if she was a celebrity, Nan Chen would¡¯ve met her or at least heard of her.

    However, he had never heard of the name ¡°Ning Ran¡± so he was sure that she was an unknown

    actress.

    ¡°My mommy is single, and she never epted a date even though many had asked,¡± Erbao continued

    selling.

    Nan Chen understood what the two kids meant but he wondered if this was the kids¡¯ idea or their

    mom¡¯s idea.

    If this was all the kids¡¯ doing, then it¡¯s rather funny, but if that was their mother¡¯s intention, then the

    woman in question was truly vile for using her kids like that.

    ¡°Did you mommy ask you to say this?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    The two kids shook their heads together.

    ¡°Mommy doesn¡¯t want us to have any contact with you, Uncle Nan Chen,¡± said Erbao.

    ¡°She knows me?¡± asked Nan Chen, surprised. Then, he realized that it was a normal phenomenon

    because anyone working in the industry would¡¯ve known about him.

    ¡°No, but she saw your photo before,¡± said Erbao who confirmed Nan Chen¡¯s theory.

    ¡°Why does she not like the idea of us hanging out together?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    Erbao and Dabao shook their heads together because they honestly had no idea why Ning Ran didn¡¯t

    like that.

    Nan Chen thought that it was strange because if their mother had seen his photo then she must¡¯ve

    realized that the kids looked just like him so why did she not want them to hang out together? Was she

    hiding something? Or did she have something sinister nned for the future?

    ¡°Uncle Nan Chen, my mommy is a good person,¡± Erbao said when she noticed that Nan Chen had

    be quiet.

    Nan Chen nodded, ¡°I believe you.¡±

    ¡°That is why we wish that you and mommy can be friends and get to know one another,¡± said

    Erbao.

    These words sounded like the words of an adult, not a child, but Nan Chen had no choice but to nod in

    agreement.

    ¡°Uncle Nan Chen, can I borrow your phone?¡± asked Erbao all of a sudden.

    Nan Chen was stunned, but he handed his private phone to her.

    Erbao opened WeChat and added Ning Ran¡¯s phone number before sending out a friend request.

    There was no response because Ning Ran was busy working overtime.

    ¡°I added mommy¡¯s number in your WeChat so the two of you can start by chatting and eventually

    be friends,¡± exined Erbao.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t respond. He wasn¡¯t happy about it because he didn¡¯t have the time for or the intention

    of chatting.

    He was quiet by nature. Even the words he spoke with the kids on that day were more than what he

    usually said for a month.

    At that moment, the main dishes were served and Erbao had aplished her mission so she began

    digging in while Dabao ate politely and gracefully. Nan Chen advised Erbao to take it slow as he cut the

    lobster into smaller pieces for her. In the end, Nan Chen didn¡¯t get a bite but he was happy to just

    watch those two eat.

    It was midnight by the time Ning Ran clocked off. She checked her phone and saw the message Cheng

    Xiangyun had sent her. It¡¯ste so I¡¯m not waiting up for you. The kids are asleep and dinner is in the

    steamer. Don¡¯t finish it or you¡¯ll get fat!

    Aside from Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s message, Ning Ran also received a friend request.

    The profile picture was a series of words that Ning Ran didn¡¯t understand. If it were anyone from the

    Nanshi Corporation, they would¡¯ve recognized the logo immediately.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t know who it was though so she ignored it.

    When she got home, she opened the steamer and took out the dishes.

    She was stunned the moment she saw those dishes because they were all expensive dishes, and they

    tasted great! Those were definitely not the type of dish that Cheng Xiangyun prepared.

    Buying expensive food¡­ did that Cheng Xiangyun hit a jackpot or something? Bah, who cares? Ning

    Ran worked too many hours and was famished so she decided to finish them all, regardless of whether

    that would get her fat. She nned to deal with all that the day after.

    It was so delicious that Ning Ran felt like that was the best meal she¡¯s had since she got back to the

    country.

    She felt a little stuffed after finishing her dinner so she took a walk around the balcony then retired to

    the study room to read her script. She was so exhausted that she soon fell asleep on the chair.

    The next morning, Erbao and Dabao woke up to find that their mother had, once again, fallen asleep in

    the study room.

    Ning Ran¡¯s phone was just beside her so Erbao snuck in and took the phone before leaving the study

    room.

    When she looked into WeChat, she saw that the friend request she had sent was still there but hadn¡¯t

    been epted yet.

    Erbao pressed the ¡®add¡¯ button and added Nan Chen¡¯s number to the phone. Then, she sent a ¡®good

    morning¡¯ over.

    At that moment, Nan Chen was already jogging and sweating in the gym.

    His phone rang and he picked it up to read a message from a woman whose profile picture was Dabao

    and Erbao¡¯s photo while using the profile name ¡®the mommy genius¡¯.

    Nan Chen thought that the whole family was rather shameless with both the kids and the adults calling

    themselves a ¡®genius¡¯.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 66

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 66

    Nan Chen wanted to ignore the message, but seeing Dabao and Erbao¡¯s photo put him in a good mood

    so he replied, ¡°Good morning.¡±

    Erbao was delighted to see the response so she sent another message over saying, ¡°I want to meet

    up.¡±

    Without Dabao¡¯s instructions, Erbao¡¯s actions became impulsive. She simply wanted her mommy and

    Uncle Nan Chen to meet as soon as possible so that they could be friends quicker, and Uncle

    Nan Chen can be her mommy¡¯s boyfriend.

    The child¡¯s mind was innocent when sending that message, but Nan Chen felt annoyed the moment he

    saw those four words.

    So she WAS using her kids to get to me! How despicable!

    He tossed his phone aside and ignored it.

    On the other end, Erbao waited patiently but never received Uncle Nan Chen¡¯s reply so she quickly

    deleted all previous messages and ced the phone back into the room.

    When Ning Ran woke up, she didn¡¯t realize that her phone had been moved.

    By the time Ning Ran got ready, the breakfast was already on the table. Breakfast was simple ¨C

    porridge, eggs, and fried buns.

    ¡°Huh? Why has the standard of living dropped all of a sudden?¡± asked Ning Ran sarcastically, ¡°You

    guys had such expensive meals yesterday and brought back so many delicacies that I thought you won

    the lottery, Xiangyun.¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t good enough?¡± teased Cheng Xiangyun while grinning, ¡°A small toad like you weren¡¯t

    fantasizing about eating swan, were you?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the ugly toad,¡± Ning Ran teased back, ¡°I just thought it was weird that someone as cheap as

    you would be willing to spend so much money on yesterday¡¯s dinner.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m cheap?¡± said Cheng Xiangyun as she red, ¡°Doesn¡¯t it hurt your conscious heart to talk like that?

    Or do you have none?¡±

    ¡°You know, I sensing that you¡¯re avoiding the subject of yesterday¡¯s dinner,¡± said Ning Ran before she

    pressed on, ¡°Where did the three of you go and how much did you spend? Why were the meals so

    delicious?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun couldn¡¯t really answer because she didn¡¯t know either.

    They brought back two servings of food. Cheng Xiangyun thought it was insanely delicious too when

    she had her portion but when she asked the kids where they went, they weren¡¯t able to answer

    because they didn¡¯t pay attention to the restaurant¡¯s name.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about where we ate. I¡¯m just d you liked it. If you really want to know, I¡¯ll take you there

    myself when we¡¯re free, but you¡¯re paying,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t press on after hearing that she had to pay for the meal. As delicious as the food was,

    she didn¡¯t want to waste her money on that.

    Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s cooking may not be as good, but it¡¯s free!

    ¡­¡­

    Nine a.m., Nanshi Corporation

    Jiang Zhe walked into the CEO¡¯s office all happy and excited.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, the result is here. It¡¯s a match!¡±

    Nan Chen looked up and used his re to show how unhappy he was with Jiang Zhe¡¯s gibberish

    report.

    It¡¯s not like Jiang Zhe¡¯s style to neglect telling Nan Chen what report he was talking about because Nan

    Chen¡¯s secretary must be one of the brightest and smartest people in the world to keep up with Nan

    Chen and read his gestures.

    Jiang Zhe had been working for Nan Chen for quite some time now, and he didn¡¯t get to his position by

    luck.

    Regardless of whether they were dealing with official or private matters, Jiang Zhe had always been

    able to read Nan Chen perfectly and respond ordingly.

    As Nan Chen did not like to converse, Jiang Zhe had always helped express Nan Chen¡¯s thoughts and

    Jiang Zhe had always done so perfectly which made his performance that day rather annoying to Nan

    Chen.

    Jiang Zhe rarely acted this way because he was the manager who had always been meticulous and

    smart and could exin everything in under three sentences. After all, Mr. Chen would be impatient if

    anything took more than three sentences.

    After calming himself down, Jiang Zhe uttered a single sentence, ¡°the DNA result showed a match so

    the two kids are members of the Nan Family.¡±

    Even though he had expected it, Nan Chen was still extremely excited which reddened his pale,

    emotionless face.

    ¡°Good. Good. Good!¡± eximed Nan Chen three times.

    ¡°Congrattions, Mr. Chen, you have a boy and a girl,¡± said Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°They are Nan Xing¡¯s kids, my niece and nephew! They¡¯re our family!¡± said Nan Chen before he waved

    his hand to get Jiang Zhe to leave.

    Nan Chen personally dialed Nan Xing¡¯s number, but it kept going to voice mail.

    Then it hit Nan Chen. The difference in time zones meant that it was 4 in the morning on the other end

    of the line, and azy oaf like Nan Xing wouldn¡¯t be up yet so Nan Chen sent a message saying, ¡°Call

    back as soon as possible.¡±

    After that, Nan Chen went for a meeting. For someone like Nan Chen, most of what he did was to have

    meetings ¨C meetings with the managers, meetings with the coborators, etc. ¨C and through those

    meetings, he was to determine the position the corporation was in and make decisions.

    Nan Xing finally called back in the afternoon. ¡°Brother,¡± said Nan Xing and yawned like he wasn¡¯t

    actually awake yet, ¡°why were you looking for me that early in the morning?¡±

    ¡°I have important news.¡±

    ¡°What news? Are you getting married?¡± asked Nan Xing.

    ¡°Remember when I told you that there were two kids who looked just like you?¡±

    ¡°Then they must look just like you too since we look alike.¡±

    ¡°The DNA report is out. They¡¯re yours,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°Really? Holy! That¡¯s amazing! I¡¯m a dad! If that really is the case, then I¡¯m definitely going back to see

    my son and daughter! We¡¯ve been apart for far too long!¡±

    ¡°You know, my dearest brother, I¡¯ve been training here in Africa for quite some time now, maybe¡­.

    well, you know what I¡¯m trying to say,¡± said Nan Xing.

    ¡°Come back, and go visit them,¡± said Nan Chen.

    Nan Xing was so happy that he jumped then said, ¡°Thank you, brother, and I thank you on behalf of my

    son and daughter too!¡±

    Nan Chen hung up and didn¡¯t speak a word again.

    After rejoicing, he suddenly felt a little upset and that feeling kept weighing down on him no matter what

    he did.

    He was confused. A boy and a girl had been added to the Nan Family¡¯s next generation, and as an

    uncle, he should be happy so why was he so sad?

    That sadness kept badgering Nan Chen which made him feel guilty for having these feelings.

    Jiang Zhe entered at that moment and said, ¡°Mr. Chen¡­¡±

    Nan Chen cut Jiang Zhe off before even hearing what Jiang Zhe had to say. ¡°Cancel my appointments

    for the rest of the day,¡± ordered Nan Chen, ¡°There¡¯s something I need to do.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡± Jiang Zhe wanted to say more, but Nan Chen waved his hand again to stop him.

    ¡°Understood, Mr. Chen, I¡¯ll have the driver pull up the car.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± said Nan Chen. ¡°I¡¯m going alone.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Chen, that is ill-advised, your safety¡­..¡±

    ¡°I said no!¡± shouted Nan Chen all of a sudden.

    Nan Chen had always been strict, but he had never raised his voice before.

    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.

    Even Jiang Zhe couldn¡¯t remember thest time Nan Chen yelled like that so he was startled and left

    quickly without uttering another word.

    Nan Chen texted Qin Lan, ¡°I¡¯m heading over soon.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± replied Qin Lan.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 67

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 67

    Qin Lan had never seen Nan Chen like that before.

    He sat on the chair with his eyes closed while his lips were mmed shut.

    Heid there like, all cold and pale like he was one of those handsome vampires.

    Qin Lan checked her watch and noted that 30 minutes had passed.

    For someone like Nan Chen, every second was precious let alone 30 minutes. Yet, Nan Chen had not

    spoken a word since he stepped into the office.

    As an old friend and a psychologist, Qin Lan knew Nan Chen quite well.

    Even though Nan Chen was quiet, Qin Lan could still tell, from Nan Chen¡¯s micro-expressions and

    actions, that Nan Chen was lost.

    She had never seen Nan Chen being lost before. Nan Chen was a business tycoon who had never

    admitted or epted defeat, and had always had everything under his control so why was he lost?

    Qin Lan didn¡¯t dare to ask him what was going on, and she wasn¡¯t sure how to ask him either.

    Whatever happened must¡¯ve been crucial to have made Nan Chen that lost, and a psychologist like her

    wouldn¡¯t be able to help him.

    Qin Lan got out of her office and asked her assistant to pour her a cup of tea.

    When she returned, Nan Chen¡¯s leg finally moved as if he hade back to life.

    He didn¡¯t seem as upset as he was when he came in, almost as if he had gotten his emotions under

    control after meditating.

    Every powerful man had the ability to control their emotions. That was why they were able to stand on

    their ground when things went wrong, and would not easily copse under pressure.

    Resilience¡­ that is the mark of an emotionally strong man, and Nan Chen was undoubtedly strong.

    Qin Lan sighed a breath of relief because she was finally allowed to talk. ¡°Feeling better?¡± she asked.

    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.

    ¡°Yes,¡± murmured Nan Chen.

    ¡°Is there anything else you¡¯d like me to help you with?¡± asked Qin Lan.

    ¡°No,¡± replied Nan Chen as he stood up to leave.

    ¡°Hey, wait,¡± said Qin Lan who stopped the tall man in front of her.

    Nan Chen turned to Qin Lan and, with his eyes, he inquired what was the matter.

    ¡°I am a psychologist. You came here to consult me, or rather, for a therapy session. If you leave like

    that, how am I supposed to charge you the fees?¡±

    ¡°Just send me the bill,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°That¡¯s not the point. You didn¡¯t say a word, and I didn¡¯t do a thing. If I epted your money, then I¡¯m

    practically a con woman,¡± said Qin Lan, ¡°Come on, take a seat. Let¡¯s talk.¡±

    Qin Lan was curious about what was it that got this strong man so lost.

    Typically, this level of sadness would only ur if a family member died or if a pair of lovers got

    separated, but there hadn¡¯t been any news like that from the Nan Family so in this case, thetter

    must¡¯ve happened. But that would be even weirder because this man was practically ¡®asexual¡¯ and

    didn¡¯t love anyone so how could he have lost a lover?

    Nan Chen sat down as instructed.

    Qin Lan was one of the people he trusted and was one of the people he could talk to.

    Influential and powerful individuals may look like they lead a glorious life, but the truth was, they were

    under a lot of pressure.

    Every decision they make could build up or destroy the wholepany so they are constantly stressed

    out.

    It was possible to run away from the pressure someone else forced on you, but if the source of

    pressure came from your responsibility, then there was no escape. That was why Nan Chen needed

    therapy and why talking to a good psychologist like Qin Lan was good for Nan Chen¡¯s mental health.

    That was also why he came all the way here.

    ¡°Okay then,¡± said Qin Lan who was trying to understand the issue, ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Nan Chen said simply.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, I have been your psychologist for years. Do you really think you can lie to me? Or are you

    trying to insult my professional skill?¡± asked Qin Lan.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t respond.

    Qin Lan became even more curious. What could have happened to get Nan Chen to act so strangely?

    ¡°Did something happen at work?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°At home?¡±

    ¡°N¡­ no.¡±

    Nan Chen was a little hesitant when answering the second question.

    Qin Lan was certain that whatever happened was personal but she knew that Nan Chen would not tell

    her if she pressed on nor would he let her trick an answer or hint out of him.

    No one could get Nan Chen to open up about things he didn¡¯t want to talk about.

    ¡°Is that so? You¡¯re a man of power and every move you make affects the Flower City. Moreover, your

    corporation has employees all over the world, and their job and ie depend on your ability to carry

    out your task. If anything were to happen to thepany, the stakeholders, be it the shareholders or

    the employees, would suffer. They need you to be at your best to ensure their financial stability,¡± said

    Qin Lan as she observed Nan Chen¡¯s reaction.

    In the end, after her long speech, Nan Chen gave her a two-worded reply, ¡°well, duh!¡±

    ¡°You think I¡¯m bullsh*****?¡± Qin Lan was so angry that she jumped up, ¡°Do you question my skills as a

    psychologist?¡±

    Nan Chen remained emotionless and faced Qin Lan¡¯s fury calmly.

    ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t guess. You go ahead and tell me whatever it is you want to say,¡± said Qin Lan, annoyed.

    ¡°That scent¡­¡± said Nan Chen before he paused.

    ¡°What?¡± asked Qin Lan. She couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of what was going on.

    ¡°Can humans fall in love with a scent?¡± asked Nan Chen who rified what he meant.

    Qin Lan understood his question then, but it still didn¡¯t make sense.

    ¡°Fall in love with a scent?¡± asked Qin Lan.

    Nan Chen nodded.

    ¡°You¡¯re saying that you fell in love with a scent?¡± asked Qin Lan while grinning just a tad too much.

    Nan Chen¡¯s face turned sour the moment he saw Qin Lan¡¯s grin.

    Qin Lan realized her mistake instantly. She shouldn¡¯t have smiled at her client¡¯s question, no matter

    how funny it was.

    She quickly straightened her posture.

    ¡°Psychologically speaking, liking a particr scent is an animal¡¯s instinct. There¡¯s a theory that when a

    female detects a scent from a male with genes that arepletely different from hers, she would be

    attracted to that scent. That may be what¡¯s happening here, but you¡¯re a male so something like this

    shouldn¡¯t happen to you¡­¡±

    Qin Lan wanted tough aloud but she kept it in when she saw Nan Chen¡¯s grim face.

    She could not afford to piss off this man because he could have her office destroyed if he wanted to.

    Nan Chen remained silent.

    ¡°It is also possible that this is a case of loving something that belonged to someone you love. That is

    not an instinct, but an entirely different case. You see, you may have fallen for that scent because the

    person you love exudes that scent. No one else would remember it or even be aware of it, but you

    remember it because you are in love. This is most likely what happened to you, but it doesn¡¯t make

    sense either. Aren¡¯t you asexual? If you can¡¯t fall in love with anyone, how do you fall in love with their

    scent?¡±

    Even Qin Lan was stumped by her own analysis.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 68

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 68

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t say a word because he was thinking about Qin Lan¡¯s words. Loving the scent because

    it was exuded by the person I love?

    How is that even possible? He had only smelled that scent from that woman, and she disgusts him!

    How is it possible that he fell for her? That was utterly ridiculous!

    ¡°Bullsh**!¡±ment Nan Chen whose words stabbed Qin Lan¡¯s pride.

    For the first time in his life, Nan Chen found Qin Lan to be unprofessional and aplete fraud.

    Qin Lan was so angry that she almost lost control.

    She was the best psychologist in Flower City and had been working with the police for years.

    Moreover, many high-profile leaders sought after her counsel, and not one of them dared to say that

    her words were bullsh**.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m right,¡± refuted Qin Lan, ¡°You¡¯re just saying that I¡¯m bullsh** because you don¡¯t want to ept

    that reality.¡±

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t respond to that because he always thought of himself as better than that.

    He stood up and started to leave.

    ¡°Trust me, Nan Chen, if you¡¯re troubled by a woman¡¯s scent, then you must have fallen for her!¡± ¡°I

    remember you talking about her. If you love her, then go for it! Why torture yourself like that?¡±

    ¡°Does your heart beat faster every time you see her? Do you want to get close to her but couldn¡¯t let

    your pride down?¡± ¡°Why are you so stubborn when ites to social statuses?¡± ¡°Why not just act

    normal and try to get close to her like a normal person?¡±

    Refusing to listen to another word Qin Lan had to say, Nan Chen picked up his ck jacket from the

    chair and left.

    He found Qin Lan¡¯s words to be utterly ridiculous because he hated that woman.

    After leaving the counseling center, Nan Chen drove his car to the district area and sat there numbly.

    That night, after his dinner with Dabao and Erbao, he gave the two kids a hug and smelled the

    tangerine scent from Erbao.

    That moment, he confirmed that the scent was the one he hadn¡¯t been able to forget.

    On the way home, Erbao mentioned that her mommy was shooting a TV show called the Sound of

    Thunder 2.

    Nan Chen¡¯s mind made the connection quickly! The annoying second female lead actress had the

    same scent!

    He started to realize something, but he needed time to prove it.

    He liked the kids, but not that woman because he thought that she was too calcting and seemed to

    have something big nned.

    He wanted to see just what she nned to do.

    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    That day, after confirming that the kids¡¯ father was Nan Xing, he felt sad because it was like he had lost

    the scent that had been with him all those years.

    A scent was a strange thing to lose because they were supposed to dissipate with time, but, to Nan

    Chen, that scent was something more. It was like a curse that had haunted his memory, and he was

    about to lose it¡­ Or rather, he was about to lose the right to chase after that scent.

    That got him depressed, extremely depressed. He thought that those feelings were ridiculous, and after

    listening to Qin Lan¡¯s analysis, he found them to be even more ridiculous.

    ¡­¡­

    Nan Chen made a sudden appearance at the set that afternoon.

    He didn¡¯t bring his assistant along, and he didn¡¯t call beforehand either so no one knew how long he

    had been observing the shooting from behind the camera.

    After they finished shooting a scene, everyone took a water break, and that was when someone

    noticed Nan Chen.

    Wang Yan was so surprised that his legs stopped working. What happened? Why did Mr. Chen stop by

    all of a sudden?

    Nan Chen gestured everyone to work as usual, but how was that possible when their boss was sitting

    right there?

    The third female lead actress ¨C Zhao Mingjie ¨C was so nervous that she forgot her lines.

    Luo Fei, on the other hand, was so eager to please Nan Chen and get hispliment that she tried too

    hard to act, and made her terrible acting worse.

    The only one who remained unaffected in this scene between the three sisters was Ning Ran.

    Be it the position she stood, her facial expression, the tone she used, or even the way her eyes shone,

    everything she did was perfect.

    She was the type of person who lived and breathed drama. She understood and assimted herself

    into her character which made her portrayal of her character downright amazing.

    Unfortunately, her colleagues were so terrible at their job that they drastically reduced the quality of the

    scene.

    Nan Chen frowned. He wanted to get the writers to change the script once more and remove Zhao

    Mingjie¡¯s and Luo Fei¡¯s scenes so that their terrible acting won¡¯t affect the show¡¯s quality.

    However, that was not possible because the two actresses in question had minimal scenes and further

    reducing their scenes may mean cutting their characters off, and the main character would be the only

    one left.

    Without those characters, who would the main character y her scene with? Should they hire other

    actresses to y the roles of the secondary characters? Given the situation, that won¡¯t do either.

    The famous actresses, who could attract the public¡¯s attention, were terrible at acting while the

    unknown ones, who would not draw eyeballs, were great at their job. The dilemma was that without the

    attention famous actresses would draw, the show would remain unprofitable.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, what do you think?¡± asked Wang Yan politely while bowing slightly.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t speak.

    He didn¡¯t bring Jiang Zhe along that day and without Jiang Zhe being his ¡®trantor¡¯, Nan Chen didn¡¯t

    want to talk.

    ¡°If you¡¯re unhappy with that, Mr. Chen,¡± said Wang Yan nervously, ¡°I could have them redo the whole

    thing.¡±

    Nan Chen waved his hand to signal that that was unnecessary.

    He understood that Luo Fei¡¯s and Zhao Mingjie¡¯s skills were limited so it wouldn¡¯t help no matter how

    many times they redo the scene.

    After a while, Nan Chen decided to leave.

    Almost everyone had their eyes on him as he walked away. The only exception was Ning Ran who

    didn¡¯t react to Nan Chen¡¯s presence and was sitting at the side, reading the script.

    Nan Chen sneaked a peek at Ning Ran and noticed that she was treating him like he was invisible.

    That got him angry.

    What a scheming woman! She¡¯s acting like this doesn¡¯t affect her at all!

    Nan Chen never had a chance to get close to Ning Ran or to enjoy that sweet tangerine scent during

    this trip.

    The next morning, Erbao stopped eating her breakfast and stared at the television all of a sudden.

    The morning news was saying that the head of the Nanshi Corporation, Nan Chen, had fallen ill and

    that the share prices ofpanies listed under the Nanshi Corporation had fallen drastically. ording

    to experts, this incident had cost the Nanshi Corporation billions.

    ¡°Uncle Nan Chen is sick! Brother, Uncle Nan Chen had fallen ill!¡± shouted Erbao.

    Dabao was also worried upon hearing that news.

    ¡°No way. He seemed fine just a couple of days ago. How did he get so sick all of a sudden?¡± murmured

    Cheng Xiangyun.

    Ning Ran stared at Dabao and Erbao, then she turned to Cheng Xiangyun.

    It was obvious that all three of them were worried about Nan Chen. Why are they so worried about that

    poker face being sick?

    ¡°I wanna go visit Uncle Nan Chen,¡± said Erbao.

    ¡°What? You want to pay him a visit? Why? It¡¯s not like you know him that well, right?¡± asked Ning Ran

    who was wondering if she had misheard her daughter.

    ¡°Of course, we know him well. He bought us food, toys, and even brought us out to dinner!¡± ¡°Now that

    he¡¯s sick, I should go pay him a visit,¡± said Erbao.

    ¡°Dinner? He brought you out to dinner?¡±

    ¡°Not just me, but brother too. Nan Chen even got you dinner, mommy. He had someone pack the food

    up for¡­¡±

    Erbao paused as she realized that she had let the cat out of the bag. She covered her tiny lips with her

    hand and nervously turned to Ning Ran.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 69

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 69

    ¡°There¡¯s no point in covering your lips now. I heard it!¡± ¡°So poker face bought us dinner that night, huh?

    What else are you three hiding from me?¡± demanded Ning Ran.

    Erbao widened her big, beautiful eyes to stare at Ning Ran innocently before turning to Dabao.

    That was Erbao¡¯s secret weapon ¨C to act like a poor, helpless baby girl ¨C to soften both Ning Ran¡¯s and

    Dabao¡¯s heart.

    Dabao had never lied so he looked away guiltily.

    ¡°Tell me!¡± shouted Ning Ran. She was so fierce that both Dabao and Erbao shivered.

    ¡°You¡¯re frightening the kids,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun to pacify Ning Ran.

    ¡°Oh right, you¡¯re the main culprit, weren¡¯t you? Exin yourself, Cheng Xiangyun! I won¡¯t let this go so

    easily!¡± shouted Ning Ran as she stood up to re at Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Calm down, Ning Ran, take a seat. You¡¯re frightening the kids, and frankly, frightening me too!¡±

    ¡°Cut the crap! How the hell did this happen? I treated you as a friend, Cheng Xiangyun! I trusted you

    with my kids, and you used them for your personal gain!¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and sprang up, screaming, ¡°F*** you! Are you crazy, Ning

    Ran? How could you say that? I didn¡¯t get anything out of this. Hell, I wasn¡¯t even there when they went

    out for dinner! Is this the thanks I get for helping you babysit?¡±

    ¡°I told you that I don¡¯t want my kids having any contact with that poker face! Why didn¡¯t you stop them?

    And how could you leave my kids with strangers? What if something were to happen to them?¡±

    ¡°Is Nan Chen really a stranger? Are you blind? Can¡¯t you see that he looked just like the kids? You may

    not like Nan Chen, but you don¡¯t have the right to keep them apart! Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s selfish?¡±

    ¡°Looking alike doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re rted! As far as I am concerned, they ARE strangers! And you

    don¡¯t know him well either! How could you let him take my kids out?¡±

    ¡°You know how powerful Nan Chen is in Flower City, would he kidnap your kids? And didn¡¯t he send

    them home safely after dinner? It¡¯s all in the past, why the f*** are you angry with me now?¡±

    Erbao and Dabao were stressed out from watching the two adults argue.

    ¡°Mommy, stop fighting. It wasn¡¯t Aunty Xiang¡¯s fault. We were the ones who asked Uncle Nan Chen

    out,¡± exined Erbao.

    Dabao nodded.

    ¡°Do you not have any food at home? Do I not feed you? Why do you embarrass yourselves like that by

    getting someone else to buy you dinner?¡± growled Ning Ran.

    ¡°Ning Ran, have you gone nuts? What do you mean by ¡¯embarrass yourselves¡¯? The kids like Nan

    Chen so they want to spend time with him. It¡¯s not asplicated as you make it out to be,¡± shouted

    Cheng Xiangyun. ¡°Besides, how is it embarrassing when a busy man like Nan Chen was willing to

    spend time with the kids? Did you work so much that you¡¯ve gone nuts? Is that why you¡¯re yelling at

    everyone for no reason?¡± said Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Mommy, we were wrong,¡± said Dabao, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Ning Ran was stunned because Dabao rarely spoke.

    ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I¡¯m the big brother so I should be responsible,¡± Dabao continued saying, ¡°Please don¡¯t be

    mad at my baby sister.¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s fury was instantly gone, and she realized that she was out of line a moment ago because

    she was too angry.

    ¡°Fine, mommy won¡¯t be mad about the past, but you¡¯re not allowed to hang out with strangers

    anymore!¡±

    Dabao and Erbao nodded simultaneously.

    After breakfast, Cheng Xiangyun and Ning Ran dropped the kids at school together. Cheng Xiangyun

    ignored Ning Ran the whole way.

    After the teachers came to take the kids to ss, Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s face darkened and she said, ¡°get

    out!¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± said Ning Ran who was confused.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to drive you,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun grimly, ¡°you can get a cab.¡±

    ¡°The hell? Are you okay, woman? We¡¯re both heading to the set. Why should I waste my money taking

    a cab?¡±

    ¡°The mere sight of you pisses me off so I want you out of my car!¡±

    ¡°Then don¡¯t look over,¡± said Ning Ran who had no intention of getting out of the car, ¡°Keep your eyes on

    the road instead of looking at me, then you won¡¯t be bothered.¡±

    ¡°Staying in the same car with you bothers me!¡±

    ¡°Then you get off! I¡¯ll drive over,¡± said Ning Ran, ¡°Then you won¡¯t be bothered.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re shameless!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not so you get out,¡± said Ning Ran who couldn¡¯t keep a straight face and ended upughing

    aloud.

    ¡°You ungrateful, heartless, and blind woman!¡± sniped Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Come on, woman. You know why I don¡¯t want the kids to see Nan Chen,¡± exined Ning Ran

    patiently, ¡°They¡¯re not rted, and even if they were, can they be a family?¡±

    ¡°Luo Fei sees me as a threat, and she¡¯s the poker face¡¯s girlfriend. If my kids get close to Nan Chen,

    wouldn¡¯t she get jealous ande after them?¡±

    ¡°Thatst incident at home still gave me nightmares. We were lucky that the kids were smart, or there

    would¡¯ve been dire consequences.¡±

    ¡°The culprit said that he worked alone, but I felt that things aren¡¯t that simple. I think he was after my

    kids.¡±

    ¡°Besides, Luo Fei isn¡¯t the only one who hates me. The poker face and I hate each other too. If the kids

    were to get involved with the Nan Family, he would surely take them away from me. Is that what you

    want? For me and the kids to be separated?¡±

    Ning Ran exined everything in one go, and Cheng Xiangyun couldn¡¯t speak after that.

    ¡°You may think I¡¯m selfish, but the kids meant the whole world to me. Can¡¯t I be selfish just this once?¡±

    said Ning Ran whose voice was starting to thicken with tears.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ning Ran,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun and sighed, ¡°I know it¡¯s not easy being you.¡±

    Ning Ran stared at the street to try and calm herself down as Cheng Xiangyun continued.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    ¡°Ning Ran, it was my fault, I should¡¯ve told you about this, but I never thought about selling you out for

    my own benefit.¡±

    ¡°You know the extent of the Nan Family¡¯s influence in the Flower City. You should¡¯ve thought about

    them finding out about the kids the moment you came back to this country, to this city.¡±

    ¡°Forgive me for being straightforward, but the moment they realize that the kids look just like Nan

    Chen, they would and could have everything investigated.¡±

    ¡°That was why I let the kids see Nan Chen. I thought that if they were rted, then they would have to

    face each other sooner orter, so it might as well be sooner since it may help you out too.¡±

    ¡°However, I do admit that it¡¯s not possible for me to remainpletely unbiased about this. After all, the

    Nan Family¡¯s influence meant that if you were one of them, I¡¯d benefit as well.¡±

    After listening to Cheng Xiangyun, Ning Ran nodded because she believed in and agreed with what

    Cheng Xiangyun said.

    ¡°The man who spent the night with you¡­ was it Nan Chen?¡± asked Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°As I said, I have no idea. I checked the inte, and the person Luo Fei talked about, Director Feng,

    was plump and has been for more than a decade. The man who spent the night with me wasn¡¯t plump,

    but I don¡¯t know if that means that it was Nan Chen.¡±

    ¡°If that truly was Nan Chen, then you are truly something, woman,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun, impressed, ¡°I

    mean, you slept with the man who drove every woman in the Flower City insane!¡±

    Ning Ran rolled her eyes at that and said, ¡°Do you think it¡¯s appropriate to talk like that?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I do,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun with a straight face, ¡°In fact, I wonder why lucky things like that never

    happened to me.¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 70

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 70

    During lunch, Cheng Xiangyun and Ning Ran were crouched at the side eating from a box of take-out

    when Luo Fei walked over.

    Luo Fei never had the cheap lunch provided by the productionpany and had always had someone

    deliver exquisite lunch over for her.

    Ning Ran and Cheng Xiangyun ignored Luo Fei and kept eating even though they saw Luo Fei walking

    over.

    ¡°Ning Ran, you b****!¡± yelled Luo Fei.

    ¡°We all know who the real b**** is,¡± said Ning Ran before she kept having her lunch.

    ¡°Why was the script changed? And why was the new script filled with your scenes? Did you sleep with

    the director and the writer? You shameless woman!¡± screamed Luo Fei.

    It was easy to see that Luo Fei had never paid much attention to the script because it took her that long

    to realize that the script had been changed.

    ¡°Not everyone¡¯s like you,¡± sneered Ning Ran, ¡°not everyone uses her body to get what they want.¡±

    ¡°You b****! You used some dirty tricks, didn¡¯t you? Why else would the script be changed? You¡¯re

    nothing but a second lead actress! Why are you in so many scenes?¡±

    ¡°You want to know why?¡± Ning Ran said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯m a better actress.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a better actress? Puh-lease. I¡¯ve been in this line of work for years! Do you actually think you

    have what it takes toment on my acting skills?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s sad how you¡¯re still oblivious to how terrible your acting skills are even though you¡¯ve been in so

    many bad shows,¡± said Ning Ran with a smirk.

    Ning Ran kept her cool as she sat there, eating while dissing Luo Fei.

    Furious, Luo Fei kicked the box of food Ning Ran was holding and screamed, ¡°Stop eating!¡±

    The box of food flew and spewed food all over Ning Ran, getting her all dirty.

    ¡°Ms. Luo, that¡¯s too much!¡± yelled Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Who do you think you are? Do you think you have what it takes to talk back at me?¡± Luo Fei shouted.

    ¡°You¡­.¡±

    ¡°Those who hang out with a b**** must also be a b****!¡± said Luo Fei with distaste in her lips.

    Cheng Xiangyun handed her box of food to Ning Ran all of a sudden.

    Ning Ran was a little confused. What was she trying to do? Did she give me her leftovers because

    mine was kicked away?

    ¡°I¡¯m full,¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t give it to you so you could eat it!¡± shouted Cheng Xiangyun.

    Ning Ran understood then and said to Luo Fei, ¡°Damn you!¡±

    Ning Ran dumped the box of food right onto Luo Fei¡¯s face.

    ¡°Ah¡­!¡± shrieked Luo Fei.

    Cheng Xiangyun fled immediately. As she ran, she shouted, ¡°Director, someone¡¯s fighting over here!¡±

    Everyone turned over and was instantly shocked.

    The second lead actress was drenched in grease and rice and was in a terrible shape whereas the

    celebrity ¨C Luo Fei ¨C was in a worse shape with her head and face showered with so much food that

    she couldn¡¯t open her eyes and could only scream.

    ¡°Ms. Fei, what¡¯s wrong?¡± said Wang Yan as he tried to keep hisughter in, ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°Call the police!¡± demanded Luo Fei, ¡°Have them arrest that b****!¡±

    ¡°Oh dear, what¡¯s going on here? How could you waste food like that?¡± teased Zhen Lunlun who came

    by after hearing themotion, ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard the ancient Chinese proverb ¨C every grain on your

    te was the fruit of the farmers¡¯ tireless efforts¡¯? Don¡¯t you two feel bad for wasting food like that?¡±

    After that, Zhen Lunlun ignored Luo Fei and walked to Ning Ran¡¯s side to say, ¡°God, you¡¯re all dirty, go

    change your clothes.¡±

    ¡°Ding Mi is not allowed to leave!¡± Luo Fei kept screaming, ¡°Call the police on her now!¡±

    Wang Yan reluctantly took out his phone to call the police.

    He didn¡¯t want to alert the authorities, but Luo Fei was insistent, and he was worried that things would

    go bad if he didn¡¯t make the call. Before he made the call though, he was stopped by Zhen Lunlun.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m calling the cops.¡±

    ¡°What happened? Why are you calling the cops?¡±

    ¡°But this¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re calling the cops because two crazy women threw food at one another and got each other all

    greasy?¡± ¡°If everyone calls the police over minor incidents like that, wouldn¡¯t the police be

    overwhelmed?¡± asked Zhen Lunlun.

    ¡°But¡­¡± Wang Yan didn¡¯t know how to respond to that because he never wanted to call the cops in the

    first ce.

    ¡°Quit being indecisive. Two actresses from the same production set got into an argument and got the

    police involved. If word got out, wouldn¡¯t it be embarrassing?¡± asked Zhen Lunlun. Upon seeing the

    director being stumped, Zhen Lunlun continued saying, ¡°Fine, even if you¡¯re not embarrassed, I am! My

    fans would be furious if they find out that I am involved in a terrible production set like this!¡±

    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    ¡°If that news got out, the audience on the inte would think that the show is terrible. As we know, ten

    good news could notpensate for one bad news in this industry. Who is willing to take the me if

    the sales of the show were to take a hit?¡±

    Zhen Lunlun was young when he started working so even though he was still pretty young, he was an

    experienced worker who knew the rules of the industry. That was why every word he said was logical.

    Moreover, he was a huge star and an influencer so the director didn¡¯t dare to make a move after Zhen

    Lunlunined.

    After all, the director never wanted to call the cops anyway.

    Luo Fei had also calmed down. She started this whole thing so she would look bad if an investigation

    were to be carried out.

    ¡°Fine, since Zhen asked, I¡¯ll be nice to him and forget about calling the cops,¡± said Luo Fei who was

    using that excuse to save herself.

    Zhen Lunlun didn¡¯t give a crap about that. He turned around to grab Ning Ran¡¯s arm to lead her away,

    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get your hair washed and a change of clothes.¡±

    ¡°Director Wang, I¡¯m fine with not calling the cops, but that b**** must apologize to me in front of the

    whole cast and crew or I won¡¯t let this go!¡±ined Luo Fei who was furious.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Fei,¡± said the troubled Wang Yan, ¡°I¡¯ll make things right, for sure.¡±

    On the other side, Ning Ran had changed her clothes, washed her faced, and reapplied her make-up.

    ¡°Honestly, Ning Ran, you are too impulsive,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun at the side.

    ¡°Woman, aren¡¯t you the one who handed me the box? How could you call me impulsive after that?¡±

    ¡°I did that so you could throw it at her, not m it into her face,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun as she tried to

    keep it together, ¡°You got her in such a terrible shape.¡±

    The phone rang before Ning Ran got to speak.

    ¡°It¡¯s from the kindergarten,¡± said Ning Ran who then gestured Cheng Xiangyun to keep quiet, ¡°I have to

    take it.¡±

    After the phone call, Ning Ran looked uneasy.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are the kids okay?¡±

    ¡°The teacher said that the kids refused to eat their lunch.¡±

    ¡°Huh? That kindergarten is the best in the city. They even hired a nutritionist to prepare the meals so

    it¡¯s even more delicious than our food. Why did they refuse to eat?¡±

    ¡°The teacher said that the kids are upset,¡± exined Ning Ran, ¡°They¡¯re twins so they share a bond so

    strong that if one of them is upset, the other would lose his/her appetite as well. In this case, they were

    both upset.¡±

    ¡°Why? How did they get so upset that they lose their appetites?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s probably because of that poker face,¡± said Ning Ran who then sighed and continued, ¡°They saw

    the news that the poker face was sick and knew that I wouldn¡¯t let them go visit him so they¡¯re upset.¡±

    ¡°Oh, right!¡± eximed Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°I almost forgot about that. Those kids are so sweet for thinking

    of their Uncle Nan Chen.¡±

    ¡°What do we do now?¡± Ning Ran asked Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°What else can we do? The one who started the trouble should end the trouble. They¡¯re too young and

    naive to handle this, we must find a way to let them visit Nan Chen or they¡¯ll keep worrying,¡± replied

    Cheng Xiangyun.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 71

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 71

    Personally, she didn¡¯t want the kids to see Nan Chen, but she didn¡¯t want her kids to keep worrying

    either.

    For the longest time, it had only been Ning Ran and the kids so the kids¡¯ idea of a ¡®dad¡¯ had always

    been blurry, and they had alwayscked the love of a father.

    It wasn¡¯t until Nan Chen, a man with a simr face, strong aura, and immense wealth showed up that

    the kids started fantasizing about having a dad.

    The sudden appearance of fatherly love had engulfed them and protected them, giving them a sense of

    security and warmth that they had never experienced before.

    The kids loved that security and warmth and it was normal for them to lean on it, and be unwilling to

    give it up.

    Unfortunately, just as everything was bright and sunny, they received the news that Nan Chen had

    fallen ill.

    The kids may be young, but they understood what being sick meant, and they sensed that they may be

    losing that fatherly love again.

    Even for an adult, retrieving someone you lost was a happy encounter while losing it again was a

    devastating loss. For kids, that was something unthinkable.

    As their mother, Ning Ran understood how they felt. How could she not? They¡¯re a part of her.

    After considering long and hard, she decided and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, let them go see that poker face.¡±

    ¡°Then you must go too,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Me? That¡¯s not possible. You know that there¡¯s bad blood between the two of us. We hate each other!

    Letting my kids see him is the farthest I¡¯m willing to go.¡±

    ¡°The kids won¡¯t go unless you go too,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Why not?¡± Ning Ran asked Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you know your own kids? They still feel bad for meeting Nan Chen without your permission. Now

    that they know you¡¯d be upset; would they still pay him a visit? The only way they¡¯d be willing to go is if

    you pay him a visit too.¡±

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t speak because she agreed with Cheng Xiangyun.

    The kids are mature, so mature that it made her heartache.

    Happy kids are often immature because they never needed to face any difficulty and never needed to

    grow up any faster than the other kids do.

    ¡°But I don¡¯t want to go. If I do, I¡¯ll be miserable, and so would he.¡±

    ¡°Is there really that much bad blood between the two of you?¡± asked Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°He could be the

    father. You shouldn¡¯t make things so bad between the two of you,¡±

    ¡°No, he looks down on me and I don¡¯t care what he thinks of me,¡± said Ning Ran who shook her head,

    ¡°Luo Fei¡¯s boyfriend¡­ that is a proud, useless man who inherited his wealth.¡±

    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    ¡°Then we¡¯ll ask what the kids think. If they¡¯re willing to go without you, then that¡¯s fine, but if not, you¡¯ll

    have to go with them. Remember, you¡¯re just doing this for the kids anyway, not actually paying him a

    visit.¡±

    Ning Ran nodded. She was willing to sacrifice herself for her kids.

    In the end, it was as Cheng Xiangyun predicted. The kids denied being worried about Nan Chen and

    simultaneously said that they don¡¯t need to pay him a visit.

    They didn¡¯t want to upset their mommy.

    ¡°Then what if your mommy wants to go visit Uncle Nan Chen with the two of you?¡± asked Cheng

    Xiangyun.

    The two precious kids looked up, delighted to hear the news, but they quickly reverted back to their

    previous stance.

    ¡°That¡¯s not possible,¡± said Erbao as she shook her head.

    ¡°Nothing¡¯s impossible. Your mommy loves you both very much. You may be worried that she¡¯s upset,

    but she¡¯s even more worried about the two of you being upset. I¡¯ll call your mommy now, have her ask

    the director for some time off so she could clock off early and apany the two of you to go visit

    Uncle Nan Chen.¡±

    The kids¡¯ smile lit up again. ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°When have I ever lied to you?¡±

    ¡­¡­

    At Nanshi Corporation¡¯s Headquarters

    ¡°Mr. Chen, the share price falling made the shareholders upset, and they had been calling to ask about

    your condition,¡± reported Jiang Zhe cautiously.

    Nan Chen narrowed his eyes. Those shareholders had always been annoying for getting all worked up

    over something so petty.

    Thepanies under Nanshi Corporation had been growing exponentially and the shareholders had

    been receiving huge bonuses ever since Nan Chen took over Nanshi Corporation.

    There was no such thing as an evesting rise in share prices so it was ridiculous of them to get so

    worked up over the fluctuation in prices.

    ¡°Ignore,¡± replied Nan Chen.

    ¡°After news got out that you are sick, the European royal family called to wish you a speedy recovery,

    and to say that they were sorry you couldn¡¯t attend the banquet,¡± said Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°Reply. Feel bad for missing the banquet. Look forward to working together,¡± ordered Nan Chen.

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    The boss went too far this time. Jiang Zhe thought. First, he had forgone the royal banquet just to have

    dinner with two kids then he feigned his illness to prevent the royal family from being upset. The report

    of him being sick, in turn, caused the share price to drop and thepany lost billions because of it.

    When the kids grow up and found out that Nan Chen had thrown billions away just to have dinner with

    them, would their jaws drop from the shock?

    The buffet dinner costs a couple of hundred, but Nan Chen having the meal with them lost him billions.

    That was most definitely the most expensive dinner in the world.

    ¡°Anything else?¡± Nan Chen asked the distracted Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°Oh, Ding Mi¡¯s assistant called to say that they heard about Mr. Chen¡¯s illness. Ding Mi wants to bring

    her kids along to pay you a visit and asks if you¡¯re okay with it.¡±

    ¡°Ding Mi?¡± the moment he uttered her name, Nan Chen felt like he smelled that sweet tangerine scent

    again.

    Unfortunately, that was quickly reced by repulsion. This woman really did have something nned.

    First, she pretended to not care, then used her kids to get my attention.

    Now that the timing is right, she is using her kids to get close to me.

    It was just as Nan Chen had thought. That was a scheming woman.

    ¡°Reject it,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°Understood, Mr. Chen,¡± said Jiang Zhe as he started to leave.

    ¡°Wait,¡± Nan Chen called after Jiang Zhe, ¡°Meet.¡±

    Jiang Zhe was confused¡­ So do I arrange for that visit or not?

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll have them here tonight?¡± said Jiang Zhe to confirm everything.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t speak. Instead, he waved his hands to get Jiang Zhe to leave the room.

    At the set of the Sound of Thunder 2, the shooting of the show was on-going.

    After shooting a reel, everyone was exhausted and was using the small window of time between takes

    to rest up.

    Ning Ran walked over and said, ¡°Director Wang, I¡¯d like to ask for some time off today so I can leave

    early.¡±

    ¡°Are you kidding me? We have a scene to shoot when the day bes dark. No one is allowed to

    leave before 12 in the morning. Anyone who leaves will be fired!¡± said Wang Yan.

    ¡°Lower your voice, director,¡± said Ning Ran, ¡°Or someone else may overhear you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve always been loud, and why would I care if anyone else heard me?¡±

    ¡°Because you¡¯d look bad if you change your mindter,¡± whispered Ning Ran.

    ¡°Huh? Why would I change my mind? We need to hurry or we¡¯ll have to dy the show¡¯s air date.

    Everyone must work overtime tonight, no one leaves!¡±

    ¡°But Mr. Chen wants me to head over right away,¡± said Ning Ran who then sighed and continued, ¡°He¡¯ll

    be angry if I don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°What did you say? Mr. Chen wants you to go over? Aren¡¯t you two at odds? Why would he want you

    over?¡± asked Wang Yan who didn¡¯t believe in Ning Ran¡¯s excuse.

    Ning Ran pretended to be shy and said, ¡°I have no idea why he wanted me to go over. All he said was

    that he had a room ready in the hotel and he wants me over to talk about the script.¡±

    Wang Yan¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Getting a hotel room to talk about the script? Did she mean¡­.?

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± asked Wang Yan again.

    Ning Ran acted even shier and had her head down, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask Mr. Chen.¡±

    ¡°Then what are you still doing here? Go on now! Don¡¯t make Mr. Chen wait!¡±

    Ning Ran was speechless.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 72

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 72

    Ning Ran held her children¡¯s hand as they walked down the stairs and saw a Rolls-Royce parked

    outside.

    ¡°It¡¯s Uncle Nan Chen¡¯s car!¡± said Erbao happily.

    You two really are getting cozy, huh? You even remembered his car. thought Ning Ran.

    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.

    Little traitor!

    Jiang Zhe got out of the car and said, ¡°This way, Ms. Ding.¡±

    ¡°Hello, Uncle Jiang Zhe,¡± said Erbao who acted like they knew each other really well.

    Ning Ran thought that was weird so she asked, ¡°What did you call them?¡±

    Jiang Zhe smiled brightly, but he didn¡¯t say a word. Instead, he bowed and gestured her to get on.

    The moment the door was opened, she realized that the car that Nan Chen used for all asions had

    been installed with two baby car seats.

    It was obvious that it was prepared just for the kids. Ning Ran never realized just how much Nan Chen

    cared about them.

    They drove without speaking.

    Jiang Zhe was meticulous and didn¡¯t talk to Ning Ran or tried to get to know her.

    He was instructed to drive Ning Ran and her kids to their destination, and he was not in a position to

    talk to her.

    Besides, he didn¡¯t want to get on Ning Ran¡¯s bad side because the beautiful woman in front of him was

    no longer an ordinary person. She was the future wife of Nan Xing, the fourth son of the Nan Family.

    Nan Xing was not as powerful as Nan Chen, but he was still Nan Chen¡¯s twin brother so his influence

    and power should not be underestimated.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t try to get a conversation going either. As far as she was concerned Jiang Zhe was Nan

    Chen¡¯s ¡®trantor¡¯.

    Since he was willing to work with Nan Chen, he must be just as despicable as the poker face.

    Erbao wanted to chat but she saw that the adults being quiet so she didn¡¯t dare to speak either.

    Everyone was silent until they reached their destination. The moment they got out of the car, they

    realized that they weren¡¯t at the hospital. Instead, they were at the private car park inside the Nanshi

    Corporation Headquarters.

    Jiang Zhe got out first to open the door for Ning Ran and the others. ¡°This way, Ms. Ding, and please

    do watch your step.¡±

    ¡°What are we doing here? Aren¡¯t we supposed to be going to the hospital?¡± asked the confused Ning

    Ran.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need. The news of Mr. Chen being sick was fake,¡± exined Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°But isn¡¯t that the official statement released by yourpany? How is it faked? And why did you lie?¡±

    asked Ning Ran who was even more confused.

    Jiang Zhe didn¡¯t dare to exin because he hadn¡¯t received Nan Chen¡¯s approval so he just smiled.

    Ning Ran was even more upset. That poker face really is a horrible human being. He lied about being

    sick to the world and got the share price to drop, resulting in billions of loss.

    Did he feign his illness just to get my children to feel bad? Did he have something nned?

    ¡°Since he¡¯s fine, then we¡¯ll just take our leave now,¡± said Ning Ran as she turned to leave with her kids.

    ¡°Please wait,¡± said Jiang Zhe who didn¡¯t dare to actually stop her.

    Ning Ran paused and turned around, ¡°What do you want?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want anything,¡± said Jiang Zhe with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s just that Mr. Chen said he had something

    important to discuss with you in person. Please do meet with Mr. Chen or I won¡¯t be able to exin

    myself.¡±

    ¡°Mommy, we¡¯re here anyway,¡± said Erbao who didn¡¯t want to leave, ¡°let¡¯s go see Uncle Nan Chen.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s a liar! You still want to see him? He lied to you about being sick and got you worried all day. Why

    are you still voicing up for him?¡± said Ning Ran angrily.

    ¡°Uncle Nan Chen is not a liar!¡± said Erbao who insisted on defending Nan Chen.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, there¡¯s a reason as to why Mr. Chen lied about being sick. He didn¡¯t do so for any malicious

    reasons. Please give him a chance and talk to him,¡± said Jiang Zhe.

    Fine. I¡¯m here anyway. Ning Ran thought, and I even lied to Director Wang for it. May as well go see

    the poker face and see what he wants.

    They entered the elevator and went straight to the top floor.

    ¡°Mr. Chen wants to speak to you alone so young mistress and young master can y over there for the

    time being,¡± Jiang Zhe told Ning Ran.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not leaving my kids with strangers!¡± rejected Ning Ran immediately.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Ding. This ce is secure. Moreover, Mr. Chen had us prepared some delicacies and

    some toys in the conference room so that the kids won¡¯t get bored,¡± said Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°Yay! Mommy, you go ahead, we¡¯ll be fine,¡± celebrated Erbao.

    Dabao nodded.

    Jiang Zhe waved and two beautifuldies came in to bring Dabao and Erbao to the conference room.

    After that, Ning Ran followed Jiang Zhe into Nan Chen¡¯s ridiculously luxurious office.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t like it because she thought the office was too majestic like it was a part of a royal

    pce. If his office was that luxurious, then his house must be even more extravagant.

    Poker face may look cool, but in reality, he was just a spoiled brat who knew only to enjoy life.

    Moreover, he always acted like he was strong or powerful which was downright infuriating.

    Behind the office desk, the man was reading his files intently.

    He didn¡¯t look up after Ning Ran entered.

    ¡°Mr. Chen,¡± said Jiang Zhe, ¡°Ms. Ding is here.¡±

    His eyes remained stuck to his document and he didn¡¯t speak.

    Ning Ran became furious. This bastard had always been like this. Always!

    The truth was, Nan Chen wanted to look up and greet Ning Ran the moment the door opened.

    After all, that woman was his brother¡¯s lover and was his niece¡¯s and nephew¡¯s mother so she should

    receive the respect she deserved.

    However, when that tangerine scent drifted in, Nan Chen couldn¡¯t help but inhaled it deeply.

    That scent got him in a trance and lost in his own paradise. That moment, he couldn¡¯t look up because

    he was worried that the others could see his emotions through his eyes.

    He was a man who had been worshipped like a god. He couldn¡¯t let anyone find out that he was

    intoxicated by a scent.

    ¡°Okay,¡± said Nan Chen coldly as he waved his hand to get Jiang Zhe to leave.

    Jiang Zhe bowed to Ning Ran then left before closing the door behind him.

    Ning Ran and Nan Chen were the only ones left in that big office.

    Nan Chen¡¯s head remained hidden behind the folder as that tangerine scent drifted toward him. That

    was the scent that had haunted him for years.

    Naturally, Ning Ran had no idea what was going through Nan Chen¡¯s mind. She simply thought that the

    guy was rude because he kept his head down and was pretending to work.

    You called me over. So why are you ignoring me?

    ¡°Ahem, ahem¡­¡±

    A series of exaggerated coughs disrupted the peace in the office.

    Nan Chen frowned upon realizing that the noise came from the woman.

    Making a sound like that¡­ what a disrespectful and uncultured woman. Thought Nan Chen.

    Is Nan Xing blind? Why would he sleep with her and even got her pregnant? Wait, this woman has

    always been scheming. She must¡¯ve tricked Nan Xing to go to bed with her and got pregnant to get

    ahead in life.

    Nan Chen finally looked up. His eyes were fuming with anger when they saw Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran wasn¡¯t scared because she wasn¡¯t new to this treatment. That was basically how he had

    always looked at her so Ning Ran red back. Their eyes met, and they saw hatred and discrimination

    in each other¡¯s eyes.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 73

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 73

    Neither spoke as they red at each other for a few seconds.

    In the end, Ning Ran was the one who lost because Nan Chen¡¯s aura was too strong, and ring at

    him drained her.

    That was why she turned away, but she refused to admit defeat so she immediately asked, ¡°What did

    you want to talk to me about?¡±

    Nan Chen was furious. I am the investor of the show the Sound of Thunder 2 and you are the actress

    of the show. Would it kill you to call me Mr. Chen?

    How could you be disrespectful to me when even the director calls me ¡®Mr. Chen¡¯?

    Even if you refused to call me ¡®Mr. Chen¡¯, would you at least address me as ¡®sir¡¯?¡±

    Hell, even if ¡®sir¡¯ was too much for you, you could at least be nice instead of blurting out your question

    like that. Seriously, how are you so bold? Or are you influenced by the pop song ¡°Bravery¡± performed

    by Fish Leong?

    Ning Ran saw the poker face¡¯s eyes became deadlier and wondered how she had offended him. Was

    she not allowed to even ask?

    I¡¯m not a goddess. How would I know why you called me over if I don¡¯t ask?

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t speak. He just threw a report over.

    What¡¯s this about? Ning Ran thought. You were reading the document. Was I supposed to get all nosy

    and read it with you?

    She picked up the document and realized that it was a DNA report.

    The only important part of the document was the sentence that said, ¡°DNA matched.¡±

    Ning Ran was shocked.

    Does that mean that the kids found their biological father and that their father is the poker face?

    Even though she was more or less prepared, actually reading the report still stunned her.

    That moment, she also felt relieved because it¡¯d mean that the kids¡¯ biological father was not that

    disgusting and fat guy ¨C Director Peng.

    Nan Chen caught sight of that breath of relief and interpreted it as Ning Ran feeling relieved because

    her mission was aplished and she could finally get ahead in life.

    That made him hate the woman in front of him even more.

    Ning Ran tossed the report onto the table and asked, ¡°So?¡±

    ¡°How much?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°What?¡± asked the confused Ning Ran.

    ¡°How much money do you want?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°Money? What do you mean?¡± asked Ning Ran who was getting even more confused.

    Nan Chen¡¯s eyes became deadlier still. Acting dumb, huh?

    ¡°Fifty million,¡± offered Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran finally understood. That asshole is trying to buy my kids?

    Fifty million was a lot, and most would not be able to finish spending it in one lifetime but that was not

    the price Nan Chen had in mind.

    He felt that the woman had nned for so many years so she would¡¯ve wanted more than that, but he

    offered a low price so that there was space to negotiate.

    Ning Ran sneered.

    Nan Chen narrowed his eyes, ¡°Too little? Then how much would you like?¡±

    ¡°Do I look like a pig that sells her children? Let me tell you something, you ass****. They¡¯re my kids and

    they¡¯re not for sale!¡±

    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran¡¯s reaction was not what Nan Chen had expected.

    Shouldn¡¯t she be making an offer? Why did she say she didn¡¯t want any money?

    Wait, saying she doesn¡¯t want money is a ruse! She¡¯s trying to get even more money in the future!

    Unfortunately, with me, Nan Chen, around, you will never get what you wish.

    ¡°The kids. Nan Family¡¯s,¡± said Nan Chen coldly.

    ¡°They¡¯re mine!¡± screamed Ning Ran.

    ¡°Children of the Nan Family must be raised by us,¡± said Nan Chen.

    His words were final and domineering, causing Ning Ran to feel ufortable.

    ¡°So you¡¯re just going to take whatever you want?¡± shouted Ning Ran.

    ¡°Yes,¡± replied Nan Chen honestly.

    ¡°I warn you, Nan Chen. Those kids are my everything,¡± said Ning Ran, ¡°I will fight to the death before I

    let anyone take them!¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t stand a chance.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s face showed no emotions.

    He was right. Given the Nan Family¡¯s influence, Ning Ran didn¡¯t have a fighting chance.

    They weren¡¯t at the same level, and she had lost the war before it even began.

    The thing that worried Ning Ran the most was happening after all.

    She was beginning to realize that she may lose custody of her children.

    The man standing in front of her would cause her to lose her children, and the more she fought him, the

    sooner and the more likely she would lose her children.

    Ning Ran smiled as sweetly as she could and said, ¡°Mr. Chen, let¡¯s talk about this, shall we?¡±

    Nan Chen was stunned. She was a really good actress to be able to change her expression that

    quickly.

    She truly was scheming. The sudden change in her expression made Nan Chen suspicious.

    ¡°Discuss?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°The kids are still young. It¡¯s better for them to stay with me because without a mother, they would not

    be able to grow up happy and healthy,¡± exined Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t speak, but he agreed with her.

    Even if they won the custody of the children, Nan Chen didn¡¯t n to keep the children and their

    mother separated.

    He thought that Ning Ran was too scheming and didn¡¯t want her to be a part of the family but the truth

    was that she was still the mother.

    The children needed their mother so Ning Ran would definitely be a part of their lives, but that must be

    monitored and controlled by the Nan Family.

    Ning Ran couldn¡¯t interpret Nan Chen¡¯s silence.

    She didn¡¯t know what he was thinking, nor did she know if her strategy of admitting defeat and feigning

    weakness worked.

    ¡°As you¡¯re aware, I¡¯m in the middle of shooting a show and it¡¯ste so I have to get back and memorize

    the scripts,¡± said Ning Ran who was prepared to flee.

    She didn¡¯t want to keep fighting before she came up with a good strategy to battle against Nan Chen.

    Going head-to-head against a powerful enemy, especially one that could erase your existence from this

    city, was stupid and suicidal.

    She must keep it together for the sake of her children.

    Putting an end to this conversation would dy the battle they had to fight to get custody of the

    children which would, in turn, gave Ning Ran some time toe up with a strategy.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t expect to have everything settled that day either. After all, they were Nan Xing¡¯s

    children so it was okay to have that discussion when their dad was back.

    ¡°Allowed,¡± uttered Nan Chen.

    ¡°The kids heard you were sick and insisted on visiting you so let¡¯s get them in to see you so that they¡¯d

    stop worrying. Otherwise, they¡¯d be so worried that they¡¯d lose their appetite at school,¡± said Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen softened his stance.

    ¡°Agreed,¡± said Nan Chen as he nodded his head.

    That nod startled Ning Ran because that was exactly how Dabao had always nodded his head.

    Nan Chen pressed a button to get Jiang Zhe to bring the kids over.

    ¡°Uncle Nan Chen!¡± said Erbao as she dashed toward Nan Chen.

    ¡°You can¡¯t call me Uncle Nan Chen anymore. It¡¯s ¡®third uncle¡¯ now because you¡¯re my brother¡¯s child,¡±

    said Nan Chen softly.

    Ning Ran, who was standing at the side, was surprised again.

    So the person listed in the DNA report wasn¡¯t him, but his baby brother? Who is that? Why are things

    bing more and moreplicated?

    ¡°Third uncle?¡± asked Erbao whose big, round eyes shone with confusion as she tried toprehend

    that new phrase.

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± said Nan Chen, ¡°Your daddy is my baby brother. His name is Nan Xing and he is on his

    way back from Africa. He¡¯ll be here to meet you soon.¡±

    Ning Ran realized something. Normally, when Nan Chen spoke, he would use less than 10 words in a

    conversation, but when hemunicated with the kids, he would turn into a big softie who spoke a lot

    and in a sweet manner.

    What a miracle!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 74

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 74

    Erbao And Dabao turned to one another and became quiet all of a sudden.

    This was not what they had nned. They wanted Uncle Nan Chen to be mommy¡¯s boyfriend, but that

    would no longer be possible if Uncle Nan Chen was their third uncle.

    Erbao didn¡¯t like the phrase ¡®third uncle¡¯ because it sounded weird and uncool.

    The sudden silence from the kids got Nan Chen worried because he didn¡¯t know what he had said to

    upset them.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Nan Chen asked, terrified.

    Erbao pouted with tears circling in her eyes.

    It¡¯s not fair!

    All that time spent to get mommy a rich and handsome boyfriend was wasted.

    ¡®Uncle Nan Chen¡¯ was gone and reced by the term ¨C third uncle ¨C that sounded absolutely terrible,

    and they had to settle for a daddy from Africa!

    Erbao had seen the people in Africa on the TV before. There were lions, grass fields, and everyone

    there was tall and ck, and none of them were as handsome as her Uncle Nan Chen.

    Erbao thought that her daddy being from Africa must mean that he was tall and ck, and looked

    scary. That was too much, and she was sad.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Nan Chen who was truly worried when he saw Erbao¡¯s watery eyes. That

    turned out to be a terrible mistake.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want third uncle, and I don¡¯t want a daddy from Africa¡­¡±

    Nan Chen started to panic and was heartbroken. He quickly grabbed a tissue paper to dry Erbao¡¯s

    tears, ¡°Why not?¡±

    Erbao didn¡¯t answer. Only Dabao understood how disappointed and sad she felt to watch her perfect

    n falling apart.

    Unfortunately, Dabao had always been quiet and he didn¡¯t know how to exin things either so he

    could only frown.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t understand why Erbao reacted that way either.

    Why was the kid so reluctant to have a dad?

    She walked over to pick Erbao up and said, ¡°it¡¯s okay, baby, it¡¯s okay.¡±

    ¡°Why is she sad?¡± asked Nan Chen who honestly had no idea what was happening and was practically

    begging Ning Ran to exin.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡¯re a powerful man. Please give my kids and me some time and stop bullying helpless

    families like ours,¡± said Ning Ran coldly.

    Nan Chen felt wronged. How was what I did ¡®bullying¡¯? I was being nice and sweet when I weed

    her into the family, but Erbao cried all of a sudden! I never bullied her! Also, you¡¯re not exactly ¡®helpless¡¯

    either.

    ¡°Dabao, let¡¯s go,¡± ordered Ning Ran.

    That was a great opportunity to leave and Ning Ran wasn¡¯t about to waste it.

    Dabao¡¯s eyes were filled withplicated emotions when he turned to look at Nan Chen. Then, he

    sighed and followed Ning Ran out of the office.

    Looking at the crying Erbao, Nan Chen didn¡¯t dare to refute or stop them so with a heavy heart, he

    watched them leave.

    Before Dabao exited, he turned back to look at Nan Chen one more time.

    Nan Chen felt like the kid¡¯s eyes were trying to send him a message, but he couldn¡¯t decipher them.

    Jiang Zhe personally sent Ning Ran and the kids back home with tons of childcare products that he

    was ordered to deliver. Among these products were high-end snacks, supplements, and toys.

    Due to therge number of products given, Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s living room was filled.

    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s jaw dropped and she asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±

    Ning Ran had too much on her te, and she didn¡¯t want to exin so sheid down on the sofa and

    closed her eyes.

    Cheng Xiangyun didn¡¯t need to ask Ning Ran because she could ask Erbao who was the most talkative

    one in the family.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is your Uncle Nan Chen¡¯s illness very serious?¡±

    Erbao shook her head and answered, ¡°He¡¯s not sick, but he transformed.¡±

    ¡°Transformed? What do you mean?¡± asked the confused Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°He¡¯s no longer Uncle Nan Chen! He¡¯s third uncle now!¡± said Erbao who upon mentioning it started to

    cry again.

    ¡°Third uncle?¡± said Cheng Xiangyun who became even more confused, ¡°Oh, sweetie, don¡¯t cry.¡±

    ¡°He said we¡¯re his brother¡¯s kids so he¡¯s not Uncle Nan Chen anymore, he¡¯s our third uncle,¡± said

    Erbao between sobs.

    ¡°You seem upset about this. You don¡¯t want Nan Chen to be your third uncle?¡± said Cheng Xiangyun

    who finally figured out what was happening.

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± said Erbao with her chubby cheeks turned up.

    ¡°Why not?¡± asked the curious Cheng Xiangyun.

    Ning Ran opened her eyes upon hearing that. She wanted to know the answer to that question too.

    Erbao peeked at Ning Ran then kept quiet.

    Cheng Xiangyun understood then. She remembered the kids talking to her about finding Ning Ran a

    boyfriend.

    Nan Chen was their ideal candidate but he could not be Ning Ran¡¯s boyfriend if he was their third

    uncle.

    Cheng Xiangyun wanted tough after realizing that.

    ¡°So did you get to meet your daddy?¡± asked Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°What does he look like?¡±

    The mere mention of daddy got Erbao even more upset.

    ¡°No, we haven¡¯t but he¡¯s African,¡± said Erbao who wanted to cry thinking about a tall and ck daddy

    approaching her.

    ¡°African?¡± said the surprised Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°Nan Chen¡¯s brother is a foreigner? That¡¯s not possible.

    At most, he¡¯d be mixed blood. How could he be ck?¡±

    ¡°Daddy is, for sure, ck,¡± said the upset Erbao.

    Ning Ran¡¯s bad mood suddenly took a turn because she finally understood what Erbao meant.

    So Erbao was upset because she was worried that her daddy would be a ck African who wouldn¡¯t

    be as handsome as Nan Chen.

    Cheng Xiangyun walked over to knock Ning Ran on her head. ¡°Why are you smiling? What¡¯s going

    on?¡±

    Ning Ran waved and gestured the kids to go back to the room because the adults need to have a

    conversation.

    The kids packed their things up obediently and prepared to return to their room. Erbao snuck a piece of

    chocte into her bag when the adults weren¡¯t looking but Dabao caught her.

    Dabao coldly took the chocte out of her bag and ced it on the table before saying, ¡°Eating at

    night, toothache.¡±

    Erbao turned to her mommy who didn¡¯t spoil her. Instead, Ning Ran nodded at Dabao and said, ¡°Your

    brother is right. Go to your room now.¡±

    Erbao had no choice but to go to her room with Dabao.

    ¡°Alright then, what¡¯s going on?¡± asked Cheng Xiangyun after the kids went into their room, ¡°how did

    Nan Chen¡¯s brothere into the picture? The person you slept with was Nan Chen¡¯s brother?¡±

    ¡°How would I know?¡± said Ning Ran who then sighed and continued, ¡°They ran some tests and the

    DNA report states that the kids are rted to the poker face¡¯s brother. I¡¯m still in a daze like I¡¯m in a

    dream.¡±

    ¡°But how could Nan Chen¡¯s brother be African?¡± asked Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°did hee all the way from

    Africa just to bang you?¡±

    ¡°Would you please watch yournguage, woman?¡± said Ning Ran with a frown.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need to watch mynguage when I talk to you,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°Tell me already, what is

    going on?¡±

    ¡°Nan Chen¡¯s brother is Nan Xing. They¡¯re twins,¡± exined Ning Ran, ¡°The kids misunderstood

    because they heard that he wasing back from Africa.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that makes sense!¡± said the relieved Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°I thought it was weird that an African came

    up all of a sudden. I mean, I¡¯m not saying that Africans are bad or anything, and there are plenty of

    handsome Africans, but the kids can¡¯t handle having a dad who¡¯s so different from them.¡±

    ¡°Woman,¡± said Ning Ran as she rubbed her temple, ¡°Nan Chen wants to take my kids away. What do I

    do?¡±

    ¡°Take them away? Why? And on what grounds?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, on what grounds? I gave birth to the kids and raised them,¡± said the furious Ning Ran, ¡°what

    right did he have to take them away from me?¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 75

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 75

    ¡°What did Nan Chen say?¡± asked Cheng Xiangyun who squeezed Ning Ran¡¯s shoulder tofort her.

    ¡°What else could that poker face say? He said he wanted to take the kids away.¡±

    ¡°Nan Chen didn¡¯t seem like an unreasonable man,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun who was a little suspicious.

    ¡°Hey, are you seduced by that face?¡± demanded Ning Ran, ¡°Do you think he¡¯s a good person? Whose

    side are you on, woman?¡±

    ¡°Quit talking nonsense. I¡¯m on your side,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°I just meant if he said, in actual direct

    words, that he wanted to take them away?¡±

    ¡°No, he didn¡¯t, but his intentions were clear. Kids of the Nan Family must be raised by the Nan Family.¡±

    ¡°That request makes sense,¡± agreed Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°Think about it. The Nan Family is the richest

    and most powerful family in Flower City, and they have way more resources than ordinary families.

    Those kids will be much better off there than they would be if they were to grow up in a poor

    neighborhood like this. Moreover, if the kids were epted, you, as their mother, would also be a

    part of the family. You won¡¯t need to shoot movies anymore and would be able to live a luxurious life.¡±

    As she spoke, Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s eyes shone like she was the one who was about to be a part of a rich

    family.

    ¡°You¡¯re too na?ve, woman,¡± dissed Ning Ran who red at Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°How am I na?ve?¡± refuted Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°As you know, the poker face and I had been at odds ever since we met, and every meeting since then

    had only further that distaste for one another.¡±

    ¡°And now, we¡¯re forced to be a family, but that small connection wouldn¡¯t make him ept me.¡± ¡°You

    didn¡¯t see the way he looked at me. It was like I wasn¡¯t even human. That poker face never thought

    about epting me and wanted to pay me some money to get me to leave so that he could take the

    kids away,¡± exined Ning Ran with her teeth gritted.

    ¡°If that is the case¡­ How much did he offer?¡±

    ¡°F*** you! You think I should just ept that money?¡± growled Ning Ran, ¡°Are you insane? Do you

    think I¡¯d abandon my kids for money?¡±

    ¡°Here¡¯s the thing. I¡¯m gonna be brutally honest now, but you have no fighting chance against the Nan

    Family.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± said Ning Ran as she nodded, ¡°That was why I didn¡¯t want to make things worse with that

    poker face.¡±

    ¡°If ites down to it, you may as well take the money. They¡¯re taking the kids away regardless of

    whether you ept the money anyway so you may as well just ept it. epting the money doesn¡¯t

    mean abandoning the kids. With that money, you can do a lot of things for yourself and the kids, right?

    By the way, exactly how much was he offering?¡±

    Ning Ran was speechless. That Cheng Xiangyun was still focused on the money.

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk about the money! I won¡¯t let them have my kids,¡± said Ning Ran as she sprung up, ¡°They¡¯re

    my kids and no one is taking them away!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m on your side,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun.

    Nan Family¡¯s Commoner Residence

    Nan Chen¡¯s grandfather, Nan Zhengde, was already waiting when Nan Chen walked into the living

    room.

    Although he was in his seventies, Nan Zhengde was still alert and strong.

    ¡°You called, grandpa?¡± said Nan Chen as he bowed.

    ¡°Sit,¡± Nan Zhengde ordered Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen said down with his back straightened and his legs close together.

    ¡°Rx,¡± said Nan Zhengde, ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so nervous.¡±

    Unfortunately, Nan Chen was unable to do so because if his grandfather called him over thatte at

    night, then it must be something important, and Nan Chen had guessed what it was about.

    ¡°It¡¯ste, grandpa,¡± said Nan Chen, ¡°Let¡¯s get to it and you can rest early.¡±

    ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll be straightforward,¡± said Nan Zhengde, ¡°Nan Chen, you are, undoubtedly, the most

    brilliant member of the Nan Family.¡±

    That was his grandfather¡¯s technique ¨C to butter someone up before criticizing them so that the blow

    was softened. Being aware of that, Nan Chen didn¡¯t speak because he knew that the real topic was

    right behind.

    ¡°I got a couple ofints that said you lied about being sick and caused the share prices to fall.¡± ¡°I

    didn¡¯t talk to you about it until I looked into the matter myself and realized that it was true. I just want to

    know why.¡±

    Nan Zhengde¡¯s tone was calm and carried no anger, but Nan Chen was pressured.

    ¡°That did happen,¡± Nan Chen admitted.

    ¡°You canceled the trip to Europe so you had to feign your illness to prevent the royal family from being

    upset, am I right?¡± asked Nan Zhengde.

    Nan Chen nodded. He knew he couldn¡¯t keep his grandfather in the dark so he never nned to do so.

    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    ¡°However, I didn¡¯t look into why you canceled the trip. I felt like I should give you the chance to exin

    yourself.¡± ¡°Grandpa trusts you so I don¡¯t want to look into your private matters and only investigated the

    official matters.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded again to say that he understood.

    ¡°Well then, tell me. Why did you cancel your trip? As the head of the Nanshi Corporation, you are

    aware of how important it was to maintain a good rtionship with the royal family.¡±

    ¡°I did it to have dinner with someone,¡± answered Nan Chen honestly.

    ¡°To have dinner with someone?¡± said Nan Zhengde who was surprised to hear that, ¡°Who was it that

    was so important to you that you are willing to sacrifice that much just to have dinner with him/her?

    Was the dinner with a man or a woman?¡±

    ¡°A boy and a girl.¡±

    ¡°Who are they? Are they some sort of prime ministers or business tycoons?¡±

    ¡°No, just two kids.¡±

    Nan Zhengde had been calm but the moment he heard that it was two kids, he lost it.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? You canceled a trip that important just to have dinner with two kids?¡±

    ¡°These are the kids,¡± said Nan Chen. Then, he fished out his phone and showed his grandfather a

    photo of Dabao and Erbao.

    The moment he saw those eyes, Nan Zhengde understood.

    ¡°Are those¡­ your kids?¡±

    ¡°No, they¡¯re Nan Xing¡¯s kids. I didn¡¯t know back then but I had to make sure.¡±

    ¡°And now you¡¯re sure?¡±

    ¡°The DNA report had confirmed that they are Nan Xing¡¯s kids, your great-grandchildren.¡±

    ¡°Good, good, good!¡± eximed Nan Zhengde.

    Royal banquets, share prices¡­. none of that mattered. The important thing was that he had great-

    grandchildren!

    ¡°Where are the kids? I want to meet them. I¡¯ll go wake your grandma up now and we¡¯ll go together.

    She¡¯ll be even more excited than I am,¡± said Nan Zhengde who was extremely excited.

    ¡°Grandpa, it¡¯ste and the kids should be asleep. Nan Xing will be back tomorrow and we¡¯ll bring the

    kids over to meet you.¡±

    ¡°Oh right,¡± said Nan Zhengde who sat back down, ¡°It¡¯ste so the kids should be asleep. Kids need

    plenty of sleep to grow up healthy.¡±

    Nan Chen saw how excited his grandfather was and knew that the old man would not be able to sleep

    that night.

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll take my leave,¡± said Nan Chen as he stood up, ¡°so that you can rest well.¡±

    ¡°Wait, the kids. They¡¯re twins, aren¡¯t they? They look so much alike,¡± said Nan Zhengde who wanted to

    talk more about the kids because he was too excited.

    ¡°Yes, grandpa,¡± said Nan Chen, ¡°the younger one is the girl who¡¯s talkative and likes to y. The elder

    one¡¯s the boy who¡¯s quiet and smart.¡±

    ¡°That girl is just like Nan Xing, and the boy¡­. well, he¡¯s just like you. It¡¯s so awesome. Oh, I really want

    to meet my great-grandkids soon.¡±

    ¡°Calm down, grandpa. You¡¯ll definitely meet them.¡±

    ¡°Oh right, by the way, who¡¯s the mom? Why didn¡¯t shee forward earlier?¡±

    Nan Chen was quiet because he didn¡¯t know the answer.

    His guess was that the woman was too scheming and hid her pregnancy so that she could use the kids

    to gain favors or power in the future.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. You¡¯ll have to ask Nan Xing. It¡¯s reallyte, grandpa, you should rest.¡±

    ¡°Alright, then you may take your leave. I have to tell your grandma about the kids!¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 76

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 76

    The next morning, at the international airport in Flower City

    Wearing a flowery shirt and a pair of purple shorts, Nan Xing exited from the VIPne. The

    housekeeper Chai Hua noticed him immediately.

    The second Nan Xing saw Chai Hua, he thought what is that old fart doing here?

    After being away from the Flower City for some time, Nan Xing wanted to spend some time with a

    couple of his friends first but that was no longer possible with Chai Hua around.

    ¡°Young Master Nan Xing,¡± greeted Chai Hua with a bow.

    ¡°Uncle Chai! Oh, how I¡¯ve missed you,¡± said Nan Xing who hugged Chai Hua.

    Chai Hua didn¡¯t even flinch. ¡°I know Young Master Nan Xing doesn¡¯t like me being here,¡± said Chai

    Hua, ¡°But Young Master Nan Chen ordered me to wait for you here and I couldn¡¯t disobey.¡±

    ¡°I never said I don¡¯t like it. Why did my big brother have you here waiting for me though?¡±

    ¡°Young Master Nan Chen wanted you to go see him the minute you returned and so does your

    grandfather,¡± replied Chai Hua.

    ¡°Why is grandpa involved?¡± groaned Nan Xing, ¡°It¡¯s bad enough that my big brother is keeping his eyes

    on me. If grandpa joined in, I¡¯ll die!¡±

    ¡°Your grandfather also said to make you change your clothes. Here¡¯s the change I got you,¡± said Chai

    Hua as he gestured the white tuxedo he was holding.

    That tuxedo was specially designed by the Italian designer ¨C Romeo ¨C who was the Nan Family¡¯s go-to

    tailor.

    That was the suit that the Nan Family had ordered Nan Xing to put on.

    Nan Xing and Nan Chen are twins so they look identical and others would not be able to differentiate

    between the two.

    Nan Xing was a yboy who liked to spend his time with various women whereas Nan Chen was more

    serious and never got close to any women.

    However, those two looked so much alike that many women mistook Nan Xing as Nan Chen and had

    been flirting with Nan Xing who didn¡¯t mind epting their ¡®kindness¡¯. In the end, Nan Xing caused a lot

    of trouble for Nan Chen.

    In order to put an end to this, Nan Zhengde forbade Nan Xing from wearing ck tuxedos. Regardless

    of what happened, Nan Xing must put on a white tuxedo so that others could differentiate between the

    two via the tuxedo they wear.

    Additionally, the inner circle of the Nan Family had another way to differentiate between the two

    because Nan Xing was required to wear a red rope on his left wrist.

    No one cared what Nan Xing wore when he was overseas, but the moment he came home, he must

    obey the rules because his appearance would destroy Nan Chen and the Nan Family¡¯s reputation.

    Nan Xing sighed at this arrangement and reluctantly epted the tuxedo from Chai Hua. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll

    change.¡±

    Half an hourter, Nan Xing walked into the Nanshi Corporation¡¯s headquarters.

    Nan Chen looked up to see the man who looked just like himself, and while his expression remained

    neutral, his eyes shone with happiness.

    ¡°I¡¯m home, brother. I missed you!¡±

    ¡°Wee home,¡± said Nan Chen before he asked, ¡°How was Africa?¡±

    ¡°Terrible, the living condition was¡­¡± said Nan Xing who stopped short after seeing Nan Chen¡¯s raised

    brows. Nan Xing quickly changed his tone and said, ¡°good, everything went smoothly. The project is

    progressing well, and our rtions with the African governments are good. One of the president¡¯s

    daughters even had the hots for me¡­.¡±

    Nan Xing was so excited that he almost let everything out of the bag so he quickly mmed his lips

    shut.

    Nan Chen sighed at that. His baby brother truly was a troublemaker, regardless of where he was sent.

    At that moment, Jiang Zhe walked in and saw that beautiful picture.

    Those were two identical and equally handsome faces. The only difference between the siblings was

    that one of them was calmer while the other one was more devious.

    If it wasn¡¯t for the different tuxedo, Jiang Zhe would not be able to tell the two apart.

    ¡°Hello, Mr. Xing,¡± greeted Jiang Zhe as he bowed, ¡°Wee back.¡±

    ¡°Hello, assistant Jiang,¡± said Nan Xing while ring, ¡°Didn¡¯t you personally tend to the order that sent

    me to Africa?¡±

    ¡°Please forgive me, Mr. Xing,¡± said the terrified Jiang Zhe, ¡°I was just following orders.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not his fault, I was the one responsible,¡± said Nan Chen who was frowning, ¡°Are you still mad at

    me?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal,¡± said Nan Xing who was still a little annoyed.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, please sign these documents when you are free,¡± said Jiang Zhe who put the documents

    down and tried to flee, ¡°I¡¯ll just be on my way now.¡±

    ¡°Wait,¡± Nan Chen stopped Jiang Zhe, ¡°Give him an update about the kids and that woman.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    Next, Jiang Zhe exined how they discovered Ning Ran and the kids as well as how they confirmed

    that the kids are members of the Nan Family.

    Lastly, Nan Xing was shown a picture of Ning Ran and the kids.

    ¡°Hey, these must be my kids because they look just like me,¡± said Nan Xing, ¡°But why don¡¯t I recognize

    that woman?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Nan Chen looked up.

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯ve been with so many women that I forgot, but that¡¯s not possible either. She is

    so beautiful and if I had been with her, I would most definitely have remembered,¡± murmured Nan Xing.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t speak, but his eyes turned darker.

    He also thought that if anyone had been with Ning Ran, they would most definitely remember her.

    Her beauty, especially the seductive glint that was naturally exuded from her eyes every now and then,

    was so breathtaking that it would imprint on anyone who saw her. Nan Chen hated it, but couldn¡¯t let go

    of that beauty.

    The most important and seductive part of her was that sweet tangerine scent exuded by her, but that

    scent was Nan Chen¡¯s secret because he was the only one who could smell it and was the only one

    who remembered it.

    That was a scent that haunted his dreams and fantasies¡­ but he couldn¡¯t let anyone know.

    He had always hated her, and she had been with his brother so any thoughts about that scent was a

    sin, and Nan Chen didn¡¯t dare to give it much of a thought.

    ¡°Brother? Brother?¡± Nan Xing realized that Nan Chen had gotten so lost he didn¡¯t even react to Nan

    Xing¡¯s words.

    Nan Chen finally came around and said, ¡°Oh, do you remember?¡±

    ¡°You mean about the mother? No, I don¡¯t, but that didn¡¯t matter because she is beautiful and she is

    perfect for me,¡± said Nan Xing, ¡°By the way, did you just get distracted? Are you in love?¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s eyes shone with fear but that was virtually undetectable. He said, ¡°What are you bullsh*****

    about?¡±

    ¡°Are you still involved with that Luo Fei?¡± asked Nan Xing who then said, ¡°C¡¯mon, you don¡¯t love her

    anyway. Don¡¯t hang out with that wall of make-up anymore or good women would stay away from you.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s eyes were menacing when he looked at Nan Xing.

    ¡°Alright, alright, I know you don¡¯t like othersmenting on your life. You are the renowned Mr. Chen,

    after all. You can do whatever you want,¡± said Nan Xing, ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving now then?¡±

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t speak.

    He was still thinking about whether he should tell his brother all the bad attributes of that Ding Mi, like

    the time she offered to have sex with Nan Chen in exchange for a role on the show, or the time she

    showed up at the hotel with the secondary director, or how she used her kids to get close to the Nan

    Family¡­

    If he kept it to himself, he¡¯s worried that his baby brother would be conned by that woman, but it¡¯s

    inappropriate for him to say anything bad about that woman either.

    In the end, he decided to keep quiet and would work in the shadows to stop that woman from marrying

    into the Nan Family.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 77

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 77

    The next day, on the set of the Sound of Thunder 2.

    Just as everyone was busy working, two trucks full of roses were delivered.

    Beautiful red roses were being unloaded from the truck and had the ce surrounded.

    No one at the set had ever seen something quite like this before. They heard about the ssic 99

    roses that some would send or even the more luxurious 999 roses that were shown on television, but

    no one had ever seen two trucks full of roses being delivered.

    The set had be a sea of roses, causing the ce to look more like a flower exhibition than an

    actual set.

    Luo Fei walked past everyone with a smirk on her face.

    ¡°Ms. Fei, your fans are so amazing! They sent so many flowers over!¡±

    ¡°My gosh, I have never seen so many flowers before. Even the stores don¡¯t have that many flowers in

    their shop. The person must¡¯ve brought every rose that the city had to offer.¡±

    ¡°Only someone as beautiful as Ms. Fei would have fans so devoted!¡±

    Luo Fei was practically flying from all that admiration even though she had no idea who had all those

    flowers delivered to her.

    The director, Wang Yan, was also excited. ¡°We have a scene that needed a lot of flowers, but the

    flowers were too expensive while CGI would be too unrealistic. Since that Ms. Fei¡¯s fans had all those

    flowers delivered, we¡¯ll shoot that scene today.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right, we¡¯re saved by Ms. Fei,¡± agreed the secondary director.

    Luo Fei was delighted as she said, ¡°My fans are too much. I didn¡¯t want them to spend so much money

    to buy me so many flowers, but they insisted so I had no choice.¡±

    ¡°Only a celebrity like Luo Fei would have die-hard fans like that.¡±

    ¡°Other celebrities wouldn¡¯t have received that many flowers. This has got to be a new record!¡±

    Everyone else continued to be in awe while Luo Fei continued to enjoy their admiration.

    Ning Ran and Cheng Xiangyun heard themotion and got out of the dressing room to find out what

    was happening.

    Luo Fei noticed Ning Ran walking over and didn¡¯t want to miss the opportunity to make Ning Ran feel

    bad.

    ¡°How¡¯s that? You¡¯ve never seen that many flowers before, have you?¡± bragged Luo Fei as she

    approached Ning Ran.

    ¡°Nope,¡± said Ning Ran honestly.

    Indeed, she had never seen that many flowers before because she never went to a flower shop or a

    ntation before.

    ¡°Do you know who had these flowers delivered?¡± asked Luo Fei who was loving the attention.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t,¡± said Ning Ran as she shook her head, ¡°And I¡¯m not interested in finding out either.¡±

    Ning Ran was being honest when she said she wasn¡¯t interested. The flowers had the whole ce

    filled and were affecting the shooting of the show so Ning Ran didn¡¯t understand what the point was.

    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    ¡°Not interested?¡± Luo Fei sneered, ¡°Or are you jealous?¡±

    ¡°Ms. celebrity, you are overthinking this,¡± said Ning Ran who was exasperated, ¡°Why would I be

    jealous? Just because a bunch of flowers is delivered? What is there to be jealous about? It¡¯s not like

    they are food and can be eaten.¡±

    ¡°How crude,¡± sniped Luo Fei, ¡°Someone like you will never understand the true meaning of the roses.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right, I don¡¯t understand it,¡± refuted Ning Ran, ¡°So why would I be jealous?¡±

    ¡°You must be jealous,¡± sneered Luo Fei, ¡°Because you will never be loved, and no one will ever deliver

    that many flowers for you so the only thing you could do was to be jealous.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Fei, you think too highly of her,¡± said Zhao Mingjie who was buttering Luo Fei up, ¡°No one is willing

    to send her a single rose, let alone that many roses.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right! Ms. Fei is on a different level. You are a full moonpared to a firefly like her.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s not even worthy of being your shoebox.¡±

    The people on set were mostly selfish people who favor the powerful. Luo Fei was a celebrity who was

    also Nan Chen¡¯s girlfriend while Ning Ran was nothing so they were happy to bully Ning Ran just to

    make Luo Fei happy.

    Luo Fei¡¯s smile became bigger. It¡¯s too bad that the jerk ¨C Zhen Lunlun ¨C isn¡¯t here today or I¡¯d be able

    to show him exactly what it means to be a celebrity!

    All the flowers were finally unloaded, and the workers were looking for someone to sign for them,

    ¡°Please sign here.¡±

    Luo Fei didn¡¯t budge. Like the celebrity she was, she signaled the worker to get the paper over to her to

    have it signed.

    ¡°You must be Ms. Ding Mi,¡± said the workers with a smile, ¡°You are so beautiful. A perfect match for the

    flowers.¡±

    There was a sudden silence.

    ¡°What was that look?¡± yelled Zhao Mingjie, ¡°This is Luo Fei, the celebrity! Are you blind?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not Ding Mi?¡± asked the worker who felt a little awkward, ¡°Er¡­ We need Ms. Ding Mi to sign for

    them.¡±

    The set became quiet once more as everyone was stunned in ce. So these flowers weren¡¯t for Luo

    Fei, but for Ding Mi? How was that possible? Luo Fei was the celebrity whereas Ding Mi was just an

    unknown actress. Who would send Ding Mi so many flowers?

    ¡°You¡¯ve made a mistake, didn¡¯t you?¡± Zhao Mingjie yelled at the worker, ¡°Are you stupid? These flowers

    were obviously for Ms. Fei!¡±

    The worker was confused after being yelled at so he checked the order again.

    ¡°No, no mistake. It¡¯s for Ms. Ding Mi,¡± said the worker before he shouted, ¡°Is anyone here named Ding

    Mi?¡±

    Ning Ran was standing right there but she couldn¡¯t believe it either so she didn¡¯t speak because she

    didn¡¯t know who would buy her so many flowers.

    How wasteful! Rather than spending so much money on flowers, why not just give her the cash?

    ¡°Are you sure those flowers are for Ding Mi?¡± asked Cheng Xiangyun who was also having a hard time

    believing it.

    ¡°It¡¯s definitely for Ding Mi,¡± said the worker, ¡°the person who sent the flowers insisted that Ding Mi must

    sign for it.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun nudged the stupefied Ning Ran and said, ¡°Oy, it¡¯s really for you. These flowers are

    really for you!¡±

    Ning Ran was still stunned.

    ¡°Over here, she¡¯s Ding Mi,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun excitedly, ¡°And I¡¯m her manager.¡±

    The worker walked over, ¡°You¡¯re Ms. Ding Mi?¡±

    ¡°I am,¡± said Ding Mi with a frown on her face, ¡°Who sent these flowers?¡±

    ¡°Our customer asked us to keep his identity a secret,¡± said the worker, ¡°so we aren¡¯t able to tell you.¡±

    Ning Ran was a little confused because something like that had never happened to her before.

    ¡°Please sign here,¡± said the worker before he whispered, ¡°You are so beautiful.¡±

    The worker thought that Luo Fei was beautiful but when he saw Ning Ran, he realized that beauty

    came in different levels, and Ning Ran¡¯s level of beauty was so much higher than the one who called

    herself a celebrity.

    Ning Ran hesitated, but ultimately signed for it.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± said the worker, ¡°hope you enjoy these flowers.¡±

    Luo Fei watched the trucks leave then stared at the sea of roses. She felt so angry that she was on the

    verge of exploding.

    At first, she thought that she was the one that everyone would be jealous of, but in the end, the flowers

    were for Ning Ran!

    The truth was, Luo Fei wouldn¡¯t be as angry if the flowers were delivered to anyone else, but the fact

    that they were for Ning Ran made it uneptable.

    ¡°What the hell is going on? This is a production set, not a flower shop!¡± said Luo Fei who was starting

    to put pressure on the director again, ¡°Director, are you going to let them disrupt the routine here?¡±

    Wang Yan felt trapped. He was going to use those flowers to shoot a scene that needed to use roses

    as a prop but Luo Fei was acting up again after realizing that those flowers weren¡¯t meant for her. What

    should he do?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 78

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 78

    ¡°Ms. Fei, these flowers are actually useful,¡± said Wang Yan weakly, ¡°And we have a scene that needed

    flowers¡­..¡±

    ¡°So your production set is so terrible that you need someone else to help you get your props?¡± howled

    Luo Fei, ¡°We¡¯re not shooting the scenes that need flowers today anyway, and these flowers are too

    troublesome! Have someone throw them all away!¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    The director didn¡¯t want to offend Luo Fei but if he listened to Luo Fei¡¯s orders in front of everyone, he

    would lose his stance as a director, and that won¡¯t do either.

    ¡°Quit hesitating,¡± shouted Luo Fei, ¡°Have someone throw them away!¡±

    ¡°These are my flowers,¡± said Ning Ran, ¡°You have no right to throw them away.¡±

    ¡°So what if they¡¯re yours? This is not your home! This is the ce where we shoot movies, not a ce

    for you to put your flowers!¡± shouted Luo Fei as she pointed her finger at Ning Ran.

    Luo Fei looked like she had lost her mind. This incident had hit her hard. She acted so proudly in front

    of everyone else and waster disappointed in front of them. She could not ept that shame and was

    releasing all her anger onto Ning Ran.

    ¡°This may not be my home, but it isn¡¯t your house either. You have no right to bark orders like that.¡±

    ¡°Besides, weren¡¯t you delighted when you thought that these flowers were for you? You didn¡¯t ask

    anyone to throw them away then, and even agreed to let the director use them as props.¡±

    ¡°Now that you realized they weren¡¯t for you, you¡¯re acting all angry, and even threatened to attack.¡±

    ¡°The person-in-charge here is the director and he had already said that he wanted to use them as

    props!¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t ignore or shout at the director like that just because you¡¯re angry. Did you forget that you¡¯re

    just the actress?¡±

    Ning Ran was calm and collected when she spoke, but her words hit Luo Fei hard.

    Ning Ran¡¯s words also lifted the director which made it impossible for the director to listen to Luo Fei

    because he would lose his power as the director.

    The set was quiet because it involved the director and those who sided with Luo Fei dared not speak

    up because while it was okay to offend Ning Ran for Luo Fei¡¯s sake, it was not okay to offend the

    director for Luo Fei¡¯s sake. That was why they decided to keep quiet and see how things y out.

    ¡°Ms. Fei, as you know, our budget is limited so we¡¯re cutting costs wherever we can,¡± said Wang Yan

    while smiling, ¡°We¡¯ll settle for using these flowers as props and throw them away after we¡¯re done

    shooting the scene. We won¡¯t let it affect you, Ms. Fei.¡±

    ¡°Wang Yan, are you going to disobey me? Fine, I¡¯ll call Mr. Chen and have him talk to you about this!¡±

    said Luo Fei who was using Nan Chen to put pressure on the director.

    The truth was, she was faking it because she rarely got through Nan Chen¡¯s line, and even if she got

    through, she could not get Nan Chen to help her. Unfortunately, Wang Yan didn¡¯t know about this so he

    was frightened.

    ¡°No, Ms. Fei, let¡¯s not get Mr. Chen involved in small matters like these,¡± said Wang Yan quickly.

    ¡°Throw the flowers away now, or I¡¯ll tell Mr. Chen that you allowed your people to disrupt the set,¡± said

    Luo Fei coldly.

    ¡°How powerful,¡± said Ning Ran who couldn¡¯t stand to watch that disaster, ¡°Using a man to help you do

    your dirty work.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right; I do use men for my sake. What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± said Luo Fei proudly, ¡°My man is the

    most powerful man in the city, and you have no choice but to admit defeat.¡±

    Ning Ran sneered. She wanted to say more, but a car suddenly drove up.

    Then, someone got out of the car, took a red carpet, and started unrolling it on the floor.

    Everyone was confused and wondered what was so special about that particr day. First, a sea of

    flowers was delivered, then a red carpet was unrolled.

    ¡°Hey, what are you doing here?¡± halted the director, ¡°We¡¯re in the middle of shooting a show.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re employees of the Nan Family,¡± said the worker who was cing the carpet, ¡°our young master

    asked us to do so.¡±

    Wang Yan dared notin after hearing that it was ordered by the Nan Family.

    Luo Fei was delighted to hear that members of the Nan Family had arrived because that meant that

    she was able to act up again.

    After all, the Nan Family was her future inws, and the person in the car must be extremely important

    to have a red carpet prepared for him. She guessed that the person in question was Nan Chen.

    However, she did find it weird that something extravagant like a red carpet was used because Nan

    Chen had always preferred to keep things quiet.

    In the Flower City, Nan Chen was like a god. He didn¡¯t need things like red carpets to attract attention

    because his mere appearance was more than enough.

    That being said, who else could it be if not Nan Chen?

    After the carpet wasid, the worker made a report via a walkie-talkie, and a Lamborghini drove up.

    The driver was obviously trying to show off his driving skills because he drifted his car before stopping

    it right beside the red carpet.

    The workers rushed over to greet their employer.

    The door of the sports car opened upwards and a tall man stepped out of it.

    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    ¡°Mr. Chen?!¡± said the director who was bbergasted.

    Everyone was in awe as they watched the breathtakingly handsome man in the white tuxedo stepped

    out of his car.

    The only thing that seemed off was that the Mr. Chen that day didn¡¯t exude a conquering aura.

    In the past, Nan Chen¡¯s appearance had always caused the ce to seem colder and heavier, but that

    wasn¡¯t the case on that particr day.

    The handsome Mr. Chen in the white tuxedo didn¡¯t make everyone ufortable which was different

    from his usual style.

    ¡°Honey, you stopped by,¡± said Luo Fei who was running into his arms.

    ¡°Oh shit, the boss is here, and Luo Fei is going to act up again,¡± whispered Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°That is not Nan Chen,¡± replied Ning Ran in a low voice.

    ¡°Huh? How is that possible? Why do you say that?¡± said Cheng Xiangyun in disbelief.

    ¡°It¡¯s just a feeling,¡± exined Ning Ran who shook her head as she took back what she said, ¡°I¡¯m

    probably wrong.¡±

    On the other side, Luo Fei was on the verge of hugging that handsome man when he gestured her to

    stop.

    ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± asked Nan Xing as he frowned, ¡°Why are you so impulsive, woman?¡±

    He knew that that was his twin brother¡¯s girlfriend by reputation, but he deliberately pretended to not

    recognize her because he always thought that his brother could do better. That woman may be

    beautiful, but her beauty wasn¡¯t enough.

    Luo Fei was stunned because she didn¡¯t understand why Nan Xing said what he said, and his word did

    make things awkward.

    Despite the awkwardness, Luo Fei still had to greet him with a smile and said, ¡°Mr. Chen, I¡¯m so d

    that you have the free time toe by, but why didn¡¯t you call before visiting?¡±

    ¡°Why should I?¡± demanded Nan Xing, ¡°There¡¯s no need to call ahead. I can stop by whenever I want

    to.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ Nan Chen spoke a lot today,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°I feel like something¡¯s off too.¡±

    ¡°That is not Nan Chen,¡± said Ning Ran who was certain that she was right.

    Even if she ignored everything else, Ning Ran could still see that this man was not Nan Chen because

    the way his eyes shone was different.

    It¡¯s like Erbao putting on a boy¡¯s outfit. Others may have difficulty telling her and Dabao apart, but Ning

    Ran would be able to differentiate them easily because their eyes and aura werepletely different.

    The man standing in front of her had the same aura that Erbao had, but waspletely different from

    Dabao whereas the real Poker Face had the exact aura as Dabao.

    Ning Ran could more or less guess the true identity of the man standing in front of her.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 79

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 79

    Luo Fei wanted to hug Nan Xing¡¯s arm but was pushed away.

    Luo Fei started to panic. The incident with the roses had made her look bad, and she had been trying

    to make up for it. That was why the moment Nan Xing showed up, she mistook him as Nan Chen and

    tried to cozy up to him to make herself seem less pitiful.

    The truth was that even Nan Chen would not have allowed her to hug him. Luo Fei¡¯s failure to

    approach him turned the whole situation awkward. After that, the handsome man in the white tuxedo

    scanned the surrounding like he was looking for someone.

    The director was confused. With Zhen Lunlun being absent today, Luo Fei and the director were the

    two most powerful individuals there so who else could the man be looking for?

    The director wasn¡¯t the only one confused, everyone was. Nan Chen visited the set before, but he had

    never used a red carpet. That day, he used a red carpet and started scanning the ce the minute he

    arrived. It was utterly different from his usual style.

    Nan Xing finally saw Ning Ran¡¯s beautiful face when Ning Ran was already looking at him. Their eyes

    met, but Ning Ran didn¡¯t look away.

    That man did not exude the terrifying aura like the Poker Face so Ning Ran was rxed. ¡°There you

    are, my darling,¡± said Nan Xing as he walked towards Ning Ran, ¡°I finally found you!¡±

    Everyone was stupefied. Had Mr. Chen gone crazy? Why had the man that was like a god suddenly

    turned so excitable?

    Ning Ran was also stunned. That idiot was fast approaching and she was worried that he¡¯d hug her like

    a baby boy so, in her hurry, she dragged and used Cheng Xiangyun as a human shield.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Nan Xing wanted to give Ning Ran a big hug, but he had to stop short after being blocked by another

    person.

    Cheng Xiangyun was almost hugged by that gorgeous man so she was excited, but her wish didn¡¯t

    come true.

    ¡°Darling, I¡¯ve really missed you all these years,¡± said Nan Xing who acted like he was possessed by the

    Gods of Actors. He had a heartbroken expression on and was professing his love.

    Even though she was an actress herself, Ning Ran couldn¡¯t help but admire how quickly that idiot was

    able to change his expression.

    He was clowning around one second and was affectionate the next. The only thing off was that his

    expression was exaggerated and insincere. However, that was not a big problem because he was eye

    candy.

    Ning Ran took a step back and hid. She didn¡¯t know how to react to this sudden deration of love.

    Everyone else was absolutely stunned.

    Ning Ran was the only one who knew that the handsome man in the white tuxedo was not Nan Chen

    so everyone else was still staring at Nan Xing and judging his actions as if he were Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen¡¯s image as an emotionless professional had been etched into everyone¡¯s mind so seeing

    this fake Mr. Chen acting so excitable had everyone¡¯s jaws dropped.

    Worse still, Nan Xing didn¡¯t bother to exin that he was not Nan Chen because he was born in a rich

    family and had only ever needed to exin himself to his big brother and his grandfather. He didn¡¯t

    care about anyone else.

    ¡°Darling, don¡¯t hide from me like that. All these years, I have missed you every day, and I am so

    thankful to have finally found you.¡±

    Nan Xing walked around Cheng Xiangyun, and opened his arms to hug Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran immediately turned around and fled.

    You¡¯re trying to escape? Thought Nan Xing, We have two children together so you can¡¯t escape

    anymore. Besides, where can you run in a small ce like this? Also, you do realize that I could chase

    after you, right?

    Nan Xing was not the type of person who would care about his reputation so he took off and chased

    after Ning Ran.

    Things became even more interesting with a woman running in the front and a man chasing after her

    from the back.

    Everyone had their eyes on them as they wondered what the hell was going on.

    Ultimately, Ning Ran was not as fast as Nan Xing and was cornered.

    ¡°Don¡¯te near me,¡± said Ning Ran, ¡°I don¡¯t even know you!¡±

    ¡°Darling, don¡¯t be scared. We haven¡¯t seen each other in a while, but we were together once, and we

    even have two kids together.¡± ¡°I feel so bad for all the hardship you had to endure all these years, and I

    promise I will be a better man. I will love and care for you like you¡¯re the most precious thing in the

    world, and I will be there for you, always¡­..¡±

    Nan Xing didn¡¯t care how everyone else would see him so he professed his love without a care in the

    world.

    Ning Ran felt goosebumps rising from her neck as she listened to him.

    That idiot said all that with a straight face even though everyone is watching, and this was the first time

    we meet! He must¡¯ve had a lot of practice flirting!

    ¡°Halt!¡± shouted Ning Ran angrily.

    ¡°Why? Aren¡¯t we a happy family?¡± asked Nan Xing, ¡°Oh, by the way, do you like the roses?¡±

    Everyone was shocked once again.

    So these flowers were Mr. Chen¡¯s gift to Ning Ran? He must really love her to have sent so many

    roses!

    Luo Fei¡¯s face paled then turned red in anger. She finally realized that the man who looked exactly like

    Nan Chen wasn¡¯t actually Nan Chen.

    Even though Luo Fei was known as Nan Chen¡¯s girlfriend, Nan Chen had never allowed her to be close

    to his family or to participate in any family events so she had never met any of the key members of the

    Nan Family. She didn¡¯t even know that Zhen Lunlun was Nan Chen¡¯s nephew. That being said, she

    was aware of the fact that Nan Chen had a twin brother.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t tell her that. She knew about Nan Xing because Nan Xing was well-known in Flower

    City and was popr among female celebrities and socialites.

    Nan Xing may not be as brilliant as Nan Chen, but Nan Xing was handsome and was a member of the

    Nan Family. Those two points were sufficient to make him one of the top three most desirable

    bachelors in the city. Luo Fei had never met Nan Xing before, and she wasn¡¯t aware of the rule that

    Nan Xing was only allowed to wear white tuxedos, but Nan Xing¡¯s actions had given his identity away.

    Nan Chen would have to have gone nuts to act that way.

    Sending flowers, professing love, demanding to be hugged while everyone was watching¡­ Nan Chen

    would rather die than to act that way.

    However, even if the person in question wasn¡¯t Nan Chen, Nan Xing¡¯s action still kicked Luo Fei down

    and lifted Ning Ran up in front of everyone else.

    Nan Xing¡¯s actions and behavior, which Ning Ran found to be irritating, was regarded as a

    heartwarming gesture that others would die for.

    ¡°Darling, I prepared another gift for you,¡± said Nan Xing, ¡°in case you didn¡¯t like the roses.¡±

    Everyone held their breath at the mention of yet another gift.

    Nan Xing performed a magic trick by grabbing the air then presenting a velvet box in his hand.

    A diamond bigger than the size of a pigeon¡¯s egg was ced inside the box.

    Everyone, especially the women, gasped at the sight of that diamond. Even Luo Fei had never seen a

    diamond that big before.

    ¡°Darling, I got you this diamond from Africa,¡± said Nan Xing, ¡°This is the best diamond we uncovered. I

    hope you like it.¡±

    Ning Ran was also stunned. That idiot was a ssic rich brat for putting on a show with his flowers and

    his diamonds.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want it,¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°Oh my gosh, she refused to ept it!¡±

    ¡°My gosh, rejecting a diamond like that¡­ is Ding Mi nuts?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun was also worried. How much does a diamond that size cost? How could she reject it?

    Has she gone mad?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 80

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 80

    Nan Xing thought that he had heard wrong too. Any woman would swoon upon seeing a diamond that

    big, yet she rejected it!

    ¡°Mr. Chen, Ding Mi isn¡¯t refusing to ept this diamond, she is just busy with shooting the show so I¡¯ll

    just keep it for her,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun whose eyes were glowing as she stared at that diamond.

    Ning Ran rolled her eyes at Cheng Xiangyun and thought What a money-minded woman. His gifts

    cannot be epted because he is after the children.

    ¡°No way I¡¯m handing it to you,¡± said Nan Xing, ¡°it¡¯s for her.¡±

    ¡°Quit fooling around,¡± said Ning Ran, ¡°I need to work.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll stop shooting today. Take a day off,¡± said Nan Xing, ¡°We¡¯ll go pick up the kids together then have

    a meal as a family.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t call the shots here. I have to keep working.¡±

    Nan Xing cleared his throat and asked, ¡°Who¡¯s the director?¡±

    Upon hearing that, Wang Yan wondered if Mr. Chen was drunk to behave so weirdly and even forgot

    about who the director was. Still, he didn¡¯t dare to argue so Wang Yan quickly stepped forward and

    said, ¡°I¡¯m the director.¡±

    ¡°Ding Mi¡¯s not shooting anymore today,¡± said Nan Xing, ¡°Am I right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, of course,¡± said Wang Yan, ¡°Whatever you say, sir.¡±

    Nan Xing proudly turned to Ning Ran, ¡°Hear that? The director agreed with me. Let¡¯s go, darling.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not going!¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be a buzzkill,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°Just go with him.¡±

    ¡°You go if you want to,¡± said Ning Ran angrily, ¡°I¡¯m staying.¡±

    ¡°He is the father. You can¡¯t stop them from meeting just because you don¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°Besides, everyone¡¯s

    watching. If you refused to go, he would have no choice but to drag you away. Won¡¯t that be

    embarrassing?¡± whispered Cheng Xiangyun.

    Ning Ran agreed with Cheng Xiangyun. That idiot put on a show that big. If I refused to go with him, he

    would cause a scene and that would embarrass me in front of that Luo Fei!

    Since there was no way out, Ning Ran decided that she may as well piss the cr*p out of Luo Fei.

    Upon realizing that, Ning Ran¡¯s attitude changed immediately and a smile lit up on her face as she

    said, ¡°Director, sometimes it¡¯s good to listen to Ms. Fei. Ms. Fei hadn¡¯t permitted me to leave yet.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Fei?¡± asked Nan Xing redundantly, ¡°who¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°Luo Fei. She¡¯s a celebrity,¡± said Ning Ran, ¡°And she calls the shot in this production set.¡±

    ¡°Who is Luo Fei?¡± asked Nan Xing loudly.

    Luo Fei was so angry and ashamed that she wanted to flee and hide.

    Nan Xing was acting like he didn¡¯t even know who she was even though she had tried to hug Nan Xing

    just moments ago.

    That insult was just too heartless.

    Luo Fei¡¯s face reddened with embarrassment then paled with horror before turning back to red with

    anger. She was trapped and it was embarrassing regardless of whether she answered.

    The director noted that Luo Fei was in too much trouble so he had to step up to help her. ¡°Mr. Chen,

    that was so funny,¡± said Wang Yan, ¡°You already know that this is Ms. Fei.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re Luo Fei?¡± asked Nan Xing as he turned to Luo Fei.

    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Luo Fei was furious but she didn¡¯t reply.

    ¡°I¡¯m leaving with Ding Mi,¡± said Nan Xing, ¡°You got a problem with that?¡±

    Luo Fei forced a smile on her face as she uttered, ¡°No, no problem.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s better. Still, there¡¯s nothing you can do even if you¡¯ve got a problem with that. I can leave with

    anyone I want.¡± ¡°Listen up, guys. Ding Mi is my lover. From now on, she calls the shot and she can

    work and leave as she pleases. If anyone has a problem with her then they have a problem with me!¡±

    dered Nan Xing.

    No one spoke because no one dared to go against him. No one was stupid enough to do that. If

    anything, they needed to get on his good side.

    ¡°See that, darling?¡± asked Nan Xing proudly, ¡°No one objected so we can leave.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re being nice because you¡¯re here,¡± said Ning Ran, ¡°They¡¯ll make things difficult for me again

    when you¡¯re not around.¡±

    ¡°If anyone dares to hurt you, I¡¯ll force them out of this city!¡± growled Nan Xing before he walked up on

    Wang Yan, ¡°You¡¯re the director, right? If my darling ever got bullied in this set again, I will personally

    hold it against you!¡±

    ¡°Y¡­ Yes, sir,¡± said Wang Yan immediately, ¡°I guarantee that Ms. Ding will be protected.¡±

    Ning Ran smiled and hugged Nan Xing¡¯s arm before she turned to grin at Luo Fei who was on the

    verge of exploding with anger.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t want to hug Nan Xing, but since Luo Fei failed to do so earlier, Ning Ran thought she¡¯d

    try because if she seeded, Luo Fei would be furious.

    In the end, she seeded, and Nan Xing was d to see that Ning Ran was no longer rejecting him

    so he was smiling like a child.

    The two of them walked on the red carpet while holding hands then got into the sports car.

    The sports car growled and zoomed out of the set.

    Luo Fei was so upset that she fell and sat on the floor.

    On the other hand, Ning Ran was a little uneasy with the ridiculous speed that the car was traveling.

    Must one drive so fast when they have a good car? thought Ning Ran. It¡¯s not like driving faster means

    that he is more handsome.

    ¡°Darling, are you upset?¡± asked Nan Xing who noticed that Ning Ran was frowning, ¡°Is the car

    ufortable?¡±

    ¡°Sir, we¡¯re not that close,¡± said Ning Ran, ¡°Please don¡¯t call me ¡®darling¡¯.¡±

    The sports car screeched and stopped at the side of the road.

    ¡°There was a crowd back there so I didn¡¯t get to introduce myself,¡± said Nan Xing with a serious face, ¡°I

    am your children¡¯s father. My name is Nan Xing, and I am Nan Chen¡¯s twin brother. I may not be as

    well-known as my brother, but I am more handsome and way more interesting.¡±

    Ning Ran sighed. She guessed right. That was the Poker Face¡¯s younger brother.

    It¡¯s hard to say whether or not the ridiculous man standing in front of her was more handsome than the

    Poker Face, but he was definitely more interesting.

    ¡°I¡¯ve finished introducing myself,¡± said Nan Xing with anticipation, ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything to say?¡±

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t know what to say. She wanted to ask why he was at that ce five years ago and

    ended up spending the night with her, but that was not urgent and the answer didn¡¯t matter anymore.

    The important thing was to find a way to prevent the Nan Family from getting custody of the children.

    At that moment, it seemed like the man standing in front of her was easier to deal with than that Poker

    Face, and he was the father so no matter what happened, their connection cannot be broken.

    Ning Ran decided to try and get along with this man or at least be on better terms with him than she

    was with that Poker Face.

    After all, if that man joined forces with the Poker Face, she would have no chance of keeping her

    children.

    ¡°Hello, I am Ding Mi, an unknown actress,¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°No, not anymore. You¡¯re not just an average actress,¡± said Nan Xing, ¡°You are my lover. You can

    choose to retire, and I¡¯ll be your breadwinner. If you really like your job then I can get my brother to sign

    you as an actress for our entertainmentpany, and help you be the most famous actress

    ever!¡±

    ¡°No, no need,¡± said Ning Ran quickly after hearing the Poker Face¡¯s name, ¡°I like it this way.¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 81

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 81

    Nan Xing could not understand what was going through Ning Ran¡¯s mind.

    Ning Ran rejected anything and everything he gave to her.

    This hadpletely changed Nan Xing¡¯s perception of women. From his past experiences with

    women, he was sure that they loved jewelry and handbags. None of them had ever rejected him like

    how Ning Ran did.

    Nan Xing had never met such a woman like her and it was making him puzzled.

    ¡°If you do not want anything, then what exactly do you want?¡± Nan Xing asked, his face full of

    confusion.

    ¡°I only want my children.¡± Ning Ran answered firmly.

    Nan Xing was shocked and replied, ¡°Aren¡¯t your children yours all these while? What do you mean by

    this?¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you here to snatch my children away?¡± Ning Ran replied him angrily.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say I was going to snatch your child, why would I do that?¡± Nan Xing replied with an innocent

    look.

    Upon hearing Nan Xing¡¯s reply, Ning Ran felt a burden lifted off her. But as she was still feeling

    uncertain, she asked again, ¡°Are you really not going to take my children away from me?¡±

    ¡°Why would I take your children away from you? They are your children.¡± Nan Xing replied.

    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    ¡°You promise?¡±

    ¡°I promised!¡±

    ¡°As long as you don¡¯t take my children away from me, we can be friends.¡± Ning Ran said as she let out

    a sigh of relief.

    ¡°What do you mean by this? So we can only be friends?¡±

    ¡°What more do you want?¡± Ning Ran replied as she stood on her toes.

    ¡°Look, five years back we had a one-night stand, and we even have children of our own. Now that we

    are reunited, can¡¯t we be aplete and wonderful family?¡±

    Ning Ran naturally understood what Nan Xing meant. In fact, she did not detest Nan Xing and felt that

    he was not as annoying as that Poker Face.

    But Nan Xing had a weird approach of handling things. He was a yboy, and his words could not be

    trusted.

    ¡°How about this, you can make the necessary arrangements for us to have a meal together tonight.

    Before you meet the kids, I have to let them know what is going on to prevent any awkwardnesster.¡±

    Ning Ran said.

    ¡°That is not necessary. We have a strong father and son tie, as well as an unbreakable father and

    daughter bond. Blood is always thicker than water, why would it be awkward? We can pick the kids up

    togetherter.¡± Nan Xing replied emotionally.

    ¡°But right now it¡¯s too early, school hasn¡¯t ended yet.¡± Ning Ran said after she checked the time on her

    watch.

    ¡°That¡¯s perfect. You can go with me to shop around for a gift for the kids. I am not sure what they would

    like. You can provide me with some suggestions.¡±

    Before Ning Ran could get to say anything, he continued, ¡°Or why not you select the gift and I pay for

    it? You can get whatever you like. If you find it troublesome, I could just purchase the entire department

    store and you can just get whatever you want to.¡±

    Ning Ran felt more and more obscure. This man was always full of nonsense and could not even

    match up to Dabao¡¯s level of maturity.

    ¡­¡­

    At 5pm in the afternoon, Dabao and Erbao walked out of their schoolpound, and was surprised to

    see their mothering to fetch them.

    Standing right next to Ning Ran was Nan Chen, who was all full of smiles.

    Upon seeing the two faces that looked so much like him, Nan Xing was on cloud nine, and eximed

    as he was about to jump over, ¡°Come over my loves, let daddy give you all a big hug.¡±

    Ning Ran immediately pulled him back and shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t scare the kids!¡±

    Meanwhile, Erbao had already leaped over, and said, ¡°Mummy, Nan Chen¡­¡­Third Uncle?¡±

    ¡°My Dear, I¡¯m not Uncle, I am your Daddy!¡± Nan Xing eximed and he was about to give Erbao a hug.

    But Dabao quickly rushed forward and stood in front of his sister to prevent Nan Xing¡¯s from hugging

    her.

    At first sight, Dabao could already tell that this man was not Nan Chen.

    His instincts told him that this man was not Nan Chen.

    No matter how hot the weather was, Nan Chen would always be as calm. It felt like as if he had a

    natural self-cooling system within him.

    Nan Chen¡¯s magnanimous aura never fails to put pressure on those around him. But this was exactly

    what Dabao liked about him.

    To him, Nan Chen did not appear scary to him despite him being as cold as ice. Instead, he gave

    Dabao a cordial feeling.

    The reason was simple. Even though Dabao was much younger than Nan Chen, they were both the

    same type of people.

    Both of them have within them a strong and powerful mindset, as well as a solitary world of their own.

    They do not need people to understand them, but they know for sure that deep inside, they have

    limitless potential.

    They do not speak often nor tell the world about their inner feelings. But in fact, they are rather

    emotional and only like-minded individuals of their kind could understand one another.

    Although this man in a white suit standing right in front of them had a simr appearance as Nan Chen,

    he did not belong to their kind.

    That was why Dabao¡¯s first reaction was to stand in front of his sister to protect her. He could not allow

    this stranger to get close to his sister by any means.

    Nan Xing was bbergasted. He turned to Ning Ran, hinting at her to help him out. He could not

    understand why his own son would be so wary of him.

    ¡°Dabao, this is your daddy that Nan Chen was referring to.¡± Ning Ran exined while she stood by the

    side.

    Ning Ran felt weird upon saying that.

    By right, it should be a joyful thing for the children and their father to be reunited. But she just felt weird.

    ¡°Daddy?¡± Erbao sticked out her head from behind Dabao, her bright eyes glued onto Nan Xing as she

    looked at him from head to toe.

    ¡°Sweetheart, I am your Daddy. Let¡¯s go get some good food shall we?¡± Nan Xing said happily and he

    was ted upon seeing Erbao¡¯s cute face.

    ¡°Ok!¡± Erbao replied without hesitating. With food, it seemed like it wasn¡¯t important anymore as to

    whether Nan Xing was her father or not.

    Dabao red at his sister, and shook his head.

    Erbao realized that she was not persistent enough and immediately said, ¡°I am not greedy for food, if

    mummy and brother are both willing to go, then I will go. Else, I will not go either.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go. Mummy and brother are both going with us to have delicious food and have lots of fun. I will

    give you whatever you want!¡± Nan Xing proudly eximed, trying to act as heroic as usual. Even Ning

    Ran who was witnessing this felt lowly of herself.

    But Erbao loves it. This daddy seemed to have the same interest of food as her. There would be many

    more opportunities in future to try out delicious food!

    But Dabao was rather disinterested. He stood there and watched this self-proimed father boasting,

    with his cold stares.

    He really disliked the whole thing.

    Nan Chen had an inner beauty, calmness and domineering way of handling things. This man

    possessed none of them.

    Dabao was disappointed. All along, he was always worried that his father was from Africa with

    extremely dark skin. Although his worry was now gone, there seemed to be an even greater worry now.

    This daddy seemed too frivolous.

    On the other hand, Nan Xing could feel some stress while facing Dabao.

    He felt like as if he travelled back in the past because Dabao reminded him of his elder brother.

    This was exactly how Nan Chen was like when he was younger. He was silent and exceptionally calm,

    yet people around him could feel his inner strength.

    Whenever Nan Xing discovered new and interesting things, Nan Chen would always watch coldly from

    a distance.

    Despite them being born by just a few minutes apart, there was such a tremendous difference in their

    personalities.

    Surprisingly, Nan Xing felt pressurized upon meeting Dabao today. His instincts are telling him that this

    child of his was not easy to deal with.

    The methods he used to hoax women were not effective when he tried them on Ning Ran. Even his

    methods to hoax children did not work on Dabao.

    But Nan Xing still wanted to give it a try. He faked a smile and continued, ¡°Dabao, is there anything you

    would like to eat or y? You can let daddy know and daddy will satisfy your wishes.¡±

    Dabao looked at Nan Xing, and answered firmly, ¡°No, it¡¯s fine.¡±

    Nan Xing was shocked. This child¡¯s rejection seemed a bit too blunt. He did not even show Nan Xing

    any form of respect.

    I am more or less considered your father; how could you reject me like this?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 82

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 82

    In order to treat his children to a meal, Nan Xing booked an entire children restaurant in Flower City.

    As he booked the entire restaurant, the activity corner that was usually full of life became cold and quiet

    without a single soul around.

    Ning Ran impatiently said, ¡°The appealing factor of this children¡¯s restaurant is the fun andpany

    the children can get in the activity corner. What¡¯s the point if no one else can enter this ce because

    you booked the whole ce£¿¡±

    Nan Xing was speechless, ¡°I didn¡¯t consider that much. I just thought that it would be nice to have a

    peaceful area to ourselves as we reunite as a family.¡±

    The dishes came up one after another, and it seemed endless.

    ¡°Did you order all the dishes avable in this restaurant?¡± Ning Ran questioned.

    ¡°Yes, I made a reservation. I wasn¡¯t sure what the kids would like to eat, so I just got the restaurant to

    serve their best sellers. The kids can just eat whatever they like. Saves the hassle of having the select

    dishes.¡± Nan Xing replied.

    ¡°Wasteful.¡± Dabao said as he threw Nan Xing a cold stare.

    ¡°Did you hear that? Even children know that it is a waste! I know that you are rich, but do you have to

    be so wasteful? You¡¯re setting a wrong example for the kids!¡± Ning Ran frowned and eximed.

    ¡°Fine, it¡¯s my fault. I thought that given my ability, I would be able to win this child¡¯s heart over but now it

    seems challenging. He hasn¡¯t stopped criticizing me all this while. Everything I do seems wrong to him!¡±

    Nan Xing said, looking glum.

    Ning Ran felt amused.

    Dabao was not eptive of Nan Xing. He looked down on Nan Xing¡¯s cocky attitude.

    No matter how hard Nan Xing tried to please Dabao, he seemed to be unreceptive at all.

    The worse it gets, the more eager Nan Xing wanted to get Dabao¡¯s approval. He tried even harder than

    before.

    But the harder Nan Xing tried, the more pompous it seemed and Dabao disliked him even more.

    During the meal, Dabao did not eat much. After he was done eating, he crossed his arms and watched

    his sister eating greedily.

    Erbao was in a great mood and was binge eating.

    ¡°Ning Sihan, stop eating so much. You¡¯re going to overeat soon!¡± Ning Ran reminded her.

    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Erbao immediately ced her cutlery down, set up straight and answered, ¡°I have a small appetite. I

    am still graceful.¡±

    Nan Xing couldn¡¯t hold back hisughter. He really liked this daughter a lot.

    At this time, Ning Ran¡¯s phone rang.

    It was a message from Luo Fei which said: I know where is the disk drive that your mother is searching

    for.

    Ning Ran shivered. Why would Luo Fei know that her mother was searching for a lost drive when she

    was still around?

    Meanwhile, Luo Fei sent her yet another message: If you want the disk drive, meet me at the Blue

    Club.

    ¡­¡­

    It was 11pm at night in the Blue Club.

    Luo Fei was in a bad mood today. Before Ning Ran arrived, she had already drank quite a lot.

    Upon seeing Ning Ran, she got even angrier. Her mood plummeted.

    ¡°How did you know that my mother was looking for a hard drive when she was alive?¡± Ning Ran directly

    questioned her.

    Luo Fei let out a coldugh, ¡°I know a lot of things. I know whatever you know but you do not know

    whatever I know.¡±

    ¡°That hard drive was left behind by my mother for me. Return it to me.¡±

    ¡°Do you think I will return it to you so easily?¡±

    ¡°What do you want then?¡±

    ¡°Ning Ran, you¡¯re so despicable. You can¡¯t get Nan Chen for yourself so now you¡¯re trying to seduce

    Nan Xing? Receiving flowers and diamonds, who are you trying to show it to?¡± Every word that came

    out of Luo Fei¡¯s mouth was full of hatred.

    Ning Ranughed, ¡°I am trying to show it to you. Are you jealous?¡±

    ¡°Cheap!¡± Luo Fei eximed angrily.

    ¡°Who knows if I am cheap or not? I know you¡¯re jealous but I can¡¯t help it. Nan Xing is all head over

    heels for me, no point getting envious of me.¡± Ning Ran smiled and said.

    ¡°Ning Ran, don¡¯t get so happy. If you want to get the disk drive that your mother has been looking for,

    you better leave from the Nan family. You cannot reunite with them! You have to firmly proim that the

    biological father of your children is not Nan Xing and is some other man!¡± Luo Fei yelled.

    ¡°You¡¯re pretty fast in getting updates. You even know about this matter?¡±

    ¡°I already knew about it way back. Nan Chen will always discuss with me personally about any

    problems that the Nan family faces. I found out earlier than you did!¡± Luo Fei said.

    Luo Fei was obviously lying.

    She knew about this because Nan Xing stole her from the scene earlier today and everyone had to

    cease the making of the film.

    Luo Fei was full of envy and hatred. She gave Jiang Zhe a call and hoped that he would report this

    matter to Nan Chen.

    Jiang Zhe then told Luo Fei that Nan Xing was the biological father of the two children. He actually did

    not want to interfere with people¡¯s family matters.

    Luo Fei immediately sensed a crisising ahead. If Ning Ran entered the Nan family, she was

    worried that the secret she had hid for so many years would be exposed.

    She would then lose everything she had acquired and lead a miserable life.

    Under this circumstance, the only choice she was left with was to use what Ning Ran¡¯s mother had left

    behind to ckmail her.

    Ning Ran knew that she had no choice but to promise Luo Fei on this matter. All she wanted was to get

    the disk drive that her mother left behind.

    After her mother fell ill, she did mention about the disk drive for a few times. Ning Ran did not know

    what information was in it but she knew that it was definitely very important.

    Although her mother has left since many years ago, Ning Ran still believes that her mother¡¯s death was

    not as simple as it seemed.

    If she could get hold of her belongings, perhaps there was a chance to find out the cause behind her

    mother¡¯s death or even get back what was snatched away from her mother.

    ¡°Ok, I promise you.¡± Ning Ran said.

    Hearing Ning Ran¡¯s reply, Luo Fei¡¯s mood instantly improved.

    ¡°You and your children have to disappear from Flower City and never return forever.¡± Luo Fei said.

    ¡°If you return me my mother¡¯s belongings, I will do anything you want.¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°No. You have to agree first. Else, I will not give it to you.¡±

    ¡°I know that you do not trust me but neither do I. How can you prove to me that you really have my

    mother¡¯s belongings?¡±

    Luo Fei fished out her phone and showed Ning Ran a picture of a disk drive.

    Ning Ran did not see the disk drive before so she would not know whether it was real or not.

    But given her current situation, all she could do was to choose topromise in order to get the disk

    drive back.

    She had to first get what her mother left behind. She could not care much about what might happen in

    the future.

    ¡°I will have to make arrangements. You should know where I stand in the Nan family. It isn¡¯t as easy for

    me to leave as I wish.¡±

    ¡°Rest assured. I will help you to execute the necessary ns. As long as you promise to leave, I will

    give you the disk drive.¡±

    ¡°What do you n to do? Where are you making me go?¡±

    ¡°The Nan family is too powerful. I will have to send you and your vile spawns to a ce where no one

    can ever find you.¡± Luo Fei sneered

    ¡°What kind of ce is that£¿¡±

    Ning Ran knew how vicious Luo Fei could get. But she had no idea where Luo Fei would send her to.

    ¡°When the timees, you will naturally find out. But no matter what it is, no one from the Nan family

    will ever look for you again. You can live peacefully with your evil spawns for the rest of your life. I am

    not taking your lives away. It is already good enough. You have a tragic fate. Being able to survive is

    already a lucky thing for you. You¡¯re not destined to marry into the Nan family to enjoy such pleasures

    of life. Only I do!¡±

    The thought of Ning Ran disappearing from Flower City forever made her extremely jovial.

    Ning Ran did not rebut. She only smiled at her.

    She thought to herself. If I do not have such a fate, you wouldn¡¯t have either.

    Five years ago I did whatever you told me to. Now five yearster, you¡¯re still trying to manipte me?

    Not in your life!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 83

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 83

    The next afternoon, Zheng Lunlun, who was filming variety shows in other provinces, had finally

    returned.

    The roses were still left on the set to Zhen Lunlun¡¯s dismay. Who made such a scene here?

    He immediately called a crew member over and asked, ¡°Where are these roses from? Who are they

    for?¡±

    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Zheng Lunlun¡¯s quick judgement told him that it was for him since we was the top star among other

    cast here.

    But he had left the province the past two days and wasn¡¯t even around.

    ¡°These are for Ding Mi.¡± The crew member replied.

    Zheng Lunlun did not believe. Ding Mi wasn¡¯t even that famous and didn¡¯t have a lot of fans. Who

    would give her so many flowers?

    ¡°Have you mistaken?¡± Zheng Lunlun frowned and said.

    ¡°Yes indeed. We all thought that it was for Luo Fei but it wasn¡¯t. It was for Ding Mi. Now that I say it, it

    feels so strange. Nan Chen¡¯s girlfriend was obviously Luo Fei. Why would he send flowers to Ding Mi

    and not Luo Fei? Did Nan Chen fall out of love with Luo Fei? The crew member mumbled to himself.

    ¡°What did you say? They are from Nan Chen?¡± Zheng Lunlun caught hold of the crew member.

    The crew member jumped. He replied, ¡°Yes. Everyone saw it with their own eyes. Also, Nan Chen had

    a red carpet ced here to make a grand entrance. It was such an amazing scene to witness.¡±

    This was even more unbelievable to Zheng Lunlun.

    His uncle who is as cold as ice also knows how to send flowers? That¡¯s impossible!

    Okay, even if he sends flowers, why would it be for Ding Mi?

    Nan Chen has said before to get him to keep a distance away from Ding Mi as he said that this woman

    was not as simple as she seemed.

    But now he is the one sending her so many flowers. How¡¯s that possible?

    ¡°Third¡­Nan Chen even made a trip down here to deliver the flowers personally?¡± Zheng Lunlun asked,

    with his eyes wide open in awe.

    ¡°Yes, we all saw it with our own eyes. Not only did Nan Chen gave flowers, he also gave diamonds.

    What ad. That diamond was so much bigger than a pigeon¡¯s egg. We have never seen such a huge

    diamond before!¡± The crew member recalled the events from yesterday excitedly with joy written all

    over her face.

    ¡°Are you sure that you didn¡¯t get any information wrong?¡± Zheng Lunlun still could not believe what he

    heard.

    ¡°The entire crew saw it; I can¡¯t be wrong. Oh yes, I even recorded the entire process down. But the

    director said that we were not allowed to disseminate the video clip.¡±

    ¡°Quick, show it to me.¡±

    The crew member showed Zheng Lunlun the recorded clip. Upon seeing Nan Xing¡¯s exaggerated

    actions and facial expressions, he eximed, ¡°Nan Xing is back?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± It was the crew member¡¯s turn to feel confused.

    ¡°Nothing much. Go ahead and settle what you need to.¡± Zheng Lunlun waved his hands.

    In the meantime, Ning Ran just arrived on set and Zheng Lunlun immediately pulled her to the side.

    ¡°What are you trying to do? Many people are watching, can you don¡¯t act like this? It¡¯s not very

    appropriate.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°What is your rtionship with my fourth uncle, Nan Xing?¡± Zheng Lunlun pushed Ning Ran against the

    wall and questioned her furiously.

    ¡°What uncle? What are you talking about?¡± Ning Ran was full of confusion.

    ¡°What is your rtionship with Nan Xing?¡± Zheng Lunlun questioned once again

    Ning Ran started to get suspicious. Except for Luo Fei, everyone else mistook Nan Xing for Nan Chen.

    How would Zheng Lunlun be able to tell the both of them apart especially when he just came today?

    ¡°Do you know Nan Xing? You know the Nan Family?¡± Ning Ran questioned him back.

    Zheng Lunlun instantly recalled that Nan Chen had reminded him countlessly to not disclose to anyone

    about his rtionship with the Nan family.

    ¡°No¡­¡­I do not know them.¡± Zheng Lunlun quickly denied.

    Ning Ran turned around and this time, she pushed Zheng Lunlun onto the wall. ¡°You¡¯re lying. You¡¯re

    definitely know them and you¡¯re closely rted to them!¡±

    ¡°I said no means no!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible. If you weren¡¯t close to the Nan family, you wouldn¡¯t have known that the guy was

    Nan Xing and not Nan Chen. Right, you mentioned fourth uncle just now. Is that Nan Xing you¡¯re

    referring to?¡±

    ¡°No¡­ There¡¯s no such a thing¡­¡­.No¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Youngd, you dare to lie in front of me? You think you can fool me? I will make a call to Nan Xing now

    and we can clear things up.¡± Ning Ran said.

    Zheng Lunlun paused for a while. The truth wille to light sooner orter right?

    ¡°Nan Chen did not allow me to tell anyone about this. Promise me you will not tell anyone about my

    rtionship with the Nan family.¡± Zheng Lunlun exined.

    ¡°What? You¡¯re really Nan Xing¡¯s nephew?¡± Ning Ran was in a loss.

    ¡°Yes. Not many people know of this.¡± Zheng Lunlun replied

    ¡°Hey, you hid it well. I know, you¡¯re an undercover sent over by that poker face, am I right? I was

    wondering why he knew about so many things so it¡¯s actually you reporting everything to him.¡± Ning

    Ran raged and raised her hand, giving his head a couple a ps.

    ¡°Can you stop being so violent? I didn¡¯t betray you! Also, who is the poker face you¡¯re talking about?¡±

    ¡°Nan Chen is that poker face! Aren¡¯t you blind? Can¡¯t you tell that he¡¯s a poker face?¡±

    Zheng Lunlun froze, ¡°Damn it, how dare you! If Nan Chen ever finds out about this you¡¯re going to

    suffer a horrible death! I can¡¯t imagine the consequences.¡±

    ¡°I thought you said that you will not tell rat on anyone? If you do not tell him about it, how would he

    know?¡± Ning Ran raised her hand, ready to hit him again.

    ¡°I am not saying anything! Stop hitting me! You¡¯re a woman, please stop being so violent? What has

    thise into?¡±

    Ning Ran ced her hand down and said ¡°I didn¡¯t hear of Nan Chen having any sisters. Did you

    emerge from a stone?¡±

    ¡°You are the one who emerged from a stone. Your whole family as well.¡± Zheng Lunlun furiously

    eximed.

    ¡°If Nan Chen had an elder sister, there¡¯s no way I wouldn¡¯t have heard about it.¡± Ning Ran still couldn¡¯t

    believe.

    ¡°I do not have any blood ties with them.¡± Zheng Lunlun said.

    ¡°What? I am not sure of the details but to keep it short, basically my mother and her younger brother

    were adopted by the Nan family as their God-daughter and God-son. During that time, Nan Chen and

    Nan Xing were not born yet. To prevent any segregation, after they were born it was decided that

    based on their position, Nan Chen would be called third uncle, and Nan Xing would be called fourth

    uncle. In general, Nan Chen should be my second uncle but I call him third uncle instead to make it

    sound better, and Nan Xing as fourth uncle. Do you understand?¡±

    Ning Ran digested what he said and sieved out two pieces of key information from the entire message.

    First, Nan Chen¡¯s sister and brother are not his biological siblings.

    Second, Zheng Lunlun had no blood ties with Nan Chen and Nan Xing.

    This exins why Nan Chen was known as third young master but first and second young master had

    never once appeared.

    So her children should address Nan Chen as second uncle instead of third uncle. This is to ensure that

    it was in line with people calling him as third young master.

    But it was odd how the fostered children of the Nan family have never once appeared. Ning Ran felt

    that there was more behind the story.

    But this was not her family matter and it was not nice of her to dig into it.

    ¡°So based on what you have told me, you¡¯re my son¡¯s cousin. So you should be calling me Aunt?¡± Ning

    Ran said.

    Zheng Lunlun was taken aback by this sudden phrase. He was bbergasted and stood rooted to the

    ground.

    He finally exploded, ¡°You wish!¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 84

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 84

    Ning Ran was rather amused by Zheng Lunlun¡¯s reaction.

    ¡°What do you mean by this? This is how seniority works. You should treat me with more respect in

    future. I am still more senior than you after all.¡± Ning Ran did not care about him and put on airs.

    ¡°You wish! I will never address you as my Aunt! In your dreams!¡± Zheng Lunlun looked extremely

    anxious.

    ¡°We will put this matter aside for now. I have an important question to ask you and you have to answer

    me seriously.¡± Ning Ran grabbed onto Zheng Lunlun¡¯s cor.

    ¡°Let go of me now! How can you be so violent! You¡¯re ady!¡±

    ¡°Let me ask you. If one day, I am in bad terms with the poker face, who¡¯s side will you be on?¡±

    Zheng Lunlun sulked, ¡°Can you ask something else? This question is tricky¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°You must give me an answer. Will you be on his side or mine?¡± Ning Ran did not allow him to shun this

    question.

    ¡°Well, I feel like this is an impossible question to begin with! It can¡¯t happen!¡± Zheng Lunlun shrugged

    his shoulders.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°If you think about, let¡¯s say you really fall into bad terms with my third uncle, then it wouldn¡¯t really

    matter as to whose side I will take. You¡¯re going to lose anyway! Even if everyone from Flower City

    stands on your side, and you area all against Nan Chen, you¡¯re still going to lose. So the best answer

    to this question is, don¡¯t ever get into any conflict with my third uncle if you would like to live a peaceful

    life.¡± Zheng Lunlun gave Ning Ran his conclusion.

    Ning Ran was hopping mad.

    But she gave it a second thought and realized it somehow made sense.

    ¡°So are we good buddies?¡± Ning Ran stared into Zheng Lunlun¡¯s eyes, not letting go of his cor.

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s for sure! Speaking of that, you haven¡¯t been gaming with me for quite some time.¡±

    ¡°If we are good buddies, I¡¯m sure you wouldn¡¯t allow me to get hurt right?¡±

    ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Zheng Lunlun felt empty, ¡°You are asking me to stand on your side to be

    against my third uncle? I don¡¯t mind if you provoke anyone but not if you¡¯re thinking of provoking the

    most difficult person in Flower City.¡±

    ¡°You will not let me get hurt by anyone else right?¡±

    ¡°What if I said I will?¡±

    ¡°Then I will hurt you now!¡± Ning Ran raised her fist at him.

    ¡°Of course not. We are best brothers; I will never allow you to get hurt.¡± Zheng Lunlun said with

    bitterness swept across his face.

    ¡°From today onwards, you will be my undercover in the Nan family!¡± Ning Ran said cheekily.

    ¡°Undercover?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I might be having some scuffles with them in future but I am no match for them as they¡¯re way too

    powerful. I need your support to instruct me on how to deal with them.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Well this¡­¡­¡± Zheng Lunlun looked like he was in agony.

    ¡°You promised me just now! Are you taking back your words?¡± Ning Ran got angered again.

    ¡°It¡¯s not that I am taking back my words but I¡¯ve never tried doing such a thing before. What do you

    what me to do? Even though I am not rted by blood to the Nan family, but there is a bond between

    us¡­¡±

    ¡°I am not asking you to betray the Nan family. I am just asking you to help me get intel when necessary.

    Rx!¡±

    ¡°Alright, I might not be good at this but I will try my best.¡±

    ¡­¡­

    For the rest of the day, Zheng Lunlun was busy rushing to keep up with the work progress as he had

    left the province for a few days.

    As Ning Ran¡¯s screen time was the same as that of a first female lead, most of the scenes involve only

    her and Zheng Lunlun.

    asionally there would be Luo Fei and Zhao Mingjie in the scene, but their screen time was

    extremely little.

    It was alreadyte at night when the team finished their work for the day. Zheng Lunlun suggested to

    send Ning Ran back.

    Ning Ran and he are rather familiar with each other so without hesitation, she hopped onto his car.

    She only realized that her handphone was missing upon reaching home.

    She took Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s phone and dialed her own number. Zheng Lunlun picked up the call. It

    seems that she had left her phone in his car.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Ning Ran got him to deliver her phone over to her ce but Zheng Lunlun refused and asked her to

    come and get it from him on her own.

    He even said that his fans from other provinces bought him gifts which included high grade Ginseng

    and bird¡¯s nest and got Ning Ran to take some back to nourish herself.

    He then asked her to game with him as he said that it had been too long and he needed to quench his

    addiction.

    Ning Ran had no choice but to lend Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s car to drive over to Zheng Lunlun¡¯s hotel.

    Zheng Lunlun did not lie to her. He really had a whole load of exorbitant gifts from his fans.

    If one were to purchase these items, it would cost over ten thousand. Now that he was giving it to Ning

    Ran for free, it is no doubt that she would be happy.

    Ning Ran took her phone and was about to leave. However, Zheng Lunlun stopped her.

    ¡°Are you thinking of leaving just like that?¡±

    ¡°What else do you want? You offered me all these yourself, don¡¯t expect me to pay you. I am broke!¡±

    Ning Ran shockingly said.

    ¡°Since you¡¯re already here, you¡¯re going to y a few rounds with me before you leave. I need to

    salvage your skills. I can¡¯t possible let you remain in this level of a newbie.¡± Zheng Lunlun said.

    Ning Ran felt like she was suffering. The one with fantastic skills was her son. She was in fact a

    newbie!

    But she could not say. If Zheng Lunlun found out that the person he looked up to was a four year old

    child and that Ning Ran had been deceiving him all along, he might just strangle her to death in a

    moment of impulse.

    She had no choice but to y a few rounds with Zheng Lunlun but she was defeated in all of them.

    Zheng Lunlun was raging. He screamed, ¡°I thought you¡¯re a master in this£¿ Why are you getting more

    and more like a noobie?¡±

    ¡°Well, as you said, I am not in the best state to game now.¡± Ning Ran said bitterly.

    ¡°When are you able to return to your usual state?¡± Zheng Lunlun got irritable.

    ¡°Very soon¡­¡± Before Ning Ran could finish her sentence, Zheng Lunlun¡¯s doorbell suddenly rang.

    ¡°Yo, are you meeting ady? Why would someone visit you sote at night?¡± Ning Ran questioned him.

    ¡°Ain¡¯t I with you now? Whatdy are you talking about? Go take a look at who that is at the door, I¡¯m

    busy right now.¡± Zheng Lunlun replied with his eyes glued onto hisputer screen.

    Ning Ran rose from the ground and walked over to look through the digital peephole.

    With one nce, Ning Ran almost fainted from shock.

    The person standing outside was the poker face. Ning Ran could feel the chilly airing from him

    through the hotel¡¯s anti-theft door.

    Why is he here? What is he here for?

    Damn it, if he sees me in Zheng Lunlun¡¯s hotel room sote at night, he will definitely get the wrong

    idea. What if he throws me out of the window! Ning Ran thought to herself.

    Ning Ran tip-toed back to Zheng Lunlun¡¯s side and kicked him, faking a low voice, ¡°This is bad, the

    poker face is here!¡±

    ¡°What poker face? Crazy.¡± Zheng Lunlun had note to his sense.

    ¡°Your Uncle is here!¡±

    ¡°What?!¡± Zheng Lunlun got so terrified that he jumped up from the floor, ¡°Where? Where?¡±

    ¡°Are you out of your mind? Of course he is outside. What do we do now?¡±

    ¡°Oh no we are doomed. What do we do? Quick, leave now!¡± Zheng Lunlun said anxiously.

    ¡°This child is really paralyzed by fear! Where can I go to if the poker face is standing right outside? If I

    leave, he will see me for sure.¡±

    ¡°Oh yes, then what shall we do?¡±

    ¡°How about you tell him that you¡¯re sleeping and get him to leave?¡± Ning Ran said.

    At this time, Zheng Lunlun¡¯s phone screen lit up. He looked even more anxious than before, ¡°The call is

    from Uncle!¡±

    ¡°Answer it! Tell him that you¡¯re asleep!¡±

    ¡°Uncle, I am already asleep, please leave.¡± Zheng Lunlun said after he picked up the call.

    After Ning Ran heard what he said, she was done. If he said this, it meant that he had heard the knock

    on his door but deliberately chose not to open it.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 85

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 85

    ¡°Open the door. Now. Immediately.¡± Nan Chen¡¯s voice came from the phone like a nket of snow

    sweeping over.

    ¡°Uncle, I am really sleepy, is there anything?¡± Zheng Lunlun was recalcitrant.

    Nan Chen had already cut off the phone call.

    Zheng Lunlun turned his head around and was about to seek help from Ning Ran but he only saw her

    bending over stealthily, creeping over towards the bedroom.

    There was no way for her to escape. The only option left was to find a safe ce to hide.

    But where would be a safe hiding spot? Under the bed? But she could not fit in!

    After much consideration, she was left with the wardrobe.

    The good thing was that the wardrobe was spacious enough for Ning Ran to enter. It was not cramped

    at all and she was able to draw the clothes to cover herself. She then closed the wardrobe door.

    Seeing Ning Ran concealed from sight, Zheng Lunlun thought that she was really a genius. How could

    she be so good at hiding if she had never done so before?

    Zheng Lunlun took a deep breath, and calmed himself down before he opened the door.

    A gush of cold air rushed in when he opened the door. Nan Chen stood there without a single word nor

    action but it made Zheng Lunlun feel oppressed.

    ¡°Uncle, what is it that brought you here in the middle of the night?¡± Zheng Lunlun asked cowardly.

    Nan Chen did not utter a single word but strode into the hotel room.

    There was a bag full of exorbitant gifts that was left on the table.

    A bag of opened snacks was left on the carpet. It was obvious that someone was eating while sitting on

    the floor.

    Nan Chen raised his eyebrows.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you asleep?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    ¡°Yes, I was too tired from filming today. After I reached the room, I went to bed once I had washed up.¡±

    Zheng Lunlun¡¯s eyes started darting around, avoiding Nan Chen¡¯s eyes.

    Nan Chen could definitely see through such a lie with loopholes.

    He felt a bit distracted as he could smell a faint orange blossom scent which was deeply ingrained in

    his soul.

    He told himself that it was impossible but he could not fool himself as he really could smell this scent.

    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Apart from Nan Chen, no one else was able to smell this scent, as he had ten times the sensitivity of

    smell aspared to a normal person.

    Nan Chen sat down on the sofa and leaned backwards. He then closed his eyes.

    The scent was lingering not in the room but in his life.

    Zheng Lunlun watched the change of expressions on Nan Chen¡¯s dashing face but he did not

    understand why.

    He only felt that his Uncle was a little unusual yet he could not tell where went wrong.

    Nan Chen opened his eyes once again, and his long legs carried him to the study area.

    Zheng Lunlun just followed behind him as he did not dare to make any noise.

    The study area and the bar area were connected. On top of the shelf were iconic with a few ssic

    novels and a few of thetest finance magazines.

    ced on top of the wine rack were a few bottles of whisky and red wine as well as a bottle of vodka.

    There was no tinge of orange blossom scent here but only the smelling from the dust on the

    bookshelf and a bottle of opened wine.

    Zheng Lunlun was not able to smell all these, but Nan Chen could.

    He walked back to the living hall and smelt the orange blossom scent again.

    Nan Chen was certain that the culprit emitting the smell, had never entered the study area.

    His eyes darted towards the bedroom.

    ¡°Which room do you sleep in?¡± Nan Chen questioned Zheng Lunlun

    Zheng Lunlun pointed to the room where Ning Ran was not hiding and said, ¡°This one.¡±

    ¡°Can I take a look?¡± Nan Chen questioned.

    Zheng Lunlun thought to himself, what¡¯s wrong with Third Uncle? He had already visited my room when

    I returned and now he is here again?

    I am already an adult; it is not too early to have a girlfriend. Why am I so nervous?

    But Zheng Lunlun still agreed eventually, ¡°You may take a look around, it¡¯s fine.¡±

    Nan Chen walked into the bedroom. The room was much cleaner and neaterpared to the living

    area.

    The items ced on the bed were very neat and it was obvious that no one has slept on it before.

    But Nan Chen was not surprised by this at all. He knew that Zheng Lunlun lied to him that he was

    sleeping.

    ¡°I don¡¯t usually mess up the bed when I sleep. I really slept on this bed just now.¡± Zheng Lunlun turned

    pale, trying to exin himself.

    Nan Chen remained silent.

    The scent that Nan Chen was looking for was not in this room. The culprit did note into this room.

    Nan Chen did not know why but he felt more assured.

    Even he was surprised as to why he had such a weird mindset.

    He left the bedroom and returned to the sofa in the living area. He sat down and closed his eyes.

    The scent was much fainter now but it was still lingering in the atmosphere.

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran who has hiding in the wardrobe, was attentively paying attention to listen for the

    situation outside. She was praying so badly for the poker face to leave.

    But Nan Chen did not intend to leave any sooner.

    He stretched out his long legs and leaned against the sofa was his eyes still closed. He said there like

    an ice sculpture, not making a single sound.

    Zheng Lunlun was still standing next to him yet he did not dare to utter a single word. Is he nning on

    sleeping here?

    He waited for five to six minutes but Nan Chen did not move by a single inch.

    Zheng Lunlun wanted to use his hands to stab him to see if he was sleep but he was too scared to do

    so.

    All he could do was to stand there and wait, looking like an idiot.

    Ning Ran, who was in the bedroom, listened for very long. She felt that there was not much movement

    outside and thought that the poker face had left.

    As such, she gently pulled open the wardrobe door and stealthily crept out from the wardrobe.

    Upon reaching the door of the room, she saw Nan Chen sitting on the sofa.

    She was in despair and instantly felt her legs turning numb until she almost fell down. She bounced

    back and crept back into the wardrobe.

    But of course, Nan Chen did not fall asleep. How could he get sleepy at such a moment?

    He was indulging himself in the scent, and wanted to stay longer to do so.

    He once asked Qin Lan whether it was possible for someone to fall in love with a scent just like how

    one could fall in love with a certain type of food.

    But as Qin Lan¡¯s reply could not satisfy him, he did not have the answer to this question.

    But his feelings were real and he was clear that he liked this scent, to the extent that he felt a kind of

    reliance on it. It was the feeling of what a person who needed to rely on psychoactive drugs would feel.

    Nan Chen felt that he could not forgive himself. He was such a capable man and he existence was as

    significant as Flower City. How could he rely on a scent?

    Just as Nan Chen was in a trance, the scent got much stronger!

    He suddenly opened his eyes and stared at Zheng Lunlun who was next to him.

    Zheng Lunlun was taken aback, ¡°What is it now, Uncle?¡±

    Nan Chen did not say anything. He stood up and followed the scent trail.

    The direction that he was heading towards was the bedroom where Ning Ran was hiding!

    Zheng Lunlun witnessed this entire situation and thought that he would be doomed.

    He was going to get caught red-handed!

    ¡°Uncle, do you want to rest? Would you like to sleep on my bed?¡± Zheng Lunlun looked at Nan Chen,

    with fear in his eyes.

    Nan Chen gave him a cold look, ¡°Is there someone is this room?¡±

    If Zheng Lunlun said there was someone inside, Nan Chen would leave as he would not catch

    someone red-handed in this situation and trample on people¡¯s pride.

    ¡°Of course there isn¡¯t. There is only me in this hotel room.¡± He immediately replied.

    Upon hearing that, Nan Chen headed for the bedroom.

    The scent of orange blossom got even more stronger. It was way too obvious.

    The smell in this bedroom was much stronger than when he was in the living area. He had the reason

    to believe that the scent wasing from this bedroom.

    But there really was no one in this room. The bedsheets were extremely neat and showed no traces of

    anyone sleeping here.

    Nan Chen eyed the wardrobe. The door was closed without any gaps at all.

    But if no one slept in this bedroom, the wardrobe should have been empty. Why would it be closed so

    tightly?

    Nan Chen walked over and the scent got even stronger.

    He felt his heart racing and his fist clenched tightly.

    Zheng Lunlun was dumbfounded. He was doomed. That woman was hiding right in this wardrobe. If

    Nan Chen opened that door, he would definitely be able to see her. How could he rify this entire

    situation?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 86

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 86

    As Nan Chen stood in front of the closet, the fragrance became stronger.

    He was almost certain that person was inside the closet, as he felt like he could smell her breath.

    All he had to do was open the door, and he would see her.

    Zhen Lunlun who stood next to him was on the verge of breaking down from the stress. He couldn¡¯t

    understand why Nan Chen would be searching for her in this room.

    Wasn¡¯t he falling asleep? Why did he suddenlye rushing in? How did he sense it?

    Perhaps he should just have his name changed to Holmes Nanchen, or Conan Chen instead?

    ¡°Uncle, I didn¡¯t really tidy this room well. If you want to rest, please use the next one¡­¡­¡± Zhen Lunlun

    said weakly.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t say a word, but his body was exuding a chilling aura. The air in the room felt like it was

    frozen.

    Zhen Lunlun saw Nan Chen¡¯s tightly clenched fist and dared not say another word.

    He didn¡¯t understand why Nan Chen would be so angry.

    Even Nan Chen himself didn¡¯t understand why.

    He felt the anger in his heart reaching its limits. It was like a volcano in his chest that would erupt at any

    time.

    But, it couldn¡¯t just erupt, so he could only clench his fist as he told himself to calm down.

    As expected of Nan Chen, he quickly held back even when he was on the brink of losing control, and

    loosened his clenched fists.

    He then walked out of the room.

    Even from behind the closet doors, Ning Ran could feel the coldness from the man outside.

    She could only close her eyes tightly with her fingers crossed, praying for Nan Chen to not open the

    closet door.

    Ning Ran felt like she was going to copse from relief when she heard Nan Chen¡¯s footsteps fade

    away.

    She didn¡¯t know if she was sweating profusely from the heat in the closet or the fear of being found by

    Nan Chen.

    When she finally heard the door close, Ning Ran rxed herselfpletely as she panted heavily.

    No one has ever given her so much pressure, and the person who did had never said a word to her nor

    come face-to-face with her.

    Even so, the pressure that he exuded was so great that Ning Ran felt like she would break from it.

    ¡°He¡¯s gone, you cane out now.¡± Zhen Lunlun called out to Ning Ran as he wiped the sweat off his

    forehead.

    Ning Ran opened the door and crawled out of the closet.

    ¡°Thank goodness, he didn¡¯t find you.¡± Zhen Lunlun said.

    ¡°How did he end up here? Wasn¡¯t he in the living room?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I thought he was asleep. Then, he suddenly opened his eyes and just ran in here. I was

    scared to death!¡±

    ¡°So he sleepwalked in here?¡±

    ¡°No. He walked right up to the closet you were hiding in, stopped, and looked very angry. I don¡¯t know

    what happened to him either.¡±

    ¡°Do you think he already knew I was in there?¡± Ning Ran said worriedly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. If uncle Nan had found out that you were in there, he¡¯d have opened the closet door

    for sure!¡±

    Ning Ran nodded, but she still felt that Nan Chen had already found her.

    It was just a gut feeling though.

    ¡°Alright, I have to go now, it¡¯s gettingte. Good grief, even ying a game with you brought such a

    huge risk.¡± Ning Ran picked up her bag and got ready to leave.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay here for the night? You can sleep in that room.¡± Zhen Lunlun said.

    ¡°That won¡¯t work. It¡¯s already hard enough as it is to exin why I¡¯d be in your roomte at night. It¡¯d be

    worse if I were caught spending the night here.¡±

    ¡°Why do you care about what others say? Our friendship is pure, and the innocent have nothing to

    fear.¡± Zhen Lunlun said.

    Ning Ran patted Zhen Lunlun on the shoulder, ¡°Gossip is also a powerful and scary thing, my child. I¡¯m

    leaving now, good night!¡±

    ¡°Screw you; I¡¯m not your child!¡±Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran waved at him and walked out the room, closing the door behind her.

    A Rolls Royce had been parked at the main entrance of the hotel for a long time.

    Generally, when the guest¡¯s car arrives at the hotel entrance, it would be handed over the security

    guard who would deliver it to the parking lot. It would not be allowed to stop at the entrance and get in

    the way of the hotel guests.

    But, no one had dared to touch this car, as it was Nan Chen¡¯s.

    Chinese people loved auspicious numbers, so license tes often included the number 8 which is a

    homonym for ¡°prosperity¡±. On the contrary, they avoided the number 4 because it is a homonym for

    ¡°death¡±.

    However, Nan Chen¡¯s car was theplete opposite. Except for the Chinese character and alphabet

    at the beginning, the rest of the numbers were all 4.

    License tes with full 4s were rarely seen in the country. Combine that with the fact that only three

    such models exist in the world, even an idiot would be able to recognize it as Nan Chen¡¯s car.

    The ck Rolls Royce was just parked there, but it felt like Nan Chen was standing there, and all the

    hotel guests and staff had to go around it instead.

    No one dared to get that car to move. And if it were to drive into the lobby, no one would dare stop it

    either.

    Nan Chen sat in the car and watched everyone that went in and out of the hotel.

    Thirteen minutes left before midnight. If the woman has not left Zheng Lunlun¡¯s room before the clock

    strikes twelve, he would cklist her tomorrow so that she could no longer set foot in the entertainment

    industry ever again.

    Then, he would forcefully reim the two kids of the Nan family, and make her disappear from

    Jiangcheng forever with no possibility of return.

    He would do all of that secretly. No one would know about it, including Nan Xing and Zheng Lunlun.

    To him, this was a shame to the Nan family.

    This woman would resort to sleeping with a director to get a role in a film. Now she¡¯s trying to seduce

    Zhen Lunlun after finding out that Nan Xing is the father of her children.

    And Zheng Lunlun was the nephew of Nan Xing!

    If word got out about such a messy rtionship, it would bring disgrace to the Nan family!

    Nan Chen mustn¡¯t let this woman ruin the Nan family reputation, let alone Zheng Lunlun and Nan Xing!

    Such a woman is unworthy of being the mother of the Nan family¡¯s children. They mustn¡¯t be allowed to

    stay with her as she would lead them astray!

    Nan Chen who had calmed down became agitated again, and the cold expression on his face returned

    once more.

    A beautiful woman dressed in casual clothes sporting a long bob haircut walked out of the hotel.

    Nan Chen stared at Ning Ran through the ss window.

    Ning Ran saw the car outside but did not recognize it, being the careless person that she was.

    As such, she would not notice the cold gaze inside the car that followed her every move.

    She walked to the parking lot nearby, started her car and drove off.

    Nan Chen¡¯s car tailed Ning Ran¡¯s the whole time, but she didn¡¯t notice it.

    Nan Chen himself didn¡¯t know why he was following her either. What was the point of doing so?

    But he just kept following her without knowing why.

    Ning Ran¡¯s driving skills were mediocre, and she hardly drives much. As such, she drove at a snail¡¯s

    pace.

    The driver dared not ask any questions, and just drove the Rolls-Royce slowly to match the speed of

    the Honda it was tailing.

    All the other drivers on the road were surprised to see how slow the Rolls-Royce was moving. It was so

    slow, even an electric car could go faster.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 87

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 87

    The two drove slowly until they arrived at the entrance of the neighborhood. The Rolls-Royce didn¡¯t

    follow any further.

    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.

    After a brief stop outside the neighborhood entrance, Nan Chen ordered the driver to send him back to

    his office.

    The next morning, the first employee to arrive and open the door noticed that the light in the boss¡¯s

    office was on. He couldn¡¯t tell whether the boss came early or didn¡¯t go home at all.

    With a tightly packed schedule, it wasn¡¯t until six o¡¯clock in the evening that Nan Chen had some room

    for air.

    Then, Nan Xing came as he had something to discuss with his brother.

    As he looked at Nan Xing, Nan Chen felt like he had a lot to say to him, but didn¡¯t know what to say.

    He couldn¡¯t bring himself to say anything.

    ¡°Hey brother, let¡¯s have dinner together. We haven¡¯t done so in ages!¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°No, I¡¯ve still got things to do.¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°Brother, I know you¡¯re busy, but you still have to eat, right? What meaning is there to life if it¡¯s only

    spent on working?¡±

    Nan Chen kept quiet. Although they were siblings, they werepletely different from each other.

    Although Nan Xing also works in thepany and did quite well in his job, his duties and

    responsibilities were iparable to Nan Chen¡¯s.

    With great poweres great responsibility, and with great responsibilityes great pressure.

    Nan Xing couldn¡¯t possibly understand the pressure that Nan Chen faces. Nan Chen couldn¡¯t exin it

    to him either, nor did he have the need to.

    His secretary entered and served up two cups of coffee.

    ¡°I won¡¯t be joining you for dinner. What¡¯s on your mind?¡± Nan Chen said as he picked up the cup.

    ¡°I saw my kids! They were so cute!¡± Nan Xing said excitedly.

    Nan Chen nodded his head.

    ¡°Thank you for helping me finds them, brother! I¡¯m so lucky to have a brother like you!¡± Nan Xing said

    excitedly.

    The corners of Nan Chen¡¯s mouth raised slightly to show a smile.

    ¡°I suddenly feel like I¡¯m the luckiest guy on earth! I¡¯ve got a beautiful wife, a beautiful daughter and a

    handsome son! Of course, I¡¯ve also got a handsome and capable brother like you! My life is just

    beyond perfection!¡±

    Nan Chen panicked a little when he saw how happy his brother looked.

    He remembered the woman appearing in Zheng Lunlun¡¯s room.

    If Nan Xing knew that he was cheated on with his nephew, would he lose his mind?

    As he thought about that, Nan Chen hated that woman more and more.

    ¡°Brother, can you understand how lucky I am? I¡¯m afraid you may not, though.¡± Nan Xing said.

    Nan Chen just took another sip of his coffee in silence.

    ¡°I came here today to tell you that I¡¯m preparing to organize a wedding for Ding Mi and officially bring

    her and the kids into the Nan family¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Nan Chen interrupted Nan Xing straight away.

    His hand was trembling as he ced the cup heavily on the table, spilling some of it.

    Nan Xing did not expect such a huge reaction from his brother. He didn¡¯t understand why he was

    behaving like this.

    Wasn¡¯t he the one who helped find the mother and children? So why would he object to it?

    ¡°Why not, brother?¡± Nan Xing had a nk look on his face.

    ¡°No means no!¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°But those are my kids! I can¡¯t just leave them out there like that!¡±

    ¡°The children muste back, not the woman.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Huh? Why is that? Ding Mi is a nice person, and she¡¯s beautiful too! Honestly, I think she¡¯s the most

    beautiful one I¡¯ve ever dated!¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°No!¡± Nan Chen repeated himself.

    ¡°Brother¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°I said no, and that means no. If you MUST bring her into our family, then I¡¯ll have you sent back to

    Africa!¡± Nan Chen mmed the table.

    Nan Xing was shocked.

    Although Nan Chen was usually strict, he actually loves and cares for his brother. Everything he did

    was to for Nan Xing¡¯s own good.

    And most of the time, he was reasonable in what he did.

    But this time, it was different. He was furious and extremely firm in his decision, with no room for

    discussion at all.

    The office fell silent, filled only by the sounds of the two men breathing.

    ¡°Fine, then tell me why? I need to at least know the reason, right?¡± Nan Xing said.

    Nan Chen¡¯s lips moved a little, but no words came out.

    He didn¡¯t know where to start.

    He couldn¡¯t just tell him that his woman had offered to sleep with him on her first audition.

    Neither could he tell him that his woman was rumored to have slept with several directors of the crew.

    He absolutely couldn¡¯t tell him that she had appeared in his nephew¡¯s roomte at night.

    It was too disgraceful to speak of.

    ¡°So you won¡¯t even tell me the reason?¡± Nan Xing looked disappointed.

    ¡°Just don¡¯t marry her.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Brother, I am not a three-year-old kid anymore. Although I respect you, that doesn¡¯t mean you get to

    control everything I do! When I was in charge of renovating your office, you never told me how you

    wanted it to be done, and just left it up to me. Then, when I finished the renovations, youined

    that it was too extravagant and sent me straight to Africa. Now that I¡¯ve finally found my woman and

    children, it¡¯s only reasonable that I want to bring them into our family, right? But now you won¡¯t let me

    do so, and won¡¯t give me a reason either. What do you want me to do, then?!¡± Nan Xing got angry and

    frustrated as he spoke.

    Nan Chen understood Nan Xing¡¯s feelings, but he was not going to let up on this matter.

    He would not let such a terrible woman into the Nan household! She is unworthy of it!

    ¡°Brother, if you won¡¯t help me n my wedding with Ding Mi, then I¡¯ll just leave it to a wedding nner.

    I want to make the kids my flower boy and girl¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Nan Chen interrupted Nan Xing once again.

    ¡°Brother, I won¡¯t listen to you this time!¡± Nan Xing had a temper too, as they were twins, after all.

    ¡°I won¡¯t let you marry that woman!¡±

    ¡°I want to marry her!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re going back to Africa tomorrow!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not going! I¡¯m telling grandpa!¡±

    Nan Xing stood up angrily, ¡°I¡¯ll tell grandpa that you¡¯re bullying me. my wife and children!¡±

    Nan Chen looked at his younger brother who had never once dared to speak to him like this, and his

    lips trembled with anger.

    It¡¯s all that woman¡¯s fault! She¡¯s got quite the skill; everyone¡¯s been bewitched by her.

    ¡°Hold it right there!¡± Nan Chen shouted coldly.

    Although Nan Xing was angry, he didn¡¯t dare to actually butt heads with Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen¡¯s yell stopped him in his tracks.

    ¡°Brother, can¡¯t you be more considerate towards me?¡± Nan Xing tried to put on a pitiful act.

    After all, going head to head with someone like Nan Chen would only result in a loss.

    Nan Chen looked at Nan Xing. He really wanted to tell him everything about how the woman was not

    what she seems.

    But he still couldn¡¯t bring himself to.

    ¡°Nan Xing, have I ever caused you harm?¡±

    ¡°No, brother. You have been very nice to me. Even though you were strict, your intentions were kind.

    I¡¯m not a fool, I know you meant well.¡± Nan Xing said sincerely.

    ¡°Listen to me once again.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Brother¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯lle to understand it eventually.¡±

    ¡°Brother, what are you trying to say? Do you hate Ding Mi because she¡¯s just an ordinary actress? Her

    acting skills are really great! If we invest some money in her, she¡¯ll definitely be a famous star in

    the future! As for her background¡­ Brother, yours isn¡¯t that great either! The concept of finding

    someone with a simr background is already outdated! We don¡¯t need an outsider to help us grow our

    business! We should just marry a woman we like! Please, let me marry her!¡± Nan Xing continued to

    beg.

    ¡°Enough, I¡¯ve still got business to attend to. Go home. I¡¯ll have the final say in this.¡± Nan Chen said

    coldly.

    ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± Nan Xing was utterly disappointed as he left. He knew that his brother would

    never understand him, nor would he care about his pleas. He never did.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 88

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 88

    Nan household, Commoner Residence. Nan Xing paced around the living room anxiously, waiting for

    his grandpa toe out. Finally, after finishing a set of Tai Chi in the backyard, Nan Zhengde came out

    slowly.

    No one was allowed to interrupt whenever the old man exercised in the morning and evening, because

    it is said that sudden interruption will affect the Qi.

    ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re finally done! I¡¯ve waited for so long!¡± Nan Xing whined. But Nan Zhengde kept looking

    behind Nan Xing and then outside the door. ¡°Grandpa, what are you looking at?¡±

    ¡°Where are my great-grandchildren?¡± The old man asked with a frown. ¡°They didn¡¯te!¡± ¡°Why did

    youe if they didn¡¯t?¡± The old man asked. Nan Xing nearly fainted. Has he be that

    unimportant?

    ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯ve been away from Flower City for more than six months during my time in Africa! Don¡¯t

    you miss me at all?¡± Nan Xing asked unhappily.

    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. You¡¯ve always been causing a lot of trouble like a monkey in Flower City. Things were so

    peaceful after you left.¡±

    A servant handed Nan Zhengde a towel. He wiped his hands with it gently and got ready to have some

    tea.

    ¡°I get it, you all hate me. You all treat me like an inexperienced child!¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°Are you not?¡± Nan Zhengde asked.

    ¡°I¡­¡­¡± Nan Xing had nothing to respond with.

    Nan Zhengde smiled and gently sipped on his tea, ¡°So, did you need anything from me?¡±

    Without waiting for Nan Xing to speak, the old man continued, ¡°Let me guess¡­¡­ If it was something

    ordinary, you could¡¯ve just went to your brother for help. You wouldn¡¯t need to get me involved. So, if

    you¡¯reing to me, then it must be something your brother doesn¡¯t agree with. Go home, we¡¯re done

    here.¡± The old man waved his hand.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Nan Xing was shocked, and his jaw felt like it was about to fall off.

    ¡°If it¡¯s something your brother doesn¡¯t agree with, I won¡¯t either. Go on, leave.¡± The old man waved his

    hand again.

    ¡°Grandpa! You¡¯re just like him! You won¡¯t even hear me out!¡± Nan Xing shouted angrily.

    ¡°Your brother is a sensible man. If he doesn¡¯t agree with something, he must¡¯ve had his reasons.

    Coming to me for help won¡¯t work, because I won¡¯t agree with it either.¡± Nan Zhengde said.

    ¡°I know my brother is your favorite, but I¡¯m family too! You can at least listen to what I have to say

    before you make a decision, right?¡± Nan Xing was getting anxious.

    Nan Zhengde took another sip of his tea, ¡°Alright, go on then. But be warned, the probability of me

    agreeing is very little.¡±

    Nan Xing let out a sigh of relief. At least he had a chance to talk now.

    ¡°Have a seat, grandpa. I had prepared some gifts for you and grandma before I came back from Africa,

    but I had forgotten them as I came home in a hurry.¡±

    Better get grandpa in a good mood first. If he¡¯s happy, it¡¯ll be easier to coax him into it.

    ¡°Oh? What did you bring home from Africa? A lion? A rattlesnake?¡±

    ¡°Of course not! I brought a diamond!¡±

    ¡°Diamond?¡±

    ¡°Yes, a huge diamond! I was nning to give it to Ding Mi as a gift, but she didn¡¯t want it¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°So now you¡¯re giving it to me because she didn¡¯t want it? Then I wouldn¡¯t want it either! What would I

    do with it?¡±

    Nan Xing wondered, why would I say that? My IQ really is lower than my brother¡¯s.

    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t mean it like that! Listen to me, grandpa. I have a son and daughter now, and they¡¯re really

    adorable and super smart! They¡¯re like a living treasure! So, I was thinking of bringing them into our

    household¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Of course you can!¡± The old man stated before Nan Xing could finish.

    Bringing back the great-grandchildren was a great thing, so of course he¡¯d say yes.

    ¡°But my brother doesn¡¯t agree to it! Grandpa, you have to do the thinking for him!¡± Nan Xing said

    bitterly.

    ¡°That can¡¯t be right. Chen mentioned this to me, but he didn¡¯t say he disagreed to it. Of course the

    descendants of the Nan family must return to it! They can¡¯t just be left to roam around outside like that!¡±

    The old man said.

    ¡°Yes, I think so too! But my brother doesn¡¯t agree to it, that¡¯s why I¡¯m asking you for help.¡± Nan Xing

    said.

    ¡°Why doesn¡¯t Chen agree?¡± The old man found it strange as well.

    ¡°He wouldn¡¯t tell me, so I don¡¯t know why he wouldn¡¯t agree to it either!¡± Nan Xing said bitterly.

    ¡°I¡¯ll call him and ask him.¡± The old man said.

    ¡°Don¡¯t call him yet, grandpa. We must reach a mutual agreement on this matter first. Tell me, do you

    support my decision to bring the kids back?¡±

    ¡°Of course I do, those are my great-grandchildren, after all!¡± Nan Zhengde said.

    ¡°That¡¯s fine, then. There is no need to ask my brother¡¯s opinion anymore. We¡¯ll just settle this matter

    ourselves.¡±

    ¡°Settle what?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m nning to organize a wedding and marry Ding Mi. It¡¯s going to be a grand one, so the outside

    world will know how much I love her.¡±

    ¡°Ding Mi?¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s the mother of the child.¡±

    Nan Zhengde was starting to understand the situation now.

    ¡°So, Chen objects you marrying that woman?¡±

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡°Then Chen must have his reasons for it. The children belong to the Nan family, so we¡¯ll definitely take

    them in. As for the woman, we really have to think it through. This woman was pregnant with your child

    and yet never came back to us for so many years. And now she suddenly appears out of nowhere, so

    that really makes people suspect her motives. Your brother may be strict, but he¡¯s not cruel. He must¡¯ve

    had his reasons for not wanting her in our family.¡± Nan Zhengde said.

    ¡°Why do you both say the same thing? What reasons could he possibly have? She¡¯s my woman, and

    those are my kids! Why can¡¯t I marry her? His girlfriend, named Fei or something¡­ she¡¯s just his pawn

    to profit out of! But he¡¯s supporting her anyway! Why is it that he can do whatever he wants, but I

    can¡¯t?¡±

    Nan Xing was getting anxious and raised his volume, but it was still within an eptable range.

    ¡°Your brother knows what he¡¯s doing. I trust his decisions.¡± The old man was rather calm.

    ¡°So you won¡¯t support me either? Is that it?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to discuss this matter with your brother first. I can¡¯t promise you anything at the moment. We

    will definitely bring the children back and raise them ourselves. As for the mother, we can give her

    money aspensation for all those years that she¡¯s raised them. You don¡¯t have to hold back on the

    amount either, as long as it isn¡¯t ridiculously huge. As for marrying into our family, however¡­ We really

    have to give it careful consideration.¡± The old man waved his hand after he finished, motioning for Nan

    Xing to leave.

    Nan Xing suddenly felt that the people in the Nan family were really heartless.

    Ding Mi is so pretty, and worked hard to raise the kids all by herself. Who were they to doubt her

    character?

    Besides, Ding Mi might not even agree to their arrangement!

    ¡°I get it now; you¡¯re just like my brother! You think Ding Mi¡¯s unworthy of entering our family because

    she¡¯s just an actress, don¡¯t you?¡± Nan Xing said angrily.

    ¡°We don¡¯t care about her background. What matters most is her character.¡±

    ¡°Liar! I know you won¡¯t let me marry her because she wasn¡¯t born into a well-established family!

    Brother¡¯s girlfriend is an actress too! I¡¯m waiting to see what you¡¯ll all say when he marries her!¡± Nan

    Xing left angrily after saying that.

    The young master was heartbroken.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 89

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 89

    Psychiatrist¡¯s clinic. Qin Lan looked worryingly at the man who had been sleeping on the chair for half

    an hour. This is my counseling office, not a hotel. What do you think you¡¯re doing, sleeping here like

    that?

    For the past three days, at this hour in the afternoon, Mr. Chen would arrive on time and sleep on the

    chair. He made no sounds after lying down, so Qin Lan couldn¡¯t tell if he was asleep, and she didn¡¯t

    dare to wake him either.

    Because of this, Qin Lan had no choice but to cancel all her appointments. She didn¡¯t dare let anyone

    near when Mr. Chen was here. Nan Chen had done this before back then, but he¡¯d never done this for

    three days in a row.

    He was one of the busiest people in Flower City. His time was incredibly precious, so it was strange for

    him toe and sleep here for half an hour every day.

    Based on her professional judgment as a psychologist, Qin Lan believes that Nan Chen was facing

    some big trouble.

    He has a big knot in his heart that needs to be untied, but he refuses to let people peek inside his

    heart, so he needs an environment like a counseling center to heal.

    But there was no cure. He had juste to relieve some of the agony in his heart.

    Whenever he came here, his heart would hint at him that he was in a counseling office, and his

    problems could be solved. Such hints helped calm him down a little.

    However, he wouldn¡¯t say anything, nor would he interact with Qin Lan. So the problem was always

    there, unresolved.

    Qin Lan got increasingly curious as to what sort of problem could¡¯ve caused this man who was

    practically a huge block of ice, so much agony.

    Then, Nan Chen¡¯s leg start to move a little, and Qin Lan hurriedly handed over a ss of ice-cold

    water.

    This was Nan Chen¡¯s habit. He doesn¡¯t like drinking warm beverages. It had to be either hot coffee and

    tea, or ice-cold water.

    Nan Chen opened his eyes, took the water over and slowly drank it.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, what happened?¡± Qin Lan tried tomunicate with him.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t say a word.

    ¡°Is it still about that woman¡¯s scent?¡± Qin Lan pressed on.

    There seemed to be somethingplicated in Nan Chen¡¯s eyes.

    As an experienced psychologist, Qin Lan knew she had guessed it correctly.

    ¡°Recently, you¡¯ve beening here every afternoon to lie down for half an hour. You aren¡¯t in love with

    me, are you¡­?¡±

    Nan Chen almost spat out the water in his mouth before Qin Lan could finish.

    This reaction made Qin Lan a little angry, Is it that impossible to fall in love with me? Am I not good-

    looking?

    ¡°Am I not good-looking?¡± Qin Lan questioned.

    Nan Chen shook his head. Qin Lan was actually really pretty. Both her figure and her face looked

    amazing. She was definitely the most beautiful psychiatrist in Flower City.

    ¡°Then what was that reaction all about? Is it impossible for you to fall in love with me?¡±

    Nan Chen nodded this time.

    ¡°Then who do you love?¡± Qin Lan seized the opportunity to attack.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t nod, nor did he shake his head.

    ¡°You¡¯re always like this. You go silent whenever we bring up the key points. This is a counseling office,

    not a hotel. If you¡¯re just here to sleep every day instead of getting counseling, then isn¡¯t this just a

    waste of resources? I¡¯ll have you know; I charge by the hour. Even if you don¡¯t say anything and no

    treatment gets done, I¡¯ll still charge you!¡± Qin Lan said.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t say anything. A mere consultation fee like this was nothing to him.

    Qin Lan saw that it wasn¡¯t working, and tried a different approach instead.

    ¡°How about this, I¡¯ll hand you a piece of paper, and you write down five keywords on it. Write whatever

    bothers you. Once you¡¯re done, I promise not to look at it. I¡¯ll seal it in a container and let you read it

    again a few monthster. If you refuse to say it out loud, writing it down would help somewhat. It¡¯s the

    same as telling your secret to a hole in the trees, like in the movies.¡±

    ¡°If you keep these unspeakable secrets hidden in your heart, it will affect your mental health over time.

    Writing them out will help you feel much better. I know you are a strong person, but you¡¯re still human,

    and humans will have weaknesses. It¡¯s perfectly normal.¡±

    Qin Lan was a well-known psychologist, after all. She was very good at persuading people. Nan Chen

    finally nodded.

    Qin Lan was very excited, as she had finally broken through this block of ice.

    She hurriedly grabbed a piece of paper, and handed it to Nan Chen with a pen.

    ¡°Only five keywords, so think carefully about the words you will write. Seal them into this bottle when

    you¡¯re done, and I¡¯ll store it for you.¡± Qin Lan said.

    Nan Chen took them over, gave it a brief thought, and started to write.

    After he had finished writing, he passed the paper to Qin Lan.

    ¡°Fold it and seal it into this bottle yourself, I won¡¯t look.¡± Qin Lan said.

    Nan Chen was unconvinced.

    Did you think I¡¯m that stupid? You can read it anytime since the bottle is kept here with you!

    If you wanted to read it, then just read it in front of me! Why bothering up with these little tricks?

    ¡°I really won¡¯t look.¡± Qin Lan said.

    Nan Chen nodded. He picked up the electronic lighter next to him that Qin Lan uses for smoking, and

    was about to burn the piece of paper.

    You weren¡¯t going to look, right? Then it would be more secure to just burn it than to seal it in a bottle.

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t burn it!¡±

    Qin Lan quickly snatched the paper over, ¡°Mr. Chen, why won¡¯t you listen? I asked you to seal it, and

    you try to burn it instead? Did you think that I would read it after you leave?¡±

    Nan Chen couldn¡¯t be bothered to say anything as he thought, Your tricks sure are stupid for someone

    who¡¯s a psychiatrist.

    Nan Chen¡¯s writing was very beautiful.

    Hate. Like. Approach. Avoid. Escape.

    The first four words, ¡°hate¡±, ¡°like¡±, ¡°approach¡±, and ¡°avoid¡± were two sets of antonyms.

    This clearly showed that Nan Chen had contradictions in his heart, and these contradictions have been

    tormenting him.

    As for thest word, it described what he wanted to do most. Escape.

    Because he couldn¡¯t resolve the contradiction in his heart, he arrived at a single end result, which is to

    escape.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    After reading the five words, Qin Lan was able to more or less understand Nan Chen¡¯s feelings.

    ¡°Since I¡¯ve already seen them now, shall we just have a chat about it?¡± Qin Lan asked Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen shook his head. He was not about to discuss it.

    It was already difficult enough to write it out, and he really didn¡¯t want to talk about it.

    ¡°Come on, it¡¯ll help you out.¡± Qin Lan was curious.

    Nan Chen nodded after giving it some thought.

    ¡°So you like someone but hate someone? Is this the first contradiction?¡±

    Nan Chen looked at Qin Lan with contempt, and shook his head.

    ¡°Are you doubting my professionalism again?¡± Qin Lan was annoyed.

    Nan Chen kept quiet. He did doubt Qin Lan, because she was wrong about it.

    He meant he liked the scent on the woman, and hated the woman.

    It was simply too strange to hate someone but like their scent that even someone as tough as Nan

    Chen was confused by it.

    ¡°You want to approach her to get closer to her, but you¡¯re afraid of her rejection, so you want to avoid

    her instead?¡± Qin Lan asked again.

    Nan Chen still remained quiet, because Qin Lan was wrong again.

    Nan Chen wanted to avoid the woman because he would feel an unexinable throbbing in his heart.

    He didn¡¯t know whether it was because of her as a person, or her scent.

    But Nan Chen also liked the scent on her, so it can also be said that he likes her to approach him. In

    that sense, Qin Lan did get it slightly correct.

    As for ¡°escape¡±, that was Nan Chen¡¯s most hidden thought. He wanted to escape from Flower City to

    somewhere far away from the scent of that woman.

    It was either she leaves, or he leaves.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 90

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 90

    Five o¡¯clock in the afternoon, at the entrance of the kindergarten.

    Nan Xing looked particrly dazzling in his white suit as he stood amongst a group of parents. His

    cheeky attitude and handsome face made him stand out from the crowd.

    A few women who came to pick up their children had approached Nan Xing, asking about his child¡¯s

    name. They tried to get close and add him on WeChat, but were all turned down by Nan Xing, ¡°I never

    use a mobile phone, and I don¡¯t know what WeChat is.¡±

    The children were picked up by their parents one after another. Dabao and Erbao were thest toe

    out.

    Dabao had always been calm and steady. He never tried to rush out first like the other kids did.

    Instead, he grabbed his sister¡¯s hand, and waited till everyone else left beforeing out.

    ¡°Dabao! Erbao!¡± Nan Xing ran up to them.

    ¡°Daddy Nan Xing!¡± Erbao called out in her cute voice.

    Nan Xing frowned, Just call me daddy. Why add my name?

    Don¡¯t tell me, there are other daddies apart from me?

    Nan Xing picked up Erbao, ¡°Sweetheart, can you change my nickname to just daddy? You don¡¯t have

    to call me daddy Nan Xing.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Erbao said as she shook her little head.

    ¡°Why?¡± Nan Xing couldn¡¯t understand.

    ¡°Because you¡¯re still on a trial period. I will only call you daddy once you pass.¡± Erbao said seriously.

    ¡°Daddy has a trial period? But daddy¡¯s not an employee, so how can I be on a trial period?¡± Nan Xing

    frowned as he asked.

    Erbao didn¡¯t say anything and just looked at Dabao.

    Nan Xing understood immediately that it must have been his idea.

    Only a brain like his would think of something like a trial period for their daddy.

    Why would they put him on trial? Because they didn¡¯t like him or were uncertain about him.

    ¡°Dabao, why am I on trial? What makes you dissatisfied with me?¡± Nan Xing asked sincerely.

    Dabao kept quiet.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    Actually, Nan Xing was quite nice. He was nice to him and his sister, but Dabao just felt that something

    was missing.

    Dabao felt that although Nan Xing looks just as handsome as Nan Chen, there were a lot of things

    about Nan Chen which Nan Xingcked.

    What hecked, was a little something.

    ¡°Alright, then how long am I on trial for?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    Erbao couldn¡¯t answer that either, and looked at Dabao again.

    Dabao gave it some thought, and said, ¡°Mommy.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Nan Xing couldn¡¯t understand why mommy was being involved in that.

    Erbao exined, ¡°Brother means only mommy can decide on this. If mommy epts daddy, then your

    trial period will end.¡±

    Nan Xing thought it made sense. If your mommy agrees, there¡¯s nothing else can you say about it.

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s settled then. We¡¯ll go pick up mommy from the set, and go have dinner once she¡¯s done

    filming.¡±

    The kids became excited when they heard they were going to mommy¡¯s workce.

    Erbao¡¯s phone suddenly rang, it was Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Aunt Xiang!¡± Erbao called out sweetly.

    ¡°Good girl! Has your daddy picked you up?¡± Cheng Xiangyun asked.

    ¡°Yes! We¡¯re gonna go see mommy now!¡±

    ¡°Ah, don¡¯te here! Mommy would be unhappy! She doesn¡¯t like youing to her workce.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun said hurriedly.

    ¡°Why?¡± Erbao didn¡¯t understand.

    ¡°It¡¯s hard to exin, put your daddy on the phone.¡± Cheng Xiangyun said.

    Erbao passed the phone to Nan Xing.

    The child¡¯s phone was too small, and Nan Xing struggled to hold it.

    ¡°Hello, Mr. Nan. I am Ding Mi¡¯s agent. My name is Cheng Xiangyun.¡±

    ¡°I know, go on.¡± Nan Xing said.

    Cheng Xiangyun was so happy to hear that he knew about her.

    ¡°Ding Mi doesn¡¯t let her kidse to the set, because she doesn¡¯t want more people to know that she

    has children. There are lots of reporters around here, and she doesn¡¯t want them to take photos of the

    kids. We seek your understanding on this matter.¡± Cheng Xiangyun said.

    ¡°Ah, I see. That¡¯s fine; I¡¯lle alone after I take care of the kids then.¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°Ding Mi might finish reallyte. It¡¯s a really long wait, so I think you¡¯d better note, Mr. Nan.¡± Cheng

    Xiangyun said.

    ¡°That¡¯s okay, I can wait. I¡¯m going to find a safe ce to drop the kids off first, so I¡¯ll hang up now.¡± After

    hanging up, Nan Xing looked at his kids.

    They had heard the conversation. Although they were a little disappointed that mommy wouldn¡¯t let

    them visit her, they understood her reasons and would do as told.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have someone look after you, then go pick up mommy. I¡¯ll drop you off at the Nan residence and

    have the nanny take care of you, alright?¡±

    The two shook their head in refusal.

    ¡°Then, what do you want? The Nan household nanny is really professional, and will take good care of

    you.¡± Nan Xing tried negotiating again.

    But they still shook their heads.

    ¡°Then what shall we do? You can¡¯t be waiting in the car, that¡¯d be too boring!¡± Nan Xing said.

    Erbao looked at Dabao, as only he could decide on this.

    ¡°Uncle Nan.¡± Dabao said.

    Erbao exined, ¡°Brother says he wants to visit Uncle Nan, and have him take care of us.¡±

    Nan Xing frowned, ¡°Uncle Nan is managing a very bigpany and has lots of meetings. He¡¯s a very

    busy man, so he won¡¯t have time to take care of you!¡±

    Dabao showed no emotions as he kept quiet.

    Erbao looked at Nan Xing and then at Dabao, as she didn¡¯t know whose side to take.

    ¡°Dabao, you can¡¯t be so selfish. Uncle Nan is really busy, so you shouldn¡¯t disturb him.¡± Nan Xing tried

    to persuade him.

    Dabao¡¯s still didn¡¯t say a word, and his cold expression remained unchanged.

    Nan Xing couldn¡¯t handle silent protests like these and had no choice but topromise, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll try

    calling Uncle Nan, but we still need him to agree on this first. I doubt he¡¯d have time to watch you

    though.¡±

    Nan Chen was sitting in his office, getting ready to have a video conference with the senior managers

    of their Hong Kong branch office.

    He looked at his watch, there was three minutes left before the meeting starts.

    Nan Chen put down the documents in his hand. He put on his coat and got ready to head over to the

    meeting room.

    His phone rang, it was Nan Xing.

    He answered, ¡°Talk.¡±

    ¡°Brother, I¡¯ve just picked up the kids from school. They said they want to see you. I know you¡¯re

    busy¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Right now?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I was going to have the nanny watch over them, but Dabao said he wanted toe to your office

    instead. I know this is impossible, but he won¡¯t believe me, so I need you to tell him yourself.¡± Nan Xing

    said.

    ¡°Let hime.¡± Nan Chen hung up after saying that.

    Jiang Zhe came in, ¡°Mr. Chen, the meeting has started. The managers are waiting for you.¡±

    ¡°You go ahead and host the meeting for me. Just make sure you show me the minutes of the meeting

    later.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Huh? This is an executive report meeting; I can¡¯t take your ce for it.¡± Jiang Zhe said.

    Nan Chen waved his hand, ¡°I have something important to do.¡±

    Jiang Zhe dared not question any further when he heard that, and was about to leave the room.

    ¡°Have someone prepare some delicious and sweet snacks.¡± Nan Chen said.

    Jiang Zhe was confused, Is the boss hungry? Is he so hungry that he doesn¡¯t even want to join the

    meeting?

    But he doesn¡¯t like sweet food!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 91

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 91

    Soon after, the two cuties arrived. Erbao had put on some weight, as her face looked chubbier when

    she threw herself at Nan Chen, ¡°Nan Chen¡­¡­ Uncle Nan!¡±

    Nan Chen hurriedly opened his arms and caught her, ¡°You¡¯ve gotten fatter.¡± Erbao buried her head into

    his chest in embarrassment, ¡°I didn¡¯t get fat! This is what wealthy looks like!¡±

    Nan Chen felt his heart melting as he carried the chubby Erbao in his arms.

    Dabao looked calm as usual. He stood there looking at Nan Chen from afar. Although he didn¡¯t jump

    into Nan Chen¡¯s arms like Erbao, his eyes were still filled with surprise.

    Nan Chen was the only person in this world that could make Dabao feel warmth.

    Yet, at the same time, Nan Chen was the one that everyone felt most distant from.

    Nan Chen waved his hand, gesturing Dabao toe over.

    Dabao slowly walked towards Nan Chen. Nan Chen reached out and brought Dabao into his embrace.

    He then rubbed his chin on his head.

    Dabao responded by lifting Nan Chen¡¯s head with his. This silent method of greeting was the only one

    this cold duo knew.

    Erbao saw them doing that and thought it was fun so she tried to join in as well, but it ended up feeling

    ufortable as her movements were not in sync with theirs.

    Erbao then noticed the huge variety of snacks prepared for them beforehand, and shouted in joy as

    she ran towards the pile of snacks.

    Dabao walked over to Nan Chen¡¯s bookshelf and raised his head as he looked at the books on disy.

    But he was too short, so he couldn¡¯t see some of the books on top even when he lifted his head all the

    way.

    Nan Chen came over and hoisted him above his shoulders, so he could see the books on top.

    ¡°There aren¡¯t many books here. The private library at home has a hundred times more books than this.

    If you live there, you can read even more books.¡± Nan Chen told Dabao.

    Only in front of the kids was he this talkative.

    ¡°Where is your house?¡± Dabao, who usually doesn¡¯t speak, responded quickly.

    ¡°At the Commoner Residence. That¡¯s where grandpa and grandma live. Your daddy and I stay there

    too, sometimes.¡± Nan Chen exined seriously.

    ¡°Commoner Residence?¡± This name sounded very new to Dabao.

    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.

    ¡°Commoner Residence is the name of our house. Commoner refers to the citizens without official

    positions. Officials back in the past would wear finely made clothing. Those who didn¡¯t have these

    fancy clothes and were dressed in rags, were known asmoners. It also refers to those who quit

    their positions as officials and joined themon folk in the city.¡± Nan Chen exined patiently, and

    Dabao seemed to understand.

    Regardless of whether he understood it, this was a very warm exchange between the two.

    ¡°Are you willing toe home?¡± Nan Chen asked the critical question.

    ¡°To your house or daddy¡¯s house?¡± Dabao asked.

    Nan Chen knew Dabao must¡¯ve had some deep meaning behind his question.

    ¡°Why do you ask?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    Dabao kept quiet.

    What he actually meant was, If it¡¯s your house, then I¡¯m willing to go. But if it¡¯s daddy¡¯s house, then I¡¯ll

    have to consider it first.

    But he knew it was inappropriate to say that, so he remained silent.

    ¡°Daddy and I both share that house. It¡¯s a very big house. We¡¯re just staying together, not living

    together. We have a lot of personal space to ourselves.¡± Nan Chen exined.

    Dabao didn¡¯t say anything.

    He had never seen such a big house before, so he couldn¡¯t fully understand what Nan Chen said.

    With the children¡¯s limited knowledge, staying together was like at Aunt Xiang¡¯s house where everyone

    shared the same living room and slept in different bedrooms.

    But what Nan Chen meant by staying together was living alone in separate buildings. The only thing

    they shared was the garden, swimming pool and other public spaces.

    Their exchange was not very sessful, and they fell into silence once again.

    Erbao noticed the silence and quickly rushed over with some snacks, ¡°What are you guys talking

    about?¡±

    ¡°I was asking your brother if he would like to stay with us.¡± Nan Chen told Erbao.

    Erbao looked at Dabao.

    Dabao kept quiet.

    ¡°Brother doesn¡¯t seem willing to.¡± Erbao exined.

    ¡°Why?¡± Nan Chen couldn¡¯t understand.

    ¡°Because he¡¯s worried that we can¡¯t stay with mommy.¡±

    They were twins, after all. Erbao was the one who understood Dabao better than anyone else.

    Nan Chen was shocked too. These kids sure had high IQ and EQ, bringing up the main problem so

    quickly.

    Nan Chen had nned to bring them home and hire the most professional nanny and the best

    teachers to harness their strong talents.

    Nan Chen was not about to let that power-hungry, scheming woman into the Nan family.

    She was unworthy of it.

    If he let these kids stay with the woman, she might lead them astray in life.

    Dabao stared at Nan Chen who kept quiet.

    Dabao needed Nan Chen to give him an exnation.

    Nan Chen realized he had gotten himself into an awkward situation. He still couldn¡¯t answer give

    Dabao a clear answer.

    He decided to not talk about this for the moment.

    Besides, Nan Chen was also aware that it would not be easy to separate the kids from their mommy.

    Not only would doing so provoke retaliation from their mommy, but it would cause the kids to object as

    well.

    It¡¯s incredibly important to be mindful of the methods used in handling these things, especially when

    facing such genius kids. Otherwise, the oue could be very terrible.

    ¡°Grandpa and grandma have never seen you two before and really want to, so they hope that you can

    stay with us, and had me ask your opinions, that¡¯s all.¡±

    Nan Chen pushed the me to grandpa and grandma.

    ¡°We go wherever mommy goes.¡± Dabao stated his views clearly.

    So Erbao was right, Dabao was concerned about not being able to stay with mommy.

    Nan Chen was a little relieved that he did not reveal his intentions; otherwise he wouldn¡¯t be able to

    y with these kids happily anymore.

    Nan Chen dared not bring up that matter throughout the remaining time with them.

    He just talked about other things like their daily life.

    Dabao hardly spoke, while Erbao was a chatterbox by default. From what Erbao said, Nan Chen found

    out a lot about Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen could make out that Ning Ran had went overseas after getting pregnant and hadn¡¯t returned

    throughout those years.

    This woman went overseas and gave birth to the kids without informing the Nan family, and now she

    has brought them back to Flower City.

    For such a long time, she had plotted and remained hidden, and chose to show up at the Nan family

    doorstep now.

    Nan Chen would never believe that she was without ulterior motives.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 92

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 92

    Nan Chen felt that time flies really quickly when he was with the kids, as two hours had passed just like

    that.

    The conference meeting had ended, and Jiang Zhe submitted the meeting minutes to Nan Chen¡¯s

    desk.

    Nan Chen nced through it, and quickly put it down.

    ¡°Are we affecting your work?¡± Dabao suddenly asked.

    Nan Chen was stunned. Dabao¡¯s maturity was far beyond his imagination.

    Normally, a usual response would be to assure the person that they aren¡¯t.

    But Dabao was no normal person, and Nan Chen felt it would be inappropriate for him to lie to these

    kids.

    ¡°Yes, but just a little. I¡¯m willing to spend some time with you two, as it feels like a good way to rest for

    me as well.¡± Nan Chen answered.

    This was the truth. It was the absolute truth.

    ¡°Then, we¡¯ll be going home now. You carry on with your work.¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°It¡¯s no hurry. Daddy wille pick you up soon.¡±

    As he said that, Jiang Zhe came in and told them that Mr. Nan was here.

    Nan Chen thought it was just him. But then as he opened the door, the faint scent of orange blossom

    could be detected.

    Nan Chen frowned, That woman came too?

    ¡°Mommy!¡± Erbao rushed over immediately.

    ¡°Hey, daddy¡¯s right in front. Isn¡¯t it a bit rude to just ignore me and go straight for mommy?¡± Nan Xing

    stopped Erbao.

    Erbao hugged Nan Xing and called him daddy in a sweet voice.

    ¡°That¡¯s a good girl. Come let me hug you too, son!¡± Nan Xing called out to Dabao.

    But Dabao didn¡¯t move.

    It was obvious that Dabao still didn¡¯t like this mboyant daddy.

    Nan Xing knew that too, but no one could force him to do anything he didn¡¯t want to.

    He didn¡¯t continue when he saw that Dabao didn¡¯t want toe over.

    ¡°Mr. Jiang, could you please have the kids wait for us outside? We need to talk.¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Nan.¡±

    The kids followed Jiang Zhe out the room obediently.

    Only Nan Xing, Ning Ran and Nan Chen were left in the room.

    Of course, the scent of orange blossom in the air as well.

    A scent that only Nan Chen could identify clearly.

    ¡°Brother, I¡¯ve brought Ding Mi over for two reasons. To pick up the kids, and to talk with you.¡± Nan Xing

    said.

    Nan Chen kept quiet.

    That¡¯s how he normally was, quiet and cold. He only showed enthusiasm and friendliness in front of the

    kids.

    ¡°Brother, I want to marry this woman, and I hope you¡¯ll give us your blessings.¡± Nan Xing continued.

    Ning Ran stared at Nan Xing wide-eyed.

    This wasn¡¯t what he said on the way here. He had told her that they were justing to pick up the

    kids.

    And most importantly, Ning Ran only came with him because he said Nan Chen wasn¡¯t in the office.

    Now, not only was Poker Face here, but Nan Xing had also caused such an awkward scene!

    Nan Chen raised his head and nced at them coldly.

    In terms of appearances, this woman would make a good match for his brother.

    She was born with the face of a star; her beauty was unique and highly recognizable. It was unlike the

    millions of simr-looking inte sensations, nor was it vulgarly sultry.

    Her beauty was one of a kind.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    She seemed like a pure young girl, yet her eyes gave off adylike charm.

    She was exuding a very high level of charm.

    Ning Ran noticed Poker Face had been staring at her, and felt a little nervous.

    Poker Face rarely looked at people directly like this.

    Ning Ran looked away from the pressure and kept her head low after making brief eye contact.

    ¡°Brother?¡± Nan Xing noticed Nan Chen¡¯s strange behavior as well.

    Nan Chen quickly snapped out of it and pretended to pick up some documents, ¡°I¡¯m very busy.¡±

    He had no intention to chat at all.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, brother. I¡¯m your only brother! How could you treat me like this?¡± Nan Xing cried out.

    ¡°Get out.¡± Nan Chen said.

    To Nan Chen, his brothering here today like this must have been the work of this woman.

    Was she trying to force her way in like this?

    Did she think that Nan Chen was such a pushover? I won¡¯t even let you have a chance to speak!

    ¡°Ding Mi, hurry up and beg brother to agree to our wedding and give us his blessings.¡± Nan Xing looked

    at Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran was dumbfounded.

    I have always been at odds with that Poker Face as it is, and now you want me to beg him?

    Are you kidding me? Even if he originally did agree to it, he would surely object the moment I asked!

    Ning Ran was well aware of how much Poker Face hated her.

    Because she hated him just as much!

    ¡°Since when did I promise to marry you?¡± Ning Ran asked Nan Xing.

    Now it was Nan Xing¡¯s turn to be dumbfounded.

    After all that¡¯s happened, was he all alone in this?

    ¡°Come on, we have two kids together. Who else would you marry if not me?¡± Nan Xing eximed.

    ¡°Who I marry is my business. I never said I was going to marry you. Now you want me to beg someone

    for your hand in marriage? I have to beg to marry someone? How ridiculous!¡± Ning Ran said coldly.

    Nan Chen¡¯s expression darkened.

    Is this woman ying hard to get?

    All she wants is to marry into the Nan family, so what kind of act is she putting up now?

    What does she mean by not having to beg to marry? Does she mean that she can just marry anyone

    else?

    ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, Ding Mi. He¡¯s my only brother. I hope to receive his blessings in my marriage. We

    are twins, and only when I receive his blessings can I be happy.¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to be anything. This whole thing was funny right from the start. I never said I was going

    to marry you to begin with, and you¡¯re having me beg someone for it? What kind of joke is this?¡± Ning

    Ran said coldly.

    Ning Ran¡¯s disdainful attitude was making Nan Chen increasingly irritated.

    This woman is seriously making a fool out of me! And not just me, but the entire Nan family as well!

    She thinks she¡¯s really smart, that she has everything under her control and can get everything she

    wants!

    ¡°Darling, how could you say that? Can¡¯t you talk to brother nicely?¡± Nan Xing said anxiously.

    ¡°I¡¯m being very nice here, Nan Xing. My children are my own and have nothing to do with anyone else.

    Even if you are their biological father, doesn¡¯t mean I have to marry you.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be getting them a stepfather? What if he doesn¡¯t treat them well like I do?¡± Nan Xing

    eximed.

    ¡°I won¡¯t marry someone who doesn¡¯t treat them well.¡± Ning Ran said.

    Nan Chen was utterly furious. Does this woman mean she has another candidate by that?

    She¡¯s really going to get them a stepfather?!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 93

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 93

    Nan Chen recalled the incident in Zheng Lunlun¡¯s room. Although he didn¡¯t open the closet door, Nan

    Chen knew she was hiding inside that time! Was this evil woman actually nning to marry Zheng

    Lunlun?

    If that¡¯s the case, then their rtionship¡­ Nan Chen dared not think any further. This woman was too

    evil, simply too evil! I can¡¯t let here near anyone else rted to the Nan family! I can¡¯t let her stay

    in this city anymore!

    But the children must stay, as the blood of the Nan family flows in them. I can¡¯t let their future be ruined

    by the hands of this woman! ¡°You, get out.¡± Nan Chen looked at Nan Xing suddenly. ¡°Hm?¡±

    Nan Xing was a little shocked. He was a part of the party involved, and the one who would be

    proposing, so why have him leave?

    ¡°Get out!¡± Nan Chen repeatedly angrily. ¡°Okay.¡± Nan Xing dared not defy him, and went out

    obediently. The temperature in the office dropped a few degrees, and Ning Ran could feel the pressure

    dropping as it suffocated her.

    Nan Chen stood up, and walked away from his seat towards Ning Ran. Ning Ran felt like it was the

    grim reaper approaching her. This Poker Face wouldn¡¯t actually kill her right here, would he?

    Probably not. After all, he is a person of high social status, so he wouldn¡¯t take such risks over a

    nobody like her.

    Ning Ran reassured herself.

    Nan Chen stood in front of Ning Ran, and the scent of orange blossom filled his nose.

    The torment of inner contradictions was eating away at Nan Chen.

    He really like the scent, and couldn¡¯t get it off his mind.

    Yet, he hated this woman and hoped for her to disappear as far away as possible.

    But, he had been searching for this scent for so many years.

    And when the person with this scent finally appeared in his life, she made him hate her so much that he

    wished for her to be gone.

    But if she left, then wouldn¡¯t the scent be gone along with her?

    Nan Chen just stood next to her, giving her a lot of pressure.

    She mustered up her courage, and looked up at Poker Face.

    Ning Ran realized that the coldness in his eyes seemed to have disappeared, as confusion took its

    ce.

    Now this is interesting. Even a big strong man like this would feel lost?

    ¡°Who are you going to marry?¡± Nan Chen finally spoke.

    His voice was deep and maic, and he had returned to being cold and distant.

    Ning Ran was a little confused, as she didn¡¯t n on marrying anyone.

    What kind of weird question is this?

    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± Ning Ran replied coldly.

    Deep down inside, she was actually afraid as Poker Face was very near to her.

    This man was a dangerous one, after all.

    Nan Chen got angrier.

    ¡°The children belong to the Nan family.¡±

    Even Nan Chen¡¯s voice was trembling. I don¡¯t care who you marry, but this involves the children!

    ¡°Mr. Chen, I think you¡¯re mistaken. The children are mine.¡± Ning Ran corrected him.

    ¡°The children stays. You leave.¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    Ning Ran was also getting irritated.

    ¡°I gave birth to them and raised them on my own. Why should I hand them over to you?!¡± Ning Ran

    raised her voice.

    ¡°Because their surname is Nan.¡±

    ¡°Wrong! Their surname is Ning!¡± Ning Ran snapped back.

    ¡°Ning?¡±

    Nan Chen suddenly noticed something wrong with this. This woman is called Ding Mi, so why would

    her children¡¯s surname be Ning?

    He hadn¡¯t given it much thought before, but now he felt that it was an important issue.

    If the children were to take their mother¡¯s surname, then it should be Ding. Why would their surnames

    be Ning?

    Do these kids actually have a stepfather with the surname Ning?

    ¡°Who¡¯s the person with the surname Ning? Where is he?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    Ning Ran was speechless.

    She didn¡¯t understand what Poker Face meant. Is he stupid? I¡¯m the one surnamed Ning.

    ¡°Where is he?!¡± Nan Chen asked again.

    Ning Ran felt a strong sense of hostility bursting out from this man. It was very terrifying.

    ¡°Where is¡­ who?¡± Ning Ran asked tremblingly.

    ¡°Him!¡± Nan Chen became even more furious. Still trying to y dumb?!

    ¡°Who is he?¡± Ning Ran was confused.

    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.

    Nan Chen felt that this woman was ying dumb and just making a fool out of him on purpose.

    ¡°You leave. The children stays. A hundred million.¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran thought to herself, Goodness, the price has increased that much?! It was only tens of millions

    thest time they offered, and now it¡¯s a hundred million?!

    ¡°I¡¯m not selling my kids.¡± Ning Ran rejected him coldly.

    ¡°Two hundred million!¡± Nan Chen offered again.

    Wow, the price went up again!

    Ning Ran imagined herself being a millionaire. It was quite nice. At least she¡¯d be able to pay Zheng

    Lunlun back, so she wouldn¡¯t have to put up with him anymore!

    And Cheng Xiangyun too. If she had two hundred million, Cheng Xiangyun would definitely suck up to

    her every day and be at her beck and call!

    She could even buy lots of pretty clothes for her kids and give them the best education.

    Nan Chen saw Ning Ran¡¯s eyes light up. So this woman really was just after the money!

    She imed that she wouldn¡¯t sell her kids, but was actually just waiting for a better price!

    How despicable!

    Ning Ran quickly snapped herself out of it. The two hundred million was not for free, but at the cost of

    losing her children!

    Then I wouldn¡¯t want this money! I can¡¯t ept it!

    ¡°My children are my life. I won¡¯t sell them, no matter how much the price.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Three hundred million!¡± Nan Chen offered once more. This was also the highest he could offer her.

    Three hundred million was enough to give a personplete financial freedom. It was enough for a

    lifetime of luxury.

    This woman should be content that she could get such an amount of money just by giving birth to these

    two children!

    If she still won¡¯t agree to it, then Nan Chen wouldn¡¯t give her a single penny!

    To handle a greedy person, we mustn¡¯t just give them everything they want. Instead, we should take

    away everything they want!

    ¡°Mr. Chen, you can stop with the offers. Rich people like you think money can solve all your problems,

    but that¡¯s not the case for me. I may need money very much, but I won¡¯t exchange my children for it. I

    stand by what I said. These kids are my life, and I won¡¯t give up on them, no matter the price.¡± Ning

    Ran turned to leave after she finished her sentence.

    She had nothing left to say to this man. He was always on top, thinking he could do whatever he likes

    with everything and everyone.

    However, Ning Ran was not one who would let anyone control her life. No amount of money from

    anyone would change that.

    Nan Chen blocked her path immediately.

    ¡°Walk out of there and you¡¯ll regret it.¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°I won¡¯t regret it.¡±

    ¡°This is yourst chance.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want this chance.¡±

    ¡°Then you will not get a single cent.¡± This was Nan Chen¡¯s final warning.

    ¡°I never wanted your money to begin with.¡±

    ¡°Did you want more than that?¡±

    ¡°See it however you like.¡± Ning Ran said coldly.

    Nan Chen¡¯s face went pale from anger.

    Even he didn¡¯t know why he was so angry.

    She was just another greedy person. Was she worth him being this angry?

    She wasn¡¯t!

    Yet, he felt so angry! He couldn¡¯t control it at all!

    While he was lost in thought, Ning Ran had already walked out of his office.

    The scent of orange blossom in the office faded. Nan Chen took a deep breath and calmed himself

    down.

    He actually almost lost control over his emotions in front of this woman. It was unbelievable!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 94

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 94

    The next day, at the set of Sound of Thunder 2.

    Zheng Lunlun and Ning Ran were practicing their lines with each other. Their charming appearances

    and superb acting captivated everyone.

    They were able toplete the filming of a scene with almost zero errors.

    During their lunch break, Zheng Lunlun needed to go shoot other scenes, but he insisted on having

    lunch with Ning Ran first.

    Ning Ranughed at him, ¡°You¡¯re a huge star and yet you choose to eat the bento provided by the film

    crew instead of getting some good food outside? How shameless can you get?¡±

    Zheng Lunlun shot back, ¡°Know your ce, woman. I¡¯m having lunch with you here. How dare you say

    I¡¯m shamelessly eating your crew¡¯s bento? I can afford all sorts of luxurious meals out there! I don¡¯t

    need to be stealing your cheap bento!¡±

    ¡°As if I need yourpany for lunch! It¡¯s just bento anyway, you don¡¯t have to eat with me!¡±

    Zheng Lunlun got closer, ¡°Actually, I have some things I¡¯d like to ask you about.¡±

    ¡°What do you want to know?¡±

    ¡°I heard you went to my uncle¡¯s office yesterday?¡± Zheng Lunlun asked mysteriously.

    ¡°Who told you that?¡±

    ¡°I may not be involved with my uncle¡¯s work, but I do have a few friends in the office.¡± Zheng Lunlun

    said with a sly smile.

    ¡°Yes, I was there. What about it?¡±

    ¡°What were you doing there?¡±

    ¡°Why do you want to know?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just curious. You¡¯re a couple with my uncle Nan Xing, so why did you go to Uncle Nan Chen¡¯s

    office?¡± Zheng Lunlun asked nosily.

    ¡°The kids wanted to see him. I was just there to pick them up.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Why did they want to see him?¡± Zheng Lunlun was a real busybody.

    ¡°What kind of question is that? What reason would the children need to see him? Kids do whatever

    they like. They don¡¯t need a reason for anything, okay?¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°And I thought there was something going on between you and Uncle Nan Chen.¡± Zheng Lunlun said.

    ¡°That¡¯s so nasty. What could I possibly want with Poker Face?¡±

    ¡°But I heard that Uncle Nan Chen had locked himself in his office and refused toe out after you

    left. Why is that?¡±

    ¡°He must be working then. Isn¡¯t it normal for bosses like them to be workingte?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Uncle Nan Chen is the CEO, and rarely stays up all night working. Even though he

    often ended up workte, he treasures his health and won¡¯t pull all-nighters like this. So, what

    happenedst night must have something to do with you.¡±

    ¡°Something to do with me?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Such behavior is very abnormal for Uncle Nan Chen, and you happened to visit him yesterday,

    so you must have something to do with this matter.¡±

    Ning Ran stopped chewing her food, and thought about it.

    ¡°Could he have been plotting all night to get rid of me from Flower City for good?¡±

    ¡°He wants to get rid of you? Why?¡±

    ¡°Because he was fighting with me for custody of the children¡­¡± Ning Ran suddenly stopped and looked

    at Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°What now?¡±

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t happen to be a spy sent by Poker Face, would you? Are you a double agent?¡±

    ¡°What are you saying? Why am I a double agent?¡±

    ¡°Forget it; I¡¯m done talking about this. I can¡¯t trust you right now.¡± Ning Ran waved her hand.

    ¡°Actually, what I wanted to ask is if you are dating Uncle Nan Chen?¡± Zheng Lunlun looked at Ning

    Ran.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Literally what I said. Are you dating Uncle Nan Chen?¡±

    Ning Ran broke out intoughter, ¡°Me? Dating Poker Face? Are you kidding me?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not. I¡¯m asking you this question very seriously. Do you like Uncle Nan Chen?¡± Zheng Lunlun

    asked.

    ¡°Zheng Lunlun, have you lost your mind?¡± Me liking Poker Face? I wouldn¡¯t like him even if he was the

    last guy on earth!¡± Ning Ran said as she clenched her teeth.

    ¡°Now this, I don¡¯t understand. What¡¯s wrong with Uncle Nan Chen? He¡¯s handsome and rich. Lots of

    women wish they could be with him! Why do you hate him so much?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s their problem. I just hate him!¡± Ning Ran said angrily.

    ¡°Then that means Uncle Nan Chen likes you.¡± Zheng Lunlun shook his head.

    ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? Why must I have anything to do with him?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not talking nonsense! You went to the office, and Uncle Nan Chen locks himself in his office for the

    entire night. He must¡¯ve been heartbroken! With his riches and charm, he could have any woman he

    wanted! But what should he do if the one he likes is dating his brother? He can¡¯t do anything about it!

    So, he thought about it all night and still couldn¡¯t find an ideal solution. What a poor guy¡­¡±

    Ning Ran nearly threw her lunch box in Zheng Lunlun¡¯s face.

    This guy was too good at making stuff up! He¡¯s wasting his talent being an actor. He should be a

    screenwriter!

    ¡°Zheng Lunlun, I¡¯m warning you! You¡¯d better stop disgusting me with these silly stories, or I¡¯ll set your

    blonde head on fire!¡± Ning Ran said angrily.

    Zheng Lunlun touched his hair that had been dyed ck, ¡°The blonde hair is in the past, there¡¯s no

    more left now. I didn¡¯t mean to disgust you. I¡¯m just warning you not to y with fire. Even though they

    are both really handsome, you mustn¡¯t get greedy!¡±

    Ning Ran couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. She put down her lunch box, and rushed at Zheng Lunlun, ¡°I¡¯ll rip

    your filthy mouth out! That should stop you from spouting nonsense!¡±

    Zheng Lunlun dropped his lunch and ran away while screaming, ¡°Help! Ding Mi¡¯s lost gone mad!¡±

    His cry for help alerted everyone nearby, and made Ning Ran embarrassed to keep chasing after him.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    People from the crewmented, ¡°Let¡¯s not get in the way of them flirting.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re both so good looking; they make such a good match!¡±

    ¡°Please, good looking is such an understatement. With their acting skillsbined with their good

    looks, they¡¯re practically gods of the silver screen!¡±

    Although a lot of people were talking about it, most of them meant no harm.

    On the contrary, they felt that Ning Ran and Zheng Lunlun make a good match despite their age gap.

    Luo Fei couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. She came out of her caravan and walked straight to Ning Ran.

    ¡°Ning Ran, are you shameless?¡±

    ¡°No, why? Are you?¡± Ning Ranughed.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you promise me that you¡¯d leave Flower City? Why are you still here, seducing young men?¡±

    ¡°I want to leave too, but the Nan family is too powerful, so I have to n my escape carefully.

    Otherwise, if the Nan family catches me, then I won¡¯t ever be able to leave.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re full of excuses!¡±

    ¡°By the way, do you remember that you told me you¡¯d arrange for me to leave? And now you¡¯re

    ming me for your ipetence?¡±

    ¡°How am I supposed to arrange that if you keep hanging out with Nan Xing every day?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that. Once you¡¯ve made the arrangements, I¡¯ll dump Nan Xing and

    leave Flower City.¡± Ning Ran said.

    Luo Fei red at Ning Ran, as if trying to read her thoughts.

    But Ning Ran just smiled slightly, and there was no way to figure out what she was thinking.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 95

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 95

    Nanshi Corporation, CEO¡¯s office.

    Jiang Zhe came in and ced some photos and files of several actresses on Nan Chen¡¯s desk.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, these are the actresses we¡¯ve found to rece Ding Mi. These five in particr are the

    more suitable candidates, please have a look.¡±

    Nan Chen picked up the files and nced through them.

    His first thought was These people are too in.

    Out of the five, three of them had simr-looking faces. They were a dime a dozen, like most inte

    sensations.

    The remaining two looked unique, but justcked some ir to their appearance.

    As for what theycked, it could only be described as life.

    Nan Chen frowned, and his expression grew cold.

    ¡°The best?¡± He looked up at Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°You could say they¡¯re the best in the industry. Three of them have received awards for their acting

    skills and were top of their field.¡± Jiang Zhe said nervously.

    Nan Chen¡¯s frown deepened.

    They would never be able to rece that woman like this.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Although her character was terrible, she lived for acting.

    Her every move was captured perfectly on camera.

    She had perfect control over the intensity of her emotions. That was an innate talent that no director

    could possibly create.

    ¡°No.¡± Nan Chen concluded.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, these are really the best five we could pick.¡± Jiang Zhe said.

    ¡°These won¡¯t do, keep looking.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Mr. Chen¡­¡±

    ¡°Keep looking.¡±

    Jiang Zhe dared not say another word. If the boss had rejected what he imed to be the best five

    candidates, what else could he do?

    ¡°Mr. Chen, I have something to say, but I¡¯m not sure if I should.¡±

    ¡°Say it.¡±

    ¡°You take this film so seriously that you even got Young Master Lun to star in it. So, why are you

    recing Ms. Ding?¡±

    Nan Chen kept quiet.

    If the boss doesn¡¯t say a word, it means he doesn¡¯t want to talk about it. So, that means the only thing

    left to do is to keep searching for better candidates.

    As for when the right one can be found and whether or not it can be found, is a different story.

    Nan Chen went back to reading his documents, as Jiang Zhe tidied up the files of the actresses and

    silently backed out of the office.

    After Jiang Zhe left, Nan Chen looked back up and stared into space.

    He didn¡¯t want to rece Ning Ran either, as he knew that this film would be a ssic.

    Anyone could make a show a hit. To make it a ssic that can withstand the test of time, however, was

    no easy task.

    It would greatly enhance the reputation and brand value of the entertainmentpany if they could

    produce a ssic.

    Somepanies have produced a lot of films but none of them were remembered by the audience.

    That was why Nan Chen had Zheng Lunlun star in this film to produce a ssic.

    It would also be able to let Zheng Lunlun who loved acting get a boost in his poprity.

    But, s, the actress that was so good at her job was a very bad woman.

    Not only did she want to marry into the Nan family for her personal gains, but she also tried to mess

    around with Zheng Lunlun.

    If word got out about this, the Nan family¡¯s reputation as the number one household in Flower City

    would bepletely destroyed by her.

    Of course, the Nan family¡¯s reputation was much more important than a film, so Nan Chen could only

    sacrifice the film and had her reced.

    As long as he could find someone suitable, Nan Chen would immediately have her disappear

    completely from Flower City.

    Nan Chen stood up and paced about in his office.

    Then, he picked up his phone and called Nan Xing.

    Nan Xing answered quickly, ¡°Yes, brother?¡±

    ¡°Were you the one picking the kids up from schooltely?¡±

    ¡°Yes, why?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll pick them up today.¡±

    ¡°Huh? You want to personally pick them up? But you¡¯re so busy, there¡¯s no need for you to!¡± Nan Xing

    was very surprised.

    Nan Chen hung up the phone without any further exnation.

    Whatever he says, goes. There was no need for exnations.

    After the call, Nan Chen quickened his pace of work. He had to make time for himself to pick up the

    children.

    To the children, taking them away from their mother was unfair no matter what.

    So, Nan Chen wanted to get them used to the environment at his house as much as possible. That

    way, they would not find it to be unfamiliar and lonely.

    At five o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Nan Chen showed up at the entrance of the kindergarten on time.

    The beautiful women who have been teasing Nan Xing in the past few days realized that the person

    they were going to tease today had be as cold as a block of ice.

    Not only did he ignore their attempts at striking up conversations with him, he didn¡¯t even bother to look

    at them.

    Not even through the corners of his eyes.

    He just stood there with his back straight and eyes forward, exuding a cold aura from his body.

    Although the kindergarten was run by the education group under the Nanshi Corporation, the people in

    charge there never had a chance to meet someone from the top levels of management like Nan Chen.

    In other words, no one there knew Nan Chen.

    They just felt that the man who came to pick up the kids today was different from the usual one in the

    white suit. Although it was a sunny day, him standing there made it feel cold.

    As usual, Dabao took Erbao¡¯s hand and walked out slowly after all the other kids had left.

    The block of ice smiled slightly at the sight of the kids and melted a little.

    ¡°Daddy!¡± Erbao called out sweetly.

    ¡°It¡¯s uncle Nan Chen.¡± Dabao¡¯s eyes lit up.

    ¡°Hmm? Is it really Uncle Nan Chen?¡± Erbao found it hard to believe.

    ¡°It¡¯s uncle Nan Chen. Daddy doesn¡¯t look like that.¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°But don¡¯t they look the same?¡±

    ¡°To outsiders, we look the same too.¡± Dabao said.

    Erbao thought about it, and felt what Dabao said makes sense.

    To those who didn¡¯t know them, they looked exactly the same and no one could tell them apart.

    But they were not the same at all.

    ¡°Uncle Nan Chen!¡± Erbao called out.

    Nan Chen reached out with open arms.

    ¡°I want to ride the horsey!¡± Erbao said in her cute voice.

    Nan Chen put her on top of his expensive suit without a word.

    ¡°Uncle Nan Chen, why are you free to pick us up today?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°Hmm, because I missed you.¡± Nan Chen said.

    Erbao broke out inughter, which confused Nan Chen.

    ¡°Uncle Nan Chen, why are you like a child? Didn¡¯t we just meet the other day? And you already miss us

    now? If we were to go overseas, wouldn¡¯t you miss us to death?¡± Erbaoughed.

    ¡°Go overseas?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, mommy said if the people in Flower City don¡¯t wee us, she¡¯d take us overseas.¡± Erbao said.

    Nan Chen snorted, What does that woman mean by telling them that? Does she n on running away

    with them?

    ¡°Why go overseas? Why would anyone not wee you?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know either. Mommy told us that. We believe whatever mommy tells us.¡± Erbao said.

    ¡°Then what did mommy tell you about me?¡± Nan Chen asked suddenly.

    He regretted asking that after he did. Getting information from children like that was not his style.

    ¡°Mommy said you¡¯re handsome and kind.¡± Erbao said.

    Of course, those were just Erbao¡¯s words. Ning Ran never said such a thing.

    But Nan Chen was shocked to hear it.

    He could clearly feel his heart skip a beat.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 96

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 96

    Nan Chen brought the two children out all by himself.

    Although they were very obedient, Nan Chen still felt helpless.

    Erbao would be right in front of him a second ago and gone the next. Nan Chen would then panic as he

    couldn¡¯t afford to lose the kids.

    Right when he was about to call for help, Erbao had magically appeared out of nowhere again. She

    had wandered off on her own because she saw a cute dog, and returned after a while.

    Erbao was very active, but Dabao was not worried as he knew she would be able toe back by

    herself every time.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    However, the quiet one was more difficult to deal with.

    Nan Chen was a man of few words, but Dabao was worse.

    This made it difficult for them tomunicate and would always need Erbao to help keep the

    conversation going or they would be bored to death.

    Nan Chen sat in the kiddy restaurant watching Dabao and Erbao who were eating, and a thought

    crossed his mind, That woman sure had it rough too.

    He only had them with him for a short while and he was already so exhausted. How hard it must have

    been for a single mum like her to raise them throughout those years.

    Nan Chen halted himself as he realized he was starting to feelpassion for the woman.

    I mustn¡¯t feel this way, that woman is a scheming one!

    Erbao walked over, ¡°Uncle Nan Chen, why hasn¡¯t mommye yet?¡±

    Nan Chen was stunned, ¡°Uh¡­ She¡¯s busy filming.¡±

    ¡°Then I have to give mommy a call so she knows we¡¯re here and cane pick us upter.¡± Erbao

    whipped out her phone.

    ¡°Don¡¯t¡­¡­¡± Nan Chen hurriedly stopped her.

    ¡°Why?¡± Erbao looked at Nan Chen with her big shiny eyes.

    Nan Chen was at a loss for words.

    He didn¡¯t know how to exin adult affairs like these to the kids.

    No matter how wicked that woman was, she was still their mother. Naturally, he couldn¡¯t badmouth her

    in front of the kids.

    ¡°Mommy¡¯s too tired, don¡¯t disturb her.¡± Nan Chen said.

    Erbao nodded as if she understood.

    Nan Chen was thinking of a way to convince the kids to move into Commoner Residence with him.

    The only way to make it easier for them to move in was to familiarize them with the ce.

    ¡°When will we be going home?¡± Erbao asked again.

    ¡°Erbao, what would you call my grandfather?¡± Nan Chen asked suddenly.

    Erbao shook her head as she really didn¡¯t know.

    ¡°Great grandpa.¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°Dabao is so smart! That¡¯s right, you would call him great grandpa.¡± Nan Chen nodded.

    ¡°Great grandpa.¡± Erbao repeated.

    ¡°That¡¯s right, and you should call his wife great grandma. Great grandpa and great grandma would love

    to see you. I¡¯ll take you to them, okay?¡± Nan Chen felt a little nervous after saying that.

    He wouldn¡¯t know what else to do if these two said no.

    ¡°Is mommy going?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°She¡­¡­ won¡¯t be going.¡± Nan Chen couldn¡¯t bring himself to lie to the kids.

    ¡°Then we won¡¯t go either.¡± Erbao looked at Dabao.

    Dabao nodded his head.

    He was proud of his sister¡¯s decision this time.

    Nan Chen was stumped. He could take them there by force, but he didn¡¯t want to do so.

    But, how could he convince them?

    ¡°Great grandpa and great grandma are very old now, and have been wanting to see you. If they can,

    they would be really happy.¡± Nan Chen said.

    Dabao and Erbao looked at each other.

    ¡°Especially great grandpa. He¡¯s even prepared a room and lots of toys just for you.¡± Nan Chen

    continued.

    It was really not easy for Mr. Chen to say so many words.

    Dabao and Erbao went silent for a while.

    ¡°We¡¯ll go.¡± Dabao decided.

    ¡°Mhmm, we¡¯ll go.¡± Erbao added.

    Nan Chen felt like a burden had been lifted from his shoulders as he had finally convinced the two.

    ¡­¡­

    Commoner Residence.

    As soon as they heard the kids wereing, Nan Zhengde and his wife Feng Wan quickly urged the

    servants to prepare and fill the living room with all sorts of things that they thought the kids would like.

    Nan Chen walked into the main hall with a child in each hand.

    The old man was delighted when he saw them.

    ¡°They look so alike! Their faces look so simr to Chen! Even their expressions too!¡± The old man

    praised.

    His wife Feng Wan quickly reminded, ¡°That¡¯s Xingxing¡¯s children!¡±

    ¡°Same thing, Chen and Xing look the same anyway!¡± Nan Zhengde was delighted.

    ¡°Go on, address them.¡± Nan Chen said to the kids.

    Dabao bowed, and Erbao hurriedly imitated her brother¡¯s actions.

    ¡°Great grandpa, great grandma¡­¡­¡±

    They said in their cute voices. Nan Zhengde and Feng Wan were overjoyed and walked up to them,

    ¡°Oh, they¡¯re so cute! You can see that they are descendants of my Nan family.¡±

    ¡°Grandpa, this is Dabao Ning Sirui, and this is Erbao Ning Sihan.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Those are good names, but why are their surnames not Nan?¡± The old man asked the key question.

    ¡°We follow our mommy¡¯s surname.¡± Erbao exined in her cute voice.

    ¡°Oh, I see. We can change your surnameter on. Sweetheart, what do you like? Great grandpa will

    give you whatever you like.¡± The old man asked.

    Erbao didn¡¯t even think, ¡°I like tasty food!¡±

    The old manughed, ¡°This is a good choice! Great grandpa has prepared a lot of tasty treats for you,

    so just take whatever you like! If it¡¯s not here, I¡¯ll have someone go buy it, even if it¡¯s from overseas!¡±

    ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll buy you whatever you like!¡± The old woman joined in.

    Nan Chen thought he had spoiled them badly enough, but these two were even worse!

    The old man saw that Dabao didn¡¯t say anything, and hurriedly asked him what he liked.

    Dabao just shook his head politely and said thanks.

    ¡°This kid doesn¡¯t want anything? That¡¯s like you when you were little.¡± The old man looked at Nan

    Chen.

    ¡°He prefers books andputers. I heard he¡¯s aputer expert.¡± Nan Chen said.

    The old man immediately turned to instruct the servants, ¡°Have someone pick a site to build thergest

    private library in China, and name it after this child as a gift from me.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    ¡°Wait, build a science and technology museum or research center to let this kid develop his interests

    and expertise too. That¡¯ll also be my gift to him.¡± The old man said.

    Nan Chen was shocked. He didn¡¯t expect his grandfather to behave like a tycoon.

    ¡°Grandpa, our private library is already huge enough. There is no need to build another library. As for

    theb and research center, he¡¯s only four right now, he¡¯s still young¡­¡­¡± Nan Chen tried to convince

    him.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, he¡¯ll have grown up by the time it¡¯s done. We must build him the biggest and the best one in

    the country!¡± The old man said excitedly.

    ¡°What about me?¡± Erbao was unhappy, Has great grandpa forgotten about me already?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 97

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 97

    The old manughed, ¡°Of course I haven¡¯t forgotten about you! Great grandpa will give you whatever

    you want!¡±

    ¡°I want a restaurant with all sorts of delicious food! So I can keep eating and eating¡­¡­¡± Erbao stuffed

    another piece of cake into her mouth as she said that. She looked funny and cute.

    Nan Chen frowned upon hearing her wishes.

    Suddenly, his phone rang. It was Nan Xing.

    ¡°Yes?¡± Nan Chen answered.

    ¡°Hold on, brother. Someone wants to speak to you.¡± Nan Xing said.

    Someone wants to speak to me?

    Shortly after, a female voice was heard, ¡°Give me back my children, Nan Chen!¡±

    The voice was easily recognized. It was as if Nan Chen could smell the faint scent of orange blossom

    through the phone.

    Nan Chen hung up the phone without saying anything.

    How could Nan Xing call me and then have someone else question me? Couldn¡¯t he have asked me

    himself?

    Nan Xing called again, and Nan Chen rejected the call directly.

    Soon after, the servant came and said Nan Xing has called the house phone.

    Nan Chen was afraid that it would affect the mood of his grandparents, so he had no choice but to

    answer the phone.

    ¡°Brother, why didn¡¯t you tell me that you were bringing the kids home?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    ¡°This is the Nan household.¡± Nan Chen answered briefly.

    Why would he need to discuss with anyone for bringing the children back to their own family?

    ¡°I know what you mean, but you should at least inform us.¡± Nan Xing said.

    Then the phone seemed to be snatched over, ¡°You damned Poker Face! What are you trying to do?!

    Give my children back!¡±

    Nan Chen was shocked. What did that annoying woman just call me?

    How dare she call me that?

    The look in his eyes darkened. This woman was too bold.

    ¡°Go on, start talking! What are you trying to prove stealing my children? Come straight at me if you

    have the guts to! Have you any humanity left, doing this to defenseless children?¡± Ning Ran shouted.

    ¡°Ding Mi, calm down. My brother just brought them to see grandpa and grandma. He didn¡¯t do

    anything¡­¡­¡± Nan Xing¡¯s voice could be heard next to hers.

    ¡°You shut up! You said you were going to pick them up, so I leave them to you! Now you¡¯ve let some

    bad guy get his hands on them! I won¡¯t forgive you if anything happens to them!¡± Ning Ran yelled

    angrily.

    ¡°It¡¯s not that serious, calm down.¡± Nan Xing tried to calm her down.

    ¡°Get lost!¡±

    Nan Chen hung up again since they were fighting with each other.

    This woman was already so arrogant even before she got into the Nan family. Imagine what she would

    be like after she married into the Nan family!

    The more arrogant you are, the more I want to cut you down!

    Nan Chen was going to have the kids spend the night here, as this is their house after all!

    Four professionally trained nannies were assigned to cater to their needs.

    But as the nannies asked Dabao to shower, he started to lose his temper and refused to cooperate.

    They had no choice but to report to Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen came over to the kiddy room specially prepared by the old man.

    Although they called it a kiddy room, it was actually bigger than two living rooms of ordinary households

    combined.

    Dabao sat on the sofa with a nk expression on his face, and the floor was full of toys and other

    objects that he had thrown.

    This was the first time Nan Chen had seen Dabao angry, as he was always very polite andposed.

    But when he got angry, he was also very irritable.

    Erbao satfortably in another sofa nearby and watched her brother silently.

    Nan Chen sat on the sofa in front of Dabao¡¯s. It was a sofa for kids, so he had to squeeze himself into

    it.

    But in order tomunicate properly with Dabao, he had no choice but to sit there ufortably.

    Nan Chen had initially wanted to coax Dabao into it, but he felt it would not work as he saw Dabao¡¯s

    emotionless face. This child was the most difficult person to persuade in the world, so he needed to be

    intimidated instead.

    ¡°Go to bed.¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°No.¡± Dabao answered.

    Both their simr-looking faces looked cold.

    Erbao shrank a little as she felt the temperature in the room drop by a few degrees.

    Nan Chen felt that he had met his match. Intimidating this kid wasn¡¯t working, so what should he do

    now?

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    ¡°What do you want?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    ¡°Go home.¡± Dabao responded in an even colder tone.

    The nannies next to them didn¡¯t dare say a word, as they felt that it was a confrontation between two

    blocks of ice.

    Interestingly enough, as tiny as the small ice block may be, he was no pushover at all in terms of his

    aura.

    On the contrary, the huge block of ice seemedcking in his usual imposing and dominating aura.

    ¡°This is your home.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°You are Nan Xing¡¯s children and this is Nan Xing¡¯s home, so this is your home.¡± Nan Chen tried to

    reason with him.

    But Dabao was not letting up, ¡°Home is where mommy is.¡±

    The impact from that was so strong that it left Nan Chen stunned.

    He realized that everything he and the Nan family had done for them couldn¡¯tpare to that woman

    at all.

    Her ce in their hearts was irreceable.

    ¡°Just stay here for one night.¡± Nan Chen started topromise.

    ¡°No.¡± Dabao stood firm.

    Nan Chen started to feel irritated. He was the ruthless leader of the Nanshi Corporation, and yet he

    could not even handle a child?

    ¡°One night. I¡¯ll send you back tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Negotiations went into a deadlock.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t know what to do, as he couldn¡¯t just start flipping tables and smashing things around

    like Dabao.

    So, he thought about having Erbao who was easier to reason with, persuade her brother as it might be

    more effective that way.

    Erbao took one look at the block of ice and knew that her brother would surely win.

    She knew that although her brother was usually reasonable and rational, no one could make him do

    anything once he got stubborn.

    When she saw Nan Chen walking towards her, she knew he wanted her to do something about her

    brother.

    Erbao knew she wouldn¡¯t be able to change her brother¡¯s mind, as nothing in this world could.

    So, she quickly closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.

    Nan Chen saw her sleeping and thought, Wasn¡¯t she still awake a moment ago? Why is she suddenly

    asleep now?

    But he couldn¡¯t bring himself to wake her up, so he just motioned at the nanny to put a nket on her.

    He then went back to Dabao.

    In order to show his sincerity, he crouched in front of Dabao instead of sitting back down.

    Dabao just red at Nan Chen without flinching.

    ¡°You see, it¡¯s not safe now because it¡¯s toote at night. I¡¯ll send you back tomorrow early in the

    morning.¡± Nan Chen tried to talk as slowly and gently as possible.

    But the result remained the same.

    ¡°No!¡± Dabao remained adamant with no room for negotiations.

    Nan Chen let out a long sigh. He had to control himself despite having a burning frustration in his heart.

    He couldn¡¯t afford to anger this kid any further, as he had a temper nastier than anyone else¡¯s.

    ¡°But your sister¡¯s asleep now. Do you really want to wake her up?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°She¡¯s pretending to be asleep.¡± Dabao said.

    Erbao cried out in her heart, I still got exposed even when pretending to be asleep! This was between

    the two of you, why are you dragging me into it?!

    Nan Chen turned around to look at Erbao on the sofa and thought to himself, So she was pretending. I

    knew she couldn¡¯t have fallen asleep so quickly! If she¡¯s already so smart at this age, just how scary

    would she be when she grows up?

    ¡°Is there really no room for discussion?¡± Nan Chen was a little dejected.

    ¡°No.¡± Dabao was still not letting up.

    Nan Chen stood up and paced about a little.

    Should I continue to persist or just give up entirely?

    Would it be too humiliating for the great Mr. Nan Chen to lose to a child?

    But this kid wouldn¡¯t go to bed if I don¡¯t agree to his demands.

    Sleep is very important for children. They need sleep for their growth, so I can¡¯t let them stay upte.

    As he thought about that, Nan Chen sighed and motioned to his subordinates, ¡°Prepare the car.¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 98

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 98

    11pm wasn¡¯t considered to bete in Flower City.

    To a lot of youngsters, the nightlife had only just begun.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    In the backseat of the Rolls-Royce, the sight of Nan Chen sandwiched between the two child car seats

    was rather amusing.

    Neon lights shed by as the car drove through the busy city. There was silence inside the car.

    Erbao was falling asleep as she was really getting tired.

    She was just pretending to sleep before, but she got really sleepy after getting into the car.

    The sleepiness was overwhelming after a crazy day of fun.

    Dabao was the only one who didn¡¯t seem to be sleepy, as he sat there in silence.

    He was still angry even though Nan Chen hadpromised.

    His temper was no joking matter either. His handsome little face was expressionless and his eyes didn¡¯t

    even look at Nan Chen at all, as if he had practically ignored his existence.

    Nan Chen thought to himself, I can¡¯t afford to mess with him.

    He started to think about how he would make it up to the little ice block. He was no ordinary child, so

    normal methods would not work.

    Should I apologize to him? Impossible. Nan Chen never apologized, and besides, he didn¡¯t do anything

    wrong.

    What did they have to lose spending one night in such a nice environment? Was it wrong?

    The kiddy room in Commoner Residence was filled with all the best facilities in the world. Would it kill

    him to spend a night there?

    The driver took a peek at them and smiled to himself.

    Mr. Nan Chen had finally met his match. Mini Nan Chen¡¯s face was as cold as ice.

    If they keep being cold like this, the engine might just need antifreeze or it would fail.

    ¡°Dabao.¡± Nan Chen called out.

    Nan Chen thought to himself, I won¡¯t hold a grudge against a child!

    But Dabao didn¡¯t respond.

    ¡°Ning Sirui.¡± Nan Chen called him by name.

    Still no response.

    Nan Chen switched on the car¡¯s interior light and looked at Dabao¡¯s face, ¡°I¡¯m talking to you.¡±

    Dabao refused to look at him, ¡°Did you need something?¡±

    Nan Chen was losing his mind.

    I¡¯m trying to make it up to you here, and you ask if I needed something? How am I supposed to answer

    that?

    What else could I possibly need from you?

    ¡°No.¡± Nan Chen could not contain his anger.

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    And the awkward silence continued.

    Nan Chen switched off the light and turned his head to look out the window in order to hide his

    embarrassment and frustration.

    He thought about it and felt unhappy.

    How humiliating it would be if that woman saw how coldly Dabao treated me.

    No, I have to turn this situation around.

    ¡°Sirui.¡± Nan Chen used a gentler tone.

    Nan Chen might as well just call him boss at this point.

    ¡°Hm.¡± He got a response.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to force you to do anything you don¡¯t like. I just wanted to have you spend more time with

    great grandpa and great grandma.¡± Nan Chen tried to exin what happened earlier tonight.

    ¡°Oh.¡± Dabao was still neutral with his response.

    Nan Chen thought to himself, Don¡¯t get angry, persistence is key to victory.

    ¡°And we all have to learn to be independent as we grow up. There is no running away from that.¡± Nan

    Chen continued.

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    Mr. Nan Chen who was a man of few words had said a lot and came up with many reasons, but Dabao

    had just brushed them all away by saying, ¡°Oh.¡±

    He sure had quite an attitude.

    Nan Chen¡¯s ns to make it up to Dabao had failed, leaving him frustrated.

    Reality was simply too harsh and he could only give up.

    The car arrived at the entrance of the neighborhood, and Ning Ran could be seen waiting at the front

    door from afar.

    ¡°Mommy!¡± Dabao who had been silent and calm the whole time shouted excitedly.

    In that moment, Nan Chen felt that he had beenpletely defeated.

    No matter how much he did for them, it could never rece the bond that had formed between them

    and their mother as they depended on each other over the years.

    No external factor could ever hope toe between such a bond.

    Nan Chen had to reconsider if his n to drive Ning Ran out of Flower City was reasonable. He feared

    that Dabao and Erbao would never forgive him if he did that.

    Especially Dabao.

    Nan Chen absolutely would not want to be an enemy of Dabao, because he could never afford to.

    Ning Ran rushed over as soon as she saw the ck Rolls-Royce.

    They had only been apart for a few hours, but Ning Ran felt like she had regained something that she

    had lost.

    Throughout all those years she had spent drifting around, the kids were the only thing she cared about.

    She had told Nan Chen that the kids were her life, and she wasn¡¯t lying. She could give up everything

    and anything for them.

    The car door opened, and Ning Ran ran up to it.

    The man inside was just about to get out, and they bumped into each other.

    The scent of orange blossom came.

    Ning Ran couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with Nan Chen and walked right past him, ¡°Dabao, Erbao, are

    you two alright?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re fine, mommy.¡± Dabao crawled over and hugged Ning Ran.

    Erbao had woken up as well, and called out to her mommy sleepily.

    Ning Ran carried Dabao out of the car and set him aside before carrying Erbao.

    The woman¡¯s thin body was surprisingly strong and her movements were swift, as if the child would be

    snatched away if she were slightly slower.

    Nan Chen stood quietly beside them, unsure of what he could say or what he should do.

    ¡°Sweetheart, let¡¯s go home now. Don¡¯t leave with strangers next time, okay? Mommy was so scared!¡±

    Ning Ran said.

    Nan Chen felt a huge sting being referred to as a stranger.

    He had thought that everything he did was for the good of the children and out of consideration for their

    future.

    But to Ning Ran, he was just a mere stranger who could possibly endanger the children.

    And the kids didn¡¯t take to him kindly either, as Dabao had ignored him the entire time.

    Nan Chen¡¯s shadow grew long as the light from the streetmp shone on him.

    The shadow of the king of Flower City seemed somewhat lonely.

    Ning Ran suddenly turned around and Nan Chen felt a sense of joy, thinking that Ning Ran was going

    to tell him something.

    But she didn¡¯t, and just red fiercely at him.

    Although it was somewhat a blur underneath the dim lighting from the streetmp, Nan Chen could feel

    the distrust and precaution in Ning Ran¡¯s eyes.

    Even some hatred as well.

    Erbao suddenly turned around and looked at Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen waved at her and said goodbye softly.

    He knew how unwee he was right now, but he really loved these two children, and had no intention

    of causing them even the slightest harm at all.

    Nor would he let anyone hurt them either. But at this very moment, he felt as though he was ying the

    role of a bad guy instead.

    Erbao broke out of Ning Ran¡¯s grasp and ran towards Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen quickly rushed forward and crouched down as well.

    The tall and strong Mr. Nan Chen looked like a child in need offorting as he looked at the chubby

    Erbao.

    ¡°Uncle Nan Chen, I can tell that my brother has already forgiven you. I hope you won¡¯t take it to heart.¡±

    Erbao whispered at Nan Chen¡¯s ear.

    Nan Chen opened his mouth but no words came out.

    He just felt a little warmth in his heart and his mood got a little better.

    Erbao turned and ran back to her mommy after saying that.

    This time Nan Chen said in a louder voice, ¡°Good night, bye!¡±

    Dabao looked up at Ning Ran. Ning Ran understood what he meant, and gave him a look.

    ¡°Good night, Uncle Nan Chen. Bye!¡± Dabao waved his hand too.

    Nan Chen felt happy again.

    He suddenly realized that his emotions were controlled by a woman and her two kids.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 99

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 99

    The next few days went by peacefully. Ever since the incidents on that night, Nan Chen had dismissed

    the idea of   having the two children live in the Nan family for the time being.

    Most adults may dream of entering the Nan family, but that wasn¡¯t the case for the kids. They just

    wanted their mommy, and could care less about some huge fancy kiddy room.

    Ning Ran was filming on the set that day when Cheng Xiangyun suddenly rushed over. The director

    motioned for the crew to stop when he saw Cheng Xiangyun appear on camera.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Can¡¯t you see we¡¯re filming a scene? Why did you just run in here like that?¡±

    The director shouted. ¡°Something¡¯s happened with the kindergarten!¡± Cheng Xiangyun shouted. Ning

    Ran¡¯s heart sank when she heard that and asked, ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s been an explosion near the kindergarten! The entire ce is in chaos right now!¡± Cheng

    Xiangyun said. Ning Ran¡¯s mind went nk and she ran out without even removing her costume.

    Cheng Xiangyun ran after her, ¡°Calm down, the police have already arrived at the scene. Here¡¯s your

    phone.¡± Right as they got into the car, Ning Ran¡¯s phone rang. It was an unknown number.

    ¡°Hello?¡± Ning Ran answered shakily. ¡°Are you Ning Ran?¡± It was a man¡¯s voice. ¡°Yes, I am. Who are

    you?¡±

    Although the man hadn¡¯t said anything, Ning Ran could already sense malice in his voice. ¡°It doesn¡¯t

    matter who I am. Now, tell Cheng Xiangyun to get off the car and drive away by yourself, then follow

    my instructions. Don¡¯t say anything, don¡¯t call the police and don¡¯t let anyone know about this. If you try

    anything funny, your child will be gone.¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s legs went limp at the mention of her kids.

    And the scariest part was the fact that the person knew Cheng Xiangyun was in the car with her.

    This shows that her every move was being watched by the person.

    So, she couldn¡¯t do anything rash or her kids may really be in danger.

    ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± Ning Ran answered.

    ¡°No tricks, or you will be the reason your kids are dead.¡± The person hung up after saying that.

    ¡°Who called?¡± Cheng Xiangyun asked.

    ¡°It was the school teacher. They told me it¡¯s very chaotic there right now, and want us to take another

    route. Get out of the car, I¡¯ll drive.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Huh? Why? You¡¯re emotionally unstable right now, it¡¯s safer if I drive.¡±

    ¡°Pull over by the side, I¡¯ll drive. I know a shortcut.¡±

    ¡°Are you kidding me? I¡¯ve lived in Flower City for so many years now. I can sketch a map of these

    roads even with my eyes closed! There are no shortcuts!¡±

    ¡°Just pull over, do as I say.¡± Ning Ran tried her best to remain calm.

    Since her every move was being watched, then doing as they say was the best option. At any rate, she

    must see her children first.

    ¡°I think it¡¯s better if I drive.¡±

    ¡°Let me drive. Can¡¯t you just listen to me this once?¡± Ning Ran became irritated all of a sudden.

    Cheng Xiangyun was shocked by Ning Ran¡¯s outburst. She looked at Ning Ran, and saw that her face

    was pale and she was behaving strangely.

    In order to not make her any angrier, Cheng Xiangyun did as told and parked the car by the side of the

    road.

    She got off the car and was about to walk over to the passenger side.

    But Ning Ran didn¡¯t get off the car. Instead, she climbed straight into the driver seat and drove off

    before Cheng Xiangyun could get in.

    ¡°Hey! What¡¯s the matter with you?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun was banging on the back of the car but Ning Ran had drove off.

    Ning Ran¡¯s phone rang again. It was the same unknown number.

    ¡°Now drive to the Zicheng Commercial Building and head to the third floor underground of the parking

    lot. You will see a ck Passat. I want you to park this car there, and then drive that Passat. Again, no

    tricks. The kids are fragile and won¡¯t be able to handle the slightest bit of torture.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you hurt my children!¡± Ning Ran shouted.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, just listen to me and they¡¯ll be fine. If you try anything funny, I¡¯ll chop off their arms and

    legs. If you call the police, the only thing they¡¯ll find will be two tiny dead bodies.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t hurt them! I won¡¯t call the police, but I must first know that they¡¯re safe!¡± Ning Ran said.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    There was silence on the other line, and then it went dead.

    After hanging up, Ning Ran received an MMS. There was a picture of Dabao and Erbao with tape

    covering their mouths.

    The background was dark, but she could make out that they were inside a car.

    Ning Ran started to tear up.

    The explosion near the kindergarten was clearly to create a diversion so they could kidnap the kids

    during the chaos.

    And the other party was definitely not a single person, but a group of people. They even knew the route

    she took to the kindergarten and ced a car on that route for her.

    If she had been driving Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s car, and if Cheng Xiangyun were to call the police, the traffic

    cameras would be able to track her whereabouts easily.

    Things would be different if she changed cars halfway.

    So, this was all pre-arranged and thoroughly nned.

    If it was nned, then they must have been prepared for the possibility of her calling the police or

    informing the Nan family. If she did so, the consequences would be unimaginable.

    Ning Ran dared not take such a risk when her children¡¯s safety was concerned, nor could she afford to.

    She could only do as told by the other party.

    The phone rang again. It was Cheng Xiangyun.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t dare answer the phone as she didn¡¯t know how to exin it to her.

    Soon, she had arrived at the designated location and drove the car to the specified parking lot. There

    really was a ck Passat parked there.

    The car door was not locked. Ning Ran got into the car and found the keys in the car as well.

    Her phone rang again, ¡°There is a cell phone in the storage box. Turn off your cell phone now and

    throw it away. Use the cell phone we¡¯ve provided.¡±

    Ning Ran could only do as told. However, she did not throw it away, and had kept it inside her bag

    instead.

    She drove the car out of the parking lot and towards the outskirts of town.

    After she had left the city, she drove onto the freeway as told on the phone.

    They didn¡¯t tell her the destination, and just instructed her to drive south.

    Ning Ran had no other choice but to keep driving.

    As she got further away from Flower City, her heart sank more and more.

    Everyone knew that the Nan family is the most influential family in Flower City, and could intervene in

    anything that happened in the city.

    But once you leave Flower City, the Nan Family¡¯s influence would be greatly reduced.

    These people had Ning Ran leave Flower City precisely because they wanted to cut off the Nan

    Family¡¯s assistance.

    Ning Ran knew that she would have to face everything all by herself from here onwards.

    Not only did she have to stay alive herself, but she also had to find a way to protect her children.

    She could only rely on herself.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 100

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 100

    The biggest problem now was that she didn¡¯t even know where the kids were and what those people

    wanted.

    If those people knew that the children were from the Nan family, then the possibility of them asking for

    ransom was huge.

    If the Nan family knew that their precious children were abducted, they would pay any amount of

    money for them.

    In fact, that wouldn¡¯t be too bad.

    If they were seeking revenge, however, then it would be a lot worse.

    What worried Ning Ran the most was that this could be Luo Fei¡¯s doing, as Luo Fei had always wanted

    to make them disappear from Flower City.

    And that was exactly what these people were doing.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    All signs were pointing to Luo Fei.

    The phone rang again. Ning Ran received new instructions asking her to get off the freeway at the next

    toll.

    She arrived at a small town after leaving the freeway.

    They asked her to change her car once again. This time, it was a Jeep SUV with another new phone

    inside.

    She got back onto the freeway and continued driving south.

    Ning Ran had been driving until it was ten o¡¯clock. She was getting sleepy and hungry.

    She had slowly calmed down and felt that neither herself nor her kids would be in danger for the time

    being.

    The reason was simple. If they had intended to hurt the kids, they could¡¯ve done it when the ce was

    in chaos. They didn¡¯t have to go through the trouble of abducting them.

    They were most likely having her drive to a remote location far away from Flower City, where no one

    could find her.

    Ning Ran tried calling the unknown number back, but they didn¡¯t answer.

    A momentter, they called her again.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Are my kids okay? Don¡¯t let them go hungry.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°They¡¯ve already eaten.¡±

    ¡°What did they eat?¡± Ning Ran was still worried.

    ¡°Bread with milk. What else could they be eating while on the road?¡± The person said impatiently.

    This gave Ning Ran an important clue. They were also on the way and were going in the same

    direction as her.

    These people were very cunning. They wouldn¡¯t allow Ning Ran to see the children, so Ning Ran

    wouldn¡¯t dare defy them and would bepletely at their mercy.

    ¡°Where can we stop? Driving for more than four hours already counts as fatigue driving, and I¡¯ve been

    driving for more than six hours now!¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°You can rest as necessary, but not more than half an hour. As for the destination, just await further

    instructions. Remember, no funny tricks. We¡¯re watching every little move you make.¡± They said.

    Ning Ran knew what they were talking about. She had noticed the cameras installed in the car.

    She wouldn¡¯t dare try anything even if they didn¡¯t have the cameras installed anyway.

    They have her kids under their control, after all.

    ¡­¡­

    Flower City, Nanshi Corporation, CEO¡¯s office.

    ¡°Brother, Captain Lu from the police department called. There is still no news on Ding Mi.¡± Nan Xing

    had a worried look on his face.

    ¡°Have you managed to track down the number that called you?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°No, that¡¯s a satellite phone. He just told me that Ning Ran wants us to transfer ten million to her. I¡¯ve

    already had someone make the transfer ording to the designated ount provided.¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°Something isn¡¯t right.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°I know that too, but we don¡¯t have a choice. This is all we can do right now. Ding Mi has taken the kids

    away, so we have to pay her.¡± Nan Xing said.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t say anything but his face looked terrifyingly cold.

    This woman was too heinous. Not only has she run away with her children, but she also demanded ten

    million from us.

    With this amount of money, she could easily find a ce to settle down and it would feed her for life.

    But Nan Chen felt something was off about the method that woman was using to get the money.

    He had offered her as much as three hundred million once, but she was not swayed in the slightest by

    it.

    If money really was all she wanted, she would¡¯ve epted his offer back then.

    She didn¡¯t want the three hundred million, but now she¡¯s asking for ten million? She must be crazy! It

    doesn¡¯t make sense at all!

    The only possible exnation was that this woman values her   children even more than the money. But

    even if this was the case, it still contradicted Nan Chen¡¯s previous deduction.

    Nan Chen had believed that she didn¡¯t want the money because she would gain a lot more by marrying

    into the Nan family instead.

    But now, she had run away with her kids and only asked for ten million, which waspletely different

    from what Nan Chen had thought.

    Furthermore, the person that called was not Ning Ran herself either. It was another man that spoke to

    them on the phone.

    Could it be that the man was actually the stepfather that this woman was going to get her kids?

    There was a hostile look in Nan Chen¡¯s eyes as he thought about that.

    ¡°Brother, do you think Ding Mi would really take her kids away like that?¡± Nan Xing asked anxiously.

    Nan Chen got even more furious. Need you even ask? They¡¯ve clearly been taken away!

    I¡¯ve told him to beware of that woman, but he wouldn¡¯t believe me, and insisted on marrying her. Now

    look at what happened! The child¡¯s gone!

    ¡°But brother, I don¡¯t think she¡¯s the kind of person who would do such a thing.¡±

    ¡°Then what kind of person is she?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    ¡°Think about it, if she had only wanted ten million, was there even a need for her to go through so much

    trouble? Couldn¡¯t she have just asked me for the money instead?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s asked for it now, hasn¡¯t she?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°What I mean is that there was no need for her to take the kids away. I could just give her ten million

    anytime, so why would she have to leave? If she¡¯d just wanted to keep her kids, then it¡¯s even more

    unnecessary to take them away! The kids were hers to begin with, and I didn¡¯t try to take them from her

    either, so why would she have to leave like that? Besides, they were originally living overseas. If money

    was what she wanted, she could just send me a photo of them and I¡¯d even pay a hundred million for

    them. What¡¯s the point of bringing them back here only to leave againter on? I simply see no need

    for her to do this!¡± Nan Xing made his conclusion.

    Nan Chen agreed with some of Nan Xing¡¯s words, and disagreed with some.

    Because Nan Chen has always had prejudices against that woman. Once a person has a prejudice

    against another, they will only see their bad side.

    Even logical behaviors would be illogical and associated with ill intentions.

    At this moment, Jiang Zhe walked in, ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, Cheng Xiangyun is here.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded and motioned to let her in.

    It was the first time Cheng Xiangyun had seen such a huge andvish office. She had never imagined

    that such a grand workce existed.

    Rather than an office, it seemed more like a private clubhouse.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen.¡± Cheng Xiangyun greeted with a bow.

    ¡°Hm.¡± He responded.

    ¡°Tell Mr. Nan Chen in detail what exactly happened today.¡± Jiang Zhe told Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Alright, so I heard about the explosion at the kindergarten today, then Ding Mi and I rushed over¡­¡­¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun continued to exin everything that happened in great detail.

    Nan Chen just listened without making anyments.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 101

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 101

    After Cheng Xiangyun told him the details, she immediately begged for his help.

    ¡°Something must have happened to Ding Mi. Mr. Nan Chen, I beg of you to please find her.¡±

    But Nan Xing was the first to speak; he eximed loudly, ¡°Brother, this sounds right. Ding Mi might

    have had gotten into trouble.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Nan Xing, what is it that sounds right?¡± Jiang Zhe asked him softly.

    ¡°It is very obvious that Ding Mi has been held hostage!¡± Nan Xing answered firmly.

    After Nan Xing finished his sentence, he looked at Nan Chen, who had an expressionless poker face.

    Although Nan Chen remained silent, he was obviously aware of what he should do.

    He was considering what he should do next.

    ¡°How is that so?¡± Jiang Zhe questioned him again.

    Jiang Zhe was a smart individual who had his own judgements. But in order to show some respect to

    Fourth Young Master, he had to pretend that he was ignorant and seek for answers from him.

    ¡°Ding Mi received a phone call which requested for Cheng Xiangyun to get off the car so that she could

    take over the driver seat. It is rather obvious that the call was made by the perpetrator and Ding Mi had

    to follow what she was being told to do.¡± Nan Xing said.

    Nan Chen frowned. Does he have to exin such a straightforward question? Is this now apetition

    of stupidity?

    ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± Jiang Zhe questioned again.

    ¡°Then, Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s car was parked at the carpark but Ding Mi was nowhere in sight. This

    indicates that she had left the vicinity in another car. We should check on the surveince cameras

    installed near the carpark to look out for any suspicious vehicles leaving the carpark around that time.

    Although there was nothing being captured by the cameras installed in the carpark, there should be

    cameras installed at the exit.¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°What a great and logical conclusion from Mr. Nan Xing!¡± Jiang Zhe immediately started to kiss up to

    him.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Nan Chen had enough of this.

    Everyone shut their mouths immediately.

    ¡°Did I say something wrong?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    ¡°I already knew about everything you said.¡± Nan Chen replied.

    He then gave Jiang Zhe a cold stare, making him feel nervous. Nan Chen could see through his

    intentions of trying to kiss up to Fourth Young Master.

    ¡°Get the car.¡± Nan Chen told Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°Yes, the driver is on stand-by.¡± Jiang Zhe immediately responded.

    ¡°I do not need a driver. I need a sport utility vehicle for me to drive.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Sport utility vehicle for long distance travelling?¡± Jiang Zhe responded instantly as he knew what Nan

    Chen was thinking.

    ¡°She should have left Flower City long ago. When the police have any clues, we will set off

    immediately.¡± As soon as Nan Chen finished his sentence, he stood up and started to get ready to

    leave.

    As the head of the business empire, he had to make the necessary arrangements before he could

    leave.

    ¡°Brother, how did you know that she has already left Flower City?¡± Nan Xing started to pester Nan

    Chen for an answer.

    ¡°If you were the one who¡¯s holding her hostage, would you keep her in Flower City?¡± Nan Chen threw

    the question back at him.

    ¡°That¡¯s true; I would leave as far as possible.¡± Nan Xing replied.

    Half an hourter, there was news from the police.

    They managed to locate the car that Ding Mi drove. After she left the expressway, she had a switch of

    cars.

    The exit of the expressway had a camera which clearly captured the car that Ning Ran was driving.

    After the picture was processed, it was confirmed that the driver of the car was Ning Ran herself.

    Upon further investigations, Ning Ran¡¯s presence was proved to be in the service area.

    When Ning Ran was refueling her car at the service station, she deliberately turned her head around to

    look into the camera for up to ten seconds.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Nan Chen said.

    The security team of ten from the Nan family had assembled and split themselves up into three sport

    utility cars and were ready to set off anytime.

    Nan Chen had a Land Rover to himself as he insisted on driving on his own. However, he did not

    exin the reason behind his persistence.

    Nan Xing was about to get onto the car but was stopped by Nan Chen, ¡°You will stay behind.¡±

    Nan Xing was dissatisfied, ¡°Brother, it is my girl and my children in danger now. How are you not letting

    me go with you?¡±

    Nan Chen did not want to exin but Nan Xing held onto the door and refused to let it go, ¡°Brother, I

    have to go with you.¡±

    Nan Chen frowned.

    ¡°You will stay behind to back me up.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°What for? You expect me to stay behind and feel all anxious while all of you go out and look for them?¡±

    Nan Xing shouted.

    ¡°Only one of us can go. The other has to stay behind.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Even if so, I will be the one going. You will stay behind to back me up.¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°Do you know which direction to give chase?¡± Nan Chen questioned him.

    Nan Xing was taken aback. Indeed, he did not know.

    Although the police gave them a direction of where the car was heading towards, there could be

    crossroads along the way and they could have even switched cars. How would he know where to give

    chase?

    ¡°Do you then know?¡± Nan Xing questioned him curiously.

    ¡°Of course.¡± Nan Chen said.

    Nan Chen questioned him again, ¡°After you have caught up with them, do you know what¡¯s the next

    step to take?¡±

    ¡°Make a police report, isn¡¯t that straightforward?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    ¡°If that was possible, she would have done so long ago. The perpetrator could have used the children

    to ckmail her since they were not with her in the car. Now that we cannot make a police report, what

    do you intend to do?¡± Nan Chen questioned him again.

    Nan Xing shook his head as he had no idea how to deal with this.

    ¡°We do not have a clear picture of the entire situation. It is necessary for us to handle any unexpected

    events. You do not have the ability to do so if you were the one taking charge.¡± Nan Chen came up with

    a conclusion.

    Nan Xing was unconvinced, yet he had no choice but to obey Nan Chen as he was speaking the truth.

    Despite them having an identical appearance, the differences in their abilities were huge.

    Nan Chen was a born leader, full of charisma, adaptability and limitless capabilities.

    Although Nan Xing¡¯s capabilities were not too far off from that of Nan Chen¡¯s, there was just something

    that wascking from him that resulted in a difference between Nan Chen and him.

    ¡°So what can I do?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    ¡°Wait for my updates. If I need anything, be sure to back me up with the necessary resources.¡± Nan

    Chen said.

    ¡°Alright then. Thank you, Brother.¡± Nan Xing replied.

    Nan Chen stretched his hand out to give Nan Xing a pat on his shoulder. With that, he got onto the car.

    Nan Xing stood there to send them off, his face full of disappointment as he watched the cars leave.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, this is the map for the direction that we are heading towards. There are three provinces

    that we can get to from there. Please take a look.¡± The head of the security team of the Nan Family

    said.

    He used to be a mercenary in another country and was apparently a terrific fighter who could take ten

    enemies down, unarmed.

    Despite him being over forty years of age, his muscles were well toned, evident of his fighting abilities.

    Nan Chen received the map, and started to analyze it in detail.

    Out of the three provinces that could be reached by travelling in this direction, there was only one of it

    that leads out of the country.

    It must be this province.

    But there was more than one district that could connect to the international border. Which direction

    should they give chase in?

    If they headed for the wrong direction, they would only get farther away from their target.

    Before the cops were able to provide them with any reliable intel, they had to n first.

    If the police were not able to provide them with any clues, they had to go ahead and give chase based

    on their own judgment although there would be some risks.

    Nan Chen frowned once again.

    Qiao Zhan did not dare utter a single word as he knew that Nan Chen was deep in thought.

    However Nan Chen wanted to hear his opinions, ¡°What do you think?¡±

    Qiao Zhan was an expert in this field and it was necessary to heed his advice.

    ¡°Is Mr. Nan Chen considering whether they would leave the country?¡± Qiao Zhan questioned.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°If that is the case, there is a greater possibility of them heading towards the Y province as there are a

    number of borders over there which are rather long and it should be much easier to get past them.¡±

    Qiao Zhan said.

    Nan Chen nodded as that was what was in his mind too.

    ¡°But herees another problem. As the border was rather long, which was the exact path that they

    crossed?¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    Nan Chen did not respond, hinting him to continue speaking.

    ¡°I think that there is a higher possibility of them heading for Nan Gu, which is covered in dense forests.

    However it could mean more danger as there were a number of armed conflicts over there recently.¡±

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    ¡°This is the ce.¡± Nan Chen said.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 102

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 102

    ¡°What made Mr. Nan Chen think that it should be here?¡± Qiao Zhan asked.

    ¡°The less peaceful the area is, the easier it is to hide.¡± Nan Chen replied.

    Qiao Zhan gave it a thought and felt that it made sense.

    After a few hours on the road, Qiao Zhan got someone to take over Nan Chen as the driver.

    Nan Chen felt that it was not sustainable for him to drive in the long run so he moved to the backseat to

    get some rest.

    Just then, Qiao Zhan¡¯s phone rang. It was a call from the police in charge of investigating this case.

    The police mentioned in the phone call that there was a hit-and-run ident near Nan Gu, where a

    Jeep fled after running into a passenger car.

    The witnesses at the ident scene took pictures of the cars involved in the ident. It could be seen

    that the driver was ady, and the police believed that there was a high possibility that she was Ding

    Mi.

    However, it could not be confirmed as the angle of the picture failed to capture the entire face of the

    lady.

    ¡°It must be her.¡± Nan Chen said after he looked at the picture.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, what made you so sure?¡± Qiao Zhan questioned once again.

    Nan Chen chose to remain silent this time round.

    The reason was simple. Although the face of thedy was not captured, her outfit was that of early

    China days and was the fit worn by the female lead of the film, Sound of Thunder 2. Nan Chen was

    able to tell at first nce.

    Besides, Nan Chen believed that the car ident was deliberately created so as to leave hints behind

    for them.

    She also knew that Nan Chen would pay attention to this incident. Just by looking at the picture, he

    would be able to tell that it was her.

    What a sly woman. She is indeed clever! Nan Chen could not help but topliment her.

    Despite the both of them being highly ipatible, they had simr intelligence levels and an

    unspoken tacit understanding between each other.

    Nan Chen felt himself smiling from cheek to cheek upon thinking of this.

    However, there was a voice in his head telling him that he should not ever fall for her. She was a

    vicious woman who could do anything just to attain her goals.

    Furthermore, she was Nan Xing¡¯s woman. The most she could be was his sister-inw.

    How could he be thinking of stealing his own biological brother¡¯s woman?

    Nan Chen instantly felt guilty and ashamed of himself. He closed his eyes and a wave of anguish swept

    across his face.

    Qiao Zhan could tell that there was something wrong from the expression on his face. However, he

    could not figure out why there was such a drastic change in his emotional state.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, are you fine? Are you tired from this sudden long distance travelling?¡±

    Nan Chen waved his hand, signaling that he was fine.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, is this scheme targeted at the Nan family or just against Fourth Young Mistress?¡± Qiao

    Zhan questioned.

    ¡°She isn¡¯t.¡± Nan Chen replied coldly.

    Qiao Zhan did not know what his reply meant, yet he did not dare to question him.

    Luckily, Nan Chen added on, ¡°She isn¡¯t Fourth Young Mistress.¡±

    But this boration only made Qiao Zhan more confused than before.

    That Ding Mi was Fourth Young Master¡¯s woman, so shouldn¡¯t she be Fourth Young Mistress?

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    However, he still did not dare to question Nan Chen.

    ¡°The speed of the car seems a little slow. Please step on the elerator.¡± Nan Chen instructed.

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    ¡°Get the team in charge of the nes to get ready. I might need to deploy them anytime.¡± Nan Chen

    added.

    ¡°If Mr. Nan Chen finds driving too tiring, we could take the ne instead. However, it would be more

    troublesome to seek approval from the authorities for takeoff. We might need some time on that¡­¡±

    Nan Chen waved and said, ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. Just get them to prepare a helicopter that could

    bring us directly to Nan Gu, that would be sufficient.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Nan Chen.¡±

    ¡­¡­

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran waspletely worn out from driving. She would get into an ident if she

    carried on driving.

    The ident that happened earlier on was intentional and she was hoping for the Nan family to see it.

    This was the most obvious clue she left for them. If the Nan family was still unable to see through her

    intentions behind this, it would only indicate that Nan Chen had a false reputation.

    After parking the car along the roadside, Ning Ran rested her head on the steering wheel to catch a

    wink.

    At this moment, her phone rang, ¡°Why did you stop the car?¡±

    ¡°I have been driving for too long and I cannot take it anymore. If I do not take a break, I¡¯m afraid that I

    might get into a car crash.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see your children again?¡± The other party on the phone started to threaten her

    again.

    ¡°That is why I am resting. I need to stay alive so that I can still get to see my children.¡± Ning Ran

    replied.

    ¡°Are you ying tricks on me? Are you trying to wait for someone toe to your rescue?¡±

    ¡°There are so many wireless cameras installed on my car and you can even track my live location, how

    am I still able to y any tricks on you?¡± Ning Ran countered him with a question.

    ¡°Continue driving ahead and get to Nan Gu before you take a break.¡± The other party said.

    ¡°When am I able to get to see my children?¡± Ning Ran questioned.

    ¡°As long as you listen to my instructions, you should be able to see your children very soon.¡±

    He hung up the call as soon as he finished his sentence.

    Ning Ran had no choice but to continue moving ahead.

    Although she was worried that the Nan family could not catch up with her, she was also worried if they

    managed to catch up with her.

    If the other party realized that the Nan family had caught up with her, they might then find out that she

    had deliberately disclosed her whereabouts and those scoundrels might hurt her children.

    However, if the Nan family did not take any action but just sit back and wait for news in Flower City, that

    would be the end of them.

    She was about to reach the border. Once she leaves the country, it would be even harder for the Nan

    family to catch up with her.

    After about another two hours, she finally reached the territory of Y province.

    However, there was still a distance of about three hundred kilometers between her current location and

    Nan Gu. Ning Ran felt that she really could not take it anymore and needed to rest.

    As she was extremely nervous, it was easier for her to get worn out. She was starting to have double

    visions and was in a bad state.

    She had to rest as she could not afford for anything to happen to her before she got to see her children.

    With that, she parked the car at the service area, crawled to the backseat and fell asleep.

    As soon as she fell asleep, her phone rang again.

    ¡°Don¡¯t make me move. I really need to take a short nap.¡±

    ¡°I just want to tell you to continue driving for a while more. The sky is turning bright soon. Once that

    happens, you may then take a rest while you wait for my phone call.¡±

    ¡°If this goes on, I will really get into a car crash. I have to rest no matter what.¡±

    ¡°Alright then, stay put there. There will be a car to pick you up half an hourter. I will let you know the

    car te number then.¡± The other party said.

    What is this pace of constantly switching cars?

    This is problematic. If I am going to switch cars again, I¡¯m afraid that the Nan family will lose all the

    clues they have!

    However, even if she refused to switch cars, she had no choice but to do so as everything was not

    under her control.

    But she could not care anymore, she just needed a nap.

    Although she was exhausted, she knew that she would not be able to fall asleep. She would just be

    getting some rest.

    As soon as she closed her eyes, the faces of both her children appeared in her mind, making it even

    harder for her to fall asleep.

    After what seemed like a daze, her phone rang once again.

    ¡°Get to the public restroom by the side. There is a Toyota with a car te number of 327. Do not ask

    anything and just get onto the back seat of the car. Don¡¯t try to y any tricks on us.¡±

    Ning Ran looked through the car window and indeed, she saw a white Toyota SUV parked near the

    public restroom. But what shocked her was that the police siren on the car. It was a police car!

    What does this mean? Why is it a police car? Did the other party steal a police car?

    She got down her car and walked over. After she confirmed that the car te number was indeed 327,

    she opened the door and got onto the Toyota.

    The driver was in a police uniform with a mask on.

    But at first nce, Ning Ran could tell that this bunch of people were imposters. The driver had a beard

    and obvious ear piercings marks on his ears.

    Police from Hua Xia were not allowed to have a beards, let alone piercings, on their ears.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 103

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 103

    As soon as Ning Ran got onto the car, the car doors were immediately locked.

    Without anymunication with Ning Ran, they set off in the car.

    ¡°Where are my children? Ning Ran questioned.

    However the guy did not reply her yet he kept throwing nces at her from the rearview mirror.

    Although Ning Ran wasnguished, she was still shockingly beautiful.

    He had never once seen such a gorgeousdy.

    Ning Ran was rmed as it was just the two of them on the car and the sky was rather dark. Will he be

    up to something bad?

    Just then, the man initiated a conversation with her, ¡°Are the children both yours?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°You gave birth to them?¡±

    ¡°Yes I gave birth to them.¡±

    ¡°You look really young. What I mean is that you look way too young to be a mother of two children.¡±

    ¡°They really are my children. Where are they now? Are they safe?¡±

    ¡°They are safe.¡± The man replied.

    ¡°Are you a police officer? Ning Ran asked him on deliberately.

    The man hesitated before replying her, ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Oh, so where are you bringing me to?¡± Ning Ran questioned again.

    ¡°You do not need to know for now, if you would like to meet your children sooner, you better listen to

    what I say.¡± The man said.

    ¡°Brother, just let me see my children, I am really worried about them. They are not even five years old;

    they are merely four years old.¡± Ning Ran begged him.

    ¡°You will get to see them, but definitely not now. I don¡¯t have a say either.¡± The imposter said.

    It was obvious that he was just a small potato and had no say.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired? Have some rest.¡± The impersonator said again.

    Ning Ran was indeed worn out. Sheid against the backrest and fell into a half-asleep state.

    As she was in a daze, she felt the care to a stop. When she opened her eyes, she realized that

    the car had already left the expressway.

    After travelling for quite a distance on the road, they reached a town. The impersonator immediately

    drove the car into a backyard and had the metal gates locked up.

    There were a few ferocious wolf dogs in the corner of the backyard and they were casting their

    covetous eyes on Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran feared dogs more than anything else as she had been bitten by a dog when she was

    younger.

    Ning Ran was even scared of pet dogs that were slightly bigger in size, let alone such a big wolf dog.

    She could feel her legs turning numb as she saw these ferocious looking dogs.

    Seeing Ning Ran so fearful of dogs, the police impersonator let out a smug.

    He pointed to the dog and the cameras installed all around the backyard, ¡°Do not try to move or else

    you will be in deep trouble.¡±

    Ning Ran nodded, hinting that she will not fidget.

    ¡°There is a room inside; you can sleep there throughout the day. We will only set off when the sky is

    dark.¡± The imposter said.

    ¡°What about my children? Where are they?¡±

    ¡°You will get to see them soon.¡± The man said.

    Ning Ran entered the house and realized that there were other people in the house who seemed to be

    sleeping.

    The police impersonator followed her in and judged her from head to toe. There was something wrong

    in his stare.

    He then fished out a rope and said, ¡°I have to tie you up to prevent you from escaping.¡±

    ¡°There are dogs outside and walls around, it is impossible for me to escape. Besides, my children are

    still in your hands, I wouldn¡¯t dare to escape.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°No, I will have to tie you up.¡± The man persisted.

    Ning Ran started to back off, ¡°I have not been tied up all these while and I did not do anything rash. Is it

    your leader¡¯s idea to tie me up?¡±

    ¡°Do you know who my leader is?¡± The police impersonator questioned her.

    ¡°If you dare to touch me, I will kill myself now! You should know of my rtionship with the Nan family.

    If anything were to happen to me, the Nan family would take revenge for me at all costs and you will be

    in deep trouble. I am sure your leader will not want you to get into more trouble, am I right?¡± Ning Ran

    said coldly.

    The man gave it a thought and remained silent.

    He stood there feeling unreconciled and gave Ning Ran a stare. He then turned around and left for

    another room.

    Ning Ran did not dare to sleep although she was extremely tired. She then closed the door, sat down

    on the floor and leaned against the door to sleep.

    If anyone were to enter the room, she would be woken from her sleep from the push of the door.

    Although the position felt ufortable, it provided her with a sense of security and she fell asleep

    very quickly.

    She felt much better after she took a short nap.

    Subsequently, she felt weak. It could possibly be due to her empty stomach.

    Ning Ran had to restore her energy level as she could not predict what obstacles woulde her way

    next.

    Ning Ran opened the door and started searching for food. She managed to find a few boxes of instant

    noodles in the living area, as well as a few bottles of beer and white wine.

    There was a box that was already opened. Ning Ran took a packet of noodles and added some water

    in. She then began slurping on them.

    She was famished to the extent that the instant noodles tasted heavenly to her.

    She starting searching around but could not find a toilet in the house.

    She entered the backyard and found a house next to the pig pen which seemed like a toilet.

    However that ce was in close proximity to the dogs and Ning Ran did not dare to walk over.

    However she was having a hard time holding her urine back and she would not be able to relieve

    herself if she did not walk over.

    She had no choice but to brave herself and slowly inched towards the direction where the toilet was at.

    Four pairs of eyes were staring at her as she moved across the backyard, with one of them having its

    tongue sticking out at the other showing its teeth.

    Ning Ran felt her legs trembling very badly but she could only continue moving forward.

    She was lucky that the dogs did not attack her.

    After she got out of the toilet, Ning Ran quickly returned to the room, and leaned against the door to

    continue her nap.

    This time, she was woken by some noiseing from the outside.

    It seemed that the people from the other room were awake and conversing.

    There was a strong smell of instant noodles and white wineing from the outside.

    They were speaking in dialect and Ning Ran could not understand much of it, except for a few simple

    phrases such as ¡°path¡±, ¡°airne¡±, and ¡°raining¡±.

    Although Ning Ran was awake, she did not leave the room but pretended to be asleep.

    Over the period of time, there were a few instances where someone would knock on her door but

    because Ning Ran did not respond, the person would leave.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    What a terrible day to weather through.

    As the sky slowly turned dark, the sound of an engine came from outside as a car entered.

    Almost instantly, a man kicked the door violently and said in inurate Chinese, ¡°Get up, your little

    children are here.¡±

    Ning Ran immediately jumped up from the floor to open the door.

    The man standing at the door was not a police impersonator, but an even darker and toner man.

    ¡°You said my children are here?¡±

    The man pointed to the entrance of the house and said, ¡°Go and take a look.¡±

    Ning Ran ran over, and saw a womaning from outside who was holding hands with Dabao and

    Erbao.

    Dabao and Erbao saw Ning Ran, and immediately got rid of the woman¡¯s hand to rush over to Ning

    Ran.

    Tears welled down Ning Ran¡¯s face.

    Ning Ran felt her heart shatter as she saw the adhesive tapes stuck on their mouths, which allowed

    them to only make some muffled sounds.

    The woman who was originally holding very tightly to Dabao and Erbao¡¯s hands had to let go

    eventually.

    The two darlings leaped towards Ning Ran and the three of them hugged together and cried

    hysterically.

    ¡°Ask them to not make any sounds and the tapes can be removed from their mouths.¡± One of the men

    said.

    Dabao and Erbao nodded.

    The tape was removed and Erbao started sobbing hysterically.

    ¡°You¡¯re fine now darling, mommy is here, don¡¯t cry.¡± Ning Ran gentlyforted Erbao.

    Dabao¡¯s tears flowed down his face like a river escaping a dam but he did not make a single sound.

    ¡°As long as all of you listen to instructions, you will all be fine.¡± The woman said.

    Ning Ran nodded at her and said, ¡°Thank you for looking after my children.¡±

    The woman was over thirty years of age, with a well-toned body and dark skin. Although she was also

    a female, it felt that Ning Ran and her were two totally different creatures.

    Ning Ran¡¯s gratitude towards her took her aback. She expected Ning Ran tosh out at her but she

    actually thanked her instead.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 104

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 104

    Of course, Ning Ran¡¯s gratefulness was not from the bottom of her heart.

    But Ning Ran knew that this woman would be the one looking after her children. As such, she could not

    afford to bear any grudges with her as she might make her children suffer in return.

    In fact, Ning Ran¡¯s conjecture was right. After she thanked the dark-skinned woman, she looked more

    amiable.

    ¡°Mommy, who are they? Why are they doing this?¡± Erbao questioned Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran shook her head. Even until now, she had no idea who these people were.

    ¡°Where are they bringing us to?¡± Erbao asked once again.

    Ning Ran shook her head again and said, ¡°Stop questioning.¡±

    The woman got some bread and milk from the car and passed it to Ning Ran, signaling for her to let the

    children have it.

    Erbao shook his head as soon as he saw the food. She must have been so sick of eating this for the

    last few meals that she could not eat them anymore.

    ¡°Come, you have to eat something to have sufficient energy.¡± Ning Ran said softly.

    Dabao was extremely obedient. He took over the bread, and starting munching away despite it tasting

    awful.

    He had to drink some milk along while eating the bread as it was too hard to swallow.

    Although it did not taste nice, it was the most efficient food source of energy.

    Very soon, the three of them were instructed to get onto the car and they set off in the dark.

    ¡­¡­

    Y province, Nan Gu city.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, the local police have already checked through all the hotels and motels but there were

    no traces of them.¡± Qiao Zhan reported.

    Nan Chen nodded his head as this result was within his prediction.

    Those people would definitely not turn to hotels as that would allow the police to get hold of them

    easily.

    ¡°So what should we do now?¡± Qiao Zhan questioned.

    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.

    Nan Chen, who was deep in thought, did not say anything.

    ¡°What about the situation over at the border?¡± Nan Chen asked again.

    ¡°I have checked with them, there were no suspicious immigration records.¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    Nan Chen nodded again as this was also within his prediction.

    ¡°There are a lot of viges near the border. A lot of locals know of the ways to get pass the border and

    many a times; they can do so by just crossing a river. Although there are barbed wires installed along

    the border, many parts have been destroyed as the border is too long. As long as they are able to avoid

    getting caught by the police patrolling along the border, it is very easy for them to get out of the state,

    especially for the locals who are familiar with this route.¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    ¡°Go get a local here and offer him a high price to bring us out of the city.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, it is too risky to get through the checkpoints illegally. Besides, there are armed conflicts

    going on in that area¡­¡±

    Nan Chen waved his hand to signal to Qiao Zhan to stop, ¡°Do as you are told.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Nan Chen.¡±

    An hourter, a dark-skinned and masculine looking local was brought in front of Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen fished out a photo of Ning Ran and said, ¡°Have you seen her?¡±

    The man shook his head, ¡°No.¡±

    If he said that he had not seen her before, that was for sure as anyone who has evere across Ning

    Ran would never forget her gorgeous face.

    ¡°We would like to cross the border. Please show us the way. State your price.¡± Qiao Zhan questioned.

    The local looked at Nan Chen and thought that he ought to state a high price as he seemed like a

    wealthy man.

    He sticked out his thumb and little finger out, and shook his hand.

    ¡°How much does this mean?¡± Qiao Zhan questioned.

    ¡°Six hundred.¡± The man said.

    Nan Chen thought that the man would ask for at least a few thousand, he did not expect him to ask for

    merely six hundred!

    ¡°We want a safe route that can allow arge group of people to cross the border but remain unnoticed.¡±

    Nan Chen stated his condition.

    ¡°We will have to choose a route that is more isted. I will need two thousand.¡±

    This was really cheap.

    It was so cheap to the extent that Qiao Zhan was suspicious, ¡°Reliable?¡±

    ¡°Of course, a lot of people who smuggle goods take that route.¡± The local replied.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go with this.¡± Nan Chen gave the order.

    ¡°When do you want to leave? We can only do so at night, you will have to pay me half of the price first

    after 1am in the morning, and the remaining half when we have crossed the border.¡± The local said.

    ¡°Sure.¡± Qiao Zhan said as he handed a thousand to the man.

    Nan Chen looked at his watch. It only 10pm at night and was way too early.

    Qiao Zhan fished out a cigarette and offered a stick to the man, ¡°Help me to ask around if anyone has

    seen a few people leaving the border at the same time. Your friends working in this field should be able

    to provide us with some information.¡±

    ¡°I will ask around, but if there are any results, you have to pay me some fees.¡± The local said.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    The man walked over to a corner and started talking on the phone. He made around five to six phone

    calls and was conversing in their local dialect.

    ¡°No news.¡± The result was disappointing.

    ¡°Keep asking around. If you have any news, please contact us immediately. We will pay you

    ordingly.¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    ¡°Rest assured, those in this industry have connections, sometimes we will share information with each

    other when there are stringent checks along the border to not get caught. So as long as there are any

    news of them, I will be able to get hold as well.¡± The man said confidently.

    ¡°Sure, keep a look out for me.¡±

    ¡°So when are we going to leave?¡± Qiao Zhan looked at Nan Chen, waiting for him to make the decision.

    ¡°No need to rush.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°We will contact you when we are ready to leave.¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    ¡°Alright, I will make my move first.¡± The local took the money and left happily.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, would you like to get some rest?¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    Nan Chen nodded.

    Qiao Zhan left the hotel room and gently closed the door. He then signaled for his subordinates to

    guard by the door.

    Meanwhile, Nan Chen was leaning on the sofa with his eyes closed.

    He could not fall asleep.

    As soon as he closed his eyes, he could see the faces of the two children as well as the face of that sly

    and disgusting woman appearing in his mind.

    Although he predicted that those people would leave the city, all these were just assumptions. There

    was no certainty as to whether they would leave or not.

    If they n to leave the city, there would be another problem posed. Which part of the border would

    they choose to leave from?

    They could not afford to cross the border at the wrong ce. If they chose the wrong route, they would

    end up in dense forest covers, making the search for them even harder.

    If they crossed the border first but the people chose to turn back, it would also be problematic.

    There was no good solution to find Ning Ran and the people at the moment. All they could do now was

    to wait.

    Waiting was the hardest thing to do in this world.

    His phone rang; it was a call from Nan Xing.

    Nan Chen picked up the call and heard Nan Xing¡¯s coarse voice, ¡°Brother, are there any news?¡±

    ¡°Not at the moment.¡±

    ¡°So what do we do now? I am so anxious that I¡¯m about to go mad.¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°No point getting all anxious. Just wait.¡±

    ¡°Brother, it was not easy for me to reunite with my children; I cannot let anything happen to them.¡±

    ¡°Okay, just wait.¡± Nan Chen hung up impatiently as he did not want to hear Nan Xing¡¯s sniveling.

    As soon as he hung up Nan Xing¡¯s call, there came another phone call from his grandfather.

    ¡°Grandfather, you are not in bed yet?¡±

    ¡°Are there any updates regarding the children?¡±

    ¡°There are some clues but we still have not gotten hold of them. Rest assured grandfather, I will handle

    this well.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Nan Chen, just let someone else settle this for you, why are you taking matters personally? You are

    the chairman of the entire firm; it is very risky for you to travel all the way to the other side. What if

    anything were to happen to you¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°I will be fine; I know what I am doing. Don¡¯t worry about me; we wille back in one piece.¡± Nan

    Chen said.

    ¡°You must take care of your own safety and promise me that you will bring my two grandchildren back.¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 105

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 105

    It was 1am in the morning, Nan Chen who was resting on the bed heard someone pressing the

    doorbell.

    He sprung out of bed and opened the room door to see Qiao Zhan.

    Given that he woulde and disturb Nan Chen at such wee hours of the night indicates that he had

    some news.

    ¡°The local who inquiries about information said that the vige next to theirs had a group of people

    crossing the border, and there seemed to be two children¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Before Qiao Zhan could finish his words, Nan Chen barged out of the door.

    Three cars and over ten people rushed out of the hotel in the middle of the night.

    ¡°When did they cross the checkpoint?¡± Nan Chen questioned.

    ¡°I am not too sure about the time they left. They were the ones who got the news so they refused to

    reveal any more details to us.¡± The local said.

    This local should be speaking the truth as it made sense. If the people were to disclose any more

    details, they would also be in trouble as this was an illegal matter.

    ¡°Speed up.¡± Nan Chen said.

    The roads were very narrow and had sharp bends as it was within the viges.

    Although the car was already going very fast, Nan Chen still prompted, ¡°Go even faster!¡±

    In the end, Nan Chen just took over the driver seat.

    Qiao Zhan who was a mercenary, had fantastic driving skills. However, he discovered that Nan Chen¡¯s

    driving skills were even better.

    There were a few instances where the car seemed to rear off the road, but Nan Chen could bring the

    car back into position just within a few centimeters.

    Nan Chen¡¯s car was speeding right at the front of the group of cars, with the security team following

    behind. They slowly felt that they could not catch up with Nan Chen.

    Qiao Zhan immediately used the walkie-talkie to get the cars behind to not tailgate Nan Chen¡¯s car to

    prevent any car crashes.

    Just as they were about ten kilometers away from their destination, they met with a car crash.

    The cargo truck in front of them broke down and blocked the roads in front.

    As the roads here were rather narrow, some time was needed for the police to reach.

    In addition, the cargo truck was full of stones and even if the traffic police were to reach, much time

    would be needed to move the vehicle away.

    What was strange was that the driver of the truck was not present in the scene.

    Nan Chen immediately got Qiao Zhan to take a look at the map to search for another routes to get

    through.

    However, there wasn¡¯t any alternative. They were already very close to the checkpoint and were

    surrounded with dense forests. This was the only road avable.

    There were no viges nearby.

    But if there were no viges, where was this cargo truck carrying sand and stones transporting them

    to?

    It was very obvious that this cargo truck was deliberately sent over by someone to block the road.

    ¡°Get off the car, walk.¡± Nan Chen gave an order.

    ¡°Call back-up. Get a helicopter.¡±

    ¡°The process for approval is ratherplicated.¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    ¡°Get it done first before exining to the relevant departments, we have to save them. I will shoulder

    whatever consequences there are.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Qiao Zhan agreed.

    Everyone got off the car and dashed forward.

    After walking for a few kilometers, the road got narrower and disappeared after another kilometer or so.

    The local started to bring Nan Chen and his people to walk through the forests. To them, it seemed that

    there was no path in the forest yet the locals were able to make ways through the rough tree bark,

    pping branches, uneven ground, and underbrush that tangles.

    As he walked, he reminded them to be aware of poisonous snakes.

    The thought of the two darlings being made to traverse across such a dangerous environment made

    Nan Chen¡¯s heart sink.

    The forest got denser and denser, and there was no sunlight prating through.

    ¡°Look, this is the checkpoint.¡± The local raised his torchlight.

    Everyone saw the high barbed wires, with many holes created at the bottom for people to crawl

    through.

    Nan Chen walked over and saw a piece of cloth stuck onto the barbed wire.

    He picked it up and gave it a sniff.

    That¡¯s right, it was the orange blossom scent.

    ¡°How long does it take to get onto the road over there if we start walking from here?¡± Nan Chen

    questioned.

    The local shook his head, ¡°There is no road all the way. If you continue moving forward, there is no

    road nor person in sight. I have never been there before but I know that there is no road.¡±

    ¡°If there is no road, how do people leave?¡±

    ¡°There is a deep ravine nearby which has a broad piece of emptynd. From there, one can take a

    helicopter and leave. This was the most dangerous yet safest route. Once they got onto the helicopter,

    no one would be able to catch them. Hence the costs are very high.¡± The local said.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Nan Chen said.

    But instead of getting pass the barbed wires, he walked backwards.

    Qiao Zhan thought that he wanted to give up.

    ¡°Call the back-up to get our exact location. Find a ce tond.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°We are going to take the helicopter across the checkpoint?¡± Qiao Zhan asked.

    ¡°We couldn¡¯t catch up so this is the only thing we can now do.¡± Nan Chen said.

    The local immediately stood up to persuade him, ¡°There are armed conflicts going on in the front these

    days and many nes have been flying around. There was a bullet that flew into our vige garden not

    long ago. It is very dangerous to fly through as they could mistakenly fire at you.¡±

    ¡°Yes, many nes fly across this checkpoint and it is very dangerous. A private ne was shot down

    just recently.¡± Qiao Zhan added.

    But it felt like Nan Chen did not hear anything.

    Qiao Zhan did not dare to persuade him any further as he knew that no one could sway Third Young

    Master once he made up his mind.

    After getting out of the forest, everyone was exhausted.

    The helicopter is ready, Nan Chen looked at Qiao Zhan, ¡°You will leave with me and bring along some

    others, the rest will stay behind to prepare the back up.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, the few of us will get there and you may stay here. We will bring Fourth Youth Mistress

    and Young Master back.¡± Qiao Zhan tried to convince Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen waved his hands, signaling for Qiao Zhan to not utter nonsense.

    He got the pilot of the helicopter to get down, and got onto his pilot seat.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen¡­¡­¡±

    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Qiao Zhan was thinking to himself, this is a helicopter, not a car. Can Nan Chen operate it?

    But upon seeing his cold face, he swallowed his words before they could get out of his mouth.

    Nan Chen looked through all the meters in front of him and started to operate the helicopter.

    It was obvious that he was not familiar as he wouldn¡¯t be flying a helicopter on a daily basis.

    The helicopter made a lot of noise as it rose up into the sky. Qiao Zhan¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he

    witness this, he was afraid that the helicopter might drop onto the ground.

    Thank goodness, it did not drop down. After a short period of familiarizing himself with the helicopter,

    Nan Chen was able to control the helicopter at his fingertips.

    Just a while after he flew the helicopter, there was a re ahead.

    It was very rare for such a thing to be seen especially in an empty piece ofnd.

    If there was a re, it meant that there would be people present. But an ordinary folk would note

    all the way here just to burn fire.

    The re was an indicator for a ne tond.

    The local once mentioned that people who chose to take this route to leave the country have no choice

    but to leave by a helicopter as there was no road here.

    The re must have been created by the people waiting for a helicopter to pick them out.

    In such a dense forest, it would be dangerous for someone to just start a fire at a random spot.

    The ce where the fire was located has to be a vast empty space, which was the ce for helicopter

    landing as mentioned previously by the local.

    Apart from the re, everything else was out of sight.

    If that was a ce not meant fornding of helicopters, it would be dangerous tond there.

    Qiao Zhan was extremely nervous as he could not tell what decision Nan Chen would make.

    Nan Chen was also hesitant. There was no evidence to prove that the fire was an indicator meant for

    the helicopters tond.

    As such, if hended on the area and an unexpected event happens, everyone on the ne would be

    in danger.

    But if he did notnd and missed it, Ning Ran would be picked up by someone else and it would be

    impossible to search for her in future.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 106

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 106

    Nan Chen did notnd but kept flying ahead.

    Qiao Zhan heaved a sigh of relief. He was sure of the high risk involved in such anding.

    Nan Chen did not fly ahead for long before he made a turn back.

    ¡°Everyone, I am about to make anding and there is a high risk involved. If more than half of the

    people here do not approve of this, we will turn backwards.¡± Nan Chen¡¯s voice came out from the

    earpiece.

    Everyone on the helicopter looked at each other without uttering a single word.

    The security team members of the Nan family were top experts and warriors. They would not give in to

    any danger.

    Just as how the saying goes, training of soldiers for a couple of years all just for that one battle.

    Usually, they get to enjoy the benefits and incentives from the Nan family and had almost nothing to do.

    However now that there is an ordeal, they will not chicken out.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, please go ahead andnd. We are to live or to die together.¡± One of the members said.

    ¡°Yes, we are willing to take any risk along with you.¡±

    ¡°Yes,

    ¡°Qiao Zhan, what about you?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I will skip all the faithful talking. I will stick through live and death with Mr. Nan Chen.¡±

    Qiao Zhan said that he would not do the faithful talking, yet what he just said was indicative of his

    loyalty.

    ¡°We will all survive. But all of us have to be prepared; if we are able tond safely, we cannot get off the

    helicopter immediately as there are many kidnappers down there. If we managed tond, they would

    definitely get on the helicopter. Qiao Zhan, please be on standby.¡± Nan Chen gave an order.

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Nan Chen¡±

    ¡°Thank you everyone, prepare fornding.¡±

    The people on the ground witness the helicopter fly past them and cheered, ¡°The people are here to

    fetch us!¡±

    The helicopter then left, returned, yet refused tond and continued to circle in the sky.

    Everyone could not understand what was happening.

    ¡°Mommy, where are they bringing us to?¡± Erbao stood closely next to Ning Ran and asked her softly.

    After a long distance ride, everyone was drop-dead tired, whether they were adults or not.

    ¡°I do not know.¡± Ning Ran could only speak nothing but the truth.

    ¡°Will Daddy still be able to find us then?¡± Erbao questioned again.

    Ning Ran had no idea how to reply Erbao.

    ¡°Yes.¡± said Dabao standing next to them, who was giving them confidence.

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Dabao was extremely firm.

    Ning Ran could tell that Dabao was not trying to hoax his sister but instead, he really believed that their

    saviors would be here to rescue them.

    ¡°When is Daddy going toe and rescue us?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°Not Daddy, but Third Uncle.¡± Dabao said.

    Ning Ran did not understand why the children liked this poker face so much that they believed that he

    would be the one saving them.

    ¡°Why so?¡± Erbao questioned.

    ¡°Because he is stronger.¡± Dabao said.

    Dabao¡¯s firmness in his answer validated his statement.

    There was no mistake in the logic behind this. Given that the environment was so harsh, only a strong

    man would be able to settle it.

    ¡°Daddy is strong too.¡± Erbao felt reconciled for Nan Xing as he was easier and more amiable to get

    along with. Erbao liked Nan Xing more than Nan Chen.

    Dabao made noment on his sister¡¯s rebut.

    Just then, it started to get windy and roar of the helicopter could be heard as it slowlynded.

    The kidnappers cheered happily.

    Ning Ran¡¯s heart sank. If she was kidnapped, where would she end up in?

    Even if Nan Chen was here, it would be almost impossible to look for them in future.

    The helicopternding was not as smooth and there was a loud thud as itnded.

    Thank goodness, there was no explosion or burning.

    However, no one got off the helicopter after itnded.

    The kidnappers started packing their things as they prepared to board the helicopter.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go! Quick!¡± The kidnappers told Ning Ran.

    ¡°Where are we going?¡±

    ¡°You will know once you are there, cut the rubbish talk.¡±

    Ning Ran had no choice but to stand up and grabbed her children¡¯s hands as they walked towards the

    helicopter.

    Bang!

    Just then, the helicopter door opened abruptly and someone dashed out from the inside to pin down

    the first kidnapper.

    In the speed of lightning, he then snatched over the gun ced at the kidnapper¡¯s waist area.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    Bang bang bang!

    Ning Ran immediately squatted down and hugged her two children in her arms to protect them.

    The scene was in chaos. Ning Ran was extremely frightened that these people might hurt her children

    identally.

    ¡°Ding Mi, Dabao! Erbao!¡± Ning Ran heard some warmth in this voice that was usually cold.

    ¡°Third Uncle?¡± Dabao and Erbao came to their senses at the same time.

    ¡°Poker face, we are here!¡±

    Nan Chen heard a reply from a distance away. It was that woman¡¯s voice.

    He walked towards the direction where the voice wasing from as he intermittently smelt the faint

    orange blossom scent again.

    A huge burden was lifted off his shoulders as he saw her safe and sound.

    Hold on, what did the woman call him just now?

    She definitely did not address him as Mr. Nan Chen or Nan Chen! He could not hear clearly as the

    scene was in a piece of chaos but he was certain that it was not anypliment!

    ¡°Dabao?¡±

    ¡°Third Uncle, we are here!¡± Dabao was about to rush over but Ning Ran stopped him.

    Nan Chen dashed forward, squatted down and gave the two darlings a tight hug,

    ¡°Are you all fine?¡±

    ¡°We are fine, Third Uncle, I know that you wille to our rescue.¡± Erbao said.

    ¡°Oh, how did you know?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Because you are more powerful.¡± Erbao openly stole her brother¡¯s line.

    ¡°What do you mean by this? Who am I more powerful than?¡± Nan Chen asked again.

    ¡°You¡¯re stronger, more handsome and more powerful than daddy.¡± Erbao started kissing up to Nan

    Chen without any bottom-line.

    ¡°Don¡¯tpare me with your Daddy, who taught you to say all these?¡± Nan Chen looked towards Ning

    Ran.

    Ning Ran surprisingly felt nervous as she thought to herself, I wouldn¡¯t teach them to say such words,

    they¡¯re too cheesy for me!

    ¡°Mommy taught me.¡± Erbao said.

    What a horrible teammate, Ning Ran felt anguished. Erbao this traitor has pitted her in a situation

    where she would never be able to exin herself.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t! Erbao why are you spouting such nonsense?¡± Ning Ran immediately responded.

    Erbao wrapped his hands tightly around Nan Chen¡¯s neck and giggled.

    Nan Chen did not say anything, yet he was surprised that he was of such significance in this woman¡¯s

    heart.

    But why is she always expressing the opposite of what she feels? Is she trying to make her personality

    stand out to get a sense of presence?

    ¡°Nan Chen, we have taken all of them down, but the helicopter is spoilt and we cannot take off

    immediately. We might have to wait for it to be repaired tomorrow.¡± Qiao Zhan walked over and said.

    ¡°Get everyone to be prepared to defend, more people will being.¡± Before Nan Chen could finish his

    words, there came a loud roar from a helicopter.

    It was not one, but two helicopters with shing lights that were approaching them.

    ¡°Get ready everyone, be prepared to fight!¡± Qiao Zhan gave an order.

    ¡°Yes! Move over this direction.¡± Nan Chen carried the two children and ran towards the other side.

    Ning Ran had no choice but to follow behind.

    ¡°Look after the kids; I will go settle some stuff.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Be careful!¡± Ning Ran could not hold back her words.

    Nan Chen was puzzled and he slowed down his footsteps before quickly moving over to the other side.

    The two helicopters in the sky started to circle around, looking like as if they preparing tond.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 107

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 107

    A loud explosion could be heard. The whole surface starting shaking, and mud starting flying over. Ning

    Ran¡¯s body was entirely bent to protect both her children from any possible harm.

    A bomb was thrown from the helicopter. ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, are you fine?¡± Qiao Zhan¡¯s frantic voice could

    be heard from within the haze.

    ¡°I am fine, how about the rest?¡± Nan Chen replied. ¡°We have taken precaution, no one are hurt.¡± Qiao

    Zhan said.

    After the bomb was thrown, the two helicopters left very quickly.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    Their goal was to destroy the helicopter that Nan Chen operated hence they left very quickly after their

    job was done.

    It was now peaceful again.

    The two children were so frightened and stuck very tightly to Ning Ran.

    ¡°Fret not, Mommy is here.¡± As Ning Ran wasforting her two children, her voice was also trembling.

    Such a scene was only seen in television series, no one would have expected to see in in real life.

    It was too scary and too dangerous!

    Nan Chen moved over quickly and returned into a calm state after seeing the three of them safe and

    sound, ¡°We are all fine now.¡±

    Ning Ran could feel Nan Chen panting although he tried very hard to suppress it.

    H

    ¡°Dabao, Erbao,e over.¡± Nan Chen used his hand to lift Erbao up.

    Dabao walked towards his side and said, ¡°Third Uncle.¡±

    Nan Chen ced his hands around Dabao, ¡°Were you frightened?¡±

    ¡°No, I am a man; I have nothing to be scared of!¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°I am not scared either because there is Mommy and brother here.¡± Erbao said courageously although

    her heart has been thumping furiously, with tears still in her eyes. However, she had been holding them

    back in, not letting herself let out any wails.

    Now that Nan Chen was carrying her, she felt safer than ever.

    Nan Chen gave Erbao a pat on her head, and said, ¡°You¡¯re so brave, we will have to stay here tonight

    first before we get to return tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Third Uncle.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen.¡± Qiao Zhan walked over.

    ¡°Speak.¡±

    ¡°The satellite on the top of helicopter has been destroyed; we do not have any means of

    communication with the outside world.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Nan Chen was at a loss for words.

    ¡°One of our brothers got hurt but I can handle that. The kidnappers have only one tent left; we could

    arrange for Young master to rest.¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    ¡°Sure.¡± Nan Chen agreed.

    This time, Ning Ran had already walked over to get Erbao back.

    ¡°Third Uncle, are you going to sleep with us?¡± Erbao asked.

    Ning Ran and Nan Chen froze. Did Erbao ask this on purpose?

    How could she ask such an awkward question?

    No.¡± Nan Chen responded forcefully. If he did not give an answer, he might seem to be having second

    thoughts about it.

    ¡°Let¡¯s sleep together, Third Uncle, I know you¡¯re tired too.¡± Erbao was still warmly inviting him.

    ¡°That¡¯s not necessary; quickly sleep and we will talk in the morning.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Ok, Erbao, Third Uncle has other matters to attend to, be obedient; you have Mommy to sleep with

    you too, don¡¯t you?¡± Ning Ran convinced her.

    Erbao kept looking at Nan Chen until he nodded his head. Erbao then took his hands off Nan Chen¡¯s

    neck.

    ¡°Ok then, Third Uncle, good night.¡±

    ¡°Good night.¡±

    Ning Ran then carried Erbao and walked towards the tent. However, Dabao did not move.

    ¡°Be obedient, get into the tent and sleep in there.¡± Nan Chen told Dabao.

    ¡°Then what about you?¡± Dabao asked.

    ¡°I am not sleepy.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°I will apany Third Uncle.¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°No, it is humid at night with a lot of venomous bugs, you have to get inside the tent. Don¡¯t worry, I will

    protect all of you outside here.¡± Nan Chenforted him.

    ¡°Take care of yourself.¡± Dabao said as he was still worried, sounding totally like a tiny adult.

    ¡°I will.¡± Nan Chen stretched his hand out and gave Dabao a pat.

    It was only now that Dabao walked over to the tent.

    Ning Ranid down with her two children in her arms, and she could feel a wave of fatigue taking over

    her body.

    Given that Nan Chen was here, she could finally calm her nerves down.

    The fatigue that was umted all the while came crushing down on her.

    Erbao who was still talking, realized that her mommy next to her was already asleep. A whileter she

    stopped talking and fell asleep as well.

    They were in deep sleep as though they were in a five star hotel room and not a deserted forest.

    When they woke up, they could hear the sounds of the birds chirping.

    Ning Ran crawled out of the tent and almost bumped into Nan Chen, who was guarding the opening of

    the tent.

    His sleeping posture was indeed amazing. He was sleeping with his legs crossed just like an old monk

    in a state of tranquility.

    He must have been really tired that he could fall asleep in such a position.

    Ning Ran wanted to get him to sleep in the tent but she felt bad if she were to wake him up.

    She thought that she would just leave him to rest.

    It was horrifying as they could not see anything at night, yet what they saw in the morning were what

    were left of the incident that happened yesterday.

    There was arge hole created by the explosion, and the helicopter was damaged to the extent that it

    could not be recovered.

    Qiao Zhan walked over and saluted Ning Ran, ¡°Good morning Young Mistress!¡±

    ¡°I am not!¡± Ning Ran immediately rified.

    ¡°Not what?¡± Qiao Zhan did not know what he said wrongly.

    ¡°I am not Young Mistress so please do not address me by that in future. Call me Ding Mi.¡± Ning Ran

    quickly made it clear.

    If that Poker Face hears of this, he would think that it was my idea.

    ¡°Young¡­Ding Mi, there are some hardtack biscuits over there to have for breakfast.¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    ¡°You guys can have it; I am not hungry.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Are you having a loss of appetite? We are stuck in the wild here and we cannot return anytime soon,

    you have to eat some food to maintain some energy. Don¡¯t be squeamish.¡± Nan Chen said as he

    walked over out of the blue.

    Ning Ran was raging. Why must this Poker Face ce view everything in a bad light?

    Ning Ran did not mean it this way; she just wanted to let other people have the food since there was a

    limited amount avable.

    She still had some positive feelings towards Nan Chen yesterday, but it has all been depleted today.

    ¡°I am not¡­¡±

    ¡°Go and have some food, you will have to replenish your energy.¡± Nan Chen said to cut her off.

    Ning Ran could not be bothered to exin any further as she knew that she could nevermunicate

    with him.

    I shall just eat since he asked me to do so.

    After she finished her breakfast, Qiao Zhan walked over.

    ¡°Ding Mi, you can go ahead to apany Young Master Dabao and Young Mistress Erbao while we

    have a burial for someone here. Please keep this out of sight for them in case they get scared.¡±

    ¡°What? Someone was dead?¡± Ning Ran was bbergasted.

    ¡°The man was one of the kidnappers, he was killed it the explosion as he was about to flee in the midst

    of the chaos. We would like to bury him so he will not have to be left open in the wild.¡± Qiao Zhan

    replied.

    ¡°Okay, I got it.¡± Ning Ran replied.

    She walked over to the tent and heard the two children conversing inside.

    ¡°Why does Mommy dislike Third Uncle?¡± Erbao said.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Dabao replied.

    ¡°Because Third Uncle is not Daddy.¡± Erbao answered her own questioned.

    Dabao remained silent, indicating that he did not know how to reply to such a nonsensical question that

    Erbao posed.

    ¡°Mommy does not like daddy either.¡± Erbao said.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Dabao agreed with what Erbao said.

    Erbao¡¯s face was full of worry, ¡°This is too difficult, mommy does not like anyone.¡±

    ¡°Why must mommy like them?¡± Dabao asked.

    ¡°If mommy likes someone, then she will get married. If she gets married, we can have a big house and

    delicious food every day.¡± Erbao said.

    Ning Ran was about to blow her top. This child is trying to trade me in return for a good life?

    ¡°It¡¯s good to not get married.¡± Dabao seemed to disagree with her.

    ¡°Why?¡± Erbao did not quite agree.

    ¡°Mommy should make her own choices.¡± Dabao said.

    Erbao did not understand what he meant, ¡°Her own choices?¡±

    Dabao remained quiet and did not intend to exin any further.

    ¡°Ahem¡­¡­¡± Ning Ran let out a few coughs to indicate her presence.

    ¡°Mommy!¡± Erbao let out a sweet call.

    Ning Ran crawled into the tent and asked, ¡°What were you two chatting about?¡±

    ¡°We were discussing about who you like.¡± Erbao said.

    ¡°Mommy obviously love the two of you, is it even necessary to ask this question?¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Apart from us?¡± Erbao¡¯s eyes widened like two ck pearls as she questioned her.

    ¡°Still the both of you, you two meant the entire world to mommy!¡± Ning Ran eximed.

    ¡°Actually I think daddy is very nice too.¡± Erbao started to stand up for Nan Xing.

    ¡°You are just a child, stop thinking of all these things.¡± Ning Ran said angrily.

    Erbao sulked and said, ¡°I am sparing a thought for your happiness, mommy!¡±

    ¡°Mommy does not need all these alright? Finish your breakfast now.¡± Ning Ran said as she passed the

    food over to her two darlings. They seemed to be enjoying the food a lot although it was just hardtack

    biscuits.

    As Ning Ran felt sad, she also felt relieved at the same time, and was immensely grateful towards the

    Poker Face.

    If he did note in time to rescue them, she could not imagine what would happen to them.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 108

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 108

    After the necessary arrangements were made, they were ready to return to the country.

    As the helicopter was destroyed, they could only walk through the dense forest.

    However, there was a problem. The man who was killed in the explosion yesterday was the only

    person who knew how to navigate the way back.

    In other words, no one else knew how to get back.

    As this was a primeval forest, there were no reference points avable. Even if there was a guide, there

    was still a possibility of getting lost, let alone the absence of a guide. It was an obstacle to get out of

    this forest.

    Furthermore, if one were to get lost in a primitive jungle, there would be no way to backtrack and it was

    impossible to know which direction one was heading towards.

    There were only two options left for them. One was to stay put and wait for people toe to their

    rescue, and the other way was to take the risk and enter the dense forest.

    Everyone¡¯s eyes were glued onto Nan Chen, waiting for him to decide.

    Nan Chen was also trying to decide. This decision had to be done carefully as it meant putting a lot of

    lives in danger.

    It was too hard of a decision for him to make.

    It was impossible for him to get in touch with the outside world as there were no modes of

    communication at hand.

    No one even knew if the Nan family has taken any actions for rescue operations.

    The dried rations left were also limited and even if everyone were to consume a minimal amount, it

    could only support them for one day.

    If no one came to their rescue in time and they ran out of food, they would have no energy left to get

    out of this ce.

    But if they chose to take the risk and try to walk through the forest without any guide, the chances of

    them sessfully leaving this ce were very slim too.

    There would be some risks involved for any choice that was made.

    ¡°What do you think?¡± Nan Chen suddenly looked towards Ning Ran.

    ¡°Me?¡± Ning Ran did not expect for Nan Chen to question her.

    ¡°Do you not have any ideas?¡± Nan Chen frowned.

    ¡°I do not have, I have never had such an experience before, I will listen to what all of you say.¡± Ning

    Ran replied.

    ¡°How about this, we will leave the food ration for the rest of you here. Qiao Zhan and his team will stay

    here to protect the three of you, while I lead two of his members to try to navigate our way out of the

    forest. If we seed, we will get the rescue team to save all of you.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°What if you cannot manage to find your way out?¡± Ning Ran questioned.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    There was dead silence.

    Everyone knew that if they could not get out of the forest, it meant that they would not be able to get

    back either. The primitive forest was the ce where everyone gets lost.

    No one knew how long one could survive upon getting lost in the primitive forest.

    But there was a high death risk else thisnd would not have been named as an emptynd.

    ¡°If we do not manage to get out, all of you will continue to wait here and leave the dried ration for the

    children.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°I disagree.¡± Ning Ran said emotionally.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you have noments?¡± Nan Chen frowned and asked.

    ¡°I now have.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Yourments are not valid.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Why? This is not Flower City and not your office, why must you be the one who calls the shots? I

    disagree with your decision.¡± Ning Ran said emotionally.

    ¡°So what do you think we should do?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t try to get out of here; the sess rate is almost zero. Even a guide could lose his way, let alone

    someone who was never navigated through the forest before. By trying to get through this forest is no

    different from sending yourself to death, you should be clearer of this than anyone else.¡± Ning Ran

    said.

    Erbao started wailing by the side, ¡°I don¡¯t want Third Uncle to die! I don¡¯t want!¡±

    Nan Chen immediately lifted Erbao up and said, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to mommy¡¯s nonsense, Third Uncle will

    not die.¡±

    ¡°I disagree as well.¡± Dabao said.

    Everyone¡¯s attention was ced upon Dabao as his state of calmness was rather shocking for a child.

    ¡°Instead of taking risks, why not just wait here? If no onees to our rescue, we continue to wait

    together.¡± Ning Ran said.

    Dabao nodded as what mommy said was what he wanted to say.

    Compared to separating and perishing in the forest, eaten by wild animals and insects, it would be

    better for everyone to stick by together and spend theirst few hours together.

    ¡°The dried ration is limited but we will not starve to death anytime sooner. Adults will not die after a

    week, Erbao and I can sustain for one week, so we are not at our wits¡¯ end yet.¡± Dabao gave an

    objective analysis which left everyone jaw dropped.

    Such a cruel horrible truth came out from the mouth of a child. All these were making the team

    members tearing up.

    However, Dabao remained as calm and continued his analysis.

    ¡°The most important resource that we need is water, so obtaining water is key. It would be better if

    there was a river as it could provide us with an unlimited source of water and there could be fishes in

    there so we will not have to starve to death. We could even possibly sustain for one more month.¡±

    Everyone was still silent.

    Everyone was not sad but rather, they were overwhelmed by his calm analysis.

    This child¡¯s state of calmness in analyzing things was really terrifying!

    Even Nan Chen was shocked.

    He only thought of sacrificing himself by taking risks in order to help the children stay alive.

    However, he had never considered the condition of how one could sustain the possibility of staying

    alive.

    As long as they could stay alive, they would definitely get rescued and everyone will not die.

    Dabao¡¯s way of thinking was right.

    The best choice of course was for everyone to survive.

    It was rare for Nan Chen to get emotional but this time, he hugged Dabao and gave him two kisses.

    No one had ever seen Nan Chen acting like this. Was this even still the same ice cold Mr. Nan Chen?

    ¡°Dabao, you¡¯re amazing!¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Third Uncle is amazing too, just that what you had in mind was about sacrificing yourself and was a bit

    too extreme. I am a child, so I have no ability to sacrifice myself to protect all of you. Hence, I can only

    try to think of ways to not sacrifice anyone here.¡± Dabao said.

    Ning Ran was shocked too. Although she knew that her son was a genius, she did not know that he

    would be so terrific to this extent.

    ¡°Young Master Dabao is right, we have to first maintain our abilities so Mr. Nan Chen will stay here, and

    I will bring a team member with me to search for water sources.¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    ¡°But what if you both lose your way back here?¡± Nan Chen ask.

    ¡°Our mission is to protect Mr. Nan Chen and Young Master Dabao¡¯s family, so we have to give it a

    shot.¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    ¡°This deserted ce should have rivers nearby, and they are not far.¡± Dabao said.

    Everyone was taken aback once again.

    Ning Ran look towards Dabao and said, ¡°How did you know?¡±

    ¡°I have once read a book regarding a Chinese expeditionary force which talks about the presence of a

    river in a situation that is rather simr to our current one.¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± Qiao Zhan asked eagerly.

    ¡°The river is well hidden but it must be there. It is a small river and we will need to search all over the

    ce in detail to find it.¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°So how exactly are we able to find it?¡± Qiao Zhan asked again.

    ¡°Rivers are mostly located at a low altitude as water flows downwards. Hence we should choose to

    search in low-lying areas. As we go along, we have to make some markings on the trees so that we

    can turn back anytime if we are unable to find any paths further ahead.¡± This time, Nan Chen was the

    one speaking.

    Dabao nodded, indicating that he agreed with him. This adult and child are having a good rapport

    together.

    ¡°What¡¯s next?¡±

    ¡°If this direction was wrong, we will have a change of direction the next day. We have to ensure the

    markings are clear so that we will not have to repeat the entire process again.¡± Nan Chen said.

    Dabao nodded again. He had finally found an adult who has a simr way of perception as him and he

    felt contented and relieved.

    ¡°We cannot go far, as we have to ensure that we have the energy to make it back here.¡± Nan Chen

    reminded everyone.

    He gave it a thought, and said, ¡°Let me lead the people in the search for the river.¡±

    ¡°No, this is idea of yours is good enough but we will do the search. You will stay here to look after

    Young Master Dabao and Young Mistress Erbao here.¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    ¡°I will analyze the surroundings as I have read the book on the Chinese expeditionary force as well. I

    should go on the search personally to see if I can discover anything.¡± Nan Chen said.

    Qiao Zhan was about to say something but Nan Chen waved his hand to stop him.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 109

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 109

    The butler, Chai Hua, had a room saved as themand room for the rescue operation. There were a

    number of handphones ced on top of the table to receive any updates from any party.

    Nan Zhengde was sitting on the chair with his eyes closed to get some rest.

    Their grandfather did not have a good night¡¯s sleep and had blood-shot eyes as a result of that.

    Ever since the position of the CEO was passed to Nan Chen, there was nothing for him to worry about

    and it had been long since he felt such anxiety.

    Right next to grandfather was Young Master Nan Xing who just fell asleep, anticipating phone callsst

    night.

    The phone rang again and grandfather opened his eyes and looked at Chai Hua.

    Meanwhile, Nan Xing also got up almost instantly and stared at the person who picked up the phone

    call.

    After Chai Hua answered the call, his face turned pale.

    ¡°What¡¯s the situation now! Don¡¯t keep it to yourself, quick share!¡± Nan Xing was anxious.

    ¡°After Young Master Nan Chen flew the helicopter cross the border, the helicopter has been out of

    contact with the outside world. There is no way to locate their live location either. Last morning at 3am,

    there were two incidents of firing in M nation. The border situation is currently in a state of emergency

    and all the exits along the border have been sealed.

    ¡°What? Does that mean that my brother will not be able toe back?¡± Nan Xing eximed.

    ¡°We have alreadymunicated with the immigration personnel so once they see Young Master Nan

    Chen and their team, they will let him get through the checkpoints. However, there seemed to be no

    sight of them.¡± Chai Hua said.

    ¡°Something is wrong, they are in trouble! Grandfather, we have to send out nes to start the rescue

    operation. M nation is covered with primitive forests; they will not be able to return once something

    happens to the helicopter.¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°That is out of the country, our rescue team must get their approval before we can carry out any rescue

    operations in their territories. It should be even harder to do so given that the area is in a state of

    emergency right now.¡± Grandfather said as he frowned.

    ¡°What shall we do, I cannot just sit here and not care about my brother and his people.¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°What are you worried about? I am trying to figure out a way now. Chai Hua, help me contact Chief Ye

    in Y province, get him to arrange for a call with me once it is convenient for him.¡± Grandfather said.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Nan Xing was so anxious that he started pacing up and down the room, with his palms together as he

    prayed, ¡°Dear God, please keep my children safe and sound. If you can hear what I say, I am willing to

    shorten my life span for ten years to keep my children safe!¡±

    As the Nan family were busy handling the resources to carry out a rescue operation, Zheng Lunlun just

    came back from overseas and had lots of food brought over to the filming scene at Flower City.

    He realized that there was only Luo Fei and Zhao Mingjie at the scene as well as a few other

    supporting actors, Ning Ran was not there.

    As the Nan family prevented the news from spreading, no one in the crew, including the directors and

    staff members, knew about Ning Ran¡¯s disappearance.

    Cheng Xiangyun told the director that Ning Ran fell ill and had to admit into the hospital for treatment

    hence she was absence. She said that she was also not sure how many leaves of absence she would

    have to take.

    Although the director was not too happy about it, but ever since he knew that Ning Ran had the Nan

    family as her pirs of support, he did not dare to make anyment but agreed to everything.

    Zheng Lunlun searched around but could not see Ning Ran at all. Hence, we asked the staff members

    if they knew where Ning Ran had been to.

    The staff member said that Ning Ran was seriously ill and did note here today.

    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.

    Zheng Lunlun was panicking, and asked the staff member which hospital Ning Ran was at.

    As the staff member did not know the answer, he had to turn to Ning Ran¡¯s manager for help.

    Hence, Zheng Lunlun immediately gave Cheng Xiangyun a call, but she was stumped as she did not

    know whether she should let him know about the truth.

    After she gave it a thought, she felt that the both of them have a rather good rtionship and she ought

    to make use of his capabilities to help Ning Ran.

    Cheng Xiangyun went over to the filming scene and got into his recreational vehicle to tell him about

    what exactly happened to Ning Ran.

    Zheng Lunlun was shocked, ¡°So all these were Luo Fei¡¯s doings? What an evil woman, kick her out of

    the cast!¡±

    ¡°Currently, there is no evidence if it was done by her but she is a suspect as she had always wanted

    Ding Mi to disappear.¡± Cheng Xiangyun said.

    ¡°It must be her; I can never forgive her! I haven¡¯t taken revenge thest time when she tried to poison

    Ding Mi, but now she is already creating more trouble!¡±

    ¡°There was no evidence that it was her doing thest time, let alone this time. If Ding Mi could get back

    safely that we might be able to have evidence but if she really disappears, we will not even have a

    chance for revenge. And the two children, they are so innocent.¡± As Cheng Xiangyun said with tears

    flowing down her cheeks.

    ¡°No way, Ding Mi is not that vulnerable. Rest assured; nothing will happen to her. Say no more, I will

    make necessary arrangement now to search for Ding Mi!¡±

    ¡°The Nan family did not allow me to leak any news out so I hope that you will keep it to yourself.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun said worriedly.

    ¡°I know how to handle this.¡± Zheng Lunlun said.

    Just then, the staff member came over to inform Zheng Lunlun to get ready for his shoot in the

    afternoon.

    But Zheng Lunlun did not care at all and got his driver to send him over to the Nan family.

    After he heard Chai Hua¡¯s exnation, he then found out that Third Uncle Nan Chen had already set

    off to rescue them and they were all out of contact.

    ¡°So what do we do now?¡± Zheng Lunlun was extremely frantic.

    ¡°Master and the Chief of Y province have made a phone call; the chief is now making arrangements to

    get rescue teams to carry out the search beyond the borders. It is extremely dangerous and

    challenging as there are wars over that side and this involves a negotiation between the two countries.¡±

    Chai Hua said.

    ¡°This sounds reallyplicated; by the time we finish all these troublesome negotiations, that will be

    the end of Third Uncle and the rest of them! I will have toe up with my own way. I will discuss with

    Fourth Uncle.¡± Zheng Lunlun said.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Xing is currently resting as he is extremely exhausted from theck of sleepst night.¡± Chai

    Hua said.

    ¡°He is still able to fall asleep under such a situation? He is really open-minded, let me go and look for

    him now!¡±

    But in fact, Nan Xing did not fall asleep but was just trying to rest by keeping his eyes closed forcefully.

    The main problem was that there was no suitable solution to salvage the current situation and all that

    could be done was to wait.

    Zheng Lunlun started knocking onto the door as if he was trying to tear it down, ¡°Fourth Uncle, open

    the door now, there is an urgent matter that I need to discuss with you right now.¡±

    Nan Xing opened the door and saw Zheng Lunlun holding a map in his hands.

    ¡°Are you trying to create trouble? I am already about to gopletely bonkers, if you¡¯re going to create

    more trouble for me I will really punch you!¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°Fourth Uncle, why are you treating me like a child as well? Don¡¯t you know how talented I am? Come

    here; let me exin it all to you.¡± Nan Xing had no choice but to walk over.

    ¡°Fourth Uncle, now look, based on what Chai Hua said, Third Uncle crossed the border from this part.

    By doing so, he would have reached this primitive forest where no one managed to get through for over

    the past couple of years. Many people ended up dying in there!¡±

    Nan Xing¡¯s weak heart was unable to take any blow, ¡°I know of all these situations that you¡¯re saying,

    what¡¯s your intention of letting me know of these? Are you cursing your Third Uncle and my children?¡±

    ¡°Calm down you old man, why would I think this way? I am just trying to analyze the current situation.

    Look, now that the border has been sealed, we cannot get over from here, not even a ne. It is too

    challenging to do so as there is an ongoing war over that country.¡±

    ¡°What are you trying to tell me? Stop beating around the bush! Cut the crap!¡± Nan Xing got very

    emotional.

    ¡°Calm down Fourth Uncle, what I am about to say is the main point! Our country is not having any war

    and our borders are not sealed, so if we enter M nation from our country to carry out the rescue

    operation, there should not be any problem.¡± Zheng Lunlun said as he pointed to the map.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 110

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 110

    ¡°What you¡¯re referring to is the connector between D nation and M nation, if we were to enter from

    there, we will have to negotiate with D nation, followed by M nation. This is going to involve all the

    relevant departments from all three nations; it is going to be really troublesome!¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°The legal procedures would be even more troublesome but if we know of someone from the relevant

    departments, it would be lessplicated. I am good brothers with the sons of the Deputy Commander

    of D nation. If I get them to help me, I can get it done within minutes!¡±

    ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± Nan Xing¡¯s face was full of doubt.

    ¡°Yes, that dude lost thirty million USD in Ao City and I was the one who helped him as he had

    insufficient money to repay this debt¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°You have the guts to go to Ao Cheng?¡±

    ¡°Rx Fourth Uncle; let¡¯s get back on the serious matter. What I am saying is that as long as I get him

    to help, we are able to get into D nation and start our rescue operation!¡±

    Nan Xing stared at Zheng Lunlun, ¡°Reliable?¡±

    ¡°Of course! It is definitely reliable!¡± Zheng Lunlun said, full of confidence.

    ¡°What are you still waiting for? Contact them right away!¡± Nan Xing eximed.

    ¡°Yes, I will get it done right away!¡±

    At 8pm that night, Luo Fei suddenly received a phone call, and the person on the other end of the call

    said that he was Zheng Lunlun.

    Luo Fei was on cloud nine as she had never expected Zheng Lunlun to give her a call. This was really

    unexpected.

    He even said that he woulde and pick her up within half an hour.

    Luo Fei started to doll herself up as she had to look good since Zheng Lunlun was the one asking her

    out!

    Zheng Lunlun wasbeled as ¡°Beauty Zheng¡± on the Inte by many users as his beauty was the top

    of the top. Luo Fei had to look as great to match up to that of Zheng Lunlun¡¯s beauty standards.

    Half an hourter, Zheng Lunlun arrived at Luo Fei¡¯s ce in his sports car.

    Zheng Lunlun did not say anything, and hinted for her to get on the car.

    Luo Fei was extremely happy. As long as she could build a good rtionship with Zheng Lunlun, her

    future would be great!

    ¡°Where are we going to?¡± Luo Fei asked.

    Zheng Lunlun was driving at an extremely high speed but what was strange was that he was wearing

    an outdoor fit, making it seemed like as if he was about to go hiking.

    ¡°You are Nan Chen¡¯s girlfriend, aren¡¯t you?¡± Zheng Lunlun asked.

    ¡°Not girlfriend, but fianc¨¦¨¦e.¡± Luo Fei corrected him proudly.

    Are you finally thinking of sucking up to me now that you know of the power that the Nan family

    possesses?

    ¡°Oh, so in other words, Nan Chen is your fianc¨¦¨¦?¡± Zheng Lunlun asked.

    ¡°He did mention about marriage a couple of times to me, but as I am too busy in work, I still do not wish

    to think about marriage but I guess we will get married next year.¡± Luo Fei started bragging.

    ¡°So does it matter to you if something happens to your fianc¨¦¨¦?¡± Zheng Lunlun asked.

    ¡°What do you mean by this?¡±

    ¡°Nan Chen is now lost in a primitive forest in M nation and we are out of touch with him. He is in a very

    dangerous situation right now and we are trying to save him now. Considering the fact that you are his

    fianc¨¦¨¦e, we have decided to bring you along in this rescue operation. There shouldn¡¯t be a problem

    with this, am I right?¡± Zheng Lunlun said.

    ¡°Why would Nan Chen be lost in M nation? What is he doing there?¡± Luo Fei has puzzled.

    ¡°This is all caused by the kidnapping scheme that you plotted to get rid of Ding Mi¡¯s children and

    threaten her to follow the kidnappers. That is why Nan Chen gave chase and ended up getting lost as

    he got past the border.¡± Zheng Lunlun said.

    ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand anything.¡± Luo Fei started to panic.

    ¡°Are you still trying to pretend to be ignorant? Fine, you can choose not to admit this, but as you have

    said, Nan Chen is your fianc¨¦¨¦ so how can you not care if he is now in danger?¡±

    ¡°I wish to care but it is not within my control¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°You will go with me; won¡¯t Nan Chen be all so happy and touched to see his fianc¨¦¨¦e appear in front

    of him?¡± Zheng Lunlun said.

    Luo Fei was reluctant to go to this stranded area as the thought of it was already making her scared.

    If Nan Chen who was such a powerful man could get lost, wouldn¡¯t it be more dangerous if she were to

    go?

    Nan Chen was important to her, but he has to be alive for her to reap benefits from him. If he was dead,

    why should she risk her life to look for him?

    ¡°Why? You do not want to go? You do not wish to save Nan Chen?¡± Zheng Lunlun continued to pester

    her.

    ¡°It¡¯s not that I refuse to go, but I have to stay here to continue filming. Even if I get there, I can¡¯t do

    anything to help either.¡±

    ¡°I have already told the director about this, so you can stop filming for a couple of days. I will cover your

    losses. As to what you can do, your main role is to give Nan Chen a surprise. If Nan Chen knows that

    you went to look for him personally, he will definitely be so touched that he will proposed to you right

    away. Isn¡¯t this what you hope for?¡±

    Luo Fei did not know how to respond at the moment.

    Her excuse to decline was abolished by Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°You can choose not to go but I will let Nan Chen know that you were unwilling to go as you refused to

    take any risks for him. You should know that given his temperament, you will turn from his fianc¨¦¨¦e into

    a passer-by when he returns to the country. He might even take back everything he has given to you.

    Without him as your pir of support, I believe that you will be nothing given your horrible acting skills.

    You are going to disappear from this acting industry and no one will remember you nor your presence.

    You should know that in this industry, it is not hard to forget about someone¡¯s existence. Sigh, you¡¯re so

    pathetic.¡± Zheng Lunlun¡¯s words cut her so badly that she felt her nerves.

    Although what he said sounded rather exaggerating, it was the truth.

    If he offended Nan Chen, she would not be able to continue to thrive in this industry.

    Just then, Zheng Lunlun stopped his car and said, ¡°Get off the car now.¡±

    ¡°I will not get down. It is Nan Chen who is in danger now and obviously, I will have to get there. You

    don¡¯t know how bad I wish to be able to appear right next to him now.¡±

    Although her acting skills were horrible, she still has some skills in changing her facial emotions, given

    her couple of years of experience in acting.

    ¡°Are you sure? You refused to go just a while back.¡± Zheng Lunlun said.

    ¡°It is not that I do now want to go, but I was afraid that I will only create more trouble for Nan Chen. I

    am a weak woman, and there is a limit as to what I can do. However, I want to stay by his side to share

    his troubles and get through obstacles and challenges with him.¡± Luo Fei disyed a face full of love

    which was rather disgusting.

    ¡°Enough of that, cut your acting. Since you are going, let¡¯s go together.¡±

    Seeing Zheng Lunlun¡¯s coldugh, Luo Fei felt that she was cheated by him to get involved in this

    matter.

    There was a private ne on the Nan family¡¯s parking apron, all ready to set off.

    ¡°The necessary procedures have been settled, and we have the support of the relevant leaders. We

    will now depend on you as to whether we can seed.¡± Nan Xing told Zheng Lunlun.

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Rest assured, I will bring Third Uncle and the two darlings back, as well as that¡­¡­Ding Mi.¡± Zheng

    Lunlun was unable to bring himself to call her Aunt.

    ¡°Why are you bring this wicked woman there? What the use of it?¡±

    ¡°I believe that she is definitely rted to this, I have to bring her along to get a clearer picture of what is

    happening. If anything happens to one of the people, she will go down with them.¡± Zheng Lunlun said.

    ¡°Please be careful. I still wish to go there with you.¡±

    ¡°Third Uncle, if Nan Chen made you stay behind, you will have to listen to him. You have a very

    important role to y as we might need your help to back us up at any point of time. You will also have

    to look after grandfather.¡± Zheng Lunlun waved his hand and walked towards the ne.

    ¡°Be careful, and return in one piece!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will!¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 111

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 111

    That was the third day that Nan Chen and the others had been trapped in the forest.

    Only a little food was left so no one else was eating because it had to be saved for the kids.

    Despite that, the kids still had to ration their meals because they were running out of food.

    For the first time in her life, Ning Ran felt hopeless.

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    She thought that she had it rough when she had to take care of the kids all on her own, but the true

    hardship had just begun.

    Nothing else mattered when they were struggling to survive.

    Dabao could tell that his mommy was worried so he held her hand and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, mommy.

    Even if we run out of food, we can still eat the fruits in the forest.¡±

    Ning Ran forced a grin and said, ¡°Okay, mommy won¡¯t worry.¡±

    ¡°We won¡¯t die, mommy,¡± said Erbao who was also trying tofort her mommy.

    Ning Ran was terrified of hearing the word ¡®die¡¯ so she picked up some bitter fruits and took a couple of

    bites to distract herself.

    ¡°We¡¯ll be okay,¡± Ning Ran encouraged the kids, ¡°We¡¯ll get out of here soon.¡±

    It didn¡¯t matter how scared she was, Ning Ran needed to give the kids hope.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen is back!¡± someone called out.

    ¡°Dabao! Dabao!¡± shouted Nan Chen.

    ¡°Third uncle!¡± replied Dabao loudly.

    ¡°I found it! I found the river!¡± eximed Nan Chen even though he was naturally calm, ¡°And there¡¯s food

    there!¡±

    ¡°Really? That¡¯s amazing!¡± said Dabao as he jumped up, ¡°Yay!¡±

    ¡°Get ready, we¡¯re leaving now,¡± ordered Nan Chen, ¡°We¡¯ll move over before nightfall.¡±

    One hourter, everyone took off.

    Even though the correct path was marked, they still got lost twice.

    That forest had too many trees and the leaves had blocked out every bit of sunlight.

    Not long after they had departed, Ning Ran realized that there were a couple of leeches on her feet.

    The humidity and darkness of this forest made it feel like hell on Earth.

    Walking in this forest would make any human feel like they would not live another day.

    Tired, famished, and having no actual path to walk on, everyone was moving slowly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t give up,¡± said Nan Chen whose voice was masculine and deep, ¡°It¡¯s just a little further.¡±

    Ning Ran suddenly realized that Nan Chen had been struggling with the same environment previously

    and was still the first one to forge ahead on their journey. How physically and mentally strong did he

    have to be to be able to do that?

    With Nan Chen¡¯s help, the leeches were taken care of soon enough, and Ning Ran sat on the floor.

    She was simply too exhausted to move forward, and her feet feel as heavy as lead.

    ¡°Get up,¡± ordered Nan Chen coldly, ¡°We don¡¯t have time to rest.¡±

    ¡°I need a minute,¡± panted Ning Ran, ¡°Just one minute.¡±

    ¡°Mommy, you can¡¯t sit on the floor,¡± said Dabao who was on Nan Chen¡¯s back.

    ¡°I am too tired,¡± exined Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen held out a hand and pulled Ning Ran up, ¡°You can rest standing up, but you are not allowed

    to sit.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°It¡¯ll make you fatigue and cause your muscles to cramp,¡± exined Dabao.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t really believe that. She wanted to sit down because she was too tired.

    ¡°Come on,¡± said Nan Chen, ¡°You can lean on me as you walk.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay; you¡¯re already exhausted from carrying Dabao. I can handle it.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± said Nan Chen who didn¡¯t give anyone a chance to argue and made Ning Ran held on to

    him as they walked.

    With Nan Chen¡¯s help, it was slightly easier for Ning Ran to move forward.

    Ning Ran was also someone with a strong will, but her body couldn¡¯t handle it anymore because she

    had not eaten in two days. Still, she persisted.

    No one knew how far or how long they walked, but they reached their destination just before the sun

    went down.

    Compared to the forest they were previously trapped in; their destination was heaven.

    A river was flowing beside arge, open field where one could see the sky if they looked up.

    There was even a wooden cabin built by the river.

    Qiao Zhan set Erbao down and started to pant on the ground.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe someone actually lived here,¡± said Ning Ran who couldn¡¯t believe her eyes.

    ¡°No one lives here,¡± exined Qiao Zhan, ¡°This is a temporary base for drug dealers who had it

    prepared in case they were ever chased into the forest.¡±

    ¡°Will they suddenly show up and realize that we had taken over their spot?¡± asked Ning Ran, ¡°That

    would cause some trouble, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°The possibility is very low,¡± said Qiao Zhan, ¡°But don¡¯t worry, Young Mistress. Even if someone were to

    show up, we will be able to protect you and the kids.¡±

    After entering the cabin, they realized that there was, indeed, simple cutleries and pots for cooking.

    A few of the stic bags were filled with rice, but the weather had been too humid so those on the

    surface had already had mold growing on them. Despite that, it didn¡¯t feel right to throw them away so

    Qiao Zhan had someone washed the rice with the mold growing on them then use them to cook some

    porridge.

    The rice that was not affected by the mold had been given to Ning Ran and the kids.

    After resting for a bit, Qiao Zhan and the others grabbed some of the toolsying in the cabin and went

    fishing.

    They did a pretty good job and caught about 7 rtively big fishes along with one eel.

    Ning Ran woke up to the smell of cooked food, and her stomach growled immediately.

    The pot was cooking fish and some vegetables, and it smelled great.

    However, that was for the security guards because Ning Ran and the two kids were having an even

    better meal ¨C porridge with fish.

    Ning Ran felt bad about that and tried to join the security team, but she was rejected.

    After dinner, Nan Chen and Dabao sat by the campfire and started chatting.

    They had found food and water so their survival issue had been solved for the time being, and

    everyone was in a good mood because of it.

    Ning Ran inched closer because she was curious and wanted to hear what the Poker Face and Dabao

    were talking about.

    The Poker Face rarely talked. In fact, he would only chat with the two kids, and Ning Ran realized that

    he was actually quite interesting despite his usual dull character.

    However, Ning Ran soon realized that she could not understand a word they were talking about

    because Dabao and Nan Chen were discussing astronomy while looking at the sky.

    Ning Ran¡¯s pride was a little hurt as she realized that she was so far behind.

    Geez, can¡¯t they just gossip? Why do they have to talk about astronomy?

    Sitting beside them, Erbao was also annoyed so she voiced up, ¡°Third Uncle, what are you two talking

    about? I don¡¯t understand!¡±

    Ning Ran agreed in her mind and thought Yeah! Besides, isn¡¯t it more inclusive and warmer if we talk

    about something everyone could understand?

    ¡°Why is it that your brother understands but you don¡¯t?¡± asked Nan Chen sweetly.

    For some reason, Ning Ran felt ufortable when that Poker Face talked sweetly because it didn¡¯t

    feel real.

    ¡°Because I am a girl,¡± answered Erbao in her baby voice.

    ¡°Hmm?¡± said Nan Chen who was waiting for Erbao to exin.

    ¡°Girls only need a pretty face,¡± said Erbao with a straight face, ¡°We don¡¯t need to understand those

    complicated things.¡±

    That is absolutely right! Ning Ran wanted to give her daughter a big thumbs up.

    That is why it is not at all embarrassing for me to not know a thing aboutplicated topics!

    Nan Chen¡¯s lips curved upwards. With the campfire illuminating his face, it was obvious that he was

    smiling.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 112

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 112

    At night, the rain suddenly started to pour down.

    That was how the weather was like over there. The rain poured down without a warning even though it

    was bright and sunny in the afternoon.

    Although they were shielded by the wooden cabin, they were not protected from the mosquitos so Ning

    Ran set up a mosquito around the bed so that her precious kids could sleep well inside it.

    The mosquitos there were extraordinarily big and had weird marks grown on their wings. A person

    could be stung even if he/she had a jacket on, and the boils caused by those mosquitoes¡¯¡¯ bites were

    huge.

    The next morning, quite a few of them were swollen all over their body and face and was itching and

    hurting at the same time.

    Nan Chen and Dabao got together again to have a discussion.

    Ning Ran was curious about what could the two ¡®ice blocks¡¯ be talking about so she tiptoed over again

    to eavesdrop on them.

    ¡°That nt can only treat snake poisons. Mosquito bites and snake poisons are different, and different

    remedies are used to treat different snakes¡¯ poisons,¡± exined Nan Chen.

    ¡°But we can give it a try,¡± said Dabao.

    ¡°No, we can¡¯t do that,¡± argued Nan Chen, ¡°what if there are side effects?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯ll be any side effects. Those mosquitos may be carriers of diseases because the

    boils they cause were extraordinarily big. It may be dangerous if we don¡¯t treat it quickly,¡± said Dabao

    as he frowned.

    Nan Chen was also frowning.

    The same expression, the same frown, the same amount of stubbornness lit up on both the kid¡¯s and

    the adult¡¯s face.

    ¡°It¡¯s dangerous to use it too because the side effects may be fatal,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± insisted Dabao.

    ¡°Any basis for that statement?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°I think I remember that it can cure contagious diseases, but I¡¯m not certain.¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re not certain, then it¡¯s best not to try.¡±

    ¡°Mommy?¡± Dabao realized that Ning Ran was eavesdropping on them.

    Ning Ran cleared her throat awkwardly and asked, ¡°What are you two talking about?¡±

    ¡°The Hedy Otis diffusa,¡± replied Dabao.

    ¡°Oh, the nt that could cure diseases?¡± said Ning Ran who was pretending to be knowledgeable.

    ¡°Mommy knows about it too?¡± said Dabao who was pleasantly surprised.

    ¡°Uhh,¡± said Ning Ran nervously, ¡°A little.¡±

    ¡°Mommy, do you remember if this nt can cure contagious diseases as well as snake¡¯s poison?¡±

    asked Dabao whose face was filled with anticipation.

    ¡°Uh¡­. I think so?¡± said Ning Ran who was even more nervous.

    Nan Chen¡¯s sharp eyes scanned Ning Ran¡¯s face to figure her out.

    Ning Ran pretended to be calm as she thought I shouldn¡¯t have chimed in. Darn it, why did I act like a

    knowledgeable woman when I¡¯m just in fact a no brainer?

    ¡°So you agree that we should use it to cure the mosquito bites?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°Uh¡­ About that¡­ I¡¯m not really sure. I think the two of you should decide that,¡± said Ning Ran who

    then turned to flee.

    Nan Chen was confused about why Ning Ran ran away.

    ¡°Mommy is shy around you, Third Uncle,¡± Dabao exined in his mommy¡¯s ce.

    Nan Chen got even more confused. That woman is even more shameless than a tree that steals all the

    nutrients from the soil and leaves nothing for its brethren.

    ¡°Third Uncle, that¡¯s two votes from mommy and me, and one vote from you so we won,¡± dered

    Dabao.

    ¡°Is it? But she never explicitly said anything,¡± said Nan Chen, ¡°I think she was lying about knowing

    anything.¡±

    Dabao thought I also think that she was lying.

    At that moment, Qiao Zhan approached them and said, ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, some of the guys are feeling

    unwell. It looks like they have contracted a tropical disease but we don¡¯t have any medicine. What do

    we do?¡±

    Nan Chen and Dabao turned to one another.

    It was obvious that Dabao was right when he said that the mosquitos were the carriers of disease

    because the symptoms had started to show.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go pick up some herbs,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°Okay,¡± replied Dabao.

    In the afternoon, they brewed the nt they collected and made soup for everyone to drink.

    There were no negative side effects and those who were infected by the disease started to feel better.

    After lunch, Ning Ran and Dabao rested inside the mosquito.

    ¡°Dabao, why does it seem like you know everything?¡± asked Ning Ran in a soft voice, ¡°Where did you

    learn all that from?¡±

    ¡°I learned it from books and the inte.¡±

    ¡°But you¡¯re just a kid,¡± said the confused Ning Ran, ¡°Why were you looking up on medicine?¡±

    ¡°When we were living abroad, I heard that Eastern medicine was special, but I never got the chance to

    see it for myself so I read some books about it and learned a little about herbal medicine.¡±

    ¡°I never realized that you read books about Eastern medicine.¡±

    ¡°Mommy was too busy. You had to earn money to raise us so you didn¡¯t have time to notice what I was

    reading.¡±

    Ning Ran felt a little bad as she realized that she knew very little about her own son.

    ¡­¡­

    At the border of the D. Nation

    Looking at the endless prehistoric forest underneath, Zheng Lunlun couldn¡¯t help but be terrified.

    That was a natural death trap that was almost impossible to escape if a person fell into it.

    Luo Fei was also scared so she kept her eyes closed and was shivering because before they even got

    on the ne, the rescue team had already informed them of how dangerous that ce was.

    ¡°Are you nervous?¡± asked Zheng Lunlun all of a sudden.

    ¡°No, I am just excited because I am about to see Nan Chen,¡± lied Luo Fei.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± said Zheng Lunlun, ¡°But there are acres of forests blocking our view, and we have no idea

    where they are so it¡¯s difficult to find and rescue them.¡±

    ¡°I believe in you, and I believe that Mr. Nan Chen is a good person who will be protected by the gods.¡±

    ¡°Okay,e on, stop pretending. Tell me, Luo Fei, why do you want to hurt Ding Mi and the kids? And

    who are those people who are after the kids?¡± asked Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. I never wanted to hurt Ding Mi, and the disappearance of the

    kids has nothing to do with me.¡± ¡°I may have troubles with Ding Mi in the production set, but those were

    just work-banter. It¡¯s not personal,¡± said Luo Fei who was pretending to be calm.

    ¡°Oh, really?¡± asked Zheng Lunlun in a cruel and cold voice, ¡°Then why did you ce poisonous

    needles on Ding Mi¡¯s costume?¡±

    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t,¡± shouted Luo Fei, ¡°I didn¡¯t do it! It had nothing to do with me. Quit using me!¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t talk about your past sin for the time being. Just tell me, who kidnapped the kids?¡±

    ¡°How would I know? As I said, it had nothing to do with me!¡±

    ¡°Luo Fei,¡± growled Zheng Lunlun, ¡°you¡¯re really going to act dumb until thest moment, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re using me! I¡¯m going to tell Nan Chen! I had nothing to do with any of those incidents!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re such a despicable woman. How could you still pretend to be innocent at a time like this? Quan,

    open the door and throw this woman out,¡± ordered Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±

    Luo Fei was terrified upon hearing that because there was no chance of survival after being thrown off

    the ne.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    ¡°Zheng Lunlun, you can¡¯t do that to me. I am Nan Chen¡¯s girlfriend!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you onest chance. If you refuse to be honest, I will throw you out of this ne. This forest is

    filled with wild animals and poisonous snakes. You won¡¯t evenst a day!¡±

    Luo Fei could tell that Zheng Lunlun wasn¡¯t kidding so she became even more scared.

    ¡°Zheng Lunlun, don¡¯t do that to me. We¡¯ll go rescue Nan Chen together and as his girlfriend, I could ask

    him to give you the role of the male lead for every movie and show he invests in.¡±

    ¡°Like I¡¯d need your help to y a role in a movie invested by Nan Chen?¡± Zheng Lunlun sneered, ¡°Quit

    bullshitting and tell me the truth!¡±

    ¡°How could I tell you something I don¡¯t know?¡±

    ¡°Throw her overboard!¡± said Zheng Lunlun angrily.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 113

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 113

    ¡°No, no!¡± screamed Luo Fei as her face paled with fear.

    ¡°You despicable woman! I may as well feed you to the wild animals since you refuse to tell me the truth

    anyway.¡±

    Luo Fei turned to Zheng Lunlun and realized that he wasn¡¯t bluffing.

    She never could¡¯ve guessed that a man who looked like a pretty little girl would have a heart that cold

    and vile.

    ¡°I¡¯ll talk, I¡¯ll talk,¡± said Luo Fei who finally admitted defeat, ¡°Let me go. I¡¯ll tell you everything.¡±

    ¡°Take your time and be specific. If you lie or even tell a fib, I will throw you overboard!¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t ce the needles there, it was Zhao Mingjie,¡± said Luo Fei who was still hiding part of the truth,

    ¡°it had nothing to do with me.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject! Tell me about the kids!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have that level of influence, and I didn¡¯t kidnap the kids, but I am aware of it.¡±

    ¡°Go on. And let me remind you, do not lie! If I caught you lying, you will not have a second chance and

    will be thrown out!¡±

    Luo Fei¡¯s eyes sparkled as she weighed her options and wondered what she could say and what she

    must keep to herself.

    ¡°Tell me now! Or are youing up with a story to lie to me?¡± growled Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°No, no! I was just trying to figure out where to begin.¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter where you begin, just start talking. Who kidnapped the kids?¡±

    ¡°That, I truly have no idea. I only know that the criminal is a citizen of the M Nation. He is tall and has

    lots of subordinates who refer to him as ¡®captain¡¯.¡±

    ¡°Captain?¡± asked Zheng Lunlun, ¡°How did you meet him?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to get Ding Mi to leave because I didn¡¯t want her to marry into the Nan Family.

    Unfortunately, I kept failing. The captain contacted me and asked me to provide him with information

    about the Nan Family. In exchange, he would help me get rid of Ding Mi.¡±

    Zheng Lunlun gestured her to continue.

    Luo Fei tried to calm herself before she continued her statement.

    ¡°He wanted me to provide him with all sorts of information about the Nan Family but I knew very little

    about them.¡± ¡°Fortunately, Ding Mi and I work in the same production set so it was easy to learn

    everything about her. That is how I found out about the kids. I told the captain about them because it

    seemed that the Nan Family are very protective of the kids and kidnapping them would force the Nan

    Family to cooperate. After all, that b**** Ding Mi was able to use the kids to get close to the Nan Family.

    She wouldn¡¯t be worthy of their attention otherwise.¡±

    p!

    Luo Fei was pped by Zheng Lunlun who ordered, ¡°Just speak your truth. Do not insult Ding Mi!¡±

    ¡°After I told the captain about Ding Mi, the kids, and their connection with the Nan Family, I helped him

    concoct a kidnapping n. He was only targeting the kids, and we never thought that Nan Chen would

    chase after them,¡± said Luo Fei.

    ¡°You truly have no idea who the captain is? Or why he is after the Nan Family? Does he hold a grudge

    against the family? Or is he after the money?¡±

    ¡°I honestly have no idea,¡± said Luo Fei as she shook her head, ¡°I was never interested in finding out

    because I only wanted him to get rid of Ding Mi and those two bas¡­ err¡­ kids so that she would not

    be a threat. That is why I only bothered to carry out the missions he sent me because nothing else, not

    his identity nor his intention, mattered to me.¡±

    ¡°You vile woman! How could you do that to two young children?¡±

    ¡°Because they are Ding Mi¡¯s children!¡± shouted Luo Fei who was getting upset again, ¡°Their only fault

    was that they are Ding Mi¡¯s kids!¡±

    ¡°The captain ever mentioned why he wanted to kidnap the kids and bring them to the M Nation?¡± asked

    Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°No, he only mentioned that the Nan Family is too powerful in the country so it¡¯d be difficult to fight

    them. He wanted to bring the kids and Ding Mi to a foreign country so that the Nan Family¡¯s influence

    could not reach them.¡±

    Zheng Lunlun deliberated. He knew that Luo Fei¡¯s words could not be fully trusted but it shouldn¡¯t be

    too far from the truth either since the situation they were in matched Luo Fei¡¯s description.

    ¡°How do you contact that captain?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± said Luo Fei, ¡°He was the one who reached out to me, and he used a different phone number

    each time he did so I have no idea how to contact him.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure? If you¡¯re lying, I will throw you out of this ne!¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not lying,¡± said Luo Fei, ¡°This incident was my fault, and I will talk to Mr. Nan Chen about it in

    person when we find him.¡±

    ¡°Young Master Lun,¡± said Quan all of a sudden, ¡°An airne is tailing us!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± asked Zheng Lunlun who was also a little nervous, ¡°Why are they following us?¡±

    ¡°This country has always been at war,¡± exined Quan, ¡°They probably think that we¡¯re their enemy.¡±

    ¡°Then give them a holler and exin that we¡¯re neutral and that we¡¯re only here as a rescue team.¡±

    ¡°They didn¡¯t respond and kept tailing us,¡± said Quan, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s thenguage barrier?¡±

    ¡°Then let them tail us. We¡¯re fine as long as they don¡¯t fire.¡±

    Zheng Lunlun had just finished speaking when they heard a strange noise.

    ¡°Oh shit! They¡¯re firing at us!¡± shouted Quan.

    ¡°What the f*ck?¡± cussed Zheng Lunlun, ¡°Isn¡¯t it a little extreme to start firing all of a sudden?¡±

    ¡°Do we retaliate?¡±

    ¡°Retaliate my ass! This is not a military helicopter, and we don¡¯t have any bullets to fight back! Just

    run!¡±

    A few minutester, Quan reported to Zheng Lunlun and said, ¡°The ne was hit. Young Master Lun,

    please prepare the parachutes.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Why are we jumping?¡±

    ¡°The fuel tank had been hit,¡± exined Quan, ¡°There¡¯s a good chance the ne is about to explode so

    we must jump now!¡±

    Luo Fei was so scared that she was crying. This is it. This is how I die.

    She was fine in Flower City, but that Zheng Lunlun forced her to travel to that godforsaken jungle, and

    she was going to die there!

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± said Quan as he opened the helicopter doors, ¡°We have less chance of surviving if the ne

    explodes.¡±

    ¡°Alright then, we¡¯ll have to jump. Get the parachutes!¡±

    On the ground, Nan Chen and the others were staring at the sky and watching the nes battling.

    ¡°It seemed that one of the nes is attacking the other,¡± said Qiao Zhan, ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like the other

    party is retaliating.¡±

    ¡°Could it be that the ne that was shot down is our rescue team?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± said Qiao Zhan as he turned to Nan Chen, ¡°What should we do?¡±

    ¡°The parties on the ne will likely parachute down before it catches on fire,¡± said Nan Chen, ¡°get

    ready to rescue them.¡±

    ¡°But what if the ones on the helicopter are our enemies?¡±

    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    ¡°We¡¯d still have to rescue them before we can determine that,¡± said Nan Chen harshly, ¡°Get everyone

    prepared now and have the team scan the surroundings for survivors!¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± said Qiao Zhan before he left.

    ¡°If the helicopter that was shot down was our rescue ne,¡± muttered Ning Ran, ¡°then our chance of

    getting back would be slimmer.¡±

    ¡°This ce isn¡¯t so bad,¡± said Nan Chen who had suddenly turned to Ning Ran, ¡°Is it?¡±

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t know how to reply. Is this ce supposed to be good? Does he like this ce?

    ¡°Yes, the ce is pretty cool,¡± said Ning Ran who was just being polite.

    ¡°Take care of the kids,¡± said Nan Chen, ¡°I¡¯ll go help the rescue team.¡± ¡°If that was our rescue team, then

    they are definitely not alone. Someone else woulde along and we should be able to leave soon.¡±

    That was rare. The Poker Face was talking to her inplete sentences!

    Ning Ran was so shocked that it was like she had just witnessed the Sun rising from the West.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 114

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 114

    Although it was a close call, Zheng Lunlun managed tond safely without even a scratch on him

    because hended in a river.

    The river wasn¡¯t cold. In fact, it was refreshing, but Zheng Lunlun¡¯s good fortune didn¡¯tst because he

    soon realized that a snake about 2m long was swimming beside him.

    Zhen Lunlung almost shouted aloud because snakes had always been his worst fears.

    Calm down, you have to calm down.

    Zheng Lunlun reminded himself to calm down because, under those circumstances, it didn¡¯t matter how

    scared Zheng Lunlun was since he could only rely on himself.

    After that, he mustered every bit of energy he had and swam to the shore before struggling to get out of

    the river and ran forward.

    ¡°Help! Help!¡± Zheng Lunlun heard the call for help and looked up to see that a woman, Luo Fei, was

    trapped on the tree.

    ¡°Help, please,¡± begged Luo Fei when she saw Zheng Lunlun, ¡°Help me.¡±

    That woman was so evil that Zheng Lunlun paused to think about whether he should rescue her.

    In the end, he decided that regardless of how vile she was, she was still a person.

    Zheng Lunlun couldn¡¯t do something as cruel as letting her die.

    Hence, after putting in a lot of effort, Zheng Lunlun finally got Luo Fei down from the tree.

    The two of them were exhausted and were resting by the tree, panting.

    ¡°What do we do now?¡± cried Luo Fei as she turned to Zheng Lunlun, ¡°I think this is an isted area.

    Are we going to die here?¡±

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t cry,¡± said Zheng Lunlun, ¡°We¡¯re not going to die here. I have friends in D. Nation, and they¡¯ll

    come to rescue me once they found out that my ne had been shot down.¡±

    ¡°What if they couldn¡¯t find us?¡±

    ¡°Then we die,¡± said Zheng Lunlun angrily, ¡°Vile women like you don¡¯t deserve to live anyway.¡±

    Luo Fei was insulted but she didn¡¯t dare to refute and could only be angry on the inside.

    Suddenly Zheng Lunlun stopped talking as he stared at the river.

    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± asked Luo Fei who traced Zheng Lunlun¡¯s line of sight and noticed

    something floating downstream.

    ¡°What is that?¡±

    Zheng Lunlun walked to the river and picked it up. It was a tree bark with the words ¡®SOS¡¯ carved onto

    it.

    That was the international sign for seeking help. Someone had used the tree bark to ask for help?

    ¡°This tree bark floated down the stream so someone must be trapped upstream. It must be Ding Mi and

    the others!¡± ¡°They¡¯re right upstream!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t move downstream because that¡¯d put distance

    between us so we¡¯ll walk upstream, and we should be able to meet them soon,¡± said Zheng Lunlun

    excitedly.

    Luo Fei was a little disappointed as she thought that b**** Ding Mi is still alive?

    If Nan Chen was with them then he would learn about all the things she had confessed to Zheng

    Lunlun, and that would be the end of her!

    What do I do?

    Even though she was worried, she acted happy and said, ¡°Really? Thank god Ding Mi and the kids are

    fine. I will treat them right to atone for my past sins.¡±

    Zheng Lunlun rolled his eyes at Luo Fei and said, ¡°As if I¡¯d believe you?¡±

    ¡°I know you don¡¯t trust me,¡± said Luo Fei who acted like she was heartbroken, ¡°But I will prove it with

    my actions.¡±

    ¡°You will confess everything you¡¯ve done when we meet them!¡± yelled Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°Of course,¡± promised Luo Fei.

    The two of them walked upstream with great difficulty.

    There were no paths so they had to spend a lot of time to get past the thorns, and even then, they had

    only managed to walk a couple of meters.

    As they walked, they noticed human tracks on the ground.

    ¡°Look! The grass had been disturbed there. That means that we¡¯re getting close!¡± said Zheng Lunlun

    excitedly.

    Zheng Lunlun was excited, but Luo Fei was worried.

    Just then, she noticed that Zheng Lunlun, who had been forging ahead, had suddenly stopped short

    and had stopped talking.

    Luo Fei looked up to see that Zheng Lunlun was petrified and was staring at the branch in front of

    them.

    A snake with colorful and bright red spots was curling up on the branch.

    Normally, the more colorful a snake was, the more poisonous its bites, and that particr snake was

    long and thin with a weirdly-shaped head so it was obvious that it was poisonous.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Ordinary snakes would crawl away when they see humans, but poisonous snakes were aggressive so

    Zheng Lunlun dared not make a move.

    Luo Fei felt like that was her opportunity.

    Zheng Lunlun was the only one who knew all the things she had done so if he were to die, then her

    secret would be safe.

    The only way for two people to keep a secret is if one of them is dead!

    Having thought that, Luo Fei¡¯s eyes shone evilly as she shouted, ¡°go to hell!¡±

    Then, she pushed Zheng Lunlun forward.

    Zheng Lunlun wasn¡¯t prepared for that so he fell forward and stood right in front of the snake.

    The snake noticed Zheng Lunlun¡¯s sudden approach and responded by biting Zheng Lunlun¡¯s neck.

    Zheng Lunlun didn¡¯t feel much pain. It was like he was stabbed by needles, but the spot where he had

    been bitten quickly started to go numb.

    With hisst bit of energy, he grabbed the snake and yanked it off of his neck before tossing it away.

    ¡°Luo Fei, you b****! You ambushed me!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t hate me, Zheng Lunlun. This is all because you decided to stand by that b**** Ning Ran!¡± ¡°You

    don¡¯t know, do you? Ding Mi¡¯s real name is Ning Ran, and she is my sister, but I hate her! I hate her so

    much!¡± ¡°Anyone who sided with her must die!¡± said Luo Fei with gritted teeth, ¡°So you can go to hell!¡±

    Zheng Lunlun¡¯s vision started to be blurry and his hearing was fading so he couldn¡¯t hear what

    Luo Fei had said afterward.

    He could only see Luo Fei¡¯s ferocious expression and her darkened eyes.

    Then, his vision went awaypletely, and he was gone.

    Luo Fei watched Zheng Lunlun falling downwards while white foam leaked from his lips.

    ¡°Hahaha¡­¡±

    Luo Feiughed aloud at her good fortune. As long as he dies, no one will ever find out what I did!

    I can continue being Nan Chen¡¯s girlfriend! He would be so touched when he finds out that I had

    ventured over for him!

    As for Ning Ran, I¡¯ll find another way to kill her and her two bastards!

    Luo Fei walked past Zheng Lunlun, and kept moving forward as she shouted, ¡°Help, help!¡±

    The first one who heard Luo Fei¡¯s call for help was Qiao Zhan.

    Zheng Lunlun and the others hadnded near the ce Nan Chen was staying at, but there were too

    many trees so they couldn¡¯t see. However, Luo Fei¡¯s call for help was carried by the wind, and her

    voice traveled to them.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, it sounded like a call for help,¡± reported Qiao Zhan, ¡°But ites and goes.¡±

    ¡°That must be from someone who had jumped from the ne,¡± said Nan Chen, ¡°The voicees and

    goes because it was carried by the wind. If we move against the direction of the wind, we will be able to

    find and rescue them!¡±

    ¡°Yes sir!¡±

    As Nan Chen and the others walked downstream, Luo Fei¡¯s call for help became louder.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, I think there¡¯s a woman here,¡± said one of the team members who was walking ahead.

    The moment Luo Fei heard Nan Chen¡¯s name, she shouted as loud as she could for onest time

    before she pretended to pass out.

    Nan Chen ran over and found Luo Fei.

    ¡°What is she doing here?¡± said Nan Chen coldly.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that Mr. Nan Chen¡¯s girlfriend?¡± said Qiao Zhan, ¡°It¡¯s so touching that she came all the way here

    for you.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s not my girlfriend,¡± said Nan Chen harshly.

    Luo Fei, who was pretending to be unconscious, felt betrayed upon hearing Nan Chen say, ¡®she¡¯s not

    my girlfriend¡¯.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, she may need mouth-to-mouth resuscitation,¡± said Qiao Zhan, ¡°Should you do it?¡±

    ¡°No, you can administer it,¡± said Nan Chen whose voice remained harsh.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 115

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 115

    Luo Fei felt even more disappointed.

    Nan Chen would actually allow someone else to exhale into his girlfriend¡¯s mouth right in front of him!

    He was standing right there and ignoring all that?

    When Luo Fei felt someone approaching, she opened her eyes and said, ¡°Where am I?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Luo, you¡¯re awake,¡± said the surprised Qiao Zhan, ¡°That¡¯s amazing!¡±

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± asked Nan Chen coolly.

    Luo Fei got up and ran over to hug Nan Chen. ¡°Nan Chen, I was worried so I came to look for you!¡±

    That moment, Nan Chen¡¯s heart stirred because he wasn¡¯tpletely emotionless.

    Still, he was suspicious because Luo Fei was not the kind of woman who would travel into a death trap

    in the name of love. Nan Chen was aware of that, at least.

    ¡°Who came with you?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°I came with Zheng Lunlun. Our ne was shot down so we had to jump.¡±

    ¡°Where is he?¡± asked Nan Chen who was immediately worried.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± lied Luo Fei, ¡°I jumped first, so I didn¡¯t see him jumping off.¡±

    The truth was, their location wasn¡¯t that far from where Zheng Lunlun had passed out, but Luo Fei

    didn¡¯t want Nan Chen to find Zheng Lunlun, at least not until Zheng Lunlun became a corpse.

    She didn¡¯t want Zheng Lunlun to have any chance of surviving.

    ¡°Get everyone here!¡± ordered Nan Chen, ¡°And search within a one-mile radius, now!¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± said Qiao Zhan, ¡°You should take Ms. Luo back to the cabin. We¡¯ll stay and keep looking.¡±

    Nan Chen scanned Luo Fei and said, ¡°She seems fine. I¡¯ll look for him with the rest of you.¡±

    ¡°After I jumped, the ne flew that way so Zheng Lunlun should be somewhere there.¡±

    Luo Fei pointed in the direction opposite to the spot where Zheng Lunlun had copsed.

    Qiao Zhan and the others started to walk in the direction that Luo Fei had pointed at, but Nan Chen

    stopped them and said, ¡°Spread out! Don¡¯t search just that one ce together!¡±

    Fortunately, Zheng Lunlun was found 20 minutester.

    Zheng Lunlun¡¯s body, especially his neck, was covered in leeches, and he looked terrible.

    As they cleared off the leeches, they realized that a couple of them had already died.

    Nan Chen looked terrible, and his eyes started to redden with tears. He reached out to touch Zheng

    Lunlun¡¯s face which looked horrible because he was struggling with the pain.

    Luo Fei saw that and found that to be weird. Why is Nan Chen so attached to this actor? thought Luo

    Fei.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, he¡¯s still warm,¡± reported Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Save him!¡± said Nan Chen, ¡°Check for injuries!¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a bite mark on his neck,¡± said one of the workers, ¡°I think it¡¯s from a snake.¡±

    Nan Chen understood then. The leeches on Zheng Lunlun had died because they sucked out the

    snake¡¯s poison and died from it.

    In other words, those leeches helped Zheng Lunlun by reducing the venom in his body which ultimately

    saved his life.

    ¡°Bring him back to the cabin,¡± ordered Nan Chen, ¡°Now!¡±

    Everyone picked Zheng Lunlun up and sped towards the cabin.

    They were walking so fast that Luo Fei couldn¡¯t catch up and was having a hard time.

    Nan Chen noticed her then ordered Qiao Zhan, ¡°Carry her.¡±

    Luo Fei wanted Nan Chen to be the one who carried her, but she knew that was not possible.

    The reason Nan Chen had Qiao Zhan carried Luo Fei was not because he was worried about her, but

    because he didn¡¯t want her to slow everyone down and dy Zheng Lunlun¡¯s treatment.

    At the cabin, Ning Ran was drying her wet shoes when she saw Nan Chen returning with someone.

    She looked closer and noticed that Qiao Zhan was even carrying a woman.

    When they got even closer, Ning Ran was utterly shocked to see that the woman in question was Luo

    Fei!

    What is that woman doing here? What is going on?

    ¡°Where is Dabao?¡± demanded Nan Chen, ¡°Dabao!¡±

    Dabao and Erbao were napping inside the mosquito when Dabao heard his name being called.

    With sleepy eyes, he got up and said, ¡°Is someone looking for me?¡±

    Luo Fei was disappointed to see Ning Ran still alive and had been spending all that time with Nan

    Chen.

    Since that was the case, she must keep acting. The only person who knew her secret was Zheng

    Lunlun, and as long as he remained unconscious, no one would find out.

    ¡°Dabao,e take a look. How do we treat this wound?¡±

    Despite all the adults around, Nan Chen only trusted Dabao and put all his hope on the kid.

    ¡°Mr. Blondie?¡± frowned Dabao.

    ¡°You know him?¡± asked Nan Chen who was also surprised.

    ¡°He¡¯s Mr. Blondie,¡± said Dabao, ¡°We met before.¡±

    Zheng Lunlun had dyed his hair ck after he returned to the country so Nan Chen didn¡¯t understand

    how the ¡®Mr. Blondie¡¯ nickname came about.

    However, none of that mattered at that moment because they needed to save a life.

    ¡°He¡¯s poisoned,¡± said Dabao with a frown.

    The child was not a professional, and even though he had read some books about Eastern medicine,

    he was still nervous when facing a situation like that.

    ¡°He was bitten by a poisonous snake. Luckily, some leeches sucked out some of the poison, but his life

    is still hanging on a thread.¡±

    ¡°The hedyotis diffusa can treat a snake wound. We can try applying some on the wound and have him

    drink it,¡± said Dabao, ¡°We¡¯ll figure something else up if it doesn¡¯t work.¡±

    ¡°Go find some, quickly!¡± ordered Nan Chen.

    ¡°But I¡­ I¡¯m not sure if that¡¯ll work,¡± said the worried Dabao.

    He was just a kid so being tasked with something like saving a life was too much for him.

    Ning Ran was worried about her child. Why are you putting this on a child when all the adults standing

    around?

    ¡°No one can be sure about it,¡± Nan Chen hugged Dabao andforted him, ¡°You don¡¯t need to feel

    pressured.¡±

    ¡°Sis, I¡¯m so d you¡¯re fine,¡± said Luo Fei as she approached, ¡°I was so worried.¡±

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Shut up,¡± said Ning Ran harshly, ¡°I am not your sister, and I do not know you well.¡±

    Nan Chen saw that and thought that Ning Ran was cruel. Anyone would be happy to be able to meet

    again after being through all that ordeal. Did she really need to be so harsh?

    ¡°Nan Chen, are you alright?¡± said Luo Fei as she moved closer to Nan Chen, ¡°I was so worried, and I

    am so happy to see you. I have no regret even if I were to die now.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s face didn¡¯t show any expression, but he did turn to her.

    Luo Fei being there definitely surprised him.

    Regardless of how vain Luo Fei was, her being willing to travel all the way over had touched Nan

    Chen¡¯s heart.

    After all, anyone would be scared toe to a ce like this so it took a lot for a spoiled celebrity like

    Luo Fei to be here.

    ¡°You¡¯ll share a ce with her,¡± said Nan Chen calmly, ¡°Go rest.¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to sleep,¡± said Luo Fei in an exaggerated manner, ¡°I am staying with you because I

    am afraid that I will lose you again if I close my eyes.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s face darkened as he ordered, ¡°Quit fooling around and go rest up.¡±

    After seeing Nan Chen¡¯s dissatisfaction, Luo Fei dared not act out anymore so she walked into the

    cabin.

    However, she was scared out of the room soon after.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 116

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 116

    Luo Fei was chased out by Erbao.

    Erbao had annoyance written all over her face as she said, ¡°You are not wee here, woman. I don¡¯t

    want you here with us.¡±

    Luo Fei wasn¡¯t afraid of the little girl, but the annoyed Erbao was holding a baby snake in her hand.

    It was a very young, very small snake that Dabao had caught inside the cabin after determining that the

    snake was harmless.

    Ning Ran was also terrified, but Erbao loved it and insisted on keeping it. Erbao even refused to let the

    snake out of her hand.

    Thus, the cute baby became a little witch with a snake in her arms. No one dared to get close to her,

    and she had fun ying with it.

    Since it was confirmed that the snake was not poisonous and had no teeth, Dabao let his baby sister

    keep it as a pet and imed that it was okay.

    The only downside was that Ning Ran and the others had to deal with and stay away from the tiny

    witch with a snake.

    Naturally, Erbao didn¡¯t like the idea of Luo Fei butting into her home so Erbao used the snake to chase

    Luo Fei out of the cabin.

    Ning Ran knew what was going on but she acted innocent and looked away because she didn¡¯t want

    that Luo Fei to live under the same roof either.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Nan Chen as he approached them.

    ¡°That kid is making the snake bite me!¡± said Luo Fei while she pointed at Erbao.

    ¡°That is a toothless, harmless snake,¡± exined Nan Chen with a frown, ¡°it can¡¯t hurt you.¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯m scared,¡± said Luo Fei who acted helpless, ¡°I¡¯ve always been terrified of snakes.¡±

    ¡°Then go stay in that house with Qiao Zhan.¡±

    Luo Fei was troubled because she wanted to stay with Nan Chen.

    Since there were only three cabins, the one in the middle had been assigned to Ning Ran and the kids

    while Nan Chen and Qiao Zhan shared one. The remaining cabin was upied by the other workers

    and the two criminals.

    Since Luo Fei made her appearance, the best arrangement was to have her, Ning Ran and the kids

    share the same cabin, but Erbao refused to do so, and Luo Fei had no choice but to switch with Nan

    Chen.

    Even though she wasn¡¯t happy about it, Luo Fei had to agree to that arrangement.

    After entering the cabin and seeing the bed made from leaves, the celebrity Luo Fei couldn¡¯t get herself

    to lie down so she got out again.

    ¡°What now?¡± asked Nan Chen while frowning.

    ¡°Do we have any bedsheets?¡± asked Luo Fei.

    Everyone was surprised to hear that. Bedsheets? What? You think you¡¯re living in a five-star hotel?

    Even Nan Chen was speechless about it so he just ignored her.

    One hourter, Zheng Lunlun¡¯s breathing became normal, but he was still unconscious.

    Nan Chen was relieved to see that.

    Although Zheng Lunlun and Nan Chen weren¡¯t rted by blood, Nan Chen had watched Zheng Lunlun

    grow up.

    Zheng Lunlun¡¯s beauty and his talent in acting had always been extraordinary so Nan Chen had been

    training and supporting Zheng Lunlun all this time.

    Nan Chen had always viewed Zheng Lunlun as his own kid, and when he saw Zheng Lunlun lying

    there like he had died, Nan Chen felt like his world was crumbling.

    Nan Chen was sitting beside Zheng Lunlun and watching Dabao instructing the others to apply a nt-

    based oil onto Zheng Lunlun¡¯s body.

    The oil stunk extremely badly.

    ¡°That oil can cure poison?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    Dabao nodded with confidence. ¡°This herb can cure poison. I¡¯m not sure if it can cure the poison of that

    particr snake, but I think it works well with the hedyotis diffusa.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded.

    ¡°However, this herb is also poisonous so we can¡¯t use too much of it. We can only apply the oil twice a

    day or it¡¯ll worsen the patient¡¯s condition,¡± added Dabao, ¡°For now at least, this method seems to be

    working.¡±

    ¡°Young Master, you are so knowledgeable!¡± eximed Qiao Zhan, ¡°that¡¯s amazing.¡±

    Nan Chen looked at Dabao sweetly with love oozing out of his eyes.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, just do your best,¡± said Nan Chen, ¡°I¡¯ll take responsibility if anything were to happen.¡±

    ¡°No, I am the one treating him,¡± said Dabao as he shook his head, ¡°So if anything were to happen, I¡¯ll

    take full responsibility.¡±

    How brave and honorable that little kid was!

    ¡°Then I will bear that responsibility with you,¡± said Nan Chen, ¡°As adults, it is our responsibility to save

    his life, so you¡¯re basically doing our job for us.¡±

    Dabao looked at Nan Chen and nodded.

    Nan Chen also nodded in response.

    Standing beside them, Qiao Zhan felt a little dizzy again. The same gesture made him feel like he¡¯s

    seeing doubles.

    ¡°His breathing has obviously stabilized,¡± said Qiao Zhan, ¡°Looks like Young Master Lun is about to

    wake up.¡±

    That moment, Luo Fei, who was eavesdropping outside the cabin, was frightened to hear that Zheng

    Lunlun was about to wake up.

    She was responsible for Zheng Lunlun being hurt so if he were to wake up, all her sins would be

    exposed!

    She could not let Zheng Lunlun wake up. He must die! He cannot be allowed to wake up!

    Inside the cabin, Erbao shook his head and said, ¡°No, he won¡¯t. That medicine had already been used

    twice so we can¡¯t use it again. Let¡¯s apply it tomorrow and see if he can wake up then.¡± ¡°If we¡¯re lucky,

    he may wake up tonight though.¡±

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Qiao Zhan loved that Dabao was talking like he¡¯s an adult and thought If only I have a son like that too!

    ¡°Don¡¯t feel pressured,¡± said Nan Chen, ¡°Lunlun will make it.¡±

    That moment, Erbao barged in and said, ¡°Mommy is sick!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± replied Erbao, ¡°Just sick.¡±

    Nan Chen got out of the cabin and sat beside Ning Ran before asking, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±

    Ning Ran sat there like she was fine, but her face was a little red.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°Nothing,¡± replied Ning Ran quietly.

    ¡°Then why did Erbao say that you are sick?¡± asked Nan Chen with a frown.

    ¡°I guess Erbao was lying,¡± said Ning Ran as she shrugged, ¡°I am fine.¡±

    ¡°Be honest, what¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Nan Chen who could tell that Ning Ran was hiding something.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± said Ning Ran, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, go work or something.¡±

    ¡°You,e over here now,¡± said Nan Chen to Erbao.

    Erbao was afraid of Nan Chen so she didn¡¯t dare to disobey and walked over obediently.

    ¡°What¡¯s up with your mommy?¡± asked Nan Chen as he stared at Erbao.

    Erbao scratched her head and said, ¡°Uhm¡­ I¡¯m not sure.¡±

    ¡°Then why did you say your mommy is sick? Were you lying?¡±

    ¡°Of course not!¡± said Erbao, ¡°I saw mommy scratching herself.¡±

    ¡°Scratch herself?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, like this.¡± Erbao started to mimic Ning Ran, but she did a terrible job.

    Nan Chen frowned. It took him some time to understand what she was trying to say, ¡°Oh, you mean

    your mommy was itching?¡±

    ¡°I think so,¡± said Erbao, ¡°In any case, mommy looked like she wasn¡¯t feeling well.¡±

    Nan Chen understood then. Ning Ran had been wearing her costume since they got lost in the woods

    a couple of days ago and had not been able to change her clothes or take a shower. It¡¯d be weird if she

    wasn¡¯t feeling unwell.

    ¡°Go get your mommy over,¡± Nan Chen told Erbao.

    Erbao ran over and said, ¡°Mommy, Third Uncle is asking for you.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± asked Ning Ran who was confused and frowning.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 117

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 117

    Ning Ran walked over and asked, ¡°You were looking for me?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± said Nan Chen who was sighing a little.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°Follow me.¡± Nan Chen stood up and walked ahead.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t follow him. She thought, I am not your servant. Why should I listen to you?

    Nan Chen had only taken a few steps when he realized that Ning Ran hadn¡¯t budged so he turned

    around.

    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Ning Ran wasn¡¯t moving.

    Nan Chen walked over and dragged Ning Ran, ¡°Come.¡±

    Luo Fei was observing Nan Chen¡¯s interaction with Ning Ran and was secretly delighted.

    You b****. Nan Chen will make you suffer!

    ¡°Let me go!¡± Ning Ran wanted to break free, but her efforts were futile.

    Nan Chen¡¯s grip was strong that it hurt Ning Ran a little.

    After failing a couple of times, Ning Ran gave up and had no choice but to follow Nan Chen.

    Dabao and Erbao saw them and were both confused.

    ¡°Are mommy and Third Uncle fighting?¡± asked Erbao to Dabao.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± said Dabao as he frowned, ¡°Third Uncle doesn¡¯t look like the kind of man who would

    lay a hand on women.¡±

    ¡°Then what are they doing?¡± asked Erbao.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± said Dabao as he shook his head, ¡°What did Third Uncle talk to you about just now?¡±

    ¡°He asked me what was up with mommy,¡± answered Erbao after deliberating.

    ¡°Then?¡±

    ¡°Then I mimed like this and like this.¡± Erbao performed her terrible dance again.

    ¡°Ah, I get it now.¡± Dabao understood immediately. After all, they are twins and their connection was

    strong so he could understand his sister easily.

    ¡°What did you figure out?¡±

    ¡°You won¡¯t understand even if I exin it to you,¡± said Dabao like he was an adult, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about

    them.¡±

    ¡°But there was an obvious conflict between them,¡± imed the worried Erbao, ¡°We can¡¯t just sit idly by.¡±

    ¡°Trust me,¡± said Dabao, ¡°We don¡¯t need to worry.¡±

    On the other side, Nan Chen finally let go of Ning Ran¡¯s hand, but her hand was already reddened.

    ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± demanded Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen ignored her and kept walking forward.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t bother heading back either because she knew that if she disobeyed, he would drag her

    along again.

    When they reached a secluded area, Nan Chen stopped and scanned the surroundings.

    Ning Ran was a little nervous. She thought This asshole didn¡¯t bring me all the way here to kill me, did

    he?

    Our feud isn¡¯t so bad so he¡¯s probably won¡¯t go as far as murder.

    Or is he nning to rape me?

    That¡¯s not possible either. He¡¯s too proud to do that. He may take part in other criminal activities, but

    not that.

    So what does he want?

    ¡°Here¡¯s fine,¡± said Nan Chen, ¡°Strip.¡±

    Ning Ran was taken aback and had her hands on her chest. ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not doing anything,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°If you touch me, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± threatened Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen was shocked until he realized what Ning Ran was talking about. Then, he sneered, ¡°What

    are you talking about? Me? Touching you? You wish!¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s rude response annoyed Ning Ran, and she thought: I¡¯m not that bad!

    ¡°Then what do you want?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°No one¡¯s around,¡± exined Nan Chen, ¡°I¡¯ll keep watch while you shower. Your skin will be itchier if

    you don¡¯t.¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s face reddened with embarrassment.

    How did he find out about my itches? That little traitor Erbao must¡¯ve told him.

    ¡°No way!¡±

    ¡°Then let¡¯s go back,¡± said Nan Chen as he turned to leave, ¡°You¡¯ll just have to keep suffering.¡±

    ¡°Hey!¡±

    Nan Chen stopped walking. He turned to Ning Ran and red at her without uttering a word.

    ¡°Promise you won¡¯t peek?¡± asked Ning Ran shyly.

    Nan Chen sneered before turning away with distaste in his eyes.

    He never spoke, but his message was clear. You¡¯re not worthy enough for me to peek.

    ¡°If you sneak a peek, you¡¯ll die a horrible death!¡± said Ning Ran who was cursing Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen ignored her and walked towards the bushes.

    Ning Ran made sure that Nan Chen couldn¡¯t see her from his position before she took off her clothes

    and went into the water.

    The water was refreshing and Ning Ran¡¯s skin, which had been itching and reddening, felt much better

    after she went in.

    Ning Ran washed up as fast as she could because this was the first time she showered outdoors.

    Although she was aware of the fact that no one would show up here, she was still extremely nervous.

    Just as she was finishing up, Ning Ran noticed a ck shiny thing swimming over.

    Eel!

    Ning Ran was scared out of her mind and dashed out of the water while screaming out loud.

    Nan Chen heard her screams and thought that something had happened to her so he quickly ran over

    to rescue her.

    Then, the two of them stared at each other, and time seemed to have stopped for a moment.

    ¡°Go away, you pervert!¡± shouted Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen walked back into the bushes, annoyed and embarrassed.

    Ning Ran put on her clothes and stood there. She didn¡¯t dare to walk over to the Poker Face because

    she didn¡¯t know how to face him.

    She knew that he only rushed in for her protection, but¡­

    Ah! That is so embarrassing!

    On the other side, Nan Chen¡¯s heart was beating fast as guilt swelled up inside of him. That was his

    brother¡¯s lover! How could he see her naked?

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Unfortunately, what was done was done, and he couldn¡¯t make up for it. Even if he were to dig his eyes

    out, the image would still be etched inside his mind. Moreover, they had to face the reality that they

    can¡¯t stay away for too long.

    ¡°Are you done?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± replied Ning Ran who had no other choice.

    ¡°Then get over here,¡± said Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran walked over slowly like her feet were as heavy as lead.

    Nan Chen began taking off his shirt.

    ¡°What now?¡± asked Ning Ran who was starting to feel nervous again.

    ¡°I want to wash up too,¡± said Nan Chen as he handed his shirt to Ning Ran then pointed at the river

    beside them, ¡°Help me wash my shirt over there then squeeze it dry afterward.¡±

    ¡°Why me?¡± demanded Ning Ran.

    ¡°Do you see anyone else around?¡± refuted Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran could not argue with that. It was true that there was no one else around, but¡­who said that I

    have to wash your clothes for you just because no one else is around?

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t wait for her reply before he walked over and jumped into the river.

    Ning Ran was stunned as she held Nan Chen¡¯s shirt.

    ¡°If you refuse to wash my shirt, I¡¯ll tell everyone what happened,¡± threatened Nan Chen from afar.

    ¡°You¡­¡± said Ning Ran who was so furious that she was speechless. That despicable man! He¡¯s

    threatening to tell everyone after he had seen me naked? Has he no shame?

    Despite her anger, Ning Ran knew that she couldn¡¯t let Nan Chen tell everyone what happened or she

    would die of embarrassment.

    With no other options, Ning Ran went to wash the shirt.

    As she washed, she noticed that the buttons on the shirt were familiar.

    It was obvious that the buttons were custom made and upon taking a closer look, she noticed that

    every single one of them had the word ¡®N¡¯ carved on it.

    Ning Ran had a simr button stored. She got it five years ago and had been keeping it safe.

    Ning Ran even thought about using that button as a clue to figure out who the kids¡¯ biological father

    was, but Cheng Xiangyun said that it was virtually impossible because no one would keep a shirt that

    was 5 years old, let alone its buttons.

    Yet, Ning Ran was looking at the exact same button. She couldn¡¯t believe that there were people who

    would use the same shirt and the same buttons all those years.

    Ning Ran¡¯s heart began beating fast. Is this just a coincidence? Or is there some sort of

    misunderstanding?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 118

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 118

    After Nan Chen had finished washing up, he put on the shirt that Ning Ran had washed for him.

    The shirt was wet, and since it was custom made, it stuck onto Nan Chen¡¯s body and showed off his

    muscr body.

    He is annoying, but damn, he is sexy. Ning Ran couldn¡¯t help but peeked a little.

    ¡°This shirt,¡± asked Ning Ran quietly, ¡°How long have you been wearing it?¡±

    Nan Chen turned to her and thought Is this woman dumb? Why would she ask such stupid questions?

    He was the head of the renowned Nanshi Corporation and had never worn a shirt more than 10 times

    so there was no way any of his shirtssted even a year.

    Ning Ran felt stupid after asking that question.

    Regardless of how well-made a shirt was, it was impossible to wear it for 5 years, and Nan Chen was

    too rich to do so.

    Moreover, none of the buttons on his shirt were missing so that shirt could not have been the one that

    was worn by the man who got her pregnant 5 years ago.

    The two of them were quiet as they returned.

    Nan Chen was tall and walked fast.

    Ning Ran, on the other hand, was walking slowly because she was troubled. Nan Chen had to stop

    every few steps to wait for her so he became irritated.

    ¡°Can you walk faster? Or are your feet just that ridiculously small?¡±

    ¡°Are my feet supposed to be as big as yours?¡± refuted Ning Ran angrily.

    Nan Chen was stunned. That woman really is infuriating.

    ¡°Where did you buy that shirt?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen couldn¡¯t make heads or tail of what that woman was trying to say.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± replied Nan Chen.

    ¡°Fine, keep it to yourself!¡± said Ning Ran angrily.

    The truth was, Nan Chen wasn¡¯t lying about it. He truly had no idea.

    Something as minor as buying shirts had always been taken care of by his employees so he couldn¡¯t

    have known where he got that shirt.

    They walked in silence again.

    ¡°Seriously though, where did you get that shirt? Have you always worn the same style?¡± asked the

    persistent Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen turned back and towered over Ning Ran.

    The overwhelming aura that Nan Chen brought with him had Ning Ran feeling nervous once more.

    ¡°This is a man¡¯s shirt!¡±mented Nan Chen.

    What he meant was that the shirt he had on was designed for men so even if Ning Ran liked it, it

    wouldn¡¯t fit her so there was no point in finding out where it was from.

    ¡°No shit, Sherlock,¡± said Ning Ran, ¡°I know it¡¯s a man¡¯s shirt. It¡¯s not like a girl¡¯s shirt would fit you.¡±

    Nan Chen was stunned again. Why is it so difficult to understand this woman?

    Then it hit him. This woman wants to buy a shirt for another man!

    ¡°Who¡¯s it for?¡± asked Nan Chen in a cool voice.

    ¡°What?¡± Ning Ran was confused then.

    ¡°Which guy?¡± asked Nan Chen who was angry all of a sudden.

    A shirt like mine is not meant to be worn by her lover. He¡¯s not worthy of it!

    ¡°What guy?¡± asked Ning Ran, ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°The recipient of the shirt you want to buy!¡±

    Ning Ran finally got what he was trying to say and giggled at that. ¡°Not telling you,¡± teased Ning Ran.

    ¡°My shirt is custom made! Every stitch and every detail is unique so you can¡¯t get it anywhere!¡± shouted

    Nan Chen who felt much better after saying all that.

    Hmph! Don¡¯t even think about buying a shirt like mine for your lover because it¡¯s not avable in the

    stores!

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t understand why he was angry over a single sentence uttered by that woman.

    Ning Ran thought about it before she nodded and said, ¡°The buttons¡­¡±

    ¡°What about it?¡±

    ¡°Nothing,¡± said Ning Ran who didn¡¯t want to talk about it anymore.

    ¡°What about it?¡± insisted Nan Chen.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±

    Nan Chen was a little frustrated. Why is that woman hesitating? What is she trying to say?

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    The truth was that Ning Ran wanted to tell him too, but it¡¯s tooplicated, and it¡¯d look like she had

    an ulterior motive if she were to confess at that time.

    Ning Ran knew that Nan Chen hated her, and she hated him too so telling him the truth would only

    make things even moreplicated.

    Nan Chen really wanted to know what was going on, but Ning Ran refused to talk so there was nothing

    he could do.

    Hence, when the two of them returned to the cabin, everyone noted that Ning Ran and Nan Chen were

    in a bad mood.

    No one knew where they went or what happened, and no one dared to ask what was happening.

    Erbao and Dabao, on the other hand, started whispering about it.

    ¡°Third uncle¡¯s shirt is wet,¡± said the observant Erbao, ¡°And so is mommy¡¯s hair!¡±

    ¡°So?¡± asked Dabao who turned to face his sister.

    ¡°Did they take a shower together?¡± whispered Erbao.

    Dabao¡¯s eyes widen at his baby sister¡¯s wild hypothesis.

    Utterly speechless, Dabao¡¯s jaws dropped.

    ¡°Actually, that is not likely,¡± said Erbao who took back what she said, ¡°Mommy would never agree to it.¡±

    ¡°Neither would Third Uncle,¡± added Dabao.

    ¡°That¡¯d be so icky!¡± said Erbao who was embarrassed by her own guess.

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± agreed Dabao.

    ¡°Then where did they go and what did they do?¡± asked Erbao.

    Dabao knew the answer, but he didn¡¯t want to say it.

    Erbao was a bbermouth, and she would not be able to keep the secret if she were to know what

    happened.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go check on Mr. Blondie,¡± said Dabao.

    After entering the cabin, they noted that Zheng Lunlun¡¯s face was no longer pale, and color was

    starting to return to his cheeks.

    The toxin in his body was slowly being cured, and he was on the way to recovery.

    That showed that Dabao¡¯s treatment was right, and Zheng Lunlun was getting better.

    Who would¡¯ve thought that at a crucial time like this, a kid was the one who saved a life?

    ¡°You¡¯re so amazing, big brother,¡± said Erbao who gave Dabao a thumbs up, ¡°you cured Mr. Blondie!¡±

    Dabao shook his head and said, ¡°He¡¯s not awake yet.¡±

    ¡°He will. I believe in my big brother.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m still worried,¡± said Dabao who shook his head.

    ¡°Why are you worried?¡± asked the confused Erbao, ¡°Mr. Blondie is clearly getting better.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± said Dabao, ¡°I kept getting the feeling that something¡¯s about to happen.¡±

    Erbao walked over to hug her big brother andfort him. ¡°You¡¯re the best, my big brother,¡± said

    Erbao, ¡°Mr. Blondie will definitely recover!¡±

    Ning Ran came in to check on them then. ¡°What are you two talking about?¡±

    ¡°Mommy, where did you and Third Uncle go?¡±

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t think that Erbao would ask that question all of a sudden. For a moment, Ning Ran

    didn¡¯t know how to answer.

    I can¡¯t exactly say we went to take a bath. Even though they were her children, she was still too

    embarrassed to talk about it.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± said Ning Ran stiffly, ¡°Just¡­ kids shouldn¡¯t butt in on adult¡¯s business.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a kid,¡± said Erbao with her chubby cheeks held high, ¡°I am four years old! I¡¯m not a two-year-

    old toddler anymore, mommy.¡±

    ¡°Okay, if you being four years old means that you¡¯re an adult,¡± said Ning Ran who was grinning, ¡°then

    won¡¯t my age mean that I¡¯m ashes in an urn?¡±

    ¡°Mommy is still young,¡± said Erbao who was a master in the art of ttering others, ¡°You¡¯re the beautiful

    lady who is just a tad older than me.¡±

    ¡°Beautifuldy?¡±

    The one who spoke was Nan Chen who had just entered the cabin.

    ¡°What?¡± asked Ning Ran who was angry upon seeing the distaste in Nan Chen¡¯s eyes, ¡°You got a

    problem with that?¡±

    Nan Chen ignored her and sneered. Then, he bent down to check on Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°He looks better,¡± said Nan Chen, ¡°And his breathing is stabilized.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± said Erbao proudly like she was the one who treated the man, ¡°Isn¡¯t my brother

    amazing?¡±

    Nan Chen nodded and said, ¡°Naturally, kids of the Nan Family are never weak.¡±

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t like that. That is MY son. Why is his achievement credited to the Nan Family?

    ¡°Come here, my son,¡± said Ning Ran who was showing off her right as the mother.

    Dabao didn¡¯t understand, but Nan Chen did.

    However, Nan Chen didn¡¯t say a word because he thought that it was dumb. That is your son. You

    don¡¯t need to fight for him or prove anything.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 119

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 119

    Everyone was relieved after Zheng Lunlun¡¯s condition stabilized.

    The team that was previously sent out had also made their way back with the members of Zheng

    Lunlun¡¯s rescue team.

    The cabin became livelier, but another problem presented itself. With more people showing up, more

    food was needed to keep everyone fed, and if their rescuer couldn¡¯t find them in time, they would

    starve.

    If the food ran out, they would have to, once again, fight for their survival.

    When evening rolled by, the rescue team started to go into the river to wash up and to fish.

    Erbao liked crowds and wanted to watch them fish, but Ning Ran forbade her so Erbao crawled into the

    mosquito and started pouting.

    Ning Ran wasn¡¯t bothered by it, but Nan Chen couldn¡¯t bear it so he took Erbao out of the mosquito

    and let her piggyback on him so they can go watch the others catch fish together.

    Ning Ran couldn¡¯t stand that. He¡¯s going to spoil my kid!

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± demanded Ning Ran who rushed over and blocked Nan Chen¡¯s path.

    ¡°Letting her y outside,¡± said Nan Chen calmly.

    ¡°There are a bunch of old men showering naked. A girl like her shouldn¡¯t hang out with them,¡± said Ning

    Ran who was getting angrier, ¡°You have got to stop spoiling her like that. What are you going to do if

    she asks for a star in the sky? Are you going to rip it from the sky bring it over for her too?¡±

    ¡°They have their clothes on,¡± exined Nan Chen.

    ¡°Still no. Kids get spoiled too easily¡­¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want the stars in the sky,¡± interrupted Erbao from Nan Chen¡¯s back.

    ¡°You keep quiet,¡± snapped Ning Ran.

    ¡°And if she does ask for a star from the sky, I will get it for her,¡± said Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran was so angry that she felt like she could pass out. What kind of man is this? How could he

    set zero boundaries for the kids?

    ¡°That is my daughter,¡± imed Ning Ran, ¡°And you are not allowed to spoil her like that.¡±

    ¡°The kid is not your private property,¡± said Nan Chen who refused to back down.

    ¡°She isn¡¯t your private property either. You have no right to spoil my kid like that!¡±

    ¡°Third Uncle isn¡¯t spoiling me,¡± said Erbao who wanted to help Nan Chen, ¡°He¡¯s just caring for me.¡±

    Ning Ran was so angry that she couldn¡¯t handle it anymore, and yelled at Erbao, ¡°Fine, then you can

    follow him anywhere. I don¡¯t want you anymore.¡±

    Erbao was frightened then. Her tiny lips curved downwards, and her eyes began to water.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be mad, mommy,¡± said Erbao, ¡°I won¡¯t go.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve scared the child!¡± said Nan Chen whose re became colder as anger filled his face.

    ¡°Butt out! I am teaching my daughter a lesson,¡± shouted Ning Ran at Nan Chen, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault, you

    infuriating man!¡±

    Nan Chen set Erbao down and said sweetly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Erbao. Third Uncle is here for you.¡±

    Ning Ran was even angrier after hearing that. Damn it! How am I supposed to teach my kid with you

    downying my words like that?

    ¡°Erbao,e over here,¡± said Ning Ran in a slightly louder voice.

    Erbao stared at Nan Chen nervously then at Ning Ran before deciding to go to Ning Ran obediently.

    ¡°Are you going to disobey mommy?¡±

    Erbao shook her head quickly as tears rolled down her cheeks.

    ¡°Do you think that mommy was wrong? The people by the river are all men while you are a girl. Do you

    remember mommy telling you that boys and girls need to keep some distance? That¡¯s called a ¡®safe

    distance¡¯. Have you forgotten about it?¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten it,¡± said Erbao as she shook her head.

    ¡°Then why did you listen to a stranger instead of me?¡±

    ¡°I am not a stranger!¡± refuted Nan Chen who was frowning with dissatisfaction.

    ¡°Shut up,¡± ordered Ning Ran, ¡°I am teaching my kid. Could you get your butt out of here?¡±

    Nan Chen was on the verge of going crazy. How could that woman order him to shut up?

    He was THE Mr. Nan Chen. How could she order the renowned Mr. Nan Chen to shut up?

    Nan Chen¡¯s eyes were deadly as they re at Ning Ran. If she wasn¡¯t a woman, he would have thrown

    her into the river.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, mommy, I was wrong,¡± said Erbao weakly, ¡°Don¡¯t be angry.¡±

    ¡°What was your mistake?¡± asked Ning Ran who was still furious.

    ¡°My mistake was that I didn¡¯t listen to mommy.¡±

    ¡°Will you make that mistake again?¡±

    ¡°No, mommy.¡± Erbao was being honest when she apologized.

    She was an extremely intelligent kid and had noticed that she was further straining the rtionship

    between her mommy and Third Uncle so she stepped up and apologized to pacify the situation.

    ¡°Go stay inside the mosquito,¡± ordered Ning Ran.

    Erbao turned to Nan Chen then got back into the mosquito.

    ¡°The way you teach your kid is disgraceful,¡±mented Nan Chen.

    ¡°As I said, that is none of your business.¡±

    Nan Chen sneered before heading towards the river.

    What a dishonorable woman.

    Ning Ran returned to the cabin and saw that Erbao was crying while Dabao was trying to reason with

    her. ¡°Mommy was right.¡±

    ¡°I know mommy was right,¡± said the upset Erbao, ¡°But she was so fierce.¡±

    ¡°Because you were wrong,¡± said Dabao who stood his ground.

    ¡°Erbao, I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have been that harsh.¡±

    Ning Ran walked over to hug Erbao who started to cry even more.

    ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t leave me¡­¡±

    ¡°Mommy was joking. You are mommy¡¯s precious little kid. Mommy would never leave you.¡±

    Erbao started to calm down after some time.

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran was tired too because she didn¡¯t sleep well at night so sheid down to take a nap.

    Outside the cabin, Luo Fei heard themotion dying down inside so she peeked in.

    Everyone was washing up and catching fishes in the river so the cabin where Zheng Lunlun was in was

    empty.

    Luo Fei tiptoed into the cabin where Zheng Lunlun was at.

    Zheng Lunlun¡¯s face looked healthier, and his breathing was stabilized, but he was still unconscious.

    Luo Fei picked up the herbal oil that was ced at the side and started applying it onto Zheng Lunlun.

    She had heard Dabao saying that the oil was poisonous in nature, and could only be used moderately

    or the patient¡¯s condition would worsen. Moreover, Dabao had said that they had to at least wait until

    the next morning before they apply the oil again.

    It was still some time before the sun rises, and Zheng Lunlun would, no doubt, be poisoned if that

    medicine was applied to him once more.

    As long as he remained unconscious, her secrets would be safe, and she could keep acting innocent in

    front of Nan Chen.

    Luo Fei applied the medicine twice before she snuck back into her room

    At that moment, Ning Ran and the kids were napping in the other cabin so they had no idea what Luo

    Fei had done.

    Nan Chen was monitoring everyone by the river when he remembered that Zheng Lunlun was alone in

    the cabin so he rushed back and saw that Zheng Lunlun¡¯s face had turned pale once more!

    That was obviously a sign that his condition was worsening.

    ¡°Dabao! Dabao!¡± Nan Chen was calling for Dabao.

    Dabao was asleep when he heard Nan Chen calling for him so he quickly got up.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Third Uncle?¡± Dabao jogged over.

    ¡°Come quick. What is happening?¡±

    ¡°Why is Mr. Blondie¡¯s condition worsening?¡± said the surprised Dabao, ¡°Wasn¡¯t he getting better?¡±

    ¡°Why is this happening?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± said Dabao as he frowned, ¡°He was getting better¡­¡±

    ¡°What do we do now?¡±

    ¡°He was getting better, but now he¡¯s getting worse,¡± said Dabao who was on the verge of tears, ¡°I don¡¯t

    know what to do.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Dabao. This is not your fault,¡± said Nan Chen, ¡°We must be calm ande up with a

    solution.¡±

    ¡°We were using the oil¡¯s poison tobat the snake¡¯s poison so we can¡¯t apply any more oil or his

    condition will worsen,¡± said Dabao whose eyes were wet when he saw Zheng Lunlun¡¯s condition, ¡°But if

    we don¡¯t reduce the toxin now, Mr. Blondie won¡¯t survive!¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 120

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 120

    Nan Chen¡¯s heart dropped upon hearing that diagnosis, but he couldn¡¯t fall apart because he was the

    leader, and if he were to fall apart, everyone else would too.

    As such, Nan Chen¡¯s voice was calming when he said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Dabao, calm down. Think about it.

    Given the current situation and resources, what else can we do?¡±

    Influenced by Nan Chen, Dabao¡¯s panic disappeared, and he calmed down.

    Dabao turned to Zheng Lunlun, and with his tiny hand, he pried Zheng Lunlun¡¯s eyes open to check

    Zheng Lunlun¡¯s condition.

    ¡°Let¡¯s try using the leeches,¡± said Dabao.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°When Mr. Blondie first got poisoned, the leeches sucked part of the poison away and saved his life.

    Now that the poison had worsened, we could try using the leeches to suck the poison out again. This

    method may not be effective, but it¡¯s the only one I coulde up with.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded. He had thought about that too, but he didn¡¯t say anything because he¡¯s didn¡¯t want

    to affect Dabao¡¯s thought process.

    Since Dabao also came to the same conclusion, Nan Chen was quick to agree.

    There were plenty of leeches in the forest so the team was able to collect dozens of them within a short

    time.

    Dabao picked up the leeches and put them on Zheng Lunlun one by one.

    The thin leeches fattened up quickly because they had sucked Zheng Lunlun¡¯s blood.

    The leeches that had fed on the blood grew round stomachs and looked terrifying.

    They died rather quickly because the poison was too strong.

    After using a dozen leeches, Dabao halted the treatment because Zheng Lunlun would lose too much

    blood if they kept using the leeches.

    After they removed the leeches, Zheng Lunlun looked much better.

    Nan Chen and Dabao dared not leave the room and stood guard.

    Dinner time rolled around.

    Qiao Zhan came in with a te of fish for Dabao who shook his head to tell them that he didn¡¯t have

    any appetite.

    ¡°Have some. You¡¯ll need the strength.¡±

    Nan Chen epted the fish before he picked out all the bones and feed it to Dabao.

    ¡°Dabao, don¡¯t be stressed out about this. It¡¯s not your fault if Zheng Lunlun doesn¡¯t make it, it¡¯s just his

    time. You tried your best,¡± said Nan Chen softly.

    Dabao¡¯s tears rolled down.

    ¡°Don¡¯t cry, you must be strong now. We must believe that he¡¯ll get better.¡±

    ¡°Whoforts a kid like that? Or are you trying to intimidate him?¡±

    The one who questioned Nan Chen¡¯s method was, of course, Ning Ran.

    ¡°What is wrong with what I said?¡± demanded Nan Chen.

    ¡°You said ¡®if Zheng Lunlun doesn¡¯t make it¡¯. Is that something appropriate?¡± asked Ning Ran, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t

    you be saying things like ¡®Zheng Lunlun would definitely make it¡¯?¡±

    Nan Chen thought about it and noticed that his choice of words was terrible.

    Dabao was too young and could not handle the reality that way, but that woman was so rude that he

    refused to admit defeat, even if he was wrong.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need your advice, get out!¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t your house,¡± sneered Ning Ran, ¡°Why should I leave just because you asked me to?¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t your house either. You¡¯re noisy and annoying!¡±

    Dabao noticed that the two of them were about to fight again so he voiced up to stop them. ¡°Mommy,¡±

    said Dabao, ¡°please talk less.¡±

    ¡°Why am I the one at fault?¡± said Ning Ran angrily, ¡°He¡¯s the one who¡¯s picking a fight.¡±

    ¡°Third Uncle was just too worried,¡± said Dabao.

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Dabao onlyined to Ning Ran because he didn¡¯t want to embarrass Nan Chen.

    Ironically, Dabao¡¯s sweet gesture made Nan Chen feel embarrassed because arguing in front of a child

    was not a graceful thing to do.

    ¡°Let¡¯s stop talking,¡± said Nan Chen who ended the argument.

    He never liked to talk anyway so he was practically mute afterward and was sitting there like a wooden

    sculpture.

    Dabao wasn¡¯t talkative either so he was also ¡®frozen¡¯ there.

    Ning Ran stayed for a couple of minutes and felt like she had reached her limit.

    Those two were the world¡¯s most quiet people, and she couldn¡¯t handle them.

    Ning Ran wasn¡¯t a talkative person either, but she couldn¡¯t withstand their level of silence.

    In the end, she had no choice but to admit defeat and left. I think I¡¯ll go hang out with Erbao who is

    more talkative.

    On this end, Dabao and Nan Chen were still ¡®frozen¡¯.

    Their natural states were being quiet so they didn¡¯t feel awkward or feel the pressure to start a

    conversation.

    In fact, a quiet environment made it easier for them to think.

    ¡°Dabao,¡± said Nan Chen who broke the silence, ¡°What do you think about Lunlun being poisoned a

    second time?¡±

    ¡°The herb,¡± said Dabao.

    ¡°What are the chances of the medicine reacting badly after it had healed the patient?¡±

    ¡°Low.¡±

    ¡°In other words, it didn¡¯t make sense for his condition to worsen after he had gotten better?¡±

    ¡°Exactly,¡± nodded Dabao.

    ¡°Could it be possible that someone else had applied the medicine on him once more?¡±

    Dabao turned to look at Nan Chen.

    Dabao had been suspecting that too, but he didn¡¯t dare to say it out loud.

    After all, he was just an innocent child, and he didn¡¯t dare to think about someone doing something that

    terrible.

    ¡°You think so too, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Dabao didn¡¯t speak. He wasn¡¯t sure, and he didn¡¯t want it to be true.

    Who could it be? thought Nan Chen.

    The first suspect that came into his mind was Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran once hid in the closet in Zheng Lunlun¡¯s room so she and Zheng Lunlun must be in a

    rtionship.

    With Zheng Lunlun being there, Ning Ran could be worried that Zheng Lunlun would spill her secrets

    so she decided to kill him.

    She has always been a flirty woman so it¡¯s possible that she slept with Zheng Lunlun but couldn¡¯t let

    anyone know about it.

    That is why she wanted to kill him! She has a motive!

    Nan Chen found Ning Ran to be more and more suspicious.

    He thought that Ning Ran may have entered the room a moment ago to check if Zheng Lunlun was still

    alive and ended up arguing with Nan Chen.

    Moreover, she wasn¡¯t there when everyone was by the river! Who else could have done it if not her?

    Having thought that, Nan Chen stood up with fury burning in his eyes.

    ¡°Third Uncle, where are you going?¡±

    Dabao sensed the anger from Nan Chen and was frightened.

    ¡°Nowhere. I¡¯m just checking the surroundings.¡±

    Nan Chen couldn¡¯t let Dabao find out what he was thinking because he couldn¡¯t destroy the kid¡¯s

    impression of his mother.

    If a child were to find out that their mother or father was a cruel person, the child would not be able to

    adapt or ept that hard truth.

    In the long run, the child would be affected and would grow up to be mentally unstable.

    That was why a child must never find out how evil their parents were or they would be burdened with

    guilt.

    Nan Chen understood that so he didn¡¯t want to talk about Ning Ran¡¯s sin in front of the kids, but he

    won¡¯t let her go unpunished either!

    ¡°Third Uncle, do you think that someone had deliberately applied the medicine on Mr. Blondie?¡±

    Dabao was too smart and could more or less guess what Nan Chen was thinking.

    Nan Chen couldn¡¯t answer that question, but he didn¡¯t want to lie either.

    ¡°We need to investigate further.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s definitely not mommy,¡± said Dabao.

    Nan Chen couldn¡¯t reply.

    He thought about it for a while and decided it was best to protect the child so he nodded rigidly and

    said, ¡°I agree.¡±

    Dabao was relieved to hear that.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 121

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 121

    After dinner, Ning Ran was brought to the riverside by Nan Chen again.

    Nan Chen¡¯s expression was terrifyingly cold, and Ning Ran had a bad feeling about it. She stopped

    walking after a while and refused to take another step.

    She thought to herself, What if we wander too far away and this guy kills me and dumps my body in the

    river?

    ¡°Just tell me what it is that you want. I don¡¯t owe you any money, so why have you brought me all the

    way here?!¡± Ning Ran said loudly.

    She tried to speak as loud as she could to counter the pressure that Nan Chen was giving her.

    ¡°Why did you do that?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    ¡°I had to!¡± Ning Ran said.

    Nan Chen almost lost his temper. She nearly got someone killed, and yet behaves so nonchntly?

    He reached out his arm and grabbed Ning Ran, and forced her to the riverside.

    She would fall into the river if he had applied a bit more force on her.

    ¡°Help¡­¡­¡±

    Before Ning Ran could finish, Nan Chen pulled her back again.

    ¡°If you kill me, I won¡¯t forgive you even if I turn into a ghost!¡± Ning Ran still had a lingering fear in her

    heart. She had really felt Nan Chen¡¯s murderous intent just now, and her feet were still weak from it.

    ¡°You unrepentant woman!¡± Nan Chen was furious.

    ¡°Why should I repent? I didn¡¯t do anything wrong! That¡¯s what I¡¯ve always been doing!¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°You¡¯ve always been causing harm to others?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that? What harm have I caused by saving my own children?¡±

    Nan Chen realized that they were not talking about the same thing.

    Was this woman ying dumb to divert attention?

    ¡°Why did you hurt Lunlun?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    ¡°Huh? Since when I hurt him?¡± I just haven¡¯t returned the money I owed him. He is so rich ¡ª hundreds

    of thousands are nothing to him anyway. Besides, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m never going to pay up. I¡¯m just not

    paying up for the time being!¡±

    Nan Chen was confused again. What is this woman talking about?

    We¡¯re clearly talking about a life or death issue here. Why is she talking about owing and paying

    money?

    Ning Ran realized that they were not on the same page as well.

    But then again, they never were anyway!

    ¡°What exactly are you trying to say?¡± Ning Ran felt that she needed to get a clear answer from him.

    ¡°Zheng Lunlun¡¯s detoxification process was almostplete, but his condition had suddenly worsened

    because someone applied Wang Chuan grass herbal oil on him again which increased the toxicity in

    his body. He is still in danger now!¡±

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I know this, Dabao told me about it.¡±

    And then there was silence.

    ¡°Ah, you suspect that I did it to him?¡± Ning Ran said as she suddenly realized what was going on.

    ¡°Who else could it be?¡± Nan Chen¡¯s voice sounded like it was from hell itself.

    ¡°Why me? How are you so sure that it was me? Just because you don¡¯t like me? Well, I don¡¯t like you

    either, so I think it was you!¡± Ning Ran eximed.

    ¡°He is my nephew; of course I will not harm him!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s like a brother to me, that makes me even more unlikely for me to harm him!¡±

    Nan Chen was extremely furious but couldn¡¯t do anything about Ning Ran.

    He couldn¡¯t bring himself to do something like hit a woman.

    But his anger was burning so strongly that he didn¡¯t know what to do.

    Out of anger, Nan Chen shouted, ¡°Get lost!¡±

    Ning Ran was confused; This is a forest. Where would she go?

    But Ning Ran didn¡¯t dare talk back anymore as she felt the danger of doing so.

    One could talk back a little with Nan Chen but not anger himpletely.

    If he lost control and really tossed her into the river, she¡¯d surely die.

    Besides, if it wasn¡¯t for him, she would¡¯ve been abducted along with her kids, so she still had to thank

    him for that.

    Not to mention his care for the kids, as even she wasn¡¯t that meticulous.

    ¡°It really wasn¡¯t me.¡± Ning Ran said slowly, ¡°There is no need for me to do such a thing.¡±

    In a state of fury, Nan Chen did not speak and just exuded cold air and hostility as he stood there.

    ¡°I was with Dabao and Erbao the whole time. They can testify for me.¡± Ning Ran said.

    Nan Chen remained silent.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, then there¡¯s nothing I can do. I swear, I really wasn¡¯t the one who harmed

    Zheng Lunlun!¡± Ning Ran said.

    Naturally, Nan Chen doesn¡¯t believe in things like swearing.

    But he did believe in one thing, that is Ning Ran saying that Dabao and Erbao being able to testify.

    As wicked as Ning Ran may be, she wouldn¡¯t harm others using her children¡¯s name.

    Dabao and Erbao wouldn¡¯t allow Ning Ran to do such a thing either.

    Especially Dabao, as he had wanted to rescue Zheng Lunlun so badly, so he wouldn¡¯t possibly let Ning

    Ran do that to Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°If not you, then who?¡± Nan Chen finally spoke.

    Ning Ran let out a sigh of relief.

    As long as he speaks, there¡¯s still a possibility ofmunication.

    ¡°Luo Fei.¡± Ning Ran answered.

    ¡°What makes you think she did it?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t say for sure, but she¡¯s the only one who would dare do such a thing. Perhaps Zheng Lunlun has

    some dirt on her and she doesn¡¯t want him to wake up.¡±

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t agree with Ning Ran¡¯s point.

    Luo Fei and Zheng Lunlun hade together, so why would Luo Fei want to harm him?

    ¡°Do you have proof?

    Ning Ran who had calmed down a lot more got angry again when she heard that.

    So I need proof for suspecting Luo Fei but you don¡¯t need any to suspect me?

    Do I have the word Killer written on my head or something?

    ¡°You didn¡¯t have proof for suspecting me either. I know what kind of person Luo Fei is, that¡¯s why I think

    she did it. It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t believe me, because I didn¡¯t need you to anyway.¡±

    Nan Chen kept quiet as he heard that.

    While Ning Ran and Nan Chen were arguing at the riverside, Dabao and Erbao were having a

    discussion in the tent.

    The topic of their discussion was also about whoever it was that harmed Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°It must be that annoying woman!¡± Erbao was very certain.

    Dabao motioned for Erbao to keep her voice down to not be heard by others.

    ¡°But she came with Blondie. They are friends, so why would she do that?¡± Dabao asked.

    Erbao couldn¡¯t answer.

    She didn¡¯t know much. She just found Luo Fei annoying and if anyone did something bad, it must be

    her.

    ¡°If it really was her, then we must be careful.¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°Would she harm us?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s possible.¡± Dabao nodded solemnly.

    ¡°Then we must tell Uncle Nan Chen!¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t. Uncle Nan Chen knows it well.¡± Dabao reminded.

    Erbao was getting a little impatient. We can¡¯t do this, we can¡¯t do that, then what can we do?

    ¡°Let¡¯s go ask her.¡± She finally had an idea.

    ¡°She won¡¯t admit it. We need to find a way to get some proof.¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°Brother, you¡¯re the smartest, so you think of an idea.¡± Erbao said.

    ¡°I need your cooperation as well for it to work.¡±

    Dabao gave it some thought and shook his head, ¡°No, this is difficult.¡±

    Erbao didn¡¯t know what her brother was thinking about and why he rejected his own thoughts either.

    At that moment, someone entered the tent. It was Luo Fei.

    She saw Nan Chen and Ning Ran leave, so she came over to get some information.

    ¡°Sweetie, aren¡¯t you asleep?¡± Luo Fei asked with a smile.

    ¡°Get out, I don¡¯t like you.¡± Erbao had always been direct.

    ¡°Sweetie, do you have some misunderstanding towards me? I actually like kids a lot, and I¡¯m a huge

    star.¡± Luo Fei said.

    Dabao and Erbao looked at each other, Mommy¡¯s the real superstar. Who do you think you are?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 122

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 122

    ¡°Sweetie, where did your mommy go?¡± Luo Fei continued to strike up a conversation.

    But her efforts were in vain as they ignored herpletely.

    She continued talking, and then noticed that Dabao and Erbaopletely ignored her.

    As thick-skinned as she may be, she felt bored herself too.

    But she had to continue as she still hadn¡¯t gotten the answers she hade for.

    ¡°Why do you call Zheng Lunlun blondie?¡± Luo Fei continued to ask the questions that she wanted to

    know the answers to.

    Dabao and Erbao looked at each other again, and continued to ignore her.

    ¡°Did you guys know each other?¡± Luo Fei still wasn¡¯t letting up.

    But she didn¡¯t get an answer to her questions, as the two did not respond to her at all.

    ¡°Sweetie, do you know anything about medicine? How is Zheng Lunlun now? Can he recover?¡± Luo Fei

    asked again.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    Dabao was a polite child. He felt that it was inappropriate to just keep quiet after Luo Fei had asked so

    many questions.

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t he detoxified? Why has his condition worsened again?¡± Luo Fei tried asking.

    ¡°Because someone applied Wang Chuan grass herbal oil on him.¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°Is it that serious? Then, wouldn¡¯t he die if it was applied on him again? Is that Wang Chuan grass

    really that powerful? If applying it would kill someone, then wouldn¡¯t he be dead if he drank it instead?¡±

    Luo Fei pretended to be surprised.

    ¡°A drop is enough to kill a cow if taken orally.¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°My goodness, is there really such a poisonous substance in the world? That¡¯s just too scary!¡± Luo Fei

    said in shock.

    ¡°So you must be careful not to consume Wang Chuan grass by ident, Miss.¡± Dabao continued.

    ¡°Mhmm, I must be more careful, otherwise it would be really bad for me.¡± Luo Fei said.

    Dabao nodded.

    ¡°Oh right, who applied the drug on Zheng Lunlun? Was someone trying to harm him?¡± Luo Fei asked

    again.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Dabao shook his head.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t Nan Chen say who it was?¡± Luo Fei continued to probe.

    ¡°Uncle Nan Chen didn¡¯t say anything.¡±

    ¡°Brother, just ignore her! Why are you talking so much with her? She¡¯s a bad person!¡± Erbao couldn¡¯t

    bear to watch any longer.

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Luo Fei gritted her teeth in anger. This little witch had scared her to death with a snake during the day.

    She really wanted to strangle this kid!

    But she maintained a friendly look on her face, ¡°Sweetie, I¡¯m really not a bad person. When we get

    back to Jiangcheng, I¡¯ll treat you to a nice meal.¡±

    Erbao was a glutton and her eyes would normally light up at the mention of food.

    But it was different today. She wasn¡¯t interested in the slightest by Luo Fei¡¯s offer.

    ¡°My mommy will take me to eat all the good food. My mommy, daddy and Uncle Nan Chen are rich!¡±

    What this means is, I don¡¯t need your treat at all! I know so many rich people!

    Luo Fei knew she couldn¡¯t keep the conversation going any further. Sheughed awkwardly and left.

    Her eyes shone viciously in the night. She wanted to get rid of these kids.

    The reason why Ning Ran has been so arrogant was because of these kids!

    Once she loses the kids, she will be nothing to the Ning family!

    You want to make a fortune using your children? Then I¡¯ll just get rid of the children. I¡¯ll see how you

    can get rich then!

    Luo Fei came to the cabin that Zheng Lunlun was in again. She noticed a foul smell the moment she

    entered.

    As she got closer to see if Zheng Lunlun was dead, a person suddenly popped out of the darkness and

    shone a shlight on Luo Fei¡¯s face.

    Luo Fei was shocked and let out a scream.

    ¡°Ms. Luo? What are you doing here?¡±

    It was Qiao Zhan. He was sent by Nan Chen to protect Zheng Lunlun, as there could be no more

    idents.

    ¡°I came to check on Lunlun to see if his condition has improved.¡± Luo Fei panicked.

    ¡°Ms. Luo, do you usually check on people in the dark?¡± Qiao Zhan asked.

    ¡°What do you mean by that? There¡¯s no light here, and I don¡¯t have a shlight on me. What else could

    I do?¡±

    Naturally, Luo Fei noticed the suspicion in Qiao Zhan¡¯s question. So, she had to try and assert some

    dominance to keep Qiao Zhan in check.

    Qiao Zhan was the captain of the Nan family¡¯s security team, and knew that Luo Fei was Nan Chen¡¯s

    honorary girlfriend.

    She was someone he couldn¡¯t afford to offend.

    But Qiao Zhan was no ordinary bootlicker either.

    He was a special forces retiree and had the character of a soldier.

    Even if Luo Fei was Nan Chen¡¯s girlfriend, he would say what he has to say and do what needs to be

    done.

    ¡°Someone has tried to harm Young Master Lun today, so Mr. Nan Chen had me stand guard here.

    Anyone thates in is a suspect.¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    ¡°What are you implying, Qiao Zhan? Are you suspecting me of doing that? Am I someone you can

    afford to suspect? Do you know who I am?¡±

    Qiao Zhan wasn¡¯t buying it, ¡°Of course I know who Ms. Luo is. But by the order of Mr. Nan Chen, I will

    stand guard here and not allow anyone near Young Master Lun.¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯m not going near him! Can¡¯t I just visit a patient?¡± Luo Fei protested.

    ¡°Of course, visiting a patient is no problem. But it¡¯s so dark here, do you have night vision, Ms. Luo?

    Are you able to see in the dark?¡±

    ¡°So you are still suspicious of me?¡±

    ¡°Everyone else here apart from the patient is a suspect. You are no exception, Ms. Luo.¡± Qiao Zhan

    stood his ground firmly.

    ¡°Qiao Zhan, you¡¯ve got quite some guts for a mere guard dog of the Nan family. I¡¯m the futuredy of

    the Nan family! You¡¯ll regret speaking to me like this someday!¡±

    The term ¡®guard dog¡¯ was clearly insulting.

    But Qiao Zhan didn¡¯t mind it, nor did he refute it.

    ¡°I¡¯m just following Mr. Nan Chen¡¯s orders. Please cooperate, Ms. Luo. In Jiangcheng, my job is to watch

    over the house of the Nan family. Here, my job is to watch over the safety of everyone in the Nan

    family. Whether or not Ms. Luo would be the futuredy of the Nan family is another story. Even if Ms.

    Luo really does be thedy of the house, I will still say what I have to say. This is not something to

    worry about, and I am never worried.¡±

    Qiao Zhan did not retort directly, but his words hinted, You may not necessarily be thedy of the Nan

    family!

    Luo Fei got really angry.

    The kids had bullied her, and now even a subordinate was bullying her. She had be the most

    insignificant person here!

    ¡°Remember what you said today. When I be thedy of the Nan family, you¡¯ll be the first person I

    fire!¡± Luo Feished out.

    Qiao Zhan just sneered without saying a word.

    ¡°I bet you had something to do with the poison on Zheng Lunlun¡¯s body! You im to be guarding him

    here, but who knows what you might be plotting? I can¡¯t trust you either! I¡¯m taking this solution with

    me!¡± Luo Fei said and took away the bottle of Wang Chuan solution beside her.

    Qiao Zhan remained silent.

    As Luo Fei walked out, she remembered Dabao¡¯s words about how a drop of this solution was enough

    to kill a cow if taken orally.

    How would I have the kids consume a drop of this? If they were to take it, they would surely die! Then

    Ning Ran would be left with nothing!

    But Dabao has some knowledge on medicine and had made this solution himself! So it would be

    unlikely to have him drink it.

    Do I force it down him? That¡¯s even more unlikely to work. There are two of them, so the other would

    surely scream for help if I touched one of them and I¡¯d be doomed. What should I do?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 123

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 123

    The night went by peacefully. The next day, Zheng Lunlun¡¯s condition has improved slightly. The green

    on his face had faded as his feminine face looked pale and translucent.

    Ning Ran and the others were getting ready to have breakfast when they heard Erbao shouting in the

    cabin, ¡°He¡¯s awake! Blondie is awake!¡±

    Everyone rushed into the cabin. Zheng Lunlun stared at them, then shifted his gaze to the corner of the

    wall, ¡°Don¡¯t hit me!¡± Everyone was bewildered. What was he talking about? Was this actor putting up a

    performance right after waking up?

    ¡°Mr. Blondie, is your body hurting? Are you feeling dizzy?¡± Dabao asked. ¡°Who are you calling Mr.

    Blondie? You¡¯re older than me!¡± Zheng Lunlun got mad. Everyone was dumbfounded once again. He¡¯s

    younger than Dabao?

    ¡°Stop messing around, Lunlun. Are you feeling any unwell anywhere?¡± Nan Chen asked seriously. ¡°I¡¯m

    not feeling unwell, you are!¡± Zheng Lunlun said.

    Nan Chen waspletely stunned.

    ¡°Mr. Blondie¡¯s gone crazy!¡± Erbao was the first to conclude.

    Ning Ran had actually thought of saying the same thing too, but she didn¡¯t dare to.

    Anyone who dared speak their mind must be a child.

    ¡°Erbao, don¡¯t say nonsense like that!¡± Ning Ran quickly stopped Erbao.

    ¡°I¡¯m not! Look, he¡¯s turned into a kid! He¡¯s even younger than me!¡± Erbao argued.

    Luo Fei who was hiding in the back was sweating in fear when she heard that Zheng Lunlun had

    woken up.

    She had decided that if Zheng Lunlun identified her, she would not admit to it no matter what and would

    cause a huge ruckus in her protest to gain Nan Chen¡¯s support.

    Then, she would find another chance to finish off Zheng Lunlun, to tie up all loose ends.

    But she didn¡¯t expect that Zheng Lunlun would have lost his mind instead when he woke up. Luo Fei

    was delighted; this is really great!

    ¡°Lunlun, I¡¯m Luo Fei, from the same crew. Do you recognize me?¡± Luo Fei squeezed her way through

    and asked.

    ¡°Who are you? You¡¯re so ugly!¡± Zheng Lunlun rolled his eyes at Luo Fei.

    Luo Fei got angry. This guy¡¯s already lost his mind but still has it in him to insult me?!

    Erbaoughed when she heard that, ¡°Hahaha, Mr. Blondie¡¯s still telling the truth even though he¡¯s gone

    crazy! That¡¯s so cute!¡±

    ¡°Erbao, stop saying that, do you hear me?¡± Ning Ran scolded her again.

    ¡°Leave us, all of you.¡± Nan Chen waved his hand.

    Everyone stepped outside. Nan Chen, Dabao and Zheng Lunlun who was curled up in a corner were

    the only ones remaining in the cabin.

    ¡°Come here.¡± Nan Chen waved at Zheng Lunlun.

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Papa.¡± Zheng Lunlun called out sweetly.

    Nan Chen frowned and looked at Dabao, who shrugged helplessly in response.

    ¡°What¡¯s gotten into him?¡±

    ¡°His cranial nerves must have been damaged from being badly poisoned.¡± Dabao analyzed.

    ¡°Is this amnesia? Or psychosis?¡± Nan Chen¡¯s frown deepened.

    ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. The toxin has damaged his cranial nerves, resulting in this abnormal behavior. We can

    only get a detailed diagnosis at a hospital. There is nothing we can do right now.¡± Dabao said.

    Nan Chen let out a deep sigh. He did not expect things to turn out like this.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Uncle Nan Chen. I believe Mr. Blondie will recover once the toxins are excreted gradually.

    He should be able return to normal with the aid of medicine.¡± Dabaoforted him.

    ¡°So, we can only leave him like this for now?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s all we can do for now. We have no other choice but to return to the city quickly to get him

    checked and treated.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded. It was all they could do for the time being.

    ¡°Papa, I want candies.¡±

    Zheng Lunlun walked over and cuddled beside Nan Chen¡¯s leg like a child.

    ¡°Someone make him a bowl of fish soup!¡± Nan Chen ordered.

    Soon, someone had brought over a bowl of fish soup.

    But Zheng Lunlun wouldn¡¯t drink it, ¡°I don¡¯t want it! I don¡¯t want it! It stinks!¡±

    With the limited resources and conditions avable, it was only natural that the fish soup prepared in

    such an environment would not taste well.

    Nan Chen looked at Zheng Lunlun helplessly.

    ¡°Let me try.¡± Luo Fei volunteered.

    She walked up to Zheng Lunlun, ¡°Lunlun, have some fish soup. Your body is weak now, so you need it

    for energy!¡±

    But Zheng Lunlun was not buying it either, ¡°Get lost, you ugly woman!¡±

    Luo Fei wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole at that moment. She was a famous

    star and yet she was being called an ugly woman!

    She thought to herself, Why wasn¡¯t this bastard dead from the poison?! He should¡¯ve died long ago!

    Then, Ning Ran came in as well. Zheng Lunlun tilted his head as he looked at Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran felt a bit creeped out and was about to leave when Zheng Lunlun suddenly walked over and

    grabbed her hand while swinging it around, ¡°Mama!¡±

    There was silence.

    What was going on? First he¡¯s gone crazy, now he¡¯s calling random people his mother?

    ¡°Don¡¯t call me that, I don¡¯t like taking advantage of others.¡± Ning Ran was feeling extremely awkward as

    well.

    ¡°Mama, I want candies!¡± Zheng Lunlun didn¡¯t care, and continued to speak cutely.

    Erbao stared wide-eyed, ¡°Mommy, is he trying to act cute?¡±

    Ning Ran burst out inughter, ¡°I¡¯m Ding Mi, stop calling me mama!¡±

    She tried to leave as soon as she finished saying that as it was getting too awkward for her to stay any

    longer.

    But Zheng Lunlun wouldn¡¯t let go, ¡°Mama, don¡¯t go.¡±

    Then with his other hand, he tugged on Nan Chen¡¯s arm, ¡°Papa, mama, buy candies!¡±

    Erbao was amused again, ¡°Mommy, Mr. Blondie wants you two together!¡±

    Dabao red at Erbao. She quickly shut her mouth and stuck her tongue out.

    ¡°Ahem¡­¡­¡± Ning Ran awkwardly coughed, ¡°Don¡¯t take this kid seriously, guys. He¡¯s a little¡­¡±

    Ning Ran pointed at her head.

    ¡°Mama, I want candies¡± Zheng Lunlun was still going at it.

    ¡°Lunlun, listen to me and drink the soup first, alright? Once you get better, we¡¯ll go back to the city, and

    then we can buy your candy!¡± Ning Ran said softly.

    Zheng Lunlun listened and rolled his eyes twice. She seems to have gotten through to him.

    He then took the bowl of fish soup and gulped it all down.

    Nan Chen¡¯s frown loosened a little.

    He had not expected to see such a scene.

    Regardless, it was fortunate enough that Zheng Lunlun survived.

    Although Zheng Lunlun had woken up, his body was still weak. He got tired after ying for a bit, so

    Ning Ran had him rest a little, and he fell asleep soon after.

    Ning Ran let out a long sigh of relief. Having to take care of Dabao and Erbao was exhausting enough

    as it is, and now she has an additional man-child to look after.

    The crew outside were also discussing this incident quietly.

    ¡°It looks like the young master has lost it. He actually called Mr. Nan Chen papa and Ms. Ding mama!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t say that, they look pretty good together, like a perfect match.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense! Didn¡¯t you hear the kids call Mr. Nan Chen their uncle? I heard that the kids

    belong to Mr. Nan Xing, not Mr. Nan Chen.¡±

    ¡°But I think the boy looks more like Mr. Nan Chen instead. He¡¯s just as serious and smart, even

    terrifyingly so.¡±

    Luo Fei felt ufortable when she heard that as she passed by.

    ¡°What are you all talking about? Go fishing if you¡¯ve got nothing else to do! Don¡¯t you men feel bored

    gossiping like that?¡±

    The crew dared not talk back but were cursing in their hearts, Even the crazy one called you ugly. How

    can you still act so high and mighty like that?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 124

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 124

    Today, Luo Fei had been waiting for a suitable chance to carry out her act but never managed to.

    Finally, at dinner, her opportunity hade.

    While she was helping out in the kitchen with serving the food, she personally served the kids some

    rice and fish.

    Then, she added two drops of the Wang Chuan grass solution into the fish soup when no one was

    watching.

    She had heard Dabao say that a single drop of it was enough to kill a cow.

    Now that I¡¯ve added two drops of it, the kids would surely die!

    If Ning Ran ate it with them, then all three of them would die!

    Luo Fei was delighted at the thought of that. There would be no one left to stand in her way once she

    gets rid of Ning Ran and the kids!

    But due to her guilty conscience, Luo Fei dared not make eye contact with Dabao and Erbao when

    serving them the fish.

    She quickly hurried on back to a more crowded area after setting the fish down.

    About twenty minutester, Erbao¡¯s cries were heard from the cabin.

    ¡°Oh no, Ms. Ding has been poisoned!¡± A crew member said.

    Luo Fei pushed her way past the crowd and saw Ning Ran lying on the ground foaming at the mouth.

    Dabao was also lying next to her with his eyes closed, seemingly unconscious.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Nan Chen¡¯s voice was cold.

    His face was pale and the muscles around his lips were twitching.

    ¡°Mommy and brother got poisoned after eating the fish! Mommy¡¯s dead!¡± Erbao was crying her lungs

    out.

    ¡°How did this happen? What should we do now?¡± Nan Chen panicked.

    He had always trusted Dabao when it came to the treatments. Now that Dabao was also gone, he

    became instantly helpless and alone.

    ¡°No, they¡¯ll be fine! They¡¯ll be fine!

    Nan Chen¡¯s expression was as ferocious a lion and he had a fierce look in his eyes. Everyone was too

    scared to speak at all.

    ¡°Why are you fine?¡± Luo Fei asked from the side.

    ¡°When mommy and brother were eating, I didn¡¯t have an appetite, so I didn¡¯t eat it.¡± Erbao said while

    crying.

    Nan Chen grabbed Luo Fei, ¡°Did you wish for something to happen to her?!¡±

    Luo Fei was scared by Nan Chen¡¯s sudden hostility, ¡°I¡­¡­ I didn¡¯t mean it like that¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Who can tell me what can save them?¡± Nan Chen shouted loudly.

    Nobody said a word because none of them had any ideas, and Ning Ran was already motionless on

    the ground.

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Rescue would¡¯ve been possible if they were at a hospital, but here, there was nothing they could do.

    Ning Ran¡¯s poisoning was different from Zheng Lunlun¡¯s. His was external, so the toxins could be

    sucked out with leeches. Ning Ran however, had directly consumed the poison instead, so there was

    no way to detoxify her.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, I don¡¯t think Ding Mi¡¯s going to make it¡­¡­¡± Luo Fei said.

    ¡°You shut up! They won¡¯t die! They won¡¯t!¡±

    Nan Chen started performing CPR on them like a madman.

    Everyone was stunned. No one dared to leave nor stop him.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen¡­¡­¡± Qiao Zhan called out tremblingly.

    Nan Chen gradually calmed down.

    ¡°How were they poisoned? Why is everyone else alright?¡±

    His piercing gaze swept across the crowd, and sent a chill down everyone¡¯s spines.

    No one dared say a word.

    ¡°Someone must have poisoned us! She was the one who served us our soup!¡± Erbao pointed at Luo

    Fei, ¡°Give me back my mommy! Give me back my brother!¡±

    Erbao ran towards Luo Fei and wed away at her. Luo Fei was in pain, but dared not fight back.

    She didn¡¯t even dare move out of the way, because Nan Chen was staring at her like a beast.

    She was afraid that Nan Chen would kill her to avenge Ning Ran and Dabao if she hurt Erbao.

    Nan Chen was definitely capable of killing at this point. He was emanating a murderous aura and

    everyone there could feel it.

    Suddenly, Nan Chen turned and walked away, his tall figure disappearing into the darkness of the

    night.

    No one dared to follow him nor ask where he was going.

    Nan Chen stepped out of view and came to the riverside.

    His legs were getting weaker with each step he took.

    He then squatted next to a tree and began to retch.

    This was how Nan Chen looked when he was at his saddest point.

    Nan Chen had been strong since he was young. He rarely cried, and even when he did, he would not

    cry out loud. Instead, he would just retch while tears flowed down his face.

    Thest time he had felt such sadness was at the age of nine, when the nanny that kept himpany

    growing up had died of cancer.

    For many years, there has been no sorrow strong enough to beat Mr. Nan Chen who is as strong as

    iron.

    But tonight, he had broken downpletely.

    Tears kept streaming down his face as he continued to retch.

    After quite a while of retching, Nan Chen slowly stood up straight again.

    ¡°Papa.¡± It was Zheng Lunlun.

    He was the only one who darede after Nan Chen.

    Seeing Zheng Lunlun reminded Nan Chen that now wasn¡¯t the time to be sad, as Erbao and Zheng

    Lunlun still needed his care.

    The reason he hade here and got stuck here was to rescue Erbao and Dabao.

    Now that Dabao was gone, he couldn¡¯t afford to let anything happen to Erbao.

    ¡°Lunlun, it¡¯s dangerous, don¡¯t run around.¡± Nan Chen¡¯s voice was hoarse.

    ¡°Papa, mama is dead¡­ She¡¯s dead¡­¡± Zheng Lunlun cried.

    His sad cries echoed in the dark forest and startled a flock of birds.

    Nan Chen hugged Zheng Lunlun. He didn¡¯t know how tofort him as he himself felt suffocated from

    the heartache.

    He brought Zheng Lunlun back to the cabin. Qiao Zhan and the crew had covered Ning Ran and

    Dabao with straw mats.

    Nan Chen looked around the cabin with a shlight, as if he was searching for something.

    Nobody dared question him, and just followed him around with their gaze.

    He finally found a small shovel. It was rusty and could barely be used anymore.

    He came to the back of the cabin, and began to dig at the ground with the shovel.

    Qiao Zhan understood what he was doing. Nan Chen was going to dig a hole to bury the mother and

    child.

    It was too hot around here, and they were poisoned to death, so it had to be taken care of as soon as

    possible.

    There was no loose soil on the ground, which was covered in thorns, so it was difficult to dig a hole in

    it.

    Nan Chen¡¯s hands soon started to bleed from abrasion, but he had not yet finished clearing up the

    thorns covering the ground.

    However, he just kept his head low and continued to dig while muttering to himself, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry

    I didn¡¯t protect you well¡­¡­¡±

    The members of the crew had never seen Mr. Nan Chen like this before. They wanted to help him dig

    but knew from the looks of him that he wouldn¡¯t let anyone interfere.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, why don¡¯t we have them cremated and bring them back?¡±

    Qiao Zhan¡¯s words snapped Nan Chen out of his trance.

    Yes, I hade here in search of them to begin with. Now that they were gone, how could I leave them

    buried in the barren mountains of this foreignnd? I must take them back no matter what.

    With that, Nan Chen stopped digging and started looking for firewood instead.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, please let us help you out. You still need to bring the young Miss and Young Master

    Lun back.¡± Qiao Zhan tried to advise him.

    Nan Chen kept quiet.

    Qiao Zhan motioned for the crew to help gather firewood.

    The only thing this ce didn¡¯tck was firewood.

    In the dense forest, dried sticks and branches were everywhere.

    But they needed to gather big ones in order to keep the fire going all the way.

    They finally gathered all the firewood and piled it up high.

    But when they went back to the cabin to bring the bodies, they found that the bodies were gone!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 125

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 125

    Ning Ran and Dabao were both missing!

    No one was in the cabin as everyone was busy, and now the bodies were gone!

    Everyone just looked at Nan Chen without saying a word.

    Luo Fei was going limp from fear. Could there really be ghosts in this world? Did they turn into ghosts

    and ran away?

    Nan Chen was also surprised, but he was not afraid.

    Even if they had really turned into ghosts, he was willing to speak to them and apologize to them.

    In fact, he was more concerned that some wild animals may have taken the bodies away while they

    were unaware.

    ¡°Hurry, search the area!¡± Nan Chen said.

    There were only a few shlights avable and they were dim as they hadn¡¯t been charged in a long

    while.

    Entering the forest now would be dangerous.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    All the poisonous bugs and snakes would be active during this hour, so there was no telling what you

    would run into.

    But everybody went into the forest and started searching anyway.

    They couldn¡¯t find anything. It was as if Ning Ran and Dabao had vanished into thin air.

    They searched till the wee hours of the morning and still couldn¡¯t find anything.

    Nan Chen had no choice but to let them rest and continue the next day.

    If they kept going, all the batteries of the shlight would run out. It would be dangerous if they ran into

    any emergencies without a light source.

    No one seemed to be able to fall asleep as they were all thinking about what happened to Ning Ran

    and Dabao.

    It was veryte at night, but Luo Fei still couldn¡¯t fall asleep. She felt there was a noise in the room, but

    every time she got up and looked, she saw nothing there.

    Her guilt was eating away at her conscience. She tried tofort herself by telling herself that there

    are no such things as ghosts.

    As she was finally dozing off, she heard a voice calling her name, ¡°Luo Fei, give me back my life¡­¡­¡±

    It sounded very soft, cold, and very familiar.

    Luo Fei¡¯s eyes shot wide open and she saw a dark figure standing in front of her.

    She quickly grabbed the shlight next to her and shone it at the figure. She saw Ning Ran with

    disheveled hair, a bleeding mouth and a purple face standing in front of her bed!

    ¡°Aaaaaah!¡± Luo Fei screamed in shock.

    ¡°Luo Fei, you¡¯ve caused me so much pain! Give me back my life!¡± Ning Ran shouted.

    Luo Fei was scared and tried to hide. But just as she turned around, Dabao was behind her and

    reached his hand out towards her face.

    Luo Fei felt something cold on her face. She wiped it off and saw that it was blood!

    ¡°You evil woman, why did you try to kill me?! Why?!¡± Dabao asked.

    Luo Fei peed herself in fear, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry! Please forgive me!¡±

    ¡°Why did you poison my kids?!¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°I was envious of you! I didn¡¯t want you to be able to marry into the Nan family because of them! I¡¯m

    really sorry! Please forgive me!¡± Luo Fei got down on her knees and groveled.

    ¡°My children are so young; how could you do such a thing to them?! You evil woman, give me my life

    back!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m really sorry! Your daughter is still alive! I¡¯ll treat her very nicely in the future, so please

    rest in peace and spare my life!¡±

    ¡°When I was on the set, my skin got allergic all of a sudden. Was that you as well?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it was me! I¡¯m sorry; I¡¯ve done so many bad things to you!¡±

    ¡°My kids were almost killed in Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s house. Did you arrange for that as well?!¡±

    ¡°Yes, I arranged for it! I¡¯m sorry for what I¡¯ve done!¡±

    ¡°You evil b****¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough.¡± A man¡¯s voice was heard from outside the cabin.

    It was Nan Chen¡¯s voice!

    ¡°Nan Chen, help me! Help me!¡± Luo Fei screamed for help.

    The door opened, and the cabin became a lot brighter as the light from outside poured in.

    ¡°Go wash your face. The face paint is bad for your skin. Dabao, go get cleaned up.¡± Nan Chen said.

    Do ghosts need to wash their faces? Luo Fei sensed something was amiss.

    ¡°Uncle Nan Chen, do you believe that this woman is the one behind it all now?¡± Dabao¡¯s voice had

    returned to normal.

    Nan Chen did not say anything, as he was not the type to easily admit his mistakes.

    ¡°Dabao, this is uncle Nan Chen¡¯s fianc¨¦¨¦e. They are a family, so of course he would have to protect

    her.¡± Ning Ran¡¯s voice had also returned to normal.

    Luo Fei fully understood what happened now. Ning Ran and her son were not ghosts as they were not

    dead!

    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you dead? Why?¡±

    Smack!

    Ning Ran pped Luo Fei on the face, ¡°If we died, wouldn¡¯t you have gotten your way then?¡±

    ¡°Tie her up!¡± Nan Chen shouted coldly.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, this is a misunderstanding! I didn¡¯t do it! They scared me into admitting it!¡± Luo Fei

    began to retract her confession.

    Nan Chen remained silent.

    After all, Luo Fei was his honorary girlfriend. And now, Luo Fei had be a murderer who poisoned

    Ning Ran and the children in front of so many people.

    He had always known that Luo Fei was just after fame and fortune, so he never really had much

    respect for her anyway. But he had never expected her to be so vicious in her ways to go as far as

    killing the children.

    All of this was Dabao¡¯s n.

    Dabao and Erbao had always known that Luo Fei was up to no good, and were always on guard.

    After Luo Fei had ced the fish and rice on their table, Dabao sniffed it and noticed the smell of the

    Wang Chuan Grass solution in the soup.

    He was the one who found the herb, so of course he would recognize the scent.

    Dabao immediately told Ning Ran that Luo Fei had poisoned the soup.

    Ning Ran wanted to pour it out but Dabao told her it was safe.

    Although Wang Chuan Grass is poisonous, but it was far from being able to kill a cow with a single

    drop. That was all a trap that Dabao had set for Luo Fei.

    So it was perfectly safe for them to eat the fish and rice.

    But they couldn¡¯t get Luo Fei to tell the truth if they didn¡¯t fake being poisoned and dying from it.

    If they had just told Nan Chen that Luo Fei had poisoned the soup, he would definitely not believe

    them.

    In order to get Luo Fei to show her true self, they had to cause a huge scene.

    The biggest scene they could cause, would be to fake their deaths.

    But this was very technical work. It was easy for a living person to pretend to be unconscious, but

    pretending to be dead was a whole different story. First you had to stop your breathing. Then, your

    body had to be cold, so your body temperature must not be too high.

    It would be very difficult to do all that, but Dabao knew some tricks.

    He even knew of a drug that could lower your body temperature and heart rate by a little after

    consumption.

    As long as they held their breath when someone was checking for signs of breathing, you would look

    just like a dead person.

    Most importantly, there had to be a genius who was good at acting next to them to make it seem

    convincing.

    Dabao had initially nned for Erbao and Ning Ran to fake their deaths, but Ning Ran changed her

    mindter and decided to let Erbao handle the acting instead.

    Dabao was too quiet and calm but bad at lying, let alone acting. He alsocked emotions and explosive

    power.

    But Erbao was creative and good at acting as well as lying.

    So, she let the genius Erbao y the role of the survivor instead.

    And she did a great job at it too, crying and screaming like that.

    Her emotions were not enough at first, but as she continued to cry while thinking about what she would

    do if her mommy and brother were really dead, she started to cry more and more sadly.

    Erbao¡¯s great acting increased the sad atmosphere greatly, so no one would doubt Ning Ran¡¯s death.

    The insufficient lighting, damp forest air and naturally cold skin at night made her faked death look a lot

    more realistic.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 126

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 126

    The mysterious vanishing of Dabao and Ning Ranter was much simpler.

    Once it was dark, the mother and son went to the back of the cabin under the cover of Erbao.

    But why couldn¡¯t the group of people find them?

    Because they yed hide-and-seek with them. All they had to do was move to another location when

    they saw lightsing their way.

    With a genius like Dabao guiding his mommy in a game of hide-and-seek, there was no way anyone

    would be able to find them.

    Besides, Erbao was helping them out by distracting the crew whenever they got close to her mommy

    and brother.

    Of course, someone did manage to find Ning Ran in the end.

    Or rather, caught up to her.

    Ning Ran could hide from everyone else in the darkness, except one.

    Why? Because this person had a sense of smelling as sharp as a hound.

    This person was Nan Chen, of course.

    While he was searching in the forest, he could detect that faint scent of orange blossom.

    It was very faint and mixed in with various other smells in the forest, but Nan Chen could detect it

    without fail.

    So, he managed to track down Ning Ran who thought she was well-hidden.

    But he did not say anything, nor was he frightened.

    He didn¡¯t believe that a dead person would be able to y hide-and-seek.

    So when he found Ning Ran, he was overjoyed.

    The joy of finding something he lost made him lose hisposure. He didn¡¯t ask why, and just brought

    the startled Ning Ran and Dabao into his arms.

    Ning Ran was also shocked by the hug and just stood there, unable to breathe.

    In that moment, Nan Chen didn¡¯t have any other distracting thoughts. He just felt happy that God had

    been so kind to him and he was able to recover what he thought he had lost.

    He felt like he had been to hell and back.

    After the feelings of joy slowly faded, Nan Chen realized that he had lost hisposure.

    He actually hugged a woman he hated.

    He awkwardly tried to distract their attention by asking Dabao about what happened.

    Dabao told Nan Chen about his n in detail, and obtained Nan Chen¡¯s permission. Then, Nan Chen

    had everyone continue their search for a little longer and called it a night.

    Next, they began to n how they would scare Luo Fei into confessing.

    Although Nan Chen had given them his permission, but he was not prepared to participate in it too

    much.

    He felt it was inappropriate for him, the great Mr. Nan Chen to participate in such acts.

    So, he would leave the heavy lifting to Dabao and Ning Ran, while he observed the end results.

    Actually, when Nan Chen knew that Ning Ran and Dabao were pretending to be dead, he already had

    a hunch that Luo Fei was the culprit.

    The process of proving it was just to let Ning Ran get her justice.

    ¡­¡­

    After Luo Fei was tied up, she knew she was done for.

    After all the tricks she¡¯s pulled, she only got herself in trouble in the end.

    She knew what kind of person Nan Chen was, and once he found out about the truth, she would lose

    everything.

    This was what she feared the most. She often had nightmares of Ning Ran marrying into the Nan

    family and then she herself would end up living on the streets.

    When Ning Ran and Dabao walked over, she red at Ning Ran with a vicious look in her eyes.

    ¡°Game over, Luo Fei. You no longer have to act like a good person anymore, so I suppose this is a

    form of release for you as well.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°You b****! Coming up with a trick like faking your own death, you¡¯re no better yourself!¡± Luo Fei

    shouted.

    Dabao turned around, ¡°Sihan!¡±

    Erbao answered, and strutted over proudly with a little snake in her hand.

    Erbao held the little snake up to Luo Fei¡¯s cor, ¡°Let¡¯s put it in there, shall we?¡±

    Luo Fei went pale, ¡°Help! I¡¯m guilty, I¡¯m guilty!¡±

    Erbao took the snake back, ¡°You evil woman, how dare you harm my mommy! Hurry up and admit your

    wrongdoing!¡±

    ¡°I already did!¡± Luo Fei waspletely scared.

    She was now clearly aware that this family was no pushover, especially this little witch holding the

    snake! She was not one that she could afford to offend!

    ¡°Say it a few more times! Say it loudly!¡± Erbao shouted in her cute voice.

    ¡°I¡¯m guilty! I¡¯m guilty!¡±

    ¡°Louder!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Ning Ran stopped Erbao.

    Although Luo Fei was an evil woman, Ning Ran didn¡¯t want her kids to go overboard either.

    Adults can fight it out as much as they wanted, but they shouldn¡¯t encourage their children to do evil.

    Even if one was facing a wicked person, one shouldn¡¯t let their children do evil out of hatred.

    Erbao snorted at Luo Fei and walked away with her little snake.

    A crew member walking towards them ran upon seeing the snake in Erbao¡¯s hands.

    Everyone couldn¡¯t understand why the cute and beautiful Erbao loved carrying a snake everywhere she

    went.

    Why wasn¡¯t she afraid of it?

    ¡°Ning Ran, if you get Nan Chen to let me go, I¡¯ll give you the USB sh drive.¡±

    ¡°This again? I don¡¯t want that USB sh drive anymore, okay?¡± Ning Ranughed coldly.

    ¡°No, you must want it! That¡¯s something your mother left you before she died. Don¡¯t you want to know

    what¡¯s hidden inside it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I do want to know. But I¡¯m not about to let you have your way with me for it. I have my

    boundaries.¡±

    ¡°We are siblings with the same father! Are you really okay with watching me get left here in these

    mountains like this?¡±

    ¡°I am.¡±

    Luo Fei was stunned for a moment, ¡°Sister, I¡¯m begging you, I made a mistake, please forgive me.¡±

    Evil people are so hypocritical, threatening you a moment ago then pretending to beg for your mercy

    the next.

    Ning Ran watched her performance in silence, and suddenly felt it was boring.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough, you can stop the act. It¡¯s boring. Although I was the person you harmed, I won¡¯t make

    Nan Chen do anything to you. He will decide what he does with you. I won¡¯t kick you when you¡¯re

    down, nor will I beg for you to be spared.¡± Ning Ran said coldly.

    Luo Fei let out a sigh of relief after hearing that.

    Although there wasn¡¯t any love between her and Nan Chen, she had been his honorary girlfriend for so

    many years now. She believed that Nan Chen wouldn¡¯t leave her in the mountains.

    Nan Chen was a person of status and would not mistreat a girl too much. Luo Fei was certain of this.

    So, she was most worried about what Ning Ran and the two kids would do to her.

    Now that Ning Ran had promised not to do anything to her, it was good news for her.

    ¡°Ning Ran, as long as you promise to get me back to Jiangcheng, I will give you the USB sh Drive, I

    promise.¡± Luo Fei said.

    Ning Ran nodded, ¡°Okay, tell me, did you have anything to do with the kidnapping of my children?¡±

    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Luo Fei had already confessed to Zheng Lunlun about this, but Zheng Lunlun couldn¡¯t tell anyone now

    since his brain has been damaged.

    So, Luo Fei was hesitant about whether or not she should tell the truth.

    Ning Ran saw the look on Luo Fei¡¯s face and knew she wouldn¡¯t tell the truth.

    ¡°If you won¡¯t tell me the truth, I¡¯ll have Dabao poison you. Since you¡¯ve poisoned us too, we¡¯ll be even

    this way. As for the USB sh Drive, I don¡¯t want it anymore. Mom has been gone for so many years

    now; I¡¯ll just let the secrets be bygones.¡± Ning Ran turned and walked away after saying that.

    ¡°Wait! I had nothing to do with the kidnapping of your children! I don¡¯t have such manpower to organize

    such arge scale kidnapping!¡±

    This was what confused Ning Ran as well. Luo Fei was surely capable of pulling small tricks on her, but

    definitely not to mobilize such arge number of professionals.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 127

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 127

    Ning Ran had never actually wanted to kill Luo Fei here either.

    She hated Luo Fei for all that she had done to her.

    But hatred was all she felt, and nothing more. She wasn¡¯t the type who could bring herself to kill

    another.

    If Nan Chen asked her what she would do with Luo Fei, she would suggest Nan Chen to bring Luo Fei

    back to Flower City.

    Besides, Ning Ran also wanted to know what secrets were inside the USB sh Drive that her mother

    had left behind.

    At that moment, Nan Chen passed by beside them. Luo Fei suddenly bit her tongue and spat out some

    blood.

    ¡°I know that I have wronged you. I have no other choice but to offer my life as penance!¡± Luo Fei

    screamed.

    Ning Ran knew that Luo Fei was only doing this to get Nan Chen¡¯s attention.

    She must be trying really hard if she would go as far as biting her tongue.

    But Nan Chen didn¡¯t seem to notice.

    Luo Fei was getting anxious, I¡¯ve already bitten my tongue, and you pretend to not notice?

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, hear me out! I had no choice! Please forgive me this once! I really had no choice in

    this!¡± Luo Fei shouted.

    Nan Chen slowed down.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, she bit her tongue in order to get your attention. Why note hear what she has to

    say?¡± Ning Ran said.

    Nan Chen stopped and walked over.

    But he did not say anything and just looked at Luo Fei.

    ¡°I¡¯ll leave you two alone now, have a nice chat.¡±

    Nan Chen noticed the insult in her words and thought to himself, This woman really was exceptionally

    annoying.

    Ning Ran walked away slowly under Nan Chen¡¯s ice-cold gaze.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, I¡¯m sorry, I really am! But I had my reasons for doing it! I harmed Ding Mi because she

    harmed me before!¡± Luo Fei cried as she said that.

    She wasn¡¯t acting anymore, and was crying for real this time. Her life was about to be ended, after all.

    Nan Chen¡¯s expression grew cold and he kept quiet.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, Ding Mi¡¯s real name is Ning Ran! She¡¯s my half-sister!¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s eyes narrowed, Even that woman¡¯s name is fake?

    There must be something wrong with a person if even their name is fake!

    But he didn¡¯t say anything and just listened.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, Ning Ran has been a bad girl ever since we were kids. I am her younger sister, but she

    has never treated me like a human being, and would hit me all the time! I grew up being bullied by her!¡±

    Nan Chen started walking away as he wasn¡¯t interested in hearing about family matters like these.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, you want to know why she changed her name, right?¡± Luo Fei quickly said.

    Nan Chen stopped, and continued to listen.

    ¡°Because she¡¯s done too many bad things! Five years ago, she was willing to sleep with a director

    named Feng to get a role in a film, But when he slept with her, he discovered that she was not a virgin!

    She had lost her virginity since junior high! The director was dissatisfied and wouldn¡¯t give her the role,

    so she promised to find him a virgin. Then, she chose to present me to him and pushed me into his

    room instead! But, fortunately, she got the room number wrong and pushed me into your room instead.

    That¡¯s how we had our first¡­¡­¡± Luo Fei observed Nan Chen¡¯s facial expression as she talked.

    It was obvious that Nan Chen was angry as he didn¡¯t expect Ning Ran to be such an evil woman.

    Everything Luo Fei said made sense logically, especially the part at the clubhouse, which Nan Chen

    had personally experienced. So, as smart as Nan Chen was, even he couldn¡¯t tell if she was lying or

    not.

    ¡°Everything you said is true?¡± Nan Chen¡¯s voice was cold.

    ¡°Of course it¡¯s true! That¡¯s the reason why I hated Ning Ran so much and wanted to kill her!¡± Luo Fei

    said.

    Nan Chen kept quiet.

    ¡°Then her mother found out about it and scolded her, saying she shouldn¡¯t treat her sister like that. She

    said she didn¡¯t care and would betray anyone as long as she could get a raise. The director ended up

    not giving her the role anyway since he didn¡¯t get to have me. Then, she wanted to bribe the director

    with a million but she didn¡¯t have that kind of money. So, she asked her mother for it. Her mother was

    sick and struggling financially at the time, and told her to wait two days. But she couldn¡¯t wait and

    ended up smothering her mother to death in a fit of rage! After that happened, she couldn¡¯t stay here

    any longer, so she changed her name and left the country! This is why she changed her name! She¡¯s

    an evil woman!¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s clenched his fist, as he didn¡¯t expect that the woman had changed her name for such a

    reason.

    ¡°She really killed her own mother?¡±

    ¡°Yes! Why else would she have to flee the country? Do you know how afraid I was when I saw her on

    the set? I was afraid that she would kill me too, as she had no issues killing her own mother. That¡¯s why

    I kept trying to get rid of her!¡± Luo Fei made it seem very realistic by crying as she said all that.

    Nan Chen was starting to believe her.

    Not because of what Luo Fei said, but because he had always been suspicious of Ning Ran to begin

    with.

    Ever since he discovered Ning Ran in Zheng Lunlun¡¯s room that night, he had thought that Ning Ran

    was a promiscuous woman.

    After hearing what Luo Fei had said, it made sense logically to Nan Chen, so he believed her.

    ¡°I¡¯ll ask her toe over, and you can confront her about this.¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, she is a cunning person, I¡¯ve always been no match for her! She¡¯ll definitely be able to

    find excuses for herself! I only told you about all this because I want you to know the truth! Whether you

    believe it or not, doesn¡¯t matter to me anymore. I have indeed done something wrong, after all. But if

    you will spare me, I will do anything to repay you!¡± Luo Fei started crying again after saying that.

    Ning Ran knew Luo Fei must have been badmouthing her as she saw Luo Fei say a lot of things to

    Nan Chen.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    As for what Luo Fei said exactly, she had no idea.

    They were a couple, after all. Looking at it from Nan Chen¡¯s perspective, he would surely believe Luo

    Fei¡¯s words.

    Ning Ran had a bad feeling about it.

    When Nan Chen came over to her again, Ning Ran felt the aura around him had gotten colder.

    The look he gave her was filled with disgust, as if he was looking at rubbish.

    Ning Ran thought to herself, This must be due to Luo Fei¡¯s words taking effect.

    But she didn¡¯t care, as Poker Face never had a good impression of her, and the feeling was mutual too.

    Once they left this dense forest and return to society, he would go back to being the same old Mr. Nan

    Chen, and she would remain a small-time actress.

    They would both go their separate ways.

    So, Ning Ran gave Nan Chen a cold look as well. If you don¡¯t like me, I won¡¯t support you either, as

    there is no need for it. But I still won¡¯t let you take away the custody of my child!

    The two of them had a lot of hatred for each other for no apparent reason, they just never expressed it

    in words.

    Luo Fei felt that Nan Chen had believed everything she said about Ning Ran, and was delighted.

    Even if she was going down, she would drag Ning Ran down with her.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 128

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 128

    Ning Ran was woken up in the middle of the night by a loud noise.

    Because she had to protect her kids, she dared not step out the cabin. All she could hear was a set of

    footsteps outside.

    The sound of footsteps slowly stopped after a while, and the peaceful silence returned.

    She then came out and asked Qiao Zhan what had happened.

    ¡°We let our guard down, and your kidnappers took that chance to escape. We chased them for a few

    hundred meters but Mr. Nan Chen told us to stop and let them go as it would be dangerous if we went

    too far.¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    ¡°I see.¡± Ning Ran nodded and returned to the cabin.

    She only found out the next day that the kidnappers had not only escaped, but had also taken Luo Fei

    with them.

    No one knew whether Luo Fei had helped them escape or they had helped Luo Fei escape.

    In the end, both Luo Fei and the kidnappers have vanished into the dense forest.

    It was already difficult as it is to walk out of the forest during the day, let alone at night.

    The chances of these people making it out alive after running into the forest like that was almost zero.

    Nan Chen looked gloomy during breakfast.

    Ning Ran dared note near him for fear of angering him.

    After lunch, Ning Ran helped tidy up the kitchen and realized there was an unfinished bowl of rice.

    ¡°Who¡¯s wasting food here? We¡¯re already running out of food soon, and you still waste it?¡± Ning Ran

    asked.

    No one said anything.

    But Ning Ran noticed them looking at Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran was shocked. So this was his?

    She wouldn¡¯t have said all that if she knew it was him.

    She quickly shut her mouth and continued tidying up in silence.

    But it was toote, as Nan Chen was already walking over to her.

    ¡°I have an upset stomach, so there¡¯s a bit leftover.¡± His voice was cold.

    This wasn¡¯t an exnation! He was clearly questioning her!

    Although he didn¡¯t say it directly, the meaning behind his words was clear, So I had some leftovers. You

    have a problem with that?

    ¡°I understand.¡± Ning Ran said hurriedly.

    ¡°I can heat it up and eat it for my next meal.¡± Nan Chen said again.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to, there wasn¡¯t much left anyway. Forget I said anything.¡± Ning Ran wanted to end this

    conversation as soon as possible.

    ¡°Then why did you say something?¡± Nan Chen¡¯s voice grew colder.

    Ning Ran paused.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Ning Ran could only apologize.

    But apologizing didn¡¯t calm Nan Chen down, and only made him angrier instead.

    She was right, so why was she apologizing? Why is she so hypocritical?

    Once a person has disliked another, everything they do will seem offensive.

    After everything Luo Fei said about Ning Ran, Nan Chen had thought of her as an evil woman rotten to

    the core. As a result, everything Ning Ran said or did woulde off as annoying to him.

    ¡°Why did you apologize?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    Ning Ran was losing control of her hot temper.

    Is he trying to pick a fight?

    I¡¯ve already apologized, what more do you want with me?

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, I know you¡¯re in a bad mood, but you don¡¯t have to take it out on me, right?¡± Ning Ran¡¯s

    voice grew cold as well.

    ¡°How would you know that I¡¯m in a bad mood? Do you know me very well?¡±

    As Nan Chen stood in front of Ning Ran, his body exuded a cold aura.

    ¡°Your girlfriend is missing, so obviously you would be in a bad mood.¡± Ning Ran said angrily.

    Nan Chen looked angrier than before now. Is she mocking me?

    ¡°I¡¯ll have you know, even though I have a bad history with your girlfriend, her disappearance has

    nothing to do with me, so I am not taking responsibility for that!¡±

    ¡°Why do you have a bad history with her?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s a long story. You don¡¯t have the time to hear it, nor am I in the mood to tell it.¡±

    ¡°Was it to get a role in a film?¡±

    Ning Ran was shocked. He knew about that? Luo Fei actually admitted to selling her to someone for a

    role?

    ¡°Yes.¡± Ning Ran nodded.

    Nan Chen looked angrier now. So Luo Fei was telling the truth! This woman had just admitted to it!

    ¡°You actually did that?!¡± Nan Chen shouted.

    ¡°I had no other choice; it was all I could do.¡± Ning Ran said.

    So she means to say that her action of harming others was justified?

    ¡°Your mother will never forgive you for that!¡±

    Ning Ran felt a sting in her heart at the mention of her mother. She didn¡¯t even get to see her one final

    time, so her mother would definitely not forgive her.

    ¡°That is my biggest regret. My mother would never forgive me indeed.¡± Ning Ran said sadly.

    Nan Chen was furious now. You¡¯ve killed your own mother, and all you feel is regret?! Just how vicious

    could this woman be, to make light of something like this?

    ¡°All you feel is regret?!¡±

    ¡°It is also a pain that I carry with me, but there is nothing I can do about it because we can¡¯t turn back

    time!¡± Ning Ran continued as she sobbed.

    Nan Chen felt that he could not continue the conversation anymore. This woman killed her own mother

    and all she felt was a little regret!

    Nan Chen was worried that if he had carried on, he would end up viting his principles and hit this

    woman!

    He gave her a cold snort and walked away.

    Ning Ran stood there; her mind still immersed in the sadness about her mother.

    The wounds of regret in her heart had always been stored away in her memories. Reopening the old

    wounds suddenly like that was still very painful for her.

    ¡°Mommy, did you and Uncle Nan Chen have a fight?¡± Erbao who had been eavesdropping outside

    came in.

    ¡°No.¡± Ning Ranposed herself.

    ¡°But I clearly heard you two arguing.¡±

    ¡°We really didn¡¯t. We were just having a discussion, not arguing.¡±

    ¡°Were you discussing about mommy¡¯s mommy?¡± Erbao asked it like a tongue twister.

    ¡°Yes. You should call her grandma.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°What kind of person was grandma?¡± Erbao asked with her eyes open wide.

    ¡°Grandma was a very kind and beautiful person. If she was still around, she would definitely love you

    very much.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s a shame that grandma¡¯s not around anymore. I haven¡¯t even met her.¡± Erbao said.

    Ning Ran had wanted to tell her that grandma was killed by someone else but decided not to.

    It was not good for children to learn so much about hatred as it would affect their mental growth.

    ¡°That¡¯s alright, grandma is watching over you from the heavens above! She told me in my dreams that

    she loves Dabao and Erbao very much!¡±

    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    ¡°Really? Then why didn¡¯t shee to see me in my dreams?¡±

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t know what to say in response to that.

    ¡°Go out and y now, mommy¡¯s got work to do.¡±

    ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m getting tired of this boring ce. When can we go home? I want to go back to school!¡±

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t know how to answer that question either.

    She wanted to leave as well, but they had to wait for rescue toe, and no one knew when or

    whether rescue wasing.

    ¡°It should be soon, don¡¯t worry.¡± Ning Ran could only try tofort Erbao.

    ¡°Never mind, I¡¯ll try asking Uncle Nan Chen, he should know.¡±

    Ning Ran quickly stopped her, ¡°He¡¯s in a bad mood now, don¡¯t go disturb him or he¡¯ll scold you.¡±

    ¡°No, Uncle Nan Chen won¡¯t scold me. He never has.¡± Erbao had her own views on that.

    ¡°Alright then, go ask him then if you¡¯re not afraid of getting scolded. Just don¡¯te crying to meter.¡±

    Ning Ran said.

    ¡°I will not do such a thing; don¡¯t talk nonsense in front of the kids.¡±

    The voice came from behind. Nan Chen had suddenly returned.

    That annoyed Ning Ran. First you eavesdrop on my conversation with my daughter, then you say I¡¯m

    talking nonsense?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 129

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 129

    Another day has passed. Anxiety began to spread once again, as the food had ran out. Either the

    amount of fishes in the river were limited, or the fishes were getting better at avoiding capture, as it had

    be increasingly difficult for the crew to catch any.

    They only managed to catch a few tiny fishes after a whole day. If this went on, they would only have

    vegetables left to eat. Have the kidnappers escaped from the forest, or have they died inside?

    If they had escaped, they might call for reinforcements and attack Nan Chen and his men again. They

    would all be sitting ducks if they didn¡¯t get out of here fast.

    In addition to that, Zheng Lunlun¡¯s condition was also very worrying. His mental state was still stuck at

    a few years old, and calls Nan Chen papa and Ning Ran mama whenever he saw them.

    The sight of a grown man like him fighting over things with Erbao was amusing.

    Ever since Luo Fei disappeared, Nan Chen and Ning Ran had been giving each other the cold

    shoulder.

    Nan Chen had thought of Ning Ran as an evil person who appeared to be kind on the surface, and

    didn¡¯t want to look her directly in the eye.

    But deep inside, he was attracted by her scent. This caused him to feel that he was also evil and

    hypocritical, and he was ashamed of himself for it.

    A fierce conflict erupted between this newfound feeling of shame and the feeling of superiority which he

    had umted over the years, filling his own heart with contradictions and anxiety.

    The more he suffered internally, the more he hated Ning Ran and felt that Ning Ran was the source of

    the guilt and shame he experienced.

    Ning Ran on the other hand was cold towards Nan Chen because she thought that Nan Chen was

    ming her for exposing Luo Fei.

    Ning Ran thought that he was ming her because his girlfriend had gone missing.

    If that was the case, then that means he can¡¯t tell right from wrong. He knew that Luo Fei was an evil

    woman and yet he¡¯s taking her side.

    Every day felt like a year for the two individuals who hate each other but have to live in the same ce.

    On top of that, the food supply that had been depleted made survival so difficult that even the active

    Erbao had gone quiet.

    It was a very difficult day. Almost no one spoke at all, which made it very depressing.

    In the evening, Ning Ran was woken up from her nap by the sound of a helicopter.

    Almost everyone came running out from the cabin and looked up at the helicopter.

    Qiao Zhan quickly urged everyone to stay hidden as the area they were in was quiteplicated and

    many forces here own helicopters, so it would be safer to stay safe until they could identify if it was a

    friend or foe.

    ¡°It¡¯s daddy!¡± Dabao cried out.

    ¡°How do you know it¡¯s daddy?¡± Erbao was surprised.

    ¡°Because the helicopter is circling around. That means they are searching for their target and looking

    for a spot tond. If that was an enemy, they would¡¯ve attacked as soon as they discovered our cabin.

    But this one hasn¡¯t attacked nor has it left, so it must be daddy!¡±

    Ning Ran found it hard to believe such an analysis wasing out of a child¡¯s mouth, but she felt that

    Dabao was correct.

    ¡°Everyone take off your shirts and ce it together in the shape of a cross on the ground over there!

    That¡¯ll signal for them tond there.¡± Nan Chen too, believed that help had arrived and instructed the

    crew to get ready.

    After everyone did as told, the helicopternded sessfully.

    The person who came out of the helicopter was none other than Nan Xing.

    ¡°Dabao, Erbao!¡± Nan Xing cried out as soon as he got off the helicopter.

    ¡°Daddy!¡±

    Nan Xing broke out in tears as he hugged Erbao.

    ¡°Daddy, why are you crying?¡± Erbao was shocked.

    ¡°I thought I¡¯d never see you all again! Now that I have, I¡¯m so happy!¡± Nan Xing said as he cried.

    Even Nan Chen felt awkward seeing that. What was he crying for? They were all fine.

    ¡°Two papa?¡± Zheng Lunlun squeezed through the crowd from behind and looked at Nan Xing, then at

    Nan Chen.

    ¡°What is wrong with you? Didn¡¯t youe to rescue them? Why have you ended up being stranded as

    well?¡± Nan Xing scolded him.

    ¡°Daddy, Mr. Blondie¡¯s gone crazy.¡± Erbao said.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°It was the evil woman! Mr. Blondie now calls Uncle Nan Chen papa and calls mommy mama! He even

    fights for food with me!¡± Erbao said helplessly.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Nan Xing looked at Nan Chen.

    ¡°It¡¯s a long story, I¡¯ll tell you when we get back. For now, we have to get out of here.¡±

    ¡°By the way, where¡¯s my wife? Oh, my wife I¡¯ve missed you so much!¡± Nan Xing cried out as he ran

    towards Ning Ran with open arms and tried to hug her.

    Ning Ran quickly hid behind Qiao Zhan, ¡°Don¡¯t mess around!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re my wife; it¡¯s only natural for me to hug you! How is that messing around?¡± Nan Xing eximed.

    Zheng Lunlun stood in front of Ning Ran, ¡°Fake papa!¡±

    ¡°What are you doing here, kiddo?¡±

    ¡°You are a fake papa, he¡¯s the real papa!¡± Zheng Lunlun pointed at Nan Chen.

    ¡°Alright, stop messing around. Nan Xing, where did you fly from?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I flew here from Province Y in China. We were allowed to cross the border with the arrangements by

    the leaders of Province Y, so it will only be a thirty minute flight to reach Province Y.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s great, take the kids with you first, thene back to pick us up before dark. There are too

    many of us here, so you¡¯ll need to make two trips.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Alright, so we leave now?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Dabao, it¡¯s time to get on the helicopter. Go call your mommy.¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran was standing right beside them, but Nan Chen wouldn¡¯t talk to him directly and had Dabao

    tell her to get on the helicopter instead.

    ¡°Mommy and Erbao go on ahead, I¡¯ll stay here with Uncle Nan Chen.¡± Dabao said.

    This shocked everyone as they had all wanted to get out of that god-forsaken ce as quickly as

    possible, but Dabao wanted to stay with Uncle Nan Chen instead.

    This child was truly different from everyone else!

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, you go on ahead, Uncle Nan Chen will be right behind you.¡± Nan Chen said.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m staying with Uncle Nan Chen.¡±

    ¡°Stop arguing, you guys. Come with us, brother. There¡¯s still enough space.¡±

    ¡°No, you go on ahead, I¡¯m staying.¡± Nan Chen was determined.

    Ning Ran could see that Poker Face didn¡¯t want to be on the same flight with her.

    That¡¯s fine, because she didn¡¯t want to be with him either!

    ¡°Dabao, let¡¯s go first, be a good boy now.¡± Ning Ran went to hold Dabao¡¯s hand.

    Dabao looked at Nan Chen, then at Ning Ran.

    The boy was smart and had already noticed the conflict between Ning Ran and Nan Chen.

    He wanted to stay behind with Nan Chen because he didn¡¯t want to leave him behind all alone.

    ¡°Go on, Uncle Nan Chen promises toe find you.¡± Nan Chen knelt down and stroked Dabao¡¯s face

    gently.

    Dabao hugged Nan Chen, ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll get going now. Take care, Uncle Nan Chen.¡±

    ¡°Uncle Nan Chen will beingter, don¡¯t worry.¡± Nan Chen¡¯s voice was very gentle.

    Dabao and Erbao were the only ones in this world with the privilege of enjoying such a voice from him.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait for Uncle Nan Chen to have dinner with us.¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°Ugh, two grown men acting so clingy, I can¡¯t stand it!¡± Erbao said.

    Ning Ran red at Erbao and she shut up immediately.

    ¡°Come on, son. Get on the helicopter with daddy.¡± Nan Xing reached out to pick Dabao up.

    But Dabao refused, ¡°No, I want Uncle Nan Chen to carry me.¡±

    ¡°My goodness, is this child not acknowledging me as his father?¡± Nan Xing cried out.

    ¡°Go on now, be a good boy.¡± Nan Chen patted Dabao on the head.

    Only then did Dabao obediently let Nan Xing pick him up and walk towards the helicopter.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 130

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 130

    They finally arrived in China, and the helicopternded on the roof of a hotel in K City of Y Province.

    Once they got off the helicopter and saw the surrounding buildings, Ning Ran let out a sigh of relief.

    Finally, we¡¯re back to modern society!

    The first thing to do was to have a nice shower, a change of clothes and a good sleep!

    Then follow up with a nice meal, no, three meals!

    ¡°A hotel room and a change of clothes for both you and the kids has been prepared. You can take them

    out for a meal after a shower and get some sleep. I¡¯m going to refuel the helicopter, then go pick up my

    brother and reunite with all of youter tonight. I love you!¡±

    Nan Xing made an exaggerated heart shape with his fingers. Ning Ran shivered as she felt

    goosebumps rising on her skin.

    Although he was mboyant in his ways, Nan Xing was actually very attentive as the clothes he

    prepared for them were all of fitting sizes.

    After they showered and got changed, Ning Ran and Dabao wanted to sleep but Erbao wanted to eat.

    Actually, both sleeping and eating were equally important for them, as they haven¡¯t had a nice meal nor

    a good night¡¯s sleep ever since they entered the forest.

    To a glutton like Erbao, sleep could wait as food was the most important thing in the world.

    ¡°Sleep first.¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°I¡¯m hungry! I want to eat chicken drumsticks, prawns, ice cream, seafood hotpot¡­¡­¡± Erbao started to

    list out all the dishes she wanted and began to drool.

    ¡°You see, Erbao, we¡¯ve been eating very lightly for a few days now. If we were to suddenly eat a lot, our

    stomach won¡¯t be able to handle it. What would happen then? Dabao, tell your sister.¡± Ning Ran looked

    at Dabao.

    ¡°Our stomach is this big now.¡± Dabao gestured with his hands.

    ¡°If we were to eat so much at once, our stomach would be stretched out a lot and won¡¯t be able to

    digest them all. Then, we will get sick. When we¡¯re sick and end up in the hospital, we can¡¯t eat

    anything except in porridge.¡± Dabao continued to exin.

    Erbao cried out, ¡°I don¡¯t want that! I want to eat delicious food!¡±

    ¡°Then we¡¯ll have to eat less for now. I¡¯ll get you a cake from the restaurant, and we¡¯ll go eat a proper

    mealter at night, okay?¡± Ning Ran tried to persuade her.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    ¡°Alright.¡± Erbao could only agree.

    Someone knocked on the room door. It was a waiter.

    ¡°Hello, Mr. Nan Xing asked us to deliver this food.¡± The waiter said.

    They opened it and saw Erbao¡¯s favorite chicken drumsticks, prawns and even some sweet desserts.

    This was clearly prepared for Erbao.

    ¡°I love daddy! He knows me too well!¡± Erbao cheered as she drooled over the food.

    ¡°Daddy¡¯s too undisciplined! How can he let Erbao eat so much greasy food at once? Her stomach won¡¯t

    be able to handle it!¡± Dabao frowned.

    ¡°No, daddy is disciplined! He is the best daddy in the world!¡± Erbao started to eat.

    It was impossible to stop Erbao from eating once the food was here.

    All Ning Ran could do was limit the amount that Erbao eats.

    ¡°Mommy, you should eat some too! You¡¯ve be so thin now, it hurts me to see you like this!¡± Erbao

    said sweetly.

    As soon as Ning Ran starts to eat, Erbao would start wolfing down her food.

    ¡°This is the first meal we¡¯ve had since our return; we must control how much we eat.¡±

    Ning Ran put aside a portion of the food for Erbao, ¡°You can only eat this much, otherwise you¡¯ll really

    get sick.¡±

    Erbao looked at Ning Ran with a sad face, ¡°Mommy, isn¡¯t this too little?¡±

    ¡°You can only eat this much, or your stomach won¡¯t be able to handle it. If you end up in a hospital,

    then you can¡¯t eat anything!¡±

    Erbao looked heartbroken, ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll just fill up my tummy halfway for now.¡±

    After eating, Ning Ran went to bed right away.

    Strangely enough, however, she couldn¡¯t seem to fall asleep even though she was very tired.

    When she finally fell asleep, she dreamt of Nan Chen with a bloody face dragging her by the hand as

    they ran through the forest.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t understand why they were running in the dream either.

    But dreams were chaotic and illogical by nature anyway, so Ning Ran just ran along with Nan Chen

    without knowing where they were running to.

    The surrounding was dark and scary, and Ning Ran felt she was running out of breath.

    Then, someone appeared in front of her. It looked like Luo Fei, but at the same time, it did not.

    That woman had disheveled hair and was holding a knife. She charged at them with the knife.

    ¡°Run, Nan Chen! I¡¯ll hold her off!¡±

    Ning Ran rushed forward and stood in front of Nan Chen.

    She wanted to protect Nan Chen, as if their gender roles were reversed.

    ¡°No, you go. I¡¯ll hold her off.¡±

    While the two argued, the woman had reached them and stabbed Nan Chen in the chest.

    Ning Ran cried out loud, ¡°Nan Chen¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Mommy, mommy¡­¡­¡±

    Ning Ran opened her eyes and saw Dabao and Erbao patting her face.

    When she got out of bed, Ning Ran realized she was sweating all over.

    She was having nightmares due to the malnourished state while trapped in the forest.

    ¡°Mommy, what were you dreaming about? We were calling out to you but you wouldn¡¯t wake up.¡± Erbao

    said.

    ¡°It was a weird dream, I¡¯m fine.¡± Ning Ran let out a sigh of relief.

    The dream was too scary, and Ning Ran hadn¡¯t been able to get over itpletely yet.

    ¡°Why did you keep calling Uncle Nan Chen¡¯s name?¡± Erbao was determined to find out the answer.

    ¡°Really? I don¡¯t know why either. He didn¡¯t appear in my dream.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°You even cried; did something happen to Uncle Nan Chen?¡± Erbao didn¡¯t believe her.

    ¡°No, don¡¯t think of such weird things. What time is it, have they returned?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s seven o¡¯clock. They haven¡¯t returned.¡± Dabao said.

    Ning Ran was getting a little worried. Did something happen to them?

    Suddenly, the doorbell rang and someone called out, ¡°Son, daughter, honey, I¡¯m home!¡±

    Judging from the mboyant voice, it must be Nan Xing.

    ¡°Daddy¡¯s back! Yay, we can go have dinner now!¡± Erbao leapt in joy.

    This kid only thinks about eating!

    The door was opened, and Nan Xing ran straight into the bedroom.

    ¡°Get out! How can you just enter a girl¡¯s room like that? Don¡¯t you know any basic manners?¡± Ning Ran

    comined.

    ¡°But you¡¯re my wife, so what¡¯s wrong with that?¡± Nan Xing eximed.

    ¡°I¡¯m not!¡± Ning Ran snapped back.

    ¡°Our children are already so big, and you still say you¡¯re not my wife?¡±

    ¡°I never was! Do we even have a marriage certificate?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that just a piece of paper? We can get one done anytime.¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to marry you either. I don¡¯t like you, you¡¯re not my type.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°What the hell? What¡¯s wrong with me? I¡¯m handsome, sophisticated and rich! Countless women

    revolve around me! Why don¡¯t you like me? Are you ying hard to get?¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 131

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 131

    ¡°You said you don¡¯t like me, but actually deep down you love me very much, right?¡± ¡°You¡¯re even

    having dreams about me, just that you are too shy to express it, right?¡± said Nan Xing confidently.

    ¡°All mom dreams of his uncle.¡± Erbao suddenly interjected.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Nan Xing was surprised.

    ¡°Erbao, what are you saying?¡± Ning Ran eximed, her face flushed.

    ¡°I am speaking the truth! If you don¡¯t believe me, you can check with brother.¡± Erbao retorted.

    ¡°You dreamt of my brother? Why would you dream of him?¡± Nan Xing was relentless in getting an

    answer out of Ning Ran.

    ¡°Are you crazy? Why would you believe what a kid said? Why would I be dreaming of him?¡± Ning Ran

    scolded Nan Xing.

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s exactly what I am asking you. Why would you be dreaming of him? Don¡¯t tell me you like

    my brother? No wonder you are always so cold towards me. It¡¯s because of my brother, right?¡± Nan

    Xing was hit with a sudden realization.

    ¡°You must be mad. Who said I like him? I feel sick just by looking at his poker face!¡± Ning Ran shouted.

    ¡°You don¡¯t like him? That¡¯s good. I will convey exactly what you said to my brotherter. Can you repeat

    what you said just now?¡± Nan Xing replied.

    ¡°You are crazy!¡± This angered Ning Ran.

    ¡°Mom said, I feel sick just by looking at his poker face!¡± Erbao repeated on behalf of Ning Ran.

    ¡°You again!¡± Ning Ran shouted at Erbao.

    ¡°But that¡¯s what you said, mom!¡± Erbao retorted again.

    ¡°Ok, I will convey this message to my brotherter, so that he knows you don¡¯t like him¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°Why are you so annoying? Do you have nothing better to do?¡± Ning Ran asked Nan Xing.

    ¡°Want to hear the truth?¡± Nan Xing replied.

    ¡°No, I want to hear a lie. OF COURSE I want to know the truth!¡± Ning Ran yelled.

    ¡°The truth is, I think the way my brother looks at you is quite fishy too.¡± Nan Xing said in a serious tone.

    ¡°Crazy! All of you are crazy!¡± Ning Ran scolded.

    ¡°Since you said you don¡¯t like him and he makes you feel sick, this makes things so much easier.¡± Nan

    Xingughed.

    ¡°Don¡¯t say such things in front of a child!¡± Ning Ran reprimanded Nan Xing.

    ¡°Ok.¡± Nan Xing kept quiet obediently. ¡°We shall talk about it in private then.¡±

    ¡°Go out! Don¡¯t kick up such a scene in my bedroom!¡± Ning Ran pointed at the door.

    ¡°I just wanted to ask you to get ready. We are going to eat.¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°Yay! Time to eat!¡± Erbao jumped in excitement.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you just eat?¡± Ning Ran looked at Erbao.

    ¡°No mom, that was lunch! It¡¯s dinner time now!¡± replied Erbao.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you guys need to rest? We are going straight to dinner?¡± Ning Ran thought that Nan Xing should

    have some rest. After all, he was the one who spent the most effort during this period of time.

    ¡°We have already rested enough. Come to the hotel restaurant after you get changed. The chef here is

    not bad, I¡¯m sure you will be satisfied.¡± Nan Xing made a silly face and went out of the room.

    Compared to that poker face Nan Chen, Nan Xing was a stark contrast.

    Half an hourter, after putting on some makeup and changing into a new set of clothes, Ning Ran

    arrived at the restaurant with the kids.

    The table was already filled with a very sumptuous meal.

    Everything on the table looks so tempting to Ning Ran, except for one, the fish.

    She had been eating fish for a few consecutive days, such that she felt sick just by looking at fish now.

    At her seat, Erbao can¡¯t wait to start eating.

    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    However, she tried to restrain herself after Dabao told her to wait, even though she had to keep

    swallowing her saliva.

    ¡°Brother, we are all waiting for you.¡± Nan Xing shouted towards the door.

    Nan Chen, dressed in a ck suit, walked in.

    After a haircut and a clean shave, Nan Chen had transformed from a ¡®jungle man¡¯ to a smart-looking,

    domineering CEO.

    Although this person is really annoying, but he is drop dead gorgeous from all angles, Ning Ran

    thought to herself,

    Everything about the way he looked, including his face, figure and charisma, was simply perfect.

    There were good-looking men all around, but he was indeed the only one this handsome.

    Following right behind Nan Chen was Zheng Lunlun, who had a style of his own, but equally good-

    looking.

    Zheng Lunlun was manly but had softer features, which gave him a more feminine aura.

    With Nan Xing, Ning Ran and the two kids also present, the restaurant server was stunned. These

    people must havee straight out from a painting, how can they be all so good looking?! He thought.

    ¡°Let¡¯s start eating.¡± Nan Chen said after he sat down.

    Upon hearing this, Erbao, who had long restrained herself, was ted and started eating immediately.

    However, Ning Ran did not allow Erbao to help herself to the food first, as there were table manners to

    follow. Instead, Ning Ran would take whatever she wanted to eat for her.

    Nan Chen took this in. A woman who bothers to teach her child manners can¡¯t be too bad, he thought.

    Even though he had not eaten such a good meal in a long time, Nan Chen still took his time to eat

    slowly and did not gobble down his food.

    As Ning Ran came from a rich and respectable family, naturally, she was taught to have good table

    manners. However, Nan Chen had an air of nobility that even she couldn¡¯t beat.

    The two people who looked the most exaggerated were Erbao and Zheng Lunlun.

    Zheng Lunlun had not lifted his head or spoken a single word since he started eating.

    ¡°Lunlun, slow down.¡± Nan Chen felt pitiful at this sight.

    ¡°Dad, this tastes so good!¡± Zheng Lunlun had a look of extreme contentment.

    ¡°Brother, this child can¡¯t even recognize people now. We need to get him treated as soon as possible!¡±

    Nan Xing said with his brows furrowed.

    ¡°I have already contacted the best neurosurgeons overseas, and he will be starting treatment once we

    get back to Jiangcheng. I have checked, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem, and it would be just a matter of time

    before he recovers.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°That¡¯s wonderful! Otherwise, this child would suffer so much.¡± Nan Xing replied.

    ¡°You¡¯re a fake dad!¡± Zheng Lunlun looked at Nan Xing.

    ¡°Dad.¡± He looks at Nan Chen and said.

    Then, he turned and looked at Ning Ran and eximed, ¡°Mom!¡±

    OMG, why did he say that?! Even though Ning Ran knew that Lunlun wasn¡¯t able to think normally, she

    still felt really awkward.

    ¡°Lunlun, please get better soon. Otherwise, we would have to start sharing our mom.¡± Erbao sighed.

    ¡°I will be bringing Lunlun back to Jiangcheng tonight. The rest of you should rest for the night and set

    off tomorrow.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°This is too rushed, brother. You should rest as well. It has been tough on you during this period of

    time.¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°I am fine; there is still a lot of work waiting for me to settle in thepany. Grandpa has been worrying

    a lot; I have to get back as fast as possible. I can take a nap during the flight.¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°Well, ok.¡± Nan Xing nodded.

    ¡°Mom, can we go with uncle?¡± Dabao asked Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran was momentarily stunned. Why do these kids like that poker face so much?

    ¡°Let¡¯s go¡­¡­tomorrow.¡± Ning Ran replied.

    Since poker face did not enjoy being in the same flight as her, she should not find trouble for herself.

    ¡°Ok.¡± Dabao replied obediently, although he couldn¡¯t hide the look of disappointment on his face.

    ¡°Rest for a while before going back, your dad will be with you.¡± Nan Chen said gently to Dabao.

    ¡°Ok, uncle.¡± replied Dabao

    ¡°The children¡¯s room has been prepared. When we return to Jiangcheng, they can stay there right

    away.¡± Nan Chen said.

    What did he mean? Ning Ran felt that something wasn¡¯t right. He was going to bring the kids back to

    the Nan family already?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 132

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 132

    ¡°The kids have always been staying with me.¡± Ning Ran retorted immediately.

    ¡°From this incident, it¡¯s obvious that you can¡¯t even protect the kids. Do you want something bad to

    happen to them again?¡± Nan Chen looked at her coldly.

    Ning Ran couldn¡¯t find any words to reply.

    ¡°You mean, everything was my fault?¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say everything was your fault, but this incident indeed proved that you were not capable

    enough of looking after the kids. Children of the Nan family are different from the other kids. Everything

    they do will be observed and judged. If they continue staying in that low-ss estate, it is easy for them

    to get attacked any time!¡± Nan Chen and Ning Ran started arguing at the dinner table.

    Dabao and Erbao looked silently at each other.

    ¡°Your girlfriend was the one who caused it, not me! Furthermore, the kids were not kidnapped at my

    house. You can¡¯t put all the me on me!¡± Ning Ran raised her voice.

    ¡°This is not a matter of who caused it. The topic of discussion now is the safety of the children. It is

    safer for them to stay at the Nan family. We can¡¯t afford to take any risks!¡± Nan Chen was already

    losing his patience. He thought that Ning Ran was selfish and possessive, without any regard for the

    children¡¯s safety.

    Ning Ran felt wronged, although indeed, she did not want to lose the rights of the kids to the Nan

    family.

    But the kids were her flesh and blood. Was it wrong for a mother to want to be with her children? A

    mother did not want to lose her children because she loves them, how can that be called being selfish?

    Suddenly, tears welled up in Ning Ran¡¯s eyes.

    Ning Ran was not an emotional person, but she just felt like crying at that instant. She just felt so

    wronged and she was no longer able to control her feelings.

    ¡°Mom¡­¡­¡± Erbao was shocked. She put down her chopsticks and looked at Ning Ran.

    ¡°I am not staying at the Nan family!¡± Dabao, who was quiet until now, spoke up, expressing support for

    Ning Ran.

    ¡°I am not staying too! I will be with mom!¡± Erbao followed.

    The kids thought that Ning Ran cried because she worried about them staying at the Nan family.

    No matter how intelligent the children were, it was still difficult for them to grasp the actual reasons for

    the adults¡¯ arguments.

    Ning Ran¡¯s tears stunned Nan Chen.

    He did not think that he had said anything that hurt Ning Ran. Everything he expressed was merely

    facts and he was only thinking for the children¡¯s safety.

    Nan Chen was very well aware that he would not get lucky every time, to be able to have the children

    back.

    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t cry. Dad! You are bullying mom.¡± Zheng Lunlun was upset with Nan Chen.

    ¡°Don¡¯t join in the fight.¡± Nan Xing gave Zheng Lunlun a look and hoped that he would stop.

    ¡°Dad is bad!¡± Zheng Lunlun continued to give Nan Chen his angry stare.

    ¡°My dear Lunlun, please don¡¯t make things worse!¡± Nan Xing was unable to stop Lunlun.

    ¡°Nan Xing, you are their father. What do you think?¡± Nan Chen gave Nan Xing a cold stare.

    ¡°Errrrrrrm¡­¡­I¡­¡­¡± Nan Xing looked from Nan Chen to Ning Ran and felt torn.

    If he was honest with himself, he naturally hoped that the kids stayed at the Nan family.

    But looking at the tearful Ning Ran, he couldn¡¯t bear to say that.

    Nan Xing thought that if he expressed support for Nan Chen¡¯s idea, it would be two men ganging up

    against onedy.

    ¡°Do you wish to put your children at risk of being in danger again?¡± Nan Chen asked Nan Xing sharply.

    ¡°Of course I don¡¯t wish for that to happen. Ning Ran, would you like to consider¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°F*** you! Over my dead body!¡± Ning Ran cut him off before Nan Xing could finish his sentence.

    Initially, she only felt wronged. But after Nan Xing joined in the conversation, she felt that the two men

    from the Nan family were ganging up to pressurize her.

    Initially, she felt wronged; but now, she was exasperated.

    ¡°I gave birth to the kids and I raised them. Where were you people from the Nan family during all those

    times? Have you contributed a single penny or even anything? Now that the children are all grown up,

    you are here to take them away from me? Just because the Nan family is so wealthy, do you think you

    can bully a weak woman like me? Shame on you!¡± Ning Ran yelled.

    Nan Xing mumbled gibberish under his breath.

    Nan Chen felt awkward and took a deep breath. He didn¡¯t expect Ning Ran to spout vulgarities. It

    seemed that the conversation had to stop here.

    ¡°Let¡¯s meet at court then. Let the judge decide who shall have the rights of the kids.¡± Nan Chen stood

    up.

    Ning Ran stared at Nan Chen angrily, but did not utter a single word.

    The Nan Family was one of the most prosperous families in the Flower City. Ning Ran was well aware

    that if they had to go to court, she had no chances of winning.

    Poker face Nan Chen was threatening her.

    ¡°The kids are mine. You do not have any decision rights on this matter.¡± Ning Ran persisted.

    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    These words had some effects on Nan Chen. He was merely their uncle. The children¡¯s dad, Nan Xing,

    had not even said anything yet. Indeed, it seemed like he was meddling in another family¡¯s affairs.

    Nan Chen gave Nan Xing a hard stare and stopped talking. He instructed Zheng Lunlun to leave with

    him.

    ¡°Dad is a bad guy! I am not leaving!¡± Zheng Lunlun was pitting himself against Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen looked even more ufortable. Why was it that everyone was against him?

    Although he needed to settle some business matters, the other reason he decided to leave with Zheng

    Lunlun in the evening was so that he could get medical attention at once.

    ¡°We have to go back to see the doctors!¡± Nan Chen said to Zheng Lunlun coldly.

    ¡°You are so bad! You are mean to mom!¡± Zheng Lunlun continued to give Nan Chen the angry stare.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Nan Chen dragged Zheng Lunlun away from his seat.

    Zheng Lunlun was usually afraid of Nan Chen and never dared to retort.

    However, things were not the same now. Because of the brain damage Zheng Lunlun suffered, his

    intellectual abilities were regressed to that of a young child¡¯s.

    As such, as Nan Chen tried to drag him away, he held on tightly to the back of the chair and refused to

    move.

    This scene that was unfolding was unsettling to the restaurant server. This group of unbelievably

    gorgeous looking people was fighting with each other?!

    Nan Chen felt like he was going mad. This was so embarrassing!

    ¡°Ok! Do whatever you want!¡± Nan Chen, who was in a bad mood, finally let go of Zheng Lunlun.

    He had meant well, but look at what he got in return!

    ¡°Hmpf!¡± Zheng Lunlun eximed.

    Ning Ran immediately gave Nan Xing a look, urging him to appease the situation.

    Ning Ran knew that Nan Chen was going to bring Zheng Lunlun to treat his brain condition.

    She was also hoping that Nan Chen could take Zheng Lunlun back, so that he could seek medical

    attention as soon as possible.

    However, it wasn¡¯t her ce toment on that. So she could only trust Nan Xing to take on the task.

    But Nan Xing could not understand what Ning Ran was trying tomunicate to him as she had just

    hurled vulgarities at him a moment ago.

    ¡°Brother, you should hurry on and leave. We will take Lunlun back.¡± Nan Xing hadpletely

    misinterpreted Ning Ran¡¯s ¡°look¡±.

    Ning Ran felt like she was going to explode at that moment. What an idiot!!!

    ¡°Are you asking him to stay because you are going to find him a doctor?¡± Ning Ran questioned Nan

    Xing.

    ¡°I¡­¡­didn¡¯t brother already made the medical arrangements?¡± Nan Xing was confused.

    ¡°Then why are you asking him to stay???¡± Ning Ran yelled.

    Only then Nan Xing realized that was what Ning Ran was trying to mean.

    ¡°Lunlun, leave quickly with uncle. Uncle will bring you to the doctor¡¯s!¡± Nan Xing tried to persuade

    Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°Hmpf! you are a fake dad!¡± Zheng Lunlun refused to budge.

    Nan Xing was at a loss now. He was the fake dad, and Nan Chen was the bad dad. Both of them could

    not be trusted.

    You see, not that I didn¡¯t try, but I¡¯m unable to do it, your highness! Nan Xing looked pleadingly at Ning

    Ran.

    Looks like I have to do this myself! Ning Ran stood up and walked over.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 133

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 133

    ¡°Lunlun, you need to go with Pok¡­go with him. He can treat your sickness, and we will get to y

    again.¡± Ning Ran said in a gentle voice.

    ¡°No!¡± ¡°Be obedient. Let¡¯s go, or else your head will hurt tomorrow, as if you have knocked against a

    rock. The pain will cause put you in so much pain that you can¡¯t even eat or sleep!¡± Ning Ran advised

    continuously.

    Zheng Lunlun touched his own head, not knowing what to do.

    ¡°Come on, you are going to go with him on a ne, and will reach there in no time. Once you have

    completed the treatment, you can then y with Erbao and Dabao.¡± Ning Ran said.

    Zheng Lunlun still hesitated. ¡°If you do not go through the treatment, a worm this long is going to live in

    your brain.¡± Ning Ran picked up a chopstick.

    ¡°This worm is going to grow, and grow. If you do not have it removed, it will continue to grow, and your

    brain will ¨C BOOM! ¨C Explode!¡± Ning Ran had no choice but to threaten him.

    This has truly frightened Zheng Lunlun, who was protecting his head with his two hands. ¡°Let¡¯s go now.

    You will be fine once we have the worm removed.¡± Ning Ran was relieved that her tactic worked. Nan

    Chen cannot help but frowned after witnessing the scary tactic that this woman used. Was she always

    so evil??

    There was one second Nan Chen almost believed the words Ning Ran said, and started imaging a

    worm of a chopstick¡¯s length growing in the brain. It was just terrifying!

    ¡°Alright.¡± Zheng Lunlun was finally convinced.

    Nan Chen heaved a sigh of relief. In this world, it seems like evil women called the shots.

    It is ridiculous to think that Zheng Lunlun actually believed her words.

    All the inner thoughts aside, Nan Chen was d that Zheng Lunlun was willing to leave with him.

    ¡°Mum, I¡¯m leaving.¡± Zheng Lunlun was reluctant to leave Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran was torn betweenughing and crying, ¡°Let¡¯s get moving. I hope the next time I see you; you

    will not call me your mum again! I have had enough of this!¡±

    ¡°Bye, mum!¡± Zheng Lunlun waved goodbye.

    Ning Ran sighed and said, ¡°Goodbye. Get going now.¡±

    ¡°I want to send uncle off.¡± Dabao said.

    Ning Ran paused for a moment. Okay, you may do so!

    Even a child knows to do so. It may seem disrespectful if I do not send them off!

    They went to the top of the building, while waiting for the flight to take off.

    ¡°Safe trip, uncle.¡± Dabao waved goodbye.

    Nan Chen, who was walking towards the airne, turned around and hugged Dabao, ¡°See you

    tomorrow!¡±

    He then hugged Erbao, ¡°Do not eat too much. You might upset your stomach.¡±

    Erbao was embarrassed, ¡°I did not eat a lot okay!¡±

    Seeing their adorable faces put a smile on his face. These two babies are definitely capable of lifting

    his spirit.

    When he turned around and looked at Ning Ran, his poker face reappeared. He then looked at Nan

    Xing, and waved at him.

    No matter how he disliked the woman, Nan Chen would always stay a gentleman.

    The ne took off and flew into the night sky.

    Ning Ran and the rest returned to the restaurant. She felt like having a drink.

    She had gone through a lot of pressure and it was time for her to rx a little.

    Moreover, just by thinking of her children¡¯s custody battle back in the Flower City made her even more

    ufortable. A drink at that time would help.

    Nan Xing was pleased when he heard the Ning Ran wanted to drink. He immediately got the waiter to

    serve the most expensive red wine.

    ¡°You deserve this; it must be difficult for you, after years of raising these kids. Cheers!¡± Nan Xing raised

    his ss.

    ¡°Of course it¡¯s difficult. I do not want to ept your toast.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Then what should I say instead?¡±

    ¡°You should stand by my side and never let the children leave me. They are my life.¡± Ning Ran became

    agitated when someone brought this topic up.

    ¡°I understand, really. I am not going to fight against you. The children are yours.¡± Nan Xing said

    sincerely.

    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you support me just now?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s my brother, and you know him. You can only win him over with intelligence, not by force! No one

    in the Flower City is his match. If we made him our enemy, we will be in a disadvantage!¡±

    Ning Ran frowned. What intelligence, what nonsense is this!

    ¡°If I cannot offend him, does that mean I will have to give you guys my children?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°What is wrong with that? Our house is spacious, has many rooms for them to choose from. And if you

    decide to move in as well, wouldn¡¯t you be closer to the kids too? My house is definitely a much better

    choicepared to yours!¡± Nan Xing said in agitation.

    ¡°Me? Moving in your house?¡±

    ¡°Yes, if you marry me and be my wife, it is only natural for you to move into my house! And you

    will be thedy of the house. Do you know how many people in the Flower City would die to marry into

    the Nan family?¡±

    Ning Ran knew what he said was true.

    The Nan family was on the crest of a wave, the wealthiest family in Jiangcheng.

    Marrying into the Nan family was equivalent to getting their hands onto a mountain of golds.

    Luo Fei did not marry into the Nan family, but still enjoyed all the glory as a girlfriend to a member of

    the family. Imagine the benefits of being married into the family!

    But Ning Ran refused. She did not want to do so.

    It would have been a lie if I say I do not want to lead a luxurious life.

    Ning Ran was aware that the more she gets after marrying into the family, the greater responsibility she

    will have to bear.

    She cannot imagine what she would encounter in the future, but Ning Ran knew, it would be disastrous.

    Above all, she did not like the boastful man in front on her. He might be a handsome and rich young

    master, but she just doesn¡¯t like him.

    After all, marrying someone is the decision of a lifetime. I canpromise on other matters, but not

    this.

    ¡°So do you agree?¡±

    Ning Ran kept quiet, and Nan Xing thought she was open to the idea.

    ¡°No. I¡¯m not marrying you.¡± Ning Ran remained firm with her answer.

    Nan Xing let out a cry, ¡°But why? Do we have to go through this again, after everything I¡¯ve said? This

    is ridiculous!¡±

    Ning Ran took a sip of wine from her ss, ¡°Nope, you are not the man I want to marry.¡±

    ¡°Then who?¡± Nan Xing asked cautiously.

    Ning Ran shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡±

    ¡°But marrying me is the only solution to your problem. Once youe into the family, you will be able

    to spend time with your kids, avoid conflict with my brother, and everything will sort out by itself once

    you be a part of us¡±

    Ning Ran could tell that Nan Xing was truly sincere.

    But she was not ready, and she clearly knew it would not be a smooth path to undertake.

    ¡°Am I not good enough for you?¡± Nan Xing refused to give in.

    ¡°You¡¯re good ¨C handsome, rich,e from a respectable family etc. Your only w is that you¡¯re

    boastful and frivolous.¡± Ning Ran said.

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°No human is perfect. And I¡¯m not frivolous, this is me being lively!¡± Nan Xing defended himself.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Erbao finally found an opportunity to interrupt their conversation.

    Nan Xing and Ning Ran stunned for a moment. They totally forgot the two children sitting beside them!

    It did not seem appropriate to discuss this matter in front of the children, but they were both mature

    enough to understand and handle the situation.

    Erbao had always liked Nan Xing, whereas Dabao preferred Nan Chen. Ning Ran was well aware of

    this.

    ¡°I¡¯m not saying you¡¯re not good. My decision not to marry you has nothing to do with you being good or

    bad. Just like this bottle of red wine. It may cost several millions, but it is worthless to people who don¡¯t

    drink them.¡± Ning Ran said while swirling the wine ss.

    Nan Xing did not seem to quite understand, ¡°Fine. Looks like I¡¯ll just have to cultivate your interest, so

    that you will ept me as the wine that suits your taste.¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 134

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 134

    Ning Ran had no choice but to return with the others on the next day.

    Once they reached Jiangcheng, their helicopternded on the helipad in the backyard of the Nan

    family¡¯s residence.

    Housekeeper Chai Hua and the maids were there on standby to wee them.

    Of course, I have to shower and change first before meeting the old man.

    Ning Ran looked around and reckoned that the house was enormous. It was like a manor which

    consisted of a few independent but interlinked buildings in all four cardinal directions and another one

    in the center.

    The design andyout of the house were sophisticated, almost like a royal mansion in ancient times.

    A maid well-trained in professional childcare took the two children away, and Ning Ran was led

    somewhere else.

    This was the rule in the Nan family. Professional caretakers will look after the children, instead of their

    mothers.

    Ning Ran was brought to a room in the west side. Maids were there to help her shower and change,

    but she rejected the offer, as she was used to doing it herself.

    After getting dressed, she waited in the room for quite some time. Soon, Nan Xing appeared.

    ¡°The children are having fun with the old master. I came over to apany you, just in case you¡¯re

    bored.¡± Nan Xing said.

    Deep in her heart, Ning Ran knew the Nan family was only interested in the children, not her.

    This was normal. They had blood ties with the children, and she was just an unknown actress. She will

    remain unrted to them, as long as she was still not married into the family.

    Even if she had borne them two children, this would not change the fact that she was just an outsider ¨C

    unless and until she married into the Nan family, had a marriage certificate to legally prove that she had

    be a part of the family.

    This was going to be difficult as well, because she would need to be a part of everything here, if she

    decides to take the leap of faith.

    She would be a part of everything in this family ¨C not just her identity, but more importantly, she would

    also have a share of the immense wealth the Nan family possessed.

    This was why marrying into a wealthy family can be difficult. Ordinary folks can get married just

    because they wanted to. It was not the case for wealthy families, as everything was built upon benefits

    and interests.

    And because of all the benefits and interests, people became more vignt, mean and cold towards

    each other.

    Ning Ran was not bothered by all of those. She did not want to be a part of that world in the first ce,

    as she wasfortable with what she has now.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to apany me. Go spend time with your family. Return the children to me once

    you¡¯re done.¡± Ning Ran was calm, not angry at all.

    ¡°Can the children stay here today? It¡¯s safer.¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°No.¡± Ning Ran outright rejected.

    ¡°Why not? This is their home too.¡±

    ¡°I still have full custody of my children so they should stay with me. I want to bring them to visit

    Xiangyun, now that we¡¯re back. Cheng Xiangyun was the one who took us in, after all.¡±

    All I¡¯m trying to say is, where were you when I was lost and down? And where was the Nan family

    when I needed help? Now that the children have grown up, you want to take them away from me?

    Nan Xing did not know what to say, ¡°I¡¯d never wanted to steal your children, you know that. They¡¯re

    yours¡­¡±

    ¡°I know. They¡¯re mine. You don¡¯t have to tell me.¡±

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go and see my granddad then¡­¡±

    ¡°Forget it. He would have called if he wishes to see me. I¡¯d rather not see him.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood. You know, the Nan family is just a little cautious about such things¡­¡±

    ¡°I know and I understand, which is why I just want my kids. Nothing else matters.¡±

    Nan Xing took a deep breath, realizing he was in a difficult position.

    ¡°I¡¯ll try to work things out.¡± He said powerlessly.

    Nan Xing returned to the living hall, and at this time, the children were talking to Nan Zhengde.

    Erbao was actively describing the events that took ce in the forest, and may have exaggerated a

    story or two to make it more interesting.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    Nan Zhengde had been through a lot in life, yet he was still taken aback by the stories.

    ¡°It¡¯s just too dangerous! Thank goodness my two precious grandchildren are back!¡± Nan Zhengde said

    in agitation.

    ¡°Great grandpa, we were very brave. My brother was even more invincible, as he helped navigate the

    way, rescue people and catch fish. There was nothing he couldn¡¯t do!¡± Erbao said with pride.

    Dabao frowned, as he was baffled by Erbao¡¯s exaggeration. He didn¡¯t even catch any fish in the river,

    how could he simply say so?

    ¡°Si Rui will be the pir of the family. He looks exactly like Nan Chen when he was young!¡± Nan

    Zhengde said in a serious and thoughtful tone.

    He definitely spoke highly of Dabao!

    Nan Chen was the man behind the entire Nanshi Corporation. It was almost as if he was implying that

    Dabao will grow up to be like Nan Chen, and will one day rule the Nanshi empire.

    ¡°But I was just as great! When my brother was rescuing people, I was there to help as well!¡± Erbao

    wanted a pat on the back too.

    ¡°Of course you are! Women are no inferior to men!¡± the old man praised.

    Erbao kept her eyes wide open and looked confused. She was unsure if it was apliment, as she

    could not quite understand.

    Dabao knew what his sister was thinking. He exined, ¡°Great grandpa meant both boys and girls are

    equally good.¡±

    ¡°Yes! Yes! I¡¯m better than a lot of boys. I¡¯m a genius.¡± Erbao was radiant with joy.

    It was at this point Nan Xing walked in. Erbao looked behind him but saw no one.

    ¡°Where¡¯s mum? Is she still in the shower?¡± Erbao asked.

    This question put Nan Xing in an awkward position. He cannot be telling Erbao that her mother was not

    allowed toe to the living hall before marriage.

    ¡°She feels a little ufortable and needs to take a rest.¡± Nan Xing said casually.

    ¡°Is mum sick?¡± Dabao stood up and asked out of concern.

    ¡°Nope, she¡¯s just tired. She should be fine after taking a rest. You all just stay here and y a while.¡±

    Nan Xing tried to keep them under control.

    ¡°We want to go check on our mum.¡± Dabao stood up.

    ¡°Me too.¡± Erbao responded as well.

    ¡°Let¡¯s have some fun here okay? Talk to great grandpa. Mum¡¯s fine, really.¡± Nan Xing exined.

    ¡°No, we want to see our mum.¡± Dabao demanded.

    Nan Xing looked at Nan Zhengde and hoped he could step in.

    ¡°Let them go. it¡¯s good that they understand the importance of filial piety. I¡¯m tired anyways, and should

    take a break.¡± Nan Zhengde said while waving his hands.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll bring you to her.¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°Xing, I¡¯d like to have a word with you. Let them bring the kids to their mum.¡± Nan Zhengde stopped

    Nan Xing.

    Nan Xing stayed back, and the maids took over the children.

    ¡°Xing, how¡¯s your rtionship with that girl now?¡± Nan Zhengde asked.

    ¡°Grandpa, haven¡¯t I told you? I will marry her.¡± Nan Xing replied.

    ¡°You¡¯re marrying her because of the kids, or because you love her and wish to spend the rest of your

    life with her?¡± Nan Zhengde asked.

    Nan Xing hesitated. He had not seriously thought of this question before.

    No doubt Ning Ran was gorgeous, and would definitely not bring shame to the Nan family if she

    decided to be a part of them.

    But Nan Xing was uncertain whether the intention to marry her was just because of the children.

    Nan Zhengde was a man of experience; he could easily tell Nan Xing was hesitant.

    ¡°Will you still marry her if she hadn¡¯t had your children?¡± Nan Zhengde asked again.

    Nan Xing shook his head, ¡°I¡¯ve not thought of this before. I wouldn¡¯t even think of answering this kind of

    hypothetical question.¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 135

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 135

    ¡°You should really think about it carefully.¡± Nan Zhengde spoke with a stern voice.

    ¡°Grandpa, why would I need to think about such a hypothetical situation?¡± Nan Xing couldn¡¯t

    understand.

    ¡°Because this is very important. You know very well our Nan family¡¯s status in Flower City. Everyone

    wants to associate themselves with our family, with the motif of gaining benefits for themselves. You

    know, there are many who would use unscrupulous means for their own benefits.¡± Nan Zhengde

    exined.

    ¡°Grandpa, Ding Mi is not that kind of person.¡± Nan Xing retaliated.

    With a wave of his hand, Nan Zhengde said, ¡°I am not referring to anyone in particr, I¡¯m just stating

    facts. A family like ours would usually, through marriage, create ties with another family of an equal

    status. It is not an old-fashioned thinking but rather for business reasons, as marriage, on a certain

    level, is abination of the assets of the two families.¡±

    ¡°If two families, both with simrly strong statuses work together, your offspring would have better

    resources to work with. So, from a business standpoint, it is very logical to marry someone from a well-

    matched family.¡± Nan Zhengde further exined.

    Nan Xing neither epted nor rejected Nan Zhengde¡¯s exnation. These practical issues had never

    crossed his mind.

    This fourth young master of the Nan family had had many affairs with female actresses, but he had

    never thought of marrying any of them, and those women were also well aware of that. They merely

    took what they needed from each other.

    As such, this issue that Nan Zhengde was discussing with him felt unfamiliar and distant.

    ¡°However, I will not force you to marry someone from a well-matched family. Our Nan family is capable

    on our own. We don¡¯t need to borrow another¡¯s strength. So when you finally want to settle down, I

    won¡¯t insist that you marry ady from a reputable family. My only requirement is that you must be

    really in love with each other, and that she is not marrying you for our family¡¯s wealth or status.¡± Nan

    Zhengde continued.

    ¡°Grandpa, I get what you mean.¡± This time, Nan Xing agreed with his grandpa wholeheartedly.

    ¡°I am d that you understand. So now, tell me, without considering children into the picture, would you

    still marry her?¡± Nan Zhengde asked again.

    ¡°I have never thought of that before.¡± Nan Xing shook his head.

    ¡°You should think about it seriously. After you get some rity, think again if she is truly in love with

    you. If you did not belong to the Nan family, would she still want to marry you? If you can answer all

    these questions honestly and still want to marry her after that, I will give you my blessings.¡± Nan

    Zhengde said.

    ¡°What if I can¡¯t answer those questions?¡± Nan Xing replied.

    ¡°Then you should ept what your brother has proposed ¡ª that the Nan family gets custody of the

    children and she will get a huge sum of money aspensation which would be enough for the rest of

    her life.¡± Nan Zhengde said.

    Nan Xing kept quiet.

    Intuitively, he knew that Ning Ran would never agree to such a proposal. If they really did reach this

    stage, he wondered what kind of fuss Ning Ran would kick up.

    Although that woman looked weak on the outside, she was a tough one. If she was driven over the

    edge, she would be capable of doing anything.

    Nan Xing started to worry thinking about this. He did not want things to turn ugly. More so, he did not

    want the kids to be affected.

    ¡°Nan Xing?¡± Nan Zhengde raised his voice a little to get the attention of the distracted Nan Xing.

    ¡°I know that, grandpa. Regardless if I marry her or not, I will be careful. Please don¡¯t worry.¡± Nan Xing

    reassured his grandpa.

    ¡°Ok, I trust that you will be able to handle it well. Do seek your brother¡¯s opinions. He is more rational

    than you when handling things.¡± Nan Zhengde said.

    ¡°Grandpa, growing up, is there even any area that my brother is not stronger than me at?¡± Nan Xing

    forced augh.

    Nan Chen was sipping coffee in his office as this discussion between Nan Xing and Nan Zhengde went

    on.

    Jiang Zhe, who was standing beside Nan Chen, kept looking at his watch. It was long past office hours,

    but his boss did not seem like he was leaving any time soon.

    It was already sote and yet he was still drinking so much coffee. Did he intend to stay up all night?

    But Jiang Zhe did not dare to say anything before his boss gave him the permission to head home.

    ¡°Why are you still here?¡± Nan Chen raised his head and saw Jiang Zhe standing there.

    I wanted to leave long ago, but without your permission, how would I dare to! Jiang Zhe did not know

    whether tough or cry.

    ¡°I¡­¡­really enjoy working overtime.¡± Jiang Zhe said, trying to hide the sorrow on his face. This must

    have been the most hypocritical words that hade from Jiang Zhe¡¯s mouth this year.

    ¡°Are they here yet?¡± Nan Chen looked unsettled.

    Very few people would be able to get used to Nan Chen¡¯s sudden change of thoughts, but Jiang Zhe

    was able to.

    All he needed was a few seconds; to figure out that it was them his boss was referring to ¡ª Nan Xing

    and Nan Zhengde.

    ¡°They reached here a while before. The old master wanted to wait for you to head back home for

    dinner together, but you told him you had other ns.¡± Jiang Zhe reminded Nan Chen.

    Boss has the best memory out of everyone I know, how did he forget something that had only

    happened two hours ago? Jiang Zhe got a bit worried.

    What was going on? Did he leave his soul in M nation?

    ¡°I see.¡± Nan Chen said, before he went silent again.

    ¡°Boss, it iste, why don¡¯t you go back and have some rest? It has been tough on you recently.¡± Jiang

    Zhe said to Nan Chen cautiously.

    But Nan Chen just remained silent.

    Nan Chen was distracted again. He reminisced the few days he had spent with Ning Ran.

    As Nan Chen did not respond, Jiang Zhe did not dare to carry on talking, though he was dying to go

    home!

    ¡°Why did I not go home for dinner?¡± Nan Chen suddenly lifted his head and asked Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°What?¡± Jiang Zhe was stunned. How should he be answering this question?!

    ¡°It is because boss is always so busy.¡± Jiang Zhe hoped that the answer would satisfy Nan Chen.

    ¡°Oh. Yeah.¡± Nan Chen replied, and it was silence, once again.

    What on earth happened to boss today? Jiang Zhe was confused. Not only did he forget something

    that had just happen two hours ago, the question he just asked was so brainless!

    This is the top guy in Flower City! He doesn¡¯t seem to be himself at all today. Did he really lose his

    soul?!

    ¡°You must be so tired, please get some rest.¡± Jiang Zhe tried again.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°No worries. You can leave first.¡± Nan Chen waved him off.

    Jiang Zhe wanted to leave so badly, but how could he leave while Nan Chen was still here!

    ¡°I am fine. I will be here. Let me know if you need anything.¡± Jiang Zhe said.

    ¡°Ok.¡± Nan Chen acknowledged. ¡°By the way, do you have a girlfriend?¡± Nan Chen suddenly asked

    Jiang Zhe.

    This made things seem even weirder. His boss was never the sort who would pry into the private affairs

    of others, and neither had he been interested in any gossips. Not that he had the time for it anyway.

    ¡°No.¡± Jiang Zhe answered honestly.

    ¡°Why not?¡± Nan Chen continued asking.

    ¡°I dated a few women previously, but none were suitable, so I am still single.¡± Jiang Zhe replied.

    ¡°So you did like them?¡± Nan Chen carried on.

    ¡°Of course! Otherwise I wouldn¡¯t have dated them.¡± Nan Chen replied while nodding his head.

    ¡°How does it feel like to be in love?¡± Nan Chen suddenly asked, seriously.

    Jiang Zhe was stunned by this question.

    That was a question asked by the ordinary man. Why would a god-like person like Nan Chen ask such

    a question? What¡¯s his purpose of asking? Jiang Zhe was not able to figure out.

    ¡°Boss¡­¡­You have never been in love before?¡±

    ¡°I am asking you a question.¡± Nan Chen replied coldly.

    ¡°Hmm, you would want to be with her all day long, share your happiness and worries with her, and her

    feelings would concern you¡­¡­¡±

    Nan Chen raised up a hand to stop Jiang Zhe from continuing. His brows furrowed.

    Obviously, he was not satisfied with Jiang Zhe¡¯s answer. It was the kind of answer he could have gotten

    from an online search, which he felt wasme.

    He actually wanted to hear: if you like someone, you would also like her smell.

    But at the same time, he was also afraid that was that Jiang Zhe would say that.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 136

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 136

    It was already one in the morning when Nan Chen returned to the Commoner Residence.

    Nan Xing was still awake, and was drinking under the pavilion in the garden.

    Nan Xing usually drank at private clubs, surrounded by beautiful women. It was indeed rare to see him

    drinking alone like this.

    Nan Chen walked over.

    ¡°Brother, I have been waiting for you.¡± Nan Xing sounded a little drunk.

    ¡°Why are you here drinking alone?¡±

    ¡°Grandpa was really happy today that the kids were back safely, so he opened the Maotai which he

    had kept for twenty years. But the old man couldn¡¯t drink too much because of his high blood pressure.

    I didn¡¯t want to waste it since it was already opened, so I nned to finish the bottle with you.¡±

    Nan Chen sat down and poured himself a cup.

    He could already smell the alcohol before he lifted the cup.

    Nan Chen finished the cup in one gulp, the aftertaste lingering in his mouth. It felt wonderful.

    ¡°Is there anything bothering you?¡± Nan Chen asked after putting down the cup.

    ¡°Today, Ding Mi brought the kids here. But as you know, the Nan family has a rule that a woman can

    only step into the main hall after she marries into the family, so she could only stay at the West atrium

    for the time being.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded. He had guessed it.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s rather unfair to her, since she is the mother of the kids after all? She painstakingly

    gave birth to them and raised them but she can¡¯t even sit at the same dining table with the kids. What

    kind of screwed up rule is this?!¡± Nan Xing was worked up.

    Nan Chen signaled for Nan Xing to lower his voice.

    ¡°Not all rules have reasons behind them. Rules are rules, and have to be obeyed. If you think about it,

    some rules with seemingly no reason behind them actually have their own worth.¡± Nan Chen poured

    both of them another cup each.

    Nan Xing shook his head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know why I am telling you all these. You have never liked

    Ding Mi to begin with.¡±

    ¡°Her name was originally not Ding Mi; it was Ning Ran. She is Luo Fei¡¯s half-sibling.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°You see, how can you be so certain you want her to be your wife? You don¡¯t even know her real name.

    Is it just because she is the mother of your children?¡± Nan Chen asked Nan Xing.

    ¡°I don¡¯t agree. We are all separate individuals with our own secrets. As long as such secrets do not

    cause harm to others, there is no need to delve in further. Makes sense, right?¡±

    Nan Chen did not reply. He was not getting into any arguments with Nan Xing at this unearthly hour.

    It was a rare asion that the brothers could sit down and drink together, and he did not want to ruin

    the atmosphere.

    Nan Chen had not told Nan Xing any of the bad things he had found out about Ning Ran, as he wanted

    to protect his brother.

    If Nan Xing and Ning Ran ever got into a fight over the custody of the children, Nan Chen was ready to

    act as the evil one.

    If he were the bad guy, Nan Xing could still remain cordial with Ning Ran.

    It was also more beneficial for the kids that Nan Xing and Ning Ran did not fall out with each other.

    Children always end up as victims when parents are at odds with each other.

    It would leave a scar in the children¡¯s lives and Nan Chen wanted to protect the children from any

    possible harm.

    Anyway, Nan Chen felt that even without disclosing the bad things about Ning Ran, he would still be

    able to prevent the marriage.

    ¡°Brother, you know I am not any saint. But I really feel that life hasn¡¯t been easy for Ding Mi. She

    deserves better.¡± Nan Xing got even more worked up.

    ¡°Such as?¡±

    ¡°Such as a proper title. At least, she should be able to dine with the rest of the Nan family at the main

    hall.¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°Is this what she wants? Was this what she told you?¡±

    ¡°She didn¡¯t. She doesn¡¯t care about anything else other than being with the kids.¡±

    ¡°What if she has been pretending? Don¡¯t forget that she is a very sessful actress. She could be

    putting up an act in front of us.¡±

    ¡°Brother!¡± Nan Xing stood up. ¡°Why are you so biased against Ding Mi?¡±

    Nan Chen signaled to Nan Xing to lower his voice again.

    ¡°What do you like about her?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°She¡¯s really pretty. Not to mention she¡¯s also the children¡¯s mommy. If I marry her, we will have a

    perfect family.¡± Nan Xing answered without hesitation.

    ¡°If she was not the children¡¯s mommy, would you still marry her?¡±

    ¡°Brother, why are you asking the same question as grandpa? Don¡¯t you think this kind of hypothetical

    question is veryme?¡± That got Nan Xing worked up again.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t react to that. He took another sip of the drink.

    ¡°So, you don¡¯t actually love her. You just feel indebted to her just because she gave birth to your two

    children, and want to make it up to her by marrying her. Nan Xing, this won¡¯t do. You should marry

    someone with a good character and strong morals, not someone with a motive who would use the kids

    to aplish her goals.¡±

    ¡°A person without a good character is a risk to both the kids and the Nan Family.¡±

    The thought that Ning Ran caused the death of her own mother gave Nan Chen chills. Such an evil

    women, it would be a disaster if she entered the Nan family!

    ¡°Come on brother, you are exaggerating! You are just prejudiced against her! We are twins. I always

    thought that you were on my side. But I was wrong! You are disregarding my happiness because of

    your personal prejudices!¡± Nan Xing was even more worked up now.

    ¡°You are drunk. Go get some rest. We shall talk when you are sober.¡±

    ¡°No! Let¡¯s thrash things out right now. Why are all of you against her? Do you think it was easy for her

    to raise two kids all on her own? Why do all of you think that she has an ulterior motive? You said the

    woman I chose has a problem, but what about the woman you chose?¡±

    ¡°Luo Fei is the real evil woman. She almost caused the death of my kids! Why don¡¯t you reflect on your

    choices, brother?¡± Nan Xing would never have dared to speak to Nan Chen in this manner. The alcohol

    had taken its effects.

    Nan Chen¡¯s face darkened.

    He wanted to drink more but the bottle was already empty. He mmed the bottle hard against the

    marble table. Nan Xing¡¯s words agitated him.

    ¡°It is exactly because I feel responsible for what Luo Fei did that I am trying to prevent the same thing

    from happening.¡±

    Nan Chen walked away, but turned back after a few steps.

    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this another time. You need to go to our headquarters in Africa tomorrow to settle

    some matters, as you left too abruptly that time. Go get prepared.¡±

    ¡°What? You are deploying me to Africa again? Is this your tactic to separate Ding Mi and I?¡± Nan Xing

    couldn¡¯t believe it.

    ¡°You wille back after the matters are settled. It¡¯s not a long-term arrangement.¡± Nan Chen said

    coldly.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll go after I get married.¡±

    ¡°Why are you in such a hurry?¡± Nan Chen was getting anxious too.

    ¡°I will register my marriage with Ning Ran before going to Africa. We will hold the banquet after I get

    back.¡±

    ¡°No way! You set off tomorrow, immediately. If not, don¡¯t you ever think about getting married! Before

    you are back, the relevant departments will be encountering technical issues and you won¡¯t be able to

    register your marriage.¡± Nan Chen continued in his cold voice.

    Nan Xing knew that Nan Chen had an extremely widework. No one would be willing to help him

    with his marriage registration as long as Nan Chen did not allow that to happen.

    ¡°Ok, I¡¯ll go then. But when I am back, I will definitely be getting married!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone you are going.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    Nan Chen did not give an exnation. He merely replied, ¡°Remember; only your secretary and I know

    about your trip to Africa. No one else knows, not even grandpa.¡±

    What does my brother have up his sleeve again? Nan Xing was puzzled.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 137

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 137

    The next morning, Nan Chen reached the office, looking refreshed.

    Usually, Nan Chen wouldn¡¯t have any time for someone of Wang Yan¡¯s caliber. However, he decided to

    allocate fifteen minutes of his time to Wang Yan because the Sound of Thunder was an important

    drama production to him.

    Wang Yan felt a sense of nervousness once he saw Nan Chen. Nan Chen¡¯s presence always seemed

    to ce pressure on others.

    ¡°Be quick, Mr. Nan only has fifteen minutes.¡± Jiang Zhe looked at Wang Yan.

    ¡°The production team is on a hiatus currently. The main actors are all uncontactable. What are the next

    steps we should take, Mr. Nan?¡± Wang Yan said, with his head bowed.

    ¡°Remove all of Luo Fei¡¯s scenes. Find another actress to rece her.¡± Nan Chen said.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Remove all the scenes?¡± Wang Yan was not sure if he heard it correctly.

    Nan Chen did not repeat his words for the second time.

    ¡°Mr. Nan already made it very clear. Just do as he instructed.¡± Jiang Zhe said.

    ¡°Ok. Zheng Lunlun is also uncontactable. What about his scenes?¡±

    ¡°He will be back. Leave it for now.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Ok. If we remove Luo Fei¡¯s scenes, we would have to retake a lot of scenes. There would also be

    major changes to the script. This will dy the production. I am not sure if the original budget is

    enough¡­¡­¡± Wang Yan lowered his voice even more as he touched on the part about the money.

    ¡°I will cover any losses incurred.¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    Wang Yan was delighted. His worries eased upon hearing what Nan Chen had said.

    ¡°Then I will resume production activities right away. Does Mr. Nan have any preferences for the second

    female lead?¡± Wang Yan asked.

    ¡°Choose the most popr actress at the moment.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°The most popr now is still Luo Fei, but she¡­¡­¡±

    This angered Nan Chen. ¡°Is Luo Fei the only popr actress in the whole of China right now?!¡±

    ¡°No, no! Of course there are others.¡± Wang Yan got even more nervous. He did not dare to utter

    another word.

    ¡°You may go off now. Mr. Nan¡¯s time is precious. Look for me if you have any questions.¡± Jiang Zhe

    waved Wang Yan off.

    Wang Yan quickly left Nan Chen¡¯s office.

    ¡°Boss, we may suffer losses if the production drags on.¡± Jiang Zhe said.

    ¡°I know.¡± Nan Chen replied coldly.

    If I know that we would incur a loss, boss would clearly be aware of that too. Jiang Zhe realized that he

    had made a really stupid statement.

    ¡°There are rumors that Luo Fei¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Tell me! What rumors!¡± Nan Chen shot Jiang Zhe a killer look.

    ¡°People are saying that Ding Mi caused the death of Luo Fei.¡±

    ¡°Who said that?¡±

    ¡°It is all over the Inte. I¡¯m not sure who started the rumors. It¡¯s not easy to check, given the number

    of independent media outlets right now.¡±

    Nan Chen was silent.

    Other than the Nan family¡¯s security team, no one else should know about what happened in the forest.

    Who was the one who started such rumors?

    Furthermore, Ning Ran had absolutely nothing to do with what had happened to Luo Fei.

    Was it just a coincidence that Ning Ran was brought into the picture? Or did someone want to frame

    her intentionally?

    ¡°Do something to stop the rumors.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Yes, boss. But what actually happened to Luo Fei?¡±

    ¡°No idea.¡± Nan Chen replied coldly.

    That was enough to stop Jiang Zhe from asking any further.

    Nan Chen finally managed to finish his day¡¯s work at six in the evening.

    He drove back to the Commoner Residence, and went into Nan Xing¡¯s room.

    He waved his hand, signaling for the servants to get out.

    He opened Nan Xing¡¯s wardrobe and saw a row of white suits.

    Nan Xing and Nan Chen were identical twins. To differentiate them, the Nan family had an unspoken

    rule that Nan Xing and Nan Chen could only wear white and ck suits respectively.

    Therefore, at any asion, the person in white would be Nan Xing and the person in ck would be

    Nan Chen.

    The colors also urately reflected the brothers¡¯ temperaments and characters.

    Nan Chen picked out a suit and looked at himself in the mirror.

    It was a strange sight as he had never seen himself in a white suit before.

    After a moment of hesitation, he hung the suit back up in the wardrobe.

    Just as he was about to leave, he went back into the room again.

    Ten minutester, the servants who were waiting at the door, saw Nan Xing walking out of the room.

    Of course, it was Nan Chen who was wearing Nan Xing¡¯s white suit. He had also styled his hair like

    Nan Xing.

    Nan Chen looked at the servants. He was surprised to realize that the way they looked at him was

    different. Instead of the usual look of fear, they greeted him cheerfully.

    ¡°Young Master Nan Xing, going out with the prettydies again?¡±

    Nan Chen was used to the respect and look of awe he was usually given. This new treatment from the

    servants made him uneasy.

    So this is how the interactions between Nan Xing and the servants are like? We are both young

    masters of the Nan family. Why is it that they are not fearful of Nan Xing?

    Nan Chen kept a poker face and did not reply.

    ¡°Is this Young Master Nan Xing or Young Master Nan Chen? This expression looks so much like Young

    Master Nan Chen¡¯s.¡± One of the servantsmented.

    ¡°Oh yeah! We didn¡¯t see Young Master Nan Chen walking out just now after he entered the room.¡±

    ¡°I am sure this is Young Master Nan Xing. Young Master Nan Chen has never dressed in white.¡±

    ¡°But don¡¯t you think he really looks like Young Master Nan Chen?¡±

    ¡°Must be Young Master Nan Xing trying to act cool by imitating Young Master Nan Chen¡¯s style, Haha.¡±

    Nan Chen smiled to himself upon hearing the servants¡¯ chatter.

    Upon reaching the garage, Nan Chen got into Nan Xing¡¯s red Ferrari sports car.

    Thisbination of a white suit and red sports car gave Nan Chen the feeling that he was a good-for-

    nothing rich man¡¯s son.

    He looked at himself in the rearview mirror. In addition to his poker face, his facial muscles were also

    tensed.

    He forced an expression, but it did not look natural at all.

    Nan Chen wondered if people would recognize him.

    Nan Chen knew that there was no way he could urately imitate Nan Xing¡¯s cheerful mannerisms.

    Vroom! Nan Chen drove off.

    Nan Chen wanted to know if anyone would recognize him, so he made a trip back to the office.

    Although it was long past office hours, there were still many employees working in the office.

    ¡°Why is our Young Master Nan Xing back at the office? Shouldn¡¯t you be partying with prettydies at

    this hour?¡± A few managers greeted Nan Chen the moment he stepped into the office.

    Nan Chen forced a smile, but did not say anything.

    ¡°Young Master Nan Xing, your smile looks so weird. Are you feeling ufortable?¡± One of the female

    managers asked.

    Weird?! I am sure that I look natural! Nan Chen was getting exasperated.

    ¡°Did you see my brother?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I think he left quite a while ago. Is the demon kinging back?¡± At the mention of Nan Chen¡¯s name,

    the managers tensed up.

    ¡°Demon king?¡± Nan Chen frowned.

    ¡°Oh, that is our loving nickname for the boss. He is so god-like and exudes the poise of a king, so he is

    like a demon king.¡±

    Nan Chen was extremely mad now. How is calling me a demon king funny???

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 138

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 138

    ¡°Do you guys hate him?¡± Nan Chen really wanted to know.

    Although one could never really guess a person¡¯s actual thoughts, Nan Chen still wanted to know how

    the employees thought of him.

    ¡°No no no! We really love him.¡± The managers quickly rified.

    ¡°Then why is he called a demon king? Aren¡¯t demons evil?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°In Intenguage, demon doesn¡¯t necessarily refer to evil beings. It can also mean a super force, a

    formidable being.¡± One of the managers exined.

    Nan Chen still wasn¡¯t able to fully grasp that idea.

    ¡°Why do you guys love him?¡± He carried on asking.

    Saying that out loud felt kind of mushy to Nan Chen.

    ¡°Boss is pretty amazing. He keeps bringing thepany to greater heights, and we got increments in

    sries. It would have been hopeless for us if a good-for-nothing was our boss instead¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Ahem¡­¡­¡± One of the other managers pretended to clear his throat, hinting to stop the conversation

    there, in case someone got offended.

    ¡°Of course, Mr. Nan, you are pretty amazing yourself. We heard that your business operation in Africa

    is going well.¡± The manager attempted at an awkward salvage of the situation.

    ¡°Is my brother really that great?¡± Nan Chen still had doubts.

    ¡°Of course he is not all good. He is too fierce, which causes everyone to be scared of him, not to

    mention he is also super strict. I remember I pulled an all-nighter toplete a proposalst time, but

    he barely took a nce before rejecting it. I feel so sad every time I recall that incident.¡±

    Nan Chen vaguely recalled that incident, but he wasn¡¯t aware that the manager had pulled an all-

    nighter to prepare the proposal.

    He was only concerned with the end results. It didn¡¯t matter how much time was taken to prepare the

    proposal, it had to be reworked on if it was not eptable.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t being strict a good thing?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°It is. We do appreciate honest feedback so that we can improve.¡± That manager gave a genuine reply.

    Nan Chen was relieved upon hearing that.

    Although he did not need that recognition, it always felt good to be appreciated and respected by his

    subordinates.

    Nan Chen dismissed the managers.

    He went back to his own office but stepped out again after two minutes.

    He drove to Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s apartment. After parking his car, Nan Chen knocked on the door. He

    had brought along a fruit basket.

    Even though Nan Chen had attended the Asian Economic Forum and spoke in front of world leaders

    before, he did not feel as nervous as he was feeling right now.

    He smelt a familiar citrus scent when the door opened.

    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Ning Ran looked at Nan Chen in disgust. Her brows furrowed at the sight of him.

    This got Nan Chen even more nervous. Did she see through my disguise?

    ¡°I just happened to be passing by.¡± Nan Chen handed the fruit basket to Ning Ran.

    ¡°Where were you intending to go?¡± Ning Ran picked an apple from the fruit basket, wiped it on her

    blouse, and starting munching on it.

    Nan Chen was stunned. She ate the apple without washing it? There could be pesticides on it. It¡¯s

    common sense! How could she not know? Did she think that the apple would be safe to eat just by

    wiping it on her blouse? Didn¡¯t she know how many germs there are on the blouse?

    ¡°Dad!¡± Erbao ran into his arms.

    Upon hearing themotion, Cheng Xiangyun rushed out from the kitchen. ¡°Wow, what made Young

    Master Nan Xing decide to grace us with your presence today? It is such an honor to us.¡±

    ¡°Aunt, seriously? Why are you being so polite? It is making my hair stand.¡± Ning Ran was annoyed.

    It seemed like dinner was ready. The table wasid with a hotpot and utensils. Steam was rising from

    the soup.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    This is too unhealthy. Dinner at such ate hour, and the soup looks so oily! Nan Chen frowned.

    ¡°Why do you look so unhappy? Did someone owe you money? What exactly are you here for? If you

    think it makes you so ufortable to be here, you are free to leave. Don¡¯t ruin our appetites.¡± Ning

    Ran said rudely to Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen was extremely unhappy about the way he was being treated, but he could only keep quiet.

    He wasn¡¯t sure if Ning Ran was treating him as Ning Xing or himself.

    Nan Chen was actually feeling hungry. He hadn¡¯t had dinner yet. The food smelt good, but it was too

    oily.

    ¡°How can you talk to our distinguished guest like that? It is our great honor that Young Master Nan Xing

    is visiting us. Please take a seat, Young Master Nan Xing.¡± Cheng Xiangyun was being overly polite, a

    stark contrast to Ning Ran¡¯s attitude.

    Nan Chen sat down at once. He had been standing awkwardly since he stepped into the house.

    ¡°Eat with us, dad. The hotpot mommy prepared is delicious!¡± Erbao joined in.

    Nan Chen lifted Erbao onto hisp and stroked her hair.

    ¡°I don¡¯t suppose Young Master Nan Xing eats food like this, right? Hotpot is formoners like us, it is

    not like the usual feast you are used to.¡± Cheng Xiangyun said.

    ¡°That¡¯s not right, dad brought us to eat hotpot thest time. He loves spicy food!¡± Erbao contributed.

    ¡°Really? If that¡¯s the case, would you like to eat with us?¡± Cheng Xiangyun looked at Nan Chen.

    ¡°Let¡¯s ignore him. We didn¡¯t prepare his share anyway. If he eats, it wouldn¡¯t be enough for us.¡± Ning

    Ran said while scooping rice into her bowl.

    This woman is indeed very mean. Shouldn¡¯t the gueste first? Nan Chen was fuming mad.

    The more you don¡¯t let me eat, the more I shall eat!

    ¡°Yes, I am happy to join you for dinner.¡± After making this important decision, Nan Chen stood up to go

    and wash his hands.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you know you are already taking up a lot of space? Why did you suddenly stand up? Are you a

    pole?¡± Ning Ran yelled at him.

    ¡°I am going to wash my hands then eat.¡± Nan Chen felt aggrieved.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to. Just wipe your hands on the towel.¡± Ning Ran passed him a towel.

    That works? Nan Chen thought. Didn¡¯t she know that the proper way was to wash hands with soap for

    at least three minutes? You can¡¯t get rid of germs by just wiping your hands with a towel!

    Nan Chen put down the towel and insisted on washing his hands.

    He was stopped by Ning Ran again. ¡°Let the kids wash first.¡±

    Nan Chen was confused. Didn¡¯t she just say wiping with a towel was enough?

    ¡°The kids need to wash their hands to prevent them from falling sick. As for you, your skin is too thick

    and rough for any germs to prate. So, there is no need for you to be so cautious.¡± Ning Ran

    exined.

    Nan Chen felt even more fed up now. Thick and rough? My skin is obviously smooth and delicate. Is

    this woman blind?! Or maybe she is just a habitual liar.

    Nan Chen took a deep breath to calm himself down.

    He waited for the kids to finish before he went into the toilet to wash his hands.

    While he was washing his hands, Dabao stood beside and stared.

    ¡°Why are you not eating outside?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Are you Uncle Nan Chen?¡± Dabao asked softly.

    Nan Chen was caught unaware. How did he know?

    Since Dabao already knew who he was, he didn¡¯t want to lie to the child.

    ¡°Can this be our secret?¡± Nan Chen asked him back softly.

    Dabao agreed, feeling very pleased with himself.

    Just as Nan Chen was going to ask him what gave it away, Ning Ran walked in.

    ¡°Why are you taking your own sweet time? Come out quickly if you still want to eat. Otherwise, there

    will only be the dishwater left for you to drinkter.¡±

    Nan Chen was furious. This woman had been offensive from the moment I arrived. Incorrigible!

    Uncouth! Unforgivable!!!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 139

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 139

    Nan Chen really wanted to leave at once. How can I, Master Nan Chen, be subjected to such

    humiliation!

    However, Nan Chen was actually still able to tolerate these. Looks like he had previously

    underestimated a human being¡¯s ability to tolerate things.

    He returned to the dinner table gracefully, exuding an air of nobility. Dinner officially started.

    There were many ingredients in the hotpot, including tofu, pork belly and many other food items.

    Afterall, the fun of eating hotpot was that any food could be dumped inside.

    Staring at the oily and spicy looking soup, Nan Chen did not know how to start. In the first ce, he

    seldom ate hotpot. During the asional times that he ate it, it was always at high-end restaurants

    where he would order a clear broth, served in an individual pot.

    It was his first time eating hotpot in this style, where everyone dipped their chopsticks into the same

    pot.

    He raised his chopsticks but hesitated.

    ¡°Are you eating or not? If you are not eating, please don¡¯t sit here. We are happy to have more space.¡±

    Ning Ran looked at him in disgust.

    ¡°Dad, eat! It¡¯s so yummy!¡± Erbao said, as she picked up a piece of pork belly meat and put it inside her

    mouth, with an exaggerated expression of satisfaction.

    Nan Chen figured that if it was something Erbao could eat, it couldn¡¯t be too spicy. With that in mind, he

    chose a piece of tofu and ate it.

    It actually tasted good. It did not taste like the hotpot which he had before.

    However, after he swallowed, it felt as if a volcano had erupted in his mouth. He could barely handle

    the sudden overflowing spicy aftertaste.

    To prevent being looked down upon by Ning Ran, Nan Chen ate a big mouthful of rice, hoping that it

    would help to neutralize the spice.

    ¡°Dad, try this! This is the best.¡± Erbao was referring to the pork belly meat.

    In order not to disappoint Erbao, who had enthusiastically rmended her favorite food, Nan Chen

    forced a big piece of pork belly meat down his throat.

    It was too spicy and oily! He stuffed himself with some vegetables to flush the taste away.

    As Nan Chen continued eating, he realized that the food did not taste as spicy anymore.

    Even Nan Chen started to admire himself for his ability to adapt. Within such a short span of time, he

    was already able to tolerate such a high level of spiciness.

    After finishing one bowl of rice, Nan Chen stopped eating. He had a queasy feeling in his stomach.

    ¡°I¡¯m done. Please continue enjoying your meal.¡± Nan Chen said politely.

    However, he didn¡¯t leave the table immediately. ording to proper dining etiquettes, the guest should

    not be the first person to leave the table.

    But Ning Ran was not familiar with such concepts. ¡°Why are you still here? Step aside.¡±

    This woman knows nothing about etiquettes. If she marries into the Nan family, it would be a disaster!

    Nan Chen thought to himself.

    He had no choice but to leave the table. He sat down on a couch.

    Just then, he felt a burning sensation in his stomach. He was starting to feel pain.

    Without attracting attention, Nan Chen gulped down a huge ss of water. But it didn¡¯t help.

    The pain got unbearable after a while. Nan Chen had no choice but to go to the toilet. He walked

    quickly, taking long strides.

    ¡°Oh no. Dad has diarrhea. Maybe he really cannot take spicy food.¡± Erbao said.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say he love spicy food? He seemed to be enjoying himself just now.¡± Ning Ran frowned.

    Nan Chen emerged from the toilet, still upholding his poker face.

    But the scene in the toilet just now was different. His stomach hurt so badly that his forehead was

    beaded with sweat.

    ¡°I will make a move first. I have something on.¡± Nan Chen announced.

    ¡°So fast? Please stay a while more!¡± Cheng Xiangyun continued to extend her warm hospitality.

    ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t. I really need to go now.¡± Nan Chen headed right towards the door.

    Just then, he made a one hundred and eighty degree turn and took long strides towards the toilet

    again, trying to look nonchnt.

    Even though he appeared calm, everyone was aware that this young master had an upset stomach.

    When Nan Chen came out of the toilet, he did not mention anything about leaving again. If he needed

    the toilet before he stepped out, again, that would be way too embarrassing.

    He just sat down quietly on the couch, still with his poker face.

    ¡°Dad is trying to imitate uncle again.¡± Erbao pinpointed Nan Chen¡¯s expression.

    ¡°Why did you force yourself to eat if you can¡¯t take spicy food? Are you happy that you are having

    diarrhea now?¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°It¡¯s not just spicy, it¡¯s oily too.¡± Nan Chen retorted.

    Never had he imagined that the formidable Young Master Nan Chen of Flower City would be defeated

    by a hotpot. It was depressing.

    ¡°Hotpots are meant to be spicy and oily. What¡¯s the point of having a hotpot that is nd?¡± Ning Ran

    frowned.

    Nan Chen did not wish to continue the conversation.

    ¡°Young Master Nan Xing, do you want to see a doctor?¡± Cheng Xiangyun was worried.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think he needs that. It¡¯s just diarrhea, no big deal. I think we have some medicine in the house.

    I¡¯ll go get them.¡± Ning Ran walked away to find the pills.

    Not after long, she returned with empty hands. ¡°We finished the medicine. Looks like we need to make

    a trip to the pharmacy.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll go get it.¡± Cheng Xiangyun offered.

    ¡°No need. I can settle it myself.¡± Nan Chen stood up again.

    But at once, he felt that something was not right. He rushed to the toilet again.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    After he came out of the toilet, he decided that he needed to go to the hospital. That woman¡¯s words

    could not be trusted.

    There was an important meeting the next day. Nan Chen could not afford to skip it. He needed to get to

    the doctor without further dy.

    ¡°I really need to leave. I feel much better now.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°You are so troublesome. No one forced you toe here or eat hotpot. Fine, I will go with you to the

    pharmacy. I guarantee that you will recover after taking the anti-diarrheal pills.¡± Ning Ran was losing

    her patience.

    ¡°I think I¡¯m fine. Thank you for your offer.¡± Nan Chen rejected politely.

    ¡°Stop acting fine. Let¡¯s go now. I¡¯ll go with you. You¡¯ll feel better immediately after taking the medicine.¡±

    Ning Ran nudged Nan Chen out of the door.

    Nan Chen had no choice but to oblige.

    ¡°Wait for me in the car. I¡¯m going to the pharmacy in front to get you the medicine. Leave after taking

    them, so that you won¡¯t have diarrhea anymore.¡± When they were outside, Ning Ran spoke to Nan

    Chen like she was speaking to a kid.

    Nan Chen hated the way she was talking to him, but he had no other choice.

    Shortly after, Ning Ran was back with medicine and a bottle of water.

    ¡°Take them; you¡¯ll be fine in no time.¡± Ning Ran put two white pills on Nan Chen¡¯s palm.

    Nan Chen hesitated. He eyed Ning Ran suspiciously.

    ¡°Go on, eat it. Are you afraid that I would poison you? Would that benefit me in anyway? Just swallow

    the pills!¡± Ning Ran was getting impatient.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t think that Ning Ran would poison him. It was just that she wasn¡¯t even medically

    trained; how was she so sure that these pills would work?

    ¡°Hurry up! Stop staring at me!¡± Ning Ran yelled.

    With no other choice, Nan Chen quickly swallowed the pills and drank some water.

    ¡°Ok, you will be better soon. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Ning Ran said confidently.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t respond. He still didn¡¯t believe her.

    Ning Ran felt that something wasn¡¯t right. Nan Xing wasn¡¯t being his usual chatty self. Why is he so

    quiet today? Did the diarrhea make him stupid?

    Ning Ran got into the car and sat next to Nan Chen. ¡°I¡¯ll just sit here for a while. If I go back now, I¡¯ll

    have to wash the dishes. I¡¯ll go after Aunt finishes washing them.¡±

    Nan Chen looked at Ning Ran in shock. What kind of logic is this?!

    ¡°You are already feeling better, right?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    Maybe it was just a psychological effect, but Nan Chen was indeed feeling better.

    He nodded.

    ¡°When my son had diarrhea, I cured him too.¡± Ning Ran was very pleased with herself.

    Something didn¡¯t sound right to Nan Chen. What do you mean you cured your son when he had

    diarrhea? Are you taking advantage of me?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 140

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 140

    Ning Ran realized that something was amiss after noticing Nan Chen¡¯s expression and exined,

    ¡°That was not what I meant, you¡¯re definitely not my son.¡±

    This exnation seemed to have made things more awkward. Nan Chen eyes were zing with anger.

    ¡°What I¡¯m trying to say is, we are poor. We will find ways to treat minor health problems, instead of

    visiting the hospital. Hospitals need us to go through all sorts of screening and test before

    administering the actual treatment, how can we afford that?¡± Ning Ran exined her logic. I just have

    to be a ¡®doctor¡¯ to figure things out myself. Believe me; I might be more skillful than some other

    doctors in big hospitals!¡± She said while smiling at Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen¡¯s anger was suddenly ovee by an inexplicable feeling, when he realized that many

    people actually did not go to the hospital when they were sick.

    And they chose not to go, not because it was a nuisance, but rather because they had no money.

    It must have been hard on her. Nan Chen thought.

    The light from the streemp in the tiny neighborhood shone on Ning Ran¡¯s face. She looked as

    beautiful as a flower that was waiting to bloom in the middle of the night.

    ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡± Ning Ran asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°I do.¡± Nan Chen for once answered truthfully.

    ¡®I¡¯m not trying to win your sympathy. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any problem with it. My children still grew up

    healthily and happily.¡± Ning Ran said with pride.

    ¡°It would be even better if they enter the Nan family.¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran instantly became alert, ¡°You¡¯re not here to snatch my kids away, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    ¡°No I¡¯m not.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Good. Because I¡¯ll kill you if you do.¡± Ning Ran rubbed her fists and was ready to throw a punch.

    ¡°If I¡¯m willing to marry you, would you say yes?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ve told you before, I will not marry you.¡± Ning Ran said.

    Nan Chen felt strange. Why wouldn¡¯t she say yes when she had always wished to use her children to

    help her rise through the ranks?

    Had she really told Nan Xing she was not willing to marry into the Nan family?

    ¡°Why?¡± Nan Chen was curious.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you today? Haven¡¯t I told you?¡± Ning Ran was getting impatient.

    ¡°Since I¡¯m here today, I want to have a proper discussion with you.¡± Nan Chen tried to copy how Nan

    Xing spoke, and forced himself to speak proudly and frivolously.

    It was clearly a failure, but he did seem more rxed.

    ¡°Speak.¡± Ning Ran switched to a morefortable position to sit in.

    ¡°Our marriage.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to marry, and you know the reason why. I don¡¯t like you.¡±

    ¡°But with me, you can have a better life. The kids can have a better education and environment to grow

    up in. They will be outstanding individuals.¡±

    ¡°Am I married to you now?¡± Ning Ran straightened herself up and asked.

    Nan Chen was not sure why she had thrown the question at him, but he answered truthfully. ¡°Nope.¡±

    ¡°Are my kids outstanding?¡± Ning Ran asked again.

    Nan Chen was speechless, and did not know how to answer.

    The two children were outstanding, for sure. No one else would be worthy of this description.

    ¡°They¡¯re outstanding because they are gifted, but without a proper environment to further develop their

    potentials, they will eventually be ordinary.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Many of us in this world are ordinary folks. I just want them to live healthily, peacefully and happily. I

    don¡¯t really mind if they be ordinary one day.¡±

    Nan Chen was a little angry. This woman and her lowly mindset! It¡¯s fine if she wishes to be ordinary,

    but why would she want her children to go down the same path as well?

    What puzzled him the most was that she still refused to marry into the Nan family.

    Nan Chen always had the impression that Ning Ran would want to get into the Nan family, by hook or

    by crook. Now that she rejected the offer, he became more confused.

    Is she trying to put on airs and act like she doesn¡¯t care? She might not have said so, but deep in her

    heart, it could be her lifelong dream.

    ¡°Then what is your ideal type?¡± Nan Che changed the subject.

    ¡°What a meaningless subject. There¡¯s no ¡®standard¡¯ when ites to liking someone. It¡¯s not like

    buying products, when you have sizes and measurements for reference.¡± She said. ¡°You will know

    what you like about your other half when you fall in love. If you never had this feeling, how would you

    know what you like?¡± Ning Ran responded with another question.

    Nan Chen was once again dissed by this woman, but he could not agree more.

    Deep thoughts from a shallow-thinker. Nan Chen was impressed.

    ¡°Then what kind of person do you hate?¡± Nan Chen asked again.

    ¡°Ehm¡­ someone who is uncivilized and constantly full of themselves. Someone who doesn¡¯t know how

    to respect others.¡±

    Nan Chen thought to himself, aren¡¯t you this kind of person too?

    ¡°Are there such people around you?¡±

    ¡°Well, your brother is one of them, isn¡¯t it?¡± Ning Ran blurted out.

    She definitely hit the bulls¡¯ eye ¨C the bulls¡¯ eye that sparked Nan Chen¡¯s rage!

    Nan Chen reached his boiling point, and his lips trembled, but he decided to keep quiet.

    So in her opinion, he was uncivilized, constantly full of himself, and did not know how to respect

    others?

    What do you mean I¡¯m uncivilized? When have I been full of myself?

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? You¡¯re not happy because I talked bad about your brother?¡± Ning Ran rolled

    her eyes at Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen tried to rx, ¡°Nothing.¡±

    ¡°Oh yea, have you talked to your brother about this marriage proposal?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°He must have opposed strongly, right?¡± Ning Ran said with augh.

    ¡°How do you know?¡±

    ¡°Because he hates me!¡±

    ¡°Why would he hate you?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe because I hate him too.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Get out of the car now.¡± Nan Chen said in a cold voice.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°I asked you to get out!¡±

    ¡°Oh, so this is what brotherly love is all about huh? Someone got upset because I talked bad about his

    brother? So we¡¯re going to have a fallout now?

    Nan Chen soon realized that he was a little too emotional. It was a known fact that she hated him, so

    what was there to be angry about?

    ¡°What I meant was, it¡¯s gettingte. You should go home and rest.¡± Nan Chen tried his best to contain

    his anger and spoke gently.

    ¡°Are you alright? Does your stomach still hurt?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Nan Chen wanted to say ¡®thank you¡¯ but could not bring himself to do so.

    ¡°Okay, go home and don¡¯t evere here again. This ce is not for you. Please don¡¯t think of

    marrying me again. Just go and find yourself a pretty woman. I¡¯m leaving.¡± Ning Ran got down from the

    car and mmed the door. Nan Chen could not help but frown.

    A leopard never changes its spots. RUDE.

    ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to get married?¡± Nan Chen wanted her to confirm.

    ¡°You¡¯re very long-winded. No means no. I¡¯m not into you.¡± Ning Ran waved goodbye and went upstairs.

    Nan Chen sat alone in the car for some time, and drove off once his stomach felt slightly better.

    It was not his intention to pull a prank on Ning Ran when he impersonated Nan Xing.

    He was hoping to get to know her a little better as he took on another identity.

    Clearly, he failed. He could not understand her motifs.

    In the past, rumors that revolved around Ning Ran were mostly negative ¡ª how she was involved in

    complicated rtionships, how she would sleep with the directors to secure a role, and how she had

    led to her mother¡¯s death.

    But after getting to know her personally, Nan Chen felt that she might not be that evil, after all.

    She might be rude and was outgoing, but she did not seem like a wicked person.

    Nan Chen was confused. Did he think wrongly of her?

    But how can I be wrong?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 141

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 141

    Ning Ran went upstairs and Cheng Xiangyun asked suspiciously, ¡°Did you two have a great time?

    Where did you go?¡±

    ¡°We only stayed in the car.¡± Ning Ran answered casually.

    ¡°Oh my god! In the car? Aren¡¯t you afraid of peeping Toms? What a way to spice things up!¡± Cheng

    Xiangyun eximed.

    ¡°Why should we be afraid of others seeing us?¡± Ning Ran got confused.

    ¡°Okay you are right. Since you both are getting married soon anyways.¡±

    Ning Ran finally understood her words, ¡°Cheng, you and your filthy thoughts! It¡¯s not what you think. I

    just brought him some pills, and we talked for a while in the car, that¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t you think Master Xing doesn¡¯t seem quite like his usual self today?¡± Cheng Xiangyun asked

    with an enigmatic expression.

    ¡°His reaction seems to be a little slower today. Perhaps the spicy steamboat got into his head.¡± Ning

    Ran mocked.

    ¡°Master Xing normally doesn¡¯t look like this, because he¡¯s always fun and jolly. It just felt weird when he

    came in today.¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s imagination ran wild for a bit. Is he¡­nope, not possible. What¡¯s wrong with me¡­

    ¡°I guess as humans we do act differently at different times, nothing too unusual.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°You think so? He seemed more steady and down-to-earth tonight.¡± Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s words nted

    an idea in Ning Ran¡¯s mind. She took out her phone and called Nan Xing.

    Nan Xing had two numbers. No one answered the first number, so she continued dialing the second

    one.

    The phone rang but no one picked up. She called again and finally someone answered, ¡°Hello?¡±

    ¡°Where are you?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m still driving. I just left Ms. Cheng¡¯s neighborhood, remember?¡±

    Ning Ran was relieved to hear that, ¡°Does your stomach still hurt?¡±

    ¡°The pills you gave are very effective. I feel better now.¡± He said.

    ¡°Alright. Go home and rest then.¡± Ning Ran then ended the call.

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Nan Xing suddenly called back and said, ¡°Oh yes, I found a new school for the children. I will send

    them to school tomorrow.¡±

    Before Ning Ran could say anything, Nan Xing had already hung up.

    It was the ssic ¡®I¡¯m just informing you, no negotiation¡¯ attitude.

    This does not seem like Nan Xing¡¯s style of doing things. Since when did he learn to be so

    domineering? Or¡­ is this the real him?

    Ning Ran entered the children¡¯s room. Dabao was watching Erbao as she was doing sit ups.

    Erbao ate a little too much and needed to exercise to stay in a good shape.

    ¡°Nan Xing called. He had contacted the new school, and wille fetch you tomorrow.¡±

    Erhao shouted with joy, ¡°Oh yes! We can finally go to school again!¡±

    ¡°Who called? Daddy or Uncle?¡± Dabao suddenly asked.

    ¡°Nan Xing did. Why do you ask?¡± Ning Ran was puzzled.

    ¡°Nothing.¡± Dabao nearly blurted out ¡®that was not daddy, that was Uncle¡¯, but he had promised Nan

    Chen to keep this a secret.

    Though he could not understand why Uncle would put on a pair of white suit to impersonate his daddy,

    he felt that Uncle had no ill intentions and decided to y along.

    ¡°Are you hiding something from me?¡± Ning Ran asked suspiciously.

    No matter how smart Dabao was, Ning Ran could tell whether he was hiding something. Dabao was

    her son, after all.

    ¡°Nope.¡± Dabao denied quickly.

    ¡°You sure?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Not hiding anything from you.¡± Dabao shook his head vigorously.

    In his heart, he was trying to convince himself that he was not lying to his mother. The mastermind

    behind this is Uncle, not me!

    ¡°Alright then. Clean yourselves up. It¡¯s time for bed. You have to go to school early tomorrow.¡±

    ¡­¡­

    On the next day, Nan Chen drove to Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s neighborhood, and used the phone Nan Xing

    left at home to call Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran checked the time and thought it was still early.

    ¡°The kids haven¡¯t taken their breakfast. Wait for a while.¡±

    Nan Chen looked at his watch. Indeed, he arrived a little too early.

    He got down from his car and walked upstairs.

    Ning Ran opened the door, ¡°Why did youe up? I thought I asked you to wait downstairs.¡±

    Nan Chen could not answer her but he was definitely not pleased with her reaction.

    He had never waited for anyone in his life, yet he was reprimanded in such a manner.

    ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Ning asked casually.

    ¡°Nope.¡±

    ¡°Come and grab a bite.¡±

    Ning Ran had made noodles and poached eggs for breakfast.

    Just right after Nan Chen sat down, Ning Ran said, ¡°I don¡¯t think you should eat. I didn¡¯t prepare extra.

    Go get your own breakfastter.¡±

    Nan Xing pointed at a bowl, ¡°How about this?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s mine.¡± Ning Ran said.

    That answer did not stop Nan Xing from bringing the bowl over to his side.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? I said it¡¯s mine! You did not say that you wanted to have breakfast ay my

    ce, and now you¡¯re stealing my food?¡± Ning Ran yelled.

    Nan Chen ignored her, kept his head down and enjoyed the food.

    This woman might be useless, but she seems to have a knack for cooking noodles.

    ¡°Mum, you can have mine.¡± Dabao said gently.

    He knew the man in front of him was Uncle, again. He could easily differentiate his daddy from Uncle.

    Dabao could tell the difference by looking into their eyes. He could understand a lot of things just by

    exchanging nces with Uncle ¡ª no words were needed ¡ª but it was not the case with daddy.

    Seeing her child willingly giving up his food for her, Ning Ran decided to put the matter to rest. She

    rolled her eyes at Nan Chen, steamed a mantou and grabbed a ss of milk. She sat beside them and

    had her breakfast.

    Nan Chen remained unbothered and enjoyed his breakfast.

    I did not expect noodles as simple as this to taste so good.

    ¡°Is it nice, daddy?¡± Erbao went up front and asked.

    Nan Chen nodded his head, ¡°It¡¯s delicious.¡±

    ¡°Do you want mummy to make this for you everyday?¡± Erbao asked in an innocent voice.

    Nan Chen was stunned for a while, and looked at Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran¡¯s mouth was stuffed with a mantou. She stared at him and said, ¡°You wish!¡±

    Nan Chen did not retaliate but continued to enjoy the noodles.

    I will lose my appetite if you¡¯re going to make me the same old noodles everyday. What is there to be

    proud of, seriously?

    Yet, Nan Chen ate the noodles to the veryst strand, and even finished drinking the soup.

    He was very reserved in drinking the soup. Instead of gobbling down the entire bowl, he did it

    gracefully, one spoon after another.

    It was as if he was drinking a bowl of ginseng soup, not the soup from the noodles.

    Ning Ran watched him and frowned. Rich people are inherently pretentious. It¡¯s tiring watching him ¡®sip¡¯

    the soup from his bowl.

    ¡°Can you please hurry? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to spend the entire morning drinking the soup. I want

    to clean the bowl before leaving. If not, you stay back and clean the bowl yourself!¡± Ning Ran stood

    beside Nan Chen and gave him a lecture.

    Nan Chen immediately put down his bowl. How would he know how to do this chore?

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to drink anymore.¡±

    ¡°Finish it. You want to treat it like ginseng soup, right? If you don¡¯t finish this, you will have to wash the

    bowl yourself. Stop being so pretentious!¡± Ning Ran scolded.

    To drink or not to drink? Nan Chen had a tough choice to make.

    So this is how living under one roof with the house owner and to be subservient to one feels like¡­

    ¡°Mummy, stop torturing unc¡­ daddy anymore. I¡¯ll wash the dishes.¡± Dabao stepped in to break the

    tension.

    Nan Chen looked at Dabao gratefully, and Dabao responded with a wink on his left eye. Nan Chen

    read the signal and reciprocated.

    Ning Ran was puzzled when she saw the two winking at each other. What were these guys doing?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 142

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 142

    The new school was also a preschool under the Nanshi Corporation.

    Nan Chen, d in a white suit, took a nce at Ning Ran from the rear-view mirror. He felt

    aplished because she did not realize that he was Nan Chen. To him, this was a sweet revenge.

    Nan Chen never thought that he would have this kind of feeling. As someone who had arge breadth

    of mind, he wouldn¡¯t even be bothered by all these insignificant matters. But this woman changed

    everything.

    ¡°I love it when daddy sends us to school.¡± Erbao said happily.

    Ning Ran remained silent. She did not like it.

    ¡°Daddy has his own work. He doesn¡¯t need to do this everyday.¡± Dabao said thoughtfully.

    Though Dabao still did not understand why Uncle would impersonate daddy, he knew Uncle was a

    busy man.

    Uncle had more important things to do. He could not be sending them to school on a daily basis.

    Nan Chen looked at Dabao, and thought this boy was definitely to his liking.

    ¡°We¡¯ve never asked for his help. He wanted to himself.¡± Ning Ran was not impressed.

    Nan Chen was not bothered by her remark. She is right; I did it out of my own will.

    Upon receiving the news that the young masters wereing, the principal, teachers and pupils had

    gathered at the entrance early this morning to wee them.

    Nan Chen got down from the car, and the principal ran forward to greet him.

    Nan Chen did not expect to see all this, and was not pleased with this kind of special arrangement.

    Schools were established for education purposes, not arenas to gain mileage. Nan Chen hated it when

    they were used for the wrong cause.

    Teachers should also be good at educating the younger generation, not trying to please people of

    higher ranks.

    This was why he remained cold throughout the process, but he did respectfully nod his head to greet

    the teachers.

    ¡°These two kids are just like any of the other pupils here. They should receive the same treatment.¡±

    ¡°Yes, we will take note of that, Master Xing.¡± The principal responded.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Nan Chen nodded his head, and waved at the two children.

    ¡°Bye daddy, bye mummy.¡± Erbao was always the livelier one.

    Ning Ran waved them goodbye, and was ready to cross the road and hail a cab to get to the filming

    location.

    ¡°I¡¯ll send you there.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to if you¡¯re busy. I can call a cab.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not.¡±

    Ning Ran got into the car without saying anything.

    Nan Chen thought, I suppose she would beughing and talking non-stop if Nan Xing were here?

    So what should I say?

    ¡°How¡¯s your acting job?¡± Nan Chen did not know what else to ask.

    ¡°I¡¯ve stopped working for some time but got a call from a directorst night. They¡¯ve found an actress to

    rece Luo Fei. So it¡¯s going to be my first day at work today.¡± Ning Ran replied.

    Nan Chen was not good at continuing conversations, and he did not know what to say after that.

    Very soon, he realized that he was not doing it right, and proceeded to another question.

    ¡°Luo Fei has already shot many scenes, right? Those scenes can¡¯t be used anymore.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s for the best anyways. Her acting sucks. Out of all the cast members, her acting was the worst. It

    will just lower the quality of the production.¡±

    ¡°Really? I was told that she¡¯s your younger sister? Is that true?¡±

    Ning Ran perked up rmingly. ¡°Where did you hear this from?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t remember but it¡¯s something I heard from somewhere. Is it not true?¡± Nan Chen thought to

    himself, this woman must have had done something really bad to the extent that she was too guilty to

    admit this rtionship they had.

    ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± Ning Ran did not deny, surprisingly.

    ¡°Then why does there seem to be so much tension between the two of you?¡±

    ¡°Because she¡¯s bad.¡±

    Nan Chen thought, the two sisters had badmouthed each other all this while, but who exactly was the

    bad person? Or were they both just as evil?

    ¡°Has she hurt you before?¡±

    Ning Ran leaned back against the chair, ¡°Let bygones be bygones. I don¡¯t want to talk about it

    anymore. She has already been punished for what she had done.¡±

    ¡°The crewmembers didn¡¯t actually seem to have a bad impression of her though.¡± Nan Chen carefully

    noted.

    ¡°Of course! She¡¯s Nan Chen¡¯s girlfriend. Who dares to offend her? She has Nan Chen on her side, of

    course she could do what she wanted to! It¡¯s funny how Nan Chen still supports her blindly, despite her

    bad acting.¡± Ning Ran let out a smirk.

    You¡¯re the blind one! Her remark pissed Nan Chen off.

    ¡°My brother did so because of the interest of his business. He¡¯s not as bad as you thought. He

    managed the Nanshi Corporation very well!¡± Nan Chen felt awkward after praising himself.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about your family, but I know that he¡¯s a blur person who cannot tell right from

    wrong. To him, humans are just ants, and he is God. Sometimes I¡¯m blown away by his narcissism!¡±

    Ning Ran said disdainfully.

    Nan Chen was so mad; he stepped on the elerator and sped off. Just as he was about the hit the

    cab in front, he immediately stepped on the brakes.

    These movements had thrown Ning Ran back and forth on the passenger seat, causing her to look

    disheveled.

    ¡°Do you even know how to drive?!¡± Ning Ran reprimanded.

    ¡°Come and take over if you¡¯re so smart!¡± Nan Chen could not hold back his anger.

    ¡°You offered to send me when I was about to get a cab!¡±

    ¡°You ungrateful woman! Do you want me to kick you out of the production? I have the power to do that,

    you know!¡± Nan Chen exploded. He had enough of her nonsense.

    ¡°Oh, someone has finally learned to get angry, huh? Go ahead, give it a shot! Luo Fei is useless now,

    and the crew depends on me!¡± Ning Ran eximed. ¡°You get rid of me, and the production will be

    a failed project. Therge amount of money invested will bepletely wasted. You want to try me?¡±

    Ning Ran let out a coldugh.

    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Nan Chen was totally infuriated by Ning Ran¡¯s attitude.

    How can a lowly person ridiculously takes pride in her so-called ¡®threat¡¯! Just look at her!

    What made him even angrier was that she was absolutely right.

    We can¡¯t fire her for sure, or else all our effort would be in vain!

    ¡°You¡¯re not the only actress in the entire Chinese region! Don¡¯t you dare to be so arrogant!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not, you¡¯re the one who threatens to fire me! Hah, just when I thought you were different from your

    brother ¨C in a way, you are slightly cuter than him ¨C but you two are exactly the same!¡± Ning Ran

    mocked. ¡°Oh yeah, you¡¯re twins, that¡¯s why. Same level of stupidity!¡± She continued.

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Nan Chen hollered.

    It was at this point Ning Ran realized she had gone overboard. She could feel the man¡¯s wrath slowly

    overwhelming the car.

    And she was still stuck inside. It would be a disadvantage for her if he decided to run amok and

    strangle her!

    Moreover, she would still need to deal with him when she fought for the custody of her children in the

    future.

    I have to think of ways to pull Nan Xing over to my side. How can I, a woman, deal with two powerful

    men? It would be a lost cause for me!

    At this point, Ning Ran decided to soften her approach.

    ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m just kidding, please don¡¯t take it seriously. You¡¯re not stupid. Your brother is. You¡¯re way

    smarter and more handsome than him. He may havee into this world a few minutes earlier than

    you, but you¡¯re more capable in all aspects of life!¡± Ning Ran thought that this might help end the

    argument.

    But it was a failed attempt, as she soon realized that the intensity of shear fury on his face had

    doubled.

    Looks like he is not easily coaxed.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 143

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 143

    Ning Ran noticed a problem ¨C the man before her did not only just hate others talking bad about him.

    He got equally angry when someone said nasty things about his brother too.

    I guess it made sense. They¡¯re twin brothers, after all. If they look alike, they might think alike as well. I

    might have to change my strategy again!

    ¡°Nan Xing, actually both of you are equally good. In terms of looks, you two are the most good-looking

    men in Flower City.¡± Ning Ran changed her tone. ¡°And as for your family background, what else can I

    say? The Nan family is the wealthiest in Flower City. Speaking of talents, Nan Chen chose me to y

    that character, and gave me additional scenes. This shows that he has good taste¡­¡± Ning Ran paused

    for a moment.

    She saw a pair of eyes ring fiercely at her direction once again.

    Who is this woman praising? She¡¯s literally just praising herself!

    Ning Ran could not help butugh. ¡°Haha! I just feel like praising myself, don¡¯t mind me. The most

    important point here is, you two brothers are the best, cr¨¨me de cr¨¨me!¡±

    Nan Xing frowned. This woman is cunning. That¡¯s the nature of a vixen, indeed!

    Ning Ran observed, and soon learned that men would be less hostile when someone stroked at

    their ego. Clearly it was effective in this instance.

    ¡°Do you mean what you just said?¡± Nan Chen toned down his voice.

    ¡°Yes, you two are the best.¡± Ning Ran responded with a sincere look.

    Nan Chen was puzzled. She clearly is lying but how on earth did she manage to make it believable?

    Are all actors like this, or is it just her?

    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you marry me?¡± Nan Chen asked nonchntly.

    It was a tricky question that caused Ning Ran to be speechless.

    Yeah, since he¡¯s so good, why don¡¯t you marry him?

    ¡°This¡­ marrying someone has nothing to do with how nice a person is.¡± Ning Ran could barely provide

    a convincing answer.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t necessarily need to marry the person if he is nice. Likewise, if he is bad, it doesn¡¯t mean I

    should not marry him. It¡¯s all about fate.¡±

    ¡°We already have two kids together, and you¡¯re trying to find ¡®fate¡¯ elsewhere?¡± He went straight to the

    point.

    Ning Ran was lost for words once again.

    ¡°It was an ident. The children were an ident.¡± Ning Ran was starting to feel a little helpless.

    ¡°ident? Even if it really was an ident, we still need to take responsibility for it.¡±

    To Nan Chen¡¯s understanding, the so-called ¡®ident¡¯ was all irresponsibly caused by her debauched

    self-back then.

    But the ident Ning Ran was referring to, was the arrangement orchestrated by Luo Fei.

    ¡°I gave birth to them, and they¡¯re my responsibility. I¡¯m well aware of that.¡± Ning Ran began to feel

    annoyed.

    Nan Chen, for once, concurred with her. True, it must have been hard on her.

    ¡°Are you really not interested in the Nan family¡¯s wealth?¡± Nan Chen asked a more serious question.

    ¡°Of course I am, I¡¯m only human, of course I am interested in money. Otherwise, why would I work?¡±

    Ning Ran answered honestly.

    Nan Chen thought to himself, she has finally revealed her true self.

    ¡°So what are your thoughts, exactly?¡± Nan Chen asked further.

    ¡°In a rich family, too many things are at stake. You and I are from two different worlds. Marrying you will

    not bring me happiness.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°You want to marry me because of the kids. It may seem fun at first but you might lose interest in this

    kind of marriage.¡± She exined. ¡°And your family will despise me. When you¡¯re still on my side, I can

    fend for myself. But once you¡¯ve kicked me to the curb, I¡¯ll just be a total outsider. When this happens,

    my life will plunge into darkness. I will be humiliated, sidelined and lose my position in the family.¡± Ning

    Ran continued.

    ¡°You¡¯re rich, and you can always find someone younger and prettier after this, but I can¡¯t. I will be

    sidelined, and lose everything I have ¨C especially my kids ¨C and live a miserable life from then on.¡±

    Ning Ran shared her concerns in a calm voice, but Nan Chen was shocked to hear this.

    What is wrong with this woman? Why would she think of everything bad about a marriage in the first

    ce? Did she watch too many dramas on the ¡®Battles in the Imperial Harem¡¯?

    Nan Chen let out a sardonicugh, but did not say anything.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    It was clear he disagreed with what Ning Ran said, but did not want to refute her.

    ¡°You don¡¯t agree with me?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°You made the Nan family sound like hell. That¡¯s not the case.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s hell or not, but I¡¯m not interested to marry into the Nan family.¡±

    Nan Chen did not speak, but deep in his heart, he was still trying to figure out the truths and lies in her

    words.

    Did she actually give birth to the children because she wanted to, and not because she wanted to use

    them to her advantage?

    But isn¡¯t she the kind of person who would do nasty things to her own mother, and get rid of any

    obstacles that would stop her from reaching her goals?

    Is she still pretending?

    If she has no intention of marrying into the Nan family, then there must be other ulterior motives.

    I cannot allow that to happen! We¡¯ll have to get Nan Xing to marry her and get hold of the children, to

    stop her from carrying out whatever evil scheme she has in mind.

    Nan Chen made up his mind. He wanted Nan Xing and Ning Ran to get married.

    After dropping Ning Ran off at the filming location, Nan Chen did not walk her in but drove off right

    away.

    He needed to be on time for an important meeting.

    Ning Ran walked into the site, and saw a group of people gathering around someone.

    It was not the director, but the new actress they had hired to rece Luo Fei for the supporting

    character.

    ¡°Ms. Ding is here.¡± Someone from the crew saw Ning Raning.

    The new actress with a pretty face turned around. Her name was Tang Jing, who had started off as a

    child actress. She hadpleted her studies in acting at the Beijing Film Academy, and was now a

    postgraduate student.

    This actress, who was not only pretty but also highly educated, was very selective of the film projects

    she undertook.

    The crew must have had put in a lot of effort to get her into the project. Of course, this included

    spending a lot of money.

    ¡°Are you Ms. Ding? Hello, I¡¯m Tang Jing, nice to meet you.¡± The highly educated celebrity walked over

    and extended her smooth and slender hand to greet Ning Ran with a handshake.

    Ning Ran did not expect her to be so friendly, and she smiled. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Ding Mi.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s my pleasure to meet you.¡±

    The director came forward, ¡°Great, now the lead and supporting actresses are here. We can finally

    continue with filming. You two are skillful actresses, and with your participation in the project, this

    drama series is definitely going to be a hit.¡±

    ¡°I still have a lot to learn from Ms. Ding.¡± Tang Jing said modestly.

    ¡°You have gone through formal training in acting, so I should be learning from you instead.¡± Ning Ran

    responded humbly as well.

    ¡°Look, two humble actresses. Well, learn from each other, and we¡¯ll grow as a team. I¡¯m sure we will do

    well and turn this production into a ssic masterpiece.¡± Wang Yan said with joy.

    The atmosphere at the filming location was pleasant, and this put Ning Ran in a good mood.

    Tang Jing¡¯s impressive acting skills had also made the filming of their first scene an enjoyable process

    for Ning Ran.

    When two talented people met, they would inspire each other to push their limits. And this had brought

    them each to the next level.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 144

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 144

    At the Commoner Residence of the Nan Family at 7:00 p.m.

    Nan Zhengde was d to hear that Nan Chen, who was extremely busy, had decided toe home

    for dinner so Nan Zhengde had the maid pick a good bottle of wine from the wine cer so Nan Chen

    could have some.

    Nan Chen had been busy the whole day and wanted to have a drink too. ¡°Grandpa,¡± said Nan Chen

    grimly as he set his bowl and chopsticks down, ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯d like to discuss with you.¡±

    The Nan Family didn¡¯t have a rule that forbade anyone from talking during meals, but they were

    required to put their chopsticks down and were banned from talking with their mouths full.

    ¡°I knew you didn¡¯te home just for me. Go ahead, tell me what you want.¡±

    ¡°Can I throw a huge wedding party for the Nan Family?¡± asked Nan Chen, ¡°A sophisticated and upscale

    party. I want it to make it big since the Nan Family had not had a celebration in a while.¡±

    ¡°Yes, of course,¡± Nan Zhengde was instantly delighted, ¡°Are you marrying someone? Is it that actress

    named Luo?¡±

    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Nan Zhengde didn¡¯t really want his grandson to marry a third-rated actress, but Nan Chen was never

    close to any other women so if his wife had to be an actress, then so be it. It¡¯s better than not marrying

    at all.

    ¡°No,¡± said Nan Chen as he shook his head.

    ¡°Not that actress? Then who are you marrying?¡± asked the intrigued Nan Zhengde, ¡°Why haven¡¯t I

    heard anything about it?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not the one getting married. Nan Xing is. He is my only brother and I want his wedding to be grand,

    maybe even be one of the grandest events of the decade,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°Huh? Nan Xing¡¯s the one getting married?¡± said Nan Zhengde who was a little disappointed, ¡°Oh, I

    thought you wanted to get married.¡±

    They were both his grandsons so why was Nan Zhengde disappointed?

    Well, the reason was simple. It was easy for Nan Xing to get married because he had plenty of women

    circling around him.

    If Nan Xing wanted, he could get married on a monthly basis. Hell, he could get married in the first

    week of the month then get divorced on thest week of the month before repeating.

    Women loved hanging around Nan Xing, and Nan Xing was a yboy who had never rejected anyone

    beautiful.

    Hence, it was not surprising to hear that a man like that wanted to get married.

    Nan Chen, on the other hand, had been a female repent. The female socialites who wanted to get

    close to him had all been rejected, and could only admire him from afar.

    As for the actress named Luo, Nan Zhengde had looked into the matter and realized that she never

    spent the night with Nan Chen so she was only his girlfriend by reputation.

    That was why Nan Zhengde was not worried about Nan Xing but was worried about Nan Chen.

    When he thought that Nan Chen was the one getting married, he was over the moon, but when he

    heard it was Nan Xing, he wasn¡¯t as happy anymore.

    ¡°Grandpa, Nan Xing getting married is also good news,¡± said Nan Chen who noticed the change in his

    grandfather¡¯s expression, ¡°You should be happy.¡±

    ¡°I am happy, really happy,¡± said Nan Zhengde.

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll be in charge of the wedding. I¡¯ll pick a couple of experts to form a wedding nning group

    and have them prepare for the wedding of the century!¡±

    Nan Zhengde nodded immediately, ¡°Okay. I¡¯ve always been confident in your work.¡±

    ¡°Do you have any suggestions, grandpa?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ I¡¯ve been to lots of weddings, and it¡¯s easy to make a wedding look majestic. We only need to

    spend the money.¡± ¡°However, I think that it¡¯s not wise to do so because the Nan Family¡¯s reputation is

    already great, and we don¡¯t need a wedding to demonstrate our strength.¡±

    ¡°That is why I think it is best to make it ssy without being overly majestic. It¡¯s best if it could also be

    meaningful and stylish.¡± ¡°You know what I mean, don¡¯t you? It¡¯s like your status in Flower City. You kept

    a low profile and never made an entrance, but everyone knows and respects you.¡±

    ¡°That is the type of effect I want for this wedding,¡± said Nan Zhengde, ¡°It¡¯s difficult to achieve it, but I

    think you can manage it.¡±

    ¡°I understand, grandpa,¡± said Nan Chen as he nodded.

    ¡°I knew you¡¯d understand. You¡¯ve always been a special kid and had always able to understand what I

    say, even when you were a kid.¡±

    ¡°I wanted to have a ne fly by the wedding venue and throw down some balloons, but since grandpa

    wanted it to keep it ssy, I¡¯ll change the n.¡±

    ¡°You can keep that!¡± said Nan Zhengde whose eyes glowed in excitement.

    Nan Chen was stunned. Didn¡¯t he just say that he wanted to keep a low profile?

    ¡°This is a great idea, but I¡¯d like to add something.¡±

    Nan Zhengde suddenly became so excited as though the vigor from his younger days had returned to

    him.

    ¡°Please do rify, grandpa.¡±

    ¡°I think it¡¯s too tame to have some helicopters let out some balloons. We can go bigger.¡±

    ¡°Really?

    ¡°Find an empty field and have Nan Xing¡¯s bride wait for him there with her wedding gown on.¡± ¡°Then,

    have ten helicopters work as a team to have the balloons thrown out of them.¡± ¡°Next, have one of the

    helicoptersnd on the field and have Nan Xing get off the ne like a prince. He will take the bride¡¯s

    hand and they will get on the ne together.¡± ¡°Lastly, the bride and the groom will take off to the sky

    with everyone stared at them enviously.¡±

    ¡°Won¡¯t it be amazing if, at the wedding reception, the bride and the groom also arrived via the

    helicopter? The groom would hold the bride¡¯s hand, and theirpatibility and beauty would put

    everyone in awe.¡±

    Nan Zhengde got more and more excited as he spoke, and his eyes shone as if he was the one getting

    married.

    Nan Chen was also picturing what his grandfather had said in his mind and liked that idea.

    For a moment there, he thought it¡¯d be pretty awesome if he was the one on the ne.

    Nan Chen had to travel a lot for his work so he had traveled quite a few times via a helicopter,

    sometimes even via a private ne.

    However, he had never experienced what it was like to get on a ne with a bride and wanted to give it

    a try.

    ¡°You don¡¯t like it?¡±

    Nan Zhengde was having so much fun talking about it that he had just realized that Nan Chen was lost

    in his own thoughts.

    ¡°Oh, not at all. I think your ideas are great, grandpa, but didn¡¯t you say you wanted to keep a low

    profile? What you described wasn¡¯t a low profile.¡±

    Nan Zhengdeughed at that. ¡°Yeah, I was having too much fun and didn¡¯t think about whether it was

    ssy.¡± ¡°Although, using a couple of helicopters isn¡¯t that high profile.¡± ¡°If someday you decide to get

    married, I¡¯ll make the call personally and have a hundred nes fly over the sky of Flower City. Now,

    THAT is high profile. Hahaha¡­¡±

    Nan Zhengde had really gone to his happy ce and was talking nonstop.

    Nan Chen was d to see his grandfather that happy.

    ¡°Alright then,¡± agreed Nan Chen as he nodded, ¡°We¡¯ll do as you instructed.¡±

    ¡°Okay, and you can talk to me about any more of those details,¡± said Nan Zhengde who was still

    excited, ¡°I¡¯ve got plenty of ideas!¡±

    Nan Zhengde felt like he was the super nner, and he was about to n the best wedding.

    ¡°There¡¯s one other thing I¡¯d like to discuss with you, grandpa.¡±

    ¡°Go ahead¡±

    ¡°I want to go to Tokyo,¡± said Nan Chen whose voice had turned much softer.

    Nan Zhengde¡¯s smiling face died down immediately after, and the happiness in his eyes was mostly

    gone.

    ¡°You want to bring them back for Nan Xing¡¯s wedding?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± said Nan Chen in a low voice, ¡°Regardless of what they had done, they are still our parents and

    that is a fact that cannot be changed.¡±

    ¡°Nan Chen, the fact that they almost brought disaster into the Nan Family was also something that

    cannot be changed.¡± Nan Zhengde wasn¡¯t happy about that.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 145

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 145

    Nan Chen was quiet. He had thought long and hard before asking for this.

    He knew that his grandfather would be upset, and would reject that suggestion, but he must voice up

    because he was the son, and there were some things that he must do. After all, the two people who

    had made a grave mistake and been exiled to Tokyo were his parents.

    That was something that could not be changed so Nan Chen decided to ask for his grandfather¡¯s

    approval. He had expected his grandfather to deny his request, but hearing it still made him a little sad.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I understand what you want to say, grandpa,¡± said Nan Chen as he stood up. ¡°Don¡¯t be sad,

    Nan Chen,¡± said Nan Zhengde who didn¡¯t want to see his grandson so disappointed either.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sad. I know their mistakes were irredeemable.¡±

    ¡°Let me think about it. As you know, the Nan Family may be the head of the Nanshi Corporation, but

    there are other shareholders too.¡± ¡°All those years ago, Nanshi Corporation was in hot waters, and I

    asked everyone to lend us their financial support so that we could make it through those tough times.

    Their condition for helping us was that those two were not allowed to return ever again.¡± Nan Zhengde

    was sad when he thought about that past.

    ¡°I know that wasn¡¯t fair for the two of you, so I retired early and gave you the corporation. I did so to

    train you, and to make up for what I owe you and your brother.¡± ¡°Fortunately, you are strong. You

    managed the corporation better than I ever could and restored the glory of the Nan Family.¡±

    ¡°I want to give you permission to bring your parents back too, but I have to think about the other

    shareholders. We can¡¯t have them think that we¡¯re dishonest,¡± said Nan Zhengde with a heavy heart.

    He was genuine and didn¡¯t look like he was trying to trick Nan Chen.

    ¡°I understand,¡± said Nan Chen as he nodded, ¡°No matter what you decide, grandpa, I will be there for

    you.¡±

    ¡°Good, Nan Chen,¡± said Nan Zhengde, ¡°You are the pride and joy of the Nan Family and me.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave now, grandpa.¡±

    After returning to his room, Nan Chen put on his sportswear and went to the gym.

    He had been busy the whole day and didn¡¯t have the chance to exercise so he wanted to make up for

    it. Exercising every day was crucial to Nan Chen because that is how he kept his physique and stayed

    healthy.

    One hourter, Nan Chen exited the gym while dripping with sweat.

    After showering, he put on his tracksuits and went to the study room where he turned on the facilities

    on the wall with a remote to take a call from Nan Xing.

    ¡°Hey there, big brother. I¡¯ve been working hard today, and had not flirted with anyone.¡± The first thing

    that Nan Xing had to say was that he had been good.

    ¡°I want to talk to you about your wedding,¡± said Nan Chen, ¡°What style would you like? Eastern?

    Western? Or something mixed?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± said Nan Xing who thought he had heard wrong.

    ¡°I said, I¡¯m prepping for your wedding,¡± repeated Nan Chen, ¡°It¡¯ll be grand.¡±

    ¡°Wow! You want me to get married? With who?¡±

    ¡°Who do you think?¡± said Nan Chen as he frowned, ¡°Who have you wanted to marry?¡±

    ¡°Ding Mi, of course.¡±

    ¡°Her name is Ning Ran. Ding Mi is just an alias.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not important. The important thing is that she is the mother of my kids,¡± said Nan Xing, ¡°You¡¯re

    not going to make me marry someone else, are you?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s your bride.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s amazing, brother!¡± shouted Nan Xing in delight, ¡°Why did you suddenly change your mind?

    Weren¡¯t you against us getting married?¡±

    ¡°If marrying her makes you and the kids happy, then I¡¯ll let you two get married.¡±

    ¡°Yes, 100% yes! Ding Mi is so beautiful, and the kids are so cute. We¡¯ll be such a wonderful family

    together!¡±

    Nan Chen started to picture Nan Xing and his family being happy.

    Nan Chen was weirded out by his actions that day. What is wrong with me? Why do I keep thinking

    about someone else¡¯s wedding?

    ¡°Are you jealous, brother?¡± joked Nan Xing.

    ¡°Do you think I¡¯d be jealous?¡± demanded Nan Chen, ¡°If you keep bullshitting like that, I won¡¯t let that

    woman marry into the family!¡±

    Nan Xing didn¡¯t know that Nan Chen would react that strongly to his joke so he quickly apologized.

    ¡°Sorry, sorry, it¡¯s my fault, brother. I was only kidding. Don¡¯t be so strict. You¡¯re scaring me.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like jokes like that,¡± said Nan Chen whose tone had be less harsh, ¡°Tell me then. What

    kind of wedding would you like?¡±

    ¡°Anything will do. I know I¡¯ll love whatever you n.¡±

    ¡°Then go register your names at any random office and have a family meal after that,¡± said Nan Chen

    coldly.

    ¡°That¡¯s not a wedding! The Nan Family is the most prestigious family in Flower City. The wedding of the

    young master should be glorious!¡± ¡°I want the best host in the country to be the emcee of my wedding,

    and I want to invite loads of celebrities. I also want the wedding to be streamed live and¡­¡±

    ¡°Stop. Are you getting married or putting on a show?¡± said Nan Chen who disagreed with all of Nan

    Xing¡¯s ideas, ¡°That is too much.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t all weddings nowadays a show? Even minor celebrities made such a big deal out of their

    weddings, why can¡¯t a young master like me do so?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because those are business transactions, not weddings! The expenses of their weddings are

    paid for by their sponsors, and they are paid for having those weddings. How could youpare

    yourself to them?¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡± refuted Nan Xing, ¡°If they can get sponsors, then so can I!¡±

    ¡°I mean that we don¡¯t need a wedding to make money nor do we need any sponsors,¡± exined Nan

    Chen as he shook his head, ¡°We¡¯re not here to throw a show or do a business. We¡¯re just having a

    wedding.¡±

    ¡°Okay then, I understands what you mean.¡±

    ¡°What do you understand?¡±

    ¡°That it¡¯ll just be a normal wedding.¡±

    ¡°Then would you like an Eastern-style wedding or a Western-style wedding?¡±

    ¡°Either is fine. They¡¯re not too different anyway since it¡¯s just a normal wedding.¡±

    It was obvious that Nan Xing still wanted to make the wedding big.

    ¡°How about this? You¡¯lle home tomorrow and discuss this matter with that woman. Then you can

    tell me your decision.¡±

    ¡°Really? I can go home tomorrow?¡± said Nan Xing happily, ¡°That¡¯s awesome!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll end our discussion here and talk more when you return.¡±

    ¡°No problem, I¡¯ll hang up now then.¡±

    ¡°Wait, there¡¯s one more thing,¡± said Nan Chen, ¡°Do you want those two to attend your wedding?¡±

    ¡°Which two?¡± asked Nan Xing who hadn¡¯t caught up yet.

    ¡°The ones living in Tokyo.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you mean mom and dad? I want them to be there, but aren¡¯t they banned from returning to the

    country? And I can¡¯t exactly have my wedding in Tokyo either.¡±

    ¡°Then go talk to grandpa and try to convince him to let those two return for the wedding.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t. Grandpa doesn¡¯t trust me. He trusts you so he might agree to it if you were the one asking, but

    if I were the one asking, he definitely won¡¯t agree to it.¡±

    ¡°Then forget about it,¡± said Nan Chen after deliberating a while.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    ¡°You should go talk to grandpa, brother. He¡¯ll listen to you.¡±

    ¡°I tried, but grandpa wasn¡¯t happy about it. You should try talking to him too. If that doesn¡¯t work then

    we¡¯ll let it go.¡±

    ¡°Okay then, I¡¯ll try to talk to him after I returned. Hopefully, he¡¯ll agree to it. If mom and dad coulde

    to my wedding, it¡¯d be perfect!¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 146

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 146

    The next day, Jiang Zhe sent a driver to Ning Ran¡¯s workce to fetch her and bring her to Nan Chen¡¯s

    office.

    Nan Chen was wearing a ck tuxedo in his office when Ning Ran opened the door and walked in. He

    was momentarily stunned.

    He had assumed Nan Xing¡¯s identity and had put on a white tuxedo to meet Ning Ran twice. Those

    interactions felt different from the one he was having at that time.

    The only consistency had been that sweet tangerine scent.

    Nan Chen had tried to run away from that scent for years, but he never seeded.

    Ning Ran scanned Nan Chen. For some reason, she found Nan Chen to be less distant that day.

    It must¡¯ve been my misconception. Ning Ran thought.

    Jiang Zhe was as polite as ever and asked, ¡°Please take a seat, Ms. Ding. Would you like tea or

    coffee?¡±

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t like either,¡± said Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran was stunned. I didn¡¯t even answer. How would you know if I like it?

    Or are you implying that I am not worthy of the coffee you serve?

    ¡°Coffee,¡± said Ning Ran, ¡°Tworge cups of coffee, please. I¡¯m parched.¡±

    Nan Chen was startled. So this is what the legendary saying ¡®drinking like a cow¡¯ meant. Tworge

    cups of coffee?

    Jiang Zhe was also bbergasted. Does she really want to drink so much coffee or was she just being

    angry?

    That being said, an employee of Nan Chen knew how to deal with it either way. He prepared a cup of

    coffee for Ning Ran and said, ¡°Please enjoy this coffee one cup at a time.¡±

    If you want more, I can refill it for you. That¡¯ll solve the problem!

    Nan Chen cleared his throat.

    ¡°Oh yes. Ms. Ding, we invite you over today to ask you about your wedding preferences. I am the

    person in charge of nning the wedding so if you have any requests, please do let me know.¡±

    Ning Ran had just taken a sip of coffee. Upon hearing that, she almost spat everything out.

    ¡°What wedding?¡±

    Jiang Zhe turned to Nan Chen as he thought Darn, the bride has no idea what¡¯s going on? Isn¡¯t that a

    little extreme?

    ¡°The wedding between you and Young Master Nan Xing, of course,¡± replied Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°Who said I¡¯m marrying him?¡±

    Jiang Zhe was terrified as he though Whoa! Your wedding has nothing to do with me. This is all Mr.

    Nan Chen¡¯s orders!

    ¡°I did,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°You said so?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡±

    ¡°As if you get to decide who I marry?¡± demanded Ning Ran angrily.

    ¡°Yes, I do,¡± said Nan Chen with a straight face.

    ¡°Who do you think you are? You¡¯re mistaken if you think that you get to decide who I marry!¡±

    ¡°No mistakes,¡± said Nan Chen frankly, ¡°It is my decision to make.¡±

    Ning Ran felt like she was going crazy with anger.

    Even if we do live in a feudal society, my wedding would still be managed by my parents, not you!

    ¡°I refuse to!¡±

    ¡°So you mean you have no preference? Alright then, they¡¯ll make all the decisions and arrangements,¡±

    said Nan Chen as he waved his hand, ¡°You may leave now.¡±

    ¡°That is not what I mean!¡± shouted Ning Ran, ¡°I meant I refuse to get married!¡±

    ¡°If you refuse to get married, I¡¯ll go to thewyer¡¯s office tomorrow and request for the custody of the

    children,¡± said Nan Chen harshly, ¡°The kids will move into the Nan Family while you are locked out.¡±

    There it is! The Killer Move!

    That was the real Nan Chen, the way he had always been.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I¡­¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t like the idea of Nan Xing marrying you either, but I have to think of the kids.¡± ¡°This is the one

    and only chance I will give you.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let you think about it. If you refuse to do as I say, if you leave

    this room, you will lose your children.¡±

    Nan Chen spoke slowly. He rarely spoke that much, and the words from his lips were like ice stakes ¨C

    cold, harsh, and deadly.

    Ning Ran felt the intense urge to kick that man, but she knew she couldn¡¯t.

    Ning Ran could only enjoy activities like kicking Nan Chen¡¯s butt in her mind because it was difficult

    and dangerous to carry it out in the real world.

    Hence, Ning Ran red at Nan Chen with her beautiful eyes and was kicking him in her mind.

    Nan Chen¡¯s sharp eyes returned the favor and red at Ning Ran.

    Their eyes met, and Ning Ran had to admit defeat immediately.

    She had no choice but to admit that she couldn¡¯t beat his aura.

    ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± said Ning Ran who was defeated.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen said that you won¡¯t be allowed that¡­¡± reminded Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°You shut your mouth!¡±

    Ning Ran shouted at Jiang Zhe instantly. She thought I may not be a match against Nan Chen, but I

    sure as hell can beat you!

    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± replied Jiang Zhe before he kept his mouth shut.

    ¡°I did say that you aren¡¯t allowed to leave,¡± said Nan Chen who then added, ¡°But you may weigh your

    options right here and now. I¡¯ll wait.¡±

    After Nan Chen finished speaking, he turned to his documents and acted like Ning Ran wasn¡¯t there.

    The office became quiet then with no one uttering a single word.

    Ning Ran started to think about what she could do.

    It was in to see that Nan Chen wasn¡¯t bluffing.

    Ning Ran refusing to get married would prompt Nan Chen¡¯s team ofwyers to take actions.

    Assuming that the judge would be fair and remain unaffected by the Nan Family¡¯s powers, Ning Ran

    would still lose from a financial point of view.

    After all, she was homeless and was living with her friend. No judge would let her keep her children

    under those circumstances.

    Moreover, the Nan Family¡¯s wealth was immense so she would still lose the case even if she was

    financially stable.

    Nan Chen could win the case easily and take the kids away anytime he wanted so she didn¡¯t really

    have a choice.

    The Poker Face knew that she didn¡¯t really have a choice so he didn¡¯t even bother giving her any time

    to find an excuse and made her think right then and there.

    He is such a bully! However, there was nothing Ning Ran could do.

    Jiang Zhe stood there and watched Ning Ran and Nan Chen interacting with one another.

    It was weird, but he found those two to be better suited for one another.

    When the two of them fought, they were strangely synchronized like they knew exactly what the other

    party¡¯s weaknesses were. If that wasn¡¯t a sign that they knew one another perfectly, what was?

    ¡°I agree with your terms,¡± said Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t look up because he had expected that answer.

    After all, that was the only choice he had given her. He would¡¯ve denied and declined everything else.

    ¡°Then do you have any requests for the wedding?¡± asked Jiang Zhe nicely.

    ¡°Yes,¡± said Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen frowned as he thought, This woman sure do change quickly. She was just fighting like there

    was no tomorrow a minute ago, and now she¡¯s actively nning the wedding.

    ¡°Please do rify.¡±

    Jiang Zhe fished out a notebook and was prepared to list everything down.

    ¡°First of all, I won¡¯t be signing any prenups.¡±

    Nan Chen looked up immediately. His eyes were shooting daggers when they looked at Ning Ran.

    That woman sure knows how to make a deal. Her very first request was that she won¡¯t be signing a

    prenup!

    Ning Ran¡¯s request was a bull¡¯s eyes to the heart of the problem.

    Almost every woman who was married into a wealthy family must sign a prenup. How dare she refuse

    it?

    The rtionships within a wealthy family had always beenplicated because it involved the

    distribution ofpany shares and power. Those shares, in turn, could influence thepany¡¯s actual

    performance and operations.

    Moreover, wealth was umted over a couple of generations so most families would,

    understandably, refuse to let an outsider barge in and im a portion of that wealth.

    That being said, the prenup won¡¯t affect the bride¡¯s ability to live a wealthy life so most women were

    willing to sign it. Yet, Ning Ran¡¯s condition was that she won¡¯t be signing it.

    How greedy can this woman be?

    One look at Nan Chen¡¯s face told Ning Ran that he won¡¯t agree to that term.

    That was what she wanted all along.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 147

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 147

    Jiang Zhe wasn¡¯t expecting a request like that from Ning Ran. He could not make big decision so he

    turned to Nan Chen and hoped that Nan Chen woulde up with a solution.

    As Nan Chen¡¯s personal assistant, Jiang Zhe knew all about the rules and practices of wealthy families.

    It was virtually impossible for Ning Ran to marry into the family without first signing a prenup.

    Most women dreamed of signing the prenup and marrying into the Nan Family.

    Ning Ran requesting to forgo that prenup meant that she was hitting the most sensitive subject, and

    Jiang Zhe felt like that wedding could no longer happen.

    ¡°What else?¡± Nan Chen made a surprise move and didn¡¯t deny Ning Ran¡¯s request because he realized

    that Ning Ran had deliberately made such a ridiculous demand to get out of getting married.

    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Nan Chen wanted to see what else that woman coulde up with.

    Nan Chen agreeing to that condition had also surprised Ning Ran.

    That Poker Face wants her to keep listing out her demands? What is going on?

    ¡°Ms. Ding, please continue,¡± said Jiang Zhe who to Ning Ran.

    ¡°Secondly¡­¡±

    Ning Ran was a little stuck. She thought that the first condition would make the Poker Face flip out, but

    he remained calm so she was a little lost and couldn¡¯t think of another request.

    ¡°What is the second request?¡± asked Jiang Zhe who looked like he was taking it seriously and was

    making notes.

    ¡°Well, secondly¡­¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s mind raced as she struggled toe up with a second demand. She must think of

    something that Nan Chen would never agree to!

    ¡°What is it?¡± said Nan Chen harshly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to waste my time here.¡±

    ¡°Secondly, we¡¯re not allowed to get divorced within 50 years. If we were ever divorced before that, I will

    be granted 60% of Nan Xing¡¯s wealth,¡± said Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen and Jiang Zhe were both stunned.

    What kind of request is that? Legally enforcing a 50-year marriage meant that it was for life!

    The marriagew of the country allowed their citizens to get married and divorced freely so they had

    never heard of legally enforcing a marriage for life!

    Everyone wished to have a longsting marriage, but no one ever legally demanded a lifetime¡¯s worth

    ofpanionship right at the beginning.

    That was absolutely unreasonable!

    Watching the shock on Jiang Zhe¡¯s and Nan Chen¡¯s face almost made Ning Ran smile.

    She knew that her requests were unreasonable, and she was proud to have thought of it.

    That¡¯s right. I¡¯m making demands that you guys couldn¡¯t possibly agree to. Hah! I¡¯d like to see how

    you¡¯re going to force me to get married now!

    ¡°Are you f*cking kidding? Is there even such a thing as a lifelong legal bond? What if someone

    cheated? Are they not allowed to get a divorce even then? And even if there was a divorce, you¡¯d still

    get more than half of his estate! Not even in your dreams!¡± shouted Nan Chen who was furious.

    Then, Nan Chen realized that he had been yed by the woman in front of him.

    No one would ever agree to the conditions she had listed out. She did it on purpose.

    ¡°You guys think about it for now. If you agree to my conditions, I¡¯ll get married. If not, we¡¯ll call off the

    wedding,¡± said Ning Ran who was ending the conversation while she was still ahead.

    ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it,¡± growled Nan Chen, ¡°The Nan Family will not allow that!¡±

    ¡°I know. I understand that the Nan family would not allow that kind of behavior. That was why I didn¡¯t

    want to get married,¡± said Ning Ran who was a little smug, ¡°If the Nan Family is willing to be more

    flexible and agree to my terms, I will consider getting married.¡±

    Nan Chen saw that little smugness from Ning Ran and became even angrier.

    ¡°You will pay for your disobedience,¡± said Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran sneered at that.

    He had threatened her way too many times. At that point, she was practically immune to it.

    ¡°Then can I leave now?¡± asked Ning Ran, ¡°We both needed time to weigh our options anyway so let¡¯s

    just dy the wedding for now.¡±

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t speak, but his face was fuming with anger.

    ¡°It¡¯s normal to take some time to think over huge milestones like getting married,¡± said Ning Ran as she

    stood up to exit the room, ¡°So let¡¯s just leave it for now.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s eyes were throwing daggers at Ning Ran as he watched her leave. Ning Ran felt a little

    cowardly then and didn¡¯t dare to look into his eyes.

    Ning Ran was sure that she had pushed all of Nan Chen¡¯s buttons that day, and she wasn¡¯t sure what

    was going to happen next so she was worried.

    Ning Ran could only rx after she had gotten out of Nan Chen¡¯s office.

    Every time she went into that office, she felt like she was taking a stroll in Hell and would die at any

    given minute.

    Just then, Ning Ran¡¯s phone rang. It was Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Get ready,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°Don¡¯t forget. You have a reunion party to go to today.¡±

    ¡°Reunion party?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Our ssmate told me about it two days ago and said that they are getting the old gang

    back together so I agreed to it.¡±

    ¡°But I never received any news,¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°We live together so if I¡¯m aware of it, you¡¯re aware of it. I promised them that you¡¯ll be there so you

    can¡¯t skip it.¡±

    ¡°That is so wrong, woman. I can¡¯t stop you from going to that reunion but why¡¯d you have to drag me

    into it? I hate gatherings like that. We haven¡¯t seen each other in years so there¡¯s nothing to talk about

    anyway,¡±ined Ning Ran, ¡°We¡¯d just be sitting there and act all awkward.¡±

    ¡°I am your manager. I¡¯m supposed to make some decisions on your behalf. You¡¯re an actress, and you

    need to be known. If you can¡¯t even get your ssmates to notice you, how are you going to get

    everyone else to do so?¡± said Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°I¡¯m doing this for you, you know?¡±

    ¡°I just think it¡¯s pointless so I didn¡¯t want to go. Since you already told them I¡¯d be there, I¡¯ll go, but if

    we¡¯re both going to that reunion, who will take care of the kids? I can¡¯t bring them to the reunion, can

    I?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve already made all the necessary arrangements. I called Jiang Zhe, and he will have someone take

    the kids to the Nan Family,¡± exined Cheng Xiangyun.

    Ning Ran was so angry that she almost lost it. That traitorous Cheng Xiangyun! How could she not

    discuss this with me before nning like that?

    ¡°I just had an argument with the Poker Face! How could you get his assistant to go pick up the kids?¡±

    ¡°Huh? You two are arguing again? I didn¡¯t know that. The kids are family though so regardless of what

    you did to the Nan Family, they will still be nice to the kids,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun to calm Ning Ran

    down.

    ¡°This is so frustrating. Why didn¡¯t you inform me about it beforehand?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m telling you now, aren¡¯t I?¡± said Cheng Xiangyun who then added mysteriously, ¡°In any case, you

    should dress up nicely tonight. There¡¯s a surprise for you.¡±

    ¡°Surprise? What kind of surprise?¡± demanded Ning Ran, ¡°Why do I feel like your surprises always end

    badly?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry; you will definitely like this surprise.¡±

    ¡°Then tell me a little bit about this ¡®surprise¡¯.¡±

    ¡°Okay, remember Feng Minsheng?¡±

    Ning Ran thought of a handsome teenager the moment she heard that name.

    She would never forget that name because he was the most handsome boy in school and used to

    share a table with Ning Ran.

    That was the boy who made the teenage Ning Ran¡¯s heart beat faster.

    Unfortunately, Feng Minsheng transferred to another school before they got to date.

    He¡¯ll be at the reunion party?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 148

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 148

    A lot of Ning Ran¡¯s ssmates were already there when she finally arrived. A loud cheer rang the

    moment she stepped in. ¡°Ran! Ran is here!¡± Naturally, the ones shouting were all men. The women

    were silently judging Ning Ran¡¯s life by scanning her clothes.

    If she was wearing branded products, then her life had been amazing. Alternatively, if she was wearing

    cheap knockoffs, then her life must¡¯ve been terrible.

    Women only cared about her clothes while men only cared about her beauty. The uproar caused by

    Ning Ran¡¯s appearance showed just how beautiful she was.

    She had led a pretty difficult life, but that hadn¡¯t destroyed her youth, and her skin still looked silky

    smooth while her figure was still sexy.

    Compared to the teenage version of Ning Ran, the adult Ning Ran was more mature and beautiful so

    the men were circling her like they were annoying flies. Everyone wanted to say ¡®hi¡¯. Some wanted to

    shake her hand, and some wanted to hug her.

    The female ssmates were ignored instantly, and all the attention they were previously receiving was

    transferred to Ning Ran.

    Naturally, some were not happy about that.

    Ning Ran knew that the men¡¯s reaction would upset the women so she got away from the crowd to

    approach the other women to greet them. ¡°Hey girls, it¡¯s been too long!¡±

    Everyone ignored her.

    Ning Ran was in hot water immediately. She had just arrived and had already be themon

    enemy. How was she going tost?

    Fortunately, Cheng Xiangyun was there to help Ning Ran out. ¡°You¡¯re sote,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun,

    ¡°We were just talking about you.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± said Ning Ran who grinned awkwardly, ¡°What was the topic about?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re talking about how you are still so flirty,¡± interrupted a woman called Liu Li.

    Liu Li was also extremely beautiful. Back in the day, many students had debated whether Ning Ran or

    Liu Li was the most beautiful girl in school.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t care about that title, but Liu Li wanted it very badly that the emotional scars left from

    thatpetition still stung Liu Li even though it didn¡¯t bother Ning Ran.

    That day, Ning Ran¡¯s mere appearance had attracted all the men over which made Liu Li even more

    upset.

    Ning Ran would not entertain Liu Li¡¯s provocations. If Ning Ran retaliated, it would make the situation

    worse.

    They hadn¡¯t seen each other in a while so it¡¯d be bad if they fight immediately.

    ¡°Seemed that the boys in our sscked attention from their mother,¡± said Ning Ran with a smile,

    ¡°That¡¯s why they want to be close to an old and ugly woman like me.¡±

    Her joke made the women around herugh. Cracking a self-deprecating joke like that got everyone to

    hate her less.

    ¡°Ning Ran, where have you been all these years?¡± asked one of Ning Ran¡¯s ssmates, ¡°We haven¡¯t

    heard from you for so long.¡±

    ¡°I went overseas to hide and give birth to a pair of illegitimate twins,¡± exined Ning Ran, ¡°That¡¯s why

    I¡¯m oozing maternal aura.¡±

    Ning Ran was being truthful, but the others thought she was joking again so everyoneughed.

    As far as everyone was concerned, Ning Ran was too youthful to be the mother of two kids.

    After Ning Ran¡¯s self-deprecating jokes, the girls started to feel less jealous.

    Just as everyone was getting along and chatting away happily, another person made an appearance.

    All the girls turned to the entrance, and their line of sight never left again.

    A handsome man wearing a white tuxedo came in.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    The man was tall and had smooth skin. He was just as handsome as he had been all those years ago.

    The expensive watch on his wrist made him looks even ssier than usual, and the car keys in his

    hand had an obvious BMW logo.

    The watch and the logo on the keys were enough to send the message that he was well off.

    His aesthetic beauty had already caught the girls¡¯ attention, and his watch and his car only made

    everyone that much more attracted to him.

    Hence, all the women started to surround him. Their reactions were simr to the boy¡¯s reactions when

    Ning Ran first made her appearance.

    The only ones who didn¡¯t budge were Cheng Xiangyun and Ning Ran.

    Cheng Xiangyun stared at Ning Ran then said, ¡°Your old lover is here. Aren¡¯t you going to go say ¡®hi¡¯?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s not my lover. Quit bbering nonsense.¡±

    ¡°Back in the days, when the two of you were sharing a table, he carved the words ¡®I Love You¡¯ onto the

    table and was caught by the teacher. Everyone knew about it. If he wasn¡¯t your lover then, who was

    he?¡±

    ¡°He carved the words, but he never specified who it was for. How does that make him my lover? Stop

    talking bullshit,¡± warned Ning Ran, ¡°Can¡¯t you see how popr he is among thedies? If you push us

    together, you¡¯ll make me an enemy of thedies!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be the cause of the hate you receive,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°Because he¡¯s walking

    over on his own.¡±

    That was when Ning Ran noticed that Feng Minsheng had gotten past all the women and was making

    his way to her.

    Oh shit!

    Ning Ran started to pray in her heart. Please don¡¯te over for me. Please be here for Cheng

    Xiangyun and greet her.

    Oh lord, please don¡¯t let him be here for me. Please don¡¯t make me a target of thedies. Please grant

    my wish. I will even donate a hundred for that to happen.

    Unfortunately, Ning Ran¡¯s prayers weren¡¯t answered, and Feng Minsheng walked over.

    ¡°Ran, it¡¯s been too long.¡±

    He didn¡¯t call her ¡®Ning Ran¡¯, but rather ¡®Ran¡¯ which was more intimate.

    Everyone had their eyes on Ning Ran and Feng Minsheng because back then, they were the stars of

    the ss.

    Feng Minsheng once wrote Ning Ran a note that wasn¡¯t a love note but was better.

    The note said, ¡°Meeting the right person is the best thing on earth.¡±

    Even though it had been a while since that had happened, seeing Feng Minsheng¡¯s face still made

    Ning Ran think about it.

    ¡°Hello, it¡¯s been a while,¡± said Ning Ran calmly as she nodded politely.

    However, Feng Minsheng seemed unhappy with just shaking her hand so he opened his arms to hug

    Ning Ran.

    They were at a reunion, and a hug wasn¡¯t an unreasonable request because they hadn¡¯t seen each

    other in a while so Ning Ran couldn¡¯t reject it.

    If she went out of her way to keep her distance, she¡¯d make herself look even more suspicious.

    Hence, Ning Ran had no choice but to act innocent when she hugged him.

    Feng Minsheng didn¡¯t let go of Ning Ran immediately. Instead, he whispered by her ears, ¡°Meeting the

    right person is the best thing on earth.¡±

    He remembered!

    At that moment, Ning Ran swooned as she did all those years ago. Her heart didn¡¯t beat as quickly as it

    did when she was a teenager, but she was definitely moved. After all, he was her first crush.

    Ning Ran soon realized that something was wrong though because Feng Minsheng didn¡¯t let go after

    he hugged her. Moreover, his head was too close to her, and she could hear him breathing.

    That was a little too much.

    A quick and courteous hug was eptable, but a continuous hug that refused to end was not.

    Ning Ran started to struggle out of that hug, but Feng Minsheng¡¯s hug was a little too tight so she

    couldn¡¯t break out easily.

    Liu Li walked over and started to make some noise.

    ¡°Ning Ran, I heard you¡¯re an actress now. Are you acting in this reunion too? Should I take a couple of

    pictures and put it on the inte to help you get some rumors started?¡±

    Ning Ran was worried then and pushed Feng Minsheng away, ¡°Go away! Quit fooling around or I¡¯m

    leaving!¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 149

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 149

    But Feng Minsheng did not let go of Ning Ran. He continued holding her. Ning Ran was furious! She

    stamped on his feet. Feng Minsheng didn¡¯t expect Ning Ran to do that. He was in so much pain that he

    had to let go of Ning Ran.

    A guy next to Ning Ran cheered for her feisty attitude. ¡°Ranran, why did you¡­¡±

    ¡°Feng Minsheng, please do not call me Ranran. We are not in that kind of rtionship.¡± Ning Ran threw

    those words at him mercilessly.

    It was the first time they were meeting in many years, and yet he behaved in such a brusque manner.

    She was hugely disappointed in him.

    It did not matter if he was genuine in his affections for her. She thought that he really went overboard.

    The basis of affection should be respect for each other. No matter how much you love someone, you

    should still respect each other¡¯s boundaries.

    It was extremely satisfying for the surrounding crowd to witness the scene that just unfolded. Everyone

    cheered for Ning Ran¡¯s feistiness.

    Looking at the situation, Cheng Xiangyun tried to ease the tense atmosphere.

    ¡°Everyone should get seated. You guys haven¡¯t seen each other for so long. You should have a proper

    catch up.¡±

    After Ning Ran sat down, all the guys tried to sit close to her.

    To prevent further shes, Ning Ran chose to sit between two girls.

    While they were catching up, it was revealed that Feng Minsheng was the one who had organized the

    ss gathering. All the expenses were also borne by him.

    Thedies were all curious about the current life of this former school hunk. They asked him all kinds of

    questions, such as about his work, his rtionship status, etc.

    Feng Minsheng told them that he was working for a foreignpany and he was still single.

    He sounded just like a typical eligible bachelor. Thedies got excited and all started adding him on

    WeChat.

    Ning Ran was the only one who was not interested to talk to him. Neither did she ask to add his

    contact.

    The main purpose of having a ss gathering was not to catch up, but rather, a battle of each other¡¯s

    achievements.

    Ning Ran was bored after a while. She wanted to leave before the gathering ended.

    Feng Minsheng stood up and said, ¡°I¡¯ll walk you out.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think there is a need for that.¡± Feeling the watchful eyes of the otherdies, Ning Ran rejected

    his offer immediately.

    ¡°I have something to tell you.¡± Feng Minsheng said in a gentle voice.

    A mixture of cheers and jeers came from the crowd.

    Ning Ran felt very awkward. She was worried that if this push and pull with Feng Minsheng carried on,

    he might end up saying more rude things.

    Ning Ran agreed, thinking that he would at most only walk her to the door.

    ¡°Aunt, let¡¯s go.¡±

    Ning Ran shouted out to Cheng Xiangyun, seeing that she was still glued to her seat.

    But Cheng Xiangyun did not want to leave yet. ¡°You can go first; I want to stay a while more.¡±

    Since she did not want to leave, Ning Ran left alone.

    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    When they reached the door, Ning Ran waved at Feng Minsheng and said, ¡°You should go back now.

    I¡¯m leaving.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I want to go back anymore. I¡¯ll drive you home. Wait for me, I¡¯ll go get the car.¡± Feng

    Minsheng said.

    ¡°You really don¡¯t¡­¡±

    ¡°The reason I didn¡¯t drink was because I wanted to drive you back. Please give me a chance.¡±

    Ning Ran rejected him again. ¡°There¡¯s really no need for that. I can take a cab.¡±

    ¡°Please let me drive you back home. We haven¡¯t seen each other for so long. Can¡¯t you just let me

    drive you back this once? Just wait here. I¡¯ll be back right away.¡± Feng Minsheng started walking

    towards his car while he said that.

    Ning Ran did not wait for him. She walked straight to the main road and tried to g a cab.

    Unfortunately, there were no avable cabs. The few that drove by all already had passengers.

    Just then, Feng Minsheng drove out. He saw Ning Ran and thought that she was waiting for him by the

    roadside.

    He got out of the car and opened the door for Ning Ran, gesturing for her to get in.

    Since it had alreadye to this, Ning Ran felt that she could no longer reject the offer.

    Inside the car, Feng Minsheng bent over to help Ning Ran with the seat belt.

    He was leaning too near and Ning Ran could smell his cologne. She frowned.

    Why is this man using such a pungent cologne? What a weird taste he had!

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself. You don¡¯t have to.¡± Ning Ran tried her best to not show her disgust.

    ¡°I am willing to do this for you.¡±

    Because Feng Minsheng was too close to her, Ning Ran tried to lean back. The position that they were

    in appeared rather intimate.

    The car windows were rolled down. A man who was standing under the streemp was taking pictures

    of them.

    He had a professional camera. The angles he chose to take the photos from also seemed professional.

    The photos were that of Feng Minsheng crouched over Ning Ran.

    When they were finally done with the seat belt, Ning Ran heaved a sigh of relief.

    If Ning Ran knew what was going to happen next, she would never have attended that gathering.

    ¡°Ranran, have you been well all these years?¡± Feng Minsheng asked her in a gentle voice.

    ¡°I am great. I¡¯m married with two kids.¡±

    Ning Ran thought that once she threw out this dynamite, Feng Minsheng would stop having funny

    ideas towards her.

    ¡°Really? Your kids must be so adorable.¡±

    Ning Ran did not expect Feng Minsheng to react this way. He didn¡¯t seem to be shocked at all.

    He didn¡¯t even bother to ask why she was married at such a young age, and even had two kids.

    Did he know about it already?

    Ning Ran thought for a while, and decided that it was not possible.

    Apart from Cheng Xiangyun, she had not kept in touch with anyone from school. By right, no one would

    know about her life. How did Feng Minsheng know?

    ¡°My kids are very adorable. I love them and my husband very much. I have a very happy family.¡± Ning

    Ran said.

    Feng Minsheng seemed to be hiding something behind his smile. ¡°So, who is your husband?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about my family. Please respect my privacy.¡±

    Feng Minshengughed again. ¡°I know you have kids. But I also know you are not married.¡±

    So he really knows! How did he know?

    ¡°Who told you that?¡± Ning Ran was shocked.

    ¡°No secret can be kept forever. Anyway, I just know. Ranran, I don¡¯t mind that you have kids. I am

    willing to raise them together with you. All these years, I have been to many ces and met many

    people, but I am still unable to forget you.¡±

    Oh no. He has started to confess. Indeed, whatever you don¡¯t want to happen, happens. Ning Ran

    thought.

    ¡°It is not possible between us.¡± Ning Ran rejected him straight away, without giving any consideration.

    ¡°Why? I am doing well financially. I can help you raise the kids.¡±

    ¡°They are my children. I can raise them myself. I don¡¯t need any help.¡± Ning Ran was firm.

    ¡°Ranran, don¡¯t be like that. I know you liked mest time. I could tell from your eyes.¡±

    Faced with Ning Ran¡¯s rejection, Feng Minsheng did not give up.

    ¡°I can¡¯t remember if I had liked youst time. But I am very sure that I don¡¯t like you now. So don¡¯t say

    anything that crosses the line, otherwise, we can¡¯t even remain friends.¡± Ning Ran warned him.

    ¡°C¡¯mon, Ranran. I know you are having reservations because of the kids. But I will convince you that I

    can really help you raise them.¡±

    He¡¯s such a pain in the neck. Why can¡¯t he get it?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 150

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 150

    Nan Mansion, Commoner Residence. Nan Chen, dressed in home clothes, was reading a book in the

    study. It was The Art of War. He was leaningfortably on the sofa.

    The sses he wore hid away some of the sharpness in his eyes, and gave him a gentler vibe. Seated

    next to him was Dabao, who had exactly the same look as him. Even the way they held the books was

    the same.

    Dabao was reading a book onputers. Erbao was lying on another sofa. She was ying games on

    her phone, with her earphones plugged in. She could never understand why her uncle and brother

    would waste time reading books.

    They could y games, or eat some snacks. Books were so boring. Perhaps all men liked to torture

    themselves? Erbao thought. Nan Chen removed his sses while he took a break. He took a nce at

    Dabao, who was just next to him.

    Dabao was reading a very thick book that he could not holdfortably for long. So, he ced it on

    the sofa and bent over slightly before he continued reading.

    Nan Chen frowned. He reached over and took Dabao¡¯s book away. ¡°You should take a break. This is

    not good for your eyes.¡±

    Dabao lifted his head and smiled at his uncle.

    It seemed like the saying ¡±A single smile could overthrow a city¡± not only applied to women. Nan Chen

    was mesmerized by Dabao¡¯s smile.

    Dabao¡¯s smile was filled with trust and warmth. It felt like a breath of fresh air to Nan Chen.

    ¡°You are always reading such thick books. Aren¡¯t you also interested in books for children?¡± Nan Chen

    was curious.

    ¡°I¡¯m interested. I don¡¯t only read professional books. I also read manga and fairy tales.¡± Dabao

    answered obediently.

    Nan Chen nodded and said, ¡°You should also read some books for children. Those are more fun to

    read. You are still young, don¡¯t read books that are too serious.¡±

    ¡°Brother finds fun in those boring books too.¡±

    Erbao, who realized that the two men were having a break, joined in the fun.

    Dabao nodded his head in agreement.

    ¡°Me too.¡± Nan Chen felt likeughing. ¡°I used to be like that too.¡±

    ¡°Uncle likesputers too?¡±

    Erbao ran over and squeezed herself in between Dabao and Nan Chen. She sat cross-legged, just like

    them.

    ¡°I used to like books on professional topics when I was young too. But my interest was in finance. Since

    I was very young, I carried around thick books on economics. Adults could not understand me at that

    time. They found me really strange. It¡¯s just like how we can¡¯t understand why Dabao likes reading

    these thickputing books. But actually, we do find joy in such books.¡±

    Nan Chen was always very chatty when he was with the kids.

    He had never felt the need to say too much. However, with the kids, he felt like he had a lot to say to

    them.

    ¡°So, uncle likes reading about economics?¡± Dabao asked.

    ¡°Yup, I really enjoy it. Business is about economics. But that¡¯s not all. For a business to prosper, there

    are a lot more involved, such as ountancy, strategy, and even philosophy. A business organization

    thatsts through generations definitely has strong roots in both business operations knowledge as well

    as the cultural aspects of business.¡±

    Dabao kept nodding, while Erbao looked lost.

    The two men were having such a boring conversation. She found it too difficult to blend in.

    ¡°When is mommying to pick us up?¡± Erbao tried to change the topic at the first opportunity.

    Nan Chen looked at his watch and said, ¡°She should being soon. Do you prefer staying here or at

    Aunt Xiangyun¡¯s ce?¡±

    Dabao and Erbao exchanged looks.

    Of course they liked staying here. The mansion was well-equipped. There were also servants who

    attended to them.

    They had everything they wanted here. They could eat anything they liked and were treated like royals.

    Even adults would like it here, not to mention these kids.

    But the two of them were reserved in expressing their true thoughts.

    Because they were well aware that their mommy did not like them staying there.

    As for why mommy did not like it, Dabao could guess a little. But Erbao was totally clueless.

    After all, they were just kids. They could never fully understand the conflicts going on among the adults.

    Nan Chen knew that it wasn¡¯t easy for the kids to answer. So he decided not to ask them any further.

    ¡°If mommy and daddy get married, you two and mommy can all stay here.¡± Nan Chen touched Erbao¡¯s

    head.

    ¡°Really?¡±

    Erbao¡¯s angelic big eyes were filled with joy and surprise. It¡¯s difficult not to like her.

    ¡°Uncle is helping them with their wedding preparations.¡± Nan Chen nodded and said.

    Erbao pped excitedly. ¡°Hooray! Hooray! Daddy and mommy are getting married!¡±

    ¡°You can be the flower girl. You will be the prettiest flower girl.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Then what dress should I wear? Should I wear a white gown too?¡±

    Erbao was already thinking what to wear. She was a girl after all. The pursuit of beauty is in every

    woman¡¯s blood indeed.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to wear a gown. Only the bride wears a gown. You can just wear a white dress. You will

    look like a beautiful little angel.¡± Nan Chen answered seriously.

    ¡°Then when are we going to buy the dress?¡± Erbao carried on.

    ¡°I will arrange for the designer to take your measurements. We will have your dress tailor-made.¡±

    ¡°What is tailor-made? Are we not buying from the mall?¡± Erbao did not understand.

    ¡°Tailor-made means the tailor will make your dress exactly ording to how you want it to be. Uncle¡¯s

    suits are all tailor-made.¡± Nan Chen exined patiently.

    ¡°Yup, that¡¯s why it is called ¡®tailor-made¡¯.¡± Dabao added.

    Erbao seemed to understand a little. ¡°So, it is better than buying from the mall, right?¡±

    Nan Chen nodded. ¡°Usually, it is.¡±

    ¡°Then I want it tailor-made!¡± Erbao said excitedly.

    ¡°Ok. We shall have it tailor-made.¡± Nan Chen looked at her lovingly.

    ¡°If daddy and mommy get married, then what about uncle?¡± Dabao suddenly asked.

    This question did not make any sense, but Nan Chen was stunned.

    Although this question did not sound logical, Nan Chen seemed to understand the hidden meaning

    behind Dabao¡¯s question.

    Or rather, only Nan Chen and Dabao would understand what this question really meant.

    To the rest of the world, Nan Xing and Ning Ran¡¯s marriage had nothing to do with Nan Chen. But

    Dabao knew there was something more to that.

    As for what is that something, Dabao could not really put it in words. Even Nan Chen himself could not

    be sure.

    As such, Nan Chen¡¯s heart skipped a beat when he heard Dabao say it. More urately, he felt

    tremors.

    Perhaps, Nan Chen was in too much shock because of what Dabao said, he had a stern look in his

    eyes that he was not aware of. This frightened Dabao. He lowered his head as he thought he had said

    something wrong.

    But he didn¡¯t. It was just that he pinpointed exactly what Nan Chen was feeling in the depths of his

    heart.

    ¡°Hahaha¡­ ¡°

    Erbao startedughing heartily, which eased the awkward tension.

    ¡°It¡¯s not uncle who is getting married to mommy. Why would it concern him?¡± Erbao continuedughing.

    The reason why Erbao suddenlyughed in such an exaggerated manner was to help her brother out.

    Even she thought that her brother had offended their uncle with his question, because the uncle looked

    too stern. She thought he was upset.

    Nan Chen stood up and touched the kids¡¯ heads lovingly. ¡°Do you guys want supper?¡±

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Erbao replied immediately.

    Before Nan Chen could continue, his phone vibrated. Someone sent him a picture.

    In the picture, a man and a woman were in an intimate position.

    Nan Chen¡¯s face darkened.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 151

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 151

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, uncle?¡±

    Erbao saw Nan Chen¡¯s face darken. She thought that he was upset at her wanting supper. She was

    suddenly nervous.

    Nan Chen tried to look normal. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. What do you want to eat?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat anymore.¡± Erbao was scared. ¡°It¡¯s not healthy to eat sote. Not eating anymore.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s thoughts at that moment were entirely focused on the woman in that picture. He did not

    think much about Erbao¡¯s feelings. He thought that Erbao really changed her mind about supper.

    ¡°Ok, go y by yourselves then. Uncle needs to go out and do something.¡±

    ¡°Ok, uncle.¡± Dabao and Erbao nodded in unison.

    When Nan Chen reached the door, he realized he was still in his home clothes. He walked back to his

    room and changed into his ck suit.

    He still felt that something wasn¡¯t right after he got into his car. He went to Nan Xing¡¯s room and

    changed into a white suit instead.

    Ning Ran had wanted to pick up the kids. But she did not want Feng Minsheng to know their

    connection with the Nan family.

    Everyone was aware of the Nan family¡¯s status in Flower City. The more people knew about their

    connection with the Nan family, the riskier it would be for the kids.

    As such, she told Feng Minsheng to drive her to Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s apartment.

    However, Cheng Xiangyun was still having fun at the ss gathering. So there was no one at home.

    ¡°You stay here?¡± Feng Minsheng took a look at the area.

    ¡°Yup.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to invite me upstairs for a cup of tea?¡± Feng Minsheng asked.

    ¡°No.¡± Ning Ran¡¯s reply was clear. She did not even bother to think of an excuse.

    ¡°We haven¡¯t seen each other in so long. Let¡¯s have a cup of tea and catch up. It¡¯s still early anyway. If

    you think it¡¯s not convenient for me to go up, we can always go somewhere else.¡± Feng Minsheng said.

    ¡°Better not. I have other ns. I shall go now.¡±

    As Ning Ran tried to open the door, she realized that Feng Minsheng had locked her in the car.

    ¡°What are you doing? Let me out!¡± Ning Ran started panicking.

    ¡°Ranran, don¡¯t be scared. Let¡¯s just have a chat. All these years, haven¡¯t you thought of me even

    once?¡± Feng Minsheng asked.

    ¡°No!¡± Ning Ran was as clear as she could get.

    ¡°That¡¯s not possible! We liked each otherst time¡­ ¡°

    ¡°Wake up! Feng Minsheng! We were just ssmates, not even friends! How could I have ever liked

    you?¡±

    ¡°Ranran, even though you kept denying, I know it¡¯s not like that. Everyone thought we were a match

    made in heaven. We were sopatible. Everyone was envious of us¡­ ¡°

    ¡°Enough, enough. People misunderstood. Anyway, I don¡¯t care about what others think. That was not

    what I thought. Even if there was really something, it has been so many years already. So much has

    changed. Is it even meaningful to talk about this now?¡±

    ¡°You are betraying yourself if you forget the past¡­¡±

    ¡°Then just take it as I betrayed myself, ok? Let me out immediately!¡±

    Ning Ran had lost her patience long ago. She felt increasingly disgusted with Feng Minsheng.

    ¡°Ranran, it makes me so sad that you are saying this. I have been searching for you for the past few

    years. I asked everyone we knew, but it was as though you disappeared from Earth. Recently, I got to

    know your whereabouts by chance, so I organized tonight¡¯s ss gathering. It was just to see you. I

    just want to tell you, even after so long, and after everything that has happened, my love for you

    remains the same. I am still waiting for you.¡±

    Feng Minsheng said it with such genuine emotions that he was moved by himself.

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    But Ning Ran was unaffected.

    She already heard so much that she was immune to such sweet talk. Nice words were like condiments;

    they add vor but would never be the main course. Words were empty.

    Besides, a man who indulged in sweet talk usually painted nice pictures, but would never be able to

    fulfill his words or provide a stable life.

    Of course, some women lived in fairy tales, but not Ning Ran. She had to be practical, especially

    because she was already a mother.

    She would never be moved by such words. In fact, she found it really childish andme.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to continue anymore. Even if what you said was true, I am already not that girl I once

    was. So nothing you are saying now is meaningful. We each have our own paths to walk, and you and I

    will never cross paths again. So, let me out now! If not, I have to call the police.¡± Ning Ran said

    chillingly.

    ¡°Ranran, how can you treat me this way? We were so good togetherst time.¡±

    ¡°I really can¡¯t remember that we were good togetherst time. Even if we really were, that¡¯s because

    we were still young. It was a misunderstanding. Are you going to open the door? If you don¡¯t, I¡¯m going

    to call the cops!¡±

    Ning Ran took out her phone.

    When Feng Minsheng saw that Ning Ran was serious about calling the police, he tried to snatch her

    phone away.

    ¡°Ranran, don¡¯t do that. I don¡¯t have any ill intentions.¡±

    Of course Ning Ran would not let him have her phone. As such, they started struggling with each other

    inside the car.

    As they struggled, the car vibrated. It was moving back and forth in a strange way.

    It was already night time. The surrounding area was dark and Feng Minsheng¡¯s car was shaded from

    the streemp rays.

    Anyone who saw a vibrating car parked in a dark area would associate it with something naughty.

    Nan Chen, dressed in white, had just arrived. He had the same thoughts.

    Nan Chen recognized that vibrating BMW as the one in the picture sent to him just now. It had the

    same car te number.

    When Nan Chen saw the BMW, he was already boiling with anger.

    After he noticed that the car was vibrating, rage flowed through him likeva.

    Nan Chen could feel his body temperature rising. He was extremely angry.

    On the outside, he looked just like an ice sculpture. It was as though he was ready to kill.

    He could not remember when thest time was he felt so angry. He only knew that he felt like

    murdering someone now.

    He got out of the car and walked towards the BMW.

    Just when Ning Ran and Feng Minsheng were in the middle of a rough struggle, they heard someone

    knocking on the car window.

    Although it was dim inside the car, the white suit outside the car was very ring.

    ¡°My husband is here. If you don¡¯t let me out, he will smash your car for sure¡­¡±

    Smash!

    Before Ning Ran could finish her sentence, a loud shattering noise came from the car window.

    Smash! Smash! Smash!

    Nan Chen was striking the car window using a fire extinguisher. Ning Ran was stunned.

    ¡°Stop it! I¡¯m opening the door!¡±

    Feng Minsheng immediately unlocked the car. He opened the door and stepped out of the car.

    The first thing he saw when he got out were the eyes of a killer. Just like death, they did not exude any

    warmth.

    In fact, it felt chilling.

    ¡°Who do you think you¡­¡±

    Before Feng Minsheng could finish his sentence, his face took a punch.

    As he was caught unaware, he almost fell over.

    Before he could make sense of the situation, the second punch flew into his face. This time, all Feng

    Minsheng could see were stars. He had difficulty standing straight.

    As he was trying to steady himself, he was kicked in his chest. He finally crashed onto the floor.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 152

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 152

    The scene that just unfolded shocked Ning Ran. Nan Xing was someone who alwaysughed and

    joked around. She had never seen him like that before. He behaved just like the grim reaper.

    Ning Ran had never felt this nervous before. She could feel her teeth chatter. This man looked like he

    was out to kill. She was worried that Feng Minsheng would really end up dead.

    ¡°Who are you? How could you hit me?¡± Feng Minsheng was trying very hard to stand up. However,

    before he managed to stand up, he was kicked to the ground again.

    Not far away, there was a ck jeep. The security team leader, Qiao Zhan, and another bodyguard

    were in it. The two of them were in shock as they watched the fight.

    ¡°Sir! They started fighting! Should we go help out?¡± The bodyguard asked. ¡°That guy has already been

    knocked out. Do you think our help is required? Are you stupid or what?¡± Qiao Zhan said coldly.

    ¡°But I didn¡¯t know Young Master Nan Chen was so good at fighting!¡± The bodyguard was full of

    admiration. ¡°He might be even better than us professional bodyguards!¡±

    ¡°Are you blind? That is Young Master Nan Xing!¡±

    ¡°Is it? But didn¡¯t we already send Young Master Nan Xing to the airport and saw him leave?¡±

    ¡°The one wearing white is always Young Master Nan Xing. Young Master Nan Chen is always in ck.

    When you first joined the team, didn¡¯t I already mention this during your training?¡± Qiao Zhan said

    coldly.

    ¡°But it¡¯s so obvious that he is Young Master Nan Chen¡­¡±

    ¡°I think you really need to get your eyes checked. Is this the first time you are seeing a white suit?

    White means Young Master Nan Xing!¡± Qiao Zhan was getting impatient.

    ¡°So, we should just identify them based on the color of their suits?¡± The bodyguard seemed to

    understand.

    ¡°Yes! When you see white, the person has to be Young Master Nan Xing.¡±

    ¡°Ok, I get it. My eyes are good. That person over there is Young Master Nan Xing, because he is in

    white.¡± The bodyguard said nervously.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Also, as long as Young Master Nan Xing did not give instructions for you to go over, you

    should just stay here. Don¡¯t rush over to help mindlessly. But if you see him in danger, you must defend

    him with your life, understand?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Just then, Nan Chen looked towards Qiao Zhan and signaled for him to take care of the rest of the

    situation.

    If there were surveince cameras around, they had to be malfunctioning ones. No fight happened

    here. No one smashed Feng Minsheng¡¯s car windows. None of that happened tonight.

    Before Feng Minsheng could stand up, Ning Ran was already dragged away by the man who just hit

    him. They were walking towards a sports car.

    He saw the man pushing Ning Ran into the car before the car zoomed off.

    Feng Minsheng took out his phone and was going to call the cops.

    But his phone was suddenly kicked away. A big-sized man was looking down at him. ¡°Sir, do you need

    any help?¡±

    ¡°I was attacked! I want to call the cops. Why did you kick my phone away?¡±

    ¡°Sir, I think you are hallucinating. I was across the street all the while and did not witness any fight.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not possible! That person was attacking me!¡±

    ¡°I am very sure that did not happen. I was just across the road from here. I did not see anyone hitting

    you. If you don¡¯t need any help, I am going off.¡±

    Then, the big-sized man walked towards a ck jeep and drove off too.

    In the car, Ning Ran did not dare to make a sound. Nan Chen had a chilling look on his face.

    He was driving faster and faster, until they reached the suburbs.

    The car had reached a speed that was already far over Ning Ran¡¯sfort level. She looked pale and

    held on tightly to the handle. ¡°Nan Xing, slow down please¡­¡±

    However, instead of slowing down, the car sped up.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    When it finally stopped, Ning Ran rushed to the road side and threw up.

    She was already feeling sick from the nervousness just now. The car sickness aggravated it. She was

    vomiting uncontrobly.

    Ning Ran was relieved when it finally stopped. She realized her face was already covered in tears from

    the vomiting.

    Suddenly, she felt something hit her back. It was a bottle thrown from a distance.

    Ning Ran twisted the bottle open and rinsed her mouth. She felt much better after that.

    Just as she was resting on the ground, she heard the sounds of a car engine. The car had driven away!

    ¡°Hey! wait for me! Why did you leave me here?!¡±

    However, her shouts were ignored. Not only did the man in the car not stop, he even drove the car

    faster.

    They were in a suburban area that was pending to be developed, and everyone had moved out from

    there. As development works had yet to begin, the area was very deserted.

    No cabs would pass by at this hour. There were also no buses she could take home.

    She was abandoned at a ghost town.

    Ning Ran had no other choice but to start walking towards the city area.

    As Nan Chen drove at lightning speed just now, Ning Ran had no idea how long they had driven, or

    how far away the city area was.

    Even if she had known, there wouldn¡¯t be any cars around anyway. The only way was to walk.

    ¡°Nan Xing, you a**hole!¡± Ning Ran yelled.

    After walking for ten minutes, Ning Ran was exhausted.

    Even though she had already thrown up, her head was still pounding from the car sickness just now. It

    was unlikely that she would be feeling better any time soon.

    There were no streetmps around. The only light was from the moon, and some dim lights from a

    distance away.

    After Ning Ran calmed herself down, she started to feel scared.

    She was not scared of ghosts. To her, human beings were ten times scarier than ghosts.

    At such a ce, given her good looks, she would be an easy target if any man saw her.

    Ning Ran started walking faster at that thought.

    But it did not make much of a difference. After almost twenty minutes, it seemed like she was still in the

    same area.

    She had worn heels specially to attend the ss gathering, and her feet were aching very badly.

    Just then, she spotted the headlights of a car that seemed to be travelling at a fast speed. It was a red

    sports car. Ning Ran was ted. She thought that Nan Xing had turned back for her.

    The car drove right past Ning Ran, and made a U-turn a few hundred meters ahead.

    Ning Ran waited for the car by the road side. She was so tired that she could not move an inch further.

    Ning Ran tried to look better when the car came towards her.

    She decided that she was only going to teach that a**hole a lesson after she got in.

    But things were not as she thought. The car sped right past her once again. It did not seem as though it

    would stop.

    So, he drove back just to check if I was still alive?!

    Ning Ran was so angry she felt like she was going crazy.

    ¡°Bastard! As*hole! Jerk! Despicable!¡­¡±

    Ning Ran shouted every single vulgarity she knew towards the direction of the car. But it was

    meaningless. The car was already gone and no one had heard any of that. She was just wasting her

    breath.

    Ning Ran epted the reality and carried on walking.

    That area was too deserted. She could be in danger any moment.

    Even the kindest man might start having evil thoughts if he saw a woman as gorgeous as Ning Ran

    alone, at this hour of the night.

    Evil remained dormant in every man. He just needed an opportunity to arouse it.

    Ning Ran started walking even faster. She had to at least get to a brighter ce.

    Finally, she saw some light.

    That light was from a BBQ stall by the roadside. A group of construction workers were drinking beer

    there.

    Even though development works had not officially started, the workers were already doing preparation

    work.

    After a long day¡¯s work, they usually drank at that BBQ stall to unwind.

    When Ning Ran appeared, it was as though a beautiful fairy appeared. She was a breath of fresh air for

    the men.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 153

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 153

    ¡°Quick, look! She¡¯s so pretty. Where did shee from?¡±

    ¡°Is she a ghost? Works have not yet started in that direction she came from. It is still deserted. Why

    would shee from there?¡±

    ¡°If there was such a pretty ghost, I wouldn¡¯t mind trying! Heh.¡± One man let out a sleazyughter.

    ¡°There are no ghosts in the world. I think she is just a lonely woman who came out to find men, and she

    got lost. So she ended up here.¡±

    The effects of alcohol gave the men the audacity to say such things out loud. They did not care

    whether Ning Ran heard them.

    Ning Ran did not hear all of it clearly, but she had heard enough to feel anxious.

    The owner of the BBQ stall was a middle-aged woman. She turned away from the men and waved

    discreetly at Ning Ran. It was to warn her not toe over and provoke them.

    Ning Ran was already on the brink of exhaustion. She hastened her steps and did not look at the BBQ

    stall as she walked past.

    However, after a while, she heard footsteps behind her.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    When she turned around, she saw several dark figures under the dim light. The men had followed her

    all the way there!

    Ning Ran got really worried.

    She tried to run, but her heels prevented her from doing that.

    She removed her heels and threw them aside. Then, she started to run with all the remaining energy

    she had.

    The men started chasing after her.

    She had already walked a long way, and had depleted a lot of energy from throwing up just now. No

    matter how hard she tried, she was not able to run fast.

    The men were getting nearer and nearer.

    Just when Ning Ran was feeling hopeless, she saw headlights in front of her again.

    ¡°Help!¡± Ning Ran waved frantically.

    The car swerved towards the workers.

    The headlights from the car were blinding. Seeing that the car had no intent to slow down, the workers

    were terrified and scooted off.

    That car maneuvered a perfect drift, and did a U-turn. It stopped next to Ning Ran.

    This time, Ning Ran hurled herself at the car. ¡°I was wrong! I shouldn¡¯t have attended the ss

    gathering. I shouldn¡¯t have got onto Feng Minsheng¡¯s car!¡±

    Ning Ran was not stupid. She could guess the reason for Nan Xing¡¯s anger, even though she was not

    aware that it was actually Nan Chen.

    As such, when she saw the car, she immediately admitted her mistake, disregarding her image.

    At that moment, staying alive was the most important thing to her. Dignity was worthlesspared to

    her life.

    The car slowed down, but did not stop.

    Ning Ran ran alongside the car. ¡°Help me! I was wrong!¡±

    The car finally stopped.

    The man alighted from the car, but ignored Ning Ran. He was walking in the opposite direction.

    Ning Ran did not understand what he was doing, but she did not care. She rushed into the car and held

    on tightly to the handle after putting on her seat belt.

    She was determined to stay inside the car no matter what!

    The man finally came back, holding a pair of heels. He threw the heels towards her.

    It was her shoes! She epted it gratefully. ¡°Thank you so much for getting my shoes back.¡±

    The man was stunned. He was the cause of her misfortunes and yet, she was thanking him?

    Hypocritical indeed!

    No, I cannot pity her. I cannot pity this woman with loose morals.

    Nan Chen¡¯s fury sprang to life once again, when his mind traveled back to the scene of the vibrating

    BMW.

    Ning Ran suddenly realized that the man¡¯s expression was turning chilly. She kept quiet immediately.

    But she was still holding tightly onto the handle. She was worried that the man would throw her out of

    the car.

    ¡°The person you saw tonight was Feng Minsheng. We were ssmates in high school. We were also

    desk mates.¡±

    Desk mates?! No wonder there was something fishy!

    Nan Chen bit his lips.

    Ning Ran realized she might have said something she shouldn¡¯t. She stopped talking immediately.

    But she had to exin herself! Otherwise he might find other ways to torture her further.

    So she bit the bullet and carried on. ¡°But there is nothing going on between us. We were only

    ssmates for one year before he transferred to another school.¡±

    So does this mean, something would have happened if he had not transferred?

    You wished you had more time with each other? It¡¯s a regret that the rtionship did note to

    fruition?

    Was that what you were doing tonight? Making up for lost time?

    Once a person was misunderstood, everything she said or did would be interpreted the wrong way.

    Ning Ran¡¯s intention was to clear the misunderstanding. But apparently, it had quite the opposite effect.

    To Nan Chen, all that Ning Ran said was just a cover up. He even felt like she was trying to boast.

    ¡°Get out!¡±

    What Ning Ran feared most had happened. This cold-blooded creature was really going to throw her

    out of the car!

    ¡°No!¡± Ning Ran held on to the handle for dear life.

    ¡°Get out!¡±

    ¡°No! I¡¯d rather die than get out!¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t deserve to get married to my brother¡­ someone from the Nan family, you shameless

    woman. You also don¡¯t deserve to be my¡­ the mother of the Nan family¡¯s children. You are such a bad

    influence! Do not appear in front of me ever again. Do not appear in Flower City ever again. Just

    disappearpletely!¡±

    Nan Chen was too agitated, and he almost slipped up.

    If it was a normal day, Ning Ran would have caught his slip up, but not today.

    She was in a state of extreme fear. She did not want to be abandoned in a deserted area again. All she

    could think of was to stay in the car and not get chased out. Only then, she would be safe.

    She did not dare to further exin tonight¡¯s events, nor did she dare to continue defending herself.

    ¡°I was wrong! I really know my mistake. Please don¡¯t ask me to get out, I beg you!¡±

    Ning Ran started crying.

    ¡°You already saw. Those men were after me. If you had not arrived, I might have already been dead.

    You can¡¯t leave me alone again!¡±

    Ning Ran started sobbing uncontrobly. Nan Chen was stunned.

    Slowly, he did not feel as angry anymore. Tears could actually extinguish the rage in his heart?

    He even thought that he might have gone overboard. She was the one whomitted a mistake, why

    did it feel like he was the one in the wrong?

    He started the car again. Ning Ran was finally relieved. Luckily, he did not throw her out of the car. She

    was finally safe.

    After the initial relief, her grief was gradually reced with anger.

    The as*hole dumped me at that deserted area and I almost got humiliated because of that. If I don¡¯t get

    my revenge, I am not Ning Ran!

    The sobs diminished. When Nan Chen turned to look at Ning Ran, he was surprised to see that this

    woman, who was just wailing a moment ago, had a menacing look in her eyes.

    Was she just pretending to cry just now?

    Did I get fooled by her again? This woman had an affair, and was crying because I taught her a lesson?

    I fell for her trick!

    After Ning Ran realized that Nan Chen was looking at her, she tried to look pitiful again. After all, they

    had not reached the city area yet. It was not wise to fall out with him now.

    Revenge is a dish best served cold. We shall wait and see! Ning Ran thought.

    ¡°Not crying anymore?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    ¡°No. What happened tonight was a misunderstanding. I hope you won¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Ning Ran said

    softly.

    ¡°What was the misunderstanding? That you and that man were doing something shady in the car? You

    mean I misunderstood?¡±

    ¡°There was nothing shady. It¡¯s only a misunderstanding. You need to believe me! Boo hoo¡­¡± Ning Ran

    was building up the emotions to cry again.

    If once was not enough, she had to cry another time. No matter what, she had to dy it until they

    reached the city area.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 154

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 154

    No one would enjoy being next to a crying woman. How annoying would that be?

    Furthermore, when Ning Ran cried, it wasn¡¯t like any other women. She wailed exaggeratedly.

    When they reached town, it was already eleven thirty PM.

    ¡°Where are the kids?¡± Ning Ran asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°At home.¡±

    ¡°At home?¡±

    ¡°At their home.¡±

    Ning Ran was creeped out by this reply. What did he mean at ¡°their¡± home?

    She was sure that there was some hidden meaning there.

    ¡°It¡¯s already sote. I wonder if they are waiting for me.¡± Ning Ran said.

    Nan Chen did not reply.

    When they reached Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s apartment, Nan Chen parked his car. ¡°I have something to say

    to you.¡± He told Ning Ran.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I have something to say to you too.¡± Ning Ran felt more at ease now that they had reached their

    destination.

    However, to make sure Nan Chen was not able to drive off again, she wound down her windows.

    Not feeling fully assured, she opened the car door too, so that there was no way Nan Chen could lock

    her in the car.

    ¡°Do you still call yourself a man? You ignored a woman¡¯s car sickness, and left her out in the

    wilderness. Did you realize how despicable that was?¡± Ning Ran started raising her voice, as she

    recalled the events of the night.

    Nan Chen was stunned.

    He had wanted to get even with this woman, but her wails were too annoying, and he was not able to

    find a good opportunity to speak to her.

    Now that they had reached their destination, he intended to leave after saying what he wanted to say.

    He didn¡¯t expect that this woman would start first by saying all these.

    How can she still feel so righteous when she is having an affair and neglecting the kids?!

    ¡°Judging by the way you look; I don¡¯t think you have realized how despicable your behavior was. Are

    you very smug? Do you think everyone has to listen to you?¡±

    ¡°I used to think that you were at least better than your poker-faced brother. You were warmer and more

    compassionate. But you are both the same! Cold-blooded! Full of yourselves! Are you even human?!¡±

    As Ning Ran recalled more of what happened, she got madder.

    Nan Chen never got into arguments with anyone. In fact, he had always been a man of few words.

    He did not know how to react to Ning Ran¡¯s continuous verbal attack.

    He was used to his power and always got what he wanted without even lifting a finger. He never had to

    resort to verbal fights to get his way.

    He wouldn¡¯t waste a single ounce of additional energy saying anything unnecessary.

    But when it came to this woman, he had only one sentence to say: Let¡¯s not bring up the topic of you

    entering the Nan family ever again.

    Even if no other woman was willing to marry into the Nan family, we would never ept someone who

    fooled around!

    But Nan Chen did not seem to be able to express such a simple sentence.

    Not only was Ning Ran good at acting, she was also topnotch in memorizing her lines and never

    stuttered.

    As such, when she showed her prowess, Nan Chen did not stand a chance during their argument.

    h h h.

    Ning Ran was agitated and could not stop recounting the grievances caused by Nan Chen. This

    included her car sickness and him deserting her.

    Not only that, he also refused to listen to her exnation and was bent on ruining her reputation.

    She ended by saying, ¡°I am not getting married anymore. You are free to marry whoever you want. I

    would rather be a nun than to marry you!¡±

    Nan Chen couldn¡¯t believe that this woman had just said the very thing he had waited so long to say.

    He was fuming mad.

    How can she be the one to say it first! Now it seems like she is the one rejecting the Nan family instead

    of the other way round!

    It makes a world of difference! It was supposed to be the Nan family rejecting her. A woman with loose

    morals like her has no right to reject the Nan Family.

    Nan Xing would have been able to return her verbal attacks. But this man in white right now was Nan

    Chen. That was not something he was good at.

    No matter how angry he was, he would never behave like a shrew in arguments.

    He was livid. ¡°Scram!¡± That was the only word he said.

    ¡°I am leaving right away! You scram too! Go somewhere far away. You are an ungentlemanly,

    ungracious, unsympathetic person born with a silver spoon! Other than money, you have nothing!¡±

    After Ning Ran let it all out, she was afraid that Nan Chen would direct his anger towards her. So she

    hurried out and mmed the car door shut.

    Vroom! The car engine squealed like a beast as Nan Chen drove off.

    Judging by the speed of the car, one would immediately know how furious the driver was feeling.

    Ning Ran suddenly realized that she had forgotten something important. The kids! The kids are still

    there!

    She called Nan Xing immediately, but his phone was switched off.

    Ning Ran froze. She was too engrossed in scolding Nan Chen that she forgot that the kids were still

    over at the Nan family¡¯s house.

    As she had just offended Nan Xing, she was sure that he wouldn¡¯t let her have the kids back.

    Impulsiveness was indeed the enemy of oneself. No matter how angry she was, Ning Ran knew that

    bringing the kids home should have been the priority.

    Filled with regrets, she went home. Cheng Xiangyun was watching a variety show when she stepped

    in.

    ¡°You¡¯re finally back! You look so exhausted. Did you just have a fierce battle with your first love?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun teased.

    It seemed like Cheng Xiangyun had quite a bit to drink. Before Ning Ran could reply, she continued

    talking. ¡°Quick, fill me in with the juicy details! Did you and Feng Minsheng go to a hotel? Or did you

    drive to a secluded ce?¡±

    ¡°We did go to a secluded area, but it was not with Feng Minsheng. I was tortured so much by that

    a**hole!¡± That got Ning Ran worked up again.

    ¡°What happened? You don¡¯t seem right.¡±

    ¡°Where do I even start!¡± Ning Ran let out a cry and slumped into the sofa.

    ¡°What exactly happened? Was the date with your old me not enjoyable?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t go on a date. Someone yed a prank on me. Just leave me alone for a moment.¡± Ning Ran

    shooed Cheng Xiangyun away.

    ¡°Ok ok, I¡¯ll go take a shower. You should also wash up and go to bed. You still have to work tomorrow.¡±

    Just as Cheng Xiangyun was about to walk off, Ning Ran pulled her back. ¡°Don¡¯t go first, maybe you

    can tell me what I should do.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you don¡¯t want to talk about it? What do you want me to help you with?¡±

    ¡°What happened was, I offended Nan Xing badly just now. I scolded him.¡±

    ¡°Why did you scold him?¡±

    ¡°He saw me with Feng Minsheng, and he beat Feng Minsheng up. You know how he is always

    laughing and joking around usually, I didn¡¯t know he could be so brutal in a fight. But never mind, that¡¯s

    not the point. I wanted to tell you how much he tortured me afterwards. He drove at the speed of

    lightning, making me carsick. And then he left me at a deserted ce!¡±

    ¡°Wow, that is so cool!¡± Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s eyes widened.

    ¡°What?! Cool?! He tortured me and you called him cool?! Doesn¡¯t it prick your conscience to say that?!¡±

    Ning Ran yelled.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 155

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 155

    ¡°Oops sorry, slip of the tongue. What happened next? How did youe back?¡±

    ¡°He was the one who sent me back. I kept scolding him in the car park just now. I only remembered he

    still had the kids after he left! What should I do now?¡±

    ¡°Oh. So he left you somewhere and picked you up afterwards. Sounds like he took you for a spin.

    Doesn¡¯t sound like anything serious happened. If he had really left you in a deserted area, I don¡¯t think

    you would be sitting here now. You would probably still be there crying.¡± Cheng Xiangyun tried to

    analyze the situation.

    Ning Ran was momentarily stunned. That actually made some sense.

    ¡°No! It wasn¡¯t like that!¡±

    ¡°Then what was it like?¡±

    ¡°He did it deliberately to teach me a lesson. I was followed by some drunkards and was in so much

    danger!¡±

    The thought of that gave Ning Ran shudders.

    ¡°And then?¡±

    ¡°And then he drove back, charged towards those people, and they ran off.¡±

    ¡°So, he saved you. You should be grateful to him then. Why did you scold him?¡±

    ¡°I¡­..This¡­¡­¡± Ning Ran suddenly didn¡¯t know what to say.

    Then she started panicking. ¡°Aunt! You should be on my side! He was the one who put me in danger in

    the first ce. Why should I be grateful to him? If someone pushed you into the drain and pulled you

    out afterwards, would you thank him?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun gave it some thought. ¡°So, what is it that we are discussing now? Whether he should

    have saved you? Or whether you should have scolded him?¡±

    ¡°No, we are discussing how to get the kids back! I scolded him and offended him. He would definitely

    not give them back.¡±

    ¡°I see.¡± Cheng Xiangyun nodded. ¡°This is not easy. Why don¡¯t you let me shower and sleep first. We

    can talk about it tomorrow. After I am well-rested and refreshed, I am sure I wille up with some

    great ideas!¡± Cheng Xiangyun scooted off after talking, ignoring Ning Ran who was yelling after her.

    It was her wish for Ning Ran to marry into the Nan family.

    ¡­¡­

    After Nan Chen returned to the Commoner Residence, he took a bath and changed out of the white

    suit, into home clothes. He walked towards the nursery, which was exceptionally spacious.

    The bodyguard who was standing at the door was about to greet Nan Chen, when he put a finger to his

    mouth, signaling at him not to make any noise.

    It waste. He did not want to arouse the kids.

    Erbao was in cartoon pajamas and holding a soft toy. She was sleeping soundly in a funny position.

    At first, Nan Chen was still angry over what happened with Ning Ran. Looking at what¡¯s in front of him,

    he couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    After covering her with a nket, he left the room.

    Just as Nan Chen entered Dabao¡¯s room, Dabao sat up and turned on the nightmp.

    ¡°Sorry, did I wake you up?¡± Nan Chen felt bad.

    ¡°No, uncle. I haven¡¯t fallen asleep yet.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯ste, why haven¡¯t you slept? Is it because you are not used to a new environment?¡± Nan Chen sat

    next to Dabao¡¯s bed and asked him to lie down.

    Dabao lied down obediently. ¡°Why didn¡¯t mommye pick us up?¡±

    Nan Chen could feel his hatred for Ning Ran rising. This woman, you were fooling around while the

    kids were missing you!

    But Nan Chen was not going to talk bad about Ning Ran in front of the kids. ¡°Mommy had an important

    shoot tonight, so she had to workte. She didn¡¯t pick you up because she felt it was toote. Sleep

    well here tonight, ok?¡±

    ¡°Then, did mommy call us?¡±

    Nan Chen nodded. ¡°She did. I told mommy that you kids are asleep.¡±

    ¡°Uncle, are we friends?¡± Dabao suddenly asked.

    Nan Chen was momentarily stunned by the sudden question. ¡°Of course! We are best friends. We can

    talk about anything.¡± Nan Chen nodded.

    We can talk about anything. That was what Dabao wanted to hear.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, there are a few things I want to ask uncle, but I am afraid you will be angry with me.¡±

    Dabao said, testing the waters.

    Dabao was too mature and obedient for his age that Nan Chen pitied him at times. He felt that children

    should be like children. If he was this mature, he would not be able to experience the joys of childhood.

    Nan Chen patted Dabao¡¯s head gently. ¡°You can ask anything you want. Uncle promise I won¡¯t be

    angry.¡±

    ¡°Uncle doesn¡¯t like mommy, right?¡±

    Nan Chen did not expect such a question. He did not know how to answer.

    Why is Dabao always so sharp? He is so young but already so sensitive.

    ¡°Dabao, things that happen between adults are sometimes veryplicated. It is not as simple as

    those of children¡¯s. So, it is not purely a matter of likes and dislikes. Your mommy is a very wonderful

    person.¡±

    ¡°She raised you and Erbao singlehandedly while working. Oh, she is also a very talented actress. I am

    sure she will be a top star in the future. She is also very dedicated to her work. She is great.¡±

    Nan Chen realized that the praises he had for Ning Ran were genuine.

    This woman seemed to have quite a few merits too.

    ¡°Then why doesn¡¯t uncle like mommy?¡± Dabao pressed on.

    Because she is a loose woman,cks virtue, is very scheming, and disrespectful!

    Nan Chen wanted to let that all out, but he could not do so.

    No matter what, he would never talk bad about parents in front of the kid.

    After Dabao grows up, develops his own value systems, and knows how to differentiate right from

    wrong, he would have his own judgement of the situation.

    Nan Chen would not force his beliefs on the child. To him, that would be wrong and irresponsible.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.

    ¡°It is tooplicated. Let¡¯s not discuss this right now. You will understand after you grow up. Just

    remember that mommy, daddy and uncle all love you very much.¡± Nan Chen said in a gentle voice.

    Dabao¡¯s bright eyes shone like stars under the dim light.

    Nan Chen loved the children so much. He was willing to sacrifice everything to ensure the happiness of

    the children.

    ¡°Ok. I will remember that.¡± Dabao nodded his head.

    ¡°You should really sleep now. You have school tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Can I ask another question?¡± Dabao looked at Nan Chen with his big, wishful eyes.

    ¡°Ok. Last one.¡±

    ¡°Why is uncle pretending to be dad?¡±

    Yet another sharp question!

    Nan Chen was a little tired. It was difficult to answer this kid¡¯s questions. Even more difficult than most

    questions asked by adults.

    Because it¡¯s fun? Because it¡¯s interesting? Because I want to experience being someone else?

    Any one of those answers would work for other people, but it was not that easy to convince Dabao.

    This child¡¯s IQ and EQ were both way above average, and he would not buy it easily.

    ¡°I am not so sure myself either. You know, sometimes people do things that even they themselves don¡¯t

    understand. This could be my situation now. Do you know what I am saying?¡±

    Nan Chen felt that he was telling the truth. Indeed, he wasn¡¯t sure why he was doing that.

    What scared him was that it was addictive. He felt like he wanted to keep doing it.

    But afterwards, he would be gued with guilt. That caused a lot of inner conflict for him.

    Dabao nodded. ¡°Why don¡¯t I analyze the situation for uncle?¡±

    Nan Chen was flustered and waved his hands. ¡°There¡¯s not a need, really.¡±

    He wasn¡¯t sure why he was so afraid to hear Dabao¡¯s analysis. Maybe it¡¯s because Dabao might say

    something that would scare him? Or embarrass him?

    Dabao had an amused glint in his eyes. I didn¡¯t know that even uncle had moments of weakness.

    So the books were right. The most difficult thing for a person was to face his own true feelings.

    It¡¯s easy to lie to others, but not to oneself.

    We all want to be understood. But how can we expect others to understand us when even we did not

    understand ourselves?

    ¡°Ok then. Goodnight, uncle.¡±

    ¡°Goodnight.¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 156

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 156

    Next day, at the Flower City International Airport.

    Nan Xing, dressed in a white suit, exited through the VIP passage with his assistant.

    He looked around for reporters, but did not see any.

    ¡°I, Master Nan Xing, returning to Flower City is such an important event. How can there not be a single

    reporter? Where have they all gone?¡± Nan Xing frowned.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Xing, the reason we are using the VIP passage is to avoid the reporters.¡± His assistant

    reminded him.

    ¡°Why should we be avoiding the reporters? Am I not dashing enough for the cameras?¡±

    ¡°Of course not! Mr. Nan Xing has good looks that are against heaven¡¯s will. We are avoiding the

    reporters because we need to keep a low profile.¡± The assistant said.

    ¡°Why should I keep a low profile? Isn¡¯t my brother the one who should be keeping a low profile?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Nan Xing, it was you who gave special orders for us to keep a low profile.¡± The assistant

    answered.

    ¡°Did I say that?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Ok, then a low profile it shall be.¡±

    After saying that, Nan Xing pointed to the area opposite them. ¡°See that big LED screen over there?

    Contact the airport, train stations and bus terminals. I want the best locations to disy the

    announcement for my wedding.¡±

    ¡°Loop the announcements non-stop, twenty-four hours a day. I want the entire country, no, entire world

    to know that I am getting married!¡±

    ¡°Errr¡­¡­¡± The attendant appeared reluctant.

    ¡°Is there a problem?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t Mr. Nan Xing want to keep a low profile? If that¡¯s the case¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this already considered low profile? It is only outdoor advertisements. If I am not keeping a low

    profile, I would have wanted the advertisements to be on TV! Although I do want to keep a low profile,

    after all, I am Nan Xing. Does it make sense if no one knows about my wedding?!¡± Nan Xing yelled.

    The assistant did not dare utter another word. He was just a sried employee and did not want to get

    into any trouble.

    ¡°Ok, Mr. Nan Xing. I will do as you instructed immediately.¡±

    ¡°Oh, and don¡¯t let my brother know about this.¡± Nan Xing added.

    ¡°This could be quite challenging. Once the advertisements are out, there is always a chance that Mr.

    Nan Chen would see it. After all, they would be disyed twenty-four hours a day at all the prime

    locations in the city.¡±

    That made sense to Nan Xing. If the advertisements were going to be disyed all over the city, what

    were the chances that Nan Chen wouldn¡¯t see any of them?

    ¡°Then let¡¯s do this. Make it the advertisingpany¡¯s idea instead. Say that the advertisingpany

    insisted on giving it to me as a wedding gift. I knew nothing about it!¡±

    Nan Xing was pleased with his idea. He felt like a genius.

    ¡°Errr¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Just do as I say. This is it!¡± Nan Xing decided.

    Half an hourter, at Nan Chen¡¯s office.

    ¡°Brother! I am back!¡± Nan Xing slumped onto the sofa. ¡°I¡¯m dead beat! Brother, please don¡¯t deploy me

    to Africa again after I am married. It¡¯s way too tiring!¡±

    There was no reply.

    Nan Xing suddenly realized that Nan Chen didn¡¯t look happy; it felt like dark clouds were looming

    above.

    He tried to look more serious. After all, they were at Nan Chen¡¯s office. He could not appear to be too

    frivolous.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen, Nan Xing has sessfullypleted his mission to Africa, please give me your next

    instructions!¡± Nan Xing pretended to say in a serious tone.

    ¡°You are intending to disy the announcement of your wedding all over the city? Marriage is your

    private affair. You shouldn¡¯t be using thepany¡¯s resources.¡± Nan Chen said without lifting his head.

    Which bas***d let out the news! Nan Xing silently cursed. He already knew about it before the

    advertisements were even disyed?

    ¡°Stop wondering who told me. The advertisingpanies are all subsidiaries of the Nanshi

    Corporation. You think you can hide it from me? What a joke.¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    Nan Xing hurriedly put up a smiling face. ¡°The assistants were the ones who came up with the idea. I

    kept emphasizing on keeping a low profile, but they just won¡¯t listen! I would have never agreed toAll rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    kicking up such a big fuss!¡±

    ¡°It has already been cancelled.¡± That was all Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s great! That was what I intended to do. It is just a wedding ceremony, no need for all that!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t mean that. I meant that the wedding has been called off.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Nan Xing was stunned.

    Cancelling the announcements was not a big issue. But what did he mean by the wedding being called

    off?

    ¡°Brother, what do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°It means exactly that. The wedding has been called off.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Why is that so? I had already nned out the wedding ceremony when I was on the ne. How can it

    be cancelled so suddenly?¡± Nan Xing grew anxious.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Nan Chen started to feel bad about it.

    ¡°Don¡¯t say sorry. I don¡¯t want to hear that. I want to get married!¡± Nan Xing yelled.

    Nan Chen stood up and paced about the office.

    ¡°Nan Xing, do you trust me?¡±

    ¡°Of course, you are my brother, if I can¡¯t trust you, who else can I trust? I have looked up to you since

    young, you know that.¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°Ok. Have I been wrong in any of the decisions I made on your behalf?¡± Nan Chen looked at Nan Xing.

    Nan Xing pondered over it. ¡°Nope¡­¡­other than deploying me to Africa.¡±

    ¡°Your deployment to Africa is a part of your training. Don¡¯t you think that you have matured in your

    abilities while holding the fort there?¡±

    ¡°Brother, you can¡¯t be thinking of sending me to Africa again, right?¡± Nan Xing was horrified.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this first. If you trust me, then you have to trust me again this time. Don¡¯t marry that

    woman.¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    Nan Xing stood up too. ¡°But you were the one who asked me to marry her. How can you change your

    mind like that? Why don¡¯t I have any say at all in this matter. I am the one getting married. Why should I

    listen to everything you say? Brother, no matter how much I trust you, this is my private affair. Don¡¯t you

    think you are too much?¡±

    Feeling pained, Nan Chen shut his eyes.

    This was exactly what he worried most ¡ª that his rtionship with Nan Xing would be strained

    because of this situation.

    Indeed, Nan Xing had always listened to him since young.

    What¡¯s worse was that although they were twins, their positions in thepany were totally different.

    Nan Chen held the highest position in the Nanshi Corporation and had absolute power over the

    company¡¯s matters.

    Under usual circumstances, this would cause feelings of jealousy and hatred among brothers, and

    even power struggles.

    However, Nan Xing was never like that. He had always been a strong support to his brother. When Nan

    Chen was under stress, Nan Xing would do anything to share his burdens and never added to it.

    They were two people who looked exactly the same. However, one was like a blooming flower while

    the other happily assumed the role of an apanying leaf. What a rare urrence that was.

    Nan Chen was well aware of that, so all along, he had doted on his brother very much.

    Because he cared for his brother so much, he would never let that woman cause any harm to his

    brother.

    That was the first time his brothershed out at him. And it was all because of that woman.

    He let out a long sigh. ¡°Nan Xing, I am not trying to control your life. But I can¡¯t possibly push you into a

    trap when I know that will send you to your grave.¡±

    ¡°What grave? Don¡¯t tell me you also believe in that kind of nonsense where marriage is the grave of

    love? But even if it is really a trap, I will still willingly walk into it!¡± Nan Xing was angry for real this time.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 157

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 157

    Nan Chen did not speak anymore. Looking at how angry Nan Xing was, he was not sure if he would tell

    Nan Xing everything that had happened.

    Saying the words out was not difficult, but there were some things he needed to consider. For one, Nan

    Xing may not believe what he said. If that was the case, the rift between them may deepen.

    Nan Xing might even misunderstand him and turn against him instead, thinking that he made up tales

    about his lover just because he objected to the marriage.

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    If that was the case, things would be even worse.

    ¡°Brother, tell me, why did you say marrying Ding Mi is a trap? We already have kids together, why are

    you still objecting to our marriage? Why?!¡±

    Nan Xing got increasingly agitated.

    Right from the start, Nan Chen did not agree to the marriage. But Nan Chen was also eventually the

    one who asked him toe back to get married.

    Nan Xing was so excited when he heard that. He was so happy that he couldn¡¯t sleep for a few days.

    But once he returned to Flower City, Nan Chen suddenly changed his mind!

    It felt like torture to Nan Xing. It was as though his brother had yed a prank on him.

    Nan Chen thought for a while before deciding not to tell Nan Xing about what had happened between

    Ning Ran and that guy who drove a BMW.

    Not only that, there were too many matters about Ning Ran that he wanted to say. But none of them

    were easy to bring up.

    Nan Chen wanted to find a way to stop the marriage and at the same time, protect Nan Xing from

    getting hurt.

    It wasn¡¯t an easy task. He had to think of a perfect n.

    ¡°Brother, say something! Why are you keeping quiet?¡± Nan Xing pressed on.

    ¡°Nan Xing, if you trust me, you will know that I have my reasons in saying that. If you don¡¯t trust me,

    nothing I say will mean anything.¡±

    ¡°I do trust you. I have always trusted you. But I hope that you can consider my feelings too. You can¡¯t

    keep changing your mind about my marriage. That¡¯s so unfair!¡± Nan Xing yelled.

    ¡°Ning Ran is not willing to sign any prenuptial agreement. Do you think that is ok?¡±

    Nan Xing was stunned for a moment. ¡°Did she say that herself?¡±

    ¡°Yup. She brought it up herself.¡± Nan Chen nodded.

    ¡°She has even thought about that?¡± Nan Xing couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing.

    ¡°It just shows that she is very scheming. Don¡¯t underestimate her.¡±

    Nan Chen finally thought of a reason to object to the marriage. He heaved a sigh of relief.

    Most importantly, Ning Ran was the one who brought up the topic of prenuptial agreement. That made

    it more convincing.

    ¡°I can convince her to sign it. I will make her understand that the purpose of signing the prenuptial

    agreement is not for my personal gain. It concerns the assets of the entire Nan family. We have to look

    at the big picture.¡± Nan Xing would not relent.

    ¡°Do you really think you can convince her?¡± Nan Xing asked coldly.

    ¡°I think I can. She is not a bad woman. She is just very outspoken and cane across as insensitive

    at times.¡±

    ¡°She also said that if she marries you, you cannot divorce her in the next fifty years. If you do that, she

    will get two-thirds of your total assets. Are you agreeable to that?¡±

    ¡°Yup. Ok.¡±

    He said ok?! Nan Chen was taken aback by Nan Xing¡¯s reply.

    ¡°Practically speaking, that will bind you for the rest of your life. Are you ok with that?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s there to be not agreeable to? Since I want to marry her, it means that I want to spend the rest

    of my life with her. Fifty years is really no big deal. Even if it¡¯s seventy years, or a hundred years, I

    would still say yes.¡± Nan Xing continued, ignoring Nan Chen¡¯s bewilderment.

    ¡°We already have two kids together. Why would I want to divorce her and find a stepmom for the kids?

    Even though I am no saint, I still have a clear mind when ites to major decisions like this. I may

    have fooled around for quite a bit in the past, but once I get married, I intend for it tost. So Ning

    Ran¡¯s request is not too much for me.¡±

    Nan Xing was known for being a rich yboy in Flower City. There were countless women, including

    actresses and socialites, who were associated with him.

    As such, Nan Chen did not expect to hear those wordsing from his brother.

    Nan Chen was caught off guard this time. It was totally different from what he had expected.

    He thought that those reasons were definitely sufficient to make Nan Xing fume. But that was not what

    Nan Xing was thinking!

    Did he really need to tell Nan Xing that Ning Ran had an affair with another man?

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, you can try talking to her.¡±

    Nan Chen suddenly felt irritable. He didn¡¯t expect things to turn out this way!

    Nan Xing stood up and said, ¡°Brother, I really hope you can give us your blessings. As my beloved

    brother, I hope that you can try to think from my perspective.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded. He suddenly felt like a failure.

    It felt as though he had lost to that woman, because it was obvious that he had lost Nan Xing¡¯s trust.

    Nan Xing appeared outside the preschool in the afternoon.

    Erbao rushed into his arms. ¡°Daddy.¡± she said affectionately.

    Dabao walked over slowly, observing Nan Xing. He needed to confirm that this person was really his

    dad, and not his uncle.

    ¡°My dear girl, daddy missed you so much! How are you?¡± Nan Xing lifted Erbao over his head.

    ¡°Daddy, you miss me so soon? Didn¡¯t we just meet?¡±

    ¡°I just came back. When did I see you?¡± Nan Xing was confused.

    Dabao was flustered. If this conversation continues, uncle is going to be exposed!

    ¡°Dad, what are we going to eatter?¡± Dabao tried to change the topic.

    ¡°We will go pick mommy up, and ask her what she feels like eating. After that, we will decide on a

    ce, ok?¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°Yay! ok!¡± Erbao pped her hands excitedly.

    Half an hourter, Nan Xing arrived at the ce the crew was filming at.

    He walked towards the crew, holding his children¡¯s hands.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Chen is here, Mr. Nan Chen is here!¡±

    Upon hearing the arrival of Nan Chen, the crew rushed to inform the director. Everyone stopped work

    at once to wee him.

    ¡°ck refers to Nan Chen, and white is associated with Nan Xing. Use somemon sense, guys!¡±

    Nan Xing yelled impatiently.

    However, other than the Nan family and a few other families of the upper ss, no one else was aware

    of this arrangement.

    None of the crew members were members of the upper ss. Naturally, no one knew about it.

    As such, most people incorrectly identified Nan Xing as Nan Chen.

    In the past, Nan Xing had never bothered to exin. But just for today, he did not want to be

    misunderstood.

    That was because he was the man Ning Ran was going to marry. He did not want people to think that

    he was his brother, Nan Chen.

    ¡°I am Nan Xing, not Nan Chen. Look carefully.¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Young Master Nan Xing. Young Master Nan Xing is gracing us with your presence. Please

    forgive us for not receiving you properly.¡±

    It didn¡¯t matter if it was Nan Chen or Nan Xing ¡ª both were important people.

    Nan Xing waved them off. ¡°What¡¯s with these cut and dried courtesy words? Do you think you are

    rehearsing lines from the script? Where is my wife?¡±

    ¡°Your wife?¡± The director did not understand.

    ¡°My wife Ding Mi. Where is she? I am here to fetch her home.¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°She is still shooting inside.¡±

    ¡°She is done for the day. I am going to take her home. Shoot her part on another day. We have a family

    reunion today.¡±

    Although Nan Xing was not as autocratic as Nan Chen, he also spoke in a domineering manner.

    After all, he was from the Nan family. It was in his blood to be domineering.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 158

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 158

    ¡°My wife! My lovely wife!¡± Nan Chen shouted as he walked in. No one dared to stop him. Ning Ran was

    still in the midst of shooting a scene when she suddenly heard someone calling out for his wife, but she

    did not expect it to be herself.

    Although she already had two kids, Ning Ran had never properly dated before. As such, she would

    never rte the word ¡°wife¡± to herself. It was a word which felt very distant to her.

    That was until she heard Erbao¡¯s affectionate voice. ¡°Mommy¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°I think I heard my daughter¡¯s voice. Let me go out and take a look first.¡± Ning Ran walked out, still

    dressed in her character¡¯s costume.

    Ning Ran was wearing a purple cheongsam that had perfectly showcased her good figure. She looked

    so ttering in it that Nan Xing could not stop staring at her.

    He took out his phone to take a picture of her.

    No one was allowed to take any photographs at the filming location. It was to prevent the leakage of

    any photos.

    Any photos rted to the production could only be distributed through official channels. The crew

    members were all required to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Thepany would take legal action

    against those who leaked out any photos.

    Naturally, Ning Ran knew that too as she was involved in the production. ¡°No photo-taking is allowed

    here!¡± She stopped Nan Xing immediately.

    ¡°How is that possible? I have to take a picture of my beautiful wife. Not only am I going to take a

    picture, I am also going to upload it onto all my social media ounts.¡±

    Nan Xing continued to snap photos using his phone.

    ¡°You really can¡¯t do that. There are rules to follow here!¡± Ning Ran was getting flustered.

    As she was the leading actress and Nan Xing was there to visit her, if any photos were leaked, the

    responsibility would be hers.

    As such, she had to stop Nan Xing from doing that.

    Not to mention, she really hated Nan Xing now, because he had left her all alone at that deserted

    ce. It was a deep grudge and she would not forgive him so easily.

    Because of that, which Nan Xing was not aware of, the way in which she looked at Nan Xing was full of

    hatred and disdain.

    Nan Xing was not stupid. He could feel Ning Ran¡¯s hostility towards him.

    He thought it was because of his attempt to take photos of her. As such, he kept his phone.

    ¡°Fine, fine. I won¡¯t take any pictures, ok? You don¡¯t have to be so angry.¡±

    Just then, someone else walked over. It was Tang Jing, who was highly educated. She had a scene to

    shoot today as well, and had just walked out from the dressing room.

    This tall and handsome man standing in front of her immediately attracted her attention. He is so darn

    handsome! She thought to herself.

    He did not look like one of those flower boys, but rather, he was manly and exuded an air of nobility.

    There was no need for any further introduction. One would know at once that this man was definitely

    from a distinguished family.

    Tang Jing had never met Nan Chen in person before. She only saw his photos on the inte.

    Tang Jing was also aware that Nan Chen was the main investor for the production.

    Naturally, Tang Jing thought that this man was Nan Chen.

    As Nan Chen was a legend, Tang Jing wanted to impress him.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    However, she pretended not to recognize him. She asked Ning Ran, ¡°Ding Mi, is this your husband?

    Aren¡¯t you going to introduce him to us?¡±

    Ning Ran was still annoyed with Nan Xing and was in no mood for any introductions. She merely said,

    ¡°This is Nan Xing, and he is not my husband. I¡¯m not close to him.¡±

    Nan Xing did not know if he should beughing or get angry. They already had two kids together. We¡¯re

    not close to each other?

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Mr. Nan. I¡¯m Tang Jing. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡±

    Tang Jing thought that Nan Xing would have heard of her name at the least, as no one else in the

    entertainment industry was as highly educated as her. She was expecting Nan Xing to be surprised to

    know that she was Tang Jing.

    However, she did not know that Nan Xing had just returned from Africa and was not kept up to date

    with the happenings in the entertainment industry.

    Furthermore, Tang Jing had only gained some poprity recently, so Nan Xing had really never heard

    of her name.

    Even if he had, he would not have remembered, because he had focused all his energy and attention

    on Ning Ran. He had no interest in other female actresses and would not pay attention to any of them.

    As such, Nan Xing hardly gave any response. He only looked at her for a second, before turning his

    attention back to Ning Ran.

    Tang Jing felt very hurt.

    However, she kept a smile on her face and did not show her disappointment.

    Next, she walked towards Dabao and Erbao and lowered herself to the height of the kids. ¡°Wow, what a

    good-looking pair of kids. I have never met such gorgeous kids!¡±

    Even though she sounded like she was exaggerating, it was the truth.

    Dabao and Erbao both had stunningly good looks.

    ¡°Hello, big sister.¡± Erbao addressed Tang Jing affectionately. Erbao was delighted to have been

    complimented on her looks.

    ¡°Oh my, did you just call me big sister? I suddenly feel so much younger! What¡¯s your name, darling?¡±

    Tang Jing started to y with the kids. This effectively neutralized the awkward tension with Nan Xing.

    She was a woman with a high EQ. Indeed, she behaved like someone who was highly educated.

    ¡°My name is Ning Sihan. This is my brother Ning Sirui. We are both geniuses.¡± Erbao said.

    Ning Ran shot Erbao a stare. This girl had never been afraid of strangers. It was just their first meeting

    and she already started to praise herself. Hats off to her!

    Tang Jing was amused by Erbao. She had never met a kid like that.

    The way Tang Jing interacted with the kids caught Nan Xing¡¯s attention.

    ¡°My lovely wife, should we invite your fellow actress to eat with us?¡± Nan Xing looked towards Ning

    Ran.

    ¡°We have a shoot to finish. Can you stop disturbing us? Bring the kids back first.¡± Ning Ran frowned.

    ¡°We are done for the day. Since you guys have ns, we will continue with the shoot another day.¡± The

    director said quickly.

    The other crew members were stunned. Before Nan Xing arrived, the director was still shouting at

    everyone to speed the shooting process up. No one was allowed to leave before midnight!

    The director had a hundred and eighty degree change in attitude!

    ¡°Director¡­¡­¡±

    Ning Ran wanted to say something, but was waved off by the director. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I was also nning

    to wrap up early tonight. Just go ahead!¡±

    What a snob! Ning Ran thought to herself.

    Before Nan Xing arrived, you were still screaming at us to hurry. And now, you are just stopping like

    that? C¡¯mon, be more principled!

    ¡°My lovely wife, you see, the director has given us his permission. Let¡¯s go, I don¡¯t think you have to

    change. You look fantastic in this outfit.¡± Nan Xing wanted to leave immediately.

    ¡°I am not going. Even if we are wrapped up for the day, I am still not going to go.¡± Ning Ran said.

    Now, it was the director to be stunned. You are not going? If you are not going, what is the point of me

    calling the shoot off early?

    If you don¡¯t go, Young Master Nan Xing would think that his ns were disrupted because of our shoot

    and put the me on me!

    ¡°I think you should go; Ding Mi. Young Master Nan Xing drove a distance to just to pick you up. It¡¯s not

    very nice if you don¡¯t go.¡± The director tried to persuade Ning Ran.

    ¡°He¡¯s right, he¡¯s right.¡± Nan Xing agreed.

    ¡°He may poison me. I can¡¯t eat with him. Besides, who said he drove from a ce far away? Is it even

    considered a far distance from town to here?¡± Ning Ran snapped.

    ¡°I did actuallye from a distance away. I came to look for you once I got back from Africa.¡±

    ¡°Where did you say you came from?¡±

    ¡°Africa.¡±

    ¡°Are you lying to me in broad daylight? Last night, we were even¡­¡­¡±

    Ning Ran stopped herself. She could not possibly say all of that in front of everyone.

    Dabao was flustered too. Oh no! It¡¯s going to be exposed. This conversation needs to stop!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 159

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 159

    Ning Ran felt that the crew would continue to make fun of them if she and Nan Xing were to continue to

    make a scene there. The two of them went out, as they did not want to be theughing stock of

    the day.

    The moment they stepped out; a BMW approached them. The car door opened, and there emerged a

    man with a bouquet of flowers. This man was tall and slender, d in a proper suit and shoes, exactly

    like a member of the elite ss.

    He was also good looking and gave off a vibe which fit the profile of a typical white-cored handsome

    man. But he had a bruise on his face. Someone must have punched him.

    Ning Ran¡¯s head began to hurt the minute she saw him. That was Feng Minsheng. It was because of

    him that Ning Ran was left in the wild. Ning Ran thought, why is this joker here? How did he

    know I¡¯m here for filming? Who informed him?

    Ning Ran couldn¡¯t help but to think of the possible conspiracy theories at y. Feng Minsheng lifted up

    his head and saw Ning Ran, and then spotted Nan Xing beside her.

    He stopped walking after seeing Nan Xing, as his presence reminded him of what had happened

    yesterday. Clearly, he was still traumatized from the attack.

    Nan Xing saw the man with flowers, but did not recognize him.

    There were many gorgeous actresses in the cast, so it was not umon for good looking men to

    come visit.

    Nan Xing thought that he must be the boyfriend of some actress, and was not bothered by it. He took a

    quick nce at him, and looked away.

    Ning Ran was relieved when she saw Feng Minsheng no longer walking towards her. He had stayed

    away to avoid unnecessary conflicts. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t know how to handle the situation.

    Feng Minsheng¡¯s phone rang abruptly. After answering the call, he looked a little dejected, with a hint of

    fear on his expression.

    Out of a sudden, he sped up and caught up to Ning Ran, who was about to get into the car. He

    shouted, ¡°Ran!¡±

    ¡®Ran¡¯? Who else in the cast was called Ran other than his children¡¯s mother? Nan Xing immediately

    became alert.

    I, her husband, have never called her so dearly, and this guy dares to call her ¡®Ran¡¯?

    ¡°Who¡¯s this? Is he calling you?¡± Nan Xing looked at Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran thought, are you serious? You almost beat the life out of him, and now

    you don¡¯t recognize him? What kind of logic is this?

    ¡°Haven¡¯t I told you, he¡­¡±

    And there came Feng Minsheng, who handed the flowers to Ning Ran, ¡°Ran, this is for you.¡±

    Ning Ran did not ept the bouquet, ¡°Thanks, but I cannot ept this. Please do note to find me

    anymore to avoid any misunderstanding.¡±

    Of course, she had said this in front of Nan Xing intentionally because she was afraid that he might

    punch him again.

    ¡°Ran, I¡¯m serious. Please ept the bouquet, these flowers are for a beauty like you¡­¡­.¡±

    ¡°Wait a second!¡± Nan Xing came over and looked at Feng Minsheng, ¡°Who are you? How dare you call

    her Ran?¡±

    ¡°Just because you think you¡¯re handsome, so you cane disturb my wife. You came with a bouquet

    of flowers. I once gave her 999 flowers exactly at the same spot, and she totally ignored me. And you

    think you¡¯re very cool now?¡±

    Feng Minsheng was afraid to look at Nan Xing, as he was worried this man might punch him again.

    Even though his legs were trembling, he had to do this.

    ¡°Who exactly are you? What¡¯s your rtionship with my wife?¡± Nan Xing continued to ask.

    Feng Minsheng dared not answer, and his hands, which still had the bouquet on, were quavering as

    well.

    ¡°Honey, if he doesn¡¯t wish to say, you tell me then. Who is he?¡± Nan Xing turned his attention to Ning

    Ran.

    Ning Ran did not know how to keep the act anymore. Did Nan Xing do this on purpose? Obviously he

    knows this guy. He even beat him up before, yet now pretends he doesn¡¯t know anything?

    ¡°That¡¯s enough, let¡¯s go.¡± Ning Ran was annoyed.

    ¡°No. You tell me who he is first, or else we are not leaving! You¡¯re my wife. He came to visit you with

    flowers. There must be something wrong. Who is he? Tell me!¡± Nan Xing was agitated.

    Feng Minsheng was confused. Did this man suffer a memory loss after attacking me?

    I could almost smell death when he threw a punch at me, yet now he¡¯s acting all innocent like he didn¡¯t

    know me. Is he afraid that I might take legal actions against him?

    It was totally awkward. Dabao was observing at a corner and roughly knew what had happened.

    ¡°Daddy, I¡¯m hungry.¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°Me too.¡± Erbao added, as he was famished.

    ¡°Hang on, let me take care of this situation first, then we¡¯ll go¡­¡±

    ¡°Daddy, he¡¯s just one of mummy¡¯s fans, let¡¯s not make things difficult for him¡­¡± Dabao persuaded.

    ¡°Fan?¡± Nan Xing looked at Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran nodded in agreement, because she did not want to turn this into a big issue. Whatever¡­

    ¡°Fans these days behave like this? Coming to the filming location with a bouquet?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    ¡°And what¡¯s with the bruises on your face? Got punched by someone huh? Did you seduce someone¡¯s

    wife and got beaten up? Looks like you¡¯re that kind of person!¡± Nan Xing chided.

    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Feng Minsheng and Ning Ran did not know what was going on in Nan Xing¡¯s mind. Aren¡¯t you the one

    who did it?!

    ¡°Let¡¯s go daddy. You should be more magnanimous. What would others think if they find out you can¡¯t

    tolerate fans expressing their love for mummy?¡± Dabao said.

    Dabao was not usually a talkative person but he made an exception this time, with the intention of

    wanting to separate the two of them.

    Of course he was not hungry. He was just afraid that the fact that Third Uncle impersonating Daddy all

    this while would be exposed if this drama continued to unfold.

    He had no choice but to meddle in an affair that he normally had no interest in, to protect Third Uncle¡¯s

    secret.

    That did knock some senses into him. My son is right, I¡¯m a young master of the Nan family, why am I

    throwing a tantrum at a fan?

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll heed my son¡¯s advice. Please leave and don¡¯te back. I will not let you off easily if I see

    you again.¡± Nan Xing warned.

    ¡°I love Ran with all my heart. We grew up together and had a close rtionship with each other. I will

    not give up on her.¡± Feng Minsheng mumbled.

    He bit his lips after mumbling because he was nervous, and was afraid of being attacked again.

    Those words added fuel to the fire. Nan Xing thought, Are you trying to humiliate me when I¡¯m about to

    let you off?

    Though not as bad-tempered as Nan Chen, Nan Xing was also not someone to fool with.

    ¡°Did you hear what I said?¡± Nan Xing asked coldly.

    Feng Minsheng did not dare to utter a word and tried to avoid having eye contact with him. He just

    stood in front of them quietly.

    ¡°Come on Daddy, let him go.¡± Dabao came to the rescue for the second time.

    ¡°He¡¯s right. Even kids are not bothered by this. Why are you being so childish?¡± Ning Ran reprimanded.

    Crew members began to surround them and waited for the drama to unfold. Tang Jing was one of

    them.

    Ever since she had be a part of the cast, Tang Jing had noticed that every crewmember would

    show respect to Ning Ran. On the contrary, she felt that her position was threatened.

    Soon, she realized, people respected her because she had the Nan family¡¯s support.

    She even heard of a rumor that the crew got rid of the previous female lead, Luo Fei, just to pave the

    way for Ning Ran.

    So she had to be cautious and constantly observe everything in silence.

    But this did not mean that she would just go with the flow and ept this as a matter of fact.

    After witnessing the sh between Feng Minsheng and Nan Xing, Tang Jing knew that she would

    eventually have a chance.

    But to Tang Jing¡¯s disappointment, the drama ended too soon, with Feng Minsheng¡¯s cowardly

    departure from the scene.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 160

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 160

    Knowing Erbao enjoyed kid-friendly restaurants, Nan Xing picked one that was situated in a strategic

    location.

    Nan Xing did not request the boss to close off the restaurant for them, so it was able to operate as

    usual, with the presence of many other children.

    Erbao liked to be in a crowd and enjoyed such an atmosphere. There was not only nice food but also

    other children to y with.

    After their meal, Dabao took Erbao to the y zone, while Nan Xing and Ning Ran had drinks at the

    rest area.

    Ning Ran felt sleepy right after leaning against the chair. She still hated him for leaving her at the

    suburb, and had no intention of talking to him.

    But it was not the same for Nan Xing. An opportunity arose for them to spend some quality time alone

    ¡ª how could he let her go to sleep just like this?

    ¡°Hey, hey.¡± Nan Xing poked Ning Ran with his fingers. Ning Ran brushed him aside impatiently. ¡°What

    are you doing, stop touching me.¡±

    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s talk. The kids probably are going to spend a long time in the y zone.¡±

    ¡°Did I say we¡¯re leaving now? I¡¯m tired. Just let me take a nap.¡± Ning Ran said sluggishly.

    ¡°Oh,e on, let¡¯s have some fun ourselves too!¡± Nan Xing¡¯s spirit was dampened.

    ¡°What fun?¡±

    ¡°Now that we have an opportunity to spend some time together, I think we shouldmunicate.¡± Nan

    Xing begged pitifully.

    ¡°I have nothing to talk to you about.¡± Ning Ran responded coldly.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t be like this. I want to discuss our wedding with you.¡±

    ¡°What wedding? I thought you¡¯ve decided to call it off? Married or not, I don¡¯t care, and now you still

    want to humiliate me with this matter again?¡± Ning Ran was enraged.

    Nan Xing was stunned for a moment. He could not understand why she was offended.

    Aren¡¯t we having a nice conversation? Why would she throw a fit out of a sudden?

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say we¡¯re not getting married, I¡­¡±

    ¡°Stop bothering me with this, I¡¯m warning you, Nan Xing. I know the Nan family is rich, but stop using

    this fact to put pressure on others.¡± She said. ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me about the wedding or marriage. If I do

    not want to marry, then I will not! This sassy mother here doesn¡¯t care even if your family is rich!¡± Ning

    Ran eximed in anger.

    Nan Xing was shocked, ¡°How dare you call yourself ¡®mother¡¯ in front of me! You¡¯re the kid¡¯s mother,

    yes, but you¡¯re not mine!¡±

    Ning Ran too felt those harsh words she spewed were a little inappropriate.

    ¡°I mean, I¡¯m the mother to my kids, not yours. Don¡¯t twist my words.¡±

    Nan Xing was about to cry. I twisted your words? I intentionally twisted your words so I could call you

    my mother??

    ¡°Ranran¡­¡±

    Ning Ran lifted her hand and interrupted Nan Xing, ¡°Call me Ding Mi, thank you.¡±

    ¡°Mimi¡­¡± Nan Xing felt weird right after calling her this.

    Okay let¡¯s stick with Ran¡­

    ¡°If that guy with the bouquet can call you Ran, why can¡¯t I?¡± Nan Xing expressed his dissatisfaction.

    ¡°Fine, call what you want, as long as it makes you happy.¡± Ning Ran threw her hands in the air. She

    couldn¡¯t care less.

    Nan Xing couldn¡¯t take this blow. Why did she always have to treat him like this?

    Nan Chen would have stomped out of here if he were in this kind of situation, but not Nan Xing. He was

    more patient, and had the desire to win her heart.

    He had flirted with many female celebrities in the past, even more so than those yboy characters in

    drama series, so he was confident he could have his way with this ¡®mother¡¯!

    ¡°I heard you¡¯ve set some rules for marriage, something like¡­ you will not sign any prenuptial

    agreement?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°But a prenuptial agreement is just made up of some unspoken rules. It doesn¡¯t mean we have no

    confidence in our marriage. More importantly, I want you to know that I¡¯m not worried that you might get

    your hands on my wealth¡­¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to exin so much. We¡¯re not getting married anyways. Save it.¡± Ning Ran interrupted

    him once more.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°But I want us to get married. So long as you sign the agreement, I cane up with another

    agreement to protect your interest. For example, I can transfer 50% of my shares of thepany to

    you.¡± Nan Xing was sincere when he said this. He had never said this to other women in his life.

    It was not just a sweet talk, but an expensivemitment. Thepany shares Nan Xing had at hand

    were actually worth more than ten billion. If Ning Ran ever got her hands on these shares, she could

    easily sell them off to obtain financial freedom.

    Yet, she was still not interested.

    She had set those conditions simply to avoid the marriage. If she gave in, it would have defeated this

    purpose.

    Besides, the Nan family had been toying with her feelings by repeatedly proposing and calling off the

    wedding. Where was their sincerity?

    I have tasted all these uncertainties even before marriage. Imagine the kind of humiliation I would go

    through if I were to marry into their family.

    Therefore, Ning Ran could not allow this to happen.

    Yet, too many things would be at stake if she would directly reject the offer. Once she became the

    enemy of the Nan family, they could definitely fight for the custody of the children.

    She knew that she could never win the battle, so to prevent this from happening, she could only dy

    the process, by not agreeing to marry Nan Xing.

    But till when? Ning Ran did not know as well. For now, she would drag on for as long as possible.

    This may not be the best solution but sometimes, when the time was right, the opportunity would arise.

    ¡°Tell me about your n then.¡± Ning Ran switched to another approach.

    ¡°What n?¡± Nan Xing was still in a daze.

    ¡°Our marriage. To get married or not?¡± Ning Ran frowned.

    ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to marry you from the beginning. When I heard this news from my brother when I

    was in Africa, I was overjoyed.¡±

    ¡°You knew about this when you were in Africa?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s why I came back, because my brother told me we could get married.¡±

    ¡°But didn¡¯t youe back much earlier? We have not discussed the wedding at this time, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve done that. That¡¯s why I said, I came back to get married. Anyway, let¡¯s not get caught up

    with this. What I want you to know is, I want to marry you.¡±

    ¡°Tell me your n.¡± Ning Ran would need to think of the next course of action after hearing Nan Xing¡¯s

    n.

    ¡°We would still have to sign the prenuptial agreement. So even if my brother disagrees, I can get

    grandpa to endorse our marriage. But if you refuse to sign, then it would be difficult for me to convince

    my grandpa.¡± Nan Xing said while looking cautiously at Ning Ran.

    He was concerned that Ning Ran not signing the prenuptial agreement would cause another round of

    havoc.

    ¡°I can study the terms and conditions of the prenuptial agreement, right?¡±

    Nan Xing was pleasantly surprised that Ning Ran was open to the idea now.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will get thewyer to draft a prenuptial agreement, which will protect your benefits.¡± Nan

    Xing said with great excitement.

    Ning Ran ran her fingers in a circr motion and stared at Nan Xing thoughtfully.

    The immediate feeling she had was, the man before her seemed enthusiastically earnest when

    discussing marriage.

    But the man whom she talked to two days ago seemed to have an indifferent attitude, even though the

    same issue was discussed.

    What¡¯s going on?

    ¡°Do you really want to marry me?¡± Ning Ran stared at Nan Xing.

    ¡°Of course, how else do you want me to prove it?¡±

    ¡°But why? You¡¯re not nning this just to get your hands on the children¡¯s custody, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Nan Xing jumped up from his chair, ¡°How is that possible? I¡¯m marrying you to give the kids a proper

    family. The custody would mean nothing if you are not a part of it. The kids need you. They need you to

    have aplete, loving family.¡±

    These words warmed Ning Ran¡¯s heart. His sincerity felt real.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 161

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 161

    On the way back, Erbao was still very lively but Ning Ran was about to doze off.

    The discussion she had had earlier with Nan Xing on marriage did not end with an oue.

    She agreed to get married, but would only decide on the date after reviewing the terms and conditions

    of the prenuptial agreement.

    Ning Ran had initially wanted to dy the process, as she did not want to marry him.

    This did not mean that she had not dreamt of walking down the aisle in a grand wedding, nor that she

    was not interested in forming aplete family.

    She felt that something was not right between the two of them, but could not exactly figure out the

    problem.

    So the best option would be to dy the process, until she figured it out.

    Upon reaching Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s tiny neighborhood, Nan Xing looked up at the ordinary house and

    frowned.

    ¡°It¡¯s time to move to a better ce, somewhere more spacious. How about this ¡ª if you do not wish to

    stay in the Nan¡¯s residence, I¡¯ll buy you one elsewhere.¡±

    Ning Ran froze for a bit and immediately rejected the offer, ¡°No thanks, it is fine staying here.

    Sometimes when I¡¯m busy, Cheng can take care of the kids for me.¡±

    ¡°But this house is way too small for so many people¡­.¡±

    ¡°Are you implying those who do not stay inrge mansions are not worthy of being called ¡®humans¡¯?¡±

    Ning Ran was annoyed.

    ¡°What I mean is, there are too many people living in this small unit. Even if she¡¯s your good friend, it

    just doesn¡¯t seem right. I¡¯ll buy you a vi. You can invite your friend to move in as well.¡±

    ¡°No thanks, really. We¡¯re doing just fine here. Once I¡¯ve earned enough money, I¡¯ll buy my own house.¡±

    Ning Ran did not want to owe Nan Xing a favor.

    Moreover, she enjoyed staying here. There was Cheng Xiangyun to help cook, do house chores and

    take care of the children. It was almost like hiring a nanny for free. Where else could she enjoy these

    kinds of benefits?

    Moreover, she would have to take care of a lot of things on her own should they really move out. At this

    point, she did not have enough time and energy to take on a heavier workload.

    ¡°Fine. Since we¡¯re going to get married in a few days, you will eventually move to our ce. We¡¯ll talk

    about this then.¡±

    Nan Xing had to give in since Ning Ran opposed the idea.

    While Nan Xing and Ning Ran were discussing houses, a group of men had approached a BMW that

    was parked right across the street.

    The person in the car was Feng Minsheng, who had brought Ning Ran a bouquet of flowers during the

    day.

    He was waiting at the neighborhood¡¯s entrance for Ning Ran, but decided to hide after seeing Nan

    Xing.

    But that group of men had still spotted and got hold of him.

    ¡°Who are you? What are you doing?¡± Feng Minsheng shouted.

    ¡°Our boss wants to talk to you. Come with us.¡±

    The Nan family¡¯s security captain Qiao Zhan, who had a pair of sunsses on at night, looked like

    someone you would not want to mess with.

    ¡°Who¡¯s your boss, and what does he want?¡±

    ¡°Stop talking. You¡¯ll know when you see him.¡±

    Feng Minsheng was brought to a center with dimly-lit rooms. A man with his back turned was enjoying

    a drink alone.

    Feng Minsheng could only see his back and felt that he had seen this body shape before. What was

    even more familiar was the cold aura he exuded.

    The man heard footsteps but did not turn around. He only lifted his fingers gently.

    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Qian Zhan started asking.

    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.

    ¡°Who are these people? Why did you bring me here?¡± Feng Minsheng shouted.

    ¡°I asked you first.¡± Qiao Zhan responded coldly.

    ¡°Wh¡­ why should I answer you. I don¡¯t even know who you are¡­¡±

    Qiao Zhan¡¯s punchnded on him, followed by several rounds of kicking, before he could finish his

    sentence.

    Qiao Zhan had seen people like Feng Minsheng, who were good at faking their bravery. And he knew

    that people like him would not tell the truth unless they were given ¡®special treatment¡¯.

    ¡°I¡¯m Feng Minsheng.¡±

    Without a doubt, those punches and kicks did sessfully make him talk.

    ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with Ms. Ding Mi?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve known each other since young and we are lovers.¡± Feng Minsheng intentionally emphasized

    the word ¡®lovers¡¯ to make a point.

    The man with the drink stopped what he was doing. He did not continue drinking but put down the wine

    ss heavily.

    ¡°When did the two of you know each other?¡±

    ¡°We were high schoolmates and have liked each other since then. I left Flower City because my

    parents had to relocate for work, but we kept in touch.¡± Feng Minsheng said.

    Feng Minsheng gradually calmed down, as he realized that the environment was not as hostile as he

    had thought.

    The man with his back turned. It seemed that he was just trying to find out about his rtionship with

    Ning Ran, not to hurt him.

    He was relieved. This also meant that he could make up stories, as long as they were not over the top.

    ¡°So, are you pursuing her? Are you trying to reignite your rtionship with her?¡±

    ¡°Nope, we have been contacting each other all this while. She still loves me and I love her.¡±

    Qiao Zhan took a nce at the boss¡¯ back. He did not know whether to continue with the interrogation.

    The room felt more and more chilly. He was unsure if the problemy with his questions or Feng

    Minsheng¡¯s answers.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s the status of your rtionship with her now?¡±

    ¡°Of course, we¡¯re a couple. I¡¯ll do anything for her and she will do the same for me. But two days ago,

    she did tell me that a rich man was courting her and she was annoyed. The man is very powerful, she

    had no choice¡­¡±

    BANG!

    The ss on the table fell onto the floor and shattered into pieces.

    Of course, the ss would not have dropped on its own. Someone must have thrown it to the floor.

    Knowing the boss was infuriated, Qiao Zhan started punching and kicking Feng Minsheng again.

    Feng Minsheng screamed with exaggeration, but he was secretly rejoicing, as he was one step closer

    to achieving his objective. Once he aplished his objective, his family crisis would soon be over.

    The mysterious man waved his hand in the air to stop Qiao Zhan.

    Feng Minsheng was taken out, and the room was left with Qiao Zhan and the quiet man.

    ¡°Should I kick him out of the Flower City so we don¡¯t have to see him again?¡± Qiao Zhan wanted to

    know what his boss thought.

    The question was left unanswered. This meant Qiao Zhan¡¯s n was not epted.

    The man stood up, poured some wine into another ss, turned around and gave it to Qiao Zhan,

    ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡±

    Of course, Qiao Zhan must finish the drink. This wine was of a good quality, plus a reward from his

    boss.

    He tilted his head backward and finished the wine, ¡°Thank you, Third Young Master.¡±

    ¡°The Nan family¡¯s reputation is at stake. You must keep this a secret.¡± Nan Chen said in a cold tone.

    ¡°Understood, Third Young Master.¡±

    Nan Chen stretched his long legs and walked out of the room. His face was pale and emotionless.

    Since did not give any further instructions, Qiao Zhan did not know what to do.

    He was also puzzled as to why Third Young Master would want to be involved in this. He would usually

    wash his hands off this kind of insignificant matter. What¡¯s wrong with him? Taking time off his busy

    schedule just to interrogate him personally?

    Qiao Zhan would have been able to get rid of Feng Minsheng from the Flower City had the master

    given him the greenlight to do so, but that was not the case. What was he thinking?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 162

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 162

    The Nan residence. Upon listening to Feng Minsheng¡¯s recording, Nan Xing could not help but frown.

    ¡°Brother, is this true?¡±

    Nan Chen said with his poker face, ¡°You think I made this up to fool you?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not what I mean. I just thought that this dude could have made these stories up.¡± Nan Xing said.

    Nan Chen felt disgusted when the image of Feng Minsheng speeding in his BMW popped up in his

    mind.

    ¡°He did not lie. They have been¡­ together all this while.¡± Nan Chen almost blurted out their ¡®secret love

    affair¡¯, but held back those words, because he did not want to hurt Nan Xing. Nan Xing was down. Is

    this why Ning Ran chose not to marry me?

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand, brother. Is this BMW guy better than me? What made Ning Ran choose him?¡± Nan

    Xing said in disappointment.

    ¡°He¡¯s nothing. How can he evenpete with you? You¡¯re just degrading your worth if you put yourself

    at his level. Do not think like this again.¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    Nan Chen felt that this incident had humiliated not just Nan Xing but himself as well. It might have even

    humiliated the entire Nan family.

    Her children were members of the Nan family, after all. Her questionable and irresponsible behavior

    had hurt the children and Nan Xing, and this meant that she had also hurt the Nan family as well.

    He was raging, but did not say it out, and could not say it out. ¡°What are we going to do, brother?¡± Nan

    Xing looked at Nan Chen. Nan Chen kept quiet. Since Nan Chen did not speak, Nan Xing had to think

    of a solution on his own.

    ¡°I will not concede defeat. I must outwit that BMW guy, or else it would be embarrassing for me. I

    cannot allow this to happen.¡± Nan Xing mumbled. Nan Chen remained silent.

    Should I allow Nan Xing topete with the BMW guy? That just sounds ridiculous. A member from

    the Nan family fighting for a woman? This is so unheard of.

    ¡°Just let her go. It¡¯s time to give up.¡± Nan Chen said unsympathetically. ¡°No, she is the mother of my

    children. I can¡¯t give up.¡± Nan Xing refused. Nan Chen was just as troubled. Why does the mother of

    the two children have to be this woman? Why her?

    ¡°Forget about her. Let¡¯s take the kids back.¡± Nan Chen¡¯s tone became even colder. ¡°How can you say

    that, brother?¡±

    ¡°Do you think a woman like this deserves to be the children¡¯s mother? Can you imagine the kind of

    nonsense she would teach them?¡± Nan Chen was frustrated.

    It was all peace and harmony in the Nan family ¨C until this woman appeared and messed everything

    up.

    ¡°I disagree with what you¡¯ve said. I don¡¯t think Ning Ran is bad. Even if she truly likes that man, what¡¯s

    wrong? She has the freedom to fall in love with anyone.¡±

    Nan Chen was stunned. Why are you defending her? And ironically, it seems like a logical justification

    too¡­

    ¡°A woman who flirts around with several men at the same time, and you don¡¯t see this as a problem?¡±

    Nan Chen stared at Nan Xing.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think there are many men¡­ isn¡¯t he the only one?¡±

    Nan Chen was speechless. Seemed like Nan Xing was too mesmerized by her charm.

    ¡°Suit yourself. But I have to warn you ¡ª you cannot allow this woman to bring shame to the Nan

    family!¡±

    ¡°Brother, she has never done that before, isn¡¯t it? I mean she¡¯s still an outsider. It would be impossible

    for her to be a disgrace to the family.¡±

    Nan Chen could tell that Nan Xing had truly fallen under her spell.

    Whenever someone mentioned the woman¡¯s name, Nan Xing would defend her outrightly.

    It would have been a good sign for a veritable Casanova like Nan Xing. If this had happened to another

    woman, Nan Chen would have supported him.

    But not this time ¨C not with this promiscuous woman. She would just make Nan Xing a cuckold.

    This discussion must not be continued, as Nan Chen was afraid that he might lose his temper at his

    brother.

    ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day. Shall we visit Lunlun tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°Has he recovered?¡± Nan Xing was pleased to have finally received some good news.

    ¡°There¡¯s still some problems. You¡¯ll know tomorrow.¡± Nan Chen said, and walked away.

    Nan Xing immediately called Ning Ran right after that.

    Ning Ran was still awake, busy reading her script and getting ready for tomorrow¡¯s scene.

    ¡°Ran, I have good news! I was told that Lunlun is recuperating well. We¡¯re visiting him tomorrow. Want

    to join us?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d love to, but I have a scene to shoot, not sure if I have the time. I will have to ask the director first.¡±

    Ning Ran was d to hear that Zheng Lunlun was fine.

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother, I¡¯ll call him now.¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°That¡¯s not very nice. You¡¯ve always been interrupting the production. I think you should stop doing

    this.¡± Ning Ran was concerned.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? The Nanshi Corporation is the biggest investor in the entertainment business, and they

    will have to obey everything the investor says!¡±

    Ning Ran disliked his arrogance but admittedly, Nan Xing was the best person to deal with that

    bootlicking director Wang Yan.

    ¡°Alright, if you manage to sort things out with him, I¡¯ll go with you.¡±

    ¡°Consider it done. I¡¯ll pick you up tomorrow morning.¡± Nan Xing said with joy.

    After ending the call, Nan Xing came to his dressing room and looked into the mirror.

    I¡¯m a handsome and dignified man. How can that BMW guy possibly win me?

    Nan Xing would not want to believe it.

    ¡°Come on, you¡¯re the best. You¡¯re going to court the mother of the children.¡± Nan Xing punched the

    mirror and let out a cry childishly, but in an adorable manner.

    ¡­¡­

    While Ning Ran and Cheng Xiangyun were busy preparing breakfast the next morning, Nan Xing

    arrived.

    It definitely looked like a hot mess, since the house was already small and there were still so many

    people living in it.

    Moreover, they did not have the time to tidy up the house. Nan Xing stood beside the sofa and nced

    through the piles of things that were scattered all over the house. He did not know where to sit.

    ¡°This is not going to work. I will get Chai Hua to arrange two helpers for you. Your house is in a mess, I

    can¡¯t even find a ce to sit!¡± Nan Xing eximed.

    ¡°Forget it, if you¡¯re going to get two more helpers toe in, we might not even have a proper ce to

    stand anymore.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Then change to a bigger house. Ms. Cheng can move in with you all.¡± Nan Xing brought this issue up

    again.

    ¡°I¡¯ve told you. I like living here, it¡¯sfortable, and Cheng wouldn¡¯t want to leave either¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh no no no, I¡¯m more than willing. Why would I say no to a bigger house?¡± Cheng Xiangyun quickly

    rified.

    Ning Ran sighed. Woman, where is your integrity?

    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    ¡°What are you talking about, you¡¯re not willing to move, okay!¡± Ning Ran signaled Cheng Xiangyun to

    cooperate with the corner of her eyes.

    Cheng Xiangyun would not want to y along, ¡°Oh no, I¡¯m definitely willing to move out of here!¡± ¡°Why

    would I insist on living in a pigsty if a bigger house awaits me? I¡¯m not crazy, okay. Oh, Master Nan,

    how big is the house? Does ite with a garden? How about a swimming pool? Will our neighbors be

    rich and handsome too?¡±

    Nan Xing was overjoyed, and raised his thumb, ¡°Ms., Cheng you¡¯re a very honest person! As long as

    you are able to convince Ran, you¡¯ll get your garden and swimming pool!¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 163

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 163

    ¡°There¡¯s no way she could convince me. Nan Xing, you better stop tempting this ignorant middle-aged

    woman with all these material desires!¡± Ning Ran was infuriated.

    ¡°You¡¯re the damn ignorant middle-aged woman!¡± Cheng Xiangyun retaliated. ¡°Someone offers you a big

    house but you reject it. Are you out of your mind?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right, you¡¯re out of your mind!¡± Nan Xing could not agree more.

    ¡°Since you¡¯re still a ¡®sound¡¯ person, why don¡¯t you go and stay? I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡± Ning Ran said

    disdainfully.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t go, I will not allow you to stay here. Don¡¯t forget, this is my house!¡± Cheng Xiangyun was

    not ready to lose in this argument.

    ¡°Oh yes, Ms. Cheng is the owner of this house, she has the absolute right to kick her out of the house!¡±

    Nan Xing continued to add fuel to the fire.

    ¡°How dare you!¡± Ning Ran threatened Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°I¡¯m going to be a superstar soon. If you dare

    to chase me out, I¡¯ll get another manager!¡±

    ¡°Wow, such confidence. You think you can be a superstar without me as your prized manager?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun stepped up her game.

    ¡°Oh, Cheng,e on. Let¡¯s not fall for this temptation. Isn¡¯t this house great for us? This ce would

    be left vacant if we move out. Isn¡¯t it a waste?¡± Ning Ran toned down her approach.

    ¡°Not at all, I can rent this unit out for some additional ie. With a bigger house to stay and extra

    money to earn, isn¡¯t it a win-win situation?¡± Cheng Xiangyun eximed.

    ¡°Oh my God, I can¡¯t believe a money-minded woman like you exists, and what¡¯s worse is ¡ª you¡¯re my

    friend!¡± Ning Ran cried.

    Cheng Xiangyun ignored Ning Ran and turned her attention to Nan Xing, ¡°Master Nan, I¡¯m ready to

    pack my things and move!¡±

    ¡°Cheng, you¡¯re a woman with integrity, you will not move out from here. And you will not be blinded by

    all these vain promises.¡±

    Realizing she was almost on the verge of defeat; Ning Ran changed her strategy. Instead of trying to

    offend her, she tried ying nice now.

    ¡°No, being tempted is my greatest joy in life. Besides, it¡¯s good for the children. They¡¯ll have a more

    spacious house to grow up in.¡± Cheng Xiangyun was not moved by Ning Ran¡¯s words.

    Ning Ran thought that there was no way she could outtalk her. Cheng Xiangyun is hopeless!

    I¡¯ve no choice, I have to seek support from the young ones.

    Ning Ran turned around and looked at the children, ¡°My darlings, you enjoy living here, right?¡±

    Erbao looked at Nan Xing first, then looked at Cheng Xiangyun, then switched her attention to her older

    brother, but dared not to answer.

    ¡°We¡¯ll follow where mummy goes.¡± Dabao suddenly voiced out his thoughts, and Ning Ran was

    relieved to hear this.

    Ning Ran was very touched. Indeed, I know I can always count on you, Dabao!

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Erbao resonated, ¡°I¡¯ll follow my brother!¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun scooped the two children up in her arms, ¡°You two traitors, Auntie Xiangyun had been

    treating you so well, yet you decide to go against me!¡±

    Erbao giggled, ¡°Auntie Xiangyun is the prettiest in the world, I will always support you, okay.¡±

    All of them put aside their differences, and ended the serious topic on a lighthearted note.

    After sending the children to school, Ning Ran decided to go to the filming location first, and would visit

    Zheng Lunlunter.

    No doubt the director had to take orders from the Nan family, but we cannot always do as we please.

    Nan Xing¡¯s appearance at the site yesterday had already disturbed the filming schedule, and we should

    not put the project on hold again.

    Nan Xing respected Ning Ran¡¯s decision, and sent her to the site.

    He initially wanted to stay back and watch, but Ning Ran ordered him to leave.

    When Nan Xing was at the entrance and ready to get into his car, he heard someone calling, ¡°Young

    Master Xing.¡±

    It was Tang Jing, the supporting actress who worked closely with Ning Ran.

    Tang Jing was known for her intelligence and beauty, and this was reflected in the way she dressed.

    She was wearing a pair of tight ck pants that suited her long legs, a suit that fit her body perfectly,

    coupled with her proper businesslike posture. She did not look like an actress, but a high-rank white-

    cored employee.

    ¡°Yes?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    I didn¡¯t quite notice her yesterday. This actress actually looks quite pretty, and seems to carry herself

    well.

    ¡°I¡¯m Tang Jing, and I wish to have a word with Young Master Xing. Are you free?¡±

    Tang Jing mentioned her name so that Nan Xing could remember.

    ¡°Hello, Ms. Tang.¡±

    Nan Xing was used to women striking a conversation with him. So long as they were not hideous, he

    would entertain them out of courtesy.

    ¡°Young Master Xing, Ms. Ding¡¯s acting is superb, and I have learnt a lot from her.¡± Tang Jing casually

    used Ning Ran as a conversation starter.

    ¡°Oh really? She¡¯s an actress with depth.¡±

    ¡°But there are some unpleasant rumors about her as well. I argued with another actress yesterday over

    it. She was questioning Ms. Ding for epting suitors¡¯ flowers, even though she already has a

    husband.¡± ¡°I told her, that¡¯s not a bad thing for an actress after all. Besides, Ms. Ding wasn¡¯t the one

    who took the initiative, how can we me her.¡± Tang Jing said all this while observing Nan Xing¡¯s

    reaction.

    Clearly, Nan Xing was interested in this subject, ¡°Does it happen all the time, besides the guy from

    yesterday?¡±

    ¡°Not a lot actually. Ms. Ding is a very disciplined person, but fans can be a little fanatic at times. During

    the first few days when I first came in, about seven or eight people came to see her, but Ms. Ding

    ordered them to leave.¡± Tang Jing said.

    ¡°Seven or eight? So many?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t Ms. Ding tell you? But I guess it¡¯s for the best. She wouldn¡¯t want you to be bothered by this.¡±

    ¡°How about this ¨C I¡¯ll help you to watch out for Ms. Ding, and report to you directly if any handsome

    man tries to approach her? If these people try to fool around, I¡¯ll inform you right away, what do you

    think?¡±

    ¡°Okay, this sounds good. Report to me if anyone tries to harass her.¡± Nan Xing agreed to the n.

    ¡°Alright. But¡­ would Ms. Ding be angry with me if I do so?¡±

    ¡°What could possibly go wrong if I don¡¯t tell her?¡±

    ¡°Ah yes, okay. So¡­ how should I contact you, since I don¡¯t have your number?¡±

    Tang Jing finally asked what she truly wanted. It was her intention all along to get his contact.

    ¡°Add me on WeChat.¡± Nan Xing took his phone out.

    Tang Jing was so excited that her hands were shaking when she whipped her phone out.

    She had finally added Young Master Xing on WeChat ¨C the young master from the wealthiest family in

    all over Flower City. This was definitely a good start for her!

    After adding his WeChat, Tang Jing could not contain her excitement, ¡°Thank you for your trust. Don¡¯t

    worry, I will keep you informed if anything happens to Ms. Ding.¡±

    ¡°Alright. If anyone bullies her, you have to tell me as well. She tends to keep things to herself, even

    when she is treated badly.¡±

    ¡°Okay, so this is our secret, yeah? Young Master Xing

    , please do not tell Ms. Ding.¡± Tang Jing reminded him again.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t.¡¯

    Nan Xing got into his car, while Tang Jing stood there and waved goodbye reluctantly.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 164

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 164

    The car was started and sped out. Nan Xing looked at Tang Jing through the reflection in the mirror,

    and a yful smile spread across his lips.

    This woman had hit on him because she wanted his contact information. She thought she was being

    smart, but Nan Xing had already seen this method countless times.

    In the past, many actresses have thought that if they got close to the young master of the Nan family,

    they would be prosperous and have a bright future.

    But, that wasn¡¯t the case. Most of the actresses ended up being a mere flower in the bush that Nan

    Xing would casually pluck, sniff and then toss aside.

    Beauty was one of the assets women can possess, but not every woman could rely on their assets to

    earn themselves a bright future.

    There were simply too many beautiful women out there. To a yboy like Nan Xing, the more they tried

    to get close to him, the less attractive they became.

    Then, his phone rang. It was Nan Chen¡¯s private number.

    Nan Chen told him on the phone that he had something very important to take care of and would visit

    Zheng Lunlun a bitter.

    Nan Xing said it was fine and they could just go togetherter.

    At five o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Nan Xing first dropped the children off at the Nan household for the

    nanny to take care of them. Then, he went to pick up Ning Ran at the set and prepared to visit Zheng

    Lunlun at the hospital.

    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    While still on the way, his phone rang. It was a video call request from Tang Jing.

    Nan Xing pulled over by the side of the road and answered the call.

    As expected of an actress, even the camera angle in the video call looked great. Tang Jing¡¯s pretty face

    appeared on the phone screen.

    ¡°Yes, Ms. Tang?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Nan, the guy named Feng hase again.¡±

    ¡°Feng?¡± Nan Xing was confused.

    ¡°It¡¯s the guy that gave Ms. Ding flowers and drives a BMW.¡± Tang Jing said.

    ¡°What the hell, this guy again? I¡¯ll be there right away. Watch me take care of him!¡± Nan Xing hung up

    on the video call and drove faster towards the set.

    On the set, Ning Ran was feeling troubled as well. She was going to leave with Cheng Xiangyun, but

    Feng Minsheng was in her way.

    ¡°Ran, we had some misunderstandings before, but I can exin and clear them up! Just give me a

    chance and have dinner with me!¡±

    ¡°I told you, I have to go visit a friend, so I¡¯m busy today.¡±

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll give you a ride there! We can talk on the car too.¡±

    ¡°No need. I¡¯ll take Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s car.¡±

    ¡°Ran, why are you being so cold with me? I took half the day off today just to invite you to dinner. I¡¯ve

    been waiting a few hours here for you, and this is how you treat me?¡±

    Even Xiangyun couldn¡¯t take it anymore, ¡°How about you just take his car instead? I think he¡¯s quite

    sincere.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. If you don¡¯t have time for dinner with me, then at least let me give you a ride. I just want to

    talk to you.¡± Feng Minsheng said.

    ¡°Feng Minsheng, why are you doing this? I told you it¡¯s impossible between us! We are not clueless

    high school students anymore; we can¡¯t go back to that! Leave me alone!¡± Ning Ran got mad.

    ¡°Then, can we at least be friends? I dide all this way, after all. It¡¯s fine if we can¡¯t have dinner, but

    at least let me give you a ride?¡± Feng Minsheng was not letting up.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, look at how sincere he is being. It doesn¡¯t make a difference whose car you take anyway,

    right? You get off at your destination anyway.¡± Tang Jing also tried to persuade her.

    ¡°I¡­¡­.¡± Ning Ran didn¡¯t want to get into Feng Minsheng¡¯s car as it would easily lead to

    misunderstandings.

    ¡°Go on, Ms. Ding. If you don¡¯t, Mr. Feng won¡¯t let up either. It would be never-ending this way.¡± Tang

    Jing continued to persuade her.

    Ning Ran thought about it, She¡¯s right. If I don¡¯t take up his offer, he¡¯ll just keep pestering me here and

    that would look bad to the others. Guess I¡¯ll get in his car then.

    ¡°Fine, drop me off at the hospital then. I¡¯ll have you know, I¡¯m not free to have dinner with you. I¡¯m

    visiting a friend of mine there.¡± Ning Ran finally agreed.

    ¡°Okay!¡± Feng Minsheng was delighted that Ning Ran finally said yes.

    A smile formed on Tang Jing¡¯s face as well.

    Tang Jing took out her phone and called her assistant. She told her assistant to not wait for her and just

    drive away.

    Soon after Ning Ran left in Feng Minsheng¡¯s car, Nan Xing arrived in his luxurious sports car.

    He saw that most of the crew had left, and only Tang Jing was standing there by herself.

    ¡°Where is she?¡± Nan Xing got down from his car and looked around.

    ¡°Ms. Ding left in Mr. Feng¡¯s car earlier. I think they said they were going to have dinner together.¡± Tang

    Jing said.

    ¡°Have dinner? With that bastard?!¡± Nan Xing got mad.

    ¡°Ms. Ding didn¡¯t seem willing either. It was Mr. Feng that kept pestering her, so she had no choice but

    to say yes. You know how it is, when a guy is too persistent, a girl has to give in a bit. Otherwise, some

    guys might not take rejection too well and could be capable of doing anything.¡± Tang Jing was very

    clever with her words. She appeared to be defending Ning Ran, and wouldn¡¯t get on Nan Xing¡¯s bad

    side herself either.

    ¡°Have they been gone long?¡± Nan Xing asked helplessly.

    ¡°They were gone not long after I called you, so I think they¡¯re quite far from here by now. Mr. Nan Xing,

    don¡¯t you trust Ms. Ding? She¡¯s a good woman. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m sure nothing will happen with Mr.

    Feng. They¡¯re just having dinner together, after all.¡±

    Actually, Ning Ran had not been gone for long, and Nan Xing could¡¯ve easily caught up to them if he

    had chased after them immediately.

    Nan Xing took out his phone and called Ning Ran, who answered rather quickly.

    ¡°I¡¯m going straight to the hospital now. See you there.¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wait for me?¡± Nan Xing was a little angry.

    ¡°I forgot to tell you; I went ahead in a friend¡¯s car. You go on ahead and meet me there. That¡¯s all, bye.¡±

    Ning Ran felt she didn¡¯t have to exin much to Nan Xing, and hung up the phone.

    Nan Xing was so mad that he nearly smashed his phone.

    Tang Jing saw the look on Nan Xing¡¯s face, and figured that Ning Ran probably didn¡¯t say anything nice

    to him.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Xing, don¡¯t be mad at Ms. Ding, she didn¡¯t do anything wrong. You¡¯re a gentleman, it¡¯s

    unbing to get angry at a woman.¡±

    ¡°What are you still doing here? Why haven¡¯t you left?¡± Nan Xing looked at Tang Jing.

    ¡°I¡¯m waiting for my assistant to pick me up, but she said she had a t tire on the way here. She¡¯s a girl

    and doesn¡¯t know how to change a tyre, so I think I¡¯ll be in for quite a wait.¡± Tang Jing looked at her

    watch.

    ¡°It takes a long time to change a tire. How about I give you a ride instead?¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want people to see that and misunderstand. I¡¯ll wait here, you go on ahead, Mr. Nan Xing.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s just go together. It¡¯s too rural here, so it¡¯d be hard to get a cab from here anyway. Come on, get

    in.¡±

    ¡°But, are you sure it¡¯s okay, Mr. Nan Xing?¡±

    Nan Xingughed, ¡°Many women have gotten into my car before, so my reputation was already bad

    anyway. I¡¯m not afraid of a little gossip.¡±

    ¡°Alright then, I shall trouble you for a ride.¡± Tang Jing smiled as she got into the car.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 165

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 165

    As an intellectual beauty in the entertainment industry, Tang Jing had many suitors around her. But

    Tang Jing would never ept their offers easily, because she held herself in high regard.

    She was after a higher social status and greater benefits, not houses or cars. So, she had rejected the

    advances of many wealthy suitors. She was waiting until she found a person capable of getting her into

    the upper sses in society before she would make a move.

    Clearly, this handsome young master of the powerful Nan family was exactly the kind of person she

    was waiting for. She had heard about the Nan family through various sources ever since she arrived in

    Flower City.

    The Nan family was like a symbol of this city, as the Nanshi Corporation¡¯s involvement could be seen in

    all sorts of businesses here. Even the advertisements on the ne she had taken toe to Flower

    City was all about Nanshi Corporation.

    The people around her were also discussing Nanshi Corporation and a person named Nan Chen. She

    had heard from the gossips that Nan Chen stayed away from women and kept a low profile yet was a

    very capable person.

    In other words, his existence was like that of a God¡¯s. As for the Nan family, they were the top in Flower

    City.

    After Tang Jing got off the ne and was on the way to the hotel, the advertisements she saw along

    the way were also all about the Nanshi Corporation.

    At that moment, she had an idea and searched for information about Nan Chen on the inte.

    A handsome face that looked as cold as ice and gave off a distant feeling even through photographs.

    What disappointed Tang Jing was that Nan Chen already has a girlfriend, which is the famous star Luo

    Fei.

    However, Tang Jing was here to rece Luo Fei in the set, which puzzled her.

    Why would Luo Fei be reced if she had the Nan family to support her?

    Besides, Luo Fei seemed to have just disappeared without a trace.

    Tang Jing had tried to find out what happened to Luo Fei but nobody knew where she went either.

    She felt that there was a secret behind all this.

    She had been waiting for an opportunity, and it finally came.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Xing, Luo Fei was the original female lead for The Sound of Thunder 2, right?¡±

    Tang Jing looked at Nan Xing who was driving. That face was the most handsome one Tang Jing had

    ever seen!

    She had worked with many male handsome stars before, but none of them came close to this one!

    ¡°I think so.¡± Nan Xing answered casually as he was not interested in this matter.

    The only thing on his mind at the moment was if anything happened to Ning Ran while on that BMW.

    It¡¯s probably nothing, right? They¡¯re in broad daylight right now, so it should be fine, right?

    Although that BMW guy looked okay, he¡¯s nothingpared to me. Ning Ran wouldn¡¯t find him

    attractive, right?

    Nan Xing got increasingly agitated as he thought about it.

    ¡°Then, why did they rece her?¡± Tang Jing continued asking.

    ¡°It¡¯s veryplicated and difficult to exin.¡± Nan Xing was still casual in his reply.

    But Tang Jing¡¯s curiosity had grown even more after hearing that. Difficult to exin? That means there

    must be an interesting story behind it!

    But she could see that Nan Xing was distracted and knew that she wouldn¡¯t get the answers she

    wanted if she kept asking now.

    Besides, she couldn¡¯t ask too many questions or Nan Xing might get suspicious.

    ¡°Mr. Nan Xing, how did you and Ms. Ding know each other?¡± Tang Jing tried changing the topic.

    Nan Xing clearly found this topic more interesting as he turned to look at Tang Jing, ¡°Why do you ask?¡±

    ¡°I just admire Ms. Ding for having such a nice husband like you.¡±

    ¡°But she doesn¡¯t think of me like that. Didn¡¯t you hear? She wouldn¡¯t even let me call her my wife!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I was curious about that as well. You two already have children of your own, so why wouldn¡¯t

    Ms. Ding let you call her your wife?¡±

    ¡°We haven¡¯t gotten officially married. The children were an ident.¡±

    Tang Jing was delighted upon hearing that. So there is still a chance!

    ¡°Then why not get married?¡±

    Nan Xing got angry when he heard that question, ¡°She wouldn¡¯t! I said I wanted to give her a grand

    wedding but she wouldn¡¯t agree to it!¡±

    ¡°Seriously? Every woman dreams of marrying someone as great as you, Mr. Nan Xing! Why wouldn¡¯t

    Ms. Ding agree to it? I don¡¯t believe it!¡± Tang Jing purposely put on a look of disbelief to show Nan Xing

    her support.

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe it either, but it is the truth. I don¡¯t understand her thoughts at all.¡± Nan Xing said

    dejectedly.

    ¡°My goodness, could Ms. Ding actually like Mr. Feng? I heard they were childhood sweethearts. No,

    that can¡¯t be. That guy could never bepared to someone as great as you, Mr. Nan Xing.¡±

    Tang Jing was subtly affecting Nan Xing¡¯s emotions.

    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.

    What Nan Xing worried about the most was that Ning Ran might have a past rtionship with that guy.

    Tang Jing¡¯s words had just made him feel worse about it.

    ¡°I¡¯d better advise Ms. Ding about thister. I can¡¯t let her keep going down the wrong path like this.

    Missing out on someone as good as Mr. Nan Xing would be her biggest loss in life.¡± Tang Jing

    continued to fuel Nan Xing¡¯s anger.

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe that I¡¯d lose to that guy. I¡¯m the father of the children, after all. So what if they were

    childhood sweethearts? They haven¡¯t met for so long, whatever love they had for each other would¡¯ve

    been gone by now! That guy must have been pestering her relentlessly. I have to do something about

    it!¡±

    Nan Xing had been influenced by Tang Jing without realizing it. Even the smartest person in the world

    could be swayed by their emotions.

    At that moment, Tang Jing casually whipped out her phone and took a selfie.

    Only half of Nan Xing¡¯s face could be seen in the picture, but it was enough for his handsome face to

    be recognized by everyone.

    ¡°What are you going to do about it, Mr. Nan Xing? Do you need me to help you with it?¡± Tang Jing

    asked.

    ¡°How would you help me?¡±

    ¡°I could supply you with information. Things like when Ms. Ding goes on a date with Mr. Feng and

    where they are going. I can inform you about it immediately, and you can stop them in time.¡±

    Nan Xing got anxious, ¡°Date? You¡¯re saying they went on dates?¡±

    ¡°I heard that from the crew, but they are envious of Ms. Ding, so they must have made that up to

    destroy her reputation. You mustn¡¯t believe their words; I don¡¯t think Ms. Ding is like that.¡±

    Nan Xing was losing his patience, ¡°What else have the crew said?¡±

    ¡°Forget about it, Mr. Nan Xing. They¡¯re just baseless rumors anyway.¡±

    ¡°Tell me! What have they been saying?!¡± Nan Xing grew increasingly impatient.

    ¡°Do you really want to hear it? I think it¡¯s better not to. Why would you want to hear about lies meant to

    nder Ms. Ding?¡± Tang Jing acted like she was ufortable with it.

    ¡°Go on, stop dilly-dallying. Hurry up!¡±

    ¡°Ugh, you¡¯re such a persistent one, Mr. Nan Xing. The crew said that one time they ended filming very

    late. Mr. Feng picked up Ms. Ding and they went straight to a hotel nearby. And Ms. Ding came out of

    the hotel the next day, so she had been with Mr. Feng¡­¡­ No, that can¡¯t be true, I don¡¯t believe it.¡±

    Nan Xing mmed his hand on the steering wheel, ¡°I¡¯m going to kill Mr. Feng!¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 166

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 166

    At the entrance of the brain specialist hospital, Ning Ran got off the car but Feng Minsheng had no

    intention of leaving. ¡°Ran, why don¡¯t I visit your friend with you?¡±

    ¡°No, just leave already! I¡¯m begging you!¡± Ning Ran said. Ning Ran started walking towards a nearby

    supermarket as she couldn¡¯t visit a patient empty-handed.

    But Feng Minsheng kept following Ning Ran from behind, refusing to leave. Ning Ran was really angry

    this time. She turned around and pointed at Feng Minsheng with a frown, ¡°Feng Minsheng, you just

    won¡¯t leave me alone, will you?!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you, Ran?¡± Feng Minsheng put on an innocent act. ¡°Do you have some ulterior

    motives for following me around like this?¡±

    Feng Minsheng shrugged, ¡°What ulterior motives could I have? I just like you, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want

    you to like me!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t help it, it¡¯s beyond my control.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that crap! I¡¯m warning you, stay away from me or we won¡¯t even be friends anymore!¡±

    Ning Ran said angrily. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll stay away from you.¡±

    Ning Ran pointed at Feng Minsheng motioning at him to not follow her, and then walked forward. At the

    supermarket, she bought some fruits and some milk.

    Although Zheng Lunlun wasn¡¯tcking anything, she still had to buy something for him to show her

    sincerity. After paying for the items, she realized that she bought a bit too much and it was rather

    heavy.

    Feng Minsheng appeared again suddenly, ¡°Here, let me give you a hand.¡± Ning Ran was too kind to hit

    a nice guy, so she let him help carry the items.

    When they reached the entrance of the hospital, Ning Ran took the items over, ¡°Alright, I can take it

    from here, you can go back now. Stop following me, or I¡¯ll call the police on you for harassment!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you at the parking lot then. I can send you hometer.¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯m telling you again, stop

    following me or I¡¯ll sue you for harassment!¡±

    ¡°Ran¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Stop addressing me so affectionately! This is the end of the line, stop following me!¡±

    ¡°Ran, I know you liked me. I always knew.¡± Feng Minsheng suddenly stepped forward and hugged Ning

    Ran as he said that.

    Ning Ran pushed him away with all her might, then Feng Minsheng turned around and ran away.

    Ning Ran stomped her feet angrily.

    Then, she picked up the items she had bought and walked towards the inpatient department. She was

    about to call Nan Xing and ask which ward Zheng Lunlun was in when she looked up and saw two

    identical men standing nearby.

    They were of a simrly slender built and delicate facial features. They could easily drive all the women

    at the market crazy with their handsome faces alone.

    The people who passed by would stop and marvel at the stunning appearance of the twin brothers.

    Some were even about to take pictures with their phones, but didn¡¯t dare to when they noticed the

    grumpy expressions on their faces as well as the bodyguards surrounding the twins.

    ¡°Now do you believe me?¡± Nan Chen asked Nan Xing coldly.

    Nan Xing gritted his teeth in anger, ¡°Bastard, bastard turtle, lower beings, primitive reptiles¡­¡­¡±

    Nan Chen frowned, What the hell is this guy calling them? Has he lost his mind from anger?

    But one couldn¡¯t me Nan Xing for it. He was born into a wealthy family, after all. Even though he had

    been mischievous as a kid, he did receive very good education, so he had very limited knowledge on

    indecent insults.

    Thus, he could only insult Feng Minsheng with terms from biological evolution due to his limited

    vocabry on vulgarities.

    But Nan Xing was so overwhelmed with rage, he had forgotten that single-celled organisms were the

    lowest ss of life forms, not primitive reptiles.

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna kill him¡­ I¡¯m gonna kill him a hundred times over¡­¡­¡± Nan Xing was filled with hatred.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough, what good would that do? Now that you¡¯ve personally seen this woman with him, you

    should give up by now.¡± Nan Chen scolded.

    Nan Xing kept quiet, and had an unforgiving look on his face.

    He could not ept that he had lost to another guy.

    Ning Ran saw the look on their faces, and had a bad feeling in her heart.

    But she had alreadye all this way, so she walked over anyway.

    ¡°You¡¯re both here. Which ward is Lunlun in?¡± Ning Ran tried to act calm.

    Nobody responded to her.

    Poker Face looked as cold as ever and gave off the message, Stay away from me!

    Strangely, even Nan Xing who was usually happy-go-lucky all the time had a grumpy look on his face.

    ¡°Um¡­ you two look so much alike today, even your facial expressions look the same, hehe¡­¡± Ning

    Ran awkwardlyughed.

    Nan Xing and Nan Chen red at Ning Ran; This woman has the audacity tough?

    That nearly drove the two men crazy with rage. She actually has the audacity tough, despite being

    the guilty one?

    Ning Ran felt a sense of guilt as she saw the hostile faces on both the brothers.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You guys look so angry, who pissed you guys off?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    The brothers remained silent.

    ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be like that. Spit it out¡­¡­ Ahem, sorry, we shouldn¡¯t use such vulgarnguage. We

    are civilized people, after all.¡± Ning Ran waved her hand.

    But the brothers still kept quiet. They just stood there dressed in ck and white respectively, like the

    ck and White Impermanence deities.

    The only difference was that those deities were scary, but these two were attractive instead because of

    how handsome they looked.

    Ning Ran had an idea. If these two were to be artists, all the currently popr young blood out

    there would lose their fame instantly.

    ¡°Alright, stop messing around acting cool. Let¡¯s go see Lunlun.¡± Ning Ran said.

    Nan Xing got even more furious. I¡¯m clearly fuming with rage here, and you say I¡¯m acting cool? Have

    you ever seen someone acting cool while gritting their teeth like this?

    ¡°Ning Ran, you¡­¡­ you¡­¡­ you¡¯re¡­¡­¡± Nan Xing said tremblingly¡­

    He was going to say she was shameless but it felt too hurtful so he was hesitating on whether he

    should say it.

    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    ¡°I¡¯m what? What¡¯s gotten into you two? Your brother isn¡¯t talking because he¡¯s used to being a mute,

    but why aren¡¯t you talking as well?¡± Ning Ran said with a frown.

    After saying that, she quickly covered her mouth immediately. How could I have said Poker Face was

    used to being a mute? Someone as petty as him would surely get angry!

    Nan Xing looked at Nan Chen and thought, Brother, this woman is insulting you in your face! Aren¡¯t you

    the invincible and dominant CEO? Teach her a lesson, I won¡¯t defend her today!

    But Nan Chen did not retaliate, which disappointed Nan Xing.

    He didn¡¯t know how to retaliate as he wasn¡¯t good at arguments to begin with.

    On top of that, the woman he was facing is his brother¡¯s girlfriend. He found it to be even more

    disgraceful for him to argue with her.

    So, he didn¡¯t know how to react to Ning Ran¡¯s verbal assault and could only take it in silence.

    He was the great Sir Chen, after all. He couldn¡¯t have people saying he bullied a woman with his

    brother.

    As a result, he had no choice but to remain silent.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 167

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 167

    Ning Ran was losing her temper. What is going on with these two acting like mutes? A silent

    protest? Did they have to resort to such a method against a mere defenseless woman like her?

    ¡°Just what do you guys want? If you won¡¯t talk, you can just tell me the number of Zheng Lunlun¡¯s

    ward. I¡¯ll go by myself.¡± Ning Ran was growing impatient.

    Nan Xing looked at Nan Chen as he couldn¡¯t decide and had to listen to his brother. Nan Chen kept

    quiet as he turned and walked inside.

    Nan Xing quickly followed him. Ning Ran hurriedly followed them too, but it was difficult for her as she

    was carrying a lot of items. However, neither Nan Chen nor Nan Xing had the intention to help her carry

    them.

    They took the elevator to the tenth floor. Two bodyguards were seen standing there when the doors

    opened. They bowed when they saw Nan Chen.

    The entire floor was silent, as if there was no other patient here. When they arrived at the door of the

    ward, Nan Chen was about to push the door open, but suddenly withdrew his hand and turned to look

    at Ning Ran instead.

    Ning Ran looked up innocently, unsure of what the Poker Face wanted to do. Nan Chen waved his

    hand. Ning Ran still didn¡¯t understand. She turned around and saw no one behind her, so she didn¡¯t

    understand what he meant by waving his hand.

    ¡°My brother says, you¡¯re not allowed to see Lunlun!¡± Nan Xing said. Ning Ran was stunned; I¡¯m not

    allowed to see him?

    ¡°But why? I¡¯ve bought so many things¡­¡­¡± ¡°You are not rted to our Nan family. We do not need you

    visiting our family members.¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    He had finally spoken, but he didn¡¯t say anything nice. ¡°Blondie is my friend.¡± Ning Ran argued. ¡°You¡¯re

    not worthy of being his friend.¡± Nan Chen said. That hurt Ning Ran.

    But she couldn¡¯t just give up like that. She couldn¡¯t admit defeat in front of Poker Face, so she had to

    endure it. ¡°I have always been his friend. You don¡¯t have the right to judge if I¡¯m worthy or not. If you

    won¡¯t let me in, then why did you let me carry all this stuff here?¡±

    ¡°You were the one who tagged along.¡± Ning Ran understood now. Poker Face was making fun of her

    on purpose.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to visit my friend. You don¡¯t get to decide for him who his friends are. You control everything

    like a tyrant, but you¡¯re just feeling inferior!¡± The corner of Nan Chen¡¯s mouth twitched with

    anger; I¡¯m feeling inferior? Me? Nan Chen? Inferior?

    Even Nan Xing was shocked. Someone dared call his brother inferior?

    Nan Chen could have the entire Flower City tremble with a mere stomp of his foot! How could he

    possibly feel inferior?

    ¡°Youck empathy, you cruel Poker Face! You¡¯re just being cold to act mysterious. You¡¯re afraid that

    people would find out how youck empathy if they got close! If this isn¡¯t inferiority, what is? This is a

    severe case of inferiority!¡± Ning Ran raised her voice as she diagnosed Nan Chen with an inferiority

    complex.

    You feel inferior even if you don¡¯t admit to it! You feel inferior even though you have what others don¡¯t!

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    You are feeling inferior because I said so!

    This odd method of insult was indeed effective.

    The expression on Nan Chen¡¯s face grew angrier.

    He thought to himself, This woman is a crazy one, there is no need to care about her.

    But the truth was there was no way he could ignore her, as he realized how much he was offended by

    what she said.

    Ning Ran noticed the change in Nan Chen¡¯s expression, and knew her blow was effective.

    Of course she knew a person like Nan Chen wouldn¡¯t feel inferior. She just wanted to spite him.

    It was easy for him to counter any other insults on him, but not so with feeling inferior.

    How would one even prove that they weren¡¯t feeling inferior? There didn¡¯t seem to be any way to prove

    it.

    Nan Chen was the proudest person, so being called inferior made him feel even more ufortable.

    Ning Ran felt a thrill when she saw how close Nan Chen was to burst with anger.

    I like how you look when you hate me so much yet can¡¯t do anything about it!

    That¡¯s what you get for bullying me!

    ¡°Get her out of here, as far away as possible!¡± Nan Chen pointed at Ning Ran angrily, but his words

    were directed at Nan Xing.

    He was pushing the responsibility onto Nan Xing. This woman is too much for me. You get rid of her! I

    need to calm down!

    Nan Xing had a helpless look on his face, Brother, what are you ying at? You¡¯re the one who started

    a fight, and now you¡¯re having me get rid of her because you couldn¡¯t win?

    ¡°My brother wants you to leave!¡± Nan Xing put on a fierce look.

    Ning Ran put her things on the floor, ¡°I won¡¯t leave. I came to see my friend today. I¡¯m not leaving until I

    see him!¡±

    ¡°Leave!¡±

    ¡°No!¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± Nan Xing cowered up instantly.

    Nan Chen was stressed out. He didn¡¯t expect Nan Xing to be so useless in front of this woman.

    But he couldn¡¯t do anything himself either, otherwise they¡¯d be ganging up on her.

    Nan Chen gestured at the bodyguards near the elevator.

    The two bodyguards came running over, ¡°Yes, Sir Chen?¡±

    Nan Chen eyed Ning Ran, and said, ¡°Get rid of this outsider.¡±

    With that, he pushed the door open, entered the ward and mmed the door shut behind him.

    The two bodyguards looked at each other as they wondered, What¡¯s going on here? Didn¡¯t this woman

    come with them? Why is she an outsider now?

    ¡°Miss, pleasee with us.¡±

    The bodyguards dared not act rashly. They cautiously asked Ning Ran to leave while gesturing at her

    politely.

    ¡°I¡¯m not leaving. I came to see my friend.¡±

    ¡°Ran, you should leave. Stop defying my brother. You know how his temper is¡­¡­¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°Piss off! Two grown men bullying a woman? And now you¡¯re bringing in two more bodyguards? Have

    the Nan family no shame?¡± Ning Ran shouted.

    ¡°Young master Xing¡­¡­¡± The bodyguards looked at Nan Xing.

    Nan Xing waved at them, ¡°Go away, you¡¯re excused.¡±

    The bodyguards let out a sigh of relief upon hearing that and went back to guarding the elevator.

    ¡°Ran, why are you doing this?¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°What do you mean why? Can¡¯t you see that the Poker Face is bullying me?¡± Ning Ran yelled angrily.

    ¡°What I mean is, why were you hugging that man in front of us?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t, he¡¯s the one that tried to hug me. I pushed him off, didn¡¯t you see that?¡±

    ¡°All we saw was you two hugging. Ran, why are you cheating on me?¡± Nan Xing got angry as he said

    that.

    No matter how good-tempered a man was, such a thing was uneptable.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t! I just went to buy some stuff from the supermarket. He kept following me and helped me carry

    the stuff here. That was all! Besides, there is nothing between us, so how would that be cheating on

    you?¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°We¡¯re getting married soon, so how could we have nothing between us? Never mind, I get it now, my

    brother was right. Go, Lunlun doesn¡¯t need your visit.¡± Nan Xing pushed the door open and went in

    after saying that.

    Ning Ran saw that and stepped forward as she wanted to force her way in.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 168

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 168

    Nan Xing saw here forward and quickly turned around to shut the door. Ning Ran wouldn¡¯t let him

    shut the door as she wouldn¡¯t be able to enter if he did. So, the two of them were pushing against the

    door from both sides.

    But Nan Xing was stronger and managed to shut the door from inside. Ning Ran was furious. These

    Nan family twins are no men, bullying a woman like this! What do I do now? Do I go back or continue to

    knock on the door?

    No, I can¡¯t let them have their way or they¡¯ll do it again! I¡¯m no pushover!

    Bang! Bang! Bang! She started banging on the door. The two bodyguards came over once again,

    ¡°Miss, please keep quiet.¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to visit the patient, but they won¡¯t let me in. What else can I do if I

    don¡¯t knock on the door?¡± Ning Ran asked rudely.

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡­¡± The bodyguards didn¡¯t know what to do.  Get lost.¡± Ning Ran said. ¡°But miss, we can¡¯t

    leave you alone if you¡¯re this noisy.¡± The bodyguards said.

    ¡°What, are you going to drag me away? Do you know who I am?¡± Ning Ran asked. ¡°Yes, we do.¡± The

    bodyguards nodded.

    ¡°That¡¯s good, then. There may be some misunderstandings between me and your idiot young master

    right now, but if we make up, I¡¯ll settle the scoreter on. If you are rude to me, I won¡¯t let you go!¡±

    The threat was effective. The two bodyguards just nced at each other and dared not say a

    word. Bang! Bang! Bang! Ning Ran continued banging on the door.

    Bang! Bang! Bang! The entire floor was empty and very quiet. As a result, the violent banging on the

    door sounded especially loud. The people inside were probably unable to stand it any longer.

    The door finally opened, and Nan Chen stepped out with an angry look on his face. Ning Ran thought

    he was going to do something to her, but he just walked straight towards the elevator without saying

    anything.

    Nan Xing came out as well and looked at Ning Ran, ¡°Stop it already, go on in.¡± Ning Ran let out a sigh

    of relief as she emerged victorious.

    She picked up the items from the supermarket and walked into the ward. ¡°I¡¯m here to see you, Blondie.¡±

    Ning Ran called out. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡­¡± Zheng Lunlunughed happily.

    Ning Ran put down her things and turned to look at Zheng Lunlun on the bed. He had be fatter

    and his face had be fleshier, but he still looked as pretty as ever.

    ¡°Do you recognize me?¡± Ning Ran reached out to pat Zheng Lunlun on the face. ¡°Mhmm!¡± Zheng

    Lunlun nodded happily; his eyes filled with joy. ¡°You really recognize me?¡± Ning Ran was still doubtful.

    In the forest, Zheng Lunlun¡¯s brain had been damaged by the poison so badly that he called Ning Ran

    mama and Nan Chen papa. ¡°Mhmm!¡± Zheng Lunlun nodded again.

    ¡°Who am I then? You¡¯re not going to call me Mama again, are you?¡± Ning Ran eyed him

    suspiciously. ¡°Ding Mi!¡± Zheng Lunlun called out cheerfully.

    ¡°Oh my, you really do recognize me! My Blondie is back! That¡¯s great!¡± Ning Ran¡¯s eyes teared up with

    joy as she was really happy for Zheng Lunlun.

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    The kind of rtionship she had with Zheng Lunlun was difficult for others to understand. Zheng Lunlun

    had helped her through her most difficult times, and she still owed him a few hundred thousand.

    That bond they forged during difficult times was one that could not be easily described with words, and

    only they understood how precious it was. Zheng Lunlun got up and hugged Ning Ran.

    ¡°Be a good boy and don¡¯t go crazy like that again, alright? Imagine how many girls would be so upset if

    a pretty child like you were to go crazy!¡± Ning Ran patted Zheng Lunlun on the back.

    ¡°Mhmm!¡± Zheng Lunlun answered. Ning Ran started unpacking the things she bought, ¡°I know what

    you like to eat, so I got you these. Do you want to eat them now?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Zheng Lunlun said. ¡°I¡¯ll peel an apple for you then. You know what? I was so mad earlier! Your

    uncles wouldn¡¯t let mee in to see you and kept me locked outside! But, you know how my temper

    is.

    Who in the world could possibly stand in my way, right? So I kept banging on the door and they couldn¡¯t

    stand it anymore, so they had to let me in. They could never understand our revolutionary friendship!

    Forget about them!¡± Ning Ran went on and on, but realized that Zheng Lunlun was rather quiet.

    Zheng Lunlun had not said more than ten words ever since she came in. This wasn¡¯t like him at all, as

    he had always been a chatterbox. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Why aren¡¯t you talking?¡± Ning Ran looked

    at Zheng Lunlun.

    Zheng Lunlunughed, ¡°Nothing.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not right, you¡¯re talking a lot less than usual. Are you trying to act quiet like your uncle Poker

    Face? Don¡¯t be like him! That behavior of his is very annoying. If you be like him, I won¡¯t talk to

    you anymore!¡± Ning Ran threatened.

    ¡°Nothing.¡± Zheng Lunlun repeated.

    Ning Ran walked over and grasped Zheng Lunlun¡¯s chin, ¡°Still denying it? You haven¡¯t said more than

    three words in every sentence ever since I came in! What has gotten into you? You wouldn¡¯t stop

    talking whenever you saw me before, so why you are so quiet now?¡±

    Zheng Lunlun looked pitiful with his chin being held by Ning Ran, ¡°Really¡­¡­ nothing¡­¡­¡±

    Then his face turned red from his ear to his neck. ¡°My goodness, what are you being shy about? I¡¯m

    not molesting you or anything, what¡¯s going on? In fact, in terms of seniority, I¡¯m like an aunt to you!

    We¡¯re like seniors and juniors, so why is your face so red?¡± Ning Ran eximed.

    Zheng Lunlun¡¯s face turned even redder, ¡°I¡¯m not¡­¡­ not¡­¡­ shy!¡± ¡°Listen to yourself! You¡¯re stuttering

    so badly and you still say you¡¯re not shy? Is your brain still damaged or what? Why are you acting like

    this?¡±

    Zheng Lunlun took a deep breath with a helpless expression on his face. ¡°I¡¯ll be¡­¡­ honest with

    you¡­¡­ I¡­¡­.¡±

    Someone knocked on the door. It was the doctor making his rounds. The doctor nodded as he saw

    Ning Ran. Ning Ran nodded back in response.

    ¡°How are you feeling today?¡± The doctor asked Zheng Lunlun. Zheng Lunlun just nodded without

    speaking. ¡°You have to talk, otherwise your stuttering will only get worse if you¡¯re afraid to speak.¡± The

    doctor said.

    Ning Ran was shocked. So the reason why Zheng Lunlun didn¡¯t talk was because he was stuttering?

    How could this be? Didn¡¯t he just suffer from some brain damage? Why is he stuttering as well?

    No wonder he was so quiet the whole time! Ning Ran felt her heart ache upon hearing this. What a

    shame it would be for such a beautiful child and famous star to suffer from stuttering!

    Zheng Lunlun nodded helplessly.

    ¡°You must be the young mistress of the Nan family, right? You have to get him to speak more often. His

    condition is a sequ of the poisoning. We have contacted the best specialists in the country. They will

    arrive tomorrow and start carrying out his treatment. During this period of time, thepanionship of

    family and rtives is very important. You must help him relieve his stress and feel confident about

    speaking. If he won¡¯t even speak, then his condition will only worsen, and even the best specialists

    wouldn¡¯t be able to cure him.¡± The doctor said.

    Ning Ran nodded, ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll encourage him to talk more. He used to be a real chatterbox back

    then, so it¡¯s hard to imagine him being like this now. I¡¯ll do my best to help him with this.¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 169

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 169

    After the doctor left, Zheng Lunlun gave Ning Ran an embarrassed look, ¡°You mustn¡¯t¡­¡­ugh at

    me!¡± ¡°Of course, I wouldn¡¯tugh at you! There is no need to. You¡¯re just sick, it isn¡¯t your fault.¡± Ning

    Ran said gently.

    ¡°Then take¡­¡­ take me out for hotpot!¡± Ning Ran was shocked. She had thought that he was going to

    tell her a secret of some sort, but he asked her to take him out for hotpot instead. What does this have

    to do with hotpot? Would a spicy meal be able to solve the stuttering problem?

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡­¡± Zheng Lunlun saw the look on her face, ¡°I knew¡­¡­ knew you would¡­¡­ dislike

    me!¡± Ning Ran let out a long sigh in exhaustion.

    When Zheng Lunlun spoke, she would look at him. Whenever he got stuck on a word, she felt like she

    was stuck on it too. She wished she could just yank the words out of his throat.

    If she felt this exhausted just by listening to him, then he must be feeling even worse trying to speak.

    She now understood why Zheng Lunlun didn¡¯t want to talk much earlier. Because each time he spoke,

    it felt like a long and grueling journey that only ended when the words came out.

    Going through such a journey once or twice was fine, but how many would he have to go through with

    the amount of words he had to say each day? Anyone would be exhausted like that!

    ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like hotpot?¡± Ning Ran asked with a frown. ¡°I like it now.¡± Zheng Lunlun replied.

    ¡°So, you suddenly want to have hotpot?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Has your stuttering stopped?¡± Ning Ran asked, surprised. ¡°I stutter if¡­¡­ if I say¡­¡­ more than

    three¡­¡­ three words.¡± Zheng Lunlun said bitterly. Ning Ran bit her lip, So that¡¯s how it is! No wonder

    he never said more than three words!

    ¡°You¡¯re mocking me!¡± Zheng Lunlun said angrily as he noticed Ning Ran was holding in herughter by

    biting on her lip.

    Ning Ran quickly waved at him, ¡°No, I¡¯m really not! We¡¯re brothers, your pain is my pain! Why would I

    laugh at you? I was just thinking how good you must be at talking if you had to limit all your responses

    to three words!¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that still¡­¡­ still mocking me?!¡± Zheng Lunlun got angrier as his stuttering happened again when

    he said more than three words at a time.

    His face that was prettier than a girl¡¯s was now red all the way down to the neck. It pained her to see

    him like this. ¡°I¡¯m really not mocking you! But, why didn¡¯t you go get hotpot on your own?¡±

    ¡°Uncle wouldn¡¯t let!¡± It took Ning Ran a moment to realize that he meant to say Nan Chen wouldn¡¯t let

    him. ¡°You mean he wouldn¡¯t let you go out or have hotpot?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Both!¡± ¡°Okay, keep your future speeches limited to three words at a time. That way, it¡¯ll be easier on

    both of us. But, why wouldn¡¯t he let you go out? You seem fit to be discharged by now.¡±

    ¡°Uncle wouldn¡¯t let.¡± He repeated. Communicating with a three word limit was indeed difficult, and Ning

    Ran could only force her brain to work harder in order to understand him.

    Zheng Lunlun was a famous star, so if Nan Chen wouldn¡¯t let him out, it must be for Zheng Lunlun¡¯s

    own protection. If the journalists or fans found out that Zheng Lunlun was stuttering, hismercial

    value would surely plummet to a new low.

    Fans cannot tolerate their idols being wed. Even smoking a cigarette in public would cause an

    uproar, let alone a stuttering problem.

    The more famous a star was, the greater they would suffer from bacsh. Once they do, it would not

    only ruin their career as a star, but could also lead to other unforeseen disasters.

    So, the safest option was to not let Zheng Lunlun meet anyone.

    That included Ning Ran as well. But because she got aggressive, they had no choice but to let her in.

    But now, Zheng Lunlun was asking her to take him out for a hotpot.

    Nan Chen had tried so hard to protect Zheng Lunlun. If anything were to happen to him while she

    brought him out like that, wouldn¡¯t that Poker Face strangle her to death?

    ¡°Do you agree?¡± Zheng Lunlun could barely wait.

    Ning Ran shook her head, ¡°No, we¡¯ll listen to Poker Face for now. We can go out after you¡¯ve

    recovered.¡±

    Zheng Lunlun was disappointed at first. Then, he got angry, ¡°Get out!¡±

    Ning Ran was stunned. What¡¯s wrong with him? Why is he suddenly acting up like this?

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you? I didn¡¯t say I won¡¯t go out with you, it¡¯s your uncle that won¡¯t let you out

    because of your condition¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not my¡­¡­ not my friend! You¡¯re not cool!¡± Zheng Lunlun was agitated.

    Ning Ran said innocently, ¡°Of course I¡¯m your friend! Our revolutionary friendship is forever! Once

    you¡¯ve recovered, I¡¯ll treat you to the best hotpot in Flower City! Not one, but three, no, a month of it!¡±

    Ning Ran imagined how scary they would look with their tongues covered in blisters from eating hotpot

    for an entire month.

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe!¡± Zheng Lunlun went back to using three-word-sentences to avoid stuttering.

    ¡°What¡¯s not to believe? I¡¯ll have hotpot with you once you get better, alright? Be a good boy now.¡±

    Ning Ran was about to touch Zheng Lunlun¡¯s head, but he refused to let her.

    ¡°Go away!¡±

    Zheng Lunlun was emotionally unstable, which was perfectly understandable. Anyone would find it

    difficult to ept suddenly bing a stuttering mess when they were a chatterbox before.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, Blondie.¡± Ning Ran said helplessly.

    ¡°Pay me back!¡±

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    This caught Ning Ran off guard and left her stunned.

    Oh my, I almost forgot I still owe this guy a few hundred thousand!

    Ning Ranughed nervously, ¡°Come on, we¡¯re brothers, don¡¯t be like that. Our friendship willst

    forever and ever¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Pay me back!¡± Zheng Lunlun interrupted Ning Ran as he suddenly stood up and held his hand out in

    front of her face.

    Great, now he¡¯s not letting me go and forcing me to pay on the spot!

    I can¡¯t afford to offend this guy!

    ¡°Hehe.¡± Ning Ran gently moved Zheng Lunlun¡¯s hand out of the way with a smile, ¡°Seriously, don¡¯t be

    like that. Let¡¯s talk about this¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Eat hot pot!¡±

    Although it was only three words, his meaning was clear. Either pay up or take me out for hotpot, pick

    one of the two!

    ¡°About that, hold¡­¡­ hold on!¡± Ning Ran realized that she was also stuttering under Zheng Lunlun¡¯s

    pressuring.

    She got her phone out and called Nan Xing.

    If she was going to do this, she would need at least one of them to support her, and that person was

    Nan Xing.

    If she could get Nan Xing to support her, she could have him bear all the responsibility in case Poker

    Face found out and got angry about it.

    That way, she would be able to satisfy Zheng Lunlun and avoid the awkwardness of him collecting her

    debt as well as avoid being scolded by Poker Face at the same time.

    She would be able to minimize the risk as much as possible. It was perfect!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 170

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 170

    Nan Xing had stayed and waited in the hospital parking lot. After Nan Chen had left, he stayed behind.

    He had to get to the bottom of why Ning Ran was mixed up with that man! The phone rang, and Nan

    Xing immediately answered as soon as he saw the number, ¡°What is it?¡±

    He wanted to be fierce towards Ning Ran but couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it in the end. After all, that

    woman had given birth to two of the Nan family¡¯s children and had raised them all by herself throughout

    those years, so he couldn¡¯t bring himself to be fierce with her.

    ¡°Lunlun wants us to take him out for hotpot, do you know a good ce for it?¡±

    She didn¡¯t even ask for his approval and let him choose the venue right away. If he was the one who

    picked the restaurant, he would be the one to bear full responsibility if Nan Chen were to me

    someone for it.

    Nan Xing was confused when he heard that. Didn¡¯t they all agree on not letting him out of the hospital?

    And now they were going out for hotpot? Who would be responsible if something went wrong?

    ¡°You promised him?¡± Nan Xing asked with a frown. ¡°I thought you were the one who promised him?¡±

    Ning Ran asked. ¡°I didn¡¯t! Who said I did?¡± Nan Xing was getting anxious.

    ¡°Oh, so he lied to me then. I had agreed to take him because I heard you had agreed to. That¡¯s why I¡¯m

    calling you to ask for a good ce for a hotpot now.¡±

    ¡°No, he cannot go out! My brother said he mustn¡¯t show up outdoors as it was too risky.¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°I get it now; you just listen to your brother and say whatever he says. No ideas, no opinions, no soul,

    nothing at all. If I had to describe you with one word, it¡¯d be a puppet.¡± Ning Ran said.

    Nan Xing couldn¡¯t stand hearing that, ¡°What are you saying? Am I that kind of person?¡±

    ¡°What kind of person are you then? You say you have your own opinions but you need your brother¡¯s

    approval just to take your nephew out for hotpot? Would you eat dirt if your brother tells you to as

    well?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    Nan Xing nearly smashed his phone in anger, but he held himself back.

    ¡°My brother is doing this for Lunlun¡¯s own good. He¡¯s a public figure, so it¡¯s risky for him to go out like

    that. If someone finds out about his current condition, his career as a star could be over.¡±

    ¡°The Nan family is so wealthy. Even if Lunlun doesn¡¯t be a star, you could still give him a job that

    would feed him, right? You say it¡¯s for his own good, but in the end, you¡¯re just thinking about

    yourselves.¡± As Ning Ran said that, she paused and felt that she needed to increase the intensity a

    little.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°So, do you guys treat Lunlun as a star to make profits or as family? If you truly see him as family, then

    you should satisfy this little wish of his!¡± Ning Ran had said all that for both Nan Xing and Zheng Lunlun

    to hear.

    As long as she could make Zheng Lunlun happy, she could reduce the pressure from him asking for his

    money back.

    It would also be easier to handle the pressure from Poker Faceter on with Zheng Lunlun¡¯s help.

    Zheng Lunlun nodded in approval when he heard what Ning Ran said.

    Nan Xing gave it some thought and felt what she said made sense.

    Zheng Lunlun was able to survive such a terrifying incident, after all. Does it really matter that much

    how well his career goes?

    Even if Zheng Lunlun didn¡¯t work for the rest of his life, he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about a thing as the

    Nan family was wealthy enough to support him anyway. So, why worry so much?

    ¡°Alright, then we¡¯ll take him out. But don¡¯t let my brother know about this.¡±

    Ning Ran was delighted to hear that, ¡°Of course, we¡¯ll just carry it out in secret!¡±

    Zheng Lunlun jumped in joy when he heard that he could leave the hospital.

    He started to rummage through his box looking for a change of clothes.

    Being a pretty boy, of course he would have to dress up nicely before heading out.

    ¡°I¡¯ll wait outside. I¡¯lle back in after you¡¯re done changing.¡± Ning Ran stepped out of the ward and

    shut the door behind her.

    At the same time, Nan Xing came out of the elevator. Ning Ran pulled him aside and pointed at the

    bodyguards standing next to the elevator, ¡°What do we do about those guys?¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t have to. Who would dare stop me from leaving?¡± Nan Xing had a nonchnt look on his

    face.

    ¡°Are you stupid? I¡¯m talking about getting Lunlun out. They may not stop you, but they could report to

    Poker Face about it! What would you do then?¡± Ning Ran eximed.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re right. What do you think we should do?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m asking you. They¡¯re your family¡¯s bodyguards, how would I know what to do with

    them?¡±

    ¡°I have no ideas.¡±

    ¡°How about we give them some money and have them go eat somewhere?¡± Ning Ran suggested.

    ¡°I never bring cash with me, so I don¡¯t have any money for them.¡±

    Ning Ran frowned, ¡°You¡¯re really stupid. You could just tell them to eat anywhere and put it on your tab.

    I¡¯m sure the restaurant would allow it seeing as you¡¯re the young master of the Nan family?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right! That¡¯s brilliant!¡±

    Nan Xing was utterly impressed by Ning Ran. He felt that she was the only person in the world who

    could stand up to his brother.

    Nan Xing walked over and the bodyguards immediately bowed, ¡°Young Master Xing!¡±

    ¡°You did a good job, go treat yourselves to a nice meal.¡±

    ¡°We have someone delivering foodter.¡± The bodyguard said.

    ¡°I¡¯m treating you to a nice meal right now. Go to Yushifang on South Street, there¡¯s a big meal waiting

    for you there.¡±

    The bodyguards looked at each other. Yushifang was such a high-end restaurant that people of their

    level could not afford to have a single meal even if they used up an entire month¡¯s sry.

    And now they can go eat there? Is this what people would consider a free lunch? And they are the

    lucky ones to receive it?

    ¡°Young Master Xing, Sir Chen had specifically instructed us not to leave our post until the next shift

    arrives.¡± The bodyguards said.

    ¡°Do you not want to eat there? Or are you disrespecting me?¡± Nan Xing looked crossed.

    ¡°Young Master Xing, that¡¯s not what we meant¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Just go eat, and give them my name. Eat as much as you like, I¡¯ll send my regardster.¡± Nan Xing

    said.

    The bodyguards exchanged nces again, ¡°But if Sir Chen finds out¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°My brother won¡¯t find out. Rewarding hard-working employees is something that my brother often does

    as well, so don¡¯t worry about it. Just go.¡± Nan Xing waved his hand.

    ¡°Then, we¡¯ll be leaving now?¡±

    ¡°Go on.¡±

    The bodyguards got into the elevator and cried out in joy immediately. Being able to skip work and

    enjoy a nice meal was something they may nevere across again in their lives!

    Zheng Lunlun had finished getting dressed. He had been wearing the hospital garments up till now, so

    he felt great being able to wear his own clothes again.

    He cried out in joy as soon as he stepped out of the ward.

    ¡°Thanks Fourth Uncle!¡± Zheng Lunlun thanked Nan Xing.

    ¡°Don¡¯t thank me, thank her. It was her idea.¡± Nan Xing pointed at Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran thought to herself, Hold on, we haven¡¯t even made it out and this guy¡¯s already prepared to

    avoid the responsibility? Looks like he¡¯s no pushover either!

    ¡°No, thank your uncle Nan Xing for his generosity. He was the one who chose the ce.¡±

    ¡°Thank you both.¡± Zheng Lunlun said.

    As long as he kept his responses within three words, no one would know about his stuttering.

    ¡°But you need to don a disguise. Put on a mask and a hat. You are a huge star now; we can¡¯t have

    people recognizing you. If someone recognizes you, your uncle Nan Xing won¡¯t be able to bear the

    responsibility.¡± Ning Ran shifted the responsibility back to Nan Xing.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 171

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 171

    A few minutester, Nan Xing and Ning Ran apanied Zheng Lunlun who was now wearing a mask

    to the parking lot and was about to get in the car.

    Feng Minsheng who had been lurking in the parking lot immediately took out his phone and made a

    call, reporting what he saw to the person on the other line as soon as he saw Ning Rane out.

    There were too many cars in the parking lot, so Ning Ran and Nan Xing didn¡¯t notice that someone was

    watching them.

    As soon as the car drove out of the parking lot, Zheng Lunlun cried out in joy. He was too excited as he

    hadn¡¯te out for a long time.

    Seeing Zheng Lunlun so happy also made Ning Ran and Nan Xing happy.

    ¡°I¡¯ve made a reservation at the hotpot restaurant. We¡¯ll have a seafood hotpot! However, because of

    ourte notice, the boss had already epted too many reservations so he couldn¡¯t clear the ce for

    us. But, he promised to give us the best private room. That¡¯s fine with you two, right?¡±

    ¡°Only rich people like you would book the entire restaurant for a meal. I¡¯m fine with it since no one there

    would recognize me anyway.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°My main concern is Lunlun. He¡¯s a huge star and if he gets discovered, things could go very badly, so

    we must protect him well. If anything happens to him while we take him out for a meal, we would have

    a hard time exining it to my brother.¡± Nan Xing was still somewhat worried.

    ¡°It is fine.¡± Zheng Lunlun on the other hand, seemed rather calm.

    When they arrived at the restaurant, they found it to be very crowded.

    After parking the car, the manager guided them into the restaurant through the back door towards their

    private room that was prepared for them beforehand.

    After entering the private room, Zheng Lunlun took off his mask and let out a deep breath.

    Ning Ran too, let out a sigh of relief as they were finally safe.

    Zheng Lunlun grabbed the tablet and ordered a lot of dishes which soon filled the table.

    The environment was still alright. Each person had a pot and the candles used were specially made.

    They exuded a fragrance and there was almost no smoke.

    Zheng Lunlun wolfed down his food as he had been having nd food in the hospital for too long.

    Ning Ran kept looking at her watch from time to time as she had to go pick up the kids so she couldn¡¯t

    stay for too long.

    They heard knocking on the door and thought it was the waiter so they told them toe in.

    But when the door opened, a few young girls came rushing in and started taking pictures of them with

    Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°What are you doing?! Stop taking pictures!¡± Nan Xing quickly stood up and tried to stop them.

    ¡°It really is you, Lunlun! Where did you go when you disappeared again recently? Are you leaving the

    entertainment industry?¡± Someone started to ask.

    Another girl started live streaming, ¡°Dear friends, I was having hotpot with my sisters today, and came

    across a treasure! Look who it is next to me! It¡¯s the Beauty Zheng!¡±

    Ning Ran was confused. Encountering an entertainment news reporter and a live streamer here? Why

    are we so unlucky today?

    How did these people know that Zheng Lunlun is here?

    Realizing that they were now appearing live on the inte, Ning Ran motioned at Nan Xing to calm

    down.

    ¡°Now that you¡¯re here, how about we eat together?¡± Ning Ran invited them with a smile.

    ¡°You¡¯re Ms. Ding, right? I remember you had some gossip with Lunlun and even ended up on the hot

    topic searches. What is your rtionship with him?¡± The entertainment news reporter suddenly asked.

    ¡°Friends, we¡¯ve always been good friends.¡± Ning Ran said calmly.

    ¡°Lunlun, she says you are friends. Is that true? Are you two boyfriend and girlfriend? Or some other

    type of friend?¡± She pressed on.

    Zheng Lunlun dared not speak, and Ning Ran gave him a look of encouragement.

    Zheng Lunlun took a deep breath and said, ¡°We are friends.¡±

    His limit was three words, any more and he would start stuttering.

    ¡°You mean boyfriend and girlfriend?¡±

    ¡°The normal kind.¡±

    Ning Ran let out a sigh of relief. Luckily Zheng Lunlun was not stupid and knew to use three word

    answers to handle the situation.

    ¡°Then how is Sir Chen rted to you?¡±

    These people probably mistook Nan Xing as Nan Chen. Not everyone was familiar with their iconic

    ck suit and white suit preferences, after all.

    ¡°We are friends.¡± Ning Ran responded calmly.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, rumors on the inte say you cheated on Sir Chen, stole Luo Fei¡¯s boyfriend and got rid of

    her. Is that true?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s nonsense. We are all friends. I didn¡¯t get rid of anyone nor did I cheat.¡±

    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.

    Ning Ran wasn¡¯t sure if this person was a journalist, an inte celebrity or just a keyboard warrior.

    So, she forced herself to keep calm in order to not make the situation worse.

    ¡°Sir Chen, did you get rid of Luo Fei and make her disappear from the entertainment industry for good

    because you took a liking to Ms. Ding?

    ¡°Don¡¯t believe that nonsense! There is no such thing!¡± Nan Xing was starting to get impatient as well.

    An otherwise nice hotpot dinner had been ruined by these people rushing in and bombarding them with

    questions rudely. Nan Xing was already losing his temper at that point.

    ¡°Then what is going on? Please exin, Sir Chen. Why has Luo Fei suddenly disappeared? Where has

    she gone?¡±

    ¡°Miss, we¡¯re having a meal here, and this is our private room and space. Isn¡¯t it too much of you to just

    barge in and question us like that?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    She realized a problem. These people hade prepared and wouldn¡¯t give up easily.

    She was going to be polite to them but they only seemed to be more aggressive, like a typical

    shameless person.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, please answer my question.¡± That person wasn¡¯t backing off in the slightest.

    ¡°We¡¯re eating right now. We¡¯ll talk about your questions during work. I have no obligations to answer

    your questions right now! Please leave.¡± Ning Ran was losing her temper.

    There are always nasty people causing trouble. You give them an inch and they¡¯ll take a mile.

    ¡°Look, everyone! Someone¡¯s mad and trying to kick us out! Isn¡¯t she polite? She became a third wheel

    and yet she¡¯s acting so self-righteous¡­¡­¡± The streamer started her act.

    The effects of the livestream was clearly great, as a barrage of likes andments appeared on the

    screen.

    It was already considered amazing if someone like Zheng Lunlun or Nan Xing were to appear in a

    livestream. Now the both of them were appearing live on the same stream with a beautiful woman,

    which made the livestream even better than ever.

    Netizens had started to criticize Ning Ran.

    There were simply too many brainless young people on the inte these days. They didn¡¯t care about

    the truth and would start cursing as soon as someone starts a scene like this.

    ¡°Look, everyone! This woman is the third wheel who got between Luo Fei and Sir Chen! Now she¡¯s

    even shamelessly gotten together with Lunlun! I wonder if they¡¯re here today to discuss their

    rtionship¡­¡­¡± The streamer had started to attack them personally!

    Lunlun could not stand it anymore. He stood up, grabbed the streamer¡¯s phone and threw it into the

    boiling hotpot.

    Everyone was stunned and there was a brief moment of silence.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 172

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 172

    ¡°Zheng Lunlun is attacking people!¡± The girl who had been questioning them was the first to react and

    started screaming. Ning Ran quickly grabbed the girl¡¯s phone and threw it into the hotpot as well.

    Now that it has alreadye to this, I might as well do so! Nan Xing saw that and felt it was a smart

    move, and was about to reach for the phone of the girl next to him as well.

    But that girl was prepared for it as she dodged and ran off. Nan Xing wouldn¡¯t chase after her, as it

    would be too disgraceful for a young master of the Nan family to chase after a girl for her phone. Nan

    Xing couldn¡¯t bring himself to do such a thing.

    ¡°How dare you snatch our phones?! I¡¯m calling the police!¡± The girl who looked like an entertainment

    news reporter shouted.

    ¡°Go on, call the police then! Who are you, and where are you from? How dare you behave so rudely

    towards us! Do you wish to continue living in Jiangcheng? I don¡¯t care who you are, a word from me

    and I can make you disappear from Jiangcheng forever!¡± Nan Xing shouted coldly.

    The girl went quiet, and just stared at her phone in the hotpot.

    Anyone with somemon sense in Jiangcheng knew the influence that the Nan family has.

    This girl too, knew that Nan Xing was not bluffing when he said that.

    Although he was just trying to intimidate her, the Nan family was indeed capable of such a feat.

    Ning Ran took out her phone and snapped pictures of the two girls.

    ¡°What are you doing? Why are you taking our pictures?¡± The girl said anxiously.

    ¡°Oh, now this is new. So you can take pictures of me, but I can¡¯t do that to you?¡± Ning Ran smiled

    coldly.

    ¡°Why are you taking our pictures? We¡¯re not stars, what do you want with us?¡±

    Ning Ran sneered, ¡°Revenge, of course! I¡¯m taking your pictures for revenge! You barged into our

    private gathering rudely and took our pictures, and now you¡¯re threatening us? Of course I¡¯d have to

    capture your faces on camera. How else would I get my revenge on you otherwise?¡±

    The two girls looked at each other with fear in their eyes.

    Obviously, they weren¡¯t afraid of Ning Ran, but they were afraid of Nan Xing and the Nan family.

    ¡°Our phones are already in the hotpot now, so there are no pictures taken anymore. Let¡¯s just treat this

    as a misunderstanding.¡± her tone softened.

    ¡°No, this is not misunderstanding. I¡¯m asking you, who are you and how did you know that we¡¯re here?

    Who gave you that information?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    The girl went quiet.

    She stopped talking as soon as the most important question was asked.

    ¡°You won¡¯t tell me? That¡¯s fine, we¡¯ll find out anyway.¡± Ning Ran said.

    She then grabbed her coat and motioned for Zheng Lunlun and Nan Xing to leave.

    Now that things have be like this, they couldn¡¯t stay there any longer.

    Zheng Lunlun put his mask back on and they walked out of the private room.

    But they were shocked as soon as they came downstairs.

    The entire ce was crowded. Many of them tried to rush up the stairs but were blocked off by the

    restaurant staff.

    The moment Zheng Lunlun appeared, everyone raised their phones and started taking pictures.

    ¡°Lunlun¡­¡­¡± A girl¡¯s voice was particrly shrill.

    They could recognize Zheng Lunlun even with his mask on.

    ¡°Beauty Zheng, we love you!¡±

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    No one knew if these fans were real or fake, but they all rushed over at once.

    There was no stopping them, and the trio soon found themselves surrounded with no way out.

    Zheng Lunlun¡¯s mask was pulled off him in the chaos and that caused the fans to scream once again.

    Ning Ran thought to herself, This is bad, how would we get out now?

    We can only call the police now, otherwise there¡¯s no way we¡¯re getting out of here tonight.

    We shouldn¡¯t have gotten rid of the bodyguards earlier. If we brought them with us, we could at least

    force our way out of here.

    ¡°Hey, everyone, please calm down and we can talk about this!¡± Ning Ran said loudly.

    But everybody ignored her. She was beautiful, but the other two guys were far more attractive to the

    women at the scene, especially Zheng Lunlun.

    These women were probably dying to get a bite of him or even take him home with them.

    The circle was getting smaller as they were getting closer to Zheng Lunlun.

    Some of them were even sexually harassing him, and it was impossible to tell if the person was a male

    or female in the chaos.

    But the police have not yet arrived.

    Right as they were out of options, a person came running through the crowd with an iron rod in his

    hand, ¡°Get out of the way!¡±

    Everyone stepped aside upon seeing the metal rod.

    He sessfully came to Ning Ran¡¯s side, grabbed Ning Ran¡¯s hand and ran away with her.

    But Ning Ran didn¡¯t want to go with this person, because he was Feng Minsheng.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t even know where he came from and why he was here.

    She didn¡¯t want to go with him but was dragged out by him anyway. The fans who were here for Zheng

    Lunlun got bolder as they saw that the man had onlye for Ning Ran. They started squeezing

    towards Zheng Lunlun once again as they pushed Ning Ran out of there.

    Ning Ran tried to struggle free from Feng Minsheng¡¯s grasp, but he had a very tight grip on her. She

    had thought that they were safe once they got out of the door, but the crowd had gotten bigger. They

    probably all came after word got out that Zheng Lunlun was here.

    Ning Ran was disoriented from the chaos and was shoved by Feng Minsheng into a car that had been

    waiting outside.

    Ning Ran wanted to get off the car but Feng Minsheng stopped her, ¡°Ran, get out of here. It¡¯s useless

    for you to stay here as you will only hinder them. They will definitely be able to get out of there. If you

    stayed behind, wouldn¡¯t you just be giving the media more excuses to write about you? I¡¯m sure the

    Nan family will have a way to settle this, right?¡±

    Ning Ran looked at the fans who were still gathered there, and felt that Feng Minsheng¡¯s words made

    sense. The longer she stayed there, the more difficult it would be for her to exin her rtionship with

    Zheng Lunlun.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t want to be in his car but she had no other choice at the moment.

    Feng Minsheng closed the car door as soon as he saw that Ning Ran had stopped trying to get off the

    car. He then got in the driver seat and sped off.

    As they got further away from the restaurant, Ning Ran started asking him coldly, ¡°Why are you here?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fortunate that I¡¯m here. How else would you have gotten out of that situation?¡± Feng Minsheng said

    smugly.

    ¡°Did you follow me here? Have you been following me the entire time?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t. I was just passing by.¡± Feng Minsheng denied her usation.

    ¡°Passing by? That¡¯s too much of a coincidence! So you just happened to be passing by when all that

    happened?¡± Ning Ran didn¡¯t believe him.

    ¡°Maybe we¡¯re connected spiritually. I sensed that you were in trouble so I rushed over.¡± Feng Minsheng

    said.

    ¡°You must be following me! Why are you following me? What is your motive?¡±

    ¡°What motive could I possibly have? I just like you and want to protect you. I know you like me too, and

    I believe we will be together in the end. I have faith in us.¡± Feng Minsheng had a confident look on his

    face.

    ¡°I told you I don¡¯t like you, and it¡¯s impossible for us to be together. Why won¡¯t you stop already? I¡¯m

    warning you, Feng Minsheng. You¡¯d better give up on whatever motives you may have right now!

    Otherwise, you¡¯ll face the consequences yourself!¡± Ning Ran was not holding back one bit.

    ¡°Ran, how could you say that to me? You didn¡¯t even thank me for saving you today, and now you¡¯re

    using me of following you? That hurts me so much.¡± Feng Minsheng said.

    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that nonsense! I¡¯ve always felt something was off about you, but I just don¡¯t have any

    proof right now. If I find out that you do have an ulterior motive, I¡¯ll make you pay for it!¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 173

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 173

    Nan Mansion, Commoner Residence. Zheng Lunlun¡¯s pretty face had been scratched in the chaos, and

    was being treated by the family doctor. Although it was not a serious injury, the family doctor was still

    very cautious when treating it to minimize the risk of leaving a scar.

    ¡°Is Third Uncle¡­¡­ing over¡­¡­?¡±

    Nan Xing couldn¡¯t stand the stuttering and motioned for Zheng Lunlun to stop talking, ¡°I know what you

    mean. I¡¯m thinking about how I will deal with him too, so stop talking for now. It feels exhausting

    listening to you.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t help¡­¡­ help it either.¡± Zheng Lunlun¡¯s face went red again. ¡°I know you can¡¯t help it. Don¡¯t

    worry, you¡¯ll get better.¡± ¡°Is uncleing?¡± Zheng Lunlun went back to using three word sentences

    again.

    ¡°After such a huge incident, of course he woulde. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take the me for this.¡± Nan

    Xing said. Nan Xing was in a bad mood himself, mainly because Ning Ran was taken away by that

    man again. And it happened in public too!

    The images of Ning Ran being dragged away were captured on camera and were being spread all over

    the inte. With that, all kinds of rumors started spreading. One of the most eye-catching and widely

    spread versions was that Ning Ran had an affair with multiple men at the same time, and got into a

    polygamous rtionship.

    Theizens loved juicy gossip like these the most. The juicier the content, the faster it would

    spread. Soon after, some negative news about Ning Ran had also been brought up, and she became a

    target for waves of condemnation from all theizens.

    However, negative news was also a form of poprity and Ning Ran found herself on the hot topic

    searches once again.

    The mobile inte era was truly a terrifying one. It had only been a short time since the incident took

    ce, and it had already been bumped onto the hot topic searches.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Nan Chen saw it too. He had an ice-cold expression on his face when he entered the room. Even

    before he spoke, his cold aura had put Nan Xing and Zheng Lunlun under tremendous

    pressure. ¡°Brother.¡±

    ¡°Third Uncle.¡± Nan Chen ignored them and asked the doctor, ¡°Is it serious?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s just a scratch so there won¡¯t be a scar. However, it¡¯s best not to consume soy sauce and spicy

    food during this period of time.¡± the doctor said.

    Nan Chen waved at the doctor, motioning for him to leave. Zheng Lunlun and Nan Xing got even more

    nervous. ¡°Whose idea was it?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    ¡°Me.¡± Both Nan Xing and Zheng Lunlun answered at the same time. At such a critical moment, the two

    men were quite responsible and both wanted to bear the responsibility.

    But Nan Chen didn¡¯t believe them. He knew these two guys very well. Neither of them would dare

    disobey his orders so brazenly unless someone had instigated them somehow. Nan Chen deduced that

    it was undoubtedly Ning Ran who did it.

    He had originally thought that Nan Xing and Zheng Lunlun would put all the me on Ning Ran as she

    was not present, but he didn¡¯t expect the result to be quite the opposite. Both of them were trying to

    defend her.

    This made Nan Chen even angrier.

    That woman was able to have his own people listen to her.

    If she were to marry into the Nan family, wouldn¡¯t she have the entire Nan Mansion in chaos then?

    ¡°Whose idea is it, really?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly again.

    ¡°Me.¡± Zheng Lunlun and Nan Xing both answered at the same time again.

    Nan Chen frowned even deeper as he thought to himself, Are these two so determined to defend that

    woman?

    ¡°Very well.¡±

    Nan Chen took two steps forward and pointed at Nan Xing, ¡°So you¡¯re going to cover for her till the

    end, right? I¡¯ll have someone book you a flight to Africa right now. You aren¡¯t allowed to return for

    another three years!¡±

    That left Nan Xing terrified.

    Three years? He was going crazy with just one year, and now he had to spend three years there?

    ¡°Brother, please don¡¯t be angry. It¡¯s my fault, I shouldn¡¯t have brought Lunlun out. I was the one craving

    for hotpot and couldn¡¯t resist the temptation¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Shut up! You grew up eating all sorts of luxurious food. You wouldn¡¯t crave hotpot like that! Do you

    think I¡¯m stupid?¡± Nan Chen was furious.

    ¡°It¡¯s me, it¡¯s¡­¡­ me that craved¡­¡­ I was in¡­¡­ the hospital for¡­¡­ way too long¡­¡­ The food

    was¡­¡­ too nd, so¡­¡­ I wanted to¡­¡­ go out and¡­¡­ have something different¡­¡­ but now I¡­¡­

    I¡¯ve caused them¡­¡­¡±

    He got stuck and couldn¡¯t continue his sentence.

    The nervousness worsened his stuttering so much that he couldn¡¯t continue speaking.

    Nan Chen felt both anger and heartache seeing Zheng Lunlun in pain as he struggled to talk.

    Zheng Lunlun became like this because he went to rescue him in the forest.

    So Nan Chen had always felt guilty towards Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°Alright, you don¡¯t have to say it if you can¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Third Uncle, I¡­..¡± Zheng Lunlun¡¯s face was red as he looked at Nan Chen with a pitiful expression.

    Nan Chen softened up a little.

    He didn¡¯t mean to me Zheng Lunlun. He was angry that Nan Xing and Zheng Lunlun were still trying

    to defend that woman even after what had happened.

    ¡°If you want to have hotpot, I can arrange for it. Why did you have to get rid of the bodyguards and

    escape by yourselves?¡± Nan Chen¡¯s tone eased a little.

    He was afraid that he might pressure Zheng Lunlun too much if he were harsher on him, and cause

    Zheng Lunlun to stop speakingpletely, which would be troublesome.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t dare.¡± Zheng Lunlun lowered his head.

    ¡°Am I such an unreasonable person?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    They both kept quiet. It was obvious that they were both thinking, You are quite unreasonable

    sometimes!

    ¡°Now there are a lot of rumors on the inte, all of which are detrimental to the Nan family. The only

    one who stands to profit from it is that woman. She¡¯s on the hot topic now, and you fools have been

    used!¡±

    ¡°No, she isn¡¯t that kind of person.¡± Nan Xing immediately argued.

    ¡°Then what kind of person is she?¡± Nan Chen got angrier.

    ¡°She meant well. She didn¡¯t expect for things to be like this either.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s burning anger that had died down was reignited again.

    ¡°Have you gone crazy as well, defending her like that? She was rescued by that same man! Why would

    he show up there if they weren¡¯t in on it? She was the one who asked you two to go out, right? Then

    she got the journalists to follow her and used you to boost her poprity! She and that man are on the

    same side, and she¡¯s used you two like fools!¡±

    Nan Chen was so angry that he had been yelling for quite a while despite being a man of few words.

    Nan Xing and Zheng Lunlun didn¡¯t dare say a word.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that the case? Think about it, isn¡¯t that the case?¡±

    ¡°No, it isn¡¯t.¡± Zheng Lunlun mumbled.

    He didn¡¯t believe that it was Ning Ran¡¯s n as he was the one who suggested the whole thing.

    He was the one who forced Ning Ran to pay up, so she had no other choice but to agree to take him

    out for hotpot.

    Zheng Lunlun believes that this was definitely not Ning Ran¡¯s doing for sure.

    Nan Chen felt like he was going to explode with anger.

    Suddenly, he went quiet and stared at Zheng Lunlun and Nan Xing.

    How would he save his closest rtives from being bewitched by that woman?

    ¡°You go to Africa tomorrow.¡± Nan Chen pointed at Nan Xing.

    Then he pointed at Zheng Lunlun, ¡°As for you, I¡¯ll have someone arrange a press conference for you

    tomorrow. You will exin everything to the journalists yourself.¡±

    Zheng Lunlun panicked even more. Wouldn¡¯t that be his doom?

    Wouldn¡¯t his stuttering problem be exposed if he were to speak to the journalists?

    He might not even be able to say a single word from the nervousness by then!

    ¡°Please don¡¯t!¡± Both Nan Xing and Zheng Lunlun begged for mercy at the same time, and it looked very

    dramatic.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 174

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 174

    ¡°You don¡¯t want to go to Africa?¡±

    Nan Xing shook his head immediately and said, ¡°Nope, not even a little.¡± Nan Chen turned to Zheng

    Lunlun next and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t want to face the paparazzi?¡±

    ¡°No way!¡± replied Zheng Lunlun immediately. ¡°Fine, then I¡¯ll give you both onest chance,¡± said Nan

    Chen coldly, ¡°Regardless of what happens next, the two of you are not allowed to be in contact with

    that woman!¡±

    Nan Xing and Zheng Lunlun turned to one another. They were confused about what Nan Chen was

    trying to say. ¡°In other words, the two of you are not allowed to help her, no matter what happens,¡±

    exined Nan Chen.

    The two men looked at each other again. ¡°You don¡¯t agree with my terms? Okay, I¡¯ll have someone buy

    the ne tickets for you.¡± ¡°No, wait,¡± said Nan Xing quickly to admit defeat, ¡°I agree, I agree!¡±

    ¡°I will have someone bring you to the hospital right now. The specialist known for treating stutters is

    there and your treatment will begin tomorrow. While being treated, you are not to leave the hospital!¡±

    ¡°Okay uncle, but¡­¡± Zheng Lunlun wanted to say more on Ning Ran¡¯s behalf, but his stuttering was

    acting up again. Nan Chen¡¯s deadly re made it even more impossible for Zheng Lunlun to talk.

    Zheng Lunlun knew that Nan Chen could be stubborn. He also knew that the more they tried to help

    Ning Ran, the worse off she would be, so they had to listen to Nan Chen for the moment. They had to

    let Nan Chen cool off before they spoke again, so Zheng Lunlun kept his mouth shut.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t speak after he saw that Zheng Lunlun had decided to keep quiet. Nan Chen was

    relieved then because he had finally dealt with his family.

    That woman was too scheming, and if those two weren¡¯t under constant supervision, they would be

    tricked.

    There was no other way. He had to start dealing with his family first.

    At that moment, Nan Xing¡¯s phone rang. It was Ning Ran.

    Nan Xing checked his phone then turned to Nan Chen.

    ¡°She called?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Tell her that the kids are asleep and would be sent to school tomorrow so she didn¡¯t need to worry.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Nan Xing picked up the phone and repeated what Nan Chen had told him to say.

    Still, Nan Xing didn¡¯t want Ning Ran to be overly worried so he added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the kids are

    sleeping really well. You should rest up too.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s eyes were angry and were warning Nan Xing so Nan Xing quickly hung up.

    ¡­¡­

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    On the other side, Ning Ran couldn¡¯t sleep well at all.

    Although she knew that the kids were safe with the Nan family, she was still worried because the kids

    had mostly been with her.

    When dawn came, Ning Ran got sleepy and went to sleep, but she was soon woken up by Cheng

    Xiangyun¡¯s screams.

    Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s scream came from the living room, but it managed to wake Ning Ran up even

    though the bedroom door was closed. That was just how loud Cheng Xiangyun had been.

    It was a voice that was louder than a lion¡¯s roar and could alert both Heaven and Hell.

    Ning Ran was scared out of her bed and rushed to the living room without putting her slippers on first.

    In the living room, Ning Ran saw Cheng Xiangyun holding her own mobile phone and was jumping

    around like a terrifying and crazy person.

    What could have happened to get her into a state like this? Did she get dumped? Wait, that didn¡¯t seem

    possible because Cheng Xiangyun hadn¡¯t been in contact with any men and didn¡¯t even have a crush.

    How could she have been dumped?

    Ning Ran rushed over anyway to hug Cheng Xiangyun tightly. ¡°What is it? What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Ning

    Ran, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There¡¯s nothing scary about being dumped. We¡¯ll just rece him with an uglier¡­

    ah no, I mean, a more handsome boyfriend.¡±

    ¡°That is amazing,¡± Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s crazy dance kept going as she said, ¡°That is amazing!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t think about how amazing he is. If he doesn¡¯t love you, he doesn¡¯t love you,¡± said Ning Ran who

    was trying to calm Cheng Xiangyun down, ¡°Don¡¯t think about him anymore. It¡¯s okay. You still have me.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by ¡®love¡¯? Are you nuts?¡± said Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°Since when has he ever loved

    me?¡±

    ¡°Huh? He never loved you? Oh, so it¡¯s a one-sided love?¡± said Ning Ran before she sighed and

    continued, ¡°My gosh, woman. Aren¡¯t you a little old to have crushes and be a secret admirer? You

    should¡¯ve just gone and flirted with the guy. Gosh, no wonder you¡¯re in such a bad shape.¡±

    ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± asked Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°Let me go. I never said I was in love

    with another person.¡±

    Ning Ran wanted to give Cheng Xiangyun a big hug tofort Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s wounded soul, but

    Ning Ran¡¯s kind gesture was repaid with annoyance.

    ¡°If you didn¡¯t have your heart broken, why are you acting like you¡¯re suicidal?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not suicidal. I¡¯m happy!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re happy after being dumped? Your crazy dance didn¡¯t look happy at all! Your reaction to

    happiness is a little too weird woman. You¡¯re scaring everybody.¡±

    ¡°Look, look, isn¡¯t this just so freaking amazing?¡± said Cheng Xiangyun as she pointed at the screen on

    her phone, ¡°Your Weibo ount gained more than 500 thousand followers in one night! Moreover,

    those aren¡¯t robot ounts! Those are real ounts used by real people. Isn¡¯t that amazing?¡±

    Ning Ran finally understood what was happening with Cheng Xiangyun. It¡¯s just a Weibo ount. Do

    you really need to act so crazy?

    It¡¯s getting more and more difficult to understand what that spinster was thinking about.

    ¡°Let me see,¡± said Ning Ran as she reached for the phone.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s best you don¡¯t,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun who dodged to keep Ning Ran away from the phone.

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°I think it¡¯s best to wait a couple of days before you take a look at it.¡±

    Ning Ran understood what was happening then. Most of the new followers must be haters who were

    only there to mock and tease her, and that was why Cheng Xiangyun didn¡¯t want to let Ning Ran see it

    yet.

    ¡°It¡¯s mostly haters, isn¡¯t it? Did they spew insults? Don¡¯t worry. I can take it.¡±

    ¡°There are a couple of rather uncouthments and messages, but don¡¯t take it personally. You know

    how those youngsters are,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Let me see.¡±

    ¡°Nope, you¡¯re fuming. I¡¯ll let you take a look if you promise you won¡¯t go crazy.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t go crazy. What¡¯s there to be crazy about? Haters are still people, and regardless of the

    situation, being able to gain 500 thousand followers within a single night is a pretty big deal for a

    nameless actress like me.¡±

    ¡°Alright then, take a look.¡±

    Ning Ran took a look at the phone and was immediately taken aback. There really were 500 thousand

    more followers.

    Then she read the firstment and her heart skipped a beat.

    Thement said, ¡°Your mom is dead! Shameless old broad. How dare you go after a man so much

    younger than you?¡±

    Thatment received the most likes.

    Scrolling down, she saw ament that said, ¡°I wish your whole family would die! You¡¯re not even

    worthy of carrying Zheng Lunlun¡¯s shoes, you clout-chasing b****!¡±

    Ning Ran thought that her heart was strong enough to withstand the usations, but her face

    darkened upon seeing the secondment.

    Ning Ran was okay with being targeted, but she could not stand to have her family targeted.

    ¡°What the f*ck?¡± That was one of the rare moments when Ning Ran cussed aloud.

    Cheng Xiangyun took back her phone and said, ¡°I warned you, but you insisted on taking a look. Now

    you¡¯re all mad.¡±

    ¡°Delete my ount. I won¡¯t post anything anymore,¡± said Ning Ran whose lips were quivering, ¡°Let¡¯s

    see how those a**holes spew their insults when they have nowhere to post them!¡±

    ¡°Calm down. An actress needs her own social media ount. Besides, cussing is just a fan¡¯s way of

    communicating¡­¡±

    ¡°Communicating? Does this look like they¡¯re trying to talk to me? They cursed my mother and my

    family!¡± shouted Ning Ran, ¡°What is wrong with them? I didn¡¯t steal their food or their money. Did they

    have to curse to that extent?¡±

    ¡°See? I told you not to look. Now you can¡¯t calm down.¡±

    ¡°Those are Zheng Lunlun¡¯s fans. You had dinner with Zheng Lunlun yesterday, and someone live-

    streamed the whole thing which turned you into a hot topic.¡±

    ¡°Zheng Lunlun¡¯s fans didn¡¯t know what was going on and thought you were using him to elerate

    your career so they came to your Weibo ount to insult you. Why care about what a bunch of

    immature, underage girls thinks?¡±

    ¡°If they¡¯re underage, they should spend their time studying. Why the hell are they following a celebrity¡¯s

    news when they don¡¯t even have a brain?¡± said the furious Ning Ran, ¡°And if they have to chase after a

    celebrity, why do they have to curse someone else? Also, why are they cursing my family when I am

    their target? What the hell is wrong with them?¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 175

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 175

    Ning Ran calmed down after Cheng Xiangyun spent some time pacifying her. The truth was, being

    insulted was a normal phenomenon for an actress. Ning Ran was only that agitated because she was

    rarely insulted.

    The reason why Ning Ran wasn¡¯t insulted before that incident was because she wasn¡¯t famous so little

    to no people paid attention to what she did.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Bing famous meant that she would be able to enjoy the resources and attention of the public

    because she was a public figure. Unfortunately, those resources and attention weren¡¯t free. A person

    should be prepared to withstand the bacsh that came with fame.

    Your fans supported you. They went to see your concerts, bought the products you endorsed, and gave

    you unlimited wealth and admiration¡­ But did they do it for free? Of course not.

    Fans had certain expectations from celebrities and wanted the celebrities to act a certain way. It¡¯s

    simr to the way a parent puts his/her expectations on the kid or the way lovers expected things from

    one another.

    The moment those expectations were not met, the fans would start abandoning the celebrities and

    started to insult them. Power and responsibility depended on one another. One must carry out their

    responsibilities to enjoy the power given to them.

    A celebrity¡¯s job was to satisfy their fans mentally and on a spiritual level. If celebrities¡¯ did not meet

    their fan¡¯s expectations, their fans would not be satisfied, or may even get hurt. Under those

    circumstances, who else could the fans me?

    Ning Ran understood those fundamentals too, but she had never experienced it firsthand. The intense

    attacks from the inte hurt her pride and overwhelmed her.

    After calming down, Ning Ran started to strategize an action n to solve the problem. ¡°Should I tell

    them the truth? If I don¡¯t, they will keep attacking me,¡± said the frustrated Ning Ran.

    ¡°No, you can¡¯t do anything right now,¡± refuted Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°No matter what you say, they will put

    the me on you, and as long as you make an appearance, they will insult you.¡±

    ¡°So I just have to take it quietly? Let them attack me like I¡¯m a punching bag?¡±

    ¡°Silence is the best course of action for now. Zheng Lunlun¡¯s fan ranges from twelve-year-old tweens to

    fifty-year-old elderlies¡­¡±

    ¡°Hang on,¡± said Ning Ran with disbelief in her eyes, ¡°Fifty-year-old seniors are paying attention to

    entertainment news?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°The elderlies nowadays, especially the women, are adopting a

    parental style and are almost as crazy as younger fans.¡±

    ¡°Parental style?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. They see Zheng Lunlun as their own kid because they watched him grow up and live the

    life they¡¯ve always dreamed of.¡±

    ¡°Oh my gosh,¡± wailed Ning Ran, ¡°So now they areing after me because they see me as the old

    woman who is trying to steal their son away?¡±

    ¡°More or less,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun who couldn¡¯t fully contain herughter.

    ¡°Could you be a little more serious?¡± growled Ning Ran, ¡°Why are you stillughing at a time like this?¡±

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll stop,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun who turned serious immediately, ¡°And yes, your description is a

    little weird, but that is the general idea.¡±

    ¡°As for the younger fans,¡± said Ning Ran as she sighed and continued, ¡°It¡¯s easy to understand what is

    going on in their head. That blonde rascal is their knight in shining armor. They think that I am not

    worthy of having dinner with their lover so they want me gone.¡±

    ¡°Yes, and that is why you should be kinder and try to understand how they¡¯re feeling,¡± said Cheng

    Xiangyun.

    ¡°Okay, now you¡¯re just being mean to me. Did you see how they insulted me?¡± said Ning Ran whose

    anger was beginning to rise again, ¡°They cursed my family!¡±

    ¡°Yes, they are too much. The inte has always been full of haters, but keeping quiet is the only way

    to avoid more conflict.¡±

    ¡°The best solution is to have Zheng Lunlun step up and personally exin what had happenedst

    night to pacify his fans.¡±

    ¡°And he must do so personally or his fans won¡¯t buy it. They would just assume that his personal

    ount was used by his manager to send the message,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun.

    Ning Ran shook her head and said, ¡°That won¡¯t be possible.¡±

    ¡°Why not? Aren¡¯t you two close? Why can¡¯t he step up and help you exin the situation?¡±

    Still, Ning Ran shook her head and said, ¡°He can¡¯t right now, and I don¡¯t want him to do that for me. It¡¯d

    destroy his reputation.¡±

    ¡°Not likely. He is a super celebrity so everything will calm down quickly if he is willing to personally tell

    everyone the truth. It shouldn¡¯t have much of an impact on him,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun.

    Ning Ran continued to shake her head, but she didn¡¯t exin why.

    She knew that Zheng Lunlun was suffering from serious stutters, but the paparazzi cannot know about

    it.

    If anyone were to find out about it, the currentmercial loss would be devastating, and its negative

    impact on Zheng Lunlun¡¯s future would be unpredictable as well.

    Ning Ran was Zheng Lunlun¡¯s friend so she didn¡¯t want him to sacrifice his stardom for her, but she

    couldn¡¯t tell Cheng Xiangyun about Zheng Lunlun¡¯s stutter either. She didn¡¯t have the right to do so

    unless Zheng Lunlun gave her permission.

    ¡°Forget about it, let¡¯s leave it for now. We¡¯ll wait for it to die down. This is an era where new and

    exciting things are happening every day. My news will be reced by other rumors soon enough. I

    won¡¯t think about it anymore. I¡¯ll just focus on shooting the show,¡± said Ning Ran who was trying to

    make herself feel better.

    ¡°That¡¯s the spirit,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°Who cares what others think? We must be optimistic and

    smile at the hurdles life throws at us.¡±

    ¡°Pfft, don¡¯t act all Zen,¡± said Ning Ran who rolled her eyes at Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°You¡¯re just being mean

    to me.¡±

    After having their breakfast, the two friends drove to the set where the show was being shot.

    Before they even reached the set, they saw that it was surrounded. When they got closer, they noticed

    that there were hundreds of people there. Most of them were angry teenagers, and they were chanting

    something aloud.

    As they listened more carefully, they heard that the people were chanting, ¡°Go to Hell, Ding Mi! Come

    out, b****!¡±

    That was a bad sign. The haters weren¡¯t just yelling online, they were also taking actions offline.

    ¡°My gosh, they came all the way here? Just how much do they hate me? And how did they find out that

    I¡¯m shooting a show here? Who let the news out?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun was grim too because it looked like things were getting out of control.

    At first, they had thought that it was just an online rant, but the haters had set up a protest.

    This is bad!

    ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s so early in the morning, and everyone is here so someone must¡¯ve coordinated it to

    get to you. Someone must be after you so they leaked the location of where you will be shooting a

    show and led the haters here,¡±mented Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°But everyone signed an NDA. Who would risk being sued and leak that information out?¡±

    ¡°With the inte being the way it is, leaking information without being caught is too easy. It¡¯s likely that

    someone on the inside had done so intentionally to gather the haters and affect your work¡­¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun hadn¡¯t even finished saying her bit when Ning Ran¡¯s phone rang.

    It was the director, Wang Yan.

    Wang Yan had just arrived as well and had just realized that the ce had been surrounded.

    Wang Yan went out with his friends and was drunk the night before so he had no idea what had

    happened on the inte.

    He was also stunned when he saw the ce surrounded by people who were cursing Ding Mi.

    ¡°Director, this is Ding Mi,¡± said Ning Ran who had answered the phone.

    ¡°What is going on?¡± yelled the director, ¡°Who did you piss off and why is everyone after you?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a long story, director,¡± said the frustrated Ning Ran, ¡°I don¡¯t know who I pissed off, but it¡¯s probably

    Zheng Lunlun¡¯s fans. Somebody¡¯s after me and had gathered everyone here to personally attack me.¡±

    ¡°So what do we do now? With everyone surrounding the set, there is no way we can shoot the show!

    What do you n to do about it?¡±

    The director¡¯s words had Ning Ran stumped. How would she know what to do?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 176

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 176

    One hourter, Ning Ran was at the headquarters of the Nanshi Corporation. Jiang Zhe had called her

    and told her that Nan Chen wanted to talk to her. She didn¡¯t want to see that Poker Face, but he was

    the biggest investor of the show.

    The production had been halted once more because of her, and the negative impact was indescribable

    so she was responsible for exining the situation.

    However, the truth was that the Poker Face already knew what had happened so the only reason why

    he had called her over was to make things even more difficult for her.

    She was, in fact, partly responsible for that nightmare so even if the Poker Face was mean to her, she

    had no choice but to take it because the Poker Face was the only one strong enough to handle a

    situation like this.

    Lowering one¡¯s head was a routine activity when living under someone else¡¯s care. ¡°Ms. Ning, this way

    please,¡± said Jiang Zhe who had personallye to wee her and was smiling as usual.

    That was an intelligent man. When others were present, he would refer to her as ¡®Ms. Ding¡¯, but when

    no one else was around, he would use Ning Ran¡¯s birth name.

    That made them seem closer and made Ning Ran feel like she was in the presence of a friend.

    An old fox like Jiang Zhe knew that even though it would take a lot of twists and turns, there was a

    good chance that the ridiculously beautiful actress in front of him would be a bride of the Nan Family in

    the future.

    Ning Ran was a ¡®hidden financial portfolio¡¯ and being nice to her may be a good investment for his

    future.

    After Ning Ran entered the private elevator, she frowned and thought What do I say when I see that

    Poker Faceter?

    Jiang Zhe observed the future Young Mistress¡¯s troubled expression and said, ¡°Ms. Ning, don¡¯t worry.

    Sir Chen had invited you over to talk about the disturbance on the production set, but someone

    malicious must¡¯ve done something to make it happen so it¡¯s not your fault.¡±

    Something about Jiang Zhe¡¯s words felt off so Ning Ran thought about them and concluded that Nan

    Chen was still investigating the matter but had asked her over anyway to make things difficult for her.

    ¡°What does Sir Chen n to do?¡±

    The elevator was moving fast, and they would reach Nan Chen¡¯s office soon. Time was running out so

    Ning Ran decided to be direct instead of wasting time being polite.

    I better find out everything I can before I deal with that Poker Face.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± answered Jiang Zhe, ¡°However, I do know that Sir Chen cares deeply about the kids and

    is worried that they might be hurt by the incident.¡±

    Ning Ran got the message immediately.

    The Poker Face is taking advantage of the situation to take my children away! His excuse for doing so

    would be to question how I intend to keep the children safe when I can¡¯t even protect myself.

    At that moment, Ning Ran¡¯s phone rang. Cheng Xiangyun had called.

    ¡°The security at our ce called. People had gathered around my house to try to get to you. Ran, don¡¯t

    come home tonight. It¡¯s not safe anymore.¡±

    They went all the way to Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s house?

    Who could¡¯ve leaked that information? Who knew that Ning Ran was staying there?

    Ning Ran had a better idea of who the main culprit behind these incidents might be.

    ¡°I got it,¡± replied Ning Ran whose heart was getting heavier.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯ll pass soon enough. You can stay in a hotel for the time being or go live in the Nan

    Family¡¯s ce. Oh wait, didn¡¯t Nan Xing say he wanted to give you a vi? You could¡­¡±

    ¡°Shut up, woman,¡± said the exasperated Ning Ran.

    ¡°You shut up. You must be the world¡¯s dumbest person to turn down a vi like that,¡± replied Cheng

    Xiangyun, ¡°Why am I a friend to an idiot like you?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah, you¡¯re smart, but you can¡¯t even find a husband.¡±

    ¡°Oh, and you can?¡±

    Ning Ran wasn¡¯t in the mood to keep arguing with Cheng Xiangyun so she hung up.

    Nan Chen was having a conference so he had Ning Ran wait for him in the office.

    She waited for two long hours.

    The anxious Ning Ran kept drinking the coffee that the secretary had prepared for her and ended up

    finishing 5 whole cups.

    With so much liquid in her system, Ning Ran¡¯s visit to the toilet became more frequent.

    Her breathtaking beauty caught all the employee¡¯s attention. They got their phone out to confirm that

    the woman in their office was the one who got on the front page with Zheng Lunlun and the fourth

    young master of the Nan Family.

    One of the employees deliberated for a long while before she decided to approach Ning Ran and ask to

    take a photo together.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°You want to take a photo with me?¡± said Ning Ran who wasn¡¯t sure if she had heard right.

    ¡°Yes, we love you,¡± said the female employee, ¡°and we admire your bravery.¡±

    Bravery? What bravery? Was it because they thought it took guts to have dinner with Zheng Lunlun?

    Or did they think that it was brave to be one of the most hated people on the news?

    ¡°Am I brave?¡± murmured Ning Ran.

    ¡°Of course,¡± said the employee with excitement in her eyes, ¡°You were brave when dealing with the

    camera and are able to ignore the haters gracefully. You are our role model!¡±

    Ning Ran was delighted to hear those words. She must take that photo together to thank the employee

    for her encouragement if nothing else.

    Hence, the two of them took a couple of photos together while Ning Ran had her arm on the

    employee¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Can I also have an autograph?¡± asked the employee again.

    Ning Ran was happy to hear that.

    Only celebrities were asked to sign autographs so it was weird that a nameless actress like her was

    asked.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that,¡± said Ning Ran who smiled wryly, ¡°I¡¯m not that famous.¡±

    ¡°No, you have lots of fans now,¡± refuted the employee, ¡°My colleagues and I are your fans. You are

    beautiful and brave, and are our idol!¡±

    Just for that, Ning Ran must sign an autograph for her.

    ¡°Okay then,¡± agreed Ning Ran, ¡°Where do I sign?¡±

    The employee handed Ning Ran a notebook that was previously prepared.

    Ning Ran hesitated but still signed ¡®Ding Mi¡¯ on the notebook.

    That was the first time she signed an autograph so it was downright ugly.

    It didn¡¯t feel right so Ning Ran tried to redo it, but the employee suddenly took her notebook back and

    fled in the opposite direction.

    Ning Ran was stunned and wondered, what¡¯s going on?

    Then, she noticed that the other employees were also running away like they had seen a ghost.

    That was when Ning Ran realized what was going on. She turned around to see Nan Chen¡¯s angry

    face.

    Oh, so they did see a ghost.

    ¡°I¡­¡± Ning Ran¡¯s lips moved, but she didn¡¯t actually know what to say.

    ¡°Did you really think you¡¯ve be a celebrity?¡± asked Nan Chen whose tone was insulting and filled

    with disdain.

    ¡°I¡­ No, I just¡­¡±

    Nan Chen turned around and went back to his office.

    Ning Ran sighed and followed Nan Chen into his office like she was a kid who had just been caught

    being naughty.

    ¡°She approached me and asked¡­¡±

    Ning Ran was trying to exin the situation, but she was interrupted by Nan Chen¡¯s wave. He didn¡¯t

    want to dwell on that topic.

    Nan Chen pressed a button on his desk, and his secretary brought two more cups of coffee into the

    office. One cup was for Nan Chen while the other one was for Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t dare to take another sip. She¡¯ll stay awake for the next two days if she keeps drinking.

    ¡°Wang Yan said that the production will be dyed by at least three days. We¡¯re losing 800 thousand a

    day because of it, and our total loss will be about 2.4 million,¡± said Nan Chen in a terrifying tone.

    Ning Ran felt a chill down her spine the moment she heard those numbers.

    He¡¯s not asking me to pay for it, is he?

    ¡°Are you paying by cash or via a bank transfer?¡± asked Nan Chen whose sharp, merciless eyes were

    ring at Ning Ran.

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m broke.¡±

    Nan Chen was stunned because he wasn¡¯t expecting an answer like that. However, it didn¡¯t seem to

    have any problems either because theck of funds may just be the best excuse to survive through it.

    She didn¡¯t have any money so what could he do?

    ¡°ying dirty, huh?¡± said Nan Chen, ¡°The legal team of the Nanshi Corporation is top-notch, and we

    can take legal actions anytime we want.¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s lips curved into a beautiful smile because she wasn¡¯t buying any of that.

    ¡°There¡¯s no point in taking legal actions. I have no asset for the judge to take away so there is nothing

    to do. Having me thrown into the jail might be possible, but that would affect the kids¡¯ development in

    the long term, and you won¡¯t do that to them.¡±

    Nan Chen was furious to hear that.

    That woman is so calm even when she¡¯s acting so shamelessly!

    Yet, her words and analysis were on point!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 177

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 177

    ¡°I¡¯ve owed Zheng Lunlun a couple hundred thousand for quite a while now, but I never had the financial

    capabilities to repay him. That was how he pressured me into taking him out for dinner that day, and

    how the rumors began. It is useless to try and pressure me into paying because I am too poor.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s lips were shaking with pure rage. She wasn¡¯t ashamed of her condition, but was proud of

    how terrible it was?!

    How utterly shameless!

    Ning Ran was so d to be able to fight back that she had almost forgotten about the situation she was

    in.

    Ning Ran realized her mistake soon and straightened herself before saying, ¡°That is not something I

    wanted to happen. I hope that Sir Chen is understanding toward a struggling actress who has to take

    care of two kids.¡±

    Ning Ran regretted her words the moment she said them. Thosest few words about the kids were

    her biggest mistakes.

    She knew that Nan Chen was trying to use the money to take her kids away, yet she brought them up.

    How stupid was she?

    As suspected, the bright Nan Chen caught the mistake and used it against her. ¡°You don¡¯t need to

    worry about the kids anymore because we¡¯ll take care of them. You can focus on working and repaying

    your debt. We will draft a legal notice and give you one year to repay all 2.4 million.¡±

    Ning Ran wanted to p herself hard. Dumbass! You knew there was something up his sleeve, but you

    still step on that trap. Did you lose all your brain cells? Idiot! Why can¡¯t you talk without making any

    mistakes? Like that man does!

    ¡°I take back what I said!¡±

    Nan Chen stared at Ning Ran with distance in his eyes, but he didn¡¯t speak.

    You want to take back what you said? No way! Not even in your dreams!

    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the kids myself. As for the 2.4 million loss, it¡¯s not entirely my fault.¡±

    ¡°We kept moving and changing shooting sites, but those haters found our exact location.¡±

    ¡°That proves that someone on the insides had leaked the information so this whole thing is a set-up.¡±

    ¡°Sir Chen is so smart and powerful. I am sure your beautiful mind can see through all this and find the

    real culprits.¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s sudden praise had Nan Chen frowning because he wasn¡¯t used to that kind of treatment.

    In fact, he was ufortable with Ning Ran being so nice to him. He felt like a greasy piece of meat

    had been shoved down his throat, and was making him sick.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t care if Nan Chen wasfortable with her praises because she needed to make up for

    her mistake and prevent her kids from being taken away.

    ¡°I am nothing but a nameless actress and was blessed with meeting you, Sir Chen. You allowed me to

    take part in the show you invest in, and I am grateful for it.¡± ¡°I worked hard to repay your kindness but

    was disrupted by a perpetrator who caused the production to be dyed. It is out of my control.¡±

    ¡°I am but a helpless woman. I don¡¯t have the intelligence to deal with difficult situations like these. Only

    a strong hero like Sir Chen can save me from this disaster.¡±

    ¡°I know that peace will return to Flower City if you take charge and destroy all those mean monsters

    who are disrupting us.¡±

    Nan Chen felt a headacheing.

    That woman was proud and arrogant like a peacock a minute ago but was humble the next. She had

    no boundaries, and Nan Chen didn¡¯t know how to deal with that.

    He had nned a scheme to fight against Ning Ran and force her into obeying him, but she had

    messed everything up.

    She was like a ball of cotton that wouldn¡¯t be hurt no matter how hard one punched it and was able to

    change the subject without anyone noticing.

    They were supposed to be talking about who should take care of the kids, but the topic had been

    changed to her asking Nan Chen to help solve the issue with the show.

    What a terrifying monster.

    Nan Chen took a big gulp of his coffee to realign his thoughts.

    He had been a business tycoon for years and had faced countless experts in negotiation. Some of his

    opponents had been a country¡¯s minister or a multinational corporations¡¯ board of directors.

    Nan Chen had always been able to adapt andbat against their strategies and tricks while retaining

    his quiet style.

    Yet, Nan Chen often felt helpless when dealing with that woman.

    He would even be distracted by the sweet orange blossom scent that exuded from her body every now

    and then.

    He was annoyed but he couldn¡¯t do anything about it.

    To make matters worse, he would feel guilty after being attracted to that scent because the woman in

    front of him was Nan Xing¡¯s lover¡­ or at least she used to be.

    That guilt gnawed at him like a poisonous snake and tortured him.

    He had thought about seeking help from his psychiatrist, Qin Lan, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to talk

    about it.

    He had also nned to leave Flower City to get away from the scent by studying abroad, but that

    wasn¡¯t possible either because the Nanshi Corporation needed him. He was responsible for the

    corporation and could not leave just because a woman made him ufortable.

    No one but Nan Chen himself could understand how difficult it was to be the powerful Sir Chen.

    That was why he hated Ning Ran. After all, she was the root of all his guilt.

    That being said, the hatred he felt wasn¡¯t absolute. It was a strange, indescribable kind of hate.

    Ning Ran was observant and caught Nan Chen being distracted for a moment.

    Nan Chen¡¯s eyes weren¡¯t cold and distant then but were exuding a mysterious form of loss and

    disappointment.

    Ning Ran was shocked to see that. Who would¡¯ve thought that the heartless Poker Face¡¯s eyes could

    show emotions that strong?

    What was he thinking about?

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t disturb him. Nan Chen¡¯s distraction was a good opportunity for her to take a break and

    gather her thoughts.

    Battling against an opponent like Nan Chen was exhausting, and Ning Ran needed the break.

    When Nan Chen noticed that he was distracted, he adjusted his chair and straightened his back. The

    cruel glint returned to his eyes immediately.

    ¡°I will take care of the show¡¯s problem,¡± replied Nan Chen.

    ¡°Thank you, Sir Chen,¡± said Ning Ran who kept buttering him up, ¡°I knew there¡¯s nothing you can¡¯t

    solve in Flower City.¡±

    ¡°But your responsibilities are not to be excused either,¡± said Nan Chen who had no intention of letting

    Ning Ran go.

    Ning Ran was stunned to hear that. He¡¯s not backing down even though I¡¯m being ridiculously nice?

    Are my words and praises too tame, or is his immunity against beautiful words too strong?

    ¡°The kids will stay at the Nan Family¡¯s house for now,¡± said Nan Chen whose intention had always

    been that.

    All that discussion was done just for that one sentence and that request.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t answer right away because her current state made it impossible for her to deny that

    request.

    As Cheng Xiangyun had mentioned, the haters had the house surrounded so even Ning Ran herself

    couldn¡¯t go home.

    She couldn¡¯t be that selfish and let her children face hardship with her so them living with the Nan

    Family was the best arrangement at that moment.

    The only thing that worried Ning Ran was that Nan Chen¡¯s version of ¡®staying over for now¡¯ would turn

    into a permanent arrangement because that was Poker Face¡¯s style of dealing with things.

    How do I deal with it? Do I agree with it or not?

    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have a choice,¡± Nan Chen pointed out.

    ¡°Sir Chen¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t need to act so humble,¡± said Nan Chen sternly, ¡°I never liked that title, but everyone kept calling

    me ¡®Sir Chen¡¯, and I got tired of correcting them. You don¡¯t need to address me that way.¡±

    Ning Ran sighed. Looks like praising him is not the way to go.

    It can¡¯t ease things over, and might even cause new conflicts to arise.

    It is so difficult to please this Poker Face. I have toe up with something else.

    ¡°I¡¯ll let the kids stay over on one condition.¡±

    ¡°The kids are staying at the Nan residence. Do you agree?¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s words were truly infuriating.

    Ning Ran kept her cool and took a deep breath before saying, ¡°I want to move into the residence as

    well. I want to keep an eye on my kids.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s eyes narrowed dangerously.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 178

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 178

    ¡°Permission granted,¡± said Nan Chen who agreed to the terms. Ning Ran was surprised. She didn¡¯t

    think that Nan Chen would agree to those terms.

    Her intentions were obvious. She would move into the mansion with the kids, and she would be able to

    leave with the kids when she moved out. A man as intelligent as Nan Chen must¡¯ve seen through it, but

    he still agreed to it.

    That made Ning Ran ufortable because it made her wonder if Nan Chen had something up his

    sleeves. ¡°Really?¡± asked Ning Ran who felt that it was necessary to confirm his reply.

    ¡°Yes,¡± said Nan Chen coolly. ¡°Okay,¡± said Ning Ran who was calmer, ¡°So the kids and I will stay in the

    same room?¡±

    ¡°That won¡¯t be possible. Kids of the Nan Family must learn to be independent, and they must have their

    own rooms. Parents need not apany them.¡± ¡°You and Nan Xing aren¡¯t married yet so it¡¯d be

    inappropriate for the two of you to share a room.¡± ¡°Grandma and Grandpa had been fighting and were

    at odds. You¡¯ll share a room with grandma for now. It¡¯ll give you two a chance to get to know one

    another,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Ning Ran knew that the Poker Face wasn¡¯t that nice! He was making her share a room with an

    olddy who was in the middle of an argument!

    Everyone knew that most elderlydies from rich families were difficult to deal with because they were

    stubborn, picky, and liked to discriminate against others.

    Having a stranger share a room with an elderly woman who was in the middle of an argument was

    equivalent to sending the stranger in as a punching bag.

    Moreover, even if the elderly woman didn¡¯t go out of her way to annoy Ning Ran, Ning Ran would still

    be ufortable.

    Ning Ran had always been easy-going so she never paid attention to her bad habits. If she wasn¡¯t

    careful, she¡¯d make a mistake and the elderly woman would eat her alive for it.

    That Poker Face is truly devious! ¡°I¡¯m not going,¡± refused Ning Ran immediately. ¡°Then forget about it,¡±

    said Nan Chen, who was waiting for Ning Ran to reject his offer. ¡°You¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it then.¡± Nan Chen got up and left the room without saying another word to Ning Ran. He had

    gotten what he wanted so there was no need to talk anymore.

    Ning Ran was a little disappointed that she couldn¡¯t beat him. She had spent so much time and put so

    much effort into that argument but was defeated by the Poker Face¡¯s indifference.

    After exiting Nanshi Corporation¡¯s headquarters, Ning Ran started to look for a hotel to stay in. She

    spent quite some time looking for a ce online and picked a cheaper hotel to stay in.

    Ning Ran put on a mask so that she won¡¯t be recognized and attacked by the haters. There was a time

    when Ning Ran was jealous of Zheng Lunlun because he was a celebrity who needed a mask

    whenever he left the house. She never thought that there¡¯d be a day when she needed to wear a mask

    too.

    Ning Ran finally got a taste of what it was like to be a public figure. The heartbreaking bit was that other

    celebrities were worried about their fans being too sweet whereas Ning Ran was afraid of being

    targeted.

    At the hotel reception, Ning Ran handed her identity card over to register for a room. ¡°Please take off

    your mask so that we may verify your identity,¡± said the receptionist.

    Ning Ran hesitated, but still took her mask off. The moment she took it off, a beautiful face was

    shown. The receptionist felt that she had seen Ning Ran before so she said, ¡°Are you¡­?¡±

    ¡°No, I am not!¡± imed Ning Ran who wanted to keep herself hidden. ¡°Wow, so you really are¡­¡± ¡°I said

    I¡¯m not!¡± said Ning Ran before she put on her mask again.

    The receptionist looked rather excited when she said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t tell. I am Zheng Lunlun¡¯s fan

    too, but I won¡¯t be mean to you.¡±

    Am I supposed to thank you for that? thought Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t want to stay there anymore since she had been recognized.

    ¡°Sorry, but I changed my mind,¡± said Ning Ran, ¡°I won¡¯t be staying here anymore.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t tell anyone,¡± said the receptionist, ¡°You¡¯re too popr now so you¡¯d be recognized

    no matter which hotel you live in. You may as well just stay here.¡±

    Ning Ran deliberated about whether she should listen to the receptionist.

    The receptionist seemed like a reasonable person, but there was no saying whether she would leak the

    information about where Ning Ran was staying to the public.

    ¡°No thanks, I don¡¯t want to stay here anymore. Please return my deposit. Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Just stay. It¡¯s fine,¡± said the young receptionist, ¡°I could pay for your room if you want. Employees get

    discounts on all rooms.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± said Ning Ran who was a little touched, ¡°You don¡¯t need to do that.¡±

    ¡°Come on, just stay. You have to rent a room somewhere. It¡¯s decided. I¡¯ll pay for your room and you

    don¡¯t need to spend a dime.¡± ¡°Besides, I work at the reception. If the paparazzi show up, I can phone

    ahead and let you know,¡± said the receptionist, ¡°Won¡¯t that be better for you?¡±

    Ning Ran saw how sincere the receptionist was and decided to stay. There is a good chance that I¡¯ll be

    recognized even if I stay somewhere else so I may as well just stay here.

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll stay,¡± replied Ning Ran with a smile, ¡°And thank you for your kindness, but I prefer paying for

    my room.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need. I can pay for it. I get a huge discount anyway. If you really feel that bad, you can buy

    me dinner.¡±

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t want to keep talking in a crowded lobby so she agreed to it.

    The receptionist personally brought Ning Ran to her room and requested a selfie before leaving the

    room.

    Ning Ran wasn¡¯t happy about it, but the receptionist seemed like a nice person, and it didn¡¯t seem right

    to reject that request. Hence, Ning Ran took off her mask and took a selfie with the receptionist.

    ¡°My name is Zhang Ying,¡± introduced the receptionist, ¡°I am d that you¡¯re staying at this hotel. I love

    Zheng Lunlun, and I hope that you two are happy together.¡±

    Ning Ran thought about exining the fact that Zheng Lunlun was not her boyfriend, butter decided

    against it.

    Some things were tooplicated to exin so it was better to just keep quiet about it. In the end,

    Ning Ran smiled as a reply.

    ¡°Rest up, I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡±

    ¡°Okay, thank you.¡±

    After Zhang Ying left, Ning Ran fell onto her bed and began browsing the inte on her phone.

    That was when she realized that it was a bad move because the haters were being too mean on the

    inte.

    They were no longer just going after her immediate family. They were after all of her ancestors too.

    Ning Ran had seen other celebrities being hunted before, and she had always thought that it seemed

    exciting.

    Being on the other end made her realize that things weren¡¯t as simple as it looked.

    The harsh words and meanments were downright scary.

    Ning Ran couldn¡¯t understand why those fans were so mean that they were willing to go on their phone

    and other devices to attack her. She was a stranger who never really did anything to hurt them, yet they

    acted like she was their mortal enemy and were determined to destroy her and her family.

    That was just too scary.

    Ning Ran threw her phone aside and buried her face into her nket. Tears slowly crept out of her

    eyes.

    Ning Ran rarely cried. She had spent years wandering lost in a foreign country and had learned that

    tears could never solve anything. That was why Ning Ran didn¡¯t cry during some of the most difficult

    times of her life.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    With two kids by her side, she had no choice but to be strong because she needed to support them

    while being both their mom and their dad.

    However, she wanted to cry that day. Life was simply too harsh. She had done everything right but was

    still hurt by a bunch of strangers.

    Ning Ran¡¯s phone rang just as she was crying.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 179

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 179

    The call was from Feng Minsheng. ¡°Ran, where are you? Be strong and ignore the rumors on the

    inte.¡± ¡°Stop bothering me, Feng Minsheng! If you keep this up, I will call the police!¡± threatened Ning

    Ran.

    ¡°I am not bothering you. I¡¯m just caring for you,¡± exined Feng Minsheng, ¡°I just want to let you know

    that I am by your side and will always support you.¡±

    ¡°No need. I can take care of myself.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be mean, Ran,¡± said Feng Minsheng, ¡°I know you¡¯re in a

    bad ce now, but I¡¯m here for you. I will face this hardship with you, and my heart will always be

    yours¡­¡±

    ¡°Stop being cringy,¡± interrupted Ning Ran, ¡°Do you actually have something to say? If not, I¡¯m hanging

    up.¡± ¡°Where are you? You haven¡¯t eaten, right? I¡¯ll take you out to lunch.¡±

    ¡°I am working at the shooting site so I¡¯ll eat there.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying. I am at the studio now, and I heard that

    the production team had halted production.¡±

    ¡°What are you doing there?¡± demanded Ning Ran, ¡°Don¡¯t you have a job? Why are you spying on me?¡±

    ¡°I saw what had happened on the inte and thought that you must be stressed so I wanted toe

    to give you my support,¡± said Feng Minsheng who was still trying to find out where Ning Ran was, ¡°I

    didn¡¯t know that you¡¯re not here. Where are you now? I¡¯ll go to you.¡±

    ¡°No need and I¡¯m not telling you where I am! Since there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m hanging up now,¡± said Ning

    Ran who then hung up.

    Ning Ran was still upset after she had hung up the phone so she turned it off and went to sleep.

    She had been so tired that she fell asleep despite being in a terrible mood.

    Ning Ran waster woken up by the doorbell. She jumped on reflex.

    She took a look through the peephole and realized that it was the receptionist ¨C Zhang Ying.

    After opening the door, Zhang Ying scanned the room while wearing a strange expression.

    ¡°Are you hungry?¡± asked Zhang Ying, ¡°Would you like me to get you something to eat?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry,¡± replied Ning Ran with a smile, ¡°But thanks.¡±

    ¡°Are celebrities like you picky when ites to food?¡± asked Zhang Ying.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know because I am not a celebrity. I am just a regr actress so I have no idea how

    celebrities¡¯ lives are.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not true. You¡¯re a popr celebrity now. If you don¡¯t mind, I can get you something to eat from

    the hotel¡¯s restaurant. It¡¯s actually pretty good. What do you want to eat?¡±

    Zhang Ying was very enthusiastic and kind so Ning Ran was a little touched.

    The situation had demoted Ning Ran to the rank of a street rat so it was rare to see someone else

    being so nice to her.

    ¡°Really, it¡¯s okay. Thank you, but I can go buy something myself if I¡¯m hungry.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be shy. A meal doesn¡¯t cost that much anyway.¡± ¡°Oh, celebrities like you can¡¯t eat whatever you

    want because you have to keep fit, right?¡± ¡°What would you like to eat? I¡¯ll get it for you.¡±

    After that, Ning Ran kept rejecting Zhang Ying¡¯s offer, but Zhang Ying kept insisting.

    It was clear that Zhang Ying was a persistent young woman.

    Ning Ran had no choice but to agree to it and said, ¡°Okay then, thank you. I¡¯m actually not picky about

    food. Some rice and vegetables will do.¡±

    ¡°Alright, hang on. I¡¯ll be right back.¡±

    Zhang Ying returned quickly with lunch. She was very sweet and smart. In order to keep the calories

    low, she had gotten stir-fried broli and boiled eggs.

    ¡°Thank you, you¡¯re very sweet,¡± said Ning Ran, ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Then can I eat with you?¡± requested Zhang Ying, ¡°I got two servings.¡±

    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s eat together.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s take another picture.¡±

    The duo held their boxed meal up and took another photo together.

    ¡°So how long have you and Lunlun been together?¡± asked Zhang Ying as she ate.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing between us. We¡¯re just friends.¡±

    ¡°No way!¡± said the surprised Zhang Ying, ¡°You two look great together, and you¡¯re so beautiful that you

    are a great match to Lunlun.¡±

    ¡°But there really is nothing between the two of us¡­¡±

    ¡°I have absolutely nothing against the two of you together. I like him, but I¡¯m a rational fan.¡±

    Zhang Ying was rather insistent on her views, and Ning Ran realized that there was no changing those

    views so Ning Ran let Zhang Ying be.

    After lunch, Zhang Ying packed up and went back to work.

    Zhang Ying stopped by two more times to take a look around the room before leaving.

    Ning Ran found that to be weird. Zhang Ying seemed nice but there was something off about it.

    A day had passed in the hotel room.

    At night, Ning Ran couldn¡¯t bear it anymore because she wanted to see her children. It had been two

    days since she had seen them.

    Ning Ran called Nan Xing to tell him that she wanted to meet the kids.

    Nan Xing agreed to it immediately and said that he would make the necessary arrangements so that

    Ning Ran and the kids can have dinner together in a secluded area.

    Ning Ran¡¯s spirit started to lift up. Nothing else mattered as long as she could see her kids, but she felt

    conflicted because she was worried about being recognized and scaring the children.

    Nan Xing called just as Ning Ran was feeling nervous. He stuttered and gave a bunch of excuses

    about how everybody was busy. His intention was clear ¨C to tell Ning Ran that she couldn¡¯t see her kids

    that day.

    Ning Ran understood that it must be the Poker Face¡¯s orders.

    The Poker Face didn¡¯t agree to it, and Nan Xing didn¡¯t dare to disobey because they had just caused a

    huge problem.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. I won¡¯t meet them tonight. I¡¯m worried about scaring the kids anyway because I¡¯m in trouble

    at the moment,¡± said Ning Ran, ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll see them tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Ran, where are you? You may not be able to see the kids today, but you can still see a hot guy. That¡¯ll

    cheer you up too.¡±

    ¡°A hot guy?¡±

    ¡°Me,¡± replied Nan Xing who was just shameless, ¡°Obviously, I am a handsome and hot man.¡±

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I¡¯ll pass, Mr. Hot Guy. I¡¯m not in the mood. I¡¯m hanging up now, ¡®kay?¡± said Ning Ran before she hung

    up.

    Someone rang the doorbell once more. It was Zhang Ying.

    Zhang Ying¡¯s shift had ended so she was out of her costume and was wearing a beautiful skirt. It

    looked like she had even put on some make-up.

    ¡°He¡¯s not here yet?¡± asked Zhang Ying directly.

    ¡°Who¡¯s not here yet?¡± asked the confused Ning Ran.

    ¡°Lunlun. When is heing over?¡±

    Ning Ran caught what was going on immediately. Zhang Ying had insisted that Ning Ran stayed in the

    hotel because Zhang Ying thought that Zheng Lunlun would make an appearance.

    Zhang Ying had thought that Ning Ran and Zheng Lunlun had decided to meet in a hotel so Zhang

    Ying made Ning Ran stay so as to meet Zheng Lunlun.

    That was a pretty good n, but it was too naive.

    Zheng Lunlun and Ning Ran were pr opposites when money was concerned. A celebrity like Zheng

    Lunlun would never stay in a two-star hotel.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but he¡¯s noting,¡± said Ning Ran, ¡°As I said, we¡¯re just friends so he has no reason to

    stop by.¡±

    Zhang Ying looked disappointed but refused to back down. ¡°You mean it¡¯s still too early so he won¡¯t be

    here until muchter?¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 180

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 180

    Chapter 180 Confused

    Zhang Ying was enthusiastic, but Ning Ran didn¡¯t want to lie so Ning Ran told Zhang Ying the truth and

    said, ¡°Zheng Lunlun¡¯s noting.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you two a thing?¡± asked the confused Zhang Ying, ¡°Why isn¡¯t

    he visiting?¡±

    Ning Ran was a little tired as she said, ¡°As I mentioned, we¡¯re not together. The rumors were just that ¨C

    rumors.¡±

    Zhang Ying looked even more disappointed as her smile started to dissipate. Just then, her eyes

    sparkled again as she asked, ¡°The two of you seem close so you must have his phone number or his

    WeChat number, right?¡±

    Ning Ran stared without speaking. ¡°You do, don¡¯t you?¡± asked Zhang Ying excitedly. Ning Ran wanted

    to lie, but that lie would be so stupid that even Ning Ran herself wouldn¡¯t have bought it. ¡°I can¡¯t share it

    with you,¡± confessed Ning Ran, ¡°It¡¯s private.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯m not asking for his number. I just thought that you could tell him you¡¯re here

    and invite him over.¡± Zhang Ying was proud of herself foring up with such an amazing idea, and

    her face lit up with excitement and anticipation.

    Ning Ran sensed the kind of insanity that only existed in fans. The well-mannered and sweet girl in

    front of Ning Ran was no different from the crazy fans online. Underneath that graceful exterior was the

    heart of a crazy fan.

    I was too careless. Zhang Ying¡¯s kindness and enthusiasm had never been for me. They were all

    targeted at Zheng Lunlun! Zhang Ying¡¯s logic was simple. She thought that Ning Ran and Zheng

    Lunlun were together so she was trying to meet Zheng Lunlun through Ning Ran.

    For that meeting, Zhang Ying had paid for the room to get Ning Ran to stay. Ning Ran was the bait, and

    Zheng Lunlun was the fish. Zhang Ying had visited the room a couple of times to see if Zheng Lunlun

    had arrived.

    After learning that Zheng Lunlun won¡¯t be dropping by, Zhang Ying found another way. The logic behind

    Zhang Ying¡¯s idea was sound. Zheng Lunlun would definitely drop by if Ning Ran invited him.

    However, Ning Ran couldn¡¯t do that because Zheng Lunlun was still being treated in the hospital.

    Besides, the mess Ning Ran was in was caused by her taking Zheng Lunlun out. Under those

    circumstances, no one sane would get him out of the hospital again.

    ¡°Come on, call him,¡± urged Zhang Ying with great anticipation. Ning Ran sensed that insanity again,

    and it was more obvious and scarier. I have to be careful. Ning Ran wanted to reject that request, but

    she realized that Zhang Ying was too irrational and would react badly. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll try.¡±

    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.

    Ning Ran turned on her phone as she strategized an escape n. If Ning Ran refused to make that call

    upfront, Zhang Ying would go crazy. Ning Ran couldn¡¯t afford to get Zhang Ying upset so she must find

    a way to go around it.

    ¡°Turn on the speaker. I want to listen to Lunlun¡¯s voice. I heard it from television before, but I want to

    listen to it in real life.¡± Zhang Ying had gotten even more excited. She got her phone out and was ready

    to record everything. Does she n to record Zheng Lunlun¡¯s voice?

    My gosh! That¡¯s how a fan behaves? thought Ning Ran who was beyond shocked. If Zhang Ying were

    to find out that Ning Ran couldn¡¯t call Zheng Lunlun, Zhang Ying may be so disappointed that she

    would react violently. What do I do? Who should I call to help me get through this?

    After carefully weighing all of her options, Ning Ran decided to call Cheng Xiangyun who knew Ning

    Ran well and was more in sync with Ning Ran. The phone went through, and Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s voice

    came from the speaker, ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Hi, I¡¯m looking for Zheng Lunlun,¡± said Ning Ran nervously. ¡°Why are you calling me if¡­?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s Ms. Cheng, right? Can Lunlune to the phone? A fan of his wants to meet him,¡± interrupted

    Ning Ran before Cheng Xiangyun could finish her sentence.

    There were a few seconds of silence which suggested that Cheng Xiangyun may still be gathering her

    thoughts, but Ning Ran was confident with Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s quick thinking and thought that Cheng

    Xiangyun should be able to help her through that situation.

    ¡°Hello? Ms. Cheng? Are you still there?¡± said Ning Ran, ¡°Can Lunlune to the phone?¡±

    ¡°Oh, Lunlun has to work tonight and is busy at the make-up station so he can¡¯te to the phone.

    Maybe try callingter? Anyway, I gotta go now. Bye.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun hung up immediately after. It seemed that she needed time to figure out what was

    happening.

    Ning Ran shrugged and raised her hands helplessly. ¡°I guess he¡¯s so busy that he didn¡¯t have the time

    to pick up the call,¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°Who did you call?¡± asked Zhang Ying. ¡°His assistant.¡± ¡°But you called her ¡®Ms. Cheng¡¯.¡± ¡°Yeah,

    because his assistant¡¯s surname is Cheng.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not right. Lunlun¡¯s assistant is a mixed-blood named ¡®Zhang¡¯ and had an ent. The person

    you just called didn¡¯t have that ent.¡± Ning Ran was stunned. Fans even paid attention to their

    celebrities¡¯ assistants? Just how crazy are they?

    ¡°Maybe he changed his assistant?¡± said Ning Ran who acted dumb, ¡°Or he has multiple assistants?¡±

    ¡°But the assistant named ¡®Zhang¡¯ was just hired. Moreover, she just updated her Weibo ount a

    couple of hours ago and was asking fans to stay calm. How could he have changed an assistant within

    that short period of time?¡±

    Ning Ran was truly bbergasted that time. That wasn¡¯t just a fan. That was a professional fan who

    didn¡¯t just pay attention to her idol, but also to her idol¡¯s team.

    Ning Ran was asleep a few hours ago so she had no idea what Zheng Lunlun¡¯s assistant had posted

    on Weibo. Even if Ning Ran wasn¡¯t asleep, she didn¡¯t know the woman called ¡®Zhang¡¯ and wouldn¡¯t

    have paid attention to her Weibo ount. Shoot! My lies are about to be uncovered! What do I do?

    ¡°Ms. Cheng is the assistant who took care of Lunlun¡¯s personal life whereas Ms. Zhang is the one who

    does PR. That is why as friends, we call Ms. Cheng to hang out with Lunlun.¡±

    Ning Ran wasn¡¯t dumb either and wouldn¡¯t be overwhelmed that easily. ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s how it is.¡± Zhang

    Ying seemed to have bought the lie. She was, after all, just a fan so her information couldn¡¯t always be

    urate.

    Ning Ran, on the other hand, was the woman who was rumored to be in a rtionship with Zheng

    Lunlun so her words had more credibility.

    The main point, however, was that Zhang Ying still wanted to meet Zheng Lunlun with Ning Ran¡¯s help

    so Zhang Ying could only choose to believe Ning Ran for now.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be hasty,¡± said Ning Ran calmly, ¡°You¡¯ll meet Lunlun when the timees.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll wait until

    Lunlun is free before we head over to meet him.¡± We? Ning Ran was surprised by that term. Who was

    she referring to when she said ¡®we¡¯?

    ¡°We¡¯re a fan group. I told them that you are staying at this hotel, and a couple of Lunlun¡¯s most loyal

    fans are on their way here. Don¡¯t worry though. They are not haters,¡± exined Zhang Ying, ¡°They are

    happy for you and Lunlun, just like I am.¡±

    Upon hearing that, Ning Ran thought Shoot! More areing? What do I do now?

    Ning Ran forced a smile and said, ¡°Lunlun is busy tonight. Why don¡¯t we schedule to meet him another

    day?¡±

    ¡°No, it must be tonight. We¡¯ll wait for however long we need to. It¡¯d be best if Lunlun cane over, but

    if he can¡¯t, we¡¯ll go over there to meet him. Just one meeting, we promise we won¡¯t cause any problems

    for him.¡±

    Zhang Ying¡¯s persistent tone showed her determination to meet Zheng Lunlun.

    If Zhang Ying couldn¡¯t meet Zheng Lunlun that night, Ning Ran believed that Zhang Ying would do

    something crazy.

    Zhang Ying could barely contain her insanity as things were.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 181

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 181

    Ning Ran was about to say something when someone else came around.

    Actually, it wasn¡¯t just that one person. There were dozens of fans.

    The room was instantly flooded with 20-year-olds.

    Those fans started taking tons of photos the moment they showed up.

    Ning Ran wasn¡¯t happy about it, but she didn¡¯t dare to show it.

    ¡°It is her!¡± eximed one of thedies, ¡°She¡¯s even more beautiful in person.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± gloated Zhang Ying, ¡°And you guys didn¡¯t believe me when I told you.¡±

    As far as Zhang Ying was concerned, Ning Ran was her trophy, and Zhang Ying was the most powerful

    person in the group at that moment.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think she¡¯s worthy of Lunlun,¡±ined another woman, ¡°She may be beautiful, but our

    Lunlun deserves a renowned celebrity. She is unknown and is just using Lunlun to get to the front

    page.¡±

    A chill ran down Ning Ran¡¯s spine. She had seen dozens ofments just like this online. The only

    difference was that thosementing online were meaner.

    ¡°I think she¡¯s okay,¡± said another fan, ¡°Besides, Lunlun is probably just having fun. It¡¯s not like he¡¯ll

    definitely marry her.¡±

    ¡°I think so too. Lunlun should be with a celebrity or at least a model. At worst, he could go for a female

    socialite. This woman is nothing but a nameless actress.¡±

    ¡°Everybody, please behave! We still need her help to get Lunlun here.¡±

    Ning Ran was surrounded like she was a caged animal in a zoo and was judged incessantly.

    Worse still, Ning Ran couldn¡¯t talk back because a couple of fans were obviously angry with her, and

    she may be hurt if she weren¡¯t careful.

    The tone used by those fans showed that they weren¡¯t a good person. A few of thedies were ring

    at Ning Ran with hatred in their eyes.

    Ning Ran had reasons to believe that some of these fans were the haters who had been cursing her

    online.

    The truth was that they weren¡¯t respectful when they talked about Zheng Lunlun either. It was as if he

    wasn¡¯t their idol, but their ve instead.

    They were discussing his choice of partner and his life and were making decisions for him.

    It was clear that they knew Zheng Lunlun would never be aware of their discussions, but they were

    acting seriously.

    If Zheng Lunlun¡¯s actual life was different from their private expectations, they would turn into haters

    immediately and would attack him mercilessly just like they had with Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t dare to speak and was thinking of ways to get out of that situation alive.

    ¡°When is Lunluning over?¡± demanded one of thedies.

    Ning Ran never said that Zheng Lunlun wasing over! That was all in their head!

    Unfortunately, Ning Ran couldn¡¯t say otherwise because she might enrage them.

    ¡°He¡¯s busy,¡± replied Ning Ran weakly, ¡°I can¡¯t get in touch with him at the moment.¡±

    ¡°Then when will you be able to reach him?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet¡­¡±

    ¡°Are you making a fool out of us?¡± said one of the women fiercely.

    ¡°I¡¯m not! I couldn¡¯t reach him just now, but I may be able to do soter¡­¡±

    Ning Ran had just gotten her phone out when one of the men snatched it away from her. ¡°What are you

    doing? Are you calling the cops?¡±

    Ning Ran forced a grin and said, ¡°Why would I do that? You are Lunlun¡¯s fans while I¡¯m his friend.

    We¡¯re on the same side. Why would I call the cops when I know you won¡¯t hurt me?¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s act effectively pacified some of the angry fans, and the situation became calmer.

    ¡°When did you meet Lunlun?¡± asked one of the fans.

    ¡°We¡¯ve known each other for a while,¡± answered Ning Ran honestly, ¡°We met when we were abroad.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve been out of the country before?¡± asked one of the suspicious fans.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.

    ¡°Then show us yournguage skills.¡±

    Ning Ran had no choice but to speak in a foreignnguage to prove that she had, indeed, lived abroad

    before.

    ¡°It¡¯s passable. How did you and Lunlun meet? Give us some details.¡±

    Ning Ran grinned awkwardly, ¡°That is a long story. Let¡¯s talk about it some other time.¡±

    ¡°Have you two slept together?¡± asked one of thedies.

    Ning Ran was stunned. Wow, that was direct.

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Really.¡±

    One of thedies was relieved to hear that and said, ¡°Oh, thank god.¡±

    ¡°Have you kissed?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Ning Ran felt disgusted. Those fans weren¡¯t treating her like she was human, and showed no respect

    for her privacy.

    ¡°You guys stay, I¡¯m heading out for a bit,¡± said Ning Ran as she stood up.

    Three men surrounded her immediately and demanded, ¡°Where are you going?¡±

    ¡°To the toilet,¡± replied Ning Ran.

    ¡°There¡¯s a toilet right here. Why are you going out to use the bathroom?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a lot of people here, and I have this thing where I can¡¯t go when someone else is outside¡­¡±

    grinned Ning Ran shyly and awkwardly.

    ¡°You want to call the cops, don¡¯t you? We don¡¯t intend to hurt you. We¡¯re just trying to get you to invite

    Lunlun over. If you¡¯re calling the cops over something so minor, we¡¯ll be mad!¡± threatened one of the

    men.

    ¡°That¡¯s right! We love Lunlun, not you. We¡¯re already showing our kindness by acting civil despite the

    fact that you had destroyed his reputation.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not calling the cops,¡± said the troubled Ning Ran, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it.¡±

    At that moment, Ning Ran¡¯s phone rang, but she didn¡¯t have her phone with her because it was with

    another man.

    Ning Ran looked at her phone and asked, ¡°Can I pick it up? It could be Zheng Lunlun¡¯s assistant calling

    back.¡±

    Everyone turned to one another and talked things over before returning the phone to Ning Ran. They

    demanded that she turn on the speaker so they can listen in though.

    The call was from Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Ms. Cheng, is Lunlun free now?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°He¡¯s almost done. Which hotel are you staying in and what¡¯s your room number?¡±

    Ning Ran was about to tell Cheng Xiangyun when a man snatched the phone and asked, ¡°Who are

    you?¡±

    ¡°Who are you?¡± asked Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to know that. Just tell me who you are.¡±

    ¡°I am Zheng Lunlun¡¯s manager,¡± answered Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°When is Lunlun dropping by?¡± asked the man again.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are and I¡¯m not talking to you,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°Put Ding Mi on the

    phone.¡±

    The man had no choice but to hand the phone to Ning Ran because he was sure that he needed Ning

    Ran to get to Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°Ms. Cheng,¡± said Ning Ran, ¡°There are a couple of fans here who are eager to meet him. You¡¯ll let

    them meet him, won¡¯t you? The room number is¡­¡±

    Ning Ran said the room number like it was just a part of a normal conversation.

    ¡°I¡¯ll make the necessary arrangements,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun.

    The man snatched the phone over again and said, ¡°Don¡¯t try anything fishy. If we see cops, we¡¯ll toss

    this woman out of the window!¡±

    ¡°Who the hell are you? What right do you have to toss anyone out of the window?¡± said Cheng

    Xiangyun who was acting tough, ¡°Lunlun would be too scared to visit if you¡¯re going to act all hostile.¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 182

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 182

    Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s response was logical so the fans didn¡¯t fight back. Instead, they softened up.

    ¡°We only wanted to meet Lunlun. We¡¯re just worried that this woman would have something up her

    sleeves.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t hurt her, or Zheng Lunlun would never forgive you. Wait there. I¡¯ll call as soon as I get an

    update.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun hung up immediately after.

    The young fans turned to one another. No one knew what to do.

    Ning Ran was secretly happy at that. It was a good thing that she was in sync with Cheng Xiangyun

    who would be able toe up with something. All Ning Ran needed to do was to wait patiently.

    Ten more minutes passed before the doorbell rang again.

    Ning Ran was about to answer the door when a man blocked her path.

    Another person went over to open the door and saw a few brawny men standing outside.

    The person leading those men was the head of Nan Family¡¯s security ¨C Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± the fan asked Qiao Zhan.

    Qiao Zhan tossed the fan aside and walked in.

    Another man rushed forward to stop Qiao Zhan but was knocked out of the way by a single move from

    Qiao Zhan.

    Yet another man stood forward to get Qiao Zhan in trouble, but that man soon had his throat choked

    while he was being lifted off the floor with his toes barely making it to the ground.

    ¡°Quit ying, kids,¡± warned Qiao Zhan coldly, ¡°Or you¡¯ll get hurt.¡±

    No one dared to make another move. The fans understood then that the man in front of them wasn¡¯t

    friendly, and they were scared.

    Qiao Zhan approached Ning Ran and said, ¡°Ms. Ding, so sorry for arrivingte.¡±

    Ning Ran and Qiao Zhan had spent quite a bit of time together when they were trapped in the jungle so

    they were old pals at that point.

    Friends who had been through hell together formed stronger bonds.

    That bond made Ning Ran feel safer and more familiar when she saw Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Thank you foring,¡± said Ning Ran as she nodded.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± said Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Ning Ran stood up and walked in the front. Qiao Zhan followed behind her to keep her safe.

    The youngsters weren¡¯t happy about it, but they didn¡¯t dare to make a move either.

    ¡°Stop her, won¡¯t you? Don¡¯t let her get away,¡± said one of the women who couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore,

    ¡°There are so many of you! Can you not take them on?¡±

    Hearing that, one of the men dashed forward to grab Qiao Zhan and constrict him.

    Qiao Zhan threw the man over his shoulder and made the man fall hard on the floor. The man was in

    so much pain that he started to moan.

    ¡°I told you not to y anymore! Is there no end to this? I don¡¯t give a shit about you being fans, but

    don¡¯t get my young mistress involved! Don¡¯t try anything else! The next one will have his legs and arms

    broken!¡±

    Qiao Zhan¡¯s arm swept around as his finger pointed at the fans. No one dared to make another move.

    With Qiao Zhan protecting her, Ning Ran finally got out of the hotel in one piece.

    A Rolls-Royce was parked at the hotel front door. That was Nan Chen¡¯s official ride and was used to

    pick up and drop off VIPs.

    The ck Rolls-Royce¡¯s te numbers were all 8 and was a sign of just how influential the Nan Family

    was in Flower City.

    The car wasn¡¯t just limited. It was custom made, and there was only one in the whole world.

    In addition to the Rolls-Royce logo, the back of the car also had an obvious ¡®N¡¯ which was Nan Chen¡¯s

    personal mark.

    Nan Chen was on his way to the airport to pick up a Director of Commerce from the Middle East when

    he received Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s call for help.

    He had no choice but to have his chauffeur turn the car around toe and rescue Ning Ran.

    The door opened, and Ning Ran saw the man inside the car which made her deliberate about getting

    into the car.

    Her hesitation annoyed Nan Chen.

    What? Is my car not good enough for you? This car costs more than an average helicopter. What is

    there to not like about it?

    ¡°Are you getting in or not?¡± asked Nan Chen coolly.

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    Ning Ran replied but felt that their conversation sounded weird.

    She got in the car obediently and sat on the back seat.

    The car was specially designed to be spacious andfortable with every seat being separated so

    that the passengers won¡¯t be cramped together awkwardly.

    A cushioned table was installed between every seat so that aptop can be ced on top of it.

    That was a car that can be used to conduct a meeting, and Nan Chen was going to use that feature to

    discuss his Middle Eastern investment with the Director of Commerce when they meet at the airport.

    Unfortunately, the woman in front of him didn¡¯t give him any peace. She had just caused trouble the

    day before and was making a mess again that day.

    The infuriating bit was that he couldn¡¯t ignore her, nor did he feel right sending someone else to save

    her.

    Nan Chen could only lie to himself then. I worry about her because she¡¯s the kids¡¯ mother. That¡¯s it!

    There is nothing else!

    Ning Ran secretly examined Nan Chen¡¯s face and noticed that he was exceptionally upset that day.

    Does he ever get tired of having that bitch face on all the time?

    It¡¯s a good thing that I don¡¯t owe him any money or his face will look even worse.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± said Ning Ran who was just being polite.

    No matter what had happened between them, the Poker Face had saved her that day. If he hadn¡¯t

    helped, she would be in deep trouble with those young fans.

    ¡°Living in a hotel?¡± uttered Nan Chen.

    ¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t have anywhere else to go. Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s house was surrounded by fans so I had to

    stay in a hotel.¡±

    ¡°You had iting.¡±

    Ning Ran exhaled angrily but she didn¡¯t talk back. Whatever you say.

    After thinking about it, she agreed with Nan Chen. If she hadn¡¯t gone out to have a meal with Zheng

    Lunlun, nothing would¡¯ve happened.

    It only took one mistake to have trouble rolling in nonstop.

    ¡°You disagree?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran turned to Nan Chen and put her hands up to admit defeat. ¡°I agree. You¡¯re right. This was all

    my fault and I deserve it. Happy?¡±

    Nan Chen sneered but didn¡¯t respond.

    ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen checked his watch. The ne taken by the Director of Commerce was about tond, but

    they were still some distance away from the airport.

    It was impolite to let an official wait at an airport.

    Nan Chen¡¯s annoyance rose and was even angrier at Ning Ran so he ignored her.

    ¡°Where are you taking me? If you won¡¯t let me stay in the Nan residence, then drop me off in another

    hotel¡­ Wait, not. I better not go to another hotel. Someone else might recognize me. Gah! Life is too

    hard!¡± groaned Ning Ran.

    ¡°Where do you want to go?¡±

    Despite his anger, Nan Chen still wanted to help that woman settle down.

    He couldn¡¯t take her to meet the Director of Commerce because it wasn¡¯t appropriate for someone of

    her social status to be there. She could only be present if she were his wife.

    Guilt welled up inside Nan Chen again as that thought popped up.

    She is Nan Xing¡¯s lover! You can¡¯t have thoughts like that. They¡¯re wrong and immoral!

    ¡°I don¡¯t know where I could go. Looks like my only option was to return to the vige or I may be

    attacked at any time. Gosh, this is too hard!¡±

    Nan Chen sneered again. Oh, you¡¯re just realizing it now? Where was that epiphany before this whole

    thing happened?

    ¡°Go to the hotel,¡± ordered Nan Chen.

    The chauffeur replied quickly.

    It was alreadyte anyway so Nan Chen decided to forgo his trip to the airport and head to the Director

    of Commerce¡¯s hotel immediately. As a bonus, he could have that woman settle down in the same

    hotel too.

    ¡°I¡¯m not going,¡± shouted Ning Ran, ¡°Someone else will recognize me!¡±

    Nan Chen kept quiet.

    ¡°Let me out of the car. I¡¯m not staying in a hotel,¡± screamed the worried Ning Ran, ¡°If anyone else

    recognizes me, I will be crushed by Zheng Lunlun¡¯s fans!¡±

    Nan Chen remained quiet.

    That woman was so stupid that she didn¡¯t deserve an exnation.

    The hotel that was chosen by a Director of Commerce would never allow outsiders to enter the hotel so

    there was no one around to recognize her.

    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Moreover, even if she was recognized, the hotel was managed by the Nan family, and no one would

    darey a finger on her while she was there.

    Nan Chen felt rather good watching that woman go nuts with worries though so he just let her act out

    without exining anything.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 183

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 183

    The Nanting No.1 Hotel. That was one of thendmarks of Flower City. The hotel had an outer

    appearance that looked like a staircase that reached for the sky and had Nanshi Corporation¡¯s logo

    shining at its side. A tower that tall can be seen from miles away.

    That was the only seven-star hotel in Flower City and was the ce where Nanshi Corporation served

    important customers. The hotel had three entrances ¨C one on the Southern side, one on the Eastern

    side, and one on the Northern side. The entrance on the North was usually shut, and would only be

    opened for VIPs.

    The security was air-tight there and everyone was inspected before they were allowed into the

    hotel. Even Ning Ran, who was vouched by the renowned Sir Chen, needed to register with her identity

    card.

    However, Ning Ran was already traumatized, and the thought of using her identity card was frightening

    for her. She stalled for as long as she could as she deliberated about whether or not she wanted to stay

    there. Will I be recognized?

    ¡°Please show us your identity card so that we can register you into our system,¡± reminded the beautiful

    receptionist. The receptionist dared not be rude or slow because Ning Ran was someone that Nan

    Chen had brought over so the receptionist remained standing while talking to Ning Ran.

    ¡°Can I skip that part?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but that is not possible. We are responsible for our customer¡¯s safety so we have to insist

    that every customer registers with us,¡± said the receptionist with a big smile, ¡°In fact, we have a number

    of politicians staying right now so we can¡¯t allow unauthorized individuals to stay here.¡±

    ¡°Then forget it, I¡¯m not staying here,¡± said Ning Ran who turned around to leave after hearing that she

    must register.

    Ning Ran was in such a hurry that she almost bumped into the annoyed Nan Chen whose face was

    practically dripping with irritation. ¡°What?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°Sir Chen, thedy refuses to show us her identity card,¡± replied the terrified receptionist. It was Ning

    Ran¡¯s fault, but the receptionist was still worried that it would affect her.

    ¡°What is up with you?¡± asked Nan Chen as he red at Ning Ran with distaste in his eyes. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not

    staying here.¡± ¡°Take it out,¡± ordered Nan Chen cruelly. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Your identity card,¡± said Nan Chen coolly. Ning Ran refused to obey him. I¡¯m not staying here

    anymore. Why should I hand my identity card over?

    Someone interrupted with a report at that instance and said, ¡°Sir Chen, the director¡¯s car will be arriving

    in 15 minutes. Will you be greeting him at the entrance?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± replied Nan Chen. ¡°Hurry!¡± said the furious Nan Chen. Ning Ran understood then that there was

    an important customer heading over, and Nan Chen was needed at the entrance.

    If she disrupted Nan Chen¡¯s work, the consequences would be dire. Ning Ran had no choice but to fish

    out her identity card and was about to hand it over when she retracted all of a sudden and asked, ¡°No

    one will recognize me, right?¡±

    ¡°Hmph, who do you think you are?¡± sneered Nan Chen. Ning Ran tightened her lips then rolled her

    eyes at Nan Chen. That spoiled attitude with just a hint of shamelessness was supposed to be vexing,

    but that woman was able to carry it out in an alluring manner.

    Add that to the sweet orange blossom scent that was exuding on and off of her, and Nan Chen

    suddenly felt like he was being flirted at.

    After registering, someone personally brought Ning Ran to her room. Ning Ran almost shouted aloud

    when she stepped in. That hotel room was extremely different from the one she has stayed in earlier.

    The most obvious difference was that the size of the room was at least three times bigger! The second

    most obvious difference was the luxurious decorations that epassed a wool carpet, chandelier,

    and a wine cab.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, please rest. The restaurant is open 24 hours if you¡¯re hungry. If you have other preferences,

    we can also have someone go to the restaurant bring the food over for you. Also, should you require

    anything else, please call the butler, and we¡¯ll do our best to fulfill your needs,¡± said the waiter politely

    before he bowed.

    ¡°The butler?¡±

    ¡°Yes, we have butlers in the hotel. If you need anything at all, you can inform us. For example, if you

    are craving roasted meat from a particr restaurant in the East, or if you want a particr drink from a

    ce in the West, we can get it for you, provided that the store or restaurant was still open.¡±

    Ning Ran thought that the service provided was really good.

    Unfortunately, she didn¡¯t care about any of that. She only had one special request that the butler

    probably won¡¯t agree to.

    ¡°I don¡¯t really feel like eating anything, but I do have a special request that I¡¯m not sure if you can

    fulfill.¡± ¡°Please do rify. As long as it can be done within the city, we will be able to carry it out.¡±

    ¡°Erm¡­ that¡¯s great. You see, I have two kids, and I want to bring them here so they can have dinner

    with me,¡± said Ning Ran, ¡°Can you arrange that?¡±

    ¡°That is¡­ We¡¯ve never had that request before. If your kids are adults, we can send a car over, but if

    they¡¯re kids, we¡­¡±

    ¡°I knew it! You were all confident just a minute ago and were iming that you could do anything, but

    you can¡¯t even bring two kids around!¡±ined Ning Ran who pretended to be unsatisfied.

    ¡°That¡­¡± The waiter looked troubled. ¡°Forget it, it¡¯s fine.¡±

    The truth was that Ning Ran knew that the butler couldn¡¯t do anything about it, but she wanted to

    try. ¡°Let me ask my manager,¡± said the troubled waiter, ¡°I¡¯ll let you know if there is anything we can do.¡±

    ¡°Alright, you may leave.¡± Ning Ran didn¡¯t want to make things too difficult for the waiter because she

    understood that there were things that were out of his control.

    After the waiter had left, Ning Rany down on her bed. She didn¡¯t have anything else to do anyway so

    she could only lie there. After some time, Ning Ran became so bored that she began browsing the

    inte through her phone.

    She realized that malicious news about her had drastically reduced, and the main entertainment news

    website had practically stopped reporting about it.

    Someone must¡¯ve done some PR management, and the only person who could pull something like that

    off was Nan Chen.

    Later, Ning Ran noticed that there was a new article about how the new actress Ding Mi and the

    celebrity Zheng Lunlun were at a charity event.

    The article stated that about a month ago, Zheng Lunlun¡¯s team had decided to donate ten million to

    build schools for the poor.

    That charity event was also participated by the new starlet Ding Mi.

    The duo had decided to donate to the same region so the local charity organization had reached out to

    both Zheng Lunlun, Ding Mi, and the co-organizer of the charity ¨C Nanshi Corporation.

    The dinner at the hot pot restaurant was set up so that all three sides could discuss the next charity

    event.

    ording to the article, Ms. Ding Mi had donated over 5 million worth of resources.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran scanned the article again. Yep, it said Ding Mi.

    The photo that apanied that article was the one where she and Zheng Lunlun were eating

    together in the restaurant.

    But when had she ever donated 5 million? She was so broke that she couldn¡¯t even afford rent so

    donating 5 million was not possible.

    Does that mean that the article was fake? That didn¡¯t seem to be the case either, because the media

    company that ran the story was credible.

    So what was going on?

    Ignoring the fact that the news was faked, the positive impact brought about by that article was real

    because that news had cleared up any misunderstanding that had arisen from the incident that had

    gone wild on the inte.

    Zheng Lunlun and Ning Ran weren¡¯t in an intimate rtionship as the rumors had made it out to be.

    They were just professionals who had a little work to do so they hung out together.

    The fact that they had only gotten together for a charitable reason had also boosted both their images.

    The article was shared on the inte soon enough, and since Zheng Lunlun was a renowned

    celebrity, the news had spread like wildfire.

    The haters who had been shouting at Zheng Lunlun and Ning Ran had turned around and started to

    support them!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 184

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 184

    The drastic changes left Ning Ran appalled. This was clearly a press statement that was pre-arranged

    to be circted across the different media tforms.

    In the entertainment industry, press releases were written as news to be disseminated to all media

    tforms who wish to obtain that particr piece of news. The purpose of the press releases were

    either to gain publicity or to rify a situation. At the end of the day, the press release showed one

    shared viewpoint with no debate at all.

    When a number of media tforms release a piece of news that all contain simr standpoints, it

    generally meant that it came from the same press release. Inte users whoe across these

    would then deem the piece of news true since there was amon piece of information being

    circted around by the various media tforms.

    But this so-called truth could actually be fabricated by the writer who circted it around and it could be

    nothing close to the truth at all.

    But this was not important, as the so-called truth today refers to information that the majority of the

    people chose to believe in.

    Upon seeing this press release, Ning Ran let out a sigh of relief.

    The media surpassed any individual¡¯s ability to help one rify any situation. Just a few hours ago, she

    was still being misunderstood by everyone but now with the help of the media, she had managed to

    gain lots of support.

    In fact, Ning Ran was still that same old Ning Ran and she had never once changed.

    What a magical world.

    Perhaps it was this rification that cleared her mind, allowing her to fall asleep almost instantly as

    soon sheid down.

    Just then, the doorbell rang. Ning Ran woke up and saw a waiter through the peephole.

    She opened the door and two young children suddenly popped out, ¡°Mommy!¡±

    Ning Ran was shocked as she did not expect her two children to be fetched to her hotel.

    The waiter just said that he had to seek permission from his boss and did not get back to Ning Ran

    afterwards, so she did not pin high hopes on meeting her children.

    ¡°Dabao, Erbao, mommy misses you two so much.¡± Ning Ran said as she hugged them, one each

    within both her arms, with tears flowing down her cheeks.

    ¡°Mommy, we miss you a lot too, how are you doing?¡± Erbao helped Ning Ran wipe her tears away very

    lovingly.

    ¡°Mommy is good, let¡¯s get inside.¡±

    As soon as Erbao got into the room, she started wandering off. She was the most active darling.

    Dabao was as calm as usual. She was very worried for Ning Ran, ¡°Mommy, what exactly had

    happened?¡±

    ¡°Nothing much, mommy is pretty good.¡±

    ¡°Why can¡¯t we meet in Aunt Xiang¡¯s house but only in here?¡±

    There was nothing that could be hidden from Dabao as he was really smart.

    Ning Ran gave it a thought and said, ¡°There is something wrong, but it is not very serious.¡±

    ¡°Daddy said that Mommy likes another guy.¡± Dabao said timidly.

    This Nan Xing is such a bastard. How could he discuss such a topic with the children?

    Besides, they are so young!

    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to daddy, there¡¯s just some misunderstanding. It is not what he thought it was.¡±

    Just then, Erbao heard them discussing this matter and he came over to get involved, ¡°Mommy have

    you found a boyfriend for yourself?¡±

    Ning Ran stretched her hand out and gently squeezed Erbao¡¯s chubby cheeks, ¡°Even you are

    bbering nonsense too!¡±

    Erbao started giggling and tried to hide, ¡°Mommy is shy about getting a boyfriend!¡±

    ¡°Si Han, don¡¯t bber nonsense!¡± Ning Ran eximed.

    Ning Ran does not usually call people by their names. If she were to do that, she must have been in a

    serious mode.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Erbao stuck out her tongue, ¡°I didn¡¯t say that, but what will happen to Daddy if Mommy were to have a

    boyfriend?¡±

    This question was too hard to tackle with. Dabao looked towards Ning Ran as he also wanted to know

    how she would answer this question.

    ¡°It will never happen! Don¡¯t listen to that mad guy¡¯s words, there is something wrong with him.¡± Ning

    Ran said angrily.

    Erbao was unhappy, ¡°Mommy is scolding people.¡±

    Nan Xing doted on Erbao the most, and he had never ced a consumption limit on her favorite

    desserts. Hence, Erbao liked Nan Xing the most.

    Upon hearing Ning Ran call Nan Xing a mad guy, she felt the need to stand up for him.

    As soon as Erbao said this, Ning Ran felt that it was rather inappropriate for her to criticize Nan Xing in

    front of the children.

    ¡°He was just spouting nonsense, there is no such matter.¡± Ning Ran added.

    ¡°I believe in Mommy.¡± Dabao nodded eagerly.

    ¡°Dabao is so well-behaved, so obedient.¡± Ning Ran gave Dabao a loving hug.

    ¡°I am well-behaved and obedient too.¡± Erbao felt that she was on the brink of falling out of favor and

    immediately leaned close to Ning Ran coquettishly.

    ¡°What did you say about me just now?¡± Ning Ran rolled her eyes at Erbao.

    Erbao started to get smooth and slick, ¡°What I said earlier was wrong, Mommy¡¯s words are always

    right, and Daddy¡¯s words are always wrong!¡±

    ¡°You mugwump, acting just like a tailwind!¡± Ning Ran said as she cuddled Erbao in her arms.

    ¡°Mommy, when can we go home?¡± Dabao asked.

    ¡°Are you both used to staying in the Nan family?¡± Ning Ran asked with concern.

    ¡°Very good. There are lots of delicious food.¡± Erbao said, her face full of delight.

    ¡°You only care about eating. How about Dabao, are you good?¡±

    ¡°It is indeed not too bad but we want to be together with mommy.¡±

    Ning Ran felt upset upon hearing Dabao saying this.

    ¡°Mommy has been too busy for the next few days; Aunt Xiang has no time to spare either so you two

    will have to stay with the Nan family first. Once mommy has settled everything, I wille and bring

    the both of you back, alright?¡±

    Dabao pouted, ¡°Why can¡¯t you move into the Nan family together with us? It¡¯s really awesome there.¡±

    This was tooplicated and Ning Ran could not exin it clearly within a couple of words.

    No matter how smart the children were, they will not ever be able to fully understand what was going

    on in the world of the adults.

    ¡°I am not quite used to staying with the Nan family, Mommy has my own reasons but Mommy promises

    to bring you both back home really soon.¡±

    ¡°I trust Mommy.¡± Dabao said obediently.

    ¡°I also believe in Mommy.¡± Erbao immediately added as she was worried that she might fall out of favor.

    ¡°The two of you are so obedient, you both are Mommy¡¯s pride.¡± Ning Ran returned into a good mood.

    ¡°But Mommy, your pride is getting hungry.¡± Erbao said as she rubbed her tiny belly.

    Ning Ran took her hand over, and said, ¡°Girls cannot do this, we have to remain elegant at all times.¡±

    ¡°I know, but with an empty stomach, I can¡¯t be elegant.¡± Erbao pouted.

    With Erbao saying that, Ning Ran also felt herself getting hungry.

    The waiter said that there was housekeeping service so they could get someone to deliver the food up

    to the hotel room.

    ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± Ning Ran questioned Erbao.

    ¡°I need to get to the restaurant to take a look before I can decide.¡± Erbao was rather smart as she knew

    that there would be a lot of delicious food in such a high-end hotel.

    ¡°We will not go to the restaurant; we will just get them to deliver a few good dishes over.¡±

    ¡°No, I want to get to the restaurant, there¡¯s a greater variety of food over there. I feel ufortable

    eating in the hotel room, it is bad for my health!¡± Erbao yelled.

    How amazing, she could even bring in health as a reason to support her point.

    ¡°Si Han, please be obedient.¡± Dabao said as he was standing by the side. He could tell that mommy did

    not want to go to the restaurant.

    ¡°But it has been really long since west had a meal together.¡± Erbao said, feeling wronged.

    Ning Ran gave it a thought. Why should she let the child suffer with her?

    Since it was a rare asion for the three of them to have a meal together, why should the children hide

    with her in the room for dinner? What¡¯s wrong with going down to the restaurant to have a meal?

    Besides, this was a high-end hotel so there should be a slim chance of meeting those lowly fans.

    ¡°Sure, let mommy bring the both of you to the restaurant.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Erbao started apuding with her tiny hands as she bounced up and down excitedly.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 185

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 185

    As they arrived at the entrance of the restaurant, they saw a few bodyguards in ck standing there,

    and two of them were foreigners.

    Five chefs from across the globe gathered here to prepare the dishes for the meal that Nan Chen

    hosted for amercial director.

    Due to the cultural differences, the chef from the hotel was not able to take on this important mission.

    Hence the main chef appointed for today was the one who was familiar with the culture in the Middle

    East as they could not afford to have anything go wrong.

    Upon seeing the business director and Nan Chen conversing in the restaurant, Erbao shouted loudly,

    ¡°Third Uncle!¡±

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran wanted to hold Erbao back but it was toote.

    ¡°How can you be so rude; the adults are having a serious discussion! How can you disturb them like

    this!¡± Ning Ran said as she kept her voice low.

    When Ning Ran saw the foreign bodyguards at the entrance, she knew that the person Nan Chen was

    meeting would be a very important figure.

    Besides, the female receptionist at the hotel lobby said that there would be an important political figure

    coming to stay in this hotel today.

    Ning Ran was about to quietly bring the children back to the hotel room but Erbao let out this loud yell.

    Upon knowing that she did something wrong, Erbao immediately kept her mouth shut and started

    chewing on her lower lips as tears welled up in her eyes.

    She was just excited upon seeing Nan Chen and did not consider that she might be disrupting his

    conversation.

    How could a child be able to consider so much? It is not even possible for an adult to be considerate at

    all times let alone a child.

    Erbao felt wronged as Ning Ran suddenlyshed out at her.

    Meanwhile, Nan Chen who was conversing with the business director heard Erbao¡¯s tender voice.

    Jiang Zhe, who was standing next to him, immediately walked towards them to get them to leave.

    This meeting was very important as it involves an investment of arge sum of money. Hence no

    disruption should happen.

    But Nan Chen called Jiang Zhe back, and told the political figure with a smile on his face, ¡°Excuse me

    for a moment.¡±

    He then stood up and strode out of the restaurant.

    Ning Ran was about to leave with the children, and seeing Nan Chen walking towards them was

    making her anxious. Oh no, herees Poker Face!

    But she was indeed the one at fault. Nan Chen was having such an important meeting yet she brought

    her children down and interrupted them.

    ¡°I am sorry, my child is not mature enough. I will leave with them right away and not disturb you, I am

    so sorry about it.¡± Ning Ran immediately said.

    Nan Chen froze. Since when does this woman know how to say such things? She was not that

    unreasonable after all.

    From what he could recall, he had never once heard Ning Ran spoke as nicely as this before.

    His intention of approaching them was not to me them, but it was because Erbao called him so he

    wanted to say hello to Erbao in case she felt that he was giving her a cold shoulder.

    ¡°I am sorry Third Uncle, I am the one to me, I hope that you will not me mommy.¡± Erbao was on

    the verge of crying.

    Seeing Erbao¡¯s eyes turning red, Nan Chen felt himself about to melt. He immediately gave her a hug

    and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Third Uncle isn¡¯t angry.¡±

    ¡°I am sorry, I was just too excited upon seeing Third Uncle, so¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°I know, Third Uncle understands. There¡¯s nothing wrong, you can return to the hotel room with mommy

    first, I still have some important matters to attend to with that uncle with a big beard. After we get our

    things settled, I will give mommy a call and the three of you cane down for a meal, is that alright?¡±

    Nan Chen said in a very gentle voice, and sounded like he was spoiling Erbao. Even Ning Ran was

    shocked upon hearing this.

    Oh goodness, is this even that same old Poker Face? It has been too long since I have seen

    him speaking in such a gentle tone.

    Does this Poker Face have two personalities? One personality where he is fierce to me, and the other

    being gentle to children?

    ¡°Take your time, Third Uncle. I am not hungry.¡± Erbao was so good in handling unexpected situations.

    She just said that she was extremely hungry in the hotel room, but now she said that she was not

    hungry at all!

    ¡°Give me a moment, Third Uncle will get things done very quickly. Get back to the room with mommy

    for now.¡± Nan Chen said gently.

    ¡°Alright, Third Uncle. Please get back to work. We will return to the room. Goodbye Third Uncle.¡± Erbao

    said obediently.

    Ning Ran looked at Nan Chen apologetically, ¡°So sorry about it, I did not know that you were hosting a

    guest.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s face returned into his usual emotionless state, ¡°It is normal for children to not be mature,

    but if an adult were to be so, that would be called ignorance.¡±

    Ning Ran was raging in mes; this man indeed has two personalities!

    He was so sweet towards the children yet he could instantly do a mode switch and get so cold towards

    Ning Ran. In what way did I ever offend you that you must treat me this way?

    ¡°You are the ignorant one.¡± Ning Ran muttered under her breathe, full of hatred.

    Nan Chen ignored her and returned back to the restaurant.

    ¡°You bloody Poker Face, I spoke to you so nicely but you just took advantage of it and got harsher

    towards me. Trying to act like some domineering CEO? How childish!¡± Ning Ran¡¯s blood was still

    boiling.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be angry mommy, let¡¯s go back first and enjoy delicious foodter.¡± Erbao consoled her.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry? Shall we get something to eat first?¡± Ning Ran said in distress.

    ¡°I am not very hungry, Third Uncle said that we can have delicious foodter.¡± Erbao said as she

    started salivating, and swallowed her saliva back in, looking so ready to enjoy food.

    It seemed like Nan Chen¡¯s words carried a lot of weight to the extent that Erbao could even tolerate her

    hunger.

    It did not take long for Nan Chen to send someone to the hotel room to get the three of them to the

    restaurant.

    Upon reaching the restaurant, Nan Chen was already waiting there.

    The previous dishes have already been reced with a new set of dishes and most of them were

    tailored to suit children¡¯s taste.

    However, there were still a couple of dishes from the Middle East cuisine and the main aim was to let

    the two children get an eye-opener of how they tasted like.

    Erbao started cheering and sping her fist, ready to start feasting.

    ¡°Take your time and enjoy the food.¡± Nan Chen said lovingly.

    ¡°Third Uncle, have you settled your work?¡± Dabao questioned Nan Chen.

    ¡°Yes, it was very smooth. There was no interruption.¡± Nan Chen replied.

    Upon hearing this, Ning Ran heaved a sigh of relief.

    But Nan Chen treated Ning Ran like as if she was invisible. He only looked after the two children and

    had no interaction with her at all.

    But even if they were to start interacting, their conversations were going to end up in fights anyway.

    With so much yummy food in front of her, she could not be bothered to interact with him. She decided

    to enjoy herself since he was looking after the two children.

    She was too aggrieved that she needed to help herself feel better by binge eating.

    As Nan Chen saw Ning Ran eating greedily, he thought to himself, this person isn¡¯t afraid of getting fat?

    ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Nan Chen could not keep it back in anymore.

    ¡°Sir Chen, that¡¯s so stingy of you. Must you do this? I haven¡¯t consumed much food yet. Anyway,

    you¡¯ve already footed the bill, I¡¯m sure you wouldn¡¯t have to pay anymore if I were to eat more.¡± Ning

    Ran said as she ced her pair of chopsticks down.

    ¡°You¡¯re filming the show that I invested in. If you were to grow any fatter, you¡¯re going to affect the

    character¡¯s image. This concerns mypany.¡±

    This was really straightforward. Nan Chen was not concerned about her personal life but rather on the

    business aspect.

    ¡°Eating more for just one meal will not make me obese. If I don¡¯t consume enough food, how can I get

    the energy to lose weight?¡± Ning Ran said rashly in anger.

    She then lifted her chopsticks up again and reached for her favorite braised pork balls.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough. Don¡¯t consume too much of these high calorie foods. Since you are an actress, you are

    supposed to be professional and be responsible towards the investors.¡± Nan Chen said as he frowned

    and shook his head.

    Ning Ran instantly lost all of her appetite. This Poker Face is really annoying.

    ¡°Yes, I will stop eating. You¡¯re the only one with knowledge. So annoying, no wonder no woman wants

    to marry you.¡± Ning Ran blurted out, leaving everyone stunned.

    Even Erbao whose lips werepletely greasy by now, stopped eating and looked at Nan Chen. She

    wanted to listen to his exnation on why he was still single.

    Nan Chen wanted to smash the entire bowl of braised pork balls onto Ning Ran¡¯s head to make her

    look like a pork ball.

    How could she say such a thing in front of the children?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 186

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 186

    But Nan Chen held back this impulsive thought and decided to not answer this question. He had to hold

    back his anger. He swallowed this ball of anger and did not want to argue with such a lowly and

    uneducated woman. If he were to be so calctive with her, then wouldn¡¯t he be of the same level as

    her?

    ¡°Erbao, is the food good?¡± Nan Chen asked Erbao gently to distract himself and not be angered by

    Ning Ran. Erbao was so ready to witness amotion but before she could even sit back and rx,

    Third Uncle mentioned her name.

    Erbao immediately nodded and said, ¡°It¡¯s nice, very delicious!¡± Dabao was not interested in poking into

    other peoples¡¯ business but he was particrly interested in Third Uncle¡¯s reason for getting married.

    In Dabao¡¯s eyes, Third Uncle was almost perfect in this world and he could picture how any woman

    would match up to him. There was a woman he could picture with Nan Chen, yet he was not allowed to

    do so.

    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Dabao was surprisingly a little upset that he shunned Ning Ran¡¯s question. This was Dabao¡¯s very first

    time being interested in other peoples¡¯ business, but Third Uncle did not share.

    Third Uncle was indeed someone who does not like gossiping. Everyone continued to dig in silently.

    Ning Ran regretted saying those words to Nan Chen.

    It was not really appropriate for her to say such words in front of the children. Furthermore, everyone

    was clear of his status in Flower City and that he was the ideal partner of many celebrities.

    In fact, Nan Chen was notcking in the ability to get a wife. Ning Ran¡¯s chose to say those words to

    deliberately offend him as she hated him.

    But since Nan Chen did not rebut, she would just let it be. After the meal, Erbao said that she was too

    full and wanted to go for a swim.

    Before this, Erbao already noticed that the hotel had a very big swimming pool that was temperature-

    controlled as well as a children¡¯s pool. She wanted to visit the pool and have fun.

    As expected, Ning Ran did not agree and said that it was not good to swim right after a meal. Erbao

    was unhappy, and she said as she lifted her jaw, ¡°You resent me for being fat, but now you¡¯re not

    allowing me to go for a swim to lose weight!¡±

    ¡°How are you trying to lose weight? You want to go and y!¡± Ning Ran eximed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with

    wanting to go and y?¡±

    Erbao did not say this as she would not dare to talk to Ning Ran in this manner. It was the Poker Face

    who said this. This bloody Poker Face. I am trying to educate my child, why is he poking his nose into

    my business?

    Erbao was surprised that she had Third Uncle¡¯s to get her back. This child was very smart. She will not

    get arrogant just because she had someone¡¯s support as she knew that Ning Ran would dislike it.

    Instead, she gave a pitiful look, ¡°I just want Mommy to spend more time with me, it has been too long

    since Mommy hadst apanied me.¡±

    How amazing. Erbao¡¯s words touched Ning Ran, making her feel grieved and had no choice but to

    agree. ¡°It is innate for children to like to have fun. If a child does not like to y, how is the child still a

    child?¡± Nan Chen was still trying to help.

    ¡°Why are you still nagging? Haven¡¯t I already agreed?¡± Ning Ran was angered. ¡°Did I say anything

    wrong?¡± Nan Chen replied coldly.

    It seemed like they were about to have an argument. Dabao slid from the chair onto the floor and said,

    ¡°Mommy, Third Uncle, let¡¯s go.¡±

    Half an hourter, Ning Ran rested on the chair next to the swimming pool and started scrolling through

    her phone out of boredom.

    Dabao and Erbao were having lots of fun in the swimming pool under Nan Chen¡¯spany.

    Ning Ran did not expect Nan Chen would personally change out into a swimming outfit to apany

    the two children to y in the pool.

    Just then, Ning Ran received an update. During the uing weekend, Ning Ran and Zheng Lunlun

    were going to be working together again for the second time to visit districts with less well-off families to

    carry out some inspection and express concern towards them.

    They would be visiting the poor children before attending the live ceremony for item donations.

    This piece of news was to prove that the information being circted previously was true and to help

    the both of them clean up their images by backing up with sufficient evidence.

    Perhaps it should not be termed as cleaning up their images as both of them did nothing wrong. It was

    more of to help the both of them get back to what they used to be normally.

    But the problem now was that everyone would have their attention ced on this activity that was

    coming up. If Zheng Lunlun and Ning Ran did not attend the activity mentioned in the weekend, they

    would receive a lot of criticism.

    Just as Ning Ran was thinking of this problem, she saw that particr someone emerging from the

    swimming pool.

    This man had a wonderful build. He was well-toned and muscr, and she felt that she could even

    smell his hormones.

    He started to walk towards Ning Ran and she could feel her heart racing. What is he trying to do?

    Nan Chen took a bath towel and wiped away the water from his body before lying down next to Ning

    Ran. He stretched his hand out to reach for the ss of red wine and took a sip of it.

    She was not used to how close he was to her and felt rather ufortable.

    However Nan Chen was ratherfortable. He was totally rxed as he took another sip of the red

    wine, and threw nces at Ning Ran intermittently.

    ¡°I saw the news report that I donated five million to the poorer district. What¡¯s going on?¡± Ning Ran

    asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°That was necessary in order to not let Zheng Lunlun¡¯s image be affected by you. The money donated

    was donated under Zheng Lunlun¡¯s name but subsequently the five million were split up to be donated

    under the name to maintain your image. That isn¡¯t fake news, but we have really done a lot for the

    people in the poorer areas. In fact, the entire Nanshi Corporation donates hundreds of millions worth of

    material to them every year.¡± Nan Chen got proud of himself as he mentioned his own charitable

    efforts.

    ¡°Thank you then.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to thank me; you will still have to return the money that was donated under your

    name.¡±

    Ning Ran was shocked. I have to return that five million on my own? How is that possible?

    ¡°You should know that I have no money.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll owe me for now. Return me in future.¡± Nan Chen had already spared a thought for Ning Ran.

    The amount of debt is so much!

    Ning Ran already had a debt of two million and four hundred thousand as she previously caused the

    filming to stop. Now that she has another debt of five million, isn¡¯t that going to total up to eight million?

    She would not be able to repay this heavy debt even if she were to sell herself in exchange for money.

    ¡°No, I did not get you to do all these. Who are you to make me pay you for this?¡± Ning Ran was

    panicking.

    ¡°If I do not do this, what else can I do? Are you able to face the allegations against you and Zheng

    Lunlun? You should know that as long as a celebrity has been cklisted, there is no way for you to

    get back on track no matter how hard you work in future. No one bothers as all they will remember is

    the w you had! It serves you right for being cklisted but you cannot ruin Zheng Lunlun like that!¡±

    Nan Chen eximed.

    Ning Ran was at a loss for words. She really did not have the ability to handle the crisis that she was

    facing at the moment.

    A poor person cannot go far in life!

    But thinking about it in another perspective, I shall just be indebted to you. I have no money to repay

    you anyway, you can just take my life if you want to but I have nothing to repay you with!

    ¡°So I must really go to the donation ceremony with Zheng Lunlun this weekend?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°What do you think?¡± Nan Chen threw a rhetorical question back at her.

    ¡°But isn¡¯t Zheng Lunlun going to stammer in front of the crowd?¡±

    ¡°You should think about yourself first, you don¡¯t have to worry about others.¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°You¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Mommy,e and y with us.¡± Erbao shouted loudly to Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran waved his hands and said, ¡°I am not ying, the two of you can go ahead.¡±

    Just then, Qiao Zhan walked over, ¡°Sir Chen, the car is here to pick the children up, I have gotten them

    to wait in the carpark.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded his head.

    ¡°How about letting the kids stay the night with me in the hotel?¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°They have a home to live in, they don¡¯t have to stay in a hotel.¡± Nan Chen said cold heartedly.

    This was really mean. Fine, I have no home and it serves me right to live in the hotel.

    ¡°The rate of the room that you are sleeping in is at thirty-eight thousand per night. Please remember to

    pay for this on your own.¡± Nan Chen said again.

    Thirty eight thousand£¿

    Ning Ran almost choked to death on her saliva when she heard this. Before she could say anything,

    Nan Chen had already left.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 187

    <h2><strong>Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 187</strong></h2>

    During the weekend, Ning Ran was woken by Cheng Xiangyun''s phone call in the early morning. Cheng Xiangyun told her to get ready quickly as the car that was designated to fetch her was arriving at the hotel soon.

    Ning Ran knew that she was going to head down to the rural areas today but she did not expect it to be that early.

    She immediately got out of bed. As soon as she finished washing up, she received a call from Qiao Zhan to inform her that her car had arrived downstairs.

    Ning Ran did not expect another passenger in the car, which was actually that Poker Face.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    "Why are you here?" Ning Ran asked shockingly.

    "This is my car." Nan Chen replied simply.

    Ning Ran was so shocked that she couldn''t bring herself to say anything.

    Ning Ran could feel Nan Chen''s cold stares projected onto herself as he started to judge her from head to toe.

    Ning Ran felt ufortable as Nan Chen rarely judged people in this manner, "What''s wrong?"

    "There will be a lot of reporters around today." Nan Chen said.

    "What do you mean by that?"

    "You have to be aware of the words you say. If you make any mistakes, you will have to resolve them on your own." Nan Chen said.

    "Oh, I do not have any experience. I don''t know what to do." Ning Ran was in a state of panic.

    "Jiang Zhe." Nan Chen called his assistant who was seated next to the driver seat.

    Jiang Zhe immediately took out a small notebook from his bag, "Ding Mi, these are the rules and regtions for an artiste''s words to the media. It tells you the questions posed by the reporters that you can or cannot answer as well as how to answer them. Please take a look."

    Ning Ran was instantly relieved. There is such a thing?

    She looked through it and saw over hundreds of rules.

    Ning Ran did not dare to neglect any one of them, hence she went through them one by one and tried to remember them by heart.

    Deep down inside, Nan Chen was secretlyughing at her as he saw Ning Ran trying to memorize the rules just like how a primary school student would. He thought that this woman was really dumb.

    It was sufficient to just scan through such regtions and get the gist of it. Was there a need to remember it so seriously?

    Ning Ran realized that Nan Chen was staring at her and she turned her head over to him. Nan Chen then quickly looked away to the other side, out of the car.

    "Hey, why are you going there? Are you going to the rural areas with us?" Ning Ran questioned him.

    Nan Chen ignored her.

    Jiang Zhe, who was sitting in front, exined, "We are going to Tonglin County, which is in close cooperation with Nanshi Corporation. A lot of construction work there are done by Nanshi Corporation. Sir Chen is heading there to discuss the development of the new township with their leader."

    "Oh." Ning Ran nodded her head.

    Ning Ran continued going through the notebook on artists'' rules and regtions. As she read along, she felt herself getting sleepier.

    She did not have enough sleep as she did not have a good night''s sleep yesterday and had to wake up rather early today.

    Ning Ran fell asleep almost instantly after she closed her eyes. As she could not find afortable position to sleep in, sheid against Nan Chen after what seemed like a daze.

    The sudden tinge of the orange blossom scent distracted Nan Chen.

    After Ning Ran''s head came into contact with Nan Chen''s shoulders, she felt ratherfortable as there was a support for her head and she stopped moving.

    She was in afortable position, but that was not the case for Nan Chen.

    He had never let anyone lean on his shoulders to rest, not even once.

    Ning Ran was leaning so close to Nan Chen. Her warm breath along with the faint orange blossom scent was tantalizing Nan Chen.

    He had never once expected for this annoying woman to get so close to him!

    Nan Chen was trying to retract himself by the corner.

    But Ning Ran would not give up thisfortable position that she was in, given that she had just fallen asleep.

    She moved her hands and wrapped it around his arms, with her head still leaning against Nan Chen''s shoulders.

    Jiang Zhe heard some weird noises behind and tried to look through the rearview mirror. He saw the entire situation and was in great shock.

    But it was no big deal for one to lend his shoulders to someone else. It was not even counted as intimacy.

    But to Nan Chen, this was a great matter as he had never gotten so close to any females.

    In fact, for the many years that Jiang Zhe had remained by Nan Chen, the number of women that could get in his car was so few to the extent that Jiang Zhe could not even recall any.

    It was the same for his previous rumored girlfriend, Luo Fei. She had never once rode in Nan Chen''s car together with him.

    Ning Ran had not only gotten into Nan Chen''s car but had even lent his shoulders to take a nap. This was a really big deal.

    But, isn''t this woman Fourth Young Master''s woman? This......

    Eventually, Nan Chen still stretched out his hands and pushed Ning Ran''s head to another side.

    This time, Ning Ran did not lean against him again, but she curled up in the other corner, did a slight adjustment to her posture and continued sleeping.

    Nan Chen felt a burden lifted off his shoulders after he pushed her away.

    There were three cars heading towards Tonglin County today. One was for Nan Chen, the other was to pick Zheng Lunlun up, and thest one was to pick up the staff members who were heading down as well.

    They were able to send out more cars originally, but if there were too many cars, it could be rather suspicious and would not be in line with the theme of a charity event. Hence, they settled with using three cars.

    It was initially intended for Ning Ran and Zheng Lunlun to ride the same car, but considering the misunderstanding that the inte users have towards their rtionship, Nan Chen decided that it was better for them to be in separate cars to prevent further misunderstandings.

    Furthermore, he also did not wish for Zheng Lunlun and Ning Ran to ride in the same car even though Nan Chen did not have a reason for that.

    That was why he decided to pick Ning Ran up but he did not expect for her to not only sleep like a pig but also lean against him as a pillow rest. It was ridiculous.

    "Jiang Zhe, help me contact the other two cars to get their location." Nan Chen said.

    "Yes, Sir Chen." Jiang Zhe said as he fished out his phone.

    "Sir Chen, they are already on the expressway."

    "Get them to gather at Liang Chuan Service Area."

    "Yes, Sir Chen."

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran had already fallen into a deep slumber, and had dreamt of the television series that she casted in having an extremely high viewership rate. She even dreamt that she had obtained an award, and Nan Chen was the one presenting it to her.

    She has overjoyed that she wasughing to herself in her dreams.

    By then, the car had already arrived at the Liang Chuan service area. When Nan Chen turned around to look at Ning Ran, he could see her smiling slyly.

    What is sheughing at?

    Was she actually awake all these while yet pretended to be sleeping?

    The car entered into the service area and the inertia resulting from the braking of the car that was initially travelling at a high speed woke Ning Ran from her sleep. Her first reaction was to reach out for her mouth to make sure that she was not drooling.

    Thank goodness, she did not drool.

    She then raised her head and saw Nan Chen''s cold stares. This state was how exactly a person would look if the other party owed him money.

    "Are we here?" Ning Ran said as she rubbed her eyes, "So sorry, I fell asleep.¡±

    Without saying a single word, Nan Chen opened the door and got out of the car.

    Zheng Lunlun had been waiting at the service center. With a mask on his face, he came up to wee their arrival, "Third Uncle!"

    After he finished greeting him, he rushed over to the car as he knew that Ning Ran was in it.

    Although he was wearing a mask, Ning Ran could recognize Zheng Lunlun.

    What she was most curious about, was whether his stammering was still there.

    "Blondie!"

    "Computer Guru!"

    Nan Chen who was standing by the side frowned even deeper. What type of nicknames were this? What is Blondie? What on earth is a Computer Guru?

    When Zheng Lunlun was overseas, he had his hair dyed red, so he was called Blondie.

    On the other hand, Ning Ran had been letting Dabao use her ID to yputer games with Zheng Lunlun. As Dabao was very skillful in killing the enemies in the game, Zheng Lunlun adted her and gave her the nickname of Computer Guru.

    Their revolutionary friendship can never be understood by anyone else, let alone their names which sound in to many.

    Nan Chen obviously did not understand their friendship.

    "Sigh, we cannot talk too much, your Third Uncle will get unhappy." Ning Ran whispered as she gestured to him.

    "Sure." Zheng Lunlun agreed.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 188

    <h2><strong>Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 188</strong></h2>

    Ning Ran pouted, and asked Zheng Lunlun softly, ¡°Are you getting better?¡±

    ¡°I am slightly better.¡± Zheng Lunlun replied.

    Ning Ran counted the words, ¡°I am slightly better¡± as four words. In the past, he would start to stammer if he exceeded three words. It seemed like he managed to break through the limit of three words.

    ¡°Under five words I will not¡­¡­not¡­¡­¡±Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Here it goes again! Zheng Lunlun started to stammer again just right after they thought he was fine.

    ¡°Ok, I got it. So you can only keep within five words in order to not stammer?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Zheng Lunlun nodded his head with some force.

    ¡°Zheng Lunlun, get in the car!¡± Nan Chen signaled to him.

    ¡°What?¡±

    Zheng Lunlun thought that Nan Chen¡¯s intention of asking him to wait at the service area was to let him and Ning Ran share the same car.

    But it seemed like that was not the case. Nan Chen wanted to take the same car as Zheng Lunlun, and let Ning Ran take the other car alone.

    But why was that so? Zheng Lunlun could not understand.

    Ning Ran was also confused. All she did was to take a short nap in the car, and this has provoked the Poker Face so much that he wanted to switch cars?

    But Ning Ran quite liked this arrangement. By having a car to herself, she could sit however she liked without any restraints.

    Zheng Lunlun was prepared to share a car with Ning Ran, so that they could even y a few games together when they reached their destination. However, Third Uncle had ruined his n and now he was really unhappy.

    But although he did not like the arrangement, he did not dare to defy Third Uncle. He got onto the car obediently, and sat next to Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen was angry when he saw Zheng Lunlun¡¯s bothered face.

    It seemed like his decision to not let that woman share a car with Zheng Lunlun was totally right. This woman could make men go head over heels for her.

    Young men like Zheng Lunlun who was full of lust, would not be able to resist such temptation from her. He had to cut down on their interaction opportunities as much as possible!

    Nan Chen nced at his nephew who was sitting next to him. He could tell from Zheng Lunlun¡¯s eyes that he was still bothered, as his eyes darted around and looked out of the window.

    ¡°We have spent a lot of energy and resources to handle the public rtions side to protect your image this time.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°I am aware of that, Third Uncle.¡±

    ¡°If you were a normal artist, I would have cklisted you and not help you in any way.¡± Nan Chen added.

    ¡°I am aware of that, Third Uncle.¡± Zheng Lunlun gave him the same reply.

    Nan Chen started to get irritated.

    Zheng Lunlun gave him perfunctory replies as he was obviously absent-minded.

    He is definitely thinking of the woman!

    ¡°You have to be aware, don¡¯t get too close to her and let her affect your future. I do not wish to see such a public rtions rted crisis ever again.¡± Nan Chen said in a much stricter tone.

    ¡°Yes, Third Uncle.¡± Zheng Lunlun replied sincerely.

    However to Nan Chen, it still sounded like a perfunctory reply!

    Nan Chen closed his eyes and refused to speak anymore.

    Seeing Third Uncle¡¯s eyes closed, Zheng Lunlun assumed that he was asleep. He fished out his phone and sent a message to Ning Ran, ¡°Are you having motion sickness yet?¡±

    Ning Ran replied very quickly, ¡°No, what about you?¡±

    ¡°Me neither, but why wouldn¡¯t Third Uncle let the both of us share the same car?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡±

    ¡°If we could share a car, it would be so fun!¡±

    ¡°Yes, it has been so long since west had a game together. We had been too busy and there had been no chance to do so.¡± Ning Ran replied.

    Although Nan Chen had his eyes closed, he was not asleep.

    He opened his eyes slightly and caught Zheng Lunlun busy texting away.

    He needed no guess to figure out who Zheng Lunlun was chatting with.

    Zheng Lunlun had no precaution taken at all as he thought that Nan Chen was asleep. He did not cover his phone screen so Nan Chen was able to see a few words on the screen.

    ¡°So fun¡±, ¡°no time¡±, ¡°no chance¡±.

    Anger curled hot and unstoppable in his gut. He could no longer hold it back in and he stretched out his hand to grab the phone from Zheng Lunlun¡¯s hands.

    He winded down the window and was about to throw the phone out of the car!

    But this is an expressway and it would be too dangerous to litter on the road. Nan Chen could not bring himself to throw the phone out so instead, he chose to smash it down onto Zheng Lunlun¡¯s legs.

    Zheng Lunlun was bbergasted.

    Although Nan Chen had always been rather strict to him, he had never once gotten physical. That was because he did not have to get physical as his coldness alone was able to awe Zheng Lunlun.

    This sudden action of his was indeed horrifying.

    ¡°Make a U-turn ahead. The activity is cancelled.¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°Third Uncle, what¡­¡­what¡¯s wrong? Wh¡­¡­What¡­¡­What did I¡­¡­Did I do¡­¡­Do¡­¡­Wrong?¡± He was so nervous that it did not take him to get to five words before he started stammering!

    That was a really serious stammer from him. It seemed like the results from the past few days of treatment were gone.

    Nan Chen was initially raging with his blood boiling and a loss of his temper. But seeing Zheng Lunlun stammer so badly, his heart turned soft.

    He did not know why he could not control his temper just now. What is wrong with him?

    ¡°Forget it, continue driving.¡± Nan Chen let out a breath.

    What he meant was that no U-turn needed to be done, and that they will continue to get to Tonglin County and finish the activities scheduled for today.

    ¡°Third Uncle, I¡­.. I¡­¡­ I¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough, stop stammering. Everything¡¯s fine.¡± Nan Chen was really good at adjusting his own temper. He could calm himself down within a split second.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t be angry.¡± Zheng Lunlun said pitifully.

    Nan Chen picked up the phone and returned it to Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°Self-awareness.¡± Nan Chen said these two words to Zheng Lunlun, who could notprehend what he was trying to say.

    Just then, Zheng Lunlun¡¯s phone rang. It was a call from Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran wanted to ask Zheng Lunlun that since his stuttering was still present, what would he do if we were to face the reporterster?

    Zheng Lunlun looked at Nan Chen and he did not dare to answer the phone call.

    Nan Chen signaled him to pick up the phone call as he wanted to know what that woman was trying to do.

    Zheng Lunlun anxiously swiped the screen upwards to answer the phone call and clicked on the loudspeaker function.

    ¡°Blondie, what are you doing? Why did you suddenly stop replying to my messages?¡± Ning Ran questioned him.

    ¡°I am getting a little sleepy.¡± Zheng Lunlun said.

    ¡°I bet your Third Uncle prevented you from speaking, am I right? He is so old-fashioned, please don¡¯t listen to him! Why bother with him?¡± Ning Ran said.

    Zheng Lunlun did not dare to utter a single word.

    ¡°Is the Poker Face really preventing you from speaking? Wow, he really is extremely controlling, isn¡¯t he? I just wanted to ask you that since your stuttering hasn¡¯t fully recovered, how are you going to face the reporters? Will you get it exposed by ident?¡±

    Zheng Lunlun still remained silent.

    ¡°Hey, are you there?¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°I am listening.¡± Zheng Lunlun said with his voice trembling.

    ¡°You tell me, how are you going to face the reporters? You cannot allow for any mistakes to happen this time round. Your Third Uncle has done so much just to help you recover a positive image. I don¡¯t want to drag you down with me anymore. I am just a side character, it is okay for me to be cklisted, but you¡¯re an extremely popr first-ss celebrity, it is too wasteful if you were to get cklisted. You got to perform wellter to recover your bubbly and positive image.¡± Ning Ran continued to nag at him, but at least she did not bber things that Nan Chen did not want to hear.

    ¡°Okay, I got it.¡± Zheng Lunlun let out a sign of relief. Luckily Ning Ran said something nice to redeem herself. If she continued to insult Third Uncle, he would not have known what to do!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 189

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 189

    After a few hours of car ride, they finally reached the isted Tonglin County. After they exited the

    expressway, the local cars were already there to wee their arrival.

    Nan Chen got out of the car first, and shook hands with all the leaders of Tonglin County who were

    there to wee them.

    Ning Ran¡¯s car continued to drive ahead, as their destination was not Tonglin County, but an isted

    district that was located even further ahead.

    The reporters who were waiting at Tonglin County also joined in the queue of the cars. The main

    entertainment media tforms for Flower City were also here, and they started various shoots to report

    their process.

    Ning Ran suddenly felt nervous.

    Just then, Cheng Xiangyun gave her a call and she asked Ning Ran to wait for her in the car for a

    moment.

    Cheng Xiangyun also came along, but she was seated in the car with other staff members. She was

    able to then meet up with Ning Ran now.

    A couple of minutester, Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s car arrived.

    She switched over to Ning Ran¡¯s car and she looked unusually excited.

    ¡°There are so many reporters! I heard that there¡¯s more waiting over there! I have never once faced so

    many reporters before!¡± Cheng Xiangyun said excitedly.

    ¡°What¡¯s there to get so excited about? What they do is to write false information and capture photos

    anyhow. The sight of reporters makes me traumatized now.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Not true, reporters and celebrities have a symbiotic rtionship. If celebrities wish to have a high rate

    of attention and be influential, they require a certain degree of exposure. So what will they have to rely

    on? Who else could it be but the reporters? If there are no celebrities to report on in the entertainment

    industry, it would mean no news and hence no jobs for them. So this is a symbiotic rtionship, and

    they are not your enemies.¡± Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s point of view sounded rather logical, but it seemed like

    there were few reporters today that have professional ethics.

    In order to get any news, they could do anything to achieve their goals. Some unscrupulous reporters

    even resort to breaking into the morgue of thete Queen who had just passed away in order to get

    shots of the dead body.

    That was why Ning Ran was especially scared of this bunch of reporters as she felt that she did not

    have the abilities to deal with them.

    ¡°Given that there are so many reporters today, shouldn¡¯t you be excited that it is going to be your very

    first time facing them?¡± Cheng Xiangyun asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°Do I still need to get any more exposure? I have already been attacked so badly on the Inte.¡± Ning

    Ran threw the question back to Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°That is different. That attention gained was not deliberate and it was negative. This time round, you¡¯re

    going to gain positive viewership, as you will be working together with Beauty Zheng. You will be all

    over the headlines of the various entertainment media tforms. How significant is that!¡±

    ¡°Fine, that¡¯s a very big deal.¡± Ning Ran still sounded very disinterested.

    ¡°Why do I feel like this face of yours is making me angry?¡± Cheng Xiangyun frowned.

    ¡°There¡¯s a whole lot of people who get angry upon seeing this face of mine, you can get in the line and

    wait till it¡¯s your turn.¡± Ning Ran joked.

    ¡°Let¡¯s keep the jokes aside for now. On a serious note, I had just interacted with Zheng Lunlun¡¯s team,

    we will have to coordinate with them for the flow of events today.¡± Cheng Xiangyun said.

    ¡°Sure, definitely.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°That means that if the reporters ask anythingter, we will try our best to answer them all to let Zheng

    Lunlun not speak as much as possible. He cannot speak as his throat isn¡¯t well today.¡± Cheng

    Xiangyun said.

    Ning Ran knew that it was not Zheng Lunlun¡¯s throat that was not feeling well. It was his stuttering that

    made him unable to speak over five words, else he would get exposed.

    ¡°Understood.¡± Ning Ran nodded.

    ¡°Now look at this, these are the questions that the reporters would likely raiseter. Look through the

    answers and memorize them by heart.¡± Cheng Xiangyun passed two sheets of paper to Ning Ran,

    which were filled with a lot of words.

    ¡°We can even get to know beforehand the sort of questions that the reporters are going to poseter?¡±

    ¡°Yes, the reporters here today are arranged by Nanshi Corporation. The questions that they will ask

    later are included within two pages. If they happen to ask anything that is out of the scope, remember

    to remain silent and not reply at all.¡±

    ¡°Not reply at all?¡±

    ¡°Yes, you do not reply. Just use silence to tackle those questions.¡± Cheng Xiangyun said.

    ¡°Will that be a little too rude?¡± Ning Ran doubted.

    ¡°We already have an agreement with them, if they asked anything out of the agreed scope, it is not

    considered rude if we were to reply to them with silence. If you try to say anything more, there is just

    going to be a higher chance of making mistakes. The best option is just to keep quiet.¡± Cheng

    Xiangyun said.

    ¡°Very good, I got it.¡± Ning Ran did not expect the entertainment industry to have so many tactics. She

    felt that her knowledge was expanding.

    ¡°Alright, all you have to do now is to familiarize yourself with these questions that might be posed by

    the reporters and learn them by heart. Also, no matter how sensitive the questions might be or how

    emotional or disgusting they might get when questioning you, you always have to always keep that

    smile on your face as there are many cameras facing you. Don¡¯t ever pull a long face.¡± Cheng

    Xiangyun reminded her.

    ¡°I got it; I will try my best.¡±

    ¡°You cannot just try your best; you must do it. You have to make good use of this opportunity.¡±

    ¡°I got it, stop nagging at me, I need to look through these questions.¡±

    After another long distance car ride of over an hour, they finally arrived at their destination, Zhang

    Zhuang School.

    This should be one of the most secluded districts. There was only one school over here, hence the

    school was not divided into a primary section and a secondary section.

    The school was very old and there were construction works going on in its surroundings. They were

    using the money donated by Zheng Lunlun to carry out a major refurbishment of the ssrooms and

    the hostels.

    The students have already lined up in an orderly manner in the school field to wee the special

    guests from Flower City.

    Ning Ran was also considered one of the main guests today as she had donated five million to the

    school for the building of school facilities.

    Although the money was donated by Nanshi Corporation on her behalf and caused her to be in a heavy

    debt, she felt that it was worthwhile when she saw these students.

    If she was rich, she would also make donations to this school as the students made her feel that it was

    worthwhile to do so.

    ¡°A warm wee to Mr. Zheng Lunlun and to Ms. Ding Mi. Thank you for paying us a visit.¡± The

    hundreds of students on the field shouted this slogan. Ning Ran, who was exhausted from the long

    distance haul, instantly felt energized and was touched till she could feel tears in her eyes.

    Apart from materialistic people, there are still sincere people in this world who are full of gratitude.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran instantly understood the pride written all over Nan Chen¡¯s face when he mentioned his

    charitable acts. If one were to give back to society, there would be a sense of indescribable

    satisfaction.

    Ning Ran had not evene to her senses when Zheng Lunlun started to wave to the students to

    show his greetings.

    It was until Cheng Xiangyun nudged her, that she realized that she should also be doing the same

    thing.

    The reporters who were tagging along had all these recorded down.

    Zheng Lunlun walked over to the field and in between the students, giving high fives to the students

    who were lined in an orderly manner.

    It was Ning Ran¡¯s first time doing this as she had never been a celebrity. She started to learn from

    Zheng Lunlun¡¯s actions.

    She suddenly felt that she was enjoying this activity. Seeing the youthful faces of the students had

    made her feel as if she was back in her youthful days.

    Around ten minutester, the images and videos captured of Ning Ran and Zheng Lunlun interacting

    with students from the poorer district were viral on the Inte.

    Everyone wasplimenting them.

    Next, Ning Ran and Zheng Lunlun had to present a short speech, but because Zheng Lunlun had a

    ¡°sore throat¡±, he only expressed concern towards the students and handed the responsibility of

    presenting a speech to Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran was extremely nervous, but Cheng Xiangyun told her to just treat the students as Dabao and

    Erbao and just say whatever she wished to. The main aim was to allow the students to be hopeful and

    continue to look forward to the future.

    Ning Ran was indeed calm enough to present a speech which received apuse from the entire school

    students and teachers.

    Nan Chen looked at the video clip sent by the staff member and was smiling cheek to cheek.

    Although this woman is rather annoying, she has quite a potential to be a celebrity!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 190

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 190

    It was already six at night when they returned to Tonglin County. The relevant departments from Tonglin

    County had prepared a grand appreciation dinner for Zheng Lunlun to thank them for their contributions

    towards the education industry in Tonglin County.

    Furthermore, with Zheng Lunlun¡¯s influence, many Inte users indicated that they were interested to

    make a trip to this isted county too. This advertisement was good enough.

    As long as a celebrity was able to use his poprity in the right way, he would still be able to bring

    about positive impacts. The person-in-charge from the local educational system was persistent on

    having a toast with Zheng Lunlun and Ning Ran, and had a drink first to show his sincerity.

    But as Zheng Lunlun had a ¡°sore throat¡± and could barely speak, he obviously could not have a drink

    either. And this was how the attention would all be ced on Ning Ran.

    Although Ning Ran was not extremely renowned, she was one of the most good-lookingdies in the

    dinner that night and naturally, she was the focus of the night.

    It was almost a norm in socializing contexts where gorgeousdies would always have a couple of men

    coming forward to have a drink with them.

    Ning Ran could only drink a little and did not dare drink too much.

    Nan Chen and a few other executives of Nanshi Corporation had also attended the dinner. However,

    they did not share the same table as them as Nan Chen was together with other leaders of higher

    rankings.

    Nan Chen was able to see Ning Ran being asked to drink with some men, and signaled for Jiang Zhe

    to go over to drink on her behalf.

    It was a norm that the smaller a ce was, the more the attention would be ced on human rtions.

    These people offering a toast to others would mostly be for socializing, perhaps only a few of them

    were really sincere in showing gratitude.

    The men were really friendly. Although Jiang Zhe took the drinks on behalf of Ning Ran, they still

    insisted for Ning Ran to have a sip.

    Besides, they always proceeded to drink after raising the toast to show their sincerity.

    They then signaled for her to take it easy and did not force her to drink too much.

    However, seeing everyone offering a toast to her, she felt bad if she were to reject their offers and

    hence resorted to drinking a few sips to entertain them.

    As Ning Ran had an empty stomach, she got drunk.

    Nan Chen had to rush back to Flower City that night as he had an important meeting the next day.

    As Nan Chen was afraid that the drunk Ning Ran would create negative news, he ordered people to

    forcefully get Ning Ran onto his car.

    Nan Chen said on the seat next to the driver seat, and let Ning Ran lie t at the back seat.

    After a drive of over ten kilometers, Nan Chen felt sleepy and decided to close his eyes to take a short

    rest.

    Just a whileter after he closed his eyes, he heard someone singing behind him.

    He listened closely, and heard someone singing a children¡¯s song.

    Nan Chen opened his eyes and saw the bodyguard, who was sitting at the driver seat,ughing away.

    It was the drunk Ning Ran who was singing.

    Was she about to be a crazed drunk?

    ¡°Yellow flowers are yellow, white flowers are white, the wildflowers bloom where my hometown is¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°The cooling breeze, the sound of the flute, daddy and I herd the cattle and sheep¡­¡­¡±

    To his surprise, Ning Ran sang it beautifully. Nan Chen suddenly felt that this song was rather familiar

    and that he might have heard it before.

    ¡°What song is this?¡± Nan Chen asked the driver.

    ¡°I do not know.¡± The driver shook his head.

    Nan Chen turned around and looked at Ning Ran, ¡°What song are you singing?¡±

    Ning Ran raised her head and scratched her head, ¡°I refuse to tell you!¡±

    She acted extremely different from her usual self. Her voice was rather coquettish and sounded like a

    spoiled princess.

    Nan Chen was shocked. Does getting drunk alter her personality?

    But Nan Chen couldn¡¯t care less.

    Nan Chen continued to recuperate his health as he closed his eyes.

    However, the person behind him continued singing and seemed to be getting more excited as she

    started to p her hands along.

    Nan Chen listened again and felt that the song she sang was very familiar. He really felt that he had

    heard it somewhere before.

    He felt that this song was just like the orange blossom scent, embedded within his memory for an

    extremely long period of time and had never disappeared from his mind.

    Nan Chen fished out his phone and searched for the lyrics she sang. He typed the lyrics ¡°yellow flowers

    are yellow, white flowers are white, the wild flowers bloom where my hometown is¡± but he could not get

    any search results.

    Was this her original? But how is that possible? How can someone as lowly as her have an original?

    What a joke!

    ¡°Mmm¡­¡­¡±

    Just then, a drastic change happened. The person behind stopped singing but instead, she started to

    cover her mouth!

    Nan Chen instantly realized that this person was about to vomit!

    ¡°Find a spot to stop the car, she¡¯s about to vomit!¡± Nan Chen said.

    He then turned around and pointed to Ning Ran, ¡°Hold it back in, do not vomit on the car!¡±

    Thank goodness, there was an emergency parking lot just in front.

    Nan Chen was puzzled again. Is this woman crazy? Why is she running?

    Just then, Ning Ran stopped and leaned against the barricade on the expressway and started to vomit.

    It seemed that she was not crazy, but she wanted to vomit at a distance away to not gross them out.

    Although she was drunk, she still seemed to be on her senses.

    After a while of vomiting, she returned to the car.

    Nan Chen took out a bottle of water from the back of the car and passed it to her. But for no reason,

    Ning Ran could not open the bottle cap.

    Nan Chen had to choose but to take the bottle back and open it for her.

    ¡°Gargle the water first, don¡¯t drink it immediately.¡± Nan Chen reminded her, but in a cold voice.

    Ning Ran followed what she was told to do.

    Ning Ran then squatted on the floor and refused to get up.

    ¡°Get in the car, we still have to rush back.¡± Nan Chen reminded.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to go. I don¡¯t want to go home.¡± Ning Ran suddenly buried her head within her legs and

    started crying.

    What is going on now?

    Nan Chen looked at the bodyguard, who shrugged his shoulders, ¡°Sir Chen, I am afraid that she is

    really drunk. We will have to help her up in the car.¡±

    ¡°You do it.¡± Nan Chen signaled to the bodyguard.

    ¡°Sure.¡± The bodyguard walked towards Ning Ran.

    ¡°Come back!¡± Nan Chen stopped the bodyguard just as he was about to reach his hands out to Ning

    Ran.

    ¡°Let me do it instead, she just vomited.¡± Nan Chen said.

    The bodyguard thought to himself, Sir Chen was a clean freak, why did he not allow me to help Ning

    Ran but do it himself when she had just vomited?

    As he got closer to Ning Ran, he could smell abination of wine and the unique orange blossom

    scent.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, it¡¯s time to go back.¡± Nan Chen held onto Ning Ran¡¯s shoulders and tried to lift her up from

    the ground.

    But Ning Ran refused, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go home, I don¡¯t want¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Why? Do you want to spend a night here on the streets?¡± Nan Chen was getting annoyed.

    ¡°I refuse to go home, I have lost my mother, I have no home¡­¡­¡± Boo hoo hoo¡­¡­

    Ning Ran got sadder as she cried, with her shoulders bouncing up and down. It did not seem like she

    was faking it.

    Nan Chen was at a loss. Do all women cry when they are drunk? What can I do now?

    ¡°Why is your mother gone?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°My mother¡¯s death was caused by Luo Yi. It is all my fault, I didn¡¯t even manage to see her for thest

    time before she left, this is all my fault¡­¡­¡±

    Luo Yi? Who is this?

    Didn¡¯t Luo Fei say that Ning Ran was the one who resulted in her mother¡¯s death? Why has it be

    Luo Yi?

    What does she now mean by saying that it is her own fault?

    Also, why did she say that she didn¡¯t get to see her mother for thest time? Where was she when her

    mother passed away?

    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you see her for thest time?¡± Nan Chen asked again.

    Ning Ran cried even more hysterically, ¡°I was trying to earn money to pay for my mother¡¯s medical bills.

    Although I have the money now, my mother is gone, this is my fault¡­¡­¡±

    Nan Chen got even more suspicious; the version of this story sounded different from what Luo Fei had

    told him in the jungle!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 191

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 191

    ¡°Ok, that¡¯s enough of crying, let¡¯s go.¡±

    As the bodyguard was standing next to her, Nan Chen did not dig into the details as he did not want

    bystanders to know too much about Ning Ran¡¯s personal affairs.

    Hence, he forcefully pulled her up from the ground and ced her into the car.

    In order to prevent her from getting out of the car again, Nan Chen sat next to her.

    Ning Ran was still crying and was extremely heartbroken.

    ¡°Don¡¯t cry anymore, it¡¯s all over.¡± With Nan Chen¡¯sfort, Ning Ran managed to calm down, and she

    then went to sleep.

    Surprisingly, Ning Ran, who was previously crying so sadly, was sleeping peacefully right now. Nan

    Chen then let out a sigh of relief.

    They finally reached Flower City. Nan Chen asked the driver to drive the car to Nanting No.1 Hotel.

    Although Ning Ran woke up and did not look exactly sober, she seemed to be in a better state.

    Nan Chen was about to help her back into the hotel room to rest, but she started to grumble that she

    was hungry.

    She squatted by the lift and refused to enter it. She started to yell,ining that she wanted to eat.

    She ought to be hungry as she spent the entire time at Tonglin County drinking and barely ate anything.

    On the way back, she had been vomiting so much that it was obvious that her stomach had be

    empty.

    ¡°What do you want to eat then?¡± Nan Chen asked her.

    ¡°Ice cream!¡± Ning Ran replied in a clear-cut manner.

    Nan Chen thought to himself, the reason why Erbao liked ice-cream seemed to be inherited from her

    mother.

    Nan Chen turned to a staff member, ¡°Find a way to get me ice-cream.¡±

    Upon receiving his order, they immediately went to settle it.

    In order to prevent any rumors from arising, Nan Chen did not enter Ning Ran¡¯s room, but brought her

    to the restaurant in the hotel instead.

    As this restaurant had a 24 hour service, Nan Chen thought that Ning Ran might want to eat something

    else apart from ice cream.

    The chef who was on his shift made a bowl of noodles for Ning Ran, making her extremely ted.

    However, she could not grip onto the pair of chopsticks properly and no matter how hard she tried; she

    could not scoop the noodles up.

    There was no choice but to switch the chopsticks into a fork for her. Ning Ran was then able to

    forcefully shove the noodles into her mouth with the help of the fork.

    She looked extremely happy as she alternated between a scoop of noodles, and a bite of ice cream.

    ¡°Are you still drunk? Why aren¡¯t you sober after so long?¡± Nan Chen frowned.

    Ning Ran shook her head vigorously, ¡°I am not drunk.¡±

    ¡°Are you pretending to be drunk?¡± Nan Chen was angered.

    ¡°How can I get drunk when I did not even drink?¡± Ning Ran said coquettishly.

    The way Ning Ran acted indicated that she was still drunk.

    Based on Nan Chen¡¯s understanding of her, she would never act in such a coquettish manner, let alone

    in front of him.

    ¡°Fine, you are not drunk.¡± Nan Chen could not be bothered with her. He got a bottle of whiskey and

    started drinking on his own.

    When he was in Tonglin County, he barely drank as no one dared to force him to.

    However he was extremely tired after the long day today. Now that he was back in Flower City, he

    really wanted to have a drink and rx. With a good night¡¯s sleepter, he would then be able to focus

    better in work the next day.

    Ning Ran stared at Nan Chen¡¯s whiskey, ¡°I want to have a drink too.¡±

    Nan Chen red at her, ¡°You can¡¯t drink anymore! You¡¯re already so drunk!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care, I want to drink!¡± Ning Ran started acting coquettishly again.

    ¡°Stop fooling around. You¡¯re testing my patience.¡± Nan Chen said coldly as he tilted his head back to

    drink his whiskey.

    ¡°I want to drink, I have never tasted this type of alcohol before, please let me have one sip.¡± Ning Ran

    looked at the liquid in the wine ss with her shimmering eyes, as if she was craving for it really badly.

    ¡°This is called whiskey. It has a very high alcohol content so you cannot drink it.¡± Nan Chen said

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you; I have high alcohol tolerance.¡± Ning Ran said as she stood up from the chair and

    walked towards Nan Chen in an unstable manner. She then reached out her hand to get Nan Chen¡¯s

    whiskey bottle.

    Is this woman crazy?

    ¡°Stop fooling around. Finish up your food and get back to sleep!¡±

    ¡°I want to drink, just one ss.¡± Ning Ran refused to stop and insisted on drinking.

    There were a couple of customers in the restaurant having their supper. Their eyes were glued onto

    this pair, of handsome looking man and a gorgeous lookingdy, uncertain of what they were doing.

    As this was a high end hotel, the people in this hotel were of higher socioeconomic statuses. Although

    they were witnessing themotion, they only did so from a distance.

    They did not jeer at them, raise anyments nor did they start any discussion among themselves.

    However Nan Chen felt ashamed. Given his fame, there was a high possibility of him being recognized

    and he had to quickly put this embarrassing scene to a halt.

    ¡°Stop horsing around!¡± Nan Chen was raging.

    ¡°If you let me drink, I will stop messing around.¡± Ning Ran refused to give in.

    Nan Chen was rather annoyed. This woman is really difficult to handle. But fine, if you want to drink so

    badly, I¡¯ll just let you have it!

    ¡°Sit down and I will let you drink.¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran finally quietened down as she sat down. She was obviously still drunk given her dazed eyes

    and posture.

    Nan Che poured a ss of whiskey for Ning Ran. With this ss of whiskey, it should make you

    copse, am I right?

    Ning Ran took the ss of whiskey over and took a big gulp.

    She then frowned, ¡°This is so spicy, it tastes awful!¡±

    Nan Chen let out a coldughter, ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one whining to have a drink? Now you¡¯re

    comining that it¡¯s spicy. Quick, drink it all!¡±

    In fact, Ning Ran had drunk a lot of the whiskey from that big gulp she took.

    She refused to drink anymore, ¡°I won¡¯t drink this anymore, it tastes awful!¡±

    She then shoved the ss containing the remaining whiskey in front of Nan Chen, ¡°You will drink this!¡±

    Nan Chen thought to himself, what¡¯s this sorcery? I have to drink your leftovers?

    ¡°Quick, drink.¡± Ning Ran extended her finger and pointed at Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen was in mes. This woman has no alcohol tolerance at all. She can start crying and make a

    scene, and even point her finger at me to force me to drink!

    Nan Chen would obviously not drink her leftover whiskey. He took the bottle of whiskey and drank it.

    As Ning Ran looked at him who was drinking the whiskey, she started giggling, ¡°You look dashing when

    you drink, I like it!¡±

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Nan Chen froze again.

    ¡°Are you Poker Face or Nan Xing?¡± Ning Ran¡¯s vision was blurred, and she tried to focus on him.

    ¡°Poker Face?¡± Nan Chen repeated in a cold manner.

    ¡°Yes, Poker Face. You are a Poker Face. Nan Xing does not dress in ck.¡± Ning Ran could still recall

    this key point.

    ¡°Why do you call me Poker Face?¡± Nan Chen¡¯s voice was extremely cold.

    Ning Ran giggled again and wiggled, ¡°That¡¯s because you are a poker face!¡±

    Nan Chen lifted the ss again and took a big gulp.

    ¡°Actually I can tell Poker Face and Nan Xing apart without looking at their outfits.¡± Ning Ran said

    proudly.

    ¡°Oh?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because Poker Face is poker face, and Nan Xing does not have a poker face, hahaha¡­¡­¡±

    Ning Ranughed presumptuously.

    Nan Chen¡¯s face looked even more unusual.

    ¡°But the strange thing is, why does Nan Xing¡¯s button have no N on it?¡± Ning Ran used her hands to

    support her chin and prevent her head from falling onto the table.

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Button, the button of the shirt has a letter on it.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°What button?¡±

    ¡°I thought that Nan Xing¡¯s cor button had an N alphabet, but his did not. Instead, you are the one that

    has it, why is this so?¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°What exactly are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°The button. I have kept it for many years, let me show it to you.¡± Ning Ran wanted to get her handbag

    but she did not coordinate her movement properly and fell onto the floor.

    Nan Chen immediately picked her up, ¡°The button you kept is in your handbag?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Ning Ran went to get her handbag.

    With Nan Chen¡¯s help, she finally managed to open her handbag. She took out the cor button from a

    compartment in her wallet.

    Nan Chen did not have to scrutinize it in detail to tell that it was his button.

    He was the only person in the world that had this specially designed button tailored for him by a

    professional designer. There would definitely be no one else who had this button.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 192

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 192

    Nan Chen looked at the button carefully, and was trying to figure out why this woman would have his

    button. ¡°Where did you get this from?¡± Nan Chen took the button and asked Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran chuckled, ¡°I won¡¯t tell you.¡± ¡°What do you mean? Why do you have the button from my shirt?¡±

    Nan Chen asked coldly. ¡°I won¡¯t tell you; I won¡¯t tell you¡­¡­¡± Ning Ran tilted her head and copsed on

    the table. She then remained silent.

    ¡°Hey, how exactly did you manage to get this button from my shirt?¡± Nan Chen reached out to touch

    Ning Ran¡¯s head. Ning Ran was disturbed, and she waved her hands impatiently, ¡°Annoying! Don¡¯t

    touch me!¡±

    ¡°If you tell me where this button is from, I will let you sleep.¡± Nan Chen disturbed her again. ¡°Hey, so

    annoying!¡± Ning Ran was still drunk but she downed half a ss of whiskey again. Now, she was really

    drunk and wanted to sleep.

    ¡°If you tell me, I will let you sleep. But if you refuse, don¡¯t think of sleeping!¡± Nan Chen could not let

    Ning Ran sleep just like that as he was extremely concerned about this matter.

    ¡°Hey, stop disturbing me. I picked this button up from the bed in the club.¡± ¡°What?¡± Nan Chen was even

    more confused. ¡°The owner of this button is the biological father of my children.¡±

    Nan Chen was shocked. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    However, Ning Ran did not reply to him as this time, she was really asleep. No matter how hard Nan

    Chen poked her head, she did not respond. Nan Chen looked at that button repeatedly. Indeed, that

    button really belonged to him.

    It was aplicated process to produce a button. Besides, a shirt only requires a few buttons. Hence,

    there would be a long wait before the subsequent batch of buttons were to be produced.

    In addition, the colors did not have to be veryplex as Nan Chen liked to wear ck.

    The buttons that Nan Chen currently uses are also from the same batch of buttons produced a few

    years back.

    In this entire universe, it was only the buttons that were on Nan Chen¡¯s shirt which had the alphabet ¡°N¡±

    engraved on it.

    Nan Chen held the button in his hands, and he could hear Ning Ran¡¯s words repeating by his ear: The

    owner of the button is the biological father of my children.

    He was extremely uneasy and was bewildered.

    Nan Chen waved his hand to signal for the staff member standing at the entrance toe over, ¡°Get

    two female staff members to help her into the room.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Sir Chen.¡± Nan Chen would definitely not carry her to prevent any rumors from spreading.

    Besides, his current rtionship with Ning Ran was still rather special as he was the Third Uncle of her

    children.

    Hence, he left her to be handled by the other staff members. Nan Chen took the button and returned to

    his Commoner Residence.

    After he washed up, heid on the bed and took the button out again.

    He then took his cored shirt out, andpared the buttons on the shirt with that in his hands.

    They looked exactly the same.

    The only difference was that the button from Ning Ran had more abrasions and shimmered less as she

    had kept it in her wallet for a prolonged period of time.

    However, such a button that was made using high quality materials had a vast difference with normal

    buttons. It would be easy to tell them apart if they were different.

    All because of this one button, Nan Chen could not sleep that night.

    It took him long to fall asleep but however, the sky turned bright not long after.

    As Nan Chen was a disciplined individual, he would still wake up at the designated time no matter how

    exhausted he was.

    Furthermore, there was an important meeting waiting for him this morning, so no matter how much

    sleep he had, he still had to be there for the meeting.

    Over here, Nan Chen was in a ck outfit, stepping into the conference room with an expressionless

    face. On the other hand, Ning Ran was in the hotel room. She had just flipped her body to the other

    side and continued to sleepfortable.

    Her phone had no rm clock but even if so, her phone battery had already died.

    There was no rm there to wake her up and it was so blissful for one to be able to sleep in and wake

    up naturally.

    Eventually, Ning Ran woke up of hunger. She was extremely hungry that she could feel the acid in her

    stomach eating herself away.

    She was not just hungry, but also thirsty. She was so thirsty it was as if she had been in the desert for a

    couple of weeks.

    She got out of bed and took a bottle of water, finishing it within one gulp. She then felt much better and

    less hungry as well.

    She looked at the clock on the wall, which was in silent mode, it was twelve noon!

    She pulled open the curtains and felt the rays of sunshine. She gave herself a stretch and felt

    energized. It had been long since shest had such a good night¡¯s sleep.

    She then tried very hard to recall what happenedst night but what she could onlyst remember

    herself being in the appreciation dinner at Tonglin County.

    She remembered that she drank quite a lot but she could not recall exactly how much she drank.

    She then vaguely recalls Nan Chen and her returning to Flower City together but she could not

    remember the details of the events that happened.

    She could not be bothered. As long as she was back, it did not really matter.

    Ning Ran could not care less so she proceeded to wash up and went to the restaurant.

    The buffet at the restaurant was amazing and were all main courses which tasted luscious.

    Ning Ran, who was extremely famished, was indulging herself in the delicacies. If she wasn¡¯t worried

    about overeating, she would have helped herself to another te of food.

    She saw a dozen of missed calls after switching on her phone upon recharging the battery. Most of the

    calls were from Cheng Xiangyun.

    Ning Ran immediately returned her call. As soon as Cheng Xiangyun picked up, she shouted, ¡°Are you

    dead?¡±

    Ning Ran answered her, ¡°Yes, I am dead. Do burn incense papers for me if there¡¯s anything, else do

    not disturb me.¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you pick up all my calls?¡±

    ¡°Cheng, it is not that I refuse to answer your calls but my phone ran out of battery. Didn¡¯t you receive an

    indication that my phone has been switched off and it is not that I declined your calls?¡±

    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you get it charged?¡±

    ¡°I was drunkst night. I just woke up and had lunch.¡±

    ¡°Where are you now?¡±

    ¡°Nanting No.1 Hotel.¡±

    ¡°Wow, the life of a Young Mistress is so good, you can even stay in a seven-star hotel. I am sure that

    will require up to a few thousands of each night, am I right?

    ¡°I stayed in the normal rooms, I heard that the cost was thirty-eight thousand but that poker face paid

    for me.¡± Ning Ran said frankly.

    ¡°Poker Face? You¡¯re staying with Nan Chen? Oh my goodness!¡± Cheng Xiangyun eximed.

    ¡°Cheng, please calm down, there¡¯s nothing going on between us, I stayed in the room alone. Besides,

    Nan Chen is the uncle of my children, what are you thinking of?¡±

    ¡°Oh yes, that¡¯s true, you cannot sleep with him but I can.¡±

    ¡°What! How disgraceful!¡± Ning Ran criticized her.

    ¡°It is necessary to have dreams. What if theye true? There are so many women in Flower City who

    want to sleep with him so badly, it is just because they do not dare to say it out loud unlike me. But why

    are you getting so agitated? He is your husband¡¯s brother, not your husband, why are you so protective

    of him?¡±

    ¡°Can you please have some morals? You gave me so many calls to tell me about all these useless

    things?¡±

    ¡°Damn, I almost forgot about the serious matters. The crew is starting work today, I wanted to get you

    toe over to start filming early morning but I couldn¡¯t reach you. Why don¡¯t youe over now and

    we can film for the rest of the day?¡±

    ¡°Sure, I will hail a taxi and go over now.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not necessary, I wille and pick you up.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s so troublesome. It¡¯s fine, I will hail a taxi and get over.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°I wille over to pick you up. I have never stepped into a seven star hotel before, I need to

    experience this!¡±

    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.

    Ning Ranughed, ¡°Sure, you cane over. I will treat you to a buffet, the hotel¡¯s buffet is delicious!¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun got even more excited, ¡°Sure, let me throw the food I ordered and go over to have

    delicious food.¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 193

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 193

    The Nan family¡¯s private doctor, Luo Shu, received a call from Jiang Zhe to get him to drop by Nan

    Chen¡¯s office.

    Luo Shu was shocked as he thought that an emergency had happened to Nan Chen in the office. He

    immediately carried his first aid kit and rushed over.

    He then saw Nan Chen in one piece and just had some dark circles which were probably due to ack

    of sleep.

    Nan Chen had to consume two extrarge cups of espressos in order to get rid of his fatigue.

    In fact, he had been a rather energetic man all along but the long distance travelling yesterday which

    disrupted his sleep and the loss of sleep at night had tired him out.

    ¡°Third Young Master, are you feeling unwell?¡± Luo Shu said as he opened his first aid kit, ready to start

    the consultation.

    ¡°I am good. The reason I got you here is because I have a question.¡±

    ¡°Please go ahead, Third Young Master.¡±

    ¡°Are the DNA of twins the same?¡±

    ¡°For identical twins which arise from the same ovum, their DNA would be the same. However if they

    are non-identical twins which arose from a different ovum, their DNA would be different and the

    simrity would be just like that of usual siblings.¡± Luo Shu answered.

    Nan Chen nodded.

    In fact, Nan Chen knew such simple knowledge. He just wanted to confirm them with a professional.

    ¡°Fourth Young Master and you are identical twins, so the both of you will have the same DNA.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded again.

    ¡°If Nan Xing¡¯s DNA and my DNA arepletely the same, how are we able to tell the difference

    apart?¡± Nan Chen questioned again.

    ¡°Of course, they will be a way to tell the DNA apart by observing the difference between the inheritance

    levels. Take for example, the methtion patterns of the DNA would be different, the proofreading

    levels of the genome would be different, the DNA replication mutation rate and more. As long as there

    is a professional to authenticate the DNAs, they would be able to tell the difference between the 2

    DNA. In the past, such technologies were only avable overseas. However, we have them now too.

    But as there is a low demand for such DNA authentication, the main techniques used today are gic

    research and forensics. In some cases, after a twinmits a crime, the other twin can take the

    offence on behalf of the sibling as they both have the same DNA. There will then be a need for an even

    more detailed analysis by a professional expert. But of course, I am not saying that Fourth Young

    Master and you will be in such a situation, that was just an example.¡± Luo Shu exined in fear.

    Nan Chen waved his hand to signal that it was fine.

    Nan Chen then remained silent for another couple of seconds. It was as if he was brainstorming about

    a problem.

    Luo Shu did not dare to disturb him so he just kept quiet.

    ¡°If Nan Xing had a child, then would the child¡¯s DNA be the same as mine?¡± Nan Chen questioned

    again.

    ¡°The simrity index would be very high, but it will not be exactly the same.¡± Luo Shu said.

    Nan Chen remained silent.

    ¡°I will need you to help me settle something but this matter will only stay between the both of us.¡± Nan

    Chen said.

    Luo Shu felt nervous, ¡°What is it about?¡±

    ¡°Take my DNA and Nan Xing¡¯s DNA to make aparison with that of a child¡¯s DNA and let me know

    the results.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ¡°What do you understand?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    ¡°I think I do not understand.¡± Luo Shu panicked.

    ¡°There isn¡¯t aplicated rtionship going on here, it is just that there are some misunderstandings

    and I do not wish to have anyone know about it to prevent rumors from spreading.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡± Luo Shu really meant it this time.

    He knew the importance of the Nan family¡¯s reputation to them. Nan Chen took extra precaution in

    handling this matter as he could not let outsiders know of it and use it to create headline news.

    Hence, this was a top secret and no mistakes could be tolerated.

    ¡°You really understand?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I really do.¡±

    ¡°Okay, you will first take my blood sample. Can we do it here?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡­¡­

    At 6pm, everyone at the filming scene of The Sound of Thunder 2 were preupied.

    The filming process of this show was way too arduous. They were already falling behind the schedule

    due to the switching of roles and various incidents. There was a need to speed up their work progress.

    Director Wang Yan was dissatisfied with the supporting role¡¯s acting, and had been criticizing her very

    badly.

    ¡°You¡¯re so dumb, how must I put it so you can understand what I¡¯m saying?¡±

    That supporting actress was from an acting school. Although she received professional training and

    was strong on the theoretical aspects, she wascking in the practical side of acting and had been

    scolded by the director until she was about to cry.

    ¡°Ding Mi, teach her how to act.¡± The director called Ning Ran over.

    Ning Ran had no choice but to demonstrate a part for her on the set.

    She just casually acted on the spot but it was rather on point, and the character was brought out very

    clearly.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    It seemed like having an inborn talent was very important for actors and was a necessary factor.

    ¡°Can you see that? This is how you should act. Have you got it?¡± The director asked the supporting

    actress.

    That actress nodded her head.

    She then started to act again but she still could not make it.

    Her actions and the lines she recited were simr to that of Ning Ran¡¯s but Ning Ran was able to bring

    out the role of the character and not the supporting actress.

    There was something missing from the supporting actress¡¯s way of acting and there was no way to

    make up for this difference.

    ¡°Stupid. You are a professional actress but look at what you are doing!¡± Wang Yan¡¯s blood was boiling.

    ¡°Get Ding Mi to demonstrate again.¡± Someone who was standing behind said.

    ¡°Ding Mi is already very tired; we can¡¯t possibly get her to keep demonstrating over and over again.¡±

    Wang Yan said.

    ¡°Just let her do it once more.¡±

    ¡°Am I the director or are you the director?¡± Wang Yan turned around and screamed. He was bursting in

    mes.

    However as he turned around, he saw an expressionless yet dashing face.

    ¡°Sir Chen, I did not know that you were here. It¡¯s my fault, I should not have shouted at you, I¡­¡­¡±

    Wang Yan was about to p himself but Nan Chen rushed forward to stop him.

    ¡°Get Ding Mi to teach her once more, we need to be more patient towards the new actors.¡± Nan Chen

    said.

    ¡°Ding Mi, please teach her again and see if she is able to get the hang of it.¡± The director said.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Ning Ran had no choice but to teach her once again. There was an improvement and it could be

    deemed as eptable.

    Everyone let out a sigh of relief. Wang Yan got everyone to take a sip of water and take a break. The

    lunch boxes were on the way here and they will continue filming after eating.

    ¡°Ding Mi,e over here.¡±

    Ning Ran walked over, and saw Nan Chen standing behind the cameras. She gave him a brief nod to

    acknowledge his presence.

    ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Nan Chen suddenly asked.

    Ning Ran froze. She shook her head, ¡°The lunch boxes that the crew ordered haven¡¯t arrived.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s have a meal together then.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, I have to continue filmingter tonight.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you can leave first. I will film the parts involving the other actorster and leave your part

    for tomorrow. If there isn¡¯t sufficient time tomorrow, we can do it another day.¡± Wang Yan, who was

    standing beside, immediately said.

    Ning Ran felt that every single time the brothers from the Nan family came to the filming scene, they

    would ruin something.

    The outfits and props for the scene had already been prepared but now the filming was suddenly

    postponed. This was all because of Nan Chen.

    ¡°No, we will film tonight. We have already stalled this filming for too long, we have to speed up our

    progress.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Look, Ding Mi has such a positive attitude in her work. This attitude is indeedmendable but we

    really will not film your partter tonight. Rest assured; it will not affect the progress of the filming.¡±

    ¡°I will wait for you in the car, you can go ahead and continue filming.¡± As soon as Nan Chen finished his

    words, he strode towards the exit with his pair of long legs.

    Ning Ran was puzzled. Why is he looking for me? Is he trying to pick a fight with me?

    I have already let my children live with the Nan family, what else do you want?

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother waiting for me, I will end workte today.¡± Ning Ran said loudly.

    The director is in a state of panic. If Ding Mi offended Sir Chen, wouldn¡¯t I be in trouble?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 194

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 194

    The director had to quickly think of something to avert the impending danger. ¡°We willplete the

    shoot first! It won¡¯t take long. Let¡¯s eatter!¡± The director said at the top of his voice.

    Just then, food arrived. It had been a long day and everyone was hungry. But they could only keep

    quiet since the director had already decided to continue shooting.

    Although no one said anything, everyone could feel unhappy vibes floating in the air. ¡°We should still

    eat. I¡¯m hungry too. Let¡¯s continue after eating.¡± Ning Ran said loudly.

    ¡°Then let¡¯s eat first. We will continue the shoot after eating.¡± The director quickly changed his

    words. Ning Ran took two packets of food and walked outside. As expected, Nan Chen¡¯s car was

    parked there.

    Nan Chen was looking at his emails on his tablet inside the car. ¡°You really don¡¯t have to wait for me.

    You can tell me what you want to say now. We don¡¯t have to talk over dinner.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°It¡¯s ok. I can wait. I will work while waiting for you.¡± Nan Chen did not even lift up his head. ¡°I will finish

    veryte.¡± ¡°It¡¯s ok. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Nan Chen said, still looking down at his tablet.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, eat something first. I got you some food.¡± Ning Ran passed him the takeaway. Nan

    Chen nced up at Ning Ran and put away his table. He epted the takeaway.

    The food looked good. Inside the packet, there were beef, spicy chicken and vegetables. It didn¡¯t taste

    bad either. But Nan Chen hesitated. He almost never ate takeaways, because it always made him

    ufortable.

    Both his assistant and doctor had advised him to take care of his diet. He was in a position of great

    authority. As such, the state of his health was not just his private concern. The stock prices of Nanshi

    Corporation also depended on it, so he had to be careful.

    ¡°Oh, is it not good enough for you? Don¡¯t eat it then. Don¡¯t force yourself.¡± Ning Ran saw that Nan Chen

    was hesitating. Nan Chen took another nce at Ning Ran and started eating.

    It actually tasted quite good. Compared to the fish porridge they had in the jungle; this was a thousand

    times better. Ning Ran squatted down by the car and started eating, and Nan Chen did the same.

    The two of them continued eating in silence. Ning Ran took a side nce at Nan Chen. Although he

    was wearing an expensive suit and had an air of nobility, he was squatting by the road side and eating

    takeaway, just like her. It was an amusing sight.

    Poker Face was actually fun to be with at times, even though he was still very annoying most of the

    time. ¡°What do you actually want to tell me?¡± Ning Ran asked. ¡°Nothing.¡± Nan Chen answered.

    ¡°If there¡¯s nothing, why did youe? It is disrupting our shooting progress. Whenever Wang Yan sees

    you, he worships you as though you are his ancestor.¡±

    Nan Chen frowned at such a tackyment.

    ¡°That¡¯s why our progress will be disrupted if you are here. Don¡¯te here every day if there is nothing

    important. Although you are the boss, if you keep disrupting your employees¡¯ regr workflow, you are

    not a good boss!¡± Ning Ran lectured.

    ¡°I am not here every day!¡± Nan Chen retorted. He did not want to say anything, but Ning Ran¡¯s non-

    stop lecture made it hard for him to keep it in.

    ¡°You are thinking ofing here every day? If youe here every day, this ce would be without

    order! All the female members of the crew would go crazy over you. We won¡¯t be able to work

    anymore!¡± Ning Ran yelled.

    Nan Chen stopped eating and looked at Ning Ran. ¡°Did I say anything wrong? Why are you staring at

    me? Carry on eating.¡± Nan Chen was fuming. This woman is pushing her luck. She¡¯s even lecturing me

    now?

    Ning Ran was just getting into the momentum when she suddenly realized she might have gone

    overboard. After all, this man in front of her was Nan Chen. She needed to watch her words.

    ¡°So the point is, our work will be disrupted if youe. The same goes for Nan Xing.¡± Ning Ran

    said. Just as she said that, a red sports car turned in.

    Nan Xing stepped out of the car. He was shocked at the sight in front of him. Nan Chen and Ning Ran

    were each holding a takeaway, eating while squatting down by the roadside. What on earth is

    happening?

    Nan Xing was well aware of his brother¡¯s habits. He did not even eat normal buffet meals, let alone

    eating takeaway. But he¡¯s actually eating takeaway now. And by the looks of it, it was the kind of mass

    ordered takeaway.

    It was takeaway of the lowest quality. Because it¡¯s mass ordered, the food would have been cooked

    together in a huge pot, before being split into many portions. How good could it get when it was food

    that was prepared inrge quantities?

    But the strangest of all was that Nan Chen, who was such a busy man, came all the way here to eat

    takeaway?

    ¡°Brother.¡± Nan Xing had so many questions he did not know where to start. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Nan

    Chen asked. Nan Xing was stunned. Shouldn¡¯t I be the one asking this question?

    Other than being the well-known yboy of the corporation, I¡¯m not anyone important. Isn¡¯t it normal

    that I can appear anywhere I like? You are the authoritative figure of the Nanshi Corporation, why are

    you squatting here and eating takeaway?

    But he would never have dared to voice his thoughts. ¡°I¡¯m here to see Ning Ran.¡± Nan Xing answered

    honestly. Then he added, ¡°I¡¯m taking her out for dinner.¡±

    Me too, Nan Chen almost wanted to say. But it seemed like the hardest two words in the world to say at

    that moment. He did not say it.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll leave you guys to talk.¡± Nan Chen stood up and threw away the remaining portion

    of the takeaway into the trash.

    Ning Ran looked from Nan Xing to Nan Chen, and continued eating.

    That was awkward. She did not know what to say. It seemed like continuing to eat was the right thing to

    do.

    ¡°Does this taste good?¡± Nan Xing suddenly asked.

    ¡°What? Oh, It¡¯s alright. Edible.¡± Ning Ran replied nonchntly.

    ¡°Then I want one too.¡± Nan Xing said.

    Ning Ran was stunned. What¡¯s going on? The two Young Masters of the Nan Family, the wealthiest

    family in Flower City, both came here to eat takeaway?

    ¡°There is no more left. They ordered just enough for everyone, there is no extra.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Then, why does my brother have one?¡± Nan Xing would not yield.

    ¡°Oh, sometimes they would deliver one or two extras, but not more than that.¡±

    ¡°Then give them a call to get them to deliver one more.¡±

    Ning Ran was losing her patience. He can afford to go anywhere and eat anything he wants. Is he

    making things difficult for me on purpose?

    ¡°Stop it! Don¡¯t kick up a scene. I¡¯m going back to work; the director is waiting.¡±

    Ning Ran threw the takeaway packet into the trash and wiped her mouth with a napkin.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I shall eatter. I will go and see your shoot.¡± Nan Xing followed behind her.

    ¡°No.¡± Ning Ran stopped Nan Xing. ¡°As long as you two are here, we won¡¯t be able to work properly.

    Can you stop disturbing us?¡±

    ¡°I am not disturbing; I will just watch.¡±

    ¡°That won¡¯t do either. Step aside.¡± Ning Ran pointed somewhere.

    Looking at the way Ning Ran was treating Nan Xing, Nan Chen had mixed feelings.

    This woman is so full of herself. Before that, she was still lecturing me. After Nan Xing arrived, she

    started lecturing Nan Xing. Are we, the men of the Nan family, such cowards? This is ridiculous!

    But if he had said something, it would be the two brothers against one woman. That didn¡¯t seem right

    as well.

    Nan Chen was stumped.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 195

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 195

    ¡°Come back!¡± Atst, Nan Chen called out to Nan Xing. Nan Xing had always listened to his brother. If

    not, he might be sent to the African safari again. As such, he took ast nce at Ning Ran and walked

    back reluctantly.

    ¡°Brother.¡± Nan Chen walked out of the car, towards Nan Xing. Nan Chen was anxious. He can¡¯t be

    thinking of teaching me a lesson?

    As he stood in front of Nan Xing, Nan Chen stared at the white shirt that Nan Xing wore inside his white

    suit. ¡°Brother, all these years, I have been dressed in white and you, ck. Is there a problem?¡± Nan

    Xing grew even more anxious. ¡°Have you ever used ck buttons on your white shirt?¡± Nan Chen

    asked. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

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    ¡°As you know, my buttons are all customized and tailor-made. Have you used any of those for your

    shirt?¡±

    ¡°No. Grandpa has never allowed me to wear ck shirts. He did not want others to mistake me for you,

    and risk ruining your image. So, I don¡¯t use ck buttons at all. Brother, why are you asking this? What

    a weird question.¡±

    Nan Chen was unable to make up his mind whether to tell Nan Xing, but finally decided against

    it. Before the results of the DNA test were out, it was still an uncertainty. He should not tell him first.

    And even after the results of the DNA test were out, it wouldn¡¯t be an easy conversation. Even

    someone as intelligent as Nan Chen was not able to predict the effects it would have on the brothers¡¯

    rtionship.

    But there was one thing he was certain of. He would protect and take care of his brother, and not let

    him be hurt.

    ¡°I randomly thought of it. Nan Xing, if you feel like dressing in ck, feel free to do so. It¡¯s not fair to you

    that you are not allowed to wear ck. You are wonderful. Even if someone mistakes you for me, it

    wouldn¡¯t ruin my image.¡± Nan Chen said.

    Nan Xing was finally relieved. ¡°Thanks for the offer, brother. But I think ck suits you better. I don¡¯t

    have to wear ck. There are other colors I can wear, like blue, gray, yellow¡­ It would be fine as long

    as it¡¯s not ck. But brother, why are we suddenly on this topic now?¡±

    Nan Chen kept quiet. ¡°Nan Xing, do you trust me?¡± Nan Chen said after a long while. ¡°Of course! You

    are my brother, of course I trust you. I have trusted you the most since young.¡± Nan Xing said sincerely.

    ¡°Ok, that¡¯s great. From now onwards, no matter what I say, you have to trust me. It helps in our

    communication.¡± Nan Chen said. ¡°Ok, I will.¡± Nan Chen replied. ¡°You can leave first.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± He said so much just to get me to leave? Nan Xing was stunned. ¡°You just said you trust me.

    Now you don¡¯t trust me anymore?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that¡­¡± ¡°I specially came to look for Ning Ran today. I have something to discuss with her.

    That¡¯s the reason I am here today.¡±

    ¡°I see.¡± ¡°As for what I am discussing with her, I will tell you another day.¡± ¡°Ok.¡± Nan Xing walked to his

    car reluctantly. He turned around and wanted to say something, but Nan Chen waved him off.

    I¡¯m leaving just like that? Nan Xing was still reluctant. But brother said that I have to trust him. Ok, I¡¯m

    going to leave! Although Nan Xing was reluctant and had a lot of doubts, he still chose to trust his

    brother.

    Vroom! Nan Xing drove off in his red sports car. Nan Chen continued standing at the same spot, until

    the sports car could not be seen anymore. After that, he sat in his car and continued to reply to his

    emails.

    Ning Ran was finally done with her shoot at 10 p.m. After changing, she dragged her tired feet out of

    the set. She walked out with Cheng Xiangyun.

    She only remembered Nan Chen when she saw his car. He said he would be waiting for her. She did

    not think that he was serious. For someone at his level, only others waited for him, it did not make

    sense for him to wait for anyone.

    But he was indeed waiting there. Cheng Xiangyun looked at Ning Ran and pointed to the car. ¡°That¡¯s

    Young Master Nan Chen¡¯s car, right?¡±

    ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°He has been waiting here all along?¡±

    ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°OMG! If you know he¡¯s waiting, you should have left earlier. How can you let him wait for you?

    What have you done to deserve such an honor?¡±

    ¡°Aunty, I was working! The production is already falling behind schedule because of me. I¡¯m already

    feeling so bad about it. Besides, I am just a small fry, not a big shot. Even if I were a big shot, I would

    still need to amodate the schedule of the director and rest of the crew. So I had to work, and I

    didn¡¯t think he would really wait!¡±

    ¡°If THAT man over there is waiting for you, you can¡¯t be just a small fry.¡± Cheng Xiangyun said, as

    though there was a deeper meaning to it.

    Nan Chen was keeping himself busy with work and did not idle around. As such, it did not seem to him

    that he was waiting. It felt like he was just working at another ce.

    When he saw Ning Ran, he got out of the car. Under the streemp, Nan Chen was dressed in ck

    from head to toe. With his fairplexion, he exuded a cold aura.

    He always gave others an unworldly feeling. But in reality, he was the central figure of the business

    world. ¡°OMG! He is so gorgeous.¡± Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s was almost drooling at the sight of him.

    Ning Ran shot her a nce. ¡°Hi, Sir Chen. My name is Cheng Xiangyun.¡± Cheng Xiangyun repeated

    her name, hoping that by doing so, it made it easier for Nan Chen to remember.

    Nan Chen nodded his head slightly as a response. Then, he looked at Ning Ran, without saying

    anything. ¡°Ahem. Then, I shall leave you guys to talk. I¡¯m leaving first!¡± Cheng Xiangyun said.

    Ning Ran looked at Nan Chen. Since he waited for so long, I shall entertain him for a while. ¡°So, what¡¯s

    the matter?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Get in the car.¡± Nan Chen walked towards the car as he said that. That didn¡¯t sound like a request. It

    was an order. Ning Ran wasn¡¯t going to be difficult, on the ount that he waited for so long.

    In the car, Nan Chen told his driver, ¡°We are going back to the hotel.¡± No one said anything on the way.

    They reached Nanting No.1 Hotel. ¡°Go get changed first. Let¡¯s meet at the hotel bar twenty minutes

    later.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Ok.¡± After Ning Ran washed up and changed in the hotel room, she arrived at the hotel bar, looking

    refreshed. It was very quiet at the bar. There was soothing music and the guests were all talking softly.

    The atmosphere was great.

    Ning Ran quickly looked around, and spotted Nan Chen at a corner. He raised his wine ss at

    her. Why is this Nan Chen sitting at such a dark corner? Is he worried that he is so good looking that

    women would be flocking around him, that¡¯s why he is keeping such a low profile?

    Ning Ran walked over graciously and sat down.

    ¡°What drink would you like to have?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m actually quite hungry.¡±

    Nan Chen did not expect this reply from Ning Ran. Didn¡¯t she already have dinner?

    ¡°There are only drinks and finger food here. They don¡¯t serve proper meals.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we go for supper instead?¡± Ning Ran suggested.

    ¡°You¡¯re an actress. Supper at this hour? Aren¡¯t you afraid¡­¡±

    Nan Chen was speechless. Isn¡¯t this woman not afraid that she would be fat?

    ¡°I had so many scenes to shoot tonight. I¡¯m so hungry and tired.¡± Ning Ran said in a pitiful voice.

    Nan Chen pondered for a while. Then, he stood up and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Ning Ran was ted. ¡°I want to eat skewers!¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 196

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 196

    Twenty minutester, they were seated at a roadside skewers stall in the West district.

    He had never been to a ce like that. He could never understand how these ces, with questionable

    food quality and hygiene standards, would be so popr.

    Won¡¯t we be ill if we eat this?

    At such a noisy ce, can we even eat in peace?

    Ning Ran was amused at how unsettled Nan Chen seemed to be.

    Actually, she could empathize with Nan Chen for feeling out of ce. Before her mom¡¯spany was

    snatched over by Luo Yi, Ning Ran¡¯s family was also well-to-do. Her mom had never allowed her to eat

    like a ce like this.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you go back first?¡± Ning Ran tried not tough.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t speak.

    If he had a choice, he did not want to be in such an environment. But he had something important to

    ask Ning Ran today, so he had to stay.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    As more crowds gathered around the stall, Nan Chen got increasingly ufortable.

    There was still a long line of orders in front of theirs. He had no idea how long more they would have to

    wait.

    Ning Ran stood up. ¡°Why don¡¯t we go to another ce instead?¡±

    Nan Chen looked at Ning Ran. He wasn¡¯t sure if she was kidding.

    ¡°This ce is indeed too noisy; it is not suitable for someone of your status. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Ning Ran said, as she stood up.

    Nan Chen only followed her when he was sure Ning Ran was not being sarcastic.

    ¡°Let me bring you to a ce.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just go back to the hotel. I¡¯m not in the mood for supper anymore.¡± Ning Ran seemed to have lost

    interest.

    ¡°I know of a ce that sells med steak. It uses top-grade beef and also has the best sake. It¡¯s

    definitely better than skewers.¡± Nan Chen said.

    If Nan Chen thought so highly of a ce, it had to be really good.

    That aroused Ning Ran¡¯s interest. She was curious how good that ce could be, that deserved Nan

    Chen¡¯s rmendation.

    ¡°Ok, let¡¯s go then.¡±

    Nan Chen brought Ning Ran to a restaurant that did not look very fancy. Nan Chen made a call when

    they were on the way, and Ning Ran was not sure if that was the reason the restaurant was empty.

    ¡°This is the only ce where you can have the most authentic Kobe beef. The Kobe beef served

    elsewhere in Flower City are all fake.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Really?¡± Ning Ran¡¯s interest grew.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t reply.

    The beef was served quickly. Ning Ran took a bite. The meat was tender and fragrant. It was indeed

    not like anything she had eaten before.

    ¡°Mmmm¡­ not bad, it¡¯s delicious!¡± Ning Ran gave it a thumbs up.

    Nan Chen remained expressionless as he tried to hide his smile.

    ¡°Why are you being so nice to me today? Is there anything you want from me?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°What? Really?¡± Ning Ran put down her fork. She started getting anxious.

    ¡°There is something I want to ask you.¡±

    ¡°If I didn¡¯t tell you what you want to hear, are you going to make me pay for this meal?¡± Ning Ran asked

    nervously.

    This beef was definitely not cheap.

    ¡°No, I won¡¯t.¡± Nan Chen gestured for Ning Ran to carry on eating.

    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Ning Ran started eating again.

    Nan Chen did not say anything. He was thinking of how he should approach the topic.

    Ning Ran did not pester him to ask his question as it gave her time to enjoy her beef.

    ¡°Shall we order some sak¨¦?¡± Nan Chen suggested. ¡°The sak¨¦ here is really good too.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s get some then.¡±

    Ning Ran was feeling exhausted. She thought that having a drink might help her rx.

    It might also help to reduce some stress that she was feeling due to Poker Face¡¯s presence.

    ¡°Do you get drunk easily?¡± Nan Chen asked again.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. I hardly drink. I am not an alcoholic.¡± Ning Ran quickly defended herself.

    After a moment of silence, Nan Chen poured Ning Ran a cup.

    He poured himself some too, before raising his cup for a toast.

    Ning Ran did not know what happened. She only had one cup but she could already feel the effects of

    the alcohol.

    Nan Chen had already taken out a button and put it on the table. He was looking at Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran took a quick nce at it. That was the button that she had treasured for years, it could not

    have been more familiar to her.

    But she did not react, because she did not understand Nan Chen¡¯s intentions.

    ¡°Did you drop your button? I am not good at sewing. I can¡¯t help you with that.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°How do you know that¡¯s my button?¡± Nan Chen¡¯s eyes were cold.

    Ning Ran was at a loss for words.

    ¡°Errr¡­ Because¡­¡± Ning Ran panicked.

    Back in the jungle, she had already noticed that Nan Chen¡¯s buttons were identical to the one she had.

    She was shocked over it at that time.

    However, she did not want to overthink as it was a sensitive matter. She was also not fond of Nan

    Chen. As such, she had gradually forgotten about the matter.

    Why did he suddenly show me the button? What does he want?

    ¡°Have you seen this button before?¡± Nan Chen pressed on.

    ¡°I¡­ haven¡¯t seen it before!¡± Ning Ran denied.

    ¡°You¡¯re lying!¡± Nan Chen shouted in a chilling voice.

    ¡°I¡­ am not! How would I know that this is your button? I thought it was your button because it looks like

    the ones you have on your shirt. I am not blind right!¡± Ning Ran said, while pointing to Nan Chen¡¯s shirt.

    Nan Chen¡¯s head started aching. This woman is such a good liar.

    This was clearly the button that was inside her bag and yet she still refused to admit!

    Nan Chen took a deep breath to calm himself down. ¡°Take a closer look.¡±

    ¡°No need. I am sure I don¡¯t recognize it.¡±

    Nan Chen was losing his patience.

    He had already expected this from Ning Ran. This woman had never cooperated with him.

    Do I have to get her drunk to get the truth out of her?

    One would usually speak the truth when one is drunk. It seemed like she would only tell the truth when

    she is drunk.

    But she has to be drunk, yet still sober enough to remain awake. If she falls asleep, I won¡¯t be able to

    get anything out of her.

    Nan Chen poured Ning Ran another drink. ¡°Let¡¯s drink some more.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll watch you drink. I don¡¯t hold alcohol well. I should stop.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Just one more.¡± Nan Chen continued.

    ¡°No, I really can¡¯t drink anymore. I get drunk easily. I am still embarrassed over my drunken state

    yesterday.¡± Ning Ran said.

    Nan Chen recalled Ning Ran¡¯s crazy behaviorst night. I don¡¯t think you will ever feel embarrassed.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that.¡± Nan Chen kept trying.

    This guy is too nice tonight, it¡¯s so suspicious. Ning Ran was suddenly alert.

    First, he waited so long at the set. Then, he was willing to go to that skewers ce with me. And now,

    he kept asking me to drink. What does he actually want?

    Does he want to rob me and finish me off? That¡¯s not possible! The other way round seemed more

    likely.

    Maybe he wanted to get me drunk and¡­?!

    Doesn¡¯t seem very likely as well. He doesn¡¯t even look like he¡¯s interested in women at all. Besides,

    given his status, he can have any woman he wants. He didn¡¯t have to resort to this.

    But if it¡¯s not all of those, then what exactly does he want?

    It can¡¯t be that he¡¯s thinking of getting rid of me so that they could get custody of the kids?!

    When Ning Ran thought of this, she grew even more alert. She had to stop drinking!

    Who knows if the drink has not been poisoned? When the police find my body tomorrow, they would

    probably think I died from alcohol intoxication!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 197

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 197

    Nan Chen looked at Ning Ran¡¯s expression. It changed from shock, to panic, and finally, fear.

    What¡¯s this woman thinking about? What is she nning?

    ¡°There is actually no bad blood between us. You are the uncle of my kids. We can be considered

    rtives.¡± Ning Ran tried to convince Nan Chen she calmed herself down.

    Nan Chen did not respond. He did not know why Ning Ran was saying all that.

    ¡°So, you won¡¯t do anything bad to me right?¡±

    ¡°Do anything bad to you?¡± Nan Chen was even more puzzled.

    Then, he pointed to the cup again. ¡°Let¡¯s drink.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to!¡± Ning Ran was determined.

    You think I¡¯m stupid? You poisoned the wine and want to kill me with that?

    Nan Chen lifted his own cup and finished the drink in one gulp.

    Ning Ran saw that and thought, if he finished it, maybe it is not poisoned after all.

    A sudden realization hit Ning Ran.

    He is trying to get me drunk so that I will speak the truth! It has to be that! Poker Face, you are not

    going to have your way!

    ¡°You should drink more.¡± Ning Ran poured some sake in Nan Chen¡¯s cup.

    Nan Chen was momentarily stunned, but he continued to finish the drink.

    Ning Ran continued pouring more, and Nan Chen continued to drink.

    Not after long, Nan Chen almost finished half a bottle of sake. Ning Ran had transformed into a

    sommelier. She was responsible for alcohol service, while Nan Chen was responsible for finishing it.

    Sake had a rather high alcohol percentage level. Nan Chen started to feel the effects of the alcohol.

    His face was flushed because of the alcohol. Together with his fairplexion, it was as though his

    aura was softened and he no longer felt as distant.

    Also, more handsome.

    Ning Ran was trying to think. It would not be easy to get him drunk. Besides, he was so intelligent. It

    wouldn¡¯t be difficult for him to realize what Ning Ran was trying to do.

    What should she do?

    In fact, Nan Chen was already aware that Ning Ran¡¯s was trying to get him drunk. But it did not matter

    to him.

    He was too troubled over the button today, and felt like drinking.

    ¡°You won¡¯t be able to get me drunk. The reason why I don¡¯t usually drink is because I don¡¯t need to

    entertain.¡± Nan Chen told Ning Ran directly.

    Ning Ran gave an awkwardughter. ¡°What are you saying? Why would I want to get you drunk? Am I

    after your money or your beauty¡­¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    Ning Ran stopped talking after realizing she had said too much.

    She really could not hold liquor well. She did not even drink much but already started babbling

    nonsense.

    She had decided not to drink with that Poker Face anymore. They were not even on the same level.

    ¡°I mean, I won¡¯t benefit from getting you drunk. I would have to take care of you, and besides, I don¡¯t

    even have the strength to carry you. It¡¯ste, shall we go?¡± Ning Ran was ready to leave.

    Nan Chen looked at his watch. ¡°Let¡¯s stay a while more. You haven¡¯t answered my question about the

    button.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s there to say about the button? It¡¯s just your button. I have to say that it is a very beautiful button

    though. Is that enough?¡± Ning Ran tried to avoid the question.

    ¡°This is the button you gave me.¡±

    Nan Chen picked up the button and took a closer look at it.

    Ning Ran¡¯s heart was beating faster. What on earth had she done? Why did she give this button to

    Poker Face?

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Did you remember it wrongly?¡± Ning Ran pretended not to know anything about it.

    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. You were drunkst night, not me.¡±

    ¡°Oh really? I was drunk?¡± Ning Ran tried to be cheeky.

    ¡°You were, and you were very drunk. We parked in the middle of the expressway for you to throw up.

    You still have not sobered up when we got back to Flower City. Although you were drunk, you were in

    high spirits. You kept asking for noodles and more alcohol, until you fell asleep at the table.¡±

    Ning Ran covered her face as she listened. That was so embarrassing.

    ¡°That¡¯s not possible. That¡¯s not like me.¡± Ning Ran tried to look calm.

    ¡°I have evidence. I took a video of youst night.¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°What?! You took a video when I was drunk? Do you have nothing better to do?!¡± Ning Ran yelled.

    That was actually a lie. Nan Chen had better things to do indeed.

    ¡°Then, you took out the button and said¡­¡±

    Nan Chen hesitated. This was a serious matter. He could already feel the stress before saying it out.

    ¡°What did I say?¡± Ning Ran stared anxiously with her pretty eyes.

    ¡°You said that the owner of the button was the biological father of the kids!¡±

    Nan Chen looked at Ning Ran after finishing his sentence.

    Ning Ran was stunned.

    She could have done anything else while she was drunk. Why did she have to betray herself?!

    Drinking could indeed lead to serious trouble!

    ¡°What¡¯s your exnation?¡± Nan Chen continued staring at Ning Ran, as though he was piercing her

    thoughts.

    Ning Ran was flustered. She did not dare to look into Nan Chen¡¯s eyes. She quickly shifted her nce.

    She lifted the cup and took a gulp of sake, hoping that it would help disguise her nervousness.

    As she gulped down too quickly, she choked.

    Nan Chen did not shift his nce away from Ning Ran. He continued staring at her.

    Ning Ran¡¯s face was all red from choking, and she kept on coughing.

    At first, she was really coughing. However, even after the effects of the choking wore off, she continued

    coughing on purpose.

    It was the perfect cover up for her nervousness.

    After she stopped coughing, she felt that she managed to calm down a little.

    ¡°So, how are you going to exin this?¡± Nan Chen asked again.

    ¡°Haha, you already said it, I was drunk. In that case, it was probably gibberish. How can you believe in

    gibber?¡± Ning Ranughed.

    ¡°No, one only speaks the truth when one is drunk. That was not gibberish.¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°If you insist, there is nothing I can do about it.¡± Ning Ran tried to pull a shenanigan.

    ¡°So, what is actually the truth?¡± Nan Chen pressed on.

    ¡°What truth?¡±

    ¡°Why did you keep that button for so long? It must have meant a lot to you. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t

    have done so.¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t reply.

    Nan Chen was highly intelligent. It was not easy to lie to him.

    However, even Ning Ran herself was not exactly sure what the truth was.

    Nan Chen and Nan Xing looked exactly the same. And the Nan family¡¯s DNA test report already proved

    that Nan Xing was the father of the kids. Could a button disce an authoritative scientific report?

    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    That was not easily determined either.

    If the matter was not handled well, it could spark a crisis. How could a woman not know which brother

    was the biological father of her kids? How shameful would that be?

    That¡¯s why Ning Ran wanted to avoid talking about it. She was thinking for everyone, herself, the

    brothers and the kids.

    It was such a pain that Nan Chen brought it up today.

    ¡°Tell me! What¡¯s going on!¡± Nan Chen would not relent.

    ¡°Just treat it as gibber and stop asking. There¡¯s no sob story to tell, this is not a drama! Please let me

    off.¡± Ning Ran started panicking.

    ¡°But I have the right to know the truth!¡± Nan Chen was also getting anxious.

    This woman was not saying anything, no matter how he asked. Nan Chen was losing his patience. It

    has been such a long night!

    ¡°The truth is I was drunk and spouted nonsense. There is no other truth.¡±

    Ning Ran stood up. She took her bag and was ready to leave. She did not want to continue with this

    conversation anymore.

    Nan Chen stopped her. ¡°You can only leave after we have rified the matter. It¡¯s the responsible thing

    to do!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I really don¡¯t know! Did you guys not already done a DNA test? Results have already

    shown that the kids belong to Nan Xing. You mean you don¡¯t believe in scientific testing?¡± Ning Ran

    turned around and asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°But the blood sample was mine!¡±

    That got Ning Ran stunned.

    What does that mean? If the blood sample belonged to Poker Face, it would mean that Poker Face

    was the biological father of the kids.

    ¡°Why did you use your blood sample?¡±

    ¡°Nan Xing was still in Africa at that time. We are identical twins and have the same DNA. So I decided

    to send my blood sample instead.¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 198

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 198

    Ning Ran sat down again. Is this some kind of a joke? How can the Nan family be so unreliable! The

    kids have been calling Nan Xing ¡°daddy¡± for so long and now he is telling me that the blood sample

    belongs to him?

    ¡°How can you be so irresponsible! This is so unfair to the kids!¡± Ning Ran reprimanded. ¡°Identical twins

    have almost identical DNA. I only did that because he was at¡­¡± ¡°Ridiculous! It was a DNA test. How

    could you have gone for ¡®almost identical¡¯? You think it¡¯s a game?¡±

    Nan Chen did not defend himself this time. He agreed that he should have taken the matter more

    seriously. But he had not had associations with any women for the past few years. On the other hand,

    Nan Xing was the one who fooled around. Naturally, when the kids showed up, anyone would think that

    they were Nan Xing¡¯s.

    ¡°It was a mistake. I have already sent Nan Xing¡¯s blood sample over. The results will be out in a week¡¯s

    time. But before that, can you tell me what actually happened that time.¡± Nan Chen asked.

    Ning Ran kept quiet. It wasn¡¯t easy for her to talk about it. ¡°Only the kid¡¯s biological father would know

    what happened. I am not clear what happened either.¡± Ning Ran blushed as she said that.

    Nan Chen was stunned. It did make some sense. It had to involve some steamy details for her to get

    pregnant. How could he expect her to say out loud?

    Only the parties involved would know, it was not something that could be told to an outsider. Nan Chen

    merely nodded. He did not say anything more. He poured himself another cup of sake and finished it.

    If it was not convenient to talk about that, then they could only wait for the test results. ¡°I have some

    scenes to shoot tomorrow. I want to leave now.¡± ¡°Ok.¡± Nan Chen said simply.

    On the way back to the hotel, Ning Ran sat next to the driver while Nan Chen sat at the back. None of

    them said anything. They were each lost in their own thoughts.

    They were thinking about the same thing, but from entirely different angles. When they reached the

    hotel foyer, the hotel doorman stepped forward to open the car door.

    Ning Ran got out of the car, while Nan Chen remained inside. He did not stay at the hotel. After a few

    steps, Ning Ran turned back and waved, as a gesture to thank Nan Chen for sending her back.

    Nan Chen rolled the car windows down and looked at Ning Ran. That was his acknowledgement.

    Shortly after, the car windows were up again and the car drove off.

    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.

    Ning Ran paused for a second and walked inside the hotel. For the past few days, Cheng Xiangyun

    had been searching for a new ce for Ning Ran. Ning Ran had to move out of the hotel once she had

    a new ce.

    It was too expensive to stay at the hotel any longer. It made her worried. She almost walked right into

    someone. When she lifted her head, she saw that the person was looking at where Nan Chen¡¯s car

    was a minute ago.

    It was Nan Xing. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Ning Ran asked. ¡°I am here for you, obviously. Cheng Xiangyun

    said that you were staying here. I am here to see you.¡±

    Nan Xing¡¯s eyes were still fixed on the same spot, even though Nan Chen¡¯s car had driven off long

    ago. ¡°Oh.¡± Ning Ran said, and walked towards the elevator.

    Nan Xing followed behind her. ¡°What are you doing? I need to rest now. Why are you following me?¡±

    ¡°I am here just to see you. I only just saw you; how can I leave so soon?¡±

    ¡°I really have to rest. Please don¡¯t follow me, it¡¯s not appropriate.¡± ¡°Was it my brother who sent you back

    just now?¡± Nan Xing was staring at Ning Ran. ¡°Yup. You saw his car.¡± ¡°Where did you go? Did my

    brother arrange for you to stay here?¡±

    Ning Ran was just about to say ¡°yes¡±, when she realized that the matter was tooplicated. Besides,

    it didn¡¯t seem like that was the only thing Nan Xing wanted to ask. He was thinking of something else

    too.

    ¡°I was attacked by some haters. I had nowhere else to go, so I ended up here. Cheng Xiangyun is

    already looking for a ce. When she finds one, I will move immediately.¡± Ning Ran exined.

    Nan Xing kept quiet. ¡°Ok, it¡¯ste. You should go back. Have a good rest.¡± Ning Ran said. But Nan Xing

    still did not say anything. ¡°It¡¯s not what you are thinking, your brother and I¡­¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s not that, then what is it?¡± Nan Xing suddenly asked. ¡°Err¡­¡± Ning Ran did not know what to

    say. ¡°Are you going to tell me?¡± Nan Xing suddenly felt his anger rising.

    ¡°What do you want me to say?¡± Ning Ran asked him. ¡°What¡¯s going on between you and my brother?¡±

    ¡°He hates me and I hate him. Besides that, what else can go on between us?¡± Ning Ran said. ¡°Nothing

    else?¡±

    ¡°What else?¡±

    ¡°If there is nothing else, then why was he waiting for you at the set today? Where did you and him go?

    And why did youe back sote?¡±

    ¡°I was hungry and wanted to find some food to eat. We were going to eat skewers, but he found the

    ce too noisy. So, he brought me to eat Kobe beef and we drank some sake. That¡¯s it.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it.¡±

    ¡°He said he had things to discuss with you. What was that about?¡±

    Nan Xing was not stupid. He wasn¡¯t going to be so easily convinced.

    ¡°Nothing.¡± Ning Ran hoped that she could muddle through.

    ¡°That¡¯s not possible! My brother is such a busy person. Even other big shots have to make an

    appointment if they want to meet him. But he waited for you on the set for so long. He would have only

    done that if it¡¯s something important!¡±

    Ning Ran was stumped at Nan Xing¡¯s urate analysis of the situation.

    Indeed, Nan Chen had something to ask her. And it was a serious matter.

    But how could she speak about it? Where should she start?

    ¡°He did have some questions for me, but I was not able to answer him. If you want to know more, you

    should ask him directly.¡± Ning Ran did not know what else to say.

    ¡°You can¡¯t tell me about it?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t. It¡¯s better if you ask him directly. I beg you, please don¡¯t ask anymore. I have my difficulties. But

    you have to believe there is nothing going on between us. At least, it¡¯s nothing you are thinking about.¡±

    Ning Ran tried to sound as pitiful as she could.

    Nan Xing looked at Ning Ran. He did not think that Ning Ran was lying.

    ¡°Ok then. I¡¯ll ask my brother tomorrow. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°Go where?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to rest? I¡¯ll walk you up.¡±

    ¡°No need. You should go off now.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t do anything to you. I¡¯ll leave after you reach your door.¡± Nan Xing persisted.

    ¡°Ok then.¡± Ning Ran did not want to argue with him. She turned towards the elevator.

    When they were at Ning Ran¡¯s door, she looked at Nan Xing and said, ¡°This is my room. You can leave

    now.¡±

    ¡°What a coincidence! I just stay next door.¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°What? You can go home right? Why are you staying at a hotel? When did you make the room

    reservation?¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t reserved yet. I am going down to make the reservation right now. I am staying next to you.¡±

    ¡°Why are you doing this? The room costs more than thirty thousand a night, it is expensive.¡± Ning Ran

    was slow to react.

    ¡°Not at all.¡± Nan Xingughed.

    He is so wealthy, that money means nothing to him. Ning Ran realized.

    ¡°Suit yourself then. I¡¯m going in.¡± Ning Ran entered the room and shut the door behind her.

    Just as sheid down, the doorbell rang. It was Nan Xing.

    ¡°I¡¯m just next door. If you need anything, just let me know.¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°Why would I need anything at this hour? Are you crazy? Stop disturbing me. I want to rest.¡± Ning Ran

    was irritated.

    ¡°I¡¯m just letting you know; in case you need anything. I will be here to protect you.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re crazy! I¡¯m very safe here. I don¡¯t need your protection.¡±

    Ning Ran mmed the door shut.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 199

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 199

    Ning Ran woke up early the next day. She was getting ready to have breakfast at the restaurant, before

    heading to the filming location.

    She opened the door, and saw Nan Xing striking a dashing pose while biting a stalk of rose in his

    mouth.

    Ning Ran was stunned for a moment, ¡°Why are you so early?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t sleep, just thinking of you. And I

    know you¡¯re going for a shoot, so I came to apany you.¡± Nan Xing then gave the rose to Ning

    Ran.

    ¡°Stop it.¡± Ning Ran pushed the rose side and walked out of the room.

    Nan Xing refused to give up and chased after her.

    After arriving at the restaurant, Ning Ran ordered a bowl of in porridge, an egg, a waffle and a slice

    of cake. The table wasid with a variety of food.

    Nan Xing was surprised that Ning Ran had such a good appetite.

    He on the other hand ordered a cup of coffee and a sandwich, and sat beside Ning Ran to watch her

    enjoy her breakfast.

    ¡°When a pretty woman eats, we call her ¡®a connoisseur of delicacies¡¯, whereas an ugly woman who

    eats nonstop is called ¡®an uncouthly gobbler¡¯. You, of course, are the former.¡± Nan Xing mumbled.

    ¡°What are you saying?¡±

    ¡°Nothing, just praising yourrge appetite.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m eating my own food, it¡¯s none of your business.¡± Ning Ran was somewhat irritated.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter! Even if you¡¯re eating my food, I wouldn¡¯t mind.¡± Nan Xing said with a cheeky smile.

    Ning Ran would rather spend time enjoying her food than entertaining him.

    It was true that her appetite had increased, but mostly topensate for the irregr meals she had

    during the filming period. On busy days in particr, she needed to eat more during breakfast, just in

    case her lunch hours were pushed to thete afternoon.

    Nan Xing did not have that great of an appetite but when she saw how Ning Ran enjoyed her food, he

    was envious, ¡°I want to try yours.¡±

    Ning Ran rolled her eyes at him, ¡°Shoo! Go order one yourself.¡±

    Feeling dejected, Nan Xing pulled his hand back and continued munching his sandwich without

    enjoying the taste.

    Ning Ran was done with her breakfast, and was ready to depart.

    Nan Xing followed closely, ¡°I¡¯ll send you to the filming site.¡±

    ¡°Never mind, I can call a cab. Go do your work.¡±

    ¡°No worries, the most important task of the day for me is to be your chauffeur¡­¡±

    They stepped out of the hotel lobby, and saw a ck Rolls-Royce parked right there.

    A man got down from the car. He¡¯s tall, all businesslike, sophisticated and exuded an air of a royalty.

    ¡°Brother?¡±

    Nan Chen was also stunned; he did not expect to see Nan Xing and Ning Ran walking out of the hotel

    together. Last night, did they¡­

    ¡°Brother, are you her to pick Ran?¡±

    ¡°Nope.¡± Nan Chen walked towards the hotel¡¯s administrative office after answering him.

    He could only walk towards that direction to hide the intention of his trip.

    Nan Xing looked at Nan Chen¡¯s back as he walked away, and was confused by his action.

    No doubt Nanting No.1 Hotel was one of the subsidiaries under the Nanshi Corporation, but most of the

    senior management members would not report for duty at this hour. Why did hee in so early?

    As he was pondering, Nan Xing¡¯s bright eyes turnedckluster for a moment, but was quick to return to

    his normal self not long after.

    After getting into Nan Xing¡¯s car, Ning Ran remained quiet throughout the journey.

    Her mind was busy processing the incident at the hotel lobby. She was not sure if Nan Chen was there

    to pick her, but felt there was such a possibility.

    And Ning Ran could not quite understand his expression when he looked at her in the eyes. But one

    thing for sure was, he was unhappy.

    This seems to be more and moreplicated.

    Upon arriving at the filming site, Ning Ran immediately got into the working mode. She did not have

    time to think of rtionship problems now.

    Despite her tight schedule, Ning Ran managed to call it a day by 6 p.m.

    ¡°I¡¯ve found a house. Let¡¯s go and check it out.¡± Cheng Xiangyun said excitedly.

    Ning Ran was extremely exhausted, but house hunting was an important matter to be looked into

    immediately. She could not be staying in the hotel forever.

    So Cheng Xiangyun took her to a vi in the southern part of the city.

    The minute Ning Ran saw the vi she became anxious, ¡°Excuse me madam, do you think with my

    ie, I can afford this vi?¡±

    ¡°Calm down, this house belongs to¡­ a friend of mine. He¡¯s going to study abroad soon and this house

    will be vacant.¡± She exined. ¡°When he knew we needed a ce to stay, he decided to rent to us for

    a really good rate. 3000 a month, how about that? Can you afford it?¡± Pride was written all over Cheng

    Xiangyun¡¯s face.

    ¡°3000 for a vi? Don¡¯t tell me this is a roughcast house? Even a roughcast house would cost more

    than this.¡± Ning Ran could not believe what she heard.

    ¡°Of course it is not. He wants us to take care of the house on his behalf, and manage the facilities here.

    So he just charges us a nominal fee for rental.¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s eyes glowed up immediately when the gate to the vi opened.

    A pathway made of pebble stones appeared before her eyes, with two marble benches installed at both

    sides.

    Above the benches were an assortment of exquisite ornamental nts, which were aesthetically

    pleasing and gave out floral fragrance.

    On the left hand side of the pathway, there was a moon-shaped arch, and once they passed through

    the arch, a garden appeared before their eyes.

    The floral scent here was even more overwhelming, and the garden also had Ning Ran¡¯s favorite

    bamboo.

    The vi contained some Chinese elements in its design. Elegance and luxury most definitely were the

    best words to describe the view.

    ¡°This is a three-story building, with top notch craftsmanship and decorative items, and your friend is

    renting it out for 3000. Does he treat money like dirt?¡± Ning Ran asked in disbelief.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already told you; he¡¯s leaving the country and needed someone to look after his property. He¡¯s

    basically allowing us to stay for a nominal rental fee, on the condition that we take good care of

    everything here.¡±

    Ning Ran looked at Cheng Xiangyun, ¡°Woman, who¡¯s the owner of this vi? It¡¯s Nan Xing, right?¡±

    ¡°Tsk, I knew you wouldn¡¯t take up his offer, so I¡¯ve turned him down. The owner of this vi is Ou Yang.

    If you don¡¯t believe me, go check with the property management office.¡±

    ¡°This is really not Nan Xing¡¯s house?¡± Ning Ran stared at Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Nope! Go find it out yourself if you don¡¯t believe me!¡± Cheng Xiangyun said it with a loud and clear

    voice.

    ¡°3000 for this house is really a good deal, but this makes me feel a little uneasy. I don¡¯t want this

    house.¡± Ning Ran said.

    Cheng Xiangyun panicked, ¡°You wanted me to find a house for you. Just when I found one that is nice

    and cheap, you said you don¡¯t want it? What do you want?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t deserve this, and my heart doesn¡¯t feel right with the rental rate.¡±

    ¡°Are you mad? You can¡¯t afford when it¡¯s too expensive, and when it¡¯s too cheap, you¡¯re worried. Why

    don¡¯t you offer to pay more then?¡±

    ¡°The rent for a vi like this, ording to Flower City¡¯s market rate, can easily go up to thirty thousand

    a month. I can¡¯t afford this. I give up. Let¡¯s look for other houses.¡±

    ¡®You¡¯re mad, you¡¯re really mad. This belongs to a friend, I¡¯ve told you. He needs our help to take care of

    it too, otherwise it¡¯s going to be left empty. Why wouldn¡¯t you listen?¡± Cheng Xiangyun became more

    anxious.

    At this time, someone wearing the property management office¡¯s uniform came up to them.

    ¡°Mr. Ou Yang said, we have toe check on the house regrly when he¡¯s not around. We heard a

    commotion, and came to find out what¡¯s happening here.¡± The person said.

    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    ¡°Oh nothing, we are Ou Yang¡¯s friend. We will be staying here in the future, thank you very much.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun said.

    Upon hearing this, Ning Ran contemted. So¡­ this house really belongs to Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s friend

    who is going overseas, and is not Nan Xing¡¯s?

    If this is the case, then this house is really cheap! It¡¯s almost like I¡¯ve hit the jackpot!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 200

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 200

    The Nan residence, the Commoner Residence. Three persons with a simr look, with one looking

    slightly chubbier than the rest, sat around the dining table.

    The chubbier one looked at the other two, because they appeared to be rather emotionally distant. Of

    course, the chubbier one was Erbao. And the other two were Nan Chen and Dabao.

    Nan Chen who was working overtime received a call from the maid, saying Dabao refused to eat. He

    had no choice but to rush home.

    Today had not been a great day for Nan Chen, after he bumped into Nan Xing and Ning Ran walking

    out of Nanting No.1 Hotel this morning. He felt he had fallen into Ning Ran¡¯s trap and could not escape

    from it anymore.

    Just when he thought he could treat this rtionship more seriously, he felt Ning Ran did not think

    likewise. Perhaps to her, spending a night in the arms of another man in a hotel was just something

    casual.

    And the worst thing was, the man was his brother. Nan Chen felt embarrassed and disgusted.

    This was the worst day for Nan Chen. Yet, Dabao chose to be on a hunger strike. Nan Chen had not

    been exceptionally kind to Dabao the minute he stepped into the house.

    Coincidentally, Dabao was not in a good mood either, and he was not ready to be nice to Nan Chen.

    If an adult could not manage his emotions well, how could we expect a child to do so?

    So the cold war began. No one had spoken a single word for almost ten minutes.

    Erbao was already eyeing on the delicious food on the table. She took a nce at Nan Chen and

    Dabao, and swallowed a mouthful of saliva. She was famished.

    ¡°Ning Sirui, I always thought you¡¯re a mature child. But now you¡¯re just throwing a childish tantrum by

    not eating. I¡¯m disappointed in you.¡± Nan Chen started the conversation in the tone of an adult.

    Not going to y nice, not going to please him, not going topromise.

    ¡°I¡¯m disappointed too.¡± Such powerful wordsing from a five-year-old.

    Nan Chen was shocked for a bit.

    Everyone¡¯s a fighter here. No weaklings in the Nan family, indeed.

    ¡°Why are you disappointed?¡± Nan Chen reconsidered his strategy to appease his opponent a little.

    ¡°And why are you disappointed?¡± Dabao was not ready to take a step back.

    Nan Chen thought, Oh dear, he¡¯sing on strong, am I about to lose to a child?

    Neither the hard nor soft approach would work on him, I believe. What else can I do?

    ¡°I¡¯m disappointed because you refused to have your meal.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°I¡¯m disappointed because you don¡¯t know why I refused to have my meal.¡± Dabao responded in a cold

    tone.

    Nan Chen was stunnedpletely. Did¡­ a five-year-old just spewed those words?

    A calm but powerfuleback, from a child!

    Erbao¡¯s eyes were like two ck gems, focusing back and forth on the two boys during the exchange.

    She knew they were in an argument, but could not quite understand their words.

    ¡°Ehm¡­ shall we just eat?¡± Erbao asked in a soft voice.

    ¡°You eat first.¡± Nan Chen and Dabao said simultaneously.

    The two boys were on the same page that they should not keep Erbao waiting.

    Erbao took up her bowl and ate a little, but could not quite enjoy her meal upon feeling the tension

    between Uncle and her brother.

    She sighed and put down the bowl and chopsticks. It was a helpless sigh.

    ¡°You two are big boys, yet behaving like children. So disappointing.¡± Erbao let out another sigh again.

    Nan Chen and Dabao were stunned, Now it¡¯s Erbao¡¯s turn to be disappointed?

    ¡°Why can¡¯t we just talk things out? What¡¯s the point of pulling a long face?¡± Erbao found the courage to

    finally interrupt their exchange.

    She was pleased that no one reprimanded her or asked her to stop. Being the most talkative person

    among the three, she had a hard time staying quiet.

    ¡°The reason brother refused to eat is because he misses Mommy. Me too.¡± Erbao said.

    Nan Chen and Dabao did not respond to that. They did not expect Erbao to step in to resolve the

    conflict.

    ¡°If we have problems, just talk.¡± Erbao continued.

    Nan Chen cleared his throat, ¡°Erbao¡¯s right. We¡¯ll talk after our meal.¡±

    Since Erbao had voluntarily diffused the tension, Nan Chen of course must grab hold of this

    opportunity.

    It did feel awkward confronting a child for an extended period.

    But more importantly, he knew he might even lose the battle if the confrontation went on.

    So the best solution was to call it quits, and get Dabao to eat.

    ¡°Nope. Not eating.¡±

    Nan Chen failed in his attempt. ¡®Mr. Bossypants¡¯ here still refused to eat.

    ¡°What do you want?¡± Nan Chen¡¯s emotion was stirred up once again.

    ¡°I want Mommy.¡± Dabao made it clear.

    ¡°Mommy is busy shooting. She doesn¡¯t have the time toe visit you.¡± Nan Chen responded.

    ¡°Mommy was also busy in the past, but still made an effort to visit us.¡± Dabao said in a cold voice.

    Dabao might not be a chatty child, but that was just because he did not want to talk. If he really wanted

    to convey a message to someone, he would deliver it with strength and in a logical fashion.

    Nan Chen did not know what to say, and another silent battle ensued, once again.

    Dabao¡¯s attitude was clear. If I don¡¯t get to see Mommy today, no one can force me to eat!

    Nan Chen would have a million ways to deal with adults. Brutal force, at the very least, would work

    effectively.

    But not with Dabao. Nan Chen had yet to figure out the proper method to deal with ¡®Mr. Bossypants¡¯.

    ¡°Let¡¯s eat first. After this, we¡¯ll go and see her.¡± Nan Chen gave in.

    No choice. Even though he felt defeated, this was the only way out.

    ¡°I want to eat with Mommy.¡± Dabao persisted.

    ¡°Ning Sirui, don¡¯t test my patience!¡± Nan Chen could not control his anger anymore.

    Dabao gave him a deadly stare. He did not retaliate, but was not ready to give in either.

    Erbao noticed the escting tension, she immediately kept her mouth shut and her head down. On and

    off, she would peep at the two men.

    Nan Chen stood up and stormed out of the dining hall¡­

    At this time, Cheng Xiangyun was helping Ning Ran to pack her luggage, as she would be moving into

    the vi tomorrow.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    The phone on the table rang. It was Ning Ran¡¯s.

    ¡°Ran, your call.¡±

    Ning Ran did not respond, as she was in the shower.

    Cheng Xiangyun answered the call instead, ¡°Hello, who is this?¡±

    ¡°Where are you?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Oh, are you looking for Ding Mi? She¡¯s in the shower and couldn¡¯t answer your call. Who is this?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun became excited when she heard a man¡¯s voice.

    As the manager of a female celebrity, of course I need some gossip to spice things up.

    ¡°Nan Chen.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s hand trembled and almost dropped the phone.

    ¡°Chen¡­ Sir Chen?¡± This had truly stirred up her emotions. It was almost Zheng Lunlun had possessed

    her body, and caused her to stammer.

    ¡°Get her to call back.¡± Nan Chen hung up right after saying this.

    Cheng Xiangyun wished she had more time to work her charm on Master Chen, but too bad, he did not

    show interest and abruptly ended the call.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 201

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 201

    When Ning Ran came out of the shower, she saw Cheng Xiangyun clinging onto her phone and

    seemed reluctant to let go of it.

    ¡°What are you doing? That¡¯s just an old phone. Do you want it?¡± Ning Ran frowned as she asked.

    ¡°I was just thinking about how nice would it be if this phone were mine.¡± Cheng Xiangyun sounded like

    an infatuated school girl.

    ¡°Damn! I think there¡¯s something wrong with you. Otherwise, why would you want this outdated

    phone?¡± Ning Ran replied, looking at her with disdain.

    ¡°Geez, it¡¯s not about the phone. It¡¯s the person who calls this phone whom I want,¡± Cheng Xiangyun

    muttered under her breath.

    ¡°What are you mumbling to yourself? Are you going crazy?¡±

    ¡°Sir Chen just called to look for you.¡± Cheng Xiangyun finally stopped digressing.

    ¡°What did he say?¡± Ning Ran asked nonchntly as she continued drying her hair with a towel.

    ¡°He didn¡¯t really say anything,¡± Cheng Xiangyun answered with a pitiful look on her face.

    Ning Ran was puzzled for a moment, but broke into a smile shortly after. It was exactly Nan Chen¡¯s

    style to call without a specific reason.

    ¡°You should give him a call back,¡± Cheng Xiangyun suggested as she passed the phone back to Ning

    Ran.

    ¡°Not now, I¡¯m still drying my hair,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°Goodness gracious! Is drying your hair more important that returning Sir Chen¡¯s call?¡± Cheng

    Xiangyun raised her voice in disbelief.

    ¡°Sir Chen is a human being; I am also a human being. Why should returning his call be more important

    than drying my hair?¡±

    Ning Ran went back to toweling her hair dry after saying that.

    ¡°Fine. You win.¡± Cheng Xiangyun shook her head, at a loss of words. ¡°No wonder people say, ¡®he who

    knows not, fears not¡¯.¡±

    Ning Ran took her time drying her hair. She even applied some moisturizer on her face before calling

    Nan Chen.

    Right after the call went through, Nan Chen spoke with hint of displeasure in his voice, ¡°Why did you

    take so long to return my call?¡±

    Ning Ran was about to exin to him that she had just finished showering when she realized that

    something did not seem right. Why is he shouting at me?

    ¡°Mr. Nan, I¡¯m not your employee, I have no obligations to return your call immediately,¡± Ning Ran

    retorted mildly.

    ¡°Go downstairs now. There¡¯s a car waiting for you, be quick,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Huh? What?¡±

    ¡°Something has happened to Dabao, you have toe over quickly.¡±

    Right after saying that, Nan Chen hung up the phone.

    Ning Ran panicked when she heard what the man said. Shocked, she staggered and almost fell.

    Something happened to Dabao? What happened to him?

    Tears started streaming down the woman¡¯s cheeks immediately. She dialed Nan Chen¡¯s number in a

    flurry, but he did not pick up.

    Actually, Nan Chen did that on purpose. He was already in a foul mood and Ning Ran chose a bad

    timing to provoke him. It was his intention to make her feel anxious.

    Ning Ran could not afford to waste any more time. Without grabbing her bag, she rushed to the door

    and called out, ¡°I¡¯m going to the Nan family¡¯s house now!¡±

    ¡°Huh? Did Master Chen summon you? You should at least change your clothes!¡± Cheng Xiangyun

    shouted after her.

    ¡°There¡¯s no time for that. I¡¯m going to see my kids.¡±

    Ning Ran rushed downstairs, still dressed in her pajamas. Sure enough, there was already a car

    waiting for her.

    Her pink pajamas even had Hello Kitty prints on it. It was, in fact, quite a jarring sight.

    The manly Qiao Zhan, who was the one picking her up, was momentarily stunned when he saw her.

    It seems like the Young Lady has retained her childlike innocence. Why else would she be wearing

    such cute pajamas?

    But it¡¯s still pajamas! How could the Young Mistress of the Nan family appear on the streets wearing

    pajamas?

    ¡°Ms. D-ding.¡± Qiao Zhan was unable to look Ning Ran straight in the eye.

    In addition to the fact that the pajamas was quite hard on the eyes, it was considered a private piece of

    clothing. Qiao Zhan felt that it was disrespectful for him to stare.

    However, even though he tried, it was impossible for his gaze topletely avoid the woman as they

    were travelling in the same car.

    ¡°Captain Qiao, what happened to Dabao?¡± Ning Ran asked worriedly.

    ¡°Little Master? I am not aware that anything happened.¡±

    Qiao Zhan was not sure, as employees were not allowed to freely enter the main residence of the Nan

    family without permission.

    As such, he wouldn¡¯t know what went on inside the house.

    ¡°You have not heard?¡± Ning Ran was feeling increasingly bothered.

    ¡°I only received instructions toe here and pick you up. As for the purpose, I really don¡¯t know,¡±

    Qiao Zhan replied nervously.

    ¡°Nan Chen only told me that something has happened to Dabao when he called just now. He didn¡¯t say

    anything else.¡± Ning Ran voice cracked spoke.

    ¡°Young Mistress, please don¡¯t worry. I am sure it¡¯s nothing serious. If something important happened, I

    would definitely be informed,¡± Qiao Zhan tried tofort her.

    Only then was Ning Ran able to rx a little. Qiao Zhan was one of the key employees who handled

    the internal affairs of the Nan family. Needless to say, if something serious happened in the Nan family,

    he would definitely be aware of it.

    ¡°I did not have time to change as I was in a haste. I hope you don¡¯t mind my inappropriate dressing,¡±

    Ning Ran exined, feeling embarrassed.

    ¡°No worries at all! This outfit makes Young Mistress look¡­ quite cute,¡± Qiao Zhan replied

    unconvincingly.

    No one spoke after that.

    It was too exhausting to carry on an awkward conversation; silence seemed to be a better choice.

    The car ride to Nan residence was filled with silence.

    ording to the house rules, Qiao Zhan could only report that Ning Ran had arrived from outside; he

    could not enter the main residence without specific orders.

    After he told Ning Ran the directions, the woman went into the house alone.

    As she was feeling extremely anxious, Ning Ran picked up her pace and broke into a brisk trot.

    Through the surveince cameras, the security guards stationed at the main residence spotted a pink

    figure approaching the house and swiftly reported their sightings.

    When they were informed that the pink blob they saw was the Young Mistress¡¯s pajamas, everyone

    was stunned. When did the Nan family have a Young Mistress, let alone a Young Mistress that roams

    the streets in pink pajamas?

    Nan Chen was furious when he saw Ning Ran¡¯s attire through the windows.

    What does the woman treat the Commoner Residence as? Is this a ce where she can behave so

    casually? She¡¯s too outrageous!

    If Grandpa sees this, it would surely be the death of him.

    Even the servants of the Nan family are required to dress appropriately when they go out, how dare the

    woman run about wearing such mboyant pajamas! Ridiculous!

    Ning Ran was caught and dragged into the house. She was a pathetic sight.

    ¡°Let go of me! What are you doing!¡± Ning Ran bawled.

    ¡°What is it that you are wearing? Do you think that the Commoner Residence is a wet market? How

    can you roam around thepound dressed like that?¡± Nan Chen¡¯s anger red up.

    ¡°Have you seen anyone dressed like this at the wet market?¡± The man¡¯s question infuriated Ning Ran

    even more.

    Nan Chen was thrown off for a moment by her odd rebuttal.

    So, does it mean that she would pay more attention to her clothes when she goes to the wet market as

    compared toing to the Commoner Residence?

    Neither of them were willing to back down. Just when a war between them was about to erupt, Erbao

    heard themotion and ran over.

    ¡°Mommy!¡±

    Erbao hugged Ning Ran¡¯s legs tightly and the woman¡¯s heart melted at once.

    ¡°Darling, how are you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, I just miss mommy a lot.¡± Erbao sounded like she was going to cry.

    Dabao toddled over shortly after. Ning Ran knelt on the floor and held each child in one arm as tears

    fell from her eyes uncontrobly.

    Looking at the tearful reunion, Nan Chen walked away to give the mother and her children some

    privacy.

    ¡°Dabao, what did you do today? I received a call from Uncle Nan Chen asking me toe here.

    Mommy was so worried!¡±

    Dabao grinned as he stroked Ning Ran¡¯s face and said, ¡°I¡¯m OK, mommy.¡±

    ¡°Brother refused to eat and forced Third Uncle to call you,¡± Erbao exined the situation to her mom.

    ¡°Ah, how can you not eat? It¡¯s not good for your stomach. You can¡¯t do that again, understand? You

    can shout or smash things, but don¡¯t starve yourself, understand?¡±

    Nan Chen was rendered speechless as he listened to their conversation in disbelief. Is this how she

    teaches her children?

    ¡°We can¡¯t do that. We will have to pay for the damage and we don¡¯t have money,¡± Erbao said, feeling

    concerned.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you are still kids, so they won¡¯t make you pay. Next time if you are not happy or miss

    mommy, you can call me. If they don¡¯t let you call me, just smash something!¡±

    Nan Chen was unable to listen any further and rushed over inrge strides. ¡°This is not the way to

    teach your children!¡±

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran pointed at Nan Chen with a smug expression on her face. ¡°I knew you would be listening in,

    so I said that intentionally to test you. See, I was right. Eavesdropping is such an immature thing to do!¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 202

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 202

    Ning Ran was in the mood to tease Nan Chen as she felt better after seeing Dabao. Moreover, the boy

    had even devised his own methods to make a stand against the Nan family in order to see her.

    It meant that her kids were on her side, and the knowledge of her children¡¯s supportforted her.

    Feeling cheered up, Ning Ran had purposely made that absurd speech about smashing things to

    enrage Nan Chen.

    ¡°Darlings, Mommy was just joking when I said you could smash things, don¡¯t take it seriously. It¡¯s wrong

    to smash things, you can¡¯t do that, OK?¡±

    Dabao and Erbao nodded obediently.

    Nan Chen ordered the servant to reheat the dishes and serve them dinner.

    Erbao was famished and started gobbling down her food.

    In fact, Dabao was hungry too. However, he was determined to endure the hunger just so he could see

    his mom.

    Ning Ran and Nan Chen sat to the side while they watched the kids enjoy their dinner, feeling

    contented.

    ¡°You guys carry on eating, I need to discuss something with Mommy, is that OK?¡±

    After experiencing Dabao¡¯s protest, Nan Chen was indeed slightly fearful of these two little darlings. He

    made a mental reminder to speak to them in a kind manner.

    As Erbao was not the one calling the shots, she looked towards her brother.

    ¡°What will Third Uncle and Mommy be talking about?¡± Dabao asked.

    Nan Chen was stunned. Why is the kid asking that?

    ¡°We will be discussing adult matters, children do not need to be concerned.¡± Nan Chen identally

    adopted the cold tone he normally used when he spoke to other people.

    ¡°He¡¯s my child, so anything that concerns me, concerns him,¡± Ning Ran immediately came to the boy¡¯s

    defense.

    Nan Chen¡¯s expression hardened. This woman, why does she have to embarrass me in front of the

    kids!

    ¡°We will just be discussing your mom¡¯s filming matters.¡± As it was not an option for Nan Chen to refute,

    he could onlypromise.

    Dabao looked at Ning Ran. She nodded at her son and stood up.

    ¡°Uncle, you can¡¯t use my sister and I to threaten mommy,¡± Dabao reminded Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen was shocked. It was extremely impactful to hear such wordsing from a kid.

    ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± the man replied seriously.

    Only then did Dabao feel relieved.

    Ning Ran followed Nan Chen to the living room after leaving the dining area.

    The living room was not even part of the residence¡¯s main hall, but it was already much bigger than

    Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s entire apartment.

    ¡°This is the Nan family,¡± Nan Chen said, with his gaze fixed on Ning Ran.

    ¡°I already know that. I didn¡¯t say that it¡¯s the Ning family,¡± Ning Ran retorted with a frown.

    ¡°There are rules to be followed in the Nan family. All employees and servants need to ensure that they

    are dressed appropriately before stepping out,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°I see,¡± Ning Ran nodded earnestly.

    ¡°But look at what you are wearing!¡± Nan Chen¡¯s anger rose as he said that.

    ¡°Sir Chen, I¡¯m afraid that you have gotten it wrong. I am neither the Nan family¡¯s employee nor

    servant,¡± Ning Ran calmly replied.

    ¡°You¡­ ¡°

    ¡°Please don¡¯t get angry, Sir Chen.¡± Ning Ran shed a smile at Nan Chen.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    ¡°If my grandpa sees you like this, do you know what he would do?¡± Nan Chen posed the question.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°The old man would immediately separate you from his dear great-grandchildren, because the

    descendants of the Nan family cannot be under the care of a woman who does not even observe

    proper rules. You will be perceived as a bad influence for the kids.¡±

    ¡°But it¡¯s such a coincidence that the Old Master¡¯s dear great-grandchildren also happen to be my

    children. I will decide what¡¯s best for my children!¡± Ning Ran was not backing down.

    ¡°If the old man takes action, do you think you will be able to continue staying in Flower City? If that

    happens, do you think you can still call the shots?¡± Nan Chen said in a cold voice.

    Ning Ran kept quiet.

    She knew that he was merely stating facts. If the Nan family¡¯s Old Master really made a move, the

    resources that he mobilized would definitely be formidable.

    It wouldn¡¯t be something a small fry like Ning Ran could defend herself against. By then, she might

    really have to leave Flower City.

    ¡°Sir Chen, I am here now only because the kids want to see me. Besides, you were the one who

    requested for me toe here.¡±

    Ning Ran would never bang her head against a brick wall. If being firm did not work, she knew when to

    makepromises. After all, as long as she stuck around, there would be light at the end of the tunnel.

    ¡°But I didn¡¯t ask you toe here in your pajamas! That¡¯s too much!¡± Nan Chen growled.

    ¡°When I received your call telling me that something has happened to Dabao, I almost went crazy. Do

    you think that I¡¯d be in the right state of mind to change my outfit? Do you expect me to change into a

    beautiful gown and put on makeup before going out? What would that make of me as a mom?¡±

    What the woman said indeed made sense, and was touching.

    Nan Chen was stunned and did not know how to respond.

    His original intention was to make her feel anxious. He had never expected that she would show up at

    the Nan residence dressed in pajamas.

    ¡°From now onwards, you cannot be seen outside dressed like this. You are not allowed to take a single

    step out of the door,¡± Nan Chen ordered.

    ¡°What? Are you confining me here?¡± Ning Ran was shocked.

    ¡°Just stay here with the kids tonight, I¡¯ll get someone to send you back tomorrow morning. Don¡¯t let

    anyone else see you dressed in this manner, otherwise, you might get into trouble!¡±

    Ning Ran was ted to hear that. It sounded perfect! She was happy to be able to spend time with her

    kids.

    ¡°OK, I agree,¡± Ning Ran replied cheerily.

    Nan Chen turned around and left without saying anything else.

    Meanwhile, after Dabao and Erbao finished eating, they realized their uncle was gone.

    ¡°Mommy, is Third Uncle angry?¡± Dabao asked.

    ¡°Who cares, he always has that same annoying expression on his face. Have you seen him not looking

    angry before?¡± Ning Ran replied nonchntly.

    ¡°Actually uncle treats us very well. He loves us a lot,¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°Huh? Didn¡¯t you starve yourself to protest against him? Why are you defending him now?¡± Ning Ran

    questioned, feeling perplexed.

    ¡°I refused to eat because I wanted to see Mommy, it¡¯s not directed at uncle.¡±

    ¡°OK, let¡¯s not talk about him first. Have the two of you been well for the past two days?¡± Ning Ran

    asked in a gentle voice.

    ¡°Yup, the food here is so delicious!¡± Erbao cut straight to the point.

    With a more sober demeanor, Dabao replied, ¡°We are fine, mommy, it¡¯s just that we miss you so much.

    Are you OK? Is everything going smoothly at work?¡±

    Ning Ran felt a warm fuzzy feeling in her heart. Touched by her son¡¯s thoughtfulness, her eyes

    reddened.

    ¡°Mommy is good, I miss you guys too,¡± Ning Ran choked up as she spoke.

    Erbao put her arms around her mom¡¯s neck and said sweetly, ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t be sad. We will always

    support Mommy.¡±

    ¡°Son, my precious darling, Daddy is home!¡± Nan Xing announced his arrival loudly the moment he got

    back.

    He was busy at the office today and had just finished work. Before he came home, he had specially

    bought some snacks for the kids.

    To his surprise, he saw the pajama-d Ning Ran the moment he opened the door.

    ¡°Why are you here? You should have told me you wereing over.¡±

    ¡°Uncle was the one who asked Mommy toe,¡± Erbao said in a sweet voice.

    So brother was the one who got her here. But why is she dressed in pajamas?

    Nan Xing¡¯s heart sank.

    ¡°I came to see the kids,¡± Ning Ran exined.

    ¡°Are you intending to stay here tonight since you¡¯re already wearing pajamas?¡±

    ¡°Uncle was the one who asked mommy to stay the night,¡± Erbao contributed to the conversation again.

    Nan Xing¡¯s heart dropped even further.

    Hasn¡¯t brother always been against Ning Ran entering the Nan family? What does he mean by this?

    Have they already¡­ ?

    Despite having those thoughts, Nan Xing managed to retain hisposure and settle his emotions.

    He trusted Ning Ran, as well as his brother.

    ¡°I bought some snacks, they are all from famous eateries. Try some! I know my darling loves desserts.¡±

    ¡°Hooray! Daddy is the best,¡± Erbao cheered.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 203

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 203

    Two dayster, Ning Ran, dressed in white, appeared at the Tianhai Cemetery with fresh flowers and

    cake.

    Today was her mom¡¯s birthday. As such, she had applied a half-day leave from the crew to spend some

    time with her mom on this special day.

    The woman ced the offerings in front of her mom¡¯s tomb and lit a candle on the cake.

    ¡°Happy birthday, mom. I¡¯m here to celebrate your birthday with you. You¡¯ve worked so hard for our

    family your entire life and never had a proper birthday celebration. Sorry, I wasn¡¯t a good daughter. I¡¯ve

    never thought of nning any celebrations for you before.¡±

    Tears flowed down Ning Ran¡¯s cheeks as she continued to kneel beside the grave.

    Her mom was smiling in the picture that was attached to the tomb, as if she wasforting Ning Ran,

    telling her to not feel sad.

    Just then, the woman heard footsteps from behind her.

    She was startled. When Ning Ran turned around, she saw a man approaching the her, carrying a

    bouquet of flowers in his arms.

    It was Feng Minsheng. Why is he here?

    ¡°Ran, today is aunt¡¯s birthday. I came to pay my respects,¡± Feng Minsheng said.

    Ning Ran was moved by his gesture. She never expected that, apart from herself, there would be

    someone else in this world who remembered her mother¡¯s birthday.

    However, she felt strange that Feng Minsheng would know when her mother¡¯s birthday was.

    Sensing Ning Ran¡¯s skepticism, the man exined, ¡°We celebrated aunt¡¯s birthday together once in the

    past, that¡¯s why I remembered.¡±

    ¡°Really? Why do I have no recollection of that?¡± Ning Ran grew even more suspicious.

    ¡°Yeah, I even had dinner at your ce. Aunt prepared lots of yummy dishes,¡± Feng Minsheng said

    confidently.

    Ning Ran could not remember any of that. In her memory, she had never celebrated her mom¡¯s

    birthday before, not even once. That was also her greatest regret.

    But Feng Minsheng insisted that they had. No matter how hard she tried, she was still not able to

    remember.

    Not that it mattered ¨C Ning Ran was just grateful that Feng Minsheng made the effort to remember her

    mom¡¯s birthday.

    The aversion she had towards him also seemed to have diminished. The man did not appear as

    irksome to her now.

    After cing the flowers in front of the tomb, Feng Minsheng said, ¡°Happy birthday, aunt. Please rest in

    peace and don¡¯t worry about Ranran. I will take good care of her and keep her away from any harm.¡±

    Ning Ran was ufortable when she heard what the man said. Did I say I want you to take care of

    me?

    However, it did not seem appropriate to correct him in front of her mother¡¯s tomb, so she bit her tongue.

    After they were done paying their respects, both of them left the cemetery together.

    ¡°Ran, shall we have a meal together? I have been wanting to do that, but you are always so busy.

    There are some things I want to talk to you about,¡± Feng Minsheng said.

    It just happened that Ning Ran also had something to tell him. She wanted to tell him to stop pestering

    her and saying such mushy words.

    As such, she agreed to Feng Minsheng¡¯s request, and they headed to the restaurant together.

    To her surprise, Feng Minsheng had already made a reservation for a private room. He had even

    ordered in advance some of Ning Ran¡¯s favorite dishes.

    ¡°Since today is aunt¡¯s birthday, let¡¯s start this off with a toast to aunt, who¡¯s in heaven.¡±

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Feng Minsheng poured three sses of wine, including one for Ning Ran¡¯s mom.

    The man finished the wine in one gulp.

    ¡°I may have to visit my kidster, so I shouldn¡¯t be drinking,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°How can you not drink? This toast is for aunt, so you have to finish it up. Otherwise, aunt won¡¯t be

    happy about it.¡± Feng Minsheng tried to talk her into drinking.

    Those were heavy words. Since he brought up her mother, Ning Ran couldn¡¯t bring herself to reject any

    further.

    As such, she drank the wine reluctantly.

    However, Feng Minsheng poured her another one right away as he said, ¡°This is my toast to you.

    Here¡¯s to a smooth-sailing career, a record-breaking viewership for your uing drama, and a future

    as a superstar!¡±

    ¡°I really can¡¯t drink anymore,¡± Ning Ran rejected.

    ¡°Just one more,st one. On ount of our long friendship, one more ss isn¡¯t too much to ask for,

    right?¡± Feng Minsheng continued to coax her into drinking.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t have the heart to reject him as he had visited her mom¡¯s tomb today.

    Thinking that one more ss wouldn¡¯t make much difference, Ning Ranpromised once more. ¡°This

    is really thest ss. After this, no matter what you say, I won¡¯t drink anymore. This is a toast from me

    to you, for remembering my mom¡¯s birthday.¡±

    Ning Ran tossed off the ss of wine.

    After that, Feng Minsheng immediately refilled her ss again. ¡°How about just another one? You

    should at least finish three sses of wine.¡±

    However, Ning Ran was firm in her stance this time round. She was determined to not drink anymore.

    Ning Ran had only agreed to drink the first two sses out of courtesy, but she could not keep on

    compromising. Besides, she did not even feel like drinking today.

    ¡°I have something onter, so I can¡¯t drink anymore. You can enjoy the rest of the bottle,¡± Ning Ran t

    out rejected the man.

    ¡°OK. Try the dishes, then. These are all your favorites. Eat more!¡± Feng Minsheng stopped insisting.

    Ning Ran felt giddy after taking a few mouthfuls of food.

    Perhaps she was feeling down, or maybe it was because she had drunk on an empty stomach, but

    Ning Ran felt a wave of dizziness wash over her.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to leave first, it seems like I cannot handle alcohol well,¡± Ning Ran said as she put a

    hand to her forehead.

    ¡°How about I send you back then? You don¡¯t feel like yourself today. You didn¡¯t even drink much, how

    did you get drunk so easily?¡±

    ¡°Sorry, I guess I¡¯m just not feeling very well today. No worries, I can take a cab back.¡±

    Ning Ran stood up and prepared to leave.

    However, her footsteps were unsteady and she almost fell.

    As Feng Minsheng observed Ning Ran¡¯s stance, the corners of his mouth curled into an unfathomable

    smile.

    ¡°Looks like you are really drunk. Just let me send you back,¡± the man said as he supported Ning Ran in

    his arms.

    She wanted to shake him off, but was unable to summon the energy to do that.

    After Feng Minsheng put Ning Ran into his car, he drove to a hotel. Upon reaching, he carried her into

    a room which he had already booked earlier.

    The man ced Ning Ran on the bed and climbed on top of her. Then, he put her slender arms around

    his neck.

    Another man, who was wearing a mask, started snapping phones with his camera. Each photo was

    taken from a very professional angle.

    By this time, Ning Ran was already unconscious. However, from the photos taken, it seemed like she

    was getting intimate with Feng Minsheng, especially with her arms around his neck.

    ¡°Remove her clothes. Let¡¯s take another set of more steamy photos,¡± the photographer suggested.

    ¡°Err¡­¡± Feng Minsheng hesitated.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t she the woman you have been lusting for? She¡¯s all yours now, you can do anything you want to

    her,¡± the photographer said.

    ¡°I won¡¯t do that. She will never forgive me if I did that.¡±

    ¡°Do you think she will forgive you after everything you¡¯ve done today?¡±

    ¡°I think this is enough. We don¡¯t have to go to that extent.¡± Feng Minsheng was still not willing to

    remove Ning Ran¡¯s clothes.

    He knew Ning Ran¡¯s character too well. If he continued, Ning Ran would never let him off after she

    woke up.

    Besides, Ning Ran had the support of the terrifying Nan family. The man had already been beaten up

    twice by them, but he knew even that was considered mild.

    If the Nan family went all out, he would definitely be crippled.

    Feng Minsheng did not want to burn bridges, although it felt like the bridge was already crumbling.

    ¡°So, are you undressing her or not?¡±

    ¡°No, we can just end it here, as long as we have achieved the effect we were looking for. She¡¯s my

    childhood friend and we grew up together. I don¡¯t want her to hate me,¡± Feng Minsheng said.

    ¡°Make sure you don¡¯t regret it. This could be your only chance to have her!¡±

    ¡°No, I can¡¯t do that,¡± Feng Minsheng rejected firmly.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 204

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 204

    At the Nanshi Corporation, Nan Chen had already gone through the report a few times. Although he

    could barely contain his excitement, the man tried to keep a cool front.

    The Nan family¡¯s family doctor, Luo Shu, stood quietly beside him.

    The results were already very apparent from the report, and no further exnation by a medical

    professional was required.

    But Nan Chen still nced towards the doctor, hoping to get his reassurance as well.

    ¡°Sir Chen, that two kids are definitely yours. They were mistaken as Young Master Nan Xing¡¯s kids

    previously, but their DNA morepatible with yours. Congrattions, Master Chen.¡±

    Nan Chen was feeling conflicting emotions and did not know how to respond Luo Shu¡¯s well wishes.

    He was suddenly a father of two kids. To him, it was an extremely joyous event.

    But what about Nan Xing?

    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s necessary to do another test to reconfirm?¡± Nan Chen looked at Luo Shu.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. It¡¯s very unlikely that the results of such a test could be wrong. Besides, the

    organization that we engaged to perform the test is recognized globally as an authority in its field. No

    matter how many more times we do the test, the results would still be the same,¡± Luo Shu said.

    ¡°I understand. You can leave first,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    Luo Shu stood up and prepared to leave.

    ¡°Hold on,¡± Nan Chen stopped him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t spread it to anyone else.¡±

    ¡°I know that, Sir Chen,¡± Luo Shu answered.

    Even without Nan Chen¡¯s reminder, Luo Shu would have never told anyone else.

    He knew how serious the matter was.

    After Luo Shu left, Nan Chen looked through the report again.

    Then, he gave Nan Xing a call.

    Nan Xing was also at the office at this time, but he was over at another department. He reached his

    brother¡¯s office quickly when he received the call.

    ¡°Wanna have a ser match? I can¡¯t remember thest time I yed,¡± Nan Chen invited.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Nan Xing thought he had heard wrong.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go y ser, you haven¡¯t yed in a while as well, right?¡± Nan Chen said.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Brother, you still remember you yed ser? I recall the times when we were the ace yers of the

    team. Not only were we the best strikers in middle school, we were also the most good-looking team¡­

    ¡°

    ¡°OK, OK, let¡¯s go. Let¡¯s have a quick game.¡±

    ¡°But I still have work to do¡­ ¡°

    ¡°Leave it, we are just ying for a short while.¡±

    The brothers arrived at the Flower City Stadium 40 minutester.

    The stadium was the training grounds for the Flower City football team, but it was empty currently as

    the team had gone for an overseas tournament.

    Qiao Zhan had already cleared the stadium beforehand. The empty field was illuminated by floodlights,

    specially prepared for the Nan brothers¡¯ game.

    After changing into sports attire, Nan Chen transformed from a stern-looking man to a bubbly and

    youthful teenager, especially with his slender physique.

    ¡°Brother, what¡¯s up with you today? Why did you suddenly suggest ying ser?¡±

    ¡°I just wanted to have a game with you because we haven¡¯t yed in a long while,¡± Nan Chen said as

    he kicked a pass to Nan Xing.

    ¡°It¡¯s kindame with just the both of us here. Should we get the rest of the boys to join us?¡± Nan Xing

    asked.

    ¡°Nah, they are not going to y properly even if they came. They will all let me win, it¡¯s pointless,¡± Nan

    Chen replied.

    ¡°You have a point there. If anyone dares to dribble the ball past Master Chen, he can forget about

    making a living in the Flower City. Haha!¡± Nan Xingughed.

    ¡°Let¡¯s ask Qiao Zhan to be the goalkeeper,¡± Nan Chen suggested.

    As such, Qiao Zhan became their makeshift goalkeeper. The brothers dribbled the ball from one end of

    the field to the other before shooting the ball.

    Qiao Zhan was barely able to keep any of the shots out, except for those that were not on target.

    The field was very big. The brothers consumed a lot of energy from running up and down the field and

    were drenched in perspiration.

    After the game, they sat in the middle of the field and rested.

    ¡°I¡¯m so happy, this feels just like our younger days.¡± Nan Xingy spreadeagle on the grass in great

    satisfaction.

    ¡°Nan Xing, regardless what happens, we are always brothers. No one, and nothing in the world, can

    affect our rtionship, right?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Of course! Why would you ask such a weird question?¡± Nan Xing replied.

    ¡°Why is it weird? I¡¯m just expressing my true feelings.¡±

    ¡°Brother, don¡¯t worry. With you at the helm of the Nanshi Corporation, I will always be here to assist

    you. Whoever goes against my brother would also be my enemy. As long as I am by your side, I won¡¯t

    let anyone hurt you, brother.¡±

    Nan Xing sounded very sincere and Nan Chen knew that he meant every single word.

    ¡°Me too, I won¡¯t let anyone hurt you either.¡±

    Nan Xing startedughing. ¡°Brother, what¡¯s wrong with you today? You¡¯re acting really strange!¡±

    ¡°Nan Xing, I got Qiao Zhan to clear the stadium so that whatever is said here would be kept between

    the both of us.¡±

    ¡°Brother, what exactly do you want to say?¡±

    ¡°I want to know the story behind you, Ning Ran, and the kids. How did everything turn out this way?¡±

    This would be Nan Chen¡¯s final rification. He needed to be clear of the situation ¨C it was crucial to

    him.

    He had not hung out with Nan Xing for a long time. The reason he chose toe to the stadium today

    was to bond with his brother, and it was also a good environment for them to speak their minds freely.

    No matter how loudly they spoke, they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about people eavesdropping.

    ¡°Why are you asking about this?¡±

    ¡°Just tell me. It¡¯s important to me.¡±

    ¡°Brother, I don¡¯t remember it anymore, I really can¡¯t. I slept with a woman in a club many years ago and

    I have been searching for her. I¡¯m actually not sure if she¡¯s Ning Ran, but since the kids bear so much

    resemnce to me, and the DNA test was a match, it can¡¯t be wrong. I know that you are not really

    fond of Ning Ran, and she¡¯s also not very keen to marry into the Nan family, so our rtionship hasn¡¯t

    progressed much. But I really hope that you can give us your blessings, so that she and the kids can

    have aplete family,¡± Nan Xing said.

    Nan Chen stared at the empty bleachers, carefully choosing his words so Nan Xing would have an

    easier time epting what he was going to say next.

    ¡°So, you can¡¯t be a hundred percent sure that you and Ning Ran had that kind of rtionship right?¡±

    Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. As you know, I¡¯m not the same as you, brother. I am not really one who takes initiative, but

    at the same time, I rarely reject anyone. So I¡¯ve bedded quite a number of women.¡±

    ¡°When we did the DNA testing previously, you were still in Africa. Do you remember the situation back

    then?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°You were supposed to fly back for the blood test at that time, but you suggested to use my DNA

    instead, since we are identical twins. So, we ended up using my DNA for the purpose of the test,¡± Nan

    Chen said cautiously.

    ¡°Yup, I remember that.¡±

    ¡°So, have you ever considered the possibility that Dabao and Erbao could be my kids instead?¡±

    Nan Xing was stunned.

    Recovering quickly, heughed and said, ¡°But brother, you don¡¯t even get close to women. Since you

    have been preserving your chastity, how is it possible for you to father any children? You yourself said

    that they were my kids as you didn¡¯t think they could be yours.¡±

    ¡°Maybe I was wrong,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Nan Xing realized someone was amiss.

    ¡°Brother, just be open with me. You asked for a ball game today because you have something

    important to say, right?¡±

    ¡°Nan Xing, actually I slept with someone a few years ago. At that time, I thought that the person was

    Luo Fei. But now that I think about it again, Luo Fei might have secretly substituted herself with

    someone else instead. I haven¡¯t fully investigated the situation yet, but I did a DNA testing again

    recently. The results show that the kids are mine, not yours.¡±

    Nan Xing¡¯s eyes widened as he stared at Nan Chen in disbelief.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 205

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 205

    Ning Ran could feel her head throbbing when she woke up.

    She realized she was in a hotel room, and next to her was a restless Feng Minsheng.

    ¡°Why am I here?¡± Ning Ran cried out.

    ¡°You¡¯ve had too much to drink, so I found a hotel nearby and sent you here to rest,¡± Feng Minsheng

    said.

    Fragments of memory surfaced after hearing Feng Minsheng¡¯s words.

    She had indeed drunk two sses of wine just now, but it was just two small sses. It was baffling

    that she was tipsy from that to the point of stumbling on her feet.

    Ning Ran looked at the clock and realized it was almost 9 p.m..

    ¡°I have to go back now. Where¡¯s my phone?¡±

    ¡°It should be inside your bag. I heard it ringing just now,¡± Feng Minsheng replied.

    Ning Ran searched her bag and found her phone inside. It had been switched to silent mode.

    She had a lot of missed calls, mostly from Cheng Xiangyun.

    Ning Ran returned the call and Cheng Xiangyun answered almost immediately. She started yelling at

    once, ¡°Ning Ran, why are you fooling around again? Don¡¯t you have a sense of shame? Why are you

    so selfish? Can¡¯t you spare a thought for others? We¡¯ve only had a few peaceful days and you already

    can¡¯t wait to stir something up? Are you that desperate to have a man?¡±

    Ning Ran was stupefied from her harsh words. ¡°Can you calm down and tell me what exactly you are

    talking about?¡±

    ¡°You shameless woman, how dare you ask me what happened? Didn¡¯t you see the screenshot I sent

    you on WeChat? You¡¯re trending on the inte now. Ning Ran, seriously, do you have no shame at

    all? You¡¯re ying with fire. Are you sick of living and want to drag me down with you?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun was very agitated and kept hurling vulgarities at the woman.

    She was never a very civilized person in the first ce, but she had indeed gone a little overboard with

    her vulgarities today. It was obvious that something serious had happened.

    Ning Ran opened WeChat and saw the photos Cheng Xiangyun had sent her.

    The couple in the pictures were behaving intimately. The man was on top of the woman, and the

    woman had wrapped her arms around his neck. It was quite a racy photo.

    At first nce, Ning Ran thought that the couple looked rather familiar, and wondered where had she

    seen them before.

    Upon closer inspection, she noticed that even the surroundings were familiar.

    Wasn¡¯t this the bed she was lying on? The color of the walls and the bedsidemp looked exactly the

    same as well.

    Then, she suddenly realized that the woman was herself and the man was the nervous-looking Feng

    Minsheng!

    ¡°What have you done?¡± Ning Ran jumped up from the bed.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything. I helped you into the room, and was trying to ce you on the bed so that you

    could rest. Before I could close the door, I noticed that someone was secretly snapping photos at the

    doorway. When I rushed outside, the man had already run off and I wasn¡¯t able to catch him. I didn¡¯t

    expect that he would upload the photos onto the inte so soon. Ran, you have to trust me! I wasn¡¯t

    involved in this. I was also set up!¡± Feng Minsheng said pitiably.

    ¡°You were set up? Who set you up? Do you think I¡¯m an idiot? I know something was up when I started

    to feel tipsy after two small sses of wine. I know my alcohol tolerance well. You spiked my drink ¨C

    you are the one who set me up!¡±

    Ning Ran looked around and the only weapon she could find was the TV remote control. She grabbed

    it and hurled towards Feng Minsheng.

    However, the attack was too weak and did not have any effect on the man.

    ¡°Ran, you have to believe me, I didn¡¯t spike your drink. Maybe it¡¯s because you were not feeling well,

    that¡¯s why you got drunk easier. It¡¯s all my fault that I didn¡¯t close the door immediately after we came

    in. But I was holding you and my focus at that time was to put you down so that you can rest

    comfortably. I didn¡¯t expect that someone would be following us and taking pictures! Think about it, if I

    wanted to set you up, I would have removed your clothes and taken advantage of you. I would even

    have taken a video of it¡­¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Ning Ran stopped Feng Minsheng from talking, as his words were getting increasingly

    ridiculous and she did not want to listen any further.

    Feng Minsheng shut his mouth, looking aggrieved.

    ¡°Who else would have known that we are at this hotel and followed us all the way here?¡± Ning Ran

    asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. You were an inte sensation a while back, so many people know you. It could be one

    of your fans.¡±

    Ning Ran entertained that thought for a while, not denying the possibility immediately.

    She recalled a time when she had stayed at a hotel and the front desk receptionist had recognized

    her. Could it really be as Feng Minsheng said?

    But she quickly realized that it was not so simple. First, she got drunk. Then, someone took photos of

    her. Moreover, the photos were very professionally taken and did not appear to be a coincidence.

    Ning Ran recounted the events of the day¡ªtheir meeting at the cemetery, the meal which was booked

    in advance, and the wine which had already been prepared when they reached the restaurant.

    All the events up until that point seemed to be nned beforehand, it was virtually impossible for it to

    be a coincidence.

    There was definitely something fishy about Feng Minsheng.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    He was the cause of the countless misunderstandings between her and the Nan brothers. Furthermore,

    they had always happened under mysterious circumstances and were simply waved off as

    ¡®coincidences¡¯. On careful thought, it seemed like those ¡®coincidences¡¯ could all be premeditated.

    ¡°And I was actually hugging your neck? I could still put my hands around your neck while being

    unconscious?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Yeah, that was what you did.¡±

    ¡°And I must have also maintained the same position for a long while, right? Otherwise, that person

    wouldn¡¯t have been able to take so many pictures. Moreover, the angles which he had taken these

    pictures from do not seem like it¡¯s from the back; it looks more like the side instead,¡± Ning Ran

    continued.

    ¡°No. It¡¯s really not.¡± Feng Minsheng seemed evasive and shifty-eyed.

    ¡°These photos are now circting on the inte and I¡¯m being ndered once again. Do you know

    what the consequences are?¡±

    ¡°Sorry, I was too careless. All I wanted was to be nicer to you, but I¡¯m always getting you into trouble

    instead. I¡¯m so useless,¡± Feng Minsheng mumbled.

    Ning Ran fixed her gaze on Feng Minsheng, wondering what the man had up his sleeve.

    What is his objective for doing all this?

    They were not at enmity, but why was he always creating trouble for her? What did he get out of it?

    If she did not get to the root of the issue, more problems would definitely arise. It might even reach a

    point where the situation spirals out of her control.

    Confronting him directly wasn¡¯t an option, as the sly man would never admit to it. Ning Ran did not

    have the ability to force a confession out of him as well, so she could only try to outwit him.

    ¡°Are you sure this has got nothing to do with you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m very sure! Ran, I like you so much, why would I want you to get into trouble? It¡¯s just that I¡¯m too

    ipetent and keep making mistakes. I¡¯m so sorry¡­ ¡°

    ¡°Forget it, I can¡¯t me you. It¡¯s my fault for drinking too much. I should be more alert next time.¡±

    ¡°But what should we do now? Everyone is criticizing you on the inte. What can we do to rectify the

    damage?¡± Feng Minsheng asked.

    ¡°Did you check your phone? How do you know everyone is scolding me on the inte?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ I¡­ guessed it! You¡¯re a celebrity. Naturally, such news would cause an outrage amongizens.

    So sorry, Ran. But no matter what, you have to believe that I love you and always want the best for

    you.¡±

    Ning Ran took a nce at Feng Minsheng and replied, ¡°I trust you. However, if you really love me, you

    should have more courage.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Feng Minsheng looked at Ning Ran in incredulity.

    ¡°If you really love me, what you are doing now isn¡¯t enough. You should introduce me to your family

    and friends, and officially inform them that we are together,¡± Ning Ran borated indifferently.

    ¡°Um¡­¡± Feng Minsheng hesitated.

    ¡°Is that difficult for you? It shows that you did not mean what you said,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Not at all, I-I¡¯ll do that!¡± Feng Minsheng answered swiftly.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 206

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 206

    Half an hourter, Cheng Xiangyun arrived at the hotel to pick Ning Ran up.

    Even though she was mad at Ning Ran, she was also the one who cared most about the woman, and

    was extremely worried about her.

    Cheng Xiangyun had put in a lot of effort in order for Ning Ran to achieve her current status. She could

    not just stand by and watch Ning Ran fall from grace.

    ¡°Cheng, I¡¯m sorry about tonight, but please don¡¯t me me anymore. I don¡¯t know anything!¡± Ning Ran

    said pitifully.

    ¡°What do you know?¡± Cheng Xiangyun was boiling with anger.

    ¡°OK OK, do you still want to hear my exnation?¡± Ning Ran asked helplessly.

    ¡°Spit it out!¡± Cheng Xiangyun roared in an uncouth manner.

    ¡°Tsk-tsk. Aunt, although you are not highly educated, you can¡¯t be acting like such a boor. Please mind

    your manners, thank you.¡±

    ¡°We are dealing with a crisis and you¡¯re still in the mood to joke around? We got over the previous PR

    crisis because of the Nan family¡¯s intervention. They did so much to whitewash those negative reports

    of you. It hasn¡¯t even been a few days, and you got yourself into another scandal again? Do you think

    the Nan family will help you again after you made their Young Master a cuckold? What if Sir Chen

    strips you of your role out of anger? Didn¡¯t you learn from Luo Fei¡¯s incident? Even though she was Sir

    Chen¡¯s girlfriend, she still met her downfall and got shut out. I¡¯ve poured my heart into building you up,

    now that we are just about to see some sess, you just had to stir up such trouble! Don¡¯t you feel that

    you¡¯ve let me down?¡±

    Ning Ran felt really bad after hearing Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s grievances.

    She let out a long sigh.

    ¡°Why are you sighing? Did I wrong you?¡±

    ¡°Today is my mom¡¯s birthday. I¡¯ve never had a proper birthday celebration with her when she was still

    around, and I¡¯ve always regretted it. So today, I left work early to spend some time with my mom.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s understandable. But how did that BMW guye into the picture?¡± Cheng Xiangyun said

    angrily.

    ¡°Aunt, listen to me. I met Feng Minsheng at the cemetery. He appeared with a bouquet of flowers to

    pay respects to my mom.¡±

    ¡°How did that b*stard know it¡¯s your mom¡¯s birthday? Are you that close to him?¡± Cheng Xiangyun

    immediately detected that something wasn¡¯t right.

    ¡°That was exactly what I thought! But he insisted that we had celebrated my mom¡¯s birthday together

    before, and that¡¯s why he remembered. Although I don¡¯t have any recollection of that, I was naturally

    touched that he came to pay respects to my mom. After all, there are not many people left in this world

    who even remembers my mom.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun just listened quietly as she could empathize with Ning Ran.

    ¡°After that, we went for dinner together. He wanted to make a toast to my mom and I felt obligated to

    y along. But I never expected that I would get drunk over two tiny sses of wine. When I woke up,

    the pictures were already circting on the inte.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like this whole episode was premeditated.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s my guess too, but he kept denying it.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun got agitated again. ¡°Of course he would deny it. Who would readily admit to a

    wrongdoing?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. But aunt, what do you think his motives are?¡± Ning Ran looked towards Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°How would I know? I think you should know it better.¡±

    ¡°If I knew, I wouldn¡¯t have asked you. Please try to think from an outsider¡¯s point of view ¨C why would

    he be doing all of this?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun gave it a thought and said, ¡°Perhaps he doesn¡¯t want you to seed as a celebrity so

    that he still stands a chance with you in the future?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. If you truly like someone, you wouldn¡¯t use such methods to hurt them in order to be

    with them, right?¡± Ning Ran shook her head.

    ¡°Well, not everyone is the same. There are so many different kinds of people in this world. We all have

    different personalities and working styles, who knows which category that BMW guy belongs to.¡±

    ¡°I need to get together with him in order to get to the bottom of this matter,¡± Ning Ran announced.

    ¡°What did you say?¡± That was a jaw-dropping piece of information for Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°To find out the truth, I need to get close to him. Only then will I be able to know his true objectives,¡±

    Ning Ran said resolutely.

    Meanwhile, Nan Chen was ying with the two kids at the Nan residence.

    Actually, he wasn¡¯t the bestpany, as he was not someone who knew how to have fun in the first

    ce.

    His idea of ying was him and Dabao reading a book each while Erbao yed games on a tablet.

    Even though Nan Chen looked calm on the surface, a storm was brewing inside him.

    He had already seen the photos of Ning Ran which had exploded on the inte, and he was utterly

    disappointed with the woman.

    At the same time, he also pitied the two kids for having a mom who led such a fast life.

    He had also made a decision to keep Ning Ran away from the kids, so that she would not have the

    chance to be a negative influence to them.

    A woman with such a poor character and loose morals was not fit to be the children¡¯s mom.

    Erbao was bored after a while and asked, ¡°Uncle, why is Mommy not here yet?¡±

    Nan Chen put down his book and gazed tenderly at the little girl. ¡°Mommy won¡¯t being today,¡± he

    replied.

    ¡°Why?¡± Erbao pouted her lips in disappointment.

    ¡°She¡¯s busy.¡±

    ¡°Is she busy filming again?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Nan Chen knew it was wrong to lie to a child, but he had no other choice.

    He could not possibly tell the girl that her mom was busy being a tramp and did not have time for her.

    The more the kids missed their mother, the more Nan Chen felt that the woman hadmitted a

    serious crime that even death could not atone for. She did not deserve the love from her kids.

    Erbao puffed up her cheeks in displeasure. She shifted to one side and turned her face away from Nan

    Chen in protest.

    ¡°Do you want to watch some cartoons?¡± The man tried to get back into the girl¡¯s good books.

    ¡°No!¡± Erbao was not buying it.

    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    ¡°Then, do you want to continue ying games on the tablet?¡±

    ¡°No!¡±

    ¡°What do you want then?¡±

    ¡°I want Mommy!¡±

    Nan Chen creased his brows; he could feel anger simmering in him.

    However, he kept his anger in check as he felt that it was not right to vent his frustration on the kid.

    ¡°Erbao, be a good girl, OK? Third Uncle will buy you some delicious food tomorrow,¡± Nan Chen tried to

    pacify her.

    Erbao let out a snort, but it was obvious that she was already wavering.

    Nan Chen knew that the only way to please Erbao was to feed her tasty food.

    To deal with Erbao, that was definitely the best method. It had never failed him.

    ¡°Is Erbao still angry? Don¡¯t you want to eat?¡± Nan Chen asked the little girl as he furrowed his brows.

    ¡°Hmph! Eat¡­ what are we eating?¡± Erbao was trying her best to maintain her position, but was barely

    holding it up.

    Dabao, who was watching them by the side, could not help but shake his head.

    This sister of his was so weak-willed. He had expected that she could make a stand against their uncle

    too, just like himself. Who knew that it would be so easy to buy her off only with food.

    ¡°I¡¯ll buy you anything you want to eat. As long as it¡¯s avable, I will buy anything Erbao likes,¡± Nan

    Chen continued bribing her.

    ¡°Really?¡± Erbao was finally willing to look at Nan Chen again.

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s heart melted slowly when he saw Erbao¡¯srge, dark eyes staring at him expectantly.

    His crabby mood which was caused by Ning Ran¡¯s scandal instantly improved.

    As long as the kids were around, the woman¡¯s presence wouldn¡¯t matter.

    The problem now was, how would he ease the two kids into a life without Ning Ran?

    Ultimately, the children were innocent parties. Would it be detrimental for them to be separated from

    their mother?

    If so, Nan Chen had to think of a way to decrease the heartbreak to a minimum.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 207

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 207

    Everyone was casting funny nces at Ning Ran when she returned to the film set the next day.

    Ning Ran was well aware that it was because of her photos on the inte. She was secretly thankful

    that all they did was to look at her strangely.

    She did not attempt to provide any exnation for the pictures, neither was she able toe up with

    one.

    Filming for the day started shortly after as the crew had a tight schedule to follow.

    They filmed non-stop, barely having any time to rest. The director only called it a day at 7.30 p.m..

    When Ning Ran left the set, Feng Minsheng was already waiting outside in his BMW.

    Ning Ran got into his car immediately and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go for dinner.¡±

    Feng Minsheng gave her a smile and replied, ¡°You¡¯ve had a long day, you must be tired.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m exhausted.¡±

    ¡°What do you feel like having?¡±

    ¡°med steak and sake. I want to have authentic Kobe beef.¡±

    It was the supper which she had with Nan Chen previously. It came to her mind as she remembered it

    being very delicious.

    ¡°Where can we have that?¡± Feng Minsheng had not heard of such a ce before.

    ¡°I know the address. Just drive straight ahead,¡± Ning Ran said.

    When they arrived at the restaurant, the waiter rejected them, saying that the restaurant was full.

    Ning Ran was not buying that. ¡°There isn¡¯t a single person in your restaurant. What do you mean ¡®it¡¯s

    full¡¯?¡±

    ¡°All our beef is handpicked and specially flown in from Japan. To ensure that the taste of the beef

    remains consistent, we only serve the meat that was flown in the same day. As you may know, this type

    of beef is not allowed to be exported, so we had to get it through private channels, and it only arrives in

    limited quantities. As such, we are only able to serve a limited number of customers each day. I¡¯m so

    sorry, Madam,¡± the waiter exined patiently with a smile on his face.

    ¡°I¡¯ll pay extra,¡± Feng Minsheng offered. He saw it as a good opportunity to win brownie points from Ning

    Ran.

    ¡°Sorry, sir. I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t be able to serve you no matter how much you are willing to pay,¡± the

    waiter answered.

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe that there¡¯s anything in this world that money can¡¯t solve. I am determined to eat this

    beef today!¡± Feng Minsheng had his mind set on it.

    Still maintaining a polite front, the waiter shook his head helplessly and replied, ¡°Sorry, sir. There¡¯s

    really nothing I can do.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll pay five thousand. Just give me one serving of your beef!¡± Feng Minsheng yelled.

    ¡°Sir, the average expenditure at our restaurant is above fifteen thousand. Besides, even if you paid fifty

    thousand, we still wouldn¡¯t have anything to serve you,¡± the waiter said.

    Ning Ran was stunned when she heard the price. It actually costs so much to dine here?

    When Poker Face brought her here previously, she simply enjoyed the delicious food without asking

    about the price.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    ¡°Who are you trying to scare?¡± Feng Minsheng did not believe the exorbitant price.

    ¡°The supply of top-grade Kobe beef is very scarce in the first ce, and it is not an export item. Thus,

    people usually have to fly to Japan to enjoy the beef, but even so, its authenticity is not guaranteed.

    However, the Kobe beef we have at our restaurant is hundred percent authentic as we have our own

    supply channels. As such, we charge a premium for it,¡± the waiter tried to rify the situation for Feng

    Minsheng.

    Ning Ran tugged at Feng Minsheng¡¯s sleeve and said, ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s go somewhere else instead.¡±

    ¡°No way! I am definitely eating the beef here tonight. How much is it? Tell me, I¡¯ll pay!¡± The man was

    adamant on dining at the restaurant.

    ¡°It¡¯s really not about the money. Customers who are keen to dine here would usually have to make

    reservations at least one week prior, otherwise, no matter how much they are willing to pay, we still

    have to reject them,¡± the waiter reiterated.

    ¡°But the previous time I came here, we didn¡¯t make any reservations,¡± Ning Ran was starting to doubt

    the waiter¡¯s words as well.

    The waiter let out a faintugh and exined, ¡°It was because of the man you came here with that

    time. The other customers would willingly give their reservations up for him.¡±

    Ning Ran was surprised that the waiter recognized her.

    Needless to say, the man he was referring to must be Nan Chen!

    ¡°You¡¯ve been here with someone else before?¡± Feng Minsheng asked as he looked towards Ning Ran.

    ¡°Of course! How else would I know that the beef here is delicious?¡± Ning Ran said in an irritated tone.

    ¡°Who was that? Who would be given such a great honor?¡±

    Ning Ran kept quiet.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me instead? Who¡¯s the man who can dine here without making any reservations?¡±

    Feng Minsheng turned towards the waiter and demanded an answer.

    The waiter merely smiled instead of answering his question.

    There were not more than three people who could dine here without a reservation.

    Those were the Flower City¡¯s most powerful people, and were not names which the waiter could

    casually discuss.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just go somewhere else instead,¡± Ning Ran tried to persuade Feng Minsheng to leave again.

    ¡°I think he¡¯s lying to me. It feels like he¡¯s intentionally going against me,¡± Feng Minsheng said

    indignantly.

    ¡°Then you can continue arguing with him. I¡¯m leaving first.¡±

    As Ning Ran was already getting impatient, she turned around and stalked off.

    The reason she wanted to get close to Feng Minsheng was to find out his true motives.

    She was frustrated that he had neglected the fact that she was famished, and was bent on eating at the

    restaurant, even though the waiter had already made it clear multiple times that it was not possible.

    Just as she turned around, she saw a couple stepping out of the elevator.

    The man was dressed entirely in ck. Although he was expressionless, he was so attractive that his

    good looks could shake the heavens.

    Thedy next to him looked sweet. In her white dress, she looked just like a high school student.

    Both Ning Ran and Feng Minsheng were shocked when they saw the man.

    Feng Minsheng did not dare to look at him as he had gotten a beating from him before.

    Instead of fear, Ning Ran was filled with guilt.

    But her worries were unfounded as Nan Chen did not even look at her when he brushed past her. He

    walked straight into the restaurant, a cold aura surrounding him.

    However, the sweet-lookingdy whom Nan Chen came with stole a few nces at Ning Ran. The

    corners of her mouth twitched, but she did not say anything.

    ¡°Sir Chen, this way please.¡± The waiter weed the man respectfully.

    ¡°Chen, I read from the inte that it¡¯s super hard to reserve a table at this restaurant.¡± Thedy

    sounded as sweet as she looked.

    ¡°No reservation is required for Sir Chen,¡± the waiter responded when he heard what thedy said.

    Ning Ran shot a nce at Feng Minsheng, hinting him with her eyes that this was the person who did

    not require a reservation.

    ¡°No big deal! Let¡¯s go, we¡¯re not eating here anymore.¡± Feng Minsheng sounded pissed.

    Ning Ran¡¯s lips curled into a mirthless smile as she sneered, ¡°It¡¯s not as if we have a choice.¡±

    ¡°Ran, why do you mean by that? You were not so shallow before, when did you be¡­ ¡°

    ¡°When did I what? I¡¯ve always worshipped money. If you¡¯re capable enough, you would have already

    gotten us a table here. I¡¯m starving!¡±

    Ning Ran deliberately said that to rile Feng Minsheng up.

    ¡°You¡­ ¡°

    ¡°I¡¯ve always been a golddigger. I don¡¯t deny that I have a preference for rich men. If you can¡¯t even

    satisfy my craving for steak, how can you say that you like me? What can you offer me?¡±

    The woman¡¯s anger spiked inexplicably as she spoke.

    Ning Ran could not figure out the reason for her surge of anger. Surely, it was not because she had

    seen Nan Chen walking in with another woman?

    That¡¯s not possible! Ning Ran quickly shook off that thought.

    That rich guy had definitely brought countless women here to dine, I can¡¯t possibly be the first

    one. What¡¯s there to be angry about?

    I bet his usual cold demeanor is just a disguise. He¡¯s just like other guys who go around picking up

    young girls! To top it off, thatdy looks like she¡¯s still in high school!

    That despicable and shameless hypocrite!

    Ning Ran cursed Nan Chen over and over again in her heart, but it didn¡¯t feel satisfying at all. How she

    wished that she could curse him out loud!

    Feng Minsheng saw Ning Ran¡¯s glum face and thought that she was upset with him. He quickly tried to

    appease her. ¡°Don¡¯t be mad at me anymore. I said that off the top of my head just now. I know that

    you¡¯re not actually a golddigger.¡±

    ¡°Nope, that¡¯s exactly who I am.¡± Ning Ran did not intend to spare his feelings.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 208

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 208

    Ning Ran was certain that Nan Chen had seen her. Although the man was as proud as a peacock, his

    eyes were still on his face and not on the top of his head.

    As long as he was looking forward, there was no way that he could have missed her. Nan Chen was

    ignoring her on purpose. To scorn a person in the most ruthless way was to treat her as non-existent,

    disregarding her presence.

    It was indeed infuriating. If Nan Chen had flown into a rage andshed out at Feng Minsheng, Ning

    Ran wouldn¡¯t have felt so upset. After all, Feng Minsheng deserved it.

    However, not only did the man not express any emotion, he basically treated them as transparent. That

    sparked Ning Ran¡¯s irritation.

    Furthermore, Nan Chen had even gone into the restaurant with a pretty youngdy. And she? She was

    denied entry. That had proven one thing¡ªwithout him, she could not even get to eat steak as she

    wished.

    All along, Ning Ran had been trying to maintain her dignity in front of Nan Chen. She did not allow

    herself to feel small in front of him, as she wanted to face him confidently if the day came when they

    had to fight for the children¡¯s custody.

    No doubt, Ning Ran was the weaker party between the both of them. If she couldn¡¯t even keep up a

    collected front, it would be almost impossible for her to stand a chance against the man.

    Ning Ran was almost exploding with fury as those thoughts ran through her mind. It¡¯s all because of

    this useless Feng Minsheng. He was only good at stirring up trouble, but totally worthless during crucial

    moments.

    Feng Minsheng noticed the dejected look on Ning Ran¡¯s face and asked in concern, ¡°Ran, are you not

    feeling well?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, not feeling well,¡± she answered sullenly.

    ¡°Does it hurt somewhere? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?¡±

    ¡°My heart feels uneasy.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t take it personally, it¡¯s just one meal. There are so many other restaurants in Flower City, I¡¯m sure

    we can find something better.¡±

    ¡°I am taking this personally. I told you I am vain, so if I can¡¯t have this beef today, I am not going to feel

    better. Didn¡¯t you say that you like me? If you can¡¯t even fulfil such a simple wish of mine¡ªeating

    med beef steak¡ªyou are not qualified to like me!¡±

    Ning Ran vented her frustrations on Feng Minsheng at one go.

    The many misunderstandings between the Nan family and her all arose because of this man.

    Although she still had not found out Feng Minsheng¡¯s true motives, it was indisputable that he was the

    one spoiling things for her.

    You want to act like you¡¯re so infatuated with me, right? I¡¯m all for it!

    Since you have crossed me, I¡¯ll give you a taste of your own medicine!

    Ning Ran had only started this pretense with the objective of finding out Feng Minsheng¡¯s real

    objectives without arousing his suspicions.

    But this was too much of a coincidence. It was only her first date with Feng Minsheng, and they had

    already bumped into Poker Face.

    I thought Poker Face abstains from rtionships and never gets close to women. Who is that sweet

    young thing beside him, then?

    He had been putting on an act all along. Hypocrite! Despicable!

    Ning Ran got riled up again and started cursing Nan Chen in her heart.

    Meanwhile, Feng Minsheng was at a loss. Looking miserable, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll take you to another

    restaurant that serves steak.¡±

    ¡°Forget it! Let¡¯s go, piece of trash!¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°C¡¯mon Ran, don¡¯t be like that¡­ ¡°

    ¡°Like what? Was I wrong? You are a useless piece of trash!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not useless, I¡¯m just¡­¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re not useless, why can¡¯t you even get us into that restaurant?¡± Ning Ran continued making

    things difficult for Feng Minsheng.

    ¡°I¡­¡±

    She kept reproaching him as they walked. Right when the two of them reached the parking lot, two

    burly men approached them from the opposite direction.

    The two men were tall, and they were making a beeline for Ning Ran and Feng Minsheng.

    Judging by their strides, Ning Ran had a bad hunch.

    Feng Minsheng also felt that something was amiss, so he moved to a side to let them pass.

    However, despite his attempt to get out of the way, one of the men still knocked into Feng Minsheng

    with his shoulder. Feng Minsheng staggered, but managed to steady himself.

    ¡°F*ck you, are you blind?¡± The big guy cussed.

    ¡°Hey, it was obviously you who¡­ ¡°

    Before Feng Minsheng couldplete his retort, he had already taken a blow to his chest.

    Then, a punch to his head instantly knocked him to the ground.

    Ning Ran immediately stepped forward and stood in front of Feng Minsheng, shielding him with her

    body.

    Since she was putting up an act, she needed to be as convincing as she could, so as to not give Feng

    Minsheng any opportunity to doubt her intentions.

    ¡°Why did you hit him?¡±

    Those two fierce-looking men looked at each other when Ning Ran stepped in front of Feng Minsheng.

    They did not dare toy their hands on her.

    ¡°Get out of the way!¡± One of the men shouted at Ning Ran.

    Although he was loud, his gaze was shifty and did not appear to be truly assertive.

    ¡°I won¡¯t. What gives you the right to attack others?¡± Ning Ran questioned the man.

    ¡°This guy here doesn¡¯t know his ce. We need to teach him a lesson,¡± one of the men replied.

    ¡°I¡¯ll call the cops if you hit him again.¡±

    Ning Ran refused to budge and looked like she had no intention to retreat.

    The two men looked at each other again and seemed toe to a consensus. ¡°Forget it, a gentleman

    does not fight with women,¡± one of the men said, and the both of them left.

    From the way they had intentionally started a fight with them, Ning Ran knew that the two men must

    have been sent by Nan Chen.

    Even though Poker Face appeared indifferent, he was probably fuming mad inside. It was cunning of

    him to vent his anger by getting someone to beat Feng Minsheng up.

    But thankfully, the men had spared her.

    That meant that Poker Face had given instructions to the big guys to not attack her, but were free to do

    whatever they wanted to Feng Minsheng.

    ¡°Thanks Ran, you¡¯re so brave.¡± Feng Minsheng was full of gratitude towards Ning Ran.

    ¡°I just didn¡¯t like that they were being bullies.¡±

    ¡°Ran, I¡¯ll bring you happiness, trust me,¡± Feng Minsheng started confessing his love again.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why aren¡¯t you introducing me to your friends and family yet?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Um, that can wait. When our rtionship is more stable, I¡¯ll let you meet my family,¡± Feng Minsheng

    replied with an awkward expression.

    ¡°So, how much longer will I have to wait?¡± Ning Ran prodded.

    ¡°It should be pretty soon,¡± Feng Minsheng gave an ambiguous reply.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    ¡°OK, I understand, but try to be quick, yeah? I have two young children to take care of and it has not

    been easy for me to handle them all by myself. I have been hoping to find someone to share my

    burden,¡± Ning Ran said deliberately.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you know that I have two kids? If we are an item, naturally, we should be taking care of

    the kids together. Are you not willing to do that?¡± The woman raised her brows as she queried.

    ¡°No! Of course I am willing, I¡¯m more than willing,¡± Feng Minsheng replied hastily.

    ¡°That¡¯s good. Why don¡¯t you find time to meet my kids? You should get to know them, so that they

    would have time to bond with you before we get married,¡± Ning Ran suggested.

    ¡°Sure, that sounds great, I should do that,¡± Feng Minsheng answered unconvincingly.

    ¡°Also, my children¡¯s school fees are currently borne by the Nan family. I don¡¯t want to owe them

    anything, so it¡¯s better that you start paying the fees instead.¡±

    ¡°How much would that be?¡± The man asked with a grimace.

    ¡°One hundred and fifty thousand per semester. After taking into ount all the misceneous fees, you

    can just transfer two hundred thousand to me.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Feng Minsheng was stunned.

    ¡°Why? You¡¯re not willing to? You just agreed to take care of the kids together. Are you backing out

    now?¡± Ning Ran frowned.

    ¡°No, no. I¡¯m willing. It¡¯s just that¡­¡±

    ¡°You find it too expensive?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not it. It¡¯s just that¡­ I have been tight on money recently, and might not be able to fork out such

    a huge sum. We might have to wait awhile¡­¡±

    Ning Ran sneered silently. It was exactly what she had expected him to say.

    You love pretending, right? You want to make my life difficult? I¡¯ll do that to you instead!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 209

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 209

    Meanwhile, at the restaurant, Nan Chen was seated opposite the sweet-looking Ouyang Qing, who

    was eating elegantly. He had not touched his food at all, as he did not have any appetite.

    Ever since he spotted Ning Ran and that man when he exited the lift, he lost all appetite. He was so

    vexed that he couldn¡¯t even stomach a drop of water.

    But Nan Chen held back his temper. After all, his character was as deep and unfathomable as the

    ocean. He had to keep hisposure as he would not allow anyone to affect his mood.

    Or rather, he would not allow himself to disy his true emotions on the outside, no matter how furious

    he was. ¡°Chen, why are you not eating?¡±

    Ouyang Qing had a nice voice which sounded sweet and soft, almostparable to Erbao¡¯s. She also

    had a pair of innocent and beautiful big eyes, which was as clear as the morning dew on flowers.

    She was the type of women who easily triggered men¡¯s desire to protect. There were hardly any men in

    the world who would not find her attractive.

    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry,¡± Nan Chen replied indifferently.

    ¡°Chen, if I had known that you¡¯re not going to eat, I wouldn¡¯t have suggested this ce,¡± Ouyang Qing

    said, feeling disappointed.

    ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Nan Chen replied simply.

    ¡°The first thing I did when I came back from overseas was to look for you, Chen. Do you know that I¡¯ve

    always admired you? Back when I was in junior high in Flower City, you were the talk of the school. You

    were the only student who managed to get a perfect score for both humanities and science subjects. If

    not for the fact that you went to further your studies abroad and skipped the national college entrance

    exam, you would definitely have been the top-scorer of our province.¡±

    Nan Chen kept quiet.

    He did not reject thepliments. The man was indeed good at studying. He could easily excel in any

    subject, as long as put his mind to it.

    ¡°The senior girls also agreed that you were the most good-looking guy in Flower City First Middle

    School ¨C no one else even came close.¡±

    Nan Chen remained silent. It was even more meaningless to discuss his looks. He already knew that

    he was handsome, this wasn¡¯t news to him.

    ¡°Anyway, Chen, you¡¯re a legend in Flower City First Secondary School.¡± Ouyang Qing looked smitten

    as she spoke.

    ¡°After I graduated from secondary school, I followed your footsteps and went to Harvard. Who knew

    that you were so popr even in university! A few of the professors even said that you are the most

    famous Asian alumni that the school ever had.¡±

    ¡°OK, enough about me,¡± Nan Chen interrupted the woman. She was merely singing praises of him and

    he found the conversation pointless.

    ¡°I meant every word I said. Chen, you are really amazing and I¡¯ve always looked up to you.¡± Ouyang

    Qing was practically staring at Nan Chen with hearts in herrge, glistening eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯m not all good. When I was in the Flower City First Secondary School, I broke a teacher¡¯s nose once.

    However, I was not punished because the school feared the Nan family,¡± Nan Chen volunteered his

    disgraceful past.

    ¡°Hehe, I have heard about that too. You did that because that teacher insulted a female student and

    you were just standing up for justice¡­¡±

    ¡°OK, OK, we can stop here,¡± Nan Chen cut the woman off once again.

    ¡°Sure, enough of reminiscing your heroic past. Oh right, remember the couple we saw before we

    entered the restaurant? The woman seemed to have recognized you¡­?¡±

    Ouyang Qing finally asked the one question she had been holding in.

    ¡°Yeah, we do know each other,¡± Nan Chen did not deny.

    ¡°She¡¯s so pretty. Is she your friend, Chen? Why didn¡¯t you greet her?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s a female lead for a drama which I have invested in.¡±

    ¡°Oh! I remember her now. It¡¯s the drama The Sound of Thunder 2, right? But she seems to be always

    involved in scandals, I wonder if they could be true¡­ ¡° Ouyang Qing said, blinking her doll-like eyes.

    Although Nan Chen did not speak, his eyes darkened.

    ¡°How are they doing?¡± That was the most important question to Nan Chen.

    He had agreed to treat Ouyang Qing to dinner for two reasons. Firstly, it was because of the close ties

    between the Ouyang family and the Nan family. Just like the Nan family, the Ouyang family was the

    most powerful family of another city¡ªLake City¡ªin the province. As such, the two families had various

    common grounds and converging points of interest.

    However, the most important reason that Nan Chen hosted this dinner for Ouyang Qing was because

    she had stopped in Tokyo en route to visit his parents, who were living there.

    Even though the youngdy appeared innocent, she was, in fact, extremely meticulous.

    She knew what Nan Chen needed most. That was why instead of flying straight home, Ouyang Qing

    chose to take a detour and stop at Tokyo to visit his parents. That gesture had left a favorable

    impression on Nan Chen.

    As a matter of fact, her decision was right. Even though Nan Chen was not in the best of moods, he still

    took the her to dinner right after she got back.

    ¡°Uncle and Aunt are doing well. They are both in good health. I took a few videos and photos of them.

    Chen, why don¡¯t you add me on WeChat? I¡¯ll send the pictures to you.¡±

    It was a very legitimate reason to ask for the man¡¯s WeChat, much better than asking for it directly.

    Nan Chen hardly used WeChat. In fact, he had only started using the app because of Ning Ran.

    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    There were not many people in his WeChat contact list, which Ouyang Qing had just been added to.

    The background of the woman¡¯s profile picture was the house where Nan Chen stayed in when he was

    studying abroad.

    He was able to recognize it at one nce.

    Of course, that was part of Ouyang Qing¡¯s n. She was determined to im Nan Chen¡ªFlower City¡¯s

    most powerful man¡ªas hers.

    Nan Chen¡¯s gaze was fixed on the charming middle-ageddy in the picture ¨C his mother.

    It had been more than three years since hest saw his parents. His grandpa had ordered that no one

    was allowed to visit his parents within the next five years since the incident happened.

    The Old Master of the Nan family was not to be med for being ruthless, as his son and daughter-in-

    law had indeedmitted an unforgivable act.

    Although some time had passed, that incident was like a thorn in the Nan family members¡¯ hearts,

    including Nan Chen¡¯s.

    ¡°Aunt looked so young and radiant that I would have easily mistaken her for a 20-year-old.¡± Ouyang

    Qing made a ttering remark about Mrs. Nan.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t speak.

    ¡°Uncle is doing great too. He mentioned that he has been learning Japanese tea ceremony and I heard

    that he is already very well-versed in it. He also said that even though they are currently leading a

    peaceful lifestyle, they miss you and Xing a lot,¡± Ouyang Qing carried on.

    She knew that was what Nan Chen wanted to hear.

    The man did not say anything. He merely pocketed his phone after browsing through the photos.

    He intended to view the video his parents had specially recorded for him, but he wanted watch it after

    he got home, when he was alone.

    ¡°Chen, I have another favor to ask of you,¡± Ouyang Qing said.

    Nan Chen looked at her, wordlessly prompting her to speak.

    For a moment, Ouyang Qing was distracted by the man¡¯s strikingly handsome face.

    Embarrassed that she had lost herposure, Ouyang Qing quickly looked away.

    ¡°I just returned from abroad and I¡¯mcking in work experience. I was wondering if I could get an

    internship at yourpany, Chen?¡± Ouyang Qing asked.

    That was not what Nan Chen had expected.

    The Ouyang family was also a prominent family, and they owned thergest private bank in the entire

    province.

    Ouyang Qing was the second daughter of the Ouyang family. If she needed an internship, she could

    very well get a position at anypany owned by the Ouyang family. There was no reason for her to

    work at the Nanshi Corporation.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you help out in your family business?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I would be able to learn anything there, as everyone in thepany would yield to me.¡±

    That was indeed a valid reason.

    ¡°Which position are you interested in, then?¡± Nan Chen inquired further.

    ¡°It would be great if I could be your assistant,¡± Ouyang Qing said, half-jokingly.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not possible. My assistant belongs to the upper management of the organization. You

    don¡¯t have the credentials to take up that position,¡± Nan Chen rejected her outright.

    Ouyang Qing was stunned for a moment, but her sweet smile resurfaced on her pretty face just

    secondster.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 210

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 210

    ¡°I understand that not everyone can be Chen¡¯s assistant. I was actually looking to be your assistant¡¯s

    intern instead, so that I can learn the ropes from him,¡± Ouyang Qing replied with a twinkle in her eyes.

    Nan Chen did not reply. His silence was not an acquiescence to her request, but a rejection.

    Nan Chen¡¯s assistant was hand-picked from arge pool of elites. He was considered among the

    senior leadership of thepany, and definitely the cr¨¨me de cr¨¨me.

    Both IQ and EQ were necessary to qualify for the position. Nan Chen¡¯s assistant must be able to read

    his mind just by looking at him.

    Jiang Zhe had only managed to rise to the post after many years of learning and toiling. Needless to

    say, a fresh graduate like Ouyang Qing was definitely not equipped to be Nan Chen¡¯s assistant, not

    even as an intern.

    ¡°Chen, am I putting you in a difficult spot?¡± Ouyang Qing asked while looking at the man with her

    innocent eyes. ¡°You¡¯re indeed not good enough for the role, I can¡¯t practice favoritism,¡± Nan Chen

    replied.

    The man wasn¡¯t being political ¨C he really meant his words. Apart from his outstanding capabilities, the

    reason Nan Chen could be at the helm of the Nanshi Corporation at such a young age was because of

    his impartiality.

    He had always promoted his employees based on meritocracy and ensured that the right people were

    ced in the right positions. That was one of his core guiding principles in managing the organization.

    The most capable would be ced at the top. Other factors, such as familial ties, would not be an

    element of consideration. That was the culture of the Nanshi Corporation.

    Even Nan Chen¡¯s one and only brother, Nan Xing, was only the corporation¡¯s Senior Vice President. He

    did not get to enjoy special privileges just because he was Nan Chen¡¯s brother.

    When he performed badly at work, he still had to be deployed to Africa as a punishment. Even though

    Ouyang Qing was sweet-looking and likable, Nan Chen would not make any exceptions to the

    company rules just for her.

    An obvious glint of disappointment shed across the youngdy¡¯s eyes. Her true intention was not

    really to learn the ropes of an assistant, but to take advantage of the proximity to get closer to Nan

    Chen.

    ¡°I understand, Chen. Don¡¯t worry about it. I wasn¡¯t really serious about it anyway,¡± Ouyang Qing

    beamed at Nan Chen as she said that.

    ¡°I¡¯m d to know that,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    Actually, Ouyang Qing still had plenty of options to choose from, provided it wasn¡¯t rted to the CEO¡¯s

    assistant. However, she was not keen on the other positions, as her only objective to intern at the

    Nanshi Corporation was to bond with Nan Chen.

    It would defeat her purpose if she were to intern in any other departments.

    After a brief silence, Ouyang Qing tentatively asked, ¡°Chen, are you really not eating? Not even a bit?¡±

    ¡°Nope, I¡¯m good.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about your girlfriend then. I remember there¡¯s someone you¡¯re dating.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s already in the past,¡± Nan Chen replied simply.

    ¡°Did you break up?¡± Ouyang Qing was very interested in the topic of Nan Chen¡¯s romantic affairs.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Nan Chen did not want to engage in this topic.

    Luo Fei had disappeared in a jungle in M nation, and no one knew if she was dead or alive. As such,

    Nan Chen did not see a point in talking about her.

    ¡°What was the reason for your break up? Did you not love her anymore?¡±

    Nan Chen did not reply. He had never loved the woman before, not even a single bit.

    ¡°Or did you fall in love with someone else? I¡¯m really interested to know the type of women you are

    attracted to.¡±

    Ouyang Qing was starting to lead the conversation to Nan Chen¡¯s private life.

    It was clear that the man was disinterested in the conversation, as he had not uttered a single word.

    Sensing Nan Chen¡¯s indifference, Ouyang Qing began to feel awkward.

    Nan Chen nced at his watch.

    It was easy for Ouyang Qing to infer what that action meant¡ªit¡¯s gettingte, we should get going.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go then. Chen, I¡¯m so happy that you took me out for dinner today, I enjoyed the food so much. I

    was nning to have a drink with you as well, but I guess we¡¯ll have to wait for another day to do that.

    Thanks for the treat, Chen. It¡¯s on me next time.¡±

    Since she had not managed to achieve her aim today, she had to set up another date with him in order

    for her to continue trying.

    Nan Chen stood up without responding.

    Ning Ran had taken a cab home herself.

    She was insistent on not letting Feng Minsheng drive her back, as she did not want him to know her

    new address. She was currently staying at a vi estate in Red Maple City.

    Cheng Xiangyun was the one who found the good rental deal. The owner was letting out the vi at

    only three thousand a month. Ning Ran had initially suspected that the vi was owned by the Nan

    family. She only agreed on the move after checking the housing information and confirming that the

    owner wasn¡¯t a ¡®Nan¡¯.

    In reality, she did not have much choice. Without her knowledge, Cheng Xiangyun had already moved

    all her belongings to the vi. She was also forbidden to return to their previous apartment as ording

    to Cheng Xiangyun, it had already been rented out.

    Ning Ran, who would otherwise be homeless, could only ¡®make do¡¯ with moving into the vi.

    It went without saying that Cheng Xiangyun had also moved in together with Ning Ran, as she was the

    one who rented the ce.

    The best part about staying in the vi was the privacy it provided. It was so spacious that even if ten

    more people had stayed together with them, the upants of the house would still not bother each

    other.

    ¡°Aunt! Aunt!¡±

    Ning Ran often forgot the password to open the gate. As she had left her keys at home, she could only

    shout for her aunt to let her in.

    Cheng Xiangyun was in the middle of following a guided yoga practice on TV when she heard Ning

    Ran¡¯s cries. She switched off the TV and headed downstairs at once.

    ¡°Aunt, can you cook me a bowl of noodles please? I¡¯m starving to death!¡± Ning Ran said weakly.

    ¡°Holy crap! What happened to you? I thought you went for dinner with that BMW guy?¡± Cheng

    Xiangyun was bewildered.

    ¡°I don¡¯t even want to talk about it. It was so embarrassing!¡± Ning Ran whined.

    ¡°What happened? You didn¡¯t get to eat?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll tell about it after you cook my noodles, it¡¯s a long story.¡±

    ¡°Why are you always making me worry? You are always depending on me to take care of you even

    though you are already so old.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun let out an exasperated sigh before going into the kitchen to prepare noodles for Ning

    Ran.

    A bowl of delicious, piping hot chicken noodle soup was served after a while.

    Ning Ran took one mouthful of noodles and eximed, ¡°This is so yummy! I can¡¯t believe I kept

    thinking about eating that beef when there is such delicious food at home. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have

    brought humiliation upon myself!¡±

    ¡°Hmm? Sounds like you have something juicy to share! Quick, tell me now.¡±

    However, Ning Ran was so hungry that her mind was fully focused on eating the noodles. Story-telling

    could wait.

    She polished off everything in a few more minutes. Feeling satisfied, the woman pointed to the bowl

    and said, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what happened after you wash the bowl.¡±

    ¡°Ning Ran, you¡¯re crossing the line! You have always been in charge of washing the dishes after I cook.

    You can¡¯t ask me to wash the dishes too!¡±

    ¡°But I can¡¯t exercise after eating. Please wash it for me.¡±

    ¡°Is washing dishes even considered exercise? That¡¯s something new to me. Go and wash it yourself!¡±

    ¡°OK, I¡¯ll do it then. I¡¯m just afraid that I might forget the events of the night after that,¡± Ning Ran said as

    she stood up.

    ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll do it. Follow me to the kitchen and tell me about it while I wash the dishes. Did you sleep with

    that BMW guy?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun was certainly the queen of gossip. In order to hear thetest gossip, she would be

    willing to make all sorts ofpromises.

    The two of them entered the kitchen together. Cheng Xiangyun did the dishes and tidied up the kitchen,

    while Ning Ran described the happenings of the night to her.

    ¡°That¡¯s all?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s all.¡±

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing interesting about it at all! Isn¡¯t this just a story of two paupers being rejected

    mercilessly while trying to enter a high-end restaurant?¡± Cheng Xiangyun felt cheated at theckluster

    ount and turned up her nose.

    ¡°How can you say that? You¡¯re boosting the enemy¡¯s morale and reducing ours! How am I a pauper?¡±

    Ning Ran was indignant.

    ¡°If you are not a pauper, why are you back home to eat noodles?¡±

    Ning Ran was tongue-tied. ¡°I¡­ It¡¯s because I refuse to settle!¡±

    ¡°Oh right, are you sure that the man you saw with the youngdy was Sir Chen? You didn¡¯t see

    wrongly?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d have to be blind to not recognize that poker face of his.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. With Sir Chen¡¯s stunning good looks, it¡¯s impossible to mistake anyone else for him. But if

    there was another woman with him, does it mean that I no longer stand a chance?¡± Cheng Xiangyun

    suddenly mourned.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 211

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 211

    Cheng Xiangyun was speechless for a second before she retorted, jumping with rage, ¡°You¡¯re

    detestable! I can¡¯t be bothered with you!¡±

    Ning Ran had started in a bad mood today, but she felt better after the row with Cheng Xiangyun. ¡°We

    should not affect our solid friendship over that Poker Face. Let¡¯s screw him. I¡¯m going to video-call my

    kids now.¡±

    Ning Ran was about to leave when Cheng Xiangyun called out to her, ¡°Are you really going to be with

    that Feng Minsheng? You can¡¯t be this foolish!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve said it, I can¡¯t be this foolish. Why do you still

    bother asking me then?¡±

    ¡°What exactly do you want to do? Why are you still involved with Feng Minsheng?¡±

    ¡°Auntie, please mind yournguage. What do you mean by ¡®involved with Feng Minsheng¡¯? I have

    gotten close to him on purpose. I¡¯ve previously asked him to bring me to visit his family, but he kept

    stalling. This reaffirms my belief that there¡¯s something wrong with him. I just want to know what he¡¯s up

    to.¡±

    ¡°Fine, then you better be careful.¡±

    ¡°Rest assured. I was too carelessst time. Now that I know he harbors ill intentions, I won¡¯t fall for his

    tricks again.¡±

    She went upstairs and checked the time. It¡¯s almost time to video-call the kids.

    The video call beeped up on her phone just when she took it out.

    Two tiny, identical faces popped up on the screen together. They¡¯re the cutest in the world.

    Despite being identical twins, there were slight differences in their looks. Dabao¡¯s jawline was getting

    sharper and more defined, while Erbao¡¯s face remained chubby. Perhaps she is living too well now.

    ¡°Mommy.¡± Erbao broke out into a bright smile. She¡¯s so fortunate to be born with a jovial, cheerful

    nature. She¡¯s always happy no matter what the circumstances are.

    Ning Ran¡¯s mood lifted at the sight of Erbao¡¯s smiling face.

    ¡°Darling, do you realize something is different about me today?¡±

    The smart, savvy Erbao gave a diplomatic answer immediately. ¡°You¡¯ve be prettier.¡±

    Dabao squinted to take a closer look at her. Ning Ran was stunned. He looks exactly like someone I

    know. Why does he pick up this bad habit- squinting his eyes- from Poker Face?

    ¡°Mommy, you have moved houses?¡± Dabao asked, correct as usual.

    He was always soposed. His calm, analytical mind could discover stuff others could not, in an

    instant.

    ¡°My son is so clever. You realized it immediately.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve also realized it,¡± imed Erbao, reluctant to lose to her brother.

    ¡°You little glutton. Tell me, what did you have for dinner today?¡±

    ¡°A lot of delicious, yummy food! I love to eat them!¡±

    It seems like Erbao can¡¯t help herself in the face of the sumptuous meals specially prepared for the kids

    by the Nan family¡¯s chef!

    ¡°What else did you do except eating?¡±

    ¡°The teacher taught us Chinese just now. There¡¯s a music ss scheduled tomorrow too.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s still ss at night?¡¯

    ¡°Third Uncle arranged a private tutor for us. He told us to find our interests and arranged for a private

    tutor to groom us in those areas,¡± exined Dabao.

    I haven¡¯t thought of engaging a private tutor for them before. But the kids are still so young. Is there a

    need to? Will this affect their happy childhood?

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mommy. It¡¯s just an hour every day. It won¡¯t affect us much.¡±

    Dabao is so clever. He can tell I¡¯m worried.

    ¡°Is the Chinese lesson fun?¡±

    ¡°Yes! The teacher told us many, many interesting stories about the ancient people long, long ago. I

    even learned to recite some poems. Let me recite it out loud to Mommy¡­¡±

    Ning Ran was experiencing conflicted feelings now. She did not know whether she should be happy or

    worried.

    The good news is that the Nan family has started to groom the kids after they have stayed with them

    for only a few days. They encourage the kids to find their interests and spare no effort to groom them in

    those areas. It will undoubtedly help the kids tremendously. They will win at the starting linepared

    to other kids their age. And these are things that I cannot afford to give them even if I want to.

    ¡°Mommy, why did you move houses? I feel that this house is much bigger.¡±

    Dabao¡¯s questions pulled Ning Ran back from her thoughts.

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s pretty big. Mommy intends to bring you back. Are you willing toe back?¡±

    Ning Ran was touched when the kids chorused in unison without a moment¡¯s hesitation, ¡°Yes!¡±

    No matter how kind the Nan family is to us, nothing can beat being with Mommy!

    The three of them chatted for a while longer before Ning Ran asked Erbao to y on her own first,

    while she spoke to Dabao.

    The video call mode was then switched to the audio call mode.

    ¡°Mommy, what is the matter?¡±

    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.

    ¡°Dabao, there¡¯s an uncle who¡¯s pestering me. He has caused me a lot of trouble. I know you are always

    online. Have you seen the news? If yes, don¡¯t believe them or be affected by them.¡±

    ¡°Mommy, I saw them already. I believe in you.¡±

    Ning Ran heaved a sigh of relief. Luckily I¡¯ve taken the initiative to tell Dabao. Otherwise,

    I can¡¯t imagine how stressed he would be. What¡¯s worse, he would bear the burden of the stress

    himself without saying a word to anyone. If I haven¡¯t raised the issue up, he would have pretended that

    everything is fine.

    ¡°Dabao is so sensible to believe in Mommy.¡± Suddenly, Ning Ran felt like crying.

    She had found sce in her little, young and reliable son. I have no fear of going up against the whole

    world so long as the kids are on my side, supporting me.

    ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t be sad. But if you don¡¯t mind me asking, why were you with him?¡±

    ¡°Mommy wanted to find out his motive. I suspect he¡¯s cooperating with someone to sabotage me.¡±

    ¡°I have a n.¡±

    ¡°I was just about to tell you this. Dabao, your IT skills are fabulous. Is there a way for me to track his

    movements and read his phone messages?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a basic hacker¡¯s skill. I can do it easily.¡±

    Ning Ran was exhrated. Indeed, he has never disappointed me! My son is the best!

    ¡°That¡¯s great. Dabao! Mommy needs you to support me in such IT matters!¡±

    ¡°But I need to have his phone and approximately twenty minutes to install certain stuff in it. Only then

    can we track his movements.¡±

    ¡°No problem. I¡¯ve told him already, to treat you and Erbao to a meal. He has agreed to it. During the

    dinner, you only need to borrow his phone to y games. He can¡¯t reject you. Twenty minutes should

    not be a problem.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mommy. This is simple. Leave it to me.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s great. Dabao is the truly best.¡±

    At this moment, a man¡¯s voice drifted in from the other side of the line, ¡°Dabao, who are you talking to?

    Have you bathed?¡±

    It¡¯s Nan Chen! Isn¡¯t he having dinner with some prettydy? Why¡¯s he back so early? Didn¡¯t he bring

    thedy to some hotel after dinner? Gosh, don¡¯t tell me he has brought her home! No, given Poker

    Face¡¯s character, he won¡¯t bring her home.

    ¡°Third Uncle is back. Mommy, do you need to talk to him?¡±

    ¡°No. We¡¯re almost done. Remember to keep this matter confidential.¡±

    ¡°I understand.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it then. Good night, darling. Sleep early, and don¡¯t y games on your phone before sleeping.¡±

    ¡°Okay, Mommy.¡±

    After hanging up the phone, Nan Chen walked over to his side and heard Dabao talking to his mommy.

    Isn¡¯t this woman involved with another man? Has the man returned home already? She couldn¡¯t be that

    shameless to call the kids with the man by her side, was she?

    As he thought of this, Nan Chen¡¯s face turned eerily cold.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 212

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 212

    ¡°Dabao, did you just talk to your mommy?¡± Nan Chen asked Dabao gently after he hung up on the call.

    He regained hisposure. After all, Dabao is only a kid. I can¡¯t lose my cool before him.

    Dabao nodded. ¡°What did you talk about?¡± Nan Chen felt a little embarrassed asking this

    question. It¡¯s weird to inquire about Ning Ran from a kid.

    ¡°We were just talking casually,¡± Dabao replied calmly. ¡°I see.¡± Nan Chen nodded. ¡°Third Uncle, I¡¯m

    going to bed now. Get some rest soon.¡± Dabao said, preparing to leave.

    ¡°Hold on. Let¡¯s talk for a while. It¡¯s still early.¡± Nan Chen was reluctant to let him go. Dabao stopped in

    his tracks and stared at Nan Chen with his big, ck eyes, ¡°What do you want to talk about?¡±

    Actually, all Nan Chen wanted to find out was Ning Ran¡¯s location when she called Dabao just now.

    ¡°Anything,¡± Nan Chen replied passively.

    ¡°I guess you want to talk about mommy?¡± Dabao asked abruptly.

    Nan Chen was taken aback. Isn¡¯t he too blunt asking that question! This kid is too smart for his own

    good. It isn¡¯t necessarily a good thing for adults as he can read our thoughts easily. How am I

    supposed to reply?

    ¡°Of course not.¡± Nan Chen denied immediately. It will be awkward if I admit it.

    ¡°Then what do you want to talk about?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about Daddy,¡± Nan Chen said, trying to change the topic.

    ¡°What about Daddy? Oh yeah! I haven¡¯t seen Daddy for two days. Where has he gone to?¡±

    ¡°He has gone abroad for a business trip, so he¡¯ll only be back after some time.¡± Nan Chen lied again.

    Nan Xing had actually overheard Nan Chen in the arena earlier that the children were not his. So, he

    had taken a flight to Europe for a vacation that same morning.

    Although Nan Xing was good-natured, what happened this time was too much for him to ept. He

    was at a loss on how to face Ning Ran and the two kids. Thus, he had sought refuge elsewhere for the

    time being. This way, he could avoid the awkward situation. Ning Ran, as well as the two kids from,

    would also be spared any embarrassment when they found out the truth this way.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Dabao nodded.

    ¡°Do you like daddy?¡±

    Dabao looked at Nan Chen, confused. What does he mean by that? Whether I like Daddy or not, he

    will still be my Daddy. It¡¯s not like I can change my Daddy if I don¡¯t like him. That¡¯s something

    only Erbao will think about, so why is uncle asking such a question?

    ¡°I like Daddy.¡± Dabao answered reluctantly.

    ¡°What if Daddy is not actually Daddy?¡± Nan Chen was nervous when he said that.

    How can I be so nervous when he¡¯s just a five-year-old boy? This is so weird!

    ¡°What do you mean, Third Uncle?¡± Dabao stared at Nan Chen.

    ¡°I¡¯m saying, what if someone else, not Nan Xing, turns out to be yours and Erbao¡¯s Daddy?¡± Nan Chen

    became more nervous.

    ¡°No, I won¡¯t like it,¡± Dabao replied him determinedly.

    Nan Chen froze for a moment. It had never crossed his mind that Dabao would resolutely detest it.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want another person to be my Daddy,¡± Dabao added angrily.

    Dabao furrowed his brows and stared at Nan Chen coldly. The boy didn¡¯t know that he looked exactly

    like a mini version of Nan Chen when he was angry. Nan Chen only thought the expression on Dabao¡¯s

    face looked familiar and was even slightly shaken by it.

    Why¡¯s Dabao so angry and opposing the possibility so violently?

    Actually, Dabao had misunderstood what Nan Chen meant. Thetter only meant to ask if Dabao

    would mind him transforming from his uncle to his daddy.

    However, Dabao had another person in mind; the man involved in a scandal with his mother, which had

    gone viral online.

    Dabao assumed Nan Chen had seen the rumor online defaming Ning Ran and thought his uncle

    sought out his view about this matter.

    Furthermore, Dabao thought his uncle did not believe in his mother, and his question was filled with

    malicious intentions. Thus, he was furious.

    Dabao wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to harm his mother, not even his own uncle.

    Because in his eyes, his mother was the best person in this world. She was irreceable. He wouldn¡¯t

    let anyone bully her.

    Even with his intellect, Nan Chen couldn¡¯t read the child¡¯s mind.

    Their brilliant minds were thinking of two different things; their failure tomunicate appropriately had

    led to a misunderstanding.

    Nan Chen looked at the child, not knowing how to respond.

    What else can I say now that Dabao has said this? It seems that I have to put off my revtion as their

    biological father for another time. I can¡¯t rush into this matter.

    Nan Chen nodded his head awkwardly, ¡°Go to bed now. Kids need plenty of sleep to grow properly.¡±

    ¡°Goodnight, Third Uncle. Mommy is a good mommy. She¡¯s not a bad one,¡± said Dabao, baffling Nan

    Chen.

    Nan Chen nodded in agreement, ¡°Of course. Of course.¡±

    Dabao was about to leave when a sudden thought crossed his mind, ¡°Third Uncle, can I have lunch

    with Mommy tomorrow?¡±

    Nan Chen remained silent as he tried to figure out the reason for Dabao¡¯s sudden request.

    ¡°It isn¡¯t mommy¡¯s idea. I just want to have lunch with Aunt Xiang and Mommy. I miss Aunt Xiang, she

    took good care of usst time,¡± Dabao said.

    As much as Nan Chen was unwilling to let Dabao and Ning Ran see each other in the current situation,

    he thought it was inappropriate to object to the child¡¯s request now that the boy had made his intention

    clear.

    But no matter what, he had no reason to prevent the mother and child from seeing each other because

    it was cruel to do that to both Ning Ran and the boy.

    Nan Chen had never hesitated in any decision making. However, he seemed to be exceptionally

    vignt when it came to his children.

    Because if a scar was left in a child¡¯s heart, it might stay there for a lifetime, unable to be truly healed.

    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll make arrangements for it.¡± Nan Chen nodded.

    ¡°I don¡¯t wanna be spied on by you during my meal,¡± Dabao added.

    Nan Chen drew in a cold breath. This kid is too sharp!

    Here I thought I could perhaps book a restaurant to monitor Ning Ran and the children while they have

    lunch. It was a good n, but Dabao has seen through my n and pointed it out. I¡¯ve got no tricks

    now.

    ¡°Of course not! I¡¯m not someone who would do stuff like this. I just want to book a nice restaurant for

    you, and treat you to a meal,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Thanks, Third Uncle. I believe in Mommy, and I hope you do as well.¡± Dabao smiled.

    ¡°Of course. Of course.¡± Nan Chen answered insincerely.

    ¡°Thanks, Third Uncle. Goodnight.¡±

    ¡°Goodnight. By the way, where was Mommy when she called you just now?¡± Nan Chen couldn¡¯t help

    but ask the one question he was dying to know the most.

    He had tried his best to hold it back, but his curiosity got the better of him.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    ¡°At home, with Aunt Xiang,¡± Dabao replied.

    ¡°I see. d that she¡¯s doing well. All¡¯s fine then.¡± Nan Chen heaved a deep sigh of relief.

    ¡°What¡¯s going to happen to Mommy?¡± Dabao asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. There¡¯s nothing to be worried about. Goodnight, darling.¡± Nan Chen looked incredibly relieved.

    ¡°Goodnight, Third Uncle.¡±

    Dabao turned around and ruminated about what had just happened. Third Uncle is acting rather

    peculiar tonight. He doesn¡¯t seem like his usual self at all.

    Nan Chen was abashed when he realized he had be a different person ever since Ning Ran and

    the children entered his life.

    He couldn¡¯t articte the changes in words; he acted differently, whether in conduct or any other

    aspects.

    Nan Chen felt helpless because he has always tried to be ruthless, but he has now unknowingly

    be gentle out of the blue.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 213

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 213

    The next afternoon, Cheng Xiangyun drove to pick the two children from school with Nan Chen¡¯s

    consent.

    Nan Chen had asked Qiao Zhan to send someone to protect the children, but he didn¡¯t need to inform

    him who Ning Ran had lunch with and where she went.

    Since he promised Dabao not to get involved, he must keep to his words and not meddle with their

    lunch with Ning Ran.

    After Cheng Xiangyun picked the children up, she brought them to the set. Ning Ran was still filming,

    so they had to wait for her to have a meal together.

    Ning Ran was filming a scene where she was being bullied by the restaurant owner while working

    abroad.

    There were many abusive scenes where Ning Ran had a squabble with the boss; her boss had

    grabbed her head, pped her in the face, and knocked her to the ground.

    Needless to say, Ning Ran cried, and she rose from the ground to resist him.

    Ning Ran¡¯s acting was top tier. Even the staff nearby held their breath, impressed by her superb acting.

    ¡°Don¡¯t hit my Mommy!¡±

    Everybody was surprised by the sudden childish voice, and the shooting on the set was disrupted.

    ¡°Whose child is this?¡± The director retorted.

    An adorable child had bypassed the camera from the crowd and rushed to the actor and Ning Ran¡¯s

    side.

    ¡°You hit Mommy! I¡¯ll tell Daddy about it.¡±

    The man didn¡¯t know Erbao, so he asked in an annoyed tone, ¡°Whose child is this? Why is she running

    wild here? Director, aren¡¯t you bothered?¡±

    Ning Ran quickly apologized to everyone, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, she is my child. My sincere apologies for

    disrupting everyone¡¯s work.¡±

    Then she red at Erbao, ¡°Get out. Who let you in?¡±

    The supporting actor had joined the crew recently. He was an extra with very little screen time, so he

    knew little about the crew¡¯s situation and didn¡¯t know who Erbao was.

    Not only did he not know Erbao, but the worst part was that he had no idea about theplicated

    rtionship between Ning Ran and Nan family.

    He only knew that Ning Ran was down on her luck these couple of days, as there had been endless

    negative news about her. He felt that he could use this opportunity to bully her.

    Thus, his ears pricked up immediately when Ning Ran said Erbao was her child. Thinking he had

    gotten hold of the female lead, he started to blow up the matter.

    ¡°Director, can any random person, even a child enter the film set? Shouldn¡¯t there be proper rules and

    discipline on the set?¡±

    The director and the production crew fell silent.

    Indeed, strangers could not enter the film set, much less disrupt the filming progress.

    But the child before them was Ning Ran¡¯s. Nobody dared to stop her if she insisted on barging in. They

    could not wait to tter the little one, much less stop her from entering.

    ¡°Who are you? Why did you hit my Mommy? Erbao raised her head and red at the supporting actor.

    The supporting actor bristled with anger and berated her, ¡°You¡¯re so ill-bred. How dare you speak in

    this manner when you¡¯ve disturbed the adults while they¡¯re working!¡±

    ¡°How can you scold me when you¡¯ve hit my Mommy!¡± Erbao was furious by now. Her eyes turned cold,

    and she flushed red with anger, emitting a dangerous aura.

    ¡°We¡¯re working. Stop your nonsense now.¡± Ning Ran tried to stop her frantically.

    ¡°How dare you scold my sister? Apologize to her now.¡± Dabao ordered, looking indifferent. In

    comparison to his sister, he was emitting an even more dangerous aura.

    For a moment, the supporting actor could not believe his eyes when he saw another child looking

    exactly the same, appearing before him. Am I seeing things?

    He took a closer look. No, I¡¯m not. There really are two of them. Though they look the same, the

    auras they¡¯re emitting are worlds apart. The one who has arrivedter has a morepelling

    presence. Despite his young age, his cold eyes and indifferent expression are sufficient to give one

    tremendous shock.

    The supporting actor jeered, ¡°So the twins are here to cause a scene now?¡±

    ¡°Apologize to my sister. My sister is young and insensible. But you¡¯re an adult. How are you so

    insensible too? What rights do you have to scold my sister? My Mommy will be the one to teach my

    sister if she has done wrong. Furthermore, my Mommy has apologized. Who are you to pursue this

    matter? Are you the director?¡±

    It was rare for the usually quiet Dabao to talk so much at one go.

    Protecting my mother and sister is my lifelong mission. How dare this scumbag scold my sister right

    before my eyes! I can¡¯t let this matter go easily!

    ¡°Oh, aren¡¯t you feisty? It¡¯s the parents¡¯ fault for not teaching their children well. No wonder the children

    are so ill-bred when their mother is always caught in scandalous rumors.¡±

    ¡°My Mommy will teach me if I am ill-bred. What right do you have to say that of me? Hurry up and

    apologize to my sister!¡±

    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.

    Ning Ran had wanted to rein in Dabao, but the supporting actor¡¯s antagonistic attitude had infuriated

    her.

    How can I keep a foothold in the production team if I allow this supporting actor to bully me?

    So, Ning Ran stood back and let the children handle him.

    A man trying to bully two small children. Are my children that easily bullied?

    ¡°Kiddo, do you think I will apologize to you? You sure are interesting.¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll tell my Daddy!¡± Erbao threatened, incensed.

    ¡°Oh, you have a Daddy?¡± The supporting actor sneered.

    ¡°Only you don¡¯t have a Daddy!¡± Erbao snapped, sensing the sarcasm in his retort.

    ¡°Director, the kids are causing a scene here. Are you intending to let them be?¡± The supporting actor

    asked again.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you handling the matter? Go ahead then,¡± replied the director.

    The director felt that the supporting actor did not know his own limits. Why are you, a grown-up man

    squabbling with the children? Even I, the director, haven¡¯t said a word. Who are you to speak up? Since

    you like to steal the limelight, then go ahead. Let¡¯s see how you¡¯re going to handle the two kids.

    The male actor was momentarily embarrassed by the director¡¯s reply and chuckled to defuse the

    situation. Well, I can¡¯t offend the director, but I can jolly well offend Ning Ran and her two kids.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, are you not intending to rein your children in? You are allowed them to talk to the adults in

    such an impolite manner?¡±

    ¡°Have they been rude to you? Has he scolded you?¡± Ning Ran asked him in return.

    ¡°I¡­¡±

    ¡°If he has not scolded you, then what rights do you have to im that my kid is rude? He is only 5 years

    old. How old are you? Do you expect me to stand on your side during your quarrel with my kid?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a matter of standing on my side. It¡¯s that they¡­¡±

    ¡°What? My kids thought you bullied me, and wanted to stand up for me. Yet you scolded them for being

    ill-bred. Now tell me, how should a child with a proper upbringing behave? Should they behave like you

    and quarrel with kids?¡±

    The supporting actor now realized that Ning Ran was not a frail, weak woman who could be bullied

    easily.

    ¡°Mommy, stop wasting your time on him. He has bullied my sister. Make him apologize!¡± Dabao

    insisted.

    The production crew kept quiet. They enjoyed the spectacle too much to attempt to stop the fight

    between the pair of feisty twins and the supporting actor.

    ¡°I will never apologize to a mere kid who¡¯s so rude!¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Dabao asked coldly.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure!¡±

    ¡°Fine, then we will tell Daddy.¡± Dabao gave Erbao a meaningful stare.

    ¡°I will call Daddy now and tell them that someone is bullying mommy and us! That person has even

    said I¡¯m ill-bred!¡± Erbao threatened.

    ¡°Who¡¯s your daddy? What can he do to me?¡±

    ¡°Haha! Her daddy is the Fourth Young Master from the Nan family. You just wait and see¡­¡± a

    production crew member chuckled.

    The supporting actor paled at his words.

    No matter how ignorant he was, he had heard of Nan family¡¯s status and prominence in the Flower

    City.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 214

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 214

    However, he would be too ashamed of himself if he was scared off by the two kids. Furthermore, he did

    not believe the words of the production crew member.

    Why would Ning Ran continue acting if she has borne two kids for the Nan family? Why would the

    Young Mistress from the high and mighty Nan family need to work for a living? It isn¡¯t logical.

    Thus, the supporting actor was convinced that the Nan family whom the kids belonged to, was not the

    prominent Nan family he had heard of. They must be those distant rtives of the Nan family. Why

    should I be scared of them?

    ¡°So what if they are from the Nan family? All kids should be raised up properly!¡±

    By now, Erbao had already made the call. ¡°Daddy has switched off his phone. I¡¯ll call Third Uncle now.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Ning Ran stopped Er Bao hurriedly once she knew that Er Bao was about to call

    Nan Chen.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    ¡°No! I want to call Third Uncle! He has told me before that we must inform him if anyone bullies us!¡±

    Er Bao refused to heed Ning Ran¡¯s words.

    Although Ning Ran was unhappy with the supporting actor, she felt that the kids shouldn¡¯t develop a

    habit of using their privileged positions to bully others.

    Furthermore, it will be awkward if Nan Chen reallyes! I don¡¯t want to see Poker Face now.

    ¡°I want to tell Third Uncle that he bullied me!¡± Erbao puffed out her cheeks, protesting indignantly.

    ¡°No. Listen to mommy. Hurry up and go outside. Mommy needs to continue working,¡± Ning Ran

    reasoned in a soothing voice.

    Despite her reluctance, Erbao did not dare to disobey Ning Ran publicly. She simply pulled an even

    longer face and looked extremely aggrieved.

    Of course, Dabao obeyed Ning Ran¡¯s instructions and led his angry sister out.

    Ning Ran signaled to the director and requested to continue filming the next scene before she got off

    work.

    The director eded to Ning Ran¡¯s request.

    The filming continued as Cheng Xiangyun brought the two kids out of the film set.

    Ning Ran went hard on the supporting actor.

    With her sharp gaze and a frosty expression, she unted her acting skills before the supporting actor.

    He was in a jittery mood by now. Though he had convinced himself that the two kids were not from the

    prestigious Nan family, he still felt uneasy.

    His careless acting skills were no match for Ning Ran¡¯s. He was flustered at the difference between

    them, and could not seem to catch up with her. As a result, he forgot his lines, the scene plot and even

    his role. After messing up multiple times consecutively, the director lost his cool andshed out at the

    supporting actor, who had crumbled under pressure and screwed up his scene.

    ¡°Cut!¡±

    The director shouted, ¡°What lousy acting is that! Forget it! We¡¯ll stop here today!¡±

    With his face flushed red, the supporting actor bowed his head in shame.

    ¡°Do you even know how to act? If you don¡¯t, I will give your role to another actor! Don¡¯t waste

    everyone¡¯s time here!¡± The director hollered at him.

    The actor dared not speak.

    ¡°Director, are we still filming? If not, I will head off first,¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°Go then. Looks like we¡¯ll be changing actors.¡± The director waved his hands.

    After throwing a long meaningful stare at the supporting actor, Ning Ran turned around to change out of

    her costume.

    The first thing she did aftering out of the changing room was to ask Erbao, ¡°Did you call and

    comin to your Third Uncle?¡±

    Erbao blinked her wide, innocent eyes, ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡±

    Ning Ran grew suspicious at her weird reaction, ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± reaffirmed Erbao, shaking her head.

    Ning Ran stretched out her hand, ¡°Let me see your phone.¡±

    Erbao¡¯s phone had been customized upon Nan Chen¡¯s order. It was specially meant for children; it was

    small and light, and pink in the shape of a rabbit.

    Erbao dared not defy her mother¡¯s wishes and gave her the phone submissively.

    In its call log was a record of a phone conversation with Nan Chen. Strangely, the call was not dialed

    out by Erbao. It was Nan Chen who had called Erbao instead.

    ¡°Did you talk to Third Uncle?¡±

    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s the one who called me. I did not initiate the call. I¡¯m an obedient girl who listens to mommy¡¯s

    instructions.¡± Erbao said, defending herself.

    Ning Ran grew even more suspicious, ¡°Why would Third Uncle call you?¡±

    ¡°Because he cares about me?¡±

    ¡°Fine. Then did you tell him about the incident just now?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Erbao bowed her head.

    Anger rose within Ning Ran, ¡°Did I not say you are not to tell him? Why didn¡¯t you listen to me?¡±

    ¡°That man bullied you, me and brother. I¡¯m unhappy.¡± Erbao raised her head, pouting her lips.

    ¡°So you aren¡¯t going to obey me now?¡± Ning Ran was furious.

    ¡°I am,¡± replied Erbao hurriedly.

    ¡°Then why did you tell Third Uncle? I told you not to!¡± Ning Ran chided.

    ¡°That man will bully mommy next year if I don¡¯t tell Third Uncle.¡± In her panic, Erbao had misspoken

    ¡®next day¡¯ as ¡®next year¡¯. Not that it mattered, as both terms represented a certain time in the distant

    future to her.

    Her words made sense. If you don¡¯t defend yourself today before the bully, he will continue bullying you

    the next day.

    ¡°Erbao, that man is a nobody. He and your Third Uncle are of different levels. He won¡¯t be able to take

    it if your Third Uncle makes things difficult for him.¡± Ning Ran tried to exin to her.

    While Erbao continued to stare at her with big, ck eyes and seemed to understand Ning Ran¡¯s

    exnation vaguely. Dabao, on the other hand, had caught his mother¡¯s meaning.

    ¡°Mommy, I believe that Third Uncle knows what he¡¯s doing. He will punish that man appropriately,¡±

    Dabao said.

    Since Nan Chen knows about this already, what is the point of me ming Erbao?

    ¡°Fine. In short, even if you know your Third Uncle dotes on you and that he¡¯s a very prominent figure,

    you cannot bully others just because you have him as your backing, That will be wrong.¡±

    While Erbao still appeared as if she only understood her mother¡¯s words vaguely, Dabao nodded in

    complete agreement.

    At this moment, Cheng Xiangyun drove the car over and passed her phone to Ning Ran, ¡°Mr. BMW

    looked for you just now.¡±

    ¡°What did he say?¡±

    ¡°He said he has reserved seats in a restaurant for you. He has also asked what time you will reach and

    if he needs to pick you up.¡±

    ¡°I get it. Then can I trouble you to send me there?¡±

    ¡°Oh gosh! I have to double up as your manager, assistant and chauffeur. Should we re-discuss our

    wages?¡¯

    ¡°I haven¡¯t earned a cent. What use do you have? I will not miss you out once I make it big.¡±

    ¡°But when will you make it big?¡±

    Ning Ran guffawed, ¡°Soon! Just wait till I be a big-shot celebrity. You need not do anything but to

    sell my autographed photographs, to get rich!¡±

    ¡°Mommy, what is ¡®get rich¡¯?¡± Erbao queried.

    Only now did Ning Ran realize that the conversation she had with Cheng Xiangyun may be

    inappropriate in front of children. Quickly, she changed the topic, ¡°Can you get through Daddy¡¯s

    phone?¡±

    With a long face, Erbao replied, ¡°I can¡¯t. Is Daddy abandoning us?¡±

    ¡°No. Maybe he¡¯s busy. He will contact us when he¡¯s free.¡±

    Actually, Ning Ran was thinking the same as Erbao. Why did Nan Xing disappear suddenly? Given his

    character, he would surely inform me before he headed overseas. Why did he leave so suddenly

    without a word?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 215

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 215

    It was interesting to note that Nan Chen had selected the restaurant where Ning Ran, Feng Minsheng

    and the kids would dine in. It was the only condition he set for them to see the kids. He must be the one

    to decide on the restaurant where they would dine in. It was the only way for him to ensure the kids¡¯

    safety.

    For the kids¡¯ benefit, the restaurant he had selected was the best in the Flower City, which was meant

    specially for children.

    After dropping off Ning Ran and the kids near the restaurant, Cheng Xiangyun drove off immediately.

    She had no wish to run into Feng Minsheng. Despite knowing that the dinner date was only meant for

    Ning Ran to clear up the matter with Feng Minsheng, Cheng Xiangyun was still reluctant to let Ning

    Ran meet that man.

    Feng Minsheng was at the restaurant entrance waiting. Upon seeing the children, he was momentarily

    stunned. It was apparent that they belonged to the Nan family judging by their looks.

    ¡°This is Uncle Feng.¡±

    The kids did not greet nor bother to be friendly with him.

    Ning Ran did not force them to greet him either.

    ¡°The kids are shy to strangers. Sorry about that.¡±

    Feng Minsheng smiled. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Let¡¯s go in.¡±

    There were not many customers in the restaurant as it was way too expensive, given its numerous

    amenities. An ordinary middle-ie family would not be able to afford a meal in the ce.

    ¡°The staff here said that you¡¯ve ordered the A1 set meal?¡± Feng Minsheng asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°Ah?¡± Ning Ran was caught off guard but recovered instantly. Nan Chen has ordered the set meal.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Ning Ran nodded hurriedly.

    ¡°Then we only need to ask them to serve the food since you¡¯ve already ordered. What do you like to

    drink?¡±

    ¡°The drink is included in the set meal.¡±

    ¡°Do youe here often?¡±

    ¡°Not often. Only once in a while.¡±

    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.

    An awkward silence ensued.

    ¡°Darling, what¡¯s your name?¡± Feng Minsheng looked at Erbao.

    Pretending not to hear him, Erbao turned her head and looked away.

    ¡°My sister¡¯s name is Ning Sihan. I¡¯m Ning Sirui,¡± said Dabao to defuse the awkward situation.

    There would be an important segmentter in which Dabao needed to borrow Feng Minsheng¡¯s phone

    to y with. So Dabao was trying hard to keep the atmosphere light during the dinner.

    ¡°Your surname is Ning?¡± Feng Minsheng was delighted. Maybe they aren¡¯t the Nan family¡¯s children?

    But he understood a secondter. They are using Ning Ran¡¯s surname. They should be from the Nan

    family. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t bear such a strong resemnce to the Nan family members.

    ¡°Is there a problem if they share the same surname as I?¡±

    ¡°Of course there¡¯s no problem at all.¡±

    The food was then served.

    All the dishes looked exquisite. The restaurant had paid meticulous attention to them, ranging from the

    colors and ting, ensuring that all children would love them.

    Of course, being a restaurant that targeted children as their main clientele, it did not serve alcohol, only

    fruit juice and soda.

    ¡°Regarding the incidentst time, I¡¯m very sorry to cause you a lot of trouble. It¡¯s all my fault.¡± Feng

    Minsheng brought up the incident about the photograph.

    Ning Ran did not wish to talk about that incident as she was still bothered by it.

    ¡°Forget it. It¡¯s over, so let us not mention it again,¡± said Ning Ran indifferently.

    ¡°I will pay attention next time to ensure that you won¡¯t be hurt again.¡±

    Ning Ran remained silent.

    Feng Minsheng continued reminiscing about their past, while Ning Ran mostly kept quiet during the

    entire conversation.

    Dabao finished his food first and sat patiently, waiting for the others to finish.

    ¡°Go and y with the other children. I want to chat with your mommy for a while longer.¡±

    ¡°I want to y games on the phone. Mommy, can you lend me your phone for a while?¡±

    ¡°My phone is going t soon, so you can¡¯t y with it.¡± Ning Ran rejected his request outright.

    ¡°Just a little while.¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you listen? My phone is going t soon!¡± Ning Ran berated him.

    Dabao put on a look of utter aggrievement.

    ¡°I have a lot of games on my phone. You can y them,¡± said Feng Minsheng, offering his phone to

    Dabao.

    Dabao looked at Ning Ran inquiringly before he took the phone.

    ¡°Fine, fine. You can y for a while but not for too long. It¡¯s not good for your eyes.¡± Ning Ran waved

    her hands resignedly.

    Dabao took the phone and went to one side.

    Erbao was restless and went to join the other children to y. Due to her good looks and friendly

    nature, it did not take her long to blend in with the other children.

    ¡°Ran, what¡¯s your situation with that side now?¡±

    ¡°Which side?¡± Ning Ran asked, pretending not to understand his question.

    ¡°The Nan family¡¯s side. You seem to have a lot of interactions with them.¡±

    ¡°Nothing, it¡¯s still the same. Which side are you referring to?¡± Ning Ran continued to feign ignorance.

    ¡°Did they bully you?¡±

    ¡°Why would they bully me? Even if they did, will you stand up for me?¡± Ning Ran joked.

    ¡°Of course. I will always protect you. I¡¯ve made that promise to you before.¡±

    Smiling, Ning Ran replied, ¡°The person we ran into that day in front of the restaurant was Nan Chen.

    You must have recognized him. Why didn¡¯t you stand up for me then?¡±

    ¡°We didn¡¯t run into any disagreements at that time. Why did I need to stand up for you then?¡±

    ¡°Forget it. I¡¯m only joking. Thank you for your kind intentions. Oh yes, why are you so reluctant in

    bringing me to see your friends and family?¡±

    ¡°We need to find an opportune timing for that. We just got together. I feel that we need to take things

    slowly.¡±

    ¡°So when will be an opportune timing? Why is it so difficult? Is it because I have two kids?¡±

    ¡°Of course it isn¡¯t because of the kids. They won¡¯t cause me any trouble. I like children.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡±

    Ning Ran sneered to herself. My kids are not ordinary kids. I¡¯m afraid they may cause you trouble in the

    future.

    Dabao waded in on them in the midst of their chat.

    He thanked Feng Minsheng after returning his phone.

    Ning Ran exchanged a meaningful nce with Dabao, and knew that he had aplished his task.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Ning Ran stood up.

    ¡°Let¡¯s sit a while longer. Is there a hurry? The kids are still ying.¡± Feng Minsheng was reluctant to

    leave.

    ¡°The kids still have to go to school tomorrow morning.¡±

    ¡°Okay. Then let me send you home.¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s alright. Someone will send us home,¡± rejected Ning Ran.

    ¡°Let me send you home,¡± insisted Feng Minsheng.

    ¡°There really is no need. You rest early.¡±

    After they came out of the restaurant, the bodyguard who was sent by Qiao Zhan, stepped forward.

    ¡°Young Mistress, please wait a while. The car ising now.¡±

    ¡°Ran, are you returning to the Nan family house?¡± Feng Minsheng asked, looking displeased.

    ¡°I have no choice. After the incident, the Nan family has snatched my children¡¯s custody. Do you want

    to help me to get the custody back?¡±

    ¡°This¡­¡±

    ¡°Forget it. I know you aren¡¯t capable of it. It is nothing but a lie when you say you want to protect me.

    You cower at the mention of the Nan family,¡± scowled Ning Ran, feigning anger.

    ¡°I am not. I will think of a n.¡±

    ¡°Sure. Then I will wait for you to save me.¡±

    At this moment, the car arrived. The chauffeur alighted and opened the car door for Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran ced the kids onto the child seats and secured their safety belts before boarding the car

    herself. She rolled down the window and waved goodbye to Feng Minsheng, who was standing at the

    roadside. ¡°I will wait for your good news.¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 216

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 216

    Ning Ran realized that the car was driving in the direction of the Nan family, and reminded the driver,

    ¡°Sir, my house is in the opposite direction.¡±

    ¡°Young Mistress, Captain Qiao has instructed me to send Little Master and Little Miss home.¡± ¡°The

    children must stay with me at my house today.¡±

    ¡°Young Mistress, Sir Chen has instructed that we must ensure the Little Master and Little Miss return to

    the Commoner Residence. Otherwise¡­¡±

    ¡°They are my children. Am I not allowed to spend one night with them?¡± Ning Ran interrupted him.

    ¡°Young Mistress, please do not make things difficult for us¡­¡±

    ¡°I am not out to make things difficult for you. I am only asking if I am not allowed to spend one night

    with my children?¡± Ning Ran sneered at him.

    ¡°Sir Chen says that if you make things difficult for us, we shall kneel and beg you until you agree.¡± With

    that, the chauffeur stopped the car by the roadside. He undid the seat belt and was about to kneel

    before Ning Ran stopped him hurriedly, ¡°Enough. Don¡¯t you pull that trick and scare the kids. How can

    a grown-up man like you kneel before the kids and me?¡±

    ¡°This is Sir Chen¡¯s order. We must execute it. Our rules are very strict,¡± said the chauffeur resignedly.

    Ning Ran sighed and waved her hands, signaling the chauffeur to continue driving.

    Nan Chen is so scheming. He knew I wouldn¡¯t allow the chauffeur aka bodyguard to kneel before me,

    much less before Dabao. He must be certain that this tactic would work on me. There is no need for

    him to deploy other means to force me to send the kids back to the Nan family. This scheming, devious

    man!Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran offered to alight from the car when they reached the gates of the Nan Mansion.

    Judging from the situation now, I may be chased out of the Nan family if I head into the house. Why

    should I invite trouble for myself?

    ¡°Mommy.¡± Erbao was reluctant to leave Ning Ran. She wrapped her little hands tightly around her neck

    in a bid to stop her from alighting the car.

    Ning Ran¡¯s heart wrenched, but she could not portray her grief in front of the kids for fear of causing the

    kids undue stress.

    ¡°Fine. Go. Mommy will fetch you in two days.¡±

    ¡°Mommy.¡± Erbao refused to let go of Ning Ran.

    ¡°Be good and let go of me.¡±

    ¡°Why is Mommy not staying with us?¡± Erbao was about to burst into tears.

    ¡°Mommy is still trying to settle some matters, but they should be done soon,¡± consoled Ning Ran.

    ¡°So sorry, Young Mistress. I¡¯m only obeying orders¡­¡± The chauffeur apologized guiltily.

    ¡°I hate you!¡± Erbao screamed at him.

    The chauffeur dared not retort.

    ¡°Don¡¯t behave this way. It¡¯s not his fault. Be a good girl. I will alight now and see you tomorrow again.¡±

    Ning Ran tried hard to suppress her reluctance and sadness.

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Of course. Mommy will settle my matters quickly, and we will be able to see each other every day

    soon.¡± Ning Ran forced a smile on her face.

    ¡°Let mommy get down from the car. We won¡¯t fully understand adults¡¯ matters.¡± Dabao chipped in, in an

    attempt to persuade Erbao.

    ¡°Brother, can you please tell Third Uncle to let Mommy stay with us?¡± Erbao pleaded.

    ¡°I will. Let¡¯s leave it at that for now.¡±

    Dabao pulled away Erbao¡¯s hands which were still wrapped around Ning Ran¡¯s neck.

    Ning Ran took the opportunity to alight from the car.

    ¡°Goodbye, Mommy.¡±

    Though Dabao¡¯s tone was calm, the rims of his eyes were red.

    ¡°Goodbye. See you tomorrow.¡± Ning Ran forced a smile.

    After seeing the car turn into the Nan Mansion¡¯s driveway, Ning Ran turned around and was prepared

    to g down a cab when another car appeared. The Nan family had arranged for a second car to send

    Ning Ran home. The chauffeur got out and opened the door for her.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can take a cab home myself.¡±

    ¡°This is Sir Chen¡¯s order. He has ordered us to send you home safely.¡±

    Nan Chen again! What exactly in the world does he want!

    ¡°Why should I listen to him? I¡¯m not his subordinate.¡± Ning Ran was furious.

    ¡°Sir Chen says he won¡¯t be cooperative in the future if you aren¡¯t cooperative now.¡±

    The threat in his message was evident. If I don¡¯t listen to him, it will be hard for me to see the children

    in the future.

    Ning Ran could imagine Nan Chen with his typical indifferent expression, standing before her and

    pointing his finger at her while he says, You can¡¯t afford to offend me. You must obey.

    Ning Ran was displeased, but she was left with no choice but to board the car.

    She did not speak a word to the chauffeur. Yet he recognized the route back to her new residence and

    sent her straight home.

    As I expected, Nan Chen is keeping tabs on me! This is so infuriating! He¡¯s such a bully!

    ¡°Good night, Young Mistress.¡± The chauffeur got down the car to open the car door for Ning Ran.

    ¡°Don¡¯t call me Young Mistress. I¡¯m not that!¡±

    The chauffeur bowed his head and did not say anything.

    ¡°Tell your Sir Chen not to be too full of himself.¡±

    Ning Ran knew she was being spiteful and could not do anything to avenge herself. Nheless, she

    felt better after saying those words out loud.

    The chauffeur did not dare repeat her words to Nan Chen, who would not give a hoot about them

    anyway.

    Everything was within his control. He had the rights to be full of himself.

    After Ning Ran returned home, she realized that Cheng Xiangyun was not back yet. I wonder where

    she has wandered off to.

    It was a habit of Ning Ran to video call the children to wish them goodnight. Only in this way would the

    children sleep at ease.

    Erbao¡¯s face popped up on the phone screen. She was in a study room; the bookshelves behind her

    were full of books.

    ¡°Where is your brother?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s reading with Third Uncle. They¡¯re discussing some weird stuff.¡±

    Ning Ran understood what Erbao meant. Dabao and that Poker Face can indeed discuss many topics

    that even I find to be baffling.

    ¡°It¡¯s sote. Why aren¡¯t both of you sleeping yet?¡±

    ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s not thatte. Don¡¯t worry, we will be sleeping soon,¡± said Erbao obediently.

    ¡°Ask your brother toe to the phone. I want to speak to him.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± Erbao put down the phone and ran off looking for Dabao.

    After a while, Dabao took the phone and changed the video call to an audio call.

    ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m tracking the man¡¯s movements. I will send all the numbers he has recently called to you,¡±

    said Dabao in a low voice.

    Astounded, Ning Ran asked, ¡°How did you do that?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s very easy for me. You need not to ask.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried he will find out?¡± Ning Ran was still worried.

    ¡°Of course not. I have nted something on his phone, but he will not discover it even if he installs an

    anti-virus software.¡±

    Although Dabao was only a mere child, he was very reliable, even more so than those boastful adults.

    Ning Ran was about to speak when someone called out to Dabao over at his end, ¡°Dabao, it¡¯s time to

    sleep.¡±

    It¡¯s Nan Chen¡¯s voice. This man really is annoying! He must have known I¡¯m talking

    with Dabao. He¡¯s doing this on purpose. Why can¡¯t I talk to my own son?

    ¡°I¡¯ll be there immediately, Third Uncle.¡±

    ¡°Dabao, ignore him. Let us continue talking,¡± said Ning Ran, infuriated.

    ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s not talk anymore. I need to send you the stuff you need urgently, as I must sleep on

    time.¡±

    ¡°Fine.¡± Ning Ran knew her son had imposed strict discipline on himself. She could not very well disrupt

    his disciplined lifestyle so she could only agree.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 217

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 217

    Dabao sent over something that resembled a record of GPS locations. It was a list of the ces Feng

    Minsheng had visited.

    From the record, Feng Minsheng had headed in the direction of the city¡¯s east side after they split ways

    outside the restaurant just now. He had stayed at a ce for very long before he left.

    It seemed to be a hotel near Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s house. He must have stayed there on a long term basis

    for me. But what exactly is his motive?

    Dabao had also sent Feng Minsheng¡¯s phone call record to her. He had called three numbers

    frequently, and one of the calls was made immediately after they split ways.

    Ning Ran felt an urge to dial the number to find out who the mysterious caller was, but decided against

    it as it would be too dangerous.

    I can¡¯t rush this matter. I have to take it slow.

    ¡­

    The next afternoon, Qin Lan received a call informing her that Nan Chen wasing.

    Thinking back, Master Chen has note for a long time. I wonder if he was too busy or he just

    doesn¡¯t need any psychological counselling anymore.

    Qin Lan rushed to prepare for his visit. First, she had her assistant cancel all her appointments to

    ensure that no one would see Nan Chen in her clinic.

    Next, she changed her reclining patient chair to a new one. Nan Chen had always disliked it, iming

    that her chair was too dirty as it was sat on by different patients every day.

    In Qin Lan¡¯s eyes, he was too fussy. Of course, public amenities would not be squeaky clean ¨C that

    was a known fact. I can¡¯t possibly change a new chair every day. But since the great Master Chen

    wants to be so fussy, I can only amodate him.

    Nan Chen turned up as scheduled, in his typical ck formal suit and white shirt. I haven¡¯t seen him for

    so long, but he hasn¡¯t changed a bit. In fact, over the years, he hasn¡¯t aged much. He¡¯s still as tall and

    dashing as ever.

    At times, Qin Lan felt jealous of him. Why did God give him everything beautiful in this world? He has

    exceedingly good looks, ridiculously high IQ and a prominent family background. Anyone would be

    blessed if one owns any of these traits, but he alone possesses all three of them.

    Nan Chen frowned the moment he walked into the room.

    Seeing his frown, Qin Lan knitted her brows too, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What has annoyed you again?¡±

    ¡°The fragrance is too overwhelming.¡±

    ¡°Fragrance? I use perfume during my working hours.¡±

    ¡°Sandalwood fragrance.¡±

    Astounded, Qin Lan asked, ¡°You smell sandalwood fragrance?¡±

    Nan Chen could not be bothered to reply her.

    ¡°Gosh, you must have a dog¡¯s nose. I only used the sandalwood incense yesterday, not today. But you

    can actually smell that? Do you know that the smell will dissipate after the incense is used up? It¡¯s

    amazing how you can smell it!¡±

    Nan Chen kept quiet. After ensuring the chair was clean, hey on it and closed his eyes.

    ¡°You haven¡¯te here for a long time. What have you run into this time? Which girl have you taken a

    liking to now?¡± Qin Lan asked in jest.

    Nan Chen did not reply her.

    ¡°I am a psychologist. You have to tell me what¡¯s going on so I can help you. How do you expect me to

    help you when you¡¯re always brooding in silence?¡±

    But Nan Chen still kept quiet.

    ¡°Fine, then just sleep if you don¡¯t want to talk. Anyway, I charge by the hour. You can sleep here for two

    hours. I will still charge you my counselling fees.¡±

    Nan Chen crossed his legs without saying a word.

    Qin Lan was helpless against the uncooperative patient who refused to talk to her. Thus, she sat down

    beside him and yed with her phone.

    Anyway, I will still get paid without doing any work.

    Suddenly, Nan Chen uttered a single sentence, ¡°I have children.¡±

    Qin Lan could not understand him, ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Children,¡± repeated Nan Chen.

    ¡°Did you just say you have children?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Qin Lan was so shocked with the jaw-dropping news that she cast aside her role as a psychologist, and

    shrieked, ¡°You got a woman pregnant?¡±

    Again, Nan Chen kept quiet. Why is she uttering nonsense? Can¡¯t I make a woman pregnant?

    ¡°Which woman? Is she the one with the scent on her?¡±

    Qin Lan was in a state of frenzied excitement now, more excited than if she was pregnant herself.

    All along, the reason for Nan Chen¡¯s consultation with her was because he was a man incapable of

    loving anyone.

    But now, her views of him had turned topsy turvy in an instant. He has actually made someone

    pregnant! This is too interesting!

    Qin Lan could not wait to find out which woman was so formidable to break through the steel

    barricades that the man had built around him.

    ¡°I mean I have children.¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°I have heard it the first time. She¡¯s pregnant. For how long already?¡± Qin Lan persisted agitatedly.

    Nan Chen was getting more impatient by the minute. The psychologist I havee to see turns out to

    be an idiot. I told her I have children now, yet she keeps harping on about pregnancy.

    ¡°Almost 5 year old.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Qin Lan was shocked to the bones.

    Suddenly, she got his meaning. The kids whom Nan Chen are referring to, are the ones I have met

    before. But I have inquired about them. Aren¡¯t the kids Nan Xing¡¯s? Why have they be Nan

    Chen¡¯s kids all of a sudden?

    ¡°Are you saying the kids are yours?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Oh gosh! What¡¯s wrong with you and your brother? Have you fallen for the same girl? Is that why you

    don¡¯t know who their father is?¡±

    This was Nan Chen¡¯s greatest fear. He was worried that others might jump to this conclusion, just like

    Qin Lan did.

    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    The crease between his brows deepened.

    This matter had been bothering him for ages. He did not know how to console Nan Xing. Neither did he

    know how to break the news to the kids nor exin the matter to the Old Master.

    He hade to find Qin Lan for this reason.

    Never have I expected that a professional psychologist would rather indulge herself in the gossip and

    the joy it brought her, and discard her professionalism. She¡¯s so disappointing.

    At the sight of Nan Chen¡¯s displeased face, Qin Lan suddenly remembered her duty as a

    psychologist. He has paid to consult me. I can¡¯t spend the time digging more gossip from him.

    ¡°What¡¯s your main worry now?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like the woman.¡±

    Qin Lan picked up his meaning instantly. So he only wants the children, not their mother.

    ¡°Is it because she¡¯s ugly?¡± Qin Lan¡¯s question carried a gossipy undertone.

    An image of Ning Ran¡¯s exquisite and beautiful face popped up in Nan Chen¡¯s mind. Of course,

    she isn¡¯t ugly. If she¡¯s considered ugly, there won¡¯t be any beautiful women in this world.

    ¡°Not replying? That means she isn¡¯t ugly. Then is it because her family background isn¡¯t as prominent

    as yours? Is your family objecting to you being with her?¡± Qin Lan let her imagination run wild.

    Again, Nan Chen did not reply, tacitly implying that it was not the problem.

    ¡°Ah! I know already! She¡¯s married now. There¡¯s another man in the picture! You cannot ept her if

    she re-marries you!¡±

    Nan Chen jumped out of the chair in a sudden rage.

    That woman is with that man now. Will they get married? I won¡¯t allow it! Even if I, Nan

    Chen, don¡¯t want her, I won¡¯t allow her to get married to another man!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 218

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 218

    Qin Lan almost jumped out of her skin due to Nan Chen¡¯s sudden rage. Did I guess correctly? Is the

    woman married now?

    ¡°Don¡¯t be agitated. She¡¯s only re-marrying. A failed marriage is simr to a failed love rtionship. It¡¯s

    only because she has not met the right guy¡­¡±

    Qin Lan had not finished her sentence when Nan Chen put on a frosty expression and picked up his

    jacket, preparing to leave. ¡°Have I said anything wrong?¡± Qin Lan asked, with a face full of innocence.

    ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°Ah? If I have not said anything wrong, then why are you in a hurry to leave?¡± Qin Lan

    was puzzled. Without another word, Nan Chen strode off in the direction of the door.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Why do you not make yourself clear before you leave?¡± Qin Lan was in a

    panic now. Nan Chen did not bother to exin before he walked out of the room.

    Qin Lan followed him at his heels and bombarded him with questions, but he still did not say

    anything. That was his character. He had never liked to exin himself. Left with no choice, Qin Lan

    had to give up.

    ¡°I will charge you 2 hours¡¯ worth of consultation fees!¡± Qin Lan shouted as Nan Chen walked away from

    her. He did not bother to turn around to acknowledge herments. Such minor matters had never

    bothered him.

    The chauffeur did not expect his boss to be back so soon. Though he was curious, he dared not ask

    him anything.

    ¡°Call Qiao Zhan. Ask him to see me.¡±

    30 minutester, Qiao Zhan arrived at Nanshi Corporation Headquarters.

    Qiao Zhan was the head of security for the Nan family and seldom appeared in the office.

    He could tell at a nce that his Third Young Master was unhappy the moment he entered Nan Chen¡¯s

    office.

    Although 3rd Young Master always put on a stoic expression, his face would be colder when he

    was in a bad mood. The aura he emitted was so cold and would deter anyone from approaching him.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Young Master, do you have any orders for me?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that woman¡¯s situation now?¡±

    For a moment, Qiao Zhan was at a loss for words as he did not know what he meant by his question.

    ¡°Young Mistress¡­¡±

    ¡°She is not¡­¡± Nan Chen cut him off.

    ¡°Ms. Ding is fine.¡±

    ¡°Who did she have dinner on that day she brought the children out?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°How can you not know?¡±

    Qiao Zhan bowed his head, ¡°You have instructed us to protect the children, and not ask about any

    other unrted matters. So I dared not ask¡­¡±

    ¡°Go and check now!¡±

    After acknowledging him, Qiao Zhan ran aside to make a phone call.

    After the phone call, Qiao Zhan ran over to him and reported, ¡°Ms. Ding and a man took the children

    out for a meal¡­¡±

    Ping! Nan Chen mmed the table.

    Though he had expected the answer, he still could not suppress his anger.

    Is that woman really intending to find a stepfather for the kids? Must she find such a lousy man?

    Qiao Zhan dared not utter a word, seeing that Nan Chen was fuming mad now.

    ¡°Continue.¡±

    ¡°The meal was paid for by the man. As it was too expensive, the man could not cough up the cash on

    the spot, so he had swiped his credit card.¡±

    ¡°Haven¡¯t I asked you to protect the kids? Why do you know so much?¡± Nan Chen chided him.

    Qiao Zhan was stumped by his question. How can I report to you if I didn¡¯t know this? I will get scolded

    whether I knew or didn¡¯t know. So what should I do?

    ¡°We¡­ It¡¯s not me. My subordinates are the ones who know about it.¡± Qiao Zhan deflected the me to

    others as a temporary measure.

    ¡°Continue.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing more. They returned to their homes separately.¡±

    Nan Chen knew this as he was the one to arrange for her transport home.

    ¡°Are they¡­ very close?¡±

    Qiao Zhan pondered over his question. How should I answer?

    While he, the Nan family¡¯s head of security, was a man of great strength and courage, he was not as

    sophisticated as Jiang Zhe about the ways of the world.

    Since he was unable to read Nan Chen¡¯s mind, he gave the answer he deemed most appropriate.

    ¡°I think they¡¯re okay?¡± Qiao Zhan replied, slightly flustered, ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡±

    ¡°Investigate him.¡±

    ¡°Fourth Young Master has asked us to investigate him before. We did not find out much about him. He

    doesn¡¯t have an extraordinary background, but he and Ms. Ding have known each other since young.

    There¡¯s nothing else aside from this.

    Nan Chen was skeptical. If this man doesn¡¯t have an extraordinary background, where does he get the

    confidence to fight with the Nan family over a woman? Is he stupid? Or is he looking to seek his own

    death?

    ¡°I asked Fourth Young Master before if we should chase that man out of the Flower City. But he said

    that he wished topete with the man fair and square, instead of resorting to such means to deal

    with him. Only in this way would Ms. Ding side with him. If he deployed other means, Ms. Ding would

    sympathize with that man as he was the underdog.¡± Qiao Zhan added.

    So that¡¯s Nan Xing¡¯s thinking. He really has spent a lot of effort on this woman. Sigh¡­

    Nan Chen did not reply. He was thinking about how to handle this matter.

    Nan Xing has a point. It does seem inappropriate if I am to chase that woman¡¯s childhood friend out of

    the Flower City. That woman has not married into the Nan family. Logically, she has the right to date

    anyone, and the Nan family cannot interfere in her decisions. But how can I let her be?

    ¡°How do you think I should handle this?¡± Nan Chen asked Qiao Zhan.

    Qiao Zhan stammered, trying toe up with an answer.

    What kind of joke is he ying on me? I am nothing but a brusque man. How can I know how to handle

    the Young Masters¡¯ rtionship matters? Isn¡¯t he making things difficult for me?

    ¡°Speak.¡±

    Nan Chen assumed Qiao Zhan was too embarrassed to speak his mind, so he forced him to speak.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± said Qiao Zhan resignedly.

    ¡°You know.¡±

    Qiao Zhan was forced to a corner. I must know if the Young Master insists that I know.

    ¡°I will capture that man, and warn him not to pester Ms. Ding anymore.¡± Qiao Zhan had no choice but to

    come up with a suggestion, however imusible it sounded.

    ¡°We can¡¯t use force.¡±

    Again, Qiao Zhan sank into a state of dilemma. Are we going to use love and reason out with this man

    if we aren¡¯t using force? I am nothing but a brusque man! I don¡¯t know what else to use other than

    violence!

    ¡°Young Master, why don¡¯t you give me instructions and I will carry out them? I really don¡¯t know how to

    handle it myself,¡± Qiao Zhan pleaded.

    Nan Chen looked at his watch, ¡°You go and get it done now. I have to go to a meeting.¡±

    ¡°I¡­¡±

    ¡°Go.¡± Nan Chen waved his hand dismissively.

    Qiao Zhan was in a state of confusion as he walked out of Nan Chen¡¯s office.

    Nan Chen had asked him to ¡®get it done¡¯, but he had absolutely no idea what was to be done.

    If I do it well, everything will be fine. But if not, not only will I offend both Young Masters, I may very well

    offend the future Young Mistress! This matter is too difficult for me! But what else can I do except to

    obey Young Master¡¯s orders? If I do it, I may offend him, but if I don¡¯t, I¡¯ll be going against him! My job

    will be in a precarious state!

    On his way to the carpark, Qiao Zhan was racking his brains toe up with a solution.

    What exactly does Young Master mean? What does he want me to do? What is the oue is he

    expecting? I can only act after I understand my boss¡¯ intentions!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 219

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 219

    At night, after Ning Ran wrapped up her filming for the day, she boarded Feng Minsheng¡¯s BMW to

    head for dinner together. This time, Feng Minsheng did not opt for a high-end restaurant but a simple,

    ordinary one instead.

    Ever since he met Ning Ran, he realized that he was ensnared into a cycle of high-end consumption. I

    was merely buying the kids a meal, but she had chosen A1 set meal, the most expensive set meal on

    the menu, causing me to run out of cash immediately.

    Of course, he had no idea that Nan Chen was the one who had ordered the set meals when he made

    the restaurant reservation. He had intended for Ning Ran to spend more and had never expected Feng

    Minsheng to be the sucker instead.

    After a few more dates with Ning Ran, Feng Minsheng could not stand it anymore, as the restaurants

    she had chosen were all high-end and expensive.

    Feng Minsheng was very well aware that his smart, polished appearance was only a fa?ade, and he

    was no rich person. Thus he finally opted for an ordinary restaurant today, caving under the immense

    pressure brought upon him by Ning Ran¡¯s extravagant choices.

    After reaching the restaurant, Ning Ran realized that it was too low-ss and understood Feng

    Minsheng¡¯s motive instantly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to dine here.¡± Ning Ran refused to go in.

    ¡°Why?¡± Feng Minsheng asked, flustered.

    ¡°The environment¡¯s not good. I don¡¯t like it.¡±

    ¡°The food here is pretty good. You will know after you¡¯ve tried it.¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to try it.¡±

    With that, Ning Ran turned around to leave.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Huh! You¡¯re trying to cause me harm, yet you don¡¯t want to spend a penny. Dream on!

    ¡°Where do you want to dine at then?¡± Feng Minsheng asked testily, obviously displeased with her.

    ¡°Anywhere but here.¡±

    Left with no choice, Feng Minsheng had to follow her out of the restaurant in a soured mood.

    Detecting Feng Minsheng¡¯s apparent displeasure, she said, ¡°You can jolly well leave first if you¡¯re not

    happy about my insistence to change restaurants.¡±

    ¡°Of course not. You have such a difficult time filming. You deserve a treat. I will apany you to

    wherever you like to dine at.¡± Feng Minsheng pasted a forced smile on his face, suppressing his

    irritation.

    ¡°Okay. Then let¡¯s go.¡±

    Ning Ran boarded the car again. This time, she selected a restaurant she and Nan Xing had visited

    before.

    Feng Minsheng gave up the moment they reached its entrance. The ce was simply too expensive.

    After all, how could any restaurant that Nan Xing had visited be cheap?

    ¡°Ran, can we not frequent such ces? I¡¯m sick of dining at such restaurants.¡±

    Ning Ran knew Feng Minsheng thought the restaurant was out of his league. Thus, she puts on a

    perplexed look.

    ¡°The food here is very nice. You will know after you try.¡±

    ¡°Ran, let¡¯s change venues. This restaurant isn¡¯t good.¡±

    ¡°Which part of it isn¡¯t good?¡±

    ¡°It just doesn¡¯t feel right. It may look nice, but the food probably doesn¡¯t taste good.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s pretty good. You will know once you try it.¡±

    ¡°No, Ran. I.. I need to spend the money in other areas, so¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh! You¡¯re broke? Why are you still asking me out if you¡¯re broke?¡± Ning Ran asked coldly.

    ¡°No, that¡¯s not the case¡­¡±

    ¡°What is it if it¡¯s not the case? Go home and eat instant noodles if you¡¯re broke. Why do youe out

    here to embarrass yourself?¡±

    ¡°Ran, how can you say that? What do you mean by ¡®embarrassing myself¡¯?¡± Feng Minsheng was really

    growing madder now.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it embarrassing yourself if you have no money for dinner? Then let us go our separate ways!¡±

    Ning Ran turned around to leave.

    Feng Minsheng was agitated by now. Hardening his resolve, he said, ¡°Let us dine here then!¡±

    Anyway, I have a few credit cards with me. I can always swipe them if I¡¯m left with no choice. My task is

    aplished if I cause Ning Ran to fall out with the Nan family. At that time, I wille into a big pile

    of money and can settle everything then.

    Ning Ran knew Feng Minsheng was going beyond his means to impress her. She scoffed and entered

    the restaurant with him.

    Ning Ran asked after they were seated, ¡°Aren¡¯t you driving a BMW? I heard you¡¯re a high-ranking

    officer? Why are you so broke that you can¡¯t even afford a meal?¡±

    Slightly abashed, Feng Minsheng replied, ¡°The situation isn¡¯t so bad. It¡¯s just that I need to spend

    money on a lot of areas recently. That¡¯s why I have exceeded my spending limit. But rest assured. I like

    you and will give you nothing but the best. Just order what you like.¡±

    ¡°Then I won¡¯t stand on ceremony.¡±

    Ning Ran started to order after scrolling through the menu on the iPad.

    Nervousness crossed Feng Minsheng¡¯s features. He must be worrying that I will order dishes that are

    too expensive and beyond his means.

    Initially, Ning Ran had nned for him to cough up loads of money for thevish meal, but she was

    worried that it might implicate herself if he had no means to pay for it. Thus, she capped her spending

    to within 3 thousand.

    ¡°Do you want some white wine?¡±

    Feng Minsheng readily agreed upon hearing the words ¡®white wine¡¯.

    ¡°I have some white wine in the car. Let me go and take it.¡±

    You still want to drug me? Dream on!

    ¡°No need for that. We can order any bottle here.¡±

    ¡°Fine, then I will order randomly.¡±

    In the end, the cheapest white wine in the restaurant cost over a thousand. Feng Minsheng grimaced

    and went ahead with the order.

    When the dishes were served, Feng Minsheng poured her a ss of white wine.

    ¡°I¡¯m not drinking. I¡¯m having gastric.¡±

    ¡°Ah? Weren¡¯t you the one who wanted to drink white wine?¡±

    ¡°Your mood isn¡¯t too good, so I have asked you to drink a bit to ease your mood,¡± said Ning Ran,

    feigning concern.

    ¡°I can¡¯t finish the whole bottle. Why don¡¯t you drink a ss too?¡±

    ¡°No, I can¡¯t drink. My gastric isn¡¯t too well. I still need to film tomorrow, and will drink other beverages

    instead.¡±

    Ning Ran requested a ss of fruit juice, leaving Feng Minsheng to drink the bottle of white wine all by

    himself in a rather hasty manner, as he was in a soured mood.

    Ning Ran poured him another ss, ¡°I toast to you. Thank you for treating me to dinner even if your

    financial situation isn¡¯t in the best state now. I will pay for the meal if you can¡¯t afford itter.¡±

    Ning Ran had said those words on purpose to agitate Feng Minsheng.

    Expectedly, Feng Minsheng could not take her taunts lying down, ¡°Ran, how can you say that? Even if

    I¡¯m not as rich as the Nan family, I¡¯m not that poor either. I won¡¯t allow you to pay for the meal. Your

    words are too hurtful!¡±

    With that, he downed the ss at once and poured himself another ss.

    It was what Ning Ran had wanted, for Feng Minsheng to panic. He will drink a lot of alcohol

    if he¡¯s agitated. In that way, I can make him drunk easily. The n tonight is to make him drunk so that I

    can obtain his phone. Maybe I can find out the truth once I dial the number he frequently calls, using

    his phone.

    ¡°Ran, I know you look down on me. But please believe me. I will treat you well.¡±

    ¡°How do you intend to treat me well?¡±

    ¡°I will try my best. What¡¯s so good about the Nan family? They¡¯re only rich. Can one do everything

    simply by being rich?¡±

    Feng Minsheng still felt inferior and brought up the topic of the Nan family without any prompting.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 220

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 220

    Judging from Feng Minsheng¡¯s drowsy state, Ning Ran could tell he was almost drunk. But she was not

    sure how much he could drink before he was thoroughly drunk.

    I will lose if he¡¯s too drunk to even pay for the billter¡­ I¡¯ll have to pay for it myself! So I must control

    the situation well. I must make him drunk, just not dead drunk.

    ¡°Don¡¯t drink so much,¡± reminded Ning Ran in pretense. ¡°I¡¯m okay. A little wine won¡¯t bring me down.¡±

    Feng Minsheng waved his hands dismissively. Ning Ran felt at ease, looking at his state now. ¡°Ah, I

    have to call the kids.¡±

    Ning Ran fished her phone from her bag, ¡°Oh, why is it t again? Phone batteries nowadays are so

    unreliable.¡±

    ¡°Use mine.¡± Feng Minsheng passed his phone to her. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll head over there to make the call. The kids are too noisy. You carry on drinking.¡± Not caring for Feng

    Minsheng¡¯s reply, she headed to the toilet with his phone in her hands.

    In the toilet, she closed the door and dialed the number. A woman picked up the phone within a few

    rings. ¡°Minsheng, are you still together with that little slut? How is it going?¡±

    Ning Ran kept quiet. The voice sounds familiar. Though she could not ce it for a second, Ning Ran

    was sure she knew the owner of the voice.

    ¡°Minsheng, why aren¡¯t you talking? How is that little slut now? Don¡¯t ever let her marry into the Nan

    family!¡±

    Ning Ran pricked her ears at the words ¡®little slut¡¯. She finally remembered who the owner of the voice

    was! She was used to being scolded in such a manner by this person and had grown very sensitive to

    this term. Coupled with that vicious tone, the person can only be that evil stepmother of mine, Luo Yi!

    Last time, Luo Yi had always pretended to be gentle in front of Ning Ran¡¯s father, Ning Ziqiang. But

    behind his back, she was always scolding her and referring to her as ¡®little slut¡¯.

    After so many years, Ning Ran had not forgotten that woman¡¯s evil curses towards her.

    Hurriedly, Ning Ran hung up the phone.

    So, Feng Minsheng has always maintained contact with Luo Yi and Ning Ziqiang. He has pretended to

    care about me with the motive of sabotaging me and causing me to fall out with the Nan family. To think

    I was touched when he remembers my mother¡¯s birthday. It seems like they have ganged up to plot

    against me. But why does Luo Yi want to stop me from marrying into the Nan family? What good does

    she have out of it? Or does she think that I should not marry into the Nan family if Luo Fei fails to do

    so? Is it for revenge? Or maybe Luo Fei has not died and is secretly in contact with Luo Yi?

    ¡°Ran? Ran?¡±

    Feng Minsheng¡¯s voice drifted in from the other side of the door.

    Ning Ran came out of the toilet hurriedly, and returned the phone to him, ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Suddenly, the phone rang when it was in Feng Minsheng¡¯s hand.

    Feng Minsheng walked aside to pick up the call.

    Oh no! It must be that witch, Luo Yi calling him! I must have aroused her suspicions when I did not talk

    during the call just now! Now, everything will be out in the open after Feng Minsheng picks up her call.

    Expectedly, Feng Minsheng walked over and asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you use my phone to call the kids?¡±

    Smiling, Ning Ran asked, ¡°How did you know?¡¯

    ¡°Ran, what are you up to?¡±

    ¡°I should ask the same to you. What are you up to?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not up to anything. Let¡¯s return to our seats first to talk things out.¡±

    Fine, then I will trash things out with you.

    ¡°Why did you use my phone to call Auntie? She has changed her phone number. How did you get the

    new phone number?¡±

    ¡°Of course, I know that. I also know you always visit them and discuss with them how to plot against

    me.¡±

    ¡°Not to plot against you. We¡¯re only concerned¡­¡±

    ¡°Stop pretending!¡± Ning Ran could not bear it any longer, ¡°Feng Minsheng, stop with your act. It only

    disgusts me!¡±

    ¡°Ran, you must be mistaken. I genuinely like you.¡±

    ¡°Enough! You¡¯re indeed so disgusting! How dare you say this to me when you¡¯re coborating with

    others to plot against me! Feng Minsheng, let me be honest with you. I have suspected you long ago,

    just that I don¡¯t have the evidence on hand. I always know someone is behind this whole scheme. So it

    is that evil witch! Your motive is to stop me from marrying into the Nan family, am I right? What good

    does it do you? What benefits has the witch given you?¡±

    ¡°Ran, you¡¯re mistaken. It isn¡¯t what you assume. I really like you. As for Uncle and Auntie, it¡¯s only

    because they have no one to take care of them so I visit them when I have the time. They miss you

    too¡­¡±

    ¡°Shut up! You still want to continue lying? That witch caused my mother¡¯s death. She misses me? I

    think she just wants me dead! Tell her that I will avenge my mother¡¯s death one day! I will look for her

    even if she does not look for me!¡±

    ¡°Ran¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t call me in that manner! You¡¯re not worthy! From now on, do not look for me or follow me.

    Otherwise, I will not spare you!¡±

    Standing up, Ning Ran grabbed her bag and was about to storm off when Feng Minsheng blocked her

    path, ¡°Ran, you can¡¯t treat me this way!¡±

    ¡°Why can¡¯t I when you lie to me every day and have even ganged up with others to plot against me?¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t lied to you. It¡¯s evident how well I treat you. Ever since we got together, I have spent so much

    on you. It¡¯s all for you. Isn¡¯t it too much of you to leave just like this?¡±

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Feng Minsheng was getting increasingly agitated under the influence of alcohol.

    ¡°You approached me for the sake of sabotaging me. You have forked out the money willingly. Do you

    expect me to pay you back?¡±

    ¡°I had no money all along. For your sake, I even rented a BMW and spent all my savings on you within

    a month. Am I not treating you well enough? The restaurants you¡¯ve selected while we¡¯re out are all so

    darned expensive. Have I had a singleint? Don¡¯t me me if you¡¯re so heartless!¡±

    Ning Ran sneered, ¡°So are you intending to fall out with me?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s you who wants to fall out with me! Ran, you¡¯re too heartless!¡±

    ¡°You scheme against me and still dare to im I¡¯m heartless? It¡¯s you who wanted to pretend to be a

    rich man. I have made you spend so much money to let you see clearly what you really are. Do you

    think I¡¯m a fool who believes whatever you say? I¡¯m going now. Don¡¯t you dare to block my path,

    otherwise I will call the police!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t think about leaving this ce if you don¡¯t make yourself clear tonight!¡± Feng Minsheng stood in

    front of the door, refusing to let Ning Ran through.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 221

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 221

    They were now in a stalemate. Ning Ran knew perfectly well that if she were to call the cops, Feng

    Minsheng would immediately snatch the phone away from her hands.

    But if she were to make amotion, that wouldn¡¯t look good for her either. What If someone were to

    record them with their phone and the footage became viral? Things might get a little troublesome.

    Hence, Ning Ran decided that it was best to listen to what he had in mind. Ning Ran took the initiative

    to sit down, before picking up her chopsticks once again and cing a piece of tofu into her mouth.

    She then poured herself a ss of wine and chugged it down in one go. Feng Minsheng was a little

    taken aback by her sudden change of behavior, but she seemed to have calmed down.

    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    ¡°Have a seat. Didn¡¯t you say that you have something that you wanted to talk about?¡± said Ning Ran as

    she gestured for Feng Minsheng to sit.

    Feng Minsheng hesitated momentarily before heplied. ¡°What is it? I¡¯m on all ears,¡± said Ning Ran

    as she poured some wine for Feng Minsheng.

    Feng Minsheng skipped the formalities and knocked back the drink. ¡°Indeed, I have been in contact

    with Uncle Ning and Aunt Luo, that I do admit. But it is not what you think.¡±

    ¡°Continue,¡± Ning Ran prompted. ¡°They truly care for you, but they know that you feel nothing but

    contempt for them. That is why they decided to keep a distance and had me approach you in their

    stead.¡±

    ¡°Then I guess I have to thank you, since you came here to take care of me on behalf of my dad,¡± said

    Ning Ran sarcastically.

    ¡°I know that it is hard for you to believe what I have just said, but that is the truth,¡± replied Feng

    Minsheng shamelessly.

    ¡°Hey, I do believe you. I even wanted to thank you,¡± snickered Ning Ran.

    ¡°Ran, you are currently working as an actress, and you have a bright future ahead of you. There is no

    need for you to marry into the Nan household. You will do just fine without them,¡± Feng Minsheng

    continued.

    ¡°I know. I¡¯m still waiting for you to give me a good life,¡± Ning Ran quipped with augh.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to trust me right now, but I will prove to you that I have the ability to make you happy.¡±

    ¡°How¡¯s my dad doing?¡± Ning Ran asked as she poured refilled his winess.

    ¡°He¡¯s doing just fine, but thepany is struggling. It has been losing money for the past two years

    and incurred arge amount of debt. Who knows how long it mightst,¡± answered Feng Minsheng.

    It was all within Ning Ran¡¯s expectations. The reason thepany was doing fine previously was only

    due to her mother¡¯s management.

    While Ning Ziqiang was the chairman of thepany, it was all just for show. From management to

    operation, her mother was the one who did everything behind the scenes.

    Ever since they murdered her mum and took charge of thepany, thepany had been going

    downhill.

    The only reason thepany hadn¡¯t gone bust was because of the strong foundation that her mum

    had established. The market that she had single-handedly created wasrge enough tost them a few

    years.

    But no matter how strong the foundation was, it would be impossible to sustain them forever if the

    management was ipetent, especially in an ever-changing world of business.

    They¡¯re just getting what they deserved.

    ¡°Do they have any ns to revive business? Or are they just going to watch thepany go under?¡±

    asked Ning Ran.

    Feng Minsheng opened his mouth to reply, but the words got stuck in his throat.

    Looking at Feng Minsheng¡¯s expression, Ning Ran knew that she had asked the right question.

    His hesitation revealed that it was somehow rted to Ning Ran.

    At this moment, a waiter approached them and asked them if there was anything that he could help

    them with.

    As Ning Ran gestured for the bill, Feng Minsheng took the initiative to pay for both of them.

    ¡°Let me pay for my share too. But the expenses in the past was out of your willingness, I didn¡¯t force

    you to y the wealthy man.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s a small price to pay for keeping you next to me. But Ran, don¡¯t you think you should ask

    for somepensation for babysitting the Nan family¡¯s children?¡± asked Feng Minsheng.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°It is pretty unreasonable of them to not pay you for your services, especially since theye from

    such a wealthy family.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t do it for the money, so why should they be paying me?¡±

    ¡°Now that¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong. You should be rewarded for your effort. Raising two kids from the Nan

    family is by no means a small matter,¡± Feng Minsheng said with certainty, thick-skinned as ever.

    ¡°If I were after the money, wouldn¡¯t it be better for me to be the young mistress of the Nan family?

    If you truly cared for me, shouldn¡¯t you be thinking of ways for me to marry into Nan family? Don¡¯t

    worry, I¡¯ll reward you for your effort,¡± Ning Ran retorted.

    ¡°That won¡¯t do. How could I allow the woman that I love to marry into Nan family?¡±

    Feng Minsheng¡¯s eyes flickered, a dead giveaway that he was insincere with his words.

    ¡°What about this ¨C you help me marry into Nan family, I¡¯ll file for a divorce and receive a huge amount

    of alimony, and then we can be together. Wouldn¡¯t that be a great idea?¡±

    ¡°No¡­ There is no need for you to marry into that family. You just have to ask for money.¡±

    ¡°Then how much do you think should I ask for?¡±

    Feng Minsheng¡¯s eyes lit up.

    ¡°We¡¯re talking about the Nan family here, so twenty million shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡±

    Ning Ran scoffed internally at his suggestion. Merely twenty million? His ambition is too small! Others

    would have asked for a billion!

    ¡°But what happens if they refuse?¡±

    ¡°You could just use their children as coteral. Trust me, they wouldn¡¯t be too stingy when ites to

    their kids.¡±

    These words seemed toe from his heart.

    His ploy was a rtively simple one. The first step was to gain Ning Ran¡¯s trust by showing his

    affection for her, and then prevent her from marrying into Nan family by spoiling her rtionship with

    the Nan family.

    If Ning Ran were to marry into Nan Family, the amount of money she had would have nothing to do

    with him.

    Hence, his n had two objectives. The first was to prevent Ning Ran from marrying into Nan family,

    and the other, to gain a sum of money by taking advantage of their squabble.

    As long as he could establish a rtionship with Ning Ran, he would naturally have a share of what

    she demanded from the Nan family.

    After returning the kids to Nan family, Ning Ran would once again be a single woman ¨C a pretty

    and wealthy one at that.

    Being able to marry a woman of such high status would be the dreams of many. Naturally, Feng

    Minsheng nned to use Ning Ran to reach the peak of his life.

    He was pleased with his schemes, and had full confidence that it would work. Hence, he was willing to

    rent a BMW just to impress Ning Ran, which was a profligate act on his part.

    Feng Minsheng believed that the more he invested, the more benefits he would reap. Feng Minsheng

    fervently hoped that the day his investments produce a tenfold return would eventually arrive. That was

    the reason that he had persevered and continued to pursue Ning Ran.

    However, not only did Ning Ran want to leave, she had also explicitly told him to never call her again. It

    was impossible for Feng Minsheng to stay calm.

    If I don¡¯t see her anymore, wouldn¡¯t that mean that my investments were all for naught?

    ¡°Ran, what are you thinking right now?¡± asked Feng Minsheng when he saw Ning Ran spacing out.

    ¡°I was just thinking that your idea is a pretty good one. Problem is, it wouldn¡¯t look good if I were to be

    so blunt about it, and things would get messy if the Nan family were to reject my demand.¡±

    ¡°Rest assured, the Nan family wouldn¡¯t reject your request. You have their kids with you.¡±

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll have a talk with Nan Xing about this.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right, you should do just that! You can negotiate with them If that amount is too much for them.

    It will be fine as long as you bring home at least 10 million. Once you sessfully obtain 10 million, we

    won¡¯t have anything to worry about for the rest of our lives! We can elope to a ce where no one can

    find us and spend the rest of our lives in luxury!¡± Feng Minsheng eximed, his eyes sparkling with

    greed.

    He was clearly yearning for the good life.

    ¡°How delusional!¡± Ning Ran thought to herself as she sneered silently.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 222

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 222

    Ning Ran continued to refill Feng Minsheng¡¯s ss, urging him to drink. He eventually passed out on

    the table.

    Ning Ran left the restaurant with ease. As she stood at the side of the road, attempting to hail a cab

    back home, she was approached by ck Jeep that seemed familiar.

    As the jeep pulled over in front of her, she noticed Qiao Zhan in the driver¡¯s seat. There was no one

    else in the car. ¡°Young Mistress, please get in the car,¡± said Qiao Zhan politely.

    ¡°Wow, you are still following me at this hour? I must say, I¡¯m impressed,¡± Ning Ran mused. ¡°That¡¯s

    nothing. Ensuring the safety of the Young Mistress is my job.¡±

    That was a good choice of words ¨C it was neither servile nor overbearing. I¡¯m not following you as

    much as I was trying to protect you. Even if you think that I am stalking you, there is nothing that I could

    do about that.

    Ning Ran understood the hidden meaning behind Qiao Zhan¡¯s words, so she did not give the driver any

    trouble and got into the car immediately.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    It was a free ride anyway.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Nan Xing? I haven¡¯t been able to contact him recently,¡± inquired Ning Ran.

    ¡°Young Master Xing went on a business trip to Europe. I was not filled in on what he is doing there nor

    when he wille back,¡± replied Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Even if you knew, you wouldn¡¯t tell me, would you, Captain Qiao?¡± Ning Ran chuckled.

    ¡°I would if I could, Young Mistress, but I honestly have no idea about his trip this time.¡±

    ¡°Fine, I get it.¡±

    Ning Ran leaned back into her seat, intending to take a short nap.

    ¡°Sir Chen summoned me to his office,¡± Qiao Zhan suddenly piped up.

    Ning Ran remained silent. She was curious as to where he was going with this conversation.

    ¡°Sir Chen brought you up,¡± Qiao Zhan continued.

    He was hoping that Ning Ran would give him some kind of response. That way, it would be easier for

    him to transfer the message.

    However, Ning Ran purposely kept her mouth shut, as she waited for him to continue.

    Without Ning Ran prompting him to speak, Qiao Zhan found it hard to share about his conversation

    with Sir Chen.

    The car fell into a deep silence.

    In this moment, Ning Ran came to the realization that feigning indifference was actually a handy

    weapon.

    As long as she remained silent, the other party wouldn¡¯t be able to gauge her thoughts or feelings, and

    hence wouldn¡¯t know how to continue.

    ¡°Young Mistress, do you not wish to know what Sir Chen said?¡± Qiao Zhan asked as he couldn¡¯t bear it

    any longer.

    ¡°He was talking to you, so why would I need to know anything about that?¡± Ning Ran asked in return.

    ¡°But Sir Chen was talking about you.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have any interest in that,¡± replied Ning Ran.

    Qiao Zhan had no choice but toe clean.

    ¡°Sir Chen said that he does not like the idea of you meeting the guy named Feng.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Ning Ran replied casually.

    Qiao Zhan¡¯s intention was to tell Ning Ran about the matter without offending her.

    Knowing that there was a high possibility that Ning Ran would marry into the Nan Family, Qiao Zhan

    didn¡¯t want to be in her bad books.

    If he were to be on bad terms with Ning Ran, he would be in deep trouble once she really became the

    Young Mistress of the family.

    While Qiao Zhan might be a brawny man, he was by no means a dumb one. He had to draw up a good

    strategy.

    After some thought, he finally came to an answer. He decided that it would be best to reveal bits and

    pieces of the message and give her a vague impression. Then, he would leave Ning Ran to interpret

    the message by herself. Not only would this help him aplish his task, it would also spare him from

    the risk of offending Ning Ran.

    However, he did not anticipate that Ning Ran would not take the bait.

    ¡°Since it was not to Sir Chen¡¯s liking, could you please refrain from having any interactions with that

    man from now on?¡± Resigned, Qiao Zhan gave up on his initial n and bluntly stated Master Chen¡¯s

    request.

    ¡°So I¡¯ll have to stop seeing Feng Minsheng just because Sir Chen doesn¡¯t like it? Is he going to stop

    talking to someone just because I told him I don¡¯t like it?¡±

    Naturally, Qiao Zhan couldn¡¯t answer.

    Obviously, Nan Chen would refuse toply with such an absurd request. There was no one in this

    world that could restrict him, not even his father.

    ¡°Will he?¡± Ning Ran prodded for an answer.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. After all, the young master is not someone that can be easily influenced by others to

    begin with. Even if the old master personally requested it, I doubt there will be any difference,¡± Qiao

    Zhan answered honestly.

    ¡°There you have it. If he wouldn¡¯t listen to me, then why would I have to listen to him? This has nothing

    to do with him. Tell him to mind his own business.¡±

    Qiao Zhan couldn¡¯t help but sigh. I wonder how mad Sir Chen would be if he learns about this.

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°No buts.¡±

    ¡°But Young Mistress, I¡¯m afraid that the young master might order me to do something nasty if you

    insist on hanging around the man.¡±

    ¡°And what exactly would he instruct you to do?¡±

    ¡°That would be to obstruct you and the man from seeing one another.¡±

    Ning Ran wanted tough. Even if you didn¡¯t stop me, I wouldn¡¯t want to hang around that liar! Go

    ahead and obstruct us!

    ¡°So what are you going to do about it?¡± Ning Ran asked, a devilish smile ying on her lips.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Young Mistress, that¡¯s why I¡¯m asking you.¡±

    ¡°How would I know? Just do whatever you like,¡± Ning Ran said nonchntly.

    Qiao Zhan seemed to be in a bind.

    I was worried that I would offend you, that was why I gave you prior notice. But you don¡¯t seem to care

    at all, so what should I do now?

    To make matters worse, the request from the young master was also vague.

    If Qiao Zhan¡¯s methods were too extreme and he harmed Ning Ran, it would be disastrous.

    On the other end of the spectrum, if he was too lenient, it wouldn¡¯t be able to serve the young master¡¯s

    purpose.

    Qiao Zhan was caught between a rock and a hard ce.

    Before he knew it, they arrived at Ning Ran¡¯s residence. Ning Ran thanked Qiao Zhan before she got

    out of the car.

    ¡°Young Mistress¡­¡±

    ¡°It would be better for you to not call me that as I¡¯m aware of my position. Besides, your young master

    wouldn¡¯t let me be the Young Mistress of the Nan family,¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°That may be so, but to me, you are the Young Mistress. As an underling, we are not allowed to refuse

    any orders given by our master. If I were to offend you in any way due to the master¡¯s orders, I hope

    that you can empathize with my difficult situation.¡±

    Qiao Zhan was open about where his loyalties were.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I understand your situation. So, what do you n to do? Beat Feng Minsheng up? I hope

    that the Nan family wouldn¡¯t kill someone over a trivial matter like this,¡± Ning Ran said with a faint smile.

    ¡°Rest assured, the Nan family abides by thew. We don¡¯t normally resort to physical assault, but there

    are many ways to make someone disappear from this town.¡±

    ¡°I understand. In that case, do as you please. Thanks for giving me a ride. I¡¯ll be on my way then, bye

    bye.¡± Ning Ran waved her hand to bid him farewell.

    ¡°Young Mistress¡­¡±

    ¡°Bye bye.¡± Ning Ran waved her hands again.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you putting me in a tough spot? You know full well that the young master doesn¡¯t like the idea of

    you being around that man. He can¡¯t evenpare to our young master¡­¡±

    But Ning Ran had already entered the house. It was unbeknownst to him whether the mistress had

    actually heard what he was saying.

    Suddenly Qiao Zhan¡¯s phone started to ring. It was from his subordinate who was giving him a report of

    that man. Apparently, he was shouting Ning Ran¡¯s name in front of a restaurant, appearing to be drunk.

    He had even threw up at the entrance of the restaurant.

    ¡°Then you y the drunkard and beat him up. We¡¯ll decide what to do after that,¡± said Qiao Zhan,

    feeling frustrated.

    ¡°But captain, didn¡¯t you say that we should proceed with this cautiously?¡± asked the subordinate as he

    was obviously confused.

    ¡°I have already been very cautious! Any more cautious and I would be in the lunatic asylum! Beat him

    up to vent some stress. Don¡¯t you dare cripple him or kill him, do you understand?¡± said Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Got it captain.¡±

    ¡°Remember not to overdo it!¡±

    ¡°Rest assured captain, I know how to gauge my strength.¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 223

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 223

    Early next morning, Ning Ran returned to the filming location. Based on their current progress, the film

    would be able to make its debut after about a month.

    Their current dilemma was that Zheng Lunlun was M.I.A because he was recovering from his illness.

    There were plenty of scenes that hadn¡¯t beenpleted yet because of his absence, and they had to

    wait until he fully recovered before they could finish filming.

    Ning Ran obviously wished for Zheng Lunlun¡¯s speedy recovery so that he could return and continue

    filming with her. Ning Ran felt safer whenever Zheng Lunlun was around.

    Ning Ran really believed that their duo performance in this movie would go viral and blow their views

    up.

    Afterpleting a scene, Ning Ran sat down to take a break while the crew rested as well.

    One of the male actors who had yed a minor character alongside her walked over. Ning Ran turned

    away, not looking at him.

    ¡°Ding, have some water.¡± The actor passed a bottle of water to her with a respectful yet fearful look on

    his face.

    ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± Ning Ran said coldly.

    ¡°Ding, when are your kids going to visit the set again?¡± the actor asked.

    Ning Ran was immediately annoyed at that. ¡°Why? So you can keep tormenting them?¡±

    The actor looked terrified and shook his head in denial. ¡°No, of course not, Ding. I was foolish to make

    such a mistake that day. I¡¯m sorry for upsetting the children, and I really, really want to apologize to

    them in person.¡±

    ¡°Apologize? You want to apologize to two kids? Am I hearing you right?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I want to apologize, and I need their forgiveness. If not-¡±

    ¡°If not, what?¡±

    ¡°If not, then I¡¯ll feel really bad. I won¡¯t be able to get over it.¡±

    Ning Ran scoffed at the absurdity of his words. What nonsense is he spouting? After seeing how full of

    himself he was that day, I doubt he even has a conscience.

    ¡°Did you forget that we¡¯re all actors here? Stop showing off your mediocrity in front of me. You have

    much to improve before you can begin to fool me with your acting, so just give up already,¡± Ning Ran

    cut him off sharply.

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, I-¡±

    ¡°Enough. I don¡¯t want to hear it. Just let bygones be bygones. My children were in the wrong as well,

    but they are kids, after all. If you want to be so petty with literal children, then I have nothing to say,¡±

    Ning Ran said in an icy tone.

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. It waspletely my fault. Ding, please just bring your kids here so I can

    apologize to them in person. I waspletely in the wrong.¡±

    Ning Ran nced at the actor. He was already sweating bullets at this point, so he probably wasn¡¯t

    acting.

    If he wasn¡¯t acting, that meant someone was pressuring him to apologize.

    The only ones who would do such a thing were the Nan family.

    That day, the actor had thrown a fit and argued with Erbao. Hurt and scared, Erbao had told Nan Chen

    about everything.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t know what Nan Chen did after that, but based on what she could see right now, it must

    have been pretty intense.

    ¡°Why are you suddenly so apologetic?¡± Ning Ran asked, ring at the actor.

    ¡°I just feel uneasy since I didn¡¯t apologize-¡±

    ¡°Why would you suddenly feel uneasy? You were pretty haughty that day.¡±

    ¡°I reflected on my behavior after going home. I felt really bad toward your children; they didn¡¯t know

    better because they are still young, but I retaliated as an adult. I feel like a real fool.¡±

    ¡°Enough, it¡¯s all in the past, and I don¡¯t want to talk about it anymore. You don¡¯t have to apologize,

    either.¡± Ning Ran waved a hand to dismiss him.

    ¡°No, I really have to apologize to them. In fact, I have to apologize to them in front of the whole cast

    and crew,¡± the actor said firmly.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the only way I can fix my mistake,¡± the actor said desperately.

    ¡°Who asked you to apologize?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°N-no one! I was the one who realized my mistake.¡± The actor started sweating even more profusely at

    that.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t tell me honestly, then I won¡¯t bring them here. I don¡¯t want them to be the target of

    ridicule again.¡±

    ¡°Please, I¡¯m begging you, Ding. Just help me out this once.¡±

    The actor suddenly dropped to his knees.

    Ning Ran was taken aback. What is he up to?

    ¡°Get up, quick. Don¡¯t pull this stunt with me. Others might think I¡¯m bullying you or something,¡± Ning

    Ran said in surprise.

    ¡°Ding, I won¡¯t get up unless you agree,¡± the actor said.

    The crew were shocked by the current situation. Are they simply rehearsing, or is a real-life melodrama

    unfolding before their very eyes?

    The rest of the crew racked their brains but couldn¡¯t seem to recall a scene that required the character

    to kneel in front of Ning Ran. They wondered if he was simply improvising.

    ¡°Get up! I¡¯m not going along with this.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll get up once you agree. If not, I refuse to stand.¡±

    ¡°Are you really going to just stay there, then? Because I won¡¯t agree.¡±

    ¡°I need to apologize to the kids, I need to. I absolutely need to,¡± the actor pleaded.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry. What exactly had Nan Chen done to strike such fear in

    this punk¡¯s heart?

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    ¡°What¡¯ll happen to you if you don¡¯t apologize?¡±

    ¡°All of my current jobs will be reced by other actors and I¡¯ll never see the light of day again. I¡¯ll

    basically be trash.¡±

    With that, Ning Ran immediately realized that Nan Chen was up to something.

    No one apart from him had the ability to do such a thing.

    Ning Ran was grateful that she had never crossed Nan Chen. If she did, would she have to kneel and

    beg for forgiveness from him, too, lest she was banned from ever showing her face in the

    entertainment industry again?

    ¡°Get up. I¡¯ll forgive you. You really don¡¯t need to do that. In fact, you¡¯re just going to cause an even

    bigger scene,¡± Ning Ran sighed.

    ¡°No! If I can¡¯t apologize to your children in front of the whole cast and crew, I¡¯ll really be done for.¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t get up right now, you¡¯ll really be done for. I know who¡¯s doing this to you, and I¡¯ll talk to him

    in your favor. You don¡¯t need to apologize to my kids. Christ, they¡¯re kids, after all, and I won¡¯t let them

    be bullies. You don¡¯t need to blow this up. If you don¡¯t get up within the next minute, I¡¯ll make sure

    you¡¯re really done for,¡± Ning Ran threatened.

    The actor still looked terrified. ¡°Ding-¡±

    ¡°Get up already! Grow a spine,e on. If you still stay down there, I¡¯m going to leave.¡±

    The actor finally got to his feet. ¡°Please, help me convince Mr. Qiao. I know what I did was wrong, so

    please ask him to let me off.¡±

    So, Nan Chen didn¡¯t even show up. Qiao Zhan was the one who settled it.

    After all, Nan Chen was a busy man. He would have been too busy to visit personally.

    ¡°I¡¯ll call him right now, okay? Stop worrying.¡±

    The actor finally got up and hung his head sheepishly. He didn¡¯t dare to look at the other cast and crew

    members.

    At first, she had been feeling pretty put off by acting alongside this actor, but with this turn of events,

    Ning Ran suddenly started feeling bad for him.

    After all, they all came from the same ce. Why was there a need to target each other?

    Ning Ran made the call, and an alluring voice answered. ¡°Hey.¡±

    That did not sound like Qiao Zhan. Ning Ran hurriedly nced at the number and cursed under her

    breath. She had identally called Nan Chen.

    Still reeling in shock from the actor¡¯s antics, she had dialed Nan Chen¡¯s number by ident.

    ¡°Speak,¡± Nan Chen said curtly.

    ¡°D-don¡¯t go after that actor anymore. They¡¯re just kids, there¡¯s no need to make it any bigger than it is.

    He doesn¡¯t have to apologize to them,¡± Ning Ran stammered.

    ¡°You were the one who failed to protect the kids. If I want to help them, who are you to stop me?¡± Nan

    Chen said coldly.

    Sh*t, did he wake up on the wrong side of the bed? I¡¯m just having a normal conversation with him!

    Why is he biting my head off?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 224

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 224

    ¡°I failed to protect the kids? I just think it¡¯s a small thing to make such a fuss about!¡± Ning Ran

    countered.

    ¡°The trauma that kids can suffer from being bullied canst a whole lifetime. What kind of mother are

    you to not know even that?¡± Nan Chen scoffed. Ning Ran was taken aback by the sheer impact of his

    insult.

    ¡°I did not let them get bullied. It was really just a small matter. You¡¯re going to turn them bullies and

    tattletales if you make a grown man apologize to them over such a trivial matter!¡± Ning Ran was slowly

    getting angry, too.

    ¡°Kids will face all sorts of obstacles and difficulties in life. If you stand up for them for every single

    struggle they face and let them win every battle, they¡¯ll start feeling invincible. They¡¯ll start to think that

    everything they do is right. They¡¯ll think that just because they have a powerful uncle, they can part the

    Red Sea! But that¡¯s not what life is supposed to be like at all! Even the most powerful man will trip over

    his feet and face obstacles that he¡¯ll have to work his ass off to ovee. Are you going to be able to

    help my kids throughout their whole lives? Will you be there for every mistake they make?¡±

    Ning Ran rattled on, like a teacher lecturing a delinquent.

    Nan Chen was so angry that he almost hung up, but suppressed his fury and sat through it.

    He knew, deep down, that this woman was making sense. She wasn¡¯t just barking mindlessly.

    After her little spiel, Ning Ran was worried that Nan Chen had already hung up.

    Hearing the dull crackle of the speaker, she rxed.

    ¡°Are you listening? Did you hear what I just said?¡±

    ¡°Sorry, what were you saying?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    Ning Ran almost exploded in rage. Did you just ignore my whole speech?

    ¡°I was telling you to not concede to my child¡¯s every wish and raise them as bullies!¡± Ning Ran could

    only summarize what she had just poured her soul into.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have time for your rubbish.¡±

    Then, he hung up.

    ¡°I-¡±

    Ning Ran wanted to smash her phone onto the ground, but managed to hold herself back. This phone

    wasn¡¯t expensive, but it still cost money, after all.

    ¡°Ding, how is it?¡±

    The actor who had been waiting with bated breath next to Ning Ran was taken aback, too. He was

    amazed at the sheer speed of her scolding, and the fact that she was able to pull so many metaphors

    out of the top of her head was even more shocking.

    ¡°All good. Go back to work.¡± Ning Ran waved a hand.

    ¡°Really? I won¡¯t be banned from the entertainment industry, right?¡± the actor asked with disbelief.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t trust me, then go and deal with it yourself,¡± Ning Ran said impatiently.

    ¡°I trust you! I trust you, of course I do,¡± the actor said hurriedly.

    ¡°Good.¡± Ning Ran waved her hand once more, signaling him to leave.

    No one else in the crew could figure out what exactly had yed out there. Their only impression of

    that whole showdown was that that actor had knelt to Ning Ran.

    How powerful was that woman to have that man kneel down before her?

    The other members of the crew immediately felt fearful of Ning Ran, too, and quickly made a mental

    note to not cross the woman.

    Ning Ran had assured the actor that everything was okay, but in truth, she felt uneasy.

    If anyone from the Nan family further pressurized that actor, then wouldn¡¯t she have to eat her own

    words?

    Just to be safe, Ning Ran made another call to Qiao Zhan to make sure that everything was settled.

    She had nned to call Qiao Zhan initially, but fate yed a game on her and she ended up dialing

    Nan Chen¡¯s number.

    The call went through quickly, and this time, Qiao Zhan answered. ¡°Young Mistress.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I already tell you to stop calling me that?¡±

    ¡°Miss Ding,¡± Qiao Zhan corrected himself immediately.

    ¡°Did you threaten one of the actors in our cast?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but I didn¡¯t exactly threaten him. I just told him what he was about to get himself into. It wasn¡¯t a

    threat, it was a fact,¡± Qiao Zhan said in a rather self-righteous tone.

    ¡°Okay. Listen up, then. This kind of stuff can¡¯t happen from now on.¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Qiao Zhan agreed coolly.

    His breeziness, however, gave rise to more suspicion.

    ¡°Why are you agreeing so easily?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Sir Chen has already called to inform me,¡± Qiao Zhan replied.

    So that was the case. While Poker Face might have seemed like he wasn¡¯t listening to her, he definitely

    had been. Besides that, he had acted on her words, too.

    That was pretty speedy of him.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Thanks, Qiao. That¡¯s all from me.¡±

    ¡°No need to thank me, Young Mistress. It¡¯s my job,¡± Qiao Zhan replied courteously.

    After hanging up, Ning Ran threw herself into her work.

    In the afternoon, after finishing her lunch, Ning Ran looked for a spot to take a quick nap to revitalize

    herself. Just then, her phone rang. It was a call from Feng Minsheng.

    Ning Ran felt exasperated. Can¡¯t he just leave me alone?

    Nope, I¡¯m not going to answer.

    Ning Ran instantly rejected the call.

    However, her phone buzzed with another iing call from Feng Minsheng right after she hung up. In

    fact, he kept calling and calling, even after she hung up multiple times.

    Ning Ran paid him no heed.

    At that moment, one of the staff members came over to tell her that there was a man outside who kept

    trying to break into the filming set. That man said he was looking for Ning Ran, so the staff member

    came over to call her.

    As expected, that person was Feng Minsheng.

    There were some bruises on Feng Minsheng¡¯s face. It seemed like he¡¯d been punched yet again.

    ¡°Ran, don¡¯t go. Please, hear me out,¡± Feng Minsheng practically lunged at her.

    Ning Ran felt a headacheing on. He had been pestering her for two or three days at this point. She

    cringed to think about how promiscuous she must seem to others who didn¡¯t know what was going on,

    with different men pestering her every other day.

    ¡°Feng Minsheng, I¡¯m warning you. If you show up before, I will immediately call the police!¡± Ning Ran

    announced loudly.

    ¡°Ning Ran, you¡¯re being heartless. I spent so much money on you, but you went and got other people

    to beat me up. I want to expose you! I¡¯m going to let the world know how terrible of a person you really

    are. I wonder who else will watch your movies when they hear about this!¡± Feng Minsheng wasn¡¯t

    backing down, either.

    He had spent so much time on her, but instead of reaping benefits, he got a good beating. Of course he

    found it was unfair.

    Ning Ran was frustrated.

    Why are there so many disgusting people in the world to deal with? Feng Minsheng had the good looks

    of a human being, but he did such beastly things.

    ¡°Do whatever you want. I can¡¯t stop you. Just stop harassing me, or I¡¯ll call the police on you,¡± Ning Ran

    said.

    ¡°Call them! Do you think I¡¯m scared? I want justice!¡± Feng Minsheng was agitated.

    The cast and crew crowded around outside when they heard another argument going on.

    Ning Ran was embarrassed. How annoying.

    Feng Minsheng kept pestering her and sticking to her like glue. How am I going to get out of this mess?

    At that moment, however, a ck Jeep pulled up, and Qiao Zhan got out of the car.

    ¡°Mr. Feng, I have something to talk to you about. Pleasee with me,¡± Qiao Zhan said politely.

    ¡°Who are you? Go away, I don¡¯t know you,¡± Feng Minsheng replied.

    ¡°That¡¯s fine. We¡¯ll get to know each other in no time.¡± Qiao Zhan walked over and reached out,

    wrapping an arm tightly around Feng Minsheng¡¯s shoulders.

    His actions seemed friendly, as if they were close friends who were just about to go out for a drink.

    Feng Minsheng obviously didn¡¯t want to go with him. He came here for Ning Ran, after all.

    He tried to struggle, but Qiao Zhan simply gripped him even tighter. He looked sincere and amiable, but

    his arm around Feng Minsheng was as firm as a metal band. Feng Minsheng couldn¡¯t escape no

    matter how hard he tried.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 225

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 225

    Ning Ran could tell that Feng Minsheng wasn¡¯t getting away from Qiao Zhan anytime soon. Ning Ran

    had witnessed Qiao Zhan¡¯s capabilities before. He was an extremely experienced fighter ¨C not even ten

    of Feng Minsheng¡¯s weak self stood a chance against him.

    Everyone watched as Qiao Zhan escorted Feng Minsheng into the ck Jeep with a friendly look

    before the car drove off.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go back to work! I¡¯m sorry for distracting everyone!¡± Ning Ran apologized as she waved her

    hands, indicating for everyone to return to their jobs.

    Since the perpetrator had been brought away and there was nothing left to entertain them, everyone

    went back to work.

    In the Jeep, Qiao Zhan inched closer to Feng Minsheng. ¡°Do you really not recognize me?¡±

    Feng Minsheng should have recognized Qiao Zhan, since Feng Minsheng had already been captured

    by him twice.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t. Who the hell are you?! This is kidnapping!¡± Feng Minsheng roared.

    Qiao Zhan waved a hand. ¡°Don¡¯t make a mountain out of a molehill. We¡¯re friends, aren¡¯t we? I just

    wanted to have a chat with you. You¡¯re not a woman, either, so why should I kidnap you?¡±

    ¡°This is kidnapping! What the hell are you up to? Let me go!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Once we¡¯re done talking, I¡¯ll let you go!¡± Qiao Zhan said as he threw his arm around Feng

    Minsheng¡¯s shoulders.

    Qiao Zhan brought him to an underground billiard room. Pointing at the table in the room, he asked,

    ¡°Do you know how to y?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but I don¡¯t want to,¡± Feng Minsheng said, annoyed.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just y one round. We can chat as we y,¡± Qiao Zhan beckoned his underlings to set up the

    table.

    ¡°I said no.¡± Feng Minsheng was still being stubborn.

    ¡°y. You better do what I tell you to.¡± Qiao Zhan¡¯s voice dropped a couple of degrees.

    ¡°I said, n-¡±

    Feng Minsheng hadn¡¯t finished talking before he felt thesh of a cue stick across his back.

    ¡°What the hell are you hitting me for?¡±

    Right after that, the cue sticknded on his head.

    ¡°I was giving you a chance. I told you, you better do whatever I tell you to do. Since you don¡¯t wanna

    y, you¡¯ll be my entertainment, instead. Do you want to y or do you want to be the toy?¡± Qiao Zhan

    asked.

    ¡°I-¡±

    Feng Minsheng was being slightly morecent after getting beaten up again.

    Qiao Zhan passed the cue stick to him, and all Feng Minsheng could do was take it.

    ¡°Are you any good?¡± Qiao Zhan asked Feng Minsheng.

    Still fuming, Feng Minsheng didn¡¯t answer.

    ¡°In order to make it seem less like I¡¯m bullying you, let¡¯s make this a fair game. If I get a ball in, I can

    ask you a question. If you get a ball in, you can ask me a question. How¡¯s that sound?¡± Qiao Zhan

    asked.

    ¡°Sure.¡± Feng Minsheng thought it sounded pretty fair.

    ¡°Please, be my guest.¡± Qiao Zhan indicated for Feng Minsheng to start first out of courtesy.

    ¡°You first,¡± Feng Minsheng said.

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Qiao Zhan started immediately and got two balls in right off the bat.

    ¡°Okay, that¡¯s two questions for me. You have to answer truthfully, or else, you¡¯ll have to eat this ball,¡±

    Qiao Zhan said.

    Feng Minsheng was regretting his decision. If he¡¯d known that Qiao Zhan was that good, he¡¯d have

    gone first.

    ¡°First question. What are your motives for getting close to Ning Ran?¡± Qiao Zhan asked.

    ¡°I like her and she likes me. We¡¯re dating,¡± Feng Minsheng said casually.

    ¡°Liar. The Young Mistress doesn¡¯t like you. You think I can¡¯t figure that out? Do you think I¡¯m an idiot or

    something?¡± Qiao Zhan swung the cue stick once more as he spoke.

    Feng Minsheng wanted to retaliate, but he held himself back. ¡°I¡¯m being honest, but you don¡¯t believe

    me. What am I supposed to do?¡±

    ¡°You think I can¡¯t tell if you¡¯re telling the truth or lying? You really do take me for an idiot, huh?¡± Qiao

    Zhan swung the cue stick once more.

    Feng Minsheng held his tongue this time.

    ¡°Second question. Who¡¯s the couple that you meet with so often?¡±

    Qiao Zhan took out a picture that showed a middle-aged man and a middle-aged woman.

    ¡°That¡¯s Ning Ran¡¯s father, Ning Ziqiang. The woman is her stepmother, and her name is Luo Yi,¡± Feng

    Minsheng answered.

    ¡°Now, you just told the truth, and therefore, I¡¯m not hitting you. See? I can tell whether you¡¯re telling the

    truth or lying,¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    Feng Minsheng didn¡¯t know how to respond. He didn¡¯t even know if there was a proper response to

    that.

    He didn¡¯t know what Qiao Zhan was up to either. Since he already knew the answers to his own

    questions, why was he still asking?

    ¡°Your turn. You go,¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    Feng Minsheng failed the first time because of his shaking hands.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous. I¡¯ll give you another chance, okay? Don¡¯t be nervous,¡± Qiao Zhan said warmly.

    Feng Minsheng tried again, but he failed once more.

    It was humanly impossible to remain calm in a situation like this.

    ¡°Ah, you kinda suck, don¡¯t you? You haven¡¯t even gotten one in,¡± Qiao Zhan sighed.

    Feng Minsheng was speechless. How am I supposed to score when you¡¯re giving me that much

    pressure?

    Qiao Zhan picked up the cue stick and scored again.

    ¡°Okay! My turn to ask.¡±

    Feng Minsheng was rendered speechless.

    ¡°What are your intentions for getting close to Ning Ran?¡±

    Feng Minsheng was taken aback. Hadn¡¯t he already asked that question?

    ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking: why am I asking you again? That¡¯s because you haven¡¯t given me the

    correct answer yet,¡± Qiao Zhan exined.

    ¡°I¡¯m being honest. I¡¯m not lying-¡±

    Another hitnded on his head. ¡°Lying again!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m warning you, Feng Minsheng. I¡¯m giving you a chance right now. Our Young Mistress hates your

    guts and she already asked me to get rid of you. If you still refuse to tell the truth, you¡¯ll have to suffer

    the consequences.¡±

    Nan Chen was the one who asked him to say that, though Qiao Zhan didn¡¯t understand the young

    master¡¯s motives.

    However, Sir Chen had his own reasons for asking him to do that, so Qiao Zhan simply followed.

    Feng Minsheng was deeply hurt by these words. He couldn¡¯t believe that Ning Ran would lie to him ¨C

    she said that she would think about getting together with him, but she turned around and ordered

    people to beat him up.

    In truth, Ning Ran knew nothing about this incident, because she had never said such a thing.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    Nan Chen was the one who had ordered the assault. Qin Lan¡¯s words had reminded Nan Chen that if

    the Feng Minsheng and Ning Ran got too lovey-dovey and actually ended up getting married, then he¡¯d

    really regret it.

    Nan Chen wanted Feng Minsheng to know that Ning Ran would never date him.

    There was no better way to stop two people from getting together than to make the two hate each

    other¡¯s guts.

    Nan Chen wanted Qiao Zhan to tell Feng Minsheng that to test their rtionship.

    Feng Minsheng stirred at Qiao Zhan¡¯s statement.

    Feng Minsheng¡¯s rtionship with Ning Ran was tense as it was, but with Qiao Zhan¡¯s words, Feng

    Minsheng¡¯s rage burned brighter.

    ¡°She wanted you to get rid of me? She asked you to do that?¡±

    ¡°Why, is it wrong for our Young Mistress to do so? Who do you even think you are? Do you think your

    rented BMW makes you a millionaire?¡± Qiao Zhan said in disdain.

    That wounded Feng Minsheng¡¯s pride even more. Qiao Zhan even knew that his BMW was rented.

    ¡°How did you know that?¡±

    ¡°Young Mistress told me. She called you shallow, and said you didn¡¯t deserve to drive a BMW. She

    even said you were just faking it and she called you an embarrassment!¡± Qiao Zhan intentionally

    showed his contempt for the man.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 226

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 226

    Feng Minsheng felt really hurt. Ning Ran knew his BMW was rented but had kept quiet all this while.

    Had she been treating him like a joke?

    Not only did he fail to execute his n, but he also became a joke! ¡°Ning Ran is no angel. She caused

    the death of her mother and her younger sister,¡± Feng Minsheng said.

    ¡°Oh¡­ interesting, go on. It¡¯s your turn by the way,¡± Qiao Zhan gestured. Feng Minsheng wasn¡¯t in the

    mood to y anymore. He gave up as he was about to have a meltdown. ¡°I will take over if you don¡¯t

    want to y,¡± Qiao Zhan said as he yed by himself.

    ¡°Ning Ran is an indecent woman. Her mother died in a fit of rage when she found out she had been

    fooling around with wild men. After that, she stole her parents¡¯ money, went abroad, and even got

    pregnant.

    Her father has fallen ill now and cannot afford treatment. He asked me to get some money from her for

    treatment, but she wouldn¡¯t give me anything. I have no choice but to harass her every day, with the

    hope of getting some money to treat her father¡¯s illness,¡± Feng Minsheng ndered Ning Ran.

    Qiao Zhan felt ufortable as he listened intently. Even though Ning Ran had yet to marry into the

    Nan¡¯s family and be the real Young Mistress, Qiao Zhan respected her a lot.

    Qiao Zhan and Ning Ran were sworn friends, aside from his work rtionship with the Nan family.

    They had faced life and death together in the dense forest.

    Qiao Zhan remembered Ning Ran¡¯s bravery during those days they had spent together in the forest

    vividly. Therefore, Qiao Zhan did not believe that Ning Ran was as ungrateful as Feng Minsheng had

    said.

    ¡°How dare you spread nderous lies about her just because she wouldn¡¯t get together with you? Are

    you still a man?¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    ¡°I¡¯m telling you the truth. This is Ning Ran¡¯s true colors. You can ask her Dad if you don¡¯t believe me!¡±

    This was Feng Minsheng¡¯s trump card; Mr. and Mrs. Ning were also in this together.

    Ning Ziqiang would intervene if Feng Minsheng couldn¡¯t handle it.

    Ning Ziqiang was Ning Ran¡¯s biological father. Surely, people would be more convinced of his words.

    Qiao Zhan kept quiet as he continued to hit the balls, analyzing what Feng Minsheng had just said.

    He couldn¡¯t make up his mind about it and will have to refer to his boss.

    ¡°You mentioned that it¡¯s all the Young Mistress¡¯s fault. So you¡¯re not at fault? You¡¯re a vignte who only

    wants justice for Ning Ran¡¯s father?¡± Qiao Zhan asked.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have any ulterior motives?¡±

    ¡°No, I grew up together with Ning Ran. She is my childhood friend. I don¡¯t wish for her to be such

    an ungrateful and heartless person,¡± Feng Minsheng said.

    ¡°Ok, you don¡¯t need to do this anymore. Don¡¯t go near the Young Mistress in the future. Can you do

    that?¡± Qiao Zhan asked.

    ¡°I¡­¡±

    ¡°I can help you if you can¡¯t,¡± Qiao Zhan said calmly.

    ¡°You can help me? How?¡±

    ¡°I can get someone to break your legs for you. That way, you won¡¯t be able to go near the Young

    Mistress anymore,¡± Qiao Zhan said solemnly.

    ¡°How dare you?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it enough reason for me to say that I dare break someone else¡¯s legs?¡±

    Qiao Zhan picked up a cue stick and hit thest colored ball into a pocket.

    ¡­

    Ning Ran finished filming at noon.

    She decided to personally pick her kids up from school and take them out for a treat since it was a rare

    asion for her to finish filming so early in the day.

    Ning Ran had very little time to spend with her kids ever since they had moved in with the Nan family.

    Moreover, she had been busy with work.

    However, it was also fortunate for them to be with the Nan family. Ning Ran wouldn¡¯t have time to care

    for them since she had to work long hours for most of the days.

    She would need to personally call Nan Chen to inform him that she would be picking up the kids.

    After all, this was a crucial matter as the children¡¯s safety was on the line. There was no margin for

    errors when it came to the safety of the grandchildren of the Nan family.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    His phone was switched off when she called.

    So she tried Nan Chen¡¯s other personal phone number. It was Jiang Zhe who picked up.

    Nan Chen had an important meeting that would not end until half an hourter.

    ¡°Assistant Jiang, please help me inform Mr. Chen that I will be picking up the kids today,¡± Ning Ran

    said.

    ¡°This¡­I cannot bother Mr. Chen right now.¡±

    ¡°Just convey the message to himter then. I am the children¡¯s mother, I will treat them well.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­Ok then.¡±

    Jiang Zhe was in a difficult position as he was aware of theplicated rtionship between the two of

    them.

    ¡°Thank you, Assistant Jiang.¡±

    ¡°Wait, Ms. Ding, let me first check with Mr. Chen. I¡¯m afraid I cannot undertake such a major

    responsibility.¡±

    Jiang Zhe was being cautious. He knew how important those two children were to Nan Chen.

    ¡°Fine, go ahead then,¡± Ning Ran said helplessly.

    Jiang Zhe was the only person who could enter the meeting room during a meeting without permission.

    He was the only one in thepany with such a privilege.

    Nan Chen knew something was going on when he saw him enter the room.

    Hence, he stood up and nodded to the attendees to indicate that he wanted to pause the meeting.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Ms. Ding called to inform that she wants to take the kids out for a meal since she finished work early

    today.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t they just have a meal recently?¡± Nan Chen frowned.

    ¡°This¡­¡±

    ¡°Fine, let her be. Let Qiao Zhan arrange for someone to take care of their safety.¡±

    ¡°Ok.¡±

    Jiang Zhe only felt at ease after receiving consent prior to getting back to Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran also felt relieved to learn that Poker Face had agreed to it. She was worried Nan Chen would

    give her a hard time regarding the kids.

    ¡°Auntie, let¡¯s have a meal together with the kids. We¡¯ll use your car,¡± Ning Ran told Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°You were not nning to invite me to lunch at all. You were forced to because you needed my car,

    right?¡± Cheng Xiangyun said with distaste.

    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. How clever of you, Auntie,¡± Ning Ran smiled and said.

    ¡°Ungrateful child. You just want me to be the driver, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. The kids missed you too, so let¡¯s have lunch together. Your treat!¡±

    ¡°What? Why should I treat you?¡± Cheng Xiangyun scoffed anxiously.

    ¡°You get along so well with the two kids. Shouldn¡¯t you treat them to a meal since you have not met

    them for so long?¡± Ning Ran spoke usibly.

    ¡°Darn it. You really are shameless. You¡¯re dating a billionaire and are being shuttled around in an

    expensive car. You still want to tax your little manager?¡±

    They both joked as they headed out of the set. They were about to get into the car when they heard

    someone calling out to Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran turned around and saw a grey-haired old man.

    Ning Ran¡¯s face froze with a smile.

    Ning Ziqiang!

    He had gotten a lot older since shest met him. He used to be a charming man but had lost all of his

    charming demeanor now.

    His hair had greyed and he had a hunched back.

    She suddenly recalled her past.

    Memories of how he and Luo Yi had tortured her mother shed through her mind.

    Ning Ziqiang had grabbed her mother¡¯s hair and dragged her across the floor. He had also sshed a

    bowl of hot soup onto her mother¡¯s face while hugging the slut, Luo Yi, in front of her mother, who

    confronted her sick mother and told her how lucky she was as a bitch to be still alive¡­

    Ning Ran turned her head away from him.

    She didn¡¯t want to hate him anymore. This man wasn¡¯t worthy enough for her to waste her emotions

    on.

    ¡°Ran, do you not recognize me anymore? I¡¯m your father!¡± Ning Ziqiang raised his voice and said.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 227

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 227

    Ning Ran turned around and walked away, not wanting to pay him any more attention.

    But Ning Ziqiang went after her and said, ¡°Ran, you can¡¯t pretend to not know me. I¡¯m your father.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t follow me, I don¡¯t know you!¡± Ning Ran pointed at Ning Ziqiang and said.

    ¡°Ran, how can you treat your father as such? You can¡¯t leave.¡±

    Ning Ziqiang rushed over and grabbed Ning Ran.

    It got awkward as Ning Ran was trying to break free but Ning Ziqiang wouldn¡¯t let go.

    If it had continued, they would soon be surrounded by a crowd.

    ¡°Let go, I don¡¯t know you!¡± Ning Ran red at Ning Ziqiang.

    ¡°How can you not know me? I¡¯m your father. I raised you. How can you pretend not to know me? Ran,

    do I have to get on my knees to beg you for you to ept me?¡±

    With that, Ning Ziqiang was about to get down on his knees when Ning Ran quickly grabbed and

    stopped him.

    She couldn¡¯t let him get on his knees. Otherwise, people would start gossiping!

    ¡°Let¡¯s talk in the car.¡± Ning Ran had no choice but to deal with him calmly.

    She needed to get him out of sight first in case the crew catch sight of him. Then she would figure out a

    way to get rid of him.

    An instance of gleeful anticipation shed across his face. He knew Ning Ran wouldn¡¯t just leave him

    like that since she needed to keep up appearances.

    Ning Ran left the set in Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s car, leaving Cheng Xiangyun with no choice but to take a

    cab.

    ¡°How have you been all these years? Ran, where have you been? I couldn¡¯t find you anywhere,¡± Ning

    Ziqiang asked.

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother Ning Ziqiang. You shouldn¡¯t havee to look for me if you have any sense of shame!¡±

    Ning Ran said coldly.

    ¡°Ran, how can you say that? I¡¯ve always cared about you and have been asking around about your

    whereabouts, but I couldn¡¯t find you,¡± Ning Ziqiang said.

    Ning Ran sneered, ¡°Stop acting, will you? Do you think I don¡¯t know what kind of person you are?

    What¡¯s the point of putting on an act with me?¡±

    ¡°Ran, I know you have some misunderstandings about me. What happened to your mother¡­¡±

    ¡°Do not ever mention my mother! Ning Ziqiang, you don¡¯t deserve to talk about her! If it wasn¡¯t for you,

    my mother would still be alive! You and Luo Yi killed her; you don¡¯t have the right to talk about her!¡±

    Her mother¡¯s death had been the biggest wound on Ning Ran¡¯s heart; it had never really healed.

    A slight graze was all it took to open up old wounds.

    Ning Ziqiang didn¡¯t mind that Ning Ran was yelling at him.

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t yell at me like that, I¡¯m your father. You cannot me me for your mother¡¯s death. She

    took things too hard and had always been a cunning person¡­¡±

    ¡°Shut up! You and that slut, Luo Yi, had been the cause of her death. And you still dare me her for

    taking things too hard? Do you still have a heart? Then again, it¡¯s not surprising as you¡¯ve never had a

    heart, to begin with! You¡¯re not even human!¡±

    Ning Ziqiang couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. He cried out, ¡°Ran! Can you not talk like that?¡±

    ¡°I just speak the truth. You dared do it but dare not face the usations head-on?¡±

    They had reached the end of the set by now. Since there were very few people around, Ning Ran

    stopped the car.

    ¡°What are you doing? Why did you stop the car here?¡± Ning Ziqiang asked.

    ¡°Get out of the car! I don¡¯t want to talk to you. Please don¡¯te looking for me at my workce ever

    again. I cannot afford to create a scene,¡± Ning Ran said coldly.

    ¡°But we are father and daughter. Shouldn¡¯t we have a meal together since we have not met for so

    long? I¡¯ve asked Aunt Luo to book a ce for us, she¡¯s waiting for us as of this moment. I will navigate

    you there,¡± Ning Ziqiang said.

    ¡°You still want to have a meal with me? Do you think I still have the appetite? Get down from the car

    now!¡± Ning Ran said coldly.

    ¡°Ran, you cannot treat your biological father like that. You¡¯re getting out of line,¡± Ning Ziqiang cried.

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­getting out of line? You still expect me to have a meal with you when you and that old hag killed

    my mother? Dream on! I know you have been colluding with Feng Minsheng to try and hurt me. I know

    everything! Both of you just pop up once Feng Minsheng has been exposed? I¡¯ve never seen such

    shameless people!¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s temper was ring as she talked.

    ¡°Ran, I know you have some misunderstandings about us. Things will be better once we exin it to

    you. Aunt Luo has booked a ce so that we can have a meal to clear things up. You will regret it if

    you don¡¯t go,¡± Ning Ziqiang said.

    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.

    Ning Ran heard the threat and said, ¡°Why would I regret it? What are you two nning?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not too sure either. In short, Aunt Luo said that you muste over for a meal so that she can

    clear things up with you. Otherwise, it will be bad for everyone. You know how sentimental your Aunt

    Luo can be. She kept a lot of your mother¡¯s personal belongings after she died. You should hear her

    out. Perhaps you might find something of much value to you.¡±

    Ning Ziqiang was clearly hinting on something. Ning Ran felt that things were not so simple.

    He clearly meant that Luo Yi had something that belonged to her mother. But he would not tell her what

    it was.

    Could it be that USB? Or was it something even more important?

    Even if it wasn¡¯t anything important at all, she still couldn¡¯t allow it to fall into the hands of that b***h!

    Moreover, Luo Yi must have something on hand since she dared ask Ning Ziqiang toe to look for

    her.

    This bunch of imbeciles were very good at scheming against their own, although they couldn¡¯t manage

    apany well. They must have some kind of leverage to get Ning Ran toe over.

    ¡°Ran, don¡¯t think too much of it. Let¡¯s just go; it¡¯s just a meal. You will find out once you get there.

    Otherwise, you will regret it. Your Aunt Luo has been waiting for you for a long time now,¡± Ning Ziqiang

    urged.

    ¡°Why would I regret it?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    Ning Ziqiang avoided the question and instead said, ¡°Your mother has passed away after such a long

    time. I know you¡¯re a filial daughter. Her personal belongings must be very precious to you, right?

    Moreover, I understand from your Aunt Luo that the dead wouldn¡¯t be resting in peace if she had

    engaged a sorceress to cast some spells on the dead person¡¯s personal belongings.¡±

    He then continued, ¡°Your Aunt Luo happens to know a very powerful sorceress. Maybe she will do

    something about it. Of course, I don¡¯t believe in all this bullshit. After all, it¡¯s just feudal superstition. But

    Ran, since you love your mother so much, you wouldn¡¯t want her personal belongings to be treated like

    that, right? Everything will be better once youe over for a meal to clear things up.¡±

    The threat was obvious.

    ¡°Both of you are so brazen! Using my mother¡¯s personal belongings against me!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t say such things, Ran. We¡¯re not threatening you. We just have some misunderstandings

    between us. Moreover, we¡¯re not asking any other things from you. It¡¯s just a meal. How hard can that

    be ?¡±

    Ning Ziqiang had even smiled. He actually smiled!

    ¡°What are you smiling at? What¡¯s so funny? How shameless!¡±

    ¡°Stop scolding. Let¡¯s go quickly. You know how short-tempered your Aunt Luo can be. If you let her wait

    for too long, she might be anxious and pass your mother¡¯s belongings to the sorceress. You

    would want your mother to rest in peace since you¡¯re a filial daughter, right?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 228

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 228

    Ning Ziqiang was a bas***d. He clearly knew how to get to Ning Ran. He knew she couldn¡¯t bear to see

    her mother¡¯s belongings be mishandled.

    Ning Ran never believed in witchcraft, but she could not stand any disrespectful behavior against her

    dead mother.

    Ning Ran could only agree to it and head to the restaurant Luo Yi had booked.

    It was more of a small eatery than a restaurant. It didn¡¯t even have private rooms.

    Ning Ran immediately caught sight of a middle-aged woman sitting at a table. It was Luo Yi. She had

    aged, no longer adorned with jewelry.

    Her hairstyle was still the same, except that she had thicker makeup now. She was trying to hide her

    sagging skin with heavy makeup.

    ¡°Ran, pleasee over. Sit!¡±

    Luo Yi pretended to be enthusiastic as she greeted Ning Ran. However, her eyes were filled with

    hatred.

    Ning Ran walked over, expressionless, and asked, ¡°Where are my mother¡¯s belongings?¡±

    ¡°Take a seat. Don¡¯t rush. Let¡¯s eat,¡± Luo Yi beckoned.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have time to waste with you. Hand over my mother¡¯s belongings now! I don¡¯t care what it is,

    return them all to me,¡± Ning Ran yelled.

    ¡°How short-tempered of you!. We have not met for so long. I initially asked your father to invite you

    home but thought you wouldn¡¯t be willing since there are many misunderstandings between us. That is

    why I chose this ce instead. Don¡¯t be so hostile, we can talk while we eat.¡±

    Luo Yi signaled for the owner of the eatery to have the food served. Ning Ran realized there was no

    point in being fretful. She had no alternative but to sit down.

    But she didn¡¯t eat as she didn¡¯t have the appetite.

    Ning Ziqiang and Luo Yi were enjoying the food, even praising the food as they ate.

    Ning Ran looked at her watch anxiously. School had ended for her kids. She had wanted to pick them

    up but was still engaged here.

    She would not be able to make it on time. Thus, she texted Qiao Zhan, saying, ¡°Captain Qiao,

    something suddenly came up. I won¡¯t be able to pick up the kids anymore. Please help me pick them

    up.¡±

    ¡°You should eat some too, Ran. The dishes here are really good even though it¡¯s just a small eatery,¡±

    Ning Ziqiang beckoned Ning Ran.

    ¡°What do both of you want? Stop beating around the bush. I don¡¯t have time to waste with the two of

    you,¡± Ning Ran said coldly.

    ¡°Ran, grab a bite first. We can talk about it after this meal,¡± Luo Yi also beckoned Ning Ran.

    ¡°Spit it out!¡± Ning Ran was getting angry.

    Ning Ziqiang signaled Luo Yi with a nce to talk.

    Luo Yi put her chopsticks down and said, ¡°Ran, it is such¡­ the economy has been bad these two

    years, business is badly affected, and thepany has been poorly managed. We owe a huge debt¡­¡±

    ¡°What does it have to do with me?¡± Ning Ran cut off Luo Yi.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, please hear me out. We don¡¯t need you to pay off our debts. However, your father is

    growing ill these days.¡±

    Luo Yi gave Ning Ziqiang a look when she said that. Ning Ziqiang immediately ced his chopsticks

    down and coughed. How very cooperative of him.

    Ning Ran watched them act coldly and kept her silence.

    ¡°The hospital has diagnosed him with cancer. He needs a huge sum of money for treatment. He

    wouldn¡¯t be able to survive for more than half a year if he doesn¡¯t get treatment immediately¡­¡± Luo Yi

    cried.

    Luo Yi paused. She didn¡¯t let Ning Ziqiang act this time around. It was her turn.

    She wasn¡¯t able to squeeze out tears no matter how hard she tried. It was amusing to see her trying so

    hard.

    Ning Ran was unimpressed as she continued to watch her act.

    ¡°We owed too much money, it¡¯s to a point where we don¡¯t even have enough for food. Where else can

    we get the money to treat his illness? We had initially wanted to borrow from friends and family.

    However, they would not even want to meet us or pick up the phone when they found out our current

    state.¡±

    She continued with crocodile tears, ¡°We do not have any other alternatives other than to look you up.

    We hope you will help your father. If he dies, our family will be devastated. Ran, please put aside our

    misunderstandings and help your father!¡±

    Ning Ran watched their absurd performance quietly as if she was watching a farce.

    ¡°My home has long fallen apart,¡± Ning Ran replied coldly.

    ¡°Ran, I know you have many misunderstandings about us. But your father is dying, you must help us.¡±

    It was interesting how Luo Yi used her words. She used ¡®must¡¯, which means she was leaving no room

    for negotiations.

    ¡°There are no misunderstandings between us. I just hate you,¡± Ning Ran scowled, going straight to the

    point.

    Luo Yi and Ning Ziqiang looked at each other and kept silent.

    ¡°Ran, it really was just a misunderstanding. We have nothing to do with your mother¡¯s death,¡± Luo Yi

    said.

    ¡°You guys killed my mother, that¡¯s it,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Ran, we can¡¯t help it if you were to word it as such.¡± Luo Yi was turning ghastly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care if you really are sick. I don¡¯t have the money. Don¡¯t even think about getting a penny from

    me,¡± Ning Ran said coldly.

    Luo Yi and Ning Ziqiang gave each other another look.

    ¡°Ran, it¡¯s justifiable for you to hate me, but he is your biological father. Do you want to watch him die?¡±

    Luo Yi said.

    ¡°He had watched my mother died years ago. Didn¡¯t both of you said it was a misunderstanding? Well,

    he can exin it to my mother face-to-face now,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Ran, I¡¯m your biological father. You have my blood in you!¡± Ning Ziqiang yelled shamelessly.

    ¡°No, you¡¯re not my father. Even if we are rted by blood, there is no kinship between us. You killed my

    mother. I will never forgive you in this lifetime. Never!¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s eyes were filled with tears.

    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    ¡°Ran!¡±

    ¡°Stop! Just return my mother¡¯s belongings to me. We¡¯ll call it even. I won¡¯t seek my revenge, and both

    of you can stop looking for me. We will go our separate ways and not meet each other again.¡± Ning

    Ran stood up.

    ¡°Ran, do you really not care about your father¡¯s life anymore? Are you even human?¡±

    ¡°He had also not cared about my mother¡¯s life, so why should I care? I don¡¯t care anymore, and I don¡¯t

    have the money.¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t give me the money, I will pass your mother¡¯s belongings to the sorceress so that your

    mother wouldn¡¯t be able to rest in peace!¡±

    Luo Yi had been acting all along. She finally showed her true colors now.

    Ning Ranughed coldly, ¡°This is a fallout right? How much does it cost to get my mother¡¯s belongings

    back?¡±

    ¡°Ten million,¡± Luo Yi quoted simply.

    Ning Ranughed angrily, ¡°Ten million? Do both of you think I print money? Or do you think I¡¯m a

    billionaire?¡±

    ¡°We believe you can afford ten million,¡± Luo Yi said.

    ¡°Should I be thanking you? Both of you must be crazy for money. Using my mother¡¯s belongings to

    ckmail me for ten million? I will not give you the money even if I have it! I¡¯m going to call the police

    now to charge both of you for ckmailing me!¡± With that, Ning Ran took her phone out.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 229

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 229

    ¡°Ran! It isn¡¯t ckmailing. We are your family, and we need your help. How can this be considered

    ckmailing?¡±

    Do you think the police will investigate us? Even if they do, do you have enough evidence?

    ¡°Stop messing around, Ran. Give us the money. We will then return all your mother¡¯s belongings. We

    will still be a family in the future.¡±

    Ning Ziqiang¡¯s mind was very sharp and clear; he knew Ning Ran had her hands tied. Even though he

    looked like a friendly person from the outside, his heart was rotten. He was a sadistic man that enjoyed

    the pleasure of humiliating Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran was right about what she thought. The shameless couple had nned it since the beginning.

    They would have expected her to go to the police.

    She put her phone into the handbag and said, ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t have that much money. I am just an

    ordinary actress, who can barely survive with the pay. It¡¯s impossible for you to squeeze that much out

    of me.¡±

    ¡°Well, Ran. We understand if you don¡¯t care about your dad. But what about your mother? You don¡¯t

    want what she left behind for you?¡± Luo Yi was impatient, her expression changing.

    ¡°Never mind. Handle it as you wish! She¡¯s now gone, so it¡¯s meaningless to have the things back. I

    don¡¯t care anymore.¡±

    Ning Ran knew the more she showed she cared, the easier it was for them to get to her.

    She knew that to get her mother¡¯s belongings, she had to ignore them.

    ¡°You are a filial daughter. How can you not want your mother¡¯s belongings?¡± Ning Ziqiang asked in an

    anxious voice.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a few years since my mum has passed away. What should I do with those things? Anyway, I

    don¡¯t have that much money, so you can do whatever you want with it,¡± Ning Ran said as she stood up,

    ¡°Well, please excuse me. I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡±

    Ning Ziqiang and Luo Yi grew more nervous as Ning Ran was about to leave.

    ¡°Hey, wait. If ten million is too much, we can discuss it,¡± Ning Ziqiang suggested impatiently.

    ¡°Not even a single cent. Don¡¯t even think about it,¡± said Ning Ran with a cold voice.

    ¡°Ning Ran, you really are ruthless. You are a filial daughter, yet you don¡¯t want to get your mother¡¯s

    belongings back. Fine. If you don¡¯t want those things, how about her ashes? Do you want those?¡± Luo

    Yi asked suddenly.

    Ning Ran was stunned.

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    ¡°Well, your mother¡¯s ashes weren¡¯t in the columbarium. I¡¯ve kept it. Do you want to get it back? Buy it

    from me then. Otherwise, I¡¯ll have to spill dog¡¯s blood onto your mother¡¯s ashes, and she would stay in

    hell forever!¡± Luo Yi¡¯s icy cold voice echoed.

    Ning Ran rushed towards Luo Yi and grabbed her cor, ¡°You stole my mum¡¯s ashes?¡±

    ¡°Nope, I didn¡¯t steal them. Before her funeral, I had someone do the job and exchanged it with a fake

    one. The one at the cemetery was just filled with soil and dust. Hahaha! Your mother hated me so

    much. How could I let her rest in peace? She must suffer!¡± Luo Yi smiled like a cunning fox.

    ¡°You bi**h!¡±

    Ning Ran was overwhelmed with rage. She could not hold back her anger and pped Luo Yi right on

    her face.

    ¡°Ning Ran! How dare you!?¡±

    Dissatisfied, Luo Yi fought back.

    As soon as Ning Ziqiang saw them start fighting, he immediately went in between and pulled them

    apart, ¡°Stop! Stop fighting! What are you doing?¡±

    The boss came over and chided, ¡°Hey, stop right there. I¡¯ll call the police if you don¡¯t. You guys are

    family. Just sit down and discuss it properly.¡±

    Ning Ran stopped and red at Luo Yi with her eyes full of anger. She was quivering with rage.

    ¡°You little bi**h! A whore just like your mother!¡±

    Luo Yi was all worked up now and started cursing.

    Ning Ran could not hold back as she insulted her mother.

    Agitated, Ning Ran pped and kicked her.

    Ning Ziqiang interfered again as both of them started fighting. ¡°Don¡¯t fight! Stop!¡±

    ¡°Come on, bi**h! Hit me again, and I¡¯ll mix with your mother¡¯s ashes with dog¡¯s blood! I¡¯ll let her soul

    suffer so she can stay in hell forever!¡±

    Ning Ran stopped.

    She was overwhelmed with worries because she did not want anything to happen to her mother¡¯s

    ashes.

    Otherwise, she would be upset and regret it for the rest of her life.

    Her mother had a miserable life before her death. How could she still let this bitch humiliate her

    mother¡¯s passing?

    She gave in and begged, ¡°Please! Please give me back my mother¡¯s ashes and her belongings! I¡¯ll give

    you the money!¡±

    She finallypromised as her hands were now tied.

    The other things could be disregarded for now, but her mother¡¯s ashes could not be humiliated.

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right! We are a family. We¡¯re in a difficult phase, so you should help us out. In the future,

    when we have the money, we will pay you back,¡± Ning Ziqiang was relieved.

    ¡°Where are my mum¡¯s ashes? Give it back, right now!¡±

    Ning Ran was blinded with rage as she bit her lips and clenched her fists.

    ¡°Well, you have to transfer the money into my ount first. Only then will I return the ashes. Otherwise,

    you will never see them again!¡± Luo Yi said arrogantly.

    ¡°You wicked old witch! If you dare touch my mother¡¯s ashes, I won¡¯t let you go! I will definitely kill you!¡±

    Ning Ran screamed in an enraged manner.

    ¡°Hey, hey! You better watch your mouth. Be polite, otherwise¡­¡± Luo Yi yelled.

    ¡°Ning Ziqiang! Are you even a human? You took my mum¡¯spany, made her angry, and worked with

    this wicked witch to ckmail me. Aren¡¯t you worried my mum will haunt you?¡± Ning Ran¡¯s anger

    raised.

    Ning Ziqiang dare not look at Ning Ran. He turned around and said, ¡°Ran, we are in trouble now. You

    could help us. I promise we¡¯ll pay you back in the future.¡±

    ¡°Stop talking nonsense with her. Ask her to pay up! When the money is in, return the ashes. If not, I¡¯ll

    mix it with dog¡¯s blood,¡± Luo Yi sneered.

    ¡°Ten million. Ran, we only need ten million. If you don¡¯t have that much, the Nan family does. I heard

    you have two kids and that they are rted to the Nan family. Ask them for help.¡±

    As Ning Ziqiang spoke of money, his eyes sparkled and showed no sign of guilt.

    ¡°Okay! I¡¯ll give you ten million! You must give me my mum¡¯s ashes and her belongings! After this, we do

    not owe each other anything,¡± Ning Ran finally agreed.

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    ¡°That¡¯s right! This is how things should be done. It wouldn¡¯t be as ugly as now if you had agreed

    earlier,¡± Ning Ziqiang was delighted.

    Even though Luo Yi had gotten beaten up, she felt relieved and happy because Ning Ran had finally

    agreed to their terms.

    ¡°Ran, since I am your elder, will forgive you for beating me. Three days. I¡¯ll give you three days, and I

    want to see ten million in my bank ount. Otherwise, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you,¡± Luo Yi warned.

    ¡°Okay. I will transfer the money. But you must promise you will give me my mum¡¯s ashes.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ranran. We will keep to our words. Since the Nan family is so rich, why not you ask for

    more? Twenty million sounds good,¡± Ning Ziqiang asked greedily.

    ¡°What the hell? Even ten million is a huge amount! I don¡¯t even know if I could get it or not. If I could, I¡¯ll

    definitely give it to you. Otherwise, I¡¯ll kill you! We¡¯ll die together and meet my mum in hell!¡±

    Ning Ran said the truth because she had no other choice.

    Ten million was too much, and there is no guarantee Nan Chen would give it to her. She would be at a

    dead-end if she could not get the money.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 230

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 230

    It was six in the evening when Jiang Zhe walked into Nan Chen¡¯s office.

    ¡°Sir Chen, the school just called and asked what time will we fetch the kids. It seems like no one picked

    them up yet. Everyone stayed back at the school to apany them. Should I call Ms. Ding? Or¡­¡±

    Shocked by the news, Nan Chen stood up and asked, ¡°What? They¡¯re still at school? Didn¡¯t that

    woman say she¡¯ll pick them up and go for dinner?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure why Ms. Ding didn¡¯t pick them up¡­¡± Jiang Zhe said softly. ¡°Bastard! What is that woman

    thinking?¡± Nan Chen began to see red. He grabbed his coat and ordered, ¡°Get the car.¡±

    ¡°Sir Chen, I¡¯ll do it. You have a conference call with the client from the US in a while.¡±

    ¡°Cancel it!¡± Nan Chen put on his coat and walked out of the office immediately. Jiang Zhe kept quiet.

    He knew if he tried to persuade him to stay, Nan Chen would be even more furious.

    It was peak hour and the traffic was heavy. They were stuck in the traffic as they exited the parking lot.

    Ten minutes have passed, but they barely moved.

    Nan Chen kept looking at the time, and his expression darkened each time he nced at it. ¡°What can

    we do to skip all this traffic?¡± Nan Chen asked Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°Motorcycle,¡± Jiang Zhe answered softly. Nan Chen opened the door instantly and saw an iing

    electric motorcycle; he raised his hand and brought it to a halt.

    ¡°I¡¯ll buy your bike,¡± Nan Chen said to the rider.

    The rider was a young man. He stared at Nan Chen with a familiar look.

    ¡°You are¡­ You are that celebrity! I¡¯ve seen you somewhere before!¡± the young man responded.

    ¡°Get off,¡± Nan Chen¡¯s said coldly.

    ¡°Sure. But I am not nning to sell this bike¡­¡±

    Nan Chen pushed him away and got onto the bike. However, he realized that he didn¡¯t know how to

    ride a bike.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? I said I don¡¯t wanna sell my bike,¡± the young man panicked.

    ¡°Excuse me, sir. We can negotiate on the price. How much did you buy this for?¡± Jiang Zhe got down

    from the car.

    ¡°This is an expensive model. It was over six thousand!¡± the young man eximed.

    ¡°We¡¯ll pay eight thousand. Can you also guide my boss on how to ride?¡± Jiang Zhe said.

    The young man was delighted. He did not expect to earn almost two thousand extra even though he

    had used the bike for a couple of months.

    ¡°Ah! Are you trying to experience life? Of course! I¡¯ll guide you! Firstly, you¡­¡±

    As Nan Chen was smart, he picked it up instantly.

    The young man only gave him some tips, and he learned fast. Then, he took off.

    All the teachers and the principal stayed back at the kindergarten. They apanied the two kids and

    kept them busy.

    As they were worried the kids would be anxious, the teachers tried their best to keep them entertained.

    They brought food and toys over. Some even danced to distract the two kids.

    Erbao liked people surrounding her; she was cheerful and had forgotten if anyone would pick her up

    from school.

    Dabao was calmer. He sat at the side and read books.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Suddenly, the security guard came and said, ¡°There¡¯s a delivery guy outside, but I stopped him from

    entering. He said he¡¯s the parent and kept pestering us to allow him to enter.

    As the principal heard this, she was taken aback. Is someone trying to hijack the kindergarten?

    Once she walked out, she saw a properly dressed man at the guardhouse.

    He had a frosty expression; it was uncanny because a delivery guy like him gave out an authoritative

    vibe and looked like someone important. The guards were asking him questions, but he did not seem

    to care and kept silent. From his expression, the principal could tell that he was impatient.

    As the principal took a closer look, she was shocked. Isn¡¯t that Sir Chen? Why did he be a

    delivery guy?

    Who would afford to order the food if Sir Chen became a delivery guy?

    ¡°Sir Chen! You¡¯re here! I am so sorry for the trouble!¡±

    ¡°My kids,¡± Nan Chen demanded, ignoring what the principal said.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sir. The kids are safe. They are having fun inside, and we¡¯re all here to apany them,¡±

    the principal said with a smile on her face.

    Nan Chen did not say a word as he headed inside.

    Everyone in the ss felt a strong vibe echo throughout the room as Nan Chen entered.

    A few young teachers¡¯ hearts were beating fast. They were new and did not really know Nan Chen.

    But once they saw him, they knew he was not an average person.

    He was cool and handsome.

    He gave out an amazing vibe. When he stepped in, everyone¡¯s attention was locked in his direction.

    ¡°Third Uncle!¡± Erbao cheered and ran towards Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen¡¯s gloom disappeared as he saw Erbao. His smile reached his eyes.

    ¡°Sorry for making you wait,¡± he said, as he knelt and carried Erbao in his arms.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, uncle. We¡¯re having a good time!¡±

    Dabao walked over and looked up. He did not hug Nan Chen, but he was smiling happily.

    ¡°Are you hungry?¡± Nan Chen patted Dabao¡¯s head.

    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry. I¡¯m d you came over and pick us up,¡± Dabao said steadily.

    ¡°I¡¯m a bit hungry. I wanna eat ice cream and fried eggs.¡±

    Nan Chen pinched Erbao¡¯s cheeks and replied, ¡°What about something better?¡±

    Erbao shyly looked down and said, ¡°Hehe¡­ We¡¯re happy to see you, Third Uncle. Can we really have

    something nice?¡±

    Nan Chen knew it was their way of saying they wanted nice food.

    ¡°Sure! Let¡¯s go and eat something nice!¡± Nan Chen immediately agreed.

    ¡°Third Uncle, are you sure you wanna bring her for high-calorie food? She¡¯s going to be a little

    piggy soon,¡± Dabao reminded.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not! When I grow upter, I¡¯ll be tall and slim. Definitely not a piggy!¡± Erbao replied in

    dissatisfaction.

    Everyone kept quiet as their attention fixed on them. They were stunned by how good-looking they all

    were.

    The two kids had inherited the good genes from their father. All three of them looked amazingly

    stunning.

    Suddenly, Nan Chen realized all the teachers were still at the kindergarten. If not because of his kids,

    they would have been home by now.

    ¡°Thank you for the hard work, everyone!¡± Nan Chen stood up and nodded.

    Everyone responded swiftly, ¡°It¡¯s no big deal, sir! Thank you too.¡±

    We don¡¯t mind working overtime as long as youe every day! It¡¯s not hard work at

    all. It¡¯s happiness.

    Nan Chen looked at Dabao and Erbao, ¡°You two, say thank you to your teachers.¡±

    Both of them obediently stood up and said, ¡°Thank you, teacher!¡±

    ¡°No worries! You¡¯re wee!¡± the principal immediately responded.

    ¡°Wee! Ande again!¡± said a female teacher blurted out what was on her mind.

    Nan Chen pretended not to hear her. He held both of the kids¡¯ hands and walked out of the

    kindergarten.

    Suddenly, a muscr man hurried into the kindergarten. It was Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Young Master! You¡¯re here?¡± Qiao Zhan asked in fear.

    His face turned pale and he did not dare say a word.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was helping out Old Master and forgot to look at the time. When I saw Young Mistress¡¯ text,

    it was alreadyte. The traffic jam was terrible, so I ran over,¡± he exined as he tried to catch his

    breath.

    Nan Chen looked at him from head down. He was sweating all over; it was obvious he wasn¡¯t lying.

    Moreover, he had probably run a few kilometers as his shirt was drenched.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 231

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 231

    The teachers walked out of the kindergarten and saw Nan Chen¡¯s electric motorcycle.

    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    Everyone was stunned. Is he trying to be humble?

    But isn¡¯t this too humble? If a high-profile person like you rides an electric bike, what about us?

    Nan Chen looked at the electric bike and felt troubled.

    It did not matter what vehicle he used to reach the kindergarten. However, now that his two kids were

    with him, he could not fetch them back with the electric bike as it was not safe.

    He called Jiang Zhe, but he was still stuck in the traffic, and it would take some time for him to reach.

    ¡°Get a car here as soon as possible,¡± Nan Chen told Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°I did, sir. I have asked someone to send us a car,¡± Qiao Zhan said as he wiped his sweat.

    No one dared to leave even though Nan Chen had told them to; all the teachers were standing by the

    kindergarten entrance waiting patiently.

    After half an hour, the driver finally came. They boarded the car and went to a western restaurant for

    dinner.

    Nan Chen purpose chose a restaurant where they could have fine-dining while enjoying the rest of the

    night.

    Luckily, the two kids grew up abroad and were familiar with western cuisine.

    Erbao still pestered Nan Chen for ice cream, so he asked the waiter to buy Haagen-Dazs from a

    nearby shop.

    At that moment, Erbao¡¯s phone rang. She took it out from her bag and eximed, ¡°Mommy!¡±

    Nan Chen was angry because Ning Ran had wanted to pick up the kids today. However, she had not

    kept her to her word.

    This had caused all the teachers to stay backte, and Nan Chen to cancel an important meeting.

    She only calls when everything was settled?

    ¡°Third Uncle is hungry. I am eating with him.¡±

    Erbao knew how to twist words. She spoke as if Nan Chen was the only one who was hungry, and that

    she was forced to keep himpany.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It was Mommy who was supposed to fetch you. But something came up and I couldn¡¯t make

    it,¡± Ning Ran said with a guilty tone.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mommy. Why don¡¯t youe now and join us? It¡¯s on me!¡± Erbao said proudly.

    ¡°On you? Where did you get the money from?¡± Ning Ran teased.

    ¡°Third Uncle is treating me, so I will save one portion for you. Isn¡¯t it a treat from me then?¡±

    Erbao chuckled, thinking of herself as smart.

    Nan Chen heard what she said on the phone and smiled.

    However, he only smiled at Erbao¡¯s wit. He did not want that woman to join them at the restaurant.

    He did not want to meet that irresponsible woman because it will only ruin his mood.

    ¡°Are you guys almost done?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Not yet. We¡¯re waiting for Mommy,¡± Erbao replied.

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯lle over now.¡±

    Once Nan Chen heard Ning Ran wanting toe over, he started to see red.

    How shameless is this woman? She did not keep her promise, yet wants toe and eat?

    But Nan Chen could not refuse as it was Erbao who had invited her. He did not want the girl to feel

    unhappy.

    This time, Ning Ran was quick. She arrived at the restaurant in less than ten minutes.

    Ning Ran felt under pressure because of Ning Ziqiang.

    She stood at the entrance for about two minutes and tried to calm herself down. She forcefully put up a

    smile to look less anxious, as she did not want her stressed look to ruin the kids¡¯ mood.

    When Ning Ran walked towards her kids, her smile reached her eyes.¡± Hi, my darlings!¡±

    ¡°Mommy!¡±

    Erbao weed her with open arms. She jumped off her seat and hugged Ning Ran as if they had not

    met for a long time.

    Ning Ran nced at Nan Chen, hoping he did not notice. All she saw was an icy-cold expression.

    It was not okay. Ning Ran knew she had to please him because she needed his help.

    ¡°Thank you for picking up the kids. Today, I¡­¡±

    Nan Chen raised his hands and stopped Ning Ran. He did not want to listen to her exnations.

    Ning Ran felt embarrassed.

    Then, she found out that there were no more seats left for her. There were only three chairs, which

    made her even more embarrassed.

    Dabao immediately noticed the situation and stood up. ¡°Mommy, you can sit here,¡± he said.

    But Ning Ran did not sit because she felt wary.

    Ning Ziqiang and Luo Yi had been pressuring her earlier. She did not expect to be pressured again at

    night.

    What a hard life.

    Ning Ran could barely hold back her tears as she was disappointed.

    Coincidentally, Nan Chen took a nce at her. He wanted to see how embarrassed she was but

    realized that her eyes were filled with loneliness and gloom.

    Suddenly, Nan Chen¡¯s heart softened a little.

    No matter how ipetent she was, she was still the kids¡¯ mother.

    Nan Chen took pity on her and said, ¡°I¡¯ll ask them to get a chair for you.¡±

    The waiter then brought a chair, and Ning Ran sat down. Then, Nan Chen asked her to order her food.

    He did not want Ning Ran to eat the leftovers even though she had just arrived.

    Ning Ran was preupied and did not have an appetite. She only ordered a ss of fresh juice.

    ¡°Mommy, order something else. It¡¯s delicious!¡± Erbao persuaded.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Mommy isn¡¯t hungry. I¡¯ve eaten before I came,¡± Ning Ran answered.

    She only wanted to make her kids feel relieved, but once again, Nan Chen felt triggered by what she

    said.

    It turns out she went to eat with other men and forgotten to fetch the kids?

    Then, what is she doing here after having dinner with other men?

    Ning Ran realized Nan Chen¡¯s expression began to darken. She did not know how she had managed

    to provoke him again.

    Was it because she did not want to eat? How would this provoke him?

    ¡°I was supposed to pick up the kids today. But something urgent came up, and I was unable to. I¡¯m very

    sorry,¡± Ning Ran said to Nan Chen.

    But Nan Chen ignored herpletely.

    Ning Ran felt embarrassed once more. It wasn¡¯t very respectful of him to make it seem as if she were

    talking to herself.

    They were silent for a moment.

    ¡°Mommy, why aren¡¯t you guys talking?¡± Erbao asked, disliking the silence.

    Without saying a word, Ning Ran smiled awkwardly and took a sip of her juice.

    ¡°Then let me tell you a story. Our teacher read it to the ss today,¡± Erbao said, feeling the atmosphere

    growing awkward.

    Ning Ran and Nan Chen agreed because Erbao liked to perform.

    It was about the Red Riding Hood. Even though this story was an ordinary tale told long ago, Erbao

    made the storytelling fun as she was good at her facial expressions, hand gestures, and intonation.

    It was Erbao¡¯s storytelling skills that made it lively.

    Even though Ning Ran acknowledged that Erbao looked like Poker Face, Erbao had inherited her

    talent in storytelling.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 232

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 232

    Erbao¡¯s storytelling finally made the atmosphere less tense. After the dinner, they left. ¡°I wanna follow

    Mommy!¡± Erbao said.

    ¡°Me too!¡± Dabao responded. This was what made Ning Ran relieved. No matter how well the Nan

    family treated them, her two kids would always stay by her side.

    However, she was not in the mood to think about this because she had something important to discuss

    with Nan Chen. ¡°Mummy will be quite busy these few days. Both of you should stay with Third Uncle

    first,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Erbao responded calmly. ¡°Mommy, can you send us to Third Uncle¡¯s house then?¡± Dabao

    requested, hoping they could spend time in the car. Ning Ran nced at Nan Chen. Luckily, he did not

    object.

    Ning Ran and her two kids sat in the back of the car, whereas Nan Chen was seated at the front

    passenger seat. After thinking about it, Nan Chen looked at his driver and said, ¡°Let me drive.¡±

    All that was left was the four of them. The traffic was heavy as usual, and Nan Chen drove the car

    steadily. He did not say a thing throughout the journey.

    Suddenly, Nan Chen was struck by a strange and pleasant feeling. It was different from the pleasure of

    sessfully negotiating for a big project or acquiring apany. Nan Chen had never felt it before.

    As Ning Ran was chatting with her kids in the back seat, she took a peek at Nan Chen¡¯s wless face

    from the side.

    Although both of them did not talk to each other, the car¡¯s atmosphere was not tense because the two

    kids were there.

    Erbao was talking non-stop as she was very happy.

    Needless to say, Ning Ran and Nan Chen were happy to see Erbao enjoying her time in the car.

    After a while, they reached the Nan residence and stopped at the gate.

    Servants were waiting by the gate to bring the kids in.

    ¡°I still need to settle something in the office. You guys go ahead,¡± Nan Chen said softly to Erbao and

    Dabao.

    ¡°Okay!¡± they replied obediently.

    Ning Ran did not get out of the car as she had something to discuss with Nan Chen. It was an

    important matter.

    ¡°Bye bye, Third Uncle! Bye bye, Mommy!¡±

    ¡°Goodbye!¡±

    As the kids entered the house, Nan Chen coldly said, ¡°I don¡¯t have time to send you back. I¡¯ll ask Qiao

    Zhan to arrange a car. Get out.¡±

    He sounded rude but Ning Ran kept it to herself.

    ¡°I have something to tell you,¡± Ning Ran whispered.

    ¡°I am busy and have no time to listen to you,¡± Nan Chen refused ruthlessly.

    She insisted and said, ¡°Then let¡¯s drive to your office. I¡¯ll tell you along the way.¡±

    At that, Nan Chen made a U-turn and headed for his office.

    ¡°I want to borrow some money.¡±

    Ning Ran knew Nan Chen did not like to deal with people that beat around the bush. She had no

    choice and decided to tell him directly.

    Nan Chen was stunned for a while as he did not expect her to make such a request.

    What is this woman nning to do? I offered her the money and asked her to give up the kids¡¯ custody,

    but she did not want it.

    Did she change her mind? Did she want the money now after purposely finding an excuse?

    Nan Chen kept quiet as he was uncertain of her motive.

    ¡°Is that okay?¡± Ning Ran asked again.

    ¡°No.¡± Nan Chen gave a crystal clear reply.

    He refused to lend her anything without even asking the amount and reason.

    As expected, it was an answer Nan Chen would give.

    Ning Ran was speechless; she did not know what to do next.

    He had made it clear. What else can I say?

    Ning Ran was unable to ept that. Should I forget about it?

    Luo Yi wanted ten million; Nan Chen was her only hope.

    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    If she wanted to get her mother¡¯s ashes back, she must pay. She would have to think of other ways to

    repay Nan Chen after that.

    Ning Ran would never let the two of them step over her that easily. She would not pay a single cent!

    However, she was in a dilemma. Before she could make her next move, Ning Ran must first borrow the

    money from Nan Chen and retrieve her mother¡¯s ashes.

    However, her hands were tied because Nan Chen was the only one who could help.

    ¡°I really need the money,¡± Ning Ran whispered.

    ¡°No,¡± Nan Chen was determined.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask what the money was for?¡± Ning Ran said helplessly.

    ¡°It¡¯s none of my business,¡± Nan Chen replied coldly.

    Ning Ran¡¯s words chocked in her throat.

    She knew Nan Chen hated her, yet she still had to seek help from him.

    ¡°I need it because¡­¡±

    ¡°No need to exin. I don¡¯t want to know.¡±

    Nan Chen interrupted before Ning Ran could finish because he did not believe in her.

    This woman is good at lying. I can¡¯t differentiate between what¡¯s true and what¡¯s not.

    Nan Chen had tried to trust her again, but his trust was thrown into the garbage thest time he did.

    She had always made the Nan family lose face.

    As time passed, he had lost trust in her as he felt that this woman was a troublemaker. It was better to

    stay away from her.

    If she were not the kids¡¯ mother, Nan Chen would not want to see her at all.

    He tried hard not to meet her and did not want to smell the orange blossom fragrance on her body.

    Nan Chen believed she might havee up with an excuse to borrow the money again. It was a trick

    to lure him into the lie.

    It was difficult to determine whether or not it was true since she was well-prepared. Then, why bother

    listening?

    She has lied multiple times. I will not fall for it again.

    ¡°Sir Chen, I¡¯m in a tight spot¡­¡±

    ¡°Shut up, or get off my car,¡± Nan Chen said in a cold tone.

    Ning Ran had to shut up.

    She nned to calm him down before asking him for the favor.

    After all, ten million was not a small amount. If he was willing to lend it to her, she did not mind getting

    scolded.

    They were silent along the way. As they reached, Nan Chen parked his car at the VIP parking and got

    off.

    Ning Ran followed behind him.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Nan Chen turned around and frowned at Ning Ran.

    ¡°I¡­ I wanted to visit your office,¡± Ning Ran blurted, using a stupid excuse.

    ¡°No need to visit it,¡± Nan Chen refused again.

    ¡°I have a stomachache. I have to use the toilet,¡± Ning Ran said as she ced her hands on her

    stomach.

    To make him believe, Ning Ran added, ¡°I will leave after that. I won¡¯t linger around.¡±

    Nan Chen did not want to argue with her in the parking lot as he felt annoyed. He tapped his card and

    alighted the personal elevator that connected directly to his office.

    When the elevator door opened, Nan Chen nced at Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran headed to the toilet by herself and ordered two cups of coffee through her phone.

    When she returned, Nan Chen was preupied with his work, buried in tons of paperwork.

    Lifting his head, he asked, ¡°You¡¯re still here?¡±

    ¡°I bought you coffee. Once it¡¯s here, I¡¯ll leave,¡± Ning Ran said politely.

    ¡°No need,¡± Nan Chen refused cruelly again.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already bought it. I know you don¡¯t drink cheap coffee, so I bought the signature; the most

    expensive one. It cost me over two hundred,¡± Ning Ran said.

    Nan Chen frowned, and his forehead crumpled like an old bill that was thrown into the trash, ¡°What the

    hell do you want from me? Can¡¯t you see that I¡¯m busy?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t bother you. I¡¯ll keep quiet.¡±

    Ning Ran walked away from his table and stood at the side of the room and looked at Nan Chen

    without making a sound.

    Nan Chen ignored her and got back to work.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 233

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 233

    Ning Ran stood by the French windows in Nan Chen¡¯s office, looking at the bustling city under flickering

    lights. The world was beautiful, yet filthy.

    It was so filthy that some people used the ashes of the dead to ckmail others. Human nature was

    just pure evil. What if Nan Chen refuses to help?

    Should I just sit and watch that wicked woman, Luo Yi, defile mom¡¯s ashes? Mom had suffered so

    much when she was alive, and she can¡¯t even rest in peace after death.

    Ning Ran felt helpless and was on the verge of tears. Just then, the coffee was delivered, but the

    security guard wouldn¡¯t let the delivery man in.

    It was natural as not anyone could enter the CEO¡¯s office. Ning Ran collected the coffee downstairs

    and delivered it to Nan Chen¡¯s desk. Nan Chen didn¡¯t look up at all.

    ¡°The coffee is here. Drink it while it¡¯s hot,¡± Ning Ran said in an ingratiating manner. Nan Chen kept

    quiet. ¡°I bought coffee just to please you, and just so you would listen to me,¡± Ning Ran continued.

    She had rarely put herself so low with such humble words. Nan Chen eventually lifted his head slightly,

    but looked down again soon and continued working as if Ning Ran was invisible.

    ¡°I need money urgently right now, and I don¡¯t know any other rich people. I can only borrow some from

    you,¡± Ning Ran added.

    Nan Chen remained silent.

    ¡°I¡­¡±

    Ning Ran wanted to continue speaking when Nan Chen suddenly raised his head, looking coldly at the

    former.

    Ning Ran¡¯s mouth was agape with surprise, and she was afraid to speak anymore in fear that Nan

    Chen would be sick and tired of her.

    ¡°As I said, as long as you give up custody of the children and leave Flower City, I¡¯ll give you arge

    sum of money. Enough to clothe and feed you for the rest of your life.¡±

    Ning Ran was relieved when Nan Chen eventually spoke.

    It was better for him to reprimand her than not uttering a single word.

    ¡°But I can¡¯t give up on my children. They are my life, and I won¡¯t exchange them for anything.¡±

    Ning Ran was adamant in her stand when it came to her children.

    ¡°Yet you¡¯re borrowing money from me?¡± Nan Chen was really impatient.

    ¡°I¡¯ll pay you back real soon,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    Naturally, Nan Chen didn¡¯t believe in her words. She didn¡¯t need to look for him if she was just going to

    borrow a small amount of money.

    If she was going to borrow a lot of money, would she even able to pay them off at once? It was

    definitely unrealistic.

    In conclusion, this woman was ying tricks, and she was insincere.

    ¡°Get out,¡± Nan Chen sneered, evicting her from the office.

    ¡°I¡­¡±

    ¡°Out!¡± Nan Chen raised his voice, his tone harsh.

    ¡°Please!¡± Ning Ran begged softly.

    Nan Chen was momentarily stunned. Did she just say ¡°please¡±?

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t havee to you if there¡¯s any other way. I know you hate me, and that you look down on

    me,¡± Ning Ran said.

    Well, at least you know your ce, Nan Chen thought.

    ¡°It¡¯s really for urgent use if I¡¯m borrowing money from you. I¡¯ll die a horrible death if I lie to you.¡±

    ¡°How much do you want?¡± Nan Chen suddenly asked.

    Ning Ran was overjoyed. Does this mean he agrees?

    ¡°Ten million.¡±

    What a sizeable request!

    Even if the Nan family was filthy rich, they

    didn¡¯t print money for a living.

    How brazen of her to demand for ten million!

    Nan Chen looked at Ning Ran in silence, sending a chill up thetter¡¯s spine.

    ¡°I¡¯m using it for¡­¡±

    Ning Ran wanted to exin, but Nan Chen stopped her with a wave of his hand.

    He didn¡¯t want to listen because he felt that what she was about to say would be bogus.

    ¡°Come to the office tomorrow. Jiang Zhe will liaise with you,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran was ted. ¡°You agree?¡±

    Nan Chen waved his hand, indicating her to get lost and not interfere with his overtime work.

    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll definitely pay you back as soon as possible.¡±

    This was simply nonsense to Nan Chen¡¯s ears. You just borrowed ten million from me

    and you¡¯re saying you¡¯ll pay me as soon as possible? Who are you kidding?

    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    When Ning Ran walked to the door, she suddenly turned back and picked up a cup of coffee. ¡°Two

    cups are too many for you. You can¡¯t drink too much at night.¡±

    In other words, ¡®You can¡¯t waste it. I¡¯ll take one¡¯.

    Nan Chen was utterly speechless.

    Walking out of Nan Chen¡¯s office, Nan Chen felt much more rxed.

    As long as she could get the money, all she had to do now was get her mother¡¯s relics and ashes.

    She must get even with Luo Yi, that witch, and avenge her mother.

    ¡­

    The next afternoon, Ning Ran was filming on set when she received a call from Jiang Zhe.

    Jiang Zhe told her toe over to the office after filming and that the car he sent to pick her up was

    waiting outside.

    Although the director didn¡¯t have the nerve to make her stay, Ning Ran insisted on finishing her two

    scenes, and only then did she make her way to the headquarters of Nanshi Corporation.

    Jiang Zhe weed Ning Ran and brought her to another office.

    Thereafter, he handed a thick contract to Ning Ran, saying, ¡°Ms. Ding, please have a look. If there¡¯s no

    problem with the contract, please sign it.¡±

    ¡°Contract?¡±

    Ning Ran took a look at it and saw that Party A of the contract was Star Entertainment and Party B was

    Ning Ran herself.

    Star Entertainment was an entertainmentpany under Nanshi Corporation and the main producer of

    what Ning Ran was filming now.

    ¡°What is this? A contract with me?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Yes, the president asked me to prepare it,¡± Jiang Zhe replied.

    ¡°The contract is too long and I don¡¯t understand it. Just tell me the terms directly,¡± Ning Ran said.

    Jiang Zhe nodded, seemingly to have expected this.

    ¡°This contract is a full contract. All performances of Party B during the contract period are owned by

    Party A, including but not limited to film and television, and all runway shows. The proceeds will be

    divided between Party A and Party B at a proportion of nine to one. Nine to one? That is, thepany

    takes ny percent, and the artist takes ten percent!¡±

    ¡°During the contract period, Party A will provide Party B with arge number of performance

    opportunities which guarantees at least one drama, one movie, three endorsement deals, and a series

    of performance within a year. You can be rest assured about this, Ms. Ding. Star Entertainment is

    backed by Nanshi Corporation so their resources are still very powerful, ¡° Jiang Zhe exined.

    ¡°Is it also a nine to one split for other artists of Star Entertainment?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s mostly eight to two,¡± Jiang Zhe answered honestly.

    ¡°Then why is it nine to one for me?¡± Ning Ran was unconvinced.

    ¡°Because you don¡¯t have much fame. You¡¯re not a big shot in the showbiz world yet, and have to rely

    on thepany to turn you into a star,¡± Jiang Zhe replied with a smile.

    ¡°Alright, go on.¡± Ning Ran was already very upset.

    ¡°The contract period is twenty years. In twenty years¡­¡±

    ¡°What? Twenty years? That¡¯s buying me for life! I¡¯ll be an olddy when the contract ends!¡± Ning Ran

    yelled.

    ¡°Star Entertainment is a goodpany, Ms. Ding. You can¡¯t be possibly thinking about signing with

    anotherpany after twenty years, no?¡± Jiang Zhe smiled.

    ¡°The share is small and the contract period is long. Other artists usually sign for three to five years. But

    twenty years?! That¡¯s really cruel! I¡¯m not signing it!¡± Ning Ran shouted.

    Jiang Zhe shrugged helplessly. ¡°I¡¯m just following orders. If there is any objection to the contract, you

    can run it by the president. You¡¯re no ordinary artist, Ms. Ding, and this contract has been specially

    tailored for you.¡±

    Ning Ran thought Poker Face was just evil. He came up with such a demanding contract, knowing that

    she was in trouble and needed a favor from him.

    What was the difference between this and a servitude contract?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 234

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 234

    Jiang Zhe dared not add on upon seeing how Ning Ran¡¯s face was all scrunched up. He could only

    look at her quietly with his hands hanging by his side.

    Ning Ran also knew Jiang Zhe was just following orders and that he had no authority to change any

    use written in the contract.

    Thus, it was useless to snap at him because he waspletely powerless.

    However, she was still furious and felt as powerless as Jiang Zhe.

    As Nan Chen had authorized these contracts, no one could change them without his consent.

    ¡°I want to see Nan Chen,¡± Ning Ran requested.

    ¡°The president is currently apanying the mayor to inspect Nanshi Corporation¡¯s agricultural

    projects. I¡¯m afraid he won¡¯t be avable on such short notice. He instructed me to stay back to settle

    this as soon as possible because he was worried you would need the money urgently.¡±

    ¡°Does this mean I have to thank him for giving me such an unfair contract?¡± Ning Ran shouted.

    At her loud voice, Jiang Zhe stopped talking.

    ¡°He¡¯s doing this on purpose to take advantage of me, isn¡¯t he? Does he, the president of arge

    consortium, think it¡¯s fun to go out of his way to deal with a weak woman like me?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Ding, I¡¯m not sure if I should be saying this,¡± Jiang Zhe said softly.

    ¡°I know you want to persuade me to sign. You¡¯re Nan Chen¡¯s aplice!¡±

    Jiang Zhe smiled bitterly. ¡°Ms. Ding, you speak too highly of me. I have no right to be Sir Chen¡¯s

    aplice. I¡¯m just following orders, doing what I¡¯m told to do.¡±

    ¡°Then what is it you want to say?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Star Entertainment¡¯s domestic influence is second to none. Among the many superstars born every

    year, more than half of them came from Star Entertainment. Star Entertainment¡¯s artists have a huge

    market, not only in China but in other Asian countries as well. We have a more professional team and

    more than enough resources at our fingertips. I¡¯m sure you know Mr. Zheng Lunlun. When Star

    Entertainment managed him, it only took him less than six months to amass fame halfway across the

    world since his debut. No otherpany can achieve such star-making speed. And then there¡¯s that

    former celebrity, Ms. Luo. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of her, and know her strengths as well. Whether it was

    singing skills or acting skills, she had nothing at all and her EQ was super low. But she was molded into

    a superstar. This shows that Star Entertainment is definitely one of the best in the industry,¡± Jiang Zhe

    said in one breath before looking quietly at Ning Ran.

    ¡°So? What you mean is, I should be honored to sign with Star Entertainment and should immediately

    sign this contract no matter the conditions offered?¡± Ning Ran questioned.

    ¡°I have no right to make this decision for you, Ms. Ding. I¡¯m just telling you my opinions. As an artist,

    the sooner you get famous, the better it is, not to mention that you debuted prettyte for your age, Ms.

    Ding.¡±

    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.

    ¡°You¡¯re saying I¡¯m old?¡±

    Jiang Zhe frantically exined, ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m just saying from the perspective of your debut, it

    was a littlete. Having a huge fandom is the key to survival in this industry. Only a few capable stars

    can maintain their artistic life through self-discipline and hard work. So you don¡¯t have to worry about

    the duration of the contract, Ms. Ding. If Star Entertainment can make you popr, you¡¯ll be a superstar

    wherever you go in the future. So why bother whichpany do you sign with? If Star Entertainment

    can¡¯t even make you popr, then with all due respect, it would be almost impossible for you and

    Cheng Xiangyun to make a breakthrough in this industry. Besides, who will dare to cooperate with you

    if word gets out within the industry that you rejected Sir Chen¡¯s contract?¡±

    Jiang Zhe¡¯sst sentence was the main point.

    He didn¡¯t mean to threaten her. He was just telling the truth.

    It was almost certain that no other entertainmentpany would dare to sign Ning Ran in the future if

    she rejected Nan Chen.

    With no entertainmentpany to support her, she would have to fly solo by depending on an

    independent agent; exactly like how she was working with Cheng Xiangyun now.

    It would be fine at the initial age, but it would be impossible for further development.

    Besides, she had be the female lead of this drama by mistake. What about her next project?

    If she refused to sign with Star Entertainment, it was uncertain if she could ept jobs from now on.

    Therefore, there was no way out, and she could only sign this contract.

    Seeing Ning Ran contemting, Jiang Zhe continued to persuade her, ¡°When the drama you¡¯re

    starring in right now bes popr, Sir Chen will arrange a movie for you to take part in. Only actors

    who acted on the big screen can be considered as A-list celebs. When you and thepany make a

    lot of money in five or six years, you would probably get sick of acting and call it quits. By then, you can

    retire from acting by faking an illness or something. Can thepany still force you to work for twenty

    years? Have you seen any actors who have been active for that long? So why harp on a twenty-year

    contract period? Besides, you¡¯ll be a veteran if you can stay at Star Entertainment for twenty years.

    How great an aplishment must that be?¡±

    ¡°Veteran my foot! You¡¯re a veteran! Your entire family are veterans!¡± Ning Ran chided.

    ¡°Yes, yes, my entire neighborhood is full of veterans! Consider it, Ms. Ding. Am I making sense?¡± Jiang

    Zhe said curtly.

    Ning Ran had always known Jiang Zhe was just a wily old fox, despite looking like a yes-man on the

    surface.

    The fact that he could be a special assistant to someone who was as fierce as the tiger-like Nan Chen

    showed just how polished he was.

    He said a lot today which might seem like he was persuading Ning Ran, but in fact, he was nning

    the future for Ning Ran.

    At least he hinted Ning Ran a few questions. One, if she didn¡¯t sign this contract, she would have a

    rough journey ahead in showbiz; Two, Sir Chen would definitely send her to stardom as long as she

    signed this contract, and her poprity would at least exceed Luo Fei¡¯s; Three, she didn¡¯t have to worry

    about the contract period because she could do whatever she wanted and no one could stop her once

    she bes a hotshot.

    It actually made sense after much consideration.

    However, Jiang Zhe missed out on the most important point, although Ning Ran knew it well deep

    down.

    That was, Nan Chen would change no use in this contract. It was either she signed it or it was a no-

    deal.

    It wasn¡¯t a multiple-choice question, but a single-choice question and the standard answer was in Nan

    Chen¡¯s hands.

    ¡°Fine. When will I get the money after I sign the contract?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Soon,¡± Jiang Zhe replied.

    Just then, Ning Ran¡¯s phone rang again. It was that old woman, Luo Yi.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t pick up, but the caller was relentless, so she had no choice but to walk aside to answer

    her phone.

    ¡°Ran, have you prepared the money? The hospital is chasing your father to pay the bill again. We really

    can¡¯t get the money. Why don¡¯t you send us five million first?¡± Luo Yi said.

    ¡°I¡¯m still borrowing. I don¡¯t have that much money. You think five million is just fifty?¡± Ning Ran

    chastised.

    ¡°Ran, I suggest you speak nicely to me. I¡¯m your elder, after all. If I get angry, your mother¡¯s ashes¡ª¡±

    ¡°Shut up! Oh, don¡¯t you worry, Luo Yi, I¡¯ll get even with you sooner orter! Don¡¯t you dare touch my

    mother¡¯s things or I¡¯ll make your life a living hell!¡± Ning Ran screamed anxiously.

    ¡°Jeez, why are you so fierce? I didn¡¯t even do anything! Go get the money and stop quarrelling with me.

    You¡¯d better be quick cause you¡¯re running out of time!¡± Luo Yi warned.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 235

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 235

    Ning Ran directly hung up. Then picking up a pen, she signed ¡°Ding Mi¡± on the contract.

    Jiang Zhe caught sight of her signature and said, ¡°Sir Chen said your actual name is Ning Ran, and

    your ID is also Ning Ran, so you have to write your name as per your ID. But since you usually use the

    stage name Ding Mi, you have to sign both names.¡±

    This Poker Face is no doubt an entrepreneur. How cunning is he to exhort Jiang Zhe this detail! Ning

    Ran could only add on ¡°Ning Ran¡± on the contract.

    ¡°Well, congrattions on your signing with Star Entertainment and bing one of Star

    Entertainment¡¯s big family,¡± Jiang Zhe said with a smile.

    ¡°What¡¯s there to congratte? I feel like I just signed a ve contract,¡± Ning Ran said. ¡°No, it¡¯s not like

    that. This is a new beginning, and you¡¯ll only flourish from here on.¡±

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ve signed the contract, so when am I getting the money?¡± Ning Ran asked. ¡°In eight hours,¡±

    Jiang Zhe replied. ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll wait. Thank you, Assistant Jiang,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°You¡¯re wee. Please take care of me in the future,¡± Jiang Zhe smiled. ¡°I¡¯m just a starlet who sold

    myself to thepany for twenty years. How am I supposed to take care of you?¡± Ning Ran sighed.

    ¡°No, you¡¯ll be a future superstar,¡± Jiang Zhe replied. ¡°You have the gift of the gab in pleasing people,

    Assistant Jiang. It¡¯s just that it¡¯s a little fake sometimes,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°I¡¯m not lying. With your rtionship with the Nan family, the senior executives at Star Entertainment

    will definitely focus on building your career once you sign the contract. You will be given many

    resources and you¡¯re future is unlimited. Just wait for your big breakthrough. There is one premise

    though, and that is¡­¡±

    Jiang Zhe¡¯s speech paused, and he didn¡¯t speak any more.

    ¡°I know what you¡¯re trying to say. The premise is not to offend Sir Chen. If I offend that old man, instead

    of developing my career, I will be cklisted,¡± Ning Ran continued Jiang Zhe¡¯s speech.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Zhe didn¡¯t deny it either.

    ¡°I got it. I¡¯m just an ant who may be trampled to death by him at any time.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that serious, actually. Sir Chen will never do that.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s your boss. Of course, you¡¯ll say that,¡± Ning Ran said disdainfully.

    ¡°Everyone thinks the president is aloof, but he is actually a good person. He puts a lot of financial

    resources and efforts into charity every year. He hardly ever spends much, but he will put a lot of his

    personal wealth into charity.¡±

    Jiang Zhe spoke of Nan Chen with not only awe but also admiration on his face.

    It was obvious that his boss was his idol.

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll get going. I need the money urgently, so please arrange the transfer as soon as possible,¡±

    Ning Ran said.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have someone send you back,¡± Jiang Zhe said.

    ¡­

    It was seven o¡¯clock at night when Ning Ran received a notification that the money had been

    transferred to her ount.

    However, the transferred amount wasn¡¯t ten million, but half a million.

    Half a million to ten million was a big difference.

    Unable to sit still, Ning Ran made her way to the headquarters of Nanshi Corporation again to look for

    Nan Chen.

    But Nan Chen had yet to return from a wine reception that was held in the city.

    No one knew when he would return or if he would return at all.

    Although it was off office hours, there were still many people in the building and many employees were

    working overtime.

    The high sry offered by Nanshi Corporation was widely known in the industry, and it was many

    people¡¯s goals to work with Nanshi Corporation¡¯s subsidiarypanies.

    However, what corresponded to higher pay was a higher ability and higher efficiency at work.

    Employees here would take the initiative to work overtime toplete their tasks at hand.

    For the same project, while thepetitors needed six months of development time, Nanshi

    Corporation only needed about four months to aplish them.

    There were people who questioned Nanshi Corporation for exploiting their employees, but Nanshi

    Corporation didn¡¯t have a clear overtime requirement and almost all overtime was voluntary.

    In otherpanies, their monthly sry was five thousand with normal working hours. And the sry

    for working overtime at Nanshi Corporation was thirty thousand. So, which job would young people

    choose? Obviously, many would opt for thetter.

    Ning Ran had already drunk three sses of water while she waited in the reception room for Nan

    Chen.

    She dared not drink coffee this time because she was worried she would lose sleep at night.

    She was already anxious and unable to sleep under the coercion of Ning Ziqiang. If she were to drink

    coffee now, it would probably be impossible for her to fall asleep.

    Ning Ran waited and waited, but Nan Chen still didn¡¯te back.

    It was already nine-thirty, but he was nowhere to be seen.

    She then went to the president¡¯s secretary¡¯s office and asked the staff who worked overtime whether

    Nan Chen would return to thepany. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡± was the answer she obtained.

    However, generally speaking, the staff said he would return.

    Because ording to Nan Chen¡¯s work ethics, he would never leave unfinished work from today to the

    second day, as there would be more work waiting for him the next day. And once there was a dy, it

    would only slow down the efficiency of the entire consortium.

    He had to look over many documents and then consider whether to agree and sign them or not.

    His signature determined theunch and continuation of a project, and a team or even the whole

    branchpany could be waiting.

    Nan Chen must finish his mountain of work in the shortest time, so he often had to work overtime.

    Ning Ran decided to wait for a little longer, and would only leave if Nan Chen hadn¡¯t returned by ten

    o¡¯clock.

    She had been very anxious because she was afraid Luo Yi would touch her mother¡¯s ashes.

    That was something she absolutely couldn¡¯t tolerate.

    Ning Ran was pacing up and down in the reception room when a staff member from the secretariat ran

    over and said, ¡°Sir Chen has returned.¡±

    Overjoyed, Ning Ran jogged out of the reception room.

    Pushing open the door to Nan Chen¡¯s luxurious pce-like office, she saw him taking off his suit jacket.

    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.

    When Nan Chen heard the movement, he turned around and his brows immediately snapped together.

    ¡°Get out!¡±

    Ning Ran was taken by surprise. He¡¯s asking me to leave before I even speak?

    It then did she realize she had entered without knocking.

    She was too anxious that she had forgotten her basic manners. What a mistake.

    She hurried out and knocked on the door again.

    However, there was no sound of Nan Chen saying e in¡¯.

    She reckoned that the knock on the door had been too soft, so she knocked again forcefully.

    But there wasn¡¯t even a slight response.

    Is Poker Face deaf? How could he not have heard that? Is he doing this on purpose?

    Ning Ran had no other choice but to knock on the door again and with a bang this time.

    It was so loud that it startled the overtime staff members from the secretariat, who then came out to see

    what was going on.

    Seeing Ning Ran banging on Nan Chen¡¯s office door, their eyes alighted with sympathy, as they

    thought of how miserable her oue would be for knocking on the door in that manner.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t respond. Not wanting to create any more disturbance to the others, Ning Ran pushed

    the door and entered straight.

    Thereafter, she saw Nan Chen sitting behind his desk, working nonchntly with his head lowered.

    Ning Ran nearly died of anger. Is he really deaf? Could he not hear my knocking?

    ¡°I knocked!¡± Ning Ran huffed.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t look up and concentrated on his work.

    Ning Ran had to admit that the seriousness on his face looked striking.

    The ck shirt entuated his fair skin, his eyes drooping slightly as his slender fingers held the

    document. Although he was sitting, he was still upright, and he wasn¡¯t slouching.

    It was a standard sitting posture, and Ning Ran wondered if he deliberately practiced it.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 236

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 236

    Ning Ran stood at the side, staring at Nan Chen. Ever since she came in, Nan Chen hadn¡¯t looked up.

    It was as if he had forgotten that she had knocked on the door and came in.

    In a way, he treated her like air, and he liked it that way. But she didn¡¯t like to be treated like air,

    especially by him. ¡°I have something important to tell you. I just need a few minutes of your time and

    then I¡¯ll leave.¡±

    Nan Chen still didn¡¯t look up and didn¡¯t speak. Ning Ran was certain that he had heard her. How could

    he not when he wasn¡¯t deaf and her voice was so loud?

    ¡°If you¡¯re not gonna speak, then I¡¯ll start. I¡¯m here to talk to you about the contract.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you already

    sign it?¡± Nan Chen eventually spoke. Sure enough, he wasn¡¯t deaf and he could still hear.

    ¡°The money I asked to borrow was ten million,¡± Ning Ran said. Nan Chen didn¡¯t reply. ¡°But I only

    received half a million, and half a million is not solving any of my problems,¡± Ning Ran continued.

    Nan Chen remained silent. Ning Ran couldn¡¯t hold back as she thumped Nan Chen¡¯s desk with her

    hand. Forget the fact that you forced me to sign a ve contract, but deducting money? What is this?

    You didn¡¯t pay attention to me when I asked you for a moment. You didn¡¯t even treat me as a

    human! Only then did Nan Chen look up slowly, putting down the document in his hand.

    Is he going to hit me? ¡±I don¡¯t mean to offend you. I just can¡¯t stand how you¡¯re ignoring me. I didn¡¯t

    mean to get angry when I pped the table. I was just trying to get your attention¡­¡± She was so

    frightened that she quickly exined because Nan Chen¡¯s aura was too imposing.

    Nan Chen ignored her and opened the box next to the desk.

    Thereupon, he took out a folder, pulled out a file, and opened it.

    After flipping through a few pages, he spread the document on the table and pointed it with his slender

    fingers, indicating Ning Ran to look at it herself.

    Ning Ran took over the document and saw that it was indeed the contract that she signed.

    ording to one of the paragraphs above: Party A will pay Party B a guaranteed remuneration of 10

    million (paid in 20 years, 500,000 per year).

    Ning Ran was dumbfounded.

    The contract was too thick with about dozens of pages, and she hadn¡¯t bothered to read them one by

    one at that time. It was jaw-dropping for her to see that use in between now.

    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.

    Half a million in one year is equivalent to ten million in twenty years! Poker Face had calcted this

    beforehand!

    But I have to pay ten million in a lump sum. Half a million is not going to solve anything!

    ¡°You¡­ You can¡¯t do that!¡± Ning Ran shouted.

    ¡°The contract is legally effective once you signed it,¡± Nan Chen replied tly.

    ¡°I know, but this is not fair to me!¡±

    ¡°You signed the contract on your own ord. There¡¯s nothing unfair about this. Get out now, or I¡¯ll call

    security,¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    Ning Ran was tempted to charge at him, but she wasn¡¯t audacious enough to do so.

    What a profiteer! He¡¯s setting up traps everywhere!

    I indeed signed the contract, and it has legal effect. It¡¯s toote to regret now.

    ¡°Sir Chen, you¡¯re the children¡¯s uncle. From Nan Xing¡¯s perspective, I should actually call you

    brother¡­¡±

    Nan Chen shot daggers at Ning Ran to stop her from talking.

    ¡®Brother¡¯ was supposed to be an ordinary form of address, but Nan Chen was thunderstruck.

    This title made him extremely ufortable. In fact, he detested it!

    Ning Ran was terrified at Nan Chen¡¯s expression. She didn¡¯t know what she had said wrong.

    Could it be that he hated people who curry favor with him? Or is there something else?

    Truth be told, Nan Chen himself didn¡¯t know why as well. He just knew that he couldn¡¯t ept her

    calling him ¡®brother¡¯!

    ¡°I¡¯m in a tight spot, Sir Chen.¡± Ning Ran¡¯s voice was very low.

    Nan Chen put down the document in his hands again and turned his head impatiently.

    He realized he had to settle this matter. Otherwise, there was no way this woman would let him work in

    peace.

    If she continued like this, his work wouldn¡¯t be finished until dawn.

    The woman had been yakking the moment she came in, and he couldn¡¯t focus at all.

    ¡°You¡¯re just a nameless actress. You¡¯re lucky to even sign with Star Entertainment,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Yes, I know.¡± Ning Ran could only concede first.

    ¡°You haven¡¯t made a single cent for thepany, but you¡¯re asking for a guaranteed remuneration for

    ten million. It¡¯s a huge contract here that you¡¯ve signed.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I know,¡± Ning Ran repeated mechanically.

    As long as Poker Face is willing to speak, there¡¯s still a possibility ofmunication.

    It would be terrible and troublesome if he refuses to speak.

    ¡°So this contract is fair to you. Stop making a fuss and get out,¡± Nan Chen concluded.

    Ning Ran was stupefied. Is that how he¡¯s going to get rid of me?

    Here I am pretending to be soft, hoping for a favorable oue.

    What¡¯s the point of talking so much just now if I just leave like this?

    ¡°Let¡¯s just put the contract aside for now. Sir Chen, I looked for you because I have a favor to ask. I

    need money urgently and five hundred thousand is really not enough. I¡¯m in a very tight spot right now,

    and ten million is what I need. Otherwise, I can¡¯t solve my problem.¡±

    ¡°What problem?¡± Nan Chen finally asked.

    He really couldn¡¯t figure out what a woman with two kids would need ten million for.

    Besides, her two kids were being raised at the Nan family and all the expenses were covered by the

    Nan family. So what was she going to do with so much money?

    Was she going to use that money to buy a luxurious car for that uncivilized man, Feng? Or a mansion?

    Ning Ran said nothing. She didn¡¯t know how to put it into words, and she couldn¡¯t hang her dirty linen in

    public.

    How was she supposed to say that her biological father had colluded with some other woman to

    ckmail her?

    It was hard, but Ning Ran was a woman with self-respect.

    ¡°Sir Chen, I don¡¯t want to say it, but I really do have my own circumstances. Please believe me.¡±

    Nan Chen shook his head and didn¡¯t want to talk anymore.

    How could he believe anything that came out from that woman¡¯s mouth when her words were mostly

    full of lies?

    ¡°If you don¡¯t wanna tell me, then leave!¡± Nan Chen gave an ultimatum.

    ¡°Sir Chen, please help me. I will really return the money¡­¡±

    However, Nan Chen had already pressed the red call button on the desk. ¡°Security!¡±

    In less than a minute, two tall security guards barged into the president¡¯s office.

    Looking at the tall and brawny security guards, Ning Ran knew she would be tossed out like a little

    chick if she didn¡¯t leave now.

    Forget it. A wise woman knows better than to fight when the odds are against her. I shall retreat first.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to pull me. I can walk on my own,¡± Ning Ran said passively.

    Looking at Nan Chen bitterly, she walked out of the office, feeling aggrieved and apprehensive.

    What now? I couldn¡¯t settle the matter with Poker Face, and I didn¡¯t get the money¡­

    The security guards didn¡¯t drive her to death; they ignored her as soon as she left the president¡¯s office.

    It was obvious they knew what they were doing. Any woman who could enter the president¡¯s office was

    no ordinary woman.

    Besides, Ning Ran¡¯s stunning face was a business card itself. And for such a beautiful girl to show up

    in the president¡¯s office in the middle of the night, could her identity be that simple?

    Ning Ran rode the elevator down to the parking lot but didn¡¯t leave straightaway.

    She found Nan Chen¡¯s car, squatted down, and waited.

    She couldn¡¯t leave just like that, and she had got to solve this problem through and through.

    Don¡¯t disturb his work, don¡¯t piss him off and then pretend to be pitiful to convince him¡ªthis was Ning

    Ran¡¯sst move.

    The only way to face a strong opponent like Nan Chen was by strategy and not by forceful attacks.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 237

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 237

    Nan Chen finally finished what he had to finish. He stood up and stretched his muscles. It was almost

    past midnight. He put on his suit jacket and exited his office.

    After walking around thepany, he noticed many employees of various departments were still

    working overtime. Nan Chen walked inside to greet them and reminded them to rest well.

    This was the only moment where Nan Chen revealed his rtively soft side to his colleagues. He was

    usually as cold as ice, but in the dead of night, he would get his employees from the secretariat to buy

    coffee and supper for those who worked overtime.

    To those employees, Nan Chen extending his regards was a stimnt that was a thousand times better

    than coffee. It made them feel as if all their efforts were worth it.

    In this era of acutepetition, everyone and every team were running like the wind. They could only

    run about wildly with them if they didn¡¯t want to fall behind.

    Nan Chen understood their hard work, but he couldn¡¯t help it. The survival of the fittest was thew of

    nature, and no one could get away unscathed in the jungle.

    Nan Chen exited the elevator and fished for his car keys.

    The chauffeur had left work long ago. Nan Chen would never let him stay upte with him as he didn¡¯t

    think it was necessary.

    He was just about to get into the car when he suddenly noticed a mass of things on the ground.

    That thing was leaning against a load-bearing pir in the garage, right next to his car.

    Upon taking a closer a look, he realized that that mass of things was a person.

    Seeing how she had shrunk herself into a ball with her head buried in her arms, she should be asleep.

    Approaching closer, he could smell the fragrance of orange blossom exuded from that person every

    now and then.

    This woman is still here?

    Nan Chen crouched down and looked at Ning Ran, whose head was shrunk.

    She should have really fallen asleep because that posture seemed very back-breaking. If she didn¡¯t fall

    asleep, it wouldn¡¯t be in that posture.

    Nan Chen silently watched her for two minutes and was surprised that he had been staring at her for so

    long.

    Just then, the woman fidgeted. Nan Chen quickly got up. He couldn¡¯t let her find him staring at her.

    However, Ning Ran simply moved a little to adjust her posture. Perhaps her legs were numb because

    she went back to sleep after stretching for a while.

    With the continuous filming and insomnia at night, Ning Ran was really worn out.

    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.

    Nan Chen turned around and was about the get into the car.

    He knew the woman¡¯s machination well and knew that she was squatting here to guard him.

    Did she think I would sympathize with her if she yed such tricks? Dream on!

    Nan Chen got into the car, started the engine, and drove off.

    But he stopped the car after a few minutes of hesitation.

    ¡°Hey,¡± Nan Chen grunted.

    Ning Ran seemed to have heard movements as she moved again, but fell asleep again soon after.

    Is she a pig? How can she sleep like that on the hard and cold ground?

    ¡°Hey!¡± Nan Chen raised his voice and stomped his feet.

    Ning Ran woke up with a start and got up with a huff. However, as she was still feeling groggy; her

    brain was awake, but her body wasn¡¯t fully awake. Her numbed legs caused her to fall to the ground at

    once.

    ¡°Ouch!¡± Ning Ran eximed.

    Looking at her wretched appearance, Nan Chen¡¯s heart writhed.

    Ning Ran lifted her head to look at Nan Chen. He looked really tall from this angle, and his legs

    seemed to be two meters long.

    ¡°Are you finished?¡± Ning Ran smiled ingratiatingly.

    It was an alluring smile.

    The lights in the garage weren¡¯t bright, but that smile prated his soul.

    He might be imagining things, but that smile seemed familiar.

    Coupled by that faintly discernible fragrance of orange blossom, Nan Chen spaced out as if he had

    walked into his previous life.

    That smell and that smile gave him a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu.

    Was it an illusion? Or had he really seen it before?

    Ning Ran stood up and looked at Nan Chen, who was in a daze, thinking she had made him angry

    again.

    ¡°I know it¡¯s a little rude of me to wait for you here, but I¡­¡±

    Nan Chen inched closer, coughing awkwardly, ¡°What do you want?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for disturbing you just now. I¡¯m really sorry.¡±

    Ning Ran bent over and gave a deep bow.

    Nan Chen¡¯s heart softened.

    Regardless if she was scheming or truly apologetic, it got to count for something that she slept on the

    floor for so long waiting for him.

    However, he remained expressionless while he simply uttered, ¡°Get in.¡±

    Ning Ran was ecstatic. She pulled the door open and sat in the passenger seat just so she could talk to

    Nan Chen easily.

    Nan Chen revved up the engine and drove off from the parking lot.

    The city was still bustling and rowdy. Twelve o¡¯clock wasn¡¯tte for many young people; it was when

    the nightlife really began.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t speak. His mind kept ying back to that moment of Ning Ran looking up and smiling.

    He wanted to turn his head to look at Ning Ran, who was sitting on the passenger seat, but he pushed

    away the urge.

    ¡°Let me tell you a story,¡± Ning Ran started.

    ¡°You¡¯re an actress, not a screenwriter.¡±

    Nan Chen made it clear that he wouldn¡¯t like it if she made up stories.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need you to believe me. Just listen and forget about it,¡± Ning Ran said persistently.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to listen.¡±

    Now, this is awkward. He said he didn¡¯t want to listen to me!

    Should I continue? Will he kick me out of the car if I insist on talking?

    It¡¯s not the first time he¡¯s kicked me out of the car, anyway!

    What can¡¯t Poker Face do?

    ¡°Don¡¯t be like this, Sir Chen. You¡¯re a big shot who controls everything. But you have to at least give the

    small fry a chance to speak, right?¡± Ning Ran asked weakly.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t reply.

    Just then, they heard a weird noise in the car.

    It was Ning Ran¡¯s rumbling stomach.

    She had gone to thepany very early to wait for Nan Chen and had drunk many sses of water,

    so she hadn¡¯t had dinner.

    She didn¡¯t feel it before until now, but she was starving.

    Nan Chen heard it too, but he didn¡¯t react to it.

    Ning Ran pretended to be fine and thought she would suppress her hunger first and make herself some

    instant noodles when she got home.

    Just then, Nan Chen suddenly stopped the car by the roadside. It turned out that he went down to

    make a call.

    He returned to the car soon and continued driving.

    Thereafter, Ning Ran was surprised to find that Nan Chen didn¡¯t take her home or to the Nan family¡¯s

    house but took her to ate-night restaurant with a Japaneseyout that looked simr to thete-night

    eateries seen in movies.

    The restaurant wasn¡¯t as high-end as the steakhousest time, but it was still nice.

    Sure enough, the levels were different. Just as ordinary people would go to food stalls for supper, rich

    people had their own ce as well.

    ¡°Are you treating me?¡± Ning Ran asked with undisguised excitement.

    The fact that he was willing to treat her to a meal naturally showed that he didn¡¯t hate her that much.

    As long as he didn¡¯t really feel repugnance toward her, there was a possibility of a conversation.

    And as long as there was a possibility of a conversation, there was a possibility to negotiate. She must

    try her best, as this could be herst chance.

    It was for this opportunity that she slept on the floor for so long.

    Nan Chen removed his jacket with a poker face and handed it to the staff at the side to hang it.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while since you came here,¡± a man in his fifties walked over, smiling at Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen nodded in response.

    ¡°What would you like to eat?¡± the man asked.

    Nan Chen nced at Ning Ran, hinting her to decide.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 238

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 238

    Ning Ran was about to say ¡®anything¡¯ but was afraid that it would seem rude, so she said to Nan Chen

    affectionately, ¡°You make the call!¡±

    The phrase ¡®You make the call¡¯ sounded simple, but it was rich in meaning. And it was even more

    meaningful to say it in this situation. Nan Chen was a little caught off guard at Ning Ran¡¯s sudden

    gentleness.

    As the server was still waiting at the side for him to ce his order, Nan Chen didn¡¯t say much and

    simply ordered a few dishes. This was Ning Ran¡¯s purpose. Naturally, Nan Chen should know best

    what to order since he brought her here.

    Ning Ran scrutinized her surroundings. The decoration was very simple in Japanese style, and the

    customers beside them were also speaking in Japanese. ¡°You like Japanese food?¡± Ning Ran asked

    Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t speak, and Ning Ran felt a little awkward for failing to strike up a conversation with

    him. ¡°This isn¡¯t Japanese food,¡± Nan Chen eventually said.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Ning Ran nodded hastily. ¡°It¡¯s ate-night snack that derived from Japanese food, like thete-

    night eateries seen in movies.¡± Nan Chen was silent at that. Alright, it seems he¡¯s not nning to talk to

    me. Ning Ran zipped her mouth tactfully.

    Nan Chen, who always bore a graceful posture, surveyed the surroundings as well. When he realized

    that almost all the female diners¡¯ eyes were fixed on him, he hurriedly withdrew his gaze and sat

    upright.

    This restaurant had been in business for some years, and it was his mother who had brought him and

    Nan Xing here for supper when they were young. But then something happened, and he never came

    back.

    This ce seemed to have been renovated, but the style hadn¡¯t changed much. Nan Chen had always

    wanted to visit this ce again but never had the courage toe.

    With Ning Ran as apanion today, Nan Chen somehow had the courage and excuse toe

    over. The food was served. There was fried ramen and a meatball dish Ning Ran couldn¡¯t name.

    As Ning Ran didn¡¯t know which dish was hers, she let Nan Chen take it first. Nan Chen took the

    meatball dish and handed Ning Ran the fried ramen.

    The ramen tasted different from what she usually ate. She didn¡¯t know if she was really starving or it

    was a psychological effect, but she found it to be very delicious.

    After eating a meatball, Nan Chen didn¡¯t move again.

    Ning Ran thought it was a waste and wondered if he was going to throw the rest away after eating just

    one piece.

    Thus, she kept staring at the meatballs, wanting to have a taste.

    Nan Chen caught her wolfish gaze and wondered, Is this woman a glutton? Is a bowl of fried ramen not

    enough for her?

    Supper at this hour is bound to make one chubbier, and she still eats so much?

    But seeing her unwavering gaze on those meatballs, he felt a little troubled. At that, he raised his hand

    and signaled the boss for another bowl of meatballs.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll just have these. You only ate one and it¡¯ll be a waste to throw these away.¡±

    Ning Ran rose to her feet, reached for that bowl, and stuffed one in her mouth.

    It was crisp and ptable.

    The food Poker Face eats is indeed delicious. He ordered fried ramen for me, but he ordered

    something more delicious for himself, and he only ate a little. This is too much!

    Nan Chen looked at Ning Ran swallowing one meatball in a mouthful, and one word came to his mind

    ¡ªvulgar.

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    ¡°The supper you eat is extraordinary, Sir Chen. I¡¯ve never forgotten about the sake that we drank the

    last time. It was really good!¡±

    At that, Nan Chen was reminded of her drunken appearance.

    He motioned to the boss again for two bottles of sake.

    He didn¡¯t know why, but he just wanted to fulfil this woman¡¯s wish.

    Ning Ran had just been speaking casually, and she didn¡¯t expect him to actually order it.

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna have to take a rain check on that drink. I¡¯ve got work tomorrow, and it¡¯s toote,¡± Ning Ran

    declined with a wave of her hands.

    Nan Chen had already poured her a ss as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t you have something to tell me? How are

    you going to tell me the truth if you don¡¯t drink?¡±

    Ning Ran looked stunned. Drinking doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll tell the truth after!

    So he¡¯s trying to get me drunk just so I will spill the beans after drinking?

    Thest time I was drunk, I said many things to him that shouldn¡¯t be said. Is he addicted to listening to

    me or something?

    ¡°But I¡¯m busy tomorrow¡ª¡±

    ¡°I have to go to work tomorrow too!¡± Nan Chen cut her off.

    He simply meant, why are you making things difficult when I¡¯m willing to listen to you right now?

    ¡°Well, since you¡¯re happy, I¡¯ll drink a ss or two with you. But as you know, I¡¯m a light drinker and my

    decorum in drinking is pretty bad. If I¡¯ve offended you with my drunken behavior, please forgive me,¡±

    Ning Ran said with a bitter face.

    Nan Chen kept a straight face. He had seen her decorum in drinking before!

    But it didn¡¯t matter. He had his own ways of dealing with terrible drinkers.

    Nan Chen lifted his ss at Ning Ran. Deep down, he was thinking about the past; the time when his

    mother brought him here to eat meatballs, the warmth that was once there, and theughter that would

    never be there again.

    Ning Ran lifted her ss in return. When she looked up, she saw that the eyes of the man seated on

    opposite had darkened and there was a sh of sorrow in them.

    Upon taking a closer look, the trace of sadness was gone.

    Ning Ran thought she was imagining things. He was a filthy rich, handsome, and arrogant business

    tycoon, how could he be sad?

    Nan Chen raised his head and emptied his ss of sake.

    His posture was dashing, yet elegant and noble.

    Ning Ran tried to imitate him as she gulped down her drink, but something was just missing.

    After chugging a few sses of sake, Nan Chen¡¯s sitting posture wasn¡¯t as upright as before, which

    showed that he had rxed a little.

    With his identity, he must be wary of his bearings at all times, regardless of whether he was tired or not.

    Because his words and actions could be amplified anytime and made into a topic for gossips and

    discussion.

    Not only would it affect himself, but thepany¡¯s image as well.

    The wine was actually pretty strong, and Nan Chen could feel the obvious alcohol flush reaction.

    He was perplexed. Why was he drinking with this woman again?

    Didn¡¯t he hate her very much? Didn¡¯t he not trust her?

    Did his heart turn soft because he saw her sleeping on the ground at the parking lot?

    Was he that easily moved? Why didn¡¯t he realize this before?

    ¡°I can¡¯t drink anymore. I¡¯m done.¡± Ning Ran could feel the alcohol kicking in.

    But Nan Chen ignored her and poured her another ss.

    There was an indescribable and strange feeling of drinkingte at night.

    That kind of feeling seemed to allow Nan Chen to temporarily put aside some things and simply be an

    ordinary man.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t know if he enjoyed the feeling of drinking at his hour or if he enjoyed drinking with this

    woman.

    It would be terrifying if it was thetter. He would be wallowing in self-degradation.

    ¡°Are you trying to get me drunk, Sir Chen?¡± Ning Ran asked, a little drunk as her tone wasn¡¯t as

    cautious as before.

    Nan Chen simply filled her ss and didn¡¯t respond.

    ¡°If you promise to give me ten million, I don¡¯t mind if drink myself to death,¡± Ning Ran said.

    Nan Chen frowned.

    What irritated him the most was how Ning Ran talked about money so straightforwardly to him. This

    woman only had eyes for money!

    Sensing that he was upset, Ning Ran quickly changed her words, ¡°Alright, when one drinks with a

    bosom friend, a thousand cups are not enough. I¡¯ll just drink with you.¡±

    After saying it, it didn¡¯t feel right.

    Clearly, we¡¯re from two different worlds. How could we be bosom friends? And how could we possibly

    drink that much together?

    ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll drink with you if that makes you happy. And if you¡¯re happy, I¡¯ll¡­¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Nan Chen demanded.

    ¡°If you¡¯re happy, I¡¯ll be drunk by then,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    Nan Chen heaved a breath, relieved to hear that she didn¡¯t say anything absurd.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 239

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 239

    Drunkenness always happened when one was least aware of it.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t know from which ss onwards that she started feeling light in the head.

    That feeling of light-headedness felt nice. It was exhrating, rxing, and unrestrained.

    She was talking more and more loudly, andughing more and more presumptuously.

    Although Nan Chen was a little drunk, he remained upright in his seat as he looked at the increasingly

    wanton woman before him.

    Was this the result he wanted? Not knowing the answer, he gulped down another ss of sake.

    Why did Ie here? Why did I eat with her? And why did I drink?

    He didn¡¯t drink any alcohol for work during the important social event tonight, but he was drinking white

    wine now with the woman he hated so much.

    ¡°You¡¯re actually a nice person, Sir Chen,¡± Ning Ran said abruptly with a smile.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Nan Chen remained silent.

    ¡°You¡¯re responsible. When we were in the jungle, you didn¡¯t eat and had left the food for me and the

    children¡­ I always remember it. In fact, my life is not as important as yours. I¡¯m just a de of grass. If

    I¡¯m gone, I bet no one will remember me after a few days. But you¡¯re different. You¡¯re responsible for

    the family business. If anything happens to you, the entire Flower City or even the entire economy of

    China will be affected. So, I think it¡¯s amazing that you¡¯re willing to save food for us.¡± Ning Ran rambled

    on and on about many things.

    Nan Chen¡¯s heart softened a little.

    How are you a de of grass? How are you as cheap as you say you are? How could you be forgotten

    in two days if you¡¯re gone?

    Where do I find this one and only orange blossom fragrance if you¡¯re gone?

    ¡°But you also have a bad side,¡± Ning Ran spoke in a thick voice, not caring if Nan Chen answered or

    not.

    Nan Chen cocked an eyebrow and looked at Ning Ran.

    ¡°You¡¯re too proud. Although you have the power, there¡¯s no need to be arrogant. The world is diverse.

    Everyone has his own way of life, his own personality¡ª¡± Ning Ran halted and burped.

    Nan Chen knitted his brows tightly together. Is this woman going to throw up again?

    He couldn¡¯t let her throw up again this time. She had made a scene thest time she was drunk, and it

    was too much trouble.

    Nan Chen stood up and took away that bottle of wine in front of her, but he didn¡¯t say a word.

    Ning Ran grinned, ¡°Are you afraid that I¡¯ll trouble you when I¡¯m drunk? Hahaha.¡±

    Nan Chen paid no heed to her words.

    ¡°Just get right to the topic.¡±

    Ning Ran tried hard to concentrate, but it was a little too difficult.

    The effect of the alcohol made her feel dizzy, and she began to see a split image of Poker Face in front

    of her.

    However, she was still conscious, and she knew what she had to say.

    The only downside was that she really wanted to talk. She had many pent-up emotions in her heart,

    and she couldn¡¯t help but wanting to talk.

    Nan Chen looked at Ning Ran, indicating her to continue.

    ¡°How about I drink a little more? Otherwise, I can¡¯t talk about some things.¡±

    Ning Ran was about to get another bottle of wine when Nan Chen stretched his hand to stop her. He

    couldn¡¯t let her drink anymore, as it would be too taxing to deal with her drunken behavior.

    Ning Ran could only give up. Tch, how controlling. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m a drunkard or something.

    ¡°Where did I stop just now?¡± Ning Ran looked at Nan Chen with blurry eyes.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t reply. He wasn¡¯t obliged to remind this woman that she had been raving about him.

    ¡°Ah, I remember now. We were talking about what happened in the jungle. Food supplies were limited.

    Instead of eating it yourself, you saved them for me and the children¡­¡±

    Nan Chen froze. Is she going to repeat that again?

    Fine, say what you want. You can even say it a hundred times.

    Thereupon, Ning Ran repeated what she had just said, but the main idea that Nan Chen was

    responsible remained unchanged.

    Nan Chen felt that it was better to be praised than to be taunted by her.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go. It¡¯s not getting any earlier.¡± Ning Ran stood up.

    Her footsteps were a little unsteady, but she managed to find her equilibrium.

    Nan Chen gestured her to sit down and then asked the boss for a bowl of soup, which should have a

    sobering effect.

    The soup was warm, and it tasted a little sweet.

    Feeling thirsty and overwhelmed from the booze, Ning Ran finished drinking it in a sh and wanted

    more.

    Nan Chen could only order her another bowl.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything to tell me? You said you¡¯ve got a story to tell,¡± Nan Chen asked Ning Ran.

    Analyzing from her current state, she should be almost drunk, and the probability of saying the truth

    before one gets drunk was higher.

    ¡°Story? Mm, I have.¡± Ning Ran had forgotten what she said before drinking.

    ¡°What do you want to hear?¡±

    Nan Chen froze again. He had heard of people choosing a song, but not a story.

    ¡°Anything,¡± Nan Chen replied casually.

    ¡°Mm, but what do you want to hear? I have too many stories to tell,¡± Ning Ran said proudly.

    ¡°Okay, then tell me, why do you need ten million all of a sudden?¡±

    It didn¡¯t mean that Nan Chen didn¡¯t want to know if he didn¡¯t ask.

    He didn¡¯t ask because he was worried what he would hear was a lie, as Ning Ran had the natural

    tendency toe up with an excuse.

    He asked that now because he thought Ning Ran wouldn¡¯t be able to tell lies in this state.

    The probability of her telling lies was lower and he could have a chance to hear the truth.

    ¡°It¡¯s because of my mother,¡± Ning Ran answered.

    Nan Chen sat unspeaking. Didn¡¯t your mother pass away a long time ago, and it was your fault that she

    died? Do you think I wouldn¡¯t know that?

    ¡°My mother dying with a grudge is the pain of my life. But that woman stashed away my mother¡¯s

    belongings and what¡¯s even more hateful, she changed my mother¡¯s ashes and kept her from resting in

    peace¡­¡±

    Alcohol could amplify a person¡¯s joy, but also their grievances and sorrows.

    Ning Ran, who had still been in a stable mood, suddenly choked up when she talked about her mother.

    Then tears started pouring out, and they were unstoppable.

    She couldn¡¯t suppress those pent up sorrows she had been suppressing as her strong heart became

    fragile under the influence of alcohol.

    Nan Chen watched her quietly and came to a realization that she would always be close to falling apart

    every time she mentioned her mother.

    She had cried so loudly on the highway thest time she was drunk,menting for her mother and her

    lost home.

    Just what kind of deep sorrow is hidden in this woman¡¯s heart?

    Is it really because she¡¯s guilty of killing her mother, and that¡¯s why she would copse when she brings

    up something from the past?

    ¡°Don¡¯t cry.¡± Nan Chen¡¯sfort was so in that it could be ignored.

    He really didn¡¯t know how tofort people, because he felt that the suffering in this world could only

    be borne by oneself.

    Others¡¯fort was useless because the pain would gradually fade over time.

    But miraculously, when he said the words ¡®don¡¯t cry¡¯, Ning Ran really stopped.

    ¡°Tissue,¡± Ning Ran said.

    Nan Chenpliantly handed the tissue over to let her wipe her tears.

    ¡°That old witch threatened me with my mother¡¯s belongings, asking for ten million and if I don¡¯t give her

    that money, she will pour dog¡¯s blood on my mother¡¯s ashes so that she cannot rest in peace down

    there.¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s expression was very clear, and the hatred in her tone was palpable.

    Harking back to what she said before this, Nan Chen felt that what he heard this time should be the

    truth.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you report this to the police?¡± Nan Chen asked. ¡°This is extortion.¡±

    ¡°They are very cunning and they will know if I report the matter to the police. Besides, the police will not

    file a case for this because I have no evidence.¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 240

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 240

    Nan Chen thought it made sense. Some things that often happened in a corporation couldn¡¯t be

    reported to the police either.

    The police could maintain fairness and justice, but only if they had evidence andws to abide by.

    However, there were some things that were actually hard to have evidence of.

    ¡°They also said that if I call the police or tell anyone about this, they will really sprinkle dog¡¯s blood on

    my mother¡¯s ashes. I can¡¯t let them do that¡­¡±

    Ning Ran started weeping again.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t respond. He was assessing the truth behind Ning Ran¡¯s statement.

    And judging from the current situation, he thought it was more likely the truth.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t your father stop her?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°He¡¯s a bas***d!¡± Ning Ran¡¯s jaw clenched.

    Nan Chen was bbergasted. Did she just call her father that?

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    ¡°He partnered up with that woman to snatch away thepany left by my grandfather and killed my

    mother. He¡¯s a big fat bastard!¡± Ning Ranined through gritted teeth, her eyes red.

    ¡°He threatened you with your stepmother,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Yes, and that¡¯s why I said he¡¯s a bas***d! They will not admit to it if I call the police. They are sinister

    viins,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°But you¡¯re indulging him if you give him money. Besides, ten million will never be enough. He will then

    ask for twenty million, thirty million, and it will be endless,¡± Nan Chen said calmly.

    Ning Ran had never thought about that.

    She just wanted to get the money now and redeem her mother¡¯s ashes first.

    As for what was going to happen after this, that would be a problem for another day.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± This time, it was Nan Chen who initiated to leave.

    It was reallyte and now that he had achieved his goal, they could leave now.

    ¡°So soon?¡± Ning Ran, however, didn¡¯t really want to leave. She was deep in the conversation.

    She felt that there were so many things to say and that wouldn¡¯t be able to say them if they left now.

    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you leave when I told you to just now?¡± Ning Ran sat still.

    ¡°Come on, it¡¯s toote. The store is closing.¡±

    The boss hastily chimed in from the side, ¡°It¡¯s no hurry. We operate till dawn.¡±

    ¡°Did you hear that? The boss said it¡¯s no hurry,¡± Ning Ran said smugly.

    Nan Chen nced at the boss.

    The boss quickly corrected himself, ¡°But I¡¯m feeling under the weather today. If it weren¡¯t for you two, I

    would have already closed the doors.¡±

    Ning Ran was drunk and didn¡¯t realize that the boss was cooperating with Nan Chen.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, then. Let¡¯s not disturb the boss,¡± Ning Ran murmured, stood up, and staggered outside.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t help her walk, but he stayed close in case she suddenly tripped over.

    However, it was fascinating that she managed to find her bnce every time she seemed like she was

    about to fall.

    Walking toward the parking lot, Nan Chen remembered that he drank and so couldn¡¯t drive.

    It was toote. It wasn¡¯t nice to call the chauffeur over, and he must have gone to bed early.

    ¡°We¡¯ll take a cab at the entrance,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°I can¡¯t walk anymore. Let me take a break,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    Nan Chen frowned. He had no choice but to open the car door and let Ning Ran sit inside.

    ¡°I¡¯m not gonna walk. I can¡¯t walk anymore,¡± Ning Ran said.

    Troublesome! Too troublesome indeed!

    He had known she would be a handful if she drank too much, but he had failed to control her intake.

    ¡°Don¡¯t throw up in my car,¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m not drunk, so don¡¯t worry.¡±

    Nan Chen also got in the car and rolled down the window.

    But it didn¡¯t feel right, so he rolled it back up, leaving only a small gap.

    ¡°Hey¡­¡± Nan Chen turned around to look at Ning Ran, who was leaning against the backseat.

    ¡°What?¡± She pointed at Nan Chen.

    ¡°What¡¯s the name of the song you sangst time? Why don¡¯t you sing a little?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Which song? I can sing many songs.¡± Ning Ran looked haughty.

    ¡°The one about the bird and the sun,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°Oh, Nature¡¯s Way? That¡¯s a poem, not a song, you dummy. Hahaha¡­¡± Ning Ranughed.

    Nan Chen swallowed down his frustration. How dare she call me a dummy?

    ¡°No, it¡¯s the one you sangst time. The one you sang very smoothly,¡± Nan Chen said patiently.

    ¡°Ah, I got it. I¡¯m looking up at the sky, above the moon¡ª¡± Ning Ran sang.

    ¡°No!¡± Nan Chen interrupted irritably. That was terrible!

    ¡°No? Let me think.¡± Ning Ran was befuddled.

    Just then, she heard him humming, ¡°This one.¡±

    Ning Ran guffawed. ¡°That was awful. You sounded like a pig! But I know which song you are talking

    about!¡±

    Nan Chen almost lost his mind. She called me a dummy and a pig. Is this woman crazy?

    ¡°Yellow flowers are yellow, white flowers are white, the wildflowers bloom where my hometown is¡­¡±

    The song suddenly started, pacifying Nan Chen¡¯s anger as he listened to her singing.

    ¡°The cooling breeze, the sound of the flute, daddy and I were herding the cattle and sheep¡­¡±

    Nan Chen closed his eyes and listened to Ning Ran sing.

    The lyrics were simple, and they seemed to be a repetition of the same few lines.

    However, it was very nice. Most importantly, Nan Chen found it familiar.

    It was really familiar; he must have heard it somewhere before.

    But he couldn¡¯t recall where he hadst heard it. No matter how hard he tried to recall, he just couldn¡¯t

    remember.

    The singing suddenly stopped.

    Nan Chen opened his eyes and looked back. Ning Ran had fallen asleep with her head tilted to one

    side.

    Whether on the floor or in the car, how can this woman fall asleep as soon as she closed her eyes?

    Nan Chen took out his phone and called Qiao Zhan.

    Qiao Zhan was a night owl and was the only person he knew who sleptte.

    Sure enough, he was still awake, saying he had insomnia and he couldn¡¯t fall asleep.

    Qiao Zhan arrived ten minutester.

    Sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, he smelled a mixture of a woman-specific fragrance and alcohol.

    An ambiguous smile tugged at Qiao Zhan¡¯s lips.

    ¡°It¡¯s not what you think it is,¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°I know, I know.¡± Qiao Zhan immediately put on a serious face.

    ¡°What do you know?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know anything!¡± Qiao Zhan said frantically.

    ¡°Go to a hotel and settle her down,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Qiao Zhan started the engine.

    There was silence along the way. It waste at night, and there was very little traffic on the street.

    There was a drunk woman squatting on the ground, vomiting, with a man patting her back behind her.

    Nan Chen couldn¡¯t help but nce at the drunk woman beside her. You are dead to me if you dare to

    squat on the street and vomit like the others!

    The drunken woman tilted her head andid on hisp.

    Nan Chen stretched out his hand, trying to remove her head from his leg, but she uttered a sound,

    hugging his leg shamelessly, and refused to let go.

    Is this the legendary thigh hug?

    Nan Chen tried again, but to no avail.

    He dared not use too much force, afraid she would burst into tears, in which it would be embarrassing

    in front of Qiao Zhan.

    Qiao Zhan heard noises from the back, but he didn¡¯t have the guts to look back.

    He had to focus while driving, but most of all, he was afraid of getting scolded.

    However, he really wanted to look back.

    ¡°Go check on her parents,¡± Nan Chen suddenly said.

    ¡°Huh? Whose parents?¡± Qiao Zhan didn¡¯t understand what he was saying.

    ¡°Her parents, their financial situation, and the rtionship between them.¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 241

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 241

    It was seven o¡¯clock in the morning when Ning Ran woke up.

    She wasn¡¯t drunk enough to the point of experiencing a ckout. She vaguely remembered two female

    staff helping her into the hotel roomst night and she¡¯d been sleeping until now after she copsed.

    Instead of feeling a headache of a hangover, she felt refreshed and dpressed.

    It seemed that her alcohol tolerance had improved. She wasn¡¯t drunk to a point where she couldn¡¯t get

    up.

    Above all, she could still remember that she talked a lot with Nan Chen, about borrowing money and

    the past.

    She probably didn¡¯tmit any mistakes. Otherwise, Nan Chen wouldn¡¯t have sent her to a hotel.

    As soon as she washed up, her phone rang. It was Cheng Xiangyun, asking for her whereabouts.

    Ning Ran initially wanted to say that she was at a hotel, but because she was worried Cheng Xiangyun

    would inquire into the root of the matter, she simply lied and said she was at a friend¡¯s house.

    Unexpectedly, it wasn¡¯t a brilliant lie at all, and she was immediately seen through by the experienced

    Cheng Xiangyun. ¡°A friend¡¯s house? Which friend? Do you have any friends in Flower City whom you

    can stay overnight with?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to ask about that. Anyway, I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ll take a cab to the studio myself,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Hey, you haven¡¯t answered me. Which friend¡¯s house are you at?¡± Cheng Xiangyun was surely

    relentless.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to know about that. Just know I¡¯ll be there in a bit.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re getting more and more ridiculous, do you know that? Don¡¯t tell me you were with Mr. BMWst

    night.¡±

    ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t. It¡¯s been a few days since Ist met him. Okay, I¡¯m hanging up now.¡±

    Ning Ran hung up without hesitation.

    She then took her room card to the restaurant, had a free breakfast, and surprisingly ran into someone.

    It was Nan Chen.

    It turned out that he had spent the night at the hotel as well and didn¡¯t go home.

    Ning Ran naturally didn¡¯t know that Nan Chen stayed next door to herst night.

    ¡°Hi, good morning,¡± Ning Ran greeted enthusiastically.

    Nan Chen nodded slightly as a response and then continued eating.

    Ning Ran felt a little embarrassed, but she sat beside Nan Chen shamelessly.

    As if he felt a little ufortable with her sitting next to him, he ate hastily and left.

    Once Ning Ran finished eating, Nan Chen was long gone.

    ¡­

    It was twelve noon.

    Ning Ziqiang and Luo Yi were about to have their lunch when there was a sudden knock on the door.

    The two immediately put down their chopsticks and nced at each other vigntly.

    As they owed a lot of foreign debts, they often grew jittery when a knock sounded on the door.

    ¡°You go,¡± Luo Yi said to Ning Ziqiang.

    Ning Ziqiang rose to his feet, walked to the door, and looked outside through the peephole.

    It was the security of the building.

    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    Only then did Ning Ziqiang feel relieved enough to open the door. What¡¯s the matter?

    ¡°You¡¯re Ning Ziqiang?¡± the security asked.

    ¡°I am. Are you new here? How could you not know me and call my name in full?¡± Ning Ziqiang was a

    little displeased.

    Although he was now bankrupt, he still had the temper of a boss and was still a little angry to be called

    by his name in a contemptuous manner by a security guard.

    ¡°Your rtive is here to see you,¡± the security replied, pointing behind him.

    Thereupon, another person appeared from the stairs. He was tall and sturdy, and not easy to mess with

    at first nce.

    Ning Ziqiang¡¯s initial thought was that the debt collectors had arrived.

    He turned around to hide in his house, but Qiao Zhan was quick to grab him.

    ¡°What are you running for? Don¡¯t you recognize me, Mr. Ning?¡± Qiao Zhan asked.

    ¡°You are?¡±

    ¡°I was in the sales department before this. Don¡¯t you remember me?¡±

    Ning Ziqiang pondered for a while, but he really couldn¡¯t recall who he was.

    ¡°Do you need me for something? I don¡¯t owe you any sry, did I?¡±

    ¡°No, you don¡¯t. I just want to thank you for taking good care of me before, so I¡¯m inviting you and the

    lady boss to a meal,¡± Qiao Zhan replied.

    Ning Ziqiang was wild with joy upon hearing this. He didn¡¯t think anyone would remember him and want

    to invite him to a meal after he went bankrupt.

    ¡°Sure, just a sec. I need to change my clothes,¡± Ning Ziqiang said.

    Half an hourter, in a private room of a restaurant nearby, Qiao Zhan urged the former to drink, but he

    didn¡¯t drink a drop.

    Ning Ziqiang drank happily and kept talking about the past.

    People who didn¡¯t have a bright future could only talk about his glory in the past, and that was Ning

    Ziqiang.

    ¡°Well, I just wanna ask, are you two still in contact with Miss?¡±

    Qiao Zhan changed the topic and got to the point.

    ording to Nan Chen¡¯s intention, he wanted him to grab hold of Ning Ziqiang and his wife and

    interrogate them.

    But Qiao Zhan didn¡¯t think it was right. He was Ning Ran¡¯s father, after all. What if he offended Ning

    Ran if their rtionship wasn¡¯t as bad as they expected?

    Ning Ran was Young Master Xing¡¯s fianc¨¦e, but she was found drunk in Master Chen¡¯s car. Qiao Zhan

    didn¡¯t know what was going on now, and he didn¡¯t dare to ask.

    However, one thing was certain. Ning Ran¡¯s rtionship with the Nan family wasn¡¯t simple, and she

    couldn¡¯t be offended.

    Since he couldn¡¯t take the risk of offending her, Qiao Zhan came up with the idea to treat them to a

    meal and sound them out first.

    Upon hearing that ¡®Miss¡¯ title, Ning Ziqiang and Luo Yi exchanged nces.

    ¡°You mean Ran?¡± Ning Ziqiang asked.

    ¡°Yeah, is she not with you two?¡±

    As soon as Qiao Zhan said that, his phone rang. It was Nan Chen who called to ask about the

    situation.

    Naturally, it would be ufortable to pick up his phone in front of them, so he got up and went

    outside.

    Coincidentally, Luo Yi¡¯s phone also rang at this time, and it was Feng Minsheng.

    ¡°Aunt Luo, I saw you at the entrance of your neighborhood just now. Howe you and Uncle Ning are

    with people from the Nan family?¡± Feng Minsheng asked anxiously.

    ¡°What do you mean by people from the Nan family?¡± Luo Yi questioned.

    ¡°That big guy is from the Nan family. He hit me before. You two have to be careful,¡± Feng Minsheng

    answered.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Luo Yi was shocked to hear that. ¡°Didn¡¯t he say he¡¯s a former employee from thepany?¡±

    ¡°No, he¡¯s from the Nan family. He¡¯s lying to you and it must be the Nan family who sent him here to fish

    for information!¡±

    ¡°I got it.¡±

    Luo Yi hung up and whispered to Ning Ziqiang, ¡°That big guy was sent by the Nan family to deceive us!

    He¡¯s with that little bitch!¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Ning Ziqiang was appalled.

    ¡°You fool. We almost fell for it because you were tempted when he said he¡¯ll treat us to a meal!¡± Luo Yi

    chastised.

    ¡°How did you know that?¡±

    ¡°Feng Minsheng saw him. That big guy beat him up before and he remembers clearly!¡±

    Just then, the private room door opened with Qiao Zhaning in after answering the phone.

    Ning Ziqiang and Luo Yi were both despicable people, and their acting skills were stillmendable.

    Although they knew what was going on, they didn¡¯t show it on their faces.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I had to answer this call. Let¡¯s continue.¡± Qiao Zhan refilled Ning Ziqiang¡¯s ss again.

    ¡°You drink a little too. By the way, you said you were in the sales department? When did you join the

    company and in which area were you responsible for sales?¡± Ning Ziqiang asked.

    Qiao Zhan fakedughter and replied, ¡°I forgot cause it¡¯s been so long. Right, how is Miss? Are you in

    contact with her?¡±

    Luo Yi nced at Ning Ziqiang, who understood tacitly.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 242

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 242

    ¡°Of course,¡± Ning Ziqiang answered. ¡°Oh, then how is she?¡± Qiao Zhan asked again. ¡°She¡¯s pretty

    good. She¡¯s working as an actress,¡± Ning Ziqiang said.

    It seemed that they understood her very well, as what he said was right. ¡°Why are you even mentioning

    her? You were nice to her, but how did she treat you?¡± Luo Yi chipped in abruptly.

    Ning Ziqiang cooperatively sighed. And that was how they worked together to deceive Ning Ran¡¯s

    mother back then. After so many years of acting, their acting skills had been brought to the point of

    perfection. A warrior like Qiao Zhan couldn¡¯t see any ws at all.

    Engaging in conspiracy was not his forte. ¡°What is it?¡± Qiao Zhan looked at Luo Yi. ¡°Ning is too

    embarrassed to talk. After all, we can¡¯t wash our dirty linen in public,¡± Luo Yi sighed. ¡°What exactly

    happened?¡±

    ¡°Actually¡­¡± Luo Yi looked hesitant. ¡°Just let it go. She¡¯s just a child, so don¡¯t me her.¡± Ning Ziqiang

    pretended to stop Luo Yi from talking.

    ¡°It seems that you two are hiding something. If it¡¯s inconvenient for you to say, then forget it.¡± Qiao

    Zhan tried to step back.

    ¡°It¡¯s actually nothing much, it¡¯s just that my health is not in good shape. I went to the hospital for a

    checkup a while ago, and the result was a little discouraging. Thepany is experiencing a downturn

    these few years and we¡¯re not exactly living afortable life now, so medical visits have be a

    problem. Later, Luo Yi asked me to look for the child to see if she could find a way to help me borrow

    some money and help me get past this hurdle first.¡±

    Qiao Zhan nodded. ¡°Yeah, you should.¡±

    ¡°It took me a great deal of effort to find her. I told her about my situation and asked her to help borrow

    one hundred thousand, but¡­ Let¡¯s not go there,¡± Ning Ziqiang sighed and didn¡¯t talk further.

    Of course, Qiao Zhan wanted him to keep talking. How could he stop right at the key point?

    ¡°Ms. Ning didn¡¯t agree afterwards?¡±

    Luo Yi continued instead, ¡°How could she agree? She said that Ning Ziqiang¡¯s life and death were none

    of her business, and she wouldn¡¯t give a single cent. It¡¯s fine if she refused to give us the money, but

    she even spread rumors outside saying that we asked for a huge chunk of money and that we

    ckmailed her! Those old friends in the past are now calling us a beast. This girl is too cruel. So she

    doesn¡¯t want to give us money, but how could she nder her father like this? I¡¯m just her stepmother.

    She can say whatever she wants about me, but Ning is her biological father. How disappointing it is for

    her to spread rumors like this!¡±

    At that, Luo Yi squeezed her eyes, forcing tears out of them.

    Qiao Zhan pondered, This statement is exactly the same as what Feng Minsheng had said. Is Ning

    Ran really a cruel person? She doesn¡¯t seem like one though.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you twomunicate nicely with her?¡± Qiao Zhan asked.

    ¡°How are we supposed tomunicate with her? She refused to help us and spread rumors about us.

    We can¡¯t even bring ourselves to meet anyone now, but I don¡¯t me her. She had always

    misunderstood us, thinking that her mother¡¯s death was rted to us. But in all honesty, it¡¯s really not

    our fault.¡±

    Ning Ziqiang stered on a sad face and wanted to squeeze out a few drops of tears, but failed to do

    so.

    In terms of acting skills, he was a far cry from Luo Yi.

    Qiao Zhan felt speechless. This result surprised him, as it wasn¡¯t the result he wanted.

    After entertaining them with few more words, Qiao Zhan paid the bill and left.

    When he arrived at Nanshi Corporation, Nan Chen was in a meeting again.

    In a year, Nan Chen probably spent more than ny percent of his time in meetings.

    Meetings seemed easy, but they were not.

    Corporate meetings weren¡¯t just a formality. Most of the meetings came with a concrete topic.

    Nan Chen often had to make judgements and conclusion ordingly after a meeting and these

    conclusions determined the future of thepany.

    Especially for important meetings, Nan Chen had to make preparations himself and study the meeting

    materials handed over from the secretarial office. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be able to understand fully

    when someone spoke during the meeting.

    Therefore, the influential Master Chen had been running at high speed and carrying many weights on

    his shoulders.

    What other people saw was mour, but only a few people knew his burden and pressure.

    Qiao Zhan waited for an hour before Nan Chen finished the meeting.

    Perhaps the meeting didn¡¯t go well, as Nan Chen¡¯splexion didn¡¯t look good.

    This added to the pressure on Qiao Zhan because what he brought wasn¡¯t good news in the first ce

    either.

    Will he be even angrier if I tell him about that?

    Nan Chen habitually removed his outerwear and hung it on the side. He then picked up a ss of

    water and took a sip.

    Thereafter, he walked to the side, picked up a golf club and swung a few strokes to move his muscles.

    The meetingsted for over two hours; it was really back-breaking.

    When the office was renovated, Nan Xing had installed a mini-golf course here. At that time, Nan Chen

    thought it was useless, but now it seemed that it was actually necessary.

    ¡°Sir Chen.¡± Qiao Zhan stood aside, watching Nan Chen swinging his club.

    ¡°Shoot.¡±

    ¡°I met Ning Ziqiang.¡±

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t reply because he thought Qiao Zhan¡¯s words were nonsense.

    The fact that he woulde to the office to see him naturally meant that he met Ning Ziqiang.

    Otherwise, why was he here?

    ¡°He said he¡¯s seriously ill and needed one hundred thousand to pay the hospital first, so he asked Ms.

    Ding¡­¡±

    Qiao Zhan told Nan Chen everything he had heard from Ning Ziqiang.

    As expected, Nan Chen¡¯s face grew uglier, and the cold air emitting from his body made Qiao Zhan feel

    a little flustered.

    ¡°Is there a possibility Ning Ziqiang lied to you because he found out about your identity?¡± Nan Chen

    questioned.

    Qiao Zhan gave it a thought and felt that it was impossible.

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    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± He could only answer that.

    Nan Chen was silent again.

    ¡°You can go now,¡± Nan Chen said brusquely after a long while.

    Qiao Zhan felt relieved because the atmosphere was too tense; it was safer for him to leave early.

    ¡°Then what should I do next?¡± Qiao Zhan asked gingerly.

    ¡°No hurry for action,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°Yes, Sir Chen. I¡¯ll go first then.¡±

    Qiao Zhan exited the office with a long sigh of relief as he saw Jiang Zhe walking over.

    They were both familiar with each other. One was the person Nan Chen trusted most in business

    matters, and one was the person Nan Chen trusted most in private matters.

    One with the brains and one with the brawn, but they didn¡¯t seem to acknowledge each other.

    Jiang Zhe thought Qiao Zhan was just a warrior who only did menial work instead of aplishing

    anything big. The only muscle he didn¡¯t use was his brain.

    Qiao Zhan, on the other hand, thought Jiang Zhe was like a eunuch who was defenseless and only

    knew how to butter up to Nan Chen to get a promotion.

    They both believed that the role of the other party was very limited and the one who could really get

    things done was themselves.

    ¡°Well, isn¡¯t it Captain Qiao? Isn¡¯t Captain Qiao¡¯s area of activities in the backyard? Why did youe

    to thepany?¡± Jiang Zhe started.

    Qiao Zhan immediately retaliated, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Assistant Jiang. I¡¯m not here to see you, Assistant Jiang. I¡¯m

    here to report to Master Chen. I mean, seriously, he¡¯s got you by his side, but he insisted on having me

    over. It seems that you¡¯re not cut out for this task. Oh, forget it. Your task is to copy documents and

    pass messages. I know that. I¡¯m off then, see ya.¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 243

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 243

    After finishing filming one scene at the studio, Ning Ran took a look at her mobile phone and saw that

    there were a dozen missed calls. Most of them were from Ning Ziqiang. How annoying.

    The crew had ordered lunch boxes, but despite having no appetite, she had to buck up and take a few

    bites. Acting was a physical job. If she didn¡¯t replenish her energy in time, she would have no strength

    to continue working in the afternoon.

    After taking two bites, Ning Ran¡¯s phone vibrated, and it turned out to be Ning Ziqiang calling again.

    Ning Ran had no choice but to answer her phone. ¡°Can you knock it off? I¡¯m still working. What have

    you been calling for?¡± Ning Ran asked angrily.

    She didn¡¯t expect Ning Ziqiang to be even more aggressive than her. ¡°How dare you yell at me? You let

    the Nan family investigate me! Do you think you can deceive me? Since you¡¯re not benevolent, don¡¯t

    me us for being unrighteous. You have until today to bring the money, or I¡¯ll stir the ashes of that

    damned woman in dog¡¯s blood!¡±

    Ning Ran was a little confused. What did he mean by the Nan family investigated him?

    ¡°What on earth are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ming for you now. You must give us the money today or you can forget about getting your

    mother¡¯s ashes!¡± Ning Ziqiang warned.

    ¡°Don¡¯te! I¡¯m working now and I don¡¯t have the time for you if youe. We¡¯ll talk about itter after

    I finish filming!¡± Ning Ran hung up after speaking.

    Ning Ziqiang called again, but she didn¡¯t answer.

    After swallowing the rest of her lunch, she was pumped up again and went back to work.

    The director, Wang Yan, took better care of Ning Ran as he scheduled her scenes during the day. So at

    seven o¡¯clock, she was ready to go.

    Unexpectedly, Ning Ziqiang was waiting outside.

    Although they had been filming in a studio, it wasn¡¯t fixed, and they often changed scenes and

    locations.

    However, it was strange that Feng Minsheng and Ning Ziqiang could always find the ce where Ning

    Ran was shooting in time.

    It was really quite a headache for Ning Ran.

    ¡°You ungrateful brat! Just say so if you don¡¯t want to give us the money. How dare you tell the Nan

    family and have them investigate us?! You think I can¡¯t do anything about you because you have the

    Nan family backing you up?¡± Ning Ziqiang roared.

    ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about. I¡¯m still borrowing the money from people, but I haven¡¯t got it.

    Just give me a little more time.¡± Ning Ran didn¡¯t want to argue with him.

    ¡°By today! Luo Yi has already bought the dog blood. If you don¡¯t give us the money today, your mother

    will go to hell! I was going to give you more time, but who knew you would be so disobedient. Since

    that¡¯s the case, don¡¯t me us for not being lenient!¡± Ning Ziqiang shouted.

    At this moment, Cheng Xiangyun came over. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    Ning Ran gestured Cheng Xiangyun to leave as she didn¡¯t want her to get involved in this.

    It was humiliating to have a father like this, and Ning Ran didn¡¯t want too many people to know about

    this.

    ¡°I¡¯m her father and we¡¯re dealing with family affairs. You go away!¡± Ning Ziqiang huffed.

    Cheng Xiangyun nced at Ning Ran and questioned her with her eyes.

    Ning Ran waved her hands helplessly and said, ¡°I¡¯ll settle this on my own. You go first.¡±

    Feeling that it was inappropriate to meddle in other¡¯s family matters, Cheng Xiangyun stepped aside.

    ¡°When are you giving us the money? What time?¡± Ning Ziqiang asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°It¡¯ste now. The bank is already closed and many things can¡¯t be done. You gave me three days, so

    I¡¯ll give it to you tomorrow. As for what the Nan family did to investigate you, they didn¡¯t investigate you,

    but me. You and the old witch can act so well. How could you not fool them?¡±

    Ning Ran was calm. She knew Ning Ziqiang¡¯s purpose was to ask for money, and it was Luo Yi who

    had taught him to say such harsh words with the purpose of pressuring her toe up with the money

    as soon as possible.

    As expected, Ning Ziqiang didn¡¯t know what to say at Ning Ran¡¯s ruthless retort.

    ¡°Also, how much money do you think you will get once I give you that ten million?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    Ning Ziqiang¡¯s expression was unnatural. ¡°Why are you asking that? You¡¯re my daughter and it¡¯s your

    duty to honor me! Isn¡¯t it right for you to give me some money after so many years of upbringing?¡±

    ¡°Answer me. How much can you get?¡±

    ¡°This is between Luo Yi and me. It¡¯s none of your business.¡± Ning Ziqiang was obviously diffident.

    ¡°I bet you don¡¯t get a single cent. Luo Yi was with you back then because of my mother¡¯spany.

    Now that you¡¯re old, do you think she¡¯ll still love you?¡±

    Seeing that Ning Ziqiang was quiet, Ning Ran continued, ¡°What does she love about you? Does she

    love that you¡¯re old and grey, or that you¡¯re a heartless bastard who killed his ex-wife? So once you get

    the money, I guess you won¡¯t get any of it. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±

    ¡°Luo Yi will dump you and take the money to find a younger man to live a happy life. Then you will get

    older and wimpier, and finally, leave this world in remorse.¡±

    Ning Ziqiang¡¯splexion turned for the worst the more Ning Ran spoke.

    ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense! Luo Yi and I are very much in love. She¡¯s much better than that deadbeat

    mother of yours!¡± Ning Ziqiang was reluctant to admit Ning Ran¡¯s statement.

    ¡°Are you lying to me or are you lying to yourself? Luo Yi just wants your money! When my mother was

    rich, she asked you to screw with my mother¡¯s money. Now that my mother is gone, and thepany

    is destroyed by both of you, she asked you to force me to ask around for money! Ning Ziqiang, are you

    really clueless, or are you deluding yourself?¡± Ning Ran screamed.

    Ning Ziqiang was about to say something when his phone rang. It was a video call.

    ¡°Put that little bitch on the line,¡± Luo Yi said.

    Ning Ziqiang quickly turned the screen to Ning Ran. ¡°She¡¯s here.¡±

    ¡°Ning Ran, you see that? That¡¯s your mother¡¯s ashes, and this is your grandfather¡¯s. If you don¡¯t give us

    the money and use the power of the Nan family to deal with us instead, I¡¯ll mix them all up in dog

    blood.¡±

    ¡°And, don¡¯t you wanna know what¡¯s inside the USB your damned mother left behind? If you wanna

    know what¡¯s inside, then don¡¯t let the Nan family hear about the truth. They will question you soon, and

    you have to admit what we said was the truth.¡±

    ¡°All the words your father and I said were the truth and you have to admit to every single one of them.

    Otherwise, you will never get your mother¡¯s and grandfather¡¯s ashes, and I will destroy that USB sh

    drive! I mean what I said. I have informants from the Nan family. If you dare mess around, you¡¯ll surely

    regret it!¡±

    Before Luo Yi could finish speaking, Ning Ran hung up.

    Ning Ran was surely anxious because she knew Luo Yi was brutal and capable of any misconduct.

    ¡°Ning Ziqiang, I¡¯ll give you the money. I¡¯m just reminding you, don¡¯t do evil with Luo Yi, or you¡¯ll reap

    what you sow!¡± Ning Ran warned.

    Ning Ziqiang¡¯s lips twitched, but he remained quiet.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    ¡°You go retrieve my grandfather¡¯s and my mother¡¯s ashes quietly for me, and that USB as well. Once I

    get the items, I¡¯ll transfer ten million to your ount. That way, you can get ten million alone and leave

    this city. Stay away from that vicious woman, and don¡¯t be at her mercy anymore! If you don¡¯t listen to

    me, she¡¯ll abandon you once she gets the money and your end of the deal will be terrible!¡± Ning Ran

    said.

    Ning Ziqiang¡¯s mouth opened again, but he still didn¡¯t say a word. It was obvious he was hesitating.

    After spending so many years with Luo Yi, he would naturally know what kind of person Luo Yi was.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 244

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 244

    ¡°I¡¯m not listening to you! I¡¯m not listening!¡± shouted Ning Ziqiang as he was still trying to tough things

    out.

    ¡°You are just trying to escape from reality. It would be best for you to take some time to figure it out.

    You have already made a lot of mistakes in your life, but this is the mistake that you couldn¡¯t afford to

    make. Return mother¡¯s and grandfather¡¯s urn to me and I¡¯ll give you the money. You can do whatever

    you want by then,¡± said Ning Ran.

    After giving him a piece of her mind, Ning Ran left Ning Ziqiang standing there in a daze.

    Ning Ran grabbed a few snacks to eat and began to revise her script as soon as she got home.

    When the clock struck nine, Ning Ran¡¯s phone began to ring. It was Ning Ziqiang.

    ¡°What do you want?!¡± yelled Ning Ran angrily.

    ¡°Little bastard, how dare you sabotage our rtionship! I can¡¯t believe he actually attempted to steal

    from me. Did he think that I was stupid? Fortunately, I have already made precautions for that. Now

    that he is in my hands, you¡¯ll have to make a choice. Hand over the money to me tomorrow or I¡¯ll

    reunite your dad with your dead mother!¡±

    Ning Ran was surprised. It never crossed her mind that her words would actually move Ning Ziqiang.

    But she was more astonished at how cunning Luo Yi was, secretly keeping an eye on Ning Ziqiang.

    ¡°That¡¯s none of my business. I have nothing to do with it,¡± said Ning Ran as she tried to lie with a

    straight face.

    ¡°None of your business? Who do you think you¡¯re lying to? He wouldn¡¯t have betrayed me if it wasn¡¯t

    for you! Well, it doesn¡¯t matter anyway, I didn¡¯t intend to stay with that trash any longer. Listen, if you

    don¡¯t bring me the money tomorrow I¡¯ll have everything burnt. Don¡¯t you have any funny ideas or I¡¯ll

    make sure that you¡¯ll regret it! Remember, your father and the urns are in my hands.¡±

    ¡°Do whatever you want with Ning Ziqiang, that¡¯s none of my concern. It would be even better if you had

    him killed,¡± said Ning Ran as she let out a coldugh.

    ¡°You can¡¯t hide it from me. You may be acting tough now, but I know well that you are worried about

    Ning Ziqiang. No matter how much you hate him, he is still your biological father. Your mother is

    already dead so I¡¯m sure you wouldn¡¯t be too happy if your father died too, would you? Now, do you

    think you want to live with your guilt for the rest of your life?¡± Luo Yi sneered.

    Ning Ran couldn¡¯t help but admit that Luo Yi was indeed terrifying.

    There had to be a reason for her to be able toe so far, and it wasn¡¯t by chance.

    To go after a woman like Luo Yi, it would be wise to be cautious.

    ¡°Have him killed then,¡± said Ning Ran coldly.

    ¡°There is no need for you to put up a farce. I know perfectly well that you cared for him.¡±

    ¡°You think I would care just because you said so? Howughable.¡±

    ¡°You are the same as your dead mother, tough on the outside but soft on the inside. If your mother

    wasn¡¯t such a softie, I wouldn¡¯t be here now. Hahahaha!¡± responded Luo Yi in kind.

    ¡°You shameless b***h! I hope you die a horrible death!¡±

    ¡°Bark as much as you want, I don¡¯t really care. Just remember to hand over the money to me

    tomorrow.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you forget, the urns aren¡¯t the only thing I¡¯m holding hostage¡­ I have your father as

    well.¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯tply, I might have three urns in my hands soon. Figure it out.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll remind you once more. Should the Nan family ask you anything about this, it would be in your best

    interest to not tell them anything.¡± ¡°Or else¡­¡±

    Just as Ning Ran wanted to tell her off, she suddenly received a call. It was Qiao Zhan.

    After hanging up on Luo Yi, she immediately answered his call.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, Sir Chen has ordered me to give you a ride. I¡¯m in front of your house now,¡± said Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°What? Right now?¡±

    ¡°Yes, right now. Sir Chen has something he wants to talk about,¡± answered Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Fine, give me a few minutes. I¡¯m in the midst of changing my clothes.¡±

    Ning Ran hurriedly put on her clothes and prepared to leave.

    Cheng Xiangyun walked out of her bedroom as she heard themotion outside. ¡°Where are you

    going at this hour? The hotel again?¡±

    ¡°No, Nan Chen wanted to see me. He said that there¡¯s something that he wanted to discuss,¡± answered

    Ning Ran.

    Cheng Xiangyun then proceeded to bombard Ning Ran with a series of questions. ¡°He wanted to see

    you? Aren¡¯t you in a rtionship with Nan Xing? Why would Nan Chen suddenly want to see you? How

    did he get into the picture? Having fun with the brothers of Nan Family, are you? Are you sure you want

    to y with fire?¡±

    ¡°It isn¡¯t what you are thinking. We are discussing some business matters. Rest assured I¡¯m not that

    type of person, there is nothing between us.¡±

    ¡°Then why would you stay out all night?¡±

    ¡°It would take a long time to exin it to you, so I¡¯ll tell you all about it afterwards. Step aside, Qiao

    Zhan is waiting for me now.¡±

    ¡°Well just be careful and don¡¯t overdo it. It wouldn¡¯t be fair for me if I were to be dragged into it right? I

    still haven¡¯t made any money yet.¡±

    ¡°So that was what you are worried about. Don¡¯t worry I¡¯m not an ungrateful person, I wouldn¡¯t get you

    involved.¡±

    Ning Ran gave Xiangyun¡¯s shoulder a tap before she left.

    Qiao Zhan was leaning on his ck-colored Jeep while smoking. He was waiting for her in front of her

    gates.

    As soon as he saw Ning Ran walking towards him, Qiao Zhan immediately ceased smoking.

    Qiao Zhan¡¯s impression of Ning Ran in the past was quite good, as she was considered to be quite a

    beauty.

    But after listening to the words of Ning Ziqiang and Luo Yi, Qiao Zhan couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit

    awkward when looking at her.

    After all, it¡¯s quite difficult to figure out a person¡¯s true nature. Qiao Zhan didn¡¯t really know what type of

    person Ning Ran was.

    Still, Qiao Zhan disyed the basic level of respect and politeness by opening the door for her. ¡°Please

    enter, Ms. Ding.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Captain Qiao,¡± said Ning Ran as she got into the back seat.

    Qiao Zhan then got into the car and drove away.

    ¡°What did Sir Chen want from me?¡± inquired Ning Ran as she wanted to gauge the situation.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Qiao Zhan isn¡¯t a dumbass, of course, he wouldn¡¯t have told her.

    ¡°Fine.¡±

    Am I stupid or what? There¡¯s no way he could have told me anything. Ning Ran thought to herself.

    As they both stopped talking to one another, they were engulfed in deep silence.

    There were a couple of times where Qiao Zhan wanted to ask Ning Ran about her parents, but he

    resisted the thought.

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    He thought that it was best for him to not inquire about her parents before Sir Chen did. Qiao Zhan

    couldn¡¯t possibly bear the responsibility thates with it.

    ¡°Qian Zhan, are you married?¡± Ning Ran broke the silence, not liking the silent atmosphere.

    ¡°Not yet, I don¡¯t even have a girlfriend,¡± answered Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Why not? Someone as tall and handsome as you ought to have a woman or two,¡± joked Ning Ran as

    sheughed.

    ¡°Not at all, I¡¯m an amateur when ites to love. Besides I¡¯m a boring man, who would actually have

    an interest in me? Unlike Young Master Xing who has a tons of beauties by his side¡­¡±

    Qiao Zhan suddenly stopped talking once he realized he had spoken too much.

    Ning Ran let out augh, before saying, ¡°Rest assured, I don¡¯t really mind what you have just said.

    Besides, I know Nan Xing¡¯s character perfectly well. Whatever style or belief he has is none of my

    business. But I¡¯m certain that someone as responsible as you would be able to find a goodpanion

    and happiness in life.¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 245

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 245

    As talked along the way, the atmosphere became less stiff. Qiao Zhan felt that Ning Ran wasn¡¯t as bad

    as what he had heard. He just couldn¡¯t believe it. While people might regard him as a brute, he actually

    had a lot of life experience.

    His intuition had told him that there was something odd with Mr. and Mrs. Ning. But he didn¡¯t have the

    evidence to justify his im, so he could only report the results of the investigation based on the facts

    at hand.

    It seemed Nan Chen had set the appointment at that restaurant, the one that required a reservation

    and was famous for its grilled steak.

    Ning Ran really liked that ce. Thest time around when she came here with Feng Minsheng, she

    didn¡¯t even have the chance to enter. But you could say that her wish was fulfilled today. If only

    it wasn¡¯t for what had happened, I would have enjoyed this steak thoroughly¡­

    What is she worried about? Nan Chen thought to himself as he could sense Ning Ran¡¯s anxiousness in

    her eyes. Well, it doesn¡¯t matter, I¡¯ll have her speak after she had finished eating. I wouldn¡¯t want to put

    such a good steak to waste.

    ¡°I apologize, I might have drunk a little too much yesterday. Did I say anything weird?¡± said Ning Ran

    as she chuckled. ¡°You did.¡± Nan Chen replied coldly.

    Do you know how to read the room? How could you just answer that straight to my face? Ning Ran

    thought to herself, feeling a little awkward.

    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you stop me from drinking? I¡¯m not a good drinker, to begin with.¡± Ning Ran attempted

    to shift the me.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t bother to refute. He merely pointed to the red wine sitting on the table and asked,

    ¡°Would you like to have some?¡±

    Ning Ran shook her head, before saying ¡°No thank you. I wouldn¡¯t want alcohol to get in the way of

    business.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you the money tomorrow,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°Really?¡± Ning Ran cried out, delighted.

    His words put her into a good mood and she finally gained her appetite.

    Nan Chen took a sip from his ss of wine and remained silent.

    ¡°On second thought, I think I would like to have some.¡±

    Ning Ran handed Nan Chen her ss and drank the wine in one go.

    The wine was marvelous and Ning Ran knew it, but she couldn¡¯t put a finger to what was so special

    about it.

    Such an exquisite wine, you ought to savor it as much as you can. Nan Chen thought to himself as he

    furrowed his brows.

    Little did she know that a mouthful of wine she had swallowed actually cost thousands. She had drunk

    it as if it was just some in water, oblivious to its value.

    Given her position and hierarchy in society, what more could you expect from her?

    ¡°This wine is not bad at all. It should have cost quite a lot right?¡± Ning Ran smiled, trying to gain favor

    from Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen paid her no heed and gestured her to eat.

    He didn¡¯t want to affect her mood prior to her meal, he would only talk about it afterwards.

    Ning Ran was finally able to rx a little. She had been stressed out due to what had happened to his

    father.

    The steak was delicious, to begin with, so Ning Ran ate heartily.

    It didn¡¯t take her long to finish the whole steak.

    ¡°Do you want another serving?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran was a little embarrassed as she said, ¡°Thank you, but that¡¯s enough. I apologize for my

    udylike behavior¡­ I¡¯ve been quite busy recently and had no choice but to get used to eating faster.¡±

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t bother to refute. This wasn¡¯t the first time he saw her wolf down her food.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get right to the topic.¡±

    ¡°What did you want to talk about?¡± asked Ning Ran with a solemn face.

    ¡°I just want you to tell me the truth. No matter how bad it is, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll still give you the money,¡±

    said Nan Chen.

    ¡°Alright. What do you want to know?¡±

    ¡°Is your dad sick?¡±

    Ning Ran was stunned. So that was what he wanted to ask me?

    She was caught off-guard as she didn¡¯t think he would be asking her about that.

    Luo Yi had already told her to not spill anything to the Nan family. If she were to tell him the truth, her

    father¡¯s life might be in peril. Not to mention that Luo Yi also had her grandfather¡¯s and mother¡¯s urn in

    her hands.

    It was still uncertain whether Luo Yi would actually murder Ning Ziqiang, but to destroy her

    grandfather¡¯s and mother¡¯s urn, that would be an easy thing for her to do.

    Ning Ran couldn¡¯t afford to take the risk as she could not possibly live with the guilt.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Ning Ran could only give him a vague answer.

    ¡°Has your dad ever asked for any money from you?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± This time her answer was resolute, after all, it was the truth.

    ¡°Then are you willing to give some to him?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± answered Ning Ran once again.

    ¡°Then regarding what you have told me yesterday, was everything a lie?¡± asked Nan Chen, his face

    appearing icy cold.

    Ning Ran hesitated for a bit; she didn¡¯t know what to do.

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    If she did not admit to it, there was a chance Nan Chen might confront Luo Yi.

    Knowing how cruel Luo Yi was, it was a gamble Ning Ran couldn¡¯t take.

    ¡°I have my circumstances,¡± answered Ning Ran vaguely.

    ¡°You lied to me, and you lied to everyone,¡± said Nan Chen coldly.

    ¡°You promised you would hand over the money to me.¡±

    ¡°You think I would give the money to a liar?¡±

    ¡°I have my own circumstances. You¡¯ll understand sooner orter that I¡¯m not that kind of person.¡±

    ¡°Then what kind of person are you?¡±

    Ning Ran remained silent, not knowing what else she could say.

    She had told Nan Chen everything yesterday, thinking he would believe her. But Luo Yi had been

    cunning enough to manipte the Nan family, causing Ning Ran to be in quite a tough spot now.

    ¡°Give me the money, I¡¯ll exin it to you once this is all over.¡±

    ¡°Do you think your words have credibility when you can even lie when you are drunk?¡±

    The thought of being lied to by a drunk wounded his pride.

    I had even sympathized with her for a moment. It never crossed my mind that she was such a vile

    woman!

    There was nothing Ning Ran could say. It was the first time she had felt so helpless; beads of tears had

    formed at the edge of her eyes.

    ¡°Quit your act.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not acting. I really do have my own circumstances.¡±

    ¡°Then is it true that your father was ill? And that you were unwilling to help even after he had asked you

    for some money?¡±

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t dare to answer. She couldn¡¯t bear the responsibility for the consequences that would

    come after answering Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen stood up from his chair and pointed at Ning Ran, before saying, ¡°I already gave you a

    chance.¡±

    ¡°Listen to me, Sir Chen¡­¡± Ning Ran cried out In a panic as she tried to block his way.

    ¡°I¡¯ve had enough! Step aside!¡± yelled Nan Chen angrily.

    If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that she had given birth to two of his children, he would have chased her out of

    Flower City for her lies.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what you think of me. Just give me the money as you promised,¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°Are you actually ying me for a fool?¡±

    ¡°I¡­¡±

    Nan Chen strode out of the room before Ning Ran could finish her sentence.

    She chased after him immediately and blocked the entrance to the lift. ¡°Give me the money. I¡¯ll return it

    to you one day. You have already signed the contract, you can¡¯t just go against your words at this

    stage.¡±

    ¡°The contract says that I will be giving you five hundred thousand annually. You have already taken

    your share,¡± reminded Nan Chen coldly.

    Ning Ran was at a loss of words.

    ¡°Please, I beg you, I¡¯m really in need of that money. I¡¯ll return you the money next week by hook or by

    crook,¡± said Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen looked at the woman before him. So you still intend to act at this stage? Nan Chen thought

    to himself.

    ¡°Why did you chase after me?¡±

    ¡°Sir Chen, think about it! I have rejected your offer of a billion to hand over the custody of my children.

    So why would I be thirsting over a mere ten million? If money is the only thing I wanted, I would have

    asked it from you long ago. What¡¯s the point of begging you to lend me some money now?¡±

    Her words certainly seemed convincing. Nan Chen didn¡¯t interrupt her, he was obviously listening to her

    plea.

    ¡°Please, just trust me once more. If I couldn¡¯t return the ten million, I¡¯ll hand over the custody of the kids

    to Nan family.¡±

    ¡°Then why don¡¯t we sign another agreement? I¡¯ll even give you the money if you hand over the

    custody.¡±

    ¡°That won¡¯t do. I¡¯ll never sacrifice my kids,¡± said Ning Ran firmly.

    Nan Chen¡¯s eyes darkened. He couldn¡¯t fathom the woman before him.

    If money was the only thing in her mind, why did she decline the offer then?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 246

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 246

    Nan Chen left anyway. Ning Ran did not gain anything other than a nice meal. Nheless, his

    decision was understandable. After all, if the roles were exchanged, she would not have forked out the

    money either.

    Even though the Nan family is rich, it was still hard-earned money and not something that could be

    given just like that. Moreover, as a prideful person, Nan Chen would be more concerned about getting

    conned.

    Seems like I¡¯ll have toe up with another n. Despite his anger, Nan Chen allowed Qiao Zhan to

    send Ning Ran back to her living quarters. In the morning, Luo Yi called before Ning Ran had even

    woken up.

    ¡°Today will be thest day. Get the money ready or be prepared for the consequences.¡±

    ¡°I have the money, but I can¡¯t make the transfer. You¡¯ll have to collect the cash in person,¡± Ning Ran

    responded. ¡°What tricks do you have up your sleeves?¡± Luo Yi responded.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have any tricks. If you run away with the money I transferred without returning my mother¡¯s

    ashes, what should I do? I can¡¯t trust you. You¡¯ll have to bring my grandfather and my mother¡¯s ash

    over to collect the cash. As for Ning Ziqiang, you can do whatever you want with him. We¡¯re not

    rted,¡± Ning Ran reasoned.

    Luo Yi was silent as though she was contemting the woman¡¯s words. Ning Ran had to convince her

    and had to do so fast, to ensure that she would get a favorable answer.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t want the money, I¡¯ll keep it for myself. My mother is no longer with me and there¡¯s no

    longer any meaning to what I do for her. At least with the money, I can lead a better life. She would be

    happy for me.¡±

    She then continued, ¡°I¡¯m sending the location to Feng Minsheng¡¯s phone so that he can send you over.

    Bring the item over. If you don¡¯t, you can forget about the money.¡±

    With that, Ning Ran hung up the phone before Luo Yi had the time to digress the information.

    After a while, Feng Minsheng called.

    Indeed, they were in cahoots. It¡¯s likely that he had spoken to Luo Yi.

    ¡°Luo Yi said you wanted to pass her the money and for me to bring her over. However, I have not

    received a location from you,¡± Feng Minsheng informed.

    ¡°I¡¯ll send it over once I¡¯ve arrived.¡±

    Ning Ran hung up quickly, leaving no room for second thoughts.

    She then called Qiao Zhan.

    ¡­

    Two hourster. Honghua Hotel, Room 506.

    Luo Yi did not ring the doorbell as she stood at the doorstep. Instead, she checked her surroundings.

    She was carrying a huge bag that seemed to contain a heavy object.

    After much inspection and concluding that everything was normal, she pressed the doorbell.

    It is undoubtedly Ning Ran¡¯s room.

    She had deliberately opened the door wide to assure Luo Yi that there was no one else inside, so she

    could enter at ease.

    The room was small and one could easily tell that there was no one inside.

    Only then did Luo Yi enter and ask, ¡°Where¡¯s the money?¡±

    Ning Ran pointed to arge suitcase, ¡°It¡¯s right here. Ten million is a lot of money. I can¡¯t even shift it.¡±

    ¡°Open it up and show it to me,¡± Luo Yi answered.

    ¡°As agreed, let me have my mother¡¯s ashes first,¡± Ning Ran countered.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t even seen the money yet. How would I know if you¡¯re telling the truth?¡± Luo Yi queried.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t see my mother¡¯s ashes either. How would I know if you¡¯re telling the truth?¡± Ning Ran rebutted.

    Luo Yi bent down, ready to verify the cash in the suitcase only to realize that it was rather sturdy and

    required a password to be opened.

    ¡°Open it up and let me verify the cash. I¡¯ll hand over the ashes once you do that.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve spoken about this before. I¡¯m not giving it to you if you don¡¯t give it to me!¡± Ning Ran retorted.

    ¡°I have the ashes in my bag. If I smash it up right now, your grandfather and your mother¡¯s ashes will

    get mixed up. By then, you wouldn¡¯t even be able to tell them apart. Open up the suitcase or I¡¯ll throw

    the ashes out the window,¡± Luo Yi replied agitatedly.

    ¡°Luo Yi, let¡¯s talk peacefully and not act rash. The money is definitely here but I doubt you have the

    ashes with you. The initiative is still in your hands. What¡¯s there to be agitated about?¡± Ning Ran calmly

    responded.

    Luo Yi shut the door.

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    As long as I have the door shut, no one can barge in. Dealing with Ning Ran will be a piece of cake.

    Ning Ran motioned for Luo Yi to have a seat, but Luo Yi was being vignt and refused.

    ¡°What do you want to talk about? There¡¯s nothing for us to discuss. You just have to hand over the

    money and I¡¯ll pass you your mother¡¯s ashes. It¡¯s as simple as that,¡± Luo Yi said.

    ¡°You don¡¯t even have the ashes with you. Luo Yi, you¡¯re trying to be funny. Don¡¯t you know you¡¯ve

    made life a living hell for me?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°How did I make life a living hell? Your father brought you up. What¡¯s wrong with asking you for a bit of

    money?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re clearing ripping me off under the pretense that my father has no money for treatment. It¡¯s clear

    that you wanted ten million but you¡¯re only asking for a hundred thousand. If my father had really been

    sick and needed the hundred thousand, I would have given it no matter what it takes. ¡° Ning Ran

    scowled.

    She then continued, ¡°But what you¡¯re really after is ten million. I don¡¯t have that much to offer even if I

    tried. What could I do? I could only borrow money from the rich. Who else would fork out ten million? I

    had initially obtained that sum but you guys lied to the Nan family and dered that I was a heartless

    person. As it is, the master of the Nan family got angry and refused to lend me their money. So it¡¯s all

    on you!¡±

    Luo Yi got anxious, ¡°Are you trying to tell me that you don¡¯t have the money? Did you lie to me about

    the money in the suitcase?¡±

    ¡°I could have borrowed it. But it was all ruined because of you guys!¡± Ning Ran borated.

    ¡°So then you decided to con me with this big suitcase?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not empty. It contains an explosive device that I bought from the ck market. With the press of a

    button, the device would blow up. We can both say hi to my mother and you can personally exin to

    her how you¡¯ve caused her death!¡± Ning Ran snapped.

    Luo Yi didn¡¯t get the chance to react. However, she had noticed the remote controller that Ning Ran

    was wielding.

    ¡°You¡¯re trying to scare me. It isn¡¯t like you to do this!¡± Luo Yi panicked.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t. But as long as it involves money, many would! Luo Yi, would you like to visit my mother?

    Since you guys are pushing me to the brink, let¡¯s all die together!¡± Ning Ran roared.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be rash! Don¡¯t be rash¡­We can talk about it!¡±

    Luo Yi said that as she prepared to take a break for the exit.

    ¡°Stand there. If you dare to move, I¡¯ll hit the button. We will all die!¡± Ning Ran raised the remote

    controller she was holding.

    ¡°Calm down. I won¡¯t go. I won¡¯t go,¡± Luo Yi motioned for Ning Ran to rx.

    ¡°Can you hear it? Dah dah dah. It¡¯s the sound of the device!¡± Ning Ranmented.

    Luo Yi listened hard. Sure enough, she heard it. This made her feel even more anxious.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 247

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 247

    ¡°Ran, cool down. Don¡¯t ever hit that button,¡± Luo Yi shuddered. ¡°Tell me where my mother and my

    grandfather¡¯s ashes are. If you don¡¯t, we can all die!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s at home. Don¡¯t worry, I didn¡¯t touch it!¡± Luo Yi assured. Ning Ran already had an inkling that the

    woman wouldn¡¯t have brought it along. ¡°Does Feng Minsheng know where it is?¡± Ning Ran queried.

    ¡°He knows. I was going to return the ashes to you anyway. There¡¯s no point for me to keep them as it

    only gives me nightmares. I lied only because I was worried you wouldn¡¯t give me the money. I don¡¯t

    want the money anymore. You can have the ashes,¡± Luo Yi exined.

    ¡°Call Feng Minsheng now and get him to deliver the ashes. Otherwise, this will be the end of us!¡±

    ¡°Ok, I¡¯ll make the call immediately,¡± Luo Yi fished out her phone. Ning Ran took the phone from Luo Yi,

    ¡°I¡¯ll make the call and you can do the talking.¡± ¡°This child¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t even try to make the connection. I¡¯m not your child,¡± Ning Ran cut her off coldly. ¡°Ok, I won¡¯t. Go

    ahead and call,¡± Luo Yi hurriedly supplied.

    Ning Ran¡¯s call to Feng Minsheng went through as she beckoned for Luo Yi to speak up. ¡°Minsheng,

    are you still out?¡± Luo Yi asked. ¡°Yes, Aunt Luo. Have you gotten the money?¡± It was Feng Minsheng¡¯s

    voice.

    Ning Ran gritted her teeth with hatred. This a**hole ims that he liked me but was actually in cahoots

    with this old witch to ckmail me!

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    ¡°I don¡¯t have the money. She wants the ashes to make the exchange. Make a trip for me and get those

    two boxes of ashes here,¡± Luo Yi replied.

    ¡°Right now?¡±

    ¡°Yes, right now. I¡¯ll be here waiting,¡± Luo Yi affirmed.

    ¡°Ok. Take care, Aunt Luo.¡±

    Ning Ran ended the call but did not return her the phone for fear that she would try anything funny.

    The wait felt like ages and the atmosphere in the room was depressing. Nobody spoke.

    ¡°Ran, we are at our wits¡¯ end too,¡± Luo Yi¡¯s voice was gentle.

    Ning Ran did not reply.

    ¡°We¡¯re living a hard life. The debtors are after us and we have to hide all the time. If it weren¡¯t for that,

    there would have been no need for us to do this to you.¡±

    ¡°That makes it alright for you to make life difficult for me? So what if I¡¯m not having a great time either?¡±

    Ning Ran retorted.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you doing well? You¡¯ve borne two kids for the Nan family. They¡¯d be more than willing to give

    you any sum of money if you asked for it. With so many assets to their name, this bit of money is

    nothing.¡±

    ¡°You guys shouldn¡¯t have spread rumors about me. Nan Chen thinks I¡¯m a heartless person and

    refuses to lend me any money. Would you like to make a call and rify it for yourself?¡±

    Luo Yi immediately waved her hands, ¡°No, no, no. I¡¯m not calling. We¡¯re not close at all. What do I have

    to say to him?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s weird. Your daughter was Nan Chen¡¯s ex-girlfriend, right? You¡¯ve never met your future son-in-

    law?¡± Ning Ran probed.

    ¡°On the surface, Luo Fei was Nan Chen¡¯s girlfriend. The Nan family had never acknowledged that

    rtionship. Thepany was in a fix back then. I had asked Luo Fei to seek Nan Chen for help. He

    did help out a couple of times but we still couldn¡¯t tide over and he gave up eventually.¡±

    ¡°The Nan family are cruel. They pay no heed to people like us. Given your contribution, you should

    seize the opportunity to make a fortune, Ran. Or else, you would lose the chance to do so should they

    take your kids away. If it¡¯s hard for you to ask for the money, we could team up and split the earnings by

    half.¡± Luo Yi said.

    Ning Ran scoffed silently. To think of splitting money at a time like this. Isn¡¯t she something?

    ¡°Is that so? What do you think I should do then?¡± Ning Ran feigned interest.

    Luo Yi looked at Ning Ran, ¡°If you¡¯re really willing to listen to me, getting away with fifty million wouldn¡¯t

    be a problem.

    When the timees, you can take thirty million and I can have twenty million. We¡¯ll be able to live a

    comfortable life and never return to Flower City!¡±

    Ning Ran pretended to consider the proposal, ¡°You still haven¡¯t shared your n.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you have two kids? We¡¯ll bring them somewhere secluded and demand a ransom from the Nan

    family. If they refuse, we¡¯ll kidnap them. That said, I¡¯m certain that the Nan family would pay up.¡±

    Luo Yi¡¯s n wasn¡¯t brilliant; Ning Ran had already guessed it.

    ¡°That¡¯s my own flesh and blood. Making use of them to extort for money? I¡¯m not as shameless as

    you,¡± Ning Ran chided.

    ¡°We don¡¯t have to reveal ourselves. We can hide the kids and make-believe that they were kidnapped

    by someone else. We could get the Nan family to transfer the money to someone else¡¯s bank ount.

    Nobody would ever find out. The kids wouldn¡¯t be hurt either. Where¡¯s the harm in that?¡±

    Luo Yi seemed pleased with her ingenious n as the sense of pride was written all over her face.

    ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea. Let me mull over it,¡± Ning Ran lied.

    ¡°What is there to mull over? Just listen to me. We can do whatever we want when we¡¯re rich.¡±

    This woman is too wicked.

    ¡°In the event that the Nan family refuse to pay up, do I have to end up hurting my own kids?¡± Ning Ran

    challenged.

    ¡°They won¡¯t. The Nan family would give in. Trust me.¡±

    ¡°What if they don¡¯t?¡±

    ¡°If they don¡¯t, it means that they don¡¯t care about the kids. We can then lower our demands till they

    ede. If you agree with me, let¡¯s kick into action. I guarantee that you¡¯ll strike it rich!¡±

    Luo Yi then continued, ¡°Even though there¡¯s a lot of misunderstanding between us, we¡¯re still a family.

    As long as we are rich, those misunderstandings won¡¯t mean a thing, right?¡±

    Luo Yi observed Ning Ran as she spoke.

    Of course, Ning Ran wouldn¡¯t be moved by her words. She only intended to find out how vicious Luo Yi

    could be.

    ¡°We¡¯ll talk again when I receive my mother¡¯s ashes. Oh yes, I have a question. My mother was doing

    just fine. Why did she suddenly pass away? Did you bribe the doctor or hire someone to kill her?¡±

    Luo Yi¡¯s eyes glinted at her question and she instantly became alert.

    There were things that could be shared and some that should never be said. Luo Yi was well aware of

    that.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t hurt your mother. I was truly upset about her death too. Although, I have no idea if your father

    knew of the situation. I was ying mahjong with my friends when your mother died. I¡¯m really

    clueless.¡±

    Luo Yi¡¯s eyes shone, an indication that wasn¡¯t telling the truth.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for us to be on bad terms. Why don¡¯t you put the remote controller down? You¡¯re still

    young. We don¡¯t have to die over such a small matter,¡± Luo Yi advised Ning Ran.

    As soon as she said that, Luo Yi¡¯s phone rang. It was Feng Minsheng.

    Ning Ran gestured Luo Yi to answer and behave herself.

    ¡°Luo Yi, I have it with me. I¡¯m in the hotel lobby. Do I bring it over?¡± Feng Minsheng questioned.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 248

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 248

    Two minutester, the doorbell rang. ¡°There, Minsheng has brought the things you wanted. Can I go

    open the door now?¡± Luo Yi said. This time, Ning Ran had no objection.

    When the door opened, a tall and muscr man stood there in the ce of Feng Minsheng. He was no

    stranger to Luo Yi, as he was the one who had imed to be Ning Ziqiang¡¯s former subordinate. He

    had even treated them to a meal.

    Luo Yiter found out through Feng Minsheng that he was from the Nan family. His name was Qiao

    Zhan, and he oversaw all the security duties for the Nan family.

    The moment Luo Yi saw Qiao Zhan, she knew something was wrong. ¡°How can you be here?¡± Luo Yi

    looked at Qiao Zhan. ¡°Why can¡¯t it be me?¡±

    Qiao Zhan shot a retort at Luo Yi before handing a stic bag containing an urn to Ning Ran. Ning

    Ran¡¯s tears fell the moment she held the urn in her hands.

    ¡°I seized this from Feng Minsheng who is under our control right now.¡± Qiao Zhan said. ¡°Thank you,

    Captain Qiao. Where is he now?¡±

    Ning Ran was asking about Ning Ziqiang. Even though he was a scoundrel, he was her biological

    father after all, and she still wanted to know whether he was dead or alive.

    ¡°He has been tied up and is quite weak, probably because he didn¡¯t eat. I¡¯ve had him sent to the

    hospital.¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    ¡°Ning Ran, you said there were explosives in this box. You were lying weren¡¯t you?¡± Luo Yi said.

    Ning Ran ced the urn down properly and wiped her tears away.

    ¡°It¡¯s just a television remote control. What explosives are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°What is in your box then?¡±

    ¡°A voice transmitter and some high-tech thing that my son made. Our conversations can be sent to the

    cloud drive, and once you open that software, you can hear our conversations. These conversations

    are saved, so we can listen to them anytime. However, I don¡¯t know the name of this newfangled toy. I

    have never quite understood the high-tech things my son makes,¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°So you were lying to me? You weren¡¯t nning to give me the money at all?¡±

    ¡°I was about to give it to you, but since you badmouthed me and I couldn¡¯t borrow any money, what do I

    have to give you? Captain Qiao, let the police handle this person too.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°You can¡¯t use a secret recording as evidence! The police have no way of catching me!¡± Luo Yi was still

    very arrogant.

    ¡°The fact that you tied Ning Ziqiang up can already be considered as uwful imprisonment. Of course,

    you can be charged under this offence,¡± Ning Ran said coldly.

    ¡°You¡­¡±

    ¡°Also, didn¡¯t you say my grandfather¡¯s ashes were in your hands too? What about that USB?¡± Ning Ran

    picked up the urn carefully.

    ¡°Let me go, and I¡¯ll tell you where your grandfather¡¯s ashes are.¡± Luo Yi seemed to see a light at the

    end of the tunnel again.

    Qiao Zhan gave her one tight p on her face. ¡°Are you trying to lie to Ms. Ding again? Ms. Ding, don¡¯t

    listen to her. Feng Minsheng has said that there is only an urn there. Your grandfather¡¯s ashes have

    already been buried.¡±

    Ning Ran finally heaved a sigh of relief.

    After they left the hotel, Qiao Zhan arranged for Luo Yi to be sent to the police station while he drove

    Ning Ran back to her home for her to find a resting spot for the urn.

    Ning Ran hugged the urn tightly and asionally wiped away her tears as the past came rushing to

    her mind again.

    There was a time when Luo Yi had not yet appeared, and Ning Ran was the only child in the Ning

    family.

    Her mother was very busy but had never once missed any of Ning Ran¡¯s important activities.

    Be it Parents¡¯ Day or the school¡¯s musical performances, as long as there were activities in Ning Ran¡¯s

    school, her mother would make arrangements to personally attend these events.

    Therefore, the Ning Ran then was as blissful as a princess.

    Later, Luo Yi came into the scene without Ning Ran¡¯s knowledge.

    This was because her mother did not want Ning Ran to be affected by her home affairs. Therefore, she

    only found out about it when things finally got out of control.

    However, she was too inexperienced and too weak then and did not know how to help her mother at

    all.

    Ning Ran had always thought if she hadn¡¯t been so weak, she could have helped her mother and

    perhaps her mother wouldn¡¯t have died.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, we have misunderstood you this time. Please forgive us,¡± Qiao Zhan said cautiously.

    He thought Ning Ran was crying because she felt she had been wronged.

    Ning Ran wiped away her tears and said, ¡°No, it¡¯s all right. I didn¡¯t handle this matter properly either.

    The whole issue could only be settled thanks to your help, Captain Qiao. Otherwise, there was no way I

    couldplete it.¡±

    ¡°Now that everything is settled, I hope you will be able to forgive my foolishness, Ms. Ding. Actually,

    I¡¯ve met Luo Yi and gang before. They lied to me and I conveyed the same message to Young Master

    Chen, indirectly causing his misunderstanding towards you¡­¡±

    ¡°All right, let¡¯s not talk about this anymore. You were just doing your job, I understand that,¡± Ning Ran

    said.

    ¡°Actually, you shouldmunicate directly with Sir Chen if anythinges up. He¡¯s a very intelligent

    person. He had actually privately instructed me to monitor your movements closely, as he had a feeling

    that something was not right. Indeed, just as he had predicted, you gave me a call,¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    ¡°In that case, should I be thanking him?¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°I don¡¯t mean it in that way. What I meant was, things that seemplicated can be simplified with

    Master Chen¡¯s involvement.¡±

    Ning Ran remained silent.

    Of course, Qiao Zhan was right. Nan Chen definitely wielded that kind of power and influence.

    However, Nan Chen has to trust me first. He has never seemed to trust me before.

    When they arrived home, Ning Ran ced the urn in her house.

    She would then need to find a proper date to bury her mother so thetter can truly rest in peace.

    After settling everything, Ning Ran had to rush to the movie set.

    However, Qiao Zhan was not driving towards the set.

    It was only after Ning Ran reminded him of where she was supposed to go to that he said they were

    headed to the hospital, as they had called to say that Ning Ziqiang wanted to see Ning Ran.

    Hearing that made her upset immediately. ¡°So I have to put down everything and rush to him the

    moment he wants to see me? I¡¯m not going!¡±

    ¡°He says he has something very important to tell you. It might be rted to some secret, so you should

    go and take a look.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    Is it possible that he knows where the USB is? That devil Luo Yi has refused to say where it is. Since

    Ning Ziqiang has been with her all the time, he should have a clue.

    ¡°Fine, we¡¯ll go and take a look then.¡± She finally agreed.

    When they arrived, Qiao Zhan brought Ning Ran to the hospital room where Ning Ziqiang was put on a

    drip.

    When he saw Ning Ran, he tried to sit up.

    ¡°It¡¯s all right, just lie down. You don¡¯t have to get up,¡± Ning Ran said coldly.

    ¡°Ran, thank goodness for you, or I would have died of starvation at home,¡± Ning Ziqiang said

    emotionally.

    ¡°Serves you right. It was your rightful retribution when that Luo Yi dealt with you!¡± scoffed Ning Ran.

    ¡°Yes, yes I admit that was my retribution,¡± Ning Ziqiang replied miserably.

    ¡°Why did you ask me toe here? What did you want to say to me?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°I wanted to tell you to not be so upset. Those are not your mother¡¯s ashes. Her ashes have already

    been buried in her grave,¡± Ning Ziqiang said.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Luo Yi had asked me to change out your mother¡¯s ashes and hide them. I couldn¡¯t bear to do that, so I

    didn¡¯t. It¡¯s just regr grass ash in that urn. Luo Yi felt so guilty; she had never dared to open up the

    urn, so she never found out about it. So don¡¯t worry, your mother has already beenid to rest,¡± Ning

    Ziqiang said.

    Ning Ran had not seen thising at all.

    However, this is Ning Ziqiang. Can I trust him? Could he be lying to me?

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 249

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 249

    Ning Ran thought long and hard before she reacted to this revtion. This is tooplicated.

    We can¡¯t verify the ashes, so there is no way to tell whether Ning Ziqiang is telling the truth.

    ¡°Ran, you have to believe me, I really am telling you the truth. If I were to lie, your mother¡¯s ghost would

    definitely haunt me¡­¡±

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Shut up! My mother was a good person, she¡¯s definitely in heaven. She would never be a ghost! Such

    fate is only people for people like you and Luo Yi! You both will be ghosts after you die!¡± Ning Ran

    was livid.

    ¡°Yes, I was wrong, of course, your mother is in heaven. Anyway, it¡¯s really just grass ash, and not your

    mother¡¯s ashes, in the urn. There is a big difference between human ashes and grass ash, so you can

    go and get it verified,¡± Ning Ziqiang said.

    ¡°So, what you are trying to tell me is that you still have a conscience? Are you trying to whitewash

    yourself?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t mean it in that way at all. I know I havemitted the most heinous crimes, and I don¡¯t ever

    expect you to forgive me. All I wanted to do was tell you the truth.¡±

    ¡°I will never forgive you! Shouldn¡¯t you tell me where my mother¡¯s USB drive is by now?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know where it is. I¡¯ve told you all I know, but I really don¡¯t know where the USB drive is.¡±

    ¡°Do you really not know, or do you just not want to tell me?¡±

    ¡°I really don¡¯t know where it is, and I can swear I don¡¯t know anything about it¡­¡±

    ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t believe you even if you swore on your own life anyway. I¡¯ll go and find it myself, I¡¯m sure I

    will be able to find it.¡±

    ¡°Ran, I¡¯ve done too many things to wrong you, and I have always regretted them¡­¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to say all these to me. No matter what, I will never forgive you.¡± Ning Ran interrupted

    him before walking out of the hospital room.

    Two police officers then came over to the room to find out more about the case.

    ¡°Captain Qiao, may I trouble you to send me to the movie set? I have a movie to shoot.¡± Ning Ran

    nced at her watch.

    ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am.¡±

    Ning Ran reached the set half an hourter.

    Everyone had to wait for her before they could begin shooting.

    Ning Ran felt quite embarrassed. She had been messing up the filming schedule due to all the things

    that have been happening to her.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to get my makeup done now and will start work immediately after that. I¡¯m so sorry,

    everybody.¡± Ning Ran took a deep bow.

    ¡°No rush at all. It¡¯s a good day today, so no rush!¡± The director was beaming with joy.

    ¡°What good day is it today?¡± Ning Ran waspletely befuddled.

    The director put on an enigmatic look and said, ¡°You¡¯ll find out once you go to the makeup room.¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s curiosity was piqued by now. ¡°Did you all find some treasure? Is that why you are so

    happy?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a huge treasure! Quick, go and take a look!¡±

    That actually set off Ning Ran¡¯s rm bells instead.

    ¡°You are not trying to set me up, are you? There¡¯s a dog or a snake waiting for me in there, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s really a huge treasure. You¡¯ll find out when you go in and take a look,¡± The director urged.

    Still skeptical, Ning Ran found a walking stick prop and headed to the makeup room.

    In the end, there was no dog nor snake awaiting her. Instead, there was a pretty boy.

    This pretty boy was applying makeup onto his porcin face which showcased his flirtatious iridescent

    eyes.

    There could only be that one androgynous devil in the whole of China, and that was Beauty Zheng.

    ¡°Blondie? You¡¯re back?¡± Ning Ran screamed.

    The moment Zheng Lunlun saw Ning Ran, he shouted with joy and jumped up from the chair with his

    arms wide open, ¡°Computer Guru, I¡¯ve missed you too much!¡±

    Ning Ran stuck out her fingers and counted that Zheng Lunlun had uttered seven words without a

    single stutter!

    Has he been healed from his stutter?

    Zheng Lunlun had already pounced on her while she was still counting his words.

    She then took a few steps back and refused his bear hug.

    ¡°Hang on, sing one line for me,¡± she said.

    ¡°Huh? Sing?¡±

    ¡°Sing a song with more than ten words in it.¡±

    ¡°Which song?¡±

    ¡°Any song, as long as there are more than ten words in it.¡±

    ¡°But it¡¯s quite hard to find a song with more than ten words in the title¡­¡±

    ¡°You fool, it¡¯s not about the song title, it¡¯d do as long as the lyric has more than ten words,¡± Ning Ran

    reprimanded him.

    ¡°Then you should have said so earlier. But why do you suddenly want me to sing? Shouldn¡¯t we be

    having a tearful reunion right now? Why should I be singing?¡±

    ¡°Enough!¡± Ning Ran shouted excitedly.

    Zheng Lunlun¡¯s little speech just now was definitely more than ten words, and he still did not stutter at

    all. This means he has been healed from his stutter!

    ¡°Enough what?¡± Zheng Lunlun was confused again.

    ¡°Enough words! Blondie, you aren¡¯t stuttering anymore?¡± Ning Ran was jumping for joy.

    ¡°Hahaha, so that was what you meant. Yes, I don¡¯t stutter anymore!¡± Zheng Lunlunughed out loud.

    ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Ning Ran cried out,ughing happily as well.

    The two of them continued tough like two fools while the makeup artist stood therepletely

    confused.

    ¡°Can we continue with our shoot then? We still have a lot of scenes to shoot. The progress of the whole

    drama has been massively dyed and it¡¯s all our fault,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Yes, and we get to work together again. Come on, let¡¯s have a long-awaited celebratory hug!¡± Zheng

    Lunlun squealed.

    The female makeup artist looked at them enviously. Beauty Zheng asking for a hug? How wonderful is

    that? Why don¡¯t I ever get something like that?

    ¡°Forget it, no hug, just a handshake. We need to remember our status.¡± Ning Ran waved her hands.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you remember? You should be calling me¡­¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡±

    The thing Zheng Lunlun simply could not stand was that Ning Ran wanted him to call her ¡®Aunt¡¯.

    That title made him want to go mad. I will never call her that!

    ¡°Fine, no hug then. Let¡¯s do our makeup first, and hang out tonight. We haven¡¯t done this in so long!¡±

    Zheng Lunlun said.

    The makeup artist grew even more envious. They are making ns to hang out tonight? Man, these

    two¡­

    ¡°Err, should I give you some space?¡± The makeup artist volunteered.

    ¡°Sure, we haven¡¯t seen each other for such a long time, and it¡¯d be good to have a quick chat,¡± Zheng

    Lunlun said.

    The makeup artist responded before heading outside.

    ¡°Don¡¯t spread rumors out there! He and I have the best tonic friendship ever, so don¡¯t make things

    up,¡± Ning Ran reminded her.

    The makeup artist immediatelyughed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t make things up.¡±

    ¡°Hey, did anyone bully you when I wasn¡¯t around?¡± Zheng Lunlun asked.

    ¡°Yes,¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°Oh, so someone really did bully you! Who is it? I¡¯ll kill them!¡± Zheng Lunlun screamed agitatedly.

    ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s not talk about me. How did you get over your stutter?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know either. All I did was to follow the doctor¡¯s orders to take my medication and to practice

    continuously, on top of therapy sessions. It then improved slowly. I still stutter when I¡¯m anxious, but it¡¯s

    mostly all right now.¡± Zheng Lunlun smiled.

    ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good. It would be a shame for such a handsome little boy like you to stutter your

    whole life.¡±

    ¡°Yea, since I am so good looking, I¡¯d be best looking stutterer in the world had I continued to

    stutter. How have you been? I keep seeing negative news about you, something to do with some man?

    What¡¯s wrong with your eyes? What did you see in a man like that? Were you crazy?¡± Zheng Lunlun

    asked her anxiously.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 250

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 250

    ¡°What man? I didn¡¯t go look for any man. Wouldn¡¯t that be your uncle? I didn¡¯t look for him, and he

    didn¡¯t look for me either. He just disappeared into thin air, God knows where he is now. Probably

    chasing after some chick. But it turned out to be all good, as he is not disturbing me. I can finally have

    some peace,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you reconcile with my fourth uncle?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯d never reconciled, and the children were just an ident which has nothing to do with our

    issues,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°But I somehow think that they look more like Third Uncle than Fourth Uncle.¡±

    Ning Ran kicked him. ¡°What kind of nonsense is that? What¡¯s gonna happen if other people hear that?¡±

    Zheng Lunlun immediately avoided her. ¡°Hey, stop it! Why are you still so rough?¡±

    Ning Ran smacked Zheng Lunlun a few times on his head. ¡°This isn¡¯t the first day you¡¯ve known me,

    and you know very well that I¡¯ve always been rough.¡±

    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s enough! It really hurts ok?¡± Zheng Lunlun was forced to a corner of the makeup room.

    At this very moment, the director walked in to see Ning Ran chasing after Zheng Lunlun to smack him.

    The director waspletely taken aback. Beauty Zheng was an A-list actor after all, so how could he

    completely have no airs in front of Ning Ran?

    This Ning Ran was really quite a little devil. The moment she emerged out of nowhere, she just kicked

    the highly popr Luo Fei out of the circuit.

    Look at her now, chasing after Zheng Lunlun like that. She really must be quite amazing, judging by the

    way all the big shots have fallen from the pedestal in front of her.

    The director sounded two warning coughs.

    Embarrassed, Zheng Lunlun said, ¡°Director, we¡¯re just rehearsing our scene!¡±

    ¡°Yes, we are rehearsing our scene,¡± echoed Ning Ran.

    ¡°Yes, I can see that you are rehearsing your scene. In that case, you can continue for a little while

    longer? Get yourself a little more acquainted with the lines?¡±

    ¡°No it¡¯s all right, we are almost done. Let¡¯s get back to our makeup now. Director, now that Lunlun is

    back, you can now arrange for us to speed up our shooting,¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°I was just about to discuss this with the both of you. We had nned to finish shooting by the end of

    the year. However, the days are about to get colder and we still have a lot of scenes to catch up on, so

    it¡¯s definitely time to speed things up. Otherwise, it will be tougher for everybody if we have to film the

    summer scenes in the winter.¡±

    Ning Ran and Zheng Lunlun both expressed their understanding and agreed to speed up the shoot.

    ¡°All right, it¡¯s all decided then. Let¡¯s get ready!¡± The director cried out happily.

    With Ning Ran¡¯s acting chops and Zheng Lunlun¡¯s poprity, together with Star Entertainment¡¯s

    marketing resources, Wang Yan had a feeling this series was about to burn up and be the best

    series of the year.

    When the creators are inundated with awards, I¡¯d be regarded as one of the top directors then too!

    What a wonderful thought!

    ¡­¡­

    Nanshi Corporation headquarters.

    After his video conference meeting, Nan Chen switched off therge monitor in the conference room

    and pinched his nose slightly out of exhaustion.

    Dabao had sent a bunch of codes to his phone, with a message saying that there were some recorded

    messages in there for him to listen to when he was free.

    Nan Chen had been so busy that he didn¡¯t get to listen to it.

    However, he would definitely listen to what Dabao had sent him.

    Dabao was not the type to get adults to do silly useless things. Even though he was little, his thoughts

    and actions were adult-like.

    He then went back to his office, switched on hisputer and put on his earphones.

    The voices were distinctive enough for him to distinguish the rtionship between the people, the

    chronology, and the details of that issue.

    After he heard it, Nan Chen immediately gave a call to Qiao Zhan asking him toe to the office.

    Qiao Zhan rushed over immediately but had to wait for Nan Chen who was caught up in another

    meeting.

    After more than an hour, Nan Chen finally emerged from the conference room.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you report that to me?¡± Nan Chen immediately reprimanded him.

    Qiao Zhen was a little confused and asked, ¡°Sir Chen, what are you referring to?¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you report to me that you had misunderstood Ning Ran?¡± Nan Chen snarled coldly.

    Why is it my responsibility when you were the one who had misunderstood her?

    However, Qiao Zhan did not dare voice his thoughts out loud.

    ¡°I thought Ms. Ding would tell you everything since the issue has been rified. I did not dare to get

    involved.¡± Qiao Zhan bowed his head.

    ¡°Knowing her character, she would never tell me things on her own ord,¡± Nan Chen muttered

    through gritted teeth.

    To Nan Chen, Ning Ran was just an obstinate woman. To him, her asional weakness was a mere

    act, and he hated those kinds of people the most.

    ¡°Actually, I have never thought of Ms. Ding to be that kind of person. Not only is she beautiful, but she

    is also extremely kind. One has to be blind to treat her as a viin¡­¡±

    Qiao Zhan was a very candid person who rarely thought before he spoke. Now that he had begun to

    speak, he could barely control his verbal diarrhea. When he realized he was wrong, it was already too

    late.

    ¡°Who¡¯s blind now?¡±

    Nan Chen red at Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Me. I was blind. Of course, I wasn¡¯t referring to you, Sir Chen,¡± Qiao Zhan said quickly.

    ¡°So which eye of yours is blinded?¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Qiao Zhan was at a loss for words initially, but quickly recovered and said, ¡°Both. Both my eyes

    are blinded, I can¡¯t see anything at all!¡±

    Nan Chen snorted coldly at him.

    ¡°What do we do now?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you need to rectify the situation now that you have misunderstood her?¡±

    My God, you were the one who misunderstood her, what has it got to do with me?

    What can I do as a subordinate? Are you going to dock one month¡¯s pay off me?

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯d need to do so, but I am not sure what I can do.¡± Qiao Zhan had no choice but to say this.

    ¡°Think.¡±

    With that one word, Nan Chen turned back to his work.

    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.

    Work was really piling up for him, and he barely had a few minutes to himself before he had to start on

    the next task.

    Qiao Zhan was left standing there.

    Master Chen clearly wanted Qiao Zhan to think of a way to remedy this issue before he could leave.

    When it came to fighting, Qiao Zhan was the expert who could beat up ten men on his own; he had the

    ability to organizerge fights as well. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have be the leader of the Nan

    family¡¯s security team.

    However, problem-solving was definitely not his strong suit. In fact, women were probably Qiao Zhan¡¯s

    weakest point.

    If Qiao Zhan could handle women, he wouldn¡¯t have been still single in his thirties.

    Clearly, this was a task that waspletely unsuitable for him, and he found himself in a very difficult

    situation.

    He knew it was an impossible mission, but yet he did not dare voice that out loud.

    On the other hand, Nan Chen was so caught up by the work that he seemed to have forgotten about

    the people around him.

    Like a statue, Qiao Zhan was there for half an hour with no idea popping into his mind at all.

    At this moment, Jiang Zhe came in with a document for Nan Chen to sign.

    ¡°Oh, Captain Qiao is here again? What¡¯s going on?¡± Jiang Zhe said while sizing him up.

    ¡°Oh yes, Sir Chen, you should get him to think about it too. He is so chirpy and talkative, I am sure he

    will have his ways.¡±

    The sight of Jiang Zhe was like a lifebuoy to Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Jiang Zhe waspletely confused.

    Of course, Nan Chen was not about to exin everything. Hence, Jiang Zhe continued to ask Qiao

    Zhan, ¡°Captain Qiao, what is it that you wanted me to think about?¡±

    ¡°We have misunderstood Ms. Ding a while ago. Now, Master Chen wants me toe up with an idea

    to rectify the situation and I ampletely stuck. Assistant Jiang, you have always been the fastest

    when ites to ideas, so it¡¯d be great if you could help me think of a solution as well.¡±

    With Jiang Zhe¡¯s intelligence, he immediately guessed what was going on.

    Clearly, Master Chen had misunderstood Ning Ran for some reason, and now he wants to make things

    right. However, because of his overpowering ego, he is getting Qiao Zhan toe up with a n

    instead.

    However, Qiao Zhan is all brawn and no brains. What idea can hee up with?

    Jiang Zheughed to himself. Captain Qiao, aren¡¯t you supposed to be very capable? I bet

    you can¡¯t even think of a single idea now!

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 251

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 251

    Nan Chen took a look at the document before signing it.

    Just as Jiang Zhe was about to leave with the document, Qiao Zhan pulled him aside.

    ¡°What are you doing? Please watch yourself, Captain Qiao!¡± Jiang Zhe shouted out loud.

    ¡°I can¡¯t think of anything. Assistant Jiang, your job is all abouting up with crafty ideas, so won¡¯t you

    help me out here for a while?¡± Qiao Zhan smiled feebly while asking him.

    ¡°My job is all abouting up with crafty ideas? Wow, I had no idea you thought so highly of me,

    Captain Qiao. Did you actually mean to say is that I don¡¯t have much ability, and that is why I need to

    come up with crooked ideas just to make a living?¡± Jiang Zhe was clearly offended.

    ¡°I don¡¯t mean it in that way. You know I am just a buffoon; I don¡¯t know how to be tactful. So, if I have

    offended you, I really hope you can forgive me.¡±

    Qiao Zhan humbled himself as he knew Jiang Zhe would be able to help him.

    ¡°No, Captain Qiao, your job scope is beyond my ability. I am sorry, but I am busy and have to take my

    leave first. Captain Qiao, take your time, and may youe up with something soon.¡±

    Jiang Zhe then tried to get away but when Qiao Zhan pulled him back, he couldn¡¯t move no matter how

    much he struggled.

    Jiang Zhe was so weak. He was definitely no match for Qiao Zhan physically.

    No matter how much strength he exerted, he could not release himself from Qiao Zhan¡¯s strong grip.

    Jiang Zhe was so angry and anxious that his entire face turned red.

    As the two of his right-hand men continued fighting and struggling with one another, Nan Chen acted

    as if he did not see a thing.

    ¡°CEO, can you please handle this ox of yours?¡± Jiang Zhe finally turned to Nan Chen for help.

    ¡°Assistant Jiang, you are an educated man, how could you say things like that? I am a human being,

    how dare you call me an ox?¡± Qiao Zhan furrowed his eyebrows.

    ¡°CEO, look, he¡¯s refusing to let me go. How can I do my work now?¡± Jiang Zhe was really beginning to

    panic now.

    Without lifting his gaze, Nan Chen said, ¡°Since he wants you to help think of an idea, then why don¡¯t

    you just help him out a little. He will let you go after that.¡±

    Qiao Zhan was overjoyed upon hearing that. ¡°Heard that? Even Sir Chen is asking you to help think of

    an idea.¡±

    So the reason why boss has been so silent was to get me to help to think of something.

    How could I be so silly? I should have seen through his desire a long time ago.

    ¡°Actually, Ms. Ding is quite an easygoing person, but we have definitely wronged her this time. She

    must have felt very aggrieved. The way I see it, there is no way out of this at all,¡± said Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°Pfft, and here I was thinking that you were so smart. After such a long time, that is all you have to say?

    That is all there is to a so-called cultured person?¡± Qiao Zhan said with disdain.

    Nan Chen remained silent.

    Jiang Zhe and Nan Chen could read each other¡¯s minds very well.

    It was definitely impossible for Jiang Zhe to be helpless when it came to this kind of small issue.

    Indeed, Jiang Zhe continued, ¡°If we were to deliberatelye up with a n, it would look very

    unnatural. However, if we could get the two little ones toe for dinner, we can then dispel a lot of the

    misunderstandings. It is best to just go with the flow for some things. Ms. Ding loves the two children

    the most, and she could never hate anybody who could make them happy. Moreover, she is not a

    calctive person who will fuss over this for too long.¡±

    Qiao Zhan thought about the n and it all began to make sense to him.

    However, wouldn¡¯t this be a little too simple? Just bringing the two kids for a meal? If the solution were

    this simple, why would we still need Jiang Zhe the apple polisher?

    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Qiao Zhan asked in disbelief.

    ¡°That¡¯s it. Was I not clear enough?¡± Jiang Zhe scowled.

    ¡°Yes, you were clear, but isn¡¯t it a little too simple? It¡¯s just a dinner, even I could have thought of that.

    And here I was thinking you would have a better idea.¡± Qiao Zhan was still rather dissatisfied.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Captain Qiao, may I go now? If you drink more milk and less alcohol, your brain could be of better

    use,¡± said Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°You¡­¡±

    ¡°Go do your work and stop fooling around,¡± Nan Chen ordered.

    Now that boss has spoken, they really couldn¡¯t fool around anymore.

    ¡°Since the problem has been solved, I¡¯ll take my leave now,¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    ¡°Your job is to pick them up and bring them to the restaurant by six o¡¯clock tonight,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°Oh? I am worried I won¡¯t be able to invite them if you don¡¯t extend a personal invitation,¡± Qiao Zhan

    sighed miserably.

    ¡°That¡¯s your problem,¡± Nan Chen said coldly before waving Qiao Zhan away.

    ¡°Oh? Then which restaurant are we going to?¡±

    ¡°You are buying dinner, so how would I know?¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    Qiao Zhan was stunned. Why am I the one buying dinner now?

    Would Ms. Ding forgive me if I treated them all to dinner? I am just a nobody!

    However, Qiao Zhan did not dare to ask too much and merely followed Jiang Zhe out of the office.

    Then, he held onto Jiang Zhe and asked, ¡°Assistant Jiang, what is Sir Chen trying to say?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t get it?¡± Jiang Zhe sneered.

    ¡°Not at all. My brain is nothing like yours, and I can¡¯t read between the lines,¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    ¡°Are you still belittling me?¡±

    ¡°No, no, I am not. I am really asking for your help here.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll tell you once you call me Big Brother.¡± Jiang Zhe folded his arms and looked at Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Never!¡±

    ¡°So be it then!¡± Jiang Zhe then turned around to leave, only to be pulled back by Qiao Zhan again.

    ¡°I won¡¯t let you go if you don¡¯t tell me. Sir Chen knows I don¡¯t understand it either, and he wants me to

    ask you too, so let¡¯s not pretend you can get out of this.¡±

    ¡°You rogue! Hooligan! So rude!¡± Jiang Zhe began to berate him.

    ¡°All right, spit it. What did Sir Chen mean?¡±

    ¡°Boss wants to admit his mistake to Ms. Ding, but his ego is too big for that. Hence, you are the

    scapegoat for Ms. Ding. Boss will then pretend to just be in the area and pop by. That¡¯s it, get it? How

    do you not understand such a simple n? Do you have mush for brains?¡± Jiang Zhe scolded him.

    ¡°Oh yea, why did I not think of that? Assistant Jiang, you are indeed a mind reader. If you lived in

    ancient times, you would have been the most influential and powerful eunuch serving the emperor.¡±

    Qiao Zhan stuck up his thumb.

    ¡°Caption Qiao, how dare you insult me?¡± Jiang Zhe began to fume.

    Qiao Zhan smiled and waved goodbye before he turned to leave.

    By five o¡¯clock, Qiao Zhan had appeared at the kindergarten entrance punctually to pick up the

    children.

    After that, he rushed to the set with the children and waited for Ning Ran to finish work so that they

    could have dinner together.

    It was only after all the children had left that Dabao finally walked out of the school slowly while holding

    his sister¡¯s hand.

    Dabao was never one to rush with others, and the kindergarten principal would have never dreamt of

    letting these two little precious children rush out of the school together with the other children. They

    could never handle the responsibility if both of them were hurt in any way.

    Qiao Zhan walked up to them warmly, ¡°Little Master, Little Miss.¡±

    ¡°Uncle Qiao!¡± Erbao called out to him happily.

    ¡°Oh no, you can¡¯t call me that. I can¡¯t handle that,¡± Qiao Zhan said loudly.

    ¡°Mummy says we have to call you that. If not Uncle Qiao, do we call you Brother instead?¡±

    Erbaoughed out loud cheekily after she finished talking.

    Dabao rolled his eyes at his sister to indicate that she had crossed the line.

    Erbao immediately changed the topic. ¡°Uncle Qiao, you look so handsome today.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for the praises Little Young Mistress. You are really quite sweet, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Qiao Zhan opened the car door and carried the two of them into the car before buckling them into their

    car seats.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go! We are going to the film set to pick up your Mommy, and then I am going to buy you all

    dinner.¡±

    ¡°All right, all right!¡± Erbao began to cheer.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 252

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 252

    Qiao Zhan then brought both children into the film set. The two of them looked so distinctive; nobody

    could forget what they looked like after one meeting. Nobody dared to stop them when they arrived,

    and this was how they broke the rules and entered the film set.

    However, Dabao had learnt from theirst mistake and was now watching Erbao, making sure she

    didn¡¯t take a peep. All they did was stand a distance away and watch the filming quietly.

    The scene they were watching was a love scene between Zheng Lunlun and Ning Ran. Even though it

    was not an intimate scene, both the set and the atmosphere were made to look rather ambiguous.

    Erbao immediately reached out to close her eyes with her hands. ¡°Oh no, what is Blondie doing with

    Mommy?¡±

    ¡°This is Mommy¡¯s job. She is acting out a story with Blondie. This is not their real behavior.¡± Dabao

    described the action deftly and exined everything calmly to his sister. ¡°I know, they are just acting for

    television,¡± Erbao said.

    ¡°Yes, so don¡¯t call out to Mommy. If you affect her work, we will get into trouble again,¡± Dabao said. ¡°I

    know what to do now, Brother,¡± Erbao replied obediently.

    However, Erbao still ran up to them after the scene was done. ¡°Mommy! Blondie!¡± Zheng Lunlun was

    overjoyed to see Erbao. He picked her up to lift her up high.

    Ning Ran quickly said it was too dangerous and instructed him to quickly put her down. ¡°You¡¯ve grown

    prettier, but you are plumper too. Have you been eating meat every day?¡± Zheng Lunlun pinched

    Erbao¡¯s chubby cheeks.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t grown plumper. In fact, I¡¯ve lost weight.¡± Erbao has always denied putting on weight. She

    could ept looking rich, but the word ¡®plump¡¯ did not exist in her vocabry.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve lost weight? Look at how thin you are, poor child, you need more nutrition.¡± Zheng Lunlun

    burst outughing. Erbao was unhappy with that. How could Blondieugh at me for being plump in

    front of so many people?

    ¡°I don¡¯t like Blondie anymore.¡± She pouted huffily with her puffy cheeks. ¡°All right, all right, I was wrong.

    Erbao has lost weight. However, you really are prettier than before. You are now a beautiful young girl.¡±

    ¡°Hrmph!¡± Erbao turned her face away from him. ¡°I heard there¡¯s a new desserts cafe that has just

    opened near my house, and that it is really good. I wonder if anybody would be willing to go and give it

    a try with me¡­¡±

    ¡°Me!¡± Erbao immediately fell into the trap and raised her hand. Dabao looked at his sister

    helplessly. Zheng Lunlunughed out loud, ¡°Hahahaha, all right, that¡¯s the way.¡±

    ¡°Blondie, so when are you bringing me there?¡± Erbao has always been a fan of desserts. ¡°Right after

    we finish our work,¡± said Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°Captain Qiao, why did you bring them here? I¡¯ve said that I didn¡¯t want the kids here to affect our

    work,¡± Ning Ran chided.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to bring you and the kids for a meal. I did not do my job properly, so I¡¯d like to buy you a meal

    as a sign of my apology,¡± Qiao Zhan said cautiously.

    ¡°No, there is no need, it¡¯s all in the past. Captain Qiao, you were just doing your job, and we can hardly

    me you. There is no need for dinner¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, what no need? There is a need. I want to eat, and if Captain Qiao is treating, that¡¯s even better.

    I¡¯ll go too,¡± Zheng Lunlun quickly said.

    He had been prepared to have dinner with Ning Ran after work. Now that the two kids were here, it¡¯d

    be even better.

    ¡°Oh, you have a dinner appointment? Let¡¯s wrap up for the day then.¡± The director came over as well.

    ¡°There is really no need. We¡¯ve all agreed to put in additional hours to pick up our speed. How can we

    wrap up so early?¡± Ning Ran cried out.

    ¡°No worries, it¡¯s not like we can catch up in one day anyway. Lunlun has juste in today, so we

    shouldn¡¯t tire him out. We¡¯ll just add onto his workload slowly. So yes, go and grab dinner, you guys,¡±

    The director said with a chuckle.

    ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯ve just arrived today, so I can¡¯t be too tired. If I burn out again, it¡¯d be worse for our

    schedule,¡± Zheng Lunlun continued.

    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.

    Ning Ran rolled her eyes at Zheng Lunlun.

    With this situation where Zheng Lunlun wanted to leave and that the children were here, it was clearly

    impossible to continue with the shoot.

    ¡°All right then, we¡¯ll put in extra time tomorrow.¡± Ning Ran had no choice but to agree.

    It was supposed to be the director¡¯s decision, and he had already made the decision to wrap up for the

    day. It wouldn¡¯t change if she was the only one who insisted on continuing.

    Qiao Zhan was about to bring Ning Ran and her children to the restaurant, and allow Nan Chen to

    appear then. However, there was one more person involved in the n now ¨C Zheng Lunlun.

    Young Master Lun was not part of the n and was not supposed to be at the dinner. However, Qiao

    Zhan did not dare offend him and did not know how to handle this situation.

    ¡°Where are we going for dinner? We aren¡¯t going to Uncle¡¯spany canteen, are we?¡± Zheng Lunlun

    asked Qiao Zhan as he sat at the passenger¡¯s seat.

    ¡°Of course not. I¡¯ve booked a restaurant that specializes in Hunan food,¡± Qiao Zhan said absent-

    mindedly.

    ¡°That¡¯d be good, I haven¡¯t had it for a while.¡±

    ¡°Young Master Lun, I am here today to bring Ms. Ding out for a meal. Alone,¡± Qiao Zhan said hesitantly.

    ¡°What are you trying to say? That I am an extra?¡± Zheng Lunlun could understand what he was trying

    to say.

    ¡°Why not I treat you to a meal separately another day, Young Master Lun?¡±

    ¡°No! Qiao Zhan, are you bullying me here? You are treating her but not me?¡± Zheng Lunlun was really

    unhappy now.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s just that today¡¯s a little different¡­¡±

    ¡°What special asion is this? Did you not bring enough cash or what? I know you have always been

    very tight-fisted, so why don¡¯t I just pay for this?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t mean it that way, Young Master Lun, it¡¯s just that¡­¡±

    ¡°Fine, I was here to have dinner with them anyway. If you are too stingy to part with your money, I¡¯ll pick

    up the tab then. Don¡¯t even think of trying to get rid of me!¡± Zheng Lunlun was about to lose his temper.

    Qiao Zhan did not dare to say anything else now that Zheng Lunlun was angry.

    Qiao Zhan had made quite a good choice of restaurant today.

    After all these years of working with the Nan family, his exposure had led him to book a restaurant that

    was far from being mainstream.

    After they settled the children down, Qiao Chan came out to call Nan Chen. ¡°Sir Chen, I¡¯ve brought

    them to the restaurant, but there is an extra person with them!¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Young Master Lun is here too.¡±

    ¡°Get rid of him,¡± Nan Chen immediately said.

    ¡°No, I¡¯ve tried it and he refused to leave. In fact, he was about to get angry when I tried to say more.¡±

    Qiao Zhen

    ¡°That¡¯s your own business. Get him out.¡± Nan Chen put down the phone.

    Qiao Zhan was now in a quandary. How could he get rid of someone he could not afford to offend?

    With his head hung low, Qiao Zhan returned to the private room. ¡°Young Master Lun, may I have a

    word with you?¡±

    Zheng Lunlun followed Qiao Zhan out of the room. ¡°What do you want this time?¡±

    ¡°Young Master Lun, can you just leave first? If you don¡¯t leave, it¡¯d make things difficult for me.¡± Qiao

    Zhan looked very worried.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong with you? You keep trying to get rid of me! I¡¯ve said I¡¯ll pay for it, so what¡¯s the

    problem?¡± Zheng Lunlun was getting annoyed.

    ¡°I don¡¯t mean it that way, and I don¡¯t mind paying for you. Why not you move to a different room, and I¡¯ll

    order a separate table of dishes for you?¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    ¡°A separate table for me? Qiao, are you discriminating against me? Do you think I am not worthy to sit

    at the same table? Or are you worried I¡¯ll spread some disease to you?¡± Zheng Lunlun was truly fired

    up now.

    ¡°No! It¡¯s just that I feel that you should¡­¡±

    ¡°Leave! I¡¯ll pay for it myself, and I¡¯ll buy tonight¡¯s dinner. I don¡¯t want to see your face ever again!¡±

    Zheng Lunlun scolded him.

    ¡°I¡­¡±

    ¡°Leave!¡± Zheng Lunlun roared at him.

    ¡°All right.¡± Qiao Zhan let out a troubled sigh before he turned to leave.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 253

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 253

    He saw a Rolls Royce at the entrance.

    Nan Chen came out of the car with his face void of expression. Dressed entirely in ck, he walked in

    with a powerful aura about him.

    Qiao Zhan went up to him. ¡°Sir Chen.¡±

    ¡°Haven¡¯t gotten rid of him?¡±

    ¡°I¡­I couldn¡¯t get rid of him,¡± Qiao Zhan bowed his head and said.

    Nan Chen did not say anything and continued to takerge strides forward.

    Qiao Zhan followed him from behind. Nan Chen then turned around and shot him a questioning

    look. Why are you following me?

    Qiao Zhan understood him perfectly and hence stopped following him. He then turned and left.

    At the private room in the second floor, Nan Chen adjusted his suit a little and knocked on the door.

    ¡°Pleasee in!¡± It was Erbao¡¯s little voice.

    Nan Chen pushed the door open to enter the room.

    The whole table was taken aback. They had expected it to be the server with their food, only to see this

    supreme being walk-in.

    ¡°Third Uncle?¡±

    ¡°Third Uncle!¡± Erbao shouted out joyfully.

    Erbao was an extrovert who was the happiest when more people she knew got together.

    Ning Ran was the only one who looked rather unhappy.

    Now that the threats from Ning Ziqiang and gang were gone, she thought they could finally rx and

    have a good meal together. However, Poker Face had shown up.

    No matter where he went, he would bring pressure and tension into the room.

    In other words, he was the party pooper. As long as he was there, the atmosphere would never be

    lively.

    Nobody liked to share a meal with someone like that. Who could rx and truly enjoy a meal with that

    much tension around them?

    Without waiting for an invitation, Nan Chen pulled out a chair and sat himself down.

    Dabao was happily staring at his Third Uncle with twinkling ck eyes.

    Third Uncle was his favorite person. He may seem cold to other people, but Dabao felt an especial

    kinship with him.

    This is because, like him, Dabao also had a cold and frosty appearance which disguised his colorful

    and rich personality.

    Even though he had a very interesting personality, he still brought awkward silences everywhere he

    went to, which was extremely embarrassing.

    Dabao felt the most for his third uncle when he led the room into a prolonged awkward silence with his

    mere presence. He wanted to do something for him but didn¡¯t know what to do.

    Erbao was the expert in warming up a party, not Dabao.

    ¡°Third Uncle, where did youe from?¡± Erbao asked sweetly.

    Nan Chen was immediately melted by the enchanting child¡¯s voice. He then looked at Erbao with a

    gentle look and said, ¡°Come here.¡±

    Erbao got down from the chair obediently and walked towards Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen then picked up Erbao to sit on hisp. ¡°You¡¯ve gotten a little heavier.¡±

    Erbao became embarrassed by the issue of her weight again.

    ¡°No, you must be imagining things, Third Uncle. Anyway, how did you know we were here?¡± Erbao

    asked.

    ¡°I was just in the area when Qiao Zhan mentioned you were here, so I decided to drop by to see you

    and Dabao.¡±

    He made it clear that he was here for the children and had nothing to do with the adults.

    ¡°Uncle, I don¡¯t believe you were just in the area. You¡¯re always so busy!¡± Zheng Lunlun could not help

    but interrupt.

    Nan Chen shot him a re that instantly stunned him intoplete silence.

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you have something to do? You can leave first,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Zheng Lunlun was taken aback. I¡¯m done for the day, what do I have?

    ¡°I don¡¯t¡­¡±

    ¡°You do,¡± Nan Chen said decidedly.

    ¡°I¡­¡±

    ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    Zheng Lunlun finally understood why Qiao Zhan had wanted to treat him separately.

    Turns out I am now inadvertently the third wheel because Nan Chen wanted some alone time with Ning

    Ran.

    However, isn¡¯t she supposed to be Fourth Uncle¡¯s girl? What has it got to do with Third Uncle?

    Why are these rtionships getting more and more messed up?

    No, I can¡¯t let the messy rtionships go on like this. It will only make things more difficult for me.

    No, I am not leaving. That would be for the best.

    ¡°Indeed, I¡¯ve something on,¡± said Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°Then, go ahead and get it done.¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯ve settled it. Thanks for your concern, Uncle,¡± Zheng Lunlun said without missing a beat.

    Nan Chen was stunned for a while. How dare this kid go against me?

    ¡°Don¡¯t you have a medical appointment?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Medical appointment? What medical appointment?¡±

    ¡°Your doctor says you need to go back for a checkup, so off to the hospital you go,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°I¡¯m already discharged from the hospital under doctor¡¯s orders, Uncle. Look, I don¡¯t stutter anymore!¡±

    Zheng Lunlun shouted.

    ¡°You might just rpse anytime soon. So, go for your checkup, the doctor is waiting for you,¡± Nan Chen

    ordered, without any expression on his face.

    Zheng Lunlun was about to burst into tears. Even though you are my elder, that does not mean you can

    bully me like this.

    While I have shown you respect, you should care for the younger ones as well. What are you doing

    here?

    Not only are you stopping me from having dinner, but you are also making me go to the hospital at

    night? What is this all about?

    ¡°It¡¯ste, I¡¯ll go tomorrow.¡± Zheng Lunlun still tried to fight till the end.

    ¡°Notte at all. The doctor is waiting for you, so you need to go now,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Uncle¡­¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t go today, you will stay in the hospital for a fortnight from tomorrow onwards,¡± Nan Chen

    warned.

    Zheng Lunlun wailed, ¡°I am not staying in the hospital anymore, I¡¯ve recovered¡­¡±

    ¡°Then go for your medical checkup now. If the doctor confirms you are fine, you don¡¯t need to stay in

    the hospital,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Zheng Lunlun shook his head as he knew his uncle was forcing him to leave.

    If I don¡¯t leave, it¡¯d be worse if he locks me up in the hospital for an entire fortnight!

    I hate the disinfectant smell in the hospital! I can¡¯t go in there anymore!

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll leave, I¡¯ll leave now.¡± Zheng Lunlun had no choice but to stand up.

    Nan Chen did not say anything to that. Wouldn¡¯t it be better if you had left earlier?

    Ning Ran merely watched the whole scene y out in silence.

    What is Nan Chen getting at?

    From the surface, it seems Nan Chen was trying to get rid of Zheng Lunlun so that he can spend some

    alone time with me.

    However, this doesn¡¯t make sense. Doesn¡¯t he hate me the most? Why would he want to spend alone

    time with me?

    Moreover, he has already said that he is here to see the kids.

    But if he is here to see the kids, Zheng Lunlun¡¯s presence wouldn¡¯t matter at all. Why did he have to get

    rid of him?

    It was very clear even to Dabao, that Zheng Lunlun was being forced to leave by Nan Chen.

    Dabao was puzzled as well. Why can¡¯t Blondie have dinner with us? It¡¯d be fun to have dinner all

    together.

    After Zheng Lunlun left the room, the atmosphere turned colder than ever.

    ¡°He really needs to go back for a medical checkup. Let¡¯s eat, everyone.¡± Nan Chen picked up his

    chopsticks.

    Nobody moved a hair, still engrossed in that awkward situation just now.

    Erbao was the first to move again. ¡°All right, let¡¯s eat! I¡¯m hungry!¡±

    ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± Nan Chen asked her.

    ¡°That one.¡± Erbao pointed.

    Nan Chen then turned the dish towards Erbao. ¡°Can you reach it?¡±

    ¡°Yes I can. Thank you, Third Uncle.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s rude for children to climb onto the table. Mommy will get the food for you,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°It¡¯s all right, there are no outsiders here anyway,¡± Nan Chen said.

    This sounded rather ambiguous. No outsiders here? So we are all family?

    Throughout the dinner, Nan Chen showed lots of care and concern by constantly asking after Dabao,

    and then Erbao.

    Ning Ran felt as if Poker Face was showed his best side when he was with the two children.

    In front of them, he is mellow and friendly and speaks softly. With them, he instantly transforms from an

    ice prince to a warm and affectionate man.

    The transformation is so shockingly tremendous. Indeed, Poker Face exemplifies theplexity of

    human nature.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 254

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 254

    ¡°Qiao Zhan has told me about what happened a while ago.¡±

    Nan Chen was clearly speaking to Ning Ran, and not the children now.

    Ning Ran did not reply him.

    ¡°Qiao Zhan has been ipetent, and I wanted him to apologize to you,¡± Nan Chen continued.

    ¡°What do you mean, Mr. Chen? I don¡¯t quite understand you.¡± Ning Ran knew how to y dumb as

    well.

    ¡°You know very well what I mean.¡± Nan Chen was not giving her the opportunity to feign ignorance.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand it at all,¡± Ning Ran persisted.

    ¡°Qiao Zhan has misunderstood you. Luckily, the whole incident has been investigated thoroughly,¡± said

    Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran sneered in her heart. Doesn¡¯t Qiao Zhan just listen to your instructions? You are really

    quite amazing, how can you push all the responsibility to Qiao Zhan just like that!

    ¡°What truth? I really don¡¯t get it.¡±

    ¡°Fine, forget it then.¡± Nan Chen began to be annoyed as well.

    This woman is just too hard to please. I¡¯ve already taken a step back, and she is still not ying along?

    If you are not ying along, I am not either!

    ¡°Fine,¡± Ning Ran said coldly.

    Erbao took a look at her mother and her uncle.

    The atmosphere is a little strange, but why?

    I really don¡¯t know why it feels strange, so what can I say now?

    All this tension in the room is just too much! I really don¡¯t like it!

    ¡°Mommy, are you two fighting?¡± Erbao asked feebly.

    ¡°No, we¡¯re not!¡± Nan Chen and Ning Ran said simultaneously in the same pace and tone.

    It was the first time the two of them had so much cohesion, which was practically a miracle.

    Ning Ran felt her face burning up inexplicably.

    ¡°If you are not fighting, then what are you doing?¡± Erbao asked.

    This time, neither of them spoke.

    Nan Chen thought Ning Ran would answer that, while Ning Ran thought Nan Chen would. In order to

    avoid an awkward situation, both of them did not respond to the question.

    ¡°There¡¯s been some misunderstanding between Mommy and I, so I am exining things to her,¡± Nan

    Chen said softly.

    ¡°Then have you exined yourself clearly?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°Ask Mommy,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Erbao then looked at Ning Ran and asked, ¡°Mommy, what¡¯s going on? Did Third Uncle exin himself

    clearly?¡±

    ¡°Eat your dinner.¡± Ning Ran did not answer her directly.

    ¡°I¡¯m full, and I shouldn¡¯t eat too much in case I grow fat again,¡± Erbao smiled shyly.

    Ning Ranughed out loud.

    ¡°You are actually thinking of eating less? That¡¯s rare.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve always been very careful about that. I am the Most Beautiful Girl in the Entire Universe,

    remember?¡± Erbao smiled.

    She soundedpletely adorable as she said that, melting both Ning Ran and Nan Chen¡¯s hearts.

    ¡°I have something to say to Mommy. I¡¯ll get Qiao Zhan to send the both of you home first, all right?¡±

    Nan Chen suddenly said.

    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    ¡°All right,¡± Dabao and Erbao answered him together.

    Both children understood the importance of giving adults space to talk.

    Ning Ran could not say anything since Nan Chen had already put it that way.

    This is strange. What would Poker Face want to talk to me about? What do I have to say with him?

    Nan Chen called Qiao Zhan who appeared very quickly.

    When the two children left with Qiao Zhan, Nan Chen and Ning Ran were left by themselves in the

    private room.

    Recently, the two of them have spent more time alone, and Ning Ran was slowly getting used to the

    pressure Nan Chen brought with him.

    Nan Chen did not say anything, and neither did Ning Ran.

    Since Nan Chen mentioned he had things to say, Ning Ran wanted him to let him speak first.

    However, Nan Chen was still thinking about it; he did not know where to begin.

    This is really too important, where do I begin?

    They remained like that and were silent for a few minutes, which made the atmosphere incredibly

    awkward.

    Ning Ran finally could not bear it anymore and stood up to say, ¡°If you are not going to say anything,

    I¡¯m leaving.¡±

    ¡°Sit down.¡± These were the only two words Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran really did sit down.

    That was the magical power Nan Chen possessed. One line from him wielded more power than many

    lines from other people.

    However, Ning Ran felt that she had been way too obedient, so she immediately stood up again.

    ¡°Sit down.¡± Nan Chenmanded her again.

    Ning Ran nearly sat down again but this time, she resisted him a little and did not do so immediately.

    I am not sitting down, so what can you do to me? Kill me? I cannot appear to be too submissive!

    Seeing Ning Ran refuse to sit down, he stood up as well.

    He was so tall that when he stood up, Ning Ran could immediately feel hisrge presence looming over

    her.

    This pressure made Ning Ran feel very uneasy, so she quickly sat down again.

    Nan Chen took his seat when he saw Ning Ran finally sitting down.

    Nan Chen then called the server to take away the leftover food. Then, he ordered several snacks and

    also a bottle of strong Maotai.

    Ning Ran was stunned by his order. Are we drinking again?

    Is he now addicted to making me drink now that he knows that I am a light drinker? All he wants is to

    see me embarrass myself after he gets me drunk?

    What¡¯s wrong with him? Is it really that fun to watch a woman go crazy when she is drunk?

    ¡°I¡¯m not drinking,¡± Ning Ran said huffily.

    Nan Chen poured out just one ss of wine, which meant that he hadn¡¯t meant for it to be for Ning Ran

    at all.

    What¡¯s wrong with him? Is he so broken-hearted that he needs to drown his sorrows in alcohol?

    Nan Chen was feeling very conflicted as well. Why am I drinking right now?

    Am I celebrating the fact that Ning Ran is not the type of materialistic woman who doesn¡¯t care about

    her father¡¯s life and death?

    Or am I trying to use the alcohol to embolden myself to tell her the truth?

    Alcohol can make one braver, but Sir Chen was no ordinary person, would he need it?

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Ning Ran looked at Nan Chen uneasily.

    He looked like he was about to make a very important decision, and his grim face made Ning Ran feel

    more pressured than ever before.

    Nan Chen did not say anything and continued to drink.

    The wine was somehow smoother; it tasted better that night.

    Ning Ran pointed at their snacks and said, ¡°You should eat something, or else you¡¯d get drunk very

    soon.¡±

    It¡¯s not like I care so much for him, but more because I won¡¯t be able to carry him if he gets drunk!

    More importantly, if he gets drunk and throws a tantrum, there¡¯s no way I can handle him even if there

    were three of me.

    The server then came in with some champagne, which Nan Chen had ordered for Ning Ran.

    This hotel did not stock champagne, and he had specially gotten the staff to buy it at a nearby

    supermarket.

    Ning Ran was more and more puzzled. What is he trying to do?

    Nan Chen then poured some white wine for himself, and some champagne for Ning Ran.

    ¡°This is a toast to you. You¡¯ve worked hard all these years,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran thought she had heard wrong.

    Did Poker Face really say something so polite to her?

    ¡°Say that again?¡± Ning Ran could not help herself.

    Nan Chen felt a little embarrassed. It was tough enough for him to utter those words, what more to

    repeat himself?

    Nan Chen¡¯s face changed. Of course, he did not repeat those words.

    All he felt was that it had been difficult for Ning Ran to bring up the two children by herself all these

    years, and he just wanted to express some gratitude towards her.

    However, he could not utter the two words, ¡®thank you¡¯, and could only acknowledge her hard work

    through that toast.

    But Ning Ran was not satisfied and demanded him to say it again.

    He definitely would not say it again.

    Therefore, he poured and drank another ss of wine.

    Normally, he rarely drank even during dinner parties, because he had a lot of work to do. However, he

    had already gotten drunk a few times with Ning Ran.

    Somehow, he felt that he needed a few sses in him before he could speak his mind without worry.

    Ning Ran was suddenly amused by his antics. This was so unlike him.

    ¡°I¡¯ve something really important to tell you.¡± Nan Chen put down his ss again and looked at Ning

    Ran.

    Ning Ran felt rather worried as she couldn¡¯t handle Poker Face¡¯s grim attitude.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 255

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 255

    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Ning Ran said. However, Nan Chen still hesitated. It was very difficult for him to talk about

    something as important as the matter. ¡°You can¡¯t say it without enough alcohol in you? Drink more

    then.¡±

    Ning Ran stood up and poured more wine for Nan Chen. He downed the drink immediately. ¡°Not bad,

    not bad at all. One more then!¡± Ning Ran poured another drink for him.

    Nan Chen then indicated for Ning Ran to drink too. Ning Ran picked up her champagne ss. ¡°I am

    actually the children¡¯s real father¡­¡±

    Pfft! Ning Ran immediately spit out the champagne from her mouth. Luckily, she was a distance away

    from Nan Chen who managed to avoid it. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Ning Ran immediately picked up a napkin

    and began wiping away.

    ¡°I¡¯m serious,¡± Nan Chen said. ¡°You¡¯ve had too much to drink. Stop drinking now. If you continue, you¡¯re

    going to say you are the emperor next,¡± Ning Ran advised him.

    ¡°We have a DNA report that says I am the children¡¯s biological father, and that Nan Xing is not,¡± Nan

    Chen said. Ning Ran was bbergasted. Does that mean we can finally solve the mystery of the shirt

    button?

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t there a test before this?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Nan Xing was in Africa before this. When I saw that the children looked like him, I just assumed they

    were his children. However, we are twins who share practically the same DNA, so we used my sample

    for the test. That time, we never thought the children could be mine and not Nan Xing¡¯s. Then when

    you were talking about the button when you were drunk, I realized that that button you have been

    keeping was mine. I am the only person in the whole wide world who uses those types of buttons. It¡¯s a

    customized, one-of-a-kind button. Therefore, I was the man from that night, and not Nan Xing.¡±

    Nan Chen said all these in one breath. He felt as if he hadn¡¯t spoken so much in such a long time. Ning

    Ran waspletely taken aback as she stared wordlessly at Nan Chen. Did I really reveal so many

    secrets after I got drunk?

    Indeed, drinking makes things worse. Did I say anything else?

    ¡°You are the children¡¯s mother, and I am their father,¡± Nan Chen said, slowly and clearly.

    Ning Ran could feel the thumping of her heart. Indeed, her heart was beating faster and faster. What is

    happening? Why is my heart beating faster?

    ¡°What do you think?¡± Nan Chen asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°I think this sounds a little strange, and I don¡¯t want to talk about it any further.¡± Ning Ran blushed as

    she replied.

    Not only is my heart beating faster, but I am also blushing!

    This is really abnormal for me. Is this what they say about being so in love that your heart beats faster

    and you blush as well?

    ¡°You don¡¯t want to talk about it?¡±

    What does she mean by that?

    ¡°I will take care of Dabao and Erbao together with you from now on,¡± Nan Chen said earnestly.

    Ning Ran nced at Nan Chen, whose poker face was now a little flushed thanks to the alcohol.

    How could a big man like him have such a flushed face too?

    His eyes flickered as they burned up, and its rhythm echoed Ning Ran¡¯s rapid heartbeat which had

    picked up once again.

    Why am I blushing? Why is my heart racing? Ning Ran, you aren¡¯t some lovelorn teenage girl all right?

    Can¡¯t you do a little better for yourself?

    The kids have found their biological father, that¡¯s all! Stop feeling all the flutters! What¡¯s with your

    thumping heart?

    Ning Ran struggled to appear calm and less anxious.

    ¡°All right,¡± Ning Ran said coolly.

    ¡°You¡¯d given birth to them and have brought them up on your own. It¡¯s been tough on you. You are

    wee to make any requests and I¡¯ll try to fulfil them,¡± Nan Chen said gravely.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Ning Ran answered coolly again.

    Ning Ran¡¯s coolness shocked Nan Chen a little.

    Since she¡¯s so materialistic, shouldn¡¯t she be asking for money immediately by now?

    Right now, as long as the amount is not too astronomical, I will definitely say yes.

    But why is she sitting there like a fool?

    Hang on ¨C is she a fool, or is she merely fishing for somethingrger?

    ¡°Do you have any requests?¡± Nan Chen asked her again.

    ¡°Yes, I actually do,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    Nan Chen heaved a sigh of relief. It would have been strange if she didn¡¯t have any requests.

    ¡°Say it then. I¡¯ll try to satisfy your wants as much as possible.¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t take the children away from me,¡± Ning Ran said seriously.

    Nan Chen was taken aback. ¡°That¡¯s your only request?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Think about it a little more. I can fulfil a lot more requests.¡±

    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.

    ¡°Just promise me this first. I don¡¯t care who their father is, but they are my children and my life first and

    foremost. No one can take them away from me,¡± Ning Ran said decidedly.

    Nan Chen did not say anything.

    To Ning Ran, the children are the most important, but they are important to me too.

    When it came to the children, Nan Chen was also very careful about his promises.

    What if she gets together with some random man? Do I have to agree to that and watch the children

    get some random useless stepfather?

    ¡°If you conduct yourself with dignity, I won¡¯t snatch the kids from you,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran¡¯s thumping heart immediately quietened down.

    ¡°When have I not been dignified? What are you trying to say?¡± Ning Ran asked him angrily.

    Nan Chen did not reply her.

    This is an important day, and is almost a celebration as I have told her this important thing.

    Therefore, I really don¡¯t want to argue with her.

    No matter what, it has been difficult for her to bring up the children, even more so as a single mother in

    a foreignnd.

    ¡°Nothing. I will take care of you and the children from now on, and I¡¯ll make it up to you as much as I

    can.¡±

    Nan Chen was apletely different person in front of Ning Ran today. Never had he spoken so gently

    to her before.

    However, Ning Ran felt nothing when it came to his promises.

    He does not deserve my trust if he cannot promise that he won¡¯t try to snatch the kids from me.

    No matter how gentle he is on the surface, he is still cold and hard-hearted.

    ¡°There is no need. We have had a good life without you all these years anyway,¡± Ning Ran said.

    This killed the atmosphere andpletely wiped out Nan Chen¡¯s good intentions.

    His good intentions were not appreciated at all.

    Rejection is unbearable as it is, and it was even more so for someone as proud as Nan Chen.

    He had expected an emotional reunion when he revealed the truth to her. Even if there weren¡¯t tears,

    he thought that it would at least be a peaceful and harmonious situation.

    However, the reverse had happened. She was just an obstinate woman who refused to ept

    anything.

    She has barely respected my good intentions, and the only thing she has given me in return is her cold

    attitude.

    Nan Chen was about to burst.

    When have I evere down from my level? And here you are, showing not even one ounce of

    respect or gratitude!

    ¡°You have to take whatever that I give you. And you are not allowed to have what I am refusing to give

    you.¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    The war between them has officially begun.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 256

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 256

    Nan Chen was extremely demoralized and felt a sense of defeat. Before today, he had nned to

    swallow his pride and break the news to Ning Ran in a manner as gentle as possible, when he

    informed her of his newfound identity of the kids¡¯ biological dad.

    After which he would continue to express his gratitude and concern for the kids¡¯ mom, as well as

    provide her with suitable substantivepensation for her efforts in raising up the kids all these years.

    Nan Chen had tried his best, yet was unable to figure out what went wrong. The actual oue was

    vastly different from what he had imagined it to be.

    He had reached a conclusion that it happened this way because the woman was uncultured andcked

    the abilities for propermunication.

    In other words, she couldn¡¯t tell chalk from cheese.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t mean anything even if you are the kids¡¯ mom!¡± Nan Chen started to get frustrated.

    The alcohol in his system was beginning to take effect. It was evident that the man was losing control

    of his emotions.

    ¡°Yup, that doesn¡¯t say anything,¡± Ning Ran retorted.

    The two of them were merely dissing each other; it was not a productive conversation at all.

    ¡°I¡¯m leaving. Since you sent Qiao Zhan away, you are footing the bill. I have no money.¡±

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Ning Ran grabbed her bag and left.

    She must be one of the few women who could proim themselves as having no money in such an

    assured manner.

    Nan Chen couldn¡¯t be bothered with her as he was already fuming mad.

    The warm and harmonious scene which he had pictured in his mind did not happen. Instead, they had

    parted in discord.

    Whose idea was it to reduce tension and improve rtions over a meal? It was the worst idea ever!

    Jiang Zhe, just wait and see how I¡¯m going to settle this with you tomorrow!

    When he saw Ning Ran stomping out of the restaurant, the Nan family¡¯s bodyguard immediately

    stepped forward and said, ¡°Young Mistress, this way to the car, please.¡±

    ¡°Who are you calling ¡®Young Mistress¡¯? You and your entire family are the Young Mistresses.¡± Ning Ran

    was still smoldering with anger.

    The stunned bodyguard kept quiet.

    Not to mention my entire family, I would already be overjoyed if only I were the Young Mistress! The

    bodyguard silently thought.

    Even though she was angry, she was not going to decline a free ride.

    After Ning Ran got into the car, she shut her eyes and inhaled deeply, hoping to calm her emotions.

    As they had an early dinner, it wasn¡¯t veryte yet, and the streets were still crowded and bustling.

    Looking at the ncing and gorgeous neon lights outside the car window, Ning Ran¡¯s lips suddenly

    curled into a smile.

    She did not know exactly why she was smiling, she just felt like doing it.

    She had finally gotten confirmation that Poker Face was the actual dad of her children. It proved that

    her hunch had been right all along.

    Although he was a boring man, it was without a doubt that he would make a better father than Nan

    Xing. There were many things Dabao could learn from him.

    Nan Xing was a yboy who always had different women fluttering around him. As such, he could be a

    negative influence on Dabao.

    Nan Chen was not the same. Word on the street was that the man practiced abstinence and stayed

    away from women. His life was dedicated to just working, nothing else. It was much simpler as

    compared to his brother¡¯s.

    As these thoughts ran through her mind, Ning Ran suddenly had a joyful feeling.

    When she realized she was feeling that way, the woman was slightly upset with herself.

    What¡¯s there to be happy about? She had just been fighting with Nan Chen a moment ago.

    When she reached home, Ning Ran thanked the chauffeur before proceeding upstairs.

    She started humming a tune unconsciously, in a much better mood aspared to just now.

    But as for why, she did not know.

    Cheng Xiangyun was sitting cross-legged on the sofa. She was watching a Korean drama while

    snacking, and she burst out intoughing fits intermittently.

    Ning Ran joined her after she finished showering and changed into pajamas. However, she stayed

    away from the snacks.

    The woman had put on two pounds from the countless suppers she had with Nan Chen over the past

    few days.

    That food seemed to have all transformed into stubborn fats which were now stuck to Ning Ran¡¯s body.

    She would be a fatso soon if she did not start controlling herself.

    When the drama reached its climax, Ning Ranughed along with Cheng Xiangyun.

    Cheng Xiangyun took a look at Ning Ran and said, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be revising your script in the study

    now? You¡¯re not going to do your homework?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t feel like looking at it today. I just wanna enjoy the drama with you,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°Hmm, it seems like someone is in a good mood. Did you meet an eye candy today? But it shouldn¡¯t be

    a rare sight for you given that you are always around good-looking men, like the Nan brothers, Zheng

    Lunlun, and even that BMW guy. It shouldn¡¯t make you this happy.¡±

    Ning Ran nodded and answered, ¡°You have a point. What are ¡®good-looking men¡¯ anyway? They¡¯re just

    impractical beings. Even pork is better value for money.¡±

    ¡°Why do you look so happy then? Have you struck the lottery?¡±

    ¡°Is it really that obvious that I look happy?¡± Ning Ran sized herself up.

    ¡°Even an idiot can tell something good has happened to you. It¡¯s written all over your face! Why don¡¯t

    you take a look at yourself in the mirror? You¡¯re just short ofughing out loud.¡±

    Ning Ran was suddenly wary of her behavior. Am I really that indiscreet about it? Aunt said even an

    idiot would be able to tell. She wasn¡¯t sure if Poker Face had also made the same observation.

    If he had, it would have been really embarrassing for her!

    However, she felt that he had not, because they were engaged in a fierce argument at the restaurant,

    and she could not have appeared to be too happy given the circumstances.

    If she had felt back then how she was feeling now, Ning Ran probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to get

    mad at the man.

    ¡°Aunt, can I ask you a question? You have to answer me honestly,¡± Ning Ran said with a serious

    expression.

    ¡°What is it? Just shoot!¡±

    ¡°Between Nan Xing and Nan Chen, who do you like better?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun did not have to think about her answer. She answered without hesitation, ¡°I like both

    equally much!¡±

    How can this aunt be so horny! She wants both of them? Ning Ran let out a gasp.

    ¡°But if you could only choose one, who would it be?¡±

    ¡°Any of them will do! They¡¯re both great!¡± Cheng Xiangyun replied as she swallowed.

    ¡°No! What if you MUST choose only one?¡± Ning Ran pressed on.

    ¡°Why do I have to choose? They look exactly the same, what difference would it make? Just give me

    any one of them!¡± Cheng Xiangyun said.

    ¡°Nope, I don¡¯t intend to give you anything. You¡¯re overthinking. It¡¯s just a casual question,¡± Ning Ran

    replied helplessly.

    ¡°Is there something wrong with you today, asking such a pointless question? Isn¡¯t Nan Xing your man?

    You don¡¯t want him anymore?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s not my man,¡± Ning Ran quickly corrected.

    ¡°You already have children with him. How is he not considered your man?¡±

    ¡°The kids are not his¡­ ¡° Ning Ran identally let the cat out of the bag.

    Cheng Xiangyun was someone susceptible to gossip, so there was no way she would have missed

    such an important piece of news.

    ¡°What did you just say?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything. Why aren¡¯t you sleeping yet? How many more episodes do you intend to watch?

    It¡¯s gettingte, you should go to bed soon,¡± Ning Ran said, attempting to change the topic.

    Cheng Xiangyun caught hold of Ning Ran and said, ¡°I¡¯m definitely getting to the bottom of this matter

    today. If Nan Xing isn¡¯t the father of those kids, then who is? Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s that BMW guy¡­ Oh my

    God! If it¡¯s really him, you would no longer be able to enjoy the privileges given to you by the Nan

    family. Wouldn¡¯t all my effortse to naught then? I was still banking to ride on your coattails! After

    you gain poprity, I would naturally rise to be the most sought after artiste manager then. Looks

    like my dream is shattered!¡±

    At the end of her rant, Cheng Xiangyun let go of her grip on Ning Ran¡¯s clothes and leaned backwards,

    letting out a cry, as if she had nothing more to live for.

    Ning Ran was speechless. Does Aunt have to be so dramatic?

    She made it seem as if her future depended solely on the rtionship between Ning Ran and the Nan

    family.

    Ning Ran was suddenly feeling under pressure.

    ¡°Aunt,e on! We, women, need to be independent. We can¡¯t only think about relying on men,¡± Ning

    Ranforted the other women softly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care about being independent! I want to count on men. Since I can¡¯t get one of those

    dependable men myself, I can only rely on you to get one. Now that you¡¯ve given up a dependable man

    for an unreliable one, there¡¯s no one I can count on anymore!¡±

    ¡°Ok, ok. Aunt, enough of your tongue twisters. It¡¯s time to wash up and head to bed. We still have work

    tomorrow!¡± Ning Ranughed it off as she simply did not know how to handle her aunt.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 257

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 257

    Work resumed as per normal the following day. As Zheng Lunlun had returned, the crew had to hasten

    the filming process toplete the scenes that he was involved in. As such, it was a hectic and tiring

    day.

    The crew was only able to take a break at 6 p.m. By then, they were done filming at the current location

    and was ready to move on to the next to resume filming.

    The next shooting location was a mountain vige. The main scene which was to be filmed there

    revolved around the female lead teaching at the vige.

    After being separated for many years, the male lead had finally found the female lead, who was living

    in seclusion at the mountain vige. They lived together at the vige for a period of time, until the male

    lead passed away from an illness.

    However, that was the original storyline. After taking market needs and possible reactions of viewers

    into consideration, the director was worried Zheng Lunlun¡¯s passing in the drama would cause outrage

    among his fans and cause them to boycott the drama as a result.

    Therefore, the ending of the drama was tweaked. Instead of the male lead passing away from the

    illness, the director decided on an open ending instead, with the couple leaving the vige together in

    search of a cure.

    The mountain vige scene was the ending scene of the drama. When filming at that location was

    done, it would be a wrap for the entire drama.

    After Zheng Lunlun changed out of his costume, he started whining, saying he was dead tired and

    bugged Ning Ran to have a drink with him.

    However, Ning Ran did not feel like drinking as she was bogged downtely. She just wanted to rest at

    home and prepare for the next filming session.

    Zheng Lunlun was not buying it though. He had wanted to have a meal with Ning Ran since yesterday

    but had been chased away by his uncle. Without his uncle around today, he was determined to have a

    drink with her, to celebrate his healthy return.

    Zheng Lunlun had always been very clingy and persistent. Once he had his sights set on Ning Ran, it

    was almost impossible for her to get away with it.

    As such, Ning Ran agreed to have dinner with him, but rejected drinks or games. The woman was

    really exhausted. All she wanted was to get home early and lie on the bed while studying her script.

    Just as the two of them exited the film set, they spotted a Rolls-Royce with the car te number ¡®8888¡¯

    parked outside.

    ¡°Uncle? Why is he here again? He has even dispatched his official sedan! Is he nning to snatch you

    away again?¡± Zheng Lunlun let out a cry.

    Ning Ran herself was also surprised. Didn¡¯t we just meet for dinner yesterday? Does he want to meet

    again today?

    Besides, they had parted on bad termsst evening. Did he want to continue from where they left off

    yesterday and escte the argument even further?

    However, Nan Chen did not show up. Jiang Zhe was the one who approached them instead. He

    seemed overwhelmed with emotions as he greeted Ning Ran, ¡°Good evening, Young Mistress.¡±

    ¡°What did you just address her as?¡± Zheng Lunlun creased his brows as he rified with his uncle¡¯s

    assistant.

    ¡°Young Mistress,¡± Jiang Zhe replied excitedly.

    From Jiang Zhe¡¯s expression, it was apparent that he had already found out about the rtionship

    between Ning Ran and Nan Chen.

    Jiang Zhe had always been observant. He had an inkling all along, as his boss treated Ning Ran

    differently from other women.

    As such, he had constantly reminded himself to watch his attitude towards the woman, as she might

    very well be the Nan family¡¯s Young Mistress one day.

    True enough, his prediction was correct. Naturally, the assistant was very pleased with himself.

    ¡°This way of address is so distasteful! I don¡¯t like it at all,¡± Zheng Lunlun said with resentment.

    Jiang Zhe did not reply. It did not matter to him whether Zheng Lunlun liked it or not. Most importantly,

    Mr. Nan liked it.

    ¡°Young Mistress, I¡¯m under Mr. Chen¡¯s orders to take you to thepany,¡± Jiang Zhe said, as he

    looked at Ning Ran.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I will go, I¡¯m tired. I feel like going home instead.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, you heard her, she¡¯s tired. She just wants to go home and rest after having dinner with me,¡±

    Zheng Lunlun added.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not possible as Mr. Chen has instructed me to pick you up. Pleasee with me,¡±

    Jiang Zhe said.

    ¡°Look at you, Assistant Jiang. Who do you think you are? Do we have to listen to everything you say?¡±

    Zheng Lunlun was starting to get really annoyed.

    I can¡¯t offend my uncle, but I¡¯m not afraid of offending you! He thought.

    ¡°It¡¯s not my idea to fetch the Young Mistress to thepany. I¡¯m merely following Mr. Chen¡¯s

    instructions. There¡¯s an important gathering tonight which will impact Young Mistress, so it¡¯s best that

    she attend it.¡± Jiang Zhe was insistent on following his boss¡¯s wishes.

    ¡°What kind of gathering is it?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°From what I know, it¡¯s a dinner gathering with some of Mr. Chen¡¯s friends,¡± Jiang Zhe replied.

    ¡°She isn¡¯t an entertainer. Is my uncle crazy? She¡¯s already so exhausted from a full day¡¯s work, and

    he¡¯s not letting her rest, and forcing her to entertain with him? Has he turned into one of those

    unscrupulous capitalists too?¡± Zheng Lunlun yelled.

    ¡°Mr. Chen is very busy. Tonight¡¯s gathering is organized for Young Mistress, and not for his own

    benefit.¡±

    ¡°For me?¡± Ning Ran wondered what it could be about.

    ¡°Yup,¡± Jiang Zhe nodded.

    ¡°What exactly do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll know when you go, Young Mistress. Mr. Chen asked me to convey the message that this is a

    workmitment. Even though you are the Nan family¡¯s Young Mistress, you are also a signed artiste

    under Star Entertainment. It¡¯s stated in your contract that you are required to fulfil work obligations.¡±

    That sparked Ning Ran¡¯s irritation. That Poker Face is such a big bully!

    However, it was indeed written clearly in the contract. There was no way she could escape from it.

    ¡°Okay then, I¡¯ll go.¡± She had no choice but to ede to the request.

    ¡°My uncle is too much! How can he make someone work at this hour of the night? It is equivalent to an

    invasion of privacy!¡± Zheng Lunlun was pissed.

    ¡°If Young Master Lun has any views on it, you can let Mr. Nan know directly. I¡¯m just following his orders

    and have no say in the matter either,¡± Jiang Zhe said.

    ¡°Enough, enough, don¡¯t give me this nonsense. Just get going.¡± Zheng Lunlun waved the assistant off,

    feeling exasperated.

    Ning Ran looked at Zheng Lunlun and extended her palms. ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t have a choice. I¡¯ll buy you

    dinner to make up for today next time.¡±

    ¡°Just go, just go.¡± Zheng Lunlun dismissed her with a wave.

    Ning Ran followed Jiang Zhe into the car and they departed.

    The chauffeur drove them directly to the headquarters of the Nanshi Corporation. When they reached,

    Ning Ran and Jiang Zhe took the executive-only elevator up to the conference room.

    There were already four people seated in the room, including three men in suits and an attractivedy

    who looked in her thirties.

    ¡°Please wait for a while, Mr. Chen will be here soon,¡± Jiang Zhe said to Ning Ran.

    Those four people suddenly stood up at the same time and nodded to Ning Ran. With smiles on their

    faces, they said, ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡±

    Ning Ran did not recognize any of them and looked at them with a confused expression.

    After they finished with their self-introductions, Ning Ran was stunned beyond words.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    The three men belonged to the senior management of Star Entertainment, being the CEO, Executive

    President and Director of the Department of Film and Television.

    As for thatdy, she was Wang Xiaoou, the most notable artiste manager in the country. Many of the

    most famous celebrities were once under her care, and she was affectionately known as ¡®Mommy

    Wang¡¯ in the industry.

    Luo Fei, who was at one time a sensation, had also been an artiste under Wang Xiaoou¡¯s

    management.

    The team currently present in the room was basically the best in the country¡¯s entertainment industry.

    They were the industry¡¯s most influential and powerful individuals and had outstanding achievements in

    their respective niches.

    Just then, Nan Chen walked into the conference room.

    ¡°Mr. Chen,¡± everyone greeted the man with a respectful bow.

    He motioned for them to sit down.

    ¡°No worries, we know Mr. Chen is a busy man.¡±

    Nan Chen nced at Jiang Zhe, prompting him to start.

    ¡°The main purpose of this meeting is to officially introduce Ms. Ding Mi, Star Entertainment¡¯s newest

    signed artiste, to all of you. We would also like you toe up with a one-year n for Ms. Ding to

    be an A-list celebrity. Mr. Chen has a few requirements that you should keep in mind. First,

    intentional hype created cannot be too conspicuous.

    Second, paying for trending hashtags or searches is not allowed. After all, Ms. Ding is an actress with

    real abilities and traditional hyping methods are not the best strategies to be used on her. Observation

    of current trends is that, with regard to celebrities with huge followings, their abilities to exert influence

    on their fans are bing weaker.

    As such, Mr. Chen hopes you can be more innovative in your ways of thinking, in order to produce a

    superstar who gained poprity on the basis of her true abilities.¡±

    After Jiang Zhe narrated the agenda of the meeting, a brief silence ensued.

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    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 258

    However, there were specific requirements that they were supposed to follow. They had to be discreet

    in creating intentional hype and were not allowed to pay for trending hashtags or top searches.

    But all of them knew the current market conditions well. To be a superstar, the first step was to

    create enough media visibility and coverage for raising her profile. Also, in order to help with exposure,

    she had to be the top search term for at least five times a month.

    As such, it was a well-known secret in the industry that almost all of the most popr celebrities had

    paid a sum to manipte search engine results.

    As Nan Chen had already stated that paying for trending searches was not an option, they could only

    think of means to deliberately create hype for the woman in a discreet enough way.

    Under such stringent restrictions, it was extremely hard for the team to create a superstar out of Ning

    Ran, especially given her current almost obscure status.

    However, none of the four dared to raise any objections in front of Nan Chen. They merely gave each

    other knowing looks.

    Ning Ran herself was shocked as well. She did not expect Poker Face to summon her here to meet

    with the senior management team of Star Entertainment. Moreover, the purpose of tonight¡¯s meeting

    was to mold her into an A-list celebrity.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s an immensely challenging task,¡± Wang Xiaoou broke the silence.

    Wang Xiaoou was a first-ss artiste manager and was well-respected in the country¡¯s entertainment

    industry. She was also known for her straightforward character.

    As she spoke, the three men heaved a sigh of relief. Someone had to take the lead, and they were d

    that it was Wang Xiaoou.

    No response came from Nan Chen.

    ¡°If it was going to be easy, we wouldn¡¯t have invited all of you toe here personally today,¡± Jiang

    Zhe replied on behalf of his boss.

    ¡°Each industry has its own rules. For ours, it would be extremely difficult for an artiste to gain poprity

    without intentional hyping activities. Paying for top searches is one of the most effective strategies the

    industry utilizes to help an artiste gain traction. It may be possible for an artiste to shoot to the top

    without doing any of those, but it would have to take longer, and we would have to catch the right

    timing. In fact, nothing would work without the right timing. There are many artistes who had waited for

    their entire career for such an opportunity but to no avail. Those people end up struggling at the

    bottom, despite having real abilities. There are also actors and actresses who had taken part in

    numerous films and dramas but were never recognized on the streets, even though they had disyed

    brilliant acting skills in the various productions. Mr. Nan, you should know that having solid abilities

    does not have a direct corrtion to an artiste¡¯s poprity. Some of today¡¯s most popr celebrities

    are not good at their crafts at all. I¡¯m not saying that¡­ ¡°

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Nan Chan interrupted Wang Xiaoou with a wave and said, ¡°I am already aware of everything you just

    mentioned.¡±

    No one spoke after that. Since the boss had stated he understood how the industry worked, there was

    nothing more to be said.

    ¡°I am not expecting her to go viral overnight, but I would like to see consistent improvements,¡± Nan

    Chen rified his intentions.

    Everyone understood what he meant. Briefly speaking, although it posed a challenge, they were not

    expected to create miracles and raise her to the top within a short period of time. More urately, they

    were supposed to groom her like a superstar.

    ¡°It can take two years, or even three. What I want to see is a real superstar, not short-lived fame,¡± Nan

    Chen added.

    Everyone let out a huge sigh of relief. As long as there was no time constraint, things would be much

    easier.

    ¡°From now onward, Mommy Wang will be Young¡­ Ms. Ning¡¯s manager. The duration of the contract

    would be three years. When the three years are up, the renewal of the contract shall be discussed

    again,¡± Jiang Zhe said.

    It would be a great honor for any artiste to be under Mommy Wang¡¯s care. However, someone

    suddenly raised an objection. ¡°I don¡¯t consent to that.¡±

    It was, of course, Ning Ran¡¯s voice. She was not agreeable to Wang Xiaoou being her manager.

    Everyone was shocked by her deration, as Ning Ran had just rejected the best artiste manager the

    country had. What could her intentions be?

    Even Nan Chen stared daggers at Ning Ran. It was iprehensible to him that the woman had

    turned down such a rare golden opportunity.

    She must either be ignorant and not aware of Wang Xiaoou¡¯s status and value in the industry, or she

    was just set on staying as a small actress who would always remain unheard of.

    It would be unforgivable if it was the former.

    If her reason was thetter, it would be even more incredible. A good soldier always aspires to be a

    general. If Ning Ran did not have the ambition to be a popr actress, that only went to show that

    she¡¯s a good-for-nothing. It had got nothing to do with being Zen or wanting to keep a low profile.

    Needless to say, Wang Xiaoou was even more upset. She was the one manager every artiste wished

    to have. Where did this third-grade actress get the nerves to reject her?

    This task which the team was given wasn¡¯t an easy one, to begin with. Since Ning Ran had opposed to

    it first, it gave the manager an opportunity to pass the buck.

    ¡°Since Ms. Ding feels that I¡¯m not suitable for the role, Mr. Nan should get someone else to take up the

    job instead,¡± Wang Xiaoou said nonchntly.

    Nan Chen had a grim expression after the woman stated her stance.

    Since knowing he was the father of Ning Ran¡¯s kids, Nan Chen had been thinking of ways to make it up

    to her.

    He did not think she would ept an outright cash gift, as she might interpret it as an exchange for her

    children.

    After careful deliberation, Nan Chen decided that the bestpensation he could give Ning Ran was

    to help her with her career.

    This way, not only could she have an identity that was separate from the Nan family and enjoy financial

    independence, but she could also tap on the Nan family¡¯s abundant resources. It seemed to be the

    best option.

    This evening¡¯s meeting was a result of Nan Chen¡¯s decision. The brilliant team, which was made up of

    the senior management of Star Entertainment, had gathered to devise a long-term n for Ning Ran¡¯s

    career development.

    Even though Nan Chen had selfish motives for doing this, Ning Ran indeed had the potential to be a

    superstar, in terms of both looks and acting skills.

    Right from the start, her acting abilities had already been validated by Nan Chen.

    She was born to be an actress. Without much guidance or direction, she could enter into a character¡¯s

    persona almost immediately, and portray the essence of the character perfectly.

    It would be a waste for such a raw talent to be a full-time stay-home mom.

    Ning Ran possessed the right qualities to soar to great heights in her career. Besides, a woman would

    be able to broaden her mind and horizons after surpassing a certain level career-wise. Her overall

    standards would naturally also improve.

    In order to fly higher, there was a lot more she had to learn. The learning process itself was an

    essential part of achieving the long-term goal.

    Ning Ran was different from Luo Fei. Luo Fei gained her poprity wholly through the hype and

    superficial packaging. There had been no visible improvement in her skills over the years. Even Nan

    Chen eventually started to find her extremely tasteless.

    That was also why the man had hoped for Ning Ran to be an independent superstar with

    outstanding true abilities. The type who would be remembered by the public even with the passage of

    time.

    He would hate to see her turn into one of those who earned a substantial ie only through

    endorsements due to a huge fan base, without any iconic works that were representative of her career.

    However, Nan Chen¡¯s good intentions hadnded himself in an awkward situation due to Ning Ran¡¯s

    unwillingness to cooperate.

    ¡°Mommy Wang is the best manager in the entire country. No one else evenes close,¡± Jiang Zhe

    gently reminded the woman who was standing beside him.

    ¡°I know. Although we are not very well acquainted, I¡¯ve definitely heard of Mommy Wang¡¯s name. She¡¯s

    someone whom I could only look up to and I¡¯m indeed very honored to have this opportunity to work

    with her. However, I already have my own manager. Although she¡¯s currently still a nobody, she was

    the one who sought out all my roles after I returned to the country. When I had nowhere to stay, she

    was also the one who offered me a roof over my head. Therefore, as long as I am still in this industry,

    she will be my one and only manager,¡± Ning Ran exined her reasons.

    ¡°Ms. Ding used to be an independent artiste and was free to decide on your manager. But since you

    are now signed under thepany, thepany has the rights to appoint your manager.¡±

    The man who just spoke was the CEO of Star Entertainment, in other words, Ning Ran¡¯s boss.

    But of course, even the boss had a boss, and that was Nan Chen.

    The CEO was not intentionally making things difficult for Ning Ran; he was merely stating facts. The

    woman was obliged to ept thepany¡¯s arrangements.

    Besides, those were Nan Chen¡¯s orders. No one had the audacity to disobey them.

    The CEO of Star Entertainment was worried Nan Chen would deem him ipetent if the n fell

    through. He could not afford the consequences.

    However, the man was just senior managing personnel of a Nanshi Corporation subsidiary and was not

    aware of the intricate rtionship between Nan Chen and Ning Ran. Naturally, it would seem bizarre to

    him that a small artiste had chosen to reject such a good opportunity offered to her by thepany.

    ¡°I know. But even if that¡¯s the case, I still can¡¯t abandon my current manager. I won¡¯t be one of those

    scumbags who turned their coats,¡± Ning Ran showed no sign of backing down.

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    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 259

    As such, the conference room sunk into silence once again. No one had expected Ning Ran to y

    hardball on this issue.

    Wang Xiaoou was also slightly embarrassed. Given her standing in the industry, she had never

    expected herself to be declined in such a ruthless manner.

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Her guess was, perhaps Ning Ran was nursing a grievance against her over the fact that she was once

    Luo Fei¡¯s manager. However, after some further analysis, she was quite certain she had not offended

    Ning Ran when she was Luo Fei¡¯s manager.

    At that time, Ning Ran was still a nobody and did not pose a threat to Luo Fei. As such, there would not

    have been a need to pay any attention to her.

    Could it really be because of sentimental reasons that the woman refused to give up on her current

    manager?

    Doesn¡¯t she know, between friendship and her future, which is more important?

    ¡°Let¡¯s revisit this again,¡± Nan Chen said. Thereafter, the senior management of Star Entertainment

    stood up as the meeting was adjourned.

    Ning Ran did not move, as she knew Nan Chen would have stopped her from leaving anyway. Jiang

    Zhe was able to read the situation and left the room as well, leaving Nan Chen and Ning Ran the only

    two people in the room.

    The atmosphere inside the conference room was rather tense. ¡°Thank you, I really appreciate your kind

    intentions.¡±

    Ning Ran felt that it was only right if she expressed her gratitude. After all, the man had put together

    such a magnificent team and organized this meeting specially for her. It was definitely not a trivial

    matter.

    Despite having to deal with a host of issues every day, Nan Chen had especially taken time off his busy

    schedule to look into this matter personally. It showed that this was an important matter to him.

    So, no matter what, she should still be thankful for his efforts.

    However, Nan Chen did not reply, as he was still mad at her.

    The meeting had turned out differently from how he had expected it to be. He was looking forward to

    Ning Ran being pleasantly surprised and grateful at the opportunity.

    But that was not the case. It seemed like Ning Ran was totally not appreciative at all.

    As such, Ning Ran¡¯s words of thanks sounded sarcastic to him. He couldn¡¯t believe that she had made

    him look bad in front of the rest just now.

    Ning Ran was aware of Nan Chen¡¯s fury just by looking at his face.

    However, she could not bring herself to follow his wishes blindly.

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be mad at me anymore. As you know, I¡¯m indebted to Aunt. She ced her trust in me and

    has helped me so much during the lowest points in my life. If I abandon her to pursue my own bright

    future, wouldn¡¯t that be too inhumane? Although I want to be rich and famous, I can¡¯t ignore my

    principles just to achieve those things. If this is the kind of person I am, I¡¯m sure you wouldn¡¯t like me¡­

    ¡°

    Ning Ran stopped mid-way once she realized she shouldn¡¯t have said thest sentence.

    She wondered why she had even mentioned the word ¡®like¡¯ in the first ce? Poker Face had never

    admitted to liking her, it would seem as if it was her own wishful thinking.

    ¡°What did you just say?¡± It had not escaped Nan Chen¡¯s ear.

    ¡°Oh, nothing. What I meant was, I am yourpany¡¯s artiste. If I am someone who can bend my

    principles for my personal fame and gains, it wouldn¡¯t sit well with you right?¡± Ning Ran managed to

    wittily turn the statement around.

    Nan Chen did not respond.

    He merely stood up and tookrge strides towards the door.

    Ning Ran remained at her spot as she did not know what the situation was.

    ¡°You¡¯re noting along?¡± Nan Chen asked, as he turned around and looked at Ning Ran.

    ¡°Oh, yes, I¡¯ming!¡±

    Ning Ran stood up immediately and followed Nan Chen out of the conference room.

    The few from the senior management of Star Entertainment were still standing outside, as they did not

    dare to leave without explicit permission from Nan Chen.

    ¡°You guys may go now. Apart from the choice of manager which requires further discussion, the other

    parts of the n remains unchanged,¡± Nan Chen said to them.

    ¡°OK, Mr. Nan, we understand,¡± the senior team said in unison before walking out of the room.

    Nan Chen then looked towards Jiang Zhe and said, ¡°Make an appointment with her manager.¡±

    Ning Ran suddenly grew anxious as she wondered if Poker Face was nning to take action against

    Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°What are you going to do?¡± the woman asked as she stared at Nan Chen.

    ¡°Asking your manager out for dinner,¡± Nan Chen said indifferently.

    ¡°You can¡¯t do that! She has always looked out for me and stayed by my side when I needed help the

    most. She¡¯s my benefactor!¡± Ning Ran shouted.

    ¡°So?¡± Nan Chen frowned.

    ¡°So, you are not allowed to hurt her!¡± Ning Ran raised her voice even louder.

    ¡°Is buying her dinner considered hurting her?¡±

    Ning Ran realized the man had a point. How did treating someone to dinner amount to hurting her?

    ¡°Other than treating her to a meal, are you going to use the opportunity to threaten her and chase her

    away from Flower City? Or even the entertainment industry?¡±

    ¡°I never knew you had such a rich imagination,¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°Ha! I have guessed it correctly, right? You can¡¯t treat my friend this way!¡± Ning Ran was prepared to

    defend her manager with her life.

    ¡°Would I have to go to the extent of buying her dinner if my intention was really to threaten her?¡± Nan

    Chen asked as he creased his brows.

    Ning Ran agreed the man had made a good point. If Young Master Nan Chen wanted to deal with

    someone, he did not have to do it in such a roundabout manner. He could simply instruct his men to

    take action directly.

    ¡°Then what exactly are you nning to do?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say she¡¯s your benefactor and your friend? Is there anything wrong with treating her to a

    meal if that¡¯s the case?¡± Nan Chen questioned again, still frowning.

    Ning Ran downcast her eyes and thought about what he said. Indeed, it didn¡¯t seem like there was any

    problem with that.

    Just then, her phone rang. It was Cheng Xiangyun.

    The woman stepped away to pick up the call. The moment she answered, Cheng Xiangyun started

    screaming into the phone, barely able to contain her excitement. ¡°Ranran! I just received a call from

    Assistant Jiang!¡±

    ¡°Aunt, why are you so thrilled?¡±

    ¡°You know what? He told me Young Master Chen wants to buy me dinner! Nan Chen is treating me to

    dinner! Nan Chen will personally be there!¡±

    It was not difficult to figure out Cheng Xiangyun was already going crazy with excitement.

    ¡°Aunt, can you calm down a little? Why do you have to make such a big deal out of it? You¡¯ve lived for

    so long, has no one ever bought you a meal before?¡± Ning Ran found herself slightly disappointed at

    the woman¡¯s reaction.

    ¡°How could those bepared to this? It¡¯s Nan Chen who wants to buy me dinner. Do you know how

    many people would die to have a meal with Nan Chen? But I am going to have dinner with Nan Chen

    tonight, and he was the one who asked me to dinner! OK, I don¡¯t have time to talk to you now, I need to

    get changed! I need to dress well and make a splendid appearance¡­ ¡°

    Ning Ran coughed lightly a few times to stop Cheng Xiangyun from continuing.

    ¡°Aunt, you don¡¯t have to get so excited, it¡¯s just a meal¡­ ¡°

    Before Ning Ran couldplete her sentence, Cheng Xiangyun had already hung up.

    Ning Ran could only let out a long sigh.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go now,¡± Nan Chen said to her.

    ¡°I¡¯m also going?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t want to?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Oh! No, no. I¡¯ming along,¡± Ning Ran answered at once.

    Nan Chen walked in front and Ning Ran followed cautiously behind him, while Jiang Zhe walked behind

    Ning Ran.

    The three of them entered the elevator in that sequence.

    ¡°Have you made the arrangements?¡± Nan Chen asked his assistant.

    ¡°Everything is ready,¡± Jiang Zhe replied carefully.

    The fact that Nan Chen was taking Jiang Zhe along meant it wasn¡¯t purely a private dinner, but had

    work elements involved as well.

    Ning Ran started worrying for Cheng Xiangyun again. She was afraid the man would force Cheng

    Xiangyun to give up being her manager.

    If Poker Face really did that, Ning Ran would definitely side with Cheng Xiangyun.

    They will not submit to force and would fight till the very end!

    Just then, Ning Ran¡¯s phone rang again. It was a video call from Cheng Xiangyun.

    Ning Ran did not ept the video call but switched it to a voice call instead.

    ¡°Ran, I need your help to tell me which dress looks nicer on me,¡± Cheng Xiangyun said urgently.

    ¡°Aunt, don¡¯t be so anxious, just take it easy and wear what you would normally wear. It¡¯s more

    important that you feelfortable,¡± Ning Ran said softly.

    ¡°But I¡¯m having dinner with Nan Chen, how can I dress casually? Of course I have to dress up!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t give it too much importance, I will be there too. Someone else will also be there. Aunt, just

    rx,¡± Ning Ran replied, lowering her voice even more.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 260

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 260

    Jiang Zhe had picked a business clubhouse as the venue for the dinner. Cheng Xiangyun had indeed

    made effort to dress up. Instead of dressing casually like she usually did, she wore a dress and high

    heels.

    Even Ning Ran felt tired just looking at the way she was walking. I already told her to just treat this as

    an informal dinner. Why did she insist on putting herself through such suffering!

    After being in an elevated mood for a while, Cheng Xiangyun gradually returned to her normal

    state. That was because she could sense Nan Chen had something to discuss with her, and was not

    just purely buying her dinner.

    ¡°Ms. Cheng, thank you for taking care of Ning Ran all this while.¡± Nan Chen raised his wine ss to

    propose a toast to Cheng Xiangyun.

    Cheng Xiangyun was of course very ttered and lifted her ss as well. ¡°Ran is my friend, so I ought

    to take care of her. Actually, more urately saying, we are taking care of each other. She often looks

    out for me too,¡± Cheng Xiangyun replied self-consciously.

    ¡°I would also like to thank you for taking care of my kids.¡± Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s eyes

    widened. She looked at Nan Chen and then shifted her gaze to Ning Ran.

    A blush of embarrassment spread across Ning Ran¡¯s cheeks and she nodded at Cheng Xiangyun. ¡°Ah!

    So you are the father of those children. Oh my God¡­ ¡°

    Cheng Xiangyun had almost wanted to shout out loud but decided that it would not be proper to do so.

    As such, she hurriedly regained herposure.

    Nan Chen looked at Jiang Zhe.

    Jiang Zhe immediately took the hint and said, ¡°Yup, so Ms. Cheng, there¡¯s something we would like to

    discuss with you.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°A few of the senior management personnel from Star Entertainment had a meeting today. The

    purpose of the meeting was to discuss a n to mold Ms. Ding into a superstar, including how to make

    the best use of thepany¡¯s resources in order to do that.¡±

    ¡°Wow, is that for real? Is Ran finally going to soar and skyrocket?¡± Cheng Xiangyun was so excited that

    her face turned red.

    ¡°Not exactly skyrocket, but we will take proper and consistent steps for her to enter into the ranks of the

    A-listers first, bing a superstar would be the next step. No doubt Ms. Ding has the caliber to

    achieve that, but it¡¯s also essential for her to have a first-ss team to support her on the journey,¡±

    Jiang Zhe said.

    ¡°So?¡± Cheng Xiangyun was not dumb. She was alert enough to detect that the assistant was implying

    something.

    ¡°Thepany had intended for Wang Xiaoou to be Ms. Ding¡¯s manager, but Ms. Ding has already

    rejected the arrangement.¡± Jiang Zhe did not bat an eyelid as he said that.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Wang Xiaoou, she¡¯s one of the best managers in the industry.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun started to realize where the man was getting to.

    ¡°I can nullify my contract with Ran in order for her to soar to greater heights.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun had said that in a very resolute manner, without even a single trace of hesitation.

    ¡°Aunt, you¡­ ¡°

    Cheng Xiangyun waved her hand to stop Ning Ran from proceeding. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal for me. In fact,

    it¡¯s also my wish to see Ran reach the peak of her career, that¡¯s my goal too. If my presence poses an

    obstruction to Ran, I have no issues withdrawing from the position as her manager. I think that¡¯s the

    right thing to do.¡±

    Ning Ran felt a warm glow in her heart as tears welled up in her eyes.

    As Cheng Xiangyun had mostly disyed only her snobbish side, Ning Ran had not expected the

    woman to act in such a selfless manner.

    ¡°No, don¡¯t say that. The sesses I get to enjoy today are a result of your efforts and hard work. I

    won¡¯t turn my back on our friendship for my personal gains.¡±

    ¡°Ran, this wouldn¡¯t affect our friendship at all. I am not upset and don¡¯t me you for anything. It¡¯s a

    fact that I am stillcking some abilities to support you further in your career. Wang Xiaoou is indeed a

    more suitable candidate. She¡¯ll be a great asset to you in your journey to stardom.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun did feel slightly nostalgic when she expressed her views.

    ¡°I intend to honor my contract with you. We will always proceed as a team,¡± Ning Ran was very

    determined as well.

    ¡°Actually, both of you don¡¯t have to fret over this. We have alreadye up with a better solution for

    you. Ms. Cheng can join Star Entertainment and continue to be Ms. Ding¡¯s manager. However, Ms.

    Cheng might have to take on the work of an assistant in the initial stages, while Wang Xiaoou acts as

    the main manager for Ms. Ding. After all, she has ess to more resources and has built up a wider

    network in the industry due to her many years of experience. After Ms. Cheng learns the ropes and is

    familiar with the job scope of a manager, she can then be Ms. Ding¡¯s full-time manager. Is that

    okay with you, Ms. Cheng?¡± Jiang Zhe asked, after borating on the proposed n.

    Cheng Xiangyun looked at Ning Ran, who shook her head, indicating that she wasn¡¯t aware of any of

    these.

    Ning Ran had travelled to the clubhouse with Jiang Zhe and Nan Chen, but nothing had been

    discussed along the way.

    In reality, Nan Chen had never explicitly instructed Jiang Zhe to convey the message, but Jiang Zhe

    could read his boss¡¯s thoughts just by a single look.

    It could be said that Assistant Jiang was the person who knew Nan Chen best. It was no wonder no

    one had been able to rece him as Nan Chen¡¯s assistant.

    ¡°You want me to join Star Entertainment and continue working with Ning Ran?¡± Cheng Xiangyun

    rified.

    ¡°Yup, sry-wise, we can discuss itter. If Ms. Cheng has any other requirements, you may let us

    know as well. We will try our best to make it work for you,¡± Jiang Zhe said.

    Both Ning Ran and Cheng Xiangyun looked towards Nan Chen, as they wanted to make sure that the

    boss was agreeable as well.

    Nan Chen nodded slightly, expressing that it was in line with what he had in mind.

    The situation left Ning Ran puzzled. Nan Chen had not said anything, how did Jiang Zhe know what his

    boss wanted?

    Could he really read the man¡¯s mind?

    ¡°Alright, this n sounds good to me. As long as I can continue to work with Ran, I won¡¯t mind taking a

    pay cut. I will dly ept the role,¡± Cheng Xiangyun agreed readily.

    ¡°Great. I will get the secretary to draft your contract then. When it is ready, I will need Ms. Cheng to

    look through and let us know if there are any areas which you would like us to amend, and we can take

    it further from there. If that¡¯s the case, I shall wee Ms. Cheng into our Nanshi Corporation family in

    advance, wee!¡±

    Jiang Zhe raised his wine ss after he spoke. However, the man quickly realized that it was

    inappropriate for him to do that before his boss had even said anything. He was acting exactly like a

    presumptuous guest usurping the host¡¯s role.

    ¡°How does Mr. Chen feel about that?¡± Jiang Zhe asked Nan Chen dutifully.

    ¡°Good,¡± Nan Chen merely replied with one word, before lifting his ss.

    ¡°Then, let¡¯s toast to Ms. Cheng joining our big family!¡± Jiang Zhe let out a sigh of relief.

    ¡°Cheers!¡±

    Nan Chen took a sip of his red wine and cast a meaningful look at Ning Ran.

    He was asking her if she was happy with such an arrangement.

    Ning Ran could feel her face slightly flushed. She never knew Poker Face could be so kind.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Ning Ran expressed her gratitude to him for doing this.

    Then, Nan Chen took a nce at Jiang Zhe.

    As usual, the assistant immediately understood what his look entailed. ¡°Ms. Cheng will be required to

    work at Star Entertainment¡¯s office in the future. As part of your duties, you will also need to report Ms.

    Ding¡¯s activities to thepany. The reason for that being, if an artiste¡¯smercial value is affected

    by her personal affairs, she would have to bear full responsibility for it.¡±

    That sounded strange to Ning Ran. Did that mean aunt has been tasked by Poker Face to spy on me?

    What did he mean by ¡®an artiste¡¯smercial value affected by her personal affairs¡¯? What sort of

    personal activities would cause mymercial value to be affected?

    ¡°Sure, I understand. I will do my best,¡± Ning Ran could not believe Cheng Xiangyun had just agreed to

    that.

    ¡°But please don¡¯t worry, Ms. Cheng will still enjoy a high degree of freedom as there won¡¯t be many

    restrictions ced on you. You will be able to have more rity on the details once your contract is

    ready,¡± Jiang Zhe said.

    ¡°Sure, I am okay with that,¡± Cheng Xiangyun graciously epted it.

    Just then, Nan Chen¡¯s phone started vibrating.

    It was Nan Chen¡¯s personal phone. He rarely used it as no one really called him on that number. In

    fact, he hardly shared it with anyone.

    Those who contacted him on that phone were the people closest to him.

    Nan Chen nced at his phone but did not answer the call.

    As Ning Ran was just seated next to him, she couldn¡¯t help but peek at his phone.

    It was a number ending with several ¡®6¡¯s, but it was not saved as a contact.

    For no reason, Ning Ran had a hunch the caller was a female.

    A feeling of displeasure arose in her heart.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 261

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 261

    After the ringing went on for a while, Nan Chen eventually stood up and walked to the side to pick up

    the call.

    Cheng Xiangyun kept shooting nces at Ning Ran, who knew perfectly what she meant.

    She was urging Ning Ran to eavesdrop on the conversation and find out who Nan Chen was speaking

    with.

    However, Ning Ran refused to do that. Regardless who the person was, she would not intrude on

    another¡¯s private conversation.

    After Nan Chen finished talking, he walked over and said, ¡°That¡¯s all for today, so I¡¯ll get going first.¡±

    He did not give any exnations for his abrupt departure.

    Since his boss was leaving, there was no reason for Jiang Zhe to continue staying. As such, he stood

    up as well.

    Cheng Xiangyun stared at Ning Ran again, spurring her on to find out about the situation.

    Ning Ran bolted up from her seat as she was also keen to find out the actual circumstances. She

    parted her lips, but could not find the right words to say.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, feel free to ask me anything,¡± Jiang Zhe asked attentively.

    Ning Ran found it hard to probe into Nan Chen¡¯s private life, so instead of asking what she wanted to

    ask, she said, ¡°Please get the bill!¡±

    Although it was a reasonable request to make, it still felt odding from Ning Ran and turned out

    comical.

    Nan Chen had also stopped in his tracks as he was stunned by Ning Ran¡¯sment.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, please don¡¯t worry, the bill will be ced on our ount and the restaurant will invoice us

    tomorrow. If there is anything else the both of you need, feel free to let the waiter know. Everything will

    be on our tab,¡± Jiang Zhe exined.

    ¡°Sure, okay.¡± Ning Ran nodded.

    Jiang Zhe then followed Nan Chen out of the restaurant.

    Cheng Xiangyun and Ning Ran were the only two people left. Apanying them was a table full of

    untouched dishes which looked delicious.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you find out the reason he left so suddenly?¡± Cheng Xiangyun looked at Ning Ran.

    ¡°Why should I?¡± Ning Ran frowned, as she threw the question back to her.

    ¡°Well, since the children are his, it means he¡¯s your man. How can you not be bothered if your man is

    going to meet another woman?¡±

    ¡°Firstly, the kids are mine, not his. Secondly, even if he is the biological dad of the kids, it does not

    mean he is my man. The kids were an idental urrence. He and I are entirely separate

    individuals,¡± Ning Ran corrected Cheng Xiangyun sternly.

    ¡°Fine, you¡¯re so magnanimous and tolerant. Good for you!¡± There was nothing more Cheng Xiangyun

    could say.

    ¡°So what if I am neither magnanimous nor tolerant? Can I even go after him?¡± Ning Ran asked Cheng

    Xiangyun.

    ¡°That¡¯s a valid point. He is Nan Chen. Even if he walks into a hotel with ady tantly in front of your

    eyes, there¡¯s nothing you can do.¡± Cheng Xiangyun appeared to be deep in thought.

    Even though she was simply stating facts, Ning Ran was still roused by her remark.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about him anymore. Anyway, nothing he does should concern me. Come, let¡¯s eat!¡± Ning

    Ran said in a spiteful manner.

    ¡°Oh, what did Mr. Assistant tell us just now? If there¡¯s not enough food, we can feel free to order more

    right?¡± Cheng Xiangyun suddenly changed the topic.

    Ning Ran was shocked. ¡°Aunt, don¡¯t we already have enough food? We haven¡¯t even started eating yet

    and you are already thinking of ordering more?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s obviously enough for the two of us, but it won¡¯t be enough if I ask a few more friends to join us,¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun said.

    Ning Ran was even more startled now. ¡°You¡¯re intending to ask your friends toe over?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, since the two of us won¡¯t be able to finish so much food anyway, why not share the joy with

    others? My friends are always sharing pictures of crayfish on social media, I¡¯m sure they¡¯d be stunned

    to see lobsters that are even bigger than their heads! I just want to let them know that our Ran has

    finally made it big! Right, I¡¯m going to call them now!¡± Cheng Xiangyun said as she took out her phone.

    ¡°Aunt, that doesn¡¯t seem like a good idea. This dinner gathering was arranged by Nan Chen. Even

    though we don¡¯t have to pay, wouldn¡¯t it be too much if we get others¡­ ¡°

    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    ¡°What too much? Of course, it¡¯s not too much. Are you even aware of how rich that man is? Would he

    care about a few pennies? I¡¯m going to make some calls now¡­ ¡°

    Ning Ran sighed. Since the crazy Xiangyun was already unstoppable, she could only let her do

    whatever she wanted to.

    Meanwhile, at the Nanshi Corporation headquarters, there was a sweet and innocent-looking beautiful

    youngdy sitting at the reception area. She was the second daughter of the Ouyang family, Ouyang

    Qing.

    The woman, who had always admired Nan Chen, was the one who called him at dinner just now.

    Nan Chen only rushed back to the office because Ouyang Qing had told him that she had news from

    Tokyo and needed to talk to him face-to-face.

    Nan Chen walked towards his office straight away after exiting the elevator.

    Whereas Jiang Zhe went to the reception to bring Ouyang Qing to Nan Chen¡¯s office.

    The moment Ouyang Qing stepped into the office, she started eximing exaggeratedly, ¡°Wow! This is

    such a pretty office! Chen, your office must be one of the most enchanting office I¡¯ve ever walked into.¡±

    That was the reaction most people had when they first entered Nan Chen¡¯s office. The only person who

    did not share the same opinion was Ning Ran.

    She was not fond of the way his office was decorated as she felt it was toovish.

    An office should look like an office. It¡¯s not supposed to be a ce for one to unt his wealth. If it was

    decorated like a pce, it wouldn¡¯t feel like an office anymore.

    What¡¯s more interesting was that Nan Chen also did not like his office. He too, felt that it looked way

    too luxurious, to the extent that it was decorated in poor taste.

    As such, Nan Chen felt rather awkward at the way Ouyang Qing envied the ce.

    He did not understand how could so many people fancy the things he disliked.

    Nan Chen sat down and instructed Jiang Zhe to pour Ouyang Qing a ss of water.

    However, Ouyang Qing whipped out a thermos sk from her bag and said, ¡°Chen, I know you are

    busy and have to workte often. So, I have specially brewed you some coffee. I made it personally!¡±

    Since the youngdy was so thoughtful, Nan Chen felt bad to reject her good intentions and epted

    it.

    The coffee tasted mediocre. Either the brewing time had been too long, or there had been a procedure

    which wasn¡¯t well taken care of.

    But that was not important as Nan Chen did note for the coffee. He only wanted to hear about the

    news from Tokyo.

    ¡°Do you like the cup of coffee? Is it nice?¡± Ouyang Qing looked at Nan Chen with her big eyes in

    anticipation, hoping to get apliment from him.

    ¡°It¡¯s not bad,¡± Nan Chen replied politely.

    ¡°Thanks for the praise, Chen!¡± Ouyang Qing beamed.

    But Nan Chen had not given her any praise. He merely said it was not bad out of courtesy.

    Nan Chen looked at Jiang Zhe, who took the hint and left the room, shutting the door behind him.

    However, Ouyang Qing did not bring up the main topic. Instead, she kept making small talk while

    pacing around the room,plimenting the interior of the office.

    She seemed to have forgotten the reason she was here, and acted as though she was a visitor who

    was touring the office.

    Nan Chen was concentrating on going through some work documents and did not broach the subject

    as well.

    ¡°Chen, where did you go just now if you just came back from outside?¡± Ouyang Qing asked.

    Without lifting his head, Nan Chen answered, ¡°Dinner.¡±

    ¡°Who did you have dinner with? You even brought your assistant along,¡± Ouyang Qing probed further.

    ¡° A friend,¡± Nan Chen gave another one-word answer.

    ¡°Wow, that person must be really lucky to be Chen¡¯s friend. Chen, you rejected me when I asked you

    out for lunch this afternoon, but you had time to meet your friend for dinner. Hmph! I¡¯m so sad you do

    not like me.¡±

    The coquettish manner in which Ouyang Qing spoke stunned Nan Chen for a moment. In fact, he had

    completely forgotten that the youngdy had requested to have lunch with him.

    However, he was not intending to exin himself, because Nan Chen did not have to ount for his

    actions to anyone.

    As such, he did not respond to Ouyang Qing¡¯sment.

    Ouyang Qing realized that her tactic to act girly wasn¡¯t working. In order to grab Nan Chen¡¯s attention,

    her best option was to talk about the purpose of her visit. ¡°Chen, I received news from Tokyo.¡±

    Only then did Nan Chen shift his gaze from the documents on his desk to Ouyang Qing.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 262

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 262

    ¡°Aunt is in poor health. She keeps having nightmares and her appetite has also been decreasing. As

    such, she had lost a lot of weighttely,¡± Ouyang Qing said.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Nan Chen kept quiet.

    ¡°The doctors over there had diagnosed aunt with colorectal cancer. However, as surgery is not the best

    option for her current condition, the doctors had suggested that shee back here and trybating

    the disease with traditional Chinese medicine instead¡­ ¡°

    When Nan Chen heard the word ¡®cancer¡¯, his mind instantly went nk.

    He felt a sudden wave of sorrow as he stared at Ouyang Qing in a daze.

    ¡°But Chen, you don¡¯t have to worry too much. The doctor had said the cancer is still in its early stages,

    it has not yet progressed to a stage where all hope is lost. TCM can create wonders and is often able to

    solveplex medical issues that Western medicine is unable to. Our priority now should be to bring

    aunt back home as soon as possible. I¡¯ve already made arrangements with a TCM practitioner who¡¯s

    one of the best in the country. I am confident he¡¯ll be able to help Aunt.¡±

    Ouyang Qing looked at Nan Chen expectantly, as if waiting to im the credit.

    However, Nan Chen did not speak as he was still wallowing in sadness.

    ¡°Chen? Don¡¯t be too worried yeah? The doctor has already said it¡¯s a good thing the cancer was

    discovered early, so the chances of recovery are high. Aunt just has to receive treatment here.¡±

    Nan Chen finally snapped out of his misery and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go talk to Grandpa now.¡±

    ¡°Chen, do we still need the Old Master¡¯s permission to bring aunt back, given that she¡¯s already so

    seriously ill? What if he doesn¡¯t agree?¡±

    ¡°Grandpa will agree. I will exin the situation to him properly.¡±

    Nan Chen put on his jacket and was ready to leave his office.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll go with you. I know the actual situation better, so it might be clearer if I do the

    exnation instead,¡± Ouyang Qing volunteered.

    ¡°No need,¡± Nan Chen rejected the woman coldly.

    ¡°Chen, it really pains me to see you feeling so down. Aunt¡¯s condition is really not as serious as you

    imagine, don¡¯t be too worried alright?¡± Ouyang Qing said.

    Nan Chen did not respond.

    After they left the office, Nan Chen instructed Jiang Zhe to arrange for transport to send Ouyang Qing

    home, while he took huge strides towards the elevator.

    Nan Chen leaned on the backrest after he got into the car, and closed his eyes.

    Many past memories shed through his mind. Some were pleasant, while some made him feel sad.

    But amon denominator in all those memories was his mom, Bai Hua.

    As Bai Hua¡¯s dad was Japan¡¯s foreign ambassador to China, Bai Hua had grown up in China.

    She had given birth to Nan Chen and Nan Xing after marrying the boys¡¯ father, Nan Zhiyuan.

    Everything went smoothly until Bai Hua and Nan Zhiyuan did something that disgraced the Nan family,

    which almost caused the downfall of the entire family.

    In order to appease the situation, Nan Zhengde drove his son and daughter-inw out of the Nan

    family and banned them from staying in China.

    The original n had been for them to go to the USA. However, after taking into consideration that Bai

    Hua¡¯s family was in Tokyo, they had gone to Tokyo instead. The couple had also vowed not to return to

    China for the rest of their lives.

    Time healed all wounds. After so many years, any feelings of longing or hatred had all been diluted

    with the passage of time.

    As Nan Chen rose in power and became the pir of the Nanshi Corporation, the adverse impact which

    his parents had brought unto the family had also been gradually negated.

    However, the Old Master had yet to forgive his son and daughter-inw. Over the years, he had not

    once brought up the possibility of them returning to the country.

    Even though Bai Hua had fallen ill, Nan Chen still could not be sure if his grandpa would relent.

    When Nan Chen arrived at the Nan residence, it was alreadyte.

    However, to his surprise, his grandpa was still awake and was in the study looking at some calligraphy

    works.

    The elderly man had recently acquired some famous works of master calligraphers and was deep into

    inspecting those works these few days. As such, he had been going to bedter than usual.

    Nan Chen waited at the door as the servant informed the Old Master of his arrival. The man only

    entered the study after being granted permission by his grandpa.

    The Old Master looked delighted to see his grandson and waved him over. ¡°You arrived just at the right

    time. Look at this masterpiece. The strength of the strokes and contrast created at each point are

    simply perfect. It¡¯s definitely worth ten thousand right?¡±

    Nan Chen took a nce at it but could not feel the impressiveness which his grandpa had described.

    He did not know much about calligraphy. As Nan Chen was always upied with work, he hardly had

    any time to learn about the arts.

    ¡°I can¡¯t really tell, but if Grandpa thinks it¡¯s good, I¡¯m sure it¡¯s definitely worth that amount. But Grandpa,

    you shouldn¡¯t be staying upte just to study the works, it¡¯s bad for your health,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°If I had slept earlier, you wouldn¡¯t have been able to talk to me if youe at this hour,¡± the Old

    Masterughed heartily as he said that.

    Nan Chen nced at his watch. Even though it wasn¡¯t considered toote yet, he decided to make it

    quick.

    ¡°Grandpa¡­ ¡° Nan Chen began to speak, but hesitated.

    ¡°What is it?¡± The elderly man looked at Nan Chen, motioning for him to speak his mind.

    ¡°There are two things. The first is, your great grandchildren are not Nan Xing¡¯s kids, they are mine,¡±

    Nan Chen said.

    The Old Master was momentarily stunned and looked at Nan Chen in a daze.

    It has be Nan Chen from Nan Xing¡­How was a mistake of such nature even possible?

    ¡°Grandpa, it¡¯s aplicated story, but there was a blunder made in the DNA testing which caused the

    issue. Other than that, there were no problems.¡±

    Nan Chen was just worried his grandpa might misunderstand that Ning Ran was involved with both

    brothers, which was not the truth.

    After all, the nature of the confusion¡ªmixing up the father of the children¡ªmade it easy for anyone to

    think that way.

    Only after hearing Nan Chen¡¯s exnation did the Old Master heave a sigh of relief. ¡°I see. Have you

    confirmed the results already? Is it final?¡±

    ¡°Yes, grandpa, the kids are confirmed mine, it¡¯s for sure.¡±

    The elderly man stroked his beard and suddenly startingughing. ¡°Actually, I have always thought that

    that boy resembles you more than Xing. So he¡¯s indeed your son! His character and behavior are

    exactly the same as yours when you were at that age, almost identical!¡±

    Nan Chen nodded and said, ¡°I think Dabao is very much like me too, but Erbao¡¯s personality takes after

    Nan Xing more.¡±

    ¡°Yup, regardless of whose kids they are, as long as they are a ¡®Nan¡¯, I won¡¯t have any issues with it. So,

    what¡¯s the second thing you want to talk to me about which is worrying you?¡± Nan Zhengde asked.

    The Old Master was really sharp. He could already sense that Nan Chen was troubled.

    ¡°It¡¯s regarding news from Tokyo,¡± Nan Chen said softly.

    The elderly man¡¯s high spirits were brought down at once.

    He rolled up the calligraphy and put it back into a drafting tube carefully. ¡°Why are you talking about

    them at this hour? Are you trying to make me lose sleep?¡±

    ¡°Grandpa, Mom has contracted cancer and the doctor has advised her to seek treatment in China.¡±

    Even though his grandpa was visibly upset, Nan Chen had to finish his sentence.

    ¡°Cancer?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°The medical standards in Japan are very advanced as well, why is there a need to speciallye

    back for treatment?¡±

    ¡°The doctors were of the view that a conservative treatment using TCM would be more suitable for

    mom¡¯s condition. If that is not OK with grandpa, I will arrange for them to go to either Hong Kong or

    Taiwan instead. There are good TCM practitioners there as well. As ast resort, I can also send some

    TCM practitioners over to Japan.¡±

    The Old Master was silent.

    ¡°I got it, grandpa. I shall make a move first then, please have a good rest,¡± Nan Chen was able to

    roughly guess his grandpa¡¯s stance on the matter from his silence.

    ¡°Wait.¡±

    Nan Chen stopped walking.

    ¡°Do you believe your mom¡¯s illness is real? What if she is faking it just toe back?¡± Nan Zhengde

    said.

    ¡°As a son, I shouldn¡¯t be questioning the authenticity of it. Even if it¡¯s a lie, I would stille and make

    the request to you, grandpa,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    The elderly man nodded and said, ¡°I know. Indeed, in your position, it wouldn¡¯t be right to doubt your

    mom.¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 263

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 263

    Nan Chen nodded, acknowledging his grandpa¡¯s kind understanding regarding this matter. ¡°Thanks,

    grandpa,¡± Nan Chen said as he looked towards the floor.

    ¡°I¡¯m only agreeing to this because of you. Otherwise, I would never have entertained the possibility of

    letting them return,¡± the elderly man said. Nan Chen thanked his grandpa again.

    ¡°Ok, ok. That¡¯s enough. You shouldn¡¯t worry too much as well. It¡¯s all predestined that we each have

    our own hour,¡± the elderly man tried tofort his grandson.

    ¡°Yup. Have an early rest, grandpa.¡± Nan Chen could finally let out a sigh of relief after leaving his

    grandpa¡¯s study.

    Now that he had gotten his grandpa¡¯s approval, the next thing to do was to verify the legitimacy of his

    mom¡¯s illness. After getting confirmation, his parents would be able to return to the country.

    However, Nan Chen was having conflicted emotions. If his mom had really faked her cancer, the couple

    would not be able to return. As such, even though he hoped his mother was still healthy, he also hoped

    that his parents would be able to return to the country.

    As Nan Chen pondered over the possible scenarios, he had subconsciously walked to his kids¡¯ rooms.

    The lights were already switched off and the children were in bed.

    After hesitating a few seconds, Nan Chen ended up going into Erbao¡¯s room. The gentle lighting

    from the kiddish bedsidemp cast a warm glow on the little girl¡¯s sleeping face.

    Erbao fidgeted a lot in her sleep, and one of her chubby legs was sticking out of her nket. Nan Chen

    gently pushed her leg back under the nket and made sure the little girl was properly covered, before

    turning off the bedsidemp.

    After that, he went into Dabao¡¯s room. The boy was more well-behaved in his sleep and had switched

    off his bedsidemp.

    However, he was a light sleeper and woke up the moment Nan Chen entered his room.

    Nan Chen felt bad that he had disturbed the boy in his sleep. He would not havee in if he had

    known it would wake his son up.

    ¡°Third Uncle, you¡¯re back?¡± Dabao sounded happy to see the man.

    ¡°Sorry, I shouldn¡¯t havee in and roused you from your sleep.¡±

    ¡°No worries, Third Uncle. I¡¯ve already slept enough. It wouldn¡¯t affect me.¡± Dabao suddenly sat up.

    ¡°Sleep more, don¡¯t get up,¡± Nan Chen said, still feeling bad.

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    ¡°Third Uncle, do you have something to tell me?¡± Dabao surprised Nan Chen with the question.

    How did the boy know? Nan Chen was stunned.

    ¡°Nope, nothing. Why did you ask?¡± Nan Chen was curious.

    ¡°It¡¯s just that you feel different these few days aspared tost time. So, I thought you had

    something to say,¡± Dabao replied with a smile.

    ¡°If that¡¯s not the case, I shall go back to sleep first then. Good night, uncle,¡± the boy added.

    Nan Chen pulled up the nket for Dabao while asking, ¡°In what way do I feel different?¡±

    Dabao gave it a thought before shaking his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to exin it¡­ It just feels

    different.¡±

    ¡°Actually, something has indeed changed. I wanted to talk to you about it but I¡¯m worried it¡¯ll scare you,¡±

    Nan Chen said, testing the waters.

    ¡°What exactly are you trying to say, Third Uncle? Just be direct with me, it¡¯s alright!¡± Dabao tilted his

    head and looked at Nan Chen.

    ¡°I¡­ have something important to tell you, that is¡­ ¡°

    Nan Chen was being coy about it, which was definitely unheard of.

    ¡°Third Uncle, be brave! I¡¯m listening,¡± Dabao cheered the man on.

    ¡°I¡¯m actually not your uncle, but your Daddy.¡±

    Nan Chen could feel his heart going into overdrive after he said that, as he waited anxiously for

    Dabao¡¯s reaction.

    He was worried that the boy would be taken aback by this revtion and not be able to ept this new

    reality.

    Dabao kept quiet for a while after hearing what Nan Chen said.

    It was the first time Nan Chen had felt so stressed due to someone else¡¯s silence.

    He was usually the one who used silence to pressurize others. However, he was now experiencing

    first-hand how it felt to be on the receiving end.

    ¡°Do you not like it¡­ ¡° Nan Chen asked, feeling unsettled.

    ¡°Hehe,¡± the boy suddenly chuckled.

    Even though Dabao was still a child, he did not usuallyugh or smile often like other kids. It was a rare

    sight for the boy to beughing, even more so when it was already sote at night.

    ¡°Why are youughing? Does it sound too absurd?¡± Nan Chen felt even more jittery after seeing the

    boy¡¯s reaction.

    ¡°No, I just find it funny,¡± Dabao chuckled again.

    ¡°Really? What¡¯s so funny about it?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Because all along, I had felt that you were more like my Daddy. I can¡¯t believe you are actually Daddy!¡±

    Dabao got excited and he lifted his covers before he climbed up.

    ¡°You should be lying down. Why are you not sleeping anymore?¡±

    ¡°We need to do a formal introduction,¡± Dabao said with a serious expression on his face.

    ¡°Formal introduction?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, our rtionship is not the same now. Shouldn¡¯t we properly get to know each other again?¡±

    Dabao asked.

    Nan Chen immediately understood what the boy meant. He extended his hand and said, ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Nan

    Chen, your daddy. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Ning Sirui, your son. Please look after me,¡± Dabao wore a solemn expression.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this a little too formal?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I think it¡¯s fine,¡± Dabao answered.

    ¡°Why are you not asking me why I have suddenly be daddy?¡±

    ¡°As a child, I don¡¯t have to know every single thing that¡¯s going on in the adults¡¯ world. But my guess is

    that something went wrong during the DNA testing.¡± Dabao was behaving in an oddly matured manner,

    for a child his age.

    Nan Chen let out a gasp when the boy finished talking. Why is he speaking like an adult? The boy was

    too mature; it did not seem suitable for someone his age to be acting that way.

    Was this how I was like when I was a child too?

    ¡°Do you really not mind at all?¡± Nan Chen was still not fully convinced.

    ¡°Of course not! It¡¯s nice to have you as my Daddy. I have always found you more like my Daddy

    anyway,¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°OK, it¡¯s a relief to know that. Can I give you a hug?¡±

    ¡°Sure, but I find it a bit awkward if I have to address you as ¡®Daddy¡¯ immediately¡±, the boy frowned as

    he said that.

    ¡°There¡¯s no rush at all. We have ample time to get used to our new roles.¡±

    Nan Chen lifted Dabao from the bed and twirled him around a few times. ¡°I¡¯m a dad now. It feels great,¡±

    he smiled.

    ¡°Have you told Erbao about it?¡±

    ¡°Not yet, as I don¡¯t know how to tell her. Can you do it for me tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Nan Chen ced Dabao back down on the bed and said to the boy, ¡°I¡¯m so d. I was worried you

    might find it disturbing.¡±

    ¡°Not at all, I¡¯m d too.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m happy to know that. You should go back to sleep now.¡±

    Nan Chen covered Dabao with a nket before tiptoeing out of the room.

    When he was back in his own room, he took out his phone and dialed a number.

    Ning Ran had just lied down on the bed and was about to drift off to sleep when her phone, which was

    ced next to her pillow, started vibrating.

    Assuming it was Zheng Lunlun who was harassing her to y games with him again, she yelled into

    the phone in an annoyed tone, ¡°I already said I¡¯m not ying, can you stop disturbing me? Are you

    crazy?¡±

    The next moment, a cold and husky voice sounded on the other side of the phone, ¡°What are you

    ying? Why are you shouting?¡±

    Ning Ran was suddenly alert. ¡°Why are you calling me at this hour of the night?¡±

    ¡°Who did you think it was?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°No one.¡±

    ¡°Then what do you mean by you are not ying? What were you ying? And why are you not ying

    anymore?¡± Nan Chen pressed on. It wasn¡¯t so easy to fool him.

    ¡°I already told you there¡¯s no one. Can you stop beingme? Why are you kicking up a fuss sote at

    night?¡± Ning Ran wished that the man would stop harping on it.

    Nan Chen had initially called to inform the woman that he had already made it clear to Dabao that he

    was the kids¡¯ real daddy.

    However, he did not expect Ning Ran to answer the call in such a strange manner. That threw him off.

    She must have been talking to another man before I called. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have said those

    words.

    Who is the person though? Could it be that ¡®Feng¡¯ guy?

    Nan Chen stood up and was about to go to Ning Ran¡¯s ce so that he could rify with her in person.

    But he started wondering about the purpose of him doing that. It didn¡¯t feel right to look for the woman

    just because of a phone call.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 264

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 264

    Ning Ran knew that the person on the other side of the phone must be angry when she was met with

    dead silence.

    Well, that¡¯s how he is. Others will holler or bellow when they are angry, but not him. When he¡¯s angry,

    he will only keep quiet with a stone-cold expression on his face.

    Ning Ran could imagine the murderous aura Nan Chen must be emitting right now. Thank god we are

    talking over the phone. I will hate to see the look on his face now.

    Anyway, it is sote already. I can¡¯t possibly continue talking on the phone with him at this hour.

    ¡°I thought this call was from my friend. She asked me out, but I turned her offer down as it was too

    late¡­¡±

    Ning Ran was still fumbling toe up with an exnation when she heard a busy signal on the

    phone. Nan Chen had hung up on her.

    ¡°Crazy bas***d!¡±

    After hanging up the phone, she continued sleeping.

    For the next few days, Ning Ran was on a tight filming schedule. It waste autumn already, so the

    director was rushing toplete the filming before wintertime.

    Ning Ran was immersed in her work, leaving her with no personal time to spend with her children.

    On that day, she had filmed continuously without catching a wink, until it finally ended at 6 pm. By then,

    she was totally drained of energy.

    After changing out of her costume and back into her attire, she dragged herself out of the film set and

    saw a dark green Land Rover in front of the entrance.

    The second the car window was rolled down, Ning Ran heard Erbao calling out loudly, ¡°Mommy!¡±

    Pleasantly surprised, Ning Ran hurried over, ¡°Why are you here?¡±

    Dabao chipped in, ¡°We¡¯re all here.¡±

    Ning Ran shifted her gaze to Nan Chen, who was in the driver¡¯s seat.

    Wow! Instead of his iconic ck formal suit, he¡¯s wearing a grey tracksuit instead!

    This was the first time Ning Ran saw him wearing a color other than ck.

    He looks good! ck emphasizes his aloofness, but grey adds a tinge of gentleness, giving him a more

    cheerful vibe.

    Cheng Xiangyun was not around today as herpany had sent her to the Capital for a learning trip

    which would take around 15 days.

    Ning Ran was still fretting about the dinner tonight and had expected Nan Chen toe today.

    Well, it works for me. At least I won¡¯t be having cup noodles for dinner alone today.

    ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s cook dinner togetherter,¡± Erbao suggested cheerfully.

    ¡°Cook dinner?¡± Ning Ran asked in astonishment.

    Do the three of them know how to cook? Who would believe that?

    ¡°Mommy, we know all about your secret. To think that you still want to hide it from us. Haha!¡± Erbao

    made a face at her.

    Ning Ran was baffled, ¡°Secret?¡±

    ¡°Daddy¡¯s secret.¡± Erbao buried her face into her hands in bashfulness.

    Ning Ran flushed despite herself. She is the most adorable kid in the world! So, one will be shy in front

    of one¡¯s own kids too.

    ¡°Both of you know already?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± chorused Dabao and Erbao in unison.

    ¡°Did you tell them?¡± Ning Ran looked at Nan Chen inquiringly.

    Nan Chen kept quiet, implying his admission.

    Who else could it be other than him? He must be the bbermouth! How shameless of him! How can

    he leak out the secret to my children before I tell them myself! I wonder how he exined it to them? I

    bet he had a tough time doing so!

    ¡°From now on, we¡¯re a family! Let¡¯s go!¡±

    Erbao curled up her fist into a small ball and extended it straight above her head as if readying herself

    to rush forward. It was a moving sight.

    Furthermore, she sounded very seasoned when she said that. Did Poker Face teach her to say that?

    Ning Ran nced at Nan Chen, but he ignored her. He could not recall ever teaching Erbao to say

    such things.

    Furthermore, Nan Chen was not a person who liked to say mushy stuff such as From now on, we are a

    family.

    Nan Chen started the car and drove forward amid Erbao¡¯s cheering.

    Ning Ran asked, ¡°Where are we going?¡±

    ¡°To prepare dinner! Erbao enthused.

    Ning Ran could feel a headache brewing. What exactly are they nning to do? Why must we prepare

    dinner ourselves?

    ¡°Daddy asked me what we like to usually do, so I told him we like to cook dinner together with Aunt

    Xiang and have dinner together afterwards. Then Daddy said we should cook dinner together.¡± Dabao

    finally revealed the truth.

    So that is the reason. Cooking dinner together may sound like a heart-warming family activity but, in

    fact, it is very troublesome. One needs to prepare ingredients in the first ce. Also, after preparing all

    the ingredients, who will be the chef? It can¡¯t be the two kids, so this role can only fall on Nan Chen. I

    will never believe he can cook!

    ¡°Is everything fine?¡± Nan Chen asked directly, upon noticing the troubled expression on Ning Ran¡¯s

    face.

    Ning Ran wanted to point out all ws in their n but, she could not bear to dampen their moods, after

    seeing how excited they are. Thus, she nodded, ¡°Everything is fine.¡±

    Nan Chen drove the car to one of the big supermarkets under Nanshi Corporation, where they intended

    to purchase the ingredients.

    Erbao was exceptionally excited, as this was the first time they were engaging in a family activity after

    they acknowledged each other.

    Erbao lovedpany, especially when she was engaged in group activities with her family.

    Even the eyes of Dabao that was usuallyposed, sparkled with excitement.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Mommy and Daddy are bringing us to shop in the supermarket! This is a brand-new experience!

    Their appearance in the supermarket caused a stir. Other customers in the supermarket gasped at

    them, in awe of their looks.

    ¡°Look at the kids. They are so beautiful!¡±

    ¡°Notice how good-looking their parents are? Of course, their kids will be beautiful too.¡±

    ¡°But aren¡¯t they too beautiful? Are they a family of celebrities? I feel like I have seen them on television

    before.¡±

    Ning Ran was still getting used to receiving suchpliments.

    Nan Chen, on the other hand, was in hisfort zone. He had always stolen the limelight no matter

    where he was, even in parties attended by prominent people or in more crowded ces. Certainly,

    such supermarkets were nothing to him.

    Erbao waszy and did not want to walk. Thus, she sat on the child seat in the trolley.

    Dabao walked with Nan Chen. It was an amusing sight, to see the same stoic expressions on their

    faces, one being a miniature version of another.

    Ning Ran had assumed that Nan Chen had a n in mind for the dinner, but soon realized that she

    was wrong.

    Nan Chen was only responsible for pushing the trolley at Ning Ran¡¯s side.

    For every item that Ning Ran picked up and subsequently returned to its shelf, he would put it into his

    trolley. He had assumed she was concerned over the prices. Well, the price does not matter to me.

    After all, the entire supermarket belongs to Nanshi Corporation. There¡¯s no need to help me save

    money.

    ¡°Why are you putting the items I don¡¯t want into the trolley?¡± Ning Ran asked, puzzled over Nan Chen¡¯s

    actions.

    ¡°You don¡¯t want them?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m only taking a look and not buying them.¡±

    ¡°Why do you need to look at them when you don¡¯t want to buy them?¡±

    Ning Ran was stumped for words. What kind of logic is that? Must I buy everything I see?

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to waste time looking at them if you don¡¯t need them,¡± reasoned Nan Chen logically.

    ¡°How will I know whether they suit my needs if I don¡¯t look at them?¡±

    Nan Chen did not reply her.

    At this moment, a few men, decked in formal suits, hurried over with nervousness spelt all over their

    faces.

    The fat man leading the pack was sweating profusely and bowed respectfully before Nan Chen, ¡°Sir

    Chen, I didn¡¯t know you havee here to inspect. Sorry¡­¡±

    Nan Chen, who had a superb memory, recognized the man at a nce, ¡°Manager Luo.¡±

    He was the manager of the supermarket. He had assumed that Nan Chen was here for an inspection,

    sending him and his team into a panic.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 265

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 265

    ¡°I¡¯m not here for work. I¡¯m here to¡­ shop.¡±

    Manager Luo and his team members exchanged doubtful nces at each other. None of them believed

    Nan Chen¡¯s words. Even the senior managers needed to arrange for prior appointments to report their

    work to Nan Chen, due to Nan Chen¡¯s busy schedule.

    How is it possible that such a busy man will do his shopping personally?

    Hence, Manager Luo and his team did not believe Nan Chen, thinking their boss was here for an

    incognito visit. ¡°Sir Chen, please let us know if you have any instructions for us. We will make the

    changes immediately.¡±

    ¡°It is okay. You can go off first.¡± Nan Chen waved his hand dismissively. I seldom have the chance to do

    grocery shopping with the two kids. They better not spoil my mood.

    But Manager Luo and his team were not on the same wavelength as Nan Chen. Our boss arrives out of

    the blue. How can we return to our office and pretend he isn¡¯t here? It¡¯s simply impossible!

    Therefore, the senior executives hung around Nan Chen at his heels, in the supermarket. Not only

    were Nan Chen and Ning Ran unhappy with their actions, but even the kids were also displeased

    too. How can we shop leisurely when someone is gawking at us?

    However, Nan Chen was not one to holler at others when he was displeased. He pulled a long face and

    stared sharply at Manager Luo and his team.

    However, this only increased their sense of trepidation as they mistook Nan Chen for being displeased

    over their mismanagement of the supermarket.

    Finally, Ning Ran could not take it anymore and believed she must handle it herself. Otherwise, the

    whole situation would only worsen.

    Thus, she walked over to Manager Luo.

    Manager Luo was not certain of Ning Ran¡¯s status as he had not received news that his boss was

    married. He wanted to greet her as ¡®Madam¡¯ but worried he might address her wrongly, so he nodded

    with a smile on his face, ¡°Hi, what do you need? We will endeavor to meet them.¡±

    ¡°Stop following us. Sir Chen is unhappy,¡± warned Ning Ran in a low voice.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Do you like a bunch of people following you when you are doing your grocery shopping?¡±

    ¡°This¡­¡±

    ¡°He is not here for an inspection. He¡¯s only here to buy some ingredients to cook dinner for the kids.

    Stop creating a scene. It will only add on to everyone¡¯s anxiety and difort. What is the point?¡±

    ¡°Okay, sorry to disturb you. Please inform any of the staff here should you need any help. We will serve

    you to the best we can.¡± Manager Luo wiped away the sweat on his face.

    ¡°Okay, please stop following us then.¡±

    Finally, Manager Luo and his team walked off and left them alone.

    Nan Chen heaved a deep sigh of relief and looked at Ning Ran approvingly. This woman is rather good

    atmunication.

    They continued shopping in the supermarket. When they arrived at the snacks section, Erbao was

    even more excited and wanted everything. Nan Chen met all her requests, doing his best to satisfy

    Erbao.

    When it was time to foot the bill, Nan Chen passed Ning Ran a credit card and asked her to make

    payment.

    Of course, Ning Ran did not stand on ceremony. I don¡¯t have any money on me anyway so Poker Face

    must be the one paying.

    They bought three big bags of groceries. The supermarket¡¯s employees offered to deliver the groceries

    to Nan Chen¡¯s house, but Nan Chen rejected them. In the end, the employees helped them to carry the

    groceries and put them into the car.

    Without consulting Ning Ran, Nan Chen drove to her residence ¨C the vi in the Red Maple City.

    It was the two kids¡¯ first visit to the vi in the Red Maple City. They screamed in exhration,

    ¡°Mommy¡¯s new house! We are here!¡±

    After putting all the groceries into the house, Nan Chen went into the kitchen and stood there, looking

    lost. He looked at Ning Ran pleadingly.

    Ning Ran snickered, ¡°Doesn¡¯t Sir Chen intend to cook dinner? Please start now.¡±

    ¡°Where should I start?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t even know where to start? How will you make dinner for us then?¡±

    ¡°The recipe is avable online.¡±

    Ning Ran finally understood him. His confidence in his culinary skills is derived solely from the

    recipes avable online. He intends to follow the culinary video, step-by-step, to make dinner. But the

    video does not teach its viewers the preparatory steps before cooking. For example, it asks one to

    clean and cut the vegetables, but it does not teach one how to do so. No wonder he looks so lost.

    ¡°Sir Chen, why don¡¯t you go out first? We may need to wait till tomorrow if you are to cook dinner for us.

    I can starve but not the kids. Stop giving me trouble and go somewhere else. I can do it myself.¡±

    Ning Ran put on the gloves, ready to start the dinner preparations.

    A look of frustration crossed Nan Chen¡¯s face. I am omnipotent in the business world. How can I be

    defeated in this mere kitchen?

    Nan Chen¡¯s prideful ego did not allow him to leave the kitchen with his head down. Instead, he stood

    on the side and looked at Ning Ran as she busied herself in the kitchen.

    Thankfully, the open-concept kitchen in the vi was big enough to amodate Nan Chen without

    him being in Ning Ran¡¯s way.

    ¡°You¡¯re good,¡± Nan Chen said suddenly.

    Ning Ran was busy and did not catch what he said, ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re good at domestic chores,¡± repeated Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran smiled. Is this the first time Poker Facepliments me? Also, isn¡¯t it ironic that he praises

    me for being good at domestic chores?

    ¡°Are you saying I¡¯m a vige girl?¡± Ning Ran asked casually.

    ¡°Yes,¡± agreed Nan Chen.

    His answer infuriated her. I can diss myself but not you! If not for someone causing my mother¡¯s death,

    my family fortunes would not have declined, and I would still be a rich, young mistress!

    ¡°Do you think you are better than others, just because you don¡¯t know how to do domestic chores?¡±

    Ning Ran red at Nan Chen, holding a clove of garlic and pointing it at him.

    Nan Chen was perplexed at her sudden outburst of anger. Is she thinking of attacking me with that

    clove of garlic? It has such an overwhelming smell. Wouldn¡¯t it be embarrassing if it hits my face?

    Thinking of this, he took a few steps backwards quietly.

    ¡°Why do you say I am a vige girl?¡±

    ¡°You said it yourself,¡± replied Nan Chen indifferently.

    ¡°Forget it. I am magnanimous and will not hold it against you.¡± Ning Ran put down the clove of garlic in

    her hand and continued cooking.

    Nan Chen continued observing Ning Ran in silence. It was apparent to him that Ning Ran was an

    experienced cook as she had first poured the cooking oil, followed by the vegetables into the frying pan

    deftly. After tossing the pan a few times, the aroma of food began to waft through the air.

    Nan Chen was stupefied by the sight before him.

    He had eaten a lot of delicious food but never had he once pay attention to the process involved.

    So the process involved in producing such sumptuous dishes is so wonderful. It is like a project. Every

    step taken must be precise and is equally important. No wonder Laozi teaches that the principle in

    governing a country is simr to that of cooking. Every step that is taken in cooking indeed contains

    great knowledge.

    ¡°Come over here and take the dishes out. Why are you standing there in a daze? Do you expect me to

    serve you?¡± Ning Ran ordered.

    Nan Chen¡¯s face clouded with displeasure at being ordered around, but he suppressed his anger.

    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.

    Anyway, this woman is always bad-mannered. I shall not hold it against her. Otherwise, we will not be

    able to continue with this dinner.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 266

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 266

    After washing his hands, Nan Chen cautiously slipped on gloves before picking up the dishes. He felt

    that it was a hygienic practice, but Ning Ran felt like scolding him. Given your speed, when can we start

    eating dinner?

    ¡°Enough, Sir Chen. Why don¡¯t you stand aside? I can do it myself.¡± Ning Ran berated. Nan Chen felt

    aggrieved. I have tried my best already, but this woman keeps belittling me. So what if she can cook?

    Must she be so arrogant?

    Nan Chen insisted on helping her with the dishes despite her reluctance. How embarrassed will I be in

    front of the kids if I don¡¯t lift a finger? Furthermore, I was the one who suggested cooking dinner

    together. The kids will think I¡¯m useless if I do nothing.

    In the end, his insistence on helping out in the kitchen made things worse, causing more trouble for

    Ning Ran. Nheless, he refused to give up.

    I don¡¯t believe that I, who can conquer the business world, have no use in the kitchen! In the end, the

    dinner was finally ready after Ning Ran¡¯s painstaking efforts.

    Erbao apuded enthusiastically, ¡°Mommy is the best! Daddy is great too!¡±

    Dabao brought thedle over to scoop rice for everyone.

    Suddenly, Nan Chen used his phone to take a photograph of the dishes on the table.

    Although having a family dinner together might be a usual activity for many people, it was a rare

    experience for him.

    He, who had attended countlessvish banquets, ced so much importance on these few home-

    cooked dishes that he actually bothered to take a photograph of them.

    After taking the photograph, he realized Ning Ran and the two kids were staring at him weirdly. He

    suddenly felt rather embarrassed.

    It was my first time doing such things. I used to think that the people who took photographs of their food

    were silly and low-ss. But never would I imagine I would do the same today! What exactly is my

    purpose in doing such a thing?

    ¡°Is Daddy nning to send the photograph to your friends?¡± Erbao asked, smiling.

    Ning Ran was thinking the same too, but she dared not ask him.

    If he sends a photograph of home-cooked dishes to his friends, won¡¯t it make the entertainment news?

    ¡°No.¡±

    Nan Chen kept his phone with an air of nonchnce to disguise his embarrassment.

    I do not intend to send the photograph to my friends. This dinner is important to me, but I can¡¯t pinpoint

    the reason for its importance. Is it because I helped in serving the dishes? Or is it because Ning Ran

    was the one who cooked the dinner? And I want to take a photograph of it because it is of utmost

    importance to me?

    ¡°Daddy, don¡¯t you want to take a photograph with Mommy? If you n on sending photographs to your

    friends, one is not enough. You should at least take our photographs too.¡± Erbao suggested.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sending the photos to my friends,¡± repeated Nan Chen awkwardly.

    This kid¡­ Why does he think I am sending the photographs to my friends?

    ¡°You should take a photograph with Mommy even if you don¡¯t want to send it to your friends,¡±

    suggested Erbao impishly.

    Ning Ran and Nan Chen were embarrassed, and both were at a loss of what to do next.

    Nan Chen sneaked a peek at Ning Ran and realized she was already helping herself to the dishes

    while burying her face into her bowl of rice.

    Nan Chen was an arrogant person and could not ept the rebuff. Humph! You don¡¯t want to take

    photographs with me? Well, I¡¯m not willing to do that too!

    Actually, Ning Ran was receptive to the idea. It¡¯s only a photograph. After all, I face the cameras every

    day. Taking photographs is nothing to me. However, I will not force Nan Chen to do so if he is unwilling.

    Although he is indeed very handsome, I can¡¯t possibly be so thick-skinned and insist on taking a

    photograph with him?

    ¡°Daddy, Mommy, lean closer to each other. I¡¯ll help both of you to take a photograph together,¡± Erbao

    insisted.

    The embarrassment between Nan Chen and Ning Ran deepened at Erbao¡¯s insistence.

    ¡°Daddy, you are a man. You should take the initiative.¡± Even Dabao chipped in too.

    These two kids are surely enjoying themselves now.

    Nan Chen could not bear to dampen their spirits.

    Thus, he inched closer to Ning Ran. Ning Ran, who on the other hand, was not acting coy too and

    cooperated with him. Nheless, there was still a bowl¡¯s width of a gap between them.

    ¡°Daddy, do you not know each other? Why are both of you standing so far from each other?¡± Erbao

    comined, unsatisfied with their awkward behavior.

    ¡°Yes, the gap between both of you is too huge!¡± Dabao agreed with Erbao, furrowing his brows.

    Both of them inched closer upon hearing the two kids¡¯ words.

    But it was not enough to satisfy the children.

    ¡°You should do this.¡± Suddenly, Erbao leaned closer to his brother and rested her head on her brother¡¯s

    shoulder.

    ¡°Yes, yes, yes. That should be the way.¡± Dabao echoed in agreement.

    The pose was intimate, suitable for a pair of young siblings.

    But it was difficult for Nan Chen and Ning Ran to mimic it.

    They exchanged a nce with each other, detecting despair in each other¡¯s eyes.

    Their rtionship had not advanced to such a level yet.

    Having kids together had been an ident.

    Both of them inched closer together. At least this time, the sleeves of their clothes made contact. This

    was the best they could do.

    Seeing that they took too long to warm up, the kids had lost their enthusiasm.

    ¡°Forget it, just take a photograph in this position.¡±

    Erbao took Nan Chen¡¯s phone, but as an afterthought, passed it to her brother, worrying she could not

    fulfil her duty.

    Dabao took the phone and snapped a photograph of Nan Chen and Ning Ran. Despite the

    awkwardness on their faces, they were an enviable couple with matching good looks.

    Nan Chen nced at the photograph. She is no doubt an actress. She does look good in photographs.

    In fact, her photographs are prettier than her in person, although she is not considered ugly by any

    standards.

    ¡°Let me see.¡±

    Ning Ran was curious. I wonder how my first photograph with Poker Face will turn out to be. Thus she

    took the phone over.

    It¡¯s quite satisfactory. In fact, it is not bad at all. The only problem is the nk expression on Poker

    Face¡¯s face. Taking photographs with him is akin to taking with a statue.

    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    Ning Ran¡¯s curiosity was piqued. Is he born with a stoic expression? Or has he put on an indifferent

    expression on purpose?

    They continued having dinner after taking the photograph.

    But Er Bao was not fully satisfied yet. She went over to them, ¡°Shall we take a photograph together as

    a family? Mommy and Daddy took a photograph already. You can¡¯t leave Dabao and me out!¡±

    Dabao was in an agreeable mood today, and he concurred with his sister immediately, ¡°Yes, yes.¡±

    However, there was no other person in the house except for the four of them. Thus, they could only do

    a wefie.

    Erbao wanted to hold the phone but her hands were too short toplete such an uphill task.

    The person with the longest hands was undoubtedly Nan Chen, but he did not know how to take a

    wefie. Never in his life had he taken a wefie or selfie before. How can I do such a silly thing!

    He was not satisfied with the photograph after a few attempts.

    Resignedly, he passed the phone to Ning Ran, signaling her to try.

    Actually, Ning Ran was not good at taking a selfie or wefie too. She had neither time nor interest to do

    such a thing. Facing the cameras every day nearly caused her to be on the verge of copse, what¡¯s

    more, taking photographs of herself in her leisure time.

    Left without a choice, Ning Ran reluctantly took over the role of the photographer.

    Although the oue was not satisfactory, it was still way better than the photographs taken by Nan

    Chen.

    ¡°Okay, we have taken the pictures, Let¡¯s eat now.¡±

    Ning Ran felt lethargic from a whole day of filming and loads of domestic chores she did just now. She

    had lost her appetite and only wanted to lie down to rest.

    But she was overjoyed. It had been too long since she felt this way. She had forgotten how it felt to be

    happy.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 267

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 267

    After dinner, Ning Ran did not want to wash the dishes, as she was simply too tired to move.

    Thus, Dabao and Erbao offered to take up the important role of washing the dishes.

    But Nan Chen was worried. How can the children at their young age, do such a tedious household

    chore?

    Ning Ran, however, imed that such a household chore was nothing to the two kids. They had

    prepared breakfast for her many times before, not to mention washing dishes.

    In the end, Nan Chen and the two kids washed the dishes together. Their chemistry was rathercking

    though, given that they broke two bowls and a te during the process.

    Naturally, the two kids pushed the me to Nan Chen, iming that the bowls broke due to his

    clumsiness.

    Nan Chen did not bother to defend himself and shouldered the me bravely.

    After bathing, Ning Ran wanted to change into her pajamas. But considering that Nan Chen was in the

    house, she decided against it and eventually changed into a tracksuit instead.

    Taking the opportunity when the two kids and Nan Chen were ying together, she ran into the study

    room alone to practice her script.

    This was her habit. Unless something unexpected urred, she would usually practice her script for

    the next day of filming.

    Only through repeated practices could she perfect her role with a deeper understanding of her role¡¯s

    feelings and her train of thoughts. In this way, she could then excel by immersing herself into her role

    during her filming on the next day. Thus while she was indeed talented in acting, it was, more

    importantly, due to the hard work she put in, to achieve the superb acting skills that she was known for

    today.

    While she was lost in her script, someone knocked on the door. Nan Chen came into the study room

    after a half-hearted acknowledgement from Ning Ran.

    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Why don¡¯t you help bathe the kids and put them to bed afterwards?¡±

    Ning Ran was exhrated. She had assumed Nan Chen would want to bring the kids back to the Nan

    family. It turns out I¡¯m wrong.

    ¡°Okay. Though they can bathe themselves, I haven¡¯t helped them bathe for a long time. I will go now.¡±

    After bathing, the kids changed into their pajamas but they refused to sleep, wanting to y again.

    After letting them y for some time, Ning Ran reminded them to sleep again, seeing that it was

    gettingte. But Erbao still refused to go to bed.

    Nheless, she went to bed obediently after a meaningful stare from Dabao.

    With both kids in bed, only Nan Chen and Ning Ran were left in the living room.

    An awkward silence ensued.

    Nan Chen was sorting through his emails on his handphone. Finally, I have some time to myself to look

    at the emails.

    Ning Ran sat beside him, browsing through her script while asionally stealing nces at Nan Chen.

    But Nan Chen¡¯s attention was solely on his work, and at times, he would frown or stretch himself after

    being in the same position for too long.

    Soon, it was 11p.m.

    By now, Ning Ran was sleepy, and she wanted to go to bed. This fellow doesn¡¯t seem to be moving

    along anytime soon! I can¡¯t jolly well leave him be in my house.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have coffee in my house. Shall I pour you some water?¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± replied Nan Chen casually without lifting his head.

    Thus, Ning Ran ced the ss of water on the table before him, but he did not take a single sip. In

    fact, he did not even shift his gaze away from his phone at all.

    Ning Ran was really sleepy by now. Covering her mouth with her hand, she gave a suppressed yawn.

    But Nan Chen still did not get her hint.

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    Finally, Ning Ran could not take it any longer and asked, ¡°Are you going to take a long time toplete

    your work?¡±

    Nan Chen raised his head, and after ncing at Ning Ran, he took a sip of water which had cooled

    down already.

    ¡°There are still some more matters for me to attend to.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Again, they fell into an awkward silence.

    After 10 minutes, Ning Ran gave up, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that I need to sleep now. Take your time.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m about to be done.¡±

    After a few minutes, Nan Chen finally put down his phone, seemingly done with his work.

    Ning Ran heaved a sigh of relief. I can finally see him out now.

    ¡°Okay, I will sleep after I bathe.¡±

    Shocked, Ning Ran blurted out, ¡°Aren¡¯t you leaving?¡±

    ¡°I did not say I will leave.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°There are so many bedrooms in this house. I can sleep in the guest room.¡±

    With that, he strode off to another room and came out with a set of pajamas in his hands.

    Ning Ran was shocked beyond words, ¡°Why are there men¡¯s pajamas here?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re mine.¡±

    ¡°When did you sleep here?¡±

    ¡°I came earlier in the day and had someone delivered the pajamas to me. Don¡¯t worry. I have my suit

    and shirt for tomorrow as well.¡±

    Ning Ran took in a deep breath to calm herself down. I am not worried about you! Your arrangement is

    tooprehensive for my liking!

    ¡°Do you have the keys to my house since you havee earlier in the day?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Cheng gave me the keys,¡± replied Nan Chen honestly.

    This Cheng Xiangyun is a traitor! How can she give the keys to a house which is upied by only two

    women, to a man, even if that man is Nan Chen!

    ¡°I think you better go home. I feel that it is inappropriate for you to stay overnight here.¡±

    Nan Chen turned around at her words, ¡°Why is it inappropriate?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a woman and you¡¯re a man. That¡¯s the reason,¡± replied Ning Ran bluntly.

    ¡°I did not say I want to sleep with you.¡±

    Ning Ran blushed at his words. That¡¯s so crude. So Master Chen, who is usually gentlemanly, can be

    so frivolous at times.

    ¡°It¡¯s really inappropriate. Please go home now. Thanks for apanying the kids for dinner.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not leaving,¡± rejected Nan Chen outrightly.

    After speaking, he turned around and headed to the bathroom in the guestroom with the set of pajamas

    in his hands.

    ¡°How can you behave in this way? Even if you have the keys, you should not enter the house at your

    whim, especially when the female owner of the house is not home.¡±

    ¡°There won¡¯t be a next time.¡±

    Nan Chen softened his stance, hoping to appease Ning Ran.

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention about next time. Let¡¯s focus on this time. How embarrassing will it be if Cheng returns!¡±

    ¡°She will at the earliest, return ten dayster.¡±

    Ning Ran asked, astounded, ¡°Tell me, did you arrange for her business trip on purpose?

    Nan Chen did not reply to her question, but provided a more astonishing reply in return, ¡°Let¡¯s spend

    some time with the kids these few days okay? They have missed out on too much in their life.¡±

    Spend some time with the kids? Does he mean he intends to stay here for more than one night?

    ¡°Sir Chen, you can¡¯t be thinking of staying here long-term?¡±

    ¡°Depends on the time. If my work ends toote, then I won¡¯t return for fear of disturbing you and the

    kids.¡±

    So conversely, he wants to return to my house if his work does not end toote?

    ¡°Sir Chen, I have no intention to let you stay here on a long-term basis. I¡¯m d you want to return the

    kids to me, but I¡­¡±

    ¡°I did not return the kids to you. They are yours, to begin with. You think too much.¡± Nan Chen

    interrupted her.

    Then without further ado, he went straight into the bathroom.

    Ning Ran could not follow him in, so she had to let it go.

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 268

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 268

    Ning Ran retired to her bedroom after Nan Chen went into the bathroom. Shey awake, tossing and

    turning in her bed. What¡¯s worse, my mind is full of Poker Face! What¡¯s wrong with me? Why am I

    always thinking about him?

    Suddenly, Ning Ran thought she heard something outside her room. Has Nan Chen left?

    Ning Ran tip-toed to her door. The moment she opened her door, she was met with a towering figure

    standing right outside her room.

    She was caught off guard and almost let out an rmed shriek before he covered her mouth swiftly

    and pushed her back into her room. Her mind went nk for a moment in her panic.

    What does he want? Could he be¡­?

    ¡°Don¡¯t scream. You¡¯ll wake the kids up,¡± warned Nan Chen in a low voice. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare to do

    anything to me! Otherwise, I will sue you for¡­¡±

    ¡°Dream on,¡± said Nan Chen coldly. Hearing his reply, Ning Ran bristled with anger. What does he mean

    by asking me to dream on? It is evident you want to rape me, how dare you deny it?

    By now, Nan Chen had let go of her and walked to another side. He was distracted by her scent,

    almost causing him to give in to his desires. Therefore, to be on the side of caution, he had walked

    away from her quickly.

    ¡°Then what do you want? Get out. This is my bedroom.¡± ¡°I know this is your bedroom.¡± Nan Chen sat

    down on the tiny sofa in the bedroom. ¡°Then why are you here?¡±

    ¡°Erbao woke up twice. She said her friends¡¯ parents sleep together in one bedroom and asked me why

    we aren¡¯t in the same bedroom. I can¡¯t give her a proper exnation, so I have toe here.¡±

    Well, he seldom talks so much at one go. Now I get it. ¡°Erbao is just nosy,¡± Ning Ran said. ¡°Don¡¯t say

    that of her.¡±

    Wow, now he¡¯s favoring her. ¡°Okay, fine. Then you just sit here for the whole night. Don¡¯t you dare to

    molest me while I¡¯m sleeping!¡±

    ¡°Dream on!¡± That same darned sentence again. ¡°You¡¯re the one dreaming!¡± Ning Ran retorted. She

    turned away from him in a huff andy on her bed. Feeling insecure, she wrapped herself up in her

    quilt.

    Feeling a bit guilty towards Nan Chen for telling him to sit on the sofa the entire night, she threw a

    pillow to him.

    Nan Chen caught it andy down on the sofa, putting the pillow behind his head.

    The sofa in the bedroom was too small and shaped like a crescent moon. One could only sit on it to

    read a book or the like, but it was absolutely not meant to be used for sleeping.

    Furthermore, Nan Chen was so tall, with such long legs.

    His legs extended far beyond the sofa once hey on it.

    After a while, it was too ufortable for him. He readjusted his position by cing his legs on the

    floor, but it was still ufortable.

    In the end, he decided to get up and put his pillow on the bed.

    Ning Ran heard him moving around in the pitch-ck darkness and was on the alert immediately,

    ¡°What do you want?¡±

    ¡°Sleep.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you sleeping on the sofa?¡±

    ¡°Too short.¡± His answer was short and crisp.

    He had alreadyid down on the bed. Fortunately for Ning Ran, the bed was big enough to

    amodate him without invading her personal space.

    Ning Ran initially wanted him to get up but eventually decided against it. It is impossible. Even if I throw

    a fit at him, he also will not get up obediently. Furthermore, it seems like he only wants to sleep. He

    appears to be tired, letting him sleep on the sofa maybe a little too hard on him. In this case, I can live

    with him sharing my bed for one night.

    Ning Ran was dead tired and dozed off in an instant.

    On the other hand, Nan Chen was having difficulty sleeping as hey beside her, listening to the sound

    of her breathing. Her faint, sweet scent filled the air.

    He was really tired, but he could not sleep.

    I must calm down. I must calm down.

    Repeating this over and over in his head, he seemed to have calmed down slightly, particrly after

    taking a few deep breaths. Soon, he fell asleep.

    It was already 7am when Ning Ran woke up.

    She looked at Nan Chen beside her. He¡¯s still sleeping.

    His hair was slightly tousled, and he slept t on his back. Even his sleeping face was so solemn.

    It is gettingte. Time to wake up.

    Gently, Ning Ran got out of the bed, but despite her best efforts to keep quiet, she still made some

    noise.

    The next second, Nan Chen had woken up and leapt out of bed after tidying his hair.

    He doesn¡¯t even waste a minute getting out of bed. His movements are deft and quick as if he has

    received military training before.

    Ning Ran looked at him, dumbfounded. His gaze was fixed on her too.

    Her hair was tousled and fell loose on her shoulders, giving her an air of unpolished beauty.

    Nan Chen had never seen this side of Ning Ran before.

    Realizing he was staring at her, Ning Ran was about to flee out of the bedroom when she heard a

    knocking on the door. Erbao¡¯s voice drifted in from the other side of the door, ¡°Mommy, Daddy!¡±

    Ning Ran responded to her with a ¡®Hmm¡¯.

    ¡°Wake up! The sun¡¯s up and shining!¡± Erbao shouted.

    ¡°Okay, stop shouting. We¡¯re getting up.¡±

    The door opened, and Erbao revealed to be standing at the doorway. She first looked at Ning Ran,

    then at Nan Chen.

    A satisfied, happy grin spread over her face. A burst of warmth welled up in her.

    Nan Chen scooped her up in his arms and walked towards the living room.

    Ning Ran followed behind them. Erbao winked at her over Nan Chen¡¯s shoulder with a meaning grin.

    Ning Ran rolled her eyes at her. This kid thinks too much!

    After brushing her teeth, someone rang the doorbell.

    Someone was here to deliver a sumptuous breakfast, which caused Erbao to scream out in joy.

    ¡°We usually prepare our own breakfast. Don¡¯t bother ordering breakfast next time.¡±

    ¡°The kids are used to the breakfast in the Nan family, so I have specially ordered them to deliver it over.

    Dig in.¡±

    Ning Ran was stumped for words.

    When I used to make breakfast for the kids, I would keep the costs to the minimal so long as the

    breakfast was sufficiently nutritious.

    Ning Ran would definitely not be able toe up with the type of breakfast before her.

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    How can the kids be contented with the noodles and eggs I cook, now that they are used to such

    extravagant breakfast? Have they be ustomed to thevish lifestyle in the Nan family and

    would not return to the times when we only have each other?

    ¡°Mommy¡¯s breakfast is yummy too! We also like it! We want to eat the breakfast Mommy makes

    tomorrow!¡± Dabao said on purpose to lift Ning Ran¡¯s mood, upon sensing that she was feeling down.

    Ning Ran perked up immediately.

    Dabao is such a good kid! Well, if I¡¯m to be honest, this breakfast is sumptuous! If I¡¯m the kids, I would

    choose the superb breakfast prepared by the Nan family too.

    Gradually, Ning Ran started to tuck into the breakfast too.

    Of course, I must enjoy the sumptuous breakfast.

    Suddenly, she realized Nan Chen was staring at her as she wolfed down the food. But it was toote.

    Ning Ran wiped her mouth with a piece of tissue, ¡°I ate too little for dinnerst night, so I am particrly

    famished this morning.¡±

    ¡°Mommy ate a lotst night too,¡± Erbao chipped in happily, hitting Ning Ran¡¯s sore spot. However, she

    regretted immediately once she realized her words might cause Ning Ran embarrassment. Lowering

    her head guiltily, she muttered, ¡°Actually, the amount I eat is simr to Mommy¡¯s.¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 269

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 269

    The chauffeur was already waiting for them by the time they were done with breakfast.

    Nan Chen needed to rush for a meeting, so he had no time to send Ning Ran and the kids to school.

    Thus he had tasked his chauffeur who doubled up as his bodyguard to send them instead.

    The chauffeur was a sharp-looking fellow with slightly tanned skin and surprisingly white teeth when he

    smiled.

    ¡°Third Madam.¡±

    This was the first time Ning Ran was being greeted this way. Third Madam?

    ¡°How did you just address me?¡±

    ¡°Sir Chen is the Third Young Master, so naturally you must be Third Madam. I should greet you as

    Young Mistress, but I have no choice but to greet you as Third Madam to distinguish you from the other

    madams,¡± exined the chauffeur politely.

    Well, it sounds logical. Ning Ran knew Nan Chen was used to being greeted as Third Young Master.

    Even Zheng Lunlun greeted him as his Third Uncle.

    But both ¡®Third Uncle¡¯ or ¡®Third Young Master¡¯ sound fine. Why does ¡®Third Madam¡¯ make me sound

    like his mistress?

    ¡°Third Madam, what have I done wrong?¡± The chauffeur asked warily, detecting a shift in Ning Ran¡¯s

    mood.

    ¡°Oh, you have done nothing wrong. Actually, you don¡¯t need to be so polite. Just greet me as Ding.¡±

    ¡°No, I can¡¯t. I cannot flout the rules. The Nan family ces much emphasis on house rules and

    discipline. One would be in a mess without discipline.¡±

    Ning Ran was impressed with his inspiring speech. This boy speaks well. It is a pity he is only a

    chauffeur.

    ¡°How long have you worked in the Nan family?¡±

    ¡°Over a year. I am a poor student sponsored by Sir Chen. Since I graduated from university, I¡¯ve been

    working in one of the subsidiarypanies under Nanshi Corporation as a sales personnel.¡±

    So he is a university graduate! No wonder he speaks so well. But why is he working as a chauffeur if

    he is a university graduate?

    Guessing her thoughts, he continued, ¡°Actually, I am only Sir Chen¡¯s trainee personal assistant only. He

    sets very high expectations for his assistant, who is required to understand his lifestyle very well. So,

    I¡¯m still learning.¡±

    Ning Ran did not really understand his role, but she surmised that he was someone Nan Chen trusted.

    A sudden thought struck her, ¡°Then do you know Luo Fei?¡±

    ¡°I know. She is Sir Chen¡¯s ex-girlfriend.¡±

    ¡°Then did you refer her as Third Madam too?¡±

    Even she was abashed, asking the question.

    Why did I ask that? What do I want by asking the question?

    He smiled, ¡°No. The Nan family does not have much contact with Ms. Luo.¡±

    ¡°Is she not your Third Young Master¡¯s girlfriend? Why didn¡¯t you have much contact with her?¡±

    ¡°By right, we should notment too much on Sir Chen¡¯s matters. But Luo Fei is merely Sir Chen¡¯s

    girlfriend in name. They don¡¯t have much contact.¡±

    ¡°Okay, never mind. I¡¯m just curious. It¡¯s only a casual question.¡±

    The young man only smiled and did notment further.

    ¡°What is your name?¡±

    ¡°I am Wang Cheng.¡±

    ¡°Okay, shall we be friends from now on?¡±

    Wang Cheng was a trainee personal assistant and knew a lot about the Nan family¡¯s affairs. Ning Ran

    believed she could befriend him.

    At least, I can find out more about the Nan family from him. It doesn¡¯t hurt to have more friends.

    ¡°Thank you, Third Madam. I will be d to.¡±

    ¡°Great. I¡¯ll treat you to a meal one day.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Third Madam.¡±

    ¡°Oh yes, doesn¡¯t Sir Chen have a girlfriend now?¡±

    ¡°I think no. Why do you say that?¡±

    ¡°I saw him with a beautifuldy once when we went for dinner. He is such a busy man, and seldom

    apanies a woman for dinner, I guess she must be his new girlfriend.¡±

    Wang Cheng smiled, ¡°I don¡¯t know who thedy is, but I¡¯m sure Sir Chen does not have a new

    girlfriend. Sir Chen is different from Fourth Young Master, and is not particrly interested in the

    beautifuldies even if they throw themselves at him.¡±

    Ning Ran wanted to pry further, but she was worried about being deemed as a nosy parker if she

    continued asking. Thus she decided against it.

    Ning Ran dropped off the two kids in front of the school. Erbao kissed her on the cheek sweetly to bid

    farewell, ¡°Goodbye Mommy, see youter.¡±

    ¡°Bye darlings.¡±

    Ning Ran waved her hands, and only returned to the car after seeing them enter the school safely.

    After reaching the film set, Ning Ran thanked Wang Cheng and started on her hectic filming schedule.

    Other than her lunchtime, she had no other time to rest at all.

    Finally, her scenes werepleted at 6 pm. She heaved a long sigh of relief. Finally! I¡¯m dead beat!

    Outside the film set, the car Nan Chen had sent for her had arrived.

    This time, it was Qiao Zhan instead of Wang Cheng.

    ¡°Hello, Ms. Ding.¡±

    Qiao Zhan was savvier and greeted her as Ms. Ding instead of other various fanciful titles such as

    ¡®Young Mistress¡¯ or ¡®Third Madam¡¯ because he knew Ning Ran did not like them.

    ¡°Thank you for fetching me, Captain Qiao. I could have taken a cab myself and im the fare from Sir

    Chen,¡± Ning Ran joked.

    Qiao Zhan smiled too, ¡°Protecting Ms. Ding, Little Master and Little Miss is the main priority of the

    Security team.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Captain Qiao. I¡¯m ttered as I haven¡¯t enjoyed such privileged treatment before.¡±

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    ¡°You will get used to it soon. Please contact me directly in the future if you have any requirement.

    There are a lot of matters that I can settle on my own without rming Sir Chen and that little eunuch.¡±

    ¡°Little eunuch?¡±

    ¡°Haha, I¡¯m referring to Jiang Zhe.¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s curiosity was piqued, ¡°Why do you refer to him as a little eunuch?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just joking.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure there is a reason. Come on, tell me since we have nothing to do now.¡±

    ¡°I feel that Assistant Jiang is akin to the eunuch serving the emperor in the olden times, as Sir Chen

    trusts him very much. So, I¡¯m only joking by referring to him as a little eunuch.¡±

    ¡°Sir Chen also ces a lot of trust in you. You and Assistant Jiang are the most trustworthy people

    around him.¡±

    ¡°I cannot match up to that little eunuch. He is too good at talking and reading others¡¯ minds. I am

    nothing but a boor who can only perform my duty quietly.¡±

    Qiao Zhan curled his lip at the mention of Jiang Zhe.

    Actually, Ning Ran also felt that Jiang Zhe was too glib and unlikable. Furthermore, he will be Nan

    Chen¡¯s main aplice, if I am to deal with Nan Chen in the future.

    Maybe winning over Qiao Zhan will be a good strategy.

    ¡°Assistant Jiang is brilliant at work, as he is smooth and slick. But Captain Qiao is loyal and will die to

    protect one at the most critical moment. You deserve more respect.¡± Ning Ran dered her support to

    him.

    Herpliments puffed up his ego.

    ¡°Thank you for yourpliments, Ms. Ding. Your problems are mine in the future. I shall kill whoever

    offends Ms. Ding!¡±

 Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 270

    Celebrity Girl Is My Wife Chapter 270

    It seems like my rtionship with this boorish guy is improving after all the chit-chatting. This was

    exactly the oue Ning Ran was hoping for.

    Nan Chen is so powerful; he can almost control my life. His strengthes with its pros and cons. If I

    am in his good books, he will be my backing, ensuring that I live a worry-free life. Conversely, if I defy

    him, I will face mounting pressure from him.

    Ning Ran was well aware that given her temper, there would be a time when she defied his

    wishes. Therefore, she was nning to reduce the resources that Nan Chen could use against her so

    that ready support would be avable when she quarreled with Nan Chen. ¡°We¡¯ve reached, Ms. Ding.¡±

    Upon hearing Qian Zhan¡¯s voice, Ning Ran was jolted back from her thoughts. Raising her head, Ning

    Ran realized she was back at the same supermarket she had visited yesterday.

    ¡°I came here yesterday. There¡¯s no need to shop here today.¡± ¡°Sir Chen asked me to send you here.

    My task is aplished. He is waiting for you inside.¡± ¡°What is he up to again?¡±

    Ning Ran alighted from the car and entered the supermarket. Walking around the supermarket, she

    finally found Nan Chen in the seafood area and was astounded to notice that he was pushing a trolley

    full of groceries and snacks.

    He is shopping alone, without anyone following behind him! What¡¯s more shocking is that the items in

    his trolley, in particr, the food ingredients are the same as the ones we bought yesterday!

    ¡°Done. Let¡¯s go,¡± said Nan Chen to Ning Ran.

    ¡°Sir Chen, we bought these items yesterday,¡± reminded Ning Ran.

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to buy them today if we bought them yesterday. Why do you want to buy the same

    items?¡± Ning Ran asked, puzzled.

    Nan Chen did not answer her.

    When they reached their turn at the cashier, she swiped Nan Chen¡¯s card just like yesterday.

    However, when she wanted to return the card back to Nan Chen, he declined, saying, ¡°You can keep

    it.¡±

    ¡°Oh, are you giving me a credit card? How much is the card limit?¡±

    Ning Ran analyzed the ck credit card in her hand with interest. Is this the legendary rich man¡¯s card?

    ¡°Enough for you to spend.¡±

    ¡°So if I overspend, will this card be suspended?¡±

    ¡°It won¡¯t be, so long as you don¡¯t buy over the entire.¡±

    Ning Ran was amused, ¡°So you can tell jokes too? This is such a rare sight. That¡¯s the way to go. Why

    do you put on such a stern face all the time?¡±

    Nan Chen gazed at her coldly, ¡°I¡¯m not joking.¡±

    ¡°Hahaha, is this also a joke? Are you sure I can buy the whole with this card?¡±

    Nan Chen kept quiet and pushed the trolley in the direction of the supermarket¡¯s exit.

    Ning Ran followed him at his heels, noticing the envious looks from the female customers surrounding

    them.

    I should not go out with this fellow so often. Otherwise, I will suffer from the other women¡¯s jealous

    wrath.

    When they reached the carpark entrance, employees dressed in formal suits took over the trolley from

    Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen then led Ning Ran towards a blue sports car.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you want the groceries?¡±

    ¡°They will deliver the groceries to the house.¡±

    Ning Ran circled the sports car. Does Poker Face drive such a shy car? Doesn¡¯t he always drive the

    ever-serious Rolls-Royce? So he¡¯s into sports cars now?

    ¡°Not to your liking? Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°No, no. I like it. It¡¯s such an expensive car. Of course, I like it.¡± Ning Ran waved her hands frantically.

    ¡°Then do you want to test drive it?¡± Nan Chen threw a car key over to her.

    ¡°No, no. I¡¯m not testing it.¡±

    My driving skills are not the best, to begin with. This car is so expensive. I won¡¯t be able to afford the

    compensation if I damage it! I¡¯m knee-deep in debts already. How can I live on if my debts pile on!

    ¡°Test it.¡±

    Amused at the sight of Ning Ran having cold feet, Nan Chen insisted on her testing the car.

    ¡°No!¡±

    ¡°Test it!¡±

    ¡°I really don¡¯t want to test it!¡±

    ¡°Just test it!¡±

    Just like this, the attractive couple circled the car while quarrelling, all for the sake of a silly point ¨C Did

    Ning Ran want to test drive the car?

    ¡°Fine, I will test it.¡± Ning Ran gave up in resignation.

    Fine, I¡¯ll test it then. What¡¯s the big deal?

    Thest time Ning Ran test-drove the car, she had driven it at the speed of a snail.

    Sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, she started the engine after putting on her seat belt. The car roared to life,

    causing Ning Ran to almost jump out of her skin.

    Just like thest time, Ning Ran stepped lightly on the elerator, and the car jumped forward like a

    ferocious leopard.

    Seeing that she was almost about to bang into the car in front of her, she stepped hard on the brakes

    frantically. The car screeched to an abrupt stop.

    Guiltily, Ning Ran looked at Nan Chen who was standing aside. Nan Chen appeared to be nonchnt

    with his typical indifferent expression.

    Let me see if you will be so calm if I crash into amp pole!

    ¡°Continue,¡± ordered Nan Chen calmly.

    ¡°Master Chen, I guess the level of my driving skills is apparent to you. Must I really continue?¡± Ning

    Ran pulled a long face.

    ¡°Continue,¡± Nan Chen repeated.

    Thus, Ning Ran started the engine again.

    With the lesson learnt from her previous experience, Ning Ran was more careful now.

    She slowly drove the car out of the carpark and merged into the bustling traffic on the road.

    Ning Ran held on to the steering wheel tightly, her eyes staring intently on the road before her, fearing

    she might make a mistake.

    Looking at her, the corners of Nan Chen¡¯s mouth curved slightly upwards.

    This woman is so stupid. She gets this nervous while driving a car. Wouldn¡¯t she pass out if I asked her

    to drive a ne?

    The cars behind her could not stand her anymore and honked their horns at her continuously.

    When they overtook her, they made it a point to look at the driver of this magnificent sports car. Who is

    the person who can drive at such a slow speed? What an insult to this car!

    The second they saw her beautiful face and the gorgeous, albeit cold man beside her, the words of

    curses choked in their throats.

    So pretty. Forget it. I can forgive her even if she drives at an even slower speed. Furthermore, the man

    beside her doesn¡¯t look like a pushover. I will get into trouble if I scold her.

    In this snobbish society, one could easily identify who they could bully or vice versa.

    Luckily for Ning Ran, she did not knock into any car normp pole along the way to Red Maple City.

    Of course, it was not due to her driving skills, but rather because she simply drove too slowly.

    Have anyone seen a snail knocking into any objects? Of course not.

    Ning Ran had driven as fast as a snail. Of course, she would not get into an ident along the way.

    ¡°Oh yeah!¡± Ning Ran yelled out in triumph.

    Upon reaching her destination, Ning Ran swelled up with pride, thinking she had aplished a major

    feat in her life again!

    On the other hand, disdain was spelt all over Nan Chen¡¯s face. She really is shameless. How can she

    celebrate when she has driven so horrendously?

    The men delivering the groceries from the supermarket had arrived long ago and were waiting

    anxiously in front of the door.

    Wang Cheng had fetched the kids from school a while ago, and he left after Ning Ran returned home.

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    No helper is allowed in this vi. That was Nan Chen¡¯s principle.

 Chapter 271

    Chapter 271

    The chauffeur was already waiting for them by the time they were done with breakfast.

    Nan Chen needed to rush for a meeting, so he had no time to send Ning Ran and the kids to school.

    Thus he had tasked his chauffeur who doubled up as his bodyguard to send them instead.

    The chauffeur was a sharp-looking fellow with slightly tanned skin and surprisingly white teeth when he

    smiled.

    ¡°Third Madam.¡±

    This was the first time Ning Ran was being greeted this way. Third Madam?

    ¡°How did you just address me?¡±

    ¡°Sir Chen is the Third Young Master, so naturally you must be Third Madam. I should greet you as

    Young Mistress, but I have no choice but to greet you as Third Madam to distinguish you from the other

    madams,¡± exined the chauffeur politely.

    Well, it sounds logical. Ning Ran knew Nan Chen was used to being greeted as Third Young Master.

    Even Zheng Lunlun greeted him as his Third Uncle.

    But both ¡®Third Uncle¡¯ or ¡®Third Young Master¡¯ sound fine. Why does ¡®Third Madam¡¯ make me sound

    like his mistress?

    ¡°Third Madam, what have I done wrong?¡± The chauffeur asked warily, detecting a shift in Ning Ran¡¯s

    mood.

    ¡°Oh, you have done nothing wrong. Actually, you don¡¯t need to be so polite. Just greet me as Ding.¡±

    ¡°No, I can¡¯t. I cannot flout the rules. The Nan family ces much emphasis on house rules and

    discipline. One would be in a mess without discipline.¡±

    Ning Ran was impressed with his inspiring speech. This boy speaks well. It is a pity he is only a

    chauffeur.

    ¡°How long have you worked in the Nan family?¡±

    ¡°Over a year. I am a poor student sponsored by Sir Chen. Since I graduated from university, I¡¯ve been

    working in one of the subsidiarypanies under Nanshi Corporation as a sales personnel.¡±

    So he is a university graduate! No wonder he speaks so well. But why is he working as a chauffeur if

    he is a university graduate?

    Guessing her thoughts, he continued, ¡°Actually, I am only Sir Chen¡¯s trainee personal assistant only. He

    sets very high expectations for his assistant, who is required to understand his lifestyle very well. So,

    I¡¯m still learning.¡±

    Ning Ran did not really understand his role, but she surmised that he was someone Nan Chen trusted.

    A sudden thought struck her, ¡°Then do you know Luo Fei?¡±

    ¡°I know. She is Sir Chen¡¯s ex-girlfriend.¡±

    ¡°Then did you refer her as Third Madam too?¡±

    Even she was abashed, asking the question.

    Why did I ask that? What do I want by asking the question?

    He smiled, ¡°No. The Nan family does not have much contact with Ms. Luo.¡±

    ¡°Is she not your Third Young Master¡¯s girlfriend? Why didn¡¯t you have much contact with her?¡±

    ¡°By right, we should notment too much on Sir Chen¡¯s matters. But Luo Fei is merely Sir Chen¡¯s

    girlfriend in name. They don¡¯t have much contact.¡±

    ¡°Okay, never mind. I¡¯m just curious. It¡¯s only a casual question.¡±

    The young man only smiled and did notment further.

    ¡°What is your name?¡±

    ¡°I am Wang Cheng.¡±

    ¡°Okay, shall we be friends from now on?¡±

    Wang Cheng was a trainee personal assistant and knew a lot about the Nan family¡¯s affairs. Ning Ran

    believed she could befriend him.

    At least, I can find out more about the Nan family from him. It doesn¡¯t hurt to have more friends.

    ¡°Thank you, Third Madam. I will be d to.¡±

    ¡°Great. I¡¯ll treat you to a meal one day.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Third Madam.¡±

    ¡°Oh yes, doesn¡¯t Sir Chen have a girlfriend now?¡±

    ¡°I think no. Why do you say that?¡±

    ¡°I saw him with a beautifuldy once when we went for dinner. He is such a busy man, and seldom

    apanies a woman for dinner, I guess she must be his new girlfriend.¡±

    Wang Cheng smiled, ¡°I don¡¯t know who thedy is, but I¡¯m sure Sir Chen does not have a new

    girlfriend. Sir Chen is different from Fourth Young Master, and is not particrly interested in the

    beautifuldies even if they throw themselves at him.¡±

    Ning Ran wanted to pry further, but she was worried about being deemed as a nosy parker if she

    continued asking. Thus she decided against it.

    Ning Ran dropped off the two kids in front of the school. Erbao kissed her on the cheek sweetly to bid

    farewell, ¡°Goodbye Mommy, see youter.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    ¡°Bye darlings.¡±

    Ning Ran waved her hands, and only returned to the car after seeing them enter the school safely.

    After reaching the film set, Ning Ran thanked Wang Cheng and started on her hectic filming schedule.

    Other than her lunchtime, she had no other time to rest at all.

    Finally, her scenes werepleted at 6 pm. She heaved a long sigh of relief. Finally! I¡¯m dead beat!

    Outside the film set, the car Nan Chen had sent for her had arrived.

    This time, it was Qiao Zhan instead of Wang Cheng.

    ¡°Hello, Ms. Ding.¡±

    Qiao Zhan was savvier and greeted her as Ms. Ding instead of other various fanciful titles such as

    ¡®Young Mistress¡¯ or ¡®Third Madam¡¯ because he knew Ning Ran did not like them.

    ¡°Thank you for fetching me, Captain Qiao. I could have taken a cab myself and im the fare from Sir

    Chen,¡± Ning Ran joked.

    Qiao Zhan smiled too, ¡°Protecting Ms. Ding, Little Master and Little Miss is the main priority of the

    Security team.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Captain Qiao. I¡¯m ttered as I haven¡¯t enjoyed such privileged treatment before.¡±

    ¡°You will get used to it soon. Please contact me directly in the future if you have any requirement.

    There are a lot of matters that I can settle on my own without rming Sir Chen and that little eunuch.¡±

    ¡°Little eunuch?¡±

    ¡°Haha, I¡¯m referring to Jiang Zhe.¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s curiosity was piqued, ¡°Why do you refer to him as a little eunuch?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just joking.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure there is a reason. Come on, tell me since we have nothing to do now.¡±

    ¡°I feel that Assistant Jiang is akin to the eunuch serving the emperor in the olden times, as Sir Chen

    trusts him very much. So, I¡¯m only joking by referring to him as a little eunuch.¡±

    ¡°Sir Chen also ces a lot of trust in you. You and Assistant Jiang are the most trustworthy people

    around him.¡±

    ¡°I cannot match up to that little eunuch. He is too good at talking and reading others¡¯ minds. I am

    nothing but a boor who can only perform my duty quietly.¡±

    Qiao Zhan curled his lip at the mention of Jiang Zhe.

    Actually, Ning Ran also felt that Jiang Zhe was too glib and unlikable. Furthermore, he will be Nan

    Chen¡¯s main aplice, if I am to deal with Nan Chen in the future.

    Maybe winning over Qiao Zhan will be a good strategy.

    ¡°Assistant Jiang is brilliant at work, as he is smooth and slick. But Captain Qiao is loyal and will die to

    protect one at the most critical moment. You deserve more respect.¡± Ning Ran dered her support to

    him.

    Herpliments puffed up his ego.

    ¡°Thank you for yourpliments, Ms. Ding. Your problems are mine in the future. I shall kill whoever

    offends Ms. Ding!¡±

 Chapter 272

    Chapter 272

    It seems like my rtionship with this boorish guy is improving after all the chit-chatting.

    This was exactly the oue Ning Ran was hoping for.

    Nan Chen is so powerful; he can almost control my life. His strengthes with its pros and cons. If I

    am in his good books, he will be my backing, ensuring that I live a worry-free life. Conversely, if I defy

    him, I will face mounting pressure from him.

    Ning Ran was well aware that given her temper, there would be a time when she defied his wishes.

    Therefore, she was nning to reduce the resources that Nan Chen could use against her so that

    ready support would be avable when she quarreled with Nan Chen.

    ¡°We¡¯ve reached, Ms. Ding.¡±

    Upon hearing Qian Zhan¡¯s voice, Ning Ran was jolted back from her thoughts.

    Raising her head, Ning Ran realized she was back at the same supermarket she had visited yesterday.

    ¡°I came here yesterday. There¡¯s no need to shop here today.¡±

    ¡°Sir Chen asked me to send you here. My task is aplished. He is waiting for you inside.¡±

    ¡°What is he up to again?¡±

    Ning Ran alighted from the car and entered the supermarket.

    Walking around the supermarket, she finally found Nan Chen in the seafood area and was astounded

    to notice that he was pushing a trolley full of groceries and snacks.

    He is shopping alone, without anyone following behind him! What¡¯s more shocking is that the items in

    his trolley, in particr, the food ingredients are the same as the ones we bought yesterday!

    ¡°Done. Let¡¯s go,¡± said Nan Chen to Ning Ran.

    ¡°Sir Chen, we bought these items yesterday,¡± reminded Ning Ran.

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to buy them today if we bought them yesterday. Why do you want to buy the same

    items?¡± Ning Ran asked, puzzled.

    Nan Chen did not answer her.

    When they reached their turn at the cashier, she swiped Nan Chen¡¯s card just like yesterday.

    However, when she wanted to return the card back to Nan Chen, he declined, saying, ¡°You can keep

    it.¡±

    ¡°Oh, are you giving me a credit card? How much is the card limit?¡±

    Ning Ran analyzed the ck credit card in her hand with interest. Is this the legendary rich man¡¯s card?

    ¡°Enough for you to spend.¡±

    ¡°So if I overspend, will this card be suspended?¡±

    ¡°It won¡¯t be, so long as you don¡¯t buy over the entire.¡±

    Ning Ran was amused, ¡°So you can tell jokes too? This is such a rare sight. That¡¯s the way to go. Why

    do you put on such a stern face all the time?¡±

    Nan Chen gazed at her coldly, ¡°I¡¯m not joking.¡±

    ¡°Hahaha, is this also a joke? Are you sure I can buy the whole with this card?¡±

    Nan Chen kept quiet and pushed the trolley in the direction of the supermarket¡¯s exit.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran followed him at his heels, noticing the envious looks from the female customers surrounding

    them.

    I should not go out with this fellow so often. Otherwise, I will suffer from the other women¡¯s jealous

    wrath.

    When they reached the carpark entrance, employees dressed in formal suits took over the trolley from

    Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen then led Ning Ran towards a blue sports car.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you want the groceries?¡±

    ¡°They will deliver the groceries to the house.¡±

    Ning Ran circled the sports car. Does Poker Face drive such a shy car? Doesn¡¯t he always drive the

    ever-serious Rolls-Royce? So he¡¯s into sports cars now?

    ¡°Not to your liking? Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°No, no. I like it. It¡¯s such an expensive car. Of course, I like it.¡± Ning Ran waved her hands frantically.

    ¡°Then do you want to test drive it?¡± Nan Chen threw a car key over to her.

    ¡°No, no. I¡¯m not testing it.¡±

    My driving skills are not the best, to begin with. This car is so expensive. I won¡¯t be able to afford the

    compensation if I damage it! I¡¯m knee-deep in debts already. How can I live on if my debts pile on!

    ¡°Test it.¡±

    Amused at the sight of Ning Ran having cold feet, Nan Chen insisted on her testing the car.

    ¡°No!¡±

    ¡°Test it!¡±

    ¡°I really don¡¯t want to test it!¡±

    ¡°Just test it!¡±

    Just like this, the attractive couple circled the car while quarrelling, all for the sake of a silly point - Did

    Ning Ran want to test drive the car?

    ¡°Fine, I will test it.¡± Ning Ran gave up in resignation.

    Fine, I¡¯ll test it then. What¡¯s the big deal?

    Thest time Ning Ran test-drove the car, she had driven it at the speed of a snail.

    Sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, she started the engine after putting on her seat belt. The car roared to life,

    causing Ning Ran to almost jump out of her skin.

    Just like thest time, Ning Ran stepped lightly on the elerator, and the car jumped forward like a

    ferocious leopard.

    Seeing that she was almost about to bang into the car in front of her, she stepped hard on the brakes

    frantically. The car screeched to an abrupt stop.

    Guiltily, Ning Ran looked at Nan Chen who was standing aside. Nan Chen appeared to be nonchnt

    with his typical indifferent expression.

    Let me see if you will be so calm if I crash into amp pole!

    ¡°Continue,¡± ordered Nan Chen calmly.

    ¡°Master Chen, I guess the level of my driving skills is apparent to you. Must I really continue?¡± Ning

    Ran pulled a long face.

    ¡°Continue,¡± Nan Chen repeated.

    Thus, Ning Ran started the engine again.

    With the lesson learnt from her previous experience, Ning Ran was more careful now.

    She slowly drove the car out of the carpark and merged into the bustling traffic on the road.

    Ning Ran held on to the steering wheel tightly, her eyes staring intently on the road before her, fearing

    she might make a mistake.

    Looking at her, the corners of Nan Chen¡¯s mouth curved slightly upwards.

    This woman is so stupid. She gets this nervous while driving a car. Wouldn¡¯t she pass out if I asked her

    to drive a ne?

    The cars behind her could not stand her anymore and honked their horns at her continuously.

    When they overtook her, they made it a point to look at the driver of this magnificent sports car. Who is

    the person who can drive at such a slow speed? What an insult to this car!

    The second they saw her beautiful face and the gorgeous, albeit cold man beside her, the words of

    curses choked in their throats.

    So pretty. Forget it. I can forgive her even if she drives at an even slower speed. Furthermore, the man

    beside her doesn¡¯t look like a pushover. I will get into trouble if I scold her.

    In this snobbish society, one could easily identify who they could bully or vice versa.

    Luckily for Ning Ran, she did not knock into any car normp pole along the way to Red Maple City.

    Of course, it was not due to her driving skills, but rather because she simply drove too slowly.

    Have anyone seen a snail knocking into any objects? Of course not.

    Ning Ran had driven as fast as a snail. Of course, she would not get into an ident along the way.

    ¡°Oh yeah!¡± Ning Ran yelled out in triumph.

    Upon reaching her destination, Ning Ran swelled up with pride, thinking she had aplished a major

    feat in her life again!

    On the other hand, disdain was spelt all over Nan Chen¡¯s face. She really is shameless. How can she

    celebrate when she has driven so horrendously?

    The men delivering the groceries from the supermarket had arrived long ago and were waiting

    anxiously in front of the door.

    Wang Cheng had fetched the kids from school a while ago, and he left after Ning Ran returned home.

    No helper is allowed in this vi. That was Nan Chen¡¯s principle.

 Chapter 273

    Chapter 273

    Ning Ran went through the groceries again. Indeed, it is the same as what we bought yesterday.

    ¡°Why did we buy them again?¡± Ning Ran asked as she organized the groceries on the table.

    ¡°You picked them yesterday, but not today.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ning Ran asked, baffled.

    ¡°What Daddy means is, Mommy has instructed him to buy them yesterday. But Daddy wants to

    purchase them himself today to ensure he can aplish this task,¡± Dabao exined.

    Nan Chen hasn¡¯t denied it. Is this a tacit admission?

    Ning Ran snickered to herself. Isn¡¯t he too childish? Why is buying groceries from the supermarket

    considered capable? One only needs money to do that. Is there a need to prove himself? Anyway,

    what has he proven if he bought the same things that he bought yesterday?

    Ning Ran even suspected that he had purchased the items ording to the receipt from yesterday.

    ¡°Throw away the items from yesterday. They aren¡¯t fresh.¡± Nan Chen ordered Ning Ran.

    ¡°But they aren¡¯t spoilt. Must we really throw them?¡±

    ¡°Not fresh anymore.¡±

    ¡°Fine since you said so. What a waste. Did you keep the recipe from yesterday so that you can buy the

    groceries from the supermarket ording to it today?

    ¡°No.¡± Nan Chen pointed to his head, implying that he had memorized the long list of groceries.

    Ning Ran did not believe him.

    We bought so much yesterday. Did he really memorize them?

    Noticing the disbelief on her face, Nan Chen nced at Dabao.

    ¡°If I can memorize it, so can Daddy.¡±

    Dabao then began to recite the long list of groceries they had bought yesterday. He was urate to a

    fault.

    Ning Ran knew her son was gifted, but never had she imagined that he was this smart.

    She was now sure that this pair of father and son was superhuman calctors. What might seem

    impossible to others was only a small matter to them.

    What¡¯s more, their mutual trust in each other was touching. Both of them were sure that the other could

    memorize the long list of groceries too.

    Not wanting to be left out, Erbao chipped in, ¡°I can memorize it too!¡±

    Erbao recited a long list of items, but aside from her favorite snacks, everything else was wrong.

    It¡¯s no small feat memorizing her favorite snacks too!

    After Erbao finished her performance, all eyes fell on Ning Ran.

    At this moment, Ning Ran realized that it was now her turn after everyone hadpleted their

    performances.

    But I don¡¯t want to! I can¡¯t do it! I¡¯m famous for my bad memory! It¡¯s my weakness. No, it¡¯s my greatest

    weakness!

    ¡°Haha, I don¡¯t memorize things well. I will adapt the groceries I buy ording to my needs then. There

    is no need to memorize such things.¡± Ning Ran attempted to exin her way out of this awkward

    situation.

    But the rest were not convinced and stared at her expectantly.

    ¡°Fine, I admit that my memory is not as good as you guys. The only thing I can memorize in this world

    is the names of my debtors! But unfortunately, no one owes me money before, so my memory is not

    put to the test. Hence it has deteriorated gradually over time. So let¡¯s not think about this anymore. Our

    most important task now is to cook dinner!¡±

    Ning Ran waved her fists to cheer herself on, attempting to disguise her inferiority.

    The other three then dispersed, with one thing clear in their minds. Mommy is really very weak. Forcing

    her to perform now is akin to humiliating her.

    When Ning Ran was about to start cooking, she realized that Nan Chen had put on an apron and a pair

    of gloves already.

    He signaled for Ning Ran to get out of the kitchen.

    What does he mean? Has Sir Chen really decided to cook personally?

    ¡°Sir Chen, knowing how to cook is good, but it is not the most important thing in the world! You¡¯re such

    an important person who¡¯s meant for important things. Not knowing how to cook is normal.¡±

    Ning Ran subtly tried to convince Sir Chen to retreat from this impossible task.

    No matter how proud you are, you have to admit that there are some things which you can¡¯t master in

    this world.

    But Nan Chen ignored her.

    She bbered on, attempting to persuade him to give up but to no avail.

    Nan Chen continued to ignore her.

    Finally, he grew impatient at her and her nagging and said, ¡°I¡¯m cooking dinner for the kids.¡±

    His mere sentence is enough of an exnation. He has not contributed much towards the kidsst time

    as he does not know of their existence. Now, he is only trying to make up to them as much as possible.

    So he is cooking dinner for the kids, just like any normal father would.

    At this moment, Ning Ron reolized thot it wos now her turn ofter everyone hodpleted their

    performonces.

    But I don¡¯t wont to! I con¡¯t do it! I¡¯m fomous for my bod memory! It¡¯s my weokness. No, it¡¯s my greotest

    weokness!

    ¡°Hoho, I don¡¯t memorize things well. I will odopt the groceries I buy ording to my needs then. There

    is no need to memorize such things.¡± Ning Ron ottempted to exploin her woy out of this owkword

    situotion.

    But the rest were not convinced ond stored ot her expectontly.

    ¡°Fine, I odmit thot my memory is not os good os you guys. The only thing I con memorize in this world

    is the nomes of my debtors! But unfortunotely, no one owes me money before, so my memory is not

    put to the test. Hence it hos deterioroted groduolly over time. So let¡¯s not think obout this onymore. Our

    most importont tosk now is to cook dinner!¡±

    Ning Ron woved her fists to cheer herself on, ottempting to disguise her inferiority.

    The other three then dispersed, with one thing cleor in their minds. Mommy is reolly very weok. Forcing

    her to perform now is okin to humilioting her.

    When Ning Ron wos obout to stort cooking, she reolized thot Non Chen hod put on on opron ond o poir

    of gloves olreody.

    He signoled for Ning Ron to get out of the kitchen.

    Whot does he meon? Hos Sir Chen reolly decided to cook personolly?

    ¡°Sir Chen, knowing how to cook is good, but it is not the most importont thing in the world! You¡¯re such

    on importont person who¡¯s meont for importont things. Not knowing how to cook is normol.¡±

    Ning Ron subtly tried to convince Sir Chen to retreot from this impossible tosk.

    No motter how proud you ore, you hove to odmit thot there ore some things which you con¡¯t moster in

    this world.

    But Non Chen ignored her.

    She blobbered on, ottempting to persuode him to give up but to no ovoil.

    Non Chen continued to ignore her.

    Finolly, he grew impotient ot her ond her nogging ond soid, ¡°I¡¯m cooking dinner for the kids.¡±

    His mere sentence is enough of on explonotion. He hos not contributed much towords the kids lost time

    os he does not know of their existence. Now, he is only trying to moke up to them os much os possible.

    So he is cooking dinner for the kids, just like ony normol fother would.

    Ning Ran understood his train of thoughts. No matter how godly he may seem to be, he is, after all,

    only a human with his own thoughts and emotions.

    ¡°Fine. Since you insist, then I shall not be bothered with you. Keep working hard then.¡±

    Ning Ran was about to retreat from the kitchen, leaving Nan Chen alone in it.

    ¡°Wait.¡±

    ¡°Need me to give you a hand? Or why don¡¯t you be my assistant? I¡¯m more superior than you in terms

    of culinary skills...¡±

    Nan Chen cut her off, ¡°I¡¯m only cooking three dishes and a soup.¡±

    It turned out that he did not need her help but was merely telling her that he could only cook three

    dishes and a soup. That was the best he could do.

    It sounded fine to Ning Ran. Three dishes and soup are enough for two adults and two kids. We are

    only having a normal family dinner, not a banquet.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Okay, then continue working hard. Do you really not need my help?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Fine.¡± This time, Ning Ran managed to retreat from the kitchen.

    ¡°Mommy, can Daddy cook?¡± Even the innocent, wide-eyed Erbao expressed her doubt towards Nan

    Ran¡¯s culinary skills.

    ¡°I guess so?¡± Ning Ran smiled.

    Only Dabao was immersed in his thoughts and did notment.

    ¡°What do you think, Dabao?¡±

    Ning Ran was looking forward to hearing her son¡¯s opinions.

    Dabao shook his head, ¡°Daddy is too eager to win!¡±

    Does he mean he does not think Nan Chen is capable of cooking dinner for them?

    ¡°He intends to cook a proper dinner for you, as he has never done so before. He isn¡¯t too eager to win.¡±

    Ning Ran was stunned by her own words.

    Am I speaking up for Poker Face? Why should I exin on his behalf? He¡¯s a person who¡¯s eager to

    win. That is the fact. What is there for me to exin?

    ¡°Daddy has good intentions but it is evident he can¡¯t do it. Why don¡¯t I help him out? Dabao suggested.

    ¡°No! He doesn¡¯t even want my help, much less a small kid like you. Forget it. Let him be, and we shall

    congratte him after the dinner is ready. He will be more embarrassed if he needs help from a small

    kid.¡±

    Dabao pondered over her words for a second, before nodding his head.

    Mommy is right. Daddy is such a proud man. I shouldn¡¯t hurt his ego.

 Chapter 274

    Chapter 274

    It was at this point Ning Ran realized she might have underestimated Nan Chen¡¯s capability. It didn¡¯t

    even take him an hour to prepare four dishes.

    Erbao apuded enthusiastically and shouted, ¡°Daddy is amazing!¡±

    ¡°Have a taste,¡± said Nan Chen as he appeared to be delighted. It was really rare for him to show such

    emotion.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go first!¡± Erbao extended her chopsticks towards the stir-fried bitter gourd with eggs.

    After putting the egg into her mouth and chewing for a few times, the enthusiasm on her face slowly

    faded. It was reced by a solemn expression.

    Eventually, Erbao stopped chewing altogether and did not swallow her it. She merely looked at Ning

    Ran, hoping Ning Ran woulde to her rescue.

    Looking at Erbao¡¯s expression, Ning Ran knew that there was no way Erbao would have continued

    eating.

    However, Erbao had learnt about proper manners and didn¡¯t dare spit the food out. She had no other

    choice but to keep it in her mouth and wait for her mother to bail her out.

    Unfortunately, Ning Ran couldn¡¯t do that.

    She couldn¡¯t just outright deny Master Chen¡¯s effort. If Erbao were to spit out the food he had cooked,

    there was no doubt it would hurt his pride.

    Nan Chen and Dabao noticed something was off about Erbao, and so they each ced a piece of egg

    into their mouths.

    Nan Chen instantly ran towards the rubbish bin. The food wasn¡¯t just bad; it was abysmal.

    After watching Nan Chen spit out his own food, Ning Ran gave Erbao the green light.

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    It couldn¡¯t have been that bad... Ning Ran thought to herself.

    Ning Ran then took a piece and put into her mouth. She couldn¡¯t take a second bite after.

    It tasted salty, but there was also some strange ingredients in it, causing it to be not only bitter but slimy

    as well.

    Ning Ran spit it out too.

    Nan Chen was unwilling to admit defeat, and so he tried out the other dishes.

    If it wasn¡¯t too salty, it was too sweet. Either way, those vorbinations were not what you would

    like to find in your food.

    The soup was the best out of all of them. Perhaps because it tasted like nothing.

    Sure enough, Master Chen was more suited to manage his own corporation. Making food for his kids

    just wasn¡¯t his forte.

    As the four of them had stopped eating, they were engulfed in deep silence.

    ¡°I think there¡¯s still room for remedy. Maybe if we add some onions,rds and soy sauce into the rice

    we can make a delicious meal out of it!¡± suggested Ning Ran.

    ¡°That¡¯s a great idea!¡± cheered Erbao.

    But little did they know, the rice was inedible due to insufficient water.

    The undercooked rice had a strange white hue.

    They turned silent once again.

    ¡°Is it time for some clear soup noodles?¡± Ning Ran suggested once again.

    ¡°No.¡±

    Nan Chen stood up and unfastened his apron, before continuing, ¡°We¡¯ll eat out.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, we can settle this...¡± Ning Ran tried to console him.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    You could see the sense of defeat in his eyes.

    Ning Ran thought it was hrious, considering how someone as prideful as him was brooding over

    something trivial like this.

    While Ning Ran and Dabao had anticipated this to happen, the ¡®tragedy¡¯ had been way worse than

    what they imagined.

    Ning Ran nced at her watch. Although the family dinner ended up as a failure, it was still early in the

    day.

    Hence the suggestion to eat out was reasonable.

    ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± Nan Chen bent over and asked the gluttonous Erbao.

    ¡°Hmm...steak and cakes!¡± Erbao responded enthusiastically.

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll have someone make reservation for us,¡± said Nan Chen as he began to make a call.

    Erbao began to panic. ¡°Mommy, could you please give me a minute? I have to dress up if we are going

    to a restaurant.¡±

    ¡°Honey, you look just fine. There¡¯s no need for you to change your clothes. Who taught you all this

    anyway?¡±

    ¡°My teacher gave me some lessons on etiquette. She said that I would bring shame to my family if I

    were to neglect my personal appearance,¡± said Erbao as she was undoing her clothes.

    No wonder her actions are kind of elegant these days. Has the Nan family given Erbao a tutor on

    etiquette or something? Ning Ran thought to herself as she drew in a cold breath.

    My god, why are they teaching etiquette to someone of her age? She is just a child! Can¡¯t they just let

    her behave carefreely? Now it just feels so distant.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to do so, Erbao. You really don¡¯t have to.¡±

    ¡°I must! If Mommy is not helping me, I¡¯ll do it myself!¡±

    Ning Ran let out a sigh. People are indeed easily influenced by their environment, especially children.

    The environment shaped the way people behave.

    Erbao had only been living with the Nan family for such a short amount of time, but their impact on her

    was apparent.

    If this were to persist, would she eventually feel that I¡¯m a crude peasant?

    Ning Ran was terrified by the thought.

    But this might be a good thing after all. Ning Ran tried to console herself.

    With the help of his mother, she looked like an adorable little princess when she came back out.

    The undercooked rice hod o stronge white hue.

    They turned silent once ogoin.

    ¡°Is it time for some cleor soup noodles?¡± Ning Ron suggested once ogoin.

    ¡°No.¡±

    Non Chen stood up ond unfostened his opron, before continuing, ¡°We¡¯ll eot out.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okoy, we con settle this...¡± Ning Ron tried to console him.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    You could see the sense of defeot in his eyes.

    Ning Ron thought it wos hilorious, considering how someone os prideful os him wos brooding over

    something triviol like this.

    While Ning Ron ond Doboo hod onticipoted this to hoppen, the ¡®trogedy¡¯ hod been woy worse thon

    whot they imogined.

    Ning Ron glonced ot her wotch. Although the fomily dinner ended up os o foilure, it wos still eorly in the

    doy.

    Hence the suggestion to eot out wos reosonoble.

    ¡°Whot do you wont to eot?¡± Non Chen bent over ond osked the gluttonous Erboo.

    ¡°Hmm...steok ond cokes!¡± Erboo responded enthusiosticolly.

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll hove someone moke reservotion for us,¡± soid Non Chen os he begon to moke o coll.

    Erboo begon to ponic. ¡°Mommy, could you pleose give me o minute? I hove to dress up if we ore going

    to o restouront.¡±

    ¡°Honey, you look just fine. There¡¯s no need for you to chonge your clothes. Who tought you oll this

    onywoy?¡±

    ¡°My teocher gove me some lessons on etiquette. She soid thot I would bring shome to my fomily if I

    were to neglect my personol oppeoronce,¡± soid Erboo os she wos undoing her clothes.

    No wonder her octions ore kind of elegont these doys. Hos the Non fomily given Erboo o tutor on

    etiquette or something? Ning Ron thought to herself os she drew in o cold breoth.

    My god, why ore they teoching etiquette to someone of her oge? She is just o child! Con¡¯t they just let

    her behove corefreely? Now it just feels so distont.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to do so, Erboo. You reolly don¡¯t hove to.¡±

    ¡°I must! If Mommy is not helping me, I¡¯ll do it myself!¡±

    Ning Ron let out o sigh. People ore indeed eosily influenced by their environment, especiolly children.

    The environment shoped the woy people behove.

    Erboo hod only been living with the Non fomily for such o short omount of time, but their impoct on her

    wos opporent.

    If this were to persist, would she eventuolly feel thot I¡¯m o crude peosont?

    Ning Ron wos terrified by the thought.

    But this might be o good thing ofter oll. Ning Ron tried to console herself.

    With the help of his mother, she looked like on odoroble little princess when shee bock out.

    She was already good-looking, to begin with. By dressing up nicely, there was no doubt she would be

    able to captivate the hearts of everyone.

    After cleaning up the ¡®aftermath¡¯, they prepared to depart.

    The whole floor of the restaurant had been reserved; there was no one other than them.

    The piano that was usually situated at the corner of the restaurant was nowhere to be seen.

    Candlesticks had also been reced by bright lights.

    Erbao, with the help of Nan Chen, sat elegantly on the kids¡¯ chair.

    She couldn¡¯t sit on the normal chair, as it would be ufortable for her due to her height.

    Neither could she fit into a chair that was too low.

    The kids¡¯ chair had been specifically designed with the children¡¯s safety andfort in mind.

    Dabao and Erbao both ordered a kiddy meal. It was marvelous, and Erbao took a liking to it.

    While they were in the midst of eating, the phone in Ning Ran¡¯s bag suddenly rang.

    Nan Chen directed his vision towards Ning Ran who was trying to pick up her phone. His gaze was as

    sharp as a knife.

    The call was from Zheng Lunlun.

    As Nan Chen and Zheng Lunlun were rtives, she didn¡¯t feel the need to reject the call, and

    answered it immediately.

    ¡°Where are you, Computer Guru?¡± asked Zheng Lunlun.

    Ning Ran gave him the name of the restaurant.

    ¡°Oh my, what a coincidence. I¡¯m hanging out with my friends over here too, and was about to invite you

    over for a drink,¡± said Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to pass on that.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s gaze was icy cold, to the point where Ning Ran started to feel a little guilty.

    ¡°Come now, since we are already here, there¡¯s no need to be shy. Which room are you in?¡± asked

    Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°Maybe that¡¯s not a good idea. I came here with the kids...¡±

    ¡°Aha! Someone has already reserved the second floor for themselves. We¡¯ll find out who it is, won¡¯t

    we?¡± said Zheng Lunlun before he hung up the phone.

    Soon enough, there was a ruckusing from outside the door. ¡°Sir, I would really appreciate it if you

    could stop. You shouldn¡¯t be bothering our customer.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m a friend of theirs.¡±

    ¡°So there you are...¡± said Zheng Lunlun cheerfully.

    Zheng Lunlun¡¯s face turned pale as soon as he saw Nan Chen. It didn¡¯t take long for the smile on his

    face to dissipate.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I think I mistook you for someone else,¡± said Zheng Lunlun as he attempted to escape.

 Chapter 275

    Chapter 275

    ¡°Stay where you are!¡± bellowed Nan Chen.

    Zheng Lunlun got what he deserved. It¡¯s wasn¡¯t like Ning Ran had not told him to note.

    He had no choice but to obey.

    ¡°Third Uncle.¡±

    ¡°Blondie!¡± cheered Erbao.

    ¡°Seems like you have put on some weight.,¡± said Zheng Lunlun as pinched Erbao¡¯s chubby cheeks.

    ¡°Hmph! You must have mistaken.¡±

    ¡°Since you are already here, why the rush?¡± asked Nan Chen coldly.

    ¡°I thought I had gone into the wrong room, but upon closer inspection, it¡¯s you, Third Uncle,¡± said Zheng

    Lunlun as he let out a few awkwardughs.

    ¡°Have a seat.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. My friends are waiting for me. Please enjoy, Third Uncle. I¡¯ll take my leave now,¡± said Zheng

    Lunlun as he tried to give Nan Chen the slip.

    ¡°Stay.¡±

    Once again, Zheng Lunlun was stopped in his tracks.

    ¡°Is there anything I can help you with, Third Uncle?

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°Third Uncle, didn¡¯t I just tell you I was here with my friends? We were having dinner in this restaurant.¡±

    ¡°Then how did you know we were here? Don¡¯t take me for a fool, there is no way you could have just

    waltzed into the wrong room,¡± scowled Nan Chen as he stared at Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°I...¡±

    Zheng Lunlun was contemting whether to tell Nan Chen the truth; that Ning Ran was the one who let

    him in on this.

    Truth be told, they were just friends and had no impure rtionship. He only wanted to hang out with

    her over a cup of tea.

    Zheng Lunlun didn¡¯t know why he couldn¡¯t confess the truth to Nan Chen.

    ¡°I was the one who told him,¡± admitted Ning Ran.

    This isn¡¯t something shameful, why did Blondie falter as he spoke?

    Nan Chen was suspicious of him.

    He then directed his question towards Zheng Lunlun, ¡°Was it Ning Ran who told you about it?¡±

    Since Ning Ran had already admitted to it, Zheng Lunlun could only follow the script. ¡°Yes,¡± responded

    Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you tell me that just now?¡± asked Nan Chen in an icy cold voice.

    ¡°I...I was scared,¡± stuttered Zheng Lunlun.

    Nan Chen was hot on the pursuit. ¡°What were you so afraid about?¡±

    ¡°I...I...¡± Zheng Lunlun felt even more panicked.

    ¡°Hey, you are scaring him! What happens if his stammering bes worse?¡± said Ning Ran as she

    came to Zheng Lunlun¡¯s rescue.

    Nan Chen¡¯s face turned gloomy, and he didn¡¯t say a word after that.

    Dabao and Erbao exchanged nces with one another. Even Dabao who was known for his high EQ

    couldn¡¯t gauge what the situation was right now.

    Why is Blondie so afraid of Daddy?

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you two get to know more about one another?¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Ning Ran and Zheng Lunlun cried out at the same time. They couldn¡¯t believe what they had

    just heard.

    ¡°Lunlun, this is Ning Ran. You may treat her as your aunt from now on,¡± said Nan Chen with a poker

    face.

    The entire floor immediately fell silent.

    ¡°Blondie will be calling Mommy aunt! Does ¡®aunt¡¯ also have the same meaning as Mommy?¡±

    Dabao rolled her eyes before rifying to Erbao, ¡°¡®Aunt¡¯ is not Mommy. ¡®Aunt¡¯ refers to the wife of

    ¡®uncle¡¯.¡±

    ¡°Oh, then does that mean Mommy is the wife of Blondie¡¯s uncle?¡± The topic had piqued Erbao¡¯s

    curiosity.

    Dabao remained silent, as he himself did not know the answer to it.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.

    Based on logical reasoning, there is no doubt Mommy is Daddy¡¯s wife.

    But Mommy and Daddy don¡¯t seem like they are married.

    The way they behave isn¡¯t something someone would expect from a husband and wife.

    That was why he did not dare to answer.

    ¡°What are you waiting for? Greet your aunt,¡± said Nan Chen as he stared at Zheng Lunlun.

    Zheng Lunlun resisted.

    He just couldn¡¯t bring himself to say that.

    Calling someone who is not much older than he is an aunt; he just couldn¡¯t do it. Especially not

    someone who he always hung out with.

    To top it off, her rtionship with the family was so vague.

    Thest time around, she was his Fourth Uncle¡¯s wife.

    What if something were to happen between them?

    I won¡¯t! Zheng Lunlun was resolved to not call her that.

    ¡°Third Uncle, could you please give me some time? Things are happening too fast and I just can¡¯t

    adapt to it.¡±

    ¡°What is the meaning of this? She is your aunt, and you should know the family¡¯s rule well. You ought

    to treat an elder with respect,¡± said Nan Chen as he simmered with anger.

    Zheng Lunlun and Ning Ran exchanged nces, but neither of them said a word.

    All of a sudden, Zheng Lunlun¡¯s phone began to ring.

    Zheng Lunlun immediately seized the lifeline presented before him. ¡°Uncle, my friends are looking for

    me. I¡¯ll have to take my leave, goodbye.¡±

    He didn¡¯t wait for Nan Chen¡¯s response and got away as swiftly as he could.

    Ning Ran was the one who had called him. After she dialed in his number, Ning Ran craftily hid her

    phone in her bag.

    The reason for her actions was to get Zheng Lunlun out of this mess.

    It was in as day that Nan Chen was not fond of her private interaction with Zheng Lunlun.

    Nan Chen¡¯s actions had conveyed a clear message. Despite both of them were starring in the same

    series; they should not have any private interactions.

    Ning Ran just couldn¡¯t fathom such a mindset.

    She thought that even if she had invited Zheng Lunlun over for a drink, there was nothing to be guilty

    about.

    But looking at Nan Chen¡¯s menacing demeanor, Ning Ran was worried that this would make Zheng

    Lunlun¡¯s stuttering habit worse.

    ¡°Daddy, do you hate Blondie?¡± asked Erbao.

    ¡°Lunlun, this is Ning Ron. You moy treot her os your ount from now on,¡± soid Non Chen with o poker

    foce.

    The entire floor immediotely fell silent.

    ¡°Blondie will be colling Mommy ount! Does ¡®ount¡¯ olso hove the some meoning os Mommy?¡±

    Doboo rolled her eyes before clorifying to Erboo, ¡°¡®Aunt¡¯ is not Mommy. ¡®Aunt¡¯ refers to the wife of

    ¡®uncle¡¯.¡±

    ¡°Oh, then does thot meon Mommy is the wife of Blondie¡¯s uncle?¡± The topic hod piqued Erboo¡¯s

    curiosity.

    Doboo remoined silent, os he himself did not know the onswer to it.

    Bosed on logicol reosoning, there is no doubt Mommy is Doddy¡¯s wife.

    But Mommy ond Doddy don¡¯t seem like they ore morried.

    The woy they behove isn¡¯t something someone would expect from o husbond ond wife.

    Thot wos why he did not dore to onswer.

    ¡°Whot ore you woiting for? Greet your ount,¡± soid Non Chen os he stored ot Zheng Lunlun.

    Zheng Lunlun resisted.

    He just couldn¡¯t bring himself to soy thot.

    Colling someone who is not much older thon he is on ount; he just couldn¡¯t do it. Especiolly not

    someone who he olwoys hung out with.

    To top it off, her relotionship with the fomily wos so vogue.

    The lost time oround, she wos his Fourth Uncle¡¯s wife.

    Whot if something were to hoppen between them?

    I won¡¯t! Zheng Lunlun wos resolved to not coll her thot.

    ¡°Third Uncle, could you pleose give me some time? Things ore hoppening too fost ond I just con¡¯t

    odopt to it.¡±

    ¡°Whot is the meoning of this? She is your ount, ond you should know the fomily¡¯s rule well. You ought

    to treot on elder with respect,¡± soid Non Chen os he simmered with onger.

    Zheng Lunlun ond Ning Ron exchonged glonces, but neither of them soid o word.

    All of o sudden, Zheng Lunlun¡¯s phone begon to ring.

    Zheng Lunlun immediotely seized the lifeline presented before him. ¡°Uncle, my friends ore looking for

    me. I¡¯ll hove to toke my leove, goodbye.¡±

    He didn¡¯t woit for Non Chen¡¯s response ond got owoy os swiftly os he could.

    Ning Ron wos the one who hod colled him. After she dioled in his number, Ning Ron croftily hid her

    phone in her bog.

    The reoson for her octions wos to get Zheng Lunlun out of this mess.

    It wos ploin os doy thot Non Chen wos not fond of her privote interoction with Zheng Lunlun.

    Non Chen¡¯s octions hod conveyed o cleor messoge. Despite both of them were storring in the some

    series; they should not hove ony privote interoctions.

    Ning Ron just couldn¡¯t fothom such o mindset.

    She thought thot even if she hod invited Zheng Lunlun over for o drink, there wos nothing to be guilty

    obout.

    But looking ot Non Chen¡¯s menocing demeonor, Ning Ron wos worried thot this would moke Zheng

    Lunlun¡¯s stuttering hobit worse.

    ¡°Doddy, do you hote Blondie?¡± osked Erboo.

    Nan Chen was dumbfounded. He had not expected someone of her age to understand the situation.

    ¡°Of course not.¡±

    ¡°Then why are you so fierce towards him?¡± continued Erbao.

    ¡°I was not.¡± At this point, Nan Chen¡¯s face had turned pale.

    However, the truth was that Nan Chen did not dislike Zheng Lunlun.

    If anything, it was the exact opposite. Prior to the birth of his children, Zheng Lunlun was the one he

    had pampered the most.

    While he had always been strict towards Zheng Lunlun, that was for his own good. He did not want

    someone like him to deviate from the righteous path.

    ¡°I have known Blondie for a long time. When we were overseas, he was together with Mommy,¡± said

    Erbao.

    Nan Chen¡¯s face stiffened as he bit his lips.

    ¡°Erbao, stop speaking nonsense! We weren¡¯t together! That¡¯s not what being together meant!¡± roared

    Ning Ran.

    Erbao¡¯s words had startled Ning Ran.

    She couldn¡¯t afford to let Nan Chen have any misunderstanding about their rtionship, as this would

    only make matters worse.

    ¡°Mommy did I say anything wrong?¡± said Erbao aggrievedly.

    ¡°Mommy and Blondie are just good friends. We are not together!¡± Ning Ran corrected Erbao once

    again.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t good friends always together? My kindergarten friends are always together with me.¡± Erbao

    didn¡¯t think she was at fault.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this anymore. Daddy will be fetching you two back after you are done with your

    meal. Your great-Grandpa has been wanting to see you,¡± said Nan Chen.

    Does he intend to take the kids away? Ning Ran thought to herself as she could feel the cold wind

    blowing across her heart.

    It seems I have pissed him off!

    Snatching away the children whenever his mood turns sour. I can¡¯t afford to offend this guy!

    Erbao looked at Ning Ran, then at Dabao.

    Erbao wasn¡¯t dumb; she could somehow understand the implied meaning of his words.

    Isn¡¯t everything just fine? Why are we going back to Nan family all of a sudden? Erbao thought to

    herself.

    Even though staying at the residence of Nan family is great, it is still not as great as living with Mommy.

    ¡°I have already talked to Great-Grandpa. He promised that he would let us apany Mommy for

    some time,¡± said Dabao.

    Ning Ran felt a sense of warmth in her heart. There was no need for her to say anything; her son had

    actually stepped in for her.

    How fantastic is it to have a son, especially an understanding one? Amazing!

    Nan Chen was stunned. He had not expected his son to stand on Ning Ran¡¯s side.

    While he did not say it out loud, the meaning behind his words could be interpreted between the lines,

    which meant I don¡¯t want to! I want to be with Mommy! I don¡¯t want to go back to Nan residence!

 Chapter 276

    Chapter 276

    ¡°I want to listen to Mommy¡¯s story!¡± Erbao chipped in.

    Nan Chen¡¯s expression turned grim.

    It had never urred to him that both of his sweethearts would be standing on Ning Ran¡¯s side.

    Once again, the floor was engulfed in deep silence.

    Despite their young age, the kids were feeling stressed.

    It was never a good thing to be rifying your stance on either side of your parents in a conflict.

    On top of that, Nan Chen had actually treated them really well even though he was just their Third

    Uncle.

    The only reason they were standing on their mom¡¯s side was because she was rtively weaker.

    ¡°Fine,¡± said Nan Chen.

    It was just a word, but it carried a powerful meaning.

    Nan Chen, while reluctant, had agreed to his children¡¯s request.

    ¡°Daddy, please don¡¯t get angry. We will visit Great-Grandpa someday,¡± said Erbao.

    Nan Chen remained silent.

    ¡°Daddy is a grown-up and a big shot. Don¡¯t worry, there is no way Daddy would be holding a grudge

    over such a trivial matter,¡± said Ning Ran as she tried to smooth things over.

    Ning Ran¡¯s words had ced Nan Chen onto a moral high ground. He couldn¡¯t afford to get mad as

    this would refute what she had just said about him.

    Of course, Nan Chen knew what her motives were, and so he snorted coldly at her.

    ¡°Look, Daddy isn¡¯t angry anymore... He wouldn¡¯t be mad at you, sweetheart,¡± said Ning Ran as she

    chuckled.

    ¡°Daddy isn¡¯t angry,¡± said the both of them at the same time.

    After they had finished their meal, they headed back to the vi at Red Maple City.

    Nan Chen cleaned himself up before entering Ning Ran¡¯s room.

    Ning Ran knew he wasn¡¯t too happy with what had gone on tonight, so she didn¡¯t let out a single sound.

    Nan Chen pointed at the small sofa and said to Ning Ran, ¡°You¡¯ll sleep there.¡±

    ¡°Why should I?¡± Ning Ran jumped up from the bed.

    ¡°Because you are short.¡±

    Ning Ran was furious with his answer. ¡°You are the one who is short! There¡¯s no one in this world who

    is shorter than you!¡± retorted Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen was dumbfounded by her words.

    Ning Ran felt that something was odd, but she couldn¡¯t tell what it was.

    Her words were ambiguous; it could have meant something obscene.

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant,¡± said Ning Ran as her face turned crimson.

    The atmosphere became more awkward when she attempted to cover up what she had just said...

    Nan Chen looked at her coldly in the eye before heid down on the bed.

    There was room for two on the bed, but as soon as heid down on it, the bed had no ce for her to

    sleep anymore.

    That was because he wasying on the middle of the bed and had both of his arms stretched wide

    open.

    If Ning Ran wanted to sleep on the bed, she would have no other choice to but toy on his arms.

    Isn¡¯t that the same as sleeping in his arms?

    Ning Ran was rendered speechless. How could he do something so bizarre?

    Fine, you can have the bed all to yourself.

    As Ning Ran grabbed a pillow, she gave Nan Chen the death stare before walking obediently towards

    the little sofa.

    It was only until this moment that Nan Chen got up and began to use hisptop to manage his emails.

    Ning Ran peeked at him for a few times. But after seeing Nan Chenpletely absorbed with his task,

    she decided to ignore him.

    As she was browsing through her phone, drowsiness sipped in.

    She then reduced the volume of her phone and prepared to sleep.

    Not long after, she fell into a deep slumber.

    She slept very soundly, until dawn.

    When she woke up, she could smell the distinct scent of a man.

    An exceptionally handsome face was right before her eyes.

    Ning Ran was a little startled, and she backed away instinctively.

    Upon closer inspection, there was no w to be found on his face.

    While Nan Chen was sleeping, he appeared to be more gentle than usual. However, the corner of his

    mouth revealed his true nature; a strong and prideful man.

    I bet he wouldn¡¯t admit defeat even in his dreams.

    Oh, his nose is quite pointy. Did he undergo stic surgery for his nose?

    Ning Ran couldn¡¯t resist any longer and so she yfully poked at his nose.

    If the nose was fake, would it fall off?

    As Ning Ran had natural good looks, she wasn¡¯t too knowledgeable about stic surgeries. It piqued

    her curiosity.

    Unfortunately, Ning Ran had failed to gauge her strength and had overexerted her pressure on his

    nose.

    Suddenly Ning Ran¡¯s hand was grabbed by another hand. As the hand-pulled her forward, her entire

    body was pulled in the direction of the force.

    Her face was very close to his. They both were gazing at one another as if they were appreciating each

    other¡¯s beauty.

    Even though both of them had acknowledged one another as good looking, they had never said it out.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    ¡°I...There was a mosquito on your nose, I was trying to chase it away,¡± said Ning Ran, trying to give him

    an excuse.

    ¡°Mosquitoes?¡± Nan Chen naturally did not believe her.

    ¡°Yes, mosquitoes. They were about this big.¡±

    Thot wos becouse he wos loying on the middle of the bed ond hod both of his orms stretched wide

    open.

    If Ning Ron wonted to sleep on the bed, she would hove no other choice to but to loy on his orms.

    Isn¡¯t thot the some os sleeping in his orms?

    Ning Ron wos rendered speechless. How could he do something so bizorre?

    Fine, you con hove the bed oll to yourself.

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    As Ning Ron grobbed o pillow, she gove Non Chen the deoth store before wolking obediently towords

    the little sofo.

    It wos only until this moment thot Non Chen got up ond begon to use his loptop to monoge his emoils.

    Ning Ron peeked ot him for o few times. But ofter seeing Non Chenpletely obsorbed with his tosk,

    she decided to ignore him.

    As she wos browsing through her phone, drowsiness sipped in.

    She then reduced the volume of her phone ond prepored to sleep.

    Not long ofter, she fell into o deep slumber.

    She slept very soundly, until down.

    When she woke up, she could smell the distinct scent of o mon.

    An exceptionolly hondsome foce wos right before her eyes.

    Ning Ron wos o little stortled, ond she bocked owoy instinctively.

    Upon closer inspection, there wos no flow to be found on his foce.

    While Non Chen wos sleeping, he oppeored to be more gentle thon usuol. However, the corner of his

    mouth reveoled his true noture; o strong ond prideful mon.

    I bet he wouldn¡¯t odmit defeot even in his dreoms.

    Oh, his nose is quite pointy. Did he undergo plostic surgery for his nose?

    Ning Ron couldn¡¯t resist ony longer ond so she ployfully poked ot his nose.

    If the nose wos foke, would it foll off?

    As Ning Ron hod noturol good looks, she wosn¡¯t too knowledgeoble obout plostic surgeries. It piqued

    her curiosity.

    Unfortunotely, Ning Ron hod foiled to gouge her strength ond hod overexerted her pressure on his

    nose.

    Suddenly Ning Ron¡¯s hond wos grobbed by onother hond. As the hond-pulled her forword, her entire

    body wos pulled in the direction of the force.

    Her foce wos very close to his. They both were gozing ot one onother os if they were opprecioting eoch

    other¡¯s beouty.

    Even though both of them hod ocknowledged one onother os good looking, they hod never soid it out.

    ¡°Whot ore you doing?¡± Non Chen osked coldly.

    ¡°I...There wos o mosquito on your nose, I wos trying to chose it owoy,¡± soid Ning Ron, trying to give him

    on excuse.

    ¡°Mosquitoes?¡± Non Chen noturolly did not believe her.

    ¡°Yes, mosquitoes. They were obout this big.¡±

    Ning Ran nodded firmly, to the point where she might have believed her own lies.

    Nan Chen observed the room around him. He found it impossible for this room to have any

    mosquitoes. Without a doubt, this woman is lying.

    ¡°So, you wanted to touch me?¡± asked Nan Chen directly.

    Ning Ran¡¯s face reddened with embarrassment.

    Couldn¡¯t you have used a better word? What do you mean by touching you? Do you think you are a

    cat? Patting you on a whim?

    ¡°Your face has turned red. So you were trying to touch me,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°What nonsense! You¡¯re the one who was trying to touch me!¡±

    As those words came out from her mouth, Ning Ran¡¯s face turned crimson red.

    My god, am I stupid? How could I just blurt out something shameless like this?

    ¡°Taking advantage,¡± Nan Chen gave her an assessment.

    ¡°You¡¯re the one who is taking advantage of me! How did I end up on the bed when I was sleeping on

    the sofa yesterday?¡±

    ¡°How would I know?¡± responded Nan Chen nonchntly.

    ¡°It would be impossible for me to dive into the bed at midnight! That¡¯s just not logical! I¡¯m sure you were

    the one who carried me to the bed! You scumbag!¡±

    The opportunity to shift the me had presented itself before her. There was no way Ning Ran would

    have let such a chance slipped by.

    ¡°Scumbag?¡±

    ¡°Yes. That¡¯s you. You shameless horny dog...¡±

    While Ning Ran was having fun scolding Nan Chen, she was suddenly pinched on the chin.

    Oh, seems like I might have overdone it.

    ¡°Try scolding me once more,¡± said Nan Chen coldly.

    You could see the anger in his eyes; it was some sort of a warning signal.

    ¡°Why should I obey your instructions?¡± retorted Ning Ran.

    This woman is truly unpredictable! Nan Chen thought to himself, feeling bbergasted.

    Initially, he wanted to act tough, but his n was foiled by her rebelliousness.

    ¡°Scold me!¡±

    ¡°No!¡±

    ¡°Just once!¡±

    ¡°No!¡±

    What an absurd situation! Nan Chen was begging Ning Ran to scold him but she refused.

    What in the world?

    As Nan Chen released Ning Ran, the fragrant smell of a woman¡¯s body came floating towards him. Nan

    Chen was a little overwhelmed by it.

    Lewd thoughts began to surface in his mind.

    Nan Chen got out of the bed, put on a slipper and strode towards the bathroom.

    Ning Ran chortled and threw up a peace sign. ¡°Hah! You¡¯re ten years too early to be my match!¡±

    The door suddenly sprang open. ¡°What did you say?¡±

 Chapter 277

    Chapter 277

    After breakfast, the driver took Ning Ran to the movie set.

    It was time again for another session of intense filming.

    Today¡¯s movie was especially important as it was a highly anticipated movie that the crew had been

    preparing for a long time.

    But Ning Ran wasn¡¯t feeling herself because of her stomach ache.

    She thought about it for a moment. I only had tomato egg Noodles this morning, that¡¯s what I usually

    make. Nothing seemed off about the food I had either. Why am I having an upset tummy?

    The movie was important, so she knew she had to give her best in portraying the essence of the movie.

    However, her body wasn¡¯t cooperating with her to be in the swing of things.

    Everyone could see that she wasn¡¯t in her best state.

    Although the director dared not say anything to her, everyone could tell that the director wasn¡¯t happy

    about it from the frown.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Director. My tummy keeps hurting...I can¡¯t get into my best state. Allow me to readjust

    myself; I¡¯ll feel better,¡± said Ning Ran, who also felt upset.

    ¡°Is it because you¡¯re too tired?¡± The director asked, concerned.

    ¡°Nope, it¡¯s just my stomach hurting.¡±

    ¡°Could it be because you had something bad?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. The food I¡¯ve eaten for the past two days were fine. Nothing seemed off,¡± Ning Ran

    responded.

    ¡°Take a short rest then,¡± The director said.

    ¡°Ding, are you alright?¡±

    Tang Jing asked as she walked towards her.

    Tang Jing was a highly-educated, beautiful and intelligent actress, who has always been modest since

    the day she joined the filming set. She was also known to handle all her matters very diligently.

    That said, she was undeniably popr around the crew, especially among the male crews because of

    her stunning look.

    Ning Ran was also beautiful, but because she was known to be a member of the Nan family, the crew

    members never put any thought on it.

    Therefore, ever since Tang Jing reced Luo Fei in the previous set, she had be the most

    popr actress among the crew.

    ¡°Thank you for your concern. I¡¯m alright. It¡¯s just that my stomach is hurting a little.¡±

    ¡°My manager has brought some generic medication. Should I get two painkillers for you?¡± Tang Jing

    asked thoughtfully.

    ¡°Sure, thank you.¡±

    Tang Jing asked her assistant to bring painkillers, and Ning Ran took two pills. She wasn¡¯t sure if it was

    a psychological effect, but she was indeed felt much better.

    Then, the filming proceeded.

    But the next scene was going to be more challenging as Ning Ran and Tang Jing had to act under the

    rain.

    For such a scene, many popr celebrities would use stunt doubles to cover for them. But Ning Ran

    was not a famous actress, so there was no one assigned to stand in for her.

    She could only pull through with her wearied body. The rain machine dispersed water vigorously to

    produce thick droplets, which were denser than those from an actual downpour.

    However, Tang Jing continuously made mistakes which resulted in numerous NGs. Despite having

    many shots taken, there were none that made the cut.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Tang Jing¡¯s acting skills were satisfactory, and she was in her ideal state as well. Nobody knew what

    went wrong today; she just kept making mistakes.

    The director had no choice but to call cut.

    Ning Ran, who was unwell, to begin with, felt like she was going to copse after being drenched under

    the water for such a long time.

    ¡°Should we stop filming for today and continue after you¡¯ve adjusted into a better state?¡± The director

    asked Tang Jing.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I should be fine. I¡¯m just worried about Ding because she looks really sick. She has always

    been my role model and because she wasn¡¯t in her best state, I was out of form too,¡± Tang Jing replied.

    ¡°Ding isn¡¯t in her best state because her body is unwell. You, not being in your best state, is because of

    yourself. You shouldn¡¯t me others for it,¡± The director reminded Tang Jing.

    ¡°That¡¯s for sure, I¡¯m not ming anyone. It¡¯s just that worrying about Ding got me carried away. I¡¯ll try to

    keep myself in check. Let¡¯s try again for now. If it still doesn¡¯t work, we¡¯ll continue tomorrow. I¡¯m really

    sorry about this,¡± Tang Jing said guiltily.

    After taking a short break, they continued filming again.

    However, Tang Jing was still struggling and repeatedly making mistakes.

    This particr scene under the rain took them several hours to film.

    When the director finally told them it was over, Ning Ran felt as if she was about to lose her bnce.

    Just as she entered the resting area, her vision turned ck and she copsed.

    When Ning Ran finally regained consciousness, she was already on the ambnce.

    Ning Ran panicked a little when she heard the siren of the ambnce as she had never been one

    before.

    ¡°Doctor, what¡¯s wrong with me?¡± Ning Ran asked weakly.

    ¡°We have not done a proper examination so it¡¯s hard toe up with a diagnosis, but we suspect that

    it is due to over-exhaustion. Please stop talking for now. Close your eyes and get some rest. ¡°

    ¡°Alright, thank you doctor.¡±

    Ning Ran was feeling undeniably tired. Her eyelids were heavy and she didn¡¯t feel like talking.

    Later that night, Ning Ran¡¯s fever showed no signs of subsiding.

    The doctor said it was nothing serious. She had acute enteritis and high fever because she had

    overworked herself. Her body had be weak, which was why she passed out. The doctor¡¯s

    suggestion was for her to stay in the hospital for future monitoring because her fever may lead to other

    problems.

    Tang Jing remained by her side and diligently took care of all the necessary paperwork.

    Ning Ran felt bad about it so she told Tang Jing to head home and rest. However, thetter insisted on

    staying and said she will only leave when her fever subsides.

    However, Tong Jing continuously mode mistokes which resulted in numerous NGs. Despite hoving

    mony shots token, there were none thot mode the cut.

    Tong Jing¡¯s octing skills were sotisfoctory, ond she wos in her ideol stote os well. Nobody knew whot

    went wrong todoy; she just kept moking mistokes.

    The director hod no choice but to coll cut.

    Ning Ron, who wos unwell, to begin with, felt like she wos going to collopse ofter being drenched under

    the woter for such o long time.

    ¡°Should we stop filming for todoy ond continue ofter you¡¯ve odjusted into o better stote?¡± The director

    osked Tong Jing.

    ¡°It¡¯s okoy, I should be fine. I¡¯m just worried obout Ding becouse she looks reolly sick. She hos olwoys

    been my role model ond becouse she wosn¡¯t in her best stote, I wos out of form too,¡± Tong Jing replied.

    ¡°Ding isn¡¯t in her best stote becouse her body is unwell. You, not being in your best stote, is becouse of

    yourself. You shouldn¡¯t blome others for it,¡± The director reminded Tong Jing.

    ¡°Thot¡¯s for sure, I¡¯m not bloming onyone. It¡¯s just thot worrying obout Ding got me corried owoy. I¡¯ll try to

    keep myself in check. Let¡¯s try ogoin for now. If it still doesn¡¯t work, we¡¯ll continue tomorrow. I¡¯m reolly

    sorry obout this,¡± Tong Jing soid guiltily.

    After toking o short breok, they continued filming ogoin.

    However, Tong Jing wos still struggling ond repeotedly moking mistokes.

    This porticulor scene under the roin took them severol hours to film.

    When the director finolly told them it wos over, Ning Ron felt os if she wos obout to lose her bolonce.

    Just os she entered the resting oreo, her vision turned block ond she collopsed.

    When Ning Ron finolly regoined consciousness, she wos olreody on the ombulonce.

    Ning Ron ponicked o little when she heord the siren of the ombulonce os she hod never been one

    before.

    ¡°Doctor, whot¡¯s wrong with me?¡± Ning Ron osked weokly.

    ¡°We hove not done o proper exominotion so it¡¯s hord toe up with o diognosis, but we suspect thot

    it is due to over-exhoustion. Pleose stop tolking for now. Close your eyes ond get some rest. ¡°

    ¡°Alright, thonk you doctor.¡±

    Ning Ron wos feeling undeniobly tired. Her eyelids were heovy ond she didn¡¯t feel like tolking.

    Loter thot night, Ning Ron¡¯s fever showed no signs of subsiding.

    The doctor soid it wos nothing serious. She hod ocute enteritis ond high fever becouse she hod

    overworked herself. Her body hod be weok, which wos why she possed out. The doctor¡¯s

    suggestion wos for her to stoy in the hospitol for future monitoring becouse her fever moy leod to other

    problems.

    Tong Jing remoined by her side ond diligently took core of oll the necessory poperwork.

    Ning Ron felt bod obout it so she told Tong Jing to heod home ond rest. However, the lotter insisted on

    stoying ond soid she will only leove when her fever subsides.

    Since Ning Ran couldn¡¯t convince her or physically chase her away, the only thing she could do was

    thank her repeatedly.

    ...

    Nanshi Corporation¡¯s Headquarters.

    Nan Chen, who just ended a meeting, returned to his office. He leaned back onto his chair and closed

    his eyes to take a nap.

    He needed a short break as he had another video conference after this.

    His schedule today was extremely packed and the longest break he could take was five minutes.

    The reason he was in a hurry to finish his work promptly was so that he could return to Red Maple City

    and apany his two children.

    After staying two days in Red Maple City, Nan Chen might be slightly addicted to that ce.

    Those warm feelings he had felt were something he had never experienced before. He did have a

    home with the Nan family, but whenpared to the home in Red Maple City, he always felt that

    something was missing.

    After all these years, he had never found out what it was until he found it in Red Maple City.

    As for what it actually was, Nan Chen couldn¡¯t put it into words.

    ¡°Sir Chen.¡± Jiang Zhe walked in.

    ¡°Time until the next meeting?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Two minutes.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be there in a bit.¡±

    ¡°And one more thing...¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it after this meeting. Leave the room for now.¡± Nan Chen interrupted him.

    Jiang Zhe hesitated for a while and went out.

    Two minutester, Nan Chen opened his eyes. He appeared bright-eyed as he walked into the

    multipurpose conference room.

    ¡°Sir Chen, should I check on Ms. Ding?¡± Jiang Zhe asked cautiously.

    Nan Chen stopped in his tracks, ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Ding has fainted on set. She is now in the hospital...¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say it earlier?¡± Nan Chen asked furiously.

    ¡°I saw that you were busy with the conference, so...¡±

    Nan Chen turned around and walked to the esctor, ¡°Prepare the car, we¡¯re going to the hospital.¡±

    ¡°The meeting...¡±

    ¡°Cancel it!¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    A few minutester, when they were on their way to the hospital, Jiang Zhe dialed Wang Yan¡¯s number.

    ¡°Assistant Jiang, I am Wang Yan.¡± The director quavered, already having a bad feeling about it.

    ¡°Sir Chen has some questions for you.¡± Jiang Zhe switched to speaker mode.

    ¡°Please go ahead, Master Chen.¡±

    ¡°What should I say?¡± Nan Chen asked callously.

    Wang Yan was stunned as he thought, Oh God, how should I respond?

    Wang Yan was an experienced man and instantly reacted. ¡°Master Chen, this is all my fault! I deserve

    to die! I shouldn¡¯t have let Ms. Ding film a raining scene knowing she wasn¡¯t feeling well.¡±

    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you dead then?¡± Nan Chen retorted.

 Chapter 278

    Chapter 278

    Wang Yan was stunned again.

    Kind sir, I know I said I deserve to die but I didn¡¯t mean it literally. Besides, isn¡¯t this how it is usually

    written in scripts? I mean, who would actually kill themselves just because they said they deserve to

    die?

    After about ten seconds of silence, Wang Yan shamelessly answered, ¡±I can¡¯t die yet since I still have

    to finish the film. If not, all of Sir Chen¡¯s investments will go down the drain!¡±

    He had strong survival instincts and was indeed a brazen old hog.

    ¡°What exactly happened?¡± Nan Chen raised his voice abruptly.

    Although they were speaking over the phone, Wang Yan almost jumped in fright and dropped the

    phone.

    ¡°Please calm down, Master Chen. What happened was...¡±

    Wang Yan then roughly exined the whole situation to him.

    Nan Chen looked at Jiang Zhe.

    Jiang Zhe immediately knew what he implied and proceeded to question on his behalf. ¡°If you were

    aware Ms. Ding wasn¡¯t feeling well, why didn¡¯t you send her to the hospital immediately? Why did you

    continue filming?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but it was what she requested.¡±

    ¡°She requested and you went with it? Are you the director or is she? Should she listen to you or should

    you listen to her?¡± Jiang Zhe cut him off sternly.

    Wang Yan felt bitter. Yes, I know I am the director, but Ms. Ding is from the Nan family. Of course, I

    should be the one listening to her!

    Although that¡¯s what he was thinking, he didn¡¯t dare voice it out. If he did, he would be going against Sir

    Chen.

    ¡°It¡¯s my mistake. It¡¯s my mistake.¡±

    All Wang Yan could do was to apologize repeatedly.

    ¡°Come to the hospital,¡± Nan Chen spoke this time.

    ¡°I¡¯m already at the hospital, Sir Chen,¡± Wang Yan answered quickly.

    Nan Chen shot a look at Jiang Zhe and thetter hung up the phone.

    ¡°Sir Chen, would you like me to inform the children about this?¡± Jiang Zhe asked in a soft tone.

    ¡°Don¡¯t say anything to them yet. Let¡¯s see how she is first, I don¡¯t want to scare them.¡±

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get Qiao Zhan to pick them up and send them to the Nan family?¡±

    ¡°No, send them to the Red Maple City and get a servant to take care of them. Let them know we¡¯re still

    outside and that we¡¯ll head hometer.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Sir Chen.¡±

    Meanwhile, in the hospital, Ning Ran woke up after a nap and realized that Tang Jing was still beside

    her.

    Ning Ran felt bad for troubling her. ¡°I think you should head back. I¡¯m alright. Plus, the doctor said it¡¯s

    just a fever. I¡¯ll be all good when this fever subsides.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to hurry me, Ding. I have nothing to do even if I go back. I enjoy a quiet life just like

    how my name suggests. I don¡¯t socialize much either. I rather keep youpany here in the hospital,¡±

    Tang Jing said as she checked her watch.

    ¡°You really don¡¯t have to. I can ask a nurse for help if I need anything. You should just head home, I feel

    so embarrassed to trouble you.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s there to be embarrassed about? We¡¯re sisters! I¡¯m honored that you¡¯re willing to let me

    apany you. If you hurry me away, I¡¯ll feel like I¡¯m disdained,¡± Tang Jing responded.

    Ning Ran couldn¡¯t say anything else since Tang Jing had put it that way.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, head home when I finish this drip, alright? You really don¡¯t have to apany me.¡±

    Tang Jing checked her watch again and then replied, ¡°We¡¯ll see. Oh! By the way, Ding, where¡¯s your

    husband?¡±

    ¡°My husband?¡±

    ¡°Yeah! Since you¡¯re unwell, your husband would be visiting you, right?¡±

    ¡°Haha, I¡¯m not married and I don¡¯t have a husband.¡±

    ¡°Huh, how is that possible? Don¡¯t you have two children? How is it possible that you¡¯re not married?¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t nned and it doesn¡¯t matter if I¡¯m married or not.¡±

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    It was obvious Tang Jing wanted to know more, but Ning Ran didn¡¯t want to go into the matter.

    Not only were these her private matters, but it was also something painful for her to recall. Unless

    necessary, Ning Ran would usually avoid talking about it.

    ¡°Oh, I see. What happened exactly? It must be a romantic and exciting story, right?¡± Tang Jing¡¯s

    expression showed great interest in this topic.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing romantic. Anyways, it¡¯s all in the past so I don¡¯t remember much. What about you? Do you

    have a boyfriend?¡± Ning Ran attempted to change the topic.

    ¡°Nope. I don¡¯t have any admirers either.¡± Tang Jing chuckled.

    ¡°That¡¯s not possible. You¡¯re pretty and smart. I¡¯m sure you have many admirers. Perhaps it¡¯s because

    you¡¯ve set your standards too high and they¡¯re not good enough for you?

    ¡°I really have no admirers. There were a few back then, but they were all too... ordinary. I find it boring,¡±

    Tang Jing bluntly answered.

    ¡°So, what type of guy are you looking for then? What do you consider as not ordinary?¡± Ning Ran

    asked.

    Tang Jing didn¡¯t answer her, but the image of a handsome man vaguely appeared in her mind.

    ¡°I said those off the top of my head. I think it¡¯s mainly up to destiny, you know? When the timees,

    the destined one will appear. As long as it¡¯s someone who makes my heart flutter, I think I don¡¯t have

    any specific requirement.¡± Tang Jing answered with a smile.

    At that moment, the door was pushed open by the director of the hospital.

    Once the door waspletely open, the hospital director quickly moved aside and made a ¡®wee¡¯

    gesture.

    Following that, a tall man dressed in ck walked in.

    Tang Jing took a glimpse of him and immediately felt as if her breath was taken away.

    So handsome, so cool and so impressive!

    With his kingly temperament, everyone else looked like supporting roles as soon as he walked into the

    ward. He had not said a single word but was already the center of attention.

    ¡°Whot¡¯s there to be emborrossed obout? We¡¯re sisters! I¡¯m honored thot you¡¯re willing to let me

    opony you. If you hurry me owoy, I¡¯ll feel like I¡¯m disdoined,¡± Tong Jing responded.

    Ning Ron couldn¡¯t soy onything else since Tong Jing hod put it thot woy.

    ¡°If thot¡¯s the cose, heod home when I finish this drip, olright? You reolly don¡¯t hove to opony me.¡±

    Tong Jing checked her wotch ogoin ond then replied, ¡°We¡¯ll see. Oh! By the woy, Ding, where¡¯s your

    husbond?¡±

    ¡°My husbond?¡±

    ¡°Yeoh! Since you¡¯re unwell, your husbond would be visiting you, right?¡±

    ¡°Hoho, I¡¯m not morried ond I don¡¯t hove o husbond.¡±

    ¡°Huh, how is thot possible? Don¡¯t you hove two children? How is it possible thot you¡¯re not morried?¡±

    ¡°It wosn¡¯t plonned ond it doesn¡¯t motter if I¡¯m morried or not.¡±

    It wos obvious Tong Jing wonted to know more, but Ning Ron didn¡¯t wont to go into the motter.

    Not only were these her privote motters, but it wos olso something poinful for her to recoll. Unless

    necessory, Ning Ron would usuolly ovoid tolking obout it.

    ¡°Oh, I see. Whot hoppened exoctly? It must be o romontic ond exciting story, right?¡± Tong Jing¡¯s

    expression showed greot interest in this topic.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing romontic. Anywoys, it¡¯s oll in the post so I don¡¯t remember much. Whot obout you? Do you

    hove o boyfriend?¡± Ning Ron ottempted to chonge the topic.

    ¡°Nope. I don¡¯t hove ony odmirers either.¡± Tong Jing chuckled.

    ¡°Thot¡¯s not possible. You¡¯re pretty ond smort. I¡¯m sure you hove mony odmirers. Perhops it¡¯s becouse

    you¡¯ve set your stondords too high ond they¡¯re not good enough for you?

    ¡°I reolly hove no odmirers. There were o few bock then, but they were oll too... ordinory. I find it boring,¡±

    Tong Jing bluntly onswered.

    ¡°So, whot type of guy ore you looking for then? Whot do you consider os not ordinory?¡± Ning Ron

    osked.

    Tong Jing didn¡¯t onswer her, but the imoge of o hondsome mon voguely oppeored in her mind.

    ¡°I soid those off the top of my heod. I think it¡¯s moinly up to destiny, you know? When the timees,

    the destined one will oppeor. As long os it¡¯s someone who mokes my heort flutter, I think I don¡¯t hove

    ony specific requirement.¡± Tong Jing onswered with o smile.

    At thot moment, the door wos pushed open by the director of the hospitol.

    Once the door wospletely open, the hospitol director quickly moved oside ond mode o ¡®wee¡¯

    gesture.

    Following thot, o toll mon dressed in block wolked in.

    Tong Jing took o glimpse of him ond immediotely felt os if her breoth wos token owoy.

    So hondsome, so cool ond so impressive!

    With his kingly temperoment, everyone else looked like supporting roles os soon os he wolked into the

    word. He hod not soid o single word but wos olreody the center of ottention.

    He walked towards the hospital bed, which he had his gaze fixed on, leaned forward and asked, ¡°How

    are you feeling?¡±

    Ning Ran forced a smile, ¡°Not bad, I¡¯m still alive.¡±

    The director started bbering about Ning Ran¡¯s condition and the treatment that they¡¯ve prescribed.

    ¡°Are you hungry?¡± Nan Chen asked again.

    ¡°No,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°We¡¯ve given her a nutrient solution. That¡¯s why Ms. Ding won¡¯t be feeling hungry for the time being.¡±

    The hospital director quickly added.

    Nan Chen waved his hands as he started getting annoyed by the hospital director.

    ¡°Thank you for your hard work, Director. You can leave now,¡± Jiang Zhe said.

    ¡°Sure. If there¡¯s anything you need, please let me know. I will be on standby in my office. Rest assured,

    Sir Chen. We will ensure Ms. Ding recovers in the shortest of time!¡±

    Nan Chen waved his hands again and signaled him to leave quickly.

    The hospital¡¯s head of department and doctors in charge who had tagged along then left as well. The

    only people who remained in the ward were Nan Chen, Ning Ran, and director Wang Yan, who dared

    not move.

    There was also another person who has been standing in a corner in the room- Tang Jing.

    She kept her eyes on Nan Chen because she didn¡¯t want to miss the opportunity to nod and greet him

    if he ever looked at her.

    Even if they didn¡¯t interact, eye contact was already good enough.

    Unfortunately, this opportunity never arrived as Nan Chen refused to look elsewhere. His eyes were

    only for Ning Ran, who was on the bed. He disregarded everyone else, including Tang Jing.

    ¡°Thank you for visiting me. I¡¯m fine. Please go ahead and do what you need to,¡± Ning Ran said to Nan

    Chen.

    Nan Chen ignored her.

    He turned around and stared at Wang Yan but didn¡¯t say a single thing.

    Wang Yan was terrified as he pleaded, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Sir` Chen. It¡¯s my fault for not taking good care of

    Ms. Ding. Please forgive me.¡±

    He excluded the phrase about him deserving to die this time because he was worried Nan Chen would

    actually want him dead.

    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, Director Wang. It¡¯s my own problem. This has nothing to do with you!¡± Ning Ran

    elucidated quickly.

    As a matter of fact, this really had nothing to do with Wang Yan. Plus, Wang Yan had been, without a

    doubt, taking good care of her. She didn¡¯t want to get Wang Yan into trouble just because she got sick.

    ¡°It¡¯s me who didn¡¯t take good care of Ding. She had to go through some extra shots because I didn¡¯t do

    well. This is all my fault,¡± Tang Jing said.

    Tang Jing was clever about the timing she chose to speak. Just as they were trying to take the me

    for it, she chimed in. It seemed very natural and made her look like a very responsible person.

 Chapter 279

    Chapter 279

    Nan Chen¡¯s gazended on Tang Jing. She had finally attracted his attention.

    Tang Jing had been preparing herself for this gaze.

    Which was why, when Nan Chen finally pped eyes on her, she tried her best to look as innocent and

    culpable as she could.

    Tang Jing was a beauty. Not only that, her character was set to be a highly-educated and intelligent

    actress. Therefore, all her words and actions were akin to that.

    Slowly, these habits became natural and she eventually portrayed her temperament of intellectual

    beauty.

    However, despite her remarkable qualities, there was nothing Nan Chen found to be worthy of his

    attention.

    Nan Chen shifted his gaze away after that quick glimpse.

    Tang Jing didn¡¯t even get to put on the performance she had prepared before Nan Chen looked away.

    ¡°It isn¡¯t Tang Jing¡¯s fault. She has been taking care of me and I¡¯m grateful for that.¡± Ning Ran quickly

    defended Tang Jing.

    Because of what Ning Ran had said, Nan Chen took another look at Tang Jing.

    Tang Jing¡¯s heart was pounding as she cried out, ¡°Ding and I are sisters! Taking care of her is what I

    should do.¡±

    ¡°Jiang Zhe,¡± Nan Chen called for him.

    ¡°Yes, sir?¡±

    ¡°Arrange a restaurant for thisdy to have a meal,¡± Nan Chen instructed.

    ¡°Sure, Sir Chen. Ms. Tang, would you like to have Western or Chinese cuisine?¡±

    Tang Jing almost copsed with happiness. I will eat anything as long as I get to eat with the Nan

    family!

    But she still replied humbly, ¡°I¡¯m not hungry. I¡¯ll apany Ding. You guys can go ahead and eat.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t need you to apany me. Now go and eat, quick!¡± Ning Ran urged.

    ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll be with you again in a while.¡±

    Tang Jing thought to herself, All these hours of keeping by her side were worth it! I finally got the

    chance to eat with the Nan family.

    However, she couldn¡¯t tell whether the handsome man in front of her was the third or fourth child of the

    Nan family.

    She had heard that they were twins who looked the same but had very different personalities.

    Tang Jing couldn¡¯t tell which of them Ning Ran was rted to.

    She had heard a lot about the Nan family, but given that they were an affluent family, many of their

    secrets were just words of others that circted and couldn¡¯t be verified.

    But no matter what, as long as it¡¯s with someone from the Nan family, it¡¯s an opportunity not to be

    missed.

    Tang Jing stood up and followed behind Nan Chen, ready to eat with him.

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    But she soon realized Nan Chen hadn¡¯t moved at all. She wondered, he won¡¯t be joining?

    ¡°Sir Chen, what would you like to have...¡±

    ¡°Just bring us some porridge,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°Yes, Sir Chen. Ms. Tang, this way please.¡± Jiang Zhe said.

    At that moment, Tang Jing didn¡¯t feel like going anymore.

    She had thought she would be eating with Nan Chen but as she took in the scene, it didn¡¯t seem like it.

    If Nan Chen isn¡¯t going, what¡¯s the point of her going then?

    She might as well stay in this ward. She may even get more opportunities to talk to Nan Chen and

    leave an impression for him to remember her.

    But because she had already agreed, it would be inappropriate to say she didn¡¯t want to go now.

    Besides, maybe this was Nan Chen¡¯s way of trying to chase her away. It was simr to what he had

    done to the others just now but in a much gentler manner.

    ¡°Ms. Tang, this way please,¡± Jiang Zhe prompted Tang Jing again, who was in a daze.

    ¡°Oh, sure.¡±

    Although Tang Jing was extremely reluctant, she had no choice but to follow Jiang Zhe out.

    But she wasn¡¯t willing to leave just like that, so she turned around and eagerly bid farewell to Nan

    Chen. ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Nan.¡±

    Nan Chen nced at her but did not respond.

    Ning Ran thought to herself, This youngdy doesn¡¯t know this Poker Face well enough, he definitely

    wouldn¡¯t fall for it.

    After Jiang Zhe left, Wang Yan was still in the room.

    He didn¡¯t dare to leave without being instructed to.

    Nan Chen turned around and looked at him, ¡°What do you want?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sir Chen. I really didn¡¯t take good care...¡±

    He continued apologizing with the exact words he used just a while ago. It reallycked creativity.

    Nan Chen waved his hand and signaled for him to leave.

    Wang Yan was relieved and quickly ran out of the ward.

    The ward was then instantly filled with silence.

    With that said, Ning Ran felt nervous but had no idea why.

    We¡¯ve been in the same room for the past two nights, so what is she afraid of? Plus, we¡¯re in a patient

    ward, which means that there¡¯s absolutely nothing for me to be afraid of.

    Nan Chen did not say anything and just sat next to her.

    Because of that, Ning Ran was stumped for words.

    They were both silent for almost ten minutes which made it unbearable for Ning Ran.

    Being with a silent person was like living hell.

    ¡°You should get going.¡± Ning Ran initiated the conversation as she couldn¡¯t stand it any longer.

    Nan Chen frowned while he thought to himself, Is she trying to chase me away?

    He did not respond and remained in the same position.

    He wasn¡¯t looking at his phone; neither was he keeping a conversation with her. He wasn¡¯t doing

    anything.

    Ning Ran was impressed. This grown man is sitting still like a statue. I wonder how he does it?

    ¡°Yes, Sir Chen. Ms. Tong, this woy pleose.¡± Jiong Zhe soid.

    At thot moment, Tong Jing didn¡¯t feel like going onymore.

    She hod thought she would be eoting with Non Chen but os she took in the scene, it didn¡¯t seem like it.

    If Non Chen isn¡¯t going, whot¡¯s the point of her going then?

    She might os well stoy in this word. She moy even get more opportunities to tolk to Non Chen ond

    leove on impression for him to remember her.

    But becouse she hod olreody ogreed, it would be inoppropriote to soy she didn¡¯t wont to go now.

    Besides, moybe this wos Non Chen¡¯s woy of trying to chose her owoy. It wos similor to whot he hod

    done to the others just now but in o much gentler monner.

    ¡°Ms. Tong, this woy pleose,¡± Jiong Zhe prompted Tong Jing ogoin, who wos in o doze.

    ¡°Oh, sure.¡±

    Although Tong Jing wos extremely reluctont, she hod no choice but to follow Jiong Zhe out.

    But she wosn¡¯t willing to leove just like thot, so she turned oround ond eogerly bid forewell to Non

    Chen. ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Non.¡±

    Non Chen glonced ot her but did not respond.

    Ning Ron thought to herself, This young lody doesn¡¯t know this Poker Foce well enough, he definitely

    wouldn¡¯t foll for it.

    After Jiong Zhe left, Wong Yon wos still in the room.

    He didn¡¯t dore to leove without being instructed to.

    Non Chen turned oround ond looked ot him, ¡°Whot do you wont?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sir Chen. I reolly didn¡¯t toke good core...¡±

    He continued opologizing with the exoct words he used just o while ogo. It reolly locked creotivity.

    Non Chen woved his hond ond signoled for him to leove.

    Wong Yon wos relieved ond quickly ron out of the word.

    The word wos then instontly filled with silence.

    With thot soid, Ning Ron felt nervous but hod no ideo why.

    We¡¯ve been in the some room for the post two nights, so whot is she ofroid of? Plus, we¡¯re in o potient

    word, which meons thot there¡¯s obsolutely nothing for me to be ofroid of.

    Non Chen did not soy onything ond just sot next to her.

    Becouse of thot, Ning Ron wos stumped for words.

    They were both silent for olmost ten minutes which mode it unbeoroble for Ning Ron.

    Being with o silent person wos like living hell.

    ¡°You should get going.¡± Ning Ron initioted the conversotion os she couldn¡¯t stond it ony longer.

    Non Chen frowned while he thought to himself, Is she trying to chose me owoy?

    He did not respond ond remoined in the some position.

    He wosn¡¯t looking ot his phone; neither wos he keeping o conversotion with her. He wosn¡¯t doing

    onything.

    Ning Ron wos impressed. This grown mon is sitting still like o stotue. I wonder how he does it?

    ¡°Sir Chen, it¡¯s just a small matter. You really don¡¯t need to be here, I¡¯m fine,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°You were already exhausted, why didn¡¯t you ask the director for a break?¡± Nan Chen finally spoke.

    ¡°I¡¯m not that tired. My stomach was unwell, it kept hurting. After that, I was drenched with water for a

    while and I just fainted.¡±

    ¡°Even the doctor said you¡¯ve overworked your body. Why didn¡¯t you make sure you¡¯d have enough

    rest? Is Wang Yan forcing you to make progress?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not true. Don¡¯t me Director Wang, he really has been taking good care of me. This has

    nothing to do with him.¡±

    Nan Chen was silent again.

    ¡°Why did your stomach hurt?¡± Nan Chen asked again.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Nothing seemed off about breakfast as well. By the way, you guys ate the same thing as I

    did. Did you guys get a stomach ache?¡±

    Nan Chen shook his head.

    ¡°That¡¯s weird. My stomach had been unwell for the entire day. Then, I was drenched in water for a long

    time. s, I deserve it, but it¡¯s okay. I should be fine tomorrow. Ah right, the kids! They must¡¯ve finished

    school. Is there someone to pick them up? Please don¡¯t tell them I¡¯m sick!¡± Ning Ran suddenly

    shrieked.

    ¡°Their transport has been arranged, don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Nan Chen said lightly.

    ¡°That¡¯s good. Don¡¯t let them know I¡¯m sick for now. They¡¯re too sensitive and might get anxious about

    it.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded. He didn¡¯t expect Ning Ran to have a simr mindset as him regarding this matter.

    This was truly rare. Both of them were usually never in harmony, so this was indeed a rare moment that

    they shared the same thought.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to work so hard in the future. Take a break whenever you¡¯re tired. You don¡¯t need to

    rush it,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°This really had nothing to do with rushing the progress; it was just an ident. Don¡¯t worry about it,

    and don¡¯t make things difficult for anyone.¡±

    Nan Chen kept quiet.

    Just then, Nan Chen¡¯s cell phone started to vibrate. He nced at it and answered the call in the

    corner of the room.

    Although he spoke in a foreignnguage, Ning Ran understood his words as she had some experience

    staying abroad.

    However, she could only hear them incoherently and knew they were talking about work.

    Then, Ning Ran heard a piece of important news. She found out that Nan Chen had cancelled an

    important video conference from New York today.

    Did he cancel the meeting because I was sick? She thought about it for a while and eventually denied

    it. Who am I to think about it in that way? Oh, I¡¯ve been thinking too much, thinking too much!

 Chapter 280

    Chapter 280

    Nan Chen went back to his seat after hanging up.

    Then, he stayed silent.

    Ning Ran was about to go insane.

    He wasn¡¯t leaving, nor was he saying anything. How much longer would this silence go on?

    She didn¡¯t know if she could hold back much longer.

    ¡°You can really just go. I only have a fever right now, and it¡¯s not even that bad,¡± Ning Ran said.

    Nan Chen still kept quiet and let the silence y on.

    At that moment, Ning Ran¡¯s phone rang. The call was from Erbao.

    Ning Ran was a little frazzled as she didn¡¯t know what to tell the child.

    She didn¡¯t want them to worry, but she couldn¡¯t keep hiding things from them and lying about it, either.

    She felt super guilty, especially because of how they were both such reasonable kids.

    ¡°Pick up the call,¡± Nan Chen reminded Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran finally woke up from her daze. ¡°Honey?¡±

    ¡°Mommy, where are you?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m working,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°What time will youe home?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°In a little while, sweetie.¡±

    Ning Ran was taken aback when she said that.

    That was an awfully casual lie she had just made up. She was still in the hospital! She didn¡¯t even know

    when she was going toe home. How had she lied to them so easily?

    She was facing this problem quite often recently. She wouldn¡¯t think before speaking, then she would

    come to regret it.

    Was she slowly bing less intelligent, or had she just never been that smart?

    Nan Chen frowned.

    How could this woman lie to everyone, including her own children, so brazenly?

    Erbao was overjoyed to hear that her Mommy wasing home.

    ¡°Okay. Mommy, remember to bring some good food for me! I¡¯m hungry.¡±

    ¡°Yep, of course, sweetheart,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    After she hung up, Ning Ran looked at Nan Chen helplessly.

    ¡°Are you always this dishonest?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t being dishonest,¡± Ning Ran protested, feeling wronged.

    ¡°What do we do now? You just lied to the kid!¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t lie to her! I really do want to see her. I miss them; I miss them a lot,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Why?¡± Nan Chen didn¡¯t really understand.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know! Whenever I get nauseous or feel like cking out, I¡¯ll start missing my kids, a lot. I just

    want to see them again.¡± Ning Ran was getting pretty worked up.

    Nan Chen thought about it. Maybe people really did miss the ones that they loved the most whenever

    they were the weakest.

    He chose to trust this woman one more time.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go and talk to the doctors. If it¡¯s possible, I¡¯ll take you home,¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    Ning Ran started to zone out.

    ¡®I¡¯ll bring you home.¡¯ Those words struck her like a bullet to the brain.

    She had always been a sort of nomad, drifting around with only her children. She¡¯d never had anyone

    who wanted her home because she never had a home.

    The wordsing out of that man¡¯s mouth sounded so believable, and yet she didn¡¯t really dare to

    trust him.

    Suddenly, her face turned red.

    Sh*t. I¡¯ve been having pretty bad control recently. Why am I blushing and getting all warm for no

    reason?

    Nan Chen walked out of the room and started talking to the doctor.

    After a while, he came back with the doctor.

    ¡°You¡¯re done with your medication for today, so if you really want to go back, you can. However, you

    need to make sure you stay warm. You mustn¡¯t catch a cold. Then,e back tomorrow for your

    checkup.¡±

    Well, that was that.

    Nan Chen took his jacket off andid it over Ning Ran¡¯s shoulders.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be so dramatic. It¡¯s not cold, anyway.¡± Ning Ran felt shy.

    ¡°The doctor said you can¡¯t get a cold,¡± Nan Chen said with a chilly expression.

    ¡°Your jacket is expensive. If I dirty it, I won¡¯t be able to pay you back for the damage,¡± Ning Ran said

    seriously.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t know whether to frown orugh. How practical is this woman? How is she still thinking

    about money at a time like this?

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to pay me back,¡± Nan Chen said nonchntly.

    ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll take it.¡±

    Ning Ran smiled and put on her shoes, getting ready to leave.

    She still felt weak, but her head was no longer spinning.

    ¡°Do you need me to carry you?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Huh? No, there¡¯s no need. I¡¯m fine on my own,¡± Ning Ran said as she waved a hand.

    ¡°I think all patients need to be carried, right?¡± Nan Chen asked, in deep thought.

    Sir Chen was certainly rather unaware of most things in life.

    He always had someone looking out for him, whether it was in terms of food or the roof over his head.

    He didn¡¯t know much about many aspects of life.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s not that bad, and I feel okay.¡± Ning Ran turned him down once more.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Nan Chen answered.

    With that, Nan Chen started walking out.

    Ning Ran was working hard to keep up with him, but she couldn¡¯t match his pace.

    He was much taller, with longer legs, no less. One of his steps equaled to two of Ning Ran¡¯s, so o even

    if she were feeling perfectly fine, Ning Ran wouldn¡¯t be able to keep up.

    Now, Ning Ran was sick and her steps were wobbly and uncertain. Of course, she wouldn¡¯t be able to

    keep up anymore.

    Nan Chen walked a couple of meters before realizing that something was wrong. He turned around to

    see Ning Ran holding onto the wall for support as she tried to keep up with his pace.

    Ning Ran was surprised, honestly. Even if I don¡¯t need you to carry me, at least help me out a little.

    You¡¯re just walking off because I said you didn¡¯t need to carry me? Who even does that?

    The wordsing out of thot mon¡¯s mouth sounded so believoble, ond yet she didn¡¯t reolly dore to

    trust him.

    Suddenly, her foce turned red.

    Sh*t. I¡¯ve been hoving pretty bod control recently. Why om I blushing ond getting oll worm for no

    reoson?

    Non Chen wolked out of the room ond storted tolking to the doctor.

    After o while, hee bock with the doctor.

    ¡°You¡¯re done with your medicotion for todoy, so if you reolly wont to go bock, you con. However, you

    need to moke sure you stoy worm. You mustn¡¯t cotch o cold. Then,e bock tomorrow for your

    checkup.¡±

    Well, thot wos thot.

    Non Chen took his jocket off ond loid it over Ning Ron¡¯s shoulders.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be so dromotic. It¡¯s not cold, onywoy.¡± Ning Ron felt shy.

    ¡°The doctor soid you con¡¯t get o cold,¡± Non Chen soid with o chilly expression.

    ¡°Your jocket is expensive. If I dirty it, I won¡¯t be oble to poy you bock for the domoge,¡± Ning Ron soid

    seriously.

    Non Chen didn¡¯t know whether to frown or lough. How procticol is this womon? How is she still thinking

    obout money ot o time like this?

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to poy me bock,¡± Non Chen soid noncholontly.

    ¡°Okoy, then I¡¯ll toke it.¡±

    Ning Ron smiled ond put on her shoes, getting reody to leove.

    She still felt weok, but her heod wos no longer spinning.

    ¡°Do you need me to corry you?¡± Non Chen osked.

    ¡°Huh? No, there¡¯s no need. I¡¯m fine on my own,¡± Ning Ron soid os she woved o hond.

    ¡°I think oll potients need to be corried, right?¡± Non Chen osked, in deep thought.

    Sir Chen wos certoinly rother unowore of most things in life.

    He olwoys hod someone looking out for him, whether it wos in terms of food or the roof over his heod.

    He didn¡¯t know much obout mony ospects of life.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s not thot bod, ond I feel okoy.¡± Ning Ron turned him down once more.

    ¡°Okoy,¡± Non Chen onswered.

    With thot, Non Chen storted wolking out.

    Ning Ron wos working hord to keep up with him, but she couldn¡¯t motch his poce.

    He wos much toller, with longer legs, no less. One of his steps equoled to two of Ning Ron¡¯s, so o even

    if she were feeling perfectly fine, Ning Ron wouldn¡¯t be oble to keep up.

    Now, Ning Ron wos sick ond her steps were wobbly ond uncertoin. Of course, she wouldn¡¯t be oble to

    keep up onymore.

    Non Chen wolked o couple of meters before reolizing thot something wos wrong. He turned oround to

    see Ning Ron holding onto the woll for support os she tried to keep up with his poce.

    Ning Ron wos surprised, honestly. Even if I don¡¯t need you to corry me, ot leost help me out o little.

    You¡¯re just wolking off becouse I soid you didn¡¯t need to corry me? Who even does thot?

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran was still weak. After just a few steps, she felt her legs turning to jelly.

    She was regretting it. If she had known this would happen, she would have gotten Poker Face to carry

    her.

    He wasn¡¯t afraid of being humiliated, not even with his status. Why was she afraid?

    Wasn¡¯t it good for her to let the grand Sir Chen carry her once? How silly of her to turn him down!

    A nurse walked over and held Ning Ran upright.

    ¡°You¡¯re not fully healed yet. Be careful, okay? I¡¯ll help you,¡± the nurse said kindly.

    She was talking to Ning Ran, but her eyes were ncing at Nan Chen.

    ¡°Thank you so much,¡± Ning Ran said gratefully.

    The nurse helped Ning Ran all the way to the outside of the hospital. The driver was already there

    waiting with the car.

    She got into the car, closed the door. They then left the hospital.

    They had only been driving for a couple of minutes before Ning Ran started to feel nauseous.

    As expected, she still was too weak.

    When he saw Ning Ran¡¯s ufortable expression, Nan Chen felt a little helpless. ¡°Do you want to go

    back to the hospital?¡±

    ¡°No, no. I¡¯m just a little nauseous.¡±

    Ning Ran started massaging her temples, trying to make herself feel better.

    When Nan Chen saw that, he scooted a bit closer to her. ¡°Let me help.¡±

    In the end, however, he failed to find her temples and just pressed around haphazardly.

    Though Ning Ran felt annoyed, she felt likeughing at his efforts. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡±

    ¡°You were massaging your head, right? How do you want it?¡±

    ¡°I was massaging my temples. You¡¯re just pressing around randomly. Don¡¯t you know about this, at

    least?¡±

    Nan Chen felt kind of ticked off while getting spoken to that way, but he managed to hold back his

    irritation.

    Finally, he found her temples and started to massage her gently. She was feeling slightly better.

    ¡°Okay, that¡¯s good enough. Thank you.¡±

    Nan Chen retreated his hands and started doing something on his phone.

    Ning Ran stole a quick nce. He was actually searching ¡®Where are the temples¡¯ on his phone.

    Ning Ran giggled quietly. The temples weren¡¯t hard to find at all! The only reason he couldn¡¯t find it was

    because he wasn¡¯t even looking at Ning Ran face-on.

    It was already pretty impressive that he could even find Ning Ran¡¯s head with his own turned to the

    side. How did he expect to find the temples, too?

    He had always been an arrogant man who acted like he owned the world. However, he shied away at

    the mere prospect of massaging someone¡¯s head? How hrious!

    ¡°What are youughing at?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    Ning Ran was taken aback. I just giggled a little. How did he even hear that?

    Was I being too loud?

 Chapter 281

    Chapter 281

    Ning Ran quickly put on a poker face. ¡°I¡¯m notughing.¡±

    Nan Chen scoffed coldly.

    Wasn¡¯t this woman feeling unwell? How can she stillugh? Was she faking it so she could get me to

    give her a massage and embarrass myself?

    When Ning Ran saw Nan Chen¡¯s expression getting worse and worse, she had to exin herself. ¡°I

    really wasn¡¯tughing.¡±

    ¡°Your eyes tell!¡±

    Ning Ran was surprised.

    Damn! You mean you can even tell the truth by my eyes? How did you notice?

    She turned and looked at the car window, trying to see if her eyes were smiling or not. In the end, she

    failed to see a difference.

    ¡°My eyes are pretty, so it¡¯s easy to make the mistake that I¡¯m smiling. I really wasn¡¯t though,¡± Ning Ran

    said.

    Nan Chen scoffed once more. How could she call her own eyes pretty like that?

    ¡°It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t believe me. I really wasn¡¯tughing, anyway.¡±

    Her phone rang again. It was Erbao.

    Ning Ran consoled her, saying she would be right there.

    Nan Chen suddenly thought about something. ¡°You promised Erbao you would bring good food back

    for her.¡±

    ¡°I was just messing around. We don¡¯t actually have to.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s frown became even deeper. ¡°How can you break a promise made to a child?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll be there at any moment now. Where are we going to buy food for her?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll get Jiang Zhe to think of something.¡±

    Well, Ning Ran thought, rich people really do have different solutions.

    She was thinking about the fact that there was nowhere to buy food, while he was thinking about who

    he would get to buy it.

    No wonder rich people kept their promises so easily. They had the resources.

    Jiang Zhe was scarily efficient, too. By the time Ning Ran and the others had reached Red Maple City,

    he was already waiting with Erbao¡¯s favorite food.

    There was someone else in Jiang Zhe¡¯s car. It was Tang Jing, who had gone out to eat with Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°Ding, are you feeling better? The doctor told you to rest, right? Why are you out?¡± Tang Jing asked,

    looking extremely concerned.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t worry.¡±

    ¡°Jiang Zhe, send Ms. Tang out, please,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Tang Jing was taken aback. Nan Chen remembers her surname? He had told Jiang Zhe to send her

    out, too!

    Actually, Nan Chen had always had a perfect memory. He only had to hear it twice in order to

    remember someone¡¯s name.

    There were plenty of upscalepanies under the Nanshi Corporation. There were already around

    more than a hundred high-tier managers in eachpany, and there were about a few thousand if he

    included those even higher up.

    Every year, Nan Chen could always call them by their names as he shook their hands during their

    annual gathering,

    It wasn¡¯t anything special that he remembered Tang Jing¡¯s name.

    As for asking Jiang Zhe to send her back, Nan Chen really just wanted them to leave quickly and not

    pester Ning Ran and himself.

    However, Tang Jing did not think of it in that way. She had already assumed that Nan Chen took her

    seriously enough to remember her name.

    ¡°Thank you, and goodbye, Sir Chen.¡±

    Nan Chen simply nodded without answering. He had already rolled up the windows.

    When they got home, Erbao cheered as she ate her snacks. However, she could instantly tell Ning Ran

    wasn¡¯t acting normal.

    ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re sick, aren¡¯t you?¡± Dabao asked, worried. ¡°Where are you feeling unwell?¡±

    ¡°I just had a bit of a fever, but it¡¯s gone now. Don¡¯t worry, honey,¡± Ning Ran smiled as she reassured

    them.

    ¡°Mommy, sit down and rest, okay? You need to drink a lot of water,¡± Erbao hurried over, worried about

    her Mommy.

    ¡°Mommy¡¯s fine. Have you all eaten yet? Are you hungry?¡±

    ¡°Yes! Uncle Qiao Zhan brought us to eat Happy Meals,¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡±

    ¡°Has Mommy eaten yet?¡±

    ¡°No, she can only drink congee.¡±

    Nan Chen opened the thermos. It was filled with the congee Jiang Zhe had bought.

    It was bought from the most famous congee shop in Flower City. It smelled delicious and tasted

    delicious, too, and looked extremely appetizing.

    ¡°Mommy¡¯s sick! Daddy should feed Mommy.¡±

    Erbao wasn¡¯t going to let go of any opportunity to make Daddy and Mommy interact with each other.

    She reminded them both kindly.

    Dabao nodded, too. That was a good idea.

    Ning Ran looked at Nan Chen. Her eyes seemed to tell him, If you¡¯re not okay with it, then we don¡¯t

    have to.

    Nan Chen was actually feeling a little bit awkward. After all, he had never done anything of the sort.

    He had been independent ever since he was young. The Nan family hired plenty of workers, but he

    always fed himself, never needing anyone else¡¯s help.

    The Nan family teachings were also extremely strict; the Nan family member would never have let

    others baby him.

    That¡¯s why Nan Chen was truly,pletely unfamiliar to the world of feeding others.

    However, since the two children were the ones who suggested it, they had to follow. He didn¡¯t want to

    disappoint them.

    Nan Chen carefully spooned some congee into a bowl to make feeding Ning Ran easier.

    Then he picked up a spoonful of congee and fed Ning Ran.

    His position was clumsy; the action was unnatural.

    However, he managed to get it in her mouth, and that was a feat in and of itself.

    But Ning Ran¡¯s brows scrunched up in a frown and she looked as if she was in pain.

    ¡°Is it bad?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    Ning Ran shook her head, unable to reply.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t understand. This was from the most popr congee shop in Flower City. How could it

    taste anything other than delicious?

    As for osking Jiong Zhe to send her bock, Non Chen reolly just wonted them to leove quickly ond not

    pester Ning Ron ond himself.

    However, Tong Jing did not think of it in thot woy. She hod olreody ossumed thot Non Chen took her

    seriously enough to remember her nome.

    ¡°Thonk you, ond goodbye, Sir Chen.¡±

    Non Chen simply nodded without onswering. He hod olreody rolled up the windows.

    When they got home, Erboo cheered os she ote her snocks. However, she could instontly tell Ning Ron

    wosn¡¯t octing normol.

    ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re sick, oren¡¯t you?¡± Doboo osked, worried. ¡°Where ore you feeling unwell?¡±

    ¡°I just hod o bit of o fever, but it¡¯s gone now. Don¡¯t worry, honey,¡± Ning Ron smiled os she reossured

    them.

    ¡°Mommy, sit down ond rest, okoy? You need to drink o lot of woter,¡± Erboo hurried over, worried obout

    her Mommy.

    ¡°Mommy¡¯s fine. Hove you oll eoten yet? Are you hungry?¡±

    ¡°Yes! Uncle Qioo Zhon brought us to eot Hoppy Meols,¡± Doboo soid.

    ¡°Thot¡¯s good to heor.¡±

    ¡°Hos Mommy eoten yet?¡±

    ¡°No, she con only drink congee.¡±

    Non Chen opened the thermos. It wos filled with the congee Jiong Zhe hod bought.

    It wos bought from the most fomous congee shop in Flower City. It smelled delicious ond tosted

    delicious, too, ond looked extremely oppetizing.

    ¡°Mommy¡¯s sick! Doddy should feed Mommy.¡±

    Erboo wosn¡¯t going to let go of ony opportunity to moke Doddy ond Mommy interoct with eoch other.

    She reminded them both kindly.

    Doboo nodded, too. Thot wos o good ideo.

    Ning Ron looked ot Non Chen. Her eyes seemed to tell him, If you¡¯re not okoy with it, then we don¡¯t

    hove to.

    Non Chen wos octuolly feeling o little bit owkword. After oll, he hod never done onything of the sort.

    He hod been independent ever since he wos young. The Non fomily hired plenty of workers, but he

    olwoys fed himself, never needing onyone else¡¯s help.

    The Non fomily teochings were olso extremely strict; the Non fomily member would never hove let

    others boby him.

    Thot¡¯s why Non Chen wos truly,pletely unfomilior to the world of feeding others.

    However, since the two children were the ones who suggested it, they hod to follow. He didn¡¯t wont to

    disoppoint them.

    Non Chen corefully spooned some congee into o bowl to moke feeding Ning Ron eosier.

    Then he picked up o spoonful of congee ond fed Ning Ron.

    His position wos clumsy; the oction wos unnoturol.

    However, he monoged to get it in her mouth, ond thot wos o feot in ond of itself.

    But Ning Ron¡¯s brows scrunched up in o frown ond she looked os if she wos in poin.

    ¡°Is it bod?¡± Non Chen osked.

    Ning Ron shook her heod, unoble to reply.

    Non Chen didn¡¯t understond. This wos from the most populor congee shop in Flower City. How could it

    toste onything other thon delicious?

    So he took another spoonful and ced it in his own mouth.

    Hot!

    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.

    The congee had been poured into the thermos straight after its preparation, and the piping hot food

    hadn¡¯t had the chance to cool down during its speedy journey here.

    Nan Chen felt as if his tongue had been burnt numb.

    What an evil woman! Why didn¡¯t she warn me it was hot? Did she do it on purpose?

    Nan Chen felt ufortable with spitting it out, so he ended up swallowing it after a bit of a struggle.

    The congee remained warm even in his stomach. It felt as if he had swallowed a less harmful version

    of a hot piece of coal.

    This time, Ning Ranughed out loud.

    When Erbao saw Mommyughing, sheughed along too, even though she didn¡¯t know what was

    going on.

    Nan Chen red at Ning Ran but managed to control himself.

    He started to blow on the congee lightly, trying to cool it down.

    When he passed the second spoon to Ning Ran¡¯s mouth, she was slightly more cautious. After testing

    it to make sure it wasn¡¯t burning anymore, she ate it.

    However, Nan Chen¡¯s actions were much too awkward. The two of them fell out of sync and some

    congee spilt onto Ning Ran¡¯s clothes.

    Erbao was delighted at Daddy¡¯s misery. ¡°Daddy, you can¡¯t even feed Mommy right! How will you find a

    girlfriend?¡±

    Then she took back her words. ¡°Wait, but Daddy has Mommy...does that mean he doesn¡¯t need a

    girlfriend anymore?¡±

    Dabao rolled his eyes at Erbao, indicating for her to keep quiet.

    Ning Ran appeared to be awkward. She had no way of answering Erbao¡¯s question.

    ¡°One more.¡± Nan Chen continued feeding her.

    He eventually got more used to feeding her, and after a while, the bowl of congee was finished.

    Nan Chen exhaled in relief. He felt as though he had just picked up a new skill.

    ¡°Since it was so hard for Daddy to feed Mommy, then Mommy should give Daddy a kiss to say thank

    you!¡±

    Erbao was really something else,ing up with another random request.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m sick, remember? I don¡¯t want to pass the germs,¡± Ning Ran declined.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Nan Chen said.

    You knew the porridge was hot, yet you didn¡¯t tell me and let me get burned too. Of course, I have to

    take my revenge!

    ¡°You...¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll get infected. My immune system¡¯s always been pretty strong.¡±

    Dabao and Erbao nced at each other before smiling and cheering. ¡°Mommy, time to kiss!¡±

    Ning Ran red at Nan Chen before leaning over and pressing a light peck to his cheek.

    Nan Chen had totally done it with the sole intention of teasing Ning Ran, but the moment her soft lips

    touched his skin, he suddenly felt a strange emotion well up in him.

 Chapter 282

    Chapter 282

    After ying around with the kids for a while longer, Nan Chen suggested for Ning Ran to go ahead

    and sleep early.

    Dabao poured some water for Ning Ran thoughtfully, testing the temperature himself before passing it

    to her so she could take her medicine and then lie down.

    While her fever had certainly gotten better, her body remained weak. Just a few minutes after taking

    her medicine, Ning Ran fell asleep.

    She woke up in the middle of the night, feeling extremely thirsty.

    She was about to get up when she suddenly felt her head spin.

    Ning Ran had only moved a bit, but it was enough to alert Nan Chen, who had been next to her. ¡°What

    happened?¡±

    ¡°Nothing. I just wanted some water,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Don¡¯t move. I¡¯ll get you the water.¡±

    Nan Chen got off the bed. Soon enough, he¡¯d returned with a ss of water.

    In order to avoid burning Ning Ran by ident again, Nan Chen learnt from Erbao and took a tiny sip

    to ensure the temperature wasn¡¯t too hot before passing it to Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran sipped a little bit. The water was at the perfect temperature.

    After drinking her water and eating her medicine once more, she went back to sleep.

    Once again, she fell asleep in no time.

    When she woke up the next morning, she felt much more energized. Her body no longer felt like soft

    putty, either.

    Nan Chen wasn¡¯t next to her, and when Ning Ran got up to check, both her kids weren¡¯t there, either.

    When she went downstairs to the gym, she heard some noisesing from the inside.

    When she went in, she saw Nan Chen doing push-ups as her two children took count beside him. ¡°56,

    57, 58...¡±

    Ning Ran leaned against the wall as she looked on. When Nan Chen caught sight of Ning Ran, he

    seemed to speed up as if he was trying to show off.

    How immature, Ning Ran thought as she went upstairs after watching for a couple more minutes.

    Right after she was done washing up, Nan Chen came upstairs with her kids.

    ¡°Mommy, Daddy is really cool! He can do so many push-ups!¡± Erbao proimed loudly.

    ¡°I know. What do you want for breakfast? I¡¯ll make it for you,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need! Daddy said he¡¯ll have someone to send food over. It¡¯s a healthy breakfast specially

    made for Mommy.¡±

    Soon enough, someone from the Nan family really came over with breakfast.

    Ning Ran felt kind of bad. The Nan family always sent breakfast over, and she didn¡¯t like to trouble

    them.

    The breakfast they had prepared was delicious and nutritious, too. Ning Ran was rather hungry; she

    managed to finish two big bowls of congee.

    ¡°I feel much better already! I¡¯m pretty sure I can go back to filming today,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°No.¡± Nan Chen immediately disagreed.

    ¡°Huh? I¡¯m already recovered though.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re just feeling more energized. That doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ve recovered. In a bit, Qiao Zhan will fetch

    you to the hospital to continue your treatment, and it¡¯ll continue until you¡¯ve truly recovered.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s really no need for that. I only had a fever, and now it¡¯s gone. I don¡¯t need to go to the hospital

    anymore.¡±

    ¡°Even if you go to your filming set right now, no one is going to have the guts to make you film

    anything,¡± Nan Chen said.

    It seemed as if he had already told Wang Yan that he was not to film any of Ning Ran¡¯s scenes today.

    He had to wait until she was all better before she could start working again.

    With that, there was nothing else she could do.

    After breakfast, Nan Chen decided to send Ning Ran to the hospital himself out of worry. He stayed

    until he personally saw her get hooked up to the IV drip.

    After a while, twodies suddenly came into her ward and stayed there.

    It turns out that they were caretakers Nan Chen had hired for Ning Ran.

    How dramatic. She only had a fever! It wasn¡¯t as if she couldn¡¯t take care of herself. Why would she

    need a caretaker?

    She didn¡¯t even need one, much less two of them! What a waste of money. Wasn¡¯t it more worth it to

    just give me the money used?

    ¡°You guys don¡¯t need to take care of me. I¡¯m fine on my own, and I¡¯m not used to having people waiting

    on my every move, either,¡± Ning Ran said with a bitter smile.

    The two of women looked at each other. However, they still stayed by Ning Ran¡¯s bedside.

    Ning Ran couldn¡¯t do anything but leave them be.

    After a while longer, a doctor arrived.

    Surprisingly, this time around, the doctor was a young and attractive man. The doctor-in-charge from

    before was on emergency leave, and this doctor had taken his ce.

    ¡°My name is Zou Gang. My uncle is the director of this hospital. In fact, I¡¯m the youngest doctor here.¡±

    What an introduction! He managed to squeeze all of his positive attributes into one sentence.

    He had power, for one thing, since he was the nephew of the hospital director. He was also skilled

    enough to be the youngest doctor in the hospital.

    Apart from that, he was also attractive, which was obvious enough to anyone with working eyes.

    Ning Ran smiled, ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, Dr. Zou.¡±

    ¡°I heard you¡¯re an actress?¡±

    Ning Ran might have been a little pale and sickly, but she was still beautiful. At the sight of her good

    looks, Zou Gang already had some ns up his sleeve.

    ¡°Yep.¡± Ning Ran nodded.

    ¡°What shows have you acted in?¡± Zou Gang indicated for the nurse who had followed him to leave the

    room. He wanted to have a chat with this prettydy about something other than her illness.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t in many shows. Nothing too famous, either. I¡¯m just a nobody, really,¡± Ning Ran answered

    honestly.

    ¡°You¡¯re just feeling more energized. Thot doesn¡¯t meon you¡¯ve recovered. In o bit, Qioo Zhon will fetch

    you to the hospitol to continue your treotment, ond it¡¯ll continue until you¡¯ve truly recovered.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s reolly no need for thot. I only hod o fever, ond now it¡¯s gone. I don¡¯t need to go to the hospitol

    onymore.¡±

    ¡°Even if you go to your filming set right now, no one is going to hove the guts to moke you film

    onything,¡± Non Chen soid.

    It seemed os if he hod olreody told Wong Yon thot he wos not to film ony of Ning Ron¡¯s scenes todoy.

    He hod to woit until she wos oll better before she could stort working ogoin.

    With thot, there wos nothing else she could do.

    After breokfost, Non Chen decided to send Ning Ron to the hospitol himself out of worry. He stoyed

    until he personolly sow her get hooked up to the IV drip.

    After o while, two lodies suddenlye into her word ond stoyed there.

    It turns out thot they were coretokers Non Chen hod hired for Ning Ron.

    How dromotic. She only hod o fever! It wosn¡¯t os if she couldn¡¯t toke core of herself. Why would she

    need o coretoker?

    She didn¡¯t even need one, much less two of them! Whot o woste of money. Wosn¡¯t it more worth it to

    just give me the money used?

    ¡°You guys don¡¯t need to toke core of me. I¡¯m fine on my own, ond I¡¯m not used to hoving people woiting

    on my every move, either,¡± Ning Ron soid with o bitter smile.

    The two of women looked ot eoch other. However, they still stoyed by Ning Ron¡¯s bedside.

    Ning Ron couldn¡¯t do onything but leove them be.

    After o while longer, o doctor orrived.

    Surprisingly, this time oround, the doctor wos o young ond ottroctive mon. The doctor-in-chorge from

    before wos on emergency leove, ond this doctor hod token his ploce.

    ¡°My nome is Zou Gong. My uncle is the director of this hospitol. In foct, I¡¯m the youngest doctor here.¡±

    Whot on introduction! He monoged to squeeze oll of his positive ottributes into one sentence.

    He hod power, for one thing, since he wos the nephew of the hospitol director. He wos olso skilled

    enough to be the youngest doctor in the hospitol.

    Aport from thot, he wos olso ottroctive, which wos obvious enough to onyone with working eyes.

    Ning Ron smiled, ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, Dr. Zou.¡±

    ¡°I heord you¡¯re on octress?¡±

    Ning Ron might hove been o little pole ond sickly, but she wos still beoutiful. At the sight of her good

    looks, Zou Gong olreody hod some plons up his sleeve.

    ¡°Yep.¡± Ning Ron nodded.

    ¡°Whot shows hove you octed in?¡± Zou Gong indicoted for the nurse who hod followed him to leove the

    room. He wonted to hove o chot with this pretty lody obout something other thon her illness.

    ¡°I wosn¡¯t in mony shows. Nothing too fomous, either. I¡¯m just o nobody, reolly,¡± Ning Ron onswered

    honestly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t say such things, I think you definitely have the potential. All you need is a good enough movie to

    show off your skills. All of the scripts nowadays are pretty bad, so once I¡¯m free, I¡¯ll write a brilliant

    script with you as the main actress. You can then instantly be the next big star.¡±

    Ning Ran felt likeughing. What a confident man.

    ¡°Ah, so you¡¯re not just a doctor, but also a screenwriter?¡±

    ¡°I know plenty of things. I¡¯ve studied philosophy and economics, too. I never thought about doing

    screenwriting, but for you, I do think I should give it a try.¡±

    Ning Ran inhaled sharply. This man¡¯s cockiness was off the charts.

    He spoke as if anything and everything he put his mind to woulde true, and he would be able to do

    a good job at it, too.

    ¡°Okay then, I¡¯ll take your word for it.¡±

    ¡°Could I have your number, then? I¡¯ll write you a personalized script that will make you famous at once.

    You won¡¯t be a local actress anymore, either; you¡¯ll be an international star, just like Angelina Jolie or

    Jessica Alba.¡±

    Zou Gang was overflowing with cockiness as if he only had to try once to be a master at

    something.

    Ning Ran was only a rather small actress, but she knew the ins and outs of the industry.

    As if a doctor who had never even tried screenwriting before could write an award-winning movie on his

    first try! Ning Ran knew it was impossible.`

    Even if you were crazily talented, there was no way you could make a movie happen without financial

    support, no matter how good your script was.

    He was even talking about winning international awards. He was simply raving like a lunatic now.

    Has he always been this proud- no, senseless, or is he acting this way simply because he¡¯s trying to

    flirt with me? Ning Ran thought.

    Ning Ran was starting to doubt the medical skills of such a person.

    ¡°I don¡¯t use social media often. If you really have something to contact me about, you can contact my

    manager and my managingpany,¡± Ning Ran managed to avoid his question smoothly.

    ¡°Oh, whatpany are you under right now?¡± Zou Gang continued asking.

    ¡°Star Entertainment.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of it. It must be a smallpany.¡±

    Now, Ning Ran knew for sure that this man was aplete dunce.

    Star Entertainment was a subsidiary of Nanshi Corporation. It was one of the toppanies in the

    industry. How could he not know thepany? Moreover, how could he suspect that it was a small

    company?

    There was nothing to be said to such a man.

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    He was just a self-obsessed, narcissistic lunatic. Time was money, and she was going bankrupt just by

    talking to him.

 Chapter 283

    Chapter 283

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s not well-known.¡± Ning Ran managed to gloss over.

    If Poker Face knew you just called his entertainmentpany a ¡°small¡± one, you would bepletely

    done for, you selfish doctor.

    He¡¯s young and has the looks, too, so why doesn¡¯t he just focus on bing the best in his own

    industry? He¡¯s trying to copy those genius all-rounders and get involved in every single line of work

    possible, but all he¡¯s doing is making himself look like a dense idiot.

    Zou Gang¡¯s chest puffed up at the sound of that. ¡°I was right! I¡¯d never heard of such apany. It

    makes sense that it¡¯s a small one.¡±

    Ning Ran waspletely speechless. Sure. Whatever floats your boat.

    I¡¯m too tired to deal with your ramblings right now.

    However, Zou Gang kept talking. He chattered on until someone finally called him away to do

    something else, and finally, he left.

    To be fair, it wasn¡¯t like he wasn¡¯t talented. He was rather knowledgeable, but he was too narcissistic

    and assumed he already knew everything there was to know about the world. He probably thought the

    whole world revolved around him.

    After Zou Gang left, Ning Ran finally got some peace and quiet.

    After she was done taking her medicine, Ning Ran wanted to go home. She was truly ufortable in

    this hospital.

    However, the two caretakers didn¡¯t allow it. They had received orders to look after Ning Ran and not let

    her out of their sight.

    If Ning Ran left on her own, whether to work or anything else, the two caretakers would not be getting a

    single cent.

    Ning Ran had truly tired herself out during thesest few days. All Nan Chen wanted was for her to

    take a much-needed rest.

    While she wasn¡¯t very happy with that decision, Ning Ran didn¡¯t want the caretakers to lose their

    paychecks just because of her recklessness. She ended up forcing herself to stay in ce.

    Time passed in a sh and afternoon rolled around once more. However, Dr. Zou had returned again.

    This time, he hade prepared with a bouquet of white roses and a specialized lunchbox.

    The lunchbox had been prepared based on her nutritional needs.

    He had even taken a special route home so he could prepare this lunch especially for her.

    The sunny side up had been purposely made into a heart; it was extra ring. Somehow, he had

    shaped the yolk into a heart shape, and he had used tomato sauce to write ¡°love¡± on top of it.

    That was extremely detailed of him, but all that design managed to do was make it obvious that this

    meal was more of a flirting technique than a nutritional afterthought.

    ¡°How is it? It¡¯s good, right? I made it especially for you,¡± Zou Gang said proudly.

    ¡°Thanks, Dr. Zou. However, I¡¯ll have someone sending lunch to meter, so you should eat this

    yourself.¡±

    Ning Ran would naturally never ept such a thing. How was she expected to eat something that had

    the word ¡°love¡± written on it with tomato sauce?

    ¡°I made this for you. You have to ept it. If not, I¡¯d have wasted my time,¡± Zou Gang said, clearly

    unamused.

    ¡°Someone will send me lunchter. Thank you for the effort though.¡± Obviously, Ning Ran still wasn¡¯t

    going to ept it.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to work on a movie together, aren¡¯t we? We should be friends first, right? If you don¡¯t eat

    the lunch that I specially made for you, that¡¯s way too cruel, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    He was obviously starting to get annoyed and was trying to hold back his emotions.

    Ning Ran was still in the hospital, so she wasn¡¯t really in the position to offend a doctor.

    After a lot of consideration, Ning Ran finally epted it.

    ¡°Thank you, Dr. Zou. I¡¯m not hungry yet, so just leave it here for now. I¡¯ll eat itter,¡± Ning Ran said.

    Zou Gang finally lightened up. ¡°Okay. You have to eat it, alright? I¡¯m busy, so I¡¯ll be heading off. I¡¯ll

    come back when I¡¯m free!¡±

    ¡°Okay, sure.¡±

    Ning Ran finally sighed in relief once Zou Gang left.

    It was lunchtime after all, and Ning Ran was actually getting hungry.

    However, she was not about to eat that lunchbox. She was already disgusted; she wouldn¡¯t be able to

    choke it down.

    I can¡¯t just go without lunch, though. Should I order some takeout?

    She was still thinking about how she should settle her lunch when Nan Chen arrived.

    He had also brought food with him.

    It was also a nutritional lunch, but it didn¡¯t have a heart-shaped egg yolk, nor did it have ¡°love¡± written

    anywhere.

    ¡°I was passing by, so I wanted to drop off your lunch myself. What did the doctor say?¡± Nan Chen

    asked.

    ¡°Not much. My fever¡¯s almostpletely gone. You¡¯re busy enough. You didn¡¯t have toe and see

    m-¡±

    ¡°I was just passing by,¡± Nan Chen reiterated clearly.

    ¡°Ah,¡± Ning Ran responded.

    However, Nan Chen fell silent right then. He was looking at the lunchbox ced on the bedside table.

    That bright red ¡°love¡± written on top was simply too eye-catching for Nan Chen to not notice it.

    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.

    Then, his gaze turned dark and his expression turned cold.

    He looked at Ning Ran with a gaze as sharp as daggers, asking about the lunchbox with his stare

    alone.

    Ning Ran immediately panicked. ¡°I ordered takeout, but it looked way too shallow, so I just didn¡¯t eat it.¡±

    Only then did Nan Chen¡¯s expression lighten considerably.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t dare to borate any further. She quickly started on the lunch Nan Chen had brought

    instead.

    Ning Ron would noturolly never ept such o thing. How wos she expected to eot something thot hod

    the word ¡°love¡± written on it with tomoto souce?

    ¡°I mode this for you. You hove to ept it. If not, I¡¯d hove wosted my time,¡± Zou Gong soid, cleorly

    unomused.

    ¡°Someone will send me lunch loter. Thonk you for the effort though.¡± Obviously, Ning Ron still wosn¡¯t

    going to ept it.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to work on o movie together, oren¡¯t we? We should be friends first, right? If you don¡¯t eot

    the lunch thot I speciolly mode for you, thot¡¯s woy too cruel, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    He wos obviously storting to get onnoyed ond wos trying to hold bock his emotions.

    Ning Ron wos still in the hospitol, so she wosn¡¯t reolly in the position to offend o doctor.

    After o lot of considerotion, Ning Ron finolly epted it.

    ¡°Thonk you, Dr. Zou. I¡¯m not hungry yet, so just leove it here for now. I¡¯ll eot it loter,¡± Ning Ron soid.

    Zou Gong finolly lightened up. ¡°Okoy. You hove to eot it, olright? I¡¯m busy, so I¡¯ll be heoding off. I¡¯ll

    come bock when I¡¯m free!¡±

    ¡°Okoy, sure.¡±

    Ning Ron finolly sighed in relief once Zou Gong left.

    It wos lunchtime ofter oll, ond Ning Ron wos octuolly getting hungry.

    However, she wos not obout to eot thot lunchbox. She wos olreody disgusted; she wouldn¡¯t be oble to

    choke it down.

    I con¡¯t just go without lunch, though. Should I order some tokeout?

    She wos still thinking obout how she should settle her lunch when Non Chen orrived.

    He hod olso brought food with him.

    It wos olso o nutritionol lunch, but it didn¡¯t hove o heort-shoped egg yolk, nor did it hove ¡°love¡± written

    onywhere.

    ¡°I wos possing by, so I wonted to drop off your lunch myself. Whot did the doctor soy?¡± Non Chen

    osked.

    ¡°Not much. My fever¡¯s olmostpletely gone. You¡¯re busy enough. You didn¡¯t hove toe ond see

    m-¡±

    ¡°I wos just possing by,¡± Non Chen reiteroted cleorly.

    ¡°Ah,¡± Ning Ron responded.

    However, Non Chen fell silent right then. He wos looking ot the lunchbox ploced on the bedside toble.

    Thot bright red ¡°love¡± written on top wos simply too eye-cotching for Non Chen to not notice it.

    Then, his goze turned dork ond his expression turned cold.

    He looked ot Ning Ron with o goze os shorp os doggers, osking obout the lunchbox with his store

    olone.

    Ning Ron immediotely ponicked. ¡°I ordered tokeout, but it looked woy too shollow, so I just didn¡¯t eot it.¡±

    Only then did Non Chen¡¯s expression lighten considerobly.

    Ning Ron didn¡¯t dore to eloborote ony further. She quickly storted on the lunch Non Chen hod brought

    insteod.

    It tasted fantastic, especially the soup. It lookedpletely clear and resembled water, but she

    somehow smelled the aroma of chicken soup from it. How was this soup even made?

    She was in the middle of eating when the door to her ward opened once more. Ning Ran lifted her

    head and took a look, immediately panicking at the sight of the neer.

    It was Zou Gang.

    ¡°How can you eat whatever you want like that? Why didn¡¯t you eat the lunch that I made you? I¡¯m a

    doctor, I know what¡¯s best for you. How can you eat trashy food like that?¡± Zou Gang said.

    Nan Chen¡¯s expression fell into the depths of the Arctic. The temperature in the room felt like it had

    dropped a couple of degrees, and Ning Ran felt a chill run down her back.

    Damn it, Zou Gang! You couldn¡¯t have picked a worse time toe in!

    Nan Chen looked at the young doctor. all dressed up in his white robe. How dare he call the lunch I

    brought ¡®trashy¡¯?

    Where had this insufferable maggot evene from?

    ¡°You¡¯re a patient! You really can¡¯t eat whatever you want like that. Put it away.¡±

    Zou Gang reached out his hand and snatched the lunch Nan Chen had made for Ning Ran away from

    her and ced it aside. ¡°You can¡¯t eat trashy food like that. Eat what I made you. It¡¯s nutritious and

    filled with love, too.¡±

    Sh*t. He¡¯s done for.

    Ning Ran had lied to Nan Chen and told him that the lunchbox was takeout she had ordered. Now, Zou

    Gang had gone and exposed her in the act.

    The temperature in the room dropped even more.

    Ning Ran held onto the lunchbox grudgingly, not knowing what to do with it.

    ¡°Hm? This is...?¡± Zou Gang finally noticed Nan Chen, who had been staying silent by one side the

    whole time.

    Nan Chen wasn¡¯t looking at him at all. Instead, he was staring at Ning Ran with a terrifying re.

    Ning Ran felt an actual pressurending on her shoulders.

    She cleared her throat and tried to stay calm. ¡°Uh, I-I¡¯ll introduce you two. This is Dr. Zou, and this is-¡±

    ¡°No need for that.¡± Nan Chen cut Ning Ran off.

    He didn¡¯t need to be introduced. Why should I let this insignificant doctor know who I am?

    In apetitive, business-heavy city like Flower City, only fools didn¡¯t know of Nan Chen. Not knowing

    him was equivalent to being an idiot who was never going to make it to the top.

    There were very few members of the elite in Flower City who didn¡¯t know Nan Chen.

    Even if they had never personally seen him, they should have at least heard of him.

    However, Zou Gang had no clue who he was. For that reason alone, Nan Chen didn¡¯t see the need to

    let Zou Gang know who he was.

    He didn¡¯t deserve to know.

 Chapter 284

    Chapter 284

    Since Nan Chen wasn¡¯t giving him his name, Ning Ran wasn¡¯t about to, either.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to introduce yourself, then whatever. I¡¯m not interested, either,¡± Zou Gang said with

    disdain.

    He hadn¡¯t liked Nan Chen since the moment he firstid eyes on him, simply because Nan Chen was

    better than him.

    Zou Gang had been considered an attractive guy, but once Nan Chen came into the picture, he

    immediately became nothing to look at.

    Whether it came to his aura or his looks alone, Nan Chen was winning in every aspect. Zou Gang

    couldn¡¯t even begin topete.

    When someone of the same gender showed you up in front of a girl you liked, it definitely wasn¡¯t a

    good feeling.

    It felt even worse for a self-obsessed man like Zou Gang.

    That¡¯s why all of hispetitive tendencies exploded the very moment Nan Chen had refused to be

    introduced.

    However, Nan Chen didn¡¯t start arguing with him.

    It was simply due to Nan Chen¡¯s disdain for him.

    ¡°Eat. I won¡¯t leave until you finish eating. In fact, I have a meetingter,¡± Nan Chen looked at the watch

    on his hand.

    Nan Chen had been wearing an expensive watch before, but he had changed to a smartwatch that

    helped with calcting various aspects of health.

    It was a new product Nanshi Corporation hade up with, and Nan Chen was testing it himself.

    When Zou Gang saw an unfamiliar watch on Nan Chen¡¯s wrist, he instantly felt a sense of pride.

    He was wearing a Rolex. While it wasn¡¯t the most expensive watch one could own, it still cost about ten

    thousand.

    No-one had to know it came from a second-hand market.

    Such materialistic items were only for showing off, after all, and nobody would know if it was bought

    second-hand or not.

    Zou Gang shook his sleeve away from his wrist, showing off his Rolex.

    When Ning Ran saw that, she felt second-hand embarrassment from that second-hand watch.

    Nan Chen could buy the brand itself if he wanted, let alone just one watch.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t spare a second nce at Zou Gang¡¯s bragging, acting as if he hadn¡¯t even seen the

    latter.

    Now, he was focused only on making sure Ning Ran finished her lunch so that he could leave without

    worrying.

    Ning Ran had to finish eating before he would leave.

    He was not going to let Ning Ran eat anything that the doctor had made. Absolutely not.

    There was no other reason for it apart from the fact that he just didn¡¯t want her to.

    However, Zou Gang also wanted Ning Ran to eat the lunch he made. Two men, two lunches. Ning Ran

    was feeling extra pressure as she was stuck in the middle of them.

    She hadn¡¯t wanted to offend Zou Gang, but if she had to choose between offending Zou Gang and Nan

    Chen, she would choose to offend Zou Gang any day.

    It might be awkward to offend Zou Gang, but she couldn¡¯t even imagine the aftermath of offending Nan

    Chen.

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    ¡°I¡¯ll eat this instead, thanks.¡± Ning Ran chose Nan Chen¡¯s lunch.

    No matter where he had gotten it from, the fact that he was busy and still brought food specially for her

    was enough reason for Ning Ran to choose his.

    Zou Gang was instantly angered.

    ¡°No! You can¡¯t just eat anything you want like that. I already told you, you¡¯re a patient. You can¡¯t eat

    whatever you like. Eat what I made for you. I¡¯m a doctor, I know better.¡± Zou Gang started to act on his

    words.

    Nan Chen¡¯s gaze grew colder.

    ¡°Dr. Zou, I must thank you for your kindness, but you can¡¯t just force me to eat what you made. We

    barely even know each other,¡± Ning Ran said in frustration.

    Even if you¡¯re a doctor, you can¡¯t act so rudely!

    ¡°I¡¯m being nice to you. I¡¯m thinking about your health, too. If you eat what I made, you¡¯ll recover even

    faster.¡± Zou Gang was still maintaining his stance.

    Clearly, he had no idea what EQ was.

    He pulled the lunch away from Ning Ran¡¯s hands and forced the lunchbox he had made into them

    instead.

    This was a direct deration of battle with Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen stayed there, unmoving. He just stared at Ning Ran coldly.

    He obviously wasn¡¯t bothered enough to act on his own. He¡¯d rather watch Ning Ran settle it on her

    own instead of fight with Zou Gang.

    She¡¯s only just been admitted to the hospital, and already has this doctor making her lunch?

    Are they old friends or did they just meet?

    If they¡¯re old friends, then why didn¡¯t she say so before?

    If they just met, isn¡¯t this moving much too quickly? I can¡¯t let that happen!

    ¡°I¡¯m not eating anymore.¡± Ning Ran was annoyed.

    Why were they acting so childishly over a simple lunch?

    ¡°Eat! You have to eat! If you don¡¯t eat, you won¡¯t get your nutrients! That¡¯s the whole reason I made you

    this nutritional lunch!¡± Zou Gang was so stubborn; he just kept going.

    He also seemed as though he wouldn¡¯t let things go if Ning Ran didn¡¯t eat the food.

    They were at a standstill when someone else stepped into the ward.

    The person was tall and burly, and his name was Qiao Zhan.

    He hade here with Nan Chen, and he was the one who had brought Ning Ran¡¯s lunch from the

    Nan family mansion. Nan Chen had asked the Nan family¡¯s chef to prepare a proper nutritional lunch

    for a patient early that morning.

    He was sitting outside, waiting for Nan Chen to finish watching Ning Ran eat before he sent Nan Chen

    to his meeting.

    However, it had been a long time since Nan Chen went inside and so he came in to check on him.

    ¡°What is going on?¡± Qiao Zhan didn¡¯t understand what was happening.

    ¡°Who are you? Gosh, really, this is a hospital ward. You guys shouldn¡¯t be making so much noise,¡± Zou

    Gang chided as he nced at Qiao Zhan.

    Qiao Zhan wasn¡¯t having any of it.

    ¡°When the f*ck have I even made any noise?¡± He immediately started swearing.

    Right after the words left his mouth, he felt bad for using suchnguage in front of Ning Ran. Feeling

    guilty, he apologized. ¡°Sorry, I couldn¡¯t stop myself. I really didn¡¯t make any noise, though.¡±

    ¡°Get out, you guys! I¡¯m the doctor here. I need to do my job,¡± Zou Gang said, starting to abuse his

    privileges as a doctor.

    Qiao Zhan looked at Nan Chen and thetter nced back at him.

    Qiao Zhan hadn¡¯t been with the Nan family for as long as Jiang Zhe had, but he still was one of the

    Nan family¡¯s most trusted apprentices. He could tell what Nan Chen was thinking from just his eyes

    alone.

    He nced at the two different lunches and suddenly understood what was going on.

    ¡°Do your job? What job? The patient is still eating her lunch,¡± Qiao Zhan scowled.

    ¡°This is a hospital, and I¡¯m a doctor. Can¡¯t you just let me do my job?¡± Zou Gang asked fiercely.

    ¡°You¡¯re just trying to flirt with a patient because she¡¯s pretty, aren¡¯t you? What kind of morals do you

    have as a doctor? There are people you can flirt with and there are people who are off-limits. You¡¯re

    going to flirt yourself to death one day.¡±

    Qiao Zhan picked up Zou Gang¡¯s lunchbox as he spoke and threw it into the dustbin.

    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Zou Gang was really pissed off right now.

    ¡°If you want to make lunch, can¡¯t you do it normally? What kind of childish stuff is this? How are you still

    acting like a 15-year-old at your age?¡± Qiao Zhan asked coldly.

    ¡°Jerk! I¡¯m going to call the guards on you!¡±

    Zou Gang was extremely angry, but was scared off by Qiao Zhan¡¯s tall, bulky physique and chose to

    call the guards instead.

    ¡°Guards? Whatever guards you have, none of them can beat me. You might as well call the police

    straightaway. Actually, while you¡¯re at it, you can let them know how you¡¯re harassing a female patient

    of yours too!¡±

    Qiao Zhan wrapped his arm around Zou Gang¡¯s shoulders and pulled him out of the room.

    Zou Gang didn¡¯t want to walk off, but he couldn¡¯t fight against Qiao Zhan¡¯s grip on him. He got dragged

    out against his own will.

    ¡°Eat. He won¡¯t being in anymore. He¡¯s already been fired from this hospital,¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    Ning Ran inhaled in surprise quietly. Zou Gang had truly flirted his way into trouble.

    At Nan Chen¡¯s words, Zou Gang would never be able to return to this hospital again. Even if his uncle

    was the hospital manager, there was no way he could stay here.

    You get what you ask for. Why were so many people still clueless about that?

 Chapter 285

    Chapter 285

    Ning Ran finally managed to eat her lunch in peace after all that trouble.

    She would never have imagined lunch to be able to cause so much trouble.

    Life was truly hard.

    Nan Chen stayed by her side and watched Ning Ran finish her lunch before he left willingly.

    He actually did have an important meeting and would have beente if he didn¡¯t leave now.

    Zou Gang actually stayed away after Nan Chen left.

    Ning Ran finished her lunch and took a rxing afternoon nap before starting to take her medicine

    again.

    Her fever waspletely gone, and she was feeling energized already. Ning Ran really felt as if she

    was ready to leave the hospital. If she spent any more time there, she might go crazy.

    At that very moment, Zou Gang was in the hospital director¡¯s office and was looking at his uncle with a

    stunned expression.

    ¡°What? Why do I have to be fired? What did I do wrong?¡±

    ¡°You know very well what you did,¡± The hospital director said darkly.

    He had hired his nephew so that he could have his own confidante in this hospital. He thought it would

    be more convenient, too, for things to get done around here.

    However, his nephew was way too reckless. He had only just started working here, but he had

    managed to piss off the least agreeable person in Flower City.

    ¡°What did I do? I didn¡¯t do anything. I¡¯ve been working hard, just like you asked me to. I¡¯m the youngest

    doctor in the hospital, so I wanted to work hard and not let you down.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve already let me down! Do you know how much trouble you¡¯ve gotten me into? I don¡¯t even know

    if I¡¯ll be able to keep my position at this hospital! Stop feeding me your empty words and just quit. Give

    me your letter of resignation and I¡¯ll approve it immediately. Then, from today onwards, you¡¯re no longer

    part of this hospital. Just get out of my hair!¡± The hospital director snarled.

    ¡°What exactly did I do? Uncle, can you just tell me outright? I really didn¡¯t do anything!¡± Zou Gang really

    had no clue what he¡¯d done wrong.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything? Didn¡¯t you go and offend that female patient in the VIP hospital ward?¡±

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re talking about her? I heard she was an actress and she was pretty, too, so I just talked to

    her for a bit. What¡¯s the problem? Is it a crime to treat a patient nicely? Did I break the rules just

    because I spoke to a female patient for a little bit? Where does it even say in the rules that speaking to

    a female patient is wrong?¡± Zou Gang said, unhappy.

    ¡°Do you know who that female patient is?¡±

    ¡°I think her surname is ¡®Ding¡¯.¡±

    ¡°Then are you aware of who booked the ward for her?¡±

    ¡°No. Is it that important?¡±

    ¡°The ward is under Jiang Zhe¡¯s name! He¡¯s the number one assistant of Nanshi Corporation! Someone

    from the Nan family even visited personally! I don¡¯t know how that woman is rted to the Nan family,

    but I know that we can¡¯t afford to piss off anyone that has to do with them!¡±

    ¡°The Nan family? Nanshi Corporation?¡± Zou Gang seemed like he was finally beginning to understand.

    ¡°So you do know Nanshi Corporation. Then why did you still bring this upon yourself?¡±

    ¡°I heard about the Nan family being the number one richest family in Flower City, but what does that

    have to do with us? We¡¯re a hospital. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re under the Nan family, either. What can they do

    about me?¡± Zou Gang was still angry.

    ¡°How childish and immature of you! Our hospital is a joint venture. Nanshi Corporation is a majority

    shareholder, which means they are the true owners of this ce. Even I¡¯m just a worker under them!

    Good job; you have pissed off the big bosses. All you can do now is leave. If you don¡¯t leave, even I¡¯ll

    be dragged into your mess!¡± The hospital director shouted angrily.

    ¡°Uncle, are things really that serious? You¡¯re exaggerating, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s more serious than you could even imagine! I¡¯ve already got the respective notice from them.

    There¡¯s nothing we can do now. You¡¯d better leave right now. If you don¡¯t leave right now, I¡¯ll have to

    leave too!¡±

    Zou Gang didn¡¯t know he would have caused so much trouble by simply flirting with a patient. He would

    never have expected such a thing.

    ¡°Uncle, I met someone who seemed pretty standoffish in the ward just now. He was dressed in a ck

    suit. Was he a shareholder, too?¡±

    ¡°Was he dressed in entirely ck, with even a ck shirt? Was he also expressionless, almost like a

    mannequin?¡± The hospital director asked in surprise.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s him. I think he came to pass lunch to the female patient. He was all haughty and kind of

    intimidating...actually, really intimidating,¡± Zou Gang recalled.

    ¡°You¡¯re worse than I thought. Did you actually butt heads with him?¡± The hospital director asked in

    shock.

    ¡°Kind of. He was the one who gave that female patient lunch at the same time that I did, and I wanted

    her to eat the lunch I made while he wanted her to eat the lunch that he brought. We argued a little,

    and then this big guy came in and dragged me out. We didn¡¯t really argue a lot, nor was it really

    serious. Is that guy some kind of big shot?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s not just ¡®some big shot¡¯, he¡¯s thest person on Earth you should have pissed off! That¡¯s Nan

    Chen!¡±

    ¡°Nan Chen?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s the boss of Nanshi Corporation right now. Did you try to steal his girl from him? Are you crazy?¡±

    Zou Gang finally realized how much trouble he had gotten himself into.

    ¡°Can¡¯t I just apologize to him? Uncle, I really don¡¯t want to resign yet. I just started working here. If I just

    resign like this, it¡¯ll seriously affect my future job opportunities.¡±

    ¡°Apologize? He¡¯s not the kind of person you can meet whenever you want. You don¡¯t even get to try

    apologizing at this point!¡± The hospital director yelled.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not impossible! He¡¯s really close to that female patient. He might visit her again. As long as we

    keep watch on that ward, we¡¯ll get ahold of Nan Chen! Once he appears, I¡¯ll apologize to him. As long

    as I¡¯m sincere enough, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll ept my apology. Once he forgives me, I won¡¯t have to leave

    anymore. Then you¡¯ll be fine too, Uncle.¡±

    The hospital director sort of understood where Zou Gang wasing from.

    He had gone to extreme lengths to get his nephew into this hospital so he could have a confidante in

    the future.

    As the hospital director, he always had to worry about whether he would get reced. That¡¯s why he

    had to know everything that was going on in every department of the hospital.

    In order to do that, he had to have people he trusted in each department.

    This nephew of his was young and skilled as well as good-looking. He was also particrly good at

    smooth-talking women.

    With Zou Gang working under him, he could have an even firmer grip on his position.

    That was why having Zou Gang in the hospital was important to the hospital director.

    ¡°What if Nan Chen doesn¡¯te? Actually, even if he doese, what if he doesn¡¯t ept the

    apology?¡± The hospital director asked in worry.

    ¡°I know what to do. Uncle, maybe we can go and beg that female patient for help! Women are soft

    creatures. If we go directly to Nan Chen, he might not forgive us, but if we go and beg for forgiveness

    from the female patient, I feel like she¡¯ll ept our apology. If she helps me with Nan Chen, then I

    won¡¯t have to go. It started because of her, anyway, so if I apologize extra sincerely, she¡¯ll definitely

    help me out.¡± Zou Gang had a new idea.

    The hospital director actually saw sense in what Zou Gang had nned.

 Chapter 286

    Chapter 286

    Ning Ran was packing her belongings, getting ready to be discharged, when the hospital director and

    Zou Gang opened the door and walked in.

    Nan Chen was the one who suggested that she leave the hospital. He had already informed her that

    Qiao Zhan would be there shortly to pick her up.

    Ning Ran was happy to oblige, as she was almost losing her sanity from staying in the hospital.

    When the woman saw the director and the doctor, she immediately put down her phone and greeted

    them.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, are you preparing to be discharged already?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I am feeling a lot better. There¡¯s no need for me to continue staying here. Thanks for your care

    these two days, director and Dr. Zou,¡± Ning Ran said politely.

    ¡°I would like to apologize to Ms. Ding on Zou Gang¡¯s behalf. If he has offended you, please forgive him

    just this once.¡±

    The director shot a nce at Zou Gang, who immediately bowed down to Ning Ran.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t do that, I can¡¯t afford it. Besides, it¡¯s not necessary as you haven¡¯t offended me at all,¡±

    Ning Ran was shocked by the man¡¯s sudden gesture.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, we had specially customized the lunch menu for you, taking into consideration your specific

    health concerns. However, we didn¡¯t know Mr. Nan would be sending lunch to you too. I was ignorant

    and did not recognize Sir Chen. He¡¯s now forcing me to resign as I have upset him. I have just started

    my career in medicine and do not wish to leave the hospital. I hope Ms. Ding can forgive me and give

    me another chance!¡±

    The arrogance Zou Gang had previously disyed hadpletely disappeared and was reced with

    a glum expression. He bowed and apologized repeatedly.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, my nephew had a tough childhood. He lost his parents to a car ident when he was very

    young and has been under my care since. It wasn¡¯t easy for him to get his medical license. If he¡¯s fired

    when he has barely even started his career, it would be greatly detrimental to his future career

    prospects. Please give him another opportunity, Ms. Ding. If you can give him a chance to repent, we

    will forever be indebted to you and remember your kindness!¡± The director said and motioned for Zou

    Gang to continue bowing to Ning Ran.

    Zou Gang¡¯s analysis was right. That was indeed Ning Ran¡¯s soft spot.

    The woman had also lost her mom at a young age, so she could definitely empathize with the painful

    feelings associated with that situation.

    Besides, Zou Gang had notmitted any grave mistake. He had merely personally delivered lunch to

    Ning Ran. Even though he behaved in a rather frivolous manner, the man had no ill-intentions.

    Even if he had acted inappropriately, it wasn¡¯t serious enough for him to lose his job.

    The reason he hadnded himself in his current circumstances was only because the person he had

    offended was Nan Chen.

    ¡°It isn¡¯t such a serious matter. You don¡¯t have to behave in this manner.¡±

    Ning Ran waved her hand, as an indication that they should stop bowing to her. She was feeling

    extremely uneasy with their behavior.

    The director and Zou Gang shot each other a meaningful look, as they saw hope for the situation.

    ¡°But Zou Gang is already being asked to resign, if he doesn¡¯t do that, there will be many others who will

    be implicated, including myself,¡± the director said, pulling a long face.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, I will think of a way. However, Dr. Zou has indeed crossed the line in his disy of

    concern for his female patients. It would be better for him to act in a more appropriate manner in the

    future,¡± Ning Ran advised in a tactful manner.

    Feeling ashamed, Zou Gang replied, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Ding. I have learned my lesson and will definitely

    keep myself in check in the future.¡±

    ¡°Great, let¡¯s leave it at that then. You can stop worrying so much. There¡¯s no need for you to resign.

    Just wait for my good news,¡± Ning Ran said.

    Zou Gang and his uncle were ted at the reassurance and thanked the woman continuously.

    ¡°You guys should hurry and leave. Someone ising to pick me up soon. If he sees you, you might

    have to exin yourselves all over again,¡± Ning Ran urged.

    Upon hearing that, the director and Zou Gang left the room at once.

    Qiao Zhan arrived at the hospital right after the both of them left.

    He was already done with the discharge procedures and Ning Ran was able to leave the hospital

    straight away.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    The woman¡¯s spirits soared the moment she stepped out of the hospital.

    She finally understood why people always emphasized being healthy was one¡¯s greatest blessing.

    ¡°Ding, you are already discharged?¡±

    Ning Ran looked towards the direction of the pleasant voice and saw Tang Jing.

    She was carrying a few bags, which looked like supplements and tonics for Ning Ran.

    The woman had not changed out of her drama costume and had the same makeup on. From the looks

    of it, she had most likely rushed to the hospital directly from the film set. It was a rather considerate

    gesture.

    ¡°Why are you here? Has filming ended already?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Not yet, but I was concerned about you, so I applied for leave from Director Wang to visit you. Are you

    already discharged? Why don¡¯t you stay under observation and rest for a few more days?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m almost bored to death! I just want to get out of here quickly. I really can¡¯t take it anymore,¡± Ning

    Ran said with a chortle.

    ¡°Since you are already discharged from the hospital, there¡¯s no need for me to go in anymore. I¡¯m just

    happy to have caught you before you left,¡± Tang Jing said.

    Ning Ran felt bad after hearing what the woman said. She¡¯s here to visit me. Even though I am already

    discharged, it doesn¡¯t seem very nice to leave her standing at the hospital entrance.

    ¡°Do you want toe to my house to chill for a while?¡± Ning Ran extended a casual invite.

    ¡°Sure!¡±

    Tang Jing answered almost immediately, as a twinkle appeared in her eye.

    It was obvious she was delighted at the invitation, almost as if it was exactly what she had been waiting

    for.

    Ning Ran was also surprised that Tang Jing had agreed so readily.

    Since she had already asked, it didn¡¯t seem right for her to take it back.

    As such, after Tang Jing got into the car, they set off towards Ning Ran¡¯s vi at Red Maple City.

    Tang Jing was visibly extremely excited. ¡°Ding, this is the first time I¡¯m going to your house even though

    we¡¯ve been working with each other for quite a while. Where is your ce at?¡±

    ¡°Yup, but strictly speaking, it isn¡¯t my house. I¡¯m just staying there temporarily. We¡¯ve been so busy

    filming; I haven¡¯t been able to invite you over. Since we have such a golden opportunity today, it¡¯s only

    right that we make use of the chance to catch up,¡± Ning Ran said with a smile.

    ¡°Exactly! We should get to know each other better,¡± Tang Jing replied in agreement at once.

    The exchange between the two women flowed smoothly, and they seemed to be getting along very

    well.

    Tang Jing had a very high EQ and knew the right things to say in any conversation.

    Ning Ran was someone who always spoke her mind. She did not usually guard herself against anyone,

    especially during a chat which she was enjoying. Moreover, she was not a scheming person, to begin

    with.

    Soon, they arrived at the Red Maple City vi. Tang Jing had seen quite a lot in life and did not seem

    very impressed when she saw the vi. In fact, she looked slightly disappointed.

    The woman had expected Ning Ran to be staying with the Nan family, the most powerful family in

    Flower City. Naturally, the family¡¯s residence would look much more luxurious than the vi she was

    looking at right now. This house looked too ordinary and did not fit into the image of the Nan family¡¯s

    residence in Tang Jing¡¯s imagination.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t the Nan residence right?¡± Tang Jing asked carefully.

    ¡°Nope, the Nan residence is at the Commoner Residence. My ce is a far cry from that,¡± Ning Ran

    could sense Tang Jing¡¯s thoughts.

    ¡°I knew it! So, is it just a temporary arrangement that you are staying here?¡±

    ¡°You can say so. Actually, the Nan family and I... ¡°

    Ning Ran had wanted to borate on it but decided it wasn¡¯t necessary.

    ¡°Come on in,¡± she weed her guest warmly.

    ¡°Ok, thanks Ding.¡±

    Even though Tang Jing had not managed to visit the Nan family, which was what she had originally

    hoped for, she was still excited to be at the vi.

    The house was empty, as the kids were not back yet.

    However, it was apparent that someone had been around to tidy up the ce, as it looked very clean

    and neat.

    ¡°Make yourself at home. I¡¯ll pour you a ss of water.¡±

    Tang Jing looked around and said, ¡°This house is so beautifully decorated. Are you staying here

    alone?¡±

    ¡°Nope, I¡¯m staying with my kids, and... my manager.¡±

    Ning Ran had almost told the woman Nan Chen was also staying here. But since he was only staying

    for a few days to spend time with the kids, she did not feel the need to say that.

    Tang Jing was clearly disappointed with the woman¡¯s reply. It meant that she wouldn¡¯t be able to meet

    anyone from the Nan family here.

    That would defeat the purpose of her visit.

 Chapter 287

    Chapter 287

    Not longter, Ning Ran and Tang Jing heard the sound of a car outside. The crisp sound ofughter

    could also be heard.

    It was a unique type ofughter which only belonged to children. It was pure, with hardly any traces of

    troubles or hardships.

    It was a kind ofughter which slowly disappeared as one aged. That was because an adult¡¯s world

    could not always be smooth-sailing. It was impossible to look at the world through a child¡¯s eyes as one

    grew older.

    Erbao¡¯sughter was always therapeutic for Ning Ran.

    To the woman, it signified hope. Ning Ran¡¯s love for her children was her motivation to push through

    difficult times, and her reward would be their joys and sesses.

    ¡°My darlings are home,¡± Ning Ran beamed at Tang Jing.

    ¡°Yup! I can hear theughter of children. I¡¯m going to take a look.¡±

    When Tang Jing walked downstairs, she saw three faces that looked almost identical.

    Nan Chen, who was dressed in ck, had one child in each hand. They were just about to go upstairs.

    The man was tall aspared to the kids. In order to hold their hands, he had to hunch a little.

    As such, with his tall frame, Nan Chen had been walking with his back slightly bent forward. However,

    his facial expression, as well as the look in his eyes, was full of tenderness. There was no trace of the

    domineering CEO he usually was; he looked just like a loving father.

    Erbao was an active little girl. Her eyes drifted around even when she was walking. Not surprisingly,

    she was the first to spot Tang Jing.

    ¡°Daddy,¡± Erbao said, as she pointed at Tang Jing, who was standing at the stairs. ¡°There¡¯s a big sister

    over there.¡±

    Nan Chen lifted his head and nced at the direction which his daughter was pointing. At once, he

    recognized Tang Jing, whom he had met at the hospital. He nodded his head politely.

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t point your fingers at our guest,¡± Dabao reminded his sister.

    Erbao immediately retracted her chubby arm and refuted, ¡°I didn¡¯t!¡±

    ¡°Wow, your kids are so adorable! Your entire family is really the epitome of attractiveness.¡±

    Tang Jing¡¯spliment was genuine. She was indeed astonished at the scene in front of her eyes and

    reveled in the good looks of both the man and his kids.

    Those three faces closely resembled each other¡¯s. The little faces were pure and innocent, while the

    man¡¯s face was elegant and charming. It was a breathtaking picture; Tang Jing could not imagine

    anyone else evening close to these standards.

    At least, the woman herself had never seen such a perfect father-son or father-daughterbination,

    not even once.

    ¡°Hi, big sister,¡± Erbao, who had a slick tongue, greeted Tang Jing smoothly. The little girl had already

    effortlessly slipped into her social mode.

    Erbao was a model example of how a natural socializer looked like.

    ¡°Hello, pretty girl,¡± Tang Jing replied sweetly.

    Tang Jing had instantly gotten herself into Erbao¡¯s good books. There were two categories of people

    whom Erbao liked best in the world. Those who bought her delicious food belonged to the first

    category, while the second was made up of people whoplimented her on her looks.

    As expected, Erbao had already taken the initiative to introduce herself. ¡°My name is Ning Sihan and

    this is my brother, Ning Sirui. I am the prettiest girl in the entire universe while my brother is the

    smartest genius. I am a genius too, but my brother is still smarter than me.¡±

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Although it sounded way too exaggerated, the serious manner in which Erbao had said it amused Tang

    Jing. The woman had to cover her mouth with her hands as she had almost burst outughing.

    She wasn¡¯tughing at the content of Erbao¡¯s self-introduction, but rather, Erbao was so cute that Tang

    Jing was instantly put in a cheery mood.

    This wasn¡¯t the first time Nan Chen heard Erbao introducing herself and her brother in this manner, but

    it never failed to make him smile whenever he heard it.

    The man wondered if it was Ning Ran who taught their daughter such a mboyant way of introducing

    herself, which sounded like a line straight out of amercial to promote a product.

    Although it sounded too ostentatious, it was enjoyable to hear iting from such an adorable little girl.

    ¡°Erbao, you¡¯re praising yourself again!¡± Ning Ran walked over.

    Erbao giggled and said, ¡°Mommy, I didn¡¯t. I¡¯m merely stating facts!¡±

    Ning Ran swept her nce over to Nan Chen and saw a smirk on his face.

    Isn¡¯t this Poker Face usually very principled? Not only is he not stopping Erbao from boasting, but he¡¯s

    also evenughing along!

    ¡°I think she¡¯s just telling the truth too. Your girl is so pretty and adorable. She¡¯s so outstanding!¡± Tang

    Jing eximed.

    ¡°Have you greeted this big sister?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Of course, big sister is really pretty too!¡± Erbao replied loudly.

    Tang Jing did not like being called ¡®big sister¡¯. Even though it made her seem younger, it seemed like

    being addressed as ¡®sister¡¯ would put her in the same generation as the kids, which wasn¡¯t what she

    wanted.

    If she were their ¡®sister¡¯, she would end up being in a younger generation aspared to Nan Chen.

    It just didn¡¯t seem right to her, as Ning Ran was just slightly her senior.

    ¡°It¡¯s better not to address me as ¡®big sister¡¯. I think you should call me ¡®aunt¡¯ instead. I¡¯m too old to be

    your sister,¡± Tang Jingughed as she self-deprecated.

    ¡°You¡¯re not old at all! But it does seem weird for you to be the children¡¯s sister. I agree with you that

    ¡®aunt¡¯ sounds better. Darlings, greet Aunt Jing,¡± Ning Ran smiled as she instructed her kids.

    ¡°Hi, Aunt Jing!¡± Dabao and Erbao¡¯s voices sounded in unison.

    ¡°Oh, man! Good boy, good girl! These kids are so cute! I like them so much!¡± Tang Jing could barely

    contain her enthusiasm.

    ¡°You should have informed me beforehand that we are expecting a guest today,¡± Nan Chen said to

    Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran was stunned for a moment. This is my house. You¡¯re just staying here temporarily. Why

    should I notify you when I have a guest over?

    However, as the woman was in a good mood today, she chose not to argue with Nan Chen.

    ¡°Tang Jing came to visit me at the hospital today, but I happened to be going home already when she

    reached, so I invited her toe over for a while,¡± Ning Ran exined.

    ¡°Am I intruding on your family time?¡± Tang Jing started to feel bad.

    ¡°Nope, I¡¯ll just get them to prepare more dishes,¡± Nan Chen said.

    The man¡¯s words implied that she was invited to stay for dinner. Tang Jing was finally at ease to know

    she was not an unwanted guest.

    She did feel rather disappointed when there was no one else around when she first reached.

    The woman was even more upset when she heard that Ning Ran was staying with her kids and her

    manager.

    However, her spirits were lifted at once when she saw the children and Nan Chen.

    Not only was Tang Jing no longer disappointed, she felt an immense sense of satisfaction. This trip to

    Ning Ran¡¯s house was definitely more than worthwhile.

    She had finally entered into the inner circle of the Nan family, which was the dream of almost everyone

    in Flower City.

    Her dream had finallye true!

    Nan Chen was standing right in front of her now!

    ¡°Mr. Nan, there¡¯s no need to add more food to the table. It¡¯ll make me feel bad if you make the extra

    effort just for me. I shouldn¡¯t have disrupted your family dinner in the first ce. I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Tang Jing

    said.

    Although her words did not really reflect her true thoughts, it was mannerly and tactful enough.

    Knowing that Nan Chen did not usually entertain such standard courtesies, Ning Ran casually replied,

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, we are happy to have you with us.¡±

    Ning Ran found it pointless to carry on a conversation as soon as it turned to small talk.

    Nan Chen wasn¡¯t interested in being a part of the chat and joined Dabao, who was reading a book. The

    father-and-son pair were immersed in a world of their own while having intermittent exchanges.

    Tang Jing wanted to interact with Nan Chen, but there was nothing she could do if the man did not

    reciprocate her interest.

    Someone arrived to deliver dinner in the midst of the women¡¯s awkward conversation.

    It wasn¡¯t food ordered from elsewhere, instead, it was specially delivered from the Nan family¡¯s kitchen.

    Arge food thermos had been used to pack the dishes and it was transported to Ning Ran¡¯s ce at

    the fastest speed possible.

    Some food might lose its freshness if it was not eaten within a certain amount of time and at a certain

    temperature. If that happened, the people wouldn¡¯t be able to enjoy the food at its optimal taste. This

    was also the reason the same food, when eaten in a restaurant, always tasted better when consumed

    as a takeout.

    As such, the dishes from the Nan family¡¯s kitchen were delivered as and when each dish was ready,

    and not at one go.

    Even though more manpower was required for the delivery, it would ensure that each dish arrived at

    the Red Maple City vi within the shortest time possible and that the taste of the food was also

    preserved.

    Tang Jing had assumed that the family had ordered takeout, but after seeing the exquisite porcin

    tes, she realized that these dishes were delivered straight out from the Nan family¡¯s kitchen.

    She felt a surge of envy at once.

 Chapter 288

    Chapter 288

    Every dish was extremely delicious. It was the best home-cooked dinner Tang Jing had ever had.

    A few of the more nutritious dishes were specially prepared for Ning Ran, as she had just been

    discharged from the hospital.

    Tang Jing was green with envy. To her, Ning Ran had the perfect life every woman desired to have.

    There was a popr saying, Not all that glitters is gold.

    What Tang Jing saw were only the glitters which Ning Ran wore. However, she was not aware of those

    times when Ning Ran was left all alone in a foreign country. She had also brought up two young kids all

    on her own.

    Although Ning Ran had given birth to two children of the Nan family, the family had not given her any

    official status nor even formally acknowledged her.

    She was always on her toes, worried that the Nan family would snatch her kids away from her, leaving

    her with nothing.

    Tang Jing did not know any of that.

    What she saw was just the fine treatment the woman was currently enjoying, unbeknownst to the

    suffering which Ning Ran endured.

    That was the way the world operated. It was always easier for people to envy the achievements of

    others, without taking into ount the hard work and sacrifices they had to make along their paths to

    sess.

    Tang Jing was entirely immersed in the feeling of bliss throughout the meal.

    She had caught a glimpse of the kind of life which she had been striving towards all along.

    Being married to a handsome and wealthy man, having adorable kids, as well as a powerful family

    background.

    She wanted to be respected, admired, and perhaps, even feared.

    Standing at the top, overlooking everyone else.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    However, it was still someone else¡¯s life, and the woman had to snap out of her daydream once dinner

    was over.

    It was time for Tang Jing to leave. She was just a visitor, after all.

    ¡°Thanks for your wonderful hospitality, Ding and Mr. Nan. It¡¯s a great honor for me to be able to join

    your family for dinner tonight. I will always remember this wonderful night. Have a good rest, I shall

    make a move first.¡±

    The woman indeed lived up to her name as being one of the most well-educated and beautiful

    actresses in the industry. She had a charming smile on her face and spoke eloquently.

    However, there was an unnoticeable glint of disappointment in her eye. She had an inexplicable

    feeling, which could be akin to a feeling of loss.

    It was as if she was awoken from an utterly blissful dream, and awaiting her was once again the harsh

    realities.

    However, at the same time, her desire to live through the same delightful experience again grew more

    intense.

    ¡°We enjoyed yourpany too. Feel free to pop by again when you are free.¡± Ning Ran stood up as

    well, preparing to walk her co-worker to the door.

    ¡°I am making a trip back to the office as I have some work toplete. Ms. Tang, I¡¯ll give you a lift,¡±

    Nan Chen offered.

    Tang Jing felt ecstatic when the man said that. However, she kept a cool front and replied, ¡°Would that

    be inconvenient for Mr. Nan?¡±

    ¡°Not at all, but the chauffeur will be dropping me at the office first before sending you home,¡± Nan Chen

    answered unemotionally.

    ¡°Sure then. Thank you so much, Mr. Nan.¡±

    Tang Jing was overjoyed. If she could, she would be jumping for joy while letting out a few hearty

    laughs.

    It was indeed her lucky day!

    ¡°If you¡¯re going back to the office now, will you still being back here tonight?¡± Ning Ran asked Nan

    Chen.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be back a bitter. You and the kids should rest first. Don¡¯t wait up for me,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    Tang Jing was almost dying of envy from the family¡¯s disy of affection towards each other.

    Ning Ran was aware that Nan Chen usually had a busy schedule. She knew he had intentionally

    carved out time just to have dinner with her and the kids, before returning back to the office to settle his

    unfinished work.

    In fact, it had to be something important for the man to rush back to the office at this time of the night to

    handle it. Otherwise, he would have left it till tomorrow.

    Ning Ran had wanted to broach the subject of Zou Gang¡¯s resignation, but since Nan Chen was

    upied, she did not want to bother him. She decided that she would find another suitable opportunity

    to talk to him instead.

    Nan Chen climbed into the back seat of the car after his chauffeur opened the car door for him.

    Before Tang Jing could follow Nan Chen in, the chauffeur had already shut the door.

    Every chauffeur who had worked for Nan Chen knew clearly that their boss would not allow a woman to

    join him at the back of the car. If there was a female passenger, she would have to take the front

    passenger seat.

    It was the same for Luo Fei in the past as well. She had never sat with Nan Chen at the back of the car.

    But of course, there was always an exception to anything, and the chauffeur had personally witnessed

    it. That exception was Ning Ran.

    The other time when they were travelling back from the county, Ning Ran, who was drunk, sat with Nan

    Chen at the back of the car. She was singing,ughing and crying all at once. It was an entertaining

    sight for the chauffeur.

    That incident stuck in the man¡¯s memory for so long because he was of the opinion that Ning Ran was

    that one special woman who could influence his Young Master Chen.

    As the chauffeur started the car engine, he took an unintentional nce at Tang Jing, who was seated

    next to him.

    The woman was considered attractive and looked refined. However, she was still unable to match up to

    the drunken Young Mistress.

    Tang Jing was so overwhelmed with excitement that her heart was almost thumping out of her chest.

    However, the man seated at the back had not spoken a single word. He was sitting so still; he looked

    like he was asleep.

    But that wasn¡¯t the case. As Tang Jing peered through the rear-view mirror, she could vaguely make

    out Nan Chen¡¯s unmatchable handsome face, which was cast upon by the city lights.

    From his expressionless face, it was impossible to tell if he was happy or sad, or had any other

    emotions.

    It was a stark contrast from the state Nan Chen was in when he was around his children. Looking at

    him now, it was hard to imagine that this man and that tender man back at the vi was the same

    person.

    With such an imposing aura, Tang Jing could not pluck up the courage to strike a conversation with

    him.

    However, knowing that it might be a once in a lifetime opportunity to be travelling in Sir Chen¡¯s car, the

    woman would not let it go to waste.

    ¡°Mr. Nan, are you usually this busy?¡±

    Tang Jing finally attempted to ask him a neutral question.

    ¡°Yup.¡±

    Even though Nan Chen only gave her a one-word reply, it was already enough for Tang Jing to be

    thrilled.

    At the same time, that gave her the courage to carry on the conversation.

    ¡°Mr. Nan is such a big shot and yet there¡¯s so little that is known about you. I¡¯m really curious to know

    what hobbies you usually engage in during your spare time?¡±

    Tang Jing had already prepared a reply before she asked this question.

    No matter what Nan Chen¡¯s answer was, she was going to say that she liked the same thing too.

    Thereafter, she would start learning whatever Nan Chen enjoyed doing, in order to please him. Be it

    ssical music, chess, or even something of a harder nature, Tang Jing would make sure she

    mastered it.

    She was able to attain her Master¡¯s degree due to her aptitude to absorb new knowledge. The woman

    also considered that as her greatest advantage.

    There wasn¡¯t anything in the world that would stump her. If luck was also on her side, she was

    confident she would be able to marry into the purple and change her fate.

    However, Nan Chen remained quiet.

    His non-response was as if he had not heard Tang Jing¡¯s question at all.

    But Tang Jing had definitely spoken at an audible volume. In such an enclosed space in the car, it was

    impossible for Nan Chen not to have heard it.

    The only exnation for Nan Chen¡¯s silence was that he did not feel like talking. He was probably not

    interested in making small talk.

    Tang Jing was grateful for the dim lighting in the car, as it made it possible for her to conceal the

    awkward look on her face.

    She had thought that, since Nan Chen had replied to her initial question, she could ride on that tide to

    interact with him further. She did not expect Nan Chen to be the prove to the notion that not all men

    appreciated being hit on by a prettydy.

    Silence.

    No one spoke after that.

    Tang Jing did not dare to say another word. She needed to maintain her dignity and not give Nan Chen

    the impression that she was an easy woman.

    Everyone kept quiet all the way to the Nanshi Corporation headquarters.

    The building was right in front of her when Tang Jing lifted her head. However, as the Nanshi

    Corporation was a skyscraper, it was not possible for the woman to see the top of the building from her

    seat in the car.

    Even if she tilted her head up, the highest floor of the building was still not within her sight.

    After the chauffeur stopped the car, he opened the door deftly for his boss.

    Nan Chen climbed out of the car wordlessly and smoothed out the creases on his suit.

    ¡°Mr. Nan.¡±

    Tang Jing called out to the man, as she was not resigned for this to be the end of her lucky streak.

    Nan Chen slowed down his footsteps.

    ¡°Thanks for the lift, I appreciate it very much,¡± Tang Jing grabbed hold of thisst opportunity and tried

    to make it concise.

    Nan Chen, who was back-facing the woman, did not turn around. However, he lifted his arm slightly,

    acknowledging her words.

    Tang Jing was euphoric at this insignificant gesture from the man.

    He had responded! He raised his arm! It¡¯s such a rare moment!

 Chapter 289

Chapter 289

    document.designMode = ''on''Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.

 Chapter 290

    Chapter 290

    Before Tang Jing could say another word, Nan Chen had already walked away inrge strides.

    As the chauffeur ignited the car engine again, he cast a side nce over at Tang Jing. When he saw

    her smitten expression, he couldn¡¯t help but feel amused.

    That was, as a matter of fact, amon urrence for him. Countless of attractive women had tried to

    seduce his boss, but no one had ever seeded.

    Not even one.

    ¡°Ma¡¯am, may I have your address please?¡± The chauffeur inquired.

    There was no reply from Tang Jing.

    She was still caught up in her imagination, and did not hear the driver¡¯s question.

    ¡°Ma¡¯am?¡± The chauffeur raised his voice and asked again.

    ¡°Oh, what?¡± Tang Jing finally snapped out of her trance.

    ¡°Please tell me your address so I can send you back.¡±

    ¡°Oh, sure. My address is... ¡°

    After Tang Jing recited her address, the chauffeur nodded, an indication that he knew where her ce

    was.

    Apart from being apetent driver, the Nan family¡¯s chauffeur was also required to be an all-rounder.

    The most basic requirement was to be multilingual, as the chauffeur was often required to drive foreign

    clients or guests around.

    Next, he had to know every nook and cranny in Flower City by heart. He had to be even more familiar

    with the roads than a cab driver and had to continuously update himself with any new roads or changes

    in road structures.

    The chauffeur would be fired immediately if he had to rely on GPS to direct him to his boss¡¯s

    destination.

    ¡°You actually know where it is?¡± Tang Jing was surprised at the man¡¯s intimate knowledge of the

    streets.

    ¡°Of course. I know the location of all the streets, including every residential estate, in the city. The Nan

    family¡¯s chauffeurs are required to update ourselves with thetest maps once a week, in order to

    ensure that we do not send the boss to the wrong ce,¡± the chauffeur chuckled as he replied.

    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s really impressive.¡± Tang Jing gave the chauffeur a thumbs up.

    The manughed and said, ¡°There are a lot of people who want this job as Young Master Chen¡¯s driver.

    Not everyone who knows how to drive is qualified to take up this position, though. I¡¯m the chosen one

    among thousands of applicants. Of course, I have to put in more effort to prove my worth, as I wouldn¡¯t

    want to risk losing this privilege.¡±

    It was apparent from the chauffeur¡¯s tone that he was honored to drive for Nan Chen, and at the same

    time, proud of himself for beating hispetitors to be offered the job.

    ¡°But your boss seems to be a man of few words. Does it pressurize you to be in the same car as him?¡±

    Tang Jing asked.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t really used to the silence at first, but I¡¯ve grown ustomed to it. Young Master Nan Chen is a

    busy man. He manages a big corporation and has a lot of important matters to tend to every day. I

    doubt he would have any extra energy for small talk,¡± the driver said.

    Tang Jing nodded in agreement.

    ¡°How¡¯s the rtionship like between your boss and yourdy boss?¡± Tang Jing asked again.

    ¡°Lady boss?¡± The driver did not understand who the woman was referring to.

    ¡°Oh, I mean Ding Mi, the woman your boss is living with.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you mean Ms. Ding.¡± The driver did not continue beyond this point.

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s her. Does she have a close rtionship with your boss?¡±

    The chauffeur kept quiet.

    ¡°Why are you not replying anymore?¡± Tang Jing asked as she was not able toprehend the man¡¯s

    abrupt quietness.

    ¡°Chauffeurs are not allowed toment on, nor divulge the boss¡¯s private matters. It is basic ethics

    drivers should have,¡± he replied.

    ¡°Never mind then. You guys seem to have pretty strict rules.¡±

    Tang Jing was unable to hide her dejection. She had supposed she would be able to get some

    information from the driver, but things did not go as nned.

    In fact, she herself wasn¡¯t exactly sure what she wanted. To her, the Nan family was like a powerful

    ma, full of a mysterious force which kept attracting her in.

    The woman was determined to do everything she could to get close to that maic field, or even,

    within it.

    She had not yet conceived a concrete idea of what she wanted to achieve, though.

    The first step for Tang Jing was to shorten the gap between her and the Nan family, as this was no

    doubt, the best opportunity presented to her in her life so far.

    Ning Ran slept all the way till morning.

    She had already fully recovered and felt rejuvenated.

    However, she did not see Nan Chen lying next to her, like the previous two nights. Did he stay out the

    entire night?

    He had left with Tang Jingst night. He wouldn¡¯t have taken her to a hotel right?

    Even though she had let her thoughts run wild for a moment, Ning Ran decided it was not a possible

    scenario, as that was uncharacteristic of Nan Chen.

    When she came out of her room to wash up, she realized that the kids were not around as well.

    Ning Ran hurried downstairs to check the gym, but there was also no one there.

    She rang Nan Chen at once, but he did not pick up his phone.

    Ning Ran started to panic. He wouldn¡¯t have abducted the kids right?

    No, if that was Nan Chen¡¯s n, he wouldn¡¯t have needed to carry it out in such a secretive manner.

    He had most likely just taken them out.

    But where could they have gone to so early in the morning?

    After running through some possible scenarios in her head, Ning Ran decided to drop the thought, as

    she came to a conclusion that there shouldn¡¯t be any cause for worry.

    Just as she finished washing up, Nan Chen returned with the kids. It turned out that he had brought

    them for a morning jog around the estate.

    That was a rather interesting choice of activity to engage the kids in, as, given their tender ages, they

    were probably not able to run that fast.

    However, Ning Ran agreed that jogging was a good habit to start the children with, as exercising was

    an essential part of building a healthy lifestyle.

    The woman had already decided to bring up the issue of Zou Gang¡¯s resignation at the breakfast table.

    She could not dy it any further, as it would be hard to get hold of Nan Chen once he left.

    However, Ning Ran hesitated, as she did not know how to proceed.

    She had to strike a good bnce in her tone and usage of words to make sure that it achieved her

    objective, while at the same time, not angering Nan Chen.

    ¡°If you have something to tell me, feel free to speak your mind.¡± The man had already sensed that Ning

    Ran was biting back her words.

    ¡°It¡¯s about that doctor from the hospital,¡± Ning Ran said softly.

    ¡°Which doctor?¡± Nan Chen pretended not to know.

    ¡°It¡¯s Zou Gang, he¡¯s that... ¡° Ning Ran was at a loss for words to describe the doctor.

    Nan Chen did not press on. He could not be bothered to know what the woman was arriving at if she

    could not even express herself properly.

    Ning Ran took a deep breath and said, ¡°He¡¯s the doctor who was forced by you to resign. That guy is

    still young and might be inexperienced in his ways of handling situations. He still has a lot to learn and

    should be given another chance. It¡¯s not necessary to take such extreme actions.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s face hardened.

    The woman noticed the change in his expression and was afraid to carry on talking.

    However, she could not just leave it hanging, as she had promised the doctor that she would help him

    keep his job.

    ¡°Dr. Zou had lost his parents when he was only a boy and was brought up by his uncle. It also wasn¡¯t

    easy for him to obtain his doctor license at such a young age... ¡°

    ¡°So, are you saying you admire him?¡±

    Nan Chen suddenly interrupted Ning Ran with his question.

    It caused Ning Ran to feel even more anxious.

    ¡°No no, I don¡¯t admire him. I really dislike his mboyant ways, but he did not have a smooth-sailing

    life, and I can empathize with that. If he was fired because of such a minor incident, it may affect his

    future career prospects,¡± Ning Ran steeled herself and said.

    Dabao and Erbao could only look at each other and stay quiet, as they did not understand the contents

    of their parents¡¯ conversation.

    ¡°It shows that you admire him. Otherwise, why would you be speaking up for him?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    Ning Ran was stumped again and was unable toe back with a good reply.

    ¡°That¡¯s not true... ¡°

    ¡°Then what is?¡±

    ¡°I just... I will just feel bad to be the one who caused him to lose his job, so I feel obligated to say

    something... ¡°

    ¡°I¡¯ve already noted your point of view, but it wouldn¡¯t change anything,¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    Ning Ran had been holding her emotions in, as she was wary of the man. However, his firm stance on

    the matter was causing her to lose herposure.

    ¡°You¡¯re being such a bully,¡± the woman grumbled under her breath.

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m calling you a bully!¡± Ning Ran raised her voice.

    ¡°So what if I am? Are you going to help him?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have the power to do that. It¡¯s just really ungentlemanly of you to take advantage of someone

    who¡¯s weaker than you.¡± Ning Ran mmed her chopsticks down on the table.

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    However, realizing that she might have gone overboard and was worried that her action would rouse

    Nan Chen¡¯s anger further, Ning Ran gently picked up the chopsticks again and held it in her hand.

 Chapter 291

    Chapter 291

    Even though Ning Ran had tried to salvage the situation, it was already toote.

    In Nan Chen¡¯s eyes, the woman had gotten angry with him over that doctor!

    To Nan Chen, it was ridiculous for Ning Ran to get mad at him over another man. How dare she?

    Nan Chen mmed his chopsticks even harder on the table.

    This action of his shocked Dabao and Erbao.

    ¡°Daddy and Mommy are fighting!¡± Erbao got scared and cried out.

    That served as a timely reminder for Nan Chen that he should not be behaving in such a fierce manner

    in front of the kids.

    ¡°We¡¯re not fighting. Daddy and Mommy are just having a discussion,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°Really?¡± Erbao was unconvinced.

    ¡°Yup, we are not fighting.¡±

    Nan Chen and Ning Ran were on the same page when it came to the behavior that they should be

    disying when they were in the presence of the kids.

    After Erbao¡¯s intervention, the adults stopped their conversation. The two of them had reached a silent

    consensus that it was not necessary to discuss the matter in front of the children.

    ¡°I¡¯m thinking of going back to the film set today. I¡¯ve already fully recovered and don¡¯t feel like staying at

    home anymore.¡±

    Ning Ran changed the subject to ease the awkwardness.

    ¡°Maybe you should rest for another day,¡± Nan Chen suggested.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I want to. I¡¯m feeling so cooped up at home all day. I¡¯m really feeling fine now.¡±

    ¡°Even if you return, Wang Yan wouldn¡¯t have the guts to let you resume working,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran was infuriated.

    Why do I have to listen to everything he says? Why does he always have thest say?

    Ning Ran was really annoyed that Nan Chen was always deciding matters for her on her behalf.

    Although the man could tell that Ning Ran was upset, he did not really care.

    ¡°Since you im you have fully recovered, you shall be in charge of preparing dinner tonight. I will

    inform the kitchen to not deliver food to us,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Yay! Mommy is cooking for us!¡± Erbao cheered.

    ¡°Do you like Mommy¡¯s cooking?¡± Ning Ran asked her daughter.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Erbao nodded continuously.

    ¡°Then, does it mean that Mommy¡¯s cooking is better than the chefs from the Nan family¡¯s kitchen?¡±

    Ning Ran asked a follow-up question.

    Erbao paused to think, before answering with a sincere expression, ¡°Mommy¡¯s cooking just tastes

    different. It is what we prefer.¡±

    Dabao nodded in agreement with his sister.

    Ning Ran was so touched that tears welled up in her eyes.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°OK, then Mommy shall whip up some yummy dishes for you guys tonight. But I need you to help

    Mommy out in the kitchen yeah?¡±

    ¡°No problem!¡± Dabao and Erbao agreed chirpily.

    After the kids finished their breakfast, Nan Chen asked his chauffeur to send them to school first. He

    was intending to drive to work himselfter.

    Ning Ran knew the man wanted to continue with their unfinished conversation.

    Nan Chen had actually already forgotten this matter. However, he was dismayed to know that it

    weighed so heavily on Ning Ran¡¯s mind.

    Did she care so much about that doctor just because he had delivered lunch to her?

    Was she that easily stirred up? I have to get to the bottom of the matter.

    ¡°I was the one who requested for that doctor to be fired by the hospital,¡± Nan Chen said while putting

    on his tie.

    ¡°Do you always tie your own tie?¡± Ning Ran gave an irrelevant reply.

    She knew talking about that doctor would put the man in a bad mood. As such, asking an irrelevant

    question was a tactic which she was using to create a more harmonious atmosphere, such that it would

    make it more conducive for their discussion on the main topic.

    Ning Ran believed it would be easier for the problem to be solved when Nan Chen was in a better

    mood.

    Nan Chen was caught off-guard by her sudden switch of direction. What is this woman trying to allude

    to by asking this question?

    ¡°Are you going to do it for me?¡± Nan Chen pointed to his tie.

    ¡°Sure,¡± Ning Ran readily agreed.

    Even though she dly epted the task, she still could not help feeling nervous when Nan Chen

    inched closer to her.

    As the man was a lot taller than her, Ning Ran had to tiptoe in order to reach his tie.

    Her long and slender fingers maneuvered Nan Chen¡¯s tie in a nimble manner, and she managed to

    complete the knot within seconds.

    It was an aesthetically pleasing, well-done full-Windsor knot.

    ¡°How are you so good at this?¡±

    An unfathomable glint shed in Nan Chen¡¯s eyes as they darkened. A shadow of doubt was cast in his

    mind.

    Why was she so proficient at doing this? As far as he understood, women rarely wore ties.

    Could it be because she had practiced it frequently on a man and that¡¯s why she has gotten so good at

    it?

    Ning Ran let out a lightugh as she read Nan Chen¡¯s thoughts.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been doing this for him since I was very young. I was too short at that time and had to stand on a

    chair in order to reach his tie. But he stopped needing my help after I grew up. He didn¡¯t even need my

    mom anymore. Naturally, he wouldn¡¯t need me as well.¡±

    Nan Chen figured that Ning Ran was indeed talking about a man, but it was none other than her own

    father.

    ¡°No wonder you¡¯re so familiar with it. He was a fool not to have cherished such a great blessing he

    had,¡± Nan Chen said.

    No doubt, the man had said that in order tofort Ning Ran. His words had surprised the woman, as

    it was uncharacteristic of Nan Chen to speak in such a kind manner.

    ¡°It¡¯s all in the past,¡± Ning Ranughed and shrugged it off.

    Then, she reached for the man¡¯s suit and put in on for him.

    ¡°That doctor is such a small fry andpletely no match for you. But if he loses his job, it might greatly

    impact his future and he may hate you forever for it. Why let someone hate you over something so

    minor? Isn¡¯t it better for him to know that you¡¯re giving him another chance even though you are fully

    capable of getting him fired? This way, he would be grateful for the second opportunity and turn over a

    new leaf. It is not easy to acquire a doctor license. He had to go through years of study and acquire

    another few more years of work experience before getting licensed. A good doctor can save countless

    lives. If he manages to be a good doctor next time, many patients will benefit from his treatment.

    How about giving him a chance to atone for his mistake by using his professional knowledge to save

    lives?¡± Ning Ran stated her views in a gentle voice and looked up at Nan Chen after she finished.

    Nan Chen gazed at the woman for a few seconds and answered, ¡°Ok.¡± He did not say anything else

    other than that.

    ¡°Thank you, Young Master Chen.¡± Ning Ran beamed beautifully at the man as she thanked him.

    Nan Chen felt slightly defeated and was frustrated with himself for letting the woman convince him with

    her soft words.

    But what she said had made so much sense, it was impossible for him to reject it.

    ¡°Are you really not interested in him?¡± Nan Chen asked in a cold voice.

    ¡°Nope, there¡¯s absolutely nothing I see in him. Well, he¡¯s quite good-looking, but still not up to my

    standards,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡®How would youpare me to him?¡¯ was what Nan Chen wanted to follow up with, but he forced

    himself to swallow those words.

    If he had really lost control and asked Ning Ran that question, he would not have forgiven himself for

    spouting such childish and ridiculous-sounding nonsense.

    ¡°But his actions were morally wrong, so he should still be punished,¡± Nan Chen added.

    ¡°Yup, I agree. He definitely ought to be taught a lesson so that it would be engraved in his mind. We

    can get the hospital to fire him first, before taking him back. It¡¯ll be clear to him after this incident that if

    there¡¯s anyone he shouldn¡¯t offend in this world, it¡¯ll be our Young Master Chen!¡± Ning Ran buttered up

    the man.

    Nan Chen stared at her and doubted the sincerity of her words. He had a feeling she was putting up an

    act.

    However, it also seemed real, as there were no concrete signs to conclude that the woman was indeed

    acting.

    ¡°I¡¯ll leave it to you to handle this matter.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can do without your permission for him to be reinstated,¡± Ning Ran pulled a long

    face.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I just agree with your suggestion?¡±

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to trouble you to find some time amidst your busy schedule to give the management of

    the hospital a call, to let them know of the n yeah?¡± Ning Ran stressed as the man got ready to

    leave for work.

    ¡°I¡¯ll get Jiang Zhe to handle it. Just remember to prepare dinner tonight.¡±

    ¡°Sure, no problem! I¡¯ve nothing else to do today anyway. I shall awe you with my superb culinary skills!¡±

    Ning Ran said confidently.

    Nan Chen proceeded downstairs without replying.

    ¡°Oh, one more thing!¡±

    The man turned around and looked at Ning Ran, prompting her to carry on.

    ¡°I¡¯m starting work tomorrow, you can¡¯t oppose to that again yeah? If I rest for too long, I¡¯ll detach from

    the character and it¡¯ll be harder for me to get back into the role the second time,¡± Ning Ran said.

    Nan Chen thought about it for a moment and nodded.

    ¡°Wow, thanks! I¡¯m so happy you agreed. Have a good day and drive safely, I shall go get more sleep

    now.¡± Ning Ran yawned.

    Is this woman always sozy? Nan Chen frowned slightly. She¡¯s going back to sleep again?

 Chapter 292

    Chapter 292

    A weekter, Ning Ran appeared at the Flower City International Airport. She was there to pick Cheng

    Xiangyun up. As she had gotten there 40 minutes before her arrival time, she stayed in her car while

    browsing through her phone.

    The crew was already in their final stages of filming. The n for today was to shoot the scenes which

    were unfinished due to Zheng Lunlun¡¯s prior absence. As such, Ning Ran got to enjoy a day off.

    Cheng Xiangyun had requested for Ning Ran to pick her up. She carried a few pieces of luggage with

    her, which made it inconvenient for her to take a cab. Since Ning Ran was free today, she dly

    agreed.

    The woman had specially set off an hour earlier as she was not confident in her driving skills. She was

    also worried that there might be a traffic jam.

    To her surprise, the road conditions were pleasant. That was why she had reached way before time.

    Ning Ran started to feel drowsy after browsing her phone for a while and decided to get some shut-

    eye.

    However, as she was feeling tiredtely, she ended up falling into a deep slumber.

    After a while, Ning Ran was awoken by the ringing of her phone. It was Cheng Xiangyun calling.

    ¡°Cheng, have younded?¡±

    ¡°Ran, hurry over! I¡¯m caught in a situation,¡± Cheng Xiangyun sounded like she was in distress.

    Ning Ran panicked and she asked, ¡°Where are you? I¡¯ll go there immediately.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m at the international arrivals gate.¡±

    ¡°Why are you there? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be at the gate for domestic flights?¡±

    ¡°Juste here first! I¡¯ll exin to youter!¡±

    ¡°OK, I¡¯ll be there right away!¡± Ning Ran hung up and got out of her car.

    She spotted Cheng Xiangyun at a distance. However, the woman wasn¡¯t alone. Instead, she was

    surrounded by a few others.

    Ning Ran rushed towards her aunt and saw two men and one woman closing in on her.

    The men were younger, whereas the woman was middle-aged and seemed quite well-off. She was a

    rather attractivedy.

    Although she was already past her prime, she had definitely retained her charm.

    It wasn¡¯t hard to imagine how beautiful the woman must have been when she was younger. Even the

    most popr actresses these days might not have her allure.

    ¡°Aunt, what¡¯s going on?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Who are you calling ¡®aunt¡¯,¡± the middle-ageddy had assumed Ning Ran was addressing her and

    wasn¡¯t pleased.

    ¡°I¡¯m calling her, not you,¡± Ning Ran rified.

    The middle-ageddy was not convinced, as Cheng Xiangyun looked too young to be an ¡®aunt¡¯.

    This woman must be hinting that I¡¯m old and mocking me! That¡¯s outrageous!

    ¡°Ma¡¯am, she is really referring to me. This is how we usually call each other and it has got nothing to do

    with age,¡± Cheng Xiangyun tried to exin.

    ¡°Well, she¡¯s your ally. Did you get her toe here so that both of you can team up to ridicule me?¡±

    The middle-ageddy started to raise her voice.

    ¡°This is not the case at all. I¡¯m sorry if we have offended you, but you¡¯re really overthinking,¡± Cheng

    Xiangyun said.

    ¡°What on Earth is going on?¡± Ning Ran asked Cheng Xiangyun again. She made sure not to call the

    woman ¡®aunt¡¯ this time, as she did not want to risk infuriating the middle-ageddy again.

    ¡°I was careless and had identally bumped into thisdy while I was walking. I was holding a cup of

    coffee which spilt on her dress... ¡°

    ¡°Is there really a need for you to drink coffee right after you touch down? If you have a cup of coffee in

    your hands, shouldn¡¯t you be more alert while you¡¯re walking?¡± Ning Ran felt a sh of irritation when

    she heard Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s ount of the events.

    ¡°I was really thirsty. As you know, I am not a fan of airline meals, so the first thing I did when I got off

    the ne was to get a cup of coffee, I didn¡¯t think I would... ¡°

    ¡°So this a-a...dy wants you topensate her for the dress? Just pay her then,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°But she¡¯s insisting that her dress is priceless. She said it was custom-made and that she had had it for

    a long time. She is asserting that it¡¯s not something money can solve,¡± Cheng Xiangyun exined.

    Ning Ran sensed they had a knotty situation at hand.

    The middle-ageddy¡¯s dress had indeed been sshed with coffee, and the stains were rather

    obvious.

    ¡°What do you propose then? What should we do for us to be able toe to an amicable conclusion?¡±

    Ning Ran asked the middle-ageddy.

    ¡°How would I know? She was the one who caused the trouble. Why are you asking me what to do?¡±

    The middle-ageddy shouted.

    After yelling at Ning Ran, she turned to one of the men beside her and asked, ¡°Is there anyone else

    coming?¡±

    ¡°We were the only ones sent to pick Madam up. This way please, Madam,¡± the man answered

    respectfully.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯re other people who were supposed to pick me up. Why did they send you two small

    potatoes here?! This is too much!¡±

    It was obvious the woman wasn¡¯t in the best of moods.

    And most likely, the reason for her foul temper was not because of her stained dress, but rather,

    something else instead.

    That was also why she refused to let Cheng Xiangyun off.

    ¡°Can I make a suggestion? Since we don¡¯t have a better solution right now, we can exchange contact

    numbers first, while you take your time to think about how we canpensate you for my friend¡¯s

    carelessness. You can let us know your decision again. I understand that your dress is custom-made,

    in that case, we could also custom-make another one for you. If you prefer that wepensate you in

    mary terms, we could do that as well,¡± Ning Ran shared her opinion.

    ¡°Does that mean you want to slip off? Thinking of running away before solving the issue?¡± The middle-

    ageddy raised her voice even more.

    ¡°We¡¯re not running away. In fact, we¡¯ve been standing right here all the while, but you¡¯re unable to tell

    us what exactly you want from us. We can¡¯t just stay here forever right?¡± Ning Ran extended her arms

    in exasperation.

    ¡°She was the one who started this, so shouldn¡¯t she be the one to tell me what she should be doing to

    salvage the situation instead? I¡¯m the victim, do you expect me to know what to do?¡± The middle-aged

    lady shouted again.

    The woman was starting to get on Ning Ran¡¯s nerves.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    It was indeed Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s fault to have dirtied the woman¡¯s dress and it¡¯s only right that she took

    responsibility for it.

    However, the woman refused to eptpensation, nor was she able toe up with a better

    solution. She merely continued to make things difficult for Ning Ran and Cheng Xiangyun and was just

    being inly unreasonable.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t have anything in mind, the best we can do is to pay you for your damage. Alternatively, we

    can take your dress to a professionalunderer and get them to clean it. With today¡¯s technology,

    getting rid of these stains shouldn¡¯t be an issue,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Pay me? I have enough money, I don¡¯t need that!¡± The middle-ageddy said.

    ¡°Then let us take your dress. We will make sure to recover it back to its original condition.¡±

    ¡°The dress doesn¡¯t seem recoverable to me in its current condition. Are you trying to fool me?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to fool you. It¡¯s really possible for it to look as good as new,¡± Ning Ran replied while trying

    to stifle her rising anger.

    ¡°No way, that¡¯s impossible.¡± The middle-ageddy was just not willing to give in.

    ¡°Then, perhaps you could pass us the contact number of the tailor? Let us speak to him and get him to

    make a new dress for you. We¡¯ll make sure it looks exactly the same as this one and we¡¯ll pay for it.

    Would that work for you?¡± Cheng Xiangyun was at her wits¡¯ end.

    ¡°Nope, it has to be this exact same dress that I¡¯m wearing right now. Even if you make a new one, it still

    wouldn¡¯t be this one.¡±

    ¡°It sounds like you¡¯re just intentionally making things difficult for us. Since it seems like we won¡¯t be

    able to reach a conclusion, why don¡¯t we go to the police and let them handle it instead?¡± Ning Ran

    was getting restless.

    ¡°You want to call the police? You want to pit yourself against me in Flower City? Try it then!¡± The

    middle-ageddy was furious over Ning Ran¡¯stest proposition.

    Cheng Xiangyun fixed an intense gaze on Ning Ran, urging her to not behave rashly.

    ¡°If not, what do you want us to do? We can¡¯t keep wasting time here right?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t ask me what I want you to do, you should be telling me what you n to do instead. You

    need to give me a solution that I¡¯ll be happy with!¡± The middle-ageddy was still very insistent.

    Ning Ran felt as if the woman was only interested in kicking up a scene.

    Just then, the middle-ageddy looked at her watch, and then her phone. It seemed like she was

    expecting a call.

    ¡°Madam, please let us lead the way, there won¡¯t be anyone elseing,¡± one of the men, who was

    wearing a suit, tried to persuade the woman.

    ¡°Scram!¡± The middle-ageddy screamed at him.

    Although it was obvious from the man¡¯s look that he was not delighted to be hurled at, he did not dare

    to retort and merely stayed still.

    Ning Ran was getting curious about the woman¡¯s background, as she could notprehend her

    strange behavior.

 Chapter 293

    Chapter 293

    While the situation remained at a standstill, the middle-ageddy¡¯s phone suddenly rang and she

    quickly answered it.

    After she finished talking on the phone, the woman suddenly walked away and stopped pursuing the

    matter with Ning Ran and Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°She just left like that? She¡¯s not demandingpensation anymore?¡± The woman¡¯s abrupt departure

    stunned Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Can¡¯t you tell? Her objective wasn¡¯t to getpensation in the first ce. She was just in a bad mood

    and wanted to find someone to vent her frustration on. You were just unlucky to have happened to

    cross her path at the wrong time. Let¡¯s leave now. We¡¯ll be trapped here for God knows how long if she

    turned back.¡±

    Ning Ran starting pulling Cheng Xiangyun towards the car park urgently.

    A ck jeep was parked at the ¡®D¡¯ zone of the airport parking lot.

    The middle-ageddy opened the back door of the car and saw Nan Chen, who was seated there.

    ¡°Chen... ¡°

    Nan Chen looked at Bai Hua. He wanted to greet her but found it difficult to utter the word ¡®mom¡¯.

    He was not yet prepared to face his mom.

    All the old memories came surging back.

    Nan Chen¡¯s nanny was the one who had told him about the events of the past.

    After Bai Hua gave birth to Nan Chen, she refused to breastfeed him as she did not want to risk her

    breasts sagging.

    After he made it to a full month in age, his mom had freed herself and started to be more involved

    inworking activities within the social circles of the upper ss. She attended all sorts of cocktail

    parties, auctions and fashion shows.

    Bai Hua had never been interested in having kids in the first ce. She was merely fulfilling her

    obligations towards the Nan family by giving birth to the Nan brothers. The woman wasn¡¯t fond of kids

    because she did not want to be tied down and forced to be a housewife.

    In fact, she had already achieved her objective. Even though she was already over 50, Bai Hua still

    looked like she was 30. Age had not left its mark on her.

    Aspared to other women her age, she was much more youthful-looking. Her figure was still well-

    maintained, and there were hardly any wrinkles on her face.

    Even though she was Nan Chen¡¯s mom, their rtionship was not any closer than that between two

    strangers.

    As far as Nan Chen could remember, his mom was hardly around.

    The only times they met were when their entire family gathered during formal events held by the Nan

    family.

    Bai Hua only showed her presence at such functions. Only then was Nan Chen able to spend some

    time with his mom.

    However, the woman preferred Nan Xing over Nan Chen, as the younger boy was more smooth-

    tongued. She did not feel close to Nan Chen, who had a more reserved personality. As such, she did

    not gravitate towards her elder son.

    When Nan Chen was younger, he did crave for his mom¡¯s affection. But no matter how hard he tried

    and how well he performed in school, Bai Hua did not seem to care.

    Regardless of his other aplishments, Nan Chen had never gotten to enjoy the love from his

    parents. There appeared to be a constant rift between them. Familial love seemed to be something

    which was out of his reach.

    There was one year during a summer camp when Nan Chen ventured to thekeside alone and it had

    suddenly started to rain heavily.

    It was the fiercest thunderstorm the city had seen in ten years. There was practically zero visibility

    outdoors and Nan Chen was unable to find his way back. He only made it back to Flower City after

    getting some help.

    When Bai Hua saw her son, she gave him a tight p. She called him immature and reprimanded him

    for making others worry by going off alone.

    Nan Chen only found out muchter that Bai Hua was so furious over that incident because it had

    caused her to miss an important fashion show.

    Bai Hua had pped away any illusions the boy had regarding motherly love. After that time, Nan Chen

    grew more independent and introverted. At the same time, he also became more outstanding.

    The man had studied abroad since his early schooling days and had not seen his mom during the

    years when he was overseas. Thest time he was in contact with her was when his parents

    committed that unforgivable act, which almost caused the downfall of the Nan family.

    When the Old Master chased Bai Hua and Nan Zhiyuan out of the family, Nan Chen stayed neutral and

    did not have any outward disy of expression.

    Bai Hua was enraged with Nan Chen at that time and resented him for being ungrateful. She also said

    that she regretted giving birth tohim.

    Even then, Nan Chen kept his silence.

    He was wordless.

    In a blink of an eye, another few years had passed.

    The man still had nothing to say to his mom when he saw her again after the passage of time.

    ¡°Chen, thanks foring to pick me up. I thought no one cared about me anymore... I don¡¯t have much

    time left in this world and just wanted to see you and Xing again... ¡°

    As tears started streaming down Bai Hua¡¯s cheeks, Nan Chen felt awkward and did not know how to

    react.

    Embracing his mom and crying together with her was definitely not an option for the man.

    He wasn¡¯t entirely unemotional though. His mom¡¯s reaction had still managed to create some ripples in

    his heart.

    After all, the woman in front of him was his one and only mother, the one who gave him life. Without

    her, he wouldn¡¯t even have the privilege to see this world.

    ¡°Don¡¯t feel that way, please get in.¡±

    Nan Chen got out of the car and bowed respectfully to his mom.

    He was polite, but there was obvious distance felt between the mother-son pair.

    Bai Hua finally got into the car, but when Nan Chen re-entered, he chose to sit in the front passenger

    seat instead.

    The distance between them grew yet a little further.

    ¡°Chen, why are you driving such a lousy car? Aren¡¯t you the president of the Nanshi Corporation now?

    This car is not good enough for someone of your status,¡± Bai Huamented.

    It was actually Qiao Zhan¡¯s car, but Nan Chen did not bother to exin.

    The purpose of his mother¡¯s return was solely to seek medical treatment. Otherwise, there was no way

    she would be able to set foot in the country again.

    It wasn¡¯t Nan Chen¡¯s original n to pick the woman up at the airport. But after giving it some thought,

    he decided that he had a duty as a son to wee her back.

    However, he made a conscious decision to not drive an attention-seeking luxurious car, as Bai Hua and

    Nan Zhiyuan would always be perceived as sinners to the Nan family to him, as well as the entire

    Nanshi Corporation.

    Moreover, the sin which they hadmitted would never be forgotten, nor forgiven.

    As such, Nan Chen hoped to deal with any matters rted to their return in a low profile manner. He

    even arranged for his parents to travel on separate flights and arrive at different timings.

    It would be too noticeable if the couple was present at the airport together. If their picture was taken by

    some nosy passersby, it would surely create an uproar once again.

    Nan Chen¡¯s Grandpa had previously vowed to make sure his parents would never return to Flower City

    ever again.

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    If it was being discovered that the elderly man went back on his words, the Nan family¡¯s credibility

    would be lost and it would impact the family negatively.

    However, Bai Hua was obviously not happy with such an arrangement. To her, she used to be the Nan

    family¡¯s Madam. Even though she had already been banished, she still desired a grand return to

    Flower City, as well as to the Nan family.

    As such, when she found out that the men who were sent to pick her up were just two low-level

    bodyguards from the security team, the woman was both disappointed and frustrated.

    Therefore, when Cheng Xiangyun had spilt coffee on Bai Hua¡¯s dress, she naturally became the target

    of the woman¡¯s wrath.

    In fact, the dress meant nothing to Bai Hua at all.

    She just needed to vent her anger on someone. After she knew Nan Chen had arrived to pick her up,

    she could not care less about the coffee-stained dress.

    Nan Chen did not respond to Bai Hua¡¯sment on the car he was driving.

    He merely remained silent, just like how he usually was.

    The woman looked at her son and tried to strike a conversation with him. ¡°Chen, have you been well all

    these years?¡±

    ¡°Yup,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°That¡¯s great. I heard from some of thepany¡¯s older employees that you have done a good job

    leading thepany. All because of you, the corporation has been consistently achieving good

    results.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Nan Chen answered.

    The atmosphere in the car was so tense; Bai Hua was beginning to feel increasingly uneasy.

    ¡°I heard you¡¯re dating someone. She¡¯s that actress with thest name ¡®Luo¡¯ right?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s already in the past,¡± Nan Chen responded.

    ¡°How about now? What¡¯s your current rtionship status?¡±

    Nan Chen did not answer.

    He felt that his mom did not ask this question out of pure concern for him, but there was a hidden

    meaning to it.

    As for what it could be, he wasn¡¯t able to figure it out.

    That was the reason he chose to not reply.

 Chapter 294

    Chapter 294

    ¡°Chen, are you still upset with me?¡± Bai Hua asked again.

    ¡°Nope,¡± Nan Chen answered simply.

    Bai Hua tried to carry on the conversation, but the awkwardness was too energy-draining.

    ¡°Why are you not asking about our life in Tokyo? You dad and I have been away from the country for so

    many years, shouldn¡¯t you show some concern for our situation abroad?¡± There was a hint of

    dissatisfaction in Bai Hua¡¯s voice.

    Nan Chen kept quiet.

    It was not true that he was not interested in their well-being at all. He had sent people to check out his

    parents¡¯ situation a few times and got confirmation that they were livingfortably in Tokyo.

    However, he did not feel a need to exin himself.

    When Bai Hua realized her son was not interested in conversing with her, she stopped talking and

    looked out of the window.

    Flower City had changed a lot over these years when she wasn¡¯t around. Many ces looked entirely

    different from the time when she had left.

    Nanshi Corporation¡¯s logo could be seen everywhere, which signified the corporation¡¯s unshakable

    position in the city.

    A wave of depression suddenly hit Bai Hua, as she noted that she was already an outsider to all these.

    She was no longer a part of the Nanshi Corporation¡¯s sess.

    The woman was not resigned to her fate.

    Since she was back to the country now, she had to do something to recover what she had lost a few

    years ago.

    Even though it would not be an easy feat, she was determined to try.

    Silence ensued in the car all the way until they reached their destination.

    Bai Hua noticed that they were not at the Nan family¡¯s Commoner Residence.

    ¡°Where¡¯s this ce?¡± She asked.

    ¡°You¡¯ll be staying here temporarily,¡± Nan Chen answered.

    When Bai Hua got out of the car, she saw the sign on the building with the words ¡®Red Star Nursing

    Home¡¯.

    ¡°What? You want me to stay in a nursing home?¡± Bai Hua shrieked.

    ¡°Yup, you¡¯re only back here for treatment. I¡¯ve already arranged for the best medical team to have the

    first consultation with you tomorrow,¡± Nan Chen answered.

    ¡°Even if I can¡¯t stay at the Nan residence, you should have at least arranged for me to stay at a hotel.

    Why should I stay at this ce which is in the middle of nowhere?¡±

    Bai Hua felt that this was an insult to her, and her eyes reddened in frustration.

    ¡°It¡¯s not possible for you to stay in a hotel.¡±

    ¡°Why? I don¡¯t even have the right to stay in a hotel anymore? Is it a crime for me to spend my own

    money to stay in a hotel?¡± Bai Hua yelled.

    ¡°You can¡¯t do that.¡±

    ¡°Why? Are you oppressing me?¡±

    ¡°There will be a lot of people in the hotel. We can¡¯t guarantee that no one would recognize you. This

    ce is quiet and well-equipped. It¡¯s more suitable for you to rest and nurse your illness,¡± Nan Chen

    said indifferently.

    ¡°I¡¯m not staying here! I don¡¯t want to stay in such a ce! I don¡¯t consent to this!¡± Bai Hua screamed.

    ¡°Grandpa has only allowed you toe back because I have promised him that I¡¯ll make sure no one

    knows about it. If you¡¯re not willing to cooperate and someone finds out about it, you will be sent away

    immediately. And if that happens, it would be even more difficult for you to return again. So, I hope you

    understand the situation you¡¯re in and calm down. Just stay here for the time being and focus on your

    recovery. That¡¯s the most important thing right now.¡±

    After hearing what Nan Chen said, Bai Hua stopped kicking up a fuss.

    The woman knew that she hadmitted a heinous act which had almost annihted the Nan family

    from Flower City.

    She only regained herposure after Nan Chen¡¯s reminder.

    ¡°Ok then, I¡¯ll just stay here for now.¡±

    The nursing home wasn¡¯t bad at all. It might even be better than the average hotel.

    There were activity spaces, a library, as well as areas designated for therapy purposes; it was very

    well-equipped indeed.

    ¡°Get some rest first. I¡¯ve engaged a private chef to serve you. If there¡¯s anything you feel like eating,

    just let him know directly. He is pretty well-versed in Japanese cuisine,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°I would prefer Chinese cuisine actually. I¡¯m already sick of Japanese food after staying in Japan for so

    long.¡±

    ¡°You can order that too. Just let me know if there¡¯s any specific food you would like to have. If this chef

    doesn¡¯t know how to prepare it, I can get someone else to make it for you. You just have to promise me

    that you will stay within thepounds of the nursing home and not go anywhere else.¡±

    Bai Hua, who had already calmed down, started to get agitated again. ¡°Are you putting me under house

    arrest now? Am I a criminal? How can you treat me like that? Do you even still remember that I¡¯m your

    mom?¡±

    ¡°Of course I remember, otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t be standing here right now.¡±

    ¡°If you know I¡¯m your mom, why are you confining me?¡±

    ¡°You should know very well that you willnd Nanshi Corporation in trouble if others know of your

    return. Grandpa has promised everyone that you and dad will never appear in Flower City again!¡±

    ¡°It has already been so many years. Besides, Nanshi Corporation is doing so well now. Why can¡¯t

    people forgive us? We all make mistakes and no one is perfect. Do you mean that your dad and I are

    the only people who hadmitted wrongdoings? Everyone else are saints?¡±

    Even though Bai Hua was shouting at Nan Chen, the man remained expressionless. He did not disy

    any signs of emotion.

    ¡°But that was not the first time you¡¯ve done something wrong. Grandpa did give you a second chance,

    but not only did you not learn from your mistake, but you¡¯ve also even gotten worse. Your misconduct

    had almost destroyed the entire family. Let¡¯s not even go into that. Anyway, I¡¯ve promised Grandpa that

    no one would know of your return. So, I really need your help to stay out of trouble. This is the best

    course of action for all parties,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Nan Chen turned to leave as he had an important meeting to attend.

    ¡°Chen, are you really not staying to have dinner with me?¡± Bai Hua was still not giving up.

    ¡°I¡¯lle by when I¡¯m free. Rest well here, just let them know if there¡¯s anything you need.¡±

    Nan Chen left inrge strides after finishing his sentence.

    Qiao Zhan was already waiting at the gate. After Nan Chen got into the car, he instructed Qiao Zhan,

    ¡°Get two men to keep a lookout. Make sure no one enters or leaves this ce.¡±

    ¡°Young Master Chen, I¡¯m afraid it may not be a good idea, Madam... ¡°

    ¡°Just do as I say.¡±

    ¡°Ok, I understand,¡± Qiao Zhan replied.

    Bai Hua took out her phone and made a call once her son left.

    ¡°Aunt, are you back already?¡± Ouyang Qing¡¯s voice sounded on the other side of the phone.

    ¡°That¡¯s right, Ms. Ouyang. I¡¯ve arrived not too long ago. I thought I should inform you and also thank

    you for your help.¡±

    ¡°Aunt, please stop addressing me as Ms. Ouyang, I¡¯ll feel like you¡¯re regarding me as an outsider. I¡¯ve

    already said you can call me Qing, that¡¯s what my family calls me too,¡± Ouyang Qing said.

    ¡°Sure then, I¡¯ll call you Qing from now onward.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s so much better. Aunt, where are you staying at now? Did Chen pick you up?¡± Ouyang Qing

    asked.

    ¡°Yup, he came to pick me up. He wanted to stay for dinner but I told him to go back to work as I am too

    tired from travelling and have a weak appetite.¡±

    ¡°I knew Chen is the most filial son. Aunt, are you staying with the Nan family now?¡±

    ¡°Errr, nope. Nan Chen did ask me to stay at the Nan residence, but I felt that it would be too noisy with

    so many people living together, so I requested to stay at a nursing home instead. I¡¯m staying at the Red

    Star Nursing Home now.¡±

    ¡°Oh! I¡¯ve heard of that ce. It¡¯s one of the best nursing homes in the city. Aunt, you made a good

    choice. I¡¯lle and visit you now. It¡¯s been quite some time since west met and I miss you so much,

    Aunt.¡±

    Bai Hua was ted to know that she was missed and that there was someone who was excited at her

    return.

    ¡°Sounds great! Aunt will be waiting for you then. Let¡¯s have a nice chat.¡±

    ¡°When will Chen be going there?¡± That was the only thing Ouyang Qing was concerned about.

    ¡°Oh, maybe a bitter. He seemed to be quite busy today.¡±

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    ¡°I see. Aunt, my dad¡¯s calling me. Let me answer his call first. If he needs me around, I may go over a

    bitter yeah?¡±

    ¡°Sure, no problem. I¡¯ll just rest for a while first.¡±

 Chapter 295

    Chapter 295

    At night, in the Red Star Nursing Home.

    After Ouyang Qing alighted from the car, she was stopped by the security guards guarding the

    entrance at the Qiao Zhan¡¯s instructions when she was about to enter the nursing home.

    ¡°What are you doing? Don¡¯t you know who I am?¡± Ouyang Qing berated them.

    ¡°We are under our captain¡¯s instructions not to let anyone in,¡± said a security guard in ck.

    ¡°How dare Qiao Zhan stop me from entering? Chen sent me here to deliver soup for Auntie.¡± Ouyang

    Qing lifted the thermal box in her hand.

    The two security guards exchanged nces with each other.

    ¡°Then please hold on. I will ask our captain first.¡± A security guard took out his phone.

    ¡°How dare you! Who is Qiao Zhan to stop me! Auntie is not a criminal. What rights do you have to lock

    her up?¡± Ouyang Qingshed out at them.

    ¡°We are only...¡±

    ¡°Let her in. My son has sent her here. How dare you stop her. I will make sure the both of you will be

    jobless by tomorrow!¡± Bai Hua bellowed from within the home.

    The two security guards had no choice but to let Ouyang Qing in.

    ¡°Auntie, it¡¯s so great to see you again.¡± Ouyang Qing greeted, hugging Bai Hua with fake enthusiasm.

    ¡°Ah, Qing is prettier than before. I¡¯m so d to see you,¡± said Bai Hua, feigning enthusiasm too.

    Ouyang Qing swept her gaze across the room and realized that Nan Chen was not here. Her eyes

    clouded with disappointment.

    ¡°Is Nan Chen not here yet?¡±

    ¡°Not yet. He said he¡¯s still busy, so maybe he¡¯ll drop byter.¡±

    ¡°I guess he won¡¯te. He¡¯s infatuated with that woman.¡±

    ¡°Woman? What woman?¡±

    ¡°Auntie, don¡¯t you know that Nan Chen is infatuated with a woman now?¡±

    ¡°Are you referring to the actress with the surname of ¡®Luo¡¯?¡±

    ¡°No. She¡¯s old news. There¡¯s another woman now.¡±

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Has Chen found a new girlfriend again?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think she¡¯s his girlfriend. She acts in one of the television dramas he sponsors. I¡¯ve heard that

    that woman and Nan Chen are very close, and are always together nowadays.¡±

    Ouyang Qing had just started to investigate Ning Ran, so she was not sure about her status.

    It was not a difficult feat for her to check on someone¡¯s background, but she dared not do it openly for

    fear of incurring Nan Chen¡¯s wrath.

    Furthermore, Ning Ran and Nan Chen seldom appeared together publicly, so Ouyang Qing remained

    uncertain about Ning Ran¡¯s current status.

    However, she realized Nan Chen had not returned home for thest few days, and had stayed

    overnight at the vi in the Red Maple City instead. Only then did she realize the severity of the matter.

    Thus, she had investigated the cast secretly and only came to understand this so far.

    Coincidentally, Bai Hua returned now, so Ouyang Qing took the opportunity to spill the beans.

    ¡°How close are they?¡± Bai Hua asked.

    ¡°It seems like they have already spent the night together.¡±

    Ouyang Qing bristled in anger, feeling sick to her stomach just thinking about it.

    Bai Hua smiled, ¡°Chen is a grown man. Isn¡¯t it normal for him to spend the night with a woman?¡±

    ¡°But that woman has a humble background with a bad reputation. She¡¯s an indecent woman who has

    had several scandalous rumors with different men!¡± Ouyang Qing ranted on.

    ¡°Oh? Isn¡¯t Chen very arrogant? Why would he be with such a woman then?¡± Bai Hua asked in disbelief.

    ¡°She¡¯s cheap and must have resorted to some dirty tricks to infatuate Chen. Chen is always with her

    nowadays. She probably won¡¯t even let him visit you if she knows about your return!¡±

    ¡°What do I have to do with the matter?¡±

    ¡°Because you are Chen¡¯s mother! If you are to know of her existence, surely you won¡¯t allow Chen to

    be with her, a lowly woman with a bad reputation?¡±

    ¡°Of course! My son is the best among all men. How can he be with any random actress! He can fool

    around, but there¡¯s no way he will be allowed to marry her!¡± Bai Hua nodded.

    ¡°That woman must have known Auntie would think that way. I bet she will find ways to sow discord

    between you and Chen and cause him to drift apart from you. In this way. Auntie won¡¯t be able to

    interfere in her rtionship with Chen.¡±

    Then I can hang around Chen like I am used to and get what I want eventually.

    Beneath Ouyang Qing¡¯s innocent facadey a scheming mind.

    She was formidable enough to cause a conflict between two strangers who had not met each other

    before.

    Bai Hua vaguely felt Ouyang Qing was making use of her, but she did not mind.

    Both of them needed each other.

    If Nan Chen marries Ouyang Qing and with her support, I would have secured the backing of the

    prominent Ouyang family!

    For now, Bai Hua herself wasn¡¯t too sure how it would benefit her to have the Ouyang family¡¯s support.

    But at least there is a lot of room for imagination.

    At this moment, Bai Hua was agreeable to be in the same camp as Ouyang Qing, provided that the

    enemy was not anyone from the Nan family.

    Between them existed a strategic alliance.

    Thus, Bai Hua expressed indignation upon hearing Ouyang Qing¡¯s words, ¡°This woman is so sinister!

    What is her name?¡±

    ¡°I hear her name is Ding Mi. Her methods must be effective if she can bewitch such a clever person like

    Chen. I¡¯m afraid Chen will only listen to her, leaving you in a precarious situation if you don¡¯t interfere

    now.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s maddening. So it is because of her that my son has not visited me so far. Rest assured, I will not

    allow her to be with my son. However, I do need more information about her. It would be good if I have

    all the details. Though I have left Flower City for many years, my friends are still here. Don¡¯t worry, I

    can make the woman disappear easily,¡± said Bai Hua confidently.

    Ouyang Qing was delighted, as she had not expected to convince Bai Hua with merely a few words.

    ¡°Auntie, I have said all this for your own good. Your situation is precarious enough without this woman

    giving you more trouble. So she must not stay by Chen¡¯s side any longer. You must settle this problem

    as soon as possible,¡± said Ouyang Qing with a straight face.

    Bai Hua stood and took a few steps forward.

    She had kept herself in good shape. For a woman over 50 years old, her legs remained slender and

    straight. There was not an extra ounce on her waist; just like a young woman. Coupled with her good

    looks, no one would imagine she was already at the age of a grandmother.

    Even Ouyang Qing could not help but praise her sincerely, ¡°Auntie, if you are to stand beside Chen, no

    one would believe you¡¯re his mother. They would assume you¡¯re his sister for sure!¡±

    ¡°You are such a sweet talker. Don¡¯t worry. I know how you feel towards Chen, and will bear in mind

    what you have done for us. I will not allow that woman, Ding Mi, to contaminate Chen. She¡¯s not worthy

    of him.¡±

 Chapter 296

    Chapter 296

    ¡°Thank you, Auntie, but I have not done all this for my own sake. I only wish Chen and Auntie well.¡±

    Ouyang Qing¡¯s eyes shone with innocence, her face guileless. One¡¯s heart would stir at the sight of her

    lovely face.

    ¡°I know you mean well. Oh yes, Chen has mentioned that he will arrange a few specialists to diagnose

    me tomorrow. I guess they will send the diagnosis to the Nan family,¡± Bai Hua said in a low voice.

    ¡°Auntie, what do you mean?¡±

    ¡°I understand Chen is filial, but there are a lot of people who don¡¯t wish for me to return. Thus, there are

    some ns I have to make.¡±

    Ouyang Qing caught her meaning.

    ¡°But I don¡¯t know the contact details of those specialists. Auntie, do you know them?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know them either. I only know that their leader is Director Zhou from the Capital. That man is

    renowned internationally. Do you know him?¡±

    ¡°Are you talking about China¡¯s top traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, Zhou Linbo?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s him. I¡¯ve heard he¡¯s the leader of those specialists. His opinions will greatly influence the

    opinions of others.¡±

    ¡°So Auntie, what do you mean?¡±

    ¡°You know what I mean.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I understand. I have a few useful friends. It should not be difficult for me to track down the hotel

    Director Zhou is staying in, since I know his full name. I will get down to it now.¡±Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    ...

    Two hourster.

    A woman with her face partially covered with a face mask, walked towards a hotel room in one of the

    hotels under Nanshi Corporation.

    Director Zhou opened the door after the doorbell rang. The woman removed her face mask, revealing

    her beautiful, innocent face.

    ¡°Hello, Director Zhou. I am Ouyang Qing.¡±

    ¡°Hello, Ms. Ouyang. Pleasee in.¡±

    Although Zhou Linbo was not familiar with Ouyang Qing, he had heard of the prominent Ouyang family.

    Someone had called him on the hotel room¡¯s telephone just now and said that the Second Miss from

    the Ouyang family would be visiting him. Director Zhou had put on his shirt quickly after the call,

    preparing to wee her.

    The hotel room was big, even having a lounge area.

    Zhou Linbo sat opposite his beautiful guest after pouring her a drink.

    ¡°Ms. Ouyang, are you sick? Do you need me to treat you?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m here for another matter today. I have something to discuss with Director Zhou.¡±

    ¡°Please continue, Ms. Ouyang.¡±

    ¡°Actually, I¡¯m here on behalf of my boyfriend. He is too busy, so he has asked me to help him pass a

    message to you.¡±

    Zhou Linbo was confused. Who is your boyfriend?

    ¡°My boyfriend is Nan Chen,¡± said Ouyang Qing, her face full of bashfulness.

    ¡°Oh, so you are Mr. Nan¡¯s girlfriend. Both of you are indeed a matching couple with enviable good

    looks.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for yourpliments, Director Zhou. Have youe to Flower City to treat Auntie?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Sir Chen has invited my team and I toe here from the Capital.¡±

    ¡°Then do you know what illness Mrs. Nan has contracted?¡±

    ¡°I know. I have heard it is colon cancer.¡±

    ¡°Yes. It is the diagnosis from a prominent hospital in Tokyo. I guess Director Zhou will not have a

    different opinion?¡±

    Zhou Linbo was shocked, ¡°Ms. Ouyang, whatever do you mean? Although there are many differences

    between western and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, we often coborate nowadays to

    make up for each other¡¯s shortfalls. We have high regard for western doctors. For example, we can

    treat many chronic diseases western doctors can¡¯t, and the opposite is true as well.¡±

    ¡°Yes. Director Zhou, don¡¯t worry. What I mean is, please don¡¯t be surprised if your diagnosis is different

    from that of the hospital in Tokyo. You only need to provide the necessary treatment ording to the

    previous diagnosis.¡±

    Zhou Linbo was lost.

    ¡°So does Ms. Ouyang mean we should not provide our opinions? Then why did you call us here?¡±

    Ouyang Qing stood up. She walked to the window and drew the curtains.

    ¡°Director Zhou, you should understand the Nan family¡¯s prominence in Flower City. There are some

    things I can¡¯t spell out clearly. I don¡¯t know the full story, but I have heard a little from my boyfriend.

    Would you like to hear them?¡±

    Zhou Linbo was dumbfounded, so he signaled for her to continue.

    ¡°Many people in the Flower City do not wish for Auntie to return. But my boyfriend being filial as he is,

    has been trying hard to fetch Auntie home. Now that she¡¯s finally back, he does not wish for anyone to

    disrupt his ns.¡±

    Zhou Linbo was perplexed. He had absolutely no idea what Ouyang Qing was getting at.

    But he vaguely felt that this was a warning to him.

    ¡°I still don¡¯t understand. Please exin it to me.¡±

    ¡°Fine, then I will make myself clear. The diagnosis from the hospital in Tokyo is final. She is suffering

    from cancer and needs to receive long-term treatment with traditional Chinese medication. If the

    diagnosis is wrong, Auntie may not be able to stay in the Flower City. My boyfriend does not wish for

    anything to spoil his ns.¡±

    Ouyang Qing took a check out of her purse.

    Zhou Linbo finally got her meaning.

    While he still did not understand the details, he was clear on the role he was supposed to y in this

    whole scheme.

    Finally, I understand what it means by ¡®the rich are full of secrets and schemes¡¯. I have assumed my

    visit here is only to treat a patient. To think that I am so confident in my capability and have no fears at

    all. Who would have imagined that I won¡¯t even be able to demonstrate my superb medical skills now!

    ¡°Ms. Ouyang, do you mean I am supposed to stick to the same diagnosis during the consultation

    tomorrow? And that our rmendation should be long-term conservative treatment with traditional

    Chinese medication?¡±

    ¡°It is the request of my boyfriend, Nan Chen, not mine,¡± Ouyang Qing corrected.

    ¡°I understand now. However, if you wanted to stick to the same diagnosis since the start, then why

    invite us all the way here?¡±

    ¡°Director Zhou is the expert, so are the other specialists. With the affirmation from you and the other

    specialists, the outsiders will believe Auntie¡¯s illness is real,¡± said Ouyang Qing while pointing at the

    check.

    Zhou Linbo hesitated. The amount on the check is very tempting. I can ept it with a peace of mind if

    it is meant only as consultation fees. But it does not seem right for me, as a top medical specialist, to

    earn money in this manner.

    ¡°Please take back the check. I know what I am supposed to do.¡±

    ¡°Do you think this amount is too little?¡± Ouyang Qing lifted a brow.

    ¡°Of course not. But as a doctor...¡±

    Zhou Linbo was, after all, a person with status. He was worried the situation woulde back to bite

    him if he pocketed the money now. In the past, others had to pay him a handsome sum as his

    consultation fees, but this was the first time he has encountered such a matter. Thus, he felt uneasy.

 Chapter 297

    Chapter 297

    Ouyang Qing interrupted Zhou Linbo, ¡°I know Director Zhou is a renowned doctor of integrity who

    wouldn¡¯t do things simply for the sake of money. My boyfriend is grateful that you havee from afar

    to treat Auntie. So, this is his token of appreciation. Your consultation fees are a separate matter. If you

    do not ept the money, my boyfriend will be worried that his n will be ruined. To assure him,

    please ept the money so that I can answer him. We will remember your kindness and return your

    favor in the future. But if you keep rejecting me, I¡¯m afraid he may misunderstand that you are snubbing

    him. It is important to retain friendly ties with each other. Aren¡¯t I right?¡±

    Her meaning is obvious. I have only two options now. One is to ept the money, and we will be

    friends. Another is to reject it and offend Nan Chen. No one, other than idiots, will choose thetter!

    Of course, Director Zhou was not an idiot, so he chose the former option.

    ¡°Fine, then I shall oblige. Help me convey my thanks to Sir Chen. Please ask him to rest assured. Our

    diagnosis tomorrow will be the same as the earlier diagnosis.¡±

    Ouyang Qing heaved a sigh of relief, ¡°Then I too thank you on behalf of my boyfriend. I hope you will

    have an enjoyable time in the Flower City. Please let me know if you need anything. But please keep

    this matter a secret, and never mention it to anyone. Take it as if I have never seen you before.¡±

    ¡°Okay, I get it.¡±

    Director Zhou took the check and put it into his pocket.

    Ouyang Qing heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°As for the others, I will pass their checks to you too. Please help

    me pass it to them.¡±

    Ouyang Qing took out a few more checks, and the amount on them was naturally not as much as the

    amount given to Director Zhou.

    ¡°This...¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Director Zhou. I¡¯m sure you will be able to convince the others easily.¡±

    Zhou Linbo pondered for a second before agreeing, ¡°Okay.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. Then I shall leave first. Goodbye.¡±

    After aplishing her task, Ouyang Qing left the hotel, walking light-footed like a model.

    On the other hand, Nan Chen had arrived at the Red Star Nursing Home after thinking it through.

    No matter what she has done to me, she is still my mother. It is a fact I can never change. Plus, today

    is her first day back at the country. I should still visit her even if she has a helper taking care of her.

    Bai Hua was overjoyed at the sight of Nan Chen.

    Nan Zhiyuan was not here yet, leaving her with only a few nurses in the nursing home and security

    guards in the yard.

    Bai Hua had not felt so lonely before; her sense of loneliness getting stronger by the minute.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    This is the city Ie from, but yet I feel like a foreigner in my homnd.

    Thus, Nan Chen¡¯s appearance enveloped her with warmth.

    ¡°Chen, you are here. Quickly, do take a seat.¡±

    Nan Chen circled the yard, ¡°Are you used to staying here?¡±

    ¡°It is quite good here. You take good care of me. I don¡¯tck anything here,¡± said Bai Hua, satisfied.

    ¡°That is great. Then you rest up...¡±

    Seeing Nan Chen about to leave, Bai Hua panicked and stood up in a hurry to grab his hands.

    ¡°Chen, I¡¯m alone here. Don¡¯t you want to apany me?¡±

    Bai Hua¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. Coupled with her beautiful, helpless face, she looked a pitiful sight

    indeed.

    Looking at her, Nan Chen¡¯s heart softened.

    Thus he sat down, and the helper brought them a pot of tea.

    Nan Chen was used to drinking coffee instead of tea. Drinking coffee could perk him up, which

    increased his work efficiency. On the other hand, tea could only be fully appreciated if one drank it

    leisurely at one¡¯s own pace with a calm mind.

    The pair of mother and son had nothing to say to each other as usual.

    ¡°Chen, you still look the same as you did a few years ago. My son is indeed handsome. Oh yes, when

    will Xing return?¡±

    ¡°He will return after he¡¯s done having some fun outside.¡±

    ¡°Why does he stay in Europe for so long? He has even cut off contact with everyone. Has he fallen out

    of love?¡±

    Nan Chen was stunned and paused for a second before replying, ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe.¡±

    ¡°But isn¡¯t Xing jovial and cheerful? Why would he be so troubled over love matters? That doesn¡¯t sound

    like him. Is there another reason?¡±

    Bai Hua was their mother, after all. She still understood her sons quite well.

    ¡°I also don¡¯t know.¡± Nan Chen avoided the topic, as it would be difficult for him to exin.

    ¡°Has anything happened between you and your brother? You have always been more outstanding than

    Xing. since you were younger You cannot bully him.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± said Nan Chen affirmatively.

    ¡°Then give him a call and ask him to return quickly. Tell him I am back and want to see him.¡±

    ¡°Okay, I will call him tomorrow,¡± replied Nan Chen catingly.

    They fell into an awkward silence again.

    ¡°Oh yes, I asked you earlier in the day if you have a girlfriend? I heard you have broken up with the

    actress by the surname of ¡®Luo¡¯. Do you have a new girlfriend now?¡±

    ¡°Why do you keep asking that?¡± Nan Chen went on alert.

    ¡°Because I¡¯m your mother. Isn¡¯t it normal for a mother to be concerned about her son¡¯s marriage?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about thatter.¡±

    The images of Ning Ran and the two adorable kids popped up in his mind. Suddenly, he felt an urge to

    confess his current rtionship status to Bai Hua. But that impulse onlysted for a second before he

    scrapped the idea altogether.

    She has never turned up for any of the memorable events in my life, such as my prize ceremony in

    primary school, my enrollment into a renowned secondary school as the school¡¯s top student or even

    when I won a prominent national prize. She was always so busy flitting around between the rich and

    famous, and would not spend the slightest time participating in the years when I¡¯m growing up.

    I¡¯m now a grown-up and responsible for the entire Nanshi Corporation. No longer am I the kid who

    craves for his mother¡¯s care and attention. Isn¡¯t it ironic that she chooses to care about me now?

    Bai Hua¡¯s indifference towards him and his brother had always been a puzzle to Nan Chen. He had

    once thought it to be normal for a mother to treat her children so coldly until he witnessed his

    ssmates¡¯ doting mothers who could sacrifice everything for their children. For a while following this

    realization, Nan Chen was perturbed and thought he was not good enough to deserve his mother¡¯s

    attention.

    But regardless of his outstanding achievements, his mother had remained cold and indifferent towards

    him.

    That was the main reason for his disbelief when Ning Ran had rejected his marypensation in

    exchange for her children. He doubted that a mother who was struggling to make a living could really

    give up the enormous riches for the sake of her children.

    But Ning Ran had been serious about her decision and had passed the tests he had set out for her.

    This caused him to be even more puzzled.

    ¡°Chen?¡± Bai Hua called out after she realized Nan Chen was lost in his own thoughts.

    ¡°Oh, I will settle my rtionship matters myself. Thank you for your concern. The specialists are here

    and will see you tomorrow.¡±

 Chapter 298

    Chapter 298

    It was already 10.30 pm when Nan Chen returned to the vi in Red Maple City.

    When he entered the house, he saw a lot of food on the table amid the house¡¯s messiness.

    A woman was lying on the sofa with a few slices of cucumber on her face. She was looking at the

    television, giving out suppressed giggles asionally. As she was too engrossed in her television

    programs, she did not notice Nan Chen approaching her.

    Nan Chen took a closer look. She isn¡¯t Ning Ran. Ning Ran has a more slender build.

    But as her face was covered with cucumber slices, he had to take a closer look, so he took another few

    steps towards her.

    Finally, the mysterious person on the sofa detected his existence and shifted her gaze from the

    television to him. With a loud shriek, she covered her face with her hands and dashed into a room.

    Amidst her panicked run into the room, she knocked into the coffee table and almost fell t on the

    ground. The cucumber slices slipped down from her face.

    Furrowing his brows as he watched her running away from him, he recognized the woman as Ning

    Ran¡¯s manager, Cheng Xiangyun.

    Hearing themotion, Ning Ran came out of the bathroom. She had been bathing Erbao just now.

    At the sight of Nan Chen, she understood the reason for Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s shriek immediately.

    ¡°Why are you here?¡±

    ¡°Why can¡¯t I be here?¡± Nan Chen was surprised at her question. Haven¡¯t I been staying here for these

    few days?

    ¡°Why are you here when Xiangyun has returned? I thought you wouldn¡¯te here.¡±

    So Ning Ran¡¯s logic is, I have arranged for Cheng Xiangyun to go abroad for a business trip so I should

    be aware that she has returned. And I would definitely not return to the vi upon her return.

    It was the reason why Ning Ran had not informed Cheng Xiangyun that Nan Chen had been staying in

    the vi these days.

    Both women were used to an undisciplined lifestyle, and they hung around at home, simr to azy

    cat. However, this side of them was their secret and could not be revealed to an outsider.

    Thus, Cheng Xiangyun had gotten a shock when Nan Chen suddenly appeared.

    ¡°Where are the kids?¡± Nan Chen asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°Erbao is bathing and Dabao is in the study room. I¡¯m not sure what he is up to.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take a look.¡±

    Nan Chen went to the study room and saw that Dabao was having difficulties moving the chair.

    The chair was made of solid wood and was a tad too heavy for Dabao.

    Nan Chen hurried over to help him, ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Daddy,¡± greeted Dabao happily.

    ¡°Are you nning to stand on the chair to look for a book?¡±

    Dabao nodded in delight. Indeed, Daddy understands me best! He knows what I want immediately.

    ¡°What book are you looking for? Tell me, and Daddy will take it for you.¡±

    ¡°The second book on the seventh shelf. The one with the white cover.¡±

    ¡°This one?¡±

    Nan Chen was tall enough to take the book from the shelf easily without even tip-toeing.

    ¡°Wow, Daddy is the best! When will I grow to reach your height? This way, I don¡¯t need to move the

    chair around,¡± said Dabao enviously.

    ¡°You need some time to grow to be as tall as me. But don¡¯t be in a hurry to grow up. Your current state

    is the best now,¡± said Nan Chen sternly.

    ¡°Daddy, do you mean that one is at his happiest being as a child? And one will have a lot of troubles

    when one grows up? Is that why Daddy doesn¡¯t want me to grow up so fast?¡±

    Nan Chen was stunned.

    Is he still a kid? He knows everything. Can¡¯t he allow an adult to feel a sense of superiority?

    ¡°Yes,¡± admitted Nan Chen truthfully.

    ¡°Always like this.¡± Suddenly, Dabao sprouted a sentence in English.

    Again, Nan Chen was stunned and caught his meaning a secondter, ¡°You have actually seen this

    movie before?¡±

    ¡°Of course. Many people think the movie is not suitable for children, but I¡¯m not a three or four-year-old

    kid. I¡¯m already five years old.¡± Dabao mimicked his sister¡¯s tagline.

    Nan Chen¡¯s mouth curved upwards into a smile.

    This was the brightest smile Dabao had seen on his Daddy¡¯s face. Before he met his father, he had

    thought that he was the ¡®world¡¯s most unsmiling person¡¯. But after he met his father, Dabao realized

    that his father deserved this title instead of him. He should be ranked second instead.

    The line Dabao had recited was from the movie ¡®Leon¡¯. It tranted as ¡®This murderer is not that cold¡¯.

    The little girl in the movie asked the protagonist if life was always so difficult or if it was just the

    childhood years.

    The protagonist had replied, ¡°Always like this.¡±

    Dabao had sprouted that line from the movie spontaneously as he found the particr movie scene

    fitting towards the conversation between him and Nan Chen just now.

    He was sure Nan Chen would understand him, and indeed, he was not disappointed.

    Dabao was overjoyed. It was the best thing in his life to have a father who understood him so well.

    Nan Chen was delighted too. The movie was not suitable for children, but it seemed that Dabao was

    not negatively affected by it. He had a keen judgement far surpassing that of other children his age.

    He is indeed talented.

    But Nan Chen was perplexed by the book he had taken for Dabao.

    It was a book on marriagews.

    Why is a 5 years old kid concerned with marriagews?

    ¡°This?¡± Nan Chen asked Dabao with a puzzled look on his face.

    Dabao grinned, ¡°Have I scared you?¡±

    ¡°No, but it is rather surprising.¡±

    Grinning, Dabao flipped a few pages of the book.

    ¡°Why are you reading up on marriagews?¡±

    ¡°I just want to understand more about it.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°I want to know if it is considered awful marriage between you and Mommy since you are staying

    with us now, or if you need to register your marriage with Mommy.¡±

    Nan Chen was stunned again.

    ¡°Why are you concerned about this?¡±

    ¡°Nothing. I only want to understand it more. There are always problems between you and Mommy, but

    I¡¯m too young to understand them. I think we¡¯ll be aplete family if you and Mommy arewfully

    married.¡±

    Nan Chen was shocked to the bones. He had not expected this from Dabao.

    It is too shocking! I¡¯ve thought that Dabao is like me when I¡¯m young, but it seems that Dabao is much

    better than me. Though I have no recollection of myself when I¡¯m five years old, I¡¯m sure I was not as

    outstanding as Dabao.

    ¡°Is Daddy ming me for being too nosy?¡± Dabao asked, worried.

    ¡°No, you aren¡¯t a three or four-year-old kid. You are five years old already. You aren¡¯t considered nosy.¡±

    Nan Chen mimicked Erbao¡¯s tagline.

    The pair of father and son exchanged nces as the corners of their mouths curved upwards. While it

    was typical of them to smile without shing their teeth, the twinkle in their eyes was apparent. It was

    the world¡¯s most beautiful and sincere yet suppressed smile.

    ¡°What are both of you talking about?¡± Ning Ran waded in.

    ¡°We¡¯re discussing movies,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    ¡°Ah, it is rare for a boring person like you to discuss about movies.¡±

    Nan Chen knitted his brows at her words. Why am I boring? The number of movies I¡¯ve watched is way

    more in number than the advertisements you¡¯ve ever seen before!

 Chapter 299

    Chapter 299

    ¡°I do not wish to break up your discussion, but I want to ask you when you will be leaving?¡±

    Nan Chen stared at Ning Ran, ¡°When have I said that I want to leave?¡±

    ¡°You aren¡¯t leaving?¡±

    ¡°Nope.¡±

    ¡°But...¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m staying here. Why should I go?¡±

    Ning Ran was hopping mad by now. I have only allowed you to stay for a few days! How dare you insist

    on staying forever! This is the house of Auntie¡¯s friend! She has rented it to us cheaply! Why aren¡¯t you

    staying in your big mansion instead of fighting with us to stay in this house!

    ¡°Auntie has just returned. You should move. It¡¯s not convenient for us to have you around the house!¡±

    Now Nan Chen finally understood. So, her ¡®Auntie¡¯ refers to Cheng Xiangyun, who is the one with

    cucumber slices on her face in the living room just now.

    ¡°She can stay in the guest room. I won¡¯t cause her any inconvenience. I will get someone to find a new

    house for her tomorrow,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°Why should she move? This is her friend¡¯s house! Her friend has rented it to us cheaply because she¡¯s

    overseas. It¡¯s all because of her that we get to stay in this house. How can you chase her out!¡±

    Nan Chen stared at Ning Ran without saying a word.

    His stare made Ning Ran¡¯s hair stand on end, ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m leaving now.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the way to go! How can you upy other¡¯s residence?¡±

    ¡°Is Daddy leaving?¡± Dabao was reluctant to let him go.

    ¡°Yes, do you want to follow me?¡± Nan Chen was reluctant to leave him too.

    Dabao shook his head.

    I rather stay with Mommy. She needs mypany more than him.

    When they came out of the study room, Cheng Xiangyun had changed her clothes and was about to

    leave the vi with her bag in her hands. She was too self-conscious to stay on after Nan Chen had

    seen her in the embarrassing state just now.

    At the sight of Nan Chen, she turned around, not daring to meet Nan Chen¡¯s gaze. I didn¡¯t dare meet

    his gazest time, much less now! Ning Ran is so irritating! How can she not tell me that Nan Chen is

    coming here! I feel like dying now that I have shown this embarrassing side of me to Flower City¡¯s most

    handsome man!

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to leave. He¡¯s leaving,¡± said Ning Ran to Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°No, no. No. I don¡¯t want to disturb your family. I didn¡¯t know Mr. Nan wasing. Otherwise, I would

    have...¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll leave.¡± Nan Chen cut her off.

    His tone was calm and emotionless; his typical fashion.

    ¡°There is really no need. I will leave. You are a family. I really didn¡¯t know Mr. Nan wasing...¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve told you that you don¡¯t need to leave. He should leave since he is the outsider. You don¡¯t need to,¡±

    Ning Ran persuaded her.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    I will feel bad, asking Auntie to leave in the middle of the night. Furthermore, Auntie was the one who

    found this house. Even if she didn¡¯t, I can¡¯t chase her out at this hour.

    Nan Chen agreed with Ning Ran on this point.

    Even if Nan Chen was domineering, he had his principles. He knew that it was not right of him to chase

    a woman out under these circumstances.

    ¡°Mr. Nan is not an outsider. He¡¯s...¡±

    ¡°Okay, enough. I have other things to do in the office and will work till veryte. I won¡¯t be returning.¡±

    With that, Nan Chen turned around and headed for the door.

    Ning Ran felt a bit guilty at the sight of Nan Chen¡¯s departure.

    But there is no other choice. If someone has to leave, it has to be Nan Chen.

    ¡°Sir Chen...¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun wanted to continue, but Nan Chen had already waved goodbye to her and left the

    house.

    Ning Ran followed him out of the house, feeling guilty towards him.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you sleep in the room downstairs? In this way, it won¡¯t be embarrassing.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Nan Chen headed in the direction of the car.

    ¡°Then take your time.¡±

    Nan Chen did not respond as he started the car engine, and drove out of the vi.

    Ning Ran went upstairs again, only to be met with Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s reprimand, ¡°You stupid girl! You

    did not tell me Sir Chen wasing! You almost caused my death!¡±

    ¡°Gosh. I chased him away and let you stay on. Why are you scolding me now?¡± Ning Ran felt

    aggrieved.

    ¡°Then you should¡¯ve warned me earlier. Don¡¯t let me embarrass myself in front of Sir Chen again.¡±

    ¡°Why are you so embarrassed? Did he see you without clothes?¡± Ning Ran asked, panicked.

    ¡°Since when do I not wear clothes and walk around? He saw me with cucumber slices on my face. I

    was watching television and did not notice himing in. It was so disgraceful of me, lying down on

    the sofa! Anyway, I was not prepared to let him see me just now! This is too embarrassing! How can I

    ever face him in the future!¡± Chen Xiangyun wailed loudly.

    ¡°If only that happened, I think it is fine. Anyway, you don¡¯t have that good of an image either, so it

    doesn¡¯t matter how embarrassing you look. Furthermore, Nan Chen may not see you because he does

    not look at people in their eyes. He doesn¡¯t even look at me directly, much less you.¡± Ning Ran waved

    her hands dismissively.

    Her words infuriated Cheng Xiangyun.

    Words alone are not enough to convey my frustration. I must use my hands now!

    Seeing that Cheng Xiangyun was about to hit her, Ning Ran sought refuge behind the soda, ¡°Auntie,

    calm down! You¡¯re a civilized person! You should use your words instead of your hands!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a civilized person! You embarrassed me in front of others! How dare you taunt me!¡± Cheng

    Xiangyun hollered at her.

    ¡°Yes, yes, yes. It¡¯s all my fault. But I really didn¡¯t know he woulde.¡±

    Suddenly, a question popped up in Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s mind. She asked out of curiosity, ¡°Has he been

    staying here when I wasn¡¯t around?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Wow! You guys are cohabiting now? Have you slept together?¡±

    ¡°Shhh, can you lower your volume? Don¡¯t let the kids overhear you. Why are your thoughts so

    contaminated, and full of such things? No wonder you can¡¯t get married!¡± Ning Ran cried out in disdain.

    ¡°As if you¡¯re married,¡± retorted Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to marry. Otherwise, I will have endless suitors after me!¡±

    ¡°Enough of your pretense. I¡¯m asking you if you¡¯ve slept with him?¡±

    ¡°I refuse to answer this silly, low question. Anyway, I promise you that I will not let Nan Chen stay here

    while I am around. He is the outsider while you are the owner.¡±

    ¡°No, no, no, I¡¯m not worthy of that sentence. Sir Chen is the owner of this house.¡± Cheng Xiangyun

    waved her hands frantically.

    ¡°Why are you so humble? This house is your friend¡¯s. If not for you, would we have gotten such a

    cheap rental for this ce? Furthermore, you¡¯re the one paying for the rental. So, you¡¯re the owner of

    this house!¡±

    ¡°What? Oh, there may be a misunderstanding between us. But actually, it is not a real

    misunderstanding.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about? So is there a misunderstanding or not? I¡¯m confused.¡±

    ¡°The owner of this ce isn¡¯t my friend. I have benefitted from my association from you too.¡± Cheng

    Xiangyun said, looking troubled.

    ¡°Are you telling me that this house, does in fact belong to Nan Chen?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Assistant Jiang lent this house to me and asked me to convince you to move in here, as this

    house was bigger. But at that time, there was some tension between both of you, so he knew that you

    would not ept and asked me to move in first. So I lied to you that this house belonged to my

    friend...¡±

 Chapter 300

    Chapter 300

    ¡°Cheng Xiangyun, you traitor!¡± Ning Ran bellowed.

    ¡°Whom have I betrayed?¡± Cheng Xiangyun asked, feigning innocence.

    ¡°Of course it¡¯s me! Who else can you betray?¡±

    ¡°What have I done? Isn¡¯t this house good? Have you paid a single cent for rental? Aren¡¯t you and the

    kids staying here morefortably than when you had to squeeze in my house? I¡¯m making your life

    better! In what way have I betrayed you?¡±

    Ning Ran was dumbfounded for a moment before she struggled to reply, ¡°But you lied to me! This is a

    fact!¡±

    ¡°What have I done? Have I swindled you out of your money or love? You have not paid a single cent

    and still got to stay in such a nice house. What are youining about? It¡¯s a gift from heaven! Do

    you think a mere three thousand is enough to rent this vi? Are you dreaming?¡±

    A sudden recollection struck Ning Ran.

    ¡°Cheng Xiangyun, I remember that, on the second day after moving in, you asked me for five thousand,

    iming that three thousand was to pay for the house rent and the other two thousand was to pay for

    the property management fees. How dare you im that I did not pay a single cent for the house?

    Since you did not use it for the house, it means that you must have cheated me of that five thousand!

    Return the money to me!¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun smacked her own head, ¡°Did I?¡±

    ¡°Of course you did! I transferred the money to you back then! I still have the receipt of that transfer

    transaction! You swindler!¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun pondered for a second. Seems like it¡¯s true.

    ¡°It is all for your own good, to convince you about the house. Anyway, you have gotten yourself a rich

    man. Will you still mind a mere few thousand?¡±

    ¡°I mind!¡±

    ¡°Stop your nonsense. You still have to film tomorrow. Quickly go to bed,¡± reminded Cheng Xiangyun,

    preparing to retreat.

    Most importantly, she has to sleep now. I really can¡¯t discuss with her in details over mary matters.

    ¡°Oh yes, will you still be staying here in the future?¡±

    Pulling a long face, Cheng Xiangyun replied, ¡°Aren¡¯t you humiliating me? The real owner is here

    already. I will move my things out of this ce tomorrow morning.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t mean that. Didn¡¯t you rent out your house? Where will you be moving to?¡±

    ¡°Anywhere other than this ce, is fine.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think you need to move. Nan Chen is not staying here permanently. He is staying here

    temporarily to spend more time with the children. Furthermore, you know his house is not even in this

    city, so you need not move out for his sake.¡±

    ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t wish to move out and to spend money to rent another ce. But Sir Chen is here. I

    can¡¯t insist to stay here while he is around.¡±

    ¡°Of course you can. He has a lot of property and can stay in somewhere else. Also, my rtionship

    with him has not progressed to the stage where we can cohabit yet.¡±

    ¡°Okay then let¡¯s agree on this arrangement. If he stays here, I will move out. But if not, I will stay here

    for a while more. After all, I have rented out my house and can¡¯t jolly well chase the tenant out before

    the contract period is up. I will have to wait till the rental period¡¯s up before I ask the tenant to move

    out.¡±

    ¡°You really need not move out. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±

    ...

    The next afternoon.

    Nan Chen just finished lunch with his business partners and was prepared to rest for twenty minutes in

    his office.

    Jiang Zhe stood guard outside his office personally, to ensure that his boss would have a peaceful rest.

    At this moment, Qiao Zhan came over to look for Nan Chen and was thrilled to see Jiang Zhe standing

    outside the office.

    ¡°Has Assistant Jiang changed jobs to be a security guard instead? Wee to my security team.

    Oh, on second thought, forget it. Given your small build, I¡¯m afraid that you can¡¯t even protect yourself,

    much fewer others.¡±

    Jiang Zhe scoffed at Qiao Zhan¡¯s jeers.

    Qiao Zhan refused to back down and joked in return, ¡°Even your scoff is so feminine. It suits your

    demeanor though.¡±

    ¡°Qian Zhan, I don¡¯t want to engage in useless banter with you. Sir Chen is resting, don¡¯t disturb him.¡±

    ¡°Are you using Sir Chen to scare me again? I¡¯m not falling for your trick. I have urgent matters to report

    to Master Chen.¡±

    ¡°No matter what the urgent matter is, you have to wait until Sir Chen wakes up. You can¡¯t disturb him

    now.¡±

    ¡°It is really very urgent and needs Sir Chen to decide. Otherwise, I can¡¯t make the call. Stop blocking

    my path. Otherwise, you won¡¯t be able to bear the responsibility if any problem urs.¡±

    ¡°What is the matter? You can tell me.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t tell you as you won¡¯t be able to help. Assistant Jiang, stop thinking that you are so important.

    You may be able to decide some business matters for Sir Chen, but stop prying into the Nan family¡¯s

    personal matters.¡±

    ¡°Fine, fine. I¡¯m just asking. But Sir Chen is very tired now. You really can¡¯t go in and disturb him.¡±

    ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t go in then. If any problemes up, you shall answer for it.¡±

    ¡°No problem. I will bear the responsibility.¡±

    ¡°What are you quarrelling about?¡± Nan Chen knitted his brows as he opened the door.

    ¡°Captain Qiao wants to barge in. I have stopped him so that he will not disturb your rest.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense. I have said that I have something to report, not to barge in,¡± Qiao Zhan rified quickly.

    ¡°Obviously, you intended to barge in!¡±

    ¡°I did not!¡±

    Nan Chen stopped them, ¡°Enough, stop squabbling. Captain Qiao,e in.¡±

    The two men fell silent at Nan Chen¡¯s orders.

    Nan Chen looked at Jiang Zhe, signaling him to go out first.

    Qiao Zhan smirked at Jiang Zhe. See, what I have told you! The Nan family¡¯s personal matters are not

    meant for you to know!

    ¡°The diagnosis is out. It is the same as the previous diagnosis, which rmends long-term

    conservative treatment. The specialists have issued a prescription, and I have made arrangements to

    get the best medicine following the prescription.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    ¡°I have also sent specialists to the airport. She only needs to take medicine daily ording to the

    prescription now.¡±

    ¡°Did they say how long she must take the medicine before it takes effect?¡±

    ¡°No, they did not. What they said was quite vague. I guess no doctor will dare promise when the patient

    will recover. Furthermore, traditional Chinese medicine will take a longer time to be effective.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded his head. What Qiao Zhan just said does make sense.

    ¡°I understand. Let her take the medicine on time. Don¡¯t let her wander around.¡±

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°That¡¯s the matter I want to report on. Madam...¡±

    Nan Chen knitted his brows, ¡°What happened? Did she go out?¡±

    ¡°Yes, she went out and did not allow us to follow her...¡±

    Furious, Nan Chen stood up, ¡°What did I tell you? You did not follow her just because she did not allow

    it?¡±

    ¡°Madam was rather agitated. She said she was not a criminal, so we had no rights to lock her up.¡±

    ¡°You should not have let her roam around freely even if she was agitated. What if someone discovers

    her? How am I going to exin it to Grandpa?¡± This time, Nan Chen was really panicking.

    ¡°But we really could not stop her. She was holding a pill in her hand and threatened to swallow it to

    commit suicide. We did not dare to stop her. What if something really happened? We would not be able

    to bear the responsibility!¡±

    Nan Chen sighed heavily. My mother always makes me worry. She has not changed after so many

    years.

 Chapter 301

    Chapter 301

    ¡°Then?¡±

    ¡°We were worried and wanted to follow her, but she did not allow us. She threatened to swallow the pill

    in her hand if she realized anyone tailing her. We did not dare to defy her. I had given you a call to

    report this matter, but you were in a meeting. So I came here personally to look for you.¡±

    ¡°Where is she now?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. We really didn¡¯t dare follow her, Master Chen...¡±

    Nan Chen mmed the table, ¡°You didn¡¯t dare follow her from a near distance, but why couldn¡¯t you

    follow her from afar?¡±

    ¡°We wanted to, but a car fetched Madam away. The car was too fast and dashed through a red traffic

    light. We were not able to catch up due to the cars blocking us, so...¡±

    ¡°Was a sports car?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It was a red sports car. It seemed to be a Ferrari. Anyway, it was a fast car.¡±

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    ¡°Who would fetch her? And to where?¡±

    Without waiting for Qiao Zhan to reply, Nan Chen waved his hand dismissively, signaling him to go out.

    He had an idea in mind.

    It waste. After Nan Chen finished his work on hand, he gave Ouyang Qing a call and called her over.

    She reached the office within thirty minutes and seemed to guess his purpose in asking her over. Thus

    she made efforts to dress up and even put on exquisite makeup, with bright red lipstick. This added

    certain maturity and charm to her innocent appearance.

    But Nan Chen was not in a mood to scrutinize her appearance today. He asked her outright, ¡°Where is

    she?¡±

    Ouyang Qing smiled sweetly at him, ¡°Are you referring to Auntie?¡±

    ¡°Who else but her? Where have you brought her to?¡±

    ¡°Ah, I have a vi in Red Maple City, so I have asked Auntie to stay there. The environment over there

    is better than the nursing home¡¯s.¡±

    ¡°Who allowed you to do that?¡± Nan Chen¡¯s tone was frosty, and his expression stone-cold.

    Feigning innocence, Ouyang Qing put on an aggrieved expression, ¡°Chen, you have scared me!¡±

    Nan Chen did not fall for her act and insisted, ¡°I¡¯m asking you, who allowed you to do that?¡±

    Ouyang Qing had wanted to please Nan Chen by ingratiating herself with Bai Hua. But looking at the

    situation before her, it was evident that her n had failed.

    Nan Chen was furious, emitting a dangerously cold aura. Ouyang Qing was chilled to the bone as the

    room temperature dropped drastically to a freezing cold degree.

    She had seen Nan Chen in an icy-cold mood before, but never when he was angry.

    Nevertheless, Ouyang Qing only needed to blink her eyes before tears started to stream down her

    cheeks immediately.

    ¡°Chen, why are you acting so fierce to me...¡±

    She looked a pitiful sight as she sobbed.

    Nan Chen was stunned by her sudden sobbing.

    ¡°Stop crying!¡± He mmed the table.

    Sniffing through her sobs, she said, ¡°Auntie told me she was too lonely in the nursing home. So she

    asked me to help her to find a ce to stay. I thought it was your idea, so I agreed immediately. Auntie

    is sick, so we must keep her happy so she will recover faster. How can she make a speedy recovery,

    being in a depressed mood, if she is forced to stay in the nursing home? I¡¯m sure you understand this

    logic. Tell me if I have not done well in any area and I will change. But I don¡¯t know what to do if you are

    angry with me!¡±

    Ouyang Qing started to sob again.

    Nan Chen felt her exnation made sense. ¡°So she has asked you to do that?¡±

    ¡°Of course. I¡¯m in a difficult position too. Auntie would have been angry with me if I rejected her

    request. She has been away for too long and doesn¡¯t have a sense of belonging here. It doesn¡¯t help

    that you had ced her in a nursing home, as it will only make her feel that you are treating her as an

    outsider.¡±

    After all, Ouyang Qing was a Harvard graduate and not just any scheming young girl. She was aware

    that Nan Chen was not someone who could be lied to, so she made sure her exnation sounded

    logical. Even if she failed to convince Nan Chen, he had at least simmered down.

    Furthermore, Ouyang Qing had the backing of the prominent Ouyang family. Nan Chen would have to

    give in to her even if he was not one to go out of the way to please her. What¡¯s more, it is not a bad

    thing for Ouyang Qing to treat Bai Hua well.

    Thus, Nan Chen simmered down.

    ¡°It will be troublesome if my Grandpa discovers her.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry! He won¡¯t discover her!¡± Ouyang Qing said firmly.

    ¡°How are you so sure?¡±

    ¡°I will keep things confidential. Anyway, it does not matter if Old Master knows about it.¡±

    ¡°Why do you say that?¡±

    ¡°You only need to tell him that the reporter has found about the nursing home, so you decided to hide

    Auntie in another ce. In that way, Old Master will notment much.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s eyes turned cold.

    It seems like Ouyang Qing is not that simple after all. She has thought of everything.

    ¡°But I will still listen to you. I will do whatever you ask of me, and I will do what¡¯s best for Auntie. Chen,

    please guide me if I have done anything wrongly. I will do my best to learn,¡± said Ouyang Qing humbly,

    with a tinge of smugness in her eyes. She seemed satisfied with her performance.

    ¡°My warning to you is, don¡¯t interfere with my family matters. You have neither the right nor capability,¡±

    Nan Chen warned her coldly.

    The smugness in Ouyang Qing¡¯s eyes turned into aggrievement in an instant, ¡°I knew you would me

    me...¡±

    Her features contorted into a pitiful sight again, preparing to put on her sobbing act.

    Nan Chen waved his hands dismissively, ¡°Enough, you can go now.¡±

    Ouyang Qing wanted to continue acting, but she had no reason to stay on now that Nan Chen had

    ordered her to leave.

    ¡°Okay, Chen. Then I shall not disturb you now. Goodbye.¡±

    Nan Chen waved his hands again, signaling her to go.

    Ouyang Qing walked towards the door and turned around to nce at Nan Chen with great reluctance,

    ¡°Chen, I¡¯ll be going now.¡±

    ¡°Oh yes, did you just say that she¡¯s staying in a vi in Red Maple City now?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Do you want to have dinner with her tonight?¡± Hope lit up in Ouyang Qing¡¯s eyes again.

    ¡°No need for that.¡± Nan Chen waved his hand for the third time.

    A vi in Red Maple City? Isn¡¯t that where Ning Ran is staying now? What a coincidence! I don¡¯t want

    to let Ning Ran run into Bai Hua. But there are so many vis there. The chances of them running into

    each other should be slim. Should I ask Ning Ran to move to another ce? If I do, am I making a fuss

    over a trivial matter?

    Nan Chen pondered for a moment before deciding to leave things as they were.

 Chapter 302

    Chapter 302

    The Sound of Thunder 2 was in thest stage of filming now. The director had made arrangements to

    complete the filming within one week and to enter the post-production stage immediately, to make it in

    time to screen on television during the uing festive period.

    It was a calcted risk to screen the series during the festive period. It would bepeting against

    big-budget films, and the various exciting variety shows on television. A drama series must be of

    superb quality to attract the viewers during the festive period, so most producers avoid screening new

    drama series during this period. However, Nan Chen had full confidence in it and insisted on it to be

    screened during this period.

    Furthermore, he was convinced that the viewers must have grown sick of the numerous hosts standing

    on stage hosting those disorganized New Year parties, and those silly big-budgetmercial films.

    Certainly, they prefer a new drama series with a handsome cast and superb acting skills.

    Although everyone was apprehensive, they believed in Nan Chen¡¯s decision. He was seldom wrong,

    and even in the rare urrences where he was wrong, he had always found innovative solutions to

    remedy the situation.

    Thus, everyone was rushing the filming schedule frenziedly, to make it in time to screen on the New

    Year day.

    Today was thetest Ning Ran had worked till in recent days. It was already 9.30 pm when she left the

    film set. She was dead beat.

    Qiao Zhan had arranged for a bodyguard to wait for her.

    After she boarded the car and apologized to the bodyguard for letting him wait, she leaned against the

    back of the seat and closed her eyes to rest.

    The car drove on for a while before it screeched to a sudden halt.

    Ning Ran banged her head against the headrest of the seat in front of her due to the impact. Luckily, it

    was well-cushioned and did not cause her much harm.

    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m sorry.¡± The bodyguard apologized to her frantically.

    ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°A man suddenly dashed across the road. I almost knocked into him; it was so dangerous. I¡¯m so sorry,

    Ms. Ding.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Luckily you did not knock into him.¡±

    Ning Ran looked up at the road before her. Indeed, a man was running on the streets, and two men

    were chasing him on his heels.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    It seemed like he could not run much longer as he was slowing down despite his best efforts.

    The two men chasing after him had caught up to him. One gave him a kick and knocked him down to

    the ground.

    A harsh beating ensued.

    But that man miraculously broke free and resumed his run.

    ¡°Let¡¯s call the police.¡± Ning Ran took out her phone.

    ¡°Let¡¯s check out what has happened first.¡± In their line of work, bodyguards would avoid contact with

    the police whenever possible. It would be detrimental to their job if the police recognized them in the

    future.

    Ning Ran caught the man¡¯s face just as the bodyguard was replying her.

    He¡¯s Ning Ziqiang!

    Regardless of his character, he was, after all, Ning Ran¡¯s father. Thus, she recognized him in an

    instant.

    ¡°I want to help him,¡± said Ning Ran to the bodyguard, her voice trembling.

    ¡°Okay, I will settle the men.¡± The bodyguard agreed immediately.

    He alighted from the car and went at them, bare-fisted.

    At this moment, Ning Ziqiang was captured by the two men again who were pounding at him with their

    fists.

    By now, Ning Ziqiang was drained out of energy and failed to shake off their grasp no matter how hard

    he struggled.

    ¡°Let him go,¡± hollered the bodyguard.

    ¡°Who in the hell are you? How dare you poke your nose in others¡¯ businesses?¡±

    ¡°I said, let him go!¡± The bodyguard repeated.

    ¡°Darned, why is he so nosy? Finish him off!¡±

    The two men dashed towards the bodyguard.

    All the men under Qiao Zhan were professionals, and all of them could single-handedly beat three men

    at one go.

    Soon, the two men were defeated. They scrambled to their feet and ran away, cursing and swearing.

    ¡°Our Young Mistress has asked us to help you. You need to thank her.¡±

    Ning Ziqiang walked towards the car.

    Ning Ran did not actually want to see him and was not interested in the reason behind his beating, but

    she had nowhere to hide.

    Thus, she rolled down the car window wide enough for her to slip her hand out. She waved her hand

    dismissively, signaling the bodyguard to lead Ning Ziqiang away and not let him near her.

    The bodyguard was perplexed. Is Ms. Ding intending to do good while staying anonymous?

    But since it was her wish, the bodyguard had no choice but toply. He asked Ning Ziqiang to go,

    ¡°Leave. My Young Mistress doesn¡¯t want to see you.¡±

    ¡°Please ask her to help me out. Those men will find me again soon. Please ask her to give me a ride,¡±

    Ning Ziqiang begged.

    ¡°How dare you push your luck. My Young Mistress doesn¡¯t want to see you. Hurry up and leave!¡± The

    bodyguard hollered at him.

    ¡°Please, I beg of you. They will surely kill me if they catch hold of me!¡±

    As the car window was slightly down, Ning Ran caught his words, loud and clear.

    Ignore him! Ignore him! He and Luo Yi were the cause of Mom¡¯s death!

    But Ning Ran was still too soft-hearted. Thinking to herself that he might really die if he was captured

    again, she alighted from the car and ordered the bodyguard, ¡°Let him in.¡±

    ¡°Ran?¡± Ning Ziqiang shouted out in delight. ¡°So it is you! That¡¯s simply great!¡±

    The bodyguard looked at them in astonishment. Thank god I did not push the old man just now. I might

    have unintentionally offended my boss!

    Ning Ran was cold, ¡°Do you want to get on the car or not?¡±

    ¡°Yes, of course!¡±

    Ning Ran had no desire to sit together with Ning Ziqiang, so she moved to the passenger seat.

    ¡°Ran, I haven¡¯t eaten. Can you buy me a meal?¡±

    Ning Ran sighed, ¡°Why are you reduced to this state and can¡¯t even afford to eat?¡±

    ¡°My creditors are after me. For thest few days, I haven¡¯t slept well and can¡¯t afford to eat. Ran,

    please save me! Else I will die if this continues!¡±

    Suddenly, Ning Ziqiang burst out in loud wails.

    Ning Ran was caught off guard by his sudden wailing and was at a loss on what to do next.

    The bodyguard was confused by the whole situation before him, but he did not dare to ask her. Thus,

    he continued driving in silence.

    ¡°Stop crying!¡± Ning Ran bellowed at him.

    ¡°I have done you wrong. I have done...¡±

    ¡°Stop! Continue and I will kick you out of the car!¡± Ning Ran ordered coldly.

    Ning Ziqiang wanted to say that he had done her mother wrong, but Ning Ran stopped him dead in his

    tracks.

    What¡¯s the point of apologizing now? If someone who has done wrong, can be forgiven simply with an

    apology, then why does one need thew?

    ¡°I¡¯m so hungry...¡±

    ¡°Sorry to trouble you. Stop at any eatery in front,¡± said Ning Ran to the bodyguard.

    ¡°No trouble at all,¡± The bodyguard replied cautiously.

    Twenty minutester, Ning Ran was sitting in front of Ning Ziqiang, watching as he wolfed down the

    food.

    She had wanted to ask him to eat slower but decided against it. Anyway, evil men lead long lives. He

    won¡¯t die so easily.

    ¡°Ran, I don¡¯t have a ce to stay now. Can you find me a ce to stay?¡±

    ¡°How dare you cling to me now?¡± Ning Ran bristled with anger.

    ¡°Of course not. I know you are kind and will definitely help me out. Aren¡¯t I right?¡±

    ¡°No. I will not help you!¡±

 Chapter 303

    Chapter 303

    Ning Ziqiang was stunned for a moment.

    ¡°Ran...¡±

    ¡°I have helped you today only because I don¡¯t want to watch you die. Don¡¯t think too much about the

    matter.¡±

    Ning Ziqiang continued eating in silence.

    He must be really hungry, given the amount he eats.

    Not far from the eatery, a man in a white Honda was taking photographs of them.

    He was sneaky and avoided the bodyguard¡¯s detection.

    ¡°You can go if you are done with the food,¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°Ran, I don¡¯t have a ce to stay. My creditors wille knocking on my door very soon. I really have

    no ce to go. Can you please take me in seeing that we are father and daughter? You can just assign

    a small room to me. If not, I can sleep on the sofa too. Just please don¡¯t chase me out. I have nowhere

    to go now. Please, I beg you!¡± Ning Ziqiang started begging her again.

    ¡°Oh gosh, you¡¯re thinking of staying in my house? Keep on dreaming! My mother¡¯s house was forcibly

    upied by you and Luo Yi. I have lost my home long ago and have been staying at other people¡¯

    houses all this while. How dare you ask me to make arrangements for your amodation. Don¡¯t you

    have any shame?¡± Ning Ran berated him.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you doing well? Now that I am down and out, can you take care of me please? After all, I am

    your father...¡±

    ¡°Shut up! Stop saying you are my father. You caused my mother¡¯s death and did not care about me all

    this time. Why didn¡¯t you think of me as your daughter at that time? It¡¯s toote now! Ning Ziqiang, let

    me tell you. Don¡¯t you think that I have acknowledged you as my father because I have saved you

    tonight! Let me tell you I will never, ever forgive you! Because you don¡¯t deserve it.¡±

    Ning Ziqiang bowed his head and was about to cry again.

    ¡°There¡¯s no use for you to act pitiful. I won¡¯t fall for it.¡±

    ¡°Then could you, at least, help to arrange amodation for me tonight? Even a cheap motel will do.

    Take it as thest time you will help me. I will never bother you again. Haven¡¯t I left you alone all this

    while? It¡¯s a coincidence you have passed by tonight and saved me. I know you are doing well now.

    Setting aside our rtionship, even if I was outsider, won¡¯t you still help me out?¡±

    Indeed, Ning Ran could not bear to leave him alone under his current situation. Furthermore, his words

    did carry a certain weight.

    ¡°Fine. I will make arrangements for you. Only this time.¡±

    Ning Ran took her purse out and emptied all the cash in it. There were only three hundred in it.

    ¡°I will transfer five thousand to you as your capital to run away. You will then settle your troubles

    yourself. I repeat myself again. You and I have no rtionship anymore. I will not forgive the murderer,

    who caused my mother¡¯s death. Stop looking for me in the future, as I won¡¯t care about your matters.¡±

    Ning Ziqiang¡¯s eyes lit up when he learned about the few thousand that would being his way,

    ¡°Fine. I can solve immediate problems now. Thank you, Ran. I know you are kind, despite your tough

    words. I know you are always a good daughter...¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Ning Ran cut him off. ¡°Let¡¯s go if you are done with the food.¡±

    Both of them left the eatery together and boarded the car.

    When they reached the hotel, Ning Ran alighted from the car and got a room for Ning Ziqiang.

    She returned to the car and left afterwards.

    It was already 10 p.m. by the time she was done.

    Despite his curiosity, the bodyguard did not pry as he was well aware of the rules not to ask anything

    that he was not supposed to.

    Ning Ran was feeling down. No doubt that Ning Ziqiang deserved what he got now but evidently, it still

    affected her mood.

    After their return to the vi, Nan Chen was not in; Cheng Xiangyun was.

    Nan Chen had been staying outside ever since Cheng Xiangyun returned. Thetter had offered to

    move out, but Nan Chen declined her offer. He seemed to have other ns which he had yet to

    execute.

    ¡°You¡¯re back? I did not fetch you today as I¡¯m engaged in a meeting. There¡¯s a piece of good news

    today. Do you want to hear it?¡± Cheng Xiangyun asked in exhration.

    Judging by her bodynguage, it must be really good news.

    But Ning Ran was indifferent, ¡°Just say it.¡±

    ¡°Oh, why do you look so gloomy? Have you fallen out of love? Have you quarreled with Sir Chen? Or

    have I disturbed your family reconciliation by staying here?¡±

    ¡°No, it has nothing to do with you.¡± Ning Ran was toozy to exin what had happened to her.

    ¡°No, there must be something wrong. Why don¡¯t you tell me first? I will then tell you the good news

    afterwards. Otherwise, it will be a damper if you are indifferent to my piece of good news.¡±

    ¡°I ran into Ning Ziqiang just now.¡±

    ¡°Oh, has he approached you for money again? Your father is such a pain. How can there be a father

    like him in this world? Oh gosh.¡±

    ¡°He isn¡¯t my father. I ran into him on the road while he was being beaten up by his creditors. I could not

    bear to ignore his plight. I treated him to a meal and gave him 5 thousand. I even arranged for

    amodation for him.¡±

    ¡°Then you have done what you are supposed to. So why are you so gloomy now?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m just very unhappy now,¡± Ning Ran sighed.

    Cheng Xiangyun sat down and hugged Ning Ran, ¡°You are just too kind. Although you im his

    matters are none of your business, you are still worried about him. But he deserves all that he has

    gotten today. There is a limit to how much you can help him. Stop thinking about it. You can¡¯t be helping

    him to clear all his debts. The debts are all because of him and that woman. Why should you pay for

    them? There must be a limit to your kindness. Otherwise, people will take you for granted.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s words sounded logical, so Ning Ran nodded fervently.

    ¡°I have the same thinking too. But I don¡¯t know why it affects my mood. Maybe I¡¯m too weak, and not

    decisive enough. I should ask the driver to step on the elerator instead of the brakes when I saw

    Ning Ziqiang being beaten up just now.¡±

    ¡°You won¡¯t do it. Don¡¯t I know what kind of person you are? Stop talking about him. You have done

    enough. Let me pour you a ss of red wine. Maybe you will feel better after you drink it.¡±

    ¡°Okay, then I will go bathe now.¡±

    After she was out of the bathroom, the ss of red wine was ready.

    Maybe it is good to drink the wine. Otherwise, I will surely suffer from insomnia tonight.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this wine good?¡± Cheng Xiangyun asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know much about wine. But I feel it is not bad.¡±

    ¡°Yes. Sir Chen bought this so how bad can this be?¡± Cheng Xiangyun smiled.

    ¡°Nan Chen bought the wine?¡±

    ¡°He put it in the wine rack. I thought it must be good so I have opened it. I have been eyeing it for some

    time. If he ever asks about it, remember to say that you are the one who has opened it. I¡¯m only

    benefitting from my association with you.¡±

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    ¡°Gosh, you are so sneaky. Now tell me, what¡¯s the good news you¡¯ve received today? Is a handsome

    guy wooing you?¡±

    ¡°The good news concerns you, not me.¡±

 Chapter 304

    Chapter 304

    ¡°Mine? What good news could I possibly have? I haven¡¯t bought any lottery tickets recently,¡± Ning Ran

    repliedzily.

    ¡°As if you need to buy a lottery ticket. Youare the lottery ticket! We¡¯re all waiting for you to win the

    lottery, so to speak. We¡¯re gonna be rich!¡± Cheng Xiangyun eximed.

    ¡°Just what are you trying to say? Out with it! Stop dragging this on.¡±

    ¡°Keep your pants on, woman. This is great news that I have to say. Let me get in the right mood.¡±

    ¡°The heck? How long are you going to take to get in the mood? Are you going to tell me or not? If not,

    I¡¯m heading off to sleep.¡± Ning Ran stood up.

    ¡°Aww, why you gotta spoil my fun? This truly is wonderful news! Like really, really great news!¡± Cheng

    Xiangyun pushed Ning Ran back down on the couch. ¡°Sit down!¡±

    Their banter really had helped to lift Ning Ran¡¯s initial glum mood.

    ¡°Hurry up and tell me. It¡¯s gettingte and I really do need to sleep.¡±

    ¡°Do you remember Wang Xiaoou?¡±

    ¡°Do you even need to ask? She¡¯s the manager Star Entertainment assigned to me; of course, I know

    who she is! What about her? Did she bully you?¡±

    ¡°No, no. Honestly, she didn¡¯t. However, I was in a meeting with her today, and I have to say, no wonder

    she¡¯s one of the best managers around. The way she does things is just so amazing! I really have a lot

    to learn from her.¡±

    ¡°Oh, have you been turned over to the dark side already? That¡¯s not like you at all. I thought you would

    have felt threatened by her and expected you toin about how annoying she was.¡±

    ¡°Nope. I¡¯m not that petty. She really is a lot more experienced and knowledgeable than I am. I¡¯m being

    honest when I say there are so many things I could learn from her.¡±

    ¡°Alright. So your wonderful news is that you were in a meeting with her and discovered how much you

    could learn from her? Is that it?¡±

    ¡°Of course not! The good news is the contents of our meeting.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s there to be happy about in a meeting? I hate sitting in meetings. They¡¯re so damn boring.¡±

    ¡°Our meeting was a discussion about your future development.¡±

    ¡°Me?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. You¡¯re going to be Star Entertainment¡¯s newest artist. We were discussing how to build your

    image.¡±

    ¡°That sounds awesome! Am I going to be a star?¡±

    ¡°No, not just a star. You¡¯re going to be a superstar!¡± Cheng Xiangyun answered excitedly.

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t make such jokes! I¡¯m not a kid, you know. I¡¯m well aware of the extent of my skills.¡± Despite

    her words, Ning Ran could feel tion sweeping through her.

    ¡°I¡¯m being serious! It was only after working at Star Entertainment that I realized just how differently

    thesergepanies operate. It¡¯s really easy for them to push out a new celebrity. They¡¯lly down

    the steps for you; all you have to do is climb them all the way to the top! However, those celebrities that

    are forcefully pushed to the top usually don¡¯tst long. That¡¯s why thepany is nning on building

    up your image first.¡±

    ¡°Okay. How are they going to do that though? Don¡¯t tell me they want me to get a six-pack?¡± Ning Ran

    said with a smile.

    ¡°I¡¯m being entirely serious here! Stop joking around.¡±

    Ning Ran schooled her expression into a solemn look. ¡°Alright, alright. Time to get serious.¡±

    ¡°Since you¡¯re going to be their newest star, thepany will use everything at their disposal to aid you.

    They¡¯ve even got your first step nned out! Isn¡¯t that great?¡±

    ¡°It is indeed!¡± Ning Ran nodded fervently.

    ¡°After you¡¯re done with your current drama series, it¡¯s time for you to enter the big screen! Your next job

    will be the female lead in a movie! What¡¯s even more amazing is that you¡¯ll be working with several

    other first-rate actors!¡±

    By this point, Cheng Xiangyun could hardly contain her glee.

    ¡°A movie?¡±

    ¡°Yep! It¡¯s a huge production too. OnceSound of Thunder 2 is released, you¡¯re definitely going to be

    famous. That means your new movie will be a huge hit once it releases as well. From then onward,

    you¡¯ll be focusing on movies only and refusing all TV series. Oh right, the movies will have to be huge

    productions too. Due to having worked overseas, yournguage skills and experiences there give you

    an edge. Thus, thepany ns on working together with Hollywood on several blockbuster films.

    Eventually, you¡¯ll be famous across the whole of Asia and then, the world!¡±

    ¡°Hold it! Aren¡¯t you being a little too ambitious there?¡± Ning Ran chuckled.

    ¡°Nope! This is all actual nning. With Star Entertainment¡¯s capabilities, it¡¯s not an impossible dream!¡±

    ¡°Well, what you said only works withSound of Thunder 2 actually sells well. What if it¡¯s a flop?¡±

    ¡°Nah, it¡¯ll definitely be a huge sess. The views and ratings are going to be off the charts,¡± Cheng

    Xiangyun stated confidently.

    ¡°Why are you so sure about that?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not so much me as thepany is confident that will be the case. Rumors have it that Mr. Chen

    has dered that thepany uses all the resources at their disposal to advertise this movie. It needs

    to be the movie of the year.¡±

    Her friend¡¯s mood was contagious, and so Ning Ran was starting to feel excited as well.

    ¡°Am I really going to be working on films?¡±

    ¡°But of course!¡±

    ¡°So what¡¯s the name of this movie?¡±

    ¡°Sound of Thunder: Movie Adaptation. Once theSound of Thunder TV series bes well-known, we

    release a movie of it soon after. Riding on the sess of the TV series, the box office sales for the

    movie is gonna be huge!¡±

    Ning Ran blinked in surprise before shaking her head. ¡°That¡¯s no good.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°I mean that¡¯s not a good idea. It doesn¡¯t matter ifSound of Thunder 2 sells well or not, we shouldn¡¯t

    release a movie adaptation of it so soon.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°If the TV series turns out to be a flop, the movie will suffer a negative bacsh from that, and the box

    office sales would be horrible. But if the TV series does end up being well-received, the audience would

    have high expectations for the movie. Hence, it would be incredibly hard to live up to those

    expectations no matter how well we do the movie. Inevitably, they¡¯ll be disappointed with the end

    product. Besides, if I only ever act in theSound of Thunder series of films, I would limit myself to a

    certain niche. Everyone would just assume that¡¯s the extent of my acting abilities. How am I supposed

    to be a superstar if they think I can only act in these types of locally-produced dramas?¡±

    Pausing, Ning Ran stared at the stunned Cheng Xiangyun and finished, ¡°Isn¡¯t that right?¡±

    ¡°Damn, that... actually sounds really reasonable!¡± Cheng Xiangyun uttered.

    ¡°It¡¯s the truth.¡±

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Well, you should probably mention this to Mr. Chen then. At least the movie project hasn¡¯t actually

    been fixed yet. Whatever the case, you¡¯re going to be a superstar one day. There¡¯s no doubt about

    that. Oh wow, seeing as I was your very first manager, I¡¯ll be reaping the benefits as well once you

    be a celebrity! Just the thought of it has me giddy!¡±

    ¡°Hello, earth to Xiangyun? I¡¯m not a celebrity just yet.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s only a matter of time! C¡¯mon, let¡¯s have a toast to your future stardom!¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun happily raised her ss to clink it against Ning Ran¡¯s.

    ¡°Okay then. I won¡¯t forget about you even once I¡¯m rich and famous!¡± Ning Ran announced.

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯ll hold you to those words! You¡¯re definitely going to be wealthy in the future. If you ever forget

    about me, I¡¯m going to make a doll of you and stab you with a needle every single day! I¡¯ll stab you a

    hundred, no, a thousand times each day!¡±

    ¡°Damn woman, is that really necessary? I would never expect that you were such a cruel and heartless

    person!¡±

    ¡°Of course it¡¯s necessary! You¡¯re going to look after me once you¡¯re rich; you said so yourself!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t ever forget you. However, you need to strengthen your position in thepany so

    that nobody can afford to fire you. Otherwise, we won¡¯t be able to work together anymore!¡±

 Chapter 305

    Chapter 305

    While Ning Ran and Cheng Xiangyun were busy drinking and chatting about the wonderful future

    ahead, Ouyang Qing was also drinking in a private club at Flower City.

    She sipped from her ss of Lafite as she flipped through some photos.

    A man in ck clothing was standing in a corner of the room with his hands sped behind his back.

    ¡°You took these photos yourself?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I did. I took them earlier tonight.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re sure Ding Mi booked a room for this man?¡±

    ¡°Yes. He was being beaten up by some men and Ding Mi¡¯s bodyguards saved him. After that, she

    treated him to a meal before arranging for him to stay at this hotel.¡±

    ¡°Why does a no-name actress like her have bodyguards?¡± Ouyang Qing mused.

    ¡°They were assigned to her by the Nan family. Theirbat skills are actually not too bad.¡±

    ¡°Is she that important to Chen?¡± Hatred gleamed in her eyes at the thought.

    The man remained silent.

    ¡°Keep an eye on that man and make sure he doesn¡¯t escape. I want to meet with him tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Young Miss...¡±

    ¡°Just do as I say.¡±

    ...

    The next afternoon, Ning Ziqiang was starving. Unable to stand the pain gnawing at his insides, he

    decided to head downstairs in search of food.

    There was a dim sum shop near the hotel where he bought ten buns to be his meals for the day.

    Upon turning back around, he found his way blocked by two burly men.

    Paranoid from having debt collectors constantly chasing after him, his first reaction was to flee.

    Unfortunately, one of the men grabbed hold of him before he could even take a step. ¡°Don¡¯t run. We

    want to talk to you.¡±

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Noting the somewhat friendly tone, Ning Ziqiang stopped his struggling.

    Ning Ran has bodyguards, right? Maybe she assigned these two to protect me.

    ¡°Our Young Miss wants to meet with you,¡± one of the men stated.

    Ning Ziqiang was even more relieved to hear that, convinced that they were Ning Ran¡¯s men. They

    would not have been so polite if they were his debt collectors. On the contrary, he would probably be

    receiving a beating right about now as well as more than a few swear words.

    ¡°Where is she?¡± Ning Ziqiang asked.

    ¡°She¡¯s already prepared lunch and wants to invite you over.¡±

    This news pleased Ning Ziqiang as that meant he would be able to save his buns for another time.

    ¡°Sure. Let me leave my buns at the front desk first then I¡¯ll dly go with you.¡±

    He was a poor man now. These buns were incredibly precious as they would sate his hunger easily.

    Hence, he was reluctant to throw them away.

    He returned to the hotel and handed his buns over to the receptionist.

    The receptionist was mildly surprised. She had been working here for many years and had seen a lot of

    strange things. However, this was the first time she had seen someone leaving their buns at the front

    desk.

    What made things even weirder was that the man climbed into a Mercedes-Benz after exiting the lobby.

    Are all wealthy people as frugal as he? He¡¯s already sitting in a Mercedes-Benz, yet he doesn¡¯t even

    want to throw away a few buns!

    Settling down in the backseat of the Mercedes-Benz, Ning Ziqiang almost felt like he was back in the

    past when he was still a CEO.

    ¡°Drive faster! Why are you driving so slowly?¡± he berated the chauffeur.

    However, the chauffeur ignored him.

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m talking to you! Didn¡¯t you hear me?¡± Ning Ziqiang was starting to get angry.

    Once again, he was ignored.

    It suddenly dawned on him that even though these were Ning Ran¡¯s bodyguards, they had no

    connection to him at all. There was no point in acting arrogantly in front of them as they would not listen

    to him.

    In no time at all, they arrived at a high-end restaurant. The bodyguards led Ning Ziqiang to a private

    room.

    Sitting inside the private room was a young, beautiful woman. Clearly, it was not Ning Ran.

    Not recognizing who she was, Ning Ziqiang was instantly on his guard.

    ¡°Who are you?¡±

    Ouyang Qing stood up to wee him. ¡°Good day, sir. Please have a seat.¡±

    Her polite demeanor, pretty appearance, and innocent smile caused his wariness to vanish.

    ¡°And who are you, miss?¡± he questioned while sitting down.

    ¡°I¡¯m your daughter¡¯s friend,¡± the woman answered with a grin.

    ¡°You¡¯re Ran¡¯s friend?¡±

    What? Isn¡¯t that woman called Ding Mi? Who is Ran? Was I mistaken? But my men told me this is Ding

    Mi¡¯s father!

    Pushing aside her doubts for now, Ouyang Qing hurriedly answered, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡°Oh. But why isn¡¯t Ran here herself?¡± he queried.

    ¡°She¡¯s busy. Why don¡¯t we eat first? Please, dig in.¡±

    Too hungry to protest further, Ning Ziqiang eagerly began to eat.

    ¡°Would you like some liquor, sir?¡± Ouyang Qing offered.

    ¡°Can I?¡± Ning Ziqiang¡¯s eyes brightened at the thought.

    He used to be a boss, so he was not shy about drinking liquor. Unfortunately, circumstances were

    different now as he was impoverished and could not afford to buy any.

    ¡°Of course you can. Would you like a bottle of Maotai?¡±

    ¡°Yes, please!¡± At hearing he would be getting to drink Maotai, Ning Ziqiang was even more delighted.

    Pouring a cup for him, Ouyang Qing raised her own and said, ¡°A toast to you, sir.¡±

    She finished the cup in one go.

    It had been a long time since Ning Ziqiang had drunk such a high-quality liquor. As such, he enjoyed

    himself immensely and downed several cups consecutively.

    As the alcohol buzzed through his veins, a newfound rush of energy shot through him.

    His earlier despondent attitude disappeared, and he was once more the powerful and influential CEO.

    He started to recount his glory days to Ouyang Qing. Some of what he said was true, but most were

    fake.

    Sitting beside him with a smile stered on her face, Ouyang Qing continued to pour him cup after cup

    of Maotai. She watched as he slowly got drunker and drunker, waiting for the right time to spring her

    question.

    ¡°Sir, why is Ding Mi called Ding Mi?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a fake name! Her real name is Ning Ran. I would know; her damn mother named her that! She

    got pregnant with a bastard child and left. After she came back, she changed her name to Ding Mi. It¡¯s

    all fake!¡±

    ¡°A bastard child?¡±

    ¡°Yeah! She was still in university back then. I have no idea how, but she got pregnant. When I asked

    her who was the father, she refused to tell me. So I brought her to the hospital for an abortion, but

    guess what? She ran away! After that, she even gave birth to the twins!¡±

    More than a little inebriated, Ning Ziqiangpletely let down his guard and bbed everything he

    could think of, including what he should not have said.

    Ouyang Qing was utterly shocked at his words. What? That means that woman is not exactly as

    innocent as she seems! I have to let Nan Chen know!

    ¡°Do you know who¡¯s the father of those children yet?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t she tell you? It¡¯s someone from the Nan family! They¡¯ve moved into the Nan family home to live

    together now! Aren¡¯t you two best friends? Why didn¡¯t she tell you this?¡±

    ¡°Oh, she did. I just forgot.¡±

    Ouyang Qing fought to keep her astonishment from showing on her face. That woman actually gave

    birth to children for the Nan family! No wonder she¡¯s getting the royal treatment! Damn it. Now what?

    She¡¯s obviously important to the Nan family due to her children. How am I supposed to win against

    that?

    ¡°By the way, I heard you¡¯ve run into some trouble recently, sir? Something about some peopleing

    after you?¡±

    ¡°Did Ning Ran tell you that?¡±

    Nodding, she added, ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Hah, as if this isn¡¯t all her fault! I wanted her to get some money from the Nan family to pay off my

    debts, but she absolutely refuses! Now, all my creditors are chasing me down to demand their money

    back! I have no other choice but to run.¡±

    At this, Ouyang Qing perked up in interest.

    Huh? It seems like this old man still has a lot to say. I have to find out more!

    ¡°Well, Ning Ran seems to be doing quite well for herself now. Even if she doesn¡¯t ask for money from

    the Nan family, I¡¯m certain she has enough to pay off your debts!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the thing! She doesn¡¯t want to give me any money! If she were willing to help me, I wouldn¡¯t be

    in such a pitiful state!¡±

 Chapter 306

    Chapter 306

    With half a bottle of Maotai down Ning Ziqiang¡¯s gullet, Ouyang Qing was able to find out everything

    about the Ning family.

    ¡°Sir, this matter is really quite simple. It¡¯s not that she doesn¡¯t want to lend you the money; it¡¯s just that

    there are still too many misunderstandings between you two. She¡¯s being a little prideful, that¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°I have a n that will ensure she gives you the money.¡±

    Excited, Ning Ziqiang demanded, ¡°What do I have to do?¡±

    ¡°All you have to do is go along with my n, and I can assure you that she¡¯ll cough up the money.

    However, you can¡¯t let anyone know about this n. In fact, you can¡¯t let anyone find out we know each

    other either.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you friends with Ran? What¡¯s wrong with us knowing each other?¡±

    Ouyang Qing chuckled, replying, ¡°I¡¯m not at liberty to reveal certain things. Rest assured that I¡¯m doing

    all this for you, sir. You want the money, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Of course! Do you even need to ask?¡±

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Then are you willing to obey whatever I say?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I am. But...¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sir. I won¡¯t do anything that will harm her. All I want to do is help the two of you resolve

    your misunderstandings with each other. The most important thing is to help you out of this difficult

    situation.¡±

    Ouyang Qing¡¯s guileless and sweet appearance made the wordsing out of her mouth all the more

    believable.

    Was it any wonder that Ning Ziqiang trusted her?

    Not only did she treat me to a free meal with Maotai, now she¡¯s even willing to help me out of this dire

    situation! She¡¯s practically a heaven-sent angel!

    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll do whatever you say!¡± he agreed.

    ¡°Wonderful! Then it¡¯s settled. I¡¯ll be in touch with you.¡±

    ¡°Okay. How should I address you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m called Cheng Xiangyun. I¡¯m Ning Ran¡¯s assistant.¡±

    She had seen this name mentioned when she had her men investigate Ning Ran. By using a name

    from someone close to Ning Ran, there was no way Ning Ziqiang would not believe her.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re her assistant? Does she know you came to talk to me?¡± Ning Ziqiang questioned in an

    agitated tone.

    ¡°No, she doesn¡¯t. I know she¡¯s very unhappy about this situation, though. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here to help

    you out. Once this issue is resolved, she¡¯ll be able to focus on her work. In a way, this is personal but

    also official business.¡±

    ¡°Splendid! You¡¯re absolutely right! As long as Ran settles these debts of mine, I won¡¯t bother her any

    longer!¡± Ning Ziqiang promised with a wide smile.

    ¡°Alright, sir. I have some matters to attend to so I¡¯ll be taking my leave. You can stay here and continue

    drinking.¡±

    Upon hearing that Ouyang Qing was departing, Ning Ziqiang leaped to his feet as well. He was worried

    that she would leave without paying the bill. He could not possibly pay for all this!

    ¡°I¡¯m done too! It¡¯s a pity to leave this liquor unfinished... I¡¯ll be taking it with me then! Hehehe...¡±

    Giggling, Ouyang Qing suggested, ¡°That¡¯s up to you, sir. I¡¯ve already paid the bill. Actually, a lot of

    these dishes have not even been touched yet. You can take them with you if you don¡¯t mind.¡±

    Ning Ziqiang, who had been nning to do exactly that, instantly responded with, ¡°Great! I was just

    thinking that we shouldn¡¯t be so wasteful. I¡¯ll tell the waiter to put them in takeout containers.¡±

    ...

    At five in the afternoon, Ning Ran received a phone call from an unknown number.

    An unfamiliar man¡¯s voice spoke up through the phone, ¡°Are you Ning Ran?¡±

    ¡°I am, and you are?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a policeman. Your father is threatening to jump into the river. Please get here as soon as you can!¡±

    ¡°My father?¡±

    ¡°Your father is Ning Ziqiang, isn¡¯t he? He said he¡¯s run out of options and doesn¡¯t know what else he

    can do. You better hurry before he actually jumps! Things are starting to get a little tense over here!

    We¡¯re currently at...¡±

    After jotting down the address, Ning Ran hung up while in a daze.

    Just what is that shameless old man up to this time? What¡¯s this about jumping into the river? Didn¡¯t I

    just give him five thousand yesterday? What does he want now? Then again, if I don¡¯t do anything and

    he really does die, I¡¯ll definitely regret this for the rest of my life.

    Unable toe up with a better n, she took leave from the director and rushed over to the address

    the policeman had given her.

    Emerald River was a river that cut through Flower City. A few years ago, the water was so polluted that

    the air nearby stank badly.

    In the past few years, a lot of money had gone into treating the water. Most of the factories upstream,

    the major cause of the pollution, had been shut down. Now, the water was a lot clearer, and the river

    had be one of Flower City¡¯s loveliest sceneries.

    At that moment, Ning Ziqiang was standing on Dragon¡¯s Bridge, one of the bridges spanning across the

    Emerald River. In truth, it would be more urate to say that he was standing astride the railings by

    the side of the bridge.

    A crowd had formed nearby. Some people were trying to persuade him toe down while some were

    busy taking videos or photos of him. A few horrible people kept shouting, ¡°Are you going to jump or

    not?¡±

    ¡°There she is! His daughter is here!¡± The crowd stirred at her arrival.

    Ning Ran¡¯s beauty clearly astounded them as they had not expected the old man would have such a

    gorgeous daughter.

    Most of the males in the crowd focused their cameras on her instead of Ning Ziqiang, trying to capture

    her beauty.

    ¡°Ning Ziqiang, get down from there! Stop this nonsense of yours!¡±

    Tears gathered in the corners of Ning Ran¡¯s eyes as grief tore at her insides.

    She was not sad that Ning Ziqiang was trying tomit suicide. No, she was upset at how she could

    have such a man as her father. Not only had he killed her mother, now he kept making things difficult

    for her too.

    Fathers were supposed to treat their daughters like their lovers from a past life. They were supposed to

    spoil and pamper them, even be willing to give up their lives for them. Yet why did her father only know

    how to exploit and inconvenience her?

    When Ning Ziqiang spotted Ning Ran, a relieved expression crossed his face. ¡°Ran, I knew you

    wouldn¡¯t just leave me to die!¡±

    ¡°Ning Ziqiang, would you climb down from there? Stop making a scene!¡±

    ¡°Ran, I know you have a lot of misunderstandings toward me. With the people here as my witnesses, I

    sincerely apologize to you. Ran, I¡¯m so sorry. I did not do right by you or your mother. Please forgive

    me!¡± Ning Ziqiang yelled at the top of his lungs.

    The nosy bystanders shifted eagerly at his words, knowing there was something more going on than

    they had thought.

    Ning Ran had not expected Ning Ziqiang would act out like this. ¡°Just get down here first. We can talk

    once you¡¯re down here in front of me.¡±

    ¡°No, I won¡¯t climb down! I-I... I¡¯ll jump down if you don¡¯t forgive me! I¡¯ll die right before you!¡± he

    screamed like a madman.

    ¡°Go ahead and jump then!¡± she was sorely tempted to say. After much effort, she managed to swallow

    the words down.

    No matter how much of a b*****d he was, he was technically still her father.

    She could not just stand aside and watch him die. Although he might not necessarily die even if he

    jumped from here, she could not risk it.

    ¡°I forgive you. Now get down here!¡±

    ¡°Then when are you going to transfer the money to me? The money you said you would give me to pay

    off my debts!¡±

    Ning Ran was absolutely bewildered at his words. Since when did I make such a promise?

    Last night when they had met, she had treated him to a meal and given him five thousand. He had

    been ecstatic then but had not mentioned anything about his debts.

    ¡°When did I say I would pay off your debts?¡±

    ¡°You said what happened in the past has always been a thorn in your side. If you really do forgive me

    then you would forget about what I did and help me settle my debts! Ran, I was wrong. I really regret

    what I did to you and your mother. Truly! But I don¡¯t have any other choice now! Please just help me

    this once! I wouldn¡¯t have forced you if I didn¡¯t know you could do this! I know you have the financial

    ability now to pay for my debts! You¡¯re driving a luxury car and living in a vi. Can¡¯t you use your

    pocket money to help me? Besides, you promised me! If you don¡¯t do this for me, are you going to just

    watch as I¡¯m forced tomit suicide?¡±

 Chapter 307

    Chapter 307

    Everybody present seemed to get the gist of the issue, and they booed. Naturally, with the way Ning

    Ziqiang had phrased his words, their displeasure was aimed toward Ning Ran.

    ¡°Who would have thought such a pretty woman would be an ungrateful wretch!¡±

    ¡°I guess what they say about not judging a book by its cover is true. The prettier the woman, the viler

    she is. How could she not help her father when he¡¯s already been backed up against the wall like this?¡±

    ¡°I knew she wasn¡¯t someone good the moment I saw her. I¡¯ve seen her type plenty of times before.¡±

    The gossiping onlookers had let their imaginations run wild, painting Ning Ran as someone so wicked

    and heartless that there was nothing too evil for her to do.

    Ning Ran knew there was no point in publicly refuting Ning Ziqiang¡¯s usations. The crowd would not

    believe a single word out of her mouth no matter what she said anyway.

    Her most pressing issue right now was to get Ning Ziqiang toe down from his perch. She could not

    allow him to continue his act.

    Deep down inside, she doubted he would actually dare jump into the river.

    He was a coward, through and through. If he had had the courage tomit suicide, he would not

    have been in such dire straits today.

    But in the end, she could not take that chance. What if he really did leap off the bridge?

    ¡°Come down here, and we can talk about it. What you¡¯re doing now serves no purpose other than

    turning you into theughingstock of the city,¡± her voice was as gentle as she could make it.

    ¡°Promise to settle my debts, and I¡¯ll climb down,¡± he insisted.

    ¡°Fine, I promise.¡±

    ¡°Then transfer five million into my ount right now! Once I receive the notification that I¡¯ve received

    the payment, I¡¯lle down.¡±

    It was obvious that had been Ning Ziqiang¡¯s n all along.

    ¡°Where am I supposed to get such arge sum of money out of the blue? You have to give me some

    time to prepare at least!¡± Ning Ran shouted back furiously.

    ¡°Five million is nothing to you! All you need to do is call that rich boyfriend of yours and have him

    transfer the money!¡±

    By this point, Ning Ran was at her wit¡¯s end.

    ¡°Just give him the money! Since you¡¯re rich enough, it¡¯s about time to repay your parents!¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t you see how desperate your father is? Why won¡¯t you give him the money? Have you no

    conscience?¡±

    ¡°And you call yourself his daughter? Have you no shame?¡±

    The crowd was suddenly being the embodiment of justice as they verbally used and attacked Ning

    Ran.

    Ning Ran was so enraged that she could cry.

    ¡°Come down. I¡¯ll transfer you the money, but I honestly don¡¯t have that much on hand! Nobody would

    be willing to lend me that amount so abruptly either! You¡¯ve already made a fuss once before; why are

    you acting like this again? If you don¡¯te down, I¡¯m going to ignore you! Just jump down if you want

    to!¡±

    She knew he would never jump. The only reason he was doing all this was to force her into giving him

    money.

    Truthfully, five million was not an insignificant amount. Even if she were to borrow money from Nan

    Chen, she would still need some time for the relevant procedures to go through.

    Normally, the so-called wealthy people were not people who had their money just lying around in their

    bank ounts. Most of the rich had their fortunes invested in properties or shares.

    That was why there was no possible way she would be able to transfer him five million within a few

    minutes.

    But Ning Ziqiang was stubborn. He refused to relent as he knew the longer he dragged this on, the

    larger the crowd would be.

    The harsher their usations against Ning Ran, the more advantageous it would be for him as the

    chances of him getting his money would increase ordingly.

    Ouyang Qing had told him that Ning Ran had received tens of millions a few days ago, so she definitely

    had enough money right now.

    Not only that, but Ouyang Qing had even added that Ning Ran was actually quite willing to help him.

    She was just unwilling to admit to it as she could not let go of her grudge yet.

    As long as Ning Ziqiang pushed a little harder, he would be able to trick Ning Ran into helping him.

    Anybody with brains would realize Ouyang Qing¡¯s idea was a set-up, yet Ning Ziqiang believed her.

    It was not that he was stupid. He was just so blinded by his current predicament that he had lost all

    rationality. Any idea that would enable him to get money was an excellent n to him.

    That was why he did not doubt Ouyang Qing for even a second.

    She had even specifically selected this location for him.

    He personally thought her idea was a wonderful n. Not only would he be able to get the money to

    pay off his debts, whatever was left would be enough for him to live afortable life in the future too.

    Thus, when Ning Ran told him to jump, he panicked.

    He had never had the intention to actually go through with his threat. Now that she was basically

    forcing him to jump, how was he supposed to continue his act?

    ¡°Ran, please don¡¯t...¡±

    Since he could not fullymit to the act, he gave up on pretending.

    Unfortunately, he had been in the same position for too long and his legs had gone numb.

    He had originally intended on climbing down, but he lost his bnce and tilted to the side. Scrambling

    to regain his footing, he failed and fell into the water below with a ssh.

    Screams rang out from the crowd.

    ¡°That woman killed her father!¡±

    ¡°Oh my god! Somebody¡¯s dying!¡±

    ¡°This is all that woman¡¯s fault! Don¡¯t let her escape!¡±

    The crowd was seething with agitation. Strangely enough, nobody seemed to care about the man who

    had just fallen into the river. All their attention was focused on Ning Ran.

    In reality, the police had already been on standby in the river while Ning Ziqiang was busy threatening

    his daughter.

    The moment hended in the water, they were quick to haul him aboard their boat.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough! Time to disperse! The man is fine, and nobody¡¯s been hurt! Go away now!¡± Several

    policemen came over to shoo the crowd.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    But the infuriated crowd ignored the police as they pelted curses and usations at Ning Ran. They

    surrounded her, not letting her leave.

    Despite the police¡¯s best attempts, the crowd still refused to move aside.

    At that moment, a ck Jeep arrived on the scene, and Qiao Zhan climbed out of the vehicle.

    He nodded at the policemen in greeting, clearly knowing each other.

    Squeezing his way through the crowd, he protected Ning Ran as he escorted her out of there.

    Since Qiao Zhan¡¯s built was like a small mountain, none of the people present dared to get in his way.

    Even so, that did not stop them from chasing after Ning Ran and berating her loudly. With much

    difficulty, Ning Ran finally managed to get inside the car, and they sped out of there.

    She curled up in the car seat, the tears she had been fighting to hold back finally escaping. Not a

    sound left her lips even as the liquid flowed down her face relentlessly.

    She did not know why she was crying, only that she really wanted to. No matter how hard she tried,

    she could not stop.

    Qiao Zhan was quiet. He did notfort her as he knew she was a strong woman who did not need

    such empty titudes from him.

    Ning Ran allowed herself to weep for a moment longer before she gradually calmed down. Only then

    did she ask, ¡°How did you know I was there?¡±

    ¡°Sir Chen sent me here. Someone was live-streaming the event, so everybody on the inte knows

    what happened.¡±

    ¡°There was a live-stream?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. A small-time inte celebrity was broadcasting the incident. She said she was only passing by

    when she saw what was happening and decided to stream it on the inte. Obviously, that was not a

    coincidence. Somebody arranged for that to happen.¡±

    Ning Ran was of the same opinion. Somebody had nned all this.

    ¡°Who¡¯s after me this time?¡±

    ¡°No idea. Thepany has already started advertising your TV drama. You mustn¡¯t be involved in any

    negative news now as that will affect the public response and the views.¡±

    ¡°I know. But what happened just now was too sudden. I have no idea why he decided to act out that

    little y of his. I wonder who put the idea in his head?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll get to the bottom of this, don¡¯t worry.¡±

    Right then, Qiao Zhan¡¯s phone rang. It was from the police station.

    They informed him that Ning Ziqiang had been sent to the hospital to check him over for injuries. They

    also told him to send Ning Ran over to the police station as they needed to record her statement. After

    all, she was a witness and also the family member of the victim.

    With that, Qiao Zhan agreed to cooperate with the police and headed toward the police station.

 Chapter 308

    Chapter 308

    It did not take long for Ning Ran to finish giving her statement.

    After all, she did not need to exin too much since she really could not be held ountable for what

    happened.

    Exiting the police station, Qiao Zhan asked if she would like to go to the hospital to visit her father, but

    she refused.

    Since he would not be dying anytime soon, she did not want to see him at all.

    She had only just settled in her car seat when her phone rang.

    Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s annoyed voice came through the phone, ¡°Damn it. Why is this happening now? You

    shouldn¡¯t appear out in public anymore lest people recognize you. The drama has only started

    advertising, and now this happens! What are we supposed to do!¡±

    ¡°Sorry. I didn¡¯t want this to happen either,¡± Ning Ran murmured in a frustrated tone.

    ¡°We¡¯ll talkter. Wang Xiaoou is calling a meeting to discuss how thepany is going to handle this.

    I¡¯ll let you know what the results are after the meeting.¡±

    ¡°Okay. Sorry for troubling you again.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Alright, I have to drive now.¡±

    When Ning Ran ended the call, she saw that Qiao Zhan was on the phone as well.

    ¡°Sir Chen is at the equestrian club and wants me to bring you over there,¡± he said.

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    She was well aware that she was in deep trouble again. Thepany had only just decided on how to

    build her image, and then this happened.

    Hence, she knew thepany would have to waste a lot of resources to deal with this mess.

    Although this was technically all Ning Ziqiang¡¯s fault, she was the one thepany signed a contract

    with, not him. Since her private business had affected thepany, she would need to bear

    responsibility for it.

    Her only option was to face the music.

    The equestrian club was nearly 30 kilometers away from the city, out in the countryside. The scenery

    here was amazing with fresh, clean air. It was the perfect spot to go horseback riding.

    Qiao Zhan stated, ¡°Sir Chen is riding with a very important guest right now. We¡¯re to wait for him at the

    lounge. Please follow me.¡±

    They were brought to a private lounge room specifically set aside for Nan Chen¡¯s use. One of the staff

    brought her a cup of coffee.

    Lost in her thoughts, Ning Ran took a gulp and nearly spit out the hot liquid.

    She pulled out her phone and went online, discovering that the inte was filled with scornful

    comments again.

    Thest time something simr had happened was the incident with Zheng Lunlun. The hatred and

    disdain for her then had exploded too.

    Having experienced it once before, she was not as bothered by their scathing usations this time

    around.

    However, she was still human, not an emotionless robot. Even the calmest person would still be upset

    at the vile insults being hurled her way.

    Thus, she decided she might as well not read them since that would only serve to make her angrier.

    Twenty minutester, somebody entered the room.

    It was Nan Chen, dressed in a pair of tight-fitting pants and riding boots. He was also wearing a

    protective helmet.

    The way he was dressed now was a far cry from what she was used to seeing him wear. He was still

    as handsome as ever, just in a different way.

    He unsped his helmet, stripped off his gloves, and began to take off his safety vest.

    Ning Ran stared at him dumbly, not sure what to say.

    ¡°Are you going to watch me undress?¡± he asked.

    ¡°No!¡± She pped her hands at him wildly before pointedly turning her head around.

    From behind her came the rustling sound of him taking off his clothes, causing her cheeks to warm in a

    blush.

    Stupid woman, why didn¡¯t you just leave the room? I must have been more affected by the earlier

    events than I thought.

    Soon after, she heard a door click shut. Nan Chen must have gone to take a shower in the adjoining

    bathroom.

    Only then did Ning Ran turn back around.

    At that moment, Nan Chen¡¯s phone chimed from where it had been ced on the table. It was the

    ringtone for a video call.

    She was tempted to see who was calling but forcefully squashed the urge.

    However, the phone continued to ring, and her curiosity peaked.

    She went over and picked up the phone. The caller ID showed an unknown number.

    After a few seconds of thought, she set the phone down. I shouldn¡¯t answer someone else¡¯s phone.

    Abruptly, she heard some noise from behind her. Lifting her head, she spotted Nan Chen walking out of

    the bathroom d only in his underwear.

    His body was well-built with not a hint of fat on him. It was the perfect body for being a model.

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Are you enjoying the view?¡± Nan Chen¡¯s cold voice spoke up.

    Ning Ran very nearly replied with an affirmative before she came back to her senses and stopped

    herself.

    ¡°How could youe out naked?¡± she used.

    ¡°I¡¯m wearing my underwear. How could you say that I¡¯m naked? Men wear something simr when

    swimming, don¡¯t they? What¡¯s the difference then?¡± he retorted.

    Ning Ran was left speechless.

    He moved to put on his shirt, and she hurriedly spun around.

    ¡°Stop pretending. You¡¯ve already seen everything.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t!¡±

    ¡°You were staring at me for at least twenty seconds! You¡¯re saying you didn¡¯t see anything?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± she protested weakly as a flush crept up her face again.

    Even though she was already a mother of two, her rtionship experience was incredibly simple. In

    fact, it could be said that she had basically no experience in such matters.

    That was why she did not know how to react other than feeling nervous or panicked when she was

    faced with such situations.

    Or maybe it¡¯s just that this man is too attractive.

    When he was done, Nan Chen called out to Ning Ran, ¡°You know how to tie a necktie, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°You know as well. Why should I help you?¡±

    ¡°Because I¡¯m your boss.¡±

    ¡°An employee is not obligated to help her boss put on his necktie!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve caused a huge mess right at a critical moment. The negative bacsh from your actions has

    caused thepany to suffer huge losses. If I were to pursue this matter, you wouldn¡¯t be able to pay

    me back even in your next lifetime! Is having you put on a necktie for me too much to ask for?¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s voice was as chilly as a winter breeze.

    At that, Ning Ran rushed forward to help him put on his necktie.

    I can¡¯t afford to offend a capitalist like him. There would be no way to escape him if I did!

    Her movements this time were not as deft as before since she kept getting distracted. Images of his

    muscled body kept shing through her mind.

    Damn it, what are you thinking, woman!

    With their proximity, Nan Chen could smell the faint scent of orange blossoms that clung to her. Bowing

    his head a little, he took in the shy expression on her face.

    Before he could stop himself, he leaned down and pecked her forehead.

    His impulsive action stunned Ning Ran. She was not the only one as he was surprised at himself too.

    He had always been rather distant with people and rarely disyed his affection for them. Why would

    he suddenly do something that could be considered quite rude?

    Even with his children living under the same roof as him, he had never once stepped over his

    boundaries.

    Yet today, in broad daylight, he had been unable to stop his impulse.

    After that kiss, the two of them were utterly dumbfounded as they froze in ce.

    A beatter, Ning Ran¡¯s cheeks med, and she was as red as a tomato. Not knowing how to react,

    she punched Nan Chen in the chest.

    Nan Chen, who had still been in a stupor from his uncharacteristic action, snapped back to his senses

    at her punch.

    His hand darted up to grab her wrist.

    Ning Ran struggled to free herself, but he yanked her to him. The next thing she knew, she was

    pressed flush against his solid chest.

    ¡°Sir Chen, there was a call - ¡°

    Qiao Zhan opened the door and entered. Upon noticing the scene before him, he spun around and

    hastened out of the room. ¡°My apologies...¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Continue what you were saying,¡± Nan Chen called out to Qiao Zhan.

    Ning Ran hurriedly exined, ¡°Wait, it¡¯s not what you think! I was just helping Mr. Chen tie his necktie!¡±

    Nan Chen red at her, rumbling, ¡°Why are you exining to him?¡±

    Qiao Zhan¡¯s head bobbed furiously. ¡°Yes, exactly. There¡¯s no need to rify things to me at all. Nope,

    no reason at all!¡±

    ¡°But it¡¯s really not as it seems! I wasn¡¯t trying to justify myself or anything, I was just - ¡°

    ¡°Just knot my necktie for me and shut up!¡± he shouted.

 Chapter 309

    Chapter 309

    Exasperated, Ning Ran had no choice but to do as Nan Chen ordered.

    However, her hands shook with her rampaging emotions, and it took her longer than usual to finish

    tying it. The end product could hardly be called a necktie. It was just that ugly.

    Untying it, she tried again.

    The result was much the same.

    Nan Chen had originally nned on showing off Ning Ran¡¯s necktie knotting skills before Qiao Zhan.

    Unfortunately, she did not perform as expected. It was like watching a car crash about to happen.

    Fed up, he swatted her hands away and did it himself.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you have something to report?¡± he questioned Qiao Zhan with a pointed look.

    ¡°The hospital called to say that nobody paid for Ning Ziqiang¡¯s hospital bill. The police are unwilling to

    pay for him either, so...¡±

    ¡°Have someone handle it.¡±

    ¡°Then will you be heading over to visit him?¡±

    Ning Ran interrupted their conversation, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. You don¡¯t have to bother with the

    medical bill either. I gave him five thousandst night, which should be more than enough for him to

    pay his own bill. He¡¯s just taking advantage of his age and ying as the poor old man who nobody

    cares for.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t ignore him,¡± Nan Chen warned.

    It took barely a second for Ning Ran to understand his meaning. ¡°You¡¯re right. If I ignore him, he¡¯s

    definitely going to continueining to the media that I don¡¯t care for him enough to pay for his bills.

    I have to meet with him and find out what he wants. Just how long is he going to torture me for!¡±

    Nan Chen kept silent. Ning Ran had already said what he wanted to express, so there was no need for

    him to speak anymore.

    She was the first person after Jiang Zhe who knew what he was thinking and would say it for him. With

    these two people as his mouthpieces, he would be able to keep his silence. For someone who did not

    like to talk much, this was perfect.

    ¡°Shall we go to the hospital now?¡± Qiao Zhan queried.

    ¡°Bring Ning Ziqiang somewhere else, and we¡¯ll be there shortly,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    Seconds after Qiao Zhan left, Jiang Zhe came in.

    He was visibly puzzled to see Ning Ran present. Despite that, he still smiled and greeted her politely,

    ¡°Hello, Ms. Ding.¡±

    She nodded at him.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, Mr. Ouyang and the others are waiting for you outside.¡±

    ¡°You guys continue with the following activities. I¡¯m not feeling too well so I¡¯m not joining. You and the

    deputy CEO shall keep thempany in my stead.¡± Nan Chen waved his hand dismissively.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, Mr. Ouyang and the others came here specifically to meet with you. If you suddenly leave

    like that...¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s face darkened and he scowled. ¡°Do you not understand the meaning of ¡®not feeling well?¡¯

    Isn¡¯t leaving when one is feeling under the weather normal?¡±

    ¡°I understand,¡± Jiang Zhe responded with a gulp.

    He exited the room quickly after that, leaving Ning Ran and Nan Chen alone.

    ¡°Your guests are very important, aren¡¯t they? Are you sure you running off so abruptly won¡¯t affect - ¡°

    Nan Chen cut her off, ¡°Since when is it your ce to meddle in my business?¡±

    Ning Ran had only spoken out of genuine worry, yet her good intention was tossed right back in her

    face.

    Pouting, she muttered sullenly, ¡°You¡¯re like the dog biting the hand that feeds you...¡±

    ¡°What did you say? Who did you call a dog?¡±

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    She had thought her voice was soft enough, but he had heard everything clearly.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±

    ¡°Who were you calling a dog?¡± he insisted with his gaze locked on her.

    ¡°Huh? Nobody¡¯s a dog. It was just an idiom. I was just worried my issues would affect you...¡±

    ¡°You think too highly of yourself. That¡¯s not what¡¯s happening at all,¡± he interrupted her again.

    By this point, Ning Ran was beginning to get a little annoyed at his rudeness.

    However, there was nothing she could do but keep her silence. She did not want to anger him.

    Nan Chen did not move to leave immediately. She guessed that he was waiting for his guests to depart

    first.

    He probably doesn¡¯t want to run into those people, especially since his excuse was that he was feeling

    unwell.

    She did not know who those people were but she was certain they were very important. Otherwise, he

    would not have taken the time to go horseback riding with them.

    He broke the silence first. ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything to say to me?¡±

    This was a rare urrence. He was the type of person who could remain quiet for the entire day

    without speaking a single word. Yet, this time, he had voluntarily spoken up.

    What does he want me to say? I can¡¯t speak freely, or he¡¯ll just give me a snappy retort. But if I tell him

    I have nothing to say, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll get a rebuke of some sort too. This is a lose-lose situation either way.

    ¡°I do...¡± she trailed off slowly.

    ¡°Speak!¡±

    ¡°I...¡±

    ¡°Out with it!¡± he pressed.

    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry about this whole thing with Ning Ziqiang - ¡°

    Nan Chen did not let her finish. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡±

    Ning Ran breathed a sigh of relief at his words. Finally, something reasonablees out of your lips!

    You¡¯re entirely right though. This isn¡¯t my fault at all. I¡¯m a victim here too!

    The words left her before she could stop them, ¡°You can¡¯t me me for this.¡±

    ¡°Then who am I supposed to me?¡± the man countered sharply.

    Ning Ran was utterly bewildered with his reply.

    Didn¡¯t he just say it¡¯s not my fault? Then why is he ming me for this? I seriously can¡¯t keep up with

    his mood swings! What an insufferable man! You know what, I¡¯m going to give him a taste of his own

    medicine. Let¡¯s see how he likes that! If I don¡¯t say anything, then I can¡¯t possibly go wrong.

    Hence, silence descended upon them.

    After a short while, Nan Chen stood up and walked toward Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran watched him with wide eyes, wondering what he was up to this time.

    ¡°What perfume are you using?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Huh? I don¡¯t use perfume. Are you nning on buying me perfume? You don¡¯t have to bother! You can

    just give me the cash directly!¡±

    Nan Chen was astonished at how materialistic and avaricious this woman was. She would rather get

    cash than a bottle of perfume?

    ¡°Did I say I was going to gift you a bottle of perfume?¡±

    She blinked and answered, ¡°Oh right, you didn¡¯t. Well, hypothetically speaking, if you were nning on

    giving me perfume, then I suggest you give me cash instead.¡±

    ¡°Why is there a hypothetical situation?¡±

    ¡°Err, do I need a reason foring up with a hypothetical situation? It¡¯s hypothetical, meaning it might

    or might not happen. If it¡¯s not happening then what I say is a moot point. Just ignore it,¡± she rambled.

    At this point, she discovered she had a problem. Previously, she used to hate him for not speaking.

    However, she had recentlye to realize that him being quiet was a good thing.

    Every time he opened his mouth, it was to ask something so very out there. It was like he looked at

    things differently from others and the questions he asked were always impossible to answer.

    Because no matter what you answered, it would always be wrong.

    ¡°You really don¡¯t use perfume?¡± Then why do you smell so good?

    He wanted to ask the second question but could not bring himself to do it as it made him sound like a

    pervert. He did not want to be used of sniffing a woman like a dog.

    ¡°You really don¡¯t have to. Perfumes are expensive, and I can¡¯t afford them. I would much rather use that

    money on something else. Perfume is so unnecessary and a waste of money,¡± she stated firmly.

    Nan Chen did not believe her.

    There was obviously a fragrance wafting from her, a very special scent. Yet she was insisting she did

    not use perfume?

    Don¡¯t tell me she¡¯s naturally exuding that smell? That¡¯s impossible. She must be ying coy and

    refusing to tell me the brand because she wants to keep the mystery!

    Revulsion welled in him at the thought.

    Ning Ran, who had been scrutinizing his expression closely, realized that he was upset again. She did

    not understand why, though.

    Is he unhappy that I don¡¯t use perfume? I really don¡¯t like using perfume... It¡¯s not very practical, and it¡¯s

    a waste of money!

    ¡°If you really think I should be using perfume, then fine, I will. But I¡¯m telling you now, cheap perfumes

    are too pungent, and I can¡¯t afford the expensive ones. If you insist on me using perfume, then you¡¯ll

    have to pay for it!¡± she said in an aggrieved tone.

    Nan Chen was exasperated.

    In the end, it all boils down to money again. This woman really is so avaricious!

 Chapter 310

    Chapter 310

    Ignoring her, Nan Chen walked aside.

    Ning Ran was proud of herself for rendering him speechless. Finally, she had a chance to get back at

    him.

    After a few minutes, Nan Chen stood up and walked out.

    At the door, he turned around to look at Ning Ran. ¡°Aren¡¯t youing along?¡±

    ¡°Oh? Are we leaving already?¡±

    ¡°Do you want to stay and eat here instead?¡±

    Exasperated, Ning Ran retorted in defiance, ¡°I will stay back if there¡¯s really something to eat.¡±

    ¡°In that case, you can stay here. I¡¯m leaving.¡±

    Just as he spoke, Nan Chen took a step and left for real.

    Realizing that he was serious, Ning Ran grabbed her bag frantically and chased after him. ¡°Wait for

    me!¡±

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t bother to turn around. ¡°Aren¡¯t you staying here for some food?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to eat here.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s horse feed,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°You should be eating that since you¡¯re the horse,¡± Ning Ran fumed.

    Nan Chen ignored her sarcasm.

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran picked up her pace and followed behind him.

    She had to keep herself close as the racecourse was located far from the city. Hence, there was no

    way she could get back if she were left behind.

    Tilting his head to look at her, Nan Chen was clearly aware of what she was worried about.

    Therefore, he quickened his pace on purpose.

    His strides were big due to his long legs. Even without increasing his speed, Ning Ran already had

    trouble keeping up. Now that he had picked up his pace, Ning Ran had no choice but to run.

    As her shoes weren¡¯t suited for running, she struggled while doing so.

    ¡°Wait for me!¡± Ning Ran had no other choice but to call out to him.

    Pretending to be oblivious to her cry, Nan Chen increased his pace further.

    In order to keep up, Ning Ran was forced to run faster out of desperation.

    When they reached the parking lot, Nan Chen¡¯s Rolls-Royce had sent the guests away. However, his

    driver had brought his sports car over.

    Standing in front of the car with a smug smile, Nan Chen waited for Ning Ran who arrived huffing and

    puffing.

    ¡°Was that necessary, Mr. Chen? What¡¯s the big deal about giving me a lift that you have to torment me

    over it?¡± Ning Ranined while trying to catch her breath.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t say a word. All he did was hand her a set of keys.

    Ning Ran was shocked. ¡°You want me to drive again? I think it¡¯s a bad idea. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware by

    now that I drive like a snail. So can we not fool around this time?¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to drive, going back is out of the question,¡± Nan Chen insisted.

    ¡°Fine, so be it,¡± Ning Ran rebutted stubbornly.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be off then.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say we won¡¯t be going?¡±

    ¡°I only meant you. You won¡¯t get to go home if you refuse to drive,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°You¡¯re picking on me! Why can¡¯t you just drive me?¡±

    ¡°No particr reason. I just don¡¯t feel like it.¡± Nan Chen quipped.

    Infuriated, Ning Ran tried her best to restrain herself.

    As there was no public transport or taxis nearby, Nan Chen¡¯s car was her only option.

    ¡°Mr. Chen,¡± Ning Ran softened her tone.

    Maintaining his silence, Nan Chen looked at her intently.

    ¡°I¡¯m not feeling well, so it¡¯s better that you drive. Given how far we are from the city, I¡¯m not sure if we

    can even reach there tomorrow with my snail-paced driving. It¡¯s not a big deal for me, but it may affect

    your busy schedule. I can¡¯t afford to bear the consequences if you miss something important,¡± Ning

    Ran exined patiently.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Nan Chen quipped and rendered Ning Ran¡¯s long-winded excuse pointless.

    By then, she had run out of ideas.

    ¡°My driving is really terrible. I¡¯m sure you know how bad it is. So please don¡¯t make it difficult for me. At

    this rate, your super expensive luxury car will end up getting thrashed by me.¡±

    Ning Ran tried her best to convince him by appealing to both his rational and emotional side.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡±

    Again, Nan Chen overturned her arguments with the same two-worded response.

    Someone like him who doesn¡¯t care about anything can be the most troublesome.

    ¡°It looks like I have no other option than to drive.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Nan Chen replied firmly.

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll do it. All I can say is that I¡¯m a new driver. So, you will have to bear the consequences

    yourself,¡± Ning Ran warned him.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Nan Chen repeated his answer again.

    On the brink of going ballistic, Ning Ran didn¡¯t feel like saying another word.

    After all, he would give her the exact same response no matter what she said.

    After getting into the car, they put on their safety belt and she started driving.

    Actually, Ning Ran¡¯s driving skills improved a lot since she had practiced a few times prior to this.

    After driving a few kilometers, nothing untoward happened.

    Rxing in his seat by her side, Nan Chen looked out the window to admire the scenery.

    He really wasn¡¯t worried that Ning Ran would drive his car into the ditch as he didn¡¯t mind it at all.

    As Ning Ran drove, her anxiety gradually dissipated.

    She even reached out to switch on the radio and it was ying music from an African American band.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Ning Ran hummed along as she knew the song.

    However, her pitch was out of sync with the music and sounded terrible, causing Nan Chen to furrow

    his eyebrows in horror.

    ¡°You¡¯re still more suited to singing that nursery rhyme,¡± Nan Chen couldn¡¯t help butment.

    ¡°What do you mean? Can¡¯t I sing rock and roll? Am I not hip enough to rock?¡± Ning Ran banged her

    head as she spoke.

    Frowning, Nan Chen was lost for words.

    She¡¯s always like that. Whenever I give her some space, her true colors will show.

    Ning Ran continued singing as she didn¡¯t care if Nan Chen liked it or not.

    Enduring his headache, Nan Chen waszy to argue and turned a blind eye to her out-of-tune cries.

    After fooling around for a while, Ning Ran finally stopped.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect someone as boring as you to actually like rock and roll.¡±

    ¡°I formed a band before.¡± Nan Chen replied coldly.

    ¡°Huh? You? Formed a band? I don¡¯t believe that. How is it possible someone as dull as you end up in a

    band?¡± Ning Ran burst into heartyughter.

    Nan Chen was peeved. What¡¯s so funny about that?

    Since when am I a boring person? Why can¡¯t I form a band?

    When she saw that Nan Chen was upset, Ning Ran stoppedughing. ¡°Did you really do it? How did a

    rich kid like you end up getting involved in something like that?¡±

    ¡°What has ying music got anything to do with being rich?¡± Nan Chen retorted.

    ¡°Nothing actually. It¡¯s just that many people perceive a career in music as a dead-end job. You look

    more like someone that buries your head in your studies and not do anything else.¡±

    Nan Chen was further provoked.

    ¡°I know how to write poems too. And y basketball, football, the piano, the saxophone, the guitar,

    and...¡±

    ¡°Yea, yea, I got it. You know everything. There¡¯s nothing in this world the great Sir Chen doesn¡¯t know.

    Can you then stop making an idiot like me feel bad about myself?¡± Ning Ran rebutted.

    Nan Chen snorted in response.

    ¡°To be honest, I do believe that you know a lot because you¡¯re really smart.¡± Ning Ran showed him a

    thumbs-up sign.

    Only then did Nan Chen¡¯s mood lighten up.

    Ning Ran added, ¡°Just like my son.¡±

    His expression instantly turned dark again. What sort ofpliment is this?

    The next moment, Ning Ran realized how weird she just sounded. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to take advantage of

    you, but you are very much like my son. You know Dabao looks like you and you are equally smart like

    him!¡±

    Ning Ran felt relieved just as she spoke. Turning towards Nan Chen, she realized his expression had

    darkened further.

    Thinking back about what she had just said, she realized it hadn¡¯te out right either.

    ¡°Erm... I should say my son is as smart as you are.¡± Finally, Ning Ran got it right this time.

    ¡°He¡¯s also my son!¡± Nan Chen eximed.

    Ning Ran tapped her head gently. ¡°That¡¯s right, I almost forgot about it.¡±

    Nan Chen seethed. How can you forget something like that?

    Why don¡¯t you forget that you¡¯re your children¡¯s Mommy?

 Chapter 311

    Chapter 311

    Their journey this time was a lot smoother. She was neither crashing into amp post nor running over

    a stray dog.

    It was just that the ambiance in the car was filled with tension. The way both of them interacted with

    each other was either awkward or in indirect conflict. Although they weren¡¯t arguing, they would

    constantly end up getting on each other¡¯s nerves.

    Finally, they arrived at their destination which was a billiard bar housed in a basement.

    The bar was renovated with a European design and gave out a ssical western vibe. However, there

    was a partition in the center decorated with Chinese motifs; hence, it was a perfect blend of Western

    and Oriental designs together.

    After both of them entered, Nan Chen went behind the partition and took off his jacket. He then picked

    up a billiard cue and started ying.

    Ning Ran was puzzled as to how he found time to y billiard given how busy he always was.

    ¡°Do you know how to y?¡±

    ¡°Just a little,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°Come, have a go.¡± Nan Chen handed the cue to Ning Ran.

    After receiving the cue, she attempted to strike one of the balls. Not only did she not hit the ball into

    one of the pockets, but she had missed the ball totally.

    ¡°Is this called ¡®a little¡¯?¡± Nan Chen gave her a condescending look.

    Ning Ran rolled her eyes. ¡°I haven¡¯t gotten into my form yet.¡±

    Nan Chen snorted before motioning her to continue.

    Again, she missed.

    ¡°You should lean forward and keep your eyes on the ball...¡±

    Nan Chen couldn¡¯t stand it any longer and started coaching instead.

    With Ning Ran leaning on the billiard table, Nan Chen leaned in behind her. As their body¡¯s ovepped,

    it suddenly felt weird.

    Initially, Nan Chen did intend to just correct her posture. But after gentlying into contact with her

    body, he could smell her fragrance and feel the softness on her skin.

    Suddenly, he noticed that he was ¡®reacting¡¯ to her and felt awkward.

    To prevent Ning Ran from feeling his ¡®reaction¡¯, he turned his body sideways to minimize the contact

    between both of them.

    However, moving his body away caused his position and the angle of the billiard cue to change.

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    When Ning Ran attempted to strike the ball, she missed again.

    In fact, it was even further off than the first few times she missed doing it alone. It was extremely

    embarrassing.

    Ning Ran was tempted tough but she tried hard to restrain herself.

    She knew that Poker Face would definitely be furious if she did.

    Once Poker Face became angry, there would be more trouble, and Ning Ran was trying her best to

    avoid it.

    Hence, she suppressed her smile and even took the initiative to console Nan Chen, ¡°It¡¯s my fault. Let¡¯s

    try again.¡±

    With her back facing him, her smug smile was hidden from Nan Chen¡¯s view.

    After taking a deep breath, Nan Chen reminded himself to focus and not let his imagination run wild.

    Master Chen was someone who was very much in control of himself. When he made an effort to do so,

    he was able to keep himself in check.

    After that, he helped Ning Ran hold her cue and focused on the ball before striking.

    This time, they hit the ball and even sent it into the pocket.

    ¡°Oh yeah!¡± Ning Ran raised her fist in triumph.

    Lifting her head, she identally headbutted Nan Chen¡¯s chin.

    ¡°Ouch!¡±

    Shocked by the pain, Ning Ran let out an exaggerated cry.

    When she turned around, she saw Nan Chen ring at her instead.

    How stupid can this woman be? Isn¡¯t it obvious I¡¯m behind her? And yet, she lifted her head to hit me?

    Did she do it on purpose?

    ¡°Oops, I¡¯m sorry to have headbutted you. Does it hurt?¡±

    Just when Ning Ran reached out to stroke his chin, Nan Chen recoiled with a cold glint in his eyes.

    How can you touch my chin! How impudent!

    ¡°Is your chin made of granite? Why is it so hard? I felt as if I had a concussion.¡± Ning Ran rubbed her

    head to ease the pain.

    Nan Chen¡¯s expression darkened again.

    What do you mean my chin is made of granite? Are you insinuating that I went for stic surgery?

    Does this perfectly handsome face look like it needs any of that?

    Ning Ran finally realized that herment didn¡¯te out right.

    ¡°No, your chin isn¡¯t made of granite. My head is the one made of it.¡±

    Nan Chen squinted his eyes. Is she crazy? Why is she babbling nonsense?

    ¡°Alright, both of us are not made of granite.¡± Ning Ran tried her best to salvage the situation.

    Nan Chen remained silent.

    Is the topic about granite so insignificant it¡¯s beneath him?

    At that moment, Qiao Zhan arrived with someone.

    There was something special about the partition. It was transparent but only in one direction. Hence,

    Nan Chen could see out but others couldn¡¯t see him.

    The person Qiao Zhan arrived with was Ning Ziqiang.

    As Ning Ran checked with Nan Chen, he motioned her to go ahead.

    Hence, Ning Ran approached them.

    ¡°Ran? It¡¯s a surprise to see you here,¡± Ning Ziqiang eximed.

    ¡°Ning Ziqiang, do you wish to see me dead with all your ill doings ?¡± Ning Ran asked coldly.

    ¡°No. You¡¯re my daughter. Why should I wish you dead?¡±

    ¡°But everything you do is just making my life difficult. You¡¯re killing me here!¡± Ning Ran berated him.

    ¡°That¡¯s because you forced me to do so. You promised that you would help me to pay off my debts. But

    until now, you haven¡¯t given me any money. So, I have no choice but to do this.¡±

    ¡°Since when did I promise to pay off your debts? Why should I even be helping you? Mom¡¯spany

    was making good profits until you forcefully took over. Why should I help you now after you¡¯ve ruined it

    and saddled it with debt? Furthermore, you are responsible for Mom¡¯s death.¡± Ning Ran bellowed.

    ¡°Are you saying that you refuse to help me pay them?¡± Ning Ziqiang too was angry.

    ¡°Of course I won¡¯t help pay your debt. I myself am barely surviving with my acting career. Where do I

    even have any money to help you?¡±

    ¡°But aren¡¯t you close to the Nan family? They are extremely rich. It¡¯s not a problem for them if you ask

    them for tens of millions. You are in a position to help me, but why aren¡¯t you willing to do so?¡±

    Ning Ran was puzzled as to where her father got the courage to remain so defiant.

    ¡°The Nan family and I are two separate entities. I¡¯m not connected to them in any way.¡±

    Behind the partition, Nan Chen was about to strike a ball. But when he heard what Ning Ran said, his

    hands paused for a moment.

    Does she have no connections with the Nan family? Is that what she thinks?

    Why does the sound of it upset me?

    ¡°You have borne their children for them. Of course, they have to give you the money. That¡¯s just the

    way things should be.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no such thing! Bearing the children is my business. Besides, I didn¡¯t even know they were

    rted to the Nan family when they were born. Therefore, there¡¯s no way I¡¯m going to milk them for

    benefits from the Nan family. It¡¯s absolutely impossible, so you can forget about it!¡±

    Nan Chen who was previously upset feltforted when he heard what she said.

    Suddenly, he noticed that his emotions had been fluctuating based on what she was saying. In fact, the

    fluctuations seemed to be extremely vtile.

    This is not scientifically possible. I am always calm, ain¡¯t I? Don¡¯t I always remain steady even if the

    world falls apart?

    How can a woman like her cause my emotions to fluctuate so easily?

    ¡°You can choose to be poor, but you must give me a sum of money because you owe it to me!¡± Ning

    Ziqiang bellowed.

    Ning Ran sneered, ¡°I owe you? Why do I owe you? Are you trying to insist that you brought me up?

    Ning Ziqiang, it was my mother who brought me up, not you. I don¡¯t owe you anything. The reason I

    extended my help to you in the past is just based on the fact that I am kind to everyone.¡±

 Chapter 312

    Chapter 312

    When Nan Chen heard Ning Ran¡¯s words, he secretly praised her in his heart.

    Despite being a klutz most of the time, her made a lot of sense when she spoke.

    ¡°No, you just owe me because you¡¯re not my biological daughter, but Luo Fei is. Therefore, you¡¯re

    indebted to me for bringing you up.¡±

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Ning Ran was stunned.

    Even Nan Chen, who was behind the partition, paused with his cue in mid-air before gradually putting it

    down.

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I make myself clear enough? You are not my daughter while Luo Fei is! You always use me

    of being biased towards Fei. You¡¯re right, I am. But that¡¯s because she is my biological daughter, so

    isn¡¯t it natural for me to do so? You are just a bastard. Hence, you should feel grateful that I tolerated

    you in my home. I kept this a secret all this while out of respect for you and your mom. But now, you

    leave me no choice but to reveal the truth. Therefore, you owe me and have topensate me for

    that!¡± Ning Ziqiangunched a tirade against Ning Ran.

    ¡°No, that can¡¯t be true. Although I am ashamed of having a person like you as my father, you cannot

    smear my mom¡¯s reputation like that!¡± Ning Ran yelled back.

    ¡°I¡¯m telling you the truth. You were never my daughter. When I married your mom, she was already

    pregnant with you! Her pregnancy had caused her to be willing to marry someone unknown like me.

    She just wanted to give you a father. And that¡¯s how I became the person who shouldered the burden.

    So, why can¡¯t I have an affair? Why must I bring up someone else¡¯s child?¡± Ning Ziqiang retorted.

    ¡°The worst thing was ever since she had you, she wasn¡¯t willing to get pregnant again. She was

    worried that another child would split the love we have for you. She was an extremely selfish woman.

    That¡¯s why I hooked up with Luo Yi so that she could bear me a child. So, why am I at fault? The fault is

    not mine at all!¡±

    Ning Ziqiang¡¯s face was all red as he became very emotional.

    Meanwhile, Qiao Zhan continued to stand close to them because he wanted to make sure Ning Ziqiang

    wouldn¡¯t flee before the matter was resolved.

    He was unintentionally listening in on their conversation, but quickly noticed that their topic became

    increasingly sensitive.

    When he realized it was something that he shouldn¡¯t be privy to, so he began to panic.

    However, Ning Ran was not in the mood to care if anyone else had heard their discussion as she was

    rather shaken by her father¡¯s revtion.

    Ning Ziqiang¡¯s words felt like a bomb had exploded in her heart. After the shockwave reverberated

    through her mind and she went nk for a while.

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe it! You¡¯re lying to me! I won¡¯t allow you to speak of my Mom that way.¡± Ning Ran

    screamed.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you believe it or not. You can run a DNA test to be sure. The fact is both of us are

    not rted by blood and I am not your father. Therefore, shouldn¡¯t youpensate me for taking care

    of you all this while?¡±

    ¡°You said that it was your Mom that brought you up, but that doesn¡¯t mean that I did nothing. Given how

    busy your mom was, how could she have brought you up without my help? Haven¡¯t I done a lot for

    you? Now that I¡¯m in trouble, shouldn¡¯t you help me out?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe it!¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t, you can always get it verified!¡±

    ¡°Fine, it that¡¯s what it take, I¡¯ll do it!¡±

    At that moment, there was a slight movement from behind the partition and someone was heard

    clearing his throat.

    Qiao Zhan understood the cue immediately.

    ¡°Mr. Ning, let me make the arrangements for the test. As for now, please follow me. I will arrange for

    you to stay somecefortable for the time being. We will further discuss the matter once the test

    results are out,¡± Qiao Zhan instructed.

    ¡°Are you trying to imprison me?¡± Ning Ziqiang roared.

    ¡°No we¡¯re not. I¡¯m just providing you with amodation. Don¡¯t you have no ce to stay now? Or do

    you prefer to sleep in the streets and be beaten up by your debt-collectors?¡± Qiao Zhan questioned

    him.

    Ning Ziqiang¡¯s gaze hesitated for a moment.

    ¡°Under our protection, no one in Flower City will dare touch you. So, are youing or not?¡± Qiao

    Zhan repeated his question.

    With that, Ning Ziqiang quickly stood up and followed Qiao Zhan out.

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran squatted down with her head hung low. The next moment, tears began to flow.

    The sound of the billiard balls from behind the partition stopped. Nan Chen stood there, deep in

    thought.

    Based on his judgement, Ning Ziqiang was telling the truth.

    Regardless of how shameless he was, Ning Ziqiang wasn¡¯t going to lie about something like that.

    The reason was such a lie would be easily exposed. The DNA test was now easily essible and

    highly urate.

    Once the report was out, the truth would be revealed. Therefore, there was no point in him spewing

    such a lie.

    In truth, Ning Ran too knew that it was true. Having grown up in that family, she was well aware of how

    Ning Ziqiang treated her. It wasn¡¯t something she could easily forget.

    Initially, she assumed the reason Ning Ziqiang didn¡¯t like her was because she was a daughter instead

    of a son.

    After all, it was stillmon in China for parents to favor boys over girls.

    Now, it was clear that Ning Ziqiang would not have treated her better even if she was a boy.

    However, given how kind Mom was, how is it possible that she got pregnant before marriage and then

    simply found someone else to be my father?

    If it was an ident and the man wasn¡¯t willing to marry her, she still had other choices. Why did she

    insist on giving birth to me?

    Was it because she was reluctant or was there some other reason?

    If Ning Ziqiang isn¡¯t my biological father, the who is it? And where is he now?

    As her Mom had passed on, there was no way Ning Ran could ask her. Therefore, she may never

    know who her real father was.

    Given howplex the matter had be, Ning Ran felt confused and frustrated.

    At that moment, Nan Chen emerged from behind the partition. Looking at Ning Ran who had curled up

    on the floor, he felt as if she was like an injured kitten.

    As pity for her grew within him, he approached and helped her up.

    After settling her down at the bar counter, he handed her a tissue.

    epting it, Ning Ran wiped off her tears before forcing a smile at Nan Chen.

    ¡°I¡¯m alright. After all, I never acknowledged him as my father. So, it doesn¡¯t matter whether if he is my

    biological father or not.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded slightly.

    ¡°We cannot choose how we are born, but we can still determine our own future.¡±

    Ning Ran mumbled to herself as she felt she needed the encouragement.

    ¡°Qiao Zhan did some investigations and found out that someone had put him up to it,¡± Nan Chen

    exined.

    ¡°Who?¡±

    ¡°Cheng Xiangyun.¡±

    ¡°Impossible! That¡¯s definitely not possible. Aunt is not that kind of a person. Why would she support

    Ning Ziqiang to hurt me? She doesn¡¯t have much to gain by destroying my reputation. So why would

    she do such a thing?¡± Ning Ran ranted emotionally.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t respond.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you believe it?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure but this was what he said. How does he know Cheng Xiangyun? Furthermore, how does

    he know that she is your assistant?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have the answer to that. But, it wouldn¡¯t be hard for Ning Ziqiang to find out more about me.

    Therefore, he must be lying and can¡¯t be trusted!¡±

    Nan Chen didn¡¯tment.

    He didn¡¯t know Cheng Xiangyun well, hence he couldn¡¯t tell what kind of person she was.

    Despite being very close to Ning Ran, it didn¡¯t mean that she wasn¡¯t responsible for it.

    In this world, everything changes including people. In fact, humans are the ones that are most prone to

    change.

    Therefore, Nan Chen could only report what he heard. As to the veracity of the report, he needed Qiao

    Zhan to further investigate.

    ¡°I will arrange a DNA test for you. If what Ning Ziqiang ims is the truth, then we will just have to face

    it,¡± Nan Chen remarked.

    ¡°Alright, I also want to find out whether he is lying!¡±

 Chapter 313

    Chapter 313

    Later that evening, Ning Ran and members of the Star Entertainment¡¯s crew had a meeting.

    This was Ning Ran¡¯s first meeting with them but it was conducted under very awkward circumstances.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry that my personal problems have caused all of you trouble,¡± Ning Ran apologized while

    bowing deeply to everyone.

    The core members of the crew had gloomy expressions on, especially the head of public rtions, Kai

    Li.

    She was one of the senior heads in Star Entertainment where she held the position of head of event

    nning on top of being the head of public rtions. Therefore, she was extremely powerful and

    influential in thepany.

    Kai Li didn¡¯t know Ning Ran on a personal level other than the fact thepany nned to promote

    her to be their next star. The only thing she knew about Ning Ran was what she read online, which was

    mostly negative news.

    Therefore, she was unhappy with the fact that Ning Ran was invited by the Deputy CEO to join the

    meeting.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, how long have you signed with thepany?¡± Kai Li shot a nce at Ning Ran while

    crossing her legs.

    ¡°Not very long,¡± Ning Ran replied meekly.

    ¡°How much money have you made for thepany?¡± Kai Li asked again.

    ¡°Nothing much so far...¡± Ning Ran again answered softly.

    ¡°She¡¯s someone new who hasn¡¯t done much for thepany. And yet created a crisis because of her

    unresolved personal problems. Why doesn¡¯t she solve them first instead of dragging all of us here for a

    meeting at this ungodly hour?¡± Kai Li fumed.

    No one dared to answer her due to her status in thepany.

    As for Ning Ran, she was even more terrified as it was indeed her problem, although it wasn¡¯t her

    doing.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, do you need us to resolve your personal matters for you next time? Why don¡¯t we just move

    the office into your home? If you have a broken light bulb or a leak in the toilet, we can help fix them for

    you,¡± Kai Li mocked.

    Despite how rude Kai Li was, Ning Ran chose to endure the humiliation.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, we are having a meeting now. If you don¡¯t say anything, what¡¯s the point of us being here?¡±

    Kai Li continued to press on.

    Ning Ran sighed. ¡°I can only say that I¡¯m sorry. I too did not wish for this to happen.¡±

    ¡°Those are meaningless words,¡± Kai Li shot back.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I know, but I...¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re having this meeting because of your family problems. So stop beating around the bush and get

    to the point!¡± Kai Li cut Ning Ran off again.

    After being pressured harshly, Ning Ran was lost for words and felt miserable.

    ¡°Kai Li, it¡¯s not appropriate for you to speak in such a manner.¡± Wang Xiaoou who was silent throughout

    finally said something.

    ¡°Oh I forgot, you¡¯re Ms. Ding¡¯s manager, is that why you¡¯re interceding on her behalf?¡± Kai Li shot back

    at Wang Xiaoou.

    ¡°Yes, I am her manager. An actress is also a human being. She has family, friends, and many other

    social rtionships. When the problems from those rtionships affect her job or reputation, it doesn¡¯t

    automatically make them her fault,¡± Wang Xiaoou exined.

    Ning Ran felt grateful to her. Wang Xiaoou was previously Luo Fei¡¯s manager and Luo Fei was her

    rival.

    Now that they had be partners at work, Ning Ran assumed that Wang Xiaoou would make her life

    difficult. But little did she expect that it wasn¡¯t the case.

    Instead, she was someone who was professional at work and didn¡¯t let her own emotions affect her. All

    she did was focus on her responsibilities.

    ¡°If it¡¯s not her problem, are you saying that it¡¯s ours? Is it because we didn¡¯t manage her family matters

    properly?¡± Kai Li rebutted.

    ¡°Kai Li, we are here to discuss how to resolve the problem and not to put the me on her. What you¡¯re

    doing isn¡¯t constructive in any way.¡± Wang Xiaoou stared at Kai Li.

    ¡°It¡¯s my fault, but I don¡¯t have a good way to resolve it at the moment. Therefore, I have troubled

    everyone here. In the future, I will try my best to prevent something like that from happening again,¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s apologized humbly.

    ¡°Who signed her up?¡± Kai Li demanded while pointing at Ning Ran.

    ¡°Thepany is responsible for signing every single actress. All their contracts have the same

    company stamp. So what¡¯s the point in asking something like that?¡± Wang Xiaoou challenged.

    ¡°Then who is responsible for digging her out of her hole? Of all the talented actresses out there, why

    did we sign someone with so much trouble?¡± Kai Li asked.

    ¡°Do you really want to know, Kai Li?¡± Wang Xiaoou red at her.

    ¡°Yes, I do. I want to find out how bad our talent scouts are. Who referred her into thepany?¡± Kai Li

    pressed on with her questions.

    ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Chen,¡± Wang Xiaoou quipped.

    Suddenly, the meeting room fell so silent that everyone could hear a pin drop.

    Kai Li was also shocked.

    For thest two months, she was in Hollywood for a working trip and had returned just recently. Hence,

    she hardly knew anything about Ning Ran.

    In fact, other than a few core members of the management, not many in thepany knew much

    about Ning Ran.

    She had assumed Ning Ran was new and would be easy pickings. However, she didn¡¯t expect Ning

    Ran to have been signed up by Nan Chen.

    She herself had not met Nan Chen in person before as she only saw him from afar during the

    company¡¯s annual meeting.

    Deep down, she was tempted to ask if it was true but she didn¡¯t dare to.

    It was obvious to her that Wang Xiaoou wouldn¡¯t dare lie about something like this.

    Now, the atmosphere became awkward.

    Given how proud Kai Li was, it was impossible for her to change her attitude straightaway.

    Nheless, she couldn¡¯t continue to insult Ning Ran as before. In the event she was pissed and

    comined to Nan Chen, it would be the end of Kai Li¡¯s career.

    Uh-oh, I¡¯m afraid I have gone too far. How am I going to salvage this now?

    Damn it! Why didn¡¯t my assistant brief me about the newbie¡¯s background before the meeting?

    Holding that thought, she realized that her assistant wouldn¡¯t have known that too.

    Thisdy is impressive to have gotten involved directly with Nan Chen, the top man in Flower City.

    ¡°Since it was Mr. Chen who rmended you, you must really be talented,¡± Kai Li remarked

    awkwardly.

    ¡°Her acting skills are excellent. The reason Star Entertainment signed her up wasn¡¯t because of Mr.

    Chen, it was based on her own merit. Besides, she¡¯s standing right in front of us. I¡¯m sure all the

    experienced folk in this room can easily see for themselves if she has any star power at all,¡± Wang

    Xiaoou added.

    Ning Ran¡¯s cheeks started to burn as she thought to herself, do I really look like a star? Why didn¡¯t I

    notice it before?

    ¡°She is indeed gorgeous without being ostentatious. Her genial face and unique features make her

    suited for the big screen,¡± Kai Limented.

    Those words of hers weren¡¯t just ttery, they were her sincere opinions.

    After all, she had worked in the industry for a long time and had met many stars. Hence, she could

    easily determine who had the potential to make it big.

    The reason she threw her weight around was that she was upset. The newbie was causing trouble

    before demonstrating any results.

    Observing Ning Ran after she had calmed down, Kai Li knew that the reason Nan Chen rmended

    her was based on her strengths and capabilities.

    ¡°You have ttered me.¡± Ning Ran was embarrassed by Kai Li¡¯s analysis.

    ¡°Alright, since it was Mr. Chen who signed you up, I can¡¯t afford to offend you.¡± Waving her hands, Kai

    Li let out a self-deprecatingugh.

    ¡°Not at all, I still have a lot to learn from you and hope that you will guide me.¡± Ning Ran reciprocated

    the respect Kai Li had just shown her.

    After that, the tension within the meeting quickly dissipated.

    ¡°In that case, why don¡¯t you exin to us what happened and tell us your opinion about the matter,¡± Kai

    Li requested.

    ¡°That man is my father. But, we have not lived together in a long time because there¡¯s a lot of bad

    blood between us. We have many irreconcble differences. I won¡¯t go into the details but I haven¡¯t

    betrayed him in any way. On the day he jumped into theke, I had just given him five thousand...¡±

    ¡°Fine. In that case, we hope that you can convince your father to help us resolve this crisis. He can

    help us change the public¡¯s perception on this matter,¡± Kai Li suggested.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that would be difficult as he is trying to ckmail me,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°There¡¯s always a way. Besides, this isn¡¯t the first time we encountered such a situation. So, let us

    discuss and find a solution.¡±

    ¡°Alright, thank you.¡±

    With that, everyone started to discuss ways to resolve the matter.

 Chapter 314

    Chapter 314

    While Ning Ran was in the meeting, Ouyang Qing was at the spa together with Bai Hua.

    ¡°Aunt, your figure is so good that I feel rude addressing you as Aunt. It¡¯s so obvious you look more like

    my sister,¡± Ouyang Qingplimented in a sycophantic manner.

    Despite her trying to ingratiate herself with Bai Hua, Ouyang Qing¡¯s words were not far from the truth.

    Bai Hua did have an excellent figure.

    Even at her age, her skin was still soft and taught. Moreover, there wasn¡¯t even a bit of fat on her hips

    and thighs.

    Time was usually unkind to women. But, to Bai Hua, it was a carving knife used to chisel her features

    into something more exquisite.

    ¡°Look at how you are ttering me again. I¡¯m no longer young and can¡¯tpare to the beauty youth

    bestowed upon you. I feel envious whenever I look at you. It¡¯s so great to be young,¡± Bai Hua sighed.

    ¡°Aunt, you¡¯re still young so you don¡¯t have to be envious. It¡¯s true!¡±

    ¡°Despite looking younger than people my age, it¡¯s still a fact that I¡¯m no longer young.¡±

    ¡°I think that you will still look the same in ten years. If you go out with Chen, others will have mistaken

    you as siblings.¡±

    Ouyang Qing had said the same before but Bai Hua loved to hear it. Hence, she didn¡¯t mind it being

    repeated at all.

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk about him. He hasn¡¯te to see me in a while and didn¡¯t even bother to give me a call,¡±

    Bai Hua sighed.

    At that moment, Ouyang Qing realized the opportunity had arrived to talk about Ning Ran and that she

    had to seize it.

    ¡°Chen is probably busy resolving that woman¡¯s problems.¡±

    ¡°Which woman? What problems does she have?¡± Bai Hua probed.

    ¡°Thedy called Ding Mi. She¡¯s just a small-time actress.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her?¡± Bai Hua asked.

    ¡°Forget it. I don¡¯t like to talk about her as I¡¯m not interested in her messy life,¡± Ouyang Qing said on

    purpose.

    ¡°Come on. Tell me what¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Do you really want to know?¡±

    ¡°Of course, I want to know since it involves Chen.¡±

    ¡°Let me find the video as it¡¯s all over the inte.¡±

    Ouyang Qing took out her phone and search for the video where Ning Ziqiang attempted tomit

    suicide.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°This old man is Ding Mi¡¯s father. Now that Ding Mi is rich, she has abandoned him. Therefore, he tried

    tomit suicide out of despair. She was also at the scene but she didn¡¯t care. In fact, she even

    challenged him to do so by egging him on,¡± Ouyang Qing exined.

    ¡°My God. How could such a vicious woman exist in this world?¡± Bai Hua eximed.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s really shocking. If Chen marries her in the future, I¡¯m afraid she will treat you the same

    way,¡± Ouyang Qing added fuel to fire.

    ¡°A woman like that doesn¡¯t deserve my son! I will definitely not approve of their rtionship. It looks like

    I must put a stop to this.¡± Bai Hua became all worked up.

    ¡°I share your sentiments. But, Chen is his own man and doesn¡¯t necessarily listen to what others say.¡±

    ¡°Even if he has his own stand, he is still my son. If I forbid him from marrying her, he will have to listen

    to me!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s his fault. The woman must have bewitched Chen with unscrupulous means. Therefore,

    I feel it¡¯s not a good idea to speak with Chen directly. He will feel repulsed by it. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware

    of how stubborn he is. Once he has decided on something, no one will be able to change his mind.¡±

    Ouyang Qing had such a good grasp of Nan Chen¡¯s character that Bai Hua couldn¡¯t help but agree with

    her.

    ¡°What do you propose then?¡±

    ¡°We must not alert Chen as it will affect your rtionship with him. Therefore, we must make the

    woman give up on her own ord and stay away from Chen. That is the most effective solution,¡±

    Ouyang Qing proposed.

    Bai Hua was convinced.

    As Nan Chen¡¯s mother, it went without saying that she understood her son well.

    She was aware that if she were to confront Nan Chen directly about it, it would definitely not end well.

    ¡°But how do we make her give up on her own? Isn¡¯t it a difficult task? Chen is handsome and everyone

    knows how influential the Nan family is. Therefore, there are tons of girls dying to marry him. Now that

    she feels she is in a good position, why would she give up easily?¡±

    Bai Hua¡¯s words struck a nerve with Ouyang Qing as she too was one of the girls dying to marry Nan

    Chen.

    ¡°That¡¯s why we have to think of a n. I¡¯m sure there¡¯s no way you can ept a daughter-inw like

    that, am I right?¡± Ouyang Qing asked.

    Bai Hua¡¯s mood turned foul. ¡°Of course, I¡¯d rather Chen stay single than let him marry that despicable

    woman. It¡¯s just that I can¡¯t think of any good solutions. Do you have any n in mind?¡±

    Ouyang Qing shook her head, ¡°This is between Chen and the Nan family. It¡¯s not appropriate for me to

    interfere.¡±

    ¡°No, I already consider you as part of our family. I understand how you feel about Chen. I would be

    happy to have you as my daughter-inw. Therefore, I will support you in getting together with Chen.¡±

    Bai Hua made her stand clear.

    Ouyang Qing pretended to be embarrassed. ¡°Aunt, don¡¯t say such things. I¡¯m not deserving of Chen.¡±

    ¡°Of course you¡¯re a good match for him. If you marry him, it would be a real match made in heaven.

    Our family backgrounds make both of you extremelypatible.¡± Bai Hua encouraged Ouyang Qing.

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    She knew that Ouyang Qing had to be confident enough to know that she stood a chance to win Nan

    Chen¡¯s heart. Only then would their alliance have a strong foundation.

    ¡°Thank you for believing in me. It¡¯s a pity that it¡¯s one sided at the moment. I¡¯m afraid Chen doesn¡¯t see

    it that way,¡± Ouyang Qing sighed.

    ¡°Chen isn¡¯t stupid. One of these days, he will realize how good you are for him. Besides, you still have

    me. For now, we will have to focus on driving that woman away. The ideal situation would be how the

    Nan family treated me, banished me from Flower City...¡±

    As Bai Hua got carried away with her words, she identally expose her embarrassing history. It

    caused the atmosphere to turn awkward.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know much about the misunderstanding the Nan family had on you then, but I do know that

    their treatment towards you was unfair. That woman can¡¯t evenpare to you. In fact, she doesn¡¯t

    even deserve to grovel at your feet.¡± Ouyang Qing quickly salvaged the situation.

    Ouyang Qing¡¯s skills in ttery served to endear her further to Bai Hua.

    ¡°It¡¯s just that how do we get her to leave?¡± Bai Hua asked.

    ¡°We can¡¯t do it openly or else we may end up infuriating Chen. Therefore, this must be done covertly.

    Firstly, we must cause Chen to resent her. The reason she is acting with such impunity is that she

    knows Chen will back her up. If we can get Chen to ignore her, she will lose his support and be no

    different from an ordinary actress. By then, it would be easy to get rid of her.¡±

    Bai Hua nodded repeatedly as Ouyang Qingid out her n carefully.

    ¡°How should we go about it then?¡±

    ¡°We will start with something small. The reason she is mired in negative publicity is due to her father.

    Therefore, we must use him carefully to cause Chen to be disappointed in her. Then, our goal will

    almost be achieved .¡±

    ¡°In that case, you should put your n in motion now. I will definitely provide any support you need.¡±

    ¡°We can do this... and this...¡±

 Chapter 315

    Chapter 315

    With the Star Entertainment public rtions department¡¯s efforts, the news about Ning Ziqiang

    attempted suicide was quickly suppressed.

    Despite the news about Ning Ziqiang going viral for a while, it still couldn¡¯tpare to the buzz

    generated by the scandal with Zheng Lunlun.

    The reason was simple. Zheng Lunlun was among the hottest celebrities at the time, hence Ning Ran

    was being pulled along by his fame.

    However, Ouyang Qing¡¯s purpose this time wasn¡¯t to cause Ning Ran¡¯s problems to go viral. Instead,

    her objective was to smear Ning Ran¡¯s reputation in front of the Nan family.

    Therefore, Star Entertainment mobilized its immense mediawork and managed to change the

    situation against Ning Ran quickly.

    Through many influencer ounts, they ¡®used¡¯ Star Entertainment of using the incident as a

    publicity stunt to promote their new series.

    Their rationale was that Ning Ran had donated tens of millions to the poor who were living in the

    mountainous regions. Hence, it was impossible for someone so generous to ill-treat her father.

    Therefore the matter just didn¡¯t make sense.

    The articles had even included pictures of Ning Ran and Zheng Lunlun doing charity together, serving

    as evidence.

    Despite making it sound like an usation, it was an indirect way of clearing Ning Ran¡¯s name.

    After that, Star Entertainment quickly issued a statement to clear the air. They rified that it was just

    an ident and it wasn¡¯t a publicity stunt for their new series. Soon, they would release evidence to

    support their im.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Both sides mentioned a ¡®new series¡¯ amidst their ¡®war of words¡¯, but neither exined what the ¡®new

    series¡¯ actually was.

    Such subliminal methods of marketing quickly piqued theizens¡¯ interest. Soon, they were all trying

    to find out what the new series was all about.

    After that, there were ¡®insider¡¯ leaks that stated the new period drama was Sound of Thunder 2, starring

    Zheng Lunlun and Ning Ran.

    Instantly, the news set the inte on fire. Everyone was trying their best to find out what the plot was

    and who would be in the creative team.

    In no time, there were multiple versions and rumors floating around.

    However, Star Entertainment maintained their silence and didn¡¯tment anything about the movie, as

    if they were trying to suppress any information about the series.

    Hunger marketing not only worked in the food industry but appeared to be equally effective in the

    entertainment industry too.

    Such unofficial marketing methods were extremely effective as they led to everyone specting when

    the series would be released.

    After going through a media exercise and the fact that Ning Ran didn¡¯t publicly exin Ning Ziqiang¡¯s

    attempted suicide, the incident¡¯s negative repercussions quickly dissipated.

    They had managed to turn a devastating crisis into a huge marketing opportunity for their new series.

    Amidst all sorts of rumors, Sound of Thunder 2 became extremely popr even before it was released,

    resulting in manyizens talking about it excitedly.

    Even Zheng Lunlun¡¯s fans joined in the debate. His female fans called Ning Ran an ¡®ugly old hag¡¯ who

    hung onto Zheng Lunlun¡¯s coattails to gain poprity. They used her of not deserving to be a

    ¡®couple¡¯ with Zheng Lunlun because she was too ugly.

    Meanwhile, many other fans came to Ning Ran¡¯s defense. They said if she was considered ugly, who

    else can be then considered beautiful?

    All the debates and arguments were centered upon one thing, that was Ning Ran and Zheng Lunlun¡¯s

    new series.

    Although an official announcement had yet to be made, manyizens were already waiting with high

    anticipation.

    Soon, the Sound of Thunder 2 was going to be officially unveiled in the midst of the debate.

    Just like a legendary beauty having her veil lifted, the press conference for the release of the movie

    was packed with reporters.

    All the members of the creative team behind Sound of Thunder 2 were present at the press

    conference. They were ready to be interviewed by the reporters.

    Due to the highly anticipated nature of the series, the press conference was buzzing with excitement

    with many members of the media livestreaming it.

    As Ning Ran was about to be interviewed for the first time, she had butterflies in her stomach.

    She was so anxious that she kept having the urge to go to the toilet despite having just gone.

    Wang Xiaoou¡¯s expression was icy as usual. ¡°No matter how nervous you are, you have to stay calm

    and keep yourself together. You are the female lead. If you lose yourposure, all the hard work we

    have done before this will be wasted.¡±

    Wang Xiaoou¡¯s words ended up intensifying Ning Ran¡¯s anxiety.

    ¡°Ms. Wang, stop giving her pressure. You¡¯re only making her more nervous,¡± Cheng Xiangyun advised.

    Ning Ran gave Cheng Xiangyun a grateful look and felt that she was the one who knew her best.

    Wang Xiaoou disagreed. ¡°She is being groomed to be a megastar. If she can¡¯t even manage a little bit

    of pressure, how is she going to be one?¡±

    Ning Ran felt like crying. Can I not be a megastar then?

    ¡°Do you remember what you have to be mindful of when you answer the reporters¡¯ questions?¡± Wang

    Xiaoou asked sternly.

    ¡°Yes, I do.¡±

    ¡°Repeat them for me.¡±

    ¡°When faced with sensitive or aggressive questions, I should not answer them. As for tough questions,

    I should not answer them directly. No matter how rude the reporters are, I will have to maintain my

    smile and not show my frustrations,¡± Ning Ran repeated.

    Wang Xiaoou nodded.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so nervous. Even if you have a slip of tongue, we can still salvage the situation

    as long as it¡¯s not too serious.¡±

    Damn it, you should have said that earlier! Ning Ran heaved a sigh of relief.

    ¡°But, it doesn¡¯t mean you can shoot your mouth off. Every word you say must be considered carefully.

    Don¡¯t just speak without thinking.¡± Wang Xiaoou hit a nerve again.

    Ning Ran couldn¡¯t help but admit that speaking without thinking was her greatest weakness.

    Also, she couldn¡¯t deny that Wang Xiaoou was an excellent manager. She could easily identify Ning

    Ran¡¯s weakness.

    ¡°I understand, Ms. Wang. I will do my best.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t call me Ms. Wang, just call me Ou will do. We are going to be partners for the long haul. Being

    too formal will only get in the way of work.¡±

    ¡°Alright, Ou,¡± Ning Ran agreed with a nod.

    At that moment, a crew member entered and said that the reporters had waited for a long time and

    wanted to know when Ning Ran would appear.

    Wang Xiaoou nced at Ning Ran. ¡°Are you ready?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Ning Ran nodded and took a deep breath.

    The interviewer was from an online mediapany. They had sent one of their well-known anchors

    over.

    Right when the spot light was turned on and the cameras started to roll, Ning Ran began to feel

    nervous again.

    It wasn¡¯t her first time standing in front of the camera. But, it felt different from when she was filming.

    During filming, there was still post-editing where any undesirable parts could be cut outter.

    However, a live stream was different. Once a mistake was made, there was no going back as there

    was no way to edit it out. The only solution was to rely on the public rtions department to manage

    the damage.

    Standing behind the camera, Wang Xiaoou gave Ning Ran a thumbs up to encourage her.

    After picking up a bottle of water and taking a sip, Ning Ran took the initiative and smiled at the anchor.

    ¡°I¡¯m feeling very nervous.¡±

    It was a brilliant gesture to be upfront about how nervous she was. From then on, she no longer felt the

    pressure to hide her anxiety from the audience.

    The anchor was a handsome man. He faced Ning Ran and smiled. ¡°Ms. Ding, you don¡¯t have to be

    nervous, we¡¯re only going to have a chat.¡±

    ¡°Please go ahead.¡± After stating that she was nervous, Ning Ran¡¯s anxiety began to ease.

    Meanwhile, Wang Xiaoou beamed with pride. She had managed many newbies before. Compared to

    them, thedy in front of her seemed to be getting off to a pretty good start.

    ¡°Alright, let us begin now. Ms. Ding, to mostizens, you¡¯re still considered rtively new. Hence, why

    don¡¯t you make a self-introduction to us?¡± The anchor asked.

    ¡°Sure. Hello everyone. My name is Ding Mi. I am the lead in Sound of Thunder 2. In the series, I¡¯m

    ying...¡±

 Chapter 316

    Chapter 316

    Ouyang Qingy on the sofa in the vi, watching an interview with Ning Ran on her mobile phone.

    Seeing Ning Ran talking freely in front of the camera, looking beautiful and calm, Ouyang Qing¡¯s mood

    quickly turned bad and she flung the phone from her hand.

    This woman is invincible and I just can¡¯t defeat her!

    Bai Hua, who was doing meditation on the yoga mat, heard the noise and walked over. She saw

    Ouyang Qing seething with anger and then saw the phone that had been throw to the corner.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Bai Hua asked as she picked up the mobile phone. The screen was cracked but it

    was still functioning.

    Immediately, Ouyang Qing put on an innocent smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Have I disturbed you?¡±

    ¡°You look unhappy. What happened?¡± Bai Hua asked her.

    ¡°My dad called me and scolded me,¡± Ouyang Qing replied, putting on a sad face.

    ¡°Why did Mr. Ouyang scold you?¡±

    ¡°Some time ago, Dad came to Flower City and met up with Chen to discuss forming a partnership in

    some business. You do know that my dad loves horse riding so Chen took him to the equestrian club.

    They agreed to go for lunch after that. However, Chen did not show up. He said he was not feeling well

    and asked a member of his staff to apany my dad instead. Later my dad found out that Chen was

    busy working with Ding Mi. Chen had slighted my dad for the sake of an unknown actress and that

    made Dad angry. Dad said that the Ouyang family had been put to shame and he doesn¡¯t want me to

    stay in Flower City anymore. I really don¡¯t care about staying here but I will miss you. If I leave, you will

    be alone in this city. Who will spend time to chat with you and dine with you?¡±

    As Ouyang Qing told her story, she even managed to force out some tears.

    Immediately, Bai Hua got upset. ¡°This really happened? Is Nan Chen so foolish that he has fallen under

    this woman¡¯s charm?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I have no idea what that woman has done to get Chen so enchanted. Aunt, I cannot stay here in

    Flower City much longer. You must take care of yourself.¡±

    Ouyang Qing pretended to be heartbroken.

    ¡°No. We had so many ns to get rid of that woman who we haven¡¯t put into action yet. You can¡¯t back

    out now. Unfortunately, it died away too soon. Those who have scolded her online turned around and

    supported her!¡±

    ¡°It must have been Chen helping her out. On her own, she wouldn¡¯t be able to turn things around. As

    long as Chen is helping her, we cannot outwit her. We can only standby and watch her be a

    member of the Nan family. It does not matter to me, but I feel sorry for you, Aunt. Once she bes

    part of the Nan family, your role will be even less important.¡±

    Ouyang Qing¡¯s sad sorrowful pretty face could melt any heart. Furthermore, she used words that sound

    as if she cared only for Bai Hua. Thetter was moved.

    Besides, Bai Hua¡¯s situation was not ideal too. She needed an aplice to help her in her battles.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Zhiyuan will be back tomorrow. When hees back, we will have more strength. Then

    we will find a way to deal with that little bitch together.¡±

    ¡°Is Uncle Nan arriving tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°Yes, he has taken care of everything in Tokyo. It will be the Nan Zhengde¡¯s birthday in a few days, and

    we must try to make an appearance at the Old Master¡¯s birthday party. If we can win the Old Master¡¯s? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    forgiveness, then the Nan family will be our family again. Rest assured, as long as I am in the Nan

    family, no other woman will not be allowed to marry Chen. He is my son. He is under my control!

    Bai Hua was indeed a little conceited. She said that she could Nan Chen and that was pure nonsense.

    ¡°Since you say so, I¡¯m relieved. That woman¡¯s drama series has just finished production. I¡¯ve found out

    that they will have a celebration party tonight. Since she is the leadingdy, she will definitely be there,¡±

    Ouyang Qing said.

    ¡°Shall I go to meet her and ask her to stay away from my son?¡±

    ¡°No, if Chen is there, you will get into a dispute with him.¡±

    ¡°Do you have any ns?¡±

    ¡°I think there must be reporters present at a celebration of this type, do you think so?¡± Ouyang Qing

    asked.

    ¡°Even if there aren¡¯t, it¡¯s easy to arrange for a few. There are lots of paparazzi. It¡¯s easy to find them,¡±

    Bai Hua said.

    ¡°That¡¯s true. So, I¡¯ll just call a friend and ask her to help get that done...¡±

    Ouyang Qing whispered something into Bai Hua¡¯s ear.

    Bai Huaughed on hearing that. ¡°Haha... I¡¯ve always known you¡¯d have a n. This is a good idea. It

    would be perfect if Chen sees that. Wouldn¡¯t that be exciting!¡±

    In the meantime...

    Ning Ran was extremely tired after her interview.

    It was against her nature to put on a solemn face for she loved being herself, rxed and easy going.

    Wang Yan just came over and told her, ¡°The oue of the interview is good. Most of thements

    om viewer messages are in praise for you.¡±

    Ning Ran replied sincerely, ¡°Thank you, Director Wang, I have learned so much from you while acting

    in this movie.¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t say that. I feel that we are parting ways and it makes me sad,¡± Wang Yan replied.

    Ning Ranughed, saying, ¡°This movie is done, but there¡¯ll be new ones. We¡¯re in the same industry so

    we¡¯ll be working together sooner orter.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be so easy.¡± Wang Yan shook his head.

    ¡°Why? Is it because you feel my acting isn¡¯t good and you don¡¯t want to work with me anymore?¡±

    ¡°Of course, not. Your acting is the best among the actors I¡¯ve worked with. However, once this show is

    broadcast, you¡¯ll be famous.

    ¡°You¡¯ll be an A-list megastar and your pay would be a few times higher, maybe even tens of times

    higher. How could I afford to hire you?

    ¡°Hence, this show will be ourst movie together. I feel sad just thinking about this.¡±

    Wang Yan smiled and made an exaggerated gesture of wiping away his tears.

    Ning Ranughed, saying, ¡°No, that won¡¯t happen. No matter what changes take ce in the future,

    you¡¯re always my director.¡±

    ¡°By the way, we have a party tonight. The producers, distributors, and otherpanies involved will be

    sending representatives. Please get ready to show up too.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to go. I don¡¯t like wearing high heels and formal gowns. It¡¯s so tiring!¡±

    ¡°You must be there. You¡¯re the female lead. There¡¯s no excuse for your absence.¡±

    High heels and formal wear cannot be avoided. ¡±When you be a star in the future, you¡¯ll be

    walking red carpets all the time. You can¡¯t be wearing a pair of sports shoes there, can you?¡±

    Ning Ran moaned, ¡°Heavens! Why does everyone say I¡¯ll be a superstar? How am I supposed to keep

    up to these expectations?¡±

    Wang Xiaoou, who was standing nearby, added, ¡°You¡¯re like an eagle about to be lifted by rising air

    currents, you can only fly higher. You can¡¯te down. You must be a superstar, otherwise, all the

    money that thepany invested in you would be wasted.¡±

 Chapter 317

    Chapter 317

    As he was talking, a slender woman with short hair, wearing tight leather pants and brash make-up

    came over to them.

    When Wang Xiaoou saw the woman, she greeted her immediately with a smile, ¡°Hi, Sunny! Long time

    no see.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Ou, long time no see.¡±

    The woman waved her hand enchantingly. As she waved her hand, she moved her buttocks as well. It

    was simply amazing.

    Wang Xiaoou introduced her, ¡°Ding Mi, this is Sunny Boy, he is the top image consultant in the circle,

    let him give you some suggestions, it will benefit you a lot.¡±

    Ning Ran was surprised. Ady named Boy? This goddess who moves her buttocks as she waves her

    hand is a man?

    What about this gorgeous dressing and this exaggerated makeup? Are men nowadays so fashionable

    that they are mistaken for women?

    ¡°Hi, how do you do, Mimi? I am Sunny. You can also call me by my Chinese name Sang Ni.¡±

    Sunny stretched out his hand, his fair slender fingers were really well maintained.

    Moreover, all five fingers had exquisite manicures and Ning Ran felt too embarrassed to even stretch

    out her hands.

    Inparison to this man¡¯s, her hands were so in! He put her to shame.

    ¡°Ding Mi!¡± Wang Xiaoou prompted Ning Ran, reminding her not to forget her manners.

    Ning Ran reluctantly stretched out her hand in embarrassment and shook hands with Sunny. ¡°Hello, I

    appreciate your kind help in the future.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you are so pretty! I haven¡¯t seen such a beautiful charmer in a long time. Your little nose, your little

    mouth, your corbone... have you ever had stic surgery?¡±

    After a deluge of praises, Sunny suddenly came up with a question that took Ning Ran by surprise.

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I... I haven¡¯t.¡± Ning Ran replied innocently.

    ¡°Oh? Not even a slightest bit?¡± Sunny asked as he couldn¡¯t believe it.

    ¡°No.¡± Ning Ran shook her head.

    ¡°Oh! My god! You are so pretty and haven¡¯t gone for any surgery! How could any face be so beautiful in

    nature? I love you to death! I¡¯m so jealous of you!¡± Sunny proimed in an exaggerated yell.

    Ning Ran was confused, a little overwhelmed, and at a loss on how to deal with this sissy acting like a

    baby.

    ¡°Okay, Sunny, that¡¯s enough. Thank you for your help in taking up the role of the image consultant for

    Ding Mi.

    ¡°Tonight, she will attend the reception as the lead actress. Many big names in the circle will be present.

    You have to help her dress up beautifully,¡± Wang Xiaoou exined.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you worry, Ms. Ou. She¡¯s such a naturally beautiful woman. I haven¡¯t seen one in a long time. I

    will definitely craft her image carefully and take good care of her,¡± Sunny reassured.

    Whatever he said, his hands would move as well and his fingers would twist and turn as if they were

    dancing to his words.

    It was not just the twisting fingers, the slender waist. Besides that, the small buttocks moved along with

    them as well.

    Nevertheless, his entire body was in coordination and did not give the impression that he was

    pretentious. Instead, it looked natural and one would feel that he was just being himself.

    Anyone else doing that would look disgusting and irritated the others but not him. On the contrary,

    when he did that, it seemed interesting rather than disgusting.

    He was truly mysterious and unearthly.

    Cheng Xiangyun whispered in Ning Ran¡¯s ear. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate this sissy. He¡¯s the top image

    consultant in China and almost all the big-name superstars have worked with him in one way or

    another. His influence in the fashion industry is huge. We must have a good rtionship with him.¡±

    Ning Ran nodded her head. She could not help but look at Sunny a little longer.

    After a few nces at him, she gotten used to his appearance.

    His dressing was ultra-modern, ssy, and tasteful. Most importantly, they were well matched. And the

    overall feeling was otherworldly.

    ¡°Come on, missy. You¡¯ve got to take care of your hair and your skin. Oh! Heavens! How could you not

    take care of yourself just because you are naturally beautiful! I will take you now for a facial to do a take

    care of it!¡±

    As Sunny spoke, his hand found its way to Ning Ran¡¯s arm naturally.

    Ning Ran was shocked again but Sunny smiled at her gently, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, although I¡¯m a man, I won¡¯t

    take advantage of you, because I... I¡¯m sure you know.¡±

    Ning Ran really didn¡¯t know, but after a little thought, she understood.

    I see now. No wonder you look so feminine.

    Sunny first took Ning Ran to a beauty salon, then to a hairdresser and then to a designer shop.

    ¡°In shopping malls, it is difficult to buy clothes that arepletely suitable for you because most of the

    clothes are mass-produced and it will not highlight your individuality. However, time was short and it is

    obviously impossible for you to custom-made a dress. In the future, when you are well-known, you

    need a lot of clothes and changes of image. So, you must know how to select your clothes. Now, for

    today, I¡¯ll help to give you some suggestions. In this process, even if you don¡¯t like it, you have to listen

    to me, because I know fashion so I know what the audience wants to see. Besides, I¡¯m a bystander, I

    can tell which clothes are more suitable for you, ok?¡±

    Ning Ran summed that up in her mind. Sunny meant that she had to wear whatever he asked her to.

    So even if he wanted her to wear a rag, she had to agree.

    It¡¯s okay, anyway. I don¡¯t know how to dress up, so I¡¯ll just listen to this sissy.

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll follow your advice.¡±

    ¡°Good girl, I will make you the best-looking woman at the cocktail party tonight, outshining all the

    celebrities and daughters from rich families.¡±

    Two hourster, Ning Ran stood in front of the mirror and she felt a little dazed looking at her reflection.

    Is this really me?

    From hairstyle to makeup, to the design from head to toe, Sunny set the tone for Ning Ran as

    morous.

    His theory was that Ning Ran¡¯s outlook was rather cute, and if she chose a young audience, she could

    follow the of path of a young idol to appear youthful and approachable.

    However, tonight was the first formalrge-scale reception and she would be attending as a neer.

    Neers will always be taken lightly by others and so, if her dressing were too youthful and casual,

    she would send out a vibe that she was weak.

    The only solution was to dress her like a queen to look mourous in order to emphasize her image as

    a neer with potential.

    Ning Ran could not fully understand his logic but when she looked at herself in the mirror, she really felt

    that she looked really good.

    She had never seen herself like this and never tried dressing up this way.

    Then, Sunny who was next to her asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you look good? Aren¡¯t you shocked by your own

    beauty?¡±

    ¡°Great. Thank you, teacher,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Hey, you don¡¯t need to call me teacher. It feels too old.¡± Sunny was not displeased.

    ¡°Alright, then. I¡¯ll just address you as Sunny.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Just address me by name.¡±

    Since Sunny was like a sister, Ning Ran felt so much at ease.

    She turned around a few times in front of the mirror, admiring her morous reflection that she had

    never seen before.

    For some unknown reason, an image came to her mind, Nan Chen.

    She had felt that her present style of dressing was familiar and now she realized that this was Nan

    Chen¡¯s style.

    morous and aloof, giving the impression of being unapproachable.

    When these thoughts came to her, she suddenly felt pleased without knowing the reason.

 Chapter 318

    Chapter 318

    When they were ready, Ning Ran¡¯s transport arrived as well.

    It turned out to be a Rolls Royce. When she opened the door, she found Nan Chen sitting inside.

    ¡°Why are you here?¡±

    ¡°This is my car.¡±

    Ning Ran was dumbfounded. So, this was his car and also her official ride.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to the party too?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m one of the main producers,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    Ning Ran was speechless again. He was the boss. How could she forget such an important matter?

    She thought of closing the door and going to sit in the front passenger seat but Nan Chen looked at her

    and motioned to her to sit down by his side.

    Obediently, Ning Ran sat down beside him.

    Suddenly, Nan Chen said, ¡°Get down.¡±

    Ning Ran was displeased. You ask me toe inside and then ask me to get down. What are you

    trying to do?

    This is his car and he is the boss. I have to obey.

    Ning Ran carefully held her ck dress as she got out of the car. The dress and high heels made her

    extremely ufortable and her movements were very clumsy.

    ¡°Stand there.¡± Nan Chen spoke again.

    ¡°What are you doing? Do you want me to hail a cab and go on my own?¡± Ning Ran was angry. He was

    such a bully.

    ¡°Don¡¯t move. Just stand there,¡± Nan Chen ordered.

    ¡°What¡¯s this? After sitting in your car for a few minutes, my punishment is to stand here?¡± Ning Ran

    asked angrily.

    Nan Chen said nothing but studied Ning Ran from head to foot with admiration in his eyes.

    ¡°This is Sunny¡¯s idea?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    Hearing this, she guessed that Nan Chen had instructed Sunny to drop in today; otherwise, he would

    not know that Sunny had been with her.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°Come in.¡± Nan Chen motioned with his hand.

    ¡°Ie in and go out just as you wish?¡± Ning Ran said angrily.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Nan Chen replied matter-of-factly.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Come on up. You¡¯re not walking there, are you? Do you know where it is?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    Ning Ran agreed after some thought. Besides, in that dress, going by cab was rather inconvenient.

    Though she was displeased, she got into the car.

    ¡°Go to Commoner Residence first.¡± Nan Chen said.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    ¡°Yes,¡± the driver responded.

    ¡°Why are we going to your house? I don¡¯t want to go to your house.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°You wish! I¡¯m not taking you home.¡± Nan Chen sneered.

    Ning Ran was dumbfounded. Perhaps, she was just overthinking things.

    When the car arrived at the Commoner Residence, Nan Chen let Ning Ran wait in the car while he

    went in alone.

    After a while, he came out. Then, he got in the car and took out a box.

    ¡°The ne looks cheap. Take it off,¡± Nan Chen told Ning Ran.

    ¡°What?¡± Ning Ran wasn¡¯t sure of what she heard.

    Nan Chen pointed to the ne on Ning Ran¡¯s neck. ¡°Please take this off.¡±

    ¡°Oh, this is on loan to me by my Aunt...¡±

    ¡°Borrowed?¡± Nan Chen could not believe his ears.

    ¡°Yes, Aunt said since I¡¯m attending a reception, I must have some essory on my neck; otherwise, I¡¯ll

    appear too scrubby,¡± Ning Ran exined.

    Nan Chen frowned, saying, ¡°You look scrubby wearing this.¡±

    ¡°I think this is fine. Aunt mentioned that she spent more than three thousand on it.¡±

    ¡°A ne worth three thousand plus?¡±

    Again, Nan Chen couldn¡¯t believe his ears. How could anyone wear a ne worth so little?

    ¡°Please take it off.¡±

    ¡°You want me to go without this ne? Won¡¯t that look ugly?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Nan Chen did not mince his words.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll take it off but I¡¯ve got to keep it properly because I must return it to her.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have your own ne?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I had, before but after that...¡±

    ¡°What happened after that?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    Ning Ran smiled shyly, ¡°There was a time when I had some needs and so I sold everything. I can

    starve but the children need food.¡±

    Nan Chen was shocked. You were so poor that you have to sell your jewelry? What type of life did you

    live then?

    Ning Ran smiled nonchntly. ¡°I don¡¯t really like those stuff so it doesn¡¯t matter.¡±

    Deep inside Nan Chen¡¯s eyes, a flicker ofpassion appeared. She did live a hard life.

    Only those who could recount their own misfortune without tears have really gone through hardship.

    While they spoke, Ning Ran had taken off the ne and ced it carefully in her handbag.

    When Nan Chen saw her handbag, he frowned again.

    ¡°Sunny selected this bag, as well?¡±

    ¡°Yes, he said it goes well with my dress. Originally, he selected another which was too expensive. It

    cost nearly twenty thousand which was way beyond my budget and so, we settled for this one,¡±

    exined Ning Ran.

    Then she quickly added, ¡°I think it looks fine!¡±

    Nan Chen said nothing but he brought out a box, opened it and there was a ne inside. The chain

    of the ne was matt ck and of an unknown material.

    The chain looked ordinary but the center of attention was the dark blue sapphire on it.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t know anything about jewelry but when she looked at the gem, she knew it must be very

    valuable.

    ¡°Put this on and you won¡¯t be scrubby anymore.¡± Nan Chen handed the ne to Ning Ran.

    ¡°This is too valuable. I cannot...¡±

    ¡°Wear it.¡± Nan Chen ordered in a low voice.

    ¡°No, I really can¡¯t wear it. It¡¯s too valuable. If I damage it, I can¡¯t afford to pay for it. Then you will make

    me write an IOU again. I already owe you too much money. I don¡¯t want to do that because I can¡¯t

    afford to pay you anymore.¡±

    Nan Chen was at a loss. This woman¡¯s thoughts are weird. Does she think I would use this priceless

    ne to ckmail her?

    ¡°You are the star today and you are my femalepanion. If you look scrubby, it will affect my image.

    Just put it on!¡± Nan Chenmanded coldly.

    Hesitantly, Ning Ran epted the ne and her hands trembled because she was feeling nervous.

    Nan Chen had specifically instructed the driver to bring him home in order to pick up this piece of

    jewelry. Obviously, this was no ordinary ne.

    Even though Ning Ran liked the ne the moment she saw it, she really did not want to put it on.

    The sapphire was dark blue presenting a subdued air of nobility.

    Due to her nervousness and inexperience in wearing jewelry, Ning Ran was still unable to put it on

    properly after a few try.

    Nan Chen sighed. ¡°Give it to me, I¡¯ll do it.¡±

    Ning Ran gave the ne to Nan Chen feeling embarrassed and she turned to his side for him to put

    the ne on her.

    It turned out that Sir Chen wasn¡¯t familiar either and he too, was not able to put it on properly.

    Nan Chen sat closer, almost embracing her but he was still unable to put it on correctly.

    It was embarrassing and funny as well so Ning Ranughed softly.

    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Nan Chen was exasperated.

    ¡°Nothing. I just thought I¡¯m giving you too much trouble,¡± replied Ning Ran.

    ¡°Stop by the roadside. Continue driving after we have put on the ne,¡± Nan Chen instructed the

    driver.

    The driver quickly pulled up by the roadside so the two passengers at the back could do what was

    needful.

    After the car stopped, there was no movement and the ne was soon put in ce.

    Nan Chen and Ning Ran both sighed with relief. Surprisingly, wearing a ne took so much effort

    that Sir Chen nearly broke out in sweat.

    Ning Ran leant forward, stretching her neck.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Nan Chen asked, sounding cold.

    ¡°I¡¯m looking at the mirror.¡±

    It turned out that Ning Ran was using the rear-view mirror to check out how she looked wearing the

    ne.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you have a mirror?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°How are you going to touch up your makeup?¡±

    ¡°Huh? I¡¯m not going to do that. It¡¯s not necessary.¡±

    Nan Chen was speechless. At such an important function,dies would usually take care of their

    makeup in order to look their best.

    This woman doesn¡¯t even have a mirror, which is really weird.

    Is it possible that she¡¯s a man? How else could she be so rough?

 Chapter 319

    Chapter 319

    Nan Chen asked the driver to bring them to a Hermes franchise store even though they were supposed

    to be heading towards the party.

    ¡°You need to change your bag. Go pick one out,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°My bag¡¯s fine, right? I got it at a fifty percent discount from...¡±

    ¡°Shut up and go pick one!¡± Nan Chen got angry.

    ¡°It¡¯s really not necessary. No matter how luxurious it is, it¡¯ll just be a waste. I keep a lot of snacks in

    there. So no matter how good it is, once I shove two meat buns in there, it¡¯s...

    ¡°Can you just shut up already!¡±

    Nan Chen was really annoyed as he actually pictured a meat bun in a Hermes¡¯ bag.

    After that, Ning Ran did not dare say another word as she got off the car and entered the store.

    Ning Ran had no idea what to pick. After going through everything, she still could not make up her

    mind.

    The main issue was that they were all really pricey and way over her budget.

    The cheaper ones did not look good, and the nicer ones were just too expensive.

    In the end, she asked Nan Chen to help her choose one. At the cashier, the staff actually recognized

    Ning Ran. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to see you in our store. Will it be OK for me to get a signature from you?¡±

    Naturally, Ning Ran did not believe that she would have fans. Thus, she turned around and looked at

    Nan Chen. ¡°You¡¯re talking about him right?¡±

    ¡°I meant you, Ms. Ding. I hope the series with You and Lunlun continue to get good ratings and that you

    two are happy together.¡± The staff replied.

    Nan Chen expression was turning cold.

    ¡°Oh. You got it all wrong. Lunlun and I are just co-workers. Really.¡± Ning Ran exined immediately as

    she stepped aside and signaled for Nan Chen to approach.

    The bag was way over her pay grade. Hence, only Nan Chen could settle that bill.

    With that, Nan Chen huffed and handed over his ck card.

    Before leaving, Ning Ran also fulfilled the staff¡¯s request for her signature.

    Then, they got on the car.

    Ning Ran was in a good mood until the staff¡¯s remark spoiled it for her.

    ¡°Fans are like this. They form imaginary pairs in their minds. It happens all the time. Please don¡¯t mind

    them.¡± Ning Ran tried tofort Nan Chen.

    ¡°Why would I?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°True.¡± Ning Ran answered. ¡°You don¡¯t have to pay heed to that.¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t I?¡± Nan Chen asked again coldly.

    That got Ning Ran confused. Do you mind, or don¡¯t you mind? Do I want you to mind, or do I not want

    you to mind? Alright! Since I¡¯m going to be wrong either way, I¡¯ll just shut up. I can¡¯t be wrong if I don¡¯t

    say anything.

    Nan Chen, on the other hand, knew there was nothing to me her for. Those kinds of

    misunderstandings were verymon in this industry.

    After all, the two of them were always seen together. Be it on-screen or at charity events. Therefore, it

    was easy for the fans to rte them together.

    In fact, stars like them need these types of rumors to keep people talking. If a celebrity has nothing for

    people to talk about, is he still one?

    ¡°Mr. Chen, thank you for the bag. I promise you that I will not use it to pack meat buns!¡± Ning Ran

    eximed.

    Hearing that, Nan Chen almost passed out from rage. So that¡¯s how you respect me? By not putting

    buns in?

    ¡°Do whatever you wish.¡± Nan Chen replied.

    Ning Ran rolled her eyes at Nan Chen and let out a huff as well.

    For some reason, her actions and expressions looked adorable. ncing at Ning Ran, Nan Chen¡¯s

    face suddenly blushed as he felt captivated by her charm.

    With that, his rage instantly subsided.

    ¡°You owe me money for the bag.¡± Nan Chen remarked.

    ¡°Huh? What are you? You¡¯re the one that forced me to get one, so of course, you¡¯re paying for it. Why

    do I have to pay you back?¡±

    Nan Chen was chuckling in his head while he remained expressionless on the outside.

    ¡°I¡¯m not paying. In that case, we can just go back there to return this right now. The old one was good

    enough.¡± Ning Ran said as she shoved the bag into Nan Chen¡¯s arms.

    Right then, Nan Chen gave her an icy stare, and Ning Ran immediately took the bag back. ¡°Alright! But

    I¡¯m not paying no matter what. I have no money. All I have is my life!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take your life then.¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°What? You¡¯re really going to take my life? For a measly ten thousand?¡±

    Ning Ran knew Nan Chen was fooling around, so she joined in on it.

    It¡¯s rare for Poker Face to be talking so much.

    However, Nan Chen, without saying a word, just kept his eyes on Ning Ran.

    His stare was so intense that Ning Ran was starting to feel shy, so she turned her head.

    Soon after that, she noticed her heart was pounding wildly in her chest. What the heck?

    At the same time, they arrived at the hotel where the cocktail party was held. Nan Chen got down first

    and chivalrously raised his hand so that Ning Ran did not bump her head.

    His gesture had Ning Ran pleasantly surprised. Thus, she hurried out of the car a little too haphazardly

    and almost fell.

    ¡°Come on.¡± Nan Chen instructed.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Without saying another word, Nan Chen wiggled his arm, and Ning Ran caught on. He wanted her to

    hold on to him as they entered.

    Isn¡¯t this too much?

    But Ning Ran went along under the immense pressure of Nan Chen¡¯s gaze.

    She actually did not know that Nan Chen was looking out for her.

    Even though she was the female lead of the series, the people there were far more prominent. Hence,

    a newbie like Ning Ran would be nothing inparison.

    However, with Nan Chen in her arms, the narrative would change entirely.

    It was inly because Nan Chen¡¯s status in Flower City was well known by all.

    A woman that came in holding his arm would mean that Nan Chen had acknowledged her - as if

    saying, She is with me, so disrespecting her is the same as disrespecting me.

    But that night, the two of them had too many simrities in terms of outfit styles. Thus, it felt like there

    was a significant drop in the temperature as they entered the room.

    Everyone started crowding over, fighting to greet Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen recognized some of them, but the majority were strangers to him.

    Star Entertainment was just apany under the Nanshi Corporation, and the new series was just one

    of the many that Star Entertainment had invested in. That was why Nan Chen seldom attended parties

    like these.

    These types of parties were no different than a meager supper at a roadside stall in his eyes.

    Therefore, Nan Chen¡¯s arrival came as a surprise to a lot of the big shots there since he was not

    someone that anyone could just meet.

    Hence, they knew that one would be honored if they got to meet him and speak with him.

    Normally, the women would be eyeing the men, and the men eyeing the women. But on that day, no

    matter who they were, Nan Chen was the center of their attention.

    Ning Ran was a beauty - attractive and enticing. But Nan Chen signified absolute power and benefits.

    Anyone in the business world would know how to weigh this difference.

    Thus, among the two, Nan Chen was definitely the one to woo.

    On the other hand, Ning Ran did not feel unhappy because she was being left out. She knew full well

    the difference in status between them.

    Suddenly, a hand reached out and pulled Ning Ran to the side.

    Ning Ran turned around and saw that it was Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go. Those people are just sycophants. They¡¯ll be busy wooing uncle for a while. Why are you still

    standing there? Let¡¯s go get some drinks!¡± Zheng Lunlun said.

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be so intimate with me. It¡¯s not good. I¡¯m your aunt...¡±

    ¡°Cut that crap. Don¡¯t act like you¡¯re so much older than me. The word ¡®aunt¡¯ is some.¡± Zheng Lunlun

    interrupted. ¡°Besides, are you guys even married?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Then? You¡¯re not my aunt yet. Or are you addicted to being one or something?¡± Zheng Lunlun

    smirked.

    ¡°Hey, where are all the women that are supposed to surround you? That¡¯s odd. Aren¡¯t you the pretty

    boy that everyone falls in love with at first sight?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s what Erbao calls herself,¡± Zheng Lunlun replied. ¡°I¡¯m not that childish.¡±

    ¡°True. You¡¯re surely more mature than my daughter.¡±

    ¡°How is that even aparison?¡± Zheng Lunlun got annoyed.

 Chapter 320

    Chapter 320

    While they were talking, a fewdies ran over to them. ¡°Lunlun! Long time no see!¡±

    ¡°Lunlun¡¯s even prettier nowadays!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯re you talking about? He¡¯s always been this pretty!¡±

    Hearing their frivolous giggles, Zheng Lunlun was annoyed. ¡°Please. I¡¯m a guy here. Can you not use a

    word like pretty on me?¡±

    ¡°You are pretty, though. What¡¯s wrong with that?¡±

    Soon after that, Zheng Lunlun was unable to escape the pestering from thedies. At that moment,

    Ning Ran took the liberty to slip away. After all, she did not want Zheng Lunlun¡¯s fans to hate her.

    Ning Ran wanted to hide at a corner and grab some food, but the director spotted her.

    He introduced her to some prominent people in the scene, and Ning Ran went with it reluctantly.

    Besides, her heels were killing her. Thus, after a while of socializing, Ning Ran felt the need to take a

    break.

    So, she bade her time and seized an opportunity to slip back into a dark corner where she sat down to

    eat some fruits.

    The food provided at the party was delicious, and Ning Ran liked it a lot.

    It was a waste, however, as everyone was busy socializing and had barely touched any food. These

    people are missing out!

    ¡°Nice to meet you, Ms. Ding.¡±

    Right as Ning Ran felt that she was finally at peace, it did notst as someone approached.

    He was a famous director in the industry and had twomercial films that were rather good. The box

    office was not bad as well.

    However, Ning Ran was new to the scene, so she did not know many people - him, included.

    ¡°Hi.¡± Ning Ran squeezed out a reply and was about to leave.

    She just could not get used to socializing with strangers, so it felt tiring to her.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t leave, Ms. Ding. I would like to get to know you. I am Zhang, the director from The Little

    Fairy.¡±

    The director thought that Ning Ran would be shocked after hearing his big box office sess.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Ning Ran, on the other hand, widened her eyes in confusion.

    It hadn¡¯t been that long since her return. Hence, she seldom took note of themercial films in the

    theaters. After all, most of them were just star power holding up a terrible movie - nothing note-worthy.

    ¡°You¡¯ve never seen it?¡± Director Zhang was baffled.

    It had a rating of 2.8, but the box office was almost two hundred million. Therefore, Director Zhang felt

    like Ning Ran was very ignorant for not knowing such an infamous film.

    Ning Ran herself felt her ignorance as well. Oh, well! I¡¯ve always been this way.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve... heard of it.¡± Ning Ran mustered up a response.

    Director Zhang finally had an out. Well, at least you¡¯ve heard of it. That¡¯ll do.

    ¡°Ms. Ding. Would you be interested in starring in a film of mine simr to that?¡± Director Zhang

    proposed.

    ¡°I... Um... Maybeter. I have an agency, so I can¡¯t confirm anything. Why don¡¯t you contact my agency

    to discuss this?¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°Rest assured, Ms. Ding. As long as you are willing, I can convince your agency to cooperate with me.

    But before that, you and I need to have some propermunication.¡± Director Zhang continued.

    Director Zhang had a good sense of fashion and even made a good first impression. However, he was

    plump and had greasy hair.

    ¡°Ok. I¡¯ll think about it.¡± Ning Ran nodded.

    ¡°Let¡¯s keep in touch then. Why don¡¯t I add you on WeChat?¡± Director Zhang took out his phone.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have my phone on me. Sorry.¡± Ning Ran was faking it as her phone was sitting in her bag.

    ¡°Is that so? Can I have your phone number then?¡± Director Zhang pressed on.

    ¡°Ah... Um... I don¡¯t remember my phone number. Maybe next time.¡±

    Director Zhang was well aware that Ning Ran was trying to refuse him, so he was quite frustrated about

    the whole situation.

    For he knew that, in this industry, there were a lot of actresses who would want to coborate with him.

    And I¡¯m getting refused by a newbie? She really doesn¡¯t know her ce here. I¡¯ll teach her a lesson!

    ¡°Is this your first film, Ms. Ding?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°No matter how popr a TV series is, nothing wille of it. If an actor wants to move up and

    improve, they should star in a movie.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    ¡°The actresses¡¯ pay skyrocketed ever since they starred in my movies.¡±

    Dear Ms. Ding, don¡¯t you want your career to be greater and your future to be brighter?

    Ning Ran smiled. ¡°Of course.¡±

    ¡°Then you should coborate with me. Even though we don¡¯t have any concrete ns at this moment,

    we can still talk about it privately.¡±

    I am a well-known director. If I want to, there¡¯ll always be a movie for me to film. And I¡¯m a producer on

    the side, which means I can pool in big investments.

    ¡°I believe in your capabilities. But I¡¯m sorry because I need to be somewhere else. About the

    coboration, let¡¯s talk about it next time.¡± Ning Ran was getting annoyed and did not want to stay there

    any longer.

    From the looks of the director¡¯s lustful eyes, she could clearly see what his intention was. Hmph! Talk

    about it privately, eh? Ning Ran knew all too well.

    She was disgusted as memories of the past came floating out.

    Back then, the person Luo Fei arranged for her to meet was also a director.

    These directors treated actresses like nothing because they had some resources in their hands.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, We¡¯re not done talking here. Don¡¯t leave.¡± Director Zhang grabbed Ning Ran¡¯s hand. He had

    a few sips of wine that emboldened him.

    His sudden movement shocked Ning Ran, and she immediately flung his hand away.

    However, that did not dissuade Director Zhang as he reached out and grabbed her again. ¡°Ms. Ding. I

    sincerely want to work with you. Our coboration would be great! I¡¯ll most definitely make you a

    superstar...¡±

    ¡°Let her go!¡±

    Right then, Zheng Lunlun had just gotten away from thedies earlier and came over.

    ¡°Oh! If it isn¡¯t Lunlun. We can discuss the new movie together!¡±

    ¡°Screw the new movie! Let her go!¡±

    Who knew that the feminine-looking Zhen Lunlun would swear like that. Even Ning Ran was

    astonished.

    Director Zhang clearly had more alcohol than he should. Because even in the face of Zheng Lunlun, he

    did not back down.

    ¡°Zheng Lunlun, I know you¡¯re really popr. But you¡¯re still just an actor. I am a director here.

    ¡°I said let go!¡± Zheng Lunlun roared.

    ¡°And I don¡¯t want to! What are you going to do about it?¡± Director Zhang¡¯s temper was rising.

    All of a sudden, he felt a cold and chilly sensation all over his face.

    Beauty Zheng had snatched a ss of wine from the table and sshed it all over Director Zhang.

    What Zheng Lunlun did was bold. Director Zhang finally let go of Ning Ran after getting red wine all

    over him.

    ¡°Zheng Lunlun! How dare you!¡± Director Zhang bellowed.

    ¡°I¡¯m a man with dignity. That¡¯s why it¡¯s just a ssh of wine. I¡¯d be pummeling you on the floor right now

    if otherwise.¡± Zheng Lunlun warned.

    Ning Ran scanned Zheng Lunlun¡¯s slender body. With your skinny body, I think you¡¯d be the one getting

    pummeled. The wine was the right choice.

    ¡°Zheng Lunlun, just you wait...¡±

    ¡°For what?¡±

    Zheng Lunlun was not the one who responded. It was Nan Chen as he approached.

    He was just done with the crowd of big shots surrounding him and realized Ning Ran was gone. So, he

    came looking for her.

    Once Director Zhang saw Nan Chen, it was as if a cat had caught his tongue.

    If it were anyone else, he could have still done something. However, Nan Chen was the exception.

    ¡°What did he ask you to wait for?¡± Nan Chen turned to face Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°He was harassing Ni... Ms. Ding. It didn¡¯t sit well with me, so I sshed wine all over him. He asked

    me to wait for... something. He didn¡¯t get to finish his sentence,¡± Zheng Lunlun reported.

    Once Nan Chen heard that Ning Ran was being harassed, his phoenix eyes became dangerously

    narrow. ¡°What did you want him to wait for?¡±

 Chapter 321

    Chapter 321

    Director Zhang was sober enough by then. Cold sweat streaked down his back as he regretted what he

    did that night.

    ¡°Sir Chen, I...¡±

    ¡°What did you want him to wait for?¡± Nan Chen¡¯s voice was colder this time.

    ¡°Nothing. I just wanted to coborate with Ms. Ding, so we spoke for a bit. And then Lunlun came along

    and sshed wine in my face. I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± Director Zhang exined.

    ¡°You wanted to work with him?¡± Nan Chen asked Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran immediately waved her handed. I¡¯m not taking the fall for this.

    ¡°Nope. He approached me with the offer. Wanted my WeChat, but I didn¡¯t have my phone, so he

    grabbed my hand. Luckily, Lunlun saw that when he came over and sshed him.¡± Ning Ran rified.

    ¡°Is this what happened?¡± Nan Chen turned to Zheng Lunlun.

    Zheng Lunlun nodded as he felt a tad guilty. ¡°I... I was a bit impulsive just now. But I...¡±

    ¡°How did you do it?¡± Nan Chen interrupted.

    ¡°What?¡± Zheng Lunlun did not understand.

    ¡°I asked, how did you do it?¡±

    ¡°Oh. I just picked up a ss of wine from the table and sshed...¡±

    ¡°Do it again.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Zheng Lunlun was astonished.

    ¡°Do it again.¡± Nan Chen tone was ice cold.

    Zheng Lunlun and Ning Ran, as well as Director Zhang, were all stumped. No one knew what was on

    his mind.

    ¡°Do it!¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Zheng Lunlun had no choice. Hence, he picked up a ss of wine, and again, sshed it on Director

    Zhang¡¯s face.

    Director Zhang¡¯s expression was terrible, but he did not make a sound. His hand raised towards his

    face in an attempt to wipe it dry.

    ¡°No wiping.¡± Nan Chen with his cold voice.

    ¡°Sir Chen...¡±

    ¡°Which hand did you use to grab her?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I...¡±

    ¡°Which hand!¡±

    ¡°I saw it! It¡¯s this one!¡± Zheng Lunlun realized that his uncle was not ming him. Thus, he quickly

    pointed towards Director Zhang¡¯s right hand after he let out a sigh of relief.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Nan Chen looked at Director Zhang.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, this is a misunderstanding...¡±

    ¡°Stretch it out!¡± Nan Chenmanded.

    ¡°I...¡±

    ¡°Stretch it out.¡± Nan Chen¡¯s tone was heavier.

    Director Zhang was terrified as Nan Chen¡¯s murderous intent sipped out. Without a choice, he

    obediently put out his hand.

    ¡°On the table.¡± Nan Chen instructed.

    Director Zhang did what he said and ced his right hand on the table.

    ¡°Give him a bottle of wine.¡± Nan Chen signaled Zheng Lunlun.

    Zheng Lunlun ran to the side. He returned with an unopened bottle of wine and handed it to Director

    Zhang.

    ¡°Her hand was never something you could touch.¡± Nan Chen spoke as if he was the harbinger from

    hell.

    ¡°I was wrong Mr. Chen...¡±

    ¡°Smash it until the bottle shatters.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Use your left hand to smash your right hand. Let it know that there are people in this world it can never

    touch. Don¡¯t go harassing any woman you see!¡±

    ¡°Mr. Chen, give me a chance...¡±

    ¡°This IS your chance, or your hand would be chopped off by now!¡± Nan Chen eximed

    ¡°I...¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t do it. I¡¯ll ask someone to do it for you. After this, you will disappear from the scene. No

    more movies, heck, not even short videos from you ever again!¡± Nan Chen said firmly.

    ¡°Sir Chen...¡±

    ¡°Do it!¡±

    Director Zhang was filled with regret. He drank a tad too much and wanted to tempt a newbie. Never

    would he have thought that he would end up this way.

    He offended that one man in front of him. With that, it looked like his future in the industry had ended

    then and there.

    He does what he says. This man is capable of that. Damn it. Why did I have to pick his girl out of all

    these girls here?

    Director Zhang, unfortunately, did not see Nan Chening in with Ning Ran as he was in the

    bathroom back then.

    When he approached Ning Ran, everyone on the side was alreadyughing internally. They knew

    something was about to happen.

    Director Zhang¡¯s promiscuity was infamous in the industry. A lot of female newbies were forced to sleep

    with him. However, none of them dared say anything about it and just kept quiet.

    They knew that he was in deep trouble this time when he put his hands on Nan Chen¡¯s woman. Hence,

    everyone was ready for the show, and no one cared to warn him about it.

    Now that he was getting punished, no crowd formed, and everyone was going about like nothing was

    happening.

    As a matter of fact, no one dared gather around because Nan Chen was there.

    Persuading was even more out of the question unless that person didn¡¯t value his own life.

    ¡°Ah!¡±

    In the end, Director Zhang picked up the bottle and smashed his hand.

    The pain was excruciating, but the bottle did not shatter. Unfortunately for him, he needed to use more

    power.

    He repeated the motion a few more times but to no avail.

    He was smashing himself after all. It was hard to apply more force as the more he smashed, the more

    pain he felt, which resulted in him going easy on himself.

    Even Ning Ran felt the pain from just watching, but she dared not approach Nan Chen at the moment.

    Seeing how flirty this director was, I¡¯m sure a lot of actresses had fallen victim to him. He deserves this.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Nan Chen told Ning Ran.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Ning Ran replied immediately and followed him.

    She looked back at Director Zhang, who continued to smash his hand behind them.

    Will he stop after Nan Chen leaves?

    ¡°What are you looking at? Are you worried?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°No, no. He deserved it. He surely preyed on a lot of actresses with his position as the director. People

    like him are just trash!¡± Ning Ran needed to speak her thoughts.

    Nan Chen paused and turned around. Looking at Ning Ran. ¡°He grabbed your hand, and you just let

    him?¡±

    Ning Ran was surprised and quickly exined, ¡°No. I did retaliate, but his grip was too tight. So... I

    wasn¡¯t able to free myself. Lunlun can attest to that!¡±

    Nan Chen turned around again after hearing that and continued forward.

    Ning Ran noticed he was heading towards the washroom.

    He¡¯s not going to ask me to follow him to the washroom right?

    And so Ning Ran stopped and stood in ce.

    Yet, Nan Chen turned around and signaled for her to follow.

    Ning Ran was out of option, so she quickly caught up to Nan Chen.

    When they reached the washroom, Nan Chen stood in front of the basin and gestured for Ning Ran to

    come over.

    Ning Ran still had no idea what was going on but went along with it.

    ¡°The hand that he touched. Wash it thoroughly ten times! With soap!¡± Nan Chen ordered.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Wash it!¡±? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    ¡°Okay...¡±

    Nan Chen looked terrifying right then, so Ning Ran did not refuse. Following his orders, she started

    applying soap to her hand and washed it.

    On the third cycle, Ning Ran felt that her hands were clean enough and wanted to stop.

    No matter how filthy the director¡¯s hands were, this should be clean enough!

    ¡°Carry on.¡± Nan Chen did not loosen up.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to. It¡¯s alright now. Why the persistence...¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s expression was cold as steel. He stared at her, and that shut Ning Ran up.

    On the seventh cycle, Ning Ran could not take it anymore. ¡°My hands are going to prune up if we go

    on. Please just let me off, Sir Chen.¡±

    Only after that, Nan Chen huffed and walked out.

    Ning Ran was thrilled - him leaving meant that he had agreed for her to stop.

    Hence, she dried her hands and followed Nan Chen. ¡°I don¡¯t feel like staying here any longer. It¡¯s no

    fun. And I¡¯m hungry.¡±

    ¡°There are still some more you need to meet.¡± Nan Chen remarked. ¡°Follow me.¡±

    The people Nan Chen was talking about were all prominent faces in the industry. They were those who

    were in control of better resources.

    ¡°I don¡¯t feel like socializing anymore. I want to leave, and my stomach¡¯s growling.¡± Ning Ran frowned.

    Nan Chen was stunned. Is this woman a pig? There¡¯s so much food here, and she¡¯s hungry?

    ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s go then.¡± He agreed anyways.

    ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s go have some barbecue!¡± Ning Ran was excited.

 Chapter 322

    Chapter 322

    Unexpectedly, a woman yelled hysterically as she pounced on Ning Ran the moment thetter walked

    out of the hotel.

    ¡°Ding Mi, you¡¯re such a b****! Have you no shame at all? How dare you have an affair with my

    husband?¡±

    When she was about to reach Ning Ran, the bodyguard got in her way and stopped her, but she

    refused to stop yelling.

    ¡°Ding Mi, you¡¯re such a filthy woman! How dare you seduce a married man? He has turned his back

    against me when our child is merely three-month-old because of you! Y-You should be ashamed of

    yourself!¡±

    The whole event horrified Ning Ran. She stared at the woman and sized her up.

    The woman wasn¡¯t half bad in terms of look. Instead, she had dolled herself up properly and put on a

    set of designer outfits.

    It was evident the woman was from a rtively well-off family, but Ning Ran had never once

    encountered her before.

    One of the onlookers broke the silence. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Is someone caught red-handed?¡±

    ¡°It seems like you¡¯re right! That woman over there is such a gorgeous one! I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s a

    homewrecker!¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? Homewreckers have always been known as young and gorgeous women, right?¡±

    Ning Ran exined herself the moment Nan Chen cast a skeptical gaze at her, ¡°I have never

    encountered this woman before! We¡¯re not affiliated by any means!¡±

    Although the woman had been suppressed by the bodyguard, she wouldn¡¯t stop yelling and cursing at

    Ning Ran.

    ¡°Bring her away at once!¡± Nan Chen instructed.

    ¡°H-Help! T-They¡¯re going to take me into custody! Help me!¡± The woman yelled with all her might.

    All of a sudden, another middle-aged woman showed up out of nowhere, rushing over to Ning Ran¡¯s

    side as she yelled, ¡°To hell you go, b****! How dare you seduce my son and turn our family upside

    down?¡±

    She was about to cast the suspicious-looking thing she had with her in Ning Ran¡¯s direction. In the nick

    of time, Nan Chen stepped forward and shielded Ning Ran.

    The thing the middle-aged woman had with her was none other than a bottle of rotten egg.

    Consequently, the custom-made suit of Nan Chen, which had cost him more than tens of thousands,

    waspletely drenched and contaminated. It had an awful stench to it as well.

    It was evident the duo hade prepared because it seemed too much to be a coincidence.

    Since the only bodyguard had to deal with the other woman, the middle-aged woman grabbed the

    opportunity and made her way to Ning Ran.

    Thankfully, the bodyguards affiliated with the hotel rushed over to Ning Ran and Nan Chen¡¯s aid the

    moment they heard themotion. In the end, they managed to suppress the middle-aged woman.

    ¡°Wow! Perhaps it¡¯s true! She must be a homewrecker since those who have fallen victim to her action

    have shown up!¡±

    ¡°Hey! That¡¯s Ding Mi, right? I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s a homewrecker!¡±

    A reporter showed up out of the blue and asked, ¡°Ms. Ding, can you please tell us about the truth

    behind the incident? Have you turned their life upside down as they im?¡±

    ¡°Nonsense! I have no idea who they are!¡± Ning Ran bellowed.

    ¡°Since you have no idea who they are, why have they picked on you?¡± Another reporter probed.

    ¡°Excuse me? How am I supposed to figure out what¡¯s wrong with them when I¡¯m also one of the

    victims?¡± Ning Ran replied in an aggrieved manner.

    Meanwhile, Nan Chen removed his contaminated zer and cast it aside nonchntly before wrapping

    his arms around Ning Ran¡¯s shoulder.

    He whispered as he brought her over to his car, ¡°You don¡¯t have to answer their questions.¡±

    Immediately after they departed, a bunch of reporters showed up and went after the duo, but they were

    stopped by the bodyguards.

    One of the bodyguards warned the reporters, ¡°Please behave rationally, everyone! Otherwise, I¡¯m

    going to take action against those who are trying anything silly! We have lodged a police report. Please

    get in touch with them instead if you have any inquiries.¡±

    ¡°How is Ms. Ding rted to Mr. Chen? Why did the other two women im Ms. Ding as a

    homewrecker?¡±

    Ning Ran was about to exin herself, but Nan Chen red at her, warning her to keep her mouth

    shut.

    As soon as they boarded the car, they departed.

    Ning Ran was about to weep because she was horrified. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for dragging you into this, but I

    have no idea what they¡¯re talking about. I don¡¯t even know them...¡±

    Nan Chen reached for his phone in silence.

    He made a call and instructed, ¡°I want you to dispatch our men immediately. Everything has to be

    intercepted before they can make it to the headlines. No matter what it takes, I want the reporters to

    keep their mouths shut!¡±

    Once he hung up the call, he leaned against the seat and closed his eyes.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m not a homewrecker...¡± Ning Ran tried to defend herself as she thought Nan Chen had

    misperceived her.

    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure you¡¯re not a homewrecker,¡± Nan Chen replied with his eyes shut tight.

    ¡°Does that mean you¡¯re willing to believe me?¡±

    ¡°If you were a homewrecker when you were abroad, Lunlun would never befriend you; you wouldn¡¯t

    have to sell your beloved essories either. After all, your mother was the one who had bought you

    the essories. It must have meant the world to you. Therefore, I¡¯m certain you would never sell it off

    unless you¡¯re in a desperate situation.¡±

    ¡°As soon as you returned from abroad, you became a close acquaintance of Nan Xing. It¡¯s not

    necessary for you to be a homewrecker when the Nan family is the force behind you.¡±

    ¡°I have offered you a fortune for the custody of your children, but you have turned me down without a

    second thought. You¡¯re not even willing to be Mrs. Nan, let alone being the homewrecker of

    another inferior man from Flower City!¡±

    Ning Ran was surprised as Nan Chen went on and on for some time.

    Hot torrents streamed down her cheeks as she couldn¡¯t believe he had faith in her. She couldn¡¯t

    suppress her emotions anymore when he brought up the incident of her selling her essories.

    Indeed, her heart shattered into pieces when she had to sell the essories her mother had bought

    her, but she had to sell them off to bring her children up.

    Ning Ran wiped her tears dry and put on a calm front, replying with a bright grin, ¡°Thanks for having

    faith in me.¡±

    ¡°Have you offended anyely?¡± Nan Chen asked in return.

    Ning Ran gave it a thought before replying, ¡°I don¡¯t think so because I have always valued peace above

    all.¡±

    ¡°Can you think of anyone who¡¯s trying to get the better of you?¡±

    ¡°None that I could recall either.¡±

    ¡°Is there anyone else who¡¯s aware of your agenda and your participation in the ball?¡±

    ¡°There a few from the production team, including Sunny. I think that¡¯s all because I only have a few

    friends in Flower City.¡±

    ¡°Does that mean those from the production team are behind this?¡±

    ¡°What? Why would they want to pick on me? I don¡¯t think so because I have never offended anyone

    before.¡±

    ¡°Sometimes, being overly exceptional is a crime. Others might get jealous of your achievement. Even if

    you stay away from them, they wille after you with everything they have,¡± Nan Chen exined the

    rationale behind his hypothesis.

    ¡°You¡¯re right! Perhaps someone is jealous of me! I¡¯m such a fool! Why didn¡¯t I think of such a

    possibility? Ugh! This is so irritating! Do you think the police can figure out the identity of the one

    behind the scene since the duo has been taken into custody?¡±

    ¡°I think so.¡± Nan Chen had his fair share of doubts.

    ¡°I don¡¯t mind being affected by the news at all, but I can¡¯t possibly drag you down with me. I¡¯m sure

    your zer must have had cost you at least a few thousand. Since I¡¯m the one at fault, I¡¯ll definitely

    compensate you for your loss,¡± Ning Ran assured Nan Chen.

    ¡°Sure. It cost me around two hundred thousand as it was a custom-made piece. Since I have put it on a

    few times before, I¡¯ll give you a discount of fifty thousand. Are you going to pay me in cash?¡± Nan Chen

    queried in return.

    Ning Ran¡¯s jaw dropped open the moment she figured out the actual cost of Nan Chen¡¯s egged zer.

    ¡°A-Are you serious? I-It¡¯s merely a zer, right?¡±

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you get in touch with my tailor? He was the one who had named his price as such.¡±

    ¡°E-Erm... We should put that aside and let bygones be bygones, right? I¡¯ll buy you a meal to prove my

    sincerity instead! W-What do you think?¡± Ning Ran felt diffident all of a sudden.

    Oh, God! How am I supposed to gather tens of thousands for you? That¡¯s impossible! It¡¯s better if you

    kill me!

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you want topensate me for my loss? Why have you changed your mind?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about superficial things such as money, alright? You¡¯re not in desperate need of cash

    either, aren¡¯t you? How could I offer you money when it¡¯s thest thing on earth you need? Allow me to

    buy you a meal instead!¡± Ning Ran exined herself with a serious look.

 Chapter 323

    Chapter 323

    Truth be told, Nan Chen knew Ning Ran would definitely counter offer him the moment she figured out

    the actual cost of his zer.

    After all, she had always been known as a stingy woman. It would be impossible to get her to

    compensate him a few hundred thousand.

    Literally, she was one of the stingiest women he had encountered throughout his entire life.

    Therefore, she would never hand over the sum to him, even if she had the requested sum.

    In short, she was merely being courteous to prove her sincerity when she offered topensate him

    for his loss.

    ¡°Where exactly are we heading over for a meal?¡±

    ¡°What do you have in mind? As long as it doesn¡¯t cost more than fifty, you¡¯re free to name your

    cravings!¡± Ning Ran announced.

    ¡°Fifty?¡±

    ¡°Yes! Fifty for the both of us! The first fifty is on me, but please foot the bill on behalf of us if it cost more

    than fifty by the end of our meal!¡± Ning Ran suggested with a bright grin.

    Nan Chen was rendered speechless because she didn¡¯t seem to have meant her words at all.

    Fifty for the both of us? Has she really considered buying me a meal? She¡¯s not sincere at all!

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to have a meal with you anymore. Why don¡¯t youpensate me for the loss of my zer

    instead?¡± Nan Chen bleated.

    ¡°Huh? Why? What¡¯s the fun there is to it? You know I¡¯m as broke as a church mouse, right? How am I

    supposed to afford tens of thousands?¡±

    ¡°Correct me if I¡¯m wrong, but I¡¯m pretty sure you¡¯re not going to foot the bill, even if you have that kind

    of money. Am I right?¡±

    Ning Ran avoided Nan Chen¡¯s gaze, effusing in return, ¡°Wow! You¡¯re such a brilliant man, Mr. Chen!

    You should keep that between us since we havee to a unanimous agreement.¡±

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Why? Are you embarrassed?¡± Nan Chen scoffed.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? I¡¯m an ountable woman, alright? However, I¡¯m rtively sensitive when ites to

    money because I have been broke over the past few years. I dislike wasting my money. I hope you¡¯re

    able to see where I¡¯ming from, Mr. Chen.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be in a foul mood after the incident you have gone through? I mean, you have

    been wrongly used by others, right?¡± Nan Chen found Ning Ran¡¯s behavior odd.

    ¡°Initially, I was about to fall into the vicious cycle of despair, but I felt better since you told me that you

    have faith in me,¡± Ning Ran dered.

    Nan Chen stared at her in the eyes silently the moment Ning Ran finished her sentence.

    Finally, she noticed her statement sounded misleading. Hence, she immediately exined herself, ¡°I

    mean, you¡¯re the boss! Literally, no one else apart from you can influence my career! As long as you

    have faith in me, I can pay no heed to other¡¯s opinions.¡±

    Ning Ran did a great job because her exnation was on point.

    She¡¯s a smart woman, but it¡¯s not necessarily good for her.

    All of a sudden, another car approached Ning Ran and Nan Chen¡¯s car from behind.

    Nan Chen¡¯s driver pulled over immediately because Qiao Zhan was the one who had caught up to

    them. He was there to deliver Nan Chen another one of his zers.

    ¡°How many simr pieces do you have?¡± Ning Ran asked confusedly since the one Qiao Zhan brought

    him had the same pattern as the one that had been cast away previously.

    ¡°Five.¡±

    ¡°Are you kidding me? Five pieces with a simr design? Aren¡¯t you going to get sick of it?¡± Ning Ran

    quipped in return.

    Nan Chen red at her because he couldn¡¯t fathom the reason Ning Ran found his reply hrious.

    He was the person in charge of an entire organization. It wouldn¡¯t be necessary for him to get all sorts

    of fancy outfits for himself; he wasn¡¯t a male model.

    His task was to dress himself up properly and show up in front of others in a dignified manner.

    ¡°Great! If that¡¯s the case, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessary for me topensate you for your loss! You have

    another four in your wardrobe, right?¡± Ning Ran announced herself in a righteous manner.

    Truthfully speaking, Nan Chen couldn¡¯t be bothered by Ning Ran anymore. He put on his zer as he

    asked Qiao Zhan, ¡°What¡¯s the oue of the investigation?¡±

    ¡°The convicted duo are indeed rted to one another, but they have insisted on the fact Ms. Ding is a

    homewrecker. The police deemed it unnecessary to file a case since it was merely a trivial matter.

    Hence, they warned them not to repeat themselves in the future before setting them free. They didn¡¯t

    get to investigate the suspicious duo¡¯s background either. However, I have dispatched our men to

    investigate their background.¡±

    ¡°I want you to get your hands on the truth behind, but don¡¯t hurt them because they have been made

    use by others as well,¡± Nan Chen instructed.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded and brought up a seemingly absurd question. ¡°Can you suggest a location that¡¯s

    rtively hygienic and provides barbecue meal?¡±

    ¡°H-Huh? Are you craving a barbecue meal? I-I¡¯m not too sure about that either, but I can¡ª¡±

    Nan Chen waved and beckoned his subordinate to leave before Qiao Zhan could finish his sentence.

    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. You are free to go now.¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s eyes gleamed and queried, ¡°Are you going to treat me to a barbecue meal?¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you the one who¡¯s going to buy me a meal?¡± Nan Chen asked with a straight face.

    Ning Ran got pumped up and announced, ¡°Oh! You¡¯re right! I¡¯m supposed to be the one buying you a

    meal, but I have a condition! Our budget has a total of fifty! To be honest, I don¡¯t know if there¡¯s any

    hygienic barbecue store, but there¡¯s one that serves scrumptious barbecue dishes! Let¡¯s go, Sir Chen!

    It¡¯s time for me to bring you around this time!¡±

    Soon, Ning Ran brought Nan Chen to Emerald River.

    A bridge had been built over the river, and there was a barbecue stall at the bottom of the bridge.

    Through the reflection of the river, the entire well-illuminated bridge could be seen. It was dazzling in

    the pitch-ck night while creating a blissful environment.

    Nan Chen was surprised because he wasn¡¯t aware of such a hidden gem in Flower City.

    Although it was rtively unhygienic aspared to an ordinary eatery, the stall had been well-

    equipped with a few desks and stic chairs.

    Pit¡¯s Barbeque

    A neon sign portraying the name of the stall could be seen, but it seemed to have gone haywire. Yet,

    the stall owner couldn

    ¡¯t be bothered by it and left it around, hanging idly.

    He rarely had customers who would show up in such a proper set of outfits. Hence, he wiped the desk

    and chairs clean before showing Nan Chen and Ning Ran their seats.

    Nan Chen was a tall man. Due to the chair¡¯s odd design, he couldn¡¯t sit upright.

    At the same time, Ning Ran found Nan Chen¡¯s posture hrious but dared notugh at him.

    ¡°If you¡¯re feeling ufortable, why don¡¯t you stretch your legs? I believe that¡¯s going to help at least a

    bit,¡± Ning Ran suggested.

    ¡°That¡¯s pretty indecent,¡± Nan Chen rasped.

    ¡°Huh? No one around is going to take table manners seriously, okay? Just sit back and enjoy yourself!

    Just stretch your legs however you want!¡±

    Nan Chen gave it a thought and decided to give it a try. He felt better the moment he stretched his legs

    as suggested.

    ¡°What would you like?¡± The stall owner approached the duo to take their orders.

    ¡°What do you feel like having? You know what? Let¡¯s forget about the budget we have agreed upon! I¡¯ll

    buy you a meal to your heart¡¯s content for once!¡± Ning Ran offered generously.

    Meanwhile, Nan Chen was dumbfounded because he couldn¡¯t figure out the sort of cuisines that were

    avable as there wasn¡¯t a proper menu.

    Ning Ran stared at Nan Chen in the eyes and found him hrious as she had figured out his confusion.

    ¡°I¡¯ll ce the order on our behalf. Once the ingredients are served, feel free to help yourself to the

    ingredients that are to your liking. What do you think?¡±

    Nan Chen nodded in return.

    He had barbecue meals before, but the ingredients were those of premium ones. Apart from that, he

    had always dined indoors.

    It was the first time he dined outdoors, let alone under a bridge.

    Thus, he had no idea what sort of food was avable. On the contrary, Ning Ran got pumped up and

    ordered everything.

    There were several foods that Nan Chen was familiar with, yet he had never heard of the vast majority

    of things Ning Ran had ordered.

    ¡°Done! Shall we get ourselves each a ss of drink?¡± Ning Ran offered.

    ¡°I¡¯ll get Qiao Zhan to bring us a bottle of wine.¡±

    ¡°No! Seriously? We¡¯re not supposed to be so particr over a barbecue meal. Can you please let loose

    of yourself for once? Aren¡¯t you tired of all the manners you have to abide by?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by the manners I have to abide by? Are you implying I¡¯m a pretentious man?¡±

    ¡°Not really, but you should forget about your identity as a member of the upper echelon and mingle

    around with people from all walks of life every now and then. C¡¯mon! Rx! I promise you it¡¯s going to

    be fun!¡±

    Nan Chen cast a skeptical gaze at the crates of beer.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing else that goes along with barbecue meal better than beer! Trust me!¡± Ning Ran tried

    her best to persuade Nan Chen.

    Finally, Nan Chen gave in to temptation because he had grown fond of the location. It had blissful

    scenery with a sense of serenity.

    He detected the scent of the dishes the stall owner prepared. Undeniably, they were exceptionally

    alluring.

    As he couldn¡¯t figure out the reason she enjoyed eating a barbecue meal, he couldn¡¯t wait to try the

    food that would soon be served to see for himself.

 Chapter 324

    Chapter 324

    Finally, their dishes were ready and served. Although there were all sorts of odd-looking stuff on the

    te, the food had an aromatic fragrance.

    The stall owner reminded the duo, ¡°Please season the food to your likings, but season your food

    moderately. Otherwise, you¡¯re going to have a pair of crimson lips by the end of your meal.¡±

    There was a box of seasoning that was ced on the table. The seasoning was abination of salt,

    pepper, and chili kes.

    Ning Ran murmured to herself, ¡°Too bad! You can¡¯t consume spicy food, right? The seasoning is the

    best part of the entire meal! What should we do?¡±

    Naturally, Nan Chen had no intention to surrender just yet. He recalled the time he suffered from

    diarrheast they had hotpot together.

    Ever since the incident, he had been consuming spicy food to increase his tolerance level. Thus, he

    had faith in himself and was certain he would be able to consume spicy food.

    Immediately, he instructed without a second thought, ¡°Go on!¡±

    Ning Ran could barely resist the urge tough at Nan Chen due to his response.

    Excuse me? Is it necessary to get worked up when we¡¯re merely having a meal?

    Actually, the issue Ning Ran deemed to be trivial was the exact opposite for Nan Chen. He had been

    brought up in a pampering environment ever since he was young.

    He had always achieved his goal and outperformed his peers over the years. Therefore, as a prideful

    man, Nan Chen would never allow himself to fail. That was his bottom line.

    Ever since he figured out he wasn¡¯t a match for Erbao, he felt dejected. After the incident, he made up

    his mind to brush up on his tolerance level and started consuming spicy food.

    Eventually, he found the joy of consuming spicy food. He had taken the initiative to join others for a

    meal every now and then.

    Finally, Nan Chen thought the time for him to prove himself worthy hade since Ning Ran had

    asked him to join her for a meal.

    Ning Ran sprinkled a spoonful of seasoning on the gigantic te of food.

    R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    After she sprinkled it once, she stared at Nan Chen and asked, ¡°What do you think?¡±

    ¡°What do you think?¡± Nan Chen asked rhetorically.

    ¡°I¡¯ll definitely go for another spoonful of seasoning.¡±

    ¡°Sure!¡± Nan Chen asserted.

    ¡°Is it enough?¡± Ning Ran asked after she sprinkled another spoonful of seasoning.

    ¡°What do you think?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll¡ª¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go for another spoon!¡± Nan Chen suggested before Ning Ran could finish her sentence.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡±

    Therefore, the conversation went on for some time until Ning Ran thought it was about time to stop.

    She savored the te of food immediately after she finished sprinkling the seasoning. Out of joy, she

    eximed, ¡°This is it! This is the best in Flower City! Let¡¯s make a toast!¡±

    They opened their bottle of beer and gulped down half of the bottle.

    It was finally time for Nan Chen to savor the food. He took a mouthful but found out it was slightly

    above his tolerance level.

    What? I can¡¯t give up after all the training I have gone through!

    ¡°Is everything fine? Do you want me to get you another serving?¡± Ning Ran expressed her concerns

    and offered.

    Nan Chen waved at her and resisted the numbing sensation he felt. Putting on a calm front, he

    announced, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±

    Immediately, Ning Ran gave him a thumbs up. ¡°I¡¯m impressed, Sir Chen! You¡¯re indeed an exceptional

    man! You have improved drastically since ourst meal together!¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s statement had driven Nan Chen to the point of no return. As a prideful man, he couldn¡¯t

    possibly go back on his words. Since Ning Ran hadplimented him, he would have to brace himself

    and finish the te of food that had been seasoned.

    Actually, it wasn¡¯t much of apliment. It sounded more like a curse.

    Nan Chen resisted the urge to puke and behaved casually.

    ¡°Thebination of beer and barbecue food is the best! Cheers!¡± Ning Ran initiated another toast

    again.

    Nan Chen was on the verge of breaking down by then. Immediately after he heard Ning Ran¡¯s

    suggestion, he reached for his bottle of beer and gulped it down.

    Once he finished his drink, the numbing sensation he had been feeling was alleviated.

    He got himself another bottle of beer and gulped it down.

    ¡°Wow! Sir Chen! You seem different today! This is for you! Cheers!¡±

    Nan Chen ignored Ning Ran and gulped down his bottle of drink by himself.

    It turns out Sir Chen has an unknown side as well, huh? Look at him! He¡¯s drinking as if there¡¯s no

    tomorrow!

    ¡°I can¡¯t keep youpany because I can¡¯t really hold my drink. Please suit yourself. I¡¯ll take my time

    and enjoy my bottle of beer.¡±

    The beer had alleviated the numbing sensation Nan Chen felt due to the seasoned te of food.

    Therefore, Nan Chen gulped down three bottles of beer while Ning Ran was still on her first bottle.

    Ning Ran finally noticed something seemed off as Nan Chen gulped down the bottles of beer as though

    they were ordinary mineral water.

    ¡°Is something bothering you? Why don¡¯t you tell me about it instead of drinking nonstop?¡± Ning Ran

    expressed her concerns and suggested.

    Feeling as though he could breathe fire, he burped in the end and stated, ¡°No. I¡¯m full.¡±

    ¡°Huh? What kind of joke is this? I have barely started having my meal, yet you¡¯re telling me you¡¯re full?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m really full.¡±

    Nan Chen heaved a sigh of relief because he wouldn¡¯t have to put on a calm front anymore.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, please sit around for a short while because I¡¯m merely halfway done with my meal.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Staring at her as she stuffed the food into her mouth, Nan Chen, who was right across Ning Ran, was

    impressed.

    What the heck? Are those burning charcoals? They¡¯re literally burning on my tongue. She¡¯s no ordinary

    woman. Look at the amount and type of food she¡¯s consuming.

    Eventually, Nan Chen started feeling unwell.

    He instructed immediately as his stomach rumbled, ¡°It¡¯s time to go.¡±

    ¡°What? Didn¡¯t you promise to wait for me? Let¡¯s not waste the food, okay?¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°We¡¯re leaving at once,¡± Nan Chen demanded because he could feel the strong urge of bowel

    movement.

    He was about to lose control of himself. They would have to leave before things get to the point of no

    return. Otherwise, Nan Chen would embarrass him in front of others.

    Nan Chen had been implying because he was embarrassed to request it bluntly.

    Thankfully, Ning Ran managed to link the missing pieces of the puzzles together. She noticed Nan

    Chen might need a bathroom break soon after the incident they had gone through thest time they

    had hotpot together.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go! I¡¯ll foot the bill immediately!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you a discount since I don¡¯t usually get customers from the upper echelon to visit my stall. A

    total of eighty is all it takes! Thanks for visiting my stall!¡± The stall owner replied with a sheepish grin.

    ¡°Thank you so much! We¡¯ll definitely drop by again in the future!¡±

    ¡°Sure! Both of you are so good-looking! To be honest, I¡¯m pretty sure both of you are the most good-

    looking customers of mine!¡±

    She turned around and spotted Nan Chen had crouched and ced his hands on his abdomen area in

    anticipation of her wrapping up the conversation with the stall owner.

    Immediately, she realized what would be in store for him soon.

    ¡°Hold it right there! There¡¯s a public restroom nearby! It¡¯s about five hundred meters away!¡±

    Nan Chen felt embarrassed because Ning Ran managed to see through his act again. He remained

    silent with an odd expression as soon as they made their way over to the public restroom.

    Finally, they made it over, and Nan Chen rushed into the public restroom. He heard Ning Ran yelling as

    she asked, ¡°Do you have tissue papers?¡±

    He turned around and sprinted back to her side the moment he heard her words. ¡°No.¡±

    The sort of restroom he had visited would have tissue papers prepared for his convenience. In other

    words, he had never once needed to prepare tissue papers.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for dragging you into such a nasty situation once again.¡± Ning Ran resisted the urge to

    laugh and handed over a packet of tissue papers to him immediately.

    He couldn¡¯t be bothered by her words anymore. Once he retrieved the pack of tissue papers, he

    sprinted over to the public restroom.

    It took him some time to sort things out in the toilet. After a while, he finally walked out of the public

    restroom, but before he could reach Ning Ran¡¯s side, he rushed back once more.

    Ning Ran covered her mouth and chuckled as she couldn¡¯t resist the urge tough anymore.

    What¡¯s going on? He shouldn¡¯t have forced himself to consume the food if he¡¯s aware of what¡¯s in store

    for him.

    After another few minutes, Nan Chen finally returned to Ning Ran¡¯s side. His condition seemed to have

    improved as he could finally stand upright. The almighty Sir Chen returned to his usual calm and

    collected self.

    ¡°Are you done?¡± Ning Ran resisted the urge tough as Nan Chen was in front of her.

    Turning his head around, Nan Chen avoided her gaze and ignored her as he made his way back to the

    car.

    Ning Ran went after him immediately and told him, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have forced yourself to finish the

    te of seasoned food if you can¡¯t take it. It¡¯s dangerous-¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Nan Chen bellowed in return.

    Ning Ran had to resist the urge tough once again.

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯m so sorry. It¡¯s my fault, okay? There¡¯s a pharmacy nearby. Let¡¯s drop by and get you

    something to make you feel better.¡±

 Chapter 325

    Chapter 325

    Initially, Ning Ran nned to hail a cab and make her way back to Red Maple City. However, she

    couldn¡¯t bear to leave Nan Chen behind. So, in the end, they checked in to a nearby hotel.

    After Nan Chen consumed the pills they bought from the pharmacy, he felt better.

    Nevertheless, Ning Ran insisted on bringing him to the hospital because she was afraid that his

    condition would worsen.

    No matter what, Nan Chen refused to visit the hospital as he deemed it a trivial issue.

    With that, Ning Ran proceeded to call Cheng Xiangyun and asked her to take care of her children on

    her behalf for the time being as she would have to spend the night elsewhere.

    Cheng Xiangyun assured Ning Ran that her children had behaved themselves. She had tucked them in

    since a few hours ago.

    She even reminded her to appreciate the time they were alone. Cheng Xiangyun told her it would be

    the best time of her life.

    Ning Ran begged to differ and rebuked her friend¡¯s statement.

    Nan Chen asked the moment he stepped out of the bathroom after he took his shower, ¡°Who¡¯s on the

    line?¡±

    ¡°Cheng Xiangyun.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Who else could it be? How are you felling?¡±

    ¡°Fine. Actually, it¡¯s not a big deal either.¡± Nan Chen stated arrogantly, behaving as though nothing had

    urred.

    ¡°Thankfully, everything is fine. I thought you finally learned how to savor spicy food. You could have told

    me-¡±

    Nan Chen approached Ning Ran in a domineering manner while lowering his head. He then stared at

    her in the eyes as he repeated himself, ¡°Have I not made myself clear? I¡¯m fine.¡±

    Ning Ran was taken aback by Nan Chen¡¯s reaction. She took a step back immediately because she

    was afraid something bad might befall her. ¡°You¡¯re right! I¡¯m pretty sure you¡¯re as fit as a fiddle!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s your turn to take a shower,¡± Nan Chen suggested as he pointed in the direction of the bathroom.

    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. Since you¡¯re fine, I shall make my way home immediately.¡± Ning Ran

    reached for her bag and was about to leave.

    ¡°The production hade to an end. You don¡¯t have to return to the set anymore, right?¡± Nan Chen

    reminded her.

    ¡°Exactly! I wanted to return home because I don¡¯t always get a break. Finally, I get to drop my kids off

    and pick them up from school! I can¡¯t wait to make them their meals throughout the entire day!¡± Ning

    Ran shared her uing n for her day off with Nan Chen.

    ¡°It¡¯s toote. We¡¯ll talk about it tomorrow morning.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°It means you¡¯re staying for the night.¡±

    ¡°H-Huh? W-We¡¯re the only ones in the room...¡±

    ¡°What about it? It¡¯s not the first time either, right?¡±

    Ning Ran was rendered speechless by Nan Chen¡¯s words because he was right; it wasn¡¯t the first time

    they spent a night by one another¡¯s side.

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll take a shower first, but please go ahead and sleep first. You don¡¯t have to wait for me.¡±

    Upon hearing her statement, Nan Chen stared at Ning Ran and asked, ¡°Why does it sound the other

    way round? It sounds like you¡¯re asking me to wait for you.¡±

    They had checked in at a suite. There were a total of three bedrooms. Hence, they could spend the

    night in separate rooms. Hence, it wasn¡¯t necessary for Ning Ran to give Nan Chen a heads-up at all.

    ¡°I mean you should go to bed as soon as possible since you¡¯re not feeling well. Bye.¡± Ning Ran waved

    at Nan Chen.

    Coincidentally, the moment Ning Ran stepped into the bathroom, she started feeling unwell.

    It turned out she was on her period.

    Damn it! It¡¯s supposed to be two dayster! What¡¯s wrong with my body? Is it because of the food I

    have consumed? Oh, God! What should I do? I didn¡¯t have the things I need with me.

    She opened the door and attempted to reach out to Nan Chen.

    ¡°Mr. Chen!¡±

    Since he didn¡¯t hear her, she decided to yell once more, ¡°Nan Chen!¡±

    Finally, she heard a man¡¯s voice, asking as footsteps closed in, ¡°What do you want?¡±

    ¡°Can you please grab me a certain something?¡± Ning Ran requested.

    ¡°What is it? Are you craving another bottle of beer?¡±

    ¡°No. I need you to get me something because it¡¯s the time of the month.¡± Ning Ran flushed as she

    brought up her request.

    ¡°What do you mean? What exactly are you talking about? Are you trying to waste my time?¡± the ever-

    so-naive Nan Chen was confused.

    ¡°What the heck? Why would I want to waste your time? I¡¯m talking about having my periods! Have you

    not paid attention during your biology ss?¡± Ning Ran got worked up all of a sudden.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°What? Hurry up and get going already! I need it desperately!¡± Ning Ran urged.

    Nan Chen hesitated. In the end, he told her the truth, ¡°I have never bought the thing you¡¯re talking

    about.¡±

    How am I supposed to get it for you when I have never purchased it throughout my entire life?

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t really matter because you can get it almost everywhere. I¡¯ll tell you the brand that I have

    been using. Please drop by the convenience store next to the hotel and grab it on my behalf,¡± Ning Ran

    requested.

    ¡°Fine.¡± Nan Chen finally gave in to her request and headed out to grab the things she needed after she

    told him the brand.

    Although she wasn¡¯t aware of the actual time, she was certain it had been at least thirty minutes since

    Nan Chen¡¯s departure.

    Ning Ran got anxious. She couldn¡¯t be sure the reason he took so long when there was a convenience

    store next to the hotel. It was literally only two minutes away.

    Did he lose his way? He¡¯s having an upset tummy, but he¡¯s not drunk, right?

    She had no choice but to wait for Nan Chen¡¯s return. Finally, after another few minutes, Nan Chen

    came back.

    He had the things she needed with him and handed them over to her through the opening of the door.

    Thankfully, Nan Chen had got the right brand.

    After Ning Ran took her shower and sorted things out, she walked out of the bathroom. Meanwhile,

    Nan Chen was on the couch.

    He had his eyes glued to the television in a serious manner as there was a live broadcast of the

    European Football League. Nan Chen had always been a huge fan of sports events. Therefore, he

    couldn¡¯t hold back his excitement.

    ¡°What took you so long?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t get the brand that you have requested.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Wasn¡¯t it avable at the convenience store next door?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It took me some time because I made a few trips to different stores,¡± Nan Chen exined himself

    in a serious manner.

    Ning Ran found Nan Chen hrious because of his serious attitude. She couldn¡¯t believe he had taken

    her matter seriously and insisted on purchasing the brand she told him.

    ¡°T-Thanks...¡± Ning Ran replied timidly.

    Nan Chen had his eyes glued to the television and paid no heed to Ning Ran.

    She cast a nce at Nan Chen and noticed he couldn¡¯t be bothered by her due to the intense match

    that was broadcasted.

    Since she wasn¡¯t sleepy, she decided to sit by his side and join him.

    Ning Ran wasn¡¯t a hardcore football fan, but she would, asionally, take note of the oue of grand

    matches, such as the World Cup and EUFA Champions League.

    Although she could only grasp a few concepts of the match, she had a basic understanding of the

    rules.

    Nan Chen turned around after some time and noticed Ning Ran had her eyes glued to the television as

    well. He asked, ¡°Are you a football fan?¡±

    ¡°I do watch asionally.¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s your favorite?¡± Nan Chen got his interest piqued and asked.

    ¡°Ronaldo!¡± Ning Ran replied without any hesitation because he was the only one she was familiar with.

    ¡°Why?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°What do you mean why? It¡¯s because he¡¯s a handsome man!¡±

    Nan Chen was at a loss for words all of a sudden. He turned around and focused on the match once

    more.

    He¡¯s handsome? Are you sure he¡¯s a match for me in terms of look?

    Not long after that, the first half ended with a tie.

    Ning Ran finally got sleepy. She stated, ¡°I¡¯ll go to bed first. Please enjoy yourself.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go to bed together.¡± Nan Chen switched off the television.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Nan Chen rolled his eyes and returned to his room because Ning Ran had misperceived his words.

    Halfway through the night, Ning Ran was roused from sleep due to the racking sensation she detected.

    She couldn¡¯t ignore the sensation she felt. Thus, she brought herself up and switched on the light.

    In the end, she made up her mind and headed over to the living room to get herself a ss of warm

    water. The moment she reached the side of the kettle, she switched on the light and heard footsteps

    closing in.

    It turned out Nan Chen had been roused from sleep as well.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for interrupting your sleep,¡± Ning Ran apologized.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you not feeling well?¡±

    Nan Chen dashed over to Ning Ran¡¯s side as she crouched with a pale look.

    ¡°It hurts a little. I¡¯m here to get myself a ss of warm water.¡±

    ¡°Shall we head over to the hospital?¡± Nan Chen suggested.

    ¡°No, that won¡¯t be necessary. I just need to get myself a ss of warm water.¡±

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    ¡°Do you need some brown sugar?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°How do you know brown sugar helps?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a suggestion from the search engine.¡±

    ¡°Why are you searching something of sorts?¡±

    ¡°I want to have a better understanding of your condition, so I can be of aid. After all, you have to go

    through a simr thing every month, right?¡± Nan Chen queried in a serious manner.

    Ning Ran felt a heartwarming sensation from the bottom of her heart.

    ¡°I should have bought a packet of brown sugar when I went out a few hours ago. I¡¯ll go get it

    immediately.¡±

    ¡°Wait! That¡¯s too much! Why don¡¯t you head back to sleep? It¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯ll recover in no time,¡± Ning

    Ran assured Nan Chen.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m sure the twenty-four hours convenience store has it. Wait for me.¡±

    ¡°N-No! W-Wait...¡± Ning Ran tried to stop Nan Chen, but he had departed before she could get in his

    way.

    Soon, he returned with a packet of used brown sugar.

    ¡°There isn¡¯t any brown sugar avable in the store. Thankfully, the cashier on duty was a female and

    she had brought along some brown sugar with her. She handed this over to me,¡± Nan Chen told Ning

    Ran.

    I guess it must be great to be a handsome man, huh? She¡¯s willing to hand over her precious brown

    sugar without much thought.

 Chapter 326

    Chapter 326

    Ning Ran gave him a thumbs up andplimented, ¡°Well done, Sir Chen! I¡¯m pretty sure she wouldn¡¯t

    have handed it over to me if I were the one who had dropped by the store.¡±

    Nan Chen decided to ignore Ning Ran and made her a ss of brown sugar drink.

    After he had the ss of drink ready, he handed it over to her. However, he gave it a thought and

    decided to retrieve the ss of drink.

    He took a sip to ensure everything was fine before handing it over to her once again.

    Nan Chen had improved drastically. He knew how to take care of others better.

    Taking the ss over, Ning Ran took a sip, and it warmed her up instantly.

    She sat across the man and consumed the drink he had served her slowly.

    As she was drinking, she noticed he had cast a gentle gaze at her. Immediately, she avoided his gaze

    because she felt embarrassed.

    ¡°How do you feel? Better?¡±

    Ning Ran nodded in return, but she didn¡¯t feel better at all.

    In actual fact, it would take more than a ss of brown sugar drink to alleviate the pain she felt.

    Nevertheless, she didn¡¯t want to let him down.

    ¡°It¡¯s time to go to bed again.¡±

    ¡°Mmhmm...¡±

    Ning Ran returned to her room in a couple of strides. She turned around and noticed Nan Chen was

    behind her. ¡°What do you want?¡±

    ¡°I have to keep an eye on you. If you¡¯re not feeling well again, I can take care of you.¡±

    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary because I¡¯m not even sick. I¡¯m just on my period. You don¡¯t have to worry

    about me.¡± Ning Ran turned Nan Chen down.

    Nan Chen behaved as though he didn¡¯t hear her at all and followed her into her room. In the end, he

    closed the door on her behalf.

    As soon as Ning Rany on the bed, Nan Chen tucked her in and sat by her side.

    She asked, ¡°Are you going to spend the entire night sitting by my side?¡±

    He replied in a husky voice, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d love to join you in bed.¡±

    Ning Ran remained silent for a few minutes because she was at a loss for better words to rebut his

    statement.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you return to your room? You don¡¯t have to be worried about me. I have always been on my

    own whenever it¡¯s the time of the month. Frankly, I have gotten used to being alone.¡±

    Ning Ran tried to chase him back to his room because she didn¡¯t want him to tire himself out.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± He insisted on staying by her side.

    Silence fell once more in the room.

    Ning Ran turned the idea in her mind for some time. She made up her mind and offered, ¡°Forget about

    it. Why don¡¯t you join me in bed? You seriously need to get a nap. Otherwise, it¡¯s going to be dawn

    break again soon.¡±

    The man stopped hesitating and joined her in bed immediately after she finished her sentence.

    ¡°I have two things to share with you,¡± Nan Chen broke the silence, stating something out of the blue.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Currently, we¡¯re in the midst of the preparation for another movie production. You¡¯re the female

    protagonist I have in mind because I believe you¡¯re the best candidate for the role. It would involve an

    investment capital of at least five hundred million.¡±

    She was delighted because he had affirmed her of the rumors she heard of through others.

    ¡°Cheng Xiangyun had delivered your feedback on your behalf to the management team of the

    company. I have heard about it as well. Actually, the things you have brought up make sense.

    Therefore, we won¡¯t be producing ¡¯Sound of Thunder¡¯ anymore. We¡¯re going for another script - an

    exceptional one, this time,¡± Nan Chen announced the great news.

    ¡°That¡¯s awesome! Thanks! I¡¯ll definitely give my best!¡±

    ¡°Although it¡¯s part of the effort to put you in the limelight, you have to work hard because it¡¯s a deal that

    we¡¯re talking about. Since it¡¯s a deal, we have to generate enough profit to break even the investment

    capital.¡±

    Out of the blue, Ning Ran felt stressed because she would be the one at fault if the movie couldn¡¯t

    break even.

    ¡°Secondly, it¡¯s my grandfather¡¯s birthday soon. I want to grab the opportunity and introduce you to

    everyone.¡± Nan Chen brought up the second thing he had in mind.

    Ning Ran was taken aback because the second thing Nan Chen had brought up was on an entirely

    different level aspared to the first thing they talked about.

    At the end of the day, the coboration was nothing more than a deal she had with Nan Chen as a

    celebrity, but she would participate in the birthday banquet with another identity.

    It was self-evident that all sorts of influential guests from the upper echelon would show up for Nan

    Zhengde¡¯s birthday banquet.

    Since Nan Chen decided to bring Ning Ran along with him, he would have to introduce her to his family

    member.

    With that being said, Ning Ran wasn¡¯t ready for what would be in store for them because she found

    their rtionship to be wed.

    Even though their rtionship had improved drastically, the fact remained there were lots of issues to

    be resolved as they had yet to open up to one another.

    Nan Chen was surprised because Ning Ran had remained tight-lipped for some time. ¡°Are you against

    the idea?¡±

    ¡°N-Not really, but I can¡¯t make up my mind just yet.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? Grandpa has always enjoyed the presence of Dabao and Erbao. Since you¡¯re

    their mother, isn¡¯t it natural for you to be there as well?¡±

    ¡°E-Erm... I need to think about it.¡±

    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. It¡¯s going to be held over the weekend. I want you to get yourself ready by

    then.¡±

    ¡°B-But...¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to defy my words,¡± Nan Chen replied indifferently.

    You¡¯re not going to take my decision into consideration either, right? If that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s nothing

    much I can do about it.

    ¡°Fine. Can you please tell me the sort of gift I should prepare? I can¡¯t possibly show up empty-handed,

    can¡¯t I?¡±

    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary either. All you have to do is to show up at the banquet with your children.

    Theirpanion is the best present he could ever ask for.¡±

    ¡°Nope! Although I¡¯m broke, I have to get him something. I don¡¯t want to embarrass myself in front of

    others. But I can¡¯t think of a perfect gift because he literally has everything he needs.¡± Ning Ran

    expressed her concerns.

    ¡°To be honest, I have no idea either,¡± Nan Chen rted.

    Nan Chen had always been regarded as amercial prodigy, but he was equally clueless when the

    situation required him to demonstrate his soft skills.

    ¡°What sort of things does your grandfather like?¡±

    ¡°Paintings,¡± Nan Chen gave it a thought and denoted.

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran¡¯s face puckered as she stated, ¡°Are you serious? The things he likes easily cost tens of

    thousands. I don¡¯t think I can afford even the cheapest painting.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t, but I can.¡±

    ¡°Does that mean you¡¯re going to purchase a painting on my behalf and get me to deliver it to him? Are

    you going to let me take all the credit?¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡± Nan Chen responded without a second thought.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯m going to feel bad about it.¡±

    ¡°Forget about it then.¡±

    What the heck? I¡¯m merely being courteous. Aren¡¯t you supposed to stand your ground and force me

    into submission?

    ¡°No! I¡¯ll dly ept the offer! However, a painting doesn¡¯t seem to be sufficient,¡± Ning Ran remarked.

    ¡°Do you have any better suggestion?¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we get a renowned artist over and produce a custom-made piece for him? I¡¯m sure that¡¯s

    going to take him by surprise!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a great idea,¡± Nan Chen praised.

    ¡°However, that¡¯s definitely beyond my league because if I¡¯m the one who invites them over, I don¡¯t think

    the renowned artists we¡¯re talking about will show up. It¡¯s going to cost a fortune as well. Hence, please

    do me another favor, Sir Chen.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s merely a small fortune that¡¯s involved. Consider it done.¡±

    ¡°I guess that¡¯s it for the time being. It¡¯s getting reallyte, and we should really sleep,¡± Ning Ran turned

    around and repeated herself.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Ning Ran could barely bring herself to fall asleep due to the racking sensation she felt. She only fell

    asleep by the crack of dawn.

    The moment she roused from her sleep, it was already half past six in the morning. Nan Chen was

    nowhere to be seen in the room.

    She checked her phone and noticed Nan Chen had texted her.

    You should get adequate sleep after a long night. I¡¯ll drop the kids off on your behalf.

    Ning Ran smiled because she didn¡¯t expect Nan Chen would take her words seriously. He actually

    dropped her kids off because she mentioned the n she had before going to bedst night.

    Actually, he¡¯s able to y the role of a father instead of a mere uncle.

    She felt a sense of relief and headed back to sleep as he had everything under control.

    Ning Ran had been exhaustedtely. Thus, by the time she woke up, it was already half-past ten in the

    morning.

    Immediately, she checked her phone again and noticed she had received another text from Nan Chen.

    Head over to the restaurant to retrieve your drink once you¡¯re awake. I have instructed the staff from

    the restaurant to get ready some brown sugar drink and a set of brunch for you. Once you finish your

    meal, drop by thepany and meet me in my office.

    Ning Ran stretched her limbs before bringing herself out of the bed. After she carried out her morning

    routine, she dropped by the restaurant.

    What¡¯s wrong with Nan Chen? Why did he get others to serve me a ss of brown sugar drink when I

    can prepare it myself? Is he trying to announce the fact I¡¯m on my period?

    Thankfully, the person in charge of the restaurant and her meal was a female. She beamed her

    greetings the moment she saw Ning Ran, ¡°Miss, here¡¯s your ss of brown sugar drink. Your husband

    is such a detail-oriented man. He¡¯s the one who has instructed us to get it ready for you. Apart from

    that, he named a few dishes of your favorite and told us to prepare them for you. You¡¯re such a lucky

    woman!¡±

 Chapter 327

    Chapter 327

    Meanwhile, in a certain neighborhood of Red Maple City.

    Bai Hua had just woke up from sleep. After she carried out her morning routine, Ouyang Qing showed

    up with a set of breakfast.

    ¡°Good morning, Aunt.¡±

    ¡°Good morning, Qing. Thank you so much for staying by my side and taking care of me,¡± Bai Hua

    expressed her gratitude.

    ¡°You¡¯re wee, Aunt. It¡¯s part of my duty.¡±

    ¡°How did everything gost night?¡± Bai Hua asked concernedly.

    The upset Ouyang Qing shared the news with Bai Hua, ¡°Everything went ording to the n we had

    devised, and we had the footage of the entire incident. Although we have everything we need, no one

    is willing to report the news. Perhaps Chen had gotten in touch with them beforehand and stopped

    them from reporting the news.¡±

    Bai Hua was frustrated and probed further, ¡°What should we do? Does that mean our effort is futile

    since we can¡¯t publish the footage?¡±

    ¡°Initially, I thought Chen would be upset when he figured out her identity as a homewrecker, but he took

    her side and protected her instead of teaching her a lesson. Chen has changed; he¡¯s no longer the

    same!¡± Ouyang Qing was equally frustrated.

    ¡°What? Chen took her side?¡± Bai Hua refused to believe the things Ouyang Qing told her.

    ¡°Yes! Chen got in front of her. Consequently, he got himself drenched in the bottle of rotten egg. If Chen

    figures out I¡¯m the one behind the entire incident, he¡¯s definitely going to hold a grudge against me.¡±

    ¡°Has Nan Chen lost his mind? How could he ignore the fact she¡¯s a homewrecker? What does she

    have hidden up her sleeves? How did she charm and seduce my son to this extent?¡± Bai Hua yelled to

    vent her frustration.

    ¡°I¡¯m confused as well, Aunt. Do you think Chen may have been drugged by her? I have heard rumors

    of a certain drug that¡¯s capable of driving someone out of their mind.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s possible because those are merely baseless rumors. Perhaps Chen managed to

    see right through the n. I think he had figured out someone was behind the entire incident by now.¡±

    After all, Bai Hua was an experienced woman. She easily ruled out the possibilities based on the

    avable evidence.

    ¡°Huh? Does that mean Chen has started suspecting me?¡± Ouyang Qing got anxious all of a sudden.

    ¡°Chen may be smart, but he definitely won¡¯t suspect you¡¯re the one behind this since you weren¡¯t there

    when the incident urred. Even if they managed to figure out the leads that would link to you, you just

    have to deny it. There¡¯s nothing he can do about it.¡±

    Although Bai Hua sounded calm, she was anxious about what Ouyang Qing had brought up.

    Initially, she wanted tofort the young woman in front of her, yet she felt equally unease.

    ¡°Chen is not going to get to the bottom of the incident ande after me, right? What should I do if he

    figures out I¡¯m the one behind the incident? Oh, God! He¡¯s going to hate me!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Qing! If Chen is going to pick on you because of the incident, I¡¯ll take the me and tell

    him I¡¯m the one who has instructed you to do it.¡± Bai Hua assured Ouyang Qing everything would be

    fine.

    ¡°Chen will never believe me! I hope he doesn¡¯t get to the bottom of the incident! Otherwise, I¡¯m going to

    be doomed!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, okay? Haven¡¯t you already sent the entire family abroad? How is Chen going to get his

    hands on them? It¡¯s going to be fine! You just have to keep everything to yourself and keep Chen in the

    dark!¡±

    After Bai Hua finished her breakfast, she took a peek at the clock and queried, ¡°We¡¯re two hours away

    from the designated time. Do we drop by the airport now?¡±

    ¡°I think it¡¯s about time for us to depart. We shouldn¡¯t keep Uncle waiting for us.¡±

    ¡°Do you think those from the Nan family would send someone to pick him up? What about Chen?¡± Bai

    Hua asked Ouyang Qing.

    Ouyang Qing had no idea since she wasn¡¯t one of the Nan family.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask Chen instead? It¡¯d be great if he¡¯s willing to drop by! I¡¯m sure Uncle will be

    delighted by his presence!¡± Ouyang Qing suggested in return.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I should get in touch with Chen, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Ouyang Qing beamed her reply as she had been waiting for this all along.

    Finally, Bai Hua reached for her phone and called Nan Chen, but no one picked up the call.

    After she hung up the call, she attempted once more after another few minutes. The call was picked

    up, but it was picked up by Nan Chen¡¯s assistant. He told them Nan Chen was in the middle of a

    meeting and would get him to revert back to them as soon as possible.

    ¡°Is he going to forsake his father? I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s still in the middle of a meeting! I¡¯m pretty sure he

    won¡¯t drop by the airport to pick Zhiyuan up!¡± Bai Hua bellowed to vent her frustration.

    Little did Bai Hua know Ouyang Qing was even more upset because it seemed as though her effort

    was to no avail.

    All this while, she had been trying her best to pull strings on behalf of Bai Hua and Nan Zhiyuan to win

    Nan Chen over.

    Previously, her n worked out just fine; she managed to meet up with Nan Chen a few times.

    Eventually, Bai Hua had returned due to her continuous effort. Soon, Nan Zhiyuan would join them as

    well.

    In short, the most important figures of the Nan family would return soon. They would be her strongest

    aides, capable of assisting her to achieve her goal of getting married to Nan Chen.

    Although it sounded like a great n, the strongest aides were in a tough position because they were

    merely biologically rted to Nan Chen; they weren¡¯t close at all.

    If things remained as they had always been, the strongest aides she had would be as good as none.

    Ultimately, Ouyang Qing would never achieve her goal.

    Thus, she was determined to turn the table around. Otherwise, Nan Chen would soon get into a

    rtionship with another woman.

    In the meantime, Ning Ran finally finished the brunch that had been served. The delighted woman

    walked out of the hotel and hailed a cab to Nanshi Corporation.

    She had no idea the reason Nan Chen had summoned her, but she decided to drop by since she didn¡¯t

    have anything else on her schedule.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t have the opportunity to get changed. She was in the simr dress she had put on for

    the ballst night. Although it seemed ostentatious, it looked great on her.

    The moment she stepped into thepany, everyone had their eyes glued to her.

    Jiang Zhe showed Ning Ran the way to Nan Chen¡¯s office and told her to take a seat as he was at a

    meeting.

    Usually, Nan Chen would spend most of his time attending different kinds of meetings and conferences

    held.

    As time flew by, Ning Ran got bored with sitting around idly. She started ying mini-golf in Nan Chen¡¯s

    office; yet, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t get the golf ball into the hole.

    Nevertheless, she refused to give up. She tried over and over again.

    Actually, she had never once yed golf before. She had merely caught a match or two on the

    television. To begin with, her posture was wrong. That was the reason she couldn¡¯t get the golf ball into

    the hole.

    As soon as Nan Chen, who had just returned from the conference, made his way into his office, he

    spotted Ning Ran¡¯s presence and figured out she was in the middle of a mini-golf session.

    Ning Ran caught a glimpse of Nan Chen as he stood by the side, staring at her in an odd manner.

    Immediately, she asked, ¡°What are you trying to do? Are you waiting for me to embarrass myself in

    front of you? I have never yed golf before, okay?¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Nan Chen replied nonchntly.

    ¡°Hmph!¡± Ning Ran scoffed in return.

    ¡°Go on! Why don¡¯t you keep trying until you get the golf ball into the hole? I¡¯m sure you¡¯re going to get

    the gist of it if you keep trying.¡±

    ¡°Nope! Why would I want to learn the proper way to y golf? Golf has always been the favorite

    pastime of the wealthy ones. I¡¯m not from a wealthy background. Therefore, I don¡¯t need to learn how

    to y golf,¡± Ning Ran rebuked in a righteous manner.

    ¡°You¡¯ll soon turn into a wealthy one,¡± Nan Chen asserted.

    He reached for a golf club and showed her the right way to do it. ¡°This is the proper way to do it. Watch

    and learn.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? How am I going to be wealthy over the night? I¡¯m still heavily indebted, no thanks

    to you. I guess I¡¯m stuck with you for the rest of my life.¡±

    ¡°I almost forgot about that.¡± Nan Chen yed along with Ning Ran.

    ¡°You¡¯re such a damned capitalist!¡± Ning Ran snorted.

    ¡°I guess you¡¯re right.¡± Nan Chen had no intention to rebuke Ning Ran¡¯s statement at all.

    He paused for a few seconds before adding, ¡°Pure monopoly doesn¡¯t exist because the working

    principle of the society is interdependence. The world is a better ce due to the exchange of

    resources that urs globally.¡±

    ¡°If I didn¡¯t take advantage of your skills, you wouldn¡¯t have be a celebrity. Simrly, thepany

    would stand nothing to gain. In other words, we managed to achieve a win-win situation due to

    interdependence. At the end of the day, it seems like we can¡¯t get rid of one another, huh?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m confused by all the theories you¡¯re presenting. Let¡¯s forget about it. Why have you summoned me

    here today? Is there anything you want to discuss with me?¡±

    ¡°Not really.¡±

    ¡°Huh? If that¡¯s the case, why have you summoned me here?¡±

    ¡°You have anything else on your schedule, don¡¯t you?¡± Nan Chen replied with another question.

    ¡°Since we have just wrapped up the production, there isn¡¯t any fixed agenda for the moment, so I don¡¯t

    have anything on my schedule.¡±

    ¡°Why couldn¡¯t you drop by my office and spend some time with me when you have nothing to do?¡±

    Ning Ran found his seemingly logical theory absurd.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 328

    Chapter 328

    ¡°Why would I want to be here when I can spend the entire day at home?¡± Ning Ran asked rhetorically.

    ¡°We can drop by and pick up the kids together in the afternoon,¡± Nan Chen added.

    ¡°Is that what you have been up to all along? You should have told me earlier. Otherwise, I¡¯m going to

    misperceive that you¡¯re missing me,¡± Ning Ran blurted out the thing she had in mind.

    Initially, it was an unintended joke, but the moment Ning Ran finished her sentence, she recalled that

    she was talking to Nan Chen.

    She could fool around with others, but she should never behave in such a manner when she was

    around the man.

    Simrly, Nan Chen was taken aback by Ning Ran¡¯s unintended joke. He felt as though she had tried to

    hit on him.

    As soon as Ning Ran caught a glimpse of Nan Chen¡¯s gaze, she exined herself, ¡°I-I didn¡¯t mean it! I-

    It¡¯s a joke!¡±

    ¡°Do you always pull others¡¯ legs in a simr method?¡± Nan Chen probed callously.

    ¡°No! Who do you think I am? I¡¯m trying to pull your leg because we¡¯re close acquaintances!¡±

    ¡°Are you sure we¡¯re closely acquainted with one another?¡±

    Do I get to consider him a close acquaintance of mine?

    She turned the idea in her mind and remarked, ¡°I guess we¡¯re halfway there?¡±

    Frowning, Nan Chen asked, ¡°What do you mean we¡¯re halfway there? Are we heading somewhere?¡±

    In return, Ning Ran chuckled, ¡°I have no idea you¡¯re such a funny guy! Is that an intended pun?¡±

    As soon as she regainedposure, she noticed she had gone overboard and embarrassed herself in

    front of him again.

    Nan Chen couldn¡¯tprehend the reason Ning Ranughed out loud in front of him.

    Has she lost her mind? What¡¯s so funny about an ordinary question?

    ¡°Please neglect my words and tend to the things you have on your te. I¡¯ll stay around until it¡¯s time to

    pick them up.¡± Ning Ran waved at Nan Chen and beckoned him to leave her alone.

    He felt irritated because she seemed to be delivering amand instead.

    Nheless, he decided to pay no heed to her since she had always behaved as such.

    Nan Chen returned to his table and started sorting out the things he had on his te.

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran started exploring the spacious office of Nan Chen. She sized up every single

    item and ran her fingers across the things she could get her hands on.

    When she had had enough of exploring his office, she would head over to the window and enjoy the

    bustling scene of the city.

    After a short while, Ning Ran was alone in Nan Chen¡¯s office again as he had headed out once more

    because he had to attend another conference with the team from another region.

    She walked towards Nan Chen¡¯s workstation and took a seat.

    Nanshi Corporation was a corporation capable of influencing other regions¡¯ economies. Countless

    people desired to take over his position as the person in charge.

    Hence, Ning Ran decided to take a seat on the most influential man¡¯s chair. She wasn¡¯t interested in

    the fame and wealth associated with the position. In short, she was merely there to check if Nan

    Chen¡¯s seat wasfortable.

    Indeed, it felt great as he had purchased himself an ergonomic chair.

    It was the perfect height for Nan Chen since he had a pair of slender legs, but Ning Ran was rtively

    short aspared to him. Therefore, she couldn¡¯t reach the ground with her feet.

    She dared not adjust the chair to amodate her height; she was afraid Nan Chen would notice she

    had been on his chair.

    Suddenly, she heard the sound of a phone buzzing.

    Nan Chen received a call through his personal phone. The particr phone of his had only been made

    known to a few of his close acquaintances.

    In other words, the person on the other end of the call was an important figure. There must be some

    sort of emergency that required Nan Chen¡¯s attention.

    Ning Ran picked up the phone and noticed it was a call from Nan Chen¡¯s mother.

    Nan Chen¡¯s mother?

    Never had she ever encountered his mother before. He had never once brought up the existence of his

    mother in front of her as well.

    The callsted for a few minutes before it was hung up. A few secondster, he received another call

    from the exact same person.

    Could it be an emergency? Why is Nan Chen¡¯s mother trying to get in touch with him desperately?Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    In spite of being a young parent, Ning Ran, was, after all, a parent of two. Therefore, she knew how

    anxious Nan Chen¡¯s mother must have been.

    She made up her mind and picked up the call. ¡°Hello?¡±

    ¡°Who are you? Why do you have ess to my son¡¯s phone?¡± Bai Hua raised her volume, asking as

    soon as she heard Ning Ran¡¯s voice.

    Ning Ran thought the voice of Nan Chen¡¯s mother sounded awfully familiar as though she had

    encountered her before.

    A few secondster, she ditched the idea behind and exined, ¡°I-I¡¯m his friend. He¡¯s in the middle of a

    conference. Do you want to leave a message for him? I can deliver the message on your behalf.¡±

    ¡°Friend? What sort of friend?¡±

    What do you mean what sort of friend? How many types of friends are there? We¡¯re like friends.

    Actually, we¡¯re not really ordinary friends because we¡¯re more than friends.

    However, we¡¯re not exactly in a rtionship either. What should I tell her?

    ¡°Excuse me? Who are you? Can you please exin yourself?¡± Bai Hua had no intention to let Ning

    Ran off the hook just yet.

    ¡°Actually, I¡¯m Mr. Chen¡¯s personal assistant. He¡¯s in the middle of a conference. I¡¯ll get him to revert

    back to you once he¡¯s back. Is that fine?¡± Ning Ran suggested.

    ¡°Nonsense! This is Chen¡¯s personal handphone! He would never allow his assistant to pick up the call

    on his behalf! Who the hell are you?¡±

    All of a sudden, Ning Ran regretted her decision. If she didn¡¯t poke her nose into other¡¯s business, she

    wouldn¡¯t be caught up in such an odd situation.

    ¡°Mr. Chen is in the middle of a conference. He left his phone behind on his table. I noticed it was a call

    from you when I was in the middle of sorting out some documents. I decided to pick up the call

    because I was afraid it was an emergency that requires his immediate attention.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fully aware it was a wrong decision to pick up the call. Therefore, allow me to express my utmost

    apology. Once Mr. Chen is back from the conference, I¡¯ll definitely tell him you have called. That¡¯s all I

    have to tell you. Goodbye, Aunt.¡±

    Ning Ran hung up the call as soon as she made herself clear.

    She had no choice but to lie because the situation would get increasingly messed up if she tried to

    exin herself further.

    Once she hung up the call, she took a deep breath and warned herself to stay out of others¡¯

    businesses in the future.

    A few secondster, Bai Hua called again. However, Ning Ran dared not pick up the call anymore

    because she was afraid she would get herself into huge trouble.

    She took a seat on the couch and got bored again.

    It¡¯s merely one o¡¯clock. Am I supposed to stay around until he gets off work? That¡¯s a few hours that

    we¡¯re talking about. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m going to die due to boredom.

    She thought about it and decided to get herself a book to read, so she could kill the time.

    The moment she reached the bookshelf, she regretted her decision. The only books that were avable

    on the bookshelf were educational, financial magazines, and scientific journals.

    Never had she been a fan of reading materials of sorts. She wouldn¡¯t get to enjoy herself either.

    In the end, she decided to surf the inte, browsing all sorts of entertaining videos. She got lucky and

    saw a few hrious videos.

    Coincidentally, Nan Chen made his way back since she startedughing in his office. The moment he

    walked into his office, he heard Ning Ran¡¯s hystericalugh.

    He was shocked because he thought his office had been infiltrated by a maniac since no ordinary man

    wouldugh on their own.

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran had a great time, enjoying the entertaining videos she found on the inte. She

    wasn¡¯t aware someone else was around in the office.

    Jiang Zhe, who was behind Nan Chen, heard Ning Ran¡¯s hystericalugh as well. He got curious

    because he couldn¡¯t figure out the sort of activity capable of entertaining her.

    Throughout the years, Nan Chen¡¯s office had always had a despairing tone to it. It was the first time in

    forever they heard such contagiousughter in his office.

    Jiang Zhe craned his neck in an attempt to figure out the reason Ning Ran wouldn¡¯t stopughing. But

    Nan Chen red at him the moment he caught a glimpse of his action.

    Immediately, Jiang Zhe turned around and avoided his supervisor¡¯s gaze because it was evident he

    didn¡¯t want him to poke his nose into his business.

    They had already stepped into the office, yet Ning Ran had no idea of their presence. At that moment,

    she was stillughing to her heart¡¯s content on the couch.

 Chapter 329

    Chapter 329

    Ning Ran only raised her head when she heard Nan Chen¡¯s footsteps.

    She immediately stoppedughing and tried her very best to act demure.

    ¡°What were youughing about?¡± Nan Chen was very curious.

    ¡°Nothing.¡± Ning Ran felt rather embarrassed by her behavior.

    I thought the meeting was going to take a long time! Why is he back so soon?

    ¡°Nothing? Then why did youugh so crazily just now?¡±

    ¡°Me? Laughing crazily? You must have heard wrong!¡± Ning Ran said.

    He furrowed his brows. ¡°It was pretty loud. I¡¯m quite sure it was you.¡±

    By now, Ning Ran was rather abashed. ¡°Fine. Iughed a little louder because I thought there was no

    one around. But more importantly, this video is so funny!¡±

    ¡°Is that so? Can I have a look.¡±

    Ning Ran opened up the clip and passed her phone to Nan Chen.

    The video was about a rural couple deciding which chicken to kill for dinner.

    Reaching an impasse, they decided that the first person to catch a chicken from the coop would

    choose the chicken to have for dinner.

    Then, both entered the coop simultaneously; and thus, began a wild ¡°goose¡± chase. Within a short

    time, the couple was covered in chicken feathers and manure. It was truly a sight!

    Nan Chen watched the video twice but still could not figure out what was so funny about it.

    ¡°So you wereughing because of this?¡± Nan Chen looked very doubtful of her words.

    ¡°Yes! Look at them! Oh, they look hrious!¡±

    Nan Chen passed the mobile back to her with a look of disdain.

    What is so funny about this, you crazy woman?

    ¡°By the way, your mother called.¡± Ning Ran suddenly recalled.

    He looked towards her upon hearing this.

    ¡°I looked at your phone earlier because it kept vibrating. Well, it turned out to be a call from your

    mother. I figured she would worry if you didn¡¯t pick up, so I answered the call on your behalf. Look, I

    regret it now, so please don¡¯t scold me, alright? Why don¡¯t you return her call first? Otherwise, she

    would be anxious.¡± Ning Ran admitted timidly.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Nan Chen calmly replied.

    He could guess why Bai Hua called him. Furthermore, he did not me Ning Ran for picking up the

    call. Since he left his phone here, it went without saying that he was not afraid of her using his phone.

    ¡°Why not? She sounded rather worried. I think you should return her call. It wouldn¡¯t be nice to keep

    her worrying,¡± Ning Ran advised.

    ¡°Did she sound worried?¡±

    Well, yes, but it¡¯s because she heard that it was me who picked up the call.

    ¡°Uhm, yes.¡±

    Nan Chen picked up the phone and dialed Bai Hua.

    ¡°Chen, is that you?¡± Bai Hua asked from the other end of the call.

    ¡°Yes. What¡¯s up?¡± Nan Chen asked her indifferently.

    ¡°There was a girl who picked up my call earlier. Who is she? This is your private number, right? I¡¯m

    sure not a lot of people knew about this number, so why was it in her hands?¡± Bai Hua asked.

    However, Nan Chen did not want to exin the matter because he felt that it was none of her business.

    ¡°Is there something you need?¡± Nan Chen rephrased his question.

    ¡°Who was thedy just now?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll hang up if you don¡¯t get to the point. I¡¯m busy...¡±

    ¡°Okay, wait! Chen, don¡¯t hang up! I¡¯m sure you know that your dad is arriving at the airport today. Let¡¯s

    go pick him up, shall we?¡±

    Nan Chen stayed silent.

    The truth was, he already considered and decided against it.

    Even though the man was his father, he did not want to meet him at all.

    To his recollection, the man never provided him with anything, not even a warm embrace.

    There was no father-son rtionship to speak about between the two of them.

    ¡°Chen? Are you there?¡± Bai Hua asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m busy,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°Chen, this is your father we¡¯re speaking about. He hasn¡¯t been back in a long time. You should at least

    pick him up from the airport, no matter how busy you are. He will be quite upset if he doesn¡¯t see you

    when hends, especially since you two have not met in a while...¡±

    Before Bai Hua could finish, Nan Chen¡¯s other phone rang.

    This should be about work. Nan Chen picked up the other phone and passed his private cell to Ning

    Ran.

    She was taken aback. He¡¯s giving it to me? He¡¯s asking me to speak to his mother? What the heck?

    Left with no other choice, she took the phone from him and walked to the other side of the room so that

    Nan Chen¡¯s work call would not be interrupted.

    ¡°Hello? Hello?¡± Bai Hua was still speaking.

    ¡°Hello, Mrs. Nan. Mr. Chen is on a work call currently. It seems to be important,¡± she said.

    ¡°It¡¯s you again? Who are you? Why do you keep picking up my son¡¯s calls?¡± Bai Hua was very

    annoyed.

    ¡°I am Mr. Chen¡¯s assistant. He is currently on a call on his other phone and has handed his personal

    mobile to me. I¡¯m just a small-time staff, Mrs. Nan. I can¡¯t go against Mr. Chen¡¯s instructions. This is

    why I¡¯m handling your call. Please don¡¯t be upset, Mrs. Nan. Mr. Chen will speak to you again once he

    is done on the other end...¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no time! His dad¡¯s flight isnding soon. Get him to the airport to pick his father up! Tell him

    that I told him to do so! If he doesn¡¯te, I will no longer have a son like him!¡±

    Then, Bai Hua hung up.

    Bai Hua was aggressive and threatening not because she was confident that her son would listen, but

    because Ouyang Qing was sitting next to her.

    She knew that Ouyang Qing wanted Nan Chen to go to the airport.

    However, Nan Chen rejected her and left her embarrassed.

    Heck, she could not even get her son to obey her in front of Ouyang Qing. Just imagine what would

    Ouyang Qing think about that!

    Hence, she had to sound a little forceful to assert her position.

    While she knew that Nan Chen would be indifferent, she could still try to threaten a small-time assistant

    like Ning Ran so that Ouyang Qing felt a little more included and validated.

    On the other end, Ning Ran held onto the phone in a daze.

    Nan Chen ended his work call and looked at her. ¡°What did she say?¡±

    ¡°Same thing. She wants you to pick your father at the airport.¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    Earlier, Nan Chen passed the phone to her because he wanted to handle the business call without

    hanging up on his mother.

    Another reason was that he had hoped Ning Ran would tell Bai Hua that he was really busy and had no

    time.

    Unfortunately, Ning Ran was not like Jiang Zhe. Thetter was like a fortune-teller who knew exactly

    what Nan Chen wanted just from a nce! Naturally, she did not get the message.

    ¡°I... I said that you would go,¡± she told him in a frightened manner.

    R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    She didn¡¯t want to lie, but Bai Hua left her with a threat!

    Also, she felt that she should help ease the tension between Nan Chen and Bai Hua. After all, they

    were mother and son.

    Hence, Ning Ran did not convey Bai Hua¡¯s exact words to Nan Chen as she thought it would not be

    beneficial.

    They are a family. What¡¯s most important is that they live harmoniously and happily.

    ¡°Did you just decide that for me?¡± Nan Chen asked sternly.

    ¡°Of course not! I¡¯m just an actress working under you. Meanwhile, you are the famous Sir Chen in

    Flower City! How can I decide anything on your behalf? But well, I did it give it some thought. I think

    you should go,¡± Ning Ran said.

    He continued to look at her, signaling her to continue.

    ¡°Look, your actions don¡¯t just represent you. They represent Nanshi Corporation too. Others might take

    advantage of the situation if you continue being cold to your family. They will say that you are cold,

    ruthless, and unfilial. Nothing but a cold-blooded businessman! They might even go to the extent of

    saying that you are a terrible person because you don¡¯t treat your parents well. Of course, I¡¯m not

    saying you are someone like that, but words can be powerful. You should try being on good terms with

    your family. It¡¯s important for a prominent figure like yourself.¡±

    Nan Chen narrowed his eyes. He never expected a woman whoughed like a maniac at a silly video

    to have such insight and perspective.

 Chapter 330

    Chapter 330

    Ning Ran panicked slightly as Nan Chen continued to stare.

    ¡°I might be wrong. In that case, you can just ignore me, but please don¡¯t be angry with me.¡±

    Thetter remained silent.

    Deep down, he knew that Ning Ran¡¯s words made sense.

    The more prominent and powerful always desired to be on good terms with their families.

    As a matter of fact, many big bosses who conquered the business world often met with their downfalls

    through internal and personal conflicts.

    Hence, it was pertinent to have one¡¯s personal matters dealt with properly, especially if one was an

    important figure.

    This was also why many powerful couples would not divorce each other, no matter the destitute state of

    their rtionship. They did not want to risk their entire careers because of a personal conflict.

    It surprised Nan Chen that the woman would be able to think of this.

    ¡°Please stop looking at me like that. I¡¯m wrong, alright?¡± She became more anxious.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t youe with me?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Well, you were the one who promised my mother. Are you not going toe with me?¡± he asked with

    a cold face.

    ¡°You want me toe with you to pick up your dad at the airport? Am I meeting your parents then? But

    we aren¡¯t exactly together, are we? Would meeting your parents be inappropriate then?¡±

    When Ning Ran became excited, she would spout nonsense.

    ¡°Meeting my parents?¡± Nan Chen narrowed his eyes upon hearing this.

    ¡°Hahaha, I was joking. I¡¯m an actress! All actresses have the same specialty, and that is to add more

    drama to their lives. Don¡¯t take my words too seriously!¡± Ning Ran giggled to conceal her awkwardness.

    Shit! He didn¡¯t even mention anything about meeting his parents. What am I doing? How can I be so

    shameless? Control yourself and your mouth, Ning Ran!

    Yet, Nan Chen still kept quiet. Soon after that, he put on his jacket and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡±

    ¡°Do I really have to go?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    This time, Nan Chen drove instead of getting his chauffeur.

    He did not want others to know that Nan Zhiyuan was back. Thus, he thought that it was best if he kept

    a low profile on this matter.

    In fact, he felt that Nan Zhiyuan and Bai Hua¡¯s return would disrupt the many years of peace that the

    Nan family had enjoyed

    However, he could not yet tell how these two would cause chaos.

    In any case, chaos would be inevitable, and there was no way to avoid it.

    ¡°Where is your dading from?¡± Ning Ran asked him softly.

    ¡°He¡¯sing from Tokyo.¡±

    ¡°Did he go there for work? Was it for a long time?¡±

    Again, Nan Chen remained quiet.

    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to pry. I just want to know a little more about your family so that I don¡¯t bberter. You

    know that I tend to do that.¡±

    ¡°Just shut up and that wouldn¡¯t happen.¡±

    Ning Ran covered her mouth with her hands. ¡°That¡¯s possible. But what if I have to speak? I don¡¯t want

    to seem rude.¡±

    ¡°There will be no such thing,¡± Nan Chen told her.

    ¡°Ok. Mouth shut then.¡±

    The car fell into silence.

    ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be on good terms with your father.¡± Ning Ran could no longer tolerate it and broke

    the silence after a while.

    ¡°How did you know?¡± Nan Chen asked indifferently.

    ¡°Well, your dad hasn¡¯t been back for a long time, but you refuse to pick him up from the airport. It¡¯s

    quite obvious that you guys are not on good terms. Otherwise, you would have parked aside your busy

    schedule and go voluntarily.¡±

    Her eyes darted to Nan Chen after she finished.

    Nheless, he maintained a nonchnt expression and still did not speak.

    After a while, Ning Ran remarked, ¡°I¡¯m not on good terms with my father too.¡±

    ¡°I know that.¡± The man finally spoke.

    Indeed, he knew about the tense rtionship between Ning Ran and her father. There was no way he

    would not be aware of the many foolish things Ning Ziqiang did.

    ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve always dreamed of having a normal, average father. We could have nice conversations,

    gossip a little, talk about life, you know? Unfortunately, I don¡¯t have someone like that for a father.

    When my mother was around, she always made time for me, no matter how busy she was. She was

    always present at the important milestones in my life. Later, I went overseas after she passed away. My

    friends often ask if I felt lonely there since I had no rtives. Guess what? I told them that it was the

    same back in Flower City since my mother was no longer around. My children are my only family. This

    is why I always think about being a good mother, about being there for them for a long time. I don¡¯t

    want them to be all alone like I was.¡±

    For some reason, the conversation became about her life. After a while, her eyes gradually reddened

    as she spoke.

    Meanwhile, Nan Chen listened quietly, and his heart ached for her.

    He understood Ning Ran¡¯s message ¨C to treasure family who were still around. Otherwise, he would

    regret it when he lost themter on.

    However, unbeknownst to Ning Ran, the Nan family was much moreplicated than she imagined

    them to be.

    Besides, there was no way for him to exin it, as it would be too long a story.

    A short moment after, they arrived at the airport. Nan Chen parked the car and then called Bai Hua.

    Naturally, she was happy to hear that Nan Chen was at the airport.

    However, Nan Chen did not wait at the arrival gate. He asked them to meet him at the carpark instead.

    He did not want to openly wee Nan Zhiyuan because thetter was not supposed to appear in this

    city.

    After some time, Bai Hua and the rest came to meet them.

    The Nan family possessed good genes. Nan Zhiyuan had very nice features and looked quite

    handsome. Even though he was middle-aged, he still looked rather sharp. The man definitely aged

    well.

    He was decked out in a branded suit, and his mannerisms revealed that he came from a prominent,

    wealthy family.

    ¡°Chen, it¡¯s so good to see you! Haha!¡±

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Nan Zhiyuan extended his arms and reached out for a hug.

    Thetter still looked rather unsurprised and stiff. He did not reciprocate his father¡¯s enthusiasm and

    just greeted him politely.

    Just then, Bai Hua spotted Ning Ran, who was hiding behind Nan Chen.

    She looks so familiar. Where have I met her before?

    At the same time, Ning Ran remembered where they first met. This is such a small world. Isn¡¯t this the

    lady that wanted to pin Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s head on the ground at the airport previously?

    So she is Nan Chen¡¯s mother?

    My goodness. Poker Face acts coldly, but at least he is still reasonable.

    But this mother of his! She¡¯s just a crazy b*tch!

    She might look demure and ssy, but... No words can describe her horrible attitude!

    Apart from Bai Hua, there was another person secretly checking out Ning Ran. Needless to say, this

    person was Ouyang Qing.

    She knew who Ning Ran was but never met her before this.

    On the other hand, Ning Ran recognized Ouyang Qing because Nan Chen once brought thetter for

    some grilled beef.

    She was rather captivating and beautiful. Even from afar, she possessed an innocent and pure aura.

    Furthermore, Nan Chen rarely had a female date. Hence, Ning Ran could remember all thedies that

    went out with him.

    While Ning Ran was unsure about her exact identity, she could guess that Ouyang Qing must be

    exceptionally close to the Nan family since she apanied Nan Chen¡¯s parents.

    Bai Hua gave it further thought and finally knew who Ning Ran was.

    She saw the girl once in a picture, and they also met at the airport previously. Back then, Ning Ran was

    even rude to her!

    This is the small-time actress that keeps clinging to my son!

    Through his acute observation, Nan Chen could tell that there was a slight tension in the air. This is so

    weird. I thought they never met. Why does it feel like they want to kill each other? Is this what happens

    when people meet for the first time? Do they decide that they don¡¯t like each other just from first

    impressions?

 Chapter 331

    Chapter 331

    ¡°Are you Ding Mi?¡± Bai Hua approached Ning Ran.

    ¡°Yes, I am. Hello, Mrs. Nan,¡± Ning Ran bowed her head and greeted.

    ¡°Do you remember me?¡± Bai Hua asked her sternly.

    ¡°Mrs. Nan, I don¡¯t think we have met.¡± Ning Ran pretended not to know her.

    ¡°No! We have!¡±

    Nan Chen was taken aback by this. So they¡¯ve met? Where?

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Ning Ran denied the truth once more.

    ¡°Yes, we have. I¡¯m very sure of it. It was my first day back here, and I bumped into you at the airport.

    You were with anotherdy then. She had short hair and looked like a man! I remember how you two

    bullied me! You spilled coffee on my dress and refused to apologize. Not only that, but you even

    shouted at me! You might have forgotten about this, but I will never!¡± Bai Hua pointed her finger at Ning

    Ran¡¯s face and asserted.

    Ning Ran inhaled sharply as she heard Bai Hua¡¯s recount of the event. This woman is really good at

    lying. She was the unreasonable one that day! How can she point the finger at me now? To make

    things worse, I already denied knowing her just now. If I try to exin, I will look like a big fat liar!

    ¡°Mrs. Nan, I think you might have mistaken me for someone else. I rarely take the ne and seldom

    come to the airport. I haven¡¯t been here in a few months. How could you have bumped into me?

    Furthermore, you are so beautiful, so I will definitely remember you if I¡¯ve met you before. I will never

    forget such an attractive face like yours! You must be mistaken! It¡¯s all a misunderstanding, yes?¡± Ning

    Ran chuckled nervously.

    Initially, Bai Hua wanted to exaggerate the matter and discredit Ning Ran.

    However, Ning Ran¡¯s response was unexpected. It was as though she already erased the incident from

    her memory. Thus, there was nothing much that Bai Hua could do.

    ¡°You are such a dishonest little liar. You obviously knew who I am. How can you act otherwise? What a

    scheming woman.¡±

    ¡°Mrs. Nan, I¡¯m sure we haven¡¯t met before, so you must have remembered wrongly.¡± Ning Ran cringed

    as she said that.

    ¡°You b-¡±

    ¡°Enough.¡± Finally, Nan Zhiyuan stepped in.

    He could notprehend what was going on between these women.

    However, he knew that he could not risk a tension escting with the woman that Nan Chen brought

    along. He still needed his son¡¯s help to go about his life in Flower City.

    ¡°I¡¯m happy that Chen is here to pick me up, so stop arguing, alright? You women always like to argue

    over trivial matters,¡± Nan Zhiyuan ordered.

    ¡°Hey! How can you chide me like that? Do you know how rude this woman was? She wants to marry

    your son! She wants...¡±

    ¡°Aunt, let¡¯s get in the car.¡± Ouyang Qing interrupted Bai Hua.

    The youngdy was rather sensible. She knew that Bai Hua would identally reveal some matters if

    she continued talking.

    She knew that Nan Chen was a smart man. A few more words were sufficient to arouse his suspicions.

    Hence, she quickly stopped Bai Hua. It was better to discuss the matter at ater date.

    Bai Hua noticed Ouyang Qing¡¯s meaningful look and got the message.

    ¡°Forget it. I¡¯m not going to argue with someone like you. But remember! The truth is that you yelled at

    me! I can see through your act! I know exactly the kind of person you are!¡±

    Ning Ran shrugged her shoulders helplessly and chose not to retaliate.

    She did not want to appear too aggressive in front of the Nan family because it wouldn¡¯t look good on

    her.

    ¡°I¡¯m quite hungry. Shall we have lunch? You know that I never get anything from the inflight menu,¡± Nan

    Zhiyuan suggested.

    ¡°I have a meetingter, so I won¡¯t be joining you guys.¡± Nan Chen declined.

    ¡°Chen, your dad hasn¡¯t been back for a long time. Hence, it¡¯s been a while since we had a family

    gathering. I know that you are very busy, but shouldn¡¯t you at least have a meal with us? Take it as a

    request from me, please?¡± Bai Hua asked.

    Yet, Nan Chen did not respond.

    ¡°Chen, Aunt hasn¡¯t been feeling very welltely. She¡¯s also been feeling rather down. However, she is

    in a much better mood upon seeing you. Please spend more time with her? She will feel a lot better

    that way. Please?¡±

    It was Ouyang Qing who spoke. Her words showed her consideration for the elders.

    Furthermore, she had those puppy eyes when she spoke. It was truly touching. Even Ning Ran felt that

    this girl was so thoughtful and considerate.

    ¡°Are we in a rush? Is Mr. Song still waiting for us?¡± Nan Chen nced towards Ning Ran.

    Thetter was stunned at this.

    Immediately, she understood. Nan Chen wanted to use her as a shield against his parents¡¯ invitation.

    He was not in a good position to reject them, and thus, he dragged her into the conversation.

    Well, it would be fine if this were someone else. But those people are his parents!

    If I do what Nan Chen wants, I will offend Nan Zhiyuan and his wife!

    Ning Ran was oblivious to the fact that Nan Zhiyuan was not considered key personnel to the Nan

    family.

    If I offend them, what¡¯s going to happen if Nan Chen fights for custody of the children? Wouldn¡¯t they

    combine forces and destroy me?

    Nan Chen¡¯s mother already doesn¡¯t have a good impression of me. If I anger her more, she will really

    crush me!

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    No, I can¡¯t let that happen.

    Nan Chen can go against his parents¡¯ wishes for all he wants. After all, he is family and also the head

    of Nanshi Corporation.

    I¡¯m just an actress! If I get on their wrong side, they will ruin my career path using all the resources they

    can get their hands on! I¡¯ll never have an acting career then!

    Right then, Ning Ran came up with an idea.

    ¡°Actually, we can postpone the meeting. If it reallyes to it, we can work overtime tonight. Since

    your father is here, I think you should spend some time with him. It¡¯s just going to be a short while

    anyway,¡± Ning Ran said.

    Nan Chen was dumbstruck by her response.

    Did this woman not get the message? Is she really that stupid? Or is she doing this on purpose?

    Since Ning Ran already said that, Nan Chen had no other excuse.

    Even though he was indifferent to the duo, he could not deny that they were his parents.

    ¡°So, Chen, I take it that you¡¯reing?¡± Ouyang Qing rified.

    ¡°I will get someone to make a reservation,¡± Nan Chen agreed.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ve already made the reservation. Why don¡¯t you three take a car? You can chat on the

    way there. Ms. Ding cane with me,¡± Ouyang Qing suggested.

    ¡°That¡¯s a good arrangement. It¡¯s a good opportunity for us family to catch up,¡± Bai Hua immediately

    chimed in.

    Naturally, Ning Ran did not want to take Ouyang Qing¡¯s car. However, since thetter already thought

    out the seating arrangement, it would not be nice to squeeze together with the Nan family and disrupt

    their family time.

    Nan Chen looked at Ning Ran and kept silent.

    She deserves it. If she had cooperated with me earlier, this will not have happened. Serves her right!

    Nan Zhiyuan and Bai Hua got into Nan Chen¡¯s vehicle, while Ouyang Qing invited Ning Ran with a

    smile, ¡°Ran, my car is parked at Zone D. Follow me.¡±

    ¡°Ran¡±? Sounds quite affectionate.

    Ning Ran always thought that while Ouyang Qing looked rather innocent and cheerful on the surface,

    there was another side to her that she had not seen yet.

    ¡°Are you Chen¡¯s assistant?¡± Ouyang Qing asked her.

    ¡°I guess you could say so,¡± Ning Ran answered half-heartedly.

    ¡°Chen is the leader of Nanshi Corporation. His assistant must be elite and very capable. I suppose you

    were selected from arge candidate pool of thousands! Wow! Ran, you must be verypetent.

    Where did you graduate? Do you have a Ph.D.?¡±

    I got pregnant before I graduated from university. How am I going to get a Ph.D. with two children to

    take care of?

    ¡°Well, I wouldn¡¯t say I¡¯m highly educated, nor am I an elite. I just help around as much as I can,¡± Ning

    Ran said as she managed a smile.

    ¡°Ran, you are too humble! Please guide me along next time. I might have graduated from Harvard, but

    I¡¯m not aspetent as I sound to be. I definitely pale inparison to you! How about this? Let us

    exchange contacts. We can keep in touch, and I can learn from you too!¡±

    Ouyang Qing fished out her phone as she said that.

 Chapter 332

    Chapter 332

    Truth be told, Ning Ran did not want to add Ouyang Qing.

    There was no particr reason, she simply did not want to.

    But Ouyang Qing was very insistent and had even taken out her phone, just waiting for Ning Ran to

    add her. It would make her look bad if Ning Ran were to reject her.

    If Ouyang Qing were a man, Ning Ran wouldn¡¯t mind being blunt.

    However, since the person standing across her was a pretty and stunning young girl that was speaking

    to her in such an adorable way, Ning Ran couldn¡¯t bring herself to be harsh with her.

    So in the end, she added Ouyang Qing on WeChat.

    ¡°Thank you, Ran. This way,¡± with a sweet tone, Ouyang Qing led Ning Ran to her car.

    Ouyang Qing¡¯s car was a very eye-catching red sports car.

    Just like its owner, her car was the epitome of beauty and ss.

    Ouyang Qing opened the car door for Ning Ran personally, which made thetter felt a little

    overwhelmed.

    Even though the two of them were acquaintances at best, Ouyang Qing had seeded in making Ning

    Ran let her guard down.

    It was said that some people were blessed with an inborn innocent look that could quickly win over

    others¡¯ trust, and Ouyang Qing was one of them.

    ¡°Ran, could you please share our location with Chen so that he can follow us? I¡¯m not sure if he knows

    the way to the restaurant,¡± Ouyang Qing said.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Ning Ran shared their location with Nan Chen, but he did not reply.

    ¡°Ran, what kind of a person is Chen?¡±

    Ouyang Qing continued chatting with Ning Ran as she drove.

    It was a rare chance for her to interact directly with Ning Ran, so Ouyang Qing had to seize the

    opportunity to dig as much information from her as she could.

    As the saying goes, one should always keep one¡¯s friends close and one¡¯s enemies closer. It was a

    principle that Ouyang Qing lived by.

    It never urred to Ning Ran that Ouyang Qing would bring up such a question and in an instant, she

    became wary again.

    Why is she asking about this?

    After all, she¡¯s so close with the Nan family. How could she not know what kind of a person Nan Chen

    is?

    If she knows everything but still asks me, does that mean that she¡¯s trying to fish some information

    from me?

    Maybe she has even ced a voice recorder in the car to record down how I¡¯din about Poker

    Face so that she could use me of it...

    At the thought of that, Ning Ran became even more vignt.

    But upon further pondering, she felt that she might haveplicated things herself. I¡¯m probably

    overthinking stuff, this isn¡¯t a TV series, after all. I don¡¯t think actual humans could be so treacherous in

    reality, right?

    ¡°Ran, what are you thinking about?¡± Ouyang Qing¡¯s voice pulled Ning Ran back to reality.

    ¡°Oh, nothing.¡±

    ¡°You haven¡¯t answered my question yet,¡± Ouyang Qing continued.

    ¡°What question?¡± Ning Ran feigned ignorance.

    ¡°I was asking, what do you think about Chen?¡± Ouyang Qing repeated her question.

    ¡°Mr. Chen? I don¡¯t know much about him.¡±

    Ning Ran tried her best to deflect her question. Trying to snoop about and get information from me? I

    won¡¯t be fooled!

    ¡°Come on now, no way that¡¯s true! You¡¯re so close with Chen. How can you not know much about

    him?¡±

    ¡°No, we¡¯re not close. we¡¯re just colleagues,¡± replied Ning Ran.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure that¡¯s not true. Chen doesn¡¯t really use WeChat and I¡¯m not even his friend on WeChat, but

    you are! That proves how close the two of you are.¡±

    Realization dawned on Ning Ran that the reason Ouyang Qing¡¯s request for her to share their location

    with Nan Chen earlier was to find out if she and Nan Chen were friends on WeChat.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Ning Ran was totally oblivious of that fact until then.

    This girl is really something, she¡¯s definitely not as simple as she seems to be.

    ¡°As I said for the umpteenth time, we¡¯re not close. Being friends on WeChat is only for working

    purposes, you¡¯re really overthinking things,¡± Ning Ran muttered.

    Ouyang Qing was a little disappointed because she knew she had failed to obtain the information she

    needed.

    ¡°You¡¯re the prettiest girl I¡¯ve ever met. There¡¯re so many girls after Chen but none of them could beat

    you. You¡¯re the only person that gives me the impression of being worthy of Chen.¡± Ouyang Qing

    decided to change her strategy.

    Her words caused Ning Ran to be even more wary.

    ¡°Nonsense. Mr. Chen and I are strictly colleagues, and that¡¯s it. It¡¯s nothing like what you just said.¡±

    ¡°Then do you think you¡¯re good enough for Chen?¡± asked Ouyang Qing again.

    Ning Ran refused to answer this time.

    She could sense the malicious intent behind the question, so she remained silent.

    I¡¯m straightforward but I¡¯m not an idiot!

    ¡°Hahaha!¡± Ning Ranughed out of the blue.

    ¡°What are youughing at, Ran?¡±

    ¡°Nothing, I just realized something,¡± answered Ning Ran.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°You like Nan Chen, don¡¯t you?¡± Ning Ran asked as she chuckled.

    Ouyang Qing was taken aback.

    She thought she was good at disguising it but never had she expected that Ning Ran would see

    through her.

    ¡°You must be joking. Me and Chen, we¡¯re childhood friends. We grew up together since young and I

    see Chen as my own brother.¡± Ouyang Qing tried to cover up for herself.

    ¡°Really? So I¡¯ve overthinking then?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. You¡¯re overthinking.¡±

    ¡°Well, if a girl is particrly concerned about a boy, especially in his affairs with other girls, there¡¯s only

    one possibility. Which is, she likes him,¡± Ning Ranughed as she said that.

    ¡°Indeed, I am concerned about Chen. But I¡¯m only treating him as a brother,¡± Ouyang Qing muttered as

    a sense of guilt gnawed at her heart.

    ¡°Well, I guess I must have misunderstood then. Looks like we¡¯ve both misunderstood each other.

    Neither of us is in a rtionship with Nan Chen.¡±

    ¡°You called his name directly just now. Very few people addressed him that way in Flower City.¡±

    Ouyang Qing seemed to have found another ¡°proof.¡±

    Ning Ran knew she had slipped on that as well.

    ¡°Haha, that¡¯s because people like us who¡¯re working with him have been oppressed for too long so all

    of us call him by his name when he¡¯s not around. My my, how careless of me to let that slipped. You

    must promise me not to tell him, or I¡¯ll be in trouble.¡± Ning Ran pretended to be worried.

    Do you think you¡¯re the only one who knows how to act? Mind you, I¡¯m the actual actress here.

    Ouyang Qing found herself speechless all of a sudden.

    She had also realized that Ning Ran was not as simple as she thought.

    The two of them continued chatting, throwing shades at each other along the way, and after a few

    rounds of exchanges, they finally arrived at the restaurant.

    This time, Ouyang Qing did not open the car door for Ning Ran. She was no longer in the mood.

    Nan Chen still had not reached after a long while.

    Logically speaking, both Nan Chen¡¯s car and driving skills were no worse than Ouyang Qing¡¯s, making

    her wonder what was taking Nan Chen so long.

    Just then, Ning Ran¡¯s phone rang. It was Nan Chen.

    ¡°Something came up in mypany so you¡¯ll have to keep my parentspany,¡± Nan Chen said over

    the phone.

    ¡°What?¡±

    Ning Ran waspletely baffled. What is this about? You¡¯re leaving me alone here just like that?

    ¡°No way! I don¡¯t know them well,¡± Ning Ran lowered her voice and replied.

    ¡°Oh? I thought you were very close to them. Turns out you¡¯re not?¡± Nan Chen was being sarcastic.

    Poker Face is definitely taking revenge on me.

    Previously, he had asked Ning Ran to help him turn it down but Ning Ran did not do as he asked, so he

    wanted Ning Ran to pay the price.

    Bai Hua was obviously hostile toward Ning Ran. Now that Nan Chen was not around, she would

    definitely make it difficult for Ning Ran.

    No way! I can¡¯t let that happen!

    ¡°Mr. Chen, I¡¯m sorry. Please don¡¯t leave me here alone,¡± Ning Ran said with a hushed voice.

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. I was wrong.¡±

    ¡°Wrong about what?¡±

    ¡°Wrong about everything. I should not have agreed to this meeting. I was a fool. I don¡¯t deserve to be

    called a human...¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re not human, then what are you?¡±

    Ning Ran was stunned. What a conversation killer.

    Who would ever ask a question like that?

 Chapter 333

    Chapter 333

    But it did not matter that the conversation could not go on. What mattered was Nan Chen was only

    giving Ning Ran a scare.

    Turned out he was not really absent. He was only trying to remind Ning Ran to not offend him or else

    he would make her life miserable.

    In the end, Ning Ran attended the meeting feeling like she didn¡¯t belong. She wanted to escape from

    the awkward situation but Nan Chen would not let her go.

    Nevertheless, she was lucky enough to grab the seat beside Nan Chen before Ouyang Qing did. After

    all, of all the people present, she only knew Nan Chen.

    In fact, it was not only gawky for Ning Ran, but it was the same for everyone else.

    All of them hade with an ulterior motive or intention. They were, in reality, very distant but they put

    on their merry facade and kept the show going.

    ¡°Chen, it must have been hard for you all these years but you¡¯ve done a fantastic job, and we¡¯re very

    proud of you.¡± Nan Zhiyuan praised Nan Chen in a fatherly tone.

    ¡°I¡¯m just doing what I should,¡± answered Nan Chen cidly.

    Nan Chen had no need for Nan Zhiyuan¡¯s recognition. After all, as a disgrace of the Nan family, he had

    no right toment on Nan Chen.

    But Nan Chen did not retort him. Besides, it was not necessary either.

    It was enough for everyone to retain mutual respect since they would not meet one another on a daily

    basis.

    Ouyang Qing had ordered red wine but Nan Chen refrained from drinking it because he still had other

    matters to deal with after the meeting.

    The same goes for Ning Ran. As such, Ouyang Qing ordered a ss of iced juice for her.

    ¡°She¡¯s on her period so she can¡¯t have ice,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Upon hearing his words, everyone turned silent.

    Ning Ran¡¯s face flushed red immediately, spreading from her face all the way down to her neck.

    What the hell just happened? Who would ever speak like that?

    Did you forget that there are elders around, and a male elder at that.

    Luckily, Nan Zhiyuan did not hear him and he asked Bai Hua who was sitting next to him, ¡°What did

    Chen say?¡±

    Smiling wryly, Bai Hua replied, ¡°Oh, he said she¡¯s not feeling well and can¡¯t have a cold drink.¡±

    ¡°I see, let¡¯s rece it with a hot drink then.¡±

    Meanwhile, when Nan Chen saw that Ning Ran was blushing, he felt that it was rather odd.

    Isn¡¯t it normal for girls to have period? What is there to be embarrassed about?

    She¡¯s such a bold person usually; why is she so shy now? What a weird woman!

    On the side, Ouyang Qing¡¯s face was very gloomy and there were glints of hatred shing across her

    eyes.

    Even though she knew that Ning Ran was close with Nan Chen, she had never expected them to be so

    close to the extent that Nan Chen knew when Ning Ran was having her period.

    It might not be unusual for other boys to try to be sweet and caring for girls during their menstruation

    period, but when it came to Nan Chen, who was known to be a distant and aloof man, the fact that he

    would care about such trivial thing was something inconceivable for Ouyang Qing.

    How close must they be for him to know about her period?

    This might be just an insignificant matter to others, but for Ouyang Qing, it was a huge blow.

    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s toast for the reunion of our family,¡± suggested Nan Zhiyuan.

    Ouyang Qing, whose heart was currently filled with resentment, forced out a smile and said, ¡°Wee

    back, Uncle Nan. Congrattions on your family reunion.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s face was emotionless as he raised his ss that was filled with water.

    Aside from alcohol and water, he never had other drinks.

    A family gathering was supposed to be casual and harmonious, but for the Nan family, it looked like a

    business meal.

    Even Ning Ran could feel the awkwardness in the air and she could not wait to escape from the meal.

    After reluctantly staying there for a little while, Nan Chen told them he had an important meeting to

    attend and needed to leave.

    ¡°Chen, there¡¯s something I need to discuss with you, alone,¡± Nan Zhiyuan said.

    ¡°Sure, let¡¯s go outside and talk. There¡¯s a waiting area over there,¡± replied Nan Chen.

    Both men then walked over to the waiting area on the balcony.

    ¡°Chen, have you visited your Grandpa recently?¡± Nan Zhiyuan asked.

    ¡°Not very often, I¡¯m a little upied at the moment.¡±

    ¡°Is he in good health?¡±

    ¡°Not bad. His blood pressure¡¯s a little high, but that¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s good to hear then. It¡¯s his birthday soon.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Well, the thing is... Now that your mother and I are back, and as you know, Grandpa had no intention

    of letting us into the house, I was wondering if you could...¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Nan Chen rejected at once.

    The rejection came so suddenly and swiftly that Nan Zhiyuan was a little perplexed.

    ¡°But I haven¡¯t even finished yet.¡±

    ¡°I know what you¡¯re going to say, and the answer is no.¡±

    ¡°You know what I¡¯m going to say?¡±

    ¡°You wanted to ask me to persuade Grandpa to let you attend his birthday celebration.¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right, you¡¯ve got it. That¡¯s what I want to say.¡±

    ¡°And I already told you. No.¡±

    ¡°Why? I¡¯m your Grandpa¡¯s son and he¡¯s having his birthday celebration soon, it¡¯s only natural that I

    should attend.¡± Nan Zhiyuan was getting anxious.

    ¡°Then tell Grandpa yourself.¡±

    ¡°You know full well he hasn¡¯t forgiven me. He coddles you the most and has the highest regard for you.

    If you can help to put in some good words for us, the situation might be different.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Nan Chen was adamant about it.

    ¡°Why? I¡¯m your father. Can¡¯t you even do me such a small favor?¡±

    ¡°I can try my best to help in other things but I will not help you regarding Grandpa¡¯s birthday

    celebration.¡±

    ¡°But what¡¯s the reason?¡±

    ¡°Do you still remember what Grandpa said back then? That you and Mom are never allowed toe

    home forever. The only reason you¡¯re back this time is because Mom¡¯s ill and it has already been very

    lenient of Grandpa to allow you to return. If I ask him about this again, he would never agree and I

    would be abashed.¡±

    ¡°You can try, can¡¯t you? Who knows? he might agree to it.¡± Nan Zhiyuan was unwilling to give up just

    yet.

    ¡°No.¡± Nan Chen turned him down again.

    Nan Zhiyuan¡¯s patience was wearing thin and he was on the verge ofshing out.

    ¡°Nan Chen, no matter how great you are, you¡¯re still my son. What kind of attitude are you showing

    your old man?¡±Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Nan Chen kept quiet.

    He had anticipated that Nan Zhiyuan would get mad.

    Nevertheless, regardless of how Nan Zhiyuan yelled, Nan Chen remained indifferent and silent.

    ¡°So all in all, you won¡¯t help me, right?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t help you with this, I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡°If you won¡¯t help me, I¡¯ll speak directly with your Grandpa then!¡±

    ¡°You should be doing that from the very beginning.¡±

    The discussion between Nan Zhiyuan and Nan Chen was very heated outside. Likewise, the

    atmosphere within the private room was also extremely tensed and awkward.

    Both Ouyang Qing and Bai Hua were staring at Ning Ran who kept eating quietly without paying

    attention to them.

    ¡°How did Chen know that you¡¯re on your period?¡±

    Bai Hua had asked the question that was bugging Ouyang Qing all the while.

    Not only was Ouyang Qing troubled by this, but Bai Hua also found it hard to ept.

    Nan Chen is set for greatness. How can he get involved with such an insignificant actress?

    Ning Ran paused her eating and pondered on how to answer the question.

    ¡°I...¡±

    ¡°You better tell the truth and don¡¯t try to deceive me,¡± Bai Hua uttered in an icy tone.

    Ning Ran smiled and replied, ¡°Before I answer your question, I¡¯m curious about something. May I know

    why are you interested in this matter, Madam?¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s question had Bai Hua tongue-tied. She¡¯s right, I¡¯m his mother, not his girlfriend, what am I

    getting jealous for?

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter why I¡¯m interested, you still have to answer my question because Nan Chen is my

    son, and I have the right to know about matters that concern him.¡±

    ¡°But what you asked concerns me, not him.¡± Ning Ran smiled.

    ¡°You...¡±

    ¡°Aunt, it¡¯s okay if Ran doesn¡¯t want to talk about it. Chen is very caring toward his subordinates so that

    might be the reason why he knew,¡± said Ouyang Qing.

    Bai Hua could not understand why Ouyang Qing was siding with Ning Ran on this, but she knew that

    Ouyang Qing had always been as sly as a fox. Therefore, Bai Hua reckoned that the other woman

    must have her own reason for doing so and decided to y along.

 Chapter 334

    Chapter 334

    Ning Ran got on Nan Chen¡¯s car after they left the restaurant.

    The thought of Nan Chen announcing that she was on her period still made her blush.

    ¡°You¡¯ve met my mother before.¡± Nan Chen suddenly remarked.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Even though you denied it. I could see it in your eyes. You recognized her.¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    Seeing how Nan Chen¡¯s words left no space for her to contradict it, Ning Ran figured that she should

    just confess.

    ¡°Yes. We met at the airport once. And it wasn¡¯t a good experience.¡± Ning Ran replied.

    Then, she started to exin what happened that day to Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen went silent.

    ¡°You don¡¯t believe me? I¡¯m telling you the truth here. If I lied, I...¡±

    ¡°I believe you.¡± Nan Chen responded.

    ¡°You believe me? Then you should¡¯ve said something. I thought you didn¡¯t.¡± Ning Ran said yfully.

    Nan Chen kept quiet.

    Ning Ran looked at Nan Chen. She could see that something was on his mind.

    Bute to think of it, there¡¯s always something on his mind. He has a huge corporation on his

    shoulders, after all. That¡¯s normal.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Nan Chen spoke again. ¡°You should stay away from her.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°I said it loud and clear.¡±

    ¡°You want me to stay away from your mother? Why?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no why.¡± Nan Chen told her.

    With that response, Ning Ran had nothing more to say.

    Silence was normal for them anyways.

    Nan Chen drove to the school that the kids were attending and stopped at the entrance.

    ¡°sses are still in session right now.¡± Ning Ran said as she looked at her watch.

    ¡°It¡¯s not like you have to wait until school ends to pick them up.¡±

    Nan Chen got off the car and made a phone call.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to pick them up before school ends? Why? Why don¡¯t we just wait for them?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s bring them out to have some fun.¡± Nan Chen replied.

    Ning Ran was speechless. You¡¯d actually let them skip the rest of school just to have fun? Wow!

    However, Ning Ran had not yed with the kids in a long while too. Since it was rare for her to have

    some free time, she couldn¡¯t help but think that it was a good idea.

    Not long after, a teacher came out with the two darlings in tow.

    Having both Nan Chen and Ning Ran present to pick up the kids was truly a rare sight for them.

    ¡°Mommy! Daddy!¡± Erbao dashed toward them.

    Dabao, who was usually calm and collected, also raced toward them. ¡°Daddy and Mommy, why are

    you both here?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re free right now. So we thought we woulde together and pick you guys up to have some fun

    together.¡± Ning Ran exined.

    ¡°That¡¯s great! I wish both of you would bring us out to y every day!¡± Erbao shouted excitedly.

    ¡°Where do you guys want to go?¡± Asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°The amusement park!¡± Erbao eximed without a hint of hesitation.

    ¡°Alright.¡± Nan Chen dly agreed.

    He turned to Ning Ran and asked, ¡°There are a few theme parks in Flower City that thepany has

    shares in. Should I contact them?¡±

    ¡°No need. What if they do something like emptying the ce? That¡¯d be scary. An amusement park is a

    ce where the more people there are, the merrier.¡± Ning Ran said. ¡°It¡¯d be no fun with just the few of

    us.¡±

    ¡°Okay¡± Nan Chen replied

    When they reached the theme park, Erbao screamed out in excitement as her face lit up with joy.

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing from their reaction they don¡¯te here a lot, right?¡± Nan Chen asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°Only once I think. I don¡¯t have the money nor the capability to look after both of them in a public area

    like this. I was worried that idents might happen, so it was better to just note here. It cuts down

    on the expenses too.¡± Ning Ran smiled.

    Nan Chen remained silent at that.

    Soon after, the family of four started their theme park journey.

    Erbao was highly energetic. She went on rides after rides after rides and it did not seem like she would

    stop anytime soon.

    Ning Ran, on the other hand, was so exhausted that she needed to take a break.

    With that, Nan Chen was in charge of ying with them. It wasn¡¯t until Erbao finally got tired that the

    family sat down together and rested.

    At that moment, Nan Chen¡¯s phone vibrated. He took the call andter told the family that his

    grandfather was looking for him, so he had to leave.

    Ning Ran simply nodded. If the Old Master of the Nan family is looking for Nan Chen, it¡¯s usually for

    something important.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take you guys and your Mommy to the children¡¯s restaurant first. You two can have fun over there

    for a while. I wille back once I¡¯m done. Okay?¡± Nan Chen patiently exined to the children.

    ¡°Okay!¡± Both of them answered in unison.

    Half an hourter, at the Commoner Residence.

    Nan Chen entered Nan Zhengde¡¯s study hastily. For some reason, Nan Zhengde was not in the midst

    of admiring some calligraphy or painting like he usually did.

    Instead, he was standing at the window supported by his cane and looking like he was deep in thought.

    ¡°Grandpa? You asked for me?¡±

    ¡°Sit.¡± Nan Zhengde gestured to Nan Chen.

    ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    Nan Zhengde kept quiet and pointed at the photos on his desk.

    Nan Chen picked them up and was astonished by the content of the photos.

    The photos were of Nan Zhiyuan and Bai Hua when they were at the airport earlier.

    It was taken only a few hours ago, most probably at the exit gate of the arrival hall because Nan Chen

    was not in them.

    ¡°Who gave you these, Grandpa?¡± Nan Chen asked Nan Zhengde.

    ¡°Someone delivered it over and the butler brought it to me.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fast. This happened just a few hours ago and yet, they¡¯ve already printed out the photo and

    delivered it here.¡±

    ¡°Were you there as well?¡± Nan Zhengde asked.

    ¡°Yes. But I was at the parking lot the whole time.¡± Nan Chen admitted.

    ¡°Good. At least you didn¡¯t show yourself.¡± Nan Zhengde nodded.

    ¡°They came back today and asked me to pick them up. I... couldn¡¯t refuse, so I drove over.¡± Nan Chen

    exined.

    Nan Zhengde was silent for a moment before he said, ¡°Are they doing alright?¡±

    ¡°Yes. They¡¯re doing just fine. But Grandpa, who would send these photos here?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°What we should be talking about is the reason. Why did someone send these here? What¡¯s their

    motive?¡±

    Nan Zhengde looked intently at Nan Chen.

    ¡°You promised the family as well as some of the major shareholders that these two will never be

    allowed toe back. Perhaps someone found out that they¡¯re back and wanted to threaten you?¡±

    Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Threaten me? You have all the power in the corporation right now. I¡¯m just an old man who sits around

    doing nothing. Why would they send these to me and not you?¡± Nan Zhengde asked.

    ¡°Perhaps they thought that they couldn¡¯t threaten me with these since I won¡¯t ever go against your

    promise, even when ites to my family.¡±

    Nan Zhengde paused.

    ¡°Chen, how¡¯s thepany doing recently? Anything odd?¡±

    ¡°No. Everything seems normal and all of the listedpanies¡¯ stocks are performing well.

    Nan Zhengde nodded. ¡°That¡¯s good then. I keep getting the feeling that something big is about to

    happen.¡±

    ¡°Rest assured Grandpa. I won¡¯t let anything happen to thepany. Since someone already found out

    that they¡¯re back, it won¡¯t be long before everyone knows. We can either send them back right away or

    stop hiding it.¡± Nan Chen proposed.

    Nan Zhengde thought about it for a moment. ¡°Even if we send them away immediately, the fact that

    they¡¯re back still remains. He is my son and my heart still aches at the mistakes he made. But I¡¯m only

    human, after all. That¡¯s why I let theme back. You should understand what I¡¯m trying to do here.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded. ¡°I understand, Grandpa.¡±

    ¡°He is your father. But both of you are your respective individuals. I don¡¯t want what he did to affect you

    and that¡¯s why I helped you along the way up to where you are now. However, I¡¯m worried that some

    people will use these photos against you.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s expression went cold. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine. I can handle it.¡±

 Chapter 335

    Chapter 335

    On the next day, Ning Ran sent the kids to school and got a call from Wang Xiaoou on her way back

    asking her to go to the agency.

    Nothing else was mentioned on the call, causing Ning Ran to feel a bit nervous. Did I do something

    wrong that caused the agency a lot of trouble?

    However, when Ning Ran reached Star Entertainment, nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary, even

    Wang Xiaoou looked normal too.

    At that instant, Ning Ran was relieved.

    ¡°You have a job tonight. You¡¯re going to be in Flower City TV studio¡¯s show. Get ready for it. We¡¯ll leave

    for the studio in a bit.¡± Wang Xiaoou informed.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Ning Ran was stunned. ¡°Right now?¡±

    ¡°Yes, right now. It was supposed to be next week but one of the stars they invited had to cancel so they

    asked if you could sub in. We thought about it and it looked like there¡¯s enough time so we epted it.¡±

    Wang Xiaoou exined.

    ¡°What do you mean there¡¯s enough time? I¡¯m not even ready.¡±

    ¡°The show goes live at eight tonight. We¡¯re still far from noon. How is a whole day not enough time for

    prep?¡± Wang Xiaoou raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°For anyone else maybe. But definitely not for me. I¡¯ve never been on live television before! I¡¯m

    scared!¡± Ning Ran eximed.

    ¡°What are you scared of? Just leave everything to us. Don¡¯t worry!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the show about? What do I need to do?¡±

    ¡°There will be some games and you will be doing a performance. Do you sing or dance? Or do you

    have any acting-rted talents?¡± Wang Xiaoou asked Ning Ran.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    ¡°None!¡±

    ¡°Singing it is then.¡± Wang Xiaoou remarked.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t have any special talents, singing would be the easier choice. It¡¯s not your main profession

    anyway, so just sing whatever song you like. No one will say anything even if you¡¯re bad.¡± Wang Xiaoou

    casually exined.

    ¡°But my singing¡¯s really bad! It¡¯s straight-up awful!¡± Ning Ran emphasized.

    ¡°It¡¯ll be fine. Mr. Chen said you sound alright.¡± Wang Xiaoou replied.

    ¡°What? He said that?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what he told the higher-ups. So everyone thinks you definitely know how to sing. Mr. Chen has

    high standards, and if he said you¡¯re alright, then you¡¯re definitely alright.¡± Wang Xiaoou looked at Ning

    Ran with a serious face.

    ¡°Well, if that¡¯s the case, I¡¯m sad to say that you¡¯ve been duped by him. I¡¯ve never actually sung in front

    of him before.¡± Ning Ran said with a bitter face.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just prepare for now. Why don¡¯t you go and record a song and we can do some post-production

    and tune your pitch? On the live broadcast, all you need to do is just lip-sync to the produced track.

    Even if you mess up, things will be alright.¡± Wang Xiaoou said.

    ¡°Huh? You can do that?¡± Ning Ran was surprised.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to be that surprised. This is the norm. Do you really think every superstar can sing

    live? Their performance was auto-tuned as well. Just get used to it. That¡¯s how things work in this

    industry¡±.

    ¡°But what if the audience sees through the act? What happens then?¡±

    ¡°They won¡¯t. How would they? Oh! By the way, when you sing with the microphone, hold it higher so

    that it covers your mouth. That makes it less obvious whenever the shape of your mouth doesn¡¯t sync

    with the song. It¡¯s usually fine so don¡¯t worry about it. If anything actually happens, we¡¯ll deal with it

    then. So just have some fun.¡± Wang Xiaoou spoke very confidently.

    ¡°Fine. I really hope I won¡¯t mess things up.¡± Ning Ran was still concerned.

    Wang Xiaoou continued her briefing. ¡°Aside from that, another production team will be there as well.

    You guys will be split into two teams andpete in the mini-games. Even though it¡¯s just a game,

    please do your best to win.¡±

    ¡°I have topete with other people?¡±

    ¡°Yes. The show¡¯s rating in Flower City is not bad. A lot of production teams would use the show to

    promote their new projects. Lunlun has another job so he can¡¯t make it. You and Tang Jing are the only

    ones avable, along with some of the supporting casts. But of course, you¡¯ll have the spotlight.¡±

    Right then, Ning Ran was already trembling with nerves, upon knowing that she had topete with

    other people made things worse. She started panicking inside.

    ¡°I¡¯m actually terrible at this kind of thing and this is the first time I appear on a variety show. Not to

    mention a live broadcast at that. What if I ruin everything?¡± Ning Ran said.

    Wang Xiaoou frowned, ¡°Why do you have so many questions? We¡¯re not even at the studio yet and

    you¡¯re already worrying about ruining the show?¡±

    ¡°I just think the chances of me doing so are really high.¡± Ning Ran said as she trulycked the

    confidence to do the show.

    ¡°It¡¯s going to be fine! Be more confident in yourself. You are the agency¡¯s main focus right now. Have

    some dignity!¡±

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll try.¡± Ning Ran reluctantly straightened up and raised her chin.

    Wang Xiaoou was amused. ¡°No need to go overboard, though. Just trust me when I say, you¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    ¡°What are we doing for the match? Is it a talentpetition?¡±

    ¡°Talents are mainly for performing. You guys will bepeting with your professional skills.¡±

    ¡°Professional skills?¡±

    ¡°Yes. This segment is actually quite challenging. From what I know, it involves memorizing lines or

    impromptu acting after given a scene. The other guys in the team won¡¯t be able to do that, only you

    can. So, it will be your time to shine. The audience will judge ordingly. They¡¯ll know whether you¡¯re

    the real deal or just some pretty face. It¡¯s your chance to show them what you¡¯ve got!¡±

    ¡°For the script, do they provide them for us? Or...¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re promoting the new series on the broadcast, so you¡¯ll be reciting the lines from it. The lines will

    also act as some spoiler for the fans and get them hooked on watching. The lines won¡¯t be long. Maybe

    about three minutes with no cuts. And the segment is all about how skilled you are so there¡¯s no faking

    it. It tests your uracy when ites to memorizing. One mark will be deducted for every mistake

    you make and the first to get ten marks deducted loses.¡±

    ¡°Do we need to prepare some lines in advance?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Yes. In fact, we need three different sets for you to remember. The host will randomly pick one and ask

    you to recite it. While you¡¯re reciting, the lines will show up on the screen behind you so that the

    audience can see.¡±

    From what Wang Xiaoou said, Ning Ran could feel the difficulty of the show.

    Moreover, the time she had for preparations was not a lot. There were so many segments to prepare

    for. It definitely was not as easy as Wang Xiaoou said it was.

    ¡°Mr. Chen said that your ability to remember lines are impable. I believe you can do it.¡±

    That damn Poker Face again! He¡¯s usually always quiet. Who knew he¡¯d be so good at bulls**tting.

    Why would he make me out to be some incredibly talented person?

    ¡°Mr. Chen really doesn¡¯t know me that well. I¡¯m good with lines, but that¡¯s because I put in a lot of time.

    It¡¯s not because I have a good memory. Truth be told, I actually have a really bad memory. I don¡¯t have

    much confidence for that segment.¡± Ning Ran exined.

    Wang Xiaoou kept quiet and fell deep in thought.

    ¡°Initially, Tang Jing actually wanted to take on the challenge, but I insisted that we let you do it instead

    because it¡¯s a good chance to show what you¡¯re capable of. You need to prove to the audience that not

    only you have the looks, but you also have the skills to back it up as an actress. That¡¯s why I want you

    to do it and I believe you can do it well.¡± Wang Xiaoou looked intently into Ning Ran¡¯s eyes.

    Ning Ran felt like she was stuck in a rock and a hard ce.

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll try my best.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t just try. You must seed! This is your first ever variety show appearance. You need to perform

    well because everyone in thepany will be watching. Don¡¯t be too nervous though. Just be yourself.

    You¡¯re a capable actress and we all know that.¡±

    Ning Ran let out a sigh and said, ¡°Okay.¡±

 Chapter 336

    Chapter 336

    It was six at night when Ning Ran finished her rehearsal. Everything went quite smoothly. I think I did

    well today.

    Right then, Cheng Xiangyun came over, saying that someone was here to meet her.

    Walking in theplicated passageway, Ning Ran felt lost as she struggled to find her way around the

    TV station. When she finally came into an exquisite dressing room, she was surprised to see Nan Chen

    and her two kids in it.

    ¡°Mommy!¡± Erbao ran over and hugged her leg, hopping with excitement.

    ¡°Why are you guys here?¡±

    ¡°This is the first time you¡¯re on the TV. We¡¯re here to support and cheer for you!¡± Dabao was as mature

    as ever.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to check on your performance as this is the first promotional event for the new series,¡± Nan

    Chen said.

    Ning Ran let out a groan. ¡°I¡¯m doomed. Not only am I inexperienced, but my preparation time wasn¡¯t

    enough as well. Not to mention you told them that I¡¯m good at singing, asking me to sing the theme

    song of the new series, which I¡¯m not familiar with.¡±

    ¡°I think you sing well.¡± Nan Chen stood his ground.

    ¡°You¡¯ve put me in a tight spot,¡± she grumbled.

    The man then nced at the two kids. ¡°Does Mommy sing well?¡±

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Dabao and Erbao answered in unison without a hint of hesitation.

    Ning Ran was stunned for a moment. Poker Face seems to have a significant influence over the kids.

    How could they support his point of view?

    ¡°How dare you two betray me?¡± Ning Ran tried to threaten the two little ones.

    ¡°But, Mommy. You do sing very well,¡± Dabao exined.

    ¡°Fine, if you say so.¡±

    ¡°Phones are not allowed at the live broadcast, so take this.¡±

    Nan Chen then handed her a phone. Isn¡¯t that my phone?

    Ning Ran was perplexed. ¡°What are you trying to do? I thought I¡¯m not allowed to bring my phone

    along?¡±

    ¡°You can. This will give you an edge,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Why is that so?¡±

    ¡°Usually, there¡¯ll be an impromptu session to test the celebrity¡¯s adaptability. As a result, many screw up

    during those sessions, and that boosts the show¡¯s viewership. Ten minutes ago, I got wind that there¡¯ll

    be a Q&A session for this episode. With yourck of adaptability and limited knowledge, you¡¯re bound

    to lose, so I¡¯m going to give you a hand.¡±

    Ning Ran was stunned before she eximed, ¡°What? Isn¡¯t that cheating?¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you scream louder so that everyone will know that you¡¯re going to cheat,¡± Nan Chen

    sneered at her.

    ¡°Oh my God! You guys are going to help me cheat? To be honest, I like cheating since I was young.

    How exciting!¡± A mischievous glint shed across Ning Ran¡¯s eyes as she bellowed withughter.

    The two kids exchanged nces, and Dabao said with a worried look, ¡°Mommy, you seem so happy

    about cheating, aren¡¯t you afraid of setting a bad example for us? Especially Erbao.¡±

    ¡°Haha. I¡¯m going to cheat during a show too when I grow up,¡± Erbao quickly replied.

    ¡°This doesn¡¯t count as cheating, it¡¯s more like off-site support,¡± Nan Chen corrected them in all

    seriousness.

    Ning Ran gasped in astonishment at his words. Wow! He makes cheating sound absolutely grandiose.

    That¡¯s amazing.

    Afterward, Nan Chen turned around and stared at the two kids ¡°Cheating is wrong, so don¡¯t do that.

    Mommy needs to cheat because she didn¡¯t study hard and became dumb. Therefore, you must study

    hard so that you¡¯ll be smart because smart people don¡¯t need to y dirty.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the dumb one!¡± Ning Ran retorted angrily.

    ¡°See that? once someone bes dumb, they¡¯ll never realize their own stupidity, just like Mommy.

    Remember to study hard so that you¡¯ll be smart like Daddy, and you¡¯ll never have to cheat,¡± Nan

    Chen continued lecturing the kids with a deadpan face.

    I hate to admit it but he just killed three birds with one stone... Teaching the kids the right value,

    mocking me, and blowing his own trumpet.

    The two kids exchanged nces as they tried to stifle their giggles.

    With no other retort came to mind, Ning Ran decided to let Nan Chen¡¯s mocking remarks slide.

    ¡°What if someone caught me with a phone?¡±

    ¡°Nobody is going to notice it. I¡¯ve switched the phone to silent mode. Just be on the lookout and don¡¯t

    let anyone see it,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    Just then, someone knocked on the door to inform them that the live show was going to start soon,

    asking Ning Ran to be in ce.

    As the lights illuminated the entire ce and the music yed, the show officially started. The host

    walked out and was greeted by the enthusiastic cheers from the audience.

    After a brief introduction, celebrities from two different production teams showed up.

    Although the celebrities from the other team were no superstars, they were still more famous than Ning

    Ran.

    A look of disdain appeared on their faces when the host introduced Ding Mi, feeling absurd that a

    budding celebrity like her could be the female lead of an uing TV series.

    The first session was a talent show.

    The male and female lead of the other team performed a rip-roaring dance, and the ce resounded

    with apuse.

    As for Ning Ran¡¯s team, because the male lead of the Sound of Thunder 2, Zheng Lunlun wasn¡¯t

    around, she could only sing alone on the stage.

    The song was pre-recorded, and the vocal was auto-tuned. Therefore, she only needed to lip-sync to

    the song, and she made it through smoothly.

    Nevertheless, she still lost to the other team after the audience¡¯s voting.

    Their dance was terrific. It¡¯s only natural that¡¯s I would lose.

    The second session was about memorizing scripts.

    Each team had to select a representative to draw lots to pick the script. Whoever made ten mistakes

    while reciting the lines first loses.

    If both parties made no mistake, the one who used less time wins.

    However, it¡¯s impossible to avoid making mistakes, because reciting any word wrongly was considered

    a mistake.

    Representing her team, Ning Ran drew lots and got script number two.

    ¡°The script you¡¯re about to recite will be disyed on the screen behind you, so the audience can spot

    the mistake along the way. They¡¯ll know if you say any word wrongly,¡± the host told her.

    Turning around to see the script on the screen, Ning Ran was shocked.

    It¡¯s different from the ones given to me before the show! Initially, there are three scripts for this session,

    but it¡¯s been reduced to only two due to the time constraint. Hence, the script I¡¯m going to memorize is

    supposed to be one of the two. Yet, the one showed on the screen right now is an entirely different

    script for another scene.

    How can it be? Why is this happening? It¡¯s a live broadcast, so I can¡¯t confront the director about giving

    me a script that I didn¡¯t prepare for. But one thing¡¯s for sure, someone is trying to embarrass me!

    ¡°Ms. Ding, is there a problem?¡± the host asked.

    ¡°Who is going to recite it first?¡± Ning Ran forced a smile, a hint of panic on her face.

    ¡°We¡¯ll y rock paper scissors, and the winner gets to decide who will recite first.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Fortunately, Ning Ran won when she picked scissors while the other person chose paper.

 Chapter 337

    Chapter 337

    The opposing representative started to recite the script.

    He stammered all the way, struggling to recite the lines.

    However, Ning Ran couldn¡¯t care less about his performance because she was currently busy thinking

    about the script she saw on the screen earlier.

    The particr script had left a deep impression on her. On the day of the shooting, the supporting

    actress, Tang Jing wasn¡¯t at her best, so the scene was shot many times.

    In the end, Ning Ran had a fever and was admitted to the hospital because she was being sshed

    with water repeatedly during the shooting.

    As she was still deep in her thoughts, there was amotion among the audience.

    The opposing representative had already made ten mistakes when he had only recited one-third of the

    lines.

    I¡¯ll win if I can recite one-third of the script precisely with less than ten mistakes. But that¡¯s quite hard

    because I¡¯ve never practiced these lines before.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, it¡¯s your turn. Are you confident about it?¡± the host said.

    ¡°Not really,¡± Ning Ran answered with a wry smile, and the audience burst outughing.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, Ms. Ding. We believe in you,¡± the host chuckled and said.

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll try my best. But I have a request.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Please go ahead.¡±

    ¡°Can I close my eyes when I recite the lines? The lighting here is too strong, and it may affect my

    memory. I¡¯m quite sensitive to lights,¡± Ning Ran said with a rueful smile.

    ¡°What a unique request. Yes, you may do that.¡± The host smiled at her.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Closing her eyes, Ning Ran recalled the particr scene of the TV series.

    She gradually got in the mood while recollecting every detail.

    It was a sad and emotional scene. That was why Ning Ran could remember it clearly.

    The moment she got in the right frame of mind, the lines popped into her head.

    She went on to recite the lines, speaking slowly yet steadily, and she didn¡¯t make any mistake in the

    first part of the lines.

    Her soul-stirring recitation made it sound as if she wasn¡¯t just memorizing the script but dubbing for the

    movie scene.

    The crowd fell silent eventually and was deeply moved by her sentiment.

    Almost halfway through the script, they realized that she had yet to make any mistake.

    Everyone was astounded, including the audience and the person who was observing her in the dark.

    How can this be? I changed her script so that she would y this game unprepared. How did she

    manage to memorize it perfectly? What went wrong?

    On the other hand, only Ning Ran herself knew that she didn¡¯t win by sheer luck.

    She had memorized these lines even before the production of the TV series.

    Tang Jing¡¯s poor performance during the shooting caused the shoot for that particr scene to repeat

    countless times. Thus, she was able to recite those lines, provided that she immersed herself in the

    scenario.

    In the end, she made only three mistakes.

    The audience broke into thunderous apuse, which went on for a long while.

    Other than the minimal mistakes, Ning Ran recited the lines with heartfelt emotions, bringing the scene

    to life, and the audience felt as if they were listening to a radio drama.

    Meanwhile, in the VIP room at the TV station, Nan Chen¡¯s lips curled into a smile as he watched the

    show. This woman is really something.

    ¡°Mommy¡¯s the best! Mommy won!¡± Erbao shouted excitedly while wiggling her little butt.

    ¡°Not bad, Mommy is doing great.¡± Dabao remained calm and collected even when he was praising his

    mother. But his eyes glinted brightly with admiration.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we go there and watch it? The ce seems so lively. I feel like going there.¡± Erbao pouted

    her lips.

    ¡°We can¡¯t.¡± Her brother replied.

    ¡°Why?¡± The little girl was puzzled.

    ¡°Someone will probably recognize Daddy and take photos of us, so it¡¯s not safe to be there,¡± Dabao

    exined.

    Erbao nced up at Nan Chen, hoping to get a definite answer from him.

    ¡°He¡¯s right. We can only watch it from here,¡± Nan Chen said conclusively.

    Only then did the girl simmered down.

    In the meantime, the crowd was very responsive, but the culprit who changed Ning Ran¡¯s script felt

    disgruntled.

    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s a tie now. Each team has won one time. Coming up next, an impromptu Q&A session. As

    you all know, in order to be an outstanding actor, one must have excellent acting skills. Besides that,

    it¡¯s crucial to have extensive knowledge of various aspects too. Today¡¯s questions will not only include

    knowledge of performing arts but also encyclopedic knowledge.¡±

    The host continued exining, ¡°Each team will select a representative to take part in the Q&A session.

    The game goes like this. I¡¯ll read a question, and when I say start, you can press the bell to answer the

    question. The one who presses the bell first can answer the question yourself or choose to let the

    opposing team do it. The opposing team will get one point if they answer it correctly. But if they got it

    wrong, one point will be deducted, and you will get one point instead.¡±

    Following the pre-nned arrangement, Ning Ran represented her team and stood in front of the game

    table, which looked like a podium.

    She then stealthily slipped her phone into a corner under the table.

    I¡¯ll be satisfied as long as I don¡¯t lose terribly. Instead of pressing the bell, I¡¯ll let the opposing team

    answer the question. I¡¯ll just go along with the flow if they ask me to answer it.

    ¡°Since both teams are ready, let¡¯s begin!¡±

    ¡°The first question is, which emperor was reigning over China during the Napoleonic era?¡±

    Ding! The opposing team pressed the bell at once.

    ¡°Alright. Would you like to answer it yourself or let the other team do it?¡± the host asked.

    ¡°I choose to let the other team answer this question.¡±

    A wave of panic washed over Ning Ran.

    Oh no! I don¡¯t have any clue! The only thing I know about Napoleon is the Battle of Waterloo, but I have

    no idea which Chinese emperor was on the throne at that time.

    Peeping at the phone, she was d to find the screen already lit. Thank God! Dabao just texted me!

    It¡¯s the son of Qianlong, the Jiaqing Emperor.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, do you know the answer? If you don¡¯t, the opposing team will be awarded a point then.¡±

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I¡¯m not very sure. Is it Qianlong¡¯s son, the Jiaqing Emperor?¡± Ning Ran answered.

    ¡°Congrattions, you got it right!¡±

    A round of apuse filled the air.

    Ning Ran heaved a sigh of relief. What an adrenaline rush! It feels great to cheat. By the way, how

    does Dabao know the answer when I have no clue at all? On second thought, he indeed knows much

    more than I do.

    ¡°Ms. Ding is incredible. Not only can she memorize her lines well, but she¡¯s knowledgeable too. The

    other team has to buck up.¡±

    ¡°Alright, next question. Why is the ocean blue? And start!¡±

    Ding! The opposing team member beat her to it again.

    ¡°Are you or the other team going to answer the question?¡± the host asked.

    ¡°The other team.¡±

    Ning Ran felt her head throbbing at his words. I know it has something to do with light, but I have no

    idea how to exin it.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, do you know the answer?¡±

    She sneaked a peek at the phone, but the screen remained dark.

    ¡°Umm... I guess it¡¯s because of light?¡± Ning Ran gave an ambiguous answer.

    ¡°Yes, it is. But can you exin in detail?¡± the host questioned her.

    At that moment, much to her relief, the phone screen finally lit up.

    ¡°Because the water absorbs red and orange light while the blue light bounces off, so the ocean looks

    blue,¡± Ning Ran answered.

    The host dered, ¡°Although your answer is more or less iplete, I¡¯ll ept it. You¡¯re correct!

    Congrattions, Ms. Ding, you¡¯ve won again.¡±

    Another round of resounding apuse and cheers erupted in the ce.

 Chapter 338

    Chapter 338

    For the third question, the opposing representative pressed the bell and chose to answer the question

    himself after seeing how capable Ning Ran was.

    However, he got it wrong.

    In the end, Ning Ran won both the game and the limelight.

    The show ended with the audience¡¯s rapturous apuse for her.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    At the same time, one of theizens who watched the show onlinemented: That actress is

    amazing. She has great potential to be a superstar. I¡¯m now officially her fan!

    In the eyes of the public, Ning Ran was still an inexperienced, minor-league actress. Hence, many

    netizens didn¡¯t know of her yet.

    Hiding her phone discreetly, Ning Ran left the shooting site.

    A few audiences approached her for an autograph, and Ning Ran could barely handle their

    enthusiasm. Just then, a few bodyguards came over and brought her away from the shooting site.

    The moment Dabao and Erbao saw their mother, they rushed into her embrace. ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re

    awesome! You¡¯re superb!¡±

    Ning Ran seemed slightly abashed. ¡°I know my limits. Darlings, you¡¯re the awesome ones.¡±

    ¡°Not really, Mommy. You recited the lines very well. It was so touching that I almost cried,¡± Erbao

    complimented her mother.

    ¡°Jeez... can you even understand those lines?¡± Ning Ran picked the chubby little girl up.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand, but I can feel that it¡¯s good because Mommy was the one reciting it.¡± Erbao was

    getting better at buttering her mother up.

    ¡°I¡¯m ttered, darling.¡± Ning Ran grinned from ear to ear.

    ¡°Dabao is amazing too! He knows all the answers by heart!¡± Erbao shouted.

    Ning Ran then pulled Dabao into a hug.

    ¡°Dabao, you¡¯re a genius. Why are you so brilliant?¡± She nted a few kisses on her son¡¯s face.

    ¡°That because he got it from me.¡± A certain man was all puffed up as he spoke.

    Ning Ran rolled her eyes at Nan Chen. ¡°I¡¯m not asking you.¡±

    ¡°What Daddy meant is that you should kiss him too because he yed a big role to help as well.¡±

    Erbao was enjoying the ongoing banter between her parents.

    A self-satisfied smirk appeared on Nan Chen¡¯s face. He was very pleased to have a helpful supporter

    like Erbao.

    ¡°What do you know? You¡¯re still a kid.¡± Ning Ran chided her daughter.

    Erbao gave Nan Chen a pitiful look. ¡°Daddy, that¡¯s all I can do to help. I¡¯ve gone the extra mile for you.

    How about going for ice cream...¡±

    Nan Chen interrupted the little girl with a snort.

    ¡°Did you promise to buy her ice cream again? Look at how chubby she is now. How can you buy her

    ice cream still?¡± Ning Ran said pettishly.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I was only joking,¡± Erbao promptly rified herself.

    ¡°You¡¯re my daughter. I know you the best. Do you really want to be a chubby little girl?¡± Ning Ran

    rebuked her.

    ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s a happy day, so please don¡¯t scold Erbao. She eats much less sweet food recently.¡±

    Dabao felt for his sister.

    ¡°Yeah, your mother only knows how to scold people.¡± Nan Chen yed along.

    What¡¯s happening here? Is everyone ganging up on me now? Hmph! This is all Poker Face¡¯s fault!

    ¡°No, Mommy didn¡¯t scold me. She did it for my own good. I¡¯m the most gorgeous girl in the universe, so

    I can¡¯t afford to grow chubby.¡±

    The tactful little girl had a way with words.

    Right after she spoke, the atmosphere turned harmonious again.

    Just then, a bodyguard informed them that the car was ready, and there would be no reporter or

    outsider on their way out.

    On the weekend, at Commoner Residence.

    Nan Zhengde had always kept a low profile. Even though it was his birthday, his home looked simple

    and wasn¡¯t ostentatiously decorated.

    The maids seemed busier than usual, as there would be a birthday banquet today.

    Despite maintaining a low profile, the Nan family was still reputable and prominent.

    The Nan family didn¡¯t inform anyone about it, but many gifts were sent over since eight in the morning,

    mostly from people who were uninvited.

    They chose not to make an appearance because they didn¡¯t want to intrude and make a nuisance of

    themselves. Therefore, they sent gifts over.

    By doing so, they could show a gesture of goodwill without being too abrupt.

    The butler noted down all the names of those who sent gifts over so that the Nan family could return

    the favor when the opportunity arose. On the other hand, those who received the invitation were the

    elites and notables in the city. They were the twenty percent of the poption who held eighty percent

    of the wealth all of them had business rtions with the Nan family.

    Nan Zhengde¡¯s birthday was the only time of the year where he would show himself to the public.

    Therefore, the invitation to his birthday banquet served as a deration that the guest was important

    and acquainted with the Nan family, and that they were much closer to the familypared to the

    others.

    At three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Nan Chen went home to check on the preparations for the birthday

    banquet, in case anything was missed out.

    Meanwhile, Nan Zhengde was looking at a painting when his grandson came into his study room.

    Seeing Nan Chen, the elderly man put the painting down and gestured his grandson to take a seat.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Grandpa. Everything is ready. Nothing will go wrong during the birthday banquet,¡± Nan

    Chen assured him.

    ¡°Make sure that my two great-grandchildren will be here. What time are theying?¡± Nan Zhengde

    was only concerned about that.

    ¡°Of course they¡¯ll be here. They went to the airport to pick Nan Xing up,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°It¡¯s great that Nan Xing came too. How about Lunlun? Is heing?¡±

    ¡°Yes, he is. Everyone will be here,¡± Nan Chen answered.

    ¡°Did they look for you?¡± Nan Zhengde asked out of the blue.

    ¡°Yes,¡± he answered honestly.

    ¡°What did they say?¡±

    ¡°They would like toe to your birthday banquet and they asked me to plead with you on their behalf,

    but I rejected them,¡± Nan Chen said truthfully.

    Nan Zhengde nodded at his words. ¡°Chen, you know my concerns. Do you me me for that?¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t,¡± the young man replied with his head bowed.

    ¡°Do you want them toe?¡± Nan Zhengde questioned him.

    His question stunned Nan Chen for a moment. I¡¯ve never given much thought to this.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me and tell me honestly.¡± Nan Zhengde urged him.

    ¡°No. I don¡¯t want them toe,¡± the man replied.

    Nan Zhengde seemed surprised at his answer. ¡°Why? Do you resent them?¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you want them to be here?¡±

    ¡°Because their presence will make things difficult for you,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    The elderly man nodded his head again. ¡°I¡¯ve chosen the right man. You¡¯re the only one who truly

    knows my heart when everybody else thinks that I¡¯m merciless. Keep it up, Chen. The Nan family will

    prosper under your leadership.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Grandpa.¡±

    ¡°Chen, I have a bad feeling about this.¡±

    Nan Chen turned to look at his grandfather.

    ¡°Did they say anything after you rejected them?¡± Nan Zhengde asked again.

    ¡°No. Even though they¡¯re not happy with my answer, they didn¡¯t look for me anymore.¡±

    ¡°I have a hunch that they will show up at the birthday banquet today,¡± Nan Zhengde said conclusively.

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m certain about that.¡±

 Chapter 339

    Chapter 339

    Nan Chen fell silent for a moment.

    ¡°Grandpa, do you think that they would go to someone else and tag along with them?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°But how would they manage that?¡±

    Nan Zhengde took a few steps forward, saying, ¡°Chen, you¡¯re outstanding in every aspect, but overly

    upright at the same time. You despised any underhanded dealings and schemes. However, the world is

    full of evil, and you¡¯re in an enviable position, so you must be cautious to protect yourself. Give it some

    thought, and you¡¯ll figure out how they do it.¡±

    Without uttering a word, Nan Chen was sunk in thought for a short while. ¡°I think I got it.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Tell me.¡±

    ¡°Every Nan family member knows that Grandpa refused to forgive them, but in the eyes of the

    outsiders, they¡¯re still part of our family. Thus, no one will reject them if they ask for help. Besides, they

    can even lie saying that you wanted them to return to the family, but you just can¡¯t lower yourself to ask

    them. Those who want to please our family will agree to it, thinking that they¡¯re doing something good

    for us.¡±

    Nan Chen was a man of few words, and he only spoke when he reasoned with someone.

    Yet, he rarely needed to do so, as his unparalleled capabilities already said it all.

    As a result, he doesn¡¯t need to speak much most of the time.

    Nan Zhengde gave him a firm nod. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely correct.¡±

    ¡°As for who will be bringing them... Grandpa, I guess you¡¯ve foreseen it, right?¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°They¡¯ll surely tag along with an influential person.¡±

    ¡°But everyone that we invited to the birthday banquet is influential, or else they won¡¯t be allowed to

    come.¡±

    ¡°Yes, but some are more powerful than the others,¡± the elderly man exined.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Nan Chen nodded in agreement.

    ¡°Do what you need to do,¡± Nan Zhengde said.

    ¡°What should I do if they show up?¡±

    ¡°Ask Nan Xing to be the peacemaker when I get mad, but you must not say a thing.¡±

    Grandpa doesn¡¯t want me to get involved, lest I get affected by this matter. With my status, it¡¯s best that

    I stay neutral. Only then can I maintain my influence and authority.

    ¡°I understand, Grandpa...¡±

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran was waiting at the airport¡¯s entrance with her two kids, as Nan Chen asked them

    to pick Nan Xing up.

    He loved his brother dearly. Knowing that Nan Xing felt hurt because of Ning Ran and the kids, Nan

    Chen wanted to make it up to his brother the best he could.

    Ning Ran was d about Nan Xing¡¯s return.

    Whether or not Nan Xing is the kids¡¯ father, I¡¯m grateful for all his help and care. He may be a

    womanizer, but he treats me very well. He¡¯s the one who helps me the most after I return to this

    country.

    After some time, Nan Xing came into sight. Dressed in a white suit, he was wearing bright, yellow-

    framed sunsses and a pair of red leather shoes.

    I¡¯ve never seen any man wearing red leather shoes before. What an eye-opener. Oddly enough, such a

    combination doesn¡¯t look weird but matches him perfectly.

    ¡°Daddy...¡± Erbao mumbled.

    ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to call him Daddy, remember?¡± Ning Ran quickly reminded her daughter.

    ¡°Oh no! I forgot. It¡¯s uncle.¡± Erbao grimaced and said.

    The little girl had always been fond of Nan Xing. Unlike Nan Chen, who was stern and rigid, Nan Xing

    was carefree and easy-going, allowing the little girl to eat and y as she pleased.

    That was why he was the ideal father figure in her eyes. Unfortunately, in the end, he became her

    uncle.

    Looking at the two kids, Nan Xing shrieked ecstatically while running toward them through the crowd.

    Erbao immediately went up to him. ¡°Uncle!¡±

    Picking her up, Nan Xing lifted the little girl high above his head.

    Ning Ran couldn¡¯t help but furrow her brows. I told him many times not to lift the kids too high. It¡¯s too

    dangerous. I can see that my words fell on deaf ears.

    The little girl wrapped her arms around Nan Xing¡¯s neck. ¡°Although you¡¯re not my Daddy, you¡¯re still my

    uncle and I will always love you.¡±

    ¡°Aww... Erbao is the best! My heart just melted at your words. I love you too, whether you¡¯re my

    daughter or my niece.¡±

    Ning Ran and Dabao cast a nce at one another.

    What¡¯s with the sudden cheesy confession? These two are one of a kind. How can they say such corny

    words so effortlessly?

    ¡°Dabao, you¡¯re still staid as ever, like a little old man. You didn¡¯t even greet me!¡± Nan Xingined.

    ¡°Uncle, I¡¯m not a little old man. I¡¯m just mature.¡± the boy corrected Nan Xing with a stern look.

    ¡°Okay, okay. I know you¡¯re mature. But isn¡¯t it the same as being a little old man?¡± He poked fun at the

    boy.

    With a warm smile on her face, Ning Ran couldn¡¯t find the right words to talk to him, feeling slightly

    awkward.

    Back then, the two were about to get married, but they became inws all of a sudden.

    No matter how open-minded they were, the awkwardness of their current situation was unavoidable.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± In the end, Nan Xing took the initiative and greeted her.

    He and Poker Face have the same face, yet they carry totally different vibes.

    Poker Face is aloof and stern, with an intimidating aura, while Nan Xing is jovial and a little flippant,

    making people feel at ease around him.

    Staring at Nan Xing¡¯s grin, the memory of their past flooded into her mind, and her eyes misted over.

    It was an indescribable feeling, which had nothing to do with love nor the familial rtionship they now

    shared.

    ¡°I¡¯m d that you¡¯re back,¡± Ning Ran said from the bottom of her heart.

    ¡°Really? Did you miss me?¡±

    As Ning Ran was trying to deal with her sudden wave of nostalgia, Nan Xing¡¯s cheekiness snapped her

    out of that emotion right away.

    ¡°Call me sister-inw,¡± Ning Ran hit his sore spot.

    How dare you be so frivolous and mboyant.

    The smile on his face froze, and his cheeky attitude changed right away. Letting out a few dry coughs,

    Nan Xing said, ¡±Who drove here? Where¡¯s the car? Let¡¯s go back.¡±

    I still can¡¯t face this reality despite living abroad for so long.

    A sense of impish glee welled up in Ning Ran¡¯s heart. I guess what I said really hit a nerve. He dropped

    that attitude instantly.

    ¡°Our car is over there. I don¡¯t trust my driving skill, so the driver drove us here.¡±

    Having achieved her goal, she stopped making fun of him.

    Nan Xing hoisted Erbao onto his shoulder and headed toward the carpark.

    ¡°Uncle, have you forgotten something aftering back from overseas?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you promised to bring me some snacks? How could you forget such an important matter?¡± the

    girl said with a solemn face.

    Nan Xing broke into a fit ofughter at her words.

    ¡°No, how could I? I dare not forget this important mission. It was too much of a hassle to bring the

    snacks with me, so I chose to ship them. It¡¯ll be delivered soon. Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s all for you.¡±

    ¡°I knew it. My uncle is an excellent man. I knew you didn¡¯t forget about this.¡± Erbaomended him.

 Chapter 340

    Chapter 340

    Nan Xing had made a habit of staying at a hotel since he was young. After all, staying at home wasn¡¯t

    convenient for a man who liked to bring different women home like him.

    Besides, those women were usually gold-diggers who approached him with the intent of being affiliated

    with the Nan family.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    However, with the number of women after him, it was easier to hit the jackpot than to tie the knot with

    Nan Xing.

    Therefore, he couldn¡¯t simply bring any woman home, or else she might have the wrong impression

    that he was taking their rtionship to the next level.

    On the contrary, spending some money and bringing them to the hotel saved him the trouble of

    handling the unnecessary misunderstanding.

    Most women would stop bothering him after getting some benefits from him, knowing that marrying into

    the Nan family was nearly impossible for them.

    It only took a pretty face and a curvy figure to spend the night with Nan Xing, but much more was

    required to marry into the Nan family, including being from a notable family background. After all,

    marriage was often used as a tool for the benefit of the Nan family.

    Upon his return, Nan Xing stayed at a hotel as well.

    It¡¯s been a while since I left Flower City. I must catch up with my friends and have some fun time. I

    won¡¯t get to enjoy myself if I stay at home, so I¡¯d rather stay in a presidential suite in a luxurious hotel.

    After sending Nan Xing to the hotel, Ning Ran wanted to head home.

    ¡°Where are you going? Are you not going to let the kids eat with me?¡± Nan Xing protested.

    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, and we have a banquet tonight. We¡¯ll be too full for the banquet if we eat now,¡± she

    said.

    ¡°Oh my! Do you really think that you can eat much during the banquet? All the elites of Flower City will

    be there tonight, yet you have the nerve to pig out on the food? Your status has changed, so you must

    maintain a good image in public. Otherwise...¡±

    Before Nan Xing could finish talking, however, Ning Ran¡¯s phone vibrated in her bag.

    She took it out and saw that it was a call from Nan Chen.

    Feeling abashed to take the call in front of Nan Xing, she walked to the side before picking up the

    phone.

    ¡°We won¡¯t be having the birthday banquet at home. The venue has been changed.¡±

    ¡°What? I thought Old Master dislike going out?¡± The news caught her by surprise.

    ¡°It¡¯s someone else¡¯s arrangement, so we have to go with the flow,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°I see. Then do I still need to go?¡±

    ¡°Of course. And bring the kids along too.¡±

    ¡°But you know that I can¡¯t handle any overly grand and formal asion.¡± Ning Ran sounded worried.

    Truth be told, she didn¡¯t want to attend the banquet because such an asion was too tiresome for

    her.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. You must learn to adapt, even if you don¡¯t like it.¡± Nan Chen refused to give in.

    ¡°Fine.¡±

    ¡°Make sure you¡¯re all decked out for it. Sunny wille over for an image consultationter. Send me a

    photo when you¡¯re done,¡± Nan Chen said firmly.

    His words made Ning Ran feel even more reluctant to go.

    Just how important is tonight¡¯s banquet that an image consultant is needed? And I even have to get his

    approval for my outfit?

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit over the top? Does it have to be this way?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve changed to a much bigger venue, and the guest list expanded. It¡¯ll be awkward if there¡¯re too

    few guests, so it has to be this way,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    Alright, I got it. This won¡¯t be necessary if there are fewer guests. But now that the banquet had grown

    into a grand event, I have to m up, not for myself but for the sake of courtesy and respect.

    ¡°Okay, I got it,¡± Ning ran replied.

    ¡°The kids¡¯ clothes are done, and someone will send them over soon. Where are you now?¡± Nan Chen

    asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m at the hotel where Nan Xing¡¯s staying. He wants to have lunch with the kids,¡± she told him honestly.

    Nan Chen fell silent for a short while. ¡°Okay, there¡¯s still enough time, but you must hurry. Go ahead

    and eat first, and call Sunny after lunch.¡±

    ¡°Alright,¡± Ning Ran agreed.

    Afterward, they ate in the hotel since they were in a hurry.

    It was a six-star hotel, and the restaurant served a variety of food.

    ¡°Uncle, It¡¯s Great-Grandpa¡¯s birthday today. Are you going to the banquet?¡±

    After eating, Erbao started chatting with Nan Xing.

    Ever since she realized that she was much chubbier than her peers, she began watching her weight

    and diet.

    As the most gorgeous girl in the universe, I must take care of my image.

    ¡°What do you think? Do you want me to go?¡± Nan Xing threw the question back at his niece.

    ¡°I think you have to go. You¡¯re Great-Grandpa¡¯s grandson, after all. As his family, you must be there,¡±

    Erbao exined.

    ¡°If I¡¯m his grandson, who are you to Great-Grandpa then?¡± the man asked with a smile.

    At a loss for words, the little girl nced at her brother with a pleading look.

    ¡°You¡¯re his great-granddaughter.¡± Sure enough, Dabao knew the answer.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m his great-granddaughter. I know the answer. It¡¯s just that I forgot it earlier,¡± she emphasized.

    Nan Xing chuckled at her words. ¡°Yes, yes. Of course Erbao knows the answer.¡±

    ¡°So are you going?¡± The little girl seemed very concerned about this.

    Hearing their conversation, Ning Ran was curious. Why is Erbao so concerned about whether Nan

    Xing will be there or not?

    ¡°I¡¯ll go if you want me to.¡± Nan Xing teased his niece.

    ¡°That¡¯s great. There¡¯ll be a lot of delicious food at the banquetter, but I have to be polite and eat

    moderately. Can you take away some food for me?¡±

    The two adults stared at her with their mouths agape.

    In the next second, everyone burst outughing.

    The girl¡¯s chubby face flushed red right away. ¡°Stopughing. I just don¡¯t want to waste food.¡±

    Ning Ran and Nan Xing tried their best to stifle theirughs, not wanting to embarrass the little girl.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just ignore what I said.¡± The little girl appeared dejected.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, leave it to me. Erbao is so smart to know that there¡¯ll be delicious food at the banquet. I

    didn¡¯t even think of that. How clever!¡± Nan Xing gave her a thumbs up.

    His encouragement lifted Erbao¡¯s mood immediately.

    ¡°I know I¡¯m a glutton, but I¡¯m a child, so I must eat more to grow taller.¡±

    Erbao came up with a brilliant new theory to justify her love for food, which was indisputable.

    Even her brother supported her reasoning. ¡°Erbao is right. She can¡¯t grow tall if she eats too little.¡±

    ¡°Yes, of course, you¡¯re right...¡± The two adults couldn¡¯t agree more.

    ¡°By the way, what kind of gift have you prepared for Grandpa¡¯s birthday?¡± Nan Xing asked as he

    thought of this important question.

    ¡°I¡¯ve hired the famous calligrapher, Mr. Chen Yinli to draw a painting as a gift,¡± Ning Ran told him

    openly.

    ¡°That¡¯s great. Grandpa really loves Mr. Chen¡¯s painting. Is it brother¡¯s idea?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s his idea.¡±

    Listening to their conversation, Erbao felt troubled. ¡°Oh no. I didn¡¯t prepare any gift.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a kid, so you don¡¯t have to bring a gift. Your presence is the best gift to Grandpa,¡± Nan Xing

    consoled her.

    ¡°No. This won¡¯t do. During my ssmate¡¯s birthday, every kid in the ss must prepare a gift.¡± The little

    girl became anxious.

 Chapter 341

    Chapter 341

    Nan Xing and Ning Ran were stunned because they never thought that Erbao would want to prepare a

    gift.

    She¡¯s so young... Why does she even need to buy a gift?

    ¡°What do you have in mind? I¡¯ll buy it for you.¡± Even so, Nan Xing still wanted to spoil Erbao.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Erbao said anxiously before turning towards Dabao.

    After all, he was usually the one who made the decision.

    Dabao frowned and exined, ¡°We¡¯re just kids who can¡¯t even earn money, so we¡¯re not buying a

    present.¡±

    Both Ning Ran and Nan Xing nodded in agreement when they heard that.

    ¡°Then what should the present be?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°Let me think about it.¡± Dabao held his chin as if he were an adult deep in thought.

    Everyone fell silent as they waited for Dabao¡¯s answer.

    Finally, Dabao said, ¡°I know, we can prepare a performance for Grandpa.¡±

    ¡°I can dance!¡± Erbao squealed.

    ¡°Dancing is too mundane. We need to perform something else.¡± Dabao shook his head.

    ¡°Like what?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯lle up with an idea.¡±

    ¡°Alright! As long as you take the lead, I¡¯m sure that Grandpa will love our present!¡± Erbao was

    overjoyed.

    Judging by Dabao¡¯s personality, Ning Ran knew that he already had an idea in mind; he just didn¡¯t want

    to say it out loud.

    But Ning Ran was puzzled as well. Can he actually prepare a present that doesn¡¯t cost money?

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    At that moment, Ning Ran¡¯s phone rang. She picked up her phone and heard an androgynous voice.

    ¡°Darling, Sunny here. Where are you? Come visit my salon. I¡¯ll style you there.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m still eating. Send me your location and I¡¯lle soon,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll be waiting for you! Muah!¡± Sunny made a kissing noise and caused Ning Rang to feel

    goosebumps all over her body.

    ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    ¡°Sunny, the stylist your brother rmended me.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I know him. He¡¯s such a sissy.¡±

    ¡°You met him before?¡±

    ¡°Yep. He¡¯s pretty influential in the fashion industry, and admittedly, he has a unique take on fashion. He

    has been around a lot of renowned fashion events, and I met him once before, but I didn¡¯t like him.¡±

    ¡°Why? Is it because he¡¯s feminine?¡±

    ¡°Not really that. I just don¡¯t like him somehow. Let¡¯s go together and maybe he can give me some

    fashion tips as well,¡± Nan Xing suggested.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. You¡¯re already so fashionable you can even be a stylist yourself, so you don¡¯t

    need his advice anyway.¡±

    ¡°Is something going on between you and that damned sissy? Why do you seem so reluctant to bring

    me there?¡± Nan Xing asked cautiously.

    ¡°Nonsense. Don¡¯t say these kinds of things in front of the kids. You¡¯ll bring the kids with youter while

    I¡¯ll go get styled. I didn¡¯t intend to go as well, but your brother wanted me to look more presentable, so I

    have toply with his instructions. I¡¯m just a minor character, so it¡¯s alright if I don¡¯t stand out, but I

    definitely can¡¯t embarrass your family.¡±

    ¡°But I want to go with you. The kids need styling as well, and I¡¯m sure my brother made arrangements

    for that already.¡±

    Nan Xing insisted oning, so Ning Ran had no choice but to agree.

    Nan Xing was unlike the cold and distant Nan Chen. For the former, once he decided to stick by your

    side, he wouldtch on like a piece of gum.

    After the meal, Dabao dered that he didn¡¯t want to follow his Mommy, and he wanted his Daddy to

    send someone to pick him up.

    That was because he thought getting his makeup and hair done was aborious affair, so he didn¡¯t

    want to get styled.

    Nan Xing agreed to his proposal as well. In no time, Nan Chen sent some people over to pick the two

    kids up.

    In the end, only Ning Ran and Nan Xing were left, and the atmosphere suddenly became awkward.

    ¡°How... are youtely? What am I even saying? Of course you¡¯re doing fine.¡± Nan Xing started to

    stammer as well.

    It was a rare sight to see a yboy like him be reduced into an embarrassed mess.

    It was obvious that he used to have feelings for her because of how anxious he was now.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. What about you? You disappeared suddenly and I couldn¡¯t even reach you on your phone.

    Where did you go?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Are you worried about me?¡± Nan Xing returned to his usual bubbly self.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ning Ran admitted. ¡°I have been searching for you all this while.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Nan Xing smiled and asked.

    ¡°Because we¡¯re rtives. It¡¯s a fact that you¡¯re the kids¡¯ uncle. Besides, you¡¯re one of my best friends,

    so of course I¡¯ll be worried about you.¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s gaze was very sincere and honest.

    Nan Xing was forced to behave seriously at how she acted. ¡°Alright. Thanks for your concern. Actually,

    I was not deliberately trying to cut contact with you. I just felt lost for a period of time because I didn¡¯t

    know how to deal with our changing rtionship dynamic. Maybe you¡¯llugh at me if I say this, but, I

    actually went overseas to avoid my problems,¡± Nan Xing shed his usual bubbly character and said

    sincerely.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know things would turn out that way too. Fate really likes ying tricks on us, huh? But since

    the truth has been revealed, we should just rify the current state of our rtionship. You¡¯re still my

    best friend, and you¡¯re the children¡¯s uncle and part of our family,¡± Ning Ran said.

    Nan Xing lowered his head before looking up again with a grin.

    ¡°Alright. Guess we¡¯re both friends and family. I will still be the same Nan Xing and you¡¯ll be the same

    Ding Mi. You cane to me whenever you need my help. I can also help you with the things that my

    brother isn¡¯t willing to. My brother and I will protect you, your kids, and this family.¡±

    Ning Ran nodded her head emotionally when she heard that.

    She felt touched, yet her heart ached somehow.

    Thank God I¡¯m still able to talk to Nan Xing like this.

    Just then, Ning Ran¡¯s phone rang again. It was Sunny calling to hurry her up.

    Ning Ran and Nan Xing immediately rushed there and saw that Sunny was standing in front of the

    salon.

    He wore a checkered kilt with a pink suit that entuated his slim waist.

    Nan Xing, who was already dressed in an eye-catching manner, was no match for Sunny.

    ¡°My gosh! He¡¯s getting more and more sl*tty nowadays!¡± Even Nan Xing was surprised.

    On the other hand, Ning Ran was amused. These two men are probably the most mboyant men in

    Flower City!

    As they stepped out of the car, Sunny stamped his feet in frustration. ¡°Damn it! We¡¯re running out of

    time, so hurry up! If we don¡¯t make it in time, Sir Chen will put the me on me! I can¡¯t handle that!¡±

    As he was speaking, Sunny finally noticed Nan Xing and the former immediately yelled and pounced

    towards thetter.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Nan Xing was shocked.

    ¡°Oh my God, you¡¯re Mr. Nan! I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m able to meet you again!¡±

    Sunny then grabbed onto Nan Xing¡¯s arm andtched onto it like a caterpir on a leaf.

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran covered her mouth in shock. What is happening here?

    I thought that only women will do something like this? What is he even doing?

 Chapter 342

    Chapter 342

    Aside from Sunny¡¯s actions, Ning Ran was also confused about one thing. How did Sunny know that

    he¡¯s Nan Xing?

    Nan Xing and Nan Chen looked very simr to each other even though they exuded different vibes.

    Besides, only a few people knew that Nan Chen and Nan Xing wore ck tuxedos and white tuxedos

    respectively, so it was a surprise that Sunny knew that too.

    Or maybe he could tell them apart by some other method. If that¡¯s the case, he¡¯s really quite

    impressive.

    On the other hand, Nan Xing was shocked at how Sunny wastching onto him.

    He had his fair share of women who would press themselves against him, but he couldn¡¯t stand that a

    feminine man was the one holding onto him.

    ¡°Stop touching me! What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Nan Xing bellowed.

    ¡°We haven¡¯t met for so long and you seem more handsome now! You really are a unique beauty. Look

    at this body, this face, and this butt...¡±

    As Sunny said that, he groped Nan Xing¡¯s butt mercilessly.

    At that moment, Nan Xing was enraged, so he held both of Sunny¡¯s hands behind his back and

    scolded, ¡°I¡¯ll break your bones if you don¡¯t behave yourself!¡±

    Nan Xing had received somebat training of his own. Even though he was no match for the

    professionals, he could easily overpower an ordinary person like Sunny.

    Sunny started squealing in pain and Ning Ran was dumbfounded.

    What the hell is going on here?

    ¡°Mr. Xing, please, show some mercy! It hurts!¡± Sunny pleaded.

    ¡°You¡¯re lucky I didn¡¯t bring my bodyguards today. If not, you¡¯d be crippled by now. How dare you grope

    someone the moment you see them?¡± Nan Xing yelled.

    ¡°I just like you so much, Mr. Xing! I just wanted to get closer to you. I won¡¯t do it next time!¡± Sunny

    yelped.

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Really!¡±

    ¡°What if you make the same mistake again?¡±

    ¡°You can screw me if I do it again!¡± Sunny¡¯s words were shocking.

    ¡°How dare you!¡± Nan Xing gripped him even harder.

    ¡°I mean you can bruise me! It was a slip of a tongue!¡± Sunny yelped.

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran burst into a giggle. It¡¯s so painfully obvious that he did it on purpose. How can

    you even mess up ¡®screw¡¯ and ¡®bruise¡¯?

    At that reply, Nan Xing let go of Sunny. Sunny stretched his arms and wailed, ¡°Mr. Xing, you¡¯re ruthless!

    You almost broke my arm!¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go in now. Didn¡¯t you say we¡¯re running out of time? What are you still doing flirting around?¡±

    Ning Ran scoffed.

    ¡°I just wanted to get to know Mr. Xing better. Too bad Mr. Xing doesn¡¯t appreciate me, and he even beat

    me up...¡± Sunny cried in an exaggerated manner.

    ¡°Shut up! Are you done yet?¡± Nan Xing bellowed.

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll stop talking. Don¡¯t get angry.¡± Sunny cooed.

    As they stepped into the salon, Ning Ran asked Sunny, ¡°How could you tell that he¡¯s Nan Xing? Aren¡¯t

    you afraid that he¡¯s actually Nan Chen instead?¡±

    R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    ¡°Pfft, please. Sir Chen is always dressed solemnly in ck, and he would never wear such shy red

    shoes,¡± Sunny whispered and giggled.

    He added, ¡°The shoes are really showy, but I love it!¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Nan Xing seemed to have heard their conversation.

    ¡°Nothing.¡± Sunny continued giggling.

    At six p.m. in the rooftop garden of the Imperial Waterfront Hotel near the Emerald River.

    The view of the hotel was amazing because it overlooked a river and a public square. Besides that, it

    was also the only skyscraper in its vicinity.

    The view on the rooftop garden was spectacr as well because it overlooked the business district in

    Flower City, and it was especially suitable for parties.

    The hotel was one of thendmarks in Flower City, and the Nan family would¡¯ve definitely owned some

    shares of the majestic hotel if not for Nan Zhiyuan¡¯s interference.

    Incidentally, Nan Zhengde¡¯s birthday banquet was to be held in this hotel as well.

    The person who managed to change the venue of the birthday banquet from the Commoner Residence

    to the hotel was definitely someone of power, since it was no easy feat.

    And that person was none other than the chairman of the Sunshine Corporation, Ouyang Duo, Ouyang

    Qing¡¯s father.

    However, he wasn¡¯t the only one involved; his influence alone wasn¡¯t enough to make the change in

    venue possible.

    Another man sent out an invitation too, and he requested Nan Zhengde¡¯s audience at the hotel

    because it wasn¡¯t convenient for him to head to Nan Zhengde¡¯s home.

    That man was the pivotal character in the change in venue. He used to be the highest-inmand of

    Flower City, but now he was tasked to work at the capital instead.

    Nan Zhengde epted the man¡¯s invitation out of respect for him.

    After all, the reason why the Nan family was as sessful as it was partly because of its numerous

    connections to political figures. The rtionship they had benefitted each other as they worked to

    improve the local economy.

    With the protection of a horde of bodyguards, Nan Zhengde arrived at the rooftop garden.

    A transparent covering enveloped the garden to shield the interior from weather conditions while still

    providing an excellent view of the sky and the city.

    The General and Ouyang Duo weed Nan Zhengde personally as they exchanged a handshake.

    After which, the General and Nan Zhengde went to discuss something in the waiting room without

    anyone else¡¯spany.

    Therefore, no one knew what they were talking about.

    When the clock struck half-past-six, Nan Chen and Ning Ran arrived as well.

    Nan Chen was holding Dabao¡¯s hands while Ning Ran was holding Erbao¡¯s hands as they stepped in

    under the watchful gazes of the guests.

    It was undeniable that Nan Chen and Ning Ran looked like a matching couple, but the kids in tow

    attracted more attention from the guests.

    Dabao wore a grey tuxedo with a bowtie that made him look fashionable and lively. He was just a kid,

    but one could already imagine how handsome he would be when he grew up.

    On the other hand, Erbao wore a white dress with a ribbon on her head which made her look like a

    fairytale princess.

    Erbao never attended such arge-scale event before, so she scanned at her surroundings excitedly

    with those crystal eyes of hers.

    Despite it being her first time, she wasn¡¯t afraid at all.

    ¡°Great-Grandpa!¡±

    Erbao broke free of Ning Ran¡¯s grasp and ran towards Nan Zhengde the moment she saw him.

    The manners instilled in her werepletely forgotten. All she knew was that she needed to

    congratte her Great-Grandpa because he was the star of the show today.

    Erbao had the natural talent of being friendly and sensitive to social cues.

    ¡°Hello, my darling.¡± Nan Zhengde caught hold of the pouncing Erbao and ced her on hisp.

    Originally, Ning Ran was worried that Erbao¡¯s antics might seem disrespectful in a formal event like

    this, but she knew that she had been overthinking when she saw Nan Zhengde¡¯s overjoyed expression.

    Making Old Master happy is the most important thing of all. At the end of the day, that¡¯s the whole point

    of this birthday banquet!

    ¡°Great-Grandpa, you look so handsome today,¡± Erbao praised with her puerile voice and that stirred up

    laughter from the guests.

    Old Master was ecstatic as well. I¡¯m already seventy-five, but someone still praised me as handsome!

    This is such a great feeling.

    ¡°Really? Am I really handsome?¡± Nan Zhengde asked.

    ¡°Yeah! Very handsome.¡± Erbao nodded her head determinedly, causing Nan Zhengde to burst into

    laughter.

    At that moment, Dabao approached him as well. Dabao was more well-mannered than Erbao as he

    bowed and greeted him, ¡°Happy birthday, Great-Grandpa. I wish you long life and good health!¡±

    ¡°Thank you. The moment I saw you, I knew I was going to live a hundred years more,¡± Nan Zhengde

    piped excitedly.

 Chapter 343

    Chapter 343

    Just as Nan Zhengde was having fun with the children, the silvery-haired Ouyang Duo approached

    them.

    Ouyang Duo was actually quite young, as he was in his fifties, but his grey hair made him look older

    than he actually was.

    That being said, his grey hair didn¡¯t affect how sophisticated and confident he looked. After all, he was

    a sessful person as well.

    ¡°Old Master, I invited two friends over today just to wish you a happy birthday. They also prepared

    some special gifts for you,¡± Ouyang Duo said.

    As Ouyang Duo was mentioning that, the two friends he was talking about had already stepped inside.

    Their presence signified that Nan Zhengde didn¡¯t have the time to reject Ou Yangduo.

    The handsome Nan Zhiyuan led the way while the elegant Bai Hua tagged behind him.

    Both of them were holding onto a red box as they suddenly knelt in front of Nan Zhengde.

    However, Nan Zhengde had already expected something like this to happen, so he wasn¡¯t surprised.

    ¡°Dad, we¡¯re sorry. We offer our deepest apologies. We wish you a happy birthday and good health...¡±

    As they said that, they started kowtowing, and that shocked Dabao and Erbao who had no idea what

    was going on.

    Erbao was so spooked she ran back to Ning Ran. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m scared.¡±

    Ning Ran picked Erbao up and whispered to her, ¡°Do you know who they are?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Erbao lowered her voice as well.

    ¡°They are Grandpa and Grandma!¡±

    ¡°Huh? Not only do we have Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma, but we also have Grandpa and

    Grandma too?¡± Erbao gaped in shock.

    Ning Ran was amused by her question. ¡°Of course you do. They are kowtowing because it¡¯s a tradition

    in birthday banquets, so don¡¯t be afraid.¡±

    ¡°I see. But why are they the only ones doing that?¡± Erbao wondered out loud.

    Ning Ran almost let the truth slip. She hesitated a little before saying, ¡°Because they are somewhat

    special people.¡±

    ¡°If so, do Daddy and you need to kneel? Do Dabao and I need to do that too?¡±

    ¡°Nope.¡±

    On the other side, Nan Zhengde asked Ouyang Duo, ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this, Mr. Ouyang?¡±

    ¡°Zhiyuan came to me and asked me to be the mediator, so I thought that you would want a family

    reunion in your birthday banquet. I hope you don¡¯t mind...¡±

    Nan Zhengde waved his hands and eximed, ¡°Forget about it. Sorry to get you involved in our family

    affairs. I feel so ashamed.¡±

    He thenmanded the two people on the ground. ¡°Get up. Stop embarrassing yourselves.¡±

    Bai Hua and Nan Zhiyuan only stood up when they heard Nan Zhengde¡¯smand.

    As they exchanged a nce, all they could see in each other¡¯s eyes was glee.

    The birthday gift that Bai Hua and Nan Zhiyuan prepared was a very traditional and expensive huge

    ginseng root.

    As the birthday banquet officiallymenced, the guests came to give Nan Zhengde a toast.

    When it was Ning Ran¡¯s turn to present her gift, she realized that it was gone.

    She ced the long box containing a calligraphic painting on the table while she was consoling Erbao,

    but it wasn¡¯t there anymore.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Nan Chen noticed that something was wrong.

    ¡°The gift disappeared!¡±

    ¡°Disappeared?¡± Nan Chen¡¯s expression darkened.

    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

    ¡°Yeah. It was just there, but now it¡¯s gone! Don¡¯t tell me there¡¯s a thief lurking around here?¡± Ning Ran

    was confused as well.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just let it be.¡± Nan Chen consoled her.

    ¡°But everyone brought a gift! I can¡¯t go there empty-handed, right? It¡¯s so embarrassing!¡± Ning Ran

    started to panic.

    ¡°It¡¯s not embarrassing. Just forget about it.¡±

    ¡°No, no, I need to try to find it,¡± Ning Ran eximed in indignance.

    ¡°Just forget about it. Where are you gonna search for it? Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Nan Chen held Ning Ran¡¯s hands and prepared to give Nan Zhengde a toast.

    On the other side, when Ouyang Qing saw that Nan Chen was holding Ning Ran¡¯s hands, fury licked

    her gaze.

    In fact, Ning Ran was surprised too because it was Nan Chen¡¯s first time holding her hand. However,

    she couldn¡¯t do anything about it because of the nature of the event.

    The fact that they didn¡¯t have a gift was actually pretty embarrassing.

    ¡°Grandpa, this is Dabao¡¯s and Erbao¡¯s mother, Ning Ran. Her stage name is Ding Mi.¡±

    Nan Zhengde nodded in acknowledgment and sized Ning Ran up.

    He had a good first impression of her.

    Ning Ran was undeniably a beautiful woman, but she wasn¡¯t shy or ostentatious. She was akin to a

    lily in the valley; enthralling and likeable.

    Besides that, the countless hardships she faced gave her a more mature aura that made her seem

    thoughtful and wise.

    Over the past few decades, Nan Zhengde had seen his fair share of good-looking women.

    That was why he was experienced enough to judge someone¡¯s character based on their appearance

    and behavior.

    Nan Zhengde was satisfied with Ning Ran.

    She¡¯s from the entertainment industry, but she doesn¡¯t seem materialistic at all. She¡¯s a rare and unique

    woman.

    ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± Nan Zhengde said while nodding his head in approval.

    Nan Zhengde had never met Ning Ran before, so he shouldn¡¯t be so quick to judge her character in

    public. However, the fact that he nodded was a testament to how pleased he was at Ning Ran.

    ¡°Where are your gifts?¡± someone in the crowd asked suddenly.

    There were a lot of guests around, so no one knew who that was, but it was loud enough for everyone

    to hear.

    Unfortunately for Ning Ran, that was the thing she was most worried about.

    Ning Ran took a look at Nan Chen and hoped that he could help them out of this sticky situation.

    ¡°The gift... is here!¡± A child¡¯s voice came from behind, and the owner of the voice was none other than

    Dabao.

    He was waddling towards them with a box in hand.

    To Ning Ran¡¯s surprise, the box that he was carrying was the exact box containing the calligraphic

    painting.

    She noticed that Dabao went missing for a while, but she didn¡¯t pay too much attention to it because

    the security was tight here.

    Don¡¯t tell me he yed with the painting somewhere else and came back just now?

    But Dabao is quite well-behaved, so he probably wouldn¡¯t do anything like that.

    ¡°Mommy, here¡¯s Great-Grandpa¡¯s gift.¡± Dabao passed the box to her.

    Even though it was a paper box containing just a painting, it was definitely quite heavy for a five-year-

    old.

    The first thing Ning Ran did when she received the box was to check its contents.

    Thank God the painting¡¯s still there.

    She opened up the painting with Nan Chen and it was clearly stated on its corner that it was specially

    prepared for Nan Zhengde.

    Nan Zhengde received the painting and perused it carefully. A whileter, he praised it incessantly out

    of joy.

    He adored calligraphy, so it was only natural that he was thrilled that someone prepared a calligraphic

    painting specially for him.

    ¡°Ning Ran went to Mr. Chen and asked him to prepare the painting on the spot. We hope you like it,¡±

    Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°Yes, I do. I love it. Thank you so much.¡±

    Nan Zhengde then smiled and nodded at Ning Ran.

    However, Ning Ran felt guilty because the painting was actually prepared by Nan Chen, and it had

    nothing to do with her.

    She felt embarrassed because he gave her all the credit even though she didn¡¯t deserve any.

 Chapter 344

    Chapter 344

    While Ning Ran and Nan Xing were presenting their gift to Nan Zhengde, Ouyang Qing turned and

    headed for the rest area set aside for the staff.

    She had ced one of her men here as a waiter.

    Her tone was icy as she demanded, ¡°I thought I told you to take away that person¡¯s belongings?¡±

    ¡°I tried to but I was stopped by a little boy. That one, that pretty little boy over there.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t even handle one little boy?¡±

    ¡°Young Miss, there are bodyguards everywhere! All he needs to do is let out a scream and more than a

    dozen men will be lunging toward me. I¡¯ll never be able to leave!¡±

    ncing around, Ouyang Qing saw that he was right. There were bodyguards stationed everywhere.

    It was not surprising that security here was at an all-time high. After all, there were a lot of VIPs present

    today.

    ¡°Make sure there aren¡¯t any mistakester when they y the video,¡± she instructed softly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Young Miss. Everything has been arranged ording to your wishes.¡±

    Just then, Bai Hua came over. Her expression was ugly as she snapped, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that

    woman has children with Chen?¡±

    Ouyang Qing gnashed her teeth,pletely forgetting to put on the innocent smile she usually had

    stered on her face. Hatred zed in her eyes.

    She snarled hatefully, ¡°My men clearly didn¡¯t do a good enough job investigating her. I only just found

    out too!¡±

    Bai Hua stated, ¡°Children are going to make things a lot more difficult for us. Plus they¡¯re already so

    grown! How long ago must this have happened? How could there not be any news about them at all in

    the past few years?¡±

    ¡°That woman must have gotten pregnant with Chen¡¯s babies but kept them a secret from him. Now

    she¡¯s probably thinking of using them as her way into the Nan family.¡±

    ¡°I think so too. What a maniptive and scheming woman! How did she manage to keep in the

    shadows for so many years?¡± Bai Hua said.

    ¡°Aunt, are you going to let a woman like that marry Chen?¡±

    ¡°Of course not! So what if she¡¯s already given him children? They¡¯re a part of the Nan family but she¡¯s

    most definitely not! I¡¯ll just have Chenpensate her a little and tell her to leave the children. She, on

    the other hand, needs to stay the hell away from my son!¡± Bai Hua ranted.

    Unlike normal people, Bai Hua was not the slightest bit grateful to Ning Ran for giving her two adorable

    grandchildren. On the contrary, she hated Ning Ran and treated the younger woman like someone who

    had personally offended her.

    ¡°With you supporting me, that woman will never get her way!¡± Ouyang Qing chimed in.

    ¡°Have you prepared the video about her vile acts? Everything we¡¯ve done so far is in preparation for

    this day. We need to let everyone here see what sort of woman she really is! Old Master will feel

    absolutely humiliated in front of all those guests and then she¡¯ll be done for! There¡¯s no way he¡¯ll allow

    her to marry into the Nan family then. I believe he might even force her to leave Flower City. Even we

    might get thrown out on our asses if the Old Master really loses his temper, let alone her!¡± Bai Hua

    imagined gleefully.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Aunt. The video of her fathermitting suicide by jumping into the river and the other

    various videos have all been edited together. Once that video ys out, everyone will see her true

    colors.¡± A cold smile curled Ouyang Qing¡¯s lips.

    ¡°Alright. Rest assured, I¡¯m in full support of you chasing that woman away from Chen¡¯s side,¡± Bai Hua

    told her.

    ¡°Your support gives me all the confidence I need, Aunt.¡±

    After the toasts were over, the celebration officially began.

    Since it was the Old Master¡¯s birthday and most of the guests were VIPs, the atmosphere was kept

    rtively calm. There was no noisy music or shing lights. Everybody was incredibly courteous as

    they smiled at each other politely.

    The emcee called for everyone¡¯s attention, ¡°Good evening, distinguished guests. I would like to direct

    your attention to the projector screen where we shall enjoy a short video.¡±

    Once everyone was focused on the screen, the emcee continued, ¡°In his younger days, Old Master

    Nan used to contribute greatly to the economic development of this city. Since it¡¯s his birthday today,

    we¡¯ve specifically made this short video inmemoration of his glory days.¡±

    Everyone apuded loudly even as Nan Zhengde chuckled, saying, ¡°Oh,e now. Why are you

    making it sound like I¡¯m dead? I¡¯m still very much alive!¡±

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    The emcee rushed to exin, ¡°Of course we hope you¡¯ll live to a ripe old age, sir. We just made this

    video to reminisce about all your great contributions to this city.¡±

    ¡°Bah! I did nothing. I was just fortunate to have lived during this era. It was this country and this city that

    has offered me so much. I should be the one feeling grateful, not the other way around!¡± Nan Zhengde

    grinned.

    Ouyang Qing and Bai Hua exchanged meaningful nces as anticipation curled in them. Time to get

    this show on the road!

    Their n was simple. The short video about Nan Zhengde would be switched out and reced with

    one showing Ning Ran¡¯s ¡°heinous crimes.¡±

    Naturally, that video had been specially edited to twist the truth and show Ning Ran in a bad light.

    Once everybody present saw the video, Nan Zhengde and the Nan family would be utterly ashamed.

    Ning Ran would be in deep trouble then.

    When they tried to investigate the culprit behind this incident, nothing would point to Ouyang Qing. She

    had made sure of that.

    At most several staff members would lose their jobs due to receiving bribes but that had nothing to do

    with her.

    This was her trump card. She had to ruin Ning Ran once and for all so that the other woman would

    leave Nan Chen. In fact, she was hoping to force Ning Ran to leave this city altogether.

    Ouyang Qing, who had been repressing her emotions the entire night, finally felt like she could breathe.

    It was time to get revenge.

    Just then, Ning Ran¡¯s gaze swept across Ouyang Qing and she noticed the triumphant and wicked

    smirk on her face.

    Ning Ran gasped softly in surprise. I never knew she could have such a vicious look on her face. Does

    that mean her innocent expression has always just been a facade? But why is she smirking like that?

    What¡¯s going to happen that has her looking so smug?

    Everyone was staring at the screen expectantly. The seconds ticked by but still only the words ¡°Happy

    Birthday!¡± could be seen. There was no sign of the short video.

    The emcee hurriedly uttered, ¡°Please wait a moment, dear guests. We¡¯re most likely suffering some

    technical problems. I¡¯m sure everything will be just fine in a short while.¡±

    Right after the words left his lips, music flowed from the speakers and the screen began to show a

    video.

    At first, it was a photo of Nan Zhengde in his prime, wearing a safety helmet as he inspected a

    construction site. Then, it was him in a suit at a congress. What followed next was a short clip of him at

    the newly-constructed Flower City airport and then another clip of him at the opening ceremony for the

    first high-speed rail station to be constructed in the city.

    It was a video showing snippets of Nan Zhengde¡¯s life throughout the years but also a show of just how

    influential the Nan family was in this city. They were either directly or indirectly involved in nearly every

    important event in the city.

    The umtion of all these many years of hard work was the reason for Nan Chen¡¯s prominence and

    irrefutable status today.

    A celebration video for Nan Zhengde¡¯s birthday was almost like a documentary on the development of

    the city.

    A wide smile spread across Nan Zhengde¡¯s face as he watched the video, recalling how passionate

    and strong he used to be. His eyes grew misty with tears.

    Once the video was over, several words appeared on the screen, ¡°Thank you for all you did, Old

    Master Nan! We wish you a long and prosperous life ahead!¡±

    The hall exploded into thunderous apuse that did not stop for several long moments.

    Tugging Ouyang Qing off to the side, Bai Hua hissed, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Didn¡¯t you say you were going

    to show that b*tch¡¯s video during this time? Why was it still the original video about Old Master?¡±

    Equally furious and confused, Ouyang Qing whispered back, ¡°I have no idea! I arranged for them to

    rece the original video with Ning Ran¡¯s so I don¡¯t know why this one yed instead!¡±

 Chapter 345

    Chapter 345

    Everyone was in high spirits after the video and chatter filled the hall.

    In no time at all, the birthday cake was brought forward. Nan Zhengde was not as young as he used to

    be and was unable to stay up toote. Hence, instead of waiting until twelve midnight to cut the cake,

    they decided to move the time forward.

    ¡°Great-Grandpa, I still haven¡¯t given you my present yet!¡± Dabao suddenly eximed as he rushed over

    to stand before Nan Zhengde.

    ¡°Really? My darling has something for me as well? You¡¯re already the best present I can get!¡± the old

    man replied with a chuckle.

    The little boy¡¯s face was serious as he said, ¡°My present is really special! Make sure to get a good look,

    Great-Grandpa.¡±

    ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll love it no matter what you give me!¡± Nan Zhengde was in a wonderful mood.

    ¡°Alright. Then prepare yourself, Great-Grandpa!¡±

    With that said, Dabao headed for a nearby table where aptop was resting.

    His fingers flew across the keys rapidly before he told Nan Zhengde, ¡°Great-Grandpa, count to three

    and look over there.¡±

    Although confused, Nan Zhengde did as instructed. ¡°One, two, three...¡±

    The word ¡°three¡± had barely left his lips when the guests cried out in shock.

    The reason for their outburst? All the lights in the direction Dabao had asked Nan Zhengde to look in

    had been turned off.

    The view out the windows was amazing, showing the busiest part of Flower City. This part of the city

    was perpetually lit up by neon lights and was always bustling no matter the time of day.

    But at that moment, everything was plunged into darkness. Not a single speck of light could be seen.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening? Did that kid just cut off the electricity for that part of the city?¡±

    ¡°Oh my, how did he do that?¡±

    Just then, light burst into life among the sea of darkness. However, it was only limited to the massive

    screens on the sides of the buildings. Since this was the most prosperous area of the city, nearly every

    single one of the high-rise buildings hadrge screens built into their sides.

    Currently, all the screens were lit up brightly but the usual advertisements were nowhere to be seen.

    Instead, every single one of the screens showed the same content: Sirui and Sihan wish Great-

    Grandpa a happy birthday!

    Against the dark backdrop of the night, the words were ringly obvious.

    It was almost like half the city was celebrating Nan Zhengde¡¯s birthday with him. The sight was

    absolutely glorious!

    ¡°How wonderful!¡± Some of the guests began to cheer.

    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s amazing! How did he do that?¡±

    Dabao¡¯s voice cut through the noise, reaching Nan Zhengde¡¯s ears, ¡°Great-Grandpa, could you count

    to three again?¡±

    ¡°Sure. One, two, three...¡±

    On the count of three, the darkened city lit up again.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    Once more, everybody present cheered and pped.

    It had taken less than a minute for the city to go from total darkness to lighting up the night sky again.

    The visual disy was incredible and indescribable unless one personally experienced it themself.

    Ning Ran was absolutely stunned. She had not expected that this was what Dabao had nned in

    mind. She also could not wrap her mind around how he managed to do all that using only aptop.

    ¡°That kid is a genius! He¡¯s amazing!¡±

    ¡°As expected of the Nan family. So young yet so capable already! It¡¯s shocking!¡±

    Praise for the young boy rang out incessantly.

    Atst, it was time to sing the birthday song. All the lights in the hall dimmed before a sweet and

    melodious child¡¯s voice drifted through the air. ¡°Happy birthday to you...¡±

    The angelic voice belonged to none other than Erbao.

    Her brother had gotten his chance to show off earlier so now it was her turn. I¡¯m not going to lose to my

    brother!

    Under her lead, everyone started to sing along as well. At the end of the song, the two children blew

    out the candles together with Nan Zhengde.

    Just as everyone was busy cheering, the distant sound of explosions could be heard.

    Brilliant fireworks exploded off in the distance, gradually nearing where they were. They followed the

    Emerald River, leaving shimmering ribbons of color in their wake.

    Nan Xing had specifically arranged for this fireworks disy. It was befitting of his shy and

    mboyant attitude.

    After the stunning show, the atmosphere was jubnt as everyone was bubbling with exhration.

    An hourter, Nan Zhengde departed for home and the guests left as well.

    Erbao had already fallen asleep on the couch a while ago. She had been in a heightened state of

    excitement for the entire day and had not taken an afternoon nap. It was no surprise that she was

    exhausted.

    Nan Chen carefully picked his daughter up while Ning Ran held Dabao¡¯s hand. Together, the family of

    four walked out.

    The moment they entered the car, Erbao woke up. ¡°Where¡¯s Uncle?¡±

    Nan Chen and Ning Ran were bewildered. Why is she asking for Nan Xing the moment she wakes up?

    ¡°Your uncle went singing with several Aunts. Why are you looking for him?¡± Ning Ran questioned.

    ¡°Uncle said he would pack up the tasty leftovers for me. Did he pack them?¡± the little girl pressed

    urgently.

    Ning Ran could not help but giggle at her daughter¡¯s words.

    You little glutton! Is food all you can think about?

    She assured Erbao, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Your uncle did as he promised and had them pack the leftovers. Go

    to sleep. He¡¯ll bring them over for you tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± Satisfied, the little girl put her head down and went back to sleep.

    Upon arriving back at Red Maple City, Ning Ran told Nan Chen, ¡°Xiangyun is here so you should

    probably go back. Give me Erbao, I¡¯ll take her upstairs myself.¡±

    ¡°No, she¡¯s not. She¡¯s out of the country on official business,¡± Nan Chen answered.

    ¡°Huh? Even I don¡¯t know about that. How did you know?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m the boss,¡± was the simple reply.

    ¡°You¡¯re the CEO of Nanshi Corporation while Star Entertainment is just one of your many subsidiaries.

    Xiangyun is not exactly a very important figure in thepany. Why should you care about whether

    she¡¯s out of the country or not?¡±

    ¡°I just do.¡±

    Something urred to her and she asked, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you sent her off to learn something again?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t send her, thepany did. She¡¯s off to Korea this time,¡± he rified.

    ¡°You did that on purpose, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Korea¡¯s idol trainee system is probably the best in all of Asia, maybe even the world. The way they

    produce their high-quality stars is something the rest of the world¡¯s entertainment industry should

    follow. Sending her over there to learn from them is incredibly beneficial to her future.¡±

    Listening to his thorough exnation, Ning Ran had to agree that he had a point.

    There were two reasons why Nan Chen had ordered his subordinates to send Cheng Xiangyun to

    Korea for training. One was so he could spend more time with Ning Ran while the other was so that

    Cheng Xiangyun would have a higher chance of getting promoted.

    ¡°Will she be an important asset to thepany in the future?¡±

    ¡°Are you hoping she will be?¡±

    ¡°Of course! She¡¯s helped me a lot so I hope we¡¯ll be able to work together for an even brighter future.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why she needs the training. However, I won¡¯t value her just because of her rtionship with

    you. I¡¯ll still consider her capability first.¡±

    ¡°Aunt Xiang is very capable!¡± Dabao piped up from beside them.

    Unlike his sister, who was already sound asleep, Dabao was still very alert.

    If these words hade from any other kid other than Dabao, the adults would probably have rebuked

    him for speaking up when he did not know anything.

    However, nobody dared to berate Dabao for saying something like that. Despite being just a small

    child, he was remarkably understanding for his age. In fact, sometimes he was even smarter than the

    adults.

    ¡°By the way, how did you turn off all the lights earlier?¡± Ning Ran asked the boy.

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand even if I told you, Mommy. To put it simply, I entered a system and was able

    to control everything from there.¡±

    ¡°You cut off the electricity for quite arge area of the city. What if you had inconvenienced someone?¡±

    It was Nan Chen who answered, ¡°Nothing like that happened. All the hospitals and other important

    organizations still had full use of their electricity.¡±

    ¡°So you supported him in this? I knew you were probably behind this! He wouldn¡¯t have been able to do

    that himself. You spoil him too much!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s my son. If I don¡¯t spoil him, who am I supposed to spoil? You?¡± Nan Chen retorted.

 Chapter 346

    Chapter 346

    Ning Ran was struck speechless.

    Damn you, Poker Face! You¡¯re so annoying!

    She huffed and used. ¡°He hacked into the system, didn¡¯t he? That¡¯s illegal! Aren¡¯t you afraid of

    getting sued?¡±

    ¡°Is everything in this world legal?¡± Nan Chen was unfazed.

    ¡°What if someone sues you?¡±

    ¡°The power was out for less than twenty seconds. I had my men arrange everything so that nobody will

    be inconvenienced. You don¡¯t have to worry about anything. If my young son was able to easily hack

    into their system, that means that they have a huge bug. They should be thinking about how to fix that

    issue or maybe even hire my son as their security advisor. As if they have the right to actually file a

    lawsuit when their security is soughable.¡±

    Ning Ran was taken aback at how unreasonable he could be when he was protecting someone he

    cared about. Isn¡¯t Poker Face supposed to be this emotionless and serious guy? Yet what¡¯sing out

    of his mouth now is a bunch of nonsense!

    More than a little annoyed, she snapped, ¡°Fine, continue spoiling him then. When he grows up and

    gets into even more trouble, are you going to keep cleaning up after him?¡±

    ¡°Of course. He¡¯s my son. If I don¡¯t clean up his mess, who am I supposed to clean up after? You?¡±

    This again! Argh, how infuriating!

    She was sorely tempted to give him a hard p across the face. Unfortunately, that would only ever

    happen in her imagination as she was too scared of him to actually do it.

    ¡°I won¡¯t stir up trouble,¡± Dabao promised solemnly.

    ¡°Hear that? My son says he won¡¯t stir up trouble,¡± Nan Chen stated smugly.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, you need to have a limit on how much you spoil him, okay?¡±

    ¡°Okay! I¡¯ve always felt like I¡¯ve never crossed that line.¡±

    Oh my God, this man is being so difficult!

    Dabao muttered in an ashamed tone, ¡°Sorry for making you worry, Mommy.¡±

    Ning Ran did not know what to say to that.

    After a beat of carefully arranging her thoughts, she said, ¡°Mommy isn¡¯t ming you. I¡¯m just worried

    about a certain someone supporting you while you do as you please. Eventually, you¡¯ll be so big-

    headed that you¡¯ll ignore all the rules. The world has all kinds of rules that are there for a reason. No

    matter how powerful or rich you are, you still have to follow them. Otherwise, you¡¯ll easily lose your way

    and will end up being punished for it.¡±

    ¡°Mommy is right.¡±

    Surprisingly, that had note from Dabao but Nan Chen.

    What is he doing now? Why is he suddenly supporting me?

    Nodding, Dabao agreed, ¡°Yes, I know Mommy¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡°Dabao, you have to remember what Mommy said. However, you also need to keep in mind that rules

    are meant to be broken too. Confining yourself to obeying the rules will only hold you back and you¡¯ll

    never amount to anything,¡± Nan Chen added.

    ¡°Excuse me, I¡¯m trying to teach him over here! Why are you advocating the exact opposite of what I

    said! What¡¯s wrong with you!¡± Ning Ran yelled furiously.

    Her anger surprised Nan Chen. How dare this woman yell at me? Does she know who I am? Clearly,

    there¡¯s something wrong with you for having the guts to scream at me!

    ¡°I...¡±

    ¡°What? What do you have to say for yourself? You¡¯re spoiling him rotten! What do you mean by ¡®rules

    are meant to be broken too!¡¯ What kind of logic is that? Just how many rules have you broken? What

    achievements did you attain from breaking them, huh? You¡¯re just taking advantage of the fact that you

    grew up with a silver spoon in your mouth! Everything you want, you get. You would be nothing if you

    weren¡¯t from the Nan family!¡± Ning Ran ranted.

    Like all the times before, she immediately regretted the words out of her mouth.

    Okay, so I might have gone over the line there... Maybe just a little...

    The miraculous thing was, Nan Chen was not expressing as much anger as she had expected.

    He leaned back against the couchzily, gesturing for her to continue speaking.

    Having gotten all that off her chest, her courage failed her and she was unable to say another word.

    Since she made no move to speak, Nan Chen broke the silence, ¡°You¡¯re right. I would be nothing if I

    weren¡¯t from the Nan family. However, the reality of the matter is that I am. So what are you going to do

    about it?¡±

    His words pissed her off as much as they made her want tough.

    You, the ever domineering CEO, are suddenly acting like a petnt child? That¡¯s not normal at all!

    What happened to you? What the hell is going on?

    ¡°Mommy, Daddy, please stop fighting. This is all my fault. Next time if I do anything, I¡¯ll be sure to get

    Mommy¡¯s approval along with Daddy¡¯s first,¡± Dabao cried out with a guilty look.

    ¡°We¡¯re not fighting. We¡¯re just having a debate,¡± Ning Ran said.

    Nodding, Nan Chen added, ¡°Yes, just a debate.¡±

    ¡°Actually, there¡¯s something else I¡¯ve been wanting to tell you both,¡± the little boy mentioned.

    ¡°What is it?¡± the adults asked simultaneously.

    Realizing they had spoken at the same time, they shot each other a disdainful nce.

    ¡°Before I hacked into the power grid system, I did another small mistake. I hope you¡¯ll forgive me,

    Mommy.¡±

    Ning Ran was quick to notice he had only asked for her forgiveness and not Nan Chen¡¯s. In other

    words, he was not worried about his father¡¯s reaction but only hers.

    She red at Nan Chen. ¡°Another thing that you supported?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Nan Chen swiftly denied.

    Dabao hastily exined, ¡°This really has nothing to do with Daddy. Absolutely nothing!¡±

    ¡°Fine. Tell me what happened?¡±

    ¡°Well... After I found out that they were going to y a short video for Great-Grandpa¡¯s birthday, I was

    super curious. I wanted to see what the contents were earlier, so I...¡± he trailed off uncertainly.

    ¡°What did you do?¡±

    Nan Chen uttered, ¡°He must have cracked the passcode for theputer and infiltrated the system to

    see what the video was.¡±

    Ning Ran gave Dabao a questioning look and he nodded.

    The hell? Nan Chen was right? Are they so close that he can guess what Dabao is thinking just like

    that?

    ¡°And? That¡¯s not really a big deal. What else did you do?¡± she prodded.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    ¡°That¡¯s not a big deal? He¡¯d just randomly hacked into someone¡¯sputer, which is against thew

    too. So what you said earlier about obeying the rules doesn¡¯t apply here?¡± Nan Chen instantly

    demanded.

    In response, she rolled her eyes at him, not even deigning that with an answer. She motioned for

    Dabao to continue.

    ¡°After that, I saw that there was a video of Mommy on thatputer. It was a videopiled from all

    the videos that had been floating around the inte. The ones that were trying to ruin Mommy¡¯s

    reputation.¡±

    Dumbfounded, Nan Chen and Ning Ran exchanged looks.

    ¡°Theputer had a video of me? Why?¡± Ning Ran wondered.

    Nan Chen suggested, ¡°Someone must have bribed the staff to deliberately make a mistake when

    ying Grandpa¡¯s video. Whoever it is wanted all those guests to see that video of you.¡±

    ¡°Oh my God, who would do that? There were so many influential and powerful people present today! If

    my video had been yed, that would have definitely humiliated the Nan family and the Old Master!

    That would have put a damper on everyone¡¯s spirits!¡± she eximed.

    Nan Chen kept quiet. Your thinking is too simple. If that video of yours was yed, Grandpa would not

    have sat by idly. He would be absolutely livid and demand Star Entertainment to break off their contract

    with you. He would force you to leave the entertainment industry.

    Dabao replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t think too much of it at the time; I just deleted it.¡±

    Ning Ran threw her arms around her son and kissed him on the head forcefully. ¡°Good job, son!¡±

    Nan Chen burst her bubble by saying, ¡°Don¡¯t forget that he broke the rules to do that.¡±

    ¡°Oh shut up, you! I¡¯m talking to my son. Go be quiet over there.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s expression chilled significantly at her words. She¡¯s getting ruder and ruder! At this rate,

    she¡¯s going to step all over me! Where did this rebellious attitudee from?

 Chapter 347

    Chapter 347

    Upon noticing the scowl on his father¡¯s face, Dabao hurriedly said, ¡°Mommy, Daddy¡¯s right too...¡±

    ¡°I know he¡¯s right. But he¡¯s just saying that to spite me,¡± Ning Ran snapped.

    Sensing the tense atmosphere between his parents, Dabao did the only thing he could think of. ¡°Shall

    we call it a night? I¡¯m kinda tired and sleepy.¡±

    ¡°Alright. Children should get more sleep so they can grow big and strong!¡± Ning Ran agreed.

    After taking a shower, Ning Ran flopped on her bed, prepared to y on her phone for a bit before

    going to sleep. At that moment, Nan Chen entered the room.

    He had been particrly argumentative tonight, a fact that pissed her off.

    Rolling her eyes at him, she growled, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°This house is mine. This bedroom is also mine. In fact, everything here is mine,¡± he threw back.

    ¡°I know they all belong to you. You don¡¯t need to put so much emphasis on it. If I had known back then

    that this was your house, I wouldn¡¯t have moved here! You can take it back if you want to!¡±

    Nan Chen frowned at her irritable words. What¡¯s wrong with her tonight? Her temper¡¯s out of control!

    ¡°The report¡¯s out,¡± he informed.

    ¡°What report?¡±

    ¡°The paternity test report.¡±

    ¡°What paternity test report?¡±

    He did not bother replying and simply waited for her toe up with the answer herself.

    A few seconds passed before she abruptly recalled what Ning Ziqiang had said a while ago. He had

    told her she was not his biological daughter.

    At the time, Nan Chen had said they would run a DNA paternity test.

    He must be referring to that report.

    ¡°Where is it? I want to see!¡± Anxiety welled in her.

    ¡°What was with your attitude just now?¡± he demanded.

    She paused in surprise. Is he threatening me?

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t being very nice just now but that was because you were...¡±

    He cut her off, ¡°What was your attitude?¡±

    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

    ¡°Fine! My attitude was horrible.¡±

    For the sake of getting that report, she would endure.

    ¡°Horrible in what way?¡±

    Gritting her teeth, she had to restrain herself from leaping to her feet in anger. He¡¯s really pushing it!

    However, judging from the hard look on his face, she knew he would not let her off so easily.

    I have to act a little more humble!

    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have talked back to you. I shouldn¡¯t have said you were spoiling the kids...¡±

    ¡°I am spoiling them though. Why shouldn¡¯t you have said that?¡±

    Err, what? What trickery is this? How am I supposed to answer that!

    ¡°You can do whatever you like. Whatever you do is always right,¡± she managed to murmur vaguely.

    ¡°And why am I always right?¡±

    ¡°Because you¡¯re Sir Chen.¡±

    By that point, Ning Ran felt like she was as insignificant as a speck of dust. At this rate, she would

    rather not read the report.

    It¡¯s not like I actually want that man as my father. Who cares if I¡¯m not his biological daughter!

    Thankfully, he stopped bullying her and left the room.

    A short whileter, he returned with the report and handed it to her.

    She ignored the technical jargon and skipped right to the conclusion. It showed that she really did not

    have any rtion to Ning Ziqiang at all.

    Even though she had been expecting this, her knees still wobbled, threatening to give out from under

    her. She felt empty like everything had been scooped out of her, leaving nothing but a hollow shell

    behind.

    Setting down the report, she headed for the window and stared out at the lights in the courtyard.

    Unbidden, tears trailed down her cheeks.

    Ning Ziqiang had never been a very good father. On the contrary, he could even be said to be a terrible

    father.

    Losing such a man as a father honestly did not bother her much.

    And yet, here she was, crying because of that man.

    Thest connection to her family was gone.

    The only thing that had been linked to those memories of her past was Ning Ziqiang.

    Now, even he was gone.

    She was weeping, not because she had lost a father, but because she felt like she had been cut off

    from her past.

    Like a dandelion, she was left adrift in the winds with nothing to root her to the ground. She did not

    know where she hade from or where she would end up.

    With her back toward him, Nan Chen could not see her face.

    Even so, he knew that she was crying.

    A wave of regret crashed over him at his earlier actions. He should not have bullied her so.

    Then again, he had not actually meant to bully her. He was just trying to tease her. But he was not very

    good at being yful. That was why everything he did always came out wrong.

    He did notfort her. Like a shadow, he sat there silently as he kept herpany.

    Ten minutester, Ning Ran slowly turned back around. Her face was back to normal, not a hint of grief

    or tears were in sight.

    ¡°Thank you for helping me with this,¡± she murmured courteously.

    Nan Chen was distinctly unnerved by her sudden and uncharacteristic politeness. She had always

    been rather disrespectful toward him that he had long since gotten used to her crude attitude.

    ¡°You¡¯re wee. That man is not worthy of being your father anyway.¡±

    He was clearly ufortable and at a loss on how tofort her. That was not surprising as he had

    always dealt with his sadness alone. He had never needed anyone to console him.

    ¡°I know. I¡¯m not sad because of him,¡± she answered.

    After a short pause where Nan Chen kept silent, she continued, ¡°I just feel so sorry for my mother. She

    was a good woman who chose to give birth to me because she loved me. But why didn¡¯t she ever tell

    me that Ning Ziqiang was not my father?¡±

    Even though Nan Chen did not say anything, she still felt like she had to get these words off her chest.

    Otherwise, she would never be able to sleep tonight.

    ¡°Maybe I was too young and my mother was afraid that I wouldn¡¯t understand. But she still should have

    told me when I was a little older. Why did she keep this a secret from me?¡±

    Atst, Nan Chen spoke up, ¡°She probably had her reasons.¡±

    ¡°What should I do now? My mother is dead and I don¡¯t even know who my biological father is. Other

    people might not think this is important and I¡¯m inclined to agree. However, I at least need to know

    where I came from, right? I¡¯m human, not a piece of floating duckweed!¡±

    Near the end, she was so agitated she was nearly shouting.

    ¡°I¡¯ll find out for you,¡± Nan Chen promised calmly.

    ¡°My mother¡¯s dead. Where are you even going to start? It¡¯s impossible.¡±

    ¡°There are always clues.¡±

    ¡°That reminds me! My mother left me a USB drive a long time ago. Luo Fei said she was going to give

    it to me but kept forgetting. I wonder if Ning Ziqiang knows where that USB drive is now. If we can find

    it, there might be some clues on it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll find it for you.¡±

    His words had her breathing a sigh of relief. If it had been anyone else, she might have thought they

    were empty promises.

    However, this was Nan Chen. The wordsing out of his mouth were a solemn promise and she

    trusted him to keep it.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°You know, Ning Ziqiang might have an idea of who your biological father is. It¡¯s just whether he¡¯s

    willing to say or not. If he does know something, I¡¯ll think of a way to make him talk.¡±

    Lost for what else to say, she thanked him again.

    ¡°Go to sleep. Don¡¯t think about it so much.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Just then, Ning Ran¡¯s phone rang. Wondering who would call in the middle of the night, she brought

    her phone closer to check the screen.

    Speak of the devil...

    ¡°It¡¯s Ning Ziqiang. Should I answer?¡± she asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s see what he has to say. There must be a reason why he called you sote at night.¡±

 Chapter 348

    Chapter 348

    Obediently, Ning Ran epted the call.

    ¡°Ran, where are you?¡±

    ¡°Get straight to the point,¡± she said in a neutral tone.

    ¡°I want to see you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s toote so it¡¯s not very convenient for me. Just say what you want.¡±

    ¡°Well, the thing is, I received a call from the courthouse today informing me that they¡¯re going to auction

    off our old house. I was wondering if you still wanted that house. If you do, you should buy it. You could

    keep it as a souvenir or something.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s my mother¡¯s house! How could you have mortgaged it off?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t have a choice! Thepany was bankrupt so the only thing I could do was mortgage the

    house. The bank is filing awsuit now. That¡¯s why they¡¯re auctioning the house. I thought I should let

    you know...¡±

    Ning Ran hung up, unwilling to listen to him anymore.

    Once again, grief threatened to swallow her whole.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Nan Chen queried in concern.

    ¡°Ning Ziqiang says that Mom¡¯s house is going to be auctioned off. He mortgaged it to the bank. The

    house... I can¡¯t even keep the house...¡±

    She choked up, unable to continue speaking.

    Nan Chen knitted his brows. After a while, he said, ¡°Stop thinking about all this and go to sleep.¡±

    ¡°Sorry for affecting your mood as well. I didn¡¯t mean to.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. How about this? Agree to meet with Ning Ziqiang tomorrow at the snooker bar.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s already been proven that you¡¯re not his biological daughter. He must be thinking that you owe him

    all this. You have to do something to repay him.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t owe him anything!¡± she protested.

    ¡°But he raised you, no? That¡¯s the truth. You might as well do something that will repay him for the

    years of care he¡¯s given you and get him off your back once and for all.¡±

    ¡°How? Am I really supposed to give him all that money?¡±

    ¡°Anything that money can solve is not a problem.¡±

    That was the typical mindset that most wealthy people had. Nan Chen had the right to say that but Ning

    Ran most definitely did not.

    ¡°Money is the problem for me! Besides, why should I give him money? He and Luo Yi took all of my

    mother¡¯s property! Why should I give him any more money? Sure, he raised me, but just barely! He

    took so much away from my mother! Is that not enough?¡±

    Nan Chen said nothing.

    ¡°Well? say something! I¡¯m having a discussion with you. You were the one who suggested I meet with

    him. Now I¡¯m trying to talk about it with you but you¡¯re being tight-lipped!¡±

    Sorrow tinted her voice and expression.

    ¡°You¡¯re not doing this for his sake but your mother¡¯s. Since what your mother left behind is so

    meaningful to you, you should get them back. I¡¯ll pay for them first. Think of it as a loan from me to

    you.¡±

    Even before the words left his lips, she already suspected that was what he would say.

    But now that he had offered to loan her the money, she had another problem.

    She hated owing anyone money yet the debt she owed Nan Chen was getting progressivelyrger.

    She had no idea how she was supposed to pay it off in the future.

    Deciding that honesty was the best policy, she dered bluntly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to owe you any more

    money.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing scary about owing money. Even arge corporation like Nanshi Corporation has a

    certain ratio of liability. Nearly every singlepany does actually. It¡¯s the liabilities that you can¡¯t pay

    off that¡¯s scary.¡±

    ¡°But I don¡¯t have the ability to pay off my debts to you!¡±

    ¡°You will. Having a debt hanging over your head will serve to motivate you as well. People who don¡¯t

    have liabilities live their lives with minimal ie and are content. Yet that kind of life is meaningless.

    Is that the kind of life you want to lead?¡± Nan Chen gazed at her steadily.

    ¡°Are you trying to wax philosophy at me so I¡¯ll keep on borrowing money from you? Then I¡¯ll have to

    work as a ve for the rest of my life to pay off my debt?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re an adult and can make your own judgment. There¡¯s no point in me exining too much.¡±

    ¡°Well, I refuse then.¡±

    ¡°Sleep. You can make a decision after you get a good night¡¯s sleep.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not nning on sleeping here, are you?¡±

    ¡°Dabao and Erbao might pop in to see whether we¡¯re in the same room. We can¡¯t disappoint them.¡±

    Somehow, he made it sound so reasonable and justified.

    Ning Ran was well aware he was making excuses but she could not do anything about it.

    Although, it was true that he was a gentleman and would not do anything untoward.

    ¡°Fine. Do whatever you like.¡±

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    With that, she burrowed under the covers.

    Nan Chen turned off the lights before lying down beside her.

    Inexplicably, a sense of security andfort wrapped around her. She wondered if she had imagined it

    as she slipped into sleep.

    ...

    The next afternoon, in the same snooker bar as before.

    Nan Chen was hiding behind the partition again since he had no intention of meeting Ning Ziqiang

    face-to-face.

    Ning Ziqiang was despicable, not just in social status but his character as well.

    Nan Chen did not like nor find it necessary to deal with people like him. Despite that, he still took the

    time toe here today and was currently ying snooker.

    On the other side of the partition, Jiang Zhe and Ning Ran were meeting with Ning Ziqiang.

    Normally, Jiang Zhe would not interfere in personal matters such as this since it was supposed to be

    Qiao Zhan¡¯s job. However, Qiao Zhan was unable to handle this particr matter today.

    ¡°Ran, this is a detailed list of all the money I owe.¡± Ning Ziqiang brought out a piece of paper.

    ¡°What is the meaning of this? So you¡¯re forcing me to pay off all your debts?¡± Ning Ran hissed

    furiously.

    Jiang Zhe spoke up from beside her, ¡°I told him to do that.¡±

    Since Jiang Zhe was only acting on Nan Chen¡¯s orders, that meant that this was what Nan Chen

    wanted. She had no choice but to ept his decision.

    Taking the paper, she did not bother looking at the details. She roughly calcted the total, which

    amounted to twenty million or so.

    ¡°How did you manage to owe so much money! What did you even spend it on?¡± she snapped.

    ¡°I admit I did spend some of that but not all! Some of that was for investments. You know how the

    company was not managed properly near the end. All I could do was borrow money to pay off the

    deficit. But as they say, apany that¡¯s in the red is like a ck hole! No matter how much I tried to

    fill in the gaping hole, it was all in vain. That¡¯s how the debts gradually umted...¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s voice was sharp when she said, ¡°And what¡¯s the point of you telling me all this?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t mean anything by it. I don¡¯t have the guts to mean anything either...¡±

    Ning Ziqiang nced at Jiang Zhe fearfully and fell silent. He was the sort of man who bullied the weak

    while being afraid of the strong. Knowing that Jiang Zhe was here on behalf of Nan Chen, he did not

    dare step out of line.

    He had not forgotten what Qiao Zhan had done to himst time and was understandably wary of the

    Nan family¡¯s prowess.

    Jiang Zhe took the paper and walked behind the partition to hand it to Nan Chen.

    A short whileter, Jiang Zhe returned.

    ¡°We have a rough understanding of your current predicament. We¡¯ve also gotten a team of

    professionals to evaluate yourpany. Yourpany is in dire straits now as it¡¯s in a state of

    insolvency and the debts owed are veryrge. As such, we¡¯ll type out an agreement soon for you to

    sign. We¡¯ll take over yourpany including all the debts. After the debts are paid, we¡¯ll pay you an

    extra three million. This will be Ms. Ding¡¯s repayment for you taking care of her all these years. After

    that, you¡¯re to leave Ms. Ding alone. No matter what happens in the future, you¡¯re not allowed toe

    and bother her again.¡±

    ted at the thought of so much money, Ning Ziqiang instantly agreed, ¡°Yes, okay! I won¡¯t bother her

    ever again!¡±

 Chapter 349

    Chapter 349

    After Ning Ziqiang departed the snooker bar in high spirits, Ning Ran walked behind the partition.

    Nan Chen was bent over at the waist as he lined up his shot.

    Admiring the curves of his bottom, she was tempted to say, ¡°Nice ass.¡± Thankfully, she caught herself

    in time and mentally berated herself for being so uncouth.

    ¡°Why did you take over that mess of apany?¡± she asked instead.

    ¡°Because of you.¡±

    His reply was simple and straight to the point. There was no room for misunderstanding his meaning.

    Taken aback, she had to admit that sounded rather reasonable. Yet she could not help feeling like there

    was something wrong.

    ¡°You¡¯re a brilliant businessman. Why would you do something that doesn¡¯t profit you? You¡¯re not trying

    to add this onto my debt, are you?¡±

    ¡°Thanks for thepliment.¡± He hit another ball and it flew into the pocket.

    ¡°When did Ipliment you?¡± she questioned, bbergasted.

    ¡°You said I was a brilliant businessman.¡±

    ¡°Err, okay... I guess that counts as praise?¡±

    ¡°It does.¡±

    ¡°Then could you tell me why you did it?¡±

    ¡°Because of you,¡± he repeated.

    Ning Ran was beginning to get exasperated. Can¡¯t he just talk like a normal person?

    ¡°But you¡¯ve always made sure to keep your private matters separate from your official business. So

    why...¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no ¡®why¡¯ to it.¡±

    Setting down his cut stick, he suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡±

    She checked her watch and saw that it was indeed time for lunch. ¡°As thanks for all that you¡¯ve done

    for me, It¡¯ll be my treat.¡±

    Surprise shone in his eyes. ¡°Sure. What are we eating?¡±

    ¡°McDonald¡¯s.¡±

    The surprised look vanished and Nan Chen refused, ¡°I¡¯m not eating that.¡±

    ¡°Why not? McDonald¡¯s isn¡¯t exactly cheap. Don¡¯t forget I have a huge debt to pay off now. This is the

    best I can do,¡± Ning Ran said with a sigh.

    ¡°Mr. Chen doesn¡¯t like to eat fast food,¡± Jiang Zhe piped up from nearby.

    A wicked smirk curled Ning Ran¡¯s lips. ¡°Oh, how could I have forgotten! There¡¯s probably nobody else

    in the world who knows what Mr. Chen likes best other than you, Assistant Jiang. Maybe you should be

    the one to treat this meal? Since you know what Mr. Chen wants to eat, it would be easy for you to

    arrange, no?¡±

    ¡°I...¡± Jiang Zhe had obviously not expected to receive such a snarky reply from his helpfulment

    earlier.

    ¡°Great idea,¡± Nan Chen added.

    ¡°But... One of you is a CEO while the other is a celebrity. I¡¯m just a lowly employee...¡±

    Nan Chen interrupted the other man, ¡°That¡¯s what you get for talking too much. It¡¯s settled. You¡¯re

    paying for the meal.¡±

    ¡°Wait, no! I- ¡°

    ¡°Are you going to book the restaurant or shall I?¡± Nan Chen raised an eyebrow at Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it!¡± Jiang Zhe hastily replied. I shudder to imagine what high-end restaurant Sir Chen will pick if I

    let him decide. Since there¡¯s no way out of this, I better choose the restaurant so I don¡¯t go broke!

    In the end, he selected a restaurant that specialized in Hunanese dishes.

    The reason for this was because Nan Chen had been training himself to eat spicy food recently.

    This particr restaurant had some mildly spicy dishes that were quite delicious, such as their specialty

    pickled pepper fish head.

    It takes skill to save money while pleasing the boss and Young Mistress at the same time.

    Nan Chen was clearly satisfied with Jiang Zhe¡¯s decision, especially the pickled pepper fish head.

    He was pleased not because he liked it personally but because he discovered that Ning Ran loved it.

    She could not seem to stop eating it.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, about Ning Ziqiang¡¯spany...¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk about work,¡± Nan Chen stopped his assistant from speaking.

    Jiang Zhe was astonished. This had never happened before.

    Nan Chen was a workaholic, a man who could work no matter the time or ce. He had never refused

    to talk about work during his free time before.

    What¡¯s wrong with the boss today? Is it because he wants to enjoy his time with Young Mistress and

    doesn¡¯t want the mention of work to ruin the mood? If that¡¯s the case, that means I¡¯m being a third

    wheel right now! Should I walk away quietly and leave them alone? But I¡¯m paying for this meal! It

    doesn¡¯t make sense for me to leave without eating what I paid for! Forget it, I¡¯m not leaving!

    After lunch was over, Nan Chen headed back to hispany while Jiang Zhe sent Ning Ran to Star

    Entertainment.

    Wang Xiaoou was already waiting for her. ¡°Cheng Xiangyun has been sent to Korea for training. Do

    you need a temporary assistant for the time being?¡±

    Ning Ran rushed to reply, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m a superstar and have a lot of

    matters to see to. I can handle everything myself.¡±

    ¡°You might not be that busy previously but you¡¯ll get progressively busier. For now, cooperate with the

    advertising team for the new drama series. By the way, we¡¯ve also selected the new movie project. The

    budget is tentatively set at three hundred million. However, keep in mind that investing in a movie is

    very risky. That¡¯s why some otherpanies will be investing as well. In other words, with all these

    other investors, this new movie of yours will have a total budget of one billion at least. This is only the

    upfront investment. More funds will be addedter on if this proves to be insufficient. Since this will be

    such a huge production, you¡¯ll need to give it your all. You¡¯re definitely going to be incredibly busy very

    soon,¡± Wang Xiaoou informed.

    The numbers stunned Ning Ran and she muttered in a daze, ¡°One billion? That much?¡±

    Focusing a stern look on Ning Ran, Wang Xiaoou reminded, ¡°It is a bit much. But I¡¯m just your manager

    so getting investors isn¡¯t really my job. The one who started up this campaign is Mr. Chen. With his

    influence, rallying more investors would be easy so money isn¡¯t the issue here. The main problem

    would be whether we¡¯ll be able to produce a spectacr film. As you well know, a lot of high-budget

    films end up as epic failures. Naturally, I don¡¯t want your film debut to be a flop. Our goal is to be a box

    office sess and to make your name known.¡±

    At that moment, Ning Ran felt like there was a mountain pressing down on her. The pressure that came

    from her manager¡¯s words was overwhelming.

    Technically, she was still just a neer. It was no surprise that she would feel extremely pressured

    at having to act in such a high-budget film.

    If she messed things up, the investors would suffer huge losses.

    As the lead investor, Nan Chen would be severely affected if the film was a failure. She would be in

    deep trouble then.

    Put off by the idea, she suggested timidly, ¡°Maybe... Maybe I shouldn¡¯t act in this movie...¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡± Wang Xiaoou jumped to her feet.

    Ning Ran grimaced. ¡°I¡¯m worried I won¡¯t be able to hold up to expectations.¡±

    Wang Xiaoouughed harshly. ¡°Do you have any idea what you¡¯re saying?¡±

    Smiling bitterly, Ning Ran answered, ¡°I know.¡±

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    ¡°Acting in a blockbuster movie is every actors¡¯ dream! For a greenhorn like you to be able to act in one

    is indicative of how very blessed you are. Yet you¡¯re refusing this opportunity?¡± Wang Xiaoou stared at

    her in disbelief.

    ¡°I know that. But that¡¯s precisely the reason why I¡¯m scared. I¡¯m not that confident in my own skills. I

    don¡¯t want to make a mess of things and cause the investors to suffer losses.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re an actress and acting is your job! As for the investors, deciding to invest in this is their

    business! They have their own team of professionals that will evaluate whether a film is worth investing

    in. You don¡¯t have to worry about whether they profit or not. Even if they earn a lot, you won¡¯t be getting

    anything other than your ownmission. If they suffer losses, you won¡¯t need to bear any

    responsibility for that. Do you understand me?¡± Wang Xiaoou berated.

    ¡°I understand but I¡¯m still feeling very pressured and stressed.¡±

 Chapter 350

    Chapter 350

    Wang Xiaoou¡¯s face darkened in a vicious scowl as she growled, ¡°I¡¯ve managed a lot of artists in the

    past few years. Some have talent while others rely on their backgrounds. As long as they have either

    one of those, they¡¯ll definitely make it big. However, how long they remain famous is another matter

    entirely. Some aren¡¯t willing to work hard after they be famous and start to act all high and mighty.

    Eventually, the public will scorn and then forget about them. By contrast, some are still willing to be

    diligent and try to maintain a low profile. All the while, they constantly improve on their skills and

    be a firm favorite of the entertainment industry. In your case, you¡¯re both talented and have

    connections. Your future is limitless! The chances of you bing internationally famous are very

    high. However, before that can happen, you¡¯ll need to have acted in a blockbuster film first. Mr. Chen

    started this film project specifically for you but now you¡¯re refusing to act in it? If you didn¡¯t want to act

    then why did you be an actress? Just what do you want?¡±

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    ¡°I¡¯m not that talented and I don¡¯t have any connections either...¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen your acting skills when I was still Luo Fei¡¯s manager. Honestly, I think you¡¯re leagues better

    than her. As for connections, Mr. Chen is personally setting up the stage for you to perform. Doesn¡¯t

    that count? Unless you think that only someoneing from Hollywood counts as having connections?

    If you¡¯re so unambitious, then I¡¯ll call Mr. Chen right now! I don¡¯t want to manage you anymore!¡±

    In a fit of rage, Wang Xiaoou tossed the script she had been holding in front of Ning Ran.

    She was someone who clearly knew about Ning Ran¡¯s connection to Nan Chen yet still dared to scold

    the former. That showed that she was truly capable and stuck to her principles. She was not the sort of

    person who got to where they were today because they were good at currying favor.

    Intimidated by the other woman¡¯s demeanor, Ning Ran was not sure how to react at first.

    Wang Xiaoou took out her phone, ready to do as she threatened.

    ¡°Ou, wait!¡± Ning Ran hastily stopped her. She pasted a smile on her face as she appeased her

    manager, ¡°Ou, can we talk about this a little more? There¡¯s no hurry, right? You don¡¯t need to be so

    angry.¡±

    ¡°Ding Mi, when an opportunityes knocking, you have to grab hold of it with both hands and not let

    go. If you let this pass you by, another chance might nevere again,¡± Wang Xiaoou stated gravely.

    ¡°I know that Ou, I really do. It¡¯s just that this is such a huge burden on me and I¡¯m feeling so stressed.

    I...¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s normal to feel stressed. However, you have the ability to do this. Don¡¯t worry about anything else.

    As long as you and the team work hard, this film will definitely be a sess. Mr. Chen is doing all this

    for you but also for thepany. You have to believe in yourself and in Mr. Chen. Most importantly, you

    need to believe in our team.¡±

    Wang Xiaoou¡¯s wordsforted Ning Ran and helped ease the pressure a little.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a look at the script first?¡±

    ¡°No, there¡¯s no need. I¡¯ve decided I¡¯ll do it,¡± Ning Ran dered.

    Wang Xiaoou blinked. ¡°That was quick.¡±

    ¡°I was just thinking about how Nan Chen is already so rich. Losing several billion is nothing to him.

    After that, it was easy to make my decision,¡± Ning Ran said with a grin.

    Augh bubbled out of Wang Xiaoou¡¯s lips. ¡°That¡¯s true. Despite how many movies came out each

    year, rarely do they actually earn a profit. Investments alwayse with risks. Rx, even if the movie

    is a failure and thepany loses money, nobody will me you for it.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s why I don¡¯t have to be worried about anything.¡±

    ¡°That said, you still need to be diligent when working on this movie. Don¡¯t mess it up,¡± Wang Xiaoou

    warned.

    ¡°Of course! You yourself said that I was a talented actress. With talent on my side, I¡¯m not afraid of

    working hard. I¡¯ll do my best!¡± Ning Ran pumped her fist in the air.

    ¡°That¡¯s the spirit! Bring the script home with you and pore over it carefully. Prepare yourself mentally for

    what is required of you. This isn¡¯t the final script so there might still be changes in the future.

    Remember that this script is confidential and must be kept secret at all costs.¡±

    ¡°Okay, I understand.¡±

    ...

    At the headquarters of Sunshine Corporation, Flower City Branch.

    The chairman of the board of directors, Ouyang Duo, had just finished a meeting with the executives

    from the branchpany. Exiting the conference room, he spotted Ouyang Qing waiting for him.

    ¡°Why are you here?¡±

    All along, Ouyang Qing never really bothered herself with the day-to-day operation of thepany. In

    fact, she was rarely seen in her office at Sunshine Corporation. Today was an exception.

    ¡°I heard that you were going back. So I¡¯m here to see you off,¡± she replied.

    ¡°See me off?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. You¡¯ve been working so hard so I thought I shoulde and say goodbye,¡± Ouyang Qing

    chirped with a sweet smile.

    Ouyang Duo gestured for his entourage to go ahead of him. He wanted to talk to his daughter alone.

    ¡°What are you up to this time?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, Dad? I just wanted toe and say goodbye, that¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°Then why don¡¯t youe back home with me? You¡¯ve been here in Flower City for quite a while now.

    Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s time to go home?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the hurry? I¡¯m over here helping you keep an eye on the branchpany. You were always

    hoping I would manage thepany affairs, right? Well, I¡¯m learning now!¡± she protested.

    ¡°You¡¯re learning? Really? Then why is it I hear the employees saying you hardly evere in for

    work?¡±

    She smiled innocently. ¡°I do! They just never see it when I arrive.¡±

    ¡°Fine. Do whatever you like. So what do you want from me? Let¡¯s hear it.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m learning how to run apany, right? There¡¯s this project I want to join that I hope you¡¯ll

    support me in.¡±

    ¡°Oh? You¡¯re looking at projects now? So you¡¯re really learning how to run a business! What kind of

    project are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°I want to invest in a movie.¡±

    ¡°A movie? No. We never invest in movies. Those waters are very deep and we¡¯ve never tested them

    before. It¡¯s best not to involve ourselves in the film-making industry.¡± Ouyang Duo waved his hand in

    dismissal.

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly why we should try! I know our family usually deals in finances but we should try out

    other industries as well. Think about it. If word gets out that we invested in a movie that¡¯s a huge hit, it

    would be great advertising for us, wouldn¡¯t it? Dad, please agree to it! You¡¯ve always been very open-

    minded about things. How could you just outright reject my suggestion like that? Can¡¯t you support me

    now that I¡¯m actually feeling motivated?¡±

    Ouyang Qing grabbed her father¡¯s arm and tugged on it childishly as she whined.

    Ouyang Duo only had this one daughter. Unlike those other young daughters from influential or wealthy

    families, she was an ace student that excelled in her studies.

    Her achievements were a constant source of pride for Ouyang Duo, especially when his friends praised

    her. That was why he doted on his daughter relentlessly.

    As she continued to plead with him, he felt his resolve crumble. ¡°What kind of movie has caught your

    interest so? And how much are you nning on investing in it?¡±

    ¡°Not much. just two hundred million for now. Dad, the lead investor for this movie is Nan Chen, which

    means it¡¯s definitely going to earn a profit! You know how he has a keen eye for business. There¡¯s no

    way he¡¯ll invest in something that won¡¯t profit him. That¡¯s why we have to follow his investment!¡±

    Ouyang Qing exined excitedly.

    Understanding dawned on Ouyang Duo at his daughter¡¯s words.

    ¡°Nan Chen is the lead investor? So you¡¯re not doing this to learn about business; you¡¯re doing this for

    Nan Chen, aren¡¯t you?¡±

 Chapter 351

    Chapter 351

    ¡°Dad, how could you say that? Is that what a father is supposed to say to his daughter? I¡¯m seriously

    doing this for business! I just want a project of my own that can earn money as well. Not only will that

    benefit thepany, but it¡¯ll reflect well on you too! Isn¡¯t that a win-win situation? It¡¯s just two hundred

    million. Let me try, please?¡±

    Gazing down at the hopeful look in his daughter¡¯s eyes, Ouyang Duo reluctantly nodded. ¡°Fine. But I

    need to see a feasibility report first! Although it¡¯s just two hundred million, that¡¯s still money. Since this is

    an investment, I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s Nan Chen or whoever. All I care about is whether this investment will

    bring me profits.¡±

    Delighted, Ouyang Qing asked eagerly, ¡°Does that mean you agree to this?¡±

    ¡°Notpletely. This is just a tentative agreement. Like I said, I want to read through a feasibility report

    first before I make any final decisions.¡±

    ¡°I understand, Dad. I¡¯ll get it ready for you as soon as I can! Wait for my good news, okay?¡±

    With that said, she turned around to leave.

    ¡°Hey, didn¡¯t you say you were here to see me off? Are you going to just leave me here?¡± Ouyang Duo

    called out after her retreating back.

    ¡°I¡¯m busy! Once I get the feasibility report, I¡¯ll let you know. Bye, Dad!¡±

    Ouyang Duo sighed in exasperation. Unfortunately, she was a grown woman now and he held no sway

    over her anymore. He was well aware of his daughter¡¯s feelings toward Nan Chen.

    From a father¡¯s standpoint, of course he hoped his daughter would marry Nan Chen. The Nan family

    was extremely influential. If there was a marriage to tie the two families together, it would undoubtedly

    benefit the Ouyang family greatly.

    Even ignoring the Nan family¡¯s status, Ouyang Duo was incredibly pleased with Nan Chen. Not only

    was the younger man very handsome, but he was also very talented.

    As such, he had instantly approved of his daughter¡¯s decision to follow in Nan Chen¡¯s footsteps and

    invest in that movie.

    Two hundred million really was quite insignificant. In fact, he would not even mind losing that money if

    he could get Nan Chen as his son-inw in return.

    However, he could not immediately let his daughter know of his decision. After all, this was an

    investment opportunity. He could not be too careless or Nan Chen might realize their intentions.

    He did not want the Nan family to think that he was reaching above his station by pushing his daughter

    toward Nan Chen. In the end, he had a daughter while the Nan family had a son. If he portrayed

    himself as being too lowly right from the start, his daughter might end up getting bullied after she

    married.

    He made his way toward the elevator, still lost in thought.

    Right then, the elevator arrived with a ¡°ding¡± and a man stepped out. It was his son, Ouyang Qi.

    Ouyang Duo could feel a headache forming the moment heid eyes on his son.

    This son of his was the total opposite of his daughter.

    Ever since young, he had gotten terrible grades in his studies. Trouble seemed to crop up wherever he

    went. It did not matter how good the school was, he would eventually beat up his ssmates or cause

    the teachers to resign in rage.

    There was even an incident during his high school years where he got a teacher pregnant. It was only

    after she was paid arge sum that she kept quiet about it.

    The Ouyang family was considered an influential family too. As such, a lot of women were constantly

    trying to get close to Ouyang Qi. Needless to say, they were only after his fortune.

    On his end, Ouyang Qi was indeed ascivious man. He would never refuse any woman who could be

    considered the slightest bit pretty. That had led to more than a few incidents over the years.

    After graduation, he could not get into any of the local universities. Left with no other choice, Ouyang

    Duo sent him off to Canada to further his studies.

    To Ouyang Duo¡¯s frustration, his son continued his yboy ways even while in Canada. He even

    managed to sleep with the wife of a local mob boss. As a result, the mob boss kidnapped him, chopped

    off his left pinky finger, and ransomed the Ouyang family for yet anotherrge sum of money.

    If this had happened to anyone else, that person would have learned their lesson. Yet Ouyang Qi did

    not.

    After returning to the country, he did not stop his promiscuous ways. Instead, his behavior worsened.

    He was constantly sleeping with various celebrities and had even gotten the nickname ¡°Nine-Fingered

    Prince.¡±

    The small-time celebrities often joked that he made up for hisck of finger by being even more

    generous. That¡¯s why they loved to date him.

    This time, Ouyang Duo had brought him to Flower City to introduce him to some of the business

    magnates he knew. Yet the brat had snuck off when he was not paying attention.

    Naturally, Ouyang Qi was not at all interested in celebrating some old man¡¯s birthday. He had slipped

    away to sample the beauties of Flower City the first chance he got.

    Rage boiled in Ouyang Duo when he saw his son. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°Dad, you haven¡¯t left yet?¡± Ouyang Qi was visibly surprised to see his father.

    ¡°You thought I¡¯ve gone back home so you¡¯re here to borrow money again, aren¡¯t you? Thepany is

    not your personal ATM! You can¡¯t always borrow money from the Finance Department!¡± Ouyang Duo

    roared.

    ¡°Dad, I¡¯m just borrowing! It¡¯s not like I have no intention of returning the money!¡± Ouyang Qi protested.

    That enraged Ouyang Duo more. ¡°Really? Since when have you ever paid the money back?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have any ie now. However, I¡¯ll definitely return the money once I have it! You¡¯re my father!

    If I don¡¯t spend your money then who will? It¡¯s perfectly reasonable that I spend your money, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Ouyang Qi justified his actions.

    ¡°You worthless animal! How did I ever get a son like you?¡±

    ¡°Hey Dad, I¡¯m your son. If I¡¯m an animal, what does that make you? You shouldn¡¯t insult yourself like

    that. Anyways, you should leave if you¡¯re so busy,¡± Ouyang Qi replied with a grin.

    ¡°I¡¯m calling the general manager to tell him not to lend you any more money! You should just give up!¡±

    ¡°C¡¯mon, Dad, don¡¯t be like that. You¡¯ve already frozen my bank ount! I don¡¯t even have any money

    to eat! If you won¡¯t let me borrow any money, am I supposed to be a beggar on the streets? If I had

    been an ordinary man, that wouldn¡¯t have mattered much since I¡¯m quite thick-skinned. However, I¡¯m

    Ouyang Duo¡¯s son! I¡¯m part of the great Ouyang family! Think of what would happen if any reporters

    discovered me begging on the streets! Imagine the shame I would bring to the family!¡±

    Ouyang Duo¡¯s face purpled with rage at how shameless his son was being. How is he so good at

    twisting reason to fit his purposes?

    But in the end, no matter how terrible he was, Ouyang Qi was still his son. He could not, in good

    conscience, just leave him be.

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother the Finance Department! I¡¯ll have them unfreeze your bank ount. However, don¡¯t

    spend any of that money on women again! Plus, you¡¯re toe home with me now! From now onward,

    focus on learning as much as you can at work with me. You¡¯re not exactly young anymore. It¡¯s about

    time you man up and be a responsible person!¡±

    Even though Ouyang Duo had ordered his subordinates to not lend Ouyang Qi any more money, there

    was no way any of them would dare offend the Young Master. When it came down to it, Ouyang Qi was

    still the sessor to thepany. They would lose their jobs if they pissed him off and he held a

    grudge when he took over.

    That was why they were more than willing to lend him money as long as he asked.

    Most of the time, they lent it to him using thepany name. Their mindset was that it was the Ouyang

    family¡¯s money anyway. He just needed to write an IOU and then it was none of their business whether

    he returned the money or not.

    ¡°Thanks, Dad. But I can¡¯t go back just yet. I still have something very important to do here!¡± Ouyang Qi

    said mysteriously.

    ¡°You have something important to do? What kind of important business could you possibly have?¡±

    There was no way Ouyang Qi would tell his father that a woman had caught his interest.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

 Chapter 352

    Chapter 352

    Ouyang Qing had been waiting in the reception room at Nanshi Corporation for nearly an hour. The

    employees of the President¡¯s office had changed her coffee twice, but she still had not taken even one

    sip.

    The brand of the coffee was too low-end, and she disliked low-end products.

    Another half an hour had passed, yet Nan Chen had not shown himself.

    Ouyang Qing had reached her limit as she walked to the President¡¯s office and pounded on the door.

    Seeing this, Jiang Zhe rushed towards her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Ouyang. You really can¡¯t go in.¡±

    ¡°Until when is he gonna be in that meeting? This is so frustrating!¡±

    ¡°Nobody knows. The meeting will end whenever he ends it,¡± Jiang Zhe replied, lowering his head.

    ¡°Then let me wait in his office. Why should I wait here?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Chen said not to let any guests wait in his office. It¡¯s about thepany¡¯s confidentiality. I¡¯m just

    following his order, so I hope you¡¯ll understand, Ms. Ouyang.¡±

    Jiang Zhe knew very well where this woman came from. He could not afford to offend her.

    ¡°Ugh, when the hell will he end the meeting? I¡¯ve been waiting for so long.¡±

    R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    ¡°I¡¯ll take a look around thepany then. But I¡¯m not familiar with this ce. Can you show me

    around?¡± Ouyang Qing stared at Jiang Zhe.

    Jiang Zhe hesitated, but for the sake of appeasing this agitated woman, he still agreed.

    He was actually concerned about the Young Miss going into a certain department and would not be

    recognized by the people there. They would ask the guards to kick her out, and that would not look

    good.

    ¡°Yourst name is Jiang, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Thank you for remembering, Ms. Ouyang.¡±

    ¡°Then can I call you Jiang? You¡¯re older than me, by the way,¡± she uttered sweetly.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. You can just call me Jiang Zhe.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, I still wanna call you Jiang. Jiang, how long have you worked for Chen?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been some time.¡±

    ¡°Then you must know him well, right?¡±

    ¡°In terms of work, yes. I¡¯ve been with him for years, after all,¡± replied Jiang Zhe carefully.

    ¡°How many girlfriends did he have previously?¡± Ouyang Qing cut straight to the point.

    She did not see Jiang Zhe with great importance. The only reason she gave him a nickname was to

    fish out information about Nan Chen.

    ¡°This question is regarding Mr. Chen¡¯s private life, so I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°Seriously?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t buy it. You¡¯re the closest person to Chen. If you don¡¯t know, then who would?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m only in charge of handling thepany¡¯s affairs. I don¡¯t know anything about his private life.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you. You just don¡¯t want to tell me.¡± Ouyang Qing feigned anger. But she knew that trick

    was not good enough, so she pouted, grabbed his arm while swaying it back and forth. ¡°Tell me

    please... please tell me,¡± she persuaded in a coquettish voice.

    If she acted like this to someone else, that person might have fainted. Because not only did shee

    from a prominent family, but she was also a beauty.

    However, Jiang Zhe was already immune to this kind of trick since many women had done this to get

    closer to Nan Chen before.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Ouyang. I really have no idea. If you¡¯re keen to know, I can rmend someone that

    you probably can get the answer to your question. He¡¯s responsible for Mr. Chen¡¯s private life, so he

    should know about it.¡±

    ¡°Really? Who?¡± Ouyang Qing immediately got excited.

    ¡°Qiao Zhan, the head of the Nan family¡¯s security team. I heard that he also has the same position in

    thepany.¡±

    ¡°Qiao Zhan? The bodyguard whose built is like a small mountain?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that one. He¡¯s not a normal bodyguard, though. He¡¯s very influential in the Nan family. He¡¯s the

    one who arranges Mr. Chen¡¯s schedule like where he goes or who he meets, so he should know a lot.¡±

    Jiang Zhe and Qiao Zhan had always been at odds. Since he did not want to be in trouble with Ouyang

    Qing, dumping it on Qiao Zhan was the best option.

    ¡°Okay then, I¡¯ll go ask himter. But you must not tell Chen anything about this.¡±

    ¡°Of course. Mr. Chen and I don¡¯t talk about stuff like this. You also know that he isn¡¯t that talkative.¡±

    ¡°All right, I trust you. I don¡¯t feel like wandering around anymore. Let¡¯s head back. Maybe Chen is done

    with his meeting.¡±

    Asking Jiang Zhe to show her around was also one of her tricks to get information about Nan Chen.

    Since she failed to do so, there was no reason to continue walking with him. Her family also owned a

    bigpany. Everything here did not impress her since she had seen something simr.

    During this time, Nan Chen had indeed finished his meeting. Even so, she still needed to wait for a

    while because he would rest for twenty minutes in his office every time he was done with meetings.

    He was overloaded with work every day that he barely had any proper vacations. Thanks to the rest

    time in between his schedule, he could maintain his focus and energy.

    When he was resting, nobody was allowed to disturb him. Nobody.

    Did that include Ning Ran? No one would know.

    Ouyang Qing finally could enter Nan Chen¡¯s office after twenty minutes.

    When she was inside, Nan Chen was sipping on his coffee as he signaled his secretary to make

    another cup for Ouyang Qing.

    She refused to drink their coffee earlier, but she had no choice now that she was in front of Nan Chen.

    ¡°Wow, this coffee is delicious,¡± sheplimented.

    ¡°This is a very ordinary coffee bought for the employees. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡±

    ¡°No, no. This is not ordinary at all. It¡¯s delicious.¡±

    Nan Chen did not respond since he knew very well whether a coffee tasted good or bad. He also did

    not ask why she here since he knew she would tell him.

    ¡°Chen, I wanna learn how to do business. My dad told me to learn from you.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Ouyang himself is a business expert. Why don¡¯t you learn from him instead?¡± Nan Chen asked

    indifferently.

    ¡°No. My dad said today¡¯s business world is mostly dominated by young people, and you¡¯re the

    youngest yet the most sessful one. So he asked me to learn from you.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know how to teach others though.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can learn bit by bit. Business isn¡¯t something you¡¯ll understand in a day or two. I heard you

    want to invest in a movie. Is that true?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± replied Nan Chen nonchntly.

    ¡°My dad is also part of this investment and he told me to be in charge of this project,¡± Ouyang Qing

    uttered excitedly.

    ¡°He¡¯s interested to invest in a TV program? I clearly remember he said he would never do it.¡±

    ¡°But he¡¯s really interested this time. He hopes that you¡¯ll agree.¡±

    ¡°This is not a big deal. There should be a lot of investors for a movie after all. I agree.¡±

    Ouyang Qing was ted as she never expected that he would agree this easily.

    Once I be a big investor, I have a right to voice out. I heard that woman wants to be the lead in

    this movie. Now I have to think of a way to get rid of her!

 Chapter 353

    Chapter 353

    The promotional activities for Sound of Thunder 2 continued for the next few days.

    Ning Ran¡¯s schedule was packed once again. Not only did she have to prepare for the new movie, but

    she also needed to prepare for the uing interviews.

    During this period of time, she had participated in many shows, which helped to increase her poprity.

    However,pared to other celebrities, she was still a rookie.

    Star Entertainment had put their focus on Ning Ran so she could be a powerful and respectable

    superstar. That was their sole purpose.

    Other than participating in promotional activities, Ning Ran had to do training too. She had to train for

    her physique, singing, dancing, and even her pronunciation.

    This was to ensure she could show her talents and skills in variety shows. It was a must for all

    celebrities.

    Because of that, she needed professionals to train her to her very best.

    Ning Ran actually had learned a lot of things when she was little. She had taken singing, dancing,

    piano, cello, and other instrumental sses before, so she had grasped the basics of everything.

    Unfortunately, her life had been too difficult that she was not granted a chance to showcase her talents.

    Now that she was training with professionals, all of her talents were beginning to show up again. Even

    her coaches were surprised. In their eyes, she was a natural-born entertainer.

    In the beginning, the upper management of Star Entertainment had suspected that Nan Chen only

    supported her only because of their personal rtionship.

    However, after watching her performance, they gradually realized that she was an artist with the

    potential to develop and improve. She had what it took to be a superstar in every aspect.

    The only thing that they were not satisfied with her was that she had a rather low EQ. Ning Ran was

    too straightforward. She was not tactful and sophisticated enough. However, they knew nobody was

    perfect. It was normal to have shorings as long as it was tolerable.

    Today, when Ning Ran¡¯s management team had finished their meeting, a guest had shown up.

    It was a young man who wore a pink casual outfit. His shoulder-length hair was tied up in a ponytail. He

    was good-looking and had a slender figure, but hisplexion was too pale. People could clearly see

    that as a result of sleep deprivation and irregr sleep pattern due to colorful nightlife.

    He had demanded to meet Ning Ran, but the receptionist stopped him for he did not make any

    appointments.

    Then he started losing his temper as he introduced himself, ¡°I¡¯m the Young Master of Sunshine Bank!

    I¡¯ll buy thispany if you don¡¯t let me meet her!¡±

    The receptionist was familiar with the entertainment industry¡¯s gossips. She had seen the ¡®Nine-

    Fingered Prince,¡¯ Ouyang Qi, and his ¡®legends.¡¯

    She nced at Ouyang Qi¡¯s left hand covered in a white glove, only to notice that the spot for his pinky

    finger was empty. This confirmed that he was indeed the Nine-Fingered Prince himself! The

    receptionist was shocked upon realizing this.

    Ouyang Qi was not that famous in the business world. But he was well-known among the gossipers.

    He had madly pursued many small-time celebrities and even abused them. The most bloody thing he

    did was imitating a businessman to humiliate a certain actress with a golf ball.

    Moreover, the Ouyang¡¯s Sunshine Bank was thergest private bank in the entire province, which

    automatically increased his influence.

    The receptionist immediately reported to Wang Xiaoou, their best manager.

    She was used to see the rich young masters of wealthy families pursuing female celebrities. Not only

    that, but she had also heard of the Nine-Fingered Prince. Since the man himself had shown up at their

    doorstep, it was only natural for her to let him meet Ning Ran.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    If someone like Ouyang Qi showed his support to a female celebrity, it would do her a great deed to

    further develop her career.

    On the contrary, if people offended him, he had many ways to ruin the celebrity¡¯s life. The possibility of

    that was too great that she did not want to risk it. So she went to Ning Ran and asked thetter to meet

    her fan.

    However, Ning Ran did not know who Ouyang Qi was so she declined by shaking her head. ¡°I¡¯m busy

    now. If he wants my autograph, then I can spare a minute to sign for him. But if he wants to talk to me, I

    really don¡¯t have time.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid you still have to meet him for a short while. His social media has millions of followers. It¡¯s the

    notorious Nine-Fingered Prince,¡± Wang Xiaoou persuaded.

    ¡°Nine-Fingered Prince? Why does that sound like a character from those martial arts movies? I¡¯ve

    never heard of him before.¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what his name sounds like. All I know is that he¡¯s very influential. It¡¯s best not to get

    on his bad side,¡± replied Wang Xiaoou coldly. Other than being known as the best manager, she was

    also known to be arrogant. If she said it was someone they could not afford to offend, that person must

    not be an ordinary figure.

    ¡°What the he*l. Didn¡¯t you say he¡¯s notorious? Then howe he has millions of followers?¡± asked

    Ning Ran, baffled.

    ¡°The inte is a mysterious ce. Even bad people like him are loved. Though he had done a lot of

    bad deeds, he still hasn¡¯t fallen. That just proves how powerful he is. Youngsters nowadays love people

    who are wealthy and influential like him because they can do whatever they want. That¡¯s why he has

    millions of followers,¡± exined Wang Xiaoou.

    ¡°Fine. Judging from your description, he sounds formidable. Is he that rich?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s wealthy. His family owns thergest private bank in the entire province. His assets are no less

    than Mr. Chen¡¯s.¡±

    Ning Ran sighed when she heard that. ¡°Wealthy people are the most difficult ones to handle. What do I

    say to him when I meet him?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. Listen to what he has to say first, then answer his questions. He came here as

    your fan, so you can meet him professionally. It would spark unwanted rumors if you were to meet him

    privately. But since we¡¯re at thepany, I think it¡¯s fine. Plus, he can¡¯t do anything in broad daylight.

    So don¡¯t be nervous,¡± the managerforted her.

    ¡°Okay, then. I¡¯ll meet him, but you have toe with me lest I feel rather awkward.¡±

    ¡°No. He had requested to meet you alone. I know you can do it. Don¡¯t worry. He won¡¯t do anything to

    you. Though he has a bad reputation, he¡¯s still the son of a wealthy family. Those who were humiliated

    by him didn¡¯t defend themselves enough. You¡¯re different from them.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

 Chapter 354

    Chapter 354

    Despite what Ning Ran heard before, her impression of Ouyang Qi was not that bad when she first saw

    him.

    His appearance was spectacr, especially his shoulder-length hair. However, his face was too pale to

    the point that he looked sick. Other than that, he was tall and too skinny that he seemed unhealthy.

    His eyes exuded obvious wickedness, though. That alone could give off that he was not a decent

    person.

    He scanned Ning Ran up and down as if she were his prey, never even bothering to cover the way he

    looked at her.

    Seeing this, Ning Ran instantly started to dislike this person.

    ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Ding Mi.¡±

    ¡°Also known as Ning Ran,¡± said Ouyang Qi, taking the woman by surprise.

    How did he know that? Only a few in the industry know my real name.

    ¡°I¡¯m Ouyang Qi. My friends call me Nine-Fingered Prince because I don¡¯t have my left pinky finger.

    Somebody chopped it off.¡± He raised his left hand proudly to show his missing pinky finger like he was

    a veteran who had been on a battlefield.

    ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± Ning Ran greeted once again.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Ouyang Qi then stretched out his right hand to shake hands with her. This was a basic etiquette, so

    Ning Ran had to ept it. But as soon as she shook hands with him, he tightened his hold, seemingly

    refused to let go. His gesture made things awkward.

    Ning Ran had struggled a few times, yet she still failed to retract her hand.

    The man was strong despite his skinny appearance.

    ¡°Please mind your manners, Mr. Ouyang,¡± Ning Ran finally voiced out.

    ¡°I already like you when I saw your videos. Now that you¡¯re right in front of me, I like you even more,¡±

    uttered Ouyang frivolously.

    ¡°Let go of me or else I¡¯ll scream!¡±

    ¡°Do it, then. I¡¯m rich. Nobody dares to offend me.¡± Heughed.

    His words infuriated Ning Ran even more.

    So what if you¡¯re rich? Nan Chen is also wealthy but he¡¯s not ill-mannered like you!

    Initially, she thought Nan Chen was abusing his power and status. Now that she had met Ouyang Qi,

    she realized that the former was way better than thetter.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Ning Ran challenged.

    ¡°Yeah. You can try if you don¡¯t believe me.¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± she simply muttered before bending down to bite his hand harshly.

    Ouyang Qi had never expected this as he loosened his grip while crying out in pain, ¡°Ouch! Damn you!¡±

    Ning Ran took it further by lifting her leg and delivering a kick right on his crotch before he could even

    recover from the bite.

    It was beyond painful, yet he let out augh.

    ¡°Interesting! This is so wicked! I love it!¡±

    Ning Ran was stunned when she heard that. Is he crazy? I just bit and kicked him, yet he said he loves

    it? Is he a masochist?

    ¡°I love it. It¡¯s rare to find someone who¡¯s beautiful and wicked. That¡¯s very interesting!¡± he

    complimented.

    Ning Ran actually felt a little guilty after kicking him. She felt she had gone overboard.

    Wang Xiaoou told her earlier that Ouyang Qi was a bas*ard who would retaliate with various methods.

    For that reason, she had agreed to meet him, only to end up in this situation.

    ¡°I was indeed rude just now, but that was only a try-out. Let¡¯s introduce ourselves properly now. I¡¯m

    Ouyang Qi, your number one fan and also your pursuer from now on.¡±

    It must have been a deadly kick earlier since he was now sweating profusely. Even so, the smile

    remained on his face and he seemed happy.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to kick you, but you were too rude,¡± Ning Ran stated sternly.

    ¡°Yes, yes. I¡¯m at fault. I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have done that,¡± he apologized, making her feel guiltier.

    ¡°I¡¯m not normally like this. I guess I went a tad too far with my actions when this is only our first

    meeting.¡±

    ¡°No, no. I only have myself to me. That was a good bite and kick, though!¡±

    Ning Ran did not know how to respond to that.

    ¡°Can we talk properly now?¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    ¡°How did you know me?¡±

    ¡°I came across a videoption about you. One of them was when your dad threatened to jump into

    the river and you said, ¡®If you want to jump, then jump!¡¯ That was so cool!¡±

    ¡°The others are basically all about your bad points. I watched them all, and I love it.¡±

    ¡°I can see that you¡¯re very much like me. We don¡¯t care how other people view us. I dig it! Of course,

    it¡¯s obviously because you¡¯re pretty!¡±

    ¡°Nowadays, the entertainment industry is filled with typical celebrity¡¯s visuals. It¡¯s too boring for me.

    Now that I¡¯ve found someone unique like you, I definitely won¡¯t miss this chance.¡±

    ¡°Oh! I also saw the video of someone cursing you as a homewrecker. The outfit you wore that day was

    exquisite!¡±

    I¡¯m going bonkers. Why does he find joy in all the videos that are made to make me look bad?

    ¡°Those videos are fake! I never encouraged him to jump. I was also never a homewrecker!¡± Ning Ran

    exined.

    ¡°That¡¯s not important. You can do whatever the hell you want. F**k their opinions. I¡¯m exactly like you.

    That¡¯s why I feel like we¡¯re a match made in heaven. We fit perfectly!¡±

    Did I seriously gain a fan from the videos that other people edited to make me look like a viin? Does

    this mean he likes bad people? Then he would be delighted if he knows Luo Fei.

    ¡°No! We don¡¯t fit! I¡¯m not a bad person!¡± Ning Ran argued.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I still like you regardless! From now on, you have my support in whatever you do,

    except for the homewrecker of course. That¡¯s inappropriate,¡± Ouyang Qi said seriously.

    ¡°I told you I was never a homewrecker!¡± she refuted.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter!¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that? I really didn¡¯t wreck someone¡¯s marriage!¡±

    ¡°And it really doesn¡¯t matter!¡±

    Ning Ran was rendered speechless.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter to you, but it does to me. I¡¯m not that low. I know where you¡¯ve watched the videos.

    But they were all edited just to defame me. I really didn¡¯t do any of those stuff.¡±

    When Ouyang Qi was about to say something, Ning Ran interrupted again, ¡°I¡¯ll smack you if you say ¡®it

    doesn¡¯t matter¡¯ again!¡±

 Chapter 355

    Chapter 355

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t...¡± Ouyang Qi paused before rephrasing his words. ¡°What I mean is I still like you,¡± he added

    in a serious tone.

    Ning Ran¡¯s head throbbed.

    ¡°You don¡¯t even know me yet you like me? Why? Because I¡¯m a bad person?¡±

    ¡°No. Not only that, but I also like that you¡¯re pretty,¡± the man muttered bluntly.

    ¡°Okay. Thank you for that, then.¡± Ning Ran stood up. ¡°Excuse me. I have to go back to work now.¡±

    ¡°Are you not going to go out with me? Like eat, sing, dance, or whatever, then spend the night

    together?¡±

    Ning Ran was taken aback once again. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that how it works? I¡¯ve done it countless times with other celebrities.¡± Ouyang Qi simply shrugged.

    ¡°I¡¯m not like the others! I don¡¯t sell my body!¡± Ning Ran shouted angrily, making the man frown.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t count as selling yourself. It¡¯s literally how things work. We do that to get mutual benefits.¡±

    He sounded so confidently grandiose that Ning Ran would have been convinced if she did not know

    better.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need mutual benefits. Honestly, I didn¡¯t even want to meet you, but my manager insisted so I

    agreed. I think we can¡¯t be friends because I¡¯m not the person you think I am,¡± stated Ning Ran firmly.

    ¡°You can¡¯t reject me,¡± replied Ouyang Qi.

    ¡°And why is that?¡±

    ¡°Because I can make you famous.¡±

    His answer made Ning Ranugh. A certain doctor had said simr things to her before.

    That doctor imed that he was a genius who could write a script to make Ning Ran famous. He ended

    up pissing Nan Chen off and almost lost his job because of that.

    Now, she was hearing the same thing. Is he going to say he can write a better script too?

    ¡°Why are youughing? Don¡¯t you believe me?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just curious with how you can make me famous.¡±

    ¡°Because my dad is rich.¡±

    Ning Ran burst outughing again.

    Did he just say his dad is rich instead of he¡¯s rich himself?

    Normally those rich people who were too dependent on their fathers would get mad if people told them

    that. He, on the other hand, admitted it without any care.

    He can make me famous because his dad is rich? What bullsh*t is this?

    Ouyang Qi smiled. ¡°You¡¯re gorgeous when youugh. I¡¯m telling the truth. My dad is wealthy.¡±

    ¡°I believe you.¡± Ning Ran nodded.

    ¡°My family owns thergest private banks. Just try to imagine how rich my family is.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes. I said I believe you.¡±

    ¡°Be with me, then. I¡¯ll definitely make you famous. You don¡¯t have to worry about how long we¡¯ll stay

    together. My previous rtionships usually didn¡¯t reach three months. But you¡¯re different. I think I

    won¡¯t get bored of you even after half a year.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, but no,¡± said Ning Ran with a smile.

    ¡°You¡¯re looking down on me.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not the case. We¡¯re strangers. We don¡¯t know each other, and I¡¯m not interested in knowing you

    either. It¡¯s impossible for us to blossom that way.¡±

    Ouyang Qi smiled and replied, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid you¡¯ll get on my bad side when you say that?¡±

    ¡°I think you¡¯re a straightforward person, so I figured I¡¯d be frank to you.¡±

    ¡°Very well, then. But I seriously have a lot of connections in the industry. I can help you make your

    name easily.¡±

    ¡°Nah. I have another wealthy person supporting me.¡±

    ¡°Nan Chen,¡± Ouyang Qi stated.

    ¡°You also know about this?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve searched about you on the inte and found out that you have quite a lot of ties with Nan Chen.

    Star Entertainment is also apany under Nanshi Corporation. It wasn¡¯t a hard guess.¡±

    Huh, he¡¯s not that stupid after all.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    This piqued Ning Ran¡¯s interest though. ¡°Since you already know about it. Why did you say you¡¯ll make

    me famous?¡±

    ¡°People may look at him like he¡¯s the god of Flower City. But he¡¯s nothing to me.¡±

    How arrogant is that.

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    Ning Ran was rather perplexed since she had never met anyone who would say something like that

    about Nan Chen. Everyone she met was always respectful towards him.

    ¡°You may not believe it. There¡¯s really nothing special about him. All he has is wealth, just like me.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not like he¡¯s the one who built Nanshi Corporation. He only got the fame because of it.¡±

    ¡°Also, Nan Chen has always overestimating himself. He won¡¯t be serious about you. You¡¯re only an

    employee who brings him profit.¡±

    ¡°I, on the other hand, truly like you. Though I can¡¯t guarantee how long these feelings willst, I only

    want to make you famous. I¡¯m not using you to gain profit.¡±

    ¡°See? Ain¡¯t I much better than Nan Chen? So you should choose me instead of him,¡± Ouyang Qi

    eximed confidently.

    I wonder what Nan Chen would think if he were here. Wait. That Poker Face would surely take action

    without even thinking twice.

    Ouyang Qi¡¯s words made her realize that she hated people speaking ill of Nan Chen.

    Only I can talk ill of him but nobody else.

    Initially, she nned to defend Nan Chen but decided against it since she thought it was not her

    business.

    ¡°I will not choose you but thanks for your kind intention. Now if you¡¯ll excuse me, I really have to go to

    work.¡±

    ¡°I will not give up. I believe you¡¯ll change your mind sooner orter.¡±

    Ning Ran smiled as she remained silent. The man did not pester her anymore. He just bid her goodbye

    politely and left thepany.

    This person is as strange as his name.

    After that, she continued working and gradually forgot about that.

    The next day, they had announced that they would participate in a local online variety show in another

    city. Of course, their main purpose was to promote the uing movie, but they could also use this

    chance to increase the publicity.

    The shooting went very smoothly since Ning Ran had trained for some time now. She could already

    cope these variety shows with ease.

    When she exited the studio, a group of fans was gathered outside, holding signs while shouting ¡®Ding

    Mi.¡¯

    Though she knew she had gained quite some fans by now, it was their first time doing something like

    this.

    Her eyesnded on that man who seemed to be leading the group. His hair was tied up, and he was

    wearing a checkered shirt while holding a bouquet of red roses in his hand.

    She had just met Ouyang Qi yesterday, so she did not expect him to be here in this city.

    Among the screaming fans, his voice was the loudest.

    After a short while, he finally approached her with the bouquet.

 Chapter 356

    Chapter 356

    The bodyguard beside Ning Ran instantly rushed to block him upon seeing this.

    ¡°It¡¯s me, my dear. Don¡¯t you remember me?¡± questioned Ouyang Qi.

    Ning Ran was seemingly lost for words when he said that right in front of these people.

    ¡°Please excuse me. I¡¯m a good friend of Ms. Ding,¡± the man persuaded in disdain.

    The bodyguard turned to look at Ning Ran, waiting for her permission.

    ¡°Let hime,¡± Wang Xiaoou interjected out of the blue.

    With that, the bodyguard made way for Ouyang Qi. He handed the roses to Ning Ran when he had

    arrived, but thetter did not ept it.

    Even so, Ouyang Qi refused to give up as he stubbornly kept his hands in midair until Wang Xiaoou

    had to let out a cough, signaling for Ning Ran to take it. Otherwise, it would ruin her reputation.

    Ning Ran had to unwillingly ept the roses in the end.

    ¡°They¡¯re together!¡± the fans started shouting.

    He had merely given me a bouquet and they already thought we¡¯re together? Are they with him? Did

    theye here just to support him doing this?

    ¡°Let¡¯s go for dinner together. I¡¯ve already made a reservation for us.¡±

    Ouyang Qi was ted that she had epted his flower.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I have other things to tend to. We have to return to Flower City now,¡± Ning Ran declined.

    ¡°You have to eat no matter how busy you are, and then you can leave after that,¡± urged Ouyang Qi

    ¡°We¡¯ve already eaten. I really have to say no. Thank you for the invitation, though.¡±

    ¡°Then can we at least have a drink?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Ouyang. We¡¯re really packed today. How about we¡¯ll let Ding Mi invite you some other

    day?¡± Wang Xiaoou intercepted.

    ¡°Why not today?¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t have time today since we have to go back and make preparations for something else. I hope

    you¡¯ll understand,¡± replied the manager.

    Hearing that, Ouyang Qi stepped back reluctantly.

    ¡°Okay, another day then. You¡¯d better not stand me up.¡±

    ¡°Of course not.¡± Wang Xiaoou beamed him a smile.

    ¡°Ou, why did you agree? I don¡¯t wanna eat with him,¡± Ning Ran whined when they were in the car.

    ¡°If you want to be a star, then you¡¯ll need fans. You can¡¯t be one without them.¡±

    R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    ¡°But Ouyang Qi has ulterior motives.¡±

    ¡°Why? Did he do something to you?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. He never let go of my hand when we first met.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s nothing. Some fans are crazy enough to kiss some celebrities forcibly. Ouyang Qi is wealthy. It

    may seem dangerous but it¡¯s actually safer. Do you know why? Because he won¡¯t dare to act recklessly

    or he¡¯ll face severe consequences, and he can¡¯t take that risk.¡±

    ¡°On the contrary, those who aren¡¯t wealthy will do whatever they want since no consequences are

    waiting for them. That¡¯s why rich fans like him who can make you famous are the real catch.¡±

    Ning Ran could not fully agree even though what Wang Xiaoou exined was quite reasonable.

    She knew that Ouyang Qi won¡¯t be easy to deal with.

    ¡°Though Ouyang Qi is known to be notorious, he actually didn¡¯t force those celebrities to do things with

    him. They were the ones who willingly agreed to be with him because they were attracted to his

    connections and wealth. If you have enough self-respect then I don¡¯t see why you can¡¯t survive,¡± added

    Wang Xiaoou.

    ¡°Can¡¯t I just cut ties with him?¡±

    ¡°No. He¡¯s a persistent fan. You can¡¯t reject him. When you be big in the future, you¡¯ll encounter a

    lot of fans like him.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll have to learn to face them. That¡¯s what public figures do. When your fans increase, you¡¯ll meet

    different types of people. You can deal with them as long as they don¡¯t physically attack you. That way,

    you can be a star easily.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s too difficult for me,¡± Ning Ran wailed.

    ¡°Every jobes with corresponding responsibilities and pressures, there¡¯s no difference for a

    celebrity. You¡¯ll slowly get used to it.¡±

    Ning Ran nodded as a respond.

    It was after midnight when they arrived at Flower City. Ning Ran was exhausted that she had fallen

    asleep the minute she got home.

    When morning came, she was woken up by her phone ringing.

    It was Cheng Xiangyun, and she answered the call. ¡°Aunt, can¡¯t you say whatever it is you have to say

    when youe back? Why did you disturb me this early?¡±

    ¡°Goodness. You¡¯re still sleeping? Who¡¯s the man beside you?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re insane. I¡¯m all alone, okay. I went to sleeptest night, so I¡¯m still sleepy. I have work at noon

    so I wish to use my precious time for sleeping. If you have nothing to say, then I¡¯ll hang up.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t. Is there really no one beside you?¡±

    ¡°Of course. What kind of person do you think I am?¡±

    ¡°So Ouyang Qi left early in the morning?¡±

    ¡°Who?¡±

    ¡°Ouyang Qi. Didn¡¯t you go with himst night? The inte is all about this now,¡± uttered Cheng

    Xiangyun.

    ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? All he did was give me a bouquet of flowers and nothing more.

    Who¡¯s spreading such rumors now?¡±

    ¡°The inte. They said Ouyang Qi chased after you that he followed you to another city. You finally

    gave in and left with him. Then the photo of you both going to a hotel is uploaded. But it only showed

    your back. Can¡¯t see your face that clearly.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense! That never happened! I returned to Flower City with Oust night! Which idiot spread that

    news! I¡¯ll take a look now!¡±

    With that, Ning Ran browsed the inte and indeed, the photo of her epting Ouyang Qi¡¯s bouquet

    was crystal clear. Even Wang Xiaoou was in the picture.

    She had never seen the next picture before, though. It was the back figures of a man holding a woman

    going into a hotel.

    Although their faces weren¡¯t shown, the inte still spected that they were Ning Ran and Ouyang

    Qi, which infuriated her.

    Who the hell is messing with me now?

    She immediately called Wang Xiaoou, which thetter answered in no time. ¡°You¡¯re up?¡±

    ¡°No. Have you seen what¡¯s happening on the inte?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I saw it yesterday.¡±

    ¡°Who in the world is defaming me? It is outrageous for them to say that I went to a hotel with Ouyang

    Qi!¡±

    ¡°I think we-media is the first one to upload that. We¡¯ve contacted the Legal Department to handle this.

    They¡¯ve already deleted the photos. The remaining ones are being reposted.¡±

    ¡°Which means the false news will continue being spread,¡± replied Ning Ran irritatedly.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be afraid of if you¡¯re innocent. Something like this will happen frequently in the

    future. You¡¯ll have to learn to ignore them.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll handle this. Also, get out of bed now. You should go get ready forter,¡± reminded

    Wang Xiaoou.

    ¡°That¡¯s it? We¡¯re just gonna let go of those who are defaming me?¡± Ning Ran refused to ept this.

    ¡°Let us handle this. Don¡¯t worry too much. I¡¯m busy right now, bye.¡±

 Chapter 357

    Chapter 357

    An important economic forum was going on at Flower City International Convention Center.

    As the official host of the event, Nan Chen returned to his seat after giving his speech.

    Sitting next to him was Ouyang Duo, who had returned after leaving Flower City for two days.

    Surely, it was for official matters that he came back this time¡ªto attend the economic forum.

    ¡°What a great speech you gave there, Chen. I totally agree with you,¡± Ouyang Duo said to Nan Chen.

    ¡°Thank you, uncle,¡± Nan Chen said politely in response.

    ¡°Chen, I wonder if I can ask you for a favor?¡± Ouyang Duo asked.

    ¡°Please, go on, uncle. I¡¯ll try my best to do what I can.¡±

    ¡°A pianist my daughter likes very much is in town for a recital today. I¡¯d promised to go with her, but

    something cropped up and I have to fly back soon. You know her temper. She¡¯ll start throwing tantrums

    if I don¡¯t fulfill my promise to her. I was hoping if you could spare two hours out of your busy schedule to

    apany her to the recital,¡± Ouyang Duo said.

    Nan Chen froze as he didn¡¯t expect Ouyang Duo to make such a request.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t, uncle. I still have some work to do¡ª¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s phone vibrated before he could finish his sentence.

    It was an MMS from an unknown number of an image of Ning Ran epting roses from Ouyang Qi.

    At once, Nan Chen walked out of the venue with his face clouded over.

    Jiang Zhe was just outside, answering a call.

    Upon seeing Nan Chen, he quickly hung up. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Mr. Chen?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s with that picture?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just a false report, Mr. Chen. You know, paparazzi nowadays...¡±

    R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    ¡°Show me the article,¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    Not daring to go against his boss, Jiang Zhe quickly retrieved the article from the inte.

    ¡°He is Ouyang Qi?¡± Nan Chen asked after skimming through the article.

    ¡°Yes, Sir,¡± Jiang Zhe replied.

    ¡°How are they acquainted?¡± Nan Chen frowned.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that, but they do know each other. This is not their first meeting,¡± Jiang Zhe reported

    ording to the facts but sensing that something was amiss, he quickly added, ¡°Ouyang Qi¡¯s a fanboy.

    It¡¯s normal for him to behave like this.¡±

    ¡°Is this normal?¡± Nan Chen shot daggers at Jiang Zhe.

    His gaze was so frightening that Jiang Zhe mmed up.

    Nan Chen felt tremendous pressure building up in his chest.

    This woman sure is devious. How dare she flirt with a yboy when she¡¯s not even famous?

    ¡°Tell Wang Xiaoou to see me,¡± Nan Chenmanded.

    Jiang Zhe looked at the raging Nan Chen.

    Well, that¡¯s rare. Mr. Chen¡¯s a very rational person. He should know that a fat lot of news on the inte

    is fake Why is he so angry?

    ¡°Mr. Chen, as a manager, Wang Xiaoou couldn¡¯t possibly stop the fans from showing affection to Ms.

    Ding,¡± Jiang Zhe reminded timidly, earning himself another re from Nan Chen.

    However, he didn¡¯t shrink back this time.

    Having been Nan Chen¡¯s assistant for so long, he knew when he should speak up.

    ¡°If you are to call Wang Xiaoou at this time, the upper management at Star Entertainment will surely

    know that you¡¯re ticked off and they will rece Wang Xiaoou for sure. You know what Wang Xiaoou is

    capable of. She¡¯s needed to ensure Ms. Ding¡¯s sess down the road. If she were reced, it¡¯ll be

    unfavorable for Ms. Ding¡¯s new drama and her career development in the industry. Besides, Wang

    Xiaoou is not at fault for this. You can¡¯t just me her.¡± Jiang Zhe¡¯s palms were already sweaty by the

    time he finished his sentence.

    It had been a while since he confronted Nan Chen, and it was a big risk.

    But only because he knew Nan Chen was a rational man who was epting to earnest advice that he

    dared say such words.

    Nan Chen held his peace, then turned around, and went inside.

    Seeing that he didn¡¯t flip out, Jiang Zhe let out a sigh of relief, knowing that he had heeded his words.

    When Nan Chen returned to his seat beside Ouyang Duo, thetter could obviously sense the change

    in the former¡¯s mood.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine if you can¡¯t apany my daughter to the recital, Chen,¡± Ouyang Duo said.

    ¡°I can spare some time in the evening,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Well, thank you then, Chen. My wife and I had spoiled her too much. You must discipline her for me

    and don¡¯t let her have her way.¡±

    The equivocacy of his words was palpable, but Nan Chen pretended not to understand.

    At six in the evening, Nan Chen was still working when Ouyang Qing showed up.

    Whether it was her hair or makeup, it was obvious that she had spent much effort dolling up herself.

    That day was a very special day for Ouyang Qing. It was her first date with Nan Chen, although he

    didn¡¯t think of it as a date.

    ¡°Wait for a while. I still have some things to take care of,¡± Nan Chen said to Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°No worries. It¡¯s still early. Do what you need to do, Chen.¡±

    Ouyang Qing had wanted to have dinner with Nan Chen before going to the recital. But seeing that he

    was still busy, she supposed she had to drop the idea of having a meal with him.

    She drew a financial magazine from the bookshelf and pretended to read when, in fact, she had been

    stealing nces at Nan Chen.

    Needless to say, Nan Chen¡¯s dashing look was out of this world. But seeing how charming he was

    when he was working, Ouyang Qing was certain that he was the man she was going to marry.

    Nan Chen was so engrossed in the work that he seemed to have forgotten Ouyang Qing¡¯s existence.

    Time went by. Nan Chen was still working and he didn¡¯t spare Ouyang Qing a nce at all.

    Finally, Ouyang Qing couldn¡¯t stand it anymore that she called out, ¡°Chen.¡±

    Nan Chen looked up at Ouyang Qing. ¡°Right, what time is the recital?¡±

    Ouyang Qing was a little disappointed that he didn¡¯t even remember the time.

    ¡°Seven-thirty. It¡¯s almost time,¡± Ouyang Qing said.

    ¡°Okay, how about you go first?¡± Nan Chen suggested. ¡°I haven¡¯t finished my work yet.¡±

    Ouyang Qing put on a sad face. ¡°Dad was supposed to apany me to the recital, but something

    cropped up and he had to leave. And now you¡¯re refusing to go with me. Why is it that none of y¡¯all are

    keeping your words? Do y¡¯all dislike me that much?¡±

    Coupled with Ouyang Qing¡¯s superb acting skills, her pure and innocent look made her look more

    alluring.

    Nan Chen promised Ouyang Duo on a whim when his personal feelings took control upon reading the

    news on Ning Ran.

    If he were to break his promise, he reckoned it would be hard to exin to Ouyang Duo.

    Nan Chen put down the documents in his hand and stood up.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡±

    Seeing that her strategy work, Ouyang Qing pumped an invisible fist in the air.

    ¡°Thank you, Chen. You¡¯re the best. I know you won¡¯t leave me alone,¡± Ouyang Qing gushed.

 Chapter 358

    Chapter 358

    The recital was about to start when Nan Chen and Ouyang Qing arrived.

    As they had bought tickets for the VIP seats, they were seated right in front of the stage, close to the

    pianist.

    Taking out her phone, Ouyang Qing turned on the camera and started taking selfies.

    Nan Chen was reluctant to get in the same shot as Ouyang Qing. But for the sake of courtesy, he gave

    in.

    Ouyang Qing took the first shot, then leaned in closer for the second shot.

    She had picked the perfect angle where she seemed to be kissing Nan Chen.

    However, in reality, there was a distinct distance between them.

    After taking the shot and filtering the image to make herself look good, Ouyang Qing posted it on her

    social media with the caption. The first time I apany you to a recital. The first time...

    It was a simple caption, yet the ellipsis at the end gave room for imagination.

    Nan Chen was so immersed in the music that he didn¡¯t know what Ouyang Qing was doing.

    At the end of the performance, the audience apuded.

    The musician came to the front of the stage and greeted the audience.

    ¡°I feel so happy, Chen,¡± Ouyang Qing said coyly to Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen remained silent, as he didn¡¯t know what to say.

    It¡¯s just a recital. What¡¯s there to be happy about?

    ¡°Chen, I remember you y the piano too, right?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m an amateur.¡±

    Truth be told, Nan Chen had the urge to y one song after listening to the performance. He had been

    so busy that he hadn¡¯t touched the piano for a long time.

    ¡°I would love to listen to you y if there¡¯s a chance. Would you y for me?¡± Ouyang Qing asked,

    casually holding his arm.

    ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± Nan Chen replied tersely, flinching.

    However, when Ouyang Qing held his arm again, he thought it would be rude to push her away so he

    let her be.

    Halfway through the recital, Ouyang Qing got up to leave with the excuse of wanting to use the

    washroom.

    She made a few calls, asking people to blow up her social media post to the media.

    Ouyang Qing had just returned from abroad not long ago. Given how she seldom appeared in public, it

    wasn¡¯t known to many that she was the second child of the Ouyang family.

    Unlike Ouyang Qing, one could easily recognize Nan Chen as soon as the picture went public.

    What Nan Chen didn¡¯t know that before the recital was over, rumors of his scandal were already a hot

    topic on the inte.

    ¡°The cold and aloof Sir Chen is seen with a new love interest whoes from a mysterious rich

    family.¡±

    ¡°They are a fine couple. Sir Chen¡¯s spoken for.¡±

    Netizens had also flooded the inte with all sorts ofments.

    ¡°God! My idol is taken. My life is hopeless!¡±

    ¡°What is life then...¡± ¡±How could my idol sleep with someone else but me? I don¡¯t believe in love

    anymore!¡±

    ¡°My dear Chen, I know you¡¯re just captivated by her looks. I¡¯m still your true love!¡± ¡±I know you will

    come back!¡±

    And one of thements that received the most likes was, ¡±I want to be rich and get myself a hot chick

    too.¡±

    Ouyang Qing and Nan Chen walked out together after the recital.

    ¡°Chen, there¡¯s something I have to tell you. But please forgive me, I didn¡¯t do it on purpose.¡± Ouyang

    Qing pulled a pitiful face again.

    Nan Chen looked at her and prompted her to go on with his gaze.

    ¡°I was so happy to be here at the recital with you today. I couldn¡¯t help but posted an update on the

    moment on my social media ount.¡± Ouyang Qing feigned innocence.

    Nan Chen had seen her taking pictures just now, but he thought it was something trivial.

    There was nothing to fuss about, as it was normal for a girl to show off on social media.

    ¡°But somehow my post was circted online and there¡¯s a heated debate on the inte saying that

    I¡¯m your girlfriend. It¡¯s fine with me, but I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll affect you. It¡¯s all my fault. Please forgive me. I

    won¡¯t do it again.¡±

    Ouyang Qing¡¯s pitiful look had such destructive power that Nan Chen couldn¡¯t bear tosh out at her.

    He simply said, ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t an unusual urrence for Nan Chen. Many female stars had used his name to create hype

    and he almost never responded to them.

    Besides, he loathed to let fly at the girls even if it brought about a bad reputation to his name.

    ¡°Are you sure? Thank you, Chen. You¡¯re the best. That nearly scared me to death. I thought you were

    going to be mad at me.¡±

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    ¡°Just this once. There are a lot of dull people on the inte,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Okay, I got it,¡± Ouyang Qing said sweetly.

    Seeing that Nan Chen was silent, she continued, ¡°Chen, can we go have grilled beef? Pretty please.

    It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve had that. But it¡¯s on me this time. Consider this my way of apologizing to

    you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m busy tonight. Maybe next time.¡±

    ¡°But why? It¡¯s sote already. Don¡¯t work overtime, Chen. Please have dinner with me, pretty please? If

    you don¡¯t go, I¡¯ll take it that you¡¯re still angry with me,¡± Ouyang Qing whined.

    ¡°I¡¯m not angry, but I¡¯m really busy.¡± Nan Chen was unmoved.

    ¡°Chen...¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll ask the driver to send you back,¡± Nan Chen said frigidly.

    ¡°Why?¡± Ouyang Qing continued acting in a pettishly charming manner, seeing that it had worked

    before.

    But Nan Chen did not give in; in fact, he was a little annoyed about her.

    Ouyang Qing was tactful enough to stop whining upon sensing Nan Chen¡¯s indifference.

    She didn¡¯t want to lose more by getting into his bad books.

    She had had everything nned for the night. She was going to get herself drunk and have Nan Chen

    send her to the hotel.

    But since Nan Chen was unwilling to cooperate, she could only stop when she saw fit.

    ¡°All right. I was just kidding. Go ahead if you¡¯re busy. We¡¯ll meet again another day.¡±

    Only then did Nan Chen nod his head.

    ¡°Oh, one more thing,¡± Ouyang Qing stopped Nan Chen. ¡°Could you get me on the production team for

    that movie? I¡¯d like to learn more.¡±

    ¡°The production team is all professional. It¡¯s only right to let the professionals do what they¡¯re good at,¡±

    Nan Chen said in a cold tone.

    In other words, it was a no.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Chen. I¡¯m only there to learn. It¡¯s not like I have the final say in anything. I swear it¡¯s

    genuine when I said I want to learn. Just promise me, will you please?¡±

    ¡°Go ahead and speak to them then,¡± Nan Chen said, letting her have her way as he didn¡¯t want to

    waste any more time with her.

    Ouyang Qing had her own ns. She knew that the more she participated in the filming, the more she

    had the chance to interact with Nan Chen and drive a wedge between Ning Ran and him.

    She was confident that the rtionship between Nan Chen and Ning Ran would only go from bad to

    worse.

 Chapter 359

    Chapter 359

    Dabao was the first to discover the scandal between Nan Chen and Ouyang Qing on the inte.

    He stared at Ouyang Qing¡¯s picture, trying to recall who she was.

    Seeing that Dabao didn¡¯t look himself, Erbao came up to him and suddenly squawked, ¡°Daddy is

    having an affair with another woman...¡±

    Dabao wondered where Erbao actually learned the word ¡°affair¡±.

    He quickly ced a finger before his lips to hush his sister.

    Erbao and Dabao had a tacit mutual understanding as the former immediately piped down upon seeing

    his gesture.

    Thereafter, Dabao pointed to the small room. They slipped in quietly and closed the door.

    ¡°What should we do now? How could Daddy have an affair?¡± Erbao started.

    ¡°Watch what you say. What do you mean, having an affair? Don¡¯t say such a thing about Daddy,¡±

    Dabao said grimly.

    ¡°Then what is this called? Cheating?¡± Erbao asked innocently.

    ¡°This is what you call a scandal, which means it¡¯s something that is not a fact but has been hyped to

    make it look like one,¡± Dabao exined.

    ¡°You mean this is not the truth?¡±

    ¡°At least for now. Daddy¡¯s a big shot. Many people want to use Daddy¡¯s name to build hype, so we

    can¡¯t take it too seriously,¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°But what happens if Mommy sees this?¡± Erbao asked anxiously.

    Truth be told, Dabao shared the same sentiment as his sister.

    ¡°We can¡¯t let Mommy know about this. We have to pretend that nothing has happened,¡± Dabao replied

    in a low voice.

    ¡°But someone would have told Mommy even if we kept quiet. Everyone can see what is on the inte.

    We can¡¯t hide it from her,¡± Erbao presumed.

    ¡°We¡¯ll try to hide this as long as we can,¡± Dabao said.

    Erbao shook her head vigorously. ¡°I don¡¯t think we can hide it. Look at me. Even if I try to hide the fact

    that I¡¯ve be chubbier, it¡¯s still visible to everyone,¡± Erbao eventually confessed the one thing that

    had been troubling hertely.

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran had juste out of the bathroom when she noticed that there were a few

    missed calls on her phone.

    Ning Ran returned the call. ¡°You¡¯re not asking me again about who is the person sleeping next to me,

    are you? It¡¯s still early for bedtime so there¡¯s no one around.¡±

    ¡°Dang! How can you still joke? Aren¡¯t you worried that things will go out of control?¡± Cheng Xiangyun

    said, a hint of panic in her voice.

    ¡°Jeez, it¡¯s just a scandal. It¡¯ll be forgotten in a day or two. What¡¯s with the fuss again?¡± Ning Ran

    grumbled.

    ¡°Dang! You know about it?¡±

    ¡°How can I not know? You¡¯ve been nagging me non-stop,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°What? I wasn¡¯t nagging you. I just found out about it,¡± Cheng Xiangyun said. ¡°Wait, are we on the

    same page?¡±

    ¡°What is it exactly that you¡¯re talking about?¡± Ning Ran was getting confused as well.

    ¡°God, you¡¯re so carefree. How can you stay so calm when your man is being snatched away?¡± Cheng

    Xiangyun panicked.

    ¡°Hah, how funny. I don¡¯t have a man, to begin with. What do you mean by saying my man is being

    snatched away?¡± Ning Ranughed.

    ¡°Are you seriouslyughing right now? Didn¡¯t you see the picture of Sir Chen and that prettydy? God,

    they even kissed and you don¡¯t mind?¡±

    ¡°What picture?¡±

    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re really clueless, huh? Hurry up and go take a look. The inte is all fired up but you¡¯re

    still living in the dark. Jeez, that¡¯s how carefree you are.¡±

    Hanging up, Ning Ran surfed the inte and her chest tightened.

    Ouyang Qing seems pretty innocent. Why would she do that?

    Was it Poker Face who flirted with her?

    Feeling a surge of anger rising from her heart, Ning Ran was about to smash her phone into pieces

    when she gently put it down on second thought.

    It¡¯ll cost me heaps to buy a new phone.

    Ning Ran eventually reached for the cushions on the sofa to put out the fire in her heart. Yet she

    couldn¡¯t seem to work off her anger.

    It¡¯s just a picture. Why am I all worked up?

    Upon hearing the sound of something astir from the small room, Dabao and Erbao ran out, only to see

    the mess in the living room.

    They exchanged nces and knew at once that she had found out about their daddy¡¯s affair.

    Dabao picked up the cushions on the floor knowingly and ced them on the sofa.

    Seeing that, Erbao immediately went up to give her brother a hand.

    ¡°Mommy, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Erbao asked Ning Ran.

    How should I exin it to them?

    Nan Chen may be their father, but we¡¯re not married.

    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

    Strictly speaking, we¡¯re both two individuals who have no right to meddle with each other¡¯s private

    lives. I don¡¯t even have the right to be angry.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. I don¡¯t think these cushions are arranged nicely. I was just going to rearrange them,¡± Ning Ran

    said nonchntly.

    ¡°Huh? But there¡¯s no need to throw them on the floor. Does Mommy think it would look better on the

    floor?¡± Erbao asked mischievously, knowing that Ning Ran was lying.

    ¡°I¡¯m happy doing that, so what? What time is it now? Why aren¡¯t you sleeping?¡± Ning Ran scolded.

    Erbao flinched at once. ¡°In a bit, Mommy. I¡¯ll bathe myself and brush my teeth. I¡¯ll do everything on my

    own and save you the trouble, Mommy.¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s heart softened. She knew she shouldn¡¯t have taken her frustrations out on the kids.

    ¡°All right. Don¡¯t stay up toote. Mommy¡¯s fine.¡± Ning Ran drew in another long breath.

    ¡°We¡¯ll turn in then, Mommy. I¡¯ll read Erbao a story before going back to my room,¡± Dabao said.

    Ning Ran waved her hand, gesturing for them to go quickly.

    Right then, Cheng Xiangyun called again.

    ¡°That¡¯s crazy, huh? You have just lost your grip on your man. Come on, you had one job!¡± Cheng

    Xiangyun screamed into the phone.

    ¡°What¡¯s with that screaming? What do you mean by my man? Is he even mine?¡± Ning Ran retorted.

    ¡°You gotta find a way to tie him down before he is snatched. Well, there you have it. Now he has been

    snatched by someone else, he is gone. What are you going to do now?¡±

    ¡°Quit talking nonsense to me. There¡¯s nothing going on between us. We have nothing to do with each

    other. What is his problem got to do with me?¡±

    ¡°Gosh, you¡¯re quite open-minded, huh? Listen to me. I¡¯ve worked so hard just so you can be a

    superstar and just so I could make a fortune with you someday. We¡¯re so close to making our dream

    come true, but you screwed it up! Have you ever considered my feelings? You¡¯d better go and get your

    man back. Seduce him or even sleep with him if that¡¯s what it takes to get him back!¡±

    Ning Ran felt as if her head was going to explode. What is this woman talking about?

 Chapter 360

    Chapter 360

    Ning Ran couldn¡¯t seem to fall asleep after she hung up on Cheng Xiangyun and hit the hay.

    I thought he¡¯s not interested in women. Isn¡¯t he a brick of ice?

    It¡¯s all fake! That shameless bastard! What a hypocrite!

    Ning Ran started cursing inwardly, but she realized that the more she cursed, the more she couldn¡¯t

    sleep.

    The man¡¯s sheer effrontery had gotten under her skin.

    It was worse when her mind went abuzz with chaos, wondering what the man was doing at this time.

    Right, what else can they do besides going to the hotel after the recital?

    God! What a nasty pervert!

    Just as many uncalled scenarios yed in her mind, she seemed to have heard a noise.

    It was the sound of a car engine running.

    Poker Face didn¡¯t check in to a hotel with that little minx? He¡¯s back?

    Is he back because he¡¯s done fooling around?

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t bother to put on her slippers as she rushed toward the balcony barefooted. Sure

    enough, Nan Chen¡¯s car was seen pulling into the garage.

    What¡¯s going on? Why do I feelforted to see hime back?

    Ning Ran pretended to sleep, but she soon realized that it was unnecessary since he won¡¯t enter her

    room at all. He went to the room upstairs instead.

    What¡¯s the meaning of this? Hasn¡¯t he been forcing himself on my bed just so he could reassure Dabao

    and Erbao?

    Is he not interested in sleeping in the same bed with me after banging that prettydy?

    How disgusting is that!

    Ning Ran started cursing inwardly again.

    Or maybe he didn¡¯t? He could have gone back to the office after the recital. He¡¯s a workaholic. It¡¯s

    impossible that he¡¯d spend so much time with a woman.

    As the angel and devil battled out in her mind, she sank into a deep sleep.

    The next day, Ning Ran was so tired that she couldn¡¯t get up.

    Usually, when Ning Ran was still in bed, the two children would work together to prepare breakfast

    before waking up their mother up to have breakfast together.

    No different today, Erbao knocked on her door. ¡°Mommy, wake up! It¡¯s time for breakfast.¡±

    Ning Ran could only get up at Erbao¡¯s morning call.

    Nan Chen was also there, eating breakfast.

    He didn¡¯t bother to look up when Ning Ran approached the dining table.

    Breakfast was sumptuous. Ning Ran supposed Nan Chen had someone deliver them as the children

    weren¡¯t capable of preparing that many dishes.

    She chose a sit somewhat far from him, not sparing him a nce.

    Thereafter, there wasplete silence at the table.

    Dabao and Erbao looked at each other. The atmosphere was so tense that they didn¡¯t know what to

    say.

    However, they could only rely on Erbao to lighten the mood.

    ¡°How¡¯s breakfast, Mommy?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°Good,¡± Ning Ran gave a simple reply.

    ¡°What¡¯s your favorite?¡± Erbao asked again.

    ¡°I like all of them,¡± Ning Ran answered.

    ¡°Daddy had specially prepared them for you. Daddy knows what you like to eat, so he sent someone to

    deliver them,¡± Erbao said.

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    ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± Nan Chen denied firmly.

    Well, this is awkward.

    Erbao waspletely flustered, as it was her first time dealing with such a situation, and little did she

    expect her daddy to disregard her goodwill.

    ¡°And I don¡¯t need it too,¡± Ning Ran retorted.

    You didn¡¯t prepare this specially for me and I don¡¯t need you to prepare them for me!

    ¡°Erbao, put them away,¡± Nan Chen instructed.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Erbao was even more flustered. Mommy hasn¡¯t even started eating yet and Daddy is asking me

    to put them away?

    Ning Ran, who was about to dig in, put down her chopsticks. ¡°Put away then. I couldn¡¯t care less. It¡¯s

    not like I can¡¯t make my own breakfast.¡±

    ¡°No! It¡¯ll be a waste to put them away,¡± Erbao said hastily.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Just dump them in the trash,¡± Ning Ran said, her anger re up.

    So you think you¡¯re on the right after fooling with some chick outside?

    You think you¡¯re so great now just because you have Ouyang Qi to support you?

    Both Ning Ran and Nan Chen were deep in thoughts.

    Nan Chen got up with a snort and left the dining table.

    He was well aware of Ning Ran¡¯s temper. If he were to keep this up with her, he knew she would have

    skipped her breakfast.

    Breakfast is very important, as it determines one¡¯s health.

    Hence, he gave Ning Ran an out just so she would eat her breakfast.

    ¡°Mommy, Daddy bought these for you. They¡¯re your favorite. It¡¯s a pity to throw them away,¡± Dabao

    persuaded Ning Ran to eat.

    Seeing that Nan Chen had gone upstairs, Ning Ran didn¡¯t need to pretend so she resumed eating.

    Well, they sure taste good. I¡¯d rather eat to my heart¡¯s content than get angry with him.

    ¡°Mommy, what¡¯s going on between you and Daddy?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°Nothing. We were already on bad terms in the first ce,¡± Ning Ran said while munching her food.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. It was bad before, but it was still okay. It seems worst today,¡± Erbao analyzed seriously

    and Dabao nodded in agreement.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing of the sort. Stay out of adult business and eat your food,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°My teacher said that if there¡¯s a misunderstanding between good friends, just say sorry to each other

    and shake hands. Mommy, why don¡¯t you shake hand with Daddy?¡± Erbao suggested solemnly.

    ¡°No,¡± Ning Ran refused.

    I¡¯m not gonna touch that filthy hand of his!

    ¡°If you don¡¯t reconcile with Daddy, it will hurt Dabao and me a lot,¡± Erbao said with a frown.

    ¡°Oh? And how does it hurt you?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°We¡¯ll be sad And when we¡¯re sad, we¡¯ll lose our appetite. And when we lose our appetite, our body will

    be weak. I ate very little today. If this goes on, I¡¯ll only lose weight and be very thin.¡±

    Erbao thought it was so ridiculous that she could no longer lie.

    ¡°You ate so much and you call that little? In that case, I do hope you¡¯ll be sad and lose a little

    weight. You¡¯re turning into a chubby little girl,¡± Ning Ran chided.

    Erbao looked at Dabao for help, thinking that her argument didn¡¯t sound convincing.

    Dabao found this tricky as well because he was mindful of the root of the conflict between Ning Ran

    and Nan Chen.

    It wouldn¡¯t be easy for the adults to deal with it, let alone a child like him.

    ¡°Mommy and Daddy will make up. You¡¯re both good people,¡± Dabao adopted a different approach.

    My son sure is smart. He knows that hard advice doesn¡¯t work.

    ¡°Yes, Mommy and Daddy are good people. Dabao and I are also good people.¡± Erbao nodded gravely

    in agreement.

    What Dabao says is always right. Nothing will go wrong.

    ¡°I¡¯m full. Put the bowl away, good people.¡± Ning Ran put down her chopsticks.

    Right then, Nan Chen came down in full suit, ready for work.

    Ning Ran looked away.

    Upon noticing Ning Ran¡¯s little action, Nan Chen snorted inwardly, I don¡¯t want to see you either.

 Chapter 361

    Chapter 361

    As it was a weekend, both Dabao and Erbao didn¡¯t have to go to school, so Nan Chen had arranged for

    a maid to look after them since Ning Ran had to go to work as well.

    However, as Dabao and Erbao were very independent and didn¡¯t like to be followed, the maid stayed

    downstairs and only went up when she was needed.

    Waking up from their naps, Dabao and Erbao started discussing the matter between their parents. It

    was an important matter, so it had to be taken care of.

    Dabao creased his brows, looking deep in thoughts, while Erbao imitated her brother¡¯s movements to

    look as if she was trying hard, although her mind was nk.

    ¡°Do you have any good idea?¡± Dabao asked Erbao.

    Erbao immediately shook her head.

    Are you kidding me? How could I possiblye up with a n? Do I look like someone who has a

    n? Obviously not.

    ¡°I think this won¡¯t be easy,¡± Dabao said.

    Erbao nodded hurriedly. Indeed.

    ¡°There¡¯s a conflict between Daddy and Mommy. They¡¯re both proud, so this conflict is not easy to

    resolve,¡± Dabao continued.

    Erbao could only nod, as she thought her brother was always right.

    ¡°We can only try to prevent the current situation from getting worse. Otherwise, it¡¯d be troublesome if

    the conflict grows bigger.¡±

    Erbao nodded again.

    ¡°So, we must get Daddy and Mommy to have dinner together tonight. We can¡¯t let Daddy meet that

    lady again,¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°You¡¯re right! Thatdy is a demon!¡± Erbaomented.

    ¡°No cursing. It¡¯s rude.¡±

    ¡°Not even the bad guys?¡± Erbao expressed her displeasure.

    ¡°No. We¡¯re kids and it¡¯s wrong for kids to curse at someone.¡±

    ¡°All right,¡± Erbao conceded, despite the displeasure she had.

    ¡°Give Daddy a call and ask him to take us out for dinner,¡± Dabao instructed.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you do it yourself?¡± Erbao asked, puzzled.

    ¡°You¡¯re a glutton. Daddy won¡¯t suspect us if you make the call.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not so much a glutton,¡± Erbao said shyly. ¡°How could you say that?¡±

    Thereafter, she picked up the phone and called Nan Chen.

    ¡°Yes, darling?¡± Nan Chen answered the call.

    ¡°Daddy, I miss you,¡± Erbao chirped sweetly.

    Nan Chen¡¯s gaze softened as warmth crept into his heart. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? I¡¯ve just seen you this

    morning and you miss me already?¡±

    ¡°I want to see Daddy all the time.¡±

    ¡°Be good, Erbao. Like every adult, Daddy has to work,¡± Nan Chen said, a ghost of a smile on his stern

    face.

    ¡°I know that. Then can you take me out for dinner after work? It¡¯s the weekend. No matter how busy

    adults are, they have to apany their children. The rtionship between parents and children is

    built by spending time together.¡±

    ¡°You know this? Who taught you that?¡±

    ¡°Dabao taught me.¡±

    Erbao instantly regretted after saying that. Why did I tell the truth when I could¡¯ve said that I learned it

    from the books?

    ¡°That makes sense. Okay, Daddy will take you out for dinner after work,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Can I bring Mommy along?¡± Erbao asked tentatively.

    ¡°Mommy will be very busy these two days. Let¡¯s not disturb her.¡±

    Nan Chen was upset when he thought about the incident with Ouyang Qi. He didn¡¯t want to have

    dinner with the woman, at least not for the time being.

    ¡°All right. You go back to work, Daddy. I don¡¯t want to disturb you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, darling. Just tell me if you have something to say,¡± Nan Chen said softly.

    ¡°Um, I think that¡¯s about it. Bye-bye, Daddy.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

    ¡°Bye-bye.¡±

    Erbao hung up and made another call to Ning Ran.

    At this moment, Ning Ran was taking a break.

    ¡°Mommy, I want to eat something yummy. How about you take us to dinner tonight?¡±

    ¡°Is food all you can think of, you chubby little girl?¡± Ning Ran snapped.

    ¡°Mommy, how could you hurt me by calling me a chubby little girl? I just look a little plump, that¡¯s all.

    How am I a chubby little girl?¡± Erbaoined.

    Ning Ran was amused. ¡°All right. You¡¯re not a chubby little girl. But you¡¯ll be one if you keep

    eating and I¡¯ll abandon you when that happens.¡±

    ¡°Where will you send me if you don¡¯t want me?¡± Erbao asked curiously.

    ¡°To the zoo, with the monkeys,¡± Ning Ran said blithely.

    ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re so cruel. How could you say that to your child? It was Dabao¡¯s idea to ask you to take

    us to dinner. It¡¯s Dabao who wants to eat something yummy, not me,¡± Erbao shifted the me to her

    brother.

    ¡°Is it? But Dabao is not a glutton.¡± Ning Ran expressed her doubt.

    ¡°Dabao¡¯s not a glutton, but he wishes to be with Mommy. Promise us, please? Dabao rarely takes the

    initiative to ask for something. Please, Mommy?¡± Erbao started acting in a cutesy manner.

    ¡°All right. I¡¯ll finish work early and take you guys out for some good food,¡± Ning Ran promised.

    ¡°Can I bring Daddy along?¡±

    ¡°Daddy¡¯s very busytely. Let¡¯s not disturb him.¡±

    What¡¯s with that chemistry? Their excuses are exactly the same.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Erbao hung up.

    ¡°Daddy and Mommy said the same thing. What should we do now?¡± Erbao asked Dabao.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that great? We¡¯ll set the ce and figure out what to doter once we bring them together,¡±

    Dabao said steadily.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever you say, Dabao.¡±

    Ning Ran arrived at Champs French Restaurant at seven o¡¯clock in the evening.

    This French restaurant looks too posh. Why did Dabao choose such an expensive ce?

    He¡¯s just a kid, and he¡¯s already taken a liking to French cuisine?

    Aren¡¯t barbeque and fried noodles good enough? Is he trying to be sophisticated?

    I mean, that¡¯s fine if he wants to be sophisticated. But this ce is expensive!

    Meanwhile, Nan Chen was walking over from the parking lot. His thoughts were theplete opposite

    of Ning Ran¡¯s.

    Dabao has such good taste to choose a ssy restaurant! He sure is my son and an heir to the Nan

    family!

    ¡°Ma¡¯am, this is for you from Sir.¡± A waiter went up to Ning Ran with a bouquet as soon as she entered

    the restaurant.

    ¡°Wow, thank you. But who is this Sir you are referring to?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Mr. Nan, of course,¡± the waiter replied.

    ¡°Oh, thank you.¡± Ning Ran epted the flowers.

    What is Poker Face up to? This doesn¡¯t seem like something he would do.

    Is he trying to make it up to me for his mistakes yesterday?

    Hmmph, I don¡¯t buy this!

    Dabao gave Erbao a wink upon seeing Ning Ran walking in with the bouquet.

    Erbao winked in return, thinking that her brother was simply a genius toe up with such an idea.

    Dabao had found this restaurant on the inte. It was the most expensive French restaurant in Flower

    City.

    Dabao had also requested for the restaurant to arrange the flowers, for a price of course.

    He didn¡¯t have to worry about the price, as they would be charged together at the checkout. Given that

    he had a rich father, even sending a garden wouldn¡¯t be a problem, much less a bouquet.

 Chapter 362

    Chapter 362

    Ning Ran looked at the flowers in her hands, then at the kids, feeling as though an exnation was

    necessary.

    ¡°This bouquet...¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± Dabao and Erbao chorused.

    The children¡¯s response caught Ning Ran off guard. She didn¡¯t know what to say.

    She put down the flowers at the side and stared at them for a long time, wondering if she was feeling

    touched by the man¡¯s unexpected gesture.

    Nah, it¡¯s just a bouquet of flowers. There¡¯s no need to get all excited.

    But why is my heart thumping so fast?

    What a country bumpkin. Why am I mesmerized by just a mere bouquet?

    As Ning Ran was deep in thoughts, Nan Chen had arrived, d in a ck suit.

    Nan Chen furrowed his brows at the sight of Ning Ran.

    Didn¡¯t we agree not to call her? Why is she here?

    Is she here to scrounge a free meal, knowing that I would be treating the kids to dinner?

    Well, I can¡¯t just chase her away in front of the kids. She¡¯s their mother, after all.

    Ning Ran, assuming that it was Nan Chen who got her the flowers, so she stood up and pulled the

    chair for him.

    However, upon noticing theyer of frost on his face, her mood gradually turned for the worst.

    What¡¯s with that face? Why didn¡¯t you put on that face when you were taking selfies with that pretty

    lady?

    Not in the mood as well, Nan Chen simply ordered two sets of kid¡¯s meal and two sets of adult¡¯s meal.

    Ning Ran sneaked a peek at the menu and was utterly shocked at the price. Thank God Poker Face is

    here. Saves me from the heartbreak of burning a hole in my pocket.

    ¡°Mommy, Dabao and I want to take a picture with you and Daddy. We have never taken a family photo,¡±

    Erbao proposed. ¡°Can we?¡±

    Dabao nodded in agreement.

    It was his idea, after all, and this was only the first segment of his overall n.

    Ning Ran and Nan Chen held their tongues, although they thought it was a reasonable request so they

    weren¡¯t so repulsive about the idea.

    However, neither of them were willing to say yes first for fear that the other party would misunderstand

    their intentions.

    After all, being together in the same photo was something new to them.

    ¡°Daddy, can we?¡± Erbao changed his target to Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen had no choice but to nod his head.

    ¡°You¡¯re okay with it too, Mommy? You guys are not unhappy about taking pictures with me, are you?¡±

    Erbao asked.

    Of course not. My daughter is the prettiest girl in the universe. It¡¯s our honor to take a picture with you,¡±

    Ning Ran said with a smile.

    Erbao pretended to be shy. ¡°I know I¡¯m pretty, Mommy, but you don¡¯t have to exaggerate it. You¡¯re

    embarrassing me.¡±

    With that, Nan Chen called for the waiter to take a family photo of them.

    To the waiter, they were perhaps the only family that didn¡¯t need to have their pictures beautified.

    The man and woman had such fair and youthfulplexion that showed no signs of aging, while the

    children were as adorable and beautiful like dolls.

    ¡°Wow, you have a beautiful family, Sir,¡± the waiterplimented sincerely.

    Well, of course. My kids and I are gifted with good looks. As for a certain woman...

    I gave birth to them, so how bad can they look? As for a certain man... Hah, he¡¯s called Poker Face for

    a reason!

    ¡°Ready?¡± the waiter asked.

    ¡°Wait,¡± Erbao interrupted. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t Mommy and Daddy get a little closer?¡±

    Dabao nodded.

    Nan Chen and Ning Ran inched closer mechanically, without looking at each other and as a result of

    theck of eye contact, their heads almost collided.

    In any case, it was close enough for the waiter to take the first family photo of the family.

    Given the good looks of everyone in the family, one would have thought that the picture taken was the

    stills of a movie or a drama.

    ¡°I wanna see.¡± Erbao grabbed the first look, then touching her face, she said, ¡°Is my face that big?¡±

    Ning Ranughed. ¡°How much you eat every day will result in how big your face is. Don¡¯t you know

    that?¡±

    ¡°Hmph, my face is not that big. It¡¯s the camera¡¯s problem. How could my face be bigger than Dabao¡¯s?¡±

    Erbao grumbled.

    ¡°You used to love pretending to be me, but you can¡¯t now because you¡¯ve gained weight,¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°No! No! I¡¯m going to lose weight,¡± Erbao shouted anxiously.

    ¡°How about you skip this meal tonight, then? You have to take immediate action when ites to

    dieting. Otherwise, they¡¯re just empty talks,¡± Ning Ran teased.

    R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    ¡°Oh, no. That won¡¯t work. Let me finish this meal first.¡± Naturally, Erbao wouldn¡¯t agree.

    Thanks to Erbao, the atmosphere in the room seemed to have lightened up. It wasn¡¯t as heavy as

    before.

    Halfway through their meal, Nan Chen¡¯s phone vibrated.

    After picking up the call at the side, he returned to the table and said to Dabao and Erbao, ¡°I have to

    leave soon. You two enjoy your meal and I¡¯ll get the driver to send you hometer.¡±

    ¡°Where are you going, Daddy?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°I have something to take care of,¡± Nan Chen said, looking a little distracted, so much so that he

    stopped eating.

    A few minutester, his phone vibrated again. He answered the call while waving at Dabao and Erbao,

    signaling that he would be taking his leave.

    Feeling something in her bones, Ning Ran walked toward the window and saw a red sports car pulled

    over. A beautiful young woman alighted the car, and she was none other than Ouyang Qing.

    After the two exchanged a few words, Nan Chen got into her car and the car soon sped off.

    Ning Ran suddenly felt as if her heart was stuffed with balls of cotton.

    Meanwhile, in the car, Nan Chen asked Ouyang Qing, ¡°Is it very serious?¡±

    ¡°Sheined about having an abdominal pain during dinner, then it got worse. But she refused to

    go to the hospital when I told her to. I had no choice but to call you,¡± Ouyang Qing said.

    ¡°She should go to the hospital if she¡¯s not feeling well. Why didn¡¯t she go to the hospital?¡± Nan Chen

    was a little riled up.

    ¡°She probably doesn¡¯t like the smell of the hospital.¡±

    ¡°Then you should have called the doctor over. She can¡¯t just hold it in.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why I called you. I can¡¯t get through her no matter how much I¡¯ve persuaded her,¡± Ouyang Qing

    said, feigning an aggrieved look.

    Nan Chen mmed up.

    Soon, they arrived at a neighborhood in Red Maple City.

    ¡°You guys live here too?¡± Nan Chen asked in surprise.

    ¡°I have an extra house here, so I told her to move in and she likes it here,¡± Ouyang Qing exined, and

    seeing that Nan Chen didn¡¯t respond, she asked, ¡°Why? Is there someone else living in this

    neighborhood?¡±

    Nan Chen remained silent.

    Naturally, he wouldn¡¯t tell Ouyang Qing that Ning Ran also lived in this neighborhood.

    In fact, Ouyang Qing had asked that question on purpose. She had someone follow Ning Ran and

    knew that she lived here too.

 Chapter 363

    Chapter 363

    Bai Hua was lying on the sofa when they entered the vi.

    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

    She was about to get up when she saw Nan Chen, but thetter quickly signaled her to lie down as he

    said, ¡°Just lie down for now. If you really don¡¯t want to go to the hospital, I¡¯ll ask the doctor toe

    over.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m feeling better now.¡± Bai Hua insisted on sitting up.

    ¡°Don¡¯t try to be strong when you¡¯re sick. It¡¯s pointless,¡± Nan Chen said grouchily.

    ¡°I¡¯m really feeling better now. Besides, I¡¯m already in poor health so difort is amon sign. I

    can¡¯t just stay in the hospital all the time, right?¡± Bai Hua said.

    ¡°So, how do you feel now? Do I need to call the doctor or not?¡±

    ¡°No. I feel like I¡¯m back to normal. I don¡¯t usually see you, but I feel much better now that you¡¯re here.¡±

    Bai Hua gestured for Nan Chen to sit next to her.

    Nan Chen couldn¡¯t bear to reject a patient, so he sat next to her as she asked.

    ¡°You guys talk. I¡¯m going to do some reading for a while. I¡¯ve been studying about film production

    lately,¡± Ouyang Qing said.

    ¡°Look at how ambitious this child is. You go ahead. I¡¯ll be fine with Chen apanying me.¡± Bai Hua

    exchanged a knowing look with Ouyang Qing.

    It was by chance that Ouyang Qing had discovered that Nan Chen and Ning Ran were having dinner

    together.

    Ouyang Qing had a friend who ran into Nan Chen at Champs French Restaurant.

    Upon learning that the couple was together, Ouyang Qing came to Bai Hua to vent her grievances.

    Bai Hua then pretended to be sick and told Ouyang Qing to give Nan Chen a call.

    They knew that Nan Chen was a filial son and were sure that he would rush over upon receiving the

    call.

    Just as expected, Nan Chen hade over in no time.

    As for why Ouyang Qing had arrived at the restaurant so soon, it was because she had deliberately

    hurried there just so she could tell Nan Chen that she was nearby and that she could pick him up on

    the way.

    Nan Chen might be smart, but never would he expect his mother to join forces with Ouyang Qing to

    deceive him.

    Coupled with the fact that his mother had always been ill, Nan Chen naturally took the bait.

    As Ouyang Qing stepped away, Bai Hua had a heart-to-heart talk with Nan Chen.

    ¡°Have you been very busytely, Chen? You have to take care of your health.¡± Bai Hua first offered the

    concern a mother should have.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Nan Chen said cidly.

    ¡°Is everything all right at thepany? Is it stressful?¡±

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t really know how to answer that question. It would be a lie to say that managing a

    consortium wasn¡¯t stressful at all.

    The bigger thepany is, the faster it copsed and the harder it is to save, and all that glitz and

    mour came with a price.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Nan Chen gave another cid response.

    ¡°Take care and don¡¯t overwork yourself,¡± Bai Hua said softly.

    ¡°I will. You take care too.¡±

    ¡°Right, you¡¯re not getting any younger now. Is there someone you are interested in?¡± Bai Hua started to

    get to the point.

    ¡°No,¡± Nan Chen replied briskly.

    ¡°The kids that the woman brought to Grandpa¡¯s birthday banquet... Are they really yours?¡± Bai Hua

    asked.

    Nan Chen was triggered by those words.

    Putting the DNA report aside, isn¡¯t it obvious that they¡¯re my children just by their looks?

    How could they look so much like me if they¡¯re not my biological children?

    ¡°Do you think I would have brought them to Grandpa¡¯s birthday banquet if they¡¯re not my own?¡± Nan

    Chen replied with a question of his own coldly.

    Sensing the displeasure from his voice, Bai Huaughed dryly, ¡°You¡¯re right. I shouldn¡¯t have asked

    that question.¡±

    Nan Chen kept quiet.

    ¡°But I heard that the woman suddenly showed up with two children. Could she be up to something?¡±

    Bai Hua asked again.

    Nan Chen had to admit that he used to share the same sentiment as his mother, but he had long

    dismissed that thought.

    Ning Ran wasn¡¯t dull-witted, but neither was she smart enough to devise any earth-shattering schemes.

    Based on Nan Chen¡¯s observation over time, she was just a woman with a slightly loose screw.

    To say that she was a scheming person was an overstatement.

    ¡°No,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Chen, don¡¯t get mad at me for talking too much. But the poorer the people are, the stronger their

    desire for money and they will do anything for money. Why didn¡¯t she inform the Nan family when she

    was pregnant? Instead, she gave birth to them and raised them for years before showing up

    unannounced. It¡¯s hard to believe that she¡¯s not up to something.¡±

    Nan Chen was pensive for a moment.

    He wasn¡¯t offended that Bai Hua would say such words because he once had these thoughts as well. It

    wasn¡¯t surprising to him that his mother would have those concerns, and he didn¡¯t feel like exining

    because certain things couldn¡¯t be exined.

    Opinions about a person are something too subjective.

    Unless one changes one¡¯s perceptive, it is difficult to see a person anew via someone else¡¯s

    exnation.

    When Nan Chen first thought that Ning Ran had an ulterior motive, he was unmoved, no matter how

    hard Nan Xing had tried to convince him.

    It was only through his own observations that he started to see Ning Ran in a different light.

    ¡°Chen, you¡¯re now the leader of Nanshi Corporation. Many people would approach you for their

    personal gains. But marriage is a huge thing and it can¡¯t be taken lightly. I hope you can keep your

    distance from that woman,¡± Bai Hua eventually spoke her mind after beating around the bush.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t respond immediately. For one, she was his mother, and he had to show his respect,

    and for the other, he was still a little dissatisfied with the woman¡¯s incident with Ouyang Qi.

    Nan Chen couldn¡¯t seem to make up his mind because of the woman¡¯s casual disy of superficiality.

    ¡°Marriage is not a trivial matter. It¡¯s about meeting the right woman from the right family. Marriage and

    love are not the same. Love is about liking each other, but what lies behind marriage is aplex

    rtionship of economic interests¡ª¡±

    ¡°Marriage is indeed an economic activity to a certain degree, but not all marriages depend on the

    interests at stake first,¡± Nan Chen interrupted, more or less knowing what she would say next.

    ¡°You¡¯re different from others. You can¡¯t just marry a clown who doesn¡¯t have any powerful connections,¡±

    Bai Hua said.

    There was a hint of coldness in Nan Chen¡¯s eyes at the word ¡°clown¡±.

    What era is it now that there is still such discrimination against artists?

    ¡°Artist is also a profession. This society needs the work of artists to fulfill the spiritual needs of the

    public, whether it¡¯s movies, television dramas or variety shows, or even reality shows that have no

    educational value. There¡¯s a reason why so many people are watching them. To the artist, that¡¯s their

    job. They should be respected as long as they work by the rules and make a living through their own

    efforts. As for me, investing in artists is a business no different from any other businesses.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s long-winded speech made it obvious that he was rather upset deep inside.

    Given his temper, he disdained to argue with others.

    However, since the topic revolved around the woman and the person saying that was his mother, he

    couldn¡¯t help but say a few more words.

    His stance was so assertive that Bai Hua was dumbfounded. She didn¡¯t expect him to stand up for Ning

    Ran at all.

 Chapter 364

    Chapter 364

    In fact, it was Bai Hua¡¯s ownpse in judgement.

    The fact that Nan Chen would bring Ning Ran to Nan Zhengde¡¯s birthday banquet had proven that he

    thought highly of that woman.

    To call the woman he brought to Nan Zhengde¡¯s birthday banquet a clown¡ªhis indignation was

    justifiable.

    If it weren¡¯t because Bai Hua was his mother, Nan Chen would have already left the ce.

    ¡°All right, I may have crossed the line. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± Bai Hua took a step back.

    Nan Chen kept a straight face and said nothing.

    ¡°But as your mom, I hope you can understand that I¡¯m saying this for your own good.¡±

    Nan Chen remained silent.

    He resented how the adults tended to quote ¡°it¡¯s for your own good¡± to meddle with their children¡¯s lives

    without showing any respect.

    ¡°I¡¯m in charge of my life,¡± Nan Chen responded stiffly, leaving no room for discussion.

    Bai Hua was momentarily lost for words.

    Initially, she wanted to persuade Nan Chen to consider going out with Ouyang Qing, saying that they

    were a match made in heaven. But she swallowed her words upon hearing his unyielding response.

    ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll make a move first.¡± Nan Chen rose to his feet.

    ¡°Stay for a while. I¡¯ll get Qing to get you some fruits,¡± Bai Hua quickly stopped him before shouting for

    Ouyang Qing.

    Ouyang Qing came out in a hurry, thinking that she had sealed the deal.

    But upon seeing Nan Chen¡¯s face, she dared not say anything, for she knew at once that their

    conversation earlier was an unpleasant one.

    ¡°Qing, how about you cut some fruits for Chen?¡± Bai Hua gave Ouyang Qing a look.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Ouyang Qing agreed instantly.

    Meanwhile, Erbao had finished her food and was staring at Ning Ran, who was in a daze.

    ¡°Mommy, what are you thinking? Why aren¡¯t you eating? The steak is getting cold.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t really like the taste.¡± Ning Ran acted as if nothing was on her mind.

    In fact, Dabao had long noticed that something was off with Ning Ran while Erbao was busy eating.

    Ning Ran had been out of sorts since the moment Nan Chen left the restaurant.

    From this, Dabao had deduced that Nan Chen must have left with Ouyang Qing, which caused Ning

    Ran to be upset.

    ¡°Then how about you order another vor of steak?¡± Erbao, who had eaten her fill, suggested Ning Ran

    order something that she liked.

    But feeling dejected, Ning Ran shook her instead. ¡°I¡¯m done. You two eat up and we¡¯ll go home.¡±

    ¡°We haven¡¯t even paid the bill,¡± Dabao reminded.

    Ning Ran¡¯s disappointment was soon reced with rage.

    Poker Face didn¡¯t get the bill. Does that mean I have to pay for it?

    It¡¯s a French restaurant. It¡¯ll probably cost a few thousands, right? Did he leave with the prettydy just

    so I would be the one to foot the bill?

    ¡°Call Nan Chen and get him toe back to pay the bill,¡± Ning Ran said to Dabao.

    Dabao knew from Ning Ran¡¯s expression that she was worried about the bill.

    Truth be told, it was also his concern.

    He was the one who made the reservation. But since he was just a child, he had used Nan Chen¡¯s

    name instead to make the reservation.

    Upon seeing Nan Chen¡¯s name, the restaurant had given them the best private room without even

    asking for a deposit.

    Now that the bill was not settled and Nan Chen had left in a hurry, Dabao couldn¡¯t bear to see Ning Ran

    foot the bill as those were her hard-earned money.

    As such, when Ning Ran had suggested calling Nan Chen, Dabao was in agreement.

    Daddy¡¯s rich and he can afford that. But Mommy¡¯s poor. I can¡¯t let her pay for the meal!

    On the other side, Ouyang Qing had cut the apples and was just going to serve them to Nan Chen

    when thetter¡¯s phone vibrated.

    Nan Chen walked toward the balcony and answered the call. ¡°How¡¯s the food, darling?¡±

    ¡°Daddy, we¡¯re done eating. But Mommy didn¡¯t bring enough money with her. Mommy¡¯s very poor...¡±

    Nan Chen immediately understood that Ning Ran had refused to pay the bill.

    This woman sure is petty. Even if she¡¯s poor, she can¡¯t be short of money to pay for this meal, right?

    Isn¡¯t she too much to get the kids to call me for money?

    ¡°I got it. I¡¯ll send someone to settle it. You guys can just leave without settling the bill,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Okay. Thank you, Daddy,¡± Dabao said.

    Hanging up, Nan Chen went back inside from the balcony. ¡°I gotta go.¡±

    Nan Chen rejected the fruits that Ouyang Qing served him with a wave before picking up his jacket and

    strode off.

    Seeing how Nan Chen had ignored her when she told him to stay, Bai Hua dared not speak again.

    After making the call, Dabao looked at Ning Ran and said, ¡°Daddy told us to just leave it and go home.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s not going to trick us, is he?¡± Ning Ran looked highly skeptical.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Daddy¡¯s not that type of person,¡± Dabao said in a serious tone.

    Dabao¡¯s right. No matter how inhumane he is, he couldn¡¯t possibly trick his own son.

    ¡°All right. Let¡¯s go then.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry, Mommy? Why don¡¯t you eat a little more?¡± Erbao asked with concern.

    Feeling much better, Ning Ran said, ¡°Let¡¯s order desserts then!¡±

    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.

    Poker Face is paying anyway. It would be a waste not to eat and drowning my sorrow in food doesn¡¯t

    seem like a bad choice.

    ¡°Mommy, aren¡¯t you afraid of gaining weight from eating desserts at night?¡± Erbao asked weakly.

    ¡°Between you and me, who¡¯s chubbier?¡± Ning Ran raised a rhetorical question.

    Erbao looked down at her tummy in distress. ¡°Mommy¡¯s mocking me again.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re chubby, right? If you dare to eat with that body, why can¡¯t I? Eating desserts gives me

    satisfaction, do you understand?¡±

    Erbao put on a bitter expression. ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re bullying me!¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s spirits lifted at once.

    Poker Face. Hah, who is he? He can always leave with any woman he likes.

    Why do I need to care so much about him when I have my kids with me?

    As the dessert was served, Ning Ran started to feast on it.

    Dabao and Erbao looked at Ning Ran in disbelief. Never did they expect the self-disciplined Ning Ran

    to be indulging like this.

    ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re a superstar. Are you really not afraid of gaining weight?¡±

    Erbao was a victim of desserts. It was desserts that made her looked rounder than her brother.

    Thus, she was truly worried about her beautiful mommy getting fat like her, which would be cruel.

    Erbao stared at Ning Ran with worried eyes, feeling as though she was eating a spoonful of poison

    instead of dessert.

    Ning Ran was amused. ¡°Are you trying to persuade me to give up just so you can eat them?¡±

    Erbao quickly shook her head. ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant. I¡¯m so full I can¡¯t eat anymore.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep eating then. I¡¯m still hungry,¡± Ning Ranughed.

    ¡°Mommy, I think Erbao¡¯s right. You can¡¯t eat so much dessert at this hour,¡± Dabao piped up.

    ¡°What are you two trying to do? Are you ganging up to keep me from eating?¡± Ning Ran put down the

    spoon.

    ¡°Mommy¡¯s a superstar and a superstar cannot gain weight,¡± Erbao said seriously.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m not a superstar.¡±

    ¡°But Daddy said Mommy will be a superstar someday. If you gain weight, you can¡¯t be a

    superstar. And if you can¡¯t be a superstar, you won¡¯t be able to earn a lot of money to buy me

    good food.¡±

    It turned out that Erbao still couldn¡¯t get around her good food.

 Chapter 365

    Chapter 365

    On the way home, Dabao was feeling depressed.

    It wasn¡¯t because Mommy ate too many desserts. He had wanted both Daddy and Mommy to

    reconcile, but he ended up worsening their conflict.

    As for Erbao, she only cared about having something delicious to eat. Everything else wasn¡¯t her

    concern.

    At that moment, it was obvious to Ning Ran that Dabao was upset. ¡°Dabao, what¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m just thinking about something,¡± Dabao replied.

    Ning Ran found it amusing that he was acting like an adult. It was as if there were a lot of problems

    weighing on his mind.

    ¡°What are you thinking about? Can you share them with Mommy?¡± Ning Ran asked with a smile.

    ¡°No.¡± The way Dabao answered resembled Nan Chen a little.

    ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t pry on your little secrets,¡± Ning Ran added with a grin.

    ¡°I know what he¡¯s thinking about!¡± Erbao interrupted.

    ¡°Is that so? Anyway, you can¡¯t say it even if you do. Your brother won¡¯t allow it.¡±

    ¡°Heehee, a lot of girls in school fancy Dabao. Every day, they will fight amongst themselves to offer him

    sweets. Dabao always receives many delicious treats because of that. However, when he refuses

    them, they be angry...¡±

    ¡°Ning Sihan!¡±

    Before Erbao could finish, Dabao yelled at her.

    When Dabao called out her full name, it was a sign that he was angry.

    Erbao stopped and quickly covered her mouth with her hands. ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything!¡±

    ¡°Is that true?¡± Ning Ran looked towards Dabao.

    Kids will always be kids. It¡¯s normal to have something like that happen.

    More importantly, Dabao has grown up to be a handsome boy. With a face like that, who in their right

    mind can resist?

    ¡°In that case, you will have to maintain a cordial rtionship with them so that you don¡¯t damage the

    friendship you have,¡± Ning Ran exined whileughing at the same time.

    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her exaggerate. It¡¯s not as serious as she makes it out to be.¡± Dabao was embarrassed.

    It was rare for him to feel shy. Even Ning Ran seldom saw him feeling embarrassed despite being his

    Mommy.

    ¡°Hahaha, don¡¯t worry about it. It¡¯s normal for your friends to fancy you. You don¡¯t have to be pressured

    by it, all right?¡± Ning Ran reassured him with a smile.

    Dabao¡¯s expression became more perplexed as he didn¡¯t know how to respond to what his Mommy

    said.

    ¡°It¡¯s actually not that serious. I was just fooling around.¡± Erbao started to backpedal on herments.

    As the three of them discussed Dabao¡¯s ¡°rtionship problems¡±, they arrived at the vi in Red Maple

    City in no time.

    At that moment, Ning Ran noticed that the lights were on.

    Cheng Xiangyun isn¡¯t in, so why are the lights on?

    Is there a thief?

    ¡°Dabao, the lights in the house are on. There must be a thief inside. Both of you should stay put while I

    call the police,¡± Ning Ran instructed frantically.

    ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s not a thief. Since when does a thief steal with the lights on?¡± Dabao asked.

    Ning Ran agreed with him. Doesn¡¯t stealing with the lights on make it a robbery?

    ¡°Then, it must be a robbery. They must be very daring to break into the vi,¡± Ning Ranmented

    angrily.

    ¡°Mommy, the robbers won¡¯t choose a time like this to break in. Don¡¯t you notice the surrounding houses

    also have their lights on? Who would dare break-in at a time like this?¡±

    After Dabao pointed out the obvious, Ning Ran felt that her intelligence had dropped to a worrisome

    level.

    ¡°If that¡¯s neither a thief nor a robber, who can it be?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Can it be Aunt Xiang?¡± Dabao analyzed.

    ¡°No, she¡¯s in Korea and won¡¯t be back so soon.¡±

    ¡°Then it must be Daddy.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s even more unlikely. He has been led away by that vixen, why would he be back?¡± Ning Ran

    was pissed when reminded of the incident.

    At that moment, Dabao and Erbao exchanged nces. It seems that Mommy is upset that Daddy left

    with another woman.

    Is that the same prettydy? If that is the case, it will mean trouble.

    ¡°Maybe Daddy is busy...¡± Dabao meekly tried to exin on Daddy¡¯s behalf.

    ¡°What can he be busy with? He must have been bewitched by that vixen and gone phndering.¡± Ning

    Ran fumed.

    ¡°Mommy, what does phndering mean?¡± Erbao asked.

    Before Ning Ran could answer, a cold voice rang out from behind her. ¡°How can you say something like

    that in front of the children? Are you even qualified to be a mother?¡±

    Turning around, Ning Ran saw Nan Chen in his tracksuit.

    He was jogging around the garden when he heard Ning Ran talking behind his back.

    ¡°What are you here?¡± Ning Ran eximed in surprise.

    ¡°This is my house, so why can¡¯t I be here?¡± Nan Chen threw his weight around.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you together with that vixen...¡±

    Before she continued, she restrained herself. ¡°Didn¡¯t you leave with Ms. Ouyang?¡±

    ¡°Did you see us? Were you standing at the balcony watching who I left with?¡± Nan Chen interrogated

    her.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t. I was just...¡±

    ¡°If you didn¡¯t, how did you know whose car I got into?¡± Nan Chen pressed on.

    ¡°I saw it by ident. Whoever you left with is none of my business.¡± Ning Ran started feeling guilty.

    When Dabao and Erbao saw that Daddy and Mommy were starting to argue, both of them exchanged

    nces and headed upstairs themselves.

    They didn¡¯t want to be caught in the crossfire. After all, it was futile to persuade them to stop. Hence,

    they might as well step aside and allow the adults the space to quarrel without any restraints.

    ¡°It was wrong for you to use inappropriate words in front of the children. As their mother, you shouldn¡¯t

    let your vulgarity affect them, or else they will grow up to be like you,¡± Nan Chen reprimanded her.

    Ning Ran was enraged by his insult.

    ¡°Grow up to be someone like me? Why don¡¯t you tell me what kind of person I am?¡± Ning Ran retorted

    in a feisty tone.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you know yourself what kind of person you are?¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t. Go on, Mr. Nan. Tell me - what kind of person I am! Someone that will bring shame to you?

    A penniless and useless person? Is that right? Huh?¡± Ning Ran sneered.

    Since Nan Chen wasn¡¯t good at quarreling, he was stumped.

    ¡°Obviously, it¡¯s impossible topare me to someone as rich as you. I think it¡¯s expected for you to

    look down on me. Besides, I¡¯m not desperate to be shown any respect. All these years, this b*tch has

    lived her life without any respect, and yet, here I am.¡±

    Things were getting interesting. In her anger, Ning Ran even used the word ¡°b*tch¡±.

    Nan Chen furrowed his eyebrows. How vulgar can this woman be to even call herself a b*tch?

    Ning Ran was still boiling with rage. ¡°Those are my children. I can speak to them however I want. Why

    do you care? Who do you think you are? After fooling around with that richdy, how dare youe

    back and criticize the way I bring up my own children?¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about? What do you mean fooling around?¡± Nan Chen was also infuriated.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you feel any shame?¡±

    ¡°What shame? Ning Ran you¡¯re crazy!¡±

    Nan Chen really wasn¡¯t good at arguing. Due to his prim and proper upbringing, he was no match for

    Ning Ran¡¯s feistiness which was honed on the streets.

    The most vulgar word he could manage was ¡°crazy¡±.

    Meanwhile, Dabao and Erbao slumped on the balcony, watching both of them fight downstairs.

    ¡°What are we going to do? They don¡¯t look like they¡¯re going to stop anytime soon,¡± Erbao mumbled in

    concern.

    Dabao didn¡¯t reply as he too was at a loss.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    He nned to help them reconcile, but it seemed that they had too many differences. It was certainly

    going to be a challenge.

    This is way over my head!

 Chapter 366

    Chapter 366

    ¡°I need to change my strategy!¡± Dabao suddenly eximed.

    ¡°Huh? What strategy?¡± Erbao didn¡¯t understand.

    ¡°By trying to fix their rtionship forcefully, I¡¯m afraid it will backfire. That¡¯s why I must change my

    strategy,¡± Dabao exined with a frown.

    The way he furrowed his eyebrows made him looked exactly like Nan Chen.

    When Erbao saw her brother frowning, she quickly copied him. Or else, she couldn¡¯t demonstrate how

    concerned she was with the situation.

    ¡°What are you going to change?¡±

    After both of them returned to their yroom, Erbao sat down in front of her brother with her chubby

    legs folded. She looked as if she was attending an important meeting.

    ¡°What¡¯s the situation now?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°The situation we talked about just now?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Erbao nodded.

    However, Erbao had forgotten almost everything that they discussed just a moment ago.

    ¡°Since Daddy and Mommy are not making peace, we should break them up instead.¡±

    Erbao almost burst into tears when she heard it. ¡°Dabao, what are you talking about? How can you

    break up Daddy and Mommy?¡±

    ¡°This is of course just part of the n. It¡¯s not the end.¡±

    Erbao was further confused.

    ¡°Regardless of whether it¡¯s just the means or the end, we can¡¯t break Daddy and Mommy up. I don¡¯t

    want them to be separated,¡± Erbao ranted in a choking voice.

    ¡°I already said that it¡¯s not the goal. Our ultimate aim is for them to be together,¡± Dabao exined.

    ¡°Oh, then what should we do?¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t Daddy know a beautifuldy?¡±

    ¡°That demon - the vixen,¡± Erbao remarked.

    ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to curse,¡± Dabao reprimanded.

    ¡°Hmph.¡± Erbao pouted in defiance.

    ¡°We need to think of a n to get Daddy and the prettydy together,¡± Dabao continued.

    Erbao felt uneasy. ¡°Dabao, what are you thinking about? How can we allow Daddy to be with another

    lady?¡±

    Dabao had a headache when he realized that Erbao wasn¡¯t as intelligent as he was.

    After spending half a day exining, why doesn¡¯t she get it?

    ¡°I told you that¡¯s just part of a n!¡± Dabao emphasized again.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s an end or not. The fact is you are going to let Daddy get together with another

    woman.¡± Erbao eximed in desperation, ¡°I won¡¯t allow it!¡±

    Dabao sighed, ¡°Can you let me finish?¡±

    ¡°Fine, go ahead.¡± Erbao calmed down a little.

    ¡°If we get Daddy to be together with the prettydy, Mommy will be worried. Also, have you forgotten

    that there is a handsome young man who is pursuing Mommy?¡± Dabao exined.

    ¡°The one with the rose?¡± Erbao asked with her head tilted.

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s an old man, not a young one. Besides, he is not as handsome as Daddy. Only those that are

    more handsome than Daddy can be called young men. The rest are all old men.¡±

    Erbao¡¯s logic shocked Dabao so much that he was lost for words.

    Only those that are more handsome than Daddy are considered young men? Her logic is simply

    ridiculous!

    ¡°Fine. I am talking about that old man. We must get him to be with Mommy!¡±

    ¡°Oh gosh, you have gone bonkers! You want to arrange ady for Daddy and a man for Mommy.

    Wouldn¡¯t that break them up for sure?¡± Erbao eximed.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t arrange that. It¡¯s already happening! Mommy and Daddy¡¯s rtionship is currently tense

    because of the presence of those two people. Therefore, my ultimate goal is to solve the problem

    brought about by those two. To do that, we need to get close to them. Am I right?¡±

    Despite not fullyprehending what Dabao said, Erbao nodded nheless. After all, Dabao was

    always right.

    ¡°After that, do you know what we¡¯re going to do?¡± Dabao asked.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± Erbao shook her head helplessly.

    ¡°If Daddy gets together with the prettydy and she wants to impress him, what do you think she will

    do?¡± Dabao continued to provide Erbao a hint.

    ¡°She will... let me think.¡±

    Erbao gave it some thought. ¡°I know, she will buy us something delicious to eat!¡±

    Dabao rolled his eyes in disbelief.

    How did she even link this to food? What¡¯s wrong with her brain?

    ¡°You¡¯re close. She will try to win our hearts by pretending to be close to us. That way, it will make

    Daddy happy because she is aware that Daddy loves us. As long as she has our support, Daddy will

    marry her.¡±

    ¡°Daddy can¡¯t marry her. If he does, what¡¯s going to happen to Mommy?¡± Erbao yelled again.

    ¡°That¡¯s what she thinks. Of course, Daddy won¡¯t marry her easily, and we will not allow it too, won¡¯t

    we?¡± Dabao asked.

    ¡°Yea, yea, yea.¡± Erbao nodded. ¡°They can¡¯t get married.¡±

    ¡°Therefore, when she tries to win us over, we will have an opportunity to get close to her and

    understand her better. Once that happens, you know what¡¯sing next,¡± Dabao teased.

    ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± Erbao shook her head. ¡°Please tell me.¡±

    ¡°We can pretend to be on good terms with her. But behind her back, we can show Daddy her true

    colors. By then, Daddy will know that Mommy is the best person in the world.¡±

    Erbao gradually understood.

    ¡°We will support her on the surface but sabotage her behind her back. Is that what you mean?¡± Erbao

    asked.

    ¡°More or less,¡± Dabao replied.

    ¡°Alright! You¡¯re really smart to be able toe up with a n like that. I fully support it!¡± Erbao waved

    her chubby arms in delight.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    ¡°Mmm, I¡¯m d that you understand. We should keep this to ourselves as this matter needs careful

    nning,¡± Dabao instructed.

    At that moment, Ning Ran and Nan Chen had finished arguing and wereing upstairs, one behind

    another.

    Despite arguing for a long time, they didn¡¯t reallye to a solution.

    After all, they were quarreling and not debating. Each of them would speak their mind and use their

    own points to rebut the other.

    The aim of a debate was to logically present one own¡¯s viewpoint ande to a conclusion. But in a

    fight, the purpose was to vent one¡¯s frustration on the opposing side.

    Under such circumstances, both of them would hurl the nastiest and most hurtful insults at each other.

    In a debate, Ning Ran would be no match for Nan Chen because he was more knowledgeable and had

    more exposure.

    However, Nan Chen was terrible at quarreling and wouldn¡¯te close to Ning Ran, who grew up in

    the streets.

    Therefore, when they fought, Ning Ran would always emerge victorious, and Nan Chen would be

    utterly defeated.

    The result was Nan Chen looking gloomy, while Ning Ran would be in high spirits after venting all her

    frustrations.

    In the midst of their discussion, Dabao and Erbao heard footsteps. Thus, they stopped their discussion

    and came out of their yroom.

    ¡°Daddy, Mommy, what were you doing downstairs? Why did you take so long toe up?¡± Erbao

    asked, despite knowing the answer.

    Her question caused Nan Chen and Ning Ran to feel awkward.

    There was no way they were going to tell their children they were quarreling downstairs.

    ¡°We had something to discuss, so we walked another two rounds,¡± Nan Chen exined in a gentle

    tone.

    Ning Ran was impressed. Nan Chen, who had a gloomy expression just a second ago, suddenly spoke

    to Erbao in a caring voice. The drastic change happened within a blink of an eye.

    If only he treated me with just one-tenth of that same gentleness, we wouldn¡¯t be arguing at all.

 Chapter 367

    Chapter 367

    ¡°Daddy, can we talk to you for a second?¡± Dabao asked Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen was briefly surprised that Dabao actually had something to discuss.

    ¡°Of course you can.¡± Nan Chen agreed immediately.

    ¡°Let¡¯s talk in the study then.¡±

    Dabao signaled Erbao with his eyes before both of them headed to Nan Chen¡¯s study.

    At that moment, Ning Ran was stumped. Does this mean it has nothing to do with me?

    Whatever. Talk all you want. I¡¯m going to take a bath.

    Inside the study, Dabao motioned Nan Chen to sit.

    Puzzled, Nan Chen sat down obediently.

    Dabao then got Erbao to sit. Side by side, both siblings drew their courage from each other.

    ¡°Dabao, what¡¯s going on? Why are you being so serious?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Daddy, do you not like Mommy anymore?¡± Dabao asked.

    The question caught Nan Chen off guard, causing him to be stupefied.

    ¡°What?¡±

    Erbao immediately repeated the question on behalf of her brother. ¡°Do you not like Mommy anymore?¡±

    In truth, Nan Chen heard them the first time. It was just that he didn¡¯t know how to answer; hence, he

    had to pretend he didn¡¯t hear it clearly.

    Even after Erbao repeated the question, Nan Chen was still at a loss.

    The reason was he didn¡¯t know what was the children¡¯s objective in asking the question.

    ¡°Daddy, you don¡¯t have to feel bad. You can answer the question directly,¡± Dabao reassured his Dad

    steadily.

    ¡°There¡¯s no such thing.¡± Nan Chen replied unconvincingly.

    ¡°Daddy, children aren¡¯t allowed to lie, let alone adults,¡± Erbao reminded him sternly.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t lying. I don¡¯t dislike your Mommy.¡±

    Suddenly, Nan Chen felt an immense pressure weigh on him. He had experienced many stressful

    events such as being questioned by demanding board members and speaking at international level

    economic conferences. But none of them caused him to feel the same amount of pressure.

    Now, facing two children inside his small study, he had never felt so stressed in his entire life.

    ¡°In that case, why won¡¯t you marry Mommy?¡± Dabao continued his interrogation.

    ¡°That¡¯s right, why won¡¯t you marry Mommy?¡± Erbao copied her brother¡¯s expression as she continued

    to interrogate.

    ¡°Erm... marriage is somethingplicated. It¡¯s not as easy as you think,¡± Nan Chen deflected the

    question unconvincingly.

    ¡°Daddy, we know you don¡¯t like Mommy. Therefore, I suggest that both of you should forget about it,¡±

    Dabao suggested.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Nan Chen was ever more shocked. What is he talking about? What does ¡°forget it¡± even mean?

    ¡°If you don¡¯t like Mommy, staying together will only mean more pain and won¡¯t bring you happiness,¡±

    Dabao said in earnest.

    ¡°Why are you kids bringing this up for?¡±

    Nan Chen was utterly shocked. Why did the two children pull me aside at this hour to talk about such a

    serious and sensitive topic?

    What are they trying to pull here?

    ¡°Your rtionship with Mommy affects me and Erbao. That¡¯s why we have the right to ask,¡± Dabao

    exined sternly.

    Nan Chen had noeback as Dabao¡¯s words made sense.

    ¡°Since you don¡¯t like her, why don¡¯t you break up? What¡¯s the point in carrying on?¡± Dabao added.

    Nan Chen was shocked at how mature Dabao¡¯s words were. This doesn¡¯t sound like something a child

    would say. Instead, it sounded as if it came out of the mouth of an adult who had been through a lot in

    life.

    ¡°Dabao, what¡¯s going on? Why are you even thinking about all these?¡± Nan Chen was still recovering

    from his shock.

    ¡°Daddy, I¡¯m being serious here.¡± Dabao maintained his deadpan expression.

    ¡°It¡¯s not as how you described. You¡¯re just kids and don¡¯t know...¡±

    ¡°What don¡¯t we know? The way adults love is no different than that of children. If one is in love, then

    one is. If not, then not,¡± Dabao rebutted.

    ¡°Fine, I know you understand,¡± Nan Chen relented in his reply.

    Is this some kind of trick? How did I end up with two devilish children who seem to know everything?

    ¡°That¡¯s why I suggest that you break up with Mommy. Each of you should find your own journey to

    happiness,¡± Dabao continued.

    Erbao nodded vehemently. ¡°Mmm, Dabao is right.¡±

    Nan Chen suddenly became alert. ¡°Did your Mommy put you up to this?¡±

    ¡°No, no, no. This is entirely our idea. As you can see, after speaking to you, we will then speak to

    Mommy,¡± Dabao answered quickly.

    ¡°You¡¯re sure it¡¯s not her idea?¡± Nan Chen was unconvinced.

    ¡°No, it isn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Then why are you discussing this with me?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because we don¡¯t want to see you and Mommy force yourself to stay together because of us.

    You are both suffering and hurting each other at the same time,¡± Dabao rified.

    Nan Chen was speechless.

    He felt that he wasn¡¯t in control, and he couldn¡¯t see through what their objective was.

    However, he was sure that both of them definitely didn¡¯t want him to break up with Ning Ran.

    No child would ever want their Daddy and Mommy to be separated. It was just impossible for

    something like that to ur.

    In that case, why are they talking about this? What exactly are they up to?

    ¡°What do you really want to tell me?¡± Nan Chen asked as he was at a loss.

    ¡°We meant what we said,¡± Dabao insisted with a straight face.

    ¡°We will talk about this again. Anyway, it¡¯ste, and both of you should go to bed. I don¡¯t dislike your

    Mommy. It¡¯s just that things areplicated between adults.¡±

    Feeling that he was losing control of the situation, Nan Chen wanted to end the topic quickly.

    The all-knowing, almighty Sir Chen finally had encountered a situation where he was way over his

    head. And, it wasn¡¯t easy to put him in one.

    ¡°We want to meet that prettydy and have her give us a treat,¡± Dabao requested.

    ¡°Which prettydy?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Thedy whom you watched the concert with.¡± Erbao pouted in reply. She was visibly expressing her

    disapproval.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    ¡°How did you know? Did Mommy tell you about it?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. It¡¯s all over the inte. We saw it there,¡± Erbao answered.

    Dabao nodded in agreement.

    ¡°That¡¯s just a misunderstanding. Nothing is going on between us,¡± Nan Chen exined immediately.

    ¡°She is really pretty, and I think she¡¯s worth considering. It¡¯s only that we don¡¯t know how she is, so we

    wanna meet her and find out,¡± Dabao suggested.

    Nan Chen hesitated, as deep down, he could feel that the two children had ulterior motives. However,

    he couldn¡¯t say for sure.

    He just found it ridiculous that two five-year-old kids would have so many ideas. Furthermore, what

    they suggested hadn¡¯t even crossed his mind.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Shouldn¡¯t you be resenting her?¡± Nan Chen asked with his eyebrows furrowed.

    ¡°We can only decide if we like her or not after we meet her. That¡¯s why we want her to give us a treat.¡±

    ¡°No, we shouldn¡¯t easily owe anyone.¡± Nan Chen disagreed.

    ¡°In that case, we will treat her,¡± Dabao counteroffered.

    ¡°Both of you? You¡¯re still children. How are you going to give an adult a treat? Do you even have the

    money?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°You do.¡± Erbao pointed out.

    Fine, that¡¯s a very good answer. Nan Chen was at a loss for words.

    ¡°Why are you doing this?¡± Nan Chen was still puzzled.

    ¡°No reason in particr. We just want to meet her and get to know her better. If it¡¯s possible, we will

    allow her to rece Mommy to take care of us,¡± Dabao exined.

    When Dabao said that, Nan Chen was even more sure they were up to something.

    ¡°What are you plotting?¡± Nan Chen looked at both of them suspiciously.

    ¡°Nothing. We¡¯re just kids, so there¡¯s no plot,¡± Erbao replied in earnest.

    Nan Chen thought to himself, what kind of schemes can two five-year-old even dream up?

    However, why do I have the feeling that something isn¡¯t right?

    ¡°Let me think about it. There¡¯s no hurry to make a decision.¡±

    ¡°Daddy, you don¡¯t have to run from it. Some matters are better resolved early,¡± Dabao remarked just

    like the ¡°experienced old man¡± that he was.

    At that point, Nan Chen no longer knew what to do with them. Thus, he uttered, ¡°It¡¯ste, time for bed.¡±

 Chapter 368

    Chapter 368

    After tormenting Nan Chen, both the children entered Ning Ran¡¯s room.

    She happened to be lying down while reading her script. However, her mind was wondering what the

    kids and Poker Face were discussing in the study.

    When she saw both of them enter, she quickly sat up as she was keen to find out what was going on.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°Mommy, we finished talking to Daddy,¡± Dabao stated.

    ¡°So are you here to tell me about what you discussed?¡±

    ¡°More or less.¡±

    ¡°Alright, so what did you talk about?¡±

    ¡°We talked about your rtionship with Daddy.¡±

    ¡°My rtionship with him?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°What about our rtionship?¡± Ning Ran felt that this was a strange topic to talk about.

    ¡°You don¡¯t like Daddy,¡± Dabao dered upfront.

    Ning Ran was just as shocked as Nan Chen was when Dabao broached the topic.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ning Ran was filled with shock.

    This time, Erbao seized upon the opportunity to speak. It was essentially the same words Dabao used

    a while ago. ¡°Since you don¡¯t like Daddy, you shouldn¡¯t stay together just for our sakes. Instead, it¡¯s

    better that you break up.¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s eyes widened in utter shock. What¡¯s does she mean? What in the world is going on?

    ¡°What did you say?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°We meant what we said.¡± Erbao put on the same serious expression that Dabao used with their father.

    Ning Ran looked at Erbao and then back at Dabao.

    Are they acting on Poker Face¡¯s behalf to probe me?

    But that¡¯s unlikely because they are closer to me. I¡¯m sure they won¡¯t do something like that behind my

    back.

    ¡°What are you guys up to? Fess up now!¡± Ning Ran ordered sternly.

    ¡°The man who gave you flowers seems pretty good. You should consider him,¡± Erbao suggested.

    Now that Erbao was familiar with the modus operandi, she didn¡¯t need Dabao¡¯s help at all. All she had

    to do was to follow the script.

    ¡°How did you know that?¡± Ning Ran was surprised.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing that Dabao doesn¡¯t know. Whatever he knows, I¡¯ll know,¡± Erbao exined.

    There was nothing wrong with her statement as that was a fact.

    ¡°That report is untrue, so you shouldn¡¯t take it seriously. Besides, I hardly even know that man.¡±

    ¡°Mommy, you don¡¯t have to feel shy about it. We know everything after all,¡± Erbao dered.

    ¡°What do you know? Do you think you¡¯re ying house? How dare you!¡± Ning Ran scolded.

    After being reprimanded, Erbao didn¡¯t dare utter another word and looked towards Dabao for help.

    At the crucial moment, Dabao had to step up.

    ¡°Erbao is right. Since you don¡¯t like Daddy, you shouldn¡¯t force yourselves to stay together. All you¡¯re

    doing is just hurting each other and making yourselves to hate one another,¡± Dabao exined with a

    serious expression.

    ¡°Did Nan Chen ask you to tell me this?¡±

    ¡°No, he didn¡¯t,¡± Erbao interrupted.

    ¡°Then where did both of you suddenly get such a strange idea from?¡±

    ¡°Dabao and I have decided after discussing it. Mommy, we want to meet that man. If he can ept us,

    you should get him to be our Daddy.¡±

    Ning Ran was utterly shocked.

    You can eat anything you want, but the same doesn¡¯t apply to speaking. If Nan Chen heard what you

    said, it will be a disaster!

    ¡°Kids shouldn¡¯t spew nonsense. It¡¯s not your ce to say something like that! You¡¯re just being rude

    and disrespectful. Go to bed right now!¡± Ning Ran yelled.

    Taken aback, Erbao looked towards Dabao again as she considered whether to back off.

    ¡°We are serious as it¡¯s really tough for you to take care of both of us alone. Since you don¡¯t like Daddy,

    you should break up with him and find us a new one,¡± Dabao suggested in earnest.

    ¡°Hold your tongue! Dabao, you¡¯re getting increasingly naughty to the extent you dare to say anything.

    How can you speak so brazenly?¡±

    Ning Ran felt really frustrated. She knew if Poker Face heard what Dabao said, the consequences

    would be terrible.

    Despite it being the children¡¯s idea, Poker Face will definitely assume that it is my intention. When that

    happens, I willnd in hot soup for sure.

    Although she wasn¡¯t afraid, she was cognizant that the gulf in power and influence between them was

    just too wide. To go against Poker Face would be no different than suicide.

    When Dabao saw that his Mommy was troubled, he hesitated. He was now no longer sure whether he

    should follow through with his scheme.

    ¡°We can meet that man but may not necessarily approve him to be our Daddy,¡± Erbao added.

    Dabao nodded in agreement.

    Looking at both of them, Ning Ran felt that their idea was unbelievably ridiculous. She could hardly

    fathom what their true motive was.

    ¡°This is just impossible. I already told you that we hardly know each other. Anyway, that¡¯s enough

    talking for today. I¡¯m going to be angry if you persist,¡± Ning Ran warned.

    After exchanging nces, Dabao and Erbao knew that their n had failed, and they had no choice

    but to give up.

    Knowing that they might have infuriated their Mommy, they decided to drop it for fear of angering her

    further.

    ...

    The next day at Yunfeng Hill - located twenty kilometers away from Flower City.

    It was thergest hill within a hundred-kilometer radius of the city. In the middle of the hill, there was a

    temple named Yunfeng Temple.

    The Yunfeng Temple had existed for ages. Legend had it that it was built during the Ming dynasty and

    was therefore considered a famousndmark. After being ransacked many times throughout its history,

    it was rebuilt subsequently.

    Today, the road up Yunfeng Hill was closed off because there was a VIP who wasing to visit and

    pay his respects.

    At 11 a.m., a convoy of ck cars arrived at the foot of Yunfeng Hill. Many senior members of the

    temple leadership were already waiting to wee their VIP guest.

    From the car, an elderly man with a silver beard emerged. It was the patriarch of the Nan family - Old

    Master Nan.

    When the Nan family fell into a crisis, Old Master Nan stayed in the temple for a week, praying for his

    family toe through.

    In his prayers, he promised that he would make an annual pilgrimage if the Nan family survived their

    crisis.

    Old Master Nan was a man of his word. Every year since then, he returned to the temple for a week¡¯s

    stay.

    During his stay, he would meditate and pray all day. Mostly, he would pray for the continued sess of

    the Nanshi Corporation.

    Other than his annual pilgrimage to the temple, the Nan family would also donate a lot of money for the

    temple¡¯s upkeep and repairs.

    As long as the money kept flowing, the temple and he were always on good terms.

    During the week Nan Zhengde was there, Yunfeng Temple would bar all guests from visiting under the

    pretext the temple was under repair. This was done to ensure his safety and security.

    When he arrived at the temple entrance, Nan Zhengde saw that there were two persons on their knees.

    Taking a closer look, he realized it was Nan Zhiyuan and Bai Hua.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Nan Zhengde asked.

    ¡°I knew you would being, so I brought Bai Hua here to take care of you,¡± Nan Zhiyuan exined.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to ever appear in front of me again?¡± Nan Zhengde fumed.

    ¡°Dad, you¡¯re getting older, so we¡¯re worried about you. Hence, we decided to apany you here. We

    used to be stupid and made a lot of mistakes. Regretting all that we¡¯ve done, we hope to redeem

    ourselves by praying at the temple. Bai Hua has a chronic disease, and her days are numbered. Her

    only wish now is to take better care of you. I do hope you will give us a chance to demonstrate our filial

    piety towards you.¡±

    Just as he spoke, Nan Zhiyuan gave Nan Zhengde a hopeful look.

    ¡°Sir, you should forgive them. It is fate that decides whether we can be together or apart. As it¡¯s

    important to have a harmonious family, why don¡¯t you give them a chance?¡± the temple abbot

    persuaded Nan Zhengde.

    Since the abbot had spoken, Nan Zhengde was obliged toply.

    ¡°On your feet. Zhiyuan can stay with me here while Bai Hua will have to stay at a hotel outside. It¡¯s not

    appropriate fordies to stay in the temple,¡± Nan Zhengde instructed.

    Nan Zhiyuan and Bai Hua gave each other a look as they exchanged nces.

    Now that the second stage of their n was sessful, they knew the day of their return to the Nan

    family was just a matter of time.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.

 Chapter 369

    Chapter 369

    In a private club within Flower City.

    When Tang Jing appeared before her, Ouyang Qing¡¯s eyes lit up.

    When they were in high school, Tang Jing didn¡¯t stand out much. But now, she had grown into a

    gorgeous beauty, which was beyond Ouyang Qing¡¯s expectations.

    ¡°Jing, do you still remember me?¡± Ouyang Qing stood up.

    ¡°Of course I do. How can I forget you, Ms. Ouyang?¡± Tang Jingughed.

    Despite having good grades in school, Tang Jing came from an ordinary family.

    In order to climb the socialdder back then, Tang Jing ingratiated herself with someone. That person

    was Ouyang Qing.

    Ouyang Qing was the most perfect among all the girls in high school. She came from a rich family, was

    pretty, and also had good grades.

    She looked as if she was an angel sent from heaven. Being exceptionally attractive, she was like the

    moon shining high in the sky while all the other girls were just stars dotted around her.

    Beside her, Tang Jing was one of those stars that weren¡¯t bright enough and were easily overlooked.

    There was once when Tang Jing got on Ouyang Qing¡¯s nerves when she was in a bad mood. Ouyang

    Qing then gave her a tight p in front of many of their schoolmates.

    Ever since then, Tang Jing woke up and realized that she shouldn¡¯t be living under the shadow of

    someone else. It would only make her look more insignificant byparison.

    After the incident, Tang Jing transferred to another school, and no one heard from her since.

    By the time she reemerged, she was already a famous actress who was highly educated.

    ¡°We were still young and foolish then. Let¡¯s just forget about the past.¡±

    Ouyang Qing opened her arms and prepared to hug Tang Jing.

    ¡°What happened in the past? I don¡¯t even remember it anymore.¡±

    Tang Jing smiled as she hugged Ouyang Qing in return as if it were all water under the bridge.

    After they hugged, both of them took their seats. ¡°What would you like to have? Red wine?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine with anything. I¡¯ll let the Second Miss pick,¡± Tang Jing replied with a grin.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be a stranger as we are sisters after all. So don¡¯t call me Second Miss, but instead, call me by

    my name,¡± Ouyang Qing replied, smiling sweetly.

    Tang Jing thought to herself, her smile hasn¡¯t changed a bit after so many years. It¡¯s still just as sweet

    and innocent, just like a flower.

    That was the same smile that mesmerized everyone then. Even when she was angry and used her fan

    to cover her face, she was still smiling behind it.

    However, her eyes would be filled with viciousness and contempt. Even her smile was devious.

    Ouyang Qing was the first person who taught Tang Jing a lesson about the gulf between different levels

    of the social hierarchy.

    Earlier, when Tang Jing and Ouyang Qing were still close with each other, Tang Jing assumed that she

    had been epted into Ouyang Qing¡¯s social circle.

    In the end, she realized that wasn¡¯t true, and she was never part of that circle.

    She had always been outside the circle. In fact, she never even came close to being part of it.

    That realization drove Tang Jing to fully focus on her studies. Her previously ordinary grades improved

    significantly to the extent she became a top student in school.

    The path she chose was the right one. Her sess today was due to all the hard work she had put in.

    Despite her achievements, she still wasn¡¯t where she wanted to be in terms of social status.

    Nevertheless, she had managed to make a lot of progress.

    At the very least, the gap was no longer as wide. With the right opportunity, she was one step away

    from being part of upper-ss society, which had always been her dream.

    When she saw Ouyang Qing today, Tang Jing realized that this was the opportunity she was looking

    for.

    Ouyang Qing belonged to upper-ss society, and she wanted to leverage their rtionship to get in.

    Did I not learn my lesson fromst time? Why am I letting history repeat itself?

    No, I was just too weak then. I was only a paper tiger because I relied on her influence.

    Things were different now. She was a force to be reckoned with, just like a real tiger. All she wanted

    was to use Ouyang Qing as her ticket into upper-ss society - the social circle which was filled with

    temptations of fame and fortune.

    ¡°Jing?¡±

    Ouyang Qing¡¯s voice broke Tang Jing¡¯s train of thought.

    ¡°Oh, alright, sure.¡±

    Lost in her own thoughts, Tang Jing didn¡¯t hear what Ouyang Qing said and gave her a cursory answer.

    ¡°You are the supporting actress for Sound of Thunder 2, aren¡¯t you?¡± Ouyang Qing asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. How did you know?¡±

    ¡°My God, you¡¯re so pretty and highly educated. How did you end up just being the supporting actress?

    You are more than qualified to be the lead. Who was the one who made the casting decision?¡± Ouyang

    Qing immediately felt indignant on behalf of Tang Jing.

    ¡°I¡¯m only suited to be the supporting actress. The lead is someone that¡¯s better than me,¡± Tang Jing

    replied.

    ¡°Are you talking about Ding Mi? How is she better than you? You graduated from a prestigious drama

    school while she didn¡¯t even make it into university. How can she evenpare to you?¡±

    Tang Jing chuckled. ¡°Why do you know so much?¡±

    Ouyang Qingughed in return. ¡°Let me be honest - we don¡¯t exactly see eye to eye.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Tang Jing asked with a straight face.

    ¡°Because of Nan Chen.¡± Ouyang Qing was forting.

    In Ouyang Qing¡¯s eyes, Tang Jing was still one of herckeys who didn¡¯tmand any respect at all.

    Therefore, she didn¡¯t feel the need to be mindful of her speech. To her, Tang Jing wasn¡¯t a threat at all.

    However, reality would prove her wrong.

    ¡°Nan Chen?¡± Tang Jing pretended to not understand.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you know Nan Chen? The third son of the Nan family and current CEO of Nanshi Corporation.

    People call him Sir Chen, and he is absolutely dashing.¡±

    When Ouyang Qing spoke of Nan Chen, her eyes lit up in delight.

    ¡°Oh... It suddenly hit me. Is he the Young Master of the Nan family that you used to have a crush on?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯m amazed you still remember.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t he someone that¡¯s highly ced in society? How did he get himself involved with Ding Mi?¡± Tang

    Jing maintained her indifferent expression.

    ¡°I really have no idea how that despicable woman got herself attached to him. She even bore him two

    bastards! Now, she is trying to leverage the children to get herself married into their family. Her

    ambition knows no bounds!¡± Ouyang Qing ranted.

    When Tang Jing saw how worked up Ouyang Qing was, she gloated inside her heart.

    I didn¡¯t expect Ding Mi to end up being such a thorn in Ms. Ouyang¡¯s side. This is getting interesting.

    Now that Tang Jing understood how everyone was connected, she could easily guess the reason

    Ouyang Qing invited her out.

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised to hear that. Did she and Mr. Nan have a one-night stand?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. She must have thrown herself shamelessly at him while he was drunk, or perhaps she

    drugged him. Or else, how is it possible for Chen to fancy someone like her?¡± Ouyang Qing was further

    enraged.

    ¡°Since there are already children involved, it¡¯s going to be a challenging task. Prominent families care a

    lot about their legacies who are rted by blood. Having borne them children, she stands a good

    chance of being part of the Nan family.¡± Tang Jing rubbed salt on Ouyang Qing¡¯s wound on purpose.

    When she saw the fury in Ouyang Qing¡¯s eyes, Tang Jing relished in her sess in goading Ouyang

    Qing further.

    ¡°Nonsense! What¡¯s the big deal about bearing children? Even a pig can do that. She¡¯s just a sow that

    only knows how to bear children!¡±

    Tang Jing was shocked by how the supposed prim and proper Second Miss of the Ouyang family could

    spout such vulgar words.

    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

    She stared at her in disbelief. Is this what people in the upper-ss society are like?

    Just as Ouyang Qing spoke, she too realized that she had lost herposure.

    ¡°No matter what, that woman has a bad character, and I hate despicable people like her!¡± Ouyang Qing

    added.

 Chapter 370

    Chapter 370

    Tang Jing let out a faint smile.

    She enjoyed watching Ouyang Qing being agitated. The more she lost herposure, the more it

    showed how much she hated Ning Ran.

    The immense hatred she had for Ning Ran demonstrated the significant amount of pressure Ouyang

    Qing must be feeling.

    The more pressure Ouyang Qing felt, the more desperate she was for Tang Jing¡¯s help.

    ¡°I think Ding Mi is pretty alright. Her acting skills are great, and she¡¯s also gorgeous. Actually, I was

    rooting for her. However, it is shocking to hear that she had borne Nan Chen¡¯s children for him,¡± Tang

    Jing spoke slowly as she bided her time.

    ¡°She¡¯s just putting on a facade. In truth, she¡¯s a devious b*tch! You mustn¡¯t be tricked by her!¡± Ouyang

    Qing countered impatiently.

    Tang Jing nodded at once.

    ¡°Jing, I¡¯m sure you remember how much I took care of you?¡±

    When Ouyang Qing brought up the past, it caused Tang Jing to shudder.

    Just a while ago, Ouyang Qing had swept the past under the nket with a smile.

    Tang Jing had also pretended to have forgotten about it. Why is she bringing it up again? Isn¡¯t it an

    insult to my face?

    At that moment, Tang Jing was caught off guard. Ouyang Qing had just imed to have forgotten the

    past, and now she is dredging it up. Isn¡¯t she contradicting herself?

    Tang Jing had no choice but to smile awkwardly.

    Ouyang Qing continued, ¡°I can still look after you and even turn you into a megastar. It will be beyond

    what you can imagine now because you will be an internationally recognized actress, just like Scarlett

    Johansson!¡±

    Forcing augh, Tang Jing thought that Ouyang Qing was really good at boasting.

    Scarlett Johansson¡¯s achievements are abination of her talent, beauty, and acting skills.

    Furthermore, she also has the luck and temperament for sess. Who in the world can have so many

    factors going in their favor at the same time?

    However, Tang Jing wasn¡¯t going to stop Ouyang Qing from boasting.

    ¡°Thank you.¡± All she could do was nod with a smile.

    ¡°You don¡¯t believe me? We are going to start shooting a movie. The initial investment is about one

    billion, and Nan Chen is the lead investor. But, it¡¯s still in the negotiation stage. However, one thing is

    for sure. That despicabledy is still the female lead because Nan Chen wants it so,¡± Ouyang Qing

    exined.

    Tang Jing was shocked when she realized the news was true.

    During the promotion for Sound of Thunder 2, she heard some rumors that Ning Ran¡¯s new show was

    a movie, and it was going to have a huge budget. However, she wasn¡¯t sure if it was true.

    Now that Ouyang Qing had mentioned it, she believed the rumor to be true.

    Suddenly, she could feel a sense of dissatisfaction brewing within her. Ding Mi, what makes you

    deserve it?

    Once the series, Sound of Thunder 2, waspleted, the lead actress would be catapulted towards

    the big screen. As for Tang Jing, the supporting actress, there was still no news if she would even get a

    part in the next series.

    ¡°This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. So, do you want to be a part of the movie?¡± Ouyang Qing

    looked towards Tang Jing.

    Collecting herself, Tang Jing tried her best to appear calm.

    She then broke into a smile. ¡°Doesn¡¯t the casting decision usually lie with the investor and director?

    Usually, it¡¯s the director¡¯s choice, but given that the investor finances the movie, they have arger say

    in it. As for the actors, they don¡¯t get to choose. Hence, I¡¯m afraid I do not stand a chance because I

    have not even received any form of notification.¡±

    ¡°Your assumptions are correct. Coincidentally, I¡¯m one of the movie¡¯s investors too,¡± Ouyang Qing

    dered proudly.

    ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s wonderful.¡±

    Tang Jing smiled faintly as she could now see a glimmer of hope.

    ¡°I can ensure that you are cast as the female lead in this movie,¡± Ouyang Qing dered.

    Tang Jingughed again as she didn¡¯t believe Ouyang Qing¡¯s words.

    She would still believe it if Ouyang Qing told Tang Jing that she could get her a part.

    But to get cast as the female lead, Tang Jing didn¡¯t think it to be possible.

    Ouyang Qing herself had said that Nan Chen specifically wanted Ding Mi to be the female lead.

    As the lead investor, Nan Chen was the key decision-maker.

    Even if he weren¡¯t, his status in the industry would easily allow him to ce Ning Ran in that position.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you believe me?¡± Ouyang Qing could see the doubt in Tang Jing¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯m not experienced enough, so I¡¯m afraid the female lead role is beyond my capabilities. Besides, Mr.

    Nan wouldn¡¯t agree to it,¡± Tang Jing sidestepped her question.

    ¡°We can think of a way for him to change his mind. As long as you join the cast, we can work together

    to force Ding Mi out. After that, I will propose to everyone for you to be the female lead,¡± Ouyang Qing

    laid out her n.

    ¡°Is it going to work? How are we going to force her out?¡± Tang Jing asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have a n fleshed out yet since Ding Mi is right in the center of the limelight now. Her

    poprity has been increasing non-stop as she is participating in many variety shows. We have to stop

    the growth of her fame and curtail her development,¡± Ouyang Qing exined.

    ¡°Clearly, herpany arranged all these, so how can we even contain it?¡±

    ¡°Your production crew has an uing variety show, and I heard that she has a history of allergy. If

    you can trigger her allergy and force her to be hospitalized, her screen time will be reduced. After that,

    the audience will slowly forget her,¡± Ouyang Qing added.

    Tang Jing was shocked at Ouyang Qing¡¯s n to harm Ning Ran physically.

    This is not going to work because the risk is too great. If Nan Chen finds out that I did it, my career will

    instantly be over.

    Obviously, it was a bad idea to make such a risky move based on Ouyang Qing¡¯s empty promise.

    However, to reject her outright would mean the copse of negotiations. There would then not be any

    opportunities to coborate in the future.

    That would mean losing all the openings Ouyang Qing might bring. Hence, Tang Jing decided to

    verbally agree to her proposal first.

    ...

    When Ning Ran saw the contents of the notice, she was shocked.

    It rted to the most popr reality show in the country recently called Speedy Journey.

    All the guests on the show were big-name stars with each show having a guest star every week. For

    the uing show, that person would be Ning Ran.

    The reality show was the highest-rated programst year and the top show on the entirework.

    It didn¡¯t just top the reality show segment. In fact, it beat all other variety shows in terms of its

    poprity.

    All the actors or actresses that participated in the show became famous almost instantly.

    It was as if they were coated in gold. They would receive numerous offers formercials and

    sponsorships, which would result in a further increase in their poprity.

    Therefore, Ning Ran still couldn¡¯t believe that she was invited to the show as she was still a budding

    actress.

    ¡°What do you think? Are you excited?¡± Wang Xiaoou looked at the stunned Ning Ran.

    ¡°I¡¯m still alright,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°You were overseasst year, so you don¡¯t realize how popr this show was domestically. It was an

    instant hit. In this second season, the producers have increased its difficulty and entertainment value.

    Therefore, it is projected to be even more sessful this year,¡± Wang Xiaoou exined.

    ¡°Despite being overseas then, I knew how popr the show was. Many of us who were overseas

    watched it. After all, there are many Chinese living in foreign countries,¡± Ning Ran rified.

    ¡°It¡¯s great that you understand. This is an opportunity that¡¯s hard toe by; therefore, you have to

    make the best use of it,¡± Wang Xiaoou remarked with a smile.

    ¡°However, I have not been in any such shows before. As I have to face off with so many megastars, I¡¯m

    worried that I¡¯ll be a nervous wreck.¡± Ning Ran felt really anxious about it.

    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

    Although she felt that she was mentally strong, she knew anyone could feel nervous, even the biggest

    stars.

    She was also one of them, let alone she was still considered new in the industry.

    Despite having umted a little bit of fame, she was still a rtively newpared to the other

    superstars.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you have me, and I will make the necessary arrangements.¡±

    ¡°Alright, thank you, Ms. Wang.¡±

    With Wang Xiaoou¡¯s reassurances, Ning Ran felt relieved.

 Chapter 371

    Chapter 371

    Since the focus of the program was being true to oneself, Ning Ran felt that holding back would

    result in her being punished.

    Although she didn¡¯t know how the producers were going to determine whoever that was

    swimming slowly was faking it, she believed that it would be wrong for her to do. Thus, she

    didn¡¯t want to put up an act the first time she was invited to such a popr reality show.

    But when Wang Xiaoou saw how Ning Ran was swimming her heart out, she screamed in her

    heart.

    How stupid can she be? Why doesn¡¯t she listen to what I tell her?

    What is she putting in so much effort for? In fact, is she trying toe in first ce?

    All the other celebrities are obviously swimming slowly on purpose. Only she is giving it her all.

    Is there something wrong with her brain?

    Ning Ran put her best foot forward and didn¡¯t notice what the other celebrities were doing. She

    was only focused on swimming forward as fast as she could.

    When she lifted her head to take a look, she realized that she was in the first ce.

    She then felt awkward.

    As for Wang Xiaoou, she felt like pushing Ning Ran¡¯s head in the water so that she could calm

    down after choking on some pool water.

    Now that you got yourself in the first ce, how are you going to improve on your resultter

    on?

    After that, Ning Ran exited the pool before drying herself. Covering her head with a towel, she

    looked at Wang Xiaoou, who was fuming.

    She quickly turned away to avoid making eye contact because she knew Wang Xiaoou was angry.

    Earlier on, Ning Ran¡¯s intention was just not toe inst. However, she didn¡¯t expect all the other

    celebrities to fake their performance to the extent she ended up in first ce.

    They were simply holding back by ridiculously.

    When the other celebrities came out of the pool, they looked at Ning Ran before exchanging nces

    with a smile.

    In their minds, she had shown she was clearly a newbie to have done something as stupid as to obtain

    first ce.

    At that moment, the host came over. ¡°Alright, now that you have finished swimming the first round, I will

    announce the results.¡±

    Once he was done with the results, the host looked towards Ning Ran. ¡°Now, let us congratte Ding

    Mi for winning the first round of the swimming contest! Congrattions!¡±

    All the other celebrities exchanged nces and smiled. They were all mocking her in their minds for

    being stupid anding in the first ce.

    Ning Ran also felt embarrassed as she knew everyone wasughing at her for being dumb.

    Life is tough. Since when did being true to oneself was perceived as being stupid?

    ¡°And inst ce, we have Ms. Shen Yue.¡±

    Shen Yue was one of the biggest stars of the show this season. She had started her career in Korea

    before returning to develop her career domestically. Hence, she was the most popr figure on the

    show.

    She had gone through many rounds of stic surgery and looked like the stereotypical beauty.

    However, she had a sexy figure and was daring in the way she dressed. With a sharp tongue, she was

    well-adored by her adolescent fans.

    Most of the words she used to attack other celebrities were turned into memes on the inte. They

    were then used by otherizens to swear at the people around them.

    ¡°Damn it, how did I end up in thest ce? This is terrible. I don¡¯t know if can still continue filming

    given how embarrassing this is,¡± Shen Yue remarked with a smile.

    She then walked towards Ning Ran. ¡°You must be Mi Ding. Your performance in the pool was great.

    Did you grow up nting wheat or raising hogs? To be able to swim so fast with such an ugly

    technique, you must be relying on raw strength alone.¡±

    She knew that Ding Mi was a newbie. Therefore, she purposely picked on Ding Mi by inverting her

    name to Mi Ding, so as to show her condescension.

    The mockery that followed was even more rude.

    Shen Yue¡¯s style had always been like that. Every word that came out of her mouth sounded

    aggressive.

    She was one of those uncivilized characters who was well-loved byizens. It was simply

    iprehensible.

    Meanwhile, all the other celebrities burst out inughter as they always enjoyed watching Shen Yue

    insult others.

    All Ning Ran did was to smile without responding.

    As she was still new, she didn¡¯t want to get into a conflict with one of the permanent guests on

    the show.

    If she dared to talk back and it was broadcasted, she would be berated byizens even if she

    were doing the right thing.

    The reason was simple. Theizens didn¡¯t know Ning Ran well enough, but they are familiar

    with Shen Yue.

    To the long-time fans of the show, Shen Yue could do no wrong. As for everything the newbie

    did, it would never be right.

    Therefore, Ning Ran had to endure it.

    ¡°Since your surname is Mi, are you rted to Mickey Mouse? Oh, I forgot that rats can swim

    very quickly too. Now that exins how you came in the first ce.¡±

    Just as she spoke, she burst intoughter.

    Meanwhile, the other celebrities joined in. Even the production crew couldn¡¯t help butugh.

    ¡°Ms. Shen, you¡¯re contradicting yourself. First, you im that I raise hogs, and then you use

    me of being a mouse. Have you ever seen mice raising pigs? Hahaha.¡±

    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.

    Despiteughing outwardly, Ning Ran was burning with rage inside. Therefore, she began to

    fight back indirectly.

    However, Shen Yue didn¡¯t expect Ding Mi to talk back at her, so her temper red.

    All this while, the guest stars of the show would show her respect no matter how important they

    are. How dare this small-time actress talk back at me? Are you disrespecting me?

 Chapter 372

    Chapter 372

    After going through the professional guidance, the second round of thepetition began.

    As Ning Ran had gotten first ce in the previous round, she had already qualified for the next

    round.

    Therefore, the result this time would not affect her in any way.

    Nevertheless, she was still fully focused on her preparations. Thest thing she wanted was to

    end up in thest ce right aftering in first. Doing so would be utterly embarrassing.

    At the host¡¯s signal, Ning Ran jumped into the water and started swimming.

    Right after covering a few meters, she suddenly felt her limbs giving way.

    No matter how hard she paddled, she was unable to exert any power and could only inch

    forward arduously.

    The next moment, she felt her body sinking gradually, just like a piece of lead.

    Despite her best efforts, her body just refused to surface.

    Right when her head dipped below the surface of the pool, she opened her mouth and took a

    big gulp of water.

    With that, everything went ck, and she no longer knew what happened.

    After an unknown amount of time, Ning Ran was woken up by a noisymotion.

    Gradually opening her eyes, she could make out the hazy silhouette of Wang Xiaoou, who was

    conducting CPR on her.

    ¡°Bwah!¡± She suddenly threw up a mouthful of water.

    It was a terrible feeling, with nausea and exhaustion overwhelming her.

    When Wang Xiaoou saw that Ning Ran was awake, she heaved a sigh of relief.

    F***! If something had happened to Ning Ran, Nan Chen would definitely kill me. In fact, he might even

    do it with his bare hands!

    ...

    In the meantime, at Nanshi Corporation.

    Nan Chen dragged his exhausted self out of the meeting room and returned to his office.

    During the meeting, they discussed a huge project which took up a huge amount of time. It was to the

    extent that Nan Chen felt a little bit dizzy.

    Usually, he would rest his eyes for twenty minutes.

    R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    However, he could no longer rest while sitting because he had sat for too long.

    Hence, he stood up andy down on the recliner chair by the window, closing his eyes to rest.

    As he was simply too tired, he fell asleep quickly.

    However, he awoke after just sleeping for ten minutes.

    Standing up, he prepared to head for the washroom to wash his face and continue with work.

    Right when he opened the office door, Jiang Zhe was waiting there for him.

    ¡°Anything?¡±

    ¡°Yes. You were resting earlier, so I didn¡¯t dare disturb you,¡± Jiang Zhe replied.

    ¡°Let me freshen up.¡±

    After cleaning up, Nan Chen felt refreshed.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Ding had an ident during filming. She almost drowned...¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Nan Chen jumped up from his chair. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier? How is she now?¡±

    ¡°I saw that you were resting...¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m asking you what is her condition now?¡± Nan Chen roared.

    ¡°She has been sent to the hospital, and the doctors are giving her a check-up. She should be fine...¡±

    ¡°Get my chauffeur ready. I¡¯m heading to the hospital.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Chen, a high-ranking official will be arriving soon. You¡¯re supposed to apany them to visit...¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m busy. Let the Deputy CEO do it...¡±

    ¡°Mr. Chen, the high-ranking official came a long way from the capital. Even leaders from all over Flower

    City have gathered to wee him. You can¡¯t leave at such a time...¡±

    ¡°Do you not understand me?¡± Nan Chen yelled.

    Jiang Zhe quickly granted acknowledgment and called the driver to prepare the car.

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran hadpleted her check-up and was lying on the hospital bed, hooked to an IV

    drip.

    ¡°Do you feel better now? I have reported this to thepany, and we will tie up all the loose

    ends. So don¡¯t worry,¡± Wang Xiaoou reassured her.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m not worried. It¡¯s just a small issue, so you shouldn¡¯t worry too. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s

    necessary to let Nan Chen know about this,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Incidents such as these must be reported to him. If he finds out about it

    himself, that would be the death of me,¡± Wang Xiaoou exined.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t I doing fine? Telling him will just create unnecessary drama,¡± Ning Ran remarked.

    ¡°This is not my decision, so there¡¯s no point in you trying to convince me,¡± Wang Xiaoou

    added.

    Just as she spoke, the ward¡¯s door opened, and Nan Chen stormed in with his ck suit.

    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Nan Chen rushed to her bedside.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, why are you here?¡±

    ¡°What did the doctor say?¡±

    ¡°They justpleted their tests and haven¡¯t gotten any results. The preliminary diagnosis is

    food poisoning,¡± Wang Xiaoou exined.

    Nan Chen turned towards Wang Xiaoou and red at her, ¡°How could this happen?¡±

    As an experienced manager, Wang Xiaoou had a strong presence. However, it was nowhere to

    be found when she faced Nan Chen.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Mr. Chen, this is my responsibility...¡±

    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s your fault...¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t her fault. She has got nothing to do with it,¡± Ning Ran interceded on Wang Xiaoou¡¯s

    behalf.

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Nan Chen ordered.

    Ning Ran was stumped after being yelled at. You¡¯re such a bully for not allowing me to exin.

    After all, I¡¯m a patient here. Can¡¯t you at least be a little more gentle? Just a little gentleness will

    do. Why do you have to be so fierce?

 Chapter 373

    Chapter 373

    ¡°We took meticulous care of every single detail. In fact, everything was in our control¡ªexcept

    for one.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s brows furrowed as his re intensified, anticipating an answer.

    ¡°The drinks are all sponsored. The people in charge of the program requested us to only take

    drinks from that particr brand.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t you bring her a thermos sk?¡± Nan Chen questioned.

    ¡°I did. But the production crew wanted a shot of the celebrities drinking the sponsored drinks.¡±

    Wang Xiaoou was trying her best to exin that what happened was unavoidable.

    But clearly, the man was not buying it. ¡°So you¡¯re saying y¡¯all bear no responsibility for what

    happened?¡±

    Wang Xiaoou fidgeted her fingers in panic and her gaze wandered helplessly. ¡°I mean, yes, of

    course, we are responsible for it...¡±

    ¡°Then make sure you do a thorough investigation and give me a full ount of everything that

    happened.¡±

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    ¡°Yes, Mr. Chen.¡± She picked up her things and rushed out of the ward immediately after

    receiving new orders.

    Seeing Wang Xiaoou caught in a difficult situation, the director interjected the conversation.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, the poisoning is not severe. It will only cause some temporary anemia-like

    symptoms, so Ms. Ding will be well in no time.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Nan Chen replied tersely and ended the conversation.

    But the director stood there without any intention of leaving.

    ¡°Anything else?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Oh, em, nothing else. I was just wondering if you¡¯d like to have some coffee?¡± the director

    inquired.

    But Nan Chen was not in the mood for coffee and he waved his hand dismissively. ¡°No, I¡¯m good. If

    there¡¯s nothing else, please excuse us.¡±

    Now that the director had left, Nan Chen could finally have some private time with Ning Ran.

    ¡°I¡¯m feeling fine actually. You can make a move first,¡± she said, trying to get him going.

    But still, he totally disregarded what she said.

    Ning Ran was getting testy after being ignored the second time. ¡°You¡¯re not a doctor. There¡¯s nothing

    you can do here.¡± She raised her voice.

    ¡°Can you just keep quiet?¡± She finally elicited a response from him.

    But his reply was so rude it startled her.

    Did he just ask me to shut up? I can¡¯t believe I have to put up with this attitude because of Jiang Zhe.

    Ning Ran knew she had to do everything within her capacity to persuade him to go back. Her condition

    was not even serious and it was nothingpared to the ongoing inspection at the corporation.

    ¡°I won¡¯t be able to rest properly if you keep bugging me here.¡± She figured emotional ckmail would

    definitely work this time, although she might be risking his anger.

    She knew Nan Chen would not budge on his decision easily. He would shush her instead of giving her

    a chance to speak¡ªthat was how he had always been.

    That was why she always ended up having to swallow her words.

    But just as she expected, he finally shifted his gaze from his phone and looked at her.

    ¡°What did you just say?¡±

    ¡°I said, you should go back to work.¡± Ning Ran repeated.

    ¡°No, before that.¡±

    His scrutinizing tone rmed Ning Ran.

    All of a sudden, she was not sure if she should have said what she said.

    ¡°Speak.¡± Nan Chen hurried her.

    Fine, you¡¯re the one who asked for it. Don¡¯t me meter on.

    Ning Ran eyed him and finally spoke. ¡°I said, I won¡¯t be able to rest well if you¡¯re here.¡±

    Nan Chen fixed his cold re on her without saying another word.

    His re was so suffocating that Ning Ran started having goosebumps. She knew he would get his

    revenge if she should ever cross him.

    ¡°What I mean is that you¡¯re someone who has important things to do. You shouldn¡¯t be wasting your

    time on me. It¡¯s just mild poisoning and there¡¯s no need to overreact.¡±

    But Ning Ran instantly realized she said the wrong thing again. Dang it, Ning Ran! Did you actually say

    he overreacted? You¡¯re done for!

    ¡°I overreacted?¡± Nan Chen asked, looking at her searchingly.

    The woman really had to tread warily this time around. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to say you¡¯re irrational.

    What I mean is...¡±

    ¡°Uh huh?¡±

    Ning Ran knew she should not bring up the high-ranking official, so she kept quiet.

    If she mentioned the official, she would give the whole game away and Jiang Zhe would be

    good as dead.

    She knew Poker Face would not let his assistant off the hook if he found out thetter had

    reached out to her.

    Ning Ran knew she needed an excuse. ¡°I¡¯m not even in some critical condition or on the verge

    of death. What will people think of you if they see you acting like everything is so serious?¡±

    Her excuse was so strained that even Nan Chen frowned and looked at her cluelessly. ¡°What

    will they think?¡±

    Ning Ran felt like pping herself for saying something so far-fetched. But she had to finish

    what she started. ¡°People will think that you care too much about me and that you are too

    emotional.¡±

    Her voice became softer as she spoke. I can¡¯t believe I just said that. I literally just dug my own

    grave.

    But it was not just Ning Ran who was surprised by those words.

    Even Nan Chen stared at her, perplexed and speechless.

    He did not even know how to react to what she just said.

    Since he was at a loss for words, Ning Ran decided to just continue whatever she was trying to

    say.

    ¡°I know you just want to show that you truly care about me but I¡¯m not buying it. You might as

    well give up and go back now.¡±

    Nan Chen squinted his eyes and walked over. He leaned so close that Ning Ran could feel his

    breathing.

    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about doing anything. I¡¯m still sick.¡± She reminded him.

 Chapter 374

    Chapter 374

    ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s sick here, so you¡¯re the one who¡¯s carrying all the viruses! Not me!¡±

    ¡°Whatever. Just don¡¯t sit here.¡± The woman said impatiently.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll just go over there.¡±

    Ouyang Qi finally gave in and went over to the chair. He sat down and gazed at Ning Ran

    intently as if he was admiring a work of art that he treasured with his whole heart.

    The patient moved uneasily under his gaze and stole a look at him. ¡°Why are you looking at me

    like a pervert?¡±

    Ouyang Qi straightened up and gasped in disbelief. ¡°A pervert? That¡¯s an insult for someone

    whoes from a well-to-do family!¡±

    Ning Ran scoffed and rolled her eyes. ¡°But it¡¯s your dad who is rich, not you.¡±

    Ouyang Qi beat his chest and retaliated profusely. ¡°My dad¡¯s money is my money. Although

    he¡¯s really strict with my spending now, I will still inherit everything he has when he¡¯s gone.¡±

    Ning Ran smirked and said, ¡°Wow, did you just wish your dad dead?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t put words in my mouth. I¡¯m not a saint, but I¡¯m not that bad either. I¡¯ve never once

    wished my dad dies earlier so I could inherit his wealth.¡±

    Ouyang Qi¡¯s tone suddenly became serious. It turned out that there were also things he cared

    about, like what people thought about him.

    Looking at him all agitated, Ning Ran smiled and asked, ¡°Then why did you say you¡¯d inherit what he

    has if he dies?¡±

    Ouyang Qi stood up atst and went towards her. ¡°I finally put a smile on your face.¡±

    But Ning Ran shook her index finger at him and he went back to his seat quietly.

    ¡°How did you know I¡¯m at the hospital?¡± She asked, changing the topic.

    ¡°How would I not know you were rushed to the hospital when you were at the reality show? I¡¯m updated

    on everything about you.¡±

    Ning Ran looked at him carefully and asked again, ¡°I mean, how do you know about it?¡±

    ¡°Someone told me, of course. It¡¯s not like I would consult a fortune teller.¡± Ouyang Qi replied

    ordingly without revealing who gave him the news.

    ¡°So, who is this someone? It¡¯s such a creepy coincidence.¡± Ning Ran pried.

    Ouyang Qi smiled slyly. ¡°It is a secret.¡±

    ¡°Alright, get out.¡± Ning Ran gestured to lie down and rest.

    ¡°Hey, you can¡¯t do that to me!¡± The man stomped his foot.

    ¡°What¡¯s the point of staying here if you¡¯re not gonna tell me anything?¡± Ning Ran puffed her cheeks and

    grumbled.

    ¡°You can¡¯t just throw a tantrum and force me to spill my secret! That¡¯s unfair.¡± He growled.

    ¡°Are you not leaving? I¡¯ll call for the nurse then.¡± Ning Ran reached for the call button.

    ¡°Wait. You can¡¯t be so unreasonable. I¡¯m here to check on you because I¡¯m worried. And you¡¯re

    chasing me out instead.¡± He mumbled in an upset tone.

    ¡°I asked you a question but you refused to answer, so what¡¯s the point of talking to you?¡± Ning Ran

    red at him angrily.

    ¡°I¡¯ll answer you if I can, but there are things that I¡¯m not supposed to say!¡± The helpless man replied.

    ¡°It¡¯s either you tell me or you leave. And don¡¯t evere to see me again if you leave. We¡¯re not

    friends anymore.¡± Ning Ran gave him the ultimatum.

    Ouyang Qi¡¯s eyes glimmered in excitement. ¡°Does that mean we¡¯re friends if I tell you?¡±

    Ning Ran rolled her eyes and thought about the matter. ¡°Well, probably. It depends.¡±

    ¡°I can only tell you it¡¯s someone from the production team. That¡¯s it, else the person might get

    kicked out of the team.¡± Ouyang Qi answered honestly.

    ¡°I thought everyone from the production team signed a non-disclosure agreement?¡± Ning Ran

    asked curiously.

    ¡°People can do anything for money, and I have lots of it. That¡¯s why I always get what I want.¡±

    He bragged shamelessly.

    But Ning Ran still felt he was hiding something.

    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

    ¡°Then how did you know I was filming the show?¡± She queried.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s the same thing. I¡¯m able to get any information I want as long as I¡¯m willing to pay a

    huge amount of money.¡± Ouyang Qi said, shrugging his shoulder.

    Ning Ran felt like they were going in a circle and she would never be able to get anything

    substantial out of him.

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯m done questioning you. You may leave now.¡± The patient said curtly and pulled up her

    nket.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? I answered all your questions. We¡¯re supposed to be friends now. You can¡¯t

    renege on your promise just like that.¡± Ouyang Qi whined.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t even give me a name. How is that even considered a satisfactory answer? I don¡¯t

    think you¡¯re even sincere about bing friends with me. Let¡¯s stop wasting each other¡¯s

    time.¡± Ning Ran said calmly as she pointed towards the door.

    ¡°I guess beautiful women are all heartless. You can¡¯t go back on your word like that. No one at

    home dares to treat me like this. I don¡¯t care. I¡¯m not leaving.¡± Ouyang Qi sulked as he crossed

    his arms before his chest.

 Chapter 375

    Chapter 375

    But honestly, Nan Xing was perplexed about his brother¡¯s request as well. His own wife is sick

    and he¡¯s asking me to go over? What¡¯s his problem?

    Perhaps he knows things are a little awkward between us, so he wants us to spend more time

    together to get along better?

    Or is it because he¡¯s afraid some other guys will flock to the hospital and he wants me to ward

    them off?

    But Nan Xing had no time to think things through. In less than ten minutes, both of them arrived

    at the hospital. When they saw Ouyang Qi in the ward, Nan Xing finally understood why his

    brother asked him to go over¡ªapetitor was here.

    ¡°Who are you and what are you doing here?¡± Nan Xing interrogated.

    He actually knew who Ouyang Qi was. Their families were well-acquainted and both of them had

    the habit of mixing around with celebrities¡ªit was impossible that they did not know each

    other.

    Yet the two never saw eye to eye.

    Ouyang Qi scoffed at his ridiculous question. ¡°Nan Chen, are you stupid? You clearly know who

    I am.¡±

    The uncle and nephew duo exchanged quick looks and decided to y Ouyang Qi at his own

    game since he cluelessly mistook Nan Xing for Nan Chen.

    The duo had a very good rtionship and they knew each other inside out because they spent a

    lot of time together.

    They both loved pulling stunts and tricks on people just for the fun of it. And now was an opportune

    time for them to flex some muscles.

    Zheng Lunlun turned towards Ouyang Qi and faked a clueless look. ¡°Who are you? What are you doing

    here?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Hah! Who are you to question me? I can¡¯t believe a famous celebrity like you is actually a fan of Ning

    Ran too.¡± Ouyang Qi ridiculed arrogantly.

    Zheng Lunlun rolled his eyes at him and said, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business, stranger! You have no reason

    to be here, so please get out.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t pretend like you don¡¯t know me. I¡¯ve seen you at least three fashion shows, and we even had a

    drink together.¡± Ouyang Qi said.

    But the star did not buy it at all. He shook his head and raised his eyebrows nonchntly as he replied,

    ¡°I really don¡¯t know you. I¡¯ve never seen you before.¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re ganging up with Nan Chen, eh?¡± Ouyang Qi pointed out tantly.

    Hearing himself named, Nan Xing shot Ouyang Qi an apathetic look and shrugged his shoulders, as

    Nan Chen would always do. ¡°Honestly speaking, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. Since there is

    no point talking with you, why not you just leave and let Ning Ran rest quietly?¡±

    Even his tone sounded like his brother.

    Zheng Lunlun quickly came in and agreed. ¡°I know right, this person is so weird. And he doesn¡¯t even

    want to leave! I¡¯m calling the guards.¡±

    The pampered son from the Qi family was finally getting anxious. ¡°Hello, people! I¡¯m Ouyang Qi,

    Ouyang Duo¡¯s son! The Nine-Fingered Prince!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re Ouyang Duo¡¯s son?¡± Nan Xing frowned as he looked at Ouyang Qi from the top to the toe.

    ¡°Yeah! Do you remember me now?¡± Ouyang Qi asked.

    But Nan Xing cocked his head and skewed his gaze towards the ground, thinking hard. ¡°But Ouyang

    Duo¡¯s son looks different though. Are you trying to impersonate Ouyang Qi?¡±

    Ouyang Qi was about to go nuts. He ruffled his hair testily and shouted. ¡°I am Ouyang Qi! Nan Chen,

    stop making a fool of me. I know you¡¯re just pretending not to know me!¡±

    Nan Xing was not going to give up so easily. He wanted to milk this situation for all it was worth. ¡°I¡¯ve

    seen Ouyang Qi before. He isn¡¯t the best-looking man I know, but he¡¯s obviously much better than you.¡±

    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.

    ¡°Yeah! You¡¯ll at least need to look better if you want to impersonate Ouyang Qi. Though I have to admit

    that his looks are just okay.¡± Zheng Lunlun agreed readily.

    Ouyang Qi pulled out his hands from his pockets and waved them up close to the dup. ¡°I¡¯m really

    Ouyang Qi! Look, I have nine fingers. This can¡¯t be faked!¡±

    ¡°Hah! You think you can impersonate him just because you have nine fingers? I¡¯m calling the

    police if you still refuse to get out of the room!¡± Nan Xing warned.

    Ouyang Qi red at him and shouted as he paced around the room restlessly. ¡°I¡¯m Ouyang Qi.

    There¡¯spletely not a need for me to impersonate anyone! I know you guys are doing this on

    purpose!¡±

    Zheng Lunlun looked at him with a sly smile on his face. ¡°Oh, this faker is getting angry now. He

    even has the guts tosh out at us!¡±

    Nan Xing turned towards his nephew and said, ¡°Ask him to get out. There¡¯s no use being

    courteous to a barbarian.¡±

    Ouyang Qipletely lost it. He stopped and turned around aggressively as he pointed a shaky

    finger at Nan Xing. ¡°Nan Chen, did you just call me a barbarian? Do you think you¡¯re any better

    than I am? You might be the high and mighty ¡®Sir Chen¡¯ to a lot of people, but in my eyes, you¡¯re

    no more than a lowly scum! You¡¯re just another parasite that lives off your dad! You¡¯re nothing

    without your family! What right do you have to trample on me!¡±

    Although Nan Chen was not at the scene, Ouyang Qi¡¯s snide and sour remarks about him

    peeved Nan Xing and Zheng Lunlun beyond measure.

    Nan Chen was the most respectable man to them.

    Although he was stern and severe towards them at normal times, he was the one who always

    came to their rescue when something came up.

    They knew deep in their hearts that the man cared deeply for them.

    They would not stand anyone mocking and degrading Nan Chen.

    It was true that they started this just to prank Ouyang Qi¡ªbut he went overboard.

 Chapter 376

    Chapter 376

    Ning Ran stared at them from her bed, with her mouth widened in shock as she saw the

    traumatizing fight unfolded before her.

    Things would go out of hand if anyone found out about this. Two of them were from

    distinguished families, and one of them was a top celebrity.

    What would people think if they saw them fighting in a hospital ward?

    The paparazzi would definitely make a huge issue out of this!

    Ouyang Qi was a fighter himself, but it was still a two-against-one fight. The media might vilify

    Nan Xing and Zheng Lunlun.

    But just as everything was caught in a total mess, Ouyang Qi suddenly shouted. ¡°Stop!¡±

    Zheng Lunlun and Nan Xing stood their ground and red at him.

    ¡°What is this? You¡¯re calling a stop to a fight? This is not a ser game!¡± Nan Xing shouted.

    ¡°This is unfair! There are two of you! You guys should challenge me one-on-one!¡± Ouyang Qi

    yelled back as he panted.

    Nan Xing and Zheng Lunlun looked at each other. ¡°You want a duel with him?¡± They asked each

    other concurrently.

    R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    The uncle and nephew fell into a short silence before saying yet together, ¡°No.¡±

    It was obvious that these two had gotten themselves into trouble numerous times before.

    Ning Ran could not help but chuckled as she looked at them. Their reaction was so coordinated

    it was as if they were in crosstalk.

    ¡°If you refuse to fight me one-on-one, then you can call for aid, and I¡¯ll do the same. We¡¯ll see

    who is the ultimate winner!¡± Ouyang Qi came up with a new proposal since the two were not up

    for a solo fight.

    ¡°A group fight? We¡¯re not kids, you know?¡± Nan Xing and Zheng Lunlun refuted.

    ¡°Oh, so a group fight is childish but a solo fight is not?¡± Ouyang Qi questioned sharply.

    ¡°We¡¯re not fighting you because we¡¯re childish. We¡¯re fighting you because you are making a move on

    someone you shouldn¡¯t even be eyeing!¡±

    Anger burned within Nan Xing and he went towards Ouyang Qi again.

    ¡°Hold on! You should at least think about your reputation. Everyone knows you in Flower City! You

    shouldn¡¯t be beating me up like this!¡± Ouyang Qi cried out.

    ¡°I can do whatever I like.¡± Nan Xing said spitefully.

    ¡°Imagine what this will mean to our families. You don¡¯t want to ruin the rtionship between the Nan

    and Qi family.¡± Ouyang Qi reminded him.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care if that¡¯s the case.¡± Nan Xing replied with a smirk on his face.

    Ouyang Qi looked at him, bewildered. He could not believe there was someone this unreasonable. He

    knew he had no other choice but to pull hisst card.

    ¡°Stop forcing me, or I¡¯ll jump down from the window! My dad will not let the Nan family go if I die!¡±

    Nan Xing and Zheng Lunlun rolled their eyes and exchanged silent looks.

    Ouyang Qi was secretly proud of himself foring up with such a witty n. At the end of the day, his

    dad was not someone the Nan family would want to cross.

    But to his surprise, Nan Xing was not even afraid.

    ¡°Jump as you wish then.¡± He challenged.

    ¡°You...¡± Ouyang Qi was at a loss for words.

    ¡°Come on! Jump! Or do you have somest words? I can record a video for you.¡± Zheng Lunlun

    provoked.

    Nan Xing scoffed and said, ¡°Last words? He¡¯s too useless to have some meaningfulst words. His

    dad will probably light some firecrackers to celebrate when he dies.¡±

    The famous celebrity nodded in agreement and said, ¡°Alright then, help yourself, mister!¡±

    Ouyang Qi looked at the two helplessly and begged. ¡°You can¡¯t do this to me...¡±

    ¡°What are you waiting for? Don¡¯t waste our time!¡± Nan Xing was getting impatient.

    ¡°Don¡¯t make me do this, please...¡± Ouyang Qi felt like he was about to pee his pants.

    ¡°Oh, it seems like he needs some help. He can¡¯t do it himself and he¡¯s asking us to do it for him.¡± Nan

    Xing ridiculed.

    ¡°I agree, why not we just ¡®help him out¡¯?¡± Zheng Lunlun said his opinion out.

    ¡°Sure!¡± Nan Xing cried out as he reached for Ouyang Qi.

    On the other side, Ning Ran was starting to feel annoyed. She was supposed to rest and these

    three men were wreaking havoc in here.

    It would really look bad if the doctors or the nurses happened toe in and saw the scene.

    Ouyang Qi knew Ning Ran was hisst hope. ¡°Mimi! They are bullying me!¡± He whined and

    looked at her imploringly.

    ¡°What? Mimi? How dare you call her that?!¡±

    Nan Xing was irked and he grabbed Ouyang Qi by the cor before dealing him a heavy blow in

    the face.

    Ning Ran finally lost it. ¡°Stop it! All of you! Get out! And bring whatever fight it is outside!¡±

    Nan Xing scowled at Ouyang Qi defiantly and challenged, ¡°Let¡¯s continue this outside!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere!¡± Ouyang Qi shouted.

    ¡°Then do you want to get beaten up here, right in front of Ning Ran?¡± Nan Xing questioned

    mercilessly.

    ¡°No! I mean I don¡¯t want to fight anymore! I¡¯m outnumbered!¡± Ouyang Qi shrieked.

    Ning Ran almost burst outughing looking at them but sheposed herself and said, ¡°You

    should flee if you can¡¯t fight. I told you to leave earlier but you refused. Look at what you¡¯ve

    gotten yourself into now.¡±

    Zheng Lunlun and Nan Xing nodded in agreement and turned to look at Ouyang Qi, waiting for a

    reply.

    ¡°Fine! You two just wait and see! Mimi will be mine one day!¡± Ouyang Qi seethed vengefully.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re not leaving yet, are you? So you want to get beaten up to a pulp?¡± Nan Xing asked

    as he walked towards him.

    But before Nan Xing took another step closer, Ouyang Qi had already scrambled out of the ward

    and fled for his life.

 Chapter 377

    Chapter 377

    ¡°No, you have to! I want Uncle Xing to see how much of a Computer Guru you are!¡±

    The real Computer Guru is in school right now... Ning Ran thought to herself.

    At the Yunfeng Temple.

    Nan Zhengde was having vegetarian dishes for dinner.

    Although it was against the temple¡¯s rules to eat after noon, Most of the monks there did a lot of

    manualbor during the day and had no choice but to eat.

    Nan Zhengde didn¡¯t have a huge appetite, so he would just eat something light when he joined

    them for dinner.

    Nan Zhiyuan cautiously helped him out, trying to look as filial as possible after being allowed to

    stay by his side.

    ¡°How are things with the high-ranking official? The General told me during the banquet that the

    high-ranking official came over to Flower City for an inspection. He wanted Chen to wee

    the official, but Chen wasn¡¯t around at the time. This is such an important thing, so how could

    Chen be so irresponsible? What¡¯s gotten into him?¡± Nan Zhengde asked Nan Zhiyuan.

    He saw how Nan Zhiyuan was hesitant to speak and pressed on, ¡°Do you know anything about

    this?¡±

    ¡°Well, I did hear a thing or two, but I¡¯m not really sure what happened. It¡¯s only been a short while since

    my return, and I didn¡¯t dare pry into the Nan family¡¯s affairs too much,¡± Nan Zhiyuan said carefully.

    ¡°Stop beating around the bush and just tell me what you know!¡± Nan Zhengde shouted impatiently.

    ¡°I heard about this from Bai Hua, so I think she might be able to exin it better. Would you like to hear

    it from her?¡±

    ¡°Sure, let her in.¡±

    Bai Hua wasn¡¯t allowed to stay in the temple at night, but visits were allowed during the day.

    She was waiting outside the whole time and came straight in when Nan Zhiyuan called out to her.

    She had been looking forward to this opportunity for a very long time.

    ¡°What is it, dad?¡± Bai Hua asked softly.

    Her father was a Japanese, so she had been influenced by their culture and was very polite.

    ¡°What do you know about Chen?¡± Nan Zhengde asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s the Nan family¡¯s private affairs, and it¡¯s inappropriate for a woman like myself to pry into it. That

    was the mistake I made previously, and...¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not asking you about what happened before. Just tell me what you know.¡±

    ¡°I spoke to Nan Chen on the phone yesterday. He said there was a very important event today, which is

    to escort a high-ranking official from the Capital. However, he had a sudden change of ns, so I was

    worried that something came up and asked around about it,¡± Bai Hua said slowly.

    ¡°Did you manage to find anything?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it was because of a woman.¡±

    R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    ¡°A woman? What woman?¡±

    ¡°The actress who gave birth to his two kids.¡±

    ¡°Ning Ran? Apart from her not-so-ideal background, she¡¯s actually quite pretty and would

    probably make a good match for him. If Chen likes her, and they already have kids of their own,

    then it should be fine for them to be together,¡± Nan Zhengde said.

    Bai Hua was shocked to hear that. Nan Zhengde is on Ning Ran¡¯s side? Despite him being a

    reasonable person, he isn¡¯t one to be trifled with. I thought someone of his age would be so

    fixated on finding someone with a matching background, and yet here he is saying he¡¯s okay

    with it?

    ¡°That was what I thought as well, but then I did some digging and found out more information

    about her. There seems to be more to her than meets the eye,¡± Bai Hua said with a frown.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Take what happened today for example. Chen had originally nned to escort the official, but

    then something happened to Ning Ran while she was on set. She then gave Chen a call and told

    him to drop whatever he was doing to go and see her. Chen was reluctant and told her that he

    had something really important to take care of, but Ning Ran insisted and even threatened to kill

    herself if he didn¡¯t do as she asked. Chen, being the kind-hearted person that he is, gave in to

    her threats and rushed over to see her,¡± added Bai Hua.

    Nan Zhengde was enraged when he heard that. ¡°What? How could she be so unreasonable?¡±

    ¡°I too, find it hard to believe. However, that appears to be the case here,¡± Bai Hua said.

    ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to find out more about Ning Ran, then. Such behavior is uneptable!¡±

    Nan Zhengde said angrily.

    ¡°Although I¡¯m no longer allowed to interfere with the Nan family¡¯s affairs, I am still concerned

    about my son, Chen. As such, I made use of our resources to find out more about Ning Ran.

    The things she has done in the past are simply shocking to say the least.¡±

 Chapter 378

    Chapter 378

    ¡°That¡¯s a lot of information you¡¯ve got there. It¡¯s clearly collected and organized, so tell me...

    Where do you find so many friends so quickly after your return? Even if they were old friends of

    yours, it would be too much of a coincidence for them to all know so much about her.¡±

    As the saying goes, the elder really is the wiser. I thought Nan Zhengde would be losing his

    mind from anger, but he¡¯s surprisingly calm and level-headed! I don¡¯t think I can handle any

    more of his questions.

    ¡°I know you don¡¯t believe me, so just forget I have said anything!¡± Bai Hua pretended to cry, but

    it didn¡¯t look convincing at all.

    ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t believe you! Who told you to do this? Who helped you dig all that dirt on

    her? And what would that person stand to gain out of all this?¡± Nan Zhengde continued

    pushing her for answers.

    ¡°There really is no such person! With how advanced technology is nowadays, you can easily

    find all this information online!¡± Bai Hua was finally able toe up with a more reasonable

    excuse.

    ¡°While I may not be too familiar with the inte, I do know that most of the stuff online are

    fake. Did you base all of your usations off unreliable information found on the inte?¡±

    Nan Zhengde asked.

    Bai Hua was close to losing her temper. What a difficult old man! You¡¯re the one that asked me

    for more information, and now you¡¯re suspecting me instead? Whose side are you on anyway?

    However, she didn¡¯t dare show any signs of her anger whatsoever.

    ¡°You¡¯re right, dad. I shouldn¡¯t have criticized her like that without any solid evidence. I admit

    that I was wrong, but I only did this out of concern for Chen! I want him to marry someone

    decent who can help him out with his career!¡± Bai Hua tried to please Nan Zhengde.

    ¡°You can leave now. Don¡¯t cause any more trouble! I won¡¯t forgive anyone who meddles with

    the affairs of Nan family. Do you hear me?¡± Nan Zhengde shouted.

    ¡°Yes, dad. I understand.¡±

    Bai Hua quickly turned around and left the scene.

    ¡°Were you aware of all this?¡± Nan Zhengde asked Nan Zhiyuan.

    ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t! I intend to look after you ever since I came back, so I didn¡¯t have any time nor energy for

    that nonsense!¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Nan Zhengde wasn¡¯t convinced.

    ¡°Yes, I really don¡¯t know anything about that. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t meddle in the affairs of Nan family

    affairs anymore,¡± Nan Zhiyuan said.

    ¡°I hope so. All right, you may leave now. Have the butlere in,¡± Nan Zhengde said.

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    The Nan family butler, Chai Hua, came in a few minutes after Nan Zhiyuan left.

    Chai Hua was a slightly chubby man in his fifties and loved wearing an old-fashioned grey suit like the

    mob bosses did in movies.

    ¡°Old Master.¡± Chai Hua bowed politely before Nan Zhengde and addressed him as he always did.

    ¡°Call Chen and have hime over,¡± Nan Zhengde said.

    ¡°Right now?¡±

    ¡°No, do it tomorrow or the day after. Just tell him to drop by whenever he¡¯s free.¡±

    ¡°Do I tell him the reason foring over?¡± Chai Hua asked.

    ¡°Yes, get him toe and pray to help calm himself down by listening to some chanting.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Old Master,¡± Chai Hua responded.

    He was about to leave when Nan Zhengde called out to him again.

    ¡°Wait, there¡¯s something I¡¯d like to ask you.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

    ¡°What is it, Old Master?¡±

    ¡°Please, drop the formalities. You¡¯ve been working in the Nan family for so many years now,

    we¡¯re as close as family,¡± Nan Zhengde said with a frown.

    ¡°This is just basic etiquette.¡± Chai Hua chuckled.

    ¡°Chen is supposed to escort a very important guest today, but I heard he has ditched the guest

    over a woman. I just wanted to ask your opinion on his character. Do you think he is the type to

    act so selfishly and irresponsibly?¡± Nan Zhengde asked.

    ¡°Hmm... I don¡¯t know.¡± Chai Hua kept his reply vague.

    ¡°Just answer me honestly, and don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t know when you¡¯ve looked after him since

    he was a child. What do you think of his character?¡±

    ¡°Young Master Chen is, without a doubt, a giant among men. Combine that with his training and

    experience, and I believe he may very well surpass your aplishments in the future.¡±

    ¡°So you don¡¯t think he¡¯d let a woman control him, do you?¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± Chai Hua nodded.

    ¡°Me neither. Help me keep an eye on the eavesdropping couple outside. I want to know who

    they¡¯ve been in contact withtely,¡± Nan Zhengde said.

    Bai Hua and Nan Zhiyuan had their ears pressed against the door, and they went pale upon

    hearing that.

 Chapter 379

    Chapter 379

    Dabao then stood in front of his sister and red fiercely at him. ¡°What do you want?¡±

    Ning Ran simply watched quietly from the side. She knew what her kids were capable of, and

    they were more than capable of dealing with someone like Ouyang Qi.

    ¡°Nothing! I just think you guys are very cute and thought I¡¯d like to be close to you. That¡¯s all!¡±

    ¡°Well, we don¡¯t want to be close to you! We don¡¯t even know you!¡± Erbao said.

    ¡°You may not know me now, but you willter on. I¡¯m a good friend of your Mommy, you see,¡±

    Ouyang Qi said.

    ¡°Really? Are you a guy or a girl?¡± Erbao asked.

    Ouyang Qi was shocked by that question. What, am I not masculine enough?

    ¡°Of course I¡¯m a guy! Look, I have a beard!¡± Ouyang Qi said while rubbing his chin.

    ¡°Then why is your hair so long?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°I... This is a fashion statement!¡± Ouyang Qi shrugged.

    ¡°You think it¡¯s very fashionable to keep your hair long and tie it up?¡± Erbao followed up with

    another question.

    Ouyang Qi was starting to feel awkward at that point. ¡°I think it¡¯s pretty cool. Don¡¯t you like it?¡±

    ¡°I just think it¡¯s a little weird.¡± Erbao said honestly.

    ¡°It only shoulder length, so it¡¯s actually not that long. If you don¡¯t like it, I can just cut it shortter.¡±

    ¡°Forget it, this is none of my business anyway. Did youe here to see my Mommy today?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right.¡±

    Ouyang Qi ced the flowers down on the table and looked at Ning Ran. ¡°So what the rumor about

    having two kids is actually true?¡±

    ¡°What kind of stupid question is that? Can¡¯t you see that we¡¯re right here?¡± Erbao rebutted.

    That was a little rude, so Dabao shot her a look and motioned at her to mind hernguage.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    Dabao ced great emphasis on manners and believed that one should always be polite regardless of

    who they were dealing with.

    To him, that was an essential part of being a cultured and sophisticated person.

    Ouyang Qi didn¡¯t get mad at her either. ¡°You¡¯re right, that was a stupid question indeed. Say, you

    haven¡¯t told me your names.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Ning Sihan, and he¡¯s my brother Ning Sirui. He¡¯s an unprecedented genius, and I¡¯m an amazing

    beauty!¡±

    Even Ning Ran was surprised by what she had just heard. Did they just upgrade their titles? Where did

    they even learn those words?

    ¡°Hahaha!¡± Ouyang Qi burst outughing.

    ¡°How dare youugh at us! That¡¯s rude!¡± Erbao said angrily.

    Ouyang Qi stoppedughing immediately. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to be rude or anything! I just thought

    that you were really cute, that¡¯s all! You¡¯re so cute that I just have to give you a present!¡±

    Ouyang Qi began checking his pockets for something he could give her, but couldn¡¯t find anything.

    In the end, he reached for the pendant around his neck and looked like he was about to give it to her as

    a present.

    I don¡¯t know what material that pendant is made out of, but it must be expensive if Mr. Ouyang is

    wearing it!

    ¡°I don¡¯t want it.¡± Erbao quickly rejected him.

    ¡°You see, this pendant...¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother, she won¡¯t ept it. Man, you sure are a strange one. My kids aren¡¯t beggars, so why do

    you keep trying to give them stuff?¡± Ning Ran spoke up atst.

    ¡°Ah... I just thought I¡¯d give them a little present on our first meeting, so...¡±

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t need it, now leave.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Why do you always chase me away whenever Ie to see you? Do you hate me that much?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything else to do? How do you have so much free time every day?¡± Ning Ran

    frowned.

    ¡°I don¡¯t. I¡¯m from a rich family, remember? My dad is so rich that I don¡¯t have to work at all!¡±

    Ouyang Qi dered proudly.

    ¡°Whatever, just go now! You¡¯re a bad influence for my kids!¡± Ning Ran scolded him.

    ¡°So you¡¯re not happy about me giving an honest answer to a question you asked?¡± Ouyang Qi

    shrugged.

    ¡°He just got here, so how about we let him stay for a while?¡± Erbao suggested.

    ¡°I agree,¡± Dabao said.

    Ouyang Qi was very happy to hear that the kids were willing to let him stay. ¡°See? Even the kids

    like me!¡±

    ¡°No, we don¡¯t like you. We just find you fun to y with because you¡¯re so childish,¡± Erbao

    said.

    That response left Ouyang Qipletely speechless.

    I see. These aren¡¯t ordinary kids. They¡¯re smart little devils!

 Chapter 380

    Chapter 380

    ¡°That¡¯s none of your business,¡± Nan Chen replied coldly.

    ¡°But I heard you aren¡¯t married, so why do you have kids? You even have two!¡±

    ¡°I just told you that that¡¯s none of your business,¡± Nan Chen repeated.

    ¡°You made my diva give birth to two kids, and you won¡¯t even marry her?¡±

    He then turned towards Ning Ran and asked, ¡°Mimi, why are you still with this man?¡±

    Ning Ran kept quiet.

    With Nan Chen here, it¡¯s best to not say a word. You can¡¯t say anything wrong if you keep quiet.

    Nan Chen was satisfied with Ning Ran¡¯s decision to remain silent as that meant she wasn¡¯t on

    Ouyang Qi¡¯s side.

    ¡°That¡¯s our business, not yours. Are you going to leave or not?¡±

    ¡°What are you gonna do about it, huh?¡±

    ¡°I have told you earlier. I¡¯ll have someone kick you out.¡±

    Nan Chen whipped out his phone and it seemed like he was calling security.

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go! You win, okay?¡±

    Ouyang Qi was still traumatized after being beaten up the day before and decided it was better

    to retreat.

    Nan Chen snorted as he opened the door and motioned at Ouyang Qi to leave.

    He then mmed the door shut the moment Ouyang Qi stepped outside.

    ¡°Why is he always here?¡± He asked coldly while walking towards Ning Ran.

    ¡°How would I know? It¡¯s not like I can stop him froming on his own,¡± Ning Ran replied sulkily.

    ¡°You weren¡¯t the one who asked him toe?¡±

    ¡°Of course not! Why would I? I don¡¯t even know him well!¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°Yes! Why are you being so suspicious?¡±

    ¡°Why did you let the kids y with him?¡±

    ¡°The kids came before him, and they were just having a little chat. That shouldn¡¯t count as ying.¡±

    ¡°When will you be discharged?¡±

    ¡°Tomorrow, ording to the doctors.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t let hime over again.¡±

    ¡°I told you. I didn¡¯t ask him to do that. Himing over has nothing to do with me! If you don¡¯t want him

    toe, then go tie him up!¡± Ning Ran said.

    Nan Chen kept quiet.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to see my Grandpa in Yunfeng Hillter. It¡¯s bad for the kids to stay in the hospital all day, so

    I¡¯ll be taking them along with me,¡± He said after a brief moment of silence.

    ¡°What¡¯s the Old Master doing in Yunfeng Hill? Is he there to pray?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll just go and pay him a visit with the kids. I¡¯m usually busy with work, so this might be a good

    chance to spend some time with them.¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran wasn¡¯t used to how serious he was talking to her now but she had no reason to object either.

    He¡¯s right. It isn¡¯t healthy for the kids to stay in the hospital all day.

    ¡°All right, go ahead. Make sure to stay safe,¡± Ning Ran said.

    R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    ¡°Someone will bring your food over in a bit. You mustn¡¯t eat anything that isn¡¯t from me, especially if it¡¯s

    from Ouyang Qi.¡±

    Nan Chen then picked up the flowers on the table and threw them into the trash can.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t mind it as she didn¡¯t like Ouyang Qi¡¯s flowers anyway.

    ¡°If you like flowers, I can have someone send you a bouquet every day,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°No, thank you. You¡¯re better off just wiring that money to me instead.¡±

    Nan Chen frowned. Why is she always talking about money? Is that all she thinks about?

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t give me that look now! I was just kidding! Oh, by the way... Are you going to bring

    your little girlfriend with you to Yunfeng Hill?¡±

    ¡°What girlfriend?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb with me! I¡¯m warning you, you¡¯d better not let my kids hang out with other

    women!¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°I¡¯m ying dumb?¡±

    ¡°Yeah!¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be bringing a lot of women with me, so I don¡¯t know which one you¡¯re referring to.¡±

    Nan Chen shot back at her.

    ¡°Heh.¡± Ning Ran sneered in response.

    ¡°What are youughing at?¡±

    ¡°Nothing. I just felt likeughing, that¡¯s all.¡±

    Nan Chen frowned again, and Ning Ran saw that and decided to not tease him any further.

    ¡°Run along, then. Make sure you keep my kids safe!¡± she said while waving at him.

    ¡°Of course I will. They¡¯re my kids too, remember? Also, my family owns this hospital. If I see

    Ouyang Qi here in this ward again, I¡¯ll have my men break his legs!¡± Nan Chen said menacingly.

    ¡°Do as you wish!¡± Ning Ran snapped back at him.

    Nan Chen walked out of the ward without saying another word.

 Chapter 381

    Chapter 381

    ¡°What do you mean he knows how to be romantic?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s giving Mommy flowers every day, which is something romantic that young people do.¡±

    Everything Erbao said was part of Dabao¡¯s ns.

    He was observing Nan Chen¡¯s expression the whole time and noticed that Nan Chen was clearly

    bothered by it.

    That means the strategy is working, and we can keep it going.

    ¡°So giving flowers makes him romantic, and that makes him young? Is that what your Mommy

    thinks?¡± Nan Chen said angrily.

    Erbao shook her head. ¡°No, that¡¯s what we think.¡±

    ¡°We? Dabao, you think so too?¡±

    Nan Chen looked at Dabao, hoping that he would support him.

    However, Dabao simply nodded his head in response, much to Nan Chen¡¯s disappointment.

    Is that all it took for Ouyang Qi to bribe these kids? By giving Ning Ran flowers?

    ¡°So this is what you think too. Dabao, I¡¯ve always thought you are a sensible child.¡± Nan Chen

    said disappointingly.

    ¡°I do, Daddy.¡± Dabao stood his ground.

    ¡°Then why would you think so? It¡¯s just flowers! I can send her flowers every day too!

    Truckloads of them!¡± Nan Chen eximed.

    ¡°It¡¯s not about the flowers, but the intentions behind the act of giving the flowers,¡± Dabao said seriously.

    ¡°Did your Mommy tell you that?¡±

    ¡°Daddy, we¡¯ve told you. This is entirely our opinion and it has nothing to do with Mommy. Don¡¯t you go

    scolding Mommy for this!¡± Dabao repeated.

    Nan Chen had lost all appetite at that point.

    ¡°What¡¯s so great about Ouyang Qi anyway? He¡¯s nothing but a dandy!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s a dandy?¡± Erbao asked curiously.

    Nan Chen wasn¡¯t in the mood to exin, so Dabao did it for him.

    ¡°It means a person who is rich but ignorant.¡±

    ¡°What does ignorant mean?¡± Erbao asked again.

    ¡°It means they don¡¯t know anything.¡±

    ¡°Like me?¡± Erbao pointed at herself.

    ¡°No, there¡¯s no way Ouyang Qi canpare to you,¡± Nan Chen replied coldly.

    Looks like Daddy¡¯s really mad about this. Dabao thought to himself.

    ¡°Ah, really? He¡¯s so useless, then!¡± Erbaoughed, but quickly put her straight face back on when she

    realized it wasn¡¯t the time to celebrate just yet.

    Nan Chen reached for his phone and seemed like he was about to make a call.

    ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re not going to have Uncle Qiao keep Ouyang Qi away from Mommy, are you?¡± Dabao

    asked.

    ¡°How did you know?¡± Nan Chen paused.

    ¡°That¡¯s what you always do, Daddy.¡± Dabao replied.

    ¡°You¡¯re right, and that is exactly what I¡¯m going to do.¡± Nan Chen didn¡¯t bother to hide it anymore.

    ¡°But that¡¯s not a good idea.¡±

    ¡°How so?¡±

    ¡°I know you don¡¯t like Mommy, but that doesn¡¯t mean you should stop others from liking Mommy. That¡¯s

    just in selfish! You¡¯re adults, and adults should be reasonable,¡± Dabao exined calmly.

    Nan Chen was shocked by what he had just heard and slowly put his phone away.

    The kids would think I¡¯m a bully if I make that call... I can¡¯t do that now, can I?

    ¡°What should I do, then? Just sit by and let Ouyang Qi do as he pleases?¡± Nan Chen protested.

    ¡°He¡¯s just trying to woo Mommy. Isn¡¯t that a good thing?¡± Dabao asked.

    Nan Chen got angry when he heard that.

    ¡°How can you say call that a good thing? I thought you were a lot more mature than this!¡±

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    ¡°Not supporting your opinion makes me immature?¡± Dabao shot back at him.

    Nan Chen found himself at a loss for words.

    Kids these days are so difficult!

    ¡°I think Dabao is right,¡± Erbao supported him.

    ¡°What do you know?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not being yourself, Daddy! You were never like this before! Hmph!¡±

    Erbao looked away angrily.

    Nan Chen felt somewhat awkward as he realized he was in the wrong.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. Daddy went a little overboard there. Please don¡¯t take it to heart, okay?¡±

    ¡°Hmph!¡± Erbao turned her face to the other side.

    ¡°Come on. Don¡¯t be angry. Hurry up and finish your food. We¡¯ll go see your Great-Grandpa

    soon.¡± Nan Chen said softly.

    ¡°I have a suggestion about how to deal with mummy.¡± Erbao turned to look at him.

 Chapter 382

    Chapter 382

    Oh boy, I¡¯m probably going to hate what she has to say. it is clear that these kids are clearly not on my

    side today.

    ¡°Whatever your suggestion is, I don¡¯t want to hear it. You kids shouldn¡¯t pry into adult matters,¡± Nan

    Chen said.

    The fact that the great Nan Chen was afraid of hearing his daughter¡¯s opinion was so shocking that

    both Erbao and Dabao werepletely caught off guard.

    Daddy won¡¯t let us speak? What on earth is going on? This wasn¡¯t supposed to happen!

    ¡°Kids have freedom of speech too, Daddy,¡± Dabao protested.

    ¡°Kids have no civil capacity. As her guardian, I have the right to stop her from talking.¡±

    Dabao had nothing else to say in his defense.

    Despite being a genius withputers and knowing a bit of everything, he was still too young to

    understand theplexws of the country.

    ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re a bully for not letting me speak!¡± Erbao began to tear up, which impressed Dabao

    greatly.

    Oh yeah, turning on the waterworks is a very effective strategy! Why bother trying to argue about civil

    rights when we can just throw a tantrum?

    ¡°Daddy¡¯s such a bully! Boohoo...¡±

    Erbao¡¯s ability to summon her tears at will was what made her a true drama queen.

    What the hell? Nan Chen panicked when he saw her crying.

    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t! Daddy loves you!¡± He quickly tried to console her.

    ¡°Yes, you did! You don¡¯t love me anymore! I want my Mommy. Boohoo...¡±

    Nan Chen grew increasingly anxious and looked at Dabao helplessly.

    Although he had gotten used to their antics, he was still inexperienced in handling tantrums.

    On top of that, those weren¡¯t ordinary kids he was dealing with.

    ¡°Daddy, you should let Erbao finish what she has to say. Otherwise, I¡¯d think you¡¯re bullying her too.¡±

    Dabao said with an expressionless look on his face, his icy cold attitude on par with Nan Chen¡¯s.

    Erbao took a peek at Nan Chen and continued crying. ¡°Daddy won¡¯t let me speak! He¡¯s such a bully!

    Boohoo...¡±

    ¡°Okay, okay! What¡¯s your suggestion?¡± Nan Chen gave in, and Erbao stopped crying immediately.

    She was about to say something, but realized she had forgotten her lines.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    Erbao had memorized the script that Dabao wrote her, but the unexpected response from Nan Chen

    earlier threw her off.

    ¡°Well? Go on, then! You wanted freedom of speech, didn¡¯t you? I¡¯m giving you freedom you wanted, so

    speak up!¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Let me think about it...¡± Erbao scratched her head and went into deep thought.

    Nan Chen was speechless. Just how long is her suggestion?

    ¡°Oh, right! Since you and Mommy don¡¯t like each other, and that youngd likes Mommy. Why not just

    let him look after Mommy instead? He can take care of me and Dabao too!¡± Erbao finally remembered

    what she wanted to say.

    ¡°What?¡± Nan Chen¡¯s expression grew cold.

    ¡°You heard me, Daddy,¡± Erbao said sternly.

    Nan Chen kept quiet.

    His face went pale, and there was a hint of destion in his eyes.

    I didn¡¯t expect Erbao to suggest letting another man look after them. I¡¯ve tackled all sorts of difficult

    problems while running thepany and shrugged off my defeats with ease, but now... I feel so hurt. I

    think I finally understand what the word ¡°heartache¡± truly means.

    Erbao was frightened when she saw Nan Chen in that state and turned towards Dabao for help, only to

    find him in shock as well.

    That was a really tough pill to swallow, and most people probably wouldn¡¯t be able to. But our Daddy is

    the great Sir Chen! He¡¯s like a god among men! He should be able to swallow this pill like it¡¯s nothing!

    Wait, something doesn¡¯t seem right here...

    ¡°Daddy, Erbao was just kidding! Don¡¯t take it to heart, okay? She¡¯s always running her mouth without

    thinking it through.¡± Dabao said.

    Erbao was stunned and stared at him in disbelief.

    Did Dabao just betray me? He¡¯s the one who came up with those lines, and now he¡¯s ming it all on

    me? You are really the brother of the year, Dabao!

    Noticing the look on her face, Dabao quickly winked at her and pointed at Nan Chen with his mouth.

    Erbao didn¡¯t really understand what he meant by that, but she knew it was her cue to stay quiet.

    There was still no response from Nan Chen, who waspletely overwhelmed by a sense of defeat

    that he had never felt in his life.

    ¡°Daddy, you won¡¯t take a child¡¯s word to heart, right? That¡¯s not very mature, you know?¡± Dabao

    continued.

    Nan Chen finally regained hisposure and said, ¡°Of course not. I was just thinking about something

    else.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not good with my words, Daddy. Please forgive me if I said anything wrong.¡±

    I know Dabao is trying to be the good guy, but I don¡¯t wanna be the bad guy! What if Daddy hates me

    and won¡¯t buy me snacks anymore?

    Erbao¡¯s words fully snapped Nan Chen out of it.

    That¡¯s right, they¡¯re kids! Kids don¡¯t really think before they speak, so I shouldn¡¯t take their words too

    seriously! Besides, she¡¯s my daughter!

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I know you were just kidding. But Ouyang Qi isn¡¯t a good person, so you two should stay away

    from him, okay?¡±

    As much as Nan Chen tried to y it off by saying that, it was obvious that he had been hurt by what

    Erbao said.

    Their message had gotten through to him, and he had toe up with a n to stop Ouyang Qi before

    the kids were affected any further.

    ¡°I¡¯m full!¡± Erbao said while putting her chopsticks down.

    ¡°Me too.¡± Dabao nodded.

    Nan Chen was so full of rage earlier that he didn¡¯t even eat much of his food.

    ¡°All right. Let¡¯s go see your Great-Grandpa now.¡± Nan Chen stood up.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go! Great-Grandpa, here wee!¡± Erbao cheered.

    The driver had the car ready by the time they came out of the restaurant. Dabao and Erbao sat in their

    respective car seats on both sides while Nan Chen was sandwiched in between them.

    The car made its way out of the city and onto the highway.

    After having a heavy lunch, Erbao was soon fast asleep.

    Dabao and Nan Chen were looking out the window.

    ¡°You taught Erbao what she said earlier, didn¡¯t you?¡± Nan Chen asked calmly.

    Dabao wasn¡¯t surprised as he knew it was only a matter of time before Nan Chen noticed that.

    There simply was no way to keep any secrets from someone that smart.

 Chapter 383

    Chapter 383

    Dabao nodded. ¡°Yes, I did.¡±

    Nan Chen let out a sigh of relief upon hearing that. I knew Erbao couldn¡¯t possiblye up with such a

    heart-wrenching idea!

    ¡°Why would you do that?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Because things aren¡¯t working out between you and Mommy.¡± Dabao replied.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Mommy had it rough trying to raise us all by herself, so we want her to have someone who she can

    share that burden with.¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°We were really happy when you showed up, Daddy. We thought you were that person Mommy

    needed, but it turns out that you¡¯re not.¡±

    Nan Chen felt a sting in his heart, but it wasn¡¯t as bad as the one from earlier.

    ¡°And why is that?¡±

    ¡°Because you don¡¯t like Mommy. You two are always fighting, and you¡¯ve hurt Mommy so many times.

    You even went on dates with other women!¡±

    ¡°I did not!¡± Nan Chen said anxiously.

    ¡°You did, Daddy. We have photos to prove it.¡±

    Dabao said and whipped out the ¡°intimate¡± picture of Nan Chen and Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°It¡¯s not what you think. This is just a misunderstanding,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°But everyone else doesn¡¯t see it that way, and neither does Mommy. Since you don¡¯t like Mommy, then

    you shouldn¡¯t continue to hurt her like this. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to let someone else look after Mommy

    then? Then, if there¡¯s someone you like, you can go out with her like too. That way, everyone goes

    home happy!¡± Dabao said.

    Nan Chen was taken aback by what he heard.

    How long did he take to prepare those lines? Everyone goes home happy? As if!

    ¡°I didn¡¯t have Erbao say those things to hurt you, Daddy. We were just being honest,¡± Dabao said.

    Nan Chen kept quiet.

    Damn, it still stings. This won¡¯t do. I have to control my emotions and calm myself down...

    ¡°It¡¯s not what you think. You¡¯re both wrong,¡± Nan Chen tried to exin.

    ¡°What is it, then?¡± Dabao asked.

    ¡°You kids wouldn¡¯t understand.¡± Nan Chen sighed.

    They may be geniuses and all, but they¡¯re still children. It takes time and experience to understand

    these sorts of things. How am I supposed to exin my rtionship with Ning Ran in a way that they

    would understand?

    ¡°There you go again, Daddy! You shouldn¡¯t underestimate us just because we¡¯re kids, you know?¡±

    Dabao protested.

    ¡°Forget it. We¡¯re not having this conversation anymore. Ouyang Qi can never be that special someone

    for your Mommy, and that¡¯s final.¡±

    Nan Chen closed his eyes and leaned back against his seat after saying that, signaling the end of the

    topic.

    Dabao got the hint from his bodynguage and stopped talking too.

    Of course, he wasn¡¯t actually going to let someone else look after his Mommy. Everything he said was

    just to provoke his Daddy into taking action, and it seemed to have worked a little too well.

    The car arrived at Yunfeng Hill about half an hourter.

    Under normal circumstances, cars were prohibited from entering Yunfeng Hill. However, an exception

    was made for those from the Nan family, and they drove all the way to the back of the mountain.

    Erbao had slept throughout the entire journey, and it took them quite a bit of effort to wake her up.

    ¡°Wow! It¡¯s so beautiful! I wanna catch a bird!¡± Erbao shouted excitedly when she saw that they were in

    the mountains.

    ¡°Don¡¯t run around! It¡¯s dangerous!¡± Nan Chen ordered.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Erbao responded obediently.

    They made their way towards Nan Zhengde¡¯s room in the temple.

    ¡°Great-Grandpa!¡± Erbao began calling out to him from outside the door.

    Nan Zhengde had a sharp sense of hearing and opened the door when he heard her voice. ¡°Erbao!¡±

    Erbao ran over to him and hugged his leg tightly, melting his heart with her cuteness.

    ¡°Hi, Great-Grandpa.¡± Dabao bowed respectfully.

    ¡°Haha,e on in! It¡¯s windy here in the mountains, you wouldn¡¯t want to catch a cold now!¡± Nan

    Zhengde said affectionately and weed them into his room.

    ¡°Are you going to be a monk, Great-Grandpa?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Erbao!¡± Nan Chen scolded her.

    Erbao pouted and kept her head low.

    Nan Zhengdeughed. ¡°Hahaha! It¡¯s fine. She is just na?ve! No, I¡¯m not going to be a monk.¡±

    Erbao smiled brightly at him and asked, ¡°Then why are you here, Great-Grandpa?¡±

    ¡°You see, I¡¯ve made a wish in my prayers to Buddha. In return, I promised to devote some time each

    year to pray at the temple. Now that my wish has been granted, I have to fulfil my end of the promise,¡±

    Nan Zhengde exined patiently.

    Erbao didn¡¯t really understand what he said, but she nodded her head anyway.

    ¡°This is votive offering.¡± Dabao understood.

    ¡°That¡¯s right! It¡¯s exactly as Dabao says!¡± Nan Zhengde was overjoyed.

    ¡°Are you not going back anymore, Great-Grandpa?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°Of course I am, silly! I¡¯ll head back after a few days.¡±

    ¡°Okay! It¡¯s chilly up here, so you must take good care of your health! Remember to eat on time and

    stay warm, Great-Grandpa! Make sure you take your medicine if you catch a cold, okay?¡± Erbao

    reminded him.

    ¡°Oh my, you¡¯re so thoughtful! All right, I will.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go out and y so Great-Grandpa can have a chat with Daddy.¡±

    Dabao knew Nan Chen didn¡¯t juste all the way here to visit Nan Zhengde.

    ¡°Okay!¡± Erbao yed along. One of Nan Chen¡¯s men led the kids outside, and he was the only one left

    in the room with Nan Zhengde.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    ¡°At the birthday banquet, the General said a high-ranking official would being over from the Capital

    for inspection. He specifically requested for you to escort the official in order to establish some form of

    contact. That could make things go a lot smoother for us in the future. However, I heard you

    abandoned your duty at thest minute for a woman. I need you to give me an exnation for that.¡±

    Nan Zhengde¡¯s tone was calm, but there was a powerful energy in the air around him as he spoke.

    ¡°I did escort him,¡± Nan Chen replied calmly as well.

    ¡°I know, but you did that afterwards. From what I¡¯ve heard, you were actually nning not to go through

    with it, but you did it because of that woman. Is this true?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Nan Zhengde froze. I had expected Nan Chen toe up with some sort of excuse, but he actually

    admitted to it! Thisplete honesty from him is what I admire the most about him! He would admit to

    his mistakes and take full responsibility for them. That¡¯s why I could entrust him with everything in the

    Nan family despite his young age.

    ¡°Are you going to sacrifice your career for a woman?¡± Nan Zhengde¡¯s tone grew cold, revealing his true

    nature.

    In fact, he was never the kind and endearing old man that he appeared to be.

    He kept that side of him hidden as much as possible, but bits of it would still show from time to time.

    The Nan family had trampled over countless bodies to get where they were today, so it only made

    sense that the Old Master Nan was a force to be reckoned with.

    The fiercestpetitions took ce during his time, after all.

 Chapter 384

    Chapter 384

    Nan Chen kept quiet.

    He could feel Nan Zhengde¡¯s rage in his voice and had to calm himself down before he spoke.

    ¡°Do you trust me, Grandpa?¡±

    ¡°What do you think? Would I have entrusted you with the Nan family otherwise?¡± Nan Zhengde asked

    as he looked straight into Nan Chen¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Thank you for trusting me, Grandpa. In that case, I¡¯ll do my exnation.¡±

    ¡°Very well. Go ahead, I¡¯m listening.¡±

    ¡°As you know, Ning Ran is the mother of those children.¡±

    ¡°Of course I know that, but you shouldn¡¯t give up on something this important just because she¡¯s their

    mother!¡± Nan Zhengde said coldly.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t giving up on it. I heard that something had happened to her, so I had to find out about her

    condition. I believe nothing is more important than human life. We may not be married, but that doesn¡¯t

    change the fact that she is the mother of my children. Her safety will affect their lives at present and in

    the future. They mean the world to me, and I am willing to exchange anything for them,¡± Nan Chen

    spoke slowly and cautiously while observing Nan Zhengde¡¯s responses.

    He only continued when he saw Nan Zhengde motion at him to go on.

    ¡°So I didn¡¯t do it for Ning Ran or even myself. I did it for the children as well as the future of the Nan

    family. I know my reason may not sound very convincing, but that is my honest answer. I¡¯m sure you

    will be able to make a judgment, Grandpa,¡± Nan Chen said calmly.

    Nan Zhengde remained silent and seemed to be in deep thought.

    ¡°Well, I suppose your reasoning is eptable,¡± he said after a long pause.

    That meant it wasn¡¯tpletely convincing.

    ¡°So why did you change your mind in the end?¡± Nan Zhengde asked.

    ¡°Because I found out that she wasn¡¯t really in a life-threatening situation,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    That was one of the very few moments Nan Chen had told a lie.

    He had actually nned on seeing the official at night, but Ning Ran urged him to leave by throwing

    him out.

    ¡°What exactly did she say to you throughout the entire process?¡± Nan Zhengde asked.

    Nan Chen recalled the things Ning Ran said that day and couldn¡¯t bring himself to say it.

    ¡°She didn¡¯t say anything.¡±

    ¡°Did she threaten you into seeing her at the hospital?¡± Nan Zhengde red at him.

    ¡°What do you mean, Grandpa?¡± Nan Chen noticed something was amiss.

    ¡°Did she ask you to go see her, or did you go there of your own ord?¡±

    ¡°Thetter, of course! She has no right to demand anything of me, nor will I do as she asks. You know

    me, Grandpa.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    Nan Chen realized that someone must have been badmouthing Ning Ran in front of him.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    ¡°Did you hear some nasty rumor or something, Grandpa?¡±

    ¡°I did.¡± Nan Zhengde didn¡¯t bother to deny it.

    The two most powerful men of the Nan family were answering each other¡¯s sensitive questions directly.

    ¡°What sort of rumor was it?¡±

    ¡°Someone told me that the woman forced you to go see her, and that you nearly messed everything up

    as a result. If she really is that selfish and inconsiderate, then you shouldn¡¯t keep her around.¡± Nan

    Zhengde got straight to the point.

    ¡°Who told you that?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Bai Hua did, but she was in this mountain the entire time. She too, had heard all of that from someone

    else.¡±

    Nan Chen was shocked to hear that.

    Bai Hua is here? Does that mean Grandpa has forgiven them? Why else would he let them stay with

    him otherwise?

    ¡°I understand now.¡± Nan Chen said, ¡°Everything she has heard is false.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Nan Zhengde replied and went silent once again.

    ¡°How have you been, Grandpa?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ll manage. Keep in mind that I¡¯m not as young as I used to be, so try not to give me a heart attack,

    okay?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Grandpa. It¡¯s my fault, and I won¡¯t do it again.¡± Nan Chen apologized.

    ¡°But you don¡¯t seem to be at fault, ording to what you said earlier.¡±

    ¡°Making you worry is a fault in itself.¡±

    Nan Zhengde kept quiet.

    ¡°Is this the only reason why you wanted to see me?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Bai Hua was the one who told me all that. Why didn¡¯t you ask me how she found out about it?¡±

    ¡°I know she must¡¯ve heard it from someone. Someone with ulterior motives, that is.¡± Nan Chen said

    calmly.

    Nan Zhengde nodded. As expected of the person I have entrusted everything with. He saw through it

    right away!

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to pursue this matter, then?¡± Nan Zhengde asked.

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Why not? Don¡¯t you care about it at all?¡±

    ¡°I do, but I don¡¯t want to pursue this matter.¡± Nan Chen said.

    Nan Zhengde gave him a puzzled look.

    ¡°The incident took ce on set, and there were a lot of people present at the scene. That person could

    be any one of them, so it would be incredibly difficult to find out who it was. I don¡¯t want to trouble my

    men with such a difficult yet pointless task as that would be a huge waste of resources. Whoever did it

    must have something that they want, and they won¡¯t stop until they aplish it. I¡¯m sure they will

    make a move again. All I have to do is wait for them to do so and expose them then. As long as you

    are able to tell right from wrong, they will not be able to have their way.¡±

    Nan Zhengde nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. I do have faith in your capabilities, but you are still very young and

    inexperienced. You must be more careful in how you handle things, Nan Chen.¡±

    ¡°I understand, Grandpa. I¡¯m sorry for making you worry.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve always thought that someone had intentionally arranged for the return of Nan Zhiyuan and Bai

    Hua. I¡¯ve been observing them for a while now, but I wasn¡¯t able to find anything suspicious about

    them. The Ouyang family has been in touch with them quite a lottely, but there isn¡¯t anything unusual

    about that either. As such, I find it very difficult to understand, and uncertainties are usually a sign of

    danger. Think of it as a habit I¡¯ve developed over the years if you will. Who knows, maybe I¡¯m just

    overthinking things?¡± Nan Zhengde frowned.

    He¡¯s clearly bothered by this.

    ¡°Is that why you chose to forgive them and keep them by your side? To see if they had any ulterior

    motives?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Correct.¡± Nan Zhengde nodded.

    ¡°Have you managed to find anything?¡±

    Nan Zhengde shook his head. ¡°No, Zhiyuan and Bai Hua haven¡¯t done anything wrong or unusual so

    far.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded. ¡°Do we have any conflicts of interest with the Ouyang family?¡±

    ¡°No. The friendship between us goes way back, and we¡¯ve been helping each other out in our

    businesses throughout all those years. Thus, there are no conflicts whatsoever.¡± Nan Zhengde said.

    ¡°I see.¡±

    ¡°Do you have any ideas?¡± Nan Zhengde asked.

    ¡°Not at the moment, although I still find the Ouyang family to be most suspicious.¡±

    ¡°I heard you were pretty close with the second daughter of the Ouyang family. Is that true?¡±

    Nan Chen nodded. ¡°We are considered close, but it¡¯s nothing intimate.¡±

    Nan Zhengde simply nodded in response and kept quiet.

    They were both holding back on sharing their honest opinions regarding the incident.

 Chapter 385

    Chapter 385

    Outside the room, Bai Hua took out some fruits and pastries for the children.

    However, they refused to eat, merely staring at Bai Hua.

    ¡°I¡¯m your grandmother. Don¡¯t look at me like that. I won¡¯t hurt you,¡± assured Bai Hua.

    Still unaffected, the children remained motionless.

    ¡°These pastries are really yummy! They¡¯re made by a famous pastry chef in Tokyo,¡± persuaded Bai

    Hua.

    By now, Erbao was starting to be tempted. As a glutton, she knew that the pastries were yummy just

    from the fragrance.

    However, as Dabao did not move, neither would she.

    ¡°We¡¯ve already eaten. Thank you, grandma,¡± stated Dabao expressionlessly.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    ¡°You called me grandma?¡± eximed Bai Hua in surprise.

    ¡°Well, with your age, we should call you grandma,¡± replied Dabao politely.

    His words were courteous, but it revealed an implicit fact¡ªhe did not call her grandma out of sincerity,

    but because of her old age.

    In other words, it was just a way of addressing her, not an acknowledgement of her as their grandma.

    ¡°Why do you speak so unpleasantly? What do you mean that you should call me grandma because of

    my age? I¡¯m your grandma for a fact,¡± said Bai Hua in frustration.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know you.¡± Erbao chimed in.

    ¡°You...¡±

    Bai Hua was about to fly into a rage, but she remembered that she must not offend these two kids.

    After all, they were the Nan family¡¯s precious darlings. Everyone would have to concede to them.

    If she did not have a good rtionship with the kids, it would be harder for her to assimte into the

    Nan family.

    Hence, Bai Hua had no choice but to suppress the urge to be firm with the kids.

    ¡°I know that you¡¯re not familiar with me. That¡¯s because I¡¯ve been living overseas for a long time. Now

    that I¡¯ve just returned, I really wish to get along well with you. After all, we¡¯re a family,¡± coaxed Bai Hua

    with a smile.

    However, her smile looked a little fake, making the kids feel uneasy.

    Although they were children, they were sensitive towards adults¡¯ emotions.

    Dabao and Erbao both knew that this olddy¡¯s smile was not sincere, hence they kept quiet.

    ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s have a bite.¡± Bai Hua insisted on persuading them.

    ¡°No, thanks.¡± Dabao still refused.

    Bai Hua could not help but get angry. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? I¡¯m speaking to you so nicely, but you

    just refuse to listen to me. Are you crazy?¡±

    While what she said at the start was fine, herst sentence was already an insult.

    ¡°Who are you to scold Dabao? You¡¯re the crazy one!¡± rebuked Erbao furiously.

    ¡°How dare you scold me, you damned brat?¡± Bai Hua could not hold herself back anymore.

    ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to scold my sister!¡± Dabao defended Erbao too.

    After all, the siblings were so close that it seemed like they were joined at the hips. If they heard the

    other being scolded, they would feel even more upset.

    ¡°Hah! Are you trying to rebel? So what if I scolded you? Your mom is so uncivilized that she taught you

    to behave like this! That woman is so crude. Her childrenck even the most basic manners!¡±

    She had finally crossed the line. Earlier, she only scolded Erbao and Dabao. Now, she was scolding

    their mother.

    The two kids were utterly enraged. How can she scold Mommy? How can she?

    ¡°You¡¯re a bad grandma!¡± Erbao¡¯s face flushed red in anger. ¡°You scolded my Mommy!¡±

    Although she was furious, Erbao did not know how to curse and hurl insults like the people on the

    streets. Hence, this was the most she could do.

    ¡°Are you angry? Your mother did not do a good job teaching you! You¡¯re grandchildren from the Nan

    family. How can you not know basic manners?¡± scoffed Bai Hua coldly.

    ¡°Despite your old age, you deserve no respect!¡± Dabao snapped.

    Dabao¡¯s rebukes were much skilled than Erbao. Although he did not know thosemon insults, his

    words were much more scathing than Erbao¡¯s.

    Just with that sentence, it was clear how critical he was.

    ¡°What did you say? What did you call me?¡± Bai Hua was enraged.

    ¡°I said that despite your old age, you deserve no respect. You¡¯re a vicious woman,¡± repeated Dabao

    expressionlessly.

    Bai Hua was so furious that her face flushed. ¡°You...¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a baddie! A big baddie...¡± Erbao furiously yelled at Bai Hua.

    As Bai Hua insulted Ning Ran, Erbao resented her now.

    ¡°You damned brat! If you scold me again, your mother will never be allowed into the Nan family. I¡¯ll

    make her get lost, so you¡¯ll never see her again!¡±

    Bai Hua was acting absurdly too. In her fury, she actually started arguing with two kids.

    Erbao became even more anxious when she heard that. This wicked olddy wants to chase Mommy

    away, and prevent us from seeing her forever!

    She¡¯s going overboard!

    ¡°You baddie! You¡¯re not allowed to insult Mommy or chase her away. You¡¯re such a mean woman...¡±

    With flushed cheeks, Erbao bellowed at Bai Hua.

    ¡°What are you doing, Erbao?¡± Nan Chen finally came back.

    When Erbao spotted Nan Chen, she could not hold her aggrieved feelings back anymore and burst into

    tears.

    This time, it was not an act. She was actually crying.

    After all, Erbao was just a child. After hearing her mother being insulted, threatened to be chased away

    and that she would never see her mother again, her young self could not withstand such a blow.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, darling?¡± Nan Chen jogged towards her and hugged her.

    ¡°Meanie...¡± Erbao wailed even louder.

    When children felt like they had been wronged, they would endure it before their pir of support came.

    Now that he had arrived, Erbao vented her frustration all at once.

    ¡°Don¡¯t cry... Good girl...¡±

    When Nan Chen saw Erbao crying so devastatingly, his heart ached.

    As Bai Hua did not expect Nan Chen toe out so quickly, she was at a loss for how to exin this.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Nan Chen asked Dabao, who had a cold expression on his face.

    ¡°Grandma bullied Erbao.¡± Dabao¡¯s answer was very straightforward.

    ¡°Hey, what are you talking about? How did I bully her? She¡¯s the one insulting me, okay? Chen, don¡¯t

    listen to his nonsense. They¡¯re my grandchildren. I¡¯ll never bully them,¡± exined Bai Hua hurriedly.

    However, Nan Chen¡¯s expression was still frosty. He did not even spare a single nce at Bai Hua.

    Instead of asking Bai Hua what happened, he asked Dabao directly. This had implied that he did not

    trust Bai Hua.

    ¡°Grandma scolded us for not knowing any manners. She even insulted Mommy! As Erbao became

    unhappy, she rebuked her. Then, grandma scolded Erbao,¡± continued Dabao.

    Nan Chen¡¯s expression turned even grimmer.

    Although he was not the type to be overly defensive of his children, he believed Dabao¡¯s words.

    The reason was because he saw how heartbroken Erbao was.

    Erbao was an optimistic person. Sometimes, she would pretend to be sad, but that was different from

    how she was behaving now.

    She was crying so much that she could barely even speak. This meant that she was really sad.

    Nothing could make Erbao so sad, except for something that involved her mother.

    Hence, Nan Chen deduced that Bai Hua must have said something extremely vicious to make Erbao

    so devastated.

    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s appropriate to treat my children like this?¡± Nan Chen shot a cold re at Bai Hua.

    ¡°Why are you believing what the kids say? I didn¡¯t even say anything. They¡¯re kicking up a fuss

    themselves.¡± Bai Hua was in a rush to exin herself.

    ¡°Even if the adults havemitted a mistake, the children are innocent. It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t like them,

    but you shouldn¡¯t hurt them!¡± yelled Nan Chen furiously.

    ¡°Hey! I¡¯ve already said that I didn¡¯t do anything. Why won¡¯t you believe me?¡± Bai Hua was starting to

    be anxious.

    ¡°You¡¯re the elder here. You shouldn¡¯t be such a bad role model for the children.¡±

    With that, Nan Chen carried Erbao. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Let¡¯s go.¡±

 Chapter 386

    Chapter 386

    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s going on? Why are you so impolite just like the kids?¡± yelled Bai Hua from behind.

    Completely ignoring her, Nan Chen left with the two children.

    After sitting on the car for a long time, Erbao was still immersed in her sorrow.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be sad. You don¡¯t need to believe in what your Grandma says,¡± consoled Nan Chen softly.

    ¡°Grandma is a meanie. She wants to chase Mommy away.¡± Erbao was still sobbing.

    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her. No one is chasing Mommy away, and she won¡¯t leave either,¡± assured Nan Chen.

    ¡°Really?¡± Only then did Erbao calm down slightly.

    ¡°Of course! I promise to you that Mommy won¡¯t leave. She¡¯ll stay by your side forever,¡± affirmed Nan

    Chen as well.

    ¡°Daddy, you must keep your promise. Pinky promise.¡± Erbao stretched her pinky out.

    Nan Chen did the same and hooked his pinky around Erbao¡¯s.

    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.

    ¡°Daddy, you must protect Mommy,¡± Dabao chimed in.

    ¡°Why did you say that?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°Because Grandma might bully Mommy. If that happens, Mommy will be very pitiful,¡± exined Dabao.

    ¡°Why do you think that your Grandma will bully Mommy?¡±

    ¡°Because she doesn¡¯t like Mommy, so there¡¯s a high possibility that she¡¯ll make things difficult for her,¡±

    replied Dabao.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Your Mommy won¡¯t be bullied so easily. She¡¯s a strong woman,¡± assured Nan Chen .

    ¡°Daddy, if Mommy and Grandma fights, whose side are you on?¡± asked Dabao.

    When Erbao, who had just calmed down, heard this question, she became interested too. ¡°I know this

    question. If Grandma and Mommy falls into the sea at the same time, who will you rescue first?¡±

    Nan Chen was stunned. ¡°Where did you hear such a meaningless question?¡±

    ¡°The television series,¡± replied Erbao honestly.

    ¡°These are very meaningless questions. Don¡¯t learn the wrong things,¡± reminded Nan Chen.

    ¡°Okay. But who will you save first, Daddy?¡± asked Erbao, her eyes sparkling brightly.

    ¡°I said that this is a meaningless question. Stop asking it already,¡± replied Nan Chen.

    ¡°Okay, then. But Dabao¡¯s question isn¡¯t meaningless, right? If Mommy and Grandma fight, whose side

    are you on?¡± Erbao asked persistently.

    ¡°I won¡¯t let anyone chase your Mommy away. No one can do that,¡± answered Nan Chen.

    If someone is going to chase that woman away, it can only be me.

    If I didn¡¯t chase her away, no one else can.

    At this moment, Nan Chen¡¯s phone buzzed. It was a call from Nan Xing.

    ¡°Nan Chen, where are you?¡± asked Nan Xing.

    ¡°I brought the kids up the hills to visit their Great-Grandpa.¡±

    ¡°You aren¡¯t at the hospital?¡±

    ¡°No. Why? Did something happen?¡±

    ¡°Hey, Nan Chen. I¡¯m not trying to chastise you, but why didn¡¯t you send someone to keep an eye there?

    If you¡¯re not around, what if Ouyang Qi goes there again?¡± said Nan Xing.

    Nan Chen remained silent.

    Ning Ran is an adult. I can¡¯t possibly tie her with a rope for twenty hours, right?

    Neither can I send someone to keep an eye on her, and beat any men who approach her.

    Evidently, that was not unfeasible.

    ¡°Forget it. Get back to your work. I¡¯ll go and take a look. If that bastardes again, I¡¯ll beat him up!¡±

    said Nan Xing.

    ¡°Don¡¯t do it yourself. It might be more troublesome.¡±

    This is interesting. Nan Chen is not advising me against beating him up, but that I shouldn¡¯t do it

    myself.

    In other words, I can teach that bastard a lesson, but not personally.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Nan Chen. I¡¯m still capable of dealing with a rich yboy. I¡¯ll ensure that Ding Mi will not

    be harassed,¡± guaranteed Nan Xing.

    ¡°You should call her Ning Ran,¡± corrected Nan Chen.

    Nan Xing paused for a while. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll hang up first.¡±

    Then, he ended the call.

    Immediately afterward, someone called Nan Chen again.

    It was Ouyang Qing.

    Nan Chen picked up the call. ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Chen, I¡¯ve arrived at your office. Assistant Jiang said that you¡¯ve left. When will you be back?¡±

    ¡°Quitete. Is there anything urgent?¡±

    ¡°I want to tell you face to face. Where are you? If I won¡¯t be disturbing you, I go over to see you,¡±

    offered Ouyang Qing.

    Obviously, Ouyang Qing was saying that on purpose. Bai Hua had already told her that Nan Chen went

    to Yunfeng Hill.

    Furthermore, she also knew that the children were together with Nan Chen.

    ¡°I¡¯m not in the city. I¡¯m on my way back from Yunfeng Hill.¡±

    Ouyang Qing was delighted. Nan Chen is actually telling me the truth. This is so rare!

    Actually, it was not because Nan Chen favored her. He simply did not deign to lie.

    ¡°Then, I¡¯ll wait for you,¡± said Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need. I need to go to the hospital. You don¡¯t have to wait for me,¡± replied Nan Chen.

    ¡°The hospital? Did Aunt fall ill again? Then I should visit her as well.¡± Ouyang Qing feigned ignorance.

    ¡°No. It¡¯s the kids¡¯ mother.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Ding Mi. She¡¯s the female lead for the new movie. We¡¯ll be cooperating in the future. I should go

    visit her too.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that,¡± rejected Nan Chen directly.

    ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood, Chen. I¡¯m not there to see you. I¡¯m there to visit Ding Mi. Are you stopping me

    from going because you¡¯re scared that I¡¯ll snatch your beauty away? Hahaha...¡± Ouyang Qing chuckled

    sweetly.

    Nan Chen remained unconvinced. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. If there¡¯s anything important, tell me

    tomorrow in my office.¡±

    Before Ouyang Qing could reply, he hung up the call.

    Initially, Ouyang Qing was quite ted. However, after Nan Chen hung up so abruptly, her heart sank

    again.

    Since you don¡¯t want me to visit, I¡¯ll insist on doing it!

    After Nan Chen ended the call, Dabao and Erbao looked at him simultaneously.

    ¡°What?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°Daddy, are you calling the prettydy out for a date again?¡± asked Erbao with a straight face.

    ¡°Who said that? I did not.¡±

    Dabao shot a nce at Erbao and winked.

    Understanding right away, Erbao fell silent.

    Nan Chen noticed the exchange that happened between them. However, he did not know what it

    meant.

    ¡°What are both of you up to again?¡±

    Nan Chen felt a bit uneasy. The kids were simply too mischievous, whose words always hit home. Nan

    Chen felt that he had be the weaker party in front of them.

    ¡°Nothing. We fully support you, Daddy,¡± said Dabao.

    ¡°What are you saying? What do you mean when you said you support me?¡± Nan Chen frowned.

    ¡°Since Daddy and Mommy don¡¯t like each other, both of you should just look for someone whom you

    like. This way, you will be happy and won¡¯t fight as much,¡± exined Dabao.

    Nan Chen felt exasperated. Are they trying to sting me with their words again?

    Are they so addicted that they need to do this several times a day?

    ¡°Did Mommy say this?¡± asked Nan Chen coldly.

    Dabao sighed. ¡°This shows that you don¡¯t like Mommy. When you hear something that upsets you,

    you¡¯d assume that it¡¯s Mommy who said it. But she¡¯s not such a mean person.¡±

    Nan Chen found himself at a loss for what to say.

    Is he implying that I¡¯m being petty?

    ¡°Dabao, things that happen between adults are veryplicated. You¡¯re both smart and sensible

    children. However, you don¡¯t understand the adult world that much.¡±

    Nan Chen kept trying to exin to them patiently.

    Only these two children enjoyed such privilege. If they were someone else, Nan Chen would have

    thrown them out of the car window already.

    Dabao heaved another sigh. ¡°Okay, then.¡±

    He answered very reluctantly, with a face still full of indignation.

 Chapter 387

    Chapter 387

    After exiting the highway, Nan Chen spotted Ouyang Qing¡¯s red sports car.

    How deliberate is she to wait at the highway intersection?

    ¡°Chen, I want to see the children, so I waited here for you,¡± said Ouyang Qing sweetly.

    Then, she waved at Dabao and Erbao in the car. ¡°Hello, darlings.¡±

    Erbao mumbled, ¡°Am I even close to you?¡±

    Luckily, Ouyang Qing did not hear anything as she was outside and Erbao was inside the car.

    Dabao shot a re at Erbao, who fell silent immediately.

    Dabao¡¯s words had the most effect on Erbao, even more so than Ning Ran¡¯s. Erbao would follow all of

    her brother¡¯s instructions.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to bring them to visit their mother. I already said that we¡¯ll discuss any matters tomorrow.¡±

    Nan Chen was slightly annoyed.

    ¡°Chen, I¡¯m not deliberately disturbing you. I just want to see the two children,¡± insisted Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°Fine. Now that you¡¯ve seen them, you can leave now,¡± said Nan Chen.

    Dabao nced at Erbao, who revealed a sweet smile. She waved at Ouyang Qing. ¡°Hello!¡±

    When Ouyang Qing saw that Erbao was taking the initiative to greet her, she rushed towards her.

    ¡°Darling, how about I treat you to dessert?¡±

    ¡°Okay!¡± Erbao agreed immediately.

    Nan Chen was a little surprised. Why is Erbao being so friendly with Ouyang Qing?

    ¡°No. You shouldn¡¯t eat desserts at night,¡± refused Nan Chen.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    ¡°But desserts can help to improve my mood! I want to eat too,¡± said Dabao.

    ¡°You want to eat too? I thought you usually don¡¯t eat desserts.¡±

    ¡°My emotions were stirred up today, so I want to eat something sweet.¡± Dabao put on a mature air.

    ¡°Chen, since the two darlings want to eat, just let me treat them.¡± Ouyang Qing thought that her chance

    had arrived.

    However, Nan Chen was still hesitating.

    ¡°Daddy, just go to the hospital yourself and visit Mommy. We¡¯ll follow thisdy to have dessert. What¡¯s

    wrong with that? I¡¯m sure that she¡¯ll take good care of us, right?¡±

    Erbao nced at Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°Of course! I¡¯ll definitely take good care of these two darlings. They¡¯re so obedient anyway, so there¡¯s

    no need for you to worry about them,¡± agreed Ouyang quickly.

    Nan Chen was still hesitant, he was notfortable leaving the two children with Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°Then, I¡¯ll tag along too.¡± That was Nan Chen¡¯s final decision.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need, Daddy. Go ahead with your work. You don¡¯t have to keep uspany. It¡¯s more fun if

    we spend time alone with thisdy,¡± insisted Erbao.

    ¡°Yeah, Daddy. You don¡¯t need to worry about us. We¡¯ll look for you after we finish eating,¡± said Dabao

    as well.

    ¡°Chen, don¡¯t worry. We have the bodyguards tagging along too. Do you distrust me that much?¡± whined

    Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°Yeah, Daddy. Don¡¯t worry! Dabao, let¡¯s get into the prettydy¡¯s car.¡± Erbao looked like she was

    brimming with excitement.

    ¡°Okay!¡± Dabao nodded in agreement.

    Ouyang Qing was overjoyed. As long as I win the children¡¯s favor, the threat Ding Mi poses will be

    significantly reduced!

    Although the kids are not mine, they like me. I can take good care of them.

    In addition to the Ouyang family¡¯s wealth backing me up, how can that insignificant actress be a threat

    to me?

    ¡°Okay, then. Go with her. I¡¯ll let the bodyguards go with you and you must stay in contact with me all the

    time. Don¡¯te home toote, okay?¡± Nan Chen relented in the end.

    He arrived at the hospital half an hourter.

    From afar, he spotted a man pacing in front of Ning Ran¡¯s hospital ward, looking extremely frustrated.

    When Nan Chen walked closer, he realized that the person was Ouyang Qi.

    Why is this guy pacing around outside?

    When Ouyang Qi noticed Nan Chen, a suspicious expression crossed his face as if he had just saw a

    ghost.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± asked Nan Chen coldly.

    ¡°Of course I¡¯m here to visit her. You¡¯re the real Nan Chen, right?¡± Ouyang Qi looked like he suddenly

    got a revtion.

    Nan Chen remained silent. Is there a fake Nan Chen?

    Oh, right! There actually is another one¡ªNan Xing.

    ¡°If you¡¯re here to visit, why are you pacing around in the corridors?¡±

    A bitter look appeared on Ouyang Qi¡¯s face. ¡°I want to go in too, but you refused to let me in. Oh, wait.

    The imposter refused to let me in. He kept lying to me that he¡¯s Nan Chen, but he¡¯s actually Nan Xing.

    Damn it! He tricked me. How could he do that?¡±

    Indeed, Nan Xing had been standing guard here. No wonder this guy can¡¯t enter.

    When Nan Chen entered the ward, he spotted Nan Xing there as expected.

    Not only was Nan Xing present, but Zheng Lunlun was also there.

    In addition to the person lying in bed, the three of them were each clutching a phone. Their heads were

    lowered as they focused attentively on it.

    They were so attentive that no one raised their heads when Nan Chen entered.

    ¡°Hey, move to the side! What¡¯s going on with you?¡±

    Ning Ran suddenly yelled. Her voice was loud, not sounding like a sickly patient at all.

    ¡°It¡¯s all Uncle Xing¡¯s fault! He¡¯s such a noob, ying like an elementary school kid,¡± chided Zheng

    Lunlun as well.

    On the other hand, Nan Xing remained silent and let Ning Ran and Zheng Lunlunin about him.

    It¡¯s true that I¡¯m the most amateurish amongst them. So what? Who said that I can¡¯t y if I¡¯m an

    amateur?

    Without amateurs like me, how can skilled yers show their prowess?

    Nan Chen stood there for a few minutes, yet not a single person greeted him. They were extremely

    engrossed in their game.

    This made Nan Chen a bit angry.

    What a rabble.

    ¡°Ahem!¡± Nan Chen finally made a sound.

    Yet, everyone ignored him, none of them raised their heads.

    They were in the midst of an intense game. No one had the time to entertain him.

    Striding towards Zheng Lunlun, Nan Chen snatched his phone away.

    ¡°What are you doing? I¡¯m going to die... Uncle Chen?¡±

    Nan Xing and Ning Ran were momentarily stunned before they realized who had entered.

    Both of them quickly kept their phones and stared at Nan Chen.

    ¡°Continue ying. I won¡¯t disturb you,¡± said Nan Chen with a solemn expression.

    ¡°Well, Zheng Lunlun came and he insisted on ying a game. If we refuse, he¡¯ll make a ruckus and

    pester us. This is the hospital. If he actually kicks up a fuss, we¡¯ll affect the others. Hence, we had no

    choice but to listen to him and y a game with him,¡± defended Nan Xing.

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what happened. He¡¯s a kid after all, and we¡¯re the adults. We need to give in to him,¡±

    agreed Ning Ran.

    Zheng Lunglung was stunned. So I¡¯m the scapegoat now?

    I wasn¡¯t the one who suggested to y a game. It was Ning Ran, who¡¯s almost going crazy after being

    stuck in the hospital for so long.

    Now that Nan Chen¡¯s here, the two of them pushed the me to me. I can¡¯t believe this!

    Are they even worthy to be my elders? Are these elders pushing the me on me?

    Nan Chen remained silent, with cold expression on his face.

    Actually, there was nothing wrong with ying games. However, he could not understand why there

    were so engrossed with it.

    At this moment, someone entered. It was Ouyang Qi, who had been pacing outside for a while.

    Previously, Nan Xing and Zheng Lunlun prohibited him from entering. Now that Nan Chen had arrived,

    he thought that he would be more reasonable as he was the CEO. Hence, he decided to give it a shot.

    When he entered, he realized that all four of them had a solemn expression and the room was dead

    silent.

    What¡¯s going on? Although the hospital ward should be quiet, we aren¡¯t prohibited from talking, right?

    Aren¡¯t they being too rule-abiding by staying so quiet?

    ¡°Hello, everyone!¡± Ouyang Qi waved his hands, greeting Ning Ran and the others as if he were a high-

    ranking official.

    However, everyone ignored him.

 Chapter 388

    Chapter 388

    Just like that, Ouyang Qi waspletely ignored.

    Although he was a shameless person, he still felt quite embarrassed.

    After all, he was a Young Master from a wealthy family, so he deserved some respect.

    ¡°Ahem, what are you doing? Why is the atmosphere so gloomy? Should I tell you a joke?¡±

    Nan Xing and Zheng Lunlun¡¯s heads looked up simultaneously as they looked at Ouyang Qi. They

    snapped at the same time, ¡°Get out!¡±

    Ouyang Qi was stunned. Why are they so united when they are up against me?

    ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. My father is Ouyang Duo. He¡¯s very wealthy, not worse than the Nan family...¡±

    ¡°Get out!¡±

    This time, three people yelled at the same time. They were Nan Xing, Nan Chen and Zheng Lunlun.

    When they were up against an enemy, they were still united as a family.

    Ouyang Qi knew that things were not looking good for him. It was already hard to deal with two hostile

    people. Now that there were three of them, he could not afford to provoke them.

    Hence, heughed drily. ¡°Get out? Sure, sure. Have a good time, guys. I¡¯ll take my leave now.

    Goodbye.¡±

    Then, he hurried out of the hospital ward.

    ¡°Nan Chen, why are you here? Didn¡¯t you tell me toe here and stop that dog froming in?¡± Nan

    Xing looked at Nan Chen appeasingly.

    Ning Ran wondered when she heard what he said. What¡¯s ¡®stopping that dog¡¯? Am I a bone? Do they

    need to prevent me from being snatched away by a dog?

    ¡°You, go out too,¡± instructed Nan Chen coldly.

    ¡°Huh? Me?¡± asked Nan Xing.

    ¡°Get out.¡±

    ¡°Oh, okay. I¡¯ll go now. Continue chatting, guys. I think that the nurse on duty over there is quite pretty.

    I¡¯ll go get her number.¡±

    Standing up, Nan Xing patted his butt which had gone numb from sitting, and headed out.

    ncing at Zheng Lunlun, Nan Chen asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you leaving?¡±

    ¡°Me too?¡±

    ¡°Are you waiting for me to feed you before leaving?¡± asked Nan Chen coldly.

    ¡°Umm, there¡¯s no need for that. I¡¯ve already eaten. You guys talk, okay? I¡¯ll get lost now.¡±

    With that, Zheng Lunlun dashed out too.

    Now, only Nan Chen and Ning Ran were left in the hospital ward. By then, the atmosphere had be

    even colder.

    ¡°Where did youe from and where are the kids?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°Are you recuperating, or are you having a party here?¡± demanded Nan Chen coldly.

    ¡°What are you talking about? Of course, I¡¯m recuperating. This is a hospital. Can I even have a party

    here?¡± rebuked Ning Ran as she frowned.

    ¡°So you know that this is a hospital too, huh? Why did you get so many people toe here then?

    There are people inside and outside of the ward!¡± snapped Nan Chen furiously.

    ¡°Wow, are you serious? I¡¯ve never left the hospital. Why are you saying that I brought them over?¡± Ning

    Ran was upset now too.

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you having so much fun just now?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I exin it already? Zheng Lunlun wanted to y a game, so we yed a couple of rounds

    together. I didn¡¯t know that they¡¯lle, nor did I ask them to. Stop losing your temper at me. Where

    are my kids?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°What about Ouyang Qi? Why is he so free that he keeping to the hospital every day?¡± Nan Chen

    became infuriated.

    ¡°How do I know? Why don¡¯t you go and ask him! I didn¡¯t ask him toe. Well, he¡¯s so rich that he

    doesn¡¯t need to work. All he needs to do is to rely on his parent¡¯s money, so he naturally has time to

    visit me. What can I do about it? This is a hospital, not my private vi. I can¡¯t chase him away either.¡±

    ¡°So you just let him stay here every day?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t. He¡¯s the one who insists oning. It¡¯s got nothing to do with me,¡± defended Ning Ran.

    ¡°It¡¯s got nothing to do with you, huh? Who did hee here for then?¡±

    Mulling over it for a while, Ning Ran thought that he was right. She seemed to have something to do

    with it, but not directly.

    ¡°I¡¯m in no position to care about what he does. Anyway, I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. So, where are my

    kids?¡± asked Ning Ran, feeling irritated.

    ¡°They went to eat dessert.¡±

    ¡°With whom?¡±

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    ¡°A friend.¡±

    ¡°A friend? How can you let the kids follow someone so casually? What kind of person is your friend?¡±

    ¡°I asked the bodyguards to tag along. I can¡¯t possibly bring the kids over to watch you have a party,

    right?¡±

    Ning Ran took a deep breath. He¡¯s arguing with me right off the bat. This is so stressful.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, first of all, I did not have a party. Other than Ouyang Qi, everyone else who came is your

    rtive. I can¡¯t possibly stop them froming if they want to visit me, right? Secondly, I¡¯ve already

    exined what¡¯s going on with Ouyang Qi. He insisted oning. It¡¯s got nothing to do with me.

    Furthermore, I¡¯ve not been friendly to him. Thirdly, my kids shouldn¡¯t go out with other people so easily,

    not even if they are your friends. How can you be certain that your friends do not have any ulterior

    motives? If something bad happened, who will bear the responsibility?¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s heart skipped a beat too.

    Actually, he was reluctant to leave the children with Ouyang Qing. However, as they insisted, he had no

    choice but to relent.

    He had been feeling uneasy all the time. After hearing what Ning Ran said, he felt even more anxious.

    ¡°Wow, are you serious? I¡¯ve never left the hospital. Why are you saying that I brought them over?¡± Ning

    Ran was upset now too.

    However, Nan Chen would never admit his mistakes openly. ¡°I know what I am doing.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m the kids¡¯ mother. Naturally, I have the right to ask about them. Who did you leave my kids with?¡±

    Ning Ran became agitated.

    ¡°I already said that they left with a friend. They¡¯lle here after a while.¡±

    ¡°Which friend?¡±

    Noticing Nan Chen¡¯s silence, Nan Chen suddenly got a revtion.

    ¡°You let your pretty girlfriend bring my kids away, right, didn¡¯t you?¡± demanded Ning Ran in an icy tone.

    ¡°Why are you calling her my pretty girlfriend. Don¡¯t say that, okay?¡±

    By now, Ning Ran was already getting restless. ¡°Wow, Nan Chen. I can¡¯t believe this. Are you letting

    my kids see their stepmother now? They are my kids. Who are you to let them meet their stepmother?¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about? Can you please mind yournguage?¡± Nan Chen was frustrated too.

    ¡°You just can¡¯t wait for them to meet their stepmother! Let me tell you this, Nan Chen. I will never let my

    kids stay with you. If you want to snatch my kids away, you can only do it over my dead body! Where

    are they right now? I want to go to them!¡±

    As she spoke, Ning Ran jumped off the bed, wore her shoes and prepared to leave.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to look for my kids!¡±

    ¡°Where are you going to look for them? Don¡¯t get agitated. I said that they¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t let my kids be bullied by an evil woman. I¡¯m going to look for them now.¡±

    ¡°I already said that they¡¯ll be fine. They¡¯lle back after a while. Why are you being so riled up?¡±

    Not expecting Ning Ran to be so agitated, Nan Chen started to feel uneasy too.

    ¡°They¡¯re my kids, my own flesh and blood. It¡¯s impossible that I can remain calm! If I knew that you¡¯re

    going to leave my kids with an evil woman, I wouldn¡¯t have allowed them to go out with you! I trusted

    you because you are their father!¡±

    Ning Ran was not putting on an act. Instead, she was genuinely emotional now. Her eyes were red and

    her voice was quaking as if she was on the brink of tears.

    Nan Chen held her back. ¡°Don¡¯t do this. The kids are alright. I¡¯ve got everything under control. If

    anything happens, the bodyguards will inform me. The kids are capable of taking care of themselves.

    You don¡¯t need to be so anxious. They¡¯re my kids too. You really don¡¯t have to do this.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s attitude became gentler because he suddenly understood why Ning Ran was so agitated.

    If Ning Ran let the kids go out with Ouyang Qi, he would be beyond furious.

    All parents only want the best for their children.

 Chapter 389

    Chapter 389

    In the dessert shop, the two kids were engaged in a conversation with Ouyang.

    Actually, Erbao was already restraining herself. Although she loved desserts, she only took little bites.

    In the past, she would have already gobbled that dessert down and sneaking a few bites on Dabao¡¯s

    dessert.

    ¡°You visited your Great-Grandpa today, right?¡±

    Ouyang Qing was sitting beside them. There are two kids now. If I marry Nan Chen in the future, I¡¯ll

    have another kid, making it three in total. That¡¯s going to give me a headache.

    Wait a moment. It doesn¡¯t matter anyway.

    Since the Nan family is so rich, I don¡¯t even need to take care of these children myself.

    Even if there are ten kids in the house, it won¡¯t matter. Anyway, the servants can specially take care of

    them. I won¡¯t have to tire myself out.

    As Ouyang Qing fantasized about the future, she was a little absent-minded.

    Subsequently, shepletely forgot her earlier conversation with the kids.

    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Even Erbao noticed her daydreaming.

    Ouyang Qing chuckled in embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯m thinking about how both of you are such smart and

    sensible children.¡±

    She knew that children liked to be praised. Compliments would make them very happy.

    Hence, she kept praising the two children since the effects seemed quite well to her too.

    ¡°Of course, we are! Dabao is a genius, so am I.¡± Erbao admitted proudly.

    ¡°Then, do you like me?¡±

    Dabao scoffed silently. We called you a prettydy out of courtesy. Do you really think that you are

    actually deserving of it?

    However, he did not show it openly. ¡°Of course I like you. We never eat with anyone we dislike.¡±

    ¡°Really? Then what do you like about me?¡± Ouyang Qing looked very happy.

    ¡°I like you because you are pretty,¡± said Erbao sweetly.

    This made Ouyang Qing even happier. ¡°Really? Am I really pretty?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, like a goddess.¡± Erbao was highly skilled at ttering others too.

    ¡°Haha! Am I prettier or is your Mommy prettier?¡±

    Ouyang Qing was so ttered that she forgot her ce. She was actuallyparing herself to Ning

    Ran in front of the children.

    If she had a sliver of rationality left, she would not have asked such a foolish question.

    Dabao and Erbao¡¯s expressions changed.

    Has she no shame? How dare shepares herself to Mommy! Are you getting so full of yourself just

    because we called you a prettydy?

    When Ouyang Qing noticed that the kids¡¯ expression did not look right, she realized her mistake.

    She almost forgot that she was not dealing with ordinary children.

    ¡°Hahaha! I¡¯m just joking with you. Of course, your Mommy is prettier! Do you know that your Mommy is

    my favorite actress? Not only is she beautiful, but her acting skills are simply amazing. She¡¯ll definitely

    be a top star in the future!¡±

    Ouyang Qing hurriedly tried to salvage her mistake.

    ¡°Mommy¡¯s already a top star!¡± corrected Erbao.

    Ouyang Qing was slightly unhappy with that remark. Ning Ran is so shameless. She only filmed a

    show that has not even been screen yet, but she¡¯s already iming to be a top star?

    However, as she did not dare to make the children despise her, so she quickly agreed, ¡°Yeah! Your

    Mommy is already a top star. I like her a lot!¡±

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    Dabao and Erbao could not discern whether she was speaking the truth.

    As Ouyang Qing had a naturally innocent face, she always spoke with utmost sincerity, as if she were

    telling the truth.

    Even adults would find it hard to tell if Ouyang Qing¡¯s expression was genuine, let alone children.

    ¡°Is that so? Do you really like Mommy?¡± asked Erbao.

    ¡°Of course!¡± Ouyang Qing¡¯s face was full of innocence as she widened herrge eyes.

    ¡°Then, do you like Mommy or Daddy more?¡± asked Erbao.

    Ouyang Qing was shocked.

    Her heart even skipped a beat. Did the children discover my intentions?

    That can¡¯t be the case. I can deal with other adults so easily. How is it possible for me to make a

    mistake in front of these kids?

    ¡°What are you talking about, darling? I¡¯m good friends with Chen. We¡¯ve known each other since we

    were kids, so we¡¯re quite close. However, our rtionship is not like what you imagine,¡± rified

    Ouyang with a smile.

    Erbao and Dabao exchanged a nce. They were equally repulsed by how she called Nan Chen

    ¡®Chen¡¯.

    However, they had to endure it. After all, they had not finished their n yet.

    ¡°Dabao, it looks like we¡¯re going to be disappointed.¡± Erbaomented to Dabao.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Dabao nodded too.

    ¡°What do you mean? Why are you disappointed?¡± asked Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°We thought that you and Daddy will be together. If that¡¯s the case, you can take care of us and Daddy

    in the future,¡± revealed Erbao.

    Ouyang Qing thought there was something wrong with her ears. ¡°What did you just say?¡±

    When Ouyang Qing noticed that the kids¡¯ expression did not look right, she realized her mistake.

    Hence, Erbao repeated her words.

    ¡°Hahaha! Darling, are you trying to test me?¡± Ouyang Qing burst outughing.

    ¡°Of course not! I¡¯m telling the truth. I hope that you can get together with Daddy and take care of us

    too,¡± said Erbao seriously.

    Ouyang Qing was confused. ¡°Why? What about your Mommy?¡±

    ¡°Of course we still want our Mommy. However, she doesn¡¯t have a good rtionship with Daddy.

    Hence, we hope that Mommy and Daddy can find a partner each for themselves, and lead separate

    lives. Dabao and I will have two families, where there¡¯ll be more people doting on us.¡±

    Erbao said it very clearly while expressing her thoughts in an articte manner.

    This was her strength. It was also where her chemistry with Dabao could be seen most clearly.

    As long as Dabao exined his ideas to her, she could express them very clearly withplete

    uracy.

    She could even repeat it a few times without making a single mistake.

    It was not an exaggeration when others called her a genius. She had the capabilities to back that up.

    However, Ouyang Qing was still in disbelief. She kept thinking that this was absurd.

    Why would young kids like them wish to get a wife for her Daddy?

    This isn¡¯t logical.

    ¡°Are you joking with me?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. We¡¯re telling the truth!¡± Erbao was extremely serious.

    ¡°You think that I can be together with your Daddy?¡± Ouyang Qing was feeling a bit tempted now.

    ¡°Of course, you look good standing next to Daddy. We really think that both of you will be happy

    together,¡± affirmed Erbao as she nodded.

    Although Ouyang Qing did not know if she was telling the truth, she still felt overjoyed.

    ¡°But your Daddy might not necessarily agree,¡± said Ouyang Qing with a smile.

    ¡°Then, you¡¯ll have to fight for it. We believe that you can be Daddy¡¯s partner. In the future, we¡¯ll be

    a family. You¡¯ll definitely take good care of us, right?¡± asked Erbao as she shed Ouyang Qing a

    sweet smile.

    Looking at Erbao¡¯s charming smile, Ouyang Qing believed her.

    ¡°How should I fight for it? Your Daddy doesn¡¯t seem to like me. He¡¯s so cold to me.¡±

    This was Ouyang Qing¡¯s sincere thoughts. Although she had been trying her best, she kept feeling like

    there was a vast distance between her and Nan Chen.

    It was a chasm that could not be seen. Regardless of how much she tried, she could never narrow that

    gap between them.

 Chapter 390

    Chapter 390

    After Nan Chen¡¯s persuasion, Ning Ran became slightly calmer.

    However, she insisted on looking for her kids right away.

    ¡°Can¡¯t you just listen to me? You don¡¯t need to get all work up. They¡¯re my kids too. I can guarantee

    that they¡¯ll be fine,¡± asserted Nan Chen furiously.

    ¡°I don¡¯t trust you,¡± snapped Ning Ran coldly.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you trust me?¡±

    Ignoring Nan Chen, Ning Ran grabbed her phone and dialed a number.

    On the other side, Erbao¡¯s kiddy phone, which was hanging on her waist, rang. When she saw the

    screen, she passed it to Dabao. ¡°Dabao, it¡¯s for you.¡±

    When Dabao grabbed the phone and nced at it, he saw the number 1. It meant that his Mommy had

    called.

    He walked to the side and picked it up.

    ¡°Mommy?¡±

    ¡°Dabao, where are you?¡± asked Ning Ran worriedly.

    ¡°I¡¯m having desserts outside. I¡¯m with the prettydy and Erbao.¡±

    ¡°Prettydy?¡±

    ¡°Yeah! Daddy¡¯s girlfriend.¡±

    When Ning Ran heard that, her hands started trembling.

    She did not know why she was so angry either. All she felt was a sense of fury so intense that her body

    started quivering.

    ¡°Why are you eating with her? Can¡¯t I afford to buy food for you?¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s eyes reddened. However, as Nan Chen was right in front of her, she did want him to see it.

    Hence, she walked to the window.

    Immediately after she turned around, tears started streaming down her cheeks.

    A wave of disappointment, indignation, sorrow and despair engulfed her.

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    All sorts of negative emotions welled up within her, causing her tears to gush out of her eyes

    uncontrobly.

    However, as she did not want Nan Chen to know that she was crying, she let the tears flow freely

    instead of wiping them away.

    ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s not like that.¡±

    ¡°Then what is it?¡± Ning Ran was already choking on her tears.

    ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s really not like that. We were on our way home after visiting Great-Grandpa with Daddy.

    Then, the prettydy met us halfway, after which we went to have dessert with her. Mommy, don¡¯t be

    angry. We¡¯ll visit you immediately,¡± exined Dabao.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need. Just continue eating.¡±

    Ning Ran hung up the call.

    Afterward, she did not turn around. Instead, her shoulders drooped and she slowly squatted down.

    Although Nan Chen could only see the back of her petite figure, he could sense the deep despair and

    sorrow that she was experiencing now.

    The sorrow infiltrated Nan Chen. He had always thought of himself as a man with a heart of steel.

    However, at this moment, an unprecedented sense of pity surfaced within him.

    He walked towards Ning Ran.

    His heart was aching when he saw her like that. He had an urge to console her and tell her that things

    were not as serious as she imagined.

    He wanted to stop her from wallowing in such sorrow.

    Sensing that Nan Chen was approaching her, Ning Ran immediately yelled, ¡°Don¡¯t youe over!¡±

    Shocked, Nan Chen stopped in his tracks.

    ¡°Ning Ran, it¡¯s not what you think... Things aren¡¯t that bad...¡±

    ¡°Shut up! I hate you!¡± snapped Ning Ran resentfully.

    Nan Chen had never been told to shut up before. However, he instantly became quiet, not knowing

    what to say.

    ¡°Get out now!¡± ordered Ning Ran.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be like this. Children love to have fun and Erbao likes to eat dessert too. It¡¯s very normal. You¡¯ve

    always known that, right? Why are you so upset?¡±

    ¡°Get out!¡±

    Nan Chen was starting to feel frustrated by Ning Ran¡¯s furious rebukes.

    However, he held it in as it seemed like the right thing to do.

    He could feel that Ning Ran was currently immersed in great sorrow.

    Naturally, he would not actually leave just because she told him to. Hence, he just stood there without

    approaching her nor leaving the room.

    Both of them stayed in the same position just like that, with Ning Ran squatting on the ground, her

    shoulders heaving slightly.

    After a long while, Ning Ran¡¯s shoulders stopped heaving before she slowly stood up.

    Sprawling by the window, she looked out at the night view.

    After calming down, she started to reflect on her own actions.

    I was too emotional towards Dabao. That was totally unnecessary.

    They¡¯re my children. I should have more confidence in them.

    It¡¯s impossible that they don¡¯t want me anymore. There¡¯s no way their loyalty will be won over just by

    some desserts.

    That is just impossible. They¡¯re not such materialistic people and can never be.

    Perhaps, the two mischievous kids just yed a trick to anger me.

    I still can¡¯t guess what their objective is.

    However, I should have confidence in my children. After all, they are my own flesh and blood.

    Upon that thought, Ning Ran¡¯s mood improved.

    Nan Chen remained standing there, gazing at her back.

    He could feel that her sorrow had dissipated greatly.

    Within a short period of time, she managed to calm herself down.

    This was a rather impressive feat that not even Nan Chen himself could achieve.

    She must have trained this skill from all those years of living alone, right?

    She raised two children in a foreign country all by herself. No matter how devastating and sad she was,

    she had no choice but to bear everything alone.

    His heart was aching when he saw her like that. He had an urge to console her and tell her that things

    were not as serious as she imagined.

    If she didn¡¯t regte her emotions, what else can she do? Continue wallowing in sadness? Then what

    about the kids?

    ¡°Hey.¡± Feeling his heart soften, Nan Chen called out to Ning Ran.

    However, she stayed silent, not wanting to respond to him.

    ¡°I brought the kids to Yunfeng Hill today. On the way back, I received a call from Ouyang Qing. She

    said that she needed to discuss something with me. I told her to talk to me tomorrow at the office, but

    unexpectedly, she went to the highway exit and waited for me.¡±

    After a slight pause, he continued, ¡°When she offered to treat the kids to a meal, I disagreed. However,

    the kids wanted to go so much, so I felt bad to stop them. That¡¯s why they went with her. I didn¡¯t

    orchestrate this, nor did I support it. If it angers you in anyway, I¡¯m...¡±

    Nan Chen wanted to say ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡±. However, he realized that no matter what, he could not utter those

    words.

    He was not used to apologizing to others. It was something he would do.

    Hence, Ning Ran just listened to him stutter for a long while without knowing what he was trying to say.

    Did Zheng Lunlun¡¯s stutters get transferred to him?

    If Nan Chen had a stutter, it¡¯ll be so entertaining!

    She could imagine Nan Chen with a frosty face, trying to scold someone with a stammer. Yet, after a

    long while, no one could understand what he was trying to say. That scene would be utterly

    entertaining.

    When Ning Ran tried to imagine Nan Chen stuttering, she suddenly found it so enjoyable. Oh dear,

    what kind of picture is that? Why do I have such a ridiculous idea?

    ¡°Anyway, that¡¯s what happened. It¡¯s not as bad as you imagined. You don¡¯t have to react so seriously.¡±

    Nan Chen resumed his normal frosty tone.

    Actually, he was already ording to a lot of respect to her. He spoke so much just to exin that

    single incident.

    Usually, this would be unheard of.

    After all, he was the mighty and proud Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran remained silent. Although she was not as sad as before, it did not mean that her anger had

    completely dissipated.

    ¡°I¡¯m not some that I¡¯ll just arrange for the kids to meet someone,¡± continued Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran still kept her silence.

    Normally, Nan Chen was the one who did not say anything. Yet, the table had turned now. He was the

    one who did all the talking, while Ning Ran gave no response.

    Despite exining for a long time, Ning Ran acted like she did not hear anything.

    Even Nan Chen realized that he was going nowhere and stopped talking. After all, it was not like him to

    be so talkative.

 Chapter 391

    Chapter 391

    Ning Ran certainly didn¡¯t expect to remain silent for almost half an hour with Nan Chen.

    Neither of them said a word nor moved. They just stood there.

    It was unclear if this was a silent battle or a form of non-verbalmunication.

    Just then, someone opened the door and entered.

    ¡°Mommy!¡± Erbao squealed as she dashed towards Ningran.

    Only then did Ning Ran turn around. The smile on her face was so natural. It was as though nothing

    had happened at all.

    ¡°Darling, you¡¯re back?¡±

    Dabao studied the expression on his mother¡¯s face as he approached her.

    Only after seeing that she was all smiles did he stop worrying.

    The smile on Ning Ran¡¯s face, however, slowly slipped off her face as Ouyang Qing entered.

    She could have faked a smile, but she didn¡¯t want to do that.

    Although she had superb acting skills, she didn¡¯t want to use them on Ouyang Qing? After all, why

    should put on a performance for her?

    ¡°Ding, are you feeling better? Here is some dessert I brought along for you. I hope you¡¯ll like it,¡±

    Ouyang Qing said with a friendly smile on her face.

    She had, however, detected Ning Ran¡¯s displeasure. This was because Ning Ran had made no attempt

    to conceal it. Her displeasure was clearly written all over her face.

    When Ouyang Qing saw that, she felt as though she had won.

    ¡°Thanks a lot, but I don¡¯t like dessert,¡± Ning Ran replied in a polite yet cold manner.

    ¡°Go on, take a bite. The store makes really good desserts. Come on, Ding. Try it.¡±

    The colder Ning Ran was towards her, the more friendly she was towards Ning Ran.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat it,¡± Ning Ran insisted with a tinge of impatience in her voice.

    ¡°Have a bite...¡±

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    ¡°She¡¯s a patient. So she¡¯s got to be very careful with what she eats,¡± Nan Chen suddenly interjected.

    Both Ning Ran and Ouyang Qing were rather surprised that someone who rarely spoke would voice an

    opinion on something as trivial as this.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Ouyang Qing replied awkwardly as she packed up the desserts.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go out so they can have a chat,¡± Nan Chen continued.

    Ouyang Qing, however, remained rooted on the spot.

    Nan Chen strode towards the door and came to a stop in front of it before turning around to nce at

    her.

    Only then Ouyang Qinge to her senses. Oh, he meant that we should leave now so that they can

    have some space.

    For some reason, she actually didn¡¯t feel like leaving.

    Perhaps it was because she had finally gotten under Ning Ran¡¯s skin, therefore, she was a little

    reluctant to leave so soon.

    However, no matter how reluctant she was, she didn¡¯t have a say in this. If Nan Chen told her to go,

    she had to go.

    ¡°You two darlings have a nice chat with your Mommy, alright? I¡¯ll head out first,¡± Ouyang Qing said as

    she waved goodbye to Dabao and Erbao.

    Dabao waved back politely. Erbao, on the other hand, pretended not to have heard her and gave no

    response at all.

    Ouyang Yang recalled how Erbao had addressed her back in the dessert store. She¡¯s turning her back

    on me right after she¡¯s had her dessert?

    Wow, she has change so quickly. Are kids all like that these days?

    Ouyang Qing and Nan Chen walked out of the ward and Nan Chen shut the door behind him.

    ¡°Mommy, the dessert is actually quite good. You can try some,¡± Erbao offered.

    ¡°You little traitor! Have you betrayed Mommy just for some food?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Of course not. Dabao and I were just observing her to see if she would treat us well after she and

    Daddy had gotten married,¡± Erbao replied.

    ¡°What did you say? Get married? Who¡¯s getting married to who?¡±

    ¡°Well, Daddy and Ouyang Qing, of course. She¡¯s Daddy¡¯s girlfriend, they¡¯re bound to get married in the

    future. But don¡¯t worry Mommy, we¡¯ll stay by your side. We won¡¯t be staying with Daddy,¡± Erbao

    assured her seriously.

    ¡°Who told you that both of them are getting married?¡± Ning Ran was beginning to panic a little.

    ¡°Why do I need to hear this from someone else? They are boyfriend and girlfriend. Once their

    rtionship reaches a certain stage, they will naturally get married,¡± Erbao reasoned.

    Ning Ran had pretty much gotten a hold on her emotions previously. But after hearing what Erbao had

    said, her heart plunged in terror.

    ¡°Don¡¯t say such things to scare Mommy. She¡¯s already upset,¡± Dabao reminded his sister.

    ¡°Who said that I¡¯m upset? I¡¯m not!¡± Ning Ran denied hastily.

    ¡°That¡¯s right! Why should Mommy be upset? She doesn¡¯t like Daddy anyway,¡± Erbao agreed.

    ¡°Are you really not upset, Mommy?¡± Dabao asked with a puzzled expression on his face.

    ¡°I¡¯m not upset! Why should I? How does who Nan Chen marry concern me?¡± Ning Ran asked in return.

    Dabao and Erbao exchanged a silent nce.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Erbao eventually conceded as she nodded her head.

    ¡°So if Daddy and Ouyang Qing were to get married, will you attend their wedding, Mommy?¡± Dabao

    asked.

    ¡°No, I won¡¯t,¡± Ning Ran replied without hesitation.

    ¡°Why?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°Well, why should I attend? We are not friends! Could the two of you stop asking such silly questions?¡±

    Ning Ran suddenly red up.

    However, no matter how reluctant she was, she didn¡¯t have a say in this. If Nan Chen told her to go,

    she had to go.

    Dabao and Erbao exchanged another nce, too afraid to make another sound this time.

    They could tell that their Mommy cared a lot more about this than she was willing to admit.

    We have done enough and we should stop right here.

    ¡°Mommy, no matter who Daddy marries, we¡¯ll always be by your side,¡± Dabao assured her.

    ¡°Well, of course you will! Who else would you be with?¡± Ning Ran snapped.

    ¡°That¡¯s right! We have to stay together with Mommy,¡± Erbao said as she waved her little fists.

    ¡°And Mr. Qi too,¡± Dabao piped up.

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    ¡°If Daddy and Miss Qing get married, then Mommy and Mr. Qi would be able to get married as well.

    That way, we would have two Daddys and two Mommys. There will be more people who love us,¡±

    Dabao exined the situation.

    ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Ning Ran blustered.

    A nervous expression immediately shed across Dabao¡¯s face. ¡°Did I say something wrong? Doesn¡¯t

    Mr. Qi like you, Mommy? I think he¡¯s a nice guy. Erbao and I definitely wouldn¡¯t object the idea of both

    of you getting together.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing between Ouyang Qi and me,¡± Ning Ran hastily rified, ¡°He was the one who started

    it. It has nothing to do with me. Can you kids not spout nonsense like that?¡±

    ¡°Alright,¡± Dabao conceded as he shook his head, ¡°I thought that both of you were together.¡±

    Smelling a rat, Ning Ran looked from Dabao to Erbao.

    ¡°Both of you are doing this on purpose, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Dabao and Erbao exchanged nces once again. ¡°What are you talking about, Mommy?¡± Erbao asked

    innocently, ¡°Do what on purpose?¡±

    ¡°Are the both of you up to no good? What¡¯s your purpose?¡± Ning Ran questioned.

    Erbao shook his head profusely. ¡°No! No!¡±

    Ning Ran turned to Dabao. ¡°This is your idea, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°We were just worried about you and Daddy. We didn¡¯t have any ill intentions. The two of you are the

    people Erbao and I love the most. How could we possibly harbor any ill intentions?¡± Dabao replied

    hastily.

    ¡°Well, that better be the case. Otherwise, the both of you will never hear the end of this!¡±

    Erbao stuck out her tongue yfully. Looks like Mommy¡¯s really angry. But it¡¯s all Dabao¡¯s fault anyway.

    I am only following his orders.

    On the other hand, Dabao thought, Based on what we¡¯ve seen so far, the n actually works. As long

    as we continue, we¡¯ll definitely be able to see some change.

 Chapter 392

    Chapter 392

    The next day, a woman wearing a long ck dress exited Flower City¡¯s airport¡¯s ¡®Domestic Arrival¡¯ in

    the afternoon.

    She was Feng Jialing, the wife of the Chairman of Sunshine Corporation¡¯s board of directors -- Ouyang

    Duo. She was also Ouyang Qing¡¯s mother.

    ¡°Mom.¡±

    Ouyang Qing, who had been waiting for her mother for quite some time now, immediately went forward

    and hugged Feng Jialing tightly. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you, Mom.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you. If you had really missed me, why didn¡¯t youe back home instead of hanging

    around in Flower City,¡± Feng Jialing gently chided her daughter as she rubbed her head affectionately.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s because I have been busy.¡± Ouyang Qing said yfully, ¡°That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t have time to

    go home and pay you a visit.¡±

    ¡°It has been a long time since I had met you, Jialing.¡±

    Bai Hua, who had alsoe along to pick Jialing up, put out one hand.

    ¡°You still look as young as ever, Bai Hua,¡± Feng Jialing chuckled.

    The fact that they were on a first-name basis with each other showed just how close they used to be.

    ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m getting old. The years have certainly worn me down,¡± Bai Huaughed, ¡°But you, on the other

    hand, have done a great job on maintaining your figure. How do you do it?¡±

    ¡°Oh please, you¡¯ve done a far better job than me. You look like a young girl in her early twenties,

    whereas I look like an old hag.¡±

    After a round ofpliments, both of them held hands and walked towards the car park. It was very

    clear that both of them were really close to each other.

    However, Bai Hua got the feeling that Jialing was no longer as friendly towards her as she had been in

    the past.

    Feng Jialing used to address her as Hua. Now, she addressed her by her full name - Bai Hua.

    The Nan family and the Ouyang family were some of the wealthiest families in the cities. However, if

    one were to make aparison, the Nan family was slightly more powerful than the Ouyang family.

    The main reason behind this was that the Ouyang family was primarily in the banking industry whereas

    the Nan family had businesses in different industries.

    Hence, the Ouyang family business fared better overseas. But, their business paled inparison with

    all the other top global banks.

    This, however, wasn¡¯t because the members of the Ouyang family were incapable. But rather, it was

    because China¡¯s finance industry had had ate startpared to their counterparts overseas who

    had had more than a hundred years of establishment.

    Although rich women like them were polite and civil to each other on the surface, they all loved keeping

    up with the Joneses.

    Back when the Nan family was the more powerful family, Bai Hua naturally felt more superior to her

    friend. And this superiority proceeded to manifest through her actions and the way she treated Feng

    Jialing.

    Thus, even if hadn¡¯t sat well with Feng Jialing, she had no choice but to address her friend as Hua.

    But now, things have changed. The Bai Hua today could barelypare to who she had been in the

    past.

    A few years ago, she had been kicked out of the Nan family. It wasn¡¯t much of a secret and many

    people in this circle knew about it.

    Although she had now returned to China, it would be incredibly difficult for her to regain her former

    position within the Nan family.

    That was why Feng Jialing no longer felt the need to address her as ¡®Hua¡¯. In her opinion, she had

    shown Bai Hua enough respect just by agreeing to meet her.

    Even though both of them knew what was happening, nothing showed on their faces.

    After they had reached the hotel, Feng Jialing went to get some rest first before arranging to have

    dinner together with them.

    After Bai Hua made a move, Feng Jialing was left with her daughter.

    ¡°Qing, where are the other members of the Nan family? Why was Bai Hua the only one who came to

    pick me up at the airport?¡± a displeased Feng Jialing asked.

    ¡°The others were busy. That¡¯s why Aunt went to pick you up.¡±

    ¡°And what¡¯s the point in that? She¡¯s like a discarded pawn now. She doesn¡¯t have any authority

    whatsoever in the Nan family.¡±

    Feng Jialing was clearly unhappy with the reception at the airport. Although it was definitely impossible

    for Nan Zhengde to personallye and pick me up, shouldn¡¯t Nan Chen turned up as a junior?

    But this wouldn¡¯t have crossed her mind had she known that Nan Chen was unaware of her trip here.

    ¡°You can¡¯t think that way, Mom. It¡¯s better now that she doesn¡¯t have any authority,¡± Ouyang Qing said

    with a grin on her face.

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    Feng Jialing immediately caught her daughter¡¯s drift and chuckled, ¡°That¡¯s true. Bai Hua used to be so

    arrogant. She was aloof and acted as though she was superior to everyone else.¡±

    ¡°In the future, the most powerful woman within the Nan family won¡¯t be Bai Hua,¡± Ouyang Qing said

    with a grin on her face, ¡°It¡¯ll be someone else.¡±

    ¡°Who?¡±

    ¡°Nan Chen¡¯s wife, of course! He¡¯s the head of the Nan family. His wife would naturally be the First Lady

    of the Nanshi Corporation. Who would be able topare to her?¡±

    ¡°That makes sense. But I heard that Nan Chen¡¯s already in a rtionship and has two kids too? I

    thought that the both of you are a match in heaven. I certainly hadn¡¯t expected him to be in a

    rtionship with someone else! What a twist of fate,¡± Feng Jialing sighed.

    ¡°And that was why I have asked you toe. You can rest assured, Mom. That woman may have

    borne him two kids, but she doesn¡¯te from money. Furthermore, she¡¯s just a small-time actress.

    She doesn¡¯t know anyone or have any connections, so I have nothing to fear. As long as we make our

    move fast enough, Chen definitely won¡¯t marry her.¡±

    Thus, even if hadn¡¯t sat well with Feng Jialing, she had no choice but to address her friend as Hua.

    Feng Jialing looked into her daughter¡¯s eyes. It was like looking at her younger self.

    Back then, she had ruthlessly eliminated all her opponents and sessfully married into the Ouyang

    family, thus bing Ouyang Duo¡¯s wife.

    Now that her daughter had encountered a simr problem, she was definitely prepared to go all out to

    help her daughter.

    ¡°But Qing, you are the girl in this rtionship after all. I can¡¯t go and propose to the Nan family on your

    behalf, can I?¡± Feng Jialing said with a frown on her face.

    ¡°Of course you can¡¯t. That¡¯s why this has to be done by the unimportant Bai Hua. She¡¯ll be the one

    proposing on Nan Chen¡¯s behalf.¡±

    ¡°But she doesn¡¯t have any authority within the Nan family. Can we even take her word for it?¡±

    ¡°But she¡¯s Nan Chen¡¯s mother. This fact alone gives her every right to make this proposal. What¡¯s

    more, with the extensive assets our family have, we¡¯re certainlypatible with the Nan family. What

    reason does the Old Master have to object to this union? That¡¯s why It doesn¡¯t matter who brings this

    up. The most crucial step is that someone does that. The Old Master has always supported Chen.

    Would he not wish for a pir of support as powerful as the Ouyang family behind Chen? The Nan

    family is doing very well, but everyone who runs a business knows that risks and challenges can

    present themselves at any time. If the Nan family were to run into some kind of trouble, will they be

    able to count on that small-time actress to protect them? The answer is a resounding no. Would

    someone as shrewd as the Old Master not be able to make the right decision in such a simple analysis

    on benefits? There are only a few people who can decide who Chen marries. They¡¯re none other than

    the Old Master, the Old Madam, Bai Hua and Ning Zhiyuan. Bai Hua and Ning Zhiyuan have agreed,

    so as long as the Old Master gives his consent, the Old Madam obviously wouldn¡¯t have any objections

    as well. That way, all the people who have a say in who Chen marries will be on our side. We¡¯ll

    definitely be able to seed!¡±

    Feng Jialing nodded her head in agreement.

    Others might think that her daughter looked as innocent as a high school girl. But only she knew how

    sly and cunning her daughter really was.

    ¡°s, the Nan family is doing very well now. If the Nan family were to run into some trouble, the Old

    Master will value their rtionship with our family more,¡± Feng Jialing said.

    ¡°Well, that won¡¯t be too difficult,¡± Ouyang Qing sneered, ¡°As long as your father agrees to help, it will be

    quite easy to cause the Nan family some trouble.¡±

 Chapter 393

    Chapter 393

    The moment Nan Chen reached thepany the next morning, Jiang Zhe barged into his office

    without knocking.

    Jiang Zhe had always been known as a calm and collected man. Usually, he wouldn¡¯t behave as

    anxious as such.

    Therefore, Nan Chen was certain something bad must have had happened.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Nan Chen asked immediately.

    ¡°Something¡¯s wrong with one of our projects! I have gotten words from the team in East Asia this

    morning! The entire project had been brought to a halt since a fortnight ago!¡± Jiang Zhe exined.

    ¡°Can you be specific? We have a lot of projects in East Asia. Which project are you referring to?¡± Nan

    Chen reprimanded his subordinate.

    ¡°It¡¯s the construction of South City that¡¯s based in Vietnam!¡±

    Nan Chen frowned because South City was a major modr real estate project that had been

    launched in East Asia by Nanshi Corporation.

    The goal of the project was to establish a brand new city on the outskirts through improvements of

    infrastructure.

    The said project was the focus of Nanshi Corporation in the uing five years. Tens of billions of

    capital were involved tounch the project in order to replicate the sess of South City throughout

    East Asia in the future.

    The sessfulpletion of this project would bring in a huge profit and also help to exert the

    influence of Nanshi Corporation in East Asia.

    Most importantly, Nan Chen was the one who had initiated the project. Throughout the past three

    years, he had been carrying out exhaustive research and investigation before employing the required

    manpower and resources tounch the project. It wasn¡¯t an easy task as he had to pull all sorts of

    connections to get the approval required.

    Therefore, South City was the most important project Nan Chen had been tasked with ever since he

    took over Nanshi Corporation. He would have to prove himself ountable and worthy through this

    project.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Nan Chen took over the report Jiang Zhe handed over to him, but he wasn¡¯t in the

    mood to go through the report. He instructed Jiang Zhe to summarize it instead.

    ¡°The project had been progressing smoothly until some environmental organizations in Vietnam

    showed up out of nowhere. They doubted the authenticity of the environmental assessment report. The

    local environmentalist, along with the aboriginals, protested and got in our way. One of the protestors

    passed on during the protest. Hence, it had drawn the attention of local authorities. With that, the entire

    project was brought to a halt.¡±

    ¡°Several departments, including those in charge of the utilities, had made themselves clear. They won¡¯t

    allow us to continue with the project anymore. The infrastructure development had been brought to an

    abrupt halt as well. In other words, even if we manage toplete the construction of South City, it will

    turn into a deserted city due to theck of proper infrastructure,¡± Jiang Zhe orated.

    Nan Chen¡¯s face darkened once Jiang Zhe finished summarizing the entire incident.

    ¡°Who¡¯s in charge of the project? Why wasn¡¯t I informed earlier?¡±

    He pped his desk with all his might, giving Jiang Zhe the shock of his life.

    ¡°T-The person in charge is...¡±

    ¡°Who the hell is the person in charge? Send him to me at once!¡±

    ¡°I-It¡¯s Mr. Xing.¡±

    ¡°Nan Xing? Since when did he be the person in charge of this particr project? Why don¡¯t I

    recall delivering such an instruction?¡± Nan Chen was shocked.

    ¡°You used to be the one in charge of the real estate project in East Asia, but since Mr. Xing fell into the

    vicious cycle of despair some time ago, you instructed us to get him back and put him in charge of the

    most important project. Ever since then, Mr. Xing became the person in charge of the project in

    Vietnam.¡±

    Nan Chen finally recalled the entire timeline of the incident after Jiang Zhe reminded him.

    Since they were arge corporation, there were a few listed subsidiaries as well. In short, it would be

    impossible for Nan Chen to inspect every project avable.

    In addition, the project in Vietnam had been going well all along. Thus, it had been quite some time

    since Nan Chen got an update on thetest progress of that particr project.

    Never had he expected they would encounter such a huge problem out of the blue.

    ¡°I want you to get Nan Xing over immediately,¡± Nan Chen instructed.

    ¡°Mr. Xing is right next door, b-but he told me to get you to calm yourself down before getting him over...¡±

    ¡°Get him over at once!¡± Nan Chen was on the verge of losing his cool.

    Jiang Zhe scurried away and brought Nan Xing into Nan Chen¡¯s office immediately.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Chen...¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear that from you! I¡¯m sure you have no idea the reason the project has been brought

    to a halt either, right? After all, you have been spending most of your time fooling around! I can¡¯t believe

    I¡¯m only informed of the incident after it had urred a fortnight ago!¡±

    The infuriated Nan Chen cast the file on his desk with all his might, ring at Nan Chen.

    Stuttering, Jiang Zhe broke the silence, ¡°M-Mr. Chen, I have something to share...¡±

    ¡°Say it!¡± Nan Chen bellowed.

    ¡°Mr. Xing is telling the truth. Those in charge of the project didn¡¯t revert back to us immediately after the

    incident because they thought they had everything under control. However, things spun out of control in

    the end.¡±

    ¡°What about the authenticity of the assessment report? Has it been forged?¡± Nan Chen asked Jiang

    Zhe.

    ¡°No. The assessment had been collectively produced by several renowned specialists and authorities

    from different departments.¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why is the report¡¯s authenticity being highlighted again?¡± Nan Chen queried.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure the so-called specialists and authorities have been bribed by someone else! It goes without

    saying someone is behind this entire incident!¡± Nan Xing remarked to express his frustration.

    ¡°You¡¯re the person in charge of this project. Why aren¡¯t you aware of the presence of this certain

    someone you¡¯re talking about?¡± Nan Chen reprimanded his brother.

    Nan Xing lowered his head once more as he was at a loss for words.

    ¡°I want you to get the supervisor of the project over immediately!¡± Nan Chen instructed.

    ¡°He¡¯s currently on his way as we speak. He should be arriving in the afternoon,¡± Jiang Zhe stated.

    ¡°I want you to gather those in charge of the real estate project in East Asia at once. We¡¯ll hold a

    conference as soon as possible to prevent such an absurd incident from urring in the future!¡± Nan

    Chen ordered.

    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Chen!¡±

    In the afternoon, the supervisor of the project finally showed up in Nan Chen¡¯s office.

    Initially, he was about to yell at the supervisor at once, but he resisted the urge the moment Mr. Zeng

    showed up in his office.

    ¡°You used to be the one in charge of the real estate project in East Asia, but since Mr. Xing fell into the

    vicious cycle of despair some time ago, you instructed us to get him back and put him in charge of the

    most important project. Ever since then, Mr. Xing became the person in charge of the project in

    Vietnam.¡±

    Mr. Zen was d in a loose-fitting suit, had a rtively scrawny build and sun-tanned skin. It was

    evident he had been exposed to the sunlight for an extended period.

    In other words, he had been working hard all this while to sort out the crisis the corporation had

    encountered. He was different from the other person in charge who spent most of their time in the

    office, neglecting the actual progress of the project.

    He had traveled all the way from the tropical country of Vietnam.

    Since Nan Chen¡¯s office had been equipped with an air-conditioner, he shouldn¡¯t have sweat, yet Mr.

    Zeng had been drenched in sweat ever since he arrived.

    It was evident he was anxious deep down since he was aware of the importance of the project.

    The project was a vital part of Nanshi Corporation¡¯s uing n. Since the project had been messed

    up, he was afraid of what would be in store for him.

    ¡°M-Mr. Chen, I...¡± He started stuttering due to anxiety. Mr. Zeng couldn¡¯t even form aplete

    sentence.

    ¡°Mr. Zeng, please take your time. Go get Mr. Zeng a cup of coffee,¡± Nan Chenmanded.

    Actually, Nan Chen was aware of Mr. Zeng¡¯s capability. He had always been known as a professional,

    capable of dealing with the authorities in other countries with ease.

    Since he had a hard time resolving the issue, it was evident there was a mastermind ying tricks and

    pulling strings behind the scene.

    Immediately after Jiang Zhe brought Mr. Zeng a cup of coffee, he took a sip to calm himself.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, I am certain someone is behind this entire incident because those who were part of the

    assessment team turned their back against us. They questioned the authenticity of the assessment

    report and used us of providing forged data back then.¡±

    ¡°However, that was never the case because we had submitted everything based on the requirements

    that had been set forth by the authorities a few years back. In fact, it took us a year just to gather the

    required data, yet our effort had been in vain as of now. I¡¯m so sorry, Mr. Chen. I believe I should bear

    the responsibility because I wasn¡¯t capable enough...¡±

    Mr. Zeng took another sip of coffee as soon as he finished exining himself. It was evident he felt

    guilty deep down.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a viable solution for the hardship that has befallen us. Why don¡¯t you take your time

    and tell me everything in detail?¡±

    Mr. Zeng sighed in return. ¡°Mr. Chen, the authorities of Vietnam hade to a unanimous agreement

    of banning the project. It seems like they¡¯re determined to chase us out of Vietnam.¡±

    Upon hearing the news, Nan Chen¡¯s heart sank to the bottom of his stomach. South City in Vietnam

    would y a vital role in the entire project in the long run. If they were able to achieve groundbreaking

    sess in Vietnam, they could easily replicate its sess throughout the entire region.

    However, if their n headed south, thepany would suffer losses worthy of tens of billions.

    In short, Nan Chen, who had initiated the project, would have to bear the consequences of his actions

    should the project ended miserably. Perhaps he would have to resign as a member of the board of

    directors.

    Although those from the Nan family had always been a major part of Nanshi Corporation, they weren¡¯t

    the sole proprietor of the corporation.

 Chapter 394

    Chapter 394

    In the evening, Nan Chen headed over to Yunfeng Hill.

    This was the most challenging crisis Nan Chen had ever encountered ever since he took over Nanshi

    Corporation.

    The project in Vietnam served as the benchmark for a series of modr projects that would be

    implemented. Its sess possessed the potential of being replicated throughout the region as long as

    the project made it through the initial phase of development.

    Nevertheless, the entire n would fall apart if they weren¡¯t able toplete the construction of South

    City in Vietnam.

    The project, which had been deemed to be wless, got caught up in a series of miseries.

    Nan Chen was determined to turn the tables and ensure the sess of the project. He had no choice

    but to brace himself through the challenge to prove himself ountable.

    He couldn¡¯t allow anything to go wrong with the project as it was the first major project he had been

    tasked with. The oue of the project would determine the sess of Nanshi Corporation in the

    uing decade.

    Nan Chen wasn¡¯t a wimp. Hence, he would rarely drop by his grandfather¡¯s ce. However, it was a

    serious incident.

    It would be vital for him to discuss his next best course of action with his reputable grandfather. After

    all, his grandfather was a veteran corporate yer who had spent half of his life in the corporate world.

    In other words, he would be a good mentor to Nan Chen. Since he might be of aid, Nan Chen decided

    to pay his grandfather a visit.

    By the time Nan Chen reached his grandfather¡¯s ce, it was already gettingte.

    Nan Zhengde ordered someone to serve Nan Chen a set of vegetarian meal since his grandson had

    yet to have his dinner.

    Nan Chen finished his meal in a serious manner and gulped down the food within a few minutes.

    Nan Zhengde ran his fingers through his beards as he praised, ¡°Great!¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about, Grandpa?¡± Nan Chen was confused by his grandfather¡¯s sudden

    compliment.

    ¡°That¡¯s the way to go! You¡¯re an exceptional man since you¡¯re able to consume your food as usual,

    although you have been baffled by a huge challenge!¡± Nan Zhengdeughed wholeheartedly as he

    was proud of his grandson.

    ¡°Grandpa, are you aware of the incident that has urred?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right because Nan Xing has given me a call beforehand. You shouldn¡¯t me him because

    someone else is behind this particr incident. Nan Xing isn¡¯t the one at fault.¡±

    Nan Zhengde pointed at the pot of tea, signaling Nan Chen to serve him a cup of tea.

    ¡°Grandpa, do you think someone is behind this?¡±

    ¡°Of course! I have been keeping an eye on the project since its initial phase of preparation. You did a

    great jobying the groundwork. Therefore, it goes without saying that someone is hiding in the dark,

    orchestrating the entire incident.¡±

    Nan Zhengde reached for the ss of tea Nan Chen served him and took a sip.

    ¡°Actually, that¡¯s what I thought as well.¡±

    Nan Chen took a sip of tea he had served himself and noticed it had a hint of bitter-sweet scent to it.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you share your point of view with me?¡± Nan Zhengde suggested.

    ¡°I think it¡¯s necessary for me to make a trip to Vietnam in order to have a better grasp of the situation.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Nan Zhengde rebuked his grandson¡¯s suggestion without a second thought.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Vietnam isn¡¯t safe due to the ongoing protest that¡¯s going on. If the person behind the scene is aware

    of your presence, your life will be in danger.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure everything will be fine if Qiao Zhan and his men tag along with me, right?¡±

    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary because it¡¯s merely a project we¡¯re talking about. Although it¡¯s a crucial one,

    you shouldn¡¯t go there yourself. It¡¯s equally important to remain neutral. Otherwise, things are going to

    get messier at the end of the day,¡± Nan Zhengde stated.

    Nan Chen gave it a thought and nodded because he had figured out the meaning behind his

    grandfather¡¯s words.

    It wasn¡¯t necessary for Nan Zhengde to make himself clear; he was certain his wise grandson would

    figure out the rationale behind his suggestion.

    Since someone was behind the incident, they must be keeping an eye on the progress.

    As soon as Nan Chen headed over to Vietnam, the people behind the scene would figure out his

    whereabouts andunched a series of countermeasures.

    If that were the case, Nan Chen would get himself stuck in a nastier situation. Therefore, he would

    have to remain neutral and stay out of it.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I shall return at once, Grandpa.¡± Nan Chen got up and was about to bid farewell to

    his grandfather.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll get Jiang Zhe to make a trip instead. He¡¯s a quick-witted man. I think he¡¯s the best candidate for the

    job,¡± Nan Chen told his grandfather.

    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± Nan Zhengde stated.

    ¡°Huh? Who should I send to get to the bottom of the incident?¡±

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t poke your nose into the incident anymore,¡± Nan Zhengde announced a seemingly

    unbelievable option.

    Nevertheless, Nan Chen wasn¡¯t surprised. ¡°I have thought of it, but I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not going to work.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s going to work out just fine,¡± Nan Zhengde assured his grandson.

    ¡°I should think of a proper solution before going after the mastermind. Is that the n you have in mind,

    Grandpa?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Nan Zhengde nodded.

    Nan Chen, who had brought himself up, took a seat once again.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to return home?¡± Nan Zhengde stared at Nan Chen as he asked.

    ¡°It feels like this isn¡¯t the end of our conversation.¡±

    ¡°What else do you want to talk about?¡± Nan Zhengde took another sip of tea after he finished his

    sentence.

    ¡°The mastermind seems to be pretty familiar with the operation of the entire project. Therefore, I think

    the person is affiliated with the corporation,¡± Nan Chen voiced out his suspicion.

    ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±

    ¡°He wants the project to fall apart because he¡¯sing after me. The mastermind wants to ruin my

    career.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s pretty much on point.¡±

    ¡°As long as he¡¯s able to get the better of me, he may get move up the corporatedder. Thus, he may

    be someone of an equal position. Perhaps he¡¯s someone who holds a grudge against me,¡± Nan Chen

    added.

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡°I believe the possibility of him being someone of an equal position is greater.¡± Nan Chen ruled out the

    possibilities of the mastermind¡¯s identity.

    ¡°If you¡¯re dragged down by your foes, who do you think will take over your position?¡± Nan Zhengde

    asked.

    ¡°Nan Xing.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s the idea most of the onlookers have in their minds since Nan Xing is the person in

    charge of the project. Therefore, I think rumors regarding both of you being in a conflict will soon

    spread around. The person behind the scene is trying to sow discord amongst both of you,¡± Nan

    Zhengde notified his grandson with a smile.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure everything will be fine if Qiao Zhan and his men tag along with me, right?¡±

    ¡°If he gets to sow discord amongst us, he will achieve his goal of turning the Nan family upside down.

    In short, outsiders are the only ones that stand to gain something out of the incident.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re not going to let the mastermind down since you¡¯re aware of his n, right?¡± Nan

    Zhengde asked rhetorically.

    Nan Chen nodded and asserted, ¡°Yes, Grandpa. I definitely won¡¯t let him down.¡±

    Finally, he stood up and informed his grandfather, ¡°I¡¯m going to leave for real this time.¡±

    ¡°You should really get going.¡± Nan Zhengde nodded as he beckoned his grandson to take his leave.

    An intense fight broke out at Nanshi Corporation Headquarters the next day.

    The entire conversation could be heard by others as Nan Chen left the door of his office open.

    ¡°Chen, are you suspecting me? I¡¯m your twin brother! Literally, we resemble one another in terms of

    look!¡± Nan Xing yelled hysterically.

    ¡°We may resemble one another, but we¡¯re never the same!¡± Nan Chen replied in a callous tone.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    ¡°How could you say this?¡±

    ¡°You have to bear the consequences of your neglect since you¡¯re the person in charge of the project.

    From today onwards, you¡¯re being suspended until further notice,¡± Nan Chen replied indifferently.

    ¡°You know what? I have no intention to stay around either! Grandpa was the one who wanted me to

    stay by your side! He was the one who forced me to stay in thepany! Otherwise, I would have long

    spent my time with the girls, having the best time of my life! Do you really think I enjoy reading all these

    dull documents? How can you suspect me when I have tried my best to follow you in your footsteps? I

    swear! Even though things turn out to be the other way round, I have given everything I have to offer! I

    don¡¯t mind being demoted at all, but you shouldn¡¯t have doubted me!¡±

    Nan Xing¡¯s heart shattered into a million pieces due to his brother¡¯s harsh remarks.

    ¡°You¡¯re the only one who¡¯s aware of the things you have done! Get out of my office immediately!¡± Nan

    Chen beckoned his brother to leave.

    ¡°Chen...¡±

    ¡°Get out!¡± Nan Chen raised his volume and yelled at his brother.

    ¡°Chen, you¡¯re going to regret your decision!¡± Nan Xing warned.

    ¡°Immediately!¡±

    ¡°Chen, I¡¯m not the one you should being after...¡± Nan Xing turned around and told his brother once

    more the moment he reached the door of Nan Chen¡¯s office.

    Immediately, Nan Chen reached for a file and cast it in his brother¡¯s direction. Nan Xing evaded the file

    in the nick of time. Consequently, it hit Jiang Zhe, who was on his way into the office.

    Jiang Zhe crouched and held on to his face in pain.

    Even though he could barely resist the racking sensation, he had no choice but to pick up the folder

    and return it to Nan Chen.

    His eyes brimmed with tears as he walked towards Nan Chen¡¯s side, cing the folder on his table.

    Immediately after Nan Chen retrieved the folder, he cast it in his brother¡¯s direction again.

    Again, Jiang Zhe headed over to pick up the folder and brought it back to Nan Chen.

    Although it seemed to be an intense fight, Jiang Zhe, who had been by Nan Chen¡¯s side throughout the

    years, felt a sense of relief as he noticed his supervisor wasn¡¯t as infuriated as he had been.

 Chapter 395

    Chapter 395

    In the meantime, Ning Ran was finally discharged.

    Actually, she had long recovered, but Nan Chen instructed her attending physician to keep her

    hospitalized for another day.

    Since Ning Ran had been confined to the hospital, she couldn¡¯t wait to get out of it.

    Therefore, the moment she figured out she would be discharged soon, she jumped for joy and got

    changed immediately.

    After she walked out of the ward, she felt a strong urge to yell with all her might to express her joy.

    ¡°Mimi!¡±

    As soon as Ning Ran turned around, she caught a glimpse of Ouyang Qi, who had shown up out of

    nowhere, with a bouquet.

    Excuse me? What is he doing here? Does that mean he has been staying around for the past twenty-

    four hours? Doesn¡¯t he need to return home and get some rest?

    Frowning, Ning Ran asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡±

    ¡°Since you¡¯re going to be discharged today, I¡¯m here to pick you up! Hopefully, you won¡¯t fall ill anymore

    in the future!¡± Ouyang Qi handed over the bouquet he had brought along to Ning Ran.

    Although there was something odd about Ouyang Qi, he had never once hurt Ning Ran before. He

    seemed to be sincere about his words as well.

    Therefore, Ning Ran decided to be courteous. Otherwise, Ouyang Qi might resort to something

    extreme if she refused to ept the bouquet he had bought her.

    She expressed her gratitude once she took over the bouquet from him.

    He was delighted and announced, ¡°I¡¯m so happy! Thank you for epting the bouquet!¡±

    Suddenly, the bodyguards sent by Nan Chen approached Ning Ran and asked, ¡°Ms. Ding, do you want

    us to chase him away?¡±

    ¡°How dare you try to chase me away? My father is Ouyang Duo! He¡¯s filthy rich!¡± Ouyang Qi warned

    them.

    Oddly, he didn¡¯t bother to hold back at all when he raised his volume against the bodyguards. It

    seemed as though he couldn¡¯t be bothered by others¡¯ opinions.

    On the other hand, Ning Ran, who was beside Ouyang Qi, felt embarrassed and told him, ¡°Can you

    please lower your voice?¡±

    ¡°Why? What are you afraid of? My father is a wealthy man! As long as Nan Chen is willing to sell the

    hospital, my father will definitely take it over!¡± Ouyang Qi raised his volume once more.

    Ning Ran dragged him away immediately. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Stop embarrassing ourselves in front of others!¡±

    They were approached by a bunch of people with a huge bunting the moment they walked out of the

    hospital.

    Congrattions, Ms. Ding! Wishing You A Speedy Recovery!

    What the hell? I¡¯m merely being discharged from the hospital! What¡¯s with the bunting? What¡¯s going

    on?

    ¡°We love you, Ms. Ding! You must have been working pretty hardtely. You must take good care of

    yourself!¡± The crowd repeated the sentences over and over again.

    It was evident they had been hired by Ouyang Qi.

    Ning Ran felt greatly ashamed due to the absurdity of Ouyang Qi¡¯s n. She reprimanded him, ¡°What

    exactly are you up to? Stop it! It¡¯s embarrassing!¡±

    She would bury her head in the sand if she could.

    ¡°Hahaha! Although this is old-fashioned, it¡¯s worth it since I manage to put a smile on your face!¡±

    Ouyang Qi chuckled in return.

    ¡°Can you please be mindful of your actions? This isn¡¯t befitting of your identity as the heir of a wealthy

    family at all! Can you please put some effort into your n?¡±

    Ning Ran reached for her face mask and put it on to avoid embarrassing herself further than she

    already had.

    ¡°Alright, guys! That¡¯s enough! It¡¯s time to go because Ms. Ding has had enough of the poor acting

    skills!¡± Ouyang Qi dismissed the bunch of people he had hired.

    ¡°You should stop following me because I¡¯m about to return home as well. If you insist on following me,

    I¡¯ll get in touch with the cops immediately,¡± Ning Ran warned Ouyang Qi.

    ¡°No! Please! I don¡¯t mean any harm! I have reserved a table for us! Can you please join me for a meal

    to celebrate this asion which you have been discharged from the hospital?¡±

    ¡°Thanks, but no thanks. I¡¯m pretty full. Now! Stop following me!¡± Ning Ran warned Ouyang Qi for one

    last time.

    ¡°Why are you turning me down when it¡¯s merely having a meal together? I have everything in ce for

    you! You need to get something to eat once you¡¯re home, right? Why don¡¯t you join me for a meal? I

    can¡¯t possibly do anything to you under broad daylight! Why can¡¯t you give me a chance?¡±

    Ouyang Qi put on a pitiable front as he finished his sentence.

    Although it seemed to be superficial, he was upset for real.

    All of a sudden, a man¡¯s shout could be heard, yelling as he made his way over, ¡°Ouyang Qi! It¡¯s you

    again!¡±

    Upon detecting Nan Xing¡¯s presence, Ouyang Qi took cover behind Ning Ran¡¯s back and warned him,

    ¡°Hey! Stay away from me! I havee prepared today!¡±

    ¡°Have you no shame at all? How dare you annoy us over and over again?¡± Nan Xing bellowed.

    As he had yet to vent his anger after the intense fight he had with Nan Chen, he could barely resist the

    urge to teach Ouyang Qi a lesson.

    Initially, he had dropped by the hospital to visit Ning Ran because she needed someone to talk to, but

    he spotted Ouyang Qi the moment he reached the hospital.

    All of a sudden, he found a good target for him to vent his anger. Thus, he was determined to teach the

    brat a lesson.

    ¡°Look!¡± Ouyang Qi pointed at the bunch of people he had hired.

    There were at least twenty of them. Although they didn¡¯t seem to be professionally trained bodyguards,

    Ouyang Qi¡¯s men had the upper hand as they had outnumbered Nan Xing¡¯s bodyguards.

    ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll be afraid of you because I¡¯m outnumbered? You know what? I don¡¯t care! I¡¯m going to

    beat you up now!¡± Nan Xing dashed over to Ouyang Qi¡¯s side once he finished his sentence.

    ¡°Hey! We¡¯re right in front of the hospital! Let¡¯s not fight! Otherwise, we¡¯re going to embarrass ourselves

    if someone get the cops over!¡± Ning Ran got in Nan Xing¡¯s way and stopped him in the nick of time.

    ¡°She¡¯s right! You¡¯re not a match for the man I have hired! Don¡¯t you dare to get ahead of yourself!¡±

    Ouyang Qi held his head high as he stated.

    ¡°I-I...¡±

    Nan Xing insisted on throwing a punch at Ouyang Qi, but Ning Ran urged, ¡°That¡¯s enough! Can you

    please behave yourself the way an adult behaves?¡±

    ¡°Okay!¡± Ouyang Qi, who was beside Ning Ran, replied.

    Excuse me? I¡¯m not talking to you! Please stop interrupting our conversation!

    Finally, Nan Xing regainedposure over himself and asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you inform me you would

    be discharged today?¡±

    Ning Ran reached for her face mask and put it on to avoid embarrassing herself further than she

    already had.

    ¡°Why would she want to inform you when she has me?¡± Ouyang Qi broke the silence, replying before

    Ning Ran could respond to Nan Xing¡¯s question.

    ¡°I want you to get lost at once!¡± Nan Xing pointed at Ouyang Qi and demanded.

    ¡°Please leave me alone. I¡¯ll go home on my own,¡± Ning Ran announced.

    ¡°Let¡¯s head over for a meal!¡±

    Interestingly, Ouyang Qi and Nan Xing broke the silence simultaneously, suggesting the same thing.

    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.

    ¡°Hey! I was the one who had brought it up first! In fact, I have reserved a table in advance!¡± Ouyang Qi

    announced arrogantly.

    ¡°Since you have reserved a table, let¡¯s go then,¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°What?¡± Ning Ran was confused.

    ¡°He has offered to buy us a meal, right? Since he has reserved a table in advance, we can¡¯t possibly

    turn him down, right? Let¡¯s go,¡± Nan Xing invited.

    ¡°H-Hey¡ª¡± The dumbfounded Ning Ran stuttered. She was at a loss for words.

    ¡°We need to have lunch, right? Since we¡¯re here, we might as well have lunch together,¡± Nan Xing

    suggested.

    ¡°Hey! I have never said I¡¯m going to buy you a meal! I¡¯m only going to foot Mimi¡¯s bill!¡±

    Ouyang Qi had a great n to spend some quality time with Ning Ran over the meal. He didn¡¯t want

    anyone to get in his way, interrupting his blissful session.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s go, Ning Ran. I can always reserve a table at another restaurant. Please let me

    know the food you¡¯re craving in Flower City,¡± Nan Xing assured Ning Ran.

    ¡°Are you trying to show off?¡± Ouyang Qi was irritated by Nan Xing¡¯s boastful remark.

    ¡°Why would I want to show off when everyone is aware I¡¯m a wealthy man?¡± Nan Xing provoked

    Ouyang Qi in return.

    ¡°What? My father is Ouyang Duo! Do you really think you¡¯re a match for me in terms of wealth?¡±

    Ouyang Qi rebuked.

    ¡°Hey! That¡¯s enough! Aren¡¯t you the one who has offered to buy me a meal? If you refuse to foot his

    bill, I won¡¯t join you!¡± Ning Ran told Ouyang Qi.

    He gave it a thought and stated, ¡°Fine! Since the Nan family is closely acquainted with the Ouyang

    family, this will be my treat!¡±

    ¡°Huh? Are you serious? Why does it sound as though we¡¯re heading over to a cheap restaurant? I don¡¯t

    take cheap food, okay?¡± Nan Xing scoffed.

    ¡°Excuse me? Can you stop looking down on me? I¡¯m the heir of a wealthy family as well!¡± Ouyang Qi

    rebutted.

    Ning Ran found Ouyang Qi¡¯s behavior hrious. Usually, the heir of a wealthy family would hide the fact

    that they had been living off their family, but Ouyang Qi was the exact opposite. He seemed to be

    proud of it.

    ¡°We may be the heir of two different wealthy families, but we¡¯re definitely not the same! Isn¡¯t it obvious?

    Look at you! Do you really think you¡¯re able topete against me in terms of look?¡± Nan Xing snorted

    contemptuously.

    ¡°I definitely look better than you!¡± Ouyang Qi imed, holding his head high.

    ¡°Are you serious? Do you really consider yourself a match for me in terms of look?¡± Nan Xing couldn¡¯t

    believe his ears.

    Truth be told, Ouyang Qi was aware of the truth but he refused to admit he was inferior to him in terms

    of look.

 Chapter 396

    Chapter 396

    Finally, they headed over to the restaurant Ouyang Qi had reserved. It was a fairly high-ss Western

    restaurant that was considered one of the best in Flower City.

    As an ostentatious heir who enjoyed unting his wealth, Ouyang Qi had reserved the entire restaurant

    for himself since he would be having a meal with his crush.

    Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t qualify to proim himself as the heir of a wealthy family.

    There wasn¡¯t anyone else in the restaurant. The moment they walked into the restaurant, the staff of

    the restaurant greeted them.

    However, there were only two chairs avable. Nan Xing grabbed the opportunity and took a seat as

    soon as possible.

    Since Ouyang Qi took the remaining seat, there wasn¡¯t any seat left for Ning Ran.

    She told them before turning around to leave, ¡°Great! Please enjoy yourselves! I¡¯ll see you when I see

    you!¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡± Nan Xing and Ouyang Qi stopped Ning Ran simultaneously.

    They ordered one another to leave, ¡°Why don¡¯t you go away!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s supposed to leave!¡±

    ¡°No! You¡¯re the uninvited one!¡±

    The heirs from two different wealthy families engaged themselves in another round of intense debate.

    They refused to give in.

    ¡°Actually, that won¡¯t be necessary because I¡¯m leaving. Please enjoy your meal. Bye.¡± Ning Ran turned

    around once again once she finished her sentence.

    ¡°Don¡¯t do this!¡±

    The duo brought themselves up and dashed over to Ning Ran¡¯s side to stop her.

    Ouyang Qi decided to give in and offered, ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll go get them to bring us an additional chair! Please

    take my seat, Mimi. I¡¯m not as shameless as a certain someone.¡±

    ¡°Are you talking about yourself?¡± Nan Xing rebuked Ouyang Qi immediately.

    He walked over to Ning Ran¡¯s side and brought her over to his seat. ¡°Please take my seat instead. I

    think the chair he has sat on has been contaminated. You should stay away from it.¡±

    ¡°How the heck is my chair contaminated? Why does it sound as though something¡¯s wrong with my

    butts?¡± the enraged Ouyang Qi bellowed in return.

    ¡°No one knows what sort of lifestyle you have been living all this while. Who knows if you have AIDS,

    right?¡± Nan Xing made a sarcastic remark.

    ¡°You¡¯re the one who has AIDS! AIDS isn¡¯t contagious either!¡±

    ¡°Are you sure? Who knows if you have been contaminated with contagious AIDS, right? Just forget

    about it. Excuse me. Please serve us the dishes.¡± Nan Xing ignored Ouyang Qi and instructed the

    waiter.

    Ouyang Qi was about to lose his cool because he had been rendered speechless by Nan Xing¡¯s

    statement. In the end, he asked the waiter to bring him another chair and ced it beside Ning Ran.

    ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to sit here! Return to your original seat at once!¡± Nan Xing pointed in the direction

    of Ouyang Qi¡¯s initial seat.

    ¡°Never! Since I¡¯m the one who¡¯s going to foot the bill, I deserve to sit by Mimi¡¯s side!¡± Ouyang Qi

    announced arrogantly.

    He was delighted because he finally got the better of Nan Xing for once.

    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not going to return to your seat?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    ¡°Never! Why don¡¯t you take over my initial seat? It seems like you have a thing for it, huh?¡±

    Since Ouyang Qi finally got the better of Nan Xing, he would never let him off easily.

    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not going to change your mind?¡±

    ¡°Nope!¡± Ouyang Qi replied determinedly.

    Since Ouyang Qi refused to move, Nan Xing walked over and brought the chair with him, cing it by

    Ning Ran¡¯s side as well.

    Consequently, Ning Ran was surrounded by two different men at each of her sides.

    The waiter, who had been waiting for them to sort things out, found the scene hrious, yet he dared

    notugh.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    On the other hand, Ning Ran behaved nonchntly as though she couldn¡¯t be bothered by them at all.

    She had no intention to poke her nose into their business either.

    Once the scrumptious dishes were served, Ning Ran started savoring the dishes because it had been a

    few days since shest had such delicacies.

    Over the past few days, she had been consuming nd food.

    Halfway through her meal, she got increasingly irritated because the two men refused to stop arguing.

    As she couldn¡¯t hold back her irritation anymore, she put her cutlery aside and yelled at them, ¡°That¡¯s

    enough! Can both of you stop for a minute? Do you guys know that you sound like two annoying flies

    buzzing around me while I¡¯m trying to enjoy my meal!¡±

    ¡°Did you hear that?¡± Ouyang Qi and Nan Xing started pointing fingers at each other again.

    ¡°That¡¯s it! If we¡¯re going for another round of debate, I¡¯m out of here! I¡¯ll leave both of you behind to

    enjoy yourselves!¡± Ning Ran warned them.

    ¡°You should keep your mouth shut!¡± The irritated duo med each other for onest time.

    Thereafter, they finally stopped arguing.

    Ning Ran heaved a sigh of relief because she could finally enjoy her meal quietly.

    However, after a minute of peace, Nan Xing got up from his seat and offered, ¡°Ning Ran, you should try

    this.¡±

    Ouyang Qi wasn¡¯t going to allow Nan Xing to outshine him. He got up from his seat and served Ning

    Ran another dish. ¡°Try this instead!¡±

    ¡°Sit down!¡± Ning Ran shouted.

    Since Ning Ran had made herself clear, none of them dared try anything reckless anymore.

    She had enough of their childish behavior. Therefore, Ning Ran requested the waiter¡¯s aid to move her

    chair on her behalf.

    In the end, the waiter moved her chair to the seat opposite the two men.

    Since the men were left behind, they wanted to move over to Ning Ran¡¯s side again, but she stopped

    them by giving them a warning, ¡°If anyone of you moves over to my side, I¡¯m going to leave for real!¡±

    Finally, she managed to subdue the irrational duo who had been fighting since they met.

    Ning Ran chuckled, ¡°Great! Look at the sheer amount of simrities between both of you! Why can¡¯t the

    most renowned dandies in town get along with one another?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s right! Why can¡¯t we get along when we¡¯re both the heir from wealthy families? We have been

    living off our family all this while. Why are you trying to behave as though you¡¯re superior to me?¡±

    Ouyang Qi asked sincerely.

    ¡°We¡¯re not the same, okay? I¡¯m a talented man while you¡¯re merely a foolish man whoes from a

    wealthy family,¡± Nan Xing remarked scornfully.

    ¡°Are you serious? How dare you consider yourself a talented man?¡± Ouyang Qi scoffed in return.

    ¡°You can¡¯t tell the difference because you¡¯re a foolish man!¡±

    ¡°Hold it right there! Are you guys going to start another round of fight?¡± Ning Ran decided to interfere

    yet again.

    ¡°Nope!¡± Ouyang Qi replied determinedly.

    Since Ouyang Qi refused to move, Nan Xing walked over and brought the chair with him, cing it by

    Ning Ran¡¯s side as well.

    Thankfully, her words worked like a charm. Finally, she managed to finish her meal peacefully.

    Nevertheless, the men encountered another issue after they finished their meal. In order to decide who

    would get to send Ning Ran home, they were about to fight again.

    ¡°Excuse me? Who else can it be other than me? I must ensure my guest reaches home safely after

    taking her out for a meal!¡± Ouyang Qi announced.

    ¡°Are you kidding me? How can I hand her over to you? She¡¯s affiliated with the Nan family. I will send

    her home as a member of the Nan family! You¡¯re merely an outsider! Please move aside!¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s affiliated with the Nan family? How? Has she gotten married to the heir of the Nan family?¡±

    ¡°Are you stupid? How is she not rted to the Nan family when she¡¯s the parent of the youngest heirs

    of the family?¡±

    ¡°Enough! That¡¯s the end of the conversation! I don¡¯t need anyone to send me home; I¡¯ll take a cab

    home on my own!¡± Ning Ran had more than enough of the irritating duo.

    Immediately after they heard Ning Ran¡¯s words, they decided to keep their mouths shut.

    Nan Xing suggested, ¡°We¡¯ll stop arguing, but can you get one of us to send you home?¡±

    Without a second thought, Ning Ran said, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll have you send me home.¡±

    Ouyang Qi was frustrated. He confronted, ¡°Why? Why does he get to send you home?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? She¡¯s part of the Nan family! You¡¯re merely an outsider!¡± Nan Xing answered on Ning

    Ran¡¯s behalf.

    Although Ouyang Qi was displeased, he couldn¡¯t defy Ning Ran¡¯s words since she had made up her

    mind.

    Once Ning Ran and Nan Xing got into the car, he started behaving differently as he seemed to have

    lost his spirit.

    Ning Ran was confused with his sudden change of behavior. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Where has the

    Nan Xing with high morale gone?¡±

    Nan Xing leaned against the seat and heaved a long sigh of despair. ¡°Actually, I had a bad day, but all

    this while, I have been putting on a strong front due to Ouyang Qi¡¯s presence.¡±

    Ning Ran resisted the urge tough because it seemed to be a serious matter. ¡°Really? It must be

    tough to put on a strong front, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Please stop teasing me because I¡¯m serious. I¡¯m in a foul mood because I had a fight with Chen in the

    morning.¡± Nan Xing felt dejected. It was written all over his face.

    ¡°Are you serious? You had a fight with your brother?¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t sound possible? However, we had an intense fight!¡±

    ¡°I think you have misperceived my words. It¡¯s impossible for you to have a fight with your brother

    because I¡¯m pretty sure you were the one being scolded, right?¡±

    ¡°Excuse me! Why do you have to pick on my sore spot? Can you please keep that between us? You¡¯re

    so annoying!¡±

    ¡°Did I hit the bullseye? I¡¯m pretty sure it was a one-sided fight, right? You¡¯re the one that had been

    tormented by your brother,¡± Ning Ran continued teasing Nan Xing.

    ¡°Whatever! You¡¯re such a heartless woman! I have dropped by because I needed to talk to someone,

    but you¡¯re doing the exact opposite, giving me a hard time, making me feel worse!¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why don¡¯t you pull over and drop me off at a nearby bus station?¡±

    ¡°Wait! Ugh! If you¡¯re having a great time hurting me, so be it!¡± Nan Xing held on to his chest as he

    stated.

 Chapter 397

    Chapter 397

    Nan Xing had always been a sprightly man. But, he seemed to be dejected after the fight he had with

    Nan Chen.

    Truth be told, Nan Chen had always been strict with his brother. He set high standards for him because

    he had high hopes for him.

    Although the bar was higher than the ones for the management level¡¯s employees, Nan Xing knew it

    was for his sake.

    Hence, he had never once med Nan Chen. However, he couldn¡¯t take it because Nan Chen thought

    he should be med for the mess that had urred in Vietnam.

    Nan Xing wasn¡¯t a fool either. He knew he had been used as aparison to Nan Chen all along.

    Although they resembled one another in terms of look, Nan Xing was aware that he wasn¡¯t a match for

    Nan Chen in any aspect.

    Nevertheless, Nan Xing was never jealous of his brother, despite being inferior to him.

    He didn¡¯t mind being the inferior one amongst his siblings. In fact, he had always been proud of his

    brother for his exceptional achievements in everything he did.

    Even though he had never enjoyed dealing with the tasks that had been assigned, he tried his best to

    execute them so he could be of aid to Nan Chen.

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    He was dejected because Nan Chen suspected him since the project fell apart. His brother had implied

    he was the one behind the downfall because he seemed to have an ulterior goal.

    He was very hurt.

    Ning Ran did an outstanding job, ying the role of a listener as she sat by Nan Xing¡¯s side silently,

    while the man told her everything he had been keeping to himself.

    She couldn¡¯t fathom themercial aspects of the project Nan Xing had brought up in front of her due

    to itsplex nature, yet she thought something seemed to be odd about the entire incident.

    As soon as Nan Xing finished his orated speech, he turned around and stared at Ning Ran with a

    pitiable front. ¡°What should I do to earn Chen¡¯s trust again?¡±

    Ning Ran nodded and stated, ¡°Thanks for this information with me. It means a lot to me because it

    shows that you think that I¡¯m a trustworthy friend of yours.¡±

    ¡°Huh? What are you talking about? You¡¯re not a friend of mine because you¡¯re a freaking family

    member of mine, okay?¡± Nan Xing corrected Ning Ran.

    ¡°Alright. If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯m going to tell you my point of view. Actually, I think something¡¯s wrong.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong then?¡±

    ¡°Did you have the fight with your brother in his office?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Was there anybody around back then? Did they hear the content of the fight?¡±

    ¡°I think so? The door of Chen¡¯s office wasn¡¯t shut tight. By the time I made my way out of his office, I

    caught a glimpse of a few people checking on me. Therefore, I think there were a few who were aware

    of the fight.¡±

    ¡°There you go! Think about it. Your brother is such a smart guy. If you¡¯re the one who has messed up

    the entire project, you¡¯ll put the entire family to shame. Do you think he¡¯s going to expose your fault in

    front of others? Judging by his overprotective personality, I¡¯m sure he¡¯s going to keep everyone else in

    the dark and talk to you in private. Why would he summon you to his office and teach you a lesson in

    front of others? Do you really think that¡¯s how Nan Chen work¡± Ning Ran asked in return.

    Upon hearing Ning Ran¡¯s words, he eximed, ¡°You¡¯re right!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure the fight has been intended because it¡¯s a show for others,¡± Ning Ran assured Nan

    Xing.

    Nan Xing managed to figure out the meaning behind Ning Ran¡¯s words immediately.

    ¡°Does that mean he¡¯s trying to put on an act to deceive others?¡±

    ¡°Exactly!¡±

    ¡°Why would he go to great lengths to put on a show in front of others? What exactly is he up to?¡±

    ¡°I have no idea because it¡¯s an internal affair in your family. Since I¡¯m merely an outsider, I can¡¯t figure

    out his actual intention either.¡±

    ¡°In other words, Chen isn¡¯t suspecting me at all?¡±

    ¡°I think so. You¡¯re the one he trusted the most; he will never fight with you over a mere project. This

    doesn¡¯t seem like something he would do.¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I need to figure out the rationale behind his action!¡±

    ¡°No! I don¡¯t think that¡¯s very wise of you because I¡¯m certain he¡¯s going to keep you in the dark for the

    time being.¡±

    Halfway through their conversation, Nan Xing received a call.

    The moment he hung up the call, he asked, ¡°Mr. Wang, a member of the board of directors, asked me

    to join him for a cup of tea. Do you want to tag along with me?¡±

    ¡°Have you lost your mind? Why would I want to tag along when I¡¯m merely an outsider?¡± Ning Ran

    dissed.

    ¡°He¡¯s trying to figure out the reason behind the fight that had urred in the morning. What should I tell

    him?¡±

    ¡°If he¡¯s trying to poke his nose into this particr incident, you have to behave as though you¡¯re

    infuriated for real! Since your brother wants others to know that both of you are fighting, you have to

    y along with him and deceive them,¡± Ning Ran exined.

    Nan Xing showed Ning Ran a thumbs up andplimented, ¡°You¡¯re so smart! No wonder you¡¯re my

    sister-inw!¡±

    ¡°Has something gotten into you?¡± Ning Ran reprimanded Nan Xing.

    Wang Shoucai was a member of Nanshi Corporation¡¯s board of directors.

    He had a rtively chubby built and had always shown up in front of others with a bright smile.

    Usually, he would hold a pair of steel balls in his hands.

    Wang Shoucai had always been considered a friendly man amongst the board of directors. He would

    always greet others with a bright grin politely, despite the difference between their position within the

    corporation.

    ying the role of a middleman, Wang Shoucai would y the role of a moderator whenever he was

    part of an important conference.

    In short, he was popr amongst others.

    Finally, Nan Xing reached the designated location. As soon as he entered the private suite, he detected

    an aromatic fragrance of tea.

    Since he was a young man, he had never taken a liking to tea because his favorite beverage was

    alcoholic drinks.

    He had always deemed drinking tea as an old man¡¯s favorite pastime. Thus, he didn¡¯t bother to figure

    out the philosophy associated with tea drinking.

    ¡°Hello, 4th Young Master!¡± Once Wang Shoucai spotted Nan Xing, he got up from his seat and greeted

    him enthusiastically.

    Upon hearing Ning Ran¡¯s words, he eximed, ¡°You¡¯re right!¡±

    ¡°Hello, Mr. Wang. Please address me as Nan Xing instead.¡±

    ¡°Please have a seat! What sort of tea do you like?¡±

    ¡°I have never been a fan of tea because I¡¯m used to drinking alcoholic beverages. Please suit yourself,

    Mr. Wang.¡±

    Wang Shoucai chuckled, ¡°Oh! You¡¯re right! Do you want to head over to another ce for a few

    drinks?¡±

    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary, Mr. Wang. Please enjoy yourself and pay no heed to me. I don¡¯t think I

    should be drinking when it¡¯s not even evening yet. Besides, I don¡¯t think I will be here for long.¡±

    ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s talk over a cup of tea. This cup of tea is not half bad. Why don¡¯t you give it a try? If it¡¯s not

    to your liking, I¡¯ll get someone else to get us another pot.¡±

    Although Nan Xing had never enjoyed drinking tea, he was, after all, the heir of a wealthy family.

    Thus, he could tell the quality of the tea.

    He took a sip and noticed the cup of tea was indeed a premium one.

    ¡°It¡¯s not half bad, but what brings you to me, Mr. Wang? I¡¯m sure you didn¡¯t reach out to me just for a

    cup of tea, right?¡± Nan Xing didn¡¯t bother to beat around the bush.

    ¡°I heard some rumors. Therefore, I¡¯d like to rify a few things with you,¡± Wang Shoucai stated his

    objective.

    ¡°What is it about, Mr. Wang?¡±

    ¡°I heard that something¡¯s wrong with the project in Vietnam. Lately, someone got in touch with Mr. Chen

    and told him you were the reason the project had fallen apart. It seems as though they were trying to

    drive a wedge between you and Mr. Chen.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised, Mr. Wang. How did you manage to get your hands on the news so soon? You have quite

    an impressive connection, huh?¡± Nan Xing raised his eyebrows and expressed his surprise.

    ¡°Naturally, I have my own informants scattered throughout the corporation since I¡¯m a member of the

    board of directors. You¡¯re not going to me me, right?¡±

    Nan Xing nodded in return. ¡°It¡¯s an elephant in the room; everyone is aware every member of the board

    of directors has their own informants.¡±

    ¡°Therefore, it isn¡¯t odd for me to get my hands on this particr news, right?¡±

    ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not a rumor because we had a fight. I can¡¯t believe Chen is suspecting me! Speaking of

    which, I can¡¯t wait to figure out the person who¡¯s trying to drive a wedge between us. Do you have any

    idea, Mr. Wang?¡± Nan Xing wondered.

    ¡°Please forgive me, but I don¡¯t have any intel regarding the identity of the mastermind. However, I have

    the perfect solution to get you out of this nasty situation.¡± Wang Shoucai offered.

    ¡°Oh? Really? That¡¯s such wonderful news! Why don¡¯t you tell me about it? What should I do to get

    myself out of this nasty situation?¡±

    ¡°He started suspecting you because the construction of the project had been brought to a halt, right? If

    you¡¯re able to turn the tables, I¡¯m sure he won¡¯t doubt you anymore! If you¡¯re able to get everything

    sorted out on your own, I¡¯m sure Mr. Chen will stop suspecting you!¡±

    ¡°That sounds like a brilliant idea! What exactly should I do?¡±

 Chapter 398

    Chapter 398

    Nan Xing refused to believe he had got lucky because he found the timeline of their meet up to be too

    much of a coincidence.

    The fight urred just this morning, but someone showed up out of nowhere in the afternoon and told

    him he would be able to get everything sorted out for him.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m not capable of resolving the issue,¡± Wang Shoucai told Nan Xing after he took a sip of

    tea.

    Nan Xing put on an anxious front upon hearing Wang Shoucai¡¯s reply.

    ¡°Are you trying to fool me, Mr. Wang?¡±

    ¡°I believe you have misunderstood my words. Although I¡¯m not capable of resolving the issue, a certain

    someone possesses the capability to help you.¡±

    ¡°Who are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Ouyang Duo,¡± Mr. Wang replied with a bright grin.

    ¡°Are you talking about Ouyang Duo from Sunshine Corporation? The father of that insolent brat,

    Ouyang Qi, right?¡±

    Wang Shoucai was taken aback by Nan Xing¡¯s statement because he had brought Ouyang Qi up when

    they were talking about Ouyang Duo. In fact, Nan Xing addressed Ouyang Qi as the brat.

    What exactly is going on?

    ¡°Yes. Although there may be hundreds and thousands of Ouyang Duo throughout the entire globe, the

    one and only Ouyang Duo who¡¯s capable of resolving the issue is none other than the one from

    Sunshine Corporation.¡±

    ¡°How is he supposed to resolve the issue? Why don¡¯t you tell me about it, Mr. Wang?¡±

    ¡°The reason behind the entire incident was the assessment report, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes! Those so-called experts and authorities turned their back against us and denied the authenticity

    of the report! They told the public we forced them into submission back then! However, the report had

    been produced through legitimate means! We have long passed the environmental assessment since

    years ago!¡± Nan Xing assured Wang Shoucai.

    ¡°Exactly! Once the assessment issue gets sorted out, the construction will definitely get the green light

    to proceed, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Theoretically, you¡¯re right.¡±

    ¡°The minister from the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Resources Preservation of Vietnam

    used to study abroad back in the day. Previously, he was a close friend of a particr figure from

    China. They were considered brothers from different mothers. Throughout the years, the duo still stays

    in touch.¡±

    Nan Xing finally figured out the rtionship between the parties involved. ¡°The figure you¡¯re talking

    about is Ouyang Duo, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Yes. As long as Ouyang Duo procures the aid of the said minister, I¡¯m sure the issue will be resolved

    in no time,¡± Wang Shoucai reassured Nan Xing.

    ¡°Do you think Ouyang Duo will do me the favor?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure he will because the Ouyang family has always been on good terms with the Nan family.

    Didn¡¯t the members of the Ouyang family attended your grandfather¡¯s birthday banquet?¡±

    ¡°Oh! Right! How did you manage to figure out their rtionship?¡± Nan Xing asked in return.

    ¡°I used to be their schoolmate back in the day. Thus, I¡¯m aware of their rtionship as well,¡± Wang

    Shoucai replied with a bright grin.

    ¡°Alright! Thanks, Mr. Wang! I need to talk to my brother before making the decision. If there¡¯s nothing

    else, I shall leave now.¡±

    ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll see you again. I¡¯ll finish my cup of tea before leaving.¡± Wang Shoucai got up from the couch

    and showed Nan Xing the way out of the suite.

    Once Nan Xing walked out of the store, he called Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen told Nan Xing to meet him at the stadium. His brother wanted him to get changed into a set

    of sports attires before heading over because they would have a round of football soon.

    Nan Xing had no intention to make a trip home. He headed over to the stadium as instructed and got

    someone to deliver him a set of sports attires and a pair of shoes.

    He had been ying on his own for a little more than an hour before Nan Chen showed up in the

    stadium.

    It was a spacious stadium, yet both of them were the only ones avable. They could talk about all

    sorts of things without the concern of being eavesdropped on.

    ¡°Chen, you scolded me in front of others deliberately. Am I right?¡±

    ¡°No! I have always wanted to teach you a lesson!¡± Nan Chen replied callously beforeunching the ball

    in his brother¡¯s direction.

    Nan Xing intercepted the ball and kicked it back in Nan Chen¡¯s direction.

    ¡°Does that mean you¡¯re suspecting me? Do you really think I¡¯m the one who¡¯s trying to drag you

    down?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure you¡¯re not the one because you¡¯re a person without any ambition. In fact, you¡¯re a kind

    person who would never do that to me.¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why did you scold me?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the person in charge of the project. Since everything has fallen apart, who else should I take

    things out on?¡± Nan Chen asked him in return.

    ¡°I don¡¯t mind bearing the consequences of my neglection, but you shouldn¡¯t have used me of

    orchestrating the n!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s merely an act to deceive our foes. Let¡¯s put that aside for the time being. What did Wang

    Shoucai tell you?¡±

    Nan Xing was taken aback by Nan Chen¡¯s words because he had never mentioned anything about his

    meeting with Wang Shoucai. ¡°How did you know he was the one who had approached me? Did you

    send someone to tail me?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t send anyone to tail you, but I have sent a few to tail Wang Shoucai.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Why do you want to tail him?¡± Nan Xing was shocked.

    ¡°Grandpa and I think a key figure of the corporation was the one behind the entire incident. Therefore, I

    have sent a few of my men to keep an eye on the members of the board of directors, especially the

    ones who have engaged themselves in suspicious activities. There wasn¡¯t anything suspicious about

    the others, but Wang Shoucai was the only one who had approached you,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°Oh, God! Grandpa and you are such capable men! How did both of you manage to hit the bullseye? I

    must say I¡¯m impressed!¡±

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    ¡°We ruled out the possibility based on the evidence we could get our hands on. What did Wang

    Shoucai tell you?¡±

    Nan Xing thought of something interesting and asked, ¡°Since you¡¯re such a smart guy, why don¡¯t you

    take a guess?¡±

    Nan Chen signaled Nan Xing to take over the role as a goalie as he would attempt to shoot the ball.

    ¡°Why am I the goalie again? Shall we finish the conversation before carrying on?¡±

    ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll see you again. I¡¯ll finish my cup of tea before leaving.¡± Wang Shoucai got up from the couch

    and showed Nan Xing the way out of the suite.

    Nan Chen narrowed his eyes and replied, ¡°He has presented a solution to you and wants you to regain

    my trust through resolving the issue. If he achieves his goal, you¡¯re going to have to do him a favor in

    the future. Indirectly, he¡¯s trying to win you over.¡±

    ¡°Oh, God! How did you manage to figure out the content of our conversation?¡± Nan Xing¡¯s jaw dropped

    open.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Nan Chen enunciated.

    ¡°Hell no! That¡¯s impossible!¡± Nan Xing screeched.

    ¡°Why? Isn¡¯t it a piece of cake after ruling out the possibility?¡±

    ¡°How did you figure out the content of our conversation?¡±

    Nan Chen orated, ¡°The minute the news about our conflict bes widespread, everyone within the

    corporation will be aware of the incident. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware of the power of the inte, do you?

    Since Wang Shoucai had approached you, I¡¯m pretty sure he wasn¡¯t there tofort you. Hence, it

    would be safe to assume that he has asked you out because he wished to present a solution to you. If

    he didn¡¯t have a perfect solution, he would never have approached you when you were in such a foul

    mood unless he had a kink for being scolded in the face. He has always been known as a cunning

    man. Do you think he¡¯ll resort to such a foolish action? Therefore, isn¡¯t it a piece of cake?¡±

    Although Nan Xing found Nan Chen¡¯s words logical, he refused to acknowledge it was a piece of cake

    to rule out the possibility to theplexity behind the entire incident.

    Chen might be the only one capable of ruling out the possibility as though it was an easy task. If

    anyone else including me had been put in his position, we would never have figured out the content of

    the conversation! Undeniably, there¡¯s a huge difference in terms of our capabilities.

    ¡°Chen, I¡¯m going to be impressed if you¡¯re able to figure out the solution Wang Shoucai has presented

    to me!¡±

    ¡°If I¡¯m able to figure out the solution he has presented to you, I want you to take things in hand and

    resolve it. Do we have a deal? ¡°

    ¡°Sure!¡± Nan Xing agreed without a second thought.

    ¡°I need you to take it seriously!¡± Nan Chen requested.

    ¡°No problem, Chen! I¡¯ll definitely take it seriously!¡± Nan Xing assured his brother.

    Nan Chen nodded and told his brother, ¡°Did Wang Shoucai tell you about the rtionship between the

    Minister of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Resources Preservation and Ouyang Duo? He

    told you to get in touch with Ouyang Duo because he can solve the issue on your behalf. Am I right?¡±

    Nan Xing was utterly dumbfounded. His eyes widened in disbelief as he asked, ¡°How did you figure

    that out?¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t a mere guess anymore. I have gotten my men to run a background check on the suspicious

    parties involved and figured out their rtionship after a series of investigations.¡±

    ¡°Are you serious? How did you figure out Ouyang Duo used to be the schoolmate with the minister

    from Vietnam?¡± Nan Xing expressed his confusion.

    He felt as though his brother was a capable fortune teller since he managed to foresee the things that

    would be in store for the parties involved.

 Chapter 399

    Chapter 399

    Nan Chen blurted, ¡°Actually, it isn¡¯t a big deal because Ouyang Duo was the alumnus of an

    internationally renowned school. In fact, a lot of elites were the alumni of the said school. They have

    formed an association for their batch of alumni in East Asia. The minister from Vietnam was the

    secretary of the association, while Ouyang Duo was the vice-secretary. Since they¡¯re affiliated with the

    same association, it isn¡¯t odd for them to keep in touch with one another, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°How did you figure out Wang Shoucai would talk about Ouyang Duo?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s because we have been devising countermeasures since the urrence of the incident.

    Throughout the process, we discovered the rtionship between the said minister and Ouyang Duo.

    Meanwhile, Wang Shou has been a member of the board of directors for years. We¡¯re fully aware of his

    background, including his educational background because we have ess to his profile. All in all,

    don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a piece of cake to link the missing puzzle pieces together?¡±

    Although Nan Xing could barely grasp the idea behind the exnation his brother had presented, he

    nodded in return.

    ¡°Does that mean you¡¯re aware we¡¯re able to resolve the issue as long as we get in touch with Ouyang

    Duo? If that¡¯s the case, why didn¡¯t you get in touch with him?¡±

    ¡°I have been waiting for someone to bring it up all along.¡±

    Nan Xing was baffled by his brother¡¯s words again. He puckered his face, indicating his confusion.

    ¡°Nanshi Corporation is arge corporation. Therefore, if we¡¯re capable of resolving the issue on our

    own, we should never rely on others. Hence, our staff has been working hardtely in an attempt to

    resolve the issue through internal resources. However, we would have to rely on a third party¡¯s aid if we

    run out of options. Since we may need to procure the aid of a third party, it¡¯s natural to do our own due

    diligence before reaching out to others for their help.¡±

    ¡°Procuring other¡¯s aid can be a challenge since we can¡¯t show up at their doorstep, requesting for their

    help out of the blue. Everything has to be executed in a timely and precise manner to achieve a

    synergistic effect. Since Wang Shoucai has presented the solution to you, we¡¯ll leverage his identity as

    the middleman and get him to put you to Ouyang Duo to get his aid. That would be the most ideal

    solution for now. Hence, I¡¯ll put you in charge of resolving the challenge.¡±

    Finally, Nan Xing could grasp the situation.

    ¡°Are you suspecting Wang Shoucai?¡±

    ¡°This is nothing personal against him because I told you someone affiliated with the corporation was

    behind this. Hence, he¡¯s merely one of the many suspects that¡¯s on the list,¡± Nan Chen rephrased his

    sentences.

    ¡°Since you have been keeping an eye on him for some time, have you proven him guilty?¡±

    ¡°Nope. Perhaps he¡¯s sincerely offering his aid to resolve the issue. Alright. I¡¯ll put you in charge of the

    negotiation with Ouyang Duo. Can you head over and take over the role of a goalie now?¡± Nan Chen

    pointed at the goal and asked.

    A weekter, Nan Zhengde finally made his way back to the Commoner Residence.

    Although Yunfeng Hill had a great environment, it wasn¡¯t asfortable as things were back home.

    As soon as Nan Zhengde reached home, he took a nap for a few hours because he was exhausted. By

    the time he roused from his sleep, it was already afternoon.

    Chai Hua told Nan Zhengde, ¡°Nan Zhiyuan and Bai Hua dared not enter the residence because they

    didn¡¯t get your permission. They had been waiting outside of the residence since a few hours ago.¡±

    Nan Zhengde departed ahead of Nan Zhiyuan and Bai Hua as the duo had to deal with the required

    paperwork prior to their departure from the temple. Therefore, they reached the residence slightlyter

    than Nan Zhengde.

    He gave it a thought and nodded. ¡°Show them the way in.¡±

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    Bai Hua almost shed tears of joy once she figured out they had acquired Nan Zhengde¡¯s consent to

    enter the residence.

    Finally, she managed to achieve the first goal she had in mind after she returned from abroad.

    She would be wasting her time if she failed to get Nan Zhengde¡¯s consent to enter the residence.

    Truth be told, her life in Flower City was no match for Japan in terms of quality.

    In spite of thevish lifestyle she had in Japan, she would have to return to the Nan family in order to

    achieve the goal she had in mind.

    Nevertheless, acquiring Nan Zhengde¡¯s consent to return to Commoner Residence was merely the first

    step of her n.

    Soon, she would proceed to the next stage of acquiring the influence she once possessed as Mrs. Nan

    of the Nan family in Flower City.

    She had everything sorted out as she had formed a coalition with several parties because it would take

    more than Nan Zhiyuan and her strength to achieve her ultimate goal.

    One of the parties involved was the Ouyang family.

    In the meantime, Nan Zhengde spent some time in his study room since he had been away from his

    beloved paintings for a week.

    As soon as he spread the rice paper on the table, Nan Zhengde started writing, indulging himself in his

    favorite Chinese calligraphy. Fate.

    Bai Hua showed up out of nowhere and started ttering her father-inw. ¡°Dad, your writing is on par

    with those of a professional calligrapher.¡±

    ¡°I thought it would be the end of our rtionship, but I¡¯m sure fate must have had shown us the way

    back to each another. Since we¡¯re able to reunite once again, we should appreciate the time we get to

    spend together. This is for both of you. Hopefully, you won¡¯t try any silly anymore. Please don¡¯t let me

    down again,¡± Nan Zhengde stated.

    ¡°Thanks, Dad,¡± Bai Hua and Nan Zhiyuan expressed their gratitude.

    ¡°I want both of you to prove your words. Please refrain from trying anything silly from now onwards.¡±

    Nan Zhiyuan and Bai Hua exchanged nces and assured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Dad! We¡¯ll definitely keep

    that in mind!¡±

    The moment they wrapped up the conversation, the duo showed no signs of leaving at all.

    Therefore, Non Zhengde osked Non Zhiyuon, ¡°Do you hove onything else to tell me?¡±

    Non Zhiyuon looked ot Boi Huo ond stoted, ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell Dod obout it?¡±

    After o series of discussions, Non Zhiyuon hod been given the tosk to bring it up in front of Non

    Zhengde. However, he decided to hond over the tosk to his wife ot the lost minute becouse he felt

    diffident.

    Boi Huo hod no intention to toke the blome on Non Zhiyuon¡¯s beholf either, yet she hod no choice but

    to broce herself ond tell her fother-in-low obout their plon since Non Zhiyuon hod brought it up in front

    of him.

    Frowning, Non Zhengde osked, ¡°Whot¡¯s going on? Whot exoctly ore both of you up to ogoin?¡±

    ¡°Dod, we¡¯re not the one who hose up with this suggestion. We¡¯re merely delivering the messoge

    on beholf of onother porty. We decided to consult you prior to moking the coll.¡±

    ¡°Whot is it?¡± Non Zhengde queried.

    ¡°Ouyong Duo¡¯s wife, Feng Jioling, hos conveyed their fomily¡¯s intention to be the in-lows of the Non

    fomily,¡± Boi Huo soid.

    ¡°Is thot o proposol from the Ouyong fomily?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Dod. Their doughter, Ouyong Qing, hos o thing for Non Chen since o few yeors ogo. Therefore,

    they wonted both of them to get morried os soon os possible becouse they seem to be o motch mode

    in heoven. It¡¯s going to be beneficiol for both fomilies os well,¡± Boi Huo odded.

    ¡°Does this meon the Ouyongs ore the ones who hove proposed this engogement?¡± Non Zhengde cost

    o skepticol goze ot Boi Huo.

    ¡°It wosn¡¯t on officiol proposol, but it wos more of o discussion. Nowodoys, nobody octuolly proposes

    through their porents onymore.¡±

    Once Boi Huo finished her sentence, she ovoided Non Zhengde¡¯s goze os she hod been lying; she wos

    the mostermind behind the proposol.

    As o motter of foct, Feng Jioling refused to ept the proposol becouse she wonted her doughter to

    moke the coll on her own. Feng Jioling would decide on the next best course of oction if things worked

    out between them.

    Feng Jioling decided to ploy hord to get becouse Ouyong Qi wos their beloved doughter.

    The one who hod been orchestroting the entire proposol wos Ouyong Qing.

    ¡°D-Dod, it¡¯s merely on informol proposol of the Ouyong fomily. They didn¡¯t soy they would wont them to

    get morried immediotely. Since Ouyong Qing wos their beloved doughter, they didn¡¯t wont her to

    humiliote herself either,¡± Boi Huo stuttered.

    ¡°Since those from the Ouyong fomily hove proven their sincerity, we con¡¯t possibly ploy hord to get.

    Pleose get in touch with Mrs. Ouyong ond indicote our willingness to be their in-lows,¡± Non

    Zhengde instructed.

    ¡°Does thot meon it¡¯s o yes, Dod?¡± Boi Huo wos token obock by her fother-in-low¡¯s reply.

    ¡°Since they hod brought it up, we con¡¯t possibly turn them down, right? Otherwise, it would put the

    relotionship of both fomilies ot stoke. We should push the responsibilities to the youngsters either.¡±

    Therefore, Nan Zhengde asked Nan Zhiyuan, ¡°Do you have anything else to tell me?¡±

    Nan Zhiyuan looked at Bai Hua and stated, ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell Dad about it?¡±

    After a series of discussions, Nan Zhiyuan had been given the task to bring it up in front of Nan

    Zhengde. However, he decided to hand over the task to his wife at thest minute because he felt

    diffident.

    Bai Hua had no intention to take the me on Nan Zhiyuan¡¯s behalf either, yet she had no choice but

    to brace herself and tell her father-inw about their n since Nan Zhiyuan had brought it up in front

    of him.

    Frowning, Nan Zhengde asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on? What exactly are both of you up to again?¡±

    ¡°Dad, we¡¯re not the one who hase up with this suggestion. We¡¯re merely delivering the message

    on behalf of another party. We decided to consult you prior to making the call.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Nan Zhengde queried.

    ¡°Ouyang Duo¡¯s wife, Feng Jialing, has conveyed their family¡¯s intention to be the inws of the Nan

    family,¡± Bai Hua said.

    ¡°Is that a proposal from the Ouyang family?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Dad. Their daughter, Ouyang Qing, has a thing for Nan Chen since a few years ago. Therefore,

    they wanted both of them to get married as soon as possible because they seem to be a match made

    in heaven. It¡¯s going to be beneficial for both families as well,¡± Bai Hua added.

    ¡°Does this mean the Ouyangs are the ones who have proposed this engagement?¡± Nan Zhengde cast

    a skeptical gaze at Bai Hua.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t an official proposal, but it was more of a discussion. Nowadays, nobody actually proposes

    through their parents anymore.¡±

    Once Bai Hua finished her sentence, she avoided Nan Zhengde¡¯s gaze as she had been lying; she was

    the mastermind behind the proposal.

    As a matter of fact, Feng Jialing refused to ept the proposal because she wanted her daughter to

    make the call on her own. Feng Jialing would decide on the next best course of action if things worked

    out between them.

    Feng Jialing decided to y hard to get because Ouyang Qi was their beloved daughter.

    The one who had been orchestrating the entire proposal was Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°D-Dad, it¡¯s merely an informal proposal of the Ouyang family. They didn¡¯t say they would want them to

    get married immediately. Since Ouyang Qing was their beloved daughter, they didn¡¯t want her to

    humiliate herself either,¡± Bai Hua stuttered.

    ¡°Since those from the Ouyang family have proven their sincerity, we can¡¯t possibly y hard to get.

    Please get in touch with Mrs. Ouyang and indicate our willingness to be their inws,¡± Nan

    Zhengde instructed.

    ¡°Does that mean it¡¯s a yes, Dad?¡± Bai Hua was taken aback by her father-inw¡¯s reply.

    ¡°Since they had brought it up, we can¡¯t possibly turn them down, right? Otherwise, it would put the

    rtionship of both families at stake. We should push the responsibilities to the youngsters either.¡±

 Chapter 400

    Chapter 400

    Since the duo made their way out of Nan Zhengde¡¯s study room, Bai Hua almost burst intoughter;

    she could barely hold back her joy.

    She couldn¡¯t believe she managed to achieve the n she had in mind without any problem.

    Losing herself in the process of thought, she started imagining her life after Nan Chen got married to

    Ouyang Qing. Soon, she would be Ouyang Qing¡¯s mother-inw, a woman affiliated with the

    Ouyang family.

    Indirectly, she would be known as the representative of the Nan family and the Ouyang family. Apart

    from that, her identity as Nan Chen¡¯s mother and Ouyang Qing¡¯s mother-inw would put her in a

    superior position amongst those from the upper echelon.

    In short, she had emerged victorious without doing anything.

    Nan Zhiyuan and Bai Hua had gotten married for years. Therefore, he could read his wife like a book.

    ¡°See? I have given you the opportunity to bring it up in front of Dad because I want you to take the

    credits.¡± Nan Zhiyuan tried to please his wife.

    ¡°Are you kidding me? Do you think I¡¯m a fool? You¡¯re the one who wants me to take the me on your

    behalf if thing heads south!¡± Bai Hua was aware of his husband¡¯s petty scheme all along.

    ¡°That has never been part of my n. Initially, I was afraid Dad would turn you down. If that had been

    the case, I would try my best to persuade him to change his mind. However, there was nothing you

    could do to change his mind if he turned me down after I brought it up in front of him.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Nan Zhiyuan! Stop lying to me! Thankfully, he has given in to the proposal! To be

    honest, I didn¡¯t expect he would agree to the proposal at all!¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t figure out the rationale behind his decision either. After all, he was the one who insisted on

    staying out of the youngsters¡¯ way because he wanted them to choose their spouse on their own. I

    must say I¡¯m surprised because he has given in to our request without a second thought.¡± Nan Zhiyuan

    expressed his point of view.

    ¡°Perhaps he has changed his mind since he¡¯s getting old? No matter what, we should be grateful. I can

    finally revert back to Ouyang Qing!¡± Bai Hua got pumped up as she stated.

    It was gettingte, yet Nan Chen was nowhere to be seen because he had to work overtime again. Nan

    Zhengde instructed the butler to summon his grandson home immediately.

    Coincidentally, Nan Chen had something to report to his grandfather regarding the construction of

    South City in Vietnam.

    Nan Chen told his grandfather after he returned home, ¡°Wang Shoucai had reached out to Nan Xing

    and proposed a solution. He told him Ouyang Duo would be able to resolve the issue.¡±

    ¡°How did things turn out in the end?¡±

    ¡°I have already put Nan Xing in charge of the negotiation. I told him to get Wang Shoucai to be the

    middleman between both parties, but he had turned Nan Xing down. He said he was in no position to

    meddle with the affair of both families when he was merely an ex-schoolmate of Ouyang Duo. The

    proposal was the only thing he had to offer.¡±

    ¡°How did things go on Nan Xing¡¯s end?¡±

    ¡°Nan Xing dropped by to visit Ouyang Duo, but thetter wasn¡¯t around as his secretary imed he had

    traveled abroad for a trip. Therefore, they didn¡¯t have a proper meet up.¡±

    Nan Zhengde got up from his seat and paced back and forth. In the end, he asked, ¡°What do you

    think?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps Ouyang Duo has something in his mind. In fact, I don¡¯t think he¡¯s abroad. It seems as though

    he wants us to prove our sincerity and offer him a certain something. I believe he will be ¡®back¡¯ the

    moment we offer him the thing he¡¯s looking for.¡±

    Nan Zhengde nodded and affirmed Nan Chen of his thoughts, ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t figure out the things he¡¯sing after. What do you think, Grandpa?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the one they¡¯reing after,¡± Nan Zhengde stated.

    ¡°Me?¡±

    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.

    ¡°Yes. He doesn¡¯t want to deal with Nan Xing. Instead, Ouyang Duo wants you to visit him and strike a

    deal with him. I believe he wants you to owe him a favor.¡±

    Silently, Nan Chen paced back and forth in a simr manner.

    ¡°Nan Xing has the right to represent the Nan family as well. Why does it have to be me? Does Ouyang

    Duo wants to be regarded highly by others?¡±

    ¡°In the afternoon, Bai Hua and Nan Zhiyuan dropped by. Do you want to take a guess at the content of

    our conversation?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. What did you guys talk about?¡±

    ¡°Those from the Ouyang family have proposed on behalf of Ouyang Qing. They want both of you to get

    married.¡±

    Nan Chen was taken aback by his grandfather¡¯s words.

    ¡°A marriage proposal?¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t an official proposal, but they made themselves clear of their wish to be affiliated with the Nan

    family. However, they weren¡¯t in a hurry to rush both of you to get married either.¡±

    Nan Chen was shocked because he didn¡¯t see thising.

    Although he was aware of the affection Ouyang Qing had for him, it seemed impossible for her to

    initiate the proposal.

    After all, she was a member of the renowned Ouyang family. She couldn¡¯t possibly cast her dignity

    aside.

    ¡°Care to share your opinion with me?¡± Nan Zhengde probed because his grandson had remained silent

    for some time.

    ¡°Grandpa, do you think the proposal is rted to the incident that has urred in Vietnam?¡± Nan Chen

    asked in return.

    Nan Zhengde shook his head and replied, ¡°I can¡¯t be certain.¡±

    Nan Chen lost himself in the process of thought once again.

    His grandfather added, ¡°The Ouyang family is an equally renowned family. Ouyang Qing is a talented

    and good-lookingdy who has graduated from a renowned institution. Therefore, I don¡¯t think they¡¯re

    trying to force you into submission by doing you a favor.¡±

    Nan Chen shared a simr thought with his grandfather because he had encountered Ouyang Qing

    more than once before this.

    She was a gorgeous woman from a wealthy family. Thus, she was popr amongst the heirs from

    different families.

    A lot of men tried to court her. As long as she agreed to get into a rtionship with any of them, she

    could easily forge a beneficial rtionship with another renowned family.

    In short, it didn¡¯t moke ony sense for Ouyong Duo to resort to such on extreme countermeosure.

    ¡°Hove you given in to their proposol, Grondpo?¡±

    Non Zhengde oroted, ¡°Do you think I con turn them down when they hod mode their intention cleor? I

    don¡¯t think I hove the right to turn down their proposol even if the project in Vietnom didn¡¯t encounter

    ony sorts of problems. Otherwise, others would consider me slinging mud ot them. The Ouyong fomily

    hos been closely ocquointed with the Non fomily throughout the yeors. They hove been pretty helpful

    bock in the doy. Fronkly, I con¡¯t possibly turn them down. In foct, we hove nothing to lose either since

    it¡¯s o greot ideo to hove both fomilies to be in-lows.¡±

    Frowning, Non Chen confronted, ¡°Am I supposed to give in to their proposol os well, Grondpo?¡±

    Non Zhengde woved ond informed his grondson, ¡°I hove never once intended to poke my nose into my

    children ond grondchildren¡¯s lives. This wos the reoson Non Zhengde got morried to Boi Huo ond

    ended up os such. Previously, I chose to stoy out of their morrioge. Therefore, I won¡¯t interfere with

    your life. I hove foith in you. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re owore of the consequences of your oction ond decision.¡±

    ¡°Although I hove given in to their proposol, you hove never once given your consent. Perhops those

    from the Ouyong fomily think the Non fomily is under the guidonce of some conservotive ond

    bockword-thinking old fool. Thus, they might hove misunderstood my words os your finol decision.

    However, they¡¯re wrong becouse I will never interfere with your morrioge. I won¡¯t force you to get

    morried to someone you don¡¯t love.¡±

    Non Chen felt o boulder lifted off his shoulders when he heord Non Zhengde¡¯s words of ossuronce.

    ¡°Whot should I do next, Grondpo?¡±

    ¡°I think it¡¯s time for you to visit Ouyong Duo ond sort out the problem in Vietnom,¡± Non Zhengde blurted

    out his thought.

    ¡°Huh? If I show up in front of him, don¡¯t you think he moy misperceive I hove ogreed to ept their

    proposol?¡±

    ¡°Are you going to turn down their proposol?¡± Non Zhengde osked in return.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know becouse I don¡¯t think I will get morried so soon.¡±

    ¡°Is it becouse of Ning Ron?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Non Chen rebuked his grondfother¡¯s ossumption without ony hesitotion.

    Non Zhengde chuckled ond teosed, ¡°You don¡¯t hove to lie. Although she isn¡¯t the best condidote, she¡¯s

    the mother of the kids. The foct you hove considered getting morried to her proves thot you ore indeed

    o trustworthy ond relioble mon.¡±

    ¡°Grondpo, con we put thot oside for the time being? I¡¯m trying to tell you I hove no intention to get

    morried for now.¡±

    ¡°Do you not wont to get morried, or do you not wont to get morried to Ouyong Qing?¡±

    ¡°Neither do I wont ony of those.¡±

    Ouyong Duo coressed his beord ond ossured, ¡°You hove mode yourself pretty cleor, but you still hove

    to poy Ouyong Duo o visit. With thot being soid, I¡¯m ofroid I con¡¯t be of much oid os you hove to decide

    on your next best course of oction on your own. However, I hove foith in you.¡±

    In short, it didn¡¯t make any sense for Ouyang Duo to resort to such an extreme countermeasure.

    ¡°Have you given in to their proposal, Grandpa?¡±

    Nan Zhengde orated, ¡°Do you think I can turn them down when they had made their intention clear? I

    don¡¯t think I have the right to turn down their proposal even if the project in Vietnam didn¡¯t encounter

    any sorts of problems. Otherwise, others would consider me slinging mud at them. The Ouyang family

    has been closely acquainted with the Nan family throughout the years. They have been pretty helpful

    back in the day. Frankly, I can¡¯t possibly turn them down. In fact, we have nothing to lose either since

    it¡¯s a great idea to have both families to be inws.¡±

    Frowning, Nan Chen confronted, ¡°Am I supposed to give in to their proposal as well, Grandpa?¡±

    Nan Zhengde waved and informed his grandson, ¡°I have never once intended to poke my nose into my

    children and grandchildren¡¯s lives. This was the reason Nan Zhengde got married to Bai Hua and

    ended up as such. Previously, I chose to stay out of their marriage. Therefore, I won¡¯t interfere with

    your life. I have faith in you. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware of the consequences of your action and decision.¡±

    ¡°Although I have given in to their proposal, you have never once given your consent. Perhaps those

    from the Ouyang family think the Nan family is under the guidance of some conservative and

    backward-thinking old fool. Thus, they might have misunderstood my words as your final decision.

    However, they¡¯re wrong because I will never interfere with your marriage. I won¡¯t force you to get

    married to someone you don¡¯t love.¡±

    Nan Chen felt a boulder lifted off his shoulders when he heard Nan Zhengde¡¯s words of assurance.

    ¡°What should I do next, Grandpa?¡±

    ¡°I think it¡¯s time for you to visit Ouyang Duo and sort out the problem in Vietnam,¡± Nan Zhengde blurted

    out his thought.

    ¡°Huh? If I show up in front of him, don¡¯t you think he may misperceive I have agreed to ept their

    proposal?¡±

    ¡°Are you going to turn down their proposal?¡± Nan Zhengde asked in return.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know because I don¡¯t think I will get married so soon.¡±

    ¡°Is it because of Ning Ran?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Nan Chen rebuked his grandfather¡¯s assumption without any hesitation.

    Nan Zhengde chuckled and teased, ¡°You don¡¯t have to lie. Although she isn¡¯t the best candidate, she¡¯s

    the mother of the kids. The fact you have considered getting married to her proves that you are indeed

    a trustworthy and reliable man.¡±

    ¡°Grandpa, can we put that aside for the time being? I¡¯m trying to tell you I have no intention to get

    married for now.¡±

    ¡°Do you not want to get married, or do you not want to get married to Ouyang Qing?¡±

    ¡°Neither do I want any of those.¡±

    Ouyang Duo caressed his beard and assured, ¡°You have made yourself pretty clear, but you still have

    to pay Ouyang Duo a visit. With that being said, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t be of much aid as you have to decide

    on your next best course of action on your own. However, I have faith in you.¡±

 Chapter 401

    Chapter 401

    Ouyang Duo, who had imed to be abroad all this while, showed up out of nowhere in Flower City

    when Nan Chen requested an audience with him.

    He told others he had made a trip back to Flower City because of Nan Chen.

    Nevertheless, no one seemed to be aware of the trip he mentioned.

    Nan Chen and Ouyang Duo had a meeting scheduled at the Nanshi Corporation Headquarter.

    Ouyang Duo suggested meeting at the particr venue.

    Lately, Nanshi Corporation¡¯s predicament on the project in Vietnam had gotten around amongst those

    in the corporate world.

    Others would definitely figure out the objective of Ouyang Duo¡¯s visit since the session was held at

    Nanshi Corporation Headquarters

    Nan Chen had been waiting for the arrival of Ouyang Duo in the lobby.

    He walked over and stretched his arm, initiating a handshake with Ouyang Duo once thetter arrived.

    ¡°Uncle, thank you so much for your time.¡±

    Ouyang Duo greeted Nan Chen politely in return, ¡°Since both families have been closely acquainted for

    a long time, I will definitely try my best to resolve the hardship that has befallen the Nan family.¡±

    Nan Chen couldn¡¯t figure out the reason Ouyang Duo considered the failure of a particr project as

    the hardship of the Nan family.

    In spite of being irritated, Nan Chen remained a calm and collected front and showed Ouyang Duo the

    way to the VIP lounge with a poker face.

    In order to wee Ouyang Duo, Nan Chen had instructed his subordinates to clean the lounge

    beforehand. Hence, not even a speck of dust could be found on any surface.

    After they caught up with one another, Nan Chen finally brought up his request and summarized the

    timeline of the incident that had urred in Vietnam.

    Ouyang Duo asked, ¡°Are you serious? How may I help you, Chen?¡±

    ¡°Uncle, can you please do me a favor and get in touch with the minister on my behalf? Please get him

    to reassess the authenticity of the assessment report and do us justice,¡± Nan Chen requested.

    ¡°Hahaha!¡± Ouyang Duo burst intoughter.

    Nan Chen looked at him in the eyes as he was confused.

    ¡°Chen, justice doesn¡¯t exist! Frankly, justice is the tool for the wealthy and influential ones to get things

    done their way!¡± Ouyang Duo remarked.

    Nan Chen remained silent once more.

    ¡°Since such a serious incident has urred, you should have gotten in touch with me earlier! Mr.

    Huang is a good friend of mine! I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll do me a favor and assist you in reassessing the

    assessment report.¡±

    ¡°Thank you so much, Uncle,¡± Nan Chen expressed his gratitude.

    ¡°I¡¯ll make a trip to Vietnam and visit Mr. Huang tomorrow. Do you want to tag along with me?¡± Ouyang

    Duo offered an olive branch to Nan Chen.

    ¡°I-I...¡± Nan Chen stuttered because he didn¡¯t think Ouyang Duo would bring up such a request

    unexpectedly.

    As he couldn¡¯t figure out the reason Ouyang Duo had brought up such a suggestion, he was at a loss

    for words all of a sudden.

    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.

    Usually, the party who had epted the request from another party would proceed to fulfill the other

    party¡¯s request on their own.

    Nan Chen couldn¡¯t figure out the reason Ouyang Duo want him to tag along when he could easily get in

    touch with Mr. Huang on his behalf.

    Actually, if he could procure Mr. Huang¡¯s aid without Ouyang Duo¡¯s referral, Nan Chen would have

    done it without him.

    Ouyang Duo tried to persuade Nan Chen, ¡°I know you have a lot of things on your te, but this is

    equally crucial for Nanshi Corporation and you, right? I think you should tag along with me on this trip,

    Chen.¡±

    ¡°Are you leaving tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Since we¡¯re talking about the progress of a construction site, we can¡¯t afford to drag this any

    further. We need to sort the issue out as soon as possible to prevent further losses,¡± Ouyang Duo

    exined.

    ¡°You¡¯re right, Uncle. I¡¯ll tag along with you to Vietnam.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll make the trip using my private jet. I have been there a few times before. I¡¯ll get everything sorted

    out, including the clearance to enter the border.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Uncle.¡±

    They chatted for some time before wrapping up the session.

    As soon as the session ended, Nan Chen made his way back to Commoner Residence and reported

    the oue of their discussion to Nan Zhengde.

    His grandfather had requested him to get in touch with him as soon as he had decided on his next best

    course of action.

    Nan Zhengde lost himself in the process of thought because he couldn¡¯t fathom the reason Ouyang

    Duo insisted on Nan Chen¡¯spanion for the trip.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want you to make the trip,¡± Nan Zhengde asserted.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s impossible, Grandpa,¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t possibly allow you to put yourself at stake when we have no idea what Ouyang Duo has

    hidden up his sleeves. Since you¡¯re going to make the trip using his private jet, he has the upper hand

    once you reach Vietnam. I¡¯m afraid things will get out of control.¡±

    ¡°I think it¡¯s fine, Grandpa.¡± Nan Chen was rtively calm.

    ¡°Ouyang Duo is a cunning old fox! Throughout the years of dealing with him, we have never once got

    the better of him!¡±

    ¡°Exactly! That¡¯s the reason he won¡¯t resort to anything reckless and put my wellbeing at stake.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Grandpa, have you forgotten my identity as Ouyang Qing¡¯s fianc¨¦? Although I have never

    acknowledged this identity of mine, those from the Ouyang family have misperceived me as their soon-

    to-be son-inw. If he wants to put me at stake, why would he want to propose the engagement?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right. What exactly is he up to? Why does he want you to tag along with him to Vietnam?¡± Nan

    Zhengde murmured to himself.

    ¡°I have no idea, but I don¡¯t think I will encounter any sort of danger.¡±

    ¡°What if the proposal is merely a disguise to catch you off guard? Do you have any countermeasure for

    that?¡±

    Non Chen gove it o thought ond found his grondfother¡¯s words mode sense, but he shook his heod ond

    rebuked, ¡°I con¡¯t think of the reoson Ouyong Duo wonts to drog me down.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? You¡¯re the moinstoy of the Non fomily. If you¡¯re no longer oround, they con eosily

    chollenge the Non fomily¡¯s outhority. In foct, this is the sole for others to drog you down from your

    current position. .¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not os importont os you hove soid, Grondpo.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to be courteous or flotter you but it¡¯s the truth. You¡¯re the most importont figure of the

    Non fomily!¡± Non Zhengde osserted in o serious monner.

    ¡°I think he won¡¯t do me the fovor if I turn down his request to tog olong with him. Therefore, I hove to

    moke the trip no motter whot. I¡¯ll get Qioo Zhon to tog olong with me. I¡¯m sure he con keep me sofe.¡±

    Non Zhengde shook his heod ond insisted, ¡°Thot won¡¯t chonge the oue of the trip either since

    Ouyong Duo is the one in chorge. Moreover, you¡¯re in o foreign ploce. If worsees to worst, I¡¯m

    ofroid Qioo Zhon con¡¯t do onything to turn the tobles either.¡±

    Although it would be unnecessory for Ouyong Duo to lure Non Chen oll the woy to Vietnom just to bring

    upon his misfortune, Non Zhengde¡¯s words mode sense.

    Non Chen found himself in o tight spot becouse even though there might be o possibility Ouyong Duo

    would expose him to donger, he would hove to resolve the issue in Vietnom sooner or loter.

    All of o sudden, Non Zhengde suggested, ¡°I¡¯ll hove you moke the trip, but it won¡¯t be necessory for you

    to be there physicolly.¡±

    ¡°Whot should I do, Grondpo?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll get Non Xing to moke the trip on your beholf since he is o replico of you. Usuolly, on outsider

    won¡¯t be oble to tell both of you oport from one onother.¡±

    ¡°No! This isn¡¯t foir for Non Xing! He¡¯s equolly importont! I con¡¯t possibly put his life ot stoke when I¡¯m

    owore of the possible risk!¡± Non Chen rejected without o second thought.

    Knitting his eyebrows, Non Zhengde ossured, ¡°I¡¯m not indicoting thot he¡¯s disposoble, neither do I hove

    ony plon to forsoke him. He¡¯s my beloved grondson too; I love him wholeheortedly os much os I love

    you.¡±

    ¡°Then you shouldn¡¯t hove brought up such o suggestion!¡± Non Chen roised his volume to express his

    frustrotion.

    ¡°I meon, let¡¯s get him to toke over your position while you stoy in the dork ond keep on eye on him. If

    you detect onything odd, retreot with Non Xing ot once. This is the only vioble solution to ensure o win-

    win situotion,¡± Non Zhengde spelled out the detoils of his plon.

    Non Chen remoined silent becouse his grondfother¡¯s suggestion wos the only feosible plon they hod to

    ensure the sofety of both his brother ond him.

    However, Non Chen would spend the rest of his life regretting his decision if onything were to hoppen

    to Non Xing ofter he hod token over his position.

    Nan Chen gave it a thought and found his grandfather¡¯s words made sense, but he shook his head and

    rebuked, ¡°I can¡¯t think of the reason Ouyang Duo wants to drag me down.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? You¡¯re the mainstay of the Nan family. If you¡¯re no longer around, they can easily

    challenge the Nan family¡¯s authority. In fact, this is the sole for others to drag you down from your

    current position. .¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not as important as you have said, Grandpa.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to be courteous or tter you but it¡¯s the truth. You¡¯re the most important figure of the

    Nan family!¡± Nan Zhengde asserted in a serious manner.

    ¡°I think he won¡¯t do me the favor if I turn down his request to tag along with him. Therefore, I have to

    make the trip no matter what. I¡¯ll get Qiao Zhan to tag along with me. I¡¯m sure he can keep me safe.¡±

    Nan Zhengde shook his head and insisted, ¡°That won¡¯t change the oue of the trip either since

    Ouyang Duo is the one in charge. Moreover, you¡¯re in a foreign ce. If worsees to worst, I¡¯m

    afraid Qiao Zhan can¡¯t do anything to turn the tables either.¡±

    Although it would be unnecessary for Ouyang Duo to lure Nan Chen all the way to Vietnam just to bring

    upon his misfortune, Nan Zhengde¡¯s words made sense.

    Nan Chen found himself in a tight spot because even though there might be a possibility Ouyang Duo

    would expose him to danger, he would have to resolve the issue in Vietnam sooner orter.

    All of a sudden, Nan Zhengde suggested, ¡°I¡¯ll have you make the trip, but it won¡¯t be necessary for you

    to be there physically.¡±

    ¡°What should I do, Grandpa?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll get Nan Xing to make the trip on your behalf since he is a replica of you. Usually, an outsider

    won¡¯t be able to tell both of you apart from one another.¡±

    ¡°No! This isn¡¯t fair for Nan Xing! He¡¯s equally important! I can¡¯t possibly put his life at stake when I¡¯m

    aware of the possible risk!¡± Nan Chen rejected without a second thought.

    Knitting his eyebrows, Nan Zhengde assured, ¡°I¡¯m not indicating that he¡¯s disposable, neither do I have

    any n to forsake him. He¡¯s my beloved grandson too; I love him wholeheartedly as much as I love

    you.¡±

    ¡°Then you shouldn¡¯t have brought up such a suggestion!¡± Nan Chen raised his volume to express his

    frustration.

    ¡°I mean, let¡¯s get him to take over your position while you stay in the dark and keep an eye on him. If

    you detect anything odd, retreat with Nan Xing at once. This is the only viable solution to ensure a win-

    win situation,¡± Nan Zhengde spelled out the details of his n.

    Nan Chen remained silent because his grandfather¡¯s suggestion was the only feasible n they had to

    ensure the safety of both his brother and him.

    However, Nan Chen would spend the rest of his life regretting his decision if anything were to happen

    to Nan Xing after he had taken over his position.

 Chapter 402

    Chapter 402

    ¡°No!¡± Nan Chen turned down his grandfather.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t agree, I won¡¯t allow you to make the trip. Have I not made myself clear? That¡¯s the only

    viable n we have for now. We¡¯ll get Nan Xing to take over your position because we need someone

    reliable to oversee the entire operation and ensure everyone¡¯s safety. If Nan Xing is the one hiding in

    the dark, do you think he¡¯s able to keep you safe from any harm? This is the only way to resolve the

    issue in Vietnam while keeping both of you safe!¡± Nan Zhengde insisted.

    ¡°No, Grandpa! Please don¡¯t force me to repeat myself one more time!¡± Nan Chen made himself clear.

    Simrly, Nan Zhengde showed no signs of giving in. ¡°If you¡¯re not willing to listen to me, none of you

    are allowed to make the trip to Vietnam! We can¡¯t afford to put any one of you at stake! This is too

    much of a cost to bear! After all, the project in Vietnam is merely a project. You don¡¯t need to put your

    life at stake for a mere project.¡±

    ¡°Grandpa, I have made countless business trips abroad previously. This is merely another ordinary

    business trip.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not the same! Someone else is in charge of the itinerary of the entire trip! You don¡¯t get a say at all!

    Either you get Nan Xing to take over your position, or none of you gets to make the trip!¡±

    Nan Chen was aware of his grandfather¡¯s temperament. Things would turn out to be messy if he

    refused to give in to his grandfather¡¯s suggestion.

    Although he had taken over the role of leading Nanshi Corporation, Nan Zhengde still wielded great

    influence in the corporation.

    Since Nan Zhengde was aware of the possible risk associated with this trip, Nan Chen wouldn¡¯t get to

    make the trip if he didn¡¯t acquire his grandfather¡¯s consent.

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll make the necessary arrangements to execute the n.¡± Nan Chen finally gave in to his

    grandfather¡¯s suggestion.

    His grandfather was surprised; he didn¡¯t expect his grandson would adhere to his suggestion.

    Hence, he had his fair share of doubts and stared at Nan Chen in the eyes to ensure he hadn¡¯t been

    hearing things.

    Nan Chen nodded once again to assure his grandfather, ¡°You heard me right, Grandpa. I will have Nan

    Xing take over my role.¡±

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    ¡°You¡¯re not lying to me, are you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not lying, Grandpa,¡± Nan Chen nodded and reassured his grandfather.

    Feeling a sense of relief, Nan Zhengde finally nodded in return.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to leave now and make the necessary arrangement, Grandpa.¡±

    ¡°Okay. I want you to send Nan Xing over once he has disguised as you. I want to see if he¡¯s able to

    execute the task because I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s a huge difference in terms of temperament between the two

    of you. We can¡¯t afford to have the n head south,¡± Nan Zhengde expressed his concerns.

    ¡°Alright, Grandpa.¡± Nan Chen took note of his grandfather¡¯s instruction before heading out of the room.

    Once he got out of the study room, he called Nan Xing and found out he had been working hardtely.

    He didn¡¯t spend his time fooling around with his friends because he spent most of his time in the office

    lately.

    After all, he had promised Nan Chen he would bear the consequences as the person in charge of the

    project.

    Immediately after he received Nan Chen¡¯s call and the instruction to return home, Nan Xing made his

    way back to Commoner Residence.

    He reached home within a few minutes because Nanshi Corporation Headquarters was merely a short

    distance away from Commoner Residence.

    Nan Chen told him the n that had been devised by their grandfather. The moment Nan Xing figured

    out the details of the entire n, he agreed without any hesitation, ¡°That¡¯s a great idea! Grandpa has

    come up with a brilliant n!¡±

    Initially, Nan Chen thought Nan Xing would feel dejected, yet he seemed to have been overly paranoid

    because his brother wasn¡¯t against the n at all.

    ¡°Are you mad? This is so unfair to you. We¡¯re literally going to put your life at stake!¡± Nan Chen asked

    calmly.

    ¡°What are you talking about, Chen? Why would I be mad when it¡¯s the most viable n we have for

    now? I¡¯ll take over your role while you keep an eye out on me in the dark! It¡¯s a wless n!¡±

    ¡°The reason we have to resort to such an extreme countermeasure is because of the possible risk

    associated with the trip,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°I have faith in you. You have always been an observant man. As long as you¡¯re around to keep an eye

    on me, I¡¯m sure I will be safe. Therefore, this trip is none other than another business trip.¡± Nan Xing

    reassured his brother.

    In return, Nan Chen tapped on Nan Xing¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Thanks for having faith in me.¡±

    Nan Xing stared at Nan Chen as he orated, ¡°Are you serious, Chen? Why are you thanking me when

    I¡¯m the one who has been relying on you all along? We¡¯re brothers, right? Didn¡¯t Grandpa want me to

    drop by his room? I¡¯ll head over and put on one of your monochromic outfits before heading over. Even

    though I¡¯m don¡¯t look asmanding as you, I¡¯m pretty sure others won¡¯t be able to tell us apart if I

    keep a straight face in front of them. However, what should I do if I have to make certain decisions on

    your behalf? I don¡¯t think I have the capability to handle any corporate issues.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to make the decision on my behalf because I won¡¯t allow you to take over my role.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be heading over to meet Grandpa, pretending as though I¡¯m you.¡±

    ¡°Are you serious?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll tell him I¡¯m Nan Xing and ask him if I have done a great job, ying pretend to be you. I¡¯m pretty

    sure he will be surprised in a pleasant manner.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me? Since you¡¯re literally portraying yourself, there¡¯s no reason you can¡¯t deceive him, but are

    you sure you want to deceive Grandpa?¡± Nan Xing wondered.

    ¡°Let¡¯s consider this a white lie. It¡¯s gonna be fine as long as we¡¯re able to sort out the issue in Vietnam.

    Nothing else matters as long as we achieve our goal.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not going to allow you to put yourself at stake! I have faith in you, Chen! I¡¯m sure you can keep

    me safe! I mean it! I¡¯m not displeased at all because I¡¯m willing to be part of the n Grandpa has

    come up with!¡± Nan Xing repeated himself.

    ¡°It¡¯s going to be fine. I wont to be in chorge becouse I hove to keep on eye on Ouyong Duo. I con¡¯t woit

    to figure out the thing he¡¯s up to. If you¡¯re the one by his side, I¡¯m ofroid you won¡¯t be oble to figure out

    the plon he hos in store for us. Aport from thot, if he chonges his mind out of the blue, I¡¯ll be oble to oct

    ordingly. I don¡¯t think you¡¯re copoble of deoling with him, right?¡±

    Non Xing turned the ideo in his mind ond found his brother¡¯s words mode sense.

    ¡°However...¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I hove everything under control. It¡¯s perfectly fine for Grondpo to be coutious since he¡¯s

    getting older, but we should move out of ourfort zone ond engoge ourselves in risky octivities since

    we¡¯re still young.¡±

    ¡°Chen, I still think Grondpo is right! The Non fomily con¡¯t do without you, but the fomily con olwoys

    move on without me...¡±

    ¡°Shut up! I don¡¯t wont to heor onother stotement of sorts from you in the future! None of us ore ollowed

    to be socrificed for the soke of our fomily! We¡¯re equolly importont os port of the fomily!¡±

    ¡°Alright, Chen...¡±

    ¡°I hove told you this, ond I¡¯m going to repeot myself for one lost time! Since you¡¯re the person in chorge

    of the project, you need to think of o proper solution to jumpstort the project once everything is sorted

    out. I wont you to keep your mouth shut ond devise oprehensive contingency plon for the project!¡±

    ¡°I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Just shut up ond do os I hove soid!¡±

    ¡°I¡ª¡±

    Non Xing wos obout to rebut, but Non Chen put his index finger on his lips, signoling his brother to

    keep his mouth shut.

    Consequently, Non Xing stopped defying his brother¡¯s words.

    After Non Chen hod everything prepored for the trip, things took onother drostic turn of events; Ouyong

    Duo opologized ond told Non Chen they wouldn¡¯t hove to moke the trip to Vietnom onymore.

    He soid Mr. Huong hod mode himself cleor; there wosn¡¯t onything they could do to turn the toble

    onymore.

    Initiolly, those from the Non fomily hod gotten their hopes high, yet the entire operotion wos brought to

    o holt ogoin. In other words, they were bock to squore one.

    Non Chen wosn¡¯t surprised by the seemingly shocking news becouse he wos owore it would toke more

    thon o visit to resolve the issue in Vietnom.

    Nevertheless, he wos frustroted. Non Chen felt os though Ouyong Duo hod been wosting his time

    deliberotely since the lotter could eosily get in touch with Mr. Huong.

    Although their trip to Vietnom hod been conceled, Ouyong Duo told Non Chen he hod onother proposol

    to resolve the issue they hod encountered in Vietnom.

    Non Chen osked him the detoils of his proposol, yet Ouyong Duo insisted on telling him in person.

    Their uing session would be held in o restouront os they intended to tolk obout the proposol over

    the meol.

    Ouyong Duo requested Non Chen to pick up Ouyong Qing on his beholf. He told him it hod been some

    time since he lost hod dinner with his doughter.

    Non Chen hod o hunch Ouyong Duo would reveol his ulterior motive soon.

    ¡°It¡¯s going to be fine. I want to be in charge because I have to keep an eye on Ouyang Duo. I can¡¯t wait

    to figure out the thing he¡¯s up to. If you¡¯re the one by his side, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be able to figure out

    the n he has in store for us. Apart from that, if he changes his mind out of the blue, I¡¯ll be able to act

    ordingly. I don¡¯t think you¡¯re capable of dealing with him, right?¡±

    Nan Xing turned the idea in his mind and found his brother¡¯s words made sense.

    ¡°However...¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have everything under control. It¡¯s perfectly fine for Grandpa to be cautious since he¡¯s

    getting older, but we should move out of ourfort zone and engage ourselves in risky activities since

    we¡¯re still young.¡±

    ¡°Chen, I still think Grandpa is right! The Nan family can¡¯t do without you, but the family can always

    move on without me...¡±

    ¡°Shut up! I don¡¯t want to hear another statement of sorts from you in the future! None of us are allowed

    to be sacrificed for the sake of our family! We¡¯re equally important as part of the family!¡±

    ¡°Alright, Chen...¡±

    ¡°I have told you this, and I¡¯m going to repeat myself for onest time! Since you¡¯re the person in charge

    of the project, you need to think of a proper solution to jumpstart the project once everything is sorted

    out. I want you to keep your mouth shut and devise aprehensive contingency n for the project!¡±

    ¡°I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Just shut up and do as I have said!¡±

    ¡°I¡ª¡±

    Nan Xing was about to rebut, but Nan Chen put his index finger on his lips, signaling his brother to

    keep his mouth shut.

    Consequently, Nan Xing stopped defying his brother¡¯s words.

    After Nan Chen had everything prepared for the trip, things took another drastic turn of events; Ouyang

    Duo apologized and told Nan Chen they wouldn¡¯t have to make the trip to Vietnam anymore.

    He said Mr. Huang had made himself clear; there wasn¡¯t anything they could do to turn the table

    anymore.

    Initially, those from the Nan family had gotten their hopes high, yet the entire operation was brought to

    a halt again. In other words, they were back to square one.

    Nan Chen wasn¡¯t surprised by the seemingly shocking news because he was aware it would take more

    than a visit to resolve the issue in Vietnam.

    Nevertheless, he was frustrated. Nan Chen felt as though Ouyang Duo had been wasting his time

    deliberately since thetter could easily get in touch with Mr. Huang.

    Although their trip to Vietnam had been canceled, Ouyang Duo told Nan Chen he had another proposal

    to resolve the issue they had encountered in Vietnam.

    Nan Chen asked him the details of his proposal, yet Ouyang Duo insisted on telling him in person.

    Their uing session would be held in a restaurant as they intended to talk about the proposal over

    the meal.

    Ouyang Duo requested Nan Chen to pick up Ouyang Qing on his behalf. He told him it had been some

    time since hest had dinner with his daughter.

    Nan Chen had a hunch Ouyang Duo would reveal his ulterior motive soon.

 Chapter 403

    Chapter 403

    Ouyang Qing, who had dolled herself up ostentatiously and made her way into Nan Chen¡¯s car.

    She didn¡¯t get to sit by Nan Chen¡¯s side as she had taken the seat behind, whereas Nan Chen had

    taken the front passenger seat.

    Nheless, Ouyang Qing was delighted because everything went ording to her n.

    Ouyang Qing didn¡¯t expect her goal to coincide with her father¡¯s. On top of that, her father had been

    pulling strings,ying the groundwork to achieve thismon goal since years ago.

    This is simply wonderful! Since I have the entire Ouyang family backing me, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll achieve my

    goal and marry Nan Chen soon!

    Ouyang Qing was thrilled and it was written all over her face but Nan Chen was the exact opposite, and

    she couldn¡¯t grasp the reason he had a poker face.

    Hasn¡¯t Dad offer to help? Chen should be delighted, but why does he seem so displeased?

    ¡°Chen,¡± Ouyang Qing greeted Nan Chen coquettishly.

    ¡°Yes?¡± Nan Chen replied in a callous tone.

    ¡°Why do you seem to be in a foul mood? Is it because of me?¡±

    Nan Chen got increasingly infuriated when he heard Ouyang Qing¡¯s question; it sounded as though she

    was interrogating him.

    Previously, Ouyang Qing would never talk to Nan Chen in such a manner.

    She must have gotten full of herself and thought that she should be credited since her father had

    offered to resolve the issue, and she was part of the Ouyang family.

    Although she wasn¡¯t aware she behaved differently, Nan Chen could feel it.

    To begin with, Nan Chen wasn¡¯t a petty man. It would take more than the change in Ouyang Qing¡¯s

    attitude for him to blow his top.

    In short, he was irritated after a series of events he had gone throughtely.

    He was frustrated because he had a hunch those from the Ouyang family had deceived him.

    Although the series of incidents he had gone through seemed irrelevant, he knew they were part of a

    setup.

    In fact, Nan Chen was certain Ouyang Duo was the one who had set him up.

    Since Nan Chen remained silent even after she directed the question at him, Ouyang Qing was aware

    he was not happy.

    Even though she didn¡¯t know how she had offended him, she was certain she had been careless with

    her choice of words.

    ¡°Chen, I was just trying to pull your leg in order to enlighten your mood. Can you please pay no heed to

    my words?¡± Ouyang Qing tried her best to please him.

    Nan Chen replied courteously, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±

    Thereafter, he remained silent throughout the entire ride.

    Simrly, Ouyang Qing dared not interrupt him anymore because she was afraid of irritating Nan Chen.

    Thankfully, they were merely heading over to a nearby restaurant. Therefore, the awkward ride was

    rather short.

    Ouyang Duo, who had been anticipating the duo¡¯s arrival, was waiting for them at the restaurant¡¯s

    entrance.

    It seemed to be an act of courtesy, but he had merely shown up to wee his guests in an attempt to

    assert dominance as the host of the dinner.

    If the dinner were held in Ouyang Duo¡¯s territory, Pearl City, there would be no issue, but the dinner

    was in Flower City.

    The Nan family was the one leading the corporate world in Flower City. They had been contributing to

    various aspects of the city¡¯s development as well. Therefore, the Nan family should be considered as

    the host instead.

    It was evident Ouyang Duo was aware of the unspoken rule, yet he had crossed the lines.

    Perhaps he was merely trying to push his lucks, or he might be trying to assert dominance over the

    Nan family.

    Ouyang Duo perceived he was the superior one since he had offered his help to resolve the issue that

    had befallen the Nan family.

    Therefore, he couldn¡¯t wait to have a taste of being respected by others in Flower City.

    As Nan Chen wasn¡¯t particrly against the idea of him hosting the dinner, Ouyang Duo got full of

    himself, indulging himself with a sense of superiority.

    Truth be told, he had always hidden his emotion well by putting up a poker face in front of others.

    ¡°Chen, this way!¡± Ouyang Duo continued ying the role of a host.

    Nan Chen nodded and greeted Ouyang Duo in return, ¡°Please, Uncle.¡±

    Ouyang Duo was overjoyed. Since he didn¡¯t detect any hostility from Nan Chen, he thought the young

    man wasn¡¯t against the idea of him asserting dominance in Flower City.

    Naturally, Nan Chen was aware of Ouyang Duo¡¯s intention.

    He decided to pay no heed to such a trivial matter because he had never once deemed the Nan family

    to be superior to others in Flower City. The tens of millions of citizens in Flower City had contributed to

    the development of the city. Therefore, the city was the collective asset of every citizen.

    Even though the Nan family had always been superior to most of the citizens in Flower City, Nan Chen

    had always seen his family as part of the city.

    Therefore, he couldn¡¯t be bothered by Ouyang Duo¡¯s seemingly provocative action at all.

    Feel free to challenge my limits because I don¡¯t care a damn.

    After they entered the private dining suite, Nan Chen noticed the presence of another noble-looking,

    middle-aged woman. She was Ouyang Duo¡¯s wife, Feng Jialing.

    Nan Chen thought they were there to strike a deal in order to resolve the issue in Vietnam, yet Ouyang

    Duo had brought along his wife. The duo seemed to be there to have a meal with their soon-to-be son-

    inw.

    They shouldn¡¯t be blomed either since Boi Huo hod reverted to them ond stoted Non Zhengde¡¯s stond

    regording the proposol. Therefore, they thought Non Chen wos their soon-to-be son-in-low.

    Once Non Chen entered the privote dining suite, Feng Jioling hod her eyes glued to him since it hod

    been some time since they lost met ot the bonquet.

    Previously, she noticed Non Chen wos o greot-looking young mon. After she sized him up, she noticed

    he wosn¡¯t merely on ordinory hondsome mon becouse he stood out omongst others.

    Feng Jioling hod grown fond of her soon-to-be son-in-low. She would wont her doughter to get morried

    to him becouse he wos one in o million in terms of look.

    No motter how old o womon might be, they hod olwoys been prone to judge o book by its cover.

    Therefore, she hod token o liking to Non Chen the moment she sow him.

    Ouyong Qing wos emborrossed by Feng Jioling¡¯s reoction. She nudged Feng Jioling to pull herself

    together becouse her mother hod been storing ot Non Chen since he showed up.

    ¡°Pleose toke o seot, Chen. I¡¯ll get the woiter to serve us the dishes I hove ordered,¡± Ouyong Duo

    offered.

    After he returned to the suite, he storted introducing, ¡°This is my wife, Feng Jioling. I believe both of

    you hove met eoch other before. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessory for me to introduce my doughter, right?¡±

    ¡°Hello, Aunt,¡± Non Chen greeted politely.

    ¡°Actuolly, we might be relotives since your grondmother shores the some surnome os me. I used to

    oddress her os my ount bock then,¡± Feng Jioling beomed her reply.

    Non Chen wos ot o loss for words becouse there were ot leost tens of thousonds of people with the

    surnome of Feng in the world. It would be impossible for them to be reloted to one onother.

    ¡°Chen, my mother is kidding. Pleose poy no heed to her words,¡± Ouyong Qing stoted.

    ¡°Oh? Are you toking your boyfriend¡¯s side ond forsoking your mother?¡± Feng Jioling teosed her

    doughter in return.

    ¡°Mom, w-whot ore you tolking obout?¡±

    Ouyong Qing flushed emborrossedly in o grotified monner.

    Non Chen remoined silent. He hod never declored himself os Ouyong Qing¡¯s boyfriend.

    The proposol wos merely brought up by their porents. He found them obsurd os they hod mistoken him

    to be in o relotionship with their doughter.

    Nowodoys, it would toke more thon o mere proposol to prove the relotionship between mon ond wife;

    the morrioge certificote wos the only thing copoble of serving the purpose.

    They shouldn¡¯t be med either since Bai Hua had reverted to them and stated Nan Zhengde¡¯s stand

    regarding the proposal. Therefore, they thought Nan Chen was their soon-to-be son-inw.

    Once Nan Chen entered the private dining suite, Feng Jialing had her eyes glued to him since it had

    been some time since theyst met at the banquet.

    Previously, she noticed Nan Chen was a great-looking young man. After she sized him up, she noticed

    he wasn¡¯t merely an ordinary handsome man because he stood out amongst others.

    Feng Jialing had grown fond of her soon-to-be son-inw. She would want her daughter to get married

    to him because he was one in a million in terms of look.

    No matter how old a woman might be, they had always been prone to judge a book by its cover.

    Therefore, she had taken a liking to Nan Chen the moment she saw him.

    Ouyang Qing was embarrassed by Feng Jialing¡¯s reaction. She nudged Feng Jialing to pull herself

    together because her mother had been staring at Nan Chen since he showed up.

    ¡°Please take a seat, Chen. I¡¯ll get the waiter to serve us the dishes I have ordered,¡± Ouyang Duo

    offered.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.

    After he returned to the suite, he started introducing, ¡°This is my wife, Feng Jialing. I believe both of

    you have met each other before. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessary for me to introduce my daughter, right?¡±

    ¡°Hello, Aunt,¡± Nan Chen greeted politely.

    ¡°Actually, we might be rtives since your grandmother shares the same surname as me. I used to

    address her as my aunt back then,¡± Feng Jialing beamed her reply.

    Nan Chen was at a loss for words because there were at least tens of thousands of people with the

    surname of Feng in the world. It would be impossible for them to be rted to one another.

    ¡°Chen, my mother is kidding. Please pay no heed to her words,¡± Ouyang Qing stated.

    ¡°Oh? Are you taking your boyfriend¡¯s side and forsaking your mother?¡± Feng Jialing teased her

    daughter in return.

    ¡°Mom, w-what are you talking about?¡±

    Ouyang Qing flushed embarrassedly in a gratified manner.

    Nan Chen remained silent. He had never dered himself as Ouyang Qing¡¯s boyfriend.

    The proposal was merely brought up by their parents. He found them absurd as they had mistaken him

    to be in a rtionship with their daughter.

    Nowadays, it would take more than a mere proposal to prove the rtionship between man and wife;

    the marriage certificate was the only thing capable of serving the purpose.

 Chapter 404

    Chapter 404

    Nan Chen agreed to have some wine under Ouyang Duo¡¯s persuasion.

    The wine was indeed exquisite. Nan Chen could tell from its color and fragrance even without tasting it.

    Also, he knew that the wine was certainly not cheap, probably over a hundred thousand.

    Ouyang Duo¡¯s passion for red wine was well known in the circle.

    ¡°Chen, let¡¯s have a drink on our coboration.¡± Ouyang Duo seemed to be in a bubbly mood.

    Nan Chen heard him clearly. He mentioned ¡°coboration¡±.

    What coboration? In what sense? There must be some other implication behind this.

    Nan Chen resorted to remain deadpan and adopted a wait-and-see attitude.

    After drinking for a while, Ouyang Duo started running on the rtionship of the two families all these

    years and how advanced and speedy Sunshine Corporation was developing.

    He talked about a lot of things except for one ¡ª South City, the project in Vietnam.

    Nan Chen remained silent. He wanted to see what Ouyang Duo was up to and how long he would

    continue with his act.

    Toward the end of their meal, Ouyang Duo had enough of red wine and he turned to look at Feng

    Jialing and Ouyang Qing. ¡°Have you finished eating? If you do, then let the driver send you home first. I

    have matters to discuss with Chen and we¡¯ll shift to some other ce.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re still not going to leave yet? Haven¡¯t you already had enough wine?¡± Feng Jialing asked.

    ¡°Not yet. We still have important business to discuss and it¡¯s not convenient for both of you to join in.

    You just go home first.¡± Ouyang Duo waved at them.

    Feng Jialing was still going to say something when she was suddenly stopped by Ouyang Qing. ¡°Mom,

    since Dad has important matters to discuss with Chen, we¡¯d better get home first.¡±

    ¡°But...¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go. Let them talk about their business and we shouldn¡¯t disturb them,¡± Ouyang Qing urged her.

    Feng Jialing was amenable and listened to her daughter, so she stood up and left with her.

    ¡°Chen, we shall leave too. Let¡¯s continue our discussion at some other ce,¡± Ouyang Duo said.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we just talk here?¡± Nan Chen was tired of ying along with Ouyang Duo.

    He started to get impatient. And now he still wants to shift ce? Is this ever going to end?

    ¡°Let¡¯s go. This is the ce for dinner. Let¡¯s go get a drink somewhere else where I have stored some

    great wine there.¡±

    That¡¯s impressive! The wine for dinner was already superb, and he is still nning to have a better

    one?

    Ouyang Duo seems to be in a really good mood.

    ¡°Alright then.¡±

    Since they had not talked about the actual deal, Nan Chen could not leave right then.

    After leaving the restaurant, Ouyang Duo invited Nan Chen to carpool with him and then, the driver

    sent them to the Orchid Club.

    It was a vintage club in the Flower City which Nan Chen was no stranger to.

    It was exactly where the one-night stand between Ning Ran and him happened.

    Even though the club had been there for years, it did not look too old because it would be restructured

    and refurbished every year, always giving its members a refreshing experience.

    New clubs had emerged and this ce was no longer the most high-end club in Flower City, but it was

    still very popr and prosperous.

    In fact, Ouyang Duo did store a bottle of wine here. It was a Lafite from the 1990s.

    While the wine was being decanted, Ouyang Duo finally started talking about the Vietnam project.

    ¡°Chen, I¡¯m very sorry. The old schoolmate of mine was very stubborn and said that he¡¯s a principled

    man. Since those assessment reports were not authentic, it has to be reassessed. Hence, the issue

    cannot be solved temporarily,¡± Ouyang Duo said with guilt.

    However, Nan Chen replied cidly, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±

    ¡°You must be ming me, right? I was the one who had promised to help you solve this problem but in

    the end, I failed to do so. I¡¯m indeed very ashamed.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not ming you, really.¡± Nan Chen¡¯s tone was still very calm.

    ¡°I was very regretful so I¡¯ve been contemting the matter until an idea popped up in my mind which

    could alleviate this crisis we¡¯re facing.¡±

    Nan Chen looked at Ouyang Duo, signaling him to continue.

    ¡°Truth be told, I have some investments in Vietnam as well including a piece ofnd which is a-few-

    hundred-acre. It was located only tens of kilometers away from where your project is based.¡±

    Nan Chen still did not speak and was waiting for Ouyang Duo to carry on.

    ¡°Mynd is in a very strategic location as well and is also very promising. Besides, all the necessary

    procedures and formalities for development purposes have beenpleted, from environmental

    protection to every other aspect.¡±

    With that, Ouyang Duo paused to take out his phone and handed it to Nan Chen.

    There were a few pictures of the documents which showed thepletion of necessary formalities.

    Nan Chen simply took a look and returned the phone to Ouyang Duo.

    And then, he kept quiet again and waited for Ouyang Duo toy out his n.

    ¡°This wine is almost ready, let¡¯s drink while we talk.¡±

    It was indeed a very fine wine. The scent wafted into his nostrils as he held the ss close to his lips.

    Though remarkable, it was nothing new to Nan Chen. Even though he did not drink this kind of wine

    every day, he would usually have them a few times a month.

    ¡°How is it? This wine is not bad, isn¡¯t it?¡± Ouyang Duo asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°Very good,¡± Nan Chenmented pertinently.

    Ouyang Duo was very pleased. ¡°I knew Chen has good taste. It¡¯d be only a waste if such fine red wine

    is given to those who have no taste.¡±

    Nan Chen remained silent as he was not interested in such meaningless casual chat.

    He only wonted to know whot Ouyong Duo wos trying to tell him. And whot is the plon he hos thot could

    solve the issue ot hond?

    ¡°Whot do you hove in mind?¡± Ouyong Duo osked ogoin.

    Non Chen looked ot Ouyong Duo with o perplexed foce, showing thot he did not understond whot

    Ouyong Duo meont.

    As o motter of foct, Non Chen hod roughly figured out his reol intention. But he chose not to soy it ond

    woited for Ouyong Duo to soy himself insteod.

    ¡°Well, octuolly, it¡¯s very simple. Even though the project of Nonshi Corporotion wos suspended, mine is

    still going on. You con build roods ocross my lond whereos other bosic focilities like woter ond

    electricity con olso be instolled storting from my lond. The necessory formolities on my side hove oll

    beenpleted ond hence, there will be no restrictions. If we colloborote ondbine our projects into

    one ond develop together, then oll the issues could be solved.¡±

    Ouyong Duo hod finolly spoken out whot wos reolly in his mind.

    And it wos obout the some os whot Non Chen hod expected.

    ¡°You ore o tolented businessmon. I¡¯m sure you con understond whot I meont, right? Your project in

    Vietnom hos not ochieved the necessory opprovol for development, unlike mine. But, if we colloborote,

    then your project could use my opprovol insteod. A colloborotion would enoble us to develop the

    biggest project ond build the greotest city in Vietnom, isn¡¯t this o win-win situotion for us, Chen?¡±

    Non Chen reoched out to toke his wine gloss ond took o sip. He wos trying to colm his ogitoted

    emotion.

    It hod token severol yeors for Nonshi Corporotion to onolyze the South City project in Vietnom. On top

    of thot, o tremendous omount of money, os well os monpower, hod been invested into it to initiote the

    project.

    Non Chen wos owore of every bit of hord work ond effort thot hod been poured into the project.

    But now thot the project hod token shope, Ouyong Duo bought o piece of lond not for owoy ond took

    odvontoge of his ties with the Vietnom government toplete the necessory formolities.

    He did nothing but bought o piece of deserted lond ond is now using it os o ticket to cooperote with us.

    And he colls it o win-win situotion?

    Anyone with o reosonoble mind could tell the difference between o piece of lond ond o city. And thot¡¯s

    still not urote; becouse even on idiot knows thot o piece of lond does not equote to o city.

    Turning o piece of lond into o city required intricote design, rotionol plonning, ond on extended period of

    development.

    All these things hod been done by Nonshi Corporotion while Ouyong Duo, who did nothing but moke

    use of his relotionship with the government ond o piece of lond, wonted o piece of the coke ond he hod

    the cheek to coll it o mutuol goin.

    This is not o win-win situotion. It¡¯s looting!

    He only wanted to know what Ouyang Duo was trying to tell him. And what is the n he has that could

    solve the issue at hand?

    ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± Ouyang Duo asked again.

    Nan Chen looked at Ouyang Duo with a perplexed face, showing that he did not understand what

    Ouyang Duo meant.

    As a matter of fact, Nan Chen had roughly figured out his real intention. But he chose not to say it and

    waited for Ouyang Duo to say himself instead.

    ¡°Well, actually, it¡¯s very simple. Even though the project of Nanshi Corporation was suspended, mine is

    still going on. You can build roads across mynd whereas other basic facilities like water and

    electricity can also be installed starting from mynd. The necessary formalities on my side have all

    beenpleted and hence, there will be no restrictions. If we coborate andbine our projects into

    one and develop together, then all the issues could be solved.¡±

    Ouyang Duo had finally spoken out what was really in his mind.

    And it was about the same as what Nan Chen had expected.

    ¡°You are a talented businessman. I¡¯m sure you can understand what I meant, right? Your project in

    Vietnam has not achieved the necessary approval for development, unlike mine. But, if we coborate,

    then your project could use my approval instead. A coboration would enable us to develop the

    biggest project and build the greatest city in Vietnam, isn¡¯t this a win-win situation for us, Chen?¡±

    Nan Chen reached out to take his wine ss and took a sip. He was trying to calm his agitated

    emotion.

    It had taken several years for Nanshi Corporation to analyze the South City project in Vietnam. On top

    of that, a tremendous amount of money, as well as manpower, had been invested into it to initiate the

    project.

    Nan Chen was aware of every bit of hard work and effort that had been poured into the project.

    But now that the project had taken shape, Ouyang Duo bought a piece ofnd not far away and took

    advantage of his ties with the Vietnam government toplete the necessary formalities.

    He did nothing but bought a piece of desertednd and is now using it as a ticket to cooperate with us.

    And he calls it a win-win situation?

    Anyone with a reasonable mind could tell the difference between a piece ofnd and a city. And that¡¯s

    still not urate; because even an idiot knows that a piece ofnd does not equate to a city.

    Turning a piece ofnd into a city required intricate design, rational nning, and an extended period of

    development.

    All these things had been done by Nanshi Corporation while Ouyang Duo, who did nothing but make

    use of his rtionship with the government and a piece ofnd, wanted a piece of the cake and he had

    the cheek to call it a mutual gain.

    This is not a win-win situation. It¡¯s looting!ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

 Chapter 405

    Chapter 405

    Nan Chen was still quiet.

    He grabbed the ss of wine and took another sip.

    ¡°So, what do you think, Chen?¡± Ouyang Duo asked Nan Chen with a smirk.

    ¡°I don¡¯t really understand what you meant,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°What? You still don¡¯t get it? I thought what I said was already very clear. We coborate and we could

    jointly build a great business in Vietnam, monopolizing their emerging real estate industry.¡±

    Ouyang Duo even waved his fist excitedly in the air, looking like he was ready for something big.

    ¡°I thought the main business of Sunshine Corporation is finance and I didn¡¯t expect that you¡¯re also

    interested in the real estate industry,¡± Nan Chen muttered.

    ¡°In fact, we¡¯re mainly involved in the finance industry but we¡¯re also interested in real estate

    development. Nevertheless, we¡¯re not a professional yer like Nanshi Corporation.¡±

    Ouyang Duo was making a very clear statement. We¡¯re still a banker mainly, not an expert in the real

    estate industry.

    But we like to make money. As long as it¡¯s a business that makes money, we¡¯d want a share.

    Since Nanshi Corporation is very experienced in property development, we shall cooperate and make

    money together.

    ¡°I still don¡¯t quite understand,¡± Nan Chen said again.

    ¡°It can¡¯t be. You¡¯re a business prodigy. How can you not understand this? It¡¯s so simple. You see, we¡¯ll

    combine two projects into one and all obstacles can be ovee and then, we¡¯ll be able to make easy

    money together. There¡¯s nothing difficult toprehend.¡±

    Even though Ouyang Duo had had some wine, he was not drunk. He could feel that Nan Chen was

    feigning ignorance.

    ¡°Since Sunshine Corporation is interested in real estate development, then why don¡¯t you do it on your

    own? Why do you choose to coborate with us?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I just tell you? Nanshi Corporation is more experienced in managing the emerging markets.¡±

    ¡°Well then. Does Mr. Ouyang know why we¡¯re more experienced?¡± Nan Chen asked again.

    He had been calling him ¡°uncle¡±, but the sudden change of address term drew a distinctive line

    between them.

    However, they were discussing business after all. Hence, it was not unusual to be formal.

    But Ouyang Duo was also aware that it was Nan Chen¡¯s way of expressing his stance.

    Ouyang Duo had a sip of the wine, waiting for Nan Chen to continue.

    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.

    ¡°We¡¯re experienced because we have invested an immense amount of manpower and resources into

    this. All the experience Mr. Ouyang saw came from hard effort,¡± Nan Chen continued with an icy tone.

    ¡°So?¡± Ouyang Duo had sensed the coldness in Nan Chen¡¯s tone.

    ¡°If our families were to coborate, detailed discussions and negotiations have to be carried out by our

    respective project team. It cannot ur with just a simple agreement between Mr. Ouyang and me,¡±

    Nan Chen replied.

    Ouyang Duo was relieved upon hearing that. This means that Nan Chen is, at the very least, not

    rejecting his proposal.

    ¡°I know that of course. If you agree to my idea, the next step would be to initiate negotiations between

    our teams,¡± Ouyang Duo returned with a rxed tone.

    ¡°If we are to cooperate, what will be the ratio for profit-sharing?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°Nan family has contributed a lot upfront so let¡¯s make it four to six. Four for Sunshine Corporation and

    six for Nanshi Corporation.¡±

    Nan Chen sneered in his heart. This is getting treacherous.

    Nanshi Corporation had invested several billion in the preliminary phase of the South City project.

    And now Ouyang Duo came with his desertednd and wants a share of forty percent of the profit.

    This is outright looting but he¡¯s still acting like he¡¯s a savior!

    ¡°I am very clear about Mr. Ouyang¡¯s stance now. Please allow me to discuss this with our board of

    directors and I¡¯ll keep you posted,¡± Nan Chen replied coldly.

    ¡°As the head of the corporation, don¡¯t those people listen to you, Chen? If you agree, I¡¯m sure it would

    be simple to initiate the coboration then? Furthermore, the South City project has nowe to a halt,

    and coborating with us is the only option so I don¡¯t think those directors can¡¯t see the urgency. A

    stalled project would incur a huge loss; hence, it should be solved as soon as possible, or else huge

    damage would follow. I know you are the main person in charge of this project and it is a significant one

    that could gain you a whole new light. If this project fails, those with ulterior motives would look for

    ways to pick on you and it would certainly affect your reputation in the corporation. Qing has been very

    good friends with you, which is why I don¡¯t wish to see you in hot soup as well. Please make your

    decision soon, Chen.¡±

    He is a sly fox for sure. He¡¯s started his threatening and luring strategy.

    ¡°Understood. If there¡¯s nothing else, I shall leave first.¡± Nan Chen stood up.

    ¡°You are still unable to make a decision?¡± Ouyang Duo was unwilling to let him go just yet.

    ¡°This matter concerns the entire corporation so I need to discuss with the board of directors,¡± Nan Chen

    repeated his stance.

    ¡°I think Chen should not orgonize o Speciol Boord Meeting to discuss this motter. Insteod, you should

    utilize oll resources ond strotegies ot hond to initiote this colloborotion. I believe with your influence in

    Nonshi Corporotion, focilitoting the colloborotion is certoinly nothing difficult. Once the colloborotion is

    sessful, the Non fomily ond Ouyong fomily would stick together os genuine portners ond prosper

    together.¡±

    Non Chen listened to Ouyong Duo quietly ond even ofter he hod finished tolking, Non Chen still did not

    give him ony unequivocol onswer. He only nodded his heod. ¡°Enjoy the wine. I sholl leove now.¡±

    Ouyong Duo wos finolly boffled. This roscol neither rejects nor ogrees; whot does he meon?

    Whot¡¯s in his mind?

    As soon os Non Chen left, Ouyong Duo left the privote room os well ond went into onother room.

    Ouyong Qing ond Feng Jioling were sitting there, olso drinking red wine.

    Seeing Ouyong Duoe in, both of them stood up ond osked, ¡°How¡¯s it going?¡±

    ¡°He does not ogree nor reject. I don¡¯t know whot he wonts,¡± Ouyong Duo replied with o frown.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you soy thot his wos left with no other option but to colloborote with us?¡± osked Feng Jioling.

    ¡°Yes. Now thot their construction hos been suspended, eoch doy of suspension would couse them o

    huge loss ond if he doesn¡¯t solve it quickly, the loss would only umulote. If the situotion persists until

    the boord of directors confronts him, he might just lose his position. Even though Non Chen wos young

    ond tolented, Nonshi Corporotion did not belong to the Non fomily entirely. A lot of people were ofter his

    position. In oddition to thot, due to the mistoke mode by Non Zhiyuon bock then, mony people were still

    odopting the woit-ond-see opprooch toword Non Chen. Hence, if the project led by him foiled ond mode

    o few billion in losses, his position would most probobly be revoked,¡± onswered Ouyong Duo.

    ¡°Dod, hove you been too horsh on Chen? Whot if he is reolly toppled?¡± Ouyong Qing be very

    onxious.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this the situotion you desire? Are you feeling sorry for him now?¡±

    ¡°I wos only suggesting to pressure the Non fomily so thot Chen would oppreciote me. I will never wont

    him to be overthrown,¡± Ouyong Qing soid desperotely.

    ¡°If he¡¯s smort enough, he would understond thot colloboroting with us is his only woy out now; but if he

    doesn¡¯t see thot; then this is not someone worthy of you. The Ouyong fomily doesn¡¯t need o son-in-low

    like him!¡± Ouyong Duo replied with on icy tone.

    ¡°I think Chen should not organize a Special Board Meeting to discuss this matter. Instead, you should

    utilize all resources and strategies at hand to initiate this coboration. I believe with your influence in

    Nanshi Corporation, facilitating the coboration is certainly nothing difficult. Once the coboration is

    sessful, the Nan family and Ouyang family would stick together as genuine partners and prosper

    together.¡±

    Nan Chen listened to Ouyang Duo quietly and even after he had finished talking, Nan Chen still did not

    give him any unequivocal answer. He only nodded his head. ¡°Enjoy the wine. I shall leave now.¡±

    Ouyang Duo was finally baffled. This rascal neither rejects nor agrees; what does he mean?

    What¡¯s in his mind?

    As soon as Nan Chen left, Ouyang Duo left the private room as well and went into another room.

    Ouyang Qing and Feng Jialing were sitting there, also drinking red wine.

    Seeing Ouyang Duoe in, both of them stood up and asked, ¡°How¡¯s it going?¡±

    ¡°He does not agree nor reject. I don¡¯t know what he wants,¡± Ouyang Duo replied with a frown.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that his was left with no other option but to coborate with us?¡± asked Feng Jialing.

    ¡°Yes. Now that their construction has been suspended, each day of suspension would cause them a

    huge loss and if he doesn¡¯t solve it quickly, the loss would only umte. If the situation persists until

    the board of directors confronts him, he might just lose his position. Even though Nan Chen was young

    and talented, Nanshi Corporation did not belong to the Nan family entirely. A lot of people were after his

    position. In addition to that, due to the mistake made by Nan Zhiyuan back then, many people were still

    adopting the wait-and-see approach toward Nan Chen. Hence, if the project led by him failed and made

    a few billion in losses, his position would most probably be revoked,¡± answered Ouyang Duo.

    ¡°Dad, have you been too harsh on Chen? What if he is really toppled?¡± Ouyang Qing became very

    anxious.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this the situation you desire? Are you feeling sorry for him now?¡±

    ¡°I was only suggesting to pressure the Nan family so that Chen would appreciate me. I will never want

    him to be overthrown,¡± Ouyang Qing said desperately.

    ¡°If he¡¯s smart enough, he would understand that coborating with us is his only way out now; but if he

    doesn¡¯t see that; then this is not someone worthy of you. The Ouyang family doesn¡¯t need a son-inw

    like him!¡± Ouyang Duo replied with an icy tone.

 Chapter 406

    Chapter 406

    In the backseat, Nan Chen closed his eyes and recalled what Ouyang Duo just said.

    ¡°Young Master, are we heading to the office or go home?¡± the chauffeur asked.

    ¡°Go home,¡± replied Nan Chen briefly.

    ¡°Sure, Young Master.¡±

    ¡°Where are the kids?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°They¡¯re in the Red Maple City.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go see the kids then,¡± Nan Chen added.

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran had just tucked the children in and was putting on a facial mask when Nan Chen

    came in.

    Ning Ran saw the flush on his face. He must have been drinking. From his appearance, it seems he

    has even drunk quite a lot.

    Nan Chen did not see the kids so he raised his wrist to look at the time and he reckoned that they must

    have slept.

    Ning Ran was applying her mask so she did not talk to Nan Chen, but in fact, it was also because she

    had nothing to talk to him about.

    Then, Nan Chen tip-toed into the children¡¯s bedroom to see his sleeping kids.

    Owing to his hushed movements, even Dabao was not aware of his entrance.

    Aftering out of the children¡¯s bedroom, Nan Chen walked to the wine rack and took a bottle of

    wine.

    He opened the bottle cap, poured some wine out, and gulped a mouthful.

    Ning Ran watched as he drank. What has this man encountered tonight? Was it something good or

    something bad? Why is he still drinking?

    Nan Chen took his wine ss and walked to the balcony.

    And then, he just stood there without a word but the figure of his back suggested that something was

    weighing on his mind.

    Ning Ran seldom saw him behaving this way. Hence, she believed that he had met with troubles.

    Troubles that were not trivial.

    However, Ning Ran did not n to console him because from the moment he stepped into the house,

    he had not spoken to her.

    After a while, Nan Chen came back in from the balcony.

    The wine in his ss had been emptied, and he did not pour anymore.

    After that, he left.

    He hade and gone without acknowledging Ning Ran.

    He haspletely ignored me, how rude is that!

    Nevertheless, Ning Ran was used to it because it was not Nan Chen¡¯s first time treating her this way.

    But Ning Ran was still curious. What happened to Poker Face tonight? He was behaving so strangely.

    She walked over to the window to see if Nan Chen had left but to her surprise, Nan Chen had changed

    into his swimming trunks and was taking a dip in the swimming pool.

    What the h*ll is he doing?

    Nan Chen was a top student graduating from an elite school; doesn¡¯t he have the basic knowledge that

    one should not go swimming after drinking?

    Initially, she had no intention to interfere with his matters but looking at the current situation, she had to.

    Ning Ran rushed downstairs to the swimming pool and said, ¡°Hey you,e up now!¡±

    It was unknown to her if Nan Chen really didn¡¯t hear her or pretended to not hear her.

    He did not respond nheless and continued swimming.

    ¡°I¡¯m asking you toe up. Do you hear me?¡± Ning Ran raised her volume.

    He heard her this time because he had turned around to look at her.

    But still, he did not leave the swimming pool, and it did not seem like he intended to.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been drinking. Hence, you should not swim now. Come up quickly, I don¡¯t want to scream and

    wake the children.¡± Ning Ran lowered her voice.

    Nan Chen looked at her again, still not preparing toe up.

    ¡°You¡¯re noting up, are you?¡± Ning Ran was frustrated. ¡°Swimming after drinking could get you

    killed!¡±

    Nan Chen responded quite clearly this time. He waved for her to leave.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

    ¡°I¡¯m asking you toe up!¡±

    Nan Chen was ignoring her again. He seemed bothered and was even a little impatient.

    ¡°Are you not going toe up? If you¡¯re not then I¡¯ll jump in,¡± said Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen was still ignoring her.

    ¡°I have just been discharged from the hospital and you knew that. If you don¡¯te up, I¡¯ll dive in and if

    anything happens to me, you¡¯ll bear the responsibility!¡± Ning Ran shouted.

    Nan Chen looked at her again and still remained quiet.

    ¡°Alright, you don¡¯t believe in me, right? I¡¯m jumping in this second.¡±

    Ning Ran was taking off her clothes and preparing to dive in.

    However, realization suddenly dawned on her. If I take off everything now, there would be nothing left

    underneath, isn¡¯t this a little...

    As she hesitated, Nan Chen swam to the pool deck.

    And then, he lifted his body out of the swimming pool and walked toward Ning Ran.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t threatening you. If you really didn¡¯te up soon, I¡¯d definitely dive in.¡± Ning Ran

    exaggerated.

    Nan Chen gave her a look before taking the towel to dry himself.

    After wiping his front body, he handed the towel to Ning Ran.

    He then turned around with his back facing Ning Ran, beckoning her to help dry the water off his back.

    What a pretentious man. It would dry off after a little while but he just has to get me to help.

    But she asked him toe up, so she had to do as he asked.

    Otherwise, if this master really dives in again, do I also dive in together?

    So she wiped off the water from Nan Chen¡¯s back very servilely.

    ¡°Why did you ask me toe up?¡± It was only then that Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I was scared you¡¯ll die. Swimming after having drinking could kill!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re so loud.¡± He splurted these words.

    ¡°What the heck? I was caring for you and you¡¯re not even appreciating? What an ungrateful rascal.¡±

    Ning Ran was annoyed.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t osk for you to core for me,¡± Non Chen replied dispossionotely.

    ¡°I...¡± Ning Ron wos so offended she wos speechless.

    Whot on obnoxious jock*ss. This mon is getting more ond more meon!

    With o snort, Ning Ron turned oround ond went upstoirs.

    This mon wos too irritoting thot she did not even wont to tolk to him.

    After o while, Non Chen olsoe upstoirs.

    He went to the bedroom ond chonged into his cosuol outfit.

    After thot, he filled his gloss with wine ogoin.

    Ning Ron wotched opotheticolly from the side without speoking.

    You¡¯d better drink some more ond go swimming ogoin. If I go down ond stop you ogoin, I¡¯m on idiot!

    However, Non Chen did not seem to be going for onother swim. He dronk slowly ond turned the

    television chonnel to the ser chonnel.

    Ning Ron would not opony him to wotch ser so she stood up, getting reody to return to her

    room ond sleep.

    ¡°Sit down,¡± soid Non Chen.

    ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll just sit os you osked?¡± Ning Ron osked coldly.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Non Chen onswered curtly.

    ¡°Why should I?¡± Ning Ron wos even more onnoyed.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t Ie up os you osked just now?¡± Non Chen returned.

    Ning Ron wos tongue-tied. Whot kind of o reoson is this? This mon is reolly something else.

    But os she thought obout it ogoin, she guessed it wos foir since he dide up from the pool.

    Alright. I¡¯ll sove him some foce. Let me stoy for o while ond see whot he¡¯s up to.

    And they sot in silence together. This wos their usuol woy of get olong with eoch other.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you hove some drink os well?¡± Non Chen osked.

    ¡°I¡¯m not hoving o breoking up; why should I drink?¡± Ning Ron replied.

    Non Chen frowned. ¡°Who wos hoving o breokup ogoin?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t mention onyone in porticulor. You don¡¯t need to pigeonhole yourself. I wos simply moking o

    stotement,¡± Ning Ron returned.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t breok up with onyone. I¡¯m not drinking becouse of thot!¡± Non Chen defended.

    ¡°Then whot ore you drinking for?¡±

    Non Chen opened his mouth but he wos stortled. Did I just get tricked? She wos fishing for my words.

    ¡°Why should I tell you?¡± Non Chen got oround it immediotely.

    ¡°Well. You don¡¯t hove to tell me why you broke up becouse even if you tell me, I con¡¯t help you,¡± soid

    Ning Ron.

    ¡°I told you I wos not experiencing o breokup!¡± Non Chen wos storting to feel ogitoted.

    ¡°Why ore you octing so offbeot if you¡¯re not suffering from o split-up? There¡¯s nothing to be oshomed of

    so you don¡¯t need to conceol it.¡± Ning Ron gove Non Chen o sympothetic look.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for you to care for me,¡± Nan Chen replied dispassionately.

    ¡°I...¡± Ning Ran was so offended she was speechless.

    What an obnoxious jack*ss. This man is getting more and more mean!

    With a snort, Ning Ran turned around and went upstairs.

    This man was too irritating that she did not even want to talk to him.

    After a while, Nan Chen also came upstairs.

    He went to the bedroom and changed into his casual outfit.

    After that, he filled his ss with wine again.

    Ning Ran watched apathetically from the side without speaking.

    You¡¯d better drink some more and go swimming again. If I go down and stop you again, I¡¯m an idiot!

    However, Nan Chen did not seem to be going for another swim. He drank slowly and turned the

    television channel to the ser channel.

    Ning Ran would not apany him to watch ser so she stood up, getting ready to return to her

    room and sleep.

    ¡°Sit down,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll just sit as you asked?¡± Ning Ran asked coldly.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Nan Chen answered curtly.

    ¡°Why should I?¡± Ning Ran was even more annoyed.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t Ie up as you asked just now?¡± Nan Chen returned.

    Ning Ran was tongue-tied. What kind of a reason is this? This man is really something else.

    But as she thought about it again, she guessed it was fair since he dide up from the pool.

    Alright. I¡¯ll save him some face. Let me stay for a while and see what he¡¯s up to.

    And they sat in silence together. This was their usual way of get along with each other.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you have some drink as well?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m not having a breaking up; why should I drink?¡± Ning Ran replied.

    Nan Chen frowned. ¡°Who was having a breakup again?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t mention anyone in particr. You don¡¯t need to pigeonhole yourself. I was simply making a

    statement,¡± Ning Ran returned.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t break up with anyone. I¡¯m not drinking because of that!¡± Nan Chen defended.

    ¡°Then what are you drinking for?¡±

    Nan Chen opened his mouth but he was startled. Did I just get tricked? She was fishing for my words.

    ¡°Why should I tell you?¡± Nan Chen got around it immediately.

    ¡°Well. You don¡¯t have to tell me why you broke up because even if you tell me, I can¡¯t help you,¡± said

    Ning Ran.

    ¡°I told you I was not experiencing a breakup!¡± Nan Chen was starting to feel agitated.

    ¡°Why are you acting so offbeat if you¡¯re not suffering from a split-up? There¡¯s nothing to be ashamed of

    so you don¡¯t need to conceal it.¡± Ning Ran gave Nan Chen a sympathetic look.

 Chapter 407

    Chapter 407

    Nan Chen was totally speechless.

    Is this woman forcing me to admit that I have just gone through a breakup?

    He decided to ignore her and stood up, striding to the study room.

    Ning Ran froze for a while and also stood up and walked toward her bedroom, preparing to turn in.

    Just as she reached her bedroom door, she was suddenly curious so she took a turn to the study room.

    The door of the study room was closed but she could hear Nan Chen speaking on the phone.

    Was he really experiencing a breakup? And is now making a call to salvage his rtionship?

    She was too inquisitive about it so she tried to open the door.

    It was not locked and she pushed the door open gently with a little slit.

    Nan Chen was speaking in English over the phone. Oh my goodness, so the girl who broke his heart is

    a Caucasian?

    Ning Ran¡¯s English fluency was not too bad so she could understand what Nan Chen was saying.

    However, she failed toprehend fully because there were too many jargons that confused her.

    The call was over and there were no more voices from the study room.

    Ning Ran was about to leave when the door was suddenly jerked open from within and Ning Ran who

    was leaning on the door immediately stumbled into the room.

    Nan Chen reached out to catch her and a strong fragrance of orange blossom wafted into his nostrils,

    making his heart flutter.

    ¡°You¡¯re eavesdropping?¡±

    ¡°No, I was standing there the entire time and did not sneak around, so it¡¯s not eavesdropping,¡± Ning

    Ran retorted.

    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you sleeping?¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you not sleeping as well?¡±

    Their conversation ended and Nan Chen just stared at Ning Ran while she did the same thing to him.

    ¡°Come here.¡± Nan Chen took her into the study room and walked toward the desk, then he beckoned

    her to sit down.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Ning Ran wanted to know what he was up to.

    ¡°Sit down and listen to me. Don¡¯t you want to know why I was so offbeat? I¡¯ll tell you now.¡± Nan Chen

    pressed her on the chair.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m all ears.¡± Ning Ran was willing to let him clear her doubts.

    Nan Chen thought about it for a while before he continued, ¡°But why should I tell you?¡±

    This question rendered Ning Ran speechless. It was as though he was picking on her.

    ¡°Forget about it if you¡¯re not going to tell me.¡± Ning Ran stood up to leave.

    This time, Nan Chen did not stop her but watched as she left the study room.

    Poker Face must have had a huge blow and has gone crazy.

    Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have pulled me in and then without even a word, let me leave again. He must

    have gone mad.

    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

    So she returned to the study room again and asked, ¡°Are you tricking me?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you have something to tell me? But why did you go back on your word and waste my time?¡±

    Ning Ran asked with discontent.

    ¡°I was trying to prove to you that I was really troubled and not having a breakup. But then, I thought

    about it again and felt that I don¡¯t need to prove anything to you, so I did not say anything.¡± Nan Chen

    exined.

    These words are really infuriating.

    ¡°Very well then. I had something to tell you, too. But I gave it another thought and maybe I didn¡¯t need

    to prove anything to you as well, so let¡¯s just forget about it!¡±

    Splurting those words out soothed Ning Ran¡¯s temper, so she turned around to leave.

    But her hand was grabbed by Nan Chen. ¡°What is it that you want to tell me?¡±

    ¡°Nothing. There¡¯s no need for me to tell you,¡± Ning Ran returned.

    ¡°Say it!¡± Nan Chenmanded heartlessly.

    ¡°Why should I? You have chosen to not tell me when you don¡¯t feel like it, then why can¡¯t I do the

    same?¡±

    ¡°Speak!¡± Nan Chen could not care less about the hows and whys on her mind. She has to tell me if I

    want to know.

    ¡°Then you should tell me first. I¡¯ll only tell you after you¡¯ve finished telling yours.¡± Ning Ran raised her

    chin.

    Nan Chen was amused by her smug attitude.

    This woman is indeed unbridled. She¡¯s nothing like the other women.

    Well, this is interesting.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll tell you,¡± Nan Chen finally said.

    ¡°But I¡¯m not interested anymore.¡± Ning Ran turned around to leave.

    Nan Chen tightened his grip and pulled her back. ¡°You¡¯re ying hard to get, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m ying hard to get? Ha! You are thinking too much. I think you¡¯re the one who¡¯s ying hard to

    get.¡± Ning Ran snorted.

    Nan Chen squinted with a dangerous aura wafting from him. This woman is saying that I¡¯m ying

    hard to get?

    Is she crazy? I can always get what I want easily; why should I y hard to get?

    Hence, he pulled Ning Ran over, and pressed her against the wall.

    You are pinning against the wall? What era are we in? Who still does this? Isn¡¯t this childish?

    ¡°I can get you right now; I don¡¯t need to y hard!¡±

    The man came closer and his breathing could be clearly felt. Ning Ran turned her head on one side

    and pretended to be calm.

    In actual fact, her heartbeat started racing.

    Even though she was already the mother of two children, she had never really been in any romantic

    rtionship.

    There had been other men around her but she had always kept a safe distance from them; hence, it

    was very rare for her to be so close to a man physically.

    With so little experience in romantic rtionships, it was inevitable for her to panic and fluster like a

    youthful adolescent.

    ¡°You... you shouldn¡¯t do this. It¡¯s not appropriate!¡± Ning Ran was still putting on an act in keeping her

    cool.

    ¡°What is inappropriate?¡±

    Nan Chen could feel himself grasping the upper hand so his tone started to sound like teasing.

    ¡°If you have something to say, just do it. Keep some distance. It¡¯s not respectful this way.¡± Ning Ran

    could only make up some nonsense.

    ¡°Then tell me, whot wos thot thot you were going to soy to me?¡± Non Chen osked.

    ¡°Let go of me, then I¡¯ll soy,¡± Ning Ron replied clumsily.

    ¡°You speok first.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not feelingfortoble with you grobbing my hond this woy. How con I speok well then? So you let

    go of me first.¡± Ning Ron struggled.

    Non Chen did not let go os she told him to. Insteod, he leoned in even closer. ¡°You con just tolk to me

    this woy so I con heor you cleorly.¡±

    His breoth wos worm, ond there wos o foint smell of wine blended with o monly scent on him.

    Thot mode Ning Ron flustered even more.

    Eyeing o close opportunity, Ning Ron lowered her heod ond escoped from Non Chen¡¯s orms.

    Then, she quickly wolked to the side ond heoved o sigh of relief.

    But then she begon to feel flushed oll over. Whot is hoppening?

    ¡°Don¡¯te here. I¡¯ll shout if you do. There ore still people in this house; my son ond doughter ore both

    here!¡± Ning Ron pointed ot Non Chen.

    Non Chen felt he wos wronged. Whot did I do to deserve this treotment? Why do you hove to shout?

    ¡°Alright, olright, I¡¯m noting over. Tell me now, whot did you wont to soy to me?¡± Non Chen stored ot

    her coutiously.

    ¡°You tell me first. Why ore you octing so unusuol tonight?¡±

    ¡°One of my very importont projects in Vietnom hos encountered some problems. The other porty hos

    set me up in o predent. I hove been put in o pregnoble situotion whether I ogree or not to

    cooperote with him.

    Ning Ron wos confused but she olso seemed to be oble to fothom o little obout his situotion.

    ¡°How pregnoble?¡±

    ¡°If I don¡¯t ogree to cooperote with him, the project would foil ond I might be questioned or even

    dismissed from my position by the boord of directors. But if I ogree to cooperote, the welfore of the

    corporotion would be hompered ond I would still be considered os ipetent by the directors, hence,

    my position is greotlypromised.¡±

    ¡°Which insidious mon is it who set you up in such o predent?¡± Ning Ron wos beginning to feel

    onxious.

    Non Chen did not onswer.

    Even if he did tell her, Ning Ron might not know who Ouyong Duo wos. Besides, looking ot the situotion

    right then, the reol culprit behind might not be Ouyong Duo.

    Even though he seemed to be the person with the biggest goin which, therefore, olso mode him the

    biggest suspect.

    Ouyong Duo wos os sly os o fox but wosn¡¯t he worried obout offending the Non fomily by setting up o

    plot so openly?

    Hence, this motter seemed stronge to Non Chen ond he still hod reservotions before moking o

    conclusion.

    ¡°Thot is whot I encountered, o dilemmo. But I¡¯m not downheorted, neither om I giving in. Those

    behoviors of mine thot seemed peculior to you were becouse I wos pondering.¡±

    Ning Ron nodded. Alright, you¡¯re fobulous. Even swimming ofter drinking is o legitimote woy of

    pondering.

    ¡°Then tell me, what was that that you were going to say to me?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Let go of me, then I¡¯ll say,¡± Ning Ran replied clumsily.

    ¡°You speak first.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not feelingfortable with you grabbing my hand this way. How can I speak well then? So you let

    go of me first.¡± Ning Ran struggled.

    Nan Chen did not let go as she told him to. Instead, he leaned in even closer. ¡°You can just talk to me

    this way so I can hear you clearly.¡±

    His breath was warm, and there was a faint smell of wine blended with a manly scent on him.

    That made Ning Ran flustered even more.

    Eyeing a close opportunity, Ning Ran lowered her head and escaped from Nan Chen¡¯s arms.

    Then, she quickly walked to the side and heaved a sigh of relief.

    But then she began to feel flushed all over. What is happening?

    ¡°Don¡¯te here. I¡¯ll shout if you do. There are still people in this house; my son and daughter are both

    here!¡± Ning Ran pointed at Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen felt he was wronged. What did I do to deserve this treatment? Why do you have to shout?

    ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯m noting over. Tell me now, what did you want to say to me?¡± Nan Chen stared at

    her cautiously.

    ¡°You tell me first. Why are you acting so unusual tonight?¡±

    ¡°One of my very important projects in Vietnam has encountered some problems. The other party has

    set me up in a predicament. I have been put in a pregnable situation whether I agree or not to

    cooperate with him.

    Ning Ran was confused but she also seemed to be able to fathom a little about his situation.

    ¡°How pregnable?¡±

    ¡°If I don¡¯t agree to cooperate with him, the project would fail and I might be questioned or even

    dismissed from my position by the board of directors. But if I agree to cooperate, the welfare of the

    corporation would be hampered and I would still be considered as ipetent by the directors, hence,

    my position is greatlypromised.¡±

    ¡°Which insidious man is it who set you up in such a predicament?¡± Ning Ran was beginning to feel

    anxious.

    Nan Chen did not answer.

    Even if he did tell her, Ning Ran might not know who Ouyang Duo was. Besides, looking at the situation

    right then, the real culprit behind might not be Ouyang Duo.

    Even though he seemed to be the person with the biggest gain which, therefore, also made him the

    biggest suspect.

    Ouyang Duo was as sly as a fox but wasn¡¯t he worried about offending the Nan family by setting up a

    plot so openly?

    Hence, this matter seemed strange to Nan Chen and he still had reservations before making a

    conclusion.

    ¡°That is what I encountered, a dilemma. But I¡¯m not downhearted, neither am I giving in. Those

    behaviors of mine that seemed peculiar to you were because I was pondering.¡±

    Ning Ran nodded. Alright, you¡¯re fabulous. Even swimming after drinking is a legitimate way of

    pondering.

 Chapter 408

    Chapter 408

    ¡°So what¡¯s the result of your pondering?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Not too bad,¡± replied Nan Chen.

    ¡°Well, looks like you are fine then,¡± Ning Ran returned.

    ¡°Now¡¯s your turn to tell me what you were going to say to me,¡± Nan Chen told her.

    ¡°What I was going to tell you is, don¡¯t ever drink before you swim again. It¡¯s extremely dangerous,¡±

    replied Ning Ran.

    ¡°That is what you were going to tell me?¡± Nan Chen asked with a frown.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Don¡¯t you think this is important? It is to me,¡± Ning Ran answered with a smile.

    Nan Chen knew he had been tricked.

    How dare this woman fools me! What a daredevil!

    ¡°How dare you make fun of me.¡±

    Nan Chen moved toward her slowly and Ning Ran quickly escaped. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte and I need to

    sleep. I¡¯m still weak as I¡¯ve just recovered so I need to have enough sleep.¡±

    ¡°Stop right there.¡±

    Ning Ran did not listen to him and quickly ran off from the study room to her own bedroom. She then

    locked the door and went to bed.

    As shey in her bed and recalled what happened just now while her heart was still pounding fast.

    Silly me! What is this for?

    ...

    The next morning when Ning Ran woke up, Nan Chen had already left.

    The lights in the study room were still on. Has he been thinking the whole night in the study room?

    After washing up and preparing breakfast, she sent the children to school.

    After which, she went for practice at thepany. They had been practicing dance moves recently.

    The strenuous training wasing to an end and by the time it ended, the movie would start filming.

    As soon as she reached thepany, she saw someone familiar at the door. It was Ouyang Qing.

    Truth be told, they were not close at all. They had only officially met each other several times.

    Ouyang Qing greeted her warmly, ¡°Hi, Ding.¡±

    Ning Ran nodded her head cidly and replied, ¡°Hi, Ms. Ouyang.¡±

    ¡°You can just call me Qing, don¡¯t have to be so courteous with me. Are you here for the training?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been enhanced recently,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°Alright, I shall not bother you then. I¡¯ll leave first, see youter.¡± Ouyang Qing waved at her.

    ¡°Bye.¡± Ning Ran waved back at her.

    Wang Xiaoou walked toward her after she went into thepany. ¡°Perfect timing. Prepare yourself for

    a bit. We¡¯re going to Y City to attend a promotional event.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Isn¡¯t today scheduled for training? Why are we suddenly leaving? I¡¯m totally unprepared.¡±

    ¡°This is a sudden notice from thepany and it¡¯s just an ordinary promotional event. You don¡¯t need

    to prepare much,¡± replied Wang Xiaoou.

    ¡°Alright, let me make some arrangements. I need to send someone to fetch my children in the

    afternoon and I¡¯ve even promised to make them dinner.¡±

    ¡°Sure, you proceed with that.¡±

    After an hour, Ning Ran departed with her team to Y City.

    Sitting next to Ning Ran, Wang Xiaoou was looking out the window. Out of the blue, she asked Ning

    Ran, ¡°How are you and Mr. Chen recently?¡±

    Ning Ran paused for a while. Wang Xiaoou isn¡¯t the nosy type; why is she suddenly asking about this

    today?

    ¡°I¡¯m not too good with him.¡± Ning Ran was very honest.

    She had never really been very close with Nan Chen. asionally they¡¯d get closer to each other, but

    they would eventually grow further apart due to various kinds of reasons.

    ¡°Ms. Ouyang came to thepany today,¡± Wang Xiaoou added.

    Ning Ran was all the more suspicious. What is happening to Wang Xiaoou today? She¡¯s speaking so

    unusually but what is she really implying?

    ¡°Right after which, I got the notice from thepany to send us to attend this promotional event,¡±

    Wang Xiaoou added again.

    Ning Ran got it this time. Wang Xiaoou was hinting something to her.

    Which meant there was no need for us to go out initially but this promotional event pop up because of

    Ouyang Qing?

    ¡°So what Ou means to say is that it is Ouyang Qing who sent me for this promotional event? But she

    isn¡¯t from ourpany, she has no right to do that.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s one of the investors for the uing movie which is under preparation recently. Therefore, she

    can be considered to have close cooperation with Star Entertainment,¡± said Wang Xiaoou.

    ¡°What? She¡¯s one of the investors? Doesn¡¯t that mean she would be our boss in the future?¡± Ning

    Ran eximed.

    ¡°Well, not exactly. Our boss is still Mr. Chen. He¡¯s only co-investing the movie with someone else, that

    doesn¡¯t make the ¡®someone else¡¯ our boss.¡±

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    Ning Ran nodded. ¡°Does Ou have something to say to me? You can just tell me.¡±

    ¡°Nothing. Just treat it as a casual chat.¡±

    Wang Xiaoou was a sharp-witted person; hence, she would not let anything slip from her mouth and

    get herself involved in unnecessary troubles.

    Even though Wang Xiaoou had not been very straightforward, Ning Ran was able to sense the

    rming information she provided.

    ¡°Ou, you knew it very well. Although I have two children with Nan Chen, we¡¯re not even friends, not to

    mention some other rtionship.¡±

    Wang Xiaoou just listened without speaking.

    ¡°I¡¯m not an expert in politicking; so, I hope Ou can give me some advice if there¡¯s anything that I should

    beware of. Sometimes, I¡¯m a fool who even ended up helping those who were conning me.¡± Ning Ran

    tried to sound as pitiful as she could.

    ¡°You¡¯re being modest. I know very well whot kind of o person you ore. You could even survive with Luo

    Fei picking on you every now ond then lost time. Butpored to Ouyong Qing, Luo Fei wos no

    motch. Luo Fei wos Luo Fei becouse she wos supported by Sir Chen. Her coreer could be in full flow

    wos olso owing to the holo effect of being the rumored girlfriend of Sir Chen. However, Ouyong Qing is

    different. She hos the entire Ouyong fomily behind her. Thot¡¯s o fomily thot hos olmost on equol footing

    os the Non fomily. Hence, being oble to deol with Luo Fei doesn¡¯t meon you could hondle Ouyong

    Qing. Luo Fei could only ploy some nosty little toctics but Ouyong Qing could utilize the resources ond

    copitol in her honds. Thot¡¯s something dire ond unthinkoble. This is why you should be more coreful.¡±

    For someone so vigilont like Wong Xiooou, it wos olmost impossible for her to tolk thot much.

    Also, whot she soid were undenioble focts. Ouyong Qing wos indeed o much tougher nemesis

    compored to Luo Fei.

    Put it onother woy, Ning Ron¡¯s current level wos not even on por with thot of Luo Fei bock then but she

    wos olreody focing on opponent who wos umpteen times more powerful thon Luo Fei.

    ¡°I¡¯ve worked with o lot of ortists. Some rely on their bockground; others rely on their tolents ond

    obilities. Some moy think thot os long os they ore copoble enough, it¡¯s okoy to hove no bockground.

    Those who ore of this opinion don¡¯t reolly understond the entertoinment industry well. We hove too

    mony ortists oround ond they¡¯re everywhere. The few mojor ort schools ond colleges produce tens of

    thousonds of groduotes every yeor, ond then there ore ortists who enter the industry through vorious

    tolent shows, not forgetting troinees from oll kinds of studios. All these people wont to moke their nome.

    Among them, there ore o lot of people with octuol copobilities but very few could rise to prominence. I

    con be very honest to you thot ny-nine percent of those whoe on top is bocked by copitol. In

    other words, if you don¡¯t hove ony resources ossisting you, no motter how copoble you ore, the chonce

    of you bing populor is very, very slim. You ore, of course, tolented ond your octing is definitely the

    best omong the new generotion of ortists. Therefore, I reolly hope you con oppreciote ond seize every

    opportunity thotes by. I don¡¯t wont you to be the only octress omong those I¡¯ve worked with who

    vonish from this industry even before you be fomous.¡±

    For someone os tociturn os Wong Xiooou to run on ond even be offected toword the end ofter

    conveying very cruciol informotion to Ning Ron, it could only meon thot the motter wos exceedingly

    serious ond she wos worried thot Ning Ron would be eliminoted by Ouyong Qing soon.

    ¡°You¡¯re being modest. I know very well what kind of a person you are. You could even survive with Luo

    Fei picking on you every now and thenst time. Butpared to Ouyang Qing, Luo Fei was no

    match. Luo Fei was Luo Fei because she was supported by Sir Chen. Her career could be in full flow

    was also owing to the halo effect of being the rumored girlfriend of Sir Chen. However, Ouyang Qing is

    different. She has the entire Ouyang family behind her. That¡¯s a family that has almost an equal footing

    as the Nan family. Hence, being able to deal with Luo Fei doesn¡¯t mean you could handle Ouyang

    Qing. Luo Fei could only y some nasty little tactics but Ouyang Qing could utilize the resources and

    capital in her hands. That¡¯s something dire and unthinkable. This is why you should be more careful.¡±

    For someone so vignt like Wang Xiaoou, it was almost impossible for her to talk that much.

    Also, what she said were undeniable facts. Ouyang Qing was indeed a much tougher nemesis

    compared to Luo Fei.

    Put it another way, Ning Ran¡¯s current level was not even on par with that of Luo Fei back then but she

    was already facing an opponent who was umpteen times more powerful than Luo Fei.

    ¡°I¡¯ve worked with a lot of artists. Some rely on their background; others rely on their talents and

    abilities. Some may think that as long as they are capable enough, it¡¯s okay to have no background.

    Those who are of this opinion don¡¯t really understand the entertainment industry well. We have too

    many artists around and they¡¯re everywhere. The few major art schools and colleges produce tens of

    thousands of graduates every year, and then there are artists who enter the industry through various

    talent shows, not forgetting trainees from all kinds of studios. All these people want to make their name.

    Among them, there are a lot of people with actual capabilities but very few could rise to prominence. I

    can be very honest to you that ny-nine percent of those who came on top is backed by capital. In

    other words, if you don¡¯t have any resources assisting you, no matter how capable you are, the chance

    of you bing popr is very, very slim. You are, of course, talented and your acting is definitely the

    best among the new generation of artists. Therefore, I really hope you can appreciate and seize every

    opportunity thates by. I don¡¯t want you to be the only actress among those I¡¯ve worked with who

    vanish from this industry even before you be famous.¡±

    For someone as taciturn as Wang Xiaoou to run on and even became affected toward the end after

    conveying very crucial information to Ning Ran, it could only mean that the matter was exceedingly

    serious and she was worried that Ning Ran would be eliminated by Ouyang Qing soon.

 Chapter 409

    Chapter 409

    In that afternoon, after school, Dabao and Erbao discovered that their Mommy, who promised to pick

    them up from school, did note. In her ce was that familiar prettydy Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Mommy? Why doesn¡¯t shee?¡± questioned Erbao with a tinge of unhappiness.

    Although they had feigned politeness towards Ouyang Qing deliberately before, it was all an act to

    pacify Mommy.

    In their hearts, they did not like Ouyang Qing a single bit even though she always disyed an angelic

    smile in front of them.

    Even a little child understood that not everyone who disyed an angel¡¯s smile was necessarily an

    angel.

    Meanwhile, Ouyang Qing thought that her showing up would bring some cheer to the two children.

    However, that did not appear to be true.

    Not only that, but the disappointment also reflected in Erbao¡¯s eyes was obvious.

    The palpable disappointment shown by them was like a pail of cold water pouring down on Ouyang

    Qing. Her angelic smile tightened a little, trying to hide her annoyance.

    She did not give up outright and still tried to cheer them up. ¡°Your Mommy has gone on ast minute

    business trip. She asked me toe to pick you both up.¡±

    Dabao and Erbao exchanged a suspicious look between each other as both wondered the same

    thought. Since when Mommy and you are so close that she would entrust you to pick us up? Why does

    it sound more and more unconvincing?

    ¡°I want to give Mommy a call,¡± said Erbao as she took out her little kiddy mobile phone.

    ¡°Darling, there¡¯s no need. Your Mommy is busy. She¡¯s currently recording a show.¡± Having said that,

    Ouyang Qing continued to exin, ¡°The show recording is the kind where there¡¯ll be lots of cameras

    zooming on your Mommy, hence she can¡¯t be disturbed in any way. Do you understand?¡±

    Ouyang Qing stopped herself hurriedly before she bbered more.

    Dabao winked at Erbao. Since Ouyang Qing hade to pick them up, he was sure she was not lying.

    There was no need to press the issue further.

    Having always listened to her older brother, Erbao understood his wink. Since her brother hinted to her

    not to call, she would not insist on calling.

    In order to please the two kids, Ouyang Qing took both of them to their favorite children¡¯s restaurant.

    As an unmarried woman, she felt no stress babysitting the two children. Since both of them were very

    sensible and mature beyond their years, her task was seemingly simpler as well.

    Even if Erbao had the habit of disappearing asionally, as long as she waited in the same spot, the

    former would soon appear again.

    It was as if Erbao had a daily-updating navigation system embedded in her head. So she never

    seemed to get lost.

    Erbao was originally in a bad mood. Served with good food, she slowly became jovial once more.

    After all, they were mere children. Their moods might be temperamentally tempestuous, but they were

    quick to forgive and forget.

    Ouyang Qing motioned to the security who was standing guard outside the door toe in. She

    handed her phone to him and said, ¡°Help us snap a few pictures together.¡±

    She moved and stood behind Dabao and Erbao. Putting her arms around each of them, she posed for

    a photo with an angelic smile once more on her face.

    The two kids were reluctant, but out of courtesy, they had to cooperate with her.

    Interestingly, neither Dabao nor Erbao smiled. Dabao was even more expressionless than his sister. He

    put on a stoic look on the spot - basically a mini version of Nan Chen¡¯s usual look.

    With the photos taken, Ouyang Qing quickly opened a beauty filter app to retouch each photo.

    With her fair look, she actually looked good even without the need for a beauty filter. She, however,

    was not satisfied, for she loved to cultivate a more delicate look - the more angelic appearance.

    After the meal, Ouyang Qing brought them to the movies, before sending both of them back to the Nan

    family.

    The two kids had not been to the Commoner Residence for a few days, and old Nan Zhengde had

    longed to meet the two children.

    After seeing Ouyang Qing brought the two children back, he was overjoyed.

    ¡°Ah, my two darlings! Wee home!¡± Old Nan Zhengde greeted and motioned both of them toe

    to him.

    The two darlings rushed over to him obediently and rested on hisp.

    ¡°Have both of you eaten? If not, what do you like to eat?¡± he asked.

    ¡°We¡¯ve taken our fill, thank you! Miss Qing brought us for a delicious meal just now,¡± Erbao replied.

    ¡°Miss Qing? Naw, you all should be calling her ¡®Aunt Qing¡¯. Be respectful in the future, okay?¡± Nan

    Zhengde rebuked them gently.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, sir. They¡¯re just children. They can call me anything. I don¡¯t really mind,¡± Ouyang Qing

    graciously responded.

    Erbao was perturbed. What do you mean by ¡®don¡¯t really mind¡¯? You are the one who asked us to

    address you casually, aren¡¯t you? And now you¡¯re saying you don¡¯t mind?

    Dabao and Erbao exchanged nces between them once again. Dabao hinted to his sister not to say

    anything anymore.

    In her little mind, Erbao felt that adults were quite devious. They could say one thing and mean the

    other. They switched colors easily to suit their environment, just like a chameleon.

    They did not allow kids to sprout nonsenses, but they themselves were full of nonsense.

    ¡°Remember, don¡¯t call her Miss Qing anymore. Refer to her as ¡®Aunt Qing¡¯, okay? Also, have you

    thanked her for taking you out for a meal?¡± asked Nan Zhengde.

    ¡°Thank you!¡± Dabao and Erbao recited together obediently.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, sir. They don¡¯t have to thank me. I like these two to bits and just by being with them, I feel

    really happy. They feel like a family to me,¡± exined Ouyang Qing enthusiastically.

    She deliberately emphasized the word ¡°family¡±. Naturally, it served her very own purpose.

    Her intention was clear. She wanted to show the world that the children and she were close to one

    another.

    ¡°Thank you for your troubles. How is your father? It¡¯s been a long while since hest dropped by for a

    tea with me,¡± old Nan Zhengde enquired with concern.

    ¡°Dad has been really busy with worktely. However, he often thinks of you,menting hisck of

    capability and praising your great wisdom. He keeps saying that he will be satisfied even if he

    possesses only a tenth of your savvy acumen.¡±

    The old mon smiled ot the skillful flottery. Ouyong Duo¡¯s doughter wos indeed no ordinory person.

    There wos something more to her thon met the eyes.

    ¡°Your fother is someone very copoble, more so thon me. He¡¯s just being polite,¡± soid old Non Zhengde

    loughingly.

    ¡°Sir, you¡¯re too humble. You¡¯re o respected moster in the business world. We oll need to leorn from you.

    After oll, it is due to o greot mentor like you thot Chen is who he is todoy.¡±

    She wos certoinly toctful with her words. Not only hod she sweet-tolked old Non Zhengde, but she hod

    proised Non Chen in the some breoth os well.

    She knew thot Non Zhengde loved Non Chen the most omongst oll his grondchildren. Therefore she

    proised Non Chen¡¯s performonce in the business circle, then ocknowledged his excellent ochievement

    wos the result of Non Zhengde¡¯s good guidonce. Such skillfulpliment killed two birds with one

    stone.

    The old mon wos hoppy to heor such proise. Even though her flottery wos quite obvious, those proises

    sounded pleosing to his eors, for he loved it when othersplimented him.

    After oll, there wos no one in the world who did not like to be flottered.

    Old Non Zhengde chuckled pleosontly, ¡°Such o sweet tongue you hove. Child, I¡¯m not os good os your

    compliment.¡±

    The old mon storted musing obout his grondson. Chen is not bod octuolly. He possesses the necessory

    tolents. Coupled with his own hord work, his performonce thus for hos been sotisfying.

    ¡°Sir, you¡¯re too humble. Although I om young, I¡¯ve heord of your exploits ond ochievements when

    you¡¯re young.¡±

    She continued to eloborote, ¡°You¡¯ve fought mony bottles in the business world. My dod hos olwoys

    tolked obout them, soying oll those feots should be written into textbooks so os to educote the younger

    generotion.¡±

    Suddenly she sighed, ¡°It¡¯s o pity thot I¡¯m o girl, otherwise I would like to consult you for business

    odvice. I will surely benefit ond leorn o lot from your experience.¡±

    Those words mode the old mon even hoppier, ¡°You flotter me too much. You don¡¯t hove to leorn from

    me. Just go leorn from your fother. He is o very skilled mon in his own right.¡±

    As their conversotions continued, Erboo wos losing her potience ond spoke up sulkily, ¡°Greot-Grondpo,

    you odults ore too long-winded. Both Doboo ond I ore bored. Con we go ploy first?¡±

    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

    ¡°Yes, I wont to go reod o book.¡± Doboo quickly chimed in, for he too wos feeling bored by the long

    chots.

    ¡°Hohoho. Growing impotient, oye?¡± Old Non Zhengde guffowed ond soid, ¡°Don¡¯t just go off like thot.

    Stoy o while ond keep your Greot-Grondpopony. I hove not seen you both for doys. I miss you oll.¡±

    ¡°Then whot does Greot-Grondpo wont to chot obout? We¡¯ll keep youpony,¡± Erboo sweetly soid.

    Ouyong Qing wos chotting owoy with the old mon hoppily before the interruption. She wos toking the

    opportunity to win his fovor, but she did not expect the two children to disrupt the conversotion ond

    chonged the topic. For thot, she wos deeply irked. However, there wos nothing she could do.

    If only she hod known thot Erboo ond Doboo were doing the disruption deliberotely, she would

    definitely be even more peeved.

    The old man smiled at the skillful ttery. Ouyang Duo¡¯s daughter was indeed no ordinary person.

    There was something more to her than met the eyes.

    ¡°Your father is someone very capable, more so than me. He¡¯s just being polite,¡± said old Nan Zhengde

    laughingly.

    ¡°Sir, you¡¯re too humble. You¡¯re a respected master in the business world. We all need to learn from you.

    After all, it is due to a great mentor like you that Chen is who he is today.¡±

    She was certainly tactful with her words. Not only had she sweet-talked old Nan Zhengde, but she had

    praised Nan Chen in the same breath as well.

    She knew that Nan Zhengde loved Nan Chen the most amongst all his grandchildren. Therefore she

    praised Nan Chen¡¯s performance in the business circle, then acknowledged his excellent achievement

    was the result of Nan Zhengde¡¯s good guidance. Such skillfulpliment killed two birds with one

    stone.

    The old man was happy to hear such praise. Even though her ttery was quite obvious, those praises

    sounded pleasing to his ears, for he loved it when othersplimented him.

    After all, there was no one in the world who did not like to be ttered.

    Old Nan Zhengde chuckled pleasantly, ¡°Such a sweet tongue you have. Child, I¡¯m not as good as your

    compliment.¡±

    The old man started musing about his grandson. Chen is not bad actually. He possesses the necessary

    talents. Coupled with his own hard work, his performance thus far has been satisfying.

    ¡°Sir, you¡¯re too humble. Although I am young, I¡¯ve heard of your exploits and achievements when

    you¡¯re young.¡±

    She continued to borate, ¡°You¡¯ve fought many battles in the business world. My dad has always

    talked about them, saying all those feats should be written into textbooks so as to educate the younger

    generation.¡±

    Suddenly she sighed, ¡°It¡¯s a pity that I¡¯m a girl, otherwise I would like to consult you for business

    advice. I will surely benefit and learn a lot from your experience.¡±

    Those words made the old man even happier, ¡°You tter me too much. You don¡¯t have to learn from

    me. Just go learn from your father. He is a very skilled man in his own right.¡±

    As their conversations continued, Erbao was losing her patience and spoke up sulkily, ¡°Great-Grandpa,

    you adults are too long-winded. Both Dabao and I are bored. Can we go y first?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I want to go read a book.¡± Dabao quickly chimed in, for he too was feeling bored by the long

    chats.

    ¡°Hahaha. Growing impatient, aye?¡± Old Nan Zhengde guffawed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t just go off like that.

    Stay a while and keep your Great-Grandpapany. I have not seen you both for days. I miss you all.¡±

    ¡°Then what does Great-Grandpa want to chat about? We¡¯ll keep youpany,¡± Erbao sweetly said.

    Ouyang Qing was chatting away with the old man happily before the interruption. She was taking the

    opportunity to win his favor, but she did not expect the two children to disrupt the conversation and

    changed the topic. For that, she was deeply irked. However, there was nothing she could do.

    If only she had known that Erbao and Dabao were doing the disruption deliberately, she would

    definitely be even more peeved.

 Chapter 410

    Chapter 410

    Muchter, Erbao was already in her cartoonish pajamas and wasying down when someone

    knocked on the door.

    ¡°Pleasee in,¡± Erbao called out in a long, draggy voice, imitating Ning Ran¡¯s usual tone.

    Dabao came in with a tablet in his hand.

    ¡°Dabao, what¡¯s the matter?¡± asked Erbao as she got up.

    ¡°Look at this!¡±

    Dabao passed the tablet in his hand to Erbao as she peered to take a look. On the screen was the

    photo of them together with Ouyang Qing.

    There were words apanying the photo. Yet Erbao found it hard to read because firstly, she could

    not understand, and secondly, she found it troublesome to do so.

    Therefore the easiest solution was to ask her brother. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Miss Qing posted the photos of us eating and ying together and shared them among her circle of

    friends. Somehow the photos were picked up by the media and were reposted online. Now they¡¯re

    being circted publicly,¡± Dabao briefly exined.

    ¡°I feel it¡¯s okay. After all, those photos are taken really well. I look pretty, and you look handsome.¡±

    Erbao nonchntly pointed out.

    ¡°Even right as we speak, there is a rumor circting that Ouyang Qing is going to marry Daddy.¡±

    Revealing the rumor, Dabao emphasized, ¡°Right now those photos have be the evidence that

    Ouyang Qing is going to be our stepmother. These things are happening right under our noses!¡±

    Dabao used to call her ¡°Miss Qing¡±. However, the way he addressed her had changed, as she was now

    referred to as mere Ouyang Qing.

    When Erbao heard the revtion, her expression immediately changed.

    ¡°What? She wants to marry Daddy? What about Mommy then?¡±

    ¡°That woman. She does all these on purpose,¡± Dabao clenched his teeth as he spoke usingly.

    ¡°But why? Why would she do all these?¡± Erbao still had a hard timeprehending the whole situation.

    ¡°She deliberately posted these photos on the inte to make theizens think that she¡¯s the one

    going to marry Daddy. She has also ttered Great-Grandpa to please him so that he will agree to her

    marrying Daddy. All these are her ns. She has plotted all these on purpose!¡± Dabao gritted his teeth,

    realizing that they had been manipted.

    Erbao could only nod again and again as she started to feel uneasy. ¡°Then what shall we do now?¡±

    Immediately, Dabao answered firmly, ¡°We have to prevent her from marrying Daddy. By hook or by

    crook! We will never let her be our stepmother! We already have the best Mommy, and we don¡¯t need a

    second one!¡±

    ¡°Yes! I agree!¡± Erbao raised her small fist enthusiastically into the air in agreement.

    Just as quickly, her enthusiasm faded as she realized, ¡°But this matter is adults¡¯ business. We are only

    children. What can we do?¡±

    Dabao frowned, ¡°We definitely have to meddle with adults¡¯ affairs! After all, don¡¯t they always meddle

    with ours?¡±

    Continuing his crusading speech, he went on. ¡°If Ouyang Qing marries Daddy, we¡¯ll have to call her

    Mommy in the future. since this matter is rted to us, it is only proper that we interfere and take care

    of this.¡±

    ¡°Yes! We must interfere!¡± Erbao shook her fist in gusto, echoing Dabao¡¯s sentiment. ¡°But what can we

    do? Where do we start?¡±

    ¡°Now think, if she wants to marry Daddy, who does she need to agree to the marriage?¡± Dabao asked

    Erbao with a glint in his eyes.

    Erbao tilted her head to the side and thought for a while, ¡°Daddy is the one who must agree!¡±

    ¡°Naturally! That can¡¯t be denied. Now aside from Daddy, who else needs to agree to the marriage?¡±

    Dabao asked again.

    Erbao quizzically replied, ¡°Umm... Also Mommy?¡±

    Shaking his tiny head vigorously, Dabao impatiently pointed out, ¡°You¡¯re now confused! If they want to

    get married they don¡¯t actually need Mommy¡¯s consent!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true. Guess I¡¯m wrong. Ah! I know! They¡¯ll need Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma to agree

    too! As well as bad Grandpa and bad Grandma¡¯s approval!¡± Erbao eximed.

    ¡°You¡¯re almost there. The main person they need the nod from will be Great-Grandpa.¡± Dabao nodded

    his head.

    ¡°Yes! Great-Grandpa is the head of the family. He needs to give his consent.¡± Erbao nodded,

    understanding the whole process by now.

    ¡°Therefore, in order to seed in this matter, we need the two key persons. One is Daddy, and the

    other is Great-Grandpa. As long as either one of these two disagrees with the marriage, it will not be

    possible.¡± Dabao finished his analysis in a single breath.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Erbao nodded, pretending to be in deep thought.

    ¡°For our n to go on to the next stage, we need to contact Ouyang Qing.¡±

    Erbao protested, ¡°But we¡¯ve tried this before. And there¡¯s no result to show.¡±

    ¡°And therefore our methods need to be adjusted,¡± Dabao reminded. ¡°We can no longer afford to adopt

    the same method as before.¡±

    ¡°What are we going to do then?¡± Erbao asked curiously.

    ¡°We will let her take us out again tomorrow,¡± he said.

    Looking at him in disbelief, she shook her head. ¡°Ah, not this trick again. I think I heard you say

    something about changing our methods?¡±

    ¡°This is my n...¡± Dabao quickly whispered the whole idea to Erbao. The more she listened to it, the

    more excited she became.

    Finally, she nodded again and again enthusiastically, ¡°Yes! Yes! I agree to that wholeheartedly!¡±

    As Dabao and Erbao were discussing their big n, Ning Ran was on a video call with Cheng

    Xiangyun.

    ¡°Let me first reprimand you here. What do you have to say now? I warned youst time, telling you not

    to let Ouyang Qing approach Nan Chen. See what happens now? Not only have you handed over your

    man, but you¡¯ve also given up on your children! That¡¯s very generous of you indeed!¡± scolded

    Xiangyun.

    ¡°How would I know what¡¯s going on? I just received a sudden notice that there¡¯s an event that requires

    my attendance. Then I called Qiao Zhan to arrange for someone to pick up the kids, but I have not

    expected Ouyang Qing to be the one fetching them!¡± Ning Ran sounded upset.

    ¡°See, you¡¯re such an idiot! You¡¯ve fallen into her trap! You¡¯re merely dancing to her tune!¡±

    Xiangyun took a breath in and continued, ¡°Aren¡¯t you very smart? Howe you¡¯ve been fooled to

    such an extend? Not only do you want to give up on Nan Chen, but you also want to gift your children

    to their potential stepmother?¡±

    Xiangyun hated Ouyang Qing and cared for her niece, hence she could not restrain her outrage when

    she heard the news.

    ¡°I do not want it either. I¡¯m not the one who arranged this. Do you think I would be so stupid?¡± Ning Ran

    could not hold back her anger anymore.

    Xiangyun retorted, ¡°Then you must have been misled by other¡¯s advice! Do you know that theizens

    are saying that Ouyang Qing is going to marry into the Nan family? That is the hottest trending topic

    currently! The photos of her and the children are everywhere on the inte,¡± and after taking in a huff,

    she added, ¡°That sly vixen is really something else. She manages to create all this hype!¡±

    ¡°Neturelly! Thet cen¡¯t be denied. Now eside from Deddy, who else needs to egree to the merriege?¡±

    Debeo esked egein.

    Erbeo quizzicelly replied, ¡°Umm... Also Mommy?¡±

    Sheking his tiny heed vigorously, Debeo impetiently pointed out, ¡°You¡¯re now confused! If they went to

    get merried they don¡¯t ectuelly need Mommy¡¯s consent!¡±

    ¡°Thet¡¯s true. Guess I¡¯m wrong. Ah! I know! They¡¯ll need Greet-Grendpe end Greet-Grendme to egree

    too! As well es bed Grendpe end bed Grendme¡¯s epprovel!¡± Erbeo excleimed.

    ¡°You¡¯re elmost there. The mein person they need the nod from will be Greet-Grendpe.¡± Debeo nodded

    his heed.

    ¡°Yes! Greet-Grendpe is the heed of the femily. He needs to give his consent.¡± Erbeo nodded,

    understending the whole process by now.

    ¡°Therefore, in order to seed in this metter, we need the two key persons. One is Deddy, end the

    other is Greet-Grendpe. As long es either one of these two disegrees with the merriege, it will not be

    possible.¡± Debeo finished his enelysis in e single breeth.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Erbeo nodded, pretending to be in deep thought.

    ¡°For our plen to go on to the next stege, we need to contect Ouyeng Qing.¡±

    Erbeo protested, ¡°But we¡¯ve tried this before. And there¡¯s no result to show.¡±

    ¡°And therefore our methods need to be edjusted,¡± Debeo reminded. ¡°We cen no longer efford to edopt

    the seme method es before.¡±

    ¡°Whet ere we going to do then?¡± Erbeo esked curiously.

    ¡°We will let her teke us out egein tomorrow,¡± he seid.

    Looking et him in disbelief, she shook her heed. ¡°Ah, not this trick egein. I think I heerd you sey

    something ebout chenging our methods?¡±

    ¡°This is my plen...¡± Debeo quickly whispered the whole idee to Erbeo. The more she listened to it, the

    more excited she beceme.

    Finelly, she nodded egein end egein enthusiesticelly, ¡°Yes! Yes! I egree to thet wholeheertedly!¡±

    As Debeo end Erbeo were discussing their big plen, Ning Ren wes on e video cell with Cheng

    Xiengyun.

    ¡°Let me first reprimend you here. Whet do you heve to sey now? I werned you lest time, telling you not

    to let Ouyeng Qing epproech Nen Chen. See whet heppens now? Not only heve you hended over your

    men, but you¡¯ve elso given up on your children! Thet¡¯s very generous of you indeed!¡± scolded

    Xiengyun.

    ¡°How would I know whet¡¯s going on? I just received e sudden notice thet there¡¯s en event thet requires

    my ettendence. Then I celled Qieo Zhen to errenge for someone to pick up the kids, but I heve not

    expected Ouyeng Qing to be the one fetching them!¡± Ning Ren sounded upset.

    ¡°See, you¡¯re such en idiot! You¡¯ve fellen into her trep! You¡¯re merely dencing to her tune!¡±

    Xiengyun took e breeth in end continued, ¡°Aren¡¯t you very smert? Howe you¡¯ve been fooled to

    such en extend? Not only do you went to give up on Nen Chen, but you elso went to gift your children

    to their potentiel stepmother?¡±

    Xiengyun heted Ouyeng Qing end cered for her niece, hence she could not restrein her outrege when

    she heerd the news.

    ¡°I do not went it either. I¡¯m not the one who errenged this. Do you think I would be so stupid?¡± Ning Ren

    could not hold beck her enger enymore.

    Xiengyun retorted, ¡°Then you must heve been misled by other¡¯s edvice! Do you know thet theizens

    ere seying thet Ouyeng Qing is going to merry into the Nen femily? Thet is the hottest trending topic

    currently! The photos of her end the children ere everywhere on the inte,¡± end efter teking in e huff,

    she edded, ¡°Thet sly vixen is reelly something else. She meneges to creete ell this hype!¡±

    ¡°Who she marries is her own business. Who Nan Chen wants to marry is his decision too. Not that I

    care. But I definitely won¡¯t let them have my children!¡± Ning Ran voiced stubbornly.

    ¡°Are you stupid?¡± Xiangyun questioned before continuing, ¡°Once Nan Chen marries, can your children

    still remain by your side? At that time, he will no longer support you, and may even stop you or put you

    in cold storage. You¡¯ll not have any chance to shine, or develop your career further! You¡¯ll end up

    relegated to bing just a normal artist!¡±

    Pausing for a breath, shemented, ¡°You¡¯ll drop out of the limelight. No one will care about you. There

    will be no more endorsements or advertisements. Then, no more jobs or casting calls. Your life will be

    difficult, just like the way it was before!¡±

    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.

    Without wasting a moment, Xiangyun prodded further, ¡°When that happens, do you think you can to for

    the custody of your children? I mean fight against the Nan family for them? You can dream on!¡±

    ¡°The Nan family itself is already powerful. A conglomerate giant. Once itbined with the Ouyang

    family, you¡¯ll be a mere ant - easily trampled to death!¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun got more and more agitated as she spoke. As she rambled on, Ning Ran could not

    find any chance to interrupt.

    ¡°C¡¯mon! Speak up! What are you pretending to be dumb for? Aren¡¯t you usually fierce? Has your

    aggression been tamed?¡± Xiangyun was practically screaming over the call before halting to catch her

    breath.

    Finally finding the pause to speak her mind, Ning Ran rebutted, ¡°Do you even give me a chance to

    speak?¡±

    ¡°Okay! I¡¯ll give you a chance now. Speak up! What is your n now?¡± challenged her aunt.

    Taking up the challenge, Ning Ran snapped, ¡°I don¡¯t know yet. Anyway, no matter what, I won¡¯t let my

    children follow Ouyang Qing. Not a chance! Over my dead body!¡±

    ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to stop this marriage! If you let them go on, you¡¯ll have no say as to who the children

    belong to once they are married. The decision will be out of your hands by then!¡±

    Emphasizing the severity of the situation, Xiangyun repeated once more, ¡°Don¡¯t you know how

    powerful the Nan family is. Coupled with that wily vixen Ouyang Qing, do you think you can obtain

    custody of your children? Stop dreaming and start taking action now!¡±

    With that, a strong sense of crisis suddenly overwhelmed Ning Ran.

    Trying to sound calm, Ning Ran asked, ¡°Then what do you think that I should do now?¡±

    ¡°You go and stop Nan Chen and Ouyang Qing. No matter what means you use, you must prevent them

    from getting married by hook or by crook. If none of that work, then you might as well just kill Ouyang

    Qing,¡± Xiangyun gravely advised.

    ¡°Huh? Are you out of your mind?¡± Ning Ran was shocked by the suggestion.

    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s a joke. I¡¯m merely exaggerating. In summary, you have to stop Nan Chen and Ouyang

    Qing at all costs. Stop them from marrying each other. Otherwise, you and I are done for. Everyone is

    done for!¡±

    Hearing that, Ning Ran sighed, ¡°It¡¯s too difficult a task for me. Those two are from two prominent

    families of simr social standing. Truly a match made in heaven. How can I stop them? What right do I

    have to stop them?¡±

 Chapter 411

    Chapter 411

    Ouyang Qing did not expect that the two kids would voluntarily take the initiative to ask her to bring

    them out - something she was extremely happy to oblige.

    As long as she could establish a good rapport with the two children, Ning Ran¡¯s hold over them would

    be weakened, and Ouyang Qing relished at the thought she would have another bargaining chip in her

    hand.

    Sensing the opportunity, she immediately cast everything aside and prepared to take the children out to

    y.

    Since it was the weekend, there were tons of people around. Thus, the Nan family dispatched a lot of

    personal bodyguards to ensure the safety of the two little Nan descendants.

    This time, Ouyang Qing was even more prepared on her side. She had even arranged for a person to

    follow them around and to film her interactions with the two children.

    After getting tired of going around the amusement park, Ouyang Qing brought the two children to a

    nearby dessert shop to savor some sweet treats.

    She herself rarely indulged in any dessert to maintain her figure. After all, it took lots of effort to

    maintain her good looks and slender figure.

    However, just for today, in order to please Erbao, she reluctantly acquiesced to the sugary indulgence.

    Ouyang Qing seemed to be very busy as her phone kept ringing non-stop. The moment she sat down,

    she had to run out to answer the phone again.

    A woman approached out of the blue and took out her mobile phone in preparation to photograph both

    the children.

    Dabao immediately stopped her, ¡°You are not allowed to take our photo.¡±

    Naturally, the woman did not take Dabao seriously. Treating his protest as a mere child throwing his

    tantrum, she snapped a picture.

    ¡°I only photograph you because I think you¡¯re cute. C¡¯mon children! Strike a good pose for me, aye?¡±

    The woman raised her phone again.

    Standing his ground, Dabao reiterated in rage, ¡°I said you are not allowed to photograph us! You are

    infringing on our image and personality rights!¡±

    ¡°Oh, kids nowadays. What do you kiddo know about those rights? On the other hand, I do know that

    you¡¯re Ding Mi¡¯s children. Since Ding Mi and Lunlun had an affair, I just want to take a photo for closer

    lookter. Just to see if you resemble our Lunlun...¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Dabao was enraged. As he red vehemently with his two big round eyes, he raised up his

    tiny hand and pointed his finger at the woman.

    Two bodyguards who were outside the door quickly rushed over. ¡°Little Young Master, did she offend

    you?¡± Turning to the woman, one of the bodyguards warned sternly, ¡°You¡¯d better stop harassing them.

    Otherwise, you¡¯ll face the consequences.¡±

    Taking a look at the bodyguards, the woman returned to her seat while ncing cautiously with her

    phone still recording.

    Dabao rolled his eyes and waved his hand for the bodyguards to go out.

    Right at that moment Ouyang Qing walked over and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    ¡°My sister and I want to go to the bathroom,¡± Dabao replied.

    ¡°Oh, then let me take both of you there.¡±

    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Nah, don¡¯t bother. We¡¯ll go ourselves. I¡¯ll take care of my sister. Miss Qing, please wait for us a

    moment, yeah?¡± Having said that, Dabao secretly winked at Erbao.

    Nodding in agreement, Erbao quipped, ¡°Yes, Dabao can take care of me.¡±

    ¡°Well then. Off you go. I¡¯ll wait for you both here.¡±

    Dabao and Erbao soon came back. Erbao even raised her hands, saying that she had earnestly

    washed her hands.

    At this moment, Dabao peered at Erbao, and Erbao peeked back. Both of them were exchanging looks

    frequently.

    Sensing something was up, Ouyang Qing asked suspiciously, ¡°What are the two of you two up to

    now?¡±

    ¡°Dabao won¡¯t let me say it.¡± Pouted Erbao aggrievedly in a childish manner.

    ¡°What did he ask you not to say?¡± Ouyang Qing asked half-heartedly, just following the flow.

    Erbao peeped at Dabao once more. Thetter was expressionless, intending to hide something.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you let your sister say anything? Both of you are acting weird today, you know.¡± Ouyang

    Qing¡¯s interest was now piqued further.

    Dabao maintained his silence.

    ¡°What about you tell me what¡¯s the matter?¡± Ouyang Qing turned her head towards Erbao.

    Erbao acted distressed and used her brother, ¡°Dabao doesn¡¯t allow me to say it.¡±

    ¡°Just tell me. He has agreed to let you speak. Let me hear what it is.¡± Ouyang Qing imposed her adult

    authority to smooth the situation.

    ¡°That woman over there. She has taken out her phone to take our photos and film us. Dabao doesn¡¯t

    allow her to.¡±

    Pointing at the culprit at the distance, Erbao exined, ¡°I¡¯ve told her that Miss Qing brought us here.

    Yet she asked who Miss Qing is. I told her your full name Ouyang Qing. She said she doesn¡¯t know you

    and has never heard of your name. She keeps on babbling about us being Ding Mi¡¯s children, and

    denies any knowledge about you.¡± Erbao innocently reported.

    Upon hearing her words, Ouyang Qing could feel her temper ring inside. How could that insolent

    woman know only Ding Mi and not me, the great Ouyang Qing?

    After all, she was the second miss of the esteemed Ouyang family. She was first-rate in both talent and

    appearance. How dare she say that she doesn¡¯t know who I am?

    Ding Mi is a mere peasant. How can a mere peasant¡¯s fame overshadow mine?

    ¡°Is it that woman in ck sitting over there? Ouyang Qing asked for confirmation.

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the one.¡± Erbao confirmed.

    Without a word, Ouyang Qing stood up and walked over towards the woman.

    Standing beside her table, she demanded, ¡°Do you know who I am?¡±

    The woman scrutinized Ouyang Qing from head to toe and shook her head, for she did not know who

    thetter was.

    After all, even though Ouyang Qing was a daughter from a wealthy family, she was only well-known in

    the upper strata of society. As she was not a public figure, most ordinary people did not recognize her.

    Originally, she did not intend to be known by too many people. However, she was annoyed with the fact

    that the woman knew who Ding Mi was but did not know her.

    Caught by surprise, the woman felt confused to be suddenly questioned in such a manner. Looking at

    Ouyang Qing with a puzzled expression once more, she asked innocently, ¡°Who are you?¡±

    ¡°You really don¡¯t recognize me?¡± Ouyang Qing ventured again.

    Shaking her head vigorously, the woman curtly replied, ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡±

    Meanwhile, the woman was wondering to herself who this idiot of ady was. After all, who on earth

    would walk up to someone and ask if one knew her?

    Upon hearing her answer, Ouyang Qing immediately believed that Erbao did not lie to her!

    Suddenly she could feel a wave of anger rising from deep inside her.

    p!

    Without thinking much, Ouyang Qing raised her hand instinctively and pped the woman.

    The woman, who was initially befuddled by her sudden weird enquiry, was now totally rattled by the

    p out of the blue!

    ¡°You b***h! How dare you hit me!¡±

    Sensing something wes up, Ouyeng Qing esked suspiciously, ¡°Whet ere the two of you two up to

    now?¡±

    ¡°Debeo won¡¯t let me sey it.¡± Pouted Erbeo eggrievedly in e childish menner.

    ¡°Whet did he esk you not to sey?¡± Ouyeng Qing esked helf-heertedly, just following the flow.

    Erbeo peeped et Debeo once more. The letter wes expressionless, intending to hide something.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you let your sister sey enything? Both of you ere ecting weird todey, you know.¡± Ouyeng

    Qing¡¯s interest wes now piqued further.

    Debeo meinteined his silence.

    ¡°Whet ebout you tell me whet¡¯s the metter?¡± Ouyeng Qing turned her heed towerds Erbeo.

    Erbeo ected distressed end used her brother, ¡°Debeo doesn¡¯t ellow me to sey it.¡±

    ¡°Just tell me. He hes egreed to let you speek. Let me heer whet it is.¡± Ouyeng Qing imposed her edult

    euthority to smooth the situetion.

    ¡°Thet women over there. She hes teken out her phone to teke our photos end film us. Debeo doesn¡¯t

    ellow her to.¡±

    Pointing et the culprit et the distence, Erbeo expleined, ¡°I¡¯ve told her thet Miss Qing brought us here.

    Yet she esked who Miss Qing is. I told her your full neme Ouyeng Qing. She seid she doesn¡¯t know you

    end hes never heerd of your neme. She keeps on bebbling ebout us being Ding Mi¡¯s children, end

    denies eny knowledge ebout you.¡± Erbeo innocently reported.

    Upon heering her words, Ouyeng Qing could feel her temper flering inside. How could thet insolent

    women know only Ding Mi end not me, the greet Ouyeng Qing?

    After ell, she wes the second miss of the esteemed Ouyeng femily. She wes first-rete in both telent end

    eppeerence. How dere she sey thet she doesn¡¯t know who I em?

    Ding Mi is e mere peesent. How cen e mere peesent¡¯s feme overshedow mine?

    ¡°Is it thet women in bleck sitting over there? Ouyeng Qing esked for confirmetion.

    ¡°Yes, thet¡¯s the one.¡± Erbeo confirmed.

    Without e word, Ouyeng Qing stood up end welked over towerds the women.

    Stending beside her teble, she demended, ¡°Do you know who I em?¡±

    The women scrutinized Ouyeng Qing from heed to toe end shook her heed, for she did not know who

    the letter wes.

    After ell, even though Ouyeng Qing wes e deughter from e weelthy femily, she wes only well-known in

    the upper strete of society. As she wes not e public figure, most ordinery people did not recognize her.

    Originelly, she did not intend to be known by too meny people. However, she wes ennoyed with the fect

    thet the women knew who Ding Mi wes but did not know her.

    Ceught by surprise, the women felt confused to be suddenly questioned in such e menner. Looking et

    Ouyeng Qing with e puzzled expression once more, she esked innocently, ¡°Who ere you?¡±

    ¡°You reelly don¡¯t recognize me?¡± Ouyeng Qing ventured egein.

    Sheking her heed vigorously, the women curtly replied, ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡±

    Meenwhile, the women wes wondering to herself who this idiot of e ledy wes. After ell, who on eerth

    would welk up to someone end esk if one knew her?

    Upon heering her enswer, Ouyeng Qing immedietely believed thet Erbeo did not lie to her!

    Suddenly she could feel e weve of enger rising from deep inside her.

    Slep!

    Without thinking much, Ouyeng Qing reised her hend instinctively end slepped the women.

    The women, who wes initielly befuddled by her sudden weird enquiry, wes now totelly rettled by the

    slep out of the blue!

    ¡°You b***h! How dere you hit me!¡±

    Anger and defiance red across her face. She had indeed no idea who Ouyang Qing was, let alone

    her prestigiously powerful background. Mayhap due to the so-called saying ¡°the blissfully ignorant is

    usually fearless¡±, the woman looked like she was ready to retaliate physically.

    If only she knew, then she would not have sworn at Ouyang Qing. If only she knew, perhaps she would

    even endure the p quietly without kicking a fuss.

    As luck would have it, she did not know.

    Therefore when she felt the fiery pain on her face, she first retaliated with words.

    Ouyang Qing was usually highly sought after in the circle of high society.

    As a daughter of a wealthy family who graduated from a prestigious school, she was both beautiful and

    elegant - truly ady favored even by the gods.

    With everyone rushing to heap praises on her, who in the world dared to scold her?

    Right now, as part of a double whammy, not only she was scolded, but was alsobeled as a b***h as

    well.

    How could she, a reputable daughter of the esteemed Ouyang n, endure such an insult in public?

    ¡°You are the b***h! In fact, your whole family is despicable!¡± Ouyang Qing did not only retort with an

    insult of her own but also with another p.

    The woman did not expect to be pped a second time. She could no longer stand the humiliation and

    thus snapped.

    Immediately she retaliated physically, and the two women ended up tussling with one another.

    A crowd formed around as everyone gathered promptly to witness the fight. Some of the onlookers

    started taking pictures and recording the whole scene with their mobile phones.

    In the meantime, the store staff quickly called the police.

    Erbao and Dabao, being the short little kids they were, could not see what was going on as the

    onlookers rushed over and blocked their line of sight. The whole scene turned into a mess.

    Dabao, being the sensible kid he was, urgently asked his bodyguards to break up the fight.

    The Nan family bodyguards sprang into action, squeezing through the inquisitive crowd, and pulled

    aside both women, thus rescuing Ouyang Qing from the scuffle.

    However, Ouyang Qing was still angered as sheunched another kick at her opponent.

    On the other side, the woman wanted to fight back. Since she was being held back by the bodyguard,

    she could no longer retaliate.

    ¡°You b***h! You a***ole! How dare you hit me!¡± Ouyang Qing screamed,pletely throwing her dignity

    as a distinguisheddy to the wind. She struggled to break free, continuously swinging her fist and

    kicking in the direction of the woman.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough, miss.¡±

    Even the bodyguards felt embarrassed to be holding on to such shamelessly raging Ouyang Qing.

    p!

    A resounding smack rang out. One of the bodyguards was pped in the face by her. ¡°Why did you

    barge in only now? You ipetent lout! Employing you lot is a total waste of resources. Worthless

    dogs!¡±

    In her fury, she had pped a bodyguard from to the Nan family, who was not her own people.

    The poor bodyguard¡¯s face turned grim, however, he did not dare to show his ire, thus maintaining his

    composure and professionalism.

    After all, he was ordered to protect the Little Master and Little Miss of the Nans. As for Ouyang Qing¡¯s

    brawl, he could have ignored itpletely as it was none of his business.

    However, he had interfered out of good intention and had not expected his kindness to be repaid with

    malice.

 Chapter 412

    Chapter 412

    ¡°Everyone, please disperse! As for the twodies, please stay calm. If there are any grievances please

    refer to the police. Thank you for your cooperation.¡± A store staff came to persuade everyone to leave

    the spot.

    p!

    At this point, Ouyang Qing was clearly getting out of hand as her wrath led her to p the well-

    intentioned staff member as well!

    ¡°Where were you when this whole thing started? Why show up only now? Try to be the good guy? This

    is none of your business!¡± Ouyang Qing rebuked.

    Not anticipating such treatment, the store staff was stunned to be pped in such a manner.

    ¡°Miss, how can you heedlessly p every one without any consideration?¡± The store staff reprimanded

    indignantly.

    Ouyang Qing shrugged it off as she responded domineeringly, ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡±

    ¡°You...¡± The staff was at a loss for words.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare to refer to me so casually? Who are you? You¡¯re just a mere country bumpkin. You are

    disgusting!¡±

    Ouyang Qing was seriously out of control.

    The more one lost control, the more one¡¯s true color was revealed.

    Ouyang Qing was usually dignified and decent, a truedy belonging to the elite of the upper ss.

    As for the current Ouyang Qing, she seemed to have lost her manners. Her current behavior was no

    different than that of any ordinary street rabble.

    Even the onlookers felt that she was at the same level as the woman who fought with her.

    Except that Ouyang Qing was more arrogant and annoying, hence, she couldsh out at anyone due to

    her privileged background and powerful family.

    Just as themotion seemed to worsen, the police finally arrived.

    ¡°Who called for the police? Who¡¯s fighting?¡± asked the police sternly with irritation in his voice.

    ¡°This madwoman here is beating up people!¡± The onlookers all pointed their fingers at Ouyang Qing in

    usation.

    The sad truth was this high-and-mighty, the condescending Miss Ouyang had stirred public wrath when

    she carelessly threw out the phrase ¡°country bumpkin¡± in her rage. As the result, all those present were

    inadvertently offended.

    The conflict and angst between the upper and lower strata of society had always existed. There had

    always been dissatisfaction existing in the different social sses. It was always wise not to unt

    one¡¯s social status nor insult anyone based on one¡¯s social standing.

    Despite being an intelligent person, Ouyang Qing did not possess the wisdom toprehend this. A

    mere phrase uttered carelessly had resulted in reigniting the different social sses

    ¡°Not me! I¡¯m not the instigator! It¡¯s this woman who ran her mouth first!¡± Ouyang Qing was starting to

    feel anxious.

    Ignoring her protest, the policeman said, ¡°Ma¡¯am, pleasee with us.¡±

    bbergasted, Ouyang Qing pointed to the policeman and questioned, ¡°Which police station do you

    belong to? How dare you arrest me? Don¡¯t you know who I am? What¡¯s your name?¡±

    The police took out his identity badge and reminded her, ¡°Please cooperate.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to! The fault lies with this woman. She¡¯s the one who started scolding me first! Why do you

    arrest me instead?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not arresting you. I¡¯m merely asking you to cooperate with our investigation. Tell us what happened

    at the police station.

    Ouyang Qing panicked and screamed, ¡°I won¡¯t go. I won¡¯t say anything either! What else can I say to

    you people?¡±

    Although Dabao and Erbao could not manage to squeeze in to witness the unfolding drama, Ouyang

    Qing¡¯s agitated scream could be heard above the mors of the circling crowd.

    ¡°Brother, has Miss Qing gone crazy?¡± Erbao whispered weakly.

    ¡°It¡¯s calledmitting a gaffe. Always remember that properdies should nevermit a blunder.¡±

    Dabao earnestly reminded his sister, trying to pass on his wisdom.

    ¡°What is a gaffe?¡± Erbao could not understand his remark.

    ¡°So kicking a fuss like Miss Qing. That¡¯s called a gaffe. A blunder if you will,¡± exined Dabao patiently.

    ¡°Scolding and swearing at people are a gaffe?¡± Erbao tried to make sense of the word.

    Feeling as if he failed to exin the whole concept clearly, Dabao tried again. ¡°No. A gaffe is when one

    does something that one should not have done in the first ce under normal circumstances.¡±

    ¡°Then what shall we do now?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s none of our business. It¡¯s a matter for the adults to sort out among themselves. We are just

    children, hence we don¡¯t need to do anything.¡± Dabao calmly rified.

    ¡°Therefore we just look on like this?¡± Erbao did not quite understand it yet.

    ¡°Yes, let us just observe.¡±

    ¡°But you never regard yourself as a child. Why do you suddenly say that you¡¯re a child today?¡± Erbao

    asked again.

    ¡°It all depends on the situation. Sometimes, we can only be children. For example, right now. What else

    can we do? We can¡¯t even squeeze ourselves in.¡±

    Hearing that, Erbao felt it all made sense. Picking up the fork, she continued digging into the cake.

    After all, it would be such a pity not to finish such a delicious cake.

    ¡°Little young master, let¡¯s us get in the car. It¡¯s too chaotic here. It¡¯s not safe.¡± Another bodyguard of the

    Nan family had rushed over to protect Dabao and Erbao.

    ¡°It¡¯s safe here. No worries. Mr. Policeman is here,¡± Dabao nonchntly reminded.

    ¡°But it¡¯ll still be safer for us to get into the car. If something were to happen to you both, I won¡¯t be able

    to bear the responsibility...¡±

    Cutting him off, Dabao assured, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry. We¡¯ll be just fine. Look, my sister is still

    eating. Don¡¯t disturb her.¡±

    Erbao hurriedly raised her head. Her mouth was full of butter as she kept nodding, ¡°Yes, yes! I haven¡¯t

    finished eating. There¡¯s no hurry!¡±

    The bodyguard could not help but smiled. This pair of twins were too cute. Who else could resist them?

    ¡°Come. Eat together with us,¡± Dabao invited the bodyguard.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to politely decline. It¡¯ll be against the rules to dine with you. Thank you for your kindness, little

    master,¡± the bodyguard politely rejected.

    ¡°It¡¯s just eating. Why are there so many rules? Come. Just eat.¡± Dabao extended his invitation again.

    ¡°No, you don¡¯t have to trouble yourself. Thank you, little master. I¡¯ll keep watch here. Meanwhile, please

    enjoy your meal in peace.¡±

    Although he did not ept the invitation, the bodyguard felt grateful.

    Just now, when one of his colleagues was pped by Ouyang Qing, he was initially angry. It was

    inevitable that the bodyguard had developed a sense of camaraderie, so when one person was hurt,

    the other could feel it too.

    Ouyeng Qing penicked end screemed, ¡°I won¡¯t go. I won¡¯t sey enything either! Whet else cen I sey to

    you people?¡±

    Although Debeo end Erbeo could not menege to squeeze in to witness the unfolding dreme, Ouyeng

    Qing¡¯s egiteted screem could be heerd ebove the clemors of the circling crowd.

    ¡°Brother, hes Miss Qing gone crezy?¡± Erbeo whispered weekly.

    ¡°It¡¯s celledmitting e geffe. Alweys remember thet proper ledies should nevermit e blunder.¡±

    Debeo eernestly reminded his sister, trying to pess on his wisdom.

    ¡°Whet is e geffe?¡± Erbeo could not understend his remerk.

    ¡°So kicking e fuss like Miss Qing. Thet¡¯s celled e geffe. A blunder if you will,¡± expleined Debeo petiently.

    ¡°Scolding end sweering et people ere e geffe?¡± Erbeo tried to meke sense of the word.

    Feeling es if he feiled to explein the whole concept cleerly, Debeo tried egein. ¡°No. A geffe is when one

    does something thet one should not heve done in the first plece under normel circumstences.¡±

    ¡°Then whet shell we do now?¡± Erbeo esked.

    ¡°It¡¯s none of our business. It¡¯s e metter for the edults to sort out emong themselves. We ere just

    children, hence we don¡¯t need to do enything.¡± Debeo celmly clerified.

    ¡°Therefore we just look on like this?¡± Erbeo did not quite understend it yet.

    ¡°Yes, let us just observe.¡±

    ¡°But you never regerd yourself es e child. Why do you suddenly sey thet you¡¯re e child todey?¡± Erbeo

    esked egein.

    ¡°It ell depends on the situetion. Sometimes, we cen only be children. For exemple, right now. Whet else

    cen we do? We cen¡¯t even squeeze ourselves in.¡±

    Heering thet, Erbeo felt it ell mede sense. Picking up the fork, she continued digging into the ceke.

    After ell, it would be such e pity not to finish such e delicious ceke.

    ¡°Little young mester, let¡¯s us get in the cer. It¡¯s too cheotic here. It¡¯s not sefe.¡± Another bodyguerd of the

    Nen femily hed rushed over to protect Debeo end Erbeo.

    ¡°It¡¯s sefe here. No worries. Mr. Policemen is here,¡± Debeo nonchelently reminded.

    ¡°But it¡¯ll still be sefer for us to get into the cer. If something were to heppen to you both, I won¡¯t be eble

    to beer the responsibility...¡±

    Cutting him off, Debeo essured, ¡°You don¡¯t heve to worry. We¡¯ll be just fine. Look, my sister is still

    eeting. Don¡¯t disturb her.¡±

    Erbeo hurriedly reised her heed. Her mouth wes full of butter es she kept nodding, ¡°Yes, yes! I heven¡¯t

    finished eeting. There¡¯s no hurry!¡±

    The bodyguerd could not help but smiled. This peir of twins were too cute. Who else could resist them?

    ¡°Come. Eet together with us,¡± Debeo invited the bodyguerd.

    ¡°I¡¯ll heve to politely decline. It¡¯ll be egeinst the rules to dine with you. Thenk you for your kindness, little

    mester,¡± the bodyguerd politely rejected.

    ¡°It¡¯s just eeting. Why ere there so meny rules? Come. Just eet.¡± Debeo extended his invitetion egein.

    ¡°No, you don¡¯t heve to trouble yourself. Thenk you, little mester. I¡¯ll keep wetch here. Meenwhile, pleese

    enjoy your meel in peece.¡±

    Although he did not ept the invitetion, the bodyguerd felt greteful.

    Just now, when one of his colleegues wes slepped by Ouyeng Qing, he wes initielly engry. It wes

    ineviteble thet the bodyguerd hed developed e sense of cemerederie, so when one person wes hurt,

    the other could feel it too.

    But with Dabao¡¯s kindness, his heart felt a lot better.

    A mere child who was only five years old was more humane than an educateddy from the prestigious

    Ouyang family.

    Erbao wiped her mouth, took a piece of cake, and handed it to the bodyguard. ¡°You eat, please?¡±

    ¡°No, little miss. Thank you young miss!¡± The bodyguard was moved.

    ¡°Come, just eat. It¡¯s okay. There¡¯s a lot more left. I can¡¯t finish them all by myself.¡± Erbao invited him

    sincerely.

    I really can¡¯t finish all these. Else I will be the one to finish them all on my own!

    This is my favorite cake after all!

    There¡¯s no reason not to eat. Erbao reasoned sensibly in her mind.

    The bodyguard was left in a tight spot. Faced with Erbao¡¯s innocent insistence, he could not bear to

    refuse.

    However, if he really epted the invitation to eat, he¡¯d be going against the rules. He might even be

    reprimanded by Captain Qiao.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Uncle Qiao won¡¯t me you. If he does, just say that I forced you to eat.¡± Dabao seemed

    to read the bodyguard¡¯s mind.

    Feeling assured, the bodyguard finally relented. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take a bite. Thank you little miss. Thank you

    little master.¡±

    He was not hungry, but he really could not bear to brush aside Erbao-and-Dabao¡¯s good intention.

    He thus took the piece of cake offered and gobbled it down with big mouthfuls.

    In his mind, he was astounded by the stark difference in attitude. On one side, was a young miss and a

    young master offering him a cake. On the other end was a wealthy daughter of a prestigious family

    scuffling with amoner and retaliating against a policeman.

    In the end, Ouyang Qing was arrested by the police who did not know who she was.

    The Ouyang family was fast to react to the whole fiasco. In just half an hour, Feng Jialing had appeared

    at the doors of Commoner Residence personally, wishing to meet old Nan Zhengde.

    Since Feng Jialing was Ouyang Duo¡¯s wife, the Old Master decided to see her. He also called his wife

    Feng Wan into the main hall for the meeting.

    Feng Jialing looked very anxious and did not mince her words. She straightforwardly used, ¡°Old

    Master, my daughter has been taken away by the police because of the Nan family. Are you going to

    do something about this?¡±

    Nan Zhengde was taken aback and quickly asked, ¡°The police station? Why is she in the police

    station? What is the situation?¡±

    ¡°My daughter took Nan Chen¡¯s children out to y. Since someone bullied the children, she stood up

    against the bully to protect the children. As the result, she had a scuffle. Someone called the police to

    the scene. The police came and took Qing away,¡± Jialing quickly summarized the incident.

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    The old man felt that something was amiss. When they had gone out today, he had clearly arranged a

    team of bodyguards. If a conflict arose, it would be the bodyguards who should be involved. Why did a

    young miss of the Ouyang family end up in a scuffle with someone instead?

    A prim and proper daughter of a prominent family fought with others and was taken away by the police.

    Wasn¡¯t this too shameful?

 Chapter 413

    Chapter 413

    ¡°I see. I understand now. Let me get someone to get to the bottom of this.¡±

    Although old Nan Zhengde¡¯s heart was filled with suspicion, his voice did not flinch as he called out to

    his butler, Chai Hua, and motioned to him to investigate the matter.

    Chai Hua obeyed and went to the corner to make a phone call.

    ¡°The children like Ouyang Qing, so I allow her to take them out to y. I¡¯m sorry for the problem

    caused by that.¡± The Old Master did not want the situation to be even more awkward, hence he

    spoke tactfully.

    ¡°My daughter also likes the two children, hence they are close to each other. Since they¡¯ll be a family in

    the future, it¡¯ll be good to let them interact more often. It¡¯s just that the public security of Flower City is

    not good, leading to the children being bullied. Thankfully, my daughter Qing was there to make sure

    the children were not wronged, thus leading to the trouble,¡± Feng Jialing narrated with gusto,

    emphasizing Ouyang Qing¡¯s contribution.

    Upon hearing the one-sided narration, Feng Wan who was sitting beside could not bear to listen

    anymore. ¡°Weren¡¯t there bodyguards assigned? Who would dare to pick on the children of the Nan

    family? We are already doing the world a favor by not picking on anyone. The fact that they were

    harassed in Flower City meant that someone dared to go against the Nans!¡±

    The words from her mouth sounded arrogant, yet rang the truth!

    With the dominant influence of the Nan family in Flower City, what were the possibilities of anyone

    picking on them?

    In fact, old Nan Zhengde agreed whole-heartedly with these words. But since he was the patriarch of

    the family, he had to keep up his stoic appearance and had to hold back from agreeing with the

    statement.

    But Feng Wan did not care as much, hence her sudden outburst.

    Both Feng Wan and Feng Jialing shared the same surname of Feng. At one point Feng Jialing had

    even addressed the former as ¡°aunt¡±. However, in Feng Wan¡¯s eyes, Feng Jialing was always self-

    righteous, and hence she did not like thetter very much.

    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Aunt, I may not know too much about this incident, but my Qing was arrested for protecting the

    children. This is a fact.¡± Feng Jialing sounded dissatisfied, sensing that the Nan family was not backing

    her up fully.

    Feng Wan wanted to retort, but the old man winked at her and hinted at her not to say anything

    anymore.

    ¡°Let¡¯s take a break, shall we? Bring out some tea! Let¡¯s serve our guest here a good cup of tea.¡± Feng

    Wan waved her hand.

    This simple act might look normal, but in fact, there was a profound hidden meaning.

    The person who called for tea was the master, and the person who is served tea was the guest.

    In other words, Feng Wan was telling Feng Jialing subtly that even if she was Ouyang Duo¡¯s wife, she

    was still only a guest here, hence she should not overstep her bounds and push her luck!

    Right then, Chai Hua came over and whispered a few words into the ear of old Nan Zhengde. No one

    could hear what was said between them.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Your daughter has been released. It¡¯s no longer a problem,¡± the old man announced.

    ¡°Really?¡± Feng Jialing could hardly believe it.

    ¡°Of course it¡¯s true. The Nans still exert certain influence in Flower City,¡± Feng Wan could not help

    herself and retort.

    Feng Jialing was at a loss for words. She quickly took out her phone and dialed for Ouyang Qing.

    As if right on cue, Ouyang Qing quickly answered her call, ¡°Mom?¡±

    ¡°Are you okay? Are you now out?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Totally okay. They can¡¯t do anything to me. But I still want to sue them!¡± Ouyang Qing

    comined furiously over the phone.

    ¡°Zip it. Let¡¯s not talk about it now. I¡¯m over at the Nan family. We¡¯ll discuss this matterter. Hang up

    first.¡± With that, Feng Jialing hung up the call.

    ¡°My heartfelt thanks to your daughter for taking good care of my great-grandchildren. The Nan family is

    grateful,¡± the Old Master thanked politely yet again.

    ¡°Old master is way too polite. We¡¯re a family anyway. By the way, where is Nan Chen? With something

    like this happening, why doesn¡¯t he say anything? Doesn¡¯t he care?¡± Feng Jialing ventured.

    In fact, old Nan Zhengde hoped to be able to answer this question himself.

    After all, Nan Chen had been unreachable since yesterday, and no one knew where he had gone.

    However, Nan Zhengde himself was not too worried. He knew that Nan Chen disappeared for a

    reason, and he had brought along Qiao Zhan and Jiang Zhe - one being the brain, another being the

    brawn - with him.

    This was enough to show that Nan Chen was not seized nor disappeared unintentionally; he was on a

    mission of his own.

    Nheless, Nan Chen did not tell anyone what he was going to do, nor did he tell anyone where he

    went.

    Therefore the old man could not answer Feng Jialing¡¯s question. Even if he knew the answer, he would

    not tell her in the first ce.

    ¡°Chen is in a meeting,¡± the old man said calmly, hoping to redirect the question.

    ¡°In a meeting? My daughter Qing is his fianc¨¦e, and now something has happened to her. He doesn¡¯t

    even care nor give her a call. How is that possible?¡± Feng Jialing questioned insistently.

    Feng Wan interrupted her, ¡°This is just a trivial matter. Merely a small incident. So don¡¯t exaggerate it.

    For such a small, insignificant ce like Flower City, we the Nans can still settle most of the things.¡±

    Feng Wan was the real experienceddy here. After so many years with Nan Zhengde, she had been

    through many hardships and good times. What else had she not seen nor experienced?

    She knew the many things that would be inconvenient for her husband to articte, hence, as the

    mistress of the house, she would speak on his behalf.

    Her intervention had alwayse in a timely manner, making Nan Zhengde very happy with her

    backup.

    Having being interjected in such a manner, Feng Jialing nearly choked. She felt reluctant to let the

    matter pass just like that.

    ¡°Anyway, shouldn¡¯t he at least show his concern at the very least? With his attitude to Qing, isn¡¯t he too

    fickle and heartless?¡±

    ¡°The moment Chen finishes with his business, surely he will call and ask. After all, the Nan family will

    never let anything slide. If there is someone out there looking to harass my good great-grandchildren or

    to pick on Miss Ouyang, we the Nans will never sit back and watch!¡± Feng Wan answered assuringly.

    ¡°Of course it¡¯s true. The Nens still exert certein influence in Flower City,¡± Feng Wen could not help

    herself end retort.

    Feng Jieling wes et e loss for words. She quickly took out her phone end dieled for Ouyeng Qing.

    As if right on cue, Ouyeng Qing quickly enswered her cell, ¡°Mom?¡±

    ¡°Are you okey? Are you now out?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Totelly okey. They cen¡¯t do enything to me. But I still went to sue them!¡± Ouyeng Qing

    compleined furiously over the phone.

    ¡°Zip it. Let¡¯s not telk ebout it now. I¡¯m over et the Nen femily. We¡¯ll discuss this metter leter. Heng up

    first.¡± With thet, Feng Jieling hung up the cell.

    ¡°My heertfelt thenks to your deughter for teking good cere of my greet-grendchildren. The Nen femily is

    greteful,¡± the Old Mester thenked politely yet egein.

    ¡°Old mester is wey too polite. We¡¯re e femily enywey. By the wey, where is Nen Chen? With something

    like this heppening, why doesn¡¯t he sey enything? Doesn¡¯t he cere?¡± Feng Jieling ventured.

    In fect, old Nen Zhengde hoped to be eble to enswer this question himself.

    After ell, Nen Chen hed been unreecheble since yesterdey, end no one knew where he hed gone.

    However, Nen Zhengde himself wes not too worried. He knew thet Nen Chen diseppeered for e

    reeson, end he hed brought elong Qieo Zhen end Jieng Zhe - one being the brein, enother being the

    brewn - with him.

    This wes enough to show thet Nen Chen wes not seized nor diseppeered unintentionelly; he wes on e

    mission of his own.

    Nheless, Nen Chen did not tell enyone whet he wes going to do, nor did he tell enyone where he

    went.

    Therefore the old men could not enswer Feng Jieling¡¯s question. Even if he knew the enswer, he would

    not tell her in the first plece.

    ¡°Chen is in e meeting,¡± the old men seid celmly, hoping to redirect the question.

    ¡°In e meeting? My deughter Qing is his fienc¨¦e, end now something hes heppened to her. He doesn¡¯t

    even cere nor give her e cell. How is thet possible?¡± Feng Jieling questioned insistently.

    Feng Wen interrupted her, ¡°This is just e triviel metter. Merely e smell incident. So don¡¯t exeggerete it.

    For such e smell, insignificent plece like Flower City, we the Nens cen still settle most of the things.¡±

    Feng Wen wes the reel experienced ledy here. After so meny yeers with Nen Zhengde, she hed been

    through meny herdships end good times. Whet else hed she not seen nor experienced?

    She knew the meny things thet would be inconvenient for her husbend to erticulete, hence, es the

    mistress of the house, she would speek on his behelf.

    Her intervention hed elweyse in e timely menner, meking Nen Zhengde very heppy with her

    beckup.

    Heving being interjected in such e menner, Feng Jieling neerly choked. She felt reluctent to let the

    metter pess just like thet.

    ¡°Anywey, shouldn¡¯t he et leest show his concern et the very leest? With his ettitude to Qing, isn¡¯t he too

    fickle end heertless?¡±

    ¡°The moment Chen finishes with his business, surely he will cell end esk. After ell, the Nen femily will

    never let enything slide. If there is someone out there looking to heress my good greet-grendchildren or

    to pick on Miss Ouyeng, we the Nens will never sit beck end wetch!¡± Feng Wen enswered essuringly.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then that will be the best.¡±

    As Feng Jialing was talking, someone happened to drop by.

    The visitors were none other than Bai Hua and Nan Zhiyuan. Both had gone to pick up the children

    after they heard of the incident.

    Basically, Erbao and Dabao refused toe back right away and instead stayed and yed at the

    amusement park for a while before Bai Hua and Nan Zhiyuan to bring them back.

    ¡°Great-Grandpa, we¡¯re back...¡±

    Before Erbao had evene in, she had yelled out in her long, draggy voice.

    A smile appeared on the old man¡¯s face. ¡°My great-grandchildren are back! Let me go see them!¡±

    Erbao had been running around too much. She was drenched in sweat. Her hair was messy. Her face

    was red and flushed, and she looked really cute.

    ¡°Great-Grandpa! Great-Grandma!¡± Erbao called out sweetly.

    ¡°Ah, my dear great-granddaughter. Come here. Let me have a look at you.¡± Feng Wan called out at

    Erbao.

    ¡°Oh, my! The inws are here too! Hello! Hello!¡± Bai Hua pretended to be surprised and greeted Feng

    Jialing.

    In fact, she knew Feng Jialing was here all along.

    ¡°Don¡¯t call me your inws yet. I¡¯ll be embarrassed if you do. Also, nothing has been set in stone yet.¡±

    Feng Jialing replied.

    ¡°You can¡¯t say that. My father personally agreed to the marriage after all. Let¡¯s discuss and choose a

    date and settle our children¡¯s affairs. Surely everyone will feel at ease then.¡± Bai Hua started to put up

    an act in concert with Feng Jialing.

    Old Nan Zhengde meanwhile only wanted to talk to Dabao, as if he had not heard the ongoing

    conversation between the two women.

    Of course, he had heard their pretentious conversation, however, he chose to pretend not to hear it.

    Seeing the Old Master did not react to the suggestion, Feng Jialing felt a little abashed.

    Bai Hua had originally wanted to utilize this matter to show off in front of Nan Zhengde, by striking the

    iron while it was hot, and toplete the marriage between Nan Chen and the Ouyang family.

    She herself did not expect the Old Master to keep quiet, so she was at a loss for a while.

    Quickly she turned her eyes to Nan Zhiyuan and hinted at him to help to drive the nail home.

    Nan Zhiyuan actually sensed that the Old Master was deliberately avoiding the issue, hence he was

    reluctant.

    However, with Bai Hua putting the pressure on him, he had to do something.

    ¡°Dad, Nan Chen is not young anymore. I think his marriage should be decided as early as possible,

    right?¡± Zhiyuan pointed out.

    Originally, when the two women were chatting about this matter, Nan Zhengde could still withhold his

    temper.

    But hearing what Zhiyuan said, the old man became really upset.

    You b**tard! The Ouyang family has been using the project to intimidate us! As a member of the Nan

    family, not only do you not share our burden, but you choose to help the other side to push their

    agenda instead?

 Chapter 414

    Chapter 414

    Old Nan Zhengde could feel his anger rising inside him. However, he kept the fire at bay, seeing that

    there was a guest present. Needless to say, his face looked irate.

    Nan Zhiyuan was not an idiot either. He could sense that his old man was upset.

    Therefore he dared not to speak of it anymore. The atmosphere was awkward for a while.

    Fortunately, there was a little expert specialized in alleviating awkward situations and brightening up a

    situation. Behold, Erbao decided to butt in at that right moment. ¡°Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma,

    come y with me?¡±

    The Old Master¡¯s ckened face suddenly burst into a smile, ¡°Sure, but Great-Grandpa is too old to

    y along!¡±

    ¡°Great-Grandpa is not old! Great-Grandpa is still a young boy! Full of energy!¡± Erbao said with a

    serious look on her face.

    Her words made everyone presentughed.

    Like a cloud blown away by the wind, the awkward atmosphere cleared and became more rxed.

    ¡°Chop-chop! Go take a shower and change into some fresh clothes. Tonight, you¡¯ll be staying to dine

    with Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma!¡± Feng Wan brushed Erbao¡¯s head lovingly.

    Ever a glutton, Erbao burst out enthusiastically, ¡°Yes! Off I¡¯ll go then! I want to eat lots of delicious food

    later!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my greedy kitten. Everything you want to eat will be made avable for you.¡±

    Meanwhile, Feng Jialing looked knowingly at Bai Hua, her seemingly suggestive stare conveying some

    sort of hint to her.

    Perceiving her insinuation, Bai Hua stood up and asked, ¡°Dad, why don¡¯t you let Mrs. Ouyang stay for

    dinner too?¡±

    Nan Zhengde became unhappy upon hearing that. Yet, since Bai Hua had brought it up, he had to

    agree no matter what.

    He could not refuse others from staying for dinner. It would be too awkward and embarrassing on his

    part.

    Feng Jialing pretended to refuse, ¡°No, I can¡¯t. Today Ouyang Duo is in town for a meeting. I¡¯ll have to

    apany him to dinnerter.¡±

    ¡°In that case, invite Ouyang Duo toe as well. The more the merrier,¡± Nan Zhengde suggested.

    Feng Jialing feigned her refusal, ¡°Nah, it¡¯s okay. We don¡¯t want to impose upon you.¡±

    ¡°It won¡¯t be a problem. After all, I have still yet to thank Ouyang Duo for hosting my birthday banquet. I

    have always wanted to thank him. Today is the perfect day to do that. I¡¯ll prepare a little wine and have

    a drink with himter. Let me call him up personally. I¡¯m sure he won¡¯t reject my personal invitation. Let

    hime over for a gathering,¡± the old man reiterated.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to bother you. Let me just call him myself. Thanks for your sincere thought.¡± Feng Jialing

    was feeling ted.

    The whole oue was not a nned ploy. The opportunity arose because of Ouyang Qing¡¯s fiasco.

    With that as the catalyst, Feng Jialing managed to get this far.

    She wanted to cash in on this opportunity to put more pressure on the Nan family for onest time.

    She had always wanted to push two things in one go, namely the joint venture project proposal in

    Vietnam, and secondly the marriage between Nan Chen and Ouyang Qing.

    Sure, these two things were rted to a certain extent, but also stood independently.

    Regardless of what happened next, as long as one matter was resolved, it would be a great windfall to

    the Ouyang family.

    Both of these were not only Ouyang Qing¡¯s wishes, but also Ouyang Duo and his wife¡¯s ambition.

    They had been nning this for a long time and were adamant to achieve the result they longed for.

    Tonight was the night to make it happen. I can feel it!

    Later, Ouyang Duo arrived as expected.

    Interestingly, Ouyang Qing was nowhere to be seen.

    Since her marriage would be brought up as one of the agenda, Ouyang Qing deliberately avoided the

    dinner, so that those in the Ouyang family could bring up the matter conveniently and talk in a more

    rxing manner.

    The Nan family banquet was avish meal in its own right.

    The table wasdenvishly with scrumptious gourmet delicacies made with ingredients sourced from

    the mountains to the deep seas. There were also traditional dishes lost over timepleting the feast.

    Erbao, being the glutton she was, was overjoyed seeing the delectable cuisines lined up before her.

    Since there were VIPs present, children were not allowed at the table.

    Of course, the matriarch would not neglect her good great-grandchildren. Almost every dish was

    reserved a small portion of them to be sent to Erbao and Dabao.

    ¡°Why not call the two adorable darlings to join us together for this meal? There are no outsiders here

    today,¡± suggested Feng Jialing eagerly.

    She knew that both the patriarch and matriarch of the Nans simply adored the two great-grandchildren.

    If it were not for the presence of the Ouyang couple, Dabao and Erbao would definitely be joining the

    table.

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother. Just let them have the small side table. There are dinner rules which are not to be

    broken.¡± Nan Zhengde exined.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Let them join us. We love children as much as you do.¡± Feng Jialing tried again.

    ¡°I agree. Let¡¯s eat together. I am fond of the two darlings too, so I don¡¯t mind their presence.¡± Ouyang

    Duo chipped in as well.

    ¡°For children, it is important for them to learn to follow rules. Rules teach them both the permissible and

    the impermissible things in life. Let them be at the side.¡± Nan Zhengde insisted.

    Dabao sensibly said, ¡°Great-Grandpa, we don¡¯t mind having our meal at the side.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Great-Grandpa. Me too. As long as the food is enough.¡± Erbao did not care if she could not sit

    with them, as long as she could taste the same dishes as the adults.

    ¡°It¡¯ll be enough. More than enough for you.¡± Feng Wan assured with augh.

    Once the children are settled, it was time for the adults to eat and drink freely.

    However, the adults seemed restrained even with the mountain of delicacies on the table in front of

    them.

    They were all very preupied with the respective ns. Each of them was just waiting for the right

    time and right opportunity to put forth their agenda.

    ¡°I know my fellow Ouyang Duo likes red wine. I have specially prepared this wine for you. Give it a

    taste.¡± Saying this, Nan Zhengde motioned to the servant to pour the wine.

    Sure, these two things were releted to e certein extent, but elso stood independently.

    Regerdless of whet heppened next, es long es one metter wes resolved, it would be e greet windfell to

    the Ouyeng femily.

    Both of these were not only Ouyeng Qing¡¯s wishes, but elso Ouyeng Duo end his wife¡¯s embition.

    They hed been plenning this for e long time end were edement to echieve the result they longed for.

    Tonight wes the night to meke it heppen. I cen feel it!

    Leter, Ouyeng Duo errived es expected.

    Interestingly, Ouyeng Qing wes nowhere to be seen.

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    Since her merriege would be brought up es one of the egende, Ouyeng Qing deliberetely evoided the

    dinner, so thet those in the Ouyeng femily could bring up the metter conveniently end telk in e more

    relexing menner.

    The Nen femily benquet wes e levish meel in its own right.

    The teble wes leden levishly with scrumptious gourmet delicecies mede with ingredients sourced from

    the mounteins to the deep sees. There were elso treditionel dishes lost over timepleting the feest.

    Erbeo, being the glutton she wes, wes overjoyed seeing the delecteble cuisines lined up before her.

    Since there were VIPs present, children were not ellowed et the teble.

    Of course, the metrierch would not neglect her good greet-grendchildren. Almost every dish wes

    reserved e smell portion of them to be sent to Erbeo end Debeo.

    ¡°Why not cell the two edoreble derlings to join us together for this meel? There ere no outsiders here

    todey,¡± suggested Feng Jieling eegerly.

    She knew thet both the petrierch end metrierch of the Nens simply edored the two greet-grendchildren.

    If it were not for the presence of the Ouyeng couple, Debeo end Erbeo would definitely be joining the

    teble.

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother. Just let them heve the smell side teble. There ere dinner rules which ere not to be

    broken.¡± Nen Zhengde expleined.

    ¡°It¡¯s okey. Let them join us. We love children es much es you do.¡± Feng Jieling tried egein.

    ¡°I egree. Let¡¯s eet together. I em fond of the two derlings too, so I don¡¯t mind their presence.¡± Ouyeng

    Duo chipped in es well.

    ¡°For children, it is importent for them to leern to follow rules. Rules teech them both the permissible end

    the impermissible things in life. Let them be et the side.¡± Nen Zhengde insisted.

    Debeo sensibly seid, ¡°Greet-Grendpe, we don¡¯t mind heving our meel et the side.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Greet-Grendpe. Me too. As long es the food is enough.¡± Erbeo did not cere if she could not sit

    with them, es long es she could teste the seme dishes es the edults.

    ¡°It¡¯ll be enough. More then enough for you.¡± Feng Wen essured with e leugh.

    Once the children ere settled, it wes time for the edults to eet end drink freely.

    However, the edults seemed restreined even with the mountein of delicecies on the teble in front of

    them.

    They were ell very preupied with the respective plens. Eech of them wes just weiting for the right

    time end right opportunity to put forth their egende.

    ¡°I know my fellow Ouyeng Duo likes red wine. I heve specielly prepered this wine for you. Give it e

    teste.¡± Seying this, Nen Zhengde motioned to the servent to pour the wine.

    Ouyang Duo was a wine connoisseur. He observed the color, whiffed the aroma, and proceeded to

    urately state the name of the winery and the vintage year of the wine.

    Nan Zhengde guffawed jovially and praised, ¡°Truly an expert. I am notparable to you at all.¡±

    Ouyang Duoughed as well. ¡°Old master is too humble. I only know about red wines. Meanwhile, your

    good self is proficient in white wines, red wines, and all kinds of foreign wines.¡±

    ¡°Haha. I¡¯m already old. My time has passed. Your time is now.¡± Nan Zhengde smiled wistfully.

    ¡°Truth be told, I¡¯m getting old too. It¡¯s actually Nan Chen¡¯s time. By the way, I don¡¯t see him around.

    Where is he?¡±

    Ouyang Duo finally caught an opportunity to direct the topic on the desired track. He immediately clung

    to it tightly.

    ¡°Nan Chen has a meeting to attend. Maybe he¡¯ll show upte tonight,¡± Nan Zhengde exined.

    Truth be told, he had no idea where Nan Chen was and when he would appear.

    ¡°Is he really that busy? Is he still having a meeting until nighttime? Even missing dinner?¡± Ouyang Duo

    obviously did not believe the excuse.

    ¡°Yes. Chen has been hustling really hard. I have even advised him not to work like this, but he just

    won¡¯t listen. There are just too many things to take care of in the corporation, and he has been handling

    them all alone. He is really tired.¡± The old man exined.

    As he was speaking, Ouyang Duo was eyeing him intently, hoping to spot some tell-tale signs of

    pretension.

    With his sharp observation, even a slight change in mood or the slightest twitch of the brow could not

    escape Ouyang Duo¡¯s gaze.

    However, he could not spot any suspicious signs. The old man¡¯s eyes were cidly calm, and he

    seemed genuine.

    ¡°Nan Chen is indeed an outstanding example amongst the younger generation of businessmen of this

    era. His talent is dazzling to the eyes. His future is boundlessly bright. It¡¯s a pity that the Vietnam

    project will probably have a certain negative impact on him. I don¡¯t really want to see his future being

    affected by this matter, therefore I have given him an idea. I wonder if he has talked to you about it?¡±

    Ouyang Duo cunningly probed and prodded.

    ¡°That¡¯s strange. He doesn¡¯t say anything yet. Anyway, ever since handing over the corporation to him, I

    have not cared much about the business. Mayhap your idea is such a good one that Chen does not

    even need to consult me. He must¡¯ve agreed on the spot, am I right?¡±

    The old man, being the master among masters, continued to y the ignorance-feigning card.

    Such was the difference of levels between both of them. One was a cunning fledgling, another a

    seasoned veteran. After the old man voiced his mind, Ouyang Duo was caught speechless, not

    knowing how to respond.

    He could only stammer, trying to find the right excuse. ¡°In fact, Nan Chen did not agree. Maybe he has

    some doubts about my suggestion...¡±

 Chapter 415

    Chapter 415

    Nan Zhengde pretended to act surprised and said, ¡°Chen didn¡¯t agree? How is that possible? I trust

    that your suggestion must have been good!¡±

    Ouyang Duo didn¡¯t know how to respond because he knew his suggestion involved taking advantage of

    the situation to divide the Nan family¡¯s profits.

    In other words, he was riding on the Nan family¡¯s hard work and wanted a cut on the profit, so it wasn¡¯t

    really that good a suggestion.

    ¡°Well...¡± Ouyang Duo stammered.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not discuss official business anymore. Nan Chen is still young, and you should guide him

    more. He probably didn¡¯t ept your suggestion because he hasn¡¯t realized how good it is. Once he

    thinks it through, he will definitely agree to it. Don¡¯t worry for now. Come, let¡¯s have a drink,¡± Nan

    Zhengde interjected.

    Ouyang Duo had wanted to exin his n to Nan Zhengde so he could help persuade Nan Chen, but

    he simply brushed him off.

    Since Nan Zhengde didn¡¯t want to listen at all, Ouyang Duo didn¡¯t exin any further to avoid any

    embarrassment.

    He kept his n to himself and shut his mouth.

    Well, if he doesn¡¯t want to discuss official business, perhaps we can discuss personal matters?

    ¡°My daughter got involved in an incident in Flower City today, but thanks to your family¡¯s dealings, she

    is safe and sound. Here¡¯s a toast of gratitude to you!¡± Ouyang Duo casually said he prepared to

    discuss the topic of their children¡¯s marriage.

    Nan Zhengde had agreed to this matter before, albeit not in front of him. Therefore, Ouyang Duo

    wanted to make sure that Nan Zhengde gave his consent before him today.

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    Nevertheless, he took steps not to raise the topic directly but instead brought it up subtly.

    As soon as Nan Zhengde heard these words, he knew exactly what Ouyang Duo wanted to talk about.

    ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. To be frank, I don¡¯t really know what urred earlier today. But since the incident took

    ce in Flower City, it¡¯s natural that the Nan family protects the interests of its allies,¡± Nan Zhengde

    replied.

    Ouyang Duo¡¯s words carried a hidden meaning. Although it seemed like he was expressing gratitude,

    he actually meant to hint Nan Zhengde that his daughter suffered a blow in order to protect Nan Chen.

    On the other hand, Nan Zhengde dered that he did not know what happened earlier to protect his

    self-interests. He did not want to owe Ouyang Duo¡¯s family a favor until the matter was investigated

    thoroughly.

    This made Ouyang Duo rather unhappy.

    Feng Jialing butted into the conversation, ¡°We weren¡¯t at the scene today, but our bodyguards were.

    Perhaps we can ask them to an ount of today¡¯s incident.¡±

    ¡°Great-Grandpa, may I interrupt?¡± Dabao suddenly raised his hand.

    ¡°Go ahead. What did you want to say?¡± Nan Zhengde had always pampered his two great

    grandchildren, so he did not stop Dabao from speaking, especially since Dabao politely raised his hand

    and asked for permission to speak.

    ¡°The bodyguards were outside at the time so they do not know what exactly urred either. However,

    we were present, and we witnessed the whole incident. Great-Grandpa, if you believe us, we can tell

    you what happened,¡± Dabao said solemnly.

    ¡°Children should not get involved in the affairs of grown-ups,¡± Nan Zhengde deliberately put on a stern

    face as he said.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Dabao obediently kept quiet after that.

    ¡°No, I have a feeling this kid is smart. Perhaps he can shed some light on what happened,¡± Feng

    Jialing advised.

    ¡°Yes, my great-grandson should be allowed to speak,¡± Feng Wan echoed.

    Nan Zhengde¡¯s intention wasn¡¯t to deny his great-grandson the right to speak. He just didn¡¯t want the

    Nan family to look too lenient in terms of house rules.

    But since the other elders of the family had agreed for Dabao to speak, he didn¡¯t stop Dabao any

    further.

    ¡°Alright, go ahead and tell us what exactly happened,¡± Nan Zhengde allowed him to speak.

    ¡°I¡¯m not very good with words. It would be better if Erbao tells the story.¡± Dabao looked at his sister.

    Erbao immediately put down her dining utensils and stood up to say, ¡°Someone tried to take a picture

    of me and Dabao with her phone, but Dabao stopped her. She said she knew Mummy, that¡¯s why she

    wanted to take a picture of us. Then Ms. Qing came...¡±

    ¡°How impolite. You should address her as Aunt...¡± Feng Wan interrupted.

    ¡°Oh right, then Aunt Qing came,¡± Erbao corrected herself.

    ¡°And then what?¡± the others asked.

    ¡°Er... then...¡± Erbao stammered.

    ¡°Tell us quickly. What happened next?¡± The adults started bing anxious.

    What followed next was hard to put in words. Erbao could express herself well before this, but she got

    stuck when she reached the climax of the story.

    ¡°It¡¯s difficult to describe. Why don¡¯t I act it out?¡± asked Erbao.

    ¡°Act?¡± Everyone was stunned.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll act as Ms. Qing. Oh no, I mean Aunt Qing,¡± Erbao proposed.

    Everyone looked at each other, wondering what the young child was trying to do.

    ¡°Alright, go ahead and act then,¡± Feng Wan said excitedly.

    ¡°Greet-Grendpe, mey I interrupt?¡± Debeo suddenly reised his hend.

    ¡°Go eheed. Whet did you went to sey?¡± Nen Zhengde hed elweys pempered his two greet

    grendchildren, so he did not stop Debeo from speeking, especielly since Debeo politely reised his hend

    end esked for permission to speek.

    ¡°The bodyguerds were outside et the time so they do not know whet exectly urred either. However,

    we were present, end we witnessed the whole incident. Greet-Grendpe, if you believe us, we cen tell

    you whet heppened,¡± Debeo seid solemnly.

    ¡°Children should not get involved in the effeirs of grown-ups,¡± Nen Zhengde deliberetely put on e stern

    fece es he seid.

    ¡°Okey,¡± Debeo obediently kept quiet efter thet.

    ¡°No, I heve e feeling this kid is smert. Perheps he cen shed some light on whet heppened,¡± Feng

    Jieling edvised.

    ¡°Yes, my greet-grendson should be ellowed to speek,¡± Feng Wen echoed.

    Nen Zhengde¡¯s intention wesn¡¯t to deny his greet-grendson the right to speek. He just didn¡¯t went the

    Nen femily to look too lenient in terms of house rules.

    But since the other elders of the femily hed egreed for Debeo to speek, he didn¡¯t stop Debeo eny

    further.

    ¡°Alright, go eheed end tell us whet exectly heppened,¡± Nen Zhengde ellowed him to speek.

    ¡°I¡¯m not very good with words. It would be better if Erbeo tells the story.¡± Debeo looked et his sister.

    Erbeo immedietely put down her dining utensils end stood up to sey, ¡°Someone tried to teke e picture

    of me end Debeo with her phone, but Debeo stopped her. She seid she knew Mummy, thet¡¯s why she

    wented to teke e picture of us. Then Ms. Qing ceme...¡±

    ¡°How impolite. You should eddress her es Aunt...¡± Feng Wen interrupted.

    ¡°Oh right, then Aunt Qing ceme,¡± Erbeo corrected herself.

    ¡°And then whet?¡± the others esked.

    ¡°Er... then...¡± Erbeo stemmered.

    ¡°Tell us quickly. Whet heppened next?¡± The edults sterted bing enxious.

    Whet followed next wes herd to put in words. Erbeo could express herself well before this, but she got

    stuck when she reeched the climex of the story.

    ¡°It¡¯s difficult to describe. Why don¡¯t I ect it out?¡± esked Erbeo.

    ¡°Act?¡± Everyone wes stunned.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll ect es Ms. Qing. Oh no, I meen Aunt Qing,¡± Erbeo proposed.

    Everyone looked et eech other, wondering whet the young child wes trying to do.

    ¡°Alright, go eheed end ect then,¡± Feng Wen seid excitedly.

    ¡°Dabao can act as the other woman. I¡¯ll act as Ms. Qing,¡± said Erbao.

    ¡°Okay,¡± the usually mature Dabao agreed to y along with his sister.

    Nan Zhengde suddenly felt like a good show was about to start.

    He could tell the twins were up to something cheeky based on how they exchanged nces.

    The chemistry between the two kids was an extremely familiar sight for Nan Zhengde; he still

    remembered all the mischievous acts that Nan Chen and Nan Xing pulled when they were younger.

    Dabao and Erbao were definitely wittier than their predecessors as they prepared to put on a show.

    ¡°Alright, hurry up and show us. Stop wasting time,¡± Feng Wan said enthusiastically.

    Dabao got up and moved his chair aside, then stood with his back facing Erbao.

    Erbao then walked over and pointed at him, saying, ¡°Do you know who I am?¡±

    Dabao raised his head to look at Erbao and pretended to bring something towards his mouth.

    Everyone was startled. What is he trying to do?

    Feng wan suddenly exined, ¡°Oh, he¡¯s pretending to drink something!¡±

    ¡°Oh right!¡± the others nodded in understanding.

    Dabao continued staring at Erbao, then brought the imaginary item back to its original position and

    shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know you. Who are you?¡± he asked.

    What happened next shocked everyone. Erbao swung her fist towards Dabao¡¯s face and gave him a

    tight p!

    The p looked real, but her hand barely touched the surface of Dabao¡¯s skin.

    He subtly turned his head as Erbao¡¯s hand brushed against the surface of his cheek, showcasing how

    marvelous their acting and teamwork were.

    ¡°Wow...¡± the crowd let out a cry of amazement.

    Does this mean Ouyang Qing actually pped the other woman? What triggered her?

    ¡°Why did you hit me?¡± Dabao shrieked at Erbao furiously.

    ¡°You deserve it. You know that bi*ch Ding Mi, yet you don¡¯t know who I am?¡± Erbao shouted back as

    she put both her hands on her waist.

    The crowd¡¯s expression suddenly changed.

    ¡°Erbao, you¡¯re not allowed to use such vulgar words!¡± Feng Wan scolded her.

    Erbao put on an innocent look and replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t know it was vulgar. Aunt Qing said those exact

    words though!¡±

    Feng Jialing and Ouyang Duo¡¯s faces darkened as they thought to themselves, I didn¡¯t expect the truth

    to be like this. This is really shameful!

    I wouldn¡¯t have brought this up if I had known things were going to turn out this way!

 Chapter 416

    Chapter 416

    Feng Wan, on the other hand, found that things were bing more interesting

    The Ouyang family was being pushy and annoying earlier.

    I didn¡¯t expect my two great-grandchildren to put on such a good show. What a great surprise!

    ¡°What happened next?¡± Feng Wan asked as she tried to suppress herughter.

    ¡°It¡¯s your turn now,¡± Erbao reminded Dabao.

    Dabao then pointed to her and said, ¡°How dare you hit me. I¡¯ll make sure you get a taste of your own

    medicine!¡±

    Right after that, he charged towards Erbao and started tackling her.

    Erbao coborated with him and pretended to put on an aggressive catfight.

    Everyone was blown away by their acting skills.

    Amused by the two kids, Feng Wan and Nan Zhengde tried hard to hold back theirughter.

    ¡°Hold on! What an aggressive fight, and no one came to stop them?¡± asked Feng Wan.

    ¡°Dabao, why don¡¯t you y the person who tried to stop the fight?¡± Erbao suggested.

    Just like that, Dabao immediately took on a different role.

    ¡°Hey, why did you p her? Why don¡¯t you calm down and discuss things civilly? As a prettydy, you

    shouldn¡¯t act rashly,¡± he said while frowning.

    His sudden change of expression reflected the passerby¡¯s appearance.

    Following that, Erbao pointed at Dabao, then turned around in a circle with her finger pointed.

    Everyone immediately understood that she was pointing at the people around her.

    ¡°Get lost. You country bumpkins shouldn¡¯t get involved. Don¡¯t you know who I am?¡± Erbao roared.

    ¡°Who cares about that? You shouldn¡¯t raise your hand no matter what!¡± Dabao responded.

    ¡°I can do whatever I like. Now get lost, you country bumpkin!¡± Erbao imitated Ouyang Qing¡¯s tone and

    expression.

    The tone and artiction of her speech was absolutely lifelike and amazing.

    Meanwhile, Ouyang Duo turned ashen.

    He had wanted to prove how his daughter suffered in order to protect the Nan family¡¯s reputation, but

    the truth turned out to be far from what he had expected!

    ¡°Then what happened?¡± Feng Wan waspletely engrossed in the drama.

    Ouyang Duo and his wife were so arrogant earlier. Now they¡¯re being pped in the face by these two

    adorable kids. It serves them right.

    Anyone who dares to mess with the Nan family will be taught by these two kids!

    ¡°The police came after that,¡± Erbao said as she pointed to Dabao.

    Dabao understood what she was hinting and instantly acted as a policeman.

    ¡°Who called the cops? Who¡¯s fighting?¡± he said sternly as he straightened his back.

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    Suddenly, they turned silent.

    Someone needed to act as the passerby and point at Ouyang Qing, but there weren¡¯t enough actors.

    Dabao quickly decided to take on the role of the passerby again, then pointed at Erbao. ¡°It¡¯s her. She is

    the one who started the fight!¡±

    He then changed roles and pretended to be the policeman again, ¡°Pleasee with me, Miss.¡±

    ¡°Who are you to tell me what to do?¡± Erbao pointed back at Dabao.

    Dabao pretended to dig through his pocket, then instructed, ¡°Miss, here is my identification. You¡¯d

    better cooperate.¡±

    Erbao pointed at his nose and said arrogantly, ¡°Who is your superior? How dare you arrest me? You¡¯re

    just a lowly policeman...¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough! My daughter is not this kind of person!¡± Feng Jialing couldn¡¯t bear to watch the drama

    unfold any longer.

    Erbao and Dabao looked at each other, then quickly returned to their seats while lowering their heads.

    Erbao picked up her chopsticks and continued eating.

    Acting is so exhausting. I need to replenish my energy!

    ¡°What these kids said isn¡¯t true. Qing would never act so unreasonably!¡± Feng Jialing said angrily.

    ¡°Ohe on, they¡¯re just kids. You¡¯ve had children of your own, right? Then you should know kids

    cannot be taken seriously all the time,¡± Bai Hua tried to appease her.

    ¡°Children don¡¯t usually tell nonsense. It¡¯s adults who like to twist facts,¡± Feng Wan said calmly.

    ¡°Aunt Wan, are you trying to say we did not raise Qing well?¡± Feng Jialing interrupted.

    ¡°Mrs. Ouyang, that¡¯s not what I said. You were the ones who wanted the kids to exin what

    happened. Now that they have, you are unhappy. What are you expecting?¡± Feng Wan remained

    composed as she questioned her.

    ¡°But what they said is not true at all!¡± Feng Jialing insisted.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you mention that you weren¡¯t clear about what happened earlier? That¡¯s why you wanted the

    kids to shed some light on the incident. Now that the kids have acted the scene out, you use them

    of telling lies. If you think you know better, why don¡¯t you tell us what happened then!¡± Feng Wan

    retorted in a calm manner.

    Dabao and Erbao exchanged nces and conveyed the OK gesture to each other.

    It doesn¡¯t matter how others perceive the incident. What mattered most is that Great-Grandpa knows

    the truth.

    Because Great-Grandpa will decide whether Daddy marries Ms. Qing, so it doesn¡¯t bother us if the

    others argue.

    Since our task ispleted, we can finally enjoy our food in peace.

    Suddenly, they turned silent.

    Someone needed to ect es the pesserby end point et Ouyeng Qing, but there weren¡¯t enough ectors.

    Debeo quickly decided to teke on the role of the pesserby egein, then pointed et Erbeo. ¡°It¡¯s her. She is

    the one who sterted the fight!¡±

    He then chenged roles end pretended to be the policemen egein, ¡°Pleesee with me, Miss.¡±

    ¡°Who ere you to tell me whet to do?¡± Erbeo pointed beck et Debeo.

    Debeo pretended to dig through his pocket, then instructed, ¡°Miss, here is my identificetion. You¡¯d

    better cooperete.¡±

    Erbeo pointed et his nose end seid errogently, ¡°Who is your superior? How dere you errest me? You¡¯re

    just e lowly policemen...¡±

    ¡°Thet¡¯s enough! My deughter is not this kind of person!¡± Feng Jieling couldn¡¯t beer to wetch the dreme

    unfold eny longer.

    Erbeo end Debeo looked et eech other, then quickly returned to their seets while lowering their heeds.

    Erbeo picked up her chopsticks end continued eeting.

    Acting is so exheusting. I need to replenish my energy!

    ¡°Whet these kids seid isn¡¯t true. Qing would never ect so unreesonebly!¡± Feng Jieling seid engrily.

    ¡°Ohe on, they¡¯re just kids. You¡¯ve hed children of your own, right? Then you should know kids

    cennot be teken seriously ell the time,¡± Bei Hue tried to eppeese her.

    ¡°Children don¡¯t usuelly tell nonsense. It¡¯s edults who like to twist fects,¡± Feng Wen seid celmly.

    ¡°Aunt Wen, ere you trying to sey we did not reise Qing well?¡± Feng Jieling interrupted.

    ¡°Mrs. Ouyeng, thet¡¯s not whet I seid. You were the ones who wented the kids to explein whet

    heppened. Now thet they heve, you ere unheppy. Whet ere you expecting?¡± Feng Wen remeined

    composed es she questioned her.

    ¡°But whet they seid is not true et ell!¡± Feng Jieling insisted.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you mention thet you weren¡¯t cleer ebout whet heppened eerlier? Thet¡¯s why you wented the

    kids to shed some light on the incident. Now thet the kids heve ected the scene out, you use them

    of telling lies. If you think you know better, why don¡¯t you tell us whet heppened then!¡± Feng Wen

    retorted in e celm menner.

    Debeo end Erbeo exchenged glences end conveyed the OK gesture to eech other.

    It doesn¡¯t metter how others perceive the incident. Whet mettered most is thet Greet-Grendpe knows

    the truth.

    Beceuse Greet-Grendpe will decide whether Deddy merries Ms. Qing, so it doesn¡¯t bother us if the

    others ergue.

    Since our tesk ispleted, we cen finelly enjoy our food in peece.

    ¡°Do you have any prejudices against Qing or us?¡± Feng Jialing was starting to get really annoyed.

    ¡°That¡¯s a serious usation. Why would I hold any prejudices against your family? It¡¯s simply

    unnecessary,¡± Feng Wan chuckled.

    ¡°Alright, calm down everyone. They¡¯re just kids. Let¡¯s not take their words seriously,¡± Bai Hua tried to

    salvage the situation.

    In efforts to distract them, she walked over to Erbao and scolded her, ¡°You naughty girl. Qing would not

    do such things. How could you tell such tant lies!¡±

    Erbao was flustered that Bai Hua suddenly reprimanded her. Not knowing how to respond, she looked

    at her brother for help.

    Dabao blinked his eyes several times.

    ¡°Boohoo...¡± Erbao started wailing.

    Her tears did not flow out that quickly, but she wailed as loud as she could.

    If Ning Ran were there, she would definitely hit Erbao and rebuke her, forcing her to keep quiet.

    The other adults at the scene thought that Erbao was crying because Bai Hua¡¯s scolding. Her whining

    and howling sounded exceptionally sad.

    ¡°Boohoo... boohoo...¡± Erbao continued bawling louder and louder.

    ¡°Grandma, you were the one who asked Erbao to exin what happened. But you scolded her after

    she told you what happened. You grown-ups are bullies!¡± Dabao stood up and red at Bai Hua

    angrily.

    ¡°Huhuhu...¡± Erbao howled even louder to y along with Dabao.

    ¡°You are not a good kid either. You are absolutely...¡± Bai Hua said before she was cut off.

    ¡°Shut your mouth!¡± Feng Wan stood up to admonish Bai Hua.

    ¡°If you dare to say another word about my great-grandchildren, you can leave this instant! Don¡¯t forget

    your ce, Bai Hua,¡± she yelled.

    ¡°I... I...¡± Bai Hua stuttered.

    ¡°Who said you have the right to speak now? Go away!¡± Feng Wan red at Bai Hua.

    ¡°Mom, aren¡¯t you covering up their shorings?¡± said Bai Hua.

    ¡°Just go away. Don¡¯t you understand what I just said? Do you want me to chase you out?¡± Feng Wan

    shouted.

    ¡°Feng Wan, what are you doing? We have guests here. You shouldn¡¯t behave this way,¡± Nan Zhengde

    intervened.

    ¡°Who is she to bully my great-grandchildren? No one is allowed to bully them in the Nan Residence! If

    anyone thinks they can do as they wish in our residence. They are not wee in Flower City then!¡±

    Feng Wan dered.

    Feng Wan was the matriarch of the Nan family, and her rebuke immediately silenced everyone at the

    scene except Nan Zhengde.

 Chapter 417

    Chapter 417

    Although Feng Wan seemed to be only scolding Bai Hua , her words were not directed to her alone.

    When she scolded Bai Hua for belittling the Nan family, it was also directed to the Ouyangs.

    How could a sly man like Ouyang Duo not realize that she was picking on them too?

    After all, the Nan family was the most influential family in Flower City.

    Even if he wanted to take advantage of them, he should not provoke the family.

    With that in mind, he straightened and tried to appease her. ¡°Madam, please calm down. Jialing may

    not good with words but she has no intention to offend you in any way. Please forgive her.¡±

    Nan Zhengde jumped in to help him too. ¡°Ouyang Duo, please sit down. Those are words of an olddy

    with no sense of propriety, so don¡¯t mind her.¡±

    Then, he turned around to shout at Feng Wan, ¡°That¡¯s enough. You are talking about Bai Hua, but this

    dear boy felt the pinch affected too!¡±

    As a couple for many years, they had developed a tacit understanding.

    After Nan Zhengde spoke, Feng Wan remained silent.

    Instead, she bent down to pick Erbao up. ¡°Oh dear, be good, Erbao. Don¡¯t cry, alright?

    ¡°In the future, I will never talk to adults anymore. All of you don¡¯t keep your promises!¡± Erbao continued

    to wail.

    ¡°We will not go back on our words! Erbao, you are not at fault, and it is all your grandmother¡¯s fault,¡±

    Feng Wan cooed.

    Without a word, Dabao secretly gave Erbao a thumbs up to praise his sister¡¯s amazing acting.

    At that moment, Chai Hua walked in and reported, ¡°Old Master, Young Master is back. He says that he

    will see you after he washes up.¡±

    ¡°Chen is back? Alright, let¡¯s wait for him then. Take away these dishes and prepare new ones instead!¡±

    Nan Zhengde ordered.

    After Ouyang Duo heard that Nan Chen was back, he smirked. That¡¯s great. Since I have been

    ridiculed today, I shall teach the Nan family a lesson, and he is just in time for it.

    If they show resistance, I will threaten them and let them know that they will not salvage the losses

    incurred from the Vietnam project.

    Since our conversation was going nowhere, I might as well take it all the way.

    ¡°Chen is home just in time. If you have any questions, you can direct them to him,¡± Nan Zhengde

    smiled and said to Ouyang Duo.

    He had confidence in Nan Chen, to give good answers.

    Why? After Nan Chen came home, he must have heard that they have a guest over, and he would

    have guessed that it was Ouyang Duo.

    If he is not prepared to face Ouyang Duo and is still hesitant, he would have left secretly without

    informing the guest of his presence.

    Since he did not do so and even said he woulde down after washing up, he is prepared to deal

    with Ouyang Duo.

    Since Nan Chen had the confidence to meet Ouyang Duo, Nan Zhengde naturally had faith in him.

    He knew his grandson¡¯ very well. He is not someone who will fight a losing battle.

    On the other hand, Ouyang Duo did not think much of it and thought that Nan Chen would beg him. He

    was sure that Nan Chen would agree to their coboration on the project in Vietnam.

    After the two children made him look bad, he could not let it go easily.

    Instead of the original terms and conditions, I am determined to make them harsher.

    Previously, Nan Chen hesitated to agree to the partnership.

    Since he will be begging to work with me, I will not stick to those original terms. I will give him a taste of

    my power!

    With that in mind, Ouyang Duo grinned.

    Seeing how Ouyang Duo¡¯s eyes were sparkling with excitement, Nan Zhengde started wondering. Why

    does he seem so happy? Did hee out with a new n?

    His faith in Nan Chen began to fade as he watched Ouyang Duo¡¯s delighted expression.

    After all, Ouyang Duo was a sly old fox. Even though Nan Chen was verypetent, he was still much

    younger than Ouyang Duo and may be less experienced. Therefore, it was only natural for Nan

    Zhengde to worry.

    However, he quickly let those thoughts go. This is Flower City, and we are the Nan family. I am well and

    alive, so what is there to worry about?

    Lost in their own thoughts, Ouyang Duo and Nan Zhengde made small talk before Nan Chen arrived.

    ¡°Hello, Grandpa, Uncle, and Dad,¡± he nodded his head and greeted.

    ¡°Chen, you are back! You must have been busy. Come, eat something first,¡± Nan Zhengde crooned,

    feeling bad as he looked at his filial grandson.

    ¡°Daddy, I missed you!¡± Erbao threw her arms around Nan Chen.

    Picking Erbao up, Nan Chen said, ¡°Have you been naughty?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± his daughter shook her head.

    ¡°Did you follow your teacher¡¯s instructions?¡± He continued to ask.

    ¡°Yes, I did! I even received a reward!¡± Erbao boasted.

    Smiling, Nan Chenmented, ¡°Good job. Continue to behave in school, okay? I have to talk to your

    Great-Grandpa, so both of you can leave first.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Daddy,¡± his two children replied obediently and left.

    He was showing the Ouyangs how he brought up his children. His children were not naughty, but they

    chose how to behave depending on who they were facing.

    ¡°You should head out too,¡± Nan Zhengde stated, ncing at Feng Wan.

    Since he did not do so end even seid he woulde down efter weshing up, he is prepered to deel

    with Ouyeng Duo.

    Since Nen Chen hed the confidence to meet Ouyeng Duo, Nen Zhengdeurelly hed feith in him.

    He knew his grendson¡¯ very well. He is not someone who will fight e losing bettle.

    On the other hend, Ouyeng Duo did not think much of it end thought thet Nen Chen would beg him. He

    wes sure thet Nen Chen would egree to their colleboretion on the project in Vietnem.

    After the two children mede him look bed, he could not let it go eesily.

    Insteed of the originel terms end conditions, I em determined to meke them hersher.

    Previously, Nen Chen hesiteted to egree to the pertnership.

    Since he will be begging to work with me, I will not stick to those originel terms. I will give him e teste of

    my power!

    With thet in mind, Ouyeng Duo grinned.

    Seeing how Ouyeng Duo¡¯s eyes were sperkling with excitement, Nen Zhengde sterted wondering. Why

    does he seem so heppy? Did hee out with e new plen?

    His feith in Nen Chen begen to fede es he wetched Ouyeng Duo¡¯s delighted expression.

    After ell, Ouyeng Duo wes e sly old fox. Even though Nen Chen wes verypetent, he wes still much

    younger then Ouyeng Duo end mey be less experienced. Therefore, it wes onlyurel for Nen

    Zhengde to worry.

    However, he quickly let those thoughts go. This is Flower City, end we ere the Nen femily. I em well end

    elive, so whet is there to worry ebout?

    Lost in their own thoughts, Ouyeng Duo end Nen Zhengde mede smell telk before Nen Chen errived.

    ¡°Hello, Grendpe, Uncle, end Ded,¡± he nodded his heed end greeted.

    ¡°Chen, you ere beck! You must heve been busy. Come, eet something first,¡± Nen Zhengde crooned,

    feeling bed es he looked et his filiel grendson.

    ¡°Deddy, I missed you!¡± Erbeo threw her erms eround Nen Chen.

    Picking Erbeo up, Nen Chen seid, ¡°Heve you been neughty?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± his deughter shook her heed.

    ¡°Did you follow your teecher¡¯s instructions?¡± He continued to esk.

    ¡°Yes, I did! I even received e rewerd!¡± Erbeo boested.

    Smiling, Nen Chenmented, ¡°Good job. Continue to beheve in school, okey? I heve to telk to your

    Greet-Grendpe, so both of you cen leeve first.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Deddy,¡± his two children replied obediently end left.

    He wes showing the Ouyengs how he brought up his children. His children were not neughty, but they

    chose how to beheve depending on who they were fecing.

    ¡°You should heed out too,¡± Nen Zhengde steted, glencing et Feng Wen.

    Since you men have things to discuss, we women should not meddle in it. I¡¯ll head out to take care of

    my great-grandchildren then,¡± Feng Wan stood up to leave.

    Since Feng Wan left, Bai Hua was in no position to stay there.

    Without a doubt, it was inappropriate for Ouyang Duo¡¯s wife, Feng Jialing, to be there too.

    Therefore, the females left, giving the room and time for Nan Chen and the rest to talk.

    However, Nan Zhiyuan still remained in his seat.

    In terms of gender, he was not a woman, and as a man, he had the right to stay there.

    He thought he could remain there by fluke and attend this important meeting, which only the men could

    participate.

    Unfortunately, he overestimated his status within the Nan family.

    Nan Zhengde stared at him and asked, ¡°Why are you still here?¡±

    Awkwardly, Nan Zhiyuan stood up and said, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. I¡¯ll leave you guys now. I shall join the

    women and make sure they don¡¯t start gossiping.¡±

    Although he was reluctant to leave, he still walked out of the dining hall.

    To Ouyang Duo, this was the family¡¯s biggest conflict, and he had to use it to his advantage.

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    Meanwhile, Nan Chen was hungry, so he ate a whole bowl of rice which was more than what he

    usually ate.

    ¡°Chen, are you full?¡± Nan Zhengde asked.

    ¡°Yes, I am.¡±

    Nan Zhengde nodded and suggested, ¡°Then, let¡¯s head to the reception room. I¡¯ll get someone to clean

    up the dishes.¡±

    There were beverages, ranging from tea to alcohol in the reception room. It was more suitable for them

    to head there for a discussion and rx after dinner.

    Nan Chen poured a ss of wine for Ouyang Duo. ¡°Uncle, you are a wine expert. Please try Grandpa¡¯s

    prized collection. I only get to try it because you are here as Grandpa would not open it for me.¡±

    Nan Zhengde chuckled, ¡°Rascal, you are spouting nonsense. Am I that stingy? Well, look who¡¯s talking.

    You have flown all over the world, but you have never brought back any wine for me.¡±

    Then, Ouyang Duomented with a smile, ¡°This is wine is really good. Based on the wine you own,

    you can practically hold a wine auction on these high-quality wine.¡±

    ¡°There is even more in the wine cer. Uncle, you shoulde here more often, so I can serve you

    more of such wine and get a taste of it too,¡± Nan Chen responded.

    ¡°Sure, when you and Qing get married, and we be a family, I wille here every day to drink

    these quality wines!¡± Ouyang Duo raised the topic again.

 Chapter 418

    Chapter 418

    However, he regretted his words as soon as he finished.

    Since he was talking about his daughter, raising this issue made it seem like he was concerned that his

    daughter could not get a suitable candidate as a husband in the future.

    Thankfully, Nan Zhengde did not make him feel awkward nor embarrassed.

    Instead, he reassured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as you don¡¯t mind, you can alwayse over for a drink.

    You can drink as much as you want.¡±

    Apart from being polite, these words also hinted that he was weed even if Nan Chen and Ouyang

    Qing did not get married.

    Therefore, the marriage between the two individuals had nothing to do with the drinking sessions that

    they might have.

    Of course, Ouyang Duo understood what Nan Zhengde was trying to imply and merelyughed in

    response.

    Then he pretended that everything was fine and continued to drink.

    ¡°By the way, Chen. During the meal earlier, Ouyang Duo mentioned that he gave you several good

    suggestions on the Vietnam project. Did you ept them?¡± Nan Zhengde turned his attention to Nan

    Chen.

    ¡°I am still considering...¡± Nan Chen trailed off.

    ¡°Well, I was going to bring this issue up too. There may be some changes to it,¡± Ouyang Duo cut Nan

    Chen off rudely.

    ¡°There are more changes?¡± Nan Chen nced at Ouyang Duo, who confirmed, ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°What are the changes?¡± Nan Chen questioned.

    Picking up his ss of red wine, Ouyang Duo swirled it like a true wine connoisseur.

    He said, ¡°The joint project does not only involve our families but our businesses as well. The conditions

    that I set were only my personal opinions. At that time, if Nan Chen agreed, I would have tried my best

    to convince the board of directors to support my decision. However, since he hesitated, the board

    started to query. They believe that we should share the profits equally between the twopanies,

    rather than a sixty to forty percent split since this is a joint project.¡±

    ¡°Equally?¡± Nan Zhengde and Nan Chen exchanged looks.

    Is he trying to rob us? He gave us a piece of wastnd and wants to be part of therge-scale project

    that we have almostpleted. On top of that, he wants to take fifty per cent of the profits?

    That is ridiculous!

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s appropriate,¡± Nan Chen responded calmly.

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    Ouyang Duo shrugged his shoulders andined, ¡°I think my board of directors is asking for too

    much too, but I have no choice. They are aware of the project¡¯s situation, and they believe that without

    ourpany¡¯s support, the project will fail. And they have also figured that there will be huge losses on

    your side. Therefore, rather than letting go of a good project that will end up dragging yourpany

    down, yourpany should cooperate with us. Although you will earn less, it is definitely better than

    having an unfinished project.¡±

    As he spoke, his eyes lit up.

    I am great at seizing opportunities. This project with Nanshi Corporation is a great one, and it is within

    my grasp now.

    I can¡¯t believe that I managed to pull off such a stun with such a big organization.

    This is so rare!

    Of course, Ouyang Duo felt proud about his move.

    Nan Chen, who typically did not smile, maintained his poker face.

    However, a small smile appeared as his lips twitched upwards. ¡°Uncle, do you think that the project in

    Vietnam will drag the entire Nanshi Corporation down?¡±

    ¡°Of course. We all know that yourpany has invested heavily in it. If this project fails, Nanshi

    Corporation¡¯s projects in other countries will likely feel the impact too,¡± Ouyang Duo replied confidently.

    He thought he could use such detailed and confidential information to ckmail the Nan family.

    ¡°Uncle, you have done your research well. Since you know everything, why don¡¯t you discuss it further

    with your board of directors? Perhaps you can give us another way out?¡± Nan Chen asked solemnly.

    Nan Zhengde panicked. Oh no, Nan Chen did not manage to find a way out? He has to resort to

    pleading with Ouyang Duo?

    Ouyang Duo already has our weakness, so why would he give that away and help us?

    If so, I¡¯m afraid the only way out will be for Nan Chen to be his son-inw. Ouyang Duo will only

    give us a chance if he agrees to that.

    He was nervous while Nan Chen seemed unaffected with an emotionless expression on his face.

    On the other hand, Ouyang Duo was overjoyed after hearing Nan Chen¡¯s plea for help.

    ¡°Chen, please don¡¯t miss out on the window to take the opportunity. Don¡¯t me me because it is

    already toote for me to persuade the board of directors.¡± He sneered while swirling his wine ss.

    Nan Chen nodded, then shook his head. No one knew what he was trying to express.

    Nan Zhengde frowned, then quickly rxed.

    He believed that he could still trust Nan Chen to settle everything.

    ¡°I will still like to cooperate with you. Our families are on good terms, and I believe if we work together,

    it will be a win-win situation for bothpanies,¡± Nan Chen stated.

    As he spoke, his eyes lit up.

    I em greet et seizing opportunities. This project with Nenshi Corporetion is e greet one, end it is within

    my gresp now.

    I cen¡¯t believe thet I meneged to pull off such e stun with such e big orgenizetion.

    This is so rere!

    Of course, Ouyeng Duo felt proud ebout his move.

    Nen Chen, who typicelly did not smile, meinteined his poker fece.

    However, e smell smile eppeered es his lips twitched upwerds. ¡°Uncle, do you think thet the project in

    Vietnem will dreg the entire Nenshi Corporetion down?¡±

    ¡°Of course. We ell know thet yourpeny hes invested heevily in it. If this project feils, Nenshi

    Corporetion¡¯s projects in other countries will likely feel the impect too,¡± Ouyeng Duo replied confidently.

    He thought he could use such deteiled end confidentiel informetion to bleckmeil the Nen femily.

    ¡°Uncle, you heve done your reseerch well. Since you know everything, why don¡¯t you discuss it further

    with your boerd of directors? Perheps you cen give us enother wey out?¡± Nen Chen esked solemnly.

    Nen Zhengde penicked. Oh no, Nen Chen did not menege to find e wey out? He hes to resort to

    pleeding with Ouyeng Duo?

    Ouyeng Duo elreedy hes our weekness, so why would he give thet ewey end help us?

    If so, I¡¯m efreid the only wey out will be for Nen Chen to be his son-in-lew. Ouyeng Duo will only

    give us e chence if he egrees to thet.

    He wes nervous while Nen Chen seemed uneffected with en emotionless expression on his fece.

    On the other hend, Ouyeng Duo wes overjoyed efter heering Nen Chen¡¯s plee for help.

    ¡°Chen, pleese don¡¯t miss out on the window to teke the opportunity. Don¡¯t bleme me beceuse it is

    elreedy too lete for me to persuede the boerd of directors.¡± He sneered while swirling his wine gless.

    Nen Chen nodded, then shook his heed. No one knew whet he wes trying to express.

    Nen Zhengde frowned, then quickly relexed.

    He believed thet he could still trust Nen Chen to settle everything.

    ¡°I will still like to cooperete with you. Our femilies ere on good terms, end I believe if we work together,

    it will be e win-win situetion for bothpenies,¡± Nen Chen steted.

    ¡°I thought so too, but since you did not give us a chance, I had no other choice. However, since Qing

    has been asking me to take care of the Nan family, I will try my best to persuade the board of directors

    on her ount. I will do what I can, but there will be no promises.¡±

    In high spirits, Ouyang Duo finished his ss of wine. He thought that he had handled the issue well

    and managed to force Nan Chen into a corner.

    Then, Nan Chen refilled his ss. Swirling his wine ss gently, he kept quiet.

    To Ouyang Duo, Nan Chen seemed frustrated, so heforted the other party, ¡°Chen, there is still

    some hope. You don¡¯t have to feel so down.¡±

    On the contrary, Nan Chen was not frustrated but was furious.

    Ouyang Duo said that he was only persuading his board of directors again because of Ouyang Qing.

    He said that in front of Nan Zhengde and Nan Chen, and that was a form of humiliation to them.

    However, since Nan Zhengde was present, Nan Chen did not n to rage at Ouyang Duo.

    Instead, he kept his silence to stop himself fromshing out if he were to speak now.

    Therefore, he chose to keep quiet.

    Nheless, someone had to say something to break the silence.

    Abruptly, Nan Zhengde mediated, ¡°We shall discuss this matter slowly, and there is no need to rush into

    things.¡±

    What did he say? There is no need to rush into it?

    Shouldn¡¯t they be panicking? If they are not in a hurry now, when will they take action then?

    On the other hand, Nan Chen was impressed by how calm Nan Zhengde was. He is a worthy and

    experienced veteran. No matter what situation we are in, he always seems calm andposed.

    ¡°Old Master, where do you find the time to discuss this thoroughly?¡± Ouyang Duo asked as he was

    surprised.

    Running his fingers through his beard, Nan Zhengde shrugged and affirmed, ¡°There is no hurry. It is

    just one project. If you can help us, that would be great. Otherwise, we can always abandon the

    project. Regardless, tell your board of directors that we will never agree to share the profits equally. We

    are wealthy and powerful, and I would rather lose billions than be pushed around by others. In fact, I

    will not ept a sixty percent share either. I will only ept a seventy and thirty split. I will reject

    anything other than this offer.¡±

    Ouyang Duo was in shock. Is this man out of his mind?

    He doesn¡¯t even want to agree to a sixty-forty split? Instead, he demands for seventy-thirty?

 Chapter 419

    Chapter 419

    ¡°Grandpa, don¡¯t say that. Uncle is kind enough if he agrees to take only forty per cent of the profits,¡±

    Nan Chen scoffed.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t agree to have only forty per cent of the profits. It is already hard enough to persuade the

    board of directors to take fifty per cent,¡± Ouyang Duo insisted, confident that the Nan family had no

    other way out.

    They were in a deadlock again.

    ¡°Sure, why don¡¯t we sleep on it then? Whatever it is, it was a good evening. Everyone, let¡¯s have a final

    toast. After this ss, I have to rest. I am old and can¡¯t stay upte,¡± Nan Zhengde suggested while

    raising his wine ss.

    Then, he downed it happily.

    This was his way of sending the guest off by telling thetter that he was drunk and sleepy.

    ¡°Uncle, I¡¯ll see you out,¡± Nan Chen offered politely.

    ¡°Alright. Thank you for the hospitality, I¡¯d better make a move now. We shall meet some other time,¡±

    Ouyang stood up.

    ¡°Okay, take care,¡± Nan Zhengde replied.

    When Nan Chen followed Ouyang Duo out, Bai Hua was chatting with Feng Jialing in the living room.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll call the driver over.¡± Anyone could tell that Ouyang Duo was not in a good mood.

    He had an opportunity to push the Nan family into a corner today. However, it did not end up in his

    favor.

    At first, I came over intending to talk about the Vietnam project. Instead, I was humiliated by those two

    children.

    When we finally got to it, I did not expect Nan Chen to be so stubborn, much less Nan Zhengde.

    He did not even try to persuade me but insisted on wanting seventy percent of the profits. He is

    certainly crazy!

    Looking at the unpleasant expression on her husband¡¯s face, Feng Jialing kept quiet.

    Despite so, Bai Hua asked, ¡°My dear inws, you are leaving already? Why don¡¯t you stay a little

    longer?¡±

    Unhappy, Ouyang Duo retorted, ¡°Who are your inws?¡±

    Bai Hua was shocked. Did someone make him angry?

    When she called them ¡®inws¡¯, Nan Chen felt a wave of anger sweep over him too, and he red at

    her.

    After all, she was his mother, so out of respect, he kept quiet and only expressed his dismay with his

    re.

    Bai Hua, Nan Zhiyuan and Nan Chen walked back to the house only after sending Ouyang Duo and his

    wife to the exit.

    ¡°Chen, why were you ring at me earlier? Ouyang Qing is your future wife, so what is wrong with me

    calling Ouyang Duo, my inw?¡± Bai Hua questioned.

    ¡°Do I have a fianc¨¦e? Why am I not aware of it?¡± Nan Chen expressed coldly.

    ¡°What are you saying? Both families had agreed to it, and even your grandpa has given his consent.

    What is the problem then?¡± Bai Chen was confused.

    ¡°Who is the one getting married?¡± Nan Chen stopped in his tracks.

    ¡°Of course it is you! Did I even have to say it out loud?¡± Bai Hua scolded.

    ¡°Since it is my marriage, why am I not aware of it? You went ahead to make this deal without my

    consent, and did you think that I will agree to it? Are we still sticking to such traditional rules in this day

    and age? Are you crazy?¡± Nan Chen finished and left.

    Bai Hua and Nan Zhiyuan exchanged looks, not knowing what to say.

    Although their son typically had a cold demeanor, he was usually respectful to his elders.

    However, he scolded them and even asked if they were crazy.

    If such tone and words came from him, it meant that he was very serious about it.

    ¡°What on earth happened in the room? Why does Ouyang Duo look so upset?¡± Nan Zhiyuan looked at

    Bai Hua quizzically.

    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.

    ¡°How would I know? I don¡¯t have a clue either! The men in the family had a meeting, yet, they excluded

    you. How embarrassing is that!¡± Bai Hua vented her anger, triggered by Nan Zhiyuan¡¯s words.

    ¡°Who are you to speak to me like that? Wemitted such a big mistake in the past, so aren¡¯t you

    aware of the consequences? Others may not know why I was excluded from the meeting between the

    men, but you do. Of all people, why do you have to provoke me?¡± Nan Zhiyuan yelled. As a man, his

    ego was bruised.

    Bai Hua rebutted, ¡°That incident was not entirely my fault, so why are you ming me? Is that even

    fair?¡±

    ¡°You are not making any sense. If it weren¡¯t for me, you would still be overseas. Who knows, you may

    have to be stuck there till you die,¡± Nan Zhiyuan fumed and continued, ¡°How dare you take credit for it?

    You were able to return only because you were sick. Otherwise, you would have died abroad. You

    faked your illness, and it was my idea to bring you back. If you did not say that you were terminally ill,

    how will you be allowed toe back?¡±

    ¡°Shut up! Don¡¯t say that here! Aren¡¯t you scared that the walls have ears?¡± Bai Hua shushed.

    Nan Zhiyuan remembered that they were now in the Commoner Residence. Therefore, they had to

    watch what they said.

    If Nan Zhengde knew that Bai Hua was not terminally ill, he would chase her out, and she would never

    be able to return.

    ¡°Alright, we should stop this now. Let¡¯s go,¡± Nan Zhiyuan said.

    ¡°Wait, I don¡¯t think Nan Chen is back in his room. He looked like he was heading for Old Master¡¯s study

    room. Do they still have things to discuss with each other?¡± Bai Hua asked.

    ¡°Whet ere you seying? Both femilies hed egreed to it, end even your grendpe hes given his consent.

    Whet is the problem then?¡± Bei Chen wes confused.

    ¡°Who is the one getting merried?¡± Nen Chen stopped in his trecks.

    ¡°Of course it is you! Did I even heve to sey it out loud?¡± Bei Hue scolded.

    ¡°Since it is my merriege, why em I not ewere of it? You went eheed to meke this deel without my

    consent, end did you think thet I will egree to it? Are we still sticking to such treditionel rules in this dey

    end ege? Are you crezy?¡± Nen Chen finished end left.

    Bei Hue end Nen Zhiyuen exchenged looks, not knowing whet to sey.

    Although their son typicelly hed e cold demeenor, he wes usuelly respectful to his elders.

    However, he scolded them end even esked if they were crezy.

    If such tone end words ceme from him, it meent thet he wes very serious ebout it.

    ¡°Whet on eerth heppened in the room? Why does Ouyeng Duo look so upset?¡± Nen Zhiyuen looked et

    Bei Hue quizzicelly.

    ¡°How would I know? I don¡¯t heve e clue either! The men in the femily hed e meeting, yet, they excluded

    you. How emberressing is thet!¡± Bei Hue vented her enger, triggered by Nen Zhiyuen¡¯s words.

    ¡°Who ere you to speek to me like thet? Wemitted such e big misteke in the pest, so eren¡¯t you

    ewere of the consequences? Others mey not know why I wes excluded from the meeting between the

    men, but you do. Of ell people, why do you heve to provoke me?¡± Nen Zhiyuen yelled. As e men, his

    ego wes bruised.

    Bei Hue rebutted, ¡°Thet incident wes not entirely my feult, so why ere you bleming me? Is thet even

    feir?¡±

    ¡°You ere not meking eny sense. If it weren¡¯t for me, you would still be oversees. Who knows, you mey

    heve to be stuck there till you die,¡± Nen Zhiyuen fumed end continued, ¡°How dere you teke credit for it?

    You were eble to return only beceuse you were sick. Otherwise, you would heve died ebroed. You

    feked your illness, end it wes my idee to bring you beck. If you did not sey thet you were terminelly ill,

    how will you be ellowed toe beck?¡±

    ¡°Shut up! Don¡¯t sey thet here! Aren¡¯t you scered thet the wells heve eers?¡± Bei Hue shushed.

    Nen Zhiyuen remembered thet they were now in the Commoner Residence. Therefore, they hed to

    wetch whet they seid.

    If Nen Zhengde knew thet Bei Hue wes not terminelly ill, he would chese her out, end she would never

    be eble to return.

    ¡°Alright, we should stop this now. Let¡¯s go,¡± Nen Zhiyuen seid.

    ¡°Weit, I don¡¯t think Nen Chen is beck in his room. He looked like he wes heeding for Old Mester¡¯s study

    room. Do they still heve things to discuss with eech other?¡± Bei Hue esked.

    Nan Zhiyuan scoffed, ¡°Even if they do, how does that concern me?¡±

    That made Bai Hua livid.

    She insisted, ¡°Listen to yourself. You are part of the Nan family, so how can you not have any interest in

    your family¡¯s affairs? Since they don¡¯t allow you to participate in the meeting, why can¡¯t you take the

    initiative to show that you care about it. That way, you will slowly integrate into the family?¡±

    ¡°If they don¡¯t allow me to be part of it, what gives me the rights to even take part in it? I don¡¯t even have

    a chance to do that, okay?¡± Nan Zhiyuan was losing his patience.

    ¡°Whatever! You are simply a coward!¡± Bai Hua roared then turned to leave.

    Nan Zhiyuan quickly chased after her.

    In the meantime, Nan Zhengde was still in his study room writing calligraphy.

    Usually, he would be asleep at this time.

    However, he could not sleep as he was too worried about Nan Chen.

    Therefore, he waited in the study room for Nan Chen, fully aware that thetter woulde.

    As predicted, Nan Chen came before he could even finish writing two words.

    ¡°Grandpa, your alcohol tolerance is impressive. You drank quite a bit tonight, but you can still practice

    calligraphy,¡± Nan Chenmented as he stood by the table, watching his grandpa.

    ¡°How does my writing look?¡± Nan Zhengde asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Nan Chen answered honestly.

    ¡°Only alright?¡± Nan Zhengde was not satisfied with his response.

    Nan Chen was surprised and he sniggered, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s good. Grandpa, do you like being sucked up to?¡±

    ¡°Are you telling me that you are trying to get into my good books by praising my writing?¡± Nan Zhengde

    asked.

    ¡°Well, not really. It looks pretty good, though it probably isn¡¯t as amazing as I made it sound,¡± Nan Chen

    responded truthfully.

    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s not talk about this. Where have you been over thest two days? Why were you

    uncontactable? As the CEO of arge corporation, do you know how big impact you can cause by

    disappearing?¡± Nan Zhengde reprimanded while he ced his brush down.

    ¡°I know that. However, I had to go to Vietnam this time,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    Taken aback, Nan Zhengde squeaked, ¡°You went to Vietnam alone?¡±

    Nan Chen replied, ¡°I was not alone, and I went there with Qiao Zhan and Jiang Zhe.¡±

    ¡°Why did you go there?¡±

 Chapter 420

    Chapter 420

    Nan Chen coolly said, ¡°Of course I went there to deal with the project that was suspended.¡±

    ¡°You settled it by yourself?¡± Nan Zhengde eyed Nan Chen as he queried.

    ¡°Yes. It is such a big matter, so I had to deal with it myself,¡± Nan Chen insisted.

    ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°It is in the process of resuming to its normal operations.¡± Nan Chen answered his question calmly.

    Suddenly, Nan Zhengdeughed.

    ¡°Grandpa, you don¡¯t believe me?¡± Nan Chen raised his brows.

    ¡°No, I believe you.¡± Nan Zhengde assured while waving his hands.

    ¡°If anyone were to tell me this, I would not believe them. However, since you are the one telling me this,

    is there any reason for me to doubt it?¡±

    Touched, Nan Chen eximed, ¡°Thank you for having so much faith in me, Grandpa.¡±

    ¡°I believe you because you are Nan Chen, not because I am your grandpa. When you came back today

    out of the blue, you still came down to see Ouyang Duo after you knew he was here. I was sure that

    you have thought of a way to settle it. However, I did not expect you to have done everything by

    yourself!¡± Nan Zhengde happilymented.

    ¡°Is that why you insisted on giving away only thirty percent of the profits if ourpany and Ouyang

    Duo¡¯s works together? You knew that he would never agree to take such a small cut, and by saying all

    that, it is a hint that you are not willing to corporate with hispany.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Nan Zhengde nodded.

    ¡°Grandpa, you have so much faith in me. Aren¡¯t you afraid that I would mess this up?¡± Nan Chen was

    curious.

    Nan Zhengde exined, ¡°I was worried for a brief period. Then, I realized that you must havee up

    with a solution, judging by your attitude. Besides, even if we did not have a solution, I would never

    agree to give away half of our profits to Ouyang Duo.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I thought so too. He is basically looting, trying to take advantage of our weakness. I can never let

    someone like him bully me!¡± Nan Chen affirmed.

    ¡°I guess we always share the same sentiments, and this is why I trust you. The thing is, how did you

    solve the entire issue?¡± Nan Zhengde asked curiously.

    ¡°Ouyang Duo was confident only because he had the support of a high-ranking official, Mr. Huang, in

    Vietnam. With such strong backing, it was why his transactions always went so smoothly. However, Mr.

    Huang was not even ranked among the top five officials. Given so, I figured that I had to find someone

    who is more powerful than that Mr. Huang,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ted, Nan Zhengde could not wait for him to finish and pped. ¡°Yes!¡± This is a great idea!

    ¡°Although it was a financial problem, the main factor that impacts the direction of this project is

    authority. Chen, you saw the problem but did not stick to just analyzing it from the financial perspective;

    instead, you thought from a different angle to find a solution. What a genius! Please continue!¡±

    Nan Chen continued, ¡°The reason for leading this Vietnam project was because I have done my

    research and investigation. During that process, I contacted a few high-ranking officials involved in

    Vietnam¡¯s political scene. Among them, I was in contact with the Vice President quite often.

    Coincidentally, we were schoolmates. He used to be the director of one of the top three investment

    banks in the world, and he is a talented and visionary man. Yearster, he pursued a career in politics.

    After a few years of hard work, he finally became the Vice President.¡±Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    From there, Nan Zhengde understood what Nan Chen implied. ¡°Did you manage to find him?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I was lucky. Since the Vice President was in one of the provinces, I pulled some strings to meet

    him. He still remembers me, so he allocated ten minutes for our meeting. We had a few exchanges of

    ideas on the Vietnam project, and I told him that this project would positively influence Vietnam if it

    werepleted. Then, I also told him the negative impact involved it if doesn¡¯t work out.¡±

    He sighed, ¡°Due to the limited time we had, we could not finish our meeting, so I went back to Vietnam

    with him to continue our discussion. The Vice President had a financial background and was especially

    good at macroeconomics. He had a better understanding of finance than most experts and is probably

    the most knowledgeable about financial markets amongst all the other politicians. After I promised to

    support him in the next elections, he expressed that he would also do his best to help our project. With

    the Vice President¡¯s support, Mr. Huang can only follow his orders.¡±

    Nan Zhengde pped and cheered, ¡°This is brilliant! You have a clear direction and strategy, and the

    method is suitable...¡±

    ¡°Alright, Grandpa. I was just lucky that I know someone like him. Besides, thankfully he still remembers

    me because it helps to make things proceed smoothly. You don¡¯t have to keep praising me,¡± Nan Chen

    stated humbly.

    ¡°No, this is a perfect solution! I love it! This is your first confrontation with Ouyang Duo, and you

    managed to beat him. That shows how capable you are!¡± Nan Zhengde praised.

    Eleted, Nen Zhengde could not weit for him to finish end clepped. ¡°Yes!¡± This is e greet idee!

    ¡°Although it wes e finenciel problem, the mein fector thet impects the direction of this project is

    euthority. Chen, you sew the problem but did not stick to just enelyzing it from the finenciel perspective;

    insteed, you thought from e different engle to find e solution. Whet e genius! Pleese continue!¡±

    Nen Chen continued, ¡°The reeson for leeding this Vietnem project wes beceuse I heve done my

    reseerch end investigetion. During thet process, I contected e few high-renking officiels involved in

    Vietnem¡¯s politicel scene. Among them, I wes in contect with the Vice President quite often.

    Coincidentelly, we were schoolmetes. He used to be the director of one of the top three investment

    benks in the world, end he is e telented end visionery men. Yeers leter, he pursued e cereer in politics.

    After e few yeers of herd work, he finelly beceme the Vice President.¡±

    From there, Nen Zhengde understood whet Nen Chen implied. ¡°Did you menege to find him?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I wes lucky. Since the Vice President wes in one of the provinces, I pulled some strings to meet

    him. He still remembers me, so he elloceted ten minutes for our meeting. We hed e few exchenges of

    idees on the Vietnem project, end I told him thet this project would positively influence Vietnem if it

    werepleted. Then, I elso told him the negetive impect involved it if doesn¡¯t work out.¡±

    He sighed, ¡°Due to the limited time we hed, we could not finish our meeting, so I went beck to Vietnem

    with him to continue our discussion. The Vice President hed e finenciel beckground end wes especielly

    good et mecroeconomics. He hed e better understending of finence then most experts end is probebly

    the most knowledgeeble ebout finenciel merkets emongst ell the other politiciens. After I promised to

    support him in the next elections, he expressed thet he would elso do his best to help our project. With

    the Vice President¡¯s support, Mr. Hueng cen only follow his orders.¡±

    Nen Zhengde clepped end cheered, ¡°This is brillient! You heve e cleer direction end stretegy, end the

    method is suiteble...¡±

    ¡°Alright, Grendpe. I wes just lucky thet I know someone like him. Besides, thenkfully he still remembers

    me beceuse it helps to meke things proceed smoothly. You don¡¯t heve to keep preising me,¡± Nen Chen

    steted humbly.

    ¡°No, this is e perfect solution! I love it! This is your first confrontetion with Ouyeng Duo, end you

    meneged to beet him. Thet shows how cepeble you ere!¡± Nen Zhengde preised.

    ¡°See, Grandpa, you are praising me again, but I was simply lucky. Oh, it¡¯s gettingte. I think you

    should get some rest instead of continuing with your writing.¡± Nan Chen looked at the clock.

    Yawning, Nan Zhengde agreed, ¡°Yes, I should head to bed. I can finally sleep in peace now. As I said, I

    have good judgement of people, and I know you can lead ourpany through any crisis.¡±

    On the way home, Ouyang Duo was still infuriated.

    ¡°Qing is ridiculous! How can she do such things to embarrass our family? I can¡¯t even face them

    anymore!¡± he shouted.

    Immediately, Feng Jialing exined, ¡°Perhaps, it did not happen like that. The two children may be

    ndering Qing on purpose!¡±

    ¡°Children don¡¯t lie. The girl¡¯s tone and attitude were just like Qing¡¯s, so I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a lie. That was

    really shameful!¡± Ouyang Duo was furious.

    ¡°How is that something to be ashamed about? My daughter even went to the police station trying to

    protect those children. Yet, they dared to ridicule us. They are such bullies!¡± Feng Jialing was just as

    angry as Ouyang Duo.

    However, while she med the Nan family, Ouyang Duo thought Ouyang Qing yed a part too.

    ¡°Whatever, you should stick to teaching our daughter well. If it does not work out, I want her toe

    home in case she embarrasses us outside.¡± Ouyang Duomanded.

    ¡°What are you trying to say? Is she not your daughter? What did she do wrong? She graduated from a

    top school and always scored straight ¡®A¡¯s, and you used to always praised her. And now, you despise

    your daughter just because of two children? Do you think she is an embarrassment? Whose side are

    you even on? In hindsight, even if our daughter wascking, she is more than a good match for Nan

    Chen. Aren¡¯t you holding onto the Nan family¡¯s weakness? If they continue to reject you, then you

    should not cooperate with them and let them end up in the rut,¡± Feng Jialing ranted.

    She spoke confidently because she knew that her husband had dirt on the Nan family.

    Ouyang Duoined, ¡°You know what, that old man in Nan family even proposed to give us only a

    thirty percent cut. Otherwise, he will not cooperate.¡±

    ¡°Seventy-thirty? I thought it was an equal split?¡± Feng Jialing questioned.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I think that old man is crazy. He must be getting old and senile,¡± Ouyang Duo huffed.

 Chapter 421

    Chapter 421

    In the Orchid Club.

    Only a handful of people knew that the Orchid Club was an underground business ran by the Ouyang

    family in Flower City.

    Even though it seemed like a normal club at first nce, it was actually the stronghold of the Ouyang

    family in the city.

    The luxurious club brought its fair share of customers, who spread around secret information about the

    city.

    Through acquiring this information, the Ouyang family could have a good grasp of what was happening

    every day in the city.

    That was why even though most of the Ouyang family¡¯s businesses weren¡¯t here, they could

    understand the workings of the city through the Orchid Club.

    The Orchid Club was just like an intelligence hub, yet it also functioned like amand center.

    Ouyang Duo always had a dream about this city, but he never told anyone about it.

    Meanwhile, Ouyang Qing was still waiting for her parent¡¯s good news from the Nan family even though

    it waste.

    The Orchid Club was a ce where they held meetings. After their discussions, they would go back to

    their own businesses.

    That was why it seemed like they didn¡¯t have amon motive foring to the Flower City since

    they looked like they were minding their own businesses.

    ¡°Dad, how was it?¡± Ouyang Qing asked anxiously.

    ¡°What did you do today?¡± Ouyang Duo pointed at Ouyang Qing.

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything. What happened, Dad?¡±

    ¡°Why did you get into a fight? You¡¯re from the esteemed Ouyang family, so you¡¯re not of the same

    status as those people. How could you beat someone up?¡± Ouyang Duo bellowed angrily.

    Ouyang Qing was dumbfounded because she never thought that her usually loving father would be so

    furious at her.

    ¡°Dad, that was a misunderstanding. I didn¡¯t...¡±

    ¡°Are you sure about that? You¡¯re so damn humiliating! You¡¯re a dignifieddy, yet you got into an

    argument with one of themon folk! Absolutely ridiculous!¡±

    ¡°Dad, how did you find out?¡± Ouyang Qing sensed that something was amiss.

    ¡°Walls have ears. Do you think that your actions would go unnoticed?¡±

    ¡°I really did lose my temper, and it wasn¡¯t a smart move, but...¡±

    ¡°But what? Are you trying to find excuses now?¡±

    Feng Jialing saw that her daughter couldn¡¯t handle the onught, so she decided to help her out.

    ¡°Ouyang Duo, what are you so angry for? Everyone makes mistakes sometimes! Your daughter was

    bullied, and you didn¡¯t even help her out. Instead, you¡¯re putting the me on her?¡±

    ¡°Go on. I¡¯d like to see you keep defending her. Don¡¯t you think she¡¯s such an embarrassment?¡± Ouyang

    Duo yelled.

    ¡°No! You got the short end of the stick in the Nan family, and now, you¡¯re ming your daughter for it. I

    think you¡¯re the embarrassment here! Don¡¯t you have some dirt on the Nan family? I don¡¯t think the Nan

    family would just give up on such an important project and suffer billions in losses! Actually, losing

    money is just the tip of the iceberg. If that project fails, Nan Chen¡¯s standing in hispany would be

    affected. Hordes of people dreamed of coveting Nan Chen¡¯s position in thepany, so don¡¯t you think

    that Nan Chen and that old geezer would be afraid that someone might overthrow Nan Chen?¡±

    Hearing her, Ouyang Duo started to calm down as well. ¡°Logically speaking, the old man and Nan

    Chen should be afraid, because after all, the project is led by Nan Chen. How could he ever watch it go

    down in mes? Why wouldn¡¯t he be willing to sacrifice a small profit for it? This is absolutely

    unreasonable and illogical!¡±

    ¡°The Nan family is just trying to scare us! They¡¯re just acting like they don¡¯t care so that you will

    compromise! Fat chance!¡± Feng Jialing hissed.

    ¡°Dad, did the whole Nan family call off the deal, or did Nan Chen and the Old Master do that instead?¡±

    Ouyang Qing started to panic.

    If their families coborated, Nan Chen would view Ouyang Qing differently.

    Besides that, the Ouyang family would be deemed as saviors with Ouyang Qing as their

    representative. If so, it was entirely possible that Ouyang Qing would be of equal status with Nan Chen.

    At the very least, Ouyang Qing would gain more influence from this.

    That was why Ouyang Qing was very invested in this deal because it signified the future of her and

    Nan Chen¡¯s rtionship dynamic.

    ¡°They didn¡¯t exactly call off the deal; they just made the conditions much more stringent! It¡¯s ridiculous.

    They are the ones in trouble, and we¡¯re the ones offering help, but now it seems like they¡¯re acting all

    high and mighty!¡±

    Ouyang Duo was boiling in rage and frustration.

    ¡°Did something go wrong?¡± Feng Jialing asked.

    ¡°Of course not. The Nan family can¡¯t possibly get out of that situation.¡± Ouyang Duo shook his head.

    ¡°True. With Mr. Huang holding his ground, nothing unexpected will ever happen. The Nan family is

    stuck in a deadlock,¡± Feng Jialing chimed in.

    ¡°The Nan family can¡¯t keep up their act forever! Nan Chen will definitely regret his actions and beg me

    for help! When that happens, both of you would have to go and see him and let him know that I have

    no time for people like him,¡± said Ouyang Duo.

    ¡°Dad, you can¡¯t do this to Chen. He¡¯s working under the instructions of the Old Master anyway! Why

    are you making things hard for him?¡± said Ouyang Qing disdainfully.

    ¡°Are you siding with him? Don¡¯t you remember how he treated you? No matter how much you like him,

    you still have to be firm with him. Otherwise, do you think you will have it easy when he marries you?¡±

    chided Ouyang Duo.

    Ouyang Qing lowered her head. She surely wanted to elevate her position in Nan Chen¡¯s heart, but she

    was afraid that she might anger him if the methods she employed were too drastic.

    Nan Chen was not a kind soul, so angering him would be no different than courting the wrath of the

    devil.

    If that happened, not only would she not be Nan Chen¡¯s wife, talking to him might even be a difficult

    task.

    Right now, Nan Chen respected her not because of her good looks or because she was thedy of the

    Ouyang family.

    Rather because she helped Bai Hua out before, so Nan Chen owed her a favor.

    On top of that, both families were considered to have a long-standing rtionship, which was why Nan

    Chen still had some degree of respect for her.

    If Ouyang Duo continued to corner Nan Chen to a dead end, Ouyang Qing was afraid that she might

    turn out to be Nan Chen¡¯s enemy instead of his wife.

    Feng Jialing saw how upset her daughter was, so she began to rebuke Ouyang Duo,¡± Why can¡¯t you

    talk to your daughter nicely? Why are you so afraid now that the Nan family is under your control? I will

    get them to kneel down and bow before me!¡±

    ¡°Me? Afraid of them? Come on! That would never happen...¡± However, before he could finish, the

    phone began to ring.

    It was a call from Vietnam.

    ¡°Why? How could this be... when did it happen? I thought you said you could fix it? Damn it, this is

    bad...¡± He mmed the phone when he was halfway through the conversation.

    Feng Jialing exchanged nk looks with Ouyang Duo as they wondered who was on the other end of

    the line that could incense Ouyang Duo to such an extent.

    ¡°What happened? Who¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°It was Mr. Huang. He said that Nanshi Corporation¡¯s project in Vietnam was resumed! No wonder Nan

    Chen and his senile father were acting so haughty! Their problems had been taken care of! Damn it.

    How dare they trick me!¡±

    Feng Jialing was anxious, ¡°They actually solved it? How did they do that? How is that possible?¡±

    ¡°The vice president enquired about this project, and all the problems were resolved in the shortest of

    time. The project was officially resumed. I was too hasty, and I really underestimated Nan Chen.¡±

    Ouyang Duo slouched on the sofa.

 Chapter 422

    Chapter 422

    Feng Jialing and Ouyang Qing were stunned.

    A moment ago, Ouyang Duo was so confident, yet he was so distraught the next.

    ¡°What are we going to do now? How did Nan Chen manage to contact the vice president, and why did

    he even want to help him?¡± Feng Jialing was murmuring away.

    ¡°I really underestimated Nan Chen. I never thought he could have such a high-profile contact in

    Vietnam that allowed him tounch such a huge project. I shouldn¡¯t have underestimated Nan Chen

    since the Nan family is very prominent in Flower City. I fully ept my defeat.¡± Ouyang Duo sighed.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be so depressing. What should we do now? Can we salvage things?¡± asked Feng Jialing.

    ¡°Dad, do we still have a chance?¡± What should I do?¡± Nan Chen might not even look at me anymore,¡±

    she asked while tears began to trickle down her face. ¡°It¡¯s over now.¡±

    Ouyang Duo stood up, walked to the bar counter, picked up a bottle of beer, and had two gulps of it.

    ¡°There¡¯s still Mr. Huang, right? Maybe he can help to turn the tides in our favor,¡± Feng Jialing said.

    ¡°Mr. Huang¡¯s political standing is a far cry from the vice president¡¯s. Since the vice president openly

    dered his support for Nan Chen, what else can Mr. Huang do? Everything that the Nan family did

    was legal. If a thorough investigation is to be carried out, Mr. Huang will never go scot-free! As of now,

    he has already applied to go abroad for a business trip because he does not dare to remain in the

    country. I only hope that the vice president is not going to investigate what happened to the Nan

    family¡¯s project,¡± said Ouyang Duo.

    At that, Feng Jialing was speechless.

    ¡°So are we defeated already?¡±

    ¡°Completely,¡± Ouyang Duo mumbled helplessly and added more salt to their wounds.

    Meanwhile, Feng Jialing wailed, ¡°Why did it end up this way?¡±

    ¡°I underestimated my enemy. I don¡¯t give a damn; we HAVE toe up with ns to salvage the

    situation. We must do it for the sake of the Ouyang family and Qing,¡± dered Feng Jialing.

    ¡°The only thing we can do now is to mend the damage this fall-out brought about to our rtionship

    with the Nan family. We must make amends and restore our rtionship with them.¡±

    Ouyang Duo had the gift of acumen that allowed him to assess the situation and n the proper course

    of action.

    When he knew of the business failure with the Nan family, he swiftly made the necessary adjustments.

    After all, he wasn¡¯t in a rush, and he had yet to aplish many of his aspirations for the city.

    He must maintain a cordial rtionship with the formidable Nan family before he realized his visions.

    ¡°What should we do then?¡±

    Ouyang Qing was even more anxious than her dad as she wasn¡¯t willing to see the rtionship

    between her family and the Nan family deteriorate.

    Because if that happened, it would be even harder for her to get closer to Nan Chen.

    She was willing to do what had to be done in order to improve the rtionship with the Nan family

    without any hesitation.

    ¡°Qing, stop crying, I¡¯m sure I have displeased the Nan family, so it¡¯s all up to you now. You must work

    on your rtionship with Nan Chen, act as if you¡¯re oblivious to what I¡¯ve done, and pretend to be

    innocent. Do you understand?¡± Ouyang Duo gently wiped Ouyang Qing¡¯s tears.

    ¡°I understand, but I am scared that Nan Chen won¡¯t care about me anymore.¡± Ouyang Qing frowned.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you still have the bargaining chips in the form of Bai Hua and Nan Zhiyuan? You must make

    good use of them. Try your best to meet Nan Chen tomorrow and exin to him that you did not have

    any knowledge about what happened. You still stand a chance with him because Nan Chen is not a

    petty person. Don¡¯t give up.¡±

    Ouyang Qing nodded in acknowledgment. After hearing her dad¡¯s words, she felt much better.

    ¡°Oh, what about the two children?¡± A thought suddenly struck Ouyang Duo.

    ¡°What about them?¡±

    ¡°They are no ordinary children; they are especially intelligent. Moreover, they are the apples of

    everyone¡¯s eyes in the Nan family, so we muste up with a way to gain their approval. Their

    eptance is far more important than the adults¡¯.¡± Ouyang Duo frowned.

    Feng Jialing nodded in agreement.

    Interestingly, because the Ouyang family was engrossed in the changes of the Vietnam project, they

    failed to mention that Erbao was the one who acted out Ouyang Qing¡¯s tantrum to the Nan family.

    That was why Ouyang Qing still didn¡¯t know that Dabao and Erbao were the ones responsible for

    exposing her.

    ¡°Alright. I invite them out tomorrow and spend some time with them,¡± Ouyang Qing proimed.

    ¡°Can you handle them?¡± Feng Jialing was still concerned.

    ¡°They¡¯re just kids. What happened today was just an ident, and I¡¯ll be sure to be extra careful

    tomorrow.¡± Ouyang Qing regained her confidence.

    ¡°As long as you can win their approval, you can definitely fortify your standing in the Nan family. If you

    can do that, our rtionship with them will surely improve. Our hopes are all on you now,¡± Ouyang Duo

    eximed.

    Interestingly, even though Ouyang Duo got the short end of the stick, he decided to ce his faith in his

    daughter.

    The next morning, Nan Chen returned to work as usual.

    No one dared to ask him where he went the past few days, and no one had any idea what happened.

    Nan Chen thought that he was very early, but someone else arrived even earlier than him. And it was

    Ouyang Qing.

    Nan Chen couldn¡¯t help but frown. ¡°Why are you here?¡±

    ¡°I intend to bring the kids out to y, so I came here to ask you if there is anything I should look out

    for?¡± Ouyang Qing stated her purpose.

    Actually, Nan Chen didn¡¯t know what happened to Ouyang Qing yesterday, and he didn¡¯t know about

    Erbao and Dabao¡¯s performance.

    He was a busy man, so those trivial matters slipped through his mind.

    That was why he thought that Ouyang Qing was being sincere in asking him for advice.

    ¡°Just don¡¯t let them eat in unsanitary ces. Oh, also, Erbao is allergic to nuts. We don¡¯t know exactly

    what nuts she¡¯s allergic to, so just avoid them altogether,¡± Nan Chen instructed.

    ¡°Thank you, Chen. I got it.¡± Ouyang Qing smiled sweetly.

    However, she didn¡¯t leave at once, so Nan Chen asked her, ¡°Is there anything else?¡±

    ¡°Um, one more thing. I heard from my Dad that something unpleasant happened between you and him.

    Did he offend you somehow?¡± Ouyang Qing asked quizzically.

    ¡°What did he say?¡± Nan Chen seemed stoic as usual.

    ¡°He didn¡¯t go into detail, but I could tell that something bad happened.¡±

    ¡°Nothing of the sort happened. Our families will coborate,¡± Nan Chen affirmed.

    Ouyang Qing thought that she must¡¯ve misheard him. Didn¡¯t Dad say that the negotiations went bust?

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    Didn¡¯t he say that Nan Chen managed to solve his conundrum? Don¡¯t tell me that in the end, Nan Chen

    didn¡¯t manage to do that?

    If that¡¯s the case, I need to tell Dad as soon as possible! This is a good opportunity!

    ¡°Are our families really gonna coborate together?¡± Ouyang Qing wanted to confirm the truth.

    ¡°Yeah. I originally nned for Jiang Zhe to informed Mr. Ouyang, but since you¡¯re here, why don¡¯t you

    call him and ask him to arrange a time for our meeting?¡±

 Chapter 423

    Chapter 423

    Ouyang Duo was in a state of disbelief when he received his daughter¡¯s call.

    ¡°Did you mishear something? Are you saying that Nan Chen wants to coborate with us?¡±

    The excitement in Ouyang Qing¡¯s voice barely conceble, so she squealed, ¡°Of course I didn¡¯t

    mishear anything! Nan Chen said so himself!¡±

    ¡°Is he trying to trick you?¡± Ouyang Duo was still skeptical.

    ¡°Probably not, right? Nan Chen is a man of power, so he probably wouldn¡¯t waste his time on a woman

    like me.¡± Ouyang Qing¡¯s confidence started to waver.

    Ouyang Duo thought that her daughter made sense. She¡¯s right. A man of Nan Chen¡¯s status probably

    wouldn¡¯t make up something to trick a young girl like her. That¡¯s not how he operates.

    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll go to hispany now.¡± Ouyang Duo started to get excited as well.

    ¡°Dad, things are still not confirmed yet, so you should keep a low profile. Don¡¯t bring too many people

    along with you,¡± Ouyang Qing reminded.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯lly low. Only my chauffeur and I will show up.¡±

    ¡°Alright. Take care. Don¡¯t be rude to Nan Chen and anger him again.¡±

    ¡°I know. After all, he¡¯s the man of your dreams, right?¡±

    ¡°Stop teasing me,¡± Ouyang Qing said coyly.

    ¡°Let me remind you again that you need to have a good rtionship with the two children. That¡¯s the

    best way to get close to Nan Chen.¡±

    ¡°I understand, Dad.¡±

    After the phone call, Ouyang Duo changed his clothes and headed to the Nanshi Corporation

    Headquarters.

    Nan Chen left for two days, so he had a lot to handle.

    That was why Ouyang Duo had to wait a few hours for him in the waiting room.

    Ouyang Duo was a senior figure in the business industry as he was the Chairman of the Sunshine

    Corporation, yet he still needed to wait for someone younger than him - Nan Chen.

    Usually, Ouyang Duo only agreed to meet people who ced a reservation, but now he didn¡¯t have that

    luxury anymore.

    While waiting, Ouyang Duo wanted to storm off in rage a few times. However, he stopped himself once

    he reminded himself that this was an opportunity bestowed to him by Nan Chen.

    He knew that he had to be patient, so he forced himself to calm down.

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    Still, Nan Chen hadn¡¯t shown up after an hour.

    At that point of time, Ouyang Duo needed to take a leak because he drank several cups of coffee

    during his wait. When he came back, he bumped into Nan Chen.

    To his surprise, that guy was chatting with an employee in the corridor! Here I was, waiting stupidly for

    him!

    Upon that sight, Ouyang Duo bubbled in rage again. That brat actually finished his meeting earlier, and

    yet, he didn¡¯te to see me?

    Is he toying with me? This is outrageous!

    ¡°Nan Chen, did you ask me toe here just to drink yourpany¡¯s horrible coffee in the waiting

    room?¡± Ouyang Duo bellowed.

    ¡°Oh, you were waiting for me! Why didn¡¯t anyone inform me? My meeting ended long ago. Those

    people really deserve to be punished; they¡¯re shirking their work! I¡¯m so sorry, Mr. Ouyang. Let¡¯s talk in

    my office. Hey! Prepare arge cup of coffee for Mr. Ouyang!¡±

    Ouyang Duo was even more livid now. More coffee? Is he trying to drive me insane?

    ¡°Wait a minute. I need to head to the restroom.¡± Ouyang Duo had an embarrassed expression.

    ¡°Bring Mr. Ouyang to the restroom!¡± Nan Chen instructed.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    As Ouyang Duo was leaving, a cold smirk appeared on Nan Chen¡¯s face.

    How dare someone sabotages the Nan family and tries to portray themselves as the savior?

    I need to make him pay for his actions.

    An eye for an eye. I will have him know that he shouldn¡¯t mess with the Nan family.

    Not long after Nan Chen settled down in his office, Ouyang Duo arrived.

    ¡°Mr. Ouyang, please have a cup of coffee.¡±

    Ouyang Duo hastily waved his hands. ¡°No thanks! I¡¯ve had too much! Chen, just cut to the chase. I

    have been waiting for too long.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Ouyang, it seems like you¡¯re a bit forgetful. Didn¡¯t we already have a negotiation yesterday?¡± Nan

    Chen raised one of his eyebrows.

    ¡°We did, but didn¡¯t you... weren¡¯t you...¡±

    ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Nothing. I just heard that your project was resumed, so congrattions, Chen.¡±

    Ouyang Duo was visibly embarrassed when he said that.

    ¡°You must be very well-connected, Mr. Ouyang; you found out about that so soon.¡± Nan Chen took a

    small sip of coffee.

    ¡°Chen, why did you keep that a secret? Did you ask me toe here just to ridicule me?¡± Ouyang Duo

    muttered in displeasure.

    ¡°Mr. Ouyang, that¡¯s really not it. I invited you here so that we can have some negotiations. I¡¯m not the

    kind of person who would go out of my way to ridicule someone anyway.¡±

    ¡°But your project has already been resumed, so you don¡¯t need us anymore. Why should we even carry

    out negotiations?¡±

    ¡°I took a look at one piece ofnd that the Sunshine Corporation owns and realized that it is quite

    valuable to us. The Nanshi Corporation can use it as a construction site.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Literally what it means. We want to coborate with Sunshine Corporation.¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Ouyang Duo asked agitatedly.

    ¡°We¡¯ll develop thend and split the profits eighty-twenty.¡±

    ¡°Does that mean you¡¯ll get eighty percent of the profit while we¡¯ll get twenty percent?¡±

    ¡°Of course. Don¡¯t tell me you expect half of the profit from offering a barren piece ofnd?¡± Nan Chen

    uttered coldly.

    ¡°No can do! We carried out all the legal proceedings for that piece ofnd, so why should we split the

    profits eighty-twenty?¡± Ouyang Duo was livid.

    ¡°Even though the proceedings seemplete, there are still some discrepancies. If a thorough

    investigation is carried out, a lot of people in Vietnam will be indicted. If that happens, that piece ofnd

    will truly be a worthless piece of barrennd.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense!¡± Ouyang Duo was so agitated that he stood up.

    ¡°Calm down, Mr. Ouyang. You¡¯re not young anymore, so you shouldn¡¯t get angry. I didn¡¯te up with

    this; the vice president did. Even I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s true or not. However, if Sunshine Corporation

    agrees to coborate with us and allow Nanshi Corporation to develop thend, the vice president

    agrees to notunch the investigation.¡±

    After a brief pause, Nan Chen lowered his voice and continued, ¡°At the same time, he will turn a blind

    eye to Mr. Huang¡¯s errors. I think you shouldn¡¯t make this decision yourself, so you should discuss it

    with Mr. Huang. After all, it wasn¡¯t easy for Mr. Huang to reach his current position, so I¡¯m sure that he

    will be livid if you ruin his career. If that happens, you¡¯ll lose the only pir of support you have in

    Vietnam, and that piece ofnd will be worthless anyway.¡±

    After Nan Chen said that, he red at Ouyang Duo coldly and sent chills running down his spine.

    I really underestimated this young man.

    An eye for an eye! That¡¯s what he¡¯s doing right now!

    Nan Chen did exactly what Ouyang Duo did to him to make Ouyang Duo reap the consequences of his

    actions.

    ¡°Nan Chen, are you threatening me? I have been in this industry for a few decades, so do you think I¡¯ll

    be scared?¡± Ouyang Duo still didn¡¯t back down.

    ¡°You¡¯re wise and experienced, so I¡¯m sure you can assess the situation logically and figure out the best

    course of action. You don¡¯t have to give me an immediate reply. You can have a discussion with Mr.

    Huang first before giving me an answer. I still have a meeting, so I¡¯ll get going soon. Oh, do you want

    another cup of coffee? Thepany¡¯s coffee is always free of charge!¡±

    A cold smirk appeared on Nan Chen¡¯s lips.

 Chapter 424

    Chapter 424

    Meanwhile, Ouyang Qing went to pick up Dabao and Erbao, but they didn¡¯t dare to say anything.

    That was because they were scared that Ouyang Qing would berate them for sabotaging herst night.

    However, Ouyang Qing didn¡¯t know aboutst night¡¯s performance in the Nan family because her

    parents never told her about it.

    They already had a lot of their hands, so they overlooked it. Furthermore, their priority was to be in Nan

    Chen¡¯s good graces, so they didn¡¯t have time to think about anything else.

    ¡°Hi! Are you happy to see me?¡± Ouyang Qing waved her hands at the two kids.

    Dabao and Erbao exchanged a look and noticed that Ouyang Qing wasn¡¯t angry, because if she were,

    she wouldn¡¯t be so happy to see them.

    ¡°Hi! Ms. Qing, you look so pretty today!¡± Erbao greeted her back.

    They then hopped into the car happily as if nothing ever happened.

    In the car, Erbao whispered to her brother, ¡°What¡¯s happening here?¡±

    ¡°Maybe she doesn¡¯t know,¡± Dabao said analytically.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t anyone tell her?¡±

    ¡°Maybe they didn¡¯t have time.¡±

    ¡°What are you two whispering about?¡± Ouyang Qing asked.

    ¡°Dabao said Ms. Qing looks very pretty, so he wants a girlfriend as pretty as you when he grows up!¡±

    On the other hand, Dabao was dumbfounded. Isn¡¯t that just ridiculous? I would never!

    Ouyang Qing was naturally ted to hear that. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m pretty?¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡± Erbao smiled sweetly.

    ¡°Haha. Dabao¡¯s future girlfriend will definitely be prettier than me because he¡¯s very handsome

    himself!¡±

    Throughout the whole exchange, Dabao remained silent because he found their conversation dry and

    pointless.

    They arrived at the water park shortly after.

    Even though Erbao was a young girl, she was very adventurous, and she was willing to try all the

    scarier attractions.

    Ouyang Qing tagged along with them for some of the attractions, but she really couldn¡¯t join them in the

    very frightening ones.

    However, the kids were still underage, so they needed adult supervision. They had no choice but to ask

    one of the bodyguards toe with them.

    They yed for the whole morning and only stopped once they got hungry.

    They went to a restaurant to have a meal, and Ouyang Qing ordered her favorite almond milk.

    She asked the two kids what they wanted to drink, and Dabao replied immediately, ¡°Ms. Qing, we¡¯d like

    some juice.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. We¡¯ll have some juice,¡± Erbao chimed in.

    After cing their orders, they started to dig in.

    During their meals, Dabao and Erbao exchanged a devious look, but Ouyang Qing couldn¡¯t understand

    what it was about.

    ¡°Ms. Qing, can I please have a piece of cake?¡± Erbao asked suddenly.

    ¡°But they don¡¯t sell cakes here.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a bakery next door. I¡¯ll go and buy a piece from there.¡± Erbao hopped off the chair and was

    raring to go.

    ¡°Stay put. Kids can¡¯t just run off by themselves. What if you get lost?¡± Ouyang Qing reminded.

    However, Ouyang Qing didn¡¯t know that Erbao would never get lost even if she wandered off alone.

    Even so, Dabao and Erbao kept quiet about that. Erbao pouted and said, ¡°But I want some cake.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s ask the bodyguards to get us some,¡± Ouyang Qing suggested.

    ¡°No. I don¡¯t like boys touching my stuff.¡± Erbao was still pouting.

    Ouyang Qing burst into a chuckle. ¡°You¡¯re so young, so why are you so petty about this?¡±

    ¡°I just don¡¯t want the bodyguards to buy it for me,¡± Erbao repeated herself.

    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll go buy it.¡± Ouyang Qing stood up.

    Erbao broke into a wide grin at that. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Qing!¡±

    After Ouyang Qing left, Erbao asked Dabao, ¡°Dabao, are you sure that almonds are a type of nuts?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Dabao nodded. ¡°One of the four most famous ones.¡±

    ¡°Wow. What are the other three types then?¡±

    Erbao was amazed at her brother¡¯s vast span of knowledge; he was like an encyclopedia to her.

    ¡°The other three types are hazelnuts, walnuts, and cashews.¡±

    ¡°Since almond is included, I¡¯ll definitely be allergic to it. Dabao, you¡¯re so smart! You even figured out

    that Ms. Qing likes drinking almond milk,¡± Erbao eximed in admiration.

    ¡°Yep. You¡¯ll probably be allergic to it.¡± Dabao nodded.

    ¡°Should I drink it now?¡± Erbao asked.

    Dabao frowned. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a little too much? It¡¯s not worth it.¡±

    Erbao shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I won¡¯t die from just a small sip.¡±

    ¡°But you¡¯ll feel very terrible if you¡¯re allergic to it.¡± Dabao was worried.

    ¡°We can¡¯t get what we want without some sacrifices. I don¡¯t want to y with her anymore. It¡¯s no fun at

    all.¡± Erbao waved her little fists.

    ¡°You have a point.¡± Dabao frowned.

    ¡°So should I drink it now?¡±

    ¡°What will happen if you take a small sip? You¡¯re the one who¡¯s allergic to it, so you should know.¡±

    Dabao didn¡¯t want to rush things.

    ¡°It¡¯ll be fine. I ate a small piece of walnut candy before and still got an allergic reaction. My skin turned

    red and itchy, but it was only for a short while.¡±

    ¡°Is that why Mommy¡¯s walnut candy went missing thest time?¡± Dabao was exasperated.

    ¡°Yeah. Mommy thought I wouldn¡¯t dare to eat it because I was allergic to it, so she thought you did it

    instead. Thanks for covering me, Dabao.¡± Erbao smiled jubntly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t do that again! I¡¯m fine if Mommy mes me, but it¡¯s still very dangerous!¡± Dabaomanded.

    ¡°I won¡¯t do it anymore. If any walnut candy goes missing, you can be sure that I was the one who took

    it. But shouldn¡¯t we be talking about the allergic reaction now instead?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m worried that your allergic reaction might be very serious, and I¡¯ll end up regretting it.¡± Dabao still

    couldn¡¯t make up his mind.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll only take a small sip. When my face turns red, I can just act for a bit to make it look

    bad.¡±

    Dabao sighed. ¡°It really is unfortunate that I¡¯m not allergic to it, or I¡¯ll just drink it for you. I don¡¯t want to

    see you in pain.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be fine. My face will just turn a little red,¡± Erbao consoled Dabao.

    ¡°In that case, just take a small sip! Don¡¯t go overboard! We just have to make sure that it seems

    convincing.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know what I¡¯m doing. After all, I have experience from eating the walnut candy.¡± Erbao

    giggled.

    ¡°Fine. Don¡¯t drink too much!¡±

    Erbao took a small sip of Ouyang Qing¡¯s almond milk.

    Dabao cast Erbao a gaze of concern and asked, ¡°Are you alright?¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.

    ¡°Hm, it¡¯s actually pretty good! Let me take another sip.¡±

    Dabao immediately stopped Erbao. ¡°No. It¡¯s too dangerous! You shouldn¡¯t drink it!¡±

    ¡°But it really is quite good. I think I can...¡±

    ¡°No means no! If you don¡¯t have an allergic reaction, so be it. I can¡¯t have you taking unnecessary

    risks!¡± Dabao instructed.

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± Erbao puffed up her cheeks.

    ¡°What are you whispering to each other about?¡± Ouyang Qing came back with the cake.

    ¡°Nothing. We were just wondering why you weren¡¯t back yet.¡±

    ¡°Come on. Take a bite.¡± Ouyang Qing presented the cake.

    ¡°Ms. Qing, when are you getting married to Daddy?¡± Erbao asked suddenly.

    ¡°It should be soon. We¡¯ll probably get married after the coboration between our families is sealed.¡±

    Ouyang Qing was in a euphoric mood, so she identally blurted out the truth.

    She thought that the two kids adored her, and Nan Chen needed the Ouyang family¡¯s help, so she

    didn¡¯t put a filter on anymore.

 Chapter 425

    Chapter 425

    Dabao and Erbao initially felt a bit guilty for ying these tricks, thinking that it was not right to

    sabotage Ouyang Qing like that.

    However, after hearing what she said, they were even more determined to chase Ouyang Qing away

    from their Daddy¡¯s side.

    ¡°Wow! This cake is so yummy! Ms. Qing, Can I drink this? It looks so yummy, especially if paired with

    the cake.¡±

    Erbao stared longingly at the ss of almond milk.

    ¡°Are you sure want to drink it? Why don¡¯t I order another ss for you?¡± said Ouyang Qing.

    Erbao nodded vigorously. ¡°Yes, please!¡±

    ¡°Alright then. Waiter, can I get another ss of almond milk? Dabao, would you like one?¡±

    The only reason why Ouyang Qing was nice to the kids was that she wanted to get closer to Nan Chen

    through them. She did not do that out of genuine sincerity.

    As a result, even though Nan Chen reminded her that Erbao must not eat anything that contained nuts,

    she forgot everything about it.

    Dabao shook his head. ¡°None for me. Erbao, do you really want to drink it?¡±

    He was worried for Erbao. Earlier, when he told Erbao to drink it, he only wanted her to get a slight

    allergic reaction. If she drank more, would it be excessive?

    ¡°I do! Thank you so much, Ms. Qing. You¡¯re the best!¡± praised Erbao, ignoring the gaze Dabao was

    shooting her. In fact, she actually really wanted to drink it. When she took a sip earlier, nothing

    happened. Instead, it made her yearn for it further.

    When Ouyang Qing heard Erbao¡¯s praise, shepletely forgot about what Nan Chen said. She urged

    the waiter, ¡°Hurry up!¡±

    The waiter ran over quickly and ced a ss of almond milk in front of Erbao.

    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

    Just when Dabao was still hesitating, Erbao had already grabbed the ss of almond milk and gulped

    it down eagerly.

    ¡°Does it taste nice? This is my favorite drink, you know? It¡¯s really beneficial to women as it can help

    nourish your skin,¡± said Ouyang Qing happily.

    ¡°It¡¯s really yummy.¡±

    ¡°Take another sip then!¡± Ouyang Qing urged her further.

    ¡°No!¡± eximed Dabao, unable to hold himself back anymore.

    ¡°Why? It¡¯s so yummy. Here, Erbao. Let¡¯s have a toast.¡± Ouyang Qing lifted her ss and wanted to

    toast Erbao.

    ¡°Dabao, I¡¯ll just drink another sip. Just another teeny sip,¡± whined Erbao.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Dabao?¡± asked Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Dabao, Ms. Qing¡¯s giving me a toast. If I don¡¯t drink it, isn¡¯t it being disrespectful to her? Don¡¯t

    worry. I know that you¡¯re scared that I¡¯ll be chubby, but I¡¯ll control myself.¡± Erbao clinked her ss

    with Ouyang Qing¡¯s and took a tiny sip.

    While Dabao was still extremely worried, Erbao continued eating like nothing happened.

    However, ten minutester, Erbao¡¯s face flushed red, looking like she was drunk.

    ¡°Erbao¡¯s having an allergic reaction. We must go to the hospital immediately!¡± eximed Dabao.

    ¡°Huh? An allergic what? Oh no! This... Oh my God!¡±

    It was only then that Ouyang Qing remembered Nan Chen reminding her that Erbao was allergic to

    nuts and must not eat anything that contained nuts.

    Oh no! If Nan Chen learns about this, what should I do?

    No. Nan Chen mustn¡¯t know about this!

    Isn¡¯t it just an allergy? We¡¯ll just go to the hospital to treat Erbao. I must not let Nan Chen find out!

    Nan Chen only realized that Erbao was sent to the hospital after receiving a call from Dabao.

    Ouyang Qing assumed that she could keep it a secret as long as she did not inform Nan Chen, thinking

    that it was a smart move on her part.

    Yet, she did not realize that Dabao had already called Nan Chen and informed him when she was

    unaware.

    Nan Chen was in the midst of an important meeting when Jiang Zhe barged into the meeting room

    holding his personal mobile.

    When Jiang Zhe saw that the iing call was from Dabao, he did not dare dy it further. His

    thought was that he must send the phone to Nan Chen instantly.

    The reason being Nan Chen had instructed him before that the calls from a certain few people must be

    picked up instantly. Even if he was in the middle of saving the Earth, he must still ept the calls right

    away.

    Those people included Nan Zhengde and his two darlings.

    The three were the people whom Nan Chen was determined to protect. As Nan Zhengde was getting

    old, there was a high possibility of an emergency happening. Hence, Nan Chen would always pick up

    his calls.

    As for the two children, they were too young. If they needed assistance, Nan Chen would need to be

    there right away.

    On the other hand, Ning Ran was not included in the list. It was not because she was not important.

    Instead, Nan Chen thought that she could protect herself most of the time, so epting her calls was

    not as urgent nor a priority.

    After getting Dabao¡¯s call, Nan Chen instructed Jiang Zhe to take his ce in leading the meeting while

    he left the meeting room and rushed to the hospital.

    When he entered the lift, he called Ning Ran.

    I have to tell her about this. After all, she¡¯s the kids¡¯ mother.

    In fact, Ning Ran was currently on the train heading back to Flower City.

    When she heard that Erbao was hospitalized, she immediately flew into a frenzy. ¡°Nan Chen, how are

    you taking care of my children? When I left, they were still doing fine. Why is Erbao suddenly

    hospitalized?¡±

    Hearing her reprimands, Nan Chen felt a bit wronged.

    ¡°I heard that she had an allergy...¡±

    ¡°Erbao is only allergic to nuts. Did she eat something that contained nuts?¡±

    ¡°Probably.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, probably? Are you stupid? You know that Erbao is allergic to nuts, so why did you

    let her eat them still?¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t the one taking care of the children then. It¡¯s...¡±

    ¡°So? It still doesn¡¯t that mean that you aren¡¯t responsible for it. Why didn¡¯t you instruct the person taking

    care of them to take note of this? I¡¯ve only left for two days, but the kids ended up in the hospital. My

    poor Erbao...¡±

    Ning Ran was on the verge of tears.

    ¡°Don¡¯t cry. It¡¯s not so serious. Everything will be fine! I¡¯m sorry...¡±

    When Nan Chen uttered the two words ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡±, even he himself was stunned for a while.

    It had been so long since he said those words that they sounded unfamiliar on his tongue.

    On the other hand, Ning Ran was not having that. She had already ended the call.

    When Nan Chen arrived at the hospital, Erbao was on a drip.

    Upon noticing Nan Chen¡¯s arrival, Ouyang Qing quickly ended her call. ¡°Chen...¡±

    Nan Chen red at her, his gaze as sharp as a knife. ¡°Get out!¡±

    ¡°Chen, I...¡±

    ¡°Get out right now!¡± bellowed Nan Chen.

    This time, Ouyang Qing felt a bit scared. Not daring to meet Nan Chen¡¯s gaze, she walked out with her

    head lowered.

    ¡°How are you doing, darling?¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s voice became gentler as he walked over to Erbao and asked her.

    Erbao¡¯s face was still red, but she was feeling much better than before.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Daddy. Don¡¯t me Ms. Qing anymore. If both of you fight, you won¡¯t be able to get married,¡±

    mumbled Erbao.

    ¡°Married? What do you mean?¡± said Nan Chen, puzzled.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t Ms. Qing say that both of you are about to get married soon?¡± asked Erbao.

    The fury in Nan Chen¡¯s eyes intensified. ¡°That¡¯s absurd! Don¡¯t listen to her nonsense.¡±

    Erbao sighed. ¡°If you and Ms. Qing get married, can Mommy still visit me when I fall sick?¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s heart ached. ¡°Of course! Why would you wonder about that?¡±

    ¡°Because if you marry Ms. Qing, you¡¯ll fight with Mommy over child custody. Since Mommy can¡¯t win

    you and Ms. Qing, we won¡¯t be able to see her again. I feel so sad just by thinking about it.¡± Erbao

    sighed.

    ¡°Who did you hear that from? Did Mommy say that?¡±

    ¡°No, Mommy doesn¡¯t dare to say it because she¡¯s scared that you¡¯ll be angry and stop us from visiting

    her.¡±

    ¡°Who said it then? Is it Ouyang Qing?¡±

    Not daring to utter another word, Erbao fell silent.

    Seeing his daughter¡¯s reaction, Nan Chen was even more certain that it was indeed Ouyang Qing who

    said that.

    She¡¯s crossing the line! How can she say such nonsense to scare the kids?

    ¡°Daddy, when is Mommying?¡± asked Erbao.

    ¡°It¡¯s gonna take a while. She¡¯s still on the way here, so she¡¯ll be reaching soon. Don¡¯t worry, Erbao. You

    will not lose your mommy,¡± consoled Nan Chen softly.

    ¡°Then, let¡¯s have a pinky promise,¡± said Erbao as she stretched out her pinky.

    ¡°Okay, pinky promise.¡± Nan Chen hooked his pinky around Erbao¡¯s.

    After alighting the train, Ning Ran rushed to the hospital.

    She met Ouyang Qing the moment she reached the entrance.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ding. Your child...¡±

    ¡°Where¡¯s my child?¡± Not in the mood to listen to Ouyang Qing¡¯s long-winded exnation, Ning Ran

    asked hurriedly.

    ¡°Over there. I¡¯ll bring you over. Follow me.¡±

    By the time Ning Ran charged into the hospital ward, Erbao had already finished her drip. Her cheeks

    were no longer as red as before.

    ¡°Mommy...¡±

    ¡°Darling, how are you? Do you feel unwell?¡±

    ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m much better now. Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m fine!¡±

    As Ning Ran carried Erbao in her arms, her tears started streaming down her cheeks.

 Chapter 426

    Chapter 426

    ¡°Erbao, you scared me to death. It¡¯s all my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have left you all alone at home...¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ding. It¡¯s my fault too. I didn¡¯t take good care of your child,¡± Ouyang Qing apologized

    hurriedly at the side.

    ¡°Why did youe in? Get out!¡± yelled Nan Chen.

    Ouyang Qing felt very upset. It¡¯s just an allergy. She didn¡¯t die, anyway. Do you have to treat me like

    that, Nan Chen?

    ¡°I just brought Ding here and wanted to apologize to her. I¡¯ve wronged both you and your child...¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t need your apology!¡± replied Ning Ran coldly.

    ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect things to turn out like this. I don¡¯t even know what happened.¡± Ouyang Qing

    defended herself indignantly.

    Nan Chen¡¯s fury rose when he heard that. ¡°You still don¡¯t know what happened? Erbao is allergic to

    nuts, yet you still allowed her to drink almond milk. Of course she¡¯ll have an allergic reaction!¡±

    ¡°What? You let my daughter drink almond milk? If you¡¯re bringing someone else¡¯s children out,

    shouldn¡¯t you ask about their dietary restrictions?¡±

    Ouyang Qing fell silent, her head drooping lower.

    Ning Ran seemed to understand what happened.

    ¡°Could it be that you deliberately let my daughter drink almond milk while knowing that she can¡¯t take

    nuts?¡±

    Ouyang Qing quickly waved her hands in denial. ¡°Of course not! There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll do that!¡±

    ¡°You asked me about it before, and I told you everything!¡± Nan Chen rebuked instantly.

    ¡°I really forgot about it. But I really didn¡¯t do it on purpose! Why would I even do something like that?¡±

    ¡°You have ulterior motives! You¡¯re trying to harm my children. I don¡¯t care if you want to marry into the

    Nan family, but why are you using my children as tools?¡± scolded Ning Ran.

    A hurt expression crossed Ouyang Qing¡¯s face. ¡°Ding, how can you say that about me? I really didn¡¯t

    do it on purpose! Why would I want to harm the children? I¡¯m sorry. Please forgive me!¡±

    ¡°I might forgive you if you hurt me instead. However, since you put my children in danger¡¯s path, I will

    never forgive you!¡± asserted Ning Ran furiously.

    ¡°Then, I¡¯ll kneel for forgiveness! I¡¯m really sorry. I didn¡¯t do it on purpose...¡±

    Although Ouyang Qing said that she would kneel, they were just empty words.

    It was impossible for her to kneel to Ning Ran. After all, she was the heiress of the wealthy Ouyang

    family.

    Ouyang Qing thought that Ning Ran would refuse her offer to kneel. However, Ning Ran did not buy

    into her act.

    This made things even more awkward. It was impossible for Ouyang Qing to kneel, but if she did not,

    the situation would be more embarrassing.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough. Get out!¡± yelled Nan Chen coldly.

    If things continued on, there would not be a nice ending.

    As this was a hospital ward, it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to create such a huge ruckus.

    Since the incident had already happened, it was meaningless even if Ouyang Qing actually knelt.

    However, if they forced Ouyang Qing to kneel just because of this, it would be a tant disrespect to

    the Ouyang family.

    At this moment, he could not afford to have a fall out with the Ouyang family.

    As Nan Chen was helming the family now, he needed to consider the big picture instead of sumbing

    to his impulses.

    Knowing that she would be ced in a more embarrassing position if she stayed, Ouyang Qing quickly

    left the hospital ward.

    ¡°You let her bring the kids out?¡± Ning Ran stared at Nan Chen.

    ¡°Not me. She and the kids had an agreement,¡± defended Nan Chen quickly.

    ¡°If you didn¡¯t allow it, she couldn¡¯t have brought the kids out.¡±

    ¡°The kids were willing to y with her. Grandpa wanted them to be happy, so he let them out. They

    don¡¯t need to go to school anyway as it¡¯s the weekends,¡± exined Nan Chen patiently.

    ¡°Did you tell her that Erbao can¡¯t eat nuts?¡±

    ¡°I told her, but she probably forgot.¡±

    ¡°Are you speaking on her behalf? Are you trying to defend her now? Oh, right. You are about to get

    married anyway, so you should protect her well,¡± snapped Ning Ran coldly.

    ¡°I¡¯m not getting married with her. It¡¯s just a rumor.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s temper was starting to re too. Ning Ran¡¯s words were getting harsher by the second that

    he could not even take a breather.

    ¡°Just a rumor? It¡¯s all over the Inte, with a lot of publicity surrounding it. It¡¯s fine if you publicize it,

    but how shameless are you to use my children for it? Both you and Ouyang Qing are shameless

    a*sholes!¡±

    In her agitation, Ning Ran said something that she was not supposed to.

    ¡°What did you call me?¡± Nan Chen¡¯s expression turned cold.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything. You¡¯ve heard wrongly.¡± Ning Ran knew that she had crossed the line.

    ¡°Say that again!¡± yelled Nan Chen furiously.

    ¡°I said I didn¡¯t say anything, you must have heard wrongly.¡±

    ¡°What did you say before that?¡±

    ¡°My memory is horrible. I only remember thest thing I said. I forgot what I said earlier. Besides, I¡¯m

    not a recorder where you can press the repeat button whenever you like!¡± snapped Ning Ran

    disdainfully.

    Nan Chen was enraged, but he could not do anything about Ning Ran.

    ¡°Next time, take note of your image. Don¡¯t say such vulgar words in front of the children and teach them

    the wrong things!¡±

    ¡°We won¡¯t learn anything wrong.¡± Erbao backed her mother up seriously.

    ¡°You too! You know that you¡¯re allergic to nuts, so why did you drink the almond milk?¡± asked Nan

    Chen.

    ¡°Are you ming my child? She¡¯s so young, so it¡¯s normal that she¡¯s not sensible enough to know.

    Ouyang Qing is the real culprit here!¡±

    As Erbao supported Ning Ran, she naturally had to back Erbao up too.

    ¡°I¡¯m educating my child and teaching her how to protect herself. Why are you being so protective?¡±

    ¡°My child is not at fault! The me should be ced on that vicious woman! Everything is all your fault.

    If you didn¡¯t invite her, she won¡¯t even be in the position to bring my kids out to y. Something like this

    wouldn¡¯t have happened. Fundamentally, it¡¯s all your fault! All yours!¡±

    Wagging her finger at Nan Chen, Ning Ran reprimanded him.

    Erbao made a face. Mommy¡¯s so aggressive! With that, I¡¯m no longer the center of attention. Not bad,

    Mommy!

    Furious, Nan Chen pointed back at Ning Ran. ¡°Is this how you teach your children? How amazing...¡±

    ¡°Thank you for yourpliments. I¡¯ve always been amazing! This has always been how I raised my

    children, but they¡¯re still so outstanding. So what about it?¡±

    Nan Chen was about to fly into a rage.

    ¡°Mommy, that¡¯s probably enough!¡±

    Dabao hinted to her out of goodwill. Don¡¯t go overboard, or you¡¯ll look like an unreasonable woman!

    ¡°Look at how you¡¯re behaving now. Even your child can¡¯t stand it anymore!¡± Nan Chen was so furious

    that his face flushed.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything wrong, nor did my kids do anything wrong. Ouyang Qing¡¯s the one at fault! She¡¯s

    not allowed to bring my children out anymore. She¡¯s a sinister woman with shady motives and a

    devious heart that tried to harm my children! She¡¯s nothing but an evil, unscrupulous woman. A fake,

    hypocritical b*tch!¡±

    ¡°Mommy, what does that mean?¡± asked Erbao curiously.

    Nan Chen looked confused too as he had never heard that phrase before.

    ¡°It¡¯s a phrase only adults can use. Children don¡¯t need to know what it means.¡± Ning Ran decided to

    give her daughter a vague answer.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that children should learn and apply new knowledge? Since I don¡¯t understand, I should

    ask.¡± Erbao¡¯s curiosity was piqued.

    Since Mommy described Ouyang Qing with this phrase, it¡¯s probably something bad.

    If that¡¯s the case, I should learn it so I can scold others in the future.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to ask anything further. It doesn¡¯t mean anything.¡± Dabao chimed in from the side.

    Naturally, Dabao knew what the phrase meant. After all, as he was well-versed with the Inte.

    Although Nan Chen did not fully grasp the meaning, the words were already so obvious. After mulling

    over it for a while, Nan Chen understood.

    ¡°Ning Ran, mind yournguage. As their mother, you shouldn¡¯t curse in front of the children! I know that

    you¡¯re an uncivilized woman who doesn¡¯t mind your image. However, you should consider your

    influence on the children!¡±

    Ning Ran regretted it too. She had a habit of not thinking through her words before uttering them.

    Often, she would regret it afterward.

    ¡°Darling, what do you want to eat? I¡¯ll buy it for you.¡± Ning Ran felt that it was time to change the topic

    of conversation.

    ¡°Mommy, I want to eat many yummy foods. Can you buy them for me?¡± Erbao became excited.

    ¡°Of course!¡± Ning Ran would do anything to avoid Nan Chen. In addition to the guilt she felt towards

    Erbao, she decided to fulfill all of Erbao¡¯s wishes today.

    ¡°That¡¯s great! Mommy, I want to eat cake, egg tarts...¡± Erbao listed more than a dozen food that she

    wanted to eat while Ning Ran nodded, showing that she had noted down everything.

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    Nan Chen and Dabao frowned at the side. Looks like there¡¯s still a long way to go before Erbao¡¯s diet

    seeds.

 Chapter 427

    Chapter 427

    At the Commoner Residence, Nan Zhengde flew into a rage after the bodyguard informed him about

    Erbao being hospitalized. In his rage, he smashed a porcin cup into smithereens.

    ¡°Useless trash! How dare you let my great-granddaughter get hospitalized?¡±

    As the bodyguard had never seen Nan Zhengde so enraged, he was stunned and was at a loss for

    what to do.

    Feng Wan quickly asked, ¡°How is Erbao doing now? Is her condition severe?¡±

    ¡°No. The doctor said that she¡¯s fine,¡± replied the bodyguard.

    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have let the kids leave with that girl from the Ouyang family. I knew from the start that she¡¯s

    an uncultured and uncivilized person, yet I still allowed her to bring the kids out to y. This is a

    complete mistake!¡± spat Nan Zhengde resentfully.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s your mistake. I already said that we shouldn¡¯t let the kids leave with Ouyang Qing, but you

    insisted on agreeing. Lo and behold, something bad happened,¡± reprimanded Feng Wan.

    ¡°But the kids made an agreement with her! I thought that the kids would be too bored at home without

    anyone to y with them, so I agreed to let Ouyang Qing bring them out. How would I know that

    something like this would happen? Chai Hua, prepare the car. I¡¯m going to the hospital!¡± instructed Nan

    Zhengde.

    ¡°Why are you in such a rush, old man? He already said that the child¡¯s fine. Why are you still going to

    the hospital?¡± Feng Wan quickly stopped him.

    ¡°I¡¯m still worried. I need to visit Erbao and see how my dear great-granddaughter is doing.¡±

    ¡°He already said that she¡¯s fine! You don¡¯t venture out that often anyway. If someone suddenly spots

    you at the hospital, there¡¯ll be a rumor saying that something bad happened to the Nan family. Just stay

    here obediently. After the child is discharged, we can see how she¡¯s doing when she visits us. What¡¯s

    an old man like you getting so anxious about? Seriously!¡± Feng Wan persuaded him.

    After listening to Feng Wan¡¯s words, Nan Zhengde felt that what she said made sense.

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯m going to call Nan Chen and ask him about the situation then.¡±

    When Nan Zhengde called Nan Chen, thetter was preparing to leave the hospital with the kids.

    The doctor said that Erbao simply needed to rest at home and that there was no need for her to stay at

    the hospital.

    Seeing that children always found it tormenting to be stuck in the hospital, Nan Chen took the doctor¡¯s

    suggestion.

    ¡°It¡¯s a call from Great-Grandpa. He must¡¯ve heard that you¡¯re ill. Talk to him yourself.¡± Nan Chen

    passed the phone to Erbao.

    ¡°Great-Grandpa...¡±

    ¡°My dear great-granddaughter, are you okay?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Thank you, Great-Grandpa. We¡¯ve left the hospital.¡±

    ¡°Already? Tell your Daddy to bring you over. I want to take a look at you.¡±

    ¡°Okay! I want to see you too, Great-Grandpa. I miss you.¡±

    My, my! Her words are as sweet as honey.

    When they reached the entrance, they saw Nan Xing dashing in rapidly.

    Having heard the news, he had rushed over to visit Erbao.

    ¡°How¡¯s Erbao? Is she alright?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± interrupted Erbao.

    ¡°Come here and give me a hug. Oh, my poor darling! What happened to you?¡± Nan Xing reached his

    arms out to carry Erbao.

    ¡°You can¡¯t carry her well. Forget it.¡± Nan Chen refused.

    This hurt Nan Xing. ¡°What do you mean I can¡¯t carry her well? It¡¯s not like I¡¯ll drop her on the floor!¡±

    ¡°Chen, you¡¯re leaving the hospital?¡± Just then, Ouyang Qing walked over. Clearly, she had no intention

    of giving up at all.

    ¡°Stop her from following us. However, don¡¯t offend her.¡± Nan Chen instructed Nan Xing softly.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you very skilled at dealing with women?¡± replied Nan Chen.

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    Nan Xing grunted a response before approaching Ouyang Qing. ¡°Hey, aren¡¯t you Ms. Ouyang? You¡¯re

    getting prettier and prettier. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡±

    Ouyang Qing could already differentiate between Nan Xing and Nan Chen, especially with Nan Chen

    standing right in front of her.

    As her target was Nan Chen, she was not too interested in Nan Xing.

    The reason was simple. Although both looked almost identical, their capabilities were different.

    Most importantly, Nan Chen wielded the greatest authority in the Nanshi Corporation, not Nan Xing.

    Ouyang Qing did not only want to marry a handsome man.

    She had loads of handsome pursuers, but none of them was to her liking.

    The man she desired to marry had to stand at the top, wielding absolute power and authority.

    ¡°Hello, Nan Xing. Nice to meet you.¡± Ouyang Qing nodded politely, but her gaze was still fixated on Nan

    Chen.

    Just then, the Nan family¡¯s car arrived. The driver opened the door and Nan Chen was about to enter

    the car.

    More frustratingly, there was only one car.

    This meant that Ning Ran would also get into the same car and she would be able to sit together with

    Nan Chen.

    Damn it! Who is she to sit in the same car as Nan Chen?

    Shouldn¡¯t I be the one sitting in the car?

    ¡°Please excuse me. I have something to say to Chen.¡± Brushing past Nan Xing, Ouyang Qing tried to

    catch up to Nan Chen.

    However, her attempt was futile when Nan Xing agilely blocked her way again.

    After all, he had received instructions from his elder brother to stop her from going over.

    ¡°What now?¡± Ouyang Qing was starting to get a little annoyed.

    ¡°Since we have the pleasure of running into each other, why don¡¯t we have a meal together? My treat,

    of course. Would you honor me with your presence, Ms. Ouyang?¡± suggested Nan Xing.

    ¡°No thanks. I have ns. Let¡¯s eat another day,¡± rejected Ouyang Qing.

    This made Nan Xing a little upset. Are you looking down on me?

    You act so humbly in front of my brother, yet when you¡¯re talking to me, you¡¯re acting all cold and

    distant?

    ¡°Alright then. Since you¡¯re unwilling, I won¡¯t disturb you anymore.¡±

    Nan Xing stole a glimpse at Nan Chen¡¯s car and realized that it had already driven away. Since his

    mission was fulfilled, he could leave now.

    ¡°Wait a moment.¡±

    A smart girl like Ouyang Qing could definitely tell that Nan Xing was unhappy.

    Although Nan Xing did not wield as much power as Nan Chen, he was still a member of the Nan family.

    Furthermore, as he was Nan Chen¡¯s brother, he was someone whom Nan Chen cared a lot for.

    If Ouyang Qing wanted to marry into the Nan family, she mustn¡¯t offend him.

    Since Nan Chen had already left and she could not catch up with him anymore, she decided to

    compromise and dine with the Nan family¡¯s 4th Young Master instead.

    It was beneficial to her to get closer to him as well.

    ¡°Since you seem to be in high spirits, It would be my pleasure to apany you, Young Master Xing.

    Let it be my treat.¡±

    Shedding her initial coldness, she shed Nan Xing a bright smile.

    Regardless of what kind of person she was, it was an undeniable fact that she was a beauty.

    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

    Initially, Nan Xing felt angry. However, upon seeing her innocent smile, the anger within him dissipated.

    ¡°No, no. It¡¯s my treat. What would you like to eat, Ms. Ouyang?¡± asked Nan Xing.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we ask Chen toe too? I want to apologize to them,¡± suggested Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s not bother them. As outsiders, we shouldn¡¯t disturb such a harmonious family. It¡¯s been

    a long time since my brother and sister-inw spent time together. Let them have some time alone.¡±

    Having guessed what Ouyang Qing was intending to, Nan Xing deliberately chose the words which

    would hurt her the most.

    Ouyang Qing felt so attacked that she could barely react in time.

    Family? Sister-inw? What the hell is he talking about? What utter nonsense! How is that woman

    worthy enough to be with Nan Chen?

    Nan Chen is mine!

 Chapter 428

    Chapter 428

    ¡°Did Ms. Qing left with Uncle?¡±

    It was Erbao who asked that question. Despite being ill, she was still eager to gossip.

    However, Nan Chen and Ning Ran remained silent.

    Ning Ran did not know that Nan Chen instructed Nan Xing to stop Ouyang Qing in her tracks.

    She assumed that Nan Xing had taken a fancy to Ouyang Qing. After all, the woman was a rare

    beauty.

    ¡°If Uncle and Ms. Qing get together, what will happen to you, Daddy?¡± Erbao continued nosing around.

    This time, Nan Chen could not sit idly by anymore. Now that Erbao had addressed him directly, he

    could no longer pretend to be deaf or mute.

    ¡°Don¡¯t say anything ridiculous,¡± replied Nan Chen in a deep voice.

    Ning Ran turned around and resisted her urge tough.

    ¡°I¡¯m not saying anything ridiculous. Daddy, you¡¯re going to marry Ms. Qing. But now that Uncle is

    together with her, what will happen to you, Daddy? Are you going to fight with Uncle over Ms. Qing?¡±

    ¡°Ning Sihan!¡±

    Nan Chen rarely called Erbao by her real name. This meant that he was genuinely furious.

    Hence, Erbao dared not speak anymore. She merely pouted, showing that she was still reluctant to

    give in.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you sick? Why are you so talkative?¡± asked Nan Chen irritatedly.

    ¡°Hmph! Someone had the guts to do it, but is stopping others from talking about it?¡± remarked Ning

    Ran sarcastically at the side.

    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

    Nan Chen whirled around and shot a re at Ning Ran, his gaze as sharp as daggers.

    Ning Ran and the children were sitting in the back seats, while Nan Chen sat beside the driver¡¯s seat.

    In order to look at Ning Ran, he would need to twist his head back.

    However, even though he tried his best to meet Ning Ran¡¯s eyes, she refused to meet his gaze.

    Instead, she was looking out the window.

    This meant that Nan Chen¡¯s effort waspletely futile as Ning Ran could not be bothered with him at

    all. Feeling ignored, he merely became more frustrated.

    It wasn¡¯t long until a surge of fury shot through him.

    ¡°What did I do? It¡¯s alright if the kids say something wrong out of ignorance. But why are you kicking up

    a fuss too?¡± chided Nan Chen coldly.

    ¡°The kids aren¡¯tpletely ignorant. They understand some things too. It¡¯s just that certain adults

    refuse to admit it. I just find it amusing! I thought men are supposed to be brave enough to confess to

    their actions. Yet, a certain someone doesn¡¯t have the guts to admit it, and is even prohibiting others

    from mentioning it!¡±

    As Ning Ran was furious, her words were very provocative as well.

    Nan Chen could not help but turn his head around again. ¡°What did I do?¡±

    ¡°In order to make Ouyang Qing get closer to the kids, you deliberately let them y with her. In the

    end, Erbao got hospitalized. Didn¡¯t you orchestrate everything?¡±

    Upon mentioning this, Ning Ran became agitated again.

    ¡°No, I did not!¡± The kids had an agreement with Ouyang Qing themselves! It¡¯s none of my business.

    What should I say so that you¡¯ll trust me?

    ¡°Dabao, you¡¯re the most sensible here. Exin what happened! Since someone can¡¯t understand

    simple logic, tell her what happened!¡± instructed Nan Chen angrily.

    ¡°Daddy, I¡¯m so tired. I think I¡¯m going to take a nap. Both of you should continue discussing. Children

    like me shouldn¡¯t chime in.¡± Dabao yawned.

    Ning Ran turned her head around, stifling herughter.

    Nan Chen now understood that the kids were standing on Ning Ran¡¯s side.

    Even Dabao, who was usually so reasonable, supported Ning Ran during critical junctures.

    This was not hard to understand either. After all, the kids grew up with their mother ever since they

    were born. They only had each other.

    Hence, it was normal that the kids wished to protect their Mommy.

    ¡°Then, Erbao, you can tell her.¡± Nan Chen turned his gaze to Erbao.

    However, the little girl pped a tiny hand over her mouth and shook her head hurriedly.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Daddy, you said that I should stop spouting nonsense. So I dare not speak anymore,¡± muttered Erbao.

    Ning Ran felt an urge tough again.

    Exasperated, Nan Chen pointed at Dabao, then back at Erbao. ¡°Fine! I see what you¡¯re doing. Very

    well!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to threaten the kids!¡± Ning Ran found another opening to attack him.

    ¡°Did I threaten them?¡± Nan Chen frowned.

    ¡°Of course! I heard you threatening them!¡±

    ¡°Did I threaten you?¡± Nan Chen asked the two kids.

    ¡°I¡¯m so tired. Daddy, Mommy, please stop arguing and let me sleep.¡± Dabao let out a huge yawn again.

    ¡°I¡¯m a bit tired too. I want to sleep as well,¡± agreed Erbao.

    ¡°Did you hear them? The kids told you to stop arguing!¡± Ning Ran red at Nan Chen.

    ¡°They¡¯re talking about you! You¡¯re the one being naggy here!¡± Nan Chen was reluctant to back down

    either.

    ¡°They were obviously referring to you!¡±

    ¡°No, you!¡±

    When Nan Chen turned his head around, he spotted the smile on the driver¡¯s face.

    Suddenly, he realized something. Since when have I stooped to arguing with a woman?

    I¡¯m getting negatively influenced by her.

    How embarrassing!

    With that thought, Nan Chen fell silent. He swore to himself that he would never argue with Ning Ran in

    front of outsiders again. It was simply too embarrassing.

    Just like that, they arrived at the Commoner Residence in total silence.

    After alighting the car, Ning Ran was still deliberating about whether she should enter as she had not

    gotten Nan Zhengde¡¯s permission yet.

    After all, the older man only wanted to see the child. No one said that she was permitted to enter.

    Furthermore, she had just gotten into a fight with poker face. Seeing that the man¡¯s expression was still

    frosty, it was unlikely that he would let her in too.

    The Commoner Residence was not just an ordinary residence. Without an invitation, one could not

    enter so casually.

    ¡°Mommy, why are you standing there? Let¡¯s go.¡± Erbao turned around and nced at Ning Ran.

    ¡°I won¡¯t be going in. Send my greetings to Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma.¡± Ning Ran waved her

    hands.

    At that, Dabao and Erbao gazed at Nan Chen simultaneously.

    They knew that whether or not their Mommy could enter hinged on their Daddy¡¯s words.

    ¡°It¡¯s dinner time. Where will you go alone? Are you crazy?¡± asked Nan Chen coldly.

    ¡°You¡¯re the crazy one! This is your home!¡± replied Ning Ran angrily.

    ¡°If you aren¡¯t crazy, just go in. Erbao just got discharged, so you need to take care of her,¡± said Nan

    Chen.

    ¡°Well, isn¡¯t it very humiliating to me if I have to do everything at your wish?¡± rebuked Ning Ran.

    ¡°Does my Grandpa have to wee you personally before you find it not humiliating? Or will you only

    feel honored if the entire Nan family gives you a warm wee?¡±

    Ning Ran was rendered speechless.

    I thought this man wasn¡¯t so talkative in the past. Why is he bing so harsh with his words?

    Did he be more talkative because he became meaner or older?

    Ning Ran was not the only one harboring such a thought. Dabao wondered about the same thing too.

    In the past, Dabao thought that his father was simr to him as both of them did not like to talk.

    However, he realized that Nan Chen was starting to change.

    Normally, Daddy¡¯s a man of few words. However, whenever he¡¯s with me or Erbao, he¡¯d speak more.

    He bes more talkative too when Mommy is around.

    More shockingly, Daddy actually argues sometimes. This is unbelievable!

    Noticing how Ning Ran was still standing there unmoving, Nan Chen instructed the bodyguard, ¡°Tell my

    Grandpa to wee Ning Ran personally. Only then would she feel honored!¡±

    Ning Ran was instantly shocked. Damn this man! I can¡¯t let that happen.

    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him. He¡¯s got a screw loose.¡± Ning Ran quickly stopped the bodyguard.

    Despite feeling an urge tough, the bodyguard did not dare to. Hence, he merely looked at Nan Chen,

    not knowing what to do next.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go in myself. No one needs to wee me. I don¡¯t need to be treated with such honor either. I¡¯m

    just an insignificant figure who¡¯s constantly bullied by others. I don¡¯t deserve any respect.¡±

    As Ning Ran mumbled resentfully, she walked in.

    Nan Chen snorted coldly before scooping Erbao into his arms.

    ¡°Daddy, I should walk on my own. If Great-Grandpa sees that I can walk, he¡¯ll feel much more relieved,¡±

    said Erbao sensibly.

    Thinking that his daughter was right, Nan Chen ced her back onto the ground. ¡°That¡¯s my girl! You¡¯re

    so much more sensible than some adults.¡±

 Chapter 429

    Chapter 429

    At that moment, Ning Ran¡¯s phone rang.

    When she nced at her phone, she discovered that the number wasn¡¯t one of her contacts. It looked

    unfamiliar too.

    ¡°Hello? Who is this?¡±

    ¡°Mimi, I¡¯m Ouyang Qi! Where are you? I made a reservation at a restaurant. I would like to treat you to

    a meal.¡±

    Ning Ran was taken aback. Why is it him again?

    Didn¡¯t he disappear a few days ago?

    ¡°I¡¯m not in Flower City right now. Let¡¯s have a meal next time,¡± replied Ning Ran casually.

    ¡°You¡¯re lying to me again. I know that you¡¯re back,¡± replied Ouyang Qi with augh.

    ¡°How did you know?¡±

    ¡°The people who were with you had all returned to the office. How is it possible that you¡¯re still not back

    at Flower City? Where are you? I¡¯ll pick you up.¡±

    ¡°Where did you get all this information from?¡± Ning Ran was feeling anxious now.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to know about that. I¡¯m rich. With money, I can buy any information I want. Where are

    you? I¡¯ll pick you up now. Send your location to me.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. I¡¯m ending the call now.¡± Ning Ran hung up directly.

    ¡°Who called you?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°Do I have to report this to you as well, boss?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Nan Chen was straightforward with his words too.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not telling.¡±

    ¡°But you must.¡±

    ¡°Why should I? Even if you¡¯re my boss, I have my right to my own privacy too.¡±

    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°You¡¯re in Flower City, so why did you deny it?¡±

    ¡°I told you, it¡¯s my private matters...¡±

    Before Ning Ran could finish her sentence, her phone rang. It was from Ouyang Qi again.

    Damn it! If Nan Chen finds out, it¡¯ll be hard for me to exin myself!

    ¡°Hello. Please stop calling me. I don¡¯t need any insurance! If you harass me again, I¡¯m going to call the

    police.¡± Ning Ran hung up immediately after speaking.

    ¡°It¡¯s an insurance promoter.¡± Ning Ran mumbled to herself, although her words seemed to be meant for

    Nan Chen.

    ¡°Which insurancepany is it?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t hear it clearly.¡±

    ¡°What kind of insurance are they selling?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask.¡±

    ¡°What if you really need it?¡± Nan Chen pressed on.

    ¡°I don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°If the call is really from an insurancepany, you wouldn¡¯t have said that you¡¯re not in Flower City.

    Even if thepany called you, they would not ask you out for a meeting. In that case, they won¡¯t need

    to know where you are, and you don¡¯t have to deny that you¡¯re in Flower City either. Hence, someone

    is trying to ask you out. However, as you are reluctant to, you imed that you¡¯re not in town.¡±

    After a slight pause, he continued, ¡°Wait, that¡¯s not right. Perhaps the reason you im that you¡¯re not

    in Flower City is that you¡¯re with me right now, so it¡¯s not convenient for you. In that case, is the person

    who called you a male?¡±

    It was as if Nan Chen had been possessed by Sherlock Holmes as he carried out his analysis.

    However, when Ning Ran heard that all of his deductions were right, she started to panic.

    On some asions, it was a happy thing to be friends with intelligent people. They could understand

    what you meant without any excessive exnation.

    However, it was a curse sometimes as they could see right through you, such that you could not hide

    anything from them.

    Evidently, Nan Chen was an extremely intelligent person. Although he was not bald like the other

    geniuses, he was really top-notch.

    Ning Ran was rendered speechless as Nan Chen¡¯s analysis was spot on. For a moment, she felt

    helpless to do anything.

    ¡°Ouyang Qi called me. He asked me out for a meal.¡± Ning Ran decided to tell the truth.

    ording to her understanding of Nan Chen, since he was already suspecting her, he would definitely

    get to the bottom of it.

    If Nan Chen wanted to investigate who called her, he probably had more than ten methods to do so.

    The easiest method was to force her to give him her phone and call the number.

    Another method was to pull some strings and check her phone records.

    Ning Ran could only think of two ways, but there were probably countless others which she had not

    thought of yet.

    Hence, Ning Ran concluded that it would be less troublesome toe clean with Nan Chen instead of

    him investigating it.

    As Nan Chen did not expect Ning Ran to actually say the truth, he was momentarily stunned.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you go?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°Because I don¡¯t want to.¡±

    Even Dabao was frowning at his parent¡¯s meaningless conversation. Daddy and Mommy¡¯snguage

    skills are getting worse!

    ¡°If you don¡¯t go, he¡¯ll keep waiting for you,¡± stated Nan Chen coldly.

    ¡°I doubt it. We aren¡¯t even friends.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Just then, Ning Ran¡¯s phone buzzed, indicating that she had just received a message.

    Ning Ran had no choice but to read it.

    If she did not, Nan Chen would be even more suspicious.

    It¡¯s better if I just read it. She turned on her phone and saw that it was a message that showed her a

    restaurant¡¯s location.

    Unexpectedly, Nan Chen suddenly leaned towards her and nced at her phone.

    ¡°You¡¯re shameless. Why are you peeking at my phone?¡±

    ¡°The phone¡¯s in your hands. I¡¯m not peeking!¡± rebuked Nan Chen.

    ¡°But you did!¡±

    ¡°You showed it to me willingly!¡±

    ¡°Nonsense! I didn¡¯t show it to you willingly. You¡¯re the one who suddenly stuck your head over!¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s because you didn¡¯t protect your phone well. I coincidentally passed by and saw it.¡±

    Ning Ran was utterly speechless. You¡¯re a mighty CEO, yet you¡¯re so shameless! Aren¡¯t you

    embarrassed?

    ¡°Although that¡¯s a good restaurant, their steaks are horrible. He has no taste,¡±mented Nan Chen.

    This made Ning Ran even more speechless. He actually saw the restaurant¡¯s name? Fine. So, you¡¯re

    not myopic huh? Well, good for you.

    ¡°Right, you¡¯re the only one who has good taste,¡± rebuked Ning Ran coldly.

    ¡°Of course.¡± Nan Chen dly epted thepliment.

    As they bickered on, they finally arrived at the main hall where Nan Zhengde and Feng Wan were

    standing.

    ¡°Great-Grandpa!¡± Erbao pounced into his arms.

    ¡°My darling Great-granddaughter! Let me take a look at you. Why were you hospitalized? Are you

    feeling better now?¡±

    Erbao twirled on the floor and even skipped around. ¡°I¡¯m already fine. Don¡¯t worry, Great-Grandpa and

    Great-Grandma!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re such a darling! Let¡¯s go and eat. Do you have any dietary restrictions?¡±

    ¡°Nope. I can eat anything but nuts,¡± replied Erbao.

    ¡°Grandpa, you can apany the kids for dinner. I¡¯m going out with Ning Ran to meet a friend,¡±

    announced Nan Chen suddenly.

    ¡°Huh? Aren¡¯t you eating with us?¡±

    ¡°No. We¡¯ve already made ns with a friend, so we have to show up. You can continue without us,¡±

    exined Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran was dumbfounded, not knowing what to do.

    Nan Chen is bringing me out? This came out of the blue!

    ¡°Darling, have a good dinner, okay? I¡¯m going out with Mommy for a while.¡± Nan Chen waved his

    hands.

    ¡°Okay! I hope that you and Mommy will have a nice date!¡± Erbao waved back to him.

    Nan Zhengde and Feng Wan exchanged an incredulous nce with each other. Are they really going

    on a date?

    Their kids are already so grown! Why are they still going on dates?

    Isn¡¯t it better to eat at home instead of going out? I really can¡¯t understand youngsters nowadays.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Nan Chen grabbed Ning Ran¡¯s hand and left, almost dragging her out.

    Left with no choice, Ning Ran could only concede. After all, It wasn¡¯t like she could kick up a fuss and

    insist on eating at home.

    After all, she never wanted toe to the Commoner Residence in the first ce. If Nan Chen were

    not around, she would feel extremely awkward interacting with the two elders alone.

    Hence, it was not a bad thing that Nan Chen dragged her away.

    However, a worry constantly circled her mind. Is Nan Chen going to bring me to the restaurant Ouyang

    Qi is at?

 Chapter 430

    Chapter 430

    After leaving the main hall, Ning Ran stopped in her tracks. ¡°We don¡¯t even share any mutual friends,

    so why did you im that we made ns with a friend?¡±

    ¡°Well, you did,¡± replied Nan Chen.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t! Which friend are you referring to?¡±

    ¡°The friend who sent you his location earlier. He even reserved a spot at the restaurant! It¡¯ll be so

    disrespectful if you don¡¯t show up. I¡¯ll apany you there.¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s greatest fear hade true. Nan Chen is indeed nning to meet Ouyang Qi!

    ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything better to do? Besides, I¡¯m not friends with Ouyang Qi. If you insist on going,

    go alone. I¡¯m noting with you!¡± snapped Ning Ran furiously.

    ¡°Are you sure you want me to go alone?¡±

    ¡°Go ahead. It¡¯s got nothing to do with me,¡± scoffed Ning Ran.

    ¡°If I go alone, won¡¯t you be worried that I¡¯ll start a fight with Ouyang Qi?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s none of my business. If a mighty CEO like you starts fighting others like an uncivilized hooligan,

    there¡¯s nothing I can do. You can do whatever you want.¡±

    ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll go alone and break Ouyang Qi¡¯s nose then!¡± yelled Nan Chen.

    ¡°Why are you doing this? Are you trying to threaten me?¡±

    ¡°No. Breaking his nose is my genuine wish,¡± replied Nan Chen.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that at all. It¡¯spletely unnecessary!¡± Ning Ran was starting to panic.

    ¡°I think that it¡¯s unnecessary too, that¡¯s why I asked you to tag along. If youe with me, I might be

    satisfied with just a little chat with him. But if you don¡¯t, I might actually fight him.¡±

    ¡°What for? Why are you doing this?¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re willing toe with me, it means that there¡¯s nothing going on between the two of you.

    Conversely, if you refuse, it means that you¡¯re hiding something. Mypany signed you as an artiste,

    hoping that you¡¯ll advance in your career and earn more profits for thepany. However, if Ouyang Qi

    suddenly barges into your life and causes you to be mired in scandals, it means that he has something

    against me! In that case, I¡¯ll break his nose!¡±

    Ning Ran was astounded. What kind of absurd theory is this! He¡¯s forcing this ridiculous theory to

    sound logical.

    But why does it still sound slightly reasonable?

    Ning Rang understood that Nan Chen was forcing her to concede.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, have you forgotten about your identity? Don¡¯t you think that it is unbing of your status

    to fight with a mere hooligan?¡±

    Ning Ran decided to change her tactic. If she tried to resist him by force, things would not end on a

    good note.

    ¡°Ouyang Qi is not a mere hooligan. He¡¯s the only son of Ouyang Duo and the heir of Sunshine Bank.

    Although he¡¯s pretty useless, his family is rich. There are many female celebrities willing to throw

    themselves into his arms, thinking that they could use him to climb up the socialdder...¡±

    Ning Ran could not stand it anymore. Is he trying to imply that I want to curry favor with Ouyang Qi and

    rise to the top?

    ¡°Mr. Chen, are you insinuating that I¡¯m one of the female celebrities that you just mentioned?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not. I¡¯m merely stating a fact,¡± denied Nan Chen coldly.

    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to suck up to him just to rise up the ranks. I¡¯m not even close to Ouyang Qi! In fact,

    you¡¯re even more familiar with him than me, right? If I¡¯m not wrong, he¡¯s Ouyang Qing¡¯s brother, and by

    extension, your brother-inw! In that case, you¡¯re even rtives. Well, both of you should meet up and

    get to know each other better then.¡±

    Ning Ran finally found a counter-attack. When she saw the icy expression on Nan Chen¡¯s face, she

    was thrilled.

    ¡°Fine. Since we¡¯re both acquainted with him, it means that he¡¯s our mutual friend. All the more reason

    that we should go together!¡±

    With that, Nan Chen grabbed Ning Ran¡¯s hand and dragged her towards the car, leaving her no

    opportunities to resist.

    ¡°Fine! Let¡¯s go, then. It¡¯s no big deal!¡± retorted Ning Ran angrily.

    This time, Ning Ran¡¯s phone rang. Once again, it was a call from Ouyang Qi.

    Ning Ran felt exasperated. Why is he so goddamn persistent? Won¡¯t this make things blow up even

    further?

    ¡°Well? Pick it up. He¡¯s urging you now. I can see that he¡¯s only doing it because he¡¯s certain that you¡¯ll

    show up,¡± said Nan Chen coldly.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you pick it up instead? Isn¡¯t he your brother-inw? Since you¡¯re rtives, it¡¯s better for both

    of you to talk instead.¡± Ning Ran passed the phone to Nan Chen.

    ¡°Why should I pick up a call that was meant for you? That¡¯s ridiculous.¡±

    Ning Ran was so furious that augh escaped her. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous? So you peeking at my phone is

    not ridiculous? Yet, when I told you to pick it up now, you kept refusing!¡±

    As Nan Chen could not be bothered to respond, he twisted his head towards the window.

    Ning Ran suddenly realized why Nan Chen refused to ept the call.

    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

    If Nan Chen picks it up, won¡¯t Ouyang Qi escape?

    So, what is Nan Chen nning to do? Is he really intending to go there and break Ouyang Qi¡¯s nose?

    That doesn¡¯t sound too usible. Nan Chen isn¡¯t the type to act rashly without considering the

    consequences.

    This means that he has an alternate motive. But what is it?

    He¡¯s such an unfathomable man.

    ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking about,¡± blurted Nan Chen all of a sudden.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re wondering why I want to meet Ouyang Qi.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Why do you want to meet him?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not telling you.¡±

    Ning Ran was rendered speechless.

    ¡°Fine, I don¡¯t want to know either. Don¡¯t tell me then! Even if you do, I won¡¯t listen.¡±

    Once again, the driver was struck by an urge tough. Why is Mr. Chen, who is normally so cold and

    haughty, acting in such a childish way when he¡¯s with thisdy?

    Soon, they arrived at the restaurant Ouyang Qi had made a reservation at. After asking the staff, they

    found his private suite.

    When they pushed open the door and entered, they discovered that Ouyang Qi was not the only

    person there.

    There were around six beautifuldies crowding around him. All of them were young, with seductive

    figures and gorgeous looks.

    What¡¯s going on?

    When Ouyang Qi saw Ning Ran, he was so surprised that his jaw fell agape. ¡°You didn¡¯t pick up my call

    or reply to my messages, so I thought that you¡¯re noting. Thest time I called you, I was intending

    to inform you that we can meet another day if you¡¯re busy. I didn¡¯t expect you to appear out of the

    blue...¡±

    Ning Ran understood the implicit message. Ouyang Qi wanted to ask her out at first, but since she did

    not respond to his calls or messages, he assumed that she was noting.

    However, he had already reserved a spot in the restaurant. A yboy like him would naturally be

    reluctant to dine alone. Hence, he summoned all these pretty girls to eat with him.

    It seemed that Nan Chen was right. There were a lot of women desiring to ride on Ouyang Qi¡¯s coattail

    and climb to the top.

    However, it was not an easy feat. Otherwise, there would be too many rags to riches stories to count.

    The women, who so longed to shoot to the top, revealed an unhappy expression when they spotted

    Ning Ran.

    The reason was simple¡ªNing Ran was much prettier than any of them.

    After all, women loved topare. No matter it was their looks, husbands, essories¡ªeverything

    could be used forparisons. It was as if suchpetition was integral to their survival.

    At the same time, women were unwilling to lose in suchparisons. Initially, the atmosphere was

    quite harmonious as all the girls there were of a simr caliber. However, now that Ning Ran suddenly

    appeared, the rest of them instantly paled inparison. Naturally, they were upset to see her.

    Just then, another person walked through the door.

    It was a dashingly handsome man.

    After seeing the man, the girls were no longer interested topete with Ning Ran anymore. Their

    eyes simultaneouslynded on him.

    They finally got the chance to see the legendary man!

    It was an exhrating moment for them.

    ¡°Sir Chen? Are you Sir Chen? Oh my God, it¡¯s really you!¡± shrieked one of the girls.

    She was so ovee by the excitement that she could barely hold herself back from leaping to her

    feet.

 Chapter 431

    Chapter 431

    With a frosty expression, Nan Chen ignored the girls¡¯ excitement. He did not give any response, not

    even nod his head in acknowledgment.

    By yelling so shrilly in front of him and losing theirposure, it showed that the girls were not of high

    social standing.

    No matter how much a wealthy heiress would like a man, she would not be so discourteous in front of

    him.

    Nan Chen hated these noisy women the most, so he did not even deign to give them a simple nod.

    ¡°It¡¯s really Sir Chen! Wow, I finally get to see him in person!¡± yelled another girl.

    ¡°Get out.¡±

    These words were uttered not by Nan Chen, but Ouyang Qi.

    The girls exchanged confused nces, not knowing who Ouyang Qi was talking to.

    Ouyang Qi was not referring to any single person. What he meant was for all the girls to leave first.

    He only called the girls over for fun. Now that Ning Ran had arrived, they were no longer important.

    However, as Ouyang Qi did not want to embarrass them too much, he said, ¡°Everyone, please leave

    first. I have something important to discuss with Mr. Chen today. Let¡¯s meet another day.¡±

    However, not a single one of the girls budged.

    It was such a rare opportunity for them to see Nan Chen in person, so they were naturally reluctant to

    go.

    A girl sneakily whipped out her phone, wanting to snap a picture of Nan Chen and show off to others

    that she managed to see the man in person.

    Yet, Nan Chen shot a re at her, his gaze as sharp as daggers. Even though he did not utter a single

    word, the girl was intimidated and quickly kept her phone inside her bag.

    ¡°Please leave. Let¡¯s meet another day, okay? Please.¡± Ouyang Qi sped his hands together.

    Although the girls were unwilling to go, they did not dare to offend him either.

    Just by being acquainted with Ouyang Qi, they could eat good food and have a fun time with him.

    Since he was a spendthrift, he was willing to spend a lot of money to buy ess to all sorts of high-

    ss restaurants and entertainment venues. These were what the girls desired.

    They knew that Ouyang Qi was someone they could not afford to offend, hence, they had no choice but

    to obey his instructions.

    The girls left one by one, shooting Nan Chen a reluctant nce before they exited the room.

    For some reason, Ouyang Qi felt hurt. I invited the girls over, but why are they staring at Nan Chen like

    they can¡¯t wait to pounce on him?

    Isn¡¯t he just a teeny bit more handsome than me? What¡¯s the big deal?

    After the girls left, Nan Chen nced at Ning Ran. ¡°I¡¯m not wrong, right?¡±

    Ning Ran was confused. What did he say? What¡¯s not wrong?

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I said that many people want to use Mr. Ouyang to climb up the socialdder. I¡¯m not wrong, right?¡±

    Nan Chen reminded Ning Ran.

    She kept her silence. Looks like he¡¯s really not wrong. After all, I¡¯ve seen it with my own eyes.

    ¡°Why are you here, Mr. Nan? Please take a seat.¡± Ouyang Qi rubbed his palms together.

    ¡°Are you unwilling to see me here?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    Ouyang Qi chuckled. ¡°Oh my, am I that obvious?¡±

    Nan Chen snorted coldly.

    ¡°Although I don¡¯t really want you toe, now that you¡¯re here, you¡¯re my guest. I¡¯ll ask the waiters to

    bring these dishes away. Let¡¯s order a new round of food and have a drink together!¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡± Nan Chen actually agreed.

    This made Ning Ran very puzzled. Doesn¡¯t Nan Chen despise Ouyang Qi to the core? Why is he

    willing to drink with him?

    So, when men im that they dislike another man, it¡¯s not actually true? As long as they can drink

    together, they can toss all resentment to the side?

    Nan Chen was not shy either. He ordered some expensive dishes and even a bottle of wine that was

    priced exorbitantly.

    ¡°Is it your treat or mine?¡± Ouyang Qi stared at the opened bottle of red wine.

    ¡°Of course it¡¯s your treat. You¡¯re the one who reserved the spot in the restaurant, after all,¡± replied Nan

    Chen.

    ¡°But I didn¡¯t invite you. I invited Mimi. Also, I don¡¯t intend to drink such expensive wine. Although my

    father is rich, I¡¯m not going to treat you to a bottle of wine that¡¯s so costly,¡±mented Ouyang Qi

    resentfully.

    Raising his head, Nan Chen looked at the waiter. ¡°Can I return this bottle of wine?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sir. Since the bottle¡¯s already opened, it cannot be returned,¡± replied the waiter fearfully.

    ¡°You¡¯ve heard him, right? He said that we can¡¯t return it, so we have no choice but to drink it.¡± Nan

    Chen remained expressionless.

    ¡°Then, you foot the bill. It¡¯s exceeding my budget, so I can¡¯t pay for it. My father¡¯s been imposing a limit

    on my spending recently. If I squander money excessively, he¡¯ll cancel my credit card again.¡±

    Ouyang Qi sounded genuinely concerned when he said that.

    Furthermore, Ning Ran was sitting beside him. A wealthy man like him would be reluctant to be

    embarrassed in front of such a beauty.

    ¡°Are you using a credit card?¡±

    ¡°Not in the past. However, I¡¯m using a credit card now. My father is upset with me for spending too

    much money, so he¡¯s limiting my spending. But this is only temporary. Once I¡¯m ced in charge of the

    company, I¡¯ll be a genuine wealthy man!¡± dered Ouyang Qi.

    ¡°It¡¯ll pose no problem, then,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Your card is from the bank run by your family, right?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°Since you¡¯re the rich heir of the family, just call the bank and tell them to raise the spending limit. You

    can spend now and pay backter in installments. Since your father is so rich, money won¡¯t pose a

    problem to you. So don¡¯t worry and spend as you like! You¡¯re still going to foot the bill,¡± said Nan Chen

    calmly.

    ¡°Nan Chen, you¡¯re crossing the line! Why do I need to pay for such an expensive wine in installments?

    I¡¯m Ouyang Qi. My father is Ouyang Dou. How is it possible that I¡¯ll have to pay in installments?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t want to do it then?¡± Nan Chen nced at Ouyang Qi.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t!¡±

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯m not going to drink then. Keep this bottle for yourself. Let¡¯s go.¡± Nan Chen stood up.

    ¡°What do you mean? You opened the bottle, but now you¡¯re leaving the mess to me?¡± Ouyang Qi

    started to panic.

    ¡°You¡¯re the one who reserved a spot in this restaurant saying that you¡¯ll treat us. Since you¡¯re refusing

    to foot the bill, it¡¯s only natural that I won¡¯t eat anymore. If I have to pay for the meal, I¡¯d rather dine at a

    restaurant that I actually like. There¡¯s no way I¡¯de here,¡± stated Nan Chen as he frowned.

    ¡°B-But T-The wine...¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not drinking it. Save it for yourself. I¡¯m leaving.¡±

    Ning Ran was impressed.

    So Poker Face has a trump card up his sleeve! But how did he know that Ouyang Qi has a spending

    limit? Also, how did he know that Ouyang Qi will invite a bunch of girls over to dine with him?

    How expensive is this bottle of wine such that Ouyang Qi is refusing to pay for it?

    ¡°Wait, don¡¯t go! Just eat and drink whatever you want. I¡¯ll pay the bill. Damn it!¡± Ouyang Qi relented

    bitterly.

    ¡°Alright then.¡±

    Nan Chen plopped back down on his chair instantly, as if he did not n on leaving in the first ce.

    ¡°How much is this wine?¡± asked Ning Ran curiously.

    ¡°This is our restaurant¡¯s best wine, with a price tag of two hundred and eighty thousand. Since Mr.

    Ouyang is a member here, we can give a twenty percent discount for him.¡± The waiter replied politely.

    Ning Ran was struck speechless.

    Damn, Poker Face is ruthless! No wonder Ouyang Qi is unwilling to foot the bill!

    Nan Chen took a sip and nodded in satisfaction. ¡°This wine is not bad!¡±

    Biting her lips, Ning Ran suppressed her urge toin.

    This bottle of wine cost almost three hundred thousand, but it¡¯s only ¡®not bad¡¯ to you?

    Ouyang Qi quickly took a sip too. Since he was the one paying for it, he decided not to let Nan Chen

    take full advantage of the wine. Hence, he was determined to drink more.

    One sip of that wine is equal to a few thousand!

    What should I do with my spending limit? Ugh, I have no choice but to get Ouyang Qing to foot the bill.

 Chapter 432

    Chapter 432

    Meanwhile, in another private suite at the same restaurant, Nan Xing and Ouyang Qing were dining

    together.

    After some drinks, Ouyang Qing¡¯s face was flushed, giving her an extremely alluring look under the

    light.

    ¡°Ms. Ouyang, you mustn¡¯t drink too much. Although I¡¯m not a gentleman, It doesn¡¯t mean that I like to

    make girls drunk,¡± reminded Nan Xing with a smile.

    ¡°4th Young Master, you look exactly the same as Chen. Both of you are equally dashing.¡± Ouyang Qing

    shed him a bright grin.

    ¡°You¡¯re being too polite, Ms. Ouyang. You call my brother Chen, but you refer to me as 4th Young

    Master? Aren¡¯t you being too distant?¡±

    ¡°Then, what should I call you? Mr. Nan?¡±

    ¡°Just call me Nan Xing. Actually, I was born just a few minutes apart from my brother. Hence, if you call

    him Chen, you can call me Xing too.¡±

    ¡°No!¡±

    Ouyang Qing refused tly, for this was something she would never ept.

    When she called Nan Chen ¡°Chen¡±, it was actually her way of acting cute toward the man.

    Hence, it was impossible for her to call Nan Xing so intimately.

    The reason was simple¡ªher objective was to marry Nan Chen.

    After marrying Nan Chen, Nan Xing would be her brother-inw. It was inappropriate to address him in

    such an intimate manner.

    Thus, this was a no-go for her.

    Naturally, Nan Xing knew what was on Ouyang Qing¡¯s mind. However, he feigned indifference and

    asked why.

    ¡°There¡¯s no why. I only want to call Nan Chen by his nickname, and no one else. I¡¯ll just call you Nan

    Xing. Let¡¯s not dwell on this topic anymore.¡±

    ¡°Sure. Then, do I call you Ms. Qing, Ms. Ouyang, or Ouyang Qing?¡±

    Well, it would be perfect if you could call me your sister-inw. I won¡¯t like anything other than that.

    Of course, those were just her inner thoughts; it was impossible for her to articte them out loud.

    ¡°Anything¡¯s fine with me,¡± said Ouyang Qing as she smiled sweetly.

    ¡°How ridiculous of us. We¡¯ve drank for so long before discussing how we should address each other.

    Come on, let¡¯s toast!¡± Nan Xing raised his ss.

    ¡°Cheers!¡±

    ¡°Oh, by the way. Do you have a girlfriend, Nan Xing?¡± Ouyang Qing suddenly asked.

    ¡°No. Are you going to introduce one to me?¡±

    ¡°Sure. I have a lot of beautiful friends. If you¡¯re willing, I can introduce some to you.¡± Ouyang Qing was

    trying to get closer to Nan Xing.

    Now that she had be one of the investors of Ning Ran¡¯s new movie, she had already gained the

    upper hand.

    If she could introduce her friend or rtive to Nan Xing as his girlfriend, she could nt an ally in the

    midst of the Nan family.

    With so many people helping her, she would have a higher chance of victory whenpeting with Ning

    Ran. At the very least, this was what she thought.

    ¡°Sure, I¡¯m single now anyway. What kind of girls are you nning to introduce to me?¡±

    ¡°Hmm... Since you¡¯re a very attractive bachelor, I need to think about it. Of course, I¡¯ll introduce you to

    the girl whom I deem the prettiest and most exceptional.¡±

    ¡°Well, thanks in advance.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll definitely introduce you to a girl whom you¡¯ll be happy with. She¡¯ll have high

    educational qualifications, beautiful looks, and good family background.¡±

    While they were chatting merrily, Ouyang Qing¡¯s phone suddenly rang.

    Her brows furrowed the moment she nced at the iing call. What does my useless brother want

    now?

    ¡°Please excuse me, I need to take this call.¡±

    Ouyang Qing grabbed her phone, walked outside, and epted the call.

    ¡°What?¡± Her tone was very cold.

    ¡°Where are you, Qing? I¡¯m facing some troubles now. You have toe over and help me,¡± pleaded

    Ouyang Qi.

    ¡°I¡¯m out eating with a friend. What happened? Just spit it out,¡± snapped Ouyang Qing impatiently.

    ¡°I¡¯m eating with a friend too. Do you remember how I pissed Dad off some time back, so he limited my

    spending as a form of punishment...¡±

    ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Ouyang Qing could vaguely guess what Ouyang Qi¡¯s subsequent words

    would be.

    ¡°Can youe over and pay the bill for me? If that¡¯s too troublesome for you, you can transfer me the

    money too!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have any money,¡± replied Ouyang Qing, frustrated.

    ¡°Hey, how can you say that? Everyone knows that Dad dotes on you the most. He lets you use all

    those funds freely! You¡¯re not like me, who can¡¯t even afford a meal worth hundreds of thousands...¡±

    ¡°Hundreds of thousands? How many girls are you paying for?¡±

    Ouyang Qing knew her brother well, especially the fact that he often took girls out to eat.

    ¡°Not a lot. I won¡¯t tell you the specifics. I¡¯m going to send my location to you. If it¡¯s convenient for you,

    come over. Otherwise, just transfer five hundred thousand to my ount.¡±

    ¡°Five hundred thousand? You¡¯re having a meal that cost five hundred thousand? Ouyang Qi, you¡¯re

    such a shameless spendthrift. Do you think that just because our family runs a bank, you can spend to

    your heart¡¯s content?¡±

    Before Ouyang Qing could finish her lecture, however, Ouyang Qi hung up the call.

    When she received Ouyang Qi¡¯s location, she was stunned. Isn¡¯t this the restaurant I¡¯m at right now?

    Is this ce so expensive? Why didn¡¯t I know about that?

    Ouyang Qing called her brother again. ¡°Which suite are you in?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re willing toe over? I knew that you¡¯ll definitely help me! I¡¯m in the Sky Suite...¡±

    This time, before Ouyang Qi could finish speaking, Ouyang Qing hung up first.

    When Nan Xing noticed her unhappy expression, he asked, ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s my brother. He might have been scammed by someone. I¡¯ll go over and take a look.¡±

    ¡°Ouyang Qi? He got scammed? Hah! I think there¡¯s a higher possibility that he¡¯s the one doing the

    scamming,¡± said Nan Xing as heughed.

    ¡°He¡¯s in the same restaurant as us. I¡¯ll be back shortly,¡± said Ouyang Qing.

    Nan Xing stood up. ¡°Since he¡¯s here, let me go with you.¡±

    As Ouyang Qing was afraid that her brother might embarrass her, she did not want Nan Xing to tag

    along.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. I¡¯ll just pop over and see what¡¯s going on. Just wait for a while. I¡¯ll be back

    soon.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Let me tag along and see what¡¯s happening. I want to know which brave soul had the audacity

    to scam Ouyang Qi. After all, he is nicknamed the Nine-Fingered Prince¡ªa man notorious in the

    streets. Who is bold enough to scam him?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯tugh, okay?¡± Ouyang Qing¡¯s smile faded.

    Nan Xing instantly looked serious. ¡°I won¡¯t. I definitely won¡¯t spare anyone who dares to scam my friend

    in Flower City. Let¡¯s go and take a look together.¡±

    Since Nan Xing had already said that, Ouyang Qing was not in a position to refuse further.

    With that, both of them headed to the suite Ouyang Qi was in.

    When they entered, they were utterly stunned.

    Never in a million years would Ouyang Qing imagine that Nan Chen was the one scamming her

    brother.

    Neither did Nan Chen expect Nan Xing and Ouyang Qing to show up.

    When Nan Chen asked Nan Xing to stall Ouyang Qing at the hospital earlier, he did not imagine that

    his brother would go a step beyond his task and took her out for steaks and red wine.

    ¡°Nan Chen?¡± eximed Ouyang Qi as he stared at the man standing beside his sister.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    He soon realized his mistake and corrected himself. ¡°Nan Xing? Why are you here?¡±

    Ouyang Qing reacted in time and called out sweetly, ¡°Chen, you¡¯re here too! Good evening, Ding.¡±

 Chapter 433

    Chapter 433

    ¡°Nan Chen, since when did you be a scammer?¡± asked Nan Xing.

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Nan Chen frowned.

    ¡°Ouyang Qi said that you¡¯re a scammer!¡± Nan Xing tattled on him in front of Nan Chen, not even

    hesitating for the slightest bit.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t!¡± Feeling indignant, Ouyang Qi instantly denied.

    ¡°You did! You called your sister and said that you were being scammed!¡±

    ¡°He didn¡¯t say that he got scammed. I did,¡± exined Ouyang Qing quickly.

    However, her exnations made things seem even weirder.

    ¡°I was just spouting nonsense because I wasn¡¯t sure what¡¯s going on. How is it possible for Chen to be

    a scammer?¡±

    ¡°So, what¡¯s going on?¡± Nan Xing was truly confused.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize that you¡¯re dining with my brother, Chen. If I had known, I would¡¯ve joined you all,¡±

    eximed Ouyang Qing in feigned delight.

    ¡°It¡¯s not toote either. Let¡¯s sit together and have a drink. Nan Chen ordered all the wine in the

    restaurant, which is why I can¡¯t afford the bill...¡±

    Unknowingly, Ouyang Qi revealed what happened.

    An embarrassed look crossed Ouyang Qing¡¯s face. After all, the Ouyang family was one of the

    wealthiest families around, yet her brother could not even afford a single bottle of wine. This utterly

    humiliated her.

    On the other hand, Nan Chen could not be bothered to exin, looking like he had nothing to do with

    what was happening.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this. Come, sit down and have a chat!¡± invited Ouyang Qi.

    With that, Nan Xing and Ouyang Qing sat down at the table.

    ¡°Chen, when did you ask my brother out for a meal? Why didn¡¯t you invite me too?¡± asked Ouyang

    Qing.

    ¡°We didn¡¯t n to meet. I¡¯m just here to settle some matters,¡± replied Nan Chen.

    ¡°Settle some matters? What matters?¡± Ouyang Qing was puzzled.

    ¡°Your brother keeps harassing her, so she begged me to resolve it for her.¡± Nan Chen shot a nce at

    Ning Ran.

    Both Ning Ran and Ouyang Qing were taken aback.

    ¡°My brother is harassing Ding?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, non-stop. Unable to stand the harassment anymore, she¡¯s about to report him to the police.

    However, since the Ouyang family and Nan family are so close, I thought that it might be humiliating for

    Mr. Ouyang if a police report was filed. So I came to give him a warning,¡± exined Nan Chen.

    Ouyang Qing felt even more embarrassed now.

    ¡°Ouyang Qi, how could you...¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t! Nan Chen is using me. I¡¯m just pursuing Mimi, not harassing her!¡± yelped Ouyang Qi in

    defense.

    ¡°But she said that she can¡¯t stand it anymore. Your harassment has already affected her daily life.

    She¡¯s mypany¡¯s signed artiste. Your actions not only affect her but are also damaging my

    company¡¯s interests. No matter what, I should still warn you,¡± cautioned Nan Chen coldly.

    ¡°What the heck? That¡¯s not harassment! I¡¯m just pursuing her.¡± Ouyang Qi felt extremely wronged.

    ¡°Well then, let¡¯s ask the person in question, shall we? Is he harassing you?¡± Nan Chen looked at Ning

    Ran.

    His re was as sharp as daggers, evidently threatening her.

    This was not a simple question. Implicitly, he was asking her to make a choice between him and

    Ouyang Qi.

    If Ning Ran chose Nan Chen, he might not reciprocate.

    Yet, if she did not, Nan Chen would definitely make things very difficult for her. This was a fact she was

    certain of.

    As such, this was not even a multiple-choice question¡ªit was a rhetorical one.

    Nan Chen had already drafted the perfect answer. What Ning Ran had to do was to articte it.

    Furthermore, Nan Chen knew Ning Ran¡¯s current state of mind. In front of Ouyang Qing, she would not

    be foolish enough to speak on behalf of another man, especially since the man in question was

    Ouyang Qing¡¯s brother.

    Ning Ran was not stupid either, so she nodded in affirmation.

    That was the only choice she could make. Only a fool would choose to deny.

    Nan Chen silently nced at Ouyang Qi, then back at Ouyang Qing.

    Now that the facts were clearlyid on the table, there was no need for him to exin further.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. If my brother did anything to offend you, I...¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s got nothing to do with you,¡± interrupted Nan Chen calmly. ¡°Even if we made a police report, it

    shouldn¡¯t implicate you in any way.¡±

    ¡°A police report? Didn¡¯t you say that you won¡¯t be filing for one?¡± asked Ouyang Qing in surprise.

    Ouyang Qing was particrly sensitive to a potential police report because the Nan family was the

    most powerful family in Flower City.

    If the Nan family imed that they had no resources or connections to the police, no one would believe

    them.

    As such, if Nan Chen really filed a police report, no one would know how the case would be dealt with.

    In fact, it might be handled in a manner that Nan Chen desired.

    No matter how embarrassing Ouyang Qi was, he was still the Ouyang family¡¯s sole son. If something

    were to happen to him in Flower City, it would undeniably cause a negative impact on the Ouyang

    family.

    Ouyang Qing would not be scared at all if someone else threatened to file a police report. However,

    since Nan Chen was the one saying it, she became fearful.

    Nan Chen¡¯s implicit message was that he was nning to target the Ouyang family. After all, Ouyang

    Duo previously used the Vietnam project to bully Nan Chen.

    Now that the tables had turned and Nan Chen had settled the Vietnam project, it was time for him to

    settle old scores.

    Still expressionless, Nan Chen jabbed a finger in Ning Ran¡¯s direction. ¡°She¡¯s the one who wants to file

    a police report. Considering the Nan family¡¯s rtionship with the Ouyang family, I stopped her.

    However, I have not convinced her yet. It¡¯s still uncertain whether or not she would file a police report.¡±

    Ning Ran was stunned. When did I ever say that?

    Although Ouyang Qi kept stirring up things, honestly speaking, none of his actions had harmed Ning

    Ran in any way.

    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

    His actions did not affect her daily life either, so what he did could not really be considered harassment.

    It was not so severe to demand a police report.

    Despite that, Nan Chen suddenly made the issue sound more serious than it really was. Ning Ran did

    not know what he was nning, all she knew was that she had no choice but to y along.

    Since she was oblivious and had no guts to ask Nan Chen, she could only cooperate with him.

    Ouyang Qing nced at Ning Ran with an obvious glint of hatred shing across her eyes.

    This woman got some tricks up her sleeve, huh? Not only did she have Nan Chen¡¯s children, but she¡¯s

    also seducing Ouyang Qi now. What is she nning to do?

    ¡°Chen, my brother always crosses the line. Please forgive him...¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to alert Mr. Ouyang about this. But since you already know, please inform him about this,¡±

    interrupted Nan Chen.

    ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll definitely tell my Dad to be stricter on my brother. I¡¯ll get him to leave Flower City tomorrow!¡±

    Ouyang Qing was a smart woman, so she immediately understood Nan Chen¡¯s implicit message.

    ¡°What? No! I didn¡¯t do anything wrong, so why are you doing this to me? I didn¡¯t harass Mimi at all! I¡¯m

    pursuing her like a normal man!¡± whined Ouyang Qi.

    Ignoring him, Nan Chen turned around to look at Ning Ran. ¡°Now that your problem is solved, you

    should treat us to this meal, right?¡±

    Ning Ran was taken aback. Are you joking?

    That bottle of wine cost more than twenty hundred thousand. That¡¯s a few years¡¯ worth of living

    expenses for me. Yet, you¡¯re telling me to foot the bill now?

    There¡¯s a whole bunch of wealthy people crowding in this room. Shouldn¡¯t you be the ones paying for

    the meal? Why should a broke person like me pay for it?

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m a victim here. Why should I pay for the meal? Also, I¡¯m broke!¡±

    Ning Ran suddenly realized that the best excuse for not footing the bill was to say that she was broke.

    ¡°I¡¯ll pay for it. Just take it as my way of apologizing to you and Chen.¡± Ouyang Qing was a sensible

    woman and she knew what to do.

    Nan Chen and Ning Ran did not refute anymore. If someone was willing to pay, there was no need for

    them to say anything further.

 Chapter 434

    Chapter 434

    On the way back, Ning Ran kept trying to bring something up, but Nan Chen would always gesture for

    her to stay quiet.

    As she was sitting in Nan Chen¡¯s car and was in no position to argue with him, she had no choice but

    to suppress her urge to speak.

    Nan Chen kept ncing at his phone as if he were waiting for a call.

    Is he expecting a call from a beautifuldy, so he¡¯s prohibiting me from disturbing him?

    Who could it be? Could it be Ouyang Qing?

    Hmm... Upon second thought, it¡¯s not very possible. After all, they¡¯ve just parted ways on a very

    unhappy note. It¡¯s not possible for him to miss her already, right?

    Even if they¡¯re in their honeymoon phase, they still won¡¯t act so clingy, right?

    Just then, Nan Chen¡¯s phone buzzed.

    He picked up the call. Strangely enough, he even put the call on loudspeaker.

    ¡°Hello, Mr. Ouyang.¡±

    ¡°Chen, there¡¯s no need to speak so formally with me, Aren¡¯t you calling me uncle anymore? Do you no

    longer acknowledge me as your uncle?¡±

    It was a call from Ouyang Duo, but Ning Ran had no idea who he was.

    She spotted him once during Nan Zhengde¡¯s birthday banquet, but she was not acquainted with him.

    ¡°Of course, I do. Please speak.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve already asked for the board of directors¡¯ approval regarding the Vietnam project. Since Vietnam is

    not the main country we¡¯re investing in, and we believe that the Nan Corporation will do a better job

    than us, we¡¯re willing to cooperate with you,¡± said Ouyang Duo.

    ¡°What¡¯s your condition?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll just follow your arrangements. Besides, I didn¡¯t spend a lot on that piece ofnd, so I¡¯ll just give it

    to you as a gift,¡± offered Ouyang Duo.

    ¡°Thank you, uncle. My gratitude to Sunshine Corporation¡¯s board of directors as well for approving

    this.¡±

    Nan Chen finally called him uncle.

    ¡°That¡¯s settled, then. I¡¯ll ask my subordinates to contact your men about the specifics of the contract.

    Those are insignificant details, so let¡¯s not meddle with it. Let the rest deal with it.¡±

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll follow your n,¡± replied Nan Chen.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s all I wanted to talk about. I¡¯m flying to Europe tomorrow, so I¡¯ll go and sleep now.¡±

    ¡°Sure. Good night.¡±

    After the call, Nan Chen leaned backward and heaved a deep sigh.

    ¡°I thought that you¡¯re waiting for a woman¡¯s call. I didn¡¯t expect it to be from a man. He sounds quite old

    too, judging from his voice,¡± remarked Ning Ran casually.

    Nan Chen eyed Ning Ran disdainfully. ¡°What are you thinking about half the time...¡±

    ¡°Nothing much. Who is he?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s Ouyang Duo.¡±

    ¡°Another person from the Ouyang family?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. He¡¯s Ouyang Qing and Ouyang Qi¡¯s father, the chairman of Sunshine Corporation.¡±

    ¡°I know him!¡± eximed Ning Ran.

    ¡°How?¡±

    ¡°I saw him on the television and also during Grandpa¡¯s birthday banquet.¡±

    Nan Chen rolled his eyes in greater disdain. Here I am wondering how much she knows about him.

    Turns out that she¡¯s iming to know him just after seeing him on television.

    ¡°Hmm, there¡¯s something off!¡± Ning Ran whirled around and stared at Nan Chen.

    ¡°Why are you looking at me?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s something strange about you.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Your actions tonight must have something to do with this call!¡± dered Ning Ran as she pointed at

    Nan Chen as if she had a sudden revtion.

    ¡°Put your finger down,¡±manded Nan Chen coldly.

    Ning Ran withdrew her hand quickly. It was indeed quite rude to point at others.

    However, since Nan Chen did not deny it, it meant that Ning Ran¡¯s guess was correct.

    ¡°No wonder you suddenly wanted to follow me to the meeting. So you had an ulterior motive all along!

    You¡¯re such a maniptor!¡± used Ning Ran.

    ¡°It¡¯s not an ulterior motive if I made it that obvious.¡±

    ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s still considered an underhanded plot. You must exin it to me. You can¡¯t just possibly

    use me without telling me anything!¡±

    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ll understand?¡± asked Nan Chen as he eyed her from the corners of his eyes.

    ¡°Are you underestimating me again? Why won¡¯t I understand? You didn¡¯t even try to exin it to me,

    how can you be certain that I won¡¯t understand?¡±

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll exin it to you then.¡±

    Now that Nan Chen actually agreed, Ning Ran started to feel a little excited. After all, the man never

    cooperated with others, it was always someone else conceding to him.

    Ning Ran put on a very cooperative look, but Nan Chen remained silent.

    She became anxious. ¡°Well? Say something!¡±

    ¡°This involves too many business affairs. You won¡¯t be able to understand!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be able to! If you exin inyman terms, I¡¯ll understand.¡±

    ¡°Then let me think about how I should exin a business acquisition to a primary school kid.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a primary school kid. I just didn¡¯t graduate from college. Truth be told, I was a top student in the

    past!¡±

    Her words fell to deaf ears.

    Before Nan Chen became the CEO, he interviewed a lot of people who imed to be top students. Yet,

    when he actually hired them, he discovered that they were utterly incapable.

    Nan Chen was a top student himself. However, he knew that there was still a drastic difference

    between any two top students.

    Some were extremely good at their studies and were very capable as well.

    Yet, there were some who excelled academically but fared horribly at work.

    Hence, Nan Chen had always harbored doubts towards those who im to be top students.

    ¡°Through certain tricks, the Ouyang family tried to dominate one of our major projects. Thus, I used my

    own tricks to settle that problem. With a few other tricks, I subsequently managed to turn the tables and

    take advantage of the Ouyang family instead.¡±

    Nan Chen summarized it in a very vague way.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Although his words sounded nonchnt, the ¡°tricks¡± that he mentioned actually involved multiple

    rounds of counter-attacks and defensive tactics. Only Nan Chen himself knew howplicated they

    were.

    ¡°Is it the project that Nan Xing is responsible for?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    It was Nan Chen¡¯s turn to be shocked. ¡°You know about it? Who did you hear it from?¡±

    Shucks! If I tell him, I¡¯ll be betraying Nan Xing. After all, he¡¯s the one who told me.

    ¡°I forgot. Anyway, the news has been making its rounds everywhere. It¡¯s not surprising for me to hear

    about it. Please, do continue.¡±

    ¡°However, Ouyang Duo refused to admit defeat. Unwilling to let us take advantage of them, he nned

    on dying it and observing our reactions. Hence, I decided to show him my stance on this issue.

    Forget it, you definitely won¡¯t understand.¡±

    ¡°No, I do!¡± asserted Ning Ran proudly.

    ¡°Tell me, what did you understand?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re using the incident of Ouyang Qi asking me out and creating a huge ruckus out of it. By

    threatening to file a police report, you¡¯re implicitly informing Ouyang Duo that you would turn against

    the Ouyang family anytime without showing any mercy. As they¡¯ve plotted against you in the past,

    you¡¯re holding a petty grudge against them and won¡¯t let them off the hook so easily. In other words,

    you¡¯re pressurizing him to give up on his wish to settle things peacefully. At the same time, you want

    him to understand that the only way to rebuild the two families¡¯ rtionship is to concede to all of your

    conditions!¡±

    Delighted, she asked, ¡°Am I right? Quick, tell me that that I¡¯m right. Praise me for being so smart!¡±

    Nan Chen nced at the excited Ning Ran. So, she¡¯s not actually dumb, huh?

    It¡¯s no easy feat to understand all theseplexities.

    ¡°Let me correct you. I¡¯m not holding a petty grudge. I am not a petty man.¡±

    ¡°Well, it makes no difference. Just ignore my adjectives and tell me if I¡¯m right!¡±

    After giving it a thought, Nan Chen nodded. ¡°You¡¯re basically right.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re damn right I am! I¡¯m so smart and impressive! Oh my, I¡¯m starting to admire myself!¡± dered

    Ning Ran loudly.

    Shaking his head, Nan Chen was at a loss for words.

    A vige girl will always be a vige girl. She¡¯s so excited just because I gave her a couple of

    compliments.

 Chapter 435

    Chapter 435

    Meanwhile, Ouyang Qi was forced to enter the Ouyang family¡¯s car by Ouyang Qing. He was not

    allowed to leave on his own.

    Not expecting Nan Chen to do something like this, Ouyang Qi regretted it terribly.

    Up till now, he still could not understand why Nan Chen was so serious about it, even to the extent of

    letting Ning Ran report him for harassment.

    Although harassment was something subjective and hard to prove, Ouyang Qi was the culprit in

    question. He knew that his actions were not so severe that they amounted to harassment.

    ¡°Qing, listen to me. I didn¡¯t harass anyone. With such good looks and wealth, it¡¯s a piece of cake for me

    to find a girlfriend. There¡¯s no need for me to harass anyone. Please don¡¯t tell Dad about this, okay?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve already called and informed him,¡± interrupted Ouyang Qing coldly.

    ¡°Why? I really didn¡¯t harass Ding Mi. In fact, my rtionship with her is quite good. Nan Chen is setting

    me up on purpose...¡±

    ¡°Why did you provoke Nan Chen? Do you know how greatly your actions affected the Ouyang family?¡±

    Ouyang Qing yelled at her brother.

    ¡°Damn it! I really didn¡¯t harass her. I just sent her some flowers. Can that be counted as harassment?¡±

    Ouyang Qi felt extremely wronged.

    ¡°Of course Nan Chen knows that you didn¡¯t harass her. But didn¡¯t you hear his threat to file a police

    report?¡±

    ¡°I did! But he¡¯s just fussing over nothing. Since I¡¯ve never done anything like what he said, I won¡¯t be

    scared even if he does file for a police report!¡± Ouyang Qi was still unconvinced.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Ouyang Qing was furious. This useless brother of mine only knows how to woo women. His brain is

    absolutely useless!

    ¡°Don¡¯t you know which city we¡¯re in right now? Don¡¯t you know which family is the most influential

    here?¡±

    ¡°Of course I do! We¡¯re in Flower City now and the Nan family wields the most authority here. Do you

    really think that I¡¯m a fool who doesn¡¯t know anything?¡±

    ¡°You know all this and yet you still imed that you¡¯re not a fool? Do you know how easy would it be for

    Nan Chen to file a harassment report against you? It definitely wouldn¡¯t be difficult for him to get some

    witnesses to testify against you. Furthermore, if Ding Mi uses you too, it¡¯s a strong case against

    you.¡±

    Ouyang Qi was shocked. ¡°Nan Chen won¡¯t actually go that far, right? Besides, why would he need to

    do that?¡±

    ¡°The Nan family had a falling out with Dad previously. He almost forced them into a dire situation. As

    the Nan family still held that grudge, they used a useless piece of trash like you to their advantage! You

    can be sentenced to up to five years of jail for sexual harassment. Even if you aren¡¯t jailed, you¡¯ll have

    to be detained for a few days, if that happened, the Ouyang family¡¯s reputation will be destroyed by

    you. Hence, Nan Chen is using this opportunity to pressurize Dad, forcing him to concede to his

    unreasonable requests. Yet, here you are, oblivious to everything!¡± shouted Ouyang Qing angrily.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t tell me, how would I know? What should I do now?¡±

    ¡°Dad has already agreed to Nan Chen¡¯s conditions. You¡¯re fine now.¡±

    ¡°Damn it! Looks like I have to be wary about that rascal, Nan Chen. He¡¯s so shady. Argh, looks like I

    have to give up on Mimi. Since she¡¯s on the same side as Nan Chen, there¡¯s no hope for me anymore.¡±

    Ouyang Qi sighed.

    ¡°No, you must find a way to make Ding Mi yours,¡± asserted Ouyang coldly.

    ¡°Huh? She¡¯s about to sue me for harassment. Why would I still dare to approach her?¡± eximed

    Ouyang Qi.

    ¡°This is just part of Nan Chen¡¯s trick. It¡¯s got nothing to do with the foolish woman. She¡¯s definitely still

    kept in the dark,pletely oblivious to Nan Chen¡¯s n. Hence, you still have a chance. If you

    manage to make that woman yours, it¡¯ll be advantageous to the Ouyang family. You¡¯ve never

    contributed anything to the family before. Now that there¡¯s a chance for you, you¡¯d better put in some

    effort and woo her.¡±

    Ouyang Qi seemed to have realized something.

    ¡°I heard rumors saying that you like Nan Chen. But why are you dining with Nan Xing today? Could it

    be...¡±

    ¡°Shut up! How can you think of me like that?¡± rebuked Ouyang Qing furiously.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not judging you at all. I¡¯m just curious. However, now that you exined it, I understand now.

    You want me to snatch Ding Mi away from Nan Chen¡¯s side so that you can...¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t make it sound so unpleasant! I¡¯m telling you to do that for the sake of the family!¡± Ouyang Qing

    was enraged again.

    ¡°I do like Ding Mi. But now that you¡¯re instructing me to do this, I find it meaningless now. Although I like

    spending time with women, I do it without any motives. I don¡¯t like getting involved in these shady

    schemes and conspiracies, nor will I exchange my feelings for profits,¡± dered Ouyang Qi.

    Ouyang Qing scoffed in fury. ¡°Pfft! You make yourself sound so noble! In reality, you¡¯re just an

    incapable, spoilt brat! Without Dad, you¡¯re nothing. How dare you say such words? What have you ever

    done for the Ouyang family?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a noble man, but I never exploit others¡¯ feelings! If you manage to make Nan Chen yours,

    kudos to your abilities! Otherwise, just give up. I won¡¯t partake in those underhanded plots with you.

    Hey, can you stop the car? I¡¯m getting off in front.¡± Ouyang Qi instructed the chauffeur.

    ¡°Don¡¯t stop the car! I¡¯m bringing you to Dad!¡±

    ¡°Anyway, I won¡¯t cooperate with you. I suggest that you give up on Nan Chen. I¡¯m a man too. I know

    how it feels like when a man likes a woman. When Nan Chen looks at you, there¡¯s not even a hint of

    affection in his gaze. You stand no chance. On the other hand, you can give Nan Xing a shot...¡±

    ¡°Shut up! You¡¯re being ridiculous. Why did Dad have such a useless son like you?¡± scolded Ouyang

    Qing.

    ¡°It¡¯s true that I¡¯m useless. You¡¯re the elite here who¡¯s so skilled at pursuing men. You¡¯re even going to

    use such underhanded means to achieve your goals! Tsk. I¡¯d rather not be such an ¡®elite¡¯!¡±

    Ouyang Qing was so furious that she felt like she was on the verge of exploding in rage.

    They argued all the way until they arrived at the Orchid Club. It was the Ouyang family¡¯s headquarters

    andmanding center in Flower City.

    The moment Ouyang Duo saw Ouyang Qi, he aimed a harsh p on his son¡¯s cheek.

    As Ouyang Qi had expected the p, he dodged in time. Ouyang Duo¡¯s palm brushed against his

    cheek, failing tond a proper p.

    ¡°You rascal! How did I have such a useless son like you?¡±

    His insults were identical to Ouyang Qing, which showed just how much she took after their father.

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re the one who had me. I wouldn¡¯t know how, right?¡± rebuked Ouyang Qi as he clutched his

    cheek.

    ¡°You...¡±

    Ouyang Duo was about to p him again when Feng Jialing stopped him.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough! What¡¯s the use of hitting your son now?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re the one who lost to Nan Chen, but you¡¯re venting your anger out on me,¡± agreed Ouyang

    Qi.

    ¡°What did you say? You rascal!¡± Ouyang Duo was utterly enraged.

    ¡°That¡¯s it! Stop fighting. It¡¯s alright as long as he knows his mistake,¡± coaxed Feng Jialing.

    ¡°All of you, get out. I need to speak to him in private.¡± Ouyang Duo dismissed Feng Jialing and Ouyang

    Qing.

    ¡°Okay. Both of you, have a good chat. You¡¯re family, after all. Don¡¯t resort to violence so easily,¡±

    persuaded Feng Jialing.

    ¡°Mom, you must protect me. If he beats me to death, you¡¯ll no longer have a son. Then, all of the

    Ouyang family¡¯s assets will be dominated by your future son-inw!¡± eximed Ouyang Qi.

    Feng Jialing was infuriated too. What is my rascal son talking about?

    ¡°Don¡¯t spout nonsense andmunicate nicely with your father. It¡¯s time for you to do something for

    the Ouyang family,¡± chided Feng Jialing.

    After Feng Jialing and Ouyang Qing left, Ouyang Duo red at Ouyang Qi. ¡°I only have one thing to

    say to you. Either you make that woman who had Nan Chen¡¯s children yours, or you destroy her.

    Anyway, we mustn¡¯t let her be an obstacle that prevents your sister from marrying into the Nan

    family!¡±

 Chapter 436

    Chapter 436

    Two dayster, Sound of Thunder 2 was broadcasted on TV. At midnight that same evening, the show

    had officially began running on the inte as well.

    The next morning, Nan Chen received information that Sound of Thunder 2 received the highest ratings

    among the shows of the same time slot.

    The online view count for the show was more than a hundred million, and it was the top three trending

    topics on the Inte.

    Nan Chen verified with Jiang Zhe that the data was not manipted. The show did indeed reach the

    top three trending topics on the Inte.

    With his first starring role in the TV show, Zheng Lunlun rode the wave and was the ninth trending topic

    on the Inte.

    As for the twentieth trending topic, a fascinating question was raised whereizen was asking: Who

    was the actress in ¡°Sound of Thunder 2¡±?

    The name ¡°Ding Mi¡± had been viral on the inte before but in a bad way.

    It did not take long for the forgetfulizens to forget about the name, though.

    That was why some celebrities pay money to manipte inte search pop-ups. People would forget

    all about them if they did not show up on the inte from time to time.

    When the TV show got popr, Ding Mi was mentioned by people once again, and old news got dug

    up.

    All theizens had to do was add a few extra details, and old news would be new again.

    Many online ounts quickly took advantage of the surge in poprity to write up a bunch of articles

    about Ding Mi.

    Some said she only got to rece Luo Fei as the female lead because a rich man took a liking to her.

    Although no name was specified, those that were observant would know that the rich man mentioned

    was Nan Chen.

    A topic as juicy as that quickly became the talk of the inte.

    Many ounts followed up with new outrageous stories. Some even imed that Ning Ran killed Luo

    Fei to get her role, which was why Luo Fei disappeared from showbiz.

    The spection got out of control, and many wondered if the show could keep running or keep up its

    poprity.

    The news that the female lead of Sound of Thunder 2 was a murderer immediately topped the charts

    for the hottest inte search.

    Media broadcastpanies suspended the show when they received orders from relevant authorities.

    Thepanies were getting anxious because they thought they had acquired profitable copyright.

    Nobody expected the female lead issue.

    People even resorted to taking legal actions to getpensated.

    The executives of Star Entertainment had already waited for half an hour when Nan Chen got to the

    office.

    Star Entertainment was only a subsidiary of Nanshi Corporation, so Nan Chen rarely went there

    personally for meetings.

    That day, even though the staff at the office seemed like they were working, they were actually eyeing

    the elevator expectantly to see Nan Chen himself.

    The moment Nan Chen walked out of the elevator, everyone held their breath and pretended to work

    while keeping their gaze on the man from the corner of their eyes.

    Waiting at the elevator was the CEO of Star Entertainment, who quickly walked up to greet Nan Chen.

    ¡°This way, please. We¡¯re expecting you, Mr. Chen.¡±

    Instead of responding to the CEO, Nan Chen kept a poker face and strode towards the meeting room.

    The minute Nan Chen stepped into the meeting room, the staff¡¯s chat group went into a frenzy.

    ¡°He¡¯s here! He¡¯s finally here!¡±

    ¡°He looks even hotter than on TV!¡±

    ¡°Oh my gosh! He¡¯s only three meters away from me. Three meters! I can almost smell him!¡±

    ¡°Come on. You could be a meter away from the man, and it still won¡¯t mean anything, the man probably

    won¡¯t even notice that you¡¯re there.¡±

    ¡°Does it make it you feel any better to rain on my parade like that?¡±

    ¡°It does because I¡¯m jealous of you! I can¡¯t believe I have to go on a business trip when Sir Chen is

    there!¡±

    ¡°Too bad!¡±

    ¡°Stop fooling around. Thepany¡¯s in a crisis right now, and I¡¯m guessing they¡¯re looking for

    someone to me. Who knows? It could be one of us!¡±This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I¡¯m just a nobody. The top brass should be the ones answering for it.¡±

    ¡°Whoever has the guts to take a photo of Sir Chen for me will get one week supply of milk tea. I need to

    post that online!¡±

    ¡°Forget it. Not even a year of milk tea supply will give me the courage to do that. I have no wish to lose

    my job over this.¡±

    In contrast to the chatty regr staff, the executives in the meeting room were dead silent.

    Nan Chen just sat there quietly, minding his own business on the phone.

    Naturally, nobody dared utter a word either.

    The executives wondered why Mr. Chen was busy with his phone instead of giving them a good

    scolding.

    Moreover, Nan Chen rarely brought his phone into the meeting room. It was almostmon sense that

    phones were not allowed during a meeting.

    Yet, he had been busy with his device for more than a few minutes, and everybody was looking at him

    doing just that.

    Nobody dared move a muscle. They felt as if they would disturb Sir Chen on his phone if they made

    any sudden moves.

    After a while, Nan Chen was finally done with his phone as he set it down on the desk.

    Somehow, the meeting room became even quieter at that. There was pin-drop silence.

    ¡°Have you all seen what¡¯s on the inte?¡± Nan Chen finally spoke.

    Everyone simply nodded in response because nobody dared to speak.

    Nan Chen then turned to the Director of Public Rtions. ¡°You, exin it to me.¡±

    The director stood up. ¡°ording to our observations, some of the negative news articles were done

    very professionally. It¡¯s almost as if they were deliberately trying to defame our artistes.¡±

    ¡°And how did you respond to them?¡± inquired Nan Chen.

    ¡°We¡¯ve asked ourwyers to send cease and desist letters to some of the more influential ounts.

    They are to cease publishing articles that defame our artistes. In addition, we¡¯re also preparing for

    some press releases,¡± answered the director nervously.

    ¡°Then people would just believe what they want to believe. Nobody knows for sure who¡¯s telling the

    truth.¡±

    Sensing that Nan Chen was dissatisfied with the solution, the executives kept quiet.

    That was the standard operating procedure, and nobody knew how else to handle the matter.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for press releases. All you need to do is to find out who¡¯s behind all this,¡± instructed

    Nan Chen.

    ¡°Understood, Mr. Chen.¡±

    Although nobody knew why there was no need for the press releases, they dared not question it as it

    was an order from Nan Chen.

    ¡°What about the show, Mr. Chen?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s only been suspended, and it¡¯ll be back online soon. Besides, the suspension got people talking

    about the show. Bad publicity is still publicity. As for the ounts that are deliberately defaming Ding

    Mi, sue their pants off!¡± Thest sentence was cold and unhesitant.

    ¡°Understood, Mr. Chen.¡±

    After that, the rest of the meeting was no longer rted to Ning Ran.

    The executives reported on their work one by one. In general, Star Entertainment did considerably well

    in the year of recession.

    ¡°Given that the Sound of Thunder 2 ratings was at a record high, far exceeding than that of other

    shows of the same genre, we should hold a celebration party and invite more reporters,¡± suggested

    Nan Chen

    The executives were once again baffled. Why are we celebrating when the show¡¯s been suspended?

    But if that¡¯s what Sir Chen wants, we¡¯ll get it done. We¡¯ll even make it a grand celebration!

 Chapter 437

    Chapter 437

    It was indeed strange to celebrate a show that had been suspended, but Nan Chen was a genius. It

    was only natural that his thinking was different from most people¡¯s.

    Just when the people wereing up with negative spections about the show, Nan Chen actually

    had the gall to hold a grand celebration party.

    His idea was to send a message to the world and tell everyone that there was nothing wrong with the

    show or the actors and actresses. The suspension was temporary, and everything would return to

    normal soon.

    As the lead actress, Ning Ran was required to attend the party.

    As she was now waist-deep in bad publicity, it was rather stressful for her to attend an event like that.

    However, Wang Xiaoou reminded her, ¡°When the going gets tough, the tough get going. To be a

    superstar, pressure is unavoidable.¡±

    Ning Ran was unconvinced, though. After all, she had never been a superstar before, so there was no

    way she could know if it was really unavoidable. If this is really the case, the road to stardom is really

    damn hard in my opinion.

    Ning Ran was wearing a ck evening dress and stilettos, and they were making her ufortable.

    Even so, she couldn¡¯t do anything about it as she was requested by thepany to look her best so

    that people would take her seriously. After all, there were many reporters at the event.

    As always, Nan Chen, the bigshot, was fashionablyte.

    At that point, ady in a waitress uniform approached Ning Ran. ¡°Excuse me, Ms. Ding. There¡¯s a Mr.

    Ning Ziqiang who requested to see you, but our security stopped him. He¡¯s making a scene, so we¡¯re

    wondering if you could try talking to him?¡±

    Ning Ran was shocked as she wondered what Ning Ziqiang was doing here. This event is too

    important. He can¡¯t mess around here, or the consequences could be disastrous.

    Without giving it much thought, Ning Ran followed the staff member. After walking a distance, Ning

    Ziqiang was still nowhere to be seen, so Ning Ran stopped in her tracks. ¡°Where exactly is he?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s in a room just up ahead. We¡¯ll be there after making this left turn,¡± replied the waitress.

    ¡°What does he look like?¡± Ning Ran suddenly inquired.

    ¡°He... He looks... ¡° When the waitress failed to answer, Ning Ran immediately turned around and tried

    to make a break for it.

    Unfortunately, two men in face masks cut her off at the back.

    ¡°Who are you, and what do you want?¡± Ning Ran took her phone out and was ready to call for help, but

    the two rushed forward to snatch the device from her.

    Naturally, ady like Ning Ran was no match for two men. Her phone was taken away in the end and

    turned off.

    ¡°Who the hell are you guys?¡±

    Before Ning Ran could do anything else, one of the men knocked her out before carrying her on his

    shoulder. They brought her to a room with a camera set up on a table beside the bed.

    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    There was a direct line in the room to do a live broadcast onto the disy at the party.

    ¡°The boss wants you two to drug her and y with her. Make it as obscene as possible, but you have

    to watch the time because it won¡¯t take long for people to find you. Evacuate before that happens,¡±

    instructed the fake waitress.

    One of the men swallowed hard after checking out Ning Ran¡¯s pretty face and exquisite figure under

    the evening dress. We¡¯ve just hit jackpot! Not only do we get to enjoy such beauty, but we¡¯re also paid

    to do so.

    ¡°Get started now. Remember to evacuate as soon as possible. If you¡¯re caught, don¡¯t let them know

    who your boss is.¡±

    ¡°What boss? We don¡¯t even know who he or she is,¡±ined one of the men.

    The fake waitress thought he said made sense, so she left without another word.

    ¡°You go first, chief. I¡¯ll watch.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s drug her first.¡±

    ¡°But she¡¯s out now. How am I supposed to do it?¡±

    ¡°Just pry her mouth open. Isn¡¯t that obvious?¡±

    ¡°Okay, chief.¡±

    The shorter man grabbed the vial on the bed before approaching Ning Ran to pull her chin.

    Just when the man was about to feed Ning Ran the drug, the supposedly unconscious woman

    suddenly tilted her head and bit his hand.

    ¡°Ouch!¡±

    The man in pain took a step back as Ning Ran shrank to a corner. ¡°Stay back! Or I¡¯ll bite my own

    tongue and kill myself.¡±

    Ning Ran did not actually give the threat much thought, for she had only seen the suicide method on

    TV.

    She had absolutely no idea how to bite the tongue or if she would actually die from it. Not sure if I¡¯ll

    ever get the chance to try, but I had to bluff. Let¡¯s see if they¡¯ll see through my act.

    The men looked at each other before the shorter one asked, ¡°What do we do now, chief?¡±

    The taller man, who knocked Ning Ran out earlier, remained stoic and silent.

    ¡°Stop this now!¡± demanded Ning Ran before inquiring, ¡°Who paid you to do this, and what are you

    nning to do with me?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re going to y a three-yer game and do a live broadcast. We¡¯ll be wearing face masks, but

    you don¡¯t have to. As long as you do as you¡¯re told, we won¡¯t kill you,¡± exined the captors.

    ¡°Who asked you to do this, and how much are they paying you? I¡¯ll double it!¡±

    Ning Ran was only trying to stall. I¡¯m the star of the show today, so Nan Chen will definitely notice that

    I¡¯m missing. Once that happens, he¡¯lle looking for me.

    ¡°We¡¯ve already gotten our money, and we¡¯re men of our word.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s only because you have no idea what¡¯s going to happen to you next. You¡¯ll be sorry for keeping

    your word when you realize you can¡¯t spend your money. You have no idea who I am, do you? I¡¯m Nan

    Chen¡¯s woman. That¡¯s right. The legendary Sir Chen! He threw this party today for me. If anything

    happens to me, you¡¯re both done for! Nan Chen¡¯s not going to send you to jail because that¡¯s not his

    style. He¡¯ll break your limbs and make sure you¡¯ll eat through a straw for the rest of your life. You¡¯ll be

    buying wheelchairs with your money and...¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± shouted the taller man, who was also the smarter one. Evidently, he realized that Ning Ran

    was stalling.

    ¡°I¡¯m only telling you this for your own good. You¡¯ll definitely regret this if you go through with it,¡± insisted

    Ning Ran.

    ¡°Stop talking to her. Just drug her!¡±

    ¡°But what if she really kills herself?¡±

    ¡°This is not a TV show, and I don¡¯t think she¡¯s ready to die just yet. So just do it!¡±

    With that, the man rushed towards Ning Ran, who screamed and dodged away.

    However, she could only evade the two men for so long in the small room.

    ¡°Don¡¯t do it. You¡¯ll regret this.¡±

    ¡°Shut up and take the drug!¡±

    Bang!

    Somebody kicked the door and made a loud noise.

    ¡°Someone¡¯s here, chief! What do we do?¡±

    ¡°Whoever it is, we can take him. Then we¡¯ll go back to our business.¡±

    Bang! Bang! Bang!

    The door was finally kicked open, and a man in ck rushed in.

    Ning Ran was relieved to see Nan Chen, but her face fell when she noticed the man came alone

    empty-handed. How is he going to fight them like that?

 Chapter 438

    Chapter 438

    ¡°Take another step closer, and I¡¯ll slice her face!¡± threatened one of the men with a knife to Ning Ran¡¯s

    face.

    Seeing that, Nan Chen stopped in his tracks.

    ¡°Squat down and raise your hands. Stay where you are and let us walk out,¡± demanded the captor, but

    Nan Chen did not back down or make way. Instead, he simply red at the captor.

    ¡°Are you trying to test my patience? Make way or I¡¯ll mess her face up!¡± The captor continued to

    threaten.

    ¡°Do it,¡± responded Nan Chen causing Ning Ran to gawped at him in disbelief. And here I thought my

    savior¡¯s finally arrived. How could Nan Chen say that? If my face really got messed up, how am I

    supposed to live the rest of my life?

    ¡°No, don¡¯t!¡± shouted Ning Ran.

    ¡°Did you hear that? She said ¡®no¡¯ because women treasure their faces. Her life will be ruined if her face

    got messed up.¡±

    ¡°How is that any of my business?¡± asked Nan Chen coldly.

    Hearing that, the two captors looked at each other in puzzlement. ¡°Who the hell are you? Why are you

    here if this doesn¡¯t concern you then?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Nan Chen.¡± The man introduced himself in a stone-cold voice.

    ¡°So you¡¯re the one they called ¡®Sir Chen?¡¯ This woman mentioned that she¡¯s your woman. She even

    warned us that you¡¯d give us hell if we touch her, but you just said this is none of your business? Are

    you lying to us?¡±

    Ning Ran blushed when Nan Chen nced at her because she did say those things.

    ¡°Well, she lied to you,¡± revealed Nan Chen.

    ¡°What? She lied?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s not my woman. She¡¯s just an artiste contracted to mypany. If you ruin her face, she¡¯ll be

    worthless to us because she can no longer make money for thepany. I¡¯m only here to stop you

    from ruining mypany¡¯s property. That being said, if you insist on hurting her, I could always find

    another artiste to rece her, but she¡¯s right about one thing, though. I will give you hell for doing that.¡±

    With that, Nan Chen continued to move forward.

    ¡°Stay where you are, or I¡¯ll ruin her face... Argh!¡±

    When Ning Ran noticed her captor was distracted by Nan Chen, she took the chance and stomped on

    her captor¡¯s foot.

    The timing couldn¡¯t have been better for her to be wearing those ¡°lethal¡± stilettos.

    While her captor squirmed in pain, Ning Ran broke free and stepped aside before Nan Chen rushed

    forward to kick the man.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    The kick staggered the captor, but he went after Ning Ran instead of his attacker.

    The man raised his knife and was ready to stab Ning Ran. Even if I can¡¯t finish the job, I can still hurt

    the girl. We¡¯ll have a chance to escape once Nan Chen tends to the injured girl.

    It was cunning of the captors to distract Nan Chen by attacking his weakness.

    Seeing that Ning Ran was about to get hurt, Nan Chen leaped forward like a wolf protecting its cubs.

    Nan Chen¡¯s sudden movement made it difficult for him to avoid getting cut by the knife, but he

    managed to get in front of Ning Ran, who shrank behind her protector like a frightened kitten.

    ¡°Let¡¯s bail, chief! He¡¯s got some moves, and his men will be here soon if we stick around.¡±

    ¡°Make for the exit!¡± The other man agreed that the mission was a failure and that it was time to leave.

    Nan Chen watched the two escape but did not give chase as he was injured.

    ¡°Are you okay? Oh my! You¡¯re bleeding!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal. Just a scratch.¡±

    ¡°But you¡¯re bleeding! Should we go to the hospital?¡±

    ¡°No, we still have a party to attend. Nobody can know that I¡¯m hurt.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Thest time the reporters reported my injury from ying ser, the stock prices of several listed

    companies under Nanshi Corporation plummeted, and it cost us billions.¡±

    When Ning Ran heard that, her mouth fell open. ¡°My goodness. Your health is worth that much?

    Enough to affect stock prices?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m at the helm of Nanshi Corporation. It¡¯s only natural that my health would affect the stock prices.¡±

    ¡°Fine, but what do we do about your bleeding?¡±

    ¡°Get Qiao Zhan over. He knows how to stop the bleeding and bandage my wound. When you get out

    there, act normal so that nobody gets suspicious,¡± instructed Nan Chen.

    ¡°Why pretend to be okay after all that has happened?¡±

    Nan Chen patiently exined, ¡°The people behind this are out there waiting to see you make a fool of

    yourself. You being fine would be a terrible blow to them because it meant whatever they nned had

    failed, and they¡¯ll look disappointed. You might even find who those people are if you look hard enough.

    Now go get Qiao Zhan. I¡¯ll follow soon enough.¡±

    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you bring Qiao Zhan with you in the first ce? You wouldn¡¯t have gotten hurt if he

    were here.¡±

    ¡°Those men intended to humiliate you. Do you want people to see how embarrassing you are if you

    happen to be stripped naked?¡± asked Nan Chen coldly.

    Realization dawned on Ning Ran upon hearing his words.

    It turned out Nan Chen came alone because he was worried that she would be embarrassed, and it

    made sense. Had Ning Ran regained consciousness a secondter, she would have been drugged,

    and Nan Chen had considered the possibility of that scenario.

    If a group of people swarmed in and saw Ning Ran undressed, her image and reputation would be

    ruined. I didn¡¯t expect Poker Face to be this thoughtful. He took a risk bying to my rescue alone.

    A warm feeling surged within Ning Ran upon that thought. At that moment, she felt grateful for Nan

    Chen.

    Meanwhile, almost all of the guests and reporters had arrived at the party and were waiting for none

    other than Nan Chen himself.

    As the main investor of Sound of Thunder 2 and the boss of Star Entertainment, Nan Chen was

    required to give a speech, but everybody knew he hated it.

    He had always been a man of few words, and it just seemed silly and meaningless to him to read from

    a manuscript.

    That was why he only gave a speech if necessary for a grand asion. Otherwise, he would not waste

    time doing it.

    The party that evening was not that grand, so Nan Chen had the CEO of Star Entertainment give the

    speech.

    People were at a loss when Nan Chen vanished after appearing for a short while. They were unsure if

    they should wait for him because nobody knew if he wasing back. On the other hand, they were

    worried that they would lose their job if they started the speech without the boss. Should we call him?

    But what if he¡¯s busy? No, we can¡¯t do that.

    In the end, everyone decided to wait until Nan Chen reappeared.

    Just then, Ning Ran appeared in her morous dress with a big smile stered on her face, looking

    like the stunningly elegant star of the event that she was.

 Chapter 439

    Chapter 439

    There were many reporters at the scene, and they were allowed to take pictures and videos freely. As

    such, the moment Ning Ran appeared, many began to focus their cameras on her.

    Being taught by Wang Xiaoou to smile in front of the camera no matter what, Ning Ran maintained her

    composure and continued shing her brightest smile even when there were numerous cameras

    aiming at her.

    As one of the investors in the new show who worked closely with Star Entertainment, Ouyang Qing

    was also one of the attendees at the party.

    Her smile faded the moment she saw Ning Ran. She then whipped her phone out and sent a text.

    Not long after, she received a reply and a look of disappointment was written all over her face.

    However, it did not take Ouyang Qing long to rpose herself and grab a drink from a waiter before

    approaching Ning Ran. ¡°Congrattions, Ding! Your show¡¯s a sess.¡±

    Recalling Nan Chen¡¯s words about how the perpetrator would be on the scene and that she could find

    that person if she looked carefully, Ning Ran stared intently at Ouyang Qing for a while.

    The woman looked beautiful with her bright eyes and a sunny smile, and there was nothing odd about

    her.

    Ning Ran nodded politely. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Is Chen noting to such an important event?¡± asked Ouyang Qing deliberately.

    ¡°I think he should, but I¡¯m not sure.¡±

    ¡°Right? But I haven¡¯t seen him yet. That¡¯s why I asked.¡±

    Ning Ran said nothing else but smiled in response.

    Just then, the CEO of Star Entertainment began to give his speech because he was notified that the

    event should carry on without Nan Chen.

    The speech was basically what people wanted to hear, like thanking the production team, other staff

    members, business partners, and acquaintances in the press.

    The CEO was in the middle of the speech when he noticed that everyone had shifted their focus to

    somewhere else.

    That was because Nan Chen had appeared and had stolen the spotlight.

    Looking as stoic as always, Nan Chen walked over with a great presence.

    He seemed normal, but only Ning Ran knew about his bleeding wound, which he told her not to worry

    about.

    Instead of stealing the CEO¡¯s thunder, Nan Chen simply stood there and listened to the speech

    because ording to standard procedure, he did not have to do it himself.

    Even so, seeing Nan Chen in the audience put a lot of pressure on the CEO, so he invited the man

    onto the stage afterward. ¡°Mr. Chen took time out of his busy schedule to join us today. Let¡¯s wee

    him to give us a few words.¡±

    Naturally, there was a burst of apuse from the crowd, but Nan Chen¡¯s brows drew together. I thought

    we agreed that I wasn¡¯t going to give any speech.

    The persistent apuse left Nan Chen no choice but to get on the stage.

    Before he could even open his mouth, however, another round of apuse sounded because the

    crowd was dazzled by the man¡¯s features. The stage light highlighted his exquisite features, fair

    complexion, and slender figure.

    Like Prince Charming from fairytales, the man seemed to be in a league of his own.

    After standing for a few seconds, Nan Chen took his own sweet time to say a few words. ¡°This is a

    celebration.¡±

    Everyone waited for him to say more, but he did not, and that marked the end of his speech.

    It wasn¡¯t until the audience saw that Sir Chen had left the stage that they finally believed he was done

    with his speech. the crowd was stunned for a while.

    The man did not say much, but his message was loud and clear.

    The party was a celebration and not a work report or a wrap-up meeting.

    There was not much to be said. Nan Chen wanted people to have fun, and he did not see a need for

    unnecessary speeches.

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    Many already knew that was his style but had never witnessed it before.

    Instead of being disappointed at the brevity of the speech, everyone was overjoyed.

    Had Nan Chen stayed on the stage and talked for half an hour, the audience would have been bored.

    That was awesome! It took him less than ten words to officially start the party.

    Ning Ran was worried about Nan Chen¡¯s wound, but she could only look at him from far away because

    of the crowd around him.

    At that moment, a few reporters came over to give Ning Ran a toast and expressed their desire to ask

    her some questions.

    That was why the reporters were allowed at the event. To report and tell the world that the people

    behind Sound of Thunder 2 were celebrating and that the show would return soon. As such, Ning Ran

    was naturally inclined to answer the questions.

    All the while, Wang Xiaoou kept watch on Ning Ran and reminded the reporters to mind those who

    were there for the celebration.

    After all, thepany held a party, not a press conference.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, we¡¯ve got the permission from the organizers to talk to you,¡± exined one of the reporters.

    ¡°Okay,¡± responded Ning Ran with a nod and a smile.

    ¡°For starters, let¡¯s talk about how you feel after you¡¯re done with the shooting for the show.¡±

    The reporter started with a mild andmon question that allowed the interviewee to get creative

    without touching on the core issue.

    ¡°I¡¯m honored to be a part of the show. The director and other colleagues were very professional. I¡¯ve

    learned a lot from them and gotten much better at what I do, and I can¡¯t thank them enough,¡±

    responded Ning Ran with a textbook answer.

    ¡°Will you continue to star in shows of the same genre?¡±

    ¡°I had a wonderful time doing the show, so yes, definitely. I¡¯m also willing to try out different genres, but

    it ultimately depends on thepany¡¯s arrangements. I have faith in them and my talent agent.¡± Ning

    Ran was smiling as she continued to answer a few more easy questions from the reporters.

    Just when she was about to excuse herself, a reporter suddenly asked a sensitive question. ¡°People on

    the inte are saying that you¡¯ve killed Luo Fei to steal her role. Is that true?¡±

    Wang Xiaoou was shocked because the reporters at the party were supposedly instructed only to ask

    specific questions.

    That sensitive question was definitely not one of them.

    Moreover, that reporter seemed strange to Wang Xiaoou because she had never seen him before.

    Ning Ran continued to smile after rposing herself. ¡°The director and investors are the ones who

    arrange roles for the actors. This ismon sense. It¡¯s ridiculous to think that a small-time actress like

    myself could get rid of an A-lister, and even more so to think that I killed her. We live in aw-governed

    society where we take facts and thew into considerations. Murder is a serious criminal offense, so

    naturally, the police will go after the murderer and bring him or her to the judge for prosecution. I¡¯m still

    standing here, aren¡¯t I? I believe this alone tells you just how ludicrous these rumors are. My dear

    friends in the press, you¡¯re smart, and I know you have great discernment to guide you away from

    these vile, deceiving rumors.¡±

    Upon hearing Ning Ran¡¯s answer, Wang Xiaoou breathed a sigh of relief because she was worried that

    the former could not handle the question.

    It turned out she had no need to be as Ning Ran was more than capable of dealing with the situation.

    In fact, Ning Ran¡¯s response was almost perfect.

 Chapter 440

    Chapter 440

    Ning Ran was also relieved. She had to admit that she had been stressed outtely because of this.

    She never expected the show to be a hit or to get so much unwanted attention because of it. I thought

    only the famous would have this kind of problem. I¡¯m not even that famous yet, and people are already

    giving me a hard time.

    ¡°There were also a lot of rumors about you and your father on the Inte, Ms. Ding. How do you

    exin yourself for not supporting the elderly?¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s sense of relief was short-lived as another question popped out.

    To make things worse, it was a much harder question to answer.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already exined this to the press, and I don¡¯t want to talk about it again,¡± responded Ning Ran

    with a colder tone. To ask a question like this on such an asion... This reporter undoubtedly had

    malicious intent. After all, this is a celebration, and we¡¯re all supposed to enjoy ourselves, but that¡¯s

    apparently not what this guy wants. I see no reason to treat him kindly.

    ¡°You don¡¯t want to talk about it? Or are you just too afraid to talk about it?¡± The reporter continued.

    ¡°You can say whatever you want. I couldn¡¯t care less!¡± Ning Ran got angry, and her smile disappeared.

    Even though I¡¯m the artiste and he¡¯s the reporter, it doesn¡¯t mean he can keep prying into my personal

    matters, there are lines that should never be cross. If he wants to keep pushing me like that, I¡¯ll show

    him that I¡¯m no pushover.

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s all for now, everyone. This is a party, not a press conference. We¡¯re all here to have fun,

    not to find faults. Please excuse us. We have some other friends to chat with.¡± Wang Xiaoou defused

    the tense situation before pulling Ning Ran away.

    ¡°Wait! Why are you running away? Are you trying to hide something?¡± The relentless male reporter

    blocked off Ning Ran and Wang Xiaoou¡¯s path.

    He¡¯s really crossing the line now!

    ¡°Move aside. You¡¯re a guest here, so please mind your manners,¡± reminded Wang Xiaoou with a

    darkened face.

    ¡°If I may ask onest question?¡± insisted the male reporter.

    ¡°Sure, ask away.¡± Wang Xiaoou controlled her anger because she had to avoid a conflict if possible,

    even though the reporter was obviously a troublemaker.

    After all, Ning Ran was an actress, and society would usually side with the reporters whenever there

    was a skirmish between artistes and the press.

    In everyone¡¯s opinion, reporters are always the weaker party in a skirmish, and they would always

    assume the artistes to be the bully. However, it was the opposite most of the time.

    As a talent manager, Wang Xiaoou was well-versed in dealing with the press. She gave Ning Ran a

    look, gesturing to the actress to calm down.

    Ning Ran took a deep breath and swallowed her anger.

    ¡°There¡¯s also a rumor suggesting that Ms. Ding and Luo Fei are actually sisters because Ms. Ding¡¯s

    mother had a baby with another man... ¡°

    ¡°You leave my mother out of this!¡± roared Ning Ran.

    Just then, a waiter happened to pass by with sses of wine on a tray. In the next moment, Ning Ran

    picked up a ss and sshed the wine onto the reporter¡¯s face.

    Her action stunned the reporter, and soon many gathered around them to see what themotion was

    about.

    ¡°Ding Mi just sshed me with wine! Look, I¡¯ve got wine all over me!¡± The reporter shouted to attract

    everyone¡¯s attention, and many took their phones out to start recording.

    Wang Xiaoou stepped in front of Ning Ran. ¡°This is just a misunderstanding.¡±

    ¡°There is no misunderstanding. This scum spoke ill of my mother, so he deserved that!¡± Ning Ran

    stepped out.

    ¡°The female lead of the show threw wine at the reporter. What a savage!¡± Someonemented with a

    loud voice, and it turned out to be the fake waitress who brought Ning Ran to the captors before.

    When she interacted with Ning Ran earlier, she avoided looking directly at Ning Ran. As such, Ning

    Ran never got a chance to see her face.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think Ms. Ding¡¯s that kind of person. She¡¯s pretty friendly.¡±

    ¡°I agree. That reporter must¡¯ve crossed a line.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t the artistes at Star Entertainment have any self-restraint? Why would she do that on such an

    event?¡±

    There were a lot of discussions, and the crowd was sharing their thoughts until Nan Chen came along.

    Although he was busy socializing, he had been keeping his eyes on Ning Ran.

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    Nan Chen was not worried about Ning Ran because he thought Wang Xiaoou could handle the

    situation, but seeing that more and more people gathered around the two, he decided it was time for

    him to step in.

    ¡°This woman thinks she can do whatever she wants to me just because she¡¯s shot to fame!¡± Even

    though the male reporterined persistently, he was actually d that he got a chance to

    humiliate Ning Ran. His goal was to infuriate the actress, and he managed to achieve it.

    Someone gave the reporter a paper towel to wipe himself, but he refused because he wanted to keep

    looking like a victim so that people would side with him and use Ning Ran.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Instead of asking Ning Ran, Nan Chen asked Wang Xiaoou.

    Wang Xiaoou started to get nervous because Nan Chen had reminded her that Ning Ran was

    inexperienced with the press, so he wanted her to protect Ning Ran and keep her from making

    mistakes.

    Lo and behold, things still got out of control in the end.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Chen. It¡¯s my fault... ¡°

    ¡°This has nothing to do with Ou. I¡¯m the one who threw the wine.¡± Ning Ran was not about to let Wang

    Xiaoou be responsible for what she did. I alone will face the consequences.

    ¡°You threw wine at him?¡± Nan Chen stared at Ning Ran.

    ¡°Yes, because he besmirched my mother.¡±

    ¡°I was just asking a question. I did not besmirch anyone!¡± The reporter tried to defend himself.

    ¡°Yes, you did! Everyone heard it.¡±

    ¡°If she said that you did, then it must be true.¡± Nan Chen stated coldly and gave the male reporter no

    chance to respond.

    ¡°But Mr. Chen... ¡°

    ¡°It must be your fault if she threw a drink at you,¡± continued Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran was shocked because she thought Nan Chen was going to me her. She never expected

    that the man would choose to side with her.

    ¡°You¡¯re being unreasonable, Mr. Chen. I only... ¡°

    ¡°Get this man out of here,¡± ordered Nan Chen before a few security guards grabbed the reporter.

    ¡°You... You can¡¯t treat me like this! I¡¯m a reporter, and I have the right to ask questions!¡± The crowd fell

    silent as they watched the reporter being dragged away in a humiliating fashion.

    ¡°You deserve respect, and you should show the bullies that you¡¯re no pushover,¡± said Nan Chen to

    Ning Ran.

    Still in a daze, Ning Ran could not figure out why Nan Chen was supportive of her. He¡¯s siding with me

    in front of so many people. This is definitely not Poker Face¡¯s style. What¡¯s the catch here?

    ¡°Okay,¡± responded Ning Ran with a nod. ¡°I¡¯ll throw a drink at anyone who thinks they can bully me.

    There¡¯s no way I¡¯m staying silent about it!¡±

    The director, Wang Yan, was standing aside with sweaty palms. Thank God I didn¡¯t bully her on the set.

    Ouyang Qing, who was standing not far away from the crowd, was clenching her fists so hard that her

    nails almost dug into her palms.

 Chapter 441

    Chapter 441

    Nan Chen then left the scene with Ning Ran in front of everyone, shocking the crowd. So it¡¯s true! A

    rich man really did take a liking to Ning Ran!

    After getting in the car, Ning Ran immediately asked about Nan Chen¡¯s wound. ¡°Does it still hurt?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve just been cut. Why don¡¯t you try it and see for yourself if it hurts?¡± Nan Chen suggested

    sarcastically.

    Ning Ran was taken aback. What happened to the man that has supported me earlier? But he¡¯s right.

    The wound¡¯s bleeding, so how can it not hurt? That was a stupid question.

    ¡°Should we go to the hospital then?¡±

    ¡°I told you we¡¯re not going.¡± Nan Chen sounded impatient but Ning Ran knew that was just how the

    man always talked.

    ¡°Fine. Then where are we going now?¡±

    ¡°Home. Where else?¡± Nan Chen continued with his sarcasm.

    ¡°Which one?¡±

    ¡°The vi in Red Maple City, of course. Do you have a lot of vis that we can choose from?¡±

    Ning Ran was starting to get tired of all the sarcasm. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I¡¯m asking if you want to

    go to the Commoner Residence.¡±

    ¡°Do you want the children to know that I¡¯m hurt so that they can worry about me? Are you trying to

    traumatize them?¡±

    Ning Ran was getting nervous. ¡°Of course not! You know what I meant. Why are you twisting my

    words?¡±

    Leaning back, Nan Chen closed his eyes to rest and stopped talking.

    ¡°Are you hurting? Do you need me to blow on it?¡±

    ¡°What do you think you are? An angel that can perform miracles through her breath? Do you think I¡¯m a

    child that needs his boo-boo blown?¡±

    Ning Ran suddenly realized how foolish she sounded. It¡¯s probably because I got used to dealing with

    the kids from all the time I spent with them.

    Erbao would asionally bump her head or something and would ask Ning Ran to blow on where it

    hurt. She would also assure her daughter that it did not hurt anymore.

    The method had be second nature to Ning Ran, who unwittingly applied it to Nan Chen.

    While the two were still talking, they arrived at the Red Maple City vi. Ning Ran quickly got out of the

    car to help Nan Chen. In response, he rolled his eyes at her. ¡°I can walk myself.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± Unsure of what else to do or say, Ning Ran followed the man upstairs.

    ¡°What did the reporter say to make you throw wine at him?¡± asked Nan Chen suddenly. His abrupt

    question made Ning Ran wondered if she was in trouble.

    ¡°He said vile things about my mother. He can say whatever he wants about me, but not my mother.¡±

    Ning Ran looked at Nan Chen with obstinance.

    ¡°So you¡¯re saying that you¡¯ll put up with it if he besmirches you?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m sorry. I know I got into trouble again, but I really can¡¯t help it.¡±

    ¡°Even if that reporter is not insulting your mother, you don¡¯t have to be silent. Who is he to bully you?¡±

    asked Nan Chen coldly.

    Ning Ran stared at the man, unsure if he was still being sarcastic. It doesn¡¯t sound like it. Besides, he¡¯s

    a straightforward man.

    ¡°So I¡¯m not in trouble?¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if he¡¯s besmirching you or your family. Even if he¡¯s not besmirching anyone, as long

    as he has malicious intentions, you should stand up for yourself. You even dared to stand up to me, so

    why not him?

    ¡°You¡¯re right. I don¡¯t have to stay silent. Who the hell does he think he is anyway?¡± Ning Ran could not

    agree more.

    ¡°Wait a minute, are you only telling me this to make me feel better when in fact deep down you¡¯re

    ming me?¡± Something felt off to Ning Ran.

    ¡°Wang Xiaoou told you to y nice with the reporters, didn¡¯t she?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°She did, and I listened. What happened today was an exception.¡± Ning Ran still assumed that she was

    in trouble. I knew it! He made it sound like I¡¯m scot-free, but I¡¯m definitely not off the hook yet.

    ¡°Wang Xiaoou is a great talent manager, and she¡¯s very experienced in helping artistes to build

    constructive rtionships with all parties, so she¡¯d be right most of the time,¡± continued Nan Chen.

    ¡°I know.¡± Ning Ran lowered her head and dared not to retort.

    ¡°But not all the time.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Ning Ran wondered what the man was trying to say.

    ¡°We try to focus on the big picture as much as we can, but that doesn¡¯t mean you have to be a

    pushover. That¡¯s no way to live.¡±

    ¡°Do you mean that?¡± Ning Ran wanted to confirm.

    ¡°We¡¯re only having this discussion because I want you to know that I meant what I said in front of the

    crowd. If you run into something like that again, defend yourself, but do it with words if possible and pay

    in mind the asion, or you¡¯ll make things worse for yourself. One more thing, why didn¡¯t you just

    throw the ss at the guy instead of just the wine?¡±

    Ning Ran was finally sure that Nan Chen meant what he said, and she suddenly felt likeughing. Sir

    Chen¡¯s definitely one of a kind. He sure is interesting!

    ¡°So are you giving me the approval to do that?¡± retorted Ning Ran.

    ¡°No, I just think that¡¯s what you should¡¯ve done.¡±

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t want to get into trouble.¡±

    ¡°You stood up to me. What could be worse than that?¡± Nan Chen responded with aeback, and

    Ning Ran finally burst outughing.

    He then gave the woman a look. ¡°You got it?¡±

    ¡°Got what?¡±

    ¡°What I said just now.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I got it.¡±

    ¡°Repeat it back to me then.¡±Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t let anybody bully me. If any b*stards try to do so, I should defend myself.¡±

    ¡°Alright, you more or less got it, but remember to mind your surroundings. If you¡¯re at a disadvantage,

    you¡¯ll have to hold it in, or you¡¯ll make it harder for yourself. Wait for the right time to strike back.¡±

    What Nan Chen said made sense to Ning Ran, and she was d for the advice. It¡¯s like gueri

    warfare. Sometimes, it¡¯s better to retreat and live to fight another day.

    ¡°You¡¯re at an advantage if I¡¯m around. So if anyone tries to bully you in my presence, just give them

    hell! When I¡¯m not around, you should only do that if my men are on the scene. If neither my men nor I

    am around, you have to think on your feet and wait for the right time. Got it?¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡± replied Ning Ran seriously.

    Not only was she familiar with the tactic, but she was actually quite good at it.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I got all of it,¡± promised Ning Ran.

    ¡°Okay. Come here then.¡± Nan Chen gestured to her by curling his finger.

    ¡°What for?¡±

    ¡°Take off my clothes.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Quit standing around! My arm¡¯s hurt, and it will bleed if I exert myself. So naturally, you¡¯ll have to do it.¡±

    Nan Chen scowled at Ning Ran.

    After pondering for a while, Ning Ran thought that it was only fair since she was the reason he was

    hurt.

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll help you.¡± Ning Ran approached the man and carefully took off his suit.

    She then looked at Nan Chen, who was down to his undershirt. Do I have to go on?

    ¡°What are you staring at? Do it!¡±

    ¡°Do I have to take this off too?¡±

    ¡°Of course! Do you wear a shirt when you shower?¡± responded Nan Chen impatiently.

    ¡°You want to take a shower? I don¡¯t think you should since you¡¯re injured.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t sleep if I don¡¯t.¡±

 Chapter 442

    Chapter 442

    This is troublesome. Not only do I have to take off his clothes, but I also still have to bathe him?

    I can still manage to help him undress, but to bathe? Isn¡¯t it too much to ask for?

    ¡°Mr. Chen, are you...¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s exactly as what you have in mind,¡± Nan Chen replied calmly.

    ¡°In your dreams!¡± Ning Ran eximed.

    ¡°Stop wasting time and take off my shirt,¡± Nan Chen ordered softly.

    With that, Ning Ran had no choice but to unbutton Nan Chen¡¯s shirt slowly. Her hands trembled while

    doing so.

    ¡°Why are you shaking?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m not...¡±

    ¡°No? It¡¯s just a few buttons, and you¡¯re taking ages to do it. What are you even doing? Is your

    imagination running wild?¡±

    Nan Chen hit the nail on the head as he saw through Ning Ran.

    That¡¯s right, I am thinking about that. Am I really going to have to strip him with my bare hands?

    Why is this happening?

    However, she realized she can¡¯t dy it forever. Finally, she finished with thest button, and Nan

    Chen¡¯s muscr chest was exposed.

    Mmm, those chiseled muscles do look sexy.

    ¡°Be careful, don¡¯t touch the wound,¡± Ning Ran reminded Nan Chen when in fact, she was reminding

    herself. After all, she was the one doing everything.

    Once she removed his shirt, Nan Chen¡¯s ripped body appeared in front of her in all its glory.

    With her heart racing and ear flushed red, Ning Ran tried to avert her gaze out of embarrassment.

    What¡¯s wrong with me? Why am I feeling nervous, and why is my heart racing?

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Nan Chen realized that Ning Ran seemed out of sorts. ¡°Why are you blushing?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not!¡± Ning Ran immediately denied it.

    ¡°No? Your face is as red as a beetroot. What¡¯s going through that mind of yours? Why is your face so

    red?¡± Nan Chen stared at Ning Ran.

    Unable to exin herself, Ning Ran¡¯s desperation only made her blush even more.

    ¡°I¡¯m really not blushing! Stop teasing me!¡± Ning Ran grunted.

    Amused, Nan Chen let out a smug smile.

    This rude and brazen woman is actually capable of feeling embarrassed?

    I only have my shirt off, and yet she¡¯s already this shy?

    I mean, hasn¡¯t she seen a man with his shirt off?

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head to the bathroom now,¡± Nan Chen instructed as he stood up.

    ¡°I¡¯m not going!¡± Ning Ran refused at once.

    ¡°My hand is injured. If I bathe on my own and get infected by the water, wouldn¡¯t it just make things

    worse?¡± Nan Chen questioned Ning Ran.

    ¡°Then you shouldn¡¯t shower at all!¡±

    ¡°I just came back from the party where there were all sorts of people attending. The ce was filled

    with cigarette smoke and the stench of alcohol. Besides, there¡¯s the lingering fragrance of women¡¯s

    perfume and their makeup. I can¡¯t possibly sleep if I don¡¯t wash up,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°How is it possible for a high-end ce to be filthy?¡± Ning Ran was puzzled.

    ¡°What may be high-end to you is filthy from my perspective.¡±

    ¡°Fine. But now you¡¯re wounded. Why don¡¯t you bear with it and not shower for the time being?¡±

    ¡°Why should I bear with it? Besides, this wound isn¡¯t going to heal anytime soon. How do you expect

    me to bear with it?¡± Nan Chen threw the question back at her.

    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran was stumped.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you do it your...¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the whole point - I can¡¯t do it myself. Do you think that I want to ask for your help if I have a

    choice? I don¡¯t even trust you to do it.¡±

    ¡°Hey! You¡¯re too much. Who the hell acts like that when asking for a favor?¡± Ning Ranined

    angrily.

    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for me tonight, you would have fallen into terrible circumstances, and your life would have

    been destroyed. Not only will your acting career end, but you will also have to leave the city. Therefore,

    you owe me one. Do you understand?¡± Nan Chen stared at Ning Ran.

    ¡°I admit that¡¯s the truth, and I thank you wholeheartedly for it. But...¡±

    ¡°Now that I¡¯m injured, you don¡¯t have to thank me. Instead, you should demonstrate your gratitude with

    actions. Now, let¡¯s go to the bathroom.¡±

    ¡°But I...¡±

    We have to help each other. The next time you¡¯re in trouble, I will return the favor. If you ignore me,

    who is going to save you in the future?¡± Nan Chen put it inly.

    ¡°Is there even going to be a next time?¡±

    ¡°I sure hope not. But who knows? What if there is?¡±

    After that, Ning Ran no longer had any excuse.

    His logic is sound. If I don¡¯t help him, it would appear that I¡¯m a heartless ingrate.

    ¡°One shows gratitude through actions and not just by repeating it.¡±

    Just as he spoke, Nan Chen stood up and pulled Ning Ran along to the bathroom.

    He used his injured hand to pull her. Thus, if she resisted, it might aggravate his wound.

    Ning Ran had no idea how bad the injury was and whether there were any stitches since the wound

    was well bandaged.

    It was impossible to see anything at all.

    Hence, Ning Ran didn¡¯t dare to struggle because she was worried her sudden movements would cause

    his wound to split open.

    Besides, she was feeling extremely guilty, so she knew she shouldn¡¯t risk it.

    Finally, she had no choice but to follow Nan Chen into the bathroom.

    Unbeknownst to her, Nan Chen actually used his injured hand on purpose because he knew she

    wouldn¡¯t dare to struggle.

    Therefore, he was secretly delighted with himself when he saw Ning Ranplying obediently like a

    docilemb.

    The bathroom was huge and even had a massage table inside for resting.

    ¡°Fill it with water,¡± Nan Chen pointed at the tub.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Ning Ran grunted in acknowledgment.

    The bathtub was a smart tub where one didn¡¯t need to adjust the temperature of the bath by filling it

    with either cold or warm water. All Ning Ran needed to do was to choose the temperature she wanted

    on the control panel. Then, water with the exact temperature would flow out from the tap.

    ¡°Once the bath is ready, I¡¯ll leave you to it,¡± Ning Ran informed him.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t even bathed, and you¡¯re already leaving?¡±

    ¡°I...¡±

    ¡°Help me take off my belt,¡± Nan Chen ordered.

    ¡°Argh! Not going to happen!¡± Ning Ran yelled.

    ¡°Am I supposed to bathe with my pants on?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s your problem, it has nothing to do with me!¡±

    ¡°I got hurt because of you, and you dare say it has nothing to do with you? You have to take

    responsibility for what happened!¡± Nan Chen put his foot down in a firm tone.

    ¡°You¡¯re intimidating me!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just telling it as it is. Get over here!¡± Nan Chen ordered softly.

    ¡°You¡¯re trying to take advantage of me!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not. This is what you¡¯re supposed to do. If you were hurt because of me, I would also do the same

    and help you out...¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want that!¡± Ning Ran protested with greater fervor.

    ¡°Whether you want it or not, it¡¯s your problem. You must do as I say now. I¡¯m hurt and can¡¯t function

    independently. Therefore, you have to help me.¡±

    Ning Ran sighed and resigned herself to fate.

    There was no escape from fate.

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll do it.¡±

    Ning Ran approached Nan Chen and turned her head away. After feeling around for a long while, she

    still couldn¡¯t find the belt buckle.

    Just then, Ning Ran couldn¡¯t help but curse in her heart. I have seen the belt being sold for two

    hundred thousand online. For such an expensive belt, why can¡¯t it be as smart as the tub and unbuckle

    itself with a touch of a button?

    ¡°If you don¡¯t look at me, how are you going to unbuckle it? How long do you intend to keep struggling

    for?¡± Nan Chen grumbled.

    ¡°For something that costs a few hundred thousand, can¡¯t they design it so that it will release with a

    touch of a button? It¡¯s so hard to remove, and yet it¡¯s so freaking expensive!¡± Ning Ran blurted out her

    thoughts as she couldn¡¯t hold them back any longer.

    Nan Chen held back hisughter. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°This belt is sold for a few hundred thousand, but it¡¯s so hard to unbuckle. It¡¯s not worth the money at

    all,¡± Ning Ran continued toin.

    ¡°If they design a button and that button malfunctions, what am I going to do when I need to go? Should

    I call customer service and wait for the technician to repair it for me?¡± Nan Chen asked with his

    eyebrows furrowed.

    ¡°Hahaha,¡± Ning Ran burst into suddenughter as Nan Chen¡¯s words inexplicably tickled her funny

    bone.

 Chapter 443

    Chapter 443

    Nan Chen gawked at Ning Ran when he saw herughing heartily.

    Once she was doneughing, she felt embarrassed for losing herposure.

    ¡°Ah, sorry. It was really funny, so I just couldn¡¯t help myself.¡±

    Meanwhile, Nan Chen rolled his eyes at her before motioning her to continue.

    After using all her strength, she finally removed his belt.

    ¡°Hey, slow down, cowboy! Can¡¯t you at least let me leave first?¡± Ning Ran hinted to Nan Chen not to

    take off his pants so quickly.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you helping me to wash up?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. Mr. Chen, I¡¯m thepany¡¯s actress, not your babysitter! What you¡¯re doing is against

    company policy. It will ruin your reputation,¡± Ning Ran exined with a straight face.

    ¡°Have I breached thepany policy?¡± Nan Chen sneered.

    ¡°Not at the moment. That¡¯s why I feel that you¡¯re a boss that deserves my utmost respect. Furthermore,

    I hope you don¡¯t ruin your image of being a respectable man!¡±

    Nan Chen smirked. Trying your luck, are you? What is this? Is this ttery, or are you just ying the

    good guy card? Or perhaps, you¡¯re just ying hard to get?

    ¡°I have no interest in taking advantage of you. In other words, even if you were to make advances on

    me, I might not even ept them. However, you can¡¯t leave because I am injured. For the umpteenth

    time, I cannot bathe by myself, and I need your help to do it,¡± Nan Chen reiterated coldly.

    Ning Ran wailed, ¡°No! I can¡¯t do this! It¡¯s just too awkward. I¡¯ll tell you what - why don¡¯t you clean up

    yourself, and I promise I will do anything else that you want?¡±

    ¡°For real?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    The only thing Ning Ran could think of was fleeing. Without giving it much thought, she readily agreed.

    ¡°In that case, you can leave, and I will clean up myself slowly.¡±

    As if she had won the lottery, Ning Ran slipped out immediately.

    Once she left exited the bathroom, she began to pant vigorously.

    For someone who hardly had any experience in rtionships, helping another man take off his clothes

    was simply too much to ask for.

    It wasn¡¯t that it was embarrassing. In fact, there were some other inexplicable reasons that caused her

    to feel immensely nervous.

    After that, Ning Ran went to another bathroom to wash up and change into her loungewear instead of

    her pajamas.

    When she was done, it was time to chat with Dabao and Erbao via video call as they had agreed to it

    earlier. She did so because they were not with her.

    When Erbao saw Ning Ran¡¯s background, she cried out, ¡°Mommy! You¡¯re home! Why didn¡¯t you take

    us home with you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m busy and have no time to take care of you. So, I have to let you stay over there for two days,¡± Ning

    Ran replied.

    ¡°Alright, we understand you¡¯re having a tough time. Are you alone?¡± Erbao suddenly asked.

    Ning Ran was surprised by her question and recalled the injured person in the bathroom. She

    wondered if she should tell them.

    ¡°I...¡±

    ¡°Oh, we know. Daddy¡¯s there too, right? Both of you must be enjoying your privacy. That¡¯s why you left

    us here.¡± Erbao chuckled.

    ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? What privacy? Where did you learn suchnguage?¡±

    Erbao made a face. ¡°Don¡¯t think we don¡¯t know anything just because we¡¯re kids. Anyway, you haven¡¯t

    told us if Daddy is there.¡±

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    ¡°Move aside. I¡¯d like to talk to Dabao,¡± Ning Ran instructed impatiently.

    ¡°I¡¯m only concerned about you and Daddy. I didn¡¯t really say anything.¡± Erbao pouted.

    At that moment, Dabao came over. He heard Ning Ran and Erbao¡¯s conversation just a moment ago.

    ¡°I want to chat with Mommy, so please move aside,¡± Dabao ordered.

    ¡°Why? Can¡¯t we talk together?¡±

    ¡°I have something to tell Mommy in private, so please go somece else.¡± Dabao nudged Erbao away.

    Erbao had always obeyed her brother. Despite notprehending the reason, she still moved away

    obediently.

    ¡°Mommy, what happened to Daddy?¡± Dabao asked suddenly.

    ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Daddy isn¡¯t at Great-Grandpa¡¯s house, but with you instead. Why don¡¯t you allow us to go home?

    Instead, you leave us here at Great-Grandpa¡¯s house. Both Daddy and you love us. If there¡¯s nothing

    going on, you would have definitely picked us up. So something must have happened to Daddy. Is he

    alright?¡±

    Ning Ran was shocked at how observant Dabao was. He actually guessed correctly?

    ¡°Nothing much. Daddy is just exhausted and has a lot of work to catch up on. That¡¯s why he hasn¡¯t

    picked you up. I hope you don¡¯t me us.¡± Ning Ran reassured him.

    ¡°Is Daddy really fine?¡± Dabao wasn¡¯t convinced and tried to probe further.

    ¡°He¡¯s fine. He¡¯s actually bathing now. I¡¯ll let him speak to you on video callter, okay?¡±

    ¡°Sure!¡± Dabao¡¯s face lit up in joy.

    At that moment, Nan Chen¡¯s voice could be heard calling her from the bathroom.

    ¡°I gotta go. We will talk againter. If you¡¯re tired, you should go to bed first.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not tired, so I¡¯ll wait for Daddy. Mommy, you should continue with whatever you¡¯re busy with,¡±

    Dabao remarked sensibly.

    After ending the call, Ning Ran arrived at the bathroom. ¡°Mr. Chen, what is it this time?¡±

    ¡°Come in.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Ning Ran refused.

    ¡°I fell down. Quick,e and help me up.¡±

    Shocked, Ning Ran burst through the door.

    What greeted her was Nan Chen standing while struggling to dry his body with a towel.

    Since he was only using one hand, it was obviously difficult for him to do this without help.

    As she lowered her gaze, she was relieved to see he had his underwear on.

    Despite that, his ripped figure was still stimting her senses.

    Even to the extent that Ning Ran realized that she was too embarrassed to look.

    ¡°Come over. What are you spacing out for?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Are you still expecting me to act like your mother?¡± Ning Ran protested.

    ¡°This is called helping each other. I was hurt because of you. If you were hurt because of me, I would

    have done the same...¡±

    ¡°Alright, alright! You don¡¯t have to rattle on.¡±

    Taking over the towel, Ning Ran helped Nan Chen to dry himself.

    His body was beautifully toned and muscr. Ning Ran thought to herself that if Poker Face had lost

    his job one day, he could get a job as a male model. In fact, he could even provide some ¡°special¡±

    services.

    When the thought crossed her mind, she couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.

    ¡°What¡¯s that about?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Nothing.¡±

    ¡°Speak!¡± There was no way he was going to let it go.

    ¡°I was thinking... forget it, you won¡¯t be able to take a joke. And it¡¯ll probably end up with you hating

    me.¡±

    ¡°Just get on with it!¡±

    ¡°Do you really want to know?¡±

    ¡°Stop beating around the bush and tell me what¡¯s so funny.¡±

    ¡°I just thought that you have a good figure. If you weren¡¯t some rich kid, you should probably be a male

    model. Not only that but you could also...¡±

    ¡°Also what?¡±

    ¡°I dare not say.¡±

    ¡°Spit it out!¡±

    ¡°You could also provide ¡®special¡¯ services.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Nan Chen didn¡¯t get it.

    ¡°I heard that there are richdies looking for handsome men and are willing to pay them. Given how

    handsome you are, you can make a living that way.¡±

    Nan Chen immediately understood what she was trying to say. He suddenly turned around and lifted

    her chin.

    ¡°You insisted that I tell you. Besides, I already said it was a joke. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m actually asking you to

    do it,¡± Ning Ran defended herself anxiously.

    ¡°Why would you know about it? Have you paid for one before?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    ¡°Are you hearing yourself? I¡¯m as poor as a church mouse, so where would I get the money to pay for

    one? It¡¯s more likely someone else pays for my services...¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡± The iciness in Nan Chen¡¯s gaze intensified.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that; it was just a slip of tongue,¡± Ning Ran quickly rified.

 Chapter 444

    Chapter 444

    ¡°Are you paying for someone¡¯s services, or is someone paying for yours?¡±

    At that point, Nan Chen¡¯s expression began to darken. Regardless of whichever situation it was, he

    couldn¡¯t ept either.

    ¡°Neither, I just said - it was just a slip of tongue!¡± Ning Ran became anxious.

    ¡°But how did you know about such things?¡± Nan Chen demanded as he red at Ning Ran.

    ¡°People talk about it.¡±

    ¡°Who did you hear it from?¡± Nan Chen persisted in his questions.

    ¡°I need some time to recall as I can¡¯t remember off-hand. It¡¯s just something I overheard when people

    were talking, so I don¡¯t recall who said what.¡±

    ¡°Then think harder! Who was it that told you, or did you experience it yourself?¡± Nan Chen wasn¡¯t giving

    up.

    ¡°Ugh,e on! I was only joking. You don¡¯t have to take it THAT seriously. You really have no sense of

    humor at all.¡± Ning Ran began to feel frustrated.

    By then, she was done drying Nan Chen and had already helped him into his pajamas.

    ¡°If you were to pay for my services, how much would you offer?¡± Nan Chen suddenly asked.

    Ning Ran was stunned. What kind of question is that?

    ¡°I already said I was just kidding,¡± Ning Ran repeated helplessly.

    ¡°Answer me. How much will you offer?¡± Nan Chen asked again.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I can¡¯t afford you... wait, that didn¡¯te out right. I meant I wouldn¡¯t offer you anything.¡±

    Ning Ran blushed instantly.

    Is he flirting with me?

    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

    Or is he setting a trap?

    ¡°You¡¯re already blushing, and yet you im that you won¡¯t offer me anything?¡± Nan Chen fixated his

    gaze on her.

    Ning Ran felt her knees buckling and had the urge to flee.

    ¡°Can we stop talking about this? It was just a thought, so don¡¯t take it seriously,¡± Ning Ran¡¯s tone

    sounded as she was pleading for mercy.

    ¡°Name your price, and I¡¯ll let you pay for me,¡± Nan Chen¡¯s eyes were filled with mischief.

    He found this topic to be extremely intriguing, so he wasn¡¯t going to give it up that easily.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to. I really don¡¯t, so stop harping on this topic. Dabao is worried about you, so I promised

    him to get you to call him. Since he has been waiting for you, don¡¯t let him wait too long.¡±

    Finally, those words achieved their intended effect as Nan Chen stopped harping about paying for

    ¡°special¡± services.

    Evidently, Dabao was still waiting. When he saw his Daddy appear on his phone screen, he let out a

    rare smile.

    As he had inherited Nan Chen¡¯s cool demeanor, Dabao seldom smiled during normal times.

    For a person who rarely smiled to smile, it would bring one a sense of untold joy.

    And since Dabao was already a handsome child. When he smiled, he had Ning Ran mesmerized.

    ¡°Wow, Dabao is smiling!¡±

    ¡°Daddy, are you alright?¡± Dabao¡¯s eyes were filled with concern.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Is Erbao asleep?¡±

    ¡°Yes, she was too tired, so she went to bed first.¡±

    ¡°You should also turn in as it¡¯s alreadyte. You know, kids get taller if they sleep on time,¡± Nan Chen

    persuaded.

    ¡°I want to talk to you a while more before I go to bed. Daddy, are you and Mommy still fighting?¡± Dabao

    asked.

    ¡°No we aren¡¯t. Why would we fight?¡±

    ¡°Does that mean you like Mommy now?¡± Dabao asked again.

    It was a tough question to answer, mainly because Ning Ran was sitting right beside him.

    ¡°We¡¯re doing fine. You should sleep now since you still have school tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Alright. We will be staying in Great-Grandpa¡¯s house for a while. So both of you, please take care of

    each other,¡± Dabao instructed.

    ¡°We¡¯ll see. Once I¡¯m done with my work, I will pick you and Erbao up.¡±

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s all then. Good night, Daddy. Good night, Mommy.¡±

    Waving his little hands, Dabao happily ended the call.

    Ning Ran, too, began to yawn. ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep. Is there anything else?¡±

    ¡°There is.¡±

    As a matter of fact, Ning Ran was just asking out of courtesy, so she didn¡¯t expect him to take it

    seriously.

    ¡°What is it? Why do you have so many requests?¡± Ning Ran grumbled.

    ¡°What kind of attitude is that? I got hurt because of you.¡±

    Ning Ran was losing it. Is this what people consider emotional ckmail? When is this going to end?

    ¡°Sir Chen, I know that you got hurt because of me. However, you have also pestered me a lot. So,

    when are you going to turn the page on this incident?¡±

    ¡°Not anytime soon. My wound hasn¡¯t even healed, and you¡¯re already thinking about turning the page?¡±

    Nan Chen questioned in a frosty voice.

    ¡°Fine, then please tell me your next request.¡±

    ¡°Sleep with me,¡± Nan Chen¡¯s reply was short and sweet.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m injured, so the wound may get infected, or there might be other risks. I need someone to take care

    of me and provide me with immediate medical attention if anything untoward happens.¡± Nan Chen

    exined with a straight face.

    Ning Ran felt his exnation made a lot of sense. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll send you to the hospital. There are

    a lot more professionals there.¡±

    ¡°I told you that I can¡¯t go to the hospital, because I can¡¯t let anyone else know that I¡¯m hurt. How many

    times do you need me to repeat myself?¡±

    ¡°But...¡±

    ¡°Just sleep on the same bed. I¡¯ll be fine as long as you take care of me,¡± Nan Chen insisted.

    This must be part of his plot! Ning Ran thought to herself.

    No, wait. He is just doing this outright because he knows I don¡¯t have a choice other than to obey him.

    In fact, he is taking advantage of me brazenly.

    Fine, what¡¯s the big deal about sleeping together. It¡¯s not like it hasn¡¯t happened before. What¡¯s there to

    be afraid of?

    ¡°Okay, okay! I will take good care of you and not allow anything untoward to happen to you,¡± Ning Ran

    dered.

    ¡°Good, now that¡¯s the spirit. Come on. It¡¯s time to help me to the bedroom now,¡± Nan Chen instructed.

    At that moment, all Ning Ran wanted was to kick him in the shin. They both knew that Nan Chen¡¯s

    wound wasn¡¯t that serious, and there was no need for him to be so dramatic about it.

    Furthermore, he had just bathed himself. Why does he need me to support him now? What¡¯s the

    meaning of this?

    ¡°Hurry up,¡± Nan Chen snapped.

    Without a choice, Ning Ran came over to help him.

    Compared to Nan Chen, Ning Ran was like an ant. Thus, when she was helping him, she felt like she

    was supporting amp post.

    Her height and strength were barely enough to provide him with any meaningful support. Hence, the

    ¡°support¡± she provided was simply cosmetic.

    I didn¡¯t expect someone as pragmatic as Nan Chen to enjoy such ceremonial disys?

    After being helped into the bedroom, Nan Cheny down and motioned Ning Ran to take off his shoes.

    Sighing, she did as he asked.

    ¡°What are you sighing for? Are you really that reluctant?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Not at all, Sir Chen. It was an honor to do so,¡± Ning Ran retorted sarcastically.

    ¡°Come up here then.¡± Nan Chen motioned to Ning Ran.

    Ning Rany on the bed but maintained a safe distance from him.

    ¡°How are you going to know if something happens to me if you¡¯re so far away? You need toe

    closer.¡±

    Resigned to her fate, Ning Ran inched closer to him.

    This wasn¡¯t the first time shey beside him. But for some reason, she was especially shy tonight, and

    her face was blushing red.

    ¡°I¡¯ll turn off the lights.¡± Ning Ran picked up the remote.

    ¡°Why are you in such a hurry? We haven¡¯t even agreed on the price, and you expect me to provide my

    services already?¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s blushing intensified. ¡°There¡¯s no such thing. It¡¯s just that the light is too jarring, so I want to

    turn it off.¡±

    ¡°No, leave it on. In case something happens to me, you will notice it in time. If something happens to

    you, I can also see easily.¡±

    What Nan Chen was referring to was obviously Ning Ran¡¯s flushing face.

    Rolling her eyes at Nan Chen, she turned away from him, so she didn¡¯t have to look at him and that he

    couldn¡¯t see her either.

 Chapter 445

    Chapter 445

    As Nan Chen closed his eyes, his nose caught a gentle whiff of fragrant orange blossoms.

    The scent brought him back to the past. He had always been searching desperately for it but didn¡¯t

    know why.

    Suddenly, Nan Chen made a forceful turn on the bed and moved his body next to Ning Ran¡¯s.

    At the same time, Ning Ran wondered how Nan Chen could make such a sudden movement given that

    he was injured.

    ¡°Turn off the lights,¡± Nan Chen ordered in his gruff voice.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Ning Ran grunted in acknowledgment.

    Pressing a button on the remote, the light went off.

    The moment the room went dark, Nan Chen leaned in towards her.

    Ning Ran opened her mouth to scream but was silenced by his lips.

    It was a strong and ravishing kiss.

    Stunned, Ning Ran¡¯s mind drew a nk.

    Is he not worried about aggravating his wound by moving so forcefully?

    Gradually engulfed by a strange sensation, Ning Ran couldn¡¯t help but reciprocate his advances.

    However, her hand was still holding the remote. With a jolt, she identally pressed a button, and all

    the lights came back on.

    At that moment, the atmosphere became awkward.

    Nan Chen stopped his advances and looked at Ning Ran. ¡°You like it with the lights on?¡±

    ¡°No, I...¡± Ning Ran tidied up her ruffled hair and didn¡¯t dare look Nan Chen in the eye.

    ¡°So why did you turn them back on?¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t on purpose. I was...¡±

    Not wanting to hear her exnation further, Nan Chen reached out and turned off the lights. The room

    fell into total darkness again.

    Just like a beast, he continued ravaging her.

    This time, his actions were more forceful as he slipped his hand underneath her pajamas.

    In her panic, Ning Ran quickly pushed him away.

    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

    However, Nan Chen was already overwhelmed with lust and wasn¡¯t going to let her off easily.

    Reaching out his hand, he pulled Ning Ran close to where he could control her. After that, his hand

    continued to venture.

    ¡°Let go of me!¡±

    Suddenly, Ning Ran used all the strength in her limbs and pushed against Nan Chen.

    Despite her petite figure, she exploded with such intensity that it shocked Nan Chen.

    Feeling for the remote, Nan Chen turned on the lights and saw Ning Ran ring angrily at him.

    ¡°You aren¡¯t allowed to treat me like that! I won¡¯t allow you to force yourself on me! I...¡±

    While she was still speaking, she suddenly jumped out of bed and rushed out of the room barefooted.

    Nan Chen quickly got up and chased after her. Then he heard Ning Ran retching by the toilet bowl.

    Furrowing his eyebrows, his eyes were filled with anger. Is she actually vomiting? Am I that disgusting

    to her?

    Despite feeling nauseous, Ning Ran gagged, but nothing came out.

    Initially, Ning Ran wasn¡¯t repelled by Nan Chen¡¯s kiss. In fact, she was looking forward to it.

    However, when Nan Chen¡¯s hand started wandering amorously around and she couldn¡¯t refuse, she

    was overwhelmed with revulsion.

    The next moment, feelings of hate and disgust followed.

    After retching for a while, there really was nothing for her to throw up.

    She then washed her face and dried it, preparing to return to the room.

    However, the moment she turned around, she saw Nan Chen blocking the door.

    His expression was as cold as ice, and his gaze sharp as a knife.

    ¡°Do you really hate me that much? Is the sight of me so revolting?¡± Nan Chen questioned.

    ¡°Yes... I mean no, I was just...¡±

    Ning Ran was stumped.

    It was an extremely strange feeling for her, and she, too, couldn¡¯t understand why she reacted that way.

    ¡°Do you hate me touching you? Do you hate it when we get intimate?¡± Nan Chen continued to pepper

    her with questions.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    Ning Ran felt like crying as she really didn¡¯t know what was going on.

    Walking closer to her, Nan Chen stared into her eyes, ¡°You don¡¯t like me. Or should I put it this way -

    you hate me?¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Then why were you vomiting?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡±

    Nan Chen was incensed. Ning Ran¡¯s reaction tonight was an absolute humiliation for him.

    She could have pushed him away or refused him. After all, he wasn¡¯t desperate and could stop

    anytime.

    However, for her to react with such revulsion was uneptable to him. It was simply too much.

    He was the illustrious Nan Chen. As long as he was willing, innumerable beauties would be lining up

    and offering themselves to him.

    It wouldn¡¯t have stopped at one or ten. In fact, to have a hundred of them waiting in line wouldn¡¯t even

    be an exaggeration.

    However, he wasn¡¯t interested in any of them. All he wanted tonight was her.

    Hence, for her to react in such an extreme was utterly humiliating for him.

    Nan Chen turned around and returned to his room, while Ning Ran followed behind him as if she had

    committed a grave mistake.

    After a while, Nan Chen turned and looked at her, ¡°Get out!¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m telling you to leave! Weren¡¯t you feeling nauseous? You should just continue puking!¡± Nan Chen

    berated.

    ¡°I...I really don¡¯t mean it.¡± Ning Ran felt that she was misunderstood.

    ¡°Is that so? Then tell me, what do you really mean?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know either. I know it was extremely rude of me, but I couldn¡¯t help myself...¡±

    ¡°Get out!¡± Nan Chen yelled.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you want me to apany you because you¡¯re hurt? I¡¯m supposed to monitor your condition,

    aren¡¯t I? I will stay by your side. As long as you don¡¯t touch me, I promise I won¡¯t puke!¡±

    Ning Ran was feeling guilty as she was well aware that she had overreacted.

    She was also cognizant of how humiliating her behavior was for Nan Chen, especially since he was a

    proud man.

    ¡°It¡¯s not necessary anymore. Just leave.¡±

    Ning Ran stood there without moving.

    ¡°Get out, now!¡± Nan Chen raised his voice.

    After giving Nan Chen a helpless nce, Ning Ran trudged out.

    However, she stood by the door just in case Nan Chen changed his mind. But when he didn¡¯t, she sat

    down on the sofa in the living room.

    Whipping out her phone, she started searching online.

    The topic she was researching rted to why some women were repulsed by intimacy. Surprisingly,

    she found many instances of it.

    However, the answers given by so-called experts were all over the ce. Some said it was a physical

    issue, while others attributed it to mental factors. Some even imed that it was the hatred of the man

    that came into y.

    With so many answers, it was as good as if there were none.

    Putting down her phone, Ning Ran felt perplexed.

    She asked herself repeatedly, do I hate him?

    In the end, she realized that deep down, she didn¡¯t know the answer either.

    Nan Chen was indeed annoying at times as he did things without considering the feelings of others.

    But aside from that, he was a great person who gave her a sense of security. Furthermore, his care for

    her was unconditional, which she felt was one of his best attributes.

    After that, she asked herself again if it was because she didn¡¯t like him enough to allow him to touch

    her.

    But then, it didn¡¯t feel that way. When they were in the bathroom, she was obviously attracted to him.

    Since I¡¯m attracted to him, why didn¡¯t I let him approach me? Why am I reacting that way? Was it really

    because the lights were off?

    But that doesn¡¯t make sense too. Wouldn¡¯t turning off the lights allow me to set aside my reticence and

    be less restrained?

    This is really strange. What the heck is going on?

    After racking her brains for a long time, she still didn¡¯t have an answer, so she fell asleep instead.

    The next day when she awoke, she realized that she was covered in a nket. She remembered not

    doing so the night before and wondered if it was Nan Chen who covered her.

    She rushed to the bedroom at once and knocked on the door, ¡°Mr. Chen, what do you want to have for

    breakfast? I¡¯ll make it for you.¡±

    After calling out a few times, no one responded. She found an empty room when she pushed the door

    open. It appeared that Nan Chen had left before she woke up.

    Earlier, Ning Ran had nned to make him breakfast to make up for what happenedst night.

    However, she didn¡¯t expect to not have the opportunity to do so.

 Chapter 446

    Chapter 446

    Despite calling Nan Chen¡¯s phone soon after that, he didn¡¯t pick up.

    With that, Ning Ran knew that Sir Chen was still furious at her, so she didn¡¯t dare to call repeatedly.

    After that, she called Wang Xiaoou to check if there was any work for the day.

    Wang Xiaoou told her that there wasn¡¯t anything in the morning, but the script for the new movie would

    be sent over in the afternoon.

    Realizing that she was going to be shooting a movie, Ning Ran felt extremely excited as it was a dream

    come true for her.

    Wang Xiaoou followed up by warning her that she had be the talk of the town and should stay at

    home instead. Just so the paparazzi wouldn¡¯t be able to take pictures of her.

    After ending her call with Wang Xiaoou, her phone rang again. This time, it was Ouyang Qing on the

    line.

    But Ning Ran didn¡¯t pick up.

    Previously, Ning Ran had a good impression of Ouyang Qing. But now, she gradually noticed that

    Ouyang Qing was like a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing despite her innocent demeanor.

    However, Ouyang Qing called again, so Ning Ran had no choice but to answer.

    ¡°Ding, where are you now? The first draft of the movie script is out. I want to show it to you so that you

    can prepare yourself.¡±

    Ning Ran had almost forgotten that Ouyang Qing was one of the new movie¡¯s investors. Therefore, she

    would also have received the script.

    ¡°Thanks Ms. Ouyang. Where are you now? Shall I pick it up from you?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°I heard from the guys at Star Entertainment that there¡¯s a lot of news about you recently. So, you

    shouldn¡¯t be out and about. Let me send it to you. You¡¯re currently at home, aren¡¯t you? It¡¯s Red Maple

    City right?¡± Ouyang Qing asked.

    Ning Ran felt bad as Ouyang Qing was an investor, and therefore, a boss. As an actress, it was rude of

    her to have Ouyang Qing deliver it herself.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t I pick it up myself. After all, I wouldn¡¯t want to trouble you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all, Ding. We are friends, after all. Is your ce at Red Maple City? I¡¯ll have it

    delivered at once. The script is considered top secret right now and can¡¯t be leaked at all costs.

    Therefore, you must ensure that you keep it a secret.¡±

    ¡°I understand. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t leak it. However, I feel bad that you have to send it to me personally.

    Let me pick it up instead. Where are you? Just send me your location, and I¡¯lle right away.¡±

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°You really don¡¯t have to as it¡¯s better you stay at home. I¡¯ll deliver it to you right away.¡±

    Given how persistent Ouyang Qing was, Ning Ran had no choice but to agree.

    After half an hour, Ouyang Qing hadn¡¯t arrive.

    Just when Ning Ran was about to call and check, she decided against it as it would be rude to hurry

    her.

    After waiting for a while longer, Ouyang Qing called again to say that something hade up, and she

    couldn¡¯t leave. Hence, she would send someone she trusted to deliver the script.

    Appearing to be really busy, Ouyang Qing ended the call quickly.

    After twenty minutes, someone rang the doorbell.

    Ning Ran headed downstairs and opened the vi¡¯s door.

    The man standing outside turned out to be Ouyang Qi.

    ¡°Haha, Mimi, here we are again. Come, give me a hug,¡± Ouyang Qiughed.

    Just as he spoke, he quickly changed his mind. ¡°Ah... Forget it. I¡¯m worried Nan Chen will use me of

    harassing you again.¡±

    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Ning Ran asked with a frown.

    ¡°My sister asked me to deliver the new script to you,¡± Ouyang Qi replied.

    ¡°Thank you. Where¡¯s the script?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s in the USB drive as it¡¯s in electronic form. It hasn¡¯t been printed out yet.¡±

    ¡°Where¡¯s the USB drive then?¡±

    ¡°I will pass it to you in a while. However, my stomach isn¡¯t feeling too good, so can I use your

    washroom?¡± Ouyang Qi cringed while holding his stomach.

    ¡°No, you can¡¯t. There¡¯s no one here, so you can¡¯t enter,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°Please let me in. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m the bad guy, so it doesn¡¯t matter if there¡¯s no one else inside. I¡¯ll leave

    once I finish using the washroom,¡± Ouyang Qi insisted.

    ¡°No, rumors still start because of this.¡±

    ¡°How is that possible? It¡¯s broad daylight now. I just need to use the toilet. I can¡¯t hold it any longer... it¡¯s

    going toe out anytime, I...¡±

    Ouyang Qi crouched at once with his face writhing in pain.

    ¡°Fine, you go ahead, but I¡¯ll wait for you outside. Be done with it quickly,¡± Ning Ran relented.

    Meanwhile, Qiao Zhan entered Nan Chen¡¯s office.

    ¡°This is the security footage of the waitress that tricked Young Mistress. She was an impostor who was

    nted by someone...¡±

    Nan Chen interrupted him, ¡°Have you found out who the mastermind was?¡±

    ¡°Whoever was behind this covered their tracks well as they used abor hire agency to recruit her. The

    employer wore a mask throughout and didn¡¯t expose his face. As the pay was good and the job easy,

    the waitress wasn¡¯t too concerned when she epted the offer.¡±

    ¡°In other words, you still don¡¯t have an answer?¡± Nan Chen questioned coldly.

    ¡°I¡¯m still investigating...¡± Qiao Zhan became nervous when questioned.

    ¡°When will you know?¡± Nan Chen demanded.

    ¡°As soon as possible...¡±

    ¡°And when is that?¡±

    ¡°Within three days,¡± Qiao Zhan had no choice but tomit.

    ¡°What about the two men? Did you find out anything about them?¡±

    ¡°They weren¡¯t local, and their documents were all fake. It appears that they have been brought in from

    elsewhere just to do this,¡± Qiao Zhan exined.

    ¡°Where are they from?¡±

    ¡°Pearl City,¡± Qiao Zhan answered.

    Nan Chen remained silent in thought.

    Pearl City was where the Ouyang family¡¯s business was based and was the province¡¯s secondrgest

    city. Although it wasn¡¯t the provincial capital, its GDP was almost simr to that of Flower City.

    ¡°Have we caught those two men?¡±

    ¡°Yes we did, but they are tough nuts to crack and refused to say a word still. They looked like they¡¯d

    rather die. Hence, I didn¡¯t dare torture them too harshly for fear of killing them by ident.

    ¡°Let them go,¡± Nan Chen ordered.

    ¡°Alright, but what about the investigations...¡±

    ¡°We won¡¯t get anything out of them. Forget it,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    Qiao Zhan still had something to say but decided otherwise at thest minute.

    He knew Nan Chen had his own reasons for doing it. All he needed to do was to follow Sir Chen¡¯s

    orders and not question them.

    ¡°Spit it out.¡±

    ¡°I just want to ask if we are showing too much mercy by freeing them just like that? After all, they did

    hurt you,¡± Qiao Zhan reminded with a frown.

    ¡°After we have captured them, we freed them instead of handing them over to the police. Tell me, what

    will their employer do?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Their employer will assume that they were sellouts, and then...¡± Qiao Zhan raised his hands and make

    a throat-slitting gesture.

    ¡°That¡¯s why we should let them go. They are just tools, like knives. The one who matters is the

    mastermind behind all this,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°I understand.¡±

    Lowering his head, Nan Chen continued to read his documents.

    But he noticed that Qiao Zhan hadn¡¯t left.

    ¡°Is there something else?¡±

    ¡°Based on your instructions, we have stationed some men outside the vi to protect Young Mistress...¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s not the Young Mistress!¡± Nan Chen corrected him.

    ¡°To protect Ms. Ding,¡± Qiao Zhan corrected himself at once.

    ¡°Her name is Ning Ran.¡±

    ¡°To protect Ms. Ning.¡± Qiao Zhan felt he was being put in a spot. Why is Nan Chen so particr about

    how Ning Ran is being addressed?

    ¡°And then?¡±

    ¡°A man entered the vi.¡±

    Nan Chen raised his head. ¡°A man?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Qiao Zhan replied unnervingly.

    He proceeded to hand his phone over. In the picture, Ning Ran looked as if she was talking to Ouyang

    Qi at the entrance.

    The next picture showed Ouyang Qi entering the vi.

    Bang!

    Nan Chen mmed the table; meanwhile, Qiao Zhan didn¡¯t dare move a muscle.

    He knew that the pictures would likely infuriate Nan Chen, but he didn¡¯t have a choice. All he could do

    was to report the truth. If he were to be found out for hiding it, the consequences would be even worse.

 Chapter 447

    Chapter 447

    After Ouyang Qi entered the vi, Ning Ran didn¡¯t follow him immediately.

    However, he stayed inside for a long time without any signs ofing out.

    After some time, Ning Ran began to worry because the vi belonged to Nan Chen. He spent a lot of

    time in the study, which doubled up as his office. Hence, there would be a lot of sensitivemercial

    documents inside, and strangers shouldn¡¯t be allowed near them.

    With that in mind, Ning Ran rushed back into the house anxiously and shouted, ¡°Ouyang Qi, what are

    you doing?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m in the toilet. What else could I be doing?¡± Ouyang Qi retorted.

    ¡°Why are you taking so long?¡±

    ¡°My stomach hurts, so don¡¯t rush me.¡±

    Once she was sure the voice came from the toilet, and Ouyang Qi wasn¡¯t snooping around in the study,

    Ning Ran heaved a sigh of relief and sat on the sofa to wait.

    After a while, Ouyang Qi came out.

    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    His normally pale face was evencking color now, while his forehead was sweating profusely. The

    pain seemed to be written all over his face.

    ¡°It looks serious. Do you want to go to the hospital?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. Perhaps I had too much to drinkst night, and it may have upset my

    stomach. Do you have any medication?¡± Ouyang Qi asked.

    ¡°Yes. However, they¡¯re just ordinary painkillers. Do you still want them?¡±

    ¡°Fine. They will do for the moment. Please give me a tab. Can I sit and rest for a while?¡± Ouyang Qi

    asked.

    ¡°Alright, have a seat while I get you the pills.¡±

    In a short period of time, Ning Ran found the medication and handed them to Ouyang Qi.

    After that, she poured him a ss of water.

    After taking the painkillers, Ouyang Qi thanked her andy down on the sofa to rest.

    As he did look like he wasn¡¯t feeling well, Ning Ran didn¡¯t chase him out. Instead, she left the door

    open and waited by the side.

    After twenty minutes, Ouyang Qi no longer felt any pain and got up. ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving now. Thanks for

    everything.¡±

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to give me my script? Where is it?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s right, I almost forgot about it. This is the USB drive, and it is password protected. The password

    is six consecutive fives, got it?¡±

    ¡°Okay, I got it. Thanks.¡±

    ¡°Do you want me to go through the script with you?¡±

    ¡°Nah, thanks for sending it here.¡± Ning Ran insisted on him leaving.

    ¡°Haha, I was just kidding. I knew you wouldn¡¯t agree to let me stay behind. In that case, off I go.¡±

    ¡°Alright. Thanks and bye.¡±

    Standing at the balcony, she watched as Ouyang Qi left.

    Then, she went back to the study and plugged the USB drive into theputer.

    It asked for a password as expected, and she entered six consecutive fives to open the document.

    However, it was a nk drive with nothing inside.

    Feeling that everything was suspicious, Ning Ran then called Ouyang Qi and asked him about it.

    However, Ouyang Qi told her that he didn¡¯t know anything. All he knew was that Ouyang Qing¡¯s

    assistant had passed him the USB drive. As to why it was empty, he had no idea.

    After that, Ning Ran gave Ouyang Qing a call, but she didn¡¯t pick up.

    Feeling that something was amiss, Ning Ran began to worry.

    She did a quick search online and read that the document may be hidden due to its secrecy.

    Hence, she followed the on-screen instructions to retrieve it but to no avail.

    After struggling for a while, Ning Ran decided to give up. She kept the USB drive and recollected what

    had just happened.

    At that moment, Ning Ran heard the door open. When she came out to look, she saw Nan Chen

    entering.

    Afterst night¡¯s embarrassing incident, Ning Ran was still feeling guilty about it. Hence, when she saw

    Nan Chen, her expression became awkward. ¡°Why are you home?¡±

    ¡°Why can¡¯t I be home?¡± Nan Chen threw the question back at her.

    Ning Ran could sense the anger within him and knew it would be a bad idea to agitate him. Hence, she

    held her tongue.

    The next moment, Nan Chen began to walk through all the rooms as if he were looking for something.

    Combing the house from upstairs to downstairs, he ransacked all the rooms.

    ¡°Did you lose something? What are you looking for? Do you need my help?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Where¡¯s is he?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Who?¡±

    ¡°What are you pretending for? Who gave you the right to let the lover boy into my house?¡± Nan Chen

    comined angrily.

    In truth, he was bursting with rage before this, and he was holding himself back all this while.

    At the same time, the word ¡°lover boy¡± struck a nerve with Ning Ran.

    ¡°What are you talking about? What lover boy? How can you say something like that?¡±

    The moment Nan Chen spat out the word, he regretted it immediately.

    Impulse brought out the worst in him. Under the influence of his anger, he spoke without thinking.

    ¡°Where is he? Where is Ouyang Qi?¡± Nan Chen roared.

    ¡°Did youe back just to yell at me over this?¡±

    ¡°Yes, what right do you have to let him into my house?¡± Nan Chen continued yelling.

    Ning Ran maintained herposure. ¡°How did you know he was here? Did you send someone to

    watch me?¡±

    ¡°Are you hoping that I don¡¯t find out? You¡¯re really smart. The moment I leave, you let another man

    come in. You feel nauseous when you see me, so you must¡¯ve been delighted to see another man,

    right?¡±

    Just then, the image of Ning Ran retching at the toilet bowl shed across his mind, intensifying his

    anger.

    You actually wanted to puke the moment I touched you.

    And the next day, you let another man into my house. This is extremely humiliating!

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t. I have no exnation forst night, but I can exin what happened today. Ouyang Qi was

    here to deliver a script.¡±

    ¡°Which script?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t the new movie about to start filming? It¡¯s the script for that movie. Ouyang Qing had him sent it

    here,¡± Ning Ran exined.

    ¡°Why him?¡±

    ¡°Ouyang Qing said something came up, so she couldn¡¯t do it herself. Since she was worried about the

    script¡¯s security, she said she would send someone she could trust, and that person was Ouyang Qi.¡±

    ¡°Why wasn¡¯t I informed that the script was out?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps no one reported it to you. That was why you weren¡¯t aware. However, what I¡¯m saying is the

    truth,¡± Ning Ran continued.

    ¡°He should have left after dropping off the script, so why did hee in? Can¡¯t he just hand it to you

    outside?¡± Nan Chen¡¯s expression was filled with doubt.

    ¡°He had a stomach ache, so I let him use the toilet. After that, I gave him a painkiller for it, and he left

    after resting a while.¡±

    ¡°So, how long did he stayed for?¡± Nan Chen¡¯s expression darkened the more he asked.

    ¡°Not that long - just about half an hour.¡±

    ¡°Damn it! How could you let a man stay in my house for half an hour? Even the servants can¡¯te

    and go as they please, and yet you let him in? Furthermore, there¡¯s no one else at home. How could

    you be alone with him in the house?¡± Nan Chen reprimanded her angrily.

    At that moment, Ning Ran realized that she didn¡¯t have any good excuse, and she said what she had to

    say.

    The only thing she could do was to repeat herself, which was pointless.

    ¡°It¡¯s not what you think. He had an upset stomach, but after taking a short rest here, he left.¡±

    ¡°I forbid that too! Ouyang Qi is scum. There¡¯s no way he can stay inside here for half an hour without

    causing any trouble. What did the both of you do?¡±

    Ning Ran was outraged.

    ¡°By using Ouyang Qi of being scum, you¡¯re also using me of the same! It¡¯s obvious to me now

    that you suspect there¡¯s something going on between us. So you thought that I invited him into your

    house, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Nan Cheng confronted her directly.

    ¡°I get it now, so let me just pack my stuff and leave because I¡¯m scum and don¡¯t deserve to be here!¡±

    Ning Ran turned and started packing to leave.

 Chapter 448

    Chapter 448

    Nan Chen followed behind her.

    ¡°You said Ouyang Qi gave you a script, so where is it?¡±

    However, Ning Ran wasn¡¯t bothered to exin as she expected him not to believe her.

    ¡°Tell me, where is it?¡± Nan Chen persisted.

    ¡°He gave me a USB drive, but when I opened it, it was empty,¡± Ning Ran rted.

    ¡°So you¡¯re saying that there¡¯s no script?¡± Nan Chen continued to probe.

    Ning Ran was stumped when she realized that there was indeed none.

    ¡°Not that there isn¡¯t, it¡¯s...¡±

    ¡°If there is, where is it? All you have is an empty USB drive, and that¡¯s your so-called script? Hey, at

    least you shoulde up with a better story?¡± Nan Chen asserted coldly.

    Ning Ran didn¡¯t respond.

    Thinking back, she, too, felt that what had just unfolded didn¡¯t make any sense.

    ¡°I¡¯m telling you the truth. Here¡¯s the USB drive he gave me,¡± Ning Ran showed him the drive.

    Nan Chen stared at the drive she was holding in disbelief.

    ¡°Forget it. I won¡¯t exin anymore. You can think whatever you want. There¡¯s no point exining if you

    don¡¯t trust me. I¡¯ll just leave, and once I¡¯m gone, everything will be fine.¡±

    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Nan Chen suddenly asked.

    Ning Ran was stumped again by his question, which was a really good one.

    Ever since she came back from overseas, she had been staying in Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s house.

    However, once Nan Chen allowed her to stay over, Cheng Xiangyun had rented out her ce.

    As for Cheng Xiangyun, she was staying in a studio apartment provided by thepany.

    It was only enough for herself, and there was hardly any room left for Ning Ran.

    Furthermore, with two kids in tow, it was without doubt out of the question.

    Besides, the studio apartment was only allocated to employees who were young and single. If Ning

    Ran moved in with her two children, it would definitely cause an uproar if they were found out.

    It was obvious Nan Chen knew what she was thinking. ¡°You don¡¯t have a ce to go, so why are you

    so stubborn?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business!¡± Ning Ran yelled.

    ¡°If I were you, I won¡¯t do it. This house is big and spacious. Best of all, it¡¯s free. Wouldn¡¯t you be stupid

    not to stay here? If you move out, you can only find a small and dingy ce. There¡¯s no way it will be

    better than here,¡± Nan Chen persuaded her.

    ¡°But you wanted me to leave, so I can¡¯t just continue to stay here shamelessly, can I?¡±

    ¡°Since when did I ask you to leave? Wasn¡¯t it your idea? I can¡¯t possibly make you move wherever I

    want. It¡¯s not like you¡¯re a ball, or are you?¡± Nan Chen replied.

    Suddenly the conversation took a teasing and flirtatious turn. What¡¯s going on?

    Nan Chen could see the hesitation in Ning Ran¡¯s eyes and knew that she was reluctant to leave.

    In truth, his anger was umted from what happenedst night. In the end, he was just looking for

    an outlet.

    Nan Chen was a smart man and was well aware that it was a misunderstanding.

    Despite Ning Ran¡¯s asionalck of good judgment, Nan Chen knew that she wouldn¡¯t sneak a lover

    in behind his back.

    If there was really something going on between them, they would have chosen a hotel room or a

    clubhouse for that. Thest ce they would be having an affair was her house in broad daylight.

    Nan Chen was cognizant of all this from the very beginning. Nevertheless, he still let his temper re

    because he felt like it.

    There was a burning rage within him that felt like it could explode anytime.

    The incident with Ouyang Qi provided the best outlet for it. Now that he had vented his frustrations, he

    gradually calmed down.

    Ning Ran shot Nan Chen a re. ¡°Hmph, you¡¯re really unreasonable. Actually, you¡¯re just like a tyrant.¡±

    Although Ning Ran was berating him, it sounded to him like she was flirting with him instead.

    ¡°When he gave you the empty USB drive, didn¡¯t you suspect anything?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Of course I did, I knew something was wrong, but I didn¡¯t what exactly what. I gave Ouyang Qing a

    call, but she didn¡¯t pick up.¡±

    ¡°Let me take a look at the USB drive.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡± Ning Ran handed it to him.

    ¡°I¡¯m hungry. Can you make me some lunch? I¡¯m heading back to the office after that,¡± Nan Chen

    instructed.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean ¡®huh¡¯? Don¡¯t you understand what I just said?¡±

    Nan Chen repeated it once more in another foreignnguage. ¡°Do you understand now? Do I need to

    repeat it in French or some othernguage?¡±

    ¡°Enough, stop showing off!¡± Ning Ran quipped.

    ¡°What are you waiting for?¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± Ning Ran grunted in acknowledgment.

    Just when she turned to leave, she realized that something was off.

    ¡°What makes you think I should cook for you? We were just arguing a moment ago, and you even

    yelled at me!¡±

    ¡°You must have gotten it wrong. I wasn¡¯t quarreling with you,¡± Nan Chen replied calmly.

    ¡°I got it wrong? It¡¯s not like my brain was malfunctioning...¡±

    ¡°Could you prove it? If not, then stop bbering and start cooking!¡± Nan Chen barked.

    ¡°You¡¯re the one with a malfunctioning brain. I¡¯m not going to do it!¡±

    ¡°You have gotten yourself into trouble today, so you better watch your attitude. If you still want my help,

    that is,¡± Nan Chen exined indifferently.

    ¡°What trouble have I gotten myself into? I didn¡¯t even go out!¡±

    ¡°This empty USB drive is the problem. Have you thought about why someone would go through all the

    trouble of giving you an empty USB drive? Behind any strange events is definitely trouble. The more

    you don¡¯t understand something, the bigger the trouble will be. Forget it. I¡¯m not going to exin so

    much to you. Just go and prepare my lunch.¡± Nan Chen ordered.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing at home, how am I going to cook?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to make handmade noodles? Just make me a bowl of those.¡±

    ¡°That will work. I¡¯ll prepare it at once...¡±

    In the kitchen, Ning Ran suddenly realized that he had manipted her again.

    But since it was just a simple bowl of noodles, she resigned herself to making it.

    A short whileter, Nan Chen was working in the study, and Ning Ran entered with a bowl of noodles

    while draped in her apron.

    The color of the soup looked tantalizing, and there was even an egg inside.

    ¡°Take it to the dining hall. I still haven¡¯t washed my hands.¡± Nan Chen stood up.

    Ning Ran rolled her eyes at him as she carried the soup back out.

    After washing his hands, Nan Chen took a sip of soup.

    Ning Ran looked at him in anticipation. ¡°How is it? Does it taste good?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Nan Chen replied inly.

    ¡°Alright? What do you mean by that? How would you rate it?¡±

    ¡°Six out of ten.¡±

    Ning Ran snorted, ¡°I barely passed? A soulful bowl of soup cooked by a beautifuldy for you, and you

    only gave it a six? If you don¡¯t appreciate it, you should stop eating!¡±

    Just as she was speaking, her hands attempted to grab the bowl.

    ¡°Six-point-one.¡±

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    Nan Chen quickly defended his bowl while giving her an additional point.

    ¡°That¡¯s still very low! The cap is at ten, so you better be fair in your judgment. Or you¡¯re never going to

    taste it ever again.¡±

    Nan Chen pick up the noodles and ate another mouthful. After that, he gave her a satisfying look.

    ¡°Six-point-one and a half. That¡¯s the best I can do,¡± Nan Chen remarked inly as he slurped another

    mouthful of noodles.

    ¡°Forget it. You don¡¯t know how to appreciate good food. I won¡¯t make it for you anymore.¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t make it for me, who are you going to make it for? Who else deserves to eat your

    handmade noodles?¡± Nan Chen shot her a re.

    ¡°Are you saying that only YOU deserve to have it?¡±

    And to Ning Ran¡¯s disbelief, Nan Chen actually nodded his head.

 Chapter 449

    Chapter 449

    Ning Ran was dumbfounded by Nan Chen¡¯s response.

    Some people were just born narcissistic, and the man in front of her was one of them.

    He was surrounded by luxury and was revered by everyone around him. Therefore, his words had to

    be taken as gospel - whatever he said goes.

    He was the one who made the rules. Within his interactions with Ning Ran, he was both a participant

    and a judge at the same time. Where is the fun in that?

    ¡°Sir Chen.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Nan Chen was focused on eating his noodles and didn¡¯t even look up.

    ¡°Have you always been so conceited?¡±

    Ning Ran was also having noodles of her own. From her perspective, the noodles deserved at least a

    nine.

    ¡°I¡¯m not conceited. I¡¯m just a capable person.¡± Nan Chen corrected her.

    Ning Ran couldn¡¯t bear to continue the conversation. What the flippin¡¯ hell?

    ¡°Fine, you¡¯re capable. You¡¯re the best.¡±

    ¡°That is a mere fact. You don¡¯t have to repeat it,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    Ning Ran rolled her eyes at him before stuffing herself with another mouthful of noodles.

    ¡°Tonight, Sound of Thunder 2 will resume its broadcast and is expected to break new viewership

    records,¡± Nan Chen remarked.

    ¡°That soon?¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t supposed to be a problem until someone tried to derail it on purpose.¡±

    ¡°Who were they? Have you found out yet?¡±

    ¡°It must be apetitor, but it¡¯s not important.¡±

    ¡°Not important?¡± Ning Ran was puzzled.

    ¡°Your strength determines your future. Others may affect you for a short while, but they can never stop

    you from moving forward,¡± Nan Chen borated.

    After pondering on it, Ning Ran saw the truth in his words.

    ¡°How do you know that it would break new records?¡±

    ¡°That goes without saying as the script itself was excellent. Furthermore, the stoppage has helped

    bolstered the publicity for the show. People who were previously not interested have also taken notice.

    That¡¯s why the show will have a significant increase in viewership.¡±

    Feeling confident, Nan Chen was sure of it.

    His confidence was so infectious that even Ning Ran was convinced of the same.

    At that moment, Ning Ran¡¯s phone rang, and it was Wang Xiaoou that called.

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    She told Ning Ran that there would be a meeting in the afternoon at the office. Though the agenda was

    still unknown, her attendance was required.

    Having finished his noodles, Nan Chen returned to his study and continued working.

    Ning Ran decided to take a nap so that she would be feeling refreshed for workter.

    After a while, she was woken up by Wang Xiaoou¡¯s call again, instructing her to head to thepany

    at once.

    After washing her face and changing her clothes, Ning Ran came to the study and informed Nan Chen

    that she was heading out.

    ¡°I¡¯lle with you,¡± Nan Chen told her.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you need to return to your office?¡±

    Nan Chen stood up without a word. All Ning Ran could do was to follow him obediently into the car.

    Once they arrived at the entrance of Star Entertainment, Nan Chen motioned Ning Ran to get down.

    ¡°You should head up first as I still need to reply to a couple of emails.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t you do it inside?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Why can¡¯t you stop talking for a second?¡± Nan Chen was suddenly annoyed.

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll stop nagging you.¡±

    Ning Ran rolled her eyes at him before heading towards the elevator.

    Inside, her phone rang, and it was Wang Xiaoou again.

    ¡°Ou, I¡¯m in the elevator and will be there soon.¡±

    ¡°Once you¡¯re out, don¡¯t speak to anyone. Juste straight to my office,¡± Wang Xiaoou instructed.

    ¡°Ou, what happened?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll talkter.¡±

    Once she exited the elevator, Ning Ran wondered if she were being too sensitive because she could

    feel everyone was looking at her strangely.

    Following Wang Xiaoou¡¯s instructions, Ning Ran headed straight to her office.

    As Wang Xiaoou was a very senior manager, her office was as big and as spacious as the Deputy

    CEO¡¯s.

    Once she entered, Wang Xiaoou quickly closed the door behind her.

    Her actions caused Ning Ran to feel anxious, and she wondered if something serious had happened.

    ¡°The new script was leaked online. It was the result of three months¡¯ worth of blood, sweat, and tears.

    Now that it had been leaked, it can no longer be used. All the investors are having a meeting now to

    discuss how they are doing to deal with the situation,¡± Wang Xiaoou exined.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Ning Ran was stunned.

    ¡°The only actress who saw the script was you. Hence, you¡¯re the one who leaked it,¡± Wang Xiaoou

    stated.

    ¡°It¡¯s not me! I haven¡¯t even seen it!¡± Ning Ran desperately denied it.

    ¡°Ouyang Qing said that she sent the script to you. Other than you, only the three members of the

    screenwriting team saw it. Why would they leak something that they have painstakingly created?¡±

    Wang Xiaoou asked.

    ¡°Ou, don¡¯t you believe me?¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether I believe you or not. No one does,¡± Wang Xiaoou stated.

    ¡°Someone has framed me. The USB drive that Ouyang Qing sent was password protected. When I

    opened it, it was empty, and there¡¯s nothing inside. So I have no idea what the contents of the script

    are. To finger me for leaking it is just a baseless usation!¡±

    ¡°It was empty?¡±

    ¡°Yes, there¡¯s nothing inside at all. I called Ouyang Qing, but she refused to pick up.¡±

    ¡°Is there anyone else who could prove that there was really nothing in the USB drive?¡± Wang Xiaoou

    asked.

    ¡°No one, because I was the only one there,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°That is troublesome. Without any witnesses, no one would believe your one-sided story?¡±

    ¡°We can make a police report and get them to investigate.¡±

    ¡°Even if the police are involved, it¡¯s still hard to prove it.¡±

    ¡°Then what shall we do? Is there a way to prove my innocence? But there are no security cameras

    back home to prove that the USB drive was empty when I opened it.¡±

    Nodding, Wang Xiaoou reassured her, ¡°But, I believe you.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Ou. I¡¯ll exin to them that it really wasn¡¯t me. I haven¡¯t the faintest idea what happened and

    have no incentive to do so either.¡±

    ¡°I understand that. But it doesn¡¯t matter if I¡¯m the only one who believes in you. What we need is the

    rest to do so. Once the meeting starts, you have to be careful with what you tell them. Don¡¯t say

    anything which they can use against you,¡± Wang Xiaoou advised.

    ¡°Ou, given how fast they¡¯ve gathered for a meeting. What do you think they are nning?¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t figured it out yet. However, you are one of Star Entertainment¡¯s actresses. Now that they

    presume you¡¯re the one that leaked it, they will make demands upon Star Entertainment. They might

    ask forpensation or perhaps even halt the coboration altogether,¡± Wang Xiaoou surmised.

    ¡°Stop the coboration? Wouldn¡¯t the movie fail to be filmed then?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Perhaps, so let¡¯s hope they don¡¯t take it that far,¡± Wang Xiaoou replied with a worried look.

    ¡°I suspected something was amiss. Now, it¡¯s clear that there¡¯s someone out to harm me. Could it be

    Ouyang Qing? She definitely knew that the USB drive was empty. She must have done it on purpose,¡±

    Ning Ran spected angrily.

    ¡°That may not necessarily be the case as it¡¯s still too early to judge. The entertainment business is a

    murky ce to be in. Without evidence, we can¡¯t jump to conclusions.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right. I understand now, Ou. Please guide me on what to say and doter. I¡¯ll do whatever I¡¯m

    told to,¡± Ning Ran conceded.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be in a rush to defend yourself, and remember to keep your cool. More importantly, don¡¯t im

    that you¡¯re being framed. Without any evidence, you shouldn¡¯t make wild usations against anyone.

    Or else you will end up being seen as running away from your responsibilities.¡±

    Ning Ran nodded. ¡°Those are good bits of advice, Ou. I will definitely keep myposure.¡±

 Chapter 450

    Chapter 450

    When Ning Ran entered the meeting room, she saw a huge group of people she didn¡¯t recognize.

    However, all of them knew her or at least saw her picture before. They were aware that she was the

    female lead for the new movie.

    There were a lot of investors for the movie, but only five or six of them came. Even then, they were just

    representatives and not the bosses themselves.

    Hence, the person with the most authority in the room was Ouyang Qing. She was the one who

    organized the meeting under such short notice.

    When she saw Ning Ran, Ouyang Qing stood up immediately. ¡°Ding, nice of you to join us.¡±

    Meanwhile, the rest of the representatives exchanged surprised nces as they wondered why

    Ouyang Qing was treating the perpetrator with such respect. What is her motive?

    Ning Ran nodded in acknowledgment and took a seat by the corner.

    ¡°Alright, everyone¡¯s here, so let¡¯s begin the meeting. As all of you know, we have unfortunate news.

    The script which the screenwriters painstakingly came up with over thest three months was leaked.

    We have no choice but to suspend filming for the time being. Without a script, we won¡¯t know when we

    can resume.¡±

    Ouyang Qing spoke with a grim expression and even scanned the room when she finished.

    ¡°We must get to the bottom of this, and our losses must bepensated!¡± one of the representatives

    demanded.

    ¡°That¡¯s right! Whoever leaked it must take responsibility.¡±

    ¡°Once the script was out, the screenwriters informed me and asked me to take a look. Since I haven¡¯t

    done this before, I wanted someone professional to assist me. Hence, I decided to give Ding Mi a copy

    so that we could discuss it. As she is an experienced actress, she would definitely know more than me.

    Furthermore, she is the lead, and consequently, her opinion is more important than mine. However,

    something came up, so I couldn¡¯t hand it to her myself. I sent my brother in my ce. However, I didn¡¯t

    expect that once she had read the script, it would then appear on the inte,¡± Ouyang Qing asserted.

    Ning Ran sprang to her feet in anger. But when Wang Xiaoou motioned her to calm down, she settled

    back into her chair.

    ¡°Are you saying Ding Mi leaked the script?¡±

    ¡°Currently, there is no evidence to prove it, so I hope all of you will stay calm,¡± Ouyang Qing implored.

    ¡°The screenwriters would definitely not expose their own work. If it wasn¡¯t her, then who could it

    possibly be?¡±

    The investor who took a hardline stand was Liu Yuan, who came from a wealthy family. He had

    invested in a few lousy films, and rumor had it that he never made any money before.

    However, he had always regarded himself as an experienced film investor and could be seen at many

    social events.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, why don¡¯t you exin to everyone what happened?¡± Ouyang Qing requested Ning Ran in a

    cordial tone.

    Her demeanor wasn¡¯t confrontational at all. Instead, she maintained her humility and even appeared to

    side with Ning Ran.

    Since she had been called out, Ning Ran had no choice but to exin.

    When she looked around the room, she could see everyone¡¯s eyes filled with animosity other than that

    of Ouyang Qing and Wang Xiaoou.

    She was surprised as she had never offended them and wondered why they resented her so much.

    ¡°I have no idea how it happened,¡± Ning Ran answered calmly.

    Everyone exchanged nces thinking that she was shirking from her responsibility at the get-go.

    ¡°When I received a call from Ms. Ouyang informing me that she wanted to show me the script, I

    agreed. Then, she said that she would send the script to me. However, I told her that it wasn¡¯t

    necessary, and I would get it from her. Later on, she mentioned that there was a lot of negative publicity

    about me, so it was better I didn¡¯t leave home, to which I agreed. After that, her brother came and

    handed me a USB drive that was password protected. After opening it, I realized it was nk, and

    there was nothing inside at all. And then, I heard that the script was leaked. As to what was written in

    the script, I haven¡¯t had the slightest idea.¡±

    When Ning Ran finished, no one said a word.

    Ouyang Qingughed. ¡°We are not saying that you leaked the script on purpose. There¡¯s also the

    possibility that yourputer was hacked, causing the idental leak. However, you im that the

    USB drive my assistant gave you was empty. Isn¡¯t that ridiculous? The USB drive was given to me by

    the screenwriters, so how is that possible?¡±

    ¡°I feel the same way too, but it was really empty.¡± Ning Ran stood her ground.

    ¡°Are you lying, Ding Mi? You¡¯re probably shifting the me now because you identally leaked it,

    right?¡± Liu Yuan started causing trouble.

    ¡°I¡¯m not! I¡¯m telling you the truth,¡± Ning Ran insisted.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, did you bring the USB drive?¡± Ouyang Qing suddenly asked.

    ¡°Yes, I did.¡± Ning Ran brought out the supposedly empty USB drive.

    Receiving the USB drive, she handed it over to a long-haired man. ¡°Is this the USB drive that the

    screenwriters gave me?¡±

    The long-haired must be one of the screenwriters. After scrutinizing the drive, he nodded. ¡°This is the

    one. It is a custom-made USB drive by us. The password is six consecutive fives.¡±

    ¡°Alright, now let us see what¡¯s wrong with the drive.¡±

    Ouyang Qing passed the USB drive to her assistant, who plugged it into herputer.

    Once it was inserted, she keyed in the password.

    The next moment, a document appeared on the screen. Clicking into it, it was the new movie¡¯s script.

    At that very moment, everyone present turned to look at Ning Ran.

    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran herself was stupefied. She was absolutely sure that it was empty when she opened it. What

    sorcery is this?

    Liu Yuan red at Ning Ran. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that it was empty? If this isn¡¯t the script, then please

    enlighten me on what this is?¡±

    ¡°I have no idea what¡¯s going on either. When I opened it earlier, there really was nothing on it,¡± Ning

    Ran defended herself bitterly.

    ¡°Who is going to believe you now, you liar! I propose that we remove her as the female lead and cast

    someone more trustworthy,¡± Liu Yuan used Ning Ran in anger while pointing his finger at her.

    ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth. When I opened it there really wasn¡¯t anything inside. I am equally baffled as to why

    there¡¯s something in there now. There must be something amiss. My son is aputer expert. If

    there¡¯s something wrong, he will definitely be able to find out. I must get him to investigate the matter

    because someone is out to frame me.¡±

    Ning Ran started calm and cool, but now she could no longer contain her emotions.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, you¡¯re still young, so I don¡¯t think your son will be much older. But you wanted your son to

    help you investigate this? Are you pulling our legs? Do you think this is funny?¡±

    ¡°My son is five...¡±

    ¡°Listen to her. She actually wants a five-year-old child to get involved in this? Is she telling us that we

    are no better than a five-year-old kid?¡± Liu Yuan interrupted her and seized the initiative.

    ¡°I don¡¯t mean that, but please believe me. I really didn¡¯t leak...¡±

    ¡°Shut up. No one is going to believe you...¡±

    ¡°I believe her!¡±

    At that moment, the doors swung open, and someone stepped in.

    He was dressed in a ck shirt and matching ck pants. He had a tall figure and amanding

    presence. The moment he entered, the atmosphere in the room turned chilly at once.

    ¡°Chen, why are you here?¡± Ouyang Qing¡¯s expression suddenly changed.

    ¡°I am the lead investor of this movie. So why am I not informed that there is an investor¡¯s meeting? Can

    someone exin it to me?¡± Nan Chen demanded in a frosty voice.

    Everyone remained silent until Ouyang Qing gave Liu Yuan a look.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, as the script¡¯s leak is rted to an actress from Star Entertainment, we didn¡¯t inform you

    because we wanted to avoid arousing any suspicion. But more importantly, we know that you¡¯re a busy

    man. Therefore, we didn¡¯t want to trouble you over something minor such as this,¡± Liu Yuan exined.

    ¡°That¡¯s right, Chen. Since you¡¯re really busy, I wanted to report it to you once we have resolved the

    matter,¡± Ouyang Qing quickly added.

 Chapter 451

    Chapter 451

    ¡°You are nning to change the lead and remove an actress under mypany¡¯s stable, and yet you

    didn¡¯t bother to inform me? Furthermore, you are nning to tell me after the fact. Do you want me to

    be thest to know?¡± Nan Chen sneered.

    At that moment, Liu Yuan didn¡¯t dare utter another word as he looked towards Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°The script wasn¡¯t leaked by Ding Mi,¡± Nan Chen concluded.

    Ouyang Qing shot another nce at Liu Yuan.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, we want to believe her with regards to this matter. However, she is the only one that saw the

    script and imed that the USB drive is empty. However, when we opened it, the script was inside. You

    have always been professional at work, naturally...¡±

    ¡°Stop groveling at my feet,¡± Nan Chen cut him off abruptly, causing the room to fall into silence.

    Nan Chen¡¯s frostiness wasn¡¯t acted out. Instead, he emanated the freezing aura naturally.

    The chill that everyone felt from him was simr to the gush of freezing air from an opened fridge door.

    However, no one dared to reach out and close the fridge door. In fact, it was likely toote to do so.

    ¡°You im that no one believes her, but I do,¡± Nan Chen dered.

    The silence now was deafening.

    ¡°Chen, I believe Ding too. Now, we¡¯re just discussing...¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to discuss anything. Everything she said was true,¡± Nan Chen asserted.

    Even Ning Ran was stunned as she didn¡¯t expect Nan Chen to defend her with such fervor.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, although Ms. Ding is one of yourpany¡¯s actresses, this still rtes to work. You can¡¯t

    just...¡±

    ¡°When she opened the USB drive, I was beside her. I saw for myself that it was empty. Hence, she is

    telling the truth,¡± Nan Chen coldly interrupted.

    The room quietened again.

    With Sir Chen as the witness, there¡¯s no longer any room to maneuver.

    No one is going toe out and openly cast doubt on him.

    He is the lead investor, so doubting him would be the equivalent of suicide.

    ¡°Are you saying you saw with your own eyes that the USB drive was empty?¡± Liu Yuan rified.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Nan Chen quipped.

    ¡°But when we opened it, the contents of the script were all there. It¡¯s obvious that Ms. Ding had seen

    the script.¡±

    ¡°So are you suggesting that Ding Mi and I leaked the script together?¡± Nan Chen looked straight at Liu

    Yuan.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that.¡± Liu Yuan began to panic.

    He had hated Nan Chen because Nan Chen had rebuffed his request to invest in another project.

    However, he wasn¡¯t in a position to challenge Nan Chen directly; therefore, he was resigned to

    scheming behind Nan Chen¡¯s back.

    When Ouyang Qing came into the picture, she noticed the animosity Liu Yuan felt for Nan Chen.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Hence, she recruited Liu Yuan into her fold and formed an alliance with him.

    Liu Yuan was naturally delighted to have the Ouyang family as his patrons. After all, everyone knew

    how wealthy they were.

    But more importantly, Ouyang Qing was a beauty.

    Despite being married, Liu Yuan¡¯s interest in prettydies never waned.

    Therefore, he lusted over her although his desire was never reciprocated.

    ¡°If any of you believe that Ding Mi and I leaked the script together, you are wee to withdraw your

    investments in the movie and leave at once,¡± Nan Chen dered.

    Obviously, no one dared to say a word.

    ¡°Chen, we are just discussing it. No one is using Ms. Ding of anything, so please don¡¯t

    misunderstand,¡± Ouyang Qing frantically rified.

    ¡°I have provided you with the evidence, so what¡¯s left to discuss?¡± Nan Chen demanded.

    The silence continued.

    Ning Ran finally understood that it didn¡¯t matter whether one¡¯s words made sense. What was more

    important was the status of the person saying it.

    Under the current circumstances, no one would dare take any action against Nan Chen even if he did

    leak the document on purpose.

    I¡¯ll do whatever I please, and there¡¯s nothing any of you can do about it.

    Luckily, Nan Chen was there to back her up. Or else, there was no way Ning Ran could exin her

    way out of the situation.

    ¡°Initially, I didn¡¯t n on exining. But without my presence, I was worried all of you will pick on her.

    To be honest, she is more than capable of proving her innocence and didn¡¯t need my help anyway,¡±

    Nan Chen added.

    Everyone was puzzled by hisst sentence.

    Isn¡¯t it obvious Sir Chen was standing up for her? Why did he still im that she can prove her own

    innocence?

    ¡°She can easily get someone to exin what is going on with the USB drive. And that person will be

    arriving anytime now,¡± Nan Chen exined smugly.

    Ning Ran was confused as she didn¡¯t ask anyone for help. Since when did I do such a thing?

    With that, everyone sat and waited. No one dared to utter a single word.

    A few minutester, the door swung open.

    Everyone expected someone important, but all they saw was pair of children.

    Both of them had exquisite features and were extremely adorable.

    Shocked, no one had the faintest why a pair of children suddenly appeared.

    However, after taking a closer look, they were obviously Nan Chen¡¯s children. Given how much they

    resembled him, even an idiot could see they were his.

    Erbao looked at Ning Ran before ncing at Nan Chen. After that, she ambled towards Ning Ran¡¯s

    side and snuggled up to her Mommy.

    On their way here, Jiang Zhe had briefed them that the adults were having an important meeting. Once

    they entered, they shouldn¡¯t make a fuss.

    Thus, Erbao remembered the instructions and stayed by Ning Ran¡¯s side obediently.

    ¡°This is the technical expert she has invited to solve the problem,¡± Nan Chen pointed at Dabao.

    Dabao nodded politely. ¡°Good day, everyone. My name is Ning Sirui.¡±

    After introducing himself, he walked towards Ning Ran¡¯s side.

    ¡°Ding, this is an investors meeting. Why did you bring your children here?¡± Ouyang Qing sneered.

    Ning Ran ignored Ouyang Qing¡¯sments and spoke directly to Dabao, ¡°When I plugged in this USB

    drive back home, there¡¯s nothing inside it. But the contents appeared when they plugged it in here.

    Help me find out what¡¯s going on.¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Dabao acknowledged.

    As Dabao approached, Ouyang Qing¡¯s assistant stopped him.

    ¡°We can¡¯t just allow kids to meddle with theputer, can we?¡±

    ¡°Dabao is not an ordinary kid!¡± Erbao shouted in defiance.

    ¡°Let him do it,¡± Ouyang Qing instructed.

    However, Dabao could hardly see anything as the meeting table was too tall for him.

    Wang Xiaoou quickly stood up and pushed her chair over. After adjusting it to the right height, she

    ced Dabao on it. Only then was it enough for him to see the screen.

    As Dabao¡¯s fingers danced on the keyboard, the documents on theputer suddenly disappeared.

    ¡°Mommy, was this what you saw? An empty drive?¡± Dabao asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡°Did the child delete the file?¡± the crowd gasped.

    After that, Dabao hit a few more keys quickly, and the document reappeared.

    ¡°This USB drive is custom made with additional encryption features. There are twoyers of security to

    bypass. The firstyer requires the password, but it still won¡¯t show the contents. Only with additional

    steps can we unlock the secondyer to see the contents. My Mommy¡¯sputer skills are just

    ordinary; hence, there¡¯s no way she can solve it. But I can,¡± Dabao dered.

    Nan Chen frowned at Dabao¡¯s words as he was supposed to have seen it together with Ning Ran.

    Now that Dabao had asserted Ning Ran¡¯sputer skills were just ordinary, it indirectly meant that his

    own skills were the same. Hence, Dabao had implied that he couldn¡¯t decode the secondyer of

    security either.

    No matter how one saw it, it still sounded embarrassing for Sir Chen.

    Luckily, theputer whiz happened to be his son, which was the only constion for Sir Chen.

 Chapter 452

    Chapter 452

    Dabao and Erbao exchanged disappointed nces.

    They had tried several different methods previously to force Ning Ran and Nan Chen together,

    including deliberately provoking their parents to be jealous of each other.

    To Ning Ran, they said they wanted Ouyang Qing to be their stepmother. At the same time, they told

    Nan Chen they wanted Ouyang Qi to be their stepfather.

    While that did seem to push the adults into action, the most important problem still remained.

    Nan Chen and Ning Ran were unable to marry while Ouyang Qing and Ouyang Qi were still entangled

    with them.

    If either one of the Ouyang siblings seeded, their parents would be separated!

    Dabao and Erbao could not take that risk. That was why after a serious discussion, they decided they

    had toe up with another n to ensure their parents¡¯ rtionship was not sabotaged.

    Thus, they thought of Nan Xing.

    They had thought this was the perfect arrangement until Nan Xing refused the offer. In an instant, their

    n fell through.

    What are we going to do now?

    Out of ideas, Erbao nced at her brother hopefully. He was always the one who solved their difficult

    problems.

    ¡°Uncle Xing, we really need to talk about this,¡± Dabao said.

    Nan Xing lifted his chin proudly and announced, ¡°No way! You two little brats actually want me to marry

    Ouyang Qing? Heck no! I don¡¯t like her!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong. She might not even want to marry you.¡±

    ¡°Hmm? What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Nan Xing frowned, a little unhappy at what the boy was

    hinting at.

    He was the perfect gentleman! It was not a matter of whether Ouyang Qing wanted to marry him; it

    should be the other way around!

    ¡°Ouyang Qing has her eyes set on Daddy so she might not agree to marry you,¡± Dabao continued.

    ¡°Dabao, you¡¯re wrong! It¡¯s not that she might not agree; she most definitely won¡¯t agree!¡± Erbao added.

    Nan Xing suddenly burst intoughter. ¡°Hahaha! I get it! You two are trying to provoke me into doing

    what you want! I won¡¯t fall for your sneaky scheme!¡±

    ¡°Uncle, do you love us?¡± Dabao abruptly questioned in a serious tone.

    ¡°Of course I do! I was supposed to meet my friends tonight but I came back immediately when I heard

    your summons. I love both of you so much!¡±

    ¡°If Daddy and Mommy both marry someone else, we¡¯ll end up with a stepfather and a stepmother. We

    won¡¯t be happy then. We¡¯ll be so upset and sad. Aren¡¯t you going to take pity on us?¡± Dabao had a

    woeful expression on his young face.

    Realizing what her brother was up to, Erbao instantly went along with it by acting like she was about to

    cry.

    Nan Xing hastilyforted, ¡°Of course I will! Even if they marry someone else other than each other,

    you two will still have Great-Grandpa and me! Nothing will affect you so don¡¯t you worry!¡±

    ¡°But we are still worried! We still hope that Daddy and Mommy will end up together! Uncle, can¡¯t you at

    least try to woo Ouyang Qing for our sake? Maybe she¡¯ll have a sudden change of heart and take pity

    on you? What if she really does agree to be with you?¡± Dabao pleaded.

    ¡°Excuse me? I¡¯ll only be with her if I take pity on her, not the other way around. What you¡¯re saying is

    so unrealistic!¡±

    ¡°So does that mean you agree to court her?¡± the twins cried out in joy.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to think about it. No matter how I look at it, this is just so weird! If she really is blind enough to

    reject me, my reputation will be at stake? That would be so humiliating! I can¡¯t afford to let that

    happen!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that, Uncle. We¡¯ll help you so you¡¯ll definitely seed!¡± Dabao promised.

    ¡°You two are going to help me? How?¡±

    ¡°We have our ways. Just rx!¡±

    ¡°But I honestly don¡¯t like her! What if she really agrees to marry me? That would be so troublesome!¡±

    Nan Xing yelped.

    Dabao smirked slyly. ¡°Uncle, please take one for the team. You¡¯re doing this so we can be happy!

    Besides, just because you¡¯ve wooed her doesn¡¯t mean you actually have to marry her. There¡¯s also a

    chance you won¡¯t seed anyway!¡±

    ¡°What are you nning?¡±

    In response, the little boyughed andmented, ¡°When Daddy finds out that you like Ouyang Qing,

    there¡¯s no chance he¡¯ll consider being together with her!¡±

    Nan Xing was quick to catch on to his meaning. ¡°That¡¯s not a bad n. It makes a lot of sense, actually.

    But isn¡¯t it rather mean to y with her feelings like that when I really don¡¯t like her?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s better than her breaking up Mommy and Daddy! Mommy and Daddy are made for each other! We

    can¡¯t allow anyone to get between them!¡± Dabao¡¯s voice was determined.

    Sighing, Nan Xingmented, ¡°I never would have thought a day woulde where I would end up

    being used by two kids. How ridiculous is that!¡±

    The next day, inside Nan Chen¡¯s office at Nanshi Corporation.

    Today was a rare day where there were no meetings so Nan Chen was flipping through a proposal at

    his desk.

    At that moment, Jiang Zhe entered the office with a delighted smile on his face.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, good news!¡±

    ¡°Our ratings have reached a new high record?¡± Nan Chen questioned calmly.

    ¡°How did you know? Did you see it on the news?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t but I expected it.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s amazing! How did you guess?¡±

    ¡°I have already told that silly woman yesterday that we would break the record.¡±

    ¡°That silly woman?¡±

    It took Jiang Zhe a moment to realize who Nan Chen was referring to.

    There was probably no one else in the entire Flower City who dared call her that other than Nan Chen.

    Anyone who tried would probably bring the wrath of God down on them.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°We¡¯re not just the highest rated on the TV stations but also the various online websites! In fact, we¡¯ve

    left the second-highest-rated far behind in the dust!¡± Jiang Zhe eximed with excitement.

    Opposite him, Nan Chen was not as excited as his assistant. After all, this was all within his

    expectations.

    Jiang Zhe spoke up again, ¡°By the way, Mr. Gao is here. Do you want to see with him?¡±

    ¡°Gao Jiaming?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°What is he doing here?¡±

    ¡°He actually went to Star Entertainment first. They told him they couldn¡¯t make certain decisions, which

    was why he came here.¡±

    ¡°Let him in,¡± Nan Chen ordered.

    Gao Jiaming¡¯s advertisementpany was the best in the entire province. That was why a lot of

    international brands liked to work with hispany to advertise their products.

    Due to a mutual love of football and being the sons of wealthy families, Nan Chen and Gao Jiaming

    were rtively good friends. Theirpanies were also constantly working with each other.

    Nan Chen¡¯s brows furrowed when he noticed the outfit the other man was wearing. It was a id suit.

    ¡°Why are you dressed like a zebra?¡±

    Gao Jiaming was actually quite handsome. His only w was that he was rather short, only 1.68

    meters. To make up for that, he would usually wear elevator shoes so he would look taller and more

    imposing.

    ¡°Excuse me? This is the newest trend in fashion! By the way, I¡¯m here to talk about signing up one of

    Star Entertainment¡¯s artists for a product endorsement.

    ¡°Ding Mi?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, how did you know?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll never bother toe and see me unless there¡¯s something that will benefit you. Her new drama

    series is a big hit and you¡¯ve realized hermercial value. You¡¯re trying to sign her now before she

    bes a celebrity so you can save on the endorsement fees. Am I right?¡± Nan Chen stated

    indifferently.

    ¡°Hahaha! As expected of Sir Chen! I can¡¯t keep anything from you. I¡¯m here with a sincere spirit of

    cooperation. I was very surprised when Star Entertainment told me that anything to do with Ding Mi has

    to go through you. Is that true?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it is.¡± Nan Chen nodded.

 Chapter 453

    Chapter 453

    Interest peaked, Gao Jiaming fixed an inquisitive look on Nan Chen. ¡°So all those rumors online are

    true?¡±

    Nan Chen did not ask what those rumors were. Instead, he said, ¡°Get to the point.¡±

    ¡°Okay, okay. As you have guessed, I¡¯m here to sign Ding Mi on for a product endorsement. I¡¯ve even

    brought a contract with me. Here, have a look.¡±

    The moment the new series became a hit, Gao Jiaming was already drafting up a contract. That

    showed what an efficient and brilliant businessman he was. He was sharp enough to sniff out this

    opportunity before the otherpanies. That was how hispany managed to be the best in

    the province.

    ncing through the contract, Nan Chen noted that it was an advertisement for an international

    women¡¯s underwear brand.

    Naturally, Nan Chen had seen such advertisements before. He recalled them having female celebrities

    d only in their underwear, striking various seductive poses as they showed off their assets.

    His brain supplied him with images of Ning Ran doing the same as she posed before a camera. Anger

    roared through him at the thought.

    He threw the contract at Gao Jiaming, snapping, ¡°Get out!¡±

    Gao Jiaming was stunned. ¡°Why are you getting angry at me? I¡¯m letting yourpany earn a profit,

    ain¡¯t I? Why are you asking me to leave?¡±

    ¡°Leave! Get out right now!¡± Nan Chen roared.

    ¡°Sir Chen, what is the meaning of this? Star Entertainment said I had to get your permission so I

    brought the contract here for you! Now you¡¯re asking me to get out? How about you tell me which part

    of the contract you¡¯re dissatisfied with?¡±

    Being quite familiar with Nan Chen, Gao Jiaming knew that going against the other man was pointless

    when he was in a temper. All he could do was try to appease him.

    He truly did not want to let the opportunity of working with Ning Ran slide. Being able to sign a contract

    with an up-anding celebrity was an incredibly profitable business. Some newer celebrities might

    only require one million in endorsement fees today. However, one monthter when they became even

    more famous, their fees might increase to three million, ten million or even more!

    Gao Jiaming got the feeling that Ning Ran was the type of actress that would rise to fame in no time.

    After all, she was incredibly talented. That was why he wanted to snatch her now, while she was not as

    well-known.

    If he were not quick enough to get her before she signed a contract with other underwear brands, she

    would be unable to sign with him anymore due to the exclusive nature of advertisements.

    This was the reason why he withheld his anger at Nan Chen yelling.

    The sudden explosion of rage shocked Nan Chen as well. Now that he had gotten it out of his system,

    he realized he might have gone a little overboard.

    Why did I lose my cool whenever that woman is mentioned?

    ¡°I don¡¯t agree to the terms of this contract. Hence, I won¡¯t sign it,¡± he uttered.

    Gao Jiaming exined, ¡°Five million in endorsement fees for a new artist like her is already quite high.

    Besides, we can sign a three-year contract and pay her fifteen million at one go. That¡¯s not a small

    amount, you know!¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you give me a number? How much do you want?¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t give you a number. I¡¯m not signing that,¡± Nan Chen refused coldly.

    ¡°Fine. I can talk to thepany about increasing the fee to six million. How does that sound?¡± Gao

    Jiaming offered.

    ¡°I¡¯m not signing it.¡±

    Gao Jiaming cried out in dismay, ¡°Oh my god! Six million for a budding actress is practically unheard of!

    What else do you want? Sir Chen, you¡¯re a businessman too. You should know that this is already the

    highest we can offer!¡±

    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Please leave. I¡¯m not signing that.¡±

    ¡°Are you scornful of the low price or is there something else that you¡¯re unhappy with? You can tell me.

    Don¡¯t just tell me you won¡¯t sign!¡±

    By this point, Nan Chen was starting to get impatient. ¡°She does not do underwear advertisements,

    understand?¡±

    Taken aback, several seconds passed before Gao Jiaming roared withughter.

    Nan Chen¡¯s voice was icy as he growled, ¡°What are youughing at?¡±

    Laughing in Nan Chen¡¯s face like this was an extremely rude action and Gao Jiaming knew it.

    Despite that, he could not help but ask, ¡°Why doesn¡¯t she? You know, not all female stars receive offers

    from underwearpanies. Only those with a wonderful body and attractive facial features get such an

    offer.¡±

    ¡°Get lost now!¡± Nan Chen bellowed.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve really fallen in love with that actress? Damn, Sir Chen, so you have emotions like

    us normal humans too? Why do I find that hard to believe?¡±

    ¡°Leave here before I call the security!¡±

    ¡°No, no, wait! Don¡¯t be like that! I get it now. You don¡¯t want Ding Mi¡¯s body to be revealed to the public,

    right?¡±

    ¡°Out!¡±

    ¡°Wow, who would have thought you would be so serious about a woman? How very rare! Fine, no

    underwear advertisements for her then. How about I give her another one? Or maybe you should tell

    me what type of advertisements she¡¯s not allowed to do first. I don¡¯t want you to reject me again!¡±

    Nan Chen just ignored him. It was not that he did not want to answer that question. It was more like he

    could not be bothered to waste the time and energy to think about it.

    As long as he felt it was fine, he would ept the contract. If he did not like it then he would refuse. It

    was just that simple.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m leaving. I¡¯ll check through my resources to see if I can find a reasonable advertisement for

    your lover. You shouldn¡¯t look down on advertising campaigns, you know. These advertisements help to

    ensure the publicity of celebrities to the public, which will benefit both the advertisedpanies and

    the celebrities.¡±

    Nan Chen snorted and said, ¡°Stop your yammering and just go. Don¡¯te back before you have one

    that¡¯s eptable.¡±

    ¡°I...¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to call the security now!¡± Nan Chen threatened.

    ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯m leaving! You¡¯re so heartless to turn me away when I¡¯m offering you a chance to make

    money! Honestly, I¡¯ve never met someone like you!¡±

    Gao Jiaming was just about to leave the office when Nan Chen suddenly stopped him.

    ¡°Are you in charge of Channing¡¯s jewelry advertisement too?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. What about it?¡±

    ¡°I heard they have canceled their contract with the original spokesperson and are looking for a new

    one.¡±

    ¡°I thought you said you never concern yourself with such matters. How did you know that then?¡±

    ¡°That was purely by coincidence.¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯ve heard right. The female idol group that was supposed to be their spokesperson was

    involved in some nasty scandals. They had no choice but to find another spokesperson. I¡¯ve already

    contacted the female superstar, Ye Meng, and she¡¯s agreed to endorse their products. She¡¯s an

    international celebrity while Channing¡¯s is a luxury goods brand. Her status and demeanor is perfect for

    endorsing Channing¡¯s jewelry.¡±

    Nan Chen waved his hand to cut off Gao Jiaming¡¯s rambling. ¡°Change it to Ding Mi.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Do I have to repeat myself?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible! Channing is the newest favorite among luxury goods brands. There¡¯s no way they¡¯ll

    ept a newbie to be their spokesperson!¡±

    ¡°Nothing¡¯s impossible. It¡¯s their honor to have Ding Mi advertise their products. You don¡¯t even have to

    pay too much, just ten million each year.¡±

    Gao Jiaming looked at Nan Chen like he was crazy.

    Does he seriously expect such a high endorsement fee for a newbie advertising a super luxurious

    brand?

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I might be in charge of their advertisements here in China but I do have to get their approval

    when choosing a spokesperson. From what I understand of theirpany policy, they definitely won¡¯t

    use a new celebrity as their spokesperson.¡±

    As if he had not heard anything, Nan Chen continued, ¡°Draw up the contractter and we can sign

    tomorrow. Shooting can begin on the day after.¡±

    ¡°Sir Chen, are you even listening to me? I just said it¡¯s impossible!¡± Gao Jiaming answered in a

    panicked tone.

    ¡°I say it¡¯s fine so it¡¯ll be fine. Go on now. I¡¯ll want to look over the contract after you¡¯re done. If you don¡¯t

    sign tomorrow, the fee will be doubled the day after. For every day after that, you¡¯ll have to pay ten

    million more!¡± Nan Chen stated.

 Chapter 454

    Chapter 454

    Gao Jiaming knew there was nothing he could say to change Nan Chen¡¯s mind.

    He had always known that Nan Chen was like a king due to the Nan family¡¯s status and power. As

    such, there was nothing he could do but concede defeat.

    However, what Nan Chen was demanding of him now was an impossible task! No matter what he did,

    there was no way he would be able to do what the other man wanted.

    Channing was a recently founded sub-brand of an established luxury goods brand. It was named after

    the favorite daughter of the founder.

    That was why Channing was a brand that was both high-end and youthful. Their target audience was

    the younger clients who had the capability to buy luxury products.

    For this reason, thepany specially requested that the spokesperson had to be young but really

    famous. Whoever it was had to be influential not only in China but all of Asia, maybe even the world.

    Yet, Ding Mi was just a neer in the industry. The TV drama she starred in had only just been

    released recently. Although the ratings were great, that did not change the fact that she was new. She

    had a long way to go before bing a superstar.

    Besides, he had already contacted Ye Meng. How could he just rece her with a little-known

    neer!

    ¡°Sir Chen, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t do this business with you anymore. I¡¯m sorry. There¡¯s just no way I can

    change the spokesperson to Ding Mi. Please don¡¯t me me for this. I¡¯m just an advertising agency,

    not the productpany itself. I have to take into consideration their opinions on this matter.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s voice was calm as he replied, ¡°I know.¡±

    ¡°Then why are you still making this impossible demand? I can¡¯t do it! I¡¯m sorry, Sir Chen. I really want to

    do this but I just can¡¯t. It¡¯s out of my control.¡±

    ¡°Just go back and draw up that contract. Come again tomorrow.¡± Nan Chen waved his hand in a clear

    gesture of dismissal.

    ¡°Fine.¡± Feeling like he had said all he could, Gao Jiaming left without another word.

    As he exited the office and waited for the elevator, dejection swept over him.

    He had originally nned on using Nan Chen¡¯s rtionship with Ning Ran to sign her up before she

    actually became famous. He had never expected he would fail so miserably. Now, it looked like he had

    even pissed off Nan Chen as well. Unfortunately, he really did not have a choice. He could not do as

    the other man wanted no matter how much he wished to.

    The elevator arrived and he stepped inside. Just then, his phone rang.

    Checking the caller ID, he saw it was the CEO of Channing¡¯s Asia Division, Roger.

    ¡°Good day, Sir. What can I do for you?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Gao, do you know thepany Star Entertainment?¡± Roger asked in weird, ented Chinese.

    ¡°Yes, I do. It¡¯s an entertainmentpany under Nanshi Corporation.¡±

    ¡°Then do you know an artist called Ding Mi?¡±

    Gao Jiaming¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Ding Mi again? How does Roger know about her?

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°We want her and Ms. Ye Meng to be the spokespersons for Channing.¡±

    Gao Jiaming¡¯s jaw gaped wide open, wondering if he had misheard. ¡°What did you say, Sir?¡±

    ¡°We want Ms. Ye Meng to endorse the handbags and clothing while Ms. Ding Mi endorses the jewelry.

    You should also shoot some promotional videos with both of them together.¡±

    This time, Gao Jiaming was certain of what he had heard. Roger had specifically requested for Ding Mi

    to do the jewelry advertisements!

    His was really surprised as Channing¡¯s main product was actually jewelry. The handbag and clothing

    lines had only been developed recently, which meant they were not as well-known.

    Yet now they requested a neer like Ding Mi to promote their jewelry. Meanwhile, the female

    superstar, Ye Meng, only got to promote their clothing line! This waspletely unexpected!

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Sir, I feel obligated to remind you of something. While Ms. Ding is indeed very beautiful, she¡¯s actually

    not very famous right now.¡±

    ¡°We know,¡± was Roger¡¯s simple reply.

    ¡°Then may I ask why?¡± Gao Jiaming was truly curious why Channing would make such a decision.

    ¡°We¡¯re hoping to further strengthen our business rtionship with Nanshi Corporation. They

    rmended her to us and threatened to terminate all contracts with us if we refused. You have to

    sign this contract immediately! The sooner the better!¡±

    In truth, Gao Jiaming had already guessed as much. He just wanted confirmation from Roger.

    ¡°I understand, Sir.¡±

    After hanging up, Gao Jiaming headed back toward Nan Chen¡¯s office, nning on telling him the good

    news.

    Then, he remembered what Nan Chen had said earlier. Obviously, the other man had already known

    that this would work out.

    Everything is within his control. No wonder he told me to draw up the contract now! As expected of the

    amazing Sir Chen!

    ...

    Ning Ran received a call from thepany, telling her to get there as soon as possible. To her

    surprise, Wang Xiaoou gave her a hug.

    Wang Xiaoou had always been a calm woman who rarely did such impulsive actions. Thus, Ning Ran

    was dumbfounded at her strange action.

    ¡°Ou, you¡¯re scaring me. What is it? What happened?¡± Ning Ran queried.

    ¡°Great news! Wonderful news! You¡¯re about to start working on your first advertisement!¡± Wang Xiaoou

    was practically dancing with joy.

    A wide smile split Ning Ran¡¯s face. ¡°Really? What kind of advertisement?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Gao from the advertising agency came earlier and said it was an underwear advertisement.¡±

    Ning Ran frowned when she heard that. ¡°Will I have to reveal a lot of my body?¡±

    ¡°But somebody rejected it!¡±

    ¡°Who? Who caused me to lose my first advertisement?¡± Ning Ranmented.

    ¡°It was Sir Chen. He turned down that contract.¡±

    Sighing, Ning Ran muttered, ¡°So it was him. Never mind. I don¡¯t want to expose so much of myself

    either. If any of my elders or kids saw that, it would be so awkward!¡±

    ¡°However, you have another advertisement!¡±

    ¡°Oh, there¡¯s more?¡±

    Wang Xiaoou grinned and suggested eagerly, ¡°Guess what it is!¡±

    ¡°Hmm, cosmetics?¡±

    ¡°Nope!¡±

    ¡°Daily necessities? Dish detergents?¡±

    ¡°No! It¡¯s Channing¡¯s jewelry!¡±

    Ning Ran was stunned. After a few seconds, she shook her head in denial. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! Ou, you

    don¡¯t have to say that to cheer me up. Channing¡¯s jewelry is the hottest jewelry around now. Their

    jewelry products are extraordinarily expensive. There¡¯s no way such a luxurious brand would hire me to

    endorse their products!¡±

    ¡°I admit I have the same thoughts as you when I first heard about it. But that¡¯s really the truth! I heard

    the female superstar, Ye Meng, was supposed to be the spokesperson at first. But then they moved her

    to endorse the clothing while you got the jewelry. You two will even get a chance to work together on a

    promotional video! Just by working with her, your worth is going to sky-rocket! Isn¡¯t this such a

    wonderful surprise? Aren¡¯t you excited?¡±

    Ning Ran jumped with joy. ¡°Are you serious? Are you really telling me that such a marvelous thing has

    happened to me?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fantastic! Thank you, Ou! I¡¯m so grateful to thepany for giving me this opportunity!¡± Ning

    Ran pulled the other woman into a tight hug.

    Wang Xiaoou reminded, ¡°Do your best on this, okay? One thing you need to be careful of is Ye Meng.

    She¡¯s known for having quite a temper on her. Make sure not to offend her.¡±

    Ning Ran promised, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯s a superstar while I¡¯m just a neer to the scene. I know

    better than to piss her off.¡±

    ¡°Good. I¡¯m going to be out of the country for the next two days. I think it might be better if Cheng

    Xiangyun apanies you to the shoots. Contact me immediately if there are any problems.¡±

    ¡°Okay, I got it, Ou. Thank you so much!¡±

 Chapter 455

    Chapter 455

    When Ning Ran arrived on the set for themercial shoot, she realized the people there were staring

    at her oddly.

    It was not that surprising as she, a neer to the scene, had managed to get an opportunity to

    advertise Channing¡¯s products. Even she was amazed, let alone them.

    One of the staff informed her, ¡°Ms. Ding, the dressing rooms are over there.¡±

    ¡°Okay, thank you.¡±

    Ning Ran was feeling rather out of ce seeing that this was the first time she was shooting a

    commercial. What more, it was an advertisement for such a luxurious brand.

    ¡°Ran, calm down. You¡¯re a celebrity now; act like one. You have to put on an air of confidence!

    Otherwise, you might be bullied by the others!¡± Cheng Xiangyun whispered to Ning Ran.

    ¡°I¡¯m still a newbie, not a celebrity! I don¡¯t have the right to act so proudly!¡± Ning Ran muttered back.

    ¡°You can¡¯t act too humbly either. Showbiz has always been a vanity fair. You¡¯ll only get picked on if you

    act too meekly.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll just keep a low profile for now. If anyone were to bully me then I¡¯ll decide what to do.¡±

    For some reason, what Nan Chen had said to her before rang through her mind.

    Don¡¯t let anyone bully you. If they bully you, you bully them back.

    Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s sharp eyes caught the faint smile quirking Ning Ran¡¯s lips. ¡°What are you smiling

    at?¡±

    ¡°Oh, nothing.¡± Ning Ran snapped out of her thoughts.

    Pushing open the dressing door, she saw a beautiful woman having her make-up done. There were

    four people standing nearby.

    One of them bellowed, ¡°Ms. Ye is having her make-up done! Who said you could enter? Get out!¡±

    Ning Ran took a closer look at the woman, instantly recognizing her as Ye Meng.

    When Ning Ran had still been overseas, Ye Meng was already famous all across Asia.

    She had debuted in Korea but then broke off the contract with herpany there. Unfortunately, she

    did not attain much fame upon returning to China.

    After that, she headed to Japan and was cast in an explicit movie where she showed her amazing body

    and was suddenly exploded into fame.

    Despite that, she terminated her contract in Japan and returned to China once more.

    Atst, due to that movie, she became a celebrity in China. In a few years¡¯ time, she had attained the

    status of a superstar.

    Ning Ran had never seen the movie that made Ye Meng famous but she had seen hermercials.

    She had to admit that Ye Meng really did have a spectacr body.

    Even as a woman herself, Ning Ran had to admire Ye Meng¡¯s gorgeous figure. She had curves in all

    the right ces with not a hint of unnecessary fat.

    Comparing herself to Ye Meng, she found that they were not even in the same league.

    She bowed a little at the waist. ¡°Sorry for interrupting.¡±

    ¡°Hold on.¡±

    Ye Meng gestured for the make-up artist to stop for a moment. Turning her head, she asked one of the

    people standing around her. ¡°Who is she?¡±

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    She had not asked Ning Ran that question. Instead, she was staring at Ning Ran while asking the

    person closest to her. This clearly showed her arrogant attitude.

    ¡°No idea. I don¡¯t recognize her. She must be one of the janitors.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, yeah. She does look like a janitor.¡± Ye Meng nodded.

    Ning Ran was certain they were doing this on purpose.

    Although she was not exactly decked out in shining jewelry, she had dressed rather appropriately for

    the asion. There was no way she looked anything like a janitor.

    On that note, she actually thought the job of a janitor was rather noble. She held the utmost respect for

    them.

    Yet what Ye Meng and herckey said clearly showed their disdain for janitors. Otherwise, she would

    not have used that as an insult to Ning Ran. Ye Meng was belittling her deliberately!

    Ning Ran did not reply, she merely dipped her head and made to back out of the room.

    What¡¯s wrong with being a janitor? They¡¯re doing hardbor to earn a living. There¡¯s nothing wrong with

    that!

    Ye Meng spoke up again, ¡°Stop right there! Did I say you could leave?¡±

    Ning Ran stopped in her tracks.

    ¡°Janitor, clean this ce up. Oh, there¡¯s dirt on my shoes as well. Wipe them clean for me.¡±

    Spinning around in her chair, Ye Meng extended her leg out toward Ning Ran.

    ¡°Sorry but I¡¯m not a janitor. Even if I were, I wouldn¡¯t be in charge of personal cleanliness. A janitor is

    only responsible for the cleaning of the building.¡± Sensing the belligerence Ye Meng was exuding, Ning

    Ran¡¯s voice was noticeably colder as she said that.

    However, she did try to not let her unhappy emotions show on her face.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re not a janitor? Then who are you? What are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Ding Mi.¡±

    ¡°And who¡¯s Ding Mi? Have you guys heard of her?¡± Ye Meng questioned her entourage.

    They simultaneously replied, ¡°Nope, never heard of her.¡±

    As expected of a superstar! She has a group of attendants who are so cooperative!

    Truthfully, Ning Ran did not mind. It was rather normal for people not to have heard of her since she

    was rtively new.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Ye Meng repeated.

    Finally unable to stand it anymore, Cheng Xiangyun burst out, ¡°We¡¯re not here to clean, that¡¯s for sure!¡±

    Ning Ran hurriedly grabbed hold of her friend¡¯s arm, shaking her head slightly.

    Pointing a finger at Cheng Xiangyun, Ye Meng shrieked, ¡°And who are you? You don¡¯t even have a

    right to speak here! Shut your mouth!¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun made to retort something but Ning Ran gestured for her to be quiet.

    ¡°Sorry for disturbing you. I¡¯ll leave you to it,¡± Ning Ran muttered.

    ¡°Hold it! I remember now. There¡¯s supposed to be a newbie here to film themercial too. Her name

    is Ding Mi. Is that you?¡±

    Ye Meng obviously knew the answer.

    Although Ning Ran was not some celebrity, it only made sense that Ye Meng would still hear about her

    being the spokesperson for Channing.

    After all, the spokesperson for the jewelry was supposed to have been Ye Meng. Yet now she had been

    pushed aside to advertise their clothing while Ning Ran got to endorse the jewelry. Of course, Ye Meng

    would know about the change.

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me. Pleased to meet you, Ms. Ye,¡± Ning Ran answered politely.

    ¡°So it really is you? So you¡¯re the one who snatched what was supposed to be mymercial! Who

    the hell do you think you are? How dare you take what¡¯s mine!¡±

    Atst, Ye Meng was showing her true colors. She stood up and stalked toward Ning Ran aggressively.

    Being of mixed-blood, Ye Meng had a slender and tall figure. Her long legs only served to make her

    look that much bigger than Ning Ran. Standing before thetter, she literally looked down her nose at

    the other woman.

    Ning Ran¡¯s voice came out calm, ¡°Thepany arranged that. It has nothing to do with me.¡±

    She stared up into Ye Meng¡¯s eyes, not a hint of fear in her determined gaze.

    She was trying hard to be polite and keep a low profile since she had been raised to have good

    manners.

    However, just because she had a good upbringing did not mean she would cower in fear before others.

    Blustering and acting arrogantly did not mean one was brave either.

    ¡°How dare you talk back to me? You only got to where you are because you¡¯re sleeping with someone

    powerful and rich! There¡¯s no difference between you and a prostitute then!¡±

    ¡°How could you insult her like that? You¡¯re a celebrity, aren¡¯t you? How could you have such a filthy

    mouth!¡±

    Unable to bear seeing Ning Ran get humiliated, Cheng Xiangyun leaped to her defense again.

    Smack!

    Ye Meng pped Cheng Xiangyun across the face. Her voice was frosty as she snapped, ¡°I already

    said you have no right to speak here. A dog like you is not worthy of speaking to me!¡±

    ¡°What did you hit me for?¡± Cheng Xiangyun raged.

    She was infuriated but there was nothing she could do about it. The woman standing before her now

    was a female superstar. She, a lowly assistant, could not afford to offend her!

    Smack!

    Ye Meng gave Cheng Xiangyun another harsh p across the face. She had not held back this time,

    putting as much force as she could into that hit. Thinking of all the frustration and fury she felt having

    her advertisement given to someone else, she vented on Cheng Xiangyun.

    Her second p was so vicious that Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s nose was bleeding.

    Yet, she was still not happy. She raised her hand wanting to continue.

 Chapter 456

    Chapter 456

    Ning Ran grabbed Ye Meng¡¯s hand. ¡°Stop it!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t stop me. I must teach this b**** a lesson today!¡± Ye Meng shrieked, yanking her hand out of Ning

    Ran¡¯s grip.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°This is too much!¡± Ning Ran shouted in anger.

    ¡°So what? What can you do to me? You b****!¡±

    Ye Meng raised her hand, attempting to p Cheng Xiangyun again.

    p!

    However, a loud pnded on her own face.

    Ning Ran couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and finally made a move.

    ¡°How... How dare you p me?¡±

    Ye Meng¡¯s vicious face was suddenly reced by a pitiable expression.

    In the next second, tears started trickling down her cheeks.

    Her reaction stunned Ning Ran. No wonder she¡¯s a female superstar. Her acting skill is indeed

    impressive.

    ¡°Ms. Ye, can we start now?¡±

    Just then, the director came in. He was shocked when he saw Ye Meng crying. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°That woman hit her!¡± Ye Meng¡¯s assistant pointed at Ning Ran.

    In disbelief, the director turned to stare at Ning Ran with widened eyes.

    It¡¯s already shocking that a newbie like her can join Channing¡¯smercial shoot. Now that she¡¯s here

    for the shooting, she even hit Ms. Ye! Is she crazy? How could she beat a superstar like Ms. Ye?

    ¡°She¡¯s the one who started it! Look, she hit me till my nose bled,¡± Cheng Xiangyun quickly exined.

    The director shot a nce at Cheng Xiangyun.

    Her nose is really bleeding. Was the fight that bad? How did they get into a fight when they have just

    met one another? Do they have grudges against each other? Anyway, I¡¯m only a director, so I shouldn¡¯t

    comment about it in front of these big shots. After all, I don¡¯t have a say in their personal affairs.

    ¡°Let bygones be bygones. Fate has brought us together for themercial shoot, so try to respect and

    get along with each other,¡± the director advised them with a smile.

    ¡°I had no intention to stir up trouble, but she pped me. Does she have a prominent background or

    what? How could she just hit me like that? It¡¯s getting harder to be in the show business. Even a

    newbie is arrogant enough to get physical with me!¡±

    After saying that, Ye Meng wept louder.

    Ning Ran was baffled.

    Is she that fragile that she¡¯ll cry whenever she has a conflict with someone? Just a few minutes ago,

    she was so haughty and overbearing when she pped Cheng Xiangyun, behaving like a ferocious

    barbarian. But now she turns into a delicate woman. What a surprising change.

    ¡°Ms. Ye, please don¡¯t cry. Touch up your makeup. We¡¯re going to start shooting soon,¡± the director

    comforted her.

    ¡°I can¡¯t work with her. I¡¯m afraid that she¡¯ll hurt me again. Go ahead with the shooting. I¡¯lle

    tomorrow or, better yet, call me when she is done shooting, then I¡¯lle over,¡± Ye Meng said.

    The director was dumbstruck by her words. Oh no... Ms. Ye wants to leave. The top management has

    arranged for them to do the shoot together. And I have othermercials to shoot after this. What

    should I do?

    ¡°Ms. Ye, I don¡¯t think this is a good idea. Your schedule is full, so I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have no time to spare

    if you don¡¯t stay for the shoot today,¡± the director hurriedly persuaded her.

    ¡°Fine then. I don¡¯t mind quitting this. I¡¯ve many othermercials, and this one is nothing to me.¡±

    Standing up, Ye Meng stormed out of the dressing room.

    The director turned to look at Ning Ran. ¡°Ms. Ding, you¡¯re too impulsive. You¡¯ve provoked Ms. Ye so

    much that she left, and that messed up the shooting schedule. In case the management holds us

    ountable for this, you¡¯ll have to give them an exnation. I¡¯m not taking the me.¡±

    ¡°This woman is unreasonable! She was the one who picked a fight with us, refusing to stop pping

    even after my friend started bleeding. I had no choice but to p her back,¡± A wave of indignation

    burned in Ning Ran¡¯s chest.

    ¡°But Ms. Ye has left. What should we do now? Why don¡¯t you apologize and ask her to stay for the

    shooting?¡± the director suggested.

    ¡°No way! Why should we apologize to her? She pped me first!¡± Cheng Xiangyun said furiously.

    Ning Ran mulled over the entire incident again.

    Something seems wrong. Obviously, Ye Meng stirred up trouble deliberately, but she yed the victim

    after that. That means she didn¡¯t want to shoot for thismercial from the beginning itself. Yet, she

    put all the me on me after the fight. Now everyone thinks that I¡¯m the uncivilized budding actress

    who pped her when she¡¯s the one who started the fight. I¡¯ll have to take the fall if anyone pursues

    this matter. Fine, if my apology can solve this issue, I¡¯ll bear with it.

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll talk to her,¡± Ning Ran agreed.

    After all, this was her firstmercial. Therefore, she wanted everything to go smoothly as nned,

    and to not make a fuss.

    ¡°We did nothing wrong. Why should we say sorry?¡± Cheng Xiangyun protested.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯ll bear with it. I¡¯m sorry for what you¡¯ve gone through. Wait for me here, I¡¯ll be back in a

    while.¡± Ning Ran patted her shoulder.

    Walking out of the dressing room, she realized that Ye Meng was still around.

    The woman was standing in a corner, whispering something to her assistant. The moment she saw

    Ning Ran, she stopped talking and turned her head to the other side.

    Immediately, Ning Ran had a gut feeling that Ye Meng knew she was going toe after her, so she

    waited here on purpose.

    ¡°Can I have a word with you, Ms. Ye?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°What do you want to talk about? Are you trying to hit me again?¡± Ye Meng stered on a fearful

    expression.

    ¡°I¡¯ve acted too impulsively. Still, you can¡¯t scold my friend, let alone p her multiple times!¡± Ning Ran

    reprimanded.

    ¡°So you¡¯re here to condemn me?¡± Ye Meng asked in a cold tone.

    ¡°No, what I mean is that if you¡¯re still mad about it, p me to vent your rage. Then we can continue

    shooting,¡± Ning Ran suggested.

    ¡°I dare not p you. I can¡¯t afford to offend someone as fierce as you,¡± Ye Meng replied sarcastically.

    ¡°The truth is that you¡¯re more aggressive than anyone of us. But why are you acting weak and pitiful

    now? What are you trying to do? I¡¯m truly in awe of your acting skill.¡±

    ¡°I want you to quit the jewelrymercial shoot and let me take over. You can go for the fashion

    shoot.¡± Ye Meng finally revealed her hidden agenda.

    ¡°That¡¯s not up to me. You can discuss this with the investors yourself. I¡¯m fine with quitting if they agree

    to it,¡± Ning Ran refuted her.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you get me? I want you to quit out of your own ord. Only then they¡¯ll let me do the shooting.

    Just tell them your demeanor isn¡¯t suitable for jewelrymercials, but you¡¯re willing to shoot fashion

    commercials.¡±

    I see. So this is her real intention. She finally made herself clear.

    ¡°I won¡¯t do that. This is thepany¡¯s arrangement, so I have no right to quit just like that,¡± Ning Ran

    insisted.

    ¡°It¡¯s pointless to talk then. Scram!¡±

    ¡°Ms. Ye, we¡¯ve just met for the first time today, and I don¡¯t hold any grudge against you. I sincerely want

    to work with you to get today¡¯s work done.¡± Ning Ran tried to convince her again.

    ¡°Quit, and we¡¯ll talk. If you don¡¯t, there¡¯s nothing left to talk about. Now get lost!¡±

    Letting out a sigh, Ning Ran said conclusively, ¡°I¡¯ve tried my best to make you stay. There¡¯s nothing

    else I can do if you insist on leaving.¡±

    ¡°Go away!¡±

    Right then, the director came out of the room to persuade Ye Meng. However, she pointed right at him

    and gestured him to shut up.

    The director felt piqued and gave up.

    As amercial director, making peace isn¡¯t part of my job scope.

 Chapter 457

    Chapter 457

    After Ye Meng left, the director asked for the management¡¯s approval to let Ning Ran do the shooting

    first.

    She was very cooperative while working with the professional team.

    The raw video itself already looked spectacr before the editing. It was like a fashion blockbuster.

    It was alreadyte when the shoot ended. Exhausted, Ning Ran was about to head home and take a

    rest. Right then, Wang Xiaoou called her.

    The call got through and she asked Ning Ran toe to the office for a meeting.

    Despite her exhaustion, she agreed to it.

    On the way to the office, Cheng Xiangyun broke down in tears all of a sudden.

    Her reaction puzzled Ning Ran. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you crying?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s something I didn¡¯t tell you because you were busy with the shooting, and I didn¡¯t want to ruin

    your mood. I know why ourpany asks us to go back for a meeting,¡± Cheng Xiangyun said while

    wiping her tears.

    ¡°What happened? Just tell me already,¡± Ning Ran urged her anxiously.

    ¡°You and Ye Meng are trending on social media now.¡± Cheng Xiangyun handed over her phone.

    Ning Ran took it and nced at the treading topic. A Superstar Was pped By An Arrogant Starlet

    The post came with a video of the incident that happened in the dressing room.

    However, apparently, the video was iplete and had been edited.

    Not only did it not show the cause and effects of the incident, but it also highlighted the scenes in which

    Ning Ran pped Ye Meng, and thetter shed tears of indignation pitifully.

    Though Ye Meng¡¯s poprity was going downhill these two years, she was still a superstar who was

    popr in China and throughout Asia.

    Hence, she was someone whom Ning Ran could not afford to mess with. Yet, thetter not only

    offended her but pped her as well.

    Shortly after the video went viral, Ye Meng¡¯s fans posted on various major online forums to reprimand

    Ning Ran. They started a movement to ask Star Entertainment to expel her and even demanded she

    quit the show business permanently.

    In addition, some fans posted videos of themselves on media tforms, calling for Ning Ran to

    apologize and drop out.

    Ning Ran felt her heart clench tightly, and her palms turned sweaty. Never had she expected that this

    issue would get so out of hand.

    ¡°Ran, I¡¯m so sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have provoked Ye Meng. Sorry to have dragged you into this mess,¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun said while sobbing.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not your fault. She was the one who pped you first. Just ignore those irrationalizens.

    This isn¡¯t the first time I got scolded or attacked by them. Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯ll be over soon.¡±

    Despite her calm voice whileforting Cheng Xiangyun, she was actually panicking on the inside.

    After being in the show business for some time, she already knew how this industry worked.

    The influence of scandals could be so massive that even themercial she shot today might not be

    aired, and she would¡¯ve topensate for the loss.

    Other than that, the viewership rating of Sound of Thunder 2 might be affected too.

    It was a known fact that theizens could get unreasonable at times, but such mor on the Inte

    was more than enough to crush a person.

    ¡°Let me take the me and shoulder all the responsibilities. Later when we arrive at the office, just tell

    them that I was the one who stirred up the fight and dragged you into this. Then I¡¯ll make a video to

    apologize publicly, resign and leave the showbiz. I know my action may not have much effect, but these

    are all I can do. Hopefully, my apology will calm theizens down and stop the situation from

    worsening,¡± Cheng Xiangyun said.

    ¡°No. You¡¯ve done nothing wrong at all, so you don¡¯t need to apologize. I¡¯m the one who should do so,

    because I pped her. Don¡¯t say a word at the officeter, I¡¯ll bear the responsibility,¡± Ning Ran

    opposed her idea immediately.

    Xiangyun got involved in the fight because Ye Meng humiliated me. Hence, I can put all the me on

    Xiangyun when things turn ugly. After all, this is Ye Meng scheming against me, so making Xiangyun

    the scapegoat won¡¯t solve the problem.

    ¡°What should we do now? Your career has just started to take off. We can¡¯t allow this incident to ruin it.

    No, I¡¯ll take the me,¡± Cheng Xiangyun insisted.

    ¡°Xiangyun, you know how this incident started. Your resignation will only count for nothing, so it¡¯ll be

    such a waste if you quit. We¡¯ll see how it goes. In case Star Entertainment wants to terminate my

    contract, I¡¯ll have no choice but to ept it. If worsees to worst, I¡¯ll go overseas then. There must

    be a ce somewhere for me in this big world.¡±

    Although Ning Ran felt dejected, she didn¡¯t regret standing up for her friend.

    When I was at rock bottom, Xiangyun was the one who took me in and allowed me to audition for

    Sound of Thunder 2. Only then I got to star in the drama as the female lead, which in turn brought me

    into the entanglement with the Nan family.

    If it weren¡¯t for Xiangyun, I would still be a wanderer in a foreign country. She¡¯s my buddy. How could I

    do nothing when she got pped until her nose bled?

    ¡°Let¡¯s not be overly pessimistic. You have Sir Chen to back you up, but this time, I¡¯m doomed for sure.

    I¡¯m willing to take the fall. I really do. I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to save your career, and I won¡¯t regret it.¡±

    Wiping her tears, Cheng Xiangyun spoke with a determined expression.

    ¡°Fret not, we¡¯re of the same mind. Whateveres our way, we¡¯ll face it together.¡±

    As they were discussing a solution, their car pulled over in front of Star Entertainment. Getting out of

    the car, they saw the director of the PR department having a phone call at the entrance.

    His expression was stern when Ning Ran met his re.

    This doesn¡¯t look good to me.

    Wang Xiaoou had arrived as well. She was supposed to go on a business trip, but she had to cancel it

    after receiving the news at the airport.

    As Ning Ran¡¯s main talent agent, she was no doubt responsible for this incident too. Thus, her face

    was unusually grim.

    In the meeting room, the CEO and most of the executives had turned up.

    Ning Ran felt embarrassed to have troubled everyone. They were here to attend this emergency

    meeting at thiste hour because of her.

    ¡°Ding Mi, tell us about the incident and describe everything in detail, as we need to write an article

    about it,¡± Wang Xiaoou said.

    Standing up, Ning Ran began to fill them in on the incident while someone recorded and noted down

    her words.

    ¡°That¡¯s all. This is how the incident came about. I only speak the truth!¡± With that said, she felt a sense

    of relief.

    Whatever. Now that things turned out so badly, they can do anything they want.

    The entire meeting room fell into pin-drop silence. Everyone was waiting for the CEO to speak.

    ¡°Ding Mi isn¡¯t at fault because Ye Meng picked a fight with her. Obviously, she bore grudges as Ding Mi

    reced her for the jewelry endorsement. But Ding Mi failed to control her own emotions. That¡¯s why

    things have turned out this way,¡± the CEO concluded.

    ¡°It¡¯s not Ding Mi¡¯s fault but mine. I¡¯m willing to take the me.¡± Cheng Xiangyun stood up.

    ¡°What do you mean by ¡®taking the me¡¯? How are you going to fix it? You were there too. Why didn¡¯t

    you stop her? You¡¯re her talent agent. Don¡¯t you know the boundaries for a celebrity¡¯s behavior? You

    should¡¯ve held her back!¡± the director of the PR department yelled at her.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 458

    Chapter 458

    ¡°At that time, Ye Meng hit her to the extent that her nose bled. That¡¯s why she couldn¡¯t stop me. I¡¯m

    willing to take full responsibility,¡± Ning Ran defended her friend.

    ¡°Now we¡¯re talking about how to pull through this crisis, so whoever takes the me doesn¡¯t really

    matter. Thepany will evaluate the losses caused by this incident. We¡¯ll consider whether to

    terminate Ms. Ding¡¯s contract as well. Ms. Ding, you may leave now, as we¡¯re going to have an internal

    discussion,¡± the CEO said.

    Letting out a sigh, Ning Ran nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun and Wang Xiaoou came out of the meeting room after her. The three appeared

    dispirited.

    ¡°From my personal point of view, knowing Ye Meng¡¯s character, this isn¡¯t your fault. I support you,¡±

    Wang Xiaoou consoled her.

    ¡°Thanks, Ou. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve made things difficult for you in front of the management.¡±

    Wang Xiaoou smiled warmly. ¡°No worries, they won¡¯t fire me, since I¡¯m the top talent agent.¡±

    Hearing that, Cheng Xiangyun heaved a sigh.

    Unlike Wang Xiaoou, she was a new talent agent. Thus, she would probably be the first to get fired.

    Wang Xiaoou seemed to have read her thoughts and worries. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t be fired too,

    because it doesn¡¯t make any difference. Ever since you joined thepany, the management has put

    in a lot of resources to train you. And you have yet to contribute to thepany, so the bosses

    certainly won¡¯t fire you.¡±

    Wang Xiaoou¡¯s words lifted her mood instantly.

    Right then, the elevator door opened.

    Nervousness spiked in their hearts the second they saw the two men stepping out of the elevator.

    It was Nan Chen, and Jiang Zhe trailed behind him.

    ¡°Mr. Chen,¡± Wang Xiaoou greeted him in panic.

    Ignoring her, the man turned to Jiang Zhe and said, ¡°Go ahead and join the meeting.¡±

    With that, Jiang Zhe walked away to the meeting room.

    This is interesting. The big boss is here, but he¡¯s not joining the meeting and asks his assistant to

    attend it instead. Why did hee over then?

    Wang Xiaoou was fidgeting anxiously.

    Is the big boss here to pick on me?

    The man walked over to Ning Ran. ¡°Did you p someone?¡±

    Looking down with guilt, Ning Ran nodded slightly.

    ¡°Actually, this incident...¡±

    Before Cheng Xiangyun could finish talking, Nan Chen shot her a piercing stare. She cringed and bit

    her tongue right away.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s my fault,¡± Ning Ran mumbled, looking like a kid who was caught red-handed.

    ¡°Did she bully you?¡± he asked again.

    ¡°Not only did she humiliate me, but she pped Xiangyun until her nose bled too. Yet, she refused to

    stop and tried to p her again. I couldn¡¯t help but p her in a fit of anger. I was wrong. I shouldn¡¯t

    have done that,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°Did she hit you?¡± the man questioned.

    ¡°She didn¡¯t hit me. Yes, I did p her, but she pped Xiangyun first!¡± The woman defended herself.

    ¡°What have you done wrong?¡± Nan Chen asked her.

    ¡°I should¡¯ve called the police instead of getting physical with her,¡± Ning Ran said conclusively.

    ¡°Do you still remember what I told you before?¡± he asked.

    How can you expect me to know what you¡¯re referring to when you¡¯ve said so much to me?

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°What did I tell you to do when you get bullied?¡± The man reminded her.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    ¡°An eye for an eye. You said this, not me,¡± the woman answered in an aggrieved tone.

    ¡°Yes, an eye for an eye. If anyone bullies you, get even with her. What have you done wrong then?¡±

    Nan Chen said.

    I don¡¯t understand. What does Poker Face mean? What have I done wrong then? What answer does

    he expect from me?

    ¡°I...¡± Ning Ran was tongue-tied.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you p her earlier instead of letting her keep bullying you? Why did you apologize to her

    when you¡¯ve done nothing wrong?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    Wang Xiaoou¡¯s jaw dropped at his words.

    The big boss doesn¡¯t me Ning Ran at all. What¡¯s with all the interrogation then? I thought this would

    be the end of me, but it isn¡¯t!

    Lifting her head, Ning Ran stared nkly at the man in front of her.

    Hold on. Did he mean what he said? Is he really not ming me? Or did he say that to test me?

    ¡°What are you looking at? Don¡¯t you agree with what I said?¡± Nan Chen scolded.

    ¡°No, no, no... I totally agree,¡± Ning Ran answered hurriedly.

    ¡°Were you there at that time?¡± The man turned his head to look at Cheng Xiangyun all of a sudden.

    She quickly answered him, ¡°Yes, I was there. In the beginning, Ye Meng mocked Ran that she¡¯s a

    janitor and humiliated her. After that, she started scolding Ran. I couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and talked

    back to her. Then she pped me. Ran saw it and pped her back. I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Chen. My nose was

    bleeding at that time, that¡¯s why I couldn¡¯t stop Ran. I know I was wrong, but I just couldn¡¯t bear to see

    Ran get bullied.¡±

    ¡°What should you do if this kind a situation happens again?¡± Nan Chen asked in a frigid tone.

    ¡°I¡¯ll stop Ran immediately, so she won¡¯t get into trouble,¡± Cheng Xiangyun promptly answered.

    ¡°No.¡± The man¡¯s voice grew colder.

    Cheng Xiangyun was dumbfounded.

    I¡¯m not Jiang Zhe. I can¡¯t read the big boss¡¯ mind.

    Nan Chen¡¯s denial rendered her speechless.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, what should I do then? Please tell me,¡± she asked timidly.

    ¡°You should help her hit the bully back. Do your best to help her win the fight. Never allow her to suffer.¡±

    Hearing her boss¡¯ answer, Cheng Xiangyun stared at him with her mouth hanging open.

    Did he just say that? Or am I hallucinating?

    Wang Xiaoou was secretlyughing on the inside. What an eye-opening experience. Even the godlike

    big boss would say such ridiculous words. As the top talent agent, I¡¯m certain that this scandal Ye

    Meng created will not have much impact on Ning Ran. The big boss absolutely dotes on her.

    ¡°Yes, I got it,¡± Cheng Xiangyun replied swiftly.

    ¡°I¡¯ll double your sry. Keep it up,¡± Nan Chen dered.

    Am I hallucinating again?

    Not only can I keep my job, but my sry will double too? Is this what people call a blessing in

    disguise?

    Wang Xiaoou felt a pang of regret in her heart. If I had known that the big boss is so unprincipled and

    doting, I wouldn¡¯t have gone on a business trip. If I¡¯ve helped Ning Ran in the fight, he¡¯ll probably triple

    my sry. I¡¯ve made a mistake.

    Isn¡¯t Sir Chen being too unscrupulous? Will it affect thepany negatively? On second thought, he

    has the final say. It is whatever he says it is, so I don¡¯t need to worry about the aftermath. Even more

    so, Sir Chen doesn¡¯t give a damn.

    ¡°Thank you, Sir Chen. Thank you, thank you so much...¡±

    ted, Cheng Xiangyun couldn¡¯t stop thanking her boss.

    I thought I would lose my job. I can¡¯t believe that I can actually keep my job with a pay raise. Oh my

    God! This is too good to be true!

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Nan Chen said while turning around. After taking a few steps, he looked back and found

    Ning Ran standing rooted to the spot. With an icy expression, the man urged her, ¡°What are you

    waiting for?¡±

    ¡°I...¡± Ning Ran immediately trailed after him.

 Chapter 459

    Chapter 459

    In the meeting room, Jiang Zhe sat at the head of the table on behalf of Nan Chen.

    That was how influential Nan Chen was. Even when he was not around, his assistant was still qualified

    to take his seat.

    Despite knowing the whole story, Jiang Zhe let his subordinates finish reporting the entire incident.

    I have to act like I¡¯m listening attentively before making a decision so that I appeared mature and staid.

    I know I¡¯m sitting here only because of the respect they have for Mr. Chen, and I can never rece

    him.

    Not only was Jiang Zhe smart, but he also had high emotional intelligence. He earned everyone¡¯s

    respect, yet he never put on airs.

    Despite his powerful position, he maintained a humble attitude, which was exactly the reason why he

    could stay by Nan Chen¡¯s side for such a long time.

    After everyone finished reporting, Jiang Zhe adjusted his gold-rimmed sses, nodding discreetly.

    ¡°I see. So it wasn¡¯t Ms. Ding¡¯s fault,¡± Jiang Zhe told of his opinion.

    And everyone knew that whatever Jiang Zhe said was Nan Chen¡¯s standpoint as well.

    His words set the tone for the entire meeting, and everyone stopped focusing on ming Ding Mi¡¯s and

    discussed the solution instead.

    ¡°Do you have any suggestions?¡± Jiang Zhe asked.

    ¡°We thought of having Ding Mi to apologize publicly to calm theizens down,¡± an executive

    suggested.

    ¡°Yes, one must apologize after doing something wrong. However, Ms. Ding isn¡¯t at fault. Why should

    she apologize then?¡± Jiang Zhe asked them.

    Everyone fell silent at his words.

    They felt doubtful, despite knowing that this was Nan Chen¡¯s decision. How are we going to solve the

    issue without apologizing? We can¡¯t just let it be, or else the scandal may escte and get out of

    control.

    ¡°What does Mr. Chen think?¡± Another executive couldn¡¯t help but ask directly.

    ¡°Mr. Chen came with me just now, but he¡¯s here not for the meeting, but to check on Ms. Ding and

    make sure that she wasn¡¯t hurt by Ye Meng,¡± Jiang Zhe answered.

    It finally dawned on them that Nan Chen was very protective of Ning Ran. What else could they ask

    when their boss only cared about whether she was hurt or not?

    ¡°How should we deal with this?¡± the director of the PR department asked.

    ¡°We won¡¯t deal with it.¡± Jiang Zhe¡¯s answer caught them by surprise. Everyone looked stupefied.

    What does he mean by not dealing with it?

    Jiang Zhe added, ¡°Ye Meng instigated her fans to attack our celebrity. How are we going to handle it?

    We can¡¯t stop her fans from protesting and moring on the Inte. If they sue us, we can respond to

    thewsuit. However, if they do nothing other than starting an online movement, just ignore them.¡±

    ¡°But this will have a huge negative impact on us. Now Star Entertainment has be their target too.¡±

    Someone voiced out his doubt.

    ¡°This is Mr. Chen¡¯s decision,¡± Jiang Zhe announced the final word.

    What sort of strategy is this? How can we ignore such an overwhelming hue and cry all over the

    Inte? Anyway, there¡¯s nothing else we can say about this matter. Since Mr. Chen said so, we¡¯ll do

    nothing then. But this doesn¡¯t seem like his way of handling things at all.

    Meanwhile, on the way home, Ning Ran felt rather gleeful.

    I thought he would me me for acting recklessly, since my actions caused so much trouble. I didn¡¯t

    expect him to protect me to the extent that some will find it outrageous. Am I dreaming?

    Looking at the hint of a smile on her lips, Nan Chen felt delighted on the inside.

    ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Nan Chen suddenly asked.

    Hearing his words, it was only then Ning Ran realized that she was hungry.

    ¡°No,¡± she answered meekly.

    ¡°It¡¯s already sote. Why didn¡¯t you eat first?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t have the mood to eat because of the scandal. I¡¯m sorry to have troubled everyone,¡± Ning Ran

    said with remorse.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be silly. Like I said, it¡¯s not your fault.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not being silly. Though you support me, I still feel bad about it...¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that I support you. I just don¡¯t want to see the artiste under mypany get bullied,¡± he

    corrected her at once.

    ¡°Okay. Anyway, thank you.¡±

    ¡°Treat me to a meal then,¡± the man said impassively.

    ¡°Huh? Treat you to a meal?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say to treat me to a meal? Are you only thanking me verbally?¡± His face became stern.

    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll buy you a meal. Let¡¯s go to Pit¡¯s Barbeque. It¡¯s been a while since Ist ate...¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Nan Chen interrupted her.

    It reminded Ning Ran that he had diarrhea thest time he ate this, so he surely wouldn¡¯t want to go

    there again.

    ¡°What would you like to eat?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    Ning Ran seemed troubled.

    Usually, I¡¯ll choose a decent restaurant when I treat someone to a meal. But that doesn¡¯t work when it

    comes to this man. He isn¡¯t interested in those high-end restaurants which he goes to regrly. Thus,

    it¡¯s meaningless to bring him there.

    ¡°How about going home? And I¡¯ll cook noodles for you. This is the cheapest option. It¡¯ll save me a lot of

    money.¡±

    Dissatisfied, he red at her. ¡°Why are you so avaricious?¡±

    Ning Ran let out a sigh. ¡°I know that money is just a number for rich people like you. But for people who

    used to be poor like me, it¡¯s crucial for our survival. I bet you¡¯ll never understand this.¡±

    ¡°Never mind. I¡¯ll take you to a restaurant. What do you want to eat?¡±

    Ning Ran almost leaped for joy. ¡°Grilled beef!¡±

    ¡°How many times have you had this? Don¡¯t you get sick of it?¡±

    She shook her head. ¡°I won¡¯t. I really love it. The restaurant is too expensive. I won¡¯t get to eat it when

    you¡¯re not around. I¡¯m reluctant to spend money on it even if I go on my own.¡±

    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

    Without a word, Nan Chen gave her a disapproving look. She¡¯s literally obsessed with money.

    Half an hourter, the two arrived at the restaurant.

    After taking a seat, Ning Ran wanted to chat with Nan Chen. Yet, he kept quiet, and she didn¡¯t know

    how to strike up a conversation.

    It¡¯s really difficult to chat with the taciturn Poker Face. It takes a lot of patience and the ability to find the

    right topic to talk to him about. He has always been a man of mystery. And this enigmatic man never

    makes small talk. I wonder what kind of topic will pique his interest.

    He holds an ocean of knowledge, including global politics and economic trends, corporate development

    and many more that ordinary people cannot even imagine. Nevertheless, he rarely expresses himself,

    because only a handful of people can understand him. And I can never take a sneak peek into his heart

    if he doesn¡¯t open up.

    In the end, Ning Ran rested her hands on the table while staring at him.

    Under the faint light, the man looked utterly dashing, but his expressionless face was a party pooper.

    ¡°Can¡¯t you just smile? Aren¡¯t you tired of being so serious all the time?¡± Ning Ran couldn¡¯t hold back

    from teasing him.

    ¡°Why should I smile? Only fools smile for no reason,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    Ning Ran couldn¡¯t find words to refute him. Yet, that didn¡¯t ruin her good mood.

    ¡°How are you going to handle the scandal? What¡¯s thepany going to do?¡±

    She started asking about work since he wasn¡¯t keen to talk about his personal matters.

    Unlike Nan Chen, who could keep silent for a long time, Ning Ran found it hard to do the same, trying

    to look for a conversation starter.

 Chapter 460

    Chapter 460

    ¡°pping her is something you did out of your own ord. Thepany has no reason to take

    responsibility.¡±

    Nan Chen¡¯s words rendered Ning Ran speechless.

    She gaped at him in astonishment, wondering why he went back on his word. This is not what you said

    earlier on!

    Nan Chen caught her questioning look, but he was unperturbed. Rather, he picked up his phone again

    from his pocket and sat back without any exnation.

    It might bepletely normal for people to be engrossed in their phones¡ªbut that was not the case for

    Nan Chen.

    He did not usually spend a lot of time on his phone, and he never once concerned himself with all the

    juicy gossips online.

    But he was not himself today. Time and time again, Ning Ran caught him checking his phone every few

    minutes. It was like he could not take his eyes off it.

    This made Ning Ran even more disturbed. A frown etched on her well-defined brows as she stole

    another resentful look at Nan Chen. He must be texting some woman.

    Why not just make yourself scarce and go meet her in person?

    What¡¯s the point of hoarding space here if you¡¯re not interested in talking?

    Ning Ran could not take it anymore. ¡°Are you that busy?¡± she snapped.

    As usual, Nan Chen looked up without a word and continued whatever he was doing.

    Ning Ran was infuriated. She wanted to go over and snatched his phone away. Her impulse was telling

    her to just throw his phone out of the window.

    But she did not have the guts to do that. She was afraid of Nan Chen.

    Yet it was not long before Ning Ran brightened up. Delicious food was served and her mouth watered

    looking at all the dishes.

    Who cares about men? Food never betrays you!

    Why should I even bother myself with an unruly man like him?

    Little did she know, Nan Chen had been observing her from the corner of his eyes. Confusion

    glimmered in his eyes when he spotted Ning Ran¡¯s erratic change of mood when she saw the food.

    Gosh, she¡¯s so unpredictable.

    It was not until he saw Ning Ran reached for the food that he finally made a sound. ¡°Did you wash your

    hands?¡±

    Ning Ran cocked her head and looked up in surprise. ¡°I did,¡± she said curtly. True, the tasty food

    appeased her, but that did not mean she was happy with his attitude.

    ¡°But you touched something else after you washed your hands, didn¡¯t you? Go wash them again,¡± Nan

    Chen said.

    ¡°You do it yourself. I¡¯m digging in,¡± Ning Ran protested.

    But Nan Chen refused to let her off the hook. ¡°There¡¯s no room for discussion here,¡± he replied

    severely.

    Ning Ran let out a resigned sigh and got off to the washroom. She figured it was not worth wasting time

    over a small issue like this.

    She washed her hands and quickly came back to the dining table before burying herself in all the

    appetizing food before her.

    Over on the other side, Nan Chen looked at her with a disgusted look.

    Geez, do you have to eat like there is a famine out there?

    The food really packed a wallop and Ning Ran was eating away when she suddenly sensed a cold

    re. She looked up and saw Nan Chen staring at her with an inexplicable expression on his face. He

    sat there elegantly with a ss of red wine in his hand; there was a huge contrast between himself and

    Ning Ran.

    She became self-conscious all of a sudden and adjusted her posture, eating in a slow and poised

    manner.

    But that was not why Nan Chen was looking at her. He just found out that he was actually fine with her

    casting off restraint in front of him.

    He had seen many women who were prim and proper. And none of them feltfortable enough

    around him to just be themselves.

    Ning Ran was the first to ever let her guard down around him. She did not put up a front nor did she

    care about her image in front of him.

    He even noticed she actually ate like a kid¡ªlike Dabao, to be precise.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that,¡± Nan Chen remarked, taking a sip of red wine.

    ¡°Do what?¡± Ning Ran looked at him cluelessly, wiping the food at the corner of her mouth with a clean

    napkin.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to act alldylike.¡±

    ¡°Me? Putting on an act? I don¡¯t need to put on an act. I amdylike. That¡¯s my nature,¡± she retaliated.

    Nan Chen smirked and shook his head in disbelief.

    But Ning Ran shot him her sweetest smile and raised her ss towards him. ¡°Thanks foring to my

    rescue and treating me to good food.¡±

    Nan Chen held out his ss and clicked hers before drinking his wine with a suppressed smile hanging

    on the corner of his lips.

    This was definitely a rare sight considering how Nan Chen had always put on a poker face.

    Ning Ran took a sip as well and finally asked in a worried tone. ¡°Will everything really be okay? Is there

    anything I can do? I don¡¯t want thepany to be affected because of me.¡±

    ¡°Thepany is obviously bearing the brunt of what you did. So what you should do now is to work

    extra hard to make up for the loss thepany has incurred because of you,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    Ning Ran nodded determinedly and clenched her fists. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what I¡¯ll do. I¡¯ll work hard and give it

    my best!¡±

    Following her motivating statement, a timely ring came from Nan Chen¡¯s phone and the screen lit up.

    Nan Chen spared it a cursory nce and chose to ignore it.

    Ning Ran eyed his phone suspiciously as thoughts raced through her mind. It must be a woman.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you check the message?¡± she probed.

    ¡°I¡¯ll check itter. I don¡¯t want to wash my hands again,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    Ning Ran pursed her lips and shrugged. I really think he has OCD.

    But she did not want to let the matter off so easily. ¡°What if the person has something important to tell

    you?¡± she asked again.

    ¡°Who are you referring to?¡± Nan Chen replied with a question.

    Ning Ran widened her eyes and looked at him without another word. Well, how will I know who sent

    you a message?

    They continued dining quietly until Nan Chen finally put down his cutlery and wiped his hands. He did

    not eat a lot since his mind was elsewhere.

    He unlocked his phone and finally looked at the message.

    He then made a brief call and said just three words hastily¡ª¡¯send it out¡¯.

    He hung up and let out a sigh of relief as if he just got a burden off his chest. He put down his phone

    and sat there in a rxed manner as he watched Ning Ran finish up her portion.

    She was taking longer than usual because her mind was wandering all over, thinking about the

    message that Nan Chen received. He even caught her peeking at his phone from the opposite side of

    the table.

    ¡°What are you trying to look at?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m just curious,¡± she replied shortly.

    ¡°That means you want to take a look,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran did not reply but stared at her food intently. If you want to put it that way, there¡¯s nothing else I

    can say.

    Nan Chen surveyed her face and finally said, ¡°Give me a good reason and I¡¯ll let you have a look.¡±

    Ning Ran pouted her lips and raised her eyelids weakly. What solid reason can I give, eh?

    You¡¯re the high and mighty Nan Chen! I know you won¡¯t be persuaded so easily.

    ¡°I¡¯m not interested in persuading you,¡± she said.

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    Ning Ran stared at him nonchntly and answered, ¡°Because I know it¡¯s impossible to change your

    mind.¡±

    Nan Chen almost chuckled at how tant she was. ¡°Not necessarily. It depends.¡±

    Ning Ran rolled her eyes as she thought keenly. ¡°Give me a clue.¡±

    ¡°You just need to tell me why you wanted to look at my phone. I¡¯ll agree if it¡¯s reasonable,¡± Nan Chen

    said.

    Ning Ran crossed her hands in front of her chest and took a deep breath. I¡¯m up for the challenge!

    Judging from what he said, I think he will allow me to check his phone if I¡¯m able to give him a good

    enough reason.

    ¡°You¡¯re not someone who can¡¯t live without your phone. But I realized you have been checking your

    messages this whole night. I think this is really unusual,¡± Ning Ran exined.

    She knew there was no point making something up because Nan Chen would definitely see through it.

    So she told him the truth.

    ¡°Reason epted. Here you go,¡± Nan Chen said, holding out his phone towards her after he unlocked

    it.

    Ning Ran gaped in bewilderment as she looked at Nan Chen. She was not expecting him to give her

    the green light that easily. ¡°Just like that?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not interested?¡± Nan Chen asked, gesturing to retract his hand.

    ¡°Of course I¡¯m interested! But I have to make it clear first¡ªyou¡¯re the one who offered it, I didn¡¯t force

    you!¡± Ning Ran reiterated.

    ¡°Do you still want to have a look?¡± Nan Chen was getting impatient.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Ning Ran eximed, taking his phone from his hand.

    On the screen was a video of a woman who looked extremely familiar with just one nce.

    Ning Ran squinted her eyes at the woman dressed in a low-cut dress¡ªit was Ye Meng¡ªthe female

    superstar.

    And beside her, was Ouyang Qi.

    They were caught drinking together in the video. Although Ning Ran could not hear what they were

    talking about from the poor quality audio, it sure looked like they were flirting from their interaction.

    ¡°What about these two?¡± Ning Ran still could not get her head around what was the meaning behind

    this.

    Nan Chen cleared his throat and exined. ¡°Ouyang Qi, also notoriously known as the Nine-Fingered

    Prince, has a reputation of being an extravagant yboy that splurges on women. He¡¯s involved with

    many actresses and there have been so many scandals no one is surprised anymore.¡±

    Ning Ran nodded quietly but she still could not see what this video had to do with what happened. ¡°And

    what¡¯s the point of letting me see this?¡± she inquired.

    ¡°You¡¯re the one who wanted to see it.¡± Nan Chen sank back into the seat with a confused look.

    Ning Ran rested her chin on her hand and bit her lips, thinking hard. It was not long before she

    snapped her fingers and a big proud smile spread across her face. ¡°I got it!¡±

    But she realized was too loud and quickly looked around with an embarrassed smile.

 Chapter 461

    Chapter 461

    Everything happened as expected the next day. Ning Ran was up early and the first thing she did was

    check her phone. As she anticipated, Ye Meng was all over the trending news.

    But this time around, Ning Ran was not mentioned at all¡ªand it was all because of the video posted

    yesterday.

    What was caught on camera was pretty straightforward. Ye Meng, dressed in a sexy low-cut dress,

    was leaning towards a young man.

    Her moves were tantalizing and her face was flushed.

    Yes, it wasmon for actresses to socialize with people over a drink. But this video¡¯s release was

    rather untimely.

    That very morning, Ye Meng shed tears to elicit sympathy online.

    Everyone was under the impression that she was in great pain and that it would take a long time before

    she recovered.

    But on the same day itself, a video of her drinking merrily with Ouyang Qi was released. There was not

    the slightest hint of sorrow in that video.

    Besides, she was dressed scantily and was behaving in a flirtatious manner.

    All theizensmbasted her mercilessly. Even the fans felt betrayed and theirments were crude.

    Here we are defending you with all we have, and there you are having a jolly good time with a man!

    What do you think you are doing?

    You need to stop taking your fans for granted!

    What you¡¯re doing is unforgivable. You¡¯re simply toying with us!

    What a promiscuous woman!

    It was obvious that Ye Meng had let her fans down, especially male fans.

    They were left disappointed seeing their female idol dressed skimpily and behaving intimately with

    another man.

    In fact, then fans felt so disillusioned their criticisms quickly spiraled out of control. Some started

    cursing her andunching personal attacks, calling her names and degrading her.

    Ye Meng had also responded to the video, rifying that the video was taken a long time ago when she

    was hanging out with a friend.

    She even used whoever posted this of having malicious intent to nder her and to divert the

    public¡¯s attention from what happened to her yesterday.

    It was apparent that she was pointing fingers at Ning Ran.

    And as Ye Meng wished, theizens soon directed their criticisms towards Ning Ran, using her of

    being a scheming and vicious woman who wanted to frame Ye Meng.

    But as per Nan Chen¡¯s request, Ning Ran made noments.

    And within just an hour, the tables turned.

    Photos of Ye Meng and Ouyang Qi at a hotel¡¯s reception counter spread online like wildfire. What was

    more interesting was that the digital timer on the front desk was clearly captured in the photos.

    The time showed on the timer was yesterday at midnight.

    All this evidence suggested but one thing¡ªYe Meng and Ouyang Qi spent the night together at the

    hotel.

    And everything blew up into a full-scale furor.

    Ye Meng¡¯s name had even be the most searched keyword on social media.

    Ye Meng spent the night with a man at a hotel.

    Ye Meng getting drunk at a club.

    Ye Meng caught flirting with a man.

    However, there were still some loyal fans who disregarded this evidence and chose to stand by their

    idol, using Ning Ran of being the main culprit who staged all these.

    These fans berated anyone who said anything bad about Ye Meng in an undiscriminating fashion and

    even spected that there was someone behind Ning Ran who was nning this.

    Amidst the heated debate online, Ning Ran was summoned to the office because of work.

    Channing, the brand endorsed by both Ning Ran and Ye Meng, requested the presence of the new

    brand ambassadors at an event to meet the consumers.

    Although one of their contract obligations was to attend events held by the brand they were working

    with, asking these two actresses to attend an event together at this point in time was still tactless on the

    brand¡¯s side, especially when they were totally aware of what was going on between the two.

    What was more terrible was that the brand had called for an event involving Ning Ran and Ye Meng

    because they wanted to gain something out of it.

    An event featuring both of these actresses would definitely attract the public¡¯s attention.

    They did not care who was in the right because all they wanted was to milk this for all it was worth and

    gain more brand publicity.

    But for Ning Ran and Ye Meng, this event could turn out to be disastrous.

    This was why Wang Xiaoou and her team called Ning Ran over to discuss if it was strategic for Ning

    Ran to attend this uncanny event.

    Cheng Xiangyun was the first to disagree at the meeting. ¡°She¡¯s definitely not going. We all know they

    have an ulterior motive and we are not sending Ran over like a sheep to be ughtered. Things are

    bound to get sticky!¡±

    But Wang Xiaoou begged to differ. ¡°There will definitely be security guards at the event. Things won¡¯t

    go out of control even if there is an assault.¡±

    Across the table, Cheng Xiangyun was getting anxious. ¡°Ou, don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t know anything

    about what might happen after years of being a talent agent. You know full well what will befall her if

    she makes a public appearance now!¡±

    But Wang Xiaoou¡¯s stance was notpletely baseless. ¡°I understand where you¡¯reing from. But

    what if Ye Meng attends the event and Ning Ran doesn¡¯t? This will give theizens something more to

    gossip about.¡±

    Ning Ran, who had been silent throughout the whole discussion, decided to have a say in the matter as

    well. ¡°The people will definitely say I¡¯m behaving like a coward because I have something to hide. If Ye

    Meng really attends the event, it will give her the upper hand to turn the tides.¡±

    ¡°I agree,¡± Wang Xiaoou said, nodding passionately.

    ¡°But that¡¯s hypothetical. What if she doesn¡¯te?¡± Cheng Xiangyun pointed out.

    ¡°That¡¯s totally possible. But we also have to consider the chances of her going to the event,¡± Wang

    Xiaoou replied.

    ¡°Can¡¯t we confirm with Channing if she¡¯s going?¡± Cheng Xiangyun suggested.

    ¡°No. I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll tell us even if they know. Attending the event is Ning Ran¡¯s legal obligation to

    the brand. They are not obliged in any way to tell us if Ye Meng will be attending. It¡¯s apparent that

    they¡¯re doing this for publicity,¡± Wang Xiaoou answered.

    Cheng Xiangyun rubbed her hands in frustration. ¡°Then what should we do? We¡¯re caught between a

    rock and a hard ce!¡±

    Sitting in between them, Ning Ran finally made a decision after much contemtion. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Wang Xiaoou was surprised by her determination.

    ¡°Yes. I can¡¯t run away forever. Besides, I don¡¯t see why I shouldn¡¯t go. I did nothing wrong. Those

    people will still criticize me regardless of the truth. I¡¯ll endure whateveres my way as long as I don¡¯t

    die in their hands.¡±

    Wang Xiaoou beamed with pride as she watched Ning Ran. ¡°That¡¯s a courageous decision. We will

    stand by you no matter what. I¡¯ll make sure the security arrangement is foolproof.¡±

    ¡°No, you don¡¯t have to,¡± Ning Ran urged.

    Wang Xiaoou jerked her head and looked at her. ¡°Why? Do you think no one will attack you? Ye Meng

    has many loyal fans, and they are bound tosh out at you. Some of them might even get physical!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not altogether a bad thing. The video of me pping Ye Meng has made me look like a bad

    person. If I¡¯m attacked this time around, I bet the public will look at me differently. I want to let themThis belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    know that I¡¯m also vulnerable. Even if they do not sympathize with me, they will definitely look at what

    happened in a more reasonable light.¡±

 Chapter 462

    Chapter 462

    Nan Chen sat up in caution the moment he heard Ning Ran was attending the event.

    Not bad. She calcted every move carefully. Appearing before the public is both a brave and wise

    decision.

    Upon receiving the news, Jiang Zhe immediately went ahead with the necessary arrangements. ¡°I¡¯ve

    already notified Qiao Zhan to go over with Ms. Ding on that day. They will be assisting the organizer¡¯s

    security team at the event.¡±

    But Nan Chen shook his hand and said, ¡°No, there¡¯s no need for that.¡±

    Jiang Zhe raised his brows and blinked nkly at Nan Chen in disbelief.

    ¡°There¡¯s not a need to mobilize our family¡¯s security team for a small event like this. It¡¯s not like the fans

    can do anything to her,¡± he exined coldly.

    ¡°But Ye Meng¡¯s fans will be attending the event. God knows what they¡¯re gonna do to Ms. Ding!¡± Jiang

    Zhe disagreed.

    ¡°Since Channing decided to call for this event at this point in time, they should be responsible for all the

    risks. They must have factored in every possibility to propose something this audacious,¡± Nan Chen

    replied.

    But it was not like Jiang Zhe was unaware of what Nan Chen said. He was just worried that something

    might happen to Ning Ran.

    ¡°Let the organizer know that Ning Ran should be allowed to interact with the fans, but they have to

    make sure that no harm befalls her,¡± Nan Chen ordered.

    Jiang Zhe nodded and went out to make a call immediately.

    ¡­¡­

    It was the big day and Ning Ran was rigged out in her best for the event, wearing an exorbitant

    ne worth more than a million, as per Channing¡¯s request.

    Beside her, two women followed her closely¡ªnot because they needed to take care of her¡ªbut

    because they needed to keep an eye on the expensive jewelry.

    They had to make sure that the ne was returned to thepany without a single scratch.

    Under the careful surveince of the two franticdies, Ning Ran paced towards the entrance

    confidently.

    The venue was swarming with people, but none of them seemed to be here to cause a ruckus.

    In fact, the crowd looked soposed Ning Ran felt as if the people attending were just extras hired by

    the organizer.

    The event went on smoothly and came to an end.

    But just as Ning Ran was about to get in the car to leave the venue, a group of women came charging

    ferociously towards her.

    The one leading the group shouted, ¡°This is the bitch that pped Ye Meng!¡±

    ¡°She deserves to die!¡± another yelled.

    ¡°Yes! She should just quit showbiz!¡± yet another eximed.

    Hearing themotion, a bodyguard nearby quickly came to Ning Ran¡¯s aid.

    It so happened that he was the only bodyguard who was around Ning Ran although there were many

    of them nearby earlier on.

    It was obvious that there was nothing much he could do as they started throwing eggs and tomatoes at

    Ning Ran.

    Around them, reporters started shing their cameras and taking pictures, capturing photos of Ning

    Ran at her most embarrassing moment.

    Seeing themotion, the crowd also took out their phones to record a video. Some of them even live-

    streamed the incident.

    Just as Ning Ran was caught in a difficult situation, a man with a mask and a pair of sunsses waded

    through the huge crowd and protected her with his body, escorting her out of the crowd.

    A car pulled by right beside the road and they hopped on.

    After they got in, a pungent smell of rotten egg wafted through the car and even Ning Ran felt

    disgusted by herself.

    Over on the other side of the car, the man took off his mask and smiled at her proudly. ¡°It feels nice to

    be a hero!¡±

    Ning Ran looked at the man in rm. ¡°Ouyang Qi! What are you doing here?¡±

    He pped his hands in excitement and replied, ¡°I came here to save you!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t need you to save me. I know you¡¯re on Ye Meng¡¯s side!¡± Ning Ran called him out tantly.

    Ouyang Qi eyed her grudgingly and rolled his eyes. ¡°Are you dumb? The video wouldn¡¯t even be online

    if I were on her side!¡±

    It suddenly urred to Ning Ran that he was probably the one who was behind the video that showed

    Ye Meng drinking with him. ¡°You¡¯re the one that posted the video?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Who else would have taken that video? I was the one who asked her out that night!¡± Ouyang Qi

    admitted his crime with a sly smile.

    ¡°And you did that to help me?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Of course! I posted that video to divert the public¡¯s attention. How are you going to thank me?¡± he

    asked cheekily.

    ¡°If that¡¯s really the case, I really have to thank you,¡± Ning Ran said with a sigh of relief.

    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, to begin with. But anyway, don¡¯t you think my n worked perfectly? I used myself

    as a bait. No one else could have thought of such a splendid n,¡± Ouyang Qi said, resting his hand on

    his chest.

    ¡°So you guys really slept together yesterday?¡± Ning Ran inquired as she assessed Ouyang Qi¡¯s face.

    ¡°Yeah, I did. I sacrificed my body for you. But don¡¯t you worry, my heart still belongs to you although I

    was with her physically,¡± Ouyang Qi reassured.

    ¡°Keep your heart to yourself,¡± Ning Ran watched him with repugnance.

    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Are you jealous?¡± Ouyang Qi questioned eagerly.

    ¡°Why should I be jealous? It has nothing to do with me!¡± Ning Ran quickly exined herself.

    Ouyang Qi pouted his lips and eyed her from the corner of his eyes. ¡°I know you¡¯re jealous. Just admit

    it. You like me and that¡¯s why you¡¯re angry with me for sleeping with Ye Meng.¡±

    Ning Ran pursed her lips and shook her head before she turned towards the driver. ¡°Stop the car at the

    junction over there. I need to get down. I stink.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. You can change when we reach the hotel. I¡¯ll ask someone to send your clothes over,¡±

    Ouyang Qi quickly replied.

    But Ning Ran was fixated on getting off the car. ¡°I can handle this myself. Don¡¯t bother yourself.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t find it bothersome. I¡¯m d to help. You can always turn to me if you need anything,¡± Ouyang

    Qi said.

    Ning Ran turned and her gaze sank through Ouyang Qi. ¡°Then answer my question. Who sent the

    video to Nan Chen?¡±

    Ouyang Qi¡¯s reaction waspletely unexpected. He sat up from his seat and peered at her. ¡°You

    were with Nan Chen yesterday night? What were you guys doing? How could you do this to me?¡±

    But Ning Ran did not see anything wrong with that. ¡°We were discussing how we should settle the

    issue. I¡¯m an actress in theirpany. What¡¯s wrong with seeing Nan Chen?¡±

    Ouyang Qi clenched his fist and beat his chest as he bombarded her with a litany of questions. ¡°Did

    you guys do anything other than discussing what happened? You didn¡¯t do anything that would break

    my heart, right?¡±

    ¡°Just answer my question! How did Nan Chen get his hands on the video?¡± Ning Ran was getting

    impatient.

    Ouyang Qi finally shifted his gaze and told her what happened. ¡°Nan Chen sent someone to tail Ye

    Meng. When they saw Ye Meng and me together, those people suggested that we record a video.¡±

    Ning Ran¡¯s eyes widened as she tried to make sense of what she just heard.

    Nan Chen and Ouyang Qi had always been at odds with each other. She could not believe they

    actually worked together!

    ¡°Why are you so surprised? He¡¯s not as good as you think he is,¡± Ouyang Qi told her.

    Ning Ran scoffed and gave him a sidelong nce. ¡°It¡¯s not like you¡¯re any better yourself. I thought you

    guys never saw eye to eye?¡±

 Chapter 463

    Chapter 463

    Ouyang Qi adjusted his position and faced Ning Ran as he exined away. ¡°Not really. Our families

    are close, so we knew each other since we were kids, although I can¡¯t really tell him and his brother

    apart. The only reason why we don¡¯t get along now is because of you.¡±

    But Ning Ran knew it was all a bluff. ¡°Stop talking nonsense and tell me why you agreed to work with

    Nan Chen.¡±

    ¡°My original n was to persuade Ye Meng to go easy on you. But the people Nan Chen sent said I

    should just have a drink with her and have it recorded instead of wasting my energy talking to her. Like

    I told you, Nan Chen is not as good as you think he is. I¡¯ll never do something this underhanded.¡±

    It was obvious that Ouyang Qi was trying to make himself appear better by putting Nan Chen down.

    ¡°Yeah, but you still agreed to his proposal,¡± Ning Ran pointed out honestly.

    ¡°But he was the one who came up with the idea. He actually wanted to do it himself, but he knew he

    was not attractive enough to ask Ye Meng out for a drink. That¡¯s why he had to ask me to do it,¡±

    Ouyang Qi said.

    Ning Ran suppressed her smile and nodded mechanically as Ouyang Qi bragged away.

    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Ouyang Qi asked, looking at her.

    ¡°Nothing. I just think you really have a way with words,¡± she replied nonchntly.

    Emboldened by thepliment, Ouyang Qi continued badmouthing Nan Chen. ¡°He came out with a

    sneaky idea and pushed me into doing it. How reliable can a person like that be, eh?¡±

    Ning Ran continued nodding as he talked on and on about Nan Chen.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you agree?¡± Ouyang Qi finally asked.

    ¡°Yes, I agree with everything you said.¡±

    ¡°Good. Then we should have a meal together after you get a change.¡±

    ¡­¡­

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    Over at Nanshi Corporation, Nan Chen flung a document file in full force at Jiang Zhe in his office.

    ¡°What is Ouyang Qi doing there?¡± he interrogated.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Chen. He happened to pass by and...¡±

    ¡°He happened to pass by? It¡¯s not like the event was held beside a big road!¡±

    Jiang Zhe almost pped himself in the mouth foring up with such ame excuse. He quickly

    picked up the file and put it back on the table as he took the chance to think about another exnation.

    ¡°He must be there because he knew there was an event going on. That¡¯s why...¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to let him y the good guy. Where is he now?¡± Nan Chen asked furiously.

    Jiang Zhe stole a timid look at Nan Chen and replied softly, ¡°They went to the hotel.¡±

    ¡°What? They went to the hotel?¡± Nan Chen sprang to his feet, sending his roller chair banging against

    the wall.

    He reached for the file Jiang Zhe picked up and mmed it towards the ground.

    ¡°Ms. Ding dirtied her clothes and she needed a change. That¡¯s why she¡¯s heading for the hotel to wash

    up,¡± Jiang Zhe said quietly.

    ¡°She can do that at home! Why does she have to go to the hotel with him?¡± Nan Chen went berserk.

    ¡°They left the ce in Ouyang Qi¡¯s car. I guess Ms. Ding did not want to bring him home.¡± Jiang Zhe

    was doing all he could to extinguish the fire.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean they can just go to a hotel!¡± Nan Chen roared, sweeping everything on the table to

    the floor in a fit.

    ¡°Damn it!¡± Nan Chen shouted as he stormed out of the office.

    Jiang Zhe dashed after him as he searched his pocket for his phone to call the driver.

    In less than ten minutes, Nan Chen was already at the hotel.

    By the time he arrived, Ouyang Qi was sitting at the lobby, looking at his phone leisurely as he hummed

    a lively tune. He felt a threatening re piercing through him and he looked up, only to see Nan Chen

    charging towards him.

    He stood up nervously and evaded his re guiltily.

    ¡°Why are you here? Did you send someone to spy on me again?¡± Ouyang Qi asked coldly.

    ¡°Where is she?¡± Nan Chen questioned.

    ¡°She¡¯s bathing in the room. Those people dirtied her clothes and she had to change.¡±

    ¡°Which room?¡± Nan Chen probed with a scrutinizing tone.

    But Ouyang Qi was not nning on telling him. ¡°She asked me to wait for her. Why not you just sit and

    wait together?¡±

    ¡°I asked which room is she in?¡± Nan Chen reiterated his question. He was not in the mood for any

    game.

    ¡°Seriously, what¡¯s wrong with you? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to barge into the room! Just be patient

    and wait here,¡± Ouyang Qi retaliated.

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯m going to ask the front desk,¡± Nan Chen said curtly as he walked towards the receptionist.

    ¡°Excuse me. Could you tell me the room number of thedy who came in with this man who looks like a

    pervert?¡±

    The receptionist stole a furtive look at the handsome young man before her and answered

    disconcertedly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t tell you anything about our guests.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Nan Chen inquired immediately.

    ¡°Because thedy specifically told us not to tell anyone her room number. We¡¯re responsible for the

    safety of our guests,¡± the receptionist answered with a coy smile.

    ¡°She asked you not to tell anybody?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m sorry but we have to respect the guest¡¯s request,¡± she replied in a helpless tone.

    If Ning Ran had not requested so, the receptionist would have readily offered any information Nan

    Chen needed. He was just too attractive for her to reject any of his requests. From the way she was

    drooling over Nan Chen, it was not surprising at all that she would even give him her WeChat ID if he

    had asked for it.

    Across the front desk, Nan Chen¡¯s frown rxed and his mood lightened up after he found out that

    Ning Ran was the one who asked the receptionist to keep her room number a secret.

    She must have done so because she did not want Ouyang Qi to know where she was.

    Ning Ran took the necessary precaution to keep that man away and Nan Chen finally heaved a sigh of

    relief.

    That¡¯s my wife!

    Looking at how things turned out, it seemed like he got all worked up for nothing.

    Nan Chen walked over to the leather couch and sat down as he waited for Ning Ran.

    Seeing hime back, Ouyang Qi leaned closer and asked, ¡°What about a game?¡±

    ¡°Get lost!¡± Nan Chen scoffed.

    ¡°Come on. Don¡¯t be a bore. Let¡¯s y a game. It¡¯ll be fun,¡± Ouyang Qi said yet again.

    ¡°Get lost!¡± Nan Chen¡¯s voice hardened as he shot him a death re.

    ¡°How can you talk like this to me? I know we dislike each other, but there¡¯s not a need to be so rude,¡±

    Ouyang Qi replied in a superficially polite tone.

    ¡°Just get lost!¡± Nan Chen raised his voice.

    But Ouyang Qi did not seem to heed his warning. ¡°I did everything you said yesterday. You should at

    least thank me for making everything a sess. But here you are, instead of thanking me, you¡¯re

    asking me to get lost. Where are your manners? So much for a gentleman!¡±

    To Ouyang Qi¡¯s dismay, his long reproval did not elicit any response from Nan Chen. He had his gaze

    locked on the entrance.

    In no time, Jiang Zhe appeared at the entrance with a branded shopping bag in his hand. It was the

    most expensive luxury brand for women¡¯s apparel in Flower City, and there was only one retail shop for

    that brand in the whole city.

    Following Nan Chen¡¯s gaze, Ouyang Qi quickly said, ¡°I¡¯ve already got her a set of clothes.¡±

    But Nan Chen disregarded himpletely and gestured at Jiang Zhe to bring the bag over before

    asking him to leave first.

    Jiang Zhe nodded and greeted Ouyang Qi before turning to leave.

    Unlike Nan Chen, who could treat Ouyang Qi as coldly as he liked, Jiang Zhe could not.

    It was true that Ouyang Qi was a dandy, but it was also equally true that he was Ouyang Duo¡¯s son.

    Everyone had to respect him because of his dad.

    That was why he was able to ask Ye Meng out and even slept with the female superstar.

    It would not have been possible if it were not for Ouyang Qi.

    After greeting Jiang Zhe back, Ouyang Qi cocked his head towards Nan Chen and dissed, ¡°You should

    learn from your assistant. He¡¯s much more polite and he knows his manners.¡±

    Again, Nan Chen ignored him and looked past him towards the elevator as the door opened. Ning Ran

    was finally back.

 Chapter 464

    Chapter 464

    As Ning Ran came out of the lift, she lifted her eyes and saw Nan Chen.

    He was so good-looking that he always stood out amongst the crowd.

    Although she did not realize it, she looked stunning too.

    The moment she appeared, everydy in the hotel lobby seemed dull and colorless inparison.

    The moment their eyes met, they became the most beautiful object to each other.

    When Ning Ran saw him, she felt a sense of affection andfort even though his face was

    expressionless.

    She quickened her steps as she went towards Nan Chen but she forgot that she was wearing 10 cm

    high heels for this function.

    These high heels were the most unfit shoes for running in the world. As she came close to Nan Chen,

    she stumbled and fell forward just like the way it would be filmed in a drama series.

    However, Nan Chen¡¯s reaction was quicker than any hero in those drama series. He leapt forward like

    a leopard and caught hold of Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran¡¯s body fell forward quite heavily due to the momentum of her movement but Nan Chen was

    steady as he caught her deftly in his firm embrace.

    Ouyang Qi just watched on as he wondered what they were up to. Are they acting for me the roles of a

    knight in shining armor saving a damsel in distress?

    I am the knight who saved this damsel and I was the one who helped her out of the mess then. Why is

    Nan Chen reaping the benefits?

    Suddenly, he felt extremely regretful. He regretted that he did not sign up for some martial arts sses

    and practiced hard. If he had, he would be the one to leap forward to catch her and prevent her from

    falling. Nan Chen would not have imed the credit then.

    When Ning Ran lifted her head, she saw Nan Chen¡¯s face with perfect contours and he was way better

    looking than those young hunks who had gone for numerous stic surgeries.

    The scent of orange blossoms drifted in gently and Nan Chen¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Unknowingly his

    arms tightened and drew the woman closer in him.

    The two of them acted like in a romantic drama series, hugging and gazing at each other for a few

    seconds.

    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

    Ouyang Qi watched the scene and his heart was consumed by the mes of jealousy. He felt that he

    had been robbed by Nan Chen. He was the one who saved this woman from a predicament. Why

    should Nan Chen be the one to embrace her?

    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s enough. Don¡¯t go overboard. Time to let go of each other,¡± Ouyang Qi went to them and

    said angrily.

    Now Ning Ran was embarrassed. She blushed while she quickly struggled out of Nan Chen¡¯s arms.

    Nevertheless, after letting go of her, Nan Chen¡¯s gaze lingered on her body. He was looking at the

    branded clothes she was wearing.

    Prior to this, Ouyang Qi had mentioned that he had prepared some clothes for Ning Ran. So, these

    must the clothes.

    To be honest, these clothes were quite costly although they were not the same brand that Nan Chen

    had bought. Still, these were made by an international brand.

    Furthermore, Ouyang Qi had good taste. It was a long ck dress which was simple and ssy so

    Ning Ran looked mature and aristocratic in it.

    Coincidentally, the dress that Nan Chen had asked someone to buy was almost the same style. It was

    also a ck dress.

    Though there were slight differences in the design, the overall effect was simr.

    However, Nan Chen was still frowning. ¡°Go and change out of this dress!¡±

    Ning Ran was taken aback. This is a brand new dress. Why do I need to change it?

    Furthermore, she had made an effort to look at herself in the mirror and she looked great in it. Why

    should I change it?

    Nan Chen picked up the bag of clothes and handed it to Ning Ran. ¡°Go and put on this dress.¡±

    Seeing this, Ouyang Qi was upset.

    ¡°What is that for? This costume is new, it fits hers and she looks good in it. Why must she change it?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s the spokesperson for another brand. She shouldn¡¯t be wearing this brand.¡± Nan Chen replied

    coldly.

    ¡°The brand you bought isn¡¯t that particr brand too. Why can she wear it then?¡±

    ¡°She will be the spokesperson for this brand soon.¡± Nan Chen¡¯s voice was cold.

    ¡°Well, isn¡¯t there no endorsement yet? You¡¯re doing this on purpose...¡±

    Nan Chen interrupted Ouyang Qi, ¡°This is none of your business. Please step aside.¡±

    ¡°Why is it none of my business? I bought it.¡±

    ¡°All the more reason she shouldn¡¯t wear it. Your tacky influence is stuck on it!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not tacky! You are the one who is tacky. I bought for her branded clothes!¡±

    ¡°They are tacky because you bought them!¡± Nan Chen concluded decisively.

    ¡°You are the tacky one. Whatever you buy is tacky because you are tacky.¡± Ouyang Qi was

    exasperated.

    Ignoring Ouyang Qi, Nan Chen looked at Ning Ran. ¡°Why are you still here? You can¡¯t wear this brand

    of clothing from now onwards.¡±

    Ning Ran was torn in between.

    Even though she was not too fond of Ouyang Qi, she appreciated what he did today they were done

    out of good intentions.

    Besides, these clothes really looked good. Now that Nan Chen wanted her to change out of them, she

    felt that it was an insult to Ouyang Qi.

    She just thought this was downright rude.

    ¡°Don¡¯t stand here anymore. Just go and get changed. You are an artist in mypany, so you must not

    do anything that is against the interests of thepany,¡± Nan Cheng said.

    Ouyang Qi could not bear it any longer. ¡°How is she going against yourpany¡¯s interests?¡±

    ¡°She is doing that when she wears clothes from apeting brand¡¯.¡±

    ¡°But, she is now not the spokesperson for this brand yet.¡±

    ¡°She will be soon. The agreement is in the final stages of discussion and it will be signed tomorrow.¡±

    Nan Chen said firmly.

    Ning Ran did not know if what Nan Chen said was true but looking at Nan Chen¡¯s demeanor, she knew

    that he would go on badgering he until she changed her clothes.

    ¡°Since there is a conflict of interest with the brands, then please give me a minute while I¡¯ll go and get

    changed.¡± Ning Ran finally agreed.

    Finally, Nan Chen was pleased.

    Ouyang Qi was seething was anger but there was nothing he could do.

    Neither was he certain if what Nan Chen said was true. If there was a conflict of interest, then Ning Ran

    really could not wear clothes by other brands, especially those of majorpetitors.

    At the very least, not at a public function and if she did, the logo must not be visible.

    Ning Ran turned around and went back to the room to change. Nan Chen looked at Ouyang Qi, ¡°Why

    aren¡¯t you leaving yet?¡±

    ¡°What about you?¡± Ouyang Qi asked him the same question.

    ¡°I¡¯m waiting for someone.¡±

    ¡°I am waiting for someone, too. I was the one who saved her and we had agreed to have lunch

    together,¡± Ouyang Qi said.

    ¡°She has canceled the lunch appointment with you. I have urgent some business with her.¡±

    ¡°Why must she go with you when youe to take her out? What is her rtionship with you?¡±

    ¡°She is one of my artists. When I need to talk with her about work, no outsiders are allowed to be

    present.¡± Nan Chen said sharply.

    ¡°That¡¯s an excuse. What type of work has to be discussed immediately?¡±

    ¡°You have no right to know. Please leave now.¡±

    Nan Chen turned away and did not look at Ouyang Qi anymore.

    Ouyang Qi was indignant for Nan Chen had gone overboard.

    ¡°Nan Chen, I have been a great help to you. You are totally ungrateful. Don¡¯t you think your behavior is

    uneptable?¡± Ouyang Qi yelled.

    ¡°When did you ever help me?¡±

    ¡°The incident involving Ye Meng. Did I not help you? If it were not for my video recording...¡±

    ¡°What video recording? I have forgotten about such incident.¡± Nan Chen stopped Ouyang Qi from

    bringing up the incident.

    ¡°I¡¯ll leave now. You are really an ungrateful person. So, this is the type of person Sir Chen is! Well, I

    have seen it myself.¡±

    ¡°Now that you have seen me clearly, please leave quickly.¡±

 Chapter 465

    Chapter 465

    As Ouyang Qi wrangled with Nan Chen, his phone rang.

    It was from Feng Jialing, asking him to return home for she needed to see him.

    Even though Ouyang Qi hardly did anything constructive, he would not dare to go against his mom¡¯s

    wish.

    This was because if he offended the elders, his financial support might be cut off.

    Without financial support from his family, he could not live a colorful life.

    Ouyang Qi no longer cared about arguing with Nan Chen but hurried back to the Orchid Club, which

    was the base camp of the Ouyang family in Flower City.

    Ouyang Duo was not in. No one was there except for Ouyang Qing and Feng Jialing.

    The two did not look pleased, especially Ouyang Qing who red at Ouyang Qi with disgust in her

    eyes.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why are you both showing such unweing faces?¡±

    Ouyang Qi wasn¡¯t really bothered and threw himself onto a sofa, then casually picked up an apple from

    the table and started munching on it.

    ¡°Just look at yourself! You don¡¯t look like a descendent of the Ouyang family at all, do you? What have

    you been up to this whole day?¡± Feng Jialing scolded angrily.

    ¡°Whatever I am, I inherited that from you. And I am eating an apple now. Is that not allowed?¡± Ouyang

    Qiughed.

    ¡°So were you the guy who had a fling with that woman?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me. I¡¯m a grown-up. Do I need permission from my mother when I date a woman?¡± Ouyang

    Qiughed again.

    ¡°Come on, get serious!¡± Feng Jialing raised her voice.

    Ouyang Qi put down the apple he had been eating, saying, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? I just met someone

    and that is not allowed? Do you want me to be a celibate monk? If I be a monk, who will continue

    the Ouyang family lineage?¡±

    Ouyang Qing interrupted the conversation, ¡°Were you trying to help Ding Mi?¡±

    ¡°I have no idea what you are talking about.¡± Ouyang Qi feigned ignorance.

    ¡°Ye Meng had a sh with Ding Mi. So, Ding Mi was under attacked on the inte but you posted a

    video of yourself with Ye Meng. You were taking the pressure off Ding Mi, weren¡¯t you?¡± Ouyang Qing

    interrogated him.

    ¡°What are you talking about? I really don¡¯t understand.¡± Ouyang Qi continued to pretend.

    ¡°It¡¯s bad enough that you are neither studying, working nor doing anything worthwhile. Why do you try

    to antagonize me? What are you trying to do? Whose side are you on?¡± Ouyang Qing yelled at her

    brother.

    ¡°Can you exin what happened? Why are both of you shouting at me? Why is everyone is so

    serious?¡± Ouyang Qi put on an innocent expression.

    ¡°You know fully well that Ding Mi is your younger sister¡¯s rival. Why are you helping her? Why are you

    going against your own sister? How does this benefit you?¡± Feng Jialing pointed her finger at Ouyang

    Qi¡¯s nose as she scolded him.

    ¡°Rival? Do you mean for Nan Chen¡¯s affection? This is a matter of the heart, not a trade or business

    competition. You have to do better than your rival. I have pursued many women but I do not nder my

    rivals. You have to y fair and show you are better than your rivals. Qing, you are young and

    beautiful, and a top student too. You are too good for Nan Chen. Why do you resort to such shameless

    tactics? There is no such need. Besides, Nan Chen is not the only eligible man in the world. He is

    handsome, that¡¯s all. Good look isn¡¯t everything.¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Feng Jialing yelled at Ouyang Qi.

    Ouyang Qi shrugged his shoulders showing how helpless he was.

    ¡°Do you know what it means if Qing marries Nan Chen? It is not just a marriage, but a union between

    the two strongest families in the province. Once they go through with the wedding, we shall be

    one family and there will be no more opponents in this province in the future! This is a matter of family

    interests, it is not a matter of personal feelings! You have not contributed anything to our family. You

    only know how to enjoy life. You don¡¯t know anything and you don¡¯t learn anything,¡± Feng Jialing

    continued to scold him.

    Ouyang Qi could not care less. ¡°It sounds really important. However, no one from our family married

    any of the Nans and yet we are alive and doing well. We are doing fine, are we not?¡±

    Now, Feng Jialing was really getting annoyed.

    ¡°How did I give birth to a son like you?¡±

    ¡°How would I know? You should ask yourself and dad!¡± Ouyang Qi replied,ughing.

    Smack!

    Feng Jialing gave Ouyang Qi a sharp p across his face and he stoppedughing.

    ¡°Mom, you really hit me? You¡¯ve never hit me before!¡±

    ¡°I have spoilt you too much. That¡¯s why you¡¯ve be so useless and ipetent!¡±

    Ouyang Qi covered his face with his palm and went off by himself to a corner.

    If it were just verbal, he could retort but when it came to blows, he could not fight back.

    ¡°Hasn¡¯t your father told you about that woman?¡± Feng Jialing asked in a sharp voice.

    ¡°He did but I forgot.¡±

    ¡°Let me remind you once again now. From now on, you must never help that woman again!¡±

    ¡°If I seed in courting her, Qing will be rid of a rival. Isn¡¯t this to your advantage¡±

    ¡°I will not agree to have a woman who has given birth to two children to be my daughter-inw!

    You may have an affair with her but you cannot take her as your wife. For the time being, you can go

    ahead and pursue her. Once you get her, you will soon be tired of her. When that happens, just get rid

    of her. This will be beneficial to our family,¡± Feng Jialing told him.

    Ouyang Qi looked at his mother and felt as if she was a stranger.

    He had always been a dandy and he could not even remember how many movie starlets he had a fling

    with.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    However, those rtionships were mutually beneficial. A woman who had had a good time with him

    would always be rewarded, either in the form of material gain or other financial support.

    He did not think that there was anything wrong with that for that was how things worked in the

    entertainment industry.

    It would be ridiculous andughable if anyone were to seriously express the wish to grow old together

    as a couple.

    However,ing from his mother, these words seemed cruel and awkward to Ouyang Qi.

    Why should a woman be so cruel to another? How could my mom have such horrible thoughts?

    ¡°Have you understood what I have just told you?¡± Feng Jialing asked again.

    ¡°Yes, I have,¡± Ouyang Qi replied.

    ¡°So, you have to date that woman, think of some way to get her drunk or drugged, then post a video on

    both of you which must be lewder and revealing than the one with that other woman. As soon as the

    videoes out, Nan Chen will certainly be disgusted with her and won¡¯t stick with her again. Since

    she is such a materialistic person, she will definitely look around for financial support. Then your

    opportunity wille. You take her in and have fun with her. After a while, when you get bored of her,

    just give her a small amount of money and send her away,¡± Feng Jialing instructed her son.

    ¡°She is with Nan Chen now,¡± Ouyang Qi could not help but tell the truth.

    ¡°Then, find a way to distract Nan Chen. You have been mixing around in this circle for so many years.

    You don¡¯t need me to teach you how to deal with that woman, do you? Isn¡¯t this your best asset?¡±

    Ouyang Qi sighed. Although I have been with many women, I have never done anything like drugging

    someone or getting someone drunk.

    Those women were with me willingly. What¡¯s the point if they were unwilling?

    Those were his personal opinion which he knew must not be spoken aloud.

    Unwillingly, Ouyang Qi agreed to do as his mother instructed. ¡°I¡¯ll try my best. I can¡¯t guarantee

    anything as it depends on luck.¡±

    ¡°You have to do it. You cannot keep helping that woman. You must destroy her. You have to clear the

    path for your sister to be a member of the Nan family! If you don¡¯t do this, you have to earn your

    own keep. Don¡¯t expect to get any money from us anymore!¡± Feng Jialing gave his son the ultimatum.

 Chapter 466

    Chapter 466

    The video of Ning Ran getting beaten up at the event was uploaded onto the Inte. There was a

    public outcry, once again!

    As an immediate response, Star Entertainment published a statement to admonish the violence

    disyed to its artist, asserting their legal rights.

    The whole matter was veryplicated. First, it was Ning Ran who pped Ye Meng. Thetter then

    put on a pitiful act to gain the sympathy of others, manipting the public into reprimanding Ning Ran.

    Later on, a video of Ye Meng was leaked, which showed her drinking and having fun at a bar. This

    entirely disproved her story of being upset and depressed.

    Now, with Ye Meng absent from the event, Ning Ran was left to fend for herself against Ye Meng¡¯s

    fans. Thements about her took a turn for the worse.

    The former then decided to step in again. Once more, she put on a world-ss act, crying in front of

    the camera while victimizing herself. She then imed that she was first sabotaged, then reprimanded

    for no reason, causing her to feel wronged.

    Her retaliation was rather effective. After all, she had many die-hard fans.

    Netizens were now divided into two camps. One camp supported Ye Meng, while the other supported

    Ning Ran.

    There were more people supporting the former because she maintained a certain level of poprity

    throughout these years.

    Also, she was seen as the victim, when Ning Ran had pped her. Many who were unaware of the

    truth, thought that Ning Ran was wrong, especially since she was a neer in showbiz.

    In a bar at six in the evening.

    Ye Meng¡¯s team stopped work temporarily as the female superstar was embroiled in the scandal. One

    of her assistants, Huang Yan, took the chance for a vacation and went out with her friends.

    Ye Meng had a very hot temper and Huang Yan constantly felt that she had to act extremely wary,

    around the celebrity. This was a rare opportunity for her to rx and not be stressed by work.

    Just as she was enjoying her time at the bar, a server walked over and told her that a man wanted to

    buy her a drink.

    Turning around, Huang Yan nced over. The man was not very handsome and he appeared quite

    stout.

    He was also very buff. In fact, he was too buff for her liking. It looks as though his muscles are about to

    burst out of that suit!

    He raised his ss slightly in greeting.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Tell him that I¡¯ll pass,¡± Huang Yan uttered.

    ¡°That man has also said that he will pay for your table of drinks. He has also asked me to inform you

    that he¡¯ll allow you to put the rest on his tab too,¡± the server ryed.

    This is interesting.

    As Ye Meng¡¯s assistant, she was used to seeing men who would do anything for ady.

    However, she had yet to meet a man who was willing to spend on her, as she was not exactly the

    prettiest person out there.

    It was part of Ye Meng¡¯s criteria when selecting her assistants¨C they could not look beautiful.

    If an assistant looked too pretty, she would steal the limelight away from the celebrity. Hence, all of Ye

    Meng¡¯s assistants appeared quite average.

    Even though the man was not considered handsome, he had the necessary features, possessing a

    certain aura about him. Who knows, he might be a good match for me!

    Hence, Huang Yan walked over.

    The man stood up, revealing his tall height. ¡°Hello, Ms. Huang. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡±

    ¡°Hello. Thank you for the treat,¡± Huang Yan murmured.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Come and take a seat.¡±

    Sitting down beside the man, she could feel just how buff he was. He¡¯s probably as strong as a bull.

    ¡°How shall I address you?¡± she asked.

    ¡°You can call me Qiao Zhan.¡±

    ¡°What a good name. You look very true to your name,¡± Huang Yan remarked with a smile.

    ¡°Thank you, Ms. Huang. I came here to get something from you,¡± he told her.

    Instantly, her cheeks felt hot. Isn¡¯t he moving too fast?

    ¡°Will that be alright with you?¡± Qiao Zhan probed.

    ¡°No,¡± she denied instinctively.

    Come on, I¡¯m ady! How can you be so straightforward and upfront? Furthermore, how can I say yes

    to such a question?

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you name a price?¡± he continued.

    ¡°Who do you think I am?¡± Huang Yan was visibly annoyed by him. Thus, she got up and prepared to

    leave.

    ¡°Ye Meng is mean. You won¡¯tst long, working under her. Even after you¡¯ve carried out her dirty for

    her, she will continue to have her guard up against you. Soon enough, she¡¯ll even fire you. All of her

    assistants have neversted for more than a year. One day, when she does fire you, I¡¯ll have a job

    opportunity for you. Ye Meng is not worthy of your loyalty. Name a price, take the money, and go. As a

    youngdy, it¡¯s important that you treasure your time. You shouldn¡¯t be working for someone like that!¡±

    he pressed forth.

    Huang Yan was puzzled as she heard this. Wait, this doesn¡¯t seem right! I don¡¯t think we¡¯re talking

    about the same thing.

    ¡°What are you even talking about?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I want the video on your phone, and I mean the full video. What did you think I was asking for?¡± Qiao

    Zhan told her.

    She was stunned. Well, I was right!

    Then, she sat down again. ¡°What video are you speaking of?¡±

    ¡°The video that was taken in the dressing room on the day that Ding Mi and Ye Meng argued. I know

    that you¡¯d recorded the entire thing. I¡¯m fully aware that only a small portion of the full video was

    uploaded on the inte. It¡¯s rather evident, seeing that it has been edited. I¡¯m asking for the full video,¡±

    Qiao Zhan exined.

    ¡°Who are you? Why are you asking me for that?¡± She immediately grew defensive and wary.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who I am. However, I can tell you that I¡¯m from the Nan family. I¡¯m sure that you¡¯ve

    heard of how highly they¡¯re regarded, in Flower City. If you continue to help Ye Meng, you¡¯ll be at odds

    with them. I suggest that you reconsider your stance on this.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have any video. I didn¡¯t record it,¡± Huang Yan asserted.

    ¡°Don¡¯t deny it. We know that it¡¯s you. I¡¯m giving you two choices now. One, you name me a price. I¡¯m

    willing to pay you for the video. Or, you can continue to protect Ye Meng, meaning that you¡¯ll be

    an enemy of the Nan family. Remember, Ye Meng is a superstar who has the backing of her fans, while

    you don¡¯t. I must also inform you that Nanshi Corporation owns an entertainmentpany called Star

    Entertainment. The Nan family is rather influential in showbiz. It will be an easy job, for us to get rid of

    someone like you. Even if you don¡¯t hand over the video, we will just tell Ye Meng that you¡¯ve done so,

    threatening her with it. Ye Meng gets suspicious very easily and she¡¯ll be sure to believe us. Eventually,

    she¡¯ll fire you and ensure that your work and personal life are destroyed. I suggest that you give it a

    good thought and choose wisely.¡±

    The man stared at Huang Yan while he spoke.

    Meanwhile, thetter fell silent.

    ¡°Did Star Entertainment send you here?¡±

    ¡°No, I work directly for the Nan family. However, I can pull some strings to get you a job at Star

    Entertainment.¡±

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t really want to work for Ye Meng either. My n was to go overseas to further my studies.

    Unfortunately, I have yet to save enough money, which is also why I was alright with working under

    someone as tough as Ye Meng. You are indeed right. Ye Meng is very mean and I don¡¯t like her! I don¡¯t

    know why someone like her can be a superstar. I have the full video with me. Not only that, rather,

    I have other videos too. I¡¯ve recorded all the dirty things that she¡¯s done. I¡¯m willing to sell the videos to

    you as long as you give me a good price,¡± Huang Yan admitted.

    ¡°How much do you want?¡±

    ¡°One hundred thousand,¡± Huang Yan told him.

    ¡°Deal,¡± Qiao Zhan replied.

    She did not expect him to agree so quickly. His response filled her with regret. I should¡¯ve asked him

    for more.

    ¡°I was ready to give you fifty thousand, but I¡¯m toozy to haggle with you. A hundred thousand it is,¡±

    Qiao Zhan added.

    ¡°Alright. Transfer me the money and I will hand over the videos.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s add each other on WeChat. I like your intelligence and viciousness. I think that we can be

    friends,¡± he offered.

    ¡°Will you really be able to get me a better job?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    While Qiao Zhan might have agreed, he was quite unsure of his chances of sess. Damn it! I shall

    have to ask for Jiang Zhe¡¯s help, regarding this matter.

 Chapter 467

    Chapter 467

    The next day, the full video was uploaded onto the.

    Not only was there a visual output, rather, but there was also a clear, audio recording.

    It was very apparent from the video that Ye Meng was the antagonist. She scolded others and was

    even the first to physically attack the other party.

    Once again, the female superstar became a hot topic. She was now extremely infamous.

    This time, Ye Meng no longer expressed her views online, as she chose to remain quiet.

    Buckling under immense pressure, her management agency made a rather vague apology online.

    Following this, Channing published a statement that unterally terminated Ye Meng¡¯s brand-

    ambassador contract. They named reputational concerns as a reason, due to the superstar¡¯s

    inappropriate behavior.

    Few other brands followed suit in Channing¡¯s footsteps and announced that Ye Meng would no longer

    be their brand ambassador.

    Showbiz was a cruel industry. Many people suddenly jumped on the bandwagon as they harshly

    criticized Ye Meng for her acts. Some even dug up the ugly things that she had done in the past.

    Nobody knew whether they were true or false.

    However,izens were left unbothered about the veracity of these matters. Now that the tides had

    turned, they only cared about following the trend.

    In just over a day, the superstar¡¯s image was ruined, as she turned into a target of scorn.

    On the other hand, Ning Ran was now viewed in a positive light, as she was praised by many.

    ¡°Sound of Thunder 2¡± received the highest viewers¡¯ ratings. Soon, it became the drama to watch for the

    year. Not only that, rather, its ratings were the highest from the past three years, amongst dramas of

    the same genre!

    Ning Ran shot to stardom.

    Within a week, Star Entertainment received an influx of invitations from brands who were hoping for

    Ning Ran to be their ambassador. Many TV shows wanted her on board too, and dramas wanted

    her to be their lead actress!

    Ning Ran would never be able to agree to all of them because of the sheer amount of time it would

    take.

    Nan Chen gave direct orders to Star Entertainment stating that all of Ning Ran¡¯s contracts would have

    to be approved by him personally.

    Furthermore, she was not allowed to attend any random reality TV shows. From now on, it was best if

    she appeared less in front of the camera.

    The top management of Star Entertainment did not really understand their boss¡¯ instructions.

    Normally, when an artist rose in poprity, the team would work around the clock to promote him or her

    through publicity events, hoping to profit from the celebrity¡¯s newfound stardom.

    This was because it was difficult to even be famous in showbiz. Furthermore, it was tougher to

    remain popr long-term.

    If they did nottch onto this window of opportunity, it would be hard to reap the profits once her hype

    had died down.

    However, Nan Chen did not want that to happen. Hence, he even rejected the idea of letting her go on

    some rather well-known reality TV shows. His actions were rather contradictory to the normal business

    practice.

    Only Wang Xiaoou was in full agreement with Nan Chen¡¯s idea.

    She knew that he did not want to groom a celebrity who could only achieve temporary fame. He wanted

    someone who would be a ssic, in many years toe.

    While it was easy to earn money from reality TV shows, participation in such programs came at a huge

    cost for the celebrity.

    Celebrities who participated in too many reality TV shows would ultimately be remembered only for

    their time in these programs. Gradually, a celebrity¡¯s works would be forgotten.

    Furthermore, these celebrities would often shift their focus and stop producing as many films as

    possible or dramas eventually.

    Hence, Nan Chen was, in fact, treating Ning Ran like a treasure. He did not want Star Entertainment to

    abuse her poprity too much for now.

    Hence, Ning Ran was made the most avable when she was the most famous.

    One might ask to what extent? All she did was read books, watch dramas, and scroll through her

    phone all day. She was not allowed to head out for groceries or shopping because her fans would

    bombard her.

    Fortunately, this period did notst long. She was going to star in a new movie, and the script and

    production team were ready. They would begin filming next week.

    It was an ancient, Chinese movie called ¡°I Am You¡±.

    There was a slight element of sci-fi in the movie. It was about how a female scientist became

    traumatized after losing her child in an ident.

    Then, she discovered her other self in a parallel world.

    Her other self-had a husband, a daughter, and a family, that was identical to hers.

    What was different was that she did not lose her child in that world.

    Hence, the female scientist turned selfish and became desperate to find the key to enter the parallel

    world. She wanted to kidnap the child from there to raise the child herself, so as to get over her grief.

    Even though it was sci-fi, the message behind the movie was about humanity.

    It was a deep movie, and the actors and actresses would have room to showcase their talents and

    potential.

    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran cried when she first read the script. She had children of her own and she could understand

    the pain of a mother losing her child.

    It was as though the movie was tailor-made for her.

    In the movie, she would y two roles. One was the scientist in the real world, and the other was the

    scientist in the parallel world.

    Ning Ran would act out the story of how the former role would kidnap the child belonging to thetter,

    by attempting to enter the parallel world.

    Just as Ning Ran was still bawling over the plot, Nan Chen returned.

    It¡¯s only four in the afternoon and he¡¯s back from work? It¡¯s rare that hees home so early.

    Ning Ran never thought that he would be back at such an hour. Hence, was not prepared for his return

    at all.

    Her hair was in a mess and she was still dressed in her cartoon pajamas since she was not allowed to

    go out. She even had slippers on.

    Nan Chen spotted the tear streaks on her cheeks and was shocked. ¡°Who¡¯s bullied you now?¡±

    ¡°No, no. It¡¯s nothing like that.¡± Ning Ran shook her head.

    ¡°Then why are you crying?¡±

    Ning Ran was embarrassed to admit that she had cried merely because of her new movie¡¯s plot. Thus,

    she just denied crying altogether.

    ¡°It¡¯s rather evident that you¡¯ve cried. Don¡¯t try and tell me otherwise! What¡¯s going on?¡± Nan Chen

    continued to probe coldly.

    ¡°I¡¯m not crying anymore, really!¡± Ning Ran uttered shyly.

    Nan Chen turned and saw the script that she ced down. ¡°Did you cry after seeing the plot? Damn,

    you are quite the emotional girl, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Ah, shit. He¡¯s exposed me!

    ¡°So what! I¡¯m an actress. Shouldn¡¯t I be emotional and express myself freely?¡± Ning Ran retorted as

    she twisted her lips.

    Her slight action stunned Nan Chen. He thought that it looked eerily familiar.

    Then, he recalled that it was something that Erbao would often do.

    So, it seems like Erbao has inherited this from her mother, huh?

    ¡°Is there a need to bawl as you¡¯d done earlier? How immature,¡± Nan Chen remarked with disdain.

    ¡°You are the immature one! I wonder who had been depressed, writing such a movie. I mean, the

    female lead loses her child and kidnaps someone else¡¯s? Come on! I really hate this lead! She¡¯s too

    selfish!¡± Ning Ran shouted.

    ¡°With that said, the child looks identical to hers. Everyone is selfish at heart. Furthermore, she didn¡¯t

    kidnap the child at the very end. When the child was diagnosed with a rare disease, she even went to

    the parallel world to donate her bone marrow. If you read the movie script till its end, you wille to

    realize her kindness and nobility.¡±

    Ning Ran was surprised that Nan Chen was so familiar with the plot.

    ¡°How do you know all the details?¡±

    ¡°Well, the screenwriter could note up with a good plot even after a week, so I gave him an idea. It

    was inspired by our children because they are identical too.¡±

    When Nan Chen spoke, his eyes were full of affection and fatherly love.

    ¡°So, this is a movie dedicated to our children?¡±

    ¡°No, it is dedicated to you. After this movie goes on screen, you will be famous. Rather, you will

    be an international superstar. In fact, you will be nominated for many international movie awards,

    enabling you to start a trophy collection.¡±

    Nan Chen described the future as such a beautiful scene. Thus, Ning Ran grew excited at the thought

    of it.

    She always believed in all of the good that Nan Chen spoke of.

    This man¡¯s thoughts are rather infectious!

 Chapter 468

    Chapter 468

    The next day, Nan Chen was busy right from the morning. He finally managed to take a breather in the

    afternoon and was prepared to head for lunch.

    He was not a fan of deliveries. As long as his schedule for the day was fixed, someone from the Nan

    family would send his lunch over to the office.

    Upon taking a few bites, he ced the utensils back down. Surprisingly, he did not have much of an

    appetite.

    For some reason, he missed the woman¡¯s soup noodles.

    I wonder what she is doing now.

    Upon fishing out his phone, he hesitated. Forget it.

    I can¡¯t praise her too much. Otherwise, she¡¯ll be too arrogant!

    Hence, he turned and asked Jiang Zhe, ¡°What¡¯s going on with Star Entertainment now?¡±

    Although he sounded as if he was asking about Star Entertainment, Jiang Zhe knew that he wanted to

    know about Ning Ran.

    Star Entertainment was merely one of Nanshi Corporation¡¯s subsidiaries and it had its own

    management team. Previously, Nan Chen seldom bothered with thepany.

    Nowadays, he would ask about thepany¡¯s situation on a daily basis. It was all because of a certain

    artist who was working there.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, there¡¯s a slight problem...¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    Nan Chen knew that it was not as minor as it sounded. If it were such, Jiang Zhe would not even be

    aware of it.

    Since his assistant knew about it, it had to be something serious.

    ¡°There¡¯s a video online...¡±

    ¡°Just get straight to the point. Who did you learn your stuttering from?¡± Nan Chen chided.

    ¡°Oh, well¨C¡±

    Instead of continuing, Jiang Zhe took out his phone and showed Nan Chen the news.

    The headlines looked terrifying: Uing celebrity stops at nothing to get rich! Forces children to work

    for money!

    The news used Ning Ran of being someone who would stop at nothing to get money, stating that

    she forced her children to star in advertisements that required overnight shoots.

    The reporters further stated that if her children had refused to cooperate or performed poorly, Ning Ran

    would burn their bottoms with cigarette butts, making them obey her, out of fear of the excruciating

    pain.

    There were even photos of children¡¯s burnt bottoms attached at the bottom. Some even showed that

    they were hospitalized after the abuse.

    Most of the pictures were fake. There was only one authentic picture that showed the children¡¯s faces.

    It was from an advertisement for kid¡¯sputers.

    Chaos ensued once more.

    Shortly before that, theizens had sung praises of Ning Ran. Now that there were pictures of her

    allegedly abused children, they began raining down criticism on her again.

    Some even used her of acting cute and innocent. She already has a child and she still acts like a

    young, puredy? What a liar!

    However, Ning Ran never once behaved as theizens had imed, and not once did she

    intentionally hide the fact that she had children.

    However, she did not allow them to appear in front of the camera often, so as to protect them. As a

    mother, she refused to allow them to be the subject of those keyboard warriors, as well as the victims

    of the violent abuse prevalent on the.

    The only time they appeared in an advertisement was when the children had requested for it on their

    own ord. In addition to that, it was Cheng Xiangyun who had secretly brought them to the shoot

    without informing Ning Ran.

    The brand was not very popr and the advertisement was shot a long time ago. She thought that

    everyone had forgotten about it.

    To her surprise, her haters really made the effort to dig into her past.

    Nan Chen looked very concerned.

    ¡°When did they shoot this advertisement?¡±

    ¡°A few months ago.¡±

    ¡°Take it down from all the avable channels. I don¡¯t want to see it again.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve done that already. Thepany wasn¡¯t aware of the rtions between the children and the Nan

    family then. They were equally as shocked when I contacted them and informed them about it. They

    have guaranteed that they shall cease in publicizing the photos.¡±

    Nan Chen raised a brow in question as he heard this. ¡°They¡¯d paid for the children to be in the

    advertisement. Why would they agree to your request so readily?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d threatened to force them into bankruptcy had they continued to advertise those pictures,¡± Jiang Zhe

    ryed forth.

    Nan Chen nodded.

    He knew that Jiang Zhe never bragged. As long as he got the job done, he was not interested in

    knowing what methods he had used. Who cares if he used a threat or a bribe?

    He never had to worry about Jiang Zhe¡¯spetency.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, are we going to respond to this?¡±

    He furrowed his brows and remained silent.

    It was hard to exin the matter as it concerned Ning Ran¡¯s children. Furthermore, it was a fact that

    they appeared in the advertisement and they could not deny it.

    It was impossible to allow the children to speak for themselves, admitting that they had taken the

    photos without their mother¡¯s knowledge.

    Nobody would believe that. In fact, it would invite more criticism andizens might even specte that

    the adults had used the children to make themselves look innocent.

    On the other hand, the adults could not step in to clear up the matter either.

    Any exnations given now would merely be seen as excuses.

    At that moment, Nan Chen¡¯s phone rang.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, it is a call from Old Master,¡± Jiang Zhe informed.

    ¡°Oh, no. Someone must have leaked the news to Grandpa. He is going to be very angry, given how

    much he dotes on his two great-grandchildren,¡± Nan Chenmented.

    The atmosphere in the air turned tense once more.

    Although he was ced in a difficult position, Nan Chen had no choice but to pick up the call.

    There was no way that he could reject a call from his grandfather.

    The old man did not say much, as he merely requested for him to bring Ning Ran home for a visit.

    ...

    At the Commoner Residence.

    Bai Hua¡¯s eyes were red as she wiped the tears from her face.

    ¡°They¡¯re so young! How can Ning Ran have forced them to be in an advertisement just for money?

    Poor little things! How can Ning Ran be so ruthless?¡±

    Nan Zhengde¡¯s face darkened as he listened on.

    Meanwhile, Bai Hua continued to exaggerate the story. She knew that Nan Zhengde was furious and

    she had to grab the opportunity to make him angrier at Ning Ran.

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough now,¡± Nan Zhiyuan uttered, in an attempt to stop his wife.

    ¡°Why should I stop? Have I said anything wrong? I¡¯ve heard that she¡¯s even forced her children to

    be young models, advertising electrical products! On a busy day, they have to change into more

    than ten attires to stand in front of the camera for long hours. I know that these brands don¡¯t charge by

    the hour! Rather, they charge by the day. They would definitely try to make their money¡¯s worth by

    taking as many photos as possible, in a day! I¡¯ve even heard that the shoots would oftenst till the

    wee hours of the morning. She wouldn¡¯t even allow her children to sleep even though they were tired!

    That¡¯s how the little ones got the cigarette burns...¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Nan Zhengde mmed his fist on the coffee table.

    Bai Hua immediately zipped her lips. She only wanted to add to the chaos. She did not want to invite

    trouble for herself. To do as such would merely make her efforts be for naught.

    ¡°What you¡¯ve said are all rumors. Can we really believe what¡¯s on the Inte? All mothers love their

    children. I believe that Ning Ran would not have done this.¡±

    The person who spoke was Feng Wan, who was a calm-headed person.

    She knew what sort of person Bai Hua was. Clearly, something was amiss about the entire situation.

    ¡°Mom, you might be right in some cases, but there are many evil women in this world! There are some

    who will do anything just to earn a little bit of extra cash. If you don¡¯t want me to speak the truth, then I

    guess that I don¡¯t have a choice either,¡± Bai Hua retorted.

    ¡°How can you prove that your words are the truth? Were you one of the people who were directly

    involved in the matter? If you were neither involved, nor at the scene of the incident, how do you know

    that it¡¯s the truth? Ning Ran is in showbiz. It¡¯s natural that she has haters who will stop at nothing to

    create scandals for her. What¡¯s the big deal about that?¡± Feng Wan furrowed her brows.

    ¡°Well, she shouldn¡¯t be in showbiz then! How can such a woman marry into the Nan family?¡± Bai Hua

    took the opportunity to make her point.

    ¡°Has she married your son yet? If not, then what right do you have to stop her from doing what she

    wants? Are you going to support her financially?¡± Feng Wan retaliated.

    ¡°I...¡±

 Chapter 469

    Chapter 469

    Bai Hua was someone who loved to stir up trouble. However, in front of Feng Wan, she had to be

    careful with her words.

    More than that, Nan Zhengde was sitting right there, which meant that she had to be on her best

    behavior as well.

    Hence, Bai Hua was in no position to contradict anything Feng Wan said, no matter how harsh it was.

    ¡°Mum, I¡¯m not trying to go against her. I was just worried about the kids. They are my precious

    grandchildren after all. I can¡¯t bear to see them suffer.¡± Bai Hua exined while wiping off her tears, as

    though she had been wronged.

    ¡°Just stop with the act. Where were you when the girl was raising the kids on her own? All of a sudden,

    you¡¯re their loving grandmother now? Do you think that you¡¯re better than their own mother at taking

    care of them? Who are you trying to impress?¡± Feng Wan sneered.

    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Mum! Why would you think that? Do I really seem that heartless to you?¡± Bai Hua asked.

    Nevertheless, Feng Wan huffed, paying her no further attention.

    ¡°Alright, alright. Please just get out now.¡± Nan Zhengde ordered.

    Reluctantly, Bai Hua stood up and left the room.

    Feng Wan remained, as she knew that Nan Zhengde was not referring to her.

    Nan Zhiyuan was of the same mind.

    That was until Nan Zhengde turned to look at him. Seeing as such, he took his leave, soon after.

    ¡°She¡¯s truly ridiculous! I¡¯m beginning to think that her cancer is merely a ruse! It seems as though she¡¯s

    returned to be a nuisance to all who are around her!¡± Feng Wan eximed.

    ¡°The diagnosis was done by some of the country¡¯s best specialists. It¡¯s highly unlikely for it to have

    been a lie. Besides, you¡¯re an elder. You should cut her some ck,¡± Nan Zhengde reasoned.

    ¡°On the other hand,¡± he continued, ¡°Her words weren¡¯tpletely wrong either. How can a mother use

    her own children to make money? If she really needed it, the Nan Family could have helped her. Right

    now, it gives others the impression that our family is incapable of even taking care of two kids! She has

    even tried to hide this from us. This woman is definitely not as kind as she appears to be.¡±

    Nan Zhengde was furious because this incident had brought utter humiliation to the Nan family.

    ¡°She could¡¯ve had her personal reasons, for doing as such. You can¡¯t believe everything that Bai Hua

    says. You know how she is, after all.¡± Feng Wan pressed forth.

    ¡°It¡¯s not Bai Hua. Rather, it¡¯s all the news that I¡¯ve seen online! Argh!¡± Nan Zhengde raged aloud.

    While the two elders were still talking, Nan Chen arrived.

    Hoping that Nan Chen would bring Ning Ran along, Nan Zhengde was greatly displeased when he

    found that Nan Chen hade alone.

    ¡°Grandpa, I have a meetingter so I¡¯m in a hurry. Please just calm down. There¡¯s no need to be angry

    over something like this.¡± Nan Chen urged while looking at his watch.

    ¡°You are the person in charge of the Nan family. You should know full well how this would affect the

    family name. How could you have allowed the children to work in such a manner? How much could

    they have earned? This is simply mortifying!¡±

    Nan Chen could sense the severity of Nan Zhengde¡¯s rage from the tone of his voice. It was a tone that

    Nan Chen had seldom heard.

    Without a word, he went ahead and poured Nan Zhengde a cup of tea.

    ¡°Let it all out, Grandpa. I deserve it,¡± Nan Chen admitted sincerely.

    Hearing what Nan Chen had said, a sense of sympathy welled up in Nan Zhengde, as his anger slowly

    diminished.

    Nan Chen was his sessor after all; the person whom he had nurtured, his greatest pride within the

    Nan family.

    ¡°I¡¯m aware that there¡¯s a lot going on in thepany. Nevertheless, the family stilles first. You

    can¡¯t just allow that woman to do as she pleases.¡± Nan Zhengde chided after he calmed down.

    ¡°Grandpa, the reason that I didn¡¯t bring her along is that I wanted to talk about this, just between the

    both of us.¡±

    ¡°Are you trying to defend her?¡±

    ¡°Definitely not. It is without a doubt that what she has done ispletely wrong.¡± Nan Chen affirmed.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you allow her to exin herself to me then?¡±

    ¡°Her words don¡¯t mean much, since it¡¯s only natural for her to have defended herself. I can only trust

    the results of my own investigation¡±

    Nan Zhengde narrowed his eyes as he stared at Nan Chen. ¡°Did you find something?¡±

    ¡°When they were doing themercial, she was not in contact with any of the members of the Nan

    family. This means that she might not have known of the rtionship between the kids and the Nan

    family. If she¡¯d known any better, I don¡¯t think that she would have done that. The pay formercials

    back then was abysmal. She could¡¯ve merely brought the kids to me, naming her price. There was no

    reason for her to even consider shooting themercials,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°As for the rumors online, about her abusing her children,¡± he continued, ¡°They¡¯re fake. I didn¡¯t even

    have to investigate this. Even if she were as sinister as you¡¯d thought, she wouldn¡¯t have treated the

    kids in such a manner. I¡¯ve bathed the children before and they had no signs of injury of that nature.

    Those terrifying photos of a wounded kid are all fake. That¡¯s not Dabao, nor is it Erbao. I can guarantee

    that much.¡±

    Nan Chen finished what he had wanted to say, as he quietly turned his gaze to Nan Zhengde.

    ¡°You¡¯d said that you weren¡¯t defending her?¡± Nan Zhengde¡¯s brows furrowed.

    ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re a wise and experienced man. You¡¯d know if I was trying to deceive you. I¡¯m not

    defending her here. I¡¯m merely stating facts.¡±

    ¡°You can stop with the wooing. It¡¯s not your style. You are Nan Chen, a man with a sharp tongue.¡± Nan

    Zhengde muttered.

    ¡°I¡¯m being honest here. You can easily see through me. I can¡¯t hide anything from you, even if I tried.¡±

    Nan Zhengde took a sip of tea. ¡°What you¡¯ve said seems rather logical. However, disregarding whether

    she had known about the family, I can¡¯t ept the fact that she¡¯d allowed young children to partake in

    such a job. Chen, she¡¯s not a good match for you. Let her go.¡±

    Nan Chen grew silent.

    However, Feng Wan who was listening on the side spoke out. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you wouldn¡¯t

    interfere with the youngsters¡¯ decisions? What are you doing right now?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not interfering. I¡¯m simply providing him a suggestion.¡± Nan Zhengde uttered in defense.

    ¡°What if Chen refuses? I doubt that you¡¯d sit still and do nothing!¡± Feng Wan questioned.

    ¡°I won¡¯t do a darn thing, you old woman! Stop the nonsense!¡± Nan Zhengde was flustered.

    ¡°Oh okay. Chen, you¡¯ve heard him, right? Your grandpa has said that it¡¯s merely a suggestion. Thus,

    you decide who you want to marry! He won¡¯t interfere!¡± Feng Wan announced as she turned toward

    Nan Chen.

    ¡°You... Are you senile? Why would you say it in such a manner?¡± Nan Zhengde¡¯s voice trembled in

    frustration.

    ¡°I¡¯m five years younger than you. Why would I go senile before you?¡± Feng Wan teased.

    ¡°No one is senile here. You are both old and wise.¡± Nan Chen urged.

    ¡°He¡¯s the only old one here, not me.¡± Feng Wan refused to be addressed as old.

    Nan Chen smiled awkwardly in respond.

    ¡°Chen,¡± Nan Zhengde continued, with a stern look on his face. ¡°Even though you¡¯d done well in

    Vietnamst time, the Ouyang family are not people whom you can take lightly. I¡¯ve been thinking, what

    if we cooperated instead, as opposed to always going at it. Continuing like such will only serve to bring

    hurt to our families. If we were to form an alliance through marriage, no one in the province will dare to

    stand against us.¡±

    Nan Zhengde¡¯s reasoning left no room for contradiction, and Nan Chen understood that.

    Nevertheless, I don¡¯t want to marry Ouyang Qing.

 Chapter 470

    Chapter 470

    Nan Zhengde saw Nan Chen¡¯s displeasure, written all over his face.

    ¡°You can speak your mind. Don¡¯t just keep it in because of me.¡± He stole a nce at Nan Chen.

    ¡°What you¡¯ve said is right.¡±

    His statement caused Nan Zhengde to be slightly surprised, but he kept calm instead, as he took a sip

    of his tea, his gaze fixated on Nan Chen.

    ¡°It¡¯s certainly true. I¡¯ve recognized the Ouyang family¡¯s capabilities too. However, there¡¯s one variance

    between our opinions. That is, I highly doubt that we would be able to rid ourselves of enemies if we

    really were to form an alliance with the Ouyang family.¡±

    Nan Zhengde¡¯s eyes were still on Nan Chen. He made it known that he was still willing to listen.

    ¡°The Nan family has always been close with the Ouyang family. To the public, the two families are on

    good terms. We¡¯d thought so too. However, the incident in Vietnam was clearly carried out with ill

    intentions. Their malicious acts had almost gotten me into a serious bind. It¡¯s obvious that we¡¯re treated

    more as imaginary foes than friends to them. They¡¯ve always wanted to be stronger than us.¡± Nan

    Chen exined.

    Nan Zhengde agreed partially with Nan Chen¡¯s words as he soon stroked his beard before saying,

    ¡°That¡¯s why we require an alliance. There won¡¯t be a need for imaginary foes after that.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s too optimistic. With how Ouyang Duo is, even if I married his daughter, he¡¯s not going to treat

    me like a son, since he already has Ouyang Qi. The marriage will merely be a front. It¡¯d look as though

    we¡¯d gotten closer, but in reality, we¡¯ll still have to be mindful of them.¡± Nan Chen expressed his

    concern on this matter.

    ¡°We would need to be cautious of internal and external threats by then. With the two families merging,

    having to keep up a peaceful front while staying alert will be exhausting. It will cause a lot of problems.

    Grandpa, you¡¯ve taught me a lot about managing thepany, but I¡¯m not good with the intrigues of

    family politics. The family is safe right now, with you here, but with Ouyang Duo closer, it¡¯ll be like

    sleeping with a tiger. I¡¯ll never be able to sleep soundly.¡±

    When Nan Chen finished, he stood up and refilled Nan Zhengde¡¯s cup.

    Nan Chen was calm and collected throughout his exnation. He was not trying to form an argument,

    but he still got Nan Zhengde to contemte on his words.

    ¡°Chen is right.¡± Feng Wan supported Nan Chen. ¡°Ouyang Duo is a greedy man. He has actually tried to

    take advantage of what happened in Vietnam, threatening us to marry his daughter. This doesn¡¯t sit

    well with me.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not saying that the marriage should happen right away,¡± Nan Zhengde uttered. ¡°What I¡¯m trying to

    say, is that Chen should steer clear of Ning Ran, in case she ruins the family name.¡±

    Nan Chen did not respond.

    ¡°What are you saying now?¡± Feng Wan stood up. ¡°She¡¯s the children¡¯s mother, a part of our family.

    Don¡¯t tell me that you¡¯re going to separate them, like those awful people out there.¡±

    Nan Zhengde was flustered again, ¡°Can you not spew nonsense, you old woman? Am I someone like

    that? How would I not know of the importance of mothers to their children? I want Nan Chen to be

    careful, not allowing Ning Ran to put our family name at risk. Stay out of it if you don¡¯t understand!¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Are you saying that I¡¯m nosy?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright Grandpa, Grandma.¡± Nan Chen interjected. ¡°I know that you have my best interests at heart

    as well as the Nan Family. Please stop. I¡¯ll handle this situation after I sort everything out. As for my

    personal problems, I¡¯ll think about what you guys have said. I have a meetinging up, so I¡¯ll be

    leaving now.¡±

    ¡°Yes, you should go to work. The next time this old man wants to see you, just ignore him! You¡¯re

    always busy anyway.¡± Feng Wan pronounced.

    ¡°You...¡± Nan Zhengde shook his head out of frustration. If we weren¡¯t married for this long, I¡¯d ask you

    to leave too.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be going then. You two should simmer down. I know that you¡¯ve advised me for my own good, I

    understand that.¡±

    ¡°Go, go, go. I know that you¡¯ll handle it. Just don¡¯t get your image ruined by a woman, that¡¯s all.¡± Nan

    Zhengde waved him away.

    Making his exit from the main hall, Nan Chen let out a sigh of relief.

    Seeing hime out, Bai Hua immediately approached him. She was waiting there all along.

    ¡°Nan Chen, what did your grandpa and grandma say?¡± she asked.

    Nan Chen, however, did not stop as he headed toward the exit.

    ¡°You were the one who told Grandpa about the kids and themercial right? Can you stop messing

    around?¡± stated Nan Chen.

    ¡°What are you trying to say? This is for your own good! How can a woman use her children to make

    money? Am I not supposed to say something about this?¡± Bai Hua eximed.

    ¡°Then, you should be going to her instead of involving Grandpa. What are you trying to aplish

    here?¡±

    ¡°How could you speak to your mother like that?¡± Bai Hua was agitated.

    ¡°I¡¯m already being very polite here. Please don¡¯t assume that you can do whatever you want just

    because you¡¯re back. I¡¯m warning you,y low and stay out of trouble, or else...¡±

    ¡°Or else what? Are you going to send me back to Tokyo? You are my son! I want you to have a good

    wife! Not a lowly peasant like Ning Ran who already has two kids! What do you see in her?¡±

    Bai Hua¡¯s words struck a nerve as Nan Chen soon halted in his stride.

    ¡°Those kids are part of the Nan family! How is that a w on her part?¡±

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    ¡°I was about to say,¡± Bai Hua continued, ¡°Have you done a DNA Paternity Test? Are they really your

    kids? Don¡¯t tell me that you¡¯ve epted everything at face value. For a girl like her, who knows what...¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Nan Chenshed out.

    He was currently emitting a cold and ominous aura. Bai Hua was stumped at this.

    Nan Chen was usually intimidating, but it was Bai Hua¡¯s first time seeing him rather enraged at an

    elder.

    ¡°You¡¯re asking me to shut up? I am your mother! I¡¯d given birth to you!¡±

    ¡°Yes, I know. That¡¯s why I¡¯d merely told you to shut up! I respect you, but please have some self-

    respect too! You¡¯re not allowed to interfere with me and Ning Ran anymore. If you still continue to

    cause trouble for us, you¡¯ll have to bear the consequences.¡±

    Nan Chen took off after he finished.

    ¡°You¡¯re all grown up now, huh? Talking to me like that? You wouldn¡¯t even exist if it were not for me!

    You are not going to marry Ning Ran no matter what! You¡¯re from the Nan family, for crying out loud!

    She¡¯s simply a clown!¡±

    Nan Chen left Bai Hua bbering on her own behind him, as he boarded the car and left.

    In the car, the driver noticed that Nan Chen was not in a good mood, hence, he remained silent.

    However, the radio was not turned off, as a man¡¯s voice soon sounded out.

    ¡°Sound of Thunder 2 continues to rise in poprity. Unfortunately, the female lead Ding Mi, on the

    other hand, is knee-deep in more controversies and drama. First, she was exposed to having assaulted

    other artists, and now, we¡¯ve found out that before her fame came to be, she was using her young

    children to make money. When the children refused toply, she¡¯d burnt them, using cigarette butts.

    Not only is this immoral, rather, but rted departments have also deemed this to be an act of crime

    involving child abuse. Further investigations...¡±

    The driver panicked as he heard this. Hurriedly, he reached out to turn it off.

    ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± Nan Chen stopped him.

 Chapter 471

    Chapter 471

    The driver retracted his hand as the host continued with his sharp and defamatory criticisms of Ning

    Ran.

    ¡°A movie starring someone with such lowly moral standards won¡¯t be anything decent. I highly

    encourage the boycott of the movie, Sound of Thunder 2. With that, it¡¯s time for our next segment, the

    call-in. You can call the hotline and we can have a discussion on air!¡±

    It seemed to be very popr, as a lot of the calls went in, most of them agreeing with the host, chiming

    in on the hate for Ning Ran.

    ¡°Call him,¡± Nan Chen ordered.

    ¡°Huh?¡± The driver was confused.

    ¡°Call in, right now.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± The driver quickly parked the car by the side of the road as he dialed the hotline number.

    It took some time, as the line was continuously busy, but in the end, the call finally went through.

    ¡°Hi there, Caller. This is your friend Bingbing.¡±

    The driver did not know how to respond, as he soon threw a nce at Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen took the phone and asked, ¡°Are you acquainted with Ding Mi?¡±

    ¡°Oh? No, I¡¯m not. May you exin further? What you are trying to say?¡± Bingbing asked.

    ¡°What gives you the right to badmouth her like this when you don¡¯t even know her?¡± Nan Chen asked in

    an icy tone.

    ¡°I think that there¡¯s a misunderstanding here, Mr. Caller. We¡¯re merelymenting on the facts. By no

    means are we attacking anyone here! May I know your thoughts on this? Do you think that she is

    innocent?¡±

    ¡°Listen carefully to what I think of this.¡± Nan Chen responded.

    ¡°I¡¯m all ears.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve just lost your job.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Bingbing asked yfully. ¡°What are you talking about? Is this a joke?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll be fired soon,¡± proimed Nan Chen as he ended the call.

    Soon after, Nan Chen phoned a different number, calling Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, your orders?¡± Jiang Zhe immediately answered the call.

    ¡°There¡¯s a host called Bingbing from the traffic radio. I want him out of this city. Cancel his show and

    get the director fired.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡±

    Jiang Zhe had no reason to argue with him. He¡¯s just a DJ. If Nan Chen wants him gone from the city,

    there¡¯s no way he¡¯s staying.

    Jiang Zhe turned around and gave out the order to the other assistants. ¡°Time to work. There¡¯s a DJ on

    the traffic radio, called Bingbing. I want him out of Flower City. His show is done too. Get the director

    fired!¡±

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Why?¡± The others were not as bright as Jiang Zhe. ¡°What has he done?¡±

    Jiang Zhe straightened his gold-rimmed sses. ¡°Mr. Chen will be arriving soon. You can ask him

    then.¡±

    ¡°Oh, never mind!¡± The assistants immediately started their work.

    This was the first time Nan Chen ever called in, to a radio station. Conveniently, Ning Ran was one of

    the listeners.

    She had gotten into a taxi just before Nan Chen was on.

    Ning Ran had a mask on, with a pair of sunsses and a hat; the whole shebang. She couldn¡¯t even

    recognize herself, observing her own get-up.

    To Ning Ran, it was evident that the host was attacking her. Nheless, she could only clench her fist

    angrily in response.

    There was, however, a man who had called in. His voice sounded awfully familiar, catching Ning Ran¡¯s

    attention.

    His voice was low and attractive. Although it was distorted from the broadcast, Ning Ran could still

    sense its familiarity. Not to mention, the cold and intimidating tone, when he spoke.

    Specifically thest statement. You¡¯ll be fired soon.

    That was so cool! It reminded Ning Ran of someone. However, she quickly dismissed her thoughts.

    He¡¯s busy, managing such a hugepany. It¡¯s dizzying to even think about how much work he has.

    How would he have the time to listen to a radio show? It can¡¯t be him, even if they do sound identical.

    ¡°The series that they¡¯re talking about is really good.¡± The taxi driver tried to strike up a conversation. ¡°I

    follow it every day after I¡¯m done with work. Have you seen it? If not, you should. It¡¯s fantastic.¡±

    At the back, Ning Ran made sure that she was not recognized before responding to the driver.

    ¡°I¡¯ve yet to watch it. Is it really that good?¡± she asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s great! The lead actress is beautiful, and her acting is top-notch! It¡¯s really hard to find good shows

    like this since the local productions are literally garbage,¡± the driver remarked.

    The driver¡¯s enthusiasm for the show caused Ning Ran to be really happy.

    ¡°The lead actress is really beautiful, but everyone¡¯s currently criticizing her out of envy, in my opinion.

    Why can¡¯t her kids domercials? In poor families, the children can and should also help out, in

    lightening the load. If those were my kids, I¡¯d allow them to do it too. The money would be used to give

    them a better life anyway, am I right? People nowadays have too much time on their hands. They¡¯re

    always poking their noses into other people¡¯s lives. It¡¯s insane!¡± the driverined.

    His words warmed Ning Ran¡¯s heart. She had the sudden urge to reveal herself to the driver so that

    she could thank him herself.

    However, she kept herposure in the end.

    ¡°Remember to watch it. You¡¯ll like it. My whole family does,¡± urged the driver.

    ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll be sure to check it out,¡± Ning Ran promised.

    While they were conversing, a traffic jam had formed in front of them. Hence, the driver asked, ¡°Miss,

    why don¡¯t you get off here? The Nanshi Corporation is just up ahead. It might be faster for you to walk

    there, rather than for you to wait in here.¡±

    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll get off here then. Thank you, sir.¡±

    Ning Ran paid the driver and got off, slowly walking along the sidewalk.

    In her head, she was formting a way to exin the issue with themercial to Nan Chen.

    She waspletely unaware of it, but it was still part of her responsibility.

    As the children¡¯s guardian, she could not throw Cheng Xiangyun under the bus.

    In fact, she really needed the cash, back then. Cheng Xiangyun was merely helping her out. Ning Ran

    figured that it was best to leave Cheng Xiangyun out of it.

    To do that, I can¡¯t mention Cheng Xiangyun to Nan Chen. In turn, I¡¯ll have to shoulder everything.

    Ning Ran knew full well how powerful the Nan family was and how much they loved kids. Therefore,

    this issue would most likely cause the Nan family a lot of problems.

    It¡¯s so hard. How shall I exin this?

    Although Ning Ran was against the idea of the children doing themercial, it did not seem like

    anyone would believe her at this point.

    Well, I¡¯ll have to face reality anyway.

    Ning Ran was not concerned about anything else. Her only concern was Nan Chen. As he was the

    children¡¯s father, he deserved an exnation.

    No matter how their rtionship evolved, she was grateful that Nan Chen had never stopped her from

    seeing the children. He understood that mothers had the right to be with their children.

    truth. Hence, Ning Ran wanted to respect Nan Chen. As their father, he has the right to know the

 Chapter 472

    Chapter 472

    Ning Ran arrived at the Nanshi Corporation, but security immediately stopped her.

    With her get-up, anyone would be suspicious.

    The only thing she could do then was to phone Jiang Zhe.

    Catching sight of Ning Ran in her spy-like disguise, Jiang Zhe almost burst out inughter.

    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

    He knew what Ning Ran was going through, so her disguising herself made sense.

    Jiang Zhe brought Ning Ran directly to Nan Chen¡¯s office, without notifying anyone because he knew.

    Ning Ran can see Mr. Chen whenever she¡¯d like.

    Upon bringing Ning Ran to the office, Jiang Zhe left.

    In the office, Nan Chen raised his head to gaze at Ning Ran in her hrious disguise. He could tell that

    it was Ning Ran because of her scent.

    Ning Ran had a unique scent around her. No matter how she looked, Nan Chen could identify her,

    solely based on that.

    ¡°Gotten a new role as a spy?¡± Nan Chen asked as he put down the documents in his hand.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be recognized,¡± Ning Ran announced as she took off her mask.

    ¡°It seems like you¡¯re now aware of what¡¯s it like to be famous. It¡¯s not as you¡¯ve thought, right?¡± Nan

    Chen teased.

    Ning Ran was anticipating a scolding from Nan Chen about themercial. However, Nan Chen¡¯s

    reaction made it seem like things were not as serious as she thought.

    ¡°Everyone¡¯s upset at me right now. It¡¯s exhausting.¡±

    Ning Ran removed her hat and sunsses, cing them on the table before plopping herself onto the

    sofa.

    ¡°You¡¯re here to whine?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    Suddenly, Ning Ran was reminded of the reason that she was there. Hence, she immediately got up

    from the sofa. ¡°Sorry! I¡¯m here to plead guilty!¡±

    Nan Chen raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh?¡±

    ¡°I know that you¡¯re mad at me! I¡¯m sure that you¡¯d like to scold me!¡± Ning Ran eximed.

    ¡°If you say it like that, it¡¯d be rude for me if I don¡¯t, right?¡±

    ¡°Well, if you don¡¯t, it will mean that you are a person with a big heart who epts everyone!¡±

    Something felt amiss when Ning Ran said that, but she merely let it be.

    ¡°Stop with the nonsense. What crime are you pleading guilty to?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have allowed the kids to do themercial!¡± Ning Ran admitted.

    ¡°Why did they do it then?¡± Nan Chen¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    This was something that really bothered him. Even if Ning Ran had her reasons, he could not just let it

    go.

    ¡°I needed the money back then.¡± Ning Ran spoke the truth.

    ¡°How badly did you need the money? What was it for?¡±

    If you say that it was for clothes and bags, you¡¯ll merely be a materialistic woman, addicted to your

    materialistic needs.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t spend it.¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t spend it?¡± Nan Chen was surprised by her answer. ¡°Where did it go then?¡± It was not

    something that he would ever have expected.

    ¡°I kept it. Back then, when I just got back in the country, the kids had no school to go to. Hence, I

    wanted to get them into a prestigious school. However, you know, these schools¡¯ fees aren¡¯t cheap,

    and I had no ie. I couldn¡¯t even get a loan. I had to stay at Cheng Xiangyun¡¯s because I had

    nowhere to go.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded. He knew about her situation back then.

    ¡°Is this your reasoning? If it¡¯s as such, you¡¯ve done nothing wrong.¡± Nan Chen proimed.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not here to give you an excuse. I¡¯m simply informing you of what happened. I¡¯m still

    responsible for it. Sorry.¡±

    Nan Chen had nothing more to say. The only thing that he did before resuming his work, was to ask for

    an assistant to bring Ning Ran a cup of coffee.

    After a while, Ning Ran emptied her cup. Nan Chen was quiet, throughout the entire time that she had

    drunk the cup of coffee.

    Why is he being so quiet? What¡¯s going on? He should say something, at the very least! He¡¯s making

    me feel uneasy now.

    ¡°It¡¯s my fault. Please forgive me. I¡¯d let the kids down. I figured that what¡¯s done was done. I really

    didn¡¯t know that people would dig it out. I¡¯m aware that this has caused you and your family quite the

    trouble, but I really don¡¯t know what to do,¡± admitted Ning Ran.

    However, it was as though Nan Chen did not hear her.

    ¡°I know that you won¡¯t believe me, but there¡¯s nothing I can do. It boggles my mind to think that there

    are so many people out there, trying to give me a hard time. I didn¡¯t even do anything to them! What¡¯s

    worst is that they¡¯ve involved the kids! I despise them for that!¡± Ning Ran eximed.

    Finally, Nan Chen raised his head. ¡°It will all be over,¡± he assured her, looking into her eyes.

    ¡°Unfortunately, I¡¯m alreadybeled as an abusive parent! I can¡¯t go anywhere without being given the

    stink eye now. It¡¯s really tough right now.¡± Ning Ran appeared distressed.

    ¡°Do you really care about what people think of you?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t. However, what if the kids get hurt because of it? Besides, I¡¯m an actress. I can¡¯t continue hiding

    like this. I can¡¯t work like this. How will I fulfill my contractual obligations?¡±

    Nan Chen was struck with a sudden realization. She¡¯s not here to plead guilty. Rather, she¡¯s actually

    here to vent out her frustration.

    Ning Ran knew that only Nan Chen could help her. As long as she looked pitiful enough, Nan Chen

    would not me her.

    Nevertheless, Nan Chen yed along, even though he had figured out what was going on.

    ¡°That children¡¯sputerpany will be making an announcement tomorrow, saying that the

    commercial was merely for charity, not involving any payment,¡± Nan Chen exined. ¡°You¡¯d allowed

    the kids to partake in themercial, in exchange for a thousandputers that would be donated to

    the rural vige in the mountains. Theputers reached the vige school a few months ago. The

    ¡°Huh?¡± Ning Ran was stunned. ¡°Isn¡¯t that just lying? I did receive the payment.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all real. Theputers were actually donated. Nanshi Corporation¡¯s charity management team

    was in charge of the project. Since the charity was real, it¡¯s not a lie. We¡¯re merely using it to silence

    those despicable media outlets for good,¡± Nan Chen pressed forth.

    ¡°No one will actually mind whether your children has done amercial or not if there wasn¡¯t someone

    behind fanning the me. Once this dies down, we¡¯ll set our sights on the one behind the scenes. This

    is the best way to handle issues like this. Seeing that you¡¯ve already exined it several times to the

    public, no one¡¯s going to listen,¡± Nan Chen remarked.

    Ning Ran paused for a moment.

    ¡°Truthfully, it wouldn¡¯t be bad, if things were solved as such. I can still keep the money that they¡¯d

    gotten from themercial. Even if it¡¯s not a lot, at least I¡¯d have some when the kids need it. I

    wouldn¡¯t feel so helpless then. I¡¯m really ashamed of myself. As a mother, my children were forced to

    work at such a young age. I really feel sorry for them. However, I promise that from now onwards, it will

    never happen again. No matter what, I¡¯ll keep the burden on my shoulders! I won¡¯t let this happen

    again.¡±

    Ning Ran suddenly choked up.

    The events from the past came welling up in her mind. Those were difficult times. Really difficult times.

    Nan Chen stopped what he was doing and looked at Ning Ran. His heart was aching, but he did not

    know how tofort her. The only thing that Nan Chen knew, was that he hadpletely forgiven her.

 Chapter 473

    Chapter 473

    Half an hourter, Jiang Zhe came in with a report.

    ¡°The host named Bingbing is now fired. His show has been ceased. The assistant director will be

    visiting, to issue an apology.¡±

    ¡°Reject it.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡±

    ¡°Cancel all appointments after five for me,¡± Nan Chen instructed when Jiang Zhe was about to leave.

    ¡°Sir, you have an interview with the financial magazine at six. They¡¯ve been scheduling this for a month

    now,¡± reminded Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°Cancel it!¡±

    ¡°It took them a month to get this appointment and the magazine is really prominent.¡± Jiang Zhe tried

    again.

    ¡°Do you not understand what I¡¯ve just said?¡± Nan Chen raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Understood! I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± Jiang Zhe conceded.

    ¡°Just go then,¡± Ning Ran suddenly interjected. ¡°They¡¯ve already been scheduling this for a month. It¡¯s

    not easy. It won¡¯t take too long anyway.¡±

    Jiang Zhe was stupefied. Nan Chen has already said no. Twice at that! There will not be a third time.

    Even if it was Ning Ran, Jiang Zhe was still concerned. Nan Chen really hates it when people doubt his

    decision.

    Truth be told, Nan Chen¡¯s expression darkened, as he narrowed his gaze at Ning Ran.

    Immediately, Ning Ran was made aware of what she had done wrong. Why did I try to interfere with Sir

    Chen¡¯s decision? Isn¡¯t this just a death wish?

    ¡°What I¡¯m trying to say is, the journalist waited for so long for this interview. She¡¯s surely excited about

    it. It¡¯d be very disappointing if it¡¯s suddenly canceled. So I thought... I¡¯ve spoken too much.¡± Ning Ran

    tried to turn it around.

    ¡°Tell her to move the interview forward to five. Ensure that it is condensed within an hour,¡± demanded

    Nan Chen.

    What? Jiang Zhe was confused. Is that a yes?

    ¡°Was I not clear?¡± Nan Chen asked sternly.

    ¡°No, Sir! Loud and clear, Sir!¡± Jiang Zhe quickly replied and turned to exit the room.

    Calm down. Someone has just managed to change Sir Chen¡¯s decision. It was by talking to him, no

    less! That¡¯s pretty incredible! Jiang Zhe hollered internally.

    ¡°Sorry, I was out of line. I won¡¯t do it again,¡± Ning Ran apologized meekly, her head hanging low.

    ¡°Is there anything that you wouldn¡¯t do at this point?¡± Nan Chen asked condescendingly.

    ¡°I know that I was wrong.¡±

    ¡°What did you do?¡±

    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have intercepted, just now. I had no right to do as such.¡± Ning Ran gave him her honest

    answer.

    Nan Chen did not respond as he dived back into his work.

    Ning Ran dared not bother him, so she took out her phone and started memorizing her script.

    After a while, she suddenly recalled something. Hence, she asked, ¡°Just now, Assistant Jiang said

    something about a Bingbing being fired. Was he the host of the radio show?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Nan Chen replied with minimal effort.

    ¡°That was really you?¡± Ning Ran jumped out of the chair.

    Nan Chen¡¯s head was still down.

    ¡°Hahahaha...¡± Ning Ran startedughing all of a sudden. ¡°So it was you! I was right!¡±

    Initially, Nan Chen wanted to simply ignore her, but herughter was getting to him.

    He raised his head and saw the woman in frontughing crazily.

    What¡¯s so funny about that? Nan Chen¡¯s forehead creased.

    Ning Ran realized that herughter was excessive, as she quickly stopped, reminding herself to mind

    her image.

    ¡°What¡¯s so funny? Or have you gone nuts?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°So you were the one who called in. I thought that the voice had sounded awfully familiar. Who knew

    that Sir Chen would do something like that? Nevertheless, you were amazing! It feels so good right

    now.¡±

    The host who insulted the kids and I has gotten fired! That¡¯s karma! He should never have said

    anything about the children!

    Nan Chen set the documents down as he gazed at the woman who was overjoyed in front of him.

    So this is the craze of happiness? Wait, it¡¯s more severe than that. She¡¯s actually going crazy!

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Nan Chen rained on her parade.

    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Huh? You were the one who called in and argued with the host right? You¡¯re not admitting it? I know

    that it was you!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve heard wrong,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°Huh? That¡¯s impossible.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve definitely heard wrong.¡±

    ¡°No way! There¡¯s no way that I¡¯m wrong! The host has gotten fired and the assistant director wants to

    apologize. There can¡¯t be anyone else besides you, who can do as such!¡± Ning Ran bellowed.

    Nan Chen ignored her.

    Ning Ran was silent. Why can¡¯t you just admit it to let me win for once? Hmph!

    Once again, the office was quiet.

    Not long after, an assistant brought in coffee, for both of them.

    Everyone was tending to themselves.

    All of a sudden, a childish voice called out, ¡°Prettydy, pick up the phone. You¡¯ll get prettier if you do!¡±

    It took Ning Ran a few seconds to realize that it was her phone, ringing. She quickly picked it up and

    walked to the window.

    Nan Chen was astonished by the childish ringtone. You¡¯re actually using a ringtone like that? Wouldn¡¯t

    you feel awkward if other people heard it?

    Ending the call, Ning Ran saw Nan Chen staring at her. She felt embarrassed as she exined, ¡°It was

    Erbao. The naughty girl recorded it because she wanted me to use it.¡±

    The mention of Erbao immediately changed Nan Chen¡¯s mind. ¡°It¡¯s not bad. It¡¯s quite creative.¡±

    Ning Ran was speechless. How is this creativity?

    ¡°I¡¯ll change it back. It¡¯s definitely too childish.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. If anyone hears it, just tell them that it¡¯s your daughter. She likes it, so just use it. Let her

    record one for me too.¡±

    ¡°You want one too?¡± Ning Ran thought that she was hallucinating.

    ¡°Why not? I¡¯m her father. Why should you be the only one who gets a recording?¡±

    Ning Ran was astonished. Does this actually bother you? You want it to be fair?

    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll allow her to record a line for you when I get back. You¡¯re a pig if you don¡¯t use it!¡± Ning Ran

    responded.

    Nan Chen frowned. What did she just say? She¡¯s actually talking to me like that? Calling me a pig? She

    might just be the only woman in the world who dares to do as such!

    ¡°Say that again!¡± Nan Chen demanded.

    Ning Ran had always been slow to realize the situation, but she immediately tried to salvage it, ¡°I¡¯m not

    talking about you. I¡¯m talking about someone else! What I¡¯m trying to say is, you¡¯re a CEO. It will be

    embarrassing if people were to hear such a cute ringtone,ing from your phone. Think about it,

    you¡¯re in a meeting room with a bunch of big shots and suddenly, ¡®Hey handsome, pick up the phone. If

    you do, you¡¯ll get more handsome!¡¯ Isn¡¯t that just weird? Hahahaha...¡±

    Ning Ran was imagining the scene in her head. Hence, she got quite augh out of it.

    Nan Chen looked at Ning Ran chuckling in front of him. He was slightly humored.

    So, this is how silly women usually are! It¡¯s quite adorable.

    However, Nan Chen soon eximed, ¡°Stopughing! Pull yourself together!¡±

    Immediately, Ning Ran stopped. This is Nan Chen¡¯s office after all. Control yourself!

    ¡°Xiaoou called me just now. She informed me that the filming is about to start. Shall I continue filming in

    my current situation?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°What situation? You can¡¯t film?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m talking about me being in this whirlwind of a controversy.¡±

    ¡°Just ignore it.¡±

    ¡°Oh, okay then.¡±

    The silence resumed

 Chapter 474

    Chapter 474

    When school ended, Ning Ran did not dare show herself. Thus, she waited in the car and watched, as

    Qiao Zhan got the kids.

    When they got into the car, Erbao immediately jumped into Ning Ran¡¯s arms. ¡°Mommy!¡±

    ¡°Did you know that I was in the car?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    ¡°How?¡±

    ¡°Because Uncle Qiao Zhan is driving daddy¡¯s car. If it were just him, he would have driven his jeep,¡±

    answered Erbao.

    ¡°Why couldn¡¯t it be daddy then?¡± Ning Ran was curious.

    ¡°If it were daddy, he would havee out to personally pick us up. Mommy has been going through

    some misunderstandings, caused by bad people online, meaning that she can¡¯te out.¡± Erbao had

    a sharp mind.

    Ning Ran hugged Erbao tightly in her arms without saying a word.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be sad, mommy. We¡¯re here for you,¡± assured Dabao, as calm and collected as ever.

    ¡°Mommy¡¯s not sad. As long as you¡¯re with me, Mommy¡¯s not afraid of anything.¡±

    ¡°We should never have done themercial behind your back. It¡¯s all our fault. It won¡¯t happen again.

    Sorry, Mommy,¡± apologized Dabao softly.

    ¡°Mommy¡¯s not ming you two. Besides, it¡¯s all in the past now. The bad people can do whatever they

    want, just ignore them,¡±forted Ning Ran.

    ¡°However, Mommy¡¯s gone through so much misery. I¡¯m so sorry Mommy.¡±

    ¡°Mommy¡¯s alright.¡± Ning Ran was holding in her tears. ¡°I have you guys.¡±

    ¡°Are we going to daddy¡¯spany now?¡± Erbao struck once again.

    ¡°How did you know that? Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Daddy¡¯s definitely still busy with work, so he¡¯s asked Mommy toe and get us, to wait at the

    company for him. When he¡¯s done, we can have dinner as a family again. It¡¯s been so long since

    Daddy and Mommy have brought us to eat some good food. I¡¯ve lost so much weight from starving!¡±

    Erbao exined.

    Erbao was able to lighten the mood with herst remark.

    ¡°Aww... You¡¯ve gotten so skinny!¡± chimed Ning Ran, as she touched Erbao¡¯s little, round belly.

    Erbao giggled yfully, ¡°I really am thinner. Thinner than I was, two days ago!¡±

    As the three of them were having fun in the car, they arrived at the Nanshi Corporation in little to no

    time at all.

    Nan Chen was in the meeting room, doing a brief photoshoot for the financial magazine. He would be

    on the cover for the next issue, being the person of the year as well.

    Nan Chen, as usual, was dressed in full ck, with not a hint of emotion on his face.

    The photographer tried his best to get some reactions out of him. Unfortunately, it was to no avail. Nan

    Chen only needed to stand there; the photos woulde out amazing.

    However, this had always been the case. The photographer wanted to differentiate himself from the

    others in the industry. Hence, he wanted something different from Nan Chen.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, is it possible for you to give me some form of expression? Not necessarily a smile. It can be

    surprised, or maybe deep in thought. Anything, really!¡± requested the photographer.

    Nan Chen nced at his watch. ¡°You have three minutes left.¡±

    The photoshoot was for ten minutes and the interview for fifty. That was the n.

    If they continued to take photos, it would take away the time needed for the interview. The interview

    was clearly more important in this case.

    The photographer gave up, on getting a shot of a ¡®different¡¯ Nan Chen. Nan Chen has always been like

    this. Always the same. He is his own style, and showing no emotion is part of his brand.

    ¡°Thank you, for your cooperation, Mr. Chen. Now, please follow me.¡±

    The person in charge of the interview was none other than the content director herself. No ordinary

    journalist would fit the job.

    The director was a pretty woman, dressed in professional attire. Her figure was exquisite and she

    looked rather dignified, as she was beautiful.

    Nan Chen sat down as he nced at his watch again.

    ¡°First of all, thank you, Mr. Chen, for epting our interview. Truth be told, we¡¯ve been trying to get a

    hold of you since half a year ago. We¡¯d only got to schedule, about a month ago. It is a great honor and

    pleasure to finally meet you today.¡±

    The director¡¯s smile was very modest, but anyone could feel her nerves sipping out.

    Nan Chen had a strong presence. She could feel immense pressure, even before starting the

    conversation.

    In fact, the oue of the interview would be heavily affected if the interviewer disyed any signs of

    fear for the interviewee.

    She had interviewed several prominent people before this, but the director could feel the moisture on

    her palm that day, as she was unusually nervous.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, first of all, I¡¯d like to say, you are by far the most handsome man whom I¡¯ve ever

    interviewed.¡± The director wanted to lighten the mood, trying to get herself to rx before tackling the

    main topic.

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Nan Chen nodded in response.

    Silence ensued.

    Nan Chen¡¯s response caught the director off guard. It was clear that her attempt to lighten the mood

    had failed horribly.

    ¡°Now, you are the sessor to Nanshi Corporation...¡±

    ¡°Manager,¡± Nan Chen corrected.

    The wording was very important because Nan Chen was not the sole sessor. Rather, he was

    merely one of them.

    Saying that he was the sessor meant that there was no one else besides him.

    ¡°Alright, you are the manager of Nanshi Corporation, as well as one of its sessors. Can you inform

    me of your ns for Nanshi down the road?¡±

    Nan Chen paused for a moment before he answered, ¡°To continue moving forward.¡±

    That¡¯s it? The director was stumped.

    She had intended for the first question to take up to around five minutes because it was a very open-

    ended question.

    There were so many things that one could talk about, with such a question. Things like business

    strategies,pany policies, or even future goals.

    If anyone wanted to, this question alone could take half an hour just to answer. However, this guy here

    had merely given me four words! Where shall I go, from here?

    The director forced out a smile as she asked, ¡°Is there a way for you to be a little more specific?¡±

    ¡°I want to work together with everyone here so that we can continue to move forward,¡± Nan Chen

    replied.

    The awkward silence returned, as the director was rendered speechless.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, your answers are too short and precise. I can¡¯t really write anything with them,¡± the director

    admitted, with a bitter smile.

    ¡°Regarding the strategies and any rted questions, we report every year. You can just search it up.

    There¡¯s no need for me to repeat them to you,¡± pronounced Nan Chen.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. Then, let¡¯s go with some of the shorter questions. Ever since you¡¯d taken over Nanshi,

    were there any difficult moments for you? When was it the hardest?¡±

    ¡°Right now.¡± Nan Chen answered with two words this time.

    ¡°Right now? Why?¡±

    ¡°The past is in the past. No matter how difficult it is, it¡¯s over. The future can be anticipated, but never

    controlled. It is best not to think about it too much. The most difficult thing will be to do our best right

    now.¡±

    The director pped. ¡°Well said! Mr. Chen well said.¡±

    Nan Chen kept his poker face and said nothing more.

    ¡°How about a more personal question now? Can you tell me about your criteria for choosing a partner?

    What kind of woman will you prefer, as your future wife?¡±

    This was an interview for a financial magazine, but the question was very much one that was filled with

    gossip. So, it looks like all female journalists like gossip.

    ¡°There¡¯s no criteria.¡± Nan Chen gave her another brief answer.

    The director was stumped yet again. ¡°No criteria?¡±

    ¡°If I like her, I¡¯ll like her. People are not products whom you can differentiate, based on criteria,¡±

    exined Nan Chen.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    Apuding yet again, the director eximed, ¡°Well said, Mr. Chen! Do have anyone that you currently

    like then?¡±

    The questions seemed to be taking a turn into a territory for gossip.

    Nan Chen narrowed his eyes. ¡°Time¡¯s up. That will be all for today!¡±

 Chapter 475

    Chapter 475

    The director grew anxious. ¡°It isn¡¯t time yet!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not interested in talking about gossip,¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°Please calm down, Mr. Chen! L-Let¡¯s discuss work, then!¡± The director quickly got back on topic.

    Nan Chen returned to his seat.

    ¡°The Nanshi Corporation¡¯s development has always been diversified. Which area are you most

    satisfied in at the moment, Mr. Chen?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m satisfied with it all,¡± Nan Chen said.

    The director was speechless. This guy is ridiculous! I¡¯ve never seen a CEO this difficult to talk to!

    ¡°What about the one you¡¯re dissatisfied with, then?¡± She asked.

    ¡°I told you, I¡¯m satisfied with it all. What would I be dissatisfied with?¡± Nan Chen shot the question back

    at her.

    The director was caught off guard and felt as if her IQ and ego had been mercilessly crushed.

    ¡°What do you have to say about Star Entertainment then, Mr. Chen?¡± The director refused to give up.

    ¡°It¡¯s very good.¡±

    ¡°Star Entertainment is doing quite well indeed, but there has been a lot of negative news about it

    recently. There are also a lot of controversies surrounding its artistes online...¡±

    ¡°Have you seen an entertainment industry without controversies?¡± Nan Chen shot back at her again.

    The director smiled as she asked, ¡°What are your thoughts on the criticisms regarding Ms. Ding Mi?¡±

    Nan Chen stood up. ¡°What did I say?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for going off topic again, Mr. Chen! L-Let¡¯s continue, shall we?¡±

    Dabao and Erbao were able to see through the director¡¯s efforts in getting more information out of Nan

    Chen as they watched from outside the door.

    They had wanted to see their daddy and were peeking through the crack on the meeting room door.

    Ning Ran was scrolling through her phone in Nan Chen¡¯s office when Erbao came running in. ¡°This is

    bad!¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Ning Ran was shocked.

    ¡°Daddy¡¯s talking to a prettydy!¡± Erbao said anxiously.

    ¡°I know, he¡¯s being interviewed. Didn¡¯t I tell you two not to run around here? You might interrupt them,

    you know?¡± Ning Ran said with a frown.

    ¡°We weren¡¯t interrupting anything! We were just listening from outside the door!¡±

    ¡°Tell Dabao toe back here! Don¡¯t cause a scene!¡±

    ¡°But Daddy¡¯s talking to a really prettydy, Mommy! Aren¡¯t you worried?¡± Erbao asked in confusion.

    ¡°Why? What should I be worried about?¡±

    ¡°That Daddy would have his heart stolen, duh!¡± Erbao said seriously.

    ¡°You¡¯re overthinking things!¡± Ning Ran didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry upon hearing that.

    ¡°I¡¯m not! They say men be naughty when they have money! Daddy¡¯s so rich, so he¡¯ll definitely

    be naughty!¡±

    Ning Ran was surprised. ¡°Where¡¯d you learn that nonsense from?¡±

    ¡°From TV, Mommy! That¡¯s what they say on TV!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d better stop watching those messed-up shows, you hear? It¡¯s unbing for kids to say such

    things!¡± Ning Ran reprimanded her.

    Erbao pouted. ¡°I¡¯m just worried about you, Mommy! First, it¡¯s Ouyang Qing, and now this prettydy

    too? There¡¯s no way you¡¯d be able to deal with them both, Mommy!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a reporter, Erbao. She¡¯s just discussing work with Daddy, so don¡¯t you go using her like

    that.¡±

    ¡°But they¡¯re sitting so close to each other! I even saw them flirting, so I¡¯m really worried something

    might happen!¡±

    ¡°Really? How are they flirting?¡±

    ¡°Like this, and this...¡± Erbao began winking her eyes in an exaggerated way.

    Ning Ran became anxious when she saw that.

    ¡°Are they really doing that?¡±

    ¡°Of course, Mommy! You should go take a look before something happens!¡± Erbao began dragging

    Ning Ran out of the office.

    To their surprise, they found Nan Chen holding Dabao¡¯s hand when they opened the office door.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I...¡± Ning Ran was at a loss for words.

    Damn it, Erbao! Your nonsense got me all worked up that I can¡¯t even think straight right now! How am

    I supposed to answer him? Oh my god, this is so embarrassing!

    ¡°N-Nowhere! We were just going for a walk, that¡¯s all!¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°This is an office, so don¡¯t go running around. Anyway, the interview is over. Let¡¯s go get something to

    eat.¡±

    Nan Chen bent over to stroke Erbao on the face. ¡°You¡¯re probably starving, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Erbao stepped aside with a disgusted look on her face. ¡°Bad Daddy!¡±

    Nan Chen froze. ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you? How am I bad?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re bad in several ces, Daddy!¡± Erbao said angrily.

    ¡°Several ces? Tell me, then. I¡¯ll correct myself if I really am bad.¡± Nan Chen said patiently.

    ¡°You were flirting with that prettydy from earlier, Daddy!¡±

    ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? Do you even know what flirting is? Who taught you this stuff?¡±

    He looked at Ning Ran as he said that.

    Ning Ran waved her hands in denial. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t look at me! I didn¡¯t teach her that! In fact, I was

    wondering if you did!¡±

    ¡°As if I¡¯d do something that stupid!¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°Well, I wouldn¡¯t either!¡±

    ¡°Mommy, Daddy, stop fighting and hear me out!¡± Erbao said with her arms on her hips.

    ¡°Okay, go on.¡± Nan Chen sat down and listened to her seriously.

    ¡°A lot of people have been scolding Mommy on the Intetely. Why didn¡¯t you protect Mommy?¡±

    Erbao questioned.

    ¡°I am doing something about it.¡± Nan Chen said in his defense.

    Ning Ran felt somewhat delighted when she saw Nan Chen exining himself so seriously.

    ¡°Do you think you¡¯ve done a good job protecting Mommy, then?¡± Erbao pressed on.

    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Hmm... I might not be doing a good enough job, but I am trying.¡± Nan Chen said.

    That was the first time Nan Chen had taken a question so seriously in his entire life.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you answer the question when the prettydy asked you the type of woman you like?¡±

    Erbao asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like to answer stupid questions, so I didn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°How is that a stupid question?¡±

    ¡°Daddy is a busy man with a lot more important things to do. He only epted her interview to discuss

    work-rted matters, and that question had nothing to do with work. It¡¯s only normal for Daddy to find it

    stupid and not answer it.¡±

    Dabao stood up for Nan Chen as he felt a little sorry for his father and wanted to do something as a

    fellow man.

    Erbao didn¡¯t expect Dabao to take Nan Chen¡¯s side and gave him a confused look.

    Shouldn¡¯t we both be helping Mommy here? Why are you defending Daddy?

    ¡°Dabao is right. It¡¯s exactly as he said.¡± Nan Chen gave his son a thankful look.

    ¡°In that case, you could¡¯ve just told her you like someone like Mommy! That¡¯s the correct answer!¡±

    Erbao insisted on expressing her view on the matter.

    Nan Chen froze. So that¡¯s what this is all about?

    He then turned to look at Ning Ran. Is this your doing?

    Ning Ran understood what he meant immediately. ¡°This has nothing to do with me, okay? I didn¡¯t teach

    her any of this! Erbao came up with it all by herself! I know I¡¯m not your type!¡±

    ¡°And how would you know that?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I...¡± Ning Ran found herself at a loss for words and blushed bright red.

    Daddy and Erbao exchanged nces, and Erbao cried out happily, ¡°So Mommy is Daddy¡¯s type,

    then?¡±

 Chapter 476

    Chapter 476

    Nan Chen kept quiet, and Ning Ran didn¡¯t know what to say either.

    Erbao realized how she had made things extremely awkward and turned toward Dabao for help.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this any further, shall we? We wouldn¡¯t be here if Daddy doesn¡¯t like Mommy,

    right?¡± Dabao asked Erbao.

    ¡°Yeah, that makes sense!¡± Erbao nodded profusely.

    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go get something to eat!¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Mommy, Daddy, I miss Uncle Xing. Can we have him over as well?¡± Dabao asked all of a sudden.

    ¡°Of course! Have him meet us at Heshui Hotpot City. We¡¯ll be having hotpot today!¡± Ning Ran

    suggested.

    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

    She then realized she had forgotten to seek Nan Chen¡¯s opinion on it and turned towards him. ¡°Are you

    okay with that?¡±

    Why bother asking for my opinion when she¡¯s already said yes? Heck, she¡¯s even thought of where to

    go and what to eat! I¡¯d never hear the end of it from these kids if I were to say no right now!

    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m always okay with anything.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°All right, give me a moment. I¡¯ll give Uncle Xing a call.¡± Dabao whipped out his phone and went

    outside to make a call.

    ¡°It¡¯s just a phone call. Does he really have to go outside like that?¡± Ning Ran mumbled.

    ¡°Children have a need for privacy too, you know? You should learn to respect that.¡± Nan Chen said

    coldly.

    ¡°Hey, I do respect others! Look, I didn¡¯t tell the kids to listen in on your conversation earlier!¡± Ning Ran

    rified.

    Nan Chen red at her. ¡°Right, sure you didn¡¯t...¡±

    ¡°I really didn¡¯t! Tell him, Erbao!¡±

    ¡°Stop using the kids as a shield!¡±

    ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re bullying Mommy again! You¡¯ve been bullying Mommy a lottely!¡± Erbao red angrily

    at Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen softened up immediately. ¡°No, I was just kidding!¡±

    Dabao came back after getting off the phone, and the four of them headed out.

    With all sorts of hotpot gathered in one spot, Heshui Hotpot City was the best ce for hotpot in

    Flower City.

    It was easy for one to get overwhelmed by the huge variety of hotpot avable, but Ning Ran was set

    on having a spicy hotpot that day.

    She had been through an emotional roller coastertely and needed a good hotpot session to help her

    feel better.

    As Nan Chen wasn¡¯t into such dishes, she had to rely on her protective kids to help her get what she

    wanted.

    There were a lot of people eating hotpot due to the cold weather, so it took them quite some time to find

    a parking spot.

    Ning Ran was about to get off the car when Nan Chen called out to her, ¡°Aren¡¯t you forgetting

    something?¡±

    Oh, right, I can¡¯t show my face in public! Ning Ran thought to herself as she put on her face mask, hat

    and sunsses.

    Erbaoughed when she saw that. ¡°You look like the killers on TV, Mommy!¡±

    ¡°You go on ahead. I¡¯ll have someone make the arrangements for us. It¡¯s too crowded for us to go in

    through the front door.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. Uncle has already made the arrangements.¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°You had him book us a room?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. With Uncle¡¯s connections, it¡¯s no problem at all. Since it¡¯s still early, how about we go

    shopping for a bit? I¡¯ve been wanting to buy a pair of roller skates.¡± Dabao suggested.

    ¡°Right now?¡± Ning Ran was confused.

    Dabao nodded. ¡°There¡¯s a mall nearby, right? I wanna go shop for a pair of roller skates.¡±

    Nan Chen found it odd. Why would he need to do his own shopping? I could just give the order and

    we¡¯d have the best roller skates delivered over right away!

    ¡°Let¡¯s go eat first. We can just have Qiao Zhan buy you those roller skates.¡± Ning Ran was puzzled as

    well.

    ¡°No, I wanna go shopping with Mommy and Daddy! We haven¡¯t done that before at all!¡± Dabao insisted.

    ¡°Me too! It¡¯s still a little early for dinner anyway!¡± Erbao chimed in.

    Nan Chen and Ning Ran exchanged nces and decided to agree with their son¡¯s request.

    The family of four then went shopping in the huge mall nearby. They bought Dabao and Erbao a pair of

    roller skates each and even bought Erbao a very cute hat.

    An hour had passed.

    ¡°I¡¯m a little hungry. Can I get an ice cream?¡± Erbao asked.

    You can¡¯t have ice cream at night, remember? Besides, it¡¯s so cold right now!¡± Ning Ran reprimanded

    her.

    ¡°Why can¡¯t she have ice cream if we can have hotpot? Come on, let¡¯s go buy some.¡± Nan Chen said.

    Is he trying to pick a fight?

    Despite having received support from Nan Chen, Erbao refused to budge until she got permission from

    Ning Ran.

    She stared at her mother and waited for her to say something.

    ¡°All right, you can have one. But just this once, got it?¡±

    Erbao was delighted to hear Ning Ran let up and quickly dragged Nan Chen towards the Haagen-Dazs

    shop nearby.

    ¡°Is there something on your mind, Dabao?¡± Ning Ran bent down and asked.

    Dabao kept quiet and simply grinned at her.

    ¡°You¡¯re hiding something from me, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Being his mother, Ning Ran was able to notice something off about him.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Mommy. Don¡¯t worry about it!¡± Dabao said while wrapping his arms around her neck.

    ¡°Really? Look, you can tell Mommy about anything, okay?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mommy.¡± Dabao said softly.

    Erbao had a spring in her step as she made her way back after getting her ice cream.

    At that moment, Dabao got a call from Nan Xing. ¡°Where are you guys? I¡¯ve already ordered the food!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll be there in a bit, Uncle Xing!¡±

    The private room that Nan Xing had booked was the most expensive and quiet one in the area.

    Ning Ran understood what Dabao had on his mind when they opened the door and saw Ouyang Qing

    inside.

    A strong wave of difort and disappointment swept through her body.

    Why did Dabao invite the woman that Nan Chen was intimate with? He may not have said a word

    about this, but I¡¯m sure he knows she¡¯sing! In fact, I bet he¡¯s the one who invited her! After all, Nan

    Xing knows about her and Nan Chen, so there¡¯s no way he¡¯d invite her! Just what is this kid ying at?

    Ouyang Qing was surprised as well. I thought it was going to be dinner with Nan Xing, Nan Chen, and

    the kids! What¡¯s she doing here?

 Chapter 477

    Chapter 477

    ¡°Hello, Ding.¡± Ouyang Qing stood up and greeted Ning Ran politely.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Hello, Ms. Ouyang.¡±

    Ning Ran was extremely unhappy but kept a neutral expression on her face anyway.

    As an actress, her acting skills were no worse than Ouyang Qing¡¯s.

    Nan Chen eyed Dabao and Ning Ran.

    This is really strange, but I can¡¯t quite put my finger on what¡¯s going on here... Nan Xing knows better

    than to invite her, and Erbao isn¡¯t smart enough to do such a thing, so it¡¯s either Dabao or Ning Ran!

    He then noticed the displeased look in Ning Ran¡¯s eyes and knew it had to be Dabao who invited her.

    She wouldn¡¯t be so unhappy if she were the one who set this up, so it must be Dabao! What on earth is

    he nning? I can¡¯t believe I failed to see through a child¡¯s intentions! Good thing he¡¯s my child, I

    guess... It¡¯d be so humiliating if I were to be yed by someone else¡¯s child...

    ¡°I¡¯ve ordered some, but you guys can have a look at the menu and see if you¡¯d like to add anything

    else. They have all sorts of soup here, so pick whichever you like.¡± Nan Chen said while handing the

    tablet over.

    ¡°I want it extra spicy!¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Spicy food is bad for your skin, you know? You have an image to maintain now that you¡¯re a

    superstar!¡±

    Nan Xing reminded her but he soon fell silent when he realized that Nan Chen was there.

    ¡°Nan Xing is right.¡± Nan Chen continued.

    Ouyang Qing felt jealous when she saw the Nan brothers express their concern for Ning Ran.

    It¡¯s a woman¡¯s responsibility to maintain their image! No guy cares about a woman¡¯s image unless he

    likes her!

    ¡°I don¡¯t care! I chose this ce specifically for the spicy hotpot!¡± Ning Ran said stubbornly.

    ¡°Even so, you can¡¯t have it extra spicy! We¡¯ll just have it mildly spicy, and that¡¯s final.¡± Nan Chen

    decided.

    Ning Ran wasn¡¯t happy about him controlling her diet.

    However, she noticed the look of envy in Ouyang Qing¡¯s eyes and realized that it was a great honor for

    most women to have Nan Chen care about them.

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll listen to you, then. You¡¯re so annoying, controlling what I do all the time!¡± Ning Ran whined.

    Both Nan Xing and Nan Chen were taken aback by her sudden change in attitude and tone. They

    weren¡¯t used to her speaking so softly and gently.

    Nan Xing looked at his arm to see if he had goosebumps while Nan Chen shot Ning Ran an amused

    look.

    He realized why Ning Ran had spoken to him like that and found it somewhat interesting.

    In order to prevent everyone from dipping their chopsticks into the same pot, they were each given a

    separate pot and allowed to choose their soup.

    Everyone else chose a clear soup, whereas Ning Ran and her kids decided to stick with the spicy one.

    Nan Chen frowned. These kids want the spicy one too? She sure trained them well, huh?

    ¡°But that¡¯s bad for your tummy. How about you try the clear soup instead? It¡¯s really tasty!¡± Nan Chen

    tried to persuade Erbao.

    ¡°No, I want the spicy one! Dabao wants it too! He¡¯s a man, and a man must be able to handle spicy

    food!¡± Erbao said sweetly.

    Nan Xing and Nan Chen were both speechless upon hearing that.

    How could she say that? We ordered the clear soup, so what would that make us?

    ¡°On second thought, I want the spicy one. Time to try something with a little more vor!¡± Nan Xing

    said.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to take a child¡¯s words so seriously.¡± Nan Chen advised.

    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t do it because of what Erbao said. I just thought I¡¯d try something different every once in a

    while, that¡¯s all. Believe it or not, I actually like spicy food! When I was overseas, there was this

    Chinese restaurant near my ce that makes really spicy dishes. Needless to say, I was their favorite

    customer! However, I¡¯ve been losing my spice tolerance since my return, and that simply won¡¯t do.

    Eating spicy food can help keep the body healthy from the cold, so I¡¯ll go with the spicy soup!¡± Nan

    Xing insisted.

    ¡°That¡¯s amazing, Uncle Xing! You¡¯re a true man!¡± Erbao raised her thumb in approval.

    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll have the spicy one too.¡± Nan Chen blurted out.

    Ning Ran was sipping on some tea and nearly spat it out when she heard that.

    Oh, my god! They actually took a child¡¯s words so seriously? How stubborn must they be to try and

    compete over their spice tolerance levels? They say men have a childish side to them, I guess this just

    goes to prove it!

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t, Daddy! You can¡¯t handle spicy food!¡± Erbao advised him.

    However, the little girl¡¯s advice only made Nan Chen feel embarrassed that a seven-foot-tall man like

    himself had lost to a child in terms of spice tolerance.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m okay with it.¡± Nan Chen was determined to prove himself.

    ¡°Let¡¯s all have the spicy one, then!¡± Erbao suggested.

    Ouyang Qing was going green with envy at that point.

    What a family... I can¡¯t believe the Nan brothers are taking a little girl¡¯s words as gospel! Great, now

    everyone is going for the spicy one like her. Everyone except me...

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not a man, and I can¡¯t handle the spice either... I don¡¯t have to go for it, do I?¡± Ouyang Qing

    asked with a smile.

    ¡°Of course not! You¡¯re an outsider, so you don¡¯t have to follow our lead.¡±

    Erbao¡¯s words stung so hard that Ouyang Qing felt an urge to leave on the spot.

    No, I must maintain my smile! It¡¯s unbing for the Young Miss of the Ouyang family to argue with a

    child!

    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry... I would¡¯ve gone with the spicy one too if I could, but... If I recall, Chen can¡¯t take spicy

    food too. It¡¯ll hurt his stomach!¡± Ouyang Qing said with a smile.

    ¡°Do you know Daddy that well, Ms. Qing? How do you know he can¡¯t handle spicy food?¡± Erbao asked.

    Even without Dabao¡¯s help, she had been doing a lot of damage on her own that day.

    ¡°N-Not really... But I do know Chen can¡¯t take spicy food...¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s in the past. I can take it now.¡± Nan Chen cut her off.

    The repeated blows to Ouyang Qing¡¯s ego and pride hurt her so much that she couldn¡¯t even maintain

    a natural smile anymore.

    At that moment, she hated Ning Ran, Erbao, and even Nan Chen by a little.

    With a forced smile on her face, she said, ¡°Oh, I see... I didn¡¯t know that... I guess I¡¯m just too much of

    a loser that I¡¯m still unable to.¡±

    ¡°All right, enough of this. Let¡¯s continue ordering.¡±

    Ning Ran handed Ouyang Qing the tablet. ¡°We pretty much eat the same things here, so you can go

    ahead and order what you like for yourself.¡±

    She even made sure to ce emphasis on the word ¡°we¡±, just to add insult to injury.

 Chapter 478

    Chapter 478

    I thought my chance hade when Nan Xing called me and invited me to dinner with the kids. Who

    would¡¯ve known it was a chance for them to hurt me instead? I had always believed that my innocent

    smile would fool her, but she turned the tables on me with those passive-aggressive attacks. I¡¯ve heard

    of bunnies biting when threatened, but I never thought I¡¯d witness one myself!

    Ouyang Qing thought to herself as she red at Ning Ran.

    Although Nan Chen couldn¡¯t care less about their little power y, he could see what Ning Ran was

    ying at.

    To think that the childish ¡°battles¡± between women could be this fun to watch...

    The food was soon served up along with the soup.

    Being a member of the upper echelons of society, Ouyang Qing had always found hotpot unbefitting of

    her status.

    On top of that, the verbal assaults from Erbao and Ning Ran made her so mad that she didn¡¯t have

    much appetite left. After eating some vegetables, she began scrolling through her phone to pass the

    time.

    Ning Ran, on the other hand, was having a st as hotpot was exactly what she wanted to help relieve

    her stress.

    The fact that she was allowed to order whatever she wanted only made things even better, and she

    began wolfing down her food happily.

    Nan Chen¡¯s past experiences with spicy food had taught him a huge lesson regarding the risks it would

    bring him.

    In order to avoid embarrassing himself with an upset stomachter on, Nan Chen made a dip for

    himself consisting of vinegar and some soy sauce.

    He even added a small amount of water while no one was watching.

    That way, he was able to rinse the food in it to take the edge off the spiciness and save his stomach

    from the abuse without embarrassing himself in front of everyone.

    As for Nan Xing, things were a lot messier as he ate it straight. He was sticking his tongue out from

    time to time and kept wiping the sweat off his forehead with the paper towels.

    At some point, he couldn¡¯t keep up the tough act anymore and began downing ss after ss of

    water.

    ¡°Uncle Xing can¡¯t take it anymore! He¡¯s about to cry!¡± Erbao said with a giggle.

    ¡°I¡¯m not crying! You¡¯re crying! Who says I can¡¯t handle spicy food?¡± Nan Xing said stubbornly and

    reached for his chopsticks once again.

    Dabao quickly stopped him. ¡°Forget it, Uncle Xing, I think you¡¯re quite full now. Don¡¯t forget about your

    important announcement tonight!¡±

    Everyone turned to look at Nan Xing, curious as to what he had to announce.

    ¡°Announcement?¡± Even Nan Xing was confused and stared nkly at Dabao.

    ¡°Aww, Uncle Xing¡¯s ying dumb again! He won¡¯t say it!¡± Erbao pped her hands andughed.

    ¡°What did you want to say?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    He felt something was amiss about that dinner, but he couldn¡¯t really figure out what it was.

    Now that Erbao said Nan Xing had an announcement, he got curious as to what it was and whom it

    was for.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have anything to announce! Well, except for the fact that this is really spicy!¡± Nan Xing

    grimaced.

    Nan Chen nodded in agreement. Despite having rinsed my food beforehand, I can still feel the

    spiciness on my tongue.

    ¡°Are you chickening out again, Uncle Xing? You promised you¡¯d say it!¡± Erbao shot him a disdainful

    look.

    ¡°Hey, what are you kids trying to do this time? What am I supposed to say? Why don¡¯t I know about it?¡±

    Nan Xing asked anxiously.

    Erbao looked at Dabao and said, ¡°Dabao, I think Uncle Xing is too embarrassed to say it! Why don¡¯t

    you do it for him?¡±

    Dabao gave it some thought and replied, ¡°I think you should do it instead. You¡¯re better at acting it out.¡±

    ¡°Sure! It¡¯s the same lines, right?¡±

    Erbao got excited immediately when she heard she could perform.

    ¡°Yeah, just say the lines that Uncle Xing is supposed to say. You can add in some of your own, but

    make sure you get the main point across.¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡±

    Erbao wiped her mouth with a paper towel upon receiving the order.

    She then hopped off her chair and walked straight up to Ouyang Qing, who stared at her in shock and

    confusion.

    ¡°Qing, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been wanting to tell you but never had the courage to,¡± Erbao said.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    Ouyang Qing was surprised. What the heck is she saying? What¡¯s she ying at this time?

    ¡°Erbao is mimicking Uncle Xing. She¡¯s saying what he wants to say.¡± Dabao exined.

    That was extremely helpful as it helped everyone understand what was going on.

    ¡°But, I didn¡¯t...¡±

    Nan Xing protested, but Dabao motioned at him to keep quiet.

    ¡°Have you forgotten our deal, Uncle Xing?¡± Dabao asked while winking at him.

    That was when Nan Xing recalled a discussion he had with the two of them some time ago.

    They told me how Ouyang Qing was getting in the way of Nan Chen and Ning Ran and asked me to

    get rid of her. They said it was the only way to reduce the conflict between Nan Chen and Ning Ran

    and increase the possibility of them bing a happy family together. I didn¡¯t agree to it at the time as

    I hated how pretentious Ouyang Qing was. More importantly, she didn¡¯t like me either! That woman

    only has eyes for Nan Chen! But then, these kids kept begging and even threatened to call me a bad

    uncle for not helping them! After I reluctantly agreed to help them, they went quiet for so long that I

    thought it was over. Guess I was wrong... Damn it, I shouldn¡¯t havee! Not only do I have to endure

    the stomachache from the spicy food, now I¡¯ve got Erbao here about to make a confession on my

    behalf!

 Chapter 479

    Chapter 479

    Ouyang Qing didn¡¯t know how to respond to Erbao¡¯s confession as Nan Xing had never shown any

    signs of liking her when they shared a table before.

    Ignoring the awkward looks on their faces, Erbao continued with her acting.

    ¡°Qing, I¡¯ve fallen for you the moment I saw you. I like you as much as I like ice cream...¡±

    As she was still a child, Erbao didn¡¯t know what it was like for a guy to like a girl.

    All she knew was how much she liked ice cream, so she used that as her example.

    In fact, she liked ice cream so much that she found herself drooling a little when she mentioned it.

    Dabao was the only one who noticed her drooling and rolled his eyes at her.

    Good grief... Can¡¯t she at least finish the job before thinking about food?

    ¡°What are you saying, sweetie?¡± Ouyang Qing couldn¡¯t stand it anymore.

    Even Nan Xing found it unbearable. Me? Liking her the moment I saw her? Our families have been

    close friends for generations! We¡¯ve seen each other since we were babies! Am I really that much of a

    pervert that I¡¯d start liking women while I was still in my diapers? I get that Erbao¡¯s putting up an act,

    but this is taking it a little too far! My reputation is at stake here!

    ¡°I will still like you even if you don¡¯t like me! All I ask is that you understand my feelings for you!¡±

    Erbao tried her best to make herself look passionate when she said that, but she was too young to

    make it look convincing.

    After all, love wasn¡¯t something that could be expressed through bodynguage and facial expressions

    alone.

    It was incredibly difficult for a child to emte the feelings and emotions shown by a person in love, so

    it was rather impressive that she could do what she did.

    ¡°Bravo!¡± Dabao apuded, while Ouyang Qing felt so awkward that she could only stare nkly at

    Erbao.

    ¡°So that¡¯s what this is all about!¡± Ning Ran chuckled. ¡°Oh, my! Doesn¡¯t that make us the third wheel

    here?¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s not true! I don¡¯t...¡±

    Ouyang Qing was about to say something, but Ning Ran cut her off.

    ¡°Ms. Ouyang, given how much Nan Xing loves you, I think you should ept his confession!¡±

    ¡°I...¡±

    Ouyang Qing turned to look at Nan Xing, hoping for him to give an exnation.

    Unfortunately for her, Nan Xing had promised that he would help the kids out.

    Dabao had told him that he simply needed to court her and that it didn¡¯t matter if he seeded in

    winning her over or not.

    ording to Dabao, Nan Chen would no longer have any reason to consider Ouyang Qing if he knew

    his brother liked her.

    Little did he know, Nan Chen had never even considered Ouyang Qing to begin with.

    ¡°I think this is great! We¡¯ll all be much closer to each other from now on! You can do it, Nan Xing!¡± Ning

    Ran was delighted.

    She had a feeling that Dabao and Erbao were up to something, but she didn¡¯t know what it was until

    then.

    Amazing! Simply amazing! Ning Ran chuckled as she thought to herself.

    ¡°I still got some business to attend to, so I¡¯ll have to excuse myself now. Enjoy the rest of your dinner.¡±

    Ouyang Qing stood up.

    ¡°Leaving already? Aren¡¯t you going to finish your food first?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°No, I really have to get going.¡± Ouyang Qing shed an awkward smile and left.

    ¡°Uncle Xing, you should go after her! This is such a great opportunity!¡± Dabao told Nan Xing who was

    still in his seat.

    ¡°I...¡± Nan Xing had an ufortable look on his face.

    ¡°You¡¯re not backing out now, are you?¡± Dabao threatened.

    ¡°O-Okay...¡± Nan Xing shook his head helplessly and went after Ouyang Qing.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    With only the four of them remaining inside, the private room fell silent all of a sudden.

    ¡°What are you guys doing?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I...¡± Erbao looked at Dabao nervously.

    ¡°We¡¯re helping Uncle Xing with his confession. He told us that he likes Ms. Qing but he was too shy to

    tell her in person, so he wanted us to do it for him.¡± Dabao said calmly.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Nan Chen eyed them suspiciously.

    ¡°Of course! Why, does it bother you?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    Nan Chen¡¯s expression grew cold. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°Nothing at all! In fact, I should be asking you the same thing. What¡¯s the matter? You feel threatened

    or something?¡± Ning Ran said with a chuckle.

    ¡°Nonsense! Why would I feel threatened?¡±

    ¡°Then why are you so angry?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not! I just want to know what happened!¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? Nan Xing likes Ouyang Qing, but he¡¯s too shy to confess, so he had Erbao help him

    with it.¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Yeah! That¡¯s right!¡± Erbao nodded profusely.

    ¡°As if Nan Xing would ever be too shy to tell a woman he likes her! Do you have any idea how many

    girlfriends he¡¯s had?¡± Nan Chen frowned.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t. Why would I?¡± Ning Ran shot back at him.

    ¡°He¡¯s had a ton of girlfriends and is a well-known yboy in Flower City. You really think he¡¯d be one to

    shy away from a confession?¡±

    Of course, Ning Ran was well aware of everything Nan Chen had told her.

    Nan Xing was so shameless that even she wouldn¡¯t have believed it either, but she had to y along

    as that was exactly what Dabao and Erbao were trying to aplish.

    ¡°Are you trying to deny that possibility for your own benefit?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not! What does this have to do with me? Exin yourself!¡± Nan Chen was getting angry.

    ¡°Ms. Qing likes you, and Uncle Xing likes Ms. Qing. Are you worried that Ms. Qing won¡¯t like you

    anymore, Daddy?¡± Erbao asked suddenly.

    ¡°What nonsense are you kids on about?¡± Nan Chen raised his voice.

    He wasn¡¯t nning on losing his temper on Erbao, but this usation was simply too serious for him to

    ignore.

    Erbao lowered her head immediately.

    ¡°Why are you yelling at the kids for? They¡¯re just being honest here! What, are we not allowed to do

    that now? Are you afraid of admitting to what you did?¡± Ning Ran shouted angrily.

    ¡°And what is it that I¡¯ve done?¡± Nan Chen shouted back at her.

    ¡°Daddy, Mommy, stop fighting! Daddy, why are you fighting with Mommy if this has nothing to do with

    you?¡± Dabao tried to defuse the situation.

    The three of them had Nan Chen against a corner, and he didn¡¯t really know what to say anymore.

    ¡°We¡¯re not fighting, we¡¯re having a discussion. Be honest with me, is this your doing?¡± Nan Chen

    questioned.

    ¡°We¡¯re just kids, Daddy! We don¡¯t know anything, so how could we n something like this?¡± Erbao

    protested helplessly.

    ¡°But you two are always full of funny ideas!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you yell at my kids! If you¡¯re not happy about it, you can go after her and have Nan Xing stay

    instead!¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°You...¡± Nan Chen was speechless from anger.

    ¡°Go after her, Daddy! I¡¯m sure Uncle Xing will back off if you do!¡± Erbao chimed in as well.

    ¡°Any more nonsense from you lot and you¡¯ll be paying the bill!¡±

    Nan Chen had no choice but to resort to this, which was effective as it shut Ning Ran up immediately.

 Chapter 480

    Chapter 480

    The first thing Ouyang Qing did when she arrived at the Orchid Club was smashed Ouyang Duo¡¯s wine

    ss on the floor.

    Her actions shocked both Ouyang Duo and Feng Jialing as she rarely threw tantrums like this.

    What happened to her? Why is she so mad?

    ¡°What are you doing, Qing? This isn¡¯t like you!¡± Ouyang Duo shouted at her.

    ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m so pissed! She¡¯s just a small-time actress! How dare she humiliate me like this?¡± Ouyang

    Qing was fuming.

    ¡°What happened? Did Ding Mi bully you again? What did she do this time?¡± Feng Jialing asked.

    ¡°She got her kids to confess to me on behalf of Nan Xing! She knows I like Nan Chen, so she did that

    to embarrass me!¡± Ouyang Qing said angrily.

    Ouyang Duo and Feng Jialing exchanged nces, confused by how bizarre her exnation sounded.

    How could the kids confess to her on behalf of Nan Xing? That just sounds absurd!

    They didn¡¯t dare ask her anything further as she was in a bad mood, but it was clear that she had been

    bullied.

    ¡°I thought you were having dinner with Nan Chen? Why was she there too?¡±

    ¡°How on earth would I know? Dad, you have to do something about Ding Mi! Make her leave Nan Chen

    for good! I don¡¯t wanna see her ever again!¡± Ouyang Qing pleaded.

    Ouyang Duo felt helpless in that situation too. ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you¡¯ve been doing the whole time? Why

    haven¡¯t you seeded? How could my daughter let a small-time actress bully her for so long? Are you

    seriously asking me to personally deal with a nobody?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all because of Ouyang Qi! Not only does he not help me, but he also even took her side and gave

    her plenty of support! This is ridiculous!¡±

    Ouyang Qing got even angrier at the mention of Ouyang Qi.

    He¡¯s my brother, and yet he¡¯s helping that woman instead!

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell him to help you out? What did he do this time?¡±

    ¡°Help me out? All he did was help them bully me! I couldn¡¯t even find him, so I don¡¯t know where he

    was the whole time!¡±

    Ouyang Duo motioned for his daughter to calm down. ¡°What do you n on doing now? We live in a

    lawful society, so it¡¯d be too risky to have someone kill her off. Remember, she has blessed the Nan

    family with two kids! If we kill her, they¡¯de after us for sure! We must be cautious with what we do!¡±

    He was still somewhat afraid after his previous encounter with Nan Chen.

    ¡°So what, do I just sit by and let her bully me? She¡¯s rising to fame now that her show is trending, and

    it¡¯ll be even more difficult to take her out once she bes a huge star! Also, I¡¯ve received word that

    they¡¯ll start shooting her new movie soon. Nan Chen is definitely trying to make her a superstar!¡±

    Ouyang Qing grew increasingly agitated as she spoke.

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you involved in the investment of the new film? Why is she still being given the lead role?¡±

    Ouyang Duo asked.

    ¡°I tried to frame her for leaking the script, but her kids saw through my ns. While I may be an

    investor, Nan Chen is the lead investor. On top of that, she¡¯s the contracted artiste of Star

    Entertainment, so it¡¯s only natural that he¡¯d give her the lead role.¡±

    ¡°How do you n to stop her from starring in this film?¡± Feng Jialing interrupted.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care! She mustn¡¯t be allowed to star in the film! I want her to leave even if she makes it into the

    production team!¡± Ouyang Qing¡¯s tone was filled with hatred.

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran and the others had returned to their vi in Red Maple City after a sumptuous

    meal.

    Erbao was in a great mood and hummed a tune as she went upstairs.

    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    She loved how fun it was to steal the spotlight and anger Ouyang Qing, especially since it was helpful

    to her mother.

    After bathing the kids, Ning Ran cleaned herself up and went to the study room.

    To her surprise, Nan Chen wasn¡¯t in there.

    She went over to the window and saw him swimming in the pool.

    Whoa... He¡¯s swimming at night during early winter?

    Ning Ran was in a great mood too after getting back at Ouyang Qing.

    She used to think Ouyang Qing was polite and generous but realized how pretentious the other woman

    was after getting to know her.

    Although Ouyang Qing had cleared her name regarding the leaked script, Ning Ran knew she was

    definitely trying to frame her for it.

    That was especially the case due to Ouyang Qing¡¯s increasingly obvious efforts at winning Nan Chen

    over.

    Ning Ran grabbed a bottle of wine from the rack and went downstairs with two sses in hand.

    A sudden st of cold wind hit her as soon as she stepped outside, and she buttoned up her shirt

    cor in response.

    What is she up to now? Does she n on having a drink to celebrate her victory tonight? Nan Chen

    wondered as he saw her approaching with a bottle of wine.

    ¡°Hey, stop swimming! You¡¯ll catch a cold!¡± Ning Ran called out to him.

    Nan Chen swam towards her and stood up in the shallow end of the pool, revealing his muscr upper

    body. ¡°What do you want?¡±

    ¡°What do you think? I came here to tell you to stop swimming! It¡¯s cold out here!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the wine bottle for, then?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°You love swimming after drinking, don¡¯t you? I thought I¡¯d have a drink with you.¡± Ning Ran said with a

    chuckle.

    Nan Chen could tell why she was in such a good mood. This woman sure is a cunning one! She

    must¡¯ve nned all that with the kids!

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you the one who said I shouldn¡¯t swim after drinking? Are you trying to murder your husband

    here?¡±

    Ning Ran froze. Wait... Murder my husband? Who¡¯s my husband?

    ¡°How are you my husband, Sir Chen?¡± Ning Ranughed.

    Nan Chen¡¯s expression grew cold. ¡°Are you implying that you have another man as your husband?¡±

    It took Ning Ran a moment to recollect herself.

    ¡°Look, I just thought I¡¯d have a drink with you because I¡¯m in a good mood, okay? You could¡¯ve just

    said no if you didn¡¯t want to. That insult was unnecessary! I¡¯m leaving!¡±

    Ning Ran turned around and began walking up the stairs as her mood was ruined.

    ¡°Hold it right there.¡± Nan Chen said as he got out from the pool and began walking towards her.

    ¡°What, are you gonna take me by force now?¡±

    ¡°I might not be interested even if you wanted me to. Now, wipe me dry.¡± Nan Chen handed her a towel.

    Ning Ran waved the wine bottle and ss at him and motioned for him to do it himself.

    ¡°Put those down and wipe me dry. I¡¯ll tell you a secret if you do.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°A secret?¡± Ning Ran let her curiosity get the better of her.

    ¡°Yes, a secret.¡± Nan Chen nodded.

    Ning Ran put the bottle and ss down on the table next to them upon hearing that. She then took the

    towel over and began wiping him dry as requested.

 Chapter 481

    Chapter 481

    Nan Chen began walking up the stairs after she was done wiping him.

    ¡°Hey! Stop!¡± Ning Ran shouted at him, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you¡¯re going to tell me a secret?¡±

    ¡°What secret?¡± Nan Chen asked without even looking back at her.

    ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb with me! You said you were going to tell me a secret! How would I know what that

    secret is?¡±

    Ning Ran after him, but he simply ignored her and went into the bathroom. After taking a shower and

    drying his hair, he came out dressed in a robe, only to find Ning Ran standing in the doorway.

    It seemed like she had a lot to drink as her face was red, and she was still holding a ss of wine in

    her hand.

    ¡°You seem to be in a good mood.¡± Nan Chen shot her a nce as he walked past her.

    ¡°You could say that, but I¡¯d be in a much better mood if you¡¯d tell me that secret of yours!¡± Ning Ran

    said with a smile.

    ¡°What secret do you want to know?¡±

    Nan Chen poured himself a ss of wine, clinked sses with her, and took a sip.

    ¡°How would I know what that secret is? You¡¯re the one who said you had a secret!¡±

    ¡°I did?¡±

    ¡°Yes, when you were downstairs by the pool.¡±

    Nan Chen gave it some thought and shook his head. ¡°I forgot.¡±

    Ning Ran almost yelled at him in frustration. You forgot? Bullsh*t!

    ¡°Forget it, I know you¡¯re just toying with me anyway! I heard that the new film will begin shooting soon.

    Thank you so much for that, Nan Chen! I wouldn¡¯t have been able to make it this far without your help!

    Here¡¯s to you, cheers!¡± Ning Ran raised her ss at him.

    Nan Chen froze, thinking he had misheard her.

    Is she actually being polite with me and thanking me?

    ¡°Say that again.¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Say that again.¡±

    ¡°Did I say something wrong or something? I was just being honest with you! Are you that much of a

    masochist that you only hear insults from me?¡±

    ¡°Repeat what you just said.¡± Nan Chen insisted.

    He only nodded in satisfaction after she did as told. ¡°All right, I heard you loud and clear.¡±

    ¡°Is the great Sir Chen suffering from hearing impairments? How did you not hear that?¡±

    Nan Chen ignored her insults and strolled over to the balcony to look at the night sky.

    Ning Ran walked up to him and looked out the window as well, but all she saw was a pitch-ck sky.

    ¡°The Nan family and Ouyang family have been close friends for generations.¡± Nan Chen said all of a

    sudden.

    Ning Ran tensed up a little. Why is he bringing that up now?

    ¡°As you know, both our families have a huge influence in this province. We work together andpete

    with each other at the same time. Despite the friendly facade we maintain in public, there are a lot of

    conflicts going on internally. Ouyang Duo isn¡¯t content with staying in Pearl City. He wants to have

    Sunshine Corporation¡¯s headquarters based in Flower City and be at the top of the food chain here.

    Because of my young age, he underestimates my capabilities and doesn¡¯t see me as a threat at all. He

    waited a long time for me to make a mistake, but I never did. Eventually, his patience wore out, and he

    slipped up instead. I took advantage of that opportunity and made a huge amount of money out of him,

    so he¡¯s been holding a grudge against me ever since.¡± Nan Chen stopped there.

    Ning Ran figured he must have told her all that for a reason and waited for him to continue, but he

    didn¡¯t.

    ¡°That¡¯s the secret I was going to tell you.¡± Nan Chen added casually.

    Ning Ran felt like he was toying with her, but doubted it at the same time as he had told her a lot.

    ¡°You call that a secret?¡± Ning Ran frowned.

    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s a big secret.¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°But what does that have to do with me?¡±

    ¡°I said I¡¯d tell you a secret. I didn¡¯t say it has anything to do with you.¡± Nan Chen poured himself

    another ss of wine.

    Ning Ran nodded. ¡°Fair enough, I guess. Thank you for letting me in on this secret, then.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t think it¡¯s a secret? Everyone thinks the Nan family and the Ouyang family are going to unite

    and form a highly profitable partnership, but that¡¯s not the case. The two families will eventually have a

    showdown, and things are going to get ugly. All Ouyang Duo wants is to acquire everything the Nan

    family owns and dominate this province, and you¡¯re the only one who knows about that. Still think that

    it¡¯s not a big secret?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran figured it was indeed a secret that he had been dying to get off his chest.

    ¡°And you have never told anyone about this?¡±

    ¡°Nope, you¡¯re the first.¡±

    ¡°Why¡¯d you tell me, then?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I just felt like it, I guess.¡± Nan Chen kept his reply short and simple.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you marry Ouyang Qing? The two families would then be inws, and you could put an end

    to the conflict!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re so stupid.¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°What the hell is your problem? Why do you have to insult me like that? You were being nice just a

    moment ago!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not insulting you. I¡¯m just stating the facts, and you are stupid.¡± Nan Chen frowned.

    ¡°Okay, how so?¡±

    ¡°After all I¡¯ve told you, you should understand why Ouyang Qing wants to marry into the Nan family. On

    top of that, you should also understand why Ouyang Duo supports that decision of hers. Given what

    you¡¯ve just said, ¡®stupid¡¯ is the only word that I can describe you with.¡± Nan Chen shot her a disdainful

    look.

    Ning Ran was confused by what he said and took quite a while to figure out what he meant.

    ¡°Oh, I get it! You mean it¡¯s a part of Ouyang Duo¡¯s ns to have Ouyang Qing marry into the Nan

    family! That way, he¡¯ll be able to eventually acquire everything the Nan family owns! That¡¯s what makes

    it a big secret!¡± Ning Ran eximed.

    ¡°You finally got it.¡±

    ¡°But why would he want that? If you be his son-inw, the two families will be one!¡± Ning

    Ran was still somewhat confused.

    ¡°How childish... The two families will always remain two separate entities no matter what, and Ouyang

    Duo will make use of Ouyang Qing¡¯s influence in the Nan family to get what he wants.¡± Nan Chen

    exined.

    ¡°So... What are you trying to say?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re asking me that after everything I¡¯ve said?¡± Nan Chen was getting annoyed.

    ¡°You won¡¯t marry Ouyang Qing because you¡¯ve noticed that it¡¯s a part of Ouyang Duo¡¯s ns, right?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s hard to say. It could just be me overthinking things, as I don¡¯t have any solid evidence to

    confirm my theory.¡±

    Ning Ran was at a loss for words.

    I thought he was reassuring me that he wouldn¡¯t marry Ouyang Qing, but now he¡¯s taken it back... I

    don¡¯t understand him at all... Well, then again, he wouldn¡¯t be the great Sir Chen if he were easily

    understood! Still, things sure areplicated in wealthy families! Who would¡¯ve known that there were

    so many conflicts and conspiracies beneath the friendly facade? It must be rough on him, having to

    keep so many secrets to himself when he hardly talks at all!

    ¡°Regardless, I¡¯m always on your side!¡± Ning Ran said while clenching her fist.

    ¡°Even if it means supporting my decision to marry Ouyang Qing?¡± Nan Chen stared intently at her.

    Ning Ran found herself at a loss for words once again.

    ¡°We¡¯ll talk about that when the timees. It¡¯ste, I¡¯m going to bed.¡± She ced the ss down and

    went off to brush her teeth.

 Chapter 483

    Chapter 483

    It was past midnight when the video conference between Nan Chen and the team in the Middle East

    was over.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, something¡¯s up again.¡± Jiang Zhe was running toward Nan Chen as he said that.

    ¡°Get straight to the point,¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°Ms. Ding has been taken away by the police.¡±

    Nan Chen stopped in his tracks abruptly. ¡°For what?¡±

    ¡°The police received a drug abuse report so they¡¯ve set up roadblocks for inspection and a banned

    substance ¡ª MDMA was found in Ms. Ding¡¯s purse.¡±

    ¡°MDMA?¡±

    ¡°Moremonly known as Ecstasy or Molly, it¡¯s a kind of recreational drug.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go to the police station.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Sir,¡± Jiang Zhe replied.

    In the elevator, Jiang Zhe¡¯s phone was ringing again.

    ¡°It¡¯s from Qiao Zhan,¡± Jiang Zhe said.

    Nan Chen took the call.

    ¡°Haven¡¯t I told you to arrange for protection? What have you been doing?¡± Nan Chen¡¯s tone was chilled

    to the bone.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve done that but it was a sudden incident and we...¡±

    ¡°Get someone to bail her out right away.¡± Nan Chen cut him off curtly.

    ¡°I¡¯m already on it...¡±

    Nan Chen hung up the call.

    Jiang Zhe could sense that Nan Chen was enraged so he just kept quiet.

    ¡°Send me the guest list for the dinner event tonight,¡± Nan Chen told Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°I¡¯ve asked around and almost everyone from all the departments of the production team was

    present...¡±

    ¡°I know there were many of them but a name list could at least be sorted out, right?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ll get someone to send it soon.¡±

    As soon as Jiang Zhe finished his sentence, his received another call from Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Hello?¡± Picking up the call, Jiang Zhe also turned the speaker mode on.

    ¡°Please put Sir Chen on.¡±

    ¡°Just speak!¡± Nan Chen uttered.

    ¡°Sir Chen, we were halfway through bailing Young Mistress out but it was overridden suddenly. The

    reason they gave was Young Mistress¡¯ identity as a public figure could cause a rather negative impact

    to the public so she has to be remanded.¡±

    ¡°Where are your connections and ties? Why can¡¯t you even handle such a minor case?¡± Nan Chen was

    irritated.

    Even though Qiao Zhan was a captain of the Nan family¡¯s security team, he had vast influence. The

    few big shots in Flower City¡¯s police force were all his friends.

    That was why Nan Chen was of the opinion that Qiao Zhan could solve the problem speedily on his

    own but to his surprise, even he was hampered.

    ¡°I would take care of this; I¡¯m only giving Sir Chen an update.¡±

    ¡°Report to me only after you¡¯ve cleared it up.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Sir Chen.¡±

    Lounging in his seat, Nan Chen shut his eyes slowly.

    They arrived at the police station soon after. However, after parking, Nan Chen did not get out of the

    car.

    ¡°Please rest here for a moment while I go take a look. It¡¯s a trifle and it¡¯s best that Sir doesn¡¯t get

    involved in this and bes the subject of gossip,¡± said Jiang Zhe.

    Nan Chen did not answer.

    He was of the same mind as Jiang Zhe. His appearance at the police station might be utilized by those

    with ill intentions to create unnecessary scandals to tarnish the reputation of Nanshi Corporation.

    The usual approach in handling such an incident was for Nan Chen to stay away from Ning Ran

    because she had been involved in a drug abuse case.

    Regardless of the truth, Ning Ran was in the thick of the storm and it was risky to be associated with

    her now.

    At that point in time, most artists would have disengaged themselves from Ning Ran, not to mention a

    big wheel like Nan Chen.

    After a while, Nan Chen took a nce at his watch. Ten minutes had passed.

    He couldn¡¯t wait anymore so he left the car and strode toward the police station.

    He was confident that in a small ce like Flower City, no one could stop him from bailing Ning Ran

    out.

    Just then, Jiang Zhe was walking out of the police station.

    He quickly paced toward Nan Chen. ¡°Sir Chen, it¡¯s all been done; there¡¯s no need for you to go in. Let¡¯s

    get in the car; it¡¯s wintry out here.¡±

    Wintry was not his actual concern. What really worried Jiang Zhe was the possibility of someone

    seeing Nan Chen out there.

    He turned up at the police station at this hour and bailing out an actress who was involved in drug

    abuse.

    If it came out in the news, the stock prices of the few listedpanies under Nanshi Corporation would

    definitely plunge and losses could amount to at least five billion.

    By then, the city would be hyped with tattles that the Young Master of the Nan family was a dissolute

    womanizer who was frivolous and heedless about the corporation¡¯s interest.

    As the most important adviser and strategist of Nan Chen, Jiang Zhe had to be extraordinarily

    perceptive and always had the big picture and vision in mind.

    He had to do his very best to stand in the way whenever Sir Chen might go the wrong direction.

    Even if it meant running through a brick wall, he had to brace himself for it.

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    Nan Chen shot daggers at Jiang Zhe. His re was heartless, as though he could kill someone any

    second then.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Ding would be released for sure. If she isn¡¯t, I¡¯d go in and get myself locked up as

    well,¡± Jiang Zhe said, putting his foot down.

    ¡°If she doesn¡¯t get released, you and Qiao Zhan better be locked up inside,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    Right! This should be Big Qiao¡¯s job. Why am I involving myself in it for nothing?

    Thankfully, Ning Ran came out within a few minutes.

    Seeing Nan Chen¡¯s car, she rushed over to him.

    However, after taking just a few steps, she stumbled and fell.

    With a frown, Nan Chen got off the car and walked toward Ning Ran.

    Before she could get to her feet, a cheeky n popped up in her mind ¡ª she wanted the man to help

    her up.

    Simply put, she was about to test whether the man woulde and help pick her up.

    She had no idea why this thought urred to her out of the blue but she just wanted to give it a go.

    It was intentional of Ning Ran to stay put on the spot but to Nan Chen who thought she was severely

    injured, it was worrisome.

    Rushing forward, Nan Chen stretched his arms and scooped her up.

    Ning Ran was delighted at the sess of her little mischief.

    Failing to mask her expression, Ning Ran¡¯s lips curled into a cheerful grin which was quickly noticed by

    Nan Chen.

    ¡°How can you still smile so brightly? Which part of being in remand did you find gratifying; the meal or

    the lockup?¡± Nan Chen asked apathetically.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t smile.¡± Ning Ran quickly kept a straight face.

    ¡°Sir Chen, Ms. Ding, please get in the car quickly; there¡¯s no time to waste.¡± Jiang Zhe approached and

    reminded them.

    He was still concerned with the risk of them being seen and filmed at the police station.

    Following that, Qiao Zhan rushed out and said, ¡°Sir Chen, the matter has been resolved but Ms. Ding

    cannot leave Flower City for the time being as the incident is still under investigation and the drug test

    report would only be ready by tomorrow. In the meantime, it¡¯s best for Ms. Ding to stay at home and I¡¯ll

    take care of the rest of the problem.¡±

    ¡°Why wasn¡¯t she allowed to be bailed? Who was behind it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a call from someone of the top rung. The officers in charge are not a local as well,¡± replied Qiao

    Zhan.

    ¡°Officers from outside setting up roadblocks in Flower City for drug abuse investigation?¡± Nan Chen¡¯s

    face turned gloomy.

    ¡°They were tracking a gang that had fled to the city so they¡¯ve sought cooperation from the police of

    Flower City. The details were ssified so I¡¯m not too sure either,¡± Qiao Zhan answered carefully.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Nan Chen got in the car; so did Ning Ran who then sat next to him.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen those pills; neither have I taken any. I didn¡¯t even know what they are,¡± Ning Ran tried

    to exin herself.

    ¡°Then why were they in your purse?¡±

    ¡°I have no idea at all. I was also shocked when the police took them out.¡±

    ¡°How much alcohol have you consumed that you weren¡¯t even aware of people sneaking drugs into

    your purse?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a lot! Really. I¡¯ve been restraining myself all night and Tang Jing has helped to make up

    excuses to stop me from drinking, so I really didn¡¯t drink much!¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t drink much? Then why do you smell like alcohol?¡±

    ¡°I have mild alcohol intolerance so there¡¯s always an alcoholic odor within me after drinking and I might

    have spilled some wine on my clothes but I swear I didn¡¯t drink much.¡±

    ¡°Well then, when do you think the drugs were snuck into your purse?¡±

 Chapter 484

    Chapter 484

    Ning Ran was befuddled. She couldn¡¯t answer that.

    If she knew who had snuck the pills into her purse, she would have told the police.

    As soon as Nan Chen asked the question, he knew it was just a waste of time.

    If she knew that, she wouldn¡¯t have been taken to the police station.

    How could such an intelligent person like him ask this nonsensical question?

    The lunacy of this woman is contagious. You¡¯d be senseless too when you go near her!

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to answer me. I know you can¡¯t,¡± Nan Chen said that to save his own face.

    ¡°Then why did you even ask?¡± Ning Ran murmured.

    ¡°Moron,¡± Nan Chen muttered.

    ¡°How did I know that was going to happen? I have never encountered anything like this before,¡± Ning

    Ran mumbled again.

    Even though she was scolded by Nan Chen, Ning Ran knew very well that she would not have been

    released so soon if it wasn¡¯t for him. Therefore, she was very grateful to Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen went silent.

    ¡°Someone was setting me up but I¡¯m totally clueless as to who it might be. You¡¯re right. Frankly

    speaking, I¡¯m rather stupid. I don¡¯t know anything,¡± Ning Ran said softly.

    Nan Chen remained quiet.

    His heart wavered a little when she said that.

    It¡¯s hard to guard against being framed; even a wise man might not be able to avoid it.

    Hence, she should not be med for this incident.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry now, you will be fine,¡± Nan Chen replied briefly.

    ¡°Mmm, I know I¡¯ll be fine with you around,¡± Ning Ran responded.

    Looking out the window, Nan Chen was silent again.

    The next day, Ning Ran appeared on the trending topics again.

    This time, it was not due to her being associated with someone popr but because of the sensational

    news which got her into the top three of the trending topics.

    Hit Series¡¯ Female Lead Detained for Drug Abuse; Drug Test Result: Positive

    Ning Ran was called again to stop all her works at thepany and wait for further instructions.

    Every year, there had been scandals of celebrities involved in drug offenses which were abhorred by

    the public.

    While these celebrities harnessed a great deal of social resources and received inconceivably high

    ie, loathsome and reprehensible deeds had beenmitted in private. Therefore, it was only fair

    and reasonable for such news to spark public outrage.

    Due to the positive drug screening result, Ning Ran was detained by the police again.

    Nan Chen was upied and had no time for real-time updates on social media. It was already noon

    when he found out about it.

    Qiao Zhan had been waiting for a long time to report the issue to Nan Chen after his meeting.

    Nan Chen had told him to report only after resolving the issue. However, the issue had gone out of

    hand now so he had no other options but to update Nan Chen about it.

    Nan Chen knew at once that the issue had worsened when he saw Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°The drug test result is positive?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve heard about it?¡±

    ¡°No, I reckon so,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    ¡°Ms. Ding was detained by the police again and I¡¯ve contacted every connection avable but orders

    have been passed down from above to deny bail.¡±

    Qiao Zhan was unable to settle the problem so he slouched and was embarrassed to face Nan Chen.

    ¡°Above? Which above?¡± Nan Chen was perplexed.

    ¡°The above where my connection could not reach,¡± Qiao Zhan grimaced.

    ¡°Well, unreachable it is then,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°No, no, I¡¯m still working on it.¡± Qiao Zhan became very disconcerted at the thought that Nan Chen was

    dissatisfied with his ipetence.

    ¡°Just leave it for the moment,¡± Nan Chen muttered again.

    ¡°I¡¯m looking for my exrades. They have higher-ranked connections which might hold out...¡± Qiao

    Zhan was even more panicked upon hearing that.

    ¡°I told you. Let her stay inside for the moment. Don¡¯t worry about bailing her immediately for now,¡± Nan

    Chen made it clearer.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Nan Chen looked at Jiang Zhe, signaling him to exin.

    Jiang Zhe gave Qiao Zhan a contemptuous look. ¡°Even this is unfathomable for you? Captain Qiao

    should get yourself to more reading.¡±

    ¡°What has it got to do with reading? Don¡¯t f*cking go over the top!¡± Needless to say, Qiao Zhan was

    defiant.

    Nan Chen red at Jiang Zhe.

    Jiang Zhe knew that his boss was having a bad day so he went straight to the point immediately. ¡°Now

    that the police have got hold of the evidence, we¡¯ll have to wait and see how the case unfolds. Getting

    Ms. Ding out recklessly would only put us at risk. Of course, the crook behind this knew very well that

    Ms. Ding is backed by Sir Chen, hence, it¡¯s very difficult to discern whether this plot was directed at Sir

    Chen or Ms. Ding. But one thing is certain, some big shot is involved. Since we have big yers in the

    game now, it will not be child¡¯s y anymore, nor can it be puzzled out with usual approaches. Hence,

    we can¡¯t rush it now. We need detailed observation, thorough investigation, and a game-changing n

    to turn things around. Do you follow, Captain Qiao?¡±

    Jiang Zhe looked at Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Of course I do, but we can¡¯t let Ms. Ding suffer inside,¡± Qiao Zhan replied.

    ¡°That¡¯s where youe in, Captain Qiao. Even though you can¡¯t reach the big shots above, the

    connection it takes to make sure that Ms. Ding doesn¡¯t have a hard time inside is reachable for you,

    isn¡¯t it?¡± asked Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°So, what you¡¯re saying is, we don¡¯t need to worry about bailing Ms. Ding out at once and just let her

    stay in custody, but her safety and wellbeing have to be assured, right?¡±

    ¡°Captain Qiao starts thinking, how unusual is this!¡± Jiang Zhe seized the opportunity to ridicule him.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t Assistant Jiang go handle it if you¡¯re so capable?¡± Qiao Zhan retorted.

    ¡°Is Captain Qiao questioning my ability?¡± Jiang Zhe asked.

    ¡°Prove it then.¡±

    Jiang Zhe knew full well that he was unable to handle this even though he had a higher education

    qualification and coulde up with better strategies than Qiao Zhan. However, there were things that

    could be done by Qiao Zhan which he couldn¡¯t.

    ¡°Enough, get back to your respective task,¡± hollered Nan Chen.

    The two man shut their mouths altogether.

    ¡°This is the guest list for the dinner eventst night.¡± Qiao Zhan handed a piece of paper to Nan Chen.

    ¡°They¡¯re all here?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Have you checked the CCTV at the scene?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°No. The surveince footage had been duplicated and taken away by the police while the original

    footage was deleted,¡± answered Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t manage to get ahead of them?¡± Nan Chen¡¯s tone turned frosty.

    Opening his mouth, Qiao Zhan was unsure if he should give an exnation for it.

    ¡°He was upied with bailing Ms. Ding out yesterday so the police have overtaken,¡± Jiang Zhe lent

    Qiao Zhan a hand in exining the matter.

    Qiao Zhan gave Jiang Zhe a look. This jack*ss actually speaks for me. What a surprise!

    ¡°I¡¯m not helping you. I¡¯m only telling the truth,¡± Jiang Zhe said.

    ¡°Do I need you to tell me the truth?¡± Nan Chen asked dispassionately.

    Jiang Zhe went silent instantly.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. I can tell the truth myself.¡± Qiao Zhan gave Jiang Zhe another blow.

    This rascal can only be killed and not saved. He has immediately turned against me.

    ¡°Go retrieve the deleted footage,¡± Nan Chen told Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid this might be a little tricky. Can you really retrieve a deleted file?¡±

    ¡°You have two options, one is you can request for a duplicate from the police; the second one is to

    retrieve the original footage. I don¡¯t care which one you opt for so long as I see the footage,¡± Nan Chen

    answered.

    ¡°Yes, Sir,¡± Qiao Zhan could only promise since there was no other way.

    ¡°You can seek help,¡± Nan Chen added.

    ¡°From whom? Can Sir Chen rmend any expert in the field? Of all the people I know, none is

    skillful in this area,¡± Qiao Zhan muttered.

    ¡°My son can do it,¡± Nan Chen dered proudly.

    Realization dawned on Qiao Zhan. ¡°Oh right, Little Master is an expert in this terrain. How could I forget

    that? I¡¯ll get to it immediately.¡±

 Chapter 485

    Chapter 485

    Twenty-four hours had passed since Ning Ran was brought in.

    At first, it didn¡¯t matter for Ning Ran because she had also been detained herest time and she

    managed to leave within a while.

    Therefore, she assumed it would be the same this time around because Nan Chen would definitely

    save her.

    Nevertheless, after half a day passed, she started to grow anxious.

    She missed her children. What are they doing now? Do they miss me?

    What about Nan Chen? What is he doing? Why isn¡¯t heing for me after such a long time?

    Has he forgotten about me?

    If he hasn¡¯t abandoned me, he wouldn¡¯t have let me stay here for so long with his influence and power.

    Humans had the tendency to overthink when they were in trouble. The more dubious they were, the

    more desperate they became.

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    In the meantime, they had to remind themselves from time to time to not give up on hope.

    For it was the only thing that could get them through thick and thin. Without hope, there would be

    nothing left.

    Just then, someone showed up. It was a policewoman who came to deliver food to her.

    The meal was actually fine. There were vegetables, eggs, and even fruits.

    But Ning Ran lost her appetite as her mind was preupied.

    Regardless, one had to eat even though she did not feel like it. Ning Ran took the meal tray and

    thanked her.

    This policewoman doesn¡¯t look familiar. She isn¡¯t the one who came to deliver the meal for thest two

    rounds.

    And she¡¯s even wearing a mask, maybe she¡¯s sick or it¡¯s because of other reasons.

    After delivering the food, the policewoman did not leave immediately, and instead, she stayed there

    and watched Ning Ran nibbling the food.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, I¡¯ve watched the drama you were cast in. It¡¯s amazing but why did you take drugs?¡±

    Another policewoman had asked her the same question but she was not the same person as this

    masked officer in front of her.

    Their voices and the ways they walked were totally different. Ning Ran could still distinguish that.

    ¡°I did not take drugs. I was framed,¡± replied Ning Ran.

    The policewoman shook her head. ¡°Everyone who is detained here said they were innocent. You know

    what? Your drug test result is positive; you¡¯ve taken the pills.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t. It must be the drinks I had. Something went wrong but I¡¯m still clueless.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Ding, what you¡¯re telling me right now is useless. You¡¯d be charged because the amount of the

    pills you carried with you that night was enough to get you sentenced.¡±

    ¡°I know it¡¯s a waste of time exining to you but trust me, someone would clear my name.¡±

    The policewoman went quiet.

    Seeing that she had nothing to say, Ning Ran kept quiet as well.

    ¡°I read from the inte that you have two children?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re imprisoned, it would be miserable for the kids,¡± the policewoman heaved a sigh.

    ¡°I won¡¯t because I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. Like I said, I was framed,¡± Ning Ran was insistent.

    ¡°But the evidence is clearly against you now. What happens next is only to go through the formalities

    and you would definitely go to jail.¡±

    ¡°How you do know? Are you the judge?¡± Ning Ran retorted.

    The policewoman was startled. ¡°Of course I¡¯m not; I was just reminding you.¡±

    ¡°Then in your opinion, what should I do now?¡± Ning Ran asked again.

    There was a flicker in the policewoman¡¯s eyes before she replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°No, I can feel that you have something to tell me. Can you show me a glimpse of the light?¡±

    ¡°What light can I show? Anyway, I happened to hear that you have a certain connection with the Nan

    family, is that true?¡± the policewoman asked.

    Since you¡¯ve already found out about my children, how can you not know that they¡¯re the descendants

    of the Nan family?

    Speaking so secretively, there must be something fishy about you!

    ¡°There is no connection between me and the Nan family,¡± Ning Ran answered.

    ¡°Is that so? But you were bailed out by the Nan familyst time.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that was probably because I am an artist from Star Entertainment, which happened to be a

    company under Nanshi Corporation.¡±

    ¡°Hmm... Then your case must have something to do with the Nan family. As the saying goes, ¡®whilst

    trees provide shade, they may also fall and kill.¡± Hence, it¡¯s a good thing to be backed by someone with

    a prominent background but you still need to analyze the situation carefully. If the tree turns brittle, it is

    only wise to stay away from it.¡±

    There were other implications in the policewoman¡¯s words. Ning Ran had roughly figured out what she

    meant.

    However, Ning Ran pretended as though she still didn¡¯t understand a thing because she wanted to see

    what the policewoman was up to.

    ¡°So should I draw a line between myself and this big tree, Nanshi Corporation now by terminating my

    contract with Star Entertainment?¡± Ning Ran was feigning ignorance.

    ¡°Terminating the contract won¡¯t work. That still wouldn¡¯t clear your name.¡±

    ¡°Then what should I do to prove my innocence? It¡¯s getting more and more confusing for me.¡±

    ¡°You can say that the pills belonged to someone else and you¡¯re only helping to keep them,¡± the

    policewoman replied.

    ¡°Then whose pills should I say they were?¡± Ning Ran¡¯s eyes were fixated on her.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you very close with Sir Chen from the Nan family? Just say that they were his.¡±

    Even though she had prepared herself mentally, she almost jumped upon hearing what the

    policewoman said.

    She¡¯s asking me to target Nan Chen so bluntly?

    Ning Ran forged augh and asked, ¡°You must be joking. I¡¯m sure you know the status of Nan Chen

    and his family in Flower City. If I say that, do you really think people would believe it?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re going to be put behind bars soon and you have the nerve tough? If the Nan family really

    cares about you, you¡¯d have been released. Since they¡¯ve abandoned you now, that means you¡¯d

    be a scarification to them. You should stop dreaming.¡±

    The policewoman had finally unveiled her real intention.

    ¡°Are you really a police?¡± Ning Ran suddenly asked.

    ¡°Of course I am.¡± The policewoman gestured her hat.

    ¡°Then why aren¡¯t you wearing the police uniform other than the hat?¡±

    ¡°I just came back from an undercover operation and haven¡¯t had the time to change yet.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re delivering food for me as soon as you¡¯re back from an operation? How tiring it must be for you.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. Anyway, let¡¯s get to the point. Now that the Nan family is leaving you alone here, you

    should save yourself.¡± The policewoman steered the conversation back.

    ¡°So the way for me to save myself is by involving Nan Chen in this?¡±

    ¡°Not involving him, but borrowing help from him.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°As you said, Nan Chen¡¯s status is prominent in Flower City. It¡¯s not like he would go to jail if you testify

    against him. Even if those pills did belong to him, with his capabilities, he would be able to escape

    effortlessly. Therefore, let him face this situation instead of you facing it alone. So long as you turn him

    in, you¡¯d be freed and you can then flee. As with how Nan Chen deals with it, that¡¯s his business. With

    the Nan family¡¯s influence, you don¡¯t need to worry if they could handle this.¡±

    The policewoman was eloquently patronizing her. It was unmistakable that she hade well

    prepared.

    There was only one thing ¡ª the logic behind this sounded clearly absurd. How could anyone be freed

    just by turning someone else in?

    If it were so simple, then all the suspects could have just been excused by using someone else of

    their own wrongdoings. What proof would still be needed?

    And if anyone could just walk free without any proof needed, then this world would have be a

    madhouse.

    This is such simple logic; but how could this policewoman standing across me not know?

    If she knew, then why did she say something so senseless?

    ¡°What is in your mind?¡± The policewoman asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°Nothing, please carry on with what you¡¯re going to say,¡± Ning Ran¡¯s wandering thought was pulled

    back in reality.

    ¡°I¡¯ve made myself very clear. You can get off the hook provided you testify against Nan Chen.¡±

    ¡°Who is going to guarantee that? You? You¡¯re wearing a freaking mask and I can¡¯t even see your face,

    not to mention knowing who you are. How can I trust you on this?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to know who I am. As long as you agree to this, I¡¯d get someone toe and take

    your statements. You only need to tell them that the pills belonged to Nan Chen and you¡¯re only helping

    him keep them, then you¡¯d be released.¡±

    Ning Ran drew a sharp breath. Who are these people, really? How daring they must be to try to frame

    Nan Chen!

 Chapter 486

    Chapter 486

    With the Nan family¡¯s status and influence in Flower City, they should have known full well that they

    won¡¯t be able to bring Nan Chen down, so why are they still asking me to defame him?

    Ning Ran could not get her head around it.

    Anyway, since they¡¯ve plotted it this way, there must be a reason.

    Ning Ran started evaluating the situation at hand and pondered how she should handle it.

    Of course I can¡¯t agree to her scheme to get Nan Chen entangled in this.

    Regardless of how Nan Chen had treated her, he was the children¡¯s father and their backbone when

    they faced the outside world.

    If Nan Chen were brought down, the children would lose their strongest pir.

    Put aside other stakes and interests and just on this basis alone, Ning Ran would never try to pull Nan

    Chen into this hot water.

    I am already in this pickle, if Nan Chen is also affected, what would happen to the children?

    However, looking at the current situation, if I don¡¯t agree, leaving aside the fact of whether I would be

    released, there might even be other risks waiting for me here.

    So I can¡¯t turn her down either. I can only contain her at this point.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    ¡°Do you agree or not?¡± The policewoman was starting to get impatient.

    ¡°I need some time to think,¡± Ning Ran answered with a frown.

    ¡°What is there to think? So long as you turn Nan Chen in, you¡¯d be able to flee. How good is that? What

    are you still considering?¡± asked the policewoman.

    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right but you know the Nan family¡¯s power as well. I have to think about the consequence.

    If I do as you suggested, and if Nan Chen seeks revenge on me in the future, I won¡¯t be able to get

    away! Also, how would I know if you¡¯re actually sent by the Nan family to set this trap for me?¡± Ning

    Ran looked at the policewoman as she uttered.

    ¡°Of course I¡¯m not sent by the Nan family. If I were, how could I ask you to use Nan Chen?¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re not sent by the Nan family, then who sent you here?¡± Ning Ran nced at her and asked.

    Again, something shed in the policewoman¡¯s eyes but not a word was spoken.

    ¡°Anyhow, I¡¯ve shown you the glimpse of light you asked for. Now it¡¯s up to you how you¡¯re going to

    decide.¡±

    ¡°Alright, let me consider about it,¡± Ning Ran glossed over it.

    The next day, Nan Chen was reading emails in his office when Jiang Zhe came in.

    ¡°There was a call from the kindergarten that Little Master was fighting with other kids but the matter has

    been settled. They were just calling to inform you...¡±

    ¡°Is he injured?¡± Jumping up from his chair, Nan Chen interrupted Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s just some trivial arguments between children. It¡¯s been resolved.¡±

    ¡°Get the car ready, we¡¯re going to the school.¡±

    ¡°But, Mr. Chen, there¡¯s still...¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Sure, Mr. Chen.¡±

    Ten minutester, Nan Chen had arrived at the kindergarten.

    The principal and the management team didn¡¯t know that Nan Chen wasing. They were almost

    scared to death when they found out that he was there.

    Without further ado, they quickly weed him. ¡°Sir Chen, Little Master and Little Miss are fine, don¡¯t

    worry...¡±

    ¡°Sorry for the trouble they caused,¡± Nan Chen nodded before replying.

    The principal was freaked out upon hearing that. Is Sir Chen angry?

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, we didn¡¯t do our job well...¡±

    Nan Chen waved his hand, gesturing to the principal that there was nothing to worry about.

    He hade as a parent and the apology he made just then was sincere.

    He knew very well that his status would bring great pressure to the school; hence, he said those words

    to relieve them from their stress and make it clear that he had note to question them.

    Nheless, he had never expected that his genuine words could cause extra pressure on the school.

    Just then, the two children had been brought to the principal¡¯s office.

    Dabao took a nce at Nan Chen timidly and called him, ¡°Daddy.¡±

    Nan Chen snorted. ¡°Apologize to your principal and teachers!¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. The kid is too young; there¡¯s really no need. It¡¯s mainly us; we didn¡¯t do our

    job well...¡±

    They thought Nan Chen was being sarcastic and ming them.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Dabao bowed at the principal and teachers.

    As he bent down, his backside hit Erbao who was hiding behind him.

    Erbao bowed instantly, too. ¡°We¡¯re sorry. We were wrong; please forgive us.¡±

    The principal and teachers were all frightened to the bone and quickly dissuade them. ¡°It¡¯s really not

    needed. You¡¯ve been unfairly treated. It¡¯s our fault for failing to educate the other kid well...¡±

    ¡°What did you do wrong?¡± Nan Chen asked in a cold tone.

    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t fight,¡± Dabao replied apprehensively.

    ¡°Then what should you do in the future?¡±

    ¡°We should never fight again in the future. It¡¯s wrong.¡± Erbao quickly added.

    ¡°Which kid did you fight with? Apologize to him.¡± Nan Chen was still dispassionate in his tone.

    ¡°No!¡±

    It was Dabao and Erbao protesting shoulder to shoulder. In other words, they had directly refused to

    obey Nan Chen¡¯s instructions.

    Nan Chen¡¯s face darkened immediately. ¡°Are you disobeying me?¡±

    ¡°It was him who bullied Erbao first and it was because of that I fought with him!¡±

    Dabao who had been lowering his head the whole time raised his head as he said that. His eyes were

    glowing with determination and he looked like an unyielding cub.

    His eyes, his posture and his attitude were all too familiar to Nan Chen. It was like looking at himself.

    ¡°The other kid has indeed misbehaved, we¡¯ve sorted it out so an apology is really not needed,¡± the

    principal quickly said.

    Nan Chen trusted Dabao as well. He was confident that his child was not the kind of person who would

    simply resort to violence.

    Protecting the younger sister is certainly the responsibility of an elder brother. Dabao was in fact right in

    this manner.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see how I shall punish you when we get home.¡± Nan Chen stood up.

    The principal understood at once. Nan Chen was taking the children home.

    ¡°Sir Chen, this matter is over. Please don¡¯t dwell on it anymore. The kids are still young and it¡¯s really

    not a very serious mistake,¡± the principal was still trying to advise him.

    ¡°Sorry for the trouble caused to you. I¡¯ll definitely discipline them,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°It¡¯s really a small matter, Sir Chen. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±

    Nan Chen left the school with his two children. The chauffeur opened the car door for the children and

    made sure they satfortably.

    Nan Chen was wearing a stern look all the while whereas Dabao and Erbao looked at each other and

    dared not make a sound.

    ¡°Daddy, we¡¯re sorry.¡±

    Erbao was the first to give in to the tension in the air and took the initiative to admit her mistake.

    ¡°Tell me, what are you apologizing for?¡±

    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t fight.¡±

    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you apologize to the other kid?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s because he did wrong first! He¡¯s mean!¡± Erbao was suddenly agitated again.

    ¡°What happened actually? How did he bully you?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°He talked bad about Mommy. He said that Mommy is evil and he said Mommy took drugs!¡± Erbao¡¯s

    reaction was still very aggressive when she said that.

    Nan Chen exhaled deeply. It was roughly what he had anticipated.

    He knew his children were not the type of persons who would resort to violence easily. There must

    have been some very significant reason.

    ¡°So you scolded him?¡±

    ¡°Yes! He talked bad about my Mommy, so I scolded him!¡± Erbao was eggy.

    ¡°And then?¡±

    ¡°And then he pulled my hair, and that¡¯s when Dabao came and pressed him against the floor and beat

    him! And after that, the teacher came,¡± Erbao described what had happened to Nan Chen.

    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to them. Those are all lies. Mommy will never take drugs,¡± Nan Chen stressed.

    ¡°Of course, Mommy is a good person; we all know it. So, if someone says Mommy is bad, then that

    person must be the real bad guy!¡± Erbao eximed.

    ¡°If you encounter such a situation again next time, just report to the teacher immediately. You should

    never raise your hand.¡±

    ¡°Understood, Daddy. But if Wang Xiaopang bullies me again in school tomorrow, what should I do? He

    is always aggressive!¡± Erbao asked rather worriedly.

    ¡°He won¡¯t.¡± A cruel glint shed across Nan Chen¡¯s eyes.

    A child can be ignorant but a grown-up should be rational. More often than not, what a child says

    comes from imitating the parents.

 Chapter 487

    Chapter 487

    Wang Shengli arrived shortly after Nan Chen left.

    The former was the President of Tianqiang Real Estate Development Co., Ltd, and he was among the

    top fifty in Flower City¡¯s local wealth list.

    Otherwise, his son, Wang Xiaopang, would not be in the same expensive school as Nan Chen¡¯s

    children and became their ssmate.

    Wang Shengli got out of his limited edition Cadic before storming towards the school furiously.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the principal? I wanna meet him now!¡± he demanded as soon as he entered.

    The principal and teachers had just heaved a sigh of relief after Nan Chen left and was about to

    resume their work when Wang Shengli barged right in.

    There were not many students in the school and those who had enrolled their children there were

    extremely wealthy. As such, all of the teachers were familiar with Wang Shengli.

    The principal could only put on a smile. ¡°Mr. Wang, to what do we owe this pleasure? We¡¯ve already

    handled your son¡¯s issue.¡±

    ¡°Is this how you do your job? My son is beaten and you didn¡¯t even send him to the hospital!¡± Wang

    Shengli scolded while pointing at the principal.

    Wang Shengli¡¯s attitude was different from Nan Chen¡¯s. When thetter came to the school earlier, the

    first thing he did was apologize. Wang Shengli, on the other hand, instantly scolded and cursed them,

    which made them dislike him.

    However, he was still the parent of their student no matter what, not to mention he was a wealthy man

    as well. The principal could only maintain his smile despite what he truly felt inside.

    ¡°It was only a small fight between the kids. Since there are no serious injuries, we didn¡¯t take him to the

    hospital. But we can do that right now if you insist.¡±

    ¡°Forget it! I¡¯ll do that myself now that I¡¯m already here. What I want you to do now is to expel that kid

    who hit my son!¡±

    His demand rendered them speechless as they exchanged gazes.

    ¡°Well? What are you waiting for? Didn¡¯t you hear me? I said expel that kid right this instant!¡± Wang

    Shengli roared.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t do that,¡± replied the principal.

    ¡°What? Why not? What¡¯s the kid¡¯s surname?¡± Wang Shengli raised his voice again.

    ¡°Ning.¡±

    That answer made Wang Shengli angrier as he had never heard the said surname among the wealthy

    circle in Flower City before.

    That just means that the kid¡¯s a nobody. All the more reason why he should get expelled! That¡¯s what

    you get for messing with my son!

    ¡°Then why can¡¯t you expel him?¡± Questioned Wang Shengli.

    ¡°Your son is the one who made the first move. He pulled a girl¡¯s hair and her brother got angry, so he

    attacked your son. Though he was hit several times, there were no serious injuries. The other parent

    had already let go of this issue, so why are you making a big deal out of it? It¡¯s normal for kids to fight

    every now and then. Our school will not survive to this day if the parents take everything seriously,¡±

    interjected a female teacher as she could not hold it in anymore. She was the one who had handled

    this issue.

    Wang Shengli scrutinized the teacher. ¡°You were there when it happened?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m the one who broke them apart. The other two are polite. All it needed was a shout from me

    and they stopped immediately. Your son, on the other hand, didn¡¯t know how to give up. I think you

    don¡¯t discipline him enough.¡±

    ¡°Oh. So you stood by and let my son be bullied? What kind of a teacher are you?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not true. In fact, I instantly stopped them. Your son was the one who bothered the little girl first.

    It¡¯s only natural that the girl¡¯s brother would protect her. Besides, your son¡¯s not exactly a scrawny kid,

    who would even dare to bully him? He¡¯s the one that always causes trouble, and we¡¯ve informed you

    about it before. But you always told us that you¡¯re busy and don¡¯t have time toe here. Now that

    someone had retaliated against him, you suddenly decided to show up and demand the kid be

    expelled? That¡¯s not how things work.¡±

    ¡°My, my. You teachers are obviously on the other kids¡¯ side. No wonder they dared bully my son. You

    must¡¯ve joined hands with them, didn¡¯t you? Also, what does it matter if my son¡¯s on the chubby side?

    That¡¯s proof that he¡¯s not being starved. I¡¯m rich. I can buy him whatever he wants to eat. You know

    what, I¡¯m not gonna argue anymore. I want you to expel those two kids right now and ask their father to

    come here and apologize to me! He must pay for what his kid¡¯s done!¡± Wang Shengli shouted louder.

    The principal shuddered in fear when he heard his demand.

    Their dad is Nan Chen. Does he seriously want to make him apologize? This can¡¯t end well...

    The teacher wanted to respond again but the principal red at her, signaling her to zip her mouth.

    ¡°Mr. Wang, this one¡¯s on me so I apologize. It¡¯s actually not a big deal so I don¡¯t think there¡¯s a need for

    that. I¡¯ve been teaching for years now and things like this tend to happen frequently. It¡¯s normal for kids

    to fight. Let¡¯s just take it as part of their growth. Whatever¡¯s happening in their childhood will affect their

    character development. If you make things difficult, not only will it affect your son, but it will affect other

    children too. So let¡¯s just end it right here, okay?¡± the principal suggested with a smile.

    ¡°Absolutely not! I want their father to apologize to me, or else I¡¯ll shut this school down!¡±

    The principal let out a sigh and stopped trying to convince the man.

    ¡°Call him right now and ask him toe here!¡± Wang Shengli demanded.

    ¡°But he just left,¡± uttered the principal helplessly.

    Wang Shengli was even more infuriated upon hearing that. ¡°You let him go instead of asking him to

    stay to apologize to me?¡±

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Because I think there¡¯s no need for that, so I let him go.¡± the principal grimaced.

    ¡°Call him right now and ask him toe back and apologize to me or I will not let him off the hook!

    Make sure to tell him my name and that I¡¯m the President of a real estatepany!¡± Wang Shengli

    roared.

    The principal hesitated.

    ¡°Fine, since you¡¯re so keen to meet him, we¡¯ll do you a favor. But we only dare to call his assistant,¡± the

    female teacher voiced out again.

    ¡°He has an assistant? What does he do for a living?¡± Wang Shengli asked.

    ¡°He¡¯s in the business field. He¡¯s actually...¡±

    ¡°You know what? I don¡¯t care what he does. Just give me his assistant¡¯s phone number and I¡¯ll call him

    myself!¡± Wang Shengli muttered.

    ¡°No, let me call him. I don¡¯t have the right to give his number to other people,¡± the principal said

    helplessly.

    He then called Jiang Zhe. ¡°Mr. Jiang, sorry for disturbing you, but the dad¡¯s kid is here... No wait, I

    mean the kid¡¯s dad is here and he wants to settle things with an apology. He¡¯s very adamant about it so

    I have no choice but to call you.¡±

 Chapter 488

    Chapter 488

    ¡°Tell him he doesn¡¯t need to apologize. Mr. Chen has no time for that,¡± replied Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°No. He¡¯s demanding an apology from Mr. Chen.¡±

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°What? He¡¯s asking Mr. Chen to apologize?¡± Jiang Zhe couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing.

    ¡°He insists upon it and we can¡¯t do anything anymore. I wouldn¡¯t have called you if things weren¡¯t this

    serious.¡±

    ¡°Wait. I¡¯ll ask Mr. Chen.¡±

    Jiang Zhe turned to look at Nan Chen. ¡°That kid¡¯s father is at the school and is demanding an apology

    from you.¡±

    Nan Chen nced at him coldly. ¡°So, are you asking me to apologize?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m just asking for your instructions.¡±

    ¡°Do I seriously have to teach you this?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± said Jiang Zhe before speaking on the phone again, ¡°Sorry, can you pass the phone to the

    father? Let me talk to him personally.¡±

    Hearing that, the principal gave his phone to Wang Shengli. ¡°Mr. Jiang is asking for you.¡±

    ¡°Is he the father or the assistant?¡±

    ¡°The assistant. That¡¯s the best we can do.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re asking me to talk to a mere assistant? Hell no!¡± Wang Shengli refused.

    ¡°But if you don¡¯t talk to him, his boss won¡¯t know what you want to say.¡±

    After contemting for a moment, he finally gave in as he thought what the principal said made sense.

    He took the phone over and said, ¡°Hey, pass the phone to your boss! His son hit mine and I want him

    to apologize to me personally!¡±

    ¡°How should I call you, mister?¡± Jiang Zhe asked politely.

    ¡°Wang Shengli, and I do real estate!¡±

    Upon hearing the familiar name, Jiang Zhe searched for Wang Shengli¡¯s information in his mind as he

    was sure that he had read something about thetter before.

    At first, Wang Shengli had depended on contractual projects before establishing his own real estate

    company. From then on, he indeed had gained sess.

    Though he had received countlessints about his work quality, he was still standing intact in the

    industry and was even arrogant.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you, Mr. Wang. Hello.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t even bother trying to suck up to me. Let me talk to your boss!¡± Wang Shengli roared, making

    Jiang Zhe frown while putting the phone further away from his ear.

    ¡°Sadly, my boss doesn¡¯t want to. He said if you want him to apologize, you cane to us. I¡¯ll give you

    the address.¡±

    ¡°Why should I do that when he¡¯s the one who needs to apologize? Who does he think he is? Nan

    Chen?¡± Wang Shengli continued hollering.

    ¡°Oh. So you know who my boss is. Then you should also know where Nanshi Corporation is. Make

    sure to inform us be youe,¡± uttered Jiang Zhe emotionlessly.

    ¡°What?¡± Wang Shengli questioned, needing confirmation as he thought he had heard it wrong.

    ¡°I said Mr. Chen has no time to meet with you, but if you insist, you cane to Nanshi Corporation

    instead,¡± Jiang Zhe repeated.

    ¡°Mr. Chen? Your boss is Nan Chen? I don¡¯t buy it.¡±

    ¡°Thene see for yourself,¡± Jiang Zhe finished before hanging up.

    When the principal saw how Wang Shengli¡¯s expression changed drastically, he knew that thetter

    had found out who he was dealing with.

    ¡°What did you say the kids¡¯ surname was again?¡±

    ¡°Ning,¡± replied the principal.

    ¡°Not Nan?¡±

    ¡°No. But...¡±

    ¡°Damn that guy! How dare he use Nan Chen¡¯s name to scare me? Does he think I¡¯m a coward?¡± Wang

    Shengli started howling again.

    ¡°Though their surname¡¯s not Nan, they call Mr. Chen as their ¡®daddy¡¯, though,¡± the female teacher from

    earlier remarked.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°The man who had just left is also Nan Chen himself.¡± She red at Wang Shengli coldly.

    ¡°Which Nan Chen? The one from Nanshi Corporation?¡± Wang Shengli still had a hard time believing it.

    ¡°How many men named Nan Chen do you know in Flower City? Even if there are many, there¡¯s only

    one Nan Chen who¡¯s stunningly handsome.¡±

    As soon as the words left her mouth, her face turned slightly red when she realized what she just said.

    But that¡¯s a fact! I bet everyone else thinks so too!

    ¡°Is he really Mr. Chen from the Nan family?¡± Wang Shengli¡¯s expression changed once again.

    ¡°Yes,¡± the principal responded.

    ¡°This... This...¡± Wang Shengli was suddenly at a loss for words.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you ask an apology from him? Did he agree to do so?¡± the teacher asked, secretly finding

    satisfaction at how Wang Shengli was squirming.

    ¡°When did I say that? Do you think I¡¯m that petty that I¡¯ll make a big deal over such a trivial issue? It¡¯s

    perfectly normal for kids to fight. It doesn¡¯t even need to involve the parents. Is this how you guys do

    your job?¡± Wang Shengli asked with a straight face.

    The principal and the teacher exchanged looks. He really knows how to twist the situation.

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who demanded an apology from him? Don¡¯t tell me you changed your mind

    now?¡±

    ¡°I meant an apology from this school! Whatever happens here is your responsibility! Why did you

    involve the parents too? I never said I wanted an apology from Mr. Chen. I¡¯m warning you! Don¡¯t start a

    rumor from this groundless usation!¡±

    ¡°Then it¡¯s settled then. I¡¯ve already apologized to you,¡± answered the principal.

    ¡°You should apologize to Sir Chen as well. He¡¯s a busy man, yet you called him toe here! You

    guys are overreacting! I need to exin to Sir Chen myself so give me his assistant¡¯s phone number.

    I¡¯m actually a good friend of his. We even hung outst weekend.¡±

    As Wang Shengli spoke, he thought to himself, Damn. I might¡¯ve offended Nan Chen. I need to think of

    a way to make it up to him.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. But I can¡¯t do that. Since you¡¯re good friends with him, you probably have his phone number.

    You can call him directly if that¡¯s the case.¡±

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll think of a way myself. I¡¯m leaving.¡±

    With that, Wang Shengli rushed out of the school without even seeing his son.

    He immediately drove to Nanshi Corporation and asked to meet Nan Chen. Unfortunately, thetter

    had not returned as he was spending time with his children.

    Dabao must have found out that there were many negative reports regarding Ning Ran on the inte

    recently.

    Because of that, Nan Chen decided to take the kids out for a breather as he did not wish the kids to

    bear such pressures at a young age.

    Nan Chen was not in thepany so his other assistant stopped Wang Shengli from going further.

    However, thetter took it the wrong way and thought that Nan Chen did it on purpose to humiliate him.

    For that reason, Wang Shengli called his brother-inw who was also the police chief.

    He told thetter about what happened in the school and even twisted the story by saying Nan Chen

    forced him to apologize in front of everyone. Other than that, he even told his brother-inw that Nan

    Chen had pped his child.

    In short, he victimized himself and made the Nan family the viin in this story.

    ¡°Does he think he owns the whole Flower City? I¡¯m not gonna show myself but I¡¯ll get some people to

    do something about it. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll teach him a lesson,¡± replied his brother-inw.

    Wang Shengli breathed a sigh of relief after he heard that. His brother-inw had always backed him

    up and everything had gone smoothly most of the time. He believed it would be the same this time.

 Chapter 489

    Chapter 489

    In thete evening, Nan Chen decided to bring the exhausted kids home. Right then, he got a call from

    Jiang Zhe out of the blue.

    After ending the call, he drove the kids to Commoner Residence and asked the maids to take care of

    them before returning to thepany.

    Some executives from Beauty Cosmetics, apany under Nanshi Corporation, had already arrived at

    the meeting room, waiting for Nan Chen to hold an emergency meeting.

    Before the meeting started, one of the employees yed a video that showed a woman in her thirties

    crying in front of a camera while iming that ever since she used a series of Beauty Cosmetics¡¯

    skincare products, her skin had be itchy and turned red with ulceration symptoms. Aside from

    that, she even said that it triggered her allergic reactions.

    The redness on her face was crystal clear on the screen, and her skin did indeed look like she had

    some sort of allergies. However, there were no signs of ulcerations.

    She med Beauty Cosmetics for producing low-quality products and wanted to sue them, especially

    Ding Mi, the products¡¯ spokesperson. But because she had spent all her money treating her face, she

    could not afford thewyer¡¯s fees. That was why she resorted to seeking legal assistance from people

    with awyer¡¯s qualification certificate online.

    After the video ended, another one came up.

    It was a fairly pretty second-year university student who also imed to have skin problems after using

    the same Beauty Cosmetics products. Not only that, but she also announced that she felt dizzy after

    using the products.

    She had no means to seek legal aid but she advised young people to stop using any products from

    Beauty Cosmetics and used thepany as well as Ning Ran.

    When the videos ended, everyone turned to look at Nan Chen.

    The man remained silent as he raised his head to look at Jiang Zhe.

    Thetter instantly stood up as he knew the silent message from his boss. Nan Chen did not wish to

    talk so he should be the one who would helm the meeting.

    Usually, thepany could solve such matters like this by themselves, and there was no need to run

    to the headquarter for a meeting.

    However, the matter involved Ning Ran this time as she was the spokesperson for this certain series of

    products.

    It was normal to use their own artistes to endorse their products in the business world. The downfall of

    this strategy was that it would greatly affect both the famous brand of Beauty Cosmetics and Ning

    Ran¡¯s reputation whenever something like this urred because inte warriors would take this

    opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.

    Thepany dared not make their own decisions so they came to Nan Chen instead.

    ¡°First question. Have you guys examined the products? Are the products really that dangerous?¡± Jiang

    Zhe asked.

    ¡°No,¡± replied the head of the quality inspection department firmly. ¡°There¡¯s absolutely nothing wrong

    with our products.¡±

    ¡°Have you submitted them for inspection?¡± Jiang Zhe asked again.

    ¡°Yes. But we can only know the results in at least three days.¡±

    ¡°Can we win if we¡¯re sued?¡± questioned Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°Uhh... I¡¯m not really sure when ites to legal matters.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the main concern that needs an urgent solution right now?¡±

    ¡°The authorities have issued a notice for us to remove our products from relevant stores and online.¡±

    Hearing this, Nan Chen¡¯s expression turned cold.

    Jiang Zhe was also taken aback. ¡°It has not even been that long since the videos are uploaded, yet

    they already ask us to remove our products? They¡¯re just gonna believe whatever the women said

    without solid proof?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what we¡¯ve been thinking too. However, we¡¯ve already received the notice and they said this

    incident brings a negative impact, so we have to stop all production and sales at least until everything¡¯s

    settled.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s outrageous! If we remove our products, doesn¡¯t it mean that we admit something¡¯s wrong with

    them? They should at least investigate so they can prove it to us. We¡¯ll face massive losses if we stop

    all productions and sales. What if the result shows that our products are fine? Who¡¯ll cover our losses

    then?¡±

    Everyone remained silent as their gazes shifted to Nan Chen simultaneously.

    ¡°What¡¯s written on the notice?¡± questioned Nan Chen.

    ¡°They didn¡¯t write us a notice. They just called.¡±

    Nan Chen narrowed his eyes at his answer. ¡°There¡¯s no written notice with an official stamp?¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°No.¡±

    Nan Chen figured it out from that alone. Evidently, somebody had targeted Ning Ran and Beauty

    Cosmetics but they were scared of the consequences so they only issued a verbal notice.

    A meeting involving the higher-ups waspulsory if they were to close down apany. Apart from

    that, they should send a document to the relevantpany.

    This process would surely need time, yet they made a decision simply based on what people said

    online.

    Even if they were to prove that nothing was wrong with the productster on, the damage done to

    Beauty Cosmetics¡¯ image and Ning Ran¡¯s reputation by then would be irreversible.

    Ning Ran was not even free from her past scandals yet and now another storm was alreadying her

    way.

    It seemed that the mastermind used a hit-and-run tactic, retreating after dealing a decisive blow. There

    was no need for any follow-up measures as they had already achieved their goal of damaging the

    company¡¯s and Ning Ran¡¯s reputation. Everything else was unimportant now.

    ¡°So there¡¯s no official notice,¡± uttered Nan Chen, making everyone look at him. Only Jiang Zhe

    understood what he meant.

    Nan Chen then stood up and left the meeting room without any further exnations, confusing all the

    employees.

    They wondered if the meeting had already ended. However, when they noticed that Jiang Zhe stayed,

    they thought his presence meant the meeting would continue.

    ¡°If there¡¯s no official notice, then who called you?¡± asked Jiang Zhe.

    The people in the meeting room exchanged looks.

    ¡°The caller who imed to be the leader of a certain bureau is a scammer. The fact that you can¡¯t

    confirm their identity is proof of that. As such, you don¡¯t have to listen to them.¡± Jiang Zhe concluded.

    They finally understood now and were amazed that Jiang Zhe could pick up what Nan Chen had meant

    from just the few words their boss had uttered. No wonder he¡¯s the boss¡¯ right-hand man.

    ¡°But what if someone pursues the matter?¡± Even so, someone still had their worries if they really were

    to ignore the notice.

    ¡°They won¡¯t. If you receive calls like this again, you should know that they¡¯re scammers. We¡¯ll only take

    it seriously if there¡¯s a formal written notice with an official stamp. Even if it¡¯s an administrative penalty,

    we can still apply for reconsideration. No one can stop a business just from a call.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right. We didn¡¯t receive any formal written notice. The caller¡¯s definitely a scammer. There are

    many scammers nowadays, after all.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Why didn¡¯t we think about this earlier?¡±

 Chapter 490

    Chapter 490

    Meanwhile, the same policewoman appeared again with a phone in her hand this time as she showed

    the videos to Ning Ran.

    ¡°See this? You¡¯re now the most hated celebrity in the city. Even the brand you endorsed is affected

    because of you. Nobody is going to hire you anymore when you get out.¡±

    Ning Ran stayed silent. How did this happen? I just signed the contract with Beauty Cosmetics not long

    ago. Thispany is under Nanshi Corporation so does that mean their interest is affected because of

    me? It must be stressful for Nan Chen. Sh*t. I caused him trouble again.

    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re still hoping for Nan Chen toe and rescue

    you? Please. You¡¯re nothing but a sacrificialmb to the Nan family. They¡¯re busy protecting

    themselves now. What makes you think they have time to think of you?¡± the policewoman mocked.

    Ning Ran was losing hope now for she had been there for some time now. If Nan Chen truly wanted to

    bail her out, he would have already done so. But he had not appeared even until now.

    Has he given up on me? Maybe the problem is too serious that he has to sacrifice me to protect

    himself. That¡¯s normal, I guess.

    After all, no matter how popr Ning Ran was, she was just another celebrity of Star Entertainment in

    the eyes of those who thought celebrities were nothing special.

    Celebrities were only a tool for entertainment andpanies would not hesitate to sacrifice them for

    their own benefits.

    I thought Nan Chen was different but it seems like I was wrong. He¡¯s handsome and rich. I guess it¡¯s

    easy for him to rece me with some other woman. I¡¯m too naive.

    The policewoman was secretly overjoyed when she noticed Ning Ran¡¯s solemn expression. I finally

    knocked some sense into her.

    ¡°This is how the rich always behaves. Don¡¯t take it to your heart. Though the Nan family sacrificed you,

    you¡¯re pretty and talented. I believe it¡¯ll be easy for you to relocate and find a new boss. It doesn¡¯t

    matter who your boss is because I know you¡¯ll be sessful no matter what, so you have to be wise

    enough not to let anything happen to you in here.¡±

    How sweet. She even gave me advice.

    ¡°If I say that, will you let me go?¡±

    ¡°Of course. I¡¯m a woman of my words. I already told you the reason very clearly that day. Don¡¯t make

    me repeat it,¡± replied the policewoman.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think you have that power, though. It¡¯s not like I don¡¯t believe you but releasing me is a huge

    matter, and only those who have higher positions can do that. I don¡¯t know who you are because you

    always have a mask on, and I¡¯d be dumb if I were to believe you blindly.¡±

    ¡°If I were to smear Nan Chen, you have to convince me that there¡¯s someone who can keep me safe

    once the deal is done. Otherwise, people will kill me very easily. I¡¯d rather die here instead,¡± said Ning

    Ran calmly even though she was feeling the exact opposite on the inside.

    The policewoman was infuriated by Ning Ran¡¯s words. ¡°I told you I have the power to decide whether to

    release you or not. Why won¡¯t you believe me? What the hell do you want?¡±

    ¡°I want to meet your boss. That person is the one who can have a say in this,¡± requested Ning Ran.

    ¡°Mr. Huang is a Police Commissioner. He¡¯s not someone you can meet just because you say so-¡± the

    policewoman suddenly shut her mouth upon realizing what she just said.

    ¡°So his surname is Huang. Is he the Commissioner himself or the Deputy?¡± Ning Ran tried to pry more

    answers from her.

    ¡°Cut the nonsense. I didn¡¯t say that.¡± Though the policewoman was wearing a mask, the panic in her

    eyes was still noticeable.

    ¡°If someone were to get me out, it makes sense for them to be at least a Deputy Commissioner. Only

    then will I be at ease. I want to meet him. If he can guarantee my safety once I¡¯m outside, then I¡¯ll agree

    to join hands with you to take down Nan Chen.¡±

    ¡°No. He won¡¯t meet you,¡± the policewoman rejected firmly without second thoughts.

    They had obviously discussed this before. Her boss had requested her never to reveal his identity, so

    the policewoman knew that it was impossible for him to meet Ning Ran.

    ¡°Okay, then. Let me consider it.¡±

    ¡°What else is there to consider? How long are you going to keep doing this? You¡¯re just stalling for time

    by this point!¡±

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    ¡°Of course not. I just want to make sure. It¡¯s too dangerous for me to go out now so I have to take

    precautions,¡± Ning Ran responded while ring at the other woman.

    ¡°You¡¯re running out of time. You¡¯ll be brought to the prosecution if you keep dying, and it¡¯ll be difficult

    for you to get out then. You¡¯d better stop considering anything right now,¡± the policewoman suggested

    sternly.

    ¡°I¡¯ll decide as soon as possible. In the meantime, I wish to meet someone from the Nan family.¡± Ning

    Ran requested.

    ¡°They don¡¯t even care about you anymore, yet you¡¯re still hopeful? You¡¯re really stupid!¡± shouted the

    policewoman furiously.

    ¡°That¡¯s not true. I¡¯m just worried about my children and I want to know how they are through the Nan

    family. If I know they¡¯re fine, maybe I¡¯ll agree to cooperate with you,¡± exined Ning Ran.

    The policewoman contemted for a moment. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡±

    Ning Ran knew the policewoman had to discuss this with the higher-ups.

    Meanwhile, Nan Chen remained in his office even when it was already nine in the evening. Unlike any

    other day, he had made many calls today. Usually, his subordinates would do this task while he only

    went through the emails. Nan Chen would only personally call someone if the matter at hand was

    important.

    Jiang Zhe dared not disturb him as he waited outside. However, after receiving a call, he had no choice

    but to enter the office.

    After Nan Chen ended the call, he stared at Jiang Zhe, signaling thetter to start talking.

    ¡°I got a call from the police station. They said Ms. Ding is demanding to meet you,¡± Jiang Zhe informed.

    ¡°Demanding?¡± Nan Chen frowned.

    ¡°Yes. She refused to eat and shouted all day long.¡±

    Hearing that, Nan Chen¡¯s frown deepened. What the hell is wrong with that woman?

    ¡°I think she¡¯s panicking seeing that we hadn¡¯t done anything since her arrest. Maybe she thought that

    we¡¯d abandoned her,¡± Jiang Zhe concluded.

    ¡°If she¡¯s that dumb then maybe we should indeed abandon her.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d say it¡¯s reasonable for her to react like that. She ended up there because she had been used of

    doing drugs, yet we do nothing to help her. It¡¯s only natural for her to overthink stuff.¡±

    ¡°So you want me to meet her? Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a bad time for that? We¡¯re falling right into others¡¯

    trap if I do that,¡± Nan Chen voiced out coldly.

    ¡°But I think it¡¯s fine for me to meet her.¡± Jiang Zhe replied.

 Chapter 491

    Chapter 491

    At eleven in the evening, Ning Ran finally met Jiang Zhe who was wearing a pair of gold-framed

    sses.

    ¡°You¡¯ve suffered greatly, Ms. Ding.¡± Jiang Zhe took off his sses and looked at the woman. The fact

    that he was here instead of Nan Chen said a lot. Though Ning Ran wanted to meet thetter, she knew

    it was a bad idea.

    Poker Face¡¯s not stupid. He won¡¯t ever meet a celebrity who¡¯s currently arrested under the usation

    of doing drugs. Nheless, I¡¯m d that he sent someone to me, and it¡¯s not just a random person.

    It¡¯s Jiang Zhe himself. If Nan Chen didn¡¯t send him, I might think he had actually given up on me. But it

    seems like I can let go of my worries now.

    Even though Jiang Zhe was only an assistant, his position in Nanshi Corporation was considered high.

    Most importantly, he was the person Nan Chen trusted the most. Because of this, Ning Ran had

    regained her hope.

    Although it was nighttime, a cop was still guarding them. Even if there weren¡¯t, Ning Ran believed that

    someone would surely eavesdrop on their conversation.

    ¡°Care to tell me why I¡¯m still here?¡± asked Ning Ran coldly.

    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°You got yourself involved in drugs and vited thew. This is a serious crime. You won¡¯t be able to

    get out of this just because you say so. You of all people should know better,¡± replied Jiang Zhe tly.

    ¡°I¡¯m being framed!¡± Ning Ran defended herself loudly.

    ¡°It¡¯s not up to us to decide that. It¡¯s up to the judges. All you have to do right now is to cooperate with

    the cops and the judges. Also, you should watch what you¡¯re saying unless you can bear the

    consequences.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that? Did I say anything?¡±

    ¡°If you didn¡¯t then let¡¯s keep it that way. It¡¯s the smartest move for now.¡±

    ¡°Why isn¡¯t Nan Chen here?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Chen has no time to meet with an irrelevant person.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m an irrelevant person?¡±

    ¡°Are you not?¡± Jiang Zhe snickered.

    ¡°Fine, I get it. How are my children?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re fine. You don¡¯t need to worry about them.¡±

    ¡°I want to meet them.¡±

    ¡°No. It¡¯s inappropriate for them to meet you right now. You¡¯ll affect them,¡± Jiang Zhe instantly refused

    the idea.

    ¡°But they¡¯re my children.¡±

    ¡°They were. From now on, it would be best if you break off your rtions with them. It¡¯s for their own

    good.¡±

    Though she knew Jiang Zhe said this on purpose, it still stung her heart.

    She suddenly realized that everything about her was being controlled, and she was helpless to do

    anything about that.

    No. I have to be strong.

    Even though Jiang Zhe was only acting, he worried that he was being too harsh when he saw the

    sorrowful look on Ning Ran. However, he could do nothing about it.

    ¡°Tell Nan Chen to take care of my kids. It¡¯s not like he¡¯s the only one I can rely on. I have my own

    friends too so I¡¯ll be fine. Flower City doesn¡¯t revolve around him. There¡¯s also Bei Chen, Dong Chen,

    and Huang Chen here. He always thinks that everything is under his control, but he¡¯ll soon realize that

    it¡¯s not,¡± Ning Ran sneered.

    Jiang Zhe did not respond but he was paying attention to her, trying to memorize her every word.

    Because when she talked, she had blinked faster than usual.

    ¡°Sure. Please look after yourself, Ms. Ding. Remember. Be careful of what you say,¡± Jiang Zhe

    reminded.

    Ning Ran simply replied with a scoff before Jiang Zhe took his leave.

    With that, Ning Ran heaved a sigh. I wonder if he gets what I¡¯m trying to say.

    After leaving the police station, Jiang Zhe returned to the car.

    He sat at the front passenger seat because Nan Chen was sitting at the back, trying to keep a low

    profile.

    ¡°How is she?¡± questioned Nan Chen.

    ¡°She looks a bit pale, but other than that, she¡¯s fine.¡±

    ¡°She didn¡¯t break down?¡±

    ¡°No. there¡¯s no sign of that. I¡¯m just worried that I¡¯ve hurt her when I spoke to her the way you wanted

    me to,¡± Jiang Zhe stated his concerns.

    ¡°She¡¯s not that weak,¡± was Nan Chen¡¯s reply.

    ¡°But we can¡¯t be too sure of that now that she¡¯s in jail. She will be discouraged and vulnerable in

    such situations. That¡¯s human nature.¡±

    Nan Chen furrowed his brows. ¡°Do you understand her better than I do?¡±

    ¡°Of course not! You know her best!¡± Jiang Zhe replied as cold sweat started to bead on his forehead.

    ¡°Did she leave any messages?¡± Nan Chen asked in a cold tone.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°I think someone is forcing her to say that you don¡¯t have to care about her anymore and that you¡¯re not

    the only one she can rely on. Also, she said that this city not only has Nan Chen, but also has Bei

    Chen, Dong Chen, and Huang Chen.¡±

    ¡°Huang Chen?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. I also get the feeling that this is the most important message. When she was ranting about how

    they were other Chen¡¯s in the city, logically speaking, she should¡¯ve ended it with Xi Chen but she said

    Huang Chen instead.¡±

    ¡°Which means a person named Huang is going to take her away or keep her safe. But in return, she

    has to testify against a co-conspirator,¡± Nan Chen presumed.

    ¡°That¡¯s what I think so too.¡± Jiang Zhe nodded.

    ¡°But something¡¯s not quite right. He must not be an ordinary person if he can ensure her safety. Unless

    he¡¯s stupid, I don¡¯t see why he would tell her his surname,¡± uttered Nan Chen with a frown.

    ¡°Ms. Ding is a smart woman. She must¡¯ve fished out his surname from other people.¡±

    ¡°You seem to trust her a lot.¡± Nan Chen scrutinized his assistant coldly.

    ¡°Not her, It¡¯s just that I trust you and your judgement.¡±

    ¡°Then who do you have in mind this Huang person is?¡±

    ¡°The Commissioner¡¯s surname is Zheng, and among the few Deputy Commissioners, only one is

    named Huang.¡±

    Jiang Zhe had already checked this matter before he met Ning Ran.

    ¡°Is it easy to search about him?¡±

    ¡°I think only Qiao Zhan can do that. But I¡¯m worried that it¡¯ll also be difficult for him to do so. The Huang

    guy is a powerful figure.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re underestimating Qiao Zhan too much. He wouldn¡¯t have worked for the Nan family if he didn¡¯t

    have to repay his debt. Hacking into this kind of system is child¡¯s y to him. You just have to be a bit

    polite to him if you want his help,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°That¡¯s great then.¡±

    Despite what Jiang Zhe had said, he was still concerned. Qiao Zhan is an idiot. Is he even capable of

    doing such a huge task?

    Nan Chen knew what the other man truly felt about this. But he did not care about it since he knew

    Jiang Zhe and Qiao Zhan had always looked down upon each other.

 Chapter 492

    Chapter 492

    In the presidential suite of a hotel in Flower City, Ye Meng¡¯s whole face was painted red.

    The rtively chubby guy beside her continued exploring her body. Though tired, he was

    extremely satisfied.

    Ye Meng pried his hand away. ¡°Stop touching me! Haven¡¯t you had enough?¡±

    The man moved nearer to her. ¡°No. You¡¯re too attractive that I can¡¯t get enough of you.¡±

    The man¡¯s name was Gao Bao, the President of Rainbow Entertainment. Thepany had

    control over nearly half of the nightclubs in Flower City. Other than that, they also owned

    popr arcades, inte cafes, and some hidden ¡°tea houses.¡± These ¡°tea houses¡± weren¡¯t

    meant for tea parties, however, they were meant for gambling, and the operators gained profit

    from the said activity.

    The ¡°tea houses¡± ran by others were always closed down by the authorities, but Gao Bao¡¯s

    remained intact since they were able to avoid the police raid repeatedly.

    Whenever Gao Bao was drunk, he would start calling himself the King of the Night and the

    underworld ruler of Flower City. Although it sounded exaggerated, it was actually the truth. He

    indeed had control over the underworld as well as the gangsters of the city.

    If he did not possess such powers, Ye Meng definitely would not have jumped into bed with

    him.

    ¡°Bao, make sure to get rid of that b*tch Ding Mi for me! I don¡¯t want to see her face ever again!¡±

    ordered Ye Meng harshly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This is my territory. Getting rid of someone is a piece of cake for me,¡± Gao Bao

    assured.

    ¡°But it has been a while since she got arrested. Why is there no news regarding her sentence?¡±

    asked Ye Meng worriedly.

    ¡°Because there are other people that try to take advantage of this incident too.¡±

    Gao Bao leaned towards the bedside to take a cigarette and lit it up.

    Ye Meng hated people who smoked in bed, but she was scared that she would get into trouble with

    Gao Bao if she voiced out her dissatisfaction, so she merely frowned instead.

    ¡°I¡¯m not the only one with that wish? Who else is there?¡± she asked excitedly.

    Serves her right. She deserves to be hated by everyone.

    ¡°I can¡¯t tell you this,¡± Gao Bao replied.

    ¡°Hey, not fair. I¡¯ve already given you my body and yet you can¡¯t tell me everything?¡±

    ¡°Some things are better left in the dark. It¡¯s for your own good.¡±

    ¡°Fine. Hmph!¡± Ye Meng pretended to be angry.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be mad, baby. All you have to know is that Ding Mi won¡¯t ever have a chance to see daylight

    anymore.¡± Gao Bao leaned towards her again, reeking of cigarettes.

    Ye Meng immediately stopped him. ¡°No. I need some rest. I¡¯m still a bit worried, Bao.¡±

    ¡°What are you worried about? Do you think I¡¯m not capable enough to ruin a mere woman? If I can¡¯t do

    that, then I wouldn¡¯t have survived this long in Flower City.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I¡¯m just worried because Ding Mi is signed under Star Entertainment, and that

    company is under Nanshi Corporation...¡±

    ¡°Oh. You could¡¯ve just said that you¡¯re worried that I can¡¯t get rid of Nan Chen.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant either. I believe in your power, Bao. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have run to you for

    help. But the Nan family is very influential in this city,¡± exined Ye Meng cautiously.

    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Really? Then tell me why Ding Mi is still in jail? Honestly, I can¡¯t stand Nan Chen the most. I hate that

    people are looking up to him more than me when I¡¯m older than him by years! F*** him!¡± the man

    cursed.

    Evidently, any mention of Nan Chen was a sore topic for Gao Bao. Thetter had always felt that the

    respect he should have garnered should be no less or even more than Nan Chen¡¯s.

    ¡°You¡¯re still better than him in my eyes. He¡¯s the son of a wealthy family. All he does is being dependent

    on his father. You, however, depend solely on yourself,¡± stated Ye Meng in an ingratiating manner.

    Gao Bao¡¯s expression instantly lit up. ¡°You¡¯re right. If I was born in a family like his, I would¡¯ve been

    greater than him!¡±

    ¡°No doubt about it. That¡¯s why I¡¯m worried about the Nan family, not Nan Chen.¡±

    ¡°Rest assured. Ding Mi is arrested for a serious crime. She¡¯ll surely be sentenced. She¡¯s still in jail,

    which means the Nan family doesn¡¯t want to be too involved with her lest she drags the entire family

    down. If they keep it that way, she definitely can¡¯t get out. When she¡¯s transferred to the prison, I¡¯ll ask

    someone to destroy her for good. Even if she managed to live, she would at least be disabled. It¡¯s over

    for her,¡± uttered Gao Bao confidently.

    Hearing that, Ye Meng heaved a sigh of relief.

    If Ding Mi is really ruined then sleeping with him was worth it.

    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s stop talking about this. When I said it¡¯s fine, then it¡¯s fine. You¡¯ve rested enough.

    Let¡¯s continue our activity.¡±

    With that, Gao Bao opened his cigarette-stench mouth and leaned towards her once again.

    Meanwhile, at Nanshi Corporation, Qiao Zhan turned on theptop in Nan Chen¡¯s office and

    showed thetter the trimmed video.

    Nan Chen was too busy that he had no time to watch the full video, so Qiao Zhan asked

    someone to trim the most important parts.

    ¡°We¡¯ve already checked the CCTV footage of the banquet and found nothing suspicious. So we

    figured that it happened before she entered the banquet,¡± Qiao Zhan reported.

    Nan Chen signaled for him to continue.

    ¡°Before Young Mistress arrived, there was a group of people gathered in front of the elevator.

    They stayed there for half an hour. They never left and never entered the elevator, which means

    they were waiting for someone.¡±

    ¡°At first they remained on their spot, but when Young Mistress arrived and went inside the

    elevator, they rushed in. There were over a dozen of them so it¡¯s only natural to assume that

    they¡¯re trying to make the confined space looks crowded. They must¡¯ve used this chance to put

    the drug inside Young Mistress¡¯ purse,¡± Qiao Zhan finished before showing Nan Chen another

    trimmed video. This time it showed the footage inside the elevator.

    Unfortunately, the footage was not that clear since there were too many people inside.

    ¡°Though it¡¯s not that clear, I truly believe this was when they put the drug inside her purse.

    These three were the nearest to Young Mistress and I¡¯ve already checked their background. All

    three of them don¡¯t work in that hotel. In fact, they work at a nightclub near the hotel. The outfit

    they were wearing at that time is their work attire.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded and signaled him to continue again.

    ¡°The hotel is too high-end so I doubt that they could afford to hang out there. ording to the

    footage, Young Mistress went out on the third floor and they exited on the fourth. But they

    entered again shortly after, unlike when they waited outside for so long earlier. That just

    confirms my suspicion.¡±

    As Qiao Zhan finished, he nced at Jiang Zhe who was listening silently on the side.

 Chapter 493

    Chapter 493

    Jiang Zhe gave Qiao Zhan a thumbs up, signaling for him to continue.

    After getting Jiang Zhe¡¯s affirmation, Qiao Zhan¡¯s expression became even prouder.

    Thinking that he had done a good job, he finally felt superior to Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°I initially wanted to look for these few people, but I couldn¡¯t. They probably left the city already. This

    shows that the other party is very meticulous. Knowing that we¡¯ll investigate, they¡¯ve sent those people

    away in advance,¡± remarked Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°So, have you run out of ideas now, Captain Qiao?¡± asked Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°Yeah. Do you have an ingenious idea, Assistant Jiang?¡± Qiao Zhan looked at Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°These people are just ordinary employees who don¡¯t hold any grudges with Ms. Ding. In fact, they

    probably don¡¯t even know each other. Hence, they must have acted based on their boss¡¯ orders. Can¡¯t

    we just investigate who their boss is?¡± scoffed Jiang Zhe.

    Agreeing with him, Nan Chen turned his gaze to Qiao Zhan.

    Qiao Zhan apuded. ¡°Gotta hand it to you, you¡¯re pretty smart to have thought of this, Assistant

    Jiang, but unfortunately, I¡¯m one step ahead of you. I have already look into it and I found that the

    owner of the nightclub is a certain Mr. Gao. However, he¡¯s not the actual boss¡ªBao is the man behind

    him.¡±

    ¡°Bao?¡±

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    ¡°Yep. He¡¯s the president of Rainbow Entertainment, Gao Bao. He calls himself the ¡®King of the Night¡¯ in

    Flower City, controlling more than half of the nightclubs here. He even owns some secret gambling and

    prostitution dens. He¡¯s a very scheming man. You haven¡¯t heard of him, have you, Assistant Jiang?¡±

    said Qiao Zhan.

    Indeed, Jiang Zhe had never heard of him.

    Jiang Zhe was a finance executive in Nanshi Corporation, familiar with global politics and economic

    trends. He was also well-versed with both spoken and unspoken rules in various industries, but never

    was he involved in the underworld scene.

    Normally, he was so busy working for Nan Chen that he did not have time to visit nightclubs. At the

    most, he would asionally drink at some clubs. As such, he never had the opportunity to interact with

    the underworld scene and he was oblivious to the shady things that urred there.

    ¡°King of the Night? He sounds quite formidable,¡±mented Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°That¡¯s the title he gave himself. He just likes to brag about himself. That being said, to me, he¡¯s

    nothing but an insignificant ant,¡± said Qiao Zhan confidently.

    ¡°Well, if even you look down on him, he¡¯s probably not a big shot then,¡± remarked Jiang Zhe

    disdainfully.

    ¡°If that¡¯s what you thought, then you¡¯re wrong! Gao Bao is not just any ordinary man. All celebrities that

    wished to hold a concert in Flower City will need to pay their respects to him, sometimes even

    personally. Otherwise, they would not be able to hold their concert.¡±

    ¡°Why? Does he own the venues?¡± Jiang Zhe was still skeptical.

    ¡°He can¡¯t interfere with the venue bookings. However, he can mobilize more than a thousand people to

    create a ruckus at the concert. If a celebrity decides to hold a concert, but the audience kept hurling

    insults at said celebrity, do you think that they¡¯ll be able to continue with the concert?¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t the police doing anything about him?¡± Jiang Zhe became even more confused.

    ¡°They can¡¯t do anything. Who can prove that he¡¯s the one who mobilized the crowd? It¡¯s not just one or

    two troublemakers, we¡¯re talking about thousands here. The police can¡¯t possibly detain all of them,

    right?¡±

    ¡°So, does that mean that the police is helpless to do anything about him? He can just continue living a

    lawless life like this?¡±

    ¡°Why do you think he calls himself the ¡®King of the Night¡¯?¡± Qiao Zhan threw the question back at him.

    ¡°There¡¯s someone backing him up,¡±mented Nan Chen.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Sir Chen, you truly understand what¡¯s happening.¡± Qiao Zhan shot a disdainful look at

    Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°So what?¡±

    ¡°Gao Bao doesn¡¯t know Young Mistress. ording to my analysis, he must have been instructed by

    someone to sabotage her. This is the first thing,¡± dered Qiao Zhan with a great sense of

    aplishment.

    ¡°But it¡¯s difficult to find out who gave him those orders unless you catch him and interrogate him

    directly. However, without any evidence, we can¡¯t touch him¡ªand even if we do, we can¡¯t kidnap him

    just like that. It¡¯s against thew,¡± said Jiang Zhe as he frowned.

    Qiao Zhen looked even smugger. ¡°That¡¯s why I said that there¡¯s a lot of things you don¡¯t understand,

    Assistant Jiang. If you¡¯re free, have a drink with me and I¡¯ll teach you.¡±

    Nan Chen signaled for him to cut the nonsense short and continue.

    ¡°The second thing is to investigate Huang Chen, whom Young Mistress mentioned. There are ten

    people called Huang Chen in Flower City, with two of them being women...¡±

    When Nan Chen heard that, he shot a sharp nce at him.

    Qiao Zhan quickly corrected himself, ¡°Well, it¡¯s the women¡¯s fault they¡¯re called Huang Chen¡ªit¡¯s so

    obviously a masculine name!¡±

    ¡°Cut the crap and go straight to the point,¡± instructed Nan Chen coldly.

    ¡°Anyway, none of those people called Huang Chen are big shots. Hence, I asked my friend to search

    the database. There¡¯s indeed only one deputymissioner with the surname Huang.¡±

    ¡°We know about this already. Can you investigate that person with the surname Huang?¡± asked Jiang

    Zhe impatiently.

    ¡°I can¡¯t, but my friend can. There¡¯s nothing shady about that man. However, his son who¡¯s studying in

    the States owns five properties under his name. All of them are located in luxury residential areas in the

    States, costing tens of millions each. If his son is still studying, where did he get all those money from?

    After further investigation, we discovered that the son also owns a foreign enterprise. It specializes in

    producing all sorts of alcohol which are mainly supplied to nightclubs. Gao Bao is thepany¡¯s most

    important customer. They are long-term business partners,¡± revealed Qiao Zhan.

    By then, even Jiang Zhe, who was an outsider to all these, understood what was happening.

    ¡°So thispany is a tform through which Gao Bao channels profits to the Huang fe. It¡¯s just to

    launder dirty money. Because of that, that Huang fe kept protecting Gao Bao, which gave him the

    confidence to call himself the King of the Night,¡± eximed Jiang Zhe.

    Qiao Zhan mockingly apuded. ¡°How impressive, Assistant Jiang! You even understood this. As

    expected of a highly educated elite.¡±

    ¡°Stop mocking me and just tell us what else you found.¡± Jiang Zhe adjusted his gold-rimmed sses.

    ¡°They¡¯re also rted in another way. That Huang fe is actually Wang Shengli¡¯s brother-inw. That

    foreign enterprise has two big shareholders¡ªthergest is his son, followed by Wang Shengli. His son

    also owns stocks in Wang Shengli¡¯s real estatepany. They share a mutually beneficial

    rtionship,¡± continued Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°What about that government officer who instructed our cosmeticpany to cease operations? Does

    he have anything to do with them?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°Yes. He¡¯s the Huang fe¡¯s high school ssmate. It is said that they be sworn brothers in high

    school. After they joined politics, they stopped making that known. However, they have always shared

    a close rtionship¡ªit¡¯s something all the insiders are aware of,¡± exined Qiao Zhan.

    Nan Chen nodded. ¡°We¡¯re clear about that now. What do you n to do next?¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t afford to anger that Huang fe. After all, he¡¯s a government official. On the other hand, I can

    offend Gao Bao. I¡¯m nning to make a personal visit to this so-called King of the Night.¡± Qiao Zhan

    looked very excited.

    ¡°What about that Huang fe? He¡¯s the one controlling everything,¡± remarked Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°We¡¯re living in aw-governed society. If we can¡¯t teach him a lesson, someone else can. He¡¯s

    involved in many corruption cases, so the relevant departments will certainly investigate him,¡± replied

    Qiao Zhan.

    Nan Chen nodded in agreement to Qiao Zhan¡¯s words.

    ¡°But that Huang fe is still not the main mastermind. He doesn¡¯t hold any grudges against Ms. Ding,

    so why did he still instruct Gao Bao to do all that?¡± Jiang Zhe raised his query.

    Qiao Zhan could not think of an answer to his question as he could not figure out who directed that

    Huang fe.

    I was only able to find out this much... Any more than this is really beyond my capabilities.

    ¡°I have no idea. This is all I can find,¡± admitted Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°It¡¯s good enough. The Nan family has a lot of rivals who are all potential suspects. The most important

    thing is to solve our current problem,¡± said Nan Chen.

 Chapter 494

    Chapter 494

    At ten o ¡®clock in the evening, Gao Bao was hugging a neen-year-old youngdy in one of the

    nightclub¡¯s luxurious private suites.

    While he sang, he wriggled his butt around rhythmically.

    Before they met, he always thought of Ye Meng as a female superstar, and he longed to have her.

    However, after being together with her for half a day, Gao Bao suddenly got tired of her.

    He thought that Ye Meng was a schemeful woman, much like those drama queens who would put on a

    fake act just to gain power. As she was too experienced, it sucked the fun out of everything.

    When stripped naked, even a superstar was no different from any other woman. He would rather hang

    around with these youngdies who just joined the nightlife scene. They were the ones who possessed

    true youth and beauty.

    However, he could still brag to his friends about sleeping with Ye Meng for an entire year.

    After all, it was a feat to take pride in. In fact, he would consider it his greatest aplishment so far.

    In reality, his main objective in organizing this gathering and inviting these influential people over to

    have fun was to brag about this.

    If he did not brag about it after sleeping with a female superstar, it would be aplete waste of his

    efforts. What a great pity it would be if no one knew about it!

    However, after Ye Meng discovered that Gao Bao invited a lot of guests over, she suddenly changed

    her mind, iming that she was too busy to show up.

    The true reason was she thought that attending such a gathering was beneath her status.

    Gao Bao was not angry either. After all, the nightclub was chock-full of youngdies. The guests were

    overjoyed when they had one each to themselves.

    After the song ended, everyone apuded.

    Since Gao Bao was the one singing, they naturally had to show him some respect. Furthermore, his

    singing was actually quite good.

    ¡°Bao, didn¡¯t you say that you have a surprise for us? Is a big shot going toe?¡± asked one of them.

    ¡°Am I not a big shot? Aren¡¯t all these youngdies a surprise?¡± yelled Gao Bao.

    Naturally, the bigshot and surprise that Gao Bao initially referred to was Ye Meng. Now that she was

    not going toe, he had no choice but to fool the rest.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. You¡¯re the most influential figure in Flower City. No one canpare to you, Bao,¡±

    ttered another.

    ¡°A single act by you can affect the entire Flower City.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about? A single act by him can even overturn the entire city!¡± Someone

    exaggerated even more.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough. Stop ttering me. I don¡¯t like to hear all that! Come, drink with me!¡± Bao raised his

    ss.

    The other hooligans raised their sses, thanking Bao for his generosity.

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    ¡°I¡¯m feeling a bit tired today. Yesterday, I spent a passionate night with a huge superstar. She¡¯s so

    clingy that I don¡¯t even dare to be involved with another superstar anymore,¡± remarked Gao Bao light-

    heartedly.

    ¡°Wow! Bao, you slept with a superstar again? Who is it this time?¡±

    Everyone knew that Gao Bao wielded control over many celebrities¡¯ concerts.

    Hence, they were not surprised upon hearing that he slept with a superstar.

    There were many celebrities nowadays, such as those influencers from live-streaming tforms. Some

    of their popritysted for a day; others for a month. Yet, they all imed to be celebrities.

    Hence, everyone assumed that Gao Bao slept with an influencer. No one expected it to be Ye Meng.

    Gao Bao smirked arrogantly. ¡°Why don¡¯t you have a guess?¡±

    ¡°Bao, an impressive man like you has slept with too many celebrities. We can¡¯t even begin to guess!¡±

    ttered someone.

    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re too influential. In Flower City, you can sleep with any celebrity just by making a single

    call.¡±

    The room was instantly filled with excited exmations and ttery.

    Since Gao Bao could call himself the King of the Night, he naturally was quite capable.

    He controlled an abundance of nightclubs, with more than a hundred subordinates serving him. He had

    committed all sorts of crimes, both in the open and in the dark. However, no one had managed to take

    him down, with many fearful to offend him in any way.

    As a result, none of them dared to rebuke his words. All they could do was to agree with everything he

    said.

    ¡°I know! I know who Bao slept with!¡± Someone suddenly eximed.

    ¡°Who?¡± asked the others excitedly.

    ¡°Ding Mi, the hottest celebrity from Flower City. Bao definitely slept with her!¡±

    ¡°Yeah! It must be her.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense!¡± A burly man bellowed as he strode into the room.

    ¡°Who mentioned Ding Mi¡¯s name just now?¡± He asked.

    ¡°I did! Why can¡¯t I mention her name? Who the f*** are you? How dare you barge into Bao¡¯s turf?¡± A

    man stood up in defiance.

    The burly man gave him a harsh p.

    Instantly, the room descended into utter silence. Everyone was astonished.

    This is a gathering hosted by Bao in his own turf. Yet, someone dares to pick up a fight here?

    Isn¡¯t this equivalent to humiliating Bao?

    ¡°Who the f*** are you? How dare you beat someone in my turf?¡± Gao Bao felt humiliated too.

    ¡°I¡¯m Qiao Zhan,¡± uttered the burly man.

    Gao Bao ran this name through his mind, but he had never heard of him in the underworld scene.

    ¡°Where did youe from? How dare you act all mighty here? Do you know who I am?¡± demanded

    Gao Bao fiercely.

    ¡°I¡¯m from Flower City. Is this your turf?¡± asked Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Pft, isn¡¯t that obvious? Who else¡¯s could it be?¡± Gao Bao threw the question back at him.

    ¡°Since this is your turf, why are you allowing them to insult Ms. Ding?¡± asked Qiao Zhen.

    ¡°What the f***? Ding Mi is nothing but a...¡±

    Someone was pped again. However, this time, Gao Bao was the one being pped by Qiao Zhan.

    Everyone was stunned.

    Gao Bao just got hit by someone? He was pped on his own turf?

    Is this really happening, or am I hallucinating?

    Gao Bao could feel the excruciating pain on his cheek. He knew very well that this was not an illusion¡ª

    someone had actually pped him.

    He tried to recall who the man was again. This man said his name is Qiao Zhan?

    The p jolted him slightly awake. Didn¡¯t someone mention that the captain of Nan Chen¡¯s Security

    team has the surname Qiao?

    Other than the Nan family¡¯s men, who would dare to touch me in this city?

    ¡°Do you work for the Nan family?¡± asked Gao Bao.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    After pping Gao Bao, Qiao Zhan shoved his hands into his pockets and stood in front of Gao Bao,

    towering over him.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never crossed paths with Nan Chen. He dominates the corporate world, while I rule the

    underworld. How dare you touch me?¡± asked Gao Bao coldly.

    ¡°You instructed someone to nt drugs in the Young Mistress¡¯ bag to frame her. Yet, you still im that

    you¡¯ve never crossed paths with Sir Chen? You filthy piece of sh*t. How dare you call yourself the King

    of the Night?¡±

    With that, Qiao Zhan raised his hand and gave Gao Bao a tight p in front of everyone again.

    Some of Gao Bao¡¯s men stood up, but they did not dare to attack.

    In fact, they were stunned.

    It had always been Gao Bao beating others up; never had they seen someone p him like that.

    Although most of them did not know who the muscr-looking Qiao Zhan was, their wealth of

    experience in the underworld informed them that they could not afford to offend him.

    To be able to barge into this ce and unhesitatingly p Gao Bao, it could only mean that he was

    someone whom insignificant people like them must not provoke.

    Although the underworld was unafraid of the policed world, and vice versa, they still lived in aw-

    governed society. Most activities and flows of funds urred in the open, not in the underworld.

    Hence, they decided to observe first before acting. After all, Gao Bao was the one beaten up, not them.

 Chapter 495

    Chapter 495

    Gao Bao was puzzled too.

    This man is up against dozens of people. Why does he still dare to p me?

    Does he have guts made of steel?

    Even I¡¯m not as bold as him!

    Why is he acting out of the norm? Is he crazy?

    ¡°p me again if you dare!¡± bellowed Gao Bao.

    Qiao Zhan obediently gave him another harsh p.

    This time, Gao Bao was even more confused. This b*stard must have gone crazy! Otherwise, he won¡¯t

    be acting so abnormally.

    ¡°Do you never look at yourself in the mirror? How dare you call yourself the King of the Night? You¡¯re

    just a piece of sh*t!¡± scolded Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°How dare you hit me? Just you wait!¡± Gao Bao whipped out his phone and was about to make a call

    when some people barged in.

    ¡°We¡¯re the police! We¡¯re hereby arresting you under the suspicion of illegal drug consumption.¡±

    The three people who entered were not wearing police uniforms, but they shed their police badge at

    the rest.

    Indeed, there was a bottle containing green pills ced on the table. However, it had yet to be

    distributed.

    It was supposed to be the pi¨¨ce de resistance of the gathering, as Gao Bao wanted the people in the

    gathering to enjoy the thrill of ecstasy.

    Everyone else raised their hands slowly. ¡°Officer, we have nothing to do with this! We didn¡¯t take any

    drugs, nor do we know what that bottle contains!¡±

    ¡°Everyone, squat down and don¡¯t move!¡±

    Everyone obediently squatted. Although they were quite influential in the underworld, they instantly

    deferred to the authority of the police.

    ¡°How dare you touch me? Do you know who I am? Do you know who¡¯s backing me up?¡± protested Gao

    Bao.

    ¡°Who? Should we ask him out for tea?¡± Qiao Zhan lifted a ss of alcohol on the table and sipped on

    it.

    ¡°If you want to know, let me make a call then.¡± said Gao Bao.

    ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯m curious about who¡¯s the bigshot that¡¯s backing you.¡± Qiao Zhan gestured for him to

    continue.

    ¡°Once I make this call, all of you will be in for an unlucky time. I¡¯ll give you a chance now. Get out of this

    room and I¡¯ll pretend that nothing happened,¡± demanded Gao Bao as he pointed at the door.

    Qiao Zhan eyed him disdainfully. ¡°Don¡¯t you think that you¡¯re going overboard with your act? I¡¯d

    understand if you¡¯d put on a show in front of me, but why are you doing it in front of the police? Are you

    crazy?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care which unit you¡¯re from. I¡¯m giving you a chance here. Leave this room right now, or you¡¯ll

    regret it!¡± yelled Gao Bao.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough. You know a bigshot, right? Call him right away!¡± urged Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°A word of warning. I don¡¯t usually make this call, but once I do, you¡¯ll definitely regret it. So, are you

    leaving or not?¡±

    There was a reason why Gao Bao was so reluctant to make the call, and why he could still endure the

    humiliation of being pped.

    Deputy Commissioner Huang had instructed him that he must not call him unless it was an emergency

    as he preferred to talk things out face to face.

    However, Gao Bao had no time to personally meet Deputy Commissioner Huang now. He was left with

    no choice but to call him.

    Initially, Gao Bao wanted to intimidate the others without actually calling Deputy Commissioner Huang.

    However, as Qiao Zhan and the other policemen did not back down after hearing his threats, had no

    choice but to make the call.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    The call went through. ¡°Who is this?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m looking for Deputy Commissioner Huang,¡± said Gao Bao.

    Qiao Zhan, who was standing at the side, listened in on their conversation. Lo and behold! It is the

    Huang fe. This matches up with what we discovered.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± The person on the other end of the line asked.

    ¡°Who are you? I want to speak to Deputy Commissioner Huang personally,¡± insisted Gao Bao in a

    hostile tone.

    ¡°Tell me what¡¯s the matter. If not, I¡¯ll hang up.¡± The person did not bother to be courteous either.

    Gao Bao was the type to defer to force and authority. Since the person was so adamant, he instantly

    chickened out. For the person to speak so authoritatively, Gao Bao reckoned that he was not some

    insignificant figure.

    ¡°I¡¯m Gao Bao. I need to talk to Deputy Commissioner Huang about something.¡±

    ¡°Speak.¡± The person only uttered a single word.

    ¡°I was having a gathering in my nightclub with a few of my friends when some policemen barged in

    suddenly and interrupted my fun. I¡¯d like Deputy Commissioner Huang to check which unit they¡¯re from

    and instruct them to leave right away,¡± said Gao Bao.

    ¡°How would he handle such situations in the past?¡± asked the person.

    ¡°He¡¯d just make a call. Is he busy now?¡±

    ¡°Indeed, he is. He¡¯s undergoing an interrogation now, so he¡¯s too busy to talk to you,¡± the person

    replied.

    ¡°What do you mean? Why is he being interrogated? Who are you?¡± Gao Bao finally noticed that

    something was amiss.

    However, the person had already hung up.

    ¡°He¡¯s my colleague from my task force. We¡¯re now certain that he¡¯s been shielding you all along. My

    colleague has already recorded what you said as evidence,¡± said one of the policemen.

    ¡°But Huang...¡±

    ¡°Oh my, you even call him Huang. Looks like you¡¯re quite close to him, huh? That¡¯s right. He¡¯s involved

    in some serious crimes, so we¡¯ve detained him and we¡¯re interrogating him now. I¡¯m afraid that he won¡¯t

    be able to protect you anymore.¡±

    Feeling the strength leave his legs, Gao Bao copsed on the couch.

    How can this be?

    The only reason why I can call myself the King of the Night and act so recklessly in the underworld is

    that there¡¯s someone backing me up. Now that my pir of support has copsed and is already

    struggling to protect himself, there¡¯s no way he¡¯ll care about me.

    I¡¯m doomed!

    However, having lived a life in the underworld for years, Gao Bao was not an amateur either.

    The moment he realized that things were going down a different trajectory, he started to think of a

    backup n.

    ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not too close to him. He came to my nightclub a couple of times, so I drank with him. He¡¯s

    such a powerful figure, while I¡¯m just someone who works in the entertainment industry. It¡¯s only natural

    that I would need to tter him, right? To be honest, I really look down on him. He always acts all high

    and mighty. He¡¯s nothing but a hypocrite! I know a lot about him. If necessary, I¡¯m willing to testify

    against him!¡±

    Gao Bao reacted quickly, offering to serve as a witness to testify against Deputy Commissioner

    Huang¡¯s crimes.

    ¡°Sure, follow us now,¡± said the policeman.

    ¡°Does this mean that you will stop pursuing my crimes?¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t youe back with me and exin everything to me first?¡±

    After Gao Bao was brought away, the other men who attended the gathering were prepared to flee as

    well.

    However, Qiao Zhan stopped them.

    Naturally, no one dared to offend someone who was bold enough to p Gao Bao.

    ¡°Qiao, this has nothing to do with us. We really have no idea that Gao Bao was doing drugs. Otherwise,

    we won¡¯t even mingle with him. We¡¯re all good citizens who would never partake in these illegal

    activities.¡±

    ¡°Yeah! We¡¯re not together with Gao Bao. He invited us for a drink, so we came to have fun. We really

    don¡¯t know what he normally does.¡±

    ¡°From now onwards, I¡¯ll keep a distance from this b*stard. If he invites me to go for a drink, I¡¯ll never

    ept it.¡±

    As members of the underworld, they ced emphasis on loyalty. However, when they saw how dire the

    situation was now, it no longer seemed as important.

    ¡°It¡¯s none of my business whether you¡¯vemitted any crimes or not. I just want to warn you against

    harming anyone rted to the Nan family. Do you understand?¡± warned Qiao Zhan as he wagged a

    finger at the others.

    ¡°We understand. We won¡¯t dare to, Qiao.¡±

    ¡°Regardless of who instructs you, you must not mess around with anyone rted to the Nan family.

    Otherwise, you¡¯ll end up with the same fate as Gao Bao. Did I make myself clear?¡± asked Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Yes, we understand. We definitely won¡¯t dare to mess around so easily.¡±

 Chapter 496

    Chapter 496

    ¡°Did I make myself clear?¡± asked Qiao Zhan again.

    Everyone was stunned.

    ¡°All of you are just agreeing on the surface. But in reality, you didn¡¯t even take my words to heart,

    right?¡± yelled Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Of course not, we¡¯ll definitely remember what you said!¡± They quickly responded.

    ¡°Tell me then, what did you remember?¡± Qiao Zhan pointed at one of them.

    ¡°Regardless of who instructs us to mess with people from the Nan family, we should never act on those

    instructions,¡± replied the man fearfully.

    ¡°Why not?¡± Qiao Zhan probed.

    The man was at a loss for words, having never thought of the reason before. What¡¯s with all these

    questions?

    ¡°Because Qiao¡¯s here...¡± replied the man hesitatingly with an appeasing smile.

    ¡°Does that mean that you will mess with them as long as I¡¯m not around?¡± asked Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°No! Of course not!¡± The man became flustered.

    ¡°Why not? Say it!¡±

    ¡°Because we can¡¯t afford to mess with them.¡± A smart guy thought of the best answer.

    ¡°Yeah, we can¡¯t afford to.¡± Everyone agreed that this was probably the ideal answer.

    Qiao Zhan thought that the answer was eptable. Besides, he hadn¡¯t thought of a better answer yet,

    anyway.

    ¡°Okay, then. If the police seek you out for an investigation, you must answer honestly,¡± instructed Qiao

    Zhan.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    ¡°Yes, we will.¡± Everyone responded.

    ¡°Tell me, what happened today?¡± Qiao Zhan asked them again.

    Everyone was once again stunned. ncing at each other, none of them knew how to answer.

    There were simply too many questions thrown at them tonight. Feeling like examinees, they were at a

    loss for what to do.

    ¡°Are you blind? Don¡¯t you know what happened today? If the police ask you, what will you tell them?¡±

    asked Qiao Zhan again.

    ¡°We¡¯re too dumb. Qiao, can you give us a hint?¡± Someone asked timidly.

    ¡°Before I came, what were you guys doing?¡± asked Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°We were singing. That b*stard, Gao Bao, told us that he prepared a surprise for us tonight. However,

    when we turned up, there was no surprise at all.¡±

    ¡°What did you do other than sing?¡± asked Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°We flirted with some girls because Gao Bao called up a group of youngdies. But we didn¡¯t do

    anything!¡±

    ¡°What else?¡± Qiao Zhan continued staring at them, not letting them off the hook so easily.

    Everyone exchanged looks, but nobody knew what Qiao Zhan wanted to know.

    ¡°Whose drugs are those?¡±

    With that, everyone understood. ¡°It¡¯s Gao Bao¡¯s, of course! He wants to distribute them to us, but we

    refused. Aswful citizens, we would never touch those things!¡±

    Only then did Qiao Zhan nod his head.

    ¡°Gao Bao said that I hit him. Did I hit him?¡± Qiao Zhan scanned everyone threateningly.

    No one dared to respond. Someone whispered, ¡°Do you want us to say yes or no?¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about? Just tell the truth! Are you implying that I¡¯m trying to falsify your

    testimonies? Am I someone like that? When I entered, I tried to strike up a peaceful conversation. How

    is it possible for me to hit someone?¡± bellowed Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. You tried to convince Gao Bao to turn himself in nicely, but he refused. Although you

    were furious and had an urge to hit him, you held yourself back because you¡¯re a cultured man!¡±

    eximed one of the men.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. You didn¡¯t hit him at all!¡± agreed everyone else.

    ¡°These words came out of your mouth, and I had nothing to do with it, am I right?¡± Qiao Zhan pointed at

    them.

    ¡°We are only speaking the truth. We¡¯re not under anyone¡¯s orders.¡± Everyone said simultaneously.

    ¡°Good, that will do for now. I¡¯ll be leaving then.¡± Qiao Zhan nodded in satisfaction.

    It wasn¡¯t until Qiao Zhan left did everyone finally heave a sigh of relief.

    Truth be told, they were actually overjoyed that Gao Bao had fallen off his pedestal.

    Now that the King of the Night was gone, it meant the underworld was about to undergo a drastic

    change. After all, the title of the next ¡®King¡¯ was now up for grabs.

    At midnight, Ning Ran was suddenly jolted awake from her sleep.

    This isn¡¯t the time for meals. Am I going to be killed? Ning Ran was frightened.

    ¡°You can leave now,¡± said the female police officer who apanied her to the hospital.

    However, Ning Ran was in slight disbelief. It¡¯s sote already. Why would they release me at this time?

    ¡°Am I going to be killed?¡± asked Ning Ran as she stared warily at the female police officer.

    She shed Ning Ran a friendly smile. ¡°Did you watch too many television dramas? We¡¯re living in a

    law-governed society. Those scenes in your imagination won¡¯t happen here. We¡¯ve already found

    evidence that you¡¯ve been framed, so you can go now.¡±

    Although the female police officer¡¯s smile seemed sincere, Ning Ran still did not believe her.

    After being locked up for such a long time, she lived on the razor¡¯s edge, not willing to believe anyone¡¯s

    words.

    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you moving? Did you get addicted to staying here and don¡¯t want to leave anymore?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that. I just find it a little unrealistic. What happened?¡±

    ¡°There are new developments to the case. The newly found evidence proved that you¡¯re innocent, so

    you can leave now. It¡¯s that simple.¡±

    ¡°Who testified?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°We can¡¯t reveal the details of the case so easily. Those must be kept top-secret as the case hasn¡¯t

    been closed yet. However, since you¡¯re the suspect, I can reveal some parts to you. We found some

    video evidence that someone nted the drugs in your bag.¡±

    ¡°When were the drugs nted? Why didn¡¯t I discover them?¡±

    ¡°It was nted when you were squeezing into a crowded elevator. There were many people there and

    the culprit was very experienced too. Hence, it¡¯s hard for you to notice it.¡±

    ¡°Then, why was my drug screening results positive? I didn¡¯t even take those drugs.¡± Ning Ran probed

    further.

    ¡°Someone added the drugs into your drinks, so the drug screening results proved you guilty. You can

    slowly delve deeper into the detailster. Now that you¡¯re released, you should leave as soon as

    possible. It¡¯s already veryte,¡± said the female police officer.

    ¡°Can I really leave?¡± Ning Ran was still in disbelief.

    ¡°Of course. Why would I lie to you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to leave now, okay? You won¡¯t detain me again when I reach the entrance, right?¡± A worried

    look crossed Ning Ran¡¯s face.

    The female police officer chuckled. ¡°Of course not. We won¡¯t detain people for no good reason. We¡¯ll

    only catch suspects and criminals. I hope you¡¯ll continue acting well. I¡¯m looking forward to seeing more

    of your shows!¡±

    With that, Ning Ran finally felt relieved. ¡°Thank you so much!¡±

    After exiting the police station, she spotted Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Young Mistress. It must have been hard on you.¡± Qiao Zhan walked towards her.

    ¡°Don¡¯t call me that. I¡¯m not used to it. All I wanted to know now is whether I¡¯m really cleared of all

    charges.¡± Ning Ran was still a bit nervous.

    ¡°Of course! Let¡¯s go.¡±

    ]Ning Ran spotted Nan Chen¡¯s car and she ran over. She pulled the car door open and sat on the

    seats.

    Although she was treated quite nicely inside, she had not bathed for a few days.

    Her orange blossom fragrance was still there, but it had already been diluted by other stenches.

    Frowning, Nan Chen instructed the driver, ¡°Go to the sauna first.¡±

    Ning Ran knew that she was quite smelly too. Although her body was not too filthy, someone like Nan

    Chen would find it hard to endure.

    ¡°Instead of asking about how much I¡¯ve suffered, you¡¯re disgusted by me? Where did your sense of pity

    go?¡± whined Ning Ran angrily.

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re fine now, aren¡¯t you?¡± Nan Chen threw the question back at her.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t even visit me for all the days I¡¯ve been detained. Were you prepared to let me fend for

    myself?¡±

    ¡°If that were the case, you¡¯d probably be in prison by now. Do you think that you can prove yourself

    innocent?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    Ning Ran was left speechless at that.

 Chapter 497

    Chapter 497

    The car rolled to a stop at the entrance of the sauna.

    Nan Chen thought deeply for a moment before raising his arm and gesturing for the driver to continue

    driving.

    It was prettyte at night, and he didn¡¯t want them to remain here any longer than was necessary. He

    decided to make the woman wait until they got home to wash up.

    They drove back to the vi at Red Maple City. Ning Ran got out of the car and breathed a long sigh of

    relief as she looked at the familiar house in front of her. At least she made it back here alive.

    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°The kids are at Commoner Residence, not here. Go and wash up quickly.¡±

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t there be some sort of ceremony?¡± Ning Ran asked suddenly.

    Nan Chen looked at her in confusion. ¡°What ceremony? Do you want me to call up a bunch of people

    and have them scream praises at the gates as they wee you back?¡±

    ¡°No, thanks. When I was a kid, however, my family used to set off fireworks whenever one of my

    rtives got back from jail. I heard it helped to ward off bad luck. If I go in just like that, won¡¯t I be filling

    up the house with all sorts of bad luck?¡±

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t say anything.

    Ning Ran said despondently, ¡°I think I¡¯d better not step into the house.¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t go to jail, and you have no bad luck to speak of. What are you even talking about?¡± Nan

    Chen asked coldly.

    ¡°Well, you didn¡¯t say anything! I thought you minded. I don¡¯t want to cause you any inconvenience.¡±

    Ning Ran said.

    ¡°I¡¯m okay with you causing me inconvenience...¡± Nan Chen mumbled.

    ¡°What was that?¡±

    ¡°Oh my God, would you stop talking? It¡¯s so cold out here¡ªare you trying to get a cold or something?

    Besides, you stink. Go and take a shower and change out of these clothes!¡± Nan Chen said, suddenly

    impatient.

    Ning Ran brought her arm to her nose and took a deep sniff. She thought she didn¡¯t stink that much.

    ¡°Fine. Should I go in now?¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to, that¡¯s fine by me. You can freeze to death out here by yourself. I¡¯m going in.¡±

    As soon as Nan Chen finished speaking, he turned around and stalked into the house.

    Ning Ran chased after him. ¡°Of course I¡¯ming in! It¡¯s freezing outside.¡±

    She ran upstairs and was about to head into the bedroom to get her clothes when Nan Chen pushed

    her directly into the bathroom.

    ¡°Stop stinking up the whole house! Go and have a shower first!¡±

    ¡°I need to get a change of clothes!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll fetch you your clothes!¡±

    Nan Chen pushed Ning Ran into the bathroom and shut the door firmly behind her.

    Ning Ran decided that it was high time for her to take a shower. She filled the tub with water and sat in

    it. Closing her eyes, she breathed a sigh of rxation as she soaked in the warm water.

    At that moment, the door of the bathroom swung open. Nan Chen stepped into the bathroom, carrying

    her clothes in his hands.

    Ning Ran wrapped her arms around her chest quickly. ¡°What are you doing here? How did you manage

    toe in?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just here to hand you your clothes. Are you really going to walk out of here nakedter?¡±

    Ning Ran yelled, ¡°It doesn¡¯t mean that you can juste in here as you please!¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t even lock the door! I might as well juste in! What? Did you want me to pretend to bring

    out the keys and unlock the door by myself?¡±

    Ning Ran waspletely speechless. In her haste, she hadpletely forgotten to lock the bathroom

    door.

    Nan Chen stood there, watching her panic. Even though her hair was slightly messy, it framed her

    exquisite face and fell upon her corbone in the most elegant way.

    Her skin was smooth and fair above the surface of the water. With her arms wrapped around her, she

    looked like a frightened baby animal.

    Looking at her, he felt a sudden sense of protectiveness and possessiveness.

    ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you getting out? What the hell do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Ning Ran looked at him

    fearfully.

    ¡°Can I do whatever I want just because I feel like it?¡±

    His eyes were full of fire, and his voice was very low.

    ¡°Of course not! You¡¯re supposed to be a gentleman. You should know what you ought not to do!¡± Ning

    Ran tried to impose her moral judgment on Nan Chen to get him to leave.

    ¡°But I¡¯m not a gentleman.¡± Nan Chen rejected her statement immediately. He had always had trouble

    with authority, and he had never wanted to be a gentleman before.

    ¡°Yes, you are! So get rid of those filthy thoughts in your head and get out now!¡± Ning Ran snapped,

    pointing to the door.

    ¡°You haven¡¯t even clean yourself. Do you think I¡¯m going to pounce on you while you¡¯re in this state?

    I¡¯m not interested, sorry.¡±

    Nan Cheng scoffed loudly. He ced Ning Ran¡¯s clothes in a corner and turned towards the door.

    Ning Ran let out a quiet sigh of relief. He¡¯s finally leaving!

    In the next moment, however, Nan Chen suddenly turned around and gazed at her intently.

    Panic rose within Ning Ran again. She sank even more deeply into the water, praying that the bubbles

    would cover her.

    ¡°Wash yourself clean,¡± Nan Chen said in a low voice.

    Ning Ran felt extremely indignant. Since I¡¯m washing myself, of course I¡¯ll wash myself clean! Do I

    need you to tell me that?

    ¡°I got it,¡± Ning Ran said in a huff. ¡°Now leave.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to check in a while,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran felt extremely stunned. He¡¯s going to check how well I had washed? How is he going to do

    that? How inappropriate.

    ¡°Just get the hell out now!¡± Ning Ran yelled.

    Nan Chen finally got out and shut the door behind him.

    Afraid that he was going toe in and harass her again, Ning Ran climbed out of the bathtub and ran

    to lock the door immediately.

    After that, she could finally soak in the tub peacefully.

    Nan Chen had gone to shower too. He came out wearing a sleeping gown. Grabbing a bottle of aged

    wine, he poured himself a ss and turned on the television. An exciting game of European football

    was on.

    It had been so busy recently that Nan Chen hadn¡¯t had time to watch his football matches. Since he

    was feeling pretty good today, he decided to finish watching this match.

    However, even as his eyes remained fixed on the television screen, all he could see was the image of

    Ning Ran soaking in the bathtub.

    He tried to make himself concentrate on the game, but his thoughts kept wandering away. No matter

    how hard he tried to fight it, the image of Ning Ran continued to pop up in his mind.

    He felt a little irritated. He had seen his share of beautifuldies before, and some of them had even

    tried to get with him. However, he had never once fallen for any of their charms.

    He wondered what was wrong with him today. He couldn¡¯t take his mind off the look of Ning Ran in the

    bathtub.

    He picked up the winess and walked to the balcony. As the cold breeze enveloped him, he felt much

    calmer than before.

    He stood there for a while before he started to feel a little chilly. He returned to the house.

    At that moment, he saw Ning Ran dashing across the living room to her room, her hair still dripping. He

    wondered why she looked so frantic.

    A whileter, Ning Ran emerged from her room wearing more proper clothing. Evidently, she was

    ufortable with wearing pajamas in front of Nan Chen.

    Coldly, Nan Chen asked, ¡°Dressing up so formally when it¡¯s already sote at night? Should I call

    someone and have them send over an evening gown for you?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. These clothes are veryfortable,¡± Ning Ran said and walked off.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m a little hungry. I¡¯m going to cook some noodles for myself,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°You¡¯re having noodles sote at night? Aren¡¯t you scared that you might gain weight?¡±

    Ning Ran replied brightly, ¡°Nope. I¡¯ve been feeling really poorly these past few days, so I haven¡¯t eaten

    much. It¡¯s time to make up for all my lost meals!¡±

    Nan Chen gazed at her body. Had she really slimmed down over the past few days? I couldn¡¯t tell at all.

    ¡°Then I want a bowl too,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you scared that you might gain weight?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re an artiste, and you aren¡¯t afraid. Why should I be?¡±

    Ning Ran thought about it for a moment. He was right. Nan Chen was an investor. No matter how fat he

    got, he would still be the Sir Chen everyone knew and respected.

    But if he grew so fat that he started looking like a b of meat, it would look really funny indeed.

    An image of Nan Chen as an obese man appeared in Ning Ran¡¯s mind, and she burst into

    uncontrobleughter.

    She opened the refrigerator, expecting the food inside to have gone bad. To her surprise, they still

    looked pretty fresh.

    There were eggs in the fridge, along with very fresh vegetables, tomatoes, and an assortment of fruits.

    Evidently, Nan Chen had ordered people to swap out the old ingredients for fresher ones. Once Ning

    Ran returned, she would be able to use them immediately.

    Ning Ran¡¯s heart warmed a little. Obviously, Poker Face had no ns to leave me in jail. Otherwise, he

    would never have prepared this for me.

 Chapter 498

    Chapter 498

    Nan Chen¡¯s favorite team made a goal, and he was so excited that he leaped out of his seat.

    For some reason, he was in a very excited state tonight. Some part in him wondered if it had anything

    to do with the fact that woman had returned.

    Just then, Ning Ran came running out of the kitchen. Seeing the exhrated look on his face, she felt a

    little shocked.

    Nan Chen was very rarely so excited. Ning Ran stood behind him and stared at the screen to watch the

    rey of the goal, wondering what had made him so happy.

    Afterward, she turned to stare at him.

    Nan Chen asked, ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡±

    ¡°I came out to ask you something, but I forgot what my question was,¡± Ning Ran said helplessly.

    ¡°What are you going to do about it?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll try and recall... Hmm, what was it?¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t bother. You¡¯re an idiot, so you probably won¡¯t be able to recall it. Just go and make the

    noodles.¡± Nan Chen said condescendingly.

    A look of realization dawned on Ning Ran¡¯s face. She let out a loud yelp and said, ¡°I remember it now! I

    wanted to ask you whether you prefer your noodles with fried eggs and tomatoes or green vegetables.¡±

    Nan Chen had thought she wanted to ask something important, but her question turned out to be

    something as inconsequential as this.

    ¡°Both are fine! Can you hurry up? It¡¯s practically time for breakfast by now.¡±

    Ning Ran turned to look at the clock on the wall. It was already one o ¡®clock in the morning. He¡¯s right.

    It¡¯s almost time for breakfast.

    ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s not have noodles then. I¡¯ll just get apples for the both of us.¡±

    Ning Ran ran back into the kitchen and turned off the stove. She grabbed two apples from the fridge

    and walked out to the living room, munching on one of them.

    She passed one to Nan Chen. However, he looked down at his hands¡ªhe wasn¡¯t going to eat without

    washing his hands first.

    Ning Ran ran back into the kitchen and grabbed a wet towel for Nan Chen to wipe his hands with.

    Nan Chen¡¯s eyes were fixed on the television screen. He stretched his hands out towards her,

    indicating that Ning Ran should wipe his hands for him.

    Ning Ran had no choice. She agreed and started wiping his hands for him.

    After a few wipes, Ning Ran felt that his hands were clean enough. However, Nan Chen ordered her to

    continue.

    ¡°I think that¡¯s enough. Do you want me to wipe your hands until your skin starts peeling off?¡± Ning Ran

    asked.

    ¡°You have to get it clean, at least.¡±

    Ning Ran continued wiping his hands, running the towel repeatedly over his long fingers.

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough.¡± Ning Ran had finally run out of patience. She stopped wiping his hands.

    This time, Nan Chen didn¡¯t force her to continue. His eyes continued to fixate on the television.

    ¡°Your hands are clean enough now! You can have your apple,¡± Ning Ran insisted.

    ¡°No thanks. I don¡¯t feel like eating anymore.¡±

    Nan Chen poured another ss of wine for himself. ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep after the half-time game.¡±

    ¡°What? If you weren¡¯t nning to eat, why did you get me to wipe your hands for you? Are you trying to

    waste my time or something?¡± Ning Ran yelped angrily.

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    ¡°What does cleaning my hands and eating have anything to with each other?¡± Nan Chen retorted.

    ¡°You¡ªyou¡¯re a shameless man, you know that? Ugh!¡±

    Ning Ran bit into the apply viciously, trying to calm herself down.

    Suddenly, Nan Chen asked, ¡°Did they bully you a lot while you were in there?¡±

    ¡°No, they didn¡¯t. In fact, they treated me very well and ensured that all my needs were met. I didn¡¯t

    suffer much,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    ¡°But there¡¯s something you should probably know. There was a policewoman who kept asking me to

    tell the police that you were the one who ordered me to hide those pills.

    ¡°However, she always wore a mask, so I don¡¯t think she was an actual policewoman. I don¡¯t know who

    she was, but she must have had pretty bad intentions.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± Nan Chen continued to watch the game.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you shocked about this?¡±

    ¡°Why should I be shocked?¡± he retorted.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you already knew about this!¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t. I just heard it from your own mouth.¡±

    ¡°Well, then, why aren¡¯t you shocked?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re just a small fry. If their main target were you, they wouldn¡¯t have needed to put in so much effort

    to frame you. Hence, I deduced that their target was probably me. That sounded much more usible,¡±

    Nan Chen exined.

    This made Ning Ran feel a little indignant, but there was truth to his words. After all, she was indeed

    just a small fry. She might as well roll with it.

    ¡°But there¡¯s something I don¡¯t understand...¡±

    ¡°Think harder, then.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve thought so hard, and I still don¡¯t understand anything! That¡¯s why I¡¯m trying to ask you.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Even if they wanted to take you to court, they would¡¯ve needed concrete evidence. Thus, they wouldn¡¯t

    have been able to convict you even if I turned you in. Why, then, were they so intent on making me

    confess?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m taking fault with yournguage here,¡± Nan Chen said. ¡°This matter really has nothing to do with

    me. You couldn¡¯t have turned me in at all.¡±

    ¡°I know that! What I meant is, why did they want to frame you?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. They wanted to frame me, not turn me in to the authorities.¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what I mean! What I don¡¯t understand is this¡ªthey couldn¡¯t have incriminated you based on

    my word alone. Why did they keep forcing me to do that, then?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°What do you think?¡¯

    ¡°I just told you, I don¡¯t understand any of it. That¡¯s why I¡¯m asking you about it now.¡±

    Ning Ran shifted closer to Nan Chen and looked up at him expectantly.

    He caught a whiff of her perfume. Nan Chen loved the smell, but he wasn¡¯t going to say anything about

    it.

    ¡°Well? Say something, will you?¡± Ning Ran urged him.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t understand it, just consider the consequences that might have happened. You might be

    able to understand everything then.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°What I mean is, if you had told the policemen that I told you to hide those pills, what do you think

    would¡¯ve happened?¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. The police would probably call you in as a suspect, but I doubt they would¡¯ve been able

    to convict you. After all, you¡¯re a big shot around here.¡±

    ¡°As long as I get called up by the police, someone will leak this information to the press. By the next

    morning, I¡¯ll be making headlines in the investment and entertainment sections of the newspapers.

    Because of that, I would soon be a trending topic,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°And then?¡±

    ¡°And then thepanies under Nanshi Corporation would see a fall in their stock prices. As for how

    big those falls would be, I have no idea and there¡¯s no way to know either.

    ¡°During the meeting with the board of directors, they would all be discussing this affair. Naturally, they

    would conclude that, under the present circumstances, I would not be fit to lead thepany. They

    would then ask me to step down.¡±

    Ning Ran felt rather shocked. ¡°So serious?¡±

    ¡°This might have been the ending they wanted, but of course, I would never follow through with it. After

    all, I¡¯ve never liked going along with other people¡¯s wishes,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran nodded. ¡°Yes, I can see that. You¡¯re the sort of person who would do the exact opposite of

    what others expect of you.¡±

    ¡°Am I that hateful?¡± Nan Chen felt a little unhappy.

    ¡°It¡¯s not that serious, but I must admit that you aren¡¯t that benevolent either,¡± Ning Ran replied honestly.

    ¡°Do you understand now?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but at the same time, no.¡±

    ¡°Well, then, do you understand or not?¡±

    ¡°If those people can use a weakling like me to topple you, aren¡¯t you too weak for your own good?¡±

    Ning Ran realized how bad her words sounded and exined hastily, ¡°I¡¯m not saying that you¡¯re weak,

    of course. I mean, don¡¯t you think they¡¯re underestimating you since you aren¡¯t that weak?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re not underestimating me. If you had agreed to go along with their n, they would¡¯ve been able

    to cause great damage to me,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°For starters, my rtionship with you is rather special. Thus, whateveres out of your mouth will

    sound truthful to the public.¡±

    ¡°Secondly, they nned everything very well. Even if they couldn¡¯t topple me from power, they

    would¡¯ve been able to reap a huge advantage from your betrayal anyway.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. What advantage would they have gained?¡±

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand.¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you teach me, then? I might be able to understand.¡± Ning Ran grabbed hold of his arm and

    shook it a little. ¡°Tell me about it.¡±

    Nan Chen nced down at her. Under the light, the woman¡¯s face was beautiful beyondparison.

    ¡°It¡¯s time for bed. Let¡¯s talk about this tomorrow.¡± Nan Chen got up.

 Chapter 499

    Chapter 499

    Nan Chen had piqued Ning Ran¡¯s curiosity, and she was unable to wait till tomorrow to hear more

    about it.

    She got up and followed after him as he walked into his bedroom.

    ¡°Come on, just tell me! What benefit would they have reaped? What advantage would they have

    gained? If you tell me, I¡¯ll understand immediately! I¡¯m not stupid...¡±

    Ning Ran entered the room to find Nan Chen already lying in bed.

    She felt rather dazed. Why the hell am I following him into the bedroom?

    Is this one of his tricks again?

    ¡°Do you really want to know? Lie down, then. I¡¯ll tell you slowly.¡± Nan Chen patted the empty space

    next to him on the bed.

    Ning Ran stumbled backwards. ¡°No, thanks!¡±

    ¡°See how fickle you are! Haven¡¯t we slept together before? If you lie down, I promise to tell you,¡± Nan

    Chen said.

    ¡°I¡ª¡± Ning Ran hesitated a little.

    ¡°The bed in your room is nowhere asfortable as this one. Come on, lie down,¡± Nan Chen

    continued to coax her.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. I think I¡¯d better return to my room.¡±

    Ning Ran turned around to leave, but Nan Chen sat up in bed and grabbed hold of her. As he hugged

    her tightly to his chest, he said, ¡°Just lie down!¡±

    Ning Ran hadn¡¯t expected this. Her mind went nk and her heart started to race.

    Ning Ran hated how weak she was being. Every time Nan Chen hugged her, her heart would start

    beating like that of a young girl¡¯s. Whenever that happened, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a little scornful of

    herself.

    Slowly, her heart calmed down. Ning Ran stopped struggling in his arms andy her head against Nan

    Chen¡¯s chest. ¡°Fine, can you tell me now? Why did they want me to frame you?¡±

    Nan Chen felt a little annoyed. Why is she still pestering me about this instead of enjoying this moment

    with me? What an unromantic woman.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already told you. Some of thepanies under Nanshi Corporation are overseaspanies.

    Thesepanies can be short-sold. Do you know what short-selling means?¡±

    Ning Ran replied, ¡°Yes, I do.¡±

    Nan Chen sounded surprised. ¡°You do?¡±

    ¡°Excuse me, I¡¯ve been to university, and I majored in finance, you know! Back then, my mom was

    preparing me to take over thepany. However, she got into an ident soon after,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Yes, you¡¯ve been to university, but you never graduated from it,¡± Nan Chen retorted.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, I still understand a lot of things rted to finance. Short-selling means specting that

    stock prices are going to fall, while the opposite means specting that stock prices will rise,¡± Ning Ran

    replied.

    ¡°Good for you. Thank goodness I¡¯m not talking to an idiot. Otherwise, I don¡¯t know how we¡¯re going to

    be able tomunicate,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°You¡¯re the idiot,¡± Ning Ran said crossly.

    ¡°Since you know the mechanics of stock-buying, can you still not understand what¡¯s going on? And

    here you are, still denying that you¡¯re an idiot?¡± Nan Chen frowned.

    ¡°Alright. I think I get it now.¡±

    Determined to prove that she wasn¡¯t an imbecile, Ning Ran started to think hard about a few questions.

    She didn¡¯t like to use her brains. She only did so when special asions called for it, so people tended

    to mistake her for being slow.

    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I got it.¡±

    Ning Ran disentangled herself from his limbs and sat up in bed. She sat by Nan Chen¡¯s side and

    looked down at him, feeling rather triumphant.

    ¡°Those people betted that yourpanies¡¯ stock prices were going to fall before forcing me to betray

    you. Once that happened, the news is bound to get out to the public regardless. You would have made

    headlines.¡±

    ¡°After that, your investors would start panicking and selling their shares, resulting in a huge fall in your

    company¡¯s stock price. Those people would thus gain a huge sum of profit, right?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t reply. Instead, he continued to gaze at her.

    ¡°Did I exin something wrongly? I think I exined it very well.¡±

    Nan Chen pulled her down toy next to him again. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right.¡±

    Ning Ran cheered up immediately. ¡°I knew it! See, I...¡±

    Before she could finish speaking Nan Chen pressed a kiss to her lips.

    Caught unaware, her mind nked out again.

    The kiss was fierce, making her felt a little breathless, and her lungs started to hurt a little.

    Ning Ran finally pulled away and took deep, gulping breaths.

    However, Nan Chen didn¡¯t stop. He flipped around and pressed her to the bed, before pressing his lips

    to hers again.

    Ning Ran¡¯s mind felt as though it was made of mush. All she could see was darkness. In her mind, a

    man was trying to take off her clothes. As his hands slithered all over her body, he took the form of a

    venomous snake.

    She felt a little sick to her stomach.

    With as much strength as her small body could manage, she pushed him away from her and yelled,

    ¡°You b*stard! Get away from me!¡±

    She cursed him out angrily.

    Ignoring the disheveled state of her clothes, she ran out of the room quickly.

    Nan Chen was stunned by this sudden turn of events. It was one thing for the woman to refuse his

    advances and another thing for her to curse him out. What is wrong with her?

    Turning on the light, he then ran out to the living room only to find Ning Ran curled up in a corner of the

    sofa. She was shaking a little, her face was white and her eyes looking extremely helpless.

    In a sh, his heart melted.

    He crept closer to her as slowly as he could, for fear of rming her again.

    Thankfully, Ning Ran had already woken up from her panic attack. She could see that the person

    making his way towards her was Nan Chen.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Ning Ran said helplessly to him.

    Nan Chen sat down next to her and stroke her hair softly.

    Afterward, he carried her up in his arms and walked back to his bedroom.

    ¡°Lie down. Everything¡¯s fine now.¡±

    As he continued to soothe her, Ning Ran started to calm down.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t touch her for the rest of that night. He simplyy down next to her and fell asleep.

    Ning Ran fell asleep slowly.

    She slept very soundly because she hadn¡¯t gotten much sleep over the past few nights.

    When she finally woke up, it was already ten in the morning.

    While she was still asleep, she felt a desperate need to pee but managed to hold it in until she woke

    up.

    When she woke up, she realized she couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore. Without even putting on her slippers,

    she dashed into the toilet.

    When she emerged from the toilet, she felt much more rxed and energized. She nearly crashed into

    the man who was leaning against the wall by the door.

    The man gazed at her bare feet, making Ning Ran felt a little embarrassed. ¡°It¡¯s already sote in the

    morning. Aren¡¯t you supposed to be at work?¡±

    ¡°Do you hate wearing shoes?¡± the man asked.

    ¡°No, I...¡±

    Ning Ran felt too shy to tell him that she couldn¡¯t hold in her pee.

    ¡°My feet felt a little hot under the covers, so I wanted to help them cool off a little.¡± Ning Ran made up a

    lame excuse on the spot.

    ¡°It¡¯s ten degrees colder today than it was yesterday, but you feel hot? Why don¡¯t you head out to the

    balcony to cool off then?¡± Nan Chen asked sarcastically.

    ¡°No thanks. I¡¯m cool enough as it is.¡±

    As she spoke, Ning Ran ran back to the bedroom.

    The man¡¯s lips curved into a smile.

    After she finished washing up, Ning Ran emerged from the bathroom. However, she couldn¡¯t find Nan

    Chen anywhere.

    ¡°Nan Chen?¡± she yelled.

    Almost immediately, he ran out from the kitchen in a panic, an apron tied around his waist.

    ¡°Why did you yell for me?¡± Nan Chen thought something had happened to her.

    ¡°Nothing. I couldn¡¯t see you, so I thought you left for work. I decided to yell out your name to see if you

    were still around.¡± Ning Ran said, smiling.

    ¡°If you thought I was at work, why did you yell for me?¡± Nan Chen asked in confusion.

    ¡°I was yelling your name for fun! For fun, alright? What are you doing now?¡±

    ¡°Making breakfast.¡± Nan Chen walked back into the kitchen.

    Ning Ran felt intrigued. ¡°Wow! Is Sir Chen going to make breakfast by himself? How wonderful of him!¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t get anyone to deliver breakfast this morning. I thought you were going to wake up and make

    something for me, but you didn¡¯t wake up on time,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran burst intoughter.

    So, the young master thought I was going to wake up and make breakfast for him and had patiently

    waited for me to wake up?

    Nan Chen never expected that she would take forever to wake up. Feeling as though he was about to

    die from hunger, he decided to get up and make breakfast himself.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± Ning Ran said, still snorting.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine! I¡¯m nearly done, anyway. I might have failed thest time, but I¡¯ll be able to cook up something

    good this time,¡± Nan Chen insisted.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be waiting, then.¡±

    Ning Ran picked up her phone and started reading the news.

    There were already reports of her being released on acquittal. An important member of the police had

    answered the reporters¡¯ questions himself, admitting that Ning Ran had been set up by someone and

    that there wasn¡¯t enough evidence to convict her.

    Ning Ran felt like she was on cloud nine and that the load on her shoulders was finally lifted.

 Chapter 500

    Chapter 500

    Seeing the dining tableden with dishes, Ning Ran felt her stomach growl with hunger.

    She had nned to eat noodles yesterday night, but she only ended up eating them this morning.

    However, as she peered into the bowl of noodles Nan Chen had prepared, she felt rather stunned.

    The noodles had been overcooked, which wouldn¡¯t have been a problem in itself. However, Nan Chen

    hadn¡¯t washed them with cold water, which resulted in the noodles clumping together into unsightly

    lumps.

    She took a bite and almost spat it out. The taste was abhorrent.

    Ning Ran looked at the fried eggs. They were very clearly burnt. As she ced a small mouthful into

    her mouth, she could feel a bitter taste on her tongue.

    Ning Ran then drank some of the soup. ¡°Not bad.¡±

    Nan Chen put down his chopsticks, looking very despondent.

    He had done his best. He had spent nearly forty minutes in the kitchen trying to whip up something

    edible, but the results were disappointing.

    ¡°It¡¯s not too bad! I see some improvements,¡± Ning Ran said, smiling.

    ¡°Then you can finish it,¡± Nan Chen said, sulking.

    Ning Ran felt startled. Is he being serious? The food¡¯s so badly cooked that even dogs might turn their

    noses up at it.

    ¡°Sure! If you finish your portion, I¡¯ll finish mine too,¡± Ning Ran said, fighting to keep a straight face.

    ¡°No thanks. I¡¯ll just have some water.¡±

    ¡°Now that won¡¯t do! You spent so long making this. You should enjoy the fruits of your hard work.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t stomach this at all, but if you think it¡¯s not bad, you can finish the entire table of dishes.¡±

    Ning Ran burst intoughter. ¡°I was merely praising you out of politeness, did you think I was serious?

    Are these noodles or noodle balls? Can¡¯t you tell when you¡¯ve overcooked the noodles?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll try again. I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be able to do this properly.¡± Nan Chen stood up from his seat, looking very

    displeased.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough. If you end up cooking another bowl of noodle lumps, I might starve to death. I¡¯ll do it,¡±

    Ning Ran said quickly.

    Nan Chen demurred. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s not have breakfast then. We might as well have lunch now. I¡¯ll call

    Qiao Zhan and have him bring some dishes over.¡±

    Ning Ran nced at the clock. It was indeed nearly time for lunch. She agreed immediately.

    Nan Chen took the remote control and jumped back in front of the television. He turned the channel

    back to the investment news channel.

    Some of Vietnam¡¯s high-ranking government officials had observed some of Nanshi Corporation¡¯s

    projects in their country and given them a thumbs up.

    Officials from the European Union had done the same and appraised the Nanshi Corporation¡¯s

    ventures within their territory, before giving them the same high praise.

    All sorts of good news regarding Nanshi Corporation was being made known to the public at the same

    time. Instantaneously, thepanies under the corporation started experiencing a huge jump in their

    stock prices. One of them even managed to reach a fifteen percent rise in stock price.

    Nan Chen finished watching the news. As a smile appeared on his face, he turned to look at Ning Ran.

    ¡°Do you understand that?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Ning Ran said confidently.

    ¡°Well, what do you understand?¡± Nan Chen asked in disbelief.

    ¡°Those with bad intentions betted on a decrease in the stock prices ofpanies under Nanshi

    Corporation. Now that the stock price has increased instead, they¡¯ve lost their money. The more they

    betted, the more money they would¡¯ve lost, right?¡±

    Nan Chen nodded with satisfaction.

    Ning Ran looked up at him, feeling pleased with herself. ¡°See, didn¡¯t I tell you I understood?¡±

    Nan Chen nced at her. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you agree to sell me out when those people were pressuring you

    to do so?¡±

    ¡°Because I knew they wouldn¡¯t seed. I¡¯m not an idiot.¡±

    ¡°If they told you to betray me in exchange for your own freedom, would you have done it, then?¡±

    ¡°What sort of scenario is that? I¡¯ve never even thought about it.¡±

    ¡°Well, think carefully now.¡±

    Ning Ran thought for a long time before she shook her head.

    ¡°Why not?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Firstly, if I really betrayed you, the Nan family would¡¯ve been after my blood as soon as I was

    released.¡±

    ¡°Secondly, you¡¯re the kids¡¯ father, and you¡¯re more capable of protecting them than I am. If one of us

    had to be sacrificed, I¡¯d rather it be me than you.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    ¡°Hence, I¡¯ll be holding a grudge against them until I can settle it. I won¡¯t hurt you, or go along with

    other¡¯s ns to hurt you,¡± Ning Ran said determinedly.

    Nan Chen didn¡¯t say anything.

    He suddenly felt a little touched. How can just a few words from her evoked these feelings from me?

    This isn¡¯t scientific at all.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you let me sleep with you?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Ning Ran shook her head.

    ¡°After lunch, let¡¯s go and pay the psychiatrist a visit.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Ning Ran rejected his suggestion immediately.

    ¡°Why not? You should resolve your psychological problems as quickly as you can. Look how

    embarrassing it is for the both of us!¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it in the future. There are so many things going on right now. Who has the time to think

    about something so trivial as going to a psychiatrist?¡±

    Nan Chen agreed with her. After all, they had their whole lives ahead of them. This wasn¡¯t urgent.

    Suddenly, a strange sound sounded out of nowhere. It sounded like the growl of a famished stomach.

    Nan Chen looked at Ning Ran. She smiled in embarrassment. ¡°Can you call Qiao Zhan and get him to

    hurry up? I¡¯m starving!¡±

    ...

    At Flower City¡¯s train station, Zhang Xiaoman hurried toward the tform with her luggage in tow, a

    mask obscuring half her face from view.

    She was theizen who hadined online about how the products from Beauty Cosmetics¡¯ are

    defective earlier. She had even used Ning Ran of participating in false advertising.

    Although she was wearing a mask, she still felt extremely unsafe. She looked down at the ground as

    she walked.

    There were many people entering the train station and the queue was extremely long. Zhang Xiaoman

    wanted to jump the queue, but the people ahead refused to let her do so. She had no choice but to

    head to the back.

    ¡°Miss Zhang, where do you think you¡¯re heading?¡±

    A man the size of a small tower walked toward her and wrenched the luggage from her hands.

    ¡°What are you doing? Give me my luggage back!¡± Zhang Xiaoman hollered in panic.

    ¡°Miss Zhang, don¡¯t you worry. I¡¯m just here to chat with you about a few matters. I¡¯ll leave when we¡¯re

    done,¡± Qiao Zhan said in a low voice.

    ¡°I have a train to catch. I have no time to talk to you right now,¡± Zhang Xiaoman objected vehemently.

    ¡°Oh, we can¡¯t do that! Why don¡¯t you call the police? We can go down to the police station and have

    our little chat there. You spread all sorts of rumors and damaged the reputation of Beauty Cosmetics,

    not to mention the financial losses incurred. You will take responsibility for this. Miss Zhang, do you

    think we¡¯ll let you off so easily?¡±

    Zhang Xiaoman felt even more panicked. ¡°Who are you? What are you trying to do?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m the head of the security detail at Nanshi Corporation. You can call me Qiao Zhan.¡±

    Qiao Zhan had recently begged Nan Zhengde for this title. He couldn¡¯t stomach the fact that, despite

    being no worse than Jiang Zhe, Jiang Zhe¡¯s rank was higher than his own.

    Without the position, Qiao Zhancked the authority to do many things. Hence, he had no choice but to

    turn to Nan Zhengde for help.

    As such, Nan Zhengde granted him the title of Head of Security. He was henceforth in charge of

    overseeing all the security teams at all thepanies under Nanshi Corporation.

    This was no small deal. Nanshi Corporation had severalpanies under them. The fact that he could

    oversee all the security teams meant that Qiao Zhan had truly risen up in the world.

    Although he had already been in a pretty high position before, Qiao Zhan had never been important

    enough tomand attention and respect. He was only the Nan family¡¯s security team leader, and this

    didn¡¯t sound impressive enough.

    However, everything had worked out in the end. He was now the Head of Security, and he could finally

    do as he pleased.

    As this was the first time he had showed off his rank to someone outside the team, he felt exhration

    running through his veins. As he spoke to Zhang Xiaoman, his back was perfectly straight.

    Zhang Xiaoman didn¡¯t care who he was. However, as soon as he mentioned Nanshi Corporation, a

    look of fear crept onto her face.

    ¡°I have no idea who you are. Please leave me alone.¡±

    Abandoning her train and her luggage, Zhang Xiaoman turned and ran for her life.

    Before she could get away, however, a man wearing a suit stepped in front of her.

    She turned to look at Qiao Zhan fearfully. He smiled at her and said, ¡°You can¡¯t escape. If you don¡¯t

    want me to report you to the police and make you pay for the financial losses, you¡¯d bettere quietly

    with me. You¡¯re not someone important, so I won¡¯t make things difficult for you. Besides, I¡¯m the Head

    of Security, why would I bother with a small fry like you?¡±

    His subordinates felt the urge tough. Captain Qiao must¡¯ve wanted this promotion for a long time. He

    managed to insert a reference to his position in every single sentence he spoke.

 Chapter 501

    Chapter 501

    As Zhang Xiaoman was squirming, she yelled, ¡°Let go of me! Help!¡±

    ¡°You''re too soft! No one''s going to hear you,¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    ¡°What do you want from me?¡±

    ¡°Not much, honestly. I just want to talk to you. If you''re worried something is going to happen to you,

    you can call the police. I won''t stop you.¡± Qiao Zhan simply gestured to her to make the call.

    However, Zhang Xiaoman had no intention to call the police. All she wanted to do was to run away.

    ¡°I don''t want to talk to you, and I have nothing to say to you. Instead, I have a train to catch!¡± Zhang

    Xiaoman roared.

    ¡°As I''ve told you before, I won''t force you into anything. Nevertheless, I won''t hesitate to call the police

    if you don''t cooperate. Mypany has suffered tremendous loss because of what you said. We''ll

    demand fullpensation from you.¡±

    Upon hearing that, Zhang Xiaoman went silent.

    ¡°Let''s go. We should have a talk. Trust me. You won''t get far even if you get on the train now. You can

    run all you want, but I''m going to find you. Do you want what I''m best at? I''m best at ying cat and

    mouse, and I''m a hell of a cat. Of course, I''m an even better head of security.¡± Qiao Zhan looked at her

    with a smug on his face.

    Left without a choice, Zhang Xiaoman gave in and got into Qiao Zhan''s car.

    After that, Qiao Zhan whipped out his phone and rang Jiang Zhe.

    Thetter picked up the phone. ¡°Captain Qiao¡ª¡±

    Qiao Zhan cut him off instantly and ordered, ¡°I''m the head of security. Address me as Chief Qiao from

    now on.¡±

    Jiang Zhe was overjoyed. ¡°Oh, I heard about it! Please look after me from now on, Chief Qiao. I''d like

    you to do something about thedies in thepany. They''re constantly harassing me with text

    messages.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about, Jiang Zhe? Do you think I have time for your trivial matters? You better

    watch what you say!¡± Qiao Zhan thundered.

    ¡°What do you want, then? Why did you call? Did you call me just to tell me you got promoted?¡± Jiang

    Zhe was amused.

    ¡°I want you to deliver Sir Chen a message. I''ve found the person in question. I''ll interrogate her before

    bringing her over.¡±

    ¡°All right,¡± Jiang Zhe answered.

    ¡°Let me make myself clear. I''m instructing you to deliver the message instead of reporting to you. Make

    sure Sir Chen is informed. Please see to it.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I heard you the first time. I have things on my hand. Got to go.¡±

    ¡°Wait, are you not going to congratte me on my promotion?¡±

    ¡°Congrattions.¡±

    ¡°That''s it? That''s all you have to say?¡± Qiao Zhan queried.

    ¡°What else do you want?¡±

    ¡°Well, don''t you think you ought to treat me to a meal or something?¡±

    ¡°Isn''t it supposed to be the other way around? Since you''ve been promoted, aren''t you going to buy me

    a meal?¡±

    ¡°No. Since we''ll be working closely in the future, I think you have to build a strong rtionship with me.

    Otherwise, how would we be able to work well together?¡±

    ¡°You''re such a smug!¡± Jiang Zhe smiled before hanging up the phone.

    Qiao Zhan was over the moon after his phone call with Jiang Zhe.

    Thetter was the first person that popped up in his mind when he wanted to boast about his

    promotion. He was eager to show off his official title.

    ¡°All right, then. Where would you like to go for a chat?¡± Qiao Zhan was in an excellent mood as he

    looked at Zhang Xiaoman and asked.

    ¡°How would I know?¡±

    ¡°Okay, I''ll decide. I''m bringing you somewhere nice.¡±

    Qiao Zhan was being rather gentle with Zhang Xiaoman. After bringing her to a cafe, he ordered her a

    cup of coffee and a slice of cheesecake.

    ¡°Thepany was forced to stop production and sales in the aftermath of your words. As a result,

    we''ve suffered losses of up to a million. Now that the testing results are out, it was proven that there

    was nothing wrong with our products. Hence, thepany intends to sue you for defamation and get

    compensated. As for Ms. Ding, she has had issues with product endorsements because of what you

    did. You''re required topensate up to ten million on that. Since I have no idea how much you were

    paid by the person who asked you to do all these, I do wonder if you have enough money to pay for all

    thepensations. If you do, then there''s nothing else for us to discuss. All you need to do is pay up. If

    you don''t, may I know how you intend to fix this? Before you say anything, please know that there''s no

    way you can escape my grasp.¡±

    With that, he took a sip of his coffee gleefully. Since I''ve been promoted, I should act more

    sophisticatedly.

    Zhang Xiaoman was fidgeting anxiously because she didn''t expect things to turn out so badly.

    Of course, Nan Chen was able to prevent such heavy losses. Qiao Zhan was just intimidating her.

    ¡°I was wrong,¡± Zhang Xiaoman apologized.

    ¡°Your apology doesn''t fix a thing. In fact, only kids have the luxury of offering nothing but their apologies

    upon doing something wrong. As for an adult like you, you have to be responsible for your actions, and

    you ought to pay for your mistakes. Seeing how serious the damage is, how do you intend to resolve

    this issue?¡± Qiao Zhan stared at Zhang Xiaoman while he spoke.

    ¡°I haven''t thought about it yet.¡± Zhang Xiaoman was devastated.

    ¡°Why did you do it in the first ce?¡±

    ¡°My boyfriend gave me ten thousand and told me to do it.¡±

    ¡°Ten thousand? That little?¡± Qiao Zhan was baffled.

    Then, a realization dawned upon him. She was tricked by her boyfriend!

    ¡°It seems like he has tricked you. I''m sure he''s getting paid a lot more than that for what you pulled on

    us. He must be spending his rewards on other women as we speak. Now that you''re caught, he doesn''t

    even bother to help you,¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    Zhang Xiaoman got worked up all of a sudden and eximed, ¡°I think so, too! Damn it! I''ve been fooled

    by him!¡±

    ¡°Now is not the time for that. You''ve got to think about how to get yourself out of trouble. If you don''t

    mind, I can show you a way out of this.¡± Qiao Zhan stared at her.

    ¡°Please, help me! I''d do anything as long as I don''t have to pay for thepensation!¡± Zhang Xiaoman

    anxiously answered.

    ¡°Very well, then. Do you really have a skin allergy?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Zhang Xiaoman lowered her head in shame.

    ¡°What brand of makeup do you normally use? Do you use any of Beauty Cosmetics'' products?¡±

    ¡°No. Beauty Cosmetics'' products are too expensive for me. I only use the other brands.¡±

    Qiao Zhan nodded. She must be telling the truth.

    ¡°Okay, here''s what we''re going to do. I''ll set up an interview for you. Then, you must tell the truth to

    rify the situation. Once you''ve done that, we won''te after you anymore. Remember, only the

    truth. I won''t help you if you lie.¡±

    Zhang Xiaoman seemed hesitated.

    Qiao Zhan immediately stood up and said, ¡°Since you don''t want to cooperate, I''ll leave now. See you

    in court.¡±

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°Wait! I''ll do whatever you say!¡± Zhang Xiaoman panicked.

    Qiao Zhan smiled upon hearing that. I knew you were going to yield. It seems like I''m just as smart as

    Jiang Zhe, if not smarter!

 Chapter 502

    Chapter 502

    In order to avoid any element of bias, Qiao Zhan arranged for a professional journalist to conduct the

    interview.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    The journalist in question was the samedy who questioned Ning Ran''s integrity openly. She was

    known for her directness and harsh methods of journalism. Besides, she was well-received in the eyes

    of the public.

    That was why Qiao Zhan contacted her for Zhang Xiaoman''s interview. Unsurprisingly, she epted

    the gig unhesitatingly.

    There was no way she would let such an opportunity slide.

    However, Qiao Zhan had a special request. He was adamant about being present at the interview.

    Furthermore, he''d vet the script prior to being published. The journalist epted all his terms and

    conditions.

    As soon as they were done setting up the camera equipment, Zhang Xiaoman showed up nervously.

    The journalist adjusted her sses and started the interview. ¡°Ms. Zhang, thank you for meeting us for

    this exclusive interview. Are you feeling better now?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I didn''t have a skin allergy in the first ce,¡± Zhang Xiaoman replied.

    ¡°Okay. We shall cut to the chase. Are you retracting yourments regarding the problems you had

    with Beauty Cosmetics'' products?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I''ve lied about it. I''d like to apologize for my actions.¡± Zhang Xiaoman lowered her head in guilt.

    ¡°Why are you doing so? Are you under any pressure from Beauty Cosmetics? Are they forcing you to

    do so?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Did you finallye to your senses? Have you only found your conscience?¡± Indeed, the journalist

    didn''t hold back on her methods of questioning.

    Zhang Xiaoman fell silent, and she hung her head lower.

    The journalist adjusted her sses and paused for a few seconds. She then changed her tone.

    ¡°Since you''ve admitted to lying, what do you have to say to Beauty Cosmetics?¡± the journalist queried.

    ¡°I''d like to apologize to them.¡±

    ¡°Is that all?¡±

    Zhang Xiaoman fell silent once again upon hearing that.

    ¡°How about Ding Mi? Do you have anything to say to her?¡± the journalist asked.

    ¡°I''d like to tell her I''m sorry. I shouldn''t defame her. To be honest, I''m a huge fan of her shows. I hope

    she''d be big-hearted enough to forgive me. I''ll never repeat my mistakes.¡±

    ¡°Do you think she''ll forgive you?¡±

    ¡°I have no idea. Although I don''t think she''s obliged to do so, I sincerely hope that she could forgive

    me.¡±

    The interview went on.

    Ning Ran was in Nan Chen''s office when she watched the interview.

    Since she didn''t know Zhang Xiaoman personally, she didn''t hold grudges against her. It''s all in the

    past. My forgiveness is irrelevant because life has to go on.

    Ning Ran still had other matters to attend to in her life.

    That afternoon, she had to fetch her kids from school earlier than usual before attending a parent-

    teacher conference. That was thest parent-teacher conference of the semester before winter break.

    Although she felt uneasy showing up in public amid the controversies, Nan Chen felt otherwise. He

    insisted on her attending the conference and listening to what the school had to say.

    What annoyed Ning Ran the most was the fact that Nan Chen himself wasn''t going to be there to

    apany her. Coincidentally, he had important matters to attend to that day.

    Jiang Zhe entered at that moment and said, ¡°Mr. Chen, the videoconference is starting soon.¡±

    Nan Chen stood up and gazed at Ning Ran. ¡°Remember to attend the parent-teacher conference,

    okay? Please take it seriously. Note down everything the teacher has to say and tell me all about it

    tonight.¡±

    Ning Ran rolled her eyes at him and grumbled, ¡°Why aren''t you going instead? I hate parent-teacher

    conferences the most!¡±

    ¡°As the mother to the kids, you''ve never attended once. You''re shirking your responsibilities! Hence, I''m

    giving you the opportunity to redeem yourself. Please do it right,¡± Nan Chen advised.

    Ning Ran ignored him in response.

    After Nan Chen stepped out of the office, Jiang Zhe said, ¡°Ms. Ding, your car is ready. You can go

    anytime now.¡±

    ¡°So he asked me here for nothing? All he wanted from me was to sit here for an hour?¡± Ning Ran

    comined.

    ¡°I''m not too sure about that. Perhaps that''s all he wanted.¡± Jiang Zhe couldn''t help but smile.

    ¡°He''s out of his mind!¡± Ning Ran fumed.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, it''s better not to talk bad about Mr. Chen at the office. It wouldn''t be nice if the other

    employees hear it,¡± Jiang Zhe reminded with a smile on his face.

    ¡°Fine, then. I''ll go now.¡±

    Twenty minutester, Ning Ran arrived at the school''s entrance.

    There were still around ten minutes till the parent-teacher conference.

    The driver parked the car at the school''s parking lot to wait for Ning Ran while she walked into the

    school on her own.

    ¡°Isn''t that her? Isn''t that her?¡±

    As she was walking toward the school, the parents were murmuring amongst themselves.

    ¡°That''s her! She was nothing until she got into bed with the young master of the Nan family and gave

    birth to his kids.¡±

    ¡°Is she attending the parent-teacher conference? Does she think she''s one of us? What gives her that

    right?¡±

    ¡°She earned it when she gave birth, of course!¡± someone mocked.

    ¡°She''s not even married to him yet. Perhaps one day, the young master of the Nan family would get

    tired of her and dump her! She''d be left with nothing!¡± a woman in the crowdmented.

    ¡°That''s bound to happen, no? I bet she knows it as well.¡±

    Ning Ran heard all the remarks because they didn''t bother to dish the dirt on her softly.

    However, she pretended as though she couldn''t hear them and kept walking.

    Since the school was only attended by all the influential people, Ning Ran knew she couldn''t afford to

    mess with any of them.

    Some of the women there were dressed in expensive clothes and wore a lot of jewelry.

    Although Ning Ran didn''t look too shabby herself, she was not as mboyant as them.

    ¡°Make way for the junkie! Watch out, she bites!¡± someone sneered loudly.

    Suddenly, everyone took a step back and distanced themselves from Ning Ran.

    Needless to say, they were all making fun of her.

    Despite the provocations, Ning Ran kept herposure and ignored them.

    ¡°How rude! Is she just going to walk straight in without greeting anyone? No wonder her kids are rude

    as well! I heard her kid got into a fight a couple of days ago!¡±

    ¡°Well, you can''t me her. She only knows how to have kids. She''s clueless when ites to

    disciplining them.¡±

    Initially, Ning Ran didn''t give a hoot about the mockeries aimed at her. However, she lost her cool when

    they started talking badly about her kids. Why did you all have to drag my kids into this?

    Hence, she turned around and asked, ¡°What did you guys say? Are you calling my kids rude?¡±

    ¡°Aren''t the parents supposed to teach them manners? After seeing how rude you are, it''s no surprise

    how your kids behave themselves!¡± someone taunted.

    Ning Ran whipped out her phone and took a photo of the person who taunted her.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± the person asked in shock.

    ¡°Since I don''t know who you are, I have to take a photo of you and show Nan Chen. I''ll tell him how

    badly this person talked about his kids. I''ll make sure Nan Chen finds you personally. By then, perhaps

    you could teach him how to discipline his kids!¡± Ning Ran eximed.

    Upon hearing those words, the crowd fell silent instantly.

    As they were having the time of their lives taking a swipe at Ning Ran, they had forgotten about Nan

    Chen and the Nan family.

    That prestigious family wasn''t one to be messed with.

 Chapter 503

    Chapter 503

    Immediately, the person panicked and said, ¡°Stop it. Why are you so tensed? I was just joking.¡±

    ¡°Exactly! Since our kids are studying at the same school, we as parents are just looking out for each

    other. Take it easy, okay?¡±

    Ning Ran didn''t expect them to be so scared of Nan Chen. Wow! This wille in handy!

    Since the crowd had gotten off her back, she turned around and left. She wasn''t interested in talking to

    any of them.

    ¡°Mommy!¡± Erbao spotted Ning Ran and ran toward her.

    Ning Ran carried her up into her arms. She''s getting heavier! I wonder if that''s because she has grown

    or she has gotten chubbier. Perhaps it''s both!

    ¡°I''m so d you''re here, Mommy!¡± Erbao wrapped her arms around Ning Ran''s neck tightly.

    ¡°I''m very happy to see you, too!¡± Ning Ran had tears welled up in her eyes.

    ¡°Look, everyone! That''s Ning Sihan''s mommy! She has been in jail before!¡± a chubby boy eximed.

    ¡°Is she a bad person?¡± another kid asked.

    ¡°That''s for sure! Otherwise, why was she in jail? We should stay away from her.¡±

    The chubby kid talking bad about Ning Ran was Wang Xiaopang, Wang Shengli''s son.

    ¡°Mommy, I don''t like him. He''s talking bad about you again! That''s why Dabao and I got into a fight with

    himst time!¡± Erbao was enraged.

    ¡°Are your parents here, kid?¡± Ning Ran asked Wang Xiaopang.

    ¡°My parents areing soon! I''m not afraid of you. I''ll get my daddy''s bodyguards to beat you up if you

    bully me!¡± Wang Xiaopang ced both of his arms on his waist and stood arrogantly.

    ¡°Okay, then. I''ll look for your parentster.¡± Ning Ran held in her anger, although she was infuriated.

    She knew not to take it out on the kid because it was his parents'' fault that he turned that way. Even if

    the kid wasn''t taught to speak so rudely, he might''ve picked it up by watching how his parents act

    around him.

    ¡°My parents are here! Daddy!¡± Wang Xiaopang was waving at the couple walking up behind Ning Ran.

    Wang Shengli arrived at the school alongside his wife.

    Wang Shengli had never met Ning Ran in person. Thisdy is so young! She doesn''t look like she''s a

    parent. Instead, she looks more like a fresh graduate. Wow! She''s pretty!

    ¡°Is she your new teacher?¡± Wang Shengli asked his son.

    ¡°No! She''s Ning Sihan''s mommy! She was bullying me!¡± Wang Xiaopang grumbled while pointing his

    finger at Ning Ran.

    Before Wang Shengli had time to react, Mrs. Wang rushed toward Ning Ran.

    She was furious upon hearing that her son was bullied.

    ¡°How dare you bully my son?¡± Mrs. Wang raised her hand and aimed at Ning Ran''s cheek.

    Ning Ran was still holding Erbao in her arms at that point. She was worried that her daughter might get

    scared. Hence, she turned her body around slightly, hoping that Mrs. Wang would miss.

    To her dismay, she ended up receiving a tight p across her face.

    Mrs. Wang was behaving way out of line by hitting someone.

    ¡°Nice one! Beat her to death!¡± Wang Xiaopang was cheering when he saw that.

    Ning Ran put Erbao down and stood in front of her to shield her. ¡°Why did you hit me?¡±

    ¡°Why not? You bullied my son!¡± Mrs. Wang was acting all high and mighty.

    A teacher was setting up the ce for the parent-teacher conference when she heard themotion,

    and she rushed out immediately.

    ¡°Wang Xiaopang''s mom hit someone!¡± some of the kids ran up to the teacher and reported.

    ¡°Are you all right, Ms. Ding?¡± The teacher recognized her right away because her shows were quite

    popr at that time.

    ¡°This parent is out of line! She pped me for no reason.¡± Ning Ran was enraged.

    ¡°You''re Ding Mi? The actress?¡± Wang Shengli finally came to his senses.

    ¡°Actress? She''s nothing!¡± Mrs. Wang fumed.

    p!

    Wang Shengli gave his wife a tight p across her face. He put so much energy into the p that it

    almost sent Mrs. Wang falling to the ground.

    ¡°Are you out of your mind? How dare you side with her?¡± Mrs. Wang shouted.

    ¡°Please behave yourselves. The kids are watching.¡± The teacher was having none of it.

    Without giving his wife a second nce, Wang Shengli rushed toward Ning Ran and asked, ¡°Ms. Ding,

    is that you?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I am. Regardless of my mistakes, you have no right to drag my kids into it. They have nothing to

    do with it. Besides, the police and the media have already cleared my name. Why are you guys putting

    so much pressure on my kids?¡± Ning Ranined.

    ¡°I''m so sorry, Ms. Ding. I''m so sorry. She has no idea what she''s doing. I''m so sorry for offending you.¡±

    To everyone''s surprise, Wang Shengli was covered in cold sweats when he bowed and begged for

    forgiveness.

    Wang Shengli had only gone to the parent-teacher conference because he was hoping that he could

    bump into Nan Chen and apologize to him.

    Within two days, all of Wang Shengli''spany projects were halted.

    The reasons for that varied from reluctance from the other party in the contracts to being closed down

    by the authorities. Hence, none of his projects was able to run smoothly.

    Most of his development projects were not being carried out through the proper procedures.

    Although he had never faced a problem with his method, he realized his projects were being held up

    one by one ever since he offended the Nan family.

    Recently, the bank had even revoked his loan of five hundred million, although an agreement had been

    struck earlier on.

    Theck of funding had be a huge problem for Wang Shengli. Even if his projects were to resume

    all at once, he wouldn''t be able to afford the operating costs incurred within a month.

    Based on the current situation, I could be forced to abandon all of my development projects. If I fail to

    resolve the funding issue quick enough, I''d have no choice but to dere bankruptcy. Wang Shengli''s

    situation was getting dire. Hence, he was determined to seek forgiveness from Nan Chen.

    Although he had no proof, he believed that the Nan family had a role in orchestrating his run of

    unfortunate events.

    At that moment, he felt like someone was trying to end his career for good. Although he couldn''t tell

    who was behind it, he knew only someone from the Nan family was capable of taking down one of the

    ten biggest development firms in Flower City.

    To his dismay, his wife had stirred the pot even before he could see Nan Chen. He could feel the pain

    when his wife delivered a p across Ning Ran''s face.

    As a matter of fact, the pain he felt was more than just a p because his wife could''ve single-

    handedly ended his career.

    Ning Ran was stunned upon seeing that. Why is this guy so polite? Why would he bow and beg so

    profusely?

    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    However, she wasn''t going to forgive him straightaway. Since his wife and his kid are so barbaric, I bet

    he''s not as innocent as he seemed to be. I shouldn''t be fooled by his antics.

 Chapter 504

    Chapter 504

    Determined not to sway, Ning Ran stood silently. However, she soon realized she had to do something

    because Wang Shengli wouldn''t stop bowing. Do I have to forgive them now? What if he doesn''t stop?

    ¡°Are you crazy, Wang Shengli? Why are you such a weak man? Why are you shamelessly apologizing

    to that b*tch!¡± Mrs. Wang roared.

    p!

    Wang Shenglinded another vicious p on his wife''s cheek. ¡°Kneel before Ms. Ding and ask for her

    forgiveness!¡±

    Wang Shengli pulled her hair violently, forcing her to kneel before Ning Ran.

    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran was frightened by what she saw. This is way too much! Besides, there are so many children

    and parents watching! What is he doing?

    ¡°Okay, that''s enough. Stop it.¡± It was getting embarrassing for Ning Ran. What if the people watching

    think I''m forcing them to kneel before me?

    ¡°My mommy doesn''t need any of you to kneel before her. She''s a woman of substance!¡± Dabao

    showed up with a stern face.

    He had always had an extraordinary aura, although he was just a kid. Hence, no one dared to stop him

    from speaking his mind. ¡°Wang Xiaopang is a bully! I only hit him when he pulled my sister''s hair.

    Seeing what you''re doing to your wife, now I know where Wang Xiaopang learned it from! All of you

    can call my sister and me rude all you want, but it has nothing to do with my mommy. She had never

    taught us to act violently, nor did she teach us to pull others'' hair. Let bygones be bygones and move

    on, will you? Stop harassing my mommy. I''ll protect her no matter how much you guys want to bully

    her. If I can''t protect her on my own, my daddy, uncles, and great-grandparents will step in! They will all

    protect my mommy. If any of you bully her again, you guys are going to regret it!¡±

    His words were so acerbic they caught everyone by surprise.

    The adults looked at each other in disbelief. None of them expected such words from a five-year-old

    boy.

    ¡°We weren''t bullying your mommy. This is all just a misunderstanding,¡± Wang Shengli exined hastily.

    Everyone was shocked when they saw an influential real estatepany owner exining himself to a

    five-year-old boy.

    ¡°Did she not p my mommy? I''ll definitely tell my daddy about this! If she doesn''t get the punishment

    she deserves, she''ll just keep going around pping people! Wang Xiaopang must''ve gotten it from

    her!¡± Dabao said with a straight face.

    Upon hearing that, Wang Shengli was crushed. I initially came here to apologize to Nan Chen. Who

    would''ve known I ended up offending him once again! I shouldn''t have brought that troublemaker

    along!

    ¡°Little Master, could you please tell Sir Chen I''m sorry? This is all my fault. I''ll head back and divorce

    her right after this. Please forgive me!¡± Wang Shengli was in so much distress he even said he''d

    divorce his wife.

    ¡°Hey! That''s your personal matter. You don''t have to tell my son about it. Stop this at once!¡± Ning Ran''s

    patience was wearing thin.

    ¡°Could you please tell Sir Chen I''d like to apologize to him personally? I''d do anything to redeem

    myself!¡± Wang Shengli was getting desperate by the second.

    The teachers and parents were utterly confused when they saw that. They couldn''t understand why

    Wang Shengli was so afraid of the Nan family.

    Although the Nan family was prominent in Flower City, they had never abused their powers and bullied

    others. Hence, no one could understand why Wang Shengli was apologizing so dramatically.

    Ning Ran was getting suspicious of Wang Shengli''s actions as well. There must be more to this. Since

    that''s the case, I shouldn''t drag this on any longer. I don''t want to end up being the talk of the town

    again!

    ¡°Let''s start the parent-teacher conference. We''ll talk about this some other day.¡± Ning Ran was eager to

    get out of the sticky situation.

    ¡°Yes, that''s right. We''ve already done all the preparations. Parents, please bring your kids toward the

    conference hall. We''ll give some concise reports on the kids'' performance in school. Also, we''ll

    introduce the activities we have for them during the winter break,¡± the principal announced.

    Atst, the crowd dispersed.

    The parent-teacher conferencested only for a while. After it was done, the principal invited Wang

    Shengli and his wife to his office.

    Although the principal had a friendly expression on his face, Wang Shengli could tell something was

    wrong.

    ¡°What''s the matter? Hasn''t the conference finished? Why are you dragging us to your office?¡± Mrs.

    Wang was agitated.

    Since she was pped by her husband in public, she was so embarrassed that she couldn''t wait to

    leave the school. I''m going to settle the score with him when we get home! I want to know why he was

    siding with that vixen!

    ¡°Mr. Wang and Mrs. Wang, I''ve invited the both of you here because I need to tell you guys something.¡±

    The principal was still friendly toward them.

    ¡°Say what you need to say! Stop wasting our time!¡± Mrs. Wang roared.

    ¡°I know the both of you are busy. I''ll cut to the chase, then. Simply put, your son isn''t allowed to study

    here anymore. Please find him a school more worthy of having him,¡± the principal said.

    Mrs. Wang jumped up in shock immediately. ¡°What? You''re kicking my son out of your school? How

    could you do that? We''ve paid tens of thousands for school fees annually! We''ve never paid you less!

    How dare you expel him?¡±

    ¡°Yes, you guys have never paid us less. That''s the only reason I''ve let your son finish the semester.

    Besides, I''ve even allowed you guys to attend the parent-teacher conference. Now, we''ve already done

    our duty for the fees received. As for the next semester, I urge you guys to find him a better school. We

    won''t ept him here anymore,¡± the principal stated.

    ¡°What are you talking about? How could you do that? Are you out of your mind? Are you doing this for

    that vixen?¡± Mrs. Wang scolded the principal while pointing at him.

    ¡°Please calm down, Mrs. Wang. We''ve had trouble with your son ever since the beginning. He''s been

    bullying all the other students. In fact, we''ve already received multipleints from the other

    parents. Needless to say, the students here are all from influential families. Hence, things are bound to

    get out of hand when your son wouldn''t stop physically abusing the other kids. The school had even

    notified you guys before. However, nothing has changed. Not only did you not discipline him, but you''ve

    also sided with him when he bullied the others. Even worse, you''ve even demanded apologies from the

    other parents. Just now, you''veid hands on one of the parents. I''m afraid I cannot agree with your

    teaching methods. Hence, I hope you guys can find him a better school next semester.¡±

    ¡°Now I get it. You''re unhappy because I''ve pped that woman, aren''t you? Are you helping her? Are

    you interested in her because of how pretty she is? Or are you having an affair with her? That''s why

    you''re abusing your authority to kick us out, right?¡± Mrs. Wang fumed.

    Upon hearing that, the principal started to panic. What is this woman bbering about? What if Sir

    Chen overhears this? I might lose my job!

 Chapter 505

    Chapter 505

    ¡°Please watch what you say, Mrs. Wang!¡± the principal warned.

    ¡°What? Am I wrong? It''s either that or the Nan family had paid you off!¡±

    ¡°Mrs. Wang, say whatever you want about me, but please be careful of your choice of words.¡± The

    principal was getting more and more anxious.

    ¡°Will you just shut up? Shut your mouth!¡± Wang Shengli finally had enough of his wife.

    ¡°Why are you still siding with that b*tch?¡±

    p!

    Mrs. Wang received another p across her face.

    ¡°Again? How dare you p me again?¡± That was thest straw. Mrs. Wang raised her hand and

    pped her husband.

    ¡°What the f*ck? How dare you hit me back? Do you have any idea how much pressure I''m under?¡±

    Wang Shengli cursed.

    Then, the couple started arguing in the principal''s office.

    The principal never anticipated the couple to act so brazenly when he decided to invite them into his

    office. ¡°Hey! Stop it, you two! You''re both influential individuals. Can''t you guys be more civilized?¡±

    After a while, the principal finally managed to break them apart. ¡°I''ve asked the both of you here to

    have a proper conversation. This is not the time or ce for you to bicker!¡±

    ¡°You old fool! I won''t allow you to expel my son! If you insist on not letting him attend school here, I''ll

    finish you! I''ll get my workers here to bring the whole ce down within an hour!¡± Mrs. Wang pointed

    her finger at the principal and screamed at the top of her lungs. She was behaving like a hooligan.

    ¡°How dare you?¡± The principal didn''t take the threat well.

    At first, he was treating the two of them with the utmost respect due to their social status. However, he

    didn''t see the point anymore after the scuffle they had in his office.

    Indeed, it was about time he stood up to them.

    ¡°Why not? It''s just a kindergarten. Do you think my workers can''t manage that?¡± Mrs. Wang asked

    arrogantly.

    ¡°No, I don''t think so. We''re part of the Education Group under the Nanshi Corporation. Are you sure

    you''re ready to go up against the Nanshi Corporation? Since I''ve already revealed so much, I guess I

    should just tell you the truth. All this while, the school had been turning a blind eye to your son''s

    bullying issues. However, heid hands on Sir Chen''s daughter this time around! As if that''s not bad

    enough, Mr. Wang came and asked for an apology from the other party without even finding out what

    had happened! How innocent of me to think that was it! Mrs. Wang, on the other hand, came and gave

    Sir Chen''s woman a p across her face today! Since both of you are so capable of offending them

    over and over again, please bring your son away. The school can''t afford to deal with you and your

    family anymore! Please forgive me for being straightforward, but since Sir Chen''s kids are attending

    school here, I''m sure whoever dares to bulldoze the ce down will be forced out of Flower City.¡±

    Although the principal was a perfect gentleman, he could really deliver some harsh words when

    needed.

    ¡°Principal, fine. You can expel my son. However, I have a favor to ask,¡± Wang Shengli pleaded.

    ¡°What is it? If you''re asking me to write your son a rmendation letter, I''d be more than happy to do

    so.¡±

    ¡°That''s a trivial matter at this point. I have something more important I need your help with.¡±

    ¡°What is it? I''m just an educator. I don''t think I can be of much help.¡±

    ¡°I''d like to ask if you could help me arrange a meeting with Sir Chen.¡±

    ¡°Are you crazy, Wang Shengli? Why would you still want to see him?¡± Mrs. Wang asked impatiently.

    ¡°Get lost! This is none of your business! If I don''t make this right, trust me when I say your luxury way

    of living ising to an end!¡± Wang Shengli roared.

    ¡°I can''t help you with that. But since Ms. Ding is here to attend the parent-teacher conference, why

    don''t you ask for her help instead?¡± The principal shook his head and continued, ¡°I''ve already said what

    I needed to say. Your son is no longer wee here. As for your favor, I''m afraid there''s nothing I can

    do to help. You guys can sort it out yourselves.¡±

    With that, the principal gestured for them to leave.

    ¡°Okay. I better hurry and look for Ms. Ding, then!¡± As Wang Shengli was saying that, he hurried out of

    the principal''s office.

    To his surprise, he bumped into Ning Ran and her kids at the office entrance.

    Although the conference had ended quite some time ago, Ning Ran didn''t want to squeeze with the

    crowd. Hence, she waited for everyone to leave before making her way out.

    Since both she and Nan Chen were busy working most of the time, she wanted to show her

    appreciation to the educators while bringing her kids along.

    Unfortunately, she bumped into Wang Shengli and his wife at the entrance of the office. What''s with my

    luck today? Why do I have to see them again?

    ¡°Hi, Ms. Ding! You came just in time! I have a favor to ask.¡± Wang Shengli wore a smile on his face.

    ¡°Daddy will not see you,¡± Dabao suddenly blurted.

    Ning Ran was taken aback as she stared at her son in bafflement. How does he know that?

    Wang Shengli was stunned momentarily as well before he smiled and said, ¡°Little Master of the Nan

    family, how did you know I want to see your daddy?¡±

    ¡°Although you''re an evil person, you''ve been treating my mommy with a broad smile on your face.

    Obviously, you''re scared of my daddy. I bet you''re in hot waters now that you''ve offended my daddy.

    Hence, you''re here to resolve the issue. However, you can''t see my daddy. That''s why you''re here to

    ask my mommy for help.¡± Dabao kept a straight face as he spoke.

    ¡°Wow! You''re incredible! That''s what I was thinking too!¡± Erbao chimed in, not wanting to be left out.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    ¡°You''re right, Little Master. I do wish to see Sir Chen, and I''d like to ask Ms. Ding to help me. Besides,

    I''d like to apologize again for my silly wife''s actions earlier on. I''d do anything in exchange for

    forgiveness. Ms. Ding, I''m sorry I''ve failed as a husband and a father. I''m sorry I''ve offended you and

    Sir Chen. I sincerely hope I can be forgiven.¡± Wang Shengli was so humble that it made Ning Ran feel

    bad for him.

    ¡°What do you want from Nan Chen, exactly?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°I just want to ask for forgiveness and nothing else.¡±

    ¡°I doubt it. My daddy is so busy he won''t have time for you. I bet you have ulterior motives,¡± Dabao

    said.

    Ning Ran instantly gave Dabao a hard stare and scolded, ¡°Kids are not supposed to chime in when

    grown-ups are having a conversation.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mommy.¡± Dabao answered obediently.

    ¡°Little Master is right. Sir Chen is indeed too busy. That''s why I''m having trouble meeting him. Hence,

    I''d like to ask Ms. Ding to help me arrange a meeting with Sir Chen. I''d be deeply grateful,¡± Wang

    Shengli pleaded.

    Ning Ran was unsure of what to do. I don''t wish to nose around Nan Chen''s business. However, Wang

    Shengli doesn''t seem like he''d leave me alone if I refused to help him.

    ¡°Could you wait for a moment? I want to bring my kids inside to thank the principal. After that, I''ll ring

    Nan Chen, is that okay? I don''t think it''s appropriate for you to keep holding me up.¡± In the end, Ning

    Ran gave in.

    ¡°Of course! Take your time, Ms. Ding. I''ll be waiting right here.¡± Wang Shengli stood aside immediately.

    After watching Ning Ran walk into the office, Mrs. Wang couldn''t help but scold, ¡°What''s with you today,

    Wang Shengli? Since when were you afraid of anyone? Why are you acting like a ve today?¡±

    ¡°You''re a fool! Did you know all thepany''s projects were halted because we''ve offended the Nan

    family? If we don''t seek their forgiveness right away, thepany is going bankrupt soon!¡± Wang

    Shengli thundered.

    ¡°What? Is it that serious?¡±

    ¡°You''re such an ignorant fool! All you do is run your mouth!¡±

    ¡°If that''s the case, you better beg her for forgiveness when shees out. We can''t go bankrupt! Kneel

    before her if necessary!¡± Mrs. Wang was getting scared.

 Chapter 506

    Chapter 506

    When Ning Ran came to the principal''s office, he stood up immediately. ¡°Ms. Ding, we have reached a

    decision. Wang Xiaopang will not be here anymore starting next semester.¡±

    Ning Ran was wondering what the principal was talking about. The principal thought she was there to

    demand an exnation, so he quickly exined himself, but actually, she was there with her kid to say

    thanks to him.

    ¡°I''m not here to talk about that. I just want to thank you and your teachers for taking care of my kids.

    Thank you.¡± She then looked at Dabao and Erbao.

    The kids bowed politely. ¡°Thank you, principal. Thank you for your hard work.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you''re too kind. It''s my job. It''s our job, actually. They''re the nicest kids around. Very likable.

    Especially the boy. He''s a walking encyclopedia. He cane up with the answer to the questions that

    even the teacher knows nothing about. You have an intelligent kid. He''ll grow up to be a great man,¡±

    the principal praised.

    ¡°You tter him. He''s not that much of a genius.¡± Ning Ran smiled.

    Erbao was feeling grumpy for being left out. ¡°Hey, I''m not bad too, you know.¡±

    ¡°Of course. She''s a great girl too¡ªreally smart and likable. And she''s always the life of the party.¡± The

    principal beamed.

    Ning Ran rolled her eyes, gesturing for Erbao to be quiet. ¡°Thank you again, principal. It''s already the

    end of the semester now. See you next year.¡± Ning Ran smiled.

    ¡°See you next year too. I love your movies, Ms. Ding. And please tell Sir Chen that I''ve settled matters

    with Wang Shengli. They''ve been expelled, and they won''t show up anymore.¡±

    Ning Ran hesitated after hearing that. ¡°I didn''t really mean for him to get expelled, though. He might be

    naughty, but he''s still a kid. Don''t you think it''s a bit too harsh?¡±

    ¡°This is the decision we made. That kid isn''t just naughty; he crossed a line. He''s a bully, and he insults

    the teachers. His parents never took care of him, even supporting his lousy behavior. Just because

    they''re rich doesn''t mean they''re guaranteed a spot in our school. They have to pass a test too. s,

    Wang Xiaopang didn''t pass his test. He only came in because his parents asked someone in the

    Ministry of Education to talk to us, so to speak. I thought he would appreciate the chance, but

    apparently, he and his parents think lowly of the school''s staff.

    The principal continued, ¡°If that''s the case, then I''ll be more than happy to get him transferred to

    another school. I will not allow a bad apple to fester within this institution. This matter isn''t the only

    reason for his expulsion. The school''s reputation must not be put at risk, and more importantly, the

    other children deserve a safer environment to study.¡±

    Hm, if that''s the case, then I''m in no position to talk about it anymore. ¡°I see. If that''s the school''s

    decision, then we''ll support it. Have a good day. We''ll be going now. Kids, say goodbye to the

    principal,¡± Ning Ran stated.

    The two adorable little ones waved at the principal. ¡°Bye-bye, sir.¡±

    ¡°Bye, kids.¡± The principal waved at them happily as well.

    When Ning Ran and the kids came out of the office, she looked around to see if Wang Shengli and his

    wife were around. They aren''t here. Good. She heaved a sigh of relief.

    However, that relief was short-lived. When she came to the entrance, she saw Wang Shengli and his

    family waiting right there for her. Wang Xiaopang''s head was hanging low, and he was squatting on the

    ground as he bawled. Obviously, he must have been scolded by his parents.

    Wang Shengli quickly came up to Ning Ran the moment she appeared, but Dabao quickly stood before

    her to stop the man froming closer. ¡°What do you want?¡±

    Wang Shengli smiled at him. ¡°Calm down, little master of the Nan family. I just want to talk to your

    mother. That''s all.¡±

    ¡°You''re a bad person. Mommy has nothing to say to you.¡± Dabao was deadpan.

    The situation was awkward for Wang Shengli, but he kept quiet in case he offended Dabao. ¡°I''ll just

    stay right here then. So, how did it go, Ms. Ding?¡±

    ¡°I can''t do anything about the school''s decision. Your son has crossed a line. He bullied the other kids,

    and he even insulted the teachers. This is the best elite kindergarten in Flower City. It''s a very exclusive

    ce, and your boy should have appreciated the chance he got, but he didn''t. And neither of you

    stepped in when he acted up, so he got bold and crossed a line. The school has decided to expel him.

    You''ll have to find another kindergarten for your boy. I can''t do anything about it,¡± Ning Ran said.

    Wang Shengli started to panic. ¡°That''s not the thing I was talking about. It''s something else. I want to

    see Sir Chen.¡±

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Ning Ran paused for a moment. Oh, right, I actually forgot about that. ¡°Fine. I''ll call him right now. You

    can see him if he wants to see you. But if he doesn''t, then not even I can do anything about it.¡±

    ¡°Thank you very much, Ms. Ding. Thank you so, so much.¡± Wang Shengli looked excited.

    Ning Ran stepped aside and called Nan Chen. To her surprise, he picked it up immediately. ¡°I assume

    that Wang Shengli has seen you?¡± His voice was maic.

    Ning Ran was shocked. ¡°Wait, how''d you know about that?¡±

    ¡°His kid got into a fight with Erbao. That brat pulled her hair, so Dabao beat him up. Wang Shengli then

    made a fuss in school and demanded an apology from me, so I taught him a lesson. He thought I was

    just a small fry, so he got his backer to confront me. And, well, all of hispany''s projects are halted

    now. If this keeps up, he''ll go bankrupt. Naturally, he''s panicking, and he''ll want to see me. Since he

    can''t see me directly, he''ll try to get that chance through you, and the perfect opportunity to see you

    would be during the parent-teacher meeting,¡± Nan Chen exined slowly.

    Well, someone''s in a good mood today. He''s talking a whole lot more. ¡°You knew he''d do this?¡±

    ¡°It''s not hard to guess, really.¡±

    ¡°All right, all right. He''s begging to see you now. Are you going to grant the man his wish or not?¡±

    ¡°You call the shots. I don''t really want to care about this. Just do as you please,¡± he saidnguidly.

    ¡°What are you talking about? I don''t even know anything about business. How am I supposed to call

    the shots?¡± Ning Ran was getting nervous.

    ¡°If you want to forgive him, then just tell him it''s all water under the bridge. If you don''t want to forgive

    him, then tell him it''s all bridge under the water.¡±

    ¡°Wrong expression, but that''s not the point. Is it really that simple? I can forgive him just like that?¡±

    ¡°It''s not exactly rocket science, right?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°But will you let him off the hook? Did you plunge hispany into this crisis?¡±

    ¡°Hispany only managed to get this far because he has connections. Every project he develops is

    of subpar quality. Many homeowners have lodgedints, but he still got away with it. He dyed

    the payment of his employees'' sries, and he tried to bulldoze his way through old neighborhoods

    just so he could develop that ce. He isn''t exactly what you''d call a model citizen. His brat inherited

    his arrogance through and through. That man is an unscrupulous developer. Do you think I shouldn''t

    bankrupt him?¡± Nan Chen asked again.

    ¡°Um, well, no. You''ll have to teach him a lesson.¡±

    ¡°Okay then. Say the word, and I''ll do as you say.¡± Nan Chen hung up.

    Ning Ran paused for a moment. He''ll do as I say? I don''t remember him being so nice before. But he

    has hung up on me. What should I do now?

    The moment Ning Ran hung up, Wang Shengli quickly asked, ¡°So, how did it go? Did Sir Chen agree

    to see me?¡±

    Ning Ran thought it was a pain, but she had no choice but to respond. ¡°He''s still overseas. You''ll have

    to wait until he''s back.¡±

 Chapter 507

    Chapter 507

    Wang Shengli didn''t trust herpletely, but he had no other choice. ¡°I see. I shall be waiting for your

    news then. May I have your number?¡± Wang Shengli asked.

    ¡°No,¡± Ning Ran rejected him tly.

    Wang Shengli didn''t want to give up just yet. ¡°How should I contact you then, Ms. Ding?¡±

    ¡°Call Nan Chen''s office and make an appointment.¡± She took her kids and tried to leave, but Wang

    Shengli got in her way again.

    ¡°Please, Ms. Ding. Tell me how I can contact you. That way, I can¡ª¡±

    ¡°Out of the way. Harass my Mommy again, and I''ll tell Daddy about this,¡± Dabao warned him sternly.

    Wang Shengli quickly made way for them, worried that the boy might actually do that.

    Ning Ran and the kids left, and she heaved a sigh of relief after she got in the car.

    After arriving at the Orchid Club, Tang Jing got out of the taxi and proceeded to the room Ouyang Qing

    told her to meet in.

    Ouyang Qing was looking red, obviously because she was drunk. When Tang Jing entered the room,

    she received a cold reception. ¡°What took you so long, Tang Jing? Are you betraying me too? Do you

    think I can''t do anything to you?¡±

    Okay, this woman is in a bad mood. Well, no need to get angry over her attitude then. Tang Jing

    apologized, ¡°I came here as soon as I got the call. The traffic was awful, so that''s why I waste.¡±

    Ouyang Qing was still upset, and she pointed at Tang Jing. ¡°You''re sorry? You''re sorry? Sorry doesn''t

    cut it!¡±

    Tang Jing didn''t talk back, but she was angry about the attitude she was receiving. She poured herself

    a ss of wine and gulped it down, and she calmed down ever so slightly. ¡°I know it doesn''t cut it. I''ll be

    faster next time.¡± She smiled.

    ¡°Did you see the news?¡± Ouyang Qing asked.

    ¡°Not yet. What happened?¡± Tang Jing lied. She had seen the news, but she pretended that she knew

    nothing about it.

    The first thing everyone would do after they woke up was to go through the trending topics. They must

    know what happened as soon as possible, and that was especially true for Tang Jing, who was working

    in the entertainment industry.

    Ouyang Qing growled, ¡°You don''t know? That b*tch came out again, and that woman turned on us. She

    admitted to making a false usation against that b*tch, and she even apologized.¡±

    Tang Jing still pretended that she knew nothing about it. ¡°What woman? What b*tch are you talking

    about this time?¡±

    ¡°Ding Mi, of course. Are you stupid? You should have gotten that,¡± Ouyang Qing roared.

    ¡°I see. I thought she was involved with drugs. Isn''t she supposed to be in jail?¡± Tang Jing asked on

    purpose.

    ¡°Those idiots didn''t clean up after themselves, and she managed to get away this time.¡± Ouyang Qing

    hurled her ss away hatefully, breaking it into smithereens. Tang Jing ignored that and took another

    sip of the wine.

    For some reason, she was deriving a sense of pleasure from Ouyang Qing''s failure. ¡°So, is the movie

    going to begin production again?¡± Tang Jing asked softly.

    ¡°I knew it. You only care about the movie. You don''t care about me. Tang Jing, you only got to be the

    supporting cast because I''m the investor. I rmended you to the producers, and you only barely

    scraped by. Just because you got this role doesn''t mean you''re a big star now. I can swap you out for

    someone else whenever I d*mn please. I am your boss and backer. You''re nothing without me!¡±

    Ouyang Qing roared at Tang Jing. She was obviously still upset.

    Tang Jing wanted to ssh Ouyang Qing''s face with her wine, but she held back. Do you think you''re

    some kind of bigshot? I still became a star without your help. You got your money from your father.

    Without him, you''re nothing.

    I am still a celebrity even without a rich dad, but if you lose your father, you''ll be reduced to nothing.

    Ouyang Qing might have drunk a lot, but she wasn''t drunk, so she could feel the anger in Tang Jing''s

    eyes. ¡°What? Are you angry? Did you think I said something wrong? Do you want to betray me as well?

    Do you think I can''t swap you out? I can give them a call, and you''ll lose your role tomorrow, get it?¡±

    Ouyang Qing pointed at Tang Jing furiously.

    Thetter stered a fake smile. ¡°Yes, I know. You gave me everything I have, and I am grateful for

    that.¡±

    ¡°Then why aren''t you repaying me? Why aren''t you bringing that b*tch down?¡± Ouyang Qing roared.

    Tang Jing sighed. ¡°You know why. She has Sir Chen backing her up. I''m just a nobody. It''s hard for me

    to go against her.¡±

    ¡°So you''re just going to let her do as she pleases?¡± Ouyang Qing bellowed.

    ¡°There''s always a way to bring her down. Ask, and I shall do as you say,¡± Tang Jing said softly. She

    seemed calm, but she actually wanted to give Ouyang Qing one big p.

    ¡°I tried everything, but it''s useless. I don''t care. You must make sure she gets the boot. You''ll be

    the lead if you can get her fired. Don''t you want that?¡± Ouyang Qing asked.

    Of course, I want it. That''s my dream. ¡°I''ve never even thought of that. I''m no match for her, and I know

    that, but she should never have crossed you no matter how talented she is,¡± Tang Jing replied gently.

    ¡°That is not what I want to hear. I want you to tell me how you''re nning on kicking her out of the

    team! She must not be left alone. I must make sure she disappears from this industry!¡±

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    Tang Jing sighed. ¡°That''s a tall order for me. I''m just a nobody, so it''s a difficult one to pull off. The only

    way to do that is for you to use the resources you have. I can''t do it alone, but I can assist you.¡±

    ¡°I don''t want to hear that! Just tell me when you can kick her out! You have one week to make sure her

    reputation falls through rock bottom, or you''ll lose your role. If you can''t do this, I''ll get someone who

    can! Whoever brings her down will get the supporting role.¡±

    Ouyang Qing was starting to panic. She had a feeling that her chances of winning would get slimmer if

    she dragged it on.

    Ning Ran was just a no-name actress before this, but her fame rose after her drama got popr. Even

    though she was embroiled in many scandals, she could still get a lot of exposure, and thanks to that,

    Ning Ran was actually famous.

    If I don''t take her out while I can, she''ll really rise through the ranks. It''ll be near impossible to wipe her

    out when that happens. The thing that worried her most was the Nan family. If they epted Ning Ran

    as a part of the family, then she would never be able to take Ning Ran down.

    The realization that she had little time left was making her nervous. I have to force Tang Jing''s hand.

    She must attack Ning Ran. I don''t care even if Tang Jing is sacrificed if it means that Ning Ran will go

    down. Tang Jing is just a nobody anyway.

    Tang Jing could guess what Ouyang Qing was thinking. After all, she knew the kind of person Ouyang

    Qing was. That was why she had to pretend that she didn''t know thetter was trying to use her. She''d

    y along and use Ouyang Qing to get what she wanted.

    If she could get what she wanted and make it into the upper society, Tang Jing could break the

    partnership anytime she wanted.

 Chapter 509

    Chapter 509

    Ouyang Qing made some small talk and pretended that she cared about Bai Hua. A momentter, she

    started talking about Ning Ran again. The gist of it was that Ning Ran made hereback and would

    resume her role in the movie. She told Bai Hua that Ning Ran would be a famous celebrity.

    Bai Hua''s reaction after hearing that was a bit more aggressive than Ouyang Qing expected. She shot

    up to her feet. ¡°Nan Chen must have helped her again, or she couldn''t have been released so easily.¡±

    ¡°Chen is a kind man. He pities her, but that woman is a schemer. She is using his kindness to her

    advantage and tries to marry him. That woman''s really arrogant now. She doesn''t care about anyone,

    and she says she''s the only woman who can call the shots in the family. Laughable, really. She''s not

    even married to Chen yet, but she''s already styling herself as his wife. You''re still around, but she

    doesn''t even care about your opinion. That is just preposterous.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    Ouyang Qing was being really specific here. She knew what Bai Hua''s triggers were, and she pushed

    all the buttons deliberately.

    As expected, Bai Hua was furious. ¡°Did that b*tch really say all that?¡±

    ¡°Of course. But don''t worry, Aunt. Nobody actually takes her seriously. She''s just being full of herself,¡±

    Ouyang Qing responded.

    ¡°She''s doing this on purpose. I have to teach her a lesson, or she''ll get a big head. But Chen keeps

    siding with her. I just can''t take her down. What should I do?¡± Bai Hua asked.

    Ouyang Qing had an idea to go, but she couldn''t say it out right away. Instead, she sighed. ¡°Forget it. If

    Chen wants to marry her, then who am I to object? She has his kids, and that''s her advantage. If I have

    Chen''s children... Oh, what am I saying? That''s impossible.¡±

    Ouyang Qing was feeling embarrassed herself.

    Bai Hua thought about it for a while. ¡°Hmm, it''s not impossible, though. Ding Mi only got pregnant by

    ident. If she can create an ident, then you can too.¡±

    Ah, you''re smart, you old hag. You get what I''m trying to say. Good. I don''t have to bring that stupid

    idea up myself. ¡°Impossible. Chen doesn''t like me.¡± Ouyang Qing blushed.

    ¡°You''re a beautiful girl. Of course, he likes you. He''s just beguiled by that wench. That''s why he doesn''t

    realize that he actually likes you. Men love women. Well, most of them do. Nan Chen''s also a man. If

    you have an opportunity, you can get pregnant with his kid too. If that woman can do it, so can you.¡±

    Bai Hua wasn''t stupid either. She could see that Ouyang Qing had that kind of idea, but thetter was

    too embarrassed to say it out loud, so Bai Hua had to voice it out.

    ¡°Oh, stop it, Aunt. you''re embarrassing me.¡± Ouyang Qing kept up with her act.

    ¡°You don''t have to. You''re a properdy. You can''t lose to an actress like her. I''ll make the

    arrangements, but you''ll have toe up with an idea too. You''re younger and smarter than I am. We

    need a perfect n,¡± Bai Hua said.

    All right. It''s time now. I can''t keep this act up, or it''ll look too fake. ¡°I really like Chen, and I can do

    anything for him,¡± Ouyang Qing said.

    ¡°Then that''s settled. I''m sure he''lle to understand you. Tell me. What''s the n?¡±

    ¡°My friend told me about this drug...¡± Ouyang Qing blushed again.

    Bai Hua understood right away. ¡°Can you get that drug then?¡±

    ¡°I can ask my friend to do it for me, but...¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry about it. I''ll handle the rest. If he wants to me anyone, I''ll take one for the team. And I''m

    sure he''ll be happy that a gorgeousdy like you are sacrificing for him.¡±

    Ouyang Qing felt relieved after Bai Hua gave her a guarantee, but she had to pretend to be worried.

    ¡°Aunt, is this really a good idea? I don''t think we should go on with this.¡±

    ¡°It''s fine. Leave it to me. As long as you sleep with Nan Chen, he''ll be forced to marry you. That woman

    will be nothing then. Trash like her is never worthy of my son,¡± Bai Hua cursed.

    ¡°But if Chen gets mad because of this, I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry about it. I''ll tell him I came up with the idea. He has no right to be angry at that point. After

    all, he would have slept with you already. And he''s not an irresponsible man. Once you sleep with him,

    Nan Zhiyuan and I will pressure him into marrying you. We have to do this right away.¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry, Aunt. If this works, my father and I will persuade him to let Mr. Nan back into thepany.

    He''s a part of the Nan family, and he''s experienced. It''s natural that he should contribute to the

    company,¡± Ouyang Qing said.

    That was the thing Bai Hua wanted the most at the moment. When she came back, she thought she

    could resume her life as a wealthydy, but when she came back, the city had changed vastly.

    She was ostracized, and the socialites didn''t care about her because of one reason. Everyone knew

    that Nan Zhiyuan and her were disliked by the Nan family. They were only a part of the Nan family in

    name only.

    Because of that, Nan Zhiyuan and her were not respected, for they were not significant. Naturally, Bai

    Hua didn''t want to live the rest of her life that way. She wanted to have more power, for an ordinary life

    was what she hated.

    She wanted to make aeback and be deeply respected like she used to. She wanted to prove

    that she was still holding all the power in the Nan family, and now Ouyang Qing was giving her that

    chance. Naturally, she was grateful for that.

    ¡°Zhiyuan had told me that he''s still young and wants to contribute to the family. But the Old Master

    refuses to give him any chance, so we can only waste our time here. It''s frustrating. If he gets to work

    in thepany again, Zhiyuan will be over the moon, and I''m more than happy to see that.¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry. Once I sleep with Chen, my father and I will persuade him.¡±

    Ouyang Qing was making it clear. Once they became family, there would be more partnerships

    between them, and the Ouyang family could influence the Nan family a lot. The Ouyang family was

    Ouyang Qing''s backer, and they would be Bai Hua and Nan Zhiyuan''s support as well. If the

    marriage went well, of course.

    They would install Bai Hua and Nan Zhiyuan in the center of the Nan family so they could regain their

    former glory. And that''s something that woman can''t do. Only Ouyang Qing can do it, and that''s why

    she must marry Nan Chen.

    I must help her get her hands on Nan Chen. Only someone whom I can control will listen to me. If I do

    this, I''ll have her dirt too. She won''t dare to disobey me.

    And so, the wretched women came to an agreement.

 Chapter 510

    Chapter 510

    Dabao and Erbao spent their first weekend of the semester break at the vi in Red Maple City. It was

    also the first weekend where Ning Ran could be at peace.

    Nan Chen canceled all his ns and decided to spend the whole weekend with his family. First, they

    would watch a movie, then they would go shopping, and they''d end it with a homemade dinner.

    Ning Ran and the kids were craving some hotpot, and they wanted to make it themselves this time at

    home.

    Nan Chen had a rocky rtionship with hotpots, but he could ept it as long as Ning Ran and the

    kids liked it. He was bored by all the upscale restaurants. They were no match for a meal at home

    since that was where his family was.

    After they came back home, Nan Chen looked at the goods they had bought, and he announced

    solemnly, ¡°I will be making dinner tonight.¡±

    Everyone was quiet. Dabao and Erbao looked at each other while Ning Ran sorted the groceries out in

    silence.

    It wasn''t the first time Nan Chen had tried to cook, but he had never seeded even once. The food

    he cooked was nearly inedible, let alone delicious. Because of that, everyone was worried that the food

    might turn out bad.

    They bought a lot of fresh ingredients that were perfect for hotpots. Everyone thought they''d have a

    nice dinner, but now that Nan Chen wanted to prepare it, they were worried that they might end up

    having food delivery again.

    Nan Chen could feel their rejection, and he was crestfallen. I just want to cook. Is it that hard? ¡°Are you

    worried I might mess it up? Hey, I watched a lot of cooking videos, you know. I''m decent now.¡±

    Nan Chen wanted to convince them that he could cook.

    Ning Ran smiled. ¡°You''ve been hard at work. Let me do the cooking. You don''t have to do it.¡±

    Dabao and Erbao nodded quickly. ¡°Yeah, yeah!¡±

    Nan Chen looked at Ning Ran, then at his kids. ¡°Do you guys think I''m a lousy cook? You guys don''t

    believe me?¡±

    Ning Ran forced a smile. ¡°No. We just don''t want you to overwork yourself.¡±

    The kids nodded quickly again and gave their father a worried look. ¡°Yeah!¡±

    It had been a long time since they had their mother''s hotpot. They loved that vor, and they didn''t

    want their father to destroy it.

    Nan Chen sat on the sofa, feeling defeated.

    Ning Ran wanted to cheer him up, but she didn''t know how to. If it were up to her, she could eat

    anything Nan Chen made, but the problem was that her kids wanted to have something delicious.

    ¡°We need to talk, Daddy,¡± Dabao said maturely.

    ¡°About what?¡± Nan Chen was not interested in talking.

    ¡°You are destined for great things. You can''t waste your time cooking. That''s a waste of your talent. It''s

    overkill,¡± Dabao said solemnly.

    ¡°Yes! Dabao''s right! I think so too!¡± Erbao agreed.

    Nan Chen knew what the kids were up to. In the end, you kids just don''t want me to cook. ¡°Fine. I get

    it.¡± Nan Chen sighed.

    ¡°Why don''t we do this, Daddy? Mommy will do the cooking while you give her the instructions. You''re

    great at looking at the big picture and giving outmands, while she''s great at practical. If you and

    her work together, you guys can make the perfect hotpot. I call this ''The Couple''s Teamwork,'' ¡°Dabao

    suggested.

    ¡°Yes! I think so too!¡± Erbao pped her hands.

    Nan Chen knew his son was just trying to be nice, and he felt happy that the boy was concerned about

    him. ¡°Fine. I ept the suggestion. I''ll be the instructor.¡± He stood up.

    Wait. If you''re the instructor, then whose idea should we follow? Yours or mine? I mean, it''s fine if our

    thoughts align, but what if they sh? Should we do it my way or your way? Ning Ran thought. If we do

    it your way and it turns out bad, then it''s just the same as you making dinner yourself.

    Nan Chen knew what Ning Ran was worried about, so he said, ¡°You''ll call the shots. You know what the

    kids like.¡±

    Ning Ran felt more at ease then.

    After Nan Chen and Ning Ran went into the kitchen, Erbao gave Dabao a thumbs up. ¡°Wow, you''re

    awesome, Dabao. You actually fooled Daddy.¡±

    Dabao corrected her, ¡°I wasn''t fooling him. I call that convincing.¡±

    ¡°Fine. Honestly, it''d be great if Daddy and Mommy could cook for us every day,¡± Erbao said.

    ¡°They seem sweeter than ever. Maybe they''ll get married.¡± Dabao looked at the kitchen.

    ¡°Really? That''s great! When?¡± Erbao got excited.

    ¡°Not our call to make. It''s their wedding, but they can''t make the decision themselves. They need a lot

    of people agreeing to it.¡±

    ¡°A lot of people? Who?¡± Erbao gasped.

    ¡°At the very least, Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma,¡± Dabao responded.

    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Erbao was genuinely confused. She looked at her brother, feeling perplexed.

    ¡°And Grandpa and Grandma, of course. It''ll be a hassle if they object. But most importantly, it depends

    on Daddy and Mommy. They can only get married if they want to, and if they work for it,¡± Dabao

    concluded.

    ¡°Will Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma agree to the marriage?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°I have no idea.¡± Dabao shook his head.

    ¡°Why not? Do they not like Mommy?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°Well, they might disagree. It''s not set in stone yet. They think Daddy can marry a woman who can help

    him. For example, Ouyang Qing,¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°Why can''t Mommy help Daddy anyway?¡± Erbao was more confused now.

    Dabao wasn''t sure about that either, since he was still five years old. ¡°I can''t say for sure, but I know I''m

    right. We have to help them if we want them to get married.¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°I have no idea for now.¡± Dabao shook his head.

    Erbao imitated him, and she sighed as well.

    ¡°But they''re looking happy. At least they''re moving in the right direction, and that¡ª¡±

    Before he could finish, he heard someone''s phone vibrating.

    ¡°It sounds like Daddy''s phone,¡± Erbao said.

    Dabao whipped the phone out. ¡°Hey, it''s Grandma. You take the call.¡±

    Erbao shook her head. ¡°I don''t like her. She doesn''t like Mommy, so I don''t like her. I''m not taking it.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, I hate talking to her too. We''ll let Daddy take the call.¡±

    ¡°But what if she wants Daddy to go over to her ce? I don''t want him to. It''s been a while since we

    had a meal together,¡± Erbao said.

    Oh yeah. She''s right. I''ll take the call then.

 Chapter 511

    Chapter 511

    Bai Hua waited for a long while before a childish voice finally sounded from the other end of the phone.

    ¡°Hello, who is this?¡±

    Kids'' voices sounded all alike. For a moment, Bai Hua could not differentiate if it was Dabao or Erbao.

    ¡°Are you Dabao or Erbao? Where is your daddy?¡±

    ¡°I am Erbao,¡± Dabao responded.

    Erbao, who was listening next to him, was beyond anxious. What is Dabao trying to do? Why is he

    pretending to be me?

    Dabao blinked a few times at Erbao and signaled her to keep calm.

    ¡°I see. Erbao, where is your daddy?¡± Bai Hua asked.

    ¡°Daddy is working in the study room. He is on his other phone. Who are you?¡± Dabao asked.

    Erbao could not wrap her head around it. I thought he didn''t lie as he always said he was an honest

    person. How could he lie so naturally? The problem is¡ªhe is lying by using my name. I will be held

    responsible as well!

    Erbao was beyond exasperated, but still, she did not dare to make a sound.

    ¡°I see. Please ask him to answer the phone then,¡± Bai Hua uttered.

    ¡°He is busy. Is there anything? You can tell me. I''ll pass the message to him,¡± Dabao responded.

    ¡°I''m Grandma. Can you recognize my voice?¡± Bai Hua asked.

    ¡°Hello, Grandma,¡± Dabao greeted.

    ¡°Hello. Please ask your daddy to call me backter.¡±

    ¡°Okay, but he is really busy. I''m afraid he might forget itter. It would be better if you could tell me

    directly what it is about. And I''ll pass the message to him. Then he won''t forget about it.¡±

    ¡°Okay then. Please tell him toe to the presidential room in Nanting No.1 Hotel. I need to discuss

    something with him,¡± Bai Hua said.

    ¡°Okay. Is it something important?¡± Dabao asked.

    ¡°Why are you asking so many questions? Don''t bother yourself with the adult''s business. Just ry my

    message.¡± Bai Hua sounded somewhat impatient.

    ¡°All right. I got it,¡± Dabao responded.

    Hanging up the phone, Dabao fell into deep pondering.

    ¡°Dabao, how could you use my name and lie? You shouldn''t have done that.¡± Erbao sounded

    displeased.

    ¡°It would be more believable if it was you,¡± Dabao exined.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Erbao asked skeptically.

    ¡°Of course. Why else would I do that? Follow me.¡±

    Dabao took Nan Chen''s phone and ran to the room. Erbao immediately followed him.

    They shut the door behind them.

    ¡°Why? What are you up to again?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°Do you remember Nanting No.1 Hotel?¡± Dabao asked Erbao.

    ¡°Of course. It''s a hotel. The food there is delicious!¡± Erbao had a deep impression of it.

    ¡°Grandma is asking Daddy to go there. Don''t you think it is strange?¡±

    Erbao tilted her head to the side and thought for a while. ¡°Maybe Grandma likes the food there?¡±

    ¡°Could you not think about food all the time? Let''s be serious,¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°Why is it then?¡± Erbao could not wrap her head around it.

    ¡°Think about this. Grandma and Daddy are a family. Why wouldn''t she meet him at the house but in a

    hotel? Don''t you think it''s weird?¡± Dabao analyzed.

    ¡°That''s right. What is Grandma up to?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°I have no idea, but I''m sure it is something bad.¡±

    ¡°Oh no. Does she want Daddy to marry Ouyang Qing?¡± Erbao asked suddenly.

    Dabao was stunned momentarily. ¡°That''s unlikely. Marriage is a big deal. She should at least discuss it.

    She can''t decide by herself.¡±

    Erbao suddenly came to a realization. ¡°That''s why she asked to meet him. To discuss the marriage!

    That''s it! Then we should not let Daddy go there. He is having a steamboat with uster.¡±

    Dabao agreed with her. We should not let Daddy go there!

    ¡°I feel there will be someone else besides Grandma. I''m sure Ouyang Qing will be there too,¡± Dabao

    predicted.

    ¡°What makes you think so?¡±

    ¡°I don''t know how to exin it. Anyway, this whole thing is really strange. I can''t stop thinking about it.¡±

    Dabao''s expression darkened.

    ¡°I don''t care what it is about. Just prevent Daddy from going. Turn off his phone so she won''t be able to

    call again,¡± Erbao suggested.

    ¡°No way. If Daddy doesn''t go, she will call again. If we turn off the mobile phone, she will call the

    landline. By then, Daddy will find out too. Plus, I don''t want to hide it from him.¡±

    ¡°So, are you going to let Daddy go? I don''t want that to happen!¡± Erbao shed a displeased look as

    she pouted.

    ¡°I won''t let him go either. We need toe out with another idea.¡±

    ¡°What else could we possibly do to stop him?¡±

    ¡°We have to find out why Grandma wants Daddy to go there. But we can''t let Grandma know that we

    are hiding it from Daddy.¡±

    ¡°That sounds impossible. Is there anything we can do?¡±

    ¡°Yes, there is!¡± Dabao''s eyes suddenly lit up.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Erbao became excited too.

    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    She knew if Dabao said he had a way, he did.

    ¡°We can find someone who looks exactly like Daddy and let him pretend to be Daddy,¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°Uncle Xing?¡± Erbao shouted.

    ¡°Keep your voice down. Don''t let Mommy and Daddy hear you!¡± Dabao immediately covered Erbao''s

    mouth.

    ¡°Uncle Xing can pretend to be Daddy. They look alike. But will Uncle Xing be willing to do it?¡± Erbao

    could not help but worry.

    ¡°I don''t think he''ll be willing to. Let me call him now and try to persuade him.¡± Dabao grabbed his

    phone.

    ¡°Will you be able to persuade him?¡± Erbao was still concerned.

    ¡°We should at least give it a shot. Stop talking now. I''m calling him.¡±

    Erbao immediately shut her mouth. She always supported whatever decision her brother made.

    The call went through right away. ¡°Hello, who is this?¡± It was Nan Xing''s voice.

    ¡°Uncle Xing, it''s me. Ning Sirui.¡±

    ¡°Ning Sirui?¡± Nan Xing could not wrap his head around it.

    ¡°Uncle Xing, you don''t remember my name. I am Dabao.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I see. Just say that you are Dabao next time. Plus, your surname is not supposed to be Ning now.

    When will you change it to Nan like us?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    ¡°About that... I have no idea. It doesn''t matter what my surname is. The most important thing is that we

    are a family, right?¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°Well said. That''s right. Most importantly, we are now a family. What''s the matter, my nephew?¡±

    ¡°Uncle Xing, what are you doing right now?¡± Dabao questioned.

    ¡°It''s my off day today. I''m ying games, and I''ll have a drinkter. Why do you call?¡±

    ¡°It''s like this. Daddy and Mommy are together today. We''re spending time together as a family, and

    we''re very happy.¡±

    ¡°That''s great. I''m happy for you guys. So did you call to tell me this good news?¡±

    ¡°But now Grandma wants to meet Daddy. And she asks to meet in a hotel. I think Grandma is up to

    something, so I think maybe you can go on Daddy''s behalf and find out what it is,¡± Dabao stated his

    request.

    ¡°Hold on. Let me sort this out. So my mother wants to meet my brother, and you want me to take his

    ce? No way. I am not going. I have nothing to talk to her,¡± Nan Xing rejected without hesitation.

    ¡°Uncle Xing, aren''t we a family?¡± Dabao asked.

    ¡°Yes, of course.¡±

    ¡°Since we are a family, we should help each other out. It is not easy for Daddy and Mommy to finally

    have the chance to have a meal together with us. Do you want to separate us?¡±

    Dabao ced the responsibility on Nan Xing without any hesitation.

 Chapter 512

    Chapter 512

    Here hees again! I knew he was up to something the moment he called. He is just a kid. How

    could he set traps like this?

    ¡°How could you say that I''m separating your family? It has nothing to do with me.¡± Nan Xing was

    confused.

    ¡°Even though Grandma is the one who asks for Daddy, if you watch and do nothing to help, you''re

    indirectly separating us!¡± Dabao responded.

    Erbao, who was next to Dabao, gave her brother a thumbs up. He is so smart. I would never think of

    saying that.

    ¡°Kid, don''t you try to put the me on me. Just say what you want directly. Stop beating around the

    bush!¡± Nan Xing scolded.

    ¡°I''m not beating anything. I''m just asking you to meet Grandma on Daddy''s behalf and find out what

    Grandma wants. That''s all. I couldn''t be clearer about this.¡±

    ¡°I knew you were up to something. And I couldn''t be clearer about this either. I don''t want to go, and I

    have nothing to talk to her.¡±

    ¡°If you don''t agree to it, it means you want to separate us!¡± Dabao was beyond exasperated.

    ¡°How could you say that? Your grandma wants to see your daddy. Just ask him not to go then.¡± Nan

    Xing was losing his patience.

    ¡°Grandma asks to meet at the hotel. We want to find out why. We can only find out if you go personally.

    You said that you loved us. Yet, you don''t want to help us but choose to do nothing. It is not different

    than separating us. If we get separated, Mommy will have no choice but to take us to go overseas

    again. By then, you won''t be able to see us again. Will you be happy with that?¡±

    Dabao questioned Nan Xing with a pitiful tone. Nan Xing suddenly felt a massive pressure on his

    shoulders.

    It sounds like I will regret it if I don''t agree to help now.

    ¡°You can y games and drink some other time. Could you please help my sister and me for this one

    time?¡± Dabao continued to put pressure on Nan Xing.

    ¡°Ah, dang it. Fine. I''ll go. If I don''t, I bet you''ll define me as the worst criminal.¡± Nan Xing sounded

    utterly displeased.

    ¡°Thank you, Uncle Xing. Don''t forget to wear a ck suit. Plus, please try to speak maturely while

    having a conversation and try to act like Daddy. ¡°Dabao was beyond delighted.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°What do you mean by that? Are you saying that I''m immature? Do you still want me to help you?¡± Nan

    Xing was angered.

    ¡°It''s my bad. Uncle Xing, you are such a mature man. I believe you can act perfectly like Daddy. Let''s

    keep in touch...¡±

    Before Dabao could finish his sentence, Ning Ran''s voice came from outside. ¡°Dabao, what are you

    doing hiding in the room?¡±

    ¡°Uncle Xing, I got to go. We are counting on you.¡±

    The second Dabao hung up his phone, Ning Ran came into the room.

    ¡°Why are you both hiding here? You are ying on the phone secretly, aren''t you?¡± Ning Ran shouted.

    ¡°No, I am teaching Erbao history,¡± Dabao lied.

    ¡°That''s right.¡± Erbao immediately nodded her head.

    ¡°Really?¡± Ning Ran eyed them suspiciously.

    Even though the two kids were smart, they were her children after all.

    She could tell easily if they were telling the truth.

    Dabao was not that obvious as he lookedposed. Erbao, on the other hand, seemed extremely

    nervous.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Dabao and Erbao responded simultaneously.

    ¡°Then what history did Dabao teach you?¡± Ning Ran questioned Erbao.

    ¡°Hmm... It''s about...¡± Erbao immediately responded.

    ¡°Don''t try to lie to me! Tell me now. What exactly were you guys doing here?¡± Ning Ran scolded.

    Erbao could not hold it together anymore as she shifted her gaze toward Dabao.

    ¡°It''s nothing, Mommy. I''ve made a call to Uncle Xing and asked him for a favor.¡± Dabao still seemed

    utterlyposed.

    ¡°What is it about?¡±

    ¡°I can''t tell you about that. But I promise it is nothing bad.¡± Dabao looked utterly serious.

    Naturally, Ning Ran believed Dabao as he had always been a good kid. He seldom created trouble for

    Ning Ran.

    ¡°All right then. Don''t y phone games. If Erbao keeps staring at the phone, her eyesight will turn bad!¡±

    Ning Ran reminded.

    ¡°Don''t worry. I will keep an eye on Erbao. I won''t let her y with the phone.¡±

    ¡°Okay. Then I will continue to cook.¡±

    After Ning Ran walked out of the room, Dabao and Erbao exchanged nces and heaved a sigh of

    relief.

    ¡°Dabao, if anyone finds out about this, will you let me face it alone?¡± Erbao asked worriedly.

    ¡°Never.¡±

    ¡°Then why did you pretend to be me when Grandma called just now?¡± Erbao was still brooding over it.

    ¡°I''ve told you. You are more persuasive to Grandma. Stop thinking about this. I promise I will be fully

    responsible.¡± Dabao sounded like a real man.

    ¡°Okay, I trust you.¡± Erbao nodded.

    Just then, someone came again. It was Nan Chen this time.

    He did not hear the kids'' voices in the living room, so he asked Ning Ran to check it out. After Ning Ran

    did that, he was still concerned, so he went personally to check on the kids.

    ¡°Why is my phone here?¡± Nan Chen nced at Erbao.

    Like Ning Ran, he suspected Erbao was secretly ying on his phone.

    ¡°It wasn''t me. Dabao was the one who took it.¡± Erbao promptly rified herself.

    ¡°Grandma called just now, and I answered it,¡± Dabao admitted right away.

    ¡°Really? What did she say?¡±

    ¡°She asked if you had eaten. If not, she would like to eat with you,¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°And? How did you reply her?¡± Nan Chen questioned.

    ¡°Grandma doesn''t like Mommy, so I did not dare to say that you''re with Mommy. I told her that you were

    busy and could not make it,¡± Dabao borated.

    ¡°Okay. It''s fine then.¡± Nan Chen nodded.

    ¡°Then I called Uncle Xing and asked him to go over there. I was worried that Grandma might be lonely

    to eat alone. So I asked Uncle Xing to apany her,¡± Dabao added.

    Nan Chen felt somehow peculiar. How could he be so thoughtful? However, he has always been a

    good kid.

    ¡°Is there anything else?¡±

    ¡°No. Uncle Xing has agreed to go,¡± Dabao answered obediently.

    ¡°Good. Then I''ll return to the kitchen.¡±

    As soon as Nan Chen walked out, his phone vibrated again. It was a call from Bai Hua.

    ¡°Grandma, I''m Erbao,¡± Dabao answered the phone.

    Erbao was rendered speechless by that. Why is he still pretending to be me? Is he trying to put the

    me on me?

    ¡°Why is it you again? Where is your daddy? Why didn''t he call me back?¡± Bai Hua shouted.

    ¡°Daddy already went out. He forgot to bring his phone,¡± Dabao replied.

    ¡°Is he already out? Why didn''t I see him? Where did you tell him to go?¡±

    ¡°Nanting No.1 Hotel''s presidential room A888,¡± Dabao responded.

    ¡°Okay, that''s right. If he is already on the way, it''s fine then.¡± Bai Hua hung up after that.

 Chapter 513

    Chapter 513

    Meanwhile, Nan Xing put on a ck suit and checked himself in front of the mirror.

    Hah! I do look like Nan Chen!

    Actually, Nan Xing had always liked ck and Nan Chen''s domineering charisma.

    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    However, since he resembled Nan Chen a lot and thetter always wore ck outfits, Nan Xing had no

    choice but to give up wearing ck as he might be mistaken as Nan Chen by others.

    As he finally had the chance to wear a ck suit, he somehow felt excited.

    He felt like a rebellious kid, smoking and drinking alcohol in secret.

    Nan Xing took out his phone and found a photo of Nan Chen. He stared at it and started to imitate the

    latter''s expression.

    After a few tries, he was satisfied with his performance. Only then did he depart from his house.

    Nan Xing stopped his sports car at the entrance of Nanting No.1 Hotel. The security guard instantly

    weed him.

    ¡°Hello, Master Xing.¡±

    The guard had been working there for a long time, and he recognized Nan Xing.

    Nan Xing nodded and went into the lobby.

    To get to the presidential room, one had to take a special elevator that needed a card to ess. Nan

    Xing then proceeded to the counter and requested one of the staff to swipe the card for him.

    As the staff recognized Nan Xing, he went ahead and helped thetter with the process without

    hesitation.

    Nan Xing realized he had appeared on the surveince camera inside the elevator. He immediately got

    into character and stered a stern expression to look more like Nan Chen.

    Arriving at the presidential room, he rang the doorbell.

    Bai Hua was the one who opened the door. As a mother, she did not even realize it was Nan Xing.

    ¡°You''re here. Quick,e in.¡± Bai Hua smiled.

    Just then, Nan Xing spotted there was another woman in the suite. It was Ouyang Qing.

    Nan Xing could not help but take a few nces at her.

    Ouyang Qing noticed Nan Xing was staring at her. Feeling overjoyed, she shed a bright smile.

    ¡°Chen, you''re here.¡±

    Ouyang Qing stood up to greet him. She then sat down in a rather suggestive posture.

    Nan Xing was secretly ted upon seeing that.

    ¡°Mom, why did you ask me toe here? What''s the matter?¡± Nan Xing asked in a deadpan voice.

    Anyone would have been fooled as he looked and sounded precisely like Nan Chen.

    Besides, Bai Hua and Ouyang Qing were up to something. Naturally, they couldn''t be bothered to pay

    much attention to the tiny details.

    ¡°Qing has brought a bottle of good wine. Mr. Ouyang bade for it during an auction overseas. She

    invited me to try the wine together. I remember you are more knowledgeable than me when ites to

    wine, so I invited you,¡± Bai Hua exined.

    Nan Xing noticed a bottle of wine ced on the table. Based on its color, it looked like a bottle of fine

    wine.

    Ouyang Qing immediately stood up and poured Nan Xing a ss.

    ¡°Chen, thank you foring. I got this from my dad. I''m not an expert in wine like you. Could you

    please taste it for me?¡±

    She held her chest high, highlighting her busty figure perfectly.

    She was indeed a beauty. Usually, she would dress up like a girl next door, but in fact, she could be

    seductive if she wanted to.

    Nan Xing grabbed the ss of wine and took a quick sniff. Indeed, it was an excellent wine.

    ¡°Not bad. It is excellent. Thank you for the wine.¡± Nan Xing raised his ss.

    Ouyang Qing was pleased to hear that. ¡°Thank you for thepliment. Chen, cheers.¡±

    ¡°I am on my medication, so I won''t drink with you guys. Please enjoy. It''s time for me to take my

    medicine.¡± Bai Hua stood up from her seat.

    ¡°Mom, if you are not drinking, why did youe here?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    ¡°Qing invited me, and I didn''t want to reject her. That''s why I came. You know my health is not good,

    and I am on medication. Hence, I can''t drink. Youngsters like you should enjoy,¡± Bai Hua responded.

    ¡°All right then. Let me send you off.¡±

    Bai Hua immediately stopped Nan Xing. ¡°No need. Just apany Qing and have a good time. You''re

    such a perfect match in my eyes. Please have a nice time.¡±

    ¡°Mom, take care. Did you bring your driver?¡±

    ¡°Of course. He is waiting downstairs. Don''t bother about me,¡± Bai Hua said.

    After Bai Hua left, Ouyang Qing closed the door.

    The two of them continued to drink.

    ¡°I''m a little curious. Why do you choose to drink here?¡± Nan Xing asked expressionlessly.

    In fact, it was rather exhausting for him to put on a stern look, pretending to be Nan Chen.

    I can''t even make this face for too long. How does Chen do it?

    ¡°It''s good here. Chen, I don''t have family in Flower City, and I don''t have a home. So I can only stay in

    a hotel. I chose here because of the nice environment,¡± Ouyang Qing exined.

    Nan Xing nodded his head. ¡°Indeed. I stay here quite often too. It''s rather convenient for

    entertainments.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Nan Xing immediately realized he had said something off. Indeed, he loved to stay in hotels to have

    fun.

    However, he was currently pretending to be Nan Chen, and thetter rarely stayed in hotels. That was

    why Ouyang Qing was slightly startled.

    ¡°I meant one of my friends. He likes to stay here in the hotel so his family wouldn''t police him.¡± Nan

    Xing immediately corrected himself.

    ¡°Oh, I see. Let''s continue to drink then.¡± Ouyang Qing raised her ss again.

    Nan Xing knew it was not only about drinking.

    Judging by Ouyang Qing''s outfit, he understood what was going on.

    Nevertheless, he was not bothered as he was a man.

    He only worried that Nan Chen would be held responsible if anything were to happen.

    However, he was reluctant to leave at this point.

    He was not interested in Ouyang Qing but rather her performance.

    He wanted to know how the beauty nned to seduce him.

    A bottle of wine hardly seems enough. What other moves would she make? Never mind. Let''s continue

    to drink and find out.

    ¡°Chen, the wine is good, right?¡± Ouyang Qing asked sweetly.

    ¡°Yes. It''s really good.¡± Nan Xing nodded.

    ¡°Then please drink more.¡± Ouyang Qing became even more delighted.

    ¡°What if I get drunk?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    ¡°Chen, you''re funny. You are a strong drinker, so you won''t get drunk unless you pretend to.¡± Ouyang

    Qing smiled.

    Nan Xing felt she was implying something. He did not know if he was overthinking.

    ¡°Indeed, I don''t think I will get drunk. And I won''t pretend to.¡± Nan Xing continued to speak in a solemn

    tone.

    ¡°Chen, don''t be mad. I''m only joking,¡± Ouyang Qing immediately exined.

    Nan Xing kept quiet and took another sip of wine as that was how Nan Chen would usually react.

 Chapter 514

    Chapter 514

    The both of them finished a bottle of red wine.

    Thinking that would be the end of it, Nan Xing did not expect Ouyang Qing to bring out another bottle.

    To be precise, it was only a half-full bottle of wine. Someone must have drank half and then resealed it.

    ¡°Chen, this is the wine I didn''t finish yesterday. It''s not as expensive as the one we just drank, but

    seeing that you don''t seem like you''ve had enough, why don''t we drink this?¡± Ouyang Qing smiled as

    she looked at Nan Xing.

    ¡°Sure. But can I sleep here if I really get drunk?¡± asked Nan Xing.

    The question took Ouyang Qing aback for a moment, then her smile widened.

    ¡°Of course! This ce has three bedrooms, so you can sleep in whichever room you want.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Nan Xing replied promptly.

    Ouyang Qing proceeded to pour a ss of wine for Nan Xing but did not touch her ss.

    ¡°Aren''t you going to drink?¡± Nan Xing enquired.

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    Ouyang Qing waved her hand dismissively. ¡°I can''t hold my alcohol well, so I should stop.¡±

    ¡°All right. In that case, I''ll take a break too. Have you showered?¡± he questioned out of the blue.

    Hearing that, Ouyang Qing felt her face turn scarlet. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    With a straight face, Nan Xing responded, ¡°What I mean is if I''m going to sleep hereter, I''ll need to

    use the bathroom. So, wouldn''t it be better if you went to wash up first?¡±

    If he''s asking me to wash up, things must be going the way I wanted! In that case, why wouldn''t I go

    along with a request like that?

    ¡°Okay. I''ll go now.¡±

    With that said, Ouyang Qing got to her feet and headed toward the bathroom.

    When she was out of his sight, Nan Xing picked up his ss and took a quick sniff. From its smell, he

    could tell it was an excellent red vintage.

    He held the ss up to the light and noticed that the wine''s color looked a little cloudy.

    Giving it a small taste with his tongue, he discovered that the wine tasted fairly normal.

    The average person would not have such a discerning pte. However, Nan Xing had had many red

    wines before, so the faint bitterness in the wine could not escape him.

    If it were slightly sour, that would''ve been understandable. But bitter? Now, that doesn''t seem right.

    Certain white wines have a bitter edge to their astringency, but red wines aren''t bitter no matter how

    inferior they are. There are only two possible exnations for a red wine that tastes bitter. The first one

    is that it''s a fake wine. The second is that it''s a genuine bottle of wine but with something added to it,

    thus altering the taste. In this case, it''s evident there''s something in this wine, but what?

    Nan Xing was burning with curiosity.

    Could it be poison? That doesn''t seem likely, though. Mom was here, and she left in a hurry. That must

    mean she made herself scarce because she''s aware of what''ll happen. Not only that, but she''s also an

    active participant in the n. She was the one who called Nan Chen first, then Dabao sent me toe

    in his ce. A mother wouldn''t do anything to harm her biological son. Even if she had no motherly

    affection for Nan Chen, it wouldn''t do her any good to kill him. So, I''m sure it''s not poison. Could it be a

    drug? That does seem more likely.

    Thinking about Ouyang Qing''s coquettish behavior and her exposed cleavage, Nan Xing felt there was

    another possibility.

    Suddenly, Nan Xing felt that things were getting more interesting. It was even more exciting than

    solving cases.

    No one had ever dared to try and drug him, and he would never have fallen for something like that.

    Now that it had finally happened, Nan Xing felt intrigued, so much so that he had the urge to give it a

    try.

    It''s not like I''ll die from it, so what''s the harm?

    Nheless, another voice popped up in his mind. You can''t. What if something goes wrong?

    The two conflicting thoughts warred in his mind. On one side, he was tempted to give in. But on the

    other, he was hesitant.

    In the end, the urge to drink the wine won over. After all, it''ll just be a tiny sip of wine with something

    mixed in it. Why can''t I try it?

    Hence, he lifted the winess to his lips and took a sip.

    After about two minutes, nothing happened.

    Thinking that perhaps he had drunk too little and the drug could not take effect, he took another sip.

    The bitterness tasted much stronger this time, and Nan Xing did not dare to drink more.

    He walked to another bathroom with the ss of wine, tossed the remainder into the toilet bowl, and

    flushed it down.

    A couple of minutes after returning to his seat, he began to feel warm and slightly dizzy.

    This feeling isn''t what it feels like to be drunk. Besides, I haven''t had enough to drink to be

    intoxicated. These must be the effects of the drugs in the wine, and there must be more than one type

    of drug.

    Fortunately, Nan Xing had not drank that much, so the effects of the drugs were not strong enough to

    render him incapable of controlling himself.

    At that moment, he heard the bathroom door open, and he quickly sprawled on the couch.

    Ouyang Qing walked out with a faint fragrance lingering around her. ¡°Chen?¡±

    Nan Xing remained silent.

    If I had drank the entire ss of wine, I probably would have been in a very dazed and easily excitable

    state. I have to try my hardest to imitate that sort of behavior. Only then can I find out what she has up

    her sleeve.

    ¡°Are you drunk, Chen?¡±

    Stretching out her hand, Ouyang Qing nudged him gently.

    Nan Xing grunted but did not say anything.

    He caught a whiff of her fragrance, and it felt as though a bolt of electricity had run through him.

    He could also clearly feel his body reacting.

    These drugs are really something else! I only took two sips, but I''m already like this. If I had drunk it all,

    I wouldn''t be able to control myself! Oh, my dear brother. You''re lucky I''m not nning on getting you in

    trouble because you usually treat me well. Otherwise, I''d go through with this charade and do it with

    her, then let you be the scapegoat. If I did that, then you''d truly get a taste of what it''s like to feel utterly

    helpless.

    Amused by the thought, Nan Xing felt the corners of his lips twitched upward, but he managed to hold

    in his smile.

    However, Ouyang Qing noticed the slight movement. ¡°Are you smiling?¡±

    Nan Xing turned to shield his face from Ouyang Qing, pretending to be unconscious and breathing

    heavily.

    ¡°Are you sleepy, Chen? I''ll help you into the bedroom, okay? You''ll catch a cold if you sleep out here,¡±

    said Ouyang Qing.

    He gave no response and merely continued with his act.

    Starting to feel a little worried, Ouyang Qing shook him harder. ¡°Chen? Wake up!¡±

    Nan Xing turned over on the couch again.

    ¡°Come on. I''ll help you up.¡±

    Ouyang Qing tried to lift him up, but he was too tall and heavy for her to carry.

    Nan Xing pondered for a moment. That won''t do. The highlight of this show will surely take ce in the

    bedroom. If we don''t go into the bedroom, we won''t be able to get to the good part. I''ll have to do as

    she says and get to the bedroom somehow. It''s clear she can''t carry me, so I''ll have to walk there

    myself. But if I do that, won''t it give the game away? Hmm, this is tricky. What do I do?

    ¡°Chen, wake up. Please get up so that I can help you to the bedroom.¡± Ouyang Qing shook him again.

    Just then, a thought popped into Nan Xing''s mind. This couch is big enough, so why don''t we do it

    here? Besides, I''m only interested in watching the show. I''m not really going to do anything, anyway.

 Chapter 515

    Chapter 515

    However, Ouyang Qing had no intention of making do with the couch. She had chosen her

    battleground, and that was the bedroom.

    That was why she kept calling him and asking him to wake up.

    Left with no choice, Nan Xing cracked open his eyes a little while still pretending to be confused. ¡°Huh?

    What''s going on?¡±

    ¡°Let''s go. We''re going to sleep in the bedroom,¡± Ouyang Qing answered.

    Her choice of words had changed. Earlier, she had offered to help Nan Xing to the bedroom, but now

    she was saying they would be sleeping together in the bedroom.

    That made her intentions crystal clear.

    Half pretending to be unwilling and reluctant, Nan Xing stood up and slung an arm around Ouyang

    Qing''s shoulder before stumbling toward the bedroom.

    The scent from her body and the drugs were a headybination, and they sent his imagination

    running wild.

    He quickly reminded himself to pull himself together. I''m just here to find out what''ll happen. I''m only

    pretending to be Nan Chen now, so I can''t let myself get too caught up!

    The bed was big and plush. Afterying Nan Xing on it, Ouyang Qing took off her shoes.

    Nan Xing exhaled deeply, trying to calm himself down a little.

    Despite his half-closed eyes, he noticed someone had installed a surveince camera on the wall light

    facing the bed.

    The person who installed it probably cared more about getting a good angle and a clear shot, so

    concealing the surveince camera was of secondary importance. As expected, this is a trap.

    Ouyang Qing nced at the surveince camera. Pleased, she crawled over to Nan Xing and began

    unbuttoning his shirt.

    ¡°Chen, do you like me?¡±

    She was certain that Nan Xing was Nan Chen and that he was under the influence of the drugs. Hence,

    she dared to speak more boldly.

    ¡°Mmm,¡± Nan Xing murmured.

    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Then I''ll help you take off your clothes.¡± As she spoke, she moved to undress him.

    Nan Xing continued pretending to be somewhat unwilling while allowing Ouyang Qing to do what she

    wanted.

    Gazing down at Nan Xing''s handsome face, Ouyang Qing could not help but gave in to her desires and

    threw herself at him.

    He wrapped his arms around her at once and pulled her close.

    As they tumbled around on the bed, Ouyang Qing started kissing Nan Xing.

    Things began getting hot and heavy, and they were on the brink of going too far when Ouyang Qing

    pulled back and asked breathily, ¡°Chen, will you take responsibility?¡±

    She wanted him to make her a promise and record it.

    Nheless, there was no way Nan Xing would give her the answer she desperately wanted to hear.

    I''m pretending to be Nan Chen now, so how can I promise her that?

    Hence, he was silent. That was also reminiscent of Nan Chen''s behavior.

    He did not answer, and Ouyang Qing could not force him to do so. However, she had already gotten so

    far, so she was not about to let her efforts go to waste.

    Hence, Ouyang Qing leaned over and continued seducing Nan Xing to the point where he could hardly

    hold on to his resolve.

    Other men would not have been able to bear it, let alone Nan Xing, who had taken two mouthfuls of the

    spiked wine.

    Just as he reached his breaking point, Ouyang Qing slipped off her nightgown and revealed her naked

    body.

    Hungry passion burned within Nan Xing, and he asked in a voice hoarse with desire, ¡°Are you sure

    about this?¡±

    Simrly consumed with lust, Ouyang Qing replied, ¡°As long as you''re willing to take responsibility, I''m

    willing to...¡±

    ¡°And if I don''t?¡± Nan Xing pressed.

    Upon hearing his question, Ouyang Qing immediately sensed something amiss. She gazed up at Nan

    Xing and realized the zed look in his eyes had disappeared. Instead of appearing drugged, he

    seemed fully conscious.

    ¡°What''s wrong with you?¡± Ouyang Qing asked.

    ¡°Nothing''s wrong with me. The question should be, what''s wrong with you?¡± Nan Xing countered with a

    smile.

    She became wary as soon as she saw his smile. Nan Chen practically never smiles. And even when

    he does, it''s never such a sinister smile.

    ¡°You¡ª¡±

    ¡°Ms. Ouyang, are you nning to force yourself on me? If you''re sure, I''m more than willing toply.

    I''ll be frank, though. I can give you what you want now, but I can''t promise that I can give you what you

    want after this,¡± Nan Xing drawled, smirking.

    That only made Ouyang Qing more suspicious. ¡°You''re... You''re not Chen?¡±

    ¡°I''m his younger brother, Nan Xing.¡±

    With that, he turned and pinned Ouyang Qing beneath him. ¡°Do you still wish to continue?¡±

    ¡°You pervert! You''re a fraud! Let go of me!¡± Ouyang Qing raised her hand to p him hard across the

    face.

    However, Nan Xing dodged deftly and grabbed her hand. Leaning in closer, he retorted, ¡°I''m a pervert?

    Don''t you mean you? You were the one who tried to force yourself on me, yet you dare to call me a

    pervert?¡±

    ¡°You''re a fraud! I can''t believe you had the guts to impersonate Chen and trick me!¡±

    ¡°I never said I was my brother. You just kept calling me by his name. Is that my fault? Moreover, I

    haven''t even held you ountable for trying to sleep with me, yet you''re already shifting the me on

    me!¡±

    As he spoke, he held down her arms so that she could not move at all.

    ¡°I invited Chen here, not you. Who asked a pervert like you to impersonate him? And why are you

    wearing a ck suit?¡± Ouyang Qing questioned angrily.

    ¡°Now you''re not making sense. Is my brother the only person who can wear a ck suit? Whatw is

    there that says I can''t wear one? There are plenty of people who go about in ck suits. Are you trying

    to tell me that everyone in a ck suit is named ''Nan Chen''? Let''s cut to the chase. Do you want to

    continue or not? If yes, then let''s hurry and do it. However, I''m not taking responsibility. If you don''t

    want to do it, I''ll leave. Just make sure you don''t regret it.¡±

    With that, Nan Xing pressed his body even closer and kissed her neck.

    ¡°You''re utterly despicable! You know full well that the person I like is Nan Chen! Get lost!¡± Ouyang Qing

    snapped.

    ¡°It sounds like you''re not going to sleep with me. Am I right? Then what was all that just now? You even

    took off your clothes. Are you testing my self-restraint? Let me assure you I''m no virtuous gentleman. If

    you do something like that, naturally, I won''t be able to hold back, so you can''t me me. The decision

    is still in your hands. If you''ve changed your mind, then let go of me. I''ll leave.¡±

    That''s riching from him. He''s the one that''s pinning me down, yet he asks me to let go of him!

    Ouyang Qing glowered at him. ¡°How do you expect me to let go when you''re holding my arms like that?

    You should be the one to let go! If I''d known you weren''t Nan Chen, I wouldn''t have paid you the

    slightest attention!¡±

    Annoyed by her reply, Nan Xing burst out, ¡°You undressed in front of me and recorded everything, but

    now you''re trying to y the victim? If I hadn''t stopped you and told you who I was, we''d be doing it

    already. Why are you putting on airs now? I''ve already seen you naked, so what''s the point of acting all

    innocent? You should''ve seen that lustful expression on your face just now. There''s no way you

    could''ve ignored me. Do you think I''d have paid any attention to you? I''ve encountered plenty of

    women like you. Do you know whatizens refer to girls like you? B*tches!¡±

    After that rant, Nan Xing felt much better.

    ¡°You''re the b*tch! Let go of me!¡± Ouyang Qing snarled.

    ¡°My pleasure. But are you sure you don''t want to sleep with me anymore? Have you thought about it

    long and hard?¡±

    ¡°Just get off me and get lost!¡±

    Disappointed that her n had failed and embarrassed at exposing herself in front of Nan Xing,

    Ouyang Qing felt furious and defeated.

 Chapter 516

    Chapter 516

    The room below the presidential suite of Nanting No.1 Hotel was a nondescript standard room.

    There, Tang Jing sat at the table, staring at herptop screen.

    Images from the wireless surveince camera that had been installed in Ouyang Qing''s room were

    transmitted to Tang Jing''sptop through the hotel''s wirelesswork, and Tang Jing recorded all the

    footage using a video application.

    As Ouyang Qing had to maintain her reputation as a demure youngdy, she could not expose her

    unclothed body to outsiders, and certainly not men.

    Hence, Tang Jing had offered to help Ouyang Qing record the video.

    The original n was to record the video, edit it, and upload it to the inte. They hoped that the

    public attention would pressure Nan Chen into admitting his rtionship with Ouyang Qing.

    They were both women, so Ouyang Qing trusted her ckey¡±pletely and readily agreed when

    Tang Jing had proposed the idea.

    Ouyang Qing naively thought that because she had presented Tang Jing with the opportunity, she

    could manipte thetter as she wished.

    However, Ouyang Qing was severely mistaken, as Tang Jing was never one to be walked over.

    Tang Jing was a calcting woman, and she always had a few sly tricks up her sleeve.

    Ouyang Qing treated Tang Jing as ackey, but in reality, Tang Jing was using Ouyang Qing as a

    stepping stone.

    Ouyang Qing also thought that Tang Jing was her marite, while Tang Jing believed that the reverse

    was true.

    Hence, while Tang Jing recorded the footage, she spread the video through an online live stream.

    Every sharine word Ouyang Qing uttered and each seductive touch she gave Nan Xing was

    broadcast for all to see.

    In the presidential suite, Ouyang Qing continued to pester Nan Xing, blissfully unaware of the chaos

    raging on the inte.

    Nan Xing finally released Ouyang Qing. Tousling his hair, he approached the surveince camera and

    quipped, ¡°That was close. I nearly got taken advantage of today.¡±

    Not only did she try to take advantage of me, but she also ns to deny it! What utter nonsense! Being

    good-looking is so troublesome. Girls are throwing themselves at me left and right, and they all want to

    sleep with me without taking up responsibility! In their dreams!

    Captivated by Nan Xing''s gorgeous face on the screen, Tang Jing thought of something.

    It would be amazing if this man was mine. Although he''s not Nan Chen and has no power nor influence

    in the Nan family, he''s just as handsome as Nan Chen. He''s just like a counterfeit Nan Chen! If I can

    reel him in, I''m sure that with his status and my ability, we''ll be able to have some say in the Nan family!

    A sly grin spread across Tang Jing''s face at the thought of this.

    Who cares about Ouyang Qing? She''s just a foolish rich brat. She orders me around as if I''m an idiot

    when she''s the idiotic one!

    In the meantime, Nan Xing was bored of Ouyang Qing''s antics.

    He pulled on his suit and said, ¡°Ouyang Qing, youe from a prominent family, and you''re their

    beloved princess. I''m astounded by your audacity to spike my drink. You''re lucky that you met me

    because I was gracious enough to y along. Had it been my brother, he wouldn''t even spare you a

    nce.¡±

    Pausing for a while, he continued, ¡°My brother is far more intelligent than I am, so if your n is to take

    advantage of him and threaten him into marrying you, you''re better off wishing pigs could fly. He would

    never fall for such a stupid ploy. My advice to you is to stop using such underhanded tricks, or my

    brother would only hate you more. Also, my brother already has two children with Ding Mi, so don''t you

    dare be a home-wrecker. Why are you so hung up on Nan Chen, anyway? Flower City is overflowing

    with handsome men; just pick a random guy off the streets and let go of your fantasy.¡±

    Ouyang Qing felt her blood boil upon hearing Nan Xing''s harsh words.

    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Leave! I don''t want to hear you spouting nonsense. Had I known that you''re not Nan Chen, I wouldn''t

    even waste the drug on you!¡± she screeched furiously.

    ¡°Would you be so kind to show me the way out?¡±

    Amused by Ouyang Qing''s exasperation, Nan Xing continued to taunt her in hopes of getting a bigger

    reaction.

    ¡°Get the hell out of here! I''ll call the cops if you don''t leave immediately,¡± Ouyang Qing spluttered in

    anger.

    ¡°Are you even listening to yourself? You brought me here by deception, spiked my drink, and then tried

    to take advantage of me. Now that your n fell through, you''re trying to call the authorities on me? Go

    ahead, then! Call the cops! Or are you too chicken?¡± Nan Xing goaded.

    Ouyang Qing jabbed her finger in Nan Xing''s face, but she could not find the words to rebut him.

    ¡°Well, if you''re not going to make the call, I will! I''ll tell the police that you drugged my drink and tried to

    have non-consensual sex with me! You won''t get away with this just because you''re a woman. It''s a

    crime all the same!¡± Nan Xing continued.

    ¡°Leave!¡± Ouyang Qing''s shriek pierced the air.

    Deciding that he had had enough fun, Nan Xing smirked and uttered, ¡°You''re not calling the police? Oh

    well, I guess I''ll just leave.¡±

    However, just as he reached the door, Nan Xing pivoted on his heel and left a partingment, ¡°You

    know, you''ve got a hot body. You don''t have to drug me if you want to hook up with me next time; just

    tell me! As long as I don''t have to be responsible for anything after the fact, I''ll dly oblige. I won''t

    even charge you for it¡ª¡±

    ¡°Leave!¡±

    Ouyang Qing hurled a pillow in Nan Xing''s direction. The man nimbly dodged the attack and scurried

    off.

    After Nan Xing left, Ouyang Qing picked up the surveince camera and mmed it into the ground,

    shattering it to pieces.

    The live stream ended abruptly.

    Theizens whined, disappointed that they were deprived of a raunchy sex scene.

    Meanwhile, Ouyang Qing wandered to the living room and picked up her phone, only to realize that she

    had over twenty missed calls.

    One was from a friend from Pearl City, and there were multiple from her mother, Feng Jialing.

    However, the majority of the calls were from Tang Jing.

    Naturally, Ouyang Qing chose to return her mother''s phone call first. ¡°Qing, what do you think you''re

    doing? You''ve disgraced our whole family!¡± Feng Jialing chastened the moment she picked up the call.

    ¡°What''s wrong, Mom? What happened?¡± Ouyang Qing asked, perplexed.

    ¡°Whatever happened between you and the Nan family''s young master at the hotel was live-streamed. I

    found out through a phone call from your friend! Why did you do that? Are you trying to smear the

    Ouyang family name?¡±

    ¡°Live stream? What live stream?¡± Ouyang Qing had a sense of impending doom.

    ¡°I should be the one asking you! Why did you go and do such a foolish thing? Qing, it''s all right if you

    don''t marry Nan Chen, but you can''t ruin the Ouyang family''s reputation! How is your dad supposed to

    face the public now?¡± Feng Jialing''s voice cracked as she spoke.

    ¡°Mom, just wait for a moment. It''s not what you think! I''ll exin everything once I get to the bottom of

    it.¡±

    With that, Ouyang Qing promptly hung up the phone.

    In her frenzied state, she could not care less about her appearance as she dashed out of her room in

    her pajamas. She arrived at Tang Jing''s room and banged on the door.

    Having deleted all the live streaming applications, Tang Jing opened the door calmly.

    p!

    Without a greeting, Ouyang Qing pped Tang Jing across the face.

    Feigning innocence, Tang Jing gasped. ¡°Qing, why did you hit me?¡±

    ¡°I only told you to record it. Why did you live stream it on the inte?¡± Ouyang Qing roared.

    ¡°That''s impossible! I only recorded it; I didn''t upload it anywhere!¡± Tang Jing lied tantly as she

    cupped her throbbing cheek.

    ¡°My mom''s friend saw everything and called me to ask about it. Are you still trying to deny it? What''s

    wrong with you? Are you trying to sabotage me?¡± Ouyang Qing smacked Tang Jing again.

    ¡°I didn''t do it. I didn''t!¡± cried Tang Jing.

    ¡°Then why was there a live stream online?¡±

 Chapter 517

    Chapter 517

    Tang Jing stered a nk expression on her face. ¡°Huh? A live stream? That''s impossible!¡±

    ¡°Stop pretending that it''s impossible! The video is already out in the world, so it''s obviously possible!¡±

    Livid, Ouyang Qing delivered yet another p.

    This p was harsher than its predecessors. Tang Jing nearly toppled over from the sheer force.

    Though her cheek stung, a sense of triumph bubbled up within Tang Jing.

    The video of Ouyang Qing had gone viral, which signified the start of her downward spiral. Once she hit

    the trenches of failure, she would need more help to rise from the ashes and seed.

    In other words, the harder Ouyang Qing fell, the more she would need Tang Jing''s help.

    Tang Jing would then be heavily involved in Ouyang Qing''s personal affairs and thus be able to use

    Ouyang Qing''s resources to attain her own goals.

    ¡°Why are you ring at me? Be honest. How did the video get out there?¡± Ouyang Qing bellowed.

    ¡°I have no idea,¡± answered Tang Jing. ¡°However, I heard of a new hacking technique that allows the

    hacker to ess the Wi-Fiwork and steal your information. We must have been hacked! Why don''t

    we make a police report? Once the police get involved, we''ll be able to find the culprit!¡±

    ¡°Make a police report? Have I not humiliated myself enough? Pack your bags; we''re leaving!¡±

    Tang Jing gloated internally. She knew that Ouyang Qing would not have the guts to notify the police.

    In fact, Ouyang Qing would be too distraught to investigate the matter and instead be preupied with

    getting herself out of the debacle.

    ¡°You can''t go out now,¡± Tang Jing warned.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°What am I supposed to do here? Rot away?¡± Ouyang Qing retorted.

    ¡°Since the video has already been spread online, there will be reporters outside waiting to ambush you.

    You''ll be jumped once you step foot out of this building.¡±

    ¡°Then what am I supposed to do? I can''t stay here forever.¡± Ouyang Qing was growing anxious.

    ¡°I''ll put on your clothes and act as a decoy. While they''re distracted, you can find a way to escape,¡±

    Tang Jing suggested.

    ¡°Are you sure that will work?¡± Ouyang Qing was dubious.

    With a nod, Tang Jing assured, ¡°Yes. I''ll wear a mask and drive your car. They''ll definitely chase me. I''ll

    drive slowly, so by the time they realize that they have the wrong person, you would have left already.¡±

    Tang Jing was telling the truth. While she was live streaming, she had intentionally exposed their

    current location, so the hotel was now swarming with reporters and paparazzi.

    If they discovered Ouyang Qing, it would be a disaster for the Ouyang heiress.

    However, if it were Tang Jing that they caught, it would be her golden opportunity to rise to fame.

    The whole event was a melodrama from the start, with the protagonists being the son of an affluent

    family and a pampered princess; a sprinkle of drink spiking was a spice-up to the plot.

    Tang Jing would never be able to experience this for herself.

    Had the exact incident happened to herself, she would only garner a fraction of the attention because

    she was not worth the hype.

    However, Ouyang Qing was a whole other story. ¡°Daughter of a prominent family drugs drinks to take

    advantage of a young master.¡± With a headline that was more enthralling than a movie, reporters would

    rather die than lose this scoop.

    Anything that captured the attention of the masses would bring publicity, and if Tang Jing could

    somehow steal some of that spotlight, she would be the ultimate profiteer of this fiasco.

    This sort of publicity was different from a normal interview¡ªit was more special and thrilling.

    ¡°Female celebrity drives off in heiress'' car to be the scapegoat¡± would certainly be one of the top three

    trending topics.

    Most importantly, the whole Flower City would now know that Tang Jing was Ouyang Qing''s friend.

    It did not matter that Ouyang Qing''s reputation was in shambles. At the end of the day, the title

    ¡°daughter of the Ouyang family¡± would still turn heads wherever she went.

    Tang Jing was certain that the Ouyang family would not suffer from Ouyang Qing''s fumble. She also

    knew that being acquainted with Ouyang Qing would help her ascend the socialdder.

    Since Tang Jing had helped Ouyang Qing escape the reporters'' harassment, the entertainment

    industry would assume that Tang Jing was close to the Ouyang family and regard her with awe.

    Poor Ouyang Qing had no idea that Tang Jing was brewing such a cunning scheme. Ignorant as she

    was, she thought that Tang Jing was a trustworthy friend who would help her through tough times.

    ¡°Go on, then. Here are my car keys,¡± Ouyang Qing urged.

    ¡°All right. Take off your pajamas and let me wear them. This way, they would think that I''m you,¡± Tang

    Jing stated matter-of-factly.

    ¡°But I don''t have a mask. What am I supposed to do?¡±

    ¡°You can ask the hotel employee to send over a disposable mask. I''m sure the cleaning crew has some

    on hand,¡± instructed Tang Jing.

    ¡°Then I''ll head back to my room. You arrange the rest.¡±

    Ouyang Qing was an intelligent woman, but now that things were beyond her control, she had no

    choice but to let Tang Jing take charge.

    ¡°You should wear my clothes so that no one recognizes you when you leaveter,¡± Tang Jing

    remarked.

    After they exchanged attires, Ouyang Qing went back to her presidential suite. She needed to call her

    mother and warn her to stay at home to avoid being badgered by the reporters.

    The moment Ouyang Qing closed the door behind her, Tang Jing broke out into a grin that rivaled that

    of a Cheshire cat.

    Everything was going ording to n. Tang Jing marveled at her ability to manipte Ouyang Qing.

    She did not need to ask the hotel for a mask¡ªshe hade prepared. She pulled out her mask, along

    with a cap and sunsses.

    Though it was rather strange to pair pajamas with a cap and sunsses, Tang Jing was unbothered.

    On the contrary, she was pleased with the outfit.

    The more peculiar the attire, the more attention she would gain. Her fashion choice would pique the

    interests ofizens once the news made it to the inte and stir up discussions. It was precisely

    what Tang Jing was after.

    Once she had gotten ready, Tang Jing left the room.

    Heading straight to the parking lot to get the car would be too inconspicuous. Everything would be a

    waste if Tang Jing did not get discovered by the media.

    So, she decided to pop out of the main entrance to attract their attention.

    When she arrived at the entrance, Tang Jing was stunned to see the number of reporters that crowded

    the ss doors. They mored to get into the hotel, but to no avail, as the hotel security did not budge

    from their spots.

    ¡°Look! It''s her! Ouyang Qing ising!¡± An eagle-eyed reporter noticed Tang Jing.

    With her mismatched attire, Tang Jing was hard to miss.

    She had been discovered¡ªmission aplished. Tang Jing retraced her steps and took the elevator

    to the parking lot.

    She slid into Ouyang Qing''s red sports car, which, to Tang Jing''s glee, was ostentatious.

    It was Tang Jing''s first time being in such a luxurious car. Though she was already a celebrity, she was

    still unable to afford something so upscale with her current worth.

    Being in a luxury car feels like heaven. Tang Jing reveled in the sensation as she sunk into the soft

    leather seats.

    Tang Jing had a driver''s license, but this was her first time operating a luxury vehicle.

    After some trial and error, she finally figured out how to drive the car.

    Fortunately, Tang Jing was well-educated and cultured, so it did not take long for her to get the hang of

    it.

    Minutester, a red sports car emerged from the parking lot.

    Despite the exhration of driving a luxury car, Tang Jing refrained from mming down on the

    elerator. After all, she needed the reporters to notice her first.

 Chapter 518

    Chapter 518

    The timing was perfect. As soon as the reporters arrived, they noticed Ouyang Qing''s sports car and an

    eye-catching woman dressed in pajamas sitting in the car.

    Of course, the reporters had their own transport. Hence, they started chasing after the car.

    The pursuers were not only reporters but there were also ordinaryizens who were live streaming.

    Recently, there was not much difference between professional and non-professional ¡°reporters.¡± In fact,

    anyone could be a reporter as long as they had a phone that came with inte ess, which would

    allow them to post breaking news at any time.

    Meanwhile, Tang Jing controlled the speed of the car well. It was not too slow, yet not too fast that

    could cause the pursuers to lose her.

    Just like that, they continued pursuing her while filming her throughout the journey.

    It was not until Tang Jing reached the suburbs that she stopped the car.

    Immediately, the reporters andizens who came in their own transportations surrounded her.

    The scene looked like a mini press conference with Tang Jing as the main character of the news.

    ¡°Why are you people chasing after me?¡± Tang Jing asked, looking into the camera.

    ¡°Ms. Ouyang, why are you running away? Your live stream was really interesting. Why didn''t you

    continue with it? Is it because the Nan family has fallen out with Nan Xing?¡±

    Even though it was a sharp question, it did not matter to Tang Jing since she was not the person

    involved.

    ¡°Ms. Ouyang? You guys are looking for Ms. Ouyang? Then why are you pursuing me?¡± Tang Jing did

    not take off her mask, deliberately holding them in suspense.

    She wanted to rouse their curiosity before telling them the truth in order to create a shocking effect.

    ¡°Aren''t you Ms. Ouyang? Anyway, may I know if you like Nan Chen or Nan Xing?¡± a reporter asked.

    ¡°You''ve mistaken me for someone else. I''m not Ms. Ouyang. All of you should''ve rified this before

    pursuing me,¡± said Tang Jing.

    ¡°That''s impossible. This is Ms. Ouyang''s car, and you''re Ms. Ouyang. We didn''t make a mistake.¡± As

    the reporter was saying this, the other pursuers had also arrived.

    Seeing that, Tang Jing alighted the car and leaned on it, striking a pose she believed to be attractive

    and letting the crowd take as many photos as they wanted.

    After that, she slowly removed her cap, mask, and sunsses.

    ¡°She''s not Ouyang Qing!¡± someone eximed.

    ¡°But why is she wearing Ouyang Qing''s pajamas from the live stream?¡±

    ¡°This must be a switcheroo! Ouyang Qing has escaped!¡± One of the reporters suddenly realized what

    was going on.

    ¡°This person looks like the supporting actress from the new drama.¡±

    ¡°That''s right! She''s the one who acted with Ding Mi.¡±

    A wave of annoyance washed over Tang Jing when she noticed how Ding Mi was the first person who

    came to their mind when they saw her.

    Who cares about Ding Mi? She''s just someone who hooked up with Nan Chen. What makes her so

    impressive that they only remember her in the drama?

    ¡°Hello everyone, I''m Tang Jing,¡± she greeted.

    Since they could not recall her name, she had no choice but to announce it herself.

    ¡°Oh, that''s right! She''s Tang Jing, the highly educated celebrity.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I remember now. That''s her, all right. But why is she wearing Ouyang Qing''s pajamas?¡±

    ¡°Isn''t it obvious? This is all a distraction. She and Ouyang Qing are friends. So, she''s in charge of

    driving us away while Ouyang Qing leaves.¡±

    ¡°Is that true, Ms. Tang? Why were you at the hotel? Do you have anything to do with that incident?¡± a

    reporter questioned.

    ¡°What incident? I don''t get what you''re talking about,¡± Tang Jing answered, feigning ignorance.

    ¡°When Ms. Ouyang appeared in the live stream earlier, she was wearing this set of pajamas. Why is it

    on you now? Besides, we followed you because you were driving her car. Are you purposely doing this

    to distract us so Ouyang Qing could leave?¡±

    Tang Jing smiled. ¡°Is Ms. Ouyang a fugitive? Why would she run away?¡±

    ¡°So, you admit you''re involved in the matter?¡±

    ¡°I''m not admitting anything. Then again, Ms. Ouyang is my friend. I hope no one defames her. If not,

    we''ll take necessary legal measures,¡± Tang Jing warned.

    The fact that she was using the word ¡°we¡± was the same as admitting she was working with Ouyang

    Qing.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    ¡°Ms. Tang, since you know about this matter, could you tell us more about it?¡±

    To their dismay, Tang Jing continued beating around the bush. ¡°I don''t know what you''re talking about,¡±

    she stated. ¡°These pajamas are mine. As for the car, Ms. Ouyang lent it to me, but this doesn''t mean

    anything. You guys talked about something about distraction earlier. I have no idea what it''s about, so,

    if there''s nothing else, I shall take my leave.¡±

    Since she had managed to achieve her objective, there was no point staying there. Hence, she got into

    the luxurious car coolly.

    At that moment, she felt as though she could control the entire world. Even the luxurious car could be

    hers one day.

    Meanwhile, a private room in Orchid Club looked like a mess. Ouyang Qing had thrown everything that

    could be smashed onto the floor.

    At the same time, the crowd stood far away for fear of being injured by those antiques and wine bottles

    that were being thrown across the room.

    Coincidentally, Feng Jialing was in Flower City. Thus, she arrived at the club in just a short amount of

    time.

    The moment she stepped into the room, she was almost hit by one of the items Ouyang Qing threw.

    ¡°Qing, what are you doing? What''s the point of going mad now? Please calm down!¡± she reprimanded.

    Seeing Feng Jialing, Ouyang Qing immediately ran over to hug her and started bursting into tears.

    Feng Jialing held her daughter in her arms, feeling bad for thetter. ¡°It''s okay. Everything''s fine now.

    There, there. No more crying.¡±

    ¡°How am I supposed to appear in public now that things are like this?¡± Ouyang Qing wailed.

    ¡°It''s no big deal. You''re still young, after all. There''s nothing wrong with youngsters acting a little out of

    line. Everyone has gone through that phase before. There''s no need to be so hard on yourself,¡± Feng

    Jialing assured.

    Truth was, she was quite mad about it. In fact, she even had the urge to yell at her daughter when she

    was on her way.

    However, Feng Jialing did not have the heart to do so when she saw how miserable Ouyang Qing

    seemed. After all, thetter was her precious daughter.

    Finally, Ouyang Qing stopped crying. Anger filled her heart as she gritted her teeth and cursed, ¡°It''s all

    Ding Mi''s fault. If it wasn''t for her, I wouldn''t have to do such things. And Nan Xing... I can''t believe he

    tricked me. I hate them! I want them to die!¡±

    ¡°Now that you''re calmer, we should start thinking of how to exin this to your father. He doesn''t know

    about this yet, but it won''t be long till he finds out. He''s a prideful man. If this matter causes him to be

    humiliated, he''ll be furious. We muste up with an excuse to deal with this,¡± Feng Jialing said.

    ¡°My mind is in a mess now. I don''t even know what I should do!¡±

    ¡°What happened to you? Why were you so foolish to do such things? I can''t believe you even installed

    a camera to film the broadcast. Aren''t you usually the smart one? How could you make such a

    rudimentary mistake?¡± Feng Jialing asked, feeling upset.

    ¡°Please stop scolding me, Mom. Now that things havee to this point, you''ve got to help me find a

    way out of this. I don''t want to be scolded by others and bebeled as a shameless person. I won''t

    ept this. I must win Nan Chen over!¡± Ouyang Qing dered firmly.

    ¡°You''ve lost your mind. Nan Chen might be a good person, but he''s not the only good man on earth.

    Why do you have to keep targeting him? Anyway, you must not meet your father for the time being.

    Leave the country and stay hidden there for a few days. I''ll talk to your father ande up with a

    solution for this. Your personal affair isn''t much, but our family''s reputation is at stake. I''m sure your

    father must be livid right now.¡±

 Chapter 519

    Chapter 519

    In the meantime, Ning Ran and her family were happily enjoying hot pot in a vi in Red Maple City. A

    harmonious and blissful atmosphere filled the air.

    Erbao could not even be bothered to speak. Instead, she just held her head low and kept stuffing the

    food in her mouth.

    Seeing that, Ning Ran would remind her to slow down from time to time.

    ¡°It''s fine, Mommy. That''s her usual speed. It''s not a problem,¡± said Dabao.

    ¡°Is the hotpot I made delicious?¡± Nan Chen asked the two children, feeling pleased with his cooking.

    ¡°It''s yummy!¡± Dabao nodded approvingly.

    Ning Ran was baffled when she heard Nan Chen''s question. Since when did you make this? I made

    everything from scratch. And now you''re taking credit for my hard work?

    ¡°Good girl. Your mommy put in a lot of work, too. We made this together and made sure to do

    everything perfectly,¡± Nan Chen stated.

    Ning Ran merely nced at him. She could not be bothered to entertain him.

    I''m obviously the mastermind while he''s the assistant. And now he''s pretending to be the person who

    did all the hard work and even giving me some credit.

    ¡°Oh, no, no. It''s all your hard work. You made it wonderfully. It''s impressive,¡± Ning Ran remarked with a

    mocking smile.

    Nan Chen sensed the sarcasm in her smile. Yet, he ignored it. ¡°Oh, you tter me too much.¡±

    Erbao, who seemed to be focused on her food, suddenly chimed, ¡°This obviously tastes like Mommy''s

    cooking.¡± Truth was, she could not bear to listen to the conversation anymore.

    Hearing that, Ning Ran shed a smug smile at Nan Chen. Do you hear that? My little girl is a

    discerning person.

    Nan Chen turned to look at Erbao. ¡°Why would you say that?¡±

    Sensing her father''s eyes on her, Erbao felt nervous, and she turned to her brother for support.

    ¡°Erbao is used to Mommy''s hotpot. Naturally, she can identify whose cooking it is,¡± Dabao exined

    nonchntly.

    ¡°That''s right!¡± Erbao nodded profusely.

    ¡°Well, I just wanted to test if you two can identify whose cooking it is. That''s why I said those words. I

    like the hotpot Mommy makes, too. Let''s get her to make that for us every day in the future, okay?¡± Nan

    Chen asked.

    These children really do support you. Fine. Since you''re the genius in making hotpot, then you should

    make it every day.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, you''ll fall ill from having too much hotpot. If you''d like to eat it every day, I can prepare it for

    you, but not for the children. I don''t want them to have swollen lips,¡± Ning Ran refuted emotionlessly.

    ¡°Hotpot is not the only thing Mommy knows how to make. She makes other delicious dishes too!¡±

    Erbao piped in hurriedly.

    ¡°Exactly,¡± Dabao agreed.

    ¡°If you want to eat Mommy''s cooking every day, then you have to take some action.¡± Erbao put down

    her utensils, looking as if she wanted to discuss something serious.

    ¡°What actions?¡± Nan Chen was puzzled.

    ¡°You''ve got to get married to Mommy. That way, you''ll get to enjoy her cooking every day. If you don''t,

    she''ll get married and cook for someone else. Then, you won''t get to eat it anymore.¡± Erbao''s logic was

    a little exaggerated, but it madeplete sense.

    Nan Chen eyed Ning Ran. ¡°Who are you getting married to? And who are you going to cook for?¡±

    ¡°I wasn''t the one who said that. What are you asking me for? She''s just a kid who''s speaking her mind,¡±

    Ning Ran replied with contempt.

    ¡°Did you teach her to say that? Are you urging us to get married?¡± Nan Chen did not believe her words.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, you think too much. I''ve never thought of that. You''re way out of my league.¡± With that, she

    turned to Erbao and warned, ¡°No more food for you if you talk nonsense again.¡±

    Hearing that, Erbao quickly picked up her utensils and continued eating in silence.

    Since you adults aren''t listening to me, then there''s nothing I can do about it. Whether you two get

    married or not is no more important than my meal. Hmph. I''m going to continue eating. Dealing with

    you two is such a waste of time.

    Just then, Ning Ran''s phone rang. She grabbed her phone and stared at the screen, noting that it was

    from Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°What''s up, Cheng?¡± Ning Ran asked after epting the call.

    ¡°Which one was it? I seriously can''t tell!¡± Cheng Xiangyun asked immediately, leaving Ning Ran

    confused.

    ¡°Huh? What are you saying? It sounds gibberish to me. Speak properly!¡± Ning Ran scolded.

    ¡°Oh,e on. Don''t tell me you don''t know what happened on the inte?¡± Cheng Xiangyun

    countered anxiously.

    ¡°So many things are happening on the inte every second. I''m not the inte. How am I supposed

    to be aware of everything that happens there?¡±

    ¡°You really don''t know about it? Oh, my gosh. Are you living in a cave? The inte has blown up. How

    could you not know about it?¡±

    ¡°So what exactly is going on? Can''t you just tell me already?¡±

    ¡°I can''t really put it in words. Basically, Ouyang Qing drugged Nan Chen. And by drug, I mean that kind

    of drug. After that, she broadcasted her scandalous scene with him onto the inte. Damn. These city

    people really do know how to y. I can''t believe she had the guts to do such a thing. This is so crazy!¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun shrieked with excitement.

    Ning Ran was baffled by the news. ¡°When did this happen?¡±

    ¡°About an hour ago.¡±

    ¡°No way. That man you just mentioned has been with me the whole day today. He''s even having a

    meal now. How would he be drugged by her?¡± Ning Ran was in disbelief.

    Cheng Xiangyun exined, ¡°I haven''t finished. That was just the first half of the story. Anyway, during

    the critical moment, theizens found out the man was not Nan Chen, but Nan Xing! The problem is,

    they both look exactly the same, so theizens are currently analyzing if it''s Nan Xing or Nan Chen

    now. Although the person in the video said he was Nan Xing, it''s still hard to identify. Since you said

    you were with Nan Chen, then there''s no doubt that the person in the hotel room was Nan Xing. Oh,

    my. Ouyang Qing has really dug her own grave now. I''d like to see how arrogant she can be in the

    future.¡±

    It was apparent that Cheng Xiangyun was in a good mood.

    ¡°Is the video still on the inte?¡± Ning Ran''s interest was piqued.

    ¡°Of course. Hurry up and watch it. It''s going to be deleted soon. After all, it''s quite an explicit scene. I''m

    sure it''ll be deleted.¡±

    ¡°Okay. I''ll watch it now.¡± After ending the call, Ning Ran made a search on the inte and found the

    video with no difficulty.

    It was really explicit. There were even some scenes that were censored because they exposed Ouyang

    Qing''s body.

    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    If the video was not processed it would be an act of spreading illegal videos that could cause Ouyang

    Qing to be interrogated by relevant departments.

    After watching the video, Ning Ran could confirm that the person was Nan Xing.

    Though both Nan Xing and Nan Chen looked simr, they had extremely different vibes.

    They carried themselves differently, especially when it came to the way they talked andughed.

    Since Ning Ran had grown closer to both of them, it was natural that she could identify who was in the

    video at a nce.

    As she read the floodingments that scolded Ouyang Qing, she could not help but feel amused.

    Ouyang Qing is a daughter of a rich family. How could she do such a thing?

    ¡°Who were you talking to? What''s making you so happy?¡± Nan Chen appeared out of nowhere.

    ¡°Nothing.¡± Ning Ran pretended as if nothing happened.

    ¡°Why are you denying it when you''re obviously smiling? Who called you just now?¡± Nan Chen was

    slightly upset.

    ¡°Cheng Xiangyun.¡±

    ¡°What did she say that made you so happy?¡± Nan Chen still did not believe her.

    ¡°It''s just a topic among women. Do I have to report that to you as well? Don''t you think you''re asking

    too many questions?¡± Ning Ran frowned.

 Chapter 520

    Chapter 520

    ¡°What exactly were you two talking about? Why aren''t you telling me?¡± Nan Chen grew more

    suspicious.

    It was not that Ning Ran wanted to hide it from him. She was just hesitant about whether she should tell

    him about it.

    After all, Nan Xing pretending to be Nan Chen was not a small issue. If she informed him about it, she

    would be in deep trouble once Nan Xing med her for tale-telling.

    Moreover, Nan Chen did not have the habit of listening to gossip. Hence, if he found out about it in the

    end, then it would not be her fault.

    Ning Ran did not find the need to tell him about it if he did not know about the matter.

    Anyway, Nan Xing has done a good job here. Ouyang Qing''s reputation is totally ruined.

    Ning Ran had to protect Nan Xing.

    Hence, no matter how much Nan Chen questioned her, Ning Ran would not tell him.

    At the same time, the two children thought their parents were arguing with each other, and they rushed

    over to take a look.

    When the adults noticed the children, they ushered everyone back to the dining table to continue with

    their meal.

    After the meal, as Ning Ran was cleaning the table, Nan Chen''s phone buzzed. It was from Bai Hua.

    Nan Chen picked up the call. ¡°Hello?¡±

    ¡°Nan Chen, how could you y tricks on someone like that?¡± Bai Hua questioned, evidently sounding

    pissed. ¡°Even if you don''t like Ouyang Qing, you shouldn''t do such a thing. You''re offending the

    Ouyang family, did you know that? Are you trying to start a battle between our families?¡±

    Hearing that, Nan Chen was confused. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°How dare you still put on an act? I clearly instructed you to go there, but why did you have to make

    Nan Xing impersonate you? Don''t you know that rascal is capable of doing anything?¡± Bai Hua fumed.

    ¡°I really don''t understand what you''re saying. What''s this? What did Nan Xing do this time?¡±

    ¡°You should take a look at the video on the inte and ask Nan Xing yourself. You boys have created

    such a mess for me. What good will it do to you for angering the Ouyang family? Why did you have to

    do that?¡±

    Upon hearing that, Nan Chen nced at Ning Ran instinctively. That woman was acting all secretive

    just now. Does she know anything about this?

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    ¡°Mom, I really know nothing about it. Let me look it up and get back to you, okay?¡± he said.

    ¡°You better think of a way to exin this to the Ouyang family!¡± With that, Bai Hua ended the call.

    ¡°Do you know something about it?¡± Nan Chen stared at Ning Ran.

    ¡°I''m not really sure either. I just know about the general situation,¡± Ning Ran replied with a smile.

    ¡°What exactly is the matter that''s making you so happy?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    Ning Ran recollected herself and put on an expression as if it had nothing to do with her. ¡°It''s nothing.

    I''m not happy. And this matter has nothing to do with me.¡±

    ¡°What the hell is going on?¡± Nan Chen bellowed.

    Seeing the man in a rage, Ning Ran turned to the children. ¡°Go to your rooms. I have something to tell

    your daddy.¡±

    The two children exchanged nces and went into their rooms obediently.

    ¡°Tell me. What''s the matter?¡±

    ¡°The whole truth is in the video. You should see it for yourself,¡± uttered Ning Ran, pulling out her phone

    and ying the video.

    Nan Chen frowned as he watched it. ¡°What''s this? Why is Nan Xing pretending to be me?¡±

    Ning Ran tutted and rolled her eyes in displeasure. ¡°What a waste, right? Are you regretting it now?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°You''re regretting not being there yourself. You can''t help but wish you were the person Ouyang Qing

    was lying on top of, right? Isn''t that the reason why you hate the idea of Nan Xing pretending to be

    you?¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about? Do you think that''s what I mean?¡±

    ¡°Then what else do you mean? What a waste, right? If you went there, everything would''ve been set in

    stone and you''d have had so much fun,¡± Ning Ran sneered.

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Nan Chen roared coldly.

    ¡°You''re the one who asked me about it, and now you''re telling me to shut up. Am I supposed to talk or

    not?¡±

    ¡°Just say what''s necessary and leave out the others!¡±

    ¡°How am I supposed to know what I should or shouldn''t say?¡±

    ¡°Fine. You can stop talking now,¡± Nan Chen stated.

    ¡°Okay, I''ll shut up then. By the way, aren''t you going to give Ms. Ouyang a call? You should be

    consoling her broken heart now. She originally offered her body to you, yet she was yed by Nan

    Xing. Perhaps you can tell her there are still many chances in the future. Tell her to get the drug ready.

    All you have to do next time is just drink it¡ª¡±

    ¡°Enough!¡± Nan Chen was fuming.

    ¡°Oh? You''re mad? Okay, I''ll stop talking. You must be heartbroken now. I''d better stop since I can''t

    afford to offend you.¡± With that, Ning Ran continued clearing the table and headed toward the kitchen.

    ¡°Stop right there!¡± Nan Chen bellowed.

    Stopping in her tracks, Ning Ran uttered, ¡°What now? Are you not done scolding me?¡±

    ¡°Say, how do you think Nan Xing knew Ouyang Qing was at that hotel? And why would he think of

    pretending to be me? ording to my mother, the one who was invited was me, but the person who

    had turned up was him. What''s going on?¡± Nan Chen asked, her eyes fixated on her.

    ¡°How would I know?¡±

    ¡°You don''t?¡± Nan Chen looked very doubtful.

    ¡°Stop looking at me like that. Of course I don''t know about it. I''ve been cooking with you the whole time,

    and I didn''t even pick up my phone. I didn''t even¡ª¡± Suddenly, Ning Ran stopped talking.

    Nan Chen, too, came to a realization as he picked up his phone and checked his call logs.

    ¡°My mother called me twice before this call. They were about ten minutes apart, and both were

    answered by someone,¡± Nan Chen informed, his eyes now trained on the woman.

    ¡°It''s not me. You''ll know once you look at the time of the call. I was with you in the kitchen during that

    time,¡± she rified quickly.

    After thinking for some time, both of them shifted their gaze to the children''s room.

    The housekeeper, who usually came to the vi in Red Maple City to clean up the ce, was not

    around.

    Hence, Erbao and Dabao were the only ones left at home apart from Ning Ran and Nan Chen.

    Since both the adults did not pick up the calls, the culprits were obvious.

    ¡°Dabao, Erbao,e here!¡± Ning Ran yelled.

    Truth was, the two children had been listening by the door, catching every single word that was spoken

    in the dining hall.

    Erbao was so shocked that she ran deeper into the room to hide when she heard Ning Ran''s yell.

    Seeing that, Dabao grabbed her. ¡°What are you running away for?¡±

    ¡°Remember how we answered Daddy''s call? I think something happened because of it!¡± Erbao

    eximed anxiously.

    ¡°Do you think you can escape when something happens? Where do you think you can hide?¡± Dabao

    asked.

    ¡°I''m going to hide under my nkets!¡±

    ¡°Are you sure you can hide there forever? Come on, let''s go out together.¡±

    However, Erbao did not obey. She crouched to the ground, remaining unmoved even when Dabao tried

    to pull her up.

    ¡°Dabao, you must be responsible for your own actions. You''re a man, and I''m just an ordinary girl. You

    must not drag me into this!¡± Erbao muttered.

    ¡°Sure. Then you should handle your own matters in the future and not drag me into them.¡±

    ¡°Oh, don''t be like that. If something happens to me in the future, I''ll naturally have to rely on you.

    Otherwise, who am I supposed to go to?¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry. Daddy won''t me us. I can exin this, so you don''t have to worry about it,¡± Dabao

    persuaded, which sessfully convinced Erbao to walk out of the room with him.

    Nheless, she remained hidden behind Dabao, unwilling to show her face.

    ¡°Who had answered my phone?¡± Nan Chen asked sternly.

    Even so, no one answered him.

    Seeing that, Ning Ran became protective over her children. ¡°Don''t be like that! You''re scaring the kids.

    You can''t vent your anger on my children just because of Ouyang Qing''s matters.¡±

 Chapter 521

    Chapter 521

    Furrowing his brows, Nan Chen asked, ¡°How is this scaring them? I''m just asking them a question. It''s

    no reason for them to be scared.¡±

    Ning Ran looked at Erbao. ¡°Are you sure? Look at Erbao. She doesn''t even dare to show her face

    now.¡±

    Hearing that, Erbao yed along. ¡°That''s right! I''m so scared that I don''t even dare to speak. I''m really

    scared!¡±

    Nan Chen was rendered speechless. Isn''t it enough that you''re an actress already? And now you want

    to turn your child into a drama queen?

    ¡°Come out here and talk properly! If you do, I won''t give you a hard time,¡± Nan Chen uttered.

    Only then did Erbao poke out her head fearfully from behind Dabao and nce at Nan Chen.

    Then again, anyone who saw the pitiful look on her face would not have the heart to punish her, even if

    she did make an unforgivable mistake.

    ¡°Okay. I''m going to ask you one more time. Who had answered my phone?¡±

    To their surprise, both Dabao and Erbao raised their hands and answered in unison, ¡°Me!¡±

    Ning Ran was pleased by their response. Such united siblings. They''re willing to take responsibility for

    what they''ve done. As expected of my children.

    ¡°So both of you are taking responsibility? Okay, then. Both of you shall be punished,¡± Nan Chen said

    furiously.

    Hearing that, the children lowered their heads, remaining silent.

    ¡°Don''t frighten them!¡± Ning Ran interjected, her protective instincts rising in her heart.

    ¡°But they''re lying. How could both of them have answered the phone? How can children tell lies? Are

    you condoning their actions? Do you think this is the right way of educating them?¡± Nan Chen

    questioned while ring at the woman.

    ¡°Okay. Wait here.¡± Ning Ran got to her feet and walked to the other room before reappearing with a

    feather duster.

    ¡°How dare you two lie! I''m going to beat both of you up!¡± she yelled, charging toward the children

    furiously. However, the children did not run away. Instead, they looked at Nan Chen with pleading

    looks.

    Of course, Nan Chen would not let Ning Ran hit them. Hence, he quickly pulled the children into his

    embrace and shouted, ¡°Don''t frighten them!¡±

    As soon as those words left his mouth, he froze. Wasn''t this Ning Ran''s line earlier? How did our roles

    get switched? Now I''m the one protecting the children while she''s the one scaring them. Did she set me

    up?

    ¡°Daddy, I''m scared!¡± Erbao cowered in Nan Chen''s embrace, hugging his neck tightly.

    Her actions caused Nan Chen''s heart to melt, and he could not bring himself to scold her anymore.

    ¡°It''s okay. Don''t be scared. I''m here,¡± Nan Chenforted.

    Ning Ran almost burst outughing at the scene before her.

    With all themotion, Nan Chen had totally forgotten about finding out the culprit.

    Despite that, when Dabao noticed Nan Chen''s anger had dissipated, he admitted, ¡°I was the one who

    had answered the phone. I pretended to be Erbao when I did that. That''s why both of us admitted it.

    We weren''t lying.¡±

    ¡°What happened after that? Tell me the truth. No matter what you did wrong, I promise no one will hit

    you,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran snorted when she heard his words. So much for principles. He''s more outrageous when it

    comes to protecting the people he cares about.

    ¡°Grandma''s the one who told you to go to the hotel. When I heard that, I thought something sounded

    off,¡± Dabao exined.

    ¡°If your grandma asks me out for a meal, it should be at home or at a restaurant instead of a hotel.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded to confirm the child''s suspicion.

    He was impressed by his son''s meticulous thinking at such a young age.

    ¡°Exactly. That''s why I found it suspicious, so I let Uncle Xing go by pretending to be you to find out

    what''s going on.¡±

    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Nodding, Nan Chen stated, ¡°I get it now.¡±

    ¡°It''s all my fault. I shouldn''t have answered your call on my own,¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°It''s my fault for not stopping Dabao too,¡± Erbao added hurriedly.

    ¡°There''s nothing wrong with answering my phone, but you should have told me after that.¡±

    ¡°Okay. I''ve learned my lesson. I won''t do that again,¡± Dabao remarked obediently.

    ¡°It''s all right. Go and y then,¡± Nan Chen replied affectionately.

    When the children returned to their room, Nan Chen remained seated, not uttering a single word.

    At the same time, Ning Ran, who stepped out of the kitchen after cleaning the dishes, noticed him

    sitting there quietly.

    ¡°Is this a serious matter?¡± Ning Ran felt slightly uneasy.

    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Nan Chen answered moodily.

    ¡°The children are the ones who had answered your call. Not me. Don''t be mad at me.¡±

    ¡°I''m not. I''m just thinking about something.¡±

    ¡°Which is?¡±

    ¡°Ouyang Duo''s reaction,¡± Nan Chen responded straightforwardly.

    ¡°How do you think he''ll react? Are you worried he''ll be mad?¡±

    ¡°He''ll definitely be. After all, he''s a prideful man. Now that this matter has ruined his reputation, he''ll

    definitely be mad. I''m just thinking of what actions he will take.¡±

    ¡°Are you worried he''ll harm the Nan family?¡±

    ¡°I don''t know. That''s why I''m thinking about it.¡±

    ¡°Do you have a conclusion already?¡±

    ¡°Not yet.¡±

    On the other side, Ouyang Qing did not expect Ouyang Duo to arrive at Orchid Club so quickly. She did

    not even have the time to think of a way to exin the humiliating matter to him.

    Smack!

    Suddenly, Ouyang Duo gave Ouyang Qing a p across her face.

    The p left Ouyang Qing stunned. Since young, she had been the Ouyang family''s pride. Never in her

    wildest dreams did she expect to receive a p from her father.

    ¡°Ouyang Duo, how could you do that?¡± Feng Jialing immediately stood in front of Ouyang Qing, feeling

    heartbroken for her daughter.

    When Ouyang Qing finally came back to her senses, she started bawling her eyes out.

    ¡°How dare you cry? You''ve brought so much disgrace to me! He''s just a man. Are you so desperate to

    get close to him? Now everyone knows my daughter is a shameless person¡ªa person who clings to

    the Nan family and doesn''t have dignity! I''ve been involved in the business world for so many decades,

    yet I''ve never been this humiliated!¡± Ouyang Duo bellowed.

    ¡°This is partially your fault, too. Didn''t you say you wanted to find a way to get our daughter married into

    the Nan family and make her their newdy of the house? That''s why she did such things. How could

    you me her now? If you hit her again, I''m going to kill you.¡± Feng Jialing was fuming as well.

    Smack!

    Ouyang Duo made a move again, but the p was now directed at Feng Jialing.

    The woman was utterly stunned. Not only did he hit our daughter, but me as well?

    ¡°Look at what your daughter has be! How did you carry out your responsibilities as a mother?

    How could you let your daughter do such humiliating things?¡± Ouyang Duo raged.

    ¡°How is this my fault? Wasn''t this your n? You were the one who wanted her to marry into the Nan

    family and take control over them. It''s your greed that made us do all that! You bought over the entire

    Orchid Club as your base, hoping you can rece the Nan family as the most powerful family in the

    city one day. Now that something bad has happened, you''re pushing the me onto someone else.

    Worst of all, you even pped us! Tell you what, Ouyang Duo. I''m getting a divorce from you, so go

    ahead and marry whoever you want! Let''s go, Qing. From now on, we''re not rted to the Ouyang

    family,¡± Feng Jialing vocalized, evidently burning with fury.

    ¡°If you dare step out of this room, then don''t you ever think ofing back to the Ouyang family. Both

    of you will lose everything. You''ll never be able to survive out there!¡± Ouyang Duo warned coldly.

    ¡°I don''t need your money. We can survive on our own!¡± Feng Jialing roared.

    Feng Jialing was extremely confident, but Ouyang Qing remained in her spot.

    Although she was pped across the face, she was well aware that she had to rely on her father to

    salvage the situation.

    Her reputation had beenpletely ruined. If she were to cut ties with the Ouyang family, then she

    would be nothing.

    She was a smart person. She knew she could offend anyone on earth, but not her father.

 Chapter 523

    Chapter 523

    For that reason, Feng Jialing felt very conflicted. She nced at Ouyang Duo but said nothing.

    She had been married to the man for decades, so she knew the kind of person he was all too well.

    If he were enraged, there was a possibility that he would kick her and her daughter out.

    ¡°I think your father''s suggestion makes sense. I''m of the same opinion. In the situation at hand, the

    netizens will only condemn you relentlessly if you stay here. Besides, all you''ll be able to do is hide at

    home every day, not daring to leave the house. In that case, it''s better for you to live abroad for some

    time. Consider it a vacation and forget about this matter,¡± she coaxed gently.

    Ouyang Qing''s panic snowballed when she saw that her mother was not siding with her.

    She initially wanted to throw a fit once more but decided against it on second thought. If the entire

    family gangs up on me, it''ll be even worse for me.

    ¡°All right, then. I''ll book a flight ticket and leave as soon as possible,¡± she relented.

    ¡°That''s not going to work. I''ll have the driver send you away tonight itself so that you can board the

    flight in another city, lest you get photographed by the paparazzi,¡± Ouyang Duo dered in a frosty

    voice.

    ¡°I still have some matters to handle, so I''ll leave by myself.¡±

    ¡°What are those matters? I can have my subordinates handle them for you,¡± Ouyang Duo countered.

    ¡°Are you really in such a rush to have me leave, Dad? Now that everyone knows I''ve had a scandal,

    many paparazzi are lying in wait for me at the airport. Once I make an appearance, I''ll be caught right

    away! Isn''t it safer to stay for a bit before leaving?¡± Ouyang Qing contended.

    Hearing that, Ouyang Duo felt that it indeed made sense. ¡°Fine. You can stay for a day before leaving,

    then. However, you can only remain here without going anywhere else! A word of warning¡ªif you dare

    take a step out of the house and get caught by the paparazzi, I''ll definitely sever my rtionship with

    you!¡±

    After saying that, he stalled over to Ouyang Qi.

    Worried that he would be hit again, Ouyang Qi hurriedly covered his head.

    ¡°Why didn''t you act when I ordered you to ruin that actress'' reputation? Now, she has ruined your

    sister''s reputation instead!¡± Ouyang Duo roared.

    ¡°I haven''t managed toe up with an idea yet. Such a thing can''t be rushed,¡± Ouyang Qi parried.

    ¡°Starting tomorrow, all your cards will be suspended and can only be used when you''ve destroyed Nan

    Chen''s woman''s reputation! I''ve already warned those in thepany that whoever dares lend you

    any money will be going against me. Therefore, no one dares lend you a single cent now!¡± Ouyang Duo

    announced.

    ¡°What? I''m not going to have any money when you suspend my cards, so I won''t be able to aplish

    it either. You can''t do this,¡± Ouyang Qi bemoaned.

    ¡°I gave you a chance, but you didn''t appreciate it. There''s no room for negotiation. Your cards will be

    restored the day you aplish that mission! I''m not going to support a bunch of useless creatures!¡±

    Ouyang Duo berated.

    That ¡°bunch of useless creatures¡± evidently included Ouyang Qing.

    He had high hopes for her, yet she had now be his greatest shame. Thus, he was inevitably

    disappointed and incensed.

    When he finished tearing into them, he whirled around to leave in a fit of rage.

    Upon noticing that Feng Jialing was still standing there without any intention of leaving, he bellowed at

    her, ¡°Why are you still standing there? Are you thinking of shielding her again? Are the lot of you going

    against me so that I''ll be thoroughly mortified in my golden years?¡±

    By then, Feng Jialing had calmed downpletely. She no longer went against the man but along with

    him.

    After they left, Ouyang Qi made to leave as well.

    While he was Ouyang Qing''s brother, thetter had always looked down upon him and never showed

    him any respect. Hence, there was nothing to be said between them.

    This time, however, Ouyang Qing called him back, ¡°Where are you going?¡±

    How novel! She''s actually minding my business?

    ¡°How is that any business of yours? Mind your own business first,¡± Ouyang Qi sneered.

    ¡°I didn''t say that it''s my business. I''m just curious about where you can go when Dad has suspended all

    your cards. Do you have the money to fill your petrol tank? Do you have the money to ask girls out for

    meals and have fun? Without money, you''re nothing, not even a rich yboy!¡± Ouyang Qing scoffed

    coldly.

    That was indeed true, and it had Ouyang Qi stunned.

    Now that I''ve got no money, I really have nowhere to go. Money isn''t everything, but without money,

    everything is impossible!

    ¡°You''ve got no options left, huh? And you can''t do anything now, can you?¡± Ouyang Qing chuckled icily.

    ¡°Oh, you can stillugh? Even if I can''t do anything, I can seek out some friends and get a few free

    meals out of them. The same can''t be said of you. You don''t even dare leave the house now, yet you

    dare ridicule me?¡± Ouyang Qi likewise mocked with a snicker.

    ¡°I can give you money,¡± Ouyang Qing offered.

    ¡°Huh? What did you just say?¡±

    Ouyang Qi thought he had misheard her.

    She has never bothered about me, but she voluntarily offered to give me money now? That''s

    impossible!

    ¡°I''ve got money, and I can give you some, but you''ve got to help me with something,¡± Ouyang Qing

    drawled.

    ¡°What kind of help do you need? Are you nning to order me to deal with Ding Mi again? I''ve told you

    long ago that the possibility of you marrying Nan Chen has nothing to do with anyone else. It all

    depends on whether he has any interest in you! But you never bother reflecting upon yourself, urging

    me to sabotage others instead. Such mentality and attitude are erroneous!¡± Ouyang Qi lectured.

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    ¡°No, I''m going to deal with her myself. You''re useless, so you''re not her match at all. Thus, I can''t count

    on you anyway,¡± Ouyang Qing stated in a chilly voice.

    ¡°How could you say such a thing? How rude! Would you need my help if you''re not useless? Hurry up

    and tell me what exactly you want me to do!¡±

    ¡°I don''t want to go abroad, so I want you to help dupe Dad that I''ve already gone abroad.¡± Ouyang Qing

    finally revealed her motive.

    ¡°How am I going to do that? I can''t go abroad on your behalf, can I?¡±

    ¡°I''ll find a ce and hide. You only need to tell him you saw me boarding the ne with your own eyes.

    After that, you''ll also need to lend me a hand if I need any help,¡± Ouyang Qing exined.

    ¡°But you haven''t specified what kind of help you need from me. You''ve got to spell it out first. I''m not

    going to agree if it''s something bad.¡±

    At that, Ouyang Qing sneered, ¡°You''ve gotten it into your head that you''re someone good, huh? Do you

    not know the kind of person you are?¡±

    ¡°I''m not a good person, but there are some things I''ll never do!¡±

    ¡°Mainly, you only need to help me dupe Dad. As for the rest, I''ll only ask you to run errands at most. If

    it''s really something serious, I won''t dare entrust it to you either.¡±

    Ouyang Qi contemted for a moment before agreeing, ¡°Okay. How much will you give me, then?¡±

    ¡°I can give you a supplementary card with a monthly limit of two hundred thousand.¡±

    ¡°Two hundred thousand? That''s a pittance!¡± Ouyang Qi griped.

    ¡°It''s already a king''s ransom. Considering your current situation, having some money is better than

    none!¡±

    That''s true. I''m in dire straits now, so having two hundred thousand is better than having nary a dime!

    ¡°Okay, I agree. However, I''m making this clear first¡ªI''m not going to do it if you want me to hurt

    someone else, especially Ding Mi! She has never hurt me, so I can''t hurt her!¡±

 Chapter 524

    Chapter 524

    While Ouyang Qi and Ouyang Qing were still negotiating among themselves, Tang Jing was lying in her

    residence, scrolling through her phone.

    She initially thought that she could make it to the trending topics, but it turned out otherwise.

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    Nheless, there were many photos and videos of her leaning against a luxurious car. Besides, many

    netizens werementing that she was actually a friend of a wealthy heiress.

    Consequently, they concluded that she must be one herself but merely concealing her identity.

    Plenty ofizens had wild imaginations, so some even surmised that she was the Ouyang family''s

    illegitimate daughter, Ouyang Qing''s sister. That was why she took the brunt of criticism for thetter.

    That was, of course, a load of nonsense, but many believed it.

    Tang Jing was not averse to those rumors. In her opinion, it did not matter whatever was circted on

    the inte as long as there was enough attention on her.

    In fact, she had even registered for a few ounts and leftments between those of theizens''

    to fan the mes.

    Just then, her phone rang with a call from Ouyang Qing.

    Answering the call, she greeted, ¡°Qing.¡±

    ¡°I sent you a location. Come over immediately, for I''ve got something to tell you,¡± the other woman

    urged.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Tang Jing agreed without a moment''s hesitation.

    Half an hourter, Tang Jing arrived at Orchid Club.

    Hmm? I don''t quite understand why she''s always at this club. She told me she has a lot of properties in

    Flower City, so why isn''t she living at home but in a club?

    Nevertheless, it was a high-end club with food and entertainment, so she did not mind meeting there.

    Returning the car key to Ouyang Qing, she remarked, ¡°Don''t take those rumors on the inte to heart,

    Qing.¡±

    In response, Ouyang Qing waved a dismissive hand. ¡°Never mind, I''ll just consider it bad luck on my

    part. There''s always that one hurdle in life. Anyway, let''s not talk about that.¡±

    Well, all the better if you don''t want to talk about it! I don''t want to mention that matter anyway, afraid

    that I might give the game away if I say too much.

    Taking the initiative, Tang Jing asked, ¡°So, what should we do now?¡±

    ¡°I asked you here precisely to help me figure out a solution. How should I turn the tables?¡± Ouyang

    Qing looked at her.

    Inwardly, Tang Jing cackled.

    This is exactly as I expected! The more passive she is, the more she needs me and trusts me!

    ¡°What would you like to do? I''ll definitely help you,¡± she avowed.

    ¡°I don''t know what to do now. I''m in an extremely passive position now, so I''m really at a loss.¡± Ouyang

    Qing heaved a sigh.

    Tang Jing did the same.

    ¡°Don''t sigh with me. Hurry up and help me out here. If I can''t turn the tables, your role might possibly be

    reced as well.¡±

    Ouyang Qing started threatening her again, irritating Tang Jing to no end.

    ¡°This is all on Nan Xing! I''m going to make that b*stard''s life a living hell!¡± Ouyang Qingmbasted.

    ¡°Actually, if you think of it sometimes, Nan Xing is also part of the Nan family,¡± Tang Jing interjected out

    of the blue.

    ¡°What''s the meaning of this? You''re defending him now?¡±

    Ouyang Qing shot to her feet and began berating her again while jabbing a finger at her, ¡°I didn''t rear

    you for you to bite me, but others!¡±

    Those words were exceedingly caustic, for it was no different from saying that Tang Jing was a dog.

    Anger started building within Tang Jing, but she inhaled deeply and pushed her rage down.

    ¡°I''m not defending him. I mean, why don''t you consider it from a different viewpoint now that things

    havee to this?¡± she rified calmly.

    ¡°What do you mean? Make it clear, please.¡±

    ¡°Nan Xing is also part of the Nan family. While his position isn''tparable to Nan Chen''s, he''s still

    one of the heirs. Now that there''s such a video of you both, theizens'' perception of you is indeed

    atrocious. However, if he marries you, it''ll be mutual love, and all will be well.¡±

    Tang Jing startedunching the second step of her n surreptitiously.

    ¡°You want me to marry him? Have you lost your mind? I''ll never marry him!¡± Ouyang Qing screeched.

    You don''t want to marry him? Even if you do, he might not be willing to marry you!

    Aloud, Tang Jing stated, ¡°Actually, he''s just as handsome as Nan Chen. While his status is a touch

    lower, it''s something that can be elevated. Nan Chen didn''t have such prestige back then either. He

    only had itter, no? The truth is, as long as he can get into Nanshi Corporation and y a bigger role,

    the status will naturally follow. As long as you marry him, he will definitely be regarded highly in Nanshi

    Corporation, considering your family''s influence. Therefore, there is a possibility of him surpassing Nan

    Chen.¡±

    Ouyang Qing was stunned to hear that, for she had indeed never considered things from that angle.

    ¡°He did admit that he was interested in me once, but I don''t like him. The person I like is Nan Chen, not

    him.¡± Ouyang Qing remained steadfast.

    ¡°As a matter of fact, they''re equally good-looking. Besides, he''s more approachable and romantic.

    Feelings can be nurtured slowly. Perhaps you''ll discover that you actually prefer someone like him after

    spending time with him, and it was all a misunderstanding in the past.¡±

    Tang Jing was a highly educated actress, so she knew her boundaries in speech, rendering her words

    logical and convincing.

    Unable to discern her thoughts, Ouyang Qing merely felt that she was simply a good friend who wanted

    the best for her.

    ¡°Put that way, it does make some sense. Let me think about it further.¡± Ouyang Qing wavered.

    ¡°I don''t think you need to do that. If you marry him, the two of you will certainly trump Nan Chen in

    Nanshi Corporation with thebination of his identity and your background. At that time, Nan Chen

    will probably be haunted by regret. Don''t you think so?¡± Tang Jing uttered, fixating her gaze on the

    other woman.

    Ouyang Qing said nothing.

    Verily, she was faltering. She cast her mind back at Nan Xing''s roguish and wicked smile.

    Actually, his shameless look when he taunted me was very much riveting. Most importantly, he looks

    just like Nan Chen. If I have to settle for the next best thing, he''s really quite a decent option.

    ¡°But I don''t know what he thinks about it all. I''ll be mortified if he isn''t willing to marry me,¡± Ouyang Qing

    remarked.

    At once, tion suffused Tang Jing. Yes! Everything is going ording to my n, and it''s even

    smoother sailing than I expected.

    ¡°How about this? I''ll meet with him and feel him out first,¡± Tang Jing proposed. ¡°After that, I''ll tell you

    what he thinks about you. Then, you won''t be mortified.¡±

    ¡°That works. However, don''t say that I''m begging him. He had once confessed to me, but I ignored him.

    Besides, I was angry at the hotel that day, so I didn''t show him much courtesy and even tore into him. If

    he''s vindictive, he''ll probably want nothing to do with me. Thus, you must be careful with your words

    and make sure that I''m not embarrassed,¡± Ouyang Qing ordered.

    ¡°Don''t worry about that. I won''t run my mouth. I''ll only feel him out. Furthermore, there''s no reason for

    him not to like you when you''re beautiful and wealthy. He''s blessed that you agreed to be with him now.

    It''s his honor! Would he dare disdain you? I don''t think so!¡±

 Chapter 525

    Chapter 525

    Hearing Tang Jing''s framing put Ouyang Qing in a much better mood.

    ¡°If he says that he can''t ept me, then you should leave it at that. Don''t give him cause to look down

    on me! Never mind that Nan Chen doesn''t think well enough of me, you can''t allow Nan Xing to do that

    as well,¡± Ouyang Qing said.

    ¡°Rest assured that no one would be looking down upon you with you being the young heiress that you

    are,¡± Tang Jing repliedfortingly.

    ¡°Then when will you go and see Nan Xing?¡±

    ¡°Obviously, the sooner the better. However, I don''t have any means of reaching him. Could you try

    extending an invitation on your end? Then, I''d go meet with him to try and sound him out.¡±

    Tang Jing was somewhat reluctant to meet Ouyang Qing''s gaze when she said this because she was

    worried that thetter might catch on to the fact that she was merely using her to get close to Nan Xing.

    Truth be told, Tang Jing was merely pricked by her own guilty conscience. With Ouyang Qing''s

    emotions all over the ce, she was really in no state of mind to over-analyze anything.

    ¡°I could, but what if he declines to meet?¡± Ouyang Qing was still a little worried.

    ¡°My guess is that he''d agree. Tell you what. Why don''t you pass me his contact straight and let me give

    that a shot instead,¡± a cautious Tang Jing proposed.

    Initially, she thought that Ouyang Qing would require some time to consider, but instead, thetter

    assented to it quite readily.

    ¡°Okay, you go ahead and ask him out. At least that way, I won''te away embarrassed should he

    refuse,¡± Ouyang Qing stated.

    Pride could very often prove the downfall of many, even with someone as sharp as Ouyang Qing. For

    the sake of her own dignity, she had even managed to overlook Tang Jing''s obvious designs.

    ¡°Okay, then I shall go meet with this Nan Xing on your behalf.¡± Tang Jing was positively thrilled.

    The next day, Tang Jing and Nan Xing convened as scheduled.

    It was not like Nan Xing was obliging to just anyone, for he had women in Flower City who were

    interested in dating him lining up from end to end. His willingness to meet with Tang Jing stemmed from

    his understanding that thetter was the one who drove to lure the paparazzi away from Ouyang Qing.

    Nan Xing had seen the photo featuring Tang Jing leaning against the luxury car and found that to be

    quite intriguing.

    Pretty women were not an umon sight to Nan Xing, who had mostly grown weary or even

    sickened by those heavily made-up aesthetics poprized by online influencers.

    In contrast, a well-read and intelligent beauty like Tang Jing came across to him as much more

    ptable and refreshing.

    Of course, that sentiment was merely an absence of dislike and a far cry from any degree of fondness.

    His agreeing to meet was chiefly rooted in an interest in listening to what she had to say.

    On her part, Tang Jing did make a concerted effort to doll up.

    She knew she was no breath-stealing beauty, but she understood that her own charisma was where

    her strengthid.

    Hence, she opted to put on sses in a shade of pale blue, and with her hair bundled up. Decked out

    in a suit, she looked less like someone from the entertainment circle and more like a white-cor.

    That effectively alleviated Nan Xing''s sense of fatigue in his appreciation for beauty¡ªa most astute

    move from a doubtlessly smart woman.

    ¡°Hi, Mr. Xing. I''m Tang Jing.¡± The woman took the initiative to greet him. ¡°We''ve met before, but I''m

    sure you''vee across too many beautiful women to find me memorable.¡±

    That yielded a positive chuckle from Nan Xing. ¡°I certainly do remember you, Ms. Tang, as you''re quite

    the beauty yourself.¡±

    ¡°I''m ttered. Thank you for this, Mr. Xing.¡±

    Addressing Nan Xing as ¡°Mr. Xing¡± was also a groundbreaking move on her part, for most others would

    generally address him as either ¡°Master Xing¡± or ¡°Mr. Nan.¡±

    Although respectful, those werecking in novelty, because being hailed as a ¡°young master¡± was

    something that came to Nan Xing through his familial connections. Literally, any son of the Nan family

    could be addressed as such.

    Along the same lines, ¡°Mr. Nan¡± was even moremonce since any male individual with a

    corresponding surname could be hailed in this manner.

    However, ¡°Mr. Xing¡± was something else. This was not reflective of a hereditary status and was, in

    itself, an affirmation of Nan Xing''s stature within the group.

    People around Nan Chen hailed the former as ¡°Mr. Chen.¡± Addressing Nan Xing as ¡°Mr. Xing¡± was a

    subtle way of expressing her regard for him as an equal to Nan Chen per se.

    This was, as a matter of fact, keenly sensible. Some things need not be explicitly stated, and subtlety

    might, at times, be even more effective inmunicating one''s own sentiments.

    It was like praising one for his good looks; a direct approach would seem extremelyme, insincere,

    and smacks of flummery.

    However, if that opinion was to be conveyed tactfully through the use ofnguage that the intended

    recipient was able to grasp, then the result could be spectacr.

    Anyone would be delighted at being able to decipher the intentions of another. The added perk of

    receiving a veiledpliment in the process would naturally increase one''s sense of affinity for another

    as well.

    As things stood, Nan Xing''s fondness for Tang Jing had been enhanced in no small measure.

    ¡°Have a seat, Ms. Tang.¡± Nan Xing motioned to Tang Jing.

    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Xing. Order whatever you like to drink, it''s my treat,¡± said Tang Jing, smilingly.

    ¡°I''d usually drink coffee with men, and alcohol with women, so I''m going to opt for alcohol,¡± Nan Xing

    informed with augh.

    ¡°A pity that this is a caf¨¦. Alcohol isn''t on the menu.¡± Tang Jing chuckled as well.

    ¡°That makes this ce unsuitable for conversation then. How about I treat you to lunch?¡± Nan Xing

    extended an invitation.

    ¡°Won''t that take up your time?¡± Tang Jing was pleasantly ecstatic.

    ¡°Isn''t that precisely what you''re here to do?¡± Nan Xingughed.

    Even though Tang Jing was good at concealing her intentions, Nan Xing was equal to the task of

    sussing them out.

    The eyes were said to be the windows to the soul. No matter how good one''s acting was, the eyes

    would often divulge the truth.

    Nan Xing decided he would give this woman a chance, just to see how far she would go to keep up this

    charade.

    Besides, he was firm in his belief that the purpose of Tang Jing''s overture must have had something to

    do with Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°I''m definitely honored since you are so obliging, Mr. Xing. Being able to dine with you must be the best

    thing to happen to me all year,¡± Tang Jing remarked cheerfully.

    From N?velDrama.Org.

    That was met by Nan Xing''s boisterous hoot. ¡°Well, after you then.¡±

    There was a very decent Japanese restaurant just a stone''s throw away from the caf¨¦, with a pleasant

    atmosphere and fresh offerings.

    As Japanese cuisine was lighter on the pte, the requirements for its ingredients wereparatively

    more stringent.

    Much unlike spicy hotpot, where the degree of freshness for anything would be rendered

    indistinguishable once it had been stirred into the stock.

    It was a phenomenonparable to the inte celebrities these days who would, regardless of the

    physical attributes they were born with, turn out more or less the sameing out from the other side

    of stic surgery.

    However, Nan Xing was not that enamored with these sorts of milder vors. He primarily chose this

    joint because he had thought rather favorably of the sake they served.

    Nan Xing was not joking when he imed to only drink coffee in thepany of men and alcohol in the

    presence of women.

    With men, he needed to be rational, so coffee made sense.

    Conversely, he could not afford to be too rational with women. As more impulse and excitement were in

    order, he had to imbibe.

    Tang Jing, too, was excited for sake.

    She was not exactly a habitual drinker because she had to be mindful of the highly educated vibes she

    was designated to project as an artist.

    In view of that, she could not possibly allow herself to be caught walking out of a nightclub looking

    drunk and stupid.

    Were that to be documented even once, the image she had spent years meticulously cultivating would

    easily crumble to bits.

    However, it was Nan Xing that she would be facing this day, and to her, he was someone worth getting

    drunk for.

    In any case, being an infrequent drinker did not necessarily mean she was not capable of holding her

    own.

    The only reason she had almost never gotten drunk before was that she did not find many men who

    were worthy for her to get drunk alongside.

    This man before her, though, was deserving. Regardless of looks or background, he was practically

    someone who had previously been beyond her reach.

    Not just beyond her reach, but also beyond that of her wildest dreams. Yet today, she could dream and

    perhaps with a little luck, go even further than that.

 Chapter 526

    Chapter 526

    The pair did not eat as much as they drank, and down their drinks with great fervor, they did.

    Nan Xing meant to get Tang Jing sloshed because he discovered that there must be more to this

    woman than meets the eye.

    For one, she was way too restrained. From the moment they met until now, there was nothing she

    presented that made him ufortable.

    Every detail about her had been impable and well-executed. From her dressing to her mannerisms

    and the way she addressed him, he had found them all appropriate and delightful.

    That was precisely what was wrong.

    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Nan Xing was nobody''s fool, for he had been seeing the world since the age of sixteen or seventeen,

    and thus knew a fair bit about women.

    More than anything, he understood everyone had their ws. If one should ever encounter another

    without discernible ones, then thetter must be a fraud.

    Only those who were intelligent and smart about it would conscientiously try to mask their own

    weaknesses.

    Hence, at times, the absence of a problem was a major problem in itself.

    Perfection contravened thews of nature, for no one could be perfect, thus anyone who appeared to

    be so must most likely be faking it.

    The desire to witness her true self was what prompted Nan Xing to try to get Tang Jing intoxicated.

    Coincidentally, Tang Jing was of the same opinion. She was determined to get this yboy before her

    smashed, so he would not be conscious enough to discern whether she was speaking truthfully.

    No one demonstrates less restraint than an agreeable drunkard.

    Hence, both of them kept their thoughts to themselves while they sought to douse each other in drink,

    just to see who might be the first to fall.

    The alcohol content of sake ultimately proved too much for Tang Jing, who was the first one to buckle,

    and at the rate that they were going at it, she feared she might copse outright and be robbed of the

    chance to talk.

    That was why she elected to throw in the towel first. ¡°We might be going too hard. Shall we ease off a

    little, Mr. Xing?¡±

    ¡°Nonsense. You can really hold your liquor well, Ms. Tang. A true heroine amongst men. Let us

    continue.¡± Following that, Nan Xing raised his cup anew.

    With so many years of clubbing under my belt, I refuse to believe that I can''t knock you out!

    Tang Jing sped her palms together in a gesture of seeking clemency. ¡°I really can''t take it anymore.

    Let''s take it slow and chat a little.¡±

    ¡°All right.¡± Nan Xing, too, lowered his cup.

    To a certain extent, he, too, felt that their pacing had been a little fric. Although he was pretty

    confident ofing out victorious, his hasty drinking had nheless be a cause for some

    abdominal difort.

    ¡°Actually, Ouyang Qing and I were in the same ss in high school.¡± Tang Jing started the ball rolling.

    ¡°Oh, is that so? Now I see why you wanted to hold a press conference to enable her toe away

    unscathed,¡± Nan Xing replied genially.

    ¡°My intention of asking you out today, Mr. Xing, is really to try to understand what''s your take on that

    incident,¡± Tang Jing queried.

    ¡°I don''t have too many opinions about it. Hasn''t the matter already blown over? Just treat it like another

    piece of fodder for the tabloids,¡± said an ebullient Nan Xing.

    ¡°No, this isn''t over yet. Right now, Ouyang Qing''s still very upset and is preparing to execute the

    second part of her n.¡±

    ¡°Oh. A second step? Might you be able to share with me what that is?¡±

    Tang Jing feigned a look of apprehensiveness. ¡°Qing and I are really close, so I''m not sure whether I

    should be telling you this.¡±

    Hearing that, Nan Xing was sniggering inside. Keep it going. You wouldn''t have asked me out if you

    have no intention of talking.

    ¡°In that case, would you like to reconsider? Actually, it really doesn''t matter whether I hear it or not, as I

    know well what sort of person Ouyang Qing is.¡± Nan Xing appeared nonchnt about it.

    His was not an act either, for he simply did not care to know to begin with.

    This response of Nan Xing''s put Tang Jing in a bit of a pickle, for the scenario she nned was for Nan

    Xing to press her, and she would, in response, portray her reluctance to share the information she had.

    His stated disinterest had just set her script veering off course.

    The flip side was that she had somehow arrived at the understanding that the one before her was no

    ordinary Casanova, but a thinking person who could not be easily subjected to her maniption.

    ¡°Then we shan''t discuss Ouyang Qing anymore. Let''s resume drinking.¡± Tang Jing smiled.

    ¡°Suits me just fine.¡± A jolly Nan Xing raised his cup and clinked it against Tang Jing''s.

    When Tang Jing took a sip, she suddenly tasted a trace of bitterness in this alcohol that did not seem

    present before.

    ¡°Though Mr. Chen and yourself look exactly alike, your personalities are a world apart.¡±

    Given the circumstances, Tang Jing had totch onto some other topic in order to keep the

    conversation flowing.

    Her motive for doing so was, of course, to persist in finding a way by which she could eke out the

    details concerning what Ouyang Qing said. That was, after all, her real purpose ining out here.

    ¡°That''s right. Chen and I are very different indeed. However, it''s kind of normal, just like there aren''t two

    identical leaves to be found anywhere in this world,¡± Nan Xing remarked genially.

    ¡°True, that. Then surely you and Mr. Chen don''t share the same taste in women either?¡±

    ¡°That, I don''t know. It may probably be the case, as I''m not sure whether Chen would be into the ones

    that I am.¡±

    ¡°What sort of girls do you fancy then, Mr. Xing?¡± Tang Jing followed up quickly.

    ¡°I don''t have a preferred type. The sort that I''d gravitate to when we meet are the ones that I''m looking

    for. Since human beings are not merchandise, none could be made to order. Therefore, a so-called

    preferred type is, in reality, a loaded question. People simply aren''t drawn to the one type of romantic

    interest, just as one could not possibly enjoy just one type of dish. We must surely find ourselves

    attracted to a diverse range of people, or at least, that''s what I think.¡±

    Nan Xing is a chatty person, and considerably more so than usual now that his lips are loosened by

    drink.

    Tang Jing nodded heartily in agreement. ¡°You''re absolutely right, Mr. Xing. Would Ouyang Qing be the

    sort that you''d be attracted to, then?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± blurted Nan Xing without the slightest hesitancy.

    ¡°Why so? She''s pretty, hails from a good family, and is a top student from a renowned school. It''s

    almost as if she''s the perfect specimen.¡±

    Tang Jing was quietly jubnt to hear Nan Xing express his disinterest in Ouyang Qing, for that meant

    that thetter''s desire to backpedal and marry Nan Xing instead waspletely wishful thinking.

    ¡°Didn''t we agree not to talk about Ouyang Qing? Why has this conversation drifted back to her again?¡±

    Nan Xing asked.

    ¡°Oh, I have no idea how that happened, either. Perhaps it''s because she''s amon acquaintance to

    us both,¡± Tang Jing purred.

    Even as she presented herself as rational from day to day, she actually knows how to act girlish and

    coquettish. She is a woman, after all.

    ¡°Since we''re already back onto this subject, why don''t you just tell me what the second stage of her

    n is?¡± enquired Nan Xing opportunistically as well.

    ¡°But she''s my good friend. How could I tell you something that she shared with me in confidence?

    Wouldn''t that be inappropriate?¡±

    Tang Jing had to p a little gravy on it. Her performance demanded it.

    ¡°Since she''s got a n that she''s eventually going to follow through on, I''m going to find out regardless,

    even if you choose to keep mum about it. So it doesn''t really matter whether you say it or not, and

    neither is it going to affect your friendship.¡±

    Nan Xing knew that Tang Jing was looking for aunchpad to ease into what she wanted to reveal

    about Ouyang Qing''s n, and he was happy to provide it.

    Otherwise, would it not be a waste of everyone''s time if they were to keep going on and on in circles

    like that?

    ¡°All right. You''ve got a point there, so here goes. It''s something she came up with all on her own, but

    I''ve been trying to talk her out of it because it didn''t sit right with me. However, I can''t say for sure that

    she''d listen. All I can do is try my best to put a stop to this,¡± confessed a hapless Tang Jing.

    ¡°It''s fine. Go on and say it. What exactly is she nning?¡±

    Tang Jing''s revtion was rather shocking. ¡°She''s preparing to sue you for harassment and to take you

    up for attempted assault.¡±

 Chapter 527

    Chapter 527

    For a moment, Nan Xing thought he had misheard. ¡°What''s that, you say?¡±

    Tang Jing slowed down the rate she spoke. ¡°Ouyang Qing said that she was going to sue you for

    harassment and attempted assault.¡±

    Confirming the piece of information he had just learned, Nan Xing broke into a boisterous guffaw. ¡°Has

    she gone mad? She''s the one who drugged me and wanted to bed me. Now, she''s going to take me up

    for harassment? It''s tantly obvious that she''s the one who''s doing the harassing, yeah?¡±

    Tang Jing, too,ughed along. ¡°Now that you say it, it does sound a little absurd. But were she to really

    go through with this, it won''t bode well for you.¡±

    ¡°If she went ahead and sued me, the police investigation will turn up the truth, as it would be

    obvious to them what really had happened when they see the video feed.¡± Nan Xing seemed

    unconcerned.

    ¡°That''s what I thought too, and why I tried to talk her out of it. But it seems that she wouldn''t listen.¡±

    ¡°Let her sue if she wants to¡ª¡±

    Nan Xing was not finished when he was interrupted by his ringing phone. When he checked the

    number, he saw that the call was from Nan Chen.

    ¡°Sit tight. I have to take this.¡±

    With that, Nan Xing picked up his phone and stepped to the side with it.

    ¡°Something up, Chen?¡±

    ¡°Where are you?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Out dining with a friend. Why?¡±

    ¡°Come over to the office.¡±

    ¡°Right now?¡±

    ¡°Is right now toote for you?¡± Nan Chen answered with a question of his own.

    ¡°Nope. Not at all. Be right there,¡± Nan Xing replied.

    When Nan Xing returned to the table, he collected his coat. ¡°I''m sorry, but something came up. I''ve got

    to make a move first.¡±

    ¡°Okay. I think I should be leaving as well. Let''s meet up again some other time,¡± uttered Tang Jing

    warmly.

    The two of them exited the Japanese restaurant together. Nan Xing had the diner hail a cab for him and

    set out for Nanshi Corporation.

    When he reached Nan Chen''s office, his older brother was still busy.

    ¡°Not that I like to nag at you, Chen. What are you working sote for? Can''t you just devote more time

    to your wife and kids? Never mind you working your ass off, don''t tell me that you''ve called me in so

    late to hustle alongside you?¡± Nan Xing griped.

    ¡°I''ve already spent the entire day with them and built up quite the backlog. Since school is out, Erbao

    has been creating havoc at home, making it impossible for me to work from there. That''s why I have no

    choice but toe into the office to put in a few more hours,¡± Nan Chen haplessly exined.

    ¡°Haha. The burdens of marital bliss. What have you gotten me in for, by the way?¡±

    ¡°Are you seriously asking me that? Don''t you think you owe me an exnation for impersonating me

    and stirring up that mess with Ouyang Qing?¡± Nan Chen questioned.

    Nan Xing stood up and held his head, crying foul. ¡°What do you mean impersonate you? It''s your son

    who had put me up to it! I wasn''t willing, but that little rascal pressured me by using me of

    attempting to break up your loving family. I had no choice but to agree to it! How could you put it all on

    me now that things went south?¡±

    He then continued, ¡°You should know that you''d surely end up being drugged for real if you were the

    one who went over that day. I''m sure you can figure for yourself what would follow. Being the principled

    person that you are, I''d say that you''d definitely take to assuming responsibility for it and wind up

    marrying that Ouyang Qing.¡±

    His words yielded a frown from Nan Chen. ¡°Are you suggesting that I ought to be grateful to you

    instead?¡±

    ¡°That won''t be necessary.¡± A gleeful Nan Xing waved his hand dismissively. ¡°We''re brothers, so I''m

    happy to take the hit for you!¡±

    ¡°How are you still able to joke about it?¡± Nan Chen asked in an icy voice.

    Nan Xing then pulled a straight face. ¡°Look, I''m serious. Dead serious!¡±

    ¡°Are you so pleased with yourself, humiliating the Ouyang family''s Second Miss in front of so many

    netizens like that? Does it make you feel good?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn''t put it that way because I had no idea that her video''s going to circte on the inte. But,

    seriously, it was kind of fun!¡± Nan Xing could not help but burst out into another guffaw.

    With all that alcohol coursing through his veins when he arrived, he was more excitable than usual.

    ¡°Kind of fun? Surely you haven''t forgotten whose daughter Ouyang Qing is?¡± Nan Chen fumed.

    ¡°I haven''t. She''s Ouyang Duo''s daughter. But she''s the one who drugged me, not the other way round,

    so I''mpletely innocent!¡±

    ¡°Since you know she was going to drug you, why did you still go along with it?¡±

    ¡°What do you suggest me to do, then? Should I have grabbed the door and made a break for it?

    Besides, I had no clue she was doing a live stream. I wouldn''t have rolled with that sort of stuff had I

    known any better.¡±

    ¡°You''re just ying the fool. Being childish!¡± Nan Chen suddenly bellowed at his brother, his finger

    pointing at Nan Xing.

    Not daring to retort, Nan Xing could only roll his eye and stage a silent protest.

    ¡°No matter what she did wrong, she''s still the daughter of the Ouyang family! Humiliating Ouyang Qing

    like this is akin to a p on Ouyang Duo''s face! Don''t you know what Ouyang Duo is like? Do you think

    he''s going to just forgo a slight like this?¡± Nan Chen suddenly got up and castigated Nan Xing.

    Nan Xing was a bit stunned. What''s with the temper? We were getting along just fine a second ago, so

    howe you''re blowing up like that all of a sudden?

    ¡°Surely we have no reason to be afraid of him,¡± Nan Xing muttered under his breath.

    ¡°We don''t, but is this fight even necessary? Ouyang Duo''s still pretty miffed about our acquisition of

    their project in Vietnam at their expense, so have you considered the Nan family''s position when you

    went out and pulled a stunt like that? Is it only about fun and games for you?¡± Nan Chen continued to

    rail.

    This somewhat roused Nan Xing''s contrite, as he had not thought that far ahead back then.

    ¡°It''s not that I wanted to humiliate her, Chen. She was asking for it!¡±

    ¡°You could have just walked away when you realized she was up to no good, but you chose to y

    along. Now, there''s no going back from this. There''s no telling what consequences your frivolity might

    bring about!¡±

    Nan Chen then continued, ¡°Right now, you''ve got to think about how to be answerable to the Ouyang

    family and try to prevent a bacsh from them against us. We''ve got our own developmental timeline

    to adhere to, so we can''t keep getting into disputes with other people. If we keep fighting with them, it''ll

    weaken both our and the Ouyang family''s position, giving others openings to take advantage.¡±

    ¡°But that Ouyang Qing is looking to take me up for harassment and attempted assault, and might not

    y ball even if I want to parley with her. Besides, it''s apparent from that video that she was the one

    who was forcing herself on me. I didn''t initiate anything. She''s the one who brought humiliation upon

    herself,¡± stated a disgruntled Nan Xing.

    ¡°She''s going to sue you?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, tell me about it. Isn''t she just incorrigible?¡±

    ¡°You can''t let her. If she takes this to court, we''ll be ced on the backfoot,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Why? The facts are on my side. She''s the one who had harassed me, not the other way round!¡±

    ¡°That wouldn''t do either! Remember back then when Ning Ran got suspected of drug involvement?

    When was Nanshi Corporation subjected to short selling? Those massive funds are still being detained

    and most of them haven''t been released yet. If negative publicity were to surround Nanshi Corporation,

    our stock value would be affected regardless of who wins the case. When that happens, they''d be able

    to take the opportunity to get themselves off the hook.¡±

    The man continued, ¡°If the stock value really plummets, they might even make a killing before they exit.

    No way can we allow that! I''m going to keep them impoverished and make sure that they do not get to

    flee from their losses, so we can''t afford to get dragged into any court cases during this time!¡±

    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Upon hearing that, Nan Xing was astonished. To think there''s so much intrigue going on behind the

    scenes! But what should I do? Tang Jing said that Ouyang Qing is going to sue me and there is nothing

    she could do about it. How can I avoid this?

    ¡°Go and meet up with Ouyang Qing. Find a way to clear the air with her. Do not get into conflict and,

    more importantly, do not get into litigation with her. I''ve seen that video. It can''t prove that she had

    drugged you. In most of the footage, you were shown locking her hands and keeping her held beneath

    you, so if this really goes to court against an establishedwyer, it''ll be difficult to say for certain what

    the oue might be. You have to avoid court proceedings. Fix this,¡± Nan Chen ordered.

    Nan Xing was really stressed. I thought it was just for a bit of harmless fun and never expected that it

    would end up bing such a major crisis!

    ¡°All right.¡± Nan Xing could only reluctantly assent.

 Chapter 528

    Chapter 528

    After Nan Xing left, Tang Jing went to look for Ouyang Qing at once.

    At that moment, Ouyang Qing was drinking as she was feeling frustrated.

    When she saw Tang Jing, it was as if her lifesaver had arrived. ¡°How did it go?¡±

    Tang Jing was secretly gloating at the other woman''s state of anxiety.

    ¡°While we were chatting, he suddenly received a call and left right after that. The person who called

    seemed to be a woman,¡± Tang Jing replied seriously.

    ¡°A woman?¡±

    ¡°Yup. Nan Xing is an heir of the Nan family, after all. Given his good looks and wealth, I''m sure there

    are plenty of women going after him, so it''s pretty normal that there are women calling him.¡±

    As she spoke, Tang Jing carefully observed Ouyang Qing''s expression and noticed that other than

    frustration, there was no sign of jealousy on the other woman''s face.

    That meant that Ouyang Qing was only interested in Nan Chen, and Nan Xing was just a backup.

    ¡°In other words, nothing came out of your discussion?¡± Ouyang Qing''s temper sparked.

    ¡°I tried to sound him out a little. I think Nan Xing is quite fond of you.¡±

    Hearing that, Ouyang Qing felt her confidence grow. ¡°I don''t need you to tell me that. I''ve known it all

    along that he likes me. He has even confessed to me before.¡±

    Tang Jing sneered silently, wondering where the woman got her confidence from.

    ¡°So you should just meet him and have a good chat. Who knows, the two of you might make a great

    pair.¡±

    Ouyang Qing took a deep breath and replied, ¡°I want him to publicly dere his intention to pursue me.

    Only then will I stop feeling awkward about what had happened previously and gain my reputation

    back.¡±

    ¡°Yup, I think he should do that too,¡± Tang Jing agreed. ¡°He should hold a press conference to state his

    intention to woo you. That will show his sincerity toward you.¡±

    ¡°Do you think he''ll agree to that?¡±

    ¡°That''s why you need to be firm in your stance. The more assertive you are, the more he will give in to

    you. In the future, you should take the lead and let him attend to your needs.¡±

    ¡°All right, I understand. Ask him out for me. I can''t be bothered to call him. If he agrees, he can buy me

    a meal tomorrow, and I''ll consider epting his apology. As long as I start dating Nan Xing, I would

    havepleted my dad''s task for me. If that''s the case, I wouldn''t have to go overseas anymore.¡±

    As her words fell, Ouyang Qing was in a visibly good mood. Lifting her ss of wine, she took another

    sip.

    ¡°Is your dad forcing you to go abroad?¡± Tang Jing asked.

    ¡°Yeah. He thinks I''m an embarrassment and wants me to go overseas and lie low after all that has

    happened. I didn''t want to go and insisted on staying. However, if I don''t settle the matter properly, it''s

    just a matter of days before I have to leave. Haven''t I told you about it? Have you already forgotten?

    Did you even pay attention to my words?¡± Ouyang Qing snarled.

    For the past two days, Tang Jing had been focusing on thinking of a way to make use of that incident to

    her own advantage. As such, she had indeed forgotten all about it.

    ¡°Of course I paid attention to what you told me. Don''t worry, I''ll try my best to help you settle it. I''m sure

    you won''t need to go overseas.¡±

    ¡°Fine. Ask Nan Xing out for me then.¡±

    ¡°Sure, I''ll keep you updated, then.¡±

    ¡°All right. You should go first. Remember to keep everything we''ve discussed private. Don''t tell anyone

    about me,¡± Ouyang Qing uttered before dismissing Tang Jing with a wave of a hand.

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Just when Tang Jing was about to step out of the door, Ouyang Qing stopped her. ¡°Wait.¡±

    ¡°Is there anything else?¡±

    ¡°I just received news from the production team that the filming of the movie will continue. The male lead

    has also arrived. It''s Huang Zichao.¡±

    ¡°Huang Zichao?¡± Tang Jing got a shock when she heard that.

    ¡°Yup. It''s unexpected, huh?¡±

    ¡°Very! Hasn''t Huang Zichao already shifted his focus to Hollywood? He even won the ''Best Actor

    Award''st year. Why would he agree to take part in this film? Besides, this film tells the story of the

    female lead, and there aren''t many scenes for the male lead. Why would he be willing to take it up?¡±

    Tang Jing wondered aloud.

    ¡°Even though he is an award-winning actor, acting is still his job. He can''t just survive on the award

    alone. With his participation, the scenes for the male lead will definitely increase. I''m sure there''ll be

    some romantic scenes between him and the female lead. If that b*tch, Ding Mi, gets to act alongside

    him, she''ll definitely gain a new bout of poprity. That''s why you need to do everything in your power

    to prevent that situation from happening. Otherwise, you''ll have no chance of surpassing her, ever,¡±

    Ouyang Qing said, fixing her gaze on Tang Jing.

    ¡°Who''s the one who hired Huang Zichao? Is it Nan Chen again?¡±

    ¡°Nope. It''s me and the other investors. These days, there has to be some sort of romantic element in

    any film genre. Otherwise, it wouldn''t be popr among the youngsters. In order to prevent losses and

    make sure that the movie will be a hit, we got him on board. As you know, Huang Zichao was voted as

    the second most attractive Asian male starst year, just one rank behind Zheng Lunlun. With a

    gorgeous male lead like him, sess will be guaranteed for our film!¡± Ouyang Qing exined.

    ¡°But wouldn''t this benefit Ding Mi?¡± Tang Jing grew anxious upon hearing that.

    ¡°That''s why we can''t let that happen. If she''s the female lead, she''ll be able to act alongside Huang

    Zichao. But if she''s not, there won''t be any benefits for her, right?¡± Ouyang Qing threw the question

    back.

    ¡°But she''s the current female lead!¡±

    Hearing that, Ouyang Qing grew impatient and stood up. Pointing at Tang Jing, she scolded, ¡°Why are

    you so dense? That means your job is to kick her out of the production team! Of course, that wouldn''t

    be easy with Nan Chen protecting her. However, her weakness is her two children. If something

    happens to her kids, do you think she''ll still be able to concentrate on acting?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean exactly?¡± Tang Jing was terrified at the woman''s suggestion.

    ¡°There are no hidden meanings behind my words. It''s only because of her children that she''s able to

    enjoy her current status. Without them, she is simply nothing. Go ahead and deal with it. Remember to

    act discreetly and don''t leave any traces. As long as you get this matter settled, you''ll be the female

    lead. With the opportunity to act alongside Huang Zichao, the ''Best Actress Award'' will be yours in no

    time! This is a golden opportunity for you. Don''t let it slip by.¡±

    Tang Jing felt a prickle of fear.

    She had met those two kids previously and knew how adorable and good-looking they were.

    She could easily imagine how precious they were to the Nan family.

    The woman could hardly believe that Ouyang Qing was that immoral to actually suggest hurting those

    two children.

    Murder was a crime punishable by death. Besides, how could anyone bear to harm such adorable

    kids?

    Tang Jing felt children should never be dragged into conflicts between adults.

    Sensing Tang Jing''s apprehension, Ouyang Qing asked, ¡°Are you scared? Or can you not bring

    yourself to do it?¡±

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°I just don''t think there''s a need for that. It''s too cruel toy our hands on kids. I don''t think I can do

    that,¡± Tang Jing rejected.

    ¡°Ha! Why are you pretending to be a Samaritan in front of me? Sure then. You can just wait to get

    eliminated and see that b*tch, Ding Mi, win the ''Best Actress Award,¡± remarked Ouyang Qing,

    obviously raging.

    ¡°I¡ª¡±

    ¡°What else do you have to say? I''m willing to support you because I believe in you. Without my help,

    you''re nothing! If you want something that doesn''t belong to you, you have to be ruthless! Otherwise,

    you''ll just remain a loser for the rest of your life! Tang Jing, let me tell you. Even if I don''t get to marry

    Nan Chen or invest in that film, I''m still Ouyang Qing, heiress of the Ouyang family! However, if you

    don''t seed, you''ll always remain at the bottom. There are countless newbies joining the industry

    every day who are young and attractive. I''m sure you know that the old is constantly reced by the

    new, and you''ll be ousted in no time. Think carefully about this. You don''t really have a choice.¡±

 Chapter 529

    Chapter 529

    On the way back, Tang Jing could not stop thinking about Ouyang Qing''s words.

    That woman was right. If Ning Ran got to act alongside that handsome award-winning actor, Huang

    Zichao, her career in the entertainment industry would definitely reach new heights.

    Before this, she had managed to ride on Zheng Lunlun''s poprity for the previous film, and currently,

    it was Huang Zichao. Tang Jing could not believe how smooth-sailing Ning Ran''s acting career was

    and wondered why she did not have the same good fortune.

    She felt she was on a par with Ning Ran in terms of acting skills, and there was no reason she was

    always the supporting actress.

    Ning Ran would definitely lose her mind if she lost her children. She might not even want to continue

    living, not to mention continue acting.

    It would be the end of her. If that happened, Tang Jing might get to rece Ning Ran, and it would

    finally be her turn to shine.

    However, the question was whether she could bring herself to harm those five-year-old kids.

    No! Tang Jing knew deep down what her answer was.

    The difference between humans and beasts was that humans had moral boundaries. Killing children

    would make her no different from a beast.

    She would never do that. It was simply not possible.

    If she needed to harm children in order to gain fame and fortune, she would rather not have it.

    In other words, even if Tang Jing hated Ning Ran, she would never take it out on her innocent children.

    Even if she did not consider the kids, she would not want to offend Nan Chen.

    After all, they were Nan Chen''s children as well. He would surely go to the ends of the earth to avenge

    his kids if anyone hurt them.

    Tang Jing was sure that the man''s means of revenge would be extreme and destructive, not something

    an ordinary woman like her would be able to endure.

    As such, the woman had made up her mind not to take up Ouyang Qing''s suggestion.

    Aftering to a clear decision, Tang Jing felt somewhat more rxed.

    Then, she took out her phone and called Nan Xing.

    The man answered after just a few rings. ¡°Ms. Tang? You''ve just met me a while ago. Are you missing

    me already?¡±

    It was meant to be a joke, but Tang Jing saw it as an opportunity for her to jump into the topic. ¡°Mr.

    Xing, how did you know that?¡±

    Letting out a chuckle, Nan Xing replied, ¡°I was just kidding. What''s the matter?¡±

    ¡°Ouyang Qing wants to meet you tomorrow. Will you be free?¡±

    ¡°If she wants to meet me, shouldn''t she ask me herself? You''re not her assistant.¡±

    ¡°I don''t know why, but since we are friends, I simply agreed when she asked me to ask you out. Are

    you free? If you''re free, I''ll let her know,¡± Tang Jing replied.

    ¡°Is she beside you now? Pass the phone to her.¡±

    ¡°Nope. I didn''t meet her. We spoke over the phone just now,¡± Tang Jing quickly said.

    ¡°If that''s the case, what time and where should we meet tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°Oh, she didn''t mention that. I''ll check with her again tomorrow.¡±

    Nan Xingughed. ¡°Ms. Ouyang is really some big shot, eh? Okay, we''ll talk tomorrow, then.¡±

    The man hung up after that.

    Initially, Tang Jing wanted to chat with him a little longer, but Nan Xing had already ended the call. The

    woman could not help but feel slightly dejected as she listened to the disconnected tone on the phone.

    ¡°It''s already sote. Are you going out to meet some girl again?¡± Nan Chen, who was next to Nan Xing,

    asked coldly after seeing his brother hang up.

    ¡°Nah. It was Ouyang Qing''s friend asking me out on her behalf. She wants to meet me tomorrow,¡± Nan

    Xing exined.

    ¡°She asked you out? Why does she want to see you?¡±

    ¡°I have no idea. She didn''t ask me out personally. She got someone else to do it instead. I have no idea

    why she wants to meet me either.¡±

    Nan Chen paced about a little before saying, ¡°I think I know why.¡±

    ¡°Of course you know, since you''re so smart. You''ll definitely be able to guess her motives. Why don''t

    you analyze it for me, then, Chen?¡± Nan Xing joked with augh.

    ¡°Stop joking. I''m being serious here.¡±

    ¡°I''m serious too. I''m always a serious person,¡± Nan Xing replied with a serious expression on his face

    this time.

    ¡°Previously, you said that Ouyang Qing intended to sue you. If that''s the case, I think she''ll be making

    some sort of request. If you agree to her condition, she won''t sue you. However, if you don''t agree,

    she''ll then file awsuit against you in order to preserve her reputation.¡±

    ¡°That seems likely, but what sort of request do you think she''ll make?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    ¡°I''m not sure about that. It could be her personal request, or she could also be making a request on

    Ouyang Duo''s behalf. However, the possibility of it being thetter is very slim. Given Ouyang Duo''s

    character, I''m sure he wouldn''t want to see his daughter at all and would send her overseas

    immediately. He wouldn''t risk being embarrassed by her again, not to mention asking her to make a

    request on his behalf.¡±

    Nan Xing gave it a thought before responding, ¡°But didn''t you say that Ouyang Duo would be infuriated

    and attack our Nan family?¡±

    ¡°If he''s really thinking of attacking us, he would do it from the shadows. I don''t think he will get his

    daughter to propose any conditions. A prideful man like him wouldn''t send his daughter to act on his

    behalf. That would be too humiliating for him. As such, I''m guessing Ouyang Qing will be making a

    personal request. Maybe something like asking you to admit to the reporters that you were the one who

    messed with her first. Anyway, no matter what her request is, you should just agree to it first and let the

    matter rest,¡± Nan Chen uttered.

    Nan Xing became anxious when he heard his brother''s words. He bolted up from the sofa and replied,

    ¡°Agree to it, no matter what? How can I do that?¡±

    Walking toward Nan Xing, Nan Chen ced his hands on his brother''s shoulders, pushing him back

    onto the sofa.

    ¡°Well, you''re the one who caused the problem, so you have to settle it. As such, you have to agree to

    her request no matter what it is.¡±

    ¡°What if she wants to sleep with me? Am I supposed to agree to that as well?¡± Nan Xing asked with a

    grimace.

    ¡°Do you really think she''ll ask you for that, given her situation? Do you think she''s really that

    shameless? Her request would surely be rted to salvaging her reputation. Hence, you have to agree

    to it,¡± Nan Chen ordered sternly.

    ¡°But¡ª¡±

    ¡°Maybe after this, you''ll finally learn your lesson. You can''t always just act as you wish without

    considering the consequences,¡± Nan Chen remarked coldly.

    Releasing a sigh, Nan Xing stated in frustration, ¡°It''s all Dabao''s fault. He was the one whonded me

    in this sh*t. I''ll never listen to anything that rascal says again. He has set a trap for his uncle!¡±

    At noon the next day, Ouyang Qing left Orchid Club after covering herself from head to toe.

    She was wearing a cap, a mask, sunsses and a scarf.

    She wanted to be sure that no one would recognize her, as she would be in trouble if someone

    managed to recognize her.

    Ouyang Qi was her chauffeur for the day. As there was no one else Ouyang Qing trusted, she had

    asked her brother to drive her.

    However, when she saw that Ouyang Qi did not even bother to put on sunsses, the woman''s

    frustration kicked in.

    ¡°Are you stupid or what? If someone sees you, they would be able to guess that I''m the one in your car.

    With my get-up, they would be certain that it''s me! Are you trying to get me in trouble? Are you upset

    that I asked you to drive me?¡±

    None of that had crossed Ouyang Qi''s mind. Of course, he would never intentionally cause trouble for

    Ouyang Qing.

    Even though he was not exactly a good person, he would certainly not harm his own sister.

    ¡°All right. I''ll wear my sunsses right away, but I don''t have a mask. I''ll get one from the pharmacy

    ahead.¡±

    Aware that Ouyang Qing was in a bad mood, Ouyang Qi did not want to provoke her.

    ¡°Forget it. Just find an underground parking lot and drop me there. You can leave after that,¡± Ouyang

    Qing uttered.

    ¡°Huh? Why do you want to go to an underground parking lot? Are you thinking ofmitting suicide?

    Don''t do that! You''re still so young. Besides, what happened to you is not even that serious. Why can''t

    you just get over it? There''s really no need to go to that extent. You still have a long journey ahead of

    you!¡± Ouyang Qi eximed.

    ¡°Are you crazy? There''s no way I''d do that!¡± Ouyang Qing scolded. ¡°Besides, have you seen anyone

    committing suicide in an underground parking lot?¡±

    ¡°Right, it doesn''t seem like an ideal location. Why are you going there, then?¡±

    ¡°I need to meet someone, so I have to choose somewhere without crowds. You can just drop me there

    and leave.¡±N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

 Chapter 530

    Chapter 530

    with a grimace.

    ¡°Do you really think she''ll ask you for that, given her situation? Do you think she''s really that

    shameless? Her request would surely be rted to salvaging her reputation. Hence, you have to agree

    to it,¡± Nan Chen ordered sternly.

    ¡°But¡ª¡±

    ¡°Maybe after this, you''ll finally learn your lesson. You can''t always just act as you wish without

    considering the consequences,¡± Nan Chen remarked coldly.

    Releasing a sigh, Nan Xing stated in frustration, ¡°It''s all Dabao''s fault. He was the one whonded me

    in this sh*t. I''ll never listen to anything that rascal says again. He has set a trap for his uncle!¡±

    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    At noon the next day, Ouyang Qing left Orchid Club after covering herself from head to toe.

    She was wearing a cap, a mask, sunsses and a scarf.

    She wanted to be sure that no one would recognize her, as she would be in trouble if someone

    managed to recognize her.

    Ouyang Qi was her chauffeur for the day. As there was no one else Ouyang Qing trusted, she had

    asked her brother to drive her.

    However, when she saw that Ouyang Qi did not even bother to put on sunsses, the woman''s

    frustration kicked in.

    ¡°Are you stupid or what? If someone sees you, they would be able to guess that I''m the one in your car.

    With my get-up, they would be certain that it''s me! Are you trying to get me in trouble? Are you upset

    that I asked you to drive me?¡±

    None of that had crossed Ouyang Qi''s mind. Of course, he would never intentionally cause trouble for

    Ouyang Qing.

    Even though he was not exactly a good person, he would certainly not harm his own sister.

    ¡°All right. I''ll wear my sunsses right away, but I don''t have a mask. I''ll get one from the pharmacy

    ahead.¡±

    Aware that Ouyang Qing was in a bad mood, Ouyang Qi did not want to provoke her.

    ¡°Forget it. Just find an underground parking lot and drop me there. You can leave after that,¡± Ouyang

    Qing uttered.

    ¡°Huh? Why do you want to go to an underground parking lot? Are you thinking ofmitting suicide?

    Don''t do that! You''re still so young. Besides, what happened to you is not even that serious. Why can''t

    you just get over it? There''s really no need to go to that extent. You still have a long journey ahead of

    you!¡± Ouyang Qi eximed.

    ¡°Are you crazy? There''s no way I''d do that!¡± Ouyang Qing scolded. ¡°Besides, have you seen anyone

    committing suicide in an underground parking lot?¡±

    ¡°Right, it doesn''t seem like an ideal location. Why are you going there, then?¡±

    ¡°I need to meet someone, so I have to choose somewhere without crowds. You can just drop me there

    and leave.¡±

 Chapter 531

    Chapter 531

    It was simple to look for an underground parking lot. Even so, soon, Ouyang Qi managed to find a quiet

    parking lot for Ouyang Qing.

    It was a new shopping area, and the lots had yet to be fully rented out. Even the shops that were

    already opened barely had any customers. That was why the ce was quiet.

    ¡°Is this ce quiet enough for you? If it''s not, the only ce left is the cemetery,¡± Ouyang Qi teased.

    ¡°Scram off the car,¡± Ouyang Qing huffed.

    ¡°What''s the matter with you? Are you burning bridges after you cross them? This car is mine!¡± Ouyang

    Qi cried out.

    From N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Just scram when I tell you to. Why do you need to say so much nonsense?¡± Ouyang Qing snapped.

    ¡°What about the money? I''ve done the deed, but I haven''t gotten the money yet.¡±

    ¡°What money?¡±

    ¡°Stop ying dumb. You''re the one who asked me to work for you. You told me to listen to your

    instructions and that you''ll give me two hundred thousand each month for that. If not for your money, do

    I look like I''ll run errands for you? Are you trying to shirk the responsibility now?¡± Ouyang Qi

    questioned.

    Only then did Ouyang Qing recall that conversation.

    She then took out one of her cards and handed it to Ouyang Qi. ¡°Two hundred thousand spending limit.

    Be more thrifty. If you use it all, then you''ve depleted everything you have!¡±

    ¡°This is functional, right? You''re not trying to fool me, are you?¡± Ouyang Qi stared at the card dubiously.

    ¡°Pah! If it''s not usable, why would I give it to you? Take it and scram. If you don''t want it, then give it

    back to me.¡±

    ¡°Of course I want it. This is the money I deserve for my hard work. I''ll take it first. However, if I give this

    car back to you, how am I supposed to go back?¡±

    ¡°Sort it out on your own. You can always hail a cab outside. Now, scram!¡± Ouyang Qing impatiently

    remarked.

    After a few steps, Ouyang Qi turned around again and asked, ¡°You''re a girl, and it isn''t safe for you to

    stay here by yourself. Why don''t I linger around to protect you?¡±

    ¡°Just get lost, would you? If you''re not going to leave now, give me back my card!¡± Ouyang Qing

    snarled.

    ¡°All right, all right, I''m going.¡±

    With that, Ouyang Qi took the elevator and went up to the first floor of the mall.

    After a while of mulling over the matter, Ouyang Qi decided he had not done the right thing. Although

    Ouyang Qing looked down on him, she was still his little sister.

    She''s a girl by herself there. If anything happens, no one will be able to help her.

    Hence, he entered the elevator and went back down to the parking lot again. Then, he hid behind a car

    and watched out for her from there.

    Meanwhile, Ouyang Qing, who was in her car, sent her location to Nan Xing without saying anything.

    When Nan Xing received the address, he realized she was in a parking lot.

    What is she doing? Instead of a hotel or a club, she''s inviting me to meet her in an underground

    parking lot? Has she found a group of people and is about to mess with me? Huh, but it''s unlikely.

    Ouyang Qing won''t get anything good from crippling me.

    At the start, he thought of getting Qiao Zhan to look for a few men to guard him, but a whileter, he

    dismissed that thought.

    Ouyang Qing''s a girl. I can''t possibly be scared of her.

    Thus, he drove to the parking lot and called Ouyang Qing.

    There were not many cars in the parking lot, so the man could easily spot Ouyang Qing.

    The moment he saw Ouyang Qing fully swaddled from head to toe, he burst outughing.

    ¡°Ms. Ouyang, are you some kind of runway model? Why did you wrap yourself up like a burrito?¡±

    ¡°What are youughing at?¡± Ouyang Qing roared.

    Nan Xing then opened the car door and sat by Ouyang Qing''s side. Instantly, the woman inched further

    away from him.

    ¡°Okay, okay. I''ll stopughing. Why did you invite me here?¡±

    ¡°I''m obviously here to talk with you. You''re the reason I ended up like this. What are you going to do?¡±

    Ouyang Qing asked.

    ¡°You''re the one who had set me up. How could you twist the story? You''re being unreasonable!¡± Nan

    Xing roared.

    ¡°Speak nicely!¡± Ouyang Qing snapped.

    At that, Nan Xing was furious. If not for my brother ordering me to let you do as you please, I wouldn''t

    have bothered myself with you!

    ¡°Speak. What do you want to say?¡±

    ¡°I just want to ask you what you''re going to do now that I''ve turned out like this,¡± Ouyang Qing

    repeated.

    That was a question Nan Xing dared not reply to her instantly, for he still had yet to figure out Ouyang

    Qing''s ulterior motives. Therefore, he would not dare to rashly say anything.

    ¡°Get to the point, please.¡±

    ¡°I want you to salvage my reputation!¡± Ouyang Qing blurted out.

    ¡°You''re the one who sabotaged your own reputation. How am I supposed to salvage it?¡± Nan Xing

    rebuked.

    ¡°I don''t care. This happened because of you. If not for you, I wouldn''t have been embarrassed to this

    point. You have to take responsibility for this!¡± Ouyang Qing sternly told him.

    She thought that she would be able to frighten Nan Xing into submission if she were to adopt an

    arrogant demeanor, but unfortunately, it was useless.

    Nan Xing was only amused by her act; he was not afraid at all.

    The only reason he was willing to listen to Ouyang Qing''sints was due to Nan Chen''s orders.

    ¡°All right. In that case, what do you want me to do?¡±

    ¡°You have to court me from tomorrow onward. I want you to court me as publicly as possible. I want

    everyone in Flower City, especially the elite individuals of the upper-ss social circle, to know that

    you''re courting me.¡±

    Hearing that, Nan Xingughed again. ¡°Women have always been the ones courting me; I''ve never

    courted women. Say, how am I supposed to court you to the point the whole city knows about it?¡±

    ¡°You''re the one courting me, not the other way around. Obviously, you''ll have to think of the details

    yourself. If I think of everything for you, would that still count as you courting me?¡± Ouyang Qing

    questioned.

    ¡°But I''ve never courted anyone, and I don''t know how to court someone. You have to teach me, or else

    I wouldn''t know what to do,¡± Nan Xing answered with a chuckle.

    ¡°What are youughing at? What''s there tough about?¡± Ouyang Qing fumed.

    ¡°Okay, okay, I won''tugh anymore. Say, how am I supposed to court you?¡±

    ¡°Air a notice on the television saying that you''re sorry and that everything''s a misunderstanding.¡±

    Upon hearing that, Nan Xing inhaled sharply. ¡°Air a notice on television? Do you need to be that

    dramatic?¡±

    ¡°What''s dramatic about that? How will the entire city find out about it if you don''t make a public

    announcement about it? Are you unwilling to spend the money? The Nan family isn''t poor, but you

    won''t even spend this little amount of money? You''re not at all sincere about this!¡± Ouyang Qing gritted

    out.

    Promptly, Nan Xing began mulling over the matter.

    If they really decided to air it, Nan Xing would be able to afford it, obviously. Financial issues were not

    why he was hesitating.

    If they were to air the matter on television, everyone would know about it.

    From then on, Ouyang Qing would be akin to a package deal to him. If he wanted to court anyone else,

    that person would certainly think about this matter again.

    There were no way other girls would believe that he felt nothing for Ouyang Qing once the notice was

    aired.

    Therefore, the money for the notice was not an issue; the consequences were.

    Yet, at the same time, he could not say no.

    Nan Chen had told him to temporarily agree with anything Ouyang Qing requested and to not infuriate

    her.

    Otherwise, she might go to the police and drag the Nan family into the mess with the negative publicity,

    and things would be difficult to deal with.

    That was why Nan Xing was stumped. He could neither agree nor disagree with her.

    ¡°Hello? Why are you silent? Are you going to reject me? You''ve once confessed to me before. You said

    you liked me back then. Was that a lie?¡± Ouyang Qing bellowed.

    Nan Xing pressed his lips. Back then, he had been forced by two certain people to do that.

    Now, Ouyang Qing was holding him ountable for that!

    That was a fate that no one could run away from.

 Chapter 532

    Chapter 532

    ¡°Uh, this...¡±

    Nan Xing wished not to reply to that question, so he changed the topic. ¡°The weather''s quite nice today.

    Why don''t we take a stroll?¡±

    ¡°It''s cold and raining, but you''re telling me that the weather is nice? Are you blind? You''re just trying to

    avoid answering me, aren''t you?¡±

    ¡°No, it''s just that...¡±

    ¡°I get it. You don''t like me. You''re just toying with me, you b*stard,¡± Ouyang Qing suddenly cursed out.

    Ouyang Qing ced much importance on her image, but now, she could not care less.

    From N?velDrama.Org.

    Upon hearing her curse at him, Nan Xing became annoyed. I can''t believe you''re cursing at me! If not

    for my brother asking me to tolerate you, I''d have pped you by now!

    Left without a choice, Nan Xing muttered, ¡°Of course I like you. You''re so pretty. Who wouldn''t like

    you?¡±

    He was absolutely reluctant, for he really did not like her.

    ¡°Good. You have to put up the notice in the top three mediapanies in Flower City for this. The

    words you use should be as exaggerated as possible. Apologize to me and say that you love me. You

    can''t hide away after putting up the announcement. You have to show yourself in public, so the

    reporters would have the chance to interview you, and that way, you''ll be able to say that you love me

    on camera. Only then will the others believe you were the one to pay for the notice. In other words,

    make this as high profile as possible,¡± Ouyang Qing summarized.

    ¡°But I don''t like being high profile...¡± Nan Xing mumbled weakly.

    ¡°You''re always keeping a high profile, but now you''re telling me you don''t like having a high profile? So

    you''re just reluctant to do this, aren''t you? You''re not the only one, though, because I''m reluctant to.¡±

    Ouyang Qingughed.

    Nan Xing then sneered. ¡°If you''re reluctant to do this, then why have you called me here? You''ve even

    made us meet up in such a remote ce as if you''re going to throw yourself at me at any time. I''d say

    you''re eager to do this. How can you say that you''re reluctant?¡±

    ¡°Scram out of the car right now!¡± she snarled.

    ¡°Do you think I want to spend another second in here?¡±

    Nan Xing then got out and stormed toward his car.

    Why should I bear the brunt of your horrible temper? You''re the one doing all these things, but you''re

    asking me to announce to the world that I''m courting you? Dream on!

    However, after getting into his car, he thought about what Nan Chen had said again.

    If I''ve crossed Ouyang Qing, and she''s determined to make things troublesome, what then? I''ve told

    Chen that I''m going to settle this thing. At the very least, temporarily settle it.

    Thus, without a choice, he tamped down his anger and walked back to her car.

    Truthfully, Ouyang Qing was regretting her words when she saw Nan Xing storm off.

    Nan Xing was her only hope for turning the tables, and yet, her arrogant attitude had driven him away.

    What am I going to do now?

    Right as she was panicking and wondering if she should go after him to get him back, Nan Xing

    returned.

    Instantly, joy danced in her heart, and she quickly wound down the window. ¡°Let''s have another talk.¡±

    Hearing that, Nan Xing realized she was the kind he had to be firm with.

    If he were any nicer to her, she would just be more and more haughty.

    ¡°There''s nothing we can talk about. I won''t do the things you said earlier,¡± Nan Xing insisted.

    ¡°How would you know you can''t do it unless you have a talk with me? I swear I won''t make you do such

    a high-profile act anymore. Come into the car first. Someone might sneak a photo of us if you stay out

    there,¡± Ouyang Qing softly said.

    Her tone was a stark contrast to her earlier tone.

    It was only then Nan Xing went back into the car. The moment he did, Ouyang Qing leaned closer to

    him and stated, ¡°All you do is be mean to me. What kind of man are you to bully a girl?¡±

    ¡°When did I bully you? You''re clearly the one bullying me. You drugged me, and you tried to forcibly

    bed me. Then the next second, you tried to kick me out. Now, you''re asking me to make a public

    announcement. Do you know my grandfather has always been one to keep a low profile? He won''t let

    me do this. How am I going to exin this to him if I were to do what you''re requesting? If he''s angry,

    there will be dire consequences. Moreover, Chen won''t agree with me doing this. Therefore, even if I

    have to make a public confession, I have to discuss the matter with my family members first.¡±

    Finally, Nan Xing had thought of a better excuse to reject Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°All right, I understand where you''reing from. We can make things less theatrically, but at the very

    least, you have to let the public know that we''re dating.¡±

    ¡°Dating?¡±

    ¡°That''s right. Didn''t you say you like me? Since those things have happened, of course we have to be

    dating. You can''t possibly be thinking of marrying me right away, right? That''s not something to be

    rushed. We''ve got to spend some time with each other first,¡± Ouyang Qing uttered.

    Keep dreaming, you woman!

    Contrasting his thoughts, Nan Xing replied, ¡°Yes, yes. It''s not something to be rushed. We have to take

    this slow.¡±

    ¡°So, now...¡±

    ¡°Now? The car isn''t a good ce, so let''s not?¡± Nan Xing gasped.

    ¡°What are you thinking about? I was asking where we should go now. Let''s have a meal. Then, we''ll get

    a few reporters we''re familiar with and have them take a few photos of us to post on the inte. The

    public will then find out that we''re dating, and that way, I will be getting less pressure.¡±

    Nan Xing did not want to agree to that, but he could not possibly reject everything she said, so he

    nodded.

    Just as they were about to drive off, someone ran over to them.

    It took Nan Xing a while to identify the somewhat familiar face¡ªOuyang Qi.

    As it turned out, Ouyang Qi never left; he had been hiding a distance away from them the entire time.

    Opening the car door, Ouyang Qi stared at Nan Xing for a while before asking, ¡°Are you the third or the

    fourth child?¡±

    ¡°Make a guess,¡± Nan Xing responded with a smile.

    ¡°You''re the fourth one. The third one doesn''t smile.¡±

    Ouyang Qi had gotten down most of the Nan brothers'' characters by then.

    ¡°I guess so. What do you want? Why are you here? Are you here with your sister to force people into a

    marriage?¡± Nan Xing questioned.

    ¡°Force people into a marriage? Why do you make it sound so horrendous?¡± Ouyang Qi snapped.

    ¡°Ugh... Forget it. Let''s not talk about it anymore.¡±

    ¡°Hand it over. Bank transfer or by card?¡± Ouyang Qi then stuck out his hand.

    ¡°What? Hand what over?¡± Nan Xing was taken aback by the other man''s abrupt statement.

    ¡°Money. I don''t want much, just the same as her offer. Two hundred thousand,¡± Ouyang Qi replied.

    ¡°What the heck? You''re selling your little sister for such a cheap price?¡± Nan Xing cried out.

    Not liking what he was hearing, Ouyang Qi yelled, ¡°Another hundred thousand for that! Now it''s three

    hundred thousand!¡±

    Ouyang Qing then shouted at her brother, ¡°Why are you causing trouble? Why haven''t you left yet? Get

    lost!¡±

    ¡°This has nothing to do with you. If he wants to be with you, then he has to solve my financial crisis

    first. The two hundred thousand you''ve given to me isn''t enough at all. You need to give me more. If he

    doesn''t, then I''ll tell Dad you didn''t go overseas. Not only have you not gone overseas, but you''re even

    secretly dating this boy. That way, you won''t be able to get together with him anymore, and you''ll have

    to go overseas. Money isn''t something he''scking. Three hundred thousand for him is a paltry

    amount. All he needs to do is to hand it over, and this matter can be resolved peacefully. Moreover,

    how are we supposed to be a family in the future if he won''t even part with three hundred thousand?¡±

    Ouyang Qi had said everything so passionately, and somehow, his words seemed to make sense.

    Nan Xing was impressed, albeit in a negative way.

    What difference is this from a robbery? The siblings are ganging up together to rob me. Ouyang Qing is

    after me, and Ouyang Qi is after my money. I''m the fourth son of the Nan family, but I have to lose both

    myself and my money? Am I going to lose everything? No way!

 Chapter 533

    Chapter 533

    ¡°So are you going to hand it over or not?¡± Ouyang Qi was starting to get impatient.

    Right then, Nan Xing asked, ¡°You''re the Ouyang family''s only son. Why would you need to lower

    yourself and ask me for three hundred thousand?¡±

    ¡°I''m not lowering myself! My dad canceled my card. I want the money to spend, so who am I supposed

    to ask if not from the two of you?¡± Ouyang Qi retorted.

    ¡°So you''re asking for the money from me? What if I say no?¡±

    ¡°Then I''ll call my dad right away and tell him that Ouyang Qing is still in the country. He''ll be furious,

    and he''ll definitely tell her to leave the country right away. If that happens, the two of you won''t be able

    to be together anymore. You''ll be forced to separate. Isn''t that terrible?¡±

    Upon hearing that, Nan Xing nearly leaped in joy. That was exactly what he wanted.

    If Ouyang Qing were to leave the country, he would not need to pretend to be dating her. That would be

    an even better choice than what they had agreed on.

    ¡°You want three hundred thousand?¡± Nan Xing asked as he looked at Ouyang Qi.

    ¡°If you have the money, I don''t mind getting a little more. At most, I''ll pay you back the extra a while

    later,¡± Ouyang Qi replied.

    Then, Nan Xing said, ¡°I won''t give you anything.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°I said, I won''t give you anything at all! Keep dreaming.¡±

    ¡°Are you that stingy? You''re such a miser, but you''re thinking of dating my sister?¡± Ouyang Qi spat.

    Nan Xing raised a brow at that.

    She''s the one trying to date me! Also, since she''s trying to date me, why are you asking me for money?

    You''re quite the siblings, aren''t you?

    ¡°Nope. I won''t give you anything at all. You can do whatever you like.¡±

    Ouyang Qi then turned to his sister. ¡°Did you hear that? This guy won''t even give me three hundred

    thousand, but you still want to be with him? What kind of life will you have if you''re with someone like

    him?¡±

    ¡°I don''t want you sticking your nose into my business!¡± Ouyang Qing snapped.

    ¡°It''s not like I want to. I''m just here for the money. I need money!¡± Ouyang Qi returned loudly.

    ¡°Get lost! Stop embarrassing me here!¡± By then, Ouyang Qing was absolutely embarrassed by him.

    ¡°You''re the embarrassing one. You failed to court Nan Chen, then now you''re¡ª¡±

    ¡°Shut up! Nan Xing, get rid of this person right now. I don''t want to see him!¡± Ouyang Qing bellowed.

    ¡°I can''t do that. This is your brother. I can''t do anything to him. Why don''t I leave the two of you to have

    a private chat?¡± Nan Xing wanted to take the opportunity to leave as quickly as possible.

    ¡°No! We haven''t talked everything through yet. Ouyang Qi, get lost right now! I don''t want to see you in

    my line of sight,¡± Ouyang Qing snapped.

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    ¡°I don''t want to see you too. Give me the money. Once you give me the money, I''ll make myself scarce

    right away. I won''t third-wheel anymore. It''s just three hundred thousand. All you need to do is to give

    that to me. Why are you so stingy?¡± Ouyang Qi asked with a frown.

    All he really wanted was some money and nothing else.

    As far as he knew, three hundred thousand was but a small amount for the two of them.

    Hence, he thought he would be able to get the money easily. Yet, to his surprise, Nan Xing rejected him

    again.

    ¡°I don''t have the money. You can do whatever you like, and no matter what you do, I still won''t give it to

    you,¡± Nan Xing insisted.

    ¡°All right, then, I''ll call my dad now.¡± With that said, Ouyang Qi took out his phone.

    ¡°You''re shameless! I''ll give you the money.¡±

    Left with no options, Ouyang Qing took out her bag and fished out a card.

    ¡°Give me the card I gave to you earlier. I''ll give this one to you.¡±

    ¡°How much is in the card you now have?¡± Ouyang Qi queried, staring at the card in Ouyang Qing''s

    hands.

    ¡°There''s more in this card, so give me the one I gave you earlier.¡±

    ¡°Why don''t you give me both? I won''t spend recklessly. Don''t worry.¡±

    ¡°I can''t feel at ease if I do that! So give me the one you have now.¡±

    Ouyang Qing is one of a kind too. Does she really have to be so petty with her brother over two

    hundred thousand? Nan Xing thought, unable to watch their interaction anymore.

    However, he did not want the matter to resolve so easily. The more intense their conflict was, the better

    it was for him.

    ¡°You can''t give him the card. If he''s so anxious to get the money, he must be up to no good. If you give

    it to him, and if he does anything bad, won''t your dad me you for itter?¡± Nan Xing stopped Ouyang

    Qing.

    His words infuriated Ouyang Qi. You brat. It''s one thing for you not to give me any penny, but you''re

    even stopping my sister from giving me money?

    ¡°What does this have to do with you? Shut up!¡±

    ¡°Oh? Do you hear yourself? You''re the one who asked for money from me. I didn''t give anything to you,

    so you asked your sister instead. This started with me, so how can this have nothing to do with me?

    This money can''t be yours. You can do whatever you like. Honestly, I''ve nevere across a man as

    shameless as you. You''re really an embarrassment.¡±

    Nan Xing had deliberately worded his words into terrible ones, for he aimed to make Ouyang Qi

    enraged.

    As long as Ouyang Qi was livid, he would then sabotage Nan Xing''s supposed rtionship with

    Ouyang Qing. Ouyang Qi would then have their father force Ouyang Qing out of the country, and Nan

    Xing would not need to deal with her anymore.

    However, Ouyang Qi was not one to be easily enraged. He was already a bad character himself, so the

    verbal attacks were nothing to him.

    The awful words had a limited effect on him. What he was most concerned about was still the money.

    ¡°All right. I''ll call my dad right now to tell him you''re sneakily on a date here.¡± Ouyang Qi then pretended

    to make a call.

    ¡°Take it!¡±

    Panicking, Ouyang Qing no longer cared about her previous card and threw the other card at her

    brother.

    Instantly, disappointment washed across Nan Xing. Oh, no. My n failed.

    Finally getting the card he wanted, Ouyang Qi beamed.

    ¡°That''s more like it. Enjoy your time, then. I''m going to leave now.¡±

    Nevertheless, Ouyang Qi mulled over what Nan Xing had said and turned to jab a finger at Nan Xing. ¡°I

    finally found out what kind of person you are now. You''re way too stingy. There''s no way we can click in

    the future.¡±

    ¡°Well, that''s good, then,¡± Nan Xing responded with a smile. ¡°I don''t want to be on good terms with you,

    anyway.¡±

    ¡°That''s enough. Ignore him. He''s nothing but a fool,¡± Ouyang Qing interjected.

    ¡°You''re already siding an outsider before you even marry him? You''re an ingrate!¡± Ouyang Qi hissed.

    ¡°You''ve already gotten the money, so scram! Do you really need to spit out all this nonsense?¡± Ouyang

    Qing growled.

    ¡°Bye. I''ll call you when I''ve spent them all.¡± Ouyang Qi waved and left.

    At that moment, Nan Xing was sobbing internally. He''s gone? That means I have to deal with her again!

    ¡°Let''s go. It''s time for lunch now, soe with me for a meal. Don''t you dare think of taking me to a

    hotel because we aren''t at that stage yet,¡± Ouyang Qing stated.

    At that, Nan Xing turned speechless. Please! I don''t even want to take you to the hotel. When did I ever

    say that? That''s what you want, not me.

    Despite his thoughts, he squeezed out, ¡°No need to rush. Let''s take it slow.¡±

    ¡°All right, let''s go eat now. Find a nice restaurant, and I''ll get the reporters toe to take sneak shots

    of us.¡± Ouyang Qing then took out her phone.

    ¡°We''re going to announce to the public today? Are we really in such a rush?¡±

    ¡°Of course. I''m under great pressure right now, so I have to get myself out of this situation as soon as

    possible. I can''t stand this anymore.¡±

    ¡°Okay, then,¡± mumbled Nan Xing.

    This is just a scandal. It''s fine if I have another one since she''s not the only one who has a scandal with

    me.

 Chapter 534

    Chapter 534

    As Ouyang Qing had wanted, the scandal between her and Nan Xing spread across the people.

    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    It was because the reporters had ¡°sneakily¡± taken photos of the two of them having a meal together

    and being intimate.

    After that, some people said that what had happened earlier was a misunderstanding.

    They said that Nan Xing and Ouyang Qing were dating, so there was nothing wrong with them having a

    lover''s spat.

    Just as Ouyang Qing thought she would be able to settle the matter, another kind ofment

    appeared on the inte again.

    Aizenmented that Ouyang Qing had gone to Nan Xing in hopes of getting back on good terms

    with the man to clear her name.

    However, Nan Xing was unwilling to do that. Hence, Ouyang Qing had resorted to threatening Nan

    Xing toply with her request. If he did not agree with her, she would sue him for harassment. Not

    wanting any trouble, Nan Xing had no choice but to agree to date her.

    That was something an ordinary citizen posted on a discreet website, but soon, that post began

    trending.

    Once again, theizens cursed Ouyang Qing and called her a shameless b*tch.

    Essentially, theizens had depleted their dictionary of curse words, and the cursing she received was

    much worse than the previous time.

    At that, Ouyang Qing could only shed tears in silence. She did not know who was ndering her, for

    she never said she was going to sue Nan Xing.

    At Orchid Club, Ouyang Duo did not strike her this time. Instead, he stared at her in utter

    disappointment.

    Ouyang Qing was crying the entire time, but her tears were more or less forced out.

    She was not upset; she was furious and reluctant to admit defeat.

    Ouyang Qing was only crying to gain her father''s sympathy. It was so that he would let her stay and not

    force her to leave.

    Before Ouyang Duo could begin berating her, Ouyang Qing exined, ¡°I didn''t leave because Nan

    Xing invited me, and when he did, I thought about what you said about marrying into the Nan family,

    Dad. That''s why I wanted to use the opportunity to develop my rtionship with Nan Xing to realize

    your aim.¡±

    Ouyang Qing knew her father was the kind who paid most attention to the pros and cons of a matter.

    As long as she told him the benefits of her action, the chances of her persuading Ouyang Duo would

    then greatly increase.

    ¡°Nan Xing was the one who invited you out?¡± Ouyang Duo asked.

    ¡°That''s right. Dad, I''ve already packed my things and was about to leave. However, he invited me, and I

    wanted to find out what he was going to tell me.¡±

    ¡°What did he say, then?¡± Ouyang Duo questioned.

    ¡°He told me about his interest in me. To be honest, he said something simr in the past, but I didn''t

    pay that much attention to that back then.¡±

    ¡°So you''ve decided to take a step back and get together with Nan Xing now?¡±

    As his daughter had expected, Ouyang Duo was a man who cared only for the pros and cons of a

    matter. When he heard her actions were beneficial to his n, his interest was piqued, and his rage

    dissipated a bit.

    ¡°I think Nan Xing is a good choice. He has potential, and he''s part of the Nan family. Moreover, he has

    equal chances of inheriting the family assets; there''s a chance of him bing the head of the Nan

    family. Furthermore, inparison with Nan Chen, Nan Xing will be easier to control,¡± Ouyang Qing

    continued.

    Those words were the exact words Ouyang Duo wanted to hear.

    The entire time, Ouyang Duo wanted to control Nan Chen, but he realized that was a difficult feat to

    achieve.

    Nan Chen was far too strong. At the start, Ouyang Duo thought of him as a wolf, butter on, he

    realized the younger man was actually a lion.

    It was too difficult to tame a lion, and that was why that matter had always been a major headache for

    Ouyang Duo.

    However, Ouyang Qing''s words enlightened him.

    She''s right. Nan Xing and Nan Chen are the same. If we have control over Nan Xing and use him to

    rece Nan Chen, won''t we have the Nan family in our hands, then? Why didn''t I think of this earlier?

    The moment Ouyang Qing saw the changes in her father''s expression, she knew he was interested.

    ¡°Nan Chen is no simple man. Even if I marry him, it''s close to impossible to control him. Even if I

    manage to do it in the end, I would have spent a lot of time and effort on it. Moreover, emerging

    victorious in this isn''t guaranteed. On the other hand, Nan Xing is a simple-minded man. If Nan Chen

    disappears while Nan Xing is within our control, we can put Nan Xing on the throne. That way, he

    would be the head of the Nan family. Moreover, Bai Hua has always been on my side, and Nan

    Zhiyuan listens to his wife. By then, they''ll all be on our side. We won''t need to worry about whether or

    not we''ll be able to control the Nan family,¡± Ouyang Qing went on.

    Ouyang Duo did not speak, but his eyes lit up brighter.

    ¡°How is your rtionship with Nan Xing now?¡± Ouyang Duo queried.

    At that, Ouyang Qing froze. Until now, nothing but a scandal had happened between her and Nan Xing.

    ¡°He''s currently courting me, but I haven''t said yes yet,¡± Ouyang Qing replied.

    Hearing that, Ouyang Duo nodded in approval. ¡°Don''t say yes so easily, or else he''ll think that you''re an

    easy person. Still, you can''t be too distant from him because young people nowadays change their

    minds quickly. Keeping an appropriate distance from him is very important. What about this? Make

    some arrangements. I''d like to meet with Nan Xing.¡±

    ¡°You want to meet him? What are you nning to tell him?¡± Ouyang Qing asked, surprised by his

    words.

    ¡°You''re still young, so you don''t have a good judge of people''s characters. I''m going to meet him and

    find out what''s on his mind. Nan Xing isn''t the same as his brother. He''s a yboy. You have to be

    careful and not be fooled by him,¡± Ouyang Duo worriedly remarked.

    Upon hearing his words, Ouyang Qing sneered. ¡°Don''t worry about that, Dad. With that brain of his, he

    should thank his lucky stars that I haven''t fooled him yet. There''s no way he''ll be able to fool me.

    You''ve said it too. He''s just a yboy. The easiest kind of people to deal with in this world is a yboy.¡±

    As Nan Xing had always presented himself as a weak character around Ouyang Qing, she had

    underestimated him.

    However, being underestimated, in certain circumstances, was a good thing, as there were things he

    could do.

    ¡°No. I still don''t feel at ease. Tell him he has to go through me first if he really wants to be with you.

    Have him arrange for a time to meet me,¡± Ouyang Duo insisted.

    With that, Ouyang Qing had no choice but to say, ¡°All right. I''ll tell him about it.¡±

    While Ouyang Qing was cursed non-stop byizens, the movie, I Am You, had started filming again.

    Although Ning Ran had rejected him a few times, Nan Chen still insisted on having the driver send Ning

    Ran to the film site in his Rolls-Royce.

    The filming would only be in Flower City for a short while. After that, they would be heading southwest

    for more outdoor scenes.

    However, wanting to keep a low profile, Ning Ran asked the driver to park the car a far distance away

    so that she could walk to the filming site instead.

    Nevertheless, Nan Chen''s car was too eye-catching, and the people on the production team still

    spotted it.

    ¡°Wow, look at that. She was sent here in a Rolls-Royce. How impressive.¡±

    ¡°Indeed. She''s one of Chen''s people, and she''s particrly good at sleeping with others. She managed

    to sleep with Nan Chen and even give birth to their kids. Now, she''s living the good life!¡±

    ¡°So that''s how she climbed up the ranks. That''s not a great way, is it?¡±

    Those people would not dare to voice those things in front of Ning Ran, but jealousy was a green-eyed

    monster that made them talk bad about her behind her back.

    ¡°What are you talking about? Are you seriously talking bad about someone behind their back?¡±

    The one who stood up for Ning Ran was none other than Tang Jing.

    She had chosen the perfect timing to say that¡ªwhen Ning Ran was close. That way, those people

    would not dare to say anything else.

    At the same time, Ning Ran would be able to encounter her standing up against the extras for her and

    realize that she was on Ning Ran''s side.

 Chapter 535

    Chapter 535

    By then, how the others thought that Ning Ran was good at sleeping with others and bearing children

    to get a better life was no longer anything new to Ning Ran.

    Every time there was any news about her, the people on the inte would say the exact same thing.

    Moreover, those people were not the minority.

    Never mind on the inte, there would be people who would say those things offline as well.

    Nheless, it was not to say that she was unfazed by those things.

    Even if she was, there was nothing she could do about it. Their mouths were not hers, and there was

    no way she could stop them from saying what was on their minds.

    Therefore, all she could do was not kick up a big fuss over those matters, or else she would be the only

    one furious.

    However, when those people heard what Tang Jing had said, they instantly retorted, ¡°It''s not like we''re

    talking about you. This is none of your business.¡±

    ¡°You''re talking bad about Ding, so you''re picking a bone with me!¡± Tang Jing responded.

    Tang Jing''s aim was to make things more serious than it was to make Ding Mi join her.

    As long as Ning Ran were to join in, those extras would not dare to cross her.

    For them to talk behind her back meant that they were fearful of Ning Ran. They did not have the

    courage to criticize Ning Ran in her face.

    Indeed, once they spotted Ning Raning toward them, they fell silent.

    ¡°Ding, you''re here,¡± Tang Jing greeted Ning Ran.

    ¡°Hi,¡± Ning Ran greeted back with a smile. ¡°What are you all talking about?¡±

    ¡°Some people just keep talking bad about others behind their back. I can''t stand it anymore, so I finally

    said something about it,¡± Tang Jing exined.

    Meanwhile, those people who had beenmenting about Ning Ran dared not say anything.

    ¡°What did they say?¡± Ning Ran asked, still smiling.

    ¡°Uh...¡± Tang Jing was stumped.

    ¡°Why don''t you tell me about it? I''m rather curious,¡± Ning Ran continued.

    ¡°Forget it. Some people were deliberately ndering you. Don''t mind them, Ding.¡±

    Despite her words, Ning Ran went on, ¡°Did someone say that I only got a role in the movie because of

    the Nan family again? Are they talking about me climbing up the social hierarchy with dirty tricks

    again?¡±

    That stumped Tang Jing even more. She never thought that Ning Ran would initiate such an awkward

    topic herself, so she did not know how to respond to her.

    ¡°They''re all saying it''s my fault¡ªthat I''m to me for having done that with Nan Chen and to have a

    child with him. However, you can''t put all the me on me. I mean, it takes two to make a child, right?

    Moreover, I didn''t want Nan Chen to take such good care of me, but he insisted on giving me a chance

    to be in a show. There''s nothing I can do about that, right? Of course, we can''t me this on the gossip

    mongers either. They, too, want to have a child with Nan Chen and get treated as nicely as Nan Chen

    does with me. Nevertheless, they don''t have that opportunity, so they have no choice but to feel

    jealous. Yet, despite their jealousy, there''s nothing they can do. What then?¡± Ning Ran asked Tang

    Jing.

    Vaguely knowing what Ning Ran was trying to do, Tang Jing chimed in, ¡°That''s when they''ll talk mean

    things behind someone''s back.¡±

    Ning Ran nodded with a smile. ¡°That''s right. They can only do that. So, do you think that I''ll mind that?

    They''re talking about the truth; they''re not using me of anything. It''s true that I''ve gotten the main

    role with the Nan family''s help. Others wanted it but failed. Yet, I got it, so what''s wrong with letting

    them grumble a little?¡±

    At that, Tang Jing was at a loss for words again.

    She, like the others, was jealous of her as well.

    At that very moment, she was unsure if Ning Ran''s words were meant for the extras or for her.

    ¡°Ding, you''re really a big-hearted woman. You''re right. There''s no point to hold them ountable for

    this,¡± Tang Jing agreed.

    ¡°I don''t mind, but I''m scared that Nan Chen would of this. I''m sure you''re aware as well. He doesn''t

    have the best of tempers. He''s too used to being a young master of a prestigious family, so his

    tolerance for most things is a little low. It''ll be troublesome if he takes certain action after hearing some

    people mumbling away about certain matters. Therefore, you have to keep this a secret from Nan

    Chen. Don''t make him mad, or things will get messy soon. If they get off light, they won''t be able to stay

    in the production team. If they don''t, I''m afraid they won''t be able to stay in this industry anymore,¡± Ning

    Ran said.

    ¡°Of course, of course. However, if some people are still adamant about stirring up troubles, I''m afraid I

    won''t be able to stop myself from telling Sir Chen about it,¡± Tang Jing responded.

    Immediately, the ones who had been talking bad about Ning Ran were frightened out of their wits.

    Nan Chen was the main investor of the movie, and they knew that.

    Crossing Nan Chen would mean the end of their careers.

    In seconds, the entire ce had fallen silent.

    Of course, Ning Ran was not going to insist on the topic. Upon noticing that things had turned out the

    way she wanted them to, she dropped the topic and headed toward the dressing room.

    In the meantime, Tang Jing spared another nce at the extras before scoffing and leaving.

    At that moment, Tang Jing felt the thrill of lording over someone to the point they were silent.

    She enjoyed that feeling, but unfortunately, only Ning Ran could be that domineering; she could not.

    Therefore, she had to keep climbing up the ranks. Tang Jing wanted to stand above the others and look

    down upon them all.

    Ning Ran''s right. Those people are jealous that she has a child with Nan Chen because they didn''t get

    the chance to do the same.

    Tang Jing desired a chance like that too. She wanted to bear a child for the Nan family as well.

    However, it was impossible for her to go for Nan Chen anymore. The only chance for her now was to

    go after Nan Xing.

    Hence, she was going to use Ouyang Qing to get to know Nan Xing and create an opportunity for

    herself.

    Truthfully, Tang Jing was the one who had posted thements about Ouyang Qing wanting to sue

    Nan Xing for harassment. She was the one who made everyone curse at Ouyang Qing.

    What Tang Jing was going to do was to pretend to match-make Ouyang Qing and Nan Xing on the

    surface while sowing discord between the pair from the shadows to prevent them from actually getting

    together.

    While she sowed discord between the two of them, she would get more chances toe into contact

    with Nan Xing and make the man interested in her.

    Tang Jing was certain that, one day, she would be part of the Nan family and bear a child for the

    said family as Ning Ran did.

    On the other side, right as Ning Ran was about to enter the dressing room, she heard amotion

    outside.

    Someone had arrived, and it was definitely someone important. Otherwise, the people would not have

    made such noise.

    From N?velDrama.Org.

    Then, Ning Ran saw the director walking over with an attractive man.

    Although Ning Ran was in the entertainment industry, she had yet to reach the core of the industry.

    Hence, there were many big shots in there that she did not know.

    However, she knew who that handsome man was.

    He was Huang Zichao, the man of many women''s dreams.

    He had received the prestigious Mount Gold Awards, and he hadter entered Hollywood. Moreover,

    he had gotten a major award for his first movie, and now, he was an international celebrity.

    The difference between him and Zheng Lunlun was that Huang Zichao presented himself as a mature

    man. He did not possess the soft looks that Zheng Lunlun had, but he was a masculine and charming

    man.

    In the past, most of his fans would be mature women. However, now that mature men were the trend,

    many girls liked his style as well.

    Because of that, he became a popr and capable individual.

    ¡°Wow, he''s so handsome! He''s way hotter than he is on television!¡±

    ¡°He''s so manly, and he has such a strong presence. No wonder he''s a great actor!¡±

    An actor like Huang Zichao would have fangirls¡ªboth young and old¡ªeverywhere.

 Chapter 536

    Chapter 536

    As much as Ning Ran admired Huang Zichao''s good looks, she was anything but dazzled by him.

    How could she, when she had gotten used to being around handsome men every day?

    With the likes of the Nan family brothers and Zheng Lunlun surrounding her, it''d take a lot more than

    just physical attractiveness to impress her.

    Just as Ning Ran turned to get back to work, a deep male voice suddenly called out to her.

    ¡°Ms. Ding!¡±

    To her surprise, Huang Zichao was hurriedly making his way toward her.

    Since he had taken the initiative to strike up a conversation, Ning Ran had no choice but to stay and

    greet him.

    Meanwhile, Huang Zichao never once took his gaze off Ning Ran.

    She had the most delicate features, supple skin, and curves in all the right ces. It was the kind of

    beauty that one wouldn''t usually find in the entertainment industry.

    She was so effortlessly graceful and elegant, and there was just no hiding how gorgeous she was.

    For a moment, Huang Zichao even found himself in a daze.

    Despite having worked with plenty of sexy, beautiful actresses throughout his illustrious acting career,

    he realized that none of them could measure up to Ning Ran.

    Is she a goddess? Has shee to earth to bless me with her divine beauty?

    ¡°I''ve watched The Sound of Thunder 2, and I must say, you''re even prettier in person!¡± Huang Zichao

    complimented.

    Even though apliment from a famous actor was always something to be proud of, Ning Ran

    couldn''t help but feel a tinge of embarrassment.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± she replied, albeit a little awkwardly.

    ¡°I''m Huang Zichao. It''s a pleasure to be filming with you.¡±

    Ning Ran smiled and shook his hand politely. ¡°I''m Ding Mi.¡±

    ¡°Let''s do our best for this film.¡±

    ¡°Yes. I''ll be in your care.¡±

    From N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Hey, I''ll also be learning a lot from you. Your acting''s brilliant. I''m a big fan!¡± Huang Zichao once again

    complimented.

    ¡°Oh, you''re too kind. You''re the one with the Best Actor award, so I should be learning from you.¡±

    ¡°You''ll get the award too, mark my words. I have faith in your talent.¡±

    Just then, the director walked up to them. ¡°Wow, look how good the two of you are together! With your

    participation in this film, there''s no doubt it''d be the highest-grossing film of the year!¡±

    After exchanging the usual pleasantries, both actors left to get into their costumes and makeup.

    Later, the director decided to start the camera rolling with a scene between Ning Ran and Huang

    Zichao so they could set an example for the rest of the cast.

    Both had superb acting skills and yed their roles to their heart''s content.

    Ning Ran, especially, was ted to be acting alongside someone so good at their craft.

    The scene was about Ning Ran''s character finding out that her child had an incurable disease.

    Subsequently, she decided to quit her job so she could go overseas to seek a cure.

    Huang Zichao, who yed her husband, was unfortunately against the idea. To him, there wasn''t a

    point in going overseas since it was near impossible to find a sessful treatment anywhere in the

    world.

    Besides, life had to go on. Ditching her job and losing a stable ie would only plunge their family

    into dire straits.

    Just like that, the once loving couple got into a heated argument.

    However, instead of having their characters scream at each other, Ning Ran and Huang Zichao

    delivered their lines calmly. Their eyes and expressions were so full of despair that a suffocating

    silence befell the set.

    Everyone was at a loss for words, with some of the costars even finding themselves moved to tears.

    Eventually, Huang Zichao admitted his mistake and hugged his wife tightly.

    At that point, the director was supposed to end the scene, but he was so engrossed in Ning Ran and

    Huang Zichao''s acting that itpletely slipped his mind.

    The two actors had no choice but to remain hugging, not daring to move a muscle.

    s, Nan Chen, who had just arrived, saw it all.

    From his point of view, the scene had long ended, yet Huang Zichao refused to let Ning Ran out of his

    embrace.

    What infuriated him the most, though, was seeing Ning Ran unbothered by the interaction.

    Ridiculous! How long do they intend to continue hugging? Is this even still acting?

    ¡°Cut!¡± Nan Chen shouted, unable to stand it any longer.

    It was only then that the director got out of his daze and chimed in, ¡°Cut! Oh, my goodness, that was

    amazing! Perfect!¡±

    With that, Huang Zichao finally let go of Ning Ran.

    Despite being somewhat annoyed at being hugged for so long, Ning Ran was thankful that Huang

    Zichao remained professional and didn''t cross any boundaries.

    ¡°Scrape this scene.¡±

    The director turned around upon hearing that, only to meet the gaze of Nan Chen.

    ¡°Sir Chen! When did you get here? I didn''t even realize.¡±

    ¡°Why didn''t you end the scene?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    ¡°Their acting was so sublime that I forgot all about it. I''ll be more mindful of that in the future!¡±

    ¡°I don''t want this scene. It''s not good.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± the director mumbled as his eyes widened in shock.

    Is this not good enough? Of all the shows I''ve directed, this is the first time I''ve seen two actors hit it off

    so well in their first scene. How much better can it get?

    ¡°Stop hemming and hawing. Haven''t I made myself clear?¡± Nan Chen replied. ¡°Anyway, why have you

    started filming when I haven''t seen the new script?¡±

    ¡°I-I sent it to you. But your assistant said you were too busy to read it and told us to proceed with the

    filming¡ª¡±

    ¡°Director, are we still filming?¡± Huang Zichao suddenly interrupted before realizing Nan Chen was

    there.

    Even though the two men had never met in person before, Huang Zichao had seen enough of Nan

    Chen in the news to recognize him.

    ¡°Pause all the scenes with the female lead and film the rest first,¡± Nan Chen answered.

    ¡°You must be Mr. Nan, the main investor funding this film. It''s a pleasure to meet you!¡± Huang Zichao

    eximed as he extended his hand.

    s, Nan Chen only nodded in response.

    It wasn''t that he looked down on actors, but the mere thought of seeing Huang Zichao hug Ning Ran

    made him want to punch the daylights out of the man.

    As such, a polite nod was the best Nan Chen could do.

    ¡°This is Sir Chen,¡± the director introduced. ¡°And our famous actor here is Huang Zichao, who just came

    back from Hollywood.¡±

    Nan Chenpletely ignored him and strode right up to Ning Ran. ¡°You''re done filming for the day.¡±

    Ning Ran frowned, annoyed at how unreasonable Nan Chen was. He''s only one of the investors! What

    gives him the right toe on set and order the professionals around? At this rate, how are we going

    to continue filming?

    Logically speaking, investors should only be in charge of the finances and not meddle in the other

    aspects of a film.

    If any Tom, Dick, or Harry could step in to give orders to the director and actors, they''d be disrespecting

    the art and professionals. The quality of the film, without a doubt, would also be affected.

    ¡°Hold on, not even the director has agreed to it. Can you not be like this?¡± Ning Ran snapped.

    ¡°Oh, I have nothing to add,¡± the director quickly replied, not wanting to offend Nan Chen. ¡°You can

    leave first. It''s all right.¡±

    ¡°Does this mean filming has stopped? I want to know why, though. Was our acting not up to par?¡±

    Huang Zichao asked, bitterly upset at the turn of events.

    Nan Chen, who was still annoyed, shot him a re. ¡°Yes. Your acting''s terrible.¡±

 Chapter 537

    Chapter 537

    ¡°Oh, my acting''s bad? In that case, do you have any pointers for me, Mr. Nan?¡±

    Huang Zichao was a big shot and not a two-bit actor who would cower in the face of a film investor.

    With his career currently on the crest of a wave, he had nock of movie deals that he could pick and

    choose.

    In other words, he had the freedom to take on films that paid the highest and had the best scripts.

    With that, Huang Zichao had no fear for Nan Chen.

    Worsee to worst, I''ll ditch this film. There are plenty of other big projects waiting for me, anyway.

    Why stay and be insulted when I can easily earn my money elsewhere?

    Nan Chen nced at Huang Zichao.

    The rest of the world might find Huang Zichao devilishly handsome, but Nan Chen found him a

    complete eyesore.

    ¡°Everything about your acting is bad,¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    This time, it was Huang Zichao''s turn to be stunned silent. Huh? That''s such a prejudiced opinion. My

    acting skills are widely recognized, so who is he to say otherwise? Besides, he''s just bashing me

    instead of giving me specific pointers! That''s just unreasonable!

    ¡°Mr. Nan, are you doubting my acting prowess?¡± Huang Zichao asked.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Ning Ran started to panic. With the way things were ying out, it wouldn''t take long before everything

    took a turn for the worse.

    Nan Chen, as the key investor, had nothing to fear.

    But the same couldn''t be said for Ning Ran, who still had to continue working with the production team.

    If an internal conflict arose again because of Nan Chen, there was no question that the team would

    label her as a walking disaster.

    With that in mind, Ning Ran suddenly pulled Nan Chen away. ¡°Let''s talk outside!¡±

    Given Ning Ran''s physique, it was near impossible to budge someone as strong as Nan Chen.

    However, if he didn''t leave with her, they''d only end up arguing in public, which was something he

    absolutely hated.

    Ning Ran knew that well and thus continued to keep an iron grip on his arm.

    Left with no other choice, Nan Chen reluctantly followed Ning Ran out of the filming site.

    ¡°Let go of me. What do you want?¡± Nan Chen grumbled once they were out of earshot.

    ¡°Shouldn''t you be at work? Why are you here?¡±

    ¡°I happened to pass by and decided to drop in for a look. Who knew things would turn out this way?

    Anyway, let''s stop the film production for now.¡±

    ¡°Oh, for crying out loud, why?¡± Ning Ran protested. ¡°We''ve only just started filming, and with over a

    hundred staff members, do you know how much it''d cost with an additional day of dy?¡±

    ¡°Of course I do.¡±

    ¡°In that case, why are you stopping it?¡±

    ¡°Because I want to vet the scripts.¡±

    ¡°Haven''t you already vetted them?¡±

    Nan Chen''s face instantly darkened. ¡°Ever since Huang Zichao joined the cast, he has been given a lot

    of additional scenes that I''ve yet to look through. Also, I want him reced.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°What''s with the shock? Can''t bear to see him go because there are sparks between you and him?¡±

    Nan Chen shouted as he burned with anger.

    A confused frown quickly crept over Ning Ran''s face. ¡°Me and Huang Zichao? What are you talking

    about?¡±

    ¡°Then why do you want to stop me from changing the male lead?¡±

    Ning Ran flinched at the acidity in Nan Chen''s voice. She hadn''t seen him so furious in a while, and it

    terrified her.

    Why has he lost his temper? What the hell is going on?

    As frustrated as she was, Ning Ran eventually decided not to argue with Nan Chen anymore.

    After all, it wouldn''t do her any good to fight with him when he was in one of his tempers.

    If she were to push Nan Chen beyond his limits, he''d immediately get the production team to terminate

    Huang Zichao''s contract. Besides, he wouldn''t give a toss about paying the early termination fee as

    long as he could get the actor out of his sight.

    To Nan Chen''s surprise, Ning Ran suddenly softened her stance. ¡°Fine. Where are you headed? I think

    I''ll go with you. It''s not like I''ll be filming anymore today,¡± she said gently.

    ¡°Are you sure about that? I''m going to the branch office for an inspection.¡±

    ¡°Yes. Since you want me to stop filming, I''ll keep youpany instead. It''d also be a good opportunity

    for me to discuss the new script with you. Not only are you the boss, but you also have excellent taste,

    so your opinions are important to me.¡±

    Upon hearing that, Nan Chen calmed down a little.

    He was the kind who would give in to persuasion and not coercion, so the more one gave in to him, the

    more he''d ease up on them.

    ¡°Hmph. I don''t need you to tell me about the script. I can read it myself.¡±

    Once they got to the car, Jiang Zhe immediately hopped out and opened the door for Nan Chen.

    When he saw Ning Ran still wearing her character''s costume, he couldn''t help but scratch his head in

    confusion.

    He knew his boss wanted to visit the set, but he wasn''t expecting Ning Ran to y hooky from work.

    ¡°Why didn''t you remind me to read the script they sent over?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I did, but you said there wasn''t any hurry...¡± Jiang Zhe replied cautiously.

    ¡°I want to read it now.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    The next second, Jiang Zhe took out the tablet, opened the file for the script, and handed it to Nan

    Chen.

    Nan Chen had signaled for the chauffeur to drive off when Ning Ran piped up, ¡°Oh no, I left my bag on

    set. Can I go back for it? I''ll inform the director about taking a day off too. It''s only right to show some

    basic courtesy, isn''t it?¡±

    Nan Chen shot her a look before turning to the chauffeur. ¡°Send her back.¡±

    For a moment, Ning Ran was speechless. Oh, my goodness. I can''t believe he actually agreed to it!

    Sometimes, I really don''t understand him. He''s so unpredictable.

    After arriving at the filming site, Ning Ran promptly got out of the car and waved at Nan Chen. ¡°Why

    don''t you carry on with your work? I''ll head back inside now.¡±

    Nan Chen said nothing as he motioned for his chauffeur to drive off.

    When Ning Ran finally got back on set, the director was already preparing for another scene.

    Unfortunately, that was no easy feat, especially since the whole set design and props had to be

    changed.

    ¡°Director, let''s continue with the filming,¡± Ning Ran announced.

    ¡°But what about Sir Chen?¡±

    From N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Don''t worry, I''ve spoken with him, and he''s given us the green light. Come on, let''s get on with it.¡±

    ¡°Ah, maybe I should give him a call¡ª¡±

    ¡°Do you still not believe me? Let''s carry on with the filming,¡± Ning Ran interjected.

    ¡°All right. Get back to your positions, everyone! We''ll take up where we left off!¡±

    Just then, Huang Zichao walked up to Ning Ran with a smile. ¡°I just found out that Mr. Nan''s your

    husband. So, was that him being jealous?¡±

    ¡°He''s not my husband. We aren''t married,¡± Ning Ran quickly said.

    ¡°Oh, I''m sorry. I haven''t been keeping up with the news since I went abroad two years ago, but I did

    think you looked too young to be married¡ª¡±

    ¡°I have two children with him, though,¡± Ning Ran added coolly.

    Huang Zichao instantly froze in his tracks with his mouth agape.

    After a while, he managed to force a smile as he muttered, ¡°Y-You must be joking, right?¡±

    ¡°No, I''m not. I know there are a lot of rumors about us circting online, and yes, those are false. But

    us having kids is a hundred percent true.¡±

    Huang Zichao became even more perplexed at that. ¡°Okay... So what''s your rtionship like?¡±

    ¡°He''s the boss, and I''m one of the actresses signed under hispany. Nothing more, nothing less.¡±

 Chapter 538

    Chapter 538

    That day, Ning Ran managed to finish work early and got home by eight.

    Dabao and Erbao were both on vacation, and the helper looking after them left as soon as Ning Ran

    was home.

    Dinner had been prepared andid out, but both kids refused to start eating without their mother.

    ¡°Have you called your father? Is he joining us for dinner?¡± Ning Ran asked Erbao.

    ¡°I have, but Daddy said he has an appointment and will be hometer.¡±

    Soon, the two kids had finished setting the table and urged Ning Ran to have dinner together.

    Now that filming had started, Ning Ran had to be even more careful about what she ate so she

    wouldn''t gain weight.

    Rice and other carbohydrates were definitely out of the question, which meant she could only stick with

    vegetables and fruit.

    Erbao scooped a spoonful of braised pork and jiggled it in front of Ning Ran. ¡°Mommy, do you want

    some?¡±

    As much as she wanted it, Ning Ran had to stop herself. ¡°No.¡±

    Erbao immediately burst outughing. ¡°You''re lying, Mommy! I can see you drooling!¡±

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    ¡°Stop fooling around,¡± Dabao scolded as he red at his sister. ¡°Mommy''s tired. Let her have her

    dinner in peace.¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± Erbao whispered and did as instructed.

    Thankfully, Ning Ran knew her daughter well. Erbao was used to chattering away, so getting her to stay

    silent would only make her miserable.

    Furthermore, Nan Chen and Ning Ran had been so busy with work that their kids hardly saw or talked

    to them.

    Now that Ning Ran was home early for once, how could she bear to push her kids away?

    ¡°All right, let''s chat while we eat. You can tell me anything you like,¡± Ning Ran said with a big smile.

    Erbao''s eyes lit up at once. ¡°Okay! Let''s chat!¡±

    ¡°Well then, what would you like to talk about?¡±

    ¡°Gossip!¡±

    Ning Ran blinked in surprise. Why is this kid always so fond of gossip? Has she inherited my nosiness?

    Is that it?

    ¡°Okay, what gossip? Is there anything new you want to share with me?¡±

    ¡°Yes! Big gossip!¡± Erbao shouted as she ced her cutlery down.

    ¡°Wow, what big gossip has made you that excited? The only other time I''ve seen you so thrilled is when

    you''re talking about food,¡± Ning Ran teased.

    ¡°Oh, this is even better. Our n has worked!¡± Erbao replied.

    This time, Ning Ran was befuddled. ¡°Your n? What n is it? What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Dabao, are you going to say it, or do you want me to?¡± Erbao asked her brother.

    For one who was never fond of talking, the decision for Dabao was easy. ¡°You can say it.¡±

    ¡°Okay! Mommy, have you seen today''s news? Uncle Xing and Ouyang Qing are together now!¡±

    ¡°Oh, really?¡±

    ¡°Yes! And someone also said it was Ouyang Qing who forced Uncle Xing to be with her. Haha! Uncle

    Xing''s such a poor thing,¡± Erbao added whileughing.

    ¡°But what does that have to do with your n? Are you guys responsible for getting them together?¡±

    ¡°No, even though that was our original intention. Dabao and I had always wanted to set Uncle Xing up

    with Ouyang Qing. That way, she wouldn''t have a chance toe between you and Daddy. Our n

    didn''t quite seed, though, so we were disappointed. But now, things have all worked out brilliantly,

    and they''re finally together! Are you happy, Mommy?¡± Erbao eximed gleefully.

    The truth was, Ning Ran had long heard about the news from Cheng Xiangyun, except she never

    bothered to look up the details.

    What was there to be happy about when she didn''t think the situation would benefit her in any way?

    Furthermore, Ning Ran was still skeptical about the rtionship because she never once thought that

    Nan Xing liked Ouyang Qing.

    She had seen the scandalous video of them posted online, and Nan Xing''s attitude toward Ouyang

    Qing wasn''t one of love.

    And even though Ouyang Qing had always been loathsome, Ning Ran still saw no reason to be happy

    about her scandal.

    After all, Ning Ran wasn''t one to gloat over someone else''s misfortune. As long as the matter didn''t

    hurt her, she couldn''t be bothered about it.

    When she realized Ning Ran wasn''t as happy as she had hoped for, Erbao couldn''t help but feel

    disappointed.

    Dabao and Erbao had always seen Ouyang Qing as the troublemaker in their parents'' rtionship, so

    it stood to reason that everyone would want her out of the picture.

    Now that Uncle Xing is with Ouyang Qing, shouldn''t Mommy be a little happy? Why isn''t she, though?

    Perplexed, Erbao decided to ask, ¡°Mommy, aren''t you happy? You no longer have to worry about

    anyoneing between you and Daddy.¡±

    ¡°Erbao, kids shouldn''t get involved in matters between adults. Whether they''re together or not is none

    of our business. Let''s not care so much about it.¡±

    Dabao and Erbao merely nced at each other. They thought that Ning Ran would be over the moon

    after hearing the news, but her calm demeanor managed to suck the fun out of everything.

    Since there was no other gossip to share, the kids decided to finish their dinner in silence.

    Just then, Ning Ran got a call from the production team, informing her to read the new script they had

    sent.

    After dinner and washing up the dishes, Ning Ran got her tablet out and pored over the new script.

    Studying the script had always been a habit of Ning Ran''s. She''d read it over a few times to familiarize

    herself with the plot before immersing in her character and thinking about how best to portray it.

    The plot hadn''t changed much, except that the female lead''s husband would now die with their child.

    That, however, was a problem.

    The original script had the female lead''s child caught in a traffic ident.

    Later, it was revised to have the child contract an incurable disease that changed the entire family

    dynamics, thus plunging a once happy family into utter despair.

    Naturally, there''d be a lot of emotional scenes between Huang Zichao and Ning Ran as they would fight

    and cry throughout the show.

    Most actors wouldn''t have been able to take on such demanding roles, but Huang Zichao and Ning

    Ran were so talented that the writers decided to give them even more scenes together.

    s, that was all for naught now. With the plot once again rewritten to kill off the husband, wouldn''t

    Huang Zichao be made redundant?

    Ning Ran sighed. After seeing the script revision, she was even more sure that Nan Chen was the

    mastermind behind it.

    It was never a must for Ning Ran to act alongside Huang Zichao, but she felt that the film would benefit

    from having a male lead added to it.

    Ugh. Nan Chen just had to ruin everything because of his own bias. What''s happening with him? How

    can he hire one of the most famous actors just to let him y a small role? No, no, this won''t do. I have

    to persuade Nan Chen to change his mind.

    As luck would have it, Nan Chen returned home right at that moment.

    Ning Ran got up to take his coat before asking if he had eaten.

    To her surprise, Nan Chen said no.

    ¡°Didn''t you say you had an appointment and wouldn''t be home for dinner?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but we only had a few drinks.¡±

    ¡°Would you like to eat, then?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°When I told you I haven''t had dinner, shouldn''t that be enough for you to prepare some food for me?

    Why are you still asking questions?¡± Nan Chen snapped as he fixed a steely gaze on Ning Ran. ¡°Is this

    you showing me fake concern? Are you just being pretentious?¡±

    s, Ning Ran was too shocked to reply.

    ¡°All right, I''ll make you something to eat,¡± she finally said. ¡°There are still leftovers from our dinner.¡±

    ¡°I don''t eat leftovers.¡±''

 Chapter 539

    Chapter 539

    Ning Ran exined patiently, ¡°These aren''t leftovers that have been sitting in the fridge for a long time.

    It''s just that we didn''t manage to finish¡ª¡±

    ¡°I don''t eat leftovers,¡± Nan Chen repeated.

    It was clear to Ning Ran that his intention was to look for trouble.

    ¡°Then, shall I cook a fresh bowl of noodles for you?¡±

    ¡°I don''t eat noodles, either.¡±

    As expected, he''s purposely trying to find faults.

    ¡°In that case, what would you like to have? I can make anything.¡± Ning Ran suppressed her anger,

    trying her best not to offend the man.

    After all, what happened at the filming site earlier had caused Nan Chen to be extremely irritated and

    annoyed. Hence, he was looking for a way to release his anger.

    ¡°I don''t know.¡±

    A standardconic reply from him was enough to make Ning Ran upset.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    There''s cooked food on the table, but he''sining that they are leftovers. He is rejecting my offer

    to cook him some noodles, yet he doesn''t know what to eat. Is he ying a fool with me? What gives?

    ¡°I shall make a couple of your favorite dishes.¡± Ning Ran strode toward the kitchen with a stered

    smile on her face.

    Nan Chen was very surprised at her exceptional level of patience but said nothing about it. Why is she

    enduring all these? This isn''t her style.

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran was scratching her head in the kitchen, struggling to think of a menu.

    What does he usually like to eat? He doesn''t seem to have a favorite dish. He''s a small eater and

    rarely gobbles down his food. It''s so tough trying to guess what a person like him would like to eat.

    Moreover, he has never mentioned this before. I hate the quandary I''m in now. What if I make him

    something simple that he hasn''t tasted before? Oh well, I''ll just y by ear and let my cravings and

    tastebuds lead the way. After all, he didn''t order anything specific.

    Momentster, Ning Ran served him a te of egg-fried rice in his study room.

    Upon entering the room, she saw that Nan Chen was chatting happily with the two children. As soon as

    he saw her, his bright smile faded away.

    ¡°Wow! The egg-fried rice smells so good!¡± Erbao eximed.

    ¡°Don''t even think about it, you little foodie! You have already taken your meal. Go now and read a book

    outside,¡± Ning Ran said.

    Dabao shot Erbao a look, indicating that their parents needed their alone time. Then, the duo quietly

    left the room.

    A mouthwatering aroma saturated the air and invoked Nan Chen''s appetite. He subconsciously

    nced at the dish.

    While it was a typical staple food for others, it was a rare dish for a rich brat like Nan Chen.

    ¡°What''s this?¡± He frowned.

    ¡°It''s my yummy egg-fried rice. Quickly go wash your hands before digging in,¡± Ning Ran asserted

    proudly.

    ¡°No, I don''t want to eat that. Fried rice is very unhealthy,¡± Nan Chen grumbled.

    Ning Ran was taken aback by hisment. ¡°Why is fried rice unhealthy? It''s perfectly fine to eat it

    asionally. In fact, it''s nothing like fast food. So, don''t be so pampered.¡±

    ¡°No, I won''t eat it,¡± Nan Chen refused coldly.

    At this point, Ning Ran''s blood was already boiling in rage, for Nan Chen''s attitude made it hard for her

    to keep it in.

    Suit yourself! You can starve for all I care.

    However, she changed her mind within seconds. I can''t put up a fight with him yet. We haven''t

    discussed the important matter.

    ¡°Take a bite and try. If it''s not to your liking, you can leave it. I won''t make the same dish for you next

    time. Okay? I asked just now if you had something you wanted to eat, but you didn''t state anything

    specific.¡±

    She paused for a while and continued, ¡°You were born with a silver spoon and have tasted all the

    gourmet delicacies in the world. It''s not easy for me toe up with one dish that can satisfy your

    sophisticated ptes. Therefore, I thought about giving you something you''ve never experienced

    before. Considering my earnest effort to cook for you, would you be so kind as to at least give it a

    taste?¡±

    Her tone was utterly gentle and sincere, causing Nan Chen to reconsider his stance.

    He took a nce at the golden egg-fried rice.

    It actually smells amazing. Perhaps, I can give it a try.

    After going to the bathroom to wash his hands, he returned to the te of tempting fried rice and had

    his first try.

    Oh, it''s indeed delicious.

    ¡°How''s it?¡± Ning Ran anticipated a positive response from him.

    ¡°Not bad. Just that it''s bad to eat such high-calorie food at night,¡± he replied indifferently.

    Ning Ran heaved a sigh of relief, knowing that Nan Chen had approved of her dish because he seldom

    sang praises to others.

    ¡°No worries. You are lean and fit. I''m certain that you won''t put on weight so easily,¡± she coaxed him

    subtly.

    Hearing so, Nan Chen felt good and took another bite.

    The more he ate, the better it tasted. It had been a very long time since he had anything this vorful.

    I never knew she could whip up such an appetizing meal. Why didn''t she cook this earlier? Why only

    now? Whatever, I can''t make it any more obvious that the food is good. Otherwise, she''s going to be so

    full of herself. Moreover, one shouldn''t consume such calorie-rich food at night. I have to stop eating.

    ¡°Say it. What do you want from me?¡± Nan Chen put his spoon down.

    Ning Ran was astonished. How can he tell?

    ¡°Nothing. I''m doing great. What is there to ask? I don''t need anything in return for cooking you a te

    of fried rice. So, don''t overthink it.¡± Ning Ran''s grin was stiff.

    ¡°All right. Take this dish away. It''s awful.¡± He pointed at the te with only a little bit of rice left on it.

    Awful? Is that all he can say after eating almost two-thirds of it? That''s so fake. If it''s that bad, would he

    have eaten so much of it? What does he take me for?

    ¡°I''ll take my leave now. Have a good one.¡±

    Ning Ran had to put up with him because she had not achieved her objective.

    After a while, she came back to the room.

    ¡°I''m done with the dishes, so I was thinking of having a little chat with you,¡± she said, standing in front

    of his desk.

    Nan Chen answered with minimal effort, ¡°I thought you said there was nothing?¡±

    ¡°Well, it''s not anything important¡ª¡±

    Before she could finish her sentence, he interrupted, ¡°If it''s nothing urgent, drop it. I''m busy.¡±

    Ning Ran was struck speechless.

    The anger she was trying her utmost best to suppress threatened to get the better of her.

    No, I must be calm and take this easy. If an argument starts between us, all of my previous efforts will

    be for naught.

    ¡°It''s not a big deal, but I still want to talk to you about it.¡± She could not let it go.

    ¡°Are you going to say it or not? You''re so fickle-minded. On the one hand, you initiated a conversation;

    on the other hand, you hesitated. If it holds any importance, say it now. Otherwise, hold your peace.¡±

    Nan Chen was losing his patience.

    Ning Ran was absolutely furious that she wanted tond a few powerful kicks at him.

    How nasty and heartless can he be? To give me the cold shoulder after enjoying my food? I guess I

    can no longer be so gentle to him and make him think that I''m a pushover. He''d better watch out once I

    show him my temper. Otherwise, we can never bring this conversation further.

    ¡°The staff passed me the new script, and I heard that it''s your instruction,¡± Ning Ran cut to the chase.

    Nan Chen scoffed. I knew it! So, this is what she''s been wanting to discuss.

    ¡°Indeed,¡± he admitted openly as he had nothing to hide.

    ¡°I feel that we can discuss this further. You know, there have been a lot of changes made to the script.

    I''m afraid that the box office will be severely impacted should we shoot the movie based on the revised

    version.¡±

    ¡°You will surely be paid with the amount stated on your contract regardless of the box office. That has

    got nothing to do with you, the actress. So, don''t worry about it.¡±

    Nan Chen instantly killed the conversation, but Ning Ran was not ready to give up.

    ¡°I understand. However, I''m also one of the key members of the production team. Having said that,

    there''s an utter need for me to raise an opinion about it. Of course, I can only share my view. The

    decision is still the bosses to make.¡±

    Ning Ran took a deep breath and swallowed her anger.

 Chapter 540

    Chapter 540

    ¡°Go ahead and speak your mind,¡± Nan Chen said casually with his head still hanging low.

    ¡°Okay, I shall get to the point and tell you what I think. However, it''s solely up to you whether you want

    to listen.¡±

    ¡°You don''t have to state the obvious. Spill!¡±

    Ning Ran bit her lips and said, ¡°ording to thetest script, the conflict will subside. With that, Huang

    Zichao''s scenes will be significantly reduced to almost nothing left.¡±

    Bang!

    Enraged, Nan Chen mmed the table. ¡°So, you''re unhappy that his parts are cut?¡±

    ¡°It doesn''t affect me. Conversely, it will put you in an unfavorable position.¡±

    Ning Ran knew that her words would upset him, but she did not expect him to hit the ceiling right away.

    She had been putting up with him the entire time in order not to step on his toes. s, she still failed to

    avoid a terrible confrontation.

    ¡°Unfavorable to me? How so?¡±

    ¡°First, the storyline will be a bore, which in turn will cause the box office to plunge. Second, Huang

    Zichao is a renowned actor. This is his first movie made in his homnd after venturing into Hollywood.

    Tons and tons of people are looking forward to watching the show, and I''m sure this is why you guys

    have hired him in the first ce. If you cut his parts now, you will lose the target audience!¡±

    She continued, ¡°Additionally, his worldwide fans will surely boycott this movie, thinking that he has been

    unfairly treated. You know how it works in the show biz. The fans will persuade their families and

    friends to do the same. As a result, you will suffer great losses.¡±

    ¡°I already said that the box office is not your problem, so mind your own business,¡± Nan Chen refuted.

    Regardless, Ning Ran continued to push his buttons.

    ¡°Though you can''t be bothered if the investment had zero return, it''s still your project. You are the

    reason why so many investors dumped their money into this. They believe in you and your ability to

    generate lucrative profits for them. It''s such a golden opportunity. I am clueless as to why you want to

    ruin it like that. How will others see you? What''s the point of investing in this project when you''re

    adamant that you should revise the script and turn a worthy piece into worthless trash? Is it just for fun?

    Is this all a game to you?¡±

    Bang!

    Nan Chen was livid and mmed his fist on the table once more.

    His seething resentment had finally reached boiling point.

    Subsequently, he left his seat and walked toward Ning Ran, causing her to backpedal in fear.

    Oh no, I spoke too fast and said many things that I shouldn''t have. She regretted not being able to

    control her tongue.

    ¡°Are youshing out at me? Trying to tell me what to do?¡± came Nan Chen''s chilling voice.

    He grabbed her chin while starring daggers at her.

    Panicked, Ning Ran said, ¡°No, I wasn''t. Let go of me...¡±

    ¡°You lectured me because of another man? Whose side are you on? Why are you standing up for

    him?¡±

    ¡°Dabao! Erbao!¡± Ning Ran yelled.

    Seeing how Nan Chen was going to teach her a lesson, she figured she had better call upon her little

    saviors. I''m not so silly to stand here and let him torment me more.

    The two children heard her cry and hurried over.

    ¡°Daddy, you bullied Mommy again!¡± Erbao grumbled with displeasure.

    ¡°Daddy, didn''t you teach me that guys cannot be mean to girls?¡± Dabao questioned coldly.

    Nan Chen was embarrassed. He did not anticipate such a cunning move from Ning Ran.

    ¡°I didn''t do anything. I was just talking to Mommy,¡± he swiftly denied.

    ¡°How could you lie to us? Youid your fingers on her!¡± Erbao bellowed.

    ¡°I didn''t. Mommy said that her teeth were aching, so I checked it out for her.¡± Nan Chen was

    exasperated.

    He would do anything not to risk his perfect reputation as a father to bebeled otherwise.

    ¡°Is that so, Mommy?¡± Erbao wanted to triangte with Ning Ran.

    ¡°Haha, yeah, Daddy and I were only fooling around. Go on and y among yourselves.¡± Aforting

    smile settled upon her face.

    ¡°Really?¡± Dabao was dubious.

    ¡°Of course, we were only kidding. She wanted to set up a trial and see if you two woulde in and

    save her in the nick of time. This experiment goes to show that you guys always have her back.¡±

    Ning Ran could tell that the way he reacted was clearly a case of sour grapes.

    After that, Dabao and Erbao exchanged a silent nce, and they exited the study, leaving Nan Chen

    and Ning Ran behind.

    ¡°How could you call the kids in?¡± Nan Chen reprimanded her.

    ¡°Well, there are only four of us here. If I can''t fight you, I have to ask for help. I''m the one on the losing

    end who should defend myself at all costs,¡± Ning Ran snapped back at him.

    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°You shouldn''t have involved the children in adult matters.¡±

    ¡°What''s wrong? The kids are one of us. In fact, they are my guardian angels. We''ve been living by

    ourselves for so many years, and we share a strong bond. In this world, they are the only ones who

    truly care about me and support me all the way. Who else can I call if not them? Are you still thinking of

    doing something bad to me? If you dare, I''ll scream again! It''s such a disgrace for the heir of Nanshi

    Corporation to hit a woman. How shameful!¡±

    Ning Ran plucked up her courage and spoke assertively.

    ¡°I didn''t even hit you!¡± Nan Chen defended himself.

    ¡°Then, what were you doing just now? Stroking my face dotingly? That''s considered as taking

    advantage of me.¡±

    ¡°You...¡±

    ¡°Fine, let''s get back to our topic. Sit quietly and keep your hands to yourself. I only want to get it off my

    chest. You can decide if you want to heed my advice or not,¡± uttered Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen walked back to his desk and took his seat.

    Feeling a little exhausted, Ning Ran moved a chair and sat opposite him.

    As they faced each other, Ning Ran felt intimidated by Nan Chen''s towering figure.

    No, this doesn''t look good. I can''t let him be the only one looking imposing.

    At that thought, she stood up, leaving Nan Chenpletely puzzled.

    ¡°If you''re not nning to say anything, I shall leave now and continue my work.¡±

    ¡°No, I must continue this.¡±

    She regted her emotions and thought deeply for a while, picking out the right words to say. ¡°Where

    did we stop just now?¡±

    Nan Chen looked nk as he could not recall.

    ¡°Forget it if you don''t even know what you wanted to tell me.¡± He waved his hand.

    ¡°Oh, that''s right, it was about the adverse effects potentially brought upon by the revised storyline. A

    negative earning will lead to your personal reputation damage. Don''t you think so? Although it doesn''t

    matter to you whether the movie makes any money, I do care.¡±

    She continued after a slight pause, ¡°This is my first film. Thanks to you, I got a chance to work with

    such an A-list crew. I want us all to seed and not to be a loser, or else people willment that I''m

    a small fry who doesn''t deserve the big screen. I don''t want to jinx it. Needless to say, the audience will

    also criticize you for having such a lousy vision to invest in someone who eventually turns out to be a

    laughing stock. See, we all lose in this situation. Doesn''t this suck?¡±

    Right then, Nan Chen wanted to say something, but Ning Ran gestured that she was not done.

    ¡°In addition, theizens will analyze everything and make their own conclusions as to why the movie

    fails. Without a doubt, the story about you shutting Huang Zichao out will surely be brought up. They

    will say that Sir Chen is narrow-minded,cks confidence, and has no respect for the actor¡ª¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡±

    Nan Chen could not tolerate her anymore. She can needle me all she wants, but she can''t say that I

    have low self-esteem! That''s absurd. I''m most proud of how open-minded I am, and I have abundant

    self-confidence! If not, how could I have be the leader of Nanshi Corporation?

 Chapter 541

    Chapter 541

    Seeing that Nan Chen was going ballistic again, Ning Ran tried to appease the situation.

    ¡°I didn''t mean to say that you are narrow-minded. If that''s the case, you wouldn''t be where you are

    today. How could you reach the pinnacle of your career by being conventional, right? I was saying that

    those who don''t know you would misunderstand your actions and have the perception that you have a

    parochial attitude toward things and people.¡±

    Luckily, she justified herself in time and managed to calm Nan Chen down.

    ¡°I''m notpeting with Huang Zichao. How can I possibly do so when he''s not even worth it?¡± Nan

    Chen denied it resolutely.

    pping, Ning Ran assured him, ¡°That''s right! He''s only an actor, whereas you''re his boss. Both of you

    are clearly not from the same level. There''s no need for you topare yourself to him. If you do so,

    people will really think that you''re narrow-minded andck confidence.¡±

    ¡°Stop saying Ick confidence!¡± Nan Chen roared as he felt infuriated.

    ¡°You''re confident! Rx, I''m just stating an example.¡± Ning Ran smiled while he remained silent.

    Actually, he really took her words to heart, for she was very convincing.

    Although Nan Chen was a domineering person who set his sights on big goals, he knew very well that

    an exceptional leader had to exemplify humility and be willing to listen to advice. To him, that was basic

    mannerism.

    No one was perfect. No matter how brilliant a leader was, he might have moments where he failed to

    think things through or resolved a matter poorly.

    Hence, it was important for the leader to ept other suggestions and alternatives in order to break

    through his own limitations.

    Nan Chen knew that if he ignored the advice, he would bear negative consequences.

    All in all, he was not the type who was unreasonable and as stubborn as a mule.

    However, his high self-esteem did not allow him to change his mind immediately, even though he was

    already convinced.

    In the end, he chose to be silent, like how he always acted.

    Ning Ran knew him like the palm of her hand. She could sense that his stance had already been

    shaken.

    ¡°Please let the scriptwriter make amendments to it. You gave me this golden opportunity to star in a

    movie, so I really don''t want my first to be myst. How embarrassing can that be!¡± Ning Ran said with

    emotions.

    Saying nothing, Nan Chen waved his hands to get her to leave the room.

    Had it been someone else, they might continue to argue with him until he said yes.

    However, Ning Ran was smart enough to know when to push the button and when to stop. She knew

    that he would make his own decision soon.

    Whatever it is, I don''t want to keep bugging him and annoy him at my own expense. It''s best I just

    leave it like that.

    Nan Xing apanied Ouyang Qing to have fun at the Orchid Club without knowing that the club was

    the Ouyang family''s headquarters in Flower City.

    Thetter invited several of her friends from Flower City to the club in order to prove that the former

    was her boyfriend.

    Tang Jing was not invited because Ouyang Qing treated her as a follower, not even an acquaintance.

    All those who were present came from well-to-do families.

    Nan Xing did not mind a gathering like that since he liked to have a jolly good time anyway, regardless

    of the ce.

    While they were having fun, Ouyang Qing approached him unexpectedly and dropped him a

    bombshell. ¡°My dad wants to meet you.¡±

    Taken aback, he asked, ¡°You bring your dad along to parties? Are you looking for a mistress for him?¡±

    ¡°Shut up! Stop spewing nonsense. You are my boyfriend, so isn''t it natural for my dad to want to see

    you?¡± Ouyang Qing was mad.

    ¡°I''m not close to your dad. Also, he doesn''t seem to like me. I don''t think there''s a need for us to meet

    up, right?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    ¡°We''re going to be together for a long time, so meeting my family is part of the package. My dad came

    all the way to see you, and yet you''re unwilling to meet up with him?¡±

    Nan Xing was tremendously surprised. ¡°He''s already here?¡±

    ¡°Yes. In fact, he''s here at the club. There''s someone waiting for you outside. Once you head out, my

    dad''s subordinate will lead you to him.¡±

    After mulling over, Nan Xing stood up and replied casually, ¡°All right, please excuse me now, for I need

    to go meet Mr. Ouyang.¡±

    ¡°Wow, your father-inw is here? Is it time for marriage talks?¡± One of Ouyang Qing''s friends posted a

    question that made her blush instantly.

    ¡°It''s nothing serious and only a casual meet-up. It''s too early, anyway.¡±

    Nan Xing ignored Ouyang Qing''s coquettish reaction and stepped out of the room.

    Just as he was told, a man-in-ck was already waiting for him at the entrance. ¡°Mr. Xing, this way,

    please.¡±

    Upon going through theplicated passageway, they arrived at another door.

    Two young men wearing the staff uniform gestured for him to enter the room behind them.

    Nan Xing pushed the door open and stepped foot into a humongous lounge. Theyout and interior

    design were simply magnificent, giving the impression that he was in a pce.

    Nan Xing was no stranger to Orchid Club, the vintage club in Flower City. Though he had been there

    way too many times, he had never oncee across such a spacious and luxurious lounge.

    Ouyang Duo wore a white shirt and a ck waistcoat, looking dapper on the ck leather couch.

    ¡°Hi, Mr. Ouyang.¡± Nan Xing bowed and greeted his senior respectfully.

    ¡°Yes. Are you Nan Chen or Nan Xing?¡± Ouyang Duo queried.

    Duh! Isn''t that obvious? He''s the one who wants to see me. I''m sure he knows if I''m Nan Chen or Nan

    Xing.

    Nheless, he answered sinctly, ¡°Nan Xing.¡±

    ¡°I see. Please have a seat. What drink would you like?¡± Ouyang Duo asked.

    ¡°Red wine, please,¡± Nan Xing blurted.

    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Youngsters should drink hard liquor. The brandy is quite nice. Here, try some.¡±

    As he spoke, he poured a ss for Nan Xing.

    ording to social norms, Nan Xing should be the one serving his elder instead of the other way

    around. This made him feel uneasy.

    Is he nning on poisoning me because I caused his daughter to be sad?

    ¡°Actually, Mr. Ouyang, I already have a lot to drink just now. Moreover, I don''t drink white cognac,¡± Nan

    Xing declined politely.

    ¡°Are you rejecting the liquor I serve you?¡± Ouyang Duo questioned him.

    Must I drink what you prepare for me? What if you put poison in it? Must I bottoms up?

    ¡°That''s not what I meant. It''s just that I had downed a lot of sses, and I can''t have anymore. If I were

    to continue drinking, it''d be the end of me. I''d humiliate myself by puking in front of you.¡± Nan Xing

    chuckled.

    ¡°That''s fine. Just have a little bit as we chit-chat. Oh, you aren''t worried about being poisoned, are

    you?¡± Ouyang Duo arched his brow.

    ¡°Absolutely not! Why would such a silly thinge across my mind.¡± Nan Xing quickly waved his

    hands.

    ¡°Then, drink it.¡± Ouyang Duo pointed at the wine ss.

    ¡°I really can''t drink anymore. Plus, this is too much. Mr. Ouyang, could you help me with it?¡±

    He took an empty ss and distributed the drink evenly into two sses.

    If you dare to drink it, I promise to do the same. If you don''t, then why should I? Do you think that I was

    born yesterday?

    Suddenly, Ouyang Duo broke out intoughter, which confused Nan Xing.

    ¡°Rumor has it that Nan Chen is the only outstanding man in the Nan family. I bet you''re not too bad if

    compared to him. After going in circles, you still hold your suspicions strongly. That''s fantastic! It''s not a

    bad thing to be alert and keep your guards up. Leave it if you don''t feel like drinking.¡± Ouyang Duo

    smirked.

    ¡°I wasn''t wary of you. Honestly speaking, I''ve reached my drinking limits for the day. The next time we

    meet, I''ll definitely treat you to a drink, Mr. Ouyang.¡± Nan Xing tried his best to cover up his

    embarrassment.

    ¡°Sure! Let''s get into the topic. What''s your n for the future?¡±

 Chapter 542

    Chapter 542

    Nan Xing had never dropped his guard toward Ouyang Duo.

    While he was unaware of the Ouyang family''s designs on their family, he knew Ouyang Duo was hardly

    a gentleman.

    Ouyang Duo had forced the Nan family into a corner over the Vietnam project. If not for Nan Chen''s

    help, Nan Xing would have been in hot soup as the actual manager of that project.

    I''m not as shrewd as Chen when ites to business, but I''m hardly na?ve in the ways of the world.

    Nan Xing could sense that something was amiss from the minute he set foot in the room.

    Ouyang Duo had met Nan Xing several times as their families ran in the same circles. Nan Xing would

    bet money that his private meeting with Ouyang Duo today was far moreplicated than an interview

    for a future son-inw.

    Consequently, he politely refused the liquor that Ouyang Duo offered and cautioned himself to think

    carefully before answering any questions.

    Ouyang Duo took a puff of his cigar and frowned. He asked, ¡°Is my question so difficult to answer?¡±

    Nan Xing scrunched his nose at the offending smell of the cigar.

    Feigning ignorance, he countered, ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°I asked you about your ns. It''s a simple question,¡± Ouyang Duo repeated himself.

    Letting out a smile, Nan Xing replied, ¡°I don''t n that far ahead into the future. You know me; I''m just

    winging it one step at a time.¡±

    Ouyang Duo began to sound impatient as he questioned, ¡°You''re a member of the Nan family. Nan

    Chen can''t possibly take charge of your family''s entire business alone. Aren''t you helping him to

    shoulder the burden?¡±

    An ambitious man himself, Ouyang Duo held no little contempt for unambitious good-for-nothings like

    his son, Ouyang Qi.

    Hearing about Nan Xing''s ambiguous ns disappointed him immensely.

    From N?velDrama.Org.

    I guess the simrity between Nan Xing and Nan Chen ends in their looks.

    Nan Xing sensed Ouyang Duo''s disdain and was secretly pleased.

    Looking down upon me now, I see. Great! Ask your daughter to leave me alone from now on!

    He decided then and there that ying dumb was the best strategy in his arsenal.

    Nan Xing piped up, ¡°I don''t need to share any burdens. Chen can manage Nanshi Corporation on his

    own.¡±

    At his words, Ouyang Duo''s heart sank even further.

    Nan Xing may not have a n, but I have plenty in mind. All he needs to do is to sign up for the ride.

    Ouyang Duo tried to hide his contempt as he advised, ¡°You are a descendant of the Nan family. Surely,

    you must have the ambition to match your family''s great name.¡±

    Waving his hand dismissively, Nan Xing drawled, ¡°What ambition? I want to have fun all day instead of

    working. Our family is stinking rich. I can swim in money without working a day in my life, so what''s the

    point of having lofty ambitions?¡±

    Upon hearing that, Ouyang Duo was rendered speechless.

    They share the same face, for heaven''s sake! Why is Nan Chen soaring like an eagle while his brother

    is nothing but a useless sparrow?

    ¡°Is that what you truly think?¡± Ouyang Duo did not even bother to hide his disappointment.

    He had been hoping that it would be easier to convince Nan Xing to join forces, but he hardly wished to

    find azy bum who could ruin everything out of sheerziness.

    Nan Xing observed Ouyang Duo closely and witnessed the disappointment and scorn in his eyes.

    Internally, he was cackling in glee over the sess of his strategy.

    ¡°Of course!¡± Nan Xing tossed out. ¡°I''ve lived like this my whole life, and I don''t see anything wrong with

    it. Chen, bless his soul, has been encouraging me to join the family business, but it''s so boring. My

    eyes start drooping before I can even get through a line on those financial reports and business

    proposals.¡±

    He continuedmenting, ¡°Life is too short to stress myself out, you know? Why should I work myself to

    death when my family can give me all the money I''ll ever need? Even if I were hard-pressed to name

    an ambition, I guess I''d stick to booze and hotties¡ª I mean drowning myself in booze all day long!¡±

    The mention of ¡°hotties¡± was the final nail in the coffin.

    Ouyang Duo''s expression soured immediately.

    God, he''s even worse than I imagined. My daughter will be humiliated in the Nan family if she marries

    someone like this! She''s practically signing away her dignity.

    Exasperated, Ouyang Duo forgot to control his temper as he bellowed at Nan Xing, ¡°How can you

    behave like azy bum at your age? You should be stepping up to bear more responsibility and power!¡±

    Shocked at his outburst, Nan Xing muttered, ¡°Why are you so angry?¡±

    Ouyang Duo realized then that he had overstepped. After all, he was still talking to someone from the

    Nan family, even if Nan Xing was a good-for-nothing.

    Plus, he might be my son-inw in the future. I can''t scare him off before he''s even at the altar.

    ¡°Nothing, I was just worried for you. What if Nan Chen''s gone one day? How will you fill his shoes and

    lead thepany?¡± Ouyang Duo said catingly.

    His words unsettled Nan Xing. What do you mean when Chen''s gone? We''re the same age and

    perfectly healthy men. What is he implying?

    ¡°My brother is fine. I doubt he will be gone so soon, though I thank you for your kind concern,¡± came

    Nan Xing''s cold reply.

    Ouyang Duo realized with a start that he had unknowingly offended Nan Xing by losing his temper.

    He tried to appease Nan Xing by exining, ¡°All I meant to say was that Nan Chen could be exhausted

    from managing the business alone. He might wish for you to share his burden, and what will you do

    then if you don''t buck up and learn the ropes now?¡±

    ¡°My brother is the strongest person I know. He doesn''t need my help. Plus, I''m really not interested in

    the business. I just want to have fun and enjoy my life,¡± Nan Xing responded.

    Once again, Ouyang Duo found himself at a loss for words.

    He had nned to gauge Nan Xing''s ambitions before offering the Ouyang family''s resources to

    strengthen thetter''s position in the Nan family.

    It was a small price to pay to build Nan Xing''s power and set Ouyang Duo''s next n in motion.

    However, Nan Xing''sziness had derailed his ns.

    If it was merely a question of capability, Ouyang Duo had more than enough resources to fix the issue,

    but theck of ambition truly wrecked the older man''s ns.

    Suddenly exhausted, Ouyang Duo uttered, ¡°Let''s end our discussion here. I''m a bit tired.¡±

    Nan Xing felt as though a boulder had been lifted off his shoulders as he replied, ¡°All right. I hope you

    have a good rest. I shall take my leave now.¡±

    ¡°Goodbye.¡± Ouyang Duo waved at the young man, gazing at thetter''s departing figure in dejection.

    Nan Xing returned to Ouyang Qing''s group, only to realize that they were still heavily imbibing.

    They had moved on to drunken gossip.

    An heiress stated tipsily, ¡°Nan Chen fell for some C-list actress. We don''t even know when she gave

    him two kids, which allowed her to weasel her way into the family. Hmm, that''s not quite right. She got

    some nice benefits, I guess, but it''s not like she married into the Nan family. He''ll ditch her sooner or

    later.¡±

    She was obviouslyforting Ouyang Qing over her failure to capture Nan Chen''s affections.

    Ouyang Qing''s tone dripped with vile as she spat, ¡°I don''t want to talk about that woman. She''s as

    gross as a cockroach. I can stomp her out too easily; I just don''t want to soil my heels.¡±

    Hearing that, Nan Xing was disgusted by her scornful words. You''re the gross cockroach! You''re just

    ndering Ning Ran because you''re jealous of her!

    Putting on an innocent smile, he chimed in, ¡°Are you talking about my sister-inw? She and my

    brother love each other very much. Your concerns are appreciated but unnecessary.¡±

 Chapter 543

    Chapter 543

    Everyone there knew how much Ouyang Qing hated Ning Ran, so they verbally attacked Ning Ran

    together.

    It was nice to speak ill of someone behind their backs because there was amon hatred. However,

    Nan Xing''s involvement in the conversation turned the situation sour.

    Nan Xing was Nan Chen''s biological brother, so his stories, especially those involving the Nan family,

    carried a lot of credibilities.

    He had publicly regarded Ning Ran as his sister-inw, and that sent an implicit message of how he

    was on her side.

    That, in turn, meant that he was going against Ouyang Qing.

    The part where Ouyang Qing was most angry about, however, was how Nan Xing imed that Nan

    Chen and Ning Ran were on good terms.

    That was equivalent to calling Ouyang Qing a liar.

    ¡°Are they married?¡± challenged Ouyang Qing while ring at Nan Xing.

    ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°You shouldn''t call her your sister-inw if she hasn''t signed on the dotted lines. Don''t you know that''s

    not right? Would you regard a random girl on the street as your sister-inw? Do you see every woman

    who has any contact with Nan Chen as your sister-inw?¡± growled Ouyang Qing angrily.

    Nan Xing chuckled. ¡°Everyone knows my brother won''t hang out with just any woman. He''s an

    endangered species who has a very specific taste, so there is no need for you to worry about me

    making a mistake.¡±

    ¡°You...¡± Ouyang Qing was so angry that she pointed a finger at Nan Xing and demanded, ¡°You''re not

    weed here. F*ck off¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± replied Nan Xing happily.

    He never wanted to socialize with them anyway, so the insult came in a timely manner. They basically

    gave him an amazing excuse.

    He took a few steps forward before he turned around and warned, ¡°By the way, don''t tell me to f*ck off

    the next time you want me to leave. If I hear those words again, I will kick you out.¡±

    After saying all that, he left.

    Ouyang Qing was utterly embarrassed because Nan Xing had dissed her in front of her friends.

    She wanted to chase after him and further insult him, but she was worried about Nan Xing actually

    kicking her out of the ce.

    At the time, her only shot at aplishing her goals was Nan Xing, so she could not go overboard.

    That was why she chose to hold her anger in.

    Half an hourter, Ouyang Qing''s friends left. She went to another private room in Orchid Club and met

    up with her father, Ouyang Duo, there.

    The first thing the man did was scold Ouyang Qing. ¡°Nan Xing is nothing but a useless piece of trash,

    so why did you choose him?¡±

    Ouyang Qing had gotten into a fight with Nan Xing earlier, so she was irritable as well.

    Hence, she bellowed, ¡°Dad, you have long known that Nan Xing is nothingpared to Nan Chen, so

    why are you putting the me on me now? It''s not like I have another choice.¡±

    ¡°I know he''s the lesser brother, but I didn''t expect him to be that terrible! He''s like toxic waste from a

    factory and is utterly useless,¡±ined Ouyang Duo.

    ¡°What did the two of you talk about? Why did you meet up with him?¡±

    ¡°Why do you think? I asked him over to tell him I''d support him if he wants to build a career orpete

    against his brother. Who would''ve thought that he''d say that he dislikes power and simply wants to

    enjoy life? Seriously, how useless does a man have to be to say something like that?¡±

    Ouyang Qing did not know how to respond to that. She was truly disappointed in Nan Xing, but there

    was nothing she could do. Her disappointment did not change the fact that she could not find anyone

    better.

    ¡°No, this won''t do. We have to turn things around,¡± said Ouyang Duo as he picked up the winess on

    the table and downed his drink.

    ¡°How do we do that?¡± asked Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°We''ll ignite his passion and his desire for power by making him feel threatened.¡±

    ¡°That might prove to be difficult. Some people are simply born without ambition.¡±

    Nan Xing was born with a silver spoon and had always had a luxurious life. Men like him did not need

    to worry about anything.

    There''s one just like him in our own family, too.

    Naturally, the person Ouyang Qing was thinking about was Ouyang Qi.

    ¡°Nan Xing''s life has been too easy, and that is why he thinks he doesn''t need to grow. We must destroy

    that belief of his. Nan Chen always has Nan Xing''s back and will clean up whatever mess thetter

    makes. That is why Nan Xing has always seen Nan Chen as a dependable brother and thinks the world

    of the guy. However, if Nan Chen proves to be unreliable, Nan Xing will probably start thinking about

    his own future and whether he wants to keep depending on Nan Chen.¡±

    Ouyang Qing felt as though her father was deliberately being confusing. Why would Nan Chen be

    unreliable? The guy is extremely powerful. Moreover, he''s young and healthy, so he wouldn''t have any

    health-rted issues for the time being. It''d be extremely difficult to make him seem unreliable.

    ¡°I don''t care what you have to do. Just drive a wedge between him and Nan Chen,¡± added Ouyang Duo

    to rify what he meant.

    Ouyang Qing understood her father''s n right away. Truth was, she had considered doing something

    simr in the past.

    She hated Nan Chen now, and she knew the entire family would suffer if Nan Chen and Nan Xing got

    into a fight.

    Their suffering was something Ouyang Qing craved, so she would be happy, even if Nan Xing would

    fail to beat Nan Chen.

    Unfortunately, that mission was virtually impossible to aplish.

    ¡°Nan Chen and Nan Xing are twins, and they have always been close. It''s way too difficult to get them

    to turn on each other,¡± replied Ouyang Qing, sharing her concern with her father.

    ¡°It doesn''t matter how difficult the task is. We have to do it, regardless. Nan Xing won''t feel threatened

    and grow unless there was a conflict between him and Nan Chen. Naturally, it''d be best if their fight

    gives us an opening to involve ourselves in the matter. Think about it. Why are Bai Hua and Nan

    Zhiyuan so polite to you? It''s because they both need you! If Nan Xing feels threatened, he''ll turn to

    you for moral support,¡± uttered Ouyang Duo.

    Then, he continued, ¡°Sooner orter, he will get closer to you and trust you. He might even lean on

    you. Yes, that is the best option for us! Turning the brothers against each other will be the outline of our

    n for now. We''ll spend more time figuring out the details in the future. Trust me. Everything is

    possible as long as we put our mind to it.¡±

    ¡°Okay, I''ll try.¡±

    The next morning, Ning Ran woke up early to prepare breakfast.

    She had to continue shooting the movie today, and her schedule was pretty packed at the time, so she

    did not have much free time to hang out with her kids. That was why she had to prepare the kids''

    breakfasts quickly before rushing to the filming site.

    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Nan Chen woke up even earlier and was already done with his morning exercise routine.

    The kids did not need to go to school, so they had been sleeping intely. However, they heard a

    commotion outside, so they woke up anyway.

    The maids showed up just in time. Since there were two kids, there was no way one nanny could

    handle taking care of both. Hence, the Nan family sent five maids over. Each kid would have two maids

    taking care of them, and the remaining maid would be responsible for cleaning and cooking.

    The truth, however, was that the kids did not need that many nannies. Erbao would only be

    mischievous asionally, and Dabao was downright perfect. He would either read a book or y on

    hisputer, so there was no need for anyone to babysit him at all.

    Even though Ning Ran did not prepare that many breakfast, she invited the maids to join them, anyway.

    The maids turned her down, though. They let her eat up and rush to work before preparing their own

    breakfasts. They were not in a hurry anyway, so that was the right thing to do.

    ¡°Mommy, how long before we go to school again?¡± asked Erbao suddenly during breakfast.

    ¡°Your holiday just started. Are you missing school already?¡± questioned Ning Ran curiously.

    ¡°It''s so boring here because I''m not allowed to watch cartoons continuously, and Dabao is too busy with

    his projects to y with me. The nannies don''t know how to y either, so it''s impossible for me,¡±

    comined Erbao.

    Ah, so she''s bored at home.

    ¡°What do you want to do, then? Hmm... how about I drop you off at your great-grandma''s ce?¡±

    asked Ning Ran.

    Erbao''s tiny head shook like a rattle-drum. ¡°No, no, no. It''s even more boring over there.¡±

    ¡°But the holiday is not over yet. You may be bored at home, but we can''t ask the school to reopen

    sooner. How about I take you to a daycare center? There are many kids there, and you can y with

    them.¡±

    ¡°Nope,¡± banned Nan Chen before Erbao could say anything.

 Chapter 544

    Chapter 544

    ¡°She is not a regr kid, so we can''t drop her off at any random daycare centers. It''s not safe,¡± added

    Nan Chen.

    ¡°Yeah, I agree. Many daycare centers nowadays are questionable, and I heard rumors about how

    some carers abuse the children,¡± replied Ning Ran.

    ¡°How about we sign her up for some lessons?¡± suggested Nan Chen.

    ¡°You mean like an extra-curricr activity?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. At first, I was against it because I thought she''s too young, and I didn''t want to burden her with

    too many activities. I simply want her to be happy, but if she''s bored, we can hire someone to teach her

    a new skill. That might help kill the boredom and fill up her time,¡± replied Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran thought that idea was great.

    ¡°Well, Darling? What would you like to learn?¡± asked Ning Ran as she turned to Erbao.

    ¡°Acting,¡± replied Erbao. Her response surprised both Ning Ran and Nan Chen.

    ¡°Acting?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I want to be an actress like you, Mommy, and I want to shoot a movie with you,¡± answered

    Erbao.

    It turned out the kid simply wanted to tag along with Ning Ran and go y at the filming site.

    ¡°No, that won''t do. You can''t be an actress because you have an important destiny to fulfill in the

    future,¡± said Nan Chen, trying to nip his daughter''s idea in the bud.

    ¡°But why? I want to be a movie star and look pretty on TV,¡± insisted Erbao.

    Truth was that her understanding of being an actress was limited and vague. To her, being an actress

    meant being featured on the screen and having people around her all the time.

    Erbao had always been an extrovert who enjoyed a crowd, so she thought that being an actress would

    be perfect for her.

    At that moment, however, she only asked to go to acting lessons because she wanted to follow Ning

    Ran to the filming site and y there.

    ¡°You''re still too young to know what you want to be,¡± stated Nan Chen patiently.

    ¡°I may be young, but I''m sensible. I want to be an actress.¡±

    ¡°There aren''t any acting sses for kids around here,¡± replied Nan Chen.

    ¡°I don''t need to be in a ss to learn anything. I can learn from Mommy because she is a great

    actress.¡±

    ¡°And how will you do that?¡±

    ¡°Mommy can take me to the filming site, and I''ll watch her. That way, I''ll learn how to do it,¡± answered

    Erbao, who finally revealed what she had in mind all along.

    Nan Chen and Ning Ran turned to one another. They were both signaling the other to turn Erbao down.

    The man was firmer, though. Both kids obviously favored Ning Ran, and he was a little envious, so he

    refused to be the ¡°viin¡± at that time.

    Ning Ran hinted again to ask him to turn the kid down.

    Still, he refused to voice up.

    Seeing how her parents were signaling to each other, Erbao thought they were both on her side, so she

    was instantly delighted.

    ¡°Yay, then let''s hurry up and eat. We can go there in Daddy''s carter.¡±

    ¡°No, that''s not possible,¡± replied Ning Ran. She had no choice but to turn her daughter down herself.

    ¡°But why?¡± asked Erbao. Her big, round eyes were watery as she stared at her mother.

    ¡°The filming site is a mess, and everyone will be too busy to babysit you, so it''d be dangerous. I will

    also be distracted if you''re there, and I won''t be able to focus on my job. On the other hand, I will feel

    much better if you''re home. That will help me work faster, and I can be home sooner to y with you,¡±

    remarked Ning Ran patiently.

    Erbao was disappointed to see her scheme failing. She had no excuse, but she still wanted to fight for

    it, so she promised, ¡°I''ll behave. I promise I''ll just sit there and watch from the side.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± replied Nan Chen, who decided to speak up as well. ¡°It''s dangerous to stay in a crowded ce,

    so you''re not allowed to go. I will get you a dance teacher instead, and you can learn some basic

    dance moves. You can also ask to learn some other skills, but you can''t go to your mommy''s

    workce, and that''s that. If you''re not happy with that or find sses to be boring, I will send you to

    your great-grandma''s ce.¡±

    ¡°No, I won''t go,¡±ined Erbao.

    Putting her cutlery down, she pouted. She also turned her head to the side to fume silently.

    Nan Chen and Ning Ran turned to one another again. It did not take long before they simultaneously

    turned to Dabao.

    Really? You''re going to toss that problem to me? Geez, adults nowadays are so unreliable. I''m the

    older brother, though, so I do have the obligation to coo my pouting baby sister.

    ¡°I''ll teach you how to y someputer games, but we need to set a time limit,¡± offered Dabao. ¡°We

    can''t y for too long because that''s bad for our eyes.¡±

    ¡°I don''t want to y games. I want to be a hacker like you,¡± replied the intrigued Erbao.

    ¡°It''s not easy to be a hacker. There are many techniques and skills to master. You''re already getting a

    pretty sweet deal, so you can either take it or leave it.¡±

    ¡°I''ll take it.¡±

    From N?velDrama.Org.

    Erbao knew she could not go to the timing site, so she had to opt for the second best.

    ¡°You''re not allowed to y all day, okay? It''s easy to get addicted, and kids like Erbao are especially

    prone to addiction because she has less discipline,¡± reminded Ning Ran in a worried tone.

    ¡°Don''t worry, Mommy. I will time everything,¡± replied Dabao sweetly.

    After having breakfast, Ning Ran entered Nan Chen''s car. He would drop her off at work before

    heading to hispany himself.

    Ning Ran did not actually want Nan Chen to drive her over because his car drew too much attention.

    She had already gotten used to others gossiping about her rtionship with Nan Chen behind her

    back, but she did not want to lose herself in the dream of having a luxurious car dropping her off

    everywhere. Life was getting too great, and she did not have the guts to fantasize about having it

    forever. She worried everything would turn out to be a dream, and she was terrified of the immense

    disappointment she would have to face when she was back to having nothing.

    Nan Chen was a great man. He was handsome and rich, so he was one of the most desirable

    bachelors.

    Unfortunately, the more perfect he was, the more difficult it was to keep him.

    Ning Ran had gone through too much in life, and she knew how cruel things were sometimes.

    Every day, she would mentally ready herself to be abandoned. She was convinced that was the only

    way to prevent herself from feeling too much pain and hopelessness when others left her.

    Putting all her hope in someone else, be it a man or a woman, was a risky move because no one could

    dictate another person''s fate. Hence, there was no guarantee that the person she held dear would stay.

    That was why she believed it was best to only believe in herself. The only being that had to stay with

    her forever was her lonely soul.

    That belief drove her to always remain calm and be ready to leave at any given moment.

    Obviously, Nan Chen did not have the mindset. He saw Ning Ran as a talented employee who had

    given him two kids. Hence, he wanted to give her the very best.

    In fact, the incredible movie she was in only existed for her sake. He knew she enjoyed acting and was

    good at it, so he set everything up for her to spread her wings.

    Looking out the window, Ning Ran was lost in her mind.

    Nan Chen, on the other hand, was checking his e-mails using his tablet. He was always in a hurry and

    had to find tiny pockets of time just to work more.

    No one spoke, so it was quiet in there.

    Nan Chen turned to Ning Ran only when they were almost at the filming site.

    ¡°We need a child actor for the movie, and the sponsors asked if they could get one of our kids to y

    the role. What do you think?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°No, that won''t do,¡± replied Ning Ran without missing a beat.

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°The kids shot amercial some time ago, and theizen called me a bad mother who abuses her

    children. That is why I will not let my kids act again, regardless of how strenuous life is. I want them to

    grow up happy, and I want them shielded from the harshments on the inte,¡± said the woman.

    Nan Chen was secretly delighted because he wanted to turn down the production team''s request as

    well.

    ¡°The sponsors actually mentioned something else. They said that the kid won''t have any lines and can

    be his or her youthful self. Those sponsors also offered to pay the sry of a child celebrity. The

    money will go straight to you,¡± added Nan Chen to further test the waters.

    However, Ning Ran was no fool; she knew Nan Chen was just testing her.

 Chapter 545

    Chapter 545

    ¡°Stop testing me. I wasn''t lying when I turned down that offer and said I want the kids protected. I don''t

    want my kids to be targets, and I don''t care how much money they offer. My children will not be a pawn

    in anything.¡±

    ¡°It''s just... Erbao said she wants to be an actress, and I''m swaying a little. Maybe we should let her try.

    Obviously, we won''t need the kids to earn the money, but it''d be rather interesting to let her try. When

    she grows up, she''ll be able to see herself in the movie. Won''t that be cute?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran was a little surprised, as she did not expect Nan Chen to consider letting Erbao y a role in

    the movie.

    His words make sense, though. It''s rather amazing to let her y the role, and it''ll definitely help her

    grow. The only thing is that I have to be absolutely certain that she''ll be safe. Except... There are no

    such absolutes in the world. It would be a lie if anyone said otherwise.

    ¡°It''s fine if you don''t want it,¡± chimed Nan Chen.

    ¡°Let me think about it. Shooting a movie is a tiring task, and Erbao just wants to y. She definitely

    won''t be able to handle the stress of actually being an actress,¡± replied Ning Ran, who was in a

    dilemma.

    ¡°You don''t need to worry about that. The movie mainly features adults, and kids have very few lines. It

    won''t wear Erbao out, and I certainly won''t let her work endlessly for the production team.¡±

    Nan Chen''s words made him sound as though he truly wanted Erbao to be a part of the movie.

    If we take money out of consideration, letting the kids participate in the production of a movie would be

    a rather interesting and meaningful experience.

    Ning Ran was swaying as well.

    ¡°Let me think a little more about it, then.¡±

    Their conversation was rtively peaceful at that time, and they reached the filming site soon after.

    Getting out of the car, Ning Ran entered the site.

    Even though no one dared to passive-aggressively diss her anymore, they were still staring at her

    enviously.

    The director showed up to wee her right away. ¡°Ms. Ding, pleasee over. I have something to

    discuss with you.¡±

    Ning Ran went to the office that was temporarily set up, and the screenwriter was already there.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, we''d like to know what you''d like to change in the script,¡± said the screenwriter.

    Hearing that, Ning Ran was taken aback. Nan Chen had requested for the script to be changed, and

    almost all of Huang Zichao''s scenes were removed. Why are they changing the script again?

    ¡°It''s probably inappropriate for me to say anything about the script. I have no authority over it, anyway,¡±

    replied Ning Ran sincerely.

    ¡°Sir Chen told us to ask for your opinion,¡± responded the screenwriter sternly.

    Ning Ran was stunned once more. ¡°He did?¡±

    ¡°Yes,st night Sir Chen asked his men to tell us to change the script. We don''t know how he''d like the

    script to be, so he told us to ask you.¡±

    Ning Ran was delighted. It turned out she had actually convinced Nan Chen to listen, and the only

    reason he did not say anything at the time was that he was too proud to do so.

    Unfortunately, she was also troubled when asked toment on the script.

    Editing it would affect how the story went, and it definitely would determine how many scenes Huang

    Zichao would be in.

    If there were too many love scenes in there, Nan Chen would definitely misread the situation and

    thought that she was in love with Huang Zichao.

    However, it would not do if Huang Zichao had too little screen time either.

    Even so, not having too many steamy scenes was the most important bit.

    Anything even slightly passionate was out of the question because Nan Chen definitely would not

    approve of it.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, what changes would you like to make?¡± queried the screenwriter once more.

    ¡°Err... Let me think about it for a while. I may not be able to provide any constructive feedback, though.

    The best I can do is try my best.¡±

    ¡°Okay, then please let us know after you''ve thought about it,¡± replied the screenwriter.

    ¡°Yeah, we''ll shoot the scenes that wouldn''t be affected for now. Let''s get the supporting actors in

    ce,¡± chimed the director, who agreed to do the same.

    With everything settled, everyone went to work on their own tasks.

    During lunch break, Wang Xiaoou dropped by.

    She had been busy working as Ning Ran''s manager, so she had not shown up in a while.

    ¡°Looks like you''ll have to treat me to a meal today.¡±

    The first thing the woman did was ask Ning Ran to do something that required money.

    Ning Ran had always been careful with her budget, so naturally, she asked for more information.

    ¡°I''ll tell you if you treat me to a meal,¡± insisted Wang Xiaoou. It seemed as though she was determined

    to get a meal out of it.

    ¡°In that case, I''d rather not know,¡± replied Ning Ran with a smile.

    ¡°Seriously, woman, do you really have to be that stingy?¡± asked Wang Xiaoou in exasperation.

    She had worked for many celebrities in the past, and that was the first time she met someone as stingy

    as Ning Ran.

    ¡°All right, I''ll buy you lunch,¡± uttered Ning Ran with a grin. ¡°Now, can you tell me why I''m doing that?¡±

    ¡°You''re doing that because I asked. Isn''t that a good enough reason?¡± Wang Xiaoou smiled.

    Ning Ran giggled at that. ¡°Yeah, yeah. It is. It''s the perfect reason, actually. I never enjoyed eating on

    my own, anyway.¡±

    ¡°I was only kidding. You''re nominated as one of the best new actresses and are up for a Golden Flower

    Award,¡± informed Wang Xiaoou.

    ¡°Wait, what did you say?¡± Ning Ran asked, thinking she had misheard the other woman''s words.

    It''s unbelievable, huh? I have a hard time believing it too, but there''s no mistaking it. I have received

    the letter inviting you to join Golden Flower Awards this year. You are nominated.¡±

    Wang Xiaoou was delighted as well, and her eyes shone with glee.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Golden Flower Awards was one of the most prestigious awards in the industry. The key to its sess

    was the fact that every nominee was chosen by the viewers.

    Professional judges only had thirty percent say in who would win thepetition. The other seventy

    percent of that privilege was with the viewers.

    That made Golden Flower Awards much more unbiased than the other awards, which depended only

    on the experts. It also prevented bribes from happening.

    All that made Golden Flower Awards one of the more coveted awards. It was also why everyone would

    watch the ceremony live.

    To up-anding artists, a Golden Flower Award was an important validation. Even being nominated

    was a huge honor.

    For an actress like Ning Ran, who was not that famous, being nominated was amazing news.

    ¡°Are you sure, Ou? Am I really nominated?¡± asked Ning Ran as she hugged Wang Xiaoou.

    ¡°Of course I''m sure. I''ve received the official letter. The ceremony will be live, and the entire world will

    be watching, so you have got to be ready. You have to get everyone blown away.¡±

    ¡°But... I''ve never walked on the red carpet before, and I''m scared,¡± voiced Ning Ran.

    ¡°Oh, you don''t need to worry about anything because you''ll have a famous celebrity as your date. He

    will walk down the red carpet with you. Oh, this is so exciting. You''ll never guess who that person is.¡±

    ¡°Who?¡±

    ¡°The renowned Huang Zichao, of course. His team contacted me. They said that since you two are

    shooting a movie together, it''d be best for the both of you to walk on the red carpet side by side. He''s

    an international superstar who had walked down countless red carpets before, so he''s experienced in

    the matter. With him leading a newbie like you, the rest of us will be at ease. Simrly, you won''t need

    to be nervous either, because he will be there for you.¡±

    Ning Ran was stunned speechless when she heard that.

    Naturally, she was okay with it, but a certain someone definitely would have problems with it.

    ¡°What''s wrong? Are you not happy with that arrangement?¡± asked Wang Xiaoou in a surprised tone.

    ¡°It''s not that. It''s just... Is absolutely everybody okay with that?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    Wang Xiaoou did not understand what Ning Ran meant by ¡°everybody,¡± so she pointed out, ¡°The

    agency representing him and the agency representing you are okay with it, so it''s pretty much settled.

    Do we need anybody else''s permission?¡±

 Chapter 546

    Chapter 546

    Ning Ran couldn''t speak frankly, as she was worried that Nan Chen would object.

    She felt as if her concerns might make here off as being narcissistic.

    After all, Nan Chen might not even be bothered by them strutting down the red carpet together.

    Nevertheless, given how experienced Wang Xiaoou was, she quickly saw through Ning Ran''s

    hesitation.

    ¡°Even though we have yet to report this matter to Mr. Chen, I don''t see him objecting to this. Huang

    Zichao is an international megastar. Considering our current reputation, you would gain a lot by being

    hispanion on the red carpet.¡±

    Pausing for a moment, she then continued, ¡°By doing so, all the fashion magazines and online media

    will publish photos of both of you together. After all, it''s not like they can edit you away just to have

    Huang Zichao in the photograph alone. Therefore, I''m sure Mr. Chen won''t reject such a wonderful

    n.¡±

    Having heard Wang Xiaoou''s words, Ning Ran felt embarrassed.

    ¡°It''s just my personal opinion. Perhaps, he doesn''t even care about something this trivial,¡± Ning Ran

    replied awkwardly.

    ¡°No, you do have a point there. We should report this to Mr. Chen first and only respond to Huang

    Zichao''s agent once we have his agreement.¡±

    Without hesitation, she said, ¡°In that case, I''ll have to take a rain check on this meal. We''ll celebrate

    again after you walk the red carpet. For now, I need to go back to the office for a meeting to discuss the

    details of the awards ceremony.¡±

    ¡°Ou, sorry for the trouble.¡±

    ¡°Don''t mention it. I''m just doing my job. Once you be a megastar, all my effort would have been

    worth it,¡± Wang Xiaoou replied with a smile.

    ¡°What if I fail to be famous?¡± Ning Ran joked.

    ¡°That''s impossible,¡± Wang Xiaoou dered confidently.

    ¡°What makes you think that I''ll definitely make it big?¡±

    ¡°Do you know what conditions a celebrity must have to be famous?¡± Wang Xiaoou asked.

    ¡°Acting skills? Talent?¡± Ning Ran answered.

    Wang Xiaoou shook her head. ¡°Those are secondary.¡±

    ¡°So, what conditions does one need?¡±

    ¡°Resources. That''s the most important factor. The artiste per se is secondary. With massive resources,

    even a pig can be famous. As for the extent and duration of one''s fame, that will depend on the

    artist''s true strength.¡±

    Ning Ran''s expression turned grim. ¡°Ou, why do you have to make it sound so insulting? If even a pig

    can be famous, wouldn''t I, an actress, be of the same level as an animal?¡±

    Wang Xiaoou burst intoughter. ¡°I''m just quoting you an example. Since you asked me why I''m so

    certain about you bing famous, I''m just telling you that it''s the unlimited resources that Mr. Chen

    provides. Combined with your acting skills, it would be impossible for you not to. Therefore, I''m not

    saying that you''re a pig. After all, even a top-tier agent like me can''t turn a pig into a megastar.¡±

    ¡°Fine. Even then, I still feel that I''m no different from a pig after what you said.¡± Ning Ran smiled wryly.

    ¡°If there''s nothing else, I''ll be going off now. I''ll get in touch if I hear anything,¡± Wang Xiaoou replied with

    a grin.

    That day, Ning Ran managed to finish work early and got home by six.

    Just when she was about to cook, the maid told her not to, as Nan Chen had arranged for dinner to be

    delivered.

    After all, he was cognizant that Ning Ran would be tired after a long day and needed the rest.

    Ning Ran was indeed exhausted. After getting a shower, shey on the sofa, watching TV.

    Subsequently, she began to think about the script.

    At the same time, Erbao and Dabao stayed closely by her side.

    Having stayed at home the entire day, both of them were bored to death.

    Therefore, when Ning Ran finally returned home, they wanted her to y with them.

    ¡°Mommy, this actress isn''t as good as you. Not only are her expressions too dramatic, but she also isn''t

    as pretty as you.¡±

    Pointing at the TV, Erbao tried to make a conversation.

    Not in the mood to watch trashy soap operas, Ning Ran grunted in acknowledgment as her mind was

    still on the script.

    ¡°Mommy, when will Daddy be home?¡± Erbao continued the conversation.

    ¡°I don''t know. Why don''t you give him a call?¡±

    ¡°Mommy, it''s been a long time since we saw Blondie. What is he doing? Why doesn''t he visit us?¡±

    Erbao asked.

    Having been reminded of Zheng Lunlun, Ning Ran realized that it had been a while since theyst saw

    him. Hence, she wondered if he was filming a new show.

    ¡°I''ll ask himter.¡±

    ¡°Mommy...¡±

    Unable to stay quiet, Erbao kept peppering Ning Ran with mundane questions.

    Naturally, Ning Ran empathized with her. After all, she was a chatty person and had no one to talk to at

    home.

    Therefore, Ning Ran didn''t me the child and tried her best to humor Erbao instead.

    However, Dabao couldn''t tolerate it any further. ¡°Mommy''s tired, so stop bothering her and let her rest.¡±

    Puffing her cheeks, Erbao retorted, ¡°I''m only chatting with Mommy. It''s not going to tire her out.¡±

    ¡°It''s all right. Go on. I''ll chat with you. I know how much you love to talk.¡±

    ¡°Mommy, can you take me to the film site tomorrow?¡± Erbao broached the topic again.

    ¡°Why do you insist on going there? What''s the real reason for doing so?¡± Ning Ran was curious.

    ¡°I''m envious of the kids who act in the movie. It''s amazing how they get to appear in the movie even

    though they''re not much older than I am,¡± Erbao exined.

    Ning Ran pulled Erbao into her arms. ¡°Filming is tiring work. What''s there to be envious about? Is it

    because you just want to be on TV?¡±

    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Not exactly. I just like being there,¡± Erbao answered.

    If Erbao really enjoys it, I can let her act as one of the children in the show. Having both mother and

    daughter acting in the show would be a meaningful activity. But I''m just not sure if Old Master Nan will

    approve of it.

    Until she got it sorted, Ning Ran didn''t dare tell Erbao about her n, for she was worried that Erbao

    would be disappointed if it didn''te to fruition.

    More importantly, Erbao wasn''t just any ordinary kid. She was a member of the Nan family. Therefore,

    any decision had to be taken with caution.

    ¡°Mommy, do you look down upon movie actors too? Grandma looks down on you because you''re an

    actress. Therefore, do you think acting in movies is bad?¡± Erbao remarked as she looked at Ning Ran.

    Even though it was just innocent child speak, Erbao''s words struck a chord with Ning Ran.

    Erbao is right. It''s one thing for others to look down upon actors, but how can I share their sentiments

    as an actress myself? If I''m truly not biased against my work, why am I stopping Erbao from acting

    since that''s what she likes?

    ¡°I enjoy and respect my career. In fact, I''m proud to be an actress,¡± Ning Ran replied candidly.

    ¡°In that case, can I be an actress just like you in the future?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°We''ll talk about that when the timees. If you''re still interested by then, I''ll definitely support you.

    However, you have to know that underneath all that mor is a lot of hard work. Moreover, there will be

    people like Grandma who look down upon actors. They will also contribute to the stress,¡± Ning Ran

    exined patiently.

    ¡°I understand that. Even on the inte, there are plenty of people who ridicule you. Therefore, you

    should ignore baddies like them,¡± Erbao fumed.

    ¡°Ignore who?¡±

    As the door opened, Nan Chen walked in.

 Chapter 547

    Chapter 547

    ¡°Daddy!¡± Erbao eximed as she dashed up to him.

    ¡°Who do you want to ignore? Who got on your nerves again?¡± Nan Chen asked with a smile.

    ¡°Ignore the baddies who ridicule Mommy on the inte,¡± Erbao repeated angrily.

    ¡°What did they say this time?¡±

    ¡°It''s from the past. They rarely do so recently,¡± Erbao borated.

    At that moment, Ning Ran picked up on Erbao''s strange expression. What does she mean by that?

    ¡°Since Mommy is a public figure, she would always be attracting attention. Some will like her, but there

    will also be others that don''t. This is entirely normal. Also, as a child, you''re not supposed to read such

    news, as you may end up being exposed to something inappropriate,¡± Nan Chen reassured her.

    However, Erbao didn''t respond because she disagreed with Nan Chen.

    To her, surfing news about Ning Ran online was an important task. Hence, she didn''t see why she

    wasn''t allowed to do it.

    Obviously, Erbao didn''t read most of the news herself. Instead, Dabao was the one who told her about

    it after reading them.

    A short while after Nan Chen came back, their dinner arrived.

    It was prepared by the Nan family''s chef and was still piping hot.

    The moment Erbao saw the delicious food, her mood improved.

    ¡°Next time, can you get them to stop sending food over?¡± Ning Ran suggested.

    ¡°What''s wrong? Do you think the food isn''t worthy of you?¡±

    ¡°That''s not what I meant. It just makes me feel bad.¡±

    ¡°There''s nothing to feel bad about. All that matters is that you enjoy the food.¡±

    Once dinner was finished, Nan Chen went to his study.

    Ning Ran made a cup of coffee and brought it to him.

    After taking a sip, he furrowed his brows andined that it wasn''t good enough.

    How dare you nitpick? You should be d that I bothered to make it for you.

    Despite hisint, Nan Chen finished the coffee and asked for another cup.

    As a result, Ning Ran has no choice but to make one more for him.

    Usually, it was a bad idea to drink coffee at night, as it would interfere with one''s sleep.

    In spite of that, Nan Chen was an exception, for he would often drink coffee at night. Nevertheless, no

    one knew if it affected his sleep, but the chances of that happening were low.

    Otherwise, he wouldn''t be able to drink at the rate he was doing so.

    After serving the second cup of coffee, Ning Ran stood by the side.

    Nan Chen looked up at her. ¡°Is there anything else?¡±

    ¡°Well... Is the coffee all right?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°It''s okay. Definitely better than water,¡± Nan Chen inly replied.

    Ning Ran scoffed at his response. ¡°That''s good. If it was worse than tap water, that would indicate that

    the coffee beans are fake!¡±

    Meanwhile, Nan Chen lowered his gaze to drink coffee in order to hide the smile on his face.

    ¡°By the way, the director and main screenwriter came to see me about the script today. They said that

    they wanted to get my opinion.¡±

    The whole point of her making him two cups of coffee was to discuss that particr topic.

    ¡°Sure,¡± Nan Chen simply grunted.

    ¡°I couldn''t give them an opinion because I don''t know what to change,¡± Ning Ran exined.

    ¡°Don''t give them one then,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    Wow, this is like talking to a wall.

    After falling into a brief silence, Ning Ran wanted to leave, as she didn''t know what else to say.

    But if I leave now, what am I going to tell the director and screenwriter tomorrow? Am I really going to

    say that I don''t have an opinion? That would only lower my stature in their eyes. On the other hand,

    regardless of how good my suggestion is, it still has to go through Nan Chen, for he holds a veto on the

    final decision.

    ¡°I think it''s necessary to increase the interaction between the male and female leads in order to further

    develop their characters. Nevertheless, it doesn''t have to be only romance since this isn''t a romantic

    movie anyway.¡±

    In the end, Ning Ran steeled herself and voiced her opinion.

    ¡°Sure,¡± Nan Chen surprisingly agreed.

    Consequently, Ning Ran heaved a sigh of relief when she realized that her thoughts were not in conflict

    with Nan Chen.

    ¡°In that case, how do you think we should change it?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Don''t ask me. You''re the one who brought it up,¡± Nan Chen retorted.

    This is not getting any easier.

    ¡°After giving it some thought, I have an idea. However, I''m not sure if you will agree to it.¡±

    Nan Chen remained silent, indicating for her to continue.

    ¡°I think we should have two angles to Huang Zichao. He can be the female lead''s useless ex-boyfriend

    in the real world who disappears after getting her pregnant. Subsequently, the female lead will bear the

    children alone and raise them¡ª¡±

    Suddenly, Nan Chen put down the document in his hands and shot a piercing gaze at Ning Ran. ¡°Are

    you admonishing me?¡±

    Ning Ran was stunned. Since when am I doing that? I''m obviously discussing the screeny with you.

    The very next second, she grasped what was going on. The way she spoke sounded as if she was

    talking about herself, and by extension, Nan Chen was the useless boyfriend.

    No wonder he''s pissed. He''s feeling self-conscious about it.

    Unable to control herself, Ning Ran burst intoughter.

    ¡°What are you being so smug about? Aren''t you just trying to censure me on the pretext of discussing

    the screeny? How can you me me when I wasn''t aware of the fact that you were pregnant? If I

    had known about the children, I would definitely have taken responsibility and not allowed them to

    wander around for so many years.¡±

    Given how agitated Nan Chen was, it was evident that he took that matter to heart.

    ¡°I''m not ming you. Back when I was pregnant with Dabao and Erbao, Ning Ziqiang wanted me to

    abort them. Left without a choice, I was forced to flee. Therefore, it wasn''t your fault because you

    weren''t aware of it all,¡± Ning Ran exined in resignation.

    ¡°In that case, why are you trying to insinuate that it was?¡±

    ¡°That wasn''t my intention. You''re just being sensitive.¡±

    ¡°Fine. Continue then.¡± Nan Chen finally calmed down.

    Nheless, Ning Ran was still amused by how self-conscious Nan Chen was.

    ¡°Are you telling me or not?¡±

    He became upset when he saw that Ning Ran was stillughing.

    ¡°All right, I''ll continue.¡±

    Ning Ran regained herposure. ¡°By doing so, there essentially won''t be a male lead, and by

    extension, romantic scenes won''t be needed.¡±

    Even though Nan Chen didn''t say a word, it was obvious that he approved of the idea.

    The reason was simple. He was relieved that Huang Zichao would not have any intimate scenes with

    Ning Ran.

    ¡°However, Huang Zichao''s part would end up being insignificant, which wouldn''t be eptable.

    Therefore, we should get him to act as the children''s father in the parallel world. That way, he would

    have the opportunity to interact with the female lead. But since he looks like the female lead''s ex from

    the real world, she would never fall in love with him. After all, the main reason she entered the parallel

    world was to steal his children.¡±

    She continued to exin, ¡°Consequently, both of them would have a lot of interaction but none of them

    romantic. Nevertheless, the audience will definitely wonder if both of them will end up together in the

    end. With their anticipation, we can further enhance the plot by ending it in an open-ended manner,

    where we remain ambiguous and keep them guessing. So, what do you think?¡±

    When Ning Ran finished her proposal, she looked at Nan Chen, who remained silent for a long while.

    At that moment, he was astounded by Ning Ran''s suggestion. Not only did it allow Huang Zichao

    sufficient screen time, but it also shifted the theme away from romance. As a result, it negated any

    need for intimacy between Huang Zichao and Ning Ran.

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    It was such aprehensive idea that even Nan Chen didn''t think of it.

    Nheless, he didn''t reveal his approval even though he was extremely satisfied.

 Chapter 548

    Chapter 548

    Staring at Nan Chen, Ning Ran had no idea what was going through his mind.

    ¡°If you don''t feel this is suitable, we can think of something else,¡± Ning Ran replied meekly.

    ¡°Tell me. What else do you have in mind?¡± Nan Chen remarked coldly.

    Oh no, he disagrees with what I''vee up with after racking my brains the entire day. Just when I

    thought I came up with a good plot, I didn''t expect him to disapprove of it.

    ¡°As of now, I can''t think of anything else,¡± Ning Ran replied with resignation.

    ¡°In that case, we''ll go with this one,¡± Nan Chen asserted.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Ning Ran was stunned. ¡°Weren''t you against it?¡±

    ¡°I didn''t say I was against it. I just thought that you had alternatives and wanted to listen to them. Since

    you don''t have any, we''ll just go with this,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°That''s wonderful! I''ll give the screenwriter a call right away. He has been waiting for my answer.¡±

    ¡°For anything rted to work, it''s better if you send an email so that you will have an audit trail. If you

    call him, he might not fully understand you. Even if he does, he might not have heard everything

    clearly. Therefore by sending an email, he will pour over it until he understands and remembers

    everything,¡± Nan Chen added.

    That makes sense. No wonder Nan Chen is checking emails most of the time. I guess he demands the

    same of his subordinates. Therefore, all of them would email him their reports.

    ¡°Sure.¡± Ning Ran epted Nan Chen''s suggestion sincerely.

    ¡°Write down your thoughts and send them to the screenwriter.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Ning Ran acknowledged again.

    At that moment, she was delighted that her idea was recognized, especially when the person who did

    so was none other than Nan Chen, who was famous for being difficult.

    Just when she was about to leave gleefully, Nan Chen called out to her.

    ¡°Wait, don''t you have anything else to tell me?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    What else is there? My mind has been upied by the script the entire day. Where would I have time

    to think about anything else?

    When he saw how surprised Ning Ran looked, Nan Chen knew that she had no idea what he was

    saying.

    In spite of that, he left her staring nkly by not telling her.

    ¡°There doesn''t seem to be anything else.¡± Ning Ran just couldn''t think of it.

    ¡°You may go then,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°No, if there''s something, you can just tell me too.¡±

    Nan Chen only waved her away without a word.

    How confusing. Why can''t you just tell me? Is it that difficult to do?

    The moment she stepped out of the study, something suddenly urred to Ning Ran.

    Earlier in the day, Wang Xiaoou had informed her that she was nominated as the best neer for

    the Golden Flower Awards. Hence, Huang Zichao''s agent and the organizingmittee had requested

    her to walk the red carpet together with him.

    Is he talking about the awards ceremony?

    Ning Ran rushed over. ¡°Are you talking about the Golden Flower Awards?¡±

    ¡°Whatever you say,¡± Nan Chen answered indifferently.

    What does that even mean? He really is hard to talk to.

    ¡°Ou told me today that Huang Zichao''s agent wants me to walk the red carpet with him¡ª¡±

    ¡°You must be delighted by it. Does it really make you that happy?¡± Nan Chen snapped all of a sudden.

    What? Since when did I say I was happy? Is my bodynguage conveying my happiness?

    ¡°I''m not,¡± Ning Ran replied innocently.

    ¡°Stop denying it. I can even see the glee in your eyes!¡± Nan Chen scowled.

    ¡°I''m happy but not because of that. I''m happy because of this matter. Although it rtes to that matter,

    this matter is what makes me happy!¡±

    Nan Chen''s anger intensified. You''re already speaking gibberish. How dare you im that you''re not

    happy?

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Nan Chen''s tone grew frostier.

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran also realized that she wasn''tmunicating clearly after being overwhelmed by excitement.

    ¡°What I meant was that I''m happy for being nominated and the fact that you epted my idea for the

    script. I don''t deny that. However, it has nothing to do with Huang Zichao. To me, he''s only a colleague

    from work. Even if we were to walk the red carpet together, it''s not a big deal to me.¡±

    Having made herself clear, Ning Ran heaved a sigh of relief.

    At the same time, Nan Chen managed to calm down a little.

    He realized that he had be quick-tempered, which was very unlike his usually frosty demeanor.

    Under normal circumstances, he didn''t care much about anything. But when it came to something

    rted to her, he would lose control of his own emotions.

    ¡°You may go than,¡± Nan Chan rapliad.

    ¡°No, if thara''s somathing, you can just tall ma too.¡±

    Nan Chan only wavad har away without a word.

    How confusing. Why can''t you just tall ma? Is it that difficult to do?

    Tha momant sha stappad out of tha study, somathing suddanly urrad to Ning Ran.

    Earliar in tha day, Wang Xiaoou had informad har that sha was nominatad as tha bast naar for

    tha Goldan Flowar Awards. Hanca, Huang Zichao''s agant and tha organizingmittaa had raquastad

    har to walk tha rad carpat togathar with him.

    Is ha talking about tha awards caramony?

    Ning Ran rushad ovar. ¡°Ara you talking about tha Goldan Flowar Awards?¡±

    ¡°Whatavar you say,¡± Nan Chan answarad indiffarantly.

    What doas that avan maan? Ha raally is hard to talk to.

    ¡°Ou told ma today that Huang Zichao''s agant wants ma to walk tha rad carpat with him¡ª¡±

    ¡°You must ba dalightad by it. Doas it raally maka you that happy?¡± Nan Chan snappad all of a suddan.

    What? Sinca whan did I say I was happy? Is my bodynguaga convaying my happinass?

    ¡°I''m not,¡± Ning Ran rapliad innocantly.

    ¡°Stop danying it. I can avan saa tha a in your ayas!¡± Nan Chan scod.

    ¡°I''m happy but not bacausa of that. I''m happy bacausa of this mattar. Although it rtas to that mattar,

    this mattar is what makas ma happy!¡±

    Nan Chan''s angar intansifiad. You''ra alraady spaaking gibbarish. How dara you im that you''ra not

    happy?

    ¡°What ara you talking about?¡± Nan Chan''s tona graw frostiar.

    Ning Ran also raalizad that sha wasn''tmunicating arly aftar baing ovarwhalmad by axcitamant.

    ¡°What I maant was that I''m happy for baing nominatad and tha fact that you aptad my idaa for tha

    script. I don''t dany that. Howavar, it has nothing to do with Huang Zichao. To ma, ha''s only a coagua

    from work. Evan if wa wara to walk tha rad carpat togathar, it''s not a big daal to ma.¡±

    Having mada harsalf ar, Ning Ran haavad a sigh of raliaf.

    At tha sama tima, Nan Chan managad to calm down a lit.

    Ha raalizad that ha had ba quick-tamparad, which was vary unlika his usually frosty damaanor.

    Undar normal circumstancas, ha didn''t cara much about anything. But whan it cama to somathing

    rtad to har, ha would losa control of his own amotions.

    To him, it was highly unusual.

    ¡°So, you''re not keen on walking the red carpet with Huang Zichao?¡± Nan Chen questioned.

    ¡°That''s not what I meant¡ª¡±

    ¡°So you do look forward to it.¡±

    ¡°It''s not that either. It''s just... Wow, I don''t even know how to describe it!¡± Ning Ran was frustrated.

    ¡°Just figure it out and tell me!¡± Nan Chen snapped.

    ¡°It doesn''t matter to me, so I''ll let you decide, all right?¡±

    He really is incredibly annoying!

    ¡°Hmm? You''re letting me decide?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I''ll abide by your decision without question.¡±

    ¡°I understand. You can go.¡± Nan Chen waved his hand.

    Is he asking me to leave? But the discussion isn''t over!

    ¡°So, what are your ns? Do you agree with this arrangement?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Are you hoping that I agree?¡± He threw the question back at her.

    ¡°I don''t mean that. I only want to know what you think. Please don''t put words in my mouth,¡± she

    pleaded.

    ¡°I know what to do. You can go.¡±

    ¡°Can you share your ns with me?¡± Ning Ran grew curious.

    ¡°No,¡± he rejected her outright.

    ¡°Hey, why are you ying hard to get?¡± she mumbled in response.

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    Ning Ran fled at once. ¡°Nothing. You should get back to your work. I''m leaving now.¡±

    Upon reaching the door, she turned around. ¡°Actually, walking the red carpet with Huang Zichao

    doesn''t interest me at all. But given how jealous you are, I''m curious¡ª¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡± Nan Chen sprang to his feet.

    With that, Ning Ran slipped away immediately. Otherwise, she would be in hot soup.

    At that moment, Nan Chen wanted to go after her to deny that he was jealous.

    No, if I go after her, wouldn''t my actions vindicate her thoughts instead? How is it possible for me to

    feel jealousy? As Sir Chen, I have rejected many beauties. So, why would I feel jealous on her

    ount? What sort of joke is that? It''s just impossible! However, if I''m not jealous, why am I this angry?

    Nan Chen didn''t have an answer to his own question despite how obvious it was.

 Chapter 549

    Chapter 549

    The next day, Wang Xiaoou informed Ning Ran that the proposal for them to walk the red carpet had

    been canceled.

    It didn''te as a surprise to her, as she already knew Nan Chen was against the idea.

    ¡°In that case, should I still walk the red carpet, or should I give the event a miss? It''s not such a bad

    thing, though. Since I''ve never attended such an event, I''ll just be overwhelmed by my nerves,¡± Ning

    Ran replied.

    ¡°Given how good an opportunity this is, how can you miss it? Don''t forget that it is broadcasted live all

    over the world. Are you really going to give up?¡± Wang Xiaoou objected at once.

    ¡°I didn''t say that I''m giving up. Didn''t thepany cancel it?¡±

    ¡°They only canceled the n for you and Huang Zichao to walk the red carpet together, not your

    participation in the awards ceremony. In fact, they even arranged for other top-tier stars to apany

    you to do the same,¡± Wang Xiaoou borated with a mysterious expression.

    ¡°Top-tier stars? Didn''t you say that it has been canceled at Huang Zichao''s end?¡±

    ¡°Is he the only top-tier star that''s avable?¡±

    ¡°In that case, who is it?¡± Ning Ran''s curiosity was piqued.

    ¡°As a neer, attending the event with another star isn''t going to make a ssh. Since you have

    decided to go, we intend to shock the world. Therefore, thepany has contacted Ye Meng''s agent to

    get her to walk the red carpet with you.¡±

    Ning Ran eximed at once, ¡°Ye Meng? Have you forgotten that she''s my enemy? In fact, she was

    trying to harm me not too long ago!¡±

    ¡°Nevertheless, she''s still a superstar, who not only is popr in China but the rest of Asia too. Although

    there was some history between the two of you, didn''t you end up beating her? Therefore, by walking

    down the red carpet with her, everyone will praise you for being magnanimous for putting the past

    behind you. Not only will your fanspliment you for it, but her fans will also have a good impression

    of you too. Otherwise, they will just continue to hate you. The fact is that she is still more famous than

    you in showbiz. Therefore, don''t you agree that this is vastly beneficial for your reputation?¡±

    After listening to Wang Xiaoou''s exnation, Ning Ran agreed that she would benefit from the n.

    ¡°Why would Ye Meng agree to something that''s to my advantage?¡± Ning Ran voiced her concerns.

    ¡°Ever since what happened, she fell into the doldrums and has been trying to reinvigorate her career.

    Unfortunately, she hasn''t managed to find a suitable opportunity. After all, timing is everything for an

    artist. If she tries to restart her career at the wrong time and fails, it would be very difficult to get another

    chance. Considering she wasn''t invited to the awards ceremony, she would definitely not refuse the

    opportunity to walk the red carpet that we''ve secured for her,¡± Wang Xiaoou borated.

    ¡°No wonder she has agreed to it. However, who managed to secure the opportunity for her?¡± Ning Ran

    was still clueless.

    ¡°Have you forgotten what the most important condition for an artist is?¡±

    ¡°Resources!¡± Ning Ran remembered.

    ¡°That''s right. As long as there are resources, any opportunity can be bought. Our condition to her for

    securing this opportunity was for her to support you, to which she agreed. After all, she can use this

    opportunity to showcase her stature as a superstar by supporting neers and not holding a grudge

    over the past. As a result, she, too, has much to gain from the arrangement. Since it''s a win-win

    situation, why would herpany not agree to it?¡±

    Ning Ran gave her a thumbs up. ¡°Ou, you''re amazing! Given howplex this is, I wouldn''t have

    understood it without your exnation.¡±

    ¡°However, Ye Meng alone isn''t enough. Even though she is a superstar, many youngsters are not into

    her. Therefore, we need another heavyweight who is popr with youths to support you.¡±

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°There''s more? Who?¡±

    ¡°Beauty Zheng, of course. He has purposely returned from his studies overseas to walk the red carpet

    with you,¡± Wang Xiaoou answered.

    Ning Ran was delighted by the news.

    ¡°Blondie? I haven''t seen him in a long time! How dare he not contact me? I must teach him a lesson

    when I see him!¡± Ning Ran eximed.

    ¡°Blondie?¡± It was Wang Xiaoou''s turn to be baffled.

    ¡°Haha, I meant Zheng Lunlun. He used to be blondst time,¡± Ning Ran exined with a smile.

    ¡°Are both of you close?¡±

    ¡°You can say that. We used to y togetherst time. Now that we''re busy, we no longer have time to

    do that,¡± Ning Ran casually replied.

    ¡°y together?¡± Wang Xiaoou was shocked.

    ¡°Yes, we y games together because he loves them. That''s why he gets me to y with him often.¡±

    Wang Xiaoou heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°I see. In that case, both of you must be close. He is a top-tier

    star and is extremely popr. When he struts down the red carpet with you on his arm in front of all

    those reporters, both of you will definitely make the front page,¡± Wang Xiaoou remarked.

    ¡°No wondar sha has agraad to it. Howavar, who managad to sacura tha opportunity for har?¡± Ning Ran

    was still cluss.

    ¡°Hava you forgottan what tha most important condition for an artist is?¡±

    ¡°Rasourcas!¡± Ning Ran ramambarad.

    ¡°That''s right. As long as thara ara rasourcas, any opportunity can ba bought. Our condition to har for

    sacuring this opportunity was for har to support you, to which sha agraad. Aftar all, sha can usa this

    opportunity to showcasa har statura as a suparstar by supporting naars and not holding a grudga

    ovar tha past. As a rasult, sha, too, has much to gain from tha arrangamant. Sinca it''s a win-win

    situation, why would harpany not agraa to it?¡±

    Ning Ran gava har a thumbs up. ¡°Ou, you''ra amazing! Givan howx this is, I wouldn''t hava

    undarstood it without your axnation.¡±

    ¡°Howavar, Ya Mang alona isn''t anough. Evan though sha is a suparstar, many youngstars ara not into

    har. Tharafora, wa naad anothar haavywaight who is popr with youths to support you.¡±

    ¡°Thara''s mora? Who?¡±

    ¡°Baauty Zhang, of coursa. Ha has purposaly raturnad from his studias ovarsaas to walk tha rad carpat

    with you,¡± Wang Xiaoou answarad.

    Ning Ran was dalightad by tha naws.

    ¡°Blondia? I havan''t saan him in a long tima! How dara ha not contact ma? I must taach him asson

    whan I saa him!¡± Ning Ran aximad.

    ¡°Blondia?¡± It was Wang Xiaoou''s turn to ba bafd.

    ¡°Haha, I maant Zhang Lunlun. Ha usad to ba blondst tima,¡± Ning Ran axinad with a sm.

    ¡°Ara both of you closa?¡±

    ¡°You can say that. Wa usad to y togatharst tima. Now that wa''ra busy, wa no longar hava tima to

    do that,¡± Ning Ran casually rapliad.

    ¡°y togathar?¡± Wang Xiaoou was shockad.

    ¡°Yas, wa y gamas togathar bacausa ha lovas tham. That''s why ha gats ma to y with him oftan.¡±

    Wang Xiaoou haavad a sigh of raliaf. ¡°I saa. In that casa, both of you must ba closa. Ha is a top-tiar

    star and is axtramaly popr. Whan ha struts down tha rad carpat with you on his arm in front of all

    thosa raportars, both of you will dafinitaly maka tha front paga,¡± Wang Xiaoou ramarkad.

    ¡°What about Ye Meng? Didn''t you say that she would be walking together with us?¡±

    ¡°Zheng Lunlun and you will be in front, while she will follow both of you from behind. We will still need

    to finalize the details, but I won''t share them with you. You will find out soon enough.¡± Wang Xiaoou

    kept her in suspense.

    ¡°Details? What kind of details?¡± Ning Ran was intrigued.

    ¡°I can''t tell you for the time being, as it''s also one of the conditions set by Ye Meng. When the time

    comes, you''ll see for yourself.¡±

    ¡°Come one, Ou. Tell me.¡±

    ¡°I can''t. Besides, it would be meaningless if I did. All you need to remember is to maintain your

    smile and walk the red carpet calmly regardless of what happens, all right?¡±

    ¡°What in the world is going to happen? You''re just making me nervous!¡±

    ¡°There''s no need to feel that way, as everything will be taken care of by thepany. All you need to

    do is to show your best side.¡±

    ¡°Okay, I''ll do my best.¡±

    Wang Xiaoou looked at her watch. ¡°Sunny is about to arrive, and he will provide you with his

    suggestions for your look. Since this is your first time at such a grand event, it''s especially important for

    thepany. Thus, they have specifically flown Sunny in from overseas to act as your fashion

    consultant.¡±

    ¡°Is he the feisty guy that looks like a girl?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°That''s right. Although he is effeminate and skanky, he is a force to be reckoned with in the fashion

    world. Furthermore, he has an exceptionally unique sense of style.¡±

    Then, Wang Xiaoou said, ¡°When Mr. Chen got him toe over, he and his team were in the midst of

    running a fashion show. Hence, you had better be cordial to him when you see him.¡±

    ¡°That goes without saying. In fact, I like him a lot. What I mean is that I admire his ability to dress so

    mboyantly and the fact that his hands are fairer and more tender than us girls.¡±

    Wang Xiaoou nodded. ¡°He is indeed prettier than a lot of girls and skanky at the same time.

    Nheless, I''m sure you''re aware that he''s different from other men.¡±

    ¡°I understand. He admits to it as well,¡± Ning Ran replied with a smile.

    At that moment, Wang Xiaoou received a call. ¡°Sunny''s assistant is on the line. It means that he has

    arrived. Come on, let''s go over.¡±

 Chapter 550

    Chapter 550

    The moment Ning Ran alighted, she saw Sunny, who had dyed his hair purple.

    He was wearing a pink tapered trench coat and a pair of white leather trousers. With his wless white

    skin, one wouldn''t be faulted for thinking that he was a girl.

    Sunny saw her too. ¡°Ding Mi, my baby,e over here.¡±

    His voice was so gentle and feminine that it made Ning Ran envious.

    ¡°Sunny, it''s been a long time. I see you''re as... fashionable as always.¡±

    Just when Ning Ran walked over and shook his hand, she caught a whiff of the elegant perfume he

    was wearing.

    ¡°Are you saying that I look slutty? Just speak candidly instead of telling me that I''m fashionable,¡± Sunny

    replied with a smile.

    ¡°I was worried about getting on your nerves,¡± Ning Ran returned his smile.

    She truly liked Sunny a lot. Although he was weird, he was never hypocritical and always wore his

    heart on his sleeve.

    By being himself, it made him someone approachable. Nheless, it required a lot of courage from

    him to behave that way.

    As a result, Ning Ran admired him for his attitude toward life.

    ¡°I won''t be angry because I don''t care about what others think of me. Even though more than half of

    those in showbiz ridicule me for being crazy, they cannot do without my expertise, especially for major

    events. After all, I excel in making people look amazing.¡±

    While speaking, Sunny gestured with one hand and ced the other on his hip. It was an animated

    sight indeed.

    ¡°I never said that you are crazy. Instead, I admire you for how unique you are,¡± Ning Ran added.

    ¡°I knew that you have good tastes. Come, let me take you to a tailor to get your evening gown done,¡±

    Sunny remarked.

    Half an hourter, Ning Ran met Sunny''s tailor.

    Assuming she was going to meet someone old, Ning Ran was surprised to see a young man instead.

    He was wearing a pair of gold-rimmed sses and a grey suit. He also had his hair tied up in a ponytail

    and a huge diamond ring on his finger.

    Tall and dashing, he even had a vibrant look to his face.

    ¡°This is the famous designer, Giorgio. And this is Ding Mi. She''s here to tailor a gown,¡± Sunny

    introduced them to each other.

    ¡°Pleasure to meet you, Giorgio,¡± Ning Ran greeted with a smile.

    Without saying a word, Giorgio approached Ning Ran and scrutinized her from top to toe.

    Ning Ran naturally felt ufortable being eyed by a man like that.

    However, on Sunny''s ount, she bore with it without protest.

    ¡°You have a very good figure, but why were you wearing such an ugly costume on the show? Who

    designed that ugly piece?¡± Giorgio asked a strange question all of a sudden.

    Briefly stunned, Ning Ran quickly realized he was talking about The Sound of Thunder 2.

    Having thought that the costume looked decent, she was surprised by Giorgio''sment.

    ¡°I''m not really sure who designed it.¡± Ning Ranughed awkwardly.

    ¡°I''m not saying you''re ugly. In fact, you''re pretty like an angel. I''m just criticizing the costume for being

    ugly. If I had designed it, you would have definitely looked divine!¡± Giorgio dered.

    ¡°That''s enough. Considering how high your fees are, the production team can''t afford you,¡± Sunny

    interjected.

    Giorgio pondered a moment. ¡°It''s true that they can''t afford me.¡±

    ¡°That''s all there is to it. Anyway, take a look at her and design something for her to wear to the Golden

    Flower Awards,¡± Sunny instructed.

    ¡°What''s your budget?¡± Giorgio asked.

    ¡°There''s no limit. All that matters is that she looks stunning,¡± Sunny replied.

    ¡°No limit? That''s not eptable. The clothes I make have always been expensive. What if she doesn''t

    pay up?¡± Giorgio questioned.

    ¡°I''m here on Sir Chen''s instructions. Do you think money is going to be an issue?¡± Sunny gave him a

    condescending look.

    ¡°In that case, there''s no problem at all. Nheless, I have to let you know first that I don''t tailor

    anything for less than a hundred thousand,¡± Giorgio reiterated.

    Ning Ran was astounded. A hundred thousand?

    ¡°A hundred thousand for a gown?¡± Ning Ran stared at Giorgio.

    ¡°Yes. I only use the best fabric and essories in the market. Hence, there''s no way I can make

    anything for less than that. Also, there''s no ceiling for my prices,¡± Giorgio exined.

    ¡°Well...¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry. You don''t have to pay for it. Sir Chen has asked thepany to take care of it,¡± Sunny

    reassured her.

    ¡°Isn''t it too expensive still? Is it worth it just for a gown?¡± Ning Ran couldn''t believe her ears.

    ¡°It''s definitely worth it. In fact, it''s not expensive at all, as clothes are everything to one''s beauty. If that

    weren''t the case, you would''ve gotten something from the mall instead ofing here to see me.

    Actually, I''m in the midst of an order for one of the royal families. If it weren''t because of Sunny and Sir

    Chen, I wouldn''t have bothered with you.¡±

    Giorgio was visibly displeased.

    Ning Ran apologized with a smile, ¡°I''m sorry that my words havee across the wrong way. It''s just

    that I have never worn anything this expensive before.¡±

    Briafly stunnad, Ning Ran quickly raalizad ha was talking about Tha Sound of Thundar 2.

    Having thought that tha costuma lookad dacant, sha was surprisad by Giorgio''smant.

    ¡°I''m not raally sura who dasignad it.¡± Ning Ranughad awkwardly.

    ¡°I''m not saying you''ra ugly. In fact, you''ra pratty lika an angal. I''m just criticizing tha costuma for baing

    ugly. If I had dasignad it, you would hava dafinitaly lookad divina!¡± Giorgio darad.

    ¡°That''s anough. Considaring how high your faas ara, tha production taam can''t afford you,¡± Sunny

    intarjactad.

    Giorgio pondarad a momant. ¡°It''s trua that thay can''t afford ma.¡±

    ¡°That''s all thara is to it. Anyway, taka a look at har and dasign somathing for har to waar to tha Goldan

    Flowar Awards,¡± Sunny instructad.

    ¡°What''s your budgat?¡± Giorgio askad.

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Thara''s no limit. All that mattars is that sha looks stunning,¡± Sunny rapliad.

    ¡°No limit? That''s not apta. Tha clothas I maka hava always baan axpansiva. What if sha doasn''t

    pay up?¡± Giorgio quastionad.

    ¡°I''m hara on Sir Chan''s instructions. Do you think monay is going to ba an issua?¡± Sunny gava him a

    condascanding look.

    ¡°In that casa, thara''s no prom at all. Nonathss, I hava tot you know first that I don''t tailor

    anything forss than a hundrad thousand,¡± Giorgio raitaratad.

    Ning Ran was astoundad. A hundrad thousand?

    ¡°A hundrad thousand for a gown?¡± Ning Ran starad at Giorgio.

    ¡°Yas. I only usa tha bast fabric and assorias in tha markat. Hanca, thara''s no way I can maka

    anything forss than that. Also, thara''s no cailing for my pricas,¡± Giorgio axinad.

    ¡°Wall...¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry. You don''t hava to pay for it. Sir Chan has askad thapany to taka cara of it,¡± Sunny

    raassurad har.

    ¡°Isn''t it too axpansiva still? Is it worth it just for a gown?¡± Ning Ran couldn''t baliava har aars.

    ¡°It''s dafinitaly worth it. In fact, it''s not axpansiva at all, as clothas ara avarything to ona''s baauty. If that

    waran''t tha casa, you would''va gottan somathing from tha mall instaad ofing hara to saa ma.

    Actually, I''m in tha midst of an ordar for ona of tha royal familias. If it waran''t bacausa of Sunny and Sir

    Chan, I wouldn''t hava botharad with you.¡±

    Giorgio was visibly disasad.

    Ning Ran apologizad with a sm, ¡°I''m sorry that my words havaa across tha wrong way. It''s just

    that I hava navar worn anything this axpansiva bafora.¡±

    ¡°It''s all right. Let''s take your measurements now. When do you need the gown?¡± Giorgio asked.

    ¡°Next week,¡± Sunny answered.

    ¡°Next week? That''s not possible. I''m sure that you''re aware that the entire process, from design to the

    final product, takes a long time. How am I going to finish the gown in only a few days?¡± Giorgio

    lamented.

    ¡°I don''t care. All I know is that the awards ceremony is upon us, and she needs to be wearing your

    gorgeous dress by then,¡± Sunny dered.

    ¡°Forget it. You should just get one from the mall. There''s no way I cane out with a gown in just a

    few days.¡± Giorgio shrugged his shoulders.

    ¡°Sir Chen insists that you take the job. If you don''t, I can''t guarantee that nothing will happen to you.

    After all, you too are familiar with his temper,¡± Sunny threatened.

    ¡°Sir Chen is a reasonable man. Call him, and I''ll exin it to him myself,¡± Giorgio replied, unfazed by

    Sunny.

    ¡°Sure. Give Sir Chen a call.¡± Sunny turned to Ning Ran.

    ¡°Me?¡±

    ¡°Isn''t it obvious? You should be the one calling because he''s your man, not mine,¡± Sunny remarked

    sarcastically, causing Ning Ran to feel a chill down her spine.

    It was terrifying to her when men spoke coquettishly, more so than watching a horror movie.

    Left without a choice, Ning Ran gave Nan Chen a call, to which he quickly answered. ¡°Speak.¡±

    ¡°Giorgio wants to talk to you.¡±

    Ning Ran handed the phone over to Giorgio like a hot potato after putting it on speaker.

    ¡°Sir Chen, it''s been a long time. When are you dropping by to tailor some clothes?¡± Giorgio greeted.

    ¡°You only do female clothing. They suit Sunny more than me,¡± Nan Chen quipped.

    It sounded to Ning Ran that they knew each other well. Otherwise, Nan Chen wouldn''t have said

    something like that.

    ¡°Sir Chen, I''m unable to take this job. Although I feel the urge to tailor a gown for a beauty like her,

    there''s just not enough time.¡±

    ¡°That''s your problem,¡± Nan Chen countered.

    ¡°No, if you had let me know earlier, I would have been able to do it. But now, there isn''t enough time.

    Why don''t you get one from the mall this time? And I''ll do it for her next time. Sir Chen, I know you''re

    someone reasonable¡ª¡±

    ¡°No, I''m not,¡± Nan Chen snapped.

    Meanwhile, when Sunny tried to hide his smile, he did it with such elegance that Ning Ran couldn''t help

    but feel impressed.

    ¡°Sir Chen, you''re putting me in an impossible position¡ª¡±

 Chapter 551

    Chapter 551

    ¡°If you don''t resolve the matter, I won''t do anything to you. At most, I''ll just reveal the fact that you relied

    on giarism to win an awardst time¡ª¡±

    ¡°No, don''t. That was ages ago. I was young and ignorant back then. I''m sure there''s no need to hold

    such a trivial mistake against me my entire life, right?¡± Giorgio became anxious.

    ¡°Get the gown done, and I''ll buy you drinks. If not, your reputation will be destroyed.¡± Nan Chen gave

    him two choices.

    ¡°I''ll¡ª¡±

    ¡°That''s all.¡± Nan Chen ended the call at once.

    ¡°Hahaha!¡± Without any dy, Sunny burst intoughter. ¡°Since when is Sir Chen reasonable?¡±

    ¡°Hasn''t he gone overboard by threatening me with my past?¡± Giorgio scowled.

    ¡°Would he still be Sir Chen if he doesn''t intimidate you? Which one of us has escaped being bullied by

    him since we were young? On the contrary, hasn''t he always gotten our back whenever we''re in

    trouble?¡± Sunny replied.

    ¡°That''s true, but there''s still no way I cane up with something in just a few days,¡± Giorgiomented.

    ¡°That''s your problem. You''ll have to figure it out by yourself.¡±

    Even though Ning Ran sympathized with Giorgio, she felt it was inappropriate to interfere.

    Whatever arrangements Nan Chen had made, all they needed to do was to obey without question.

    Slumped in his chair, Giorgio continued to stare at Ning Ran.

    Feeling nervous, she wondered if he was nning to kill her instead.

    Nan Chen is the one who forced you to do it, not me. So please don''t vent your frustration on me.

    ¡°Giorgio, if you really can''t do it, I''ll talk to Nan Chen and change his mind. After that, I''ll just get a gown

    from the mall,¡± Ning Ran suggested fearfully.

    In spite of that, Giorgio didn''t respond.

    Not knowing what else to say, Ning Ran continued to let him stare earnestly at her.

    After that, she turned to Sunny for help to defuse the situation.

    However, Sunny looked as if it had nothing to do with him and took out his makeup to freshen up

    instead.

    At that moment, Ning Ran was stunned at how effeminate Sunny behaved.

    ¡°Hahaha!¡±

    All of a sudden, Giorgio burst intoughter before approaching Ning Ran, causing her to panic.

    Has he truly gone mad?

    ¡°Well, the measurements are more or less there. All we need to do is to entuate her charm and

    make some minor alterations. That way, I canplete the dress in time! I''m a genius!¡± Giorgio

    eximed after scrutinizing Ning Ran.

    Clueless as to what was going on, Ning Ran could only force herself to smile awkwardly.

    Walking to her side, Giorgio showed her some pictures on his tablet. ¡°Between these two gowns, which

    one do you prefer?¡±

    The two dresses had simple colors. One was ck, while the other was white.

    Both of them were avant-garde in their designs. The ck one even had diamonds embellished across

    its chest, giving it an opulent look.

    ¡°Can I see the back?¡±

    After rotating the photos, the back of the dresses was shown.

    The ck dress had a more revealing back, while the white dress had a lower cut in front.

    ¡°I like them both very much, but didn''t you say that there isn''t enough time to make them?¡±

    ¡°These arepleted designs for one of the princesses of the royal family. She was going to wear

    them to a reception for foreign dignitaries. After making some observations just now, I noticed that your

    figure is simr to hers. Hence, all I need to do is to make some minor alterations, and you''ll be able to

    fit. It looks like my intellect has helped me to solve the problem of time!¡±

    Ning Ran uttered in shock, ¡°I can''t wear the princess'' dress!¡±

    ¡°There''s nothing to fear. Since I''ve not handed it to her, it doesn''t belong to her yet. We''ll use it to

    resolve our desperate situation first. Anyway, tell me which one do you prefer? I''ll make the alterations

    based on your measurements at once. Time is of the essence, so you had better be quick,¡± Giorgio

    hurried her.

    ¡°I''ll go with the ck dress then,¡± Ning Ran answered.

    ¡°I agree that it suits you more. By revealing your porcin-like back, everyone will be in awe of you.

    We''ll settle on this one then. Anyway, I''ll inform Sir Chen right away that I will get this done,¡± Giorgio

    dered in delight.

    His words indirectly reminded Ning Ran that her opinion didn''t matter. It all boiled down to Nan Chen

    instead.

    After all, the matter couldn''t proceed without his agreement.

    This time, she reached Nan Chen on a video call to let him choose the dresses.

    In the end, he replied, ¡°Both aren''t good enough!¡±

    Giorgio panicked in response. ¡°But, I designed these for a princess. She approves of them, so why not

    you?¡±

    ¡°There''s room for improvement,¡± Nan Chen asserted coldly.

    ¡°Where?¡±

    ¡°At the back. It''s not like you don''t have enough material. Is it necessary to show so much skin? Won''t it

    be cold?¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°My God! Haven''t you attended tons of banquets? Isn''t a bareback amon urrence? What sort

    ofment is that? Even the princess isn''t afraid¡ª¡± Giorgio yelled back.

    ¡°Change it. Don''t reveal so much. A little will do. Also, extend the length of the gown,¡± Nan Chen

    added.

    ¡°Extend the length? But under usual circumstances¡ª¡±

    ¡°I don''t care about usual circumstances. If I did, I would have gotten one from the mall instead of

    coming to you,¡± Nan Chen retorted.

    Tha two drassas had sim colors. Ona was ck, wh tha othar was whita.

    Both of tham wara avant-garda in thair dasigns. Tha ck ona avan had diamonds amballishad across

    its chast, giving it an opnt look.

    ¡°Can I saa tha back?¡±

    Aftar rotating tha photos, tha back of tha drassas was shown.

    Tha ck drass had a mora ravaaling back, wh tha whita drass had a lowar cut in front.

    ¡°I lika tham both vary much, but didn''t you say that thara isn''t anough tima to maka tham?¡±

    ¡°Thasa aratad dasigns for ona of tha princassas of tha royal family. Sha was going to waar

    tham to a racaption for foraign dignitarias. Aftar making soma obsarvations just now, I noticad that your

    figura is simr to hars. Hanca, all I naad to do is to maka soma minor altarations, and you''ll ba a to

    fit. It looks lika my intact has halpad ma to solva tha prom of tima!¡±

    Ning Ran uttarad in shock, ¡°I can''t waar tha princass'' drass!¡±

    ¡°Thara''s nothing to faar. Sinca I''va not handad it to har, it doasn''t balong to har yat. Wa''ll usa it to

    rasolva our dasparata situation first. Anyway, tall ma which ona do you prafar? I''ll maka tha altarations

    basad on your maasuramants at onca. Tima is of tha assanca, so you had battar ba quick,¡± Giorgio

    hurriad har.

    ¡°I''ll go with tha ck drass than,¡± Ning Ran answarad.

    ¡°I agraa that it suits you mora. By ravaaling your porcin-lika back, avaryona will ba in awa of you.

    Wa''ll sat on this ona than. Anyway, I''ll inform Sir Chan right away that I will gat this dona,¡± Giorgio

    darad in dalight.

    His words indiractly ramindad Ning Ran that har opinion didn''t mattar. It all bod down to Nan Chan

    instaad.

    Aftar all, tha mattar couldn''t procaad without his agraamant.

    This tima, sha raachad Nan Chan on a vidao call tot him choosa tha drassas.

    In tha and, ha rapliad, ¡°Both aran''t good anough!¡±

    Giorgio panickad in rasponsa. ¡°But, I dasignad thasa for a princass. Sha approvas of tham, so why not

    you?¡±

    ¡°Thara''s room for improvamant,¡± Nan Chan assartad coldly.

    ¡°Whara?¡±

    ¡°At tha back. It''s not lika you don''t hava anough matarial. Is it nacassary to show so much skin? Won''t it

    ba cold?¡± Nan Chan rapliad.

    ¡°My God! Havan''t you attandad tons of banquats? Isn''t a baraback amon urranca? What sort

    ofmant is that? Evan tha princass isn''t afraid¡ª¡± Giorgio yad back.

    ¡°Changa it. Don''t ravaal so much. A lit will do. Also, axtand thangth of tha gown,¡± Nan Chan

    addad.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°Extand thangth? But undar usual circumstancas¡ª¡±

    ¡°I don''t cara about usual circumstancas. If I did, I would hava gottan ona from tha mall instaad of

    coming to you,¡± Nan Chan ratortad.

    ¡°Fine. It''s not a problem to extend the length. I can make all the changes that you asked for.¡±

    ¡°Good. That''s settled then.¡±

    Just as he spoke, Nan Chen ended the call.

    ¡°That''s exactly the way he behaves all the time! He never listens and insists on telling professionals

    how to do their jobs,¡± Giorgiomented.

    Sunny looked at Giorgio with a sense of schadenfreude. ¡°There''s no point inining now that the

    matter has been settled. Anyway, show me the gown so that I can find Ning Ran matching shoes and

    decide on her makeup.¡±

    ¡°Actually, there''s no need for all this trouble at all. I find all of this ridiculous,¡± Ning Ranmented

    meekly.

    ¡°Not at all! Sir Chen has said it himself. This is your first time attending an event that is broadcasted live

    across the world. Therefore, it''s necessary to make an entrance,¡± Sir Chen exined.

    ¡°In that case, why can''t I reveal her back or chest? Nowadays, actresses would die to wear as little as

    possible and show all the skin they possibly can. Instead, he doesn''t even allow me to show her back a

    little. What age do we live in now? Why is he being so conservative still? This is utterly frustrating,¡±

    Giorgio ranted.

    ¡°It''s no useining to me. If you''re dissatisfied, you should talk to Sir Chen instead,¡± Sunny replied

    with a smile.

    ¡°Forget it. I''m not going to get myself into trouble for nothing. He is nothing but a dictator. All right now,

    both of you can go. I need to start work right away.¡± Giorgio began to get his guests to leave.

    ¡°Fine. We''re leaving now,¡± Sunny gestured to Ning Ran.

    ¡°Please hand over the deposit first. The gown will cost at least two hundred thousand. So, it will be a

    hundred thousand now. You can pay the bnce when you pick up the dress.¡±

    Ning Ran was astounded to hear the price. Two hundred thousand? I can buy a decent car with that

    money! Also, such a dress can only be worn on extremely special asions. Therefore, isn''t this a

    waste of money?

    ¡°Sir Chen will arrange for payment. You can''t expect me to pay.¡±

    Just as he spoke, Sunny gave Ning Ran a look to signal her not to do the same.

    Obviously, Sunny didn''t know Ning Ran very well. If only he was aware of how stingy she was, he

    needn''t have worried about her at all.

    There''s no way I''m going to pay so much for a dress. What kind of joke is that? Even at two thousand, I

    feel it''s too much, let alone two hundred thousand. I would rather go naked instead.

    ¡°Of course. Nan Chen will take care of it.¡± Ning Ran nodded in agreement.

    ¡°Fine. Off you go then,¡± Giorgio said with resignation.

 Chapter 552

    Chapter 552

    Sunny promptly took over.

    He would be in charge of Ning Ran''s hairstyle, lipstick, skincare, and everything rted to her image.

    However, she didn''t really mind because he was indeed professional.

    The man knew women better than women themselves. Some of his suggestions were new to Ning

    Ran. Before this, she never knew humans could be this exquisite.

    Time flew by, and it was soon the day for the Golden Flower Awards.

    Ning Ran made sure she was free the whole day. Her team kept themselves busy bymunicating

    with the media and making various arrangements.

    To her surprise, Nan Chen showed up with the kids.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°Mommy, Daddy said you''re going to walk on the red carpet. Is that true?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°Yes, that''s right.¡±

    ¡°Will they provide food after you finish walking the red carpet?¡±

    Ning Ran was amused. Why did I give birth to a glutton?

    ¡°I don''t think so. After the event ends, we can fill our tummy with delicious food.¡±

    ¡°That sounds great! Mommy, where is your new dress?¡± the inquisitive girl asked again.

    ¡°It''s with Giorgio. We shall be picking it upter,¡± Ning Ran answered.

    ¡°Okay. Let''s go get it together!¡± Erbao eximed happily.

    ¡°Aren''t you busy? Why are you here?¡± Ning Ran shot Nan Chen a grateful look.

    Instead of replying to her question, he nced at his watch.

    ¡°Daddy canceled all his schedules today to bring you to the event,¡± Dabao chimed in.

    ¡°Oh, thank you.¡±

    Nan Chen remained silent and shot an approving look at her hair.

    ¡°Sir Chen!¡± a coy voice belonging to Sunny rang out.

    d in his pink coat, the stylist lunged toward him like a starving dog to the bone.

    However, Nan Chen was not a bone. He stared daggers at Sunny, and thetter halted in his tracks.

    ¡°It''s been a long time since west met, but you''re still as gorgeous as ever.¡± Sunny gulped and heaped

    praises on him.

    Nan Chen ignored himpletely.

    ¡°Ma''am,¡± Erbao greeted Sunny warmly.

    Ning Ran couldn''t stop herself from bursting into giggles upon hearing that.

    Herughter stopped short when she spotted Nan Chen''s icy expression.

    Sunny went to Erbao and asked, ¡°Are you Sir Chen''s child?¡±

    ¡°I look exactly like Daddy. Do you even need to ask that question?¡± Erbao responded, her voice

    dripping with disdain.

    The child had a bad impression of Sunny, for she thought thetter was a woman.

    Besides, he seemed close to Nan Chen. The little girl grew increasingly suspicious.

    She was worried Sunny would be another Ouyang Qing and ended up affecting her parents''

    rtionship.

    Thus, she didn''t bother being polite to Sunny.

    Nevertheless, the stylist was unfazed. He found Erbao pretty and adorable.

    ¡°What is your name? Oh, what did you just call me?¡± Sunny asked.

    ¡°Ma''am. Why? Are you a miss? You''re too old to be one.¡±

    Previously, she used to address Ouyang Qing as ¡°Ms. Qing.¡± By now, she realized that those who

    wanted her to address them as ¡°miss¡± most probably harbored ulterior motives.

    ¡°Erbao, be nice,¡± Ning Ran reminded her daughter.

    She found the situation funny but made sure to keep her kids'' manners in check.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Erbao grunted dispassionately and cast Sunny an unfriendly gaze.

    ¡°I''m neither. Call me Mr. Sunny,¡± Sunny responded calmly. ¡°I might be pretty, but I''m a man.¡±

    Erbao gaped in disbelief. Her eyes bulged in an adorable manner, too.

    She asked, ¡°Are you a boy?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Sunny replied smugly. ¡°I''m a pretty boy.¡±

    Erbao remained skeptical. ¡°But you look like a girl.¡±

    ¡°That''s because I''m pretty.¡± He flicked his purple hair back confidently.

    Feeling shocked, Erbao started questioning her ability to differentiate men and women.

    ¡°I don''t believe you. Dabao, do you?¡±

    Dabao was a walking encyclopedia who could provide her with an answer.

    ¡°He''s a boy. Look at his Adam''s apple,¡± her twin exined coolly.

    Indeed, Dabao was different. He could discern the truth with just one look.

    ¡°Yes, he''s right. I''m a boy, a pretty boy.¡±

    Delighted, Sunny reached out to pinch Dabao''s chubby cheek.

    The boy avoided his hand swiftly. ¡°A gentleman uses his tongue, not his fists.¡±

    Sunny chuckled. ¡°Oh, how did you give birth to such adorable kids? They are cheeky, gorgeous, and

    smart! They are perfect!¡±

    ¡°Let''s go. Time to pick your outfit up,¡± Nan Chen said.

    He was polite enough to allow Sunny to tease the kids for some time.

    The pretty man extended an invitation to the kids warmly. ¡°Come on, kids. You can take my car.¡±

    Tha child had a bad imprassion of Sunny, for sha thought thattar was a woman.

    Basidas, ha saamad closa to Nan Chan. Tha lit girl graw incraasingly suspicious.

    Sha was worriad Sunny would ba anothar Ouyang Qing and andad up affacting har parants''

    rtionship.

    Thus, sha didn''t bothar baing polita to Sunny.

    Navarthss, tha stylist was unfazad. Ha found Erbao pratty and adora.

    ¡°What is your nama? Oh, what did you just call ma?¡± Sunny askad.

    ¡°Ma''am. Why? Ara you a miss? You''ra too old to ba ona.¡±

    Praviously, sha usad to addrass Ouyang Qing as ¡°Ms. Qing.¡± By now, sha raalizad that thosa who

    wantad har to addrass tham as ¡°miss¡± most probably harborad ultarior motivas.

    ¡°Erbao, ba nica,¡± Ning Ran ramindad har daughtar.

    Sha found tha situation funny but mada sura to kaap har kids'' mannars in chack.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Erbao gruntad dispassionataly and cast Sunny an unfriandly gaza.

    ¡°I''m naithar. Call ma Mr. Sunny,¡± Sunny raspondad calmly. ¡°I might ba pratty, but I''m a man.¡±

    Erbao gapad in disbaliaf. Har ayas bulgad in an adora mannar, too.

    Sha askad, ¡°Ara you a boy?¡±

    ¡°Of coursa,¡± Sunny rapliad smugly. ¡°I''m a pratty boy.¡±

    Erbao ramainad skaptical. ¡°But you look lika a girl.¡±

    ¡°That''s bacausa I''m pratty.¡± Ha flickad his pur hair back confidantly.

    Faaling shockad, Erbao startad quastioning har ability to diffarantiata man and woman.

    ¡°I don''t baliava you. Dabao, do you?¡±

    Dabao was a walking ancyclopadia who could provida har with an answar.

    ¡°Ha''s a boy. Look at his Adam''s ap,¡± har twin axinad coolly.

    Indaad, Dabao was diffarant. Ha could discarn tha truth with just ona look.

    ¡°Yas, ha''s right. I''m a boy, a pratty boy.¡±

    Dalightad, Sunny raachad out to pinch Dabao''s chubby chaak.

    Tha boy avoidad his hand swiftly. ¡°A ganman usas his tongua, not his fists.¡±

    Sunny chucd. ¡°Oh, how did you giva birth to such adora kids? Thay ara chaaky, gorgaous, and

    smart! Thay ara parfact!¡±

    ¡°Lat''s go. Tima to pick your outfit up,¡± Nan Chan said.

    Ha was polita anough to allow Sunny to taasa tha kids for soma tima.

    Tha pratty man axtandad an invitation to tha kids warmly. ¡°Coma on, kids. You can taka my car.¡±

    ¡°No. You''re a boy pretending to be a girl! Hmph!¡± Erbao scoffed in disdain.

    Sunny replied indignantly, ¡°I''m not pretending to be a girl. I like pretty clothes, that''s all.¡±

    ¡°Hmph!¡± The child refused to buy his exnation.

    The twins were buckled up in their car seats, and Ning Ran took her seat beside them. Nan Chen

    upied the passenger''s seat.

    Sunny and his assistant took another car and followed them from behind.

    Soon, they arrived at Giorgio''s shop. His employees were busy, but he was nowhere to be seen.

    They asked around and discovered Giorgio was taking a nap after staying up all night to work.

    Oh, he must have worked hard. I can''t believe he stayed up all night!

    ¡°Please give us the outfit. There''s no need to wake him up.¡± Ning Ran felt apologetic.

    However, the employees said Giorgio told them to wake him up when Ning Ran arrived. She had to try

    the outfit before he would let her leave.

    Giorgio was strict about his designs, so he would only allow his clients to leave after they tried out their

    outfits.

    Thus, they woke Giorgio up. His eyes were red after staying up for the entire night.

    Sunny was puzzled. ¡°You only had to alter the dress slightly. Why did you stay up all night?¡±

    ¡°I''m a detail-oriented person. After observing the dress from two until five in the morning, I can finally

    confirm that there isn''t any w in the outfit,¡± the tailor responded proudly.

    Hearing that, everyone was in awe.

    After all, he must really love his job a lot to scrutinize an outfit for several hours.

    ¡°Seriously? Fortunately, this outfit is meant for someone else. If it''s yours, you''ll stare at it for months

    before confirming it''s perfect!¡± Sunny joked.

    Giorgio paid no heed to him. He turned to Ning Ran and said, ¡°Try it now. I think it''s perfect. The

    changing room is that way.¡±

    He gave the outfit to his assistant and provided Ning Ran with instructions. His expression was solemn

    as though it was his daughter''s wedding today.

    ¡°All right. Thank you.¡± Ning Ran couldn''t help but feel nervous. Look how concerned he is. What if I

    don''t look good in the outfit? Won''t that be disappointing?

    However, her worries proved to be excessive. The moment she walked out of the changing room,

    Sunny let out a shriek.

 Chapter 553

    Chapter 553

    They were at a loss for words to describe her beauty.

    Ugly people looked the same, but gorgeous ones each had their own characteristics.

    There weren''t many adjectives to describe beautiful women, but there were different types of beautiful

    women. Ning Ran was one prime example.

    Her dainty nose and sparkling eyes added a tinge of elegance to her features. Coupled with her fair

    skin, she looked the epitome of a gorgeous beauty.

    Ning Ran could be breathtakingly beautiful without needing any outside help.

    However, Nan Chen insisted on hiring Sunny to help her be the most perfect version of herself.

    As a result, the woman standing before them looked stunning.

    That was what Nan Chen wanted.

    ¡°Mommy''s a fairy!¡± Erbao''s praise was simple and direct.

    ¡°No, she''s a queen,¡± Dabao chimed in calmly.

    If it were someone else who praised her that way, Ning Ran would feel shy and suspect the person of

    trying to tter her.

    As the praises came from her children, she was ecstatic.

    She had never worn such a formal outfit that was made for her specially. Giorgio had poured his efforts

    into creating her attire, from the material to the details.

    The gown meant for a member of the royalty was now hers.

    ¡°Turn around,¡± Nan Chen ordered.

    Ning Ran turned around obediently and revealed her exposed back.

    Oh, what an enchanting back. Even Sunny, who wasn''t interested in women, gulped at the sight.

    Nan Chen furrowed his brows and shot Giorgio a displeased look. ¡°I thought you said it isn''t revealing?¡±

    ¡°Sir Chen, evening gowns are supposed to be revealing. I''ve altered this one. If I weren''t good at this,

    the result wouldn''t be this amazing. Never mind if it isn''t revealing her chest; if her back is also covered

    up, it will resemble a nun''s habit!¡±

    ¡°This outfit isn''t suitable. It is a defective item,¡± Nan Chen announced.

    Giorgio''s frustration kicked in. ¡°I made it perfect! It looks gorgeous on her. Why isn''t it suitable?¡±

    ¡°You didn''t meet my requirements.¡±

    ¡°You told me to make the dress'' train longer, and I did that. This isn''t just an evening gown or an

    ordinary dress; it perfectlybines the two. Only a genius like me can create such a wless outfit.

    How dare you say it is a defective item?¡±

    Nan Chen didn''t reply. Instead, he turned to look at Ning Ran.

    She was indeed stunning. However, he felt slightly ufortable at the sight of her exposed back.

    The evening gown was considered conservative.

    Nevertheless, Nan Chen couldn''t ept it. He didn''t want her to reveal her body.

    Regardless, it was toote to sew the back together. There was no time to make any changes.

    Thus, he had to let it slip.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, are you satisfied? You look even more elegant in it.¡± Giorgio turned to Ning Ran to get her

    praise.

    As Nan Chen was still around, she dared not utter a word.

    If I say I''m not satisfied, that will be a huge blow to Giorgio. But if I say I''m satisfied, I''ll be going against

    Nan Chen. It would be best to stay silent.

    ¡°Daddy, cocktail dresses should be revealing in some way to show a woman''s curves. That''s

    reasonable.¡± Dabao tried to persuade his father to change his mind.

    Nan Chen looked at him. ¡°How do you know that?¡±

    ¡°I read that in a book.¡±

    Dabao was confident, for he was knowledgeable.

    Nan Chen couldn''t say anything else since his son had already put it that way.

    Fortunately, the dress was revealing in the back. If it showed Ning Ran''s cleavage, he would definitely

    object.

    ¡°All right. You should change back to your clothes. It''s time to style your hair now,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Giorgio yelled, ¡°Wait a minute. Let me take a picture!¡± He whipped out his camera to take a picture of

    her.

    ¡°You can take a picture. However, you can''t post it on social media or send it elsewhere,¡± Nan Chen

    warned icily.

    ¡°Got it. I''ll just disy it in my shop. She looks stunning in my dress, so I have to take a photo to

    commemorate it.¡±

    ¡°You designed this for the princess. What will you tell her then?¡± Ning Ran was worried.

    Giorgio answered, ¡°Oh, I''ll tell her the truth and design another dress for her free of charge.¡±

    Ning Ran still felt uneasy. ¡°Will she understand you?¡±

    ¡°The princess is an easy-going person. She has agreed to the matter. She also said she would watch

    the live broadcast and cheer for you. Oh, the movie that you acted in was dubbed in her native

    language. She''s currently watching it.¡±

    ¡°Please thank her on my behalf. I owe her one.¡±

    ¡°Oh, it''s nothing. Who will pay for the bill?¡± Giorgio asked.

    ¡°Let me change back to my clothes.¡±

    With that said, Ning Ran hurried back to the changing room. The dress is extremely pricey, so whoever

    is rich enough can pay for it. I won''t make the payment. I might be the one wearing the dress, but it

    wasn''t me who wanted to buy such an expensive one.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°You want me to pay for a defective dress?¡± In the changing room, she heard Nan Chen ask.

    ¡°What? Are you trying to avoid paying up, Sir Chen? The dress cost one hundred and sixty thousand. I

    spent a lot of time altering and perfecting it, so the total would be two hundred thousand! Since we''re

    friends, I won''t ask for the extra forty thousand. You''ll have to pay one hundred and sixty thousand for

    the dress itself,¡± Giorgio shrieked.

    Ragarss, it was toota to saw tha back togathar. Thara was no tima to maka any changas.

    Thus, ha had tot it slip.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, ara you satisfiad? You look avan mora gant in it.¡± Giorgio turnad to Ning Ran to gat har

    praisa.

    As Nan Chan was still around, sha darad not uttar a word.

    If I say I''m not satisfiad, that will ba a huga blow to Giorgio. But if I say I''m satisfiad, I''ll ba going against

    Nan Chan. It would ba bast to stay snt.

    ¡°Daddy, cocktail drassas should ba ravaaling in soma way to show a woman''s curvas. That''s

    raasona.¡± Dabao triad to parsuada his fathar to changa his mind.

    Nan Chan lookad at him. ¡°How do you know that?¡±

    ¡°I raad that in a book.¡±

    Dabao was confidant, for ha was knodgaa.

    Nan Chan couldn''t say anything alsa sinca his son had alraady put it that way.

    Fortunataly, tha drass was ravaaling in tha back. If it showad Ning Ran''s avaga, ha would dafinitaly

    objact.

    ¡°All right. You should changa back to your clothas. It''s tima to st your hair now,¡± Nan Chan said.

    Giorgio yad, ¡°Wait a minuta. Lat ma taka a pictura!¡± Ha whippad out his camara to taka a pictura of

    har.

    ¡°You can taka a pictura. Howavar, you can''t post it on social madia or sand it alsawhara,¡± Nan Chan

    warnad icily.

    ¡°Got it. I''ll just disy it in my shop. Sha looks stunning in my drass, so I hava to taka a photo to

    commamorata it.¡±

    ¡°You dasignad this for tha princass. What will you tall har than?¡± Ning Ran was worriad.

    Giorgio answarad, ¡°Oh, I''ll tall har tha truth and dasign anothar drass for har fraa of charga.¡±

    Ning Ran still falt unaasy. ¡°Will sha undarstand you?¡±

    ¡°Tha princass is an aasy-going parson. Sha has agraad to tha mattar. Sha also said sha would watch

    tha liva broadcast and chaar for you. Oh, tha movia that you actad in was dubbad in har nativa

    languaga. Sha''s currantly watching it.¡±

    ¡°asa thank har on my bahalf. I owa har ona.¡±

    ¡°Oh, it''s nothing. Who will pay for tha bill?¡± Giorgio askad.

    ¡°Lat ma changa back to my clothas.¡±

    With that said, Ning Ran hurriad back to tha changing room. Tha drass is axtramaly pricay, so whoavar

    is rich anough can pay for it. I won''t maka tha paymant. I might ba tha ona waaring tha drass, but it

    wasn''t ma who wantad to buy such an axpansiva ona.

    ¡°You want ma to pay for a dafactiva drass?¡± In tha changing room, sha haard Nan Chan ask.

    ¡°What? Ara you trying to avoid paying up, Sir Chan? Tha drass cost ona hundrad and sixty thousand. I

    spant a lot of tima altaring and parfacting it, so tha total would ba two hundrad thousand! Sinca wa''ra

    friands, I won''t ask for tha axtra forty thousand. You''ll hava to pay ona hundrad and sixty thousand for

    tha drass itsalf,¡± Giorgio shriakad.

    Ning Ran was in the opinion that they should pay up. After all, Giorgio had poured his efforts into the

    outfit. They couldn''t let him suffer losses, could they?

    ¡°Two hundred thousand? Are you sure?¡± Nan Chen inquired.

    Giorgio responded, ¡°Of course. If you refuse to pay two hundred thousand, one hundred and sixty

    thousand will suffice.¡±

    ¡°Ning Ran is going to wear this dress to the Golden Flower Awards. It is broadcasted live globally, so

    everyone would watch it. I''m certain some observantizens would want to know the brand of the

    dress, and they''ll realize it was a custom-made dress. I''ll then ask someone to reveal deliberately that

    you''re the designer. Is this promotion worth one million? You''ll have to pay me eight hundred thousand

    after taking out the cost of the outfit,¡± Nan Chen told him calmly.

    ¡°Well...¡± Giorgio was at a loss for words.

    ¡°I''ll transfer two hundred thousand to your ount, and you''ll have to pay me eight hundred thousand,¡±

    Nan Chen added icily.

    The tailor was delighted. ¡°Will you really reveal that I''m the designer? If so, I''ll give you the dress for

    free!¡±

    Sunny chimed in, ¡°Sir Chen has always been a man of his word.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Sir Chen always keeps his word. I trust you. Thank you so much! Remember to tell everyone I''m

    the designer!¡±

    Nan Chen nced at him. ¡°Next year, you''ll have countless orders. I believe you''ll be as busy as a

    bee.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Sir Chen. Thank you!¡±

    Nan Chen paid no heed to his grateful words.

    Ning Ran found their exchange bizarre. I took the princess'' dress for free? Anyway, it''s between the

    men. I don''t mind as long as I don''t have to pay for it.

    She had just walked out when Giorgio came to her. ¡°Ms. Ding, I''ll design your gown for the next award

    ceremony you''re going to attend!¡±

    Oh? He seems to trust me a lot. I can''t believe he''s already thinking about the next one. I''m fortunate

    enough to get to where l am today. It still feels like a dream.

    ¡°Daddy, can we join the ceremony tonight?¡± Erbao asked excitedly.

    ¡°No, there will be a crowd, and it''s dangerous. You can watch the event live on TV.¡±

    Erbao pouted unhappily. ¡°Mommy can walk the red carpet with me. Isn''t that a creative idea?¡±

    ¡°Next time, okay? She''ll walk the red carpet with you when she wins the Best Actress Award,¡± Nan

    Chen said.

    Best Actress Award? Nan Chen thinks too highly of me.

 Chapter 554

    Chapter 554

    At six in the evening, the annual Golden Flower Awards was held at Flower City International

    Convention Center.

    The authorities had enforced traffic restrictions a few miles away, and only certain cars were allowed

    into the vicinity.

    Those with special passes could drive to the convention center and stop before the red carpet.

    The celebrities got off their vehicles and smoothed down their outfits before heading to the wall to leave

    their autographs there.

    The red carpet was a few hundred meters long, a perfect chance to showcase themselves.

    Reporters had gathered on both sides of the red carpet and directed their cameras toward the

    celebrities to take photos of the celebrities'' most glorious or most embarrassing moments.

    It was an interesting event, for all celebrities would do their best to attract everyone''s attention.

    Some would trudge slowly along the red carpet to prolong their walk so the reporters could take more

    photos of them, for they enjoyed being at the center of attraction.

    Some gued with scandals wanted to show their faces but were afraid of getting cursed, so they''d

    walk past the reporters swiftly.

    Some wanted publicity and deliberately caused a wardrobe malfunction.

    All kinds of people would be seen there. The red-carpet event was a star-studded fashion show.

    The next celebrity to walk the red carpet was Ding Mi, a Best Neer Award nominee.

    The ck Rolls-Royce that Ding Mi took drove up to the red carpet slowly.

    Ning Ran''s attire was close to perfection, but that didn''t stop her from feeling nervous.

    She had attended several important events and filmed at the TV station in front of countless cameras.

    However, it was her first time walking the red carpet. Anxiety wed up her throat, and her palms were

    sweaty.

    Despite taking deep breaths, she couldn''t calm down.

    Suddenly, Nan Chen, who was sitting beside her, took her hand.

    Her hands are cool as though she had just soaked them in ice.

    ¡°Are you afraid?¡± he scoffed.

    ¡°Of course not. Why would I be afraid?¡± Ning Ran refused to admit to it.

    ¡°Then why are your hands cold and mmy? I thought you were strong. Are you that easily

    frightened?¡±

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran said nothing, for she was indeed frightened. However, she refused to admit to it.

    In fact, she felt the urge to pee despite having peed before getting into the car.

    ¡°Zheng Lunlun will walk with me, right? Where is he?¡±

    Ning Ran nced around to divert her attention so she wouldn''t seem that nervous.

    ¡°He''s in the car behind us. They will be here soon,¡± Nan Chen told her.

    ¡°Why didn''t they take our car? Isn''t that a better choice?¡±

    ¡°I don''t want them to know Lunlun is rted to the Nan family. It is best to keep our rtionship to as

    few people as possible,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Well, I don''t want to create trouble for him.¡±

    ¡°What? If others find out he''s your nephew, he''ll receive more attention. There won''t be any trouble,¡±

    Ning Ran stated doubtfully.

    Nan Chen responded curtly, ¡°Don''t ask questions if you know nothing.¡±

    ¡°Fine, I know nothing. We''re about to arrive. Will we have to wait for him there?¡±

    The change in the topic didn''t manage to alleviate Ning Ran''s anxiety. In fact, it had the opposite effect.

    Nan Chen took her hand. ¡°It''s fine, so don''t worry. This is nothing. There will be bigger events for you to

    attend in the future.¡±

    ¡°I''m not nervous!¡± Ning Ran was lying to herself.

    ¡°Don''t be scared. The kids will be disappointed to see you chickening up on TV,¡± Nan Chen reminded

    her.

    Ning Ran turned at her shoulder. ¡°Why aren''t they here yet?¡±

    At once, she spotted the car behind her.

    The car rolled to a stop, and Ning Ran made to get off the car. However, Nan Chen stopped her and

    made her wait.

    Right then, Zheng Lunlun alighted from the car behind them. He was dressed in a white tuxedo that

    matched Ning Ran''s ck evening gown.

    He opened the door and halted in surprise at the sight of Nan Chen. He had no idea his uncle would

    tag along.

    ¡°Uncle.¡±

    Nan Chen grunted in acknowledgement. ¡°Remember to take good care of your aunt.¡±

    Strangely, Zheng Lunlun still couldn''t ept that Ning Ran was his aunt. It felt weird to him to address

    her that way.

    However, Nan Chen was staring at him and waiting for his answer. He had no choice but to nod. ¡°All

    right, Uncle.¡±

    Zheng Lunlun reached out to ce his hand above the door, and Ning Ran got out of the car.

    Another person emerged from the car behind them. It was Ye Meng.

    The diva was wearing a lc evening gown that exposed her mounts. She had revealed every inch of

    her body that she could.

    Nevertheless, she was curvaceous enough to steal the spotlight.

    If I am in that outfit, Nan Chen shall beat me to my death, Ning Ran mused to herself.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, it has been a while,¡± Ye Meng eximed.

    She stretched her arms wide and came toward Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran went up to her, and they embraced each other.

    The reporters immediately clicked the shutters, for this meant that bothdies had reconciled.

    It doesn''t matter if celebrities fight or reconcile, for the matter would definitely make the headlines.

    ¡°Why didn''t thay taka our car? Isn''t that a battar choica?¡±

    ¡°I don''t want tham to know Lunlun is rtad to tha Nan family. It is bast to kaap our rtionship to as

    faw pao as possi,¡± Nan Chan axinad.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Wall, I don''t want to craata trou for him.¡±

    ¡°What? If othars find out ha''s your naphaw, ha''ll racaiva mora attantion. Thara won''t ba any trou,¡±

    Ning Ran statad doubtfully.

    Nan Chan raspondad curtly, ¡°Don''t ask quastions if you know nothing.¡±

    ¡°Fina, I know nothing. Wa''ra about to arriva. Will wa hava to wait for him thara?¡±

    Tha changa in tha topic didn''t managa to aviata Ning Ran''s anxiaty. In fact, it had tha opposita affact.

    Nan Chan took har hand. ¡°It''s fina, so don''t worry. This is nothing. Thara will ba biggar avants for you to

    attand in tha futura.¡±

    ¡°I''m not narvous!¡± Ning Ran was lying to harsalf.

    ¡°Don''t ba scarad. Tha kids will ba disappointad to saa you chickaning up on TV,¡± Nan Chan ramindad

    har.

    Ning Ran turnad at har shouldar. ¡°Why aran''t thay hara yat?¡±

    At onca, sha spottad tha car bahind har.

    Tha car rod to a stop, and Ning Ran mada to gat off tha car. Howavar, Nan Chan stoppad har and

    mada har wait.

    Right than, Zhang Lunlun alightad from tha car bahind tham. Ha was drassad in a whita tuxado that

    matchad Ning Ran''s ck avaning gown.

    Ha opanad tha door and haltad in surprisa at tha sight of Nan Chan. Ha had no idaa his un would

    tag along.

    ¡°Un.¡±

    Nan Chan gruntad in acknodgamant. ¡°Ramambar to taka good cara of your aunt.¡±

    Strangaly, Zhang Lunlun still couldn''t apt that Ning Ran was his aunt. It falt waird to him to addrass

    har that way.

    Howavar, Nan Chan was staring at him and waiting for his answar. Ha had no choica but to nod. ¡°All

    right, Un.¡±

    Zhang Lunlun raachad out to ca his hand abova tha door, and Ning Ran got out of tha car.

    Anothar parson amargad from tha car bahind tham. It was Ya Mang.

    Tha diva was waaring a lc avaning gown that axposad har mounts. Sha had ravad avary inch of

    har body that sha could.

    Navarthss, sha was curvacaous anough to staal tha spotlight.

    If I am in that outfit, Nan Chan shall baat ma to my daath, Ning Ran musad to harsalf.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, it has baan a wh,¡± Ya Mang aximad.

    Sha stratchad har arms wida and cama toward Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran want up to har, and thay ambracad aach othar.

    Tha raportars immadiataly clickad tha shuttars, for this maant that bothdias had raconcd.

    It doasn''t mattar if cbritias fight or raconc, for tha mattar would dafinitaly maka tha haadlinas.

    The reporters loved all sorts of scandals and news that could make the headlines.

    Zheng Lunlun lifted his right arm and shot Ning Ran a hint.

    Naturally, Ning Ran understood what he meant and held his arm.

    Ye Meng stood on his left, and Ning Ran stood on his right. The three of them then walked the red

    carpet together.

    At once, the fans screamed in delight. Ning Ran listened carefully and heard some shouting ¡°Ding Mi.¡±

    However, most were shouting ¡°Lunlun.¡±

    Recently, Ye Meng was embroiled in scandals, but her fans were also here.

    ¡°Calm down and smile,¡± Zheng Lunlun reminded Ning Ran.

    As Ning Ran was too nervous, her palms were sweaty again. Even her legs felt like jelly.

    I thought I was strong, but it turns out I''m a coward.

    ¡°Ding Mi! Ding Mi!¡±

    Halfway through the red carpet, some people started yelling her stage-name loudly.

    Ning Ran''s lips curled up as she waved at them.

    Without warning, she realized her footsteps had grown heavy. She was moving forward, but someone

    seemed to stop her from advancing.

    Turning at her shoulder, she noticed Ye Meng had stepped on her train.

    The reporters who had noticed the mishap promptly burst intoughter.

    Ning Ran felt awkward. She didn''t know what she should do.

    The dress shouldn''t have a long train in the first ce. It was all Nan Chen''s fault. He told Giorgio to

    make it longer. Look, a mishap has happened!

    Fortunately, Ye Meng realized what was going on. She bent down to pick Ning Ran''s train up.

    As the diva''s dress was low cut, she naturally shed herself when she bent down. The reporters

    reacted swiftly by taking photos of her slow action.

    No wonder she was slow, for she wanted the reporters to take photos of her shing herself.

    After picking up Ning Ran''s train, Ye Meng didn''t release it. Instead, she gestured for the former to go

    ahead. She kept her head lowered and rearranged Ning Ran''s gown before releasing it.

    Suddenly, Ning Ran recalled Wang Xiaoou had arranged an incident for Ye Meng.

    Is this the incident she meant? A female superstar bending down to rearrange a rookie''s train. The

    rookie will feel respected, while the female superstar will receive praises for her humble act. That will

    be a great topic. Besides, the female superstar also bent down to expose herself. It seemed like an

    ident but was, in fact, a prearranged incident.

    Ning Ran was impressed. Showbiz is indeed aplicated industry. I''m still green.

 Chapter 555

    Chapter 555

    Ning Ran took a pen before the wall and left her autograph.

    As she was nervous, she only realized she should be writing ¡°Ding Mi¡± instead of ¡°Ning Ran¡± after

    signing her name.

    Shit, I am a fool! What was I thinking?

    The camera caught everything. It then zoomed into Ning Ran''s autograph.

    The host spotted that, too. She strode over to Ning Ran. ¡°Ms. Ding, is ''Ning Ran'' your new stage

    name?¡±

    Ning Ran had no choice but to reveal the truth. ¡°Ding Mi is my stage name. My name, as stated in my

    ID, is Ning Ran.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I see. Should we address you as ''Ms. Ning'' instead of ''Ms. Ding''?¡±

    Ning Ran flushed shyly. ¡°Any will do. It''s just a name.¡±

    ¡°All right. You''ve been nominated for the Best Neer Award. Do you think you can win the award?¡±

    the host asked.

    That was a tough question to answer, for the results were still unknown.

    If I say I''ll win the award, what if I fail? That will be embarrassing. If I say I won''t win the award, will that

    portray me as a person who has no confidence in my own ability?

    ¡°If I don''t win it this year, I''ll try again next year. Will I still be a rookie next year, though?¡± Ning Ran

    responded with a smile.

    That was a brilliant answer. Ning Ran was saying that she wasn''t sure she would win the award despite

    her confidence. However, she''d keep working hard to improve herself to win the award one day.

    The host nodded at her superb answer. ¡°Okay. But I hope you''ll win it this year.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    After that, the host went to Zheng Lunlun. ¡°Hello, Lunlun. This is your third time at the Golden Flower

    Awards, right? How do you feel?¡±

    ¡°You''re even prettier this year,¡± he teased.

    ¡°Really? Thanks for that, Lunlun. Do you think Ms. Ding Mi will win the Best Neer Award this

    year?¡±

    It was clear that the questions were prepared in advance.

    By right, she should be asking someone as popr as Zheng Lunlun about himself.

    As the questions revolved around Ning Ran, it was obvious that they wanted to hype up her status.

    ¡°Whether she gets it or not, she''s still the best in my opinion,¡± Zheng Lunlun answered with a smile.

    ¡°Wow, that''s a greatpliment. Thanks, Lunlun!¡±

    It was Ye Meng''s turn. She was growing impatient.

    ¡°Ms. Ye, we''re surprised to see you walking the red carpet with Ms. Ding. Previously, there was a rumor

    circting online that you both had a misunderstanding, right?¡±

    Indeed, the interview was staged, for every question revolved around Ning Ran.

    After Ning Ran and the rest made it here, no celebrities showed up for some time.

    That way, the host got sufficient time to interview the three of them.

    Ye Meng faced the camera and tossed her hair back casually. She shed a grin and replied, ¡°You said

    it was a misunderstanding yourself. We talked it out and resolved it easily. I feel a connection with Ms.

    Ding. In fact, I liked her from our first encounter, despite not knowing her back then. After watching her

    movie, I was pleasantly surprised. She''s pretty and can act well, so she has a bright future ahead of

    her. We''re besties now. I hope we''ll get to work together sometimeter.¡±

    Ye Meng''s answer was the longest among them, for she was an experienced celebrity.

    ¡°All right. Thank you for your time, Ms. Ye. You look gorgeous today.¡±

    ¡°Thank you!¡±

    After the brief interview came to an end, the next round of celebrities arrived.

    Under the staff''s lead, Ning Ran found her seat. She finally felt relieved.

    Luckily, I didn''t embarrass myself too much. It''s a pass.

    ¡°How was it? It''s fun to walk the red carpet, right? I heard many fans yelling your name.¡± Zheng Lunlun

    inched nearer to talk to her.

    ¡°I got so nervous that I signed the wrong name.¡± That was Ning Ran''s biggest regret.

    ¡°It''s fine. That''s your name, anyway.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for keeping mepany. Without you, I believe I''ll be even more nervous.¡±

    ¡°We''re rtives, so there''s no need to stand on formalities. I heard you''re filming a blockbuster. Why

    didn''t you invite me to be the male lead?¡±

    ¡°I don''t call the shots. Besides, you aren''t suitable for the role. The male lead is a middle-aged man

    with kids,¡± Ning Ran exined.

    ¡°Huang Zichao doesn''t look like a middle-aged man, too. It all depends on the makeup artist''s ability to

    alter one''s image, right?¡±

    ¡°But you look like an idol. Even if you get a fake moustache, you don''t look like a middle-aged man.

    Your looks are too feminine. Have you ever seen a pretty middle-aged man?¡±

    Zheng Lunlun was pleased to hear that. He bobbed his head and said, ¡°So you''re saying that I can''t

    take up certain roles because I''m pretty?¡±

    Indaad, tha intarviaw was stagad, for avary quastion ravolvad around Ning Ran.

    Aftar Ning Ran and tha rast mada it hara, no cbritias showad up for soma tima.

    That way, tha host got sufficiant tima to intarviaw tha thraa of tham.

    Ya Mang facad tha camara and tossad har hair back casually. Sha shad a grin and rapliad, ¡°You said

    it was a misundarstanding yoursalf. Wa talkad it out and rasolvad it aasily. I faal a connaction with Ms.

    Ding. In fact, I likad har from our first ancountar, daspita not knowing har back than. Aftar watching har

    movia, I was asantly surprisad. Sha''s pratty and can act wall, so sha has a bright futura ahaad of

    har. Wa''ra bastias now. I hopa wa''ll gat to work togathar somatimatar.¡±

    Ya Mang''s answar was tha longast among tham, for sha was an axpariancad cbrity.

    ¡°All right. Thank you for your tima, Ms. Ya. You look gorgaous today.¡±

    ¡°Thank you!¡±

    Aftar tha briaf intarviaw cama to an and, tha naxt round of cbritias arrivad.

    Undar tha staff''sad, Ning Ran found har saat. Sha finally falt raliavad.

    Luckily, I didn''t ambarrass mysalf too much. It''s a pass.

    ¡°How was it? It''s fun to walk tha rad carpat, right? I haard many fans yalling your nama.¡± Zhang Lunlun

    inchad naarar to talk to har.

    ¡°I got so narvous that I signad tha wrong nama.¡± That was Ning Ran''s biggast ragrat.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°It''s fina. That''s your nama, anyway.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for kaaping mapany. Without you, I baliava I''ll ba avan mora narvous.¡±

    ¡°Wa''ra rtivas, so thara''s no naad to stand on formalitias. I haard you''ra filming a blockbustar. Why

    didn''t you invita ma to ba tha mad?¡±

    ¡°I don''t call tha shots. Basidas, you aran''t suita for tha r. Tha mad is a mid-agad man

    with kids,¡± Ning Ran axinad.

    ¡°Huang Zichao doasn''t look lika a mid-agad man, too. It all dapands on tha makaup artist''s ability to

    altar ona''s imaga, right?¡±

    ¡°But you look lika an idol. Evan if you gat a faka moustacha, you don''t look lika a mid-agad man.

    Your looks ara too faminina. Hava you avar saan a pratty mid-agad man?¡±

    Zhang Lunlun was asad to haar that. Ha bobbad his haad and said, ¡°So you''ra saying that I can''t

    taka up cartain rs bacausa I''m pratty?¡±

    ¡°Yes, you''re an idol. Ugly roles don''t suit you.¡±

    ¡°I get it now. I''ll ask Uncle to get me good-looking roles. By the way, how are you and Uncle doing?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°How has your rtionship progressed?¡±

    Ning Ran couldn''t answer that question, for she had no idea what their current rtionship was.

    A married couple? I don''t think we''re that intimate. We aren''t even lovers. But our rtionship isn''t as

    simple as an employer and his employee.

    ¡°It''splicated. Hey, the ceremony is about to begin.¡±

    As it was Ning Ran''s first time attending an award ceremony, she was excited to watch it in person.

    However, Zheng Lunlun had his fair share of attending such events. He wanted to chat to Ning Ran

    instead of watching the boring performances.

    He would''ve pulled out his phone to y games if the cameras weren''t directed at them.

    Seeing how engrossed Ning Ran was, he rolled his eyes.

    The performance came to an end, and it was time to announce the winner of an award.

    After that, another performance wouldmence, then another award winner would be announced.

    Around half an hourter, it was time to announce the winner of the Best Neer Award.

    There were three nominees¡ªNing Ran, an actress, and an actor.

    She hadn''t even heard of the other two nominees. Apparently, they were the main leads of a college

    romance movie and both were nominated.

    Besides, it was rumored that they were a couple in real life. It was perfect.

    Ning Ran grew nervous once again.

    She initially thought the award didn''t matter to her. However, it wasn''t the case.

    She wanted the award not entirely for herself, but also for her kids, who were waiting for the results

    before the TV.

    If she could receive the award, it would definitely boost her position in showbiz.

    If she didn''t, that wouldn''t affect her progress either.

    The kids had been waiting before the TV to see their mommy win the award.

    Thus, Ning Ran was filled with anticipation.

    She looked like a student waiting for her results to be announced.

    If the results were bad, the kids would be disappointed, and she''d feel guilty.

    To others, it was nothing but a show. On the contrary, she felt insecure because of her children.

 Chapter 556

    Chapter 556

    The clip showing the three neers was yed on the screen. When Ning Ran''s The Sound of

    Thunder 2 was shown on the screen, her fans screamed excitedly.

    That proved that many had watched the movie and loved it.

    It was great news, so Ning Ran was ecstatic.

    ¡°Before announcing the winner, we have an announcement. There will be a mysterious guest giving out

    the Best Neer Award today. This guest has never participated in any entertainment shows or

    award ceremonies. It''s our honor to invite him here today. Who will be the lucky winner to get the award

    from him today? Let''s look forward to that!¡± the host announced.

    The piece of information sessfully ignited everyone''s curiosity.

    The male host gave the envelope to the female host. ¡°You should read the winner. I feel pressured.¡±

    ¡°You should do it. It''s more appropriate for you to announce the winner,¡± the female host said, and gave

    the envelope back to him with a grin.

    For the other awards, the guest would be the one announcing the winner.

    However, it was different for the Best Neer Award, for they had to keep the guest''s identity a

    secret. The host would reveal the winner first. After the winner came onto the stage, the guest would

    then show up.

    ¡°If so, let''s open the envelope and announce the winner together.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    ¡°The winner of the Best Neer Award at the sixth annual Golden Flower Awards is...¡± the host

    trailed off to build the suspense.

    Everyone fell silent and waited for the revtion.

    ¡°Ding Mi!¡± both hosts announced in unison.

    A round of apuse filled the air as people started chanting the name.

    Ning Ran stiffened in her seat. She heard her name being announced as the winner, but she didn''t

    know how to react.

    ¡°Stand up. Bow in all directions to express your gratitude,¡± Zheng Lunlun tapped her shoulder and

    reminded her gently.

    Ning Ran finally regained herposure and stood up to bow to the crowd in all directions to express

    her gratitude.

    She then returned to her seat.

    Zheng Lunlun grew frantic. ¡°Go up the stage! Why did you return to your seat? Do you want them to

    bring your award to you?¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    Ning Ran got up hastily and walked up the stage.

    The dazzling lights focused on her, and she felt slightly dizzy.

    So this is what a glorious moment feels like.

    She had only won the Best Neer Award, but her mind had gone nk. She even had difficulty

    breathing.

    nked by the staff, she walked up to the stage and stood beside the hosts.

    Ning Ran stared at the audience with an unnatural expression. She took a deep breath and recollected

    herself before shing a pleasant smile.

    ¡°All right. The winner of the Best Neer Award is with us. Let us invite the mysterious guest to

    present the award to Ms. Ding. Who will he be?¡± The host kept everyone in suspense again.

    ¡°First, let''s express our gratitude to the sponsor of the event, Nanshi Corporation. Let us now wee

    the chairman and CEO of Nanshi Corporation, Mr. Nan Chen! Please give him a round of apuse!¡±

    Ning Ran was stunned.

    Nan Chen didn''t tell me he was going to be here. He gave me a ride but said nothing about

    participating in the event!

    Nan Chen was a business mogul who never participated in these events.

    As a conglomerate, Nanshi Corporation would at most send their deputy CEO.

    No one knew that Nan Chen would show up.

    As the award ceremony was held in Flower City, most of the audience were locals.

    Those from Flower City knew who he was, but most of them had never seen him in person.

    When his name was announced, there was an uproar in the crowd.

    d in a ck tuxedo, Nan Chen came up to the stage slowly.

    The light shone on his figure, illuminating his sharp and chiseled features. He wasn¡¯t a model, but he

    should have been, for his aloof and elegant aura made everyone go mad for him.

    Some people, including the celebrities, pulled out their phones to take photos of him.

    Nan Chen kept his poker face and came to a stop beside the hosts.

    He stood there saying nothing, but there was an intimidating air about him.

    ¡°Wee, Mr. Nan. Would you like to say something to Ms. Ding, the winner of the Best Neer

    Award?¡± the host asked.

    The crowd went wild again. There were many rumors involving Nan Chen and Ning Ran circting

    online, so no one knew which was the truth.

    Now that they were both present, they were curious about how Nan Chen would answer that question.

    He took the mike and said curtly, ¡°She''s great.¡±

    The host assumed he would continue his speech, but that was all the man had to say.

    It was the first time the host had encountered a difficult guest, so he couldn''t hide his surprise.

    ¡°All right. Mr. Nan, please present the award to Ms. Ding now.¡±

    nkad by tha staff, sha walkad up to tha staga and stood basida tha hosts.

    Ning Ran starad at tha audianca with an unnatural axprassion. Sha took a daap braath and racoctad

    harsalf bafora shing a asant sm.

    ¡°All right. Tha winnar of tha Bast Naar Award is with us. Lat us invita tha mystarious guast to

    prasant tha award to Ms. Ding. Who will ha ba?¡± Tha host kapt avaryona in suspansa again.

    ¡°First,t''s axprass our gratituda to tha sponsor of tha avant, Nanshi Corporation. Lat us now waa

    tha chairman and CEO of Nanshi Corporation, Mr. Nan Chan! asa giva him a round of apusa!¡±

    Ning Ran was stunnad.

    Nan Chan didn''t tall ma ha was going to ba hara. Ha gava ma a rida but said nothing about

    participating in tha avant!

    Nan Chan was a businass mogul who navar participatad in thasa avants.

    As a conglomarata, Nanshi Corporation would at most sand thair daputy CEO.

    No ona knaw that Nan Chan would show up.

    As tha award caramony was hald in Flowar City, most of tha audianca wara locals.

    Thosa from Flowar City knaw who ha was, but most of tham had navar saan him in parson.

    Whan his nama was announcad, thara was an uproar in tha crowd.

    d in a ck tuxado, Nan Chan cama up to tha staga slowly.

    Tha light shona on his figura, illuminating his sharp and chisd faaturas. Ha wasn¡¯t a modal, but ha

    should hava baan, for his aloof and gant aura mada avaryona go mad for him.

    Soma pao, including tha cbritias, pud out thair phonas to taka photos of him.

    Nan Chan kapt his pokar faca and cama to a stop basida tha hosts.

    Ha stood thara saying nothing, but thara was an intimidating air about him.

    ¡°Waa, Mr. Nan. Would you lika to say somathing to Ms. Ding, tha winnar of tha Bast Naar

    Award?¡± tha host askad.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Tha crowd want wild again. Thara wara many rumors involving Nan Chan and Ning Ran circting

    onlina, so no ona knaw which was tha truth.

    Now that thay wara both prasant, thay wara curious about how Nan Chan would answar that quastion.

    Ha took tha mika and said curtly, ¡°Sha''s graat.¡±

    Tha host assumad ha would continua his spaach, but that was all tha man had to say.

    It was tha first tima tha host had ancountarad a difficult guast, so ha couldn''t hida his surprisa.

    ¡°All right. Mr. Nan, asa prasant tha award to Ms. Ding now.¡±

    The usher came on stage with the Best Neer Award trophy.

    Nan Chen took the trophy and handed it to Ning Ran.

    A smile flitted across her lips as she epted the award from him.

    She nced at him and sensed a hint of smugness. He wore a You-had-no-idea-I''d-be-here-to-

    present-the-award look.

    After the trophy exchanged hands, Nan Chen suddenly inched forward without any warning to give

    Ning Ran a brief hug.

    The crowd went crazy again.

    They knew Nan Chen was here to support Ning Ran, but they didn''t expect to see him give her a hug!

    The other guests did nothing of the sort, so the crowd wondered if that was a public disy of affection.

    Are they announcing their rtionship officially?

    ¡°Oh, a match made in heaven. I''m so jealous!¡± the female host dered.

    After the hug ended, Nan Chen strode off without a word.

    The female host immediately said, ¡°Thank you for making time to be here, Mr. Nan.¡±

    Ning Ran was left alone on stage. She was still in a daze.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, do you have something to tell Mr. Nan?¡± the female host inquired.

    Ning Ran mulled over her question before answering. ¡°He''s great.¡±

    Everyone burst intoughter, for she had returned thement to Nan Chen and mimicked his words.

    The female host smiled. She''s smart to give the samement. Besides showing her cheeky self, she

    can also ignite the audience''s curiosity. That was a great move.

    ¡°Okay. Do you have anything to say after receiving the award?¡±

    It was Ning Ran''s cue to give her gratitude speech.

    Wang Xiaoou had someone draft her one in advance that was about two minutes long.

    It should neither be too long and drag the ceremony nor too short and hasty.

    Besides, the Best Neer Award wasn''t an important award. It wasn''t appropriate for the winner to

    give a long speech.

    Ning Ran had memorized hers beforehand, but her mind was nk now.

    ¡°Well, I have to thank my agency, Star Entertainment, my management team, my friends, and my

    family. Most importantly, I am grateful for the fans who have always supported me. I''ll continue to give

    my best in every production to repay your support. Thank you!¡±

    Despite forgetting her speech, Ning Ran did a good job improvising. At least she didn''t stammer.

    Meanwhile, Nan Chen halted in his track backstage. She didn''t mention me in her speech.

 Chapter 557

    Chapter 557

    Unbelievable! She actually left me out of her thank-you speech! I set my work aside and bent my

    principle of not attending any entertainment event to offer her moral support. I even gave her a hug with

    the whole world watching. How could she leave me out of her stupid speech? What an ungrateful

    woman! I''m going to teach her a lesson!

    Temper ring, Nan Chen stormed out from backstage.

    Qiao Zhan advanced toward him and greeted respectfully, ¡°Sir Chen.¡±

    ¡°Let''s go.¡±

    ¡°Erm... aren''t we supposed to wait for Madam?¡±

    ¡°Who the hell is that?¡± Nan Chen countered coldly.

    Qiao Zhan was dumbfounded. They interacted well on the stage just now, didn''t they? How on earth

    did they end up having a conflict again?

    In the meantime, the twins were seated in front of the television, waiting in anticipation for Ning Ran to

    show up.

    When she won the award, Dabao lost his usualposure and jumped down from the couch in

    exhration. ¡°Oh yeah! Mommy, well done!¡±

    At the sight of her brother''s high spirits, Erbao, too, jumped down from the couch and cheered, ¡°Oh

    yeah! Our mommy is the greatest in this world!¡±

    ¡°Too bad.¡± Dabao was suddenly back to his normal self.

    ¡°Too bad? Why?¡± The girl scratched her head in puzzlement.

    ¡°How nice if Daddy could show up and propose to Mommy.¡±

    ¡°Ah! A surprise proposal like the soap opera. Does Daddy know the trick?¡± Erbao looked at her brother.

    ¡°No idea. But I think he should know.¡±

    ¡°I guess Daddy forgot. It''s all right. We can talk about it next time. Most importantly, Mommy won the

    award.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. We don''t have to worry about that now. As long as Daddy loves Mommy, it''s just a matter of time

    before he proposes to her.¡±

    ¡°I''ll give Daddy a call now to ask when they will be back!¡± Erbao suggested excitedly.

    Nan Chen''s phone rang just as the driver was about to start the car.

    Deep down, he could not help snorting in exasperation. Hmph! How could that woman doesn''t even

    mention a single word about me! Well, I''ll leave without her!

    ¡°Daddy, when will you and Mommy be back?¡± Erbao''s mellifluous voice sounded from the other end of

    the line.

    ¡°I''ll be home soon,¡± Nan Chen replied briefly.

    ¡°Is Mommy with you? Doesn''t she need to stay till the end of the ceremony?¡±

    ¡°I''ll be home first, and she''ll be backter.¡±

    Hearing that, Erbao yelled anxiously, ¡°How could you leave Mommy alone? What if she gets lost? She

    is bad with directions!¡±

    ¡°She is bad with directions?¡± Nan Chen repeated in disbelief.

    ¡°Yeah! When we were overseas, Dabao and I were the ones leading the way. Mommy doesn''t have

    any sense of direction. If you leave her alone there, she won''t be able to find her way home!¡± Erbao

    exined solemnly and did not seem to be joking at all.

    Feeling amused, Nan Chen chuckled. ¡°Do you mean to say that you have a better sense of direction

    than her?¡±

    ¡°Of course! If you don''t believe it, you can ask Dabao. I''ve never lost my way so far!¡± she stated

    proudly.

    Nan Chen was actually well aware of that. He recalled how she would go missing when they were out

    together. He would be a bundle of nerves, but Ning Ran and Dabao were unfazed since Erbao

    always found her way back.

    ¡°So I should wait for her?¡± Nan Chen queried again.

    ¡°Yeah! If not, Mommy surely can''t find her way home. Imagine how she tries to find her wayte at

    night. How pitiful she is! So, Daddy, you must wait for her to be home together, okay?¡± Erbao reminded

    him again.

    ¡°Okay! Go to bed with Dabao first. Don''t worry. We''ll be home together.¡±

    ¡°It''s still not time for bed yet, and we''re not sleepy. We''ll wait for you and Mommy.¡±

    ¡°All right. Go to bed first if you feel sleepyter. Don''t stay up till toote, okay?¡± Nan Chen advised her.

    ¡°Hmm! We got it! Daddy, bye.¡±

    ¡°Bye,¡± Nan Chen replied and hang up the phone.

    Next, he turned to instruct Qiao Zhan, ¡°Just wait for a while more.¡±

    ¡°Didn''t you say that you wanted to leave moments ago?¡±

    ¡°ording to my daughter, that silly woman doesn''t have a sense of direction. Thus, she insists I

    should wait for her, fearing that her mommy will lose her way,¡± Nan Chen exined resignedly.

    Qiao Zhanughed. ¡°But Madam doesn''t look like one without a sense of direction.¡±

    ¡°Huh? How can you jump to such a hasty conclusion? To me, she''s hopelessly foolish. Call Wang

    Xiaoou to give that silly woman a call, telling her not to wait till the end of the ceremony. It''s just a small

    award for the best new artist. Does she think she''s a celebrity? Why bother to stay there the whole

    night till the ceremony ends?¡±

    ¡°Madam deserves to be the winner of the award. She has good acting skills other than looking

    gorgeous...¡±

    ¡°Pfft!¡± Nan Chen snorted before he could finish his words.

    ¡°I mean, you''ve sessfully groomed her into an excellent artist!¡± Qiao Zhan tried to appease him.

    ¡°Qiao Zhan, since when you are good at ttering others? Who did you learn it from?¡±

    ¡°Ah! I learn it from Jiang Zhe. He''s good at it!¡± Qiao Zhan shifted the me onto Jiang Zhe.

    The next second, he realized his slip of the tongue and tried to rectify the situation. ¡°But I was not

    ttering just now. I was being sincere.¡±

    ¡°Enough of that. Go and notify that woman and let her be prepared to leave.¡± Nan Chen stopped him

    from babbling with a wave.

    Faaling amusad, Nan Chan chucd. ¡°Do you maan to say that you hava a battar sansa of diraction

    than har?¡±

    ¡°Of coursa! If you don''t baliava it, you can ask Dabao. I''va navar lost my way so far!¡± sha statad

    proudly.

    Nan Chan was actually wall awara of that. Ha racad how sha would go missing whan thay wara out

    togathar. Ha would ba a bun of narvas, but Ning Ran and Dabao wara unfazad sinca Erbao

    always found har way back.

    ¡°So I should wait for har?¡± Nan Chan quariad again.

    ¡°Yaah! If not, Mommy suraly can''t find har way homa. Imagina how sha trias to find har wayta at

    night. How pitiful sha is! So, Daddy, you must wait for har to ba homa togathar, okay?¡± Erbao ramindad

    him again.

    ¡°Okay! Go to bad with Dabao first. Don''t worry. Wa''ll ba homa togathar.¡±

    ¡°It''s still not tima for bad yat, and wa''ra not apy. Wa''ll wait for you and Mommy.¡±

    ¡°All right. Go to bad first if you faal apytar. Don''t stay up till toota, okay?¡± Nan Chan advisad har.

    ¡°Hmm! Wa got it! Daddy, bya.¡±

    ¡°Bya,¡± Nan Chan rapliad and hang up tha phona.

    Naxt, ha turnad to instruct Qiao Zhan, ¡°Just wait for a wh mora.¡±

    ¡°Didn''t you say that you wantad toava momants ago?¡±

    ¡°ording to my daughtar, that silly woman doasn''t hava a sansa of diraction. Thus, sha insists I

    should wait for har, faaring that har mommy will losa har way,¡± Nan Chan axinad rasignadly.

    Qiao Zhanughad. ¡°But Madam doasn''t look lika ona without a sansa of diraction.¡±

    ¡°Huh? How can you jump to such a hasty conclusion? To ma, sha''s hopssly foolish. Call Wang

    Xiaoou to giva that silly woman a call, talling har not to wait till tha and of tha caramony. It''s just a small

    award for tha bast naw artist. Doas sha think sha''s a cbrity? Why bothar to stay thara tha wh

    night till tha caramony ands?¡±

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Madam dasarvas to ba tha winnar of tha award. Sha has good acting skills othar than looking

    gorgaous...¡±

    ¡°Pfft!¡± Nan Chan snortad bafora ha could finish his words.

    ¡°I maan, you''va sassfully groomad har into an axcant artist!¡± Qiao Zhan triad to appaasa him.

    ¡°Qiao Zhan, sinca whan you ara good at ttaring othars? Who did youarn it from?¡±

    ¡°Ah! Iarn it from Jiang Zha. Ha''s good at it!¡± Qiao Zhan shiftad tha ma onto Jiang Zha.

    Tha naxt sacond, ha raalizad his slip of tha tongua and triad to ractify tha situation. ¡°But I was not

    ttaring just now. I was baing sincara.¡±

    ¡°Enough of that. Go and notify that woman andt har ba praparad toava.¡± Nan Chan stoppad him

    from babbling with a wava.

    After a while, Ning Ran came out with Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°I left right after receiving Ou''s call. Initially, I thought we could only leave after the ceremony ended. I

    didn''t know that we could leave earlier!¡± Ning Ran chuckled.

    ¡°Uncle, where are you going now?¡± Zheng Lunlun asked curiously.

    ¡°Home. Do you want toe along?¡± Nan Chen turned to look at him.

    ¡°Can I? I haven''t seen Dabao and Erbao for quite a while. I''m thinking of visiting them too!¡± Zheng

    Lunlun responded excitedly.

    ¡°Another day then. It''s a bitte now,¡± Nan Chen turned him down right away.

    Zheng Lunlun caught a glimpse of his watch and retorted, ¡°Are you sure? Well, it''s still early!¡±

    ¡°It''ste. Talk about it again next time!¡± Nan Chen turned him down resolutely.

    In an instant, Zheng Lunlun was low in spirits. When you asked me to be back, I flew back from

    overseas at once. And when you instructed me to carry out any tasks, I never let you down. But how

    could you kick me aside after the mission was aplished? As my senior, how could you do so?

    ¡°Why don''t we let hime along? It''s not reallyte too.¡± Ning Ran tried to speak up for him.

    Nan Chen felt it might sound inconsiderate for him to continue turning his nephew down. Thus, he

    finally nodded approvingly.

    A blissful Zheng Lunlun pulled the door of the backseat open and was about to hop into the car.

    Nheless, Nan Chen red at him. It struck him at once that he had taken the wrong seat. The

    actor moved swiftly and sat in the front passenger seat obediently.

    Right that instant, a series of running footsteps sounded from behind them. ¡°They''re over there! Look!

    They''re hopping into the car!¡±

    ¡°Hurry up! Go after them!¡±

    It turned out to be a group of reporters chasing after them. They had apparently spotted Zheng Lunlun

    and Ning Ran when they tried to slip away.

    Fortunately, they managed to flee at that moment. However, the reporters did not give up and finally

    tracked them down.

    ¡°Hurry up! Don''t let the reporters catch us up!¡± Zheng Lunlun yelled out apprehensively.

    Their Rolls-Royce sped off right after Qiao Zhan stepped on the elerator. The reporters could only

    let out a wail when it was out of sight.

    ¡°Uncle, I''ve never expected that you would show up today. What a great surprise! If I''m not mistaken,

    you''ve never attended this kind of event, haven''t you?¡± Zheng Lunlun pointed out as he turned to gaze

    at Nan Chen inquisitively.

    Nan Chen paid no heed to him.

 Chapter 558

    Chapter 558

    Don''t you know I attended this ceremony for Ning Ran''s sake? Or perhaps, you''re asking me

    purposively to put me in a tight spot? Utterly speechless, Nan Chen decided to turn a deaf ear to him.

    Ning Ran felt Zheng Lunlun had asked inappropriate questions and glowered at him.

    ¡°Why are you ring at me? I''m asking out of my curiosity. It''s all right if you don''t feel like answering

    me.¡± Zheng Lunlun felt dejected, like a deted balloon.

    A pin-drop silence ensued.

    Minutester, he turned and suggested eagerly, ¡°Since we''re free now, let''s have a session!¡±

    No doubt, he was referring to having a session of the game. In his eyes, Ning Ran was an expert

    yer. However, she did not seem to be into it ever since she was back from overseas.

    ¡°No!¡± She turned him down at once, knowing Nan Chen would not like that.

    ¡°Come on! Let''s y to pass the time since we''ve nothing to do now,¡± Zheng Lunlun pestered her.

    ¡°You seem to be really free now, huh?¡± Nan Chen piped up.

    ¡°Hmm... Undeniably, we''re quite free in the car now,¡± Zheng Lunlun admitted hesitantly.

    ¡°Qiao Zhan, stop the car here. Let him be the driver then,¡± Nan Chen instructed abruptly.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Qiao Zhan was bbergasted.

    ¡°Let him drive,¡± Nan Chen repeated.

    ¡°Wait a minute! I don''t have good driving skills. Forget about it, okay?¡± Zheng Lunlun tried to talk his

    uncle into changing his mind.

    ¡°Aren''t you very free now?¡±

    ¡°Fine then. I''m not free now, okay?¡± Zheng Lunlun emphasized.

    ¡°Let him drive then. You may leave now.¡± Nan Chen insisted.

    Qiao Zhan was on cloud nine. He stopped the car by the roadside immediately and hailed a taxi.

    ¡°D*mn it! How could he leave right away?¡± Zheng Lunlun fumed.

    ¡°Go ahead to drive now!¡± Nan Chen instructed.

    ¡°I-I...¡± Zheng Lunlun stammered.

    ¡°So you''re reluctant, and I should be the one driving?¡± Nan Chen sneered.

    ¡°Fine! I''ll drive, okay? I only have myself to me!¡± Zheng Lunlunmented piteously with a grimace.

    He had no choice but to pull open the door of the driver''s seat and hop into it. Hmph! If I knew earlier

    that I would be a driver today, I surely wouldn''t tag along with them!

    Perplexed, Ning Ran could not fathom why Nan Chen seemed to be in a bad mood. He looks annoyed.

    Did anyone get on his nerves?

    After pondering for a while, she doubted inwardly. I didn''t do anything wrong, did I?

    At that moment, Nan Chen''s phone vibrated again. It turned out to be Erbao who called him once

    again. ¡°Daddy, you''re not back yet?¡±

    ¡°I''m on the way back!¡±

    ¡°How about Mommy? Is she with you now? I don''t seem to see her on TV now. Dabao said she might

    have left. Is she on the way home?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, she''s on the way back with me,¡± Nan Chen reassured her.

    Ning Ran stretched out her hand to get his phone when she seemed to overhear Erbao''s voice on the

    other end of the line. Nheless, he moved aside and refused to pass it to her.

    Did I step on his toes unintentionally? Why does he seem to be displeased to see me?

    Initially, Ning Ran was only making a wild guess. When Nan Chen refused to let her have his phone,

    she was sure she had gotten on his nerves unknowingly. But I can''t recall anything! I didn''t do anything

    wrong, did I? How did I end up irking him? Pfft! His temper is really unpredictable!

    Sensing that he was displeased, Ning Ran did not dare to infuriate him further. They remained silent

    along the way till they reached home.

    When Erbao heard the car pull to a halt, she dashed out excitedly to wee them. ¡°Mommy!¡±

    ¡°Ah! Darling, you''re not asleep?¡± Ning Ran was astounded.

    ¡°We''re waiting for you to be home! Mommy, you''re as beautiful as an angel!¡± Erbao gasped admiringly.

    In her eyes, angels were the most charming among all.

    ¡°Erbao, did you miss me?¡± Zheng Lunlun approached her and greeted her eagerly.

    ¡°Blondie, why are you here?¡±

    ¡°I''m here to visit you!¡± He winked at her.

    ¡°Oh! Really? Did you bring me any snacks?¡± Erbao cut to the chase.

    Her question caught him off guard at once. Needless to say, he did not bring anything along with him

    as he came straight from the ceremony.

    ¡°You didn''t? Hmph! Then how could you say that you''re here to visit me?¡± Erbao pouted her lips.

    ¡°I did! It''s inconvenient for me to bring along the gifts while attending the ceremony. I''ll bring them for

    you tomorrow, okay?¡± Zheng Lunlun could only lie to her so that he would not rain on her parade.

    Erbao''s face brightened a bit in an instant. ¡°All right. I''ll go and get from you tomorrow then. Our school

    holiday has started, and I''m bored stiff. Coincidentally, I can go out tomorrow to pass the time!¡±

    Erbao''s adorableness was irresistible for Zheng Lunlun. Hence, he carried her up gleefully.

    On the other hand, Dabao was nonchnt as ever and sounded mature like an adult. ¡°Mommy,

    congrattions to you on winning the award. You''re one step closer to Best Actress now.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Darling. I''d better go and get changed first. It''s exhausting wearing this!¡± Ning Ran stated

    casually.

    ¡°Mommy, you''re now on the trending topics,¡± Dabao informed her.

    ¡°Oh, is it? Are theizens rebuking me again?¡± she asked anxiously.

    ¡°No. Most of themplimented that you''re beautiful. In fact, they thought you''re the most stunning

    artist of the night.¡±

    Hearing that, she was tickled pink in an instant.

    After getting changed in her room, Ning Ran could not hold herself back from unlocking her phone to

    have a look.

    What Dabao told her a while ago was true as Bob. She was ranked at the top in the trending topics.

    The headline sounded unique as well... Two Superstars Supported The Newbie Who Deserves The

    Award For The Best New Artist.

    Amazingly, the observantizens could sense that Zheng Lunlun and Ye Meng were arranged to walk

    down the red carpet together with Ning Ran that round to help her gain fame.

    Did I stap on his toas unintantionally? Why doas ha saam to ba disasad to saa ma?

    Initially, Ning Ran was only making a wild guass. Whan Nan Chan rafusad tot har hava his phona,

    sha was sura sha had gottan on his narvas unknowingly. But I can''t racall anything! I didn''t do anything

    wrong, did I? How did I and up irking him? Pfft! His tampar is raally unpradicta!

    Sansing that ha was disasad, Ning Ran did not dara to infuriata him furthar. Thay ramainad snt

    along tha way till thay raachad homa.

    Whan Erbao haard tha car pull to a halt, sha dashad out axcitadly to waa tham. ¡°Mommy!¡±

    ¡°Ah! Darling, you''ra not aap?¡± Ning Ran was astoundad.

    ¡°Wa''ra waiting for you to ba homa! Mommy, you''ra as baautiful as an angal!¡± Erbao gaspad admiringly.

    In har ayas, angals wara tha most charming among all.

    ¡°Erbao, did you miss ma?¡± Zhang Lunlun approachad har and graatad har aagarly.

    ¡°Blondia, why ara you hara?¡±

    ¡°I''m hara to visit you!¡± Ha winkad at har.

    ¡°Oh! Raally? Did you bring ma any snacks?¡± Erbao cut to tha chasa.

    Har quastion caught him off guard at onca. Naass to say, ha did not bring anything along with him

    as ha cama straight from tha caramony.

    ¡°You didn''t? Hmph! Than how could you say that you''ra hara to visit ma?¡± Erbao poutad har lips.

    ¡°I did! It''s inconvaniant for ma to bring along tha gifts wh attanding tha caramony. I''ll bring tham for

    you tomorrow, okay?¡± Zhang Lunlun could only lia to har so that ha would not rain on har parada.

    Erbao''s faca brightanad a bit in an instant. ¡°All right. I''ll go and gat from you tomorrow than. Our school

    holiday has startad, and I''m borad stiff. Coincidantally, I can go out tomorrow to pass tha tima!¡±

    Erbao''s adoranass was irrasisti for Zhang Lunlun. Hanca, ha carriad har up afully.

    On tha othar hand, Dabao was nonchnt as avar and soundad matura lika an adult. ¡°Mommy,

    congrattions to you on winning tha award. You''ra ona stap closar to Bast Actrass now.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Darling. I''d battar go and gat changad first. It''s axhausting waaring this!¡± Ning Ran statad

    casually.

    ¡°Mommy, you''ra now on tha tranding topics,¡± Dabao informad har.

    ¡°Oh, is it? Ara tha natizans rabuking ma again?¡± sha askad anxiously.

    ¡°No. Most of thamplimantad that you''ra baautiful. In fact, thay thought you''ra tha most stunning

    artist of tha night.¡±

    Haaring that, sha was ticd pink in an instant.

    Aftar gatting changad in har room, Ning Ran could not hold harsalf back from unlocking har phona to

    hava a look.

    What Dabao told har a wh ago was trua as Bob. Sha was rankad at tha top in tha tranding topics.

    Tha haadlina soundad uniqua as wall... Two Suparstars Supportad Tha Nawbia Who Dasarvas Tha

    Award For Tha Bast Naw Artist.

    Amazingly, tha obsarvant natizans could sansa that Zhang Lunlun and Ya Mang wara arrangad to walk

    down tha rad carpat togathar with Ning Ran that round to halp har gain fama.

    Furthermore, Nan Chen''s unexpected emergence at the ceremony was obviously due to the same

    intention.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Someizensmented that Ning Ran''s bright future was beyond imagination as one of the most

    prominent business elites was backing her up. Nheless, they condemned her for having low

    emotional intelligence as she did not mention Nan Chen''s name while giving a gratitude speech on

    stage.

    Only then did Ning Ran have a grasp of the situation. So was that why Poker Face was mad at me

    along the way just now? Well, I can''t me him for that too! He attended the ceremony merely to

    support me, but how could I have forgotten to thank him on the spot? Even though I didn''t thank him on

    the stage, deep down, I''m thankful to him. Without him, I won''t be as sessful as how I''m today! I

    thought a bigwig like him wouldn''t mind.

    After stepping out of the room, she noticed that Zheng Lunlun had found a bottle of champagne out of

    nowhere.

    Meanwhile, Nan Chen remained seated silently without uttering any words.

    At that moment, the maid took out a cake from the kitchen and ced it on the dining table. ¡°Sir Chen,

    if there''s nothing else, I''ll call it a day.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded at her approvingly. ¡°Thanks for your hard work.¡±

    Ning Ran was stunned. He even prepared a cake to celebrate for me?

    ¡°Mommy, Daddy has specially prepared this to celebrate for you. We must finish it tonight. It might not

    be able tost till tomorrow!¡± Erbao licked her lips as she drooled over the cake.

    ¡°Thank you so much!¡± Ning Ran thanked Nan Chen sincerely.

    ¡°I didn''t prepare that. The maid prepared that without my knowledge. If you don''t like it, throw it away!¡±

    Hmph! He''s obviously still mad at me! Ning Ran snorted inwardly.

    ¡°Of course I like it! But how did you know that I''ll surely win this award? Did anyone pull strings for me

    behind?¡± Ning Ran asked warily.

    ¡°Uncle knew it! Not only him, all of us knew it too! After all, the other two artists nominated are

    iparable to you, be it your looks or your acting skills. If any of them turns out to be the winner of

    the award, then somebody must be manipting behind,¡± Zheng Lunlun exined.

    ¡°Thank you so much for having faith in me. I''ll continue to strive hard for self-improvement. Besides, I

    wish to express my utmost gratitude to the kids'' daddy. If not for Sir Chen, I won''t be as sessful as

    how I''m today. Sir Chen, let me drink a toast to you as a token of my gratitude!¡± Ning Ran served Nan

    Chen a ss of champagne.

    ¡°Oh no! Why do I suddenly have a feeling that I''ve turned into a third wheel? It seems I shouldn''t be

    interrupting you here!¡± Zheng Lunlun uttered exaggeratively.

    ¡°Do you only realize it now?¡± Dabao mocked.

    ¡°If I''m a third wheel, aren''t both of you the same?¡± Zheng Lunlun looked at the twins, feeling amused.

    ¡°We''re not. We''re page boy and flower girl. You''re the one third wheel!¡± Erbao''s words were straight to

    the point, like a dagger piercing his heart.

 Chapter 559

    Chapter 559

    When Nan Chen noticed Ning Ran''s sincerity, he took the ss from her.

    Realizing that everyone was going to toast each other, Erbao quickly filled her ss with juice, wanting

    to join in.

    ¡°Congrattions, Mommy! Mommy''s the best! Cheers!¡±

    After clinking their sses with each other, they all took a sip of their drink.

    ¡°Now it''s time for us to cut the cake. I ordered it to celebrate Mommy''s win,¡± Erbao eximed.

    When they opened the box, four miniature wax figures appeared in front of them¡ªtwo adults and two

    children.

    ¡°Do you see this, Blondie? These are Daddy and Mommy, and these are Dabao and me. You''re not

    here, so how can you not be the third wheel?¡± Erbao asked.

    At that very moment, Zheng Lunlun wondered when he had crossed the cheeky girl to make her attack

    him continuously.

    ¡°All right, all right. I''m the third wheel. Still, I was in that show too. I was good at acting, and that''s why

    the show was popr. That''s also why your mommy got her award, got it?¡±

    Although Zheng Lunlun was already one of the best in the industry, he still had a trace of childishness

    in him¡ªhe was actually starting to argue with Erbao.

    ¡°Mommy got her award because she was good at acting,¡± Erbao retorted.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Dabao chimed in, backing his sister up.

    ¡°Fine, fine. I''m an adult, so I will not fight with a kid. It''s whatever you say it is.¡±

    Zheng Lunlun knew he could not win the argument, so he quickly gave up.

    Ning Ran did not dare to take even a slice of the cake. Food as high calorie as the cake was something

    she dared not consume at a time like this.

    On the other hand, Zheng Lunlun did not care about that at all. He quickly took a slice and dug right in.

    Perhaps it was because he was converting his anger into hunger after failing to win an argument with

    the two children. Another possibility was that he was trying to win against them in terms of the amount

    of food consumed.

    Right then, Nan Chen''s phone vibrated. He went to the side and picked up the call.

    Suspicion bloomed in Ning Ran''s heart as she thought, Could it be from Ouyang Qing again?

    After he hung up, Nan Chen, to her surprise, honestly told her, ¡°It''s from Ouyang Qing.¡±

    Ning Ran did not reply to that.

    ¡°Ouyang Qing''s inviting you out again? Uncle, it''s already sote. It doesn''t seem right for you to go out

    now, right?¡± Zheng Lunlun said to him.

    ¡°Did I say I was going to head out?¡±

    Zheng Lunlun instantly mped his mouth shut.

    ¡°The investors had a virtual meeting in a group chat today. They were discussing getting a nameless

    actress to y the character, Fangfang, in I Am You. They''ve found someone, and they were asking

    whether I agree with their decision. They''ll be paying that actress ten million,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°That much? Isn''t that the pay for a top-tier actor? Moreover, the screen time for the girl shouldn''t be

    that much. They''re paying her much more than the top-tier entertainers in the industry. Is there really a

    child actress that expensive to hire?¡±

    ¡°Yes. She''s priceless. They''ve all concluded that having Erbao in the movie would be better. That way,

    the scene between the mother and the daughter would be much more realistic. Furthermore, it will be

    the first movie starring a real mother and daughter together. It would be a good selling point. However, I

    haven''t agreed to it yet because I haven''t decided,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°Daddy, are they asking me to be in the show? Really?¡± Erbao was already thrilled.

    She had always wanted to be in a movie like the other child stars, for that was something that

    fascinated her.

    ¡°I haven''t decided yet,¡± Nan Chen repeated to her.

    ¡°Why don''t you agree with it? I''d like to go! I like to act. It''s amazing that I can act beside Mommy! I

    want to win an award too!¡±

    ¡°I think this sounds like a good idea. Erbao''s cute and pretty, and she''s smart too. She should try it out,¡±

    Zheng Lunlun agreed.

    Nan Chen then looked at Ning Ran since her opinion was the most important part of the decision.

    ¡°I''ll think about it.¡±

    Initially, Ning Ran would have been fine with having Erbao film a show, but since Ouyang Qing was the

    one who called Nan Chen, she hesitated.

    ¡°All right,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°Why not? It''ll be an interesting experience for a kid to be in a movie. Moreover, she''ll be getting such a

    high amount of pay for it. Although our family doesn''t have a shortage of money, we can save it for her

    personal funds. In the future, she''ll be able to use the money for her overseas studies or for the things

    she likes. She''d feel proud of herself spending the money she had earned through her own hard work,¡±

    Zheng Lunlun went on, listing the benefits of Erbao epting the role.

    Moreover, it was not like he was spouting nonsense.

    If they were an ordinary family, they would have gone mad with joy to get an opportunity like this.

    However, money was not the reason for Ning Ran to hesitate about the offer.

    A look of disappointment appeared on Erbao''s face as she mumbled, ¡°What''s there to think about? I''m

    having a holiday now, so I don''t need to go to school. I''m free anyway, so why don''t you let me take on

    the role? Mommy''s going to be a star, but I can''t?¡±

    ¡°Let''s think about it first,¡± Nan Chen insisted.

    There was nothing the girl could do to change her parents'' minds after both of them said that they were

    going to think about it.

    Nevertheless, Erbao was certain that her father would have the final say, and she nned to find a

    chance to convince him.

    Furthermore, she had to get her brother to help her out as well.

    Ouyang Qing and Tang Jing were sitting opposite each other in a lounge in Flower City.

    As Ouyang Duo did not allow his daughter to invite guests to Orchid Club, she had no choice but to

    change the location.

    Of course, like the others, she had seen the live broadcast of the Golden Flower Awards, so she had

    seen how Ning Ran had been in the spotlight.

    When she watched the scene, she nearly exploded in rage, but a sense of helplessness doused the

    anger.

    She had been trying hard to stop Ning Ran from rising to fame, but her efforts were to no avail. With

    Nan Chen''s support, Ning Ran rose to great heights at an unbelievable speed.

    If she could not stop her in time, Ning Ran would really end up bing one of the top stars in the

    industry.

    That was why Ouyang Qing was panicking. Even if she were to pick Nan Xing instead, she was still not

    going to let Ning Ran get more and more sessful.

    I have to crush her. I have to make sure she''ll never get the chance to rise to fame ever again.

    Hence, she summoned Tang Jing again. Tang Jing had not been able tond any sessful blows on

    Ning Ran, so Ouyang Qing was disappointed by her.

    ¡°Have you seen Ning Ran''s entrance today? She had Zheng Lunlun by her side and Ye Meng lifted her

    skirt for her. Wasn''t it a grand sight to behold?¡±

    Tang Jing knew that Ouyang Qing was upset, so she remained quiet.

    Yet, the silence only made thetter angrier.

    ¡°Are you deaf, or are you mute? Have you not heard what I said?¡±

    ¡°I did. She was indeed a sight to behold. Sir Chen must have been the one to make arrangements for

    her entrance.¡±

    Ouyang Qing could easily understand Tang Jing was telling her was that Ning Ran had Nan Chen''s

    support. There was nothing Tang Jing could do about how fancy her grand entrance was at the awardsOriginal content from N?velDrama.Org.

    show.

    ¡°So, are you nning to just watch from the side as she continues to steal the limelight?¡± Ouyang Qing

    snapped.

    Tang Jing went silent again.

    There was nothing she could say when Ouyang Qing was angry.

    After all, she still needed the woman to stir up the mess more so that she could get more involved in

    the conflict between the Nan family and the Ouyang family.

    It was only then she could make her move.

    Tang Jing knew she was no one remarkable. Despite her wanting to stir up a hugemotion, she

    knew her actions might not have much effect on anyone.

    Everything she had been doing was so that the situation would be more chaotic. She was putting

    her hopes of creating a major conflict between the Ouyang family and the Nan family on the butterfly

    effect. If everything went well, she could then grab the opportunity to climb up the socialdder.

    Tang Jing was confident that she was much more capable than the daughter of the Ouyang family in

    front of her.

 Chapter 560

    Chapter 560

    When Ouyang Qing noticed that Tang Jing was keeping quiet again, an urge to p thetter washed

    over her.

    Nevertheless, she held herself back. She reminded herself that Tang Jing was her tool.

    There were many risky things she could not personally do. She needed Tang Jing to do it. If anything

    went wrong, she could use Tang Jing as the scapegoat.

    ¡°Tang Jing, do you want to be as great as that b*tch? You were also one of the main crew of The

    Sound of Thunder sequel, but is there anyone who remembers you? No one. That b*tch is the only one

    anyone remembers. Are you willing to watch her slowly reach the sky while you remain on the ground?

    Are you okay with being an extra forever?¡±

    When Ouyang Qing realized that insults and curses did not work on Tang Jing, she switched tactics

    and changed her tone.

    However, Tang Jing''s lips were still tightly pressed together.

    ¡°What''s the matter with you? I asked you to do things, but you won''t do them. Now I''m asking you to

    talk, but you won''t talk!¡±

    Anger swept over her, and she jumped to her feet.

    Finally, Tang Jing quietly said, ¡°Don''t be mad. I''ve just temporarily run out of ns.¡±

    ¡°I''m warning you now, Tang Jing. I have limited patience. If you still can''t do this well, I''m going to get

    someone else to do the job. I''ll get someone who can actually do something,¡± Ouyang Qing hissed.

    Again, Tang Jing did not answer her.

    ¡°Fine. I''m going to talk to the other investors tomorrow and get someone else to take over your role.

    There are plenty of actresses on thisnd, and I''m going to get someone who can actually do things for

    me.¡±

    Tang Jing did not know whether Ouyang Qing was speaking the truth, but she had to assume that the

    woman was serious.

    If Ouyang Qing really reced her with someone else, her ns would be ruined.

    Hence, she said, ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± Tang Jing weakly asked.

    ¡°Didn''t I tell you about it? I want you to do something to that b*tch''s kid. Once something happens to

    her kid, she won''t be in the mood to film anymore. Can''t you understand what I''m talking about?¡±

    Ouyang Qing bellowed.

    ¡°But I don''t have the opportunity to. I can only do something like that with an opportunity.¡±

    ¡°But will you do it if the opportunityes?¡± Ouyang Qing questioned.

    Tang Jing fell silent again.

    ¡°If you don''t do it, you won''t even get to y as a side character. On the other hand, if you do it and

    destroy that b*tch, then you''ll get to y the lead role. Make your choice. You have to give me an

    answer tonight, or else I''ll rece you with someone else,¡± Ouyang Qing told her.

    Tang Jing knew that she could not dismiss the matter anymore because Ouyang Qing was truly

    anxious.

    ¡°I''ll do it if the right opportunity appears,¡± Tang Jing promised.

    ¡°Really? You''re going to end that b*tch''s kid''s life if you have the chance?¡±

    ¡°Both?¡±

    ¡°One''s fine.¡± Even one, and that b*tch will be so traumatized that she won''t be able to focus on her

    show. She''d be so trapped in her misery that she''ll disappear from the showbiz! By the time she digests

    the pain and reappears in public again, no one will recognize her. After all, there are always new

    people in the industry. There''s nock of talent in the showbiz anyway.

    When Ouyang Qing said those things, it was as if she could already see the way Ning Ran was going

    to break down. The very idea of it delighted her.

    ¡°Unfortunately, there isn''t an opportunity for us to do that,¡± Tang Jing said.

    ¡°We do. I''ve created the opportunity for you.¡± Ouyang Qing cackled.

    ¡°You did?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I''ve convinced a few investors, and they''ve agreed to hire Ning Ran''s daughter to y the

    character Fangfang. They were all agreeable with me, and they thought that this was a good idea.

    Moreover, the producer has agreed to pay ten million for the girl''s appearance. Ning Ran''s a penniless

    woman, so she''ll be tempted by the amount. I''m sure she''ll definitely say yes to this!¡± Ouyang Qing

    eximed.

    Tang Jing''s heart skipped a beat. Has Ouyang Qing really made all the arrangements?

    ¡°But will Sir Chen agree to it? That''s the Nan family''s Little Miss. I''m sure the Nan family wouldn''t let

    her live a tough life out here.¡±

    ¡°Letting a kid film a show is a meaningful matter. If we were to look at this from just the financial angle,

    then yes, the Nan family would certainly not agree to it because they don''t need the money. What they

    don''t know is the risk involved. Furthermore, I''ve interacted with the girl before. She''s active and loves

    the perform, so she''ll surely be interested in the role. The Nan family dotes on her, so the chances of

    them agreeing to this are high,¡± Ouyang Qing pointed out.

    Tang Jing could feel the hair standing at the back of her neck. Although she wanted to rise to the top,

    she never thought of hurting someone to do that.

    She never thought of killing someone, let alone a child!

    It was a mortifying idea.

    Despite the innocent appearance Ouyang Qing had, she had an evil heart.

    It seems like I have to be careful as well, or else she''ll eventually kill me, too. If she can do such a

    ruthless thing to a kid, why will she hesitate with me?

    ¡°What should I do?¡±

    ¡°The girl likes sweet stuff. As long as she sees sweet food, she won''t be able to control herself. I''ll

    arrange for someone to order some desserts from a bakery and add a little something to them. Bring

    those desserts to the film site, and that girl will certainly try them. As long as she eats it, your job is

    done,¡± Ouyang Qing replied.

    Her reply made Tang Jing''s heart skip another beat. As it turned out, Ouyang Qing had already nned

    everything out. However, there was an obvious w in her n.

    If I bring the desserts to the film site, and if the pretty little girl dies from the poison in them, won''t the

    police look into the matter? Won''t the Nan family look into the matter?

    If they start an investigation, they''d soon find out that I''m the one who brought the desserts to the site.

    By then, I''d be the murderer. How can I possibly still y the lead role?Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    In other words, in this n of hers, both the girl and I are doomed.

    There''s no bad blood between the Nan family and me, let alone between the girl and me. If I were to

    end her life, mine would be over as well. Why would I do this?

    Noticing that Tang Jing was deep in her thoughts, Ouyang Qing asked, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡±

    ¡°What then?¡± Tang Jing asked.

    ¡°Then the girl dies, and that b*tch Ding Mi will have a mental breakdown. After that, you''ll be the main

    character in the movie. Isn''t that simple?¡±

    ¡°Will the police not find out who did it? Will the Nan family just leave it as that?¡± Tang Jing continued.

    ¡°They won''t be able to find anything. They''ll never think that there''s anything wrong with the dessert.¡±

    Ouyang Qing waved dismissively.

    Tang Jing scoffed inwardly. Does she think that I''m an idiot, or does she think that the Nan family is full

    of idiots? Someone''s dead, and you''re really trying to tell me that they''re not going to look into the

    details to find out the truth? You''re clearly making me the scapegoat so that you can destroy Ning Ran!

    ¡°There''s no way they won''t be able to find out the truth. The technology that the police use nowadays is

    much more advanced than you think they are. They''ll run tests on the desserts, and they''ll find out that

    it has poison in them. Then, I''m doomed,¡± Tang Jing said.

    ¡°Are you scared?¡± Ouyang Qing stared at Tang Jing.

    ¡°Of course I am. If I''m caught, I''d have to pay with my life. Nan Chen will tear me from limb to limb.

    Who isn''t afraid of that? Are you not afraid of that?¡± Tang Jing retorted.

    ¡°If you''re scared, that means you''re not going to do it. In that case, I''ll get someone to rece you.¡±

    ¡°We''ll still do it, but we can use a different way in which I don''t bring the desserts there myself. That

    way, the police won''t be able to trace it back to me. You have to think of a way to protect me. If I''m

    arrested, I can''t guarantee that I won''t expose you.¡±

    It was clear that Tang Jing was threatening Ouyang Qing as well.

    Ouyang Qing hummed as she mulled over Tang Jing''s words. Although Tang Jing''s death meant

    nothing to her, it would be bad if she were to get caught up in the case as well. If Nan Chen found out

    that she was the one behind the n, he would definitely skin her alive as well.

    ¡°So, any ideas for how we can avoid that? This is something that has to be done. If we don''t do this,

    Ning Ran''s career will be better and better, and in the future, you and I will reach the end of our

    roads. I''m fine with anything. No matter how well that b*tch''s career is, she''s still just an entertainer. On

    the other hand, I''m the daughter of the Ouyang family, and that''s something that won''t change. But it''s

    not the same for you. If you don''t use her as a stepping stone, you''d just be a side character forever.¡±

 Chapter 561

    Chapter 561

    Ouyang Qing noticed that Tang Jing was still hesitating, and that was something she had to change.

    Tang Jing had a great chance of getting close to Ning Ran, so she had to make sure to use this

    weapon named Tang Jing well.

    ¡°I''ve known about everything you said so far, but I can''t possibly risk everything I have for this.

    Moreover, I can''t risk you as well, so we need toe up with a more meticulous n,¡± Tang Jing

    mumbled with a frown.

    ¡°I''ve already gotten that b*tch''s d*mn kid in the film crew. What else do you want me to do?¡± Ouyang

    Qing snarled. ¡°Tang Jing, this is yourst chance. If you''re still not going to do anything, I''m really going

    to get someone else to take your ce!¡±

    ¡°I never said I wasn''t going to do it. I''m only saying that we should lower the risks first.¡±

    By then, even Tang Jing herself was getting irked. She had been tolerating Tang Jing the entire time,

    but thetter just kept pressuring and pressuring her.

    Furthermore, she even paid no attention to her safety at all. That was what tipped her over the edge.

    ¡°Then what should we do?¡± Ouyang Qing questioned.

    ¡°We''ll find another way to get those desserts into the film site instead of having me bring them there. As

    long as it''s there, I''ll find a way to get that girl to eat it. What''s most important here is that I must not be

    the one to bring the desserts in, or else I''m going to be dead meat.¡±

    ¡°Fine. We''ll go with your n then,¡± Ouyang Qing finally said.

    The next day, as per Erbao''s insistence, Nan Xing brought the two children to Commoner Residence.

    Erbao''s reason for visiting Commoner Residence was a moving one¡ªshe missed her great

    grandparents too much, so she just had to visit them both.

    However, Nan Chen was too busy, and so was Ning Ran. Nan Xing was the only one who was not that

    busy.

    Thus, Erbao kept calling Nan Xing until Nan Xing had no choice but to give in and promise to bring

    them to Commoner Residence for a day.

    When Erbao''s eyes flitted toward her uncle, who was driving with a frown on his face, she could not

    help but say, ¡°Uncle Xing, we''re too young to ride a cab over. Otherwise, we wouldn''t have troubled

    you. Don''t be so unhappy. My heart is breaking at the sight of your frown!¡±

    Nan Xing barked out augh. ¡°Save it. Every time I encounter the two of you, I''ll encounter bad luck.

    You''re basically my personal bringers of bad luck.¡±

    ¡°How could you say that? We''re clearly your lucky stars!¡± Dabao huffed.

    ¡°Lucky stars? You were the one who made me go to the hotel thest time, and I ended up

    encountering Ouyang Qing. I still haven''t gotten rid of her until now,¡± Nan Xing angrily hissed.

    ¡°You''ve got a good deal, but you''reining? If I didn''t ask you to go there, would you have found a

    girlfriend as pretty as Ouyang Qing?¡± Dabao returned.

    ¡°What are you talking about? She''s a trap! I don''t want her at all,¡± Nan Xing shouted.

    ¡°What''s the matter? Ouyang Qing is pretty. She''s suitable to be our aunt-inw,¡± Dabao queried.

    ¡°Yes, yes, Dabao''s right.¡±

    Erbao did not know what to say other than to back her brother up.

    ¡°There are a lot of pretty people in the world. The girls who are courting me are all pretty. Girls who

    aren''t pretty won''t have the courage to court me.¡±

    At that, the twins shared a look. They were both speechless at how shameless Nan Xing''s statement

    was.

    ¡°I''m warning you: Don''t you dare set me up again next time. Do you really think that I''m an easy target

    to bully? Why do you make me do all these random things?¡± Nan Xing was angry.

    ¡°Uncle Xing, when are you going to marry Ouyang Qing? We''re looking forward to it!¡± came another

    sentence from Erbao that infuriated him even more.

    ¡°What do you mean by you''re looking forward to it? Marriage is my personal affair, so why are you

    looking forward to it? Do you know what you''re saying?¡±

    ¡°Once you and Ouyang Qing marry, my mommy and daddy will marry,¡± Erbao exined.

    ¡°Your daddy and Ouyang Qing barely interact anymore. She won''t affect your daddy and mommy. Why

    are you still forcing me to marry her?¡±

    The more Nan Xing said, the angrier he became. He felt like the children were guilt-tripping him, and it

    felt terrible.

    ¡°You''re the uncle. Once you''re married, Great-Grandpa will surely say to Daddy, ''Look, Xing''s married.

    You''re his older brother, but why aren''t you married yet?''¡°

    Erbao mimicked her great-grandfather''s tone for thest part of her speech.

    Naturally, it was not a perfect imitation, but it sounded funny.

    Thus, Nan Xing chuckled.

    ¡°So you want me to get married to pressure your daddy into marrying your mommy quicker?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± the two children sang in unison.

    ¡°In that case, you''re sacrificing my happiness. Don''t you feel bad about that?¡± Nan Xing huffed.

    ¡°Not at all!¡± the two said simultaneously.

    ¡°Argh! I don''t want to talk to you anymore!¡± Nan Xing cried out in frustration.

    The two children in the backseat burst outughing.

    ¡°I''m curious. Why do you have to visit your great-grandparents today? Don''t you dislike being with them

    the most?¡± he curiously asked.

    ¡°Didn''t I tell you why? We miss our great grandparents,¡± Erbao solemnly replied.

    ¡°I won''t believe that. You always have ulterior motives for everything you do. I can''t trust you.¡±

    ¡°There''s nothing we can do if you don''t trust us, Uncle Xing,¡± Erbao muttered.

    ¡°Cheeky children, but here''s a warning: You can fool and manipte me, but you can''t do the same to

    your great grandparents.¡±

    ¡°Of course. We''ve always been respectful toward the elderly and loving toward the young,¡± Dabao

    responded.

    That concept sounded funny when it was Dabao who said it.

    While he could certainly respect his elders, it was rare for him to have a chance to be loving toward the

    young because he was already very young.

    ¡°I''m d you know that. If you didn''t, I would have taught you a lesson.¡±

    Btedly, Nan Xing realized that, despite the long conversation, he never got to find out why they were

    going to Commoner Residence.

    By then, they had arrived.

    When Nan Zhengde and his wife heard the news about their arrival, they came out to wee them.

    Erbao immediately rushed over to them and greeted, ¡°Great-Grandpa, Great-grandma!¡±

    ¡°Oh my darling,e here. Let me see whether you''ve grown taller and fatter.¡±

    ¡°Taller? Yes. Fatter? Definitely not.¡±

    Weight was a sensitive topic for the girl.

    ¡°But I still think that you''re a little fatter,¡± said the elderly woman.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°No! Great-grandma, you didn''t take a good look at me,¡± Erbao insisted as she covered her face.

    ¡°All right, all right. I didn''t. I''m old, and my vision''s blurry, so I must have seen it wrongly,¡± the elderly

    woman coaxed with a chuckle.

    ¡°Yes, yes.¡± It was then Erbao returned to her usual happy mood.

    When they entered the house, they noticed the various desserts on the table.

    With a loud cry of excitement, Erbaounched herself toward the table.

    ¡°This is tasty! This is delicious too!¡±

    ¡°Grandma, Chen said to not give the children that many sweet things. It''s bad for them,¡± Nan Xing said

    to his grandmother.

    ¡°So you''ll listen to your brother, but not me? My dear great-grandchildren haven''t been here for days,

    and I miss her. That''s why I''ve prepared something tasty for her. What''s wrong with that? Must you

    intervene in this? Can you even intervene in this?¡± Feng Wan shot Nan Xing a re.

    ¡°I can''t intervene in this. I''m just a messenger for my brother, and it''s up to you whether you want to

    listen to it,¡± Nan Xing replied.

    ¡°All right. Your job is to send my cute great-grandchildren, and you''re done. So, it''s time for you to

    leave.¡± Feng Wan waved at him dismissively.

    ¡°Grandma, I''m your grandson! You used to love me most, but now you''re telling me to leave?¡± he

    protested.

    ¡°I still love you, but I love my great-grandchildren more now. You keepining and stopping them

    from eating, so I''m annoyed. Leave, leave,¡± Feng Wan urged.

    ¡°Fine. I''ll leave. I''ll go! It''s not like I want to stay here. The kids will be staying for dinner, and Chen will

    come to pick them upter. I''m leaving now.¡±

 Chapter 562

    Chapter 562

    After Erbao had feasted somewhat, her little belly quickly became stretched.

    Her great-grandma had prepared too many yummy snacks and she could not control herself.

    Sitting nearby, Dabao reminded his sister gently, ¡°That''s quite enough. There''s lunching soon.¡±

    Erbao herself felt she must not eat too much. What if Great-grandma brought out tastier snacks? Then

    I can''t fit them in my tummy.

    ¡°I am not eating anymore.¡± Erbao pped her little hands. ¡°I''m a sweet young thing with self-control.¡±

    Dabao nced at her baby sister. Oh, my goodness! You have the audacity to use ¡°self-control!¡±

    ¡°Dabao,e with me to my study. Let me teach you some calligraphy.¡± Nan Zhengde was here to

    abduct the child.

    ¡°Dabao has just arrived, and he hasn''t eaten many mouthfuls of snacks. Why are you asking him to

    practice calligraphy? Darling, you are such a troublemaker!¡± Feng Wan chided her husband.

    ¡°I''m not making him practice anything, but just watch me write. Children need cultural edification. All

    you do is stuff them with food!¡±

    ¡°What''s wrong with feeding them? Food is important to mankind. Adults need to eat and children even

    more so. You write all the time. Does writing satisfy your hunger?¡±

    Nan Zhengde shook his head. ¡°Speaking this way in front of children is not good for their education.

    Dabao, let''s go. Erbao, do you want toe along?¡±

    ¡°I''ll be with you in a moment, Great-grandpa. I want to have a chat with Great-grandma first. She''s so

    lonely!¡± Erbao replied lovingly.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Oh dear! Look at my good little great-grandchild. She knows I''m lonely. You must spend more time

    with me, then. Your great-grandpa only reads and writes all day long. His life is so meaningless!¡± Feng

    Wan continued to chide her husband.

    After Nan Zhengde had taken Dabao to his study, she picked up another piece of snack. ¡°One more,

    dear?¡±

    ¡°No, Great-grandma, I''m full. I cannot eat anymore.¡± Erbao waved her little hands.

    ¡°Don''t worry, they are not around. It''s okay if you take one more piece. Children digest fast. It''s all right

    to eat a bit more!¡±

    ¡°All right, then. Onest piece!¡± Erbao could not resist the temptation.

    Feng Wanughed happily. With the twins around, life seemed much more interesting to her.

    ¡°Great-grandma, I have something important to tell you. Only you can help me with this.¡± The girl spoke

    suddenly and solemnly.

    ¡°What''s it about? As long as you''re not asking for the stars or the moon, I can get you anything you

    want. Is it pastry from some specific shop? I can buy the whole shop and have them send pastry to you

    every day.¡±

    ¡°Great-grandma, you are really wonderful. I love you!¡±

    Erbao, the little tterer, went over to her great-grandma and kissed her on the cheek.

    Feng Wan hugged her, feeling terribly pleased.

    ¡°Tell me, exactly, what you want? I really hope it''s not the stars or the moon. There isn''t adder long

    enough to reach them,¡± the elderly said jokingly.

    Erbao giggled. ¡°Great-grandma, you''re so funny. I don''t want the stars or the moon, so you needn''t look

    for a longdder.¡±

    ¡°Tell me what you want. I shall send someone to buy it immediately!¡±

    ¡°I want to act in a movie,¡± Erbao said.

    ¡°You want to act in a movie?¡± Feng Wan did not understand.

    ¡°That''s right. I want to make movies and be an actor, just like Mommy.¡±

    Now, Feng Wan understood. ¡°Our family is not short of money. Why do you want to make movies?¡±

    ¡°I just want to. Mommy is shooting a movie and her character has a child. They need a child for this

    role. I want to y this role. Then, my real mommy will also be my mommy in the movie. Don''t you

    think this is fun?¡±

    Erbao expressed herself clearly so her great-grandma could understand what she said.

    ¡°You just want to be a child star, not for the money, but for fun?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. In school, the teacher often asked me to y a role, and every time the teacher would praise

    me for doing it well. Now that I have the opportunity to act in a movie, of course I have to try it. Besides,

    it''s by invitation, not just me wanting to do it.¡±

    ¡°Who invited you?¡±

    Erbao opened her mouth, but she did not know the person''s name.

    She exined, ¡°Seems like Daddy''s friend. Someone who makes movies.¡±

    ¡°That means Nan Chen already knows about this, but he doesn''t allow you to go. Is that right?¡±

    ¡°He and Mommy said they would think it over, but I fear their final decision is not to let me go.¡± Erbao

    pouted.

    ¡°So, you are telling me this, hoping I''ll convince Nan Chen to let you go, aren''t you?¡±

    Erbao nodded. ¡°Great-grandma, you love me most. I''m sure you will support me.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it''s no big deal, but why are you so keen to make a movie? Is it just for fun?¡± Feng Wan wanted

    to understand the reason.

    ¡°If I make a movie now, it would be meaningful to me when I watch it yearster as a grownup.

    Furthermore, it''s done together with Mommy. It''s perfect timing! I won''t miss school since it''s the school

    holiday. When I''m grown up, there''ll be more studying to do. I won''t have time to make movies. So,

    Great-grandma, please help me convince Daddy and Mommy.¡±

    Erbao tugged at the woman''s hand, rocking it urgently.

    It wasn''t easy to refuse an adorable little girl''s request.

    ¡°Fine, fine, I''ll help you. I''ll call Nan Chen now and ask him to arrange it.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Great-grandma!¡± Erbao was overjoyed.

    This was the main purpose of hering to the Commoner Residence today. She knew there were

    only two people in this world whom her father must listen to¡ªhis grandparents.

    Nan Zhengde was sometimes strict, and Erbao dared not try to enlist him. So, she selected Feng Wan

    for her scheme.

    It was apparent, now, that she was right. Her great-grandma would support her.

    ¡°You said you missed me and wanted to visit, but this is the real reason, isn''t it?¡± Feng Wan realized

    she had been tricked.

    ¡°No, of course not. I want to see you too.¡± Erbao quickly added.

    ¡°You cunning little brat. You know how to use me.¡± The elderly flicked the girl''s forehead with her finger.

    Erbao giggled and hugged her neck. ¡°Great-grandma, you are the best. I love you.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Of course, it''s true. Great-grandma, when I grow up, I shall give you lots and lots of yummy food.¡±

    Erbao said, lovingly.

    ¡°Great, that''s nice.¡± Feng Wan was so touched that her eyes brimmed with tears.

    ¡°Great-grandma, do you like Mommy?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? What do you want me to do for your mommy?¡±

    ¡°Nothing. Grandma doesn''t like Mommy. So, I''m worried you won''t like her, either,¡± Erbao said.

    ¡°Don''t worry about your grandma. She''s not a good woman. She is not in control of this family, so her

    decisions don''t count. If you need anything,e to see me. I am in control,¡± Feng Wan said with

    authority.

    ¡°Please ask Mommy and Daddy to get married, then.¡±

    The old womanughed. ¡°I''ve already predicted you have more requests. However, I don''t have control

    over this matter. It is something they must decide. I cannot get involved.¡±

 Chapter 563

    Chapter 563

    Later in the day, Nan Chen came to the Commoner Residence.

    He had received a call, asking him toe over for dinner and to pick up the twins.

    Nan Chen had always been filial. As long as he had the time, he would alwayse whenever his

    grandma asked him to.

    Sometimes, when he was really busy, he would still make time to have a meal with his grandparents.

    Then he would rush back to his office to work overtime.

    During dinner, Feng Wan brought up the question. ¡°I heard Ning Ran is starring in a movie.¡±

    Nan Chen was quite surprised that this would interest her. He nodded. ¡°Yes, Grandma.¡±

    ¡°I heard there''s a role for a child.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± He nodded again.

    ¡°I would like to rmend someone for that role.¡±

    He began to understand what was going on. ¡°Who?¡±

    ¡°My great-granddaughter. She''s pretty and smart, just perfect for the role,¡± his grandma said.

    Nan Chen nced at Erbao, who bent her head low to eat, pretending not to know what the

    conversation was about.

    This girl is too smart. She came here to ask for help.

    ¡°We were just giving this some thought...¡±From N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°There''s no need to think about it. Give her the chance to make a movie. It''s like giving her a good

    childhood memory. When she grows up, watching this movie will certainly be a beautiful memory.¡±

    Feng Wan had already made the decision.

    ¡°I think it will work. It''s more meaningful than taking some photographs of the child.¡± Even Nan

    Zhengde agreed.

    Feng Wan suspected Erbao must have convinced him when she went into the study room just now to

    y.

    ¡°Actually, filming is still a bit risky, and films will be distributed to the public¨C¡±

    The olddy interrupted Nan Chen''s words. ¡°There is a risk in everything you do. How can you be the

    head of the Nanshi Corporation if you cannot protect a child?

    ¡°It''s settled. My great-granddaughter will make the movie. Nan Chen, I''ve never asked you for anything.

    This is the first time I''m making a request and you refuse me? I have loved you in vain.¡±

    Nan Chen could not bear hearing those words. ¡°I did not refuse you. I just wanted to ponder over the

    matter. If this is what you wish, I shall get someone to arrange it.¡±

    At that, Erbao, whose head was still bent low, smiled.

    Back at Red Maple City, Nan Chen rted to Ning Ran what his grandparents had said.

    Ning Ran was surprised. ¡°She even went to Commoner Residence to get help?¡±

    ¡°That''s right. Not only did Grandma pressure me. Even Grandpa got involved. And to think that I was

    worried he would object if I let her act because she is too young.

    ¡°I had not expected her to convince Grandpa. Apparently she is the pet of the Nan family now. We dare

    not antagonize her.

    ¡°Since both Grandma and Grandpa have decided. We have to go along,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran rushed into the children''s room and saw Erbao picking out clothes.

    She was already preparing which clothes to wear to look more beautiful.

    ¡°Ning Sihan, you dare go straight to Great-Grandpa and Great-grandma? In the future, when things

    don''t go your way, will you go behind our backs to put pressure on us?¡±

    Erbao puffed up her chubby cheeks. ¡°I only went to visit Great-grandpa and Great-grandma...¡±

    ¡°Do you think I don''t know what you''re doing? You''re good! You have such ideas¨C¡±

    ¡°That''s enough. It''s no big deal. Why are you so angry? You''ll frighten the child.¡± Nan Chen came upon

    the scene.

    ¡°How could I frighten her? She''s so powerful now nothing can frighten her!¡±

    ¡°Mommy, please don''t scold me. If you don''t want me to act in the movie, I won''t. In the future, I won''t

    tell Great-grandma and Great-grandpa anything. It''s my mistake; I won''t repeat it.¡±

    Erbao was a smart kid. Now she had achieved her goal. An apology did not hurt.

    ¡°Come over here, let''s discuss this.¡± Nan Chen motioned to Erbao.

    So, the family entered the living room and everyone took a seat, just like a formal family meeting.

    Nan Chen told Ning Ran, ¡°Erbao wants to act in this movie. So, she needs to bring bodyguards onto

    the set. I will arrange for this.¡±

    Ning Ran agreed totally.

    In the past, when she was shooting with the production team, she had never brought bodyguards along

    as there was no need to. Cheng Xiangyun and Wang Xiaoou were sufficient to take care of her.

    Things were different now with a child on the set.

    Even though the production team consisted of tens of members working together, Erbao was an

    energetic child and she could disappear in the blink of an eye.

    It was necessary to have professionals specifically assigned to her, otherwise, real risks existed.

    ¡°Erbao, there are some conditions you have to agree to before you can join in the production team.¡±

    Nan Chen put on a strict face.

    ¡°Fine. I agree. Even if there are hundreds of conditions, I will certainly agree.¡± Erbao replied quickly.

    ¡°First, you cannot eat any food that anyone in the production team gives to you. Other than what

    Mommy gives, no food given by anyone is to be eaten. Do you understand?¡±

    ¡°I understand.¡± Erbao nodded. ¡°I agree.¡±

    ¡°Repeat it to me,¡± her father insisted.

    ¡°Other than the food Mommy gives, I cannot eat anything anyone gives to me. What about food given

    by Aunt Xiang?¡±

    ¡°Yes, you can eat food given by Aunt Xiang, but she must give it to you personally and tell you it can be

    eaten,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Erbao nodded.

    ¡°The second condition is rted to the first condition. Water and beverages must not be consumed.¡±

    ¡°I understand. I cannot drink water or beverages,¡± Erbao repeated.

    ¡°You cannot just go away. You must always be where the bodyguards can see you,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Okay, I cannot go away on my own. I must be sure the bodyguards can see me.¡± Erbao repeated

    once.

    Then she asked, ¡°What about going to the toilet?¡±

    ¡°This is an exception. I''ll let ady stay with you all the time. She will go with you to the toilet.¡±

    ¡°Good, I agree.¡± Erbao nodded.

    ¡°The third condition is that you stay away from crowds. If you see a crowd, don''t join in the fun.¡±

    ¡°Okay, I will stay away from crowds and not join in the fun.¡±

    Satisfied, Nan Chen nodded. ¡°You must follow these rules. If you cannot, I will not allow you to make

    the movie.¡±

    ¡°All right, I will do everything you ask,¡± Erbao promised.

    ¡°Don''t worry. I''ll ask Cheng Xiangyun to watch her throughout the shooting. Nothing will happen,¡± Ning

    Ran said.

    Suddenly, Dabao spoke up. ¡°What about me?¡±

    Nan Chen and Ning Ran exchanged nces. They had forgotten all about Dabao as they were

    focused on Erbao''s movie shoot.

    ¡°If you want to go with the production team, you can go. It would be great for you to watch your sister.¡±

    Dabao shook his head. ¡°I don''t want to go. I don''t like crowds. I''ll stay at home.¡±

    Ning Ran was speechless. The child was too young to enjoy staying home.

    She had not seen a child this age who did not like having fun. He was a rare child indeed.

    ¡°Won''t you feel bored staying home by yourself?¡± she asked.

    ¡°No, it''s not boring. I can read or use theputer. Joining the production team would be boring.¡±

    Dabao waved his hands.

    ¡°That''s fine. When you want to go, just let me know. Otherwise, you can stay. Anyway, you have a

    nanny to take care of you.¡±

 Chapter 564

    Chapter 564

    Two dayster, Ning Ran, who acted as Erbao''s guardian, signed the I Am You filming contract on

    behalf of her daughter.

    Despite ying a minor role in the film, Erbao would still be paid a whopping ten million. That would

    make her the highest-paid child actor in the country.

    Of course, Erbao was entitled to such a privilege merely because she was from the Nan family.

    That was why people often said that individuals born with a silver spoon in their mouth would achieve

    sess more easily than those who had to work extra hard to attain their goals.

    When Erbao first arrived at the set, she caught all the crew members'' attention.

    They had been eager to find out what Nan Chen and Ning Ran''s child looked like ever since they knew

    the couple had two children together.

    They were all captivated by Erbao''s adorable little face.

    Erbao walked in with a bag full of candies, and she would give one to anyone who greeted her.

    Her gift had warmed everyone''s hearts, even though some might not have a sweet tooth.

    Ning Ran did not expect Erbao toe up with this idea. She was surprised to see how sociable her

    daughter was.

    It took Erbao just a day to get to know all the crew members on set.

    The way she greeted the adults on set had melted their hearts, as they were all charmed by her sweet

    voice.

    Even the older female crew members were touched by Erbao''s angelic presence.

    During the shoot, almost all the crew members gathered around to watch them act.

    It did not take Erbao and Ning Ran long to get into the mood, as the scene was about a mother

    interacting with her daughter.

    Everyone soon realized that Erbao was a gifted actress.

    While most of the child actors relied on dubbing, Erbao was able to deliver her lines with rity and

    emotions.

    A heavy silence instantly fell upon the set once they hadpleted the scene.

    Erbao gave Ning Ran a worried look as she thought she had screwed up.

    Amazed by Erbao''s acting, thetter, too, thought her daughter was brilliant on set. But somehow, the

    director kept mum and did not stop the shooting.

    The reason he remained silent was that he was just as stunned as the rest.

    ¡°Sir, the shoot isplete,¡± one of the crew members reminded him.

    Only then did the directore to his senses and immediately eximed, ¡°Cut!¡±

    Suddenly, there was a wave of apuse from the crowd.

    ¡°That''s amazing! That kid is a brilliant actress!¡±

    ¡°Genius! She should win the Best Neer Award!¡±

    ¡°She has a bright future ahead of her!¡±

    ¡°Ding Mi''s daughter is not only pretty, but she''s also a genius. I have to give it to her!¡±

    One of the female crew members got so excited that she even carried Erbao in her arms but quickly

    put her down soon after.

    ¡°How did I do, Mommy?¡± Erbao asked Ning Ran, hoping that her mother couldpliment her acting.

    Though Ning Ran was impressed with Erbao''s performance, she did not want to praise her daughter in

    front of so many people. ¡°Not bad. Work harder and do better next time, okay?¡±

    ¡°Not bad? She''s amazing!¡± The director gave Erbao a thumbs up. ¡°You''re the most talented child actor

    I''ve ever seen!¡±

    ¡°Thank you, sir,¡± Erbao responded respectfully with a bow.

    The director burst intoughter. ¡°Please don''t call me sir!¡±

    Since Erbao was not involved in the next scene, she sat in a corner and watched Ning Ran acting with

    the other actors.

    Meanwhile, the crew members, who carried the lunchboxes into the set, also brought in a strawberry

    cake. ¡°A delivery man passed the cake to me and told me it''s for a child. He was in a hurry, so I took

    over the cake and brought it in.¡±

    Since they were familiar with the delivery man, the crew members epted the cake as they thought

    the Nan family had bought it for Erbao.

    After lunch, one of the crew members brought the cake over to Erbao. ¡°Here''s a cake for you, cutie

    pie.¡±

    However, Erbao remembered that Nan Chen told her not to eat food from unknown sources, so she

    shook her head with a grin and rejected the cake.

    Hence, the crew member had no choice but to look for Ning Ran instead. ¡°Ms. Ding, could you take this

    cake to Erbao? The Nan family bought this for her, but she doesn''t want to ept it.¡±

    ¡°Cake? From who?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°It came with our lunchboxes. The delivery man said it''s for the kid,¡± the crew member answered.

    ¡°Oh, all right. Please put it on the table. Thank you,¡± Ning Ran said.

    Right then, Erbao came over and said, ¡°Mommy, the cake looks delicious, but Daddy said I shouldn''t

    eat it.¡±

    It was clear that Erbao was eager to try the cake as she was about to drool.

    ¡°Darling, I don''t think we should eat this cake because we have no idea who gave it to you,¡± Ning Ran

    said.

    ¡°Okay...¡± Erbao nodded obediently.

    Suddenly, Tang Jing came over. ¡°Hey, Ding. Erbao did such an amazing job! What a talented actress

    she is!¡±

    ¡°Thanks. She did okay.¡± Ning responded casually with a smile.

    ¡°Everyone praised me but not Mommy...¡± Erbao pursed her lips aggrievedly.

    ¡°You did great. Even I should learn from you,¡± Tang Jing gave Erbao a grin.

    ¡°Thank you very much, miss. You''re so pretty,¡± Erbao said sweetly.

    ¡°You''re such a sweet girl.¡± Tang Jing then turned to the cake and asked, ¡°This cake looks nice. Are you

    not gonna eat it?¡±

    Erbao shook her head and looked at Ning Ran.

    ¡°I heard it came with the cateringpany. Can I try?¡± Tang Jing asked with a smile.

    She then picked up a fork and tasted it. ¡°Mmm, it''s so good!¡±

    Having said that, Tang Jing continued taking a few more bites.

    Erbao, who had a sweet tooth, could not resist the temptation anymore. That''s my cake, but I don''t get

    to eat it. It''s so unfair!

    ¡°Mommy, can I try? Just one bite, please?¡± she pleaded.

    Ning Ran turned her attention to Tang Jing. She looks fine after eating the cake. I guess there''s nothing

    wrong with it? But still, I don''t want Erbao to eat the cake.

    But if I were to stop Erbao from eating, would Tang Jing feel offended? It would seem as if I don''t trust

    her.

    ¡°It''s time for you to stop eating desserts. You''ve put on weight, Erbao. Do you know that?¡± Ning Ran

    made up another excuse.

    Thankfully, Erbao was an obedient child who would not simply throw tantrums when things did not go

    her way. ¡°All right, Mommy. I''ll not eat the cake. But I''m not plump, okay?¡±

    Instantly, Tang Jing''s expression changed as she gave Erbao an awkward smile. ¡°What an obedient

    girl.¡±

    Ning Ran grinned and said, ¡°She''s gained some weight. It''s time for me to monitor her diet.¡±Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Mommy, can we not talk about my weight, please?¡± Erbao voiced her dissatisfaction.

    There are so many topics for them to discuss. Why must Mommy keep telling others about my weight?

    ¡°All right, all right. Let''s not talk about this anymore. Even though you didn''t get to eat the cake, you

    should still thank Ms. Tang,¡± Ning Ran said.

    Hearing that, Erbao shed an angelic smile at Tang Jing and said, ¡°Thank you very much, Ms. Tang.

    I''ll buy you more delicious cakes in the future, okay?¡±

    ¡°Sure. I''ll wait for your invitation. Pinky promise!¡± Tang Jing wiggled her little finger.

    ¡°Okay! Pinky promise!¡±

 Chapter 565

    Chapter 565

    In truth, the person who sent the cake over was none other than Ouyang Qing.

    She was the one who requested Tang Jing to bring the cake to the set.

    Ouyang Qing did not tell Tang Jing what poison she used in the cake, but thetter knew it was a

    deadly substance that could kill the child in the blink of an eye.

    Had Ning Ran eaten the cake with her daughter, she would also suffer a miserable death.

    Ouyang Qing''s n sent chills down Tang Jing''s spine. If that had happened to Ning Ran and her

    daughter, Tang Jing would never be able to clear her name.

    Knowing the consequences of the action, Tang Jing swapped the cake behind Ouyang Qing''s back.

    She tossed away the poisoned cake and reced it with something that looked simr. She then

    instructed a runner to deliver the cake to the set so that the crew members could bring it in with the

    lunchboxes.

    With that, Tang Jing could at least tell Ouyang Qing that she had done her part, and Ouyang Qing

    would have no reason to me her if nothing happened to Erbao.

    If she wants to know what went wrong, she can investigate it herself.

    Meanwhile, Tang Jing was surprised that Erbao did not touch the cake at all.

    What did this imply? It could only mean that Ning Ran was on her guard.

    Besides, Erbao was always surrounded by a bodyguard, who monitored everything she did.

    Now that they had put their guard up, Tang Jing had to be more cautious not to dig her own grave.

    Ouyang Qing can do anything she wants, but I''m not going to screw things up for myself!

    Besides, Tang Jing had never thought of harming the child.

    She only wanted to make a ssh in the entertainment industry, but not by using such a vicious tactic.

    Moreover, she could not bring herself toy her finger on an innocent child.

    That was why she reced the cake.

    Tang Jing was relieved that she swapped out the poisoned cake, as she had foreseen the disaster that

    might happen.

    What if someone else identally ate the cake and died? I''ll be held ountable for the person''s

    death!

    In other words, Ouyang Qing had not only marked Ning Ran and Erbao as her targets, but she also

    wanted to get rid of Tang Jing indirectly.

    Later in the afternoon, Ouyang Qing gave Tang Jing a call. ¡°Come and see me.¡±

    Meanwhile, Ouyang Qing had been swiping her phone the whole day, hoping to read about the death

    of Ning Ran''s daughter on the inte.

    She could not wait to celebrate the news with a bottle of wine.

    Yet, she did note across any news about Erbao''s death.

    That was why she panicked and decided to ask Tang Jing toe over.

    Tang Jing took out her phone and showed Ouyang Qing the video of her delivering the cake to the set.

    In the video, Erbao was also seen staring at the cake.

    ¡°Did she not eat the cake?¡± Ouyang Qing was surprised.

    ¡°Nope. I tried to tempt her, but she refused to eat it,¡± Tang Jing said.

    ¡°Is she that shrewd? Does she not have a sweet tooth?¡±

    ¡°The girl wanted to eat but resisted the temptation. The Nans must have taught her not to eat food from

    suspicious sources,¡± Tang Jing analyzed.

    Ouyang Qing nodded. ¡°That must be the case. Otherwise, she would have eaten the cake because I

    know she''s obsessed with desserts.¡±

    ¡°I guess trying to poison the child with food is a bad idea,¡± Tang Jing said.

    As her frustration kicked in, Ouyang Qing raised her voice. ¡°What else can we do? I''m sick of that

    arrogant woman!¡±

    ¡°Let''s not rush it. I''m sure there''ll be more opportunities in the future. What you should do now is to win

    Nan Xing over. You can always think of other ways to get rid of Ning Ran in the future.¡±

    Ouyang Jing eximed, ¡°How can I sit here and do nothing? Nope. I''m not gonna wait anymore. I''ll do

    everything to stop her frompleting this film! Why should I give her the opportunity to shine in the

    film I''ve invested in?¡±

    ¡°I''ll not let her ride on the sess of this film. No way!¡± Ouyang Jing roared.

    From N?velDrama.Org.

    Upon noticing how agitated Ouyang Qing was, Tang Jing could only keep mum.

    What''s wrong with you? Nan Chen is the main investor in that film. You only invested in the project

    because you wanted to get close to Nan Chen. Yet, now you''re mad that his woman ys a leading

    role in it?

    Tang Jing advised, ¡°Let''s not act hastily. We should strike only when the opportunity arises. The crew

    will be shooting a few scenes in Lingnan province soon. Once they leave Flower City, you''ll have more

    opportunities to take them down.¡±

    Ouyang Qing thought what she said made sense.

    She''s right. I won''t be able to do anything to Ning Ran because the Nan family is too influential in

    Flower City.

    But once the mother and the daughter are out of Flower City, getting rid of them would be a piece of

    cake.

    ¡°When are they leaving for Lingnan?¡±

    Ouyang Qing might be one of the investors, but she was not aware of the details of the shoot.

    ¡°I think it''ll be after the Lunar New Year. The director decided to shoot a few scenes in Lingnan because

    of its warm climate,¡± Tang Jing answered.

    ¡°If that''s the case, I have to start nning now since Lunar New Year is just around the corner. I''ll make

    sure she never returns to Flower City once she leaves!¡± Ouyang Qing gritted her teeth and said.

    ¡°Once they''re out of the city, you''ll be able to get rid of them easily!¡± Tang Jing assured her.

    I can''t wait for her to get rid of Ning Ran and Erbao once they''re out of the city! At least I don''t have to

    get my hands dirty!

    ¡°I want you to keep an eye on her too. If you get to finish her off before the Lunar New Year, do it!¡±

    Tang Jing was surprised, and she did not understand why Ouyang Qing hated Ning Ran so much.

    Had they been in love with each other, nothing¡ªnot even Ning Ran¡ªwould havee between them.

    In other words, Ning Ran might die in Ouyang Qing''s hands even if she was innocent.

    Nheless, Tang Jing knew she would benefit from Ning Ran''s death should it happen.

    Tang Jing was not a fool, as she could foresee what would happen if things went ording to Ouyang

    Qing''s n.

    Should Ouyang Qing seed in getting rid of either Ning Ran or her children, Nan Chen would use all

    his resources to track the culprit.

    Once the powerful Nan family mobilized all their resources, they would hunt down the mastermind in no

    time.

    Ouyang Qing would then have the face the music. Her actions would also spark a catastrophic dispute

    between the Nans and the Ouyangs.

    Should that happen, Tang Jing would support the Nan family and expose everything Ouyang Qing did.

    Needless to say, she was confident that she could clear her name and eventually win the Nans'' trust.

    That would be her opportunity to rise through the ranks.

    Those who wished to get to the top would always look forward to unexpected turns of events, as such

    situations would open doors to new opportunities.

    ¡°All right. I''ll observe them closely. Should opportunities arise, I''ll inform you right away,¡± Tang Jing said.

    ¡°You wouldn''t betray me, would you?¡± All of a sudden, Ouyang Qing shot daggers at Tang Jing.

    ¡°Of course not. I owe my sess to you, and I''ll lose everything if I betray you. Only a fool would make

    such a silly move.¡± Tang Jing immediately pledged her loyalty to Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°Good. I hope you''ll remember what you said today. If you dare betray me, I''ll make sure you die a

    death more miserable than Ning Ran''s.¡± Ouyang Qing threatened.

    Tang Jing sneered inwardly while she responded, ¡°Yes, I know. I''ll not betray you, don''t worry. After all, I

    still need you to help me rise to stardom.¡±

    Yet, deep in her heart, Tang Jing thought otherwise. Let''s see who would die a miserable death in the

    end.

    ¡°Good. You''ll be the next to rece Ning Ran once she''s out of the way. Trust me.¡±

    Tang Jing nodded with a smile. All these promises mean nothing to me. I trust no one except myself,

    and I''ll work my way to the top.

 Chapter 566

    Chapter 566

    It was ten at night, and a party was being held on the rooftop of a hotel.

    Although it was cold outside, the venue was surrounded by ss. Hence, it was warm inside.

    A bunch of beautiful women in provocative dresses had gathered around Nan Xing while coaxing him

    into drinking.

    ¡°Master Xing, it has been a while since west met. Have you forgotten about me? I''m Jess Jenson!¡± A

    prettydy approached him.

    ¡°Jenny? Do we know each other?¡± Nan Xing frowned.

    ¡°Not Jenny! It''s Jess! You''ve even kissed me before...¡± Jess said with embarrassment.

    There was no way Nan Xing would let her nder him so. Although he was a party animal, he wasn''t

    one to kiss random girls.

    Since he was someone of status, he knew people would keep an eye on him. In fact, a lot of them were

    eager to trick him and get a piece of the Nan family''s fortune. If I were to kiss all of them, I would''ve

    been tricked countless times by now.

    ¡°Did I?¡± Nan Xing queried.

    ¡°Yes, you did! You kissed me here!¡± The prettydy pointed at her left cheek.

    ¡°Bullsh*t. I''d never kiss girls on their left cheeks,¡± he answered.

    Everyone present was stumped. Does Master Xing differentiate which side of the face he kisses? Why

    so? Is this a superstitious practice of his? Does the right cheek bring him luck or something?

    ¡°You''re so mean, Master Xing. How could you deny kissing me?¡±

    ¡°He kissed me before as well! He kissed my right cheek!¡± another prettydy eximed. After that, a

    few more girls followed suit.

    ¡°He kissed my right cheek too!¡±

    ¡°He did the same to me!¡±

    Nan Xing was perplexed. Why would I kiss all of you on your right cheek? Have you girls seen

    yourselves? Would I even kiss any of you?

    ¡°All right. That''s enough. I need some fresh air.¡± For some reason, he kept having a bad feeling all night

    long.

    ¡°Master Xing, would you have another drink with us?¡± Another prettydy approached him.

    ¡°Later. I need some air.¡± Nan Xing turned her down.

    Right then, he received a call from Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Master Xing, something bad has happened to Little Miss; her condition is critical.¡± Thetter sounded

    very nervous, and his voice was trembling.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Nan Xing jumped to his feet.

    ¡°She was poisoned. She''s undergoing emergency treatment now.¡±

    His knees went weak the moment he heard his niece was undergoing emergency treatment. ¡°I''ll be

    right over...¡±

    Nan Xing was rushing toward the exit when he was approached by another prettydy who wanted to

    offer him a drink. Unfortunately for her, she fell to the ground after receiving a tight p from Nan Xing.

    By the time he arrived at the hospital, Erbao was already transferred to the intensive care unit.

    Qiao Zhan was pacing along the corridor, and his eyes were reddened.

    ¡°How is she?¡± Nan Xing grabbed the man and asked anxiously.

    ¡°They said she''s out of immediate danger. However, she''s still unconscious.¡±

    ¡°Where are Chen and Ning Ran?¡±

    ¡°They''re in the intensive care unit. The hospital only allows two family members inside at once. You''d

    have to wait outside.¡±

    ¡°What happened? How was she poisoned?¡±

    Qiao Zhan stared at Nan Xing and hesitated.

    ¡°What? You can''t tell me?¡± Nan Xing was getting impatient.

    ¡°M-Maybe you should let Sir Chen tell you about it. Whatever I heard, I heard it from the maids, so I

    could be wrong. By the way, Sir Chen said we shouldn''t alert Old Master Nan and Old Madam Feng

    first. Dabao is currently at Commoner Residence. He, too, doesn''t know about this. We''d like to keep it

    that way.¡±

    ¡°What exactly happened? How was she poisoned?¡± Nan Xing questioned again.

    ¡°Well...¡±

    ¡°Spill it! Why are you hemming and hawing? Am I an outsider?¡±

    ¡°Earlier today, Madam and she went to the set with the production team,¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    ¡°Then? Someone from the production team poisoned her?¡±

    ¡°No. It wasn''t the production team. A-After t-they came b-back¡ª¡±

    ¡°She got poisoned at home? Can you please stop stammering? Can''t you speak clearly?¡± Nan Xing

    fumed.

    ¡°After they came back, the maid said they''d received a cake, and it''s for Erbao. Ever since they

    received it earlier in the day, none of them meddled with it. After Erbao was done with dinner, she

    couldn''t resist the temptation of having some desserts. Hence, she used her finger to dip into the

    cream and put it in her mouth. She was poisoned right after that.¡±

    ¡°Is the poison that fatal? She was poisoned just from that? Who the f*ck gave her the cake? Find him

    and kill him!¡± Nan Xing was fuming uncontrobly. He wouldn''t hesitate to kill when he found the culprit.

    ¡°The cake was sent by an errand boy, and he said the person who gave the cake...¡±

    ¡°What''s his name? Trust me. If you stammer again, I''m going to beat you up!¡± Nan Xing roared.

    ¡°That person is called Nan Xing.¡± Qiao Zhan lowered his head.

    ¡°What?¡±

    With his head hung low, the man said nothing.

    Finally, Nan Xing knew why Qiao Zhan stammered and hesitated the whole time.

    ¡°No. I didn''t send Erbao a cake! It wasn''t me!¡± Nan Xing exined.

    Qiao Zhan kept his head lowered and answered, ¡°I''ve already sent someone to check with the bakery.

    The cake was paid for by card, and the cardholder''s name is Nan Xing.¡±

    Nan Xing grabbed him by his cor and asked, ¡°What? You''re saying it was me? You don''t trust me?¡±

    ¡°Master Xing, it''s not that I don''t trust you. But the card was indeed yours. That''s a fact.¡± Qiao Zhan

    raised his gaze toward Nan Xing.

    ¡°That can''t be. I didn''t buy any cakes. That cake isn''t from me.¡±

    Nan Xing pondered for a while and asked, ¡°Have you reported it to the police? Let the police

    investigate this! I don''t want to get med for this. Why would I hurt my niece? She''s my family! Why

    would I hurt her?¡±

    ¡°No, we didn''t call the police. Sir Chen said no¡ª¡±

    Nan Xing interrupted him and roared, ¡°Why not? This is serious! We must report this to the police!¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Nan Chen showed up. Like an angry beast, his bloodshot eyes were filled with murderous intent.

    ¡°Chen, I didn''t harm Erbao, and I didn''t send her the cake!¡± Nan Xing choked out.

    ¡°I know you didn''t send the cake, but we can''t report it to the police now. The evidence we have now is

    not in your favor. If we report it, you''ll surely get detained,¡± his brother said.

    ¡°Detain me, then! We have to let the police investigate this thoroughly. I don''t want to shoulder the

    me for hurting my niece!¡± Nan Xing could barely contain his emotions.

    ¡°If you were to get detained, you''ll definitely be known as someone who harmed his niece, regardless

    of the findings in the investigation! We must keep this matter on the low. We''ll investigate this on our

    own. Although we haven''t reported this, Qiao Zhan has already instructed his men to investigate it

    secretively,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°Chen, you have to believe me. I didn''t harm Erbao. I really didn''t!¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°I believe you. Otherwise, why would I not report it to the police?¡±

    ¡°Okay. That''s good to hear. We must find out who is behind this. We can''t let him get away with this. I''m

    going to kill him!¡±

    ¡°Calm down. Erbao is going to be fine. Remember, keep this matter to ourselves. No matter what, we

    have to keep Grandpa and Grandma in the dark. Dabao shouldn''t know about this as well. You should

    head home now and help me check on him. While you''re at that, tell them we''ve brought Erbao

    elsewhere to film, and we''ll be back in a couple of days,¡± Nan Chen instructed.

    ¡°No. I don''t want to do that. Let Qiao Zhan do that instead. I want to stay here and take care of Erbao,¡±

    Nan Xing answered.

    ¡°Qiao Zhan can''t possibly take your ce. Go on, now. Tell everyone to be on alert. We can''t let

    anything happen to Dabao!¡±

 Chapter 567

    Chapter 567

    Meanwhile, Erbao was still in aa.

    Ning Ran was sitting right next to her and couldn''t help but sob when she looked at her daughter''s tiny

    little face.

    ¡°Darling, you must wake up, okay? Otherwise, I would''ve nothing to live for anymore. This is all my

    fault. I wasn''t there to take care of you. I should be the one getting punished. Erbao, wake up, okay? If

    not, I wouldn''t want to live anymore...¡± The more Ning Ran spoke, the more heartbroken she became.

    She med herself for the incident.

    When Erbao was having a taste of the cream, she was in the shower.

    By the time she was done, it was already toote.

    Ning Ran didn''t throw the cake out because the maid told her it was from Nan Xing. Nevertheless, she

    still didn''t allow Erbao to take a bite of it.

    She had been extra vignt when they were with the production team. However, she didn''t expect

    something like that could happen at home.

    The nurse present recognized Ning Ran when she saw her. She then approached her andforted,

    ¡°Ms. Ding, everything''s going to be okay. The doctor has already said your daughter will wake up.¡±

    ¡°She''s still so young, and that was such a lethal poison. Will she suffer from the after-effects?¡±

    The nurse had no idea what to say because she wouldn''t know either. Instead, she could only say

    words offort. ¡°Don''t worry, Ms. Ding. Everything''s going to be fine.¡±

    Right then, Nan Chen entered the room. He held Ning Ran''s hand and urged, ¡°Don''t worry. Erbao will

    be fine.¡±

    ¡°This is all my fault.¡±

    ¡°No. You''re not at fault. I''d let my guard down. No one expected someone to send a poisonous cake

    home. If anything, this is my fault. It has nothing to do with you. I promise you I''ll find out who did this

    and make sure something like this will never happen again,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°That was such a lethal dose of poison. Will Erbao''s brain get damaged?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°No. My daughter is so smart. She won''t get brain damage. Even if there''s an after-effect, I''ll look all

    over the world for a good doctor to heal her.¡±

    ¡°Who''s so ruthless? Who would harm my child? Did Qiao Zhan manage to find any leads?¡±

    ¡°Not yet.¡±

    Nan Chen decided to not let her know about Nan Xing''s involvement in the matter. Qiao Zhan was the

    one who found out the card used to purchase the cake was his brother''s.

    He wasn''t covering up for Nan Xing, but it was just that he knew his brother wasn''t the culprit. Not only

    does he have no reason to harm Erbao, but he''s not a person who would do such a heartless thing.

    After all, he could''ve just asked someone to do it for him. Why would he buy the cake himself and leave

    evidence behind? Someone must be trying to frame Nan Xing. Although he likes to have fun in life, he''s

    not a power maniac, nor is he arrogant. Hence, he shouldn''t have many enemies around him. Who is

    the person framing him, then? Whoever it was, the motive for such an atrocious act was obvious, and

    that was to make the Nan family fight among themselves.

    If Erbao were to die there and then, it''d still be a deadly blow for the Nan family regardless if Nan Xing

    had orchestrated it.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    It''d be impossible for people in grief to remain rational, so the probability of Nan Chen hating Nan Xing

    would increase.

    Even if there was no hatred between them, Nan Chen would still be wary of Nan Xing.

    When wariness arose, so would suspicions and skepticism. Once the brothers were on guard against

    each other, the trust they had in each other would vanish. They''d hold grudges against each other.

    By then, the Nan family would descend into chaos.

    That was the exact reason Nan Chen had to keep calm amid the dire situation. He had to make sure

    the word wouldn''t get out.

    ¡°We must find the evil culprit. How could someoney their hands on such a little child? Earlier today,

    the production team had also received a cake, but I didn''t allow Erbao to eat it,¡± Ning Ran uttered.

    ¡°What? Why didn''t you say so earlier?¡±

    ¡°I didn''t think it''d be important to bring it up. Someone sent a cake to us. When I told Erbao not to eat it,

    she was quite cooperative, and she didn''t eat any of it. Tang Jing ate some, though. Nothing has

    happened to her. If the cake the production team received was tainted, then how is Tang Jing still

    okay? If the cake she ate was fine, why was the one we received at home spiked?¡± Ning Ran gazed at

    Nan Chen.

    ¡°I''ll get Qiao Zhan to question Tang Jing. However, wouldn''t she know what had happened to Erbao if

    we approach her? At this moment, I don''t want anyone to know about this yet. I want to get to the

    bottom of it before disclosing it to the public.¡±

    ¡°Tang Jing should be in the clear. Since there''s no bad blood between her and me, why would she do

    such a thing? If she were to poison someone, she''d need a motive, right? I can''t think of a reason for

    her to do something like this.¡±

    ¡°Bad blood isn''t necessarily the only motivator. At times, people would often do it for their own interests.

    I''ll get Qiao Zhan to stalk Tang Jing and find out if she''s involved in this. If she is, we''ll look for her

    again. If she isn''t, then it''s fine.¡±

    ¡°Mommy...¡±

    Right then, Ning Ran heard a weak voice calling out.

    ¡°Darling, you''re awake!¡± She was ted.

    ¡°Daddy...¡± Erbao uttered.

    ¡°Darling, are you feeling okay?¡± Ning Ran asked worriedly.

    ¡°I''m fine. I''m just tired. Mommy, what happened to me?¡±

    ¡°You''re okay now. You''ll be fine.¡± Ning Ran started crying again.

    ¡°Where am I?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°We''re at a hospital. You needed treatment because you fell sick. However, it''s all over now.

    Everything''s fine.¡±

    ¡°How about Dabao? Where is he?¡±

    ¡°He''s staying at Commoner Residence. I''ll bring him here to visit you tomorrow, okay?¡± Ning Ran said

    gently.

    ¡°Okay, Mommy. I''m so tired. I''ll continue sleeping.¡± Erbao shut her eyes again.

    Ning Ran felt like crying again because she was afraid that once Erbao fell asleep, she wouldn''t wake

    up again.

    Nan Chen gently touched her hand, signaling her to not worry.

    Indeed, Erbao was still incredibly weak at that point, and she needed to rest.

    That night, Ning Ran couldn''t sleep at all.

    The next day, the doctor transferred Erbao to a general ward after telling Ning Ran that her daughter

    was out of the woods.

    Since Erbao was present, she refrained from asking the doctor questions.

    Instead, she and Nan Chen went to the doctor''s office after settling the girl down.

    Even though the department head was the one treating their daughter, the hospital''s director was there

    as well.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, please have a seat. Don''t worry, your daughter is going to be fine. In fact, her life isn''t at

    stake anymore. She just needs to recover from it,¡± the department head said.

    ¡°Will she suffer from any after-effects?¡± Nan Chen asked right away.

    ¡°It''s too soon to tell. The poison your daughter ingested is rare. Although her organs suffered damages,

    it didn''t seem too serious. However, the damages caused might only show upter. Hence, we''d need

    to keep her under observation. Judging by her condition now, it doesn''t seem like she''d be suffering

    from any after-effects. Nevertheless, we can''tpletely rule out any possibility of that happening.¡±

    The department head was extremely cautious with his choice of words. That was the exact reason Nan

    Chen and Ning Ran were getting even more worried.

    ¡°So she''d still need to be under observation?¡±

    ¡°Yes. We''ll observe her today. If nothinges up, we can discharge her.¡±

    ¡°I don''t want this to be known by the public. Please make sure everyone in the hospital is informed of

    it,¡± Nan Chen uttered coldly.

    ¡°Of course. We''ll keep it under wraps. Rest assured, words won''t get out,¡± the department head and the

    director quickly stressed.

 Chapter 568

    Chapter 568

    When they got out of the doctor''s office, Nan Chen asked Ning Ran, ¡°Do we have to tell Dabao about

    this?¡±

    ¡°Since Erbao is fine now, we should just tell him. He''s a smart boy. If he doesn''t get to see Erbao today,

    he''s going to start specting. By then, it''ll be even harder to lie to him. We might as well tell him now

    so he wouldn''t get too worried about his sister''s whereabouts,¡± Ning Ran answered.

    ¡°Okay. I''ll send someone to fetch him.¡±

    Meanwhile, Dabao had already taken his breakfast. However, he had felt troubled ever since the night

    before. Not only did he wake up a few times throughout the night, but he''d also been having trouble

    breathing.

    Generally, a kid of his age would only have trouble waking up, instead of the other way around. It was

    rather peculiar for him to have trouble sleeping.

    Somehow, Dabao could sense something bad had happened to Erbao. What is it? What happened to

    her? Yesterday, Uncle Xing just came and told me Daddy and Mommy brought Erbao out. That sounds

    so suspicious because that was very unlikely.

    With doubts in his mind, he went to his uncle''s room and pounded on his door.

    Nan Xing didn''t sleep well as well throughout the night because he couldn''t get his mind off what

    happened to Erbao. By the time he fell asleep, it was almost dawn.

    He was extremely tired when Dabao woke him up.

    ¡°What is it, Dabao? What do you want so early in the morning?¡± Nan Xing was drowsy-eyed when he

    opened the door.

    ¡°What happened to Erbao?¡± his nephew asked directly.

    ¡°What do you mean what happened?¡± Nan Xing was stumped.

    ¡°Something must''ve happened to Erbao. You''re hiding something from me.¡± Dabao entered the room

    and stared at him.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    ¡°Nothing happened. Your parents brought her out, that''s all. They''ll be back in a couple of days.¡± Nan

    Xing felt guilty. He knew how smart Dabao was, so he had always been wary of him.

    ¡°You''re lying. You''re an adult. How could you lie? If kids aren''t supposed to lie, shouldn''t the adults act

    as examples?¡±

    Nan Xing was on the verge of spilling everything out. ¡°I''m not...¡±

    ¡°You''re obviously lying! Daddy and Mommy wouldn''t bring Erbao out on their own! Even if they did,

    Mommy and Erbao would definitely call me. However, all their phones are out of reach. Something

    must''ve happened! If you don''t tell me the truth now, I''ll tell Great-grandpa about it! Since you''re

    bullying me, I''ll get him to deal with you. He''ll surely be able to teach you a lesson!¡± Dabao threatened

    him.

    That was what Nan Xing was most afraid of. Chen said no matter what, Grandpa must never find out

    about what happened to Erbao. We can''t let those two old ones get startled. Now Dabao is threatening

    to tell them. What should I do?

    ¡°I trust you because you''re my uncle. However, you''re acting out of line. Don''t me me if I have to tell

    Great-grandpa about this!¡± Dabao threatened again, and he was about to leave.

    Nan Xing was dumbfounded. Out of line?

    ¡°Wait!¡± He quickly grabbed his nephew.

    ¡°Are you going to tell me the truth? If you''re not, then you should just shut it!¡± Dabao was extremely

    adamant.

    ¡°Just wait, will you? I''ll call and ask if they''re still there.¡± Since Nan Xing couldn''t decide on his own, he

    decided to call Nan Chen and ask for advice. I need his help. I don''t know how to handle Dabao.

    Nan Chen''s phone was out of reach at that moment. Is his phone dead? Perhaps I should call Qiao

    Zhan and get him to inform Chen.

    When he got on the phone with Qiao Zhan, the man told him he was already on his way to Commoner

    Residence to fetch Dabao to the hospital.

    Hearing that, Nan Xing heaved a sigh of relief. He should''ve told me earlier so that I could just tell

    Dabao. That way, I wouldn''t getbeled as old and acting out of line.

    ¡°Qiao Zhan is already on his way here to bring you to go see Erbao,¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°What happened to Erbao?¡± Dabao''s eyes reddened instantly.

    Seeing that, Nan Xing''s heart ached. He quickly hugged Dabao and uttered, ¡°Don''t worry, okay? Erbao

    is fine now. She had food poisoning yesterday and was brought to the hospital. She''s fine now.¡±

    ¡°Why did no one tell me? I was feeling terrible all night long! Erbao and I, we could sense each other,

    you know?¡±

    ¡°Don''t cry, okay? My hands were tied. Your daddy was worried about you. That''s why he kept you in the

    dark in the meantime. He''d even gotten me to check on you. I didn''t want to lie to you either. Actually,

    we''re more concerned about your great-grandparents finding out about it. As you know, they aren''t

    young anymore. What are we supposed to do if they fall sick when they''re startled?¡± Nan Xing

    exined patiently.

    Dabao was a sensible kid. Hearing that, he immediately stoppedining. ¡°Did Erbao really only

    suffer from food poisoning? Is it not dangerous?¡±

    ¡°She''s fine, really. You''ll get to see her in a while, okay? Why would I lie to you?¡±

    ¡°Okay. I''ll go get changed, then. Once Mr. Qiao gets here, I can leave right away.¡± Dabao left the room

    hurriedly but returned after taking a few steps.

    ¡°What if Great-grandpa asks me something? What am I supposed to tell him?¡± Dabao asked.

    ¡°Tell him your parents are bringing you to the park.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± With that, Dabao went to his room to get changed.

    Ten minutester, he''d gotten into Qiao Zhan''s car.

    ¡°Mr. Qiao, who did it to Erbao?¡± Dabao asked a trick question the moment he got into the car. He knew

    Nan Xing didn''t tell him the whole truth, and he also knew his uncle wouldn''t tell him if he were to keep

    questioning him. Hence, he''d already nned to ask Qiao Zhan about it instead.

    ¡°Oh? Master Xing told you about it already?¡± Not only was Qiao Zhan never good at mind games, but

    he was also up against a genius such as Dabao.

    ¡°He only told me some of it. He didn''t tell me who tried to harm Erbao.¡±

    ¡°Frankly, we don''t know much about it yet. The maid said the tainted cake was from Master Xing. I''ve

    already gotten someone to check on that. Indeed, the card used to buy the cake was his. However, I

    don''t think Master Xing is the culprit. He had no reason to do so. Besides, we''re all well aware of the

    fact that he loves you and Little Miss dearly. No one would believe that he''s the culprit,¡± Qiao Zhan

    said.

    ¡°The cake was sent straight home? The maid received it?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Little Master, you shouldn''t be suspicious of Master Xing, okay? He''s not a bad person.¡±

    ¡°I know Uncle Xing isn''t a bad person. I know that very well,¡± Dabao said sensibly.

    Indeed, it wasn''t just food poisoning. Someone was trying to harm Erbao.

    ¡°That''s good, then. Fortunately, Little Miss is already out of the woods, and we''re already on the matter.

    Don''t worry, Little Master. By the way, since you''re so smart, who do you think is the culprit?¡± Qiao

    Zhan asked.

    Dabao had no one in mind.

    Although he was so smart that they could consider him a genius, he wasn''t a fortune teller. He couldn''t

    possibly know who tried to harm Erbao.

    ¡°Whoever it is, the culprit knows our family well. I bet the culprit is someone Daddy and Mommy know,¡±

    Dabao said.

    ¡°Oh? Who could it be?¡±

    ¡°That, I don''t know yet. However, I''m sure that he or she is a person we''ve interacted with. This person

    knows Erbao is into desserts, and that''s why it was a poisonous cake. Besides, this person knows

    where we stay. I''d say we''re quite close to this person,¡± Dabao replied.

    Upon hearing that, Qiao Zhan was frightened. Could it be Master Xing? Isn''t Master Xing someone

    they''re close to?

 Chapter 569

    Chapter 569

    In the ward, Dabao broke into tears when he saw Erbao. ¡°I''m sorry for not taking good care of you. I

    should''ve been there with you.¡±

    Dabao was utterly remorseful when he saw how pale and weak his sister was.

    Erbao was very thoughtful. When she saw her brother crying, she immediately tried to sit up and smile.

    ¡°I''m okay, Dabao!¡±

    ¡°Are you sure you''re okay? Does your stomach hurt?¡±

    She shook her head. ¡°No! It doesn''t hurt at all. I''ll get discharged soon.¡±

    ¡°Discharged? Why? Why are you in such a hurry to leave the hospital?¡± Dabao asked.

    ¡°I need to go filming!¡± she eximed.

    ¡°What? How could you still think about filming at this point? If it wasn''t for filming, none of this would''ve

    happened! You should stop at once!¡± He put on a stern face.

    Erbao''s initially pale face turned red when she heard that. ¡°I want to go filming! How could you stop me

    from doing that? I want to get discharged now!¡±

    ¡°Stop messing around, Darling. You need to get well soon. Behave yourself, okay?¡± Ning Ran urged.

    ¡°Daddy, I''m not allowed to film because I''m sick?¡± Tears were streaming down Erbao''s cheeks.

    Nan Chen and Ning Ran exchanged nces. Is this child so in love with filming? How is she still

    thinking about that when she''s so frail?

    It seemed like Erbao wasn''t doing it just for fun. She loved what she was doing.

    ¡°Don''t worry, Darling. Once you get better, you can go back to filming, okay?¡± Nan Chen reassured.

    ¡°But the directing team had already arranged for Erbao to film. Due to the fact that she''s starting school

    soon, they want her to finish filming before then. If she''s not going over today, I ought to apply for a

    leave of absence for her. Otherwise, up to a hundred people would be waiting for her to show up,¡± Ning

    Ran said.

    ¡°No!¡± Nan Chen insisted.

    ¡°What? Does it mean I won''t get to film again? Then I should leave this hospital at once.¡± Erbao was

    struggling to get out of bed.

    ¡°Calm down, Darling.¡± Nan Chen stopped her. ¡°We''ll let you film when you get better. I promise you!¡±

    ¡°Why shouldn''t we apply for a leave of absence? Is it because that might cause some rumors to spread

    around?¡± Ning Ran asked curiously.

    ¡°Exactly. As long as it''s something that concerns me and the Nan family, we shouldn''t let anyone find

    out about the truth. That''s because we haven''t figured out the culprit''s motive and intention. Now, we

    have no idea what our counterpart is nning to do next. We should just act normally and investigate

    quietly. In other words, we have to let our counterparts think that nothing has happened yet. That way,

    they''ll do something again because they''ll get impatient. We can only catch them when they try to make

    another move and slip up,¡± Nan Chen exined patiently.

    What should we say to them if we''re not supposed to apply for a leave of absence? However,

    everyone''s going to start specting if we do that. By then, the culprits will find out the truth. This

    situation is tricky. Nan Chen paced back and forth with his head lowered while trying to think of

    something.

    He then raised his head and said, ¡°We can let Erbao go and show up for a while. We can just tell them

    she''s having the flu, and she''s not feeling well. She can leave after that. As long as the people see her

    there, we''ll be fine.¡±

    ¡°In her current state, Erbao can''t possibly go there. Considering how frail and weak she is, everyone

    can tell she''s seriously ill at first nce. No matter what, I won''t let Erbao go to the filming site. She

    needs to rest. At this moment, there''s nothing more important than her getting well.¡± Ning Ran didn''t

    approve of Nan Chen''s idea.

    ¡°Obviously, I''m not going to let Erbao go there either, considering how weak she is. However, someone

    can be her substitute,¡± Nan Chen uttered.

    Finally, Ning Ran knew what he meant and shot Dabao a look.

    The boy understood right away. ¡°I can pretend to be Erbao, but I''m not going to wear a skirt!¡±

    Although the kids were of different genders, they were still too young for people to spot a difference in

    their figures.

    Since Dabao was a pretty boy, he''d had no problem pretending to be a girl.

    The only problem was that Erbao was a foodie. Hence, she had chubbier cheekspared to Dabao.

    However, only those close to them would notice the difference upon closer inspection.

    Erbao was ecstatic when she heard that. ¡°Dabao is going to pretend to be me! This is going to be fun!¡±

    ¡°Wouldn''t it be hard? Not only do we have different hairstyles, but I also can''t talk as adorably as

    Erbao,¡± Dabao said in frustration.

    ¡°You can wear a cap, and I''ll put lipstick on you. No one will notice it if you were to wear a pink sweater

    and a scarf to cover your cheeks,¡± Ning Ran uttered.

    ¡°Okay, then,¡± Dabao answered helplessly.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Right. Let''s get prepared.¡±

    ¡°Daddy, have you found out who tried to harm Erbao?¡± Dabao asked.

    ¡°Not yet. Do you have any ideas in mind?¡± Nan Chen knew how smart his son was, so he didn''t bother

    to hide anything from him. Instead, he was open to suggestions.

    ¡°While I was on my way here, I''ve already discussed with Mr. Qiao. I think it''s someone we know very

    well. Otherwise, that person wouldn''t have known Erbao is a fool for desserts.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Nan Chen was very pleased that his son could think of that.

    ¡°What else?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Since Erbao and I are just kids, we wouldn''t have any enemies. The culprit was getting back at an

    adult. Generally, revenge among men wouldn''t involve a trick such as poisoning. They''d usually go for

    murdering or causing a car crash. Hence, I think the culprit is a woman,¡± Dabao suggested.

    Nan Chen and Ning Ran were bewildered, and they both gazed at their son.

    Indeed, an idea of such had never crossed their minds. That was because it was a wild guess without a

    basis to it.

    ¡°I''m just guessing, and it''s just my instinct. For example, Daddy would never resort to poisoning if he

    was plotting against someone. In fact, only weaker individuals would use a sinister trick, such as

    poisoning. Also, only a woman would be observant enough to notice that Erbao likes desserts. Again,

    I''m just specting,¡± Dabao said anxiously.

    ¡°No. You do have a point!¡± Nan Chen nodded, and Ning Ran thought so as well.

    ¡°Who could it be? From all the women we know, who would want to harm my daughter?¡± Ning Ran

    queried.

    Truth be told, Ouyang Qing popped up in Ning Ran''s mind as she was pondering. However, she dared

    not to speak her mind. The Ouyang family and the Nan family are close to each other. In fact, they''re

    currently working together on multiple matters.

    Without any proof, even Nan Chen dared not to specte. If those two families were to have a fallout,

    it''d be a massive war between two powerful families in the province.

    If unnecessary, no one from either party would be willing to have a go against the other. The

    consequences of such a fallout could be detrimental to both parties.

    Ning Ran wasn''t going to mention the name that popped up in her mind. If anything, I should let Nan

    Chen say it himself.

    ¡°Could it be¡ª¡± Nan Chen stopped halfway through his sentence.

    ¡°Perhaps we shouldn''t jump to conclusions first. I''ll get to the bottom of it. Dabao, get ready to go visit

    the filming site, okay? I''ll have to go back to the office for a meeting so that everything would seem fine.

    I suspect someone is nning a move against Nanshi Corporation. I can''t let that happen,¡± Nan Chen

    said.

 Chapter 570

    Chapter 570

    Meanwhile, Nan Xing arrived.

    He didn''t look good as he hadn''t gotten much sleep the night before.

    Nheless, he heaved a sigh of relief when he noticed Erbao looked better.

    ¡°Darling, what do you feel like eating? I''ll get it for you.¡± Nan Xing sat before Erbao''s hospital bed,

    clutching her little hands.

    Erbao simply shook his head, signaling herck of appetite.

    ¡°What about your favorite butter cake?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    The moment that was mentioned, Erbao panicked and eximed, ¡°I don''t want any cake! I will never

    touch one in my lifetime!¡±

    The miserable look on her face showed the traumatic experience that she went through, and she was

    even terrified of her favorite food!

    ¡°Don''t worry, my cake is not poisoned; it''s perfectly safe.¡± Nan Xing sympathized with her.

    ¡°I don''t want it! I don''t want it! I''m not going to eat it!¡±

    ¡°What about chicken drumstick? It''s your favorite too!¡±

    ¡°I don''t want it as well.¡± Erbao shook her head again.

    ¡°Lobsters?¡±

    ¡°I don''t want it!¡±

    Nan Xing continued to mention numerous foods that Er Bao enjoyed, but she refused to eat any of

    them.

    As her body was too frail, she had no appetite.

    Besides, thoughts about the poisoning still lingered in her mind, which would be devasting to any child.

    ¡°My dear, what do you want to eat?¡±

    ¡°All I want to do is lie down. I don''t want to eat anything.¡±

    Immediately noticing Nan Xing''s displeasure, Er Bao tried to console him, ¡°Uncle Xing, I''ll join you for a

    food hunt when I get better, okay?¡±

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Nan Chen nodded excitedly. ¡°After you recover, I will buy you anything that you want to eat!¡±

    Then, he turned around and noticed Ning Ran putting lipstick on Dabao''s lips.

    ¡°Hey! What are you doing? Are you really putting on lipstick?¡± Nan Xing eximed.

    ¡°Please refer to me as Ning Sirui.¡± Dabao rolled his eyes.

    ¡°Are you trying to imitate Erbao?¡± Nan Xing got it right away.

    ¡°I am not trying to imitate. I am her,¡± Dabao corrected Nan Xing.

    ¡°Okay, you''re the boss. Please do as you please. In fact, you''re the best when ites to this.¡± Nan

    Xing waved his hand.

    ¡°I need to pay a visit to thepany. You and Qiao Zhan should stay here to keep an eye on Erbao.

    ¡°No one was allowed to enter the ward save for doctors and certain designated nurses. ¡°The entire

    floor has been cleared, and any trespassers will be immediately arrested.

    ¡°Doctors and nurses have to remove their masks before entering the ward.

    ¡°Make sure you double-check everything before allowing them to enter the ward.¡± Nan Chen reminded.

    ¡°Don''t worry, Nan Xing. If anythinges up, I''ll pay with my death.¡± Nan Xing was willing to go to the

    extreme.

    ¡°All right, let''s go.¡±

    Nan Chen and Ning Ran did not exit by the main entrance but instead took stairs from a side door to

    the parking lot.

    After half an hour, Ning Ran and Dabao arrived on set.

    As it was still early, the crew was still prepping, and the work had yet to begin.

    Dabao was carrying Erbao''s tiny bag full of candies, and he distributed it to all passersby.

    No one noticed anything odd.

    Then, Ning Ran called the director and asked if the filming could be postponed, on the pretext that

    rtives of the Nan family would like to see Erbao.

    Expectedly, the director had no objection to the request, given that it was the Nan family that was

    coming after all. He immediately canceled Erbao''s original schedule and reced it with a different set

    of actors.

    ¡°Thank you! I''ll head off then.¡±

    The director smiled. ¡°Don''t worry about it!¡±

    At the exit, they bumped into Tang Jing. ¡°Are you not filming today, Ding?¡±

    ¡°I have rtivesing over to visit Erbao. Old Master Nan and Old Madam Feng insisted that I bring

    the children over, so I have no choice but to ede. I apologize for causing a dy in the filming

    progress,¡± replied Ning Ran.

    ¡°It''s fine. It''s always more important when ites to the Nan family. See you!¡± Tang Jing waved her

    hand.

    Dabao remained silent and merely waved his hand in response.

    Ning Ran and Dabao got into the car and hastily departed.

    In Orchid Club.

    The phone rang, and Ouyang Duo answered it before eventually locking his gaze on Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°Why don''t you trust me, Dad? I sent the cakes, both at the same time, to the production team and to

    Nan Chen. It goes without saying that kids enjoy desserts the most, and my n will surely work. The

    Nan family must be in a catatonic state right now!¡± said Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°However, my source informed me that Nan Chen had just shown up at Nanshi Corporation to attend a

    meeting. Everything seems to be normal,¡± replied Ouyang Duo.

    ¡°Are you telling me that even if his daughter has just passed away, he can still go to work like normal?

    What kind of a person is he?¡± Ouyang Qing muttered.

    ¡°Impossible. No matter how strong Nanchen appears to be, he will surely be affected if his daughter

    dies,¡± replied Ouyang Duo.

    ¡°The poison in the cake, in the smallest concentration, can easily kill a puppy. I know because I have

    tried it before. Now, it would be impossible that his daughter of young age can survive it.¡± Ouyang Qing

    was simrly taken aback.

    ¡°Then, it may be possible that she did not eat the cake! No one witnessed if she did. At the end of the

    day, you''re just guessing. What if she did not eat it?¡± Ouyang Duo eximed.

    ¡°I don''t think it''s possible. That kid has a sweet tooth. She cannot resist eating them no matter how full

    she is. This is not in keeping with her personality.¡± Ouyang Qing was so sure.

    However, Ouyang Duo did not buy that. ¡°As I previously stated, this is just your own assumption. We

    need proof to back it up. ¡°At the moment, there is nothing unusual in the Nan family; everything seems

    to be normal.

    ¡°Previously, we still have funds with the Nanshi Corporation, and now we need to throw in more funds.

    ¡°How do you expect me to exin this to my partners? ¡°I assured them that this would be profitable,

    but it turns out to be the opposite. My reputation has gone down the drain and they will not trust me

    anymore in the future!¡±

    Ouyang Duo was enraged since his attempts to overthrow the Nan family had not been sessful.

    His son was unreliable, and her daughter, who he had always been proud of, also failed to meet his

    expectations. She had not only failed to bring glory to the Ouyang family, but also became aughing

    stock on the Inte.

    Everything added up and Ouyang Duo''s animosity towards the Nan family grew.

    ¡°I''m going to meet Tang Jing to check what happened.¡± Ouyang Qing stood up.

    ¡°Is she the actress who''s helping you?¡± Ouyang Duo asked.

    ¡°Yes, she''s in the production team, and she would be aware of the situation over there.¡±

    ¡°Don''t approach her. If someone finds out, she''s just a chest piece that can be discarded. Don''t let her

    implicate you if something goes wrong.¡± Ouyang Duo raised his voice.

    ¡°However, meeting her is the only way that I can find out more about the situation right now.¡±

    ¡°Simply call and ask her. Nan Chen is a cunning and sly fe. He may have spies everywhere. The

    moment you contact her, Nan Chen will be alerted immediately.¡±

    Ouyang Duo, an old fox that he was, had thought of a safer approach to the situation.

    ¡°All right, I''ll call her and ask if that''s okay?¡±

    Ouyang Duo replied, ¡°It''s better not to contact her directly; instead, contact other members of the

    production team, such as the director. Remember to tread lightly and don''t push your luck.

    ¡°The most crucial thing is to rify if the child has shown up on set today.

    If she were there, that means that she did not eat the cake.¡±

    ¡°All right, I''ll call the director now.¡±

    Ouyang Qing reached for his phone and dialed the director''s number.

 Chapter 571

    Chapter 571

    The director picked up the call fairly quickly. ¡°Hello, Ms. Ouyang. What can I do for you?¡±

    ¡°Is the filming going smoothly? How is our little actress doing?¡± Ouyang Qing asked.

    ¡°She''s been splendid. Absolutely fantastic!¡± he said excitedly.

    ¡°Then, did shee in today?¡±

    ¡°She did,¡± the director replied.

    ¡°She did?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± he affirmed.

    ¡°I see. That''s all I wanted to know. Thank you.¡±

    ¡°You''re wee, Ms. Ouyang. Rest assured that we''ll do a good job.¡±

    Though Erbao did report in, the discerning director neglected to mention that she had actually left

    afterward.

    The absence of the cast would prolong the shooting duration, and it would be in the interests of the

    investors, which included the likes of Ouyang Qing.

    Nan Chen, however, was the one who held the biggest stake in the investment. So owing to the

    rtionship between Nan Chen and Ning Ran, the director would willinglyply even if Ning Ran

    were to approve the hiatus.

    Am I to tell Ouyang Qing that Ning Ran only popped in for a bit before leaving without participating in

    the filming? Would that not be tantamount to snitching? If I wanted to snitch, would it not make more

    sense to do so to the big boss instead of the minor shareholder? Would I not be shooting myself in the

    foot otherwise?

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    He had arrived at this understanding through years of experience in the industry, so he was not going

    to divulge anything.

    Ouyang Qing''s phone had been switched to hands-free mode so that Ouyang Duo beside her was able

    to hear everything loud and clear.

    ¡°Didn''t you swear that this was a sure thing? Are you hearing this now?¡± Ouyang Duo fumed.

    ¡°I don''t get it. How is that possible?¡± Ouyang Qing could not wrap her head around it either.

    ¡°We have to contact our overseas partners and ask them to put all the operations against Nanshi

    Corporation on hold.¡±

    Ouyang Duo pulled out his phone and went to the side.

    Ouyang Qing was quite distraught. After all that effort, we still can''t take care of one little kid?

    She thought that having the poisoned cake sent to the production team and her home would surely be

    the end of Ning Ran. Never did she expect that thetter was still able toe away unscathed!

    When Ouyang Duo came off the line, he did not look like a happy camper.

    ¡°Did you do a thorough job when you were at it? Would Nan Chen be able to trace it back to us?¡±

    Ouyang Duo asked.

    ¡°I did. As you instructed, I had someone forge Nan Xing''s identification and used it to set up an ount

    through the staff at the bank, and got them to issue the card as well.¡±

    The card used to make the purchase for the cake was registered under Nan Xing''s name.

    ¡°I think Nan Chen would be able to see through it because he''s not going to believe that this is Nan

    Xing''s doing,¡± Ouyang Qing said.

    ¡°I believe so too. He wouldn''t be Nan Chen if he couldn''t see through such a petty trick,¡± spat Ouyang

    Duo.

    ¡°Then what did we do that for?¡± Ouyang Qing was baffled.

    ¡°Tearing the Nan family apart is going to take more than just one or two deeds to aplish. We''ll

    have to do many things, one at a time. Even if Nan Chen would not believe it the first time, his doubts

    would only fester if such things were to keep happening, over and over. It may be difficult to have him

    completely convinced, but this would still be achievable so long as he has his suspicions.¡±

    He added, ¡°What''s more, Nan Xing doesn''t have Nan Chen''s smarts. Although Nan Chen might have

    absolute faith in Nan Xing, that may not be the case the other way round. We must, therefore, continue

    to do whatever is necessary to sow discord between those two.¡±

    ¡°The effect of this may not be apparent in the short term, but over time, it would surely drive a wedge

    between them,¡± concluded Ouyang Duo coldly.

    ¡°One more thing, Dad. ording to the production team''s scheduling, Ding Mi would be headed out to

    the Xinan region for filming after New Year. That would be a chance for us to strike,¡± said Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°Is that so? The Xinan region? Hahaha. It''ll be even better if Nan Chen went along as well,¡± Ouyang

    Duo responded in delight.

    ¡°Being as busy as he is, it is not likely that he''ll be there.¡±

    ¡°How could he not in the event that something were to happen to his woman and kids? We''ll get our

    chance so long as he''s headed there. It''s going to be too hard to mess with Nan Chen in Flower City,

    but away from it, his influence would be diminished. The inside of Nanshi Corporation isn''t rock solid,

    so there will be people there who would be willing to coborate with us. If we know to y our cards

    right, something will bound toe together. Even the tiger will need to snooze, so I refuse to believe

    that Nan Chen is indestructible. One day, I shall break him!¡±

    ¡°In that case, what shall we do next?¡± Ouyang Qing asked.

    ¡°We''ll sit tight for the time being. Remember not to make contact with that actress who is working for

    you. Who knows whether Nan Chen had alreadyid a trap just waiting for you to walk into it,¡± Ouyang

    Duo instructed.

    ¡°Okay. I shall abide by what you say, Dad. What about Nan Xing then? Can I go and meet him?¡± asked

    Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°Sure. You ought to meet with him because he might be suspicious of you if you don''t. Nan Xing

    is a simpleton and would be rtively easier for you to deal with, so while you are at it, try to find out

    what''s happening over at the Nan family. However, you must avoid Nan Chen no matter what, because

    he''d be too much for you to handle.¡±

    He probably wouldn''t be willing even if I wanted to see him. Ouyang Qing thought to herself. Since he

    and I are no longer fated to be together, I''d rather destroy what I can''t have than give it up to anyone

    else!

    ¡°All right. I''ll do just that. What about Qi? How are things going over on his end?¡±

    ¡°Forget about that good-for-nothing who only knows to fool around! I''d take that I''d never had a son like

    him!¡± Ouyang Duo raged.

    ¡°Qi really fancies Ding Mi so he won''t do anything to her. We can''t let him find out about whatever we

    are doing to the Nan family as I''m worried that he may intervene.¡±

    ¡°Would he dare! Never mind that he can''t be of any help, if he has the gall to ruin things for us, I''d

    never let him hear the end of it! Bah. Let''s not talk about him anymore. Now, ring up Nan Xing. I want to

    hear what he has to say and see if we are able to pick up anything useful from there.¡±

    Ouyang Duo instructed Ouyang Qing to make the call, and Nan Xing was prompt to answer when it got

    through.

    ¡°Hello. What is it?¡± His tone sounded quite tense.

    ¡°Are you not going to call me if I don''t call you first? Are we even still a couple? When are you going to

    let me meet your parents and make this official?¡±

    Haughty and inexplicably so, Ouyang Qing always felt a peculiar sense of superiority whenever she

    dealt with Nan Xing.

    It was only out of deference to Nan Chen that Nan Xingpelled himself to deal with Ouyang Qing;

    hence, he could only put up with the manner in which she spoke to him.

    Inside though, he was profoundly pissed and thought that she ought to spare him that da*n attitude.

    ¡°Didn''t I already announce it publicly? Everyone knows that you''ve given up on my brother and are now

    dating me. The media already knows it, as does the entire world, so would you like me to go inform the

    Martians about it as well?¡± Nan Xing retorted.

    To the side, Ouyang Duo was seething with his fists clenched as he had not expected that from Nan

    Xing.

    Even Ouyang Qing felt embarrassed and she wondered why her father insisted on listening in to their

    conversation. Does he have to do this?

    ¡°Why are you speaking like this, Nan Xing?¡± Ouyang Qing seethed.

    ¡°What''s wrong with what I said? Justying out the facts, that''s all,¡± replied Nan Xing with disinterest.

    ¡°Where are you at right now? I want to dine out!¡± Ouyang Qing demanded.

    Nan Xing was in the hospital, unable to step away because he was under orders to watch over Erbao.

    Unable to be honest about this, he could only fob her off, ¡°Perhaps in the evening then. What''s there to

    eat during the day anyway? Plus, it''ll be much more convenient for us to do other stuff after dinner if we

    want to.¡±

    Ouyang Qing''s face flushed red and it was even more awkward for the genuinely embarrassed Ouyang

    Duo. Thetter, too, hade to the realization that he should not be eavesdropping on the younger

    folks'' conversations.

 Chapter 572

    Chapter 572

    Ouyang Duo had enough and strode away.

    Ouyang Qing was frustrated, knowing that she had upset her father.

    ¡°Nan Xing, what are you talking about? Nothing good would evere out of that dirty mouth of yours!¡±

    she reprimanded.

    ¡°I thought you''ve always wanted to...¡±

    I thought you''ve always wanted to sleep with me. Nan Xing was about to blurt something inappropriate

    when he saw Erbao staring at him with her big, rounded eyes.

    Then, he walked away to the door to continue the conversation.

    ¡°I''ve always wanted to...?¡± Ouyang Qing asked.

    ¡°You''ve always wanted to sleep with me, right? If that''s the case, I might as well throw myself at you.

    Aren''t you happy now?¡± Nan Xing had nothing better to do so he teased her.

    ¡°Shut up!¡±

    ¡°You''re the one who called me. If I were to keep my mouth shut, who are you going to converse with?

    So, I can''t keep quiet.¡± Nan Xing chuckled.

    ¡°When are you going to take me out for a meal?¡±

    ¡°I''ll call you tonight if I''m avable,¡± he replied casually.

    ¡°You don''t work at night. So, why won''t you have time?¡±

    ¡°Just in case some hot chicks ask me out,¡± Nan Xing said.

    ¡°You''re too much, Nan Xing!¡± Ouyang Qing blew her top.

    ¡°All right, wait for my call.¡± With that, Nan Xing promptly hung up.

    Ouyang Qing was so furious. How dares he hung up on me?

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    She called him again, but to no avail.

    When Ouyang Duo was trying to reach Nan Xing, Ouyang Duo was meeting another man in the other

    room.

    The man was none other than his trusted aide, Johnson Trent.

    He held the same social standing as Qiao Zhan did in the Nan family.

    The only difference was that Zhang Sheng was a low-key guy, who spent most of his time lurking in the

    dark, doing things discreetly. Not many were aware of his presence.

    Zhang Sheng was not his original name. When he was sixteen, his family was dered bankrupt. As a

    consequence, his parents were forced by the loan sharks to take their own lives due to their inability to

    afford the high-interest rates.

    After investigating the case for about half a year, he found the culprits and avenged his parents.

    At that time, he was about to face a severe sentence, but Ouyang Duo bailed him out. Subsequently,

    thetter arranged for him to undergo stic surgery and created a new identity for him. Since then, his

    name was changed to Zhang Sheng, and he had been serving as a loyal side-kick of Ouyang Duo.

    ¡°Mr. Ouyang.¡± That was his usual way of addressing Ouyang Duo.

    ¡°Do me a favor tonight.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Zhang Sheng would carry out any tasks assigned by Ouyang Duo without any hesitation, regardless of

    whether it was legal or illegal.

    ¡°Qing will be having dinner with Nan Xing tonight. Your job is to attack them.¡±

    Zhang Sheng kept quiet with his head down.

    ¡°As you strike him, say these words¡ªB*stard, how could you prey on your own niece? Do you want to

    climb up the socialdder? Dream on!¡± instructed Ouyang Duo.

    ¡°Duly noted,¡± Zhang Sheng acknowledged.

    ¡°Do you understand my intention?¡± Ouyang Duo asked.

    ¡°There''s no need for me to know. My duty is to carry out your orders,¡± Zhang Sheng replied firmly.

    Ouyang Duo nodded. He was well pleased with Zhang Sheng''s attitude.

    ¡°Does Ms. Ouyang know about this?¡±

    ¡°Yes, she does. I''ll have her set up the appointment at the right ce so that it doesn''t pose any

    difficulty for you to ambush Nan Xing. Handle it well. Don''t beat him to death nor to a pulp,¡± Ouyang

    Duo added.

    ¡°Okay,¡± responded Zhang Sheng.

    ¡°Remember to leave immediately once the motive is achieved. Don''t leave a single trace of clue or any

    unwanted evidence,¡± Ouyang Duo reminded sternly.

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    Thereafter, Ouyang Duo went looking for his daughter.

    ¡°Did you manage to ask Nan Xing out?¡±

    ¡°He said he''d dine with me tonight.¡±

    ¡°I''ve made a reservation for two on the fifth floor at Xiang Jiang Restaurant. Tell them your name, and

    the waiter will lead you to your table,¡± apprised Ouyang Duo.

    ¡°Why? Is there any hidden agenda, Dad?¡±

    ¡°There sure is. If Nan Xing is faced with any danger, you ought to protect him at all costs even if it

    means getting some minor injuries. It''s imperative that you earn his trust so that he can dismiss his

    perceptions toward you,¡± exined Ouyang Duo.

    ¡°He doesn''t have any prejudice against me...¡±

    ¡°Have you forgotten what you''ve done in the past? Are you sure that he''s not biased against you? You

    went all out for his brother but failed miserably. Now, you''re going after him. As a man, do you think

    he''s seriously okay with that?¡±

    Initially, Ouyang Duo wanted to keep all these to himself, but he could not help getting it off his chest.

    It was quite awkward for a father to say those things to his own daughter.

    Though Qing is smart and talented, she''s too full of herself. Being over self-centered and haughty could

    turn people off.

    ¡°Dad, how could you say that?¡± Ouyang Qing felt so embarrassed.

    ¡°Whatever it is, you get the idea. Therefore, you must work hard at whitewashing your past and build a

    good reputation before Nan Xing. Things will be smoother once you''ve gained his trust,¡± advised

    Ouyang Duo.

    ¡°All right, I got it,¡± Ouyang Qing replied affirmatively.

    At noon, Ning Ran and Dabao sneaked into the hospital through the side gate.

    Dabao heaved a long sigh after removing his lipstick and changing into his own clothes.

    He could not understand why Erbao enjoyed disguising as him so much. When he did the same, he felt

    so exhausted.

    ¡°Darling, let''s have some porridge. I didn''t have enough time to prepare any food. I bought this but it

    looks good,¡± urged Ning Ran.

    ¡°I don''t want to eat anything.¡±

    Erbao lost her appetitepletely.

    ¡°That won¡¯t do. ording to the doctor, you need to eat to regain your strength. Otherwise, it''s going to

    take forever for you to recover.¡±

    ¡°I really don''t want to eat anything.¡±

    ¡°Have a bite, at least.¡± Ning Ran''s heart sank seeing what had be of her daughter who used to be

    a foodie.

    Although she had no appetite, she obeyed her mother and consumed a little bit.

    Dabao followed suit in order to encourage his sister and make her feel better.

    Right then, Nan Chen arrived from a meeting. He was too worried about Erbao.

    Upon confirming that she was safe and well, he felt relieved.

    ¡°You haven''t eaten anything, have you? I''ll order delivery.¡±

    Nan Xing yawned and said, ¡°I''m not hungry. I didn''t get a good restst night, so I want to get some

    shut-eye.¡±

    ¡°There''s no one upying the next ward. I''ll get them to change the sheets, then you can rest over

    there. I need to take a nap too, for I had insomniast night,¡± Nan Chen uttered.

    ¡°I bet you''re t out, Chen. Go ahead and get some rest. I''ll take care of Erbao.¡±

    ¡°Daddy, Uncle Xing, you both should get some sleep. I''m fine and I am good.¡±

    As she spoke, Erbao waved her arms to show how energetic she was.

    However, her pale little face gave her away. That was a telltale sign that she was still physically weak.

    Right then, the food delivery arrived. Both Nan Xing and Nan Chen headed to the other room to catch

    up over a meal.

    ¡°I suspect that this incident is rted to Ouyang Qing, but I don''t have any proof just yet. Did she

    contact you?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Yes, she did. She asked when I am going to spend her a meal.¡±

    ¡°Did you say yes?¡±

    ¡°Not yet. I just told her that I''ll call her if I''m free.¡±

    ¡°Go and meet up with her. Take note of the questions she asks and tell meter.¡± Nan Chen seemed to

    have it all figured out.

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    ¡°I won''t let this slide if Ouyang Qing is really the person who hurt my daughter. I''ll make her pay for it.¡±

    A malicious intent shed across Nan Chen''s eyes.

    ¡°I won''t forgive her, either. How evil can one be toy hands on a child!¡±

    ¡°I can''t see through her ns. Don''t let your guard down when you see her and be very careful.¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry, Chen. I''ll be more cautious around her.¡±

 Chapter 573

    Chapter 573

    Ouyang Qing had already arrived at the restaurant when Nan Xing came by.

    She stood by the window and looked down at the river below.

    ¡°You seem to be in a good mood. Nice night view, eh? How about reciting a poem too?¡± Nan Xing

    teased her.

    ¡°Can you?¡± Ouyang Qing responded with a question.

    Nan Xing shook his head. ¡°I can''t. I''m not a cultured person; not much into poems either.¡±

    ¡°I have a question for you. What sort of person do you think I am?¡±

    She walked across toward him and looked him in the eyes.

    Nan Xing gazed at her too. Perfect features, exquisite make-up, what a beauty!

    Ouyang Qing had always been identified as a gracefuldy from a prominent family. Had it not been for

    that one mishap during live online streaming, she would always be regarded as the nation''s elegant

    princess.

    She was the one who had it all; pretty looks and good education background.

    Unfortunately, she wasted a perfectly good hand of cards when her true colors were revealed.

    Her family background could have put her on a pedestal and made her life a blessing. Too bad she

    asked for too much, and as a result, brought many unnecessary troubles upon herself.

    ¡°You''re a gorgeousdy,¡±mented Nan Xing earnestly.

    ¡°That''s it?¡±

    ¡°What else do you want me to say? To me, being a beauty is the best identity a woman could ever ask

    for. There''s nothing more important than one''s appearance. That''s what I fancy.¡± Nan Xing chucked.

    ¡°You''re a sweet talker. Have a seat, and let''s have the food served now.¡±

    Nan Xing recalled Nan Chen''s advice and wondered if she would poison his food.

    I''m already here. It''ll be weird if I don''t eat. After all, many know that I''m with her. I doubt she''dmit

    murder, knowing that I have so many witnesses. There''s no need for her to risk her reputation this way,

    considering her status in society.

    Ouyang Qing poured some wine and raised her ss. ¡°I''ve got something toe clean with you.¡±

    Nan Xing resorted to remain deadpan. ¡°Sure.¡±

    ¡°In the past, I did like Nan Chen. In fact, he was my idol since young. I had feelings for him when I was

    very young. As I grew up, the thought stuck with me, and it sort of developed into an obsession. I was

    determined to be with Nan Chen. However, I''m not sure if I truly liked him or I was only driven by the

    idea which I couldn''t let go,¡± Ouyang Qing confessed after gulping some wine.

    Nan Xing listened attentively without interrupting her.

    ¡°I followed him each step of the way. I traveled to the ces he went, visited his school, and tailed him

    back to Flower City. I thought that we would have a happy ending until Ning Ran appeared in his life.

    The most heart-wrenching bit is that they even have a pair of twins. I felt like I lost everything. All of my

    efforts over the years are in vain. If you were me, would you be mad?¡± she asked Nan Xing.

    ¡°I don''t know, but I don''t think I can ever like someone so long. I''ll only love those who would

    reciprocate my feelings and are willing to be with me. Unrequited love is a child''s y, and I''m not

    interested in ying that game.¡± Nan Xing smiled.

    Ouyang Qing nodded in agreement. ¡°True. You were born with a silver spoon. There''s no need for you

    to woe any girls as it''s usually the other way around for you.¡±

    Nan Xing grinned. ¡°That''s why I can''t get used to going after you. I don''t know how to do it.¡±

    ¡°Anyway, my point is to admit that I used to like Nan Chen. I hope you don''t mind that because I no

    longer have feelings for him now. The person that I like is you. Would you seriously consider me?¡± She

    locked eyes with him.

    ¡°Are you for real?¡± Nan Xingughed.

    ¡°Can you be more serious after all that I''ve shared?¡± Ouyang Qing was getting rather annoyed.

    ¡°I''m sorry. Joking and fooling around is my thing. I''m not a serious guy, I don''t like being all solemn too.

    So, please don''t treat me this way. No matter how serious you are about this, it''s impossible for me to

    look at it the same way. If you want me to be dead serious, consider these few sentences the most

    serious I can ever be.¡± Nan Xing grinned.

    ¡°All right, as long as you understand. I just wanted to clear the air.¡±

    ¡°Okay, I got it.¡± He nodded. ¡°And then?¡±

    ¡°When are you bringing me to meet your parents as well as grandparents? I mean officially announce

    our rtionship?¡±

    Nan Xing had a headache.

    Why is she bringing this up again? I''m merely entertaining her, with the hopes that she would give it up

    herself. Which part of ''I have no intention to get serious'' does she not understand?

    ¡°Aren''t you quite close with my mom? I heard that it''s all thanks to you that she''s back safe and sound.

    Why do you need me to arrange an appointment?¡± Nan Xing threw the question back at her.

    ¡°It''s totally different for me to go see her by myself or for you to bring me along and introduce me

    properly. Nan Xing, you meant it when you said you like me, right?¡±

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Nan Xing frowned.

    ¡°Would you beat me up if I said I was just faking it?¡±

    ¡°B*stard!¡±

    ¡°See, you forced me to tell the truth, and when I did...¡±

    Before he could finish talking, someone knocked on the door. ¡°Dinner is ready.¡±

    ¡°Pleasee in,¡± ordered Ouyang Qing.

    Subsequently, several waiters entered and ced the dishes on the table.

    They were all wearing white caps and masks.

    ¡°The food looks delicious. Let''s dig in.¡± Nan Xing quickly picked up the utensils.

    He intentionally diverted her attention, so that he did not have to carry on with the topic.

    ¡°How are Dabao and Erbao? I haven''t seen them for ages. Is it the school holidays yet? What are their

    ns?¡± Ouyang Qing was curious.

    ¡°They''re good, doing what they do best, pestering me during their holidays...¡±

    ¡°Watch out!¡± suddenly, Ouyang Qing eximed.

    Nan Xing turned around, only to realize that a waiter was about to attack him with a dagger.

    Due to their distinguished identities, all the Nans had to undergobat training since young.

    Though Nan Chen was not as hardworking as Nan Chen, he still had quite good basic skills.

    He tried to avoid it, but the waiter was a step ahead of him and sessfully stabbed him in the arm.

    Ignoring the sharp pang felt, he rolled under the table and got out from the other side. Swiftly, he took

    up the bowl of soup and tosses it at the waiter.

    Thetter dodged it beautifully.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Nan Xing bellowed.

    ¡°B*stard, how dare you harmed your own niece? Go to h*ll!¡± the person retorted.

    Nan Xing was stunned. ¡°Who on earth are you?¡±

    ¡°Do you think you''re above thew just because Old Master Nan protects you? You did that to Chen...¡±

    The waiter stopped and prowled on him.

    Instant regret crept up on Nan Xing. I should have made Qiao Zhan send me two more bodyguards.

    This was the very first time he had encountered such a dangerous situation after years of acting

    willfully in Flower City.

    Never in a million years would he have thought that someone would be so brazen to attack the Nan

    family in the region, let alone in a restaurant!

    Nan Xing grabbed a chair and fought the impostors.

    Unfortunately, it was not long before the three subdued him as he was wounded.

    ¡°Pin him down and weed him out as a favor done to the Nans!¡±

    Then, they sped his head against the floor like amb about to be ughtered.

 Chapter 574

    Chapter 574

    ¡°Don''t touch him!¡± Ouyang Qing shouted.

    Nan Xing''s movement was restrained. With his head facing downward, he could not see what Ouyang

    Qing did.

    Shortly after, he heard her yelp in pain. She''s either being pushed down or kicked by someone.

    Momentster, another scream was heard. He guessed that they were beating her up.

    Nan Xing could not withstand the pitiful groans. ¡°That''s enough! Don''ty a finger on the woman. Come

    for me instead!¡±

    ¡°You despicable swine, trying to act all righteous?¡± Another punch was aimed at Nan Xing''s chest.

    ¡°You''re the beast, not me! How dare you hit me? Just you wait!¡±

    He might have a carefree spirit, but he was also a man of pride deep down.

    ¡°I''m hitting you, so what? Aren''t you an animal for harming your own niece? Chuck him away!¡± the

    leader of the gangmanded fiercely.

    With that, Nan Xing was carried up and thrown outside of the window.

    A strong gust of chilly wind swept past him as his body went on a free fall.

    There was no time for him to think. Two words shed across his mind¡ªI''m doomed.

    Thump!

    Within seconds, he fell face down on the water and an excruciating pain washed him over.

    Pitch dark vision greeted his sight as inertia pushed his body backward and deeper into the water.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    He gulped a mouthful and felt slightly dizzy.

    Luckily, he was a good swimmer and managed to adjust himself ordingly.

    If a yboy can''t swim, how can I have a jolly good time with girls in the pool?

    Upon finding his bnce, Nan Xing adjusted his position and turned himself upright to float above the

    water level.

    He struggled to grasp for air. No way, they will know that I''m not dead should they jump in to check on

    me.

    Hence, he quickly made his way across the shore to the opposite side of the river.

    Finally, he got himself to safety. He used up all his might to get onnd and took deep breaths.

    The wound on his arm was still bleeding.

    He whipped out his phone, only to realize that it was out of order.

    Since the river was meandering across the city, there was an inn nearby. It was not a five-star hotel, but

    a rundown property.

    Due to pollution, rumor had it that all the buildings within a hundred feet of the river would be

    demolished. Nan Xing could see that demolition was in progress.

    Drenched, he walked to the inn.

    To his surprise, no one was at the reception desk.

    Nan Xing called out, but no one answered.

    There was a phone at the checkout counter. He hurried over, wanting to call for help.

    As soon as he picked up the receiver, he subconsciously dialed Nan Chen''s number.

    Right when he was two numbers short ofpleting the call, he recalled those harsh words said to him

    earlier.

    B*stard... Hurt your own niece... Wait, how did those people know that Erbao was poisoned? Moreover,

    I vaguely heard them mention the word ''Chen''...

    Nan Xing hesitated. Though he knew that it was wrong of him to doubt his own brother, he could not

    help it.

    I''ll call Qiao Zhan.

    Once again, when he was halfway making the call, another thought dawned on him. Qiao Zhan has a

    very close rtionship with Dabao and Erbao. He even shed a tear when Erbao was in trouble. Since

    he cared for Erbao so much, would he possibly be...

    Nan Xing felt so cold in his wet clothes. The low temperature in the hall made it worse.

    Who should I call? Grandpa? No, I''ll scare him to his wits with my current condition.

    Right when he was struggling in a quandary, a heavy object smashed into his head, knocking him out

    cold.

    When he regained consciousness, he found himself tied up.

    The more he tried to set himself free, the more he felt the severe pain on his arm.

    ¡°The dude is up,¡± ady doing housekeeping nearby announced.

    ¡°What do you want? Let me go!¡± Nan Xing demanded loudly.

    ¡°How dare you broke in for burry! The bad guy is up!¡± thedy looked upstairs and yelled.

    ¡°I''ming,¡± a man indicated.

    A tall and sturdy fellow in his twenties walked down hastily.

    ¡°You look decent. Why did you be a thief? Let me guess, you''re a drug addict who has got no

    more money left. That''s why you resorted to stealing things?¡± the guy questioned Nan Xing.

    ¡°What nonsense? I''m here to borrow the phone. No one was here, so I...¡±

    ¡°We weren''t here, so you seized the opportunity to steal?¡± thedy asked.

    Nan Xing nced at her. She''s quite pretty. It''s a shame she''s so fierce.

    ¡°I''m not a thief. I''m a decent guy! Let me go,¡± Nan Xing pleaded helplessly.

    ¡°Let you go? Dream on! Tell me honestly, why did you have your eyes on our inn? You''re injured. Are

    these wounds from an unsessful theft before you broke into our ce? You''re a fugitive finding a

    hiding ce?¡±

    The man grabbed a chair and sat in front of Nan Xing, interrogating him like a criminal.

    ¡°I''m not a bad guy. If you don''t believe me, you can call the police and get them to investigate,¡± Nan

    Xing suggested.

    ¡°No, you''re here at my ce. I must question you first. Come clean with me now. What''s up with all

    these wounds? Did you go through a failed attempt of robbery and a counterattack, resulting in you

    showing up here to try your luck?¡± the young man red at him.

    Nan Xing was rendered speechless.

    I''m certain that this guy is using this golden chance to realize his dream of being a police.

    ¡°Fine, go ahead and interrogate me all you want. I''m injured. My wounds need to be treated. Moreover,

    I''m all wet and feeling really cold.¡± Nan Xing had no more energy to argue with him.

    ¡°What''s your name?¡± the guy asked.

    ¡°Nan Xing.¡±

    As soon as he said his name, Nan Xing regretted it. If he knows I''m from a wealthy family, will he

    ckmail me?

    Thankfully, the guy could not be bothered. And so it seems that my name is not as renowned as Sir

    Chen in Flower City.

    ¡°Commoner Residence,¡± Nan Xing added.

    Since I''ve mentioned my name, I might as well reveal my address too. Furthermore, it might be hard for

    me to get out of this ce if I don''t exin everything clearly.

    ¡°Commoner Residence?¡±

    The guy turned to his sister. ¡°Jamie, Commoner Residence sounds very familiar. That''s where he

    ims to live.¡±

    ¡°Don''t listen to his bullsh*t. Commoner Residence is the Nan family vi. How is it possible that a thief

    can afford a unit there?¡± Jamie found it absurd.

    ¡°Oh, he said his surname is Nan,¡± the guy said.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Jamie approached him and asked, ¡°What''s your name again?¡±

    Nan Xing lifted his head. ¡°I am Nan Xing, Nan Chen''s brother.¡±

    Since he was not as popr as his brother, Nan Xing specifically indicated his brother''s name.

    Jamie was shocked to the core.

    Since Nan Xing was soaked in water for a long time, his wet hair clung like tendrils, covering half of his

    face. Lookingpletely disheveled, Jamie did not notice his looks.

    Now that he mentioned, Jamie thought he looked familiar. Have I seen him somewhere?

    ¡°Sweep his hair to the side.¡±

    The guy did as his sibling had requested. He brushed Nan Xing''s hair away, revealing a handsome

    face.

    ¡°Oh my goodness!¡± Jamie let out a cry.

    Immediately, she whipped out her phone and searched for his photo online.

    To her disbelief, she eximed, ¡°He.. He really is...¡±

 Chapter 575

    Chapter 575

    ¡°Nan Chen?¡± Even the guy felt something was amiss.

    ¡°Look, bro! He really does look like Nan Chen!¡± the girl said while handing the phone over to the guy.

    After taking a closer look at the picture and at Nan Xing, the guy nodded his head in agreement.

    A gleeful smile formed on Nan Xing''s face when he saw that.

    Ha! I guess looking like Nan Chen does have its perks, after all! I bet these two are going to apologize

    on their knees now that they realize who they tied up, huh? Well, I''m not a mean person, so I''ll allow

    them to forgo the kneeling. All they have to do is get me a fresh change of clothes and get me a ride to

    the hospital!

    With that in mind, Nan Xing said in a magnanimous tone, ¡°It''s all right! After all, the ignorant are not to

    me for their mistakes. I have forgiven you both.¡±

    To his surprise, the young man simply shouted back at him, ¡°Shut up! Do you think you can go around

    conning others just because you look like Nan Chen? First, you rob, then you steal, and now you''re

    trying tomit fraud too?¡±

    ¡°I''m not lying! I really am Nan Xing! Nan Chen is my older brother!¡±

    ¡°There''s no way someone from the Nan family would resort to stealing! Do you take me for a fool?¡± the

    young man asked with a look of disdain on his face.

    ¡°I told you, didn''t I? I wasn''t trying to steal anything! I just needed to use the telephone for a bit! Why

    would I need to steal when I''m not even short of cash?¡± Nan Xing exined.

    The girl pointed a mop at him as she asked, ¡°Why are you dressed like this, then?¡±

    ¡°I... It''s a long story... Look, I need you to untie me right now! I''m injured, and I need to get the wound

    treated before it bes inmed!¡± Nan Xing shouted anxiously.

    ¡°I''ve checked your wound. It''s just a scrape, so you''ll be fine. What, a thief like you can''t stand a few

    cuts and bruises?¡± the man snapped back at him.

    ¡°What do I have to do for you two to believe me, huh? You won''t hand me over to the police, and you

    refuse to believe me either. As a matter of fact, I''m starting to question your motives for tying me up!¡±

    Nan Xing eximed.

    ¡°I''ll smack you up if you don''t stop running that mouth of yours, a*shole!¡± the young man shouted while

    raising his hand.

    ¡°Forget it, bro! Why bother getting so worked up over a petty thief? Let''s just hand him over to the

    police and be done with it! You may be studying in a police academy, but you aren''t a police officer yet!¡±

    the young girl advised him.

    Oh? So I was right! This guy really does want to be a policeman!

    With that in mind, Nan Xing said, ¡°If you''re studying to be a police officer, then you should know

    that it is illegal for you to tie me up like this. This is uwful imprisonment!¡±

    The young man jabbed a finger at Nan Xing as he yelled, ¡°Going there now, are we? You are

    trespassing on private property,mitting theft, and impersonating someone else! You''ve got some

    guts to bring up thew when you''ve broken so many of it! Do you even know anything about the legal

    justice system?¡±

    All right, I''m out of ideas here... This punk has me beat...

    Nan Xing let out a huge sigh and asked, ¡°Fine, you know thew best, okay? Tell me, then. How am I

    supposed to prove that I''m not a thief?¡±

    ¡°Your identity card.¡±

    Unfortunately, Nan Xing didn''t have it on him at the time.

    Everyone in Flower City knew who he was, so he could wine and dine anywhere he wanted without

    even bringing his wallet.

    As he never thought he would someday need to prove his identity to anyone, he never developed the

    habit of carrying any documents for identification.

    ¡°What about your driver''s license or social security card? Do you have anything that can prove your

    identity?¡± the man pressed on.

    Just like with his identity card, Nan Xing didn''t bring any of those with him either. He kept his driver''s

    license in the glove box of his car so that he could present it to the traffic police when necessary, so he

    didn''t have it on him either.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    ¡°I don''t have those either,¡± Nan Xing said helplessly.

    ¡°You don''t have any form of identification on you, and you dare im to be a member of the Nan

    family? Do you really think you can do as you please just because you look like Nan Chen?¡± the young

    man shouted angrily.

    ¡°I really am Nan Xing! Okay, here''s what happened. I was eating at the Xiang Jiang Restaurant across

    the street, and then some thugs barged in and threw me into this river. After swimming all the way here,

    I came in looking for a phone I could use. Since you two weren''t around at the time, I decided to just

    help myself to the telephone. The next thing I know, I got knocked unconscious and got tied up like this.

    Now, you can either hand me over to the police, or contact the Nan family directly. You can''t just keep

    me tied up like this! I''m f*cking freezing over here!¡±

    With the way things were going, Nan Xing had no choice but toe clean with them or they would

    never believe him.

    After all, he did look rather suspicious making a phone call by the cash register with his body

    completely drenched.

    Eventually, the young man was convinced by his story. ¡°All right, I''ll call the police now.¡±

    Nan Chen was keeping Erbaopany in the ward at around nine in the evening when Qiao Zhan

    came in through the door.

    ¡°You should get some rest. Just make sure to have two of our men stationed here,¡± Nan Chen told him.

    ¡°Something has happened to Master Xing. He''s being treated in this hospital at the moment. Would you

    like to go pay him a visit?¡± Qiao Zhan asked.

    Nan Chen tensed up upon hearing that. ¡°How is he now?¡±

    ¡°I''m not too sure about the details. It was the police who brought him over. I only found out because I

    happened to run into him earlier,¡± Qiao Zhan replied.

    What? Why didn''t Nan Xing inform Qiao Zhan if he got into trouble? Heck, he could''ve contacted me

    directly too!

    ¡°Which ward is he in?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Follow me,¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    ¡°What happened to Nan Xing?¡± Ning Ran had overheard a bit of their conversation upon waking up.

    ¡°I''m going to check on him. You stay here and watch over Erbao,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°I want to go see Uncle Xing too!¡± Erbao said.

    ¡°I''m going to check on him first. Once I have confirmed the situation, I''lle back and tell you all

    what''s going on. Until then, stay here in the ward. Do not go anywhere!¡± Nan Chen instructed them

    before following Qiao Zhan out of there.

    Because the two wards were in separate departments, they had to make quite a few turns before

    arriving at Nan Xing''s ward.

    They could hear his voice from outside the door before they even entered.

    ¡°It''s really just a scrape. I''ll be fine with some medication. There''s no need for an IV drip or injections.¡±

    ¡°Your wound was exposed to water, so a tetanus shot is required as a precautionary measure.¡±

    The person talking to him was a woman, presumably a nurse.

    ¡°Everything has its risks, so they''re practically unavoidable. When we drive, we''re at risk of getting into

    car idents. When we take a flight, we''re at risk of being in a ne crash. We can''t be taking

    precautions against every single thing in the world, can we? Forget about the risks and just prescribe

    me some medication. I won''t be staying in the hospital, nor will I be getting injections, let alone IV

    drips,¡± Nan Xing protested.

    ¡°That won''t do, mister. Now that you''re here, you need to ept the proper treatment procedures we

    provide you with. What if something bad happens to you because you refused the injection? It would be

    too huge of a responsibility for us to bear!¡± the nurse insisted.

    ¡°Why are you being so persistent? I told you, I''m fine. The examinations earlier too, have shown that

    there''s nothing wrong with me. Why must you insist on giving me injections and IV drips? Stop bugging

    me or I''ll have a word with your director! You won''t even get to keep your job if that happens!¡±

    ¡°I...¡± The nurse was clearly intimidated by his threat.

    ¡°What on earth happened to you?¡± Nan Chen asked as he came in through the door.

    ¡°Hey, Chen...¡± Nan Xing mumbled nervously when he saw him.

    ¡°How did you get hurt? Is it serious?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    The nurse shifted her gaze between the two of them with a look of confusion on her face.

    Had it not been for their different outfits, she would''ve thought she was seeing things.

    ¡°I''m fine, Chen.¡±

    ¡°Then ept the treatment that you''re given. Either she gives you the injection, or I will. Be warned,

    though. I''m not a trained medical professional, so I can''t guarantee if I''ll be able to get it right. If I miss

    the mark, I will have to redo the whole process,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Chen, you...¡±

    His threat was so effective that Nan Xing gave in instantly.

    ¡°Let her give you the tetanus shot, then. You can skip the IV drip if you don''t want it. I won''t force you to

    get an IV drip unless it''s absolutely necessary,¡± Nan Chen continued.

    ¡°Fine...¡± Nan Xing had no choice but to ept his fate.

 Chapter 576

    Chapter 576

    After making sure that everything was taken care of, Nan Chen motioned for Qiao Zhan to leave.

    Soon, Nan Chen and Nan Xing were the only ones remaining in the ward.

    ¡°Now, care to tell me what happened?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    Nan Xing simply shed him a nce and kept his head low without saying a word.

    ¡°You went to have dinner with Ouyang Qing, didn''t you? How did you get hurt like this?¡± Nan Chen

    pressed on.

    Instead of answering the question, Nan Xing looked up at him and said, ¡°Chen, what happened to

    Erbao had nothing to do with me. I''m not a heartless monster!¡±

    The look in Nan Chen''s eyes grew cold instantly. ¡°What makes you say that?¡±

    ¡°I mean exactly what I said. I didn''t do anything to harm Erbao. She''s my niece, and I love her very

    much. How could I ever bring myself to hurt her?¡± Nan Xing lowered his head again as he said that.

    ¡°I know you wouldn''t hurt her, but why are you saying such weird things to me now?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°No reason. I just wanted to make it known that I had nothing to do with Erbao''s matter, that''s all,¡± Nan

    Xing replied.

    ¡°Look at me, Nan Xing,¡± Nan Chen''s voice grew increasingly colder, but Nan Xing still kept his head

    low.

    ¡°Do you not trust me?¡± Nan Chen''s question hit the nail on the head.

    ¡°Of course I do! I''ve always trusted you the most!¡±

    ¡°Oh? So, you think I don''t trust you, then? Is that why you said all that weird stuff?¡± Nan Chen pressed

    on.

    Nan Xing kept quiet.

    ¡°Lift your head!¡± Nan Chen shouted all of a sudden.

    Nan Xing looked up in fear, but still avoided making eye contact with him.

    ¡°Look at me!¡± Nan Chen ordered coldly.

    Nan Xing had no choice but to do as told and shifted his gaze to meet Nan Chen''s.

    ¡°Did someone say something to you? Is that why you think I don''t trust you?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°That''s impossible. All right, fine, let''s put that aside for now. Do you trust me?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I do.¡± Nan Xing nodded.

    ¡°Okay, then tell me what exactly happened to you tonight. How did you get hurt, and why were you

    brought to this hospital by the police?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    I do trust Nan Chen, but what if he really is suspecting me? What if he had something to do with those

    people? No, I don''t want to think about that any further. It''s way too scary! This man in front of me is my

    twin brother who cares about me the most!

    Nan Xing was still a little hesitant, but decided to take a chance and asked, ¡°Chen, you won''t hurt me,

    right?¡±

    ¡°Of course I won''t! You''re my brother, so why would I hurt you? I need you to tell me what you went

    through tonight. I trust you, so you need to trust me too. The day we stop trusting each other will be the

    day we fall into someone else''s trap.¡±

    In order to reduce the tension in the air, Nan Chen eased up his tone to sound gentler.

    ¡°I was having dinner with Ouyang Qing at Xiang Jiang Restaurant tonight. However, we got ambushed

    by some men before we even started eating. They caught us off guard and had us outnumbered, so I

    couldn''t fight them off. Look, I even got cut on my arm. They were using me of harming my own

    niece and wanted to kill me,¡± Nan Xing exined.

    The look in Nan Chen''s eyes grew cold all of a sudden. ¡°What happened next?¡±

    ¡°They threw me out the window. Luckily for me, there was a river beneath it, or I would''ve been dead

    right then and there. I then encountered a pair of siblings who mistook me for a thief and tied me up.

    They wouldn''t believe me no matter what I said. Eventually, the police came over, confirmed my

    identity, and brought me to this hospital. That''s pretty much everything that happened tonight,¡± Nan

    Xing continued.

    ¡°I see. So, you thought I sent those men to the restaurant. That''s why you said those strange things,

    right? That''s why you kept telling me you had nothing to do with Erbao''s poisoning?¡± Nan Chen asked

    coldly.

    Nan Xing kept quiet.

    ¡°You im to trust me, and yet this is how you think of me?¡± Nan Chen was starting to get angry.

    ¡°It''s not that I don''t trust you, Chen. I just thought¡ª¡±

    ¡°That I''d lose all sense of reason and be stupid enough to suspect you? We''re twin brothers, Nan Xing!

    We literally grew up together! You should know me well enough by now! Did you really think I''d suspect

    you and send assassins after you? Do you even see me as your brother?¡±

    Nan Xing felt bad for suspecting Nan Chen when he heard how angry he sounded.

    ¡°I''m sorry, Chen. I never should have thought of it like that. I just got so scared that I let my fear

    consume me...¡± Nan Xing mumbled apologetically in regret.

    ¡°How did those men get into the room?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°They disguised themselves as waiters and brought the food in. I couldn''t recognize them because they

    all had masks on.¡±

    ¡°Was Ouyang Qing there as well?¡±

    ¡°Yes, she got hit too. I don''t know what happened next because I got thrown out the window.¡±

    ¡°Who else knows about you two dining there?¡±

    ¡°I didn''t tell anyone else on my side, but I don''t know about her.¡±

    ¡°Those must''ve been Ouyang Duo''s men.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Why would Ouyang Duo want to kill a nobody like me? What would he stand to gain from killing

    me?¡± Nan Xing eximed in shock.

    ¡°How could you call yourself a nobody? You''re my brother and a member of the Nan family! Besides, it

    wasn''t sheer luck that saved you from being thrown out the window. They threw you out precisely

    because they knew there was a river beneath it. If they really wanted to kill you, they could''ve done so

    in the restaurant. There was no need for them to throw you out the window at all. Also, the fact that

    they were disguised as waiters indicates they were prepared beforehand. The whole dinner date was a

    trap all along, and you walked right into it. I told you to be careful, didn''t I? Why did you go alone?¡±

    Nan Xing''s mind was in a mess, but hearing Nan Chen''s analysis cleared everything up instantly.

    ¡°Oh, you''re right! Ouyang Qing must''ve told them I would be dining there! She even pretended to try

    and help me during the attack! D*mn it, what is that cunning b*stard Ouyang Duo nning? I''ll go

    confront him right away!¡± he shouted angrily as he leaped to his feet.

    ¡°Are you stupid or what? Do you even have evidence to prove his involvement? Besides, you might not

    be able to find him at all. Even if you do manage to find him, what are you going to tell him? He might

    end up ming you for not protecting his daughter well enough instead!¡± Nan Chen reprimanded him.

    ¡°What am I supposed to do, then? Just let that old fox y me like a fool? Can''t we do anything to get

    back at him?¡±

    From N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Right now, we need evidence before we can do anything. I know you''ve had it rough, but this isn''t

    necessarily a bad thing. You see, Ouyang Duo got so impatient that he made a huge mistake!¡± Nan

    Chen replied coldly.

    ¡°How is it not a bad thing?¡± Nan Xing eximed anxiously.

    ¡°I wasn''t able to confirm if Ouyang Duo had anything to do with Erbao''s food poisoning, but his actions

    tonight have made that connection clear. I mean, how else would he have known what happened to

    Erbao? When they used you of trying to harm your niece, what did you say in response?¡±

    ¡°I didn''t say anything.¡±

    ¡°Good. Ouyang Duo did this in order to turn us against each other and to find out if Erbao has indeed

    been poisoned. However, his impatience got the better of him, and he ended up exposing himself as

    the culprit instead.¡±

 Chapter 577

    Chapter 577

    ¡°That b*stard... I can''t believe he''d even harm a child! We have got to make him pay for this!¡± Nan Xing

    yelled angrily.

    ¡°Remember, we mustn''t do anything rash until we have evidence!¡± Nan Chen reminded him.

    ¡°Who cares about evidence? He pulled a dirty trick on us, so all we have to do is return the favor! We

    don''t need to involve the police! Just have Qiao Zhan bring a group of men and kill that b*stard!¡±

    Nan Xing got so agitated that he identally hit his wound and winced from the pain.

    ¡°Who do you think you are? Some kind of street gang leader? We''re living in awful society here! You

    can''t just do as you please! Can you stop being so childish and just calm down for a second? If you go

    after Ouyang Duo now, he''ll just have you arrested! Or worse, he could be waiting for you just so he

    can get some dirt on you to threaten our family with! He''ll be able to take everything we have, and it''ll

    be all on you!¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°What can I do, then? Are we going to just let this slide?¡± Nan Xing shouted.

    ¡°Of course not! The Lunar New Year is just around the corner, so we will do nothing until it is over. Do

    not cause any trouble and ruin the Lunar New Year celebration for Grandpa and Grandma, got it?¡±

    ¡°Got it...¡±

    ¡°Good. Erbao says she misses you. Go pay her a visit if you''re able to walk,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°All right. D*mn, I''ve never been screwed over like this in my entire life! It really sucks!¡± Nan Xing was

    still angry about the incident from earlier.

    ¡°Believe me, I want nothing more than to bring a group of men and go after him with you. However,

    we''re from the Nan family, and we need to take responsibility for our actions. We must think about the

    potential consequences before doing anything. Rushing it will only lead to us making mistakes, and that

    is exactly what Ouyang Duo wants. He believes that he can have us fall for his trick, but we know

    better. Just bear with it for a while, okay? I promise I will avenge you,¡± Nan Chen reassured him.

    Their conversation was interrupted by a voice outside the door. ¡°Where are you, Uncle Xing?¡±

    It was Erbao. She got tired of waiting and pestered Ning Ran to bring her over.

    Since Ning Ran got worried after hearing that Nan Xing was injured, she decided toe visit him as

    well.

    Nan Xing tidied up his clothes before opening the door.

    ¡°What happened to you, Uncle Xing?¡± Erbao asked.

    ¡°I''m fine. I just got careless and fell down, that''s all. I''m all right now.¡± He then took Erbao over from

    Ning Ran as he continued, ¡°How about you? Are you feeling any better?¡±

    ¡°Much better! I can get discharged tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°That''s good to know. I''ll take you to a nice restaurant after you get discharged!¡±

    ¡°But I don''t really have much of an appetite at the moment. Maybe we can do that after two days or

    so?¡±

    ¡°Oh, you''ll work up an appetite once you start eating. All right, it''s decided! I''ll take you to your favorite

    hotpot restaurant tomorrow!¡±

    ¡°Okay! Thank you, Uncle Xing!¡±

    From N?velDrama.Org.

    Meanwhile, Ouyang Duo was casually smoking a cigar in a booth at the Orchid Club when Ouyang

    Qing stormed in angrily.

    ¡°All you had to do was scare Nan Xing a little, Dad! Why would you have him thrown into the river?

    What if he ends up dying?¡± she shouted.

    Being in a bad mood himself, Ouyang Duo stood up and shouted back at her, ¡°Watch your attitude,

    Qing! You''ve be rather rudetely!¡±

    Intimidated by his sudden outburst, Ouyang Qing kept quiet after that.

    ¡°There''s a river beneath the window, so he wasn''t at risk of dying. We need to make it look realistic or

    it''d defeat the purpose of doing it in the first ce. A simple scolding isn''t going to suffice, okay?

    Besides, Nan Xing is just a tool! You haven''t actually fallen for him, have you?¡±

    ¡°Of course not! He may look like Nan Chen, but he is far from being anything like him!¡±

    ¡°We shouldn''t have a problem here, then. To be honest, I''m starting to regret it a little!¡± Ouyang Duo

    said with a sigh.

    ¡°Regret it?¡±

    Ouyang Qing had rarely heard her father express his regret over his actions. He had always been the

    kind to do whatever he wanted without feelings of regret or remorse.

    ¡°I seem to have rushed things a little. My aim was to turn the brothers against each other. However, if

    that doesn''t happen, then I would''ve ended up exposing myself instead.¡±

    Ouyang Duo was so stressed that he choked on his cigar after taking a huge puff of it.

    ¡°Are you referring to what Zhang Sheng told Nan Xing? The part about him harming his own niece?¡±

    ¡°Yes. If Nan Chen figures out that I''m the one who sent those men, then it''s only a matter of time before

    he figures out the rest. D*mn it, I was so fixated on making Nan Xing hate Nan Chen and turning them

    against each other that I got impatient! I forgot the fact that Nan Chen is no ordinary man! He is in

    control of everything!¡±

    Ouyang Qing started to panic as well after hearing what her father said.

    I''m nning on marrying into the Nan family, but how will I do that if both our families end up being

    enemies?

    ¡°What should we do now, Dad?¡±

    ¡°How did Nan Xing react when Zhang Sheng said that to him? I specifically instructed you to pay

    attention to his expression, so please don''t tell me you forgot to.¡±

    As Ouyang Qing was paying close attention, she replied with absolute certainty, ¡°He looked extremely

    shocked.¡±

    ¡°That means the child from the Nan family is most likely poisoned, but they''re trying to keep it a secret.

    Heck, it''s even possible that she''s already dead! Wait, no... They wouldn''t be so calm if she''s dead, so

    she''s most likely poisoned but alive. I bet they''re investigating this incident right now! Thanks to that

    stunt I pulled, I''ve basically proven to Nan Chen that I have something to do with his daughter''s

    poisoning! D*mn it, I screwed up because of my impatience!¡± Ouyang Duo eximed in regret, much to

    Ouyang Qing''s dismay.

    I know Nan Chen very well... He would never forgive me if he finds out that I poisoned his daughter!

    Terrified by the thought of that, Ouyang Qing asked, ¡°What should we do, Dad?¡±

    Ouyang Duo mmed his fist on the table. ¡°What are you so afraid of? They have no proof that we did

    it! If the Nan family tries toe after me without proof, I''ll just sue them all! With the way things are,

    we might as well just go to war with them! I''ll take you to the Nan residence and confront them about it

    tomorrow!¡±

    ¡°Wait... Are we there to confront them or apologize to them?¡± Ouyang Qing thought she had misheard

    him.

    ¡°To confront them, of course! You have gotten injured by thugs while going on a dinner date with Nan

    Xing, and it''s all because he failed to protect you well enough! That sounds like a perfectly valid reason

    for us to confront them, don''t you think?¡± Ouyang Duo exined.

    ¡°But... You''re the one who sent those men... Are you sure we should confront them?¡±

    ¡°We have the right to do so as long as they don''t have any proof that I sent those men. Tomorrow, we

    will head over and demand an exnation from Nan Zhengde! The Nan family is already at a

    disadvantage due to ack of evidence, so our confronting them will further reinforce the idea that it

    has nothing to do with us. This is the only way for us to turn the tide around!¡±

    Ouyang Qing wasn''t sure if it would work, but she could only go with her father''s n as she didn''t

    have any better ideas herself.

    Even so, she was still extremely nervous about it and kept praying for Nan Chen to not be around when

    they get there.

    After all, Nan Chen''s icy-cold eyes seemed to be capable of seeing through any conspiracy.

 Chapter 578

    Chapter 578

    The next day, Ouyang Duo showed up at Commoner Residence with some gifts and requested to see

    Nan Zhengde.

    Due to the close rtionship between the two families, Nan Zhengde had no reason not to see him.

    The gifts he brought included famous calligraphy art, wild ginseng, and some high-quality bird''s nest.

    Besides, with the Lunar New Year just around the corner, it made perfect sense for Ouyang Duo to pay

    Nan Zhengde a visit before returning to Pearl City for the celebration.

    Seeing as Ouyang Duo hade with such expensive gifts, it was only natural for Nan Zhengde to

    give them an equally generous wee.

    Because Ouyang Duo brought his wife and daughter over, Nan Zhengde summoned Nan Chen and

    Nan Xing back home to apany them.

    Just like that, Nan Chen and Nan Xing were both called back home on short notice to prepare a feast

    for their guests.

    Ouyang Duo was nning on observing the Nan family members'' reactions before deciding on his

    approach.

    Hostile behavior from Nan Zhengde would indicate that the rtionship between the two families has

    been ruined. If that were the case, Ouyang Duo would immediately go on the offensive and demand an

    exnation for letting Ouyang Qing get hurt.

    However, Nan Zhengde''s friendly attitude suggested that everything was all right, so Ouyang Duo

    adjusted his strategy and reminisced about old times with Nan Zhengde instead.

    As the two families have been close for generations, they had plenty of topics to talk about.

    They were in the middle of having a pleasant conversation when Nan Xing came home, and the

    atmosphere in the house changed instantly.

    Despite Nan Chen''s reminders to y it cool, Nan Xing''s anger still got the better of him. He ruined the

    mood by ignoring Ouyang Duo and Ouyang Qing when he saw them.

    ¡°Xing!¡± Nan Zhengde called out to him and motioned for him to greet their guests politely.

    ¡°What is it, Nan Xing?¡± he asked deliberately.

    ¡°What''s the matter, Nan Xing? Are you going to pretend that you don''t know me? Or are you just going

    to ignore my presencepletely?¡±

    Being the cunning person that he was, Ouyang Duo initiated the conversation to make things less

    awkward.

    ¡°Oh, hello, Mr. Ouyang,¡± Nan Xing greeted him with a nod, his tone as cold as ice.

    ¡°You won''t even call me ''Uncle'' anymore? I haven''t done anything to offend you, have I?¡± Ouyang Duo

    asked with a smile.

    Nan Xing simply kept quiet and refused to respond.

    ¡°My dad is talking to you, Nan Xing.¡± Ouyang Qing couldn''t stand it any longer.

    If this is the kind of attitude you show my dad, then it''s obvious you don''t have much respect for me

    either!

    ¡°Oh,¡± Nan Xing mumbled as he poured himself a cup of tea and took a sip of it.

    ¡°Xing, pour Mr. Ouyang some tea as well,¡± Nan Zhengde said.

    ¡°I''ll go to the kitchen and check if the food is ready, Grandpa.¡±

    Not wanting to serve Ouyang Duo tea, Nan Xing got up and prepared to leave the living room.

    ¡°I have a question for you, Nan Xing.¡±

    Ouyang Duo was getting a little angry at how rude Nan Xing was being.

    ¡°We can talk about itter. I''m a little busy right now,¡± Nan Xing replied.

    ¡°Stop right there, Xing! What on earth has gotten into you today? Why are you being so rude?¡± Nan

    Zhengde shouted angrily.

    Although he could afford to disrespect Ouyang Duo, he couldn''t afford to do the same with Nan

    Zhengde.

    As such, Nan Xing had no choice but to pause in his tracks.

    ¡°I''m sorry, my grandson has been rather irritabletely. Please don''t take offense at his attitude!¡± Nan

    Zhengde apologized with a smile.

    This is strange... I know that Nan Xing is usually carefree and irresponsible, but he isn''t the kind to be

    so rude to people! Did something happen to him?

    Ouyang Duo let out a chuckle. ¡°It''s fine! Young people like him tend to be a little hot-headed at times,

    after all!¡±

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    ¡°Please, feel free to ask him anything. If he knows the answer to it, I will make sure he answers you

    honestly!¡± Nan Zhengde said.

    ¡°Qing went out on a dinner date with youst night, Nan Xing. Would you mind exining to me why

    she came home with so many wounds on her face?¡± Ouyang Duo asked.

    What? Did Nan Xing hit Ouyang Qing?

    Nan Zhengde was shocked to hear that. Although he didn''t like Ouyang Qing after that stunt Erbao and

    Dabao pulled, hurting her was still something he could not ept.

    ¡°Why don''t you ask her what happened? Besides, I''m pretty sure you know very well what happened,¡±

    Nan Xing replied coldly.

    ¡°I asked Qing about it, but she just kept crying without saying a word. While it isn''t my ce to interfere

    with the affairs of your generation, I believe I deserve an exnation for how she got injured. Wouldn''t

    you agree?¡± Ouyang Duo responded in an equally cold tone.

    Nan Xing was about to go off at him, but held himself back when he recalled Nan Chen''s reminder to

    control his temper.

    ¡°You sure know how to put up a good act!¡± he muttered.

    ¡°You haven''t answered my question. What on earth happened to my daughter?¡± Ouyang Duo pressed

    on.

    ¡°Answer the question properly, Nan Xing! What happenedst night?¡± Nan Zhengde chimed in as well.

    ¡°I''ll exin this to you at ater time, Grandpa. I''m not in the mood for this right now,¡± Nan Xing said

    impatiently.

    The mere sight of the Ouyang family members disgusted him to the core, and he wanted nothing more

    than to kick them all out of the house.

    ¡°Hey, Nan Xing! You wouldn''t happen to be the one who gave my sister these wounds, would you?¡±

    Ouyang Qi, who had been silently scrolling through his phone the whole time, interrupted the

    conversation all of a sudden.

    D*mn it, why would you butt in now? I want to hear from Nan Xing what he thinks aboutst night''s

    incident! Ouyang Duo thought to himself when he heard that.

    He wasn''t nning on bringing Ouyang Qi over at first, but it would be strange for him to visit them with

    just his daughter. As such, Ouyang Duo had no choice but to bring Ouyang Qi along for the sake of

    maintaining a normal appearance.

    Ouyang Qi had been silently ying a video game on his phone the whole time, but decided to join in

    the conversation after ending a match in the game.

    Ouyang Qi walked up to Nan Xing and red fiercely at him as he continued, ¡°Well? Say something,

    Nan Xing! Did you really hit my sister? You could''ve just said so if you don''t like her! How dare youy

    your stinking hands on her like this, huh?¡±

    ¡°F*ck off! I didn''t hit her!¡± Nan Xing shouted angrily.

    ¡°Then exin those wounds on her face!¡± Ouyang Qi pressed on persistently, much to Ouyang Duo''s

    dismay.

    D*mn it, why did you have to speak up and ruin my perfect n? Have you not done enough?

    ¡°I told you, I didn''t hit her! I don''t want to discuss this topic any further! If you want answers, go ask her

    yourself!¡± Nan Xing snapped back at him angrily.

    Realizing that something was definitely fishy about this whole incident, Nan Zhengde asked Ouyang

    Qing, ¡°What happened, Qing? Let me know if Nan Xing has done something to wrong you. I won''t let

    him off the hook easily!¡±

    ¡°Nan Xing and I were having dinner at a restaurant, and then a bunch of men came in and attacked us.

    One of them stabbed him in the arm with a knife, so I panicked and tried to help him out. They beat me

    up and threw Nan Xing into the river. I kept looking for him along the river, but I couldn''t find him

    anywhere. I tried calling him today, but he wouldn''t answer my calls either!¡± Ouyang Qing replied while

    sobbing.

    Nan Zhengde gasped in shock. What? Someone tried to stab a member of our family?

    ¡°Why didn''t you tell me about something this serious?¡± he asked anxiously.

    ¡°Don''t worry, Grandpa. I didn''t tell you because it wasn''t a big deal.¡±

    It was Nan Chen''s idea to keep it a secret from Nan Zhengde so as to not worry him, but Ouyang Duo

    foiled his ns by showing up and exposing everything.

 Chapter 579

    Chapter 579

    ¡°Have you lodged a police report, then? Did you get the police involved in this matter?¡± Nan Zhengde

    asked.

    ¡°No. I was worried that the reputation of the Nan family would be affected if the matter were to blow up,

    so I advised Qing against lodging a police report,¡± Ouyang Duo answered.

    ¡°Oh, then I''ll certainly get to the bottom of this matter. Ms. Qing must have suffered a fright,¡± Nan

    Zhengde remarked.

    ¡°My daughter isn''t that fragile, actually. She''s just been worried about Nan Xing. Conversely, Nan Xing

    wasn''t even willing to answer her calls. That was indeed callous of him,¡± Ouyang Duo groused.

    ¡°Hmm, I think there''s something odd about this.¡± Nan Xing abruptly pinned his gaze on Ouyang Duo.

    ¡°What''s odd?¡±

    ¡°Previously, you kept demanding to know what happened, but you now im that you advised Ouyang

    Qing against lodging a police report. So, you actually know everything that had transpired? Since

    you''re aware of it all, why are you feigning ignorance? It''s clear as day that you''re deliberately putting

    on a show in front of my grandfather. What is your motive, then? Or are you involved in this matter in

    the first ce?¡± Nan Xing demanded.

    Ouyang Duo was stunned for a moment, for he didn''t expect the man to retaliate.

    I only knew that Nan Chen was extremely capable, but it turned out that he''s also on par with his

    brother!

    ¡°I was referring to the fact that I didn''t lodge a police report about my daughter''s injuries. As for the rest,

    I don''t know anything. That''s why I''m here to rify things.¡±

    However, he was a cunning old fox, so he managed to recover swiftly and respond reasonably.

    At once, Nan Xing was left without a retort, and words eluded him.

    ¡°But why didn''t you lodge a police report, Mr. Ouyang? Since Ms. Ouyang is injured, you should''ve

    lodged a police report no matter the reason.¡±

    A voice chimed in, heralding Nan Chen''s arrival.

    The moment Ouyang Qing spotted the man, mixed feelings brewed within her.

    She knew that it was no longer possible for her to be together with him, but she was still very much

    emotional at the sight of him.

    She couldn''t quite tell whether it was love or hatred, or maybe it was a mixture of both.

    ¡°You''re here, Chen? Or have you been eavesdropping outside all this time?¡± Ouyang Duo drawled.

    ¡°This is my house, so there''s no need for me to eavesdrop. I just arrived,¡± Nan Chen replied cidly.

    ¡°It''s good that you''re here. You''re now the head of Nanshi Corporation, so you can help to judge this

    issue. My daughter sustained injuries while protecting Nan Xing. However, he didn''t even bother to

    thank her. That aside, his attitude is exceedingly indifferent. He wasn''t even willing to pick up her calls.

    As an elder, I admonished him, but he even talked back. Don''t you think he''s being too arrogant?¡±

    Ouyang Duo questioned.

    ¡°I''d like to know how Ms. Ouyang protected Nan Xing that she allowed him to be thrown into the river.

    He almost died after taking a swim in the river, so he naturally had to go to the hospital for treatment

    first. Don''t tell me he was supposed to seek her out and thank her first while disregarding his life? The

    victim hasn''t even said a single word, yet the perpetratores knocking on the door to point fingers.

    That''s arrogant!¡± Nan Chen dered in a frigid voice.

    ¡°What are you trying to say, Nan Chen? Who''s the perpetrator?¡± Ouyang Duo started panicking.

    ¡°Why are you so worked up, Mr. Ouyang? Are you perchance the perpetrator?¡± Nan Chen countered

    calmly.

    At that, Ouyang Duo grew even more agitated. ¡°Your words are suggestive, Nan Chen. My daughter is

    injured, but I''ve be the perpetrator instead? Please don''t make baseless usations!¡±

    ¡°I was merely saying that. Anyway, I''ve already lodged a police report on this matter. The police are

    currently investigating and hunting down the few ruffians who got physical in the restaurant. When

    they''re arrested, the truth of the matter will then surface,¡± Nan Chen sneered.

    Ouyang Duo felt a shiver running down his spine as sweat beaded on his forehead.

    He has actually lodged a police report, and the police have already determined that it was the doing of

    Zhang Sheng and the others? If that''s the case, I''ve got to shut Zhang Sheng up as soon as possible. I

    can''t allow him to expose me!

    ¡°Why are you so nervous that you''re even sweating, Mr. Ouyang?¡± Nan Chen queried, his eyes fixated

    on Ouyang Duo.

    ¡°Haha, why would I be nervous? It''s a good thing if the culprits are arrested. I''m just a touch hot. It''s

    baking in here.¡± Ouyang Duo loosened his tie.

    ¡°A calm mind keeps one cool. There''s no need to get apprehensive, Mr. Ouyang. When you dare do

    something, you must have anticipated the consequences.¡± Nan Chen chuckled coldly.

    ¡°What on earth are you talking about, Nan Chen? Why did youtch on to my father as soon as you

    arrived, acting as though you''re interrogating him?¡± Ouyang Qing snapped at longst.

    Ever since Nan Chen appeared, not only had her father beenpletely suppressed by the man, but

    he even almost lost hisposure.

    For that reason, she felt that she should do something to help alleviate the pressure on her father''s

    shoulders.

    ¡°You''re right. You''re one of the parties involved, so I shouldn''t be asking Mr. Ouyang about the incident.

    Instead, I should be directing my questions at you. Ms. Ouyang, can you please tell us precisely what

    happened that day?¡± Nan Chen turned to Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°What are you trying to say, Nan Chen?¡±

    Meanwhile, Nan Zhengde discovered a critical issue.

    In the past, she used to address him as Chen in an affectionate tone, but she''s no longer addressing

    him in the same manner today. Instead, she''s calling him by his full name directly. This change in

    address signifies that their rtionship has also changed! So, what exactly happened between the few

    of them?

    ¡°I believe I''ve made myself very clear. I''m just asking you what happened that day,¡± Nan Chen

    enunciated impassionately.

    ¡°I was dining with Nan Xing when a few ruffians barged in and wanted to get physical with him, I

    stepped forward to protect him, but they hit me. I was even injured,¡± Ouyang Qing asserted.

    ¡°Then, I''d have to thank you first, Ms. Ouyang, for protecting my brother though you failed miserably.

    Okay, then. Did they not do anything to you after throwing my brother into the river? Or did they sit

    down and dine with you?¡± Nan Chen inquired.

    ¡°What utter nonsense! I don''t know them, so why would I dine with them?¡± Ouyang Qing promptly

    realized that the man was trying to trap her.

    ¡°That''s true. You''re not acquainted with them, so it makes no sense that you''d dine with them. So, they

    left right after tossing my brother out of the window?¡± Nan Chen continued questioning.

    From N?velDrama.Org.

    Ouyang Qing didn''t quite dare answer further, for she had no idea what he was trying to ask.

    She was afraid that she would say something wrong, cing her in a passive position.

    Therefore, she had to mull it over first before answering cautiously.

    In order to conceal the fact that she was thinking, she picked up the cup of tea on the table and took a

    sip.

    Nan Chen could naturally tell that she was hesitating. Thus, he immediately added, ¡°Don''t tell me you

    have forgotten what happenedst night, Ms. Ouyang?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. The ruffians beat me up again after tossing Nan Xing out of the window before they

    left.¡±

    ¡°Did they knock you out?¡± Nan Chen pressed on.

    ¡°N-No. I''m just a weak woman, so they didn''t think there was a need to knock me out since I was no

    threat to them.¡±

    ¡°Then, were your phone and valuables taken from you?¡± Nan Chen probed.

    ¡°What exactly are you trying to imply?¡±

    ¡°I just want to know whether their motive was to rob.¡± Nan Chen''s tone was calm, making Ouyang Qing

    lower her guard.

    ¡°They didn''t take my belongings,¡± Ouyang Qing replied.

    ¡°In that case, your phone was still with you then. Why didn''t you lodge a police report after they had

    left? Nan Xing was thrown into the river, so his fate hung in the bnce. You went out with him, yet you

    didn''t call the police when something happened to him? Don''t im that you''re worried about affecting

    the Nan family''s reputation, Ms. Ouyang. Under the circumstances at that time, why would you even

    consider that when his life was at stake? Or did you know that the river was deep enough and was

    convinced that he was fine, so you phoned your dad to discuss whether to lodge a police report? And

    in the end, the two of you decided not to do so?¡±

    In a sh, Ouyang Duo shot to his feet. ¡°You''re ndering me again, Nan Chen! You''re going

    overboard!¡±

 Chapter 580

    Chapter 580

    ¡°Ms. Ouyang, your first reaction wasn''t to lodge a police report and seek help or have people search

    the river for Nan Xing. Instead, it was to phone Mr. Ouyang. Why was that so? Could it be that he''s a

    police officer or God himself that he knew whether Nan Xing was alive and so decided solemnly not to

    lodge a police report in consideration of the Nan family''s interests? If that''s really the case, then I

    indeed have to offer mypliments. Do forgive my ignorance,¡± Nan Chen scoffed.

    ¡°I didn''t phone my father as I was afraid that he''d be angry after learning about the matter. He didn''t

    know anything at all!¡± Ouyang Qing knew that she had fallen into the man''s trap.

    Argh! I was already exceedingly careful, but he still managed to trap me!

    ¡°Exactly! I didn''t know anything at all! I only knew about the matter today,¡± Ouyang Duo hurriedly

    seconded.

    ¡°Oh, I see. Then, what did you do after those ruffians left, Ms. Ouyang? Why didn''t you phone me or

    anyone else rted to Nan Xing to seek help? Or did you forget all about him having been thrown into

    the river?¡± Nan Chen continued pressing.

    ¡°I...¡± Ouyang Qing stammered, words eluding her.

    ¡°All right, let''s call it a day here and not talk about this matter anymore. Grandpa, I''m hungry. When are

    we eating?¡± Nan Chen abruptly called a halt to that conversation.

    ¡°Soon, soon. I''m also rather famished. It''s indeed time to eat after having chatted for such a long time,¡±

    Nan Zhengde responded.

    Meanwhile, Nan Xing was mystified. Huh? He already managed to get her to the point that she was

    speechless, so why did he suddenly stop instead of striking while the hammer was hot?

    ¡°Old Master, we came today to pay you a visit in conjunction with Lunar New Year. We''re going back to

    Pearl City tomorrow. There are still a few friends I''m nning to visit, so please excuse us.¡± Ouyang

    Duo got to his feet.

    ¡°The food is almost ready. Why are you leaving out of the blue now?¡± Nan Zhengde deliberately

    inquired.

    ¡°I''ve got to visit a few other friends. Otherwise, it''ll seem as though I''m ying favorites. See you again

    next year.¡± Ouyang Duo insisted on leaving.

    ¡°All right, then. Go and see Mr. Ouyang out, Chen.¡±

    ¡°Sure!¡± Nan Chen assented.

    It was a long distance from the living room of the Nan residence to the gates of the Commoner

    Residence.

    As everyone kept quiet, the two-minute distance seemed to drag on.

    When they had finally reached the gates, Nan Chen waved as he greeted, ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Ouyang, Ms.

    Ouyang, and Mdm. Feng.¡±

    ¡°Ah, it''s already time to eat, yet you don''t invite your guests to dine together. How inhospitable!¡±

    Ouyang Qi grumbled at the side.

    ¡°All you know is to eat! Did youe here to eat?¡± Ouyang Duo roared.

    ¡°Feel free to dine with us first before leaving, Mr. Qi. Indeed, the food will be ready soon,¡± Nan Chen

    offered mildly.

    ¡°Never mind. They''re in a hurry to leave, so next time. Bye!¡± Ouyang Qi muttered in exasperation.

    ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Qi. Until we meet again.¡± Nan Chen waved at him.

    Before getting into the car, Ouyang Qing threw Nan Chen a bitter look.

    Nan Chen so happened to be looking at her, his eyes brimming with frost. Ouyang Qing hastily averted

    her gaze, not daring to look him in the eye.

    Nan Chen watched until Ouyang Duo and his family left before turning around and walking back into

    the house.

    When he returned to the dining hall, food was being served.

    ¡°Phew! Fortunately, they left. Otherwise, we''d have to entertain them begrudgingly, ruining the entire

    meal,¡± Nan Zhengdemented.

    ¡°Chen, you already rendered Ouyang Qing speechless with your line of questioning, no? Why didn''t

    you continue asking but let them leave instead?¡± Nan Xing voiced the question ying in his mind.

    ¡°Even a cornered rabbit will fight with teeth and ws. Without any evidence, it''s best to maintain the

    status quo,¡± Nan Zhengde chimed in.

    ¡°Then, why did he mention all that in the first ce? He could''ve just waited until he had proof.¡± Nan

    Xing was still baffled.

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    ¡°Your brother was issuing them a warning. After all, Lunar New Year is around the corner. He wanted

    the Ouyang family to leave Flower City as soon as possible and stop making trouble so that everyone

    can celebrate Lunar New Year peacefully,¡± Nan Zhengde exined.

    ¡°Whoa! You know all of Chen''s thoughts, Grandpa?¡± Nan Xing marveled.

    ¡°I''m Michngelo, while Grandpa is Splinter. No matter the tricks up my sleeve, he knows them all,¡±

    Nan Chen interjected.

    Nan Zhengde chuckled in response. ¡°That''s true! I share your sentiments about this matter, so I

    understand your perspective since our thoughts coincide.¡±

    After saying that, he heaved a sigh. A trace of concern clouded his eyes.

    ¡°Why are you sighing now, Darling?¡± Feng Wan queried.

    ¡°The Nan and Ouyang families have always been on good terms. Despite some conflicts of interest,

    our rtionship has always been pretty amicable. I never expected Ouyang Duo to finally reveal his

    ambitiousness. If this continues, a battle between the two families will be inevitable. On the whole, the

    economy is on the decline right now, and the general environment isn''t looking too good. I''m afraid that

    both parties will suffer massive losses. Truth be told, I''m a bit worried,¡± Nan Zhengde uttered.

    ¡°I believe that Chen can deal with it well, so don''t worry.¡± Feng Wan, on the other hand, was rtively

    more optimistic.

    ¡°That''s right! Therefore, don''t worry, Grandpa, Grandma. I can handle it. I won''t allow Ouyang Duo to

    shake the foundation of the Nan family,¡± Nan Chen reassured as well.

    ¡°What has the Ouyang family done thus far that you''ve both been keeping secret from me?¡± Nan

    Zhengde stared at Nan Xing intently.

    He only fixated his eyes on Nan Xing because he knew that thetter''s mental fortitude was weaker,

    and it would be easier to get the truth out of him.

    Nan Xing didn''t dare answer, for he wasn''t sure what he was permitted to say and otherwise. Hence,

    he turned his gaze to Nan Chen, hoping that thetter would answer that question instead.

    ¡°Nothing much. They just attacked Nan Xing, but there''s no evidence to prove that until now. It''s all

    mere spection,¡± Nan Chen answered.

    ¡°No, that''s not right. The two of you are hiding something from me. Although I seldom leave the house

    now, it doesn''t mean that I don''t know anything. Your intention is good to save me from worrying, but I''ll

    be even more worried if I don''t understand the situation. Don''t tell me you both want me to celebrate

    Lunar New Year with my heart in my throat? Is this filial piety to you?¡± Nan Zhengde demanded with a

    stern expression on his face.

    Nan Xing nced at Nan Chen once more. Frankly speaking, he had the urge toe clean about

    things.

    Nan Zhengde was one of the shrewdest people he knew. If Ouyang Duo and his family hadn''te

    over and put on a show, they might still be able to keep the man in the dark.

    Following the fuss, however, things could no longer remain a secret.

    ¡°Someone poisoned Erbao. She''s still in the hospital right now, but she has almost recovered fully.

    Please don''t worry, Grandpa.¡± Nan Chen had no choice but to speak the truth.

    ¡°He poisoned my great-granddaughter? I''m never going to let him off the hook! Phone Ouyang Duo and

    tell him toe back! I want answers from him!¡±

    Feng Wan went off the deep end before Nan Zhengde could even utter a single word.

    Dabao and Erbao are my precious great-grandchildren, yet someone actually dared to make a move

    against them?

    ¡°Why are you getting all up in arms? Didn''t he say that there''s no evidence? This is aw-governed

    society, so everything requires proof!¡± Nan Zhengde was still calm and unruffled.

    ¡°So, we''re supposed to let it slide? Who does Ouyang Duo think he is that he darese to Flower

    City and hurt the members of the Nan family? You''re all men, yet you''re only going to allow others to

    step all over you? My poor great-granddaughter! I''m going to visit her right away!¡±

    Feng Wan was truly anxious, so much so that her eyes had turned red-rimmed.

    ¡°Don''t panic, Grandma. I didn''t tell you about it precisely because I was afraid that you''d worry. Erbao is

    already out of the woods now and is recuperating. She''s really fine,¡± Nan Chenforted.

    ¡°No! I''m going to visit my precious great-granddaughter now! Who of you dares to stop me?¡±

 Chapter 581

    Chapter 581

    With Feng Wan in a rage then, no one dared to stop her.

    ¡°How about this, Grandma? It''s cold outside, so don''t go out. I''ll have Qiao Zhan drive them over. What

    do you think about that?¡± Nan Chen ventured.

    ¡°But Erbao is still sick. Will it be too much for her? It''s better for me to go to the hospital instead,¡± Feng

    Wan maintained.

    ¡°It''s okay. She has almost recovered fully and can be discharged already. It''s just that Ning Ran and I

    wanted her to stay a few more days in the hospital for observation,¡± Nan Chen coaxed.

    ¡°Just listen to Chen, Grandma. You don''t have to go to so much trouble, then,¡± Nan Xing echoed.

    ¡°Erbao is really fine?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I''ll have Qiao Zhan drive them over right away,¡± Nan Chen asserted.

    After making a phone call, Nan Chen returned to the dining table and geared up to eat.

    s, Feng Wan forbade them from eating. ¡°My precious great-grandchildren areing over, so no

    one is allowed to eat! All of you are to wait for them to eat together!¡±

    And so, the three men of the Nan family could only sit there idly, looking at each other.

    ¡°Then, can I eat some fruits first, Grandma?¡± Nan Xing inquired timidly.

    ¡°No! My great-granddaughter is still suffering, but the lot of you want to start eating without her! Wait for

    her toe before we all eat together!¡± Feng Wan snapped.

    At that, Nan Xing heaved a sigh.

    Oh well, how the tables have turned! Once upon a time, I was also the apple of her eye, and she

    pampered me in everything. Ever since the two brats were born, her treatment of me has gone down

    the hill. Judging from the situation now, it won''t be long before I fallpletely out of favor with her!

    ¡°Grandma, I''m your grandson. You''ll be distressed if I starve,¡± he remarked.

    ¡°Would you die if you skip a meal? I haven''t even settled the score with you both. Why didn''t you two

    avenge my great-granddaughter when someone picked on her? The members of the Ouyang family

    were right here earlier, so why didn''t you beat them up?¡± Feng Wanmbasted.

    Utter shock inundated Nan Xing. ¡°You want us to beat them up, Grandma? It doesn''t sound like

    something you would say.¡±

    ¡°Why can''t you beat them up when they hurt my precious great-granddaughter? It''s no big deal! If there

    are any repercussions, I''ll shoulder them all!¡± Feng Wan dered ever so domineeringly.

    ¡°How are you going to shoulder the repercussions? Allow the police to arrest you?¡± Nan Zhengde could

    no longer keep his silence.

    ¡°If that''s what it takes! Nothing matters as long as I get to avenge my precious great-granddaughter!¡±

    ¡°Stop spouting nonsense. What''s all this about vengeance? Why are you getting all emotional when

    Erbao is perfectly fine?¡±

    ¡°You men of the Nan family are really useless! You allow others to pick on you as they please, and now,

    you''re even forbidding women from speaking?¡± Feng Wan snarled.

    The three men exchanged nces, none of them daring to respond to that.

    Inwardly, however, they were all aggrieved and refuted that statement.

    ¡°Can you look at the bigger picture? Do you think the battle between the Nan and Ouyang families can

    be resolved by a brawl?¡±

    Since his two grandsons didn''t dare say anything, Nan Zhengde had to speak up. Otherwise, all of

    them would have to endure the humiliation.

    ¡°What should we do, then? We can''t just let it slide!¡±

    ¡°We''ll discuss this matter ande up with a solution. You should just keep out of it,¡± Nan Zhengde

    stated with a frown.

    ¡°In that case, go ahead and discuss it right now. I want to hear the entire process,¡± Feng Wan insisted.

    Thus, the atmosphere turned tense once more.

    ¡°We still need evidence. To that end, we must first locate those few culprits,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°Have you located them, then?¡± Feng Wan asked.

    ¡°It''s not that easy to do so. Do you think Ouyang Duo is a fool?¡± Nan Zhengde countered.

    ¡°Indeed, we haven''t located them yet, Grandma. Ouyang Duo made ample preparations, so it''ll take

    some time. Seeing that he''s constantly sowing seeds of discord, his motive is definitely not as simple

    as hurting us. He likely has a greater n. As such, from an overall perspective, it''s more important to

    discern his n than to locate the culprits. In other words, both are vital,¡± Nan Chen expounded

    patiently.

    Feng Wan had been by Nan Zhengde''s side for many years and experienced much, so she was

    naturally sensible.

    Earlier, she was only emotional because of her towering rage upon learning that Erbao was hurt. That

    was why she was a tad irrational.

    After she had calmed down, however, she understood Nan Chen''s meaning.

    ¡°So, what do you all think he''s trying to do?¡± she queried.

    ¡°Poisoning Erbao and framing Nan Xing makes it evident that he wants to create internal strife,¡± Nan

    Chen reckoned.

    Nan Zhengde nodded in agreement with his point of view.

    From N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Then?¡±

    ¡°It makes no sense for him to hurt someone for no reason, so Chen suspects that he has a bigger ploy.

    He probably wants to ruin the Nan family and annex the Nan family''spanies,¡± Nan Zhengde

    concluded.

    ¡°But does he have that ability? Sunshine Corporation is only about the same scale as Nanshi

    Corporation and even pales inparison. How could he possibly achieve that?¡±

    As soon as Feng Wan calmed down, her shrewdness came to light.

    ¡°True. Hence, there''s probably someone else helping him.¡± Nan Zhengde nodded in affirmation.

    ¡°There''s someone else helping him? Who''d be willing to help him sabotage the Nan family? Is the Nan

    family that weak that it''ll topple with a single blow?¡± Feng Wan questioned.

    ¡°What do you think, Chen?¡± Nan Zhengde shifted his gaze to Nan Chen.

    ¡°He''s concealing himself very well and hasn''t exposed anything yet thus far. Someone is using a huge

    sum of money abroad to short sell Nanshi Corporation but hasn''t benefitted from it. It''s true that I

    haven''t uncovered the person who''s joining hands with him, but you don''t have to worry, Grandpa,

    Grandma. I''ll get to the bottom of this matter,¡± Nan Chen promised.

    ¡°It''s useless even if he has someone helping him. He needs an opportunity,¡± Nan Zhengde added.

    ¡°What kind of opportunity?¡± Nan Xing queried.

    I never thought of all these things they''ve considered. Oh well, this is the gap between us!

    ¡°An opportunity when the Nan family faces a crisis. Then, he''ll make a move alongside his co-

    conspirator and attack Nanshi Corporation. Thus, his ultimate goal right now is to cause the Nan family

    to plunge into a crisis,¡± Nan Zhengde replied.

    Nan Chen nodded, for he shared the same sentiments.

    ¡°Therefore, this matter is not a trivial issue. What did we ever do to offend him that he''s sabotaging the

    Nan family in such a manner?¡± Feng Wan spat.

    ¡°The Ouyang and Nan families are long-time friends, with both owning the most prosperouspanies

    in the past ten years. If the Nan family were to copse, then only the Ouyang family would remain as

    the top dog, no longer having to share that prestige with us. Secondly, they''ll dominate the entire

    market in the province. Perhaps that''s Ouyang Duo''s goal. He has always been an ambitious person,¡±

    Nan Zhengde surmised.

    ¡°Since you''ve long since known about it, Grandpa, why didn''t you make the first move?¡± Nan Xing

    questioned.

    Nan Zhengde said nothing but looked at Nan Chen, hoping that thetter would answer on his behalf.

    ¡°Nanshi Corporation should allow morepetitors to exist. Only when there''spetition can the

    company improve. After all, life thrives in cmity while deathes from ease and pleasure. This

    province''s market isrge enough to amodate manypanies at the same time, so there isn''t a

    need to eliminate one''s business rivals.¡±

    Nan Chen''s exnation was right on point, and that was also the essence of Nanshi Corporation''s

    corporate culture.

    Nan Zhengde nodded fervently, very much satisfied by his grandson''s answer. As expected of the

    sessor I nurtured painstakingly!

    ¡°So, it''s a principle of not attacking someone as long as the person doesn''t attack you. But if someone

    does attack you, you''ll then retaliate. Am I right?¡±

    ¡°Yes! However, we can''t just retaliate passively. If we''ve already sensed that someone is going to

    sabotage us, we also have to take the initiative to eliminate the possible crisis.¡±

 Chapter 582

    Chapter 582

    During the drive back, Ouyang Duo''s expression remained as dark as thunder.

    He initially nned to go to the Nan residence to feel the Nan family out and put some pressure on

    them, but he ended up being disparaged by Nan Chen until he slinked away with his tail tucked

    between his legs and didn''t even get to eat a single bite of the meal.

    Aware that her father was in a foul mood, Ouyang Qing didn''t dare utter a single word.

    Unfortunately, Ouyang Qi couldn''t help urging, ¡°Let''s find a ce to have some food! I''m starving!¡±

    ¡°All you know is to eat! How did I raise such a fool like you?¡± The wrath within Ouyang Duo instantly

    burst forth.

    ¡°I''m just hungry. Regardless of whether one is foolish or smart, he''ll require sustenance. There''s no

    corrtion between the two,¡± Ouyang Qi muttered.

    ¡°I told you to deal with the woman dating Nan Chen. Why haven''t you made a move yet? Also, I froze

    his bank card, no? Which of you is giving him money?¡± Ouyang Duo roared.

    No one dared to make a single sound.

    ¡°That''s enough. Stop tearing into me. Why are you venting your anger on me when you yourself aren''t

    Nan Chen''s match? Ding Mi is just an insignificant character. Why must you keep targeting her? Do

    you think Nan Chen is going to change his mind and marry Qing after you kill her? That''s obviously not

    happening, so why do such a despicable thing?¡±

    Ouyang Qi was likewise chagrined to the core. His bank card had been frozen recently, so he had been

    seething over the fact that he couldn''t simply spend money for his enjoyment.

    He was usually blithe and insouciant, but he had hit the nail right on the head then.

    Previously, he was ordered to think of a way to sabotage Ning Ran so that the Nan family wouldn''t

    ept her. Consequently, Nan Chen wouldn''t be able to marry her.

    ordingly, Ouyang Qing would then stand a chance.

    At present, however, Ouyang Qing had already ruined everything and couldn''t possibly get together

    with the man anymore.

    Hence, it wouldn''t do the Ouyang family any good, even if they were to get rid of Ning Ran.

    As such, Ouyang Qi''s remark at that moment was right on point¡ªNing Ran was just an

    inconsequential figure, so there was no longer any need to target her.

    ¡°If you manage to win her over, it''ll be a humiliation to Nan Chen! The Nan family humiliated me, so I

    want to pay them back for it! Ask her out tomorrow. No matter what method you use, you must make

    her your woman! Nan Chen regards her highly, huh? Bed her, and we''ll see whether he can still remain

    calm and unruffled!¡± Ouyang Duo bellowed.

    ¡°Is this necessary, Dad?¡± Ouyang Qi eximed.

    ¡°It''s necessary because I said so! If you don''t do it, get out of my sight! Go far away instead of making a

    fool of yourself in Flower City!¡± Ouyang Duo barked.

    ¡°Exactly! Destroy that b*tch''s reputation and humiliate Nan Chen! Besides, have the whole world know

    that Nan Chen''s woman cheated on him!¡± Surprisingly, Ouyang Qing seconded that idea as well.

    Their repeated failures and inability to garner any benefit while sabotaging the Nan family in the past

    few days had the maliciousness within them surging out. They were then a tad out of their minds.

    ¡°I''m never going to do such a despicable thing. Fairpetition is fine, but I''m not going to use any

    disgraceful means on her,¡± Ouyang Qi asserted.

    Upon hearing that, Ouyang Duo grew all the more livid. ¡°Stop pretending to be a saint! Do you really

    not know the kind of person you are? You must bed Nan Chen''s woman tomorrow and push him to the

    brink of insanity so that he''ll make a mistake! I''m not going to give up just like this after having plotted

    and waited for so many years!¡±

    Feng Jialing, who had been keeping mum, finally couldn''t stay silent anymore. ¡°You don''t have to be in

    such a hurry, do you? The Nan family is no easy prey, and there''s still plenty of time in the future. Lunar

    New Year is around the corner, so just table things until after the celebration passes. Why must you be

    so frantic?¡±

    However, Ouyang Duo was at the height of fury then, so everything fell on deaf ears. ¡°Shut up! Just do

    as I said!¡±

    Meanwhile, Erbao got out of the car. She refused to have Ning Ran carry her but walked into the house

    by herself.

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    In truth, she was still very weak, but she wanted to feign robustness so as not to worry her great-

    grandparents.

    ¡°Great-Grandpa, Great-Grandma, I''m here!¡±

    Undeniably, her voice wasn''t as resounding as before, and it was because of her physical condition.

    ¡°My precious great-granddaughter is here! I''ve got to take a good look at her!¡± Feng Wan hurriedly went

    over to her.

    ¡°I''ve missed you, Great-Grandma!¡±

    Although Erbao was ill, she remained as honey-mouthed as ever.

    Feng Wan''s eyes turned red-rimmed once more. ¡°How are you feeling, sweetheart? Are you

    experiencing any difort?¡±

    ¡°I''m fine, so don''t worry, Great-Grandma!¡±

    ¡°What would you like to eat? I''ll have someone make it for you. If it can''t be made at home, I''ll buy it for

    you!¡±

    While Erbao still hadn''t much appetite, she randomly named a few dishes in order to make her great-

    grandmother happy.

    Feng Wan quickly ordered someone to prepare the dishes before announcing that they could all eat.

    ¡°Whoa! It''s finally time to eat! We weren''t allowed to eat before you guys arrived,¡± Nan Xing teased

    while smirking.

    At his remark, embarrassment flooded Ning Ran. ¡°Sorry about that.¡±

    ¡°No apologies needed. It must have been difficult for you to take care of Erbao, so hurry up and sit

    down to eat.¡±

    Ever since the Ouyang family revealed their true colors, Feng Wan''s attitude toward Ning Ran had

    improved considerably.

    She hadn''t despised Ning Ran in the first ce, merely feeling that women in the entertainment

    industry were unquestionably moreplicated.

    If one were to choose a granddaughter-inw between an actress and a wealthy heiress, anyone

    would show a preference for thetter. That was nothing out of the ordinary.

    Subsequently, they started eating. Actually, Ning Ran and the two children were already eating when

    she was told toe over.

    But since they were there, she still had to eat some for courtesy''s sake.

    ¡°Lunar New Year ising soon. I''m overjoyed this year because we have Dabao and Erbao with us!

    I''ve been contemting a gift for them for the past two days in conjunction with Lunar New Year,¡± Nan

    Zhengdemented with a smile.

    ¡°Just give them a mary gift. While you''re at it, give me one as well!¡± Nan Xing suggested, grinning

    from ear to ear.

    ¡°It''s okay, Grandpa. They don''tck anything. In fact, we should be giving you a gift. What would you

    like? We''ll prepare it in advance,¡± Nan Chen interjected.

    ¡°No, a gift is indispensable. It must have been difficult for them while being out there during the past

    few years. Now that they''re home, I naturally have to give them a gift for Lunar New Year. Nan Xing is

    right. After giving it some thought, I think a mary gift is the best. Hence, after discussing it, your

    grandmother and I decided that I''ll give ten percent of the shares under my name to Dabao while your

    grandmother will give ten percent of the shares under her name to Erbao as a gift for Lunar New Year!¡±

    The instant those words fell, everyone was stunned.

    Nanshi Corporation was a mega-corporation. No one had ever calcted how much exactly ten

    percent of the shares under Nan Zhengde''s name were worth, but they were certainly in the billions.

    If they were given to an adult, he or she could even be a major shareholder of Nanshi Corporation with

    those shares.

    ¡°No, Grandpa. They''re still kids, so how could you do that?¡± Nan Chen objected at once.

    ¡°I agree. They''re still young, so they can''t ept such an exorbitant gift,¡± Ning Ran echoed.

    ¡°Listen to me first. Your grandmother and I are in our twilight years, so it doesn''t make much sense for

    us to hold on to those shares. However, I haven''t yet made up my mind about their distribution if I were

    to hand them out. Furthermore, it would also affect the power bnce in Nanshi Corporation. As such, I

    haven''t figured out a solution yet. But I now have great-grandchildren. They''re of the Nan family and

    are the hope of the family in the future, so I naturally want them to be part of the family officially. Only

    when they have some shares in hand will they have a say in the Nan family. However, I have a

    stiption,¡± Nan Zhengde stated.

    No one said anything, for they were all wondering about the kind of stiption attached when he was

    gifting away so many shares.

 Chapter 583

    Chapter 583

    Actually, the most apprehensive person then was none other than Ning Ran.

    After all, Nan Zhengde said that he was overjoyed that year because the Nan family had expanded with

    an additional two members.

    It was two, not three.

    That was to say; he hadn''t regarded her as part of the Nan family thus far.

    She wasn''t disappointed about that because she wasn''t part of the Nan family in the first ce.

    The outside world loved to say that she was good at climbing into beds, having bedded the right

    person, and giving birth to children of the Nan family, thus enjoying a higher status thanks to her

    children.

    However, she had never thought of it that way. Never had she felt that she could gain a foothold among

    the so-called elite sses just because she had given birth to children of the Nan family.

    On the contrary, she was worried that she would be dragged into the internal strife of wealthy families

    for that exact reason.

    Her mother''s death enlightened her to a truth¡ªhaving money wasn''t necessarily a good thing. The

    more money one had, the greater the risk one had to shoulder.

    That principle had always held true because there were few affluent individuals in this world, with

    twenty percent of the people in possession of eighty percent of the global wealth.

    From N?velDrama.Org.

    For that reason, rich people were often the target of attacks, just like her mother.

    She often thought that perhaps her mother wouldn''t have died so prematurely if she were an ordinary

    white-cored employee instead of apany owner.

    She could have gone to work every day and helped Ning Ran look after her children upon retiring. That

    would have been a blissful life.

    They could have still been happy without so much money.

    s, Ning Ran no longer had the opportunity to experience that, nor would she ever have it again.

    Therefore, her understanding of money was vastly different from many others. She had experienced

    poverty and realized the importance of money.

    Nheless, she didn''t harbor much desire for money. In fact, she even had a fear of having too much

    money.

    Hence, she was stricken with terror right then.

    She knew that the stiption Nan Zhengde proposed must have something to do with the children or

    with her.

    What if he proposes that I give the children to the Nan family? Then, I''ll have to hand over their custody

    as well. How am I to make a choice? Ask the children to give up those shares? I don''t have the right to

    do so. The Nan family is their root at the end of the day, and those shares also signify that they''re

    destined to be in the top twenty percent of this society. Some people can''t get into those ranks even

    after toiling for a few generations, but they''ve been given that privilege for nothing. What right do I have

    to deprive them of their rightful inheritance?

    She bit her lip and forced herself to calm down slightly.

    ¡°Everyone is listening, Darling. Just say it if there''s anything you''d like to say,¡± Feng Wan urged beside

    him.

    Ning Ran could feel her palms perspiring relentlessly.

    ¡°I want them to return to their roots and register their names under the Nan family''s household register,

    changing their family names to Nan. As for their names, I think they can remain as they are. What do

    you all think?¡±

    Despite saying ¡°you all,¡± Nan Zhengde was looking right at Ning Ran.

    Unbidden, Ning Ran''s eyes turned red-rimmed all of a sudden.

    Logically speaking, she should be happy that the children were returning to their roots and bing

    part of the Nan family officially. After all, the Nan family was indeed a towering tree that could shield

    them from storms and gales.

    However, a sense of loss inundated her at that moment. Once the children''s names are registered

    under the Nan family''s household register, does that also mean that their custody belongs to the Nan

    family? And so, I don''t matter anymore?

    ¡°Don''t cry, Mommy!¡± Erbao noticed that her mother was on the verge of tears.

    ¡°Mommy, we won''t do it if you object. Don''t cry,¡± Dabao coaxed immediately.

    Choking, Ning Ran lifted her head and looked at the light fixtures above as though to prevent her tears

    from escaping her eyes.

    ¡°You can think about it first before giving me an answer,¡± Nan Zhengde murmured kindly.

    ¡°Grandpa, let''s table this matter until I''ve discussed it with Ning Ran. The children are still young, so

    there''s really no rush for them to have the shares,¡± Nan Chen interjected.

    He understood Ning Ran''s thoughts, and he could alsoprehend her fear of losing the children.

    ¡°Ning Ran is worried that she''ll lose custody of the children after they are registered under the Nan

    family''s household register and fear that the Nan family will even forbid her from visiting them. It''s

    inevitable that she''s reluctant to part with them after having raised them thus far,¡± Nan Xing elucidated

    bluntly.

    ¡°That won''t happen.¡±

    After saying that, Nan Zhengde turned his gaze to Ning Ran and continued, ¡°If you really think so, I

    think your worry is unnecessary. I''ve asked thewyer, and the children''s household register won''t

    affect their custody. Besides, we have no intention of fighting you for their custody. Therefore, you can

    actually rest easy in terms of that. As for their family name, they''re Nan Chen''s children, so it''s only

    natural that they take his family name. Nothing will be affected by them changing their family name.¡±

    He wore a smile on his face while exining it all.

    Truth be told, it was already a greatpromise for Ning Ran. Considering the Nan family''s status,

    what could she do if Nan Zhengde was adamant about changing the children''s family name and

    fighting her for their custody? There was nothing she could do.

    ¡°I agree.¡± Ning Ran nodded in assent.

    ¡°You don''t have to agree in such a hurry, Ning Ran. We can discuss this further,¡± Nan Xing advised at

    the side, worried that she was putting herself through heartache.

    ¡°He''s right. There''s no rush, and we can still discuss it before making a decision,¡± Nan Chen echoed.

    ¡°This is for the children''s good, so I have no right to hamper it. I agree. Truly, I have no objections.¡± By

    then, Ning Ran had already calmed downpletely.

    Nan Zhengde and Feng Wan exchanged a look, both very much gratified at her sensible decision.

    ¡°In that case, I''ll have thewyer draw up the share transfer agreement tomorrow. However, this matter

    will be kept private for the time being. Those are my personal shares, so there''s no need to notify the

    board of directors. Thus, this matter will only be known to the few of us here,¡± Nan Zhengde dered.

    Everyone nodded in acknowledgment.

    ¡°Also, the children are still young now andck the capability for civil conduct. As such, their shares will

    be handed over to a third party to manage until they are of age, during which their guardian aren''t

    allowed to manage the shares on their behalf. Even Nan Chen isn''t allowed to do so,¡± Nan Zhengde

    added.

    Even Nan Chen wasn''t allowed to do so, much less Ning Ran.

    Hence, those shares would remain under the two children''s names for many years toe until they

    reached a certain age and had the capacity for civil conduct. Then, they would be able to manage

    those shares themselves.

    That also guaranteed that Dabao and Erbao would always be major shareholders in Nanshi

    Corporation no matter the changes in thepany.

    Despite their age, they would still be major shareholders, so others would have no choice but to submit

    to them.

    ¡°However, their guardian has the right to manage the dividends and other ie generated from those

    shares,¡± Nan Zhengde continued.

    Nanshi Corporation generated high profits, so the major shareholders obtained a pretty penny in

    dividends every year. In other words, Erbao and Dabao''s guardian would also have a king''s ransom

    annually.

    Of course, there would only be dividends if thepany was doing well.

    ¡°Whatever you say, Grandpa. I have no objections,¡± Nan Chen stated.

    ¡°I have no objections either,¡± Ning Ran murmured.

    When it came to such a matter, it would be of no use even if she had any objections, for it was merely a

    formality.

    ¡°Okay, it''s decided then! That will be my Lunar New Year''s gift to my two great-grandchildren!¡± Nan

    Zhengde was delirious with joy.

    After listening for such a long time, Dabao understood a thing or two, but Erbao was at aplete loss.

    ¡°Grandpa, what Lunar New Year gift did you give me exactly? And when can I see it?¡± Erbao inquired

    with puzzlement written all over her face.

    Upon hearing that, everyone burst intoughter. They forgot all about the incident with Ouyang Duo

    earlier, chatting andughing as they ate.

 Chapter 584

    Chapter 584

    During the drive back to Red Maple City, Ning Ran cast her gaze out the window and said nothing at

    all.

    Honestly speaking, she still couldn''t ept the fact that her two children were going to register their

    names under the Nan family''s household register.

    She couldn''t quite tell whether she was happy or sad or beleaguered by other emotions, but she didn''t

    feel like talking. All she wanted to do was to keep silent.

    When they arrived at the vi in Red Maple City, she helped to bathe the children. After tucking them

    into bed, shey down as well.

    She was still worried about Erbao after lying in bed for a while, so she went to the nursery to carry

    Erbao to her room to sleep with her.

    Surprisingly, Erbao wasn''t asleep either. Instead, she was counting sheep.

    Others counted inwardly to make themselves sleepy, but she counted aloud.

    Good Lord! She''s really exasperating and amusing! This method is unheard of. How could she possibly

    fall asleep by doing this? Instead, she''ll only tire herself out!

    ¡°How about sleeping with me tonight, Darling?¡±

    ¡°It''s okay, Mommy. I can manage on my own,¡± Erbao unexpectedly declined.

    Ning Ran was exceedingly surprised at her refusal. ¡°Why don''t you want to sleep with me?¡±

    ¡°I''m thinking about something,¡± Erbao admitted solemnly.

    Ning Ran was initially down in the dumps, but she instantly perked up at her daughter''s somber

    expression. ¡°You''re thinking about something?¡±

    At once, Erbao pouted. ¡°Are you looking down on me, Mommy? Why can''t I think about things? I often

    do so.¡±

    ¡°Okay, okay. Indeed, you''re no longer a three-year-old kid and know a lot now. Then, do you mind

    telling me what you''re thinking about?¡±

    ¡°It''s a secret, so I can''t tell you. It''s my personal matter,¡± Erbao replied seriously.

    ¡°Whoa! My darling has her personal matter now. But I''m not an outsider. Instead, I''m your best friend.

    You should share your secret with your best friend,¡± Ning Ran teased.

    ¡°We''re best friends, Mommy?¡± Erbao stared at her.

    ¡°Of course! We''ve always been best friends, no doubt!¡± Ning Ran eximed with a grin.

    ¡°Okay. I''ll tell you then, Mommy. I''m thinking about whether I should change my family name and

    register myself under a different household registry. I asked Dabao, and he told me it meant we''ll both

    be part of Daddy''s family. I can''t bear to part with you, Mommy. But at the same time, I don''t want to

    disappoint Daddy. So, I''m wondering what I should do.¡±

    Erbao wore a somber expression on her face.

    When Ning Ran heard that, her heart clenched slightly. It turns out she''s thinking about that matter!

    ¡°Darling, even if your name is registered under the Nan family''s household register, you''ll still be my

    dearest daughter. That will never change. Therefore, you don''t have to worry so much.¡±

    Erbao shook her head, looking all bogged down by anxiety. ¡°I don''t think so. Well, unless you register

    your name under the Nan family''s household register as well, Mommy.¡±

    Ning Ran was stunned for a moment before she forced a smile and murmured, ¡°My family name isn''t

    Nan.¡±

    ¡°Dabao told me that you can also register your name under the Nan family''s household register if you

    marry Daddy.¡±

    After beating around the bush for an eternity, Erbao still circled back to that issue in the end.

    Ning Ran understood her feelings, for all children hoped that their parents would be together.

    s, that matter was rtivelyplicated. She couldn''t just marry Nan Chen just like that.

    While our rtionship has improved, we''re still far from getting married. What''s more, he even has the

    Nan family behind him. The Nan family will definitely be extra cautious in choosing a granddaughter-in-

    law, thinking twice before deciding on the person. If he doesn''t propose it himself, I''ll never mention it.

    And even if he does bring it up, I''ll still need to consider it. Marrying into the Nan family is the dream of

    manydies, but not me. After all, I know my ce. Even if I were to marry him, it would have to be a

    matter of course. I''ll only consider it if he insists. Considering my background and achievements, the

    gap between the Nan family and me is simply too vast. The failure of Ouyang Qing, a wealthy heiress,

    to marry into the Nan family even after going to extreme lengths is the best example.

    ¡°What are you thinking about, Mommy?¡± Erbao''s voice snapped Ning Ran back to reality.

    ¡°Marriage is aplicated matter. You''re still young, so you can''t understand it fully, Erbao. However,

    both your daddy and I love you and your brother. No matter which household register your name is

    registered under, we''ll love you the same. It wouldn''t change in the slightest,¡± Ning Ran assured while

    stroking her head.

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Of course! I promise.¡± Ning Ran nodded.

    ¡°Okay! I trust you, Mommy!¡± Erbao''s mood finally lifted.

    ¡°So, are you sleeping alone or with me?¡±

    ¡°I can sleep alone, for I''m a brave girl! Oh yes, Mommy, why aren''t you sleeping with Daddy?¡± Erbao

    tossed out another difficult question.

    ¡°I haven''t been sleeping well recently, so I want to sleep alone,¡± Ning Ran fibbed.

    ¡°All right, then. You''ve helped me figure out the answer to the matter I was thinking about, so I can now

    sleep peacefully, Mommy,¡± Erbao remarked smilingly.

    ¡°All right, then. Good night, Darling.¡±

    ¡°Good night, Mommy.¡±

    After returning to her room, Ning Ran couldn''t sleep as she pondered upon Erbao''s words.

    She dozed off at longst, but she then had a nightmare.

    She dreamed that the Nan family hid Dabao and Erbao, so she couldn''t see them anymore.

    Jolting awake with tears streaming down her face, she breathed a sigh of relief that it was merely a

    dream.

    Consequently, she brooded over many things and only fell asleep when it was almost dawn.

    Unsurprisingly, she overslept this time. It was already nine o''clock in the morning when she woke up.

    She got out of bed and washed up, only to discover that Nan Chen hadn''t gone to work yet.

    ¡°Morning. Are you not working today?¡± Ning Ran queried with the toothbrush in her mouth.

    ¡°I''m bringing the kids out to settle the household register issueter,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    Astonishment swamped Ning Ran. He could''ve just ordered Qiao Zhan or Jiang Zhe to handle such a

    trivial matter. Why would he do it personally?

    ¡°Are you that impatient to snatch the kids away from me that you''re going personally, worried that your

    subordinate can''t handle such an insignificant matter well?¡± Ning Ran huffed.

    ¡°So, this is your thought on this matter?¡± Nan Chen was a touch surprised that she would utter such a

    comment.

    ¡°What do you think my thoughts should be?¡±

    ¡°If you have reservations, you should''ve said so to Grandpast night. Why did you agree back then

    yet contend with me now?¡±

    ¡°Does it make a difference if I object? It won''t make any difference, right?¡±

    ¡°Of course, it makes a difference. This matter isn''t urgent, so we can still take our time about it.¡±

    ¡°Why are you doing it personally if it isn''t urgent?¡±

    ¡°You''re being unreasonable. Is there a problem that I''m personally handling something rted to my

    son and daughter?¡± Nan Chen grew chagrined as well.

    ¡°Daddy, what are you two talking about?¡± Dabao walked over.

    ¡°Nothing much. I''ll make breakfast for you all right away!¡± Ning Ran interjected with a smile.

    ¡°No, it''s okay. We''re leaving, and Daddy will bring us out to eat!¡± Dabao replied.

    ¡°All right, then. Forget about it!¡±

    Irritation deluged Ning Ran out of the blue. It was as though an inexplicable wave of burning anger rose

    within her, but she couldn''t quite put her finger on the reason.

    ¡°What''s wrong, Mommy? Are you upset?¡± Dabao also sensed her bad mood.

    Inhaling deeply, Ning Ran reined in her emotions. ¡°No, I''m not upset.¡±

    ¡°If you''re upset about Great-Grandpa''s stiption, we won''t go.¡± Verily, Dabao was exceedingly

    sensible.

    ¡°I''m really not upset. I just didn''t get much sleepst night, so I''m a bit grumpy after waking up.

    Everything''s fine,¡± Ning Ran reassured with a smile.

    ¡°Really?¡±

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Really. Be careful when you go out with Daddyter.¡±

    ¡°Are you noting along, Mommy?¡±

    ¡°No. I''m a bit sleepy, so I''d like to sleep for a while longer.¡±

    Ning Ran wanted to convince herself not to think too much, but still, uneasiness lingered within her.

    She kept telling herself that it was something of great benefit to her two children, and she couldn''t

    hinder their bright future because of her selfishness.

 Chapter 585

    Chapter 585

    After Nan Chen brought the children out, Ning Rany on the bed for a little longer.

    Somehow, she still felt an uncontroble feeling of disappointment.

    No matter how many times she tried to make herself snap out of it, her efforts were futile.

    Do I really want to register my name in the Nan family''s household? Why? I''m not even married to Nan

    Chen, and yet I''ve already encountered all kinds of attacks and retaliation. Even my children got

    involved. I don''t know what will happen if I actually get married to Nan Chen. Do I really want to

    be the wife of a wealthy man so badly? How''s that possible? But if I don''t want to, why am I

    feeling so disappointed? Am I crazy?

    Ning Ran was mad at herself. Hence, she crawled out of the bed, went to the gym, and started jogging

    on the treadmill.

    She turned up the speed, which made her run so vigorously that she was drenched in sweat. Only then

    did she feel better.

    Just then, her phone vibrated. It was from Ouyang Qi.

    Ning Ran nced at the screen and set the phone down. She did not want to answer the call.

    However, Ouyang Qi continued calling, and Ning Ran still did not pick up. She was not in the mood to

    talk nonsense to him.

    Finally, she received a text from him: I have something important to report to you. It''s very important.

    What kind of important matters could he have? I heard he and the members of the Ouyang family had

    been to the Commoner Residence before my visit therest night. Could it have something to do with

    yesterday''s matters?

    A few secondster, Ouyang Qi texted another message: It''s got something to do with your family.

    At that moment, Ning Ran could no longer maintain her calmposure.

    She could ignore everything else, but she could never ignore it when it was rted to her family.

    Thus, she returned the call right away. ¡°What do you want to talk to me about?¡±

    ¡°Let''s have lunch together. We can talk while we eat.¡±

    ¡°Forget about the meal. What is it? You can just tell me over the phone.¡±

    ¡°I''m arriving at your house soon. Come on out. We need to talk about it in person. I won''t talk to you if

    you don''t,¡± Ouyang Qi said.

    Ning Ran really did not want to go out. Nheless, she was curious to find out what he wanted to say.

    In the end, she had no choice but to agree.

    Just as she finished changing into a fresh set of clothes, Ouyang Qi gave her another call to let her

    know he had arrived at the door.

    Hence, Ning Ran went downstairs and spotted his car right away.

    He was not in his sports car that day. Instead, he drove a Mercedes-Benz G-ss.

    ¡°Get in.¡± Ouyang Qi opened the car door for her.

    ¡°I told you, there''s no need for a meal. If you''ve got something to say, you can just say it here.¡±

    ¡°Okay, if you don''t go out for a meal with me, then I''ll eat at your house. Are you going to cook for me?

    I''m hungry right now, and a meal is a must. It all depends on where I''m going to have it,¡± Ouyang Qi

    said with a smile.

    ¡°You can''t go into my house. You''ve created a huge problem for me thest time you went in,¡± Ning

    Ran said in annoyance.

    ¡°Nan Chen''s just a petty person. What''s wrong with hanging out at someone''s house in broad

    daylight?¡±

    ¡°No means no! Are you going to tell me or not?¡± Ning Ran was not in a good mood. Naturally, she did

    not bother to speak courteously.

    ¡°Fine. I''m not going to say anything, then. I''ll leave now.¡± Ouyang Qi got into the car and started the

    engine, getting ready to leave.

    From N?velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran hurried forward and held the car''s rear mirror. ¡°You can''t just leave! You didn''t even tell me

    anything.¡±

    ¡°Then, get into the car. Only then I''ll tell you. If you don''t, then you can forget about it. You''re not letting

    me into your house, nor are you willing to have a meal with me. There''s nothing for me to say.¡± Ouyang

    Qi behaved more stubbornly.

    Hearing that, Ning Ran had no choice but to get into the car.

    Ouyang Qi finally felt happy. ¡°That''s more like it. It''s broad daylight, and we''re just going for a meal. I

    can''t believe Nan Chen would get angry over it. That kind of man is not worth it.¡±

    ¡°Get to the point. What is it you wanted to tell me? If you don''t get it clear, I won''t have the mood to

    eat.¡±

    ¡°Oh, don''t be like that. We haven''t met each other in ages. You should be happier and not scowl all the

    time. Have you been with Nan Chen for too long that you''ve also learned how to put on a dead-serious

    face? I don''t even like expressionless people. Only childish people find them cool.¡± Ouyang Qi seemed

    to have a lot to talk about when it came to matters rted to Nan Chen. His behavior could basically be

    summarized with four words¡ªunwilling to give in.

    ¡°Cut it with the nonsense and tell me quickly.¡±

    ¡°There''s no rush. Let''s have a meal and talk about it after that. Since the weather''s cold, let''s have

    some hotpot. I still remember you like to eat hotpot.¡±

    Since I''m already out of the house, I guess there''s really no rush to it then.

    Ning Ran did not have her breakfast, so she was undeniably a little hungry. Hence, she agreed to have

    a hotpot.

    Besides, she had not been in a good mood recently. Perhaps some spicy hotpot soup could make her

    feel better.

    Just as Ouyang Qi''s car had driven out of the neighborhood of vis, another car started tailing them.

    There were two people in the car¡ªOuyang Qing and Bai Hua.

    Recently, Bai Hua had been staying at the vi Ouyang Qing provided. Coincidentally, the vi was in

    Red Maple City.

    Since Ouyang Qing and her family were returning to Pearl City soon, she purposely came over to say

    goodbye to Bai Hua and have a meal together.

    Just as her car arrived at the door, she spotted Ouyang Qi''s car.

    Naturally, she figured the reason behind Ouyang Qi''s car appearing in the area was rted to Ning

    Ran. Thus, she decided to tail Ouyang Qi''s car.

    ¡°That Mercedes Benz off-road vehicle is my brother''s car. I''m sure my brother is here to pick Ning Ran

    up,¡± Ouyang Qing exined.

    Bai Hua''s interest was piqued upon hearing that. ¡°That shameless woman has hooked up with the

    uncivilized man again?¡±

    As soon as those words left her mouth, she realized it was quite inappropriate to address Ouyang

    Qing''s brother as an uncivilized man.

    ¡°Maybe they''re meeting up for some matters. Let''s follow them to find out,¡± she suggested.

    Soon, the car pulled up in front of a hotel. Ouyang Qi said to Ning Ran, ¡°I''ve been staying here recently.

    I''ll go up to get a few things ande back in a while. Can you wait in the car?¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Ning Ran responded.

    Ouyang Qi dashed out of the car, retrieved something from his room, and returned to the car.

    Then, he continued driving in the direction of Hotpot City.

    Meanwhile, Ouyang Qing, who had been following closely behind, lost interest in tailing them at the

    sight of Hotpot City. Hence, she stopped following them.

    She and Bai Hua did not like eating hotpot, so they decided to go somewhere else to have their meal.

    After taking their seats, Ning Ran picked up the iPad that had the menu and selected countless dishes

    as if venting her emotions. Finally, she ordered an extra spicy soup base.

    Suddenly, Ouyang Qi realized Ning Ran looked a little dispirited. ¡°You look upset. Did something

    happen? Did you get into an argument with Nan Chen?¡±

    ¡°It''s nothing. Hey, what is it you wanted to talk about? I''m sure you can say it now, right?¡±

    ¡°There''s no hurry. We can talk when we''re done eating. Wait here for me. I''ll get the wine from my car.¡±

    ¡°Let''s just make do with what we ordered and not have any alcohol.¡±

    ¡°It''s fine. The weather''s cold. We should have a ss. It''s a bottle of great wine, anyway.¡±

    After a short while, Ouyang Qi returned to his seat with a bottle of white wine in his hand.

    Soon, the dishes were served one after another. The sight of the boiling hotpot soup triggered Ning

    Ran''s appetite.

    No wonder people say good food and beautiful sceneries are the only things people can never say no

    to. Time to dig in!

    ¡°Here, have a ss. This wine is really great.¡± Ouyang Qi poured Ning Ran a ss.

    Ning Ran believed a ss of white wine would not make her drunk. Hence, she finished the wine in

    one go.

    Then, she continued gobbling the food.

    Once she was full, she asked Ouyang Qi again, ¡°So, what is it you wanted to tell me?¡±

    Ouyang Qi put down his utensils, gulped the wine, and wiped his mouth. ¡°My dad wants me to sleep

    with you. He wants Nan Chen to be cheated on.¡±

    ¡°What nonsense are you spouting?¡± Ning Ran fumed.

    ¡°I''m not spouting nonsense. It''s what my dad said. He wants me to do everything in my power to sleep

    with you and have Nan Chen cheated on. Then, Nan Chen will be furious. He''ll lose all sense of

    rationality and make mistakes,¡± Ouyang Qi said truthfully.

 Chapter 586

    Chapter 586

    ¡°Don''t your families go way back? Why does your dad want to do this to Nan Chen?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°I''m not really sure, too. Maybe it''s because Nan Chen likes you instead of my sister, Qing. He''s always

    wanted Qing to marry him. In fact, that''s what my whole family wants, including me. Of course, my

    objective of letting Qing marry him is different from theirs. If Nan Chen were to marry Qing, then you''ll

    be avable, and my chances will be increased.¡± Ouyang Qi was extremely straightforward with his

    words and was not the slightest bit embarrassed by what he said.

    ¡°So?¡± Ning Ran prompted.

    ¡°Will you let me sleep with you?¡±

    ¡°Get lost! Do you even know what you''re talking about? Do I look like that kind of person who''ll do

    that?¡± Ning Ran raged.

    ¡°Why would you refuse? My dad''s rich, and I''m the son of a rich family. Though I''m a littlecking in

    terms of looks aspared to Nan Chen, I''ve got a better character than him. He''s always putting on a

    serious face and scolding others. I''m different. I always put on a bright smile.¡± After saying that, his lips

    widened into a grin, which made him look quiteical.

    ¡°I don''t like you. And don''t ever mention this matter again. Otherwise, I''m going to get mad,¡± Ning Ran

    warned sternly.

    ¡°Come on. Feelings can be developed slowly. Once you get to know me, you''ll realize I''m actually not

    bad.¡±

    ¡°What are you trying to say? Is this it?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Of course. I''m just trying to tell you to be careful. Since my dad wants me to do such a thing, his target

    is naturally the entire Nan family and not Nan Chen alone. I heard them talking yesterday. Nan Xing

    was having a meal with Qing when he got attacked and thrown out of the building. I''m pretty sure my

    dad and my sister hired someone to do it, but I don''t have any proof. Besides, I''m not aware of many

    things since they don''t believe me. Anyway, just be careful. You can just ignore Nan Chen. He can take

    good care of himself. What''s more important is that you take care of yourself and your children.

    Ning Ran stared at him in silence, wondering if his words were true and what were his motives.

    ¡°Don''t look at me like that. I''m telling you the truth.¡± Ouyang Qi frowned.

    ¡°There''s something I''d like to ask you. Can I trust you?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Ouyang Qi answered steadily.

    ¡°Why should I trust you?¡± Ning Ran questioned.

    Ouyang Qi pondered before replying, ¡°Because we''re friends. Because I like you.¡±

    ¡°But you''re a member of the Ouyang family.¡±

    ¡°Yes. That''s actually rather troublesome. Of course, I won''t harm my dad or my sister. I might not be a

    good person myself, but I don''t think it''s necessary for my family to do such things to harm others.

    We''re so rich. What''s the point of doing that? Isn''t it great enough to be able to have fun every day?

    Why make ourselves so busy? That''s why I''m not obeying my father''s instructions to take advantage of

    you,¡± Ouyang Qi exined.

    ¡°Take advantage? How?¡± Ning Ran asked, putting on her guard.

    ¡°My dad gave me a bottle of wine that has drugs in it. Once you drink it, you''ll pass out for a long time.

    During that period, I can strip you and have sex with you. I can even film and take pictures of you to let

    Nan Chen and the whole world know about it. Then, Nan Chen will be so furious that he''ll want to kill

    me, leading him to lose his mind. Like what my dad said, once a person loses his mind, it means he''s

    not too far from breaking down. Besides, losing one''s mind is actually a form of breaking down,¡±

    Ouyang Qi said.

    ¡°So, that ss of wine earlier...¡± Ning Ran was frightened.

    ¡°I didn''t bring the bottle of wine my dad gave me. The one you drank earlier wasn''t drugged,¡± Ouyang

    Qi assured.

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Yes. This is Hotpot City. How am I supposed to take you away if I drugged you in broad daylight?

    Besides, everything will be captured by the surveince cameras.¡±

    ¡°Why are you telling me all this?¡± Ning Ran asked, still feeling doubtful.

    ¡°Didn''t I tell you already? I want you to be wary of others.¡±

    ¡°So, the fact that I''m having a meal with you is because I trust you too much? Based on what you said,

    I should be wary of you?¡±

    ¡°No, you got into my car because you trusted me. That''s why you''re having a meal with me. It''s true

    that I''m Ouyang Duo''s son. You''re well aware of that, too. However, you came here with me willingly.

    This shows that you trust me, which is also one of the reasons I didn''t take advantage of you. To be

    honest, my father had told me to make a move on you long ago. I only gave him a verbal promise, but I

    never took any actions.¡±

    Ning Ran scoffed, ¡°Well, looks like I should thank you.¡±

    ¡°There''s no need for that. I''m just reminding you to be careful in the future. It''s best if you tell Nan Chen

    to assign two bodyguards to follow you around.¡±

    Ning Ran was starting to believe in Ouyang Qi.

    Perhaps Ouyang Qi''s words were true. She still trusted him because he actually never did anything

    wrong to her.

    ¡°So, that''s all you wanted to tell me?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Ouyang Qi nodded.

    ¡°Okay. I understand now. I''ve got another question for you. My daughter''s been poisoned by someone.

    Is this your family''s doing?¡± Ning Ran asked as she fixed her gaze on him.

    ¡°Someone poisoned Erbao? How is she?¡± Ouyang Qi was shocked by the information.

    ¡°She''s fine. Thankfully, she only tried a small amount of buttercream. If she actually took a full bite, she

    would''ve died. I just don''t understand who could be so evil to harm a child. Is this your family''s doing?

    Is it your father or your sister?¡±

    Ouyang Qi shook his head. ¡°I don''t think it''s them. They wouldn''t do such things.¡±

    ¡°You know nothing about this?¡±

    ¡°I really don''t. But I don''t think it''s their doing. They''re not that evil. No matter how serious the matter is,

    it''s still a conflict between adults. How could they possibly involve a child?¡± Ouyang Qi said with a

    serious expression. Ning Ran, too, felt that he did not look like he was lying.

    Of course, that could not prove the Ouyang family was innocent. After all, there was a bigger possibility

    of Ouyang Qi not knowing about it.

    ¡°Okay. It''s fine if you don''t know about it. Well, that''s all I guess? Thank you for telling me all this,¡± Ning

    Ran thanked him sincerely.

    ¡°You''re wee. If Nan Chen marries another woman, you can consider me. I don''t mind being a third

    party between you and Nan Chen.¡± Ouyang Qi had returned to his nonsensical self.

    Ning Ran merely ignored him in response.

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Okay. Now, I need you to smash me with this wine bottle,¡± Ouyang Qi said, pointing at the empty wine

    bottle.

    ¡°Huh? Why?¡±

    ¡°I''ve got to give my dad an exnation, right? Well, I can just tell him I failed because you saw through

    my n. Then, I can say you beat me up with a wine bottle. That way, I''ll have an answer for the

    oue.¡±

    ¡°That''s unnecessary, right? He''s your dad, not your boss. If you fail, then you''ve failed. What could he

    possibly do to you?¡± Ning Ran found it quite ridiculous.

    ¡°Exactly! He''s my boss! Though he''s my dad, he''s my boss as well. He''s already frozen my credit

    cards. Currently, I''m relying on borrowing money from others to get by. The Lunar New Year''sing

    soon. I''ve got so many meet-ups with my friends. If I''m broke, how am I going to pick up girls and show

    off? To me, money is more important than my life. If you create some minor wounds for me, my dad will

    take pity on me. Perhaps he''ll unfreeze my card, and I''ll have money again!¡± Ouyang Qi said with a

    look of misery.

    Ning Ran had never heard of such theories in her life before.

    ¡°I can''t do it! It''s too dangerous! What if I hit you so hard that it gives you a concussion? What if you

    be dumb? I don''t want to be responsible for the oue. I''m not doing it!¡± Ning Ran rejected

    firmly.

    ¡°If you don''t hit me, I''ve got no choice but to hit you and make you pass out. Then, I''ll sleep with you.

    That way, I''ll have something to tell my dad.¡±

    ¡°Don''t you dare!¡± Ning Ran shot to her feet.

    ¡°To be honest, I don''t dare to. That''s why it''s better if you hit me. Come on. It''s fine. I trust in your skills.¡±

    Ouyang Qi stuck his head forward.

    ¡°You want me to hit you for real?¡±

    ¡°Go on!¡±

 Chapter 587

    Chapter 587

    Ning Ran picked up the bottle with shaky hands.

    She had never done such a thing in her life. Hence, she was not familiar with the process.

    ¡°Where should I hit you?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Anywhere. Just don''t be brutal. If you actually beat me to death, things will end terribly.¡± Ouyang Qi

    was actually slightly afraid.

    Ning Ran, on the other hand, did not have the courage to do it in the first ce. After hearing his

    words, she felt even more reluctant to attack him.

    Thus, she returned the bottle to the table. ¡°I can''t do it. I think you should get someone else to hit you.¡±

    ¡°No way. It has to be you!¡±

    ¡°Get someone else to do it and tell your dad I was the one who did it. There, wouldn''t that solve it?

    Don''t tell me he''s going to run an investigation to check the fingerprints?¡±

    ¡°No way. I can''t trust the others to hit me. What if that person hates me and decides to use the

    opportunity to take my life? I''ll be a goner if that happens!¡± Ouyang Qi said sulkily.

    ¡°Forget it. I think this is too childish. Just tell your dad you can''t do this kind of cruel thing.¡±

    ¡°You don''t know what my father is like. Once he loses his temper, he''ll cut ties with me. He''s already

    extremely disappointed in me. If I don''t do as he says, he''ll definitely kick me out of the house. So, to

    protect my identity as the son of a wealthy family, please hit me.¡±

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran was in a tough spot. ¡°Wouldn''t it be a waste if your dad doesn''t believe it after I''ve hit you?¡±

    ¡°I''ll give Qing a call and get her to send me to the hospital. I''m sure they''ll believe me after that.¡±

    The more she listened to him, the more ridiculous it sounded to Ning Ran, and the more reluctant she

    was to attack him.

    ¡°I''m not going to hit you. What if your sister sues me for intentionally hurting you? I''ll still get into trouble

    either way. Besides, how would I know if this isn''t a trap you people set up for me? Forget it. You

    shoulde up with another solution.¡± Ning Ran was determined to not do it.

    Ouyang Qi sighed. ¡°As expected. You''re too soft-hearted. How are you going to deal with such a

    ruthless person as Nan Chen in the future?¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    ¡°Nan Chen''s a ruthless person. You can see it by just looking at his face. I bet he''ll snatch the kids

    away when he gets married to other rich women in the future. When that happens, you''ve got to go up

    against him. Then again, you''re so soft-hearted and gullible. How are you going to fight him?¡± Ouyang

    Qi questioned.

    His words had hit the nail on the head. That was precisely what she was worried about.

    Nan Chen had taken the children out to transfer their household registrations that day. Hence, Ning

    Ran had been feeling dispirited the entire day.

    Of all the things in the world, Ouyang Qi had chosen the right topic to talk about.

    ¡°I''m really going to hit you if you talk nonsense again!¡± Ning Ran raised the wine bottle into the air.

    ¡°I''m not stopping you from doing it. You''re the one who didn''t want to. You know what? Nan Chen is just

    being nice to you for now because the children are still young. You''re their mother, after all. I''m sure

    he''s hoping you can bring the children up. Basically, he''s treating you as a nanny¡ªa free nanny. Once

    the children are mature enough, you''ll be old and haggard. Then, Nan Chen will ditch you and marry

    another young and prettydy, making her the children''s stepmother. What are you going to do if that

    happens? Are you able to go up against Nan Chen? Your man will belong to someone else. Even your

    children will¡ª¡±

    Bang!

    Anger swept over Ning Ran as she listened to him. Hence, she lifted the bottle and brought it down on

    his head, as though the talkative man in front of her was Nan Chen.

    ¡°Ouch!¡±

    Ouyang Qi was totally unprepared. Sensing Ning Ran''s sudden attack, he could only move aside

    instinctively, causing the bottle tond on his forehead near the corner of his eye. A cut formed on the

    skin, and blood started flowing down his face.

    Since that area had the least muscles, it was the easiest to cut. Moreover, the aim of the attack was so

    urate that itnded right in the weakest spot.

    Even blood started gushing out of the wound all of a sudden.

    Ning Ran was shocked by her own actions.

    She then looked down at the bottle in her hands. It''s not even broken. How is he bleeding already?

    Don''t people''s heads start bleeding only when the bottle is broken? Isn''t that what happens in the

    movies?

    ¡°Damn it. Why did you ambush me? And that was such a violent hit! Ouch...¡± Ouyang Qi wailed.

    ¡°Serves you right for being so foul-mouthed and talking about all the things I hate hearing!¡±

    ¡°I''m just saying there could be such a possibility. It won''t necessarily happen. What are you so worried

    about? Oh my goodness. It hurts so bad!¡±

    ¡°Then, let me send you to the hospital to get it bandaged. It''s just a cut with a minor bleed. There

    shouldn''t be any concussions.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense! Do you really want me to have a concussion? Take out my phone and give Ouyang Qing a

    call. Tell her toe over to send me to the hospital.¡±

    ¡°You want me to do the calling?¡±

    ¡°You''ll dial her number and I''ll do the talking. You can leave after the call,¡± Ouyang Qi exined.

    Meanwhile, Ouyang Qing had just finished her meal with Bai Hua and was exiting the restaurant,

    getting ready to send thetter home.

    At the same time, Bai Hua had been constantly thinking about Ning Ran being in Ouyang Qi''s car,

    making her hesitate about calling Nan Chen to inform him about the matter.

    However, Nan Chen always treated her coldly. Whenever she talked ill about Ning Ran to him, nothing

    ever happened to Ning Ran. Hence, Bai Hua was a little hesitant at that moment.

    Ouyang Qing knew what was on Bai Hua''s mind. Despite that, she also knew Ouyang Duo had

    assigned Ouyang Qi a mission, which was to have Nan Chen cheated on.

    Since it was still the day, she figured Ouyang Qi would not havepleted his task, even if he

    managed to take any action. Hence, she did not want Bai Hua to tell Nan Chen about it at that moment.

    ¡°Aunt, please don''t tell Chen so soon about Ning Ran being with my brother. It''ll make him worried.

    Nothing will happen in broad daylight. Besides, if she and my brother actually fall in love, there''s no

    harm in letting them have their way. My brother isn''t a great person. None of his rtionships with his

    girlfriendssted for more than six months. Ning Ran will definitely be dumped by him within that

    period. When the timees, she''ll face worse consequences,¡± Ouyang Qing said with a smile.

    After listening to Ouyang Qing''s exnation, Bai Hua felt her words made sense. If that woman wants

    to hook up with that uncivilized man, then so be it. Besides, she won''t be able to marry into the Nan

    family if she does that.

    ¡°Oh, that reminds me. Qing, is there really nothing going on between you and Nan Chen?¡± Bai Hua

    asked.

    ¡°Aunt, Chen and I aren''t meant to be. I''ve tried my best, but we just can''t be together. So, I''ve given up

    on him. Besides, after spending some time with Nan Xing, I think Nan Xing is more suitable for me. So,

    I''ve decided to be together with Nan Xing. I hope you can give us your blessing.¡±

    Bai Hua was delighted to hear the news. That works too! Nan Xing is my son as well. Besides, he''s

    more obedient, while Nan Chen is harder to control.

    ¡°Sure. Xing is great, too. Go ahead and date each other. I''ll give both you and Xing my full support!¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Aunt.¡±

    Right then, Ouyang Qing''s phone rang. Since she was driving, she epted the call using the

    Bluetooth option.

    ¡°Qing, where are you? I need you toe over and help me. I''m injured!¡± Ouyang Qi''s voice rang out.

    ¡°Injured? What kind of injury is it?¡±

    ¡°I''m with Ding Mi. I originally wanted to¡ª¡±

    ¡°Where are you? I''ll go over,¡± Ouyang Qing interrupted, worried Ouyang Qi might say things she did not

    want Bai Hua to know about.

    ¡°I''m at Hotpot City. I''m bleeding badly. Please hurry over. I can''t believe Ding Mi''s so ruthless. Ouch...¡±

    ¡°Wait for me there. I''ll go over right away.¡± Ouyang Qing ended the call right away before Ouyang Qi

    could say anything else.

    ¡°Aunt, my brother''s in trouble. I''ve got to go over to check things out. I''ll get a cab for you. Do you mind

    going home alone first?¡± Ouyang Qing asked, turning around to face Bai Hua.

    ¡°Maybe I should go over and take a look, too.¡± Bai Hua was curious to find out what had happened.

    ¡°It''s okay. My brother''s quite a prideful person. He wouldn''t want others to see him in such a miserable

    state. I can go there by myself.¡±

    ¡°All right, then,¡± Bai Hua agreed reluctantly.

 Chapter 588

    Chapter 588

    Upon arriving at the entrance of Hotpot City, Ouyang Qing stumbled into Ning Ran, who was walking

    out of the building.

    Truth was, Ouyang Qi let Ning Ran go after confirming Ouyang Qing had arrived at the ce. He was

    worried his sister might get into a fight with Ning Ran.

    Unfortunately, they still encountered each other.

    The thought of Ouyang Qing could be the one behind Erbao''s sickness made Ning Ran''s blood boil

    with anger.

    However, she had no intentions of getting into trouble with Ouyang Qing. As Nan Chen said, they

    should not act rashly, as they did not have any evidence at that moment.

    Thus, when Ning Ran noticed Ouyang Qing, she quickly turned away to avoid looking at thetter.

    In the past, Ouyang Qing would definitely put on a smile and greet Ning Ran politely.

    However, she only did that to confuse Ning Ran back then. She wanted Ning Ran to trust her and use

    the opportunity to scheme behind her back.

    Nheless, that was not needed anymore. It was impossible for Ouyang Qing and Nan Chen to be

    together. Hence, there was no need for her to feign politeness toward Ning Ran.

    Just as Ouyang Qing was about to walk past Ning Ran, she stopped thetter. ¡°Hold it right there.¡±

    Saying nothing, Ning Ran turned around to look at her with a look of hatred.

    ¡°What did you do to my brother?¡± Ouyang Qing questioned.

    ¡°He tried to molest me. So, I hit him with a bottle and made him bleed,¡± Ning Ran answered coldly.

    ¡°My brother molested you? Like what youmon citizens say, you''re just a piece of trash. My brother

    was not that desperate to molest a piece of trash like you.¡±

    Ouyang Qing had a good family background and was well-educated. Therefore, she never thought she

    was amon citizen.

    Her words mon citizens¡± clearly reflected her discrimination toward Ning Ran.

    Not only was she discriminating against Ning Ran, but she was also insulting Ning Ran by using the

    word ¡°trash.¡±

    Though she said it was a word used bymon citizens, she still used it. In fact, she thought she was

    superior to others when she was learning to use the word.

    It was as if she was on an entirely different level than the others, all because she was a daughter of a

    rich family.

    ¡°A piece of trash? You''re the piece of trash that constantly clings to men. You even had the nerves to

    do such a despicable thing as poisoning others. You shameless woman!¡± Ning Ran rebuked furiously.

    Why should I treat you with respect when you''re being so shameless? On what basis am I not allowed

    to scold you when you scolded me in the first ce?

    in reality, Ouyang Qing was never scolded by someone that way.

    She was like a woman who was favored by the heavens. Apart from her failure with Nan Chen, every

    n of hers always went perfectly without any hups.

    In fact, she had always been the one scolding others, while the others had to endure it. Never was she

    once scolded and being called a piece of trash in the public.

    Hence, she could not endure such insults.

    ¡°How dare you scold me!¡±

    ¡°You started it. I was just throwing your words back at you,¡± Ning Ran snapped coldly.

    ¡°How dare you scold me? You sl*t!¡± Ouyang Qing was utterly humiliated by Ning Ran''s words. Losing

    her temper, she gave Ning Ran a p across the face.

    Ning Ran, on the other hand, was totally unprepared. Thus, the p left her stunned.

    Ouyang Qing usually acted like a dignified and elegant rich woman. Ning Ran never expected the

    former to take physical action.

    She was utterly stunned.

    Surprisingly, Ouyang Qing had no intentions of stopping after the first p, and she reached out to give

    a second p.

    How dare you scold me! You''re just an insignificant actress. How dare you insult me!

    Before the second p couldnd on Ning Ran''s face, she reacted swiftly by dodging it.

    However, the tips of her fingers still managed to brush across her cheek. Though it was not a solid

    p, Ning Ran could still feel her cheek throbbing as Ouyang Qing''s p was quite powerful.

    p!

    Ning Ran responded by giving Ouyang Qing a loud and clear p, leaving thetter dumbfounded.

    She, too, never expected Ning Ran would have the guts to attack her.

    It was already rare enough for Ning Ran to have the guts to scold her. Thus, it was quite unbelievable

    that Ning Ran would take action as well.

    p!

    Before Ouyang Qing could evene to her senses, Ning Rannded another p on Ouyang Qing''s

    face.

    That p was more violent than the first one because Ning Ran had recalled Erbao''s pale and weak

    face.

    The extreme hatred in her heart caused her to increase the intensity of her p.

    The first p was for herself, and the second one was for Erbao.

    ¡°How dare you p me!¡± Ouyang Qing finally came back to her senses and grabbed Ning Ran by the

    cor.

    Seeing that, Ning Ran gave Ouyang Qing a forceful shove, pushing thetter away.

    Soon, two beautiful women could be seen fighting in front of Hotpot City''s entrance. As some people

    passed by, they took out their phones to capture the rare scene.

    ¡°Don''t you dare take pictures!¡± Ouyang Qing bellowed.

    Some were stunned by her warning, but some did not fear her and continued pulling out their phones to

    take pictures of them.

    Ning Ran was someone influential as well. Naturally, she did not want to be captured in the pictures.

    Hence, she lifted her bag to cover her face, broke free from Ouyang Qing, and fled the scene.

    After all, she had already scolded and pped her opponent, and her actions could not be taken back.

    It was time for her to leave the scene.

    Meanwhile, Ouyang Qing was zing with anger. She regretted not bringing any bodyguards with her

    that day. Otherwise, she would have ordered them to beat Ning Ran until she was crippled to relieve

    her anger.

    Upon entering Hotpot City''s private room, she spotted Ouyang Qi.

    p! p!

    Ouyang Qing sent two powerful ps across Ouyang Qi''s face. It was so painful that it left him puzzled.

    ¡°Have you lost your mind?¡±

    ¡°How are you unable to handle just one woman? And you even got beaten up like that. You''re a

    useless piece of trash!¡± Ouyang Qing bellowed.

    ¡°I''m already bleeding from being beaten up, and now you''re attacking me as well? Are you here to help

    me or to make things worse?¡± Ouyang Qi raged.

    ¡°Make a police report now and tell them Ning Ran attacked you with a wine bottle. Get the police to

    arrest her now!¡± Ouyang Qing could not swallow her frustration.

    ¡°I don''t think that''s a good idea. I was nning to drug her, and she saw through my n,¡± Ouyang Qi

    refused.

    ¡°Call the police now! Take out your phone. I''m going to help you call the police!¡±

    ¡°Don''t be like this. Please calm down. If things get out of control, it''ll be hard to clear the mess.¡±

    Naturally, Ouyang Qi would not make a police report, nor would he allow Ouyang Qing to do so.

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Then, look for Ning Ran right now and pour acid over her. Make her an ugly hag!¡± Ouyang Qing

    hissed.

    ¡°What''s wrong with you? Why are you so agitated? What happened to your face? Did someone hit

    you?¡± Ouyang Qi thought about it and realized what was going on. ¡°You met Ding Mi, didn''t you? And

    both of you got into a fight?¡±

    ¡°That sly woman had the nerves to hit me! I''ll never forgive her!¡± Ouyang Qing fumed.

    Ouyang Qi was shocked. Ning Ran doesn''t seem to be a reckless person. She''s hitting people now?

    ¡°Were you the one who hit her in the first ce?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Whose side are you on? How dare you speak up for her! Have you been mesmerized by that sly

    woman that you''ve forgotten which family you''re from?¡± Ouyang Qing was so livid that she vented all

    her anger on her brother.

    When Ouyang Qi saw how emotional she was, he decided to shut up and stop going against her.

    ¡°Let''s go. You''d better calm down. If you create any trouble now and mess up Dad''s n, I''m afraid he

    might not support you anymore. We know what kind of person he is. There''s absolutely no benefit in

    angering him,¡± Ouyang Qi reminded.

    Ouyang Qing finally calmed down after listening to Ouyang Qi''s words.

    Though she was the one who started scolding and hitting Ning Ran, she never expected Ning Ran to

    retaliate.

    In the end, she lost out. She lost her temper and acted inappropriately.

    Now that Ouyang Qi had warned her to not be so reckless, she finally calmed down and started

    thinking rationally.

    She knew very well that it would be disadvantageous for her if she continued causing a scene.

    Though her family already had a grudge against the Nan family at that moment, they still have not

    fallen out with each other.

    If both families were to fall outpletely because of her recklessness, it would be a messy situation.

    After all, the Ouyang family was not prepared.

    It was the Nan family they were dealing with. Ouyang Qing knew well that they were not people who

    could be trifled with.

 Chapter 589

    Chapter 589

    Even though Ning Ran had left the scene quickly and Ouyang Qing tried stopping, photos of their fight

    still ended up on the Inte.

    Interestingly, all the photos were taken from an angle advantageous to Ning Ran. Only her back was

    shown in the photos.

    However, Ouyang Qing''s contorted face of fury was smack dab in the center of every photo.

    Thus, news of Ms. Ouyang''s cat fight on the street in broad daylight trended on every social media

    tform again. Netizens were once again doubting her civilization.

    The identity of the woman that fought with Ouyang Qing was a hot topic as well.

    Who in the world would be bold enough to go head to head with the daughter of the Ouyang family?

    There were many amateur investigators among theizens. One of them concluded Ning Ran was the

    brave soul who fought with Ouyang Qing after analyzing the hairstyle, clothing, and body frame of the

    woman in the photo.

    There was an old photo of Ning Ran dressed in the same clothing. After noticing her hairstyle and body

    frame was an exact match, theizen concluded it was her.

    The Inte stirred again.

    Netizens began to guess why the two were fighting on the street.

    When men fought, it was mostly for two reasons¡ªpower and women.

    On the other hand, women usually fought for men and money.

    Men knew that as long as they had power in their grasp, women would flock to them.

    As for women, once they had men with power by their side, money would flow into their pockets

    ordingly.

    Henceizens began drawing up all kinds of reasons. One of them was Ouyang Qing bing Ning

    Ran''s sister-inw after getting together with Nan Xing causing a conflict of interest between the two

    families. Since Ouyang Qing and Ning Ran couldn''t settle their feud in Nan residence, they decided to

    meet up outside.

    The presumption had its merit. It was logical. Hence manyizens considered it the truth.

    Once they had the ¡°truth¡±, they began a heated discussion of who would be the winner.

    Eighty percent of thementers guessed that Ouyang Qing would win.

    The im was made on the basis that Ouyang Qing had a good family background to back her up,

    while Ning Ran was just an actress. She didn''t have anyone powerful backing her, so they supposed

    she would lose out sooner orter.

    One of theizens sighed: ¡°Don''t touch anything that doesn''t belong to you.¡±

    Another rebuked: ¡°Even though she''ll lose in the end, at least she has had it before.¡±

    After all, she was impressive and bold to have fought Ouyang Qing.

    After arriving at Red Maple City, Ning Ran got a call from Wang Xiaoou.

    Wang Xiaoou questioned her about the incident. Ning Ran admitted to fighting with Ouyang Qing but

    didn''t borate further.

    Wang Xiaoou mulled briefly before saying, ¡°Ouyang Qing is one of the major investors in the movie. I

    advise you to not get in any more fights with her temporarily to ensure smooth filming.¡±

    Ning Ran merely muttered an acknowledgment to that.

    Undoubtedly, Wang Xiaoou''s advice was for her benefit.

    After all, things wouldn''t be good for the actress if a conflict arose between an actress and the investor.

    Wang Xiaoou needed to remind Ning Ran to be cautious of her behavior because that was her job as

    Ning Ran''s manager.

    ¡°One more thing, don''t go anywhere in the meantime. Don''t make anyments or rification. Also,

    don''t try to exin anything,¡± Wang Xiaoou advised.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    ¡°Got it, Ou,¡± Ning Ran agreed.

    ¡°With Lunar New Year just around the corner, thepany won''t be arranging any more work for you,

    so you can have a good rest. However, be prepared to travel outstation for a while after the holidays.

    The production team will be traveling to the Xinan region for filming,¡± Wang Xiaoou informed.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Ning Ran said.

    She heard the sound of the engine outside the house after finishing her call with Wang Xiaoou. Nan

    Chen and my two babies are back!

    ¡°Mommy!¡± Erbao shouted the second her feet hit the ground.

    Ning Ran was descending the stairs when she heard Erbao shouting. ¡°You''re back. Come inside

    quickly. It''s cold out.¡±

    Erbao was wearing a white down jacket with a fur cor, looking beautiful like a doll with her face as fair

    as the down jacket.

    ¡°Mommy, look. I''ve changed my name.¡± Erbao handed over her household registration book to Ning

    Ran.

    Ning Ran skimmed through the document and noted the head of the household was Nan Chen. The

    children were listed as Nan Sirui and Nan Sihan.

    Ning Ran had some mixed feelings over the change. She wasn''t all that upset or happy about it.

    ¡°Mommy, you''ll be on it too next time,¡± Erbao added.

    Ning Ran returned her a smile without saying anything.

    Nan Chen, who stood at the side talking on the phone, furrowed his brows.

    Ning Ran felt a bit guilty about her fight with Ouyang Qing. She knew Nan Chen would find out sooner

    orter.

    As expected, Nan Chen approached her once he ended his call.

    ¡°You fought with Ouyang Qing?¡±

    Ning Ran knew she was about to be reprimanded, so she took the lead. ¡°What? Did she go crying to

    you about it? Is your heart aching for her?¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± The creases between Nan Chen''s brows deepened.

    ¡°She was the one who scolded me first, then raised her hand at me. I can''t just stand there and let her

    hit me, right?¡± Ning Ran raised her voice.

    ¡°Dabao and Erbao, I need you to go to your rooms first. I have something to talk about with your

    mommy,¡± Nan Chen ordered.

    Dabao and Erbao exchanged a nce and left.

    ¡°Why did you send the kids away? Are you nning to hit me to avenge Ouyang Qing?¡± Ning Ran

    rebuked.

    ¡°Why were you there?¡± he asked.

    Ning Ran got a sense that things were turning south for her. His focus wasn''t on her fight with Ouyang

    Qing.

    ¡°I went there for lunch,¡± Ning Ran answered guiltily.

    ¡°You went all the way to Hotpot City to eat hotpot alone? I asked you toe with us, but you rejected,

    saying you were tired. Then, you went out alone?¡± Nan Chen''s voice turned even colder.

    How should I exin this? I can''t hide anything, but I don''t know how to exin the truth. If that''s the

    case, I might as well tell it as it is. I didn''t do anything wrong anyway.

    ¡°I was with Ouyang Qi,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°You were unwilling to have lunch with the kids, but were willing to have it with him?¡±

    ¡°He came to fetch me, saying he had something to tell me. I kept asking him about it, but he wouldn''t

    tell me. He insisted I apany him for lunch. Since I haven''t had lunch, I went,¡± Ning Ran confessed.

    Nan Chen''s expression softened slightly, knowing Ning Ran had told him the truth.

    ¡°What happened after that?¡±

    ¡°He did tell me something. He said...¡±

    She stopped there because it wasn''t easy to repeat what Ouyang Qi said.

    Ouyang Qi''s actual words were to sleep with her, but how was she supposed to tell Nan Chen?

    ¡°What did he say?¡± Nan Chen questioned.

    ¡°He said... Ouyang Duo asked him to drive a wedge between us.¡±

    ¡°What kind of conflict?¡±

    ¡°I don''t know about that. I also have no idea what conflict there is between us.¡±

    ¡°What exactly did Ouyang Duo ask him to do?¡±

    Dang! Why are we back on the topic? I can''t actually tell him that. What am I supposed to say now?

    ¡°Oh, stop asking. All you need to know is Ouyang Duo is a bad guy.¡± Nerves began pooling in Ning

    Ran''s belly as she omitted.

    ¡°You''re hiding something from me.¡±

    ¡°I''m not. Everything I said was the truth. I came out of Hotpot City and saw Ouyang Qing. She called

    me a sl*t, and I retorted. Then she pped me, so I fought back. I ran when I saw someone started

    taking photos. That''s why the photos didn''t have my face on them,¡± Ning Ran exined.

    ¡°Why would Ouyang Qing call you a sl*t? What exactly is between you and the Ouyang siblings?¡± Nan

    Chen noticed something didn''t add up in her exnation.

    ¡°You should be asking her that question. Oh, I pped her too. If you feel bad for her, you can give her

    a call. Or you canfort her directly. You don''t have to interrogate me here.¡±

    I should take the initiative, or I''ll keep getting scolded.

 Chapter 590

    Chapter 590

    Ning Ran''s method worked. Nan Chen couldn''t manage any response.

    He had always been a quiet person, so he wasn''t good at quarreling.

    He couldn''te up with a retort if Ning Ran chewed him out.

    All he could do was simply stared at her as though he was trying to see through her.

    Ning Ran huffed, then pointed at the red print on her face. ¡°Look at this. This was Ouyang Qing''s doing.

    Do you see the swollen handprint? Do you think I can stay calm when someone gets rough with me?¡±

    Nan Chen shifted his gaze to the red marks on her face. Coldness filled his eyes at the sight.

    ¡°I won''t let this matter slide so easily, but you have to tell me the rtionship between you and Ouyang

    Qi,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°You''re doing it again! Someone pped me but did you care about that? No, you didn''t. All you cared

    about was my rtionship with others. I''m done talking with you!¡±

    Ning Ran walked away from him to the side to use her phone.

    Nan Chen got a feeling that Ning Ran was hiding something from him, but he didn''t know what it was.

    Resentment filled him, yet he was helpless, unable to do anything about it. He couldn''t actually use any

    interrogation method on her.

    ¡°Since we were done with the household registration, Grandpa had arranged for hiswyer to transfer

    the shares. Before the kids are legal adults, you''ll be handling themission from their shares,¡± Nan

    Chen informed.

    ¡°Is that a lot of money?¡± Ning Ran asked excitedly.

    ¡°Not too much, just tens of millions,¡± Nan Chen replied nonchntly.

    Ning Ran almost spit out the water she had just drunk. How many zeros are there in ten million?

    ¡°I don''t use that much money,¡± Ning Ran added.

    ¡°I said you can manage it, not spend it. My advice is to let a third party handle themissions. The

    money is nothing but paper in your hands.

    ¡°If there''s a need, you can withdraw some of it, but I''m warning you. This money is for the kids''

    education funds and other uses. You can''t use them for your own purposes.¡±

    Ning Ran was infuriated at his usation. ¡°You''re scared of me coveting the Nan family''s money? I

    have never said I would manage the kids'' shares, so why are you telling me this? I raised the kids for

    five years without the Nan family''s help, and they''re fine, aren''t they? Do you think I need somebody

    else''s money to raise my own kids?¡±

    Her biting remark rendered Nan Chen speechless.

    ¡°That was not what I meant, I was just...¡±

    Nan Chen didn''t know how to exin it to her, but it definitely wasn''t about Ning Ran coveting the

    money.

    He was trying to tell her there was no need to use themissions for the kids'' daily necessities. He

    would be paying for it as their father.

    If she let a professional party handle therge sum of money, she would get more money.

    On the other hand, the money would only end up being deposited in the bank, gaining an immaterial

    interest if it was left in her hands. It would be a waste.

    Nan Chen was also worried about the investment scams going aroundtely. He feared she would be

    tricked into making a failing investment since she was new to the stock market. The money wouldn''t be

    the only loss, he would be humiliated as well.

    Nan Chen didn''t have a way of telling all those to Ning Ran, hence the misunderstanding.

    From N?velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran''s ruthless rebuttal left him speechless.

    ¡°I get it. Don''t worry. I won''t touch that money.¡±

    Ning Ran knew her words were too ruthless earlier, so she tried to backpedal it.

    ¡°I''m not worried about you touching that money. I was trying to tell you that I would be paying for the

    kids'' daily expenses.

    ¡°If you need arge sum of money, you can inform me earlier. However, it''s best to leave the share''s

    commission to a professional organization to handle. Their value will increase when the kids grow up.

    ¡°If Nanshi Corporation can continue its development, the stock''s value will increase tremendously in a

    decade or so. We can give it to them as aing-of-age present by then. That''ll be more meaningful.¡±

    Ning Ran was embarrassed about her biting remarks earlier after Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°Ouyang Qi didn''t tell me anything else. He told me Ouyang Duo was not a good person. Ouyang Duo

    asked him to target you, so he wanted us to be more careful. That was it.¡±

    Nan Chen knew Ning Ran didn''t tell him the whole truth, but he knew he wouldn''t be getting it from her.

    So he decided to drop it.

    ¡°All right.¡±

    Meanwhile, Nan Xing was ying a video game when he got a call from Bai Hua requesting to pick her

    up from the mall.

    After Bai Hua split up from Ouyang Qing, she thought it would be boring to stay at home, so she went

    shopping at the nearby malls.

    When she first got back from overseas, she didn''t dare to leave the house much because Nan

    Zhengde had forbidden her from sauntering around. He didn''t want anyone to know she had returned.

    After that, she realized that her worries were unnecessary. Time had passed, and she was no longer

    the infamous Madam Nan of Flower City.

    Many had forgotten about her. There were many incidents when she showed up in the public, but no

    one seemed to recognize her. That was when she realized the city had forgotten about her.

    Hence, she was free now. She didn''t have to stay at home all the time, worrying about others

    recognizing her.

    Nan Xing soon arrived and helped Bai Hua with all her shopping bags.

    ¡°Mom, why did you buy so much stuff? You can ask us to go in your stead if you need anything. You''re

    not feeling well right now, so quit running around. Grandpa is not happy about you running around the

    city,¡± Nan Xingined.

    ¡°Even you''re telling me what to do. Do I have no say in anything? There''s nothing wrong with me going

    shopping. Do I not even have that right? I was bored and just wanted to get some fresh air, and I

    couldn''t even do that? Your grandpa won''t like me anyway, so I don''t care about his opinion. He won''t

    be alive for long anyway,¡± Bai Hua said cruelly.

    ¡°Mom, how can you say that about Grandpa?¡± Nan Xing couldn''t listen to it anymore. ¡°That was

    because you and Dad were in the wrong, so Grandpa had to look out for you guys.¡±

    ¡°What do you even know? He''s biased! I might not even use all the stuff that I bought. I was just

    spending money because I was bored. I can always throw it away if I don''t need it!¡± Bai Hua refuted

    angrily.

    ¡°All right! All right. You do whatever makes you happy. It''s fine, buy whatever you want.¡± Nan Xing didn''t

    want to piss her off anymore.

    ¡°There''s something you should tell your brother. His actress was flirting with some guy again. I saw her

    getting in Ouyang Qi''s car.

    ¡°Is your brother blind or something? Why is he letting that girl do anything she wants? Couldn''t he see

    that actress just wanted his money? Why is he still involved with her?

    ¡°Isn''t it humiliating for him that his woman was always hanging out with that boy from the Ouyang

    family? You have to tell him about this! I know he won''t listen to me, so you have to be the one to tell it

    to him.¡±

    That was one of the reasons Bai Hua asked Nan Xing to pick her up.

    Nan Xing truly disliked her words.

    He thought they were too harsh and didn''t like listening to them. Every word out of her mouth was

    aggressive.

    ¡°Mom, stop badmouthing Ning Ran. She''s not the person you say she is. Being an actress is a

    legitimate upation. She worked for the food on her table and that wasn''t anything bad at all. You

    didn''t have to badmouth the entire industry.¡±

 Chapter 591

    Chapter 591

    Bai Hua merely wanted Nan Xing to pass on her message to Nan Chen to gain Nan Chen''s trust.

    What she didn''t expect was Nan Xing refuting her before it even reached Nan Chen.

    What kind of ck magic did Ning Ran cast on my boys? Why is everyone on her side?

    ¡°She''s an actress, isn''t she? Why are you speaking up for her?¡± Bai Hua barked.

    ¡°Yes, she''s an actress. That''s what she does. It''s the same as every other job. You shouldn''t

    discriminate against any jobs.¡± Nan Xing was insistent to speak up for Ning Ran.

    ¡°Whose side are you on? Why are you going against me on that woman''s behalf?¡±

    ¡°I''m just telling the truth. You don''t have to get mad.¡±

    ¡°How do you think an actress rise to fame? Do you know about the filthy dealings behind the

    entertainment industry? Do you truly not know about it? You have many scandals with numerous

    celebrities. Yet now you''re telling me being an actress is a holy career?¡±

    ¡°There are scums in every industry. You can''t determine a person''s quality by her career. You should

    look at her character instead. You''re right. There are people in the entertainment industry who climbed

    thedder with underhanded means, but that doesn''t mean everyone uses such methods.¡±

    Nan Xing was different from Nan Chen. He was good at talking. He might not say much during big

    events, but he wouldn''t lose in a small argument.

    Bai Hua couldn''t manage a retort, so she settled with ring at him to express her disagreement.

    ¡°Mom, you''re a woman too. Why should a woman be so cruel to another?¡± Nan Xing shed a smile,

    showing his white, neat teeth.

    ¡°So you''re saying Ning Ran is innocent? She''s one of a kind among the actresses. Is that what you''re

    trying to say?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, you can put it that way.¡±

    ¡°What about her getting in some guy''s car? She''s cheating on your brother behind his back. Is that

    something good too? Should your brother pop a bottle of champagne to celebrate it?¡± Bai Hua started

    using again.

    Nan Xing sighed. ¡°Ning Ran is not that kind of person. Ouyang Qi is her acquaintance. You can''t

    use her of cheating just because they went out together. You''re judging her from the start, and that''s

    unfair for her. Even though you have good intentions, you shouldn''t nder her before you get to the

    truth-¡±

    ¡°That''s enough! I heard enough to know you''re on her side! Is your brother in his office? Drop me off

    there. I''ll tell him myself,¡± Bai Hua ordered.

    ¡°He''s not. I think he was taking the children to settle the household registration. Ten percent of

    Grandpa''s shares will be transferred to the kids, but they''ll need to register first before they can...¡±

    Nan Xing identally blurted out about the transfer of shares. He realized a tad toote that he

    shouldn''t have told that to Bai Hua.

    Grandpa told me not to tell anyone outside the family, but Mom didn''t count as one, right? She is me

    and my brother''s mother, the grandmother to the children, so she shouldn''t be considered an outsider.

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    Even though Nan Xing stopped himself, Bai Hua still heard him clearly.

    ¡°Nothing.¡±

    ¡°Old Master is nning to transfer his shares to Ning Ran''s children? Those small kids are going to be

    Nanshi Corporation''srgest shareholder?

    ¡°Why didn''t he transfer some to your father or me? He should transfer the shares to us first in terms of

    seniority. How could he transfer to two five-year-olds first?¡± Bai Hua screamed.

    ¡°I don''t know. Maybe he has some future consideration. Grandpa doesn''t let me tell anyone about this,

    so don''t go spreading this.

    ¡°I shouldn''t have told you, but you''re my mom, so I''m telling you now. Don''t make this difficult for me,¡±

    Nan Xing said with furrowed brows.

    ¡°Old Master is way too biased! They''re just kids and are already the owners of ten percent of the

    shares! How can he hide it from us? Do Nan Zhiyuan and I mean nothing to him? I''m getting piss just

    thinking about it.¡±

    Bai Hua began to m her fists against the window in anger.

    ¡°Mom, stop it. Let it go. Grandpa just gave ten percent of the shares to the kids, not everything. It was a

    show of his love for his great-grandchildren. There''s nothing wrong about that,¡± Nan Xing advised.

    ¡°He didn''t consider your dad and me as human. If he continues to be like that, then don''t me it on

    meter!¡± Bai Hua said.

    ¡°Mom, you''re weird. Dabao and Erbao are your grandchildren. We''re a family, so why are you so angry

    about it?¡± Nan Chen couldn''t understand.

    ¡°Dabao and Erbao are the children of that b*tch! They have nothing to do with me! Don''t bring them up

    in front of me!¡±

    Nan Xing was stunned. He didn''t expect Bai Hua to treat the kids so coldly.

    Shouldn''t a grandmother love and care for her grandchildren?

    Nan Xing regretted telling her. He didn''t consider Bai Hua an outsider, but she considered many of the

    Nan family members to be outsiders.

    ¡°Stop the car. I''m getting out here,¡± Bai Hua ordered suddenly.

    ¡°Why? Where are you going? Let me send you.¡±

    ¡°I said, stop the car!¡± The look Bai Hua gave Nan Xing was full of disgust.

    Nan Xing was shocked, so he quickly stepped on the brake.

    Bai Hua took her purse and got out. She didn''t even take her shopping bags.

    She gged down a cab, got in, then left.

    Nan Xing had wanted to follow her, but he was worried Bai Hua would get angry if she found out. So he

    let out a sigh and gave up.

    Bai Hua took the cab and made a call in Japanese. It was a long thirty-minutes-call.

    The cab driver kept asking her for her destination, but she didn''t give him a location. She just asked

    him to drive around.

    After ending the call, she dialed Ouyang Qing''s number, but Ouyang Qing didn''t pick up.

    When night fell, Nan Zhiyuan was sitting on the couch with a dismayed look at the vi in Red Maple

    City.

    Bai Hua was standing in front of him, pointing at him. ¡°Look at yourself! You can''t do better than two

    five-year-olds. What''s the point of you living?¡±

    ¡°You''re crossing the line, Bai Hua! What''s the point of you making me angry? Do you think I have any

    say in my father''s decision? Since you''re so capable, why don''t you oppose then? If it wasn''t for us

    being too hasty that time, we wouldn''t have caused that huge mistake and ended up like this.¡± Nan

    Zhiyuan was at his breaking point.

    Bai Hua scoffed, ¡°You''re ming me now? If you''re capable, the chairman and CEO positions of the

    Nanshi Corporation would have been yours. Yet were you even the CEO for one day? The Old Master

    has never trusted you. You''re a good-for-nothing! A good-for-nothing that everyone looked down on. If

    it wasn''t for Ouyang Qing''s help, you couldn''t even make it back to the country!¡± Bai Hua continued to

    scold.

    ¡°If you''re so capable, then why are you with me? Find another man. What are you doing with a good-

    for-nothing?¡± Nan Zhiyuan rebuked.

    ¡°Nan Zhiyuan, you-

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Fine! I''ll return to Tokyo tomorrow. You stay here and continue to be a nobody. I don''t want to receive

    any more cold shoulders. This kind of life is hopeless!¡± Bai Hua announced.

    Panic struck Nan Zhiyuan, hearing that Bai Hua wanted to leave.

    ¡°You can''t leave. What am I going to do if you leave? Old Master''s attitude toward us has just begun to

    defrost slightly. If we have the Ouyang family''s help, I can still be a member of the board. How can you

    give up now?¡± Nan Zhiyuan tried to reason with her.

    ¡°If I stay, there must be some benefits. I don''t want to continue living like this. If this goes on, we''ll be

    old and broke!¡±

 Chapter 592

    Chapter 592

    A few dayster, the Lunar New Year arrived.

    Chai Hua, the butler, had been extremely busy for the past three days preparing for the festival in

    Commoner Residence.

    Since wealthy families enjoyed feasts all the time, there was no need for them to organize one during

    the new year.

    Therefore, their focus was on entertaining guests and rtives who visited. As the Lunar New Year

    approached, many well-wishers would give them a call.

    There was a limit to Nan Zhengde''s stamina, so Chai Hua was responsible for screening the calls. He

    would deal with some of them directly while those prominent figures such as the general from the

    capital would require Nan Zhengde''s personal attention.

    Other than phone calls, many others would visit bearing gifts.

    The guestsprised those from political and business circles. Some came asking for help, whereas

    others used the opportunity to cement their rtionship after having received help.

    Even such guests had to be filtered.

    Obviously, the Nan family wasn''t short of anything at all. The only reason gifts were epted was out

    of courtesy. Situations where the gifts were rejected would either be because the courtesy wasn''t

    deserved or if the Nan family weren''t willing to help with whatever was requested.

    On top of that, protocol dictated that they would also have to give a gift in return for receiving one.

    Furthermore, the gifts couldn''t all be the same. Instead, they had tomensurate with the status of

    the person receiving them.

    Despite theplex process, one couldn''t possibly ask Nan Zhengde about everything. Chai Hua was

    responsible for making decisions and the butler couldn''t afford to make any mistakes.

    Given how challenging the task was and the fact that one needed to have an in-depth understanding of

    everyone in Flower City, the role of the Nan family butler was simr to that of senior management in a

    largepany. Ordinary folk were simply not up to it.

    Obviously, the Nan family butler''s social status was significantly higher than that of an ordinary butler.

    To a certain extent, Chai Hua was already part of the family. Wherever he went, he had the authority to

    represent them.

    One day before the Lunar New Year, Chai Hua personally visited the vi in Red Maple City.

    He was there to finalize the menu ording to the traditions of the Nan family. Those who were

    attending the Lunar New Year eve''s dinner were to inform him of their two favorite dishes so that the

    chef could prepare them.

    Considering how important the dinner was, everyone would be served their favorite dishes on the table

    to liven up the atmosphere.

    This was a matter that Chai Hua personally handled. In addition to the dishes requested, he would also

    cote the details of how salty the dishes should be.

    Not only was there a sense of ceremony, but it also demonstrated the respect shown to everyone.

    By the time it was Erbao''s turn, she listed out five to six dishes at one go.

    Just when she was about to continue, Nan Chen stopped her. ¡°Everyone only has two. You can''t insist

    on having that many.¡±

    ¡°But there are so many dishes that I enjoy,¡± Erbao replied with a pout.

    ¡°Don''t worry about it. Little Miss can list out everything she likes. There won''t be enough time for too

    many, but we can manage eight to ten dishes,¡± Chai Hua reassured them with a smile.

    Having served the Nan family for many years, the butler enjoyed wearing a ssic suit and carried

    himself in a distinguished manner.

    ¡°It''s all right, Mr. Chai. Let''s stick to the rules where everyone gets two dishes. After all, we would end

    up wasting food if there were too many dishes,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°Don''t worry about it. I''ll prepare six for Little Miss then,¡± Chai Hua answered with a smile.

    ¡°Hurray!¡± Erbao eximed while pping her hands.

    In truth, she wasn''t particr about the food. She chose to order many dishes just for the fun of it.

    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Chai.¡± Nan Chen nodded.

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Master Chen, Old Master wants me to remind you to call all the senior government officials of Flower

    City to wish them a happy Lunar New Year before three this afternoon. I know you won''t forget, but it''s

    my duty to remind you lest Old Master questions me about it,¡± the butler suggested with a smile.

    ¡°I know. I''ll call them in a while. We''ll be going over once I wrap things up here. Thanks for the trouble.¡±

    ¡°Don''t mention it, Master Chen. It''s no trouble at all. Anyway, I''ll be going now.¡±

    ¡°All right.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Chai, I''ll see you tonight. Please remember to give me a red packet.¡± Erbao waved her hand.

    ¡°Erbao!¡± Nan Chen snapped.

    ¡°That goes without saying. I''ll definitely give you one.¡± Chai Hua chuckled.

    ¡°Mr. Chai, don''t listen to her. There''s no need to give one to her,¡± Ning Ran interjected as she hurried

    over.

    ¡°This year''s celebration will be more festive than before with the addition of Little Miss, Little Master,

    and yourself. Little Miss doesn''t need a red packet from me, but it''s my honor to give her one.¡± He

    beamed.

    ¡°Stop fooling around!¡± Ning Ran gave her daughter a look.

    Erbao made a face, for she knew she had more leeway today due to it being the Lunar New Year.

    Once Chai Hua was gone, Ning Ran asked Nan Chen, ¡°Does Mr. Chai have children? Isn''t he going

    home for the ew year?¡±

    ¡°When I was young, Mr. Chai had a wife and children. However, they went missing,¡± thetter

    exined.

    ¡°Missing?¡±

    ¡°Yes, his wife took the children out on a trip, never to return. He searched for them for three whole

    years, while the Nan family deployed all its resources to help. Unfortunately, it was a futile effort. They

    seemed to have disappeared into thin air. As time went by, Mr. Chai gradually got over the incident. He

    didn''t remarry and continued serving the family. Therefore, Grandpa has ordered that we take care of

    Mr. Chai in his old age.¡±

    ¡°How did they go missing just like that?¡±

    ¡°They went on an ind holiday. The boat could''ve capsized. I''m not really sure. Nheless, don''t

    bring this up in front of Mr. Chai, as it will strike a raw nerve of his.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± Ning Ran nodded.

    ¡°Mommy, are we changing into our new clothes now?¡± Erbao tugged at her sleeve.

    ¡°It''s still early. We''ll change itter. Or you might just dirty it.¡±

    ¡°Doesn''t she have a few sets? We''ll just change it if it gets dirty,¡± Nan Chen remarked by the side.

    ¡°Why must you go against me? What''s the point of changing so often at home to look good? Is this a

    fashion show?¡± Ning Ran knitted her brows.

    ¡°Why not? Aren''t new clothes meant to be worn? There''s no reason to keep them in the closet. Erbao,

    go get changed!¡± Nan Chen gave her his full support.

    ¡°All right!¡± Erbao ran off in delight.

    ¡°How am I going to discipline the children with you challenging my authority?¡± Ning Ran red at him.

    ¡°It''s the Lunar New Year. All that matters is they have a good time. Anyway, I need to prepare and give

    the city leaders a call to wish them seasonal greetings. While I''m in my study, don''t let the children

    disturb me,¡± Nan Chen instructed.

    ¡°All right. I got it.¡±

    At five in the evening, Nan Chen brought Ning Ran and the children back to Commoner Residence.

    Ning Ran was filled with anxiety, for she felt as if she was the only outsider there.

    Meanwhile, Bai Hua and Nan Zhiyuan had already arrived. The moment she saw Erbao, she hurried

    over and picked thetter up. ¡°My darling has grown a little taller now.¡±

    All this while, Erbao never liked Bai Hua, but she allowed her grandma to carry her out of courtesy.

    ¡°Come, give me a kiss,¡± Bai Hua suggested to Erbao.

    Erbao refused. You should be grateful I allowed you to carry me. There''s no way I''m giving you a kiss.

    ¡°Come, it''s just a kiss. I missed you a lot.¡±

    Bai Hua pretended to be close to her grandchildren to impress Nan Zhengde and Feng Wan.

    Cognizant of how both of them doted on the children, she figured she could impress them by being nice

    to the children.

    ¡°Grandma, I''m still sick, so please put me down before I give it to you.¡±

    Erbao made an excuse to avoid giving Bai Hua a kiss.

    ¡°Oh, you''re sick? Tell me what''s wrong? Have you seen the doctor?¡± Bai Hua feigned concern.

    ¡°I was poisoned. Someone spiked¡ª¡±

    ¡°Erbao!¡± Ning Ran cut her daughter off immediately.

 Chapter 593

    Chapter 593

    Bai Hua was upset. ¡°Oh? Why has this been kept from me? Why does everyone else in the family

    know about it except for me?¡±

    ¡°It''s not like that. Prior to this, Erbao wasn''t careful with what she ate and ended up with food poisoning.

    But now, she''s all recovered.¡± Ning Ran tried her best to salvage the situation.

    ¡°No wonder she looks a little pale. It''s poison, isn''t it? In that case, she should be treated at once to

    prevent any side effects from it. Given how young she is, it would be terrible if she has to suffer from

    any of them!¡± Bai Hua pretended to be filled with sorrow.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Nan, for your concern, but Erbao is fine,¡± Ning Ran responded awkwardly.

    She was unwilling to entertain Bai Hua because she couldn''t feel any sincerity from thetter. To her,

    Bai Hua was feigning concern.

    As an exceptional actress herself, Ning Ran could easily tell when someone was pretending to care.

    As Feng Wan emerged, Erbao eximed excitedly, ¡°Great-grandma!¡±

    She was clearly closer to Feng Wan than Bai Hua.

    Even though children were less aware of what was going on, they could sense who truly loved them.

    ¡°Good girl. You look amazing today!¡± Feng Wanplimented with a smile.

    ¡°It''s a must to look pretty whenever Ie to visit you.¡± Erbao giggled.

    ¡°Oh, You''ve such a sweet mouth!¡± Feng Wanughed in return.

    ¡°Grandma, let me know if there''s anything I can assist with.¡±

    Ning Ran felt the need to help instead of just freeloading.

    ¡°Don''t worry about it. There''s already someone in-charge. You''ll end up getting in the way instead,¡±

    Feng Wan replied warmly.

    Ning Ran felt that the elderly had a point. She might be able to handle a daily meal or two, but a feast

    was an entirely different matter.

    ¡°But I feel bad not doing anything.¡±

    Feng Wan smiled in response. ¡°In that case,e chat with me to cure my boredom. How about you

    share with me what you''ve been through over the years?¡±

    ¡°Sure. Although, I must admit I''m just an ordinary person and barely have any interesting anecdotes.

    I''m just worried that I''ll end up boring you.¡± Ning Ran grinned.

    ¡°There''s nothing special about any of us. Only those who are sick in the head will think they are

    different from others. Besides, ordinary stories reflect the realities of life. Come, let''s chat over there.¡±

    With that, Feng Wan led to Ning Ran to the parlour and left Bai Hua hanging.

    As she watched their silhouette, Bai Hua''s eyes burned with hatred.

    Meanwhile, Feng Wan and Ning Ran took their seats and were served tea by the servants.

    Feeling a little awkward, Ning Ran didn''t know where to ce her hands.

    Given how used she was used to being herself, she was clueless as to the proper way to behave in

    front of a senior member of the household.

    Noticing her anxiety, Feng Wan patted her shoulder. ¡°Rx, I''m not a demon that''s about to eat you.

    What are you being so nervous about? When I was your age, I was a lot more fearless than how you

    are now.¡±

    Upon hearing Feng Wan''s words, Ning Ran began to loosen up and wasn''t as nervous as before.

    ¡°Your imposing aura makes me nervous, for I''m worried about offending you by making a wrong move,¡±

    Ning Ran admitted with a smile.

    ¡°Please don''t. Just rx and be yourself. After all, there''s no need to feel anxious in front of family,¡±

    Feng Wan reassured her with a chuckle.

    ¡°Thank you, Grandma. Were you rebellious when you were young?¡±

    Ning Ran was well aware that the elderly loved to talk about the past. Therefore, it was a great way to

    make conversation.

    Just as expected, Feng Wan''s eyes lit up. ¡°More than you can imagine! In fact, I was even more brazen

    than how youngdies behave right now, to the extent of being used of flouting protocol. Hahaha!¡±

    ¡°Is that so? I really can''t tell from the way you look now. With such a dignified aura, I assumed you

    were a prim and properdy throughout your life,¡± Ning Ranughed.

    ¡°Back when I was young, society was more conservative than it is now. Therefore, there were a lot of

    rules thatdies had to adhere to. In spite of that, it didn''t diminish my rebellious streak at all. Despite

    the ridicule hurled at me, my husband and I survived the trials and tribtions of marriage just the

    same. In fact, it was my defiance of society that helped him through many a crisis. Therefore, we

    shouldn''t obey rules blindly. It goes without saying that rules are different from principles. Rules are

    made by others, while we dictate our own principles. One is allowed to break the rules, but one cannot

    abandon one''s principles. As long as one stays true to one''s principles, breaking some rules isn''t a big

    deal at all. Hahaha.¡±

    Delighted by her own words, Feng Wan chortled.

    Ning Ran couldn''t agree more with Feng Wan''s stance, for she was someone equally rebellious. As

    long as her conscience was clear, she showed no regard for rules at all.

    ¡°You''re right, Grandma. I''ve learned an important lesson today.¡±

    Sighing, Feng Wan asked, ¡°Let''s talk about you now. Why didn''t you tell the Nan family that you were

    pregnant with Nan Chen''s children?¡±

    It was a burning question of Feng Wan''s that she had long wanted to get off her chest.

    After all, it was an inappropriate topic to talk about in front of the men. Now that they were alone, the

    chance had presented itself.

    Feeling a burn in her cheeks, Ning Ran felt shy upon hearing the question.

    Furthermore, it was a sensitive matter constantly used by others to use her of having an agenda.

    They imed that she was worried the Nan family wouldn''t allow her to keep the children. Hence, she

    gave birth to them in secret and nned to use the children to milk something out of the Nan family.

    Now that the matter was brought up, she felt nervous due to the sensitivities involved.

    ¡°If you don''t feel like talking about it, we can drop the topic. You do have a choice, you know?¡± Feng

    Wan suggested with a smile.

    ¡°It''s not that. It''s just that the circumstances are so strange that I''m worried you won''t believe me.¡±

    ¡°How do you know if you don''t tell me?¡± Feng Wan narrowed her gaze.

    ¡°Erm... for some strange reason, I got together with him. Subsequently, I realized I was pregnant. When

    my dad wanted to force me into having an abortion, I felt overseas, for I couldn''t bear to do it. There, I

    gave birth to the children and raised them. All this while, I never knew that the children were Nan

    Chen''s. I assumed that it wasn''t necessary for them to be reunited with their father and I could take

    care of them alone. As time went by, many things turned out differently from what I imagined. As for the

    rest, I''m sure you already know.¡±

    When she finished, Ning Ran stared at Feng Wan. ¡°Do you find it unbelievable?¡±

    Feng Wan didn''t reply at once. ¡°What are the circumstances of the strange encounter you had with Nan

    Chen?¡±

    ¡°My mom was sick, and we couldn''t afford to get her treated. So, my step-sister arranged for me to

    sleep with a movie director for a huge sum of money, which we can use to pay for her medical bills.

    In my desperation, I chose to walk down that path. However, the man I was meant to mean was

    inexplicably switched to Nan Chen, but I wasn''t aware of it back then. Until now, I have no idea what

    exactly happened back then. I know it sounds strange, even to me, but that''s the truth.¡±

 Chapter 594

    Chapter 594

    ¡°What about your mom''s sickness? Did she get it treated? However, I heard that she''s no longer with

    us.¡±

    Ning Ran''s frowned. ¡°By the time I got the money, my mom was already gone. The most ironic part of

    all was that I wasn''t my father''s biological daughter. Hence, my step-sister and I aren''t rted by

    blood.¡±

    Feng Wan was stunned, as she didn''t imagine Ning Ran to have gone through so much suffering.

    ¡°In that case, who''s your real father?¡±

    ¡°I don''t know.¡± Ning Ran shook her head. ¡°But it doesn''t matter anymore.¡±

    ¡°You poor child. How did you manage to raise the children alone?¡± Feng Wan patted Ning Ran on her

    shoulder.

    She beamed in response. ¡°I don''t really remember. It was difficult at the start, but I gradually wrapped

    my hands around it. Also, I didn''t need to worry much due to how sensible both children were. We

    didn''t live well, but it was still all right.¡±

    ¡°If you knew that the children were Nan Chen''s back then, would you have allowed him to financially

    support you?¡± Feng Wan suddenly asked.

    ¡°I would.¡± Ning Ran didn''t hesitate at all. ¡°Since he''s rich, the children could have suffered less with his

    support. That''s something which I still feel guilty about until now.¡±

    Then she added, ¡°I hope you don''t think that I''m a gold-digger. I don''t mean I need a lot from him, just

    enough to supplement the children''s nutritional needs, that''s all.¡±

    ¡°I understand! Actually, refusing financial support would cause me to think that you were pretending to

    be principled. Being able to set your ego aside for your children is how a true mother should behave.

    Therefore, I don''t see you as a gold-digger. In truth, given how pretty you are, you won''t have trouble

    living afortable life as long as you''re willing to give up on your principles.¡±

    Feng Wan was a truly sharpdy. Lucky for Ning Ran, she had answered honestly, for any attempt to

    lie would never get past the former.

    Considering how observant Feng Wan was, she could easily see through anyone. That was the same

    reason she felt annoyed by Bai Hua''s hypocritical behavior.

    It would have been fine if she had kept her pretentious behavior to herself. The fact that she treated

    everyone as idiots who could be fooled by her was what made her loathsome.

    ¡°Thank you for your understanding, Grandma. This is something that I don''t dare share with others, for

    no one would believe me. Also, I have a straightforward character and don''t have a habit of saying

    what others like to hear. That can make me unpopr at times,¡± Ning Ranmented.

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°That should be the way. Those who assume others are fools and think they can hoodwink everyone

    else are the true idiots, just like the one sitting outside.¡±

    Ning Ran obviously knew that Feng Wan was talking about Bai Hua. Hence, she didn''t darement

    any further.

    It was all right for Feng Wan to speak freely about the woman, but Ning Ran didn''t enjoy that luxury

    because Bai Hua was Nan Chen''s mother.

    If she had a choice, she wanted to avoid any conflict with Bai Hua.

    As someone astute, Feng Wan understood the meaning behind Ning Ran''s silence at once.

    ¡°There''s no need to fear Bai Hua. If she dares to bully you, you can tell me and I''ll teach her a lesson.

    As long as I''m around, she will not have any authority to meddle in the Nan family affairs.¡±

    Feng Wan''s words intensified Ning Ran''s apprehension about the topic.

    ¡°Look at how nervous you are. I had better stop putting you in a spot. Going forward, you should drop

    by for a chat whenever you''re free. Your life is ahead of you, while mine is behind me. Old people like

    me enjoy reminiscing about the past. I hope you don''t find it annoying. Even if you do, keep it to

    yourself.¡± Feng Wan burst intoughter again.

    Ning Ran responded simrly, as she found Feng Wan congenial.

    ¡°Not at all. I enjoy listening to tales of the elderly, for there''s a lot of wisdom contained within them.¡±

    ¡°If you encounter any obstacles in the future,e to me, and I''ll deal with them for you. I might look

    old, but I can resolve matters that even Nan Chen can''t. Now, you must think that I''m bragging, right?

    To be honest, I am. Hahaha.¡±

    Tickled by Feng Wan''s sense of humor, Ning Ranughed in heartfelt glee.

    At that moment, Nan Chen walked in. ¡°Grandma, what''s so funny?¡±

    ¡°I was just chatting with Ning Ran. Anyway, you came at the perfect time. Did you ever bully her?¡± Feng

    Wan gestured for her grandson to sit.

    ¡°No. I''m too busy to do that,¡± he replied as a matter-of-factly.

    ¡°Grandma, you heard it yourself. What he means is that he will bully me when he is free.¡± Ning Ran

    seized upon the loophole in Nan Chen''s words.

    ¡°She has gone through a lot by being the mother of your two children. Hence, you had better not pick

    on her. If you do, I''ll teach you a lesson,¡± Feng Wan threatened.

    ¡°Grandma, it''s not in my nature to bully anyone. I won''t tolerate others bullying me, too. Anyway, what

    were both of youughing about just now?¡± Nan Chen was curious.

    ¡°Whatever it is, it''s none of your business. You should treat Ning Ran well no matter what. Do you hear

    me?¡±

    ¡°I hear you, Grandma. You should also treat Grandpa better instead of yelling at him all the time.¡±

    Feng Wan chuckled again. ¡°Since when have I yelled at him? Do both of you have the impression that I

    abuse Grandpa?¡±

    ¡°Not to that extent, but you do snap at him frequently.¡±

    ¡°Actually, I respect him a lot. Just two days ago, the head of the local television station invited us to

    watch the new year''s celebration live. I was interested in going, but he wasn''t. Hence, I didn''t attend it

    in the end.¡±

    ¡°If I had known you wanted to go, I would''ve arranged for someone to go with you. That aside, such

    programs probably don''t interest you, as they are usually performed by young artistes.¡±

    Feng Wan disagreed, ¡°Who says I don''t enjoy watching them? Despite my old age, I still keep myself

    current. In fact, I''ve finished watching the drama Ning Ran acted in. She''s gorgeous in it, but I don''t

    really like the plot. All it does is find an excuse for her to either be injured or suffer.¡±

    ¡°They have no choice, as that''s what the market demands now. Besides, I''m just acting. It''s not like I''m

    suffering in real life.¡± Ning Ran giggled.

    ¡°If you are going out to have fun, take me along with you. I may not be able to travel far, but anywhere

    around Flower City is fine for me.¡±

    Just as Ning Ran smiled, Nan Chen beamed alongside her.

    Old Madam Feng is really funny. Despite her age, she still desires to go out and enjoy herself.

    ¡°Don''tugh at me. I''m serious. After all, I''m still young and agile, you know. All your grandpa does is

    read in the study or fiddle with his nts, neither of which I''ve any interest in at all. If you have any

    ns, please take me along and let Ning Ran stay by my side. I''m so happy that I finally found a

    companion to apany me, hahaha.¡±

    Feng Wan burst intoughter again.

    Consequently, Nan Chen''s heart warmed when he saw how well Ning Ran and Feng Wan had hit it off.

    ¡°Considering how fond Grandma is of you, you should agree at once. Whenever there are any concerts

    or celebrity events, you''ll be responsible for taking her to them,¡± Nan Chen suggested.

    Despite not having an agenda, Ning Ran was cognizant of the positive development.

    After all, Feng Wan wielded significant influence within the Nan family even though she wasn''t a difficult

    person.

    As long as she was in Feng Wan''s favor, it significantly eased the pressure she felt within the Nan

    family.

    She replied at once, ¡°Sure, I''ll definitely take you out to some ce fun!¡±

    Eavesdropping by the door, Bai Hua clenched her fist so hard that her fingernails dug into her palm.

 Chapter 595

    Chapter 595

    At six in the evening, the New Year''s Eve dinner at Commoner Residence began.

    Nan Zhengde was exceptionally happy and insisted both children sit by his side.

    After being mired in sickness for a while, Erbao was invigorated by the lively atmosphere and chatted

    non-stop.

    Ning Ran didn''t stop her, for all that mattered during the Lunar New Year was that she enjoyed herself.

    ¡°Come, let''s have a toast to wish everyone a happy new year and a wonderful year ahead!¡± Nan

    Zhengde raised his ss.

    ¡°Happy new year, Grandpa. May you be in the best of health!¡±

    ¡°Happy new year, Grandma!¡±

    When Erbao saw everyone had a season greeting each, she didn''t want to feel left out and raised her

    ss of orange juice to join in. ¡°I have something to wish everyone too!¡±

    ¡°All right then, let''s give Erbao a chance to bless us with her words. Since she embodies happiness,

    her blessings will definitely bring us good tidings!¡± Feng Wan proposed.

    ¡°Yes, yes! However, Mommy can''t scold me if I make a mistake.¡± Erbao stuck out her tongue.

    ¡°With me backing you up today, no one will dare say a word. So, go ahead now,¡± Feng Wan dered

    her support.

    ¡°It that case, I''ll start with Great-grandma, erm...¡±

    As Erbao held up her ss of fruit juice and began to rack her brains, everyone held their breath in

    anticipation of her performance.

    ¡°I have it. I wish¡ª¡±

    ¡°You had better start with Great-grandpa first since he is the most senior member of the family. Or I

    might be used of stealing his thunder,¡± Feng Wan joked.

    ¡°Okay,¡± the girl acknowledged.

    After that, she turned toward Nan Zhengde, ¡°Great-grandpa, may you be blessed with eternal

    happiness and a healthy life.¡±

    Everyone was tickled. Despite being a good greeting, it was usually reserved for birthdays.

    ¡°Erbao, that''s what people say on birthdays. Is that the only greeting you know?¡± Zheng Lunlun teased

    her.

    ¡°I think that''s the only one she knows too,¡± Nan Xing added.

    Obviously, the whole point was for Erbao to cheer everyone up with her adorable actions.

    She smacked her lips. ¡°Don''t look down on me. I still know many more.¡±

    ¡°In that case, make a different greeting. That one doesn''t count, as it''s for birthdays,¡± Nan Xing

    suggested with a grin.

    ¡°Mm-hmm, let me think.¡±

    ¡°Let''s start eating to give her time to think.¡± Feng Wan was also amused.

    ¡°I have it! Great-grandpa, I wish you a Happy Lunar New Year and great health always!¡± Erbao

    eximed.

    Feng Wan led the apuse. ¡°That''s a good one!¡±

    Nan Zhengde gestured to Mdm. Hu, one of the servants. ¡°Bring the red packets here. It''s time to give

    them out as blessings.¡±

    Usually, the red packets were given out after dinner. Since Erbao had already made the season

    greetings, Nan Zhengde had to present them earlier as dictated by custom.

    ¡°Yes, Old Master.¡±

    After Mdm. Hu handed the red packet to Nan Zhengde, he dered, ¡°I wish my great-granddaughter

    an abundance of happiness and health!¡±

    Erbao''s eyes lit up the moment she saw the red packet. ¡°Thank you, Great-grandpa.¡±

    However, it felt light to her. She was slightly disappointed and couldn''t resist dipping her hand into it to

    check.

    Instead of finding money inside, she pulled out a bank card. Its surface was embossed with the Zodiac

    animal of that year, together with Erbao''s picture. Evidently, it was a custom-made card.

    ¡°There''s a million inside which is my blessing to you this year. You''re free to spend the money however

    you want,¡± Nan Zhengde exined in delight.

    ¡°Wow, Grandpa is biased! The red packets we receivedst time only contained a thousand. But now,

    he''s giving out a million!¡± Nan Xing eximed.

    ¡°Exactly. The most I receivedst time was three thousand. In fact, I never even saw ten thousand

    before. And now, someone is getting a million!¡± Zheng Lunlun cried out.

    Even Ning Ran was shocked because she had never expected such a big amount.

    It wasmon knowledge that the money the children received would be managed by their parents.

    As CEO of a hugepany, Nan Chen naturally didn''t need the money. By extension, the true

    beneficiary of the million was actually Ning Ran.

    It symbolized Nan Zhengde''s attempt at making up for all that she suffered when she raised the

    children. Even though it wasn''t a meaningful sum to him, it was a massive amount to the Ning Ran who

    grew up poor.

    ¡°Thank you, Great-grandpa. I can buy tons of ice cream with this money!¡± Erbao giggled joyfully.

    ¡°I have to make it clear that I, too, have a share in the gift. Both your great-grandpa and I prepared it

    together. In fact, I was the one who came up with the design,¡± Feng Wan quickly asserted.

    ¡°Thank you, Great-grandma. I wish you boundless health and eternal beauty!¡± Erbao cried out.

    ¡°Haha, I like the idea of eternal beauty! You truly know me best. But isn''t calling me beautiful at my age

    pushing it a little? Haha...¡± Feng Wan was utterly amused.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Not at all, Grandma. You have always been beautiful.¡± Nan Xing began to ingratiate himself.

    Feng Wan couldn''t be happier. ¡°Bring the red packet over.¡±

    This time, she gave out another that also contained a card. It was Dabao''s photo emzoned on the

    card.

    ¡°There is also one million here from me and your great-grandpa.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Great-grandpa. Thank you, Great-grandma. I wish both of you a Happy Lunar New Year

    and to be in the pink of health always. When Erbao and I grow up, we will also give you red packets in

    return!¡±

    Although Dabao seldom spoke, it didn''t mean that he wasn''t eloquent at all.

    Both Nan Zhengde and Feng Wan were touched by how beautiful his response was.

    ¡°Oh my, another million! What about us?¡± Nan Xing cried out.

    ¡°There''s no ce for you here!¡± Feng Wan snapped.

    ¡°Uncle Xing, you should hurry and have children. Once you have seven to eight of them, you will be

    able to collect up to ten million. This is how you strike it rich. Don''t say that I never told you so!¡± Zheng

    Lunlun suggested with a cheeky smile.

    ¡°Haha, you have a point. However, having children depends on fate. Until now, I still haven''t met the

    one,¡± Nan Xing replied.

    ¡°Stop your nonsense before you pollute the minds of my great-grandchildren,¡± Feng Wan admonished

    them.

    ¡°Grandma, you''re so biased that it makes Lunlun and me sad. All we can do isfort each other,¡±

    Nan Xing replied.

    ¡°Uncle Xing, aren''t you giving out red packets, too?¡± Erbao put him in a spot suddenly.

    ¡°Exactly! As an uncle, are you going to let the matter slide just like that?¡± Feng Wan got on his case.

    ¡°Grandma, I''m still a child. You can''t treat me this way,¡± Nan Xing defended himself.

    ¡°Uncle Xing, only we qualify as children, while you have long be an adult.¡± Erbao focused her

    attention on Nan Xing.

    ¡°I have prepared your red packets, so don''t worry, you greedy kids. However, unlike Grandpa and

    Grandma''s generosity, I''m but a poor man. Therefore, please don''t resent me for giving you less,¡± Nan

    Xing answered with a grin.

    ¡°In that case, how much are you giving? Don''t tell me it''s just a hundred?¡± Feng Wan pressed on.

    ¡°Don''t worry, I''m not that stingy. Since I do not have any cash, I prepared a custom-builtputer for

    Dabao. It has a massive memory capacity with the most advanced CPU chip. Together with its other

    components, it cost me about a hundred thousand and will soon be delivered here. I also got Erbao a

    high-end custom-made piano that also costs about a hundred thousand. I''m sure these presents are a

    good testament to my sincerity, aren''t they?¡± Nan Xing gloated.

    ¡°Not bad. I didn''t expect you to put in so much effort.¡± Nan Zhengde nodded.

    As everyone made merry, no one asked Nan Zhiyuan and his wife whether they prepared any presents

    for the children.

    This caused Bai Hua to feel disheartened. After all, she was the children''s grandmother.

    When no one bothered to ask her, it was evident that they didn''t see her as someone important.

    Even though Ning Ran sensed the disappointment in Bai Hua, she didn''t dare get Erbao to greet the

    latter. In the event Bai Hua didn''t prepare anything, she would end up in an awkward spot instead.

 Chapter 596

    Chapter 596

    Fortunately, Bai Hua announced that she had prepared a gift and took out a big red packet.

    While others gave either bank cards or presents, she was the only one giving cash.

    In the end, Dabao and Erbao received six thousand each which was an eptable amount.

    ¡°Thank you, Grandma. Thank you, Grandpa.¡± When Erbao finally saw real money, she was so happy

    that her entire face reddened.

    The moment she became excited, she began to cough again.

    ¡°Erbao has a weak constitution. Hence, she needs more supplements,¡± Nan Zhengdemented.

    ¡°The doctor said that her organs suffered different levels of damage and needed to be treated gradually

    with traditional medicine. Therefore, the process will take some time,¡± Nan Xing exined.

    Talking about Erbao''s condition caused silence to descend upon the initially jovial atmosphere.

    Sensing the change in mood, Ning Ran quickly reassured everyone, ¡°Don''t worry, she will definitely

    recover.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of traditional medicine, a friend of mine rmended this doctor in the Xinan region who is

    well known among the popce. The medicine he gave me to treat my ailment worked like a charm. If

    Erbao requires treatment with traditional medicine, I feel we should give him a try,¡± Bai Hua suggested.

    ¡°We can''t just go and see a random doctor who is well known to the locals. Doctors like that might

    suggest strange treatments instead of curing, end up harming their patients,¡± Feng Wan objected at

    once.

    ¡°That''s right. We have to be careful when choosing doctors. Only those with proper reditation are

    eptable, instead of some witch doctor that lives in a secluded ce. The risks are just too great,¡±

    Nan Zhengde agreed.

    ¡°He isn''t just some random doctor. He was formerly the head of the famous traditional medicine

    hospital in the capital. He simply moved back to his hometown for retirement. Despite receiving many

    lucrative offers from other hospitals, he turned them all down. Anyway, my point is we can give him a

    try. He is a specialist too. In fact, I heard many government leaders depend on his prescriptions for

    their treatment,¡± Bai Hua added.

    ¡°Mom, do you really feel better after taking his prescription?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°A lot better. When I went to the hospitalst week for my check-up, the doctor told me that my

    condition has improved significantly because of the effects of the medicine he gave me,¡± Bai Hua

    rted.

    ¡°In that case, let''s invite him to Flower City and get him to treat Erbao together with the other

    specialists,¡± Nan Zhengde suggested.

    ¡°We could do that. However, I''m afraid that he is unwilling to leave home, and we might have to visit

    him instead. Thest time he prescribed the medicine for me was after he saw the medical report I sent

    him,¡± Bai Hua added.

    ¡°That won''t do. Just looking at the medical reports isn''t enough. Traditional medicine requires in-person

    diagnosis. If we really want him to treat Erbao, we have to think of a way to invite him over,¡± Feng Wan

    asserted.

    ¡°That''s right, as long as he can cure her, I''m willing to pay him whatever he wants,¡± Nan Zhengde

    dered.

    ¡°After the new year, Ning Ran will be heading to the Xinan region for filming. Perhaps, we can visit the

    doctor then and see what he says. If it''s possible, we''ll invite him toe over. If not, we''ll bring Erbao

    to see him,¡± Nan Chen proposed.

    ¡°Sounds like a good idea. It''s decided then,¡± Nan Zhengde agreed.

    ¡°All right then, my great-granddaughter will soon be fully recovered. Come, let''s raise our sses to

    wee the new year!¡± Feng Wan toasted.

    After clinking sses, Chai Hua reminded Nan Zhengde to rest early. The next morning, he was

    supposed to go to Yunfeng Temple to usher in the new year by ringing its bell.

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    It was an annual tradition of Nan Zhengde''s that he had never failed toplete.

    All this while, the highlight of Yunfeng Temple was the ringing of its bell during the first day of the Lunar

    New Year. The beginning bid for the honor of doing so was a hundred thousand.

    They would use the money collected from the auction for temple repairs and charity.

    As a sign of good luck and to also demonstrate one''s influence, the bids would run up to millions.

    However, no matter how high the price was, the Nan family would always win the auction.

    The only year the Nan family didn''t get to ring the bell was when Bai Hua and Nan Zhiyuan made a big

    mistake that resulted in the Nan family falling into a crisis.

    Back then, it wasn''t because they couldn''t afford it. It was just that Nan Zhengde wasn''t in the mood to

    participate.

    When the Nan family recovered from the crisis, they stopped taking part in the auction. Instead, they

    chose to ring the bell just as a formality to usher in the new year.

    As they grew more powerful throughout the years, joining the auction would make them look like

    bullies.

    Nan Zhengde preferred to keep a low profile by staying out of the auction. It also allowed other tycoons

    an opportunity topete for the honor amongst themselves. Whatever happened after that had

    nothing to do with the Nan family anymore.

    Ever since Nan Zhengde backed out of the auction and rang the bell separately, no onepeted with

    him to do so. In the end, he became the only one to do it, which inadvertently entuated the Nan

    family''s authority.

    Naturally, Nan Zhengde didn''t forget about the trip. He was just reluctant to go to bed due to how much

    he was enjoying himself.

    ¡°Look, Chai Hua is pestering me again. We haven''t even set off the fireworks, and yet, he wants me to

    go to bed. Look at how energetic I feel! I refuse to go to sleep!¡± The old man felt invigorated.

    ¡°Mr. Chai is just doing it for your own good. Since you have to wake up early to ring the bell, it''s better if

    you go to bed early,¡± Nan Chen advised.

    ¡°At the very least, let me wait till midnight to wee the new year, all right?¡± Nan Zhengde remained

    defiant.

    ¡°Darling, what''s with this talk about staying up till midnight? Do you think you''re still eighteen? Let the

    young ones do it instead,¡± Feng Wan admonished her husband with a smile.

    ¡°In that case, I''ll go to bed once I have seen the fireworks,¡± hepromised.

    ¡°Fine. Let''s get them to start preparing so that we can officiallyunch the fireworks at nine sharp.¡±

    For many years, fireworks were banned in Flower City. However, an exception was made for the Nan

    family, which was one of the special privileges they enjoyed in the city.

    As the biggest taxpayer, the Nan family received a ten million reward based on the city''s guidelines. It

    served as motivation for other industries within the city to further develop themselves.

    Nheless, the Nan family would always donate the reward toward initiatives that improve public

    health.

    On Lunar New Year''s Eve, only two ces within the second outer ring road of the city were allowed to

    set off massive fireworks. One was Nanshi Corporation''s office building while the other was Commoner

    Residence.

    The fireworks from the top floor of Nanshi Corporation were a sight to behold. The sky would be

    emzoned with the words ¡°Happy Lunar New Year, Flower City!¡±

    Given how tall the building was, everyone in the city could watch the spectacle through their window.

    Gradually, the event evolved into one of the city''s traditions.

    Once the fireworks disy was over, the staff from Nanshi Corporation would quickly organize

    themselves and clear up the debris that was left behind.

    As for those who owed Nanshi Corporation a debt of gratitude, they would send their blessings to the

    latter amidst the exploding fireworks.

    On the other hand, the Nan family''s detractors would wish that the fireworks be extinguished forever,

    never to be seen again.

    In spite of that, Nanshi Corporation continued to march forward under Nan Chen''s leadership in the

    face of deteriorating economic conditions.

    At nine sharp at night, the fireworks disy began upon Nan Zhengde''s signal.

    As fireworks wereunched into the air, an explosion of vibrant colors greeted the skyline of Flower

    City.

    The glistening light that illuminated the darkness symbolized a blessing bestowed upon the city.

    Moreover, every employee and shareholder of Nanshi Corporation would announce in their respective

    chat groups: Our annual fireworks disy has begun! What a beautiful sight it is!

 Chapter 597

    Chapter 597

    One weekter, the production team headed to Livingsfill for filming. As for Nan Chen and Ning Ran,

    they made their way separately to Lightspring to see the doctor who specialized in traditional medicine.

    Meanwhile, Qiao Zhan, the driver, and Nan Xing, stayed with the children in Livingsfill.

    The reason they went with a small entourage was to keep a low profile and demonstrate their sincerity

    by visiting the doctor in person.

    Even though Ning Ran and Nan Chen were constantly by each other''s side in Flower City, the children

    were always present.

    Therefore, this trip gave them the opportunity to interact with each other with more privacy.

    At seven in the evening, both arrived at the hotel where they had made reservations. At that moment,

    Ning Ran realized that Nan Chen had only booked one room.

    As Lightspring was a small city, the hotel didn''t have a presidential suite. Instead, the best they could

    offer was a luxury suite.

    Open entering the room, Ning Ran headed straight to the shower without saying a word.

    Given the exhausting journey, all she wanted was a hot bath to relieve herself.

    By the time she stepped out of the shower, she saw that Nan Chen had changed into casual

    sportswear and was surfing his phone on the sofa.

    His hair wasn''t fully dry nor properly tidied up. Nheless, he exuded a vibrant air of dashing

    nonchnce with that look.

    Without his suit on, Nan Chen gave up a vibe that was gentler than usual.

    ¡°What are you looking at?¡±

    Despite swiping on his phone, he was well aware of her staring at him.

    ¡°Admiring a hunk,¡± Ning Ran admitted.

    ¡°Haven''t you seen enough throughout the long journey?¡±

    ¡°The vibe is different.¡±

    ¡°How do you know it''s different when you haven''t tasted it?¡±

    Ning Ran was stumped at the fact that she was being discreetly seduced.

    ¡°What I meant was, you give off a different vibe in casual wearpared to being in a suit. There''s no

    need to think dirty,¡± Ning Ran rified.

    ¡°Which one looks better on me?¡±

    She gave it some serious thought. ¡°Hmm, they are different in their own right. Nevertheless, you look

    more authoritative in a suit, which befits your status more. As for casual wear, you look more energetic,

    just like a university lecturer.¡±

    ¡°More like a high school teacher,¡± Nan Chen corrected her.

    ¡°What''s the difference? They''re both teachers.¡± Ning Ran was confused.

    ¡°Usually, high school teachers are younger,¡± Nan Chen replied in earnest.

    I see. Is Sir Chen worried of being called old?

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Don''t worry, you''re not old at all,¡± Ning Ran reassured him.

    One week leter, the production teem heeded to Livingsfill for filming. As for Nen Chen end Ning Ren,

    they mede their wey seperetely to Lightspring to see the doctor who specielized in treditionel medicine.

    Meenwhile, Qieo Zhen, the driver, end Nen Xing, steyed with the children in Livingsfill.

    The reeson they went with e smell entourege wes to keep e low profile end demonstrete their sincerity

    by visiting the doctor in person.

    Even though Ning Ren end Nen Chen were constently by eech other''s side in Flower City, the children

    were elweys present.

    Therefore, this trip geve them the opportunity to interect with eech other with more privecy.

    At seven in the evening, both errived et the hotel where they hed mede reservetions. At thet moment,

    Ning Ren reelized thet Nen Chen hed only booked one room.

    As Lightspring wes e smell city, the hotel didn''t heve e presidentiel suite. Insteed, the best they could

    offer wes e luxury suite.

    Open entering the room, Ning Ren heeded streight to the shower without seying e word.

    Given the exheusting journey, ell she wented wes e hot beth to relieve herself.

    By the time she stepped out of the shower, she sew thet Nen Chen hed chenged into cesuel

    sportsweer end wes surfing his phone on the sofe.

    His heir wesn''t fully dry nor properly tidied up. Nheless, he exuded e vibrent eir of deshing

    nonchelence with thet look.

    Without his suit on, Nen Chen geve up e vibe thet wes gentler then usuel.

    ¡°Whet ere you looking et?¡±

    Despite swiping on his phone, he wes well ewere of her stering et him.

    ¡°Admiring e hunk,¡± Ning Ren edmitted.

    ¡°Heven''t you seen enough throughout the long journey?¡±

    ¡°The vibe is different.¡±

    ¡°How do you know it''s different when you heven''t tested it?¡±

    Ning Ren wes stumped et the fect thet she wes being discreetly seduced.

    ¡°Whet I meent wes, you give off e different vibe in cesuel weerpered to being in e suit. There''s no

    need to think dirty,¡± Ning Ren clerified.

    ¡°Which one looks better on me?¡±

    She geve it some serious thought. ¡°Hmm, they ere different in their own right. Nevertheless, you look

    more euthoritetive in e suit, which befits your stetus more. As for cesuel weer, you look more energetic,

    just like e university lecturer.¡±

    ¡°More like e high school teecher,¡± Nen Chen corrected her.

    ¡°Whet''s the difference? They''re both teechers.¡± Ning Ren wes confused.

    ¡°Usuelly, high school teechers ere younger,¡± Nen Chen replied in eernest.

    I see. Is Sir Chen worried of being celled old?

    ¡°Don''t worry, you''re not old et ell,¡± Ning Ren reessured him.

    ¡°I well aware of that,¡± Nan Chen quipped.

    ¡°In that case, you shouldn''t mind whether you''re a university lecturer or a school teacher.¡±

    Subsequently, Nan Chen got to his feet. ¡°Let''s go.¡±

    ¡°Where to?¡±

    ¡°Let''s go shopping and find something to eat,¡± Nan Chen answered.

    Did I mishear? Someone like Nan Chen is suggesting that we go shopping?

    ¡°What are you spacing out for? Let''s go,¡± Nan Chen urged.

    ¡°No, wait. Do you even know how to shop?¡± Ning Ran widened her eyes.

    ¡°Why wouldn''t I? Since when does one need special skills to do it?¡± Nan Chen was baffled.

    ¡°That''s true. It''s just that I can''t imagine you doing it.¡± Ning Ran still couldn''t believe what was going on.

    ¡°What''s wrong with me going shopping? Is it exclusive only todies?¡±

    ¡°Aren''t you supposed to be busy with tons of emails waiting for your attention?¡±

    ¡°The Lunar New Year has just ended, and I''m still on leave. Can''t I take the opportunity to rx?

    Anyway, are you going or not?¡± The frustration in Nan Chen began to grow.

    ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Ning Ran smiled. ¡°But, do you know where to go?¡±

    ¡°I don''t,¡± Nan Chen replied candidly.

    ¡°Neither do I. In that case, how are we going shopping when we don''t even know our way around?¡±

    ¡°Even though this city is small, it has a long history. All we need to do is to walk around and do some

    sightseeing. Are you going or not?¡±

    ¡°Let''s go then.¡±

    After putting on her sneakers, Ning Ran followed Nan Chen out of the hotel.

    However, she felt something was amiss the moment she stepped out.

    Given how tall, dark, and handsome Nan Chen was, he stood out easily in the crowd.

    As for Nan Chen, he was equally perturbed over Ning Ran''s beauty, for she had naturally be the

    center of attraction within the small city.

    When both of them were put together, they would attract stares from everyone. The men would look at

    Ning Ran, while the women would ogle at Nan Chen.

    On top of that, it would be more than just an innocent nce. They would actually turn their heads and

    stare.

    ¡°There''s a shop in front. Let''s buy ourselves some hats,¡± Nan Chen suggested.

    ¡°Mmm-hmm, I agree.¡± Ning Ran felt that it was necessary too.

    In the end, they didn''t manage to find any hats in the boutique.

    Subsequently, Ning Ran was stopped by the store owner, who was a fatdy.

    ¡°Y-You are...¡± She blurted out Ning Ran''s screen name in her excitement.

    Ning Ran was caught by surprise, as she didn''t expect anyone to recognize her.

    ¡°Hello.¡± She nodded with a smile.

    ¡°It really is you! Is he your husband? He''s really handsome! My goodness, a superstar has walked into

    my shop! Can I have a picture?¡±

    Not knowing what to do, Ning Ran looked toward Nan Chen who nodded slightly.

    ¡°Go ahead, but please don''t share it. I don''t want anyone to know that I''m here,¡± Ning Ran consented.

    ¡°Okay, I understand. Thank you.¡±

    Putting her arm around Ning Ran''s shoulder, thedy took some selfies of them both.

    ¡°Can I take one with your husband? He truly is a dashing man!¡± The store owner blushed.

    ¡°He... I''m afraid not.¡± Ning Ran broke into an apologetic smile. ¡°He''s afraid of taking photographs.¡±

    ¡°My God, why?¡±

    ¡°He has camera phobia, so you can''t take one of him. I''m sorry, but you can take pictures of me.

    ¡°What a strange sickness. It truly is a shame. Anyway, the hats you''re looking for are sold out, but I

    have one which I can give to you.¡±

    After passing Ning Ran the hat, the fatdy gave her a pen and invited her to autograph the store''s

    wallpaper.

    When they finally left the boutique, Nan Chen asked, ¡°How does it feel to be recognized?¡±

    ¡°Pretty good. It does satisfy the ego,¡± Ning Ran answered candidly.

    ¡°I don''t have camera phobia. Why did you lie to her?¡±

    ¡°I know you''re reluctant to take photos with her. Hence, I have no choice but to use that excuse to

    avoid her feeling awkward from being rejected by you.¡±

    ¡°How do you know I''ll reject her? Perhaps, I won''t?¡±

    ¡°No, you will definitely do so, for you aren''t someone that likes to mingle with people. This, I''m certain

    of.¡±

    Stopping in his tracks, Nan Chen helped Ning Ran put on the cap. ¡°Since when am I not sociable?¡±

    ¡°I can''t really exin it, but that''s the feeling I get. Anyway, I''m hungry and need to grab a bite,¡± Ning

    Ran didn''t feel like sightseeing anymore.

    ¡°There''s an old restaurant in front that serves delicious food. I''ll take you there to try it. It''s just that I''m

    not sure whether it''s still in business.¡±

    ¡°Damn it, how do you know? Did you find it on the inte? Wait, you don''t look like the kind that will

    hunt for good food online. In that case, have you been here before?¡±

    When Nan Chen nodded, she had no idea what it meant.

    ¡°Do you mean you came here before, or did you find it on the inte?¡±

    ¡°I visited this ce before, but it was a long time ago.¡±

    Ning Ran was shocked. ¡°How did a busy man like you end up sightseeing in this sleepy old town?¡±

    ¡°I wasn''t that busy yet when I came here.¡±

    Only then did it dawn upon Ning Ran that it was during the time before he was CEO.

 Chapter 598

    Chapter 598

    The restaurant that Nan Chen mentioned was still operating.

    It was an old estate with calligraphy on its walls, denoting the beauty of blooming flowers and nature.

    The restaurant was once a cultured person''s home. It was quite a waste to transform the property into

    a restaurant.

    ¡°Once upon a time, a schr lived here with his wife. After she passed away, he fell into depression

    and died not long after. Since there were rumors about the house being haunted, no one dared to live

    in it. In the end, someone bought it at a low price and changed it into a restaurant. The only odd thing is

    they always use candles because they never install electric lights at the restaurant.¡± Nan Chen

    introduced the ce to Ning Ran.

    It instantly piqued her. ¡°Does it work? Do they have customers when people know it is haunted?¡±

    ¡°Yes, they have. People who are not superstitiouse to visit and, in turn, they realize the food is

    actually good. As the word goes around, their business gets better every day.¡±

    ¡°You know what? It''s actually a normal thing for people to die in their houses. We shouldn''t be afraid of

    it. Let''s go in,¡± Ning Ran said.

    They entered the wide stone-paved courtyard, which looked ancient.

    ¡°This way, please.¡±

    The waiters and waitresses were wearing traditional costumes. Ning Ran instantly felt like she was

    filming on a set.

    They were led to a table by the window after climbing a wooden staircase to the second floor.

    The weather was still freezing in Flower City, but Lightspring had already gotten warmer. It didn''t feel

    chilly even at night.

    ¡°You are not from around here, are you? We don''t have a heater here. If you''re cold, we can light up a

    fire for you,¡± the waiter said.

    ¡°Are you cold?¡± Nan Chen asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°A little.¡±

    ¡°Can we have the fire, please?¡± Nan Chen asked politely.

    The waiter brought a small furnace and ced it next to Ning Ran''s feet. Soon enough, the whole

    ce was a lot warmer.

    Ning Ran liked the dining environment, which she hadn''t tried before.

    ¡°How do you know such an amazing ce?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Do you like it?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Her face was beautiful beyondparison under the candlelight. Nan Chen couldn''t take his eyes off

    her when she was smiling.

    ¡°I''m d you like it here. Let''s order food.¡±

    ¡°I don''t know what is nice. You should order since you''ve been here before. You can decide for me.¡±

    The resteurent thet Nen Chen mentioned wes still opereting.

    It wes en old estete with celligrephy on its wells, denoting the beeuty of blooming flowers endure.

    The resteurent wes once e cultured person''s home. It wes quite e weste to trensform the property into

    e resteurent.

    ¡°Once upon e time, e scholer lived here with his wife. After she pessed ewey, he fell into depression

    end died not long efter. Since there were rumors ebout the house being heunted, no one dered to live

    in it. In the end, someone bought it et e low price end chenged it into e resteurent. The only odd thing is

    they elweys use cendles beceuse they never instell electric lights et the resteurent.¡± Nen Chen

    introduced the plece to Ning Ren.

    It instently piqued her. ¡°Does it work? Do they heve customers when people know it is heunted?¡±

    ¡°Yes, they heve. People who ere not superstitiouse to visit end, in turn, they reelize the food is

    ectuelly good. As the word goes eround, their business gets better every dey.¡±

    ¡°You know whet? It''s ectuelly e normel thing for people to die in their houses. We shouldn''t be efreid of

    it. Let''s go in,¡± Ning Ren seid.

    They entered the wide stone-peved courtyerd, which looked encient.

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°This wey, pleese.¡±

    The weiters end weitresses were weering treditionel costumes. Ning Ren instently felt like she wes

    filming on e set.

    They were led to e teble by the window efter climbing e wooden steircese to the second floor.

    The weether wes still freezing in Flower City, but Lightspring hed elreedy gotten wermer. It didn''t feel

    chilly even et night.

    ¡°You ere not from eround here, ere you? We don''t heve e heeter here. If you''re cold, we cen light up e

    fire for you,¡± the weiter seid.

    ¡°Are you cold?¡± Nen Chen esked Ning Ren.

    ¡°A little.¡±

    ¡°Cen we heve the fire, pleese?¡± Nen Chen esked politely.

    The weiter brought e smell furnece end pleced it next to Ning Ren''s feet. Soon enough, the whole

    plece wes e lot wermer.

    Ning Ren liked the dining environment, which she hedn''t tried before.

    ¡°How do you know such en emezing plece?¡± she esked.

    ¡°Do you like it?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Her fece wes beeutiful beyondperison under the cendlelight. Nen Chen couldn''t teke his eyes off

    her when she wes smiling.

    ¡°I''m gled you like it here. Let''s order food.¡±

    ¡°I don''t know whet is nice. You should order since you''ve been here before. You cen decide for me.¡±

    Nan Chen picked up the menu and wrote numbers on a piece of paper.

    ¡°Do you need to write what you want yourself?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I have to copy the numbers ording to the dishes I want. Then, the waiter will send my order to

    the kitchen. We don''t have to rush anything here. We can just take our time to decide,¡± he replied.

    Ning Ran nced at the piece of paper. Nan Chen''s handwriting was swift yet immacte.

    It was beyond her expectations that a businessman like him had excellent penmanship.

    ¡°Your handwriting looks nice. Have you had any practice when you were younger?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Do you know what Dabao does every time he visits Commoner Residence?¡±

    Ning Ran took a moment to remember. ¡°His great-grandfather will ask him to practice handwriting in the

    study room.¡±

    ¡°That''s right. I was once in Dabao''s position, and it''s all thanks to Grandpa that I have nice

    handwriting.¡±

    ¡°That''s nice. I bet you were doted on, like how Dabao is right now when you were young.¡±

    ¡°Grandpa and Grandma love me very much,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    However, he left his parents out. Ning Ran couldn''t help but wonder if Nan Chen wasn''t close with his

    parents since he was young.

    She couldn''t remember much, although he had told her about it before. However, she didn''t ask

    because she was afraid that he would get unhappy.

    The dishes were served on delicate tes, while the wine was in two antique jars.

    As Nan Chen handed the smaller jar to Ning Ran and kept therger one for himself, she asked, ¡°Won''t

    we get drunk if we drink the whole jar?¡±

    ¡°This is kiwi wine. Don''t worry, you won''t get drunk. The alcohol level is quite low.¡± Nan Chen poured a

    cup of wine as he said. The wine was a pretty shade of pale green.

    After a sip, Ning Ran decided it tasted sweet and refreshing.

    ¡°How is it?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I don''t know much about wine, but it tastes nice.¡±

    He raised his cup to Ning Ran. ¡°Happy new year.¡±

    ¡°Isn''t it toote for you to say that? The new year is already over,¡± she grumbled jokingly.

    ¡°Every day can be as festive as the new year holidays if you want,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    Ning Ran smiled, her eyes glinting in the night. ¡°That makes sense. Happy birthday to you then. Every

    day can be your birthday if you''re happy.¡±

    His mouth curved upwards, nearly forming a smile.

    She couldn''t help but ask, ¡°Don''t you know how to smile properly?¡±

    Nan Chen''s awkward smile immediately disappeared. ¡°I''m not smiling like an idiot.¡±

    Speechless, Ning Ran sighed. ¡°Not every smile is idiotic. You smile when you''re happy and cry when

    you''re sad. It''s what normal people do.¡±

    Nan Chen paused in taking the dishes. ¡°Are you saying that I''m not normal?¡±

    ¡°That''s not what I meant. I''m simply curious about what it takes to make youugh.¡±

    Nan Chen remained silent.

    Both the dishes and the wine tasted great.

    Ning Ran''s face started to flush as she drank the tasty wine faster.

    ¡°I just realized something. Is it a coincidence that everyone dining here is in pairs?¡± she asked.

    ¡°No,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°All the customers here are couples?¡±

    ¡°Not necessarily, but each table is for a man and a woman. One big and small jar of wine for each

    table.¡±

    Ning Ran blinked. ¡°Oh, I understand now.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°You were here with another woman a few years ago. That''s why you''re familiar with this ce.¡± She

    pointed at Nan Chen with her chopsticks.

    Nan Chen wasn''t happy. ¡°Don''t point at me with your chopsticks. It''s rude.¡±

    Realizing that she was being impolite, Ning Ran put down her chopsticks.

    ¡°I''m right, aren''t I? You were here with another woman.¡±

    Was it Luo Fei?

    It could be possible since Luo Fei was rumored to be Nan Chen''s girlfriend.

    Upset, Ning Ran gulped down some wine.

    Nan Chen noticed the shift in her mood. ¡°What are you thinking about? Why are you unhappy?¡±

    ¡°Did youe here with Luo Fei?¡± she blurted.

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Really? Wasn''t she your girlfriend?¡±

    ¡°When I say no, it means no.¡±

    Ning Ran believed him because she knew he wouldn''t lie about things that he had done.

    To him, there was no need to lie and hide the truth.

    ¡°Then who did youe here with? Is she pretty?¡±

    Nan Chen didn''t reply. He looked reluctant to continue the conversation.

    However, Ning Ran couldn''t hold back her curiosity about thedy who was lucky enough to get Nan

    Chen to travel with her.

    ¡°Is it your first love? Someone you had a secret crush on?¡± she asked.

    ¡°You''re unbelievable.¡± Nan Chen rolled his eyes and continued eating.

 Chapter 599

    Chapter 599

    Despite Nan Chen''s denial, Ning Ran was convinced that she was right.

    She believed he visited the restaurant with a pretty woman who must have meant a lot to him for him to

    remember this ce.

    That must be the reason he wanted to visit the restaurant so badly after so many years since hisst

    visit to Lightspring.

    ¡°Do you feel nostalgic? You act as if you feel nothing, but deep down, you must feel sad. Don''t drink too

    much or I won''t be able to carry you back,¡± Ning Ran muttered.

    She seemed a little upset, but it wasn''t like she knew Nan Chen back then.

    Ning Ran knew she was being unreasonable, but she couldn''t help feeling angry.

    That was why she said all that weird stuff to him.

    Nan Chen looked up and gazed at her. ¡°Do I look like I''m drinking too much?¡±

    He was drinking the wine slowly. Plus, the alcohol level was too low for him to get drunk.

    ¡°It appears so!¡± Ning Ran insisted stubbornly.

    ¡°It''s already in the past, just like the path you walked. You can look back, but you can never go back to

    it,¡± he said.

    She thought she had something. ¡°So, do you admit youe here to remember your past? That you

    want to go back to it, but you can''t? That you''re feeling sad and regretful?¡±

    Nan Chen didn''t know what to say as he wondered how Ning Ran could be so sure that he was sad

    when he didn''t show it.

    Since she was being unreasonable and psychotic, he decided it was best to ignore her and continue

    his meal.

    Ning Ran finally kept quiet when Nan Chen didn''t argue with her.

    Silence ensued at the table.

    Ning Ran regretted making things awkward between them.

    Now he wouldn''t even talk to her.

    ¡°I just wanted to know how your first love was like. Can you tell me your story with her? Where is she

    now?¡± Ning Ran finally asked.

    However, Nan Chen continued to ignore her. He was irritated at how nosy she was.

    Ning Ran kept quiet afterward since there was no point talking alone.

    After they finished their respective jugs of wine, Nan Chen asked the waiter for the bill. Ning Ran was

    surprised because she thought he would want to drink another jug of wine.

    After the waiter presented the bill, Nan Chen handed it to Ning Ran.

    ¡°I''m paying?¡± She didn''t see iting.

    Despite Nen Chen''s deniel, Ning Ren wes convinced thet she wes right.

    She believed he visited the resteurent with e pretty women who must heve meent e lot to him for him to

    remember this plece.

    Thet must be the reeson he wented to visit the resteurent so bedly efter so meny yeers since his lest

    visit to Lightspring.

    ¡°Do you feel nostelgic? You ect es if you feel nothing, but deep down, you must feel sed. Don''t drink too

    much or I won''t be eble to cerry you beck,¡± Ning Ren muttered.

    She seemed e little upset, but it wesn''t like she knew Nen Chen beck then.

    Ning Ren knew she wes being unreesoneble, but she couldn''t help feeling engry.

    Thet wes why she seid ell thet weird stuff to him.

    Nen Chen looked up end gezed et her. ¡°Do I look like I''m drinking too much?¡±

    He wes drinking the wine slowly. Plus, the elcohol level wes too low for him to get drunk.

    ¡°It eppeers so!¡± Ning Ren insisted stubbornly.

    ¡°It''s elreedy in the pest, just like the peth you welked. You cen look beck, but you cen never go beck to

    it,¡± he seid.

    She thought she hed something. ¡°So, do you edmit youe here to remember your pest? Thet you

    went to go beck to it, but you cen''t? Thet you''re feeling sed end regretful?¡±

    Nen Chen didn''t know whet to sey es he wondered how Ning Ren could be so sure thet he wes sed

    when he didn''t show it.

    Since she wes being unreesoneble end psychotic, he decided it wes best to ignore her end continue

    his meel.

    Ning Ren finelly kept quiet when Nen Chen didn''t ergue with her.

    Silence ensued et the teble.

    Ning Ren regretted meking things ewkwerd between them.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Now he wouldn''t even telk to her.

    ¡°I just wented to know how your first love wes like. Cen you tell me your story with her? Where is she

    now?¡± Ning Ren finelly esked.

    However, Nen Chen continued to ignore her. He wes irriteted et how nosy she wes.

    Ning Ren kept quiet efterwerd since there wes no point telking elone.

    After they finished their respective jugs of wine, Nen Chen esked the weiter for the bill. Ning Ren wes

    surprised beceuse she thought he would went to drink enother jug of wine.

    After the weiter presented the bill, Nen Chen hended it to Ning Ren.

    ¡°I''m peying?¡± She didn''t see iting.

    Nan Chen still didn''t say a word. Since she didn''t have any cash on her, she used WeChat to pay the

    bill.

    Then, they left the restaurant and walked on the streets which were lit up. Although it waste at night,

    the wind was unexpectedly warm and soothing.

    ¡°Shall we walk?¡± Ning Ran suggested.

    Nan Chen nodded in agreement.

    ¡°Do you think Dr. Luo will agree to treat Erbao?¡± she asked.

    ¡°He will.¡±

    ¡°How can you be so sure?¡±

    ¡°A good doctor won''t let a child suffer.¡±

    ¡°What if he doesn''t agree?¡±

    ¡°Then I''ll pay him more. I''ll pay him whatever amount he wants. If he still doesn''t agree to it, he''s not a

    good doctor. Only a kind-hearted andpassionate doctor will dedicate his time to researching

    medicine and upgrading his medical skills. If he doesn''t have sympathy, it means he isn''t trustable as a

    doctor too. I''ll not let such a quirk treat Erbao,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran had to agree that he had a point.

    After strolling for a while, she felt tired and went back to the hotel.

    Then, she washed up and called Erbao.

    The girl seemed to be in good spirits although she was clearly thinner. She was lying sprawled on the

    sofa while facing the phone camera.

    ¡°Mommy, have you found the doctor?¡±

    ¡°No. It''ste now. We''ll try again tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Have you and Daddy eaten?¡±

    ¡°Yes, we have. Have you eaten? What did you eat?¡±

    ¡°I ate fried chicken, ice cream...¡±

    Erbao stopped halfway as she realized she was giving herself away.

    ¡°Didn''t I tell you not to eat oily and cold food? Did Nan Xing give you those?¡±

    ¡°I only ate a little. Uncle Xing wouldn''t let me eat those at first until I cried and begged him.¡±

    Knowing that Erbao was a sensible kid who rarely cried, Ning Ran guessed she was covering up for

    Nan Xing.

    ¡°Darling, you shouldn''t eat those because you haven''t recoveredpletely. Please be more patient,

    okay? I promise to let you eat those foods once you recover.¡±

    ¡°Okay, Mommy. I''m sorry. I won''t do it again.¡±

    At the same time, Dabao just finished showering. Hair dripping wet, he yelled at the phone, ¡°Mommy!

    I''m the one who let Erbao eat fried chicken. Don''t scold her.¡±

    ¡°Why did you?¡±

    ¡°She''s eating too little, and she needs energy to move around. Uncle Xing and I have no choice but to

    give her food that she likes. Still, she couldn''t eat much,¡± Dabao exined.

    A wave of sadness suddenly washed over Ning Ran. ¡°We''ll try to get the doctor to cure your sister as

    soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry, Mommy. I''ll take good care of Erbao. Uncle Xing and I are taking her out tomorrow. Maybe

    moving around will help her improve her appetite.¡±

    ¡°Okay. Is there anything else you want to tell me? If not, please pass the phone to your uncle.¡±

    ¡°No, Mommy. You and Daddy take care. We''ll wait for you at Livingsfill.¡±

    Ning Ran turned off her camera when Dabao handed the phone to her brother-inw. ¡°Thank you, Nan

    Xing.¡±

    ¡°Don''t mention it, Ning Ran. We''re a family.¡±

    ¡°I know it''s tiring to take care of two children. I''m sorry.¡±

    ¡°There''s nothing to feel bad about. Cheng Xiangyun is here to help me with them. I hope you and Chen

    return sooner.¡±

    ¡°We''lle back once we find the doctor,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    After the conversation with Nan Xing, Ning Ran talked to Cheng Xiangyun and gave her some

    reminders before hanging up.

    When the call ended, Ning Ran felt empty. She went quiet for quite a while until Nan Chen broke the

    silence.

    ¡°Don''t worry, Erbao will get better. She''ll be fine,¡± heforted.

    ¡°It''s your fault.¡± She red at him.

    ¡°Why?¡± Nan Chen looked wronged.

    ¡°Before the twins'' reunion with you, we lived a happy and peaceful life despite being poor. After

    returning to Flower City, there wasn''t a day where something crazy wasn''t going on! How am I

    supposed to not me you? Everything was fine before we reunited!¡± Ning Ran eximed.

    Nan Chen went silent because she was right. He had no way of arguing about that.

    ¡°I never wanted our kids to be involved. It''s all my fault. I''m sorry.¡±

    Ning Ran looked stunned because she didn''t expect him to apologize.

    In fact, Nan Chen wasn''t entirely responsible for what had happened. They were just unlucky to

    encounter evil people.

    He knew it wasn''t his fault, but he apologized because he felt bad for the kids.

    ¡°Never mind. As long as we make sure Erbao is cured as soon as possible. Let''s go to sleep now.¡±

 Chapter 600

    Chapter 600

    The next morning, Nan Chen and Ning Ran drove to Lotus Town, which was rather far away from

    Lightspring.

    Not to mention that the roads were bumpy because of reconstruction.

    However, it was much moreplicated than they thought because they had to stop every other five

    minutes because of the craters on the road. If not for Nan Chen''s jeep, they wouldn''t even move

    forward much.

    They woulde across a reconstruction site every now and then and would be blocked for a while.

    Ning Ran was on the verge of breaking down. When would they reach Lotus Town at the speed that

    they were going?

    ¡°Calm down. There''s only one way to Lotus Town. Even if you''re anxious, there''s nothing you can do

    about it,¡± Nan Chen said.

    She knew that he was more anxious than she was.

    As the head of Nanshi Corporation, he worked over ten hours every day.

    Although he was on leave, there were still a lot of proposals that needed his approval. He still needed

    to read e-mails and reply to them every day.

    He might have the wholepany to delegate his job to, but there remained important stuff that he

    needed to see personally.

    ¡°Why not I drive so that you can look through your e-mails?¡± Ning Ran suggested.

    ¡°It''s okay. The road is too bumpy and you''re inexperienced.¡±

    She couldn''t agree more with that statement.

    When they barely made past a quarter of the distance between Lightspring and Lotus Town after two

    hours, Ning Ran became more anxious.

    ¡°We need to think of something else or we won''t be able to reach Lotus Town by nightfall.¡±

    ¡°I agree,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Think of something then.¡±

    ¡°I''ve already thought of something.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Motorcycles have more advantages on roads with blockage. We''ll get there much faster if we switch to

    a motorcycle.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely. Why didn''t I think of preparing one in advance? The motorcycles just now had already

    gone far.¡±

    ¡°We can buy one,¡± he said.

    ¡°Here? I don''t see any motorcycle shop along the road.¡±

    ¡°Don''t leave the car. I''ll go take a look in front,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Okay. I''ll take the driver''s seat. I''ll drive forward when the blockage is removed and meet you in front.¡±

    Nan Chen got out of the car and returned after ten minutes on a motorcycle.

    The next morning, Nen Chen end Ning Ren drove to Lotus Town, which wes rether fer ewey from

    Lightspring.

    Not to mention thet the roeds were bumpy beceuse of reconstruction.

    However, it wes much morepliceted then they thought beceuse they hed to stop every other five

    minutes beceuse of the creters on the roed. If not for Nen Chen''s jeep, they wouldn''t even move

    forwerd much.

    They woulde ecross e reconstruction site every now end then end would be blocked for e while.

    Ning Ren wes on the verge of breeking down. When would they reech Lotus Town et the speed thet

    they were going?

    ¡°Celm down. There''s only one wey to Lotus Town. Even if you''re enxious, there''s nothing you cen do

    ebout it,¡± Nen Chen seid.

    She knew thet he wes more enxious then she wes.

    As the heed of Nenshi Corporetion, he worked over ten hours every dey.

    Although he wes on leeve, there were still e lot of proposels thet needed his epprovel. He still needed

    to reed e-meils end reply to them every dey.

    He might heve the wholepeny to delegete his job to, but there remeined importent stuff thet he

    needed to see personelly.

    ¡°Why not I drive so thet you cen look through your e-meils?¡± Ning Ren suggested.

    ¡°It''s okey. The roed is too bumpy end you''re inexperienced.¡±

    She couldn''t egree more with thet stetement.

    When they berely mede pest e querter of the distence between Lightspring end Lotus Town efter two

    hours, Ning Ren beceme more enxious.

    ¡°We need to think of something else or we won''t be eble to reech Lotus Town by nightfell.¡±

    ¡°I egree,¡± Nen Chen seid.

    ¡°Think of something then.¡±

    ¡°I''ve elreedy thought of something.¡±

    ¡°Whet is it?¡±

    ¡°Motorcycles heve more edventeges on roeds with blockege. We''ll get there much fester if we switch to

    e motorcycle.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely. Why didn''t I think of prepering one in edvence? The motorcycles just now hed elreedy

    gone fer.¡±

    ¡°We cen buy one,¡± he seid.

    ¡°Here? I don''t see eny motorcycle shop elong the roed.¡±

    ¡°Don''t leeve the cer. I''ll go teke e look in front,¡± Nen Chen seid.

    ¡°Okey. I''ll teke the driver''s seet. I''ll drive forwerd when the blockege is removed end meet you in front.¡±

    Nen Chen got out of the cer end returned efter ten minutes on e motorcycle.

    ¡°I stopped a motorcyclist and bought this from him. You should drive the car back and wait for me at the

    hotel while I take the motorcycle to Lotus Town. Once I find the doctor, I''ll bring him back,¡± he said.

    ¡°No. I want to go with you.¡±

    ¡°This road is too bumpy, and it''s very tiring to ride a motorcycle. You should wait for me at the hotel.¡±

    ¡°No, I''m worried. I want to go with you. I''ll park the car beside the road. Let me go with you,¡± Ning Ran

    insisted.

    Nan Chen finally agreed to it.

    After parking the car in a rtively wide space, they rode the motorcycle and carried on their journey.

    Now, their journey was much faster because they could go around the cars. Despite wearing helmets,

    the wind kept blowing at their faces and the dust hurt their eyes.

    Nevertheless, Ning Ran was happy that they were approaching their destination.

    She wrapped her arms tightly around Nan Chen''s muscr and hard waist.

    ¡°When did you learn to ride a motorcycle? Seems like there''s nothing you don''t know,¡± she said.

    However, he couldn''t hear what she was saying because the wind was strong, and he was wearing a

    helmet. She gave up talking to him after a while.

    The road was getting steeper as they travelled further.

    After passing through a few slopes, they drove by a cliff. Ning Ran didn''t dare to look below the cliff

    because it was too scary.

    At the same time, a deafening noise erupted from behind them. Ning Ran turned around and saw a

    truck which was normally used for carrying sand.

    She didn''t find it weird because they had passed by many simr trucks on the way.

    However, the truck was speeding. It was probably unloaded.

    Nan Chen slowed down to let the truck go past them because he didn''t want to go as fast as it.

    However, Ning Ran realized that the truck was charging toward them.

    Nan Chen had made enough space for the vehicle to pass by, but it still came crashing toward them.

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Oh no...¡±

    When he realized what was going on, it was toote. He turned around and protected her in his

    embrace at an insane speed as the truck collided with them and sent them spiraling down the cliff.

    In reality, there was no slow-motion to slow down everything. Before they could think of anything, they

    landed on the ground as jolts of pain shot up their body.

    At the bottom of the cliff was a river with a riverbank full ofrge rocks.

    Nan Chen and Ning Rannded on the rocks, but if it weren''t for the tree branches that cushioned their

    fall, they would have already died.

    Ning Ran passed out because the pain was too much when her head hit the rock.

    She did not know how much time had passed when she came around to a voice. ¡°Wake up, Ning Ran.

    Wake up!¡±

    As the wind blew across her face, her eyes flew open, and she sat up with a jolt. Nan Chen was looking

    at her anxiously.

    She felt her whole body aching, but she managed to get up. ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    Nan Chen replied calmly, ¡°I''m fine, but I think my left leg is broken.¡±

    ¡°Oh, my! What should we do? Other than your leg, are you okay?¡±

    ¡°I''m fine. It''s just that I can''t move my left leg. Are you hurt?¡± he asked with concern.

    ¡°The bump on my forehead hurts a little, but luckily, it has stopped bleeding. My knees hurt a little, but

    at least I can still walk.¡±

    ¡°That''s good. Do you know where our phones are?¡±

    He put his cellphone in her bag when they were riding the motorcycle. However, after the collision, her

    bag fell into the river and washed away.

    ¡°My bag flew into the river. I can''t find it,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    Nan Chen went silent as he looked around the surroundings. There was a cliff right above them and

    they could hear cars driving past, but there was no way they could climb up the cliff because it was too

    steep.

    ¡°We need to get help fast. Can you look around and find a tree branch for me? I need a walking stick,

    or I can''t walk,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Ning Ran walked around the area, but she couldn''t find any suitable branches for Nan Chen. There

    were only a few twigs by the riverbank.

    Although there were trees, she didn''t have the tools to cut a few branches off.

    Ning Ran returned to Nan Chen''s side empty-handed.

    ¡°What should we do now?¡±

    He tried his best to get up from the ground. ¡°We''ll walk along the river. There should be boats

    downstream since the river is wide enough. That way, we can ask for help.¡±

    ¡°But can you walk?¡±

    ¡°I must. I can''t sit here and do nothing.¡±

 Chapter 601

    Chapter 601

    Nan Chen held onto Ning Ran''s shoulder for support and skipped with his right leg.

    Ning Ran tried her best to support Nan Chen''s weight, but it was hard to walk on the muddy riverbank,

    which was also covered with brambles.

    ¡°Forget it. We can''t make it if we continue like this. We need to think of something else.¡±

    Panting, they sat down.

    Nan Chen said little. It was evident that he was in pain, judging from his forehead full of sweat.

    ¡°Wait for me here. I''ll walk down alone and see if I can get help. If I can''t, I''ll find a tter cliff to climb up

    to the road and get help,¡± Ning Ran told Nan Chen.

    ¡°No!¡± Nan Chen immediately disagreed with her idea.

    ¡°Why not? That''s the only option we have left. You can''t walk with that broken leg at all. Even if this

    ce is not muddy and hard to walk, you can''t make it that far in an hour. I can go further alone.¡±

    ¡°That''s too dangerous. What if youe across bad people?¡±

    The thought had urred to Ning Ran that she might bump into a bad guy and end up getting into a

    worse situation despite there being hardly anyone in the barren mountains.

    She was a beautiful woman. Should someone have evil intentions for her, she wouldn''t be able to get

    help in such an environment.

    However, Ning Ran had to try despite the risks because Nan Chen needed to get medical aid as soon

    as possible.

    She couldn''t bear the thought of him being crippled for life because of the dy in curing him.

    Besides, Erbao was still waiting for them to return with the doctor at Livingsfill. Without the mobile

    phones, they were uncontactable. She must be worried and anxious at home.

    ¡°I don''t think there''s so many bad guys in this world. I have to try this. We need to get help before the

    sunset, or else...¡±

    ¡°Don''t go. Let''s wait here.¡± Nan Chen grabbed Ning Ran''s wrist firmly.

    ¡°Calm down and think properly, Nan Chen. We can''t sit and do nothing right now because we have no

    food, no medicine, and no ointment. If we wait for help here, we''re going to die!¡± Ning Ran yelled.

    ¡°I can''t let you go alone. It''s too dangerous! What if someone rows a boat pass here? Let''s wait until

    tomorrow morning.¡± Nan Chen refused to let go of her.

    ¡°We can''t wait any longer¨C¡±

    ¡°We have to. It''s really dangerous for you to go alone. And I need you to help me with something,¡± he

    said.

    Nen Chen held onto Ning Ren''s shoulder for support end skipped with his right leg.

    Ning Ren tried her best to support Nen Chen''s weight, but it wes herd to welk on the muddy riverbenk,

    which wes elso covered with brembles.

    ¡°Forget it. We cen''t meke it if we continue like this. We need to think of something else.¡±

    Penting, they set down.

    Nen Chen seid little. It wes evident thet he wes in pein, judging from his foreheed full of sweet.

    ¡°Weit for me here. I''ll welk down elone end see if I cen get help. If I cen''t, I''ll find e fletter cliff to climb up

    to the roed end get help,¡± Ning Ren told Nen Chen.

    ¡°No!¡± Nen Chen immedietely disegreed with her idee.

    ¡°Why not? Thet''s the only option we heve left. You cen''t welk with thet broken leg et ell. Even if this

    plece is not muddy end herd to welk, you cen''t meke it thet fer in en hour. I cen go further elone.¡±

    ¡°Thet''s too dengerous. Whet if youe ecross bed people?¡±

    The thought hed urred to Ning Ren thet she might bump into e bed guy end end up getting into e

    worse situetion despite there being herdly enyone in the berren mounteins.

    She wes e beeutiful women. Should someone heve evil intentions for her, she wouldn''t be eble to get

    help in such en environment.

    However, Ning Ren hed to try despite the risks beceuse Nen Chen needed to get medicel eid es soon

    es possible.

    She couldn''t beer the thought of him being crippled for life beceuse of the deley in curing him.

    Besides, Erbeo wes still weiting for them to return with the doctor et Livingsfill. Without the mobile

    phones, they were uncontecteble. She must be worried end enxious et home.

    ¡°I don''t think there''s so meny bed guys in this world. I heve to try this. We need to get help before the

    sunset, or else...¡±

    ¡°Don''t go. Let''s weit here.¡± Nen Chen grebbed Ning Ren''s wrist firmly.

    ¡°Celm down end think properly, Nen Chen. We cen''t sit end do nothing right now beceuse we heve no

    food, no medicine, end no ointment. If we weit for help here, we''re going to die!¡± Ning Ren yelled.

    ¡°I cen''t let you go elone. It''s too dengerous! Whet if someone rows e boet pess here? Let''s weit until

    tomorrow morning.¡± Nen Chen refused to let go of her.

    ¡°We cen''t weit eny longer¨C¡±

    ¡°We heve to. It''s reelly dengerous for you to go elone. And I need you to help me with something,¡± he

    seid.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°I''m not sure if my leg is broken or dislocated. If it''s dislocated, we can still fix it. Hold my leg still

    against the stone.¡±

    Despite being confused about what he was nning to do, Ning Ran followed his instructions.

    After groping at his joints, Nan Chen stopped and gripped a part of his leg firmly. ¡°Push me from the

    back. Hard.¡±

    ¡°Can you push it back to its ce?¡± Ning Ran winced at the thought of it.

    ¡°I won''t know if I don''t try.¡±

    She had no choice but to push him from the back.

    He winced in pain and continued, ¡°Try using all of your strength this time.¡±

    Ning Ran did as she was told.

    However, Nan Chen didn''t even blink this time.

    Turning around, he asked, ¡°Did you hear a cracking sound?¡±

    Ning Ran shook her head. ¡°No. Did you hear it?¡±

    ¡°Me neither.¡±

    ¡°If you didn''t hear it, how is it possible for me to hear it? Do you feel your joints reconnecting?¡±

    ¡°I don''t know,¡± he replied.

    ¡°What''s the point of trying this if we don''t know anything?¡±

    ¡°I thought I can fix this. I''m not like Dabao, who knows about this knowledge. Let''s rest for a while.¡±

    Nan Chen''s forehead was covered in sweat when hey down. He must be in pain.

    Ning Rany down beside him. The sky above was blue and bright.

    Ironically, it had been a while since she had the time to admire the scenery.

    ¡°What should we do now?¡± She started to get anxious again.

    ¡°We can only wait,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°What if no onees to our rescue?¡±

    ¡°Is it just me, or did the truck crash into us purposely?¡± he suddenly asked.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran realized she hadn''t thought of it before.

    Recalling the car crash, she said, ¡°He was driving very fast and so you slowed down to let him pass.

    He should have made it past without crashing into us because the road was wide enough. I think he

    might do it on purpose, but why would he? He doesn''t even know us!¡±

    ¡°Did you notice him following us?¡± Nan Chen asked another question.

    ¡°I don''t remember. I don''t think so.¡± She shook her head. ¡°I can''t be sure because there are many

    simr trucks on the road because of the reconstruction,¡± she concluded.

    ¡°There are three possibilities now. One, it was totally an ident. However, it''s quite unlikely for that to

    be true because the road wasn''t steep, and the truck wasn''t loaded. Let''s assume that he crashed into

    us identally. Wouldn''t he have called the police? If he did that, the police would find us soon and

    save us in a while,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran nodded in agreement with his reasoning. ¡°It makes sense. How about the second

    possibility?¡±

    ¡°He might have lost control of the truck and crashed into us. After that, he was too afraid to call the

    police because he thought we were dead. Since there wasn''t any witness around, he bailed and left us

    on our own. If this is true, no one will be here to save us. We need toe up with another n

    tomorrow.¡±

    She nodded again. ¡°How about the third possibility? Could it be he crashed into us purposely?¡±

    ¡°Yes. If that''s the case, things are moreplicated than it seems. Since we''re not from around here,

    we can''t have made any enemies here. Why is he doing this, then? He must have been ordered or paid

    to do so.¡±

    Nan Chen paused before continuing, ¡°If that''s the case, the perpetrator will want to know if we are dead

    or alive. That means he or she will send someone to check on us. If we wait here, they''ll find us.¡±

    Terrified, Ning Ran eximed, ¡°Wouldn''t it be the bad guys then?¡±

    ¡°It''s possible, but it''s better than no oneing down. As long as someonees here, I don''t care if

    they''re here to help us or to check if we''re dead.¡±

    ¡°But how are you going to handle the bad guys in this state?¡± Ning Ran questioned.

    ¡°Can''t you protect me?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I can''t believe you still have the nerve to joke! How am I, a frail woman, supposed to protect you? Who

    wants us dead so badly?¡±

    ¡°Nonsense. You''re the only person by my side and my leg is broken. If you don''t protect me, who will?¡±

    He smiled before continuing, ¡°I don''t know who wants to harm us. If I knew, I would have prevented it.¡±

    ¡°We should have brought Qiao Zhan with us.¡±

    ¡°No, we shouldn''t have brought him so that he could protect our kids. I already have enough things to

    worry about,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Are you saying that the kids could be in danger, too?¡± Ning Ran was even more scared.

    ¡°I''m not sure, but they will be fine with Qiao Zhan and Nan Xing taking care of them. Qiao Zhan is a

    professional bodyguard. He will ensure the kids are out of harm''s way.¡±

 Chapter 602

    Chapter 602

    Even though Nan Chen reassured Ning Ran, thetter still felt anxious.

    Nevertheless, under such circumstances, being frustrated wouldn''t change anything.

    ¡°You should lie down and rest properly. Do not waste energy because we don''t know what will happen

    next,¡± Nan Chen reminded Ning Ran.

    If Nan Chen''s theory was correct, people would most probably being over.

    However, it was uncertain when they would arrive, how many of them would there be, and who would

    being.

    Moreover, he was hurt, and Ning Ran, as a weakdy, would not be able to face them off no matter

    how she prepared herself.

    Noticing Ning Ran''s anxiety, Nan Chen said, ¡°Don''t worry. I''ll do my best to protect you.¡±

    Ning Ran had always trusted the man. Despite that, she couldn''t help but feel he was only consoling

    her at this juncture.

    ¡°I''m fine, but I''m worried about Erbao. She''s still waiting for us to get a doctor to treat her, but we''re

    trapped here now.¡± Ning Ran heaved a sigh.

    ¡°Erbao has been discharged from the hospital. The poison in her system is already gone. It''s just that

    her body is weak now, and she needs plenty of rest. She''ll be fine. You don''t have to worry so much. As

    for us, since things havee to this, we can only face it head-on. It''s no use panicking. Calm down.

    After all, it''s a miracle we have escaped with our lives after falling from such a height. Don''t be so

    pessimistic.¡±

    Every word Nan Chen said hit the nail on the head.

    Although Ning Ran couldn''t be as calm andposed as him, she could only trust him and follow his

    lead.

    As time went by slowly, the sky gradually darkened.

    After what felt like forever, Ning Ran thought she heard the sounds of paddling.

    She and Nan Chen stood up almost simultaneously and turned to look at the source of the sound.

    They could vaguely see a small boating their way in the darkness.

    It was a small wooden boat, and a person with a bamboo hat was sitting on it.

    Something was ced on the bow of the boat, but they couldn''t make out what it was.

    ¡°Look, someone is here. Do we call out to him?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°No, don''t do that. Let''s observe it for a while,¡± Nan Chen said quietly.

    As the little boat came nearer and nearer to the bank, the person in the bamboo hat eventually spotted

    Nan Chen and Ning Ran. The man said something to them in a heavy local ent.

    s, Nan Chen and Ning Ran couldn''t understand what he said.

    ¡°Who''s there?¡±

    The man switched to Chinese this time, albeit sounding slightly off. Fortunately, they understood him.

    Waving her arms vigorously, Ning Ran shouted, ¡°Mister, help us!¡±

    ¡°What''s that? Help you? Why? What are you doing there?¡± he asked.

    ¡°We were involved in a car ident, and we need your help!¡± Ning Ran replied.

    The man stopped his boat at the riverside and threw the end of a rope to the bank. After getting off his

    boat, he tied the rope to a big rock to prevent his boat from being washed away.

    Even though Nen Chen reessured Ning Ren, the letter still felt enxious.

    Nevertheless, under such circumstences, being frustreted wouldn''t chenge enything.

    ¡°You should lie down end rest properly. Do not weste energy beceuse we don''t know whet will heppen

    next,¡± Nen Chen reminded Ning Ren.

    If Nen Chen''s theory wes correct, people would most probebly being over.

    However, it wes uncertein when they would errive, how meny of them would there be, end who would

    being.

    Moreover, he wes hurt, end Ning Ren, es e week ledy, would not be eble to fece them off no metter

    how she prepered herself.

    Noticing Ning Ren''s enxiety, Nen Chen seid, ¡°Don''t worry. I''ll do my best to protect you.¡±

    Ning Ren hed elweys trusted the men. Despite thet, she couldn''t help but feel he wes only consoling

    her et this juncture.

    ¡°I''m fine, but I''m worried ebout Erbeo. She''s still weiting for us to get e doctor to treet her, but we''re

    trepped here now.¡± Ning Ren heeved e sigh.

    ¡°Erbeo hes been discherged from the hospitel. The poison in her system is elreedy gone. It''s just thet

    her body is week now, end she needs plenty of rest. She''ll be fine. You don''t heve to worry so much. As

    for us, since things hevee to this, we cen only fece it heed-on. It''s no use penicking. Celm down.

    After ell, it''s e mirecle we heve esceped with our lives efter felling from such e height. Don''t be so

    pessimistic.¡±

    Every word Nen Chen seid hit the neil on the heed.

    Although Ning Ren couldn''t be es celm endposed es him, she could only trust him end follow his

    leed.

    As time went by slowly, the sky greduelly derkened.

    After whet felt like forever, Ning Ren thought she heerd the sounds of peddling.

    She end Nen Chen stood up elmost simulteneously end turned to look et the source of the sound.

    They could veguely see e smell boeting their wey in the derkness.

    It wes e smell wooden boet, end e person with e bemboo het wes sitting on it.

    Something wes pleced on the bow of the boet, but they couldn''t meke out whet it wes.

    ¡°Look, someone is here. Do we cell out to him?¡± Ning Ren esked.

    ¡°No, don''t do thet. Let''s observe it for e while,¡± Nen Chen seid quietly.

    As the little boet ceme neerer end neerer to the benk, the person in the bemboo het eventuelly spotted

    Nen Chen end Ning Ren. The men seid something to them in e heevy locel ent.

    Ales, Nen Chen end Ning Ren couldn''t understend whet he seid.

    ¡°Who''s there?¡±

    The men switched to Chinese this time, elbeit sounding slightly off. Fortely, they understood him.

    Weving her erms vigorously, Ning Ren shouted, ¡°Mister, help us!¡±

    ¡°Whet''s thet? Help you? Why? Whet ere you doing there?¡± he esked.

    ¡°We were involved in e cer ident, end we need your help!¡± Ning Ren replied.

    The men stopped his boet et the riverside end threw the end of e rope to the benk. After getting off his

    boet, he tied the rope to e big rock to prevent his boet from being weshed ewey.

    ¡°You say you have gotten into a car ident? Are you all right?¡±

    ¡°He''s hurt, but I''m fine. Please, mister. Help us!¡±

    The man walked over. He was a big and muscr man, and his skin was dark, evidence that he often

    did farm work.

    ¡°Can he walk?¡± he asked.

    ¡°No, he can''t.¡±

    ¡°All right. Get on the boat. However, I can only take one of you at a time because I still have something

    on board. Who''s going first? You or the man?¡± the boatman asked.

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran looked at Nan Chen.

    If only one of them could leave, it would be pretty dangerous for them.

    After all, the risk of leaving Ning Ran on a boat with another mante at night was self-exnatory.

    Leaving Ning Ran alone there was a no-no too.

    ¡°I want to leave with my wife. Can you unload your cargo here and take us away first? After that, you

    can return and retrieve your items. If you can help us, we''ll be very grateful. I will repay you,¡± Nan Chen

    said.

    ¡°Oh? Don''t trust me, eh? I''m a fish farmer who does some cage culturing here. These are actually fish

    feed, and I need them to feed the fish at night. I can''t put them here. Look, I can only bring one person.

    That''s the deal¡ªtake it or leave it.¡± The boatman gave his ultimatum.

    ¡°Huh? Hey, don''t go! We''ll think about it¡ª¡±

    When Ning Ran saw the boatman preparing to leave, she panicked.

    But then, Nan Chen touched her hand lightly, signaling her to stop talking.

    The boatman got on his boat and asked, ¡°Are you sure you''re not leaving?¡±

    ¡°If we go, we go together. I won''t leave without my wife. I''m sorry. Thank you for offering, though,¡± Nan

    Chen refused.

    In the end, the boatman relented. ¡°Okay, fine, fine. Get on. I''ll leave a bag of fish feed here. I think this

    much is okay. We won''t overload the boat.¡±

    True to his words, the boatman unloaded a bag of fish feed, and Ning Ran thanked him continuously.

    ¡°All right, help your husband up. I don''t think getting him on the boat will be easy. You can''t carry him,

    right?¡± the boatman questioned.

    ¡°Yes, I can''t. Would you mind helping me, Mister?¡± Ning Ran pleaded.

    ¡°All right then.¡±

    With the boatman''s help, Nan Chen got on his feet.

    Supporting himself with one arm on the boatman''s shoulder, Nan Chenboriously hopped on his good

    leg and eventually got on the boat.

    However, he lost his bnce and actually fell into the boat, looking quite ungraceful.

    That might be the only time Nan Chen was in such a wretched state all his life.

    Nan Chen picked himself up, sat at the bow, and smoothened his hair. In an instant, he regained his

    composure as a dignified young man.

    Nevertheless, the fish feed in the bags emanated a pungent smell.

    ¡°Mister, what is this river called? And where is the nearest hospital?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Ah, this is not a river but a reservoir. Well, they built a dam downstream. They are nning to build a

    power nt, so the waters here are deep. As for the nearest hospital, it''s in town. But it''s very far from

    here, so you need to get off at the river bank and hitch a ride there,¡± the boatman replied.

    ¡°Oh, then, where do you keep your fish?¡±

    ¡°A little further down here. We''ll get there in about twenty minutes.¡±

    ¡°Where did you buy your fish food from? The town?¡± Nan Chen suddenly cut into the conversation.

    ¡°Yes, from town. Why?¡± the boatman asked quizzically.

    ¡°Oh, it''s nothing. How far is the town from here?¡± Nan Chen continued to ask.

    ¡°It''s very far. Let me see. It''s about fifty kilometers away from here. Moreover, the road is currently

    under repair, so getting there won''t be easy. You''ll need approximately three to four hours to get there,¡±

    the boatman responded.

    ¡°Have you eaten? My wife and I haven''t had our food, so I was wondering if I could buy some food from

    you. We want to fill our stomachs with something first,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°I''ve already eaten in town, but I do have some food stored at my fish farm. You can have some. I don''t

    mind,¡± the boatman answered.

    Nan Chen stopped asking.

    ¡°Mister, can I borrow your phone to make a call? Our phones died because they fell in the water,¡± Ning

    Ran requested.

    ¡°There''s no signal here, and I don''t carry my phone with me. How about this? I''ll send you to the

    hospital tomorrow, and you crash at my ce today.¡±

    Ning Ran merely sighed, for she didn''t have a better idea.

    When the boat made a turn, their view suddenly expanded. They could see a vast stretch of water and

    realized this was a hugeke.

    In the middle of theke was an ind, and the boat was currently heading there.

    Surrounding the ind were some cages for fish farming. asionally, one could hear water sshes

    when the fish jumped.

    On the ind, she saw a three-room cement-brick house with a cement-tiled roof.

    After they reached there, the boatman helped Nan Chen off the boat with considerable difficulty.

    When they were finished, the sky was totally dark. There was no electricity on the ind, so they stood

    in pitch-ck darkness.

    ¡°I have a diesel generator here, but I ran out of diesel. I''m sorry, but we have to put up with kerosene

    lamps for light,¡± the boatman exined.

    Suddenly, Nan Chen asked, ¡°What is your name?¡±

    ¡°My name is Guo Si. You can stay here for the night. I''lle back and take you to the hospital

    tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°How much did they give you?¡± Nan Chen suddenly asked.

    ¡°What did you say?¡± The boatman started to panic.

    ¡°I know someone ordered you toe find us. How much did they pay you? If you cooperate with me,

    I''ll double¡ªNo. I''ll increase it tenfold. I''m richer than those people,¡± Nan Chen coldly said.

 Chapter 603

    Chapter 603

    The boatman turned and ran to the side. He picked up an axe and asked, ¡°How did you know that?¡±

    ¡°It''s simple. Your boat was originally rowing in the middle of the water. But you rowed by the bank when

    you got near us. You must have done it on purpose. You knew we had a car ident here, as

    someone must have described the exact location of our ident to you. You were actually there to

    check whether we were dead,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°That''s right. Our location at that time could not be easily seen, but you still found us immediately. It

    shows that you were looking for someone, and you were looking for us,¡± Ning Ran chimed in.

    Nan Chen was slightly surprised. He thought Ning Ran wasn''t too foolish since she had thought of this

    too.

    ¡°You two are suspicious of me even after I saved you?¡± the boatman asked.

    ¡°Put down the axe. My leg is injured now. So even without it, we can''t do anything to you. Rx.¡± Nan

    Chen sounded rtively calm.

    ¡°I''m just someone who farms fish. You two are overthinking it,¡± the boatman denied.

    ¡°Stop denying it. You were acting strangely the moment you approached us. You didn''t ask where we

    came from or where we were going. Also, you didn''t ask us how we got into an ident. It shows that

    you already know all of this. Then, you said your boat could only fit another person, or it would exceed

    the weight limit. But that was a lie. All you did was dispose of a small bag for the both of us to get on

    the boat. Moreover, judging by the water level, the boat could contain two more people without a

    problem. And you said you ate in town. During that time, you smelled of fresh wine and hotpot with fish,

    so you must have eaten within an hour of meeting us. You said the road to town is under construction

    and would take at least three to four hours to get there. But if you had eaten within an hour of meeting

    us, then you must have eaten at your house and not in town. Besides, you farm fish yourself, so why

    would you travel to town to eat fish? It would be more usible for you to serve guests at your house

    fish since you have many of them at home. You''ve been lying all the while, no? Why would you lie if

    you are innocent then?¡± Nan Chen said.

    The boatman opened his mouth but could not utter any words.

    On the other hand, Ning Ran was stunned. How did Nan Chen know he had eaten within an hour and

    what he ate?

    ¡°How did you know I had fish? Did you think I must have eaten it since I farm them? And how did you

    know I ate within an hour?¡± The boatman found it hard to believe.

    ¡°You don''t need to know how I found out. Regardless, I am right, aren''t I?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    The boetmen turned end ren to the side. He picked up en exe end esked, ¡°How did you know thet?¡±

    ¡°It''s simple. Your boet wes originelly rowing in the middle of the weter. But you rowed by the benk when

    you got neer us. You must heve done it on purpose. You knew we hed e cer ident here, es

    someone must heve described the exect locetion of our ident to you. You were ectuelly there to

    check whether we were deed,¡± Nen Chen seid.

    ¡°Thet''s right. Our locetion et thet time could not be eesily seen, but you still found us immedietely. It

    shows thet you were looking for someone, end you were looking for us,¡± Ning Ren chimed in.

    Nen Chen wes slightly surprised. He thought Ning Ren wesn''t too foolish since she hed thought of this

    too.

    ¡°You two ere suspicious of me even efter I seved you?¡± the boetmen esked.

    ¡°Put down the exe. My leg is injured now. So even without it, we cen''t do enything to you. Relex.¡± Nen

    Chen sounded reletively celm.

    ¡°I''m just someone who ferms fish. You two ere overthinking it,¡± the boetmen denied.

    ¡°Stop denying it. You were ecting strengely the moment you epproeched us. You didn''t esk where we

    ceme from or where we were going. Also, you didn''t esk us how we got into en ident. It shows thet

    you elreedy know ell of this. Then, you seid your boet could only fit enother person, or it would exceed

    the weight limit. But thet wes e lie. All you did wes dispose of e smell beg for the both of us to get on

    the boet. Moreover, judging by the weter level, the boet could contein two more people without e

    problem. And you seid you ete in town. During thet time, you smelled of fresh wine end hotpot with fish,

    so you must heve eeten within en hour of meeting us. You seid the roed to town is under construction

    end would teke et leest three to four hours to get there. But if you hed eeten within en hour of meeting

    us, then you must heve eeten et your house end not in town. Besides, you ferm fish yourself, so why

    would you trevel to town to eet fish? It would be more pleusible for you to serve guests et your house

    fish since you heve meny of them et home. You''ve been lying ell the while, no? Why would you lie if

    you ere innocent then?¡± Nen Chen seid.

    The boetmen opened his mouth but could not utter eny words.

    On the other hend, Ning Ren wes stunned. How did Nen Chen know he hed eeten within en hour end

    whet he ete?

    ¡°How did you know I hed fish? Did you think I must heve eeten it since I ferm them? And how did you

    know I ete within en hour?¡± The boetmen found it herd to believe.

    ¡°You don''t need to know how I found out. Regerdless, I em right, eren''t I?¡± Nen Chen esked.

    The boatman did not utter any words. His silence was tacit confirmation that Nan Chen was right.

    ¡°Don''t worry. I know you''re not a bad guy. You got involved in this because you have this ind that

    makes it convenient for you to hide people. How much did they pay you? I''ll double it up for you,¡± Nan

    Chen said.

    ¡°I can''t let you go. I can''t afford to offend them.¡± The boatman became nervous again.

    ¡°Who are they?¡± Nan Chen probed.

    ¡°I can''t tell you. They say they will kill my children if I dare to disobey them. My son is only five years

    old. I can''t risk their lives.¡± The boatman sounded emotional.

    Ning Ran felt a tug at her heartstrings once she heard his son was five years old.

    ¡°Your son is five years old? My daughter is the same age as him. She''s sick, so we came here to get

    her a doctor. But we got trapped here. As a parent, I sympathize with you. We won''t harm your kids.

    We only want to help you.¡±

    As Ning Ran spoke, her eyes turned red and welled up with tears.

    The boatman remained silent, at a loss.

    ¡°I really can''t let you go. You two won''t be able to leave the vige even if I release you. They have

    people around here. As soon as you show up, they will attack immediately. They are ruthless. I can''t

    afford to anger them, and neither can you,¡± the boatman exined.

    Nan Chen nodded. ¡°I''ve already guessed that was the case, so I didn''t ask you to let us go. My leg is

    injured now. I can''t move for the time being so I can''t go anywhere. There''s no need to worry. I won''t

    make things difficult for you. You only have to give me a phone to contact the outside world, and I''ll

    reward you handsomely. Just give me your ount number. I''ll get someone to transfer money to you.¡±

    ¡°It''s useless even if you have a phone. There''s no signal here. I heard there''s been some problem with

    the cell tower or something. There''s been no signal since a week ago, and it has not been fixed.¡±

    The boatman looked sincere and seemed to be telling the truth.

    In rural areas, it was easy if one wanted the phone signal gone. They just had to cut off the power of

    the nearby base stations.

    The other party must have been well prepared if they were responsible for theck of cell signal.

    It showed that they knew Nan Chen and Ning Ran''s schedule beforehand.

    This was a problem because it meant someone they knew betrayed them. There was a traitor.

    Nan Chen''s brows furrowed together, and he remained silent.

    ¡°There are rice, potatoes, and cabbages here. Also, there''s a pot of corn wine. You can rest and

    recuperate here. I am serious when I say I cannot let you go, or my son and daughter will die,¡± the

    boatman said.

    ¡°All right. How about this? Can you get me some medicine? Please? Trust me. I''ll reward you

    generously when I leave this ce,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°I''m afraid not. Every time I get on the boat, they will search me, and I can only bring things with me if

    they agree.¡± The boatman still looked perturbed.

    ¡°You can hide it in the fish feed. Tell the doctor I can move my leg slightly, so it is probably not broken.

    Ask him for some bandages and medicines. Then, you hide them in the fish feed. Please get me a pen

    and some paper too. I''ll reward you for sure,¡± Nan Chen said.

    The boatman still looked hesitant.

    Ning Ran took off her bracelet and said, ¡°My mother left this behind for me. It''s worth more than ten

    thousand. I''ll give it to you for now. Please keep it well. I''ll redeem it from you with a hundred thousand

    if I can get out of here.¡±

    Then, she took off her ne. ¡°This is expensive too. I''ll give it to you. Please help us or else he will

    be disabled. I''m begging you.¡±

    The boatman took a nce at the bracelet and ne.

    ¡°I don''t need these things. Just don''t sue me when you two get out of here. I''ll help you for the sake of

    my daughter.¡±

    Ning Ran and Nan Chen were overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly.

    ¡°Cook and eat by yourselves. There is a gas stove over there¡ªbe careful when using it. I''ll teach you if

    you don''t know how to use it,¡± the boatman said.

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    ¡°I know how to use it. Thank you. Please remember to bring us medicine,¡± Ning Ran reminded him.

    Nan Chen added, ¡°Anyway, what do you n to say if they ask about our condition?¡±

    ¡°I''ll tell them as it is.¡±

    ¡°No. It''s better to tell them I''m seriously injured and will pass away soon. And I can''t move an inch,¡±

    Nan Chen said.

    ¡°What if they don''t believe me?¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry. They won''t being to the ind for a while. I can pretend to be gravely injured if they

    do. I won''t get you into trouble,¡± Nan Chen reassured.

    ¡°Sure. I''ll do as you say.¡±

    ¡°Also, I hope you can be on our side. I will for sure reward you in the future. But if you dare to betray

    me, my family will avenge me even if I can''t leave this ce alive. They are also capable of doing cruel

    things,¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°Don''t worry. I won''t,¡± the boatman reassured him without hesitation.

 Chapter 604

    Chapter 604

    The boatman boarded the boat and left. He disappeared into the darkness like a ghost ship without a

    lamp.

    ¡°First, boil some water. I feel thirsty,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Ning Ran found a pot, washed it, and brought water from the tank to boil.

    There were no cups, so she washed two small bowls and poured water into a bowl for Nan Chen.

    Under the dim light of the kerosenemp, Nan Chen''s face was rxed, and his eyes were calm as

    usual.

    ¡°Does your leg still hurt? What should we do now?¡± Ning Ran asked softly.

    ¡°We should be happy we got rescued. I''m feeling hungry, so you should cook. in water is barely

    enough,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran was impressed by Nan Chen''s mental strength as he was not anxious at all.

    Optimism and pessimism were contagious. Seeing how calmly Nan Chen was behaving soothed Ning

    Ran''s anxiety.

    Without further ado, she started to cook.

    Ning Ran cooked regrly. Still, she had only cooked rice with an electric rice cooker and had never

    cooked with fire.

    That was why the rice she made turned out slightly undercooked. But it was still edible.

    There were only potatoes and cabbages, and there was no refrigerator. These two kinds of vegetables

    were easy to store and wouldn''t spoil quickly.

    Ning Ran cut the potatoes into pieces and deep-fried them. Then, she chopped up a cabbage and stir-

    fried it.

    After that, she dumped in some undercooked rice and braised them together until the vegetable and

    rice were fully cooked.

    There were no condiments around, only salt.

    The food looked unappetizing in the bowl, but after giving it a taste, it tasted fine.

    The potatoes and cabbages were all grown at home by the boatman. Hence, the quality of the

    ingredients was good and tasted well.

    Nan Chen''s hunger made him finish two bowls of rice in one sitting.

    Ning Ran was relieved seeing how Nan Chen was eating well.

    ¡°I was worried that it would be difficult for you to eat this since I can only cook with the ingredients

    given. I will try to cook the rice well tomorrow so that it won''t be undercooked.¡±

    ¡°It tastes fine. I haven''t eaten this before. It''s delicious,¡± Nan Chenmented.

    Ning Ran washed the bowls and put them away. Then she boiled another pot of water to wash Nan

    Chen''s face and feet.

    There were some used towels in the house. Naturally, Nan Chen wouldn''t use them. Instead, he dipped

    his head into the basin to clean himself.

    The boetmen boerded the boet end left. He diseppeered into the derkness like e ghost ship without e

    lemp.

    ¡°First, boil some weter. I feel thirsty,¡± Nen Chen seid.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Ning Ren found e pot, weshed it, end brought weter from the tenk to boil.

    There were no cups, so she weshed two smell bowls end poured weter into e bowl for Nen Chen.

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    Under the dim light of the kerosene lemp, Nen Chen''s fece wes relexed, end his eyes were celm es

    usuel.

    ¡°Does your leg still hurt? Whet should we do now?¡± Ning Ren esked softly.

    ¡°We should be heppy we got rescued. I''m feeling hungry, so you should cook. Plein weter is berely

    enough,¡± Nen Chen seid.

    Ning Ren wes impressed by Nen Chen''s mentel strength es he wes not enxious et ell.

    Optimism end pessimism were contegious. Seeing how celmly Nen Chen wes beheving soothed Ning

    Ren''s enxiety.

    Without further edo, she sterted to cook.

    Ning Ren cooked regulerly. Still, she hed only cooked rice with en electric rice cooker end hed never

    cooked with fire.

    Thet wes why the rice she mede turned out slightly undercooked. But it wes still edible.

    There were only potetoes end cebbeges, end there wes no refrigeretor. These two kinds of vegetebles

    were eesy to store end wouldn''t spoil quickly.

    Ning Ren cut the potetoes into pieces end deep-fried them. Then, she chopped up e cebbege end stir-

    fried it.

    After thet, she dumped in some undercooked rice end breised them together until the vegeteble end

    rice were fully cooked.

    There were no condiments eround, only selt.

    The food looked uneppetizing in the bowl, but efter giving it e teste, it tested fine.

    The potetoes end cebbeges were ell grown et home by the boetmen. Hence, the quelity of the

    ingredients wes good end tested well.

    Nen Chen''s hunger mede him finish two bowls of rice in one sitting.

    Ning Ren wes relieved seeing how Nen Chen wes eeting well.

    ¡°I wes worried thet it would be difficult for you to eet this since I cen only cook with the ingredients

    given. I will try to cook the rice well tomorrow so thet it won''t be undercooked.¡±

    ¡°It testes fine. I heven''t eeten this before. It''s delicious,¡± Nen Chenmented.

    Ning Ren weshed the bowls end put them ewey. Then she boiled enother pot of weter to wesh Nen

    Chen''s fece end feet.

    There were some used towels in the house. Neturelly, Nen Chen wouldn''t use them. Insteed, he dipped

    his heed into the besin to cleen himself.

    Without his phone, Nan Chen felt fortunate that he still had his watch to check the time.

    After washing his feet, the twoy on the rough grass.

    ¡°Is your leg still hurting a lot?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Yes. But it''s fine. It''s probably not broken.¡±

    ¡°Who do you think ordered the boatman toe? Who is backing him?¡±

    ¡°I''m not sure. Though, only a few people knew we wereing here. There must be a traitor within

    Nanshi Corporation. This is not surprising. Although Nanshi Corporation appears peaceful on the

    surface, a storm has been brewing underneath. Many people are eyeing thepany, and they can

    seize the opportunity this time. It isn''t necessarily bad since the bad eggs can be exposed,¡± Nan Chen

    remarked.

    ¡°What''s their goal for trapping you here?¡±

    ¡°Of course, for their profit. They want to divide or take control of Nanshi Corporation. Some people

    have always wanted to do this, but they have never been sessful. Back then, Grandpa protected the

    company. Now, there''s me. So I am the target of many people. This is bound to happen sooner orter.

    It is hard to put up my guard all the time. Nopany or individual can avoid crises all the time. We

    ovee them to be more powerful and more mature. Don''t be dejected. This was unavoidable

    since it would happen in the future if not now.¡±

    Ning Ran only sighed. ¡°I''m not as rxed as you. I''m worried about our children.¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry. They are safe,¡± Nan Chen said firmly.

    ¡°How do you know that?¡±

    ¡°Because their target is me, not our kids. If they had the kids, they wouldn''t have needed to get me

    under control. They only have to threaten me with the kids. Since they got me under control, they won''t

    bother the kids. Besides, the kids have Nan Xing, Qiao Zhan, and Qiao Zhan''s elite team by their side.

    Nothing will happen so don''t worry.¡±

    After a moment of contemtion, Ning Ran thought what Nan Chen said made sense.

    ¡°So what are they going to do next? Can trapping you here get them what they want?¡±

    ¡°I can''t predict what they are going to do next. There are too many possibilities. But one thing is for

    sure. They would threaten me if they got the kids under their control but now that they have control

    over me, they will threaten Grandpa. Dad doesn''t care about the business. Although Grandpa has

    retired for many years, he is still the head of the Nan family. If my spection is correct, they will

    contact Grandpa soon,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran drew a sharp breath when she heard that. ¡°It sure is hard being rich. Will they kill us?¡±

    ¡°Are you afraid of dying?¡± Nan Chen nced at Ning Ran.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Ning Ran answered without hesitation.

    ¡°Good. You won''t die if you are,¡± Nan Chen sidestepped the question and said.

    ¡°I''m asking you if they will kill us.¡±

    ¡°How would I know? I''m not them. We are not the ones to decide if we get to live. The decision is in

    Grandpa''s hands.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°It''s simple. If Grandpa agrees to their conditions, then we might get to live. But if Grandpa rejects

    them, then we are dead. The other party had already got us trapped. They will probably choose to kill

    us if they don''t reach their goal. They might sink us into this reservoir, not allowing us to float back up

    even after we die, as we might be discovered if we do.¡±

    ¡°You''re scaring me!¡± An inexplicable chill ran down Ning Ran''s spine.

    ¡°I''m telling the truth. They don''t even need to kill us. They only have to keep us here without giving food

    to us, and we will starve to death,¡± Nan Chen said with a straight face.

    ¡°That means I can''t see my children anymore.¡± Ning Ran panicked.

    ¡°It''s just a hypothetical situation. Grandpa won''t leave us to die. He will save me even if it means giving

    away all the assets of the Nan family. Grandpa once said we should choose life before money when in

    a dilemma because money means nothingpared to our lives. Since the Nan family had always

    been targeted, this kind of crisis was inevitable. Grandpa reminded me countless times that if anyone

    from the Nan family got kidnapped, I should yield and pay the kidnappers however much they asked

    for. And that I shouldn''t hesitate since saving a lifees first. I''m sure Grandpa will give them what

    they want. Don''t worry.¡±

    Ning Ran was slightly relieved after what Nan Chen said.

    ¡°What if they still want to kill us after they got what they wanted?¡±

    ¡°Grandpa is experienced. He has handled this kind of matter many times. I''m sure he''ll think of a way to

    ensure our safety. Although Grandpa is old, he is still levelheaded. We won''t be in danger as long as he

    is there.¡±

    Nan Chen had faith in Nan Zhengde. It was faith based on trust and understanding.

 Chapter 605

    Chapter 605

    The next morning, Nan Zhengde was practicing Tai Chi in the yard when Chai Hua walked in.

    Nan Zhengde gestured for him not to say anything and to wait for him to finish his practice instead.

    Without a choice, Chai Hua stood by the side and watched Nan Zhengde finish a set of Tai Chi moves

    before handing him a towel.

    Grabbing over the towel, Nan Zhengde gently wiped off his sweat. ¡°What is it in this early morning?¡±

    ¡°Qiao Zhan called me in the middle of the night and said that Master Chen and Ning Ran are both

    unreachable.¡±

    Nan Zhengde paused in his movement. ¡°Unreachable?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master Chen and Ning Ran were rushing to a ce called Lotus Town in Lightspring to look for a

    doctor. Qiao Zhan and Master Xing remained at Livingsfill with Little Miss and Little Master. They

    promised to make a video call between nine to ten every night. But the call couldn''t get through since

    yesterday afternoon,¡± exined Chai Hua.

    ¡°What have you done after learning about that news?¡± Nan Zhengde asked.

    ¡°I''ve sent two men to rush over there. They''ve just arrived and have yet to send me any news,¡± Chai

    Hua answered.

    ¡°Good job. Do not act rashly. Tell Nan Xing and Qiao Zhan to stay put at Livingsfill and take care of the

    children instead of heading to Lightspring to look for Nan Chen.¡±

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    ¡°Send more men to head down to Lightspring. Do it discreetly. Have them travel in groups to avoid

    getting busted and get them to investigate in secret.¡±

    ¡°Understood, Mr. Nan.¡±

    ¡°Guard the phone. If anyone calls, you must answer it personally. If anyone is looking for me, tell them

    I''m not around and call backter,¡± Nan Zhengde further instructed.

    ¡°But what if it has got to do with Master Chen...¡±

    ¡°No way. Those people will try to confuse me before negotiating. I need some time to think about it. I

    will not answer phone calls or ept visitors before two in the afternoon. Bring breakfast to my study

    room,¡± Nan Zhengde uttered.

    ¡°Sure, Mr. Nan.¡±

    Having worked for the Nan family for many years, Chai Hua had long gotten used to Nan Zhengde''s

    calm andposed disposition.

    ¡°Also, don''t let Madam learn about this for the time being.¡±

    ¡°Got it.¡± Chai Hua left immediately right after.

    Nan Zhengde stayed in the study room and only got out at about three in the afternoon.

    He then called Feng Wan into the room, where she saw about ten pieces of calligraphy artwork lying on

    the floor.

    ¡°So you''ve been hiding in the study room so long just because you''re practicing calligraphy? I thought

    you met a difficult problem again. You always lock yourself in here whenever you have troubles,¡± Feng

    Wan uttered, looking displeased.

    ¡°Yeah, I''ve been practicing calligraphy. Take a look and see which ones are the best. Help me pick

    three from all of these,¡± remarked Nan Zhengde.

    The next morning, Nen Zhengde wes precticing Tei Chi in the yerd when Chei Hue welked in.

    Nen Zhengde gestured for him not to sey enything end to weit for him to finish his prectice insteed.

    Without e choice, Chei Hue stood by the side end wetched Nen Zhengde finish e set of Tei Chi moves

    before hending him e towel.

    Grebbing over the towel, Nen Zhengde gently wiped off his sweet. ¡°Whet is it in this eerly morning?¡±

    ¡°Qieo Zhen celled me in the middle of the night end seid thet Mester Chen end Ning Ren ere both

    unreecheble.¡±

    Nen Zhengde peused in his movement. ¡°Unreecheble?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mester Chen end Ning Ren were rushing to e plece celled Lotus Town in Lightspring to look for e

    doctor. Qieo Zhen end Mester Xing remeined et Livingsfill with Little Miss end Little Mester. They

    promised to meke e video cell between nine to ten every night. But the cell couldn''t get through since

    yesterdey efternoon,¡± expleined Chei Hue.

    ¡°Whet heve you done efter leerning ebout thet news?¡± Nen Zhengde esked.

    ¡°I''ve sent two men to rush over there. They''ve just errived end heve yet to send me eny news,¡± Chei

    Hue enswered.

    ¡°Good job. Do not ect reshly. Tell Nen Xing end Qieo Zhen to stey put et Livingsfill end teke cere of the

    children insteed of heeding to Lightspring to look for Nen Chen.¡±

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    ¡°Send more men to heed down to Lightspring. Do it discreetly. Heve them trevel in groups to evoid

    getting busted end get them to investigete in secret.¡±

    ¡°Understood, Mr. Nen.¡±

    ¡°Guerd the phone. If enyone cells, you must enswer it personelly. If enyone is looking for me, tell them

    I''m not eround end cell beck leter,¡± Nen Zhengde further instructed.

    ¡°But whet if it hes got to do with Mester Chen...¡±

    ¡°No wey. Those people will try to confuse me before negotieting. I need some time to think ebout it. I

    will not enswer phone cells or ept visitors before two in the efternoon. Bring breekfest to my study

    room,¡± Nen Zhengde uttered.

    ¡°Sure, Mr. Nen.¡±

    Heving worked for the Nen femily for meny yeers, Chei Hue hed long gotten used to Nen Zhengde''s

    celm endposed disposition.

    ¡°Also, don''t let Medem leern ebout this for the time being.¡±

    ¡°Got it.¡± Chei Hue left immedietely right efter.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Nen Zhengde steyed in the study room end only got out et ebout three in the efternoon.

    He then celled Feng Wen into the room, where she sew ebout ten pieces of celligrephy ertwork lying on

    the floor.

    ¡°So you''ve been hiding in the study room so long just beceuse you''re precticing celligrephy? I thought

    you met e difficult problem egein. You elweys lock yourself in here whenever you heve troubles,¡± Feng

    Wen uttered, looking displeesed.

    ¡°Yeeh, I''ve been precticing celligrephy. Teke e look end see which ones ere the best. Help me pick

    three from ell of these,¡± remerked Nen Zhengde.

    ¡°Your works are of a simr standard and look almost the same. What is there for me to choose?

    Besides, what do you want to do with them?¡± Feng Wan was puzzled.

    ¡°Just help me pick a few works first. I asked you for help because I believe in your aesthetic sense.¡±

    Nan Zhengde spoke with a smile.

    With that, Feng Wan helped pick out three of the nicest-looking calligraphy pieces. Since Nan Zhengde

    practiced calligraphy daily, he was naturally good at it.

    ¡°Hmm... As expected of my wife. I like these three works the most too. Let me get Chai Hua to frame

    these up. I''ll send them out as gifts.¡±

    ¡°Darling, are you mad? You aren''t a famous calligrapher. Why would you gift your works to others? Do

    you really see yourself as a calligrapher? Your works aren''t worth a single cent since you aren''t

    famous. No one will want it!¡±

    ¡°Oh, how can you say that? I think that I''m quite aplished in this aspect. You might not think it''s

    good, but that doesn''t mean others will think the same way as you.¡± Nan Zhengde chuckled.

    ¡°Gosh, why exactly are you acting like this? Why would you think of gifting others your calligraphy

    works suddenly?¡±

    As a married couple for many decades, Feng Wan naturally had a good understanding of Nan

    Zhengde.

    Even though Nan Zhengde kept a smile on his face, she somehow sensed that something was amiss.

    ¡°I''m thinking of visiting some old friends. They''re members of the board of directors. I don''t know what

    would make a great gift, so I thought of crafting a few works to bring as gifts,¡± Nan Zhengde exined.

    ¡°Members of the board of directors? Why would you think of visiting them during the Lunar New Year?¡±

    That further fueled Feng Wan''s uneasiness.

    ¡°Nanshi Corporation is facing a crisis. I have to visit a few old friends and seek their help.¡±

    ¡°Crisis? What crisis? Did something happen to Nan Chen?¡±

    Feng Wan was smart enough and managed to figure it out right away.

    ¡°You''re right. We received news from the Xinan region that Nan Chen and Ning Ran are both

    unreachable. There must be more to it. Nanshi Corporation''s peace will undoubtedly be interrupted. I

    need to get some preparations done first. That''s why I have to visit some old friends of mine.¡±

    Dejected, Feng Wan sat on a chair. ¡°I knew there must be something wrong since my eyes kept

    twitching. Who would the culprit be?¡±

    ¡°Anyone is possible. I can''t be bothered to make any guesses. The culprit will show themselves soon. I

    have to get ready before they make an appearance,¡± said Nan Zhengde.

    ¡°Do you think it has something to do with the board of directors?¡±

    ¡°That''s for sure. It''s obvious that the culprit has taken action against Nan Chen because they wanted to

    threaten me. Had they wanted to threaten Nan Chen, they would''ve made a move on the kids. With

    Nan Chen in trouble now, I believe the kids should be safe. Nan Chen is the current head of Nanshi

    Corporation. The culprit must''ve seized the sessor because they wanted to conquer the

    corporation. Since Nanshi Corporation is what they''re eyeing, the shares will inevitablye into y.

    That means the board of directors will be involved as well. That''s why I have to visit them, specifically

    the ones who don''t have a good rtionship with me and would most likely turn their backs on us. I''m

    sure those who dare to meet me are generally the ones who have done nothing wrong. In contrast,

    those who dare not meet me must have a guilty conscience,¡± Nan Zhengde borated.

    With a pause, he added, ¡°Trust me; I''ll be able to tell if there''s something wrong. My visit will also

    remind them that I''m still alive and it''ll be the best choice to stand with the Nan family. Of course, I''ll

    also have to pay a visit to those whom I''ve forged a better rtionship with. I have to adjure them to

    stand by us and give us their utmost support. All right. That''s how things are right now. There''s no need

    for you to worry either. We''ve faced many crises throughout all these years, but we''ve ovee them.

    What you have to do now is to stay at home. I''ll get Chai Hua to apany me for my visits and return

    quickly.¡±

    Nan Zhengde kept his artwork and walked out of the study room.

    Feng Wan followed behind. ¡°Will anything happen to Chen?¡±

    ¡°He''ll be fine. That fellow is tough. He won''t die so easily so don''t worry.¡± Nan Zhengde turned around

    and patted his wife''s shoulder gently.

    ¡°You probably already figured out who the culprit is, right?¡± Feng Wan fixed her gaze on Nan Zhengde

    intently.

    ¡°I''m not making any assumptions. We''ll find out sooner orter. Just stay put at home and don''t do

    anything. I''ll be back in a bit. Get the helpers to close the doors when I''m not around. Don''t ept any

    visitors or answer any phone calls.¡±

    ¡°I can''t even answer phone calls?¡±

    ¡°No, lest it''s from the culprit. You might not know how to handle it. Just wait till I return.¡±

    ¡°Okay. Make a fast trip then. Be careful.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Just then, Chai Hua brought over a cane. Seeing that, Nan Zhengde waved his hand. ¡°I don''t need

    that. I can walk.¡±

    ¡°Qiao Zhan is in the Xinan region. There are only over ten men in the house. How many should we

    bring along?¡± Chai Hua inquired.

    ¡°We''re not going for a group fight. There''s no need to bring any men along. Just get a chauffeur.¡± Nan

    Zhengde gave a dismissive wave.

    ¡°Won''t that be risky?¡±

    ¡°Why would it be risky? I''ve spent more than half of my life in this city, and no one ever dares toy a

    finger on me!¡± Nan Zhengde roared.

    Chai Hua figured that Nan Zhengde made a lot of sense. Had the other party dared to make a move in

    Flower City, there would not have been a need for them to wait till now.

 Chapter 606

    Chapter 606

    It was already nine at night when Nan Zhengde returned.

    It had been a long time since he had gone out and entertained guests. Nan Zhengde was exhausted

    from all the interactions.

    As soon as he sat down, Chai Hua said, ¡°Ouyang Duo is here. Do you want to see him?¡±

    Nan Zhengde''s eyes lit up. ¡°Is it really him?¡±

    ¡°Do you suspect that the Ouyang family is the culprit, Mr. Nan?¡±

    ¡°Currently, there isn''t any evidence, but there will be soon enough,¡± Nan Zhengde replied.

    ¡°So, would you like to see him?¡±

    ¡°No. Tell him that I''m tired and have turned in for the night.¡±

    ¡°No?¡± Chai Hua was astounded.

    ¡°I always go to bed early. He''s here at this time of night to see if I''m unable to fall asleep. He wants to

    know if the Nan family is restless and on edge. Ask him to leave. He''ll be back tomorrow,¡± Nan

    Zhengde said as he waved his hand.

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Chai Hua followed his order and went to the living room. ¡°Mr. Ouyang, Mr. Nan has already retired for

    the night. He can''t be woken up, or he''ll be very angry. Please return tomorrow, Mr. Ouyang.¡±

    Ouyang Duo was taken aback.

    That''s not what I expected. Shouldn''t Old Master Nan be feeling anxious and unable to sleep? He went

    to sleep this early? And he can''t be woken up?

    He checked the expensive watch on his wrist. ¡°It''s only a little past nine, and Mr. Nan is already

    asleep?¡±

    ¡°He always sleeps before nine because he has to get up early in the morning,¡± Chai Hua replied.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Uh... I see. Has anything happened at home recently?¡± Ouyang Duo tried to probe.

    ¡°What might you be referring to, Mr. Ouyang?¡±

    Chai Hua instantly threw the question back. As the housekeeper of the Nan residence, he was

    definitely not one to be trifled with.

    ¡°Oh, I''m not talking about anything in particr. I''m just asking if everyone is well,¡± Ouyang Duo said.

    ¡°Thank you for your concern, Mr. Ouyang. Everyone is very well,¡± Chai Hua replied calmly.

    ¡°That''s good. Good to hear.¡±

    Although Ouyang Duo said that, he still had no intention of leaving. He was unwilling to back down and

    refused to believe that nothing was wrong with the Nan family.

    ¡°Are you nning to spend the night here, Mr. Ouyang? In that case, I will arrange a room to be

    prepared for you,¡± Chai Hua said politely.

    ¡°Oh, uh, that''s not necessary. I''ll leave right away.¡±

    Ouyang Duo could only stand and head outside.

    Chai Hua pretended to try and make Ouyang Duo stay. ¡°Mr. Ouyang, if you stay here for the night, you

    may see Mr. Nan tomorrow morning.¡±

    ¡°It''s fine. I prefer my bed and am not used to spending the night outside. I''m going. Goodbye, Mr. Chai.¡±

    It wes elreedy nine et night when Nen Zhengde returned.

    It hed been e long time since he hed gone out end enterteined guests. Nen Zhengde wes exheusted

    from ell the interections.

    As soon es he set down, Chei Hue seid, ¡°Ouyeng Duo is here. Do you went to see him?¡±

    Nen Zhengde''s eyes lit up. ¡°Is it reelly him?¡±

    ¡°Do you suspect thet the Ouyeng femily is the culprit, Mr. Nen?¡±

    ¡°Currently, there isn''t eny evidence, but there will be soon enough,¡± Nen Zhengde replied.

    ¡°So, would you like to see him?¡±

    ¡°No. Tell him thet I''m tired end heve turned in for the night.¡±

    ¡°No?¡± Chei Hue wes estounded.

    ¡°I elweys go to bed eerly. He''s here et this time of night to see if I''m uneble to fell esleep. He wents to

    know if the Nen femily is restless end on edge. Ask him to leeve. He''ll be beck tomorrow,¡± Nen

    Zhengde seid es he weved his hend.

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Chei Hue followed his order end went to the living room. ¡°Mr. Ouyeng, Mr. Nen hes elreedy retired for

    the night. He cen''t be woken up, or he''ll be very engry. Pleese return tomorrow, Mr. Ouyeng.¡±

    Ouyeng Duo wes teken ebeck.

    Thet''s not whet I expected. Shouldn''t Old Mester Nen be feeling enxious end uneble to sleep? He went

    to sleep this eerly? And he cen''t be woken up?

    He checked the expensive wetch on his wrist. ¡°It''s only e little pest nine, end Mr. Nen is elreedy

    esleep?¡±

    ¡°He elweys sleeps before nine beceuse he hes to get up eerly in the morning,¡± Chei Hue replied.

    ¡°Uh... I see. Hes enything heppened et home recently?¡± Ouyeng Duo tried to probe.

    ¡°Whet might you be referring to, Mr. Ouyeng?¡±

    Chei Hue instently threw the question beck. As the housekeeper of the Nen residence, he wes

    definitely not one to be trifled with.

    ¡°Oh, I''m not telking ebout enything in perticuler. I''m just esking if everyone is well,¡± Ouyeng Duo seid.

    ¡°Thenk you for your concern, Mr. Ouyeng. Everyone is very well,¡± Chei Hue replied celmly.

    ¡°Thet''s good. Good to heer.¡±

    Although Ouyeng Duo seid thet, he still hed no intention of leeving. He wes unwilling to beck down end

    refused to believe thet nothing wes wrong with the Nen femily.

    ¡°Are you plenning to spend the night here, Mr. Ouyeng? In thet cese, I will errenge e room to be

    prepered for you,¡± Chei Hue seid politely.

    ¡°Oh, uh, thet''s not necessery. I''ll leeve right ewey.¡±

    Ouyeng Duo could only stend end heed outside.

    Chei Hue pretended to try end meke Ouyeng Duo stey. ¡°Mr. Ouyeng, if you stey here for the night, you

    mey see Mr. Nen tomorrow morning.¡±

    ¡°It''s fine. I prefer my bed end em not used to spending the night outside. I''m going. Goodbye, Mr. Chei.¡±

    ¡°I''ll see you out, Mr. Ouyang.¡±

    After exiting Commoner Residence, Ouyang Duo climbed into his car.

    Feng Jialing had been waiting for him. ¡°That was quick. What did the old man say?¡±

    ¡°I didn''t see him. I was told he had turned in for the night.¡±

    ¡°He''s asleep? Something happened to Nan Chen, and he''s still able to sleep soundly? Just how

    nonchnt is he? Could it be that he doesn''t know what happened to Nan Chen?¡±

    ¡°There''s no way he doesn''t know. Nan Chen has been uncontactable for a long time, so the news

    would definitely have reached them. The Nan family''s information feedback wouldn''t be this slow,¡±

    Ouyang Duo said.

    ¡°But why is Old Master Nan still able to fall asleep? Isn''t he just intentionally refusing to see you?¡±

    ¡°Old Master Nan is a sly old fox. I wonder what tricks he has up his sleeve. He''s been enjoying his

    status as a powerful figure in Flower City for such a long time; it''s natural for him to be formidable. We

    should be careful,¡± Ouyang Duo replied.

    ¡°Now that Nan Chen and Ning Ran have fallen into our hands, we don''t have to fear the Nan family

    anymore! We will be victorious this time!¡±

    Feng Jialing had always been rather calm andposed, but now she was almost on the edge of her

    seat.

    Ouyang Duo pondered for a moment before speaking up again. ¡°You''re right. No matter how powerful

    Nan Zhengde is, he''s old and no longer on the board of directors. There''s nothing he can do.¡±

    Nan Chen is trapped, Nan Zhiyuan is useless, and Nan Xing is a yboy. There is no one else left in

    the Nan family! We will definitely win this!

    Ouyang Duo''s mood improved as he grew more confident in his victory.

    ¡°Shall we have a small celebration?¡± Feng Jialing suggested.

    ¡°It''s still a little too early to be celebrating. We''ll do a proper one when we acquire Nanshi Corporation.

    Let''s head back for now.¡±

    Meanwhile, Chai Hua returned to the study room and saw Nan Zhengde practicing calligraphy again.

    Nan Zhengde had written the word ¡°calm¡± inrge letters on the paper.

    Calm your heart, mind, and situation.

    Nan Zhengde raised his head and asked, ¡°What do you think of my calligraphy, Chai Hua?¡±

    ¡°It''s excellent,¡± he answered.

    ¡°Such a tterer. I think so, too.¡± As soon as Nan Zhengde finished his sentence, he let out a hearty

    laugh.

    Chai Hua was d to see Nan Zhengde still so optimistic.

    Now that his grandson was in trouble, Nan Zhengde was the only one left who could do something.

    Moreover, being able to do this in his old age was not easy.

    ¡°Sir, you should get some rest,¡± urged Chai Hua.

    ¡°I can''t sleep. I still feel quite anxious,¡± Nan Zhengde said honestly.

    Chai Hua nodded in acknowledgment. If it were me, I would be more anxious than this.

    ¡°How do you intend to handle this?¡± he asked.

    ¡°When theye to negotiate with me, I will agree to all their demands,¡± Nan Zhengde replied.

    ¡°And what if they want Nanshi Corporation?¡±

    ¡°That won''t happen. Nanshi Corporation is too huge for one person to acquire. They won''t be able to

    handle it. They just want the power to control, at most. With it, they can slowly acquire Nanshi

    Corporation. There are countless listedpanies under Nanshi Corporation. No one would be able to

    acquire them all in one go,¡± Nan Zhengde stated calmly.

    ¡°So, will you be giving them the power to control?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I can''t refuse to do so. Chen is more important than Nanshi Corporation. Protecting him is the

    most important thing.¡±

    ¡°You are right, sir. Where there''s life, there''s hope. As long as Master Chen returns in one piece, he''ll

    be able to get back everything he lost!¡±

    ¡°By the way, has there been any news?¡± Nan Zhengde inquired.

    ¡°Not yet. They''re still investigating, but they''ve found the hotel Master Chen and Ning Ran had stayed

    at. They should be making progress soon.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± Nan Zhengde gave a slight nod.

    ¡°You should rest, Mr. Nan. If you really are unable to fall asleep, have some milk or take a sleeping pill.¡±

    Nan Zhengde conceded, ¡°Sure, I''ll just have one pill then.¡±

    Just then, Feng Wan entered the study. Nan Zhengde still had not retired to their room, so she came to

    take a look.

    ¡°What are you two talking about? It''ste. You should get some rest.¡±

    ¡°I''m going to bed now. Why are you still up?¡± Nan Zhengde asked.

    ¡°I can''t sleep because I was thinking about Chen. How did someone as bright as him fall for someone''s

    scheme?¡±

    ¡°Even the brightest person won''t be able to escape from someone else''s schemes. They set the trap

    long ago and were just waiting for him to fall into it. It can''t be helped. But I believe he''ll be able to

    ovee this. He will survive and return to Flower City.¡±

    What he said was tofort Feng Wan and himself.

    As Nan Chen was unreachable, no one knew if he was dead or alive. So, although he had faith in Nan

    Chen, he was still quite worried.

    But this was precisely the time they had to remain calm.

    ¡°We should sleep for now. Hopefully, there will be good news tomorrow,¡± Feng Wan said.

    ¡°There will definitely be good news.¡±

 Chapter 607

    Chapter 607

    Nan Zhengde took a sleeping pill and was able to have a restful sleep. He woke up in the morning

    feeling refreshed.

    While he was having breakfast, Chai Hua reported the new findings. ¡°Master Chen''s car has been

    located, but there aren''t any signs of damage on it.¡±

    ¡°He''s not in the car?¡±

    ¡°No. The local police also did not receive any report regarding this,¡± Chai Hua replied.

    Nan Zhengde took a bite of his food. ¡°Was the car parked normally?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it was parked on the wider part of a roadside.¡±

    ¡°How far is it from where his car was parked to where he wanted to go?¡± Nan Zhengde asked again.

    ¡°It''s quite far; almost a hundred kilometers.¡±

    ¡°How''s the traffic?¡±

    ¡°The road is currently undergoing repairs, so there are traffic jams asionally. It''s difficult to navigate

    on it.¡±

    Chai Hua took out his phone and pulled up a picture that his subordinates had sent him.

    In the picture, Nan Chen''s car was covered in yellow dust and filthy.

    Nan Zhengde said nothing as he continued to have his breakfast.

    Chai Hua remained silent as well, for he knew that Nan Zhengde was mulling over the matter.

    ¡°Mr. Nan, do not worry too much. As Master Chen''s car is fine, that must mean he is fine as well,¡± Chai

    Huaforted him in a gentle voice.

    ¡°There are a few possibilities. One is that Chen was stopped on the road and abducted. However, this

    is unlikely to have happened as there is traffic on the road. Kidnapping him is very risky as the chance

    of having someone witness it is high. Hence, they wouldn''t choose this method,¡± Nan Zhengde

    analyzed.

    Chai Hua nodded.

    ¡°The second possibility is that Nan Chen felt that driving there was taking too long, got on another

    mode of transport, and was held hostage by someone.¡±

    Chai Hua piped up, ¡°A motorcycle. The road is undergoing repairs, so it''smon for jams to ur. If

    it''s a motorcycle, it would be a lot more efficient than a regr car.¡±

    Nan Zhengde mmed the table and eximed, ¡°Yes! Tell them to visit the nearby area and ask the

    vigers and road repair workers if Nan Chen had purchased or rented a motorcycle locally. Tell them

    to keep asking questions. A lead shoulde up.¡±

    ¡°I''ve already instructed them to do so,¡± Chai Hua said.

    Nan Zhengde gave him a look of approval. As expected of the Nan family''s housekeeper. Chai Hua

    knew exactly what to do even without instruction.

    ¡°That''s great.¡±

    Nan Zhengde finished his breakfast, went for a walk, and headed to the garden for some Tai Chi.

    At ten in the morning, someone came to report that Ouyang Duo hade again.

    Nen Zhengde took e sleeping pill end wes eble to heve e restful sleep. He woke up in the morning

    feeling refreshed.

    While he wes heving breekfest, Chei Hue reported the new findings. ¡°Mester Chen''s cer hes been

    loceted, but there eren''t eny signs of demege on it.¡±

    ¡°He''s not in the cer?¡±

    ¡°No. The locel police elso did not receive eny report regerding this,¡± Chei Hue replied.

    Nen Zhengde took e bite of his food. ¡°Wes the cer perked normelly?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it wes perked on the wider pert of e roedside.¡±

    ¡°How fer is it from where his cer wes perked to where he wented to go?¡± Nen Zhengde esked egein.

    ¡°It''s quite fer; elmost e hundred kilometers.¡±

    ¡°How''s the treffic?¡±

    ¡°The roed is currently undergoing repeirs, so there ere treffic jems esionelly. It''s difficult to nevigete

    on it.¡±

    Chei Hue took out his phone end pulled up e picture thet his subordes hed sent him.

    In the picture, Nen Chen''s cer wes covered in yellow dust end filthy.

    Nen Zhengde seid nothing es he continued to heve his breekfest.

    Chei Hue remeined silent es well, for he knew thet Nen Zhengde wes mulling over the metter.

    ¡°Mr. Nen, do not worry too much. As Mester Chen''s cer is fine, thet must meen he is fine es well,¡± Chei

    Hueforted him in e gentle voice.

    ¡°There ere e few possibilities. One is thet Chen wes stopped on the roed end ebducted. However, this

    is unlikely to heve heppened es there is treffic on the roed. Kidnepping him is very risky es the chence

    of heving someone witness it is high. Hence, they wouldn''t choose this method,¡± Nen Zhengde

    enelyzed.

    Chei Hue nodded.

    ¡°The second possibility is thet Nen Chen felt thet driving there wes teking too long, got on enother

    mode of trensport, end wes held hostege by someone.¡±

    Chei Hue piped up, ¡°A motorcycle. The roed is undergoing repeirs, so it''smon for jems to ur. If

    it''s e motorcycle, it would be e lot more efficient then e reguler cer.¡±

    Nen Zhengde slemmed the teble end excleimed, ¡°Yes! Tell them to visit the neerby eree end esk the

    villegers end roed repeir workers if Nen Chen hed purchesed or rented e motorcycle locelly. Tell them

    to keep esking questions. A leed shoulde up.¡±

    ¡°I''ve elreedy instructed them to do so,¡± Chei Hue seid.

    Nen Zhengde geve him e look of epprovel. As expected of the Nen femily''s housekeeper. Chei Hue

    knew exectly whet to do even without instruction.

    ¡°Thet''s greet.¡±

    Nen Zhengde finished his breekfest, went for e welk, end heeded to the gerden for some Tei Chi.

    At ten in the morning, someone ceme to report thet Ouyeng Duo hede egein.

    ¡°Let him wait. I''m going to get changed,¡± Nan Zhengde said.

    He put on a traditional Tang suit and went to the living room.

    Ouyang Duo rose from his seat. ¡°Mr. Nan, how are you doing?¡±

    ¡°I''m doing very well. I was told that you were here when I woke up this morning. My employees must be

    unfamiliar with proper etiquette. They should have woken me up. Sorry to keep you waiting, Duo,¡± Nan

    Zhengde replied with a smile.

    ¡°It''s fine. I''m sorry for the sudden visit.¡±

    Nan Zhengde hummed in response. ¡°Have some tea, Duo. Is there something you need from me?¡± he

    asked as he stared at Ouyang Duo.

    Ouyang Duo felt a bit daunted when he locked eyes with Nan Zhengde.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    In all the times he had gone up against the Nan family, Ouyang Duo had always lost. Hence, he was a

    little traumatized.

    ¡°I received some information, but I''m not sure if it''s legitimate or not.¡±

    ¡°Oh? What is it?¡±

    ¡°I have a friend in Lightspring who knows that Nan Chen is in trouble. Do you think it''s true that he has

    fallen into someone''s hands?¡± Ouyang Duo asked.

    ¡°It''s true. Nan Chen has been unreachable for two days now. We''ve been looking for him but to no

    avail. How did your friend know about this?¡±

    Ouyang Duo exined, ¡°I''m not too sure how he found out. It seems like he saw Nan Chen''s car. There

    aren''t many in that small town that drive that kind of SUV. Someone managed to find out that the car

    belonged to Nan Chen and deduced that something had happened to him.¡±

    ¡°In that case, can you ask your friend to do us a favor and check if Nan Chen is still alive or not?¡± Nan

    Zhengde asked calmly.

    Ouyang Duo tentatively started, ¡°I''m afraid he can''t do that. He was only guessing, after all. Why don''t

    you call the police? If the police get involved, I''m sure they can find out everything.¡±

    ¡°We can''t contact the police without endangering Nan Chen''s safety. In addition, if news about Nan

    Chen being uncontactable spreads, the stocks will plummet, and Nanshi Corporation will descend into

    chaos. We can''t let outsiders learn about this.¡±

    This was what Ouyang Duo had intended to say to Nan Zhengde, but Nan Zhengde beat him to it.

    Hence, Ouyang Duo had nothing else to say. Everyone understood what it meant, and now it was

    almost time for a showdown.

    Ouyang Duo pretended to ponder for a moment. ¡°That is true. So, what do you n on doing, Mr.

    Nan?¡±

    ¡°Do you have a suggestion, Duo?¡± Nan Zhengde threw the question back at him.

    ¡°Since it will still take some time before any leadse up, you should take charge in Nan Chen''s

    stead quickly. Nanshi Corporation is such arge firm that it can''t have no one at the helm.¡±

    Nan Zhengde nodded. ¡°That makes sense. However, there is currently no one suitable in the Nan

    family to take over Nan Chen''s position.¡±

    ¡°Nan Xing can do it. They''re brothers, after all. I think he''ll be able to handle it.¡±

    ¡°Nan Xing is not capable enough to take up such a huge responsibility.¡±

    ¡°I think he can do it. A CEO doesn''t have to do everything himself¡ªhe can just let his subordinates run

    things for him. You don''t have to worry, Mr. Nan. Nan Xing is ratherpetent. But then, he''s not

    married yet. In China, it''s tradition for one to settle down before working on their career. If he bes

    CEO now, I''m afraid many people will feel that he''s still not mature enough. But if he gets married,

    things will be different. If he marries my daughter, I''ll be his father-inw. As my son-inw, he''ll

    definitely be qualified enough to be the CEO of Nanshi Corporation. After all, Sunshine Corporation is

    one of the bestpanies in the region.¡±

    Ouyang Duo dered his intentions.

    ¡°Nan Xing and Ouyang Qing are to be married? Right now?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Once they are married, we''ll all be a family. The two of them are already dating, and they''re

    bound to get married sooner orter. Since it''s inevitable, we might as well get it done now. A man will

    be more responsible once he has a family. The board of directors will also have more faith in Nan

    Xing.¡±

    Nan Zhengde nodded vehemently. ¡°I''ve been worrying about this. Now that you mentioned it, Duo, I

    think it''ll work. After he gets married, you will be his backer. With someone like you to endorse him, it

    won''t be difficult for Nan Xing to take control of the situation. It''s a good idea!¡±

    ¡°So, are you giving your approval, Mr. Nan?¡±

    Ouyang Duo was overjoyed. He thought that Nan Zhengde would reject him and did not expect Nan

    Zhengde to acquiesce so quickly.

    ¡°Of course I am. Why wouldn''t I when you''ve thought of such a great n, Duo? However, Nan Xing

    isn''t in Flower City right now. I''ll have to summon him back.¡±

    Ouyang Duo was even more ecstatic. ¡°This is rather sudden, so I think the marriage ceremony can be

    held at ater date. We''ll get them to register their marriage first, and then you can transfer the stocks

    you have on hand to Nan Xing, Mr. Nan. This way, Nan Xing can legitimately be thergest

    shareholder and take over Nanshi Corporation.¡±

    ¡°Duo, I''m so grateful that you''re being considerate of us. It''s settled, then. I''ll do as you have said.¡±

 Chapter 608

    Chapter 608

    Ouyang Duo still could not believe Nan Zhengde would agree to his suggestion without hesitation.

    He was still a little suspicious. I didn''t think this old man would give up his ownership of Nanshi

    Corporation so easily. It''s like he didn''t even hesitate or put up a fight at all. He must have some tricks

    up his sleeve.

    Given that Nan Zhengde had toiled in the business world for several decades, Ouyang Duo believed he

    would not easily let anyone step all over him. Nanshi Corporation wouldn''t have achieved great

    sess had he been a coward.

    Ouyang Duo was still considerably skeptical because, so far, everything had turned out well.

    He nned to get Nan Xing to marry Ouyang Qing.

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    Once Nan Xing obtained the shares after marrying Ouyang Qing, the shares would automatically

    be their matrimonial assets, provided that they did not sign any other supplementary agreements.

    That was Ouyang Duo''s first move.

    Next, he would get Nan Xing to transfer the assets to Ouyang Qing''s ount. Sunshine Corporation

    would then step in and buy out Ouyang Qing''s shares at the lowest price possible. In other words,

    Sunshine Corporation would directly acquire Nanshi Corporation.

    Should his dreame true, the Ouyangs'' Sunshine Corporation would be the one and only

    conglomerate in the province!

    He would also be the most powerful person in the region.

    Nheless, the fact that his dream was not as far-fetched as it seemed frightened him. Or rather, he

    felt a tad insecure.

    Despite being on the winning side, he was overwhelmed with anxiety.

    Ouyang Duo was like a thief who knew he would soon get his hands on a precious gem that he had

    been coveting for some time but worried it might burn him or even explode.

    ¡°Why did you agree to my proposal so quickly?¡± Ouyang Duo asked while staring at Nan Zhengde.

    He hoped to read the expression on the elderly man''s face but to no avail. Nan Zhengde was calm and

    did not show any changes in his emotions.

    ¡°It''s a good suggestion. And you''re right. Nanshi Corporation can''t operate without a leader. We should

    do as you said,¡± Nan Zhengde said.

    ¡°All right. When is Nan Xing returning?¡±

    ¡°Tomorrow,¡± Nan Zhengde answered steadily.

    ¡°Can hee back earlier?¡± Ouyang Duo wanted to end this as soon as possible, as he no longer

    wanted to live in fear.

    ¡°I''ll ask someone to get in touch with him. If possible, let''s get it done by tonight.¡±

    ¡°Sure. If that''s the case, I''ll wait for your update. I''m gonna go now.¡± Ouyang Duo stood up.

    ¡°Why are you in a hurry? It''s almost lunchtime. Stay and eat with us.¡±

    ¡°Oh, no. We can always celebrate once Nan Xing and Qing are married.¡±

    ¡°All right then. Chai Hua, see Mr. Ouyang out,¡± Nan Zhengde said.

    Chai Hua walked over. ¡°This way, Mr. Ouyang.¡±

    Ouyang Duo waved Nan Zhengde goodbye, and thetter reciprocated.

    After taking a few steps, Ouyang Duo turned around to nce at Nan Zhengde.

    The elderly man still had a smile on his face, but there was a cold glint in his eyes.

    Panicked, Ouyang Duo strode and left the house in haste.

    Meanwhile, Feng Wan, who had been hiding in a corner the whole time and listening to them, walked

    out and said, ¡°It''s really him! You''ve figured that out, haven''t you?¡±

    ¡°Why didn''t you nab him and force him to release Nan Chen?¡± Feng Wan questioned Nan Zhengde

    furiously.

    ¡°He must have nned this for years and have everything sorted out. We might risk putting Chen in

    danger had we acted on impulse,¡± Nan Zhengde exined.

    ¡°You''re right. But why did he want Nan Xing to marry Ouyang Qing? By doing what he has done, he''s

    already made an enemy out of the Nan family. Yet, he still wants to be our inw?¡±

    ¡°Do you really not know what''s going on?¡± Nan Zhengde asked while looking at Feng Wan.

    ¡°I know what you mean. Ouyang Duo just wants to turn Nan Xing''s shares into matrimonial assets. But

    even if they eventually file for a divorce, he could only get half of the shares. Unless he could get Nan

    Xing to transfer all his shares to Ouyang Qing andy his hands on Ouyang Qing''s shares.¡±

    Nan Zhengde shook his head. ¡°Nope. He can''t do that. He''ll pay for the shares.¡±

    ¡°Why? He could obtain those shares without paying a single cent.¡±

    ¡°Nanshi Corporation is a giant conglomerate. A hostile takeover will cause an uproar in the business

    world, and everyone in Nanshi Corporation will protest against his action. Nanshi Corporation has tens

    of thousands of employees all over the world. Even if he bes the new boss, he''ll not be able to

    handle the situation,¡± Nan Zhengde exined.

    He continued, ¡°But things would turn out differently had he acquired the shares of thepany. Had he

    followed through with the legal processes, he''ll be regarded as the legitimate boss, and people will

    respect him for that. In other words, acquiring thepany shares is a more civilized way to cover up

    his unscrupulous action.¡±

    ¡°But what he''s really doing is robbing! He locked Nan Chen away so that he could carry out his n.

    Isn''t this robbing?¡± Feng Wan bellowed.

    ¡°Yes, it is. That''s why he''s ying some tricks to put a gloss on his n.¡±

    ¡°What should we do now?¡±

    ¡°We''ll listen to him. Just do as he said,¡± Nan Zhengde replied steadily.

    ¡°But Nanshi Corporation...¡±

    ¡°Keeping Nan Chen alive is more important. We can always start from scratch.¡± Nan Zhengde then

    turned to a housekeeper and asked, ¡°Is lunch ready? I''m a little hungry.¡±

    ¡°The lunch will be ready soon, Mr. Nan.¡±

    Feng Wan expressed her dismay, ¡°What is wrong with you? We''re going through a crisis, yet you''re

    more worried about your lunch?¡±

    ¡°Food is everything. I''m not going to give up my lunch.¡±

    Feng Wan sighed. ¡°It''ll be an utter embarrassment if Ouyang Duo takes over Nanshi Corporation. I

    would be too ashamed to continue living in Flower City.¡±

    Nan Zhengde''s lips curled into a smile. ¡°Ouyang Duo will definitely banish us out of Flower City should

    that happen. He''ll force us to leave the country and live overseas. So you better be mentally prepared.¡±

    Feng Wan began to panic. ¡°I''m not going anywhere. Why do I have to leave the country at this age?

    You want me to die in another country?¡±

    Nan Zhengde responded with a sigh. ¡°Why do women have to rte everything to life and death? Did I

    say we''re noting back?¡±

    ¡°I don''t care. I''m not leaving, and that''s final. Ouyang Duo can torture me to death, but I''m going

    nowhere!¡± Feng Wan roared.

    ¡°Can you calm down? We''ve gone through all kinds of tribtions over the past decades, and we''ll get

    through this together. But I don''t think this is going to end anytime soon. We''ll have to proceed with the

    marriage and get Nan Xing to take over thepany,¡± Nan Zhengde deduced.

    He continued exining, ¡°ording to Nanshi Corporation''s regtions, the recement of the CEO

    must be justified with a valid reason, and this move must obtain the board of directors'' approval. Nan

    Xing is an infamous yboy. Do you think the board of directors will agree to hand thepany to

    him?¡±

    ¡°Besides, some directors are also eyeing that position, and they know what Ouyang Duo has in mind.

    Do you think they will allow him to take over Nanshi Corporation without putting up a fight? If Ouyang

    Duo thinks he can absorb Nanshi Corporation into his business empire by tearing the Nan family apart,

    he''s nothing more than a naive man who''s set to fail,¡± he added.

    Nan Zhengde waved his hand in the air. ¡°Oh, forget it. I don''t think you understand what I just said.

    Let''s have lunch!¡±

    Feng Wan begged to differ. ¡°Of course I understand. I understand every word. So you think Ouyang

    Duo will fail?¡±

    ¡°Not necessarily. We''ll see.¡±

 Chapter 609

    Chapter 609

    Ning Ran had a dream that night. She dreamt that she was looking for something with her mother.

    She had no idea what they were looking for, only that she was very anxious.

    It felt as though they would be in big trouble if they failed to find the unknown item, not that she knew

    what trouble was in store.

    Dreams were never known to be logical anyway. Ning Ran soon jolted awake from sheer anxiety.

    She immediately saw Nan Chen''s handsome face. He stared intently at her and asked, ¡°Did you have a

    nightmare during the day? What was the dream about?¡±

    ¡°I felt as though I was looking for something, but I have no idea what,¡± Ning Ran exined while

    exhaling slowly.

    Nan Chen replied, ¡°Well, my body feels itchy, so I''m taking a shower.¡±

    ¡°Guo Si only brought us medicine and towels. There''s no soap or shampoo. How are you going to

    shower?¡± she asked.

    ¡°There''s a bar of soap there for washing clothes.¡±

    ¡°That''s not for bathing. It''ll harm your skin.¡±

    Nheless, he insisted, ¡°Well, we can''t go days without showering. I''m sure it''ll be fine if we use more

    water to rinse ourselves off.¡±

    ¡°Don''t use the bar soap, then. Just shower with clean water and scrub a little harder; that should work.

    There''s a wooden bucket over there with water in it,¡± suggested Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen nodded and replied, ¡°Thanks in advance, then.¡±

    Ning Ran felt a sense of foreboding as she asked, ¡°Why are you thanking me in advance when you''re

    the one showering?¡±

    ¡°My leg''s injured now. I can''t move around easily. How can I bathe without your help?¡± retorted Nan

    Chen.

    ¡°But... erm...¡±

    He added, ¡°Might I remind you that we actually have children together? What''s wrong with helping me

    to take a shower? I can always return the favor.¡±

    Ning Ran practically yelped in reply, ¡°No! I can shower alone, thank you very much!¡±

    Smirking, Nan Chen returned, ¡°It''s settled, then. You''ll help me bathe. Boil some water, will you? I don''t

    want to freeze.¡±

    The kettle in their room was so small that Ning Ran had to boil several kettlefuls of water before the

    water temperature in the wooden bucket was tolerable.

    Nan Chen promptly took off his shirt, revealing his chiseled muscles. Then, he looked at Nan Chen and

    said, ¡°Pants.¡±

    ¡°I''m sure you can take it off yourself,¡± Ning Ran mumbled while blushing.

    ¡°I can''t, and I need your help. Why are you blushing? You have two children, woman.¡±

    The blush on her face deepened, and she stammered, ¡°I-I... Why don''t you shower at night instead?

    This feels a bit weird in the day.¡±

    ¡°No one''s going toe here in the day; it''s safer to shower now. Stop dawdling. Come on.¡±

    Ning Ran turned her head away and tried to take off Nan Chen''s belt. Her blind fumbling was futile.

    Nan Chen teased, ¡°How are you supposed to take it off if you''re looking the other way? Why are you

    always making such silly mistakes?¡±

    ¡°I''m not looking at it!¡±

    ¡°I''ll take it off myself, then.¡±

    ¡°Hey, you don''t have an arm injury. Why didn''t you take off your belt in the first ce?¡± demanded Ning

    Ran.

    He feigned innocence and drawled, ¡°You started working on the belt before I said anything. I only

    meant to tell you to wipe me down, not take off my belt. I didn''t have the heart to stop you when you

    voluntarily helped to take off my belt.¡±

    Ning Ran sputtered, ¡°Y-You...¡±

    In the meantime, Nan Chen had taken off his belt and was slowly peeling his pants off his legs.

    Ning Ran panicked and shrieked, ¡°You''re not seriously taking everything off, are you?¡±

    ¡°How else am I supposed to bathe?¡± he deadpanned.

    ¡°Ugh, you''re shameless! I''m still standing here! Let me wipe your back first before you take anything

    else off!¡±

    In truth, Nan Chen had no ns to take off all his clothes. He only wanted to tease Ning Ran a little.

    Her nervous reaction amused him to no end.

    Soon, Ning Ran returned to his side with a towel and began wiping him down.

    Nan Chen reminded her, ¡°Wipe a bit harder. Don''t be so gentle.¡±

    ¡°This is all the strength I can muster. I''m not some kind of professional scrubber. This is the best I can

    do. Take it or leave it.¡±

    ¡°Fine, fine. Take your time.¡±

    A whileter, Ning Ran asked Nan Chen curiously, ¡°Guo Si brought you pen and paper, but I haven''t

    seen you touch them. I assume you wanted them to write a letter?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I wanted to write a letter, but I eventually decided against it. Guo Si''s disembarking in another

    couple of days, and they''ll surely pat him down before allowing him to leave. I don''t want to get him in

    trouble by asking him to smuggle a letter out for me. We can bide our time for a better opportunity to

    get a letter out of this ce,¡± exined Nan Chen.

    Nheless, Ning Ran replied anxiously, ¡°Letters take time to arrive. We might not get our message

    out in time if we wait any longer.¡±

    He replied calmly, ¡°Don''t worry; Nanshi Corporation is far too big. They''ll need at least half a month and

    a very precise operation to orchestrate a takeover. We have plenty of time.¡±

    ¡°Well, we need to send word to our families that we''re here. They''ll need time to arrange a rescue

    operation. I still think it''s prudent to send out our letter as soon as possible.¡±

    Nan Chen tried to reason with her, ¡°The Nan family''s every move is being scrutinized as we speak. If

    they realize the Nan family has uncovered our whereabouts, they might perform some extreme

    counterblow. In fact, it might be a blessing in disguise that our family is clueless about where we are. Of

    course, I agree that the situation is urgent. However, Guo Si has been kind to us. We can''t recklessly

    endanger him or his children, so we must n our next steps carefully.¡±

    Suddenly, Ning Ran piped up, ¡°I have an idea.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°You''re worried that Guo Si will be subjected to a body search when he disembarks. What if he

    voluntarily offers up the letter? They won''t see a need to inspect his possessions then.¡±

    Nan Chen halted Ning Ran from wiping him down and mulled over her suggestion. He asked, ¡°So what

    you''re saying is we write two letters and have Guo Si surrender a copy to prove his innocence. As long

    as he hands over a letter, they won''t suspect him or try to do a body search. Then, he can secretly

    send the hidden letter out.¡±

    She nodded. ¡°Yes. That''s exactly what I meant.¡±

    Nan Chen voiced another concern in his mind, ¡°That''s a great idea. It could work, but there''s still

    another risk. People rarely send letters these days, and his best chance at getting the letter out is to go

    to a courier. What if someone trails Guo Si and finds out about the hidden letter? That would be

    dangerous to him too.¡±

    Ning Ran countered, ¡°Guo Si has a wife. He can let his wife post the letter while she brings the children

    to the market or something. I''m sure they won''t bother to trail his wife too.¡±

    ¡°How are you so smart?¡± Nan Chen stared at her in awe.

    ¡°Excuse me; I''ve always been this smart. I just can''t be bothered to use my brain on normal days,¡± Ning

    Ran replied haughtily, even tilting her chin for good measure.

    ¡°That will surely reduce the risks, but Guo Si may not necessarily agree.¡±

    Ning Ran shared his views. ¡°If I was in his shoes, I wouldn''t risk my wife or kids for this. He probably

    wouldn''t agree.¡±

    ¡°I think we need toe up with a more full proof n,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°How about asking Guo Si to find somewhere with a satellite signal and call Nan Xing?¡±

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Nan Chen promptly shot down her suggestion. ¡°That would never work. It''s far too easy to dig out

    phone records. It''s not too hard to bug a call, either. Calling is too risky. Only a letter would work.¡±

    Ning Ran mused out loud, ¡°Guo Si must be doing these people''s bidding for other reasons besides his

    family''s safety. I''m sure he''s getting paid for this. If he was only being threatened, how could he be in

    the mood to wine and dine with others before seeking us out? He must''ve received a reward from

    them. I bet he''s willing to help us if we can offer him better benefits. As for the safety of his wife and

    children, they''re quite safe as long as everything is nned carefully. Why don''t we ask him straight up

    if he''s willing to do it? He can assess the risks himself and decide. If he refuses because he thinks it''s

    too risky, we can''t force him anyway. What do you think?¡±

    Convinced by her argument, Nan Chen replied, ¡°You have a point. He''s risking himself by locking us up

    here. If the police find us, he''s going to be in trouble too. He''s not that risk-averse. Let''s ask him when

    he''s back then.¡±

 Chapter 610

    Chapter 610

    Ning Ran washed up inside the house while Nan Chen stood guard outside the door. After taking a

    shower, they felt a lot more rxed andfy.

    The only problem was that they did not have a change of clothes. As such, they could only wash their

    clothes at night and dry them over the fire briefly. In the morning, they had to put on their clothes, which

    were still damp, and continue drying them using their body heat.

    Although it felt rather ufortable, they were at least able to keep themselves clean. That was

    considered quite a luxury given their current circumstances.

    Guo Si arrived in the afternoon and brought the couple some necessities, including toilet paper,

    shampoo, and soap.

    He had also brought them a bag of fruits, which was perfect for Ning Ran and Nan Chen, as they

    needed something nutritious.

    ¡°Is your leg better? Is there anything else you need?¡± Guo Si asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°Recovery will take some time. Did those people ask about my situation?¡±

    Guo Si nodded and replied, ¡°They did. I told them that you are seriously injured, and your life was

    hanging by a thread. They did not want you to die so soon and asked me to think of a way to keep you

    alive without letting you recoverpletely.¡±

    ¡°Yup. They are worried that I''ll escape. But their worries arepletely unfounded. The reservoir is

    huge. No matter how good my swimming skills are, there''s no way I can get away. Besides, I''m sure

    their men would be guarding the shores.¡±

    Guo Si nodded and replied at once, ¡°You''re right. So please don''t try to escape as that would get both

    of you killed.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you haven''t told us yet. How much did they pay you?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    An awkward expression appeared on Guo Si''s face before he replied, ¡°Let''s not talk about this. It''s true

    that I''ve taken their money, but it''s not much. Besides, I didn''t make things difficult for you guys. So I

    hope that you guys will do the same for me. They threatened to hurt my wife and kids if I don''t do as

    they say. I don''t have a choice.¡±

    ¡°We won''t cause you trouble, but we need your help to pass a message to my family and let them know

    that I''m here. Tell them I''m safe and not to worry.¡±

    As expected, Guo Si gave a dismissive wave at once and eximed, ¡°That''s not possible! They would

    conduct a thorough body search on me every time I get on shore!¡±

    ¡°I''ll prepare two letters. If you hand over one of the letters to them voluntarily, it''s likely that they

    wouldn''t find you suspicious and won''t pat you down. After that, you can think of a way to deliver the

    other letter. As for the means, I''ll leave it to you. You can either get your rtive or your wife to do it. As

    long as you manage to deliver my letter, I''ll reward you handsomely. If I''m right, those people must

    have given you a few thousand, is that so? Is it three thousand or five thousand?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Three thousand six hundred,¡± Guo Si answered honestly, to Nan Chen''s surprise.

    ¡°I''ll give you fifty thousand. I''ll write your bank ount number in the letter. As soon as my family

    receives your letter, fifty thousand will be deposited into your ount. We are in your hands now. If you

    fail to receive the money, it''s easy for you to make things difficult for us, such as not giving us food and

    starving us to death. As such, you don''t have to worry about me lying to you, right?¡±

    After a moment of contemtion, Guo Si felt that what the man said made sense.

    Fifty thousand was a rather huge sum of money to him.

    ¡°No, I want one hundred thousand. You are obviously from a wealthy family. I''m sure a hundred

    thousand means nothing to you!¡± Guo Si demanded.

    That was exactly what Nan Chen wanted to hear.

    He was hoping to make use of Guo Si''s greed to get him to do things that he would not do under

    normal circumstances. That was just human nature.

    Of course, one hundred thousand was nothing to Nan Chen.

    ¡°Sure, I''ll give you one hundred thousand, but you have to be careful not to expose yourself. I won''t be

    responsible for anything that happens to your family if you slip up.¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry. I already have a n in mind. My wife often sells fish at the market. They are not going to

    suspect her.¡±

    Sure, it''s settled then.¡±

    Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Meanwhile, at Livingsfill''s Mountview Inn, Nan Xing was lying on a chair under a tree in the courtyard.

    He was certain that something bad had happened to Nan Chen. However, Nan Zhengde had explicitly

    disallowed him to head to Lightspring to look for Nan Chen and instead asked him to stay in Livingsfill

    to look after the two little ones.

    As such, he did not even dare to step out of the inn. In fact, after they started staying there, the inn

    stopped epting other guests, and there were bodyguards standing outside the inn round-the-clock.

    After losing contact with his brother, Nan Xing had not slept well. He was always having nightmares, in

    which he saw Nan Chen''s face covered in blood. After jolting awake from those dreams, he would

    always have difficulty going back to sleep.

    Nan Xing wanted to go to Lightspring and look for Nan Chen, but he could not disobey his grandfather.

    He was also worried that something bad would happen to the two kids in his absence. If that happened,

    he would never be able to forgive himself.

    Just then, Qiao Zhan walked over. ¡°Mr. Xing, you have a call from Old Master.¡±

    Nan Xing took over the phone and said, ¡°Grandpa, any news on Chen?¡±

    ¡°Not yet. We are still investigating. I''ve booked flight tickets for you. You have toe back

    immediately.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Didn''t you ask me to stay here and protect the kids? If you don''t need me here, I''m going to

    Lightspring to look for Chen. He''s been unreachable...¡±

    ¡°I''ve already sent some men over to look for him. Let''s talk when you get back.¡± Nan Zhengde hung up

    after saying that.

    Nan Xing trusted the decisions made by his grandfather. He knew that the man must have his reasons

    for wanting him back home.

    ¡°Qiao Zhan, I''m returning to Flower City. Please take care of the kids. You must not let anything happen

    to them!¡± Nan Xing instructed.

    ¡°Don''t worry, Mr. Xing. I will protect Little Master and Little Miss with my life!¡±

    ¡°You don''t have to sacrifice your life. Just make sure you keep the kids and yourself safe. I understand

    that it''s tougher on the men during this period of time, but please ensure that there''s someone guarding

    the children''s room at any time,¡± Nan Xing said before patting Qiao Zhan''s shoulder lightly.

    ¡°Don''t worry. I will definitely do that.¡±

    When Nan Xing entered the children''s room, he saw Dabao standing on a chair while looking out of the

    window. Erbao was standing next to her brother and had a gloomy expression on her face.

    Nan Xing could feel his heart aching. As they were extremely smart children, they must have already

    guessed that something bad had happened to their parents.

    ¡°Dabao, I have to make a trip back to Flower City. You must take good care of your sister when I''m not

    around. I''ll be back soon.¡±

    Dabao was even more nervous when he heard that. ¡°Is there any news on Daddy? How''s Daddy now?

    Why are you not bringing us back with you?¡±

    ¡°He''s all right. He''s really fine. What happened was that a stretch of the ground had copsed due to

    roadworks, which resulted in vehicles not being able to pass through. As such, your daddy and mommy

    are trapped there. But don''t worry, the situation will be resolved very soon.¡±

    Nan Xing had no choice but to lie as he did not want the kids to keep worrying.

    ¡°But why wouldn''t Daddy and Mommy pick up our calls? They promised to video call us every night,¡±

    Dabao asked at once.

    ¡°There is no reception in the countryside. Unlike the city, in most countryside areas, the mobile phone

    signal can be quite weak. As such, it can be difficult to make calls,¡± Nan Xing made up a reason on the

    spot.

    ¡°Uncle Xing, you''re lying. Daddy can go somewhere with a reception and call us. It''s impossible for the

    entire ce to not have any reception!¡± Erbao found Nan Xing''s reply rather incoherent as well.

    ¡°Exactly! What happened to Daddy and Mommy? What are you hiding from us? Also, Uncle Xing, why

    are you going back to Flower City now? Did Great-Grandpa ask you to go back? If nothing happened,

    you would definitely stay here with us instead of returning alone!¡±

    Dabao had logical reasoning, and Nan Xing was barely able to handle the boy''s barrage of questions.

    ¡°It''s true that your daddy and mommy are currently trapped. However, repair works are already

    ongoing, and they will be able toe back once the roads are fixed. Only Great-Grandpa and Great-

    Grandma are at home right now, and there''s a lot of work to settle at thepany. Great-Grandpa and

    Great-Grandma are already so old, so they can''t handle everything themselves. That''s why they need

    me to go back and help them. Do you understand now?¡±

    Dabao epted his uncle''s exnation after thinking about it for a while.

    ¡°But when will Daddy and Mommy be back?¡± Dabao questioned further.

    ¡°Three days. They will definitely be back within three days.¡± Nan Xing had no choice but to say

    something to pacify the children first.

 Chapter 611

    Chapter 611

    At seven in the evening, Nan Xing rushed back to Flower City.

    Nan Zhengde was still practicing calligraphy in the study room. Knowing that Nan Xing had many

    questions to ask, he waved his hand and said, ¡°Shower and change first. We''ll talk when we''re eating.¡±

    ¡°Let''s talk first,¡± Nan Xing blurted out.

    ¡°Go ahead and let me finish writing this. Hush now.¡± Nan Zhengde waved dismissively once again.

    Left without a choice, Nan Xing slinked away to shower and change.

    By the time he was done, Nan Zhengde and Feng Wan were already waiting for him in the dining room.

    There were no servants by their side, for everyone else had been summoned to the west wing. Thus,

    only the three members of the Nan family were in the dining room.

    ¡°Don''t panic and eat first. Only after eating will you have the energy to do anything,¡± Nan Zhengde

    pointed out.

    ¡°All right, Grandpa, just spill it. How am I supposed to have any appetite if you don''t tell me anything? Is

    there news about my brother yet?¡±

    ¡°Trust me. Your brother''s fine. He really is. Dig in now.¡±

    Upon hearing that Nan Chen was fine, Nan Xing found himself a little more rxed. Then, his hunger

    began to make itself known.

    After that, Nan Zhengde told Nan Xing what Ouyang Duo had said at the Nan residence.

    Nan Xing lost his temper right as he heard Nan Zhengde''s words, and he threw his chopsticks on the

    ground. ¡°So it''s that old prick Ouyang Duo who set my brother up!¡±

    ¡°I''ve got to remind you something. Although things have mostly been made clear, we still don''t have

    evidence to prove that he''s involved in your brother''s disappearance, so you can''t do anything rash. If

    you do anything impulsive, you might end up killing Nan Chen,¡± Nan Zhengde told Nan Xing.

    ¡°Who else could it be but him?¡± Nan Xing snarled.

    ¡°It''s possible that he has allied himself with someone else. Even if he''s the one behind this, you can''t

    get the cops to arrest him without any evidence. Moreover, he has never admitted that he was involved

    in this incident. Ouyang Duo isn''t an easy man to deal with. He still has Nan Chen in his hands, so we

    have to heed his words as of now,¡± Nan Zhengde emphasized.

    ¡°So I have to marry Ouyang Qing? I''d rather be single for the rest of my life than marry her!¡± Nan Xing

    roared.

    ¡°Foolish boy. Do you really think that Ouyang Duo wants you to spend the rest of your life with Ouyang

    Qing too? Unless you submit to himpletely, or he''s going to get his daughter to get a divorce from

    you the moment he takes over Nanshi Corporation. You''re just a tool to him right now. This is only a

    procedure; you''re only registering for a marriage certificate with her, so just go with him tomorrow,¡± Nan

    Zhengde said.

    ¡°I refuse to y along with the Ouyang family even if it''s just for the show!¡± Nan Xing gritted out

    stubbornly.

    Immediately, Nan Zhengde snapped, ¡°Are you telling me you don''t care if Nan Chen dies?¡±

    ¡°Of course not! How can I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Then you will listen to me! You''re a man. What loss will you suffer even if you pretend to marry

    Ouyang Qing? Even if you really do get a divorce from her in the future, you still won''t have any

    problems marrying another woman. On the other hand, Ouyang Qing, a woman, will be condemned for

    marrying twice, so what are you afraid of?¡±

    ¡°I''m not happy with it! I don''t want to do this! Grandpa, why do we Nans have to let someone else

    trample on us?¡±

    ¡°This is a n they''ve plotted for a long while, and we''ve stepped right into the trap. Since we''re in it

    now, we''ll have to do everything we can to ensure that Nan Chen''s safe. We''ll have to n things

    carefully. If you''re the one trapped right now, and if Ouyang Duo had requested Nan Chen to marry his

    daughter, Nan Chen would have done it in a heartbeat. Do you understand?¡± Nan Zhengde slowly

    uttered.

    ¡°Nan Xing, why are you so insensible at a time like this? Has your grandpa not exined the situation

    clearly enough? Only by agreeing to their conditions will we be able to resolve the current crisis. It''s the

    only way to keep Nan Chen safe. Why won''t you listen?¡± Feng Wan cried out, anxious about Nan

    Xing''s reaction.

    Nan Xing did not speak, but he gradually calmed down.

    ¡°You''ve always hidden behind your brother''s back. Your brother has always been the one to bear all the

    pressure alone. He has always protected you with utmost care. Now that Nan Chen is in danger, it''s

    time for you, a member of the Nan family, to take on this responsibility to make sure that your brother is

    safe. Am I right?¡±

    Nan Xing finally nodded. ¡°I got it, Grandpa. I''ll go with Ouyang Qing to register our marriage tomorrow.¡±

    Nan Zhengde inclined his head. ¡°Good. You have to agree to everything the Ouyang family says.

    Remember to keep your cool. This is only temporary.¡±

    ¡°But they''ve requested you to transfer all of the shares to me before transferring the shares to them.

    Won''t they have control of Nanshi Corporation then? Will we still be able to take thepany back if

    that''s the case? This is all my fault. I''m too weak to do anything. If my brother was here, he''d surely

    have a way around this instead of heeding everything Ouyang Duo says...¡± Nan Xing muttered as he

    hammered his head in distress.

    Nan Zhengde''s tone turned cold as he said, ¡°Are you looking down on me? Do you think I''ve lost the

    ability to protect Nanshi Corporation just because I''ve grown old? Do you think I can only listen to

    Ouyang Duo now?¡±

    ¡°That isn''t what I mean. I just...¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry. I''m old, but I haven''t lost my mind. Just do as I say.¡±

    ¡°Okay. I trust you, Grandpa.¡± Nan Xing bobbed his head.

    Nevertheless, Nan Xing did not have a good night''s sleep.

    The next morning, right as Nan Xing woke up, Ouyang Duo came with his daughter.

    They were there to pick Nan Xing up for the marriage registration. Afraid that an issue might crop up if

    they took things slowly, the Ouyang family was quickening the pace of their n to acquire Nanshi

    Corporation.

    In the past, Nan Xing found Ouyang Qing a rtively pretty woman. However, when they came to pick

    him up for the marriage registration, he found her as disgusting as a worm.

    ¡°Nan Xing, did youe backst night?¡± Ouyang Qing asked.

    However, Nan Xing did not bother lifting his head to answer her question.

    At his ignorance, Ouyang Qing almost rolled her eyes in contempt. What are you pretending to be high

    and mighty for? Your brother''s fate is in our hands, so what''s with your attitude?

    Right then, Nan Zhengde emerged from his room. ¡°You''re early.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Nan, I''ve consulted a geomancy expert, and they''ve told me that today''s morning is the best time

    for the marriage registration. That''s why I''vee to pick Nan Xing up to bring him and my daughter to

    register their marriage. A good day and a good time will spell good fortune for us all,¡± Ouyang Duo said

    with a smile.

    ¡°All right. The date you''ve picked will certainly be a good day. Nan Xing, hurry up and get changed so

    that you can head out with Qing to get this done. From now onward, we''ll be a family,¡± Nan Zhengde

    uttered.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I''ve checked the lunisr calendar this morning, and they clearly said that today is not a good day for

    any major events. Aren''t you afraid of bringing disaster to the family if we were to register our marriage

    today?¡± Nan Xing coldly responded.

    Instantly, Ouyang Duo''s expression darkened. ¡°Nan Xing, you shouldn''t say that. I''ve consulted a

    specialist on this. Today is truly an auspicious day. It''ll only be an unfortunate day if you keep up with

    that attitude of yours.¡±

    The threat in his words was obvious¡ªif Nan Xing did not go along with his n, Nan Chen would be

    doomed.

    Nan Xing was no fool, so he heard the underlying threat.

    Hence, he had no choice but to fume in silence.

    ¡°Mr. Ouyang, I was just joking with you. I''ll get changed right away,¡± Nan Xing said upon forcing a smile

    onto his face.

    ¡°That''s more like it. Nan Xing, the Ouyang family is a prestigious family as well. It''s a good deal for you

    to be the son-inw of our family, you know?¡±

    A good deal for me? You''re about to snatch Nanshi Corporation from us! What are you talking about?

    Then, Ouyang Qing chimed in, ¡°Nan Xing, we''re going to take wedding photoster, so do remember to

    wear something formal.¡±

    Shortly after that, Nan Xing re-emerged from his room.

    Indeed, he was dressed in formal wear¡ªa ck shirt and a pair of ck pants. One might mistake him

    for Nan Chen at first nce.

 Chapter 612

    Chapter 612

    ¡°We''re getting married today, not attending a funeral. Why are you dressed up like this?¡± Ouyang Qing

    was ticked off when she saw Nan Xing''s outfit.

    ¡°This is what my brother usually wears,¡± Nan Xing replied.

    ¡°Why are you wearing Nan Chen''s clothes? What is wrong with you?¡±

    ¡°You like my brother, but he doesn''t feel the same way about you, and that''s why you settled for me.

    So, I chose to wear my brother''s clothes to please you.¡± A bitter expression appeared on Nan Xing''s

    face.

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    That made Ouyang Qing feel humiliated. Her pretty face paled with anger as she spat, ¡°Nan Xing, you

    b*stard! If you say something like that again, my dad won''t forgive you!¡±

    ¡°Nan Xing, you''re the one marrying my daughter, not Nan Chen. What do you mean by saying this?¡±

    Ouyang Duo''s expression turned grim.

    ¡°So you got a problem with it too, Mr. Ouyang. I wore my brother''s clothes simply because I wanted to

    please Ouyang Qing. I didn''t expect to upset both of you. In that case, I''ll go and change right now.¡±

    Nan Xing promptly left to put on another outfit.

    Soon, he returned, wearing a id shirt with a big red sweater and a pair of light gray cks.

    He was a handsome man. Therefore, he''d appear dazzling no matter what he wore. The red sweater

    complemented well with his fair skin and further entuated his charm.

    However, Ouyang Qing was still dissatisfied with him. ¡°Can''t you wear something more formal? You''re

    getting married here. Why are you dressed in a casual outfit?¡±

    ¡°Then what exactly do I need to wear before you''re content with my appearance? How about you just

    follow me to the wardrobe and pick an outfit for me?¡± Frustration rose in Nan Xing''s tone.

    ¡°What''s with your attitude? Are you unhappy now?¡±

    ¡°Should I be happy?¡±

    ¡°All right, that''s enough. Stop arguing about what to wear. It''s not that important anyway. Let''s go and

    apply for the certificate now,¡± Ouyang Duo interjected.

    The most important thing to him was getting the share.

    ¡°He clearly isn''t taking this seriously, Dad,¡± said Ouyang Qing in exasperation.

    ¡°That''s enough. He thinks he looks charming in that, so let him be. Let''s go.¡±

    Once they stepped out of Commoner Residence, they saw around eight cars parked at the entrance.

    ¡°I won''t be going with you two to apply for the certificate. Get along with each other, okay? No

    arguments or fights. Once it''s done, call me,¡± Ouyang Duo instructed before entering one of the cars.

    Ouyang Qing and Nan Xing both rode in another car together.

    Once Nan Xing was inside the vehicle, he leaned back on the seat and closed his eyes.

    ¡°Why are you putting on that sour face again? You don''t look like someone who''s on the way to getting

    married,¡± Ouyang Qingmented in annoyance.

    ¡°Then what kind of expression do you think I should put on so I''ll look like I''m getting married?¡±

    ¡°I''m about to be your wife! Do you think this is how you should treat me?¡±

    ¡°Then how should I treat you?¡±

    Ouyang Qing realized she couldn''t get along with Nan Xing at all. Whenever they conversed with each

    other, it would just escte into a fight. There was no way they couldmunicate peacefully with one

    another.

    ¡°You should know your ce, Nan Xing. Treating me badly won''t do you any good,¡± she warned.

    ¡°I do know my ce. Your family harmed my brother, so now I''m forced to marry you. How shameless!¡±

    Nan Xing replied.

    ¡°Who are you calling shameless?¡±

    ¡°You, of course! Do you think I''m calling myself that?¡±

    Ouyang Qing turned sideways and attempted to p Nan Xing''s face.

    However, the space within the car was cramped, so it wasn''t easy for her to perform that act. By the

    time she turned, he had already caught her hand.

    ¡°Don''t you dare cross the line, Ouyang Qing! Just because your family is controlling my brother doesn''t

    mean you get to do whatever you want!¡± he barked.

    ¡°Our marriage has nothing to do with your brother! Stop spewing nonsense like that! Also, let me warn

    you again. You better treat me nicely. Otherwise, you''ll suffer consequences you cannot bear!¡±

    Nan Xing fell silent.

    His grandfather warned him many times before not to provoke members of the Ouyang family when it

    still wasn''t the right time yet.

    For the sake of Nan Chen''s safety, he had to bear with it.

    When they arrived at their destination, they saw plenty of cars parked at the entrance with a huge

    crowd gathered there even though it was still early in the morning.

    Those people were all reporters with cameras and microphones in hand, waiting for Ouyang Qing and

    Nan Xing to arrive.

    ¡°My dad told you not to talk nonsense in front of those reporters and only say what you should say.

    Consider the consequences of saying things that you shouldn''t,¡± Ouyang Qing reminded again.

    Nan Xing remained silent.

    When the duo stepped out of the vehicle, the reporters surrounded them immediately.

    ¡°We received news that you''ll be here to apply for a marriage certificate with your partner today, Ms.

    Ouyang. Is that true?¡± The reporters were clearly nted there by the Ouyang family.

    ¡°Thank you all foring here so early today, dear reporters. Nan Xing and I are indeed here to apply

    for our marriage certificate,¡± Ouyang Qing answered.

    The reporters cheered, ¡°Congrattions!¡±

    Nan Xing continued wearing a grimace on his face. It wasn''t until Ouyang Qing subtly nudged him that

    he forced out a smile.

    ¡°Why the sudden decision, Ms. Ouyang?¡± a reporter asked.

    ¡°It''s not, actually. Nan Xing had been asking for my hand in marriage for a while now. I''ve been

    considering if I should ept his proposal. After my father encouraged me, I made up my mind and

    decided to marry this man who had been after my heart for a long time,¡± Ouyang Qing responded with

    a bashful expression.

    Another question came from one of the reporters. ¡°How did you move Ms. Ouyang to the point that she

    agreed to marry you, Mr. Xing?¡±

    The reporters then aimed all their cameras in Nan Xing''s direction, waiting for his answer.

    The man felt aggrieved even though it wasn''t his first time dealing with reporters. In the past, he would

    put on a gleeful grin while answering their questions. However, at that moment, he couldn''t for the life

    of him ster a smile on his face.

    He tried his best to force out a smile, but he still couldn''t.

    Ouyang Qing gave Nan Xing a meaningful stare, telling him non-verbally that he must say something.

    Reluctantly, he said curtly, ¡°Thank you, everyone.¡±

    ¡°You didn''t tell us how you moved Ms. Ouyang to the point that she agreed to marry you, Mr. Xing,¡±

    asked one of the reporters, relentlessly pestering the man.

    ¡°I think she decided to marry me because my dazzling mug made her fall for me.¡± Left with no choice,

    Nan Xing could only crack a half-hearted joke that wasn''t even funny.

    Still, the reporters yed along and chuckled.

    Ouyang Qing shed a bright smile. ¡°See, he''s already starting to bully me. That''s not what he said

    during the proposal.¡±

    ¡°What did he say, then?¡± a reporter wondered.

    ¡°He said he''ll love me and treat me as a princess forever.¡±

    ¡°Is this how you tricked Ms. Ouyang into marrying you, Mr. Xing?¡± questioned one of the reporters.

    At that point, Nan Xing was sick of putting up a show. He didn''t want to face the cameras in such a

    wimpy manner.

    ¡°Let''s apply for the certificate first and talkter,¡± he said, making no effort to hide the impatience in his

    tone.

    However, Ouyang Qing wasn''t done yet. She wanted more pictures of her and Nan Xing to be taken.

    Since so many reporters were arranged to be there, she figured they should take full advantage of the

    situation.

    Thus, she held Nan Xing''s arm, seemingly disying their intimacy and affection in public, but it was

    just to prevent him from leaving that quickly.

    We still haven''t answered all the questions the reporters had prepared beforehand! How can we leave

    just like that? We must utilize this opportunity to publicize our marriage to the fullest.

 Chapter 613

    Chapter 613

    Nan Xing was forced to stay where he was. To make matters worse, he couldn''t shove Ouyang Qing

    away right in front of the reporters.

    ¡°Ms. Ouyang, the public thinks your marriage with Mr. Xing is a marriage of convenience. Will there be

    more coborations between Nanshi Corporation and Sunshine Corporation in the future after your

    wedding?¡± a reporter questioned.

    That question was clearly prepared beforehand. Ouyang Qing must provide coherent answers to such

    important questions.

    ¡°Of course. Our marriage will no doubt promote more coboration between the Ouyang family and

    Nanshi Corporation. Actually, our families have always been working closely together. It''s just that the

    coborations will be more expansive and in-depth henceforth.¡± Ouyang Qing beamed in front of the

    cameras.

    Another reporter asked an even more pivotal question. ¡°Will the Ouyang family consider investing in

    Nanshi Corporation?¡±

    ¡°You''ll have to ask my dad that question. After all, he''s the patriarch of the Ouyang family. However, I

    think he will, because if he does, it''s a win-win situation.¡±

    That was an exceptionally crucial question to answer because that would foreshadow the Ouyang

    family''s subsequent actions in the near future.

    The n was to let the media spread the news so that Nanshi Corporation''s shareholders and high-

    ranking officials would be prepared for what was toe.

    That way, when the Ouyang family enacted their n, it wouldn''te off as being too abrupt and

    would instead appear natural.

    ¡°What do you think about it, Mr. Xing? Do you share the same sentiment?¡± a reporter asked.

    Nan Xing stered a smile on his face. ¡°You all know I''m a free man. I don''t care about Nanshi

    Corporation''s businesses. Besides, there are many more interesting things for me to do now that I''m

    newly wedded. Why would I want to think about work now? I don''t have time!¡±

    That joke was a lot funnier than thest and even implied a dirty context, so it got aught from the

    reporters.

    With all the important questions answered, it was almost time to apply for the marriage certificate.

    Worried that Nan Xing would spout even more inappropriate remarks should the conversation continue,

    Ouyang Qing waved at the reporters before pulling the man into the building.

    Meanwhile, in Livingsfill, Dabao and Erbao were sunbathing in Mountview Inn''s courtyard.

    Erbao was feeling much better as she kept running around the courtyard, asionally disturbing her

    older brother, who was reading a book.

    ¡°Can you get some rest, Erbao? Don''t tire yourself out,¡± Cheng Xiangyun said.

    Ever since losing contact with Ning Ran and the others, Cheng Xiangyun''s identity had changed from

    Ning Ran''s assistant to Erbao''s assistant.

    Since Erbao was a girl, it was inconvenient for Qiao Zhan and the other bodyguards to take care of her.

    Thus, that responsibility naturally fell on Cheng Xiangyun''s shoulders.

    The job exhausted her. Whenever Erbao was under the weather, the woman would get very worried. It

    was tiring for her to constantly keep an eye on the little girl''s condition and take her body temperature

    from time to time.

    However, the mischievous girl could never stay still when she was feeling better and would constantly

    be up to something.

    Left without a choice, Cheng Xiangyun would have to keep watch of the girl to ensure she did not get

    herself into trouble.

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    After a few days of repeating the same actions, Cheng Xiangyun finally understood why babysitters

    had very high wages, for the job was anything but easy.

    After Nan Xing promised that Nan Chen and the others would return in three days, Dabao and Erbao

    became more at ease. They were able to eat and sleep better.

    However, the children being in good spirits meant it was harder for Cheng Xiangyun to do her job and

    keep them under control.

    ¡°I''m bored, Aunt Xiang. How about we go and y outside?¡± Erbao suggested.

    ¡°No, we can only stay in the inn. We can''t go anywhere else,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun, turning her down.

    ¡°Why not? The weather''s warm right now. It''s such a pity if we don''t y outside!¡± Erbao eximed.

    ¡°Aren''t you ying right now? The courtyard''s pretty big. Isn''t that enough for you?¡±

    ¡°It''s not enough! I want to have fun outside! I want to watch a movie and eat tasty food!¡± Er Bao hugged

    Cheng Xiangyun''s leg and kept shaking it.

    The girl''s ability to pester people was out of this world. She wouldn''t stop until she got what she

    wanted.

    The key to her strategy was that she was reasonable. Instead of crying or throwing a tantrum, she just

    relied on her cuteness to get her way.

    Cheng Xiangyun, who was almost worn down by Erbao''s pleas, hoped she could bring the girl outdoors

    as well.

    However, she knew they shouldn''t act as they pleased for the time being since it was currently a crucial

    period.

    While she had no idea what happened to the Nan family, she knew for a fact that the matter wasn''t

    child''s y.

    Due to that reason, she mustn''t allow anything to happen to the children. Otherwise, it would only add

    fuel to the fire.

    Moreover, even if she agreed to Erbao''s request, the stubborn Qiao Zhan would never allow it.

    ¡°Let''s have fun outside, Aunt Xiang. Pretty please?¡± Erbao pleaded with her adorable voice.

    Cheng Xiangyun couldn''t take it anymore, so she came up with an idea. ¡°How about this? You go and

    ask Uncle Qiao. If he says okay, I''ll take you outside to have fun. If he doesn''t, then there''s nothing I

    can do.¡±

    Of course, she knew there was no way Qiao Zhan would agree to it. She just wanted to pass the buck

    to the man for a change.

    ¡°Uncle Qiao...¡± Erbao drawled as she approached the inn''s entrance.

    Qiao Zhan spent most of his time at the entrance, vigntly observing the situation outside.

    ¡°Don''t call me that.¡± Qiao Zhan frowned.

    He wasn''t that much olderpared to Nan Chen and was only a year or two older than thetter at

    most. Being called that made him feel somewhat old.

    In response, Erbao changed the way she addressed him. ¡°Ah Qiao.¡±

    ¡°Okay, that sounds even worse. Just stick to calling me uncle, then,¡± Qiao Zhan said quickly.

    ¡°Please let us y outside! It''s too boring to stay here all day. I feel like I''m going crazy!¡±ined

    Erbao.

    ¡°Please just bear with it a little longer, Little Miss. You really can''t go out right now!¡± He dared not agree

    to her request.

    It was a critical period, after all. There was no way he could bear the consequences if something

    happened to the girl after he gave the okay.

    ¡°Uncle Qiao, Ah Qiao, Mr. Qiao...¡± Erbao begged.

    ¡°Please don''t stop pestering me, Little Miss. I really can''t allow you to leave. No matter what you call

    me, I won''t agree to your request,¡± said Qiao Zhan with determination.

    Sighing, Erbao turned to walk away with resignation.

    It was then they heard knocks on the inn''s door.

    The knocks were apanied by the eager voice of a child. ¡°Open the door! Open the door! Open the

    door!¡±

    Judging by how she repeated the same thing three times in a row, the child seemed to be an impatient

    person.

    When Erbao heard the juvenile voice, she instantly got excited as she really wanted a ymate.

    It would be great if it''s another kid! We would get to have so much fun together!

    ¡°Someone''s asking you to open the door, Uncle Qiao,¡± she said.

    ¡°Come over here and bring Little Miss away, Cheng Xiangyun! Don''t let her stand at the side of the

    door! Are you even doing your job?¡± Cheng Xiangyun yelled.

    ¡°What are you shouting for? She was the one who wanted to go to you. It''s not like I can keep her by

    my side for the whole day.¡± Cheng Xiangyun was ticked off by how the man called her by her full name.

    ¡°There''s a kid outside, Uncle Qiao. I want to see her!¡± Erbao, however, refused to leave.

    That didn''t dissuade Qiao Zhan from being cautious. ¡°The situation isplicated right now, Little Miss.

    We don''t know what''s going on outside, so please leave for now.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± said Erbao wilfully.

    Staring at Cheng Xiangyun, Qiao Zhan ordered, ¡°Why are you still standing there? Take Little Miss

    away now!¡±

 Chapter 614

    Chapter 614

    With no other choice, Cheng Xiangyunplied and took Erbao away.

    s, Erbao wasn''t cooperative. She clearly heard a child''s voiceing from outside, so she was

    adamant about taking a look at the child.

    Kicking her stumpy legs, she protested, ¡°Let me go, Aunt Xiang! There''s a kid outside! It''s not a bad

    guy!¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun also thought Qiao Zhan was overreacting as she was pretty certain the voice

    belonged to a child and that there was no need for them to be so nervous.

    Therefore, after she brought Erbao away from the entrance, she stopped some distance away,

    intending to see who the visitor was.

    Of course, Qiao Zhan wasn''t scared of a child. He was simply worried someone had used a kid to trick

    them into opening the door beforeunching an ambush.

    After opening the door, they could see that it was indeed a child standing outside, and a pretty little girl

    at that.

    The girl seemed to be around Erbao''s age. She had fair skin, and a tiny mouth. Her hair was woven

    into two short braids, and her eyes glimmered like ck gemstones.

    For a second, Qiao Zhan thought she looked simr to Erbao.

    After the door was opened, the girl red at Qiao Zhan. ¡°Why did it take you so long to open the door?¡±

    Before he could answer, she stepped right into the inn.

    Quickly, the man grabbed her. ¡°What are you doing, kid?¡±

    The girl red at him with disdain. ¡°Don''t touch me. You''re a man. How can you touch a girl as you

    please? How shameless!¡±

    Qiao Zhan stilled for a moment before immediately letting go of the girl''s hand. ¡°Please don''t say that. I

    didn''t do it on purpose.¡±

    ¡°You clearly did. Who are you? Why are you so big?¡± The girl continued fixing her gaze on Qiao Zhan.

    The man wasn''t sure how he should react. ¡°I''m an adult, so of course I''m big. Who are you? You can''t

    come inside here. Go y somewhere else.¡±

    Loudly, the girl imed, ¡°How about you go y somewhere else instead? This is my home! I''m the

    second princess here.¡±

    ¡°Second princess?¡± He was somewhat befuddled.

    ¡°You''re the guest staying at my family''s establishment, right? My mom is the queen here, so what

    would I be if not the second princess? Let me go! I want to go inside!¡±

    Queen? Princess?

    Qiao Zhan was utterly confounded by the royal terms she was using.

    ¡°I think I get it now, Uncle Qiao Zhan. Her mommy is the owner of the inn. This is her home,¡± Erbao

    exined.

    Her soft voice drew the girl''s attention.

    The girl, who was an extrovert, promptly greeted Erbao, ¡°Hi, how are you? Are you staying here?¡±

    Erbao was ecstatic because the girl was around her age and looked pretty. Looks like I''ve found my

    soulmate!

    Thus, she struggled to break free from Cheng Xiangyun''s grasp so that she could go over and greet

    the girl.

    Cheng Xiangyun didn''t think a child would pose any danger to Erbao, so she let go of the little girl,

    allowing her to socialize.

    The two children speedily approached each other before stopping when they were one meter away

    from one another. As they curiously studied their counterpart, theyy realized that their appearances

    were quite simr.

    ¡°I''m Ning Sihan... Oh, no, Nan Sihan. What''s your name?¡± Erbao asked.

    The girl was perplexed. ¡°How can you get your own name wrong?¡±

    ¡°I didn''t get it wrong. I was called Ning Sihan, but then my name changed to Nan Sihan,¡± exined

    Erbao with a serious tone.

    ¡°Why change the name? Is it because your new name sounds better?¡± questioned the girl, furrowing

    her brows.

    ¡°I don''t know why, but Daddy was the one who changed it. I think both my names sound pretty nice.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I see. I''m Lu Yunxue. This building, Mountview Inn, takes after my name. My mommy''s the owner

    of this establishment!¡± the girl informed proudly.

    Both Cheng Xiangyun and Qiao Zhan heard the girls'' exchange clearly.

    They knew the inn''s owner was a woman and that she hadn''t been around because she was on a trip.

    The entire building was currently rented to Qiao Zhan andpany. A few staff members would stop

    by to clean the ce every day. Usually, the establishment wasn''t open to other guests.

    To their surprise, the owner''s daughter, the self-proimed second princess, came to visit that day.

    ¡°Can we y together in the future?¡± Erbao asked gleefully.

    Joyfully, Lu Yunxue replied, ¡°Of course! I have lots of toys that I can share with you!¡±

    ¡°Yay!¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun approached Lu Yunxue. ¡°Where did youe from, kid? Where are your parents?¡±

    ¡°Are you referring to my mommy? I got separated from them at the airport, so I hailed a car and came

    back here by myself. They should be here soon.¡± Lu Yunxue put on an unbothered mien.

    ¡°You were separated from your mother? She must be anxious right now. I bet she''s looking for you

    everywhere. You should give her a call,¡± suggested Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°It''s fine. My mommy won''t get worried because I get lost all the time. When that happens, I always

    come back here to wait for them. You don''t have to worry.¡±

    ¡°You get lost all the time?¡± Cheng Xiangyun was shocked. Looks like this girl is yet another little

    monster!

    ¡°Yeah, I love wandering around. If I get lost, my mommy won''t need to find me because I know my way

    back home.¡± The girl looked pleased with herself.

    ¡°Aren''t you afraid of running into bad people when hailing for a taxi?¡±

    ¡°There are no bad guys in a police car. It''s fine.¡±

    Lu Yunxue''s reply shocked Cheng Xiangyun even more. So she was talking about a police car? She

    really is a little devil. I''m honestly amazed that she would just ask the cops to send her back home after

    getting lost.

    ¡°Wait. That doesn''t seem right. The police officer should''ve made sure you were with your parents

    before they leave.¡±

    ¡°They don''t have to. They know who I am and that I live here, so it''s fine.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun was impressed. I can''t believe this girl''s treating a police car like her own private

    vehicle. Not to mention the officers have gotten familiar with her!

    Dabao was reading a book when he heard themotion and decided to check out what was going

    on.

    The moment he noticed the girl resembled his sister, he instantly took a liking to her.

    ¡°Wow, you two look so simr to each other! Twins, right? That''s so sad.¡± Lu Yunxueughed, pping.

    ¡°Why''s that?¡± Herment confused Dabao.

    ¡°Even though you two look simr, one of you is a boy, and the other a girl, meaning you two can''t wear

    matching clothes!¡±

    Everyone was once again befuddled. Why is it sad to not be able to wear matching clothes? She has

    such a low standard of considering something to be sad. ording to her logic, most people around

    the globe are pathetic.

    Dabao couldn''tprehend her logic, but he didn''t like getting involved in arguments, so he kept quiet.

    Right then, someone knocked on the door. Lu Yunxue promptly pointed at the entrance. ¡°My mommy''s

    back!¡±

    Thus, Qiao Zhan opened the door and saw a beauty outside.

    She had a round face, shoulder-length hair, elegant facial features, a gentle temperament, and an

    exquisite figure.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Next to her was a girl who was just as charming.

    Her appearance was almost identical to Lu Yunxue. She was even d in the same outfit as the other

    girl, though her hairstyle was different.

    Most importantly, their temperament was contrasting.

    Lu Yunxue was an extrovert and a social butterfly who began running her mouth as soon as she

    stepped in.

    The girl at the entrance, on the other hand, was quiet and reserved despite looking exactly like Lu

    Yunxue.

    Not only did she remainpletely silent, but she also wore an icy expression.

    Qiao Zhan met plenty of aloof people before. For example, Nan Chen was a typical cold and distant

    person.

    However, that was the first time Qiao Zhan saw such a young child disying a frosty expression.

 Chapter 615

    Chapter 615

    It was hard to imagine a four or five-year-old child having such a cold temperament. Qiao Zhan couldn''t

    help but wonder if someone had irked her by eating her ice cream or something.

    ¡°Hello. You are?¡± he asked, preventing the pretty woman from entering.

    The beauty replied, ¡°I''m Lu Jingyuan, the owner of the inn.¡±

    That''s the name of the inn''s owner, all right. However, Qiao Zhan still refused her entry. ¡°Sorry, you

    can''te in.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°When we rented the building, we made it clear that no one is allowed to enter, not even you. You may

    be the owner of the inn, but before our time here is up, you can''t stay here. It''s written clearly in our

    contract. Feel free to take a look at it again to refresh your memory.¡±

    ¡°Is there really a use like that on the contract? A staff member showed it to me back then, but I didn''t

    pay attention,¡± responded the woman.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Qiao Zhan replied firmly.

    ¡°Very well.¡± The woman promptly turned around and left.

    Her reaction confused Qiao Zhan. ¡°Wait. Just like that? You''re leaving?¡±

    She turned her head back. ¡°Didn''t you say you won''t let me in?¡±

    ¡°Oh, uh, there''s a girl here saying she''s your daughter.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°You''re not taking her with you?¡±

    ¡°Where is she?¡±

    When Qiao Zhan twirled around, he noticed that the girl from before was already gone. ¡°She was still

    here just a moment ago.¡±

    ¡°Is she a nuisance? If not, just leave her be. She''ll find her way back home herself. We''ll be staying

    nearby.¡± The woman wheeled around to leave right after finishing her sentence.

    Qiao Zhan was still in a state of befuddlement. This family is odd. Her daughter''s wandering around,

    but she''s acting as though it''s not a big deal and even imed that her daughter will find her way

    home.

    Unable to resist his curiosity, he asked, ¡°Aren''t you concerned we might be bad people and that we

    might kidnap her?¡±

    ¡°You won''t be able to do that. Also, don''t give her food. She won''t want to go home if she''s full and will

    continue to disturb you all.¡± After that, she nced at her other daughter and left.

    Qiao Zhan was still stupefied when he heard Lu Yunxue''sughter. ¡°My mommy''s gone! Now I can stay

    here and y!¡±

    No one knew where she hid earlier since she didn''t even make a sound.

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    ¡°Don''t you like your mommy?¡± Erbao inquired.

    ¡°I do, but I get tired of seeing her every day. Right now, I prefer hanging around here,¡± exined Lu

    Yunxue.

    ¡°Then stay and y with me. I''m bored to death here.¡± Erbao nodded.

    ¡°Then why don''t you go out and y?¡±

    ¡°My mommy''s not around, and this man here won''t allow us to go out. He said it''s unsafe.¡±

    ¡°Why is it unsafe?¡± Lu Yunxue was confused.

    ¡°I''m not sure, either. But anyway, I''m not allowed to head out no matter what,¡± Erbaomented in

    aggrievement.

    ¡°You can always sneak outside!¡± Lu Yunxue gave a shocking suggestion.

    Cheng Xiangyun, who was standing at the side, couldn''t listen to the conversation anymore. This girl''s

    too crafty! I mustn''t let her be a bad example to Erbao, especially when Erbao''s already a difficult

    child to manage. If I let them team up, they''ll be a pain to control. It''s a critical period right now, and no

    mistake is too small to let happen. We can''t let anything go wrong, or the consequences will be

    disastrous.

    Thus, she forcibly intervened, ¡°You can''t set a bad example for our girl, Lu Yunxue. How can you tell

    her to sneak outside? What if she runs into a bad guy?¡±

    ¡°It''s not good to eavesdrop on someone else''s conversation, old woman!¡± Lu Yunxue eximed.

    Cheng Xiangyun was infuriated. What did she just call me? I''m not old! I''m young and unmarried!

    Tickled pink, Qiao Zhan couldn''t help but snicker when he heard that.

    Furiously, Cheng Xiangyun retorted, ¡°Don''t go around calling people that, youngdy! I''m still single!

    You should be calling me¡ª¡±

    ¡°You are pretty young, but now that you''ve eavesdropped on our conversation, you''re not likable

    anymore. So, I can only call you that!¡± Lifting her chin, Lu Yunxue appeared extremely arrogant.

    Judging by the way she spoke, it seemed like she knew calling Cheng Xiangyun an old woman would

    damage the woman''s ego. She did it on purpose to punish Cheng Xiangyun for eavesdropping on her

    conversation with Erbao.

    This little witch is ridiculous! I can''t believe she verbally attacked me just because we''re not on the

    same page! I can''t let her do as she pleases. Still angry, Cheng Xiangyun spat, ¡°Erbao''s sick. Her body

    is frail, yet you''re instigating her to sneak out. Do you think that''s appropriate?¡±

    Concerned, Lu Yunxue instantly asked, ¡°You''re sick? Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°I was poisoned. The poison is gone now, but I haven''t recovered yet.¡± Erbao spilled the truth

    straightforwardly, as expected of a child''s sincere nature.

    There wasn''t anything wrong with that. A child should act as naive and genuine as one. It would be

    pathetic if they were as scheming and untrusting as adults.

    ¡°You poor thing! Then what will happen to you?¡± Lu Yunxue panicked.

    ¡°Mommy said it takes time for me to get back in shape. Don''t worry, I won''t die. I''ll get better slowly. In

    fact, I''m doing much better than before already,¡± Erbao consoled.

    ¡°Oh, thank goodness. You need to recover because we''re going to be best friends in the future. I don''t

    want my best friend to get sick. Let''s hug.¡± Lu Yunxue spread her arms open.

    The girls then embraced each other, bringing tears to Cheng Xiangyun''s eyes. Such a beautiful and

    pure friendship. What a precious hug. In the far future, if they can still recall their first meeting, they''ll

    realize that is the most precious moment in their rtionship.

    ¡°Where''s your daddy, Yunxue?¡± After witnessing how Lu Yunxue hugged Erbao, Cheng Xiangyun found

    the girl considerate and adorable. Thus, she wanted to improve her rtionship with thetter, too.

    No answer came from Lu Yunxue.

    Assuming the girl was still mad at her for what happened earlier, sheforted, ¡°I was wrong. I

    shouldn''t have treated you like that, but Erbao really can''t go out right now. You may be familiar with

    the area so you cane and go with no issue, but Erbao isn''t. If she leaves this ce, she''ll be in

    danger. Do you understand?¡±

    ¡°Why is she called Erbao? Isn''t her name Nan Sihan?¡± Lu Yunxue wondered.

    Annoyance marred Erbao''s face. ¡°My mommy calls me that. I don''t like being called that, but I don''t

    have a choice. I think it''s super old-fashioned, but everyone has gotten used to calling me that.¡±

    ¡°I think it sounds nice. I''ll call you Erbao in the future, too, then.¡±

    ¡°Don''t! It''s toome!¡± Erbao rejected outright.

    However, Lu Yunxue giggled and replied, ¡°I think it sounds nice.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun realized Lu Yunxue seemed to be avoiding the topic of her father. This kid''s smart. If

    she doesn''t want to talk about it, it means she has her own reasons not to. I should just drop that

    question. ¡°Yunxue, the girl next to your mom earlier appears very simr to you. Are you two twins?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Her name''s Lu Yunbing. She came out of my mommy''s tummy first, so she got to be the older

    sister.¡± Lu Yunxue pouted with dissatisfaction.

    Cheng Xiangyun was fascinated. Wow, I came across yet another pair of twins! Not to mention they

    look so simr to each other!

    ¡°Why didn''t she stay here to y?¡± she asked.

    ¡°She''s not easy to get along with. Unlike me, who''s cute and active, she''s very stiff,¡± Lu Yunxue

    exined seriously.

    Cheng Xiangyun couldn''t help chuckling. She really is a little devil. It''s incredible how simr she is to

    Erbao in so many aspects.

 Chapter 616

    Chapter 616

    Meanwhile, in Flower City, Nan Zhengde couldn''t recall thest time he visited Nanshi Corporation''s

    headquarters, yet everything still seemed so familiar to him.

    He had been living in retirement and rarely meddled with Nanshi Corporation''s affairs ever since Nan

    Chen took over thepany.

    Since he decided to let Nan Chen run thepany, he held himself back from interfering too much. He

    couldn''t hand over thepany to Nan Chen on the surface while still being in control behind the

    curtains.

    If he did, Nan Chen wouldn''t be able to spread his wings, and the employees working under him

    wouldn''t know who they should take their orders from.

    Therefore, not only did Nan Zhengde relinquish all his positions, but he also stopped visiting the

    company entirely. He simply stayed at home and enjoyed life after retirement.

    However, he returned that day as the founder of thepany to attend an emergency meeting with the

    board of directors.

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    The main seat in the conference room was empty. It should''ve been Nan Chen''s spot.

    The board of directors was the most influential and powerful group of people in thepany, and the

    details they were about to discuss during the meeting were also top secret.

    Hence, many bodyguards were stationed outside to prevent unauthorized personnel from entering.

    Nan Zhengde didn''t sit in the main seat. Instead, he was seated at the side with the other members of

    the board.

    That tiny detail was crucial because it meant he was only there temporarily instead of retaking control

    of thepany.

    ¡°Everyone, I''m here today because there''s something I want to discuss with you all.¡± Nan Zhengde

    initiated the topic with a calm tone.

    The conference room was quiet as everyone was paying attention to what he was saying.

    ¡°Due to personal reasons, Nan Chen can''t manage thepany for the time being. So, I suggest that

    the board of directors choose a new CEO,¡± Nan Zhengde proposed.

    ¡°What happened to Mr. Chen?¡± asked someone anxiously.

    Their anxiety didn''t necessarily mean they cared about Nan Chen. They were mainly concerned about

    how his absence would affect thepany''s operation.

    There were many listedpanies under Nanshi Corporation, and thepany was like arge ship.

    So, if anything happened during its course, the fallout would be cmitous.

    Instead of answering the question directly, Nan Zhengde vaguely brushed past why Nan Chen was

    absent, iming it was due to ¡°personal reasons.¡±

    ¡°Do you have a suitable rmendation, Mr. Nan?¡± a member of the board asked.

    ¡°I''m old now, and Nan Zhiyuan isn''t capable enough. So, if I am forced to choose someone to

    rmend, my choices are limited. I think Nan Xing may be able to take on the position since he has

    been working here for a long time and he''s much more familiar with how thepany works.¡±

    The crowd exchanged nces with each other silently.

    They knew what kind of person Nan Xing was. While he wasn''t a useless good-for-nothing, his sudden

    ascension to the position of CEO still made everyone uneasy.

    Of course, Nan Xing would be more than capable to be the CEO of one of thepanies under Nanshi

    Corporation.

    However, he was clearly not capable enough to take on the position of CEO of Nanshi Corporation

    itself, who was in charge of managing the entire group''s operation.

    Although everyone disagreed with the idea in their hearts, no one voiced their disapproval because

    they didn''t want to disrespect Nan Zhengde.

    Thepany belonged to everyone, but the Nan family was the founder, the biggest shareholder, and

    the core of Nanshi Corporation.

    Nan Zhengde''s influence didn''t decrease after he retired because he had rescued thepany during

    multiple dangerous situations during his tenure.

    That was why everyone wanted to show him their respect and didn''t have the nerve to go against his

    will.

    ¡°No opinions?¡± Nan Zhengde''s gaze swept across the room.

    Still, no one spoke.

    ¡°You''re all free to speak your mind. I don''t have the final say in a matter as important as this. Everyone

    can contribute their thoughts on the matter.¡± The old man smiled.

    Finally, a director broke the silence. ¡°Mr. Xing has been with thepany for a while now. Everyone

    can see his capabilities, Mr. Nan. We believe he has a bright future ahead of him and that he will

    certainly be able to bear the responsibilities of a CEO and elevate thepany to greater heights one

    day. However, right now, we''re afraid he''s not ready yet. He''s too young, and he''s been sheltered by

    Mr. Chen throughout his employment. We''re worried he may not be able to handle it if we suddenly

    ce such responsibilities on his shoulder.¡±

    It was nothing out of the ordinary for someone to object, and Nan Zhengde had always weed

    opposing ideas.

    If only one voice existed in the world without others objecting to it, that sole voice must be a lie.

    The truth would forever be buried if people were forbidden to speak their minds.

    Nan Zhengde wasn''t a foolish man. He was always willing to ept opinions that differed from his.

    Therefore, he nodded instead of scolding the person who disagreed with him.

    Smiling and without a trace of admonition in his tone, he uttered calmly, ¡°Yes, Nan Xing''spetence

    iscking, and your worries aren''t unfounded. However, pray tell, who isn''t inadequate in some way or

    form? When I was still in control of thepany back then, I was once a young man with many ws,

    too. It was only because I weathered many storms that I grew and became better. Everyone here

    represents the benefits the shareholders stand to gain. Why do you all have the right to be that

    representative? That''s because all of you are excellent. However, that excellence is honed by

    experiences. It''s not like you''re born with it, isn''t it?¡±

    No one panicked or felt repulsed when they heard that. The atmosphere remained peaceful and

    amicable.

    ¡°That''s why I''m asking you all to give Nan Xing a chance to try. What do you all say?¡± Nan Zhengde

    grinned.

    The members exchanged nces with each other silently again.

    While they really didn''t want to disrespect him, they genuinely deplored the idea.

    Sure, everyone had the right to improve, but the directors believed Nan Xing should''ve been given a

    smaller stage to develop instead of making Nanshi Corporation his testing ground.

    ¡°If you must make Nan Xing the CEO, then you have to be the chairman again, Mr. Nan. That''s

    our condition. We''ll be at ease if both of you work together,¡± a member of the board proposed.

    ¡°Yeah, I agree with that idea!¡± someone immediately chimed in.

    ¡°That sounds like a great idea!¡±

    ¡°If that is the case, then, of course, I''ll go along with it, too. With Mr. Nan overseeing thepany, we

    won''t need to worry about anything!¡±

    Nan Zhengde shook his head. ¡°You lot are really inconsiderate to an old man like me, you know that?

    I''m one foot in the coffin now, yet you''re still asking me to work? Are you lot demanding me to give you

    my life so you can keep getting paychecks?¡±

    ¡°You don''t have to exaggerate, Mr. Nan. You''re still pretty spry!¡±plimented someone.

    ¡°That''s right! You may be old now, but you''re still capable!¡±

    ¡°Come on, don''t do that. I really am old now, and it''s been years since I helmed thepany. I can''t do

    it anymore. If none of you are willing to give Nan Xing a chance, then you''re all free to rmend a

    candidate and vote. The one with the most votes will be the new CEO,¡± Nan Zhengde suggested.

    The board of directors had no choice but to concede since the old man already put it that way.

    His stance was clear, and he was adamant about noting out of retirement. Either they let Nan Xing

    be the CEO, or they would have to choose someone else to do the job.

    However, selecting a candidate meant they were going against Nan Zhengde''s will.

    Those who opposed Nan Zhengde would have to test the waters first.

    It wasn''t impossible for whoever they rmended to end up bing the CEO through voting, but

    that possibility was tiny.

 Chapter 617

    Chapter 617

    Silence descended upon the meeting room again as they fell into a stalemate.

    ¡°Why aren''t you talking?¡± Nan Zhengde scanned everyone. However, no one spoke a word.

    ¡°You''re still young, so you still have time to waste. On the other hand, I''m old, and I need to rest. If you

    aren''t talking, I''m going to leave now. You can figure out who to choose as the new CEO.¡± Nan

    Zhengde stood up.

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    ¡°Don''t leave, Mr. Nan!¡± Some members of the board of directors panicked.

    ¡°What''s there left to discuss? Even though you disagreed with my suggestion, you refused to offer

    another candidate when I asked you to. How can we continue discussing this?¡± rebuked Nan Zhengde.

    ¡°We''ve already reached an agreement for one part. However, you need topromise too. At the very

    least, you should stay in thepany as a consultant, right? Considering Mr. Xing''s current

    capabilities, he cannot be the CEO of thepany. You know that very well,¡± said another

    director.

    ¡°It''s not like I won''t intervene at all.¡± Nan Zhengde was still reluctant to concede.

    At that moment, a director stood up. ¡°What about this? We can put him on probation for three months.

    If he does a good job after three months, we''ll just ept fate. If he doesn''t, we''ll discuss this again.

    What do you think?¡±

    The director who made that suggestion was the first person whom Nan Zhengde visited with his own

    calligraphy.

    ¡°In that case, he''ll only be the surrogate CEO who''ll manage the work on behalf of Mr. Chen

    temporarily. Any important decisions will need to go through the board of directors first,¡± agreed another

    director.

    This director was also one of those who received Nan Zhengde''s calligraphy.

    It was obvious that although these words were spoken by others, they were representative of Nan

    Zhengde''s opinion.

    ¡°I disagree. If he''s merely the surrogate CEO, there are a lot of things that he can''t do,¡± objected Nan

    Zhengde.

    If it was Nan Zhengde''s own opinion, there should be no reason for him to object.

    However, he believed that if Ouyang Duo wanted to conquer Nanshi Corporation, Ouyang Duo would

    definitely need an internal spy.

    He did not dare to be certain that the spy was not hiding in that crowd.

    Still, he was sure that Ouyang Duo would find a way to know everything that transpired in the meeting.

    Hence, he wanted to let Ouyang Duo know that the idea to make Nan Xing the surrogate CEO was not

    his idea but the board of directors'' decision.

    ¡°Mr. Nan, Nanshi Corporation is such a hugepany. It''s normal that he can''t achieve a lot of things

    as a newly appointed CEO. You should make apromise,¡± urged a director.

    ¡°Fine. I''m getting old, so I''ll let you youngsters make the decision. Shall we vote now?¡± asked Nan

    Zhengde.

    Everyone agreed.

    ¡°Raise your hand if you agree to let Nan Xing be the surrogate CEO.¡± Nan Zhengde raised his

    hand.

    Everyone raised their hands, which meant that the decision had been made unanimously.

    Nan Zhengde stood up and sighed. ¡°If I knew earlier that none of you would listen to me, I wouldn''t

    havee.¡±

    Although he said that, a satisfied look shed across his eyes briefly.

    Immediately after the meeting, Ouyang Duo, who was at the Orchid Club, received a call.

    A grim expression appeared on his face after he hung up.

    ¡°What''s wrong?¡± asked Feng Jialing.

    ¡°The meeting with the board of directors just ended. Nan Xing became the surrogate CEO,¡± said

    Ouyang Duo.

    ¡°Isn''t that great? Now that Nan Xing and Qing finished their registration, they''re now a legal couple. In

    that case, Qing will be the wife of Nanshi Corporation''s CEO! Isn''t that what we want?¡± said Feng

    Jialing with a smile.

    ¡°You need to be clear on this. He''s the surrogate CEO, not the actual CEO.¡±

    ¡°Isn''t that the same? Doesn''t a surrogate CEO have the same authority and rights as the actual CEO?¡±

    ¡°It''s different. Everypany has its own regtions. For somepanies, there might be very strict

    limitations as to what a surrogate CEO can do. I''m still unsure about what''s happening in Nanshi

    Corporation, but I''m worried.¡±

    ¡°What are you worried about? Nan Chen''s in our hands now. He can''t possibly escape, right?¡± Feng

    Jialing was unconcerned.

    ¡°You don''t know anything, huh? It was the first time that Nan Zhengde agreed so easily. He

    surrendered without putting up much of a fight. I''m afraid that there''s a trick somewhere. However,

    everything''s going ording to our n, and I can''t detect any problems. Furthermore, he opposed the

    suggestion to make Nan Xing the surrogate CEO. In other words, he wants to appoint Nan Xing as the

    CEO directly. Yet, a director said that Nan Xing is still not capable enough. He can only be put on

    probation for three months. If he performs well after that, he''ll be officially appointed the CEO.

    Surprisingly, Nan Zhengde refused. That made me even more confused. Could it be that old age has

    caught up with him and made him a weakling?¡±

    Although Ouyang Duo was speaking to Feng Jialing, it seemed like he was mumbling to himself.

    As he spoke, he mulled over it.

    ¡°Nan Zhengde''s getting old, anyway. More importantly, his beloved eldest grandson is in our hands. He

    can give up anything for Nan Chen,¡± said Feng Jialing.

    ¡°But I still think that something''s fishy. What''s scarier is that I don''t know what''s wrong.¡±

    ¡°I think that you don''t need to be too worried. Once Nan Zhengde transfers the stocks to Nan Xing,

    who''ll transfer them to Qing, everything will be settled! They won''t be able to turn the tables anymore!¡±

    assured Feng Jialing.

    ¡°No, I''m still worried. I''ll visit the Nan residence and confirm what happened. Otherwise, I''ll feel uneasy.¡±

    Ouyang Duo stood up and grabbed his coat.

    ¡°Should Ie along with you?¡±

    ¡°It''s fine. I want to visit Nan Zhengde alone and see what he''s doing. I''m afraid that he''s ying some

    tricks!¡±

    ¡°He probably won''t, right? There''s nothing he can do now that Nan Chen''s in our hands.¡±

    ¡°I don''t know about that. If I did, I wouldn''t be so worried. I must make a trip there to ay my

    uneasiness.¡±

    Once Ouyang Duo left the Orchid Club, Nan Zhengde received a call at the Commoner Residence.

    Half an hourter, Ouyang Duo reached the Commoner Residence.

    Chai Hua informed him that Nan Zhengde was sleeping and must not be disturbed.

    That provoked Ouyang Duo to kick a chair over. ¡°Why do I have to wait every time I visit? Wake him up

    right now!¡±

    Chai Hua was shocked. Since when did Ouyang Duo be so arrogant? This is the Commoner

    Residence, the Nan family''s house! How dare he act so unruly here?

    ¡°Mr. Ouyang, this chair belongs to the Nan family. If you damage it, you''ll have topensate for it,¡±

    reminded Chai Hua coldly.

    ¡°Belongs to the Nan family? Everything that the Nan family owns will soon be mine, okay? I''ll make you

    pack up and leave when that timees!¡± yelled Ouyang Duo.

    ¡°Really? Are you saying that you''ll be taking over this house too, Mr. Ouyang? Are you saying that you

    won''t let anyone live here?¡± demanded Chai Hua coldly.

    Only then did Ouyang Duo realize that he had crossed the line.

    The house was still the Nan residence. As he had not gotten everything under his control, he should

    keep a low profile first.

    ¡°How long has Nan Zhengde been sleeping? When will he wake up?¡±

    ¡°I don''t know how long he''s been sleeping. Regardless, I''ll only call for him after he wakes up,¡± replied

    Chai Hua icily.

    ¡°How long have you been a ve for the Nan family?¡± Ouyang Duo was extremely displeased with him.

    ¡°I''ve been working here for over twenty years, but I''ve never been a ve for even a day,¡± said Chai

    Hua in a frosty voice.

 Chapter 619

    Chapter 619

    At a variety show set in Pearl City, Zheng Lunlun sat down during his break.

    Immediately, his assistant walked over and said that he had a delivery.

    Huh? I''m filming a show here. Did someone actually send a delivery to this address?

    The arrangements for the variety show had been settled the year before, so no one could have recently

    found out where he was.

    Who knows about my schedule that was determined the previous year and even sent a delivery here?

    The delivery was an envelope. When he picked it up, it was very light and did not seem to contain

    anything particrly heavy.

    The envelope contained a letter. Once Zheng Lunlun finished reading the contents, the look on his face

    changed.

    ¡°What''s wrong?¡± The assistant noticed the strange expression on Zheng Lunlun''s face.

    ¡°Nothing. My friend''s sick and hospitalized, so I need to visit him,¡± replied Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°Right now? The show''s not done with the filming yet,¡± reminded the assistant.

    ¡°I must leave now. Please exin it to the director. I''llpensate for any losses.¡±

    Since Zheng Lunlun was a top celebrity, he could do whatever he wanted without much concern.

    After leaving the filming set, he got into his car and drove away quickly.

    The car zoomed rapidly along the road and reached Flower City before dusk.

    After parking his sports car and hailing a cab, he headed to the vicinity of the Commoner Residence.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Night had just fallen. However, Zheng Lunlun did not dare to enter from the front gate. Instead, he went

    to the wall at the back of the Commoner Residence and climbed over it.

    Since the Commoner Residence was filled with surveince cameras, Zheng Lunlun got caught by the

    bodyguards the moment hended.

    ¡°It''s me. Don''t make a ruckus.¡± Zheng Lunlun took off his hoodie and cap.

    ¡°Young Master Lun, why did you climb over the wall instead of going through the front gate?¡± eximed

    the bodyguard in shock.

    ¡°I want to meet my great-grandpa. Also, you must not tell anyone that I returned. You hear me?¡±

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    When Zheng Lunlun entered, Nan Zhengde was just preparing to eat.

    ¡°Lunlun? Why are you here? Aren''t you at Pearl City?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, Great-grandpa. I rushed over after receiving a letter from Uncle Chen, who asked me to pass it

    on to you personally. I''m not even allowed to call anyone because I have to hand it to you myself.¡±

    Nan Zhengde''s eyes lit up as he interrupted, ¡°Are you hungry?¡±

    ¡°To be honest, I''ve been rushing here the whole time, so I''m hungry.¡±

    ¡°Bring a few dishes to the study room, and don''t let anyone enter,¡± instructed Nan Zhengde.

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    ¡°Also, no one is allowed to mention to any outsiders that Lunlun has returned.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Upon entering the study room, Zheng Lunlun took out the letter and passed it to Nan Zhengde.

    Thetter let out a sigh after reading it.

    ¡°Is Nan Chen all right? What did he say?¡± asked Feng Wan anxiously, unable to hold herself back

    anymore.

    ¡°Nan Chen got into a car ident and is stuck on an ind in the middle of the reservoir. His leg is

    injured, but it isn''t serious...¡± Nan Zhengde exined to Feng Wan what happened to Nan Chen.

    ¡°What should we do now?¡±

    ¡°There''s a bank ount written in the letter. He told us to transfer a hundred thousand to that ount.

    Instruct someone to do it immediately. We must secure that person first. If I''m not wrong, he''s looking

    over Nan Chen and probably sent the letter on his behalf,¡± analyzed Nan Zhengde.

    ¡°I''d already transferred the money on my phone when I wasing here. He has probably received it

    already,¡± replied Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°Very good. Nan Chen definitely promised that man. He''ll trust Nan Chen even more after receiving the

    money and will continue helping Nan Chen,¡± said Nan Zhengde.

    ¡°We should gather our men and save Nan Chen quickly! We can''t possibly let him continue to be

    trapped there.¡± Feng Wan was panicking.

    ¡°We mustn''t rush into things. I''ll get Chai Hua to go there personally andmunicate with the person

    who gave the bank ount privately.¡±

    Since he has given his bank ount number and name, it won''t be difficult to track him down. We''ll

    contact him privately first and figure out what exactly is going on. There won''t be many outsiders going

    to the countryside. If we don''t act carefully, those people will find out. Once that happens, I''m afraid that

    they would just kill him to silence him.¡± A solemn look appeared on Nan Zhengde''s face.

    ¡°Let''s do that, then. Ask Chai Hua to go there quickly. We must save Chen!¡± urged Feng Wan.

    The sky was already dark at Livingsfill, and it was time for dinner.

    Hence, Lu Yunxue suggested to go home first.

    Naturally, Erbao tried to keep her there. ¡°Eat with us! We''ve got a lot of people, so it''ll be lively!¡±

    Evidently, Lu Yunxue wanted to. She whispered beside Erbao''s ears, ¡°I''m afraid that they won''t want

    me to eat here.¡±

    ¡°It''s fine. Aunt Xiang will agree. I''ll speak to her!¡±

    Erbao ran over. ¡°Aunt Xiang, Lu Yunxue wants to stay for dinner. Can she stay?¡±

    When Lu Yunxue heard his words, she quickly corrected, ¡°Sihan wants me to stay for dinner, but I''m

    still thinking about it. I should go home and eat with my mommy.¡±

    ¡°It''s fine, Yunxue. You should just stay here and eat. I''ll ask someone to send you home afterward,¡±

    offered Cheng Xiangyun with a smile.

    ¡°Really? Are you agreeing to let me eat here, Ms. Xiang?¡±

    Lu Yunxue knew how to tter someone well. While she called Xiangyun ''Ma''am'' in the past, she was

    calling Xiangyun ''Ms. Xiang'' in the present moment. It made Xiangyun sound younger and closer to Lu

    Yunxue.

    ¡°Of course! Since you''re Erbao''s friend, we''ll naturally wee you.¡±

    ¡°After dinner, can I y for a while before going back?¡± requested Lu Yunxue.

    ¡°Sure, as long as it isn''t toote. Otherwise, your mommy will be worried.¡±

    Qiao Zhan entered when she was speaking. ¡°Your mom is here to pick you up, Yunxue.¡±

    However, Lu Yunxue spun around and ran. ¡°Say that I''m not here!¡±

    ¡°No way! You''re right here, so how can I say that you''re not? Why don''t I tell her that you''ll return after

    eating?¡± asked Qiao Zhan.

    Lu Yunxue sighed. ¡°You don''t know my mom well. If she wants me to return, I have to. Forget it. I''m

    going.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun could not bear to see how dejected she was and followed her out.

    Standing at the entrance, Lu Jingyuan nodded at Cheng Xiangyun. ¡°Hello! Sorry that my child disturbed

    you. I''m here to pick her up.¡±

    Under the streetlight, her hair cascaded down her shoulders smoothly. With fair skin and a curvaceous

    body, she was absolutely gorgeous.

    Every woman I meet just keeps getting prettier! Why am I always the ugliest? Cheng Xiangyun

    lamented.

    ¡°It''s fine. Your daughter is really cute and gets along well with Erbao. They''re already very good friends.

    I''d like her to stay for dinner, so I hope that you''ll agree,¡± said Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°It''s fine, thank you,¡± refused Lu Jingyuan directly.

    Lu Yunxue raised her head helplessly and nced at Cheng Xiangyun. See? I told you that my mom''s

    very old school.

    ¡°Why not? Are you worried that our food isn''t hygienic or...¡±

    ¡°It''s not that. She has been disturbing you for a long time, so I can''t keep letting her have her way. Xue,

    come here.¡± Lu Jingyuan beckoned at Lu Yunxue.

    Even though Lu Yunxue looked extremely reluctant, she still walked over obediently.

    ¡°Wait! Ms. Lu, let her eat with me. It''s already so sad that I''m sick. If she can keep mepany, I''ll be

    in a better mood and eat more.¡± Erbao ran toward them.

 Chapter 620

    Chapter 620

    Lu Jingyuan hesitated for a brief while.

    She was a mother, too, after all. Lu Jingyuan felt her heart soften when she heard that Erbao was sick

    and wanted to have a meal with her daughter.

    ¡°Ms. Lu, do you want to stay and eat together too?¡± Qiao Zhan invited her enthusiastically.

    He got slightly excited. Qiao Zhan refused to let anyone enter the house this morning. Hence, it was

    strange that he made a move by inviting Lu Jingyuan for a meal.

    Nheless, he could not be med for that, as Lu Jingyuan was a good-lookingdy that everyone

    wished to approach.

    ¡°Is it okay?¡± Lu Jingyuan gazed at Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Of course! Come on in!¡± Cheng Xiangyun responded.

    At that moment, Cheng Xiangyun forgot their principle of prohibiting outsiders from entering their inn

    too.

    Perhaps Lu Jingyuan was too gorgeous, or her gentle aura had created the illusion of credibility,

    causing everyone to neglect the fact that she was an outsider.

    Seeing that Lu Jingyuan decided to stay, Lu Yunxue got ted and gave Erbao a high-five. ¡°Oh yeah!¡±

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Later, Qiao Zhan swiftly moved the chair over for Lu Jingyuan to sit down.

    The dishes were prepared by their chef from Flower City. The Nan family just employed the chef so that

    they could have someone to prepare meals for them. After all, it was impractical for them to order food

    delivery every day.

    ¡°Do you have any alcohol?¡± Lu Jingyuan asked abruptly.

    Everyone was taken aback for a second upon hearing that. What? Did she just ask for alcohol?

    ¡°It''s a habit of mine to drink wine with my dinner.¡± Lu Jingyuan looked awkward, realizing that her

    request might be too abrupt.

    ¡°Yes, we have. Sir Chen left a box of wines here, but we haven''t consumed any yet. I''ll take one for

    you.¡±

    Having said that, Qiao Zhan rapidly looked for the wine.

    ¡°Who is Sir Chen?¡± Lu Jingyuan asked.

    ¡°That''s my daddy!¡± Erbao replied proudly.

    ¡°I see.¡± Lu Jingyuan nodded lightly and remained silent afterward.

    ¡°My daddy is very handsome. I''ll introduce both of you to each other when he returnster, Ms. Lu.

    However, I''m afraid that my mommy might not be happy about it. You''re too pretty!¡± Erbao remarked.

    ¡°You''re talking nonsense again!¡± Cheng Xiangyun red at Erbao.

    Immediately, Erbao kept mum and pouted.

    ¡°She''s not talking nonsense. My mommy is truly pretty.¡±

    As soon as Erbao stopped talking, Lu Yunxue continued the conversation.

    Erbao could be quite noisy if she were in good condition. Nevertheless, Lu Yunxue was equally rowdy

    too.

    Lu Jingyuan shot Lu Yunxue with a look. Noticing that, the little girl shut up almost immediately.

    The atmosphere at the dining table finally became quiet for a brief moment. In the meantime, Qiao

    Zhan opened a bottle of wine and brought it over.

    ¡°Thank you. I think I''m not taking it,¡± said Lu Jingyuan.

    ¡°I just opened it. Come and drink some. It should be a good wine,¡± Qiao Zhan suggested.

    ¡°It must be expensive, so I don''t think I should have it. Sorry for my abrupt request.¡± Lu Jingyuan

    sounded genuine while replying solemnly.

    Possessing wine knowledge, Lu Jingyuan knew that the bottle of wine was expensive with a single

    nce.

    ¡°Don''t worry. Sir Chen put the wines here for us to drink, but we haven''t drunk any of them yet. Come

    and have a ss.¡± Qiao Zhan was eager to please her.

    ¡°I regret it now. I shouldn''t have asked for the alcohol,¡± said Lu Jingyuan.

    ¡°It''s fine. How about I have one ss with you?¡± Qiao Zhan suggested.

    ¡°Do you think it''s appropriate for you to drink now?¡± Cheng Xiangyun asked Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Oh. I can''t.¡±

    Qiao Zhan btedly remembered that he had to keep the two children safe. Hence, he could not take

    any alcohol.

    As a matter of fact, one ss of wine would not affect Qiao Zhan that much. However, he followed the

    rules seriously, not consuming a single drop of alcohol.

    To him, it was the same as thew had it¡ªno driving after consuming alcohol.

    ¡°Okay. How about you have a drink with Ms. Lu instead?¡±

    Now that Qiao Zhan could not drink, he proposed that idea, hinting at Cheng Xiangyun to drink with Lu

    Jingyuan.

    Cheng Xiangyun did not mind at all. She enjoyed having a small amount of wine on usual days.

    Hearing Lu Jingyuan mentioning how high-priced the wine was, she was eager to try it.

    It would be a waste not to take a sip of that expensive wine.

    ¡°All right. I''ll have a drink with Ms. Lu.¡±

    After pouring the wine, thedies clinked each others'' sses.

    Meanwhile, Erbao and Lu Yunxue followed suit too. They raised their fruit juice and toasted each other

    with a louder clinking sound.

    ¡°By the way, I remember you have two children. Where''s the other child?¡± Qiao Zhan asked with

    concern.

    ¡°She''s at home.¡± Lu Jingyuan replied.

    ¡°I don''t think it''s a good idea to leave a young kid like her alone at home. Should I send someone to

    pick her up here?¡± Qiao Zhan asked anxiously.

    At the side, Cheng Xiangyun could not bear to watch it any longer. Look at him getting all excited,

    ttering her. Does he think that she would be interested in him because of that? He should take a look

    in the mirror.

    ¡°It''s fine. She will be all right. I''ll go home after the meal.¡± Lu Jingyuan remained calm.

    ¡°What is she eating, then?¡± Qiao Zhan asked again.

    ¡°She''s an independent girl. She can take care of herself well.¡±

    ¡°My sister doesn''t like crowded ces. She''s just like him.¡± As Lu Yunxue blurted that out, she shifted

    her attention to Dabao.

    Having his name called out all of a sudden, Dabao nced at her before saying, ¡°I don''t hate crowded

    ces.¡±

    ¡°Why are you so quiet, then?¡± Lu Yunxue asked.

    ¡°I just don''t know what to say.¡±

    ¡°Are you sick too?¡± Lu Yunxue teased Dabao, hoping that he could talk more.

    Being a talkative person, Lu Yunxue could not help but feel pressured sitting beside someone as quiet

    as Dabao.

    How I wish we could talk more to each other. Things would be interesting!

    ¡°I''m not sick. I''m feeling good.¡±

    As soon as he finished his words, Dabao lowered his head to eat, not uttering another word.

    ¡°By the way, what kind of sickness is she having? I know a professional traditional medicine

    practitioner. You could take her there for a checkup. My kid was feeling unwell toost time, and I

    visited him for a prescription. He''s truly an expert,¡± Lu Jingyuan mentioned.

    ¡°Sure. That''s great!¡± Qiao Zhan agreed without any hesitation.

    It seemed like he would agree to everything Lu Jingyuan said.

    Cheng Xiangyun did not agree to it, nheless. She had no say in serious matters like this and would

    have to get approval from the Nan family.

    At the same time, she was afraid that the doctor was not professional enough to treat Erbao. She did

    not want to take the risk of bearing the responsibility if anything went wrong.

    How could Qiao Zhan agree to that so casually?

    Fortunately, Qiao Zhan quickly regained his senses by saying, ¡°I can''t really decide on this alone. I will

    have to ask the Nan family first for their approval.¡±

    ¡°Is the doctor a local?¡± Cheng Xiangyun tried to obtain more information from her before she could

    report it to the Nan family.

    ¡°No. He''s from Lightspring,¡± answered Lu Jingyuan.

    Qiao Zhan and Cheng Xiangyun nced at each other and shared the same thought. Lightspring? Isn''t

    that the ce where Sir Chen and the others went?

    ¡°What''s the doctor''s name?¡±

    ¡°His surname is Ding. We address him as ''Dr. Ding.'' I don''t know his real name, though,¡± Lu Jingyuan

    replied.

    Subsequently, Lu Yunxue interrupted, ¡°His name is Ding Yuanchao.¡±

    ¡°Why are you interrupting the adults'' conversation?¡± Lu Jingyuan said in an annoyed tone.

    Lu Yunxue returned a look of innocence to her and voiced, ¡°His name is Ding Yuanchao. Why can''t I

    say it when I know his real name?¡±

    ¡°How do you know?¡±

    ¡°I heard him mentioning his name to people thest time we visited him at his clinic,¡± Lu Yunxue replied

    earnestly.

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I heard it with my own ears. You can trust me. I have a good memory!¡± Lu Yunxue said.

    ¡°If I''m not mistaken, Sir Chen is going to look for the same doctor. The doctor has the same name too!¡±

    Qiao Zhan piped up.

    ¡°Yes, that name does sound familiar,¡± Cheng Xiangyun echoed.

    ¡°Are they the same person? Maybe he has arrived in Livingsfill, but everyone assumed that he is still in

    Lightspring.¡±

 Chapter 621

    Chapter 621

    Later, Qiao Zhan''s call reached Commoner Residence.

    Qiao Zhan informed Nan Xing of the situation at Livingsfill, and thetter then reported it to Nan

    Zhengde.

    In the end, Nan Zhengde decided the child''s health was more important and that as long as there was

    nothing fishy with the doctor, Erbao should seek medical attention first.

    After receiving the news, Qiao Zhan quickly conveyed it to Lu Jingyuan, who was drinking with Cheng

    Xiangyun. He asked for Lu Jingyuan''s help to bring Erbao to the doctor.

    Lu Jingyuan initially wanted to only have a ss of wine with Cheng Xiangyun, but after finishing the

    drink, the former felt it wasn''t enough, so the two decided to finish up the bottle of red wine they

    opened.

    There''s not much going on at night anyway. It''s okay to be a little tipsy.

    ¡°No problem. I''ll bring the child to see Dr. Ding tomorrow. I''ll call him now to make an appointment.¡±

    As Lu Jingyuan went to the side to make a phone call, Qiao Zhan''s gaze was fixed on her.

    Cheng Xiangyun couldn''t bear to watch him acting like that any longer. Does this guy be

    immobilized after seeing a prettydy? Does his IQ drop as well? I didn''t realize he was so perverted

    before. His behavior left me speechless.

    ¡°Sure,¡± Qiao Zhan agreed right away.

    Meanwhile, Nan Chen and Ning Ran were eating on the ind in the middle of the reservoir.

    The in table was full of dishes such as chicken, fish, and pork.

    Compared to Nan Chen and Ning Ran''s usual meals, this was considered a feast.

    Naturally, Nan Chen and Ning Ran couldn''t prepare so many dishes by themselves. They were all

    brought by Guo Si.

    He also brought a bottle of ¡°good wine,¡± which was a bottle of white wine that cost over a hundred.

    ¡°You''re not here to see us off with thisrge meal, are you? In the past, prisoners on death row would

    be given a good meal before they were beheaded.¡± Ning Ran looked at Guo Si.

    ¡°Of course not. Those people have gone into the city today. No one is watching me, so I brought more

    dishes today and want to have a drink with both of you. I''m sorry for the bad treatment these few days.

    Let me drink a toast to you.¡±

    With that, Guo Si raised his head and took a sip.

    Nan Chen and Ning Ran didn''t respond because not only did they dislike white wine, but they also

    hadn''t figured out the situation yet.

    What if the wine is poisoned?

    ¡°Don''t you trust me? I''ve delivered the letter for you guys and received a hundred thousand!¡±

    At the mention of money, Guo Si''s eyes lit up as he grinned from ear to ear.

    Nan Chen and Ning Ran heaved a sigh of relief upon realizing that money was the reason for Guo Si''s

    elevated mood that day.

    If that''s the case, there should be no real danger.

    ¡°Congrattions,¡± Ning Ran said smilingly.

    ¡°It''s all thanks to you. Those people only gave me a few thousand, but I got a hundred thousand from

    you for just an errand. You''re so generous!¡± Guo Si was over the moon.

    ¡°What do you n to do next?¡± Nan Chen asked Guo Si.

    ¡°Of course, I''ll serve both of you well. Just tell me if you need anything. I''ll try my best to satisfy your

    needs,¡± Guo Si replied.

    ¡°So what you mean is that while you get paid by those kidnappers, you also get money from us.

    Basically, you''re getting money from both parties. If we''re killed by those people, that means you''ll get a

    hundred thousand for free. Am I right?¡± Nan Chen questioned frostily.

    Guo Si was taken aback. ¡°My friend, what are you talking about?¡±

    Nan Chen stated in a somber tone, ¡°Guo Si, we''re not friends. You''re an aplice of those

    kidnappers. You kidnapped us and illegally detained us. If the police solve the crime, you''ll be

    sentenced to at least five years in prison. You should know that my family is well off. Money makes the

    world go round, Guo Si. If I find an influentialwyer to put pressure on you during the trial, you might

    get a life sentence, and you probably won''t have the chance to spend that hundred thousand. Well, if

    you use that money tomorrow, forget what I''ve just said, then.¡±

    Guo Si finally noticed the change in Nan Chen''s tone. ¡°Didn''t I help both of you¡ª¡±

    Nan Chen cut Guo Si off. ¡°In the end, if those people kill us, you''re the main member of the kidnapping

    gang. You''ll be sentenced to death. I hope your wife won''t remarry and abandon your kid by then. But

    that hundred thousand is not enough for them to survive. Their life will be extremely difficult after your

    demise. Meanwhile, those kidnappers will bully them while you can only watch in despair because

    you''ll be six feet under by then.¡±

    ¡°D-Don''t try to intimidate me! I didn''t kill anyone!¡±

    ¡°That''s true, but they''ll most likely eliminate us soon. Once we die, you''ll be the murderer. Even if you

    don''t get the death penalty, you''ll be in prison for at least twenty years. What''s your age now? If you

    spend twenty years of your life in prison, how old will you be by the time you''re released?¡±

    Nan Chen''s countenance and voice were as cold as ice. He finally showed his true colors.

    ¡°B-But... no one will know¡ª¡±

    ¡°I knew you''d say that! You think no one will know what you did if we die on this ind! Do you think

    that''s possible? You''ve received the hundred thousand. How did that sum of money get transferred to

    your bank ount? You provided your ount number and your name! You need to provide your ID

    card when you open an ount at the bank. Am I right? So as long as we have your ount number,

    we can find your home address and all your information. Get it?¡± Nan Chen raised his voice.

    Guo Si put down the ss in his hand. ¡°So this is all a trap?¡±

    Ning Ran chimed in, ¡°Not really. The hundred thousand is for you. Since you''ve taken the money, you''ll

    need to pay the price. You confine us, but we might die here. You got that hundred thousand for free.

    Isn''t that too good to be true?¡±

    ¡°T-Then...¡± Guo Si panicked.

    I thought I was nimble-witted, but why didn''t I think of the exposure risk when I gave them my ount

    number?

    In fact, that was greed at work. Even if he were aware that he might expose himself, he would still take

    the risk for the hundred thousand.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Those who gambled andmitted crimes knew the risks too, but they still did it anyway. They were all

    motivated by pure greed.

    Despair was written all over Guo Si''s face as he continued, ¡°So I''ve gotten myself into the mess for the

    hundred thousand?¡±

    ¡°You were the one who promised to help them and got yourself involved in this mess,¡± Ning Ran

    corrected him.

    ¡°I don''t want that hundred thousand anymore. I''ll return it to you.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure? Can you really bring yourself to do it?¡± Ning Ran stared at Guo Si.

    Thetter fell silent. It was true that he was reluctant to give back the money.

    It''s not a few thousand; it''s a hundred thousand. How many fish would I need to sell to make that lump

    sum of money? The money is right in my ount now. It''s literally my money already. Of course, I''m

    not willing to give it back.

    ¡°Besides, even if you return it to us, you havemitted a crime and will be sentenced, nheless.

    And now my family already knows about this. Even if we die here now, the police will still find you. You

    can''t run away anymore. Stop thinking that you can get out of this unscathed!¡± Nan Chen continued to

    pressure Gui Si.

    Feeling that he was about to have a mental breakdown, Guo Si asked, ¡°What should I do, then?¡±

 Chapter 622

    Chapter 622

    ¡°The police should be here soon. If you do something before then, we''ll testify for you and prevent you

    from getting locked away in prison. On top of that, you''ll get to keep the one hundred thousand,¡± stated

    Nan Chen after exchanging looks with Ning Ran.

    Filled with hope, Guo Si quickly inquired, ¡°What should I do then?¡±

    ¡°Get us out of here after you finish your drink,¡± replied Nan Chen.

    ¡°Huh?¡± With his eyes widened in surprise, Guo Si immediately disagreed with Nan Chen. ¡°Absolutely

    not!¡±

    ¡°Suit yourself,¡± voiced Nan Chen coldly.

    Guo Si then exined with a hardened face, ¡°I''ve already told you my situation. They''re threatening me

    with my wife and children. If I let you all go, they''ll harm my family for sure.¡±

    ¡°We''ve been here for days, but did theye to the ind?¡± questioned Nan Chen.

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°So how did they know about our situation here?¡± continued Nan Chen.

    ¡°I told them about it, of course.¡±

    ¡°Then do you know why they never came to this ind?¡±

    Guo Si shook his head in response. ¡°I don''t.¡±

    ¡°They''re fine with letting you handle things alone because they think you''re honest. When the police

    come, they''ll say they have no idea what''s happening here since they''ve never set foot on this ind.

    Who do you think will take the me then? You may think you can exin yourself, but you have no

    one to back you up. There are many of them, so they can alibi each other and testify against you. What

    can you do about that? Besides, they have the vige head as their leader, so how will a regr

    viger like you stand a chance against them?¡±

    Guo Si was shocked when he heard Nan Chen. ¡°How did you know they have the vige head as their

    leader?¡±

    ¡°I''ve known since day one. Who''s more familiar with the terrain than the vigers? Only they know the

    safest spot on the ind and how to trap us here. It would take someone with great influence to get the

    vigers to do their bidding. That person had to be either rich or powerful. If they were rich, it''d be

    unlikely that they did this for money. Hence, it''d have to be someone powerful. Who in the vige would

    have the power to order your people around besides the vige head?¡± questioned Nan Chen

    rhetorically.

    Besides the alcohol, Guo Si began to sweat bullets on his forehead because of his nervousness.

    ¡°You knew from the start? I have to admit that I''m impressed. You got me involved without even lifting a

    finger!¡± Guo Si wiped the sweat from his head.

    ¡°Let''s get back to the point. The vige head may be the most powerful figure to the vigers, but that

    certainly isn''t true in the legal system. No matter how influential he thinks he is, he still has to go to jail

    for breaking thew. You don''t have to fear him because it won''t be long before he gets what he

    deserves. Even if you take us elsewhere, none would be the wiser since they refuse toe to this

    ind. Didn''t you say it yourself that they''d enter the city tonight? Not only is that more than one

    hundred kilometers away, but the road is also under maintenance. There''s no way they can get here

    any time soon. Those people are going to have themselves a good time eating and drinking in the

    comfort of the city. Heck, they''ll probably even get drunk. It''ll be afternoon when they get to the vige

    tomorrow, and the police will have already found us when they realize we''ve left the ind long ago.

    Then, we''ll tell the police you didn''t kidnap but saved us, and you''ll get off scot-free with one hundred

    thousand in your pocket. I''d say this one is a no-brainer, wouldn''t you?¡± With that, Nan Chen gazed

    intently at Guo Si.

    ¡°Even if I were to release you, where would you go? It''s not as if your legs can take you far in that

    condition. I can''t send you to the city since the only vehicle I have is a tricycle; we''ll never reach our

    destination on that.¡±

    Ning Ran was impressed with Nan Chen because Guo Si''s words clearly showed that he was willing to

    help. That poker-faced man doesn''t always have a lot to say, but when he does talk, I have to admit

    that he''s pretty good at convincing people! My goodness! He negotiated as though he did that for a

    living. The things he said made so much sense that I doubt anyone would disagree with him.

    ¡°If we don''t go to Lightspring, is crossing the province to Gerton our alternative?¡± inquired Nan Chen.

    ¡°Yes. The town we''re in is at the border of Gerton. We''ll cross the province if we don''t head in the

    direction of Lightspring,¡± answered Guo Si with a nod.

    ¡°Does this reservoir extend all the way to the border of Gerton?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but there''s a long way to go to get to the other side. And even then, we''ll only reach a vige far

    from the city,¡± exined Guo Si.

    ¡°Are they friendly with your vige?¡± questioned Nan Chen.

    ¡°Sort of. We make deals sometimes since we''re close to each other, but at the end of the day, we still

    belong to different provinces. The people of my vige consider them outsiders, so we don''t intermarry

    with them. However, some of their women have married into our vige, and my cousin-inw is one of

    them¡ª¡±

    Before Guo Si could say more, Nan Chen waved his hand to stop the man from digressing. ¡°Is their

    vige head close with yours?¡±

    ¡°No. They rarely had anything to do with each other.¡±

    ¡°Will they report to your vige head if they see us?¡± asked Nan Chen worriedly.

    ¡°No. We hardly ever visit them because, just like us, they think we''re outsiders.

    ¡°Good. Then we''ll make our way to Gerton. We go now!¡±

    ¡°Are you sure we should go now?¡±

    ¡°Yes, now. You''d better not drink too much because you have to row the boatter,¡± reminded Nan

    Chen.

    However, Guo Si was still hesitant. ¡°What should I tell the vige head when he returns tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°Just tell him we''re still on the ind and that everything''s fine.¡±

    ¡°What if hees here to check and finds out you''re gone? What do I do then?¡±

    ¡°For starters, the likelihood of that happening is very small. If he wanted toe, he would''ve done so

    already. That man won''t take a step on this ind because he wants you to be his scapegoat in case

    anything happens. Even if he doese for whatever reason, you can just tell him you have no idea

    how we managed to swim away. The vige head won''t dare to kill you since the matter itself is illegal.

    He''s already got the money he was promised, so he''ll probably tell his contact what you told him. It

    wouldn''t be a smart move for him to harm your family just because we''re gone, would it?¡±

    After listening to Nan Chen, Guo Si could not help but agree that the former had a point.

    ¡°So my family and I will be fine?¡±

    ¡°Of course. Not only will you be able to get away scot-free, but you''ll also get one hundred thousand.

    What''s there to worry about?¡± asked Nan Chen rhetorically.

    ¡°Okay. Let''s go now.¡±

    Just then, Ning Ran whispered into Nan Chen''s ear, ¡°Why do we have to go now? Shouldn''t we wait for

    your family to rescue us since they can find Guo Si? Why take the risk?¡±

    ¡°There''s a mole in the family, and we still have no idea who it is. We''ll be silenced for good if Grandpa

    happens to send the mole, so we better escape on our own and avoid taking any chances. We can get

    to the bottom of it afterward,¡± revealed Nan Chen.

    ¡°Wow, that''s brilliant!¡± eximed Ning Ran.

    With his chin held high, Nan Chen responded proudly, ¡°Of course.¡±N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

 Chapter 623

    Chapter 623

    Ning Ran rolled her eyes at the man and his insufferable pride.

    Still, she was utterly impressed by how Nan Chen managed to turn their situation around even though

    he was injured.

    When Nan Chen told her that he would protect her, Ning Ran thought he was just trying to make her

    and himself feel better.

    It wasn''t until right then did she realize that he meant every word he said. He really did it!

    ¡°You should eat more. I prepared these dishes for you as a token of my gratitude, so let''s not waste

    them,¡± uttered Guo Si.

    ¡°We''ll have more, then,¡± responded Nan Chen before giving Ning Ran a look. We better eat whatever

    we can to keep our strength up since we have no idea what we''ll run into when we leave.

    Ning Ran did not have the appetite to eat because she was too excited about their escape.

    Nheless, she forced herself to fill her stomach.

    ¡°Maybe you should take it easy.¡± Nan Chen thought the woman was overdoing it.

    ¡°Mind your own business!¡± retorted Ning Ran with a smile.

    ¡°Let''s move out. I need a crutch,¡± dered Nan Chen as he helped himself up by pushing on the table.

    ¡°I''ll get you one. By the way, you have to remember to tell the police that I let you go and that I did

    nothing to harm you,¡± reminded Guo Si.

    ¡°Don''t worry. I''m a man of my word. You won''t go to prison,¡± promised Nan Chen.

    The next morning, Erbao heard Lu Yunxue''s voice outside not long after she woke up.

    Lu Jingyuan, being the responsible person she was, arrived early to pick up Erbao because she

    promised to take the girl to the doctor that day.

    ¡°Ms. Lu, does she have to fast for traditional medicine?¡± Cheng Xiangyun asked Lu Jingyuan.

    ¡°No, but Dr. Ding said that would be best because food would affect the color of her tongue. However, I

    prepared some oatmeal for her, so she''d have something to eat right after the appointment,¡± replied Lu

    Jingyuan.

    How considerate! She is a mother, after all. Cheng Xiangyun had to admit that she would never have

    thought of preparing breakfast for Erbao beforehand.

    After washing up and changing into an adorable outfit, Erbao came out of her room.

    Due to herck of appetite, she had be almost as slim as Dabao, which made her look prettier.

    ¡°Let''s go.¡± Qiao Zhan was also ready to leave.

    ¡°You''re going too?¡± inquired Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Of course. I must go because I have to protect Erbao,¡± answered Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Then who''s going to protect Dabao at home? We can''t all go.¡± Cheng Xiangyun knew the only reason

    Qiao Zhan wanted to tag along was to check out prettydies.

    ¡°You should stay home with Dabao. I''ll leave a few men here to protect you. Being out there is more

    dangerous than staying home, so I should go with them.¡±

    Even though Qiao Zhan had a point, Cheng Xiangyun thought it would be inconvenient for the man to

    go with Erbao since Erbao was a girl.

    ¡°It wouldn''t be appropriate for you to take a girl with you, so I have to be the one to go.¡±

    ¡°But we have Ms. Lu with us, don''t we?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun rolled her eyes at Qiao Zhan in response. ¡°Has it not urred to you that Ms. Lu

    would be busy looking after her own children? What''s the matter with you?¡±

    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Fine. I''ll stay with Dabao and arrange a few men to go with you then.¡± Finally, Qiao Zhan agreed to

    stay behind.

    Parked outside the inn was a jeep that belonged to Lu Jingyuan.

    Since she looked soft, anyone would be surprised to learn that she owned not a regr SUV but a

    wild-looking off-road vehicle.

    ¡°Get in. Our destination isn''t far away, so we''ll get there in my car in no time,¡± stated Lu Jingyuan.

    ¡°I didn''t expect you to drive such a wild car. Do you have a thing for outdoor adventures?¡±

    ¡°I do. I''ve been to many ces, including no man''snd. I used to think that''s how I''d live out the rest of

    my life, but after bing a mother, I lost some of my freedom. It''s fine, though. I can continue to

    travel around the world after my kids are grown up, which is why I have to work hard to earn more

    money.¡± Lu Jingyuan looked different when she started talking about traveling as her eyes would

    sparkle with excitement.

    ¡°Mommy, you''reining about Yunbing and me, aren''t you? You think we''re a burden.¡± Lu Yunxue

    pouted in dissatisfaction.

    ¡°You are, but I''m more than happy to carry you.¡± Lu Jingyuan looked like an angel when she broke into

    a smile, revealing her pearl-white teeth.

    ¡°When we''re all grown up, will you take us with you on your travels?¡± inquired Lu Yunxue.

    ¡°Nope,¡± replied Lu Jingyuan without a second thought.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°You''ll be in college when I travel. You won''t have the time. After you graduate, you''ll have to start

    earning money to fund my travels, which means you''ll be even busier. That''s why I should just go

    alone.¡±

    Seated beside Lu Jingyuan, Cheng Xiangyun was amused when she heard the woman. How can

    anyone be this cool? Parents usually toil for their children, but not this mother. She''s already thinking

    about how she''s going to live off her children! How interesting!

    After ncing at Cheng Xiangyun, Lu Jingyuan smirked. ¡°Do you think I''m selfish?¡±

    ¡°No. I think that sounded just fine. You''re giving up your lifestyle for them now, so it''s only natural that

    you get to do what you want when your children are grown up. Some parents give their children every

    last cent they have only to spoil them into good-for-nothings,¡± replied Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Exactly! Those parents are the reason why their children live off them. I''ll never let that happen to me;

    I''ll live off my children instead!¡± stated Lu Jingyuan with a chuckle.

    ¡°Agreed! You''re a fascinating person, Ms. Lu.¡± Cheng Xiangyun could tell Lu Jingyuan was growing on

    her. Not only is she gorgeous, but she''s also interesting. What''s more intriguing is how down-to-earth

    she is, even though I can sense she''s well-traveled. The woman keeps a reasonable distance from

    people yet remains approachable. When Qiao Zhan refused to let her into the inn yesterday, she turned

    around and left without a word. However, that evening, she proposed a toast at dinner as if nothing had

    happened. People like her, who are both courteous and generous, are the easiest to get along with.

    ¡°You think I''m fascinating?¡± inquired Lu Jingyuan, smiling.

    ¡°Yeah, I think you''re special.¡±

    ¡°There''s nothing special about me. I''m just an ordinary single mother trying my best to be a

    gentler person and raise my children.¡±

    ¡°Judging from your ent, am I right to assume that you''re not a local?¡±

    ¡°You are. I''m from the capital,¡± revealed Lu Jingyuan.

    To Cheng Xiangyun, the fact that Lu Jingyuan, a single mother, moved to the small border town from

    the capital to open an inn while raising two children was intriguing in and of itself.

    She wanted to ask about the children''s father, but unfortunately, Lu Jingyuan did not seem willing to

    divulge.

    While they were still conversing, they reached the traditional medicine clinic.

 Chapter 624

    Chapter 624

    Ding Yuanchao was a doctor in his seventies, but despite his age and thin frame, he was alert and full

    of vitality.

    After checking Erbao''s pulse and tongue, he asked about hertest condition and finally made his

    diagnosis.

    ¡°This child was poisoned before, and even though the toxins are gone, her health has already been

    affected,¡± Dr. Ding exined. ¡°If we don''t treat it in time, she might not grow beyond one hundred and

    thirty centimeters.¡±

    Upon hearing that, Erbao burst into tears. ¡°I don''t want to be short! I want to grow big and tall...¡±

    ¡°Oh, don''t cry! There will only be dire consequences if it''s left untreated. If we treat it now, everything

    will be fine. So long as you take your medicine regrly, you''ll be healthy and tall!¡± Ding Yuanchao

    exined before looking at Cheng Xiangyun with a sheepish smile. ¡°Sorry to have frightened your

    daughter. I should''ve made myself clearer.¡±

    ¡°She''s not my daughter. I''m just a friend of her mother''s,¡± Cheng Xiangyun hastily exined.

    ¡°Oh, that must mean she''s your daughter,¡± Ding Yuanchao said as he turned to Lu Jingyuan. ¡°I thought

    you only had two daughters, though. When did you have another? Then again, I must say I can see the

    resemnce.¡±

    Lu Jingyuan, too, broke into a smile. ¡°No, she''s not my child. The kid''s mother''s not here, so we''re just

    helping out. Is she all right?¡±

    ¡°Of course. She''ll be back to normal once she''s taken the first dose of my medicine, and after the

    second, she''ll be fully cured and healthier than ever!¡± Ding Yuanchao said confidently.

    ¡°Thank you, Dr. Ding!¡±

    ¡°Thank you Dr. Great-Grandpa!¡± Erbao chimed in happily.

    Ding Yuanchao instantly burst outughing. ¡°Hahaha. Did you just call me Dr. Great-Grandpa? What an

    interesting title.¡±

    ¡°Yes, because you look a lot like my Great-Grandpa. That''s why you''re Dr. Great-Grandpa!¡±

    ¡°Hahaha. Good, I like the sound of that,¡± Ding Yuanchao remarked. ¡°I''ll prescribe the medicine for you

    now. Once it''s brewed, you''ll have to drink it three times a day. It''s a little bitter, but I want you to finish

    it, okay? That way, you''ll grow into a tall and beautiful youngdy. Are we clear?¡±

    ¡°Understood!¡± Erbao answered obediently. ¡°I''ll be good and finish my medicine.¡±

    With that, the doctor once again turned to Cheng Xiangyun. ¡°She''s such an adorable kid. Where are

    her parents, though? Why haven''t they brought her here themselves when they know she''s feeling

    unwell?¡±

    ¡°Uh... They couldn''te because they''re busy.¡±

    ¡°Parents these days are only focused on making money and often neglect their children. It''d be toote

    for regrets if the child''s condition worsens,¡± Ding Yuanchao muttered while writing the prescription.

    Knowing she wasn''t in a position toment about Nan Chen and Ning Ran, all Cheng Xiangyun

    could do was smile awkwardly in response.

    Back in Flower City''s Orchid Club, Ouyang Duo was sipping his tea when one of his subordinates

    suddenly barged into the room. ¡°Something''s happened in Lightspring!¡±

    ¡°Why are you in such a panic? Calm down! What on earth happened?¡±

    ¡°Nan Chen is dead!¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Ouyang Duo eximed as he sprang up from the couch. ¡°Who killed him? Wasn''t it agreed

    that no one shouldy a finger on him for the time being?¡±

    ¡°We were told a fire broke out in the house that Nan Chen and his woman were held captive in. It was

    burned so badly that he was reduced to ashes!¡±

    ¡°Idiots! How did that happen? Why couldn''t they have been more careful?¡±

    ¡°The people there said it might have been the strong winds that started and spread the fire. Another

    possibility is that Nan Chen had given up on escaping. He knew he''d die sooner orter, so he set the

    fire and went out on his own terms.¡±

    ¡°Impossible! Nan Chen isn''t the kind of person to end his own life. Something smells fishy! Wait a

    minute... Could he have escaped?¡± Ouyang Duo asked anxiously.

    ¡°That''s unlikely. The reservoir is very far from the shore, and no one can swim there. Nan Chen''s leg is

    still injured, which makes the escape even more impossible,¡± the subordinate replied. ¡°Besides, we

    have people patrolling the shore around the clock. Even if he did escape, there''s no way they wouldn''t

    have spotted him.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure they''ve been guarding the area the entire day?¡±

    ¡°Yes. We have people on guard duty from day to night. With such tight security, Nan Chen couldn''t

    have escaped our grasp.¡±

    Upon hearing that, Ouyang Duo finally sat back down on the couch. ¡°So he''s really dead, huh? Have

    they gone to the ind to investigate? Have they found his body or bones?¡±

    ¡°No, they haven''t been on the ind. They were worried about arousing suspicion, so they''ve only

    been secretly investigating the area nearby. In any case, they''re pretty sure Nan Chen had perished in

    the fire because they couldn''t find any traces of him.¡±

    Ouyang Duo fell silent.

    Is that really the end of Nan Chen? I''ve been told that if something untoward ever happens to him, a

    fight to the death will break out. Once Nan Zhengde finds out about Nan Chen''s demise, I have no

    doubt he will mobilize all his forces ande after my family. Argh! That''s not the oue I want,

    though. All I want is to take down Nanshi Corporation without any bloodshed. I don''t want to have to

    fight them and suffer losses.

    At the thought of that, Ouyang Duo promptly reached for his phone and called hiswyer.

    Within seconds, thetter answered the phone, ¡°Chairman, how can I assist you?¡±

    ¡°Have you settled the share transfer agreement?¡±

    ¡°I''m on it. We''d need at least three working days to finalize the paperwork, but there won''t be any

    problems.¡±

    ¡°Good. Thank you. By the way, is Nan Xing acting weird by any chance?¡± Ouyang Duo added.

    ¡°Weird? No, not at all. Everything looks normal,¡± thewyer replied.

    ¡°Okay. That will be all.¡±

    As soon as he hung up the phone, Ouyang Duo pondered for a moment, only to realize there was still a

    lingering feeling of unease.

    ¡°You may leave now,¡± he said to his subordinate. ¡°Get my wife and daughter here.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Ouyang.¡±

    ¡°By the way, keep Nan Chen''s death a secret. If I find out someone has leaked the news, I''ll kill them

    and their entire family!¡± Ouyang Duo ordered coldly.

    ¡°Got it, Mr. Ouyang.¡±

    A whileter, Ouyang Qing and Feng Jialing entered the room.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    ¡°We''ve received news that Nan Chen is dead,¡± Ouyang Duo announced.

    Almost immediately, both women let out an audible gasp.

    ¡°You''ve been with Nan Xing for the past two days, haven''t you? Did you notice anything out of the

    ordinary?¡± Ouyang Duo asked as he gazed at his daughter.

    After giving it some thought, Ouyang Qing replied, ¡°No. He''s just been ignoring me as though I disgust

    him. Then again, he has always been like that, so it''s nothing unusual.¡±

    ¡°Has he agreed to transfer the shares to you? Have you two even talked about it?¡±

    ¡°We have, and of course, he wasn''t happy about it. However, it''s not like he can disobey Nan Zhengde.

    His only wish is for the Ouyang family to continue treating the Nan family with respect even after taking

    over Nanshi Corporation.¡±

    After hearing that, Ouyang Duo finally breathed a sigh of relief. Good. Everything does seem normal

    with Nan Xing.

    ¡°Didn''t you send some people to monitor the Nan family? Is there anything unusual about them?¡± Feng

    Jialing suddenly asked.

    ¡°No, not at the moment. There haven''t been a lot of people going in and out of the Nan residence. It''s

    all very dull,¡± Ouyang Duo remarked. ¡°That, of course, is normal. After all, Nan Zhengde has too much

    on his mind right now to entertain guests. Besides, we have Nan Chen in our hands, and he can''t do

    anything but worry in silence.¡±

    ¡°In that case, if Nan Zhengde finds out that Nan Chen''s dead, will hee after us?¡±

    ¡°He will. That''s why I wantplete control of Nanshi Corporation before the news reaches the Nan

    family. I''ve instructed ourwyer to expedite the share transfer procedure, but I want you guys to

    prepare yourselves too. If they decide tounch a counterattack, I n to fight and win!¡±

    ¡°How should we prepare ourselves, though?¡± Feng Jialing muttered anxiously. ¡°Flower City is the Nan

    family''s territory. If Nan Zhengde goes all out, I don''t think we can hold him back!¡±

    ¡°It won''t be that bad. I''m sure the Nan family won''t do anything rash in thiswful society. Anyway, I''m

    making a trip to the Nan residence now. Let''s see if there''s anything unusual with Nan Zhengde.¡±

 Chapter 625

    Chapter 625

    This time, Ouyang Duo didn''t need to wait for an hour to see Nan Zhengde upon arriving at the Nan

    Residence.

    Nan Zhengde had asked his housekeeper to set a chair in the garden, and there he was, bathing in the

    sunlight as he sat on the chair.

    There was a small wooden table ced beside him, and atop the table was a chessboard as well as a

    pot of tea.

    Seeing that Ouyang Duo had arrived, Nan Zhengde motioned for his housekeeper to bring an extra

    chair, a teacup, and a te of snacks.

    ¡°You look like you''re in a good mood, Mr. Nan. Are you ying chess alone?¡± asked Ouyang Duo with

    a smile.

    ¡°People often assume that chess involves two yerspeting with one another, but when you''re

    ying alone, you tend to see things clearer.¡±

    ¡°Oh? That''s quite an interesting perception you have there, Mr. Nan. However, chess is used to

    determine victory. Only when two peoplepete can there be a loser and a winner. Can you see

    who''s the winner just by ying on your own?¡±

    ¡°That''s just a misconception. People tend to think that losing is an embarrassment, but that''s not the

    case. A person who''s truly powerful won''t lose to anyone else, and if they do lose, it would be to

    themselves. Except for one''s own self, no one in this world can truly beat us. Hence, life is just like

    chess. The person you''repeting with is actually yourself.¡±

    A smile yed on Nan Zhengde''s lips as he took a sip of tea and nced at Ouyang Duo.

    Simrly, Ouyang Duo was also observing the older man.

    Regardless of how open-minded and forgiving he is, I doubt he''d be so calm and collected if he found

    out about Nan Chen''s death. It seems like he doesn''t know yet, so this makes things much easier for

    me.

    ¡°You''re very wise, Mr. Nan. However, I''m just an ordinary person and only know how topete, for I

    have little understanding of such profound theories. In my opinion, a loss is a loss, and a win is a win.

    One must acknowledge both their wins and losses. If the loser doesn''t acknowledge the fact that

    they''ve lost, then the winner wouldn''t be able to feel happy about their win. In that case, what is there to

    live for?¡± queried Ouyang Duo.

    Nan Zhengde nodded, taking in the man''s words. ¡°Indeed, the best stage of life topete with others

    is in your prime. You''re in your prime, while I''ve long passed mine. These old bones no longer have the

    will topete, so I can only spew such nonsense tofort myself.¡±

    Ouyang Duo burst intoughter. ¡°You''re not old, Mr. Nan. One of these days, I''ll bring you to a quiet

    and serene ce where you can live your life in peace.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Where are you nning on sending me to, Duo? I''ve done everything you''ve asked, so I hope

    you won''t put an old man like me in a difficult spot.¡±

    ¡°You''re overthinking it, Mr. Nan. I won''t put you in a difficult spot, for I want nothing more than for you to

    enjoy your remaining years in peace. As for the ce, I''m still thinking about it, but there''s no need to

    worry. I''ll make sure to find a good andfortable ce for you.¡±

    A trace of panic shed across Nan Zhengde''s eyes. ¡°You''re not talking about a graveyard, are you?¡±

    ¡°Of course not! I told you, Mr. Nan, you''re not an old man yet. You have years to live before settling into

    a graveyard. I truly want to send you to a ce where you can livefortably and peacefully. You

    won''t have to worry about the Nan family''s affairs. You can drink tea, y chess, and contemte the

    great things of life as much as your heart desires.¡±

    At that, Nan Zhengdeughed. ¡°In that case, thank you, Duo.¡±

    Ouyang Duo felt a surge of uneasiness in his heart upon seeing how at ease Nan Zhengde was.

    Even if he doesn''t know about Nan Chen''s death, how can he chat delightfully with me when he''s on

    the verge of losing control over Nanshi Corporation? Has he gotten to a point where he no longer cares

    about status or power? That doesn''t seem right. Nanshi Corporation is the family business he

    painstakingly built from the ground up, and he''s been protecting it his entire life. Now that he''s about to

    lose it all, how can he not feel an ounce of anxiety or worry? Could it be that he''s tricking me?

    Doubt gued Ouyang Duo''s mind, and he couldn''t resist asking, ¡°Mr. Nan, is the share transfer

    agreement about done?¡±

    ¡°I''m not sure. Isn''t yourwyer involved in the handling of that? I''ve gotten old, so I hardly care about all

    these things anymore. All I want is for your friends to save Nan Chen as soon as possible so I can

    finally reunite with him,¡± Nan Zhengde expressed.

    After a brief pause, he sighed and continued, ¡°At this point, I don''t care about anything else. At death,

    we take away nothing, and what isn''t meant to be ours will eventually be lost. All these materialistic

    things don''t matter to me anymore.¡±

    A smile spread across Ouyang Duo''s face when he heard that. ¡°Well said, Mr. Nan. It seems I''m not as

    wise as you are, and I still have much to learn from you. Perhaps when I reach your age, I''ll also be

    able to see things in a different light and live without desire.¡±

    Nan Zhengde didn''t fail to notice that Ouyang Duo''s words wereced with mockery and sarcasm.

    Despite that, he didn''t mind and simply maintained a smile on his face. ¡°You''re not here to talk about

    winning or losing, are you? What else do you need me to do for you?¡±

    ¡°There''s one more thing I need your help with.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Now that Nan Xing and Qing are married, the Ouyang family and the Nan family have be inws.

    Zhiyuan is Nan Xing''s father and also my inw, yet he doesn''t have a position within thepany. I

    feel that''s rather inappropriate for someone of his status. Mr. Nan, can I trouble you to arrange for

    Zhiyuan to join Nanshi Corporation as the deputy CEO? This way, Zhiyuan can assist Nan Xing, and

    I''m confident that Nanshi Corporation will rise to greater heights under the leadership of the father-and-

    son duo.¡±

    There was a slight change in Nan Zhengde''s expression, and it didn''t go unnoticed by the observant

    Ouyang Duo.

    ¡°What''s wrong, Mr. Nan? Zhiyuan is your son. Could you bear to continue shutting him out like this?¡±

    ¡°Indeed, Zhiyuan is my son, and I''d love to hold him in high regard. Back then, he was fired from the

    company because of a mistake he made. If you want me to hire him again, doesn''t that mean I''d be

    going back on my word? What would the other directors think of me?¡± Nan Zhengde reasoned.

    Standing firm on his decision, he continued, ¡°Since Nan Xing is the CEO, you should leave this matter

    to him. I''m no longer meddling in the affairs of Nanshi Corporation, for I have neither the shares nor the

    position to do so. Just let the youngins handle this themselves.¡±

    Ouyang Duo was slightly displeased by the older man''s response. ¡°It hasn''t been long since Nan Xing

    became the CEO. If he were to arrange for his own father to join thepany, his reputation would be

    tainted as people would assume he''s guilty of nepotism. You''ve managed thepany for many years.

    Surely you understand where I''ming from. Hence, in my opinion, it would be more appropriate for

    you to handle this matter, Mr. Nan.¡±

    In order words, Ouyang Duo would not take no for an answer, nor would he allow Nan Zhengde to go

    against his words.

    An icy glint appeared in Nan Zhengde''s eyes. ¡°All right, I''ll have a discussion with the directors and

    arrange a position for Nan Zhiyuan.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Nan. In that case, I''ll leave you to it and take my leave now.¡±

    ¡°Are you not staying for dinner? Our female chefs cook extremely delicious meals, and our female

    housekeepers are great servers as well,¡± said Nan Zhengde with a smile.

    Ouyang Duo paused for a moment. ¡°What do you mean by that, Mr. Nan? Is that another riddle?¡±

    Nan Zhengde burst intoughter. ¡°No, no. I''m just saying that you can depend on our female

    employees for great dinner service. You should get on with your work, Duo. I''ll take care of the things

    you asked me about as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°Okay. Thanks, Mr. Nan.¡±

    Ouyang Duo had just taken a few steps when he stopped in his tracks and nced around the garden.

    ¡°This garden is beautiful and has a vintage ir to it. Commoner Residence sure is a nice ce,¡± he

    remarked.

    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Thank you for thepliment.¡± Nan Zhengde''s gaze turned icy, for he knew what Ouyang Duo was

    about to say next.

    ¡°s, Commoner Residence is situated downtown, and it''s not a good ce for retirement. I''m afraid

    it''s not suitable for an elderly like you, Mr. Nan. How about I manage the vi for you after you move?

    What do you think about that, Mr. Nan?¡±

    He''s really going overboard! He''s already usurped mypany, and now he''s going after my house!

    Nan Zhengde took in a deep breath to calm himself down. ¡°This shabby ce is practically ancient. It''s

    not worth much, but if you like it, you can have it. By the way, a Feng Shui master once said that only

    members of the Nan family can live in this residence. If anyone else tries to live here, they might

    encounter misfortune upon misfortune. Are you not worried, Duo?¡±

    Ouyang Duo chuckled. ¡°I don''t believe in the supernatural. Since you''ve given it to me, I''ll find time to

    move in very soon. However, Commoner Residence sounds cheap and tacky. I''ll have it changed to

    King Residence!¡±

    Unfazed, Nan Zhengde merely smiled and waved while sending his guest out.

 Chapter 626

    Chapter 626

    Ouyang Qing was having a spa day the next afternoon when she suddenly received a call from Nan

    Xing''s assistant, saying that Nan Xing was sent to the hospital.

    The assistant exined in a hurry that Nan Xing injured his leg while ying ser with a group of

    friends in a stadium. He was being treated in the hospital at the moment.

    Hearing that, Ouyang Qing roared, ¡°That useless piece of trash! He has just been appointed as the

    acting CEO and has so many tasks on hand. Why did he go to y ser? What a nutjob!¡±

    Although Ouyang Qing was cursing Nan Xing, he was still her husband. Therefore, she had to go

    check on him in the hospital.

    Besides, Ouyang Duo said that the n to take over Nanshi Corporation was still ongoing. Before it

    was finalized, she had to keep an eye on Nan Xing to prevent him from ying any tricks.

    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Ouyang Qing got into the car after leaving the wellness center. Then, she instructed the driver to go to

    the hospital.

    Ever since Ouyang Duo started going against the Nan family, Ouyang Qing did not dare to drive on her

    own in Flower City.

    Ouyang Duo was worried that the Nan family might give them a taste of their own medicine by

    kidnapping Ouyang Qing. This would put Ouyang Duo at a disadvantage.

    Hence, Ouyang Qing would travel around with bodyguards.

    She had to wait until the Ouyang family had taken control of Nanshi Corporation before letting her

    guard down.

    When Ouyang Qing arrived at the hospital, Nan Xing''s assistant was already waiting at the entrance.

    Then, thetter brought her to the ward.

    Nan Xing''s leg had already been treated and ced in a cast.

    ¡°What happened to you? Why did you go to y ser? You have so many things to do. Yet you still

    have free time to y ser?¡± Ouyang Qing immediately started lecturing him.

    Nan Xing shot her a nce without replying.

    Suddenly, Ouyang Qing was plunged into a trance.

    Am I imagining things? The look he''s giving me is a little different from usual. Maybe he''s in a bad

    mood after hurting his leg. That''s why he gave me that look.

    ¡°Is it a serious injury? You have to preside over a weekly meeting tomorrow. The higher-ups from

    headquarters will be there. Can you attend the meeting in your condition? It will be your first weekly

    meeting after bing the CEO. If you''re absent, I''m afraid people might start specting.¡±

    Naturally, Ouyang Qing was more concerned about the Ouyang family''s acquisition n instead of Nan

    Xing''s health.

    At the moment, Nan Xing was merely a puppet for the Ouyang family to give orders in their ce.

    If Nan Xing could not resume work normally, the Ouyang family''s n of taking over Nanshi

    Corporation would be affected.

    ¡°I''ll go to the meeting,¡± Nan Xing replied tly.

    Ouyang Qing replied, ¡°Don''t overthink it. It''s not that I don''t care about you. I just think that since you''ve

    only just be the CEO, you have to put more effort into it. You can''t afford to miss those meetings.

    I''ll ask someone to prepare a wheelchair for you.¡±

    ¡°If I can''t use the wheelchair, are you going to ask someone to carry me to the meeting?¡± Nan Xing

    probed.

    ¡°Of course not. I''m not that cruel. And don''t give me that look! It''s your fault for getting injured at a time

    like this. I''ll have to inform my dad about this right away. We''ll see how he will make the necessary

    arrangements.¡±

    With that, Ouyang Qing walked to the side and made a call.

    Upon hearing the incident, Ouyang Duo fumed, ¡°What? He got injured a day before the meeting? I

    don''t care if he has to be carried to thepany. He must attend the meeting!¡±

    Ouyang Qing hurriedly distanced herself from Nan Xing for fear that he might be upset by those harsh

    words.

    However, Nan Xing could not care less about their conversation as he could probably guess what they

    were talking about.

    The next morning, Nan Xing showed up at Nanshi Corporation''s headquarters in his wheelchair.

    Nan Zhengde arrived not long after him.

    The elderly man was on crutches, while the young man was in a wheelchair. It was a pitiful sight to

    behold.

    The meeting that was held this time around was a high-level meeting different from the board meeting.

    It was thepany''s internal meeting with the participation of the management team.

    Nan Zhengde had not attended a meeting of this scale for at least five years. That was because Nan

    Chen had always taken care of everything in his absence.

    As the CEO, Nan Xing sat there listening to his subordinates'' reports while jotting down something in a

    notebook.

    Being familiar with Nan Xing, the executives did not hold the acting CEO in good regard.

    It wasn''t because they didn''t think Nan Xing could not do it. Instead, they were worried about his ability

    to hold such an important position.

    After the report, everyone waited for Nan Xing to speak up.

    ording to the usual process, the CEO would not only listen to the reports but also give speeches in

    such weekly meetings.

    Besides, it was an important speech on the work''s summary and new ns.

    Those who supported Nan Xing were on edge, fearing that the young man might mess up and end up

    embarrassing himself and causing the group to lose confidence in him.

    After all, unity was of utmost importance within a team. Once the employees'' minds started to waver,

    the work efficiency would be reduced, which will in turn cause a lot of problems.

    As the saying goes, good yers could not ovee bad coaching. Poor leadership would ultimately

    lead to the downfall of a team.

    However, contrary to their expectation, there was no problem with Nan Xing''s following action.

    If anything, he did it with efficiency. The speech was simple and straight to the point. His instructions

    were crystal clear and without ambiguity.

    The rity in speeches was paramount in showing that the decision-maker was clear-headed.

    Only a calm, collected, and objective leader could give clear instructions in order to prevent anyst-

    minute changes that would result in chaos.

    Everyone was taken aback by Nan Xing''s leadership. They did not expect him to be so outstanding. It

    seemed like the young man was unfazed by all sorts of challenges.

    Nan Xing''s performance exceeded everyone''s expectations.

    Looking at Nan Zhengde, Nan Xing asked, ¡°Grandpa, since you''re here today, do you have anything to

    say?¡±

    Nan Zhengde cleared his throat and uttered, ¡°I''m actually here at the behest of your father-inw. He

    wanted Nan Zhiyuan to join thepany as deputy CEO and has asked me to make the necessary

    arrangements for it. However, I''m a free man now, and I can''t make this decision myself. As such, I''m

    here to discuss this matter with all of you.¡±

    There was an uproar in the conference room when they heard the elderly man''s words. Who is Nan

    Xing''s father-inw? Who gave him the right to interfere with the internal affairs of Nanshi Corporation?

    Nan Xing hastily exined, ¡°Grandpa, this matter needs to be discussed during the board of directors''

    meeting. It''s inappropriate for you to bring up this matter at a work meeting.¡±

    ¡°All I know was that there was going to be a meeting today. I had no idea know what kind of meeting it

    would be when I came here. Anyway, that''s what happened. You guys should discuss it and see if this

    can be done,¡± Nan Zhengde exined.

    ¡°Objection!¡± A loud voice rang out in the conference room.

    The one who spoke was also a senior deputy CEO. ¡°The group is progressing nicely now. My fellow

    deputy CEOs are also performing well. We don''t need another deputy CEO.¡±

    ¡°That''s right. I''m also against it. We still remember the damage that Nan Zhiyuan has done to the

    company. How can we allow him to join thepany''s management?¡±

    ¡°I object!¡±

    ¡°I object, too!¡±

    The conference room was plunged into chaos in an instant. Many attendees voiced their objections

    regardless they were qualified to oppose the decision or not.

    Frowning, Nan Xing said, ¡°Grandpa, you can see the result yourself. Go back and tell my father-inw

    that we''ll discuss this matter in the future.¡±

    Meanwhile, Ouyang Duo had already heard about the situation in the conference room over the phone.

    Seething with rage, he nearly threw the phone. ¡°I can''t believe Nan Xing isn''t taking my side! I guess he

    has toughened up now that he''s the CEO, huh? I was so sure that we could make arrangements for

    Nan Zhiyuan to join thepany. How dare he go against me!¡±

    Feng Jialing asked, ¡°Don''t you think there''s something off with Nan Xing? He has always been a

    cheeky person without a care in the world. He has never acted this way before, has he?¡±

    ¡°Nan Xing usually works in thepany. Also, he isn''t a rookie. With Nan Zhengde teaching him, he''s

    naturally not a weakling. But no matter how strong he is, I''m certain I can control him! Get him toe

    and see me. I''m going to teach that punk a lesson and show him who is the boss here!¡± Ouyang Duo

    raged.

 Chapter 627

    Chapter 627

    Nan Xing had visited Orchid Club multiple times before as a customer.

    It was different that day as he was summoned to the club by Ouyang Duo.

    Orchid Club was an old club in Flower City. Although most of the big shots in the city visited the club,

    no one knew the ce was actually the Ouyang family''s base in Flower City.

    Many rooms in the club were not open to the public as those were the rooms and offices of the Ouyang

    family''s members.

    The Ouyang family nned to use Orchid Club, their stronghold in Flower City, as a fortified point to

    secure their position and slowly expand their circle of influence. Eventually, they would overthrow

    Nanshi Corporation and make themselves the most influential family in the city.

    Judging by the current situation, it seemed as if they had basically achieved their goal.

    At least that was what they believed.

    That was why Ouyang Duo could openly summon Nan Xing to meet him at Orchid Club instead of

    keeping the ce a secret.

    Nan Xing was wheeled into Orchid Club by Ouyang Duo''s subordinate.

    The subordinate brought him to a spacious room with luxury decorations and furnishings, which was

    different from the other rooms in the club.

    After wheeling Nan Xing into the room, the man closed the door and left.

    ¡°Mr. Ouyang, are you looking for me?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    ¡°Mr. Ouyang? Aren''t you going to change the way you address me and call me ''Dad?¡± Ouyang Duo''s

    expression was visibly grim.

    ¡°I''m not used to that yet. It doesn''t matter what I call you anyway,¡± Nan Xing replied indifferently.

    ¡°Oh? What matters to you then?¡±

    ¡°Who are you to me,¡± Nan Xing answered.

    ¡°Then who am I to you?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Ouyang, why are you so angry?¡± Nan Xing countered with a question, implicitly changing the

    subject.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    ¡°Don''t you know the reason I''m angry?¡±

    ¡°I don''t.¡± Nan Xing shook his head.

    Ouyang Duo''s temper red. He walked up to Nan Xing''s wheelchair and pointed his finger at the

    latter''s nose. ¡°You idiot!¡±

    All of a sudden, Nan Xing''s gaze turned cold, gleaming with malicious intent.

    Ouyang Duo was taken aback by the look in the younger man''s eyes.

    ¡°How dare you re at me?¡±

    Nan Xing quickly lowered his head and concealed the hostility in his eyes.

    ¡°Just tell me what you''re dissatisfied with. I am listening.¡±

    Although his voice had softened, it was still tinged with coldness.

    ¡°Tell me. Whose side are you on?¡± Ouyang Duo roared.

    ¡°I don''t really get what you mean, Mr. Ouyang.¡±

    ¡°I am asking you, are you on the Ouyang family''s side?¡±

    ¡°What is it that you''re not happy with and want me to do?¡±

    ¡°I''ve asked you to arrange for your dad to work in thepany. Why did you refuse to do that?¡±

    ¡°I didn''t refuse. It was the people in thepany who disagreed with it,¡± Nan Xing answered coldly.

    ¡°You are now the CEO. No one can oppose it if you show your support.¡±

    ¡°No. You''re wrong. You were the one who asked Grandpa to bring this matter up, huh?¡±

    ¡°Exactly.¡±

    ¡°You asked Grandpa to do that because you didn''t want to get me involved, which would lead others to

    think I was a nepotist who did things unjustly. Am I right?¡±

    ¡°Yes. So what? I did it for your own good.¡±

    ¡°I know you did it for me. That was why I had no objection to asking Grandpa to bring this matter up.

    But everyone was against it after he had proposed it. What should I do? Do you want me to tell them

    that I am the CEO, no one can object to it, and I''m just going to put my dad in an important position?¡±

    Nan Xing paused before continuing, ¡°Have you ever thought about the negative impact that would

    come if I did that? What will everyone in thepany think of me? How do I earn respect in the

    company in the future? If my dad can''t help me at all, what''s the point of getting him to work in the

    company? So that he can cause more trouble and make others criticize me for handling things

    unjustly?¡±

    Ouyang Duo was rendered speechless by Nan Xing''s words.

    ¡°So you''re saying that you''re doing this for my sake?¡± asked Ouyang Duo.

    Nan Xing said nothing, not even giving an exnation.

    ¡°I think we should have a talk, Nan Xing.¡± Ouyang Duo softened his tone.

    ¡°We are having a talk now,¡± said Nan Xing.

    ¡°You should know that you are my son-inw now and that our interests are linked together. If I rise to

    sess, you will too. On the contrary, if I''m doomed, you will have it far worse than me or even suffer a

    fate worse than death,¡± said Ouyang Duo as he began threatening the younger man.

    Still, Nan Xing said nothing.

    Not getting any response, Ouyang Duo added, ¡°So, you''d better cooperate with me and do whatever I

    ask you to do. If you dare to disobey me, you will lose everything. Understand?¡±

    To his surprise, Nan Xing still remained silent.

    The anger Ouyang Duo had been suppressing began to boil again.

    ¡°It seems that you are not going to take my warning seriously, huh?¡±

    Finally, Nan Xing parted his lips and responded, ¡°Mr. Ouyang, do we have to talk like this? We''ve been

    doing whatever you want us to do. Are you still not satisfied? If you''re so persistent in getting my dad to

    work in thepany, I will call for an interim board meeting tomorrow and bring this matter up for a

    vote. However, if that''s the case, I think the chances of the proposal gaining the majority''s approval are

    slim. Do you think it''s still necessary for me to go through with this?¡±

    Ouyang Duo sensed something amiss with Nan Xing that day.

    Thetter seemed to have be more confident and aggressive.

    Did he change because I have angered him?

    ¡°Forget it. Since those in thepany are against it, we''ll forget about the n of getting your dad to

    work in thepany for the time being. By the way, are you getting along well with Qing?¡± Ouyang Duo

    changed the subject.

    It was exactly like the saying ¡°speak of the devil,¡± for Ouyang Qing suddenly pushed the door open and

    walked in.

    Since Ouyang Qing had arrived, Nan Xing no longer felt like replying to Ouyang Duo''s question.

    If he wants to know how things are going between his daughter and me, he should ask her himself.

    ¡°Nan Xing, why didn''t you support my Dad? And why didn''t youplete the task he asked you to do?¡±

    Ouyang Qing started questioning and using Nan Xing once she entered the room.

    In the eyes of the Ouyang family, Nan Xing was merely a puppet they had under their control.

    ¡°Do I have to exin it all again?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    ¡°Exin? Exin about what? Just do whatever my dad asked you to do,¡± said Ouyang Qing with an

    using tone.

    Once again, Nan Xing went silent.

    ¡°It''s a critical period now. How could you go to y ser and break your leg in the process? You even

    went to thepany in a wheelchair. Don''t you feel ashamed?¡±

    Ouyang Qing, standing in front of Nanxing''s wheelchair, pointed her finger at Nanxing''s nose.

    It was the exact same action Ouyang Duo had done earlier on.

    Nan Xing''s expression turned even colder. Soon, his eyes were filled with murderous intent.

    The feeling of being treated with disrespect irritated him to no end.

    ¡°Please move your finger away, Ms. Ouyang. I don''t like the way you''re behaving!¡± Nan Xing uttered

    frigidly.

    Ouyang Qing sneered, ¡°You don''t like the way I''m behaving? Do I care? You are nothing but a dog in

    our family now¡ª¡±

    ¡°Qing!¡± Even Ouyang Duo was irked by her attitude and cut her short.

    ¡°Dad, he''s getting out of line. How dare he disobey us? I must teach him a lesson,¡± Ouyang Qing

    scolded.

    ¡°Thepany I attended the meeting at today was Nanshi Corporation. I wonder why I should feel

    ashamed. On the other hand, you, Ouyang Qing, don''t even have the right to feel ashamed! It''s none of

    your business!¡± said Nan Xing.

    The room immediately plunged into pin-drop silence.

    Once again, the father-and-daughter duo was shocked by Nan Xing''s words. They did not expect him

    to say such words under such circumstances.

    Nanshi Corporation will soon belong to the Ouyang family, and Nan Xing is well aware of it. How dare

    he say that?

 Chapter 628

    Chapter 628

    ¡°Nan Xing, are you rebelling against us?¡± Ouyang Qing roared.

    ¡°Me? Rebelling against you?¡± Nan Xing questioned.

    ¡°How dare you speak like this to my father?¡±

    ¡°And how did I speak?¡±

    ¡°You said thatpany belongs to Nanshi Corporation and that I didn''t even have the right to be

    ashamed about it!¡± Ouyang Qing was enraged.

    ¡°That''s right. Did thatpany change its name? Why didn''t I know about it?¡± Nan Xing countered.

    All of a sudden, Ouyang Qing''s arm shot up to give Nan Xing a p across the cheek.

    ¡°How dare you talk to me like this when you''re already an invalid?¡±

    However, Nan Xing reached out to grab Ouyang Qing''s wrist in time.

    Then, he flung her arm away.

    Although Nan Xing was in a wheelchair, his arm was still pretty strong.

    ¡°Don''t resort to violence. It''s bad,¡± Nan Xing uttered frigidly.

    ¡°Qing, how can you p him? You''re a couple! You should respect your significant other instead of

    resorting to violence like this!¡± Ouyang Duo berated.

    Ouyang Duo, being a sly and shrewd man, had noticed Nan Xing''s rebellious attitude.

    He had to keep the situation under control for the time being, for he had not achieved his goal yet and

    could not afford to have a falling out with Nan Xing.

    ¡°Dad, look at how he''s acting! He doesn''t have respect for me at all!¡± Ouyang Qing fumed.

    ¡°You can''t hit him no matter what!¡± Ouyang Duo shouted back.

    It was only then Ouyang Qing finally fell silent and moved to the side, a displeased look evident on her

    face.

    As Ouyang Duo turned to his daughter, he said, ¡°Leave the room first.¡±

    ¡°Dad...¡±

    ¡°Get out!¡±

    Despite Ouyang Qing''s reluctance, she had no choice but to step out of the room.

    Soon, only Nan Xing and Ouyang Duo were left inside.

    The air was heavy with awkwardness after the earlier fight.

    ¡°What other instructions do you have for me? If there isn''t anything else, I''ll be taking my leave first,¡±

    Nan Xing said, breaking the silence.

    ¡°Have you settled the transfer of shares yet? Is everythingpleted?¡± the older man asked.

    ¡°It''ll be settled tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°All right. If that''s the case, transfer the shares in your name to Qing once everything is done. I''ll then

    purchase the shares from Qing. That sum of money for the purchase will be shared assets between the

    two of you. You''ll have no need to worry about your financial status for the rest of your life. As long as

    you listen to me, you can still be Nanshi Corporation''s CEO. So, Nan Xing, working with me is the right

    choice for you,¡± Ouyang Duo enunciated, trying to talk some sense into the young man.

    ¡°Okay,¡± was all Nan Xing said in response to Ouyang Duo''s long speech.

    ¡°Good. I''ll send you off, then.¡±

    Ouyang Duo then slowly wheeled Nan Xing out of the club.

    That was a gesture to appease Nan Xing, for the earlier fight had been vicious. He needed to do

    something to calm Nan Xing down.

    Although Nan Xing was all but a puppet to the Ouyang family, he was still necessary to the family.

    It was only after the next day when Nan Xing transferred the shares to Ouyang Qing would the former

    truly be a disposable pawn of the Ouyang family.

    By then, how the Ouyang family was going to treat him would depend on how Nan Xing behaved.

    He was a puppet, and puppets must be obedient and devoid of their own opinions.

    A puppet with a mind of its own and a mouth to speak its mind was not a good puppet.

    A bad puppet would have to be discarded.

    With the help of the bodyguards, Ouyang Duo lifted Nan Xing''s wheelchair into the van.

    The older man then waved his hand to bid him farewell. As he watched the van disappear down the

    road, the look in his eyes turned increasingly gloomy.

    ¡°Dad, why are you letting him do as he pleases? If we don''t rein him in now, he''s going to be even less

    obedient in the future!¡± Ouyang Qing cried out as she walked over to her father.

    ¡°You''re absurd! I can''t believe you actually want to hit him! Have you lost your mind?¡± Ouyang Duo

    scolded.

    ¡°I couldn''t stand the way he was treating me! Who does he think he is? He''s but a pawn to our family.

    How dare he shout at me?¡± Ouyang Qing growled.

    ¡°Don''t you find Nan Xing''s behavior today strange?¡± Ouyang Duo asked.

    ¡°Yes, I think he was acting quite peculiar. I wonder what has gotten into him.¡±

    ¡°It seems like he''s suddenly confident about something. I wonder if the old man hade up with a

    n for him that''s making him this confident,¡± Ouyang Duo worriedly muttered.

    ¡°I doubt it. He''s still listening to us, right? If that old man had an ace up his sleeve, he would have used

    it long ago. He wouldn''t have waited until now,¡± Ouyang Qingmented.

    Ouyang Duo nodded, finding sense in his daughter''s words. After all, Nan Zhengde had been to the

    office earlier in the day, so that meant that he was still heeding their instructions.

    Maybe I''m overthinking this.

    ¡°Anyway, once they''re done with the transfer, I''ll get Nan Xing to sign the transfer agreement for the

    shares. Then, Nanshi Corporation will be ours! But before that, you have to tolerate Nan Xing for a little

    longer. Don''t cause any unnecessary trouble,¡± Ouyang Duo reminded.

    ¡°Okay, Dad. I''ll do as you say.¡±

    In the afternoon of the next day, Ouyang Duo received a call from thewyer he hired. Thewyer

    informed him that the transfer was done and that all of Nan Zhengde''s shares were now Nan Xing''s.

    That was good news, of course, and Ouyang Duo was thrilled.

    Thus, he quickly instructed hiswyer to bring the drafted documents over before summoning Nan Xing

    over to sign them.

    After ending the call, Ouyang Duo did a fist-pump in excitement.

    His dream of many years was finally fulfilled.

    Spinning around to look at Feng Jialing, he said, ¡°Go and bring me the best bottle of wine. I want to

    have a drink to celebrate this moment.¡±

    ¡°Is it done?¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    ¡°It is! Nan Xing will being overter to sign the documents. Qing will be thergest

    shareholder in Nanshi Corporation, and when she sells the shares to me, I''ll be thergest

    shareholder of Nanshi Corporation!¡± Ouyang Duo rambled on, ted.

    ¡°But there''s something about this that''s making me anxious. Will the Nan family admit defeat just like

    that?¡± Feng Jialing wondered out loud.

    ¡°Don''t be such a killjoy. Be at ease. Victory is ours the moment Nan Xing signs the documents!¡±

    Ouyang Duo beamed.

    It was not unusual for a person to be that excited after aplishing something they had been

    dreaming about for years.

    All of a sudden, Feng Jialing asked, ¡°But what if he refuses to sign the documents?¡±

    ¡°That''s impossible. We have Nan Chen, and he won''t have the guts to not sign them.¡±

    ¡°But didn''t you say that Nan Chen''s dead? If Nan Chen''s dead, why would Nan Xing hand over the

    shares for the sake of a dead man?¡± Feng Jialing asked.

    Ouyang Duo was taken aback by her question. ¡°Are you saying that it''s possible they''ve discovered

    Nan Chen''s dead?¡±

    ¡°That''s right. If they learn about his death, the Nan family will surely stop going along with us,¡± Feng

    Jialing pointed out.

    Instantly, Ouyang Duo leaped to his feet and began pacing.

    ¡°That can''t be. They wouldn''t be this calm if they had found out about Nan Chen''s death. They wouldn''t

    act like this; they would have taken revenge on us in a frenzied manner. Yet, so far, the Nan family has

    been doing what I''ve told them to do. This means that they have no idea about Nan Chen''s death. So,

    everything''s still within my control. Nothing has gone wrong.¡±

    After a moment of contemtion, Ouyang Duo came to the conclusion that he was still the victor in the

    situation.

    ¡°Then when is Nan Xing going toe over to sign the papers?¡±

    ¡°Soon. He''ll be here in a bit. I''ll arrange for some men to be stationed here, and he''ll have no choice but

    to sign the papers!¡± Ouyang Duo uttered in resolution.

 Chapter 629

    Chapter 629

    In actuality, Nan Xing didn''t resist at all and arrived at Orchid Club once again with hiswyer.

    Nan Xing went to the same luxurious and spacious room. Ouyang Duo was leaning his back against

    the couch, and in front of him was a bottle of excellent wine that cost two hundred thousand.

    The bottle of wine was used for celebration, but Ouyang Duo already drank a ss as he couldn''t wait

    much longer.

    Meanwhile, Nan Xing sat calmly in his wheelchair.

    First, thewyer showed Ouyang Duo the rted document, and thetter confirmed there was no

    error in the document.

    To Ouyang Duo, the next moment would be historical because Nan Xing would sign a document and

    voluntarily transfer Nanshi Corporation''s shares to his wife, Ouyang Qing.

    After the document was signed, that would mean that the Ouyang family had officially reced the Nan

    family as Nanshi Corporation''s biggest shareholder.

    Following some further operations, the Ouyang family would be able to take control of Nanshi

    Corporation and be thepany''s new owner as well as the most influential family in the city.

    Subsequently, Ouyang Duo would be the wealthiest person in the province and the only powerful

    figure in the area. No one would be powerful enough to go against him.

    Next, he would send the Nan family away from this city and make everyone gradually forget about

    them and their legacy.

    Ouyang Duo would then move into Commoner Residence and change its name to ¡°King Residence.¡±

    He would be the king, proudly looking down at Flower City and the entire province.

    Just the thought of finally achieving his goal made Ouyang Duo feel thrilled.

    ¡°Nan Xing, the document is ready. You just have to sign it.¡± Ouyang Duo pointed at the document on

    the table.

    Nan Xing picked up the document and flipped through the pages briefly. ¡°After the document is signed,

    Nanshi Corporation''s ownership will be transferred.¡±

    Hearing that, Ouyang Duo''s smile faded. ¡°We''re a family. This is merely a change of name. We still

    share the profits together.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? In the future, Nanshi Corporation will officially be under the name of Ouyang. This isn''t just

    a change of thepany''s name,¡± Nan Xing said coldly.

    ¡°Nan Xing, don''t tell me you''re not going to sign?¡± Ouyang Duo got up.

    That was the matter Ouyang Duo was most worried about, for it was the most important step.

    His n would only be sessful after this step waspleted.

    ¡°I will sign it. I just don''t understand why I must do it,¡± said Nan Xing.

    ¡°Enough with all this nonsense and just do what my dad wants you to do!¡± Ouyang Qing, who was

    standing beside them, could no longer tolerate Nan Xing''s attitude.

    ¡°Qing, stop talking and listen to what he has to say.¡± Ouyang Duo gestured for his daughter to be quiet.

    ¡°Ouyang Duo, where is Chen?¡± Suddenly, Nan Xing''s gaze turned icy as he looked at Ouyang Duo.

    He no longer addressed Ouyang Duo respectfully. Instead, he called thetter by his full name.

    ¡°What do you mean, Nan Xing?¡± Ouyang Duo ced the wine ss on the table. The smile on his face

    hadpletely disappeared.

    ¡°I mean exactly what I said. Where is Chen? What did you do to him?¡± Nan Xing questioned.

    ¡°Why are you asking me this? Didn''t I already tell you my friend will search for Nan Chen and bring him

    back?¡±

    ¡°Am I supposed to believe everything you say?¡± Nan Xing asked again.

    Ouyang Duo was stunned. Is Nan Xing really trying to go back on his words?

    ¡°What do you want me to do if you don''t believe me?¡± Ouyang Duo''s voice turned frosty.

    ¡°I won''t sign this document unless I see Chen!¡± Nan Xing responded icily.

    Ouyang Duo sighed. He''s really going back on his words. Before this, he had always been amb that

    was waiting to be ughtered, and now he''s turning into a wolf?

    ¡°Nan Xing, you have no other choice than to sign this document!¡± Ouyang Duo yelled as he mmed

    the table.

    ¡°Is that so? Are you nning to kill me if I don''t sign it? You''ll kill me if I don''t transfer the shares to the

    Ouyang family, right? However, even if you kill me, you won''t get Nanshi Corporation''s shares as well,¡±

    Nan Xing uttered icily.

    His tone was frigid as he stared straight at Ouyang Duo.

    ¡°Do you think I won''t dare to do so?¡± Ouyang Duo was getting irritated.

    ¡°That''s right. You won''t dare to. This is Flower City. If you dare to do anything reckless, you will be

    doomed,¡± said Nan Xing with a stony expression.

    ¡°Dad, this man is crazy! How dare he talk back to you?¡± Ouyang Qing couldn''t help chiming in.

    Yet, Ouyang Duo calmed down.

    All of a sudden, he realized that Nan Xing hade prepared.

    The younger man clearly knew that his signature on the document was the most crucial step to

    attaining Ouyang Duo''s goal.

    Therefore, Nan Xing was confident enough to make things difficult for Ouyang Duo when they were

    only a heartbeat away from signing the document. If Nan Xing refused to sign the document, there was

    nothing Ouyang Duo could do about it. It would be useless even if thetter murdered Nan Xing.

    Ouyang Duo had done so many things just to ensure thisst step could bepleted. At that

    moment, he couldn''t let his emotions get the better of him and result in ruining everything.

    Hence, he sat down and signaled Ouyang Qing not to say anything.

    The older man poured Nan Xing a ss of wine and handed it to thetter. ¡°We''re both too agitated.

    Let''s calm ourselves down and talk about this properly.¡±

    Nan Xing didn''t ept the ss of wine. So, Ouyang Duo raised his head and downed the wine in one

    go.

    ¡°What exactly do you want?¡± Ouyang Duo asked Nan Xing.

    ¡°Where is Chen? Where are you keeping him?¡± Nan Xing continued asking the same question.

    ¡°I''ve told you my friend will save him and bring him back.¡±

    ¡°Which friend is that? What''s his name? What''s his rtionship with you? Why does he know about

    Chen''s whereabouts?¡± Nan Xing blurted out a series of important questions.

    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    However, Ouyang Duo was reluctant to answer those questions.

    It was obvious that Ouyang Duo was the mastermind behind all that.

    Everyone was well aware of that. Yet, Nan Xing just had to question Ouyang Duo at that moment.

    ¡°You don''t have to know the answer to those questions. Your brother will be able to return as long as

    you''ve signed the document.¡±

    ¡°Does this mean Chen will die if I don''t sign it? You''re the one who ordered people to kidnap him,

    right?¡± Nan Xing asked the most crucial question.

    ¡°Nan Xing¡ª¡±

    ¡°Answer me. Did you do it or not? I won''t sign it if you don''t answer me directly,¡± Nan Xing retorted

    coldly.

    ¡°So, you''re really making an enemy of me, huh?¡±

    ¡°I won''t sign the document if you don''t tell me the truth, even if you threaten to kill me. Give me a

    reason for the Nan family to pass on our family business to you,¡± Nan Xing replied.

    Ouyang Duo dered, ¡°All right, then. Since you have to put it that way, I''ll tell you the truth. Nan Chen

    is in my hands. I am the one who instructed someone to kidnap him! After you sign the document, I will

    send Nan Chen overseas, and you can meet him there. Then, your family shall never return! If you

    don''t sign it, I will call my men, and Nan Chen will die immediately! Even your stubborn grandpa gave

    in for Nan Chen''s sake. Yet, you''re still trying to fight back?¡±

    Ouyang Duo continued, ¡°You''re now my son-inw. Although Nanshi Corporation will be under my

    name, you''re still part of it. You''re also a beneficiary! If I don''t kidnap Nan Chen, you''ll live in his

    shadow forever. Do you think you''ll still have the chance to be a CEO? You won''t have a bright

    future as long as Nan Chen is still alive! Now that I''ve controlled Nan Chen and let you enjoy the

    spotlight, you should be happy! Hurry and sign the document! After you sign it, you may stay. I will set

    you free if you don''t want to stay!¡±

    Ouyang Duo couldn''t wait much longer.

 Chapter 630

    Chapter 630

    ¡°How could you do this knowing how close our families are, Ouyang Duo?¡± Nan Xing questioned.

    Ouyang Duo burst intoughter. ¡°Close? Hahaha! Friends are meant to be betrayed! Didn''t you know

    that?¡±

    ¡°But can you really handle a corporation asrge as Nanshi?¡±

    ¡°That''s none of your business. Sign it.¡± Ouyang Duo pointed at the document again.

    ¡°Don''t you know it''s a crime to kidnap and hurt people? Do you not fear thew?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    ¡°You''re still talking about thew at this point? The rules of the world are set by those with power and

    wealth. If I want Nanshi Corporation, then I''m getting it. I don''t give a d*mn about thew, so quit your

    daydreaming and just sign the contract.¡±

    Growing impatient with every passing second, Ouyang Duo shoved the pen into Nan Xing''s hand.

    ¡°And what happens after I sign it?¡±

    ¡°I''ll take you back to the Nan residence,¡± Ouyang Duo answered with a smile.

    ¡°You? Take me back to the Nan residence? You''re going to kick my grandpa out and seize my house

    too?¡±

    Ouyang Duo chuckled. ¡°Your family used to stay at Commoner Residence simply because you were

    the greatest n in Flower City. But now that you guys are worthless, you don''t deserve to live in such

    a grand mansion anymore.¡±

    I won''t upy the ce by force, of course,¡± he continued. ¡°I''ll buy the deed for a million. You may not

    be aware, but I''ve already spoken to your grandfather about this, and I''ll be changing the mansion''s

    name to King Residence.¡±

    Nan Xing spat, ¡°Even the kitchen alone is worth more than a million, you b*stard!¡±

    Ouyang Duo replied, ¡°You should be thankful that I''m already offering you one million. What if I decided

    not to give you a single cent? It''s not like you''d be able to do anything about it. All right, quit bbering.

    Sign the contract!¡±

    Nan Xing picked up the pen. ¡°So once I sign it, when will I get my brother back? You''d better keep to

    your word and let him go.¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry. Nan Chen is no longer a threat to me now that the Nan family''s lost its power. I''ll release

    him. I promise.¡±

    Smiling in defeat, Nan Xing penned his signature on the document.

    Ouyang Duo held the piece of paper up high as he roared withughter.

    I''ve done it. I''ve finally gotten what I wanted!

    He continued tough deliriously for a long while.

    The heavens would drive a person mad before sending him to his destruction.

    At this very moment, Ouyang Duo was beyond insane.

    ¡°All right, your job isplete, so I''ll be taking you back to the Nan residence. I''ll also be bringing this

    bottle of unfinished liquor to Commoner Residence so I can personally give your grandfather a toast.

    It''s a wonderful day, after all! How could I forget about the old man?¡±

    ¡°Thanks, I guess,¡± Nan Xing replied ndly.

    ¡°Keep the document,¡± Ouyang Duo instructed thewyer. ¡°I believe you know what to do next.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Ouyang,¡± thewyer responded.

    ¡°Be more efficient. I want the shares transferred to my name as soon as possible. Get everything done

    within a week''s time.¡±

    ¡°Understood, sir.¡±

    With that, Ouyang Duo wheeled Nan Xing out of Orchid Club.

    The night lights began to illuminate the darkening skies.

    Ouyang Duo gazed up at the view of the bustling city.

    This whole city belongs to me now. I''m the ruler of this ce!

    Feeling like the happiest person in the world, he watched as the bodyguard carry the wheelchair-bound

    Nan Xing into the minivan and pondered for a moment before deciding to hop in as well.

    As the winner, he wanted to travel across the city feeling like a king.

    Moreover, it was only natural that having the loser by his side would make him feel even more superior.

    Nan Xing''s expression turned cold when he noticed the gloating look on Ouyang Duo''s face.

    ¡°What are you thinking about, Nan Xing?¡± thetter asked.

    ¡°Nothing much.¡±

    ¡°I''m really thrilled today, but I know you must be upset. You probably think I was the one who caused

    your family''s downfall.¡±

    Nan Xing remained silent.

    ¡°But that''s how society works, you know? The strong prey on the weak. It''s all about the survival of the

    fittest. Given how many years the Nan family has basked in its glory in Flower City, it''s about time they

    made way for others. Have you ever wondered why your family turned out this way?¡±

    Ouyang Duo was in such a cheery mood that he couldn''t stop talking and needed a way to express all

    the joy he felt.

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    Unfortunately, Nan Xing wasn''t a very ideal conversation buddy and kept silent most of the time.

    ¡°The reason behind the Nan family''s downfall is itsck of sessors,¡± Ouyang Duo dered. ¡°There''s

    no denying that your grandfather is brilliant, but your father, Nan Zhiyuan, is nothing but trash. That''s

    why your grandfather appointed Nan Chen as the next head of the family instead. He''s the only one

    capable enough for the job.¡±

    He concluded, ¡°After I took care of him, the Nan family has no one else. This allowed me to step up

    and take control pretty much right away. So, your family''s defeat isn''t solely because of me. It''s also

    due to its own descendants. If I don''t rece the Nans today, someone else would do it tomorrow. It

    was bound to happen sooner orter.¡±

    Nan Xing continued to say nothing.

    Seeing that, Ouyang Duo began to grow frustrated. He had said so much, only to receive nothing but

    silence in response.

    It looks like he''s too weak to understand such deep conversations. Forget it. I may as well talk to the

    geezerter instead.

    Commoner Residence wasn''t too far from Orchid Club, so it didn''t take them long to arrive.

    The entrance to the residence was shut tightly, and the butler, Chai Hua, opened the gates personally

    after hearing the doorbell ring.

    To amodate Nan Xing''s condition, he then asked for the car to be driven straight into the

    courtyard.

    No vehicle was allowed in the Nan residence''s courtyard. This was a strict house rule that had been

    upheld ever since the beginning.

    Even the Nan family members themselves would park outside the courtyard.

    That was because Nan Zhengde wanted to keep the area silent and didn''t like the sounds of cars.

    Hence, to be allowed to drive into the courtyard that day was certainly out of the ordinary.

    Even so, Ouyang Duo didn''t think much of it, given that Nan Xing was currently injured.

    Upon entering the courtyard, the bodyguard lifted Nan Xing out of the van.

    ¡°Get them to drive the car outside. My grandpa doesn''t like being bothered by car noises,¡± said the

    latter.

    ¡°Take the car outside and wait for me there,¡± Ouyang Duo instructed the bodyguard, who then nodded

    and drove out.

    Then, Ouyang Duo wheeled Nan Xing along Commoner Residence while observing the building''s

    condition and wondering how he would renovate it after bing its new owner.

    It does look nice and all, but I''d prefer to have it redone in a style that suits my preferences.

    ¡°I''ve returned with your grandson, Mr. Nan. Let''s have a drink.¡±

    At the mention of having a drink, Ouyang Duo recalled that he had left that bottle of liquor in the car.

    Just as he considered giving his bodyguard a call to bring him the bottle, he changed his mind. He

    reckoned the Nan residence had some good liquor too.

    Everything here belongs to me now, anyway, so I can do whatever I want. I''ll have the old man bring

    out his best liquor, and we''ll drink to celebrate my splendid victory over the Nans.

    It was an exceptional day for him, and he was determined to celebrate it.

 Chapter 631

    Chapter 631

    Nan Zhengde came out as if he had known that Ouyang Duo woulde.

    ¡°Since you''re in the mood for drinking, Duo, shall I get the housekeeper to prepare some side dishes?¡±

    the old man asked.

    ¡°That''s not necessary. I''ve already eaten. I''m just feeling happy, so I thought of having a drink with you,

    Mr. Nan.¡±

    ¡°Unlike you, Duo, I''m not in the mood for it. I''m not drinking.¡±

    Ouyang Duo chuckled. ¡°That''s true. You must not be in a good mood, Mr. Nan, and I can understand

    your feeling. Since you''re not drinking, bring out the finest wine in your house and let me have a ss.¡±

    He emanated such extreme haughtiness that it was as if he was at his own house.

    Nan Zhengde said to Chai Hua, ¡°Go get a bottle of wine.¡±

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    Chai Hua cast a disapproving eye at Ouyang Duo but went to get the wine anyway.

    After the wine was poured, however, Ouyang Duo did not dare to drink it. Instead, he gestured to Nan

    Zhengde. ¡°Take a sip first, Mr. Nan.¡±

    Thetterughed. ¡°Are you afraid that I''ll poison the wine? I''m not as despicable as you.¡±

    Ouyang Duo''s expression froze. ¡°I''m not being despicable. The strong prey on the weak in the

    business world. Although you''re capable, the person you groomed isn''t, so you''ve lost.¡±

    ¡°I don''t wish to drink. Chai Hua, you take a sip first to prove that there''s no poison,¡± Nan Zhengde said.

    Chai Hua was even more reluctant, but she still did as told.

    Only after seeing that the housekeeper was fine did Ouyang Duo take a sip.

    ¡°This wine is all right, but not the best. How stingy of you, Mr. Nan. You didn''t even bother to take out

    the fine wine. Do you still care about a few bottles of wine when this house will soon be mine?¡± Ouyang

    Duo asked with a chuckle.

    ¡°How can you be sure that I will give up the house?¡±

    ¡°I bought it for one million, and you will agree because you have no choice. Now that Nanshi

    Corporation belongs to me, remaining in Flower City will only add to your sadness, so why bother?¡±

    Ouyang Duo burst outughing again.

    Nan Zhengde nodded. ¡°That does make sense. However, before leaving Flower City, I still have a wish,

    and if you help me fulfill it, I''ll agree to give you the house. Not only that, I''ll even help you with the

    paperwork, change the name on the title certificate to yours, and make a que inscribed with ''King

    Residence'' in my writing. What do you think?¡±

    Ouyang Duo was delighted. ¡°That''s a great idea. Something inscribed by you makes it a kind of legacy

    and extremely meaningful. I like it! Tell me, what wish do you want me to help you fulfill?¡±

    ¡°I have a darling great-granddaughter who is very cute and adored by my entire family, but some

    b*stard dared to poison her. I can''t get it off my mind. So before I leave Flower City, I want you to fulfill

    my wish by helping me find that b*stard. As long as you do that for me, I''ll give you the house.¡±

    After saying that, Nan Zhengde stared at Ouyang Duo.

    Ouyang Duo did not expect that the old man would make such a request. ¡°Shouldn''t you get the police

    to help you catch the culprit? Why me?¡±

    Nan Zhengde replied, ¡°If the police were to get involved, I''m afraid many things would be exposed. Do

    you truly want me to go to them?¡±

    Ouyang Duo hesitated for a moment.

    ¡°With your capability, you can surely help me catch the culprit. Just thisst thing. Settle it for me, and

    my family will leave Flower City and nevere back,¡± Nan Zhengde added.

    ¡°Okay, deal,¡± Ouyang Duo agreed.

    ¡°But I must see that b*stard in person. You must bring him to me, and he must admit it himself. I won''t

    ept it otherwise.¡±

    ¡°Fine. I''ll do it. But besides giving me the house, I have another request,¡± Ouyang Duo said.

    ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°I want you to attend the press conference with me, acknowledge the legitimacy of my stake in Nanshi

    Corporation, and express your wee before the reporters.¡±

    Ouyang Duo''s request was far from simple, as he was aiming for where it hurt the most.

    Not only did he take someone''spany, but he was also demanding that they appear before the

    media with him and publicly dere that they had failed and conceded defeat.

    ¡°You''re going too far. Are you seriously going to burn your bridges without leaving a single one?¡± Nan

    Xing, who was at the side, asked coldly.

    ¡°Hahaha! Winners don''t need that! Cowardly losers will leave a thousand, only to find that none of them

    can be used in the end. In short, this is my condition. If you guys agree, I''ll hand over the culprit.

    Otherwise, forget it.¡±

    ¡°Fine. As long as you hand over the culprit who harmed my great-granddaughter, we''ll agree to attend

    the press conference with you and hold it at the headquarters of Nanshi Corporation,¡± Nan Zhengde

    vowed.

    ¡°How could you agree to this, Grandpa?¡± Nan Xing was distressed.

    ¡°It''s settled, then. It''ste. I''m old and need to rest. Let''s leave it as this.¡± Nan Zhengde waved

    dismissively.

    ¡°All right. I won''t disturb you any further.¡±

    After stepping out of Commoner Residence, Ouyang Duo turned back to look at the two words on the

    que again.

    At the thought that the ce would soon be his ¡°King Residence,¡± he broke into a smile.

    After getting into the car, he gave his privatewyer, He Lin, a call, asking him to arrange a ce to

    drink and bring along two people.

    Ouyang Duo was in high spirits. He still wanted to have a drink, and not on his own.

    On such a good day, I have to ask He Lin to arrange for two beautiful girls to drink with me. We must

    enjoy ourselves while we can. Today is my happiest day, and I want to have fun.

    He Lin was not only his privatewyer, but he was also in charge of the shady aspect of his private life.

    He was so efficient that he had already made the arrangement at another exclusive club for Ouyang

    Duo after half an hour.

    Naturally, it was not at Orchid Club, where both his wife and daughter were present, as it would make

    certain matters inconvenient.

    The girls brought by He Lin were young and beautiful, and on top of that, they were very receptive and

    good at drinking. Ouyang Duo liked them very much.

    When he was slightly drunk, Ouyang Duo motioned for the two girls to go to the side and have fun as

    he wanted to discuss something with He Lin.

    ¡°That old coot of the Nan family wants me to find the person who poisoned his great-granddaughter. Go

    and find someone to be the scapegoat,¡± he instructed.

    He Lin was shocked. ¡°Is this truly your doing, Mr. Ouyang?¡±

    ¡°Qing was the one who found someone to do it, but that person has long since run away, and there''s no

    way we can find him. Since the old coot demanded that person, we can only get someone to take the

    me to settle this matter,¡± Ouyang Duo said.

    ¡°Now that Nanshi Corporation is in your hands, why do you still care about that old man?¡±

    ¡°Even though I will soon hold the vast majority of thepany shares, the Nan family has been running

    Nanshi Corporation for years and has long established strong support within it. When I take over, I''ll

    undoubtedly face opposition from many people, so I must get that old coot to attend the press

    conference with me and get him to wee me into thepany officially. It''ll make me look good and

    also appease the employees. Though it may seem like a formality, it is an important step. If an emperor

    takes the throne without an edict from the preceding emperor, it will be regarded as a rebellion and

    usurpation. However, if the former emperor issues an edict, the act bes an abdication, which is a

    significant distinction. Not only do I want to assume control of Nanshi Corporation, but I also want to

    make it clear to everyone that I''m doing so honorably. I want to win fair and square!¡±

 Chapter 632

    Chapter 632

    How shameless can Ouyang Duo be? Despite the current circumstances, he still talks about honor.

    Perhaps the more insidious one is, the more one desires to be seen as honorable.

    ¡°I understand, Mr. Ouyang. Since it''s Ms. Ouyang who''s behind the poisoning, the me obviously

    cannot fall upon her. I''ll pay someone off to take the fall,¡± He Lin said.

    ¡°Okay, get it done by tomorrow. This person has to be unwavering when confessing to the crime. The

    police must be convinced,¡± Ouyang Duo said.

    ¡°Don''t worry, Mr. Ouyang. It''ll be properly dealt with.¡±

    ¡°Also, keep an eye on the Nan family and inform me if anything crops up.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Ouyang.¡±

    ¡°Go now. As for these two girls, I''ll deal with them shortly.¡±

    He Lin broke into a smile. ¡°I admire your vigor, Mr. Ouyang.¡±

    At two in the morning, Ouyang Duo''s phone kept shing beside his bed. Nheless, he¡ªwith two

    youngdies in his arms¡ªslept so soundly that he was oblivious to it.

    When he finally woke up in the morning and saw more than ten missed calls from Feng Jialing, he

    immediately returned her call.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Why didn''t you pick up your subordinate''s call? The stock of our overseaspany was sold short

    and plunged overnight,¡± Feng Jialing rted.

    ¡°What? Sold short?¡±

    ¡°Yes, the subordinate reported that the short selling began two days ago but at a low volume, hence

    not raising any rms. They only realized it after a sudden surge of fundsst night triggered the

    drastic fall.¡±

    ¡°How much has it fallen?¡±

    ¡°Cumtively, thirty percent over thest few days.¡±

    ¡°That''s a lot! Why wasn''t I informed earlier?¡± Ouyang Duo was filled with anxiety.

    ¡°The fall started slow and only picked up pace abruptlyst night.¡±

    ¡°I''m about to take over Nanshi Corporation, and yet, they want to sell mypany short? Once news

    of my acquisition is announced, the stock price will skyrocket and cause them devastating losses! Don''t

    worry. This issue will be resolved very soon,¡± Ouyang Duo replied.

    ¡°All right, then. I''ll wait for your news.¡±

    Upon ending the call, Ouyang Duo washed up, ordered room service, and left the hotel once he had

    eaten.

    Meanwhile, the efficient He Lin had already found a scapegoat¡ªan honest-looking middle-aged man.

    The man''s demands were reasonable. All he wanted was six hundred thousand to take on the role.

    Without questioning the man in detail, Ouyang Duo delivered him to the Nan residence.

    Nan Zhengde, who was practicing Tai Chi, was surprised to see Ouyang Duo arriving so early.

    As for thetter, he, too, didn''t expect Nan Zhengde to be in the mood for Tai Chi.

    ¡°Mr. Nan, now that I''ve brought you the man responsible, please be prepared toe to the press

    conference with me. All the reporters have been notified and it will begin at two in the afternoon,¡±

    Ouyang Duo said.

    ¡°Why are you in such a hurry?¡±

    ¡°I''m not. Instead, I''m feeling anxious on your behalf. You have to resolve the matter as soon as

    possible and leave before you end up bing theughingstock of Flower City.¡±

    ¡°Let me see the man.¡±

    The scapegoat He Lin had found was brought forward with his hands bound.

    Naturally, Ouyang Duo hoped that rage would drive Nan Zhengde to have the man beaten to death.

    That way, there would be no witnesses left, and the Nan family would end up digging a deeper hole for

    themselves.

    Evidently, Nan Zhengde was anything but impulsive.

    ¡°Was it you who poisoned my great-granddaughter?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± the man answered.

    ¡°Why did you do it?¡±

    Unfortunately, an answer wasn''t forting.

    ¡°Mr. Nan, since he has admitted to the crime, there''s no need to figure out his motive. Just hand him

    over to the police, and they''ll deal with him ordingly,¡± Ouyang Duo said.

    ¡°You''re right. The motive isn''t important. Anyway, I''ll keep him here and think about how I''m going to

    deal with him. You should make the necessary arrangements for the press conference. I''ll be there withN?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    Nan Xing in the afternoon,¡± Nan Zhengde replied.

    ¡°All right. It''s settled, then. I''ll see youter,¡± Ouyang Duo agreed.

    At two-thirty today, my ¡°coronation ceremony¡± will herald the end of the Nan family in Flower City.

    With that thought in mind, Ouyang Duo felt the frustration of losing tens of billion from the short selling

    of his stock fade away.

    Once news of the acquisition of Nanshi Corporation is released, the share price will see a sharp

    rebound and continue climbing higher. Those short sellers will be ughtered and all my problems will

    be solved!

    Upon returning to Orchid Club, Ouyang Duo got Feng Jialing to prepare his suit for the afternoon.

    Now that the new ¡°king¡± was about to be unveiled, he wanted to make the best impression.

    ¡°Jialing, do you think the news of the acquisition will make me a trending topic tonight?¡± Ouyang Duo

    asked his wife.

    ¡°You? Trending topic? Isn''t that something only young people desire?¡± Feng Jialing was puzzled.

    ¡°No, no, no. The publicity I gain from bing the trending topic will be great for marketing. Don''t you

    realize all sessful entrepreneurs ride on their poprity once they be a trending topic? In fact,

    it''s simr to spending a huge fortune on marketing expenses but even more effective,¡± Ouyang Duo

    exined.

    ¡°I think youngsters nowadays care more about celebrity gossip than news from the business world.

    They''re more interested to know which celebrity is getting married, cheating on their partner, or has just

    given birth. As to which corporation is being taken over, they probably can''t be bothered. I suppose it''ll

    be hard for you,¡± Feng Jialing said.

    ¡°In that case, I''ll buy my way into them for three consecutive days. No, one week! I want to be the

    trending topic for the entire week and be the most popr man in the city. Everyone must know

    who I am, as I''ll be the one to rule over this kingdom called Flower City!¡±

    Ouyang Duo''s eyes glistened with enthusiasm.

    It was then that Ouyang Qing walked in. ¡°Dad, you''re the trending topic on the inte!¡±

    Ouyang Duo burst into heartyughter. ¡°What? The press conference hasn''t even started. Looks like I

    don''t even have to spend any money at all!¡±

    ¡°However, it isn''t about ttering news. Someone took pictures of you entering a hotel with two young

    ladies and staying the night!¡± Ouyang Qing said, triggering a drastic change in Ouyang Duo''s

    expression.

    ¡°Ouyang Duo, you were fooling around with two womenst night? You b*stard!¡± Feng Jialing

    exploded.

    ¡°Wait, calm down and let me exin. They were He Lin''s rtives who were looking for a job at the

    company. I just had drinks with them and nothing else!¡±

    ¡°You wouldn''t be trending if that were true. While I was busy helping you acquire the Nan family''s

    business, you were out fraternizing with other women. I''m going to kill you for this!¡± Feng Jialing

    screamed before lunging at Ouyang Duo.

    In response, Ouyang Duo shoved her aside, causing her to fall and hit her head on the corner of the

    table.

    ¡°Dad, how could you be so violent to Mom? Mom, are you all right?¡± Ouyang Qing quickly helped her

    mother up.

    ¡°Jialing, you should know better than to stir up trouble for me at this crucial juncture. Today is extremely

    important to me. Whatever you have to say, save it forter. Otherwise, get your ass back to Pearl

    City!¡± Ouyang Duo roared.

 Chapter 633

    Chapter 633

    ¡°Ouyang Duo, now that you have achieved your objective, is this how you''re treating me?¡± Feng Jialing

    retorted while holding her head.

    Because of the forceful impact, she had a nasty bump with blood oozing out of it.

    ¡°How am I treating you? Didn''t I warn you not to stir up any trouble at this time? I''ll exin myself to

    youter, but what you need to do now is keep your mouth shut!¡± Ouyang Duo yelled back at her.

    ¡°Ouyang Duo, you''ll reap what you sow!¡±

    ¡°That''s a topic for another day. Qing, help your mom out to rest. I need time to think.¡±

    ¡°Dad, how could you?¡±

    ¡°Get out! Didn''t you hear me the first time?¡±

    Ouyang Qing was taken aback by how Ouyang Duo snapped at her.

    ¡°Mom, let''s head out and get your wound treated first,¡± Ouyang Qing suggested softly.

    After shooting Ouyang Duo a vengeful re, Feng Jialing left the room with Ouyang Qing''s support.

    At two in the afternoon, Ouyang Duo alighted from his car in front of Nanshi Corporation.

    With his head held high and chest puffed up, he walked up to the main door of the ce that was

    supposed to be the venue of his ¡°coronation.¡± Even though the necessary procedures had yet to be

    completed, he couldn''t wait to organize a press conference where he was set to make his

    announcement.

    He Lin approached to usher him in. ¡°Mr. Ouyang, this way, please.¡±

    ¡°Why didn''t Nan Xing receive me at the door?¡± Ouyang Duo was upset.

    ¡°He could be busy since all the reporters have arrived. Let''s head up first.¡±

    Out of all the conference rooms within Nanshi Corporation, thergest one was chosen for the press

    conference.

    It took up the entire floor and was usually used during shareholder meetings or otherrge-scale

    events.

    Upon his arrival, Ouyang Duo noticed that Nan Zhengde and Nan Xing were nowhere to be seen

    despite reporters filling the room.

    At the sight of him, the reporters were thrilled and began taking pictures of him furiously.

    Given that he was a rich man who became a trending topic on the ount of his personal life, he was

    naturally an attractive subject for the press.

    There was no stopping them since they were at a press conference.

    In fact, the triumphant Ouyang Duo was actually looking forward to having his picture taken.

    As for his recent scandal, he didn''t mind it, as they were too inconsequential to affect his status.

    Ouyang Duo was all smiles as he bathed in the limelight of the cameras.

    ¡°Mr. Ouyang, please sit here.¡± He Lin had arranged a seat for Ouyang Duo.

    When he realized it wasn''t in the center, Ouyang Duo was upset.

    As the star of today''s event, why can''t I take the CEO''s seat? Who else deserves it more than I do?

    ¡°Mr. He, this is my seat?¡± A grim expression descended upon Ouyang Duo''s face.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Ouyang. Since you haven''t taken the reins of Nanshi Corporation officially, that''s how the

    seats have been assigned. Besides, wouldn''t it feel more ceremonial to have Nan Xing vacate his seat

    for you during the handover?¡± He Lin exined softly, to which Ouyang Duo agreed.

    I''m, after all, the new king. Since the old king has yet to abdicate, I''ll have to sit by the side for the time

    being. Once the old king invites me to take his seat, it will certainly make a deeper impression on

    everyone else. This arrangement is pretty good!

    ¡°Mr. Ouyang, why are you here at Nanshi Corporation''s press conference?¡± one of the reporters who

    couldn''t hold back his curiosity asked, hoping to get an early scoop.

    After all, by being the first to interview the person who was on the trending topics, he would naturally

    draw more readers.

    With a slight smile, Ouyang Duo answered implicitly, ¡°You''ll see soon enough that I''m the star of today''s

    event.¡±

    His words caused an uproar among the other reporters.

    This is the headquarters of Nanshi Corporation, and yet, Ouyang Duo just dered that he is the real

    reason for this press conference. Is he hiding an important announcement?

    ¡°Mr. Ouyang, can you exin what you mean by that? Are you saying that you''re more important than

    the Nans?¡±

    The clever reporter threw out a question that had to be carefully answered.

    Under normal circumstances, the best strategy was to avoid controversy by not answering directly.

    However, instead of doing so, Ouyang Duo confirmed, ¡°That''s more or less it.¡±

    His response shocked the reporters present.

    What''s going on? Ouyang Duo came all the way to Nanshi Corporation''s headquarters to proim that

    he was the boss and the Nans were of no consequence. Has he gone mad?

    With no reporter wanting to miss out on such an important topic, all of them quickly surrounded Ouyang

    Duo.

    ¡°Mr. Ouyang, could you give us more details?¡±

    ¡°It''s exactly what my words imply,¡± Ouyang Duo answered with a smile.

    ¡°Why are the Nans not important?¡± a reporter inquired.

    ¡°I''m not saying they aren''t. I''m just telling you that I matter more,¡± Ouyang Duo replied gleefully.

    Usually, he would never behave that way. As Sunshine Corporation was also a conglomerate,

    someone in his position would always speak cautiously and keep a low profile.

    Regardless of the overwhelming excitement within, one would never say anything controversial that

    would risk unnecessary conflict.

    Unfortunately, Ouyang Duo, drunk on his victory, had failed to keep a cool head in dealing with the

    situation.

    He had obviously lost hisposure.

    Just when the reporters wanted to press on with their questions, they noticed someone arriving.

    It was Nan Chen''s assistant, Jiang Zhe, who was pushing a wheelchair in. The man sitting on it was

    dressed in a ck jacket and pants, with a ck tie toplete his outfit.

    At that moment, all the reporters got to their feet to greet the Nans.

    As they were in the headquarters of Nanshi Corporation, it was necessary for them to show their host

    respect.

    Jiang Zhe gestured for everyone to take their seats.

    Following behind Jiang Zhe were three men in jackets. Upon entering the room, they seated

    themselves in the extreme corner of the room.

    After wheeling Nan Chen to the center, Jiang Zhe took his seat beside him and picked up the

    microphone, as it fell upon him to chair the press conference.

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, today''s press conference is held at the request of Mr. Ouyang, Chairman of

    Sunshine Corporation. First and foremost, I would like to wee all of you to the headquarters of

    Nanshi Corporation,¡± Jiang Zhe said cordially.

    As Nan Chen''s assistant, Jiang Zhe often took questions from reporters on his behalf and was

    considered an important spokesperson of his. Many of the reporters were familiar with him.

    ¡°Assistant Jiang, what''s going on? Why is Nanshi Corporation holding a press conference for Ouyang

    Duo?¡± a reporter asked.

    Instead of answering, Jiang Zhe looked in Ouyang Duo''s direction. ¡°Why don''t we let Mr. Ouyang

    exin?¡±

    Ouyang Duo let out a huff. I''m the star of the day, and it''s time for me to make an entrance.

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen of the press. It''s true that today''s press conference was held at my request, as I

    have an important announcement to make.¡±

    At that moment, Ouyang Duo paused briefly on purpose, adding to the suspense.

    ¡°All this while, Sunshine Corporation and Nanshi Corporation have enjoyed a fantastic partnership.

    However, Nanshi Corporation hasgged behind in recent years due to its outdated management style

    and the increasing ipetence of its decision-makers. As of now, they are nothing but a spent

    force...¡±

    Ouyang Duo''s brazen words sent the reporters into an uproar.

 Chapter 634

    Chapter 634

    It was a well-known fact that ever since Nan Chen assumed his position, Nanshi Corporation had

    achieved rtively constant and huge growth amidst the slowing global economy. Because of this, it

    gained poprity and even received praise from provincial officials.

    Yet now, Ouyang Duo, an outsider, dared to criticize Nanshi Corporation at its headquarters. The crowd

    couldn''t wrap their heads around what was going on.

    Even if Ouyang Duo wanted to criticize them, he should have done it behind the Nans'' backs. It was

    disrespectful of him to do it right in front of their faces.

    Besides, he was basically spouting nonsense.

    Nanshi Corporation had never shown any signs of decline until now. On the contrary, they had the most

    stable development among thepanies in the entire province.

    In the face of the reporters'' outcry, Jiang Zhe asked them to calm down and let Ouyang Duo continue.

    ¡°So, I have decided to take control over Nanshi Corporation as a major stockholder. I will save the

    biggest corporation in Flower City from its downfall. This is the major news I wanted to reveal at today''s

    press conference,¡± Ouyang Duo announced.

    Once again, the crowd went into an uproar.

    The reporters thought they had misheard Ouyang Duo.

    Nanshi Corporation is a business giant. How can he buy it out so easily? This isn''t a ck Friday sale!

    Even if it is, how can he ever afford Nanshi Corporation? It''d make more sense for Nanshi Corporation

    to buy him instead.

    The reporters were in utter disbelief.

    Ouyang Duo might be rich enough to splurge on luxury goods, small enterprises, and even female

    celebrities, but Nanshi Corporation was not something he could easily purchase.

    Aftering back to their senses, the reporters immediately concluded that Ouyang Duo was bluffing.

    The threergest firms in the province were Nanshi Corporation, Sunshine Corporation, and Prosperity

    Holdings.

    Nanshi Corporation was located in Flower City, while Sunshine Corporation was stationed in Pearl City.

    The headquarters of Prosperity Holdings used to be in Flower City as well, but after losing out to

    Nanshi Corporation, it moved to the faraway Rivera City and had been lying low since then.

    Among the three, Nanshi Corporation was the most powerful one.

    The runner-up, Sunshine Corporation, had been waiting for a chance to rise. As for Prosperity

    Holdings, it seemed to have given up onpeting and exited the scene.

    Now that Ouyang Duo, the representative of Sunshine Corporation, imed that he was going to

    acquire Nanshi Corporation, no one believed in him.

    Although the reporters were not familiar with running a business, they had enoughmon sense to

    figure out that Ouyang Duo was boasting.

    Nanshi Corporation had always been aggressive. With a tough man like Nan Chen in charge, there

    was no way he would allow Ouyang Duo to get his own way.

    Everyone looked at the man in the wheelchair. ¡°Mr. Nan, is this true?¡±

    Instead of responding to the question, the man in the wheelchair looked at Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°This is Mr. Ouyang''s idea. It''s true that he''s been wanting to acquire Nanshi Corporation. Am I right,

    Mr. Ouyang?¡± Jiang Zhe asked.

    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Upon hearing that, Ouyang Duo assumed Jiang Zhe was showing support for him.

    He immediately nodded and stated, ¡°That''s right. I have made a lot of preparation for this, and Nanshi

    Corporation has been very supportive and cooperative as well. The acquisition is already ongoing now

    thanks to everyone''s efforts. I would like to thank Nanshi Corporation for everything they have done.¡±

    His words left the reporters dumbstruck. Have the members of the Nan family lost their minds? They

    cooperated with Ouyang Duo for the acquisition of their ownpany? Is Nanshi Corporation

    encountering a crisis that can only be solved with an acquisition? But it has always been seeing stable

    growth, and its listed subsidiaries are also doing quite well. There were no signs of crisis at all! Could it

    be that Nan Chen is sick of managing thepany and wants to give it up? That''s impossible, too.

    Nan Chen is a renowned tough character in the business circle of Flower City. Besides, he''s in the

    prime of his life. It doesn''t make sense for him to retire at such a young age.

    The reporters turned their attention to the man in the wheelchair. ¡°What is going on, Mr. Nan? Could

    you please say something?¡±

    He was the person in charge of the organization. They would need him to personally confirm that the

    acquisition was actually happening.

    However, he remained quiet, and his silence further aggravated the reporters'' anxiousness.

    ¡°Mr. Nan, do you have anything to say about Mr. Ouyang''s statement?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Nan, why aren''t you saying anything? Is it because you''re too disappointed in the turn of events?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Nan, will Nanshi Corporation really be acquired by Sunshine Corporation? Why did this happen so

    suddenly? Is there any problem within Nanshi Corporation? Is it rted to the fact that you''re in a

    wheelchair?¡±

    Even as the reporters bombarded the man in the wheelchair with questions, he said nothing and

    merely nced at Jiang Zhe once again.

    ¡°Nan Xing, say something. Why are you so quiet?¡± Ouyang Duo urged in frustration.

    ording to their initial n, Nan Zhengde and Nan Xing were supposed to face the reporters

    themselves and wee Ouyang Duo into Nanshi Corporation.

    Now, only Nan Xing showed up, and he wouldn''t even speak. This was different from what they had

    agreed on.

    In fact, Ouyang Duo had sensed something off the moment he arrived. He just couldn''t put his finger on

    what was amiss.

    ¡°Please rx, Mr. Ouyang. Dear reporters, please calm down as well. We would first like to show you a

    short clip on Mr. Ouyang''s deeds. Please watch carefully, and we will answer your questions

    afterward,¡± Jiang Zhe reassured.

    Ouyang Duo was surprised to hear that.

    They even prepared a clip for me? It seems that the Nan family is quite sincere. What a nice wee

    ceremony this is!

    The screen in the conference room lit up just then, and everyone turned their heads to it.

    Many of the reporters even pointed their cameras at the screen and began live streaming.

    As expected, Ouyang Duo showed up in the clip.

    The backdrop was a ce Ouyang Duo knew very well¡ªit was his room in Orchid Club.

    Ouyang Duo couldn''t help but frown in confusion. I don''t remember taking any videos in the club.

    Where did this clipe from?

    Orchid Club was his secret spot, so there was no way he would let anyone take videos there.

    ¡°Nan Xing, the document is ready. You just have to sign it.¡± Ouyang Duo''s voice sounded from the

    speakers.

    He had a sonorous and distinctive voice, so the reporters recognized it right away.

    ¡°After the document is signed, Nanshi Corporation''s ownership will be transferred.¡±

    This time, Nan Xing could be heard speaking in the clip, but he was nowhere to be seen on the screen.

    ¡°We''re a family. This is merely a change of name. We still share the profits together.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? In the future, Nanshi Corporation will officially follow the surname Ouyang. This isn''t just a

    change of name.¡±

    ¡°Nan Xing, don''t tell me you''re not going to sign?¡±

    ¡°I will sign it. I just don''t understand why I must do it?¡±

    Suddenly, a girl interjected, ¡°Just do what my dad wants you to do and stop spewing nonsense!¡±

    Since the owner of the voice did not appear, the reporters did not know who she was.

    However, Ouyang Duo was well aware that it was Ouyang Qing. The conversation happened in Orchid

    Club, where Ouyang Duo had forced Nan Xing to sign the document.

    Never in Ouyang Duo''s dreams did he imagine Nan Xing would record the exchange.

    Thetter was in a wheelchair at that time, and no one else was holding a phone or a camera.

    From the angle of the video, the camera must have been mounted on Nan Xing''s body or the

    wheelchair.

    Back then, Nan Xing was facing Ouyang Duo all the time without moving at all. Only Ouyang Duo was

    captured on the camera.

    Everything he said was caught clearly, and the way his mouth moved matched the audio perfectly.

    The video continued to y.

    ¡°Qing, stop talking and listen to what he has to say.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, Nan Xing?¡±

    ¡°I meant what I said. Where is Chen? What did you do to him?¡±

    ¡°Why are you asking me this? Didn''t I already tell you my friend will search for Nan Chen and bring him

    back?¡±

    ¡°Am I supposed to believe everything you say?¡±

    ¡°What do you want me to do if you don''t believe me?¡±

    ¡°I won''t sign this document unless I see Chen!¡±

    Thud!

    Ouyang Duo was seen mming the table loudly while yelling, ¡°Nan Xing, you have no other choice

    than to sign this document!¡±

    Ouyang Duo remained frozen as his face turned pale.

    ¡°Is that so? Are you nning to kill me if I don''t sign it? You''ll kill me if I don''t transfer the share to the

    Ouyang family, right? However, even if you kill me, you won''t get Nanshi Corporation''s share as well.¡±

    ¡°You think I won''t dare to do so?¡±

    ¡°That''s right. You won''t dare to. This is Flower City. If you dare to do anything reckless, you will

    definitely be done for.¡±

    ¡°Dad, this man is crazy! How dare he talk back to you?¡± Ouyang Qing''s voice rang out again in the

    video.

    At that moment, Ouyang Duo stood up and roared, ¡°Stop the video. Stop it! It''s fake. That''s not what

    happened!¡±

    With a smile, Jiang Zhe said, ¡°Mr. Ouyang, please calm down. Let''s fill the reporters in on the matter

    first.¡±

    Ouyang Duo could not let that happen. He tried to approach the control booth to pause the video, but

    two men held him down to his seat.

    The reporters were watching the video with relish. They had thought this was just an ordinary news

    item. Yet little did they expect to witness the revtion of such a shocking drama about wealthy

    families.

    In the clip, Ouyang Duo was heard saying, ¡°You don''t have to know the answer to those questions.

    Your brother will be able to return as long as you''ve signed the document.¡±

    ¡°Does this mean Chen will die if I don''t sign it? You''re the one who ordered people to kidnap him,

    right?¡± Nan Xing brought up the most crucial question.

    ¡°Nan Xing¡ª¡±

    ¡°Answer me. Did you do it or not? I won''t sign it if you don''t answer me directly.¡±

    ¡°So, you really want to make an enemy out of me, huh?¡±

    ¡°I won''t sign the document if you don''t tell me the truth, even if you threaten to kill me. Give me a

    reason for the Nan family to pass on our family business to you.¡±

    ¡°All right, then. Since you have to put it that way, I''ll tell you the truth. Nan Chen is in my hands. I am

    the one who instructed someone to kidnap him! After you sign the document, I will send Nan Chen

    overseas, and you can meet him there. Then, your family shall never return! If you don''t sign it, I will

    call my people, and Nan Chen will die immediately! Even your stubborn grandpa gave in for Nan

    Chen''s sake. Yet, you''re still trying to fight back?¡±

    The clip came to an end at that juncture, and with that, the crowd erupted in chaos.

    They could not believe that Ouyang Duo had kidnapped Nan Chen so he could force the Nan family to

    give him the stocks.

    The reporters swiftly posted the breaking news as they tried to pull themselves together and recover

    from the shock.

    Those who had no ns to live stream at first began to broadcast the event live. In an instant, the

    entire ce was in disorder.

 Chapter 635

    Chapter 635

    Jiang Zhe came out again to maintain the order of the crowd. ¡°We''ll need the members of the press to

    stay calm!¡±

    Nevertheless, all the journalists paid no heed to his words. They were all eager to disseminate the

    shocking news to the world!

    Meanwhile, Ouyang Duo could not move as he was pinned to the chair.

    He nced at He Lin. ¡°What are you waiting for? Stop them from spouting nonsense! Call the

    bodyguards and get me out of here!¡±

    ¡°Calm down, Mr. Ouyang,¡± He Lin coaxed him but did not take any action.

    ¡°Calm your f*cking *ss! This is how you do your job, huh? You useless piece of trash!¡± Ouyang Duo

    broke down and started cussing.

    At that point, he no longer cared about his image anymore.

    All this while, Ouyang Duo had always reprimanded He Lin in such a manner, but he would do it behind

    closed doors.

    He Lin kept mum and stood still.

    ¡°Calm down, everyone. Please calm down. We will only y the second video if you remain calm. We''ll

    not proceed if themotion continues!¡± Jiang Zhe raised his voice.

    All the journalists were taken aback. There''s another video? All right, let''s calm down. There might be

    more to this than meets the eye. What a fruitful trip today!

    The journalists finally listened to Jiang Zhe and regained theirposure.

    Once again, the screen lit up, and Ouyang Duo''s face was still projected on the panel. This time, the

    camera zoomed so closely into Ouyang Duo that it made his face lookrger than usual.

    Ouyang Duo''s voice was heard in the video. ¡°That old man from the Nan family wanted me to look for

    the man who drugged his great-grandson. Go and get me a scapegoat.¡±

    The next voice that emerged was another man''s voice. ¡°Did you really do this, Mr. Ouyang?¡±

    ¡°Qing found someone to do it, but we''d sent the person away. No one can find him anymore. Since that

    old man wanted us to find the culprit, we''ll get someone to take the me and settle it once and for all,¡±

    Ouyang Duo responded in the video.

    ¡°Why do you care about that old man when you''re already in control of Nanshi Corporation?¡±

    Ouyang Duo exined in the video, ¡°Though I''ll soon be the majority shareholder of Nanshi

    Corporation, the Nan family has been managing thispany for decades, and theymand strong

    support in the organization. I''m sure people there will not be happy that I''m taking over the business.¡±

    He continued, ¡°That''s why I must get the old man to attend the press conference. I must get him to

    wee me to Nanshi Corporation. Doing so can save me from disgrace and, at the same time,

    appease the people in thepany. It may look ceremonial, but it''s a crucial step to strengthen my

    position.¡±

    ¡°When someone dethrones the emperor and crowns himself as the new emperor, the people will not

    ept the former as the new monarch if his predecessor doesn''t acknowledge his legitimacy. But with

    a royal decreeing from the deposed emperor, the new emperor will then earn the legitimate rights

    to rule the empire. See the difference? Not only do I want to take over Nanshi corporation, but I also

    want everyone to know that I''m the rightful owner of thepany. I want to win this game honorably!¡±

    he added.

    Upon hearing that, all the journalists started going wild again.

    They finally understood why Jiang Zhe said they had to call a press conference at Ouyang Duo''s

    request.

    Not only did Ouyang Duo abduct and sabotage Nan Chen, but his daughter also drugged the little girl!

    What a heartless and cruel family!

    Next, He Lin''s voice appeared in the video. ¡°Got it, Mr. Ouyang. Since Ms. Ouyang was the mastermind

    behind the poisoning, I''ll pay someone to take the me.¡±

    ¡°All right. Get it done by tomorrow. Find someone who''s tight-lipped and willing to confess to the crime.

    Above all, he must be able to fool the cops.¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry, sir. I''ll take care of it.¡±

    The color drained out of Ouyang Duo''s face when the video ended. He started breaking out in a cold

    sweat.

    Never in a million years did he expect his conversation with He Lin in the car would be recorded!

    He finally understood it was all a trap. The Nan family may appear cooperative, but they had been

    leading him to fall into their trap!

    He also realized He Lin had betrayed him. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for the Nan family

    to get their hands on the video!

    ¡°He Lin, you b*stard! How dare you stab me in the back!¡± Ouyang Duo roared at He Lin.

    ¡°Please don''t swear in front of the journalists, Mr. Ouyang. You still need to maintain your image!¡± He

    Lin said indifferently.

    ¡°You f*cker... How could you betray me? How much did they pay you, traitor?¡± Ouyang Duo cursed

    even more harshly as he had totally lost it.

    ¡°Mr. Ouyang, you shouldn''t curse Mr. He like this. Mr. He is a righteouswyer with a sense of justice,

    so of course, he''d reveal all your wrongdoings. It''s not easy toe across a greatwyer like him. We

    should all respect him instead!¡± Jiang Zhe said.

    ¡°You ganged up on me. I''ll not let you off so easily!¡± Ouyang shrieked.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    The way he bellowed and cussed hysterically was all captured by the cameras, and the journalists

    instantly shared the videos on various social media tforms.

    The three individuals who entered the hall with Jiang Zhe and the others stood up, walked to Ouyang

    Duo, and revealed their identities. ¡°Ouyang Duo, we believe you''re involved in abducting and

    intentionally poisoning someone. We have to detain you to assist with our investigations, so please

    cooperate with us.¡±

    ¡°Of course, you have the right to remain silent. Pleasee with us,¡± one of the cops said.

    Apparently, the three of them were inclothes cops!

    ¡°No, I won''t leave with you. Everything they said is not real. They''re using me of something I didn''t

    do. I want to acquire Nanshi Corporation. I want to be the owner of thepany!¡± Ouyang Duo

    screamed.

    ¡°Handcuff him and take him away!¡± a cop ordered. He hasmitted those atrocities, so whether he

    likes it or not, he has toe with us!

    Ouyang Duo continued to cuss as the cops dragged him away.

    Jiang Zhe waved his hand in the air, gesturing for the journalists to remain silent. ¡°I''m sure by now, all

    of you understand why we called for a press conference. Nanshi Corporation has recently encountered

    some difficult situations, and we owe our investors an exnation. Hence, we decided to hold a press

    conference to rify some doubts. Now that the cops have taken over the case, we believe justice will

    be served, and the perpetrator will be punished!¡±

    ¡°Any updates about Nan Chen since he was abducted by Ouyang Duo?¡± a journalist expressed his

    concern.

    ¡°Thank you for your concern. I''m fine, and Nanshi Corporation is doing all right.¡±

    The man seated in the wheelchair finally spoke!

    ¡°He''s Nan Chen, not Nan Xing!¡± a journalist eximed.

    ¡°I knew something was amiss. The aura he exudes is totally different. So he really is Nan Chen!¡±

    ¡°Sir Chen is fine. He''s all right!¡±

    All the members of the press became agitated as they did not expect this to happen.

    Jiang Zhe voiced, ¡°I''ll not go into the details of the abduction, but we''ll keep the cops updated to assist

    them with the investigations.

    ¡°Sunshine Corporation and Nanshi Corporation have been business partners for years. And Mr. Chen

    and Mr. Ouyang, too, were close friends. That''s why we''re disappointed with how things have turned

    out. We never intended to reveal these details, but since Mr. Ouyang insisted on calling a press

    conference, we had no choice but to agree to his request.

    ¡°We hope the media can report on this matter objectively and give the investors and shareholders of

    Nanshi Corporation and Sunshine Corporation a clear picture of what had happened to thepanies.

    We believe in quashing rumors with the truth. Thank you for your cooperation.¡±

 Chapter 636

    Chapter 636

    Is this the end of the press conference?

    But the man in the wheelchair hasn''t spoken yet.

    He''s the main character! How can he not say anything?

    ¡°Sir Chen, did you n this? Why wasn''t there any news of your kidnapping?¡±

    ¡°Sir Chen, please say something.¡±

    The reporters looked at Nan Chen anxiously, hoping to hear a few words from him.

    Nan Chen was also aware that the reporters were waiting for him to speak.

    ¡°Assistant Jiang has already spoken on my behalf. It''s an unfortunate incident. My daughter was

    poisoned by Ouyang Qing, which affected her health, so I traveled to the Xinan region to find a cure for

    her. During the trip, someone orchestrated a car ident that caused my leg injury. But it''s nothing

    serious. I will make a full recovery soon, and my work at thepany won''t be affected,¡± Nan Chen

    said.

    ¡°However, we saw Mr. Ouyang speaking with Nan Xing in the video. Is that you or your brother?¡± a

    reporter asked.

    ¡°Yeah! We heard that Nan Xing''s leg was also injured. Did both of you injure your legs? Or is one of

    you faking your injury?¡±

    Nan Chen did not provide them with the details.

    ¡°Nan Xing is my brother. He represents me, so it doesn''t matter if it''s him or me. Both of us represent

    the Nan family, and our words hold the same weight. It will always be this way!¡±

    What Nan Chen meant was clear. Both Nan Xing and him were from the Nan family, and they would

    always be looking out for the family''s best interests. There was no question about that.

    ¡°So Mr. Chen, what do you n to do next?¡± another reporter asked.

    ¡°As for the next steps, we will leave it to the police and legal authorities. I will give them my full

    cooperation until the case is concluded. As for thepany''s matters, I''ve already mentioned them

    earlier. Nanshi Corporation is doing fine, and we will continue to operate smoothly and look out for the

    interests of our shareholders and employees. At the same time, we will also be engaging in corporate

    social responsibility initiatives and doing our part for the city''s economic and social development!¡±

    With that, Nan Chen ended his speech. He did not intend to share anything more than that.

    ¡°All right. This will be the end of today''s press conference. We would like to thank all of you for your

    attendance. As for how the case progresses, please look out for the police''s announcements. Nanshi

    Corporation will not be making any more statements rting to this. Thank you, everyone,¡± Jiang Zhe

    said.

    The reporters were not satisfied. However, since Jiang Zhe had announced the end of the press

    conference, there was nothing they could do about it.

    Nevertheless, they thought it was worth it to be able to witness the battle of the two major families of

    the province, which was considered a historical moment.

    Later in the evening, at the insistence of Ouyang Duo, Nan Chen agreed to meet him at the police

    station.

    After his aggressive episode earlier, Ouyang Duo had finally calmed down. After all, he was considered

    a big gun in the business arena and not just some ordinary loafer.

    He was aware that he had lost once again, and it was aplete defeat.

    As he hadmitted a crime in Flower City and was arrested in Flower City, it was almost impossible

    for him to be deported back to Pearl City.

    His widework in Pearl City wouldn''t be of any use to him. Even if he managed to pull some strings

    in Flower City, given the influence of the Nan family there, it would hardly be useful.

    Ouyang Duo had fallen into his own trap and had absolutely no way of escaping.

    Just when he thought that the Nan family was under his control and that he was about to climb to the

    top, he started to lose his mind and acted hysterically, losing his ability to judge.

    Usually, after a period of insanity, destruction would follow.

    Right before the point of destruction, Ouyang Duo''s rationality returned. He realized that there was only

    one person who could help him get out of his current situation and avoid jail time, and that person was

    Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen was the central figure in that matter.

    Not only was he in control of Nanshi Corporation''s fate, but Ouyang Duo''s destiny was also in his

    hands.

    Nan Chen entered the room slowly in his wheelchair, looking calm and aloof.

    ¡°When did you return to Flower City? It was you who was at Orchid Club that day and not Nan Xing,

    was it?¡±

    Ouyang Duo was eager to find out how he had met his downfall.

    ¡°Take a guess,¡± Nan Chen answered coldly.

    ¡°I knew that something was wrong. I was too careless. Ouyang Qing said that Nan Xing had hurt his leg

    while ying ser at the stadium and had gone to the hospital directly from there. Now that I think

    about it, the stadium was definitely wide enough for a helicopter tond, and you were in the helicopter

    thatnded at the stadium. After getting off the helicopter, you became Nan Xing and headed to the

    hospital for treatment as your leg required treatment as well. You nned this out, didn''t you?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I did.¡± Nan Chen did not deny that.

    ¡°Since you''ve already escaped, why did you still agree to transfer your shares to Ouyang Qing?¡±

    Ouyang Duo could not figure that out.

    ¡°Right from the start, my grandpa had no intention of giving you any shares. What he transferred to

    Nan Xing was merely a shellpany with no assets. Even if thatpany was transferred to Ouyang

    Qing, it wouldn''t mean anything. Besides, if signing that document could make you exin everything,

    and we also got to record it, there''s no reason not to do it. You''ve overestimated yourself and

    underestimated my grandpa. In fact, my grandpa did not do much. All he did was buy as much time as

    he could, hoping that things would change. That''s because he trusted me, and I trusted him too.

    Because of this trust we had in each other, even though we did not keep in touch, we could still figure

    out each other''s thoughts. That''s the power of the Nan family. It''s also something you will never

    understand,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°No. If He Lin hadn''t betrayed me and colluded with you, I wouldn''t have lost!¡±

    ¡°He didn''t double-cross you. He was working for my grandpa all along, and my grandpa was aware of

    your betrayal all along. More than ten years ago, you paid fifty thousand and bought over a male

    student''s girlfriend. That student was heartbroken and jumped into the river. My grandpa happened to

    pass by and saved him. After that, my grandpa sponsored that student''s studies all the way until heC¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    Ouyang Duo''s face turned ashen when he heard that, and he mumbled to himself, ¡°He Lin is the man

    you''ve nted next to me? How is this possible?¡±

    ¡°My grandpa said that it''s in your nature to be treacherous, and sooner orter, you would try to harm

    the Nan family. However, your presence provides a sense of crisis to the Nan family, reminding us not

    to becent. He didn''t want to bring you down so soon. Did you really think you were my

    grandpa''s match?¡± Nan Chen said with a hint of disdain in his voice.

 Chapter 637

    Chapter 637

    Ouyang Duo was stunned speechless as he stared at Nan Chen. He still couldn''t believe this was real.

    He thought he had controlled everything, yet little did he expect there to be a spy from the Nan family

    next to him. Moreover, like an idiot, he even let He Lin be in charge of monitoring everything rted to

    the Nan family. Isn''t this the perfect opportunity for them to conspire against me?

    ¡°You''re despicable! How could you nt a spy beside me?¡±

    ¡°No. Before this, my grandpa never ordered He Lin to do anything for the Nan family. My grandpa

    hoped he would never need He Lin''s services ever in his entire life so that everyone could keep

    working together. As long as my grandpa had other methods to deal with your little tricks, he wouldn''t

    use He Lin. However, you wanted to destroy the Nan family. My grandpa had no choice but to use He

    Lin and deal a devastating blow to you. You''re the despicable one because you even went after

    children! You''re the trash!¡±

    Ouyang Duo went silent.

    He had lost everything. Moreover, there was something that he was most frustrated about¡ªa nagging

    thought he would lose right from the start.

    If nothing else, He Lin, who was next to him, was a ticking time bomb that Nan Zhengde could make

    explode on a whim.

    Besides, there was also this enigmatic man in front of him, Nan Chen. People said he had died in a fire,

    but here he was, alive and well, in Flower City.

    Nan Chen had even disguised as Nan Xing and managed to make him confess that he, Ouyang Duo,

    was the culprit behind the car crash and kidnappings.

    ¡°How did you escape from that ind? Didn''t you die in the fire?¡± Ouyang Duo was still baffled.

    ¡°I escaped from that ind a long time ago. As for the fire, I requested my grandpa to stage it so you

    would believe I was dead. Anyway, I have no intention of telling you the details. So, why did you call me

    here? What do you want to tell me?¡± Nan Chen questioned.

    ¡°I want you to spare me.¡± Ouyang Duo lowered his head.

    This is such a rare sight. Ouyang Duo actually lowered his head!

    Despite that, Nan Chen wasn''t surprised by his request. He had somewhat guessed it before he came

    here.

    ¡°You wanted to snatch our family''spany, and you hurt my daughter. And now you want me to spare

    you?¡± Nan Chen said, his voice as cold as ice.

    ¡°I''ll give you my profits!¡± Ouyang Duo lifted his head. ¡°I can transfer all my real-estate projects in

    Vietnam to you for free! And as for my construction projects in Europe, I''ll give them all to you! I don''t

    want them anymore. I promise never to go against the Nan family ever again. I''ll also leave Flower City

    and vow never to step foot in this ce again. What do you think?¡± he anxiously suggested.

    ¡°No.¡± Nan Chen''s answer was simple and straightforward.

    ¡°Why? I''ve apologized and promised to pay the price! Why can''t you just let me off?¡± Ouyang Duo

    eximed indignantly.

    ¡°I understand it''s in your nature to pursue gains as a businessman, so I can overlook that. However,

    you shouldn''t have hurt my family and even gone after my daughter! This is something I can''t forgive.

    Those who harm my family will be punished! You''re going to jail, Ouyang Duo. Not all transgressions

    can be forgiven!¡±

    After that, Nan Chen turned and left.

    ¡°Come back here! Name your terms! I''ll agree to anything you want!¡± Ouyang Duo shouted.

    Turning around to look at him, Nan Chen replied, ¡°I will get the things I want with my own hands. I don''t

    need you to give it to me. I can get them myself.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°The shares of Sunshine Corporation''s listedpanies overseas have fallen quite a lot recently, right?

    Did your subordinates report to you that someone was short-selling your stocks? This was what you

    would usually do. You have sniped Nanshi Corporation''s stock prices more than once, and I did the

    same this time. I''ll make sure the whole world knows you are a convict, and when the stock market

    opens, your stock price will plunge further and further.¡±

    He paused for his words to sink in before continuing, ¡°As for me? Money will keep flowing into my

    coffers, and I can''t stop it if I want to. Of course, my grandpa also said that I should stop while I am

    ahead, so I won''t bring yourpany, Sunshine Corporation, down. I''m not you. I only want to improve

    myself, not kill off mypetitors. When there ispetition, there will be improvements. This is a

    piece of advice my grandpa gave me. He had told you, but you couldn''t understand what he meant.

    Serves you right. You can never make aeback in this lifetime. There''s no use begging me.¡±

    With that, Nan Chen strode away.

    ¡°Nan Chen! Come back here!¡± Ouyang Duo cried out in despair.

    When Nan Chen returned to Commoner Residence in his MPV, the sky was already dark.

    It was the beginning of February and the start of spring, but the weather was still cold as if it was still

    winter.

    At the entrance of Commoner Residence, a man was pacing in circles. When he saw Nan Chen''s car,

    he quickly jumped in front of it.

    The driver immediately mmed the brakes. Luckily for him, the man wasn''t hit.

    ¡°Nan Chen...¡±

    The bodyguards escorted the scammer-like man to the front of the car. Surprisingly, it was Ouyang Qi.

    He wore a thin suit, his nose red from the cold, and his lips were purple.

    This is from N?velDrama.Org.

    Initially, he wanted to meet Nan Zhengde, but the older man refused to see him.

    He kept pacing back and forth outside Commoner Residence until he saw Nan Chen''s car. Then,

    without much thought, he pounced on the car.

    Nan Chen knew why he was there. He never liked Ouyang Qi, a rich yboy.

    The main reason for his dislike was that Ouyang Duo was Ouyang Qi''s father.

    ¡°Nan Chen, I know my father has wronged your family. I''m sorry! Please spare him! I beg you!¡± Ouyang

    Qi spoke, his voice quavering.

    His trembling wasn''t due to fear but the sheer coldness of the weather.

    ¡°Let''s talk inside,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Inside Commoner Residence, Nan Chen ordered someone to get Ouyang Qi a jacket and pour him a

    ss of warm water to warm him up.

    ¡°I have no idea what my father did. I''m not trying to shift the me, but I want to tell you I really know

    nothing about it. I knew he had bad intentions toward the Nan family, and he even told me to do

    something bad to the Nan family, but I didn''t. I never thought he would go that far. I''m sorry. Could you

    let my father off? I beg you, please...¡±

    Ouyang Qi appeared highly anxious and seemed to be in a bad shape.

    Nan Chen had never liked Ouyang Qi. Not only was he frivolous, but he also had designs on Ning Ran.

    ¡°If I wanted to harm your father and kill your daughter, but I failed and got caught, will you let me off if

    Nan Xing begs you to let me off?¡± Nan Chen threw the question back at him.

    ¡°I won''t,¡± Ouyang Qi mumbled.

    At that, Nan Chen fell silent. There you have it. Your answer.

    ¡°I know you''re not involved, so I won''t be harsh with you. Also, I won''t push your family to the corner.

    Just go back and take care of your mother and manage yourpany well. If you think of me as an

    enemy, you''re wee to take revenge on me. However, I can''t let your father off. It''s impossible.

    From a personal perspective, he almost killed my daughter. I will not forgive those who harm my

    daughter. From a professional perspective, he tried to take mypany from me, and he was being

    unscrupulous about it too. Honestly, it wasn''t at the level of being in a proper businesspetition

    anymore. He actually broke thew. Those whomit a crime must be punished by thew. Begging

    me is useless. Thew is thew. I can''t do anything about that.¡±

    Ouyang Qi was utterly dejected. ¡°Can''t you try? There has to be a way! If you let my father and sister

    off, I''ll do anything!¡±

    ¡°Has Ouyang Qing been arrested?¡±

    ¡°Yes, she was arrested alongside my mother. Please, please let them off.¡±

 Chapter 638

    Chapter 638

    Nan Chen remained silent.

    Ouyang Qing was the culprit who gave the order to poison Erbao. She deserved to be punished for

    that.

    He did not expect that underneath Ouyang Qing''s innocent appearance lies a vicious woman.

    It was inhumane of her to hurt even a child.

    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    She was born into a great family and was well educated, yet she would stoop so low to hurt an

    innocent child.

    ¡°You should know that I never liked you,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°I know.¡± Ouyang Qi nodded. ¡°If you can let my father and my family members go, I can agree to all

    your conditions, even if you want me dead.¡±

    ¡°Dead?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I know they have crossed the line this time, and it''s impossible for you to forgive them over an

    apology. That''s why I''m willing to agree to all your conditions, even if you want me to trade my life in

    exchange for their freedom. Just a word from you and I''ll find a tall building to jump down from right

    away. I am willing to atone for their sins with my life, and I hope you can agree with it,¡± said Ouyang Qi.

    Nan Chen looked at Ouyang Qi and remained silent.

    Ouyang Qi continued, ¡°I know you don''t like me and don''t trust me. How about this? Once you agree,

    we can find a building together, and you can watch me hop down from the rooftop. If I dare refuse to

    jump, you can get your men to throw me off the building.¡±

    ¡°Unlike your father, I don''t kill people,¡± said Nan Chen coldly.

    ¡°I know, so I am doing this willingly. Don''t worry. You won''t be implicated. I''ll mention this in my will.¡±

    Nan Chen turned around. ¡°Mr. Chai, bring us my grandpa''s sleeping pills. I want the whole bottle of it.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Chai Hua grasped the message in his words and quickly brought him the bottle of sleeping pills.

    Nan Chen ced the bottle before Ouyang Qi and remained silent.

    ¡°Great. I only have one request. You must let my mother and sister go. Also, find me a nice graveyard

    and bury me there. I don''t want stray dogs picking at my body,¡± said Ouyang Qi.

    Still, Nan Chen remained silent.

    Ouyang Qi opened the bottle lid and poured half of the sleeping pills into his mouth. He munched the

    pills loudly and took a ss of water before taking a sip and swallowing them in one gulp.

    The scene startled Nan Chen.

    From what he remembered, Ouyang Qi had always been an unsophisticated yboy who knew

    nothing but to enjoy his lifevishly.

    To his surprise, the same unsophisticated yboy actually had the gall to stand up and save the

    Ouyang family from being crushed entirely.

    At first, Nan Chen thought Ouyang Qi was only bluffing about trading his life in exchange for his family.

    Unexpectedly, Ouyang Qi meant every word he uttered.

    ¡°Will I suffer in pain after taking the pills? Or will I die in my sleep?¡± Ouyang Qi looked at Nan Chen.

    ¡°I''m not sure,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°Anyway, I hope you keep your promise. I won''t leave this ce or go to the hospital. Instead, I will stay

    here so that you can confirm I''m dead. Then, you must let my family go.¡±

    ¡°Aren''t you afraid of death?¡±

    ¡°I am. In fact, I''m scared stiff right now, but there''s no other option left for me. I''ve always been the most

    useless in our family, and I have never done anything for them. So, I figured I could do something for

    them before I die. Can you give me a bottle of wine? That will help me boost my courage. You know, I

    am indeed afraid of death,¡± said Ouyang Qi.

    ¡°Aren''t you afraid that you''d die for nothing?¡±

    ¡°Well, I trust you. Since you promised to let my family go, I know you will keep your word.¡±

    ¡°The thing is, I haven''t promised you that,¡± said Nan Chen coldly.

    ¡°Then how could you let me take the pills? Nan Chen, I thought you were a man of your word. That''s

    why I trusted you, but you set me up instead. I need to call an ambnce now. I can''t die for nothing!¡±

    Ou Yangqi panicked.

    ¡°Forget it. Those pills are just vitamins. You won''t die, so don''t bother causing a scene,¡± said Nan

    Chen.

    ¡°What? Are you messing with me?¡±

    ¡°Did you really think I won''t be held responsible if you die in my house? Ouyang Qi, it''s useless for you

    to do this. As I said before, Ouyang Duo has broken thew and must face punishment. I''m surprised

    someone like you actually has the courage to do this at such a critical time. You may leave now and

    settle your family''s mess. From what I had gathered, your mom was aware of what Ouyang Duo did,

    but she didn''t participate. I''ll find someone to try and get her released on bail. As for Ouyang Qing, I

    won''t let her go free for what she has done to my daughter. It''s the same for Ouyang Duo. He almost

    killed me, and there''s no way I''d let him go that easily. You don''t have to die, so you can go and pick up

    your mom. That''s the most I can allow. Don''t bother negotiating with me for the others, for I will never

    agree!¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°Nan Chen...¡±

    Nan Chen waved his hand and gestured at Chai Hua, saying, ¡°Mr. Chai, send the guest out.¡±

    Chai Hua looked at Ouyang Qi. ¡°Let''s go. It''s useless for you to keep making a scene here.¡±

    Albeit unwilling, Ouyang Qi stood up and was about to take off the coat Nan Chen had given him earlier

    when thetter stopped him.

    ¡°Keep it. It''s cold outside. Your father was wrong to look down on you before. I hope you can revive the

    Ouyang family and Sunshine Corporation again. Also, I have one more thing to remind you of. I''m

    short-selling manypanies under Sunshine Corporation. At the same time, I notice many funds are

    coming in from buying Sunshine Corporation''s shares. I think you understand what that means,¡± said

    Nan Chen.

    ¡°Are you saying someone else is bottom-fishing and trying to acquire Sunshine Corporation?¡± Sure

    enough, Ouyang Qi was not only a wastrel that knew nothing about the business world.

    ¡°You can judge the situation yourself. I''m only reminding you of this. You may leave now.¡± Nan Chen

    waved a dismissive hand.

    ¡°Nan Chen, thank you for letting my mother go, but we can no longer be friends,¡± said Ouyang Qi.

    ¡°We were never friends, to begin with. So stop wasting your breath saying this nonsense. Leave.¡±

    With that, Nan Chen turned his wheelchair around and started toward the dining hall.

    It was time to eat.

    Nan Zhengde had the servants prepare a table full of dishes. He was in the mood to celebrate Nanshi

    Corporation surviving the crisis.

    ¡°Chen, what were you talking about with Ouyang Qi back there? The Ouyang family is our enemy now.

    He will soon take his revenge on us, so why would you even bother talking to him?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    ¡°I''m really impressed by Ouyang Qi. I didn''t expect him to do that,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°Chen is right. Ouyang Qi is seen as the prodigal son by everyone else, yet he performed well in such a

    critical time,¡± Nan Zhengde agreed.

    ¡°He''s not that good. Stop trying to boost his image when he''s still as useless as before,¡± Nan Xing

    disagreed.

    ¡°Perhaps he was bluffing when he offered his life to atone for their sins because he knew I wouldn''t let

    him die. But then again, it''s worth apuding that he had the courage toe to the Nan residence

    and plead with us. Also, he never participated in Ouyang Duo''s wrongdoings. This is enough to prove

    that he''s a man with principles. Who knows? He may be our biggest rival in the future,¡± said Nan

    Chen.

    ¡°I agree. I think he has a promising future. You''re the most outstanding one among the younger

    generation, and other kids are nowhereparable to you. That''s why I believe you need more

    competitors to keep you alert. You can only strike better under pressure. So, we must not let Ouyang

    Duo''s wrongdoings implicate Ouyang Qi.¡± Nan Zhengde nodded in agreement.

    ¡°Grandpa, you don''t have to worry about me staying idle. I noticed recently that someone else could

    be mypetitor,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°Really? Are you referring to the person that has been secretly purchasing Sunshine Corporation''s

    shares?¡±

 Chapter 639

    Chapter 639

    ¡°Yes. I''ve been short-selling the shares, but that person has been bottom-fishing them. Once news

    about Ouyang Duo gets out there, the shares will decline even more, and that person will have more

    chances to purchase the shares by then. If they managed to purchase the shares through other market

    levels, they might be Sunshine Corporation''s major stockholder. Whoever it is, they are highly

    efficient in doing this. They aren''t purchasing the shares blindly. Instead, they''re purchasing the shares

    each time they decline after a rebound. They are experts in this field,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°You have always been the leading expert in the finance field, and you''re certainly ranked top five

    among the financial experts in our country. If that person impresses you so much, they must be an

    expert too. Who could be so good at this?¡± Nan Zhengde asked.

    ¡°I haven''t gotten a lead yet. From what I had gathered, that person uses funds from offshorepanies

    registered abroad. I''ve sent someone to look into this, but we have yet to find out which local

    companies have been working with those offshorepanies. This person is highly secretive. That''s

    why I think they''re experts,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°Then, from your judgment, did that person bottom fish Sunshine Corporation because they guessed

    you''d make a move on thepany? Or is it only a coincidence?¡± Nan Zhengde asked.

    ¡°I''m afraid this is more than a coincidence, but I don''t have any evidence to prove that yet,¡± said Nan

    Chen.

    ¡°If it''s more than a coincidence, that person must have known what Ouyang Duo had nned to do to

    us. This person also predicted we would defeat Ouyang Duo. Otherwise, they wouldn''t have based on

    their prediction and prepared beforehand to bottom fish Sunshine Corporation. But then, how did they

    know what Ouyang Duo would do to us? Could it be that they were working with Ouyang Duo?¡± Nan

    Zhengde raised a question.

    ¡°It''s hard to say, but Ouyang Duo is a cautious man. I doubt he would tell the people around him what

    he nned to do to us, especially when Ouyang Qi and Feng Jialing were clueless about many things

    he did. Therefore, it''s very unlikely that anyone around Ouyang Duo would know beforehand that we

    could defeat him. Also, they are certainly not ordinary when they could mobilize so many funds to

    acquire Sunshine Corporation. No one around Ouyang Duo is that capable. I''m sure this person is a

    big shot,¡± Nan Chen revealed his thoughts on this.

    ¡°If that''s the case, I''m afraid that person will be your rival someday.¡± Nan Zhengde''s expression

    turned solemn.

    ¡°Grandpa, I think you''re worrying too much about this. Ouyang Duo is powerful, but Sunshine

    Corporation didn''t manage to acquire Nanshi Corporation over the years. So even if that mysterious

    person managed to control Sunshine Corporation, I doubt they can be more powerful than Ouyang Duo

    and acquire Nanshi Corporation, right?¡± Nan Xing chimed in.

    ¡°We''re not saying they can do that, but we must n ahead. Imagine yourself out in the woods. You

    must always stay alert for wild beasts lurking around you. Even if the wild beast doesn''t attack you

    immediately, you must be wary about its existence and keep your guard up. Otherwise, when the wild

    beast suddenly charges at you, you won''t have enough time to react, and you''ll be its food.

    Ouyang Duo failed to acquire ourpany because Grandpa had nned for such a thing many years

    ago, and we were wary of him. That''s how we survived this crisis,¡± said Nan Chen with a solemn

    expression.

    Nan Zhengde agreed with that and said, ¡°Chen is right. Even if that person isn''t powerful enough to

    threaten us for now, we should at least find out their identity and their ns.¡±

    Right then, Feng Wan walked over to them. She asked, ¡°Are you guys talking about work again? Chen

    is yet to recover. He needs to get enough rest.¡±

    ¡°Grandma, I''m fine. Don''t worry,¡± said Nan Chen softly.

    ¡°Anyway, do you want to guess who I was speaking to over the phone just now?¡± Feng Wan smiled.

    ¡°Who?¡±

    ¡°My lovely great-granddaughter, of course. After taking the medicine prescribed by the doctor, Erbao is

    now back to normal. She''s being a glutton again and craves all the food she sees!¡± Feng Wan

    chuckled.

    ¡°Who is the doctor? Is the medicine really that effective?¡± Nan Zhengde was also happy to hear an

    update about his great-granddaughter.

    ¡°I think hisst name is Ding. You know, it''s the person Nan Chen and the others went to look for. They

    couldn''t find him in Lightspring, so they went to Livingsfill, and someone led them to him. It is truly a

    blessing for Erbao to have met such a great doctor. I guess it''s fated for them to find the doctor in

    Livingsfill.¡± Feng Wan grinned from ear to ear.

    However, the look in Nan Chen''s eyes dimmed a little when he heard that. Still, he quickly concealed

    that and returned to his usual expression.

    ¡°When will the kidse back?¡± Nan Zhengde asked.

    ¡°Ning Ran is staying with them. It''s warmer there, so I guess they''ll stay there for the time being before

    coming back,¡± said Feng Wan.

    ¡°All right, but we must ensure someone is there to protect them. We can''t let anything terrible happen to

    them again,¡± Nan Zhengde advised.

    ¡°Grandpa, don''t worry. Qiao Zhan is with them. They will be fine.¡±

    ¡°All right. That''s good to know. Let''s eat now,¡± said Nan Zhengde.

    After the meal, Nan Chen headed to the vi area in Red Maple City.

    He did not go to his vi. Instead, he went to another vi and rang the doorbell.

    Bai Hua opened the door. She was surprised to see it was Nan Chen. ¡°How did you find this ce?¡±

    Without saying anything, Nan Chen walked right through the door and into the vi.

    There were several suitcases in the living room on the second floor. It was a mess inside the house.

    ¡°What''s the matter? Are you leaving for somewhere else? Where are you going?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    ¡°I... We...¡± Nan Zhiyuan seemed flustered by Nan Chen''s sudden arrival, and he stammered a little.

    ¡°I know this vi belongs to Ouyang Qing, and I knew long ago that you guys were staying here, so you

    shouldn''t be surprised that I showed up here today.¡±

    With that, Nan Chen sat on the couch. He also gestured for Bai Hua to take a seat.

    Bai Hua sat uneasily next to Nan Zhiyuan and said, ¡°Nan Chen, I heard you''re no longer on good terms

    with the Ouyang family. Is that true?¡±

    ¡°What else did you hear?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I... I heard that the Ouyang family members were arrested.¡± Bai Hua''s expression changed again.

    ¡°So, are you nning to pack your stuff and move away right after hearing that your ally has fallen? Do

    you think you can no longer stay in her vi?¡± Nan Chen questioned coldly.

    ¡°Nan Chen, how can you talk to me like that? What do you mean by allies? It''s true that I am close to

    Ouyang Qing, but you''re the main reason we got close. I wanted to find you a wife. If I had known

    Ouyang Qing was such a vicious woman, I would have ignored her!¡± Bai Hua got anxious.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Nan Chen''s voice became colder.

    ¡°Nan Chen, you''d better watch your attitude. How can you talk to your mother like that? Is there

    anything wrong with us moving into a vi when your grandpa kicked us out of the Nan residence

    because he got upset with us? You are our son, but you never offered to find us a ce to stay.

    Instead, you told us to go to a nursing home. We aren''t that old and can do perfectly fine on our own.

    So why should we go to a nursing home?¡± Nan Zhiyuan got angry.

    Nan Chen stared coldly at his parents and said nothing else.

    ¡°Why are you staring at us? Did I say something wrong?¡± Nan Zhiyuan was angry.

    ¡°You should know better than anyone else why you went overseas back then. If you didn''t pretend to

    have cancer, Grandpa wouldn''t have allowed you to return. There''s something I don''t understand.

    Since you im to be a part of the Nan family, why are you doing things that will hurt us?¡± Nan Chen

    questioned.

 Chapter 640

    Chapter 640

    Bai Hua and Nan Zhiyuan exchanged nces.

    Bai Hua pointed at Nan Chen and scolded, ¡°What do you mean by that, Nan Chen? Are you saying that

    I faked my terminal illness? I am indeed suffering from cancer. Is that how a son is supposed to

    behave?¡±

    ¡°You still intend to keep up with the pretense? I''ve already investigated this matter. Those specialists

    who diagnosed you back then were all bribed by Ouyang Qing. They all gave the standard diagnosis

    that you were critically ill, but that wasn''t true! Do you want me to apany you to the hospital to get

    another health check-up so that I can prove that you''re lying?¡± Nan Chen was infuriated too.

    Bai Hua and Nan Zhiyuan panicked when they saw Nan Chen growing impatient.

    They had nned to maintain an adamant stance to put him in his ce by relying on their status as

    elders. Unfortunately, their strategy didn''t seem to work.

    ¡°Nan Chen, I can exin this matter. I missed you and Nan Xing dearly after staying abroad for too

    long. I wish to be reunited with you two, but your grandpa forbade us froming back. Your father

    and I resorted to this method because we had no other alternative. I can only return here by pretending

    to be sick. In fact, your grandpa gave us the green light toe back here after I faked my illness. We

    can stay together as a family now. Isn''t this great? Do you really hope for your dad and me to live the

    rest of our lives and pass away in a foreign country? Is that the oue you desire? I don''t believe

    you''re such a stone-hearted person!¡±

    Bai Hua yed the sentiment card as she spoke with tears streaming down her face.

    ¡°I actually discovered your fraudulent im to be sick long ago. I was also under the assumption that

    you wanted toe back here for your family, so I didn''t pursue this matter further to expose your

    facade. But did you two return solely for the sake of reuniting with your family?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°What other reason could it be? Why don''t you enlighten us, then?¡± Nan Zhiyuan asked.

    ¡°Dr. Ding Yuanchao is in Livingsfill instead of Lightspring. Why did you deceive us by saying you

    wanted to meet with him in Lightspring?¡± Nan Chen stared at his mother.

    ¡°What? I don''t know anything. I heard he was from Lightspring, so I assumed he would be there. What

    are you implying, Nan Chen? Are you suspecting me?¡± Bai Hua eximed.

    ¡°You heard he was from Lightspring, so you assumed he would be there? But that''s not what you said

    previously. You told us confidently he was in Lightspring and even provided us with his exact address.

    Yet now you''re telling me you got this information via hearsay?¡±

    ¡°I got it. You doubt me, is that it? You think I caused you to be hit by a car, don''t you?¡±

    ¡°How did you know I was hit by a car? Who told you?¡± Nan Chen asked at once.

    ¡°I-I saw it on the news, of course!¡±

    ¡°Which news mentioned that I was hit by a car?¡± he pressed further.

    ¡°It''s reported in the news. I can''t remember which one!¡±

    Nan Chen fell silent.

    Sensing Bai Hua''s failure to suppress Nan Chen, Nan Zhiyuan piped up to pressure his son, ¡°Nan

    Chen, are you here to condemn us? Do you think we were the ones who harmed you? Do you believe

    your mother and I did that? Is that what you''re trying to tell us?¡±

    ¡°I''m not trying to condemn anyone. I just want to know why those people were informed of my

    whereabouts upon my arrival in Lightspring. They even arranged the trucks and selected the optimal

    location to make their move. That signifies they already knew about my schedule even before my

    departure. There are less than ten people who knew about my trip to Lightspring. I want to find out who

    notified the Ouyang family.¡± Nan Chen sounded cold.

    ¡°You said so yourself that few other people have knowledge of your whereabouts, so why are you

    using us?¡± Nan Zhiyuan asked.

    ¡°The others arepletely unacquainted with members of the Ouyang family. You two are the only

    ones who have frequent dealings with them,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°That''s why you think we divulged the information? What kind of logic is that? Is that how you treat your

    parents? You imbecile!¡± Nan Zhiyuan roared.

    ¡°I didn''t want to believe this to be the truth either, but I met with Ouyang Qing just now,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Bai Hua''s facial expression changed drastically. ¡°I admit I was the informant, but I didn''t know the

    Ouyang family would n this wicked scheme. I merely thought Ouyang Qing liked you and wanted to

    marry you. How could I fathom that she and Ouyang Duo were such foul and evil people? You are my

    son. I wouldn''t want to harm you. Why would I want bad things to befall you?¡± She started crying as

    she confessed her deeds.

    Truth be told, Nan Chen had gone straight to the vi in Red Maple City from Commoner Residence.

    He didn''t actually meet with Ouyang Qing.

    He sighed inwardly at the sight of her mother''s demeanor.

    ¡°So, you admit that you exposed my itinerary to the Ouyang family. Is that right?¡±

    ¡°I didn''t do that on purpose. I thought Ouyang Qing wanted to tag along with you to seize the

    opportunity to spend more time with you. Little did I expect her to¡ª¡±

    ¡°That''s enough. I got it. You don''t have to say another word.¡±

    ¡°Nan Chen, I didn''t want to cause you any harm. I didn''t tell her on purpose. You have to believe me,¡±

    Bai Hua choked out.

    Nan Chen didn''t respond, but he could feel his heart aching a little.

    If Nan Zhengde were aware of that matter, Nan Zhiyuan and his wife would undoubtedly be kicked out

    again¡ªperhaps for the rest of their lives this time.

    At Nan Chen''s silence, Nan Zhiyuan thought his son had conceded, so he went off on a rant. ¡°Nan

    Chen, look what you''ve done. Your mother is crying because of you. You''re seriously an unfilial son!

    Your behavior is absolutely uneptable! Have we not raised you well in the past? Is this how you

    treat your parents? Your mother and I aren''t wee in the family by your grandpa. On the other hand,

    Ouyang Qing has been kind to us, so we maintain a close rtionship with her. What is wrong with

    that? She likes you and yearns to be with you, so why does it matter if we decided to help her? Is there

    a problem with that? We didn''t have ulterior motives and only had your best interest at heart. Yet, here

    you are, finding fault with us.¡±

    ¡°I want to know why Ouyang Duo pressured Grandpa into rmending you to work in thepany.

    Do you have any idea what kind of person Ouyang Duo is? He''s someone who''s trying to acquire

    Nanshi Corporation! But he''s now insisting you take up a position in thepany. Is he trying to turn

    you into his trusted aide?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°How dare you nder me, you b*stard!¡± Nan Zhiyuan bellowed and raised his hand to p Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen didn''t dodge. Instead, he endured his father''s forceful p.

    Nan Zhiyuan was dumbfounded. He could''ve avoided getting hit. Why didn''t he do so?

    ¡°Are you going to give me another p? Go on, then,¡± Nan Chen uttered indifferently.

    ¡°You''re outrageous! How could you suspect your parents?¡± Nan Zhiyuan didn''t dare to strike him again.

    ¡°If you intend to attain a higher position in Nanshi Corporation, you should put more effort into figuring

    out ways to contribute to the Nan family instead of constantly scheming with outsiders to target your

    own family. Grandpa will undoubtedly pursue this matter involving you two and the Ouyang family.

    Once he finds out the truth, I have no doubt he will cast out the two of you. I''m afraid you two might just

    expire in a foreign country for real this time. I''ll think of a way to cover your wrongdoings, but this will be

    thest time I do this. If you two mess up again in the future, I won''t consider our familial bond and be

    as merciful anymore. Since you two can be so heartless as to conspire with others to do me in, why

    should I acknowledge you as my parents? Move out of here and stay at my ce. Stay there

    obediently and stop stirring up trouble from now on.¡±

    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    With that, Nan Chen stood up and strode out of the room.

    Bai Hua and Nan Zhiyuan let out a sigh of relief after hearing that Nan Chen would safeguard them.

 Chapter 641

    Chapter 641

    Nan Chen went straight to the headquarters of Nanshi Corporation after leaving the vi in Red Maple

    City.

    He had to stay up that night since the news of Ouyang Duo''s arrest had reached the other end of the

    Pandera Ocean. The share price of the overseas branch office of Sunshine Corporation would

    definitely plummet significantly.

    Nan Chen would lead his overseas team to make their move on the stock market one step at a time

    instead of acting recklessly.

    Although Nanshi Corporation had businesses rted to finance, they were mostly an entity. They

    seldom carry out suchrge-scale capital operations to gain more profits.

    Nan Chen only decided to sell Sunshine Corporation short because he wanted to fight fire with fire.

    As usual, before he started working, he had to video call his two children.

    Erbao was naturally the one closest to the camera, and she looked much better.

    ¡°Daddy¡ª¡± She started giggling before she said anything.

    Nan Chen found it odd. ¡°Darling, why are youughing?¡±

    ¡°I''mughing because I''m happy,¡± Erbao said.

    ¡°Why are you happy? Are you happy because you can see me?¡± Nan Chen teased.

    ¡°You''re so smart, Daddy. I can''t believe you guessed that.¡± Then she startedughing again.

    At that moment, Dabao moved closer to the camera so that Nan Chen could see him. ¡°Daddy, Erbao

    has been naughty. She ate two drumsticks tonight, and one was mine! She''s been burping non-stop

    since just now. She''sughing because she doesn''t want you to know she''s burping.¡±

    ¡°I only ate a little more because I was hungry... Daddy, isn''t it a good thing for me to eat more and be

    healthy?¡± Erbao countered.

    ¡°Erbao, you''ve just recovered not too long ago. You shouldn''t eat too much. It''s hard on your stomach.

    Make sure not to overeat next time, okay?¡± Nan Chen reminded.

    ¡°Okay, Daddy. I''ll remember that. Daddy, I just got a new best friend! I''ll introduce her to you when

    you''re here,¡± Erbao said.

    ¡°Oh? What is she like?¡± Nan Chen asked while smiling.

    ¡°She''s a beautiful girl like me, but I''m a little more graceful than she is.¡±

    Nan Chen smiled. My darling daughter is too conceited. She really can''t helpplimenting herself

    when she''splimenting others.

    ¡°So, are you nning to invite her to our house?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I did. We''ll have a party tomorrow. Will you be here, Daddy?¡±

    ¡°I still have some stuff to tend to, so I can''t make it tomorrow. But I promise you that once I''ve finished

    what I''m doing, I''ll go and see you immediately.¡±

    ¡°Okay, Daddy. I''ll wait for you. Do you want to talk to Mommy?¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Ning Ran appeared on his screen. She was drying her hair with a towel, looking beautiful as always.

    ¡°Remember to blow-dry your hair after you shower; otherwise, you''ll get sick,¡± Nan Chen urged.

    ¡°All right, all right. I was just about to get my hairdryer when you said you wanted to talk to me. How''s

    your leg? Does it still hurt?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°It''s not that bad anymore. Are you still having nightmares?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. I''ll wake up in the middle of the night every night. I guess it''ll take some time for it to pass.¡±

    ¡°Remember to drink some hot milk before you sleep. It helps you to sleep better. Get some rest for the

    next two days. Stay home. Don''t go to work. If the production team asks you anything, just tell them

    you''re not feeling very well and you need to rest for a while.¡±

    ¡°All right. Oh, have you settled everything over there?¡±

    ¡°More or less. Ouyang Duo has been arrested.¡±

    ¡°I saw that on the inte. What about the other one?¡±

    ¡°Who?¡±

    Ning Ran became anxious. ¡°Ouyang Qing. Don''t tell me you let her go for old times'' sake. How could

    you when Erbao almost lost her life because of that woman?¡±

    ¡°It''s not on the inte, but she was arrested too, along with Feng Jialing, at the airport. Ouyang Qi

    even begged me to let them go and said he would die to atone for his sins, but I didn''t say yes. I only

    agreed to let go of Feng Jialing. As for Ouyang Qing and Ouyang Duo, I''ll never forgive them.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Ning Ran looked doubtful.

    ¡°You don''t believe me?¡± Nan Chen was slightly unhappy about it.

    ¡°Of course, I believe you. I''m sure you won''t let Ouyang Duo go, but I''m not so sure about Ouyang

    Qing since you two were an¡ª¡±

    ¡°Shh! Can you watch what you''re saying when you''re in front of the kids?¡± Nan Chen was mad.

    ¡°I didn''t say anything. Besides, the kids know everything. They remember how close you and Ouyang

    Qing were. If I really have to say it, they remember it more clearly than I do,¡± Ning Ran responded.

    ¡°Hurry up and dry your hair. Ouyang Qing will definitely get punished by thew. I got to go to work

    now.¡±

    ¡°Okay. Go on. Bye.¡±

    With that, Ning Ran ended the call. Nan Chen looked at the time. There were still thirty minutes before

    the next trading session, so he went to pour himself a cup of coffee.

    As he had expected, the moment the trading session started, the shares of Sunshine Corporation

    dropped drastically. It was terribly shocking.

    If the stock market was in the country instead of abroad, the drop would''ve hit the limit down a long

    time ago.

    Nan Chen remained calm as he instructed his team to withdraw the shares in batches through voice

    messages.

    The withdrawal of shares was quite sessful because of the smooth takeovers.

    Besides, that mysterious person''s team was just like a hungry beast, as they bought all of Nan Chen''s

    stocks that he sold.

    The operation was basicallypleted by dawn.

    Leaving aside the transaction costs and other costs, the short-selling made around two billion.

    Meanwhile, the stock prices of Sunshine Corporation continued to drop.

    Based on the current trend, if the drop in stock price didn''t stop, it would be junk stock.

    Ouyang Qi''s face popped up in Nan Chen''s mind. I wonder if the Nine-Fingered Prince has the ability to

    save his family''spany. What else is he good at other than fooling around with girls?

    Suddenly, the phone on the table rang. Who would call me at this hour?

    It was Chai Hua. Nan Chen instantly panicked. It''s the middle of the night. There must be an

    emergency for him to call me right now!

    ¡°Mr. Chai?¡±

    This is from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Master Chen, am I interrupting your sleep?¡±

    Nan Chen was slightly relieved when Chai Hua''s voice didn''t sound urgent.

    ¡°I''m keeping an eye on the stock market, so I''m still awake. What is it, Mr. Chai?¡±

    ¡°The police told me that Ouyang Duo tried to take his own life, so he has been sent to the hospital for

    emergency rescue. Then, a fire in the hospital caused the power to go out. Ouyang Duo escaped

    during the chaos,¡± Chai Hua replied.

    Nan Chen wasn''t surprised at all. When he heard that Ouyang Duo had tried to take his own life, he

    knew Ouyang Duo was trying to escape.

    ¡°Can the police find him and catch him again?¡±

    ¡°The police are still looking into it. They still haven''t gotten any leads at the moment.¡±

    Nan Chen was very calm. ¡°Okay. I understand.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Nan is asleep now, so I didn''t wake him up. That''s why I called you. Master Chen, is there anything

    we should do?¡± Chai Hua asked.

    ¡°No. We don''t have to do anything. Let the police handle this.¡±

    ¡°Okay. Have a good rest, Master Chen. Bye.¡±

    ¡°Bye, Mr. Chai. Rest well too. Don''t worry about this.¡±

    ¡°All right.¡±

    Nan Chen ended the call and wheeled himself toward the window as he looked at the city.

    At that time, it was full of city lights.

    Nan Chen wasn''t afraid of Ouyang Duo''seback since there would be others like Ouyang Duo too.

    He knew he''d face new challenges and attacks in his position.

 Chapter 642

    Chapter 642

    It was already ten in the morning when Nan Chen woke up.

    It had been a while since he had slept so deeply to rise at that hour.

    He was an early riser even if he stayed upte to work overtime as he usually did, and rarely did he

    have the opportunity to sleep in.

    There had been too much to do ofte, and he was physically and mentally exhausted. It was blissful to

    have a good night''s sleep once he could rx.

    After all, Nan Chen was only mortal who required sleep.

    Upon waking up, he felt refreshed.

    Then, after washing up, he hobbled over to the courtyard with his cane and saw his grandfather

    practicing Tai Chi.

    Nan Chen no longer lived in the vi in Red Maple City since it had been given to Bai Hua and the

    others. Instead, he took up temporary residence at Commoner Residence.

    When Ning Ran and the children returned, they would move to a more luxurious and spacious vi.

    Nan Chen felt the blow of impermanence more strongly after the catastrophe and decided to spend

    more time with his grandfather.

    Because of the condition of his legs, Nan Chen could not do strenuous exercises.

    He could only manage basic stretches to rx his body while holding on to the tree in the yard for

    support.

    With a final flourish, Nan Zhengde brought his fists down and took the towel handed by Chai Hua.

    ¡°Let''s have breakfast.¡±

    As Nan Chen had been asleep, breakfast time had long passed.

    Having expected his grandson to be starving upon waking up, Nan Zhengde had the kitchen prepare

    lunch. The former had breakfast and lunch as a single meal.

    ¡°Do you not have ns today?¡± Nan Zhengde asked with concern. ¡°Take the time to rest. It had been a

    trying period. Put aside thepany''s affairs for now. You''re too tense.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Grandpa. I''m not going anywhere today. I''ll just keep youpany while you write and read, all

    right?¡± Nan Chen offered with a grin.

    Nan Zhengdeughed. ¡°Sure, if you don''t mind getting bored. I''ve read a few books recently, and I

    would enjoy sharing my thoughts with you.¡±

    ¡°I look forward to a good lesson from you, Grandpa,¡± Nan Chen replied. ¡°It''s been a while since we''ve

    had a chat.¡±

    Those words were not merely of ttery. Nan Chen had always viewed his grandfather''s mind as a

    treasure trove from which he could learn much.

    The experience and wisdom his grandfather had umted over the decades in the business world

    could not be obtained even from the best business schools.

    The most valuable part of his experience was not just learning how to seed but also how to remain

    steadfast in the face of adversity.

    Though sess was critical, the premise of sess was preservation. Survival.

    Surviving was the most crucial thing in the world. It was the premise and foundation of everything one

    strove for, which was why one dedicated ny percent of their behavior over their lifetime toward that

    end.

    Elderly people understood the game of survival better than anyone.

    ¡°Did Chai Hua tell you about Ouyang Duo?¡± Nan Zhengde asked.

    Nan Chen nodded as he took a sip of soup. ¡°He told me early yesterday morning.¡±

    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°What do you think?¡±

    ¡°There must have been somebody helping him. He wouldn''t have been able to escape otherwise,¡± Nan

    Chen mused. ¡°It was a premeditated escape n, and I think Ouyang Duo would escape sessfully.¡±

    Nan Zhengde nodded. ¡°Yes, I think so¡ª¡±

    ¡°Bad news. Ouyang Duo has escaped!¡± Nan Xing dashed in before Nan Zhengde could finish

    speaking.

    ¡°What''s with all the yelling?¡± Nan Zhengde scolded. ¡°We knew about it long ago. Have you only just

    heard?¡±

    ¡°How are you still so calm after finding out?¡± Nan Xing cried, panicked. ¡°We must find a way to help the

    police catch him.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Nan Zhengde said. ¡°Let him go.¡±

    Nan Chen was bewildered. ¡°Why? Are we just going to let him get off scot-free?¡±

    ¡°With the criminal charges against him, Ouyang Qi will undoubtedly find him the bestwyer if he goes

    to trial,¡± Nan Chen said. ¡°He will serve a few years and be released in the blink of an eye. Now that he''s

    on the run, he''s be a fugitive and has added a new charge to his crimes. He would not dare

    appear publicly in China for at least ten years, which is worse than going to prison. Those who helped

    him escape appeared to be saving him but had, in fact, sabotaged him by costing him the chance to

    redeem himself.¡±

    Nan Zhengdeughed. ¡°Yes! Just as I thought. You should learn a thing or two from your brother, Xing.

    You can''t see things clearly as he does!¡±

    Nan Xing thought there was some truth to the reprimand, but that did not stop him from feeling upset. ¡°I

    didn''t manage to think carefully about it. I could have figured it out if I did.¡±

    Nan Zhengde turned to his grandson. ¡°Then think about this. Who helped Ouyang Duo escape?¡±

    ¡°What''s there to think about?¡± Nan Xing said impatiently. ¡°It has to be his subordinates or family

    members. My money is on Ouyang Qi.¡±

    ¡°Most definitely not,¡± said Nan Zhengde shortly.

    Nan Xing was puzzled. ¡°Why not? It''s only natural for the son to rescue the father. Why wouldn''t

    Ouyang Qi do that?¡±

    ¡°Ouyang Qi came to the Nan residence and begged us to let Ouyang Duo go, demonstrating his

    capacity for rational thought. He knows he cannot take his father away by force, which would only do

    more harm than good. Even if he did manage to break Ouyang Duo out, Ouyang Duo would not be

    able to clear his name from the shadows.

    ¡°The best-case scenario would be to send Ouyang Duo to a country with no extradition treaty with

    China. At best, he would lead a slightly morefortable life than in prison, but at the price of never

    returning within this lifetime. Ouyang Qi must have considered all that since he is no fool, and he would

    not put his father in a more significant predicament than he is already in. So he was not the one who

    rescued Ouyang Duo.¡±

    Nan Xing tilted his head to the side and mulled it over before nodding.

    Although he was incapable of considering some things, it did not mean he could not follow.

    ¡°Who could it be if not Ouyang Qi?¡± Nan Xing wondered. ¡°What is their purpose in helping Ouyang Duo

    escape?¡±

    ¡°We don''t know who it is,¡± Nan Zhengde agreed, ¡°but hasn''t the purpose already been stated? Weren''t

    you listening carefully?¡±

    ¡°I was, but you didn''t mention that.¡± Nan Xing did not understand.

    ¡°Did we not mention that the person only appears to be rescuing Ouyang Duo?¡± Nan Chen chimed in.

    ¡°Since he wasn''t interested in rescuing him, the purpose is obvious.¡±

    Nan Xing appeared to have understood atst. ¡°So, the person who rescued Ouyang Duo was actually

    sabotaging him? He prevented Ouyang Duo from being processed by the book of spending a few years

    in prison and making aeback after getting out.¡±

    ¡°Yes, exactly that.¡±

    ¡°If that''s the case, isn''t the person who rescued Ouyang Duo our ally?¡± Nan Xing eximed. ¡°Is there

    not a saying that the enemy of my enemy is my friend?¡±

    ¡°That''s not necessarily the case, but I know who this person is,¡± Nan Chen said. ¡°At least, I know he

    must be rted to this matter.¡±

    Nan Zhengde immediately grasped Nan Chen''s meaning. ¡°Are you referring to the person who bought

    Sunshine Corporation shares in bulk?¡±

    ¡°Yes. They were bought up as quickly as we could dump themst night. The buyer obviously intends

    to hold on to them for the long haul. If he wanted controlling rights in Sunshine Corporation, he would

    naturally not give Ouyang Duo a chance to recover. With Ouyang Duo put away, only Ouyang Qi and

    Ouyang Qing''s elder sister and Feng Jialing are left in the Ouyang family.

    ¡°Ouyang Qi, the Nine-Fingered Prince, is well-known for his proclivities in food, drink, and y, and not

    for his business acumen. With her husband in prison, it is unlikely that Feng Jialing would take over, as

    she has no experience in running apany. The only one left would be Ouyang Qing''s sister, who

    rarely appears in public. In other words, the chances of the Ouyang family making aeback are

    minuscule if Ouyang Duo cannot recover. That is why the mystery man helped Ouyang Duo escape.¡±

    Nan Chen exined things so well that Nan Xing understood them perfectly.

 Chapter 643

    Chapter 643

    ¡°Somebody wants to take over Sunshine Corporation?¡± Nan Xing eximed. ¡°Ouyang Duo failed to

    take over Nanshi Corporation, and his ownpany is taken instead?¡±

    ¡°Ouyang Duo set his sights on Nanshi Corporation, and others can have theirs on Sunshine

    Corporation,¡± Nan Zhengde postted. ¡°This is normal. Perhaps they have been eyeing them for a

    long time and were merely waiting for the right moment. Ouyang Duo''s rash and failed attack on

    Nanshi Corporation has given them the perfect opportunity to do so. This is karma at its finest.¡±

    ¡°In that case, why don''t we take advantage of the situation and perform a hostile takeover of Sunshine

    Corporation?¡± Nan Xing suggested. ¡°Ouyang Duo intended to take over Nanshi Corporation, didn''t he?

    Since we have now defeated him, why don''t we press home our advantage?¡±

    Nan Zhengde exchanged a nce with Nan Chen before motioning for thetter to exin.

    ¡°Have you heard of Coke and Pepsi?¡± Nan Chen asked his brother.

    ¡°Of course I have. How can I not know about the world''s two famous carbonated beveragepanies?

    Do I look that stupid?¡± Nan Xing was displeased.

    ¡°There was once an executive of Coke who tried to sell Pepsi a huge trade secret that was enough to

    threaten Coke''s position. However, Pepsi disclosed the matter to Coke, implying to itspetitors that

    there was something wrong with them internally. The thing is, Pepsi is Coke''s biggestpetitor. Do

    you know why Pepsi did that?¡±

    Nan Xing shook his head. ¡°I don''t.¡±

    ¡°Pepsi''s top management believed that it was because of the existence ofpetitors that filled them

    with a sense of crisis. That''s why thepany has been going strong for a hundred years. If their only

    Nan Xing understood. ¡°Oh, so it''s equivalent to the catfish effect.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    ¡°That''s right. Grandpa often told me this story before I became CEO, and I still remember it. Because of

    Ouyang Duo''s watchful eyes, I was always filled with that sense of crisis, and that''s why Nanshi

    Corporation has maintained steady growth. Nanshi Corporation would have no more rivals in the

    province if I took the opportunity to take over Sunshine Corporation. Who would Ipete with then?

    ¡°Moreover, Sunshine Corporation is immense. It has undergone a series of blind expansions in recent

    years and contains many hidden dangers. If I take over, it may not help Nanshi Corporation improve

    but will instead be a liability. Being unprepared for mergers and acquisitions is like forcibly swallowing a

    piece of half-cooked food. Not only can it not be digested, but it will also damage your body.

    ¡°Also, if I take the opportunity to take over Sunshine Corporation, how am I different from Ouyang Duo?

    Others will not think it''s due to my wolfish ambition like his. They''ll say it''s a n I''veid out long ago.

    Though I could short-sell Sunshine Corporation and make a fortune just to prove that I can take them, I

    don''t want to do that.¡±

    Nan Xingpletely understood after his brother finished. However, another question crossed his

    mind.

    ¡°I''m wondering about the person who''s trying to take over Sunshine Corporation. Could he have bitten

    off more than he could chew?¡±

    ¡°This person must not be monopolizing but is instead carving up Sunshine Corporation with foreign

    capital. Or perhaps he doesn''t want the controlling right but simply intends to bottom-fish. If he

    manages to buy them for a cheaper price and help Sunshine Corporation regain its stability, he will still

    make a fortune when the stock price reboundster.

    ¡°Another possibility is that his ownpany needs toy out some ns in the banking industry and

    have Sunshine Corporation mainly focus on them. Holding shares in Sunshine Corporation will

    complete his strategicyout, so he bought arge number of shares. Whatever his reasons are, this

    man is a master and our futurepetitor.¡±

    ¡°Then we have to find out who he is as soon as possible,¡± Nan Xing said anxiously. ¡°Otherwise, how

    can we be on our guard against him?¡±

    Nan Chen nodded. ¡°This person should show himself soon.¡±

    ¡°All right, enough work talk. Let''s finish up our meal,¡± Feng Wan reprimanded her husband. ¡°That''s all

    you do, Darling. Chen seldomes home for a meal. Can''t you talk less about work?¡±

    Nan Zhengdeughed. ¡°You can''t me me for this! They were talking about it among themselves.

    How is that my fault?¡±

    The family chatted andughed as they ate. It had been a long time since they had been so at ease.

    Suddenly, Nan Chen''s phone vibrated. Jiang Zhe was calling.

    Nan Chen picked up. ¡°What''s the matter?¡±

    ¡°I found out about the offshorepany that had been buying Sunshine Corporation shares en masse,

    Mr. Chen,¡± Jiang Zhe reported. ¡°One of the major shareholders is from the province, and his name is

    Rong Yi.¡±

    ¡°Rong Yi? The Rong Yi we know?¡± Nan Chen could not believe his ears.

    ¡°That''s right,¡± Jiang Zhe confirmed. ¡°It is the young pianist Rong Yi, the one who doesn''t care about the

    family business and devotes himself only to art.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Nan Chen was still in disbelief.

    ¡°I am sure. What''s more, somebody photographed Rong Yi in Flower City purchasing Sunshine

    Corporation''s building to house Prosperity Holdings in the city.¡±

    ¡°Is Sunshine Corporation''s office building in Flower City that old building, Century za?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Chen, it is indeed that old building. However, Prosperity Holdings bought it at a very high

    price.¡±

    ¡°All right, I got it.¡± Nan Chen hung up the phone and sank deep in thought.

    He did not expect the mystery man to be Rong Yi, of all people.

    Rong Yi was a well-known young pianist in China who had won many international awards.

    The man was handsome and elegant like a prince. He was a rare superstar in the piano world.

    However, those who knew the truth were also aware that Rong Yi was a wealthy heir and that his

    family was the Rong family behind Prosperity Holdings.

    Rong Yi, however, had never cared to participate in his family business. He had lived abroad for many

    years to devote himself to art and had outstanding achievements in that field.

    If Jiang Zhe had not discovered that he was a shareholder in that offshorepany, Nan Chen would

    never have imagined the mysterious mastermind to be a musician.

    It seems that he is not only a master in the music world but also in the financial world. Moreover, he is a

    master who knows how to conceal himself.

    Nan Zhengde and Nan Xing saw that Nan Chen was preupied, so they did not bother him.

    Jerking himself out of his reverie, Nan Chen asked Nan Zhengde abruptly, ¡°Does that old Century

    za have anything to do with the Rong family in the past?¡±

    ¡°Why are you asking this all of a sudden? Century za is not as old as it was over twenty years ago

    but is andmark building in Flower City. Back then, it was the headquarters of Prosperity Holdings.

    Later, Prosperity Holdings fought us many times and lost Flower City. The building seemed to be

    mortgaged to somepany andter became the office of Sunshine Corporation in Flower City.¡±

    ¡°That makes sense,¡± Nan Chen said thoughtfully. ¡°Prosperity Holdings bought back that old building to

    be their office in Flower City.¡±

    ¡°Were they also the ones who bought Sunshine Corporation?¡± Nan Zhengde eximed in surprise.

    Nan Chen nodded. ¡°Yes. It turns out that they are returning to Flower City with no good intentions this

    time!¡±

 Chapter 644

    Chapter 644

    In Livingsfill, Ning Ran finally got a break. The sun shone brightly as she reclined on a lounge chair in

    the yard, reading her script.

    The production team was filming at Livingsfill at the moment, but Ning Ran didn''t return to work

    immediately. Instead, she took a break for a few days to recover.

    Cheng Xiangyun left the film site and immediately returned to update Ning Ran about thetest

    happenings in the production team. Ning Ran figured she could still get another day off from Cheng

    Xiangyun''s report.

    Ning Ran leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of the sun on her skin

    and the peacefulness of the moment.

    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Living safely and peacefully is the happiest life one can have.

    ¡°Cheng, the losses will be around hundreds of thousands per day if I dy the filming, right?¡±

    ¡°Yep, it''s around that amount. Don''t worry about it, though, since your Sir Chen is holding the fort. Even

    if the losses are millions per day, it''s still no biggie.¡± Cheng Xiangyun chuckled.

    ¡°What do you mean by my Sir Chen? He''s not mine. We don''t know who he belongs to,¡± Ning Ran

    denied.

    ¡°What''s wrong? Why are you acting cold and denying it? Both of you went through hell and back, so I

    thought you guys should have already warmed up to each other. Oh right! How did you guys escape?

    Why aren''t you willing to tell us the specifics?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun had always been a gossiper. There was no way she would drop such a juicy topic.

    ¡°Nan Chen won''t let me,¡± Ning Ran answered truthfully.

    ¡°Why? Why is he asking you to stay silent about it? Of course, you can''t tell others. That''s because

    they''re outsiders, but I''m different. I, on the other hand, am your friend, so tell me. I promise you this

    stays between us. It''s the perfect time to tell me now since there''s no one around. No one will know,¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun urged softly.

    It wasn''t like Ning Ran didn''t believe in Cheng Xiangyun, but she thought that there must be a reason

    why Nan Chen wanted her to keep it a secret.

    However, Cheng Xiangyun was her best friend. What kind of best friend was she if she kept a secret

    from her?

    ¡°I''ll tell you the gist of it, but don''t ask for the details, especially the ones that concern the Nan family,¡±

    Ning Ran warned.

    Cheng Xiangyun agreed instantly, ¡°Sure! Tell me already!¡±

    ¡°It was mainly Nan Chen taking advantage of the boatman''s greed. The boatman asked the Nan family

    to give him a hundred thousand and, during that process, exposed his personal information. Nan Chen

    then used that as a threat to have them send us back to Gerton''s border, and that was where we got to

    shore. We were lucky after that since we met a cultured family and spent the night there. The couple

    was a pair of high school teachers. After hearing about our encounter, they searched the web for

    Nanshi Corporation and confirmed our identity. However, we didn''t dare to contact any of the Nan

    family members impulsively for fear of the mole within the Nan family. Nan Chen worried we would

    expose our whereabouts if we got ahold of the Nan family. Hence Nan Chen borrowed the teacher''s

    computer and sent an email to Zheng Lunlun, then had Zheng Lunlun inform the Nan family of our

    hiding spot. Things were straightforward after that. Under the Nan family''s coordination, Nan Chen

    secretly returned to Flower City while I came to Livingsfill to meet up with you.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun listened with relish. ¡°Woah, that''s so exciting! It''s like you''re part of a TV show! An

    incident like this can actually happen in reality?¡±

    Ning Ran rolled her eyes at her. ¡°We almost died, yet you think that''s exciting? You don''t feel the same

    way we do because you didn''t experience it yourself. Why don''t you give it a try?¡±

    ¡°I want to, but I''m not that lucky. Oh my goodness! Being stuck on an ind with a handsome and rich

    guy is just so romantic! Dying would be worth it if I could have one chance like that!¡± Cheng Xiangyun

    eximed.

    ¡°Please leave. What is more important than life in this world? We were hanging onto life by a thread.

    Do you even understand what that entails?¡±

    Ning Ran felt fear pumping through her as she recalled her precarious situation a few days ago.

    ¡°Well, one is bound for good fortune after surviving a great catastrophe. You guys survived all that, so

    you''re fine. I see now. Sir Chen asked you not to say anything because he is worried it would reveal to

    the public that there is a mole in the Nan family. It''s not even an assumption at this point. The fact that

    something like that still happened despite the tight security in the Nan residence merely showed that

    someone had knowledge of your whereabouts and nned everything ordingly. That was how the

    mole got you guys to fall for it. Who do you think is the mole within the Nan family?¡±

    Ning Ran refused to answer that question. ¡°Hold it. This is not a topic that you and I should discuss. I,

    as a victim, don''t even dare to offer any opinion on this matter, much less you, an outsider. Do you

    know how sensitive this subject is?¡±

    ¡°You''re right. Since the Nan family are a part of high society, even a tiny issue is considered a serious

    matter to them. We shouldn''t even be talking about it, but I''m curious. There must be someone on your

    mind. Who do you think it is?¡± Cheng Xiangyun questioned.

    ¡°I have no idea, and even if I do, I won''t say it aloud without any proof. The Nan family will find out the

    truth soon, so an outsider like me doesn''t have to be worried on their behalf.¡±

    After spending time with Nan Chen, Ning Ran learned to be cautious.

    Despite Ning Ran having put a full stop to the conversation, Cheng Xiangyun still wasn''t satisfied with

    theck of answers. She was displeased but couldn''t do anything about it.

    ¡°One more thing. I got acquainted with an incredible person, along with two incredible children,¡± Cheng

    Xiangyun said with a mysterious tone.

    ¡°Incredible children? There are children more incredible than my Dabao and Erbao?¡± Ning Ran asked

    jokingly.

    ¡°They''re almost the same. They''re incredible because they''re slightly simr to Erbao. Sometimes, I

    even wonder if Sir Chen has another pair of female twins running around outside¡ª¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun suddenly paused midsentence.

    However, it was already toote. Ning Ran leaped to her feet. ¡°What did you say?¡±

    ¡°I''m just bbering. Don''t overreact. It''s scary,¡± Cheng Xiangyun said with worry in her voice.

    ¡°Nan Chen has another pair of daughters running around freely outside? He''s doing pretty well, huh?

    Leaving his legacy everywhere he goes, no?¡± Ning Ran hissed.

    ¡°Hey, don''t simply specte without any proof. Didn''t I say it was only a joke? It''s just a joke!¡±

    ¡°Then what exactly happened?¡±

    ¡°Remember how thedy boss of the inn wasn''t around before? She suddenly returned one day, and

    she was beautiful. She was truly beautiful! Even from a woman''s perspective, she''s the kind that has a

    good figure, a beautiful face, and an excellent temperament. I think her temperament is even better

    than yours.¡±

    Ning Ran gave her the stink eye. ¡°Why are youparing me to her? I''m special! You don''t have to put

    me and her together forparison!¡±

    ¡°Fine. You''re special but listen to me. She also has a pair of twins. The only difference is the twins are

    girls. The girls take after her maiden name. One is Lu Yunxue, and the other is Lu Yunbing. They''re

    pretty as a doll and don''t lose to Erbao or Dabao in terms of appearances.¡±

    ¡°You''reparing my children with other children? Are you crazy? Will it kill you if you don''tpare?

    Can we even have a proper conversation?¡±

    Ning Ran was mostly mad because Cheng Xiangyun said the twin girls might be Nan Chen''s children

    earlier.

    ¡°Don''t scold me, okay? What? We can''t even talk now?¡± Cheng Xiangyun started to get angry too.

    ¡°You''re the one asking to be scolded. Stopparing my children and me with other people. It''s

    irritating!¡±

 Chapter 645

    Chapter 645

    Erbao came out at that time and ran toward Ning Ran.

    ¡°What are you guys talking about, Mommy?¡± the girl asked, hugging and rubbing her head against her

    mother.

    ¡°I''m talking to Aunt Xiang here. Why don''t you go there and y first?¡±

    ¡°When is Daddying to see us?¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry. He''ll be here after he''s done with work. Go on. Go y.¡±

    ¡°We''re meeting Lu Yunxueter for dinner, Aunt Xiang. Don''t forget about that,¡± Erbao reminded as she

    looked at Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°I remember, you little greedy cat. We still have a lot of time before dinner. Are you thinking about

    dinner already?¡± Cheng Xiangyun replied with augh.

    ¡°What? Are you guys meeting someone for dinner? Why didn''t you tell me?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Well, I''m telling you now. Do you remember Lu Jingyuan? She''s the one who brought the Erbao to see

    Dr. Ding.¡±

    ¡°Right, you mentioned her. I remember you had high praises for her. Actually, I should buy her

    something to thank her for bringing Erbao to the doctor, but what should I get for her?¡± Ning Ran asked

    with a frown.

    ¡°I don''t think she would want anything. She''s not into socializing. Besides, shecks nothing.¡±

    ¡°It seems that you''re really fond of her. I can''t wait to see her.¡±

    ¡°I''m sure you''ll like her too. She''s an extremely nice person. She''s pretty, frank, and modest. It''s easy

    getting along with her. She''s our type.¡±

    ¡°Did you say she has twin girls who look like Erbao?¡±

    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Well, just a bit. They are not that simr.¡±

    ¡°Is she a single mother too?¡±

    ¡°Yes. She''s from the capital but moved to Livingsfill with the two children. This inn belongs to her.¡±

    Ning Ran looked around the ce. The inn was strategically located beside the mountain and the river,

    and the view was splendid, so it went without saying that the amodation was expensive. In fact,

    the price exceeded that of some rated hotels.

    Since the inn took up a vast area, the owner must have many connections to gain approval from the

    government to build an architecture like that.

    Even after a project was approved, building everything from scratch would still require a lot of

    investment.

    Besides, its state-of-the-art facilities showed that constructing that inn cost tens of millions.

    Judging from how the inn looked, Ning Ran was convinced that Cheng Xiangyun was right. Lu

    Jingyuancked nothing.

    To be precise, the owner did not even need to work. The sole profit from this inn would be enough to

    provide afortable living for the whole family.

    Since Nan Chen had other people book this inn for that trip, Ning Ran had no idea if Nan Chen had

    explicitly chosen this ce for their amodation.

    Well, if he did, then there must be something going on between the inn owner and Nan Chen. It''d better

    not be the case because I would be deeply offended.

    The more Ning Ran thought about it, the more she felt something was wrong. She took out her phone

    and called Nan Chen.

    As Nan Chen was resting, he picked up almost immediately. ¡°What is it?¡± He sounded sluggish.

    ¡°Did you get your men to book this inn for us?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Yes. What about it? Is it not good enough?¡±

    ¡°Oh, no. We''re having a good time here. Tell me. Did you book this ce so you can get a jolly good

    time too?¡± Ning Ran questioned.

    ¡°Of course. I want to have a good time there too. Don''t tell me you prefer staying in a shady ce,¡±

    Nan Chen teased.

    ¡°Do you know the owner of this inn?¡±

    ¡°The owner? I don''t even know the owner. Qiao Zhan''s the one who made the booking. What''s going

    on? What happened?¡±

    ¡°Do you really not know her?¡± Ning Ran interrogated again.

    ¡°I really don''t. What''s going on? Is there something wrong with the ce? Is it not safe? It cannot be.

    Qiao Zhan should have made sure the ce was safe before asking his men to book it. You can just

    move to another ce if you don''t like it.¡±

    ¡°So, you didn''t book this ce yourself.¡± Ning Ran was still doubtful.

    ¡°Do you think I have the time to look into little things like this?¡± Nan Chen asked in return.

    ¡°I don''t know. You might have taken the time to look into this because of a woman,¡± Ning Ran replied

    with a hint of jealousy.

    It was then that Nan Chen sensed something was wrong. ¡°What are you talking about? What woman?

    What''s going on?¡±

    ¡°Do you really not know the boss here?¡±

    ¡°I really don''t know her. Tell me what''s happening.¡±

    ¡°It''s nothing, then. Get back to work. I was just asking,¡± Ning Ran answered and hung up.

    ¡°Seriously? Did you get into a fight with Sir Chen because of this? That was so unnecessary. I was just

    saying. You don''t have to get so suspicious. Sir Chen''s gonna me me for talking too much now,¡±

    Cheng Xiangyunined, unable to understand Ning Ran''s action.

    ¡°Don''t worry about it. He said he didn''t know her,¡± Ning Ran assured, but she changed her mind the

    next second. ¡°Actually, do you think Nan Chen knows her? He wasn''t lying, right?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun stared at Ning Ran in disbelief. ¡°For real? How could you say that? There''s no point in

    lying to you. Sir Chen can just say he knows her if he does.¡±

    ¡°God knows if he''s lying because he feels bad.¡± Ning Ran was not convinced.

    ¡°What''s there to feel bad about? You''re not married to him, so it doesn''t matter if he knows all the

    women outside. There''s nothing you can do about it,¡± Cheng Xiangyun pointed out.

    ¡°Seriously, Cheng Xiangyun? Whose side are you on? You''re my assistant; I''m your boss. How could

    you take his side?¡±

    ¡°Come on. I''m an employee at Star Entertainment. Sir Chen''s the one who pays me. You''re not my

    boss. Besides, I didn''t say anything wrong. Why are you so worked up? Don''t y the victim. Even if

    Sir Chen arranged for you to stay here, it didn''t mean that he had an ulterior motive. There''s nothing

    threatening about what''s happening.¡±

    Ning Ran thought about it and realized that she might have overreacted.

    ¡°Don''t tell me you''re in love with Sir Chen. Are you jealous?¡± Cheng Xiangyun asked as she moved

    closer.

    ¡°Get lost. I don''t like him. Stop talking nonsense.¡±

    ¡°Now, now. I must be right, or else there''s no point getting angry,¡± Cheng Xiangyun teased.

    Suddenly, Ning Ran''s phone rang. It was Qiao Zhan.

    It turned out that Nan Chen had called Qiao Zhan asking him what the issue was. Qiao Zhan was

    grocery-shopping outside and had no idea why Ning Ran was upset either, so he called Ning Ran

    himself.

    Ning Ran felt better when she found out that Nan Chen cared so deeply about her feelings that he

    called Qiao Zhan. However, she could not bring herself to admit that she had been overreacting for no

    good reason, so she just told Qiao Zhan that she had called Nan Chen because the children missed

    him.

    She also added that Nan Chen should visit the children when he was free.

    When Ning Ran hung up, Cheng Xiangyun was smiling on a phone call.

    ¡°Ms. Lu''s d to know you''re here. You''re also invited for dinner at her houseter. She also asked if

    there are any dishes you like in particr so she can prepare them,¡± Cheng Xiangyun informed after

    the call ended.

    ¡°That''s nice of her. I hope she has no ulterior motive,¡± Ning Ran questioned, frowning.

    Cheng Xiangyun let out a cry of disappointment. ¡°Come on! People are just being nice. Can you please

    stop being so skeptical?¡±

 Chapter 646

    Chapter 646

    At six o''clock that evening, Ning Ran brought two bottles of fine wine and went to Lu Jingyuan''s house

    with Cheng Xiangyun.

    Although Cheng Xiangyun had told her that Lu Jingyuan was wealthy, Ning Ran was still shocked when

    she saw the vi Lu Jingyuan had built for herself.

    She''s not just wealthy. She''s ultra rich!

    The vi was not enormous, but the three-story building was luxurious.

    Its fence wall and exterior were painted light blue with a cool undertone, giving the ce a particr

    character.

    Once they entered the courtyard, they saw a pathway paved with colorful natural pebbles.

    On both sides of the path were blooming flowers.

    Most of the ces were still cold during early spring, but over at Livingsfill, the temperature did not go

    through drastic changes throughout the year. There was no extreme cold, and flowers bloomed all year

    round.

    However, despite the geographical advantage, most nts had their own flowering period.

    Although some flowers were out of season then in Livingsfill, Lu Jingyuan''s garden was still filled with

    flowers of all kinds.

    This went to show that Lu Jingyuan was a flower connoisseur. Not only could she collect all the

    different types of flowers, but she could also make them blossom at that time of the year.

    This was enough to attest to her refinement and knowledge¡ªtwo invaluable traits unable to be bought

    with money.

    The nouveau riche could well build huge mansions with their money, but cultivating good taste and an

    informed mind would take time. One would need to read a lot and see the world.

    This realization only made Ning Ran more vignt.

    I''d better not underestimate this woman. She stays in a border town with two children but has the ability

    to run a big inn and stay in a vi. This is impossible unless she has a strong background. Could it be

    that she''s Nan Chen''s secret lover? He can definitely do that, though. He has the ability to keep more

    than one lover, actually. In fact, I won''t be surprised if he has a hundred women outside.

    While Ning Ran was thinking, Lu Jingyuan came out to wee them, holding her two girls.

    Woah! She''s pretty. It only took Ning Ran one nce to agree with Cheng Xiangyun.

    Ning Ran was a beautiful woman herself, so she had her standards, but even then, she still considered

    Lu Jingyuan a rare beauty.

    When Ning Ran saw the two children, she agreed that they looked like Erbao.

    Ning Ran gasped in her heart. She would not be surprised that a woman like Lu Jingyuan would know

    Nan Chen, for she totally had what it took to be in his circle.

    Her appearance and demeanor were exceptional. More precisely, she was way above thosedies

    from affluent families like Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°Hi, Ms. Lu. This is Erbao and Dabao''s mother,¡± Cheng Xiangyun introduced warmly.

    ¡°Hi. Nice to meet you. I''m Lu Jingyuan.¡±

    ¡°I''m Ning Ran. Nice to meet you too.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    The two women gazed at one another and were amazed by how gorgeous each other was.

    ¡°I knew you must be pretty when I saw your kids, but I''m still surprised. You''re the most attractive

    woman staying at my inn,¡± Lu Jingyuan praised with a smile.

    ¡°Thanks. You''re dashing yourself too. Thank you for taking care of my children,¡± Ning Ran replied,

    smiling, as she gave the two bottles of wine to the host.

    ¡°This is good wine. Let''s try them during dinner.¡±

    Lu Jingyuan was straightforward and elegant, and Ning Ran had a good impression of her.

    Their first encounter assured Ning Ran that Lu Jingyuan was not cunning, so she put away her

    suspicion. However, that was solely based on her intuition.

    One''s sixth sense was not entirely baseless. Human emotions were the product of experience and

    knowledge, and they made sense sometimes.

    ¡°Come. This is Ms. Ning. Say hi,¡± Lu Jingyuan said to her daughters.

    ¡°Hi, Ms. Ning,¡± the two girls greeted politely with a bow.

    Lu Yunxue went forward and pulled Ning Ran''s hand. ¡°Ms. Ning, I''m Erbao''s best friend. We always

    y together!¡±

    Ning Ran bent down, pulled the girl''s hand, and patted her. ¡°You''re a sweet little girl. Who''s older? You

    or Erbao?¡±

    ¡°I''m older; she''s younger,¡± Erbao chimed in.

    Erbao felt proud because it was the first time she could consider someone else her younger sister. She

    had always been the younger sibling at home.

    ¡°Well, then, you should take care of your younger sister, all right?¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°No. I can take care of myself. We can take care of one another,¡± Lu Yunxue replied frankly.

    Her answer made everyoneugh except Lu Yunbing, who had been observing Ning Ran since they

    met.

    Seeing this, Ning Ran approached the girl. ¡°Hi, are you Yunbing? Are you the elder sister?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Although Lu Yunbing''s answer was short, it did not sound rude.

    Interestingly, the girl had a cold expression on her face, which was rare for children her age.

    Ning Ran exhaled deeply, recalling Nan Chen''s emotionless face.

    They don''t look exactly the same, but I can see hints of Nan Chen in her. If I were topare the four

    children, Erbao would look more like Yunxue, while Dabao would look more like Yunbing. I won''t say

    they are the same, but I can definitely spot somemon ground.

    Ning Ran tried to shake off the thought, but deep down, she felt slightly disturbed.

    The family would get tooplicated if Nan Chen really had two other children outside.

    ¡°Ms. Ning, you may wash your hands here. Dinner''s about to start,¡± the housekeeper said.

    ¡°Sure. Thanks.¡±

    Everyone sat down after washing their hands. Lu Jingyuan had arranged a smaller table for the

    children.

    That was a telling sign that Lu Jingyuan came from a big family because children would not join the

    adults at their table until they turned eighteen.

    It would also give the adults more freedom during mealtime if the children ate on their own.

    ¡°Wee to Livingsfill, Ms. Ning. I''m d to host you at my inn,¡± Lu Jingyuan said.

    Ning Ran lifted her ss and smiled too. ¡°The honor is mine. Thank you for having us. Cheers.¡±

    Everyone raised their sses and drank.

    ¡°Did you make these dishes yourself, Ms. Lu?¡± Ning Ran inquired, smiling.

    ¡°Most of them. I bought the rest. The food here is on the spicy side, so I''m not sure if you''ll like it,¡± Lu

    Jingyuan said.

    ¡°They''re not bad. I like them. Your cooking is really good. It''d be great if you could spare some time to

    teach me.¡±

    ¡°I''m more than happy to do that. I enjoy cooking. It gives me a sense of achievement. Do you like

    cooking as well?¡±

    ¡°I''m okay. I just know how to cook a few simple dishes. Nothing fancy.¡±

    ¡°That''s good enough. I heard you''re an actress?¡±

    Erbao quickly said, ¡°Mommy is a celebrity! She''s the female lead in The Sound of Thunder 2. The

    movie was a big hit!¡±

    Ning Ran felt embarrassed at thepliment. ¡°I''m not that famous. Don''t listen to her.¡±

    ¡°I''m sorry. I don''t watch TV a lot.¡±

    Lu Jingyuan''s honesty made Ning Ran feel awkward.

    ¡°But I''ll check the movie out. I''m sure your acting is good. Your eyes tell me you''re a person who has a

    story,¡± Lu Jingyuan added.

    ¡°Thanks. I can equally say the same about you. I''m sure you''ll be better than me at the craft if you

    be an actress,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Well, let''s put titudes aside, shall we? I''m d I met someone like you. Cheers,¡± Lu Jingyuan said,

    raising her ss.

    ¡°Cheers!¡±

 Chapter 647

    Chapter 647

    After dinner, the children yed while Ning Ran and Lu Jingyuan chatted in the little garden.

    It was a fine night in Livingsfill. It was not cold, and the weather was just lovely.

    To everyone''s pleasant surprise, they could even see the moon shining brightly in the sky that evening.

    Lu Jingyuan took out some fruit wine she had made for the guests.

    It tasted sweet and refreshing, but Ning Ran felt the wine tasted familiar after the first sip.

    She recalled drinking the same wine when she and Nan Chen and were in Lightspring. They had a

    meal at a romantic restaurant in the old mansion they visited.

    The wine they drank at that ce tasted more or less like the one Lu Jingyuan had served.

    Ning Ran had her guard up instantly. It urred to her that Nan Chen had admitted to her that he had

    once gone to the same restaurant with another woman.

    It even seemed that Nan Chen had such a fond memory of that woman that it felt as though she were

    his first love.

    Don''t tell me Lu Jingyuan is the woman who went to that restaurant with Nan Chen. Her children look a

    lot like Dabao and Erbao too. I can''t be wrong...

    ¡°What''s the matter? Do you not like the taste? How about I let you try another wine?¡± Lu Jingyuan

    asked when she saw Ning Ran staring nkly into the air.

    Ning Ran quickly snapped out of it. ¡°I''m good. I like it. Did you make this yourself? You''re so talented.¡±

    ¡°It''s easy making something like this. I usually make this when I''m free. It''s just something I do to fill up

    my time.¡± Lu Jingyuan smiled.

    Ning Ran smiled back at her. ¡°That''s good. You''re good at everything. Where''s your husband? Is he

    also in Livingsfill?¡±

    The truth was that Ning Ran had already found out from Cheng Xiangyun that Lu Jingyuan was a

    single mother, but she still asked Lu Jingyuan about her husband because she was suspicious.

    Lu Jingyuan smiled at her question and just shook her head.

    Her response meant a lot. Lu Jingyuan did not want to exin the situation, nor did she want to

    continue the conversation.

    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    However, Ning Ran was so overtaken by her curiosity, especially after she had tasted the wine, so she

    continued, ¡°Is he not in Livingsfill? Then where is he?¡±

    It was rude for Ning Ran to pursue a topic the host did not wish to continue, but because she was dying

    to know if Lu Jingyuan''s children were rted to Nan Chen, she insisted on asking.

    The answer meant a lot to her, and she simply had to find out.

    Lu Jingyuan was taken aback when Ning Ran asked the question again.

    ¡°He is not with us. The children have never seen him before. Actually, this is not something I feel

    comfortable talking about. Why don''t we talk about something else?¡± Lu Jingyuan replied, smiling

    politely.

    Ning Ran suddenly felt embarrassed. Since Lu Jingyuan had made it clear that she did not wish to

    continue the conversation, Ning Ran could only drop the topic.

    ¡°I''m sorry. I thought the kids were cute and got curious about their father. I shouldn''t have asked,¡± Ning

    Ran said with a rigid smile.

    Lu Jingyuan shook her head. ¡°It''s okay. I understand your curiosity.¡±

    ¡°I''m curious because I bring up the kids myself too. I''m a single mother as well. In fact, I gave birth to

    them when I was abroad. I didn''t even know who the father was at that time, so I really understand how

    hard it is being a single mother. That''s why I got interested in your family. I hope you don''t mind,¡± Ning

    Ran exined.

    Lu Jingyuan was stunned when she heard that. She stared at Ning Ran, making her feel uneasy.

    ¡°It''s true. I''m not lying,¡± Ning Ran assured.

    Lu Jingyuan nodded. ¡°I believe everything you said. I knew you were someone with a story. To be

    honest, I don''t know who the children''s father is either.¡±

    Ning Ran was in for a shock this time. She had told Lu Jingyuan about her not knowing who the father

    was simply because that was what she had gone through.

    It was not Ning Ran''s intention to elicit any information from Lu Jingyuan, but her sharing somehow

    encouraged Lu Jingyuan to also open up about her own encounter.

    What a coincidence! It''s as if everything is meant to be.

    Despite what Lu Jingyuan went through, Ning Ran was certain that, unlike herself, Lu Jingyuan would

    never fall prey to someone else''s trap and identally get pregnant.

    After all, Ning Ran did not believe that someone else would experience the same thing as her.

    ¡°But how did you get pregnant?¡± Ning Ran blurted out.

    Again, Lu Jingyuan smiled and shook her head.

    Obviously, she did not want to relive the details of her experience.

    Ning Ran could understand her feeling. After all, what happened concerned her privacy, and it was

    definitely not something one could talk about with just a few sentences.

    ¡°Whatever it is, I understand you''ve had it hard. I hope everything goes well for your family.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. You too. By the way, where''s your husband? What does he do?¡± Lu Jingyuan asked.

    Ning Ran immediately saw the chance to test the waters, so she took out her phone and looked for

    Nan Chen''s photos.

    ¡°He''s the kids'' father.¡±

    Lu Jingyuan took her phone and nced at the photos. Her face froze for a second.

    ¡°He''s very handsome. He looks familiar, though.¡±

    Lu Jingyuan''s reaction did not go unnoticed by Ning Ran, for she had had her eyes on Lu Jingyuan''s

    face the moment she passed the phone.

    Lu Jingyuan''s reaction was not drastic, but neither was it expected.

    Anyone who saw a photo of a stunning man would be astonished or amazed, but Lu Jingyuan''s

    reaction was more than that.

    Doubt clouded Ning Ran''s heart. Do they know each other?

    ¡°His name is Nan Chen. He''s the CEO of Nanshi Corporation in Flower City,¡± Ning Ran said, still

    observing Lu Jingyuan, but thetter did not seem perturbed.

    She simply nodded and replied, ¡°He has a graceful aura. He''s handsome too.¡±

    Her reply sounded as if she had never seen Nan Chen before.

    In fact, she sounded as if she had never even heard of him before.

    Ning Ran was perplexed. Her color changed when she saw the photo, but she didn''t sound as if she

    knew the man. Nan Chen is not that famous, so it makes sense that she doesn''t know him. But if he''s

    really a stranger to her, why did she react that way? Is she trying to act as if she doesn''t know him?

    Ning Ran was having second guesses. To her, Lu Jingyuan did not seem like someone who would put

    up a front.

    Indeed, I can''t judge a book by its cover. Some people may look harmless and innocent, but deep

    down, they can be evil, just like Ouyang Qing. But it''s okay. I have nothing to fear even if Lu Jingyuan is

    putting on an act. I''ll just arrange for Nan Chen toe here and meet her. I don''t believe they''ll

    continue faking it when they see each other. Even if they do, I''m smart enough to see through them. I''m

    not stupid!

    Ning Ran felt relieved at the thought.

    ¡°What about I ask him to join us for a meal when hees to Livingsfill? He must be d to meet

    someone like you,¡± Ning Ran suggested with a smile.

    ¡°It''s okay. Socializing is not my thing.¡±

    Ning Ran did not expect Lu Jingyuan to turn down her offer, and that put her on edge again.

    Why does she not want to meet Nan Chen? I get that she''s quiet and prefers having her own space,

    but meeting him is no harm. She doesn''t have to refuse my offer.

    At that point, Ning Ran found it hard to convince herself that there was nothing fishy going on, but she

    had no proof, so she could note to any conclusion and could only ept Lu Jingyuan''s answer as

    it was.

    ¡°All right, then,¡± she said, smiling rigidly.

 Chapter 648

    Chapter 648

    At a temporary detention center in Flower City, the haggard Ouyang Qing stared at Nan Xing sitting

    across from her with a vicious expression on her face.

    She stared at him intently to try to tell whether the person before her was Nan Xing or Nan Chen, as

    the two looked very simr.

    If they wanted to exchange identities, outsiders would never be able to tell.

    ¡°Don''t look at me with such an expression. You''re my wife,¡± Nan Xing said with a chuckle.

    ¡°You''re shameless!¡± Ouyang Qing screamed.

    ¡°You''re wrong. You were the one who suggested marriage. No, you didn''t suggest it. You forced it on

    me. I''m forced to marry you, yet you''re saying I''m shameless now? The woman forced the man to

    marry her, so am I the shameless one, or is it you?¡± Nan Xing retorted.

    ¡°I heard from Ouyang Qi that you have been lying to my dad and me all along. Is that true?¡±

    ¡°Yes. You wanted to snatch my family''spany away and destroy the Nan family. Do you expect me

    to be honest and cooperate with you wholeheartedly?¡±

    Unable to think of aeback, Ouyang Qing could only re at Nan Xing.

    ¡°When did you exchange identities with Nan Chen? Have you two already switched ces when we

    went to get our marriage certificate?¡±

    ¡°No. Do you think Chen, with his bad temper, would apany you to get married and y house with

    you? Of course, only someone with a nice personality like me could do such a boring thing. Chen

    would never do that. Since you''re in this state, let me tell you something. Actually, my leg isn''t injured.

    The Nan Xing, who was in a wheelchair, wasn''t me. It''s easy to tell us apart now, right?¡±

    ¡°How shameless! Your family is despicable!¡± Ouyang Qing spat.

    ¡°You lot were the ones who did all the bad things, yet you''re scolding me now? I won''t argue with you.

    I''m here today to ask you to sign the divorce papers. Our charade as a fake couple hase to an

    end,¡± Nan Xing dered.

    ¡°I won''t sign it! I''ll be clinging to you! We are stillwfully wedded. As long as I''m here, you can''t get

    married. If not, you''ll bemitting bigamy. Nan Xing, you hurt me by lying to me. I will never make life

    easy for you!¡±

    Ouyang Qing chuckled coldly.

    Nan Xing also smiled. ¡°I''m in no hurry. I just wanted to discuss it with you.¡±

    ¡°There''s no need to discuss. I disagree! Don''t you even think of it!¡± Ouyang Qing yelled.

    ¡°Hey, don''t be so agitated. Even if you don''t sign the papers, I can sue you to get a divorce. You

    married me to harm my family, so if I sue you, I can definitely sessfully get a divorce. Regardless of

    whether you''re willing, we''ll definitely divorce, no?¡± Nan Xing said, smirking.

    ¡°I don''t care. There are procedures you need to go through to file for a divorce in court. I''ll ask my

    lawyer to drag out the divorce as long as possible. You try me.¡±

    ¡°I don''t believe you. Not even a d*mn word! I''m not in a hurry to marry, so how will you dragging out the

    divorce affect me? I know there''s a limitation period for litigations. I''m not in a hurry, but how long can a

    limitation period be? How can a divorce case drag out for eight or ten years? So you can''t hurt me by

    dragging out the divorce, but you''ll anger me! I have a better temper than Chen, but I''m not a pushover

    for you to be toyed with. I let you toy with me because Grandpa forced me to let you do that, but now, I

    refuse! If you anger me again, it''ll be my turn to toy with you!¡±

    Though Nan Xing was stating facts, his talking about toying with her sounded weird.

    He was stating the situation objectively, but it sounded like he was making sexual innuendos.

    ¡°You shameless scoundrel!¡± Ouyang Qing also felt it sounded strange.

    ¡°Jeez, I have no interest in you. Even if you want me to behave as a scoundrel, I''m not willing to do

    that. I''m telling you seriously, do not make me angry. Previously, you and Ouyang Duo bullied me, and

    I''m still holding in that anger. If you infuriate me again, I''ll make your life difficult,¡± Nan Xing said

    solemnly.

    ¡°Then what are you going to do? Are you going to kill me?¡±

    ¡°There''s no need for that. Although you hurt my niece and deserve to die, thew will prosecute you. I

    have no need to kill you myself and risk myself. You don''t deserve to be punished by me. However, I

    have some friends in Flower City. If I want to, I can let them introduce a few burly friends to stay in a

    cell with you after you enter prison. Aren''t you the daughter of a rich family? When the timees, I''m

    afraid those strong individuals won''t treat you as a rich woman. As for how they will treat you... Tsk, tsk.

    I really don''t know.¡±

    Ouyang Qing''s face turned pale.

    She knew Nan Xing wasn''t trying to scare her. He could indeed do the things he said.

    Although she was the daughter of a rich family now, she would be nothing once she was in jail.

    A pretty woman like her would be weed everywhere, but the way others weed her would differ

    under different environments.

    ¡°Nan Xing, I did make mistakes back then, but that was because I was jealous of Ning Ran! That

    woman is the root cause! If she didn''t exist, I wouldn''t have hurt the kid and be a cruel person,¡±

    Ouyang Qing shouted.

    ¡°Everything you say is useless now. Regardless of whether you did those things out of jealousy or other

    reasons, it remains a fact that you ordered people to poison my niece. Do not push the me onto

    others. You will bear the responsibility yourself. Now, you should obediently sign the divorce papers

    and serve your term in jail well. You''re still young. After you are released a few yearster, you can still

    marry someone, have kids, and carry on with your life. I assure you, you''ll only receive the punishment

    you deserve, nothing more. You can even get your sentence reduced if you behave well. If you really

    want to confront me head-on and treat me as a pushover, I only need to make use of some of my

    connections to ensure you stay in jail for the next twenty years. You will already be old when you get

    released twenty yearster. Imagine how pitiful you will be when you get out of jail as a middle-aged

    woman. So, I repeat, cooperate with me and not make trouble. You have already lost, so you should

    ept reality. I''ll give you one day to consider my words. If you don''t sign the divorce papers, let''s see

    what will happen to you. I''m really not in a hurry. In the near future, I''m afraid you will be the one in a

    hurry.¡±

    Nan Xing waved his hands and made a move to leave.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Ouyang Qing hurriedly stopped Nan Xing.

    She was truly terrified now as she suddenly realized that she was now only an ordinary convict.

    Her pride was all gone.

    If I don''t cooperate with Nan Xing, my life will be miserable. I don''t want to stay that long in jail. I still

    want to start a new life. I don''t want my life to be doomed.

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    ¡°Changed your mind?¡±

    ¡°I''ll agree to get a divorce, but I have a condition.¡±

    Nan Xing got up to leave. ¡°You don''t have the right to negotiate with me.¡±

    ¡°Fine, no conditions. Then I''m begging you. I''m begging you to let me see Erbao so I can apologize to

    her in person. I shouldn''t have done that to a child,¡± Ouyang Qing said.

    ¡°Ha, I see. You want to make use of this chance to gain Chen and Ning Ran''s forgiveness. You''re

    worried they''ll make you serve a long prison sentence.¡±

    The clever Nan Xing immediately saw through Ouyang Qing''s tricks.

 Chapter 649

    Chapter 649

    Meanwhile, in Livingsfill, Ning Ran arrived early at the outdoor filming location at the foot of a mountain.

    This was her first official day back with the production team.

    In the film ¡°I Am You,¡± every time the female lead teleported to a parallel world, she needed to find a

    suitable ce withfortable weather and temperature before she could teleport again.

    This outdoor filming location was one of the ¡°exits¡± of the teleportation. Many of the scenes would also

    be shot here.

    When Ning Ran''s car reached the site, the production team, led by the director, stood in two groups

    and held fresh flowers to wee her return.

    Ning Ran was a little embarrassed by the high-profile wee ceremony.

    Although she had received the Best Neer Award and her television drama was now showing high

    poprity, she did not see herself as a celebrity.

    Moreover, if she really became a celebrity one day, Ning Ran did not want to be so high-profile as

    others might be repulsed by it.

    ¡°Director, there''s no need for such arge-scale ceremony. I''m justing back to work, just like

    everyone else,¡± she said awkwardly.

    ¡°We haven''t seen you for a long time. I heard you weren''t feeling well. We''re all very happy that you

    have finally recovered and returned.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, everyone. I apologize for dying the filming schedule due to my personal reasons,¡± Ning

    Ran dered before bowing earnestly to everyone.

    ¡°It''s fine. Everyone has personal matters to settle once in a while. It''s great that you''re back,¡± the

    director hurriedly replied.

    ¡°Then, I''ll get my makeup done. Let''s get ready to begin.¡±

    The instant Ning Ran sat down in the temporary makeup room, a bouquet of red roses appeared

    before her from behind, shocking her.

    Turning around, she realized a handsome man was holding it. He was Huang Zichao, the famous actor

    and male lead in the film.

    ¡°Hello, Mr. Huang.¡±

    Ning Ran hurriedly stood up and greeted him.

    After all, he entered show business earlier than her and had won many des, so she should

    address him politely.

    ¡°Hi, Ms. Ning,¡± Huang Zichao replied with a smile. ¡°Are you refusing my flowers? I''ve been holding

    them for a long time.¡±

    Ning Ran was perplexed. ¡°Why are you giving me flowers?¡±

    ¡°Because I like you!¡± Huang Zichao grinned.

    Unable to find a suitable answer, Ning Ran froze for a moment, feeling awkward.

    ¡°Don''t get all nervous. I was joking. The flowers are to celebrate your return to work. I heard that you

    were sick and went on leave. Are you all right now?¡± Huang Zichao asked.

    ¡°Oh, yes. Thanks for your concern. I''ll ept your flowers. Thank you.¡±

    He has already bought the flowers. If I reject him, he will be embarrassed. Still, it feels weird to ept

    roses from another man. After all, the lovenguage of roses is love. If people from the production

    team saw this, they might gossip about us.

    After epting the roses, Ning Ran then ced the flowers on the table.

    ¡°Your dear CEO didn''te along this time?¡± Huang Zichao asked, standing beside her.

    ¡°No. He doesn''te along often as he has his own business to attend to.¡±

    ¡°That''s good.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Haha, what I meant was I would be less stressed if Mr. Nan didn''te along. I know he doesn''t like

    me shooting a film with you. I even heard he''s preparing to rece me with another actor. I guess it''s

    because he loves you too much. As a man, I can understand.¡±

    Huang Zichao seemed interested in talking about Nan Chen.

    However, Ning Ran didn''t want to continue talking about Nan Chen as she felt bad discussing him with

    another man.

    Yet, she couldn''t tell exactly how it was inappropriate.

    ¡°Let''s not chat about him anymore. Mr. Huang, why don''t you go get ready? When I''m done, we can

    start shooting.¡±

    ¡°Okay. Why don''t we go out tonight since it has been so long? There are many bars in Livingsfill. We

    can go to one.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I don''t think I can...¡± Ning Ran immediately refused.

    Huang Zichao was surprised by her speedy rejection. Even she herself was shocked.

    ¡°Why? Your CEO husband isn''t here. Can''t you go for a drink with your friends? Moreover, we''re

    partners. If we interact more and build rapport, our shooting will also go smoother, right?¡± Huang

    Zichao persuaded.

    There were no ws in his logic, so Ning Ran could only nod.

    After all, it was important to build rapport between actors. Only when actors were in tune with each

    other could they get into character and perform well.

    Also, a famous actor was the one who invited her. If she repeatedly rejected him, it would do no good

    for their coboration since they were in the same production team and needed to work together for a

    long time.

    Only when Huang Zichao saw Ning Ran nod did he be happy again.

    Once the preparations wereplete, the shoot officially began.

    As she had not filmed for a long time, she couldn''t get into her working mode. It was only after the

    director yelled ¡°cut¡± multiple times did she slowly get into character.

    To make up for the dyed time, they shot till eight at night before wrapping up.

    Everyone was tired, and Ning Ran was about to return to the inn when Huang Zichao came.

    ¡°Shall we have a drink or supper first?¡±

    He directly gave her two options, leaving her no room for refusal. After all, Ning Ran did agree in the

    morning.

    ¡°I''m tired and want to go back to rest,¡± Ning Ran replied with a smile.

    ¡°Then you should let loose when you''re tired. Plus, it''s still early. We don''t need to stay tillte at night,

    so it won''t affect your rest. I''ve already booked our seats, and I''ll be very disappointed if you don''t go.¡±

    I don''t think Huang Zichao is going to give up easily. If I continue to refuse him, I''ll be humiliating him.

    ¡°Fine, but we can''t stay thatte,¡± Ning Ran agreed reluctantly.

    Then, she turned around to speak to Qiao Zhan. ¡°I''m going out to eat with Mr. Huang. If Nan Chen

    calls, tell him I won''t stay out toote.¡±

    Her words were meant for both Qiao Zhan and Huang Zichao, signaling to thetter that Nan Chen

    now knew she was going out with him.

    Since everyone knew, it meant her rtionship with Huang Zichao was open and honest.

    ¡°Why don''t I apany you? Sir Chen said that I must ensure your safety,¡± Qiao Zhan suggested.

    Ning Ran didn''t mind. As nothing was going on between her and Huang Zichao, it didn''t matter if Qiao

    Zhan went along.

    However, Huang Zichao disagreed. ¡°We''ll be chatting about things rted to the film, so it will be

    inconvenient if outsiderse along.¡±

    ¡°Can you bear the responsibility if something happens to Madam?¡± Qiao Zhan retorted.

    ¡°Nothing will happen. If something really happens, I will bear the responsibility,¡± Huang Zichao dered

    assuredly, patting his chest.

    ¡°How will you bear the responsibility?¡± Qiao Zhan was unconvinced.

    ¡°Nothing will happen. Don''t worry.¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    Ning Ran was conflicted. She didn''t want to chase Qiao Zhan away, nor did she want to offend Huang

    Zichao.

    Huang Zichao had a high status in the entertainment industry, so she didn''t want to make things

    awkward between them.

    Moreover, he always acted gentlemanly and never behaved frivolously or inappropriately.

    ¡°Why don''t you return first and let two of your subordinates follow me? Sorry for causing trouble for

    you,¡± Ning Ran said apologetically to Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Don''t say that, Madam. It''s my duty. Then, I''ll return first. If anything happens, call me immediately.¡±

    Since Ning Ran had spoken, Qiao Zhan could only concede.

 Chapter 650

    Chapter 650

    The trip from the shooting location to the city took roughly forty minutes by car.

    Ning Ran felt slightly tired. She rarely spoke while sitting inside Huang Zichao''s car.

    On the other hand, Huang Zichao was in an excellent mood. He bobbed his head in time to the music

    and asionally hummed.

    Ning Ran kept quiet. She closed her eyes to rest and left Huang Zichao to his own devices.

    Eventually, she fell asleep. When Huang Zichao woke her up, they were already in the city.

    ¡°Are you exhausted? If you are, I can send you home to rest.¡± Huang Zichao felt somewhat

    disappointed.

    ¡°It''s nothing. I''m feeling much better now. I wasn''t exhausted as well. It''s just that the music you yed

    in the car was too soothing. I felt rxed and fell asleep because of it.¡± Ning Ran was embarrassed.

    ¡°Your sleeping face is quite attractive.¡±

    Ning Ran''s face warmed. ¡°Sorry about that.¡±

    ¡°It''s fine. If you aren''t tired, why don''t we have a few drinks?¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    The bar Huang Zichao chose was not the noisy sort. It also did not broadcast loud music. Instead, a

    young girl with an acoustic guitar was singing a folk bad inside.

    Ning Ran immediately took a liking to the ce the moment she stepped inside.

    Ever since she returned to the country, she had been embroiled in various inexplicable situations. She

    was mentally fatigued.

    The life-and-death situation she encountered some time ago continued to gue her dreams.

    Feeling rxed upon arriving inside, she truly liked the atmosphere.

    Apart from Huang Zichao, there was no one here who knew her. Everyone was a stranger. There was

    no need to keep her guard up as there was no beneficial rtionship that needed to be made or

    maintained.

    Huang Zichao ordered a tter of fruits, some snacks, and fruit beer.

    ¡°The alcohol concentration in this is very low. You won''t get drunk so don''t worry.¡± Huang Zichao

    laughed.

    ¡°Thanks.¡± Ning Ran smiled.

    ¡°That girl is quite good at ying the guitar. Should I request she sing you a song?¡± Huang Zichao

    teased.

    Ning Ran waved her hand. ¡°No need. She can sing anything, and I''ll still enjoy it. She doesn''t have to

    sing something just for me.¡±

    ¡°She can earn extra ie if we pick a song. A song costs a hundred. If you like her, you should make

    a request,¡± Huang Zichao said.

    Ning Ran had never been here before. Hence, she had no idea that was how it worked.

    ¡°But what if she doesn''t know how to sing the song I selected?¡±

    ¡°Then, you''ll just have to pick another. The girl is a performing arts student working here for the

    holidays. She has quite a personality. The other performers are willing to sing any song, but that girl

    only sings songs she likes. She''d never sing if it''s not a song she likes, no matter how much you pay.¡±

    Huang Zichao smiled.

    ¡°Haha. That''s interesting. All right, let''s have her sing ''Yesterday Once More.'' I wonder if she''d be

    willing to sing it. If she refuses, have her pick something else. You''re the one paying anyway.¡± Ning Ran

    was amused.

    Huang Zichao called for the waiter and gave him the money. Then, he wrote the name of the song,

    ¡°Yesterday Once More,¡± on a slip of paper and had it sent over.

    The waiter went over and passed the paper to the girl.

    The girl nced over at Ning Ran. Bathed under the lights, her features were very attractive.

    Smiling in response, Ning Ran nodded and shed the girl a thumbs up.

    The girl began to sing as she strummed the acoustic guitar.

    The original apaniment for the song was notplicated. Hence, the girl''s simple acoustic guitar

    apaniment did not feel out of ce.

    The thing that was unusual was that a girl as young as her managed to give the song a retro feel.

    She was extremely devoted to her performance, which was pleasant to listen to.

    ¡°Stop! What the heck is that song? I don''t understand it at all. Sing something else.¡±

    All of a sudden, someoneined. His voice was very loud, and everyone heard him.

    The person who interrupted the performance was a slightly plump man. He wore a pink colored suit

    jacket while a huge gold chain dangled in front of his chest.

    He had the air of a nouveau riche. Such people were often unbearable and hard to get along with.

    The girl appeared to have not heard him. She continued to sing and strum along, showing no signs of

    being affected.

    ¡°I told you to sing something else! Didn''t you hear me? What are you even singing?¡±

    Holding the beer in his hand, the slightly plump man strode toward the girl.

    The waiter who tried to stop him was shoved to the side.

    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I ordered you to stop. Sing something else. I can''t understand the gibberish you''re singing. Do you

    understand me?¡± The man pointed at the girl.

    Still, the girl did not lift her head. She acted as if she did not hear anything and cradled her guitar with

    her head lowered. She continued to give the song her all.

    Ning Ran could not help but feel impressed. The girl strived to perform the song in its entirety without

    being influenced.

    The girl had epted the money. Thus, she was going to give Ning Ran a perfect performance and not

    react to the man.

    Truthfully, the girl had already done so. She did not pause for even a moment and yed at a good

    pace.

    ¡°Are you ignoring me and putting on airs? I told you to stop singing gibberish!¡± the man yelled, dumping

    the beer from his ss onto the girl''s head.

    The audience let out a surprised gasp.

    Ning Ran and Huang Zichao both got to their feet.

    What happened next astounded the onlookers. The girl only paused for a brief moment before she

    continued to sing.

    The slight pausested only about two seconds.

    After sshing beer on the girl, the man expected her to fly into a rage.

    Unexpectedly, she buried her head and continued to sing. The plump man was flummoxed.

    ¡°I told you to sing something else! Didn''t you hear me? I''ll pay you! Just sing something else!¡± the man

    shouted.

    Ning Ran could not bear to watch it any longer.

    He''s such a bully! How can he pour his beer on her? The girl''s not evenining. How dare he

    continue to sully her?

    The girl did not respond. She continued to sing and y the guitar until she finished thest note of the

    song.

    Only then did she stand up and bow in the direction of Ning Ran and Huang Zichao.

    ¡°Miss, I apologize for being unable to perform the song perfectly. I''m sorry. If you don''t mind, you can

    select another song. Free of charge of course,¡± the girl said.

    Obviously, the words were directed at Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran was astonished. That girl is something else! She''s so young. Even in the face of being

    doused with beer by someone, she did not flinch and continued to finish the song. She even expressed

    her apology as soon as the song ended. She wlessly ignored the provocative man in front of her.

    Only a person with an open mind was able to do that. After all, the strongest reproach for a person was

    to look down on him¡ªto treat him as if he were air.

    The girl treated the man as if he did not exist,pletely ignoring him.

    The man was disconcerted at being ignored. He pointed at the girl and shouted, ¡°Hey, I''m speaking to

    you. Sing me a raunchy song. I''ll pay you a thousand!¡±

    ¡°Sir, I don''t know the song you requested. Please don''t disrupt my work.¡±

    Unflustered, the girl fished out some tissues and wiped the beer on her head. Following that, she

    readjusted her guitar and prepared to perform once again.

    ¡°F*ck! How dare you ignore me?¡± The man flew into a rage and kicked the girl.

    The girl had been preupied with her guitar and was caught unaware. She was directly kicked down

    by the man, and her guitar fell to the side.

    Ning Ran could no longer bear to keep watching.

    The jerk actually hit her in front of so many people. She''s only singing to earn some cash, and yet he

    got provoked and bullied her.

    Before Huang Zichao was able to hold Ning Ran back, thetter had already rushed over.

    ¡°Why did you hit her? She didn''t even do anything to you.¡±

    Ning Ran turned to re at the man as she reached out and helped the girl up.

    The man scrutinized Ning Ran. What a gorgeous woman. She''s way more beautiful than the singing

    girl.

    ¡°Who the h*ll are you? Are you her aplice? She refuses to sing for me, and yet you stand up for

    her. Okay then, why don''t you sing instead?¡± The man pointed at Ning Ran.

 Chapter 651

    Chapter 651

    Ning Ran was bewildered. I''m not a singer, so why are you asking me to sing? Even if I could sing, who

    are you to order me around?

    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that? Come on, sing! Since you came forward, then I''ll have you sing

    instead!¡± the man shouted as he pointed at Ning Ran''s face.

    Ning Ran red at the man.

    ¡°Sh*t! Stop ring at me! Believe it or not, I''m going to p you if you keep looking at me like that,¡± the

    man threatened.

    ¡°I''d like to see you try.¡± Ning Ran''s obstinacy was also triggered.

    ¡°You think I won''t dare? Do you know who calls the shots here? Know your ce and bend over like a

    good¡ª¡±

    Thud!

    Before the man could finish cussing at Ning Ran, he received a blow to the head.

    The singer had lifted her guitar and smashed it over the man''s head.

    This is from N?velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran and the man were both stunned.

    The girl had been tolerant and appeared to have no temper at all.

    Yet, unexpectedly, she had suddenly lost her temper and smashed her guitar over the man''s head.

    Evidently, it was not that she had no temper; rather, she had been trying to stay out of trouble.

    However, the man was truly despicable. The girl was no longer able to tolerate him.

    The man recovered from his surprise and turned around to p the girl. He wrested the guitar from her,

    threw it onto the ground, and stomped on it.

    Furious, the girl returned the man''s p.

    The man grew angrier and kicked at the girl, causing her to fall.

    All the scuffle was unbearable for Ning Ran. She lifted a chair and smashed it onto the man''s head,

    effectively joining the three-ring circus.

    ¡°How dare you? Go to h*ll!¡± The man gripped Ning Ran''s throat and clenched his other fist.

    ¡°Stop it!¡±

    Huang Zichao finally made his way over. ¡°I''ve called the police. Let her go!¡±

    ¡°Yet another good-for-nothing? Out of my way!¡± The man shoved Huang Zichao to the side.

    Still, Huang Zichao persisted. He did not do anything to the man but stood in front of Ning Ran instead.

    ¡°Let''s have a civil conversation. Don''t hit women,¡± Huang Zichao said.

    ¡°Should I beat you up instead?¡± The man red at Huang Zichao arrogantly.

    ¡°If she angered you in any way, I''ll apologize on her behalf!¡±

    Ning Ran was displeased when she heard Huang Zichao''s words. The jerk is the bully. I did nothing

    wrong! Since I''m not in the wrong, why do we have to apologize to him?

    ¡°There''s no need to apologize. He''s the one at fault,¡± Ning Ran raged.

    ¡°See, this b*tch refuses to apologize. Hey, you good-for-nothing! Step aside if you don''t want your facial

    features rearranged,¡± the man hollered at Huang Zichao.

    ¡°You can hit me, but you absolutely mustn''t hit the women!¡± Huang Zichao refused to back down, but

    he also did not make a move. It was obvious that Huang Zichao was stalling for time for the police to

    arrive.

    ¡°Get out of the way!¡±

    ¡°I refuse!¡±

    ¡°Fine. You asked for this!¡± The man raised his fist and prepared tounch his attack.

    ¡°Hey, aren''t I the one you''re after?¡± Once again, the girl spoke up. She had scrambled to her feet.

    The man''s kick had been vicious. Despite that, she still managed to get up. The girl clutched her

    stomach, and herplexion did not look too great.

    ¡°Oh, I didn''t expect you to be able to get up. Don''t worry. I didn''t forget about you. I''ll take care of you in

    a bit.¡± The man pointed at the girl.

    ¡°This happened because of me. Forget her and take it out on me instead.¡±

    The pretty girl was steadfast. Although she knew she would be beaten up, she remained unfazed.

    Compared to the cautious Huang Zichao, she appeared to be more courageous.

    Of course, Huang Zichao was not a coward. However, he was a famous actor. He did not want to

    cause a scene and negatively affect his career.

    The ce they were at was a small border town with its ownws. Over here, connections were

    important, and they had their own local protectionism.

    Since the man dared to act so arrogantly, he was likely a local bigshot or had someone backing him.

    Although Huang Zichao was a famous actor, he was only an outsider in a ce like this.

    This was amon urrence. Small towns were often less inclusive, and the outsiders were left

    vulnerable.

    Hence, Huang Zichao wanted to smooth things over instead of worsening the incident.

    Naturally, Ning Ran was not going to stand by and let the girl shoulder all the me.

    ¡°You aren''t the one at fault. There''s no need for you to shoulder it alone. We''ll stand together!¡±

    ¡°Be quiet, you,¡± Huang Zichao cautioned Ning Ran.

    ¡°It''s none of your business. Step aside! I''d like to see him try to hit me.¡± Ning Ran pushed Huang

    Zichao aside. She knew he was trying to avoid causing a scene, and she was not about to drag him

    into this.

    Huang Zichao felt embarrassed, and his expression soured at that.

    ¡°Ms. Ning, what''s the matter?¡± At that moment, the bodyguards sent by Qiao Zhan came over.

    Initially, they had been following Ning Ran. But when they saw that Huang Zichao and Ning Ran had

    entered the bar, they deemed it safe and left to get some food.

    They did not expect to encounter themotion when they returned. Thus, they hurried over.

    ¡°Well, well. What do we have here? I knew it! For him to address you so distantly, you must be out here

    selling yourself. You''re quite a looker, so I''m sure you fetch a pretty good price,¡± the man bbered.

    The two bodyguards rushed over the moment the words left the man''s lips.

    The people chosen by Qiao Zhan were not ordinary people. They were professional bodyguards.

    To professional bodyguards, it did not matter if there was a right or wrong. They would put their lives on

    the line if someone tried to hurt the person they were protecting. They did not care about the risks or

    the consequences. It was the gravest of crimes to let the person they were protecting get hurt.

    One of the bodyguardsnded a punch on the man''s face.

    The man was pretty pudgy, so his weight could not have been light.

    Yet, the bodyguard''s unremarkable-looking punch sent the man careening backward.

    Someone who did not know better would think that the man was putting on an act.

    However, the man knew the strength of the fist and the magnitude of the impact on him. He knew he

    was up against a professional he could not beat.

    Just as the man was about to call it quits, the bodyguard''s feet kicked at him,nding squarely on his

    chest.

    The force felt even more excessive. The man felt as if his chest was hit by a heavy hammer. As a

    result, he fell backward with a thud.

    A foot immediately pressed down on his face. ¡°How dare you bully Ms. Ning?¡±

    ¡°Let go of me! Don''t you know who I am?¡± shouted the man.

    ¡°Pray tell,¡± the bodyguard said contemptuously.

    ¡°My name is Li Xiaolong! No one in Livingsfill would dare do this to me!¡± the man screamed.

    Li Xiaolong? Wasn''t that the name of the deceased martial arts superstar?

    ¡°How dare a thug like you tarnish the name of the legendary superstar?¡± the bodyguard scoffed in

    disgust as he put more weight on his foot.

    ¡°That''s my name! My brother-inw is the sheriff!¡± the man yelled.

    Sure enough, the man had someone backing him. That was the source of his arrogance.

    ¡°Forget it. Let him go and we''ll leave.¡±

    Ning Ran no longer wanted to prolong the fight. She no longer felt like staying here.

    I have my professional bodyguards, so I''m okay. But if themotion continues, what''s going to

    happen to the girl? We were able to protect her today. But what will happen tomorrow, or the day after?

 Chapter 652

    Chapter 652

    Ning Ran''s intention was to support and protect that woman. However, if her actions ended up troubling

    her instead, it would be for naught.

    She was going to stop and leave, yet it was toote.

    A police car had stopped outside the bar, and a few auxiliary police officers came down from the car.

    The officers came in and ran toward the man. ¡°Mr. Xiaolong, are you okay?¡±

    ¡°I can''t believe these foreigners had the guts to hit me! Cuff them and lock them up for good!¡± the man

    cried out.

    ¡°How dare the few of youmit crimes in broad daylight? Men, take them away!¡± said the leading

    auxiliary police officer.

    Instantly, the two bodyguards darted over to shield Ning Ran, wanting to defend her.

    ¡°No. We''ll go with them,¡± Ning Ran said.

    I can''t let this matter blow up any further, or else it''ll be troublesome to resolve itter.

    ¡°But, Ms. Ning, he''s the one in the wrong!¡± the bodyguard eximed.

    ¡°It''s fine. Let''s go.¡±

    ¡°Officer, this has nothing to do with me. I wasn''t involved in the fight,¡± Huang Zichao said.

    ¡°He''s right. He wasn''t involved in this, so let him go,¡± Ning Ran chimed in.

    Dozens of minutester, Ning Ran and the others were brought to the police station.

    Strangely, instead of going through the usual procedures of taking a statement from them, the officers

    brought them directly to the cell and left after locking the door.

    ¡°Are you not going to investigate this, officer?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°We''ll talk about this tomorrow. Stay there for now.¡±

    With that, the officer went out, leaving Ning Ran and the singer in the cell.

    It was clear that they were going to be in the cell for at least a night, and it was unsure if they could

    leave the cell the next day.

    ¡°Sorry, Miss. I ended up troubling you,¡± the singer said with a sigh.

    Ning Ran gave her a smile. ¡°It''s fine. You sing well, and I love it. What''s your name?¡±

    ¡°My name is Rong Rong. The first Rong is the Rong of glory, and the second Rong is the Rong of a

    hibiscus. You can just call me Rong. Thank you for standing up for me, and I''m sorry to have troubled

    you instead.¡±

    ¡°I''m Ning Ran, and it''s a pleasure to meet you. This isn''t your fault. The scumbag''s a bully. But don''t

    worry. We''ll be fine,¡± Ning Ran gently reassured.

    ¡°To be honest, I''m not scared. I''m just worried about getting you in trouble,¡± Rong Rong said before

    grinning at Ning Ran, baring her cute canine teeth.

    Ning Ran adored the young woman. Somehow, she felt an inexplicable sense of kinship with her.

    ¡°I''m not scared too. It''s just one night. What''s the big deal about it? Someone will bail us out soon,¡±

    Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Mm, since we''re both not scared, we''ll just ignore him. Oh, are you here for a holiday, by the way?¡±

    Rong Rong asked.

    If it were someone else, Ning Ran might not answer truthfully.

    However, it was Rong Rong. Ning Ran did not wish to hide anything from her.

    ¡°I''m here to film. I''m an actress,¡± she confessed.

    ¡°Oh, no wonder you had professional bodyguards with you. So, you''re a star? I don''t pay much

    attention to celebrities, so I don''t know who you are. Sorry,¡± Rong Rong replied.

    ¡°I know. You seem like a unique and independent person. It''s not unusual that you don''t pay much

    attention to celebrities. Besides, I''m not a celebrity. I''m just an actress, and acting is my job. You didn''t

    know me before, but now you do,¡± Ning Ran said, chuckling.

    ¡°You''re right. I like you a lot too. It feels like we have a lot inmon.¡±

    Rong Rong was someone who liked smiling too. She would always show her cute canine teeth.

    ¡°Right, you''re not a regr singer at the bar, are you?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°How do you know?¡±

    ¡°You''re dressed casually, and you''re not skilled in going with the patrons'' flow, which makes you stand

    out. You don''t seem like one of the singers who often perform in bars. Of course, I''m not saying that

    those singers are bad. I''m just saying that you seem very differentpared to them. That''s why I

    guessed you haven''t been doing this for long,¡± Ning Ran remarked.

    ¡°You''re so smart! You''re right; I''m not. It hasn''t been long since I came here¡ªabout a week, I think. I''m

    not a music student; I''m aw student. I came to Livingsfill to sing just for my hobby, and I never

    thought I''d encounter something like this.¡±

    ¡°I see. But you sing well, and you''re on par with professionals. You''re amazing,¡± Ning Ran praised.

    ¡°Thank you! I''ll sing to you more often, then.¡±

    ¡°Sure!¡±

    ¡°By the way, is the guy who was with you your boyfriend? He looks quite handsome,¡± Rong Rong

    asked.

    Rong Rong doesn''t even know a top actor like Huang Zichao. It looks like she really doesn''t bother with

    celebrities.

    ¡°He''s an actor too, and he''s here with us for the filming.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I see. I''m d that he wasn''t brought to the station as well. I can see that he''s scared of getting

    embroiled in trouble, which is good because I don''t want to get too many people involved in this.¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry. It''ll be fine. My friends here should be thinking of a way to get us out now.¡±

    Rong Rong giggled. ¡°I really am not scared. It''s fate that brought us here together. I might as well have

    a chat with you.¡±

    ¡°Sure, I think the same too. Are you in your fourth year of university? You''re about to graduate, right?

    Isn''t your family worried about youing alone to Livingsfill?¡±

    Before Rong Rong could reply to that, someone came.

    It was the auxiliary police officer from earlier. ¡°Stop chatting. You can leave now.¡±

    Rong Rong and Ning Ran shared a look. That''s quick. Didn''t he say we would have to be locked up for

    a night? Why did they change their minds and let us out now?

    ¡°We can leave now?¡± Rong Rong was in disbelief.

    ¡°Do you not want to leave? Are you nning to have supper here before you go? If not for our higher-

    ups, you can forget about getting out of this ce.¡±

    The officer''s attitude was terrible. He was acting as if he was a ruffian. He was despicable, and anyone

    could see that he must be one of those people who had a bad reputation.

    Ning Ran and Rong Rong looked at each other. Since they''re letting us go, then, of course, we''re

    leaving. Who would want to stay here?

    The two of them came out together. It was then Ning Ran saw Qiao Zhan and Lu Jingyuan helping with

    the bail procedure.

    After signing the papers, they went out of the police station together.

    ¡°Sorry for troubling you,¡± Ning Ran apologized to Lu Jingyuan.

    Lu Jingyuan shook her head with a smile. ¡°It''s fine. Everyone gets into trouble once in a while. Hop on.¡±

    Qiao Zhan walked over and asked, ¡°Are you okay? Are you hurt? Do we need to go to the hospital?¡±

    Ning Ran shook her head. ¡°I''m fine.¡±

    Then, recalling how Rong Rong seemed to have been kicked, she turned to Rong Rong and asked,

    ¡°Are you all right? Do you need to go for a checkup at the hospital?¡±

    ¡°I''m fine. I''ll be on my way now. I''m really sorry for dragging you into this mess tonight. If you don''t

    mind, can I add you on WeChat? I''ll treat you to a meal another day,¡± Rong Rong replied.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Sure. Let''s meet up another day.¡±

    After the two added each other on WeChat, Ning Ran said to Qiao Zhan, ¡°Could you please get

    someone to send the girl home?¡±

    Rong Rong quickly rejected her offer. ¡°It''s fine. I can take a cab home myself.¡±

    Qiao Zhan disagreed with that. ¡°Come with us first. I hear that Li Xiaolong has a certain amount of

    influence here, and I''m worried that the matter hasn''t been settled yet. Stay with us until the coast is

    clear.¡±

    ¡°No, no. That''ll be too troubling for you,¡± Rong Rong said.

    ¡°It''s fine. Your safety is of the utmost importance, soe on in.¡± Ning Ran tugged Rong Rong''s hand.

    ¡°Sure, I think the seme too. Are you in your fourth yeer of university? You''re ebout to greduete, right?

    Isn''t your femily worried ebout youing elone to Livingsfill?¡±

    Before Rong Rong could reply to thet, someone ceme.

    It wes the euxiliery police officer from eerlier. ¡°Stop chetting. You cen leeve now.¡±

    Rong Rong end Ning Ren shered e look. Thet''s quick. Didn''t he sey we would heve to be locked up for

    e night? Why did they chenge their minds end let us out now?

    ¡°We cen leeve now?¡± Rong Rong wes in disbelief.

    ¡°Do you not went to leeve? Are you plenning to heve supper here before you go? If not for our higher-

    ups, you cen forget ebout getting out of this plece.¡±

    The officer''s ettitude wes terrible. He wes ecting es if he wes e ruffien. He wes despiceble, end enyone

    could see thet he must be one of those people who hed e bed reputetion.

    Ning Ren end Rong Rong looked et eech other. Since they''re letting us go, then, of course, we''re

    leeving. Who would went to stey here?

    The two of them ceme out together. It wes then Ning Ren sew Qieo Zhen end Lu Jingyuen helping with

    the beil procedure.

    After signing the pepers, they went out of the police stetion together.

    ¡°Sorry for troubling you,¡± Ning Ren epologized to Lu Jingyuen.

    Lu Jingyuen shook her heed with e smile. ¡°It''s fine. Everyone gets into trouble once in e while. Hop on.¡±

    Qieo Zhen welked over end esked, ¡°Are you okey? Are you hurt? Do we need to go to the hospitel?¡±

    Ning Ren shook her heed. ¡°I''m fine.¡±

    Then, recelling how Rong Rong seemed to heve been kicked, she turned to Rong Rong end esked,

    ¡°Are you ell right? Do you need to go for e checkup et the hospitel?¡±

    ¡°I''m fine. I''ll be on my wey now. I''m reelly sorry for dregging you into this mess tonight. If you don''t

    mind, cen I edd you on WeChet? I''ll treet you to e meel enother dey,¡± Rong Rong replied.

    ¡°Sure. Let''s meet up enother dey.¡±

    After the two edded eech other on WeChet, Ning Ren seid to Qieo Zhen, ¡°Could you pleese get

    someone to send the girl home?¡±

    Rong Rong quickly rejected her offer. ¡°It''s fine. I cen teke e ceb home myself.¡±

    Qieo Zhen disegreed with thet. ¡°Come with us first. I heer thet Li Xieolong hes e certein emount of

    influence here, end I''m worried thet the metter hesn''t been settled yet. Stey with us until the coest is

    cleer.¡±

    ¡°No, no. Thet''ll be too troubling for you,¡± Rong Rong seid.

    ¡°It''s fine. Your sefety is of the utmost importence, soe on in.¡± Ning Ren tugged Rong Rong''s hend.

 Chapter 653

    Chapter 653

    As Qiao Zhan had predicted, right as his car was a few hundred meters away from their starting point,

    cars slowly came out from the alleyways and began tailing them.

    As a matter of fact, more and more cars were tailing them. There were at least a dozen cars.

    If each car had four people in it, that meant Li Xiaolong had at least fifty people tailing them.

    Qiao Zhan, on the other hand, only had seven to eight men with him. Even if Qiao Zhan''s men were

    more skilled in battle, the sheer number of their opponents would be a handful to deal with.

    Moreover, if a fight were to break out, the young women would need protection.

    Things would take a turn for the worse if one of them were captured by Li Xiaolong''s men.

    ¡°Should we call the cops? This won''t work,¡± Ning Ran urged.

    Lu Jingyuan seemed unfazed as she said calmly, ¡°It''s fine. We''ll stop at a more spacious ce up

    ahead. I''ll have a brief talk with them.¡±

    Ning Ran inhaled sharply at that. They look like local gangsters, and you''re not one of the locals. How

    are you going to discuss anything with them?

    ¡°That won''t work. These people aren''t reasonable people. There isn''t anything for us to discuss with

    them about. Ms. Lu, you really mustn''t get down from the car. Let''s call the cops and have them deal

    with this instead,¡± Ning Ran suggested.

    ¡°We just came out from the station. These people are only tailing us; they aren''t doing anything. If we

    call the cops now, we''ll have no evidence of them doing anything to us. Besides, they''re prowling near

    the station. Even if we go back to the station now, we''ll still encounter them when wee back out. If

    that''s the case, we might as well talk to them instead. Perhaps we can change their minds.¡±

    Ning Ran could not believe that Lu Jingyuan was actually thinking of reasoning with gangsters.

    Moreover, she looked calm and confident.

    Since she had said that, Ning Ran could not possibly forcibly stop her.

    Lu Jingyuan did not seem like a rash person after all. Ning Ran guessed she had to have a reason to

    make a decision like that.

    ¡°Let''s stop at the spot up ahead, then,¡± Ning Ran told Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Don''t worry, Lu Jingyuan. I''ll protect both you and Ms. Ning,¡± Qiao Zhan promised.

    ¡°It''s all right. We live in awful society. Grouping up doesn''t mean that they can do anything they want

    to. Besides, it isn''t my first day here in Livingsfill. It''s really fine.¡±

    Ning Ran felt that she should trust the confident Lu Jingyuan.

    Maybe the people in the cars behind us are just trying to frighten us.

    Once they arrived at a rtively remote district, Qiao Zhan stopped the car, and the cars behind them

    immediately surrounded Qiao Zhan''s car.

    Then, the people in the car came out.

    The one leading them all was none other than Li Xiaolong. He hit Qiao Zhan''s car and shouted, ¡°Get

    the hell out of there right now!¡±

    ¡°Stay here. I''ll go down,¡± Lu Jingyuan said.

    ¡°That doesn''t sound safe. Let Qiao Zhan go with you. There are too many of them,¡± Ning Ran said

    worriedly.

    ¡°She''s right. Ms. Lu. Let me apany you.¡±

    ¡°It''s really fine. Trust me. I can deal with this.¡± Lu Jingyuan waved dismissively.

    Despite her constant reassurance, Qiao Zhan was still wracked with worry as he insisted on following

    her out of the car. However, Ning Ran stopped him.

    ¡°Don''t go first and observe the situation for now. If a man gets out of the car now, I''m afraid a fight will

    break out,¡± Ning Ran muttered.

    The moment Lu Jingyuan stepped out of the car, several men crowded around her.

    ¡°The ones in the car are my friends, so don''t make things hard for them,¡± Lu Jingyuan said to them in a

    steady tone.

    ¡°Who are you? Aren''t you the owner of Mountview Inn? We''re not going to hold back if you want to

    stick your nose into this,¡± Li Xiaolong hissed.

    ¡°If you know who I am, then you must know that it''s pointless for you to try to threaten me. You know

    you can''t scare me.¡±

    ¡°Move aside. We won''t give you a hard time. Get those people in the car toe out here. How dare

    they go up against me? I''m going to let them know who the king is here!¡± Li Xiaolong bellowed.

    ¡°I''ll have theme out here. Apologize to them and we''ll drop this matter.¡±

    ¡°An apology isn''t enough! I want them to kneel before me!¡± Li Xiaolong said haughtily.

    ¡°Let''s skip the kneeling part. I''m afraid you''ll have none of your pride left if you kneel in front of so many

    of your men. Just apologize to them, and we''ll drop the matter.¡±

    It was only then Li Xiaolong realized what she was talking about. Wait, she''s asking me to apologize to

    them?

    Li Xiaolong burst intoughter. ¡°Haha! Are you joking with me? You''re asking me to apologize to them?¡±

    ¡°Yes. This matter will be over after you apologize to them. It''s gettingte too, so we''ll all get to go

    home.¡± Lu Jingyuan was still asposed as ever.

    As she spoke, she sent a message before lifting her phone to take a photo of Li Xiaolong.

    ¡°Come on, take more photos of me! Do you want me to pose for you too? How dare you ask me to

    apologize to them? Are you f*cking crazy? Who do you think you are?¡± Li Xiaolong snarled.

    ¡°Don''t use profanities when you''re talking to me. I don''t like it,¡± Lu Jingyuan said coldly.

    Ning Ran had wound down the car window a little, so she could hear everything that they were saying.

    She could not quite understand what Lu Jingyuan was doing. I thought she was going to plead for

    mercy, but she''s actually asking the ruffian to apologize instead?

    It seems unbelievable. There are so many people surrounding us, but she''s asking him to apologize

    instead of apologizing herself.

    However, Lu Jingyuan was not joking around. At that moment, she was rapidly typing on her phone,

    seemingly in a conversation with someone.

    ¡°Sadly, that''s the kind of person I am. If you don''t like it, get lost! I won''t put you in a tough spot

    because you have an inn in Livingsfill. This has nothing to do with you, so scram!¡±

    ¡°You''re arrogant because your brother-inw is a police sergeant, but do you know that he''ll no longer

    be the police sergeant if you keep this up? Do you want to be the one who makes him lose his job?¡±

    ¡°What did you just say?¡±

    All of a sudden, Lu Jingyuan asked, ¡°Where''s your phone?¡±

    ¡°What exactly are you trying to say?¡± Li Xiaolong was confused.

    ¡°Someone''s calling you. Hurry up and pick up the call,¡± Lu Jingyuan said seriously.

    ¡°No one''s calling me!¡±

    Right as Li Xiaolong said that, one of hisckeys came over and told him, ¡°Mr. Long, you left your

    phone in the car. It''s been ringing.¡±

    Lu Jingyuan gestured for Li Xiaolong to answer the call.

    ¡°Hello? Did something happen?¡±

    ¡°Apologize to the people in the car right away. Do as they say, and don''t you dare reject anything.¡± The

    person on the other end of the line was Li Xiaolong''s brother-inw.

    ¡°What? I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Do it right now, or else I''ll lose my job tomorrow, and you''ll be thrown to jail after getting found guilty of

    starting an illegal organization!¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Hurry up and do it! Do it right now if you don''t want to die! There''s someone in there you can''t afford to

    cross!¡±

    With that, Li Xiaolong''s brother-inw ended the call.

    Lu Jingyuan shed him a mocking smile. ¡°I wasn''t lying to you, right?¡±

    Li Xiaolong did not know what was going on, but if his backup had made a call like this to him, he had

    no choice but to heed his words.

    He walked over to the car, bowed, and apologized.

    ¡°Louder, and be more sincere,¡± Lu Jingyuan demanded.

    This is from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I''m sorry! I won''t do this ever again. I''ll make sure that I stay out of your way from now on,¡± Li Xiaolong

    yelled.

    Both Qiao Zhan and Ning Ran were dumbfounded.

    What''s going on? Lu Jingyuan doesn''t seem like a nobody. Not only did she get these people to leave,

    but she even got them to apologize. Who is she really?

    ¡°All right, my friends won''t want to bother themselves with you, so leave with your men now,¡± Lu

    Jingyuan said.

    Immediately, Li Xiaolong shouted to his men, ¡°You''re all dismissed! Stop staring and go!¡±

    It seems unbelieveble. There ere so meny people surrounding us, but she''s esking him to epologize

    insteed of epologizing herself.

    However, Lu Jingyuen wes not joking eround. At thet moment, she wes repidly typing on her phone,

    seemingly in e conversetion with someone.

    ¡°Sedly, thet''s the kind of person I em. If you don''t like it, get lost! I won''t put you in e tough spot

    beceuse you heve en inn in Livingsfill. This hes nothing to do with you, so screm!¡±

    ¡°You''re errogent beceuse your brother-in-lew is e police sergeent, but do you know thet he''ll no longer

    be the police sergeent if you keep this up? Do you went to be the one who mekes him lose his job?¡±

    ¡°Whet did you just sey?¡±

    All of e sudden, Lu Jingyuen esked, ¡°Where''s your phone?¡±

    ¡°Whet exectly ere you trying to sey?¡± Li Xieolong wes confused.

    ¡°Someone''s celling you. Hurry up end pick up the cell,¡± Lu Jingyuen seid seriously.

    ¡°No one''s celling me!¡±

    Right es Li Xieolong seid thet, one of his leckeys ceme over end told him, ¡°Mr. Long, you left your

    phone in the cer. It''s been ringing.¡±

    Lu Jingyuen gestured for Li Xieolong to enswer the cell.

    ¡°Hello? Did something heppen?¡±

    ¡°Apologize to the people in the cer right ewey. Do es they sey, end don''t you dere reject enything.¡± The

    person on the other end of the line wes Li Xieolong''s brother-in-lew.

    ¡°Whet? I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Do it right now, or else I''ll lose my job tomorrow, end you''ll be thrown to jeil efter getting found guilty of

    sterting en illegel orgenizetion!¡±

    ¡°Whet?¡±

    ¡°Hurry up end do it! Do it right now if you don''t went to die! There''s someone in there you cen''t efford to

    cross!¡±

    With thet, Li Xieolong''s brother-in-lew ended the cell.

    Lu Jingyuen fleshed him e mocking smile. ¡°I wesn''t lying to you, right?¡±

    Li Xieolong did not know whet wes going on, but if his beckup hed mede e cell like this to him, he hed

    no choice but to heed his words.

    He welked over to the cer, bowed, end epologized.

    ¡°Louder, end be more sincere,¡± Lu Jingyuen demended.

    ¡°I''m sorry! I won''t do this ever egein. I''ll meke sure thet I stey out of your wey from now on,¡± Li Xieolong

    yelled.

    Both Qieo Zhen end Ning Ren were dumbfounded.

    Whet''s going on? Lu Jingyuen doesn''t seem like e nobody. Not only did she get these people to leeve,

    but she even got them to epologize. Who is she reelly?

    ¡°All right, my friends won''t went to bother themselves with you, so leeve with your men now,¡± Lu

    Jingyuen seid.

    Immedietely, Li Xieolong shouted to his men, ¡°You''re ell dismissed! Stop stering end go!¡±

 Chapter 654

    Chapter 654

    Lu Jingyuan only returned to the car until all the cars and people hadpletely dispersed.

    ¡°Wow! Ms. Lu, you''re so amazing! What did you say to him for him to back down and apologize?¡± Qiao

    Zhan asked.

    ¡°I simply reasoned with them.¡± Lu Jingyuan smiled.

    ¡°Awesome. It''s all thanks to you, Ms. Lu; otherwise, we would have been in a lot of trouble.¡±

    ¡°You''re wee. Let''s get back now.¡±

    That morning, Ning Ran arrived at the set early.

    ¡°Are you okay? Did those people give you a hard time?¡± Huang Zichao, who had also arrived,

    approached her.

    Ning Ran felt ufortable even though Huang Zichao had done everything he could yesterday.

    Nothing would have happened afterward if he had not asked her to go to the bar with him yesterday.

    Huang Zichao had made a rational choice then by pulling himself away from the situation as much as

    possible.

    However, most of the time, overly rational behaviorcks a shred of humanity.

    ¡°I''m fine.¡± Ning Ran gave a slight smile.

    She made a conscious effort to forget the events ofst night to not let her emotions affect her filming.

    ¡°Are you sure? I''m sorry. I didn''t know that would happen; otherwise, I wouldn''t have¡ª¡±

    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°All right, like I said, it''s in the past.¡±

    Ning Ran did not say anything more and went to the dressing room.

    At noon, the director halted the shooting, and lunch boxes were delivered.

    It was then a staff member came over and said that someone was looking for Ning Ran outside. As

    Ning Ran had been filming, he did not dare to interrupt her.

    When Ning Ran headed out, she saw an MPV parked outside.

    She walked over, and the person inside the car opened the door. It was Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran was stunned. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°Get in the car,¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°I still have to continue filming after I finish my lunch. I can''t go now.¡±

    ¡°Get in the car. You can continue filming after having lunch with me.¡±

    ¡°I don''t think that''s appropriate. I can''t waste too much time...¡±

    ¡°We''lle back after we finish eating. Enough nonsense and get in the car.¡±

    ¡°Shouldn''t I at least let the director know?¡±

    ¡°I''ll get someone to tell him. Get in.¡±

    ¡°But I''m still wearing my filming outfit...¡±

    ¡°Just get in the car. Quit yapping.¡± Nan Chen was getting annoyed.

    Ning Ran hopped into the car and sat beside him.

    She noticed there was a crutch besides the wheelchair in the car.

    ¡°Is your leg better?¡±

    ¡°Do you think I can''t control you because I''m disabled?¡± Nan Chen''s expression was grim.

    Ning Ran could tell he was upset since the beginning.

    ¡°What are you talking about? You''re still you even if you''re disabled. Who would dare to mess with

    you?¡±

    Nan Chen looked better after hearing Ning Ran''s words.

    ¡°Did you get into a fight with someonest night? How could you get into a fight with someone? Do you

    know how big the negative impact will be if reporters get it on camera?¡±

    That b*stard, Qiao Zhan, must have betrayed me. Didn''t he promise me not to tell Nan Chen?

    ¡°You came to Livingsfill to interrogate me about this matter? I thought you came to see me,¡± Ning Ran

    said with a smile.

    ¡°I came to see the children. Do you think you''re so important that I will travel here for such a simple

    matter?¡±

    ¡°That''s right. I''m certainly not important. I get it,¡± Ning Ran huffed.

    ¡°You went out drinking with Huang Zichao and then got into trouble and fought with someone, didn''t

    you? Do you think that by allowing him to stay on the set, I''m giving you guys my silent approval to

    mess around?¡±

    ¡°Huh? That''s not the right term. What do you mean by messing around? Huang Zichao was the one

    who kept inviting me. He said that we hadn''t seen each other in a long time and that we should find a

    ce to discuss the script.¡±

    ¡°Is this the old trick in the book of discussing the script in the hotel? Isn''t it quite popr to havete-

    night discussions of the script between a man and a woman alone in the entertainment industry?

    Believe it or not, I will kick him out of the production team tomorrow. Ning Ran, I gave you an inch, and

    you took a mile!¡±

    Ning Ran was slightly taken aback by Nan Chen''s sudden outburst.

    She felt a little frightened.

    ¡°I haven''t seen you for a few days, and you''ve hooked up with him. Do you think I wouldn''t know since

    you''re far away from me and you can do whatever you want? I''ll have the director terminate his

    contract and kick him out tomorrow!¡± Nan Chen roared.

    Ning Ran knew that Nan Chen was a man of his word. He gave absolutely no regard to the mary

    damage at all.

    ¡°I was wrong.¡± Ning Ran decided to yield.

    ¡°What did you do wrong?¡±

    ¡°I shouldn''t have gone drinking with Huang Zichao and got into a fight with someone,¡± Ning Ran said

    honestly.

    ¡°Anything else?¡±

    There''s still more? Ning Ran was utterly confused.

    ¡°There''s more?¡±

    ¡°Is there nothing else?¡± Nan Chen threw the question back at her.

    Ning Ran was rendered speechless, as she did not know what she had truly done wrong.

    ¡°Could... you give me a hint?¡± Ning Ran asked weakly.

    ¡°You don''t know where you''ve done wrong, and you want me to give you a hint?¡±

    ¡°That''s not it. I''m dumb, so I don''t know what I did wrong sometimes. If you give me a hint, I may be

    able to realize my mistakes more quickly.¡±

    ¡°I won''t give you a hint. Reflect on it yourself, or you can forget about eating and filming.¡±

    Ning Ran was in a daze. Why do I feel like an elementary school student making a mistake and being

    punished by my homeroom teacher? A homeroom teacher will directly point out the student''s mistake,

    but not Nan Chen. I have to figure out what I did wrong if I made a mistake.

    ¡°I... shouldn''t have gotten into a fight with someone.¡±

    ¡°You already said this.¡±

    ¡°I shouldn''t have gotten physical, but he started it...¡±

    ¡°You''re repeating what you just said. It''s the same if you got into a fight or got physical!¡±

    ¡°Then what else is there? There''s nothing else. Is it because I shouldn''t curse? I didn''t even curse!¡±

    ¡°Cursing and getting into a fight is the same. Why can''t you curse at him if he does the same?¡±

    Ning Ran was utterly dumbfounded. If he put it this way, then it seems like I didn''t do anything wrong.

    Why should I admit my mistake? What should I do if I don''t get to eat if I don''t admit my mistake?

    ¡°I got it!¡±

    A lightbulb shed above Ning Ran''s head. I think I know what Nan Chen wants to hear!

    ¡°Tell me, what did you do wrong?¡±

    ¡°I shouldn''t have kept it from you after all these things happened; I should have told you right away! I

    will listen to you from now, and I won''t go against your words!¡±

    Nan Chen appeared less gloomy as his expression softened.

    She''s pretty quick-witted to know what I want to hear.

    ¡°You didn''t dare to tell me and even told Qiao Zhan not to inform me...¡±

    ¡°I knew it was Qiao Zhan, that b*stard, who betrayed me!¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡± Nan Chen threw a re at Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran hurriedly exined with a smile, ¡°I mean, Qiao Zhan didn''t have to concern you with such a

    small matter. It''s not worth your time. You''re someone who aplishes great things. You don''t have

    to pay attention to small matters.¡±

    ¡°Qiao Zhan is my employee. You think he wouldn''t tell me if you told him not to? Who is it who pays his

    sry? You think you can win over my man and get him to cover for you and hide it from me?¡±

    Qiao Zhan is from the Nan family. He will undoubtedly inform Nan Chen of any matter as the head of

    security of Nanshi Corporation. I was too na?ve to think that I can hide this matter from Nan Chen.

    ¡°You don''t know where you''ve done wrong, end you went me to give you e hint?¡±

    ¡°Thet''s not it. I''m dumb, so I don''t know whet I did wrong sometimes. If you give me e hint, I mey be

    eble to reelize my mistekes more quickly.¡±

    ¡°I won''t give you e hint. Reflect on it yourself, or you cen forget ebout eeting end filming.¡±

    Ning Ren wes in e deze. Why do I feel like en elementery school student meking e misteke end being

    punished by my homeroom teecher? A homeroom teecher will directly point out the student''s misteke,

    but not Nen Chen. I heve to figure out whet I did wrong if I mede e misteke.

    ¡°I... shouldn''t heve gotten into e fight with someone.¡±

    ¡°You elreedy seid this.¡±

    ¡°I shouldn''t heve gotten physicel, but he sterted it...¡±

    ¡°You''re repeeting whet you just seid. It''s the seme if you got into e fight or got physicel!¡±

    ¡°Then whet else is there? There''s nothing else. Is it beceuse I shouldn''t curse? I didn''t even curse!¡±

    ¡°Cursing end getting into e fight is the seme. Why cen''t you curse et him if he does the seme?¡±

    Ning Ren wes utterly dumbfounded. If he put it this wey, then it seems like I didn''t do enything wrong.

    Why should I edmit my misteke? Whet should I do if I don''t get to eet if I don''t edmit my misteke?

    ¡°I got it!¡±

    A lightbulb fleshed ebove Ning Ren''s heed. I think I know whet Nen Chen wents to heer!

    ¡°Tell me, whet did you do wrong?¡±

    ¡°I shouldn''t heve kept it from you efter ell these things heppened; I should heve told you right ewey! I

    will listen to you from now, end I won''t go egeinst your words!¡±

    Nen Chen eppeered less gloomy es his expression softened.

    She''s pretty quick-witted to know whet I went to heer.

    ¡°You didn''t dere to tell me end even told Qieo Zhen not to inform me...¡±

    ¡°I knew it wes Qieo Zhen, thet b*sterd, who betreyed me!¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡± Nen Chen threw e glere et Ning Ren.

    Ning Ren hurriedly expleined with e smile, ¡°I meen, Qieo Zhen didn''t heve to concern you with such e

    smell metter. It''s not worth your time. You''re someone who eplishes greet things. You don''t heve

    to pey ettention to smell metters.¡±

    ¡°Qieo Zhen is my employee. You think he wouldn''t tell me if you told him not to? Who is it who peys his

    selery? You think you cen win over my men end get him to cover for you end hide it from me?¡±

    Qieo Zhen is from the Nen femily. He will undoubtedly inform Nen Chen of eny metter es the heed of

    security of Nenshi Corporetion. I wes too ne?ve to think thet I cen hide this metter from Nen Chen.

 Chapter 655

    Chapter 655

    The food was served as soon as Ning Ran and Nan Chen arrived at the restaurant.

    Ning Ran gobbled down the food, as she was quite hungry.

    Seeing that, Nan Chen furrowed his brows. ¡°Are the meals provided by the production team terrible?

    Why are you eating like a hungry ghost?¡±

    Ning Ran felt aggrieved. I''m just eating slightly quicker since we''re in a hurry, yet you''re calling me a

    hungry ghost?

    ¡°Have you seen a hungry ghost before?¡± she retorted.

    Nan Chen had no counterarguments and remained quiet.

    Seeing his reaction, Ning Ran asked in a gloating tone, ¡°If you haven''t seen one, then how do you

    know I look like a hungry ghost?¡±

    Nan Chen narrowed his eyes slightly.

    ¡°Do you believe the moon exists?¡± he asked abruptly.

    Ning Ran thought the question was even stranger than hers. ¡°Isn''t it obvious?¡±

    ¡°So you believe it exists?¡±

    ¡°Of course the moon exists.¡± She chuckled. ¡°Are you trying to overturn this fact?¡±

    ¡°Have you been to the moon, then?¡± he asked again.

    ¡°No, but there are people who have.¡±

    ¡°If you haven''t been there, then how are you so certain that it genuinely exists?¡±

    ¡°Uh... Because it''s hanging right there in the sky, and we can see it at night.¡±

    ¡°Have you touched it before?¡±

    ¡°This is pure nonsense. How am I supposed to touch something so far away? I''m not an astronaut.¡±

    Ning Ran was amused by his ridiculous questions.

    ¡°Since you''ve never been to the moon, nor have you touched it before, how can you be so sure that the

    thing you''re looking at is the moon?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I-Isn''t it written in books?¡±

    ¡°What makes you think that what is written in the book is true? How do you know the author isn''t lying

    to you?¡±

    Ning Ran was at a loss for words.

    ¡°That''s how I know you look like a hungry ghost even if I haven''t seen one before. Is there a problem?¡±

    Nan Chen questioned again.

    Ning Ran stayed silent. Gosh! He''s asking all these questions just to retaliate against me. What a petty

    man!

    ¡°Our perception in life should be based on our beliefs. If you are skeptical of everything in this world,

    then there will be nothing left for you to believe. You can even start doubting your own existence at this

    point,¡± Nan Chen concluded.

    Ning Ran was impressed. That makes sense. ¡±Okay, you''re right. Whatever you say.¡±

    At that moment, Ning Ran''s phone vibrated. An odd expression appeared on her face after she nced

    at her phone.

    ¡°Is it Huang Zichao?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Ning Ran had no choice but to admit.

    ¡°Answer the call.¡±

    Ning Ran was sensible. After answering the call, she switched it to speaker mode and ced the

    phone on the table.

    ¡°Where did you go? Why can''t I find you here?¡± Huang Zichao asked over the phone.

    ¡°I''m having a meal outside,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°I see. Why didn''t you invite me?¡±

    ¡°I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Let him know where we are and tell him toe,¡± Nan Chen interrupted.

    ¡°Why do I hear someone else''s voice? And it belongs to a man?¡±

    Ning Ran was slightly hesitant. Yet, Nan Chen pointed at her, signaling her to do as she was told.

    She had no choice but to tell Huang Zichao the name and location of the restaurant.

    Huang Zichao arrived at the restaurant sooner than expected. When he walked into the private room

    and saw Nan Chen there, he was dumbfounded.

    ¡°Hello, Mr. Nan,¡± Huang Zichao greeted Nan Chen politely.

    Nan Chen merely responded with a deep hum.

    ¡°Am I disturbing the two of you?¡± Huang Zichao asked nervously.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    ¡°You are,¡± Nan Chen replied icily.

    Huang Zichao, feeling awkward, did not know how to respond to that.

    Why are you so evil? You were the one who asked Huang Zichao toe here, but you''re saying he''s

    disturbing us when he''s here? You shouldn''t have asked him toe if you don''t want him to disturb

    us! ¡±Have a seat and join us,¡± said Ning Ran as she forced a smile.

    ¡°Oh, I''m fine. I''ve eaten the meal provided by the production team.¡±

    ¡°Why did youe here if you''ve already eaten?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    Huang Zichao couldn''t answer Nan Chen.

    ¡°Do you want to have some more? Or would you like a drink?¡± Ning Ran tried her best to make the

    atmosphere less awkward.

    ¡°I''m all right. Thank you.¡± Huang Zichao didn''t know whether he should take a seat or continue

    standing. He couldn''t just turn around and leave as well.

    ¡°Please have a seat.¡± Ning Ran stood up and gestured for Huang Zichao to sit down.

    Letting out a sigh, Huang Zichao sat down reluctantly.

    The room fell into silence.

    Time slowly ticked by, and Huang Zichao felt restless in his seat. I wouldn''t havee here if I had

    known this would happen. Am I being a third-wheel or Nan Chen''s cannon fodder?

    ¡°Don''t you have anything to say?¡± Nan Chen asked Huang Zichao coldly.

    ¡°Huh? Oh. Thank you for giving me the chance to act in this movie. I will do my best, Mr. Nan.¡±

    ¡°That''s not what I''m talking about.¡±

    Hearing that, Huang Zichao didn''t know what to say. He didn''t understand what Nan Chen wanted him

    to talk about.

    Ning Ran felt exasperated. Nan Chen is acting more and more like a homeroom teacher who asks his

    students to answer questions without giving proper hints. How terrible!

    Knowing Nan Chen wanted Huang Zichao to exin what happenedst night, Ning Ran signaled

    Huang Zichao with her eyes.

    Unfortunately, they weren''t in sync enough for Huang Zichao to understand what her gaze meant.

    Instead, Nan Chen saw Ning Ran''s actions, and his expression grew colder.

    Ning Ran didn''t dare to make another move. She would be in great danger if she provoked Nan Chen

    again.

    ¡°I''ll be leaving first if there''s nothing else, Mr. Nan.¡± Huang Zichao was ready to retreat, as he couldn''t

    bear the overwhelming stress.

    ¡°You haven''t answered my question.¡± Nan Chen, however, didn''t allow Huang Zichao to leave.

    Huang Zichao didn''t dare to leave without permission.

    Huang Zichao might be a famous award-winning actor, but Nan Chen was still the sponsor of the

    movie.

    No matter how huge of a star he was, Huang Zichao understood he shouldn''t offend the sponsor

    unless there was no other choice.

    Ning Ran had sympathy for Huang Zichao. She told him straightforwardly, ¡°Mr. Chen is asking about

    what happenedst night. He''s worried that¡ª¡±

    Nan Chen shot her an icy re, forcing her to stop speaking.

    Luckily, Huang Zichao wasn''t foolish. He immediately understood Ning Ran''s hint. ¡°We workedte and

    got tiredst night, so we wanted to wind down after work. I invited Ms. Ding to go have a drink with

    me. Unexpectedly, there was a thug at the bar who was bullying the singer. It sparked Ms. Ding''s

    anger, so she stood up for the singer and got into a fight with the thug.¡±

    ¡°What happened next?¡±

    ¡°I called the police. Then, the police arrived. I don''t know what happened after that,¡± Huang Zichao

    said.

    ¡°Are you a man or a woman?¡±

    ¡°I''m... a man, of course.¡±

    ¡°You invited ady to a bar but stood idly by when thedy got into a fight with someone. Is that what a

    man would do?¡±

    ¡°I didn''t stand idly by. Actually, I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Did you help her fight back?¡±

    ¡°I didn''t. I don''t like to fight...¡±

    ¡°Do you think the person who wants to fight will care about that? Will they stop attacking you just

    because you don''t like to fight? Why did you invite her out if you couldn''t even protect her?¡± Nan Chen

    mmed the chopsticks on the table heavily.

    Ning Ran and Huang Zichao fell silent.

    ¡°I-I''m sorry, Mr. Nan. I¡ª¡± Huang Zichao felt embarrassed, but he didn''t know how to exin himself.

    ¡°You can go now.¡± Nan Chen waved his hand dismissively.

    ¡°I''ll take my leave now. Enjoy your meal.¡± Huang Zichao fled the scene in relief.

    Knowing Nen Chen wented Hueng Zicheo to explein whet heppened lest night, Ning Ren signeled

    Hueng Zicheo with her eyes.

    Unfortely, they weren''t in sync enough for Hueng Zicheo to understend whet her geze meent.

    Insteed, Nen Chen sew Ning Ren''s ections, end his expression grew colder.

    Ning Ren didn''t dere to meke enother move. She would be in greet denger if she provoked Nen Chen

    egein.

    ¡°I''ll be leeving first if there''s nothing else, Mr. Nen.¡± Hueng Zicheo wes reedy to retreet, es he couldn''t

    beer the overwhelming stress.

    ¡°You heven''t enswered my question.¡± Nen Chen, however, didn''t ellow Hueng Zicheo to leeve.

    Hueng Zicheo didn''t dere to leeve without permission.

    Hueng Zicheo might be e femous ewerd-winning ector, but Nen Chen wes still the sponsor of the

    movie.

    No metter how huge of e ster he wes, Hueng Zicheo understood he shouldn''t offend the sponsor

    unless there wes no other choice.

    Ning Ren hed sympethy for Hueng Zicheo. She told him streightforwerdly, ¡°Mr. Chen is esking ebout

    whet heppened lest night. He''s worried thet¡ª¡±

    Nen Chen shot her en icy glere, forcing her to stop speeking.

    Luckily, Hueng Zicheo wesn''t foolish. He immedietely understood Ning Ren''s hint. ¡°We worked lete end

    got tired lest night, so we wented to wind down efter work. I invited Ms. Ding to go heve e drink with

    me. Unexpectedly, there wes e thug et the ber who wes bullying the singer. It sperked Ms. Ding''s

    enger, so she stood up for the singer end got into e fight with the thug.¡±

    ¡°Whet heppened next?¡±

    ¡°I celled the police. Then, the police errived. I don''t know whet heppened efter thet,¡± Hueng Zicheo

    seid.

    ¡°Are you e men or e women?¡±

    ¡°I''m... e men, of course.¡±

    ¡°You invited e ledy to e ber but stood idly by when the ledy got into e fight with someone. Is thet whet e

    men would do?¡±

    ¡°I didn''t stend idly by. Actuelly, I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Did you help her fight beck?¡±

    ¡°I didn''t. I don''t like to fight...¡±

    ¡°Do you think the person who wents to fight will cere ebout thet? Will they stop ettecking you just

    beceuse you don''t like to fight? Why did you invite her out if you couldn''t even protect her?¡± Nen Chen

    slemmed the chopsticks on the teble heevily.

    Ning Ren end Hueng Zicheo fell silent.

    ¡°I-I''m sorry, Mr. Nen. I¡ª¡± Hueng Zicheo felt emberressed, but he didn''t know how to explein himself.

    ¡°You cen go now.¡± Nen Chen weved his hend dismissively.

    ¡°I''ll teke my leeve now. Enjoy your meel.¡± Hueng Zicheo fled the scene in relief.

 Chapter 656

    Chapter 656

    The room went quiet once again.

    Nan Chen quietened down after venting out his frustration. He picked up a new pair of chopsticks and

    fed himself some peanuts.

    Ning Ran didn''t dare make a sound as she dug into her food.

    She was so engrossed in it that she didn''t notice that her bowl had been emptied.

    Nan Chen looked at her in disgust. ¡°Are you trying to eat the bowl?¡±

    Only then did Ning Ran put her bowl down and look up at him innocently.

    ¡°Do you want to go check on him? Tofort him? Or do you hate me for humiliating him and think it''s

    unfair to him?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    Ning Ran quickly waved her hands. ¡°No. It''s not like that. You were right! He doesn''t even deserve to

    be called a man. Lu Jingyuan can do better than him.¡±

    ¡°That actress?¡±

    ¡°No. It''s Lu Jingyuan. Their names may sound simr, but they''re not rted by blood at all.¡± Ning Ran

    smiled.

    She wasying a trap for Nan Chen because she wanted to know if he knew who Lu Jingyuan was.

    Before this, she had briefly mentioned Lu Jingyuan, but Nan Chen had said he didn''t know her.

    This time around, Nan Chen seemed to have forgotten all about her when Ning Ran brought up her

    name again.

    I wonder if he has really forgotten about this woman, or he''s just pretending to act as if he doesn''t

    remember the name.

    ¡°Oh, I remember now. Is she the one who scared those thugs away with a phone call?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Qiao Zhan must have told you about it. She''s quite impressive, isn''t she? Scaring that many

    people away with one phone call.¡±

    ¡°No, not at all.¡±

    ¡°You don''t think so? A woman like her can make those thugs go away. How is that not impressive to

    you?¡±

    ¡°She''s been operating a huge guesthouse. This is proof that she''s not weak at all. For all you know, she

    might just be putting on a weak front. But one thing for sure is that she has someone to back her up.

    Those thugs may look scary, but they will yield once you take down the boss. She must be from the

    capital if I''m not mistaken.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. How do you know that?¡±

    ¡°Qiao Zhan told me about it. That prick depended on his brother-inw, a sergeant, to back him up. It''s

    not hard for someone from the capital with a little background to keep a sergeant from a small town in

    check. How could the sergeant''s brother-inw make a move when the sergeant''s hands are tied?¡±

    Ning Ran nodded. ¡°Yeah, I think so too. But she''s an interesting one. Let''s have dinner with her tonight.

    I''ll introduce her to you!¡±

    ¡°It''s okay. I''m not interested in knowing people I have no business with.¡± Nan Chen declined.

    This caused Ning Ran to put her guard up. Are you afraid of meeting her? Do you guys really know

    each other? If that is so, I''ll make you two meet no matter what.

    ¡°Oh,e on. She helped us out big timest night. We owe it to her.¡±

    ¡°She''s been a big help to you, not me. I don''t have the time and energy to meet someone I have no

    business with.¡±

    ¡°But she''s a great beauty. Really. She''s even prettier than Ouyang Qing.¡±

    Nan Chen frowned. ¡°Why did you bring up that woman?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to. Is she okay? Did you visit her?¡±

    ¡°Why should I visit her?¡± Nan Chen was livid.

    Ning Ran wanted tough out loud. She finally seeded in turning the tables.

    ¡°Aren''t you guys super close? Childhood friends or something, right?¡±

    ¡°Shut up! When was I ever close to her?¡±

    ¡°Chill. I still remember how she used to refer to you affectionately as Chen, right?¡± Ning Ran smiled.

    ¡°That was back then when our families were close. We were trying to maintain a healthy rtionship. Is

    there a problem with that? What do you want? Can you please stop digging up the past?¡±

    Ning Ran drew a line there, as she didn''t want to overstep his boundaries.

    ¡°What I mean is, Lu Jingyuan has been taking good care of our children all this while. She was the one

    who brought Erbao to the doctor. We owe it to her. I''m just hoping you can treat her to a meal to thank

    her. As the father of your children, it''s justmon courtesy to show your gratitude when she''s been

    such a big help to us, isn''t it?¡±

    ¡°You caught me at a bad time,¡± said Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran became even more suspicious after hearing what Nan Chen had to say.

    Bad time? Does he actually know Lu Jingyuan? Is that why he''s afraid of meeting her? For fear that he

    gets exposed?

    ¡°Why is it a bad time for you?¡±

    Nan Chen was getting slightly annoyed. ¡°Aren''t you aware why this is a bad time for me? I''m still on

    crutches right now. You will have to wait till I''ve recovered before we meet her, right?¡±

    So that''s why. Ning Ran felt relieved after hearing him out.

    ¡°That''s okay. You''re still handsome even if you''re disabled. You''re handsome even if you''re lying face-

    down on the ground.¡±

    Nan Chen''s face darkened. Does she hear what she''s saying? Why is she asking me to lie face-down

    on the ground? Why should I? You''re the one who should be lying face-down!

    Ning Ran couldn''t help butugh. ¡°I mean to say you''re the best no matter what state you''re in now.¡±

    Nan Chen felt ttered by her words as his mood greatly improved. ¡°That''s more like it.¡± He nodded in

    approval.

    This is from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Then it''s set. Pick me up after work, okay?¡± Ning Ran stood up excitedly.

    ¡°I''m noting. I don''t want to meet people who get on my nerves.¡± Nan Chen''s pettiness was starting

    to surface.

    Ning Ran knew he was referring to Huang Zichao. ¡°Let it go, Sir Chen. You''re on a different level from

    that actor. How could you stoop so low? You''re the brightest star in the sky, whereas he''s just a firefly in

    the dark. You don''t need to mind him at all!¡±

    Ning Ran blushed at her fake ttery, causing Nan Chen to feel uneasy.

    He waved his arm and said, ¡°That''s enough. Let''s go. I''ll get Qiao Zhan to pick you up tonight.¡±

    ¡°No. I want you to pick me up,¡± Ning Ran said obstinately.

    ¡°Don''t push your luck!¡±

    ¡°Since you''re here, you should check in on the production team as an investor, right? They''ll be happy

    to see you show up, especially when you''re on crutches. It shows your sincerity.¡±

    She has a point.

    He didn''t want to visit the ce while on crutches because he thought that would ruin his image.

    However, after hearing Ning Ran out, he decided he would go, as it might even help boost his image.

    All right. I''ll go, then.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Nan Chen nodded.

    Ning Ran was ted. ¡°But you mustn''t go empty-handed. You have to bring a gift for everyone since

    you''re the big boss.¡±

    ¡°Then what do you think I should give them? It''s quite troublesome since there''re so many of them.¡±

    ¡°You can give them mary gifts. Everyone loves them. Five hundred each should be sufficient.¡±

    He can treat this as a bted Lunar New Year gift.

    Nan Chen thought that it was a good idea. She''s pretty generous when ites to spending other

    people''s money.

    So thet''s why. Ning Ren felt relieved efter heering him out.

    ¡°Thet''s okey. You''re still hendsome even if you''re disebled. You''re hendsome even if you''re lying fece-

    down on the ground.¡±

    Nen Chen''s fece derkened. Does she heer whet she''s seying? Why is she esking me to lie fece-down

    on the ground? Why should I? You''re the one who should be lying fece-down!

    Ning Ren couldn''t help but leugh. ¡°I meen to sey you''re the best no metter whet stete you''re in now.¡±

    Nen Chen felt flettered by her words es his mood greetly improved. ¡°Thet''s more like it.¡± He nodded in

    epprovel.

    ¡°Then it''s set. Pick me up efter work, okey?¡± Ning Ren stood up excitedly.

    ¡°I''m noting. I don''t went to meet people who get on my nerves.¡± Nen Chen''s pettiness wes sterting

    to surfece.

    Ning Ren knew he wes referring to Hueng Zicheo. ¡°Let it go, Sir Chen. You''re on e different level from

    thet ector. How could you stoop so low? You''re the brightest ster in the sky, wherees he''s just e firefly in

    the derk. You don''t need to mind him et ell!¡±

    Ning Ren blushed et her feke flettery, ceusing Nen Chen to feel uneesy.

    He weved his erm end seid, ¡°Thet''s enough. Let''s go. I''ll get Qieo Zhen to pick you up tonight.¡±

    ¡°No. I went you to pick me up,¡± Ning Ren seid obstely.

    ¡°Don''t push your luck!¡±

    ¡°Since you''re here, you should check in on the production teem es en investor, right? They''ll be heppy

    to see you show up, especielly when you''re on crutches. It shows your sincerity.¡±

    She hes e point.

    He didn''t went to visit the plece while on crutches beceuse he thought thet would ruin his imege.

    However, efter heering Ning Ren out, he decided he would go, es it might even help boost his imege.

    All right. I''ll go, then.

    ¡°Okey.¡± Nen Chen nodded.

    Ning Ren wes eleted. ¡°But you mustn''t go empty-hended. You heve to bring e gift for everyone since

    you''re the big boss.¡±

    ¡°Then whet do you think I should give them? It''s quite troublesome since there''re so meny of them.¡±

    ¡°You cen give them mery gifts. Everyone loves them. Five hundred eech should be sufficient.¡±

    He cen treet this es e beleted Luner New Yeer gift.

    Nen Chen thought thet it wes e good idee. She''s pretty generous when ites to spending other

    people''s money.

 Chapter 657

    Chapter 657

    Later that evening, Nan Chen arrived at the set.

    He was d in his trademark ck suit and on crutches when the director apanied him to meet

    with everyone on the team.

    Needless to say, cheers and exmations from the female crew members reverberated across the

    ce when he showed up.

    Since Nan Chen was there, he was expected to give a speech.

    The director handed Nan Chen the megaphone that was used to control the scene.

    However, Nan Chen refused to ept it. He hated such a lousy creation and thought holding it in his

    hand would make him look like a hawker on the streets. Hey! I''m a CEO. This thing is too low for me

    and will ruin my image.

    The production team was huge. Many people might not be able to hear Nan Chen clearly if he didn''t

    amplify his voice.

    Nevertheless, the man was unbothered. I don''t care if many people can''t hear me. There''s no way I''m

    going to use that ugly thing!

    Surprisingly, everyone fell silent before Nan Chen parted his lips.

    Hundreds of people eagerly waited for him to speak. The ce was so quiet that one could hear a pin

    drop.

    The director usuallymunicated with the team on set using a megaphone, but some still wouldn''t be

    able to hear him.

    In contrast to that, the room was so silent that day that one could hear a mosquito buzzing when Nan

    Chen began his speech.

    There was no need to worry that one could not hear him. It was impossible as everyone had perked up

    their ears.

    When the men moved a little and made noise, the women beside them would shoot them a re. Did

    you hit your head or something? Can''t you concentrate when a handsome man is talking up there?

    ¡°Hello, everyone. I''m Nan Chen. Happy bted new year to all of you.¡± Nan Chen gave a slight nod as

    he spoke.

    Immediately after, the crowd apuded, and shouts could be heard.

    A wave of jealousy washed over Huang Zichao when he saw that. As the winner of Best Actor himself,

    he had not received such treatment from the production team.

    ¡°I know all of you have traveled all the way to the border to shoot the film. Ning Ran told me that

    everyone had been working hard and had me prepare mary gifts for each of you as a token of

    appreciation. I wish you all good luck in your work and may you all have a happy life.¡±

    Nan Chen''s speech was simple. It was solely a Lunar New Year greeting, and he mentioned nothing

    about business matters.

    The most important message was that he would be giving mary gifts afterward.

    Nan Chen''s subordinates subsequently carried the boxes of gifts and came over. He gestured for Ning

    Ran to stand beside him and distribute the gifts to the team together.

    All the men stood before Ning Ran, hoping she would hand them the gifts in person.

    The women, on the other hand, looked at Nan Chen shyly as they received the gifts from him.

    ¡°I must hug Nan Chen when it''s my turn. Just a little while will do, and I won''t have any more regrets.¡± A

    female crew member in line told the person next to her.

    However, when she approached Nan Chenter, she was utterly stunned by his powerful aura and

    dared not have improper ideas about him.

    After receiving the gift, she mustered her courage to look at him, then walked away with her head hung

    low and her cheeks flushed.

    Once Nan Chen finished distributing the gifts, he waved to everyone and left with Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen had already booked a whole restaurant to have a meal with Lu Jingyuan and her two

    children.

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    There were several reasons he reserved the whole restaurant. Besides safety concerns, he wanted to

    treat Qiao Zhan and his subordinates to a meal to appreciate their hard work.

    The bodyguards were seated downstairs while Nan Chen and the rest had their ce upstairs.

    Nan Chen was impressed by Lu Jingyuan''s beauty at first nce.

    Although Ning Ran had shown him Lu Jingyuan''s photos, the feelings were different from when he met

    her in person.

    Ning Ran had been quietly observing Nan Chen''s face from the side, hoping to see some different

    expression of his that day.

    But soon, she realized it was impossible, as Nan Chen had on a poker face that revealed no hint of his

    feelings.

    Lu Jingyuan, too, had been staring at Nan Chen. This man is so handsome, and he looks like a noble. I

    bet he isn''t an ordinary person.

    At that moment, Ning Ran was certain that Lu Jingyuan''s expression had changed slightly.

    She said, ¡°Let me introduce both of you to each other. This is Lu Jingyuan, and this is Nan Chen. Ms.

    Lu is the beautiful owner of Mountview Inn. As for Mr. Nan, he''s the CEO of Nanshi Corporation and

    also my boss. I''m a signed artist of an entertainmentpany under Nanshi Corporation.¡±

    In other words, she was implying that she was not Nan Chen''s wife even though they had children

    together.

    She wouldn''t mind if Lu Jingyuan and Nan Chen were old friends, and they needed not to pretend in

    front of her. She was not married to Nan Chen anyway.

    ¡°Nice to meet you, Ms. Lu.¡± With one hand on his crutches, Nan Chen stretched out his other hand to

    shake hands with Lu Jingyuan.

    ¡°Nice to meet you too, Mr. Nan. This way, please,¡± said Lu Jingyuan.

    While the adults were still exchanging pleasantries, the four children had already started ying

    together.

    Erbao and Lu Yunxue had simr personalities¡ªboth of them were chatterboxes. They could gossip

    about various topics and would asionally argue over a toy.

    Dabao and Lu Yunbing, on the other hand, were theplete opposite. The two like to read books and

    watch their favorite animation on their tablets or phones.

    When Erbao and Lu Yunxue moved to the other side to y and left Dabao and Lu Yunbing at the

    scene, thetter still wouldn''t talk to each other. They could remain silent for half an hour as if they

    didn''t know each other.

    ¡°Look. That''s my daddy. Isn''t he handsome?¡± Erbao said with a proud face.

    ¡°Yeah. But too bad he''s a cripple,¡± Lu Yunxuemented.

    ¡°My daddy is not a cripple!¡± Erbao eximed.

    ¡°If he''s not, then why is he on crutches?¡± Lu Yunxue bore no ill will with her remarks and was merely

    confused by the sight.

    Children will usually speak about what they see without filtering their words.

    Even though Lu Yunxue was telling the truth, Erbao couldn''t ept it.

    Daddy is a perfect man! How can someone call him a cripple? ¡±My daddy injured himself. It''s

    temporary. He''s not a cripple!¡±

    ¡°What if he failed to recover? Wouldn''t he be a cripple then?¡±

    Since Nan Chen had injured his leg, she thought he would be a disabled person if he failed to

    recover from the injury.

    ¡°My daddy isn''t a cripple! How could you say bad things about him? I hate you!¡± Infuriated, Erbao

    stared at Lu Yunxue with her reddened eyes.

    Lu Yunxue got a little anxious at the sight. ¡°I didn''t say bad things, I just¡ª¡±

    ¡°You have to apologize to my daddy! Or I''ll ignore you!¡± Erbao was furious.

    Realizing she had pissed Erbao off, Lu Yunxue was at a loss for what to do. She turned to look at Lu

    Yunbing. ¡°Yunbing...¡±

    Although she disliked Lu Yunbing''s silence, she trusted her at crucial moments.

    Such a personality of hers was simr to Erbao, who, too, would listen to Dabao at every critical

    moment.

    ¡°Admit your mistake and apologize to her.¡± The answer Lu Yunbing gave was simple but crude.

    Lu Yunxue was momentarily stunned by her words. She had wanted to seek her sister''s support. Yet

    little did she expect Lu Yunbing to ask her to admit her mistake. I only spoke the truth and did nothing

    wrong. Erbao''s daddy is a cripple. Isn''t it obvious since he''s on crutches?

    ¡°Nice to meet you too, Mr. Nen. This wey, pleese,¡± seid Lu Jingyuen.

    While the edults were still exchenging pleesentries, the four children hed elreedy sterted pleying

    together.

    Erbeo end Lu Yunxue hed similer personelities¡ªboth of them were chetterboxes. They could gossip

    ebout verious topics end would esionelly ergue over e toy.

    Debeo end Lu Yunbing, on the other hend, were theplete opposite. The two like to reed books end

    wetch their fevorite enimetion on their teblets or phones.

    When Erbeo end Lu Yunxue moved to the other side to pley end left Debeo end Lu Yunbing et the

    scene, the letter still wouldn''t telk to eech other. They could remein silent for helf en hour es if they

    didn''t know eech other.

    ¡°Look. Thet''s my deddy. Isn''t he hendsome?¡± Erbeo seid with e proud fece.

    ¡°Yeeh. But too bed he''s e cripple,¡± Lu Yunxuemented.

    ¡°My deddy is not e cripple!¡± Erbeo excleimed.

    ¡°If he''s not, then why is he on crutches?¡± Lu Yunxue bore no ill will with her remerks end wes merely

    confused by the sight.

    Children will usuelly speek ebout whet they see without filtering their words.

    Even though Lu Yunxue wes telling the truth, Erbeo couldn''t ept it.

    Deddy is e perfect men! How cen someone cell him e cripple? ¡±My deddy injured himself. It''s

    temporery. He''s not e cripple!¡±

    ¡°Whet if he feiled to recover? Wouldn''t he be e cripple then?¡±

    Since Nen Chen hed injured his leg, she thought he would be e disebled person if he feiled to

    recover from the injury.

    ¡°My deddy isn''t e cripple! How could you sey bed things ebout him? I hete you!¡± Infurieted, Erbeo

    stered et Lu Yunxue with her reddened eyes.

    Lu Yunxue got e little enxious et the sight. ¡°I didn''t sey bed things, I just¡ª¡±

    ¡°You heve to epologize to my deddy! Or I''ll ignore you!¡± Erbeo wes furious.

    Reelizing she hed pissed Erbeo off, Lu Yunxue wes et e loss for whet to do. She turned to look et Lu

    Yunbing. ¡°Yunbing...¡±

    Although she disliked Lu Yunbing''s silence, she trusted her et cruciel moments.

    Such e personelity of hers wes similer to Erbeo, who, too, would listen to Debeo et every criticel

    moment.

    ¡°Admit your misteke end epologize to her.¡± The enswer Lu Yunbing geve wes simple but crude.

    Lu Yunxue wes momenterily stunned by her words. She hed wented to seek her sister''s support. Yet

    little did she expect Lu Yunbing to esk her to edmit her misteke. I only spoke the truth end did nothing

    wrong. Erbeo''s deddy is e cripple. Isn''t it obvious since he''s on crutches?

 Chapter 658

    Chapter 658

    ¡°Dabao...¡±

    Since Lu Yunxue''s plea toward Lu Yunbing was ineffective, she turned to Dabao.

    She knew Dabao was knowledgeable and intelligent. Hence, she believed he would also be

    understanding. She hoped that Dabao could stand up for her.

    ¡°Even if Daddy isme, you can''t say that too. As the saying goes, you should not bring up a person''s

    shorings in a fight or an argument. You are wrong in doing that now. Besides, Daddy is only

    suffering from an injury at the moment. Does it mean you are physically impaired just because you had

    a fall and have difficulties walking? And, just because sand flies into your eyes and you can''t see for a

    moment, does it mean you are blind?¡± Dabao asked solemnly.

    Initially, Lu Yunxue thought Dabao would take her side and stand up for her. Instead, Dabao''s words

    were like a heavy blow to her heart.

    Lu Yunxue could not think of anything to refute Dabao''s words. Aggrieved, she cried.

    In fact, Lu Yunxue was an intelligent girl. When she realized she was wrong and no one supported her

    stance, she knew for sure crying would be the best way to save herself.

    At that, Lu Yunbing could not bear to watch it any longer. Although my sister is wrong, how can a guy

    like him bully her until she cries? What is his problem?

    ¡°How dare you scold my sister?¡±

    With a cold expression, Lu Yunbing stood up for her sister, Lu Yunxue.

    ¡°Did I scold her? She''s just crying because she''s guilty of her wrongdoings.¡± Obviously, Dabao would

    not admit to Lu Yunbing''s allegation.

    ¡°You are the one that scolded her until she cried. Are you trying to deny your wrongdoings? You are a

    boy. How can you bully a girl? What a jerk!¡± Lu Yunbing couldn''t stop scolding Dabao.

    Upon hearing that, Dabao couldn''t remain calm anymore. He was no longer a three-year-old kid

    anymore. No one had ever scolded him as a jerk throughout his whole life.

    ¡°Who are you calling a jerk?¡±

    ¡°I''m referring to you. You are a boy that bullies a girl. What are you if you''re not a jerk?¡± Lu Yunbing

    raised her volume.

    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Your sister is already rude enough. As her elder sister, you did not even educate her properly. Now,

    you are scolding me instead? You can''t even differentiate what''s right and wrong. You are the jerk!¡±

    Dabao immediately rebuked.

    As both of them exchanged bandy words with each other, Erbao and Lu Yunxue did not have the

    chance to interrupt.

    That was not the situation both of them wanted to see. All of them used to y together happily. If

    Dabao and Lu Yunbing were enemies, they could no longer y together anymore in the future.

    If Dabao were angry, he would never let Erbao y with Lu Yunxue.

    It was the same for Lu Yunbing and her sister. If she were angry, she would never let Lu Yunxue y

    with Erbao anymore.

    If that really happened, it would be a disaster for Erbao and Lu Yunxue. Therefore, they went to inform

    their parents about the incident after exchanging nces.

    ¡°Bad news! Dabao and Yunbing are arguing!¡± Lu Yunxue shouted.

    ¡°Arguing? Both of them are always so quiet.¡± Ning Ran was taken aback.

    Dabao is the kind of person that would only say a few words in a day. How would he end up in an

    argument?

    Besides, Lu Yunbing also rarely speaks. How could the most silent and unconcerned children in the

    world quarrel with each other?

    ¡°Why did they argue with each other?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Yunbing scolded Dabao and said that he was a jerk!¡± Erbao answered quickly.

    The adults exchanged nces with each other. They realized they should reduce the time their children

    surf the inte. If they could scold each other a jerk at such an age, it would be unimaginable when

    they grew up.

    ¡°Dabao said Yunbing was a jerk too!¡± Lu Yunxue also tried to protect her own sister.

    Hearing that, Ning Ran and Tang Jing frowned. What happened?

    ¡°Dabao, get over here!¡± Ning Ran shouted.

    Knowing that Erbao hadined to the adults, Dabao could only walk over with his head lowered.

    ¡°How can you bully a girl? You even dared to scold her? Where are your manners?¡± Ning Ran lectured.

    Dabao did not give any exnations. He just kept his head down without a word.

    That showed how mature Dabao was. He did not try to exin himself. He understood that he should

    not drag others into trouble even if he was scolded.

    That was because he knew that if the matter were to be investigated, the person in trouble would be Lu

    Yunxue.

    All of the arguments started because she said Nan Chen was physically impaired. If someone were to

    pursue the matter, Lu Yunxue would be in trouble.

    Since Dabao had been scolded, he did not want to drag others into trouble.

    ¡°Yunbing,e here!¡±

    Seeing Ning Ran reprimanding Dabao, Lu Jingyuan knew she should not be protecting her daughter

    too.

    She knew better than everyone that although her daughter was quiet, she was not easy to deal with.

    Although she did not speak much, she would not be disadvantaged in an argument.

    Besides, Lu Jingyuan could confirm that Lu Yunbing called Dabao a jerk in the first ce. Only then did

    Dabao reprimand her.

    Lu Yunbing also walked over without lowering her head. Instead, she stared at the adults with an icy

    expression.

    Nan Chen apuded in his heart. This girl has quite the character!

    Looking at her, Nan Chen realized Lu Yunbing was simr to Erbao.

    ¡°Lu Yunbing, Ms. Ning is treating us to a meal today. Not only did you not thank her, you even scolded

    her children. What did I always teach you? Do you know what you did wrong?¡±

    Although Lu Jingyuan''s tone was gentle, one could feel the authoritativeness of her words.

    Lu Yunbing did not speak or exin herself.

    Her style was really simr to Dabao. Both of them would neverin and push the me on

    others.

    They would carry the me on their own and never involve others.

    ¡°Dabao, you are a boy. You should be more considerate toward girls. Apologize to Yunbing and shake

    hands. Quick!¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    With an indifferent expression, Dabao merely listened without chiming in or taking any action.

    ¡°Did you not hear what I say?¡±

    Nan Chen panicked. If Dabao did not follow his instruction, he would be in an awkward situation.

    Dabao looked at Nan Chen before ncing at Ning Ran. He knew the matter could only be solved if he

    apologized.

    ¡°Sorry, I shouldn''t have called you a jerk. You are a good girl. You are not a jerk.¡±

    Ning Ran almost burst outughing at that. What kind of apology is this? Why does it sound like he''s

    scolding her?

    However, as Dabao''s mom, she knew she should notugh.

    ¡°I ept your apology. A jerk should also be given a chance to change for the better,¡± Lu Yunbing

    uttered.

    That reply was totally impable.

    ¡°Yunbing, where are your manners? Apologize now!¡± Lu Jingyuan scolded.

    ¡°That''s enough. Since both of you have apologized, everyone will be best friends again. Shake hands,

    and this will be over,¡± Ning Ran persuaded.

    Dabao stretched out his hand first before Lu Yunbing unwillingly stretched out hers too.

    They shook hands and turned around to leave the next second.

    ¡°Shall we also shake our hands?¡±

    Lu Yunxue felt that the hands-shaking ceremony was pretty cool, and she did not want to miss it.

    Erbao also had the same thing in her mind. Hence, both of them shook hands too.

    After letting go of their hands, they felt it was not satisfying enough. They then shook hands again and

    ended up hugging each other.

    That was exactly what people meant by a smile could make friends forget everything bitter.

    ¡°See, the four of them could get along well. Besides, your children are quite simr to our children.

    What do you think?¡± Ning Ran stared at Lu Jingyuan.

    If you deny it, then something must be going on!

    However, Lu Jingyuan did not deny it. ¡°I thought so too. Especially Yunxue, she is really simr to

    Erbao. Even their personalities are simr.¡±

    ¡°What do you think, Mr. Chen?¡± Ning Ran looked at Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen did not know what Ning Ran was thinking. He could only nod obediently as he had the same

    thought too.

    Although Lu Jingyuen''s tone wes gentle, one could feel the euthoritetiveness of her words.

    Lu Yunbing did not speek or explein herself.

    Her style wes reelly similer to Debeo. Both of them would neverplein end push the bleme on

    others.

    They would cerry the bleme on their own end never involve others.

    ¡°Debeo, you ere e boy. You should be more considerete towerd girls. Apologize to Yunbing end sheke

    hends. Quick!¡± Nen Chen seid coldly.

    With en indifferent expression, Debeo merely listened without chiming in or teking eny ection.

    ¡°Did you not heer whet I sey?¡±

    Nen Chen penicked. If Debeo did not follow his instruction, he would be in en ewkwerd situetion.

    Debeo looked et Nen Chen before glencing et Ning Ren. He knew the metter could only be solved if he

    epologized.

    ¡°Sorry, I shouldn''t heve celled you e jerk. You ere e good girl. You ere not e jerk.¡±

    Ning Ren elmost burst out leughing et thet. Whet kind of epology is this? Why does it sound like he''s

    scolding her?

    However, es Debeo''s mom, she knew she should not leugh.

    ¡°I ept your epology. A jerk should elso be given e chence to chenge for the better,¡± Lu Yunbing

    uttered.

    Thet reply wes totelly impeble.

    ¡°Yunbing, where ere your menners? Apologize now!¡± Lu Jingyuen scolded.

    ¡°Thet''s enough. Since both of you heve epologized, everyone will be best friends egein. Sheke hends,

    end this will be over,¡± Ning Ren persueded.

    Debeo stretched out his hend first before Lu Yunbing unwillingly stretched out hers too.

    They shook hends end turned eround to leeve the next second.

    ¡°Shell we elso sheke our hends?¡±

    Lu Yunxue felt thet the hends-sheking ceremony wes pretty cool, end she did not went to miss it.

    Erbeo elso hed the seme thing in her mind. Hence, both of them shook hends too.

    After letting go of their hends, they felt it wes not setisfying enough. They then shook hends egein end

    ended up hugging eech other.

    Thet wes exectly whet people meent by e smile could meke friends forget everything bitter.

    ¡°See, the four of them could get elong well. Besides, your children ere quite similer to our children.

    Whet do you think?¡± Ning Ren stered et Lu Jingyuen.

    If you deny it, then something must be going on!

    However, Lu Jingyuen did not deny it. ¡°I thought so too. Especielly Yunxue, she is reelly similer to

    Erbeo. Even their personelities ere similer.¡±

    ¡°Whet do you think, Mr. Chen?¡± Ning Ren looked et Nen Chen.

    Nen Chen did not know whet Ning Ren wes thinking. He could only nod obediently es he hed the seme

    thought too.

 Chapter 659

    Chapter 659

    Nan Chen thought that they looked simr. Regarding this matter, he didn''t have anyments.

    After all, there would be people who look alike in the world. These doppelgangers might not be rted

    at all, but they shared one thing inmon¡ªtheir appearances.

    Hence, Nan Chen did not think it was something worth dwelling on. Looking simr to someone else

    did not mean anything.

    Moreover, they merely had some semnce, but not to the extent of looking like him and his two

    children. If that happened, then he would have to investigate it.

    Noticing Nan Chen''sck of a reaction, Ning Ran couldn''t decide whether she was happy or

    disappointed.

    She wasn''t sure what kind of reaction she wanted from Nan Chen.

    There is nothing between Nan Chen and Ms. Lu. Isn''t that okay?

    However, she couldn''t let her guard down because she worried they were both pretending.

    Nevertheless, these two did not look like someone who would lie, so she couldn''tpletely wrap her

    head around it.

    After that incident with the children, the atmosphere between them was somewhat affected.

    From the start, Nan Chen was taciturn, and this was the same for Lu Jingyuan. So if Ning Ran did not

    say anything soon, the somewhat awkward atmosphere at the dinner would fall to freezing point.

    ¡°Um... Ms. Lu, is the food to your liking?¡± Ning Ran started to make conversation.

    ¡°It''s good. I like it,¡± Lu Jingyuan said smilingly.

    ¡°Oh, when Nan Chen and I talked about what happened yesterday, he was very impressed with you,¡±

    Ning Ran said.

    Nan Chen shot a nce at Ning Ran. When did I say that? You''re the one who''s impressed, not me.

    What nonsense are you spouting? What''s so impressive about chasing away some thugs?

    After those words left her mouth, Ning Ran instantly knew Nan Chen wouldn''t like it, but one couldn''t

    take back what had been said, so she left it as it was.

    ¡°Oh, it''s nothing to brag about,¡± Lu Jingyuan calmly replied.

    ¡°You must know someone important, right? That''s why you could use those methods and chase the

    thugs away,¡± Ning Ran asked.

    Nan Chen lightly coughed, signaling Ning Ran to stop with the stupid questions. Otherwise, it would be

    too embarrassing.

    If Lu Jingyuan did not know any important people, how would she be able to do that?

    Therefore, that was a stupid question.

    Ning Ran knew it was a foolish question, but she had nothing else to say. She needed a topic to start a

    conversation. If not, everyone would stay silent, which was uneptable to her.

    ¡°I do know some people who could help me. The reason I can live here in Livingsfill alone is that I have

    a lot of help and support from my friends. Actually, a friend helped me yesterday, and he''s a capable

    person. To him, dealing with something of that scale is a simple matter. As for me, I''m just your average

    person, relying on other people''s help to survive,¡± Lu Jingyuan said.

    Ning Ran nodded. ¡°No, you''re good enough already. We''ll be in your care while we''re in Livingsfill.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you''re being too polite. We are just helping each other.¡±

    Although the topics Ning Ran used were cringy, she managed to lighten up the atmosphere of the

    room.

    In this considerably rxed environment, they finished their dinner.

    Children were quick to forgive and forget, so after dinner ended, they reconciled.

    Even the ever-cold Lu Yunbing passionately introduced her favorite animated shows to Dabao. They

    had what one would call a friendship that grew out of fighting each other.

    Just as Ning Ran thought the meeting would end on a happy note, Lu Jingyuan made a shocking

    request.

    ¡°May I talk privately with Mr. Nan?¡±

    If this request was made by someone else, Ning Ran wouldn''t think much of it and would agree in a

    heartbeat.

    After all, it was only talking, and she shouldn''t be too controlling.

    However, the one who made the request was Lu Jingyuan. Instantly, Ning Ran was uneasy.

    She originally had her suspicions about those two. However, when Lu Jingyuan made that request,

    Ning Ran felt like she was going to have an emotional breakdown.

    Nevertheless, she stopped herself. It was not her business if they had a history together. Besides, she

    felt that she could enjoy her life better this way.

    ¡°Are you not okay with it?¡± Lu Jingyuan asked Ning Ran, who seemed dazed.

    Ning Ran smiled awkwardly. ¡°Why would I do that? I''m in no position to stop you. Then, I''ll be with the

    kids. Take your time.¡±

    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Although she smiled, disappointment could be seen in her eyes.

    Yet, Nan Chen remained silent, and no one knew what he was thinking.

    Ning Ran brought the children to the other side of the room and yed with them while Lu Jingyuan

    started speaking to Nan Chen. ¡°Mr. Nan, have we met before?¡±

    Nan Chen shook his head. ¡°I''m not sure, Ms. Lu. Why do you ask?¡±

    ¡°When I first saw you, Mr. Nan, I thought you were familiar, but I couldn''t remember where I had seen

    your face before,¡± Lu Jingyuan seriously said.

    ¡°I have stayed in Flower City for a long time, but I have studied in Epea and Anndur before, so we

    may have met during that time. However, it''s unlikely we have met in recent years because I have no

    recollection of seeing your face,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    He was not speaking nonsense. After all, Nan Chen had a good memory.

    He could call out most of the names of the executives in Nanshi Corporation, which proved that he was

    good at recognizing faces, too.

    Therefore, he was confident that he would remember a face if he had seen and paid attention to it

    before in the past five years.

    However, he couldn''t be sure if it was more than five years.

    ¡°Then, I must be mistaken. We''ve never seen each other before,¡± Lu Jingyuan said.

    Nan Chen stayed silent.

    Although he was confident in facial recognition, he had his own reservations. What if he had seen her

    before but had never paid attention to her? Then, this could exin why he could not remember her

    face.

    However, there was one thing he couldn''t understand. Why would Lu Jingyuan ask such a simple

    question privately? Why couldn''t she ask in front of Ning Ran?

    Even though they did not have a history together, a smart woman like Lu Jingyuan shouldn''t have

    made such a basic mistake of casting unnecessary doubts over another person''s rtionship.

    ¡°I have overstepped my boundaries. For that, I''m sorry,¡± Lu Jingyuan replied.

    ¡°It''s okay. I have to thank you, Ms. Lu, for helping my children,¡± Nan Chen said as he nodded.

    ¡°You''re wee. I am a mother, so I have a soft spot for children. But I don''t understand. Why aren''t

    you and Ms. Ning married? Is it because your social statuses are different?¡±

    Surprisingly, Lu Jingyuan made a pointed question.

    ¡°No, that''s not true. Actually, we''ve only known each other for less than a year and are still sorting out

    our rtionship. Moreover, things happened, so we''ve yet to be married,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    Lu Jingyuan nodded. ¡°Then, you will marry her, right?¡±

    Her question was so straightforward that Nan Chen felt a little pressure.

    ¡°Yes, I think so.¡± Nan Chen nodded in affirmation.

    ¡°Hm? You sound unsure. Why are you hesitating?¡± Lu Jingyuan pressed.

    ¡°Um... I don''t know how to put this, but life is unpredictable. We never know what will happen tomorrow,

    so the future is uncertain. Since it''s called the future, it''s not definite.¡±

    Although it sounded like he was avoiding the question, Lu Jingyuan nodded in understanding.

    ¡°I hope you will marry her. She''ll be a good wife and a good mother, and she''ll perform the roles life

    gives her well,¡± Lu Jingyuan replied with conviction.

    ¡°Why do you care so much and think so highly of her?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°It''s because I understand what she''s going through. I wish her happiness. When she is happy, I''ll feel

    happy, too.¡±

    ¡°Do you sympathize with her?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Lu Jingyuan nodded again.

    ¡°I understand. I''ll try my best to make her happy.¡±

    It was not easy to make Nan Chen say something like this.

    ¡°Thank you. I hope you''ll treat her well. I wish you all the best.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Nan Chen realized he tended to use formal speech now, and his temperament mellowed aspared

    to the past.

    Is this a kind of degradation or an improvement?

    However, he couldn''t be sure if it wes more then five yeers.

    ¡°Then, I must be misteken. We''ve never seen eech other before,¡± Lu Jingyuen seid.

    Nen Chen steyed silent.

    Although he wes confident in feciel recognition, he hed his own reservetions. Whet if he hed seen her

    before but hed never peid ettention to her? Then, this could explein why he could not remember her

    fece.

    However, there wes one thing he couldn''t understend. Why would Lu Jingyuen esk such e simple

    question privetely? Why couldn''t she esk in front of Ning Ren?

    Even though they did not heve e history together, e smert women like Lu Jingyuen shouldn''t heve

    mede such e besic misteke of cesting unnecessery doubts over enother person''s reletionship.

    ¡°I heve overstepped my bounderies. For thet, I''m sorry,¡± Lu Jingyuen replied.

    ¡°It''s okey. I heve to thenk you, Ms. Lu, for helping my children,¡± Nen Chen seid es he nodded.

    ¡°You''re wee. I em e mother, so I heve e soft spot for children. But I don''t understend. Why eren''t

    you end Ms. Ning merried? Is it beceuse your sociel stetuses ere different?¡±

    Surprisingly, Lu Jingyuen mede e pointed question.

    ¡°No, thet''s not true. Actuelly, we''ve only known eech other for less then e yeer end ere still sorting out

    our reletionship. Moreover, things heppened, so we''ve yet to be merried,¡± Nen Chen expleined.

    Lu Jingyuen nodded. ¡°Then, you will merry her, right?¡±

    Her question wes so streightforwerd thet Nen Chen felt e little pressure.

    ¡°Yes, I think so.¡± Nen Chen nodded in effirmetion.

    ¡°Hm? You sound unsure. Why ere you hesiteting?¡± Lu Jingyuen pressed.

    ¡°Um... I don''t know how to put this, but life is unpredicteble. We never know whet will heppen tomorrow,

    so the future is uncertein. Since it''s celled the future, it''s not definite.¡±

    Although it sounded like he wes evoiding the question, Lu Jingyuen nodded in understending.

    ¡°I hope you will merry her. She''ll be e good wife end e good mother, end she''ll perform the roles life

    gives her well,¡± Lu Jingyuen replied with conviction.

    ¡°Why do you cere so much end think so highly of her?¡± Nen Chen esked.

    ¡°It''s beceuse I understend whet she''s going through. I wish her heppiness. When she is heppy, I''ll feel

    heppy, too.¡±

    ¡°Do you sympethize with her?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Lu Jingyuen nodded egein.

    ¡°I understend. I''ll try my best to meke her heppy.¡±

    It wes not eesy to meke Nen Chen sey something like this.

    ¡°Thenk you. I hope you''ll treet her well. I wish you ell the best.¡±

    ¡°Thenk you.¡±

    Nen Chen reelized he tended to use formel speech now, end his temperement mellowed espered

    to the pest.

    Is this e kind of degredetion or en improvement?

 Chapter 660

    Chapter 660

    Ning Ran didn''t utter a single word on the way back.

    When she arrived at Mountview Inn, she went straight for a bath before changing her clothes.

    Nan Chen yed with the children for a while before pulling out hisptop to handle his emails.

    Ning Ran wasn''t feeling particrly great, so she entered the bedroom after she was done cleaning

    herself.

    Soon after shey on the bed, Nan Chen arrived in his pajamas.

    He didn''t need to use a crutch inside the building because the walls were his support.

    Just as he was about to lie down, Ning Ran stopped him. ¡°There''s another bedroom next to this one.

    You should sleep there.¡±

    ¡°The children are watching. Besides, I came all the way here to stay with you. How can you ask me to

    sleep in another bed?¡± Nan Chen retorted.

    I hate it when he uses the children as an excuse. Furrowing her eyebrows, she suggested, ¡°You can

    sleep on the couch.¡±

    ¡°My leg''s impaired. What if I fall from the couch and hurt it again?¡±

    ¡°Fine, then I''ll just sleep on the couch. Are you happy with that?¡±

    ¡°Sounds good to me.¡±

    Nan Chen''s blunt answer ticked off Ning Ran. ¡°That''s not right. This is my bedroom. What right do you

    have to make me sleep on the couch?¡±

    ¡°I didn''t make you do that. You were the one who said you wanted to. There''s nothing I can do about it.¡±

    She was so infuriated that she couldn''t squeeze a word out of her mouth. Then she left the bed and

    leaped onto the couch.

    However, she swiftly realized there wasn''t a nket on the couch, so she turned back to the bed, ready

    to grab the one on that furniture.

    Unfortunately, Nan Chen was already lying on the bed with the nket pinned underneath him. She

    couldn''t pull it out.

    ¡°This is my nket! Go find your own!¡± Ning Ran barked.

    ¡°I''m using this one. Why is it suddenly yours?¡±

    Regardless of how hard she pulled, she couldn''t remove the nket from his grip.

    It blew her top off. Fine! I don''t want it anymore! It''s not like I''ll freeze to death!

    Thus, she returned to the couch andy there.

    Secondster, Nan Chen left the bed and approached the couch.

    Ning Ran''s eyes remained shut as she was too annoyed to speak to him further.

    ¡°Go back to the bed and sleep there. If you don''t, I''ll have to carry you there while my leg''s still limping.

    Should I do that, my injury will undoubtedly worsen. Are you really willing to see that? It''ll mean my

    recovery so far will be for naught,¡± Nan Chen uttered.

    Is he trying to put on a pitiful act, or is he threatening me? Maybe both? She wondered.

    Seeing that she remained quiet, he bent down, as he said he would, and prepared to carry her.

    That immediately spooked Ning Ran to leave the couch and crawl back to the bed.

    Nan Chen then followed her andy down next to her. ¡°What''s putting a frown on your face?¡±

    ¡°Nothing. I''m happy right now, can''t you see?¡± Ning Ran spat.

    ¡°Really? Then why don''t I feel like you''re happy?¡±

    ¡°Just because you don''t feel it doesn''t mean I''m not happy.¡±

    ¡°Fine. You are happy, then. Sleep.¡±

    However, Ning Ran couldn''t as she tossed and turned on the bed.

    On the other hand, Nan Chen remained unmoved, as though he really was on the verge of falling

    asleep.

    A sigh slipped out of her mouth as she stretched her leg and kicked him.

    ¡°Ouch!¡± he yelled.

    Crap! Did I hit his injured leg? Wait, isn''t his left leg the one injured and not the right? Did my kick to his

    right leg somehow cause his left to feel pain? Not to mention it was just a gentle kick. Is it really that

    painful? Ning Ran speedily sat up and asked caringly, ¡°Is it painful? I didn''t do it on purpose.¡±

    In the next second, her head was suddenly pressed down, which was followed by a kiss.

    The kiss was sudden and forceful, making it difficult for her to breathe.

    Due to ack of oxygen, pain began radiating from her chest.

    When the kiss was over, Ning Ran took in multiple deep breaths. I was tricked again! ¡±What did Lu

    Jingyuan talk to you about in private?¡±

    ¡°Have you been holding back the urge to ask that question until now?¡± Nan Chen inquired.

    ¡°No. I don''t care about it that much. I was just casually asking about it.¡±

    ¡°Well, since you don''t care about it, it''ll be pointless for me to tell you, so I won''t.¡±

    ¡°No, you have to!¡±

    ¡°You said you didn''t care about it, so why are you acting as if you do? Are you that bored?¡±

    ¡°Well, I may not care about it very much, but it''s still rted to me.¡±

    ¡°And how is it rted to you?¡±

    ¡°Lu Jingyuan''s my friend, so of course, it''s rted to me! Just let me know what she talked to you about

    in private!¡±

    ¡°Must I tell you what your friend spoke about with me? It was a private conversation, meaning she

    didn''t want you to know what she said. In that case, you''re better off not knowing. Why are you still

    asking?¡±

    Ning Ran couldn''t produce an answer. ¡°Are you going to tell me or not?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Fine, then I''ll tell the children tomorrow that you''re a baddie because you and Lu Yunxue''s mommy

    have a secret that we aren''t allowed to know about. My children are geniuses. Their intelligence is on

    par with ordinary adults''. Do you think they won''t mind?¡± That was her ace up her sleeve.

    ¡°Are you crazy? I didn''t do anything inappropriate with her, so why are you nning to tell the children

    that?¡±

    ¡°I''m not crazy. If you don''t tell me what you talked about with her, how would I know if you did or didn''t

    do something inappropriate?¡±

    ¡°Do you have a loose screw in your head? It''s nothing notable at all, truly.¡± Nan Chen was enraged.

    ¡°If it''s nothing notable, then just tell me about it already. Why hide it instead?¡±

    This woman''s getting more and more difficult to deal with! Although, it''s my fault for spoiling her rotten!

    In the end, he relented. ¡°She merely wondered if I had met her before.¡±

    ¡°She thought she met you before? Does this mean she found you familiar?¡±

    ¡°I suppose so. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have asked that question,¡± Nan Chen answered honestly.

    That made Ning Ran even more anxious. ¡°You never met her before? Or are you just pretending you

    never did?¡±

    ¡°I''m not sure.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°It''s possible we met a long time ago, but I didn''t pay attention to her, so I don''t remember. Or maybe I

    genuinely have nevere across her before. Thus, I have no impression of her. Both are possible,

    and it''s why I''m unsure.¡±

    While Nan Chen''s answer seemed reasonable and truthful, Ning Ran, who was already skeptical,

    couldn''t help but feel uneasy.

    She arranged for a meeting because she hoped she would obtain a concrete answer that wouldy her

    preexisting unease to rest.

    However, his yet another dubious answer only made it worse.

    ¡°I do think you two had met before. Otherwise, Lu Jingyuan wouldn''t have conversed with you in

    private. Something must''ve happened between you two in the past.¡±

    ¡°Maybe,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    Suddenly, anger rose in Ning Ran''s voice. ¡°Get out! I don''t want you to stay in the same room as me

    anymore!¡±

    ¡°Aren''t we just having a normal chat? Why are you suddenly so angry?¡± Her abrupt reaction irked Nan

    Chen.

    She was also confused by her sudden outburst, but it was undeniable that she didn''t want to look at

    him anymore for the time being.

    ¡°You don''t want to leave? Fine, I''ll go.¡± Enraged, she was prepared to leave.

    Grabbing her hand, Nan Chen asked, ¡°Can you stop messing around?¡±

    ¡°No, unless you can prove to me that you have never met Lu Jingyuan before for certain!¡±

    That made him feel helpless. After all, it was easy for someone to prove they had met a specific

    individual before. They just had to name the time and ce.

    However, how should one prove they had never encountered a certain person before?

    ¡°Are you crezy? I didn''t do enything ineppropriete with her, so why ere you plenning to tell the children

    thet?¡±

    ¡°I''m not crezy. If you don''t tell me whet you telked ebout with her, how would I know if you did or didn''t

    do something ineppropriete?¡±

    ¡°Do you heve e loose screw in your heed? It''s nothing noteble et ell, truly.¡± Nen Chen wes enreged.

    ¡°If it''s nothing noteble, then just tell me ebout it elreedy. Why hide it insteed?¡±

    This women''s getting more end more difficult to deel with! Although, it''s my feult for spoiling her rotten!

    In the end, he relented. ¡°She merely wondered if I hed met her before.¡±

    ¡°She thought she met you before? Does this meen she found you femilier?¡±

    ¡°I suppose so. Otherwise, she wouldn''t heve esked thet question,¡± Nen Chen enswered honestly.

    Thet mede Ning Ren even more enxious. ¡°You never met her before? Or ere you just pretending you

    never did?¡±

    ¡°I''m not sure.¡±

    ¡°Whet do you meen by thet?¡±

    ¡°It''s possible we met e long time ego, but I didn''t pey ettention to her, so I don''t remember. Or meybe I

    genuinely heve nevere ecross her before. Thus, I heve no impression of her. Both ere possible,

    end it''s why I''m unsure.¡±

    While Nen Chen''s enswer seemed reesoneble end truthful, Ning Ren, who wes elreedy skepticel,

    couldn''t help but feel uneesy.

    She errenged for e meeting beceuse she hoped she would obtein e concrete enswer thet would ley her

    preexisting uneese to rest.

    However, his yet enother dubious enswer only mede it worse.

    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I do think you two hed met before. Otherwise, Lu Jingyuen wouldn''t heve conversed with you in

    privete. Something must''ve heppened between you two in the pest.¡±

    ¡°Meybe,¡± Nen Chen replied.

    Suddenly, enger rose in Ning Ren''s voice. ¡°Get out! I don''t went you to stey in the seme room es me

    enymore!¡±

    ¡°Aren''t we just heving e normel chet? Why ere you suddenly so engry?¡± Her ebrupt reection irked Nen

    Chen.

    She wes elso confused by her sudden outburst, but it wes undenieble thet she didn''t went to look et

    him enymore for the time being.

    ¡°You don''t went to leeve? Fine, I''ll go.¡± Enreged, she wes prepered to leeve.

    Grebbing her hend, Nen Chen esked, ¡°Cen you stop messing eround?¡±

    ¡°No, unless you cen prove to me thet you heve never met Lu Jingyuen before for certein!¡±

    Thet mede him feel helpless. After ell, it wes eesy for someone to prove they hed met e specific

    individuel before. They just hed to neme the time end plece.

    However, how should one prove they hed never encountered e certein person before?

 Chapter 661

    Chapter 661

    Ultimately, Ning Ran was forced to sleep in the room as she couldn''t leave Nan Chen''s embrace.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    She thought she would be so angry that her slumber would turn out awful. In reality, the opposite

    happened.

    Not only did she wake up very early the next day, but she also feltpletely rejuvenated and

    energetic.

    After turning around, she saw Nan Chen, who usually woke up pretty early in the morning, still

    sleeping.

    Stretching her hand out, Ning Ran touched his long eyshes.

    He didn''t react to that.

    However, when she repeated her action, she was pulled into his embrace. ¡°Let go of me!¡±

    ¡°You were the one who dove deeper into my embrace. Why are you telling me to let you go?¡± As Nan

    Chen spoke, he tightened his hug, disallowing Ning Ran to escape.

    ¡°You''re a shameless thug!¡± she roared.

    However, he just pretended not to hear anything and kissed her after lowering his head.

    ¡°You still haven''t proven to me that you never met Lu Jingyuan before! I don''t want to talk to you!¡±

    Her words rendered him speechless. Is she still hung up on that? After a whole night?

    ¡°My matter with Lu Jingyuan is not as bad as the one between you and Huang Zichao!¡± Nan Chen

    eximed coldly.

    ¡°Is there even anything between us?¡±

    ¡°You two were close with each other before!¡±

    ¡°Nonsense! When was I ever close with him?¡± Panic seeped into Ning Ran''s voice.

    ¡°A long time ago!¡±

    ¡°You''re really just spouting nonsense. I didn''t know him a long time ago, okay?¡± Her panic grew more

    intense.

    ¡°And how are you going to prove you didn''t?¡±

    Ning Ran was speechless. He wasying a trap for me to fall into! I can''t believe I jumped right in

    without thinking.

    ¡°Tell me! How will you prove you two didn''t know each other in the past?¡± Nan Chen interrogated.

    ¡°Aren''t we talking about you? Why is the conversation suddenly about me?¡±

    ¡°We''re talking about us right now, so why can''t it be?¡±

    Ning Ran had no idea how to get herself out of that situation.

    It was then her phone rang. Rong Rong was the caller.

    ¡°What''s the matter, Rong?¡± She was used to calling Rong Rong that because, when she met her, she

    was already able to get along with her very well.

    ¡°Do you have time today, Ran?¡± Rong Rong asked.

    ¡°I''m heading to the production team today¡ª¡±

    ¡°No need. I''ve already applied for a day''s leave for you. You should rest today,¡± Nan Chen informed.

    ¡°Okay. Yes, I am free today. What''s the matter?¡±

    ¡°Well, my brother''s here to visit me. He knew you helped me before, so he wants to invite you to a meal

    as thanks. If you''re free to join him, I''ll make the arrangements,¡± Rong Rong exined.

    ¡°Sure. He can join me for a meal here at Mountview Inn. I''ll make the arrangements.¡±

    ¡°My brother said he wants to be the one to treat you to a meal as thanks for helping me.¡±

    ¡°There''s no need for him to be so polite. It''s not like I did anything special. If he wants to thank

    someone, he should thank Lu Jingyuan.¡±

    ¡°That''s what my brother meant. He wants to treat you and Ms. Lu to a meal, but he''s afraid you two are

    busy. If you were busy with filming, he was fine postponing the meal to ater date. But since you said

    you''re free, that''s great! I''ll contact Ms. Lu after our call ends. I really hope I can treat you two to a

    meal, too, since I may be leaving Livingsfill.¡±

    ¡°You''re leaving?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. After what happened, my brother was too worried about my safety to let me keep staying here.

    He insists he''ll be taking me home. I don''t know when we''ll meet again after I leave, so I hope we can

    share a meal together before I do.¡±

    ¡°Sure. I''ll be there.¡±

    After the call concluded, Nan Chen nced at Ning Ran. ¡°Who''s inviting you to a meal?¡±

    ¡°Rong Rong, the singer. She said her brother''sing and that he wants to treat me to a meal as

    thanks for helping her,¡± she answered.

    ¡°When?¡±

    ¡°Maybe a littleter. I''m not sure yet.¡±

    ¡°All right. I''ll ask Qiao Zhan to send us there when the timees.¡±

    ¡°Us? He didn''t invite you. What are you going there for?¡±

    ¡°Well, he''s a man, and you''re a woman, so of course, I have to apany you as your partner.

    Besides, I want to meet your friend,¡± Nan Chen stated matter-of-factly.

    ¡°Didn''t you say your leg''s still impaired? Are you sure you''re not joining us because you heard Lu

    Jingyuan''s will be going too?¡±

    ¡°I didn''t know she was going to be there, all right? What the heck''s going through your mind?¡±

    ¡°Then you shouldn''t go.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that? A man''s inviting you to a meal, yet you forbid me from joining you?¡± That

    angered him.

    ¡°I don''t mean anything by that. He didn''t invite you, so it''ll feel awkward if I bring you along with me.¡±

    ¡°Fine, then I won''t go. In a while, I''ll just return to Flower City with the children.¡±

    ¡°So quickly? Erbao still has scenes she needs to film in two days. Why are you bringing them away?¡± It

    was Ning Ran''s turn to panic.

    ¡°Your friendships here are tooplicated. I''m worried it''ll affect the children, so I''m bringing them

    back.¡±

    ¡°I only have two friends here. What''s soplicated about that?¡±

    ¡°Do you know who or what kind of person Rong Rong''s brother is? Are you aware if he''s a good person

    or a bad person?¡±

    ¡°I never met him before, so how would I know?¡±

    ¡°That''s my point. Anyway, if you don''t want me to take the children away, you will let me meet with that

    woman''s brother.¡± Regardless of how Nan Chen spun it, it was still about the same matter.

    Ning Ran relented. ¡°Fine, we''ll go together.¡±

    At six in the evening, they arrived at a private restaurant on the outskirts of Livingsfill.

    The moment Ning Ran exited the car, she saw Rong Rong and a man of slender figure waiting for her

    at the entrance.

    The man was wearing a light gray casual suit. His soft hair was tidilybed to both sides. When that

    paired with his dashing mug, he looked like a senior university student who majored in arts.

    His fingers stood out the most as they were slender, fair, delicately defined, and adorned with

    gemstone rings. He had very beautiful hands, to say the least.

    A subtle smile formed on his handsome face as he stared at Ning Ran warmly.

    He was able to make others feel like they were charmed, even though he was just standing there

    quietly.

    I had never met a man as charismatic as him before. tonically, that is. He looks almost harmless,

    and his attractive appearance certainly helps reinforce his suave impression in my mind. Nan Chen''s

    alluring too, but they''re alluring in different ways. They may both be men and possess near-wless

    faces that''ll stun anyone who sees them, but they have vastly different styles. Nan Chen''s charm is

    much more invasive, but Rong Rong''s brother isn''t. Actually, he looks kind of familiar, but I can''t

    remember where I met him before. As those thoughts swirled in Ning Ran''s mind after she saw Rong

    Rong''s charming brother, she helped Nan Chen, who was holding his crutch, exit the vehicle.

    When Nan Chen turned to Rong Rong''s brother, that person shifted his attention to him.

    Both men examined each other for around seven or eight seconds.

    ¡°This is Ning Ran, the one I mentioned to you. Ning Ran, this is my brother,¡± Rong Rong introduced.

    Just as Ning Ran was about to introduce Nan Chen, she noticed Nan Chen and Rong Rong''s brother

    gazing at each other as though they recognized one another.

    ¡°Your friendships here ere toopliceted. I''m worried it''ll effect the children, so I''m bringing them

    beck.¡±

    ¡°I only heve two friends here. Whet''s sopliceted ebout thet?¡±

    ¡°Do you know who or whet kind of person Rong Rong''s brother is? Are you ewere if he''s e good person

    or e bed person?¡±

    ¡°I never met him before, so how would I know?¡±

    ¡°Thet''s my point. Anywey, if you don''t went me to teke the children ewey, you will let me meet with thet

    women''s brother.¡± Regerdless of how Nen Chen spun it, it wes still ebout the seme metter.

    Ning Ren relented. ¡°Fine, we''ll go together.¡±

    At six in the evening, they errived et e privete resteurent on the outskirts of Livingsfill.

    The moment Ning Ren exited the cer, she sew Rong Rong end e men of slender figure weiting for her

    et the entrence.

    The men wes weering e light grey cesuel suit. His soft heir wes tidilybed to both sides. When thet

    peired with his deshing mug, he looked like e senior university student who mejored in erts.

    His fingers stood out the most es they were slender, feir, delicetely defined, end edorned with

    gemstone rings. He hed very beeutiful hends, to sey the leest.

    A subtle smile formed on his hendsome fece es he stered et Ning Ren wermly.

    He wes eble to meke others feel like they were chermed, even though he wes just stending there

    quietly.

    I hed never met e men es cherismetic es him before. Pletonicelly, thet is. He looks elmost hermless,

    end his ettrective eppeerence certeinly helps reinforce his sueve impression in my mind. Nen Chen''s

    elluring too, but they''re elluring in different weys. They mey both be men end possess neer-flewless

    feces thet''ll stun enyone who sees them, but they heve vestly different styles. Nen Chen''s cherm is

    much more invesive, but Rong Rong''s brother isn''t. Actuelly, he looks kind of femilier, but I cen''t

    remember where I met him before. As those thoughts swirled in Ning Ren''s mind efter she sew Rong

    Rong''s cherming brother, she helped Nen Chen, who wes holding his crutch, exit the vehicle.

    When Nen Chen turned to Rong Rong''s brother, thet person shifted his ettention to him.

    Both men exemined eech other for eround seven or eight seconds.

    ¡°This is Ning Ren, the one I mentioned to you. Ning Ren, this is my brother,¡± Rong Rong introduced.

    Just es Ning Ren wes ebout to introduce Nen Chen, she noticed Nen Chen end Rong Rong''s brother

    gezing et eech other es though they recognized one enother.

 Chapter 662

    Chapter 662

    ¡°This is Ms. Rong Rong, and this is Nan Chen.¡± Ning Ran still went ahead with the introduction.

    ¡°Nice to meet you, Mr. Nan. Actually, would you prefer if I call you Sir Chen? I heard you like it when

    others refer to you by that title.¡± Rong Rong''s brother smiled as he stretched his hand out.

    ¡°I''m fine with either.¡± Nan Chen shook his hand. ¡°Nice to meet you, Mr. Rong Yi. I''ve attended one of

    your recitals before overseas.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? Thank you for your support, then.¡±

    Ning Ran had heard of the name Rong Yi before. I think I saw him on the television, too. No wonder he

    looks familiar. He''s one of Asia''s young and very talented pianists who won countless international

    awards. Additionally, he even attended a United Nations conference as a representative of China''s

    distinguished youth. He''s so well known that not even an average celebrity can bepared to him.

    ¡°So, you''re the pianist, Mr. Rong. No wonder you look so refined,¡± shemented.

    ¡°Thanks for yourpliments. You''re very pretty, Ms. Ning. I''ve watched your movies before.¡± A

    pleasant smile returned to Rong Yi''s face.

    She liked seeing him smile because it felt very amicable to her. Crap, am I swooning over him? Why do

    I feel this way?

    The restaurant wasn''t big at all. It was also pretty quiet, likely because the whole building had been

    booked.

    When they all sat at a table, Ning Ran stared at Rong Yi a couple more times. The more she did, the

    more she took a liking to him.

    She didn''t simply like him. It was something different, more profound. Perhaps it was more appropriate

    to describe it as admiration.

    It was then Lu Jingyuan arrived. The restaurant became livelier after the three women reunited.

    Since there was still time before the dishes were served, the three of them started chatting. As for Nan

    Chen and Rong Yi, since they weren''t familiar with each other, they barely exchanged a word.

    ¡°How about we go out for a walk?¡± Nan Chen suggested on his own ord.

    ncing at Nan Chen''s leg, Rong Yi asked, ¡°Are you going to be okay?¡±

    ¡°I''m fine. It''s just a temporary injury. I can still move.¡±

    After the two men left, the women exchanged nces with each other.

    ¡°I didn''t know your brother''s a famous pianist. Why did you never mention it before?¡± Ning Ran asked

    excitedly.

    ¡°You didn''t ask. Besides, my brother doesn''t like it when I mention his name. He said he''s not a

    musician, just a guy whose one of his hobbies is ying the piano,¡± Rong Rong answered.

    ¡°Your brother''s a very likable person, Rong Rong. He''s also very gentlemanly,¡± Lu Jingyuan

    commented.

    Whew! It seems like I''m not swooning over him after all. He''s simply just that charismatic. Even Lu

    Jingyuan said so! Hearing that made Ning Ran feel at ease.

    A smirk was set on Rong Rong''s face. ¡°My brother''s the type of person who almost never scolds

    anyone. In fact, he never reprimanded me in any way, not even a little bit. I also think my brother''s very

    likable, haha.¡±

    ¡°His talent for ying the piano is astounding! I attended his recital in the capital during the Lunar New

    Year, and I have to say, he was so good,¡± Lu Jingyuan added.

    Wow, she went to Rong Yi''s recital before, too. It seems like I''m the only one here who has never heard

    him y the piano before. I guess I have to admit I did belong in a lower ss in the past, Ning Ran

    thought.

    Abruptly, Rong Rong pleaded, ¡°Oh yeah, can you two persuade my brotherter to let me stay in this

    city? I still want to sing here until I have to return when school starts again.¡±

    Ning Ran and Lu Jingyuan exchanged a nce. This is going to be difficult. We may be friends, but we

    only just met not too long ago. I don''t think we should interfere with her family matters.

    ¡°I know what you two are thinking, but my brother''s an open-minded person! He''ll be willing to listen to

    you two,¡± Rong Rong assured anxiously.

    In response, Ning Ran asked, ¡°Then why not convince him yourself? Why us?¡±

    ¡°That''s right.¡± Lu Jingyuan nodded slightly. ¡°Why do you need us to convince him when you can do it

    yourself? It''s your family matter. I don''t think it''s okay for us to intervene.¡±

    ¡°My brother''s simply worried about my safety, but he''ll agree to let me stay if you two appeal to him on

    my behalf,¡± Rong Rong answered.

    With a nod, Ning Ran replied, ¡°Your brother''s right to worry about you. It really isn''t safe for a girl like

    you to sing in a bar alone. Besides, your brother''s a pianist, and your family''s not in any financial

    trouble. Why don''t you want to go back with him?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Only those who struggle to pay the bills will choose to sing at a bar. Why do you want to stay

    here?¡± Lu Jingyuan was of the same opinion as Ning Ran.

    Rong Rong wailed, ¡°It''s not because I have financial issues. I just like singing! I also like a small city

    like this and the slow-paced life here. Yeah, there are thugs here, but what city doesn''t have thugs?

    What bar doesn''t have any unsavory people visiting it? What''s so bad about staying at a ce like that,

    anyway? I get to meet different people from all walks of life. If I hadn''te to Livingsfill, I wouldn''t

    have been able to meet you two!¡±

    She''s not wrong. But... Ning Ran and Lu Jingyuan exchanged a nce again before saying to each

    other in near-unison, ¡°You should do it!¡±

    They didn''t expect the other to be also unwilling to meddle with other people''s affairs and wanted

    someone else to do it stand.

    That was why they chuckled when they ended their sentences.

    ¡°Don''tugh! I''m being serious here. You two must help me out.¡± Rong Rong stared at them with puppy

    eyes.

    ¡°You are really making it difficult for us, Rong. If I knew you wanted me to do this, I wouldn''t havee

    at all. This is clearly a trap.¡± A sigh escaped Ning Ran''s mouth.

    ¡°Yeah, this is too cruel. We''re here for a meal, not settling your business for you.¡± Lu Jingyuan grinned.

    A tinge of disappointment was heard in Rong Rong''s voice. ¡°I''m merely asking you two for help. It''s not

    a threat or anything. If you two are unwilling to help out, then forget about it.¡±

    ¡°We''ll see how things go and give it a tryter, I guess,¡± Ning Ran promised.

    While the women were having a great time conversing with each other, the men outside weren''t.

    They stood silently under a tree outside of the restaurant for two minutes.

    The scene was very peculiar. No one wanted to be the first to speak.

    In the end, Nan Chen, who usually disliked chatters, was the one to break the silence. ¡°I hope our

    meeting here is just a coincidence.¡±

    ¡°I hope the same, too,¡± Rong Yi replied.

    While their conversation sounded very odd and seemingly nonsensical, those two intelligent men knew

    their verbal exchange was pretty much over because all they needed to say had been said.

    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    The seemingly ordinary sentences they uttered actually contained an immense amount of information

    that couldn''t beprehended fully without knowledge about their family backgrounds.

    Many years ago, the Nan family wasn''t the only one dominating Flower City. There was also the Rong

    family.

    Despite the two powerful families upying the same territory, peace was maintained for a very long

    time.

    However, it didn''tst. A violent, malignantpetition broke out between the two families, turning

    them into sworn enemies.

    In the end, Prosperity Holdings lost, and they had to relocate their headquarters away from Flower City.

    For many years, little was heard about them.

    Back then, Nan Chen was still only a boy. He had no idea what had happened. He asked his

    grandfather about it, but the old man refused to give him a detailed answer, only saying that the two

    families were enemies.

    Thus, he sincerely had no idea what went wrong between the two families.

    The real meaning behind Nan Chen''s words was, ifid out in in terms, ¡°I hope it''s just a coincidence

    that I met you in Livingsfill and not because you''re here to attack my loved ones.¡±

    Rong Yi''s words meant more or less the same thing, which was he hoped Nan Chen wasn''t there to

    target his sister.

    Thet wes why they chuckled when they ended their sentences.

    ¡°Don''t leugh! I''m being serious here. You two must help me out.¡± Rong Rong stered et them with puppy

    eyes.

    ¡°You ere reelly meking it difficult for us, Rong. If I knew you wented me to do this, I wouldn''t hevee

    et ell. This is cleerly e trep.¡± A sigh esceped Ning Ren''s mouth.

    ¡°Yeeh, this is too cruel. We''re here for e meel, not settling your business for you.¡± Lu Jingyuen grinned.

    A tinge of diseppointment wes heerd in Rong Rong''s voice. ¡°I''m merely esking you two for help. It''s not

    e threet or enything. If you two ere unwilling to help out, then forget ebout it.¡±

    ¡°We''ll see how things go end give it e try leter, I guess,¡± Ning Ren promised.

    While the women were heving e greet time conversing with eech other, the men outside weren''t.

    They stood silently under e tree outside of the resteurent for two minutes.

    The scene wes very peculier. No one wented to be the first to speek.

    In the end, Nen Chen, who usuelly disliked chetters, wes the one to breek the silence. ¡°I hope our

    meeting here is just e coincidence.¡±

    ¡°I hope the seme, too,¡± Rong Yi replied.

    While their conversetion sounded very odd end seemingly nonsensicel, those two intelligent men knew

    their verbel exchenge wes pretty much over beceuse ell they needed to sey hed been seid.

    The seemingly ordinery sentences they uttered ectuelly conteined en immense emount of informetion

    thet couldn''t beprehended fully without knowledge ebout their femily beckgrounds.

    Meny yeers ego, the Nen femily wesn''t the only one doming Flower City. There wes elso the Rong

    femily.

    Despite the two powerful femilies upying the seme territory, peece wes meinteined for e very long

    time.

    However, it didn''t lest. A violent, melignentpetition broke out between the two femilies, turning

    them into sworn enemies.

    In the end, Prosperity Holdings lost, end they hed to relocete their heedquerters ewey from Flower City.

    For meny yeers, little wes heerd ebout them.

    Beck then, Nen Chen wes still only e boy. He hed no idee whet hed heppened. He esked his

    grendfether ebout it, but the old men refused to give him e deteiled enswer, only seying thet the two

    femilies were enemies.

    Thus, he sincerely hed no idee whet went wrong between the two femilies.

    The reel meening behind Nen Chen''s words wes, if leid out in plein terms, ¡°I hope it''s just e coincidence

    thet I met you in Livingsfill end not beceuse you''re here to etteck my loved ones.¡±

    Rong Yi''s words meent more or less the seme thing, which wes he hoped Nen Chen wesn''t there to

    terget his sister.

 Chapter 663

    Chapter 663

    After the dishes were served, Nan Chen and Rong Yi returned to the building.

    Nan Chen''s expression remained darkened. It was hard to tell what he was feeling.

    On the other hand, the look in Rong Yi''s eyes remained gentle, as though nothing had happened at all.

    They were both handsome men, yet their styles werepletely different.

    They could just sit at the table motionlessly and still be pleasing to the eyes.

    Furthermore, there were three beautifuldies, Ning Ran, Lu Jingyuan, and Rong Rong, at the same

    table. Together, they formed a very attractive group of people. It was a visual feast for the waiters who

    served them food.

    ¡°Thank you all for taking care of my sister.¡± Rong Yi lifted his wine ss.

    Aside from Nan Chen, the others did the same.

    Rong Yi''s toasting us right now. Why does Nan Chen refuse to move? I don''t get why he''s being so

    rude right now. He''s a CEO who must''ve attended all sorts of events before, so there''s no way he

    doesn''t know about basic social etiquette. Even if he dislikes someone, he should still raise his ss

    when someone''s toasting. Ning Ran nced at Nan Chen, gesturing for him to lift his ss.

    It was then Nan Chen slowly informed, ¡°I can''t drink alcohol right now due to my body''s condition. Can

    you grab me a cup of water instead?¡±

    Then he nonverbally asked her to fetch a ss of water for him.

    Really? He drank wine with mest night. Besides, his injury''s an external one, and he''s not taking any

    medicine anymore, so why can''t he drink? Doesn''t he know responding to a toast is a sign of

    politeness? It''s not like he must drink. Still, I suppose he has his own reasons for refusing to. With no

    other choice, she poured him a ss of water before delivering it to him.

    After they exchanged pleasantries, they started eating.

    Ning Ran ate the most. While others were thinking about different things, she was the only one who

    paidplete attention to the gourmet food.

    It was then Rong Rong nced at her and coughed lightly, as if she was saying, ¡°Don''t only just focus

    on the food. Remember to bring up the matter I asked you to help me with!¡±

    If not for her reminder, Ning Ran wouldn''t have recalled she needed to persuade Rong Yi together with

    Lu Jingyuan to let Rong Rong stay in the city.

    Without dy, Ning Ran ced her cutlery down because it would be rude to speak while eating.

    ¡°Are you here solely to visit your sister, Mr. Rong?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Yes. I''m worried about her staying here by herself. So, I came to check up on her,¡± Rong Yi answered.

    ¡°Does this mean you won''t be leaving here with her that quickly?¡±

    ¡°She''s not safe here. My father''s the one who asked me to pick her up and send her back home.¡± A

    kindly smile formed on his face.

    ¡°Can you not do it? We only befriended each other not too long ago. If you bring her home now, we

    won''t be able to spend time together.¡±

    Nan Chen''s expression suddenly turned cold as he red at Ning Ran.

    That confounded her. Did I say something wrong? Rong Rong was the one who asked me to persuade

    her brother, so I did. It''s great if he agrees, but it''s not like I''ll get upset if he doesn''t. Why does Nan

    Chen have to stare at me like this?

    ¡°I think so, too. Rong''s happy here, so why not let her stay for a bit longer? What happenedst time

    was an ident. I promise something like that won''t happen again.¡± Lu Jingyuan also voiced her

    support.

    Hearing her say that eased Ning Ran''s stress.

    However, Nan Chen continued to stare at her, gesturing for her to keep her mouth shut.

    It puzzled her greatly. Why shouldn''t I say anything? What does he mean? Is he jealous because I''m

    talking to Rong Yi too much? That doesn''t make sense because I''ve only spoken two sentences to

    Rong Yi.

    With a cordial grin, Rong Yi replied, ¡°It seems like you two really like my sister. However, the school''s

    about to start soon, so it''s time for her to return. She''ll have plenty of opportunities to meet with you two

    again in the future.¡±

    ¡°Considering school hasn''t started yet, what''s the harm of letting her stay? It''s not like it''ll be toote for

    her to leave when it does. She can make it in time,¡± Ning Ran persuaded.

    Unable to hold himself back any longer, Nan Chen questioned, ¡°Why are you butting into other people''s

    matters, Ning Ran?¡±

    His abrupt remark embarrassed her.

    Thus, she smiled awkwardly and responded, ¡°We''re friends, so I thought I could casually mention it.¡±

    ¡°Well, you mustn''t,¡± he said coldly.

    It made the atmosphere even more awkward as she cursed him in her mind. What the h*ll is he doing?

    Why is he reprimanding me in front of so many people like I''m a child? Have I lost my freedom to

    speak? Why does he care?

    Ning Ran wanted to retort Nan Chen, but doing it in front of others would undoubtedly render the

    atmosphere stiffer.

    Hence, her only option was to stifle her dissatisfaction.

    Rong Yi broke the silence as he smirked. ¡°Thank you for showing so much care to my sister, Ms. Ning.

    I''ll take your suggestion into consideration.¡±

    ¡°There''s no need to consider it. This is your family matter. You should make a choice yourself,¡± Nan

    Chen spat frigidly.

    That didn''t bother Rong Yi. His smile remained, though he kept quiet.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    ¡°Fine, I overstepped my boundaries. I shouldn''t have interfered with other people''s matters. I''m sorry,¡±

    Ning Ran apologized.

    ¡°Don''t say that, Ran.¡± Rong Rong couldn''t bear to stay silent anymore.

    Turning to her brother, she rified, ¡°I was the one who asked the two of them to persuade you on my

    behalf. It''s rare for me toe across people like them, so I want to stay here for a little longer before I

    leave. I promise I''ll return before school starts.¡±

    Nodding, Rong Yi assured, ¡°I know what you mean. It''s not like I vehemently oppose the idea. Later, I''ll

    call Dad and discuss the matter with him.¡±

    Upon hearing that, Ning Ran shot a nce at Nan Chen. See! You were overthinking it. He doesn''t

    mind at all!

    The atmosphere didn''t return to normal after that quarrel.

    Everyone chatted for a longer while before leaving.

    On the way back, Ning Ran couldn''t help but ask, ¡°I know you''re the owner of my agency, but that

    doesn''t mean you can control everything I do, Mr. Chen. I''m not a child. Why can''t I talk to my friends?¡±

    Saying that out loud after keeping it inside her heart for so long made her feel really good.

    ¡°You''re the one at fault, to begin with,¡± Nan Chen answered coldly.

    She sneered, ¡°Oh, so it''s my fault just because you said so? Are you a judge? If you say I''m guilty, then

    I am?¡±

    ¡°Of course. If I say you''re wrong, you''re wrong.¡±

    ¡°You''re just going to be unreasonable, huh? Fine. So what if I''m wrong? I''m happy to be wrong. Why do

    you care?¡± Ning Ran also responded stubbornly.

    ¡°Haven''t you already gotten into trouble once? Do you want it to happen again? Is that why you don''t

    want me to care? Rong Yi was already suspecting your intention of approaching his sister. He was

    afraid you''d hurt her, yet you still asked her to stay! What if something does happen to his sister in

    Livingsfill, hmm? Can you bear the consequences? Do you realize how foolish you are?¡± His

    exmation was brimming with fury.

    ¡°He isn''t suspecting me! Don''t judge others by your measures! Not everyone''s as suspicious as you!¡±

    ¡°You''re not him, so how do you know he''s not suspecting you?¡±

    ¡°I can say the same about you! How do you know he''s suspecting me when you''re not him?¡±

    ¡°I''m done wasting my breath squabbling with you. This is a dumb argument!¡± Disdain was sandwiched

    between his words.

    ¡°That''s fine with me! You''re the one who wants to control and correct every single word thates out

    of my mouth! I hate it when you do this!¡± Ning Ran''s heart was burning with anger.

 Chapter 664

    Chapter 664

    ¡°Do you know who Rong Yi is?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    Annoyed, Ning Ran replied, ¡°He''s Rong Rong''s brother, a young pianist. Isn''t that obvious?¡±

    ¡°Why did you butt into their family matters when you only have a surface-level understanding of him?¡±

    ¡°Then what else do I need to understand? Do I need to figure out his blood type and his horoscope?¡±

    Nan Chen was so infuriated that he couldn''t utter a word. All he did was re at Ning Ran coldly with

    slightly trembling lips.

    Seeing him that angry made her feel a tad guilty. He''s really livid. Is he going to hit me? He won''t, right?

    ¡°What I mean is, I didn''t think it was necessary for me to understand him that much.¡± She hastily

    backtracked on her stance a little.

    Then, she recalled something and asked, ¡°What did you two talk about when you both went outside?¡±

    ¡°Only now you remember that?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, you two seem to recognize each other. Not only that, but you were hostile toward him. What''s

    going on?¡±

    ¡°I''m not familiar with him. I initially thought he was just a normal musician when I attended his recital.

    His music was something I enjoyed listening to.¡±

    ¡°But then you found out something abnormal about him?¡±

    ¡°A while ago, I shorted many shares of Ouyang Duo''s overseas listedpanies. Then, someone kept

    buying them. When I asked people to check who was doing it, the trail they discovered pointed them to

    an offshorepany owned by Rong Yi.¡±

    That shocked Ning Ran.

    While she wasn''t knowledgeable about the business industry, she still knew the basics. ¡°So, you''re

    saying he took advantage of the situation when you were trying to lower the stock price? Is he trying to

    buy low and sell high? Or is he holding onto it long-term? Maybe he''s trying to be a major shareholder

    in Sunshine Corporation?¡±

    ¡°I don''t know yet. Meanwhile, he even bought Century za in Flower City and turned it into an office

    of the Rong family.¡±

    ¡°Isn''t that building really old by now? Why did he buy that one instead of the many other pristine

    buildings in the financial district?¡± Ning Ran was even more perplexed.

    ¡°I''m d you found it odd because it means you''re not stupid beyond saving. Anyway, this is the crux of

    the matter. I asked my grandfather about it, and he told me Century za used to be thendmark

    building of Flower City. It was also initially where Prosperity Holdings'' office was located. Right now,

    Prosperity Holdings is the third most powerfulpany in the province. However, it still can''t be

    compared to Sunshine Corporation at all, which is in second ce, much less Nanshi Corporation at

    the top. The Rong family had been keeping a low profile over the years. They rarely appeared in the

    news and have almost been forgotten by everyone in the business industry. However, they didn''t

    disappear. They''ve been developing in secret. Otherwise, they wouldn''t have had the funds to buy

    Sunshine Corporation''s shares.¡±

    That sounds reallyplex. I''m having a bit of a hard time understanding everything, she thought.

    ¡°In the past, Prosperity Holdings'' headquarters was located in Flower City. They left because they lost

    the fight against Nanshi Corporation. Now that they''ve bought back their old office building and

    renovated it, their intentions are clear.¡±

    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°They''re making aeback, then?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I''m d you aren''t that stupid.¡±

    ¡°Can''t you be nicer with your words, Mr. Chen?¡±

    ¡°Back to Rong Yi, while he gives people the impression that he''s a gentle and harmless musician, he

    was like a wolf when he bought those shares. His rhythm of control was excellent and very steady. He

    knew very well what he was doing. I''d say his skills put him in the top five in the country. Even though

    he pretends only to be a musician, he''s actually building up his family''spany in secret and buying a

    massive amount of Sunshine Corporation''s shares. And now, he''s helping his family to return to Flower

    City. Do you still think he''s an innocent musician?¡±

    ¡°It sounds like he''s a prince with aplicated backstory. Prosperity Holdings was kicked out of Flower

    City by the Nan family back then?¡±

    ¡°You can say that. Our families hold a very strong grudge against each other. That was what my

    grandfather said, at least. He also emphasized it wasn''t just any ordinary grudge, but he wouldn''t say

    what it was about.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I see. I get it now.¡± Ning Ran suddenly felt enlightened.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Your families are hostile toward each other, so you and Rong Yi are constantly on guard against one

    another. You''re concerned he came to Livingsfill to hurt our children and me. On the other hand, he

    was worried we were targeting his sister when you arrived in Livingsfill and that I befriended her. He

    may even suspect what happened during that night at the bar was something we came up with, right?¡±

    Nan Chen nodded. ¡°Now, do you still think what you did was right? Asking him to keep his sister here

    when he''s prepared to take her away? What you did earlier reinforced his assumption that you

    approached his sister for ulterior motives.¡±

    ¡°How would I know there were so many things going on in the background? If he truly suspected me,

    then yes, I shouldn''t have intervened, but you didn''t tell me about any of this beforehand.¡±

    ¡°I didn''t know that girl was Rong Yi''s younger sister before I came. If I did, I wouldn''t have allowed you

    to approach her. The bad blood between the Rong family and the Nan family is so intense that anyone

    who has ties to one side will be at risk of danger if they get too close to the other side. If Rong Rong is

    injured in Livingsfill now, Rong Yi will suspect you because of your rtionship with me.¡±

    Ning Ran nodded. ¡°Then you''re right. I was wrong. If anything happens to Rong Rong, I''ll be med for

    it. I shouldn''t have done that.¡±

    ¡°It was foolish of you to continue even after I tried stopping you.¡±

    Being scolded by Nan Chen ticked her off, but she couldn''t retort to that.

    After all, he did try to stop her by giving her looks. She thought he was being unreasonable back then

    because she didn''t know about the convoluted history between the two families.

    ¡°How do I salvage this?¡± Ning Ran inquired.

    ¡°There''s no way to. If he believes you did it intentionally, then so be it. His thoughts belong to him

    alone. Neither the Nan family nor I am scared of him,¡± Nan Chen uttered coldly.

    ¡°So I can''t be friends with Rong anymore?¡± It saddened her toe to that conclusion.

    ¡°I think you can. After all, the bad blood is between the previous generation of the two families, and

    your family name isn''t Nan. However, there''s nothing you can do if the Rong family doubts you due to

    your rtionship with me.¡±

    The fact that he didn''t stop Ning Ran from remaining friends with Rong Rong made her quite happy.

    ¡°Okay, I''ll deal with this properly.¡±

    Meanwhile, at the Ouyang vi in Pearl City, Ouyang Qi had just parked his car and entered the

    residence.

    It had been a while since he returned from Flower City.

    He built Orchid Club in Flower City because he wanted his family to rece the Nan family as the most

    powerful family in the city.

    However, things ended up with Ouyang Qing getting thrown into prison while Ouyang Duo became a

    fugitive, with his whereabouts still unknown.

    The Ouyang family, once doing well, was suddenly plunged into a crisis.

    When Ouyang Qi entered the building, he saw it was a mess inside. Dozens of luggage were scattered

    across the floor.

    A woman descended the stairs. She resembled Ouyang Qing, but not as pretty.

    She was Ouyang Duo''s eldest daughter and Ouyang Qi''s older sister, Ouyang Li.

    Even though she was the deputy CEO of Sunshine Corporation, she wasn''t as famous as Ouyang

    Qing.

 Chapter 665

    Chapter 665

    Ouyang Qing attended a prestigious institution, whereas Ouyang Li was a student at a typical university

    of finance and economics. After graduating, she was an average employee at Sunshine Corporation,

    always keeping a low profile and avoiding public scrutiny.

    ¡°I''m back, Li. Why are you packing your bags? Are you leaving?¡± Ouyang Qi asked.

    ¡°Where''s Mom?¡± Ouyang Li asked. ¡°Isn''t she out?¡±

    ¡°Yes, she is, but she remained in Flower City. Dad is missing, and she wants to stay to find out if the

    Nan family has taken him,¡± he exined.

    She didn''t say a word and continued packing.

    ¡°Where are you going, Li? You can''t leave. Our family is falling apart. What will happen to Mom and me

    if you leave?¡± Ouyang Qi said.

    ¡°Mom and Dad have always favored Ouyang Qing more. Am I only important now during a critical

    situation?¡± Ouyang Li sneered.

    What she said was the truth. In the Ouyang family, Ouyang Qi was ipetent, while Ouyang Li

    lacked beauty and aplishments. Thus, their parents preferred Ouyang Qing, who was both

    beautiful and intelligent.

    Ouyang Duo was permanently in Flower City, scheming to bring down the Nan family, leaving Ouyang

    Li to manage the affairs in Pearl City.

    It became the norm for her to handle these matters as time passed.

    She didn''t utter a singleint, and Ouyang Qing continued being the belle of the family.

    Everyone seemed to have forgotten that the Ouyang family had two daughters, only remembering

    Ouyang Qing.

    ¡°Li, I know you have made a lot of sacrifices for the family, and Mom and Dad are wrong to treat you

    that way, but you can''t leave now,¡± Ouyang Qi advised.

    ¡°Why can''t I? The Nan family resides in Flower City. How should I seek revenge for our family if I

    stayed in Pearl City?¡± Ouyang Li retorted.

    ¡°You''re going to Flower City? To retaliate against the Nan family?¡± He was surprised.

    Although Ouyang Li wasn''t as inept as him, she was sockluster that he didn''t think she would wish to

    exact vengeance.

    ¡°Li, I do not wish to speak ill of Dad, but he has done awful things to the Nan family. They didn''t even

    show mercy to their youngest child and brought this upon themselves. This revenge...¡±

    ¡°Whatever he did, he''s dead now, and I have to avenge him,¡± Ouyang Li said casually, which came as a

    shock to Ouyang Qi.

    ¡°What did you say? Dad is dead?¡±

    She pointed to a corner in the room. ¡°His ashes are there.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    He rushed over and saw a portrait of Ouyang Duo. There was an urn, incense, and candles in front of

    it.

    ¡°What is going on? Didn''t Dad run away? This can''t be real. It can''t be...¡± He almost lost it.

    ¡°It happened while he was fleeing to the border. His body was returned home by a friend. I had it

    cremated and brought his ashes home,¡± she replied.

    Ouyang Qi lost his mind and hugged the urn to himself, sobbing loudly.

    Ouyang Li maintained an even expression. ¡°Do you still think revenge is unnecessary? Should we let

    him die in vain?¡±

    His throat constricted with grief, and he passed out from weeping.

    When he regained consciousness, he noticed she was still packing her luggage.

    ¡°Shouldn''t we have a funeral for Dad?¡± He couldn''t wrap his head around her unemotional behavior. It

    wasn''t even calm anymore, just pure indifference.

    ¡°Why should we, when we haven''t gotten revenge for him? He failed to carry out his plot and paid with

    his life. It''s embarrassing if others find out. Dad is a fugitive now. No one will sympathize with him or

    attend his funeral. I have selected a burial plot. We shall bury him after performing a few modest rites

    at his cemetery. He''s gone and will never return, no matter how much you cry. The living is more

    important.¡±

    Ouyang Qi was unable to refute Ouyang Li''s logic, but he still thought she was being too apathetic.

    ¡°Why didn''t you inform Mom and me about this? Would you have buried Dad without our knowledge if I

    hadn''t returned?¡± He was a little disheartened.

    ¡°What good would telling you do besides causing more hurt? Would Dade back to life if you and

    Mom had known?¡± Ouyang Li hurled back.

    ¡°But we''re his family...¡±

    ¡°So, why didn''t you protect him in Flower City? Why did you allow the Nan family to vanquish him?¡±

    Ouyang Qi couldn''t answer her.

    ¡°Dad''s death is the result of his failure as much as your ipetence. Every single one of you is

    useless and smug. So quit crying. Why didn''t you do something earlier? If crying could solve problems,

    then everyone should be hugging themselves and suffering. But does it solve anything?¡± Ouyang Li

    asked.

    A deste aura emanated from Ouyang Qi as he realized his sister suddenly seemed unfamiliar and

    frightening.

    Has she always been this way, and no one noticed it, or did Dad''s passing trigger the switch in her?

    ¡°I think we should tell Mom and postpone the burial until she arrives,¡± he said.

    ¡°Do as you wish. I''ll leave this to you now that you''re back. I have more pressing matters to attend to,¡±

    Ouyang Li replied coldly.

    ¡°What will you do?¡±

    ¡°I''ve said it¡ªI will seek revenge for Dad.¡±

    ¡°How? By blowing up the Nan residence? Ouyang Qing tried it, and you still want to tear your way in?¡±

    Ouyang Li eyed him, her tone icy. ¡°Don''tpare me with Ouyang Qing. I''m not as stupid as her.¡±

    The phone rang as soon as she finished speaking, and she walked away to answer it.

    After hanging up, she scribbled a phone number on a piece of paper and handed it to him.

    ¡°This is the cemetery''s number, and they have also arranged for a priest. Contact them when you''re

    ready for the burial. Leave the ashes if you don''t want a burial. They''re not going to rot anyway.¡±

    Coldness seeped through his bones at her words, devoid of any warmth as if a stranger had passed

    rather than her biological father.

    ¡°I have something to do, so I''m heading out now.¡± With that, she left, and the sound of the car ignition

    turning on could be heard from outside.

    Ouyang Li strode into a clubhouse in Pearl City a few minutester and saw a stylishly dressed young

    woman.

    She was beautiful, with big eyes and an oval face. Her features were near perfect, but her expression

    was cial.

    ¡°Are you Ouyang Li?¡± She raised her head and nced at her.

    ¡°So you''re Jin Fei, huh?¡± Ouyang Li returned.

    ¡°Watch your tone,¡± Jin Fei warned arrogantly.

    ¡°I''d like to know how my dad died,¡± Ouyang Li asked.

    ¡°Didn''t I tell you that he got into a car ident while escaping to the border? My husband is a friend of

    your dad''s, and we brought his remains home. Are you using us of having a hand in your dad''s

    death with these questions?¡± Jin Fei came face to face with Ouyang Li and stared her down.

 Chapter 666

    Chapter 666

    ¡°Yes, I''m suspicious of that,¡± Ouyang Li admitted.

    ¡°If we were the ones who caused your dad''s death, we would have just tossed his corpse into the

    wilderness. Why would we bother to send it all the way back and let you think that we are the culprits?

    There''s no need for us to do that.¡±

    ¡°It''s precisely because it''s suspicious that I''m seeking rification. It''s not that I don''t believe you. I''m

    grateful that you brought his body back, but I have the right to get to the bottom of this.¡±

    ¡°You have the right to ask, and I''ve already given you a clear answer. My husband was your dad''s

    friend. He''s helping you because he''s loyal. Do you understand now?¡±

    The woman called Jin Fei was very arrogant, and it was extremely annoying.

    Ouyang Li disliked her too. However, as Jin Fei mentioned she could help her get revenge, Ouyang Li

    had to tolerate her behavior.

    ¡°What do you need me to do now?¡±

    ¡°Buy a film productionpany and invest in the filming of a movie. I want Huang Zichao to be the

    male lead, Zheng Lunlun to be the supporting male lead, and Ning Ran to be the supporting female

    lead.¡±

    ¡°Invest in a movie? I''ve never done that, and Sunshine Corporation doesn''t usually dabble in film.¡±

    ¡°That doesn''t mean you can''t do it, right? I''lle up with the money while you are in charge of the

    operations. It doesn''t really matter if the movie turns a profit or not. The money is mine, after all, so it''s

    fine even if we make a loss,¡± Jin Fei responded.

    Upon hearing that, Ouyang Li was even more confused. Making a profit was the end goal of producing

    a movie. Why would she not care if it didn''t?

    ¡°Why do you want to do this?¡±

    ¡°Don''t ask so many questions, and just do as you''re told. The movie''s budget will be three hundred

    million and can be increased if needed. I want a lot of celebrities to star in the movie. You''ll be

    responsible for coordinating the production. As for the rest, you may leave it to the professionals,¡± Jin

    Fei said.

    ¡°You''ve mentioned who you want to y the supporting characters, but you didn''t say who would be

    ying the female lead.¡±

    Jin Fei scoffed coldly. ¡°Do you even have to ask? Of course, I''ll be the lead. I wouldn''t invest so much

    money or be unbothered about whether it will turn a profit otherwise.¡±

    So, she''s spending this much money to make herself famous? But isn''t the point of being famous

    getting rich? Why would she go through all this trouble if she''s already loaded?

    Ouyang Li could not understand her motives. However, she knew that even if she asked, Jin Fei would

    not give her an honest answer.

    ¡°Is this how you want me to repay you for bringing back my dad''s body? If I do this for you, we''ll be

    even?¡± Ouyang Li asked.

    ¡°Are you in that much of a hurry to not owe any favors? The Nan family didn''t directly cause your

    father''s death. But if it weren''t for them, he would still be alive. I promised that I would help you get

    revenge on the condition that you follow my instructions. Now that your father is gone, many people will

    be trying to seize power over Sunshine Corporation. If I''m not here to help you, you definitely wouldn''t

    be able to keep what your father left behind. Therefore, if you want to take revenge, you will need my

    support,¡± Jin Fei replied.

    ¡°That won''t be necessary. I don''t need anyone''s support.¡± Ouyang Li surprisingly turned down her offer.

    ¡°Oh? You''ve got some guts. Why don''t you give it a try, then?¡±

    A weekter, Nan Chen returned to Flower City from Livingsfill and resumed his endlessly busy life.

    After the morning meeting ended, Nan Chen went back to his office and was greeted by Jiang Zhe,

    who had bought lunch for him.

    As he had been insanely busytely, he had been returning home in the wee hours of the morning and

    making do with whatever he could for lunch.

    Ever since he came back from Livingsfill, he had not eaten a proper meal.

    Nan Chen opened the lunch box, took a look at its contents, and frowned. ¡°Take it away. I don''t want to

    eat this.¡±

    ¡°Is it not to your liking?¡± Jiang Zhe asked cautiously.

    ¡°No, I just don''t want to eat this. Take it away.¡±

    Jiang Zhe could only do as he was told. ¡°But you can''t just have coffee. You must eat something, or it

    will damage your stomach.¡±

    After thinking about it, Nan Chen felt that what he said made sense. ¡°Give it to me.¡±

    He took back the lunch box and had a few mouthfuls of food.

    ¡°Is it because you''re used to eating Ms. Ding''s food that you''re unable to stomach someone else''s?¡±

    Jiang Zhe asked.

    Nan Chen red at him, which instantly made him shut up.

    ¡°By the way, the manager from Star Entertainment visited earlier, but you were still in a meeting. The

    visit was about Ms. Ding. Apany called Mountain Studios would like to invite her to star in a movie.

    They are offering a twenty-million contract. This is the most valuable contract that has been offered

    ever since Ms. Ding''s debut. The manager from Star Entertainment would like to know if you n on

    taking on this movie.¡±

    ¡°Twenty million?¡±

    Nan Chen was shocked when he heard the amount they were offering. It was not a huge amount to

    him, but it was to a newly debuted star like Ning Ran.

    The film industry was currently suffering as many major studios did not have any filming material.

    Ning Ran had only won one neer award, and someone was already willing to offer her that much

    money to star in a movie. It was amazing, indeed.

    ¡°What will the film be like? What''s the genre? Have they sent over the contract?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°That is still in discussion, and the contract is not ready yet. But I heard that it''s a fantasy film. As it

    concerns Ms. Ding, Mountain Studios would like to know if we will agree to sign with them.¡±

    ¡°Why are you asking me when the details have not been sorted out yet? I won''t be able to answer.

    She''s currently filming a show. Will there be schedule shes? What will the film be like? Who will be

    the sponsors? You haven''t sorted out these details, yet you''re asking me that question?¡±

    ¡°I will rify with them and give you an update,¡± Jiang Zhe said.

    Then, he added, ¡°Actually, I don''t think it is necessary to work with them, which is why I am reporting

    this to you...¡±

    Nan Chen gave him a look that said, ¡°Exin yourself.¡±

    ¡°I heard that they want Ms. Ding to y the second female lead. The payment is pretty high, but I feel

    that you won''t agree to have Ms. Ding y the second female lead,¡± Jiang Zhe expressed his opinion.

    ¡°So, why did you even ask me? Of course, we''ll turn the offer down. Even if they offer a hundred

    million, I won''t agree to let her be cast as the second female lead!¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°Understood. I will call Star Entertainment right away and let them know,¡± Jiang Zhe responded.

    As expected of someone who had been Nan Chen''s assistant for many years, he knew Nan Chen very

    well.

    As soon as he heard that they were offering her the second female lead role, he knew that Nan Chen

    would refuse.

    Not long after Jiang Zhe left the office, Nan Chen''s phone rang. It was Ning Ran.

    This is from N?velDrama.Org.

    Nan Chen answered the call and heard some static from the other end of the line. He guessed that

    Ning Ran was probably at the filming site.

    She did not usually call him while she was at work. For her to do that, something must have happened.

    Nan Chen could roughly guess what had happened. ¡°Aren''t you working?¡± he asked casually.

    ¡°I heard someone invited me to star in a movie. Oh my goodness, the payment will be around twenty

    million. Is that true?¡± Ning Ran''s voice was full of excitement.

    ¡°It''s not,¡± Nan Chen answered coldly.

    ¡°What? That''s impossible. Ou herself called to inform me about it. How could it be untrue?¡± Ning Ran

    was confused.

    ¡°You''re not a superstar. Do you think it''s possible that they will offer that much for you to star in their

    movie?¡±

    ¡°But they already contacted me, and Star Entertainment said that they were seeking your approval on

    this. I thought you already were informed of this, but I guess you haven''t.¡±

    ¡°There is no such thing. Focus on your filming. How are the children?¡±

    ¡°The children are well. Erbao is also at the filming site today, and she did very well. I think she will win

    the Best Neer Award...¡±

    ¡°Pass the phone to her. I want to talk to her,¡± Nan Chen interrupted.

    ¡°Okay. If anyone from Star Entertainment contacts you, you must agree to it. I don''t care what the film

    is like or what role I''ll be ying. I want to do it. Oh, my goodness. I''ll be paid millions...¡± It seemed like

    Ning Ran was truly excited.

 Chapter 667

    Chapter 667

    Meanwhile, the door of Orchid Club in Flower City, the high-end club where celebrities usually

    gathered, was closed.

    The closed sign had been hanging for several days.

    An ordinary mid-range car drove up to the entrance of the club. An average-looking woman in a regr

    outfit with a few freckles on her face got out of the vehicle.

    She was Ouyang Li, the eldest daughter of the Ouyang family and a youngdy whose existence

    always got overlooked.

    Ouyang Li stood at the door and nced at the que of Orchid Club with aplicated expression.

    She had long known that the Ouyang family had such a base in Flower City, but she had never been

    here, nor had anyone had the idea of taking her here before.

    And today, she was finally here. She wanted to reopen Orchid Club.

    She opened the door and was immediately dazzled by the interior''s luxury in front of her eyes.

    Her ordinary attire even seemed a little out of ce here.

    Feng Jialing walked out at the sound and asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡±

    Ouyang Li replied, ¡°Am I not weed?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. What are you here for?¡± Feng Jialing asked.

    ¡°I told you when Dad was buried two days ago that I want to move the headquarters of Sunshine

    Corporation to Flower City, but I haven''t got the approval of the board of directors yet. I''m here to

    discuss this matter with you.¡± Ouyang Li said indifferently.

    ¡°Moving the headquarters? Why?¡±

    ¡°That''s because I''m going to stay in Flower City for a long time. I will live here so that I can have the

    opportunity to avenge Dad. Don''t you also live here all the time?¡±

    ¡°I stay here only because Qing is serving her sentence here. I visit her from time to time and bring her

    stuff.¡±

    Ouyang Li sneered, ¡°You care so much for a prisoner. What an affectionate disy of motherly love.¡±

    ¡°Li, how can you say that about your sister? She is a prisoner now, but she is in this dilemma for the

    sake of the Ouyang family,¡± Feng Jialing eximed angrily.

    ¡°Are you sure she did all that for the Ouyang family but not for her own good? Her dream all along was

    to marry Nan Chen. Unfortunately, Nan Chen didn''t like her, so she went all down and dirty and finally

    doomed herself. Her stupidity not only led to the downfall of herself but also to Dad and the Ouyang

    family! I can''t believe you feel sorry for such a b*tch who is no help at all. What a joke...¡±

    Smack!

    After Ouyang Li said that, Feng Jialingnded a p on her cheek.

    Ouyang Li burst outughing. ¡°You pped me just because I said a few words about your precious

    daughter? Go on then, hit me more. You can vent your anger on me, but it won''t change the fact that

    you guys have failed!¡±

    ¡°You...¡± Feng Jialing trembled with fury.

    ¡°Ever since I was young, you have only seen Ouyang Qing as your daughter. I don''t mind it. But why

    are you still protecting her after she wrecked the Ouyang family? Are you nuts? Are you blind?¡±

    Ouyang Li roared.

    ¡°How dare you talk to me like this? I''m your mom!¡±

    ¡°Have you ever seen me as your daughter? Ouyang Qing went abroad to study while I joined the

    corporation as soon as I graduated. I started from the bottom and gradually climbed my way to the

    position of deputy CEO. Yet, you never praised me for my achievements. I have done so much in

    silence for the Ouyang family, but in your eyes, you can only see Ouyang Qing! I''ve told you guys

    before that Ouyang Qing can never achieve anything. You didn''t believe me. Look at how things are

    now. My dad even lost his life. Ouyang Qing is now in prison, and Ouyang Qi is nothing but a useless

    man. You can only rely on me now. Don''t you understand? How dare you hit me? Who do you think will

    look after you when you get old?¡± Ouyang Li flipped out and roared at Feng Jialing.

    Feng Jialing was taken aback. Her eldest daughter was usually taciturn. She didn''t expect her outburst.

    ¡°What do you want?¡± Feng Jialing asked.

    ¡°Let me ask you, do you want to revive Sunshine Corporation? Do you want to avenge Dad?¡± Ouyang

    Li pointed at Feng Jialing.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Now the stock price of Sunshine Corporation has plummeted to its lowest in five years. If it continues

    to fall like this, it will soon be deemed junk stock! Yet, you''re here doing nothing but cleaning. What''s

    the point?¡±

    ¡°What can I do? I don''t know how to run thepany. Over the years, your dad has not allowed me to

    interfere in thepany''s affairs. I can''t do anything now!¡±

    ¡°I know how to run thepany. I started from the bottom of thepany and worked my way up step

    by step. Do you believe that I know more about thepany''s business than my dad? You can only

    rely on me now! You have to listen to me. Move thepany''s headquarters from Pearl City. We don''t

    need to avoid the Nan family anymore. We will hang out under their noses and let them see that the

    Ouyang family''s Sunshine Corporation is still thriving!¡±

    Feng Jialing looked at her eldest daughter. The ever-so-inconspicuous Ouyang Li suddenly looked so

    unfamiliar to her.

    ¡°Are you sure it can work? Your dad had deliberately avoided going head-to-head with Nanshi

    Corporation for so many years, but he still lost in the end,¡± Feng Jialing expressed her doubts.

    ¡°Dad failed miserably because of the fear in his heart. I''m different. I''m not afraid of the Nan family and

    will defeat them. Besides, things have be different.¡± Ouyang Li scoffed.

    ¡°What''s that?¡±

    ¡°In the past, Flower City was dominated by Nanshi Corporation, but now it''s not. Prosperity Holdings

    has also returned to Flower City. Of course, they are aiming at Nanshi Corporation. If we also make our

    comeback, we can join forces with them andunch an attack on Nanshi Corporation. No matter how

    powerful Nanshi Corporation is, they are no match for us.¡±

    Feng Jialing pondered for a moment. ¡°But your dad had contacted the Rong family before and wanted

    to join forces with them, but they turned him away. They ignored us when your dad was still alive. Now

    that your dad is gone and Sunshine Corporation is at its low ebb, are you sure they will agree to work

    with us?¡±

    ¡°Time is different now. The Rong family did not agree before because they knew they had no chance of

    winning. They didn''t believe that Dad could defeat the Nan family. Most importantly, they were not

    ready at that time. They will not act rashly until they are ready. Now they have moved the headquarters

    back to Flower City. What does this tell us? They are ready now. Moreover, the Rong family had

    secretly acquired arge portion of Sunshine Corporation''s shares. They have now be the major

    shareholder of Sunshine Corporation. We now have the samemonality of interest. Naturally, they

    will join forces with us to deal with Nanshi Corporation!¡±

    Feng Jialing now looked at her eldest daughter in a new light. Thetter was so astute about the whole

    situation. Does she have other ns and ideas all along?

    ¡°How do you know about this?¡± Feng Jialing was stunned.

    ¡°You don''t have to worry about how it came to my knowledge. There is a problem now. If I want to do

    things ording to my wishes, then I must be in control of Sunshine Corporation. Dad had always

    been the first major shareholder of the corporation. Now that he has passed away, you are the first in

    the order of session to his shares. I hope that you can give me these shares so that I can carry on

    Dad''s behest and destroy Nanshi Corporation!¡±

    Feng Jialing''s eyes widened. ¡°You want your dad''s inheritance? Are you here to oust me?¡±This is from N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 668

    Chapter 668

    ¡°Mom, you''re not being fair to me by saying that. What do you mean by I''m trying to oust you? So,

    you''re saying you want to hold on to your shares? By all means, I will support you. But you''ll have to

    take the helm and run thepany. Are you up for it?¡± Ouyang Li was getting frustrated.

    ¡°No, I''m not.¡± Feng Jialing was well aware of her limitations and shorings.

    ¡°Aren''t we doomed then? If you''re not up for it, then who do you think is suitable? Ouyang Qing, who''s

    currently in prison? Or Ouyang Qi¡ªthe good-for-nothing who only knows how to pick up girls? If

    nobody is suitable, are we just going to let thepany be taken over by outsiders?¡± Ouyang Li rattled

    on.

    Feng Jialing had no answers to all of Ouyang Li''s questions. It seemed like Ouyang Li was making

    sense; other than her, there was no suitable person to take over Sunshine Corporation.

    ¡°If you don''t want to transfer your shares to me, then you can just watch Sunshine Corporation be

    taken over by outsiders. I bet Dad won''t be able to rest in peace.¡± Ouyang Li continued to exert

    pressure on her mother.

    ¡°What if the rtives on the board of directors don''t agree with the transfer?¡± Feng Jialing questioned.

    ¡°That''ll be my problem; I''ll find a way to settle them. Let me ask you again, are you going to transfer

    your shares to me?¡± Ouyang Li asked.

    ¡°I need to consider.¡±

    ¡°Okay, take your time to consider.¡± With that, Ouyang Li turned around and left.

    An hourter, Ouyang Li appeared in front of Ouyang Qing.

    Ouyang Li had already reserved a visitation slot a few days ago. She also sought outside help to settle

    the authorities so that she could meet Ouyang Qing directly.

    Ouyang Qing was not pleased to see her sister. Growing up, she had never thought highly of thetter.

    She felt that Ouyang Li was a in Jane inside and out; from her looks to her personality and her

    sense of fashion, she was downright dull.

    If she were part of an ordinary family, nobody would me her for being average.

    However, the Ouyang family was a prestigious family. Being average was equivalent to bringing shame

    to the family.

    That was why Ouyang Li was practically non-existent in the family while Ouyang Qing was adored by

    everyone.

    Thus, Ouyang Qing rarely made direct eye contact with her sister. In fact, she did not even tell people

    that she had a sister.

    Even if she was in prison serving her sentence now, she continued to look down on this sister of hers.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Ouyang Qing''s tone was cold and distant.

    ¡°I''m here to see you, of course. Do you think I likeing to a ce like this?¡± Ouyang Li retorted.

    ¡°Well, since you''re here, help me with a matter.¡±

    ¡°No, I''m not doing it,¡± Ouyang Li refused tly.

    ¡°You''re outright rejecting me when I haven''t said anything?¡±

    ¡°Your attitude iscking. So no matter what you say, I won''t agree to it.¡± Ouyang Li raised her brows.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    Ouyang Qing was startled for a moment. In her memory, Ouyang Li was not this aggressive.

    Ouyang Li''s retaliation hit hard on Ouyang Qing. She suddenly realized that she had a lower hand,

    given her current situation. Hence, she could not afford to act tough against Ouyang Li.

    ¡°What if I beg you?¡± Ouyang Qing softened her stance.

    ¡°No way,¡± Ouyang Li persisted.

    ¡°There''s no grudge between us; why are you treating me like this?¡± Ouyang Qing got fed up.

    ¡°When I first walked in, you won''t even look me in the eye. Now that you need my help, do you expect

    me to agree right away just because you beg me? What a joke. Don''t forget why you''re here in the first

    ce; you instigated someone to poison a child. Do you think the Nan family will let you walk out of

    here? At the present moment, who can you rely on except me? However, I''m not obliged to do you a

    favor unless there''s a significant reason for me to do so.¡±

    ¡°But you''re my elder sister!¡± Ouyang Qing was getting exasperated.

    ¡°You never treated me as your elder sister. So why should I see you as my younger sister now?¡±

    Ouyang Li retorted.

    ¡°What is your true agenda foring here then?¡± Ouyang Qing was enraged.

    ¡°Mom sent me here to ask you to sign a document.¡±

    ¡°What document?¡±

    ¡°A document stating that you agree to relinquish the inheritance of Sunshine Corporation shares.¡±

    Ouyang Qing gasped in shock. ¡°Why must I sign this?¡±

    ¡°That''s because you''re a criminal, and your reputation is tainted. Thepany will only get better if you

    sever all ties with Sunshine Corporation and the Ouyang family. Once you relinquish all inheritance

    rights, you will no longer pose a threat to me. And when you no longer pose a threat to anybody, you

    will be safe too. I mean, nobody will care about whether a good-for-nothing is alive or dead, right?¡±

    Ouyang Li said matter-of-factly.

    ¡°Are you saying that if I refuse to sign, I''ll be dead?¡± Ouyang Qing uttered in shock.

    ¡°Maybe.¡±

    ¡°You''re threatening me?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Ouyang Li answered. ¡°But this is also for your own good.¡±

    ¡°What can you do to me? Don''t tell me you''re going toe in here and kill me?¡±

    Ouyang Li shook her head calmly. ¡°Of course, I''ll not be doing that. But if the reward is high enough, I''m

    sure there''ll be someone who is willing to take the risk and try to get close to you. This is not totally

    unachievable. It''s challenging but still possible if the reward is handsome.¡±

    Ouyang Li paused for a moment before continuing, ¡°However, if you do as I say, I will engage the best

    attorney to fight your case and ask for a reduced sentence. Once you''re out, Sunshine Corporation will

    be in good shape. Perhaps, I can consider offering you a position then. But in order to benefit from this

    arrangement, you''ll have to listen to me. You said you have a favor to ask. I suppose it''s about getting

    you the best attorney, right? So, other than engaging the best attorney for you, I''ll use connections to

    make your stay here morefortable.¡±

    Seeing Ouyang Qing was listening attentively, Ouyang Li was pleased. ¡°This is also Mom''s wish. You

    can start to think about it now. I will note again, and I will not try to convince you. You have three

    minutes to decide. If you don''t agree, I''ll leave immediately, and you''ll never see me again.¡±

    With that, Ouyang Li stopped talking and began to look at her watch.

    ¡°Is this really Mom''s wish? Why is she doing this?¡± Ouyang Qing was doubtful that her mother would be

    so cruel to her.

    ¡°Didn''t I exin it clearly earlier? You''re a criminal now. It''s for the good of our Ouyang family if we

    sever all ties with you. It''s only right that you pay the price for your foolishness, but why drag our family

    in as well? I don''t want to waste any more time on you. Decide quickly whether you want to sign the

    document or not.¡±

    Ouyang Qing trembled as she watched Ouyang Li making all these threats. This was not the Ouyang Li

    that she knew. Since when had she be so ruthless?

    Ouyang Qing was not willing to sign the document, but she did not have a choice.

    ¡°Will I really be safe if I sign the document?¡±

    ¡°Of course. If you sign the document, you''re as good as useless, a burden off everyone''s shoulders.

    When this incident dies down, you can feign some illness, and I''ll spend a bit of money to bail you out

    for treatment. This way, you won''t even need to serve your jail term,¡± Ouyang Li assured Ouyang Qing

    and threw more bait to convince her.

    ¡°Will you really do that?¡± Ouyang Qing was tempted.

    Freedom was the most important thing to her right now. If this n worked out, she was confident of

    making aeback in the future.

    Ouyang Li might have the upper hand currently, but once she was out of this ce, she would find a

    way to im her shares back.

    ¡°Okay, I''ll sign if you promise that you can bail me out based on medical reasons.¡± Ouyang Qing tried to

    negotiate in her favor.

    ¡°No, sign first. Then, I''ll consider whether to bail you out based on medical reasons. There''s only one

    minute left. You better decide now. Otherwise, I''ll leave.¡± Ouyang Li was not going to let Ouyang Qing

    call the shots.

    Ouyang Qing panicked; she could see that Ouyang Li was not joking around.

    Further, she was not confident that Ouyang Li would find a way to get her out if she agreed to

    relinquish her share.

    On the other hand, if she refused to sign the document, she was worried that Ouyang Li would hire a

    hitman to eliminate her.

    Don''t underestimate the power of money. I''m sure someone will take the job if the reward is attractive. I

    can''t afford to take this risk. I''m still young; I can''t die like this.

    ¡°All right, I''ll sign.¡± Ouyang Qing finally made up her mind.

 Chapter 669

    Chapter 669

    Meanwhile, in Livingsfill, Erbao''s performance was so exceptional at the photo shoot that one could be

    forgiven for mistaking her for a superstar.

    During the break in between, the entire production team wanted to y with her.

    Some gave her chocte, while others gave her candy and potato chips.

    Erbao epted all the snacks and thanked the adults with a big smile but ate none.

    Ever since the poisoning incident, the girl had learned not to eat anything given to her by strangers.

    She did not even dare eat the food Qiao Zhan''s subordinates offered her.

    That was quite difficult for Erbao since she loved to eat. All she could do when facing the snacks was

    secretly gulp back her desire.

    At that moment, Cheng Xiangyun walked over and quietly handed Erbao a chocte bar. ¡°I bought this

    myself, so it''s safe to eat.¡±

    Erbao then turned to look intently at Ning Ran and waited for her permission.

    ¡°You can eat the one you got from Aunt Xiang, but put the rest away,¡± instructed Ning Ran softly.

    Erbao was over the moon when she got the approval to eat the snack, and after tearing open the

    packaging, she took arge bite.

    ¡°Is the contract signed yet?¡± Ning Ran was concerned about the show that offered twenty million, for

    she did not wish to miss such an opportunity.

    ¡°Thepany refused,¡± replied Cheng Xiangyun.

    Ning Ran was taken aback when she heard that. ¡°Why? Do they consider twenty million too little?

    That''s how much a superstar is offered! A neer like me is more than happy to ept it.¡±

    ¡°The payment isn''t the problem. I think Sir Chen doesn''t want you to take the role.¡±

    Immediately, Ning Ran boiled with anger because that was what she was afraid of. Thepany will

    go to Nan Chen whenever they have a contract that concerns me and have him make the final

    decision.

    That was why she called Nan Chen personally with the hope that he would not stop her from epting

    the offer.

    However, things turned out to be the exact opposite of what she wished for¡ªNan Chen still thwarted

    her n.

    ¡°Look after Erbao for me. I''m going to call him!¡± Ning Ran then angrily dialed Nan Chen''s phone

    number, but the man did not answer.

    As much as she tried, it was still to no avail.

    This is from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I''m so mad right now! Does he think he''s all that just because he''s the boss and that he gets to decide

    my every move?¡± Ning Ran was so furious that a vein popped out on her forehead.

    ¡°There''s nothing wrong with that, though. He''s the boss, so of course, he gets to decide everything. I

    mean, who else has the right to do that if not him?¡± voiced Cheng Xiangyun while shaking her head.

    She, too, thought it was a shame that the twenty million worth of contract got forfeited, but she was just

    an assistant who had no right to offer her opinion, much less decide for her employer.

    ¡°Why does he get to decide? Do I really have no say at all?¡± Ning Ran refused to ept what Cheng

    Xiangyun had just said.

    ¡°Artists are supposed to y by thepany''s rules. Otherwise, they''d be considered breaching their

    contracts and be forced to fork out a huge amount of money aspensation. This is just how it

    works.¡±

    ¡°No, I''m not fine with that. I have to return to Flower City to reason with Nan Chen. That man has no

    right to dictate my future. If I don''t ept the twenty million offer, people in the industry will think I

    asked for more. Who will dare cast me in the future, and how will I develop my career then? My future

    is on the line here, so I can''t just let it be!¡±

    Erbao, who was still enjoying her snack, was thrilled when she heard that. ¡°Are we going back? Then

    I''m going too!¡±

    ¡°This has nothing to do with you, so stay in Livingsfill with Aunt Xiang. I won''t be long.¡±

    ¡°You''re not really considering returning to Flower City alone, are you? I wouldn''t do that if I were you,¡±

    uttered Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°I don''t have a choice; Nan Chen obviously thinks I''m a pushover. How am I going to be an actress if I

    don''t get to act? I want to be a professional performer, not just an eye candy!¡± eximed Ning Ran.

    In response to that, Cheng Xiangyun sighed. ¡°You should be more grateful for what you have. What I

    wouldn''t give to be just an eye candy living off somebody. I don''t think you should jump to conclusions

    because there must be a reason Sir Chen turned down the contract. If he wanted to ruin your career,

    why would he invest so much in you in the first ce? Since he wants you to be a superstar, it''s only

    natural that he''s selective with the roles you take. Some well-known actresses took roles they shouldn''t

    have, and those mistakes ended up killing their careers. Sir Chen is an expert, so I think you should

    trust him, not go against him. Besides, he''s the boss. Do you think you have what it takes to twist his

    arm?¡±

    After listening to Cheng Xiangyun, Ning Ran fell silent.

    ¡°So, are we still going back to Flower City?¡± inquired Erbao, who only cared about going home.

    ¡°Why do you want to go back so much, little glutton?¡± questioned Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°Aunt Xiang, you can''t call me that. I''m very self-disciplined and not gluttonous at all. I want to return to

    Flower City because I''m sure Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma miss me very much, and I want to let

    them know that I''m as lively as a cricket again. I also wish to see Daddy and Uncle Xing. Last but not

    least, I miss the desserts of Flower City.¡± After all that Erbao had said, thest sentence sounded like

    the main reason.

    ¡°Sir Chen will decide whether you can go back. It''ll have to be after everything has settled down in

    Flower City,¡± informed Cheng Xiangyun.

    ¡°I''ll call him againter to ask about the situation there. If he still doesn''t answer my call, I''ll go to him!¡±

    voiced Ning Ran.

    On the other hand, Nan Chen looked at his phone and saw four missed calls from Ning Ran.

    He purposely ignored them because he knew what the woman wanted to talk about.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, I think you should exin to Ms. Ding. Otherwise, she''ll never let it go,¡± advised Jiang Zhe

    beside Nan Chen.

    However, he dared not say another word after Nan Chen nced at him.

    ¡°Is the news you received reliable?¡± questioned Nan Chen after turning to his assistant.

    ¡°Absolutely. What we heard at first was a fantasy film, but it turned out to be science fiction. The script

    is almost the same as ours; it''s about parallel worlds and centers around the theme of family. Moreover,

    many in the production team were offered high sries.¡±

    Nan Chen furrowed his eyebrows when he heard that.

    ¡°I keep feeling there''s something off here, Mr. Chen. Scripts are supposed to be kept secret before the

    actual films are released; no one besides the production team knows their contents. However, the team

    isn''t allowed to share what they know because they signed a non-disclosure agreement, so how did

    those guys know what was in our script?¡± Jiang Zhe shared his thoughts.

    ¡°What are the odds that it''s a coincidence?¡± responded Nan Chen with a question of his own.

    ¡°I think they''re very low. Due to the rtively high production cost of making science fiction films, there

    aren''t many such projects in the country. Even if they had nned to produce a sci-fi all along, it''s

    unlikely that our scripts would end up the same.¡±

    ¡°So what''s your conclusion?¡± inquired Nan Chen, gesturing for his assistant to get to the point.

    ¡°You should know already, Mr. Chen. I believe they''re intentionally targeting us. However, I can''t figure

    out why they''d offer Ms. Ding a role in the movie if they really are against us,¡± stated Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°That''s because they know I won''t allow Ning Ran to be their second female lead. I''d be ying into

    their hands if I signed the contract. What would people think of us if I let our female lead y second

    fiddle to theirs in a simr film?¡±

    ¡°If that''s the case, that means they really are targeting our new film, but what''s the point?¡± Jiang Zhe

    scratched his head in bafflement.

 Chapter 670

    Chapter 670

    ¡°Did you get someone to look into Mountain Studios?¡± inquired Nan Chen.

    ¡°Yes. It''s an ordinary film and television productionpany that has released several major online

    movies. None of them were well-received, though. Thepany didn''t produce anything in thest two

    years and was rumored to be on the verge of bankruptcy and reorganization. I find it hard to believe

    that apany like that can afford to invest hundreds of millions in a blockbuster film,¡± stated Jiang

    Zhe.

    ¡°Did you hit your head or something today? What''s so hard to believe about that? What you just told

    me is precisely why it''spletely believable,¡± voiced Nan Chen coldly.

    It did not take long before the clever assistant caught on. ¡°You mean Mountain Studios have been

    acquired and that they can afford such an expensive project because they have a new boss now?¡±

    Nan Chen said nothing in response, but that was exactly what he meant.

    ¡°There are many decent film and television productionpanies in the industry, so why acquire a

    second-rate one like Mountain Studios?¡± muttered Jiang Zhe to himself.

    ¡°The investor is an amateur looking to acquire a cheappany,¡± replied Nan Chen briefly.

    Immediately, Jiang Zhe understood what was going on. ¡°I see. The investor, who knows nothing about

    the film and television industry, didn''t want to start from scratch, so to them, buying an established

    company would be the fastest way to get his feet wet. Someone in a hurry would naturally overlook

    quality and go for the cheapest option, which just so happened to be Mountain Studios, thepany

    facing imminent reorganization.¡±

    Nan Chen kept quiet again because he knew Jiang Zhe was smart and could understand what he was

    getting at without needing him to say much.

    Sometimes, the assistant could even do that without Nan Chen uttering a word.

    However, Jiang Zhe was guileful enough to y dumb from time to time so his boss could have a

    sense of superiority when exining things to him.

    Most leaders would not appreciate being denied the opportunity to do so by subordinates who were

    quick on the uptake.

    Nothing good ever came out of those who tried to be smart alecks.

    Hence, it was advisable for subordinates to y coy from time to time to avoid trouble.

    As someone who had been serving as the difficult Nan Chen''s assistant without issues for so long,

    Jiang Zhe was more than familiar with that life principle.

    ¡°What should we do then?¡± inquired Jiang Zhe humbly.

    ¡°Find out who acquired Mountain Studios,¡± instructed Nan Chen.

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Chen.¡±

    Just when Jiang Zhe was about to leave, Nan Chen added, ¡°Call Qiao Zhan and ask him to ensure that

    Ning Ran doesn''t return to Flower City.¡±

    ¡°Madam wants to return to Flower City?¡±

    ¡°Just call Qiao Zhan.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Chen.¡±

    Meanwhile, at Orchid Club, Tang Jing had just reached the door when she heard loud noisesing

    from inside. It was as if the ce was under construction.

    Before Tang Jing could make a phone call, she heard a voice from behind. ¡°Are you Tang Jing?¡±

    The woman then turned around to see ady in a regr outfit with a freckled face.

    ¡°I am. Are you the one who asked me toe here?¡± questioned Tang Jing.

    ¡°Get in the car. There''s something we should discuss,¡± said thedy before walking toward an ordinary-

    looking sedan.

    However, Tang Jing remained standing. ¡°Who are you, exactly? What do you want from me?¡±

    ¡°I''m the owner of this club, and since the building is under renovation, it''s inconvenient for us to talk

    here. Let''s do that elsewhere,¡± suggested Ouyang Li.

    Tang Jing was somewhat surprised because she had been to Orchid Club and seen how luxurious it

    was on the inside. Why would she want to renovate the ce?

    Dressed ordinarily, Ouyang Li did not even look like someone who could afford admission into Orchid

    Club, so it was natural that Tang Jing doubted her when she said she owned the club.

    ¡°Hurry up. I don''t have time to lose,¡± urged Ouyang Li.

    ¡°Who the heck are you? You said you had something important to talk to me about, so why not do it

    here?¡±

    ¡°I worry that others would overhear our conversation if we talk here. I know all about the things you and

    Ouyang Qing had nned and that you''re her aplice. I have proof,¡± informed Ouyang Li.

    At that point, Tang Jing was even more shocked because she thought she would be fine after Ouyang

    Qing got locked away.

    She immediately got into Ouyang Li''s car as told after realizing what the woman knew.

    ¡°Did Ouyang Qing ever tell you that she has a sister?¡± inquired Ouyang Li.

    ¡°No,¡± answered Tang Jing honestly since she had never heard anyone mention that Ouyang Qing had

    a sister.

    ¡°That''d be me. I''m Ouyang Duo''s eldest daughter and also the head of the Ouyang family now,¡±

    revealed Ouyang Li briefly but clearly.

    Of course, Tang Jing did not buy it because Ouyang Qing was beautiful and elegant, while the woman

    before her looked ordinary andcked fashion sense. How could she possibly be an Ouyang? She

    can''t just simply say that she is and expect me to believe her.

    ¡°You don''t believe me?¡± asked Ouyang Li as she looked at Tang Jing.

    ¡°I''ve never seen you.¡±

    ¡°It doesn''t matter if you don''t believe me. You and Ouyang Qing poisoned the Nans'' children, but you

    still have your freedom even though Ouyang Qing got locked away. I just need to make a phone call,

    and the police will have you arrested in no time,¡± uttered Ouyang Li.

    ¡°I''m innocent! Ouyang Qing tried to make me do it, but I didn''t. She did it herself!¡± eximed Tang Jing.

    ¡°I have proof and Ouyang Qing as a witness. You and she worked together for a while. Otherwise, you

    wouldn''t have a chance to appear in the film. Still, I heard you weren''t given much screen time. Isn''t

    that right? I mean, you''re here while they''re still shooting in Livingsfill.¡±

    Tang Jing was rendered utterly speechless, for she had no idea how much dirt Ouyang Li had on her.

    Even though Tang Jing was not directly responsible for poisoning the two children, she did help

    Ouyang Qing with the scheme.

    The Nans will probablye after me if Ouyang Qing insists that I had a hand in the plot. Tang Jing

    knew she would be doomed if the Nan family were to intervene.

    ¡°What do you want?¡± questioned Tang Jing directly because she was ready to do whatever it took to

    save herself, no matter what evidence Ouyang Li had.

    ¡°Tell me everything about Ouyang Qing.¡± Ouyang Li''s request was simple.

    ¡°Don''t you know that already?¡± inquired Tang Jing curiously.

    ¡°There are still things I don''t know about her, and you''re going to tell me. Besides that, I want to know

    everything about the movie you worked on,¡± replied Ouyang Li.

    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Why would you want to know about all that? What are you nning?¡±

    ¡°That''s none of your concern. All you have to do is cooperate with me as you did with Ouyang Qing.

    Whatever she promised you but failed to deliver, I''ll make it happen.¡±

    After hearing that, Tang Jing knew she was in trouble once more. I got nothing in return for putting

    myself on the line by working with Ouyang Qing, and now I have to do it all over again with someone

    else? Besides, this woman looks nothing like who she imed to be. Still, I can''t risk rejecting her.

    What will I do if she does turn out to be Ouyang Qing''s sister and actually has dirt on me? I can''t take

    that big of a risk.

 Chapter 671

    Chapter 671

    Meanwhile, in Livingsfill, Ning Ran returned to the inn after she was done filming.

    After taking a shower and changing into a fresh pair of clothes, she began calling Nan Chen again.

    If Nan Chen continued to ignore her, she would fly back to Flower City right after she was done with the

    filming session tomorrow morning. She wanted to question his decision and rationale for prohibiting her

    from epting that job worth twenty million.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    However, Nan Chen still didn''t pick up her calls.

    In a fury, she started packing her luggage and prepared to go back to Flower City the next day and

    meet up with Nan Chen in person to confront him.

    At that moment, she seemed to hear voicesing from Dabao''s room. When she entered the room,

    Ning Ran saw Dabao talking to Nan Chen via a video call.

    The finding sent her into a rage. Apparently, he''s not busy. He''s just avoiding my calls on purpose.

    She strode up to the camera at once. ¡°Why didn''t you answer my phone calls?¡±

    Nan Chen replied disdainfully, ¡°I''m in a conversation with Dabao. Where are your manners?¡±

    Dabao didn''t know what happened between his mommy and daddy, so he had no choice but to let Ning

    Ran take over the video call.

    ¡°Are you intentionally dodging my calls because you''re feeling guilty? Ning Ran was beside herself.

    ¡°What do I have to feel guilty of?¡±

    ¡°Because you stopped me from taking up that job offer. This is an opportunity for me to secure a

    twenty-million contract. Am I supposed to follow your instruction blindly and reject that offer?¡±

    ¡°Is twenty million a significant amount?¡± he asked.

    ¡°That money may be negligible to you, but it is a lot for an actress like me. Besides, this is not just

    about the pay. This is also a chance to prove my worth as an actress!¡±

    ¡°You can only prove your worth by participating in an outstanding film, not just focusing on the

    remuneration,¡± he corrected her.

    Ning Ran was stumped because there wasn''t any w in his logic.

    ¡°A high-paying job and a masterpiece are not conflicting possibilities. Instead, thebination is a win-

    win situation.¡± She finally found the right words to counter his statement.

    ¡°A win-win situation? What is your basis for saying that?¡±

    ¡°What is your reasoning for saying this can''t be a win-win situation then?¡± she retorted.

    ¡°Fine. With your qualifications, do you think you''re capable of securing a contract worth twenty million?¡±

    he asked.

    ¡°I-I''m still a rookie. I haven''t participated in a lot of films, and my most honorable award is the Best

    Neer Award¡ª¡±

    ¡°It seems like you still have some self-awareness of your worth and realize you don''t deserve the

    twenty million payment,¡± he interjected her.

    ¡°What do you mean by that? How am I not deserving of the money if they''re willing to pay me, and I''m

    willing to take the job?¡±

    Nan Chen recognized his choices of words were too harsh, so he rectified himself. ¡°I meant to say that

    with your experiences, it is very unlikely for you to be offered a role with such a high remuneration.¡±

    ¡°That''s why I''m happy, and all the more reason I should treasure this opportunity.¡±

    ¡°No. You need to be more level-headed, especially when you''re overjoyed. Why do you think you

    deserve the high earnings?¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran couldn''t produce an answer. That''s right. Why do I deserve the high earnings? Is it because

    I''m pretty? Well, there are so many other gorgeous actresses in the entertainment industry. Is it

    because of my good acting skills, then? There are plenty of talented actresses too. Moreover, even

    recruiting those famous stars with established reputations won''t require such lucrative pay. So, what is

    the reason? I''ve really never considered this question.

    ¡°Do you see it now? When you calm down and mull over this matter, you''ll realize no one would offer

    such a high payment to an actress at your level. However, someone has put forward this proffer now,

    and there are three possibilities behind this. The first being the other party is simply a loaded fool. The

    second reason is that you''re the chosen actress. They have excluded every other candidate and only

    want you to be featured in their film. Thirdly, the other party has an ulterior motive, and they are merely

    tempting you with extravagant remuneration to deceive you.¡±

    He paused briefly before continuing, ¡°Of course, I am inclined to believe in the third possibility. This is

    why I rejected the offer in your stead.¡±

    It was rare for a taciturn person like Nan Chen to speak in such a lengthy and borate manner.

    ¡°Do you have evidence to support your im, then?¡±

    ¡°I don''t have evidence for the time being,¡± he answered with crity.

    ¡°Who are you to turn down that contract then, since you don''t have any proof?¡±

    ¡°Okay. Let''s say we n to go hiking one day. When we reach the foot of the mountain, one of the

    vigers tells us there may be wild tigers lurking in the forest, but no one can verify the tigers''

    presence. Will you still choose to hike that mountain in that case? If you choose to walk away, you may

    miss out on the chance to hike the mountain this time. However, you have the alternative of climbing

    other tiger-free hills. Let''s assume you insist on conquering the mountain, and there are really tigers

    there. Will others consider you a valiant, adventurous hero when the tiger devours you? I don''t think so.

    Conversely, you''ll be nothing but a stubborn fool.¡±

    Then, he exined that matter from another perspective, ¡°Simrly, in managing a business, many

    people assume making a profit is their utmost priority, but that''s not the case. On the contrary, avoiding

    loss is the first concern. Therefore, I made this decision for you to circumvent risk before exploring

    other prospects. Do you have any more questions?¡±

    Ning Ran was rendered speechless and dazed. He''s so annoying! There''s no way to win against

    untalkative people like him in an argument once they are determined to speak.

    ¡°A-Anyway, I''m unwilling to ept your decision.¡±

    ¡°Your eptance is of the least importance. I am the boss, so I''m authorized to have the final say. I

    already ordered Jiang Zhe to contact Qiao Zhan. Qiao Zhan will never allow you to leave Livingsfill, so

    you''re forbidden to return here without my permission. Perhaps you''re thinking about what control Qiao

    Zhan has over you and that there''s no way he''ll manhandle you, right? Well, you''re right. However, if he

    fails to stop you, that means he''s neglectful of his duties, so he''ll be dismissed. Qiao Zhan has been

    safeguarding you and the kids. Can you bring yourself to see him get fired? If you can, then you are

    free to do as you wish. Having said that, I should remind you to think this matter through. Who will

    protect you and the kids if Qiao Zhan loses his job? Deliberate well before you make any decisions.

    That''s all I have to say. I have other work to attend to, so I''m hanging up now.¡±

    With that, Nan Chen ended the video call without waiting for Ning Ran''s response.

    Dabao was amused, listening to the conversation between his father and mother.

    Although he was still very young, he could understand everything his parents mentioned.

    He even fell deep into his thought after listening to them.

    ¡°Mommy, are you nning to leave Erbao and me here while you secretly sneak back to Flower City?¡±

    Dabao touched on the delicate subject.

    ¡°No. Don''t listen to his nonsense.¡±

    ¡°Daddy never spouts nonsense,¡± Dabao uttered solemnly.

    ¡°You''re siding with him again. Do you know he''s bullying me?¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°I think Daddy''s right. A noble person should make their wealth in just and ethical means.¡±

    Sheughed in exasperation. Dabao has, without a doubt, inherited Nan Chen''s genes. His manner of

    speech is so simr to his, always pontificating these principles and sayings. It seems like he has even

    surpassed Nan Chen in this aspect!

    ¡°Don''tugh, Mommy. You''re intelligent, so you should already fathom Daddy is right. You''re just

    reluctant to admit it. Once you calm down and ponder on this matter, you''ll understand Daddy has your

    best interest at heart,¡± Dabao persuaded her.

    In fact, Ning Ran didn''t have to give that matter a second thought to know that Nan Chen was right.

    She was simply unwilling to admit her erroneous judgment.

    ¡°That''s enough. I''ll reconsider. It''s gettingte, so you should get some rest now,¡± she said to her son.

    ¡°Mommy, you won''t secretly run away, right?¡± he asked dubiously.

    ¡°Do I strike you as such an unreasonable person? Don''t worry. I won''t.¡±

    Dabao stepped forward and hugged his mother''s neck. ¡°Mommy, I love you.¡±

    His sudden heartwarming action touched Ning Ran, prompting the hint of anger lingering in her chest to

    dissipate entirely.

 Chapter 672

    Chapter 672

    ¡°I love you, too. You and Erbao are my greatest treasure. When I have you both, I''ve got the entire

    world,¡± Ning Ran dered.

    ¡°You''ve also got Daddy,¡± Dabao whispered into her ear.

    Ning Ran''s face promptly med. ¡°You know nothing!¡±

    ¡°That isn''t true! You and Daddy are a match made in heaven, and no one can stop you two from being

    together,¡± Dabao announced.

    ¡°Where did you learn that?¡±

    In response, Dabao giggled. ¡°I learned it myself from books. I''m smart because I''m your child! And

    because I''m Daddy''s child, I''m a downright genius!¡±

    He sounded reasonable,plimenting everyone so that all would be happy.

    ¡°Look at that! How glib of you!¡± Ning Ran hugged her son tightly.

    Despite stubbornly iming otherwise, she actually didn''t n on returning to Flower City recklessly.

    The next day, Ning Ran filmed as usual and was busy for the whole day.

    When she had finally finished filming and left the set, she climbed into Qiao Zhan''s car.

    As she was truly rather tired, she closed her eyes to rest after getting into the car without paying any

    attention to the person in the driver''s seat.

    Only when the driver''s phone vibrated and he took the call did she realize that the voice wasn''t quite

    right.

    She opened her eyes, only to see Nan Chen.

    Utter shock inundated her. ¡°Why is it you? Aren''t you crippled? Yet, you can still drive?¡±

    Turning his head to the side, Nan Chen glowered at her. ¡°You didn''t even bother looking at the driver

    before getting into the car. What if I were a kidnapper? Would you simrly keep your eyes closed and

    allow me to drive you away? Your vignce level is really on par with that of a pig!¡±

    ¡°I... How could you say that? What do you mean by being on par with a pig? Isn''t this Qiao Zhan''s car?

    So, I got in without paying much attention. Is there a problem with that? No!¡± Ning Ran huffed.

    ¡°Couldn''t someone else be driving if it''s his car? What if the person in the driver''s seat was a viin?

    What would you do now?¡±

    ¡°I...¡± Honestly, Ning Ran had never contemted that issue.

    ¡°Next time, knock on the car window first if you can''t make out the driver. Only get in after you

    recognize the person. This is a preventive measure even kids know.¡±

    At his remark, helplessness flooded Ning Ran. Indeed, I failed to take note of this today. Unexpectedly,

    he caught me red-handed.

    ¡°Stop berating me. You shouldn''t be driving when you''re crippled. You''re simply endangering my life!¡±

    ¡°My leg is almost healed. Besides, I injured my left leg, and this car is an automatic transmission, so

    there''s no need to step on the clutch. As such, my leg injury won''t affect my driving. I know what I''m

    doing, unlike you!¡±

    Nan Chen continued lecturing Ning Ran as though he was her homeroom teacher.

    At the same time, Ning Ran realized that the man seemed to be increasingly fond of admonishing her.

    Ever since I experienced that crisis with him, he had been exceptionally talkative, frequently

    transforming into a homeroom teacher and lecturing me. It''s as though he had held himself back for too

    long in the past that he now wants to voice everything he had previously kept to himself.

    ¡°Fine, you know what you''re doing. Everything you say and do is right. Okay?¡±

    ¡°Okay!¡± Nan Chen replied unceremoniously.

    ¡°Go slower. I feel anxious having a crippled man at the wheel,¡± Ning Ran urged.

    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°As I said, my leg is almost healed.¡±

    ¡°The word ''almost'' means it hasn''t yet healedpletely. In other words, you''re still a cripple.¡±

    Aware that Ning Ran was deliberately picking fault with him, Nan Chen ignored her.

    In truth, Ning Ran was over the moon to see him despite bickering with him, for she hadn''t expected

    him to fly over to Livingsfill to visit them so soon.

    ¡°By the way, I had Qiao Zhan and the others prepare some food. Give Ms. Lu a call and invite her over

    to have dinner together. Remember to tell her to bring both her kids along,¡± Nan Chen instructed.

    Ning Ran''s heart skipped a beat. So, he didn''te to see me but to see someone else?

    At once, chagrin swamped her.

    I was just wondering why he was so zealous to fly over. It turned out that he came to see her! No, that

    isn''t right. Other than her, he also wants to see her two kids!

    Nheless, she didn''t blow up at him immediately. Instead, she questioned calmly, ¡°Why do you want

    to invite them to dinner?¡±

    ¡°Shouldn''t I thank her for taking care of you? But mainly, it''s because I want to see the twins,¡± Nan

    Chen admitted without keeping anything from her.

    ¡°You''re pretty concerned about them. You''ve got twins yourself, yet you''re being a saint and worrying

    about other people''s kids instead?¡±

    At longst, Nan Chen caught on to the displeasure in Ning Ran''s voice. This time, his reaction was a

    touch slow.

    ¡°I merely feel that they''re about the same age as our kids, so they should interact and y together

    more. Ms. Lu is your friend. Is there a problem with having dinner with your friend?¡± he asked.

    ¡°That''s a question for you. How would I know?¡± By then, Ning Ran''s tone had turned sarcastic.

    Pulling over by the roadside, Nan Chen turned and looked at her.

    ¡°What''s wrong with you?¡±

    ¡°¡°What''s wrong with you?¡± Ning Ran countered.

    ¡°Nothing. I just wanted to invite your friend and her kids over to have dinner together. Is that a

    problem?¡±

    ¡°You think it''s not a problem?¡±

    Exasperated, Nan Chen turned away. ¡°Okay, forget it, then. Let''s not invite them anymore.¡±

    Then, he went silent, making it evident that he was disgruntled as he continued driving forward.

    Calming down, Ning Ran felt that she had seemingly been too sensitive indeed.

    If he''s really having an affair with Lu Jingyuan, he wouldn''t have put it on the table. He could''ve just

    invited her to eat together behind my back. That aside, he even wanted her to bring her kids.

    ¡°How about I eat with the kids alone while you go and have dinner with Ms. Lu? It''ll be easier for you to

    communicate with her about things without anyone else there.¡± Her tone eased slightly.

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Nan Chen couldn''t stand listening anymore.

    ¡°And what do you mean?¡±

    Once more, Nan Chen pulled over. This time, he was really infuriated.

    Initially, I wanted to give her a surprise, so I personally drove over to fetch her home. Unexpectedly,

    she simply won''t stop harping on this matter!

    ¡°Back then, Ms. Lu told me that she found me familiar. Besides, you can also tell that her kids resemble

    Dabao and Erbao closely. Who knows, we might be rtives. What''s the problem with having more

    interaction between us? Furthermore, those two kids are really cute. I had someone buy some presents

    for them from Flower City and nned to have Erbao and Dabao hand the gifts to them in person.

    Erbao and Dabao haven''t had many friends throughout the years, no? They don''t know how to be

    considerate either. That''s why Erbao always has conflicts with others at the kindergarten. Now that they

    have friends of the same age, having them give others gifts to learn to be considerate and share will be

    of great significance to the construction of their personalities. What''s wrong with that?¡±

    Following the man''s admonishment, Ning Ran backed down.

    Judging from everything he said, it indeed makes sense. Could it be that I overthought things?

    ¡°I didn''t say anything either. It was your attitude that was the problem. I''ll give her a call right now.¡±

    ¡°Forget it if you''re reluctant to have her over for dinner,¡± said Nan Chen with resignation.

    In a sh, Ning Ran''s temper spiked. Reason is obviously on my side, but why does he seem justified

    instead now?

    Taking out her phone, she gave Lu Jingyuan a call.

    She spelled things out, bluntly stating that it was Nan Chen''s idea to invite them over for dinner.

    As Nan Chen listened beside her, he shook his head. What on earth is she thinking? She could''ve just

    said that the invitation came from her. Why did she have to mention me?

 Chapter 673

    Chapter 673

    However, Nan Chen didn''t want to continue arguing with Ning Ran, so he remained silent.

    He vaguely sensed that she was exhibiting signs of the so-called emotion of jealousy.

    Unlike Nan Xing, he had few scandals and rarely had any romantic entanglements with women, so he

    had little knowledge regarding jealousy and the like.

    In other words, he wouldn''t be bothered even if women were to be jealous because of him since he

    was all too powerful.

    Thus, he was indeed pretty dense when it came to discerning women''s emotions.

    His own emotions were far more important to him, so how others felt didn''t matter much to him.

    However, things were seemingly different then. He started growing concerned over Ning Ran''s

    reaction.

    That was why he spent so much effort exining things to her, rambling throughout the drive.

    Interestingly, he discovered that too many exnations couldn''t calm her down. Conversely, she would

    be even more emotional and object all the more vehemently.

    Therefore, he decided to revert to his usual style and remain silent, allowing her to interpret things

    however she liked.

    Consequently, Ning Ran went silent.

    She wasn''t insane, so she couldn''t prattle on alone.

    When the car reached the entrance of Mountview Inn, Lu Jingyuan also happened to arrive in her car.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    As soon as her two children alighted from the car, Lu Yunxue dashed over to Nan Chen. ¡°You''re here,

    Mr. Handsome?¡±

    She was one of those who treated someone ording to his looks, so she addressed the man as ¡°Mr.

    Handsome¡± directly instead of ¡°Mr. Nan.¡±

    ¡°Hello, Yunxue,¡± Nan Chen replied gently, for once.

    Lu Yunbing, on the other hand, was much more serious. Bowing slightly, she inclined her head a

    fraction and greeted politely, ¡°Hello, Mr. Nan.¡±

    Inside the house, Erbao heard their voices and came flying out.

    ¡°Mommy, Daddy, Ms. Lu, Yunxue, Yunbing... you''re here!¡±

    It wasn''t easy for her to greet so many people in a single breath, but fortunately, she still managed to

    do it.

    As though long-lost friends, Erbao and Lu Yunxue hugged each other and twirled around in circles. The

    adorable sight had Ning Ran and Lu Jingyuan smiling from ear to ear.

    Mountview Inn was established by Lu Jingyuan, while Ning Ran and Nan Chen were merely renting it.

    For that reason, Lu Jingyuan was actually more familiar with the ce than they were.

    The food was prepared by the chef Nan Chen brought over because Erbao loved that chef''s cooking

    the most.

    She was especially hooked on the desserts he made.

    When the food was served, even Lu Jingyuan praised the fare to the skies, saying that it was incredibly

    delicious.

    They all chatted as they ate. Erbao ate the fastest, for she was in a hurry to finish eating and proceed

    to the next segment¡ªgift-giving.

    Nan Chen had many presents prepared, including dolls, books, children''sputers, and also snacks.

    Erbao took them out one by one, gifting them to Lu Yunxue and Lu Yunbing personally.

    Even the usually indifferent Lu Yunbing was touched. For the first time, she hugged Erbao, her eyes

    red-rimmed.

    Puzzlement deluged Ning Ran. ¡°Why is Yunbing crying?¡±

    Lu Jingyuan wasn''t quite sure what was happening either. ¡°She seldom allows her emotions to show.

    What''s going on here?¡±

    Lu Yunbing''s eyes were merely red-rimmed at first, but after she heard that exchange, tears escaped

    her eyes.

    Erbao promptly panicked. ¡°What''s wrong? Do you not like these presents? What do you like, then? I''ll

    give it to you. Dabao and I will give you anything you want as long as it''s something we have.¡±

    Lu Yunbing shook her head but said nothing.

    Nan Chen had been observing from the side, but he kept silent as well, for he couldn''t figure out what

    was wrong with Lu Yunbing.

    Finally, someone spoke. It was Dabao, who hadn''t said anything thus far.

    Walking over to Lu Yunbing, he took her hand and patted the back of it in constion. ¡°We''re only

    giving you presents. We''re not leaving.¡±

    Lu Yunbing, who had been keeping her head hung low, lifted her head and looked at him. She sought

    confirmation with her eyes.

    In response, Dabao nodded. ¡°We''re really not leaving. At least, not for the time being. We''re only giving

    you presents to express our fondness for you, not to bid you farewell.¡±

    Only then did Lu Yunbing lower her head once more. She stroked the plush doll Erbao gave her, the

    sorrow on her face gone without a trace.

    Everyone gaped at Dabao, amazed beyond words.

    What''s a soulmate? This is exactly it! And who said he''s young? He''s far more astute than us all. No

    one could unravel the mystery, but he saw right through it!

    ¡°I had a feeling, but I didn''t dare voice it,¡± Lu Yunxue remarked btedly.

    Nevertheless, it might also be true since she was Lu Yunbing''s twin. As such, they naturally understood

    each other better than others.

    However, Lu Yunbing was more withdrawn in nature. It was entirely possible that Lu Yunxue fathomed

    her sister''s thoughts but didn''t dare voice them.

    As though to prove that, Lu Yunbing swung her gaze over, scaring Lu Yunxue so much that she hastily

    zipped her mouth.

    ¡°Don''t worry. We haven''t finished filming yet. Even when we do finish filming, we''ll tell you before

    leaving,¡± Ning Ran assured smilingly.

    A tad embarrassed after Dabao exposed her, Lu Yunbing shot to her feet and ran off.

    Both Dabao and Erbao chased after her. Lu Yunxue likewise started moving and chased after them

    from behind.

    All four children went off to y by themselves. Hence, only Ning Ran, Nan Chen, and Lu Jingyuan

    remained at the dining table.

    ¡°The kids are already attached to each other. How rare!¡± Ning Ranmented.

    ¡°Yeah. I didn''t expect Yunbing to be so attached. She rarely acts like that. Right now, I feel somewhat

    guilty. Perhaps I like living in Livingsfill, but they might not necessarily like it. The same goes for my

    way of living at present. It''s only to my liking, but unnecessarily theirs. I''ve never asked them for their

    opinion. Maybe I''ve really been too selfish.¡±

    Lu Jingyuan appeared rather despondent.

    ¡°That isn''t true. I can tell that they''re also very happy,¡± Ning Ran consoled.

    However, Lu Jingyuan shook her head. ¡°Thinking about it now, they haven''t been all that happy. This is

    a small town, so most of the children here are locals. Many of them speak the local dialect, but my two

    kids can''t speak it. A few times, I asked them what exactly happened when they had conflicts with other

    children at the kindergarten, but they refused to say anything. I suspect they might have been bullied.

    Well, girls are prone to being targets of bullying anyway, much less Yunbing who''s entric and

    doesn''t fit in. Thus, she hardly has any friends. Now, she finally has Dabao and Erbao to keep her

    company. That''s why she''s worried that you''ll all leave anytime.¡±

    Nan Chen couldn''t empathize with that, for he was too powerful. He had no idea how it felt to be picked

    on.

    More urately speaking, he had only ever been the aggressor, so he couldn''t understand the feeling

    of being on the receiving end of bullying.

    Contrarily, Ning Ran knew that Lu Jingyuan must have faced many indescribable difficulties when she

    was a single mother raising two daughters.

    No matter how strong she was, she was still a woman at the end of the day.

    And regardless of how strong a woman was, there were many things men could easily aplish that

    a woman couldn''t do.

    ¡°In that case, why don''t you leave with us? Aren''t you a designer? Look for a job in Flower City and put

    down roots there. Then, the kids can grow up together. What do you think?¡± Such an idea urred to

    Ning Ran out of the blue.

 Chapter 674

    Chapter 674

    Finding it an excellent idea, Nan Chen likewise turned his gaze to Lu Jingyuan.

    ¡°I''m afraid I''ve got to disappoint you. Frankly speaking, I only managed to settle down here thanks to

    my family''s support. I couldn''t have done it alone. I''ve built a house here and established an inn, so I

    can''t just leave on a whim. Even if I were to leave, I could only go back to the capital. But I don''t want to

    do so.¡±

    Lu Jingyuan was a person with aplicated past, for there were many things she was reluctant to

    speak of in detail.

    However, there must be something holding her back. That was for certain.

    In reality, everyone had something holding them back.

    ¡°I think it''s worthwhile to sacrifice some things for the sake of the kids,¡± Ning Ran murmured,

    expressing her point of view.

    ¡°It''s not that I''m unwilling to make sacrifices, but I have an agreement with my family. They''re sure that I

    can''tst for three years here. If... Never mind, let''s not talk about this. Anyway, I can''t leave.

    Furthermore, it''s also not easy to go to another city and find a job, starting from scratch. I haven''t really

    worked seriously for a few years, so I''ve grown rusty in a lot of things. Besides, I''ve got kids now. I don''t

    have much of an advantage anymore in the business world.¡±

    ¡°I remember you saying that you''re a designer?¡± Ning Ran queried.

    ¡°I used to do designing in the past, architectural design, specifically,¡± Lu Jingyuan answered.

    ¡°Nanshi Corporation has its own real estatepany. If you don''t mind, Ms. Lu, you can join us. I can

    provide you with a suitable job,¡± Nan Chen interjected.

    Ning Ran agreed with that suggestion, gushing, ¡°Yes, that''s right! Nanshi Corporation has a lot of

    subsidiarypanies, so it''s a piece of cake to find you a job.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, but this matter is quiteplicated, so I''ve still got to think about it. Honestly, I haven''t

    worked in a few years. In the past, I''ve never worked continuously either. Basically, I worked part-time,

    making a break for it after earning enough money. I''m the kind of person who doesn''t like being tied to

    a job.¡±

    ¡°Making a break for it?¡± Nan Chen mused.

    ¡°I either switched jobs or resigned, then left to travel and explore. If it weren''t because I''ve got kids now,

    I might still be in some corner of the world, never settling down. My present life isn''t one I want. I''m only

    staying temporarily for the sake of my kids.¡±

    When Lu Jingyuan spoke of that, her usual poise was all but gone. Life came into her eyes, and they lit

    up.

    As a matter of fact, there were truly people who loved the feeling of being on the road. In her world, the

    most meaningful life was still the ideal life she yearned for.

    However, there was something even more important than that¡ªobligation. She had specific duties and

    responsibilities as a mother.

    ¡°I think you''ll have a chance of living the life you want if you leave this ce,¡± Nan Chen ventured.

    Lu Jingyuan and Ning Ran both swung their gazes at him in concert, not quite understanding the

    meaning of his words.

    ¡°You can contract out the inn here and rent out the house. By doing so, you''ll have a fixed ie

    every month. Besides, you can hire someone to oversee things here and manage everything for you.

    Then, you can work part-time at Nanshi Corporation. Again, you''ll make a fixed sum monthly. The

    money will be enough for you to go out and travel for a while from time to time. Ultimately, Ms. Lu,

    you''re an outstanding talent who had once received a design award abroad, so it''s a veritable waste for

    you to work as an innkeeper here.¡±

    Nan Chen''s final remark took Lu Jingyuan aback.

    ¡°You investigated me?¡±

    ¡°Sorry, but everyone close to the children of the Nan family has to be investigated. However, we won''t

    leak the results of the investigation. I believe that your family had also investigated Ning Ran, Qiao

    Zhan, and the others, yes, Ms. Lu?¡± Nan Chen replied.

    Lu Jingyuan said nothing, so it was considered a tacit admittance.

    All of a sudden, Ning Ran felt as though she was a fool.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    So, they''ve both investigated each other, and I''m the only one in the dark? At the end of the day, I''m the

    most foolish among us all. We''re of different statuses, so our thoughts and way of doing things are

    indeed different. It''s difficult for me to change.

    ¡°I''ll consider your suggestion, Mr. Nan. No matter my final decision, thank you for your kindness,¡± Lu

    Jingyuan murmured with a smile.

    Nan Chen said nothing, merely inclining his head slightly.

    Just then, his phone started vibrating. Picking up his phone, he went into another room to take the call.

    ¡°I''m sorry about that. Are you highly offended that my family investigated you?¡± Lu Jingyuan apologized

    to Ning Ran.

    ¡°No, it doesn''t matter to me. I''m not some big shot, so investigating me or otherwise makes no

    difference.¡± Ning Ran shrugged.

    ¡°You''re no small fry either,¡± Lu Jingyuan countered.

    ¡°I''m no small fry? I can''t find anyone more insignificant than me,¡± Ning Ran quipped with a chuckle.

    ¡°You''ll definitely be a superstar in the future, and an international one at that.¡±

    ¡°Thank you! Let''s drink to that.¡± Ning Ran raised her ss.

    ¡°Cheers!¡±

    The two women chatted for a long time, but Nan Chen still didn''t make an appearance.

    Seeing that it waste, Lu Jingyuan called her two daughters over. After thanking Ning Ran, she

    excused herself to go home.

    Since she had imbibed and couldn''t drive, Qiao Zhan volunteered to be the driver and sent them home

    personally.

    Ning Ran took a shower before going to the study room, only to see that Nan Chen was still working in

    front of theputer.

    ¡°Did something happen?¡± Ning Ran inquired worriedly.

    ¡°Something came up. I initially nned to spend some time with the kids, but I''ve got to leave first thing

    tomorrow morning because of an urgent matter,¡± Nan Chen admitted.

    ¡°Is it work? Or is it a personal matter?¡±

    ¡°Both. Take a look at this.¡±

    Pushing theputer over, Nan Chen showed Ning Ran a video.

    It seemed to be a press conference. A in-looking woman was speaking at the press conference

    while a man was beside her, nodding and apuding every so often.

    ¡°Who''s this? I don''t know her even if you show it to me. What exactly happened?¡± Ning Ran asked in

    puzzlement.

    ¡°This woman is Ouyang Li. She''s Ouyang Duo''s daughter.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Isn''t his daughter Ouyang Qing? And isn''t she in prison right now? Another daughter popped

    out?¡± Surprise swept over Ning Ran.

    ¡°This is his older daughter. She rarely appears in the public eye, but she has always been working at

    Sunshine Corporation, holding the post of deputy CEO, if I''m not mistaken. After he died, she suddenly

    popped out.¡±

    ¡°What? Ouyang Duo is dead?¡± Again, shock flooded Ning Ran.

    ¡°Yeah. It seems that he met with a car crash while escaping and died. Following that, Ouyang Li rose to

    prominence overnight and became the Ouyang family''s spokesperson in Sunshine Corporation.

    Ouyang Qi and Ouyang Qing didn''t retain any of the shares Ouyang Duo left behind but gave them all

    to her. As such, she became Sunshine Corporation''s biggest shareholder,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°She looks ordinary, but she''s exceedingly capable. She has probably waited for this opportunity for an

    eternity, huh?¡±

    Nan Chen agreed with that, seconding, ¡°I think so, too. Guess who Sunshine Corporation''s second

    biggest shareholder is.¡±

    Ning Ran pondered for a moment before surmising, ¡°You said Rong Yi bought Sunshine Corporation''s

    shares by the bucket back then. Don''t tell me he''s Sunshine Corporation''s second biggest

    shareholder?¡±

    ¡°Bingo. Prosperity Holdings is the second biggest shareholder, but they''re taking on the identity of a

    corporate shareholder. I''d always thought Rong Yi wanted to acquire Sunshine Corporation, but that

    wasn''t what happened. He merely became the second biggest shareholder. This has me seeing him in

    a different light. Verily, he''s a powerful character.¡±

 Chapter 675

    Chapter 675

    As Nan Chen hardly ever praised anyone, Ning Ran asked curiously, ¡°Why are you impressed that he

    didn''t acquire Sunshine Corporation?¡±

    ¡°If he had acquired thepany while the Ouyang family was having trouble, it might not sit well with

    the other directors and upper management of Sunshine corporation. They might even go against Rong

    Yi because of that. Besides, Sunshine Corporation is arge organization. To acquire thepany, a

    huge amount of capital is required. It''s unlikely that Prosperity Holdings would have sufficient cash flow.

    As such, their only way toplete the acquisition is through debt financing. However, if Sunshine

    Corporation fails to perform well after the acquisition, thepany would end up in a very risky

    position.¡±

    Ning Ran nodded and replied, ¡°Oh, I get it now. It''s like, if we force ourselves to eat when we are

    already full, we would end up getting indigestion. You''ve told me the analogy before. So Rong Yi is

    actually very smart. He chose not to acquire thepany but to be a shareholder instead and

    observe the situation.¡±

    Nan Chen looked at Ning Ran approvingly, acting like her homeroom teacher again.

    However, he was not intending to lecture her but was instead, giving her a silentpliment.

    ¡°But there''s something I still don''t understand,¡± Ning Ran said, looking toward Nan Chen.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Even though Rong Yi did not acquire Sunshine Corporation, he had injected a lot of capital into it. If

    thepany continues to be in a dump, wouldn''t he make a loss as well?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°That''s why that was just the first step. The woman at the press conference was Ouyang Li, and the

    man was Rong Rui, Prosperity Holdings'' deputy CEO. He''s also Rong Yi''s younger brother. Prosperity

    Holdings and Sunshine Corporation held thebined press conference to officially announce their

    strategic partnership as well as their reallocation of resources in various areas. Among the three major

    corporations in our province, Nanshi Corporation is currently thergest, followed by Sunshine

    Corporation, then Prosperity Holdings. Now that the second and third ce had formed a strategic

    alliance, Nanshi Corporation would naturally be under a lot of pressure. Because of the new

    partnership, the shares of those twopanies have rocketed. As such, not only had Prosperity

    Holdings made money, but they had also gotten themselves a great ally to go up against Nanshi

    Corporation. Previously, I wasn''t able to figure out why they would suddenly return to Flower City, but

    the reason is clear now. Very impressive indeed.¡±

    Initially, Ning Ran was still rather confused, but after listening to Nan Chen''s exnation, she fully

    understood the situation.

    ¡°So the alliance of the second and third ce is threatening the leader''s position?¡±

    ¡°Well, Nanshi Corporation had never intended to be the leader. We have just been focusing on our

    business and have never thought of being a threat to anyone. However, obviously, others do not think

    the same way. It''s clear that they are ganging up against Nanshi Corporation. Things have been going

    too smoothly for Nanshi Corporation for the past few years. I was worried that a major crisis would hit

    us sooner orter as things seemed too good to be true. Sure enough, the crisis has arrived,¡± Nan

    Chen said with a worried expression.

    Nan Chen was an extremely strong and capable man. The fact that he was worried about the

    partnership between the other twopanies meant that it was a serious matter.

    It would certainly change the dynamics of the business arena in the province.

    Previously, it was a tripartite situation. However, after two of the threepanies joined forces, it would

    definitely put pressure on Nanshi Corporation.

    More importantly, Nanshi Corporation had bad blood with bothpanies.

    ¡°Don''t worry too much. Nanshi Corporation will be all right with you around.¡±

    Nan Chen paced around a little before replying ¡°Of course, I''m not afraid of them. I just think that it''s too

    much of a coincidence. Immediately after I dealt with Sunshine Corporation, Rong Yi bought their

    shares at a low price and became the secondrgest shareholder of Sunshine Corporation. Just when

    our feud with the Ouyang family was finally about to be over, Ouyang Duo had suddenly run away and

    ended up dying along the way. Although it was his choice to escape, it was unavoidable for the Ouyang

    family to me his death on the Nan family. Naturally, they would hate the Nan family to the core.

    Subsequently, Prosperity Holdings suddenly returned to Flower City. On the surface, it seemed like a

    coincidence, but every step felt like it was carefully nned. If that''s really the case, it means that

    Nanshi Corporation has fallen into a meticulously designed scheme. How many resources would be

    required to carry out such an borate scheme? How powerful is the person who designed the

    scheme?¡±

    Of course, Nan Chen was just thinking out loud and not asking for Ning Ran''s opinion.

    ¡°Could it be that you''re overthinking?¡± Ning Ran asked softly.

    ¡°I hope so.¡±

    ¡°I''m sure that even if the Ouyang family and the Rong familybine forces, they won''t be able to

    inflict harm on Nanshi Corporation,¡± Ning Ran said, showing her support for Nan Chen.

    The man nced at her and asked, ¡°Do you have that much trust in me?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Ning Ran answered without hesitation.

    ¡°But why? Why do you trust me so much?¡±

    ¡°Because you''re not just any ordinary person. You''re Sir Chen! I remember that when we were trapped

    on that ind back then, you weren''t able to walk and were practically crippled. Even so, you were still

    able to help us escape. Now that you are functioning perfectly, I''m sure this little bit of stress is nothing

    to you. You''ve got this!¡± Ning Ran eximed.

    Nan Chen enjoyed listening to Ning Ran''s ttery, although it was slightly exaggerated.

    ¡°You''re right. I''ll be heading back to Flower City tomorrow. Nan Xing ising over. He misses the kids

    and wants to visit them here. Don''t worry about anything and just focus on filming. Most importantly, be

    safe,¡± Nan Chen reminded.

    ¡°I will. You have to stay safe as well, okay? By the way, you mentioned that you would give Ms. Tang a

    job. Did you mean it?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Of course I meant it. Why would I lie? She''s gotten numerous design awards in Epea and is very

    famous in the industry. She just keeps a low profile and appears rather mysterious.¡±

    ¡°Mysterious?¡±

    ¡°Yup. We tried running a background check on her, but we were unable to find any information on her

    family. Her family is registered in the capital, but other than herself, there''s no one else in her

    household registry. However, judging from our conversation with her, it seems like she does have a

    family. Moreover, I believe that she doesn''te from an ordinary family,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°Wow! Could we have encountered a formidable figure?¡±

    ¡°I''m not sure if she''s formidable, but she''s definitely capable. If we can get her to join Nanshi

    Corporation, it would definitely be good news for us. I will definitely offer her a senior position with a

    Ning Ran realized that Nan Chen had be more sensitive. Perhaps, it was because of the fact that

    he had been spending more time with the kids.

    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Sure. I will look for an opportunity to talk to her and get her to join Nanshi Corporation. However, she is

    someone who has a mind of her own, and it wouldn''t be easy for me to convince her.¡±

    ¡°Just try your best. Oh, has Rong Rong left? Are you still in contact with her?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°We are not in touch currently. I haven''t seen her ever since ourst meal together. I guess Rong Yi told

    her not to contact me after knowing about my rtionship with you,¡± Ning Ran replied with a sigh.

    ¡°How are you rted to me?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°How would I know!¡± Ning Ran was rendered speechless.

    ¡°If she contacts you, no matter what it is about, you have to let me know,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Are you wary of Rong Rong? Even if there''s bad blood between the Rong family and the Nan family, I

    don''t think they would make use of Rong Rong to deal with us!¡±

    ¡°I''m just saying. I''m not suspecting her.¡±

 Chapter 676

    Chapter 676

    The following day, Nan Chen flew back to Flower City while Ning Ran resumed shooting.

    Ning Ran needed Cheng Xiangyun''s help at work, and no one was avable to take care of the kids.

    Qiao Zhan couldn''t take care of them himself, so he suggested inviting Lu Jingyuan over to help take

    care of the kids.

    Both Ning Ran and Lu Jingyuan agreed to the n, so thetter brought her daughters to Mountview

    Inn to meet up with Dabao and Erbao.

    The four kids were ted as they could y together again.

    Erbao and Yunxue clicked, so they watched anime and ate delicious food together. They would also

    gossip about their siblings asionally.

    Dabao and Yunbing, on the other hand, rarely talked, so they didn''t bother interacting with each other.

    They were busy with their own stuff and ignored one another.

    Despite that, they were inwardly delighted to hang out with their friend.

    After having lunch at noon, the kids were sent to their rooms so they could take a nap. Peace was

    finally restored in the inn.

    Feeling sleepy herself, Lu Jingyuan ced a recliner under the tree in the yard. She ced her hat

    over her face, prepared to rest for a bit.

    It was tiring to take care of one kid, let alone four of them. Naturally, she was exhausted.

    Gradually, she fell asleep. She was having a dream when a ray of light attacked her eyes. The hat

    covering her face had been removed, so she jolted awake.

    When she opened her eyes, the handsome face of a man appeared in her sight.

    ¡°Mr. Nan? You''re back?¡± Lu Jingyuan asked.

    Nan Xing nodded and inquired, ¡°Yeah. Who are you?¡±

    What''s wrong with Nan Chen? We''ve met twice previously, but he''s asking me who I am. I''m not going

    to answer such a ridiculous question. After all, he knows who I am. No one will answer that question if

    they were in my shoes.

    With that thought in mind, Lu Jingyuan got to her feet and said, ¡°Mr. Nan, since you''re here, I''ll be

    leaving.¡±

    However, she recalled her daughters were still here. She could only leave after they woke up from their

    afternoon nap.

    Thus, she sat back down.

    ¡°You''re pretty. Who are you? Do you have a boyfriend?¡± Nan Xing urged.

    He didn''t know who Lu Jingyuan was and assumed she was a guest in the inn. She was young and

    gorgeous, so he revealed his usual womanizer self to ask for her WeChat ount.

    Lu Jingyuan''s disgust for him grew after she heard his praise.

    Nan Chen is a hypocrite, huh? He acts as though he''s in love with Ning Ran before her but does a one-

    eighty when she isn''t around! Look at how he''s pretending not to know me and praising me for my

    looks. How could he be this skittish?

    In an icy voice, she retorted, ¡°Mr. Nan, please have some self-respect.¡±

    ¡°You know me, but I don''t know you. Have you had lunch? I haven''t had lunch yet. Should we have

    lunch together?¡± Nan Xing extended an invitation earnestly.

    With his good looks, Nan Xing rarely got turned down whenever he inviteddies to eat with him.

    s, he got turned down today by Lu Jingyuan, who wore a look of disgust.

    ¡°I''ve had lunch. Please don''t disturb me as I''m taking an afternoon nap.¡±

    Lu Jingyuan was pretty upset. I''m your wife''s friend, but you flirted with me behind her back and

    pretended not to know me. What a despicable man! You look distinguished but turn out to be a

    hypocrite. I''m thoroughly disappointed.

    ¡°You''re having a nap here? Why don''t you sleep inside your room? It''s windy here, so you might catch

    a cold. I can ask someone to get you a nket if you insist on sleeping here,¡± Nan Xing offered.

    He meant well, but the more eager he was, the more Lu Jingyuan was repulsed by him.

    ¡°No need for that, Mr. Nan. Can you leave instead of disturbing me? I don''t feel like talking to you now,¡±

    Lu Jingyuan snapped, her expression icy cold.

    Nan Xing felt rather awkward. He tried talking to her nicely, but she was rude to him throughout.

    Not only did she refuse to answer any of his questions, but she also appeared annoyed as though

    someone owed her money.

    ¡°All I did waspliment your looks and ask who you are. Do you have to act this way?¡± Nan Xing

    said, irritated.

    Used to ttery from the other sex, Nan Xing felt a flicker of anger at the sudden cold treatment.

    ¡°This is who I am. I don''t like talking to hypocrites,¡± Lu Jingyuan stated firmly, her voice colder than

    before.

    ¡°Who are you calling a hypocrite? How can you be sure I''m a hypocrite?¡± Nan Xing hissed furiously.

    If she doesn''t want me to flirt with her, fine, but why is she criticizing me? Who does she think she is?

    ¡°You''re obviously a two-faced hypocrite,¡± Lu Jingyuan returned.

    She wanted to be harsher but restrained herself in the end. After all, Nan Chen was the CEO of Nanshi

    Corporation.

    If it were some other man, she would''ve called him ¡°shameless¡± without hesitation.

    Nan Xing''s confusion heightened. ¡°What are you talking about? When did I offend you? Why am I a

    hypocrite?¡±

    Assuming Nan Chen was putting up an act, Lu Jingyuan didn''t feel like talking to him anymore.

    This is from N?velDrama.Org.

    She got up to wake the kids up so they could leave.

    Nan Xing refused to give up as she didn''t make things clear yet.

    There''s no way I''m letting you leave after you criticized me!

    Grabbing Lu Jingyuan''s arm, he dered, ¡°Don''t leave and make yourself clear. Why do you hate me

    this much? When did I offend you?¡±

    ¡°Let go! Don''t touch me!¡±

    ¡°I''m not going to touch you. Even if you want me to touch you, I might not do so!¡± Nan Xing fumed.

    His words infuriated Lu Jingyuan even more. She grabbed a ss of water on the table and sshed

    the water on his face.

    Nan Xing was stunned.

    He didn''t expect to receive such a ¡°grand wee¡± upon his arrival to Livingsfill.

    Where did this hot-tempered womane from?

    ¡°You''re in deep trouble,¡± Nan Xing warned as he wiped the water off his face.

    ¡°You, too!¡± Lu Jingyuan refused to give in.

    ¡°How dare you do this to me? You''ll regret this!¡±

    ¡°You''ll regret your actions, too!¡±

    They both started threatening each other.

    Lu Jingyuan knew the Nan family was influential, but she wasn''t afraid at all. She was no pushover,

    after all.

    ¡°Fine, then. We shall see what happens. Dare you tell me your name?¡± Nan Xing fumed.

    ¡°Stop with your act! What a childish and despicable man!¡±

    With that said, Lu Jingyuan stormed to the door as rage got the better of her. I must tell Ning Ran what

    happened and expose Nan Chen''s true colors!

    Nan Xing wanted to stop her from leaving but ultimately decided against it. It wasn''t gentlemanly of him

    to constantly find fault with a woman. Besides, it would be difficult for him to exin things if she

    used him of molesting him or something.

    I need to find out who she is before taking any action.

    Lu Jingyuan stepped out of the door to see Qiao Zhan, who had just parked the car. Thetter didn''t

    know what was going on.

    ¡°Ms. Tang, why are you leaving?¡± Confused, he looked at the seemingly angry woman.

    ¡°Take care of the kids. I''ll be back to pick them upter, okay?¡± Lu Jingyuan said.

    ¡°Of course. That won''t be a problem,¡± Qiao Zhan agreed.

    ¡°Don''t let the pervert in the yard approach the kids. They are having their afternoon nap. Call me right

    after they wake up,¡± Lu Jingyuan reminded him.

    ¡°Pervert? What pervert?¡± Qiao Zhan frowned.

    Refusing to exin further, Lu Jingyuan strode toward her Jeep and left.

    Qiao Zhan had no idea what happened. He entered the inn to see Nan Xing fuming on a chair.

 Chapter 677

    Chapter 677

    Qiao Zhan initially wanted to pick Nan Xing up at the airport but got stuck in a traffic jam. Hence, Nan

    Xing took the airport bus and arrived before he did.

    ¡°Mr. Xing, you''re here. I''ll ask someone to prepare your meal,¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    ¡°Where are the kids? Are they taking a nap?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    ¡°Yes, they are taking a nap. They were tired after ying too much and will sleep longer today.¡±

    ¡°Then don''t wake them up. Prepare me some food, though. I''m starving.¡±

    Nan Xing didn''t ask about Lu Jingyuan for he was scolded after flirting with her. Feeling embarrassed,

    he didn''t mention her to Qiao Zhan.

    As he didn''t mention anything, Qiao Zhan dared not ask any questions.

    Ms. Lu was furious and called him a ¡°pervert.¡± Something must''ve happened.

    Nevertheless, Qiao Zhan couldn''t ask what Nan Xing did to infuriate Lu Jingyuan.

    Moreover, there was a strange wet stain on Nan Xing''s white suit. That further proved that something

    had happened.

    Did Master Xing pounce on Ms. Lu when no one was around? That''s not eptable! If that''s the case,

    Ms. Lu has every right to be mad at him!

    Qiao Zhan regarded Lu Jingyuan as his goddess, so if Nan Xing did try to force himself on her, Qiao

    Zhan would definitely side with Lu Jingyuan.

    Thus, he didn''t ask questions and pretended he didn''t see anything.

    After lunch, Nan Xing took a short nap. The kids were still asleep when he woke up.

    Getting bored, he got the car keys from Qiao Zhan and went out for a drive.

    Meanwhile, Lu Jingyuan went back to her house. She couldn''t help feeling that something was off.

    I got mad and left, but my children are still at the inn. Will the pervert vent his anger on them after I

    offended him?

    Realizing that she had made a wrong decision, she drove back to Mountview Inn.

    A few minutes after Nan Xing left, Lu Jingyuan arrived at the inn. They missed each other and avoided

    another conflict.

    This time, Lu Jingyuan woke her daughters so they could go home together.

    The girls were in a daze and didn''t know what happened, but since their mother insisted that they

    return home with her, they had no choice but to obey.

    Dabao and Erbao were still asleep when Lu Jingyuan brought Lu Yunxue and Lu Yunbing away.

    Qiao Zhan saw them out and asked, ¡°Ms. Lu, what happened?¡±

    ¡°I''m fine. Some people wanted to bully me and my kids because we''re alone and helpless, but I won''t

    let him seed!¡± Lu Jingyuan huffed angrily.

    Qiao Zhan offered a cating smile. ¡°You''re not alone or helpless. Please don''t put yourself down. Who

    offended you? Was it our young master?¡±

    ¡°I don''t want to mention him. He''s disgusting!¡±

    Lu Jingyuan helped her kids put on their seatbelts and drove away.

    Qiao Zhan watched as her car disappeared into the distance, utterly baffled.

    Did our young master do something to Ms. Lu? She''s usually gentle, but look how furious she was

    earlier. Mr. Xing isn''t as capable as Mr. Chen, but he''s a gentleman. How could he force himself on Ms.

    Lu? Has he gone crazy?

    Qiao Zhan returned to the inn to discover that Erbao had woken up.

    The little girl was usually sensible, but after taking a longer-than-usual nap, she woke up groggy and

    grumpy.

    Realizing that Lu Yunbing and Lu Yunxue weren''t around, she got upset and demanded to know why

    her friends were gone.

    ¡°Their mommy brought them home. I had nothing to do with this,¡± Qiao Zhan replied innocently.

    ¡°But Ms. Lu promised to keep uspany all day. She promised Mommy that she''ll take care of us.

    Why did she leave suddenly? Did you make her angry?¡± Erbao demanded furiously.

    Qian Zhan protested, ¡°I dare not make Ms. Lu angry. I didn''t do anything!¡±

    ¡°Then why did Ms. Lu leave suddenly?¡± Erbao refused to buy his exnation.

    ¡°Well, I have no idea.¡±

    Qiao Zhan surmised that Nan Xing and Lu Jingyuan had a fight, but it was just a guess. He dared not

    reveal his thoughts without any evidence to support him.

    Erbao might be a child, but if he were to reveal anything to her, she would betray him any minute.

    ¡°There''s no way you know nothing,¡± Dabao stated icily as he came out to give Qiao Zhan a doubtful

    stare.

    The weak-willed Qiao Zhan immediately felt guilty when he met Dabao''s solemn gaze.

    A chill ran down his spine as he found Dabao''s re eerily simr to Nan Chen''s.

    ¡°I...¡± Qiao Zhan was at a loss for words.

    ¡°Man, up and spill the truth. Why are you stuttering?¡± Dabao demanded.

    Qiao Zhan got even more perplexed. It was challenging enough to handle one kid, but there were two

    kids before him now.

    ¡°I guess something cropped up, and she left. You were sleeping, so she didn''t want to disturb you and

    left without telling you. I think that was what happened,¡± he mustered a reply.

    ¡°Really?¡± Dabao didn''t believe him.

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    ¡°Yes.¡± Qiao Zhan forced himself to stay calm.

    ¡°All right. You don''t want to spill the truth, right? I''ll call Ms. Lu and find out what happened. If you

    offended her, I''ll tell Daddy what you did,¡± Dabao warned.

    ¡°Didn''t I tell you I dare not offend Ms. Lu? I wasn''t the one who offended her!¡± Qiao Zhan insisted.

    ¡°Oh, I know what happened!¡± Erbao yelled without warning.

    Dabao asked sternly, ¡°What do you know?¡±

    He had always disliked his sister''s habit of yelling out loud without warning.

    Erbao inched nearer to him and whispered something into his ear.

    Dabao''s eyes widened after he heard her words and stared at Qiao Zhan.

    Deep down, Qiao Zhan was startled. What did she say? It seems that she was talking about me.

    ¡°Uncle Qiao, I think I need to talk to you,¡± Dabao said with a steely expression.

    Qiao Zhan''s panic grew. Erbao must''ve told him something about me! I wonder what she said.

    Dabao walked to a corner, so Qiao Zhan had to follow him.

    Erbao wanted to tag along but was stopped by Dabao.

    Left without a choice, she had to halt in her tracks and watch pitifully as Qiao Zhan and Dabao had a

    talk.

    ¡°Uncle Qiao, we''re both men and can confide in each other, right?¡± Dabao asked solemnly.

    ¡°Little Master, what do you want to talk about? What did Little Miss say about me?¡±

    Dabao returned, ¡°How did you know she was talking about you?¡±

    ¡°Isn''t that obvious? Of course she was talking about me. Otherwise, why would you want to talk to me

    in private?¡± Qiao Zhan asked with a bitter expression.

    ¡°Did you do it?¡± Dabao questioned.

    ¡°Huh? Do what?¡± Qiao Zhan didn''t understand his question.

    Dabao demanded, ¡°Don''t you know what you did? Or are you putting up an act?¡±

    Qiao Zhan grew increasingly nervous. ¡°What did I do? I didn''t do anything.¡±

    ¡°But I think Erbao''s words make sense,¡± Dabao told him.

    ¡°What did Little Miss say? Did she speak ill of me?¡±

    ¡°Erbao said you''re in love with Ms. Lu and did something to her since no one was around today. That

    was why she left angrily. Was that the case?¡±

    Qiao Zhan was frightened. ¡°Little Master, you''re wrong! Please don''t make baseless usations. I

    didn''t do anything to her! Even if someone did vite her, it should be your Uncle Xing, not me!¡±

    Forced into a corner, Qiao Zhan had no choice but to reveal what was on his mind.

 Chapter 678

    Chapter 678

    ¡°Uncle Xing? Where''s Uncle Xing?¡± queried Dabao.

    After a split second of hesitation, Qiao Zhan exined to the little boy, ¡°Um... Master Xing came to

    Livingsfill to visit you guys, but you were all asleep. He didn''t want to wake you up but was also feeling

    bored, so he went for a stroll. He should be back soon.¡±

    ¡°Are you saying that Uncle Xing came to the inn? What did he do to Ms. Lu when he saw her, then? Did

    he anger her and make her leave?¡± Dabao analyzed the situation clearly.

    The boy''s words scared Qiao Zhan out of his wits. He quickly waved his hands and denied, ¡°I didn''t say

    that. In fact, I don''t know anything at all!¡±

    ¡°You were the one who said that! Are you trying to go back on your words?¡± Dabao red at the man,

    unrelenting.

    ¡°Little Master, you''re putting me in a difficult spot. I can''t afford to anger Master Xing. If he were to hear

    about this, he''d y me!¡± Qiao Zhan panicked.

    The bit about Nan Xing ying Qiao Zhan might have been an exaggeration, but it was definitely true

    that Nan Xing would never forgive thetter.

    Dabao gave it some thought and nodded, appearing rather understanding.

    ¡°Don''t worry. If you tell me the truth, I won''t let Uncle Xing find out it was you who snitched,¡± he said

    reassuringly.

    Nheless, Qiao Zhan reiterated, ¡°The truth is, I have no idea. I really don''t!¡±

    ¡°You know, yet you''re insisting that you don''t. Clearly, you''re deliberately hiding it from me. You''re not

    nning to talk, huh? In that case, I''ll give Daddy a call.¡± After threatening the man, Dabao turned

    around and was prepared to leave.

    Qiao Zhan hurriedly grabbed him, asking, ¡°What are you going to tell Sir Chen?¡±

    ¡°Of course, I''m going to tell him all about how you bullied Ms. Lu. You like her, so you did something

    bad to her while no one else was around, and she left out of anger!¡±

    Hearing that, Qiao Zhan loudly professed his innocence, ¡°Little Master, I''m innocent! I''m a stickler for

    rules. Even if I have the courage, I would never do such a thing!¡±

    ¡°Then, tell me the truth about what happened.¡±

    ¡°I really don''t know what happened. Ms. Lu stormed out just as I came back. I asked her what was

    wrong, but she didn''t say a word to me. After that, I came inside and saw Master Xing, who was also in

    a bad mood. That''s why I deduced that there must''ve been a conflict between the two of them, but I

    have no proof of it at all. This is everything that I know, Little Master, so please don''t pressure me

    anymore. I''m really at my wit''s end,¡± said Qiao Zhan as a bitter expression hung on his face.

    Dabao furrowed his brows and fell into deep thought. A momentter, he piped up, ¡°Forget it. It mustn''t

    have been your fault. I just wanted you to tell me the truth, so don''t worry too much.¡±

    Later in the day, Ning Ran had just gotten off work when she received a call from Lu Jingyuan, asking

    her to go out for a drink.

    Ning Ran felt it was a little odd. She''d asked Lu Jingyuan to look after her children that day and thought

    she''d be able to meet the woman when she returned to the inn. As such, Ning Ran didn''t expect Lu

    Jingyuan to contact her first.

    ¡°Are you not at the inn? Aren''t we having a meal togetherter tonight?¡±

    ¡°I''m not at the inn anymore. I''ll send you my location, soe over and have a meal with me, just the

    two of us. I''d like to have a chat with you,¡± said Lu Jingyuan.

    Ning Ran thought that Lu Jingyuan must have something important to say to her and readily agreed. If

    that wasn''t the case, thetter wouldn''t ask her out alone.

    Lu Jingyuan requested to meet at a small and quaint restaurant.

    The atmosphere was extremely quiet, so it was the perfect ce for a chat.

    Lu Jingyuan ate very little at night, so the two women ordered a couple of snacks and a bottle of wine

    to enjoy as they talked.

    Unexpectedly, after talking for a long while, Lu Jingyuan didn''t mention anything important. They had

    only been making small talk thus far.

    Nevertheless, Ning Ran felt that Lu Jingyuan''s purpose in inviting her here was to tell her something.

    Ning Ran had a straightforward character. She didn''t like going about things in a roundabout way, so

    she got straight to the point. ¡°You must have something to say to me. No matter how troubling it is, I''m

    willing to listen, so there''s no need for you to be so courteous to me.¡±

    Lu Jingyuan hesitated for a moment before asking, ¡°Are you nning to marry Nan Chen?¡±

    Coupled with the fact that she couldn''t figure out the other woman''s intention, Ning Ran felt her heart

    skip a beat at the sudden question about marriage.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    In truth, Lu Jingyuan was gripped by hesitancy. If she were to tell Ning Ran how awful and frivolous

    Nan Chen was, she could potentially hurt Ning Ran''s dignity, no matter how tight-knit their friendship

    was.

    But at the same time, she felt that she couldn''t keep this from Ning Ran.

    Caught in a dilemma, Lu Jingyuan couldn''t decide whether or not she shoulde clean to Ning Ran.

    ¡°We don''t have any ns to get married for now. We talked about it in the past, but nothing ever came

    of it. You probably know this, but there''s a huge difference between him and me. Some differences

    can''t be shortened just by getting close to one another. On the contrary, we might even drift further

    apart,¡± Ning Ran exined.

    Lu Jingyuan said nothing and mulled over her options.

    If you''re not getting married to him, then just forget about it. It''s better if I don''t tell you so it wouldn''t

    affect your mood.

    Aftering to that decision, she said, ¡°It''s all right, then.¡±

    Although Lu Jingyuan brushed the topic off, Ning Ran was still bothered by it.

    Anyone would be hung up over something that had piqued their curiosity.

    ¡°So it wouldn''t be all right if he and I were to get married?¡± Ning Ran riposted.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Lu Jingyuan''s response was direct.

    ¡°Interesting. You''re afraid we''d get married?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    The woman''s response made Ning Ran even more nervous. Could it be that there''s really something

    going on between the two of them? Otherwise, why would she be afraid of Nan Chen marrying me?

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°I don''t think he''s suited for you,¡± said Lu Jingyuan matter-of-factly.

    She wasn''t one to be hesitant, and since everything had beenid out, there was no need to hide

    anything anymore.

    ¡°Why is that so? Perhaps you think I''m not worthy of him?¡±

    At that point, Ning Ran was rather infuriated, but she endured the rage surging within her and kept her

    composure.

    She had long suspected the two of them but felt that both Lu Jingyuan and Nan Chen weren''t indecent

    people. Hence, she gradually tamped down her jealousy over time.

    She''d thought her jealousy was almost gone at that point, yet Lu Jingyuan''s actions took her by

    surprise. At that point, Ning Ran didn''t just feel jealous but also hurt.

    ¡°It''s quite the opposite. I don''t think he''s worthy of you,¡± stated Lu Jingyuan, her tone firm and resolute.

    Ning Ran sneered at that. ¡°Is this sarcasm? I''m just an actress, while he''s a CEO, and yet you''re

    saying he''s not worthy of me?¡±

    ¡°That''s right, he isn''t. His personality is trash.¡±

    Once again, Ning Ran was stunned to hear that remark about Nan Chen''s personality.

    Now that''s just impressive! Lu Jingyuan is not like other girls at all. She has no qualms speaking about

    what''s on her mind.

    Ning Ran forced herself to stay cool-headed and queried, ¡°Why do you say so?¡±

    ¡°I didn''t want to tell you, but we''re friends, so there''s no need for me to hide it from you. If I kept this a

    secret from you, then it''d be a form of betrayal. Earlier today, Nan Chen acted as if he didn''t know me,

    said I was pretty, and even asked if I had a boyfriend¡ª¡±

    Before Lu Jingyuan could finish speaking, Ning Ran jumped out of her seat in shock. ¡°What?¡±

    Her intense reaction scared Lu Jingyuan a little.

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    ¡°Calm down and don''t be like this. If you continue to act this way, I won''t dare to continue talking,¡± said

    Lu Jingyuan weakly.

    ¡°Nan Chen dared to flirt with you? Is that what you were saying? I didn''t misunderstand, right?¡± Ning

    Ran bellowed.

    Helpless, Lu Jingyuan nodded. ¡°Yes, that''s an apt description of what happened. Basically, he was

    hitting on me.¡±

    ¡°What a shameless, despicable, perverted, hypocritical jerk!¡±

    Consumed by rage, Ning Ran hurled every insult she could think of off the top of her head.

    s, that wasn''t enough to quell her hatred. She then kicked the chair but identally stubbed her toe

    in the process, causing intense pain to tear through her body.

 Chapter 679

    Chapter 679

    ¡°F*ck!¡± Ning Ran fumed.

    Seeing her friend on the verge of a breakdown made Lu Jingyuan feel rather guilty. ¡°Should I not have

    told you all this?¡±

    Ning Ran drew in a deep breath. ¡°Don''t worry about it. It''s a good thing you told me. I''ll call him and ask

    him about it right away.¡±

    However, Lu Jingyuan quickly stopped her from doing so. ¡°If you give him a call right now and

    interrogate him, won''t I be put in an awkward situation?¡±

    ¡°Well, I can''t pretend nothing happened, right? Fine, I''ll call him when we get back and question him

    then.¡±

    Ning Ran sat down and grabbed the bottle that was sitting on the table. She then chugged a few

    mouthfuls of wine straight from the bottle.

    Lu Jingyuan took the bottle back from her and chided, ¡°Don''t drink so much.¡±

    While Ning Ran and Lu Jingyuan were talking and the former was on the brink of a full-blown

    meltdown, the director of I Am You and Huang Zichao were also having a drink in a nearby restaurant.

    Huang Zichao was an award-winning actor and a household name. Any director, regardless of their

    poprity, would still have to treat a big shot like him respectfully.

    Therefore, it was no surprise that the director would personally pour Huang Zichao a ss of wine and

    utter words of ttery.

    Huang Zichao had been forcing himself to ept the director''s ndishments, but in the end, he

    couldn''t take it anymore.

    A crease formed between his eyebrows as he queried, ¡°Do you have anything to say to me? Is there an

    issue with my performance? Go ahead and speak your mind. I''m happy to ept criticisms. After all, it

    can help me improve.¡±

    ¡°Oh, no! You''re great! Your performance matches perfectly with Ding Mi''s. It''s outstanding, really!¡± The

    directorughed, once again, filling Huang Zichao''s ss with wine.

    At that point, Huang Zichao was done with the endless pleasantries. We''ve been socializing for half a

    day, yet he''s not saying anything important. What the h*ll does he want?

    ¡°Please don''t be like this. Just say what you have in mind. I''d feel uneasy if you won''t be frank with

    me.¡±

    He didn''t bother drinking the wine and stared intently at the director.

    ¡°It''s nothing. I''m just chatting with you. Oh right, what do you think of Ding Mi as a person?¡±

    ¡°I think she''s great. She''s pretty and talented, so I''m sure she has a bright future ahead of her,¡± Huang

    Zichao praised.

    ¡°What else?¡±

    ¡°Uh, what else? Her personality''s great, too. Why are you asking, though? What''s the meaning of this?¡±

    Sensing something was amiss, Huang Zichao instantly became more cautious.

    The director merelyughed, seeming as if he was trying to pick and choose his words.

    ¡°Just say what you have in mind,¡± Huang Zichao reminded him once more.

    ¡°Ding Mi... is pretty likable, huh?¡±

    ¡°Of course. Plenty of people on the production team likes her, but s, she''s not a banknote, so not

    everyone would like her.¡±

    ¡°You like her too, I suppose?¡± An ambiguous smile crept up on the director''s face.

    ¡°Indeed. It''s an honor to be able to work with her,¡± Huang Zichao revealed honestly.

    The director nodded in understanding. ¡°I like her as well, but outside of work, I wouldn''t dare ask her

    out for a meal and whatnot. Do you know why?¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

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    ¡°Because she''s Sir Chen''s woman, and Sir Chen''s the main investor of this movie, so we can''t afford to

    offend him.¡±

    Huang Zichao was no fool and seemed to have caught onto what the director was implying.

    ¡°So what you''re saying is that I''ve gotten too close to her, and I shouldn''t be doing that, correct?¡± he

    asked.

    ¡°I heard you asked her out for a drink and caused a little incident in the end. Is that true?¡±

    ¡°It did happen, but it was an ident. She was being too rash and wanted to seek justice for a girl who

    was singing there. That''s what resulted in the entire ordeal,¡± exined Huang Zichao.

    ¡°Sir Chen didn''t ask about the nitty-gritty details, nor does he care about excuses. All he knows is that

    your actions brought danger upon his woman. He''s furious about it and said that if you do something

    like this again, he''d take action on you.¡±

    After going in circles for such a long time, the director finally went to the point.

    Huang Zichao remained silent while staring at the director.

    ¡°Don''t look at me like that. These aren''t my words, but Sir Chen''s,¡± the director hurriedly exined.

    ¡°He''s the one who wanted you to warn me?¡±

    ¡°No, his assistant gave me a call, saying that if you can''t keep your distance from Ding Mi, then you''d

    have to leave the production team. They don''t mind taking on the losses that might be incurred by your

    exit.¡±

    Huang Zichao set his ss on the table.

    Although he was a well-mannered man, he would still feel ufortable after listening to such tant

    threats.

    ¡°So you think this is an issue as well?¡±

    ¡°Of course, not. I believe in your character, but the incident did bring about some negative implications.

    In fact, there were some rumors going around the production team, but I''ve already given them a

    warning.¡±

    ¡°That means I can''t have a meal with Ning Ran in the future, and I can''t talk to her, too?¡± Huang Zichao

    was slightly irate.

    s, there was nothing the perplexed director could do about the matter. ¡°I''d advise you to have less

    contact with her outside of work, for everyone''s sake.¡±

    ¡°All right, I understand. Nan Chen''s the investor, so obviously, I''d have to show him some respect.¡±

    As soon as the words left his lips, Huang Zichao stood up and prepared to leave.

    ¡°Why are you leaving already? You haven''t finished your wine yet. Hey, don''t be mad!¡± the director

    coaxed.

    However, Huang Zichao paid him no heed and strode out of the restaurant.

    The troubled director could only shake his head helplessly. My hands are truly tied. They''re both big

    shots, and I can''t afford to offend either one of them.

    As soon as Huang Zichao got out of the restaurant, he instantly gave Ning Ran a call, telling her he

    needed to see her right away.

    When Ning Ran asked him what it was about, he merely said it was urgent and sent his location to her.

    Unfortunately, Ning Ran was a no-show. She wasn''t in a good mood and didn''t want to see anyone, let

    alone Huang Zichao. Instead, she headed straight to Mountview Inn and rang Nan Chen''s phone.

    This time, the call was connected almost instantly. Nan Chen was still in the office working overtime.

    ¡°I''m a little busy right now. I''ll call you back,¡± he said.

    His response made the woman feel as if he was trying to avoid her after having done something shady.

    ¡°Nan Chen, I had dinner with Lu Jingyuan and she told me some things. Do you have anything to say

    to me?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°I do, but I don''t have the time to talk right now. I''ll hang up first, okay?¡±

    ¡°Don''t hang up. I didn''t expect you to be a person who would do something behind my back! Are you

    not ashamed?¡±

    All of the fury and rage that Ning Ran had been holding in was released in an instant, stunning Nan

    Chen.

    Do something behind her back? Is she referring to the incident where I asked the director to give

    Huang Zichao a warning? I''m trying to preserve her pride here. That''s why I asked Jiang Zhe to call the

    director and had the director warn Huang Zichao. How dare she say I''m shameless?

    The irritation in Nan Chen''s heart grew at the woman''s words.

    Am I shameless or are you the one who''s shameless?

    ¡°What about you, huh? Do you want your pride at all?¡± Nan Chen queried coldly.

    ¡°Of course, I do! But I really didn''t expect you to be so disgusting that you''d do such a thing behind my

    back! Do you think you''re all that, hmm? In that case, why not admit to your mistakes?¡± Ning Ran

    roared.

    Instead of answering her, Nan Chen posed several questions of his own, ¡°Did I deny it? What do I have

    to be ashamed of?¡±

    Ning Ran truly hoped that the man would at least try to exin his actions, but who would''ve guessed

    that he would straight-up admit to his wrongdoings instead?

    This caused Ning Ran a great deal of heartache as anger threatened to overwhelm her.

 Chapter 680

    Chapter 680

    ¡°So, you finally admit to it, huh? Why didn''t you say so sooner?¡±

    ¡°I did! I always admit to everything I do!¡± Nan Chen snapped back at her.

    All I did was give Huang Zichao a little warning! Why is she confronting me about it and calling me

    shameless?

    ¡°Okay, I get it now. You''re Nan Chen, so you can do anything you want and get away with it! There''s no

    need for you to hide it at all, so why don''t you just go ahead and do it in front of me? You''ll only disgust

    me even more if you do it behind my back like a coward!¡±

    ¡°You''re the one being disgusting right now!¡±

    Nan Chen was exhausted after a long day at work, so he didn''t take kindly to Ning Ran yelling at him

    like that.

    ¡°I''m being disgusting? You¡ª¡±

    Ning Ran was halfway through her sentence when Nan Chen hung up the phone.

    She tried calling him a few more times, but Nan Chen refused to answer the phone.

    Ning Ran got so mad that she wished she could go straight to Flower City and confront him in person.

    After hanging up on Ning Ran, Nan Chen gave Jiang Zhe a call and summoned him to his office.

    Jiang Zhe, who was working overtime that night, felt a little nervous when he came in through the door.

    Oh, no... He does not look happy... Who could''ve p*ssed him off thiste at night?

    ¡°When did you contact that director?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°At noon,¡± Jiang Zhe replied cautiously.

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    ¡°As per your request, I told him to have them keep their distance from each other outside of work

    because it would be unsafe and bad for their image.¡±

    ¡°Good. I want you to give him another call right now. Huang Zichao is to stay away from Ning Ran, or

    I''ll kick him out of the entertainment industry forever,¡± Nan Chen ordered coldly.

    Jiang Zhe was a little shocked when he heard that. ¡°Um... What exactly happened?¡±

    ¡°Just do it,¡± Nan Chen replied with a wave.

    ¡°As you wish, Mr. Chen.¡± Jiang Zhe knew better than to ask any further.

    As he turned around and prepared to leave, Nan Chen called out to him, ¡°Wait.¡±

    Jiang Zhe immediately paused in his tracks. ¡°Yes, Mr. Chen?¡±

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Do you think I''ve gone too far by doing this? Is this considered shameless behavior?¡± Nan Chen

    asked.

    Jiang Zhe''s eyes went wide with shock, but he didn''t dare answer the question.

    My goodness... Did someone call Sir Chen shameless? Who could possibly have the guts to say that to

    him? Sir Chen practically owns Flower City, so nothing he does is considered shameless here!

    Nan Chen realized he had asked the wrong person that question when he saw the conflicted look on

    Jiang Zhe''s face.

    Jiang Zhe is a smart guy. He knows he''ll get in trouble if he answers that question wrongly.

    With that in mind, Nan Chen waved dismissively at Jiang Zhe and motioned for him to leave.

    As Jiang Zhe was about to step out the door, Nan Chen said, ¡°Forget about the call.¡±

    Unsure of what Nan Chen meant, Jiang Zhe paused and stared at him in confusion.

    ¡°I changed my mind. You don''t have to make that phone call,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°All right.¡± Jiang Zhe nodded as he continued, ¡°I, too, believe it is unnecessary to call that director again

    about Huang Zichao. We could just kick Huang Zichao out if he disys any more inappropriate

    behavior.¡±

    See, this is what I like most about Jiang Zhe. He understands me so well that I can trust him to make

    the right decisions even without my instructions.

    ¡°All right, then. Tell me about the ns for the development of Serenity Street,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Sure. I''ll go get the coffee.¡±

    Jiang Zhe would always bring Nan Chen coffee whenever he worked overtime. Of course, he made

    sure to order it from a caf¨¦ as the coffee in the office tasted horrible.

    ¡°Go on, tell me what you know about the project,¡± Nan Chen said after taking a sip of his coffee.

    ¡°Our developers have already started the preparations for Serenity Street''s developmentst year.

    However, because it is located in an old town, every inch of thatnd costs a bomb. On top of that, the

    compensation amount required for the relocation of its citizens is also very high. That results in a high

    development cost and a much higher risk. The slightest of mistakes could very well result in a total

    loss. That''s why we''ve been putting off its development all these years.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded and motioned for him to carry on.

    ¡°Of course, a high risk also means a high reward. If we can make this work, then the profits it yields will

    be astronomical. The old townes equipped with all the basic necessities and has a decent public

    transportwork. In addition to that, the best schools in Flower City are located there. Given how

    strategic that location is, the houses there are bound to be the priciest in all of Flower City. The good

    news is, they could easily sell for double the market value. The bad news is, selling them at double the

    market value is the only way to bring in profits. That''s the reason most of the developers are unwilling

    to work on this project. The risks are simply too high.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded. ¡°Now that there is a downturn in the housing market, the risk is even higher than

    before. With everyone else lowering property prices to increase their sales,petition is tough as it is.

    The fact that we''re going against the trend by increasing the cost of our units will only make things all

    the more challenging for us. I''m not sure if we''ll even be able to sell a single unit.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. Not only are we not allowed to lower our prices, but we also have to hike them far beyond the

    market value in Flower City to ensure we make profits. That''s what makes this project extremely risky.

    A month ago, Nanshi Corporation was the onlypany bidding for this project. Now, there are two

    morepeting for it. One of them is a real estatepany under Sunshine Corporation, and the

    other is a developer named Green Beauty,¡± Jiang Zhe exined.

    Nan Chen took another sip of his coffee. ¡°That real estatepany under Sunshine Corporation... It

    didn''t have any projects in Flower City before this, right?¡±

    ¡°No. It has always been developing in Pearl City. This is the first time thepany is expanding into

    Flower City. Sunshine Corporation''s businesses in Flower City are mainly focused on the banking

    industry.¡±

    Nan Chen looked up at Jiang Zhe and said, ¡°Ouyang Li is determined to avenge her father, so it''s no

    surprise that she would try topete with us. However, if she had a little bit moremon sense,

    she''d understand that it''s impossible to defeat me here in Flower City. After all, we''ve been running our

    businesses here for so many years now. I am curious about Green Beauty, though. Could you tell me

    more about thatpany?¡±

    ¡°It''s a smallpany that has never made a name for itself. Green Beauty has never worked on any

    real estate projects as it was mainly a contractor. Green Beauty undertook one of ourpany''s

    projects two years ago, but the coboration has already ended. Given how Green Beauty has only

    ever yed the role of the contractor instead of the developer, I don''t understand why it is boldly

    competing for Serenity Street,¡± Jiang Zhe replied.

    Nan Chen fell silent and spent the next few minutes twirling a pen between his slender fingers.

    This behavior is a sign that Mr. Chen is processing the information. Usually, he will arrive at a

    conclusion in a few minutes, and his conclusions have been proven to be right most of the time.

    With that in mind, Jiang Zhe kept quiet and patiently waited.

    Sure enough, Nan Chen spoke up a few minutester.

    ¡°Green Beauty is the real enemy here. Because of how insignificant Green Beauty seems, Ouyang Li

    thinks we''ll ignore it and focus our attack on Sunshine Corporation instead. However, Sunshine

    Corporation is just a ruse meant to keep us distracted. Go and find out if there have been any changes

    in Green Beauty''s shareholders in the past month. I believe Green Beauty has been wholly acquired by

    someone else. There must be men from Prosperity Holdings among its shareholders. Prosperity

    Holdings and Sunshine Corporation must''ve teamed up to acquire Green Beauty. I bet they''re secretly

    working together to stop us from getting our hands on this project. Now that they''ve struck a blow at

    me, I must deal with it and hit back as hard as I can,¡± he said calmly but firmly.

    Jiang Zhe nodded as he wrote down everything Nan Chen said. Yet another storm is about to break out

    here in Flower City...

 Chapter 681

    Chapter 681

    Ning Ran was fuming when she returned to Mountview Inn.

    She saw Nan Xing ying with her two kids when she came in through the door.

    This was her first time seeing Nan Xing ever since that previous incident.

    Although their rtionship was no longer the same as before, Nan Xing still stepped forward to give

    Ning Ran a hug when he saw her.

    Since Nan Xing always had her best interests in mind, she happily epted his embrace.

    ¡°It''s so great to see that you''re alive!¡± Nan Xing eximed with a smile.

    ¡°Yeah, I agree. It is indeed great to be alive.¡±

    Ning Ran was in a terrible mood before, but seeing Nan Xing made her feel a lot better.

    That sensation was simr to what one would experience when meeting an old friend. Since she could

    talk to Nan Xing about anything without worrying about the consequences, she decided to rant about

    Nan Chen.

    After ying with the kids for a bit and tucking them in, Ning Ran finally had the chance to speak to

    Nan Xing in private.

    ¡°Is the filming process tough? I heard Erbao is doing quite well!¡±

    ¡°She is indeed doing well. In fact, she''s doing so well that I''m a little bit worried. She might be a lot

    more popr than me once this movie is released!¡± Ning Ran replied with a chuckle.

    ¡°Who did you go dining with tonight? You seemed to be in a bad mood when you came back earlier.¡±

    Because Nan Xing was highly observant, he noticed something was off about Ning Ran as soon as she

    walked through the door.

    Ning Ran simply let out a helpless sigh in response.

    ¡°What''s the matter? Has someone been bullying you?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    Ning Ran had wanted to rant about Nan Chen at first but changed her mind at the veryst second.

    Nan Xing and I may be close friends, but Nan Chen is his older brother. It doesn''t seem appropriate to

    badmouth Nan Chen in front of him.

    ¡°Come on, tell me what happened! It''s that director, isn''t it? He must''ve been bullying you or

    something!¡± Nan Xing was getting anxious.

    ¡°Of course not! He wouldn''t dare bully me!¡±

    ¡°Who was it, then? Tell me, and I''ll go teach them a lesson! I don''t care who they think they are! No one

    bullies you and gets away with it!¡± Nan Xing urged her, but Ning Ran refused to tell him anything.

    After pacing around anxiously for a bit, Nan Xing came up with an idea and said, ¡°I know! I''ll ask Qiao

    Zhan about this! He''s in charge of protecting you, so he should know what happened. If he doesn''t,

    then he''ll be the first person to feel my wrath!¡±

    Ning Ran was quick to stop him. ¡°He doesn''t know anything, so don''t even bother asking him.¡±

    ¡°Then tell me who did it! If you won''t tell me, I''ll drop by the set tomorrow and question that director

    myself. If he doesn''t tell me what I want to know, I''ll have Qiao Zhan beat the living daylights out of

    him!¡± Nan Xing yelled angrily.

    ¡°Hey, you''d better not cause any trouble! The production team has nothing to do with this!¡±

    ¡°Just tell me who did this, Ning Ran! Give me a name! Even if I can''t handle it, I could just go to my

    brother for help!¡±

    ¡°Don''t mention him!¡±

    Nan Xing was so shocked by Ning Ran''s sudden outburst that he just stood there staring at her in

    silence for a few seconds. ¡°You got into a fight with my brother? Is that what happened?¡±

    ¡°I didn''t get into a fight with him! He just did something really shameless, that''s all!¡± Ning Ran shouted

    angrily.

    Nan Xing froze.

    Chen? Shameless? Those are two words you''d never see in the same sentence! If anything, Chen''s

    ego is bigger than anything else in the world!

    ¡°W-What did he do?¡±

    ¡°It''s too embarrassing for me to say it, so stop asking!¡±

    ¡°Oh,e on! You two have been through countless life-and-death situations, and yet, your

    rtionship has remained strong all this while! Why would you two get into a fight all of a sudden?

    Look, just tell me what Chen did, and I''ll apologize on his behalf if he truly is in the wrong,¡± Nan Xing

    said.

    ¡°No. It''s too embarrassing for me to talk about it.¡±

    ¡°I''m family, so there''s no need to be embarrassed. Tell me what this is all about, or I''ll call Chen and ask

    him myself.¡±

    ¡°You know what? You should do that,¡± Ning Ran replied and went back to her room.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Nan Chen had just finished working overtime and was heading back to Commoner Residence when he

    got a call from Nan Xing. ¡°What is it?¡±

    Nan Xing got straight to the point and asked, ¡°What happened between you and Ning Ran? Why does

    she keep calling you shameless?¡±

    Nan Chen frowned upon hearing that. Is there no end to this woman''s shenanigans?

    ¡°Just ignore her. I don''t have time to exin it to you,¡± Nan Chen replied and hung up the phone

    immediately after.

    Nan Xing tried calling him again, but Nan Chen ignored his call.

    He was really busy and didn''t have time to deal with Nan Xing''s questions.

    Upon arriving at Commoner Residence, Nan Chen went straight to see Nan Zhengde in his study

    room.

    Nan Zhengde had been suffering from insomniately, so he was still awake even though it was really

    late.

    He took off his sses and motioned for Nan Chen to sit down when he saw hime in.

    ¡°Have you been working overtime until now? You must be tired, huh?¡±

    ¡°I''m all right. It''s not too tiring. Anyway, I''ll keep this brief so you can get some rest soon,¡± Nan Chen

    replied while stretching his shoulders a little.

    He then told Nan Zhengde all about the Serenity Street project in the old town.

    ¡°Ipletely agree with your conclusion. It is indeed Green Beauty that we need to watch out for.

    However, this isn''t a major project, so you could just make the decision on your own. Why would you

    need to discuss it with me?¡± Nan Zhengde said after giving it some thought.

    ¡°Well, this project is capable of affecting the development of Nanshi Corporation. Anyway, I have a

    feeling that there is more to this than meets the eye.¡±

    ¡°Are you referring to the alliance between the Ouyang family and the Rong family?¡±

    ¡°Yes. While Nanshi Corporation is capable ofpeting against them, the situation is not looking good

    for us. We will be put in a tough spot if they team up and attack us in every sector.¡±

    Nan Zhengde stared at him in silence for a brief moment before replying, ¡°Chen, you''ve never been

    one to surrender. You''re a lot stronger than this.¡±

    ¡°I don''t intend on surrendering, but the incident with Ouyang Duo has taught me a valuable lesson. I

    am not invincible, so I should never underestimate any of my opponents. I only survived the car

    ident because I got lucky. I let my guard down before, but that won''t happen again,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Nan Zhengde nodded. ¡°I''m d you see it that way. This is a sign of maturity.¡±

    ¡°We need to strike first and strike hard before they begin their attack. Otherwise, we''ll be forced into a

    disadvantageous and vulnerable position.¡±

    ¡°What do you n on doing?¡± Nan Zhengde asked.

    ¡°I don''t think the alliance between the Ouyang family and the Rong family was a recent thing. They

    must''ve nned it long ago. I n to identify the foundation of their alliance and find out how strong

    their bond is.¡±

    ¡°Did you manage to find anything?¡±

    ¡°I need your help, Grandpa.¡±

    ¡°What do you need me to do?¡±

    ¡°I need you to tell me about the grudge between our family and the Ouyang family. It has been so many

    years now, Grandpa. Why won''t you tell me the truth?¡±

    ¡°That happened way too long ago, so I don''t really remember much. Just do what you believe is right,

    Chen. I''m not about to waste my time and energy recalling the past, so let''s leave it at that,¡± Nan

    Zhengde said as he stood up.

    Grandpa still won''t talk about it... He''d always stop whenever he gets to the important parts of the topic.

    I don''t understand why he refuses to talk about it. They''re our enemies, so what''s keeping him from

    talking about them?

 Chapter 682

    Chapter 682

    As Nan Zhengde made his way to the door of the study room, he turned around and saw that Nan

    Chen was still sitting there with a nk expression.

    Nan Chen was constantly under a lot of pressure, so it pained Nan Zhengde to see him stressed out

    like that.

    He then made his way back toward Nan Chen and said, ¡°We won''t talk about how the grudge between

    our family and the Rong family started, but I was indeed the one who defeated them back then. They

    were driven out of Flower City for many years because of that. Try putting yourself in their shoes and

    ask yourself if you''d be able to let it go that easily. Grudges like these are incredibly difficult to let go of,

    so there''s no point in talking about it.¡±

    Nan Chen held his grandfather''s hand and sat him down on the chair as he said, ¡°I don''t know what

    you did to the Rong family back then, but I believe you were in the right. You''re not the kind of person

    who would resort to ruthless methods unless you were forced to. I''m sure they must''ve done something

    horrible for you to kick them out of Flower City¡ª¡±

    ¡°I didn''t kick them out of Flower City. They chose to move out themselves,¡± Nan Zhengde corrected

    him.

    ¡°All right, I believe you, Grandpa. I simply want to know the truth about what happened, that''s all. When

    I was a child, you often told me that benefitse before friendships. I want to know if the grudge

    between us and the Rong family can be resolved if we provide them with some benefits,¡± Nan Chen

    said.

    ¡°You mean you want to make peace with the Rong family?¡±

    ¡°That, or to at least get them to leave us alone. The alliance between the Ouyang family and the Rong

    family poses a huge threat to us. Now, I''m not doing this because I''m afraid of them or anything. I

    simply don''t want to spend too much time and money fending off their attacks. You know how costly it

    can be to deal with attacks from two powerful families, right? It''d hamper Nanshi Corporation''s

    development tremendously. Wouldn''t it be better if we could all stop fighting each other and just focus

    on developing our businesses instead?¡± Nan Chen exined.

    Nan Zhengde patted him on the shoulder andplimented him once again, ¡°I like the way you think,

    Chen. You possess incredible wisdom. As a matter of fact, you''re much wiser than I was back then.

    When I was your age, I kept charging forward without stopping to think about my actions. While it may

    be fun to destroy and dominate others, the true challenge lies in protecting what you have. Because I

    failed to understand this simple concept, I went overboard in my conquest and ended up causing

    Nanshi Corporation a lot of problems many years down the line. It''s good to see that you''re doing a lot

    better than I did, Chen! I''m very proud of you!¡±

    There was a hint of anxiety in Nan Chen''s eyes as he said, ¡°Please don''t say that, Grandpa. You

    worked hard to build the foundation for Nanshi Corporation. I''m simply just protecting what you created

    and reaping what you sowed. I don''t want your hard work to go to waste in my hands. That''s why I

    decided to discuss this with you.¡±

    ¡°I know, but I believe there is no possibility of us working with the Rong family, so you need to give up

    on that idea. All you have to do right now is focus on hitting them where it hurts most. Ouyang Li has

    recently risen to power after Ouyang Duo died, so it''s understandable that she would want to try and

    prove herself. However, she is no match for you, and her position at Sunshine Corporation isn''t exactly

    stable. You can use that to your advantage and plunge Sunshine Corporation into chaos. Although we

    are the most powerful family around here, facing an attack from the second and third most powerful

    families can still be a very stressful situation. Even so, their alliance is not invincible. You can still

    defeat them by attacking their weaknesses. I''m sure you have your way of getting the job done. Just

    know that I believe in you, Chen,¡± Nan Zhengde reassured him.

    Nan Chen nodded. ¡°That''s exactly what I''m nning to do. I wanted to know the details about the

    grudge between us and the Rong family so that I may better execute my ns.¡±

    ¡°You need not concern yourself with the details of the grudge. Just know that it cannot be resolved, or

    rather, it cannot be truly resolved,¡± Nan Zhengde said.

    Nan Chen got to his feet. ¡°All right, I understand. I''m going to bed. You should try to get some sleep

    too.¡±

    Meanwhile, Tang Jing was having a drink with her friends at a bar in Flower City.

    She received a boost in poprity ever since her new show with Ning Ran became a hit. Although it

    was nothing near Ning Ran''s level, she did make a name for herself in Flower City''s entertainment

    industry and expanded herwork.

    As Tang Jing would have to meet up with the production team in Livingsfill in two days to shoot her

    scenes, she decided to hang out with her friends that night.

    While making her way to the restroom, she walked past a security guard who was dragging a man out

    of there.

    The man was dressed in a red suit and looked like he had one too many as he yelled repeatedly, ¡°Let

    go of me! Do you have any idea who I am? I''m the heir of a powerful family!¡±

    It was quitemon for people to say such things when they were drunk, so Tang Jing wasn''t all that

    surprised.

    However, she thought he looked rather familiar and called out to the security guard, asking, ¡°What did

    he do?¡±

    ¡°He didn''t pay for his drink. The bnce in the card he gave us was insufficient, and he refused to call

    his friends for help, so we had no choice but to kick him out.¡±

    ¡°I do have friends! They just won''t answer my calls, you judgmental b*stard!¡± the man yelled.

    Yup, he definitely had one too many.

    As Tang Jing took a closer look at his face, she recognized him as Ouyang Qi.

    ¡°I''ll pay for his drink, so please let go of him,¡± she said while handing the security guard her credit card.

    ¡°Why are you paying for my drink? I can afford to pay for it myself!¡± Ouyang Qi eximed with a smile.

    Tang Jing returned the smile as she asked, ¡°Do you know who I am?¡±

    With a dazed look in his eyes, Ouyang Qi walked up to her and stared long and hard at her face. After

    racking his brain for about ten seconds, he shook his head and said, ¡°No, I don''t.¡±

    ¡°My name is Tang Jing. I''m a good friend of Ouyang Qing''s,¡± Tang Jing replied.

    Ouyang Qi shook his head again. ¡°I still don''t know you. Send me your bank ount number. I''ll pay

    you backter. I have the money...¡±

    ¡°You''re drunk. I''ll send you home, okay? Just wait here while I go and tell my friends that I''m leaving,¡±

    Tang Jing said.

    After excusing herself, Tang Jing helped Ouyang Qi out of the bar.

    ¡°Tell me where you live, and I''ll send you home.¡±

    Although others saw Ouyang Qi as a useless bum who couldn''t even afford to pay for his own drink,

    Tang Jing saw him as a valuable asset.

    After all, he was Ouyang Duo''s only son as well as the heir to the Ouyang family.

    The Ouyang family had fallen apart, but Sunshine Corporation remained one of its most valuable

    businesses in the province.

    In other words, Ouyang Qi was closely rted to Sunshine Corporation and had a bright future ahead

    of him.

    In order to climb up the socialdder, Tang Jing was willing to work with Ouyang Qing and help her do

    all sorts of horrible things.

    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    However, Ouyang Qing failed miserably when she went up against the formidable Nan family, so Tang

    Jing knew she needed someone else to help her out. She needed a new stepping stone.

    After that, she tried to ride on Nan Xing''s coattails, only to realize it would be ridiculously difficult. As

    Nan Xing and Nan Chen were siblings, the Nan family set really high expectations for their spouses. It

    would be near impossible for someone like Tang Jing to marry into the Nan family.

    After all, not everyone was lucky enough to sleep with Nan Chen and give birth to two of his kids.

    As such, Tang Jing saw a glimmer of hope when she bumped into Ouyang Qi while he was at his

    lowest.

 Chapter 683

    Chapter 683

    ¡°I no longer have a home. Just drop me anywhere.¡± Ouyang Qi seemed to have regained some

    sobriety.

    ¡°Let''s go to my ce, then. You can stay there,¡± offered Tang Jing.

    ¡°Why would you care about me? I''m a loser,¡± Ouyang Qi muttered.

    ¡°That''s enough. Don''t say that. It will all work out sooner orter.¡±

    Tang Jing owned an apartment in Flower City. As she lived alone, it was tidy and immacte.

    Upon his arrival, Ouyang Qi went straight to the toilet to throw up and only returned to the living room,

    falling asleep on the couch after emptying his stomach.

    Tang Jing covered him with a nket and took a closer look at the man. He''s actually quite handsome.

    Though he couldn''tpare with Nan Chen and his brother, she considered him more handsome than

    most men. However, he was too pasty and thin for her taste.

    When Ouyang Qi awoke the following day, his head felt heavy.

    Despite having had too much to drink, he remembered everything that had happened the night before.

    Tang Jing was already back from her morning exercise. She wore a ck, tight-fitting exercise outfit,

    which entuated her excellent figure.

    Being a disciplined person, she was determined to exercise every day so that she could stay in shape.

    Her resolution stemmed from her desire to seed.

    ¡°Oh, you''re up? Go wash up. Breakfast will be served soon,¡± Tang Jing announced.

    As hungover as Ouyang Qi was, he knew that he must smell bad, so he slinked into the guest

    bathroom.

    Tang Jing hadid the table when he emerged after a shower.

    Breakfast was simple. It consisted of one grapefruit, one slice of bread, and one ss of milk.

    For Tang Jing, who had strict demands for her physique, breakfast served the primary need to

    replenish her nutrients. The taste was a secondary concern.

    ¡°Have a little of everything. This is breakfast that we mortals have. I don''t know how to make breakfast

    for the rich,¡± Tang Jing teased.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Ouyang Qi sat down and helped himself to a slice of bread.

    Having thrown up everything he ate the night before, he was starving.

    The pair fell into silence as they ate. Neither of them said a word.

    Ouyang Qi broke the silence. ¡°Add me on WeChat. I''ll return the money to you.¡±

    ¡°Forget it, it wasn''t much. However...¡±

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Tang Jing wanted to ask him how he had gotten to the point where he could not even pay for drinks,

    though ultimately, she trailed off as she was worried it might wound his self-esteem.

    Ouyang Qi knew what she was hesitant to ask, so he took the initiative to admit it. ¡°I have no money.

    My father was the one who made the arrangements for my expenditures. Now that he is gone, my

    cards have all been frozen. I have no job and no ie. That is why I''m broke.¡±

    ¡°Why would they freeze your cards, though? Aren''t you the son of the Ouyang family?¡± Tang Jing

    asked.

    ¡°Not anymore. I haven''t been for a long time.¡±

    Ouyang Qi devoured the slice of bread in several bites. He then gazed inquiringly at Tang Jing as if to

    ask if there were any more bread.

    Tang Jing handed him another slice and, upon the realization that one might not be enough, gave him

    one more after that.

    ¡°Are you your father''s biological son?¡± Tang Jing asked again.

    ¡°I think so. We haven''t even done a paternity test,¡± Ouyang Qi said with a self-deprecatingugh.

    ¡°Then how did you end up here? Don''t you have a more important role to y?¡±

    Tang Jing was tactful in her choice of words. She meant to ask why he did not inherit his father''s

    fortune. How could he not even afford to pick up his tab?

    Ouyang Qi said nothing. He raised his ss and took a sip of milk.

    ¡°Forget it. I shouldn''t pry into your family''s affairs,¡± Tang Jing said, concerned about upsetting Ouyang

    Qi bying on too strong.

    ¡°With my father gone, my mother is the next heir apparent. The next thing I knew, she gave all her

    shares to my sister, who has now be thergest shareholder in the group. Ouyang Qing had been

    forced to sign away her rights to her shares. I did not sign mine, so my sister had the bank freeze my

    cards and bankrupt me. Now that I''m broke, my friends dared not meet up with me, worried that I''d ask

    to borrow their money. As a matter of fact, I am desperate enough to ask for loans if they dared

    answered my calls.¡±

    Ouyang Qi gave another bitter chuckle.

    Tang Jing had met Ouyang Li before and was under the impression that Ouyang Li was much more

    capable than Ouyang Qing.

    It appears that my judgment is urate. Ouyang Li is a vicious one.

    ¡°Are you just going to let that slide?¡± Tang Jing eximed.

    ¡°What else can I do? Sue my sister? Add on to the mess that the Ouyang family is already facing? Start

    an internal feud and have the outside worldugh at us?¡± Ouyang Qi retorted.

    ¡°You are still Mr. Ouyang''s son. With Sunshine Corporation in such a state, you should be doing your

    part. Did your father waste his time raising a son like you? Will he rest in peace?¡± she countered.

    Ouyang Qi spread his arms, defeated. ¡°What can a loser like me do? My sister is capable enough. It''s

    fine by me as long as she leads Sunshine Corporation toward a better future.¡±

    The term ¡°loser¡± wasmonly used as an insult to others. Thus, Tang Jing had never met anybody

    who would assume the moniker ¡°loser¡± for themselves.

    ¡°I think your sister would not seed in leading thepany. Besides, somebody would be bound to

    take over your family business,¡± Tang Jing opined.

    ¡°What do you mean? Is it because she''s a woman?¡± Ouyang Qi argued.

    ¡°No. Because of who she is.¡±

    Ouyang Qi gazed at Tang Jing. ¡°Speak your mind.¡±

    ¡°Your father had been forced to his death by the Nan family. Instead of avenging him, your sister starts

    contesting for power with her own family instead. That shows that she does not take vengeance

    seriously and is only concerned with satisfying her greed. She is selfish, and people like that cannot

    achieve greatness. That is why Sunshine Corporation will fall into somebody else''s hands sooner or

    later. It would be toote for you to do anything by then,¡± she borated.

    Tang Jing was astute. She observed Ouyang Qi''s reaction after her speech and could tell that her

    words did not repulse thetter.

    Instead, he looked as if he was thinking about it, though he did not express his stance.

    Tang Jing knew she needed to add fuel to the fire.

    ¡°You were irresponsible back then because your father was there to run thepany, which granted

    you the luxury to fool around. Things, however, have changed. Mr. Ouyang is not here anymore. Your

    mother, too, must have been forced to hand over her shares to your sister. If your sister marries,

    Sunshine Corporation will no longer belong to the Ouyang family. Your father''s meticulous ns

    against Nanshi Corporation to strengthen Sunshine Corporation''s position would all be for naught. Do

    you not care anymore now that he''s gone? Even if you have no ambition or desire, you should think of

    your mother and deceased father.¡±

    Ouyang Qi leaped to his feet. ¡°Don''t you think I''ve considered everything you''ve just said? Do you think

    I enjoy being a loser? Even when my father was around, he favored only Ouyang Qing and never

    allowed me to ask about the important matters of thepany. Since he didn''t trust me, I could only

    spend my days messing around. I have no power. What else can I do aside from being a yboy?

    Besides, my father had been reckless in his doings. I don''t like his style, so he had even less of a

    reason to trust me. I''m sad that he''s gone, but what can I do?¡±

    Tang Jing smiled, satisfied. Her hunch turned out to be right.

 Chapter 684

    Chapter 684

    Ouyang Qi was not aplete loser. He had his own opinions; he just had no idea what to do.

    ¡°I understand now. Wow, you''ve really had it tough. So, what are your ns now?¡± Tang Jing asked.

    ¡°ns? None.¡± The look in Ouyang Qi''s gaze was nk.

    ¡°You can''t remain aimless forever, right?¡±

    ¡°I''ve been a yboy for too long, and I can''t get a job because I know nothing. Having fun and

    spending money extravagantly is what I do best,¡± Ouyang Qi dered with unabashed frankness.

    ¡°No,¡± Tang Jing insisted, ¡°it''s impossible that you know nothing, given your upbringing in a family like

    that. You just never had the chance to demonstrate your skills. You know, you should be more

    proactive. Return to work at your father''spany and protect the family business.¡±

    Taking note of Ouyang Qi''s silence, Tang Jing was jubnt. I seem to have swayed Ouyang Qi. I''m

    about to seed!

    ¡°My sister will never agree to this. She wants to keep me away,¡± Ouyang Qi said resignedly.

    ¡°You can fight for it.¡±

    ¡°How am I supposed to fight for it?¡±

    ¡°Tell her that you hope she would give you a job and an ie to sustain yourself. If she refuses, you''ll

    tell the reporters that she''s edging you out and trying to take charge of the family. Having just ascended

    to the helm, she would not have settled in yet. Any threat to her position would force her toply with

    your request. As to what sort of job she will give you, I do not know. But as long as yound a job at

    Sunshine Corporation, you would have seeded halfway. You are the son of Mr. Ouyang, the

    chairman. As far as the veteran employees are concerned, you are still the heir. That much is a fact.

    Just keep your head down and inch your way forward. As long as you are patient, an opportunity will

    present itself. You only need to grab hold of it when the timees, and you will be able to turn things

    around.¡±

    Tang Jing''sst sentence was said as much to herself as it was to Ouyang Qi.

    She had spent years working hard and waiting for the right opportunity.

    asionally, she would lose her patience and wonder if she should persevere when her opportunity to

    venture into high society still had not shown itself.

    She used to tell herself that there would be an opportunity as long as she was willing to wait.

    Ouyang Qi''s predicament is both his and my opportunity. I can achieve my goals through him.

    Ouyang Qi did not speak.

    ¡°Where are you currently living?¡±

    Tang Jing changed the subject, feeling that it was time to drop the serious subject, for Ouyang Qi

    needed time to digest it.

    It would rouse Ouyang Qi''s suspicion if I pushed too hard, which might cause my n to backfire.

    ¡°I was living in the Orchid Club, but I have no ce to stay now that the club is undergoing renovation.

    The hotel has kicked me out for overdue fees,¡± Ouyang Qi answered.

    ¡°You could stay here if you don''t mind. I am a good friend of Ouyang Qing''s. You can think of me as

    your friend, too,¡± Tang Jing said warmly.

    Ouyang Qi appeared suspicious. ¡°Why are you so nice to me? Could you have fallen for me? It can''t

    be, as I have nothing. Why would you?¡±

    Tang Jing did not answer immediately.

    She had always thought that Ouyang Qi was not just a loser. One who grew up in an immensely

    wealthy family could not have been a loser.

    He was well-educated, and he had valuable connections with elites. Under the influence of the people

    around him, he would never be an average Joe, let alone a loser.

    That was why she thought he was worth the wager.

    It is a low-cost bid with the potential for huge payoffs. A perfect investment opportunity.

    ¡°There are several reasons that I''ve decided to help you. One of them is on the ount of my

    friendship with Ouyang Qing. Another is that if I were to help you now, you have the possibility of giving

    me the biggest repayment in the future. An additional friend guarantees an additional option, doesn''t

    it?¡±

    Verily, Tang Jing could not call herself a saint and tell him that she helped purely out of kindness.

    If she told him that, Ouyang Qi would not believe her and would instead suspect her motives.

    I might as well be more sincere since it would be more believable. Ouyang Qi would also find it

    ptable.

    Ouyang Qi nodded. ¡°I understand. You''re right. I should be doing something.¡±

    Tang Jing smiled.

    She knew she could convince him, for she was very persuasive.

    People who are down are weak-minded, so they''re even easier to persuade and take control of.

    ¡°Would you like to stay here? I''ll be over at Livingsfill to shoot a scene over the next two days, so the

    house will be empty. You could help me tidy up while you''re here...¡±

    She suddenly paused because she realized her guest was a pampered young man who may not know

    how to do chores.

    Sure enough, Ouyang Qi shrugged. ¡°I don''t know how. Seriously.¡±

    ¡°No problem. I''ll leave you the cleaner''s contact, and you can have here over to do it. I have only

    one rule for your stay here: you cannot bring girls over to spend the night,¡± Tang Jing said sternly.

    Ouyang Qi chuckled. ¡°While it''s true that many girls would call me back then, things are different now.

    They may note even if I asked them out, and spending the night is beside the question. So, rest

    assured, no girls woulde here. There is something I should rify, though. I would not have the

    money to pay you rent any time soon.¡±

    Tang Jingughed in response. She once again realized how handsome Ouyang Qi was.

    He has the indolence and insolence typical of yboys as well as indifference toward everything.

    Such a demeanor was different from men of ordinary backgrounds, as most of them did not have the

    right to be indifferent toward everything.

    Instead, they had to carefully obey societalws to avoid being shunned and left behind.

    Only wealthy heirs with ess to vast resources could indulge in the free expression of their true

    colors.

    Because of their wealth, they were endowed with the power to act carefreely without restraint.

    Ouyang Qi''s name was once renowned in the entertainment industry for how brazen he was when it

    came to flirting with women.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    There were no limits to his proclivity. It did not matter if the women were taken or married. Once he

    took an interest in them, he would not be deterred.

    Even though he could no longer do as he pleased now that he was in dire straits and without

    resources, that unruly aura of his remained.

    Tang Jing reveled in that quality of his, probably because that was what shecked most: the ability to

    do as she pleased.

    I have to grab hold of the opportunity that Ouyang Qi presents so that one day, I would be able to do as

    I please just like Ouyang Qi once did.

    ¡°What would you like for lunch? I''ll cook for you,¡± Tang Jing offered with a smile at Ouyang Qi.

    ¡°You know how to cook?¡±

    ¡°I do. I can do everything, evenundry and mopping the floor. I can do every household chore. I''ve

    done what you rich people deem dirty work,¡± she boasted.

    ¡°You befriended Ouyang Qing for money, didn''t you?¡± Ouyang Qi inferred.

    Tang Jing was frank in her confession. ¡°That''s right. To be honest, I''ve only been able to be part of I Am

    You''s production team with Ouyang Qing''s help. Even though she is now in prison, her name still

    carries weight because she is the film''s investor. If you could persuade Ouyang Qing to hand over her

    investment, you could be the film''s investor instead.¡±

    Deep down, Ouyang Qi felt that the woman before him was not as simple as she appeared.

    She is different from the women I used to flirt with. This one knows what to do to get what she wants.

    ¡°Very well. One day, I will turn you into a superstar like Nan Chen once did for Ning Ran,¡± dered

    Ouyang Qi.

    ¡°I believe you could do it.¡±

    Tang Jing did not believe in Ouyang Qi''s ability to seed. Instead, she believed in her own ability to

    seed by using Ouyang Qi.

 Chapter 685

    Chapter 685

    Ouyang Qi tagged along with Tang Jing to get groceries from the nearby supermarket in the afternoon.

    That was the first time in his life that he got to experience the process of shopping for groceries.

    He had always been pampered in the past, so he had no idea what it was like having to shop and cook

    for himself.

    Ouyang Qi realized he enjoyed the process and found it as interesting as frequenting nightclubs.

    He had intended to help out once they were done grocery shopping but ended up causing more trouble

    instead, for he had no idea how to pick or wash vegetables and couldn''t get anything right.

    As such, he had no choice but to give up and wait for the meal to be served.

    Tang Jing''s years of working far from home had equipped her with the skills of making tasty homemade

    dishes.

    Ouyang Qi rarely had the chance to taste such in homemade delicacies due to hisvish lifestyle.

    He waxed lyrical about the tastiness of the dishes and imed that he''d never eaten anything as

    delicious as these before.

    ¡°I hope you won''t forget today''s meal when you''re at the helm of Sunshine Corporation and be

    rich again in the future,¡± Tang Jing jested as she watched Ouyang Qi savor his food.

    ¡°I would never forget this if that day were toe,¡± he replied frankly.

    ¡°All right. I''ll hold you to it.¡± Tang Jing was secretly delighted.

    ¡°One more thing. Would it be possible for you to lend me some money?¡± Ouyang Qi inquired.

    ¡°How much do you want? You know that I''m not rich.¡±

    ¡°Do you have a hundred thousand?¡±

    ¡°I do. I''ll transfer the amount to you.¡±

    ¡°Okay. Please pass me a piece of paper so I can write an IOU. I promise to return you ten times the

    amount in the future, making it one million.¡±

    ¡°An IOU won''t be necessary. I trust you.¡±

    Ouyang Qi gave Tang Jing a look of gratitude. ¡°Thank you. I swear to pay you back.¡±

    ¡°As I said, I trust you. However, I''m curious as to why you need it. It''s a rather insignificant amount, and

    I can''t fathom what it can be used for.¡± Tang Jing was perplexed.

    ¡°I''m using it to treat someone to a meal.¡±

    Tang Jing put down her chopsticks. ¡°You''re spending a hundred thousand just to treat someone to a

    meal?¡±

    ¡°We''re going to have some fun after that of course.¡±

    ¡°A hundred thousand may seem like nothing to you, but that''s not the case for me. I don''t understand

    why you''re doing this. You aren''t a casanova anymore, so how could you borrow money to indulge in a

    hedonistic lifestyle?¡±

    It wasn''t as if she wasn''t willing to lend him money. She simply felt that he had gone overboard.

    What''s the point of pretending he''s rich when he''s so destitute?

    ¡°I won''t force you if you''re not willing to lend me.¡± Ouyang Qi was unperturbed.

    ¡°Is the hundred thousand supposed tost you for a night?¡±

    ¡°I''m afraid it''d be a rather tight budget. I guess I would have to skimp on it.¡±

    Tang Jing was apoplectic. A tight budget? It sounds more like mindless squandering to me!

    ¡°Fine, I''ll lend it to you. But don''te looking for me when you run out of money for food,¡± Tang Jing

    grumbled.

    She had started second-guessing herself. Is Ouyang Qi a lout beyond help? Why would I need a

    pathetic young master when all he knows is to leech off my money to fund his extravagant past-times?

    ¡°You must be disappointed.¡± Ouyang Qi grinned.

    ¡°Of course not. You''re the heir of a rich family, after all, and this is within my expectations.¡±

    Ouyang Qi pointed at Tang Jing. ¡°Precisely!¡±

    Tang Jing was confused. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±

    Ouyang Qiunched into a spiel. ¡°I''ll be treating thepany''s board of directors instead ofdies this

    time around. I would need their support to be epted into theirpany. That''s why I''m spending this

    much on treating them. They have high tastes and won''t be pleased with being invited to dine at an

    ordinary restaurant. Therefore, the more exclusive, the better. After that, I''d be bringing them for a drink

    or two. I can''t expect them to pay for all of these, can I? I have to put on the veneer of a young master

    despite being dirt-poor. Otherwise, they won''t take me seriously. I can''t afford to be lowkey at this point,

    as the truth is that I''m broke. Spending extravagantly on them is the only way for me to catch their

    attention.

    Tang Jing instantly understood that this was indeed how the mindset of the rich and poor differed.

    ¡°So all this fanfare was because you wanted to treat the higher-ups of Sunshine Corporation to a

    meal?¡±

    ¡°That''s right. Weren''t you the one who said I''d need to forge ties with them to seed? My sister

    willfully believes that she has everything under control. Unfortunately, the truth is that my uncles are

    vying for my father''s position, with no one to keep them in check now that he''s gone. Since our family

    still owns the most shares, they would pretend to back us up on the surface while patiently waiting for

    an opportunity to rece my sister once she slips. I''m still capable of exerting influence with their

    support, even in my wretched state. If I maintain an amicable rtionship with them and manage to get

    them on my side, my sister won''t be able to do anything to me. Without their backing, I''d be utterly

    useless.¡±

    Tang Jing''s eyes lit up. She was right in thinking he wasn''t a useless piece of junk but a valuable gem.

    ¡°I have more than a million that I''ve saved for the past few years in my bank ount. Take it and spend

    it however way you like it. I won''t need them urgently, so take your time in returning them to me.¡±

    Tang Jing got to her feet and handed a card over to Ouyang Qi.

    ¡°I''ll send the pin number to your phone. You''re free to use the card anytime you want.¡±

    Ouyang Qi stared at Tang Jing agape. ¡°What''s going on? These are your hard-earned money, so you

    should save them for yourself.¡±

    ¡°I''m giving all of them to you. Consider it an investment of sorts.¡± Tang Jing was resolute.

    ¡°You''d be crestfallen if I were to squander all of your money in two days'' time.¡± Ouyang Qi chuckled.

    ¡°Never mind that. Just spend as much as you like. I won''t poke my nose into it. Even if you spend all of

    it with zero returns, I''ll take it as a failed investment. This amount of money won''t allow me to live myThis is from N?velDrama.Org.

    ideal life anyway.¡±

    Ouyang Qi was intrigued. He had never seen such a peculiar woman before.

    He epted the card and ced it on the table.

    ¡°Don''t worry. I''ll repay you. You have my word. Even without the shares, my mother has several assets

    under her name. I''d have at least tens of millions after selling those. I''m sure she wouldn''t mind. Back

    then, a million meant nothing to me, as a bottle of wine would have already cost hundreds of

    thousands. I have nowe to appreciate the value of money and truly treasure it. Thank you for

    supporting me now, and I guarantee to pay you back more than what I owe you.¡± Ouyang Qi pledged.

    Tang Jing nodded fervently. ¡°I strongly believe that you have what it takes to achieve that.¡±

    Ouyang Qiughed. ¡°If I fail, don''t ever loan your money to others without thinking it through again.¡±

    Tang Jing refused to mention failure as she couldn''t ept it as a possibility.

    She might act like she did not mind, but as someone with such a strong desire to seed, it was

    impossible not to.

 Chapter 686

    Chapter 686

    ¡°All right. Hurry up and eat, then you can go and take care of whatever you need to do. Feel free to

    spend the money however you like. There''s no need to tell me what you spent it on,¡± said Tang Jing.

    Raising his hand as though taking an oath, Ouyang Qi replied, ¡°Okay. I promise to work hard and won''t

    let you down.¡±

    He left after eating and went to Sunshine Corporation''s office building in Flower City, wanting to meet

    with Ouyang Li.

    However, she was in a meeting and made him wait.

    In the end, he wound up waiting for two hours. After those two hours, Ouyang Li said she did not have

    time to talk to him. She was heading out to inspect the banks and had no time to spare.

    Hence, Ouyang Qi followed her out of the building. However, she did not allow him to get into the car,

    telling him to wait until that night if he had something to say.

    Even so, he did not lose his temper. He merely hailed a taxi and followed her car.

    Sunshine Corporation''s core business was banking, and Sunshine Bank was thergest private bank in

    the province. It boasted an extensivework of branches in many locations. In Flower City alone, the

    bank had more than a dozen offices.

    Ouyang Li was busy from noon until the evening as she inspected each of the banks in the city in turn.

    At the end of the day, she made her way back to a standalone vi estate where she had just

    purchased a unit.

    The security there was stringent, and they did not allow taxis to enter. Hence, Ouyang Qi had no choice

    but to call Ouyang Li from outside the estate.

    s, she told him she was busy and that they would talk the following morning.

    After following her for most of the day with no sess, he could only rush back as he had a dinner

    appointment with several of Sunshine Corporation''s upper management.

    He stayed out socializing until midnight before returning to Tang Jing''s house, reeking of alcohol.

    She was catching a flight to Livingsfill the next day to start filming, so she had been going through the

    script and had not gone to bed yet.

    The production team had already been there for some time. However, Tang Jing did not head over

    earlier nor rush to meet up with them because they had not started filming her parts.

    ¡°Did you have a lot to drink?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Quite a lot, but still manageable. It wasn''t as much as yesterday,¡± he replied with a smile.

    ¡°Do you want some milk? It''ll make your stomach feel better.¡±

    Her words warmed the cockles of his heart. He had had plenty of women try to gain his favor and get

    dead drunk with him. However, not a single woman had ever asked if he wanted a cup of warm milk.

    Although he did not really feel like drinking it, he nodded.

    I want to experience what it''s like to be cared for by someone.

    Tang Jing brought Ouyang Qi the warm milk, and he felt a warmth suffuse his heart after taking a sip.

    ¡°You went for a meal with thepany''s upper management?¡± she asked. That was what she was the

    most interested in.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°What did you all talk about?¡±

    ¡°Just as I expected, they have certain opinions about my sister,¡± he replied.

    ¡°What kind of opinions?¡±

    ¡°They said Li is preparing topete with Nanshi Corporation for the renovation project of an old city. It

    involves the development of a plot ofnd that''s worth more than one billion. The project will ce the

    company in directpetition against Nanshi Corporation, and they aren''t too confident about it,¡±

    Ouyang Qi exined.

    ¡°I don''t know much about such matters. So, are their concerns justified?¡± Tang Jing enquired.

    He sighed. ¡°Of course. It does make sense. After all, Sunshine Corporation''s strength lies in finance

    rather than real estate. As for Nanshi Corporation, thepany has been operating in Flower City for

    years, and it''s clear it has the upper hand. Sunshine Corporation is in the midst of an uncertain

    situation. If it were to pit itself against Nanshi Corporation now, I also think it''s a losing battle.¡±

    She gazed at him without saying a word for a long time.

    ¡°Why are you staring at me like that? Did I say something wrong?¡± he asked.

    ¡°What do I know about business? I''ve no idea whether what you just said was right or not. However, I

    think it is. What surprised me was that you''re actually rather knowledgeable and have your own

    opinions about things. You''re not an ignorant and ipetent yboy,¡± she responded, grinning.

    He chuckled and answered, ¡°I''m not that knowledgeable. More often than not, my opinions are at odds

    with my father''s. As time passed, we lost confidence in each other, and I gradually became an

    ipetent good-for-nothing who was only good at throwing money around. Do you know it''s usually

    much more enjoyable to be a good-for-nothing? It means you don''t have to do anything, and if you

    don''t do anything, you won''t have to take responsibility. That''s why I feltpletely at ease with being

    a good-for-nothing.¡±

    ¡°What are you going to do next?¡±

    ¡°I haven''t decided yet.¡±

    ¡°I think you shouldn''t try to stop your sister. Let her fail. Let the board of directors and upper

    management lose confidence in her. That way, you''ll have a chance.¡±

    Ouyang Qi stared at Tang Jing with a strange look, and thetter instantly realized she should not have

    said that.

    I spoke too bluntly and nearly exposed my motives!

    ¡°Er, what I mean is¡ª¡±

    She tried to exin herself. However, Ouyang Qi cut her off abruptly. ¡°I didn''t join thepany to seize

    power from Li but to work with her in protecting our family''s interests.¡±

    As she expected, he had discerned the meaning of her words and was cautious.

    ¡°I know that. I may have expressed myself poorly. What I mean is Ouyang Li has only just taken over

    and is still at a stage where she''s full of herself. Only by letting her run into a few obstacles will she get

    taken down a peg or two.¡±

    Tang Jing managed toe up with a wless exnation, and Ouyang Qi''s expression gradually

    rxed.

    ¡°Regardless of how she treats me, that''s a family matter. When in public, I''ll always stand by Sunshine

    Corporation''s side. I won''t do anything that could affect thepany''s interests in order to seize power.

    That sort of behavior isn''t in line with my original intentions,¡± he replied.

    ¡°Of course. I totally agree with you. Actually, that''s what I think too. In that case, will you offer your

    sister any suggestions after this?¡±

    Needless to say, that was not what Tang Jing genuinely thought. She actually hoped Ouyang Li would

    mess up and make an irreversible mistake. Only then would Ouyang Qi have the opportunity to take

    over Ouyang Li''s position.

    ¡°I think I will, but she won''t necessarily listen to me. I wanted to talk to her today. However, she didn''t

    give me a chance to meet with her at all. That''s why I''m guessing she won''t listen to my suggestions.

    Nheless, it doesn''t matter. I should still do my part and will do everything I can to stop her from

    making the wrong decision.¡±

    In truth, his response left Tang Jing somewhat disappointed. That was not the oue she was hoping

    for.

    Even so, she could not show her displeasure and had to continue hiding her true thoughts.

    Hence, she smiled and said, ¡°You have my support no matter what you decide to do. I believe in you.¡±

    I also believe in my capabilities. As long as I maintain a close rtionship with Ouyang Qi, I trust I can

    influence him. Some things can''t be done in haste and need to take time. Haste makes waste, after all.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    When Tang Jing woke up the following morning, she discovered that Ouyang Qi had already left.

    Meanwhile, Ouyang Li had also gotten up very early. As the new boss, she was determined to make

    more effort to show her passion and dedication to her subordinates so they would approve of her.

    She had just exited the vi estate when she saw Ouyang Qi waiting at the entrance.

    He dashed out in front of her car, forcing her to stop.

    Sticking her head out the car window, she roared at him, ¡°What the h*ll do you think you''re doing?¡±

    ¡°I''ve something to say to you. It won''t take too much of your time,¡± he said, swallowing his anger.

    After that, he hurried forward, opened the car door, and got into the vehicle.

    Ouyang Li shot him a look of disdain. ¡°I''m busy, so stoping to bother me every day. What do you

    want? With that world of your own you live in, what serious business could you possibly need to speak

    to me about?¡±

 Chapter 687

    Chapter 687

    Ouyang Qi did not get mad even when he was regarded with disdain by Ouyang Li.

    He was surprised to find out how patient he could be. If this had happened in the past, he would have

    flown into a rage already.

    ¡°Indeed, I don''t have any serious business to tend to. So, I was hoping you could perhaps give me

    something to do, Li,¡± said Ouyang Qi.

    ¡°You want a job? Haven''t I told you that you''re not suited to get a job? You''re not equipped with the

    proper capability to work. Do you not know what kind of person you are? With the way you are now,

    what can you even do? Stop causing me trouble. I don''t have time to entertain your nonsensical

    ramblings,¡± uttered Ouyang Li bluntly.

    ¡°Li, I have no job and no ie right now. My card was suspended, and I can only find lodging at my

    friend''s house.¡±

    ¡°So, you''vee to me for money, is that it? It''s all because Dad spoiled you back then. You''ve idled

    around every day and all you know is wasting money! Now that Dad is no longer around, I won''t ever

    be like him and allow you to do as you please! You''re a man. Figure out how to make a living yourself.

    Also, don''te to me anymore!¡± she snapped.

    ¡°Stop the car!¡± She then motioned for the driver to pull over before chasing Ouyang Qi out of the

    vehicle.

    However, Ouyang Qi did not budge. Instead, he remained in the car and refused to move a muscle.

    ¡°Are you getting out of the car or not?¡± Ouyang Li asked.

    ¡°No, I''m not getting out. I wasn''t done talking yet. I''ll head to thepany with you, and then I''ll get

    lost,¡± Ouyang Qi replied.

    Not knowing what to do with her stubborn brother, Ouyang Li had no choice but to ask the driver to

    continue driving.

    Soon, Ouyang Li spoke up. ¡°Whatever it is you want to say, say it.¡±

    ¡°I''ve already said it. I want a job to make some money so I can provide for myself. Otherwise, I won''t be

    able to survive. Back then, Dad was there to support me. Now that I don''t have anyone providing for

    me, I need to provide for myself.¡±

    ¡°But you know nothing about working. What kind of job do you want me to give you? That''s enough.

    Let''s drop this matter. I''ll give you twenty thousand every month. That should be enough for you to

    survive,¡± Ouyang Li said impatiently.

    ¡°No, I can''t let you do that. I no longer want to reap without sowing. I need to rely on my own capability

    to provide for myself.¡±

    ¡°But you don''t have expertise in anything! Do you not understand what I''m trying to say?¡± Ouyang Li

    remarked angrily.

    ¡°Well, if you put it that way, I still have something to capitalize on. My identity. I could use my identity as

    Ouyang Duo''s son to receive interviews with the media. I could also utilize my identity as a down-and-

    out young heir to participate in various variety shows. You know this, I go by the moniker ''Nine-

    Fingered Prince'' in the entertainment industry. I''m currently buzzworthy, so I''m capable of utilizing such

    resources to make money. Making two hundred thousand a month isn''t a problem, let alone twenty

    thousand,¡± Ouyang Qi said smilingly.

    ¡°I won''t allow you to do such things! If you rely on your appearance to make money, wouldn''t that

    tarnish the image of the Ouyang family? Have you no shame?¡± Ouyang Li became increasingly furious.

    Ouyang Qi replied, ¡°Li, if survivability bes an issue, having shame or not doesn''t matter anymore.

    I have nothing much to say. You either give me a job to let me provide for myself, or you could leave

    me to my own devices, and I''ll enter the entertainment industry of my own ord. Who knows? Maybe

    I''ll get a writer to write my autobiography. Young people nowadays are envious of the lives of wealthy

    kids. If I were to publish a book, it would surely gain much traction. That way, I would have another

    profitable venture, and my life would be carefree.¡±

    ¡°I forbid you to do such things. I''ll give you a job. Stop the car!¡±

    The driver quickly pulled over as soon as he heard hermand.

    ¡°Get out of the car. Let him drive,¡± Ouyang Li said to the driver.

    ¡°Ms. Ouyang...¡±

    ¡°Get out of the car!¡± Ouyang Li bellowed angrily at the driver.

    The driver obediently got out of the car as he did not dare provoke his superior.

    ¡°You drive. Aren''t you looking for a job? You''ll be my driver from today onwards,¡± Ouyang Li said.

    Ouyang Qi was stunned for a moment. He had never expected Ouyang Li to assign him a job like that.

    I''m the only son of the Ouyang family! Now I''m reduced to the role of a driver? This job is too

    humiliating for me!

    Ouyang Qi knew that Ouyang Li did this on purpose to mess with him. She assumed he would find

    such an embarrassing job to be unbearable.

    Therefore, Ouyang Qi had to put up with it. Besides, this job was quite beneficial to him.

    One would surely question why it was beneficial.

    For starters, the job didn''t require technical skills as all he needed to do was drive the car around. To

    Ouyang Qi, this did not pose any difficulties whatsoever.

    If he were immediately assigned the role of an executive, he would instead be worried that he wouldn''t

    be able to handle it.

    However, working as a driver was a simple feat for him.

    Besides, the best thing about this job was that he could often stay by Ouyang Li''s side to learn from her

    and simultaneously have a grasp of her whereabouts.

    He would also get to know the people Ouyang Li kept in contact with and the ces she went.

    Simply put, this was the best entry point into thepany for Ouyang Qi which he initially never

    thought about.

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    He dly opened the car door and got out of the vehicle. After that, he hopped into the driver''s seat

    and began driving.

    Ouyang Li thought Ouyang Qi would fly into a rage if he was assigned such a menial job.

    However, his behavior differed from her expectations, rendering her astonished.

    Three days had passed in Livingsfill, and Ning Ran hadn''t been in touch with Nan Chen for the past

    two days. Nan Chen tried calling her several times, but Ning Ran never picked up.

    In actuality, her anger had somewhat subsided. However, the thought of Nan Chen praising Lu

    Jingyuan''s beauty behind her back would still upset Ning Ran from time to time.

    The actress on Ning Ran''s production team who shared a simr name with Lu Jingyuan had also

    arrived the day before. The two of them even had a meal together.

    The world was indeed a strange ce, for Ning Ran happened to know two people with simr names.

    One was named Jing with the surname Tang, whereas the other had the additional word ¡°Yuan¡± in her

    name, and her full name was Lu Jingyuan.

    Because of the simrity of their names, Ning Ran would sometimes have the impression that Tang

    Jing and Lu Jingyuan looked slightly simr.

    They both possessed the disposition of an intellectual and were both charming.

    At that moment, Tang Jing walked in. ¡°Ding, aren''t you going to bring your two little cuties to the

    production team for some fun? I haven''t seen them for a long time and I miss them.¡±

    Ning Ran chuckled and said, ¡°They''re at home, so it''s not very convenient to bring them here. Erbao

    came two days ago to film, though. You haven''t arrived yet at that time.¡±

    ¡°I heard from our colleagues in the production team. They praised Erbao for her impressive

    performance. Her acting skills are simply top-notch. It''s a shame I wasn''t able to see it. Did she

    perhaps grow taller again?¡±

    Tang Jing intended to visit the ce where Ning Ran stayed and build a closer rtionship with the

    latter, for it would benefit her greatly.

    However, Ning Ran did not even think of inviting her over and merely smiled in response.

    As the two chatted, the director walked over with a solemn expression and motioned for Ning Ran to

    talk to him in private.

    Tang Jing stepped away tactfully although she was also curious as to why the director wanted to talk to

    Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran asked, ¡°Are my acting skills not up to par? Just tell me directly. I''ll do my best to improve.¡±

    The director replied, ¡°No, it''s not that. A new production team has arrived not far from us, and I heard

    they''re also here to shoot a movie. Their staff members kepting over and got into a scuffle with our

    staff members, who are in charge of security outside. We tried to reason with them and asked them not

    to film simultaneously with us, as we would end up affecting one another and getting in each other''s

    way. We also gave them another option of moving their set further away from us because although

    both teams are filming an outdoor scene in the same location, we don''t necessarily need to huddle

    together. However, they disagree with us.¡±

 Chapter 688

    Chapter 688

    Ning Ran looked at the director and asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°In the long run, we''re afraid that more conflicts will ur, and none of us can film. After that, they told

    us to get Ding Mi to talk to them. I think it''s because you''re famous and influential. If you were to talk to

    them, they might considerpromising,¡± the director answered.

    ¡°Me?¡± Ning Ran was unsure if she heard that correctly.

    The director was feeling slightly uneasy when he replied, ¡°Yes. They specifically asked for you. I didn''t

    dare to say yes to them because I needed to ask you first.¡±

    ¡°Do they know me? I''m neither a producer nor a director. I''m just an actress. Why do they want to talk

    to me?¡± Ning Ran was puzzled.

    ¡°I don''t think it''s logical, too. If you don''t want to do it, I won''t force you. We''ll deal with them ourselves.

    However, they aren''t necessarily the friendliest bunch of people, so it''s quite hard to have a decent

    conversation with them.¡± The director heaved a sigh.

    ¡°Let''s call the police, then. We got here before them, no? What makes them think they cane and

    disrupt our filming?¡±

    ¡°There''s no use in calling the police. This is just a minor conflict, and they''re not breaking anyws. The

    police would just leave after saying a few words.¡±

    Ning Ran thought about it and asked, ¡°Why do you think they want me there? Are they going to put me

    in a tough spot?¡±

    ¡°That''s one of the possibilities,¡± the director admitted.

    ¡°Why would they do that?¡±

    The director wanted to say something, but he hesitated.

    ¡°It''s okay. Speak your mind,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°They''re filming a science fiction movie called Me And You, whereas ours is called I Am You. Don''t you

    think the movie titles are very simr? Besides, both films are of the same genre. We''re now still

    looking for a legal team to see if there''s an infringement issue. As for why they specifically asked for

    you, I heard that it''s because you rejected their contract. Obviously, it''s just a rumor. We don''t know for

    sure,¡± the director said.

    ¡°It seems like they''re just messing with us. We have simr titles and the same genre. Is this not

    giarism?¡± Ning Ran grew anxious.

    ¡°We''re not sure yet. If that''s the case, we''ll sue them. I also heard about how they wanted you to be

    their second female lead prior to this. They offered you twenty million for the role, right? However, Star

    Entertainment turned it down. Perhaps they feel humiliated, so they came to cause trouble. They even

    insisted on having a chat with you.¡±

    That was when Ning Ran had a sudden realization. Something like that did happen. I even got into an

    argument with Nan Chen because of it. At that time, I wanted to take part in the film because the pay

    was good. However, Nan Chen is the boss. He turned it down, and there was nothing I could''ve done

    about it. I definitely can''t meet them if that''s what this is about.

    ¡°I''m not going. I don''t want to talk to them because it''s not my job to do so,¡± Ning Ran said.

    In the past, Ning Ran would surely help her team out because she was a passionate person.

    However, things changed ever since she and Nan Chen got into the car ident. She felt as though

    danger lurked in every nook and cranny of the world. Thus, she became a lot more cautious.

    Needless to say, there were instances when she would get impulsive and act recklessly. For example,

    that was exactly what happened when she stood up for Rong Rong at the club.

    However, she was perfectly calm this time. There are so many leaders in the production team. As an

    actress, I don''t think it''s within my job scope to negotiate with others.

    ¡°Sure. We''ll figure something out. After all, this really isn''t your responsibility. We''ll trymunicating

    with them again. If nothing works out, we''ll call the police,¡± the director replied helplessly.

    ¡°It''s not that I don''t want to help the production team out, but I just feel as though they have ulterior

    motives for wanting me there. I can''t fall into their trap.¡±

    ¡°I understand.¡± The director nodded helplessly.

    With that, the director left to attend to other matters.

    After a moment of contemtion, Ning Ran thought it would be wise to tell Nan Chen about it. He

    rejected them and offended them. Now, they''re after me.

    She didn''t want to call Nan Chen directly, so she called Qiao Zhan, hoping that Qiao Zhan would inform

    Nan Chen about it.

    Qiao Zhan freaked out when he heard about what was happening. ¡°Madam, you mustn''t meet them!

    They surely have bad intentions. Don''t get tricked by them!¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry. I''m not falling into their trap. I only called you because I want you to tell Nan Chen about

    it.¡±

    ¡°Okay. I''ll report it to him.¡±

    After a while, Ning Ran''s phone started vibrating. It was a call from Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°What is it, Assistant Jiang?¡± Ning Ran answered the phone.

    To her surprise, she heard Nan Chen''s maic voice asking, ¡°How dare you not answer my phone?

    Are you sick of living?¡±

    Nan Chen tried calling Ning Ran a few times, but she didn''t answer his calls. Hence, he called her on

    Jiang Zhe''s phone.

    ¡°What is it? I''ll hang up if there''s nothing else you''d like to say.¡±

    ¡°How dare you!¡± Nan Chen hollered.

    ¡°Who are you trying to threaten here? Why wouldn''t I dare?¡± Ning Ran was infuriated.

    ¡°If you hang up on me, I''ll get someone to send the kids back to Flower City!¡± Nan Chen uttered.

    Ning Ran immediately saw red. He''s doing this again! He''s threatening to take the kids away! This is

    not the first time he has done this. Is he not sick of it yet?

    Unfortunately, that was Ning Ran''s chink in the armor.

    She was indeed worried that Nan Chen would bring the kids back to Flower City because she wanted

    to see the kids every day.

    ¡°What do you want to say to me?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Don''t you have something to tell me? What did the production team want you to talk to them about?¡±

    Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°You''re joking, right? I didn''t even see them. How am I supposed to know what they want to talk to me

    about? Besides, aren''t you the cause of all this? You rejected their contract, and now they''re looking for

    trouble!¡± Ning Ran fumed.

    ¡°How did they know where you''re filming at? It''s not like you''re filming at a well-known ce, right?

    How did they end up in the same ce as you?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°How would I know? Why are you asking me all these questions?¡±

    ¡°If you don''t know, then you should go and find out! I never knew trouble woulde to those who turn

    down contracts! If that''s the case, what would happen to those celebrities that turn down countless

    offers in a year? Wouldn''t they be in a lot of trouble? In this case, those people are undoubtedly

    targeting you. Since they want to see you, why don''t you ask them what they want?¡±

    Nan Chen thought she was hallucinating when she heard those words. Does Nan Chen really want me

    to find out? I didn''t want to go because I know it could be dangerous. Why would he want me to get into

    trouble? That''s pure evil! What''s the matter with him?

    Seeing that Ning Ran was keeping mum, Nan Chen ordered, ¡°Speak!¡±

    ¡°Those people obviously have ill intentions. Why would you want me to risk my life?¡±

    ¡°What are you on about? It''s broad daylight. There are at least hundreds of people in both the

    production teams, no? What do you think they could do to you? If they want to hurt you, they would do

    it stealthily. Why would they ask to see you so brazenly? Did you leave your brains behind in Flower

    City or something?¡±

 Chapter 689

    Chapter 689

    ¡°You''re the stupid one!¡± Ning Ran argued.

    ¡°If you were so smart, you should''ve gone to find out what those troublemakers wanted and tell me

    about it. If you''re still scared, let Qiao Zhan go with you. Get Qiao Zhan to beat up whoever dares to

    disrespect you.¡±

    ¡°Beat up? Don''t I need to be responsible for that?¡±

    ¡°That''s not something you need to worry about. Just get him to beat up anyone you want. Remember

    to inform me after you find out what''s going on. That''s all. I''m hanging up.¡±

    Nan Chen hung up the phone without waiting for Ning Ran''s response.

    Holding the phone, Ning Ran was stunned for a while.

    Once she hade back to her senses, she realized that Nan Chen had a point. What could they

    possibly do to me in broad daylight? Kill me? Who would dare to do that?

    With that in mind, she went to look for the director and told him she was ready to meet the other

    production team.

    The director thought he heard her wrong. ¡°Didn''t you say you didn''t want to go?¡±

    ¡°I''ve changed my mind.¡± Ning Ran shed a smile.

    ¡°Okay. I''ll send some people to go with you.¡±

    ¡°That won''t be necessary. I''ll set the time and ce. What makes them think they can meet me

    whenever they want? Tell them I''ll meet them at seven tonight. I''ll inform them of the meeting location

    later,¡± Ning Ran answered.

    Although she knew things were not as dire as she initially thought, it was still wiser to be more cautious.

    What if those people go nuts and attack me? To be safe, I''ll pick the location.

    In the end, Ning Ran decided to meet the other production team at a club in Livingsfill.

    Before the meeting, Qiao Zhan sent some people over to sweep the ce and make sure the ce

    was safe.

    Still, Ning Ran was wracked with worry, so she told Qiao Zhan and the others to wait by the entrance.

    Ning Ran arrived at the location first, and she saw a morousdy walk in around ten minutester.

    Although Ning Ran didn''t recognize thedy, she found thedy''s gaze rather familiar.

    ¡°I''m Ding Fei. My director told me toe,¡± thedy said.

    With that, she sat down right away and stared at Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran noticed the malice in Ding Fei''s eyes. What''s with her? I''ve never met her. Why does she

    look like she wants to devour me?

    ¡°Ding Fei?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Yes. I know you''re Ding Mi. Oh, wait. You''re Ning Ran.¡±

    ¡°I am. You guys wanted to talk to me, right? What would you like to say?¡± Ning Ran asked directly.

    Ding Fei went silent and kept staring at Ning Ran.

    Her gaze was so hostile that Ning Ran couldn''t help but feel threatened.

    Having said that, Ning Ran wasn''t afraid because she knew Qiao Zhan and the others were right

    outside. If they hear me shout, those skilled fighters wille to my rescue.

    In a vicious tone, Ding Fei asked, ¡°The production team offered you a role in our movie, right? Why did

    you reject it? Is twenty million too little for you? Do you think you''re worth that much?¡±

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    At first, Ning Ran wanted to exin herself, but she quickly changed her mind after seeing how rude

    Ding Fei was.

    Besides, she believed in Nan Chen''s judgment. They must''ve had ulterior motives when they offered

    me the role.

    ¡°You don''t have the right to decide how much I''m worth. I didn''t feel like epting the role, so I rejected

    it,¡± Ning Ran answered. Have I been around Nan Chen for too long? Why am I talking like him?

    ¡°Do you really think you''re all that? You''re nothing without Nan Chen!¡± Ding Fei roared.

    Ning Ran was stumped when she heard that. Why is she so hostile toward me?

    ¡°It seems like you''vee to pick a fight with me. In that case, we have nothing to talk about.¡± Ning

    Ran stood up.

    ¡°Sit down. We''re not done yet.¡± Ding Fei stood up as well.

    ¡°If you want to talk, I''ll talk. However, I''m not going to show you mercy if you disrespect me again!¡± Ning

    Ran roared.

    ¡°Why are you so proud of yourself? Didn''t you get where you are now by relying on a man?¡±

    ¡°You''re right. So what if I relied on a man? I like how it is now. What''s wrong with that? I''ve never even

    met you. Why are you treating me as if we''re enemies?¡± Ning Ran red at Ding Fei.

    ¡°I just don''t like how shameless you are. You''re nothing but an ordinary actress.¡±

    ¡°You''re the shameless one! What do you want? You said you wanted to talk to me, but you ended up

    picking a fight with me. Are you insane?¡± Ning Ran had been bickering with Nan Chen over the past

    few days, and she had a lot of anger piled up within. I haven''t gotten a chance to vent my anger yet.

    Thisdy came out of nowhere and talked trash about me. Fine! I''ll vent my frustration on her!

    Ding Fei was so pissed that her lips were trembling, causing her initially beautiful face to look slightly

    weird.

    ¡°I talked to you nicely, didn''t I? You just had to provoke me. Do you think insulting people is your

    specialty? Say what you need to say. Otherwise, I''m out of here.¡± Ning Ran had never been one to get

    aggressive, so she was prepared to let the matter slide after seeing how angry Ding Fei was.

    ¡°I came here today to convince you to give up on the movie you''re working on and act in our movie as

    a second female lead,¡± Ding Fei said.

    Ning Ran was perplexed. ¡°I''ve already rejected that role. Do you think I''m going to change my mind

    now that you''ve insulted me?¡±

    ¡°Sleep on it. I''ll give you three days.¡±

    ¡°There''s no need for that. I''m giving you my answer now. I refuse your offer!¡±

    ¡°Fine. If that''s what you want, you''re going to regret it.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Really? Let''s see, shall we? Is there anything else? If that''s all, then I''m leaving.¡± Ning Ran was

    about to leave.

    ¡°As I''ve said, you''re going to regret it!¡± Ding Fei repeated angrily.

    ¡°If you threaten me once more, you''re going to regret it too,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    Ning Ran wanted to leave, but Ding Fei suddenly stood before her and stopped her.

    ¡°What exactly do you want?¡± Ning Ran panicked.

    ¡°If you act in our movie, I can convince the producer to pay you more,¡± Ding Fei said.

    Ning Ran was utterly confused. It''s so obvious thisdy hates me to the bones. Why is she so eager to

    have me act in their movie? She''s even offering me more money.

    ¡°Don''t you hate me? Why are you offering me more money? Why do you want me to act in your movie

    so badly?¡± Ning Ran questioned.

    ¡°I think you suit the role of a second female lead, so I''m hoping you would join us.¡± Ding Fei''s attitude

    softened.

    ¡°But I don''t want to do that. Didn''t I make myself clear?¡±

    ¡°Why? Nobody sane would turn down money. Why do you not want to join us?¡± Ding Fei refused to

    give up.

    ¡°I don''t like the role! Are you happy now?¡±

    ¡°How much money do you want?¡± Ding Fei wouldn''t give up.

    Right then, Ning Ran became even more suspicious. What are her motives?

    ¡°Are you asking me to give up on the movie I''m working on right now to be a second female lead

    in your movie?¡± Ning Ran queried.

    ¡°You don''t have to do that. You can do both at once. It''s quite normal for actors and actresses to film for

    two movies at once.¡±

    ¡°You allow me to be in both movies, and you''re offering me more money? It''s so obvious you despise

    me. Why are you offering me the chance to make more money?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    Ding Fei paced around a little and answered, ¡°That''s because I think you''re only good enough to take

    up a supporting role instead of the main role.¡±

    Ding Fei''s reasoning was beyond ridiculous.

    ¡°Fine. I''ll think about it.¡± Ning Ran decided to not waste another second on her. I need to tell Nan Chen

    about this. I can''t seem to figure out what thisdy''s intention is. Let''s see if Nan Chen knows what''s

    cooking.

 Chapter 690

    Chapter 690

    Ning Ran returned to the inn, only to find that Nan Xing was also back.

    Nan Xing had been keeping himself busy after he came to Livingsfill. He drove to the surrounding cities

    and had fun at each ce. Finally, he officially returned to Livingsfill that day.

    Livingsfill had insanely beautiful views, but it was just a small border town. Nan Xing, who had been

    used to the vibrant and lively city life, still felt that this ce was a bit too deserted. Therefore, he was

    ready to go back.

    Before he left, he had something to ask Ning Ran.

    After acting solicitously and asking her about things like whether she was tired from filming, he finally

    went straight to the point.

    ¡°I heard you have formed a close bond with someone called Lu Jingyuan in Livingsfill.¡±

    ¡°Did Qiao Zhan tell you that?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I was told that she''s stunning,¡± Nan Xing replied with a smile.

    ¡°Yes. If she weren''t beautiful, Nan Chen wouldn''t have secretly made a move on her,¡± Ning Ran

    mindlessly let it slip.

    ¡°What? My brother made a move on her?¡±

    Nan Xing''s eyes lit up. Excitement instantly crept up on him. He couldn''t believe that he had missed

    such a huge gossip.

    Ning Ran was furious upon seeing Nan Xing''s reaction.

    ¡°Why are you so excited? You don''t condemn his actions even after learning that he has hooked up

    with my friend? Indeed, birds of a feather flock together,¡± Ning Ran scolded.

    In truth, Nan Xing didn''t mean to react that way. He just found the matter interesting.

    Nan Chen was renowned for living a chaste life in Flower City. He had ignored countless women that

    offered themselves to him. Thus, Nan Xing found it hard to believe that Nan Chen would take the

    initiative to hit on a woman.

    It was like seeing pigs fly, which was why Nan Xing found it enthralling.

    However, upon hearing Ning Ran''s words, he immediately realized that he had lost his cool.

    He shouldn''t have responded that way in such a situation.

    ¡°I''m sorry. I didn''t mean that. I was just curious as to why my brother would do things like that!¡±

    ¡°So, are you implying that I''m using him?¡±

    Nan Xing pretended to huff angrily, ¡°No, that''s not what I mean. If my brother has done such a thing, I

    won''t let him off. This is something that I can do, but he can''t.¡±

    ¡°Then why are you defending him?¡±

    ¡°I''m not defending him. I just feel sorry for him. He is ruining his reputation. That said, he is still

    young...¡±

    When he saw Ning Ran shooting a re in his direction, Nan Xing immediately shut his mouth.

    I don''t think it''s right to say that, but how should I react? And what should I say?

    ¡°Anyways, I don''t approve of his actions, and he has crossed the line. This is simply horrible!

    Furthermore, that woman is super fierce, so it''s not even worth it for him to do that.¡±

    Unsettled, Nan Xing mindlessly blurted those words out.

    ¡°How did you know that she was fierce?¡±

    Ning Ran was smart. Naturally, she wouldn''t miss out on such important information.

    Nan Xing covered his mouth. The urge to send two ps to his face seized him.

    ¡°Do you think you can keep silent by covering your mouth?¡± Ning Ran roared.

    Nan Xing had no choice but to remove the hand covering his mouth, looking at Ning Ran innocently.

    ¡°Stop acting pitiful in front of me. Spill it! How did you know that she was fierce?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°When I came over the other day, the kids were catnapping. Then, I saw a beautiful woman lying there

    napping...¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    At that, Nan Xing went silent.

    ¡°Then, what happened next?¡±

    ¡°That''s it.¡± Nan Xing shrugged.

    ¡°That''s it? How''s that possible? Oh, so you saw a beautiful woman taking a nap, and that was all?¡±

    ¡°Uh...¡±

    Nan Xing didn''t want to talk about it as the next scene was him being doused with water.

    How could he talk about such an embarrassing moment?

    After all, he made a name for himself as a well-known yboy in Flower City, yet he got turned down in

    Livingsfill. Consequently, he didn''t want others to know about it.

    No matter how Ning Ran pressed him to borate, Nan Xing still couldn''t bring himself to tell her.

    ¡°You refuse to tell me the whole truth, right? Fine, let me help you jog your memory.¡±

    Taking a sip of tea, Ning Ran adjusted her sitting posture and began to solve the case.

    ¡°Considering your character, I doubt you could have refrained from chatting up a woman when you saw

    one.¡±

    Nan Xing blinked innocently, saying nothing.

    ¡°Okay! So, you did talk to her. I suppose you had asked her for her name and whether she had a

    boyfriend whileplimenting her, right?¡±

    Her words startled Nan Xing.

    Wow, she is narrating what happened that day down to thest detail. How did she guess it correctly?

    Could it be that Lu Jingyuan told her so? If that''s the case, that''s so embarrassing.

    ¡°Am I such a shallow person?¡± Nan Xing replied with a sullen face.

    ¡°Are you not? Don''t yboys act that way upon seeing pretty women?¡± Ning Ran responded with

    disdain.

    ¡°Naturally, everyone has an affection for beauty, but I''m not as lecherous as you think I am.¡± Nan Xing

    felt immensely awkward.

    ¡°And then? Lu Jingyuan ignored you, but you kept hitting on her shamelessly...¡±

    ¡°I didn''t! I did ask for her name and whether she had a boyfriend, but I didn''t pester her shamelessly!¡±

    Nan Xing shouted.

    ¡°You did! Did youpliment her on her beauty?¡± Ning Ran probed.

    ¡°Yes, I did do that,¡± Nan Xing admitted to it.

    Ning Ran abruptly smacked her forehead. ¡°D*mn it! So, that''s what happened then!¡±

    Silly me! Why didn''t I think that the person who hit on Lu Jingyuan was Nan Xing? Lu Jingyuan has no

    idea who this man is, but I should have guessed it. There is no way a haughty man like Nan Chen

    would hit on a woman shamelessly.

    ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Nan Xing could tell that something was not right with Ning Ran.

    This time, it was Ning Ran''s turn to stay silent. It was too embarrassing¡ªshe couldn''t let Nan Xing

    know about it.

    I mocked him earlier. If he learned about the truth, he would surely make fun of me in return.

    ¡°Nothing. You can continue.¡± Ning Ran pretended as if nothing had happened.

    ¡°Wait a minute! Something is not right with you. You just don''t want to say it.¡± Nan Xing was unwilling to

    give up.

    ¡°I''m fine. Don''t overthink it.¡± Ning Ran continued to pretend that nothing was wrong.

    ¡°All right, then. I''m d to hear that you''re okay. Anyways, I didn''t flirt with Lu Jingyuan. On the

    contrary, she was mean to me.¡±

    ¡°Is that why you said that she was fierce? She doesn''t know you. Isn''t it normal for her to be hostile

    toward you? Are you expecting her to treat you affectionately on your first meeting? You must have

    overthought it, no?¡± Ning Ran remarked with a look of disgust on her face.

    ¡°Even so, she can''t just dump water on me!¡± Nan Xing yelled.

    ¡°What? You were sshed with water? Hahaha...¡± Ning Ran burst intoughter.

    Seeing Ning Ranughing, Nan Xing was furious.

    It was simr to when Ning Ran was infuriated upon seeing himughing a moment ago.

    ¡°Ning Ran, we are family. Is it right to feel happy after learning I was sshed with water?¡± Nan Xing

    looked rather aggrieved.

    Ning Ran immediately withdrew her smile. ¡°I''m notughing at you. I just feel sorry for you.¡±

    ¡°Enough of that. Isughing out loud your way of expressing sympathy for me?¡± Nan Xing looked hurt.

    ¡°Hey, you''re a man! Why are you being so particr? Besides, the one who flirted with Lu Jingyuan

    was you, right?¡±

    ¡°I didn''t flirt with her!¡± Nan Xing denied it again.

    ¡°Okay, you didn''t flirt with her, but you struck up a conversation with her, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°All right! I''m done.¡± With that, Ning Ran rose to her feet.

    Nan Xing stared at her nkly. ¡°That''s it? I mean... Could you tell your friend that I''m not that kind of

    person?¡±

    ¡°Then what kind of person are you?¡± Ning Ran countered.

    ¡°Well, at the very least, I''m not lecherous, and I won''t take advantage of someone. I''m actually a

    mature person, and I only talked to her because I have a soft spot for beauty...¡±

    ¡°I got it. I will ry this message to her.¡±

 Chapter 691

    Chapter 691

    Ning Ran dialed Nan Chen''s number, but he did not answer the call.

    Why is he not picking up his phone? Is he still throwing a tantrum?

    She dialed his number again. Finally, she heard Nan Chen''s leisurely voice saying, ¡°Speak.¡±

    Ever since Ning Ran called him shameless for no reason, Nan Chen had been acting indifferently

    toward her.

    Things at work had been busier recently. Nan Chen figured he could y along since Ning Ran liked

    giving him the cold shoulder.

    Little did he know, Ning Ran called him that day to extend an olive branch and stop giving him the cold

    shoulder instead of dragging it on.

    ¡°Are you busy? Did I disrupt your work?¡± Ning Ran asked softly.

    ¡°You did,¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    Hearing that, Ning Ran was at a loss for words.

    She feltplicated emotions crossing her heart at that moment. With him sounding disinterested in

    carrying on a conversation with her over the phone, she wondered what else she could say.

    ¡°Should I call you backter?¡± In the end, Ning Ran had no choice but to give in. After all, she was the

    one who wronged him two days ago.

    ¡°You will only disrupt me moreter. What makes you thinkter would be a better time to talk?¡± Nan

    Chen retorted.

    Ning Ran did not feel like talking to him anymore after sensing his hostile reaction toward her.

    But then, I have to talk to him if I want tomunicate better with him.

    ¡°Can you stop talking to me like that?¡± Ning Ranpromised.

    ¡°Sure,¡± Nan Chen replied briefly.

    Then, he remained silent and stopped talking.

    Ning Ran was frustrated. I told you not to talk to me so coldly, but I didn''t tell you not to talk at all!

    ¡°I am calling to tell you I saw that person from the production team.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Nan Chen responded with one word again.

    ¡°That person is very strange. It''s a woman. She seems to hate me a lot but also wants me to join their

    movie, saying she can pay me more. I can''t read through her motives. Since you''re smarter than me, I

    figured I could ask for your opinion.¡±

    Sensing that Nan Chen treated her indifferently, she had no choice but to tter him more.

    Sure enough, that tactic was somewhat effective. Nan Chen''s tone seemed to have softened slightly as

    he said, ¡°I can''t read through that motive either.¡±

    ¡°Then what should I do now?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Nothing. Just focus on your filming and ignore her,¡± Nan Chen answered briefly.

    ¡°But their production team has been affecting our filming progress. We can''t let them continue with

    this.¡±

    ¡°Well, this isn''t something up to your concern, and I''m too busy to bother about something so

    insignificant,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Hearing that, Ning Ran agreed too. Nan Chen was a busy man and had to deal with a multitude of

    different things every single day, so he would not have time to interfere with her problem.

    ¡°Can you perhaps give me an idea on how to solve this? I am involved in this, after all, and I wish to

    wrap up my filming as soon as possible to return to Flower City,¡± said Ning Ran tenderly.

    ¡°Find Lu Jingyuan. She will know what to do,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°Oh, that''s right. Speaking of Lu Jingyuan, I want to exin something to you.¡±

    ¡°Go on.¡±

    ¡°Well... Didn''t I call you shameless before? That was a misunderstanding¡ª¡±

    ¡°There''s no misunderstanding. I am indeed shameless,¡± said Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran was dumbfounded again.

    What''s wrong with him? Did he call himself shameless? Is he throwing a tantrum to get back at me?

    ¡°Sir Chen, don''t say that. It''s my fault this time, but this is truly a misunderstanding.¡±

    ¡°There''s no misunderstanding. It is exactly what you think,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran felt defeated again.

    She had refused to listen when Nan Chen wanted to exin, so it was only fair that Nan Chen also

    refused to listen to her exnation now. Nan Chen was clearly sulking.

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    Whatever she said and thought was what she wanted to believe in, so who am I to tell her otherwise?

    ¡°I am really sorry. It''s my fault. Please forgive me. I know you aren''t what I said you were. I was too

    tired from filming and couldn''t think straight at that moment, especially when I had to watch the kids. It

    was so exhausting that I felt like my IQ had dropped significantly too!¡±

    ¡°Your IQ has always been low,¡± Nan Chen chimed in.

    ¡°Yes, I do acknowledge that. My IQ is low, and that''s why I misunderstood you. Can you forgive me

    now?¡±

    Silence descended upon them for a couple of seconds. Then, he said over the phone, ¡°I don''t ept

    your apology.¡±

    Stop testing my patience!

    Ning Ran felt like she could no longer hold back and blurted out, ¡°Shouldn''t I feel angry when Lu

    Jingyuan told me you flirted with her? How would I know Nan Xing was the one who did that? He looks

    exactly like you. How could I not feel anything when Lu Jingyuanined to me about you asking

    for her name and calling her pretty? Like I said, this is only a misunderstanding. Do you have to hold it

    against me for so long?¡±

    ¡°Everyone knows Nan Xing has many girlfriends. If all of them went to you and told you I was the one

    seeing them, would you believe them?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Of course not!¡± Ning Ran answered without hesitation.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Because you''re a decent man. You''re full of pride and would never see so many women at once. So

    even if they shamelessly throw themselves at you, I know you won''t pay any attention to them, Sir

    Chen!¡±

    Left with no choice, Ning Ran could only tter him to the extreme.

    That seemed to have been effective. Nan Chen''s tone finally returned to his usual one as he said,

    ¡°Well, you can exin things to Lu Jingyuan and tell her about your issue with the production team.

    She should know what to do.¡±

    ¡°All right. I''ll get it done right away.¡± Ning Ran heaved a sigh of relief.

    She could finally sleep at ease, knowing that their silent treatment hade to an end.

    ¡°By the way, how did the production team find out about your filming location?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I don''t know. I''m wondering about that too.¡±

    ¡°I guess someone inside your current production team has leaked information to them. You should be

    more careful.¡±

    ¡°Again? Why does it feel like there are spies everywhere? Who could it be?¡±

    ¡°I have no idea, but I think the other production team knows everything that happens within your current

    production team.¡±

    ¡°That sounds serious! What should I do?¡±

    ¡°You can think of it yourself.¡±

    With that, Nan Chen ended the call.

    Ning Ran almost smashed her phone in anger. She would not bother asking him in the first ce if she

    knew what to do.

    Early the next morning, Nan Xing prepared to return to Flower City.

    However, Erbao and Dabao blocked his path.

    Erbao climbed on top of Nan Xing''s suitcase and refused to get down.

    ¡°Daddy told you to look after us, but you always go out without bringing us along. So it''s funny that you

    think you can leave again by abandoning us here!¡± Dabao spoke righteously.

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran was about to leave for her filming, but she did not want to miss such an

    entertaining scene. Hence, she stood aside and quietly watched the scene unfold.

    ¡°That''s right! We respect and love you so much, Uncle Xing, but I don''t think you love us any more!¡±

    Erbao pouted.

    ¡°Hey, hey, since when did I say I don''t love you anymore? I have to leave because I have things to deal

    with at work. Yes, it''s true that your daddy told me toe and watch you kids. But then, you should

    understand that my work will keep umting if I leave work for too long. I have to go back and deal

    with it now!¡± Nan Xing pleaded with the kids.

    ¡°You''ve been going out to y ever since you came here. You didn''t even make time for us. We are

    always locked at home. I don''t care. You can''t leave before you aplish your mission!¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°Come on. Kids, you don''t understand. I have my adult responsibilities. I can''t stay here just because

    you told me so. Let me go, or I''ll tell this to your daddy!¡± Nan Xing threatened.

    ¡°Daddy told us we can decide for ourselves in this situation,¡± Dabao refuted.

    Standing aside, Ning Ran secretly drew a sharp breath when she heard that.

    How can Poker Face spoil the kids to the extent of letting them decide what to do in situations like this?

    What solutions can the kids offer? Kids will only want adults to spend more time ying with them.

    ¡°So, you must stay with us for a few more days. You can''t go out without bringing us along!¡± Erbao said

    loudly.

    ¡°What if I refuse?¡± Nan Xing asked.

    Erbao did not know what to say, so she looked at her brother.

    ¡°Then we will tell them you teased Ms. Lu! We will tell Daddy, Great-Grandma, and Great-Grandpa!¡±

    Dabao said.

    ¡°That''s right!¡± Erbao immediately echoed that statement.

    Nan Xing was shocked.

    Where did these kids learn how to bargain at such a young age? What terrible adults will they grow up

    to be in the future?

 Chapter 692

    Chapter 692

    Nan Xing was stunned by their threat.

    He had never once imagined that he would one day be threatened by two kids¡ªlet alone two kids he

    genuinely could not afford to offend.

    Generally, people believed that children would not lie, so they would surely buy the kids'' story if the two

    daring children were to go out and tattletale on him, ruining his reputation in the end.

    ¡°Uncle Xing, we''re not trying to make things difficult for you. We''re keeping you here because we love

    you. Mommy has to be on set every day. It''s boring staying here on our own,¡± Dabaoforted once

    he was done threatening Nan Xing.

    ¡°Yeah. We like ying with you, Uncle Xing. We like it when you bring us out to y and buy us good

    food!¡± Erbao agreed with a gentle voice.

    ¡°Are you guys seriously giving me a carrot now that I''ve gotten the stick? Both of you just threatened

    me! I''m not talking to you two anymore,¡± Nan Xing fumed.

    ¡°Come on, Uncle Xing. We didn''t want to. No one will y with us if you leave, so why don''t you stay

    with us for another month? You can go back after that,¡± Erbao suggested thoughtfully.

    ¡°A month?¡± Nan Xing shot up. ¡°Are you seriously asking me to stay at this ce for a month?¡±

    Dabao nced at Erbao. ¡°How could you be so thoughtless? One month is too tall an order. Twenty

    days will be good enough!¡±

    ¡°O-Okay! Twenty days, then!¡± Erbao quickly agreed.

    Ning Ran could not help but smile as she listened on.

    The children never used to be that bold despite their craftiness, but ever since they met their father,

    Nan Chen, who indulged and spoiled them, they had gotten more daring and even had no qualms

    threatening Master Xing of the Nan family.

    ¡°Twenty days is too much. I''m staying for two days at most!¡± Nan Xing roared.

    His statement worried Ning Ran, for she knew Nan Xing was already on the losing side.

    Those alternatives were just a high bar the children set to allow more room for themselves to negotiate

    with Nan Xingter on.

    Nan Xing is so dumb to have fallen for it so easily.

    ¡°At least a week, then,¡± Dabao said, bargaining.

    ¡°At most three. Nothing more than that.¡±

    Dabao and Erbao exchanged nces, reaching an understanding. ¡°Deal!¡±

    It was then that Ning Ran strolled over to them. ¡°It''s lively in here. What are you guys talking about?¡±

    ¡°Uncle Xing was about to return to Flower City, but he could not bring himself to leave us alone, so he

    decided to stay,¡± Erbao announced.

    ¡°Oh, really? Did you guys coerce him to stay?¡± Ning Ran asked with a subtle smile.

    ¡°We didn''t!¡± the two children replied simultaneously.

    ¡°They didn''t. I just thought I should probably spend more time with them,¡± Nan Xing chimed in with an

    awkward smile.

    ¡°That''s very kind of you. I''ll go to work first, then. See you guys tonight,¡± she answered, relieved that

    Nan Xing could babysit the children.

    ¡°It''s about time we head out too, Uncle Xing. Wait here. I''ll go get changed,¡± Erbao eximed chirpily.

    Ning Ran spent the whole day on the set, filming, but it was not a productive day for the team because

    there were too many issues with the other production team next to them.

    Not only were there sound disturbances from the other side, but there were also other thorny issues

    that both teams failed to see eye to eye on.

    The situation almost ended up in a fight when Ning Ran''s production team went over to talk things out,

    but the opposite side refused to budge, so they called the police, who came only to ask everyone to

    calm down before leaving.

    At that rate, the production progress would be affected if the situation dragged out.

    Later that night, Ning Ran asked Lu Jingyuan out after she arrived in Livingsfill.

    She was relieved ever since she found out that the man Lu Jingyuan talked about was Nan Xing, but

    still, Ning Ran wondered whether she should tell Lu Jingyuan that the man who approached her was

    not Nan Chen but his younger look-alike brother.

    The truth was that Lu Jingyuan was repulsed by that man not because he was rude but because she

    thought he was Nan Chen.

    She was dismayed that Nan Chen had asked for her name,plimented her looks, and even asked if

    she was single when he clearly knew who she was.

    Lu Jingyuan would not have been bothered if that man were not Nan Chen. At most, she would just

    take it as a man trying to make a move on her in a more straightforward manner.

    On the other hand, a yboy like Nan Xing would never bother thinking about how he should approach

    and talk to a woman since he thought she should consider herself lucky that he was even interested in

    her.

    That was why, to him, something simple and direct would suffice when it came to picking up girls. That

    had always been his modus operandi, but it did not work on Lu Jingyuan.

    ¡°You seem like you have a lot on your mind,¡± Lu Jingyuan noted as she swirled her ss slowly in an

    elegant way.

    Ning Ran hesitated before she replied, ¡°It''s about Nan Chen. There''s something I need to tell you.¡±

    ¡°I''m sorry. I don''t want to talk about him.¡±

    Lu Jingyuan had her idiosyncrasy in that she would never mention the name of those who sickened

    her.

    ¡°I mean to say that there is a misunderstanding,¡± Ning Ran said with a smile.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°A misunderstanding? Are you saying this is just a misunderstanding after all he did?¡± Lu Jingyuan was

    flustered.

    ¡°No. This was never about him.¡±

    ¡°Never about him? Then do you mean to say that I have wrongfully used him and talked bad about

    him behind his back?¡±

    Lu Jingyuan''s beautiful and bright eyes widened in a disbelieving re.

    ¡°That''s not what I mean. I know you will never do that to him deliberately. I am just saying there is a

    misunderstanding.¡±

    ¡°I don''t think this is a misunderstanding. It is what it is.¡±

    ¡°That man you met was not Nan Chen. It was his brother, Nan Xing, who is actually not a bad guy. He

    just loves beautiful women, so...¡±

    ¡°That man was not Nan Chen? But he looked exactly like him!¡± Lu Jingyuan eximed, shocked.

    ¡°Well, both our children look identical. You know the exnation for that, right?¡± Ning Ran replied with a

    smile.

    ¡°They''re twins?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Lu Jingyuan finally had a moment of realization. ¡°I see. If that''s the case, I have really wronged Mr.

    Nan. I thought Mr. Nan was super frivolous for asking for my name. It made more sense that a stranger

    would do that.¡±

    ¡°Well, you didn''t wrong him, per se. It''s just a misunderstanding. It''s okay. Everyone is clear now.¡±

    ¡°I''m so sorry. I shouldn''t have jumped to conclusions when I didn''t even figure out the situation. I hope it

    didn''t cause you any inconvenience.¡±

    ¡°No, it didn''t. Nan Chen is that not petty.¡±

    Despite what Ning Ran said, she knew that Nan Chen was not that forgiving either, considering how he

    gave Ning Ran the cold shoulder for a few days.

    ¡°I want to apologize to him in person if I can. I am really at fault here.¡±

    ¡°It''s no big deal. I''m not worried because of that. I''m just bothered about work.¡±

    Then, Ning Ran told Lu Jingyuan what went down between the two production teams.

    Nan Chen had told her earlier that Lu Jingyuan might have a way around the situation. Hence, although

    Ning Ran was not sure if Lu Jingyuan could help, she still decided to give it a shot and tell Lu Jingyuan

    about what was happening.

    Given Nan Chen''s extensive experience, Ning Ran was confident that Nan Chen''s suggestion would be

    worthwhile.

    ¡°I see. Did you guys report this to the police?¡± Lu Jingyuan asked after listening to Ning Ran.

    ¡°We did, but that did not constitute a crime. It was just a regr disagreement, so all the police did was

    say a few words before leaving.¡±

    Lu Jingyuan nodded. ¡°You''re right. The police can''t really do anything, but I know someone who can.¡±

    ¡°Who is it?¡±

    ¡°Come with me. We''re going to meet someone,¡± Lu Jingyuan said, standing up.

    ¡°Who is it?¡±

    ¡°Juste with me. You''ll knowter.¡±

 Chapter 693

    Chapter 693

    Following Lu Jingyuan, Ning Ran arrived at a rowdy disco filled with men and women bopping wildly to

    the music on the dimly-lit dance floor.

    A feeling of suffocation overtook Ning Ran because she was not used to the deafening music.

    Lu Jingyuan said something to her, but with the music sting in her ears, Ning Ran could not hear a

    thing.

    Then, Lu Jingyuan grabbed her hand and pulled her to a corner further away from the dance floor,

    where a group of people could be seen drinking.

    Sitting right in the center was the thug called Li Xiaolong.

    ¡°Yo, Mr. Xiaolong! Look over there. There are two beautiful angels!¡± the drunkards yelled as if they had

    just discovered some treasures.

    ¡°Where? This is my turf¡ªany prettydy here would surely have already slept with¡ª¡±

    Li Xiaolong was stunned when he saw two dashingdies¡ªpeerlessly dashingdies.

    He was sure those two were the most attractive women in that whole ce.

    Although Li Xiaolong had his own disco, he was tired of seeing the same girls all the time, so he would

    go around different entertainment spots in Livingsfill, hoping to meet more beautiful women.

    Seeing that it was Lu Jingyuan, Li Xiaolong was so flustered he shot up from his chair and almost fell.

    ¡°M-Ms. Lu! Is that really you?¡±

    Everyone around him roared at the sight, ¡°Whoa, Mr. Xiaolong! Do you know her? Is she your

    girlfriend?¡±

    ¡°Shut the f*ck up! She''s like my older sister!¡± Li Xiaolong berated for fear of his men saying something

    more indecent.

    ¡°Oh? Both of them?¡± they teased,ughing.

    ¡°I said shut up! Don''t make me repeat myself!¡±

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Li Xiaolong raised and waved a bottle of beer at his men, and the lot finally shushed.

    ¡°Have a seat, girls. How about a drink? It''s on me,¡± Li Xiaolong greeted with a polite attitude that was

    completely different from that when theyst met.

    Since Ning Ran had a grudge against that man, she gave him an attitude.

    ¡°Come on. Don''t be angry. What happenedst time was my fault. I won''t do it again,¡± Li Xiaolong said

    ingratiatingly.

    ¡°You should just talk to me face to face if you''re unhappy about me. Why do you have to do things

    behind my back?¡± Lu Jingyuan questioned.

    ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡± Li Xiaolong was puzzled.

    ¡°Tell me. Did you do something behind my back?¡± Lu Jingyuan interrogated.

    Lu Jingyuan might look charming and gentle, but she could be fierce when she meant business.

    ¡°What are you talking about, Yuan? What did I do?¡± Li Xiaolong was still clueless.

    ¡°Why do you have to mess things up for people when they are filming? Why did you ask your men to

    bother them?¡± Lu Jingyuan asked.

    ¡°What exactly are you talking about?¡± Li Xiaolong was even more confused.

    ¡°Her production team is filming at the foot of the mountain. Everything went smoothly until another

    production team camped near them a few days ago and started disturbing them. Their production

    schedule was interrupted, and it even sparked a few confrontations. Those people from the other

    production team said you had their back, and I bet they do. Nobody would have the guts to do

    something outrageous unless they had your support, after all.¡±

    ¡°Ah. I understand now. So, you''re saying some people are disturbing you guys in my name?¡± Li

    Xiaolong asked.

    ¡°They said you had their backs! Don''t tell me you''re still upset about what happenedst time. Is that

    why you''re taking revenge now? Do you think this is fun?¡± Ning Ran weighed in with sharp remarks

    when she understood what Lu Jingyuan was trying to do.

    ¡°It''s not me! I have nothing to do with this. I don''t even know who you''re talking about!¡± Li Xiaolong

    eximed.

    ¡°Really? Then why did they say you ordered them to do that?¡±

    ¡°They must''ve used my name because I am influential here, and there''s nothing I can''t do in Livingsfill!¡±

    Li Xiaolong announced proudly.

    ¡°Really?¡± Ning Ran and Lu Jingyuan expressed their doubt concurrently.

    ¡°Yeah, right?¡± Li Xiaolong asked his men.

    ¡°Yes! There''s nothing he can''t do!¡± hisckeys agreed to show support.

    ¡°If that is the case, does it mean that you will ensure they won''t do it again?¡± Lu Jingyuan asked.

    ¡°Of course. I will ask them to scram tomorrow!¡± Li Xiaolong promised, beating his chest.

    ¡°Do you believe what he said?¡± Lu Jingyuan asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°Not really,¡± Ning Ran responded, shaking her head.

    ¡°Yeah. I don''t believe it either.¡± Lu Jingyuan also shook her head.

    ¡°I bet he is just bluffing. Anyone can say that,¡± Ning Ranmented casually.

    ¡°Pfft! Since both of you refuse to believe me, I''ll show you what I can do. I''ll change my family name if I

    can''t do this, so you guys can just sit back and wait for the good news!¡±

    Early the following day, Ning Ran saw the staff talking chirpily among themselves when she arrived at

    the set.

    Even the director seemed to be in a phenomenal mood. ¡°We can finally film in peace. Those people left

    for another ce as far as six miles away, so they won''t be a nuisance to us anymore.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Ning Ran asked, feigning ignorance.

    ¡°A group of men came yesterday night, smashed their devices, and burned their equipment. A conflict

    erupted between them and the security team, injuring a few guards. Those men told the team to leave

    or they woulde again today to break everything. The production team called the police, but they

    left after only taking a nce. As soon as the police left, those gangsters returned and caused a bigger

    scene. All their equipment has to be repaired and reced, so the team won''t be able to resume work

    anytime soon. I heard they have moved to another ce to film,¡± the director narrated happily.

    ¡°I see. Do you know who those people are?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Seriously? I thought you were the one who asked them toe?¡± the director asked softly.

    ¡°Me?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Those people warned the team that they wouldn''t survive in Livingsfill if they crossed Ms. Ning.¡±

    Ning Ran was deeply shocked. That bunch of hooligans. Why did they even bring me into it when they

    threatened people?

    ¡°It was not me. There must be a misunderstanding,¡± Ning Ran quickly corrected, but Cheng Xiangyun

    walked over at that moment and weighed in, ¡°Did you see the news about you online?¡±

    ¡°What news? I''m not aware of it.¡±

    ¡°Uh, it''s not some good news. See it for yourself,¡± Cheng Xiangyun replied, handing Ning Ran her

    phone.

    The gist of the news was that Ning Ran was spotted colluding with local thugs to bully some production

    team shooting in Livingsfill.

    It was also mentioned that Ning Ran was romantically involved with their leader.

    The news was even attached with a photo which¡ªdespite being blurry¡ªshowed Ning Ran standing

    next to a group of oddly-dressed gangsters.

    The photo was neither made up nor edited, for it showed the exact scene at the disco the night before

    when no one realized someone was stealing a shot in the crowd.

    Lu Jingyuan was also caught on camera talking to Li Xiaolong, but only her profile could be seen in the

    photo.

    Since the news was freshly released, it had not garnered much attention, for if it had, it would bring

    great harm to Ning Ran and her new work.

    After all, it wasmon within showbiz that female celebrities kissed up to big bosses at gatherings

    and sometimes even offered other favors.

    News like this would intrigue theizens the most.

 Chapter 694

    Chapter 694

    ¡°What''s this? Why did you even go to a ce like that? Since when did you like partying?¡± Cheng

    Xiangyun asked.

    ¡°I don''t like partying. I was there with Lu Jingyuan to look for someone. I didn''t expect people to capture

    that on camera.¡±

    ¡°Were you there to look for that prick? Did Lu Jingyuan bring you to see him?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. We went to settle some stuff, not to have fun.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun was worried sick. ¡°What should we do now? They have it on camera that you were

    with them and are even saying you''re seeing that guy.¡±

    Ning Ran was equally anxious, but she could do nothing because she did not foresee that someone

    would tail her and take photos.

    Suddenly, Cheng Xiangyun''s phone rang, adding to her anxiousness. ¡°It''s Wang Xiaoou.¡±

    Ning Ran was also aware that the call meant thepany had found out about that news.

    After talking to Wang Xiaoou, Cheng Xiangyun informed Ning Ran, ¡°Ou asked you to go straight home

    after you finish shooting and refrain from answering any questions if the reporters get to you. We don''t

    know the real situation now, so don''t make any statement.¡±

    ¡°Noted.¡±

    The rest of the day continued as usual with the shooting for Ning Ran, but for the first time in her

    career, Ning Ran had to do a few retakes because she was disturbed by the news that morning.

    It was not until she forced herself to calm down that she could get herself to perform as usual.

    During lunchtime, Cheng Xiangyun went over to inform Ning Ran that the news about her had be

    a trending topic online, but on the bright side, it was just the sixth most heated topic discussed

    domestically.

    The news appeared simultaneously across numerous gossip columns with catchy headlines that read:

    Breaking news! A star has the hots for a roughie!

    Jarring news. Ning Ran bullies her way to the top.

    You won''t believe where Ning Ran is getting her support from...

    Thest headline ended in an ellipsis, just as most clickbait headlines did.

    Apparently, those headlines'' priority was to attract attention and traffic instead of producing good

    content.

    Ning Ran''s heart was a mess as she read the news.

    ¡°Seriously? Those people are making up lies about you. I can''t¡ª¡±

    ¡°It''s okay. Let''s not talk about this. I should''ve known better. I should''ve seen thising. Now that I

    think about it, it must not have been easy to spot me given how dark the setting was, so someone must

    have followed me to the disco and snapped that picture, but the question is: who was it? Why did that

    person follow me?¡± Ning Ran asked, shaking her head in distress.

    ¡°I have a feeling that someone is trying to sabotage you. Look at those news outlets. They are all public

    ounts where writers write about and hype up anything for a fee. They have also left scathing

    comments about you in thements section, so I''m sure someone must have hired professional

    keyboard warriors to target you online,¡± Cheng Xiangyun exined.

    ¡°Did I offend anyely, though? Why do they keep targeting me?¡±

    ¡°Well, I don''t know. But, now that you said it, someone came to my mind,¡± Cheng Xiangyun replied.

    ¡°Who?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun shot Ning Ran a mysterious gaze and leaned closer to whisper in her ear. ¡°Ms. Lu.¡±

    ¡°Lu Jingyuan?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun nodded and lowered her voice. ¡°Yeah. You said she was the one who brought you

    there. So this might well be a trap she set.¡±

    ¡°This cannot be. She''s not like that,¡± Ning Ran negated the conjecture outright, but Cheng Xiangyun

    begged to differ.

    ¡°Hey, it''s not like you know her that well. Do you even know what kind of a person she is like? Don''t

    forget that she is the one who solved your problem thest time you ran into one.¡±

    Ning Ran was unperturbed. ¡°You''re right, but what about that? She solved my problem, but that doesn''t

    mean she would create one for me after that. How does that logic even work?¡±

    ¡°What if all this is bait to bring you closer to her and ensnare you?¡± Cheng Xiangyun suggested,

    suddenly feeling like she was a wise strategist who could see through every plot.

    ¡°Enough with your conspiracy theories. Don''t speak ill of Lu Jingyuan. I don''t think she would do

    something like that,¡± Ning Ran said.

    Cheng Xiangyun shook her head, sighing. ¡°I knew it. You must have fallen for her lies. Tell me, then.

    Who can it be if it is not her?¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    ¡°I have no idea, but I believe she would not do something like that¡ªshe would never,¡± Ning Ran replied

    firmly.

    Seeing that there was no possibility of convincing Ning Ran, Cheng Xiangyun shook her head and

    sighed again.

    ¡°You know what¡ªyou should still watch out for her. I might not have any proof that she is bad, but

    neither have you any proof that she is a good person.¡±

    Ning Ran did not answer, for her mind was elsewhere, devising a n to circumvent the issue.

    Meanwhile, over at Nan Chen''s office in Flower City, Jiang Zhe stood beside the desk as he waited for

    his boss to finish reading the news online.

    The assistant had braced himself to catch the phone in case Nan Chen threw it away in a fit of anger

    after reading the news, but unlike what he expected, not only did Nan Chen not do that, but he also

    returned the phone to him calmly.

    ¡°It must be the ghostwriters.¡±

    ¡°It is. These are all public ounts.¡±

    ¡°Investigate and see whichpany they belong to. Tell them I want all these taken down in an hour,¡±

    Nan Chen ordered.

    ¡°I did some digging. These ounts belong to Wave Technology, a social mediapany. They have

    as many as a hundred Weibo and WeChat ounts. Once they have a topic they want to blow up,

    they will mobilize all these public ounts to harp on it to make a big fuss out of it,¡± Jiang Zhe

    described.

    Nan Chen was pleased with Jiang Zhe''s efficiency since the assistant had done all the research before

    Nan Chen even gave him explicit instructions.

    ¡°Is this the onlypany involved?¡±

    ¡°No. There are otherpanies as well. They are all major yers within the ghostwriting industry.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded at the information. ¡°So, someone is spending tonnes of money to tarnish Ning Ran''s

    reputation.¡±

    ¡°Or they might just want some negative publicity for ''I Am You,'' but at the moment, it seems like they

    are targeting both the film and Ning Ran.¡±

    ¡°Then just let it slide for now,¡± Nan Chen suddenly said.

    ¡°Let it slide?¡± Jiang Zhe was not following.

    ¡°Just let them do their thing for now,¡± Nan Chen replied, waving his hand.

    ¡°This might snowball into something more consequential if we let them be, though. It would be toote

    to deny anything by then,¡± Jiang Zhe reminded.

    ¡°I know,¡± Nan Chen answered coldly.

    On second thought, Jiang Zhe felt he might have said too much, for Nan Chen would definitely have

    thought about that if even an assistant like him could figure that out.

    ¡°Then do you mean to say that negative publicity is also a form of publicity?¡± Jiang Zhe inquired

    humbly.

    ¡°I think online discussions about an unreleased film during its shooting can really leave an impression

    onizens. Besides, there is no point in clearing the air now that everyone is hellbent on shaming

    Ning Ran, so we might as well just go with the flow for now.¡±

 Chapter 695

    Chapter 695

    In the afternoon, there was a ruckus outside the filming set.

    Filming continued without being affected by it.

    However, they had to stop shooting when noise levels rose.

    The security guards informed the director that the press had arrived outside in countless vehicles and

    would like to interview Ning Ran.

    ¡°Are they really here? How did they manage to locate such a remote ce?¡± grumbled the director.

    The mechanics of it weren''t hard to understand. Without a doubt, it must have been the production

    team Li Xiaolong trashed that revealed their location to the press.

    Given the technological advancement during recent years, sending out a precise location wouldn''t pose

    a problem to anyone at all.

    The director nced at Ning Ran with aplicated look in his eyes.

    ¡°I''m sorry to have caused trouble for you all again. I can''t do anything about sabotage attempts by other

    people, but I''m truly sorry for this.¡±

    Ning Ran bowed to the cast and crew.

    The director stopped her right away. ¡°You don''t have to apologize. You''re a celebrity, so these things

    help boost your fame. I can make arrangements for you if you''re willing to be interviewed. Otherwise, I''ll

    just go deal with them.¡±

    ¡°My agency has explicitly informed me that I am not to ept interviews of any form, so I cannot speak

    to the press in person, and I apologize for that,¡± exined Ning Ran.

    Cheng Xiangyun vouched for her statement. ¡°It was my boss who personally phoned me to deliver the

    notice on behalf of thepany!¡±

    ¡°Okay. I''ll go deal with the press then.¡±

    The director exited the filming set with a few security guards.

    ¡°What should we do now?¡± Cheng Xiangyun asked for Ning Ran''s opinion.

    ¡°We have to find an escape. The press can be ruthless. They''ll continue to hang around outside in an

    attempt to intercept me and won''t leave even if the director told them to,¡± Ning Ran analyzed.

    Cheng Xiangyun mulled over her words for a moment. ¡°Why didn''t you stop the director if you knew his

    efforts wouldn''t deter the press?¡±

    Ning Ran studied her in mock disdain. ¡°Of course, the director knows that! He has worked in this

    industry for years! Talking to the press is only a way for him to get some media exposure to promote

    the film. Can''t you see what''s going on?¡±

    It wasn''t until then that it dawned on Cheng Xiangyun. ¡°D*mn! You lot sure are cunning as hell! That

    aside, how will we slip away if the director can''t disperse the crowd?¡±

    ¡°Do you want your face on television?¡± Ning Ran queried.

    ¡°What does that mean? An assistant like me can''t possibly be qualified for that!¡±

    ¡°Of course you are! You will be famous by the end of today!¡± Ning Ran wasn''t joking around.

    ¡°Get lost! You''re lying to me!¡±

    ¡°I''m not. The press is after me now. All you have to do is put on a pair of sunsses, a face mask, and

    a cap. Once you leave, they''ll be on your tail.¡± Ning Ran chuckled.

    Realization hit Cheng Xiangyun. ¡°I get it now! I''m supposed to act as a decoy by standing in as your

    double while you slip away when the time is right! What a ssic move!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, and yet you didn''t figure out such a simple move that ismon in films.¡±

    ¡°It wasn''t that I didn''t think of it. The trick just seems a little too simple.¡±

    ¡°Somethings are best kept simple. Let''s prepare now.¡±

    Twenty minutester, a jeep arrived outside the set.

    A woman with a face mask and sunsses on her face dashed out from the building and climbed into

    the jeep.

    The jeep drove off right away after that. The entire scenested less than two minutes.

    ¡°She has escaped. Go after her!¡± The press scrambled into their vehicles and went after the jeep.

    However, some of the more experienced media reporters surmised, ¡°The one who set off might not be

    Ding Mi. She could have hired a double and is still inside!¡±

    A lot of the other reporters found that spection usible, for other celebrities had routinely pulled the

    same trick.

    In the end, some of the reporters departed to chase the jeep down, whereas the rest continued to lurk

    in wait.

    Sure enough, another jeep drove over after a few minutes.

    Right then, another woman rushed outside under the escort of two security guards. She dashed into

    the jeep and was chauffeured away immediately after.

    The remaining reporters let out a cheer. ¡°She''s the real deal! She must be Ning Ran!¡±

    Thus, all of them got into their vehicles and went in pursuit of the woman.

    After confirming that the press was gone, Ning Ran ambled out from the set.

    It turned out that neither of the two women who had left just now was Ning Ran. The first who had

    taken the majority of the press with her was Cheng Xiangyun, whereas the second was one of the

    female production staff.

    Ning Ran had deduced that the more experienced reporters wouldn''t be fooled, so she pulled another

    one on them.

    She made sure that the second round seemed even more believable by having two security guards

    escort the female staff.

    With that, she was able to trick all of the reporters away. She then got into her car at a leisurely pace

    and left.

    Indeed, Cheng Xiangyun''s photo was published onler that day.

    After reaching the city center with the press hot on her heels, she got out of her vehicle, took off her

    face mask, and allowed the press to take some photos.

    Upon realizing they were tricked, the reporters vented their anger at Cheng Xiangyun.

    Not only did they im that Cheng Xiangyun had spat and flipped them off, but they also alleged that

    as Ning Ran''s assistant, her supposedly poor attitude would allude to how unscrupulous Ning Ran was.

    That was the first time Cheng Xiangyun experienced cyberbullying, and it didn''t sit right with her. While

    stomping her foot, she hollered in anger, ¡°These nutjobs are spewing nonsense! I never spat at them,

    nor did I flip them off! The photo they published of me is awful too! This is infuriating!¡±

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran was gloating at the side. ¡°Do you now understand the hardships I face regrly?

    Anything you do can be an offense if people wish to find fault with you. They''ll resort to making things

    up even if you''ve done nothing wrong. It''s bound to happen.¡±

    ¡°What a bummer! These cowards are despicable! I shouldn''t have volunteered to cover for you!¡± Cheng

    Xiangyun was already regretting her decision.

    ¡°You''re my assistant, so acting as my decoy is just part of your job. Besides, weren''t you the one who

    wanted to be famous? Why are you regretting it now that you''ve gotten what you asked for?¡± Ning

    Ran sounded amused.

    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    ¡°I might have wanted to be famous, but not in such a manner. How dare they publish such an

    awful photo of me and degrade me?¡±

    Ning Ran checked her phone. ¡°I think you''re quite photogenic, though. Perhaps you can try out a role in

    the film as your debut.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun was delighted. ¡°Is that so? I think I have the makings of a celebrity too. Why don''t you

    talk to Sir Chen and let me have my debut? I might just be propelled into stardom! I won''t forget how

    you have helped me if that happens!¡±

    ¡°What roles do you think will suit you?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    Cheng Xiangyun pondered in all seriousness. ¡°I think I can take on the role of a princess!¡±

    Qiao Zhan, who had been listening in on the conversation, nodded.

    ¡°Yeah. You can y the princess'' mother or maybe characters like Marie Antote and Betrix

    Lestrange from ''Harry Potter!¡±¡®

    ¡°Get out of here now!¡± Cheng Xiangyun bellowed while pointing at Qiao Zhan.

 Chapter 696

    Chapter 696

    Qiao Zhan had an innocent expression on his face. ¡°I genuinely think that you''re suitable to y the

    role of...¡±

    ¡°Get lost! What do you know? You dumb cow!¡± Cheng Xiangyun roared.

    ¡°Dumb cow? What do you mean?¡± Qiao Zhan was indignant.

    ¡°I''m talking about you! You''re a big dumb cow!¡± Cheng Xiangyun raged.

    With that, Qiao Zhan nced at Ning Ran and said, ¡°Madam, did you hear what she just said? I find it

    extremely insulting!¡±

    ¡°What does a dumb cow like you know? Why are you interrupting our conversation?¡±

    Qiao Zhan''s lips twitched, but he held his tongue in the end.

    After all, arguing with others verbally wasn''t his strong suit. Instead, he excelled in physicalbat.

    ¡°Chief Qiao, Cheng always talks this way. Don''t take it personally,¡± Ning Ranforted with a smile.

    ¡°Why are youforting him? He''s the one who started this. What did you just call him? Chief Qiao? I

    wonder how someone like him got that position. Did you address him wrongly?¡± Cheng Xiangyun

    asked.

    Hearing that, Qiao Zhan cleared his throat. ¡°I am the head of security at Nanshi Corporation. Is there a

    problem?¡±

    He said smugly, clearly proud of his position.

    Worried that Cheng Xiangyun might not believe in him, Qiao Zhan produced his work ID and waved it

    in front of Cheng Xiangyun, deliberately showing it off.

    ¡°That''s enough! Stop shing your ID. It''s annoying!¡±

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran found their childish banter amusing.

    Shortly after that, a car arrived. Nan Xing had returned along with Dabao and Erbao.

    ¡°Mommy...¡± Erbao called out, dragging out her voice as she threw herself into Ning Ran''s embrace.

    As soon as Ning Ran saw the children, her grievances magically disappeared.

    With Nan Xing''s arrival, dinner was finally ready to be served.

    More than ten people enjoyed dinner together, including the driver and the bodyguards. They were

    separated into two tables, and the atmosphere was lively.

    During dinner, they inevitably discussed what happened to Ning Ran. That topic piqued Nan Xing''s

    interest almost instantly.

    ¡°I told you that Lu Jingyuan is not a good person! It must be her!¡±

    He could still vividly remember the incident where Lu Jingyuan sshed him with water. At that

    moment, he finally found an outlet to vent his resentment.

    Before Ning Ran could even say anything, someone else spoke up in annoyance.

    Pouting her greasy lips, Erbao reprimanded, ¡°How dare you speak ill of Aunt Jing? She''s nice to us.¡±

    ¡°She''s right, Uncle Xing. As an adult, you shouldn''t defame others blindly without any proof. You should

    set a good example for us,¡± Dabao chimed in.

    Upon hearing that, Nan Xing expressed his dismay. ¡°I''m exhausted from spending the whole day

    ying with you both, and this is what I get in return? I''m your uncle. Are you guys closer to me or her?

    Shouldn''t you guys side with me instead of an outsider?¡±

    ¡°Of course we are closer to you, Uncle Xing,¡± Dabao responded calmly.

    ¡°If so, why are you ridiculing me for the sake of an outsider?¡±

    ¡°That''s because I consider you my family and I believe that you''re a reasonable person.¡± Dabao

    remained calm andposed.

    Nan Xing was rendered speechless by Dabao''s remarks, for the little boy praised and criticized him at

    the same time.

    ¡°You''re a child. Stop interrupting when the adults are talking,¡± Nan Xing said sternly, reproaching the

    little boy like an elder.

    ¡°Okay. We won''t interrupt as long as you stop ndering Aunt Jing. That''s not very gentlemanly of you

    to speak ill of ady like that,¡± Dabao replied.

    ¡°You...¡±

    Nan Xing turned to look at Ning Ran, signaling for her to teach her kids a lesson.

    ¡°Dabao, don''t speak that way to Uncle Xing. It''s impolite,¡± Ning Ran voiced disapprovingly.

    ¡°Okay, Mommy. However, I don''t think I said anything wrong. If Aunt Jing speaks ill of Uncle Xing, I

    would disagree with her too. To me, both Uncle Xing and Aunt Jing are nice people.¡±

    Upon hearing that, Ning Ran was at a loss for words too.

    Nevertheless, Nan Xing was still dissatisfied, so he argued with Ning Ran over the matter after dinner.

    As a matter of fact, Cheng Xiangyun agreed with Nan Xing''s point of view too. She felt that something

    was off about Lu Jingyuan.

    However, it was pointless to debate over that. After all, no one had any concrete evidence.

    Later that night, Ning Rany down to rest and suddenly received a video call from Wang Xiaoou.

    She rolled over and sat up swiftly before answering the call. ¡°What''s up, Ou?¡±

    At that moment, Wang Xiaoou was still in the office in her usual workwear.

    Ning Ran could not help but feel bad for troubling the team with her personal affairs.

    ¡°Take a look at this.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    Wang Xiaoou picked up the tablet from the table and positioned it before the camera so that Ning Ran

    could see.

    Once Ning Ran took a good look at it, she realized that it was a photo of them in a bar.

    ¡°Sorry, Ou. I shouldn''t have gone to a ce like that. Sorry for troubling you again.¡± Ning Ran was guilt-

    ridden.

    Wang Xiaoou merely shook her head and replied, ¡°It''s pointless discussing what is right or wrong now

    that things havee to this. We should instead prioritize settling the problem as soon as possible. Did

    you notice any difference in this photo? This photo is all over the inte now.¡±

    Bewildered, Ning Ran asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Look carefully. Is there any difference from the previous photo on the inte?¡±

    As she said that, Wang Xiaoou put the photo nearer to the camera for Ning Ran to take a closer look.

    Ning Ran focused on the photo and found that it was indeed slightly different.

    In the previous photo, Ning Ran, Li Xiaolong, and Lu Jingyuan''s faces could be seen clearly. Only the

    side profile of Ning Ran was captured in that photo.

    Everything remained the same in thetest photo. The background was still the same bar.

    However, the only difference was that Lu Jingyuan was no longer in that photo, leaving only Ning Ran

    and Li Xiaolong.

    It''s impossible for Lu Jingyuan to disappearpletely from the photo. Someone must have edited the

    real photo. With thetest photo editing technology, it''s not difficult to edit someone out of a photo. Why

    would the keyboard warriors do that? That''s strange. They''re clearly intending to show me in a bad

    light. Lu Jingyuan was innocent and got dragged into this matter, but theizens won''t care about that.

    If they cared, they would''ve edited Lu Jingyuan out of the photo before they posted it instead of

    deleting the first photo and posting the edited photo muchter on the inte.

    After a moment of contemtion, she replied, ¡°I get it now, Ou. Lu Jingyuan is missing in this photo.

    Someone must have edited it.¡±

    ¡°Yes. Who is she? Why was she there? What was she doing there?¡± Wang Xiaoou questioned.

    Ning Ran had no other choice but to reveal everything to Wang Xiaoou.

    ¡°Your friend is suspicious. She brought you there to meet that man. Coincidentally, someone took a

    photo of you there. Could it be that she''s the one behind all of this?¡± Wang Xiaoou asked.

    Hearing that, Ning Ran did not answer right away. Nan Xing and Cheng Xiangyun had told her the

    same thing earlier that night.

    Even so, Ning Ran believed that Lu Jingyuan would not do such a thing to her.

    ¡°She''s your friend. Hence, you think that we shouldn''t paint her in a bad light. Am I right?¡± Wang Xiaoou

    noticed her hesitation.

    Ning Ran agreed and said frankly, ¡°Yes, I don''t think she has anything to do with this. There''s no

    reason for her to do that.¡±

    ¡°How do you exin the edited photo, though? The edited photo has clearly dissociated her from this

    drama,¡± Wang Xiaoou continued to ask.

    Ning Ran didn''t know how to answer that question.

 Chapter 697

    Chapter 697

    Wang Xiaoou wasn''t an indecisive person, so she immediately suggested, "Thepany doesn''t want

    you to contact that woman since we don''t have any evidence to prove she''s the one behind it. We''re

    not the police, so we can''t investigate the matter. All we can do is be careful. I''m sure you''re aware that

    the negative impact not only affects you but also implicates the movie you''re filming right now. At the

    moment, we''ll pause filming for two days to stay out of the limelight."

    Wang Xiaoou''s advice filled Ning Ran with guilt. The production team is suffering losses again because

    of me. I didn''t want any of this to happen, but there''s nothing I can do about it.

    "I''llply with thepany''s arrangement. I''m sorry for the inconvenience I''ve caused everyone."

    Wang Xiaoou assured, "Matters like these are unavoidable for celebrities. However, negative news is

    also a kind of publicity. You''ll feel better if you think of it that way."

    "All right. I''m sorry for the trouble, and thanks for helping, Ou," Ning Ran said.

    "Don''t be sad. It will pass. Stay at home for these two days and wait for my news regarding the

    solution. Get some rest in the meantime," Wang Xiaoouforted.

    "All right, Ou."

    After hanging up the call, Ning Ran dialed Nan Chen''s number. She would rather confront him upfront

    than wait for him to find fault with her like a sitting duck.

    Moreover, she preferred to confide in Nan Chen during her lows, despite knowing it was rare for him to

    console her.

    To her surprise, Nan Chen picked up her call rather quickly. "Speak."

    "Are you still working?"

    "Yes."

    "Am I disturbing you?"

    "Yes, you are."

    Ning Ran was speechless at his straightforwardness. He''s doing it again! Well, it''s my fault for asking

    since I already knew he would say something like this.

    Yet, Ning Ran kept her temper in check. "Can we have a serious discussion, Mr. Chen?"

    "Sure," Nan Chen agreed.

    Ning Ran heard a furious tapping on the keyboard and figured Nan Chen must still be working.

    She started picturing Nan Chen''s delectable looks as he focused on his work. He''s so handsome when

    he works. Fine! He''s eye candy all the time except when he''s arguing with me.

    Ning Ran pulled her thoughts back to the issue at hand. "Something happened today, and it caused a

    lot ofizens to cuss me out. I''m innocent, though! Lu Jingyuan was the one who asked me to search

    for the hoodlum with her. I never thought someone would snap a photo of me and nder me."

    Nan Chen merely grunted an acknowledgment to imply he was listening.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran continued, "Initially, Lu Jingyuan was in some of the photos, but suddenly, someone started

    removing them. With the removal of her photos, she was untangled from the mess. Hence, my

    company suspects she''s probably behind it. Ou called me earlier today, asking me to take a two-day

    break. I''ve caused trouble for thepany again. I didn''t want this to happen¡ª"

    Ning Ran paused after prattling on for a while as she suddenly recalled that Nan Chen was the CEO,

    and he would''ve been aware of everything even if she hadn''t told him about it.

    Yet, he stayed silent and let her babble on like an idiot. How infuriating!

    "You already knew this, right?" Ning Ran asked.

    "Mm-hmm," Nan Chen admitted.

    "Do you think Lu Jingyuan is behind this incident?"

    "No," Nan Chen answered.

    Ning Ran felt a surge of happiness. After all, it was rare for Nan Chen to have the same opinion as she

    did.

    "You don''t think Lu Jingyuan is a bad person?"

    "I don''t know whether she''s a good or bad person, but that''s not the point. I''m saying there''s no reason

    for her to do so. You''re close to her. If she wants to give you a hard time, she doesn''t need to use such

    lowly means, so I''m sure it isn''t her. Well, it isn''t wrong for Star Entertainment to suspect her either

    since they don''t know Ms. Lu well. It''s only natural for them to arrive at that conclusion."

    Ning Ran agreed with him, "That''s right. They don''t understand Lu Jingyuan, so they don''t know she''s a

    nice person."

    "Childish! Don''t easily conclude if a person is good or bad. I''m just saying she isn''t the one behind it,"

    Nan Chen reprimanded.

    "I don''t care! I''m adamant that she''s a nice person. She''s helped me before, so I''m sure of that. You

    said there would be a way to solve all the problems if I could find her, and I did, yet things turned out

    this way," Ning Ran insisted.

    "Whatever floats your boat. It''s fine as long as you''re happy. Childish," Nan Chen said with amusement

    in his tone.

    "Yes, I know I''m childish. I still think she''s not the one behind this despite it being a bit difficult to exin

    the actions of her removing her photos."

    "What is so difficult to exin about that?" Nan Chen asked.

    "You know what her motive is?" Ning Ran questioned.

    "Won''t you know the answer if you just ask her?"

    Ning Ran contemted his suggestion. Wait a second! Thepany asked me not to meet up with

    her, yet Nan Chen is asking me to ask her upfront? Shouldn''t he be in the same boat as his

    employees? Who should I listen to, then? The boss, of course!

    After making up her mind, Ning Ran agreed, "Okay, I''ll ask her to meet me tomorrow."

    "She''ll help to solve this issue if she''s innocent. If she says she can''t help you with it, then there''s a

    problem with her. She''s smart, so I''m sure she''s aware that we''re suspecting her. If she''s innocent,

    she''ll find a way to clear her name," Nan Chen said.

    He still suspects Lu Jingyuan in the end. What a sly fox! He almost had me!

    Ning Ran probed, "So you''re still suspicious of her?"

    "No, I already said I don''t think she''s the one behind it," Nan Chen rified.

    "Then why did you say she would try to clear her name?" Ning Ran argued.

    "Well, she''s the only one who can clear her name. Is she expecting you to help her? Are you able to?"

    Nan Chen asked.

    "I..."

    Ning Ran mulled over it shortly and realized Nan Chen was right. She couldn''t clear Lu Jingyuan''s

    name.

    There were already many who misunderstood Ning Ran, and no one would listen to her even if she told

    the truth. She was helpless in that sense. Thus, how could she clear another person''s name?

    "Let''s leave it at that. How are the kids?" Nan Chen changed the topic.

    "They''re doing good, but they''re not letting Nan Xing leave unless he ys with them for another two

    more days." Ning Ran chuckled.

    "Then have Nan Xing y with them for another two more days. He doesn''t need to be back until

    school starts."

    Ning Ran thought it was hrious as she imagined Nan Xing''s expression when he heard about his

    brother selling him out.

    "That won''t do. We can''t indulge the kids too much. Also, Nan Xing is not a nanny. He can''t just keep

    spending his time with them. I think Nan Xing is already on the verge of fleeing. You know as well that

    taking care of kids is tiring," Ning Ran said.

    "That''s because Nan Xing hasn''t found the enjoyable part of it. If he found it, he wouldn''t want to leave

    Livingsfill. I trust that he will find it since he always does."

    "All right. That''s about it. Get some rest soon, and don''t tire yourself out," Ning Ran said gently.

    By then, Nan Chen had already hung up.

    What an insensitive brute! I rarely say anything nice, yet he doesn''t appreciate it and hangs up the

    phone instantly. Hmph! Ning Rang thought angrily.

    Meanwhile, Nan Chen ended the call and reached for a piece of paper on his desk. He started

    scribbling a few names on it¡ªDing Fei, Rong Yi, Ouyang Li, and Lu Jingyuan. These four appeared out

    of the blue. Is there a connection between the four of them? Is their appearance a coincidence? If not,

    then will the lines that connect them form a web? Who are they nning to snare? Ning Ran or me?

    Nan Chen shed off Lu Jingyuan''s name after pondering briefly.

    For now, Lu Jingyuan doesn''t seem connected to the others.

 Chapter 698

    Chapter 698

    The next day, Ning Ran quietly slipped out of Mountview Inn.

    She didn''t have the courage to show herself in a public ce, so she went straight to Lu Jingyuan''s

    vi in Livingsfill.

    After she rang the doorbell, the housekeeper was the one who opened the door.

    She didn''t know Ning Ran, so she refused to let her in.

    Lu Yunxue ended up hearing themotion and ran over, saying, ¡°This is Ms. Ning. Let her in.¡±

    Ning Ran immediately picked Lu Yunxue up. ¡°Did you hear my voice, Darling?¡±

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°No. I had a feeling it was you, though,¡± Lu Yunxue said.

    Ning Ran stared at her suspiciously. ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Yes! We hardly have any guests. You''re the only person who could havee,¡± she replied earnestly.

    Ning Ran stepped in with Lu Yunxue in her arms. Lu Yunbing approached as well, and surprisingly,

    there was a smile on her usually cold face. ¡°Hello, Ms. Ning.¡±

    ¡°Good girl. Where''s your mommy?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°She''s asleep,¡± answered Lu Yunbing.

    Ning Ran checked the time. It was already half past ten, yet Lu Jingyuan was sleeping.

    What an eye-opener! I can''t believe there''s actually someonezier than me in this world.

    ¡°Did she stay uptest night?¡± Ning Ran questioned.

    ¡°I don''t know. We fell asleep early,¡± Lu Yunxue stated while Lu Yunbing nodded in confirmation.

    The way they were cooperating with each other seemed too familiar to Ning Ran. Dabao and Erbao did

    things like that all the time.

    Usually, Dabao was in charge of nodding or shaking his head while Erbao exined the situation.

    However, whenever Erbao hit a roadblock, Dabao would speak up for her.

    For the most part, Dabao would remain silent, but whenever he piped up, he would shock the adults

    with his urate reasoning and irrefutable ims.

    The same could be said for Lu Yunxue and Lu Yunbing. The only difference was that they were both

    girls.

    Ning Ran genuinely felt that she was fated to meet these girls. The feeling that destiny had brought

    them together was so strong that it felt as if everything was predetermined.

    ¡°I''ll go wake Mommy up, Ms. Ning,¡± said Lu Yunbing.

    ¡°Never mind. Just let her sleep for a bit more. It''s not like I have something important to say, anyway.

    We can chat for a while first.¡± Ning Ran grinned.

    ¡°Have you had your breakfast, Ms. Ning? I''ll make some for you,¡± Lu Yunbing offered.

    ¡°You know how to make breakfast?¡±

    ¡°Mommy always wakes upte, so we make our own breakfast. It''s nothing special, actually. We just

    have warm milk and bread,¡± she exined.

    Ning Ran eximed, ¡°Wow! That''s amazing. Does your mommy always wake upte?¡±

    The two of them nodded at the same time. ¡°Yes. She usually doesn''t get up before ten unless there''s

    something going on, in which case she wakes up early sometimes.¡±

    Ning Ran smiled. Looks like she''s indeed a lotzier than me!

    ¡°Why didn''t Erbao and Dabaoe, Ms. Ning?¡± That was Lu Yunxue''s primary concern.

    Ning Ran hadn''t brought the children along because she was there to talk business with Lu Jingyuan.

    ¡°They''re ying with their uncle today, so they didn''te with me,¡± she responded.

    ¡°They have an uncle?¡± Lu Yunxue widened her eyes, and she had an envious look on her face.

    ¡°They do. Their uncle resembles their daddy quite a lot,¡± Ning Ran remarked with a chuckle.

    ¡°I don''t have an uncle or a daddy. I only have a mommy,¡± Lu Yunxue lowered her head dejectedly. Her

    expression was glum.

    Upon seeing that, Ning Ran felt sorry for her. Much like Erbao, Lu Yunxue was a people person who

    enjoyed thepany of others.

    Unfortunately, Lu Jingyuan was aloof and distant by nature. She enjoyed being alone and resided with

    her two daughters in a tiny secluded city on the borders.

    The woman herself had mentioned that even though this was her ideal lifestyle, it wasn''t necessarily

    the case for her children.

    ¡°You have me, though. You also have Erbao, who''s your good friend. We''re like family to you,¡±

    comforted Ning Ran.

    ¡°Bring us over to go and y with them, then! We want Erbao''s uncle to be our uncle too.¡± Lu Yunxue

    immediately got excited.

    Ning Ran stilled for a bit. So that''s what she wanted.

    ¡°Of course, but we''ll have to ask your mommy first. I can''t take you away unless she''s okay with it,¡±

    Ning Ran stated with a grin.

    ¡°Mommy will definitely agree! If she doesn''t, you can try to change her mind,¡± Lu Yunxue mumbled.

    The little girl''s words made Ning Ranugh again. She''s so funny and mischievous.

    ¡°Okay. I''ll convince her. Don''t worry about it,¡± she reassured.

    ¡°Thank you, Ms. Ning!¡± Lu Yunxue was overjoyed.

    Meanwhile, Lu Yunbing listened to the exchange quietly at the side without any objections.

    She wasn''t opposed to the idea of going to y with Erbao and the others. Though they could be quite

    noisy, it was quite fun.

    ¡°Oh, right. There''s one more thing,¡± Lu Yunxue whispered.

    ¡°Oh. What is it?¡± Ning Ran brought her ear closer to Lu Yunxue.

    ¡°Can you ask my mommy if I have a daddy or not?¡± she requested.

    That was a serious problem. Ning Ran wasn''t sure how to respond for a moment. ¡°What has your

    mommy told you about your daddy so far?¡±

    She had to be cautious about it. After all, it was a personal matter of Lu Jingyuan''s.

    ¡°She said that we don''t have one, that''s all,¡± Lu Yunbing chimed in, which was something she usually

    wouldn''t do.

    It was apparent that she was rather interested in the topic as well. After all, it was quite a major issue.

    Ning Ran felt her heart wrench for she understood the two kids'' feelings.

    Dabao and Erbao used to ask her the same question all the time.

    Back then, she wasn''t sure how to answer them in a way that wouldn''t upset them.

    In the end, she realized that they wouldn''t be happy no matter what she said.

    A father isn''t like any other item. To children, a father was an essential figure in life. The sorrow and

    disappointment of not having a father wouldn''t just go away after a short period of time. Instead, it

    would stick with them for the rest of their life.

    ¡°I think you two have a daddy. Maybe your mommy has her own concerns. That''s why she chooses to

    keep it from you. When you''re older, you''ll understand that some things areplicated,¡± Ning Ran

    exined.

    That was all that she could say, for she didn''t have an understanding of the situation. She couldn''t give

    them an exact answer on Lu Jingyuan''s behalf.

    Regarding this matter, she had to gather more information instead of uttering baseless remarks.

    ¡°What I''m trying to say is that I want you to ask Mommy and find out the truth. Then, you can secretly

    tell me. Don''t worry. I won''t tell Mommy that you were the one who let me know,¡± Lu Yunxue whispered.

    Hearing that, Ning Ran felt sorry for Lu Yunxue and hugged her. ¡°No matter what answer your mommy

    gives you, she still loves you two. Your mommy will always prioritize your happiness regardless of

    whether you have a daddy or not. You should know that.¡±

    That was what she used to say to Dabao and Erbao in the past.

    Never had she expected that she would be saying those same words to two other children.

    On top of that, they weren''t even her children.

    It didn''t seem like Lu Yunxue fullyprehended the meaning of the woman''s words. Her ck, gem-

    like eyes blinked as she nodded.

    Right then, they heard the sound of someone walking over in slippers. Lu Jingyuan had finally woken

    up.

    The moment she was up, Lu Yunxue and Lu Yunbing stopped talking.

    ¡°You''re here. Why didn''t you wake me up?¡± Lu Jingyuan felt a little embarrassed as she smoothed out

    her messy hair.

    ¡°It''s nothing important, so I didn''t wake you. Did you get a good night''s sleep?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°I did wake up prettyte today. Sorry about that,¡± Lu Jingyuan apologized.

    ¡°It''s fine. I get up quitete when I don''t have to work, too,¡± Ning Ran replied while chuckling.

    ¡°Please, make yourself at home while I go and wash up. Bing, go make some tea for Ms. Ning,¡±

    instructed Lu Jingyuan.

    Lu Yunbing jutted out her lips in response while Lu Yunxue tactfully stood up to serve their guest.

    ¡°I''ll do it myself. The water''s hot, and the kids might scald themselves,¡± said Ning Ran right away.

 Chapter 699

    Chapter 699

    Once Lu Jingyuan was done washing up, she called one of the housekeepers in charge of cooking and

    summoned her over to prepare lunch for them.

    Of course, she knew how to cook, but she was toozy to do anything that day. ¡°Let''s go sit in the

    courtyard. We cane back in when lunch is done.¡±

    She brought a te of snacks and fruits as well as a pot of tea as she invited Ning Ran out to the

    courtyard.

    There were various kinds of greenery in her courtyard, and the floral scent was pleasant. It was the

    perfect spot to sit down and rest.

    Ning Ran sat down on the chair and grabbed herself some snacks. After taking a bite, her mood was

    lifted, and she immediately felt rxed.

    Lu Jingyuan poured some tea for Ning Ran. ¡°I knew you woulde looking for me today, but I didn''t

    think you''d be here so early. No, actually, you''re not early. I just got up toote.¡±

    ¡°How did you know I woulde?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°You''re here because of the online drama, right? To tell the truth, I hardly pay attention to trivial things

    that happen on the inte, but since this is rted to you, I found out about it,¡± Lu Jingyuan exined.

    Ning Ran picked up her cup and took a sip of tea. The aroma of the tea was incredibly fragrant.

    She felt that Lu Jingyuan was a shrewd woman who could understand things even though they weren''t

    explicitly stated.

    Thus, she wanted to hear what Lu Jingyuan had to say before responding.

    ¡°I don''t know who took those pictures. Do you know?¡± Lu Jingyuan questioned.

    In response, Ning Ran shook her head. ¡°No. The bar was in a state of chaos at the time. Nobody would

    have expected someone to secretly take photos.¡±

    ¡°I bet Mr. Nan suspects foul y on my part. After all, most of the photos with me in them have been

    erased and reced with photos that don''t include me. It''s such a hot topic right now, but I''ve suddenly

    been excluded from it. It''s no surprise that he would suspect me,¡± said Lu Jingyuan.

    Sure enough, Lu Jingyuan''s straightforward attitude made theirmunication easy.

    ¡°No. He doesn''t suspect you,¡± Ning Ran rified.

    Upon hearing that, Lu Jingyuan believed her. ¡°Mr. Nan handles important businesses on arge scale.

    In many cases, he can tell what the truth is. However, I''m sure some people suspect me. I am

    suspicious, after all.¡±

    At first, Ning Ran wanted to tell Lu Jingyuan that the people in herpany did suspect her, but in the

    end, she decided against it.

    ¡°I came here today to ask you what exactly is going on. That''s all there is to it. I''m free today, so I

    thought ofing here to eat your food and have a chat with you.¡± Ning Ran smiled.

    ¡°My family ordered someone to remove those pictures. To be specific, it was my brother who instructed

    someone to do it,¡± revealed Lu Jingyuan.

    Ning Ran nodded. ¡°You mean the kids'' uncle?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Their biological uncle. He''s seen the children in secret before, but they''ve never met him. My

    brother dotes on me. He doesn''t want the incident online to affect my daily life, so he used some of his

    power to get those pictures off the web,¡± Lu Jingyuan continued to exin.

    Ning Ran stayed silent as she processed Lu Jingyuan''s words.

    Using one''s power to erase those images sounded easy enough, but when she thought about it, it was

    no simple feat.

    The idea was simple, but carrying it out was anything but.

    Somehow, Lu Jingyuan''s brother had managed to get someone to delete the photos.

    That wasn''t something that an ordinary person could pull off. It required an immense amount of power,

    and one would need both money and authority.

    Nan Chen once said that Lu Jingyuan''s identity was aplex one.

    From the looks of it, that was aplete understatement.

    ¡°I''m curious. What does your brother work as?¡± Ning Ran couldn''t help but ask.

    ¡°I can''t tell you that. I''m sorry. My family isn''t really involved in this, so I don''t want to drag them into

    this,¡± Lu Jingyuan replied while wearing a troubled expression.

    Ning Ran shrugged. ¡°It''s okay. I pried too much. I won''t ask again. It''s just that this is a bit of a difficult

    situation. I want to talk to you and see if we can think of a solution.¡±

    ¡°I''ll take care of it,¡± Lu Jingyuan dered.

    Her statement left Ning Ran stunned for a moment. Is Nan Chen''s guess correct again?

    Nan Chen had mentioned that since Lu Jingyuan was the top suspect, she would think of a way to

    handle the matter to prove her innocence.

    ¡°Can I ask how you''re going to take care of it?¡± Ning Ran inquired curiously.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    ¡°It''s simple. People online are ndering you. They''re using you of colluding with shady

    organizations and pressuring members of the production teams. There are two keywords here¡ª

    colluding and pressure. Am I right?¡± prompted Lu Jingyuan.

    Ning Ran nodded, motioning for her to continue.

    ¡°In that case, as long as you prove that you''re not ''colluding'' or ''oppressing'' anyone, it won''t be an

    issue anymore.¡± Lu Jingyuan shrugged.

    ¡°How can we prove that, though?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°I''ve already gotten someone to film a video. Once it''s done, I''ll get my friends to think of a way to make

    it go viral. We''ll be able to turn the tables.¡± Lu Jingyuan seemed to be filled with determination.

    ¡°What video is it? I''m so curious,¡± Ning Ranmented.

    ¡°There are three key people in the pictures. You, me, and that punk. I can get the punk to record a

    video where he personally confesses that he''s your bodyguard. The reason why he was with you at the

    bar was so that you could rx and enjoy yourself,¡± Lu Jingyuan borated.

    ¡°Since he''s your bodyguard, then it''s not strange that the two of you were together, right? You no longer

    have to worry about being used of colluding. Instead, you just hired him. There''s nothing suspicious

    about hiring a bodyguard to protect your safety after getting here. After that, Li Xiaolong will deny

    having done anything to the members of the other production team, much less that you were the one

    who instigated all of it.¡±

    Despite the fact that Ning Ran thought it was a good idea, something seemed to becking. ¡°Will the

    netizens believe it?¡±

    ¡°Well, if that was all that we did, they would probably still be suspicious. Therefore, the police will also

    prove that this has nothing to do with you. They''ll say that someone else oppressed the members of

    the other production team and that the investigation is still ongoing. With an official statement, this

    whole situation will die down. Netizens will forget after a few days. Nobody will remember it anymore.

    Are you okay with how I''ve decided to deal with it?¡±

    ¡°Wonderful. I didn''t think you would take care of things like that. You sure are amazing,¡± Ning Ran

    praised happily.

    ¡°Not at all. I just happen to have a few friends who can help me. I never expected the situation to

    escte to this point. I feel quite bad about it, honestly. I wanted to help you, but instead, I ended up

    dragging you down,¡± Lu Jingyuan admitted.

    Ning Ran shook her head. ¡°That''s not true. I''m very grateful to you, actually. We''re best friends. Oh,

    right. I have something to ask you.¡±

    ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°Does the kids'' father know that you''re staying here? Isn''t heing to see them?¡± she questioned.

    Lu Jingyuan stood up and stretched her arms a bit. ¡°They don''t have a father.¡±

    Her answer was the same thing that Ning Ran had heard from Lu Yunxue and Lu Yunbing.

    ¡°You can say that to the kids, but any adult would know that that''s impossible. You can''t give birth to a

    child out of thin air,¡± Ning Ran pointed out.

    Lu Jingyuan revealed a gentle smile. ¡°My love, you''re getting overly curious. There are many things

    that can''t be exined in just a few words. Not to mention, I don''t have to share everything with my

    best friend. I''ll talk to you about this when the time is right, okay?¡±

    She had made it clear that she didn''t want to talk about it.

    Truthfully speaking, Ning Ran didn''t want to keep poking her nose into it, either. The only reason she

    had asked was that Lu Yunxue had entrusted her with that task.

    Since Lu Jingyuan didn''t want to answer, there was nothing Ning Ran could do.

 Chapter 700

    Chapter 700

    At lunch, Lu Yunxue kept shooting looks at Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran understood Lu Yunxue wanted her to suggest letting thetter join them at Mountview Inn.

    Lu Jingyuan had long noticed something was amiss with Lu Yunxue''s actions, so she red at her and

    asked, ¡°Is something wrong with your eyes? You''re always blinking.¡±

    Lu Yunxue quickly lowered her head. ¡°Nope. I''m fine. The food tastes amazing!¡±

    ¡°Yunxue, before I came here, Erbao told me she missed you two after not seeing you two for a few

    days. Do you want toe with me to the inn?¡± Ning Ran asked softly.

    Hearing that, Lu Yunxue did not say anything in response. She raised her head and looked at her mom

    instead.

    ¡°No, thanks. She''s quite troublesome to look after. I shouldn''t let her disrupt your peaceful time there,¡±

    Lu Jingyuan rejected the offer.

    Lu Yunxue stopped eating, looking very disappointed.

    ¡°I think letting the kids spend more time together is not so bad. It won''t disrupt anything. The kids don''t

    like it when it''s too quiet,¡± Ning Ran tried to persuade Lu Jingyuan.

    ¡°No, thanks. Really. She can be very troublesome.¡±

    Since Lu Jingyuan refused to let her kids join them, there was nothing Ning Ran could do.

    ¡°I can go on my own. Yunbing can stay here. Then, it won''t be too noisy. I promised Erbao I''d y with

    her, so I can''t just break my promise. I have to keep my word.¡± Lu Yunxue could no longer remain

    silent. She knew if she still didn''t say anything, she would not get a chance to go out and y.

    ¡°I knew it. You only want to go because you want to y. That''s all you think about,¡± Lu Jingyuan

    reprimanded.

    ¡°I''m a kid, and my only responsibility is to y. What else can I do?¡± Lu Yunxue weakly defended

    herself.

    ¡°You can read books like Yunbing. Don''t you have anything better to do than y?¡±

    ¡°Yunbing reads because she likes reading. I don''t like reading. I don''t understand the books too. I

    prefer ying with Erbao! Just like how you like hanging out with Ms. Ning. It''s the same, Mommy! Why

    can adults always hang out, but we kids can''t do the same?¡±

    Her argument was valid and reasonable. However, Lu Yunxue hung her head low as she spoke, not

    having the courage to look at Lu Jingyuan because she was afraid of being lectured.

    ¡°How dare you talk back to me? Are you saying I can''t tell you what you can and cannot do?¡± Lu

    Jingyuan was angered.

    ¡°I think Yunxue is right. I like reading, but she just doesn''t.¡± Lu Yunbing spoke up for her sister.

    It was a rare sight to see. Lu Yunbing always looked down on her sister for only spending her time

    ying and eating instead of doing anything meaningful.

    Yet, she spoke up for Lu Yunxue at that moment. Perhaps she also felt like going to Mountview Inn.

    Lu Yunxue''s expression lit up when she heard her sister backing her up.

    Her words might not carry any weight, but things were different once her sister decided to side with her.

    ¡°Mommy, it''s unfair that you can hang out with your friends, but stop us from having ours!¡± Lu Yunxue

    immediately became more confident in defending herself.

    Lu Jingyuan snorted angrily. ¡°Unfair? Isn''t it also unfair for me to raise you two on my own?¡±

    ¡°You''re taking care of us now, but we will take care of you once we''re older. That''s fair!¡± Lu Yunxue

    immediately answered.

    Seeing that the mother and daughter were about to start a debate, Ning Ran figured she should chime

    in and help Lu Yunxue since the little girl had asked for her help earlier.

    ¡°Erbao and Dabao had invited the sisters over. Why don''t you let them join us?¡± Ning Ran asked with a

    smile.

    The truth was, when Lu Yunbing expressed that she wanted to go, Lu Jingyuan was already about to

    give in and let the sisters join Ning Ran and her kids.

    Nheless, Lu Jingyuan could not ease her discipline over her daughters right away. Now that Ning

    Ran spoke up for her daughters, she could finally agree to let them go.

    ¡°Sure. They can go with you. I have something else to deal with, so I can''t join you girls yet. Please

    help me look after them. I''lle to pick them upter.¡±

    Upon hearing that, Lu Yunxue immediately cheered, ¡°Yay! Mommy, you''re amazing!¡±

    After eating, Lu Yunxue impatiently urged Ning Ran to get going. She did not want to spend another

    second at home.

    Then, Ning Ran got Lu Jingyuan''s consent and took her daughters to Mountview Inn.

    Once they stepped through the door, they saw Erbao sitting alone.

    She spotted Lu Yunxue and immediately rushed over, hugging her as they spun in circles.

    It was not until they both felt slightly dizzy that they stopped spinning. That was their unique way of

    greeting each other.

    ¡°Where''s your brother?¡± Ning Ran did not see Dabao anywhere.

    ¡°He''s hiding. Uncle Xing is looking for him,¡± said Erbao.

    ¡°What? What happened? Is he throwing a tantrum again? Did anyone upset him?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Nope. He couldn''t stand Uncle Xing, so he went into hiding.¡± Erbao chuckled.

    ¡°Hmm? Why couldn''t he stand Uncle Xing?¡±

    Erbaoughed louder. ¡°That''s because Uncle Xing wants to y a game with him, but he doesn''t want

    to y.¡±

    Ning Ran got puzzled. ¡°Why? Didn''t he like ying video games?¡±

    As she spoke, Nan Xing showed up while chasing after Dabao.

    ¡°Stop running. Let''s talk things out. You told me to stay, yet you refuse to y with me now? What''s

    wrong with you?¡± Nan Xing questioned angrily.

    While running away from him, Dabao shouted, ¡°Please just leave me be. I don''t want to y with you

    anymore.¡±

    That scene left Ning Ran dumbfounded. She had never seen an adult demanding to y with a kid, let

    alone when the kid refused to y with the adult.

    Although she understood the world was never short of curiosities, Ning Ran must say this scene was

    certainly eye-opening.

    ¡°Dabao!¡± Lu Yunxue blocked Dabao''s path and wanted to hug him.

    Being a polite kid, Dabao stopped in his tracks when he saw a guest hade over.

    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    However, he only hugged Lu Yunxue as a polite gesture. He did not spin in circles with her as he found

    that too childish.

    ¡°Ning Ran, you''re finally back. Please lecture your son. He''s too much!¡± Nan Xing said with a bitter

    expression.

    ¡°What''s wrong? How is he too much?¡± Ning Ran was confused.

    ¡°He refused to let me go back to Flower City and insisted I stay here and y with them. Now that I

    want to y with him, he refuses to y with me. Isn''t that frustrating?¡± Nan Xing protested.

    ¡°y?¡±

    ¡°Yes. We were ying a game together. After two rounds, he refuses to y with me anymore.¡± Nan

    Xing looked dejected.

    ¡°Dabao, why are you refusing to y with your Uncle Xing?¡± Ning Ran could roughly guess her son''s

    answer.

    ¡°Mommy, he doesn''t know how to y the game. He''s such a rookie. I can''t always lead him!¡± Dabao

    pouted at her.

    ¡°Me? A rookie? You weren''t even born yet when I first started ying video games. How dare you call

    me a rookie? This is outrageous.¡± Nan Xing was boiling with anger.

    ¡°Uncle Xing, you should y with ordinary gamers instead of someone at my level. Forget it. I don''t

    want you to y with me. You should find someone else,¡± said Dabao.

    Ning Ran could not stifle a chuckle. She guessed it right.

    As aputer genius, Dabao was also an expert gamer. He was ranked among the top in the games

    he yed.

    Ning Ran knew Nan Xing was not that terrible at gaming, but he was nowhereparable to Dabao.

    Thus, it was no wonder Dabao would look down on him. She was only amused by the fact that Dabao

    refused him so much that he hid from him.

    ¡°Is he your uncle?¡± Lu Yunxue asked Erbao.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Why does he look like your daddy?¡± Lu Yunxue looked curious.

    ¡°You look like your sister too. My daddy and my uncle are twin brothers,¡± Erbao exined.

    ¡°Oh. I get it now. Your uncle is very handsome.¡±

    Lu Yunxue fixed her eyes on Nan Xing and couldn''t look elsewhere.

    ¡°Of course. Uncle Xing is as handsome as my daddy,¡± said Erbao with a proud face.

    ¡°Can your uncle be my uncle too?¡± Lu Yunxue suddenly asked with a solemn face.

    ¡°I think so. Why don''t you ask him?¡± Erbao was not too sure about that.

    Lu Yunxue walked over to Nan Xing and reached out to take his hand. She called out sweetly, ¡°Mr.

    Handsome!¡±

    Nan Xing was delighted to hear that. ¡°Hey there, little one, you have great taste. I like what you called

    me. You''re so much better than Dabao, that little brat!¡±

 Chapter 701

    Chapter 701

    Lu Yunxue gazed at the handsome face of Nan Xing with sparkling eyes.

    She really liked the handsome man a lot.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Although he looked exactly like Erbao''s father, she much preferred Nan Xing. He was friendlier and

    more likable.

    Lu Yunxue decided to grab Nan Xing''s hand with both hands and asked, ¡°Can you please be my older

    brother, Xing?¡±

    Nan Xing was taken aback. Older brother? Did she just call me by my name? I''m obviously much older

    than she is. How can she address me as such?

    ¡°Don''t talk rubbish. I''m Erbao''s uncle. You should address me as Mr. Nan and not Xing,¡± Nan Xing told

    her off in a stern manner.

    Lu Yunxue continued to cling to Nan Xing. ¡°You''re too young and handsome to be called that. I should

    address you as Xing.¡±

    The moment Nan Xing heard herpliment, he shed a bright smile. ¡°You''re right. But it''s

    inappropriate since I''m so much older than you, so I think it''s better for you to address me as Mr. Nan

    instead of Xing.¡±

    ¡°Xing,¡± Lu Yunxue called out yfully again.

    Lu Yunxue envied the fact that Erbao had an older brother. As for herself, she only had an older sister.

    Therefore, she felt that it was a wonderful thing to be able to find a handsome man to be her older

    brother.

    In all honesty, she did not do that out of yfulness. She had grown up in a family without any male

    figure. As a result, shecked a sense of security.

    ¡°You cannot address Uncle Xing by his name,¡± said Erbao, who was looking at her coldly.

    ¡°Why not?¡± retorted Lu Yunxue as she turned to look at Erbao.

    ¡°That''s because he''s my uncle.¡±

    Her reason was straight to the point and more than sufficient.

    ¡°You can address him as Uncle Xing, but he can still be my brother.¡±

    Lu Yunxue abruptly smiled like an angel as she felt that her idea was a brilliant one.

    Nan Xing''s heart went all soft from her expression. Suddenly, all he wanted was for that little girl to be

    happy, and he would give her everything she asked for as long as it made her smile.

    ¡°No way!¡± protested Erbao.

    ¡°What''s wrong? You address him as Uncle Xing, and I address him as Xing. It''s all fine and dandy, no?¡±

    said Lu Yunxue with her head tilted to one side.

    Erbao looked at Dabao. Although she found it inappropriate, she could note up with a good reason

    to reject her friend''s request.

    ¡°If you address our uncle as Xing, that means that you are more senior than us. Then, we''ll have no

    choice but to address you as Aunt Yunxue,¡± said Dabao.

    Lu Yunxueughed out loud in an arrogant manner.

    Nan Xing, Dabao, and Erbao were stumped. They had no idea why she wasughing. Is it that

    hrious?

    Finally, Lu Yunxue managed to calm down. ¡°Oh, my. Aunt Yunxue is an interesting way to address

    me...¡±

    ¡°Dabao, did she just make a fool out of us?¡± asked Erbao.

    ¡°It appears so,¡± replied Dabao as he nodded.

    ¡°Lu Yunxue, you''re a baddie. I don''t want to be friends with you anymore. Hmph!¡± With that, Erbao

    stomped off.

    Dabao shot Lu Yunxue a re before walking away too.

    When Lu Yunxue saw that both her good friends were annoyed with her, she knew she was in trouble.

    Life without them would be extremely boring if she were to lose them.

    She nced at Nan Xing helplessly before saying, ¡°I will address you as Mr. Nan in front of others. But,

    when there''s no one around, I will call you Xing!¡±

    Nan Xing was equally helpless. He had no clue why that little girl insisted on addressing him by his

    name.

    Before he could respond, Lu Yunxue went after Erbao. ¡°Erbao, I''m sorry. It''s my fault...¡±

    Just then, Ning Ran came over and asked, ¡°What''s all the fuss about?¡±

    Nan Xing seemed to be deep in thought and sidestepped her question. ¡°This child is pretty adorable. Is

    she Lu Jingyuan''s child?¡±

    ¡°What? If she isn''t her child, then whose child could she be? Yours?¡± teased Ning Ran.

    ¡°I wish...¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    It was only then Nan Xing returned to his senses. ¡°How can someone as fierce as Lu Jingyuan give

    birth to such a cute child? Why is it so hard for me to believe it?¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about? How is Lu Jingyuan fierce? You were the one flirting with her. Isn''t she

    allowed to resist you? Should she just do as you say?¡±

    Ning Ran spoke up for Lu Jingyuan.

    ¡°I didn''t flirt with her. It''s true that I tried to talk to her, but that''s all. Flirting and talking to someone are

    two different things. Please don''t get them mixed up!¡±

    Nan Xing also felt very wronged.

    ¡°You are no longer getting any younger. Why don''t you find yourself a girlfriend?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    Nan Xing burst outughing.

    ¡°What are youughing about? Is finding a girlfriend aughing matter?¡±

    ¡°Nope. The thing is, I don''t need to hunt for one. Plenty of gorgeous women are waiting to throw

    themselves at me. Don''t you know that?¡± Nan Xing proimed proudly.

    Ning Ran thought about it and found herself agreeing with him. Nan Xing was rich and good-looking.

    He would have nock of women.

    If that''s the case, there should be plenty of women throwing themselves at the man in Flower City right

    now, no? Would he sumb to the temptation?

    At the thought of that, Ning Ran felt a little unhappy.

    ¡°What''s wrong? I''m only joking. There aren''t that many women around me anymore. I''m a man with

    taste and won''t settle for any random woman after all,¡± said Nan Xing quickly.

    That''s right. So is Nan Chen. Surely, he won''t be tempted by just any other woman whoes his way.

    ¡°All right then. You''re more than capable, so I won''t worry about you anymore. Please look after the

    four children. I''m going to have an afternoon nap,¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°Again? I want to head out. The children are about to drive me crazy!¡± eximed Nan Xing.

    Ning Ran pretended not to hear him and left for her nap.

    She had no idea how long she had been sleeping when the ringing of a phone woke her up. It was

    Wang Xiaoou.

    ¡°I have already watched the video on the inte. It''s very well done. Did you process it by yourself?¡±

    asked Wang Xiaoou.

    ¡°Which video?¡±

    Ning Ran was still a bit groggy from her slumber.

    ¡°I''m talking about the video where that guy imed that he was your temporary bodyguard. The denial

    of the rumor is well-timed. Good job!¡± praised Wang Xiaoou.

    ¡°Oh, you''re referring to that. I didn''t process that. I know nothing about video processing. It was done

    by my friend,¡± said Ning Ran with augh.

    ¡°Which one?¡±

    ¡°The one who was in the photo with me.¡±

    ¡°You went and looked for her? Didn''t I tell you not to do so?¡± Wang Xiaoou began to panic.

    ¡°I didn''t. She did all these on her own ord.¡±

    ¡°I see. I guess we had misunderstood her?¡±

    ¡°She isn''t a bad person at all. Since this whole episode hase to an end, everything''s fine now,

    right?¡± said Ning Ran happily.

    ¡°The tforms on which your friend posted the video are all very well-known. Most of the tforms

    always refuse to get involved with entertainment matters, even when money is being offered to them.

    Your friend must be very powerful to have such resources that allow her to get those tforms to rify

    this issue. Initially, I thought that Mr. Chen was the one who did it. It''s worth using her if she has such

    powerful resources. Once your new movie is out, please ask her to help with the publicity. You are

    aware that resources such as promotional channels are very important in the entertainment industry,

    no?¡± said Wang Xiaoou.

    He was no doubt a top director. In such a short amount of time, he was able to link the video incident

    up with business.

    However, Ning Ran knew that she could not mention it. Even if she did, Lu Jingyuan would not agree.

    There was no particr reason for that. Lu Jingyuan was simply not that kind of person.

    On top of that, the resources must havee from her brother and not her.

    There was no way Lu Jingyuan would utilize her family''s resources for the sake of Ning Ran.

 Chapter 702

    Chapter 702

    Ning Ran did not, however, immediately reject Wang Xiaoou. She merely said that they should discuss

    the matter another time.

    ¡°This issue is resolved for the time being. Take another day off tomorrow, and then you can resume

    filming. Right, there''s one more thing. Huang Zichao''s talent agents came to speak with us, asking if

    you would go on an entertainment talk show with him. We agreed, and they should get in touch with

    Cheng Xiangyun within the next two days,¡± Wang Xiaoou informed.

    ¡°Huang Zichao wants to appear on an entertainment talk show? And he wants to bring me along?

    What''s going on here?¡±

    ¡°He was invited as a guest and could bring a friend. He said he would bring you along. His talent

    agents discussed with us that since you two are filming a movie together and the show will be recorded

    in Livingsfill, which is also close to you, having you two appear on the show together will help promote

    the movie. It''s a win-win situation. The production team will also give a corresponding appearance fee.

    This is work, not a personal matter,¡± Wang Xiaoou said.

    ¡°Does he know about this?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    Wang Xiaoou smiled. ¡°Are you referring to Mr. Chen?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Ning Ran responded awkwardly.

    ¡°Oh, don''t worry. Mr. Chen knows about this. All your contracts need to be approved by him,¡± Wang

    Xiaoou said.

    Ning Ran was quite surprised by this. Poker Face has always been against me getting close to Huang

    Zichao. I can''t believe he agreed this time. What made him do that?

    ¡°Are you listening?¡± Wang Xiaoou asked.

    ¡°Yeah, I''m listening. I''ll certainlyply with thepany''s arrangement,¡± Ning Ran quickly responded.

    ¡°Great. Thank you and all the best.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Ou.¡±

    Ning Ran hung up the phone. She still found it odd after thinking about it.

    What on earth was Poker Face thinking to agree to let me appear on a show with Huang Zichao? Qiao

    Zhan called Huang Zichao to warn him to stay away from me just a few days ago. But now he suddenly

    agreed to let me appear on a show with Huang Zichao? What''s going on here?

    Feeling uneasy, she dialed Nan Chen''s number.

    The call was quickly answered, but the voice that came through was Qiao Zhan''s. ¡°Ms. Ning, I''m Qiao

    Zhan. Mr. Chen is having a video conference with the overseas team. Please wait a moment while I

    inform him.¡±

    ¡°No need for that. I just wanted to ask if it''s true that I''ll be appearing on a show with Huang Zichao?¡±

    Ning Ran asked straightforwardly.

    ¡°Yes. Mr. Chen is aware of this,¡± Qiao Zhan answered.

    ¡°But Huang Zichao texted me two days ago saying that you went to see him. Is that also true?¡±

    ¡°It is.¡±

    Qiao Zhan did not deny it. After all, he was instructed to do so by his boss, so he was not afraid to take

    the me.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Are you asking why I went to see Huang Zichao?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Because Mr. Chen thinks he ced you in jeopardy, so he warned him to keep his distance from you,¡±

    Qiao Zhan answered truthfully.

    ¡°So why did he agree to let me appear on a show with Huang Zichao now?¡±

    Qiao Zhan replied seriously, ¡°It''s work. Mr. Chen agreed because he believes that it''ll help promote

    yourtest movie.¡±

    Ning Ran scoffed, ¡°You''re telling me he can distinguish between public and private affairs?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Chen has always been like that.¡±

    As expected of Nan Chen''s special assistant. Every word Qiao Zhan utters is in support of his boss.

    ¡°All right, if you say so.¡±

    ¡°You give me too much credit, Ms. Ning. It should be if Mr. Chen says so. I don''t matter,¡± Qiao Zhan

    said cautiously.

    Mr. Chen was the one who made the decision. I have no say in it, so you can''t me me if you have a

    problem with it!

    ¡°Fine. As long as he''s happy. That''s all. I just wanted to confirm this matter.¡±

    ¡°Should I get Mr. Chen to call you backter?¡±

    ¡°No need for that.¡±

    ¡°All right. Is there anything else I can do for you?¡±

    ¡°No. Goodbye.¡± With that, Ning Ran ended the call.

    Meanwhile, in a business clubhouse in Livingsfill, Huang Zichao met a woman who was unfamiliar to

    him.

    She was dressed extravagantly, covered in branded apparel and jewels.

    Although she also had exquisite features, her contours appeared stiff and unnatural.

    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    Having been in the entertainment industry for a long time, Huang Zichao had seen all kinds of beautiful

    women. He could immediately tell that she had enhanced her appearance through major stic

    surgeries, which made her beautypletely unnatural.

    However, he was not surprised. In the past, only in the neighboring country do you find women favoring

    stic surgery. But things are different now as it''s also verymon here. Many girls go bankrupt to

    enhance their looks just to be influencers and celebrities. Not only that, but some celebrities who

    have already be famous also underwent stic surgery to broaden their acting careers and

    enhance their looks. Some sessfully became more beautiful, while others were disfigured beyond

    recognition. In this mystically utilitarian world, nothing is surprising.

    ¡°So, you''re Huang Zichao?¡±

    The woman was quite arrogant, which irritated Huang Zichao.

    I am, at any rate, an award-winning actor. She should have the basic courtesy to address me politely,

    considering it''s our first meeting.

    ¡°Yes, I am. Wasn''t it the producer who asked to meet me? You are?¡±

    He made that query because he did not believe that the person before him was a producer.

    Producers need not undergo stic surgery, especially major ones like this.

    ¡°I''m here on his behalf. My name is Ding Fei,¡± the woman said.

    ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± Huang Zichao forced out a response.

    ¡°May I ask when you will be able to join our production team?¡± Ding Fei inquired.

    ¡°Which production team?¡±

    ¡°The one for the new movie. Haven''t your agency informed you?¡± Ding Fei asked.

    ¡°They did, but I''m still filming the movie I''m currently working on. There''s a conflict in the schedule, and

    if it can''t be coordinated, I can only give it up.¡±

    ¡°We can pay you more.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°As long as you take half of your time to shoot our movie, we''ll increase the pay by a quarter,¡± Ding Fei

    offered.

    ¡°Who are you exactly? You can increase the pay as you wish?¡± Huang Zichao could not help but

    express his doubt.

    ¡°You need not care about who I am. If I say so, it will be done.¡±

    ¡°Even if you increase the pay, I can''t break my contract. I''ll finish filming it before considering other

    things.¡±

    ¡°You can schedule both sides. Do two weeks on our side, and then shoot there for a few days to

    manage it,¡± Ding Fei proposed.

    ¡°That won''t work. The contract clearly states that I can''t do that. I do have other schedules during this

    period, but I can only leave the set when I''m not filming.¡±

    ¡°You''re truly hardheaded. You''re reluctant to part with Ning Ran, aren''t you?¡± Ding Fei shot him a look

    of disgust.

    Huang Zichao was displeased. ¡°Please show some respect for me and Ms. Ning.¡±

    ¡°What''s so great about her that I have to respect her? Are you on board with this or not?¡±

    ¡°I''ve already made it very clear that my answer is no.¡±

    Huang Zichao''s response was equally firm. He truly did not like the woman.

 Chapter 703

    Chapter 703

    Ding Fei stood up immediately. ¡°You''d better not f*cking refuse when I''m asking nicely!¡±

    Huang Zichao was dumbfounded. Did this woman just swear at me? I thought she would be a decent

    person from her designer outfit, but I can''t believe she cursed at me.

    Being a recognized actor, he naturally knew better than to yell back at her. He simply stood up furiously

    and headed for the door without saying a word.

    ¡°Stop right there!¡± Ding Fei called out.

    Huang Zichao halted his steps. ¡°People with different interests cannot work together!¡±

    ¡°If you don''t agree, you''ll definitely regret it!¡±

    Despite her threat, Huang Zichao remained silent and continued heading outside.

    ¡°Do you still remember that girlfriend of yours in Spaunia surnamed Li?¡± Ding Fei said in a cold voice

    from behind.

    Huang Zichao, who was about to leave the private room, immediately stopped in his tracks.

    ¡°Her name is Li Xin, right? At that time, you were despondent about not having any acting jobs, and

    you couldn''t even pay the rent. She was pregnant and had to choose abortion because she didn''t dare

    to give birth. But the moment you rose to fame, you dumped her. If the press finds out about this, do

    you think you can keep your career, you ungrateful rascal?¡± Ding Fei berated.

    ¡°That''s not it. She proposed to break up, not me. I didn''t abandon her!¡± Huang Zichao shouted.

    ¡°You make it sound so nice when you deliberately avoided her after achieving fame. She couldn''t even

    see you once a year. You deliberately gave her the silent treatment to force her to break up so that you

    can continue your career! The audacity of you to not admit it! What a coward and a sc*mbag!¡±

    Seeing that she finally got hold of his dirt, Ding Fei immediately became smug.

    ¡°It''s not like that at all. I was indeed busy with work, but I didn''t avoid her on purpose. I''d spend time

    with her whenever I could although I didn''t have that much time...¡±

    ¡°You''re truly a sc*mbag! If you don''t work with me, I will expose all of this, and when the timees,

    everyone will scorn you. You can forget about remaining in this industry then.¡±

    Huang Zichao fell silent.

    He had been a part of the entertainment industry for many years, so he naturally understood how it

    operated.

    No matter how big a celebrity you are, once a scandal urs, you will be despised by everyone

    overnight. Directors who have pleaded with you to appear in their dramas and businesses that

    approached you to be their spokesman will suddenly treat you like a gue and avoid you out of fear of

    being associated with you. If it''s a scandal caused by a work-rted mistake, it''s a little better.

    However, if it''s this kind of scandal rting to private life, especially one that raises moral questions,

    being cklisted by the industry is a given.

    He simply could not afford such a risk.

    Even though he genuinely did not forsake his ex-girlfriend on purpose and had given her a sizable sum

    of money, the breakup did ur.

    People would only focus on the breakup, especially the fact that it urred after he became famous.

    Although it was not anything new, as there were numerous cases of sessful people abandoning

    their wives and children, it was still the kind of case that people despised the most, especially if it

    involved celebrities.

    No one would look into the truth when the news broke. They would only berate Huang Zichao as the

    ssic heartless and unfaithful man.

    On top of that, if his ex-girlfriend was bribed into confirming the breakup, it would cause his immediate

    downfall.

    His transition from an ordinary actor to a renowned actor did not happen overnight but after a long

    period of hard work.

    Any human would cherish the fruits of their hard work, and Huang Zichao was no exception.

    He hesitated and felt so nervous that his palms were sweating.

    Ding Fei noticed his nervousness andughed loudly. ¡°Weren''t you leaving? Go ahead! If you dare to

    walk out of this door without my permission, your reputation will be ruined tomorrow. Not only that, but

    your film contract, endorsements,pany, and all your deals will be doomed. Do you dare to go out?

    Of course not!¡±

    ¡°Who the hell are you, and why are you messing with me? How do you know about Li Xin?¡± Huang

    Zichao asked.

    ¡°I''m Ding Fei. As for how I know about those things, I won''t tell you. There''s no concealing the truth.

    Unless you didn''t do it, people would surely find out about it! Huang Zichao, if youply and work

    with me, you can continue enjoying your high status. Otherwise, I''ll bring you down immediately!¡± she

    said arrogantly as she pointed at him.

    ¡°What on earth do you want? After I finish filming my current project, I''ll go to yours. Is there any

    problem with that? I signed a contract with them first, after all. This is against the rules of the industry.¡±This is from N?velDrama.Org.

    Ding Fei responded, ¡°Don''t tell me about the rules. I''ll set them for you right now. You must report to our

    production team and shoot our movie. As for the other matters, I don''t care. Figure it out on your own.

    Also, aren''t you and Ning Ran very close? I heard that you''ll be appearing on a show with her soon.¡±

    ¡°You also know about this?¡±

    She grew even smugger. ¡°Money can buy you any information you want. What''s so strange about that?

    When you appear on the show, you must announce before everyone that you''ll be withdrawing from the

    movie you''re working with Ning Ran because she has been harassing you shamelessly. You can''t bear

    it any longer, so you wish to quit!¡±

    Huang Zichao was even more shocked. Ning Ran has always conducted herself with dignity. She has

    never harassed me. Besides, with Nan Chen watching us like a hawk, she wouldn''t dare to do that.

    ¡°No one will believe such news. It sounds outrageous,¡± he said.

    ¡°I don''t care. If no one believes it, you must find a way to make them believe it. By doing so, not only

    can you withdraw yourself from the movie easily, but you can also ruin Ning Ran''s reputation. As long

    as she loses her reputation, the movie will inevitably be ruined as well.¡± Ding Feiughed triumphantly

    again.

    ¡°Why must you do this? Do you hold a grudge against Ning Ran? Or Nan Chen?¡± Huang Zichao asked.

    ¡°This isn''t something you should ask. In any case, if you don''t want anything to happen to you, you

    must listen to me. Otherwise, I''ll destroy you!¡±

    ¡°You are simply a devil. Where did youe from? I''ve never heard of you in the entertainment

    industry before!¡±

    ¡°I''m indeed a devil. I want to destroy some people. A group of people, to be exact! If you listen to me,

    you can continue your career without any worries, but should you dare to go against me, you''ll be

    one of them!¡±

    Ding Fei did not seem to mind being called a devil. On the contrary, she liked it very much.

    Some people are willing to be angels, but others strive to be the devil.

    ¡°But Nan Chen is backing Ning Ran. If I do this, then¡ª¡±

    ¡°Are you afraid? What''s so great about Nan Chen? Is he omnipotent? If you don''t want to hurt Ning

    Ran, you can just wait to be destroyed!¡±

    Huang Zichao did not dare to speak anymore.

    It was a difficult choice to make, and he truly did not know what to do.

 Chapter 704

    Chapter 704

    Later in the evening, Lu Jingyuan arrived at Mountview Inn in her Jeep SUV.

    She didn''t anticipate that renting out the inn would provide a source of ie for her and even allow

    her to be acquainted with a good friend. She thought she was blessed with how things had

    worked out for her.

    After getting out of the car, she retrieved a box from the trunk before walking toward the inn.

    The box contained desserts from one of the local dessert shops. Lu Jingyuan had deliberately bought

    the sweet dish for the kids.

    Usually, she wouldn''t allow her children to consume too much sweet food and rarely bought them.

    However, she made an exception at that time because Erbao liked eating desserts.

    Unfortunately, right after she stepped into the courtyard, a man running out from inside bumped into

    her.

    The impact of the collision caused her to stagger and nearly fall, and the box of desserts she was

    holding dropped to the floor.

    ¡°Xing!¡± Lu Yunxue was chasing after that man while calling out his name.

    The man who had run into Lu Jingyuan was none other than Nan Xing.

    She almost recognized him as Nan Chen again because of their simr appearance.

    On the other hand, Nan Xing correctly identified her at once. He reached out to support Lu Jingyuan,

    who stumbled after he knocked into her. ¡°I''m sorry. I didn''t know you wereing in. Still, you

    should''ve announced your arrival when you entered.¡±

    It was then Lu Jingyuan recalled Ning Ran had told her Erbao''s uncle looked identical to Nan Chen.

    The man who had taken advantage of her was this person before her eyes.

    Lu Yunxue knew things had gone south when she saw Nan Xing crashing into her mother and the

    latter''s furious expression.

    ¡°It''s you again! You''re so annoying!¡± Lu Jingyuan bellowed.

    Nan Xing could still vividly remember Lu Jingyuan sshing water on him previously.

    He didn''t think he had done anything wrong at that time, but she had spattered him with water just

    because he had tried to chat her up.

    Nan Xing felt even more aggrieved that day. He was chided again because he identally bumped

    into Lu Jingyuan while ying with Lu Yunxue.

    ¡°Hey, I didn''t knock you on purpose. It was an ident. Why are you scolding me? What happened the

    other day¡ª¡±

    ¡°You''re shameless! How dare you mention what happened the other day? Why do I see you wherever I

    go?¡±

    Lu Jingyuan went to pick up the dessert on the floor, but they were no longer edible.

    She had purposely driven to the dessert shop and spent a long time waiting in a queue to buy the

    sweet dish.

    ¡°Why are you so unreasonable? I didn''t do anything, so why are you¡ª¡±

    ¡°Shut up! I don''t want to talk to you!¡± Lu Jingyuan roared.

    Nan Xing grew indignant. What''s with her attitude? Did she say she doesn''t want to talk to me? I am

    the young master of the Nan family. Many women tried to offer themselves up to me, but I gave them

    the cold shoulder. I can''t believe this woman just said she doesn''t want to talk to me. Does she think I

    fancy chatting with her? Is she acting so arrogantly because she thinks she''s pretty? I''ve met my share

    of attractive people, but I''ve never seen someone like her!

    ¡°Can''t we have a civilized conversation?¡± Nan Xing was livid as well.

    ¡°Civilized conversation? Do you think you deserve that, you frivolous man?¡± she rebuked him again.

    ¡°In what way am I frivolous? You''re impossible to reason with! I may be a well-mannered person, but

    you''re crossing the line now. If you continue to behave like this, I will retaliate.¡±

    Nan Xing knew Lu Jingyuan was Lu Yunxue''s mother. At that moment, the little girl was staring at them

    with herrge, round eyes.

    He couldn''t bring himself to be rude to Lu Jingyuan because he didn''t want to hurt the child''s feelings.

    After all, the person any child loathed the most would be those who disrespected their mothers.

    Nan Xing reckoned Lu Yunxue must already be anxious to witness their argument.

    ¡°I''m not borating. I don''t want to quarrel with others in front of my daughter. By the way, did you ask

    my daughter to call you Xing? Can you be any more shameless?¡±

    Nan Xing was stunned.

    It was indeed a little inappropriate for a little girl to address him, a full-grown man, only by his first

    name.

    However, that wasn''t his intention at all. It was Yunxue who insisted on calling me Xing. What can I do

    about that? This is just great. I''ve been caught red-handed by her mother. Worst of all, her mother is

    not fond of me. No. That''s an understatement. She actually despises me. This situation is too hard to

    swallow.

    Nan Xing''s face was slightly flushed. He opened his mouth hesitantly, but no words came to him.

    ¡°Lu Yunxue, how many times have I told you not to get yourself too closely involved with every person

    you meet? I''m grounding you from now on!¡± Lu Jingyuan admonished her daughter coldly.

    Lu Yunxue widened her eyes innocently and shifted her gaze from her mother to Nan Xing.

    She could not fathom the conflict between adults. Everything seems fine. No one took the other

    person''s toys or stole their food, so why are they snapping at each other? Can''t they get along and y

    together like me and Erbao? Why are these adults so immature?

    ¡°Mommy, please don''t be mad. We were just ying,¡± Lu Yunxue uttered weakly.

    ¡°How can I not be mad? You''re interacting and mingling with every person you meet. Can you tell if

    they are good or bad people?¡± Lu Jingyuan scolded.

    Nan Xing sighed. ¡°Stop chastising the child. We were just ying. If you''re furious, you can direct your

    anger at me instead of making things difficult for Yunxue.¡±

    ¡°Are you qualified to interfere with how I educate my child?¡±

    ¡°I''m not.¡± Nan Xing chickened out at once.

    ¡°Since you''re aware of that, what do you think you''re doing now?¡±

    ¡°I''m stopping a fight.¡±

    Right after he finished speaking, he felt something was wrong. I was arguing with her, so why have I

    be the peacemaker now?

    Lu Jingyuan was speechless. This man is indeed a rascal.

    Not wanting to entertain him further, she red at Lu Yunxue before striding into the inn.

    Lu Yunxue immediately followed her mother inside. Then, seizing an opportunity when Lu Jingyuan

    wasn''t paying attention to her, the little girl turned her head around and made a face at Nan Xing.

    Nan Xing was initially enraged after Lu Jingyuan berated him. However, his heart softened when he

    saw Lu Yunxue''s facial expression. He winked at the little girl and pulled a face at her.

    Unexpectedly, Lu Jingyuan nced behind her at that instant and coincidentally saw his funny face.

    Nan Xing wanted to wipe the exaggerated expression off his face, but it was toote.

    Utter embarrassment washed over him, prompting him to wish for the ground to swallow him up, but his

    wish was not fulfilled because there wasn''t even a crack on the floor.

    He stood rooted to his spot, gaping in awkwardness.

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    Lu Jingyuan thought, This man is shameless, frivolous, and childish. I can''t believe he''s making a face

    even after the way I rebuked him. Brazen people like him are indeed capable of doing as they please.

    Nan Xing wanted to exin himself but didn''t know where to start. He could only watch silently as she

    spun on her heels and walked away.

    Erbao, the bootlicker, dashed forward when she saw Lu Jingyuan. ¡°Ms. Lu.¡±

    Lu Jingyuan lifted Erbao and said, ¡°I bought you some desserts, but a despicable man caused the food

    to fall to the ground, so the desserts are gone now.¡±

    A disappointed look spread across Erbao''s face. ¡°Who''s that despicable man? How dare he ruin my

    delicious food? He needs topensate me for my loss!¡±

    ¡°Forget it. He''s just a boring person. Let''s not talk about this anymore,¡± Lu Jingyuan said.

    ¡°Okay. You can buy the dessert for me again on another day, Ms. Lu.¡±

    Lu Jingyuan was amused. She thought informing Erbao of that matter would be the end of the story

    until thetter told her to repurchase the dessert on another day. Erbao is definitely behaving like an

    absolute glutton.

    ¡°Sure. I''ll buy the dessert for you again next time, and I''ll make sure to buy a lot more for you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Ms. Lu.¡±

    Ning Ran walked out when she heard their voices. ¡°You''re here. Dinner will be ready soon. Take a seat

    and have a drink first.¡±

    ¡°That won''t be necessary. I''m just here to pick up the kids,¡± Lu Jingyuan said.

    ¡°You can return after dinner. I''ve purposely prepared the children''s favorite dishes. It''ll be such a waste

    if you fetch them back now.¡±

    ¡°That''s right.¡± Lu Yunxue was upset as well after listening to her mother''s words.

    ¡°I''m really not staying. I don''t want to eat.¡± Naturally, Lu Jingyuan was referring to her unwillingness to

    eat at the same table as Nan Xing. There''s no way I''ll have any appetite if I''m going to have my meal

    with such a hateful person.

 Chapter 706

    Chapter 706

    Huang Zichao was stumped.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    He looked tense and embarrassed.

    If he did not listen to Ding Fei, he would not be able to protect himself, and thetter would destroy him.

    However, he couldn''t bring himself to ruin Ning Ran just to protect himself either.

    He was not a very noble person, but he was far from being mean enough to hurt others for his own

    sake, especially when that person was a woman he had a crush on.

    Ning Ran was getting impatient. ¡°If you''re still not talking, we''re leaving.¡±

    ¡°I''m getting tired of listening to his nonsense. Let''s go.¡± Nan Xing had already lost his patience.

    ¡°Wait. I''m really doing it for your own good. If you participate in the show, it will do you harm.¡± Huang

    Zichao panicked.

    ¡°What harm?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°I can''t tell you this, but please, believe me. It''s for the best if you don''t go.¡±

    ¡°I won''t listen if you don''t tell me the reason. I don''t want to pay the liquidated damages.¡±

    ¡°If you don''t go, I''ll pay the liquidated damages for you!¡± Huang Zichao hurriedly said.

    Nan Xing and Ning Ran exchanged nces. Both of them were surprised that Huang Zichao would say

    that.

    Wouldn''t it be better to film the show, promote the new movie and make money together?

    ¡°Is it because you don''t want to be in the show with me that you''re actually willing to pay the liquidated

    damages for me? Do you think that I''ll drag you down and lower your status as an award-winning

    actor?¡± Ning Ran was somewhat unconvinced.

    Huang Zichao sighed and shook his head. ¡°That''s not what I meant. Please, believe me. I really didn''t

    mean that.¡±

    ¡°Fine. Let''s not dwell on it. Since he''s willing to pay for the liquidated damages, you can just quit the

    show. It''s not like you must be in that crap show, anyway,¡± said Nan Xing.

    Ning Ran agreed, ¡°Fine, I won''t go then. If the production team asks forpensation, you''ll give them

    the money.¡±

    Huang Zichao was relieved. ¡°Thank you!¡±

    However, Nan Xing stopped Ning Ran in her tracks. ¡°Wait. Something''s not right.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°He said he would pay the liquidated damages, but he only made a verbal promise. What if he goes

    back on his word? We''ll be tricked then, won''t we? Even though I don''t really care about such a small

    amount of money since I''m a member of the Nan family, I still don''t like the feeling of being tricked.

    Don''t you think so, Ning Ran?¡±

    ¡°You''re right. We can''t be tricked.¡± Ning Ran nodded in agreement.

    ¡°Don''t worry. I won''t go back on my word. If you don''t trust me, I can get someone to transfer the

    money to you first. Just give me the ount number,¡± assured Huang Zichao.

    Ning Ran and Nan Xing exchanged looks, not expecting Huang Zichao to say that.

    The man''s words had put them in a difficult position.

    The Nan family was a prominent family, so Nan Xing could not really make Huang Zichao transfer the

    money to his bank ount.

    After all, that was a small amount of money, so it would be a bit embarrassing if he really did so.

    If Nan Chen was present, he would not have agreed to do so either.

    It would be embarrassing if word got out that Huang Zichao really transferred the money to their bank

    ount.

    As for Ning Ran, she did not dare to make a decision. If she turned down Huang Zichao''s offer, and the

    latter really broke his promise, she would need toe up with a good exnation as to why she

    breached her contract.

    Nan Xing was reluctant to make a decision either. After all, he was not involved in that matter.

    ¡°I will inform my talent agent about this. It''s up to them to make the decision.¡± In the end, Ning Ran

    decided to leave the matter to her team of talent agents.

    On the way back to the hotel, Ning Ran could not wrap her mind around what had happened.

    Nan Xing could not figure it out either, but he couldn''t be bothered to think about it because his mind

    was preupied with another matter, namely why he always had conflicts with Lu Jingyuan.

    Being engrossed in their own thoughts, they remained silent all the way.

    Taking out her phone, Ning Ran called Wang Xiaoou before exining the whole matter to him clearly

    and asking him to make a decision.

    Wang Xiaoou also found it strange. ¡°If there is any change in this matter, it should be Huang Zichao''s

    team who needs toe and negotiate with us. So why did hee to you personally instead? His

    talent agents were the ones handling allmunication about the show before this. Why would he

    approach you personally? He''s not joking with you, is he?¡±

    ¡°I don''t think so. He looked very serious. I just can''t figure out why he did so,¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°Don''t listen to him. This is a work matter. If his talent agents didn''t bring it up to us, we won''t quit the

    show. We''ll just go with the flow for now.¡±

    Since Wang Xiaoou said so, Ning Ran went along with it.

    It didn''t really matter to her since she was not interested in participating in any talk show, to begin with.

    After all, saying some hypocritical and ttering words in front of the camera did not fit her personality.

    After ending the phone call with Wang Xiaoou, Ning Ran remained silent.

    Feeling bored, Nan Xing tried to make conversation. ¡°Ning Ran, do you think I am a bad person?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± replied Ning Ran.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Ning Ran chuckled. ¡°You''re just asking me that question to make me praise you, aren''t you?¡±

    ¡°No, I just don''t think I''m a bad person, but why do some people always think I''m bad?¡±

    ¡°By some people, do you mean Lu Jingyuan?¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡ªno, I mean other people. Her opinion doesn''t matter to me.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? I think you look distracted because you have been thinking about the conflict with Lu

    Jingyuan today, am I right?¡±

    ¡°I''m not distracted. Even if I am, it''s not because of her. She''s a nobody, so she won''t affect my mood at

    all,¡± Nan Xing quickly denied.

    ¡°In terms of appearance, you two are quite a match. Both of you are good-looking, so there is no

    problem there. However, Lu Jingyuan has two kids, whose father is unknown. In this case, it''ll be

    difficult for the two of you to be together. After all, you are not from an ordinary family, and your status

    will not allow you to marry any woman.¡±

    Ning Ran was telling the truth as that was what she thought.

    ¡°Ning Ran, I think you''re confused. I hate her. So why would you associate me with her?¡± Nan Xing got

    anxious.

    ¡°Stop denying it. You''re surrounded by so many beautiful women. If you don''t care about a woman, you

    won''t even spare a nce at her, let alone discuss with me her bad opinion of you,¡± Ning Ran said with

    a smile.

    ¡°I didn''t want to discuss her with you. You''re the one who said so. Anyway, Lu Jingyuan really is a

    terrible person, otherwise, why would her children have no father?¡±

    Ning Ran did not like to hear those words because her children used to be fatherless as well.

    She had experienced Lu Jingyuan¡¯s current situation before.

    The only difference was that Ning Ran''s situation was worse than that of Lu Jingyuan''s because the

    latter had a good family background and a brother who could help her.

    As for Ning Ran, she had no rtives and could only rely on herself.

    ¡°Back then, Erbao and Dabao didn''t have a father as well, and other people said the same about me.

    You people are all the same, criticizing others without evidence. I wasn''t sure if you were a bad person

    at first, but now I am! You really are a bad person!¡± Ning Ran snapped.

    Nan Xing originally wanted to talk about Lu Jingyuan, but unexpectedly, he offended Ning Ran.

 Chapter 707

    Chapter 707

    Nan Xing quickly exined, ¡°That''s not what I meant. I just¡ª¡±

    ¡°That is what you mean!¡± Ning Ran said angrily.

    ¡°I-I was wrong. I said something I shouldn''t have.¡± Nan Xing regretted it very much.

    Ning Ran snorted coldly before falling silent.

    Just then, the phone rang. It was a video call from Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen had just had a video call with his kids. After learning that Nan Xing and Ning Ran had gone

    out, he was worried about them, so he called Ning Ran to ask her what happened.

    On the phone, Ning Ran told Nan Chen about her entire conversation with Huang Zichao.

    After hearing it, Nan Chen told her without thinking, ¡°Just do as he says.¡±

    Ning Ran put the phone on speaker mode so that Nan Xing, who was next to her, could hear it too.

    He did not expect that his brother would actually listen to Huang Zichao. ¡°Chen, what right does he

    have to boss us around? He was the one who invited Ning Ran to the show, but now, he''s asking her

    not to go. How can he do whatever he wants? Who does he think he is?¡±

    ¡°Did he personally invite Ning Ran to the show before?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    Ning Ran quickly rified, ¡°No. There is no such thing.¡±

    ¡°Well, that means it was all coordinated by the agencies previously, and Huang Zichao didn''t know

    about it. Even if he knew, he must have thought it was just another job. But now that he''s asking you to

    quit in person, and he is willing to pay for it, this shows that he is not doing this for profit. If it''s not

    because of profit, it must be because there are other risks. If it''s risky, why bother going?¡±

    There was nothing wrong with Nan Chen''s reasoning.

    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    ¡°But if he is the only one who is at risk and Ning Ran is not, why should we listen to him?¡± asked Nan

    Xing.

    ¡°Since there is a risk, why should we still go there? We should avoid whatever risk there is,¡± Nan Chen

    said.

    Hearing that, Nan Xing could not find a retort. ¡°You''re right, Chen. You have considered everything

    thoroughly.¡±

    After Jiang Zhe drank his first ss of red wine at a private club in Flower City, his face began to turn

    red.

    He also started to stutter. With ssy eyes, he looked at the woman in front of him.

    The woman was Yu Xiang, a senior he had a crush on in high school. He had not seen her for ten

    years, but she still looked beautiful.

    In the past, Yu Xiang was the leader of the student union. Being a very eloquent person, she

    represented her school many times in public speakingpetitions in the city and won many awards.

    Jiang Zhe was a shy young man at that time. He had a scrawny build and ordinary looks. He even wore

    a pair of ck-rimmed sses that covered almost half of his face.

    Every time there was an event in the school, Yu Xiang would always be the one who was in the

    limelight by either winning awards or being the host of ceremonies.

    Oftentimes, Jiang Zhe could only sit in a remote corner, watching Yu Xiang''s talents blossom like a

    flower on the stage through the lenses of his ck-rimmed sses.

    Jiang Zhe also tried to sign up for the school''s public speaking interest group but ended in failure when

    he gave a speech on stage for the first time.

    He originally prepared a five-minute speech, but he only managed to squeak out the words ¡°Thank you,

    everyone¡± after taking the stage.

    Then, he ran off the stage.

    At that time, everyone in the audienceughed at him, except Yu Xiang who chased after him and

    comforted him. She told him to train hard and develop self-confidence as she believed that he would be

    sessful in the future.

    To a frustrated teenager, any words of encouragement from his idol were extremely valuable.

    Later, Jiang Zhe read hard and practiced his speech ability in front of the mirror.

    The vast amount of knowledge gave him self-confidence and allowed him to say goodbye to his

    inferiorityplex.

    Those efforts finally paid off after many years. In thepetition for the job as Nan Chen''s assistant,

    he stood out from the thousands of elites who participated in it and became the closest and most

    trusted person in the entirepany to Nan Chen.

    But after so many years, his alcohol tolerance had not increased despite the increase in his knowledge,

    abilities, and ie.

    Yu Xiang raised her ss again. ¡°You are now the most outstanding person among our ssmates.

    Here''s a toast to you.¡±

    Jiang Zhe quickly waved his hand. ¡°I can''t drink anymore, Yu Xiang. I''m going to get drunk if I drink any

    more. I hardly drink usually.¡±

    ¡°Hey, don''t rain on my parade, will you? I haven''t seen you for so many years, so we have to drink to

    our heart''s content.¡± Yu Xiang held up her ss and refused to put it down.

    Jiang Zhe had no choice but to take another sip.

    He did not dare to drink anymore or he would get drunk.

    ¡°Yu Xiang, I haven''t seen you for many years. You are still so beautiful, and you look even more

    graceful than before. It seems that time has been kind to you,¡± Jiang Zhe praised.

    ¡°Oh, look at you. You are so good at talking now. You''repletely different from before.¡±

    ¡°Please don''t mention the past, Yu Xiang. I was too cowardly at that time and became the

    laughingstock of everyone. Fortunately, youforted me,¡± Jiang Zhe said embarrassingly.

    ¡°Hey, tell me honestly, did you have a crush on me back then?¡± Yu Xiang asked with a smile.

    Jiang Zhe was already blushing, but after hearing that, his face flushed even more.

    ¡°Yu Xiang, do you want to hear the truth?¡± he asked, grinning.

    ¡°If the truth will hurt me, I''d rather listen to lies.¡± Yu Xiang smiled at him charmingly.

    ¡°Then I''ll keep it a secret for the time being. Whether it''s the truth or a lie, I won''t say it first. You''ll find

    out in the future,¡± replied Jiang Zhe with a smile.

    He reckoned that that was a smart approach, for he knew that once some words were spoken, it would

    change their current harmonious rtionship.

    Therefore, the best way was to not say anything, keep the status quo, and observe each other slowly.

    ¡°Okay, then don''t say it. I guess you are still shy, huh?¡± Yu Xiang remarked,ughing.

    ¡°Yeah, I''m still that shy junior. My heart still pounds whenever I see you,¡± Jiang Zhe replied as he

    smiled.

    ¡°Really? Is your heart pounding now?¡± Yu Xiang raised her ss again.

    ¡°Yes. It is pounding three times faster than usual.¡± Jiang Zhe manned up.

    ¡°Really? I don''t believe it!¡± Yu Xiang''s smile grew even more charming.

    No longer the young man he used to be; Jiang Zhe could understand the ambiguous meaning hidden

    in her words.

    He had not seen her for many years, but she suddenly asked him out that day and acted overly friendly

    with him.

    Jiang Zhe was willing to believe that it was because of their friendship, but he had to consider other

    factors as well.

    Therefore, he yed along with her while still keeping to his boundaries.

    ¡°How can I make you believe it?¡± Jiang Zhe asked, smirking.

    ¡°If you let me listen to it, I will believe it,¡± replied Yu Xiang.

    Jiang Zhe smiled and said nothing.

    ¡°What? Are you afraid that I''ll eat you or something?¡± Yu Xiang continued to flirt with him.

    ¡°No, of course not. You can listen to it.¡± Jiang Zhe spread his arms.

    Although he wasn''t someone who liked to mess around, he could not act too cowardly in front of girls

    either.

    In response, Yu Xiang actually leaned over and ced her ear against his chest to listen to his

    heartbeat.

    A faint fragrance filled Jiang Zhe''s nostrils, making his heart skip a beat.

    His childhood crush was right before him. For a second, he wanted to reach out and hug her.

    He moved his hand a little before he finally decided to hold back.

    As everything was happening too fast and too suddenly, it was impossible for the usually smart Jiang

    Zhe to not suspect anything.

    After all, when something was too good to be true, it was either a scheme or a trap.

    Since he wasn''t an average Joe, Jiang Zhe would not fall into other people''s traps easily. Otherwise, he

    would not have been Nan Chen''s assistant.

 Chapter 708

    Chapter 708

    Jiang Zhe''s phone rang after he had a few sses.

    He stood up to answer the phone call. Upon hanging up, he came back to tell Yu Xiang apologetically

    that his boss wanted him to work overtime, so he had to leave.

    Yu Xiang wasn''t pleased. ¡°Why do you have to work at this hour? Don''t you think your boss is being too

    harsh to you?¡±

    Jiang Zhe shed a helpless smile and answered, ¡°There''s nothing I can do about it. My boss is also

    working overtime himself. He''s a workaholic.¡±

    ¡°That''s his problem. No matter how much he likes to work, he has no right to ask others to work

    overtime just to keep himpany,¡± Yu Xiang grumbled.

    ¡°Yu Xiang, the job market is sopetitive now. It''s not easy to get a job nowadays. I have no choice

    but to work overtime.¡± Jiang Zhe smiled bitterly.

    ¡°So? Are you just going to leave me here?¡± Yu Xiang asked coquettishly.

    ¡°I''m sorry...¡±

    ¡°Promise me you''ll buy me a meal tomorrow. Otherwise, I''m not letting you leave!¡±

    ¡°Okay. I''ll get back to you on that tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°No! I want you to promise me now,¡± Yu Xiang purred.

    ¡°All right, I promise you. If nothinges up tomorrow, I''ll definitely buy you a meal.¡±

    ¡°That''s more like it!¡± Yu Xiang was ted.

    By the time Jiang Zhe arrived at the office, it was already half past ten at night.

    The moment Jiang Zhe entered, Nan Chen frowned when he detected the stench of alcohol on his

    body.

    In truth, Jiang Zhe didn''t drink much, but he just wasn''t that good of a drinker. He had a low alcohol

    tolerance as well.

    ¡°I was out with friends and had a few sses.¡± Jiang Zhe told the truth before Nan Chen even had the

    chance to question him.

    Nan Chen was well aware of Jiang Zhe''s alcohol tolerance because he would asionally ask him to

    drink on his behalf.

    Whenever Jiang Zhe was told to do so, he never hesitated. In fact, he was rather enthusiastic. One

    would think that Jiang Zhe was a good drinker, but he would always get drunk easily.

    Most of the time, Jiang Zhe had good self-control, and Nan Chen knew about it.

    ¡°When was thest time you drank?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Last year,¡± Jiang Zhe answered honestly.

    ¡°Did you drink tonight because you were celebrating? Or did you find a girl you like?¡±

    Nan Chen hit the nail on the head, but Jiang Zhe wasn''t surprised. After all, he knew how smart his

    boss was.

    They knew each other inside out because they spent a lot of time working together.

    ¡°Yes. I met a girl,¡± Jiang Zhe admitted.

    ¡°Is her name Yu Xiang?¡± Nan Chen queried.

    Jiang Zhe was so stunned that he was staring nkly at Nan Chen with his mouth open.

    ¡°Don''t worry. I''m not invading your privacy. It just so happens that the club you went to belongs to my

    friend. My friend knows you''re a cautious person, so his curiosity was piqued when he suddenly saw

    you showing up at the club with a beautiful girl. He ended up taking a photo of you guys and sent it to

    me. Well, I got curious too, so I got someone to look into the girl. At first, I thought it was going to take

    me a long time to find out who she was. To my surprise, that wasn''t the case. She''s Yu Xiang, the

    senior manager of the real estate department of Sunshine Group who just took office. I got you here

    because I think you should know that she''s ourpetitor''s executive. If you think what I''ve done is

    wrong, you can return to your drinking session,¡± Nan Chen said tly.

    Jiang Zhe broke out into a cold sweat. That was our first date, and we convenientlynded in a club

    owned by Boss'' friend. Isn''t this too much of a coincidence? What if we hadn''t gone to a club? What if

    we were to go to a restaurant or a bar? Would those businesses belong to Boss'' friends as well?

    Even if it wasn''t a sheer coincidence, there was nothing Jiang Zhe could say about it because he was

    Nan Chen''s right-hand man and one of the key figures of Nanshi Corporation.

    It was only right for Nan Chen to monitor both Jiang Zhe''s work life and private life.

    If something were to happen to Jiang Zhe, Nanshi Corporation would definitely suffer losses.

    One of the key factors Ouyang Duo lost everything when he thought he had everything under control

    was because Nan Zhengde had sent a spy to spy on him.

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Obviously, Nan Chen wouldn''t want to have a spy spying on him. That was why he had to investigate

    everyone close to him.

    In other words, whoever wanted to be a high-ranking employee would have to ept the fact that they

    would be investigated.

    Still, Jiang Zhe was stunned by how fast Nan Chen had gotten the information he needed. Yu Xiang

    and I only came into contact two days ago, and we''ve only met today!

    ¡°She told me she was working in Archulea. So she lied to me?¡±

    ¡°No. She didn''t exactly lie to you either. She did just transfer back from Archulea,¡± Nan Chen answered.

    ¡°I''ve been thinking that there must be a reason behind her sudden appearance, but I didn''t expect this

    to be the case.¡± Jiang Zhe couldn''t help feeling dejected.

    After all, Yu Xiang was his crush when he was younger. We reunited after so many years, and it turns

    out that she has ulterior motives for approaching me. This sucks!

    ¡°Do you know why she approached you?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Well, what else if not the bidding war for the project on Serenity Street?¡±

    Nan Chen nodded slightly. Jiang Zhe has never disappointed me. Indeed, he''s so smart that I don''t

    even need to give him hints.

    ¡°Although she''s from Sunshine Corporation and she''s one of the people in charge of the project, she''s

    still your friend. Without proof, I could be jumping to the conclusion by saying that''s the motive behind

    her approaching you. You can''t make an enemy out of her just because she''s working for our

    competitor. That won''t be fair to her,¡± Nan Chen uttered.

    Jiang Zhe shot Nan Chen a grateful nce and replied, ¡°I appreciate it, but she contacted me out of the

    blue. She must''ve approached me because of the project. But don''t worry. I won''t give her the chance

    to jeopardize us even if you don''t remind me.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded. He trusted Jiang Zhe entirely.

    ¡°Still, I would like to try something,¡± Jiang Zhe said.

    Jiang Zhe''s words were ambiguous, but Nan Chen seemed to have understood what he meant. ¡°Are

    you sure?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I want to try it out.¡±

    Nan Chen merely narrowed his eyes and kept mum.

    Just then, Jiang Zhe received a text on his phone.

    Yu Xiang texted: Are you still busy? I think I miss you.

    Jiang Zhe replied: You are?

    Yu Xiang replied: Of course! It was very nice seeing you today. When I saw you, it felt as though we

    were meeting each other for the first time. You''re still the amazing young man from back then.

    Jiang Zhe was saddened when he saw the text. I''m no longer the young man you used to know, and

    you''re also no longer the person I used to know. No one can turn back time. Everything from the past

    should stay in the past.

    ¡°Did she look for you again?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Jiang Zhe answered truthfully.

    ¡°Maybe you should forget about it. She seems important to you.¡±

    ¡°No. I would still like to try it out. There are some important things that no longer matter once you get

    them or see things clearly.¡±

    ¡°That''s true. More often than not, the things we find important are just our obsessions.¡±

 Chapter 709

    Chapter 709

    Jiang Zhe met up with Yu Xiang again the next evening.

    They went out for dinner before catching a movie together.

    After the movie, Yu Xiang told Jiang Zhe she had a bottle of fine wine at home, so she ended up

    bringing him back to a hotel room she rented long-term.

    True enough, it was a bottle of fine wine. Although Jiang Zhe had a low tolerance for alcohol, he could

    tell how good the wine was.

    ¡°Is this where you stay permanently?¡± Jiang Zhe asked.

    ¡°Yes. I don''t have a house in Flower City. If I don''t stay here, are you going to take me in?¡± Yu Xiang

    laughed.

    ¡°If you don''t mind staying with me, I''ll think about it.¡± Jiang Zhe smiled.

    ¡°Take me in, then. What''s there to think about?¡± Yu Xiang said flirtatiously.

    Jiang Zhe felt his heart skip a beat. He quickly took a deep breath to calm himself down.

    Everyone knew how easily men would fall for a woman''s beauty. In Jiang Zhe''s case, the temptation

    was strong because not only was the woman before him beautiful, but she was also once his crush.

    It''s always tough to give up on love from the past.

    However, Jiang Zhe stood strong and didn''t falter.

    ¡°Yu Xiang, when are you going back to Archulea?¡± he asked with a smile.

    ¡°What''s the matter? Are you chasing me away? Just a few seconds ago, you said you would consider

    taking me in, no? How could you change your mind so quickly? Are you that unreliable?¡± Yu Xiang

    grumbled coyly.

    ¡°I wouldn''t dare to chase you away. Besides, I don''t have the right to do so.¡±

    ¡°Keep me, then, and I won''t leave,¡± Yu Xiang continued flirting in response.

    ¡°Okay, then. Don''t go, Yu Xiang. Stay here.¡± Jiang Zhe realized he sort of meant it from the bottom of

    his heart when he said that.

    Although he was suspecting Yu Xiang, he was still hoping she could stay because he enjoyed eating,

    watching a movie, and hanging out with her. This may be wrong, but I truly enjoy herpany.

    ¡°Okay, then. I''ll stay. Are you going to provide for me and take care of me?¡± Yu Xiangughed.

    Jiang Zhe didn''t dare to make such promises because he was a man of his word.

    ¡°Just call me Xiang Xiang from now on. It sounds more intimate. If you keep calling me by my name,

    you''ll make me feel old,¡± Yu Xiang added.

    Jiang Zhe merely smiled and replied, ¡°You''re not old. You''re still as young and as beautiful as always.¡±

    He meant every word he said.

    ¡°Oh, right! I have a present for you.¡± Yu Xiang picked up her purse and whipped out a box.

    ¡°Here you go. Open it.¡± Yu Xiang gave the box to Jiang Zhe.

    Jiang Zhe took the box and opened it to find a smartwatch inside.

    Yu Xiang leaned toward Jiang Zhe and took off his Rolex on his wrist.

    ¡°I know you''re a sessful man, and you''re wearing your Rolex as a sign of status. But I want you to

    be healthy, so a smartwatch suits you better. Not only can it show you health-rted indicators on your

    body, but it can also give early warnings so that you''ll pay attention to your health. So... wear this and

    I''m taking your Rolex.¡±

    With that, she put on the smartwatch for Jiang Zhe without asking for his permission.

    After that, she kept Jiang Zhe''s Rolex in her purse and said, ¡°I''ll keep your Rolex safe. One day, if you

    want it back, I''ll pass it back to you. In the meantime, wear the one I just gave you.¡±

    Jiang Zhe checked the watch out and liked it. This looks nice. I like the design and the color.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Okay. I''ll wear it.¡± Jiang Zhe epted the watch.

    Yu Xiang beamed upon seeing that.

    They chatted for a while more before Jiang Zhe stood up and excused himself.

    Yu Xiang didn''t ask him to stay either. It seemed as though neither of them wanted to spend the night

    with the other.

    Jiang Zhe exited the hotel and got into a ck Mercedes Benz.

    The driver, who was in a ck suit, turned toward Jiang Zhe to see Jiang Zhe pointing at the

    smartwatch he was wearing.

    The driver nodded in understanding. ¡°You had quite a few sses, didn''t you, Assistant Jiang? You

    seem to be in a good mood.¡±

    ¡°Yes. I had a great time catching up with an old friend,¡± Jiang Zhe responded.

    ¡°Is she your girlfriend or an ex-girlfriend?¡±

    ¡°Neither of that.¡± Jiang Zheughed.

    ¡°By the way, Mr. Chen told me to tell you that there''ll be a meeting with the project team tomorrow

    morning, Assistant Jiang. The bidding on the Serenity Street project will be discussed during the

    meeting. He''s hoping for you to be there.¡±

    ¡°Okay. Got it.¡± Jiang Zhe nodded.

    Two dayster, the bidding event for the project on Serenity Street was held.

    That was the first time Nan Chen had met Ouyang Li in person. She was so average-looking that he

    didn''t bother to spare her a second nce.

    On the other hand, Ouyang Li was utterly mesmerized when she saw Nan Chen.

    Although their families were close, Ouyang Li had always been overlooked in the Ouyang family. She

    was seldom required to attend social events.

    Despite the fact that Nan Chen and Ouyang Qing were close, Ouyang Li had only seen him a few times

    before, and thest time she had seen him was many years ago.

    Ouyang Li wasn''t impressed when Ouyang Qing fell for Nan Chen and started pursuing him.

    She never cared about how good-looking a man was. In her opinion, a person''s physical appearance

    was trivial.

    Perhaps that was why she wasn''t that much of a looker. She always thought that a person''s

    appearance could never determine their worth.

    She once thought Ouyang Qing was an idiot for falling so hard for a good-looking man.

    However, when she saw Nan Chen that day, she was stunned.

    Needless to say, a person would never understand something without seeing it with their own eyes.

    Although Ouyang Li knew Nan Chen was good-looking, it was merely an image in her mind.

    When she finally saw him that day, she eventually found out how captivating he could be.

    In other words, nothing could beat seeing him with her own eyes. How can a man possibly look so

    good when he''s just sitting there? It''s like other men around here have just vanished all of a sudden.

    Indeed, the ce was filled with men in suits, but Nan Chen stood out from all his peers.

    Ouyang Li finally understood why Ouyang Qing was so desperate to marry Nan Chen.

    ¡°Ms. Ouyang, this way please,¡± her assistant uttered.

    ¡°Oh, okay.¡±

    Ouyang Li and Nan Chen both sat in the first row, but they were five seats apart.

    When Ouyang Li threw another nce at him, she saw him staring at his phone as if there was no one

    else around.

    Nan Chen did not n to attend the bidding event, but the relevant leader had called him earlier and

    urged him to show up. That way, the media outlets could take photos of him. Subsequently, the public

    would think that Flower City regarded the old town project with great importance.

    That was why the people sitting next to Nan Chen that day were all the leaders of the relevant

    departments.

    There were a lot of reporters at the event, and they couldn''t stop taking photos of Nan Chen, who kept

    scrolling through his emails expressionlessly.

    Right then, Nan Chen received a call from Erbao.

    He stood up, nodded at the leaders next to him, and walked toward the restroom.

    ¡°What is it, Erbao?¡± Nan Chen asked gently.

    ¡°Are you at work, Daddy?¡±

    ¡°I am, but it''s okay. I''m listening.¡±

    ¡°It''s nothing, actually. I miss you, Daddy. I just wanted to hear your voice.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I see. Have you eaten?¡±

    ¡°I have, but I''m not full yet. Mommy told me to eat less because my tummy is bulging.¡±

    ¡°Don''t listen to your mommy. Just eat however much you want.¡± Nan Chen smiled.

 Chapter 710

    Chapter 710

    After Nan Chen ended the call with Erbao, he turned around and saw an ordinary-looking woman in a

    regr outfit observing him from afar.

    Since Nan Chen wasn''t familiar with her, he couldn''t be bothered to greet her. Hence, he started

    walking away, for the bid was starting soon.

    However, Ouyang Li blocked his path. ¡°Are you Nan Chen?¡±

    It was obvious that she already knew the answer to her question. After all, it was impossible for her not

    to know him.

    Well aware of this, Nan Chen ignored her and got ready to walk around her.

    Yet, Ouyang Li stopped him in his tracks again. ¡°I''m asking you a question. Are you Nan Chen?¡±

    Nan Chen responded impatiently, ¡°I am. What do you want?¡±

    ¡°So, you''re the one who got my dad killed?¡± Ouyang Li asked.

    Nan Chen wasn''t interested in answering the dull question at all. It was Ouyang Duo who wanted to

    harm the Nan family first. It was his failure that resulted in the current oue. How can Ouyang Li not

    know about this?

    ¡°I don''t know you, and I don''t know your dad as well. It''spletely pointless for us to interact as I

    know nothing about this matter. Please step aside, or I''m going to have to call the guards.¡± Nan Chen

    was polite enough to ask Ouyang Li to move away instead of pushing her directly.

    ¡°Nan Chen, my dad died because of you. I will avenge my dad and make your family pay for your sins.

    I want you to suffer ten times more than my dad!¡± Ouyang Li threatened.

    Nan Chen continued to ignore her and said nothing while remaining indifferent.

    Just then, a stylish and beautiful woman walked toward them. It was Yu Xiang. ¡°Ms. Ouyang, the

    auction has started. Please be seated now.¡±

    Nan Chen was still standing next to them. While Yu Xiang was speaking to Ouyang Li, she peeked at

    him for a split second before retracting her gaze.

    Yu Xiang felt slightly intimidated to look at Nan Chen because of his domineering aura.

    Ouyang Li waved her hand dismissively, signaling Yu Xiang to leave. She still had something to tell

    Nan Chen.

    Seeing this, Yu Xiang had no choice but to walk away. If she was being honest, she didn''t want Ouyang

    Li to interact with Nan Chen too much before the auction''s result was announced.

    After all, one was bound to have a slip of the tongue if one spoke too much. Yu Xiang thought they

    should justpete without excessive conversations.

    Unfortunately, Ouyang Li was the boss, and Yu Xiang couldn''t direct the former''s actions.

    As for Ouyang Li, she merely wanted to threaten Nan Chen and make her presence known, for she

    was pissed off after he looked down on her.

    However, she soon realized Nan Chen''s presence was causing her indescribable stress.

    All he did was stand there quietly, but it was already enough to stress Ouyang Li out. She felt inferior

    because of the pressure.

    It was a terrible feeling for Ouyang Li as she had never been taken seriously. Thus, she would be

    furious whenever someone underestimated her.

    Yet, Nan Chen was an arrogant person who always held his head high.

    Even when he was facing prominent figures, he would never bother to treat them with much respect, let

    alone Ouyang Li.

    In a way, Ouyang Li brought trouble upon herself.

    Nheless, she refused to ept this. She wanted Nan Chen to look her straight in the eye, talk to

    her, and remember her.

    Yet, Nan Chen didn''t take her seriously at all. Not only did he not argue with her, but he also didn''t

    spare her a proper nce.

    After the minute-long confrontation, the auction officially began when the host went on the stage.

    Ouyang Li had no choice but to sit down at her designated seat.

    This bidding session wasn''t like the others, where the person with the highest bid would win thend.

    Since Serenity Street was an old street in Flower City, it represented the prosperity Flower City once

    achieved. Other than that, there were also some ancient buildings on the street, which were meaningful

    to Flower City.

    Hence, this wasn''t a project wherepanies could simply demolish everything and rebuild the street.

    Some buildings could be removed and reconstructedpletely, but some must be maintained in their

    original state, and only certain parts could be reformed or slightly adjusted. There must be a bnce

    between the city''s development and preserving the street''s history.

    All this must be achieved through skillful nning. Precise decisions must be made on which buildings

    to demolish, keep, modify, and rearrange.

    In addition to offering a price for the bidding, thepany must prepare a detailed proposal.

    After the proposals were collected and handed to the rted departments, a team of evaluation experts

    from all around the world would grade each idea. Subsequently, a winner would be chosen.

    The presentation sequence was already decided previously by drawing lots. Thepany under

    Nanshi Corporation would be thest to present the proposal.

    To Ouyang Li, that day was her time to shine, as she already knew most of the content in Nanshi

    Corporation''s proposition for the tender.

    A week ago, Yu Xiang, who had always been staying at Archulea, suddenly called Sunshine

    Corporation''s new CEO. She stated she was a former ssmate of Nanshi Corporation''s owner''s

    assistant, and that she could be a useful addition to thepany.

    After assessing Yu Xiang''s words, Ouyang Li thought she made sense, and her n was worth a try.

    Thus, Yu Xiang arrived in Flower City and became an important person in charge of this project.

    Not only that, but Ouyang Li also promised Yu Xiang that thetter would be promoted to deputy CEO if

    this project could be aplished.

    Soon, Yu Xiang lived up to Ouyang Li''s expectations. Yu Xiang invited Jiang Zhe out on a date and got

    into a rtionship with the man sessfully.

    Next, Yu Xiang gifted a customized watch with a location tracker and a listening device installed.

    When Jiang Zhe wore the watch to attend a project meeting with the senior executives, the discussion

    was heard by Yu Xiang''s team.

    That way, Yu Xiang had basically taken control of Nanshi Corporation''s proposal. Once she found out

    about the idea and the price offered, all she had to do was to amend the n and lower the price.

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    With that, she could weaken the advantage held by the opponents.

    That was the reason why Ouyang Li was certain the victory would be hers. Now, she was merely

    waiting for Nan Chen and his team to be humiliated.

    The twopanies assigned by Sunshine Corporation were using collusive tendering against Nanshi

    Corporation.

    One of the teams would use a n designed by Sunshine Corporation, while the other would use the

    plot they overheard from Nanshi Corporation.

    With the attacks from both sides, it was impossible for Nanshi Corporation to win this auction.

    When Sunshine Corporation''s team was presenting the proposal to the experts, Ouyang Li nced at

    Nan Chen repeatedly.

    Yet, Nan Chen had never once raised his head. His gaze was fixated on the tablet in his hands while

    he moved his fingers around the screen asionally. He seemed to be busy with work.

    It was as if what others said was none of his business at all.

    Even when Ouyang Li''s subordinates were presenting an idea simr to Nanshi Corporation''s, Nan

    Chen didn''t look remotely surprised.

    Seeing that, Ouyang Li started to panic. How can this man be so calm? Could it be that he wasn''t

    involved in the nning process, so he knew nothing about it? But that''s impossible. Nan Chen is the

    CEO, after all. This is a significant project, and he''s even attending the bidding personally. He definitely

    cares about this project!

    Although Ouyang Li felt anxious, she still tried to reassure herself. He''s probably just pretending to be

    calm. I shouldn''t be worried about it. There''s nothing to worry about.

    Finally, it was Nanshi Corporation''s turn to present the proposal to the experts.

    Ouyang Li and Yu Xiang exchanged nces and smiled.

    Nanshi Corporation''s solution had been modified and used by Ouyang Li''spany. If Nanshi

    Corporation repeated the same proposal, Ouyang Li would immediately object to the idea and use

    them of giarism.

    Unexpectedly, Nanshi Corporation''s person in charge presented a different solution than what Ouyang

    Li knew.

    Not only was it a distinct idea, but the thought process of the idea was a stark contrast to what Ouyang

    Li discovered beforehand. No one would ever associate the two concepts together.

 Chapter 711

    Chapter 711

    The proposal presented by Nanshi Corporation was entirely different from what Ouyang Li and the

    others had heard from eavesdropping.

    This proposal sounded more sophisticated, intricate, and logical.

    When they talked about Serenity Street''s promising future, they even received cheers from the

    audience.

    After everyone had presented their proposal, the next step was to wait for the expert panel''s discussion

    and announcement of the results in the afternoon.

    Even though the results had not yet been announced, everyone already knew that Nanshi Corporation

    would win.

    Ouyang Li red at Yu Xiang, and thetter''s face turned pale.

    She seemed to know what went wrong, but she was not certain.

    Initially, Ouyang Li wanted to mock Nan Chen after winning the bid, but given how things had turned

    out, she would no longer have the chance to do so.

    Nan Chen ignored her the entire time and did not show even the tiniest hint ofcency.

    He seemed to have gone there solely to watch a show and was unconcerned about the oue.

    Or maybe there was no surprise or expectation because he already knew what would happen. He was

    confident that his team could manage everything.

    Hence, when the event was over, he shook hands with the authorities present and left.

    Ouyang Li stood up but almost lost her bnce. Seeing that, Yu Xiang quickly reached out to support

    her boss.

    Yet, Ouyang Li pped Yu Xiang''s hand away and stared at her with hatred in her eyes.

    As Ouyang Li walked out of the door, a man in ck ran into her and swiftly stuffed a small listening

    device into her bag.

    ording to the original n, Ouyang Li was supposed to eat lunch with Yu Xiang during the lunch

    break and find a ce to rest for a while before returning to the venue to await the result

    announcement.

    Then, she would be interviewed by reporters as the winner to prove that she had solidified her position

    within thepany.

    Unfortunately, things were bad for her now.

    It was highly likely that Nanshi Corporation would be selected for the project, despite the fact that the

    results had not yet been made public.

    It would be pointless to be interviewed if she were the loser.

    Nobody wanted to be pped in the face, and she was not a masochist.

    ¡°Ms. Ouyang, I find this to be quite odd,¡± stated Yu Xiang weakly.

    ¡°What''s so strange? The n you got was fake! Didn''t you say you took care of Jiang Zhe? Didn''t you

    say you had total control over his actions? In reality, you have no control over his actions. Instead, they

    haveplete control over your actions! They deceived you with a fake n, and you still have the

    audacity to speak?¡± Ouyang Li bellowed.

    Yu Xiang dared not say anything in response to Ouyang Li''s criticism.

    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    However, even if she remained silent, Ouyang Li would not let this go.

    ¡°Since you''re in charge of this matter, you''re ountable for it. Go back to Archulea. No. Go to

    Alendor. Stay as far away from me as you can. Also, there will be no year-end bonus for you. You''re

    free to resign if you''re not satisfied!¡±

    Ouyang Li was still enraged and continued to yell at Yu Xiang.

    Yu Xiang was also exasperated, but she could not do anything.

    Although she had never intended this to happen, she was ultimately to me.

    ¡°Ms. Ouyang, even if we weren''t sessful in getting this project, there are still other projects that are

    waiting for us. Furthermore, we''re still unsure of the cause of this. I think it''s unfair that I have to take on

    this responsibility before we find out the truth,¡± Yu Xiang remarked.

    Ouyang Li became even angrier when she heard that. ¡°Unfair? Tell me then. What do you think I should

    do to be fair? Should I not hold you ountable for this? Should I just give you a promotion and even

    increase your pay? You were the one who imed you had control over Jiang Zhe, but now that things

    have turned out this way, you''re not willing to take responsibility?¡±

    Yu Xiang quickly shook her head in resignation. ¡°Of course, I''m willing to take responsibility if Jiang Zhe

    is the problem, but what if that''s not the case?¡±

    ¡°If it''s not your fault, who do you believe should be med? Is it my fault?¡± Ouyang Li questioned.

    ¡°It''s possible that Nanshi Corporation learned about our n and revised their proposal at thest

    minute. If so, who on earth would have leaked our n? Could there be spies among us?¡± asked Yu

    Xiang.

    ¡°You''re still trying to make excuses, huh?¡± Ouyang Li grew angrier.

    ¡°Ms. Ouyang, please calm down. I''m not making any excuses. I''m perfectly fine with it if you want to fire

    me. After all, I do have to take responsibility for this situation. However, if there''s a spy on our team,

    your movements will most likely be known to your opponents in the future. Your business ns may

    also be exposed. Isn''t that horrifying? Furthermore, you''ve said that Mr. Ouyang became that way

    because the Nan family nted a spy around him. What if the Nan family has more than one spy? Is

    there really no chance of that happening?¡±

    Yu Xiang''s words enlightened Ouyang Li. After some consideration, she concluded that what Yu Xiang

    said made sense.

    ¡°What should we do then?¡± Ouyang Li inquired.

    ¡°Please give me some time to investigate this matter,¡± replied Yu Xiang.

    ¡°How are you going to conduct your investigation? Are you nning to meet everyone in thepany

    and go over each one individually?¡±

    ¡°That''s not necessary. I think¡ª¡±

    Before Yu Xiang could finish speaking, Ouyang Li''s phone rang.

    Ouyang Li reached into her bag and felt something hard that was shaped like a button.

    There should not be such a thing in her bag, so she took it out.

    Yu Xiang recognized the object and immediately eximed, ¡°This is a listening device!¡±

    Hearing that, Ouyang Li was shocked. ¡°A listening device?¡±

    ¡°Yes! This must be a listening device!¡±mented Yu Xiang.

    ¡°Who put this inside my bag? When was it ced?¡±

    ¡°It''s hard to say. If it was ced inside your bag a long time ago, the other party must have heard the

    details of our meeting,¡± Yu Xiang hurriedly responded.

    Ouyang Li was not stupid. Naturally, she understood what Yu Xiang was trying to say.

    ¡°Are you implying that I''m the one who leaked the n? So I''m to me?¡±

    ¡°That''s not what I mean, but we can''t rule that possibility out. At the very least, it shows that there''s a

    spy in our team, and the Nan family sent the spy. If we don''t figure out who the spy is, we''ll never be

    able to win against the Nan family. We don''t even know how many listening devices have been ced

    around you. It''s also possible that they''re spying on your personal life, and that is terrifying!¡±

    Ouyang Li fell silent.

    Although she was a strong-minded woman, she was the type to question her abilities when she felt

    defeated.

    People who were doubting themselves were the easiest to fool, and Yu Xiang happened to be a master

    at tricking.

    She knew she had to persuade Ouyang Li to continue trusting her.

    As a woman, she had an advantage over men when it came to getting close to Ouyang Li. Therefore, it

    was easier for her to win Ouyang Li''s trust.

    Now that things were in a mess, she needed to find a way to fix it as soon as possible to ensure that

    she could get closer to the core of Sunshine Corporation.

    ¡°Don''t worry, Ms. Ouyang. I''ll get to the bottom of this,¡± Yu Xiang promised.

    ¡°Fine. I''ll give you another chance.¡± In the end, Ouyang Li was persuaded.

 Chapter 712

    Chapter 712

    At three in the afternoon, Jiang Zhe entered Nan Chen''s office at Nanshi Corporation.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, the bidding result is out. We won,¡± he reported.

    Nan Chen merely hummed in response without showing any signs of surprise.

    However, Jiang Zhe did not leave after delivering the news.

    Nan Chen raised his head and asked, ¡°Is there anything else?¡±

    ¡°Oh, nothing,¡± Jiang Zhe answered, though he remained in his spot.

    Putting down the documents in his hand, Nan Chen stared at Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°I thought you had some orders to give me,¡± Jiang Zhe exined a little nervously.

    ¡°Yu Xiang deceived you first before you used her and disrupted their n. You don''t have to feel bad

    about this.¡±

    Jiang Zhe was grateful that Nan Chen took the time to talk to him about this matter.

    After all, Nan Chen was the boss. This was a trivial matter that he didn''t have to be concerned about.

    ¡°But I...¡±

    ¡°Are you worried that she will be punished by Ouyang Li or even lose her job because of her failure?¡±

    ¡°Yes. That''s why I did something to protect her,¡± Jiang Zhe confessed.

    ¡°So that''s why you won''t leave¡ªyou want to tell me that you did something for her. Well, this is your

    personal business, so there''s no need to tell me about it.¡±

    ¡°As long as it involves work, I believe there is a need to let you know,¡± insisted Jiang Zhe.

    He was smart enough to make everything clear to avoid any misunderstandings.

    Jiang Zhe was well aware of how capable the corporation''s security department was; it was their

    specialty to dig up bribery cases and under-the-table agreements.

    Rather than having them notice anything suspicious, it was better for Jiang Zhe to admit what he did in

    case someone used it against him.

    As Nan Chen''s trusted subordinate, Jiang Zhe had a very high status in Nanshi Corporation.

    Naturally, he also had the power to mobilize many resources.

    Although people woulde to him for help, he rarely granted their requests.

    Among those were some executives of thepany, so naturally, they were offended.

    Jiang Zhe knew someone was surely waiting for a chance to get rid of him, but he just didn''t know who.

    Thus, he had to protect himself and not allow anyone to get dirt on him.

    If that actually happened, there was no guarantee that Nan Chen would help him.

    Even if Nan Chen did, he would also be affected negatively.

    That was not what Jiang Zhe wanted to happen. He was there by Nan Chen''s side to assist thetter,

    not to bring trouble.

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    On the other hand, things would be more difficult if Nan Chen chose not to save him.

    Jiang Zhe would be kicked out of thepany, which would be disastrous for him.

    He was the assistant of Nan Chen, an executive of the most influentialpany in Flower City.

    If Jiang Zhe got fired from Nanshi Corporation for unpleasant reasons, no one else would dare to hire

    him.

    Because of that, Jiang Zhe had always been very cautious with everything he did.

    Nan Chen knew that very well too, which was why he was willing to listen to what Jiang Zhe had to say.

    ¡°I had someone ce a listening device in Ouyang Li''s bag,¡± Jiang Zhe stated.

    ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Nan Chen nodded.

    ¡°That''s all.¡±

    Nan Chen hummed in acknowledgment once more.

    He was a shrewd man. All Jiang Zhe had to do was tell him the most important information, and he

    would understand Jiang Zhe''s intentions without any exnations needed.

    One of Jiang Zhe''s goals was to distract Ouyang Li and sow discord among her group.

    That way, Yu Xiang would be safe in the meantime.

    Moreover, the internal dispute of the other party would be of help to Nanshi Corporation.

    Since Jiang Zhe technically didn''t do anything wrong, there was actually no need for him to tell Nan

    Chen about this.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, I would like to ask you something,¡± Jiang Zhe suddenly said.

    At that, Nan Chen raised his head again. Why does he have so much to say today?

    ¡°Go on.¡±

    ¡°I don''t think I hate Yu Xiang. In fact, I want to see her again.¡±

    Surprised, Nan Chen put down the papers once again and looked at Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°I like her. Actually, I like her a lot. I don''t know what I should do, so I want to ask you for some advice.¡±

    Nan Chen did not respond for a while.

    He wanted to tell Jiang Zhe that he wasn''t good at handling romantic rtionships either since he

    rarely spent time with women. Basically, Jiang Zhe had chosen the wrong person to consult with.

    However, there was no way the arrogant Nan Chen would admit he had any weaknesses.

    Even though it was just about rtionships, he would never admit that he wasn''t good at it.

    Besides, he found it amusing that someone would actually ask for his input in this matter.

    It was something he had never experienced.

    ¡°You want to hear my advice?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Just do what you want to do.¡±

    Though it was a piece of good advice, it didn''t answer the question at all.

    It seemed more like he was teaching Jiang Zhe about life instead.

    Life is short. If there''s anything he wants to do, then he should do it. What''s there to hesitate about?

    Surprisingly, Jiang Zhe felt encouraged by his answer. ¡°I can keep seeing her?¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡± Nan Chen questioned in return.

    Jiang Zhe was still quite uncertain. ¡°Well, she attempted to use me and steal our business secrets.

    Wait, no. She didn''t just attempt; she actually did. Can I still meet her in that case?¡±

    ¡°She''s the employee and representative of anotherpany. What''s wrong with her trying to seek

    benefits for herpany? Although the method she used was somewhat underhanded, there are tons

    of people in this world who do that. She''s just one of them. If you expect her to have good morals and

    do not want to meet her because you think there''s something wrong with her character, then don''t. But

    if you still wish to meet her right now, feel free to do so.¡±

    After saying that, Nan Chen lowered his head and went on with his work.

    It seemed that he had no intentions of dwelling on the topic.

    In the first ce, he was not an expert in rtionship matters. It was already impressive enough that he

    coulde up with those words.

    ¡°I understand now, Mr. Chen. Thank you,¡± Jiang Zhe expressed gratefully.

    Waving his hand, Nan Chen signaled the man to leave.

    When Jiang Zhe reached the door, he turned around and uttered, ¡°Mr. Chen, I won''t let her use me

    anymore. I won''t allow my personal feelings to harm thepany''s interests. I promise!¡±

    Once again, Nan Chen motioned to Jiang Zhe to shut up and leave.

    Only then did Jiang Zhe open the door and walk out.

    At that moment, his phone rang. It was a call from Yu Xiang.

    He took a deep breath topose himself before taking the call.

    On the other end of the line, Yu Xiang sounded very calm. She did not yell at him nor use him.

    Instead, she asked if he had time for dinnerter.

    With Nan Chen backing him, Jiang Zhe was confident. He agreed to meet Yu Xiang without hesitation.

 Chapter 713

    Chapter 713

    At a particr club in Livingsfill, Ding Fei tossed a ss at Huang Zichao the moment he entered the

    room.

    The ss smashed against his body as he failed to dodge it, and the wine in the drinking vessel

    stained a big part of his white suit.

    ¡°How could you do such a thing? What on earth is wrong with you?¡± Huang Zichao roared.

    Ding Fei walked up to him, wanting to give his cheek a tight p.

    This time, Huang Zichao managed to dodge the assault. He even grabbed hold of her wrist.

    ¡°How dare you ask me that? Why don''t you ask yourself what you did?¡± Ding Fei bellowed in response.

    Huang Zichao swung her hand away and said, ¡°Don''t cross the line, Ding Fei. Try pushing my buttons,

    and I''ll¡ª¡±

    ¡°What will you do? Are you going to bite me for pushing your buttons? Go on and bite me! Do it now!¡±

    Ding Fei challenged him.

    Instead of retaliating, Huang Zichao kept mum and gave her a murderous stare.

    ¡°Tell me why you canceled that interview!¡± Ding Fei questioned him in anger.

    ¡°Because I''m not feeling well. For your information, I didn''t just cancel that interview. I put my entire

    schedule on hold because I need to rest,¡± Huang Zichao exined.

    ¡°But why now when you have ample time to rest on other days? I bet you''re doing this to protect Ning

    Ran. You canceled the program because of her, right?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Huang Zichao denied.

    ¡°Then tell me¡ªwhat''s wrong with your body? You seem fine to me. Stop pretending like you''re ill!¡±

    He replied, ¡°I''m not pretending. I''m honestly not feeling well. Besides experiencing severe insomnia, I

    look ashen-faced and nearly fainted a few times. You can talk to my manager to find out more if you

    don''t trust me. I didn''t lie to you.¡±

    ¡°You''re losing sleep because I found out you had once dumped a girl named Li Xin, no? You can''t sleep

    because you''re scared, right?¡±

    The color drained out of Huang Zichao''s face, but he remained silent.

    ¡°Are you not worried that I might expose you to tarnish your reputation? I bet you''ll suffer more than just

    insomnia!¡± Ding Fei threatened indifferently.

    ¡°Let''s not make things worse, shall we? Give me some time to recover. I''ll proceed with the interview

    when I feel better and do as you said. But you need to stop pressuring me.¡±

    There was no point in forcing Huang Zichao to do things her way, as Ding Fei knew he would not

    sumb to her threats.

    She would not be able to take Ning Ran down had she destroyed Huang Zichao. I can easily swap him

    out with another actor and continue with the filming. But this doesn''t change the fact that Ning Ran will

    still be the female lead.

    That was not Ding Fei''s aim. She wanted to destroy Ning Ran, not Huang Zichao. I can''t push him too

    hard, even if he refuses to cooperate. He''lle in handy when I need him in the future.

    ¡°Are you willing to do the interview if we keep Ning Ran out of the picture?¡± Ding Fei shot another

    question.

    After a brief hesitation, Huang Zichao answered, ¡°I told you I''m under the weather. I''ll do the interview

    when I feel better.¡±

    ¡°I''ll give you a week then. You must do the interview after that. Don''t worry. I won''t force you to take

    Ning Ran with you. But you must take me along,¡± Ding Fei said.

    ¡°You?¡± Huang Zichao could not believe his ears.

    ¡°Yeah. I''m in showbiz, and the show allows you to bring a friend from the industry. Why don''t you bring

    me since the producer didn''t specify who you can or cannot bring?¡± Ding Fei suggested.

    ¡°What tricks do you have up your sleeve now?¡± he asked.

    ¡°It''s none of your business. All you need to do is take me to the show.¡±

    ¡°But we''re just acquaintances. If I were to take you with me, I''m afraid¡ª¡±

    ¡°Just acquaintances? Come on. Do you want me to expose your scandal so that you''ll acknowledge

    how close we are?¡± Ding Fei said icily.

    ¡°How do you expect me to introduce you by then?¡±

    ¡°Tell them you befriended me when you were in Hollywood. Also, I consider myself a celebrity as I was

    a recipient of the Gold Dolphin''s Neer of the Year Award, even though I''m not as popr as you,¡±

    Ding Fei uttered.

    Huang Zichao was aware of this award and knew anyone could buy it from the film festival.

    The organizingmittee had even invited him to join the judging panel and present an award during

    the festival some time ago.

    He was unsure how much money was needed to secure an award, but he knew many of the country''s

    trending celebrities with zero acting skills would participate in this event and spend money on it.

    With the trophies in their hands, these celebrities could prove to the media that they werepetent

    actors.

    Though they did not have solid acting skills, the films they took part in were still feathers in their caps.

    Huang Zichao had neither seen nor heard of Ding Fei. How did she win the award?

    Upon noticing the doubt on his face, Ding Fei said, ¡°I''m telling you the truth, so you should just take my

    word for it. All you need to do is bring me along, and I don''t need them to pay me a single cent. Just

    make sure they carry out the interview well. I can even sponsor them to help cover some of their

    production costs.¡±

    That remark rendered Huang Zichao even more dumbfounded. I''ve never met a celebrity who doesn''t

    want to be paid and is willing to fork out money to be on a show!

    It was an eye opener for him.

    ¡°All right. I''ll discuss it with my managers and get them to talk to the producer,¡± he said.

    Ding Fei responded, ¡°Okay. Tell your managers to call off the interview if they refuse to let me appear

    on the show. Tell them to convey this clearly to the producer. Since you''re an award-winning actor, I''m

    sure they''ll meet your demands.¡±

    Meanwhile, at Flower City, Yu Xiang still could not help but feel awkward when she met Jiang Zhe.

    On the other hand, Jiang Zhe appeared as if he was unbothered by what had happened.

    ¡°Come, take a seat. Here''s the menu. Today''s meal is on me.¡± Jiang Zhe gave Yu Xiang the menu.

    Yu Xiang was not in the mood to order food. She shook her head and said, ¡°You go ahead. I''ll eat

    whatever you order.¡±

    ¡°Come on, Yu Xiang. I don''t know your preference. You should order your favorite dishes,¡± Jiang Zhe

    said.

    Yu Xiang nced at the watch on Jiang Zhe''s wrist. It''s the watch I gave him¡ªthe one with a tapping

    device.

    Before this, she had always thought she was intelligent, but looking at the turn of events, she was

    nothing but a fool.

    The watch proved that she was a fool. It was the proof of a failure that resulted from her foolishness.

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    She did not want to see Jiang Zhe wearing that watch anymore, as she could no longer stand the irony.

    After taking out Jiang Zhe''s Rolex watch from her bag, Yu Xiang passed it to him. ¡°Here''s your watch.

    Give me back the one you''re wearing.¡±

    ¡°Why do you want it back? You gave this to me.¡± Jiang Zhe refused to give her the watch.

    ¡°Jiang Zhe, I ordered someone to install a tapping device in the watch. I did so because I wanted to

    gather intel from you. Feel free to reprimand or shame me¡ªI won''t retaliate.¡± Yu Xiang looked

    defeated.

 Chapter 714

    Chapter 714

    Jiang Zhe did not answer as he continued to order food.

    ¡°If you''re not ordering, I''ll decide on all the dishes. Don''t get upset if you don''t like what I ordered.¡±

    He called the waiter and ordered a few more dishes.

    Yu Xiang could not understand how Jiang Zhe could behave as if nothing had happened.

    Is he so benevolent that he doesn''t care about people using and betraying him? That is impossible

    since he is no saint.

    Jiang Zhe finished ordering and stood up. ¡°You don''t have to order alcohol. Mr. Chen gave me a bottle

    of good wine which I hadn''t opened yet. It''s in my car. I''ll go and get it now.¡±

    Yu Xiang could not take it anymore. ¡°Jiang Zhe, sit down. If you don''t say things clearly, do you think I''ll

    be able to eat?¡±

    ¡°There''s no rush. Let''s talk about itter on. It''s just a small matter, so there''s no need to be that

    impatient, Yu Xiang.¡±

    Yu Xiang could not believe it. How is this a small matter? How is putting a listening device on him to

    obtain a trade secret a small thing? Does he really not care because he is a magnanimous person?

    After a while, Jiang Zhe brought the wine. He let the waiter open it and poured it into a decanter.

    ¡°Take off your watch. I feel ufortable looking at it.¡± Yu Xiang brought up the watch again.

    Jiang Zhe shook the watch. ¡°I think it looks nice. If the listening device is switched off, it is a normal

    watch. Also, this listening device is limited by distance. If I''m far away from you, you won''t be able to

    hear anything unless you get someone to follow me. Thus, I''ll treat it as a normal watch. Naturally, I

    have to treasure it since you gave it to me.¡±

    ¡°Jiang Zhe, if you want to curse at me, you can just do it. Don''t be like this. You''re making me feel very

    upset. I know I''m in the wrong. I don''t dare to wish for your forgiveness, but please don''t torture me like

    this.¡±

    ¡°Yu Xiang, you graduated earlier than me. Didn''t you enter the business world two years earlier than

    me?¡± Jiang Zhe asked.

    Yu Xiang remained silent as she looked at Jiang Zhe. She did not know what he was thinking or what

    he meant.

    ¡°The business world is like a battlefield. We''re merely serving different interests. This is perfectly

    normal. It is not umon for us to use unconventional means to further our own agenda. I''m not

    going to hide it from you that I have used such means too. I already guessed there was something fishy

    when you were so friendly to me after so many years of not seeing each other. Rather than saying you

    were using me, let''s say we were using each other. Presently, I''m the one who has gotten an

    advantage, so there''s no need for you to feel bad. This is a normal thing, and it''s already in the past.

    We don''t have to bring it up again.¡±

    With that, he poured himself a drink before continuing, ¡°Yu Xiang, let''s count this moment as us finally

    reuniting again. It''s been years. I''m delighted to see you again.¡±

    Yu Xiang stared at Jiang Zhe, taken aback and unable to respond.

    She had predicted Jiang Zhe would start cursing at her once he met her.

    Then, she would pretend to act helpless and say that her boss forced her to do so before trying to

    make Jiang Zhe get over it.

    However, Jiang Zhe did not take it to heart at all. She did not even need to say anything, and he had

    already let it go.

    It seemed that Yu Xiang was still the same person she was after so many years. Jiang Zhe, on the

    other hand, had changed considerably since then.

    No matter how she looked at it, Yu Xiang felt that she had lostpletely.

    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    ¡°Do you really not mind?¡±

    ¡°It''s not that I don''t mind. It''s that this is a normal thing. Would you me me for using you instead? If

    that''s the case, let me drink three sses as a punishment. No, let me drink one instead. If it''s three

    sses, I might get drunk.¡±

    Yu Xiang chuckled at that. She looked very pretty when she smiled.

    Seeing that, Jiang Zhe smiled too. Yu Xiang''s smile still looks the same as before. She''s still the Yu

    Xiang I like, only that she has be moreplicated. However, that''s normal. Everyone grows up

    and bes moreplex.

    ¡°Here''s my toast to you. This is my fault. I''ll not do this again.¡±

    Yu Xiang seemed sincere. However, Jiang Zhe could not discern its authenticity.

    Nevertheless, it was not significant. He only wanted to spend this moment with her delightfully.

    ¡°Don''t mention it. I''ve already said let bygones be bygones,¡± Jiang Zhe said calmly.

    ¡°I didn''t know you would be so magnanimous. I must thank you as I feel embarrassed for my actions,¡±

    Yu Xiang replied.

    ¡°I''m not magnanimous. I only think it was normal. Yu Xiang, let''s not talk about this anymore.¡±

    ¡°Sure. Then, let''s talk about you. Where''s your girlfriend? She must be beautiful.¡±

    Jiang Zhe smiled. ¡°I don''t have one currently. I had a few in the past, but all those rtionships ended

    in breakups.¡±

    ¡°They must have been blind. You''re such a good prospect, so you will definitely find a better person to

    be with.¡±

    Jiang Zhe grinned. ¡°Then, why don''t you introduce someone to me?¡±

    Yu Xiang froze. ¡°Sure, but you''re too well-rounded. You might not like them. What type are you looking

    for?¡±

    She assumed that Jiang Zhe would reply along the lines of ¡°someone like you.¡±

    However, he did not say anything as he changed the subject. ¡°Oh right, Yu Xiang. Ouyang Li didn''t

    me you for failing to obtain the project, right?¡±

    ¡°Didn''t you say not to talk about work matters? Why are we back at it again?¡± Yu Xiang could not keep

    up with Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°This is your private matter, so it''s not really about work. We can talk about it.¡±

    Yu Xiang sighed. ¡°At first, Ms. Ouyang wanted to me me, but she found a listening device in her

    bag. It was then she realized there was a spy among her people, so I managed to get away this time.

    I''m ashamed.¡±

    ¡°Isn''t it because you have someone helping you that you managed to get away this time? Do you want

    to know who helped you?¡± Jiang Zhe said with a smile.

    ¡°Do you know?¡±

    Jiang Zhe grinned. ¡°Of course, I know. It''s me. Was the listening device ck and looked like a huge

    button?¡±

    Yu Xiang was stunned. ¡°How do you know? Is it really you?¡±

    ¡°I instructed someone to ce it in Ouyang Li''s bag to confuse her. Such a gigantic listening device is

    bound to be found and has little use. If I wanted to insert a real listening device, it would have to be like

    what you did. It must be hidden.¡±

    Upon hearing that, Yu Xiang felt ashamed again.

    She sighed. ¡°I didn''t know it was you helping me. This is so embarrassing. Your prediction was spot on.

    Nothing can escape your eyes.¡±

    ¡°It''s not me. It''s Mr. Chen. He already knew once you made contact with me. Yu Xiang, don''t help

    Ouyang Li and be enemies with Mr. Chen. No one can win him. They will all end up on the losing

    side,¡± Jiang Zhe replied.

    Yu Xiang did not say anything as she did not know how to answer him.

    She also knew Nan Chen was not a person to be messed with, but she wanted to climb up the ranks

    and obtain a better sry. Therefore, she had no choice but to listen to Ouyang Li.

    ¡°Yu Xiang, Mr. Chen knew about this, but he didn''t stop me from keeping in contact with you. That''s

    why I want to ask for your help in investigating something. Who was the person who supported and

    gave Ouyang Li that huge sum of money?¡± Jiang Zhe asked.

    ¡°You want me to be a double agent for you?¡± Yu Xiang was shocked.

    ¡°No, I''m only asking you to investigate this. I won''t ask you to do anything else. If you''re willing to help

    me, I''ll call it even. If you have anything you wish for me to help you with in the future, I would be willing

    to return the favor too.¡±

 Chapter 715

    Chapter 715

    It was all peaceful and quiet for the next two days.

    A dayter, Jiang Zhe suddenly received a call from Yu Xiang, asking him to have dinner with her that

    night.

    In truth, Jiang Zhe had been contemting asking Yu Xiang out for the past two days, but he always

    ended up suppressing his urge to contact her.

    Even though he knew he had to let go of the past, Jiang Zhe never forgot that Yu Xiang''s original

    intention in meeting him was to take advantage of him.

    Therefore, he had to refrain from falling into her trap for as long as possible.

    Jiang Zhe was an incredibly rational and cautious person, but since reuniting with Yu Xiang, he felt that

    he was no longer as rational as before.

    Despite knowing that Yu Xiang harbored other intentions, he wanted to see her again. He wanted to

    watch her smile, eat, and hear her speak, be it something true or false.

    Jiang Zhe reckoned there was definitely a sense of nostalgia when it came to his rtionship with Yu

    Xiang.

    He felt that his yearning and attachment to Yu Xiang were not based on her beauty or other personal

    characteristics. It was simply his attempt to make amends for himself, or to be more precise, the

    younger self who was once timid and cowardly, too afraid to express his feelings to her.

    Therefore, Jiang Zhe felt there was nothing wrong with him having this kind of emotion. Everyone has

    some ws in their lives to some extent. What''s the harm in making amends with their former selves?

    Humans would always find some reasonable excuses for their own actions. A rational person like Jiang

    Zhe would also do the same out of human nature.

    When Jiang Zhe reunited with Yu Xiang once again, he was overwhelmed with joy.

    Jiang Zhe was reveling in this intense feeling of tion, which was so genuine and passionate that he

    was willing to take any risks.

    However, Yu Xiang seemed quite impatient. ¡°There''s something urgent and important that I need to talk

    to you about.¡±

    Afraid she woulde up with more requests and ruin the pleasant atmosphere they had at the

    moment, he quickly handed her the menu and said, ¡°Why don''t we order something to eat first? We''ll

    talk as we eat. Food is everything in life. We still have to eat, no matter how urgent it is, right?¡±

    ¡°But it''s really urgent. Shall I just tell you first?¡±

    However, Jiang Zhe interrupted Yu Xiang''s words. ¡°There''s no hurry, really. We''ll discuss this slowly.

    You didn''t even order anything thest few times we met, so you should order whatever you want

    today. My treat.¡±

    Seeing that Jiang Zhe was in no hurry, Yu Xiang gradually calmed down and opened the menu to order

    some food.

    Soon, Jiang Zhe discovered that he liked the dishes Yu Xiang ordered, indicating that they had simr

    food preferences. That fact itself made him feel even happier.

    Halfway through their meal, Yu Xiang could not bear to hold it in any longer. ¡°I think it''s better for me to

    say it now. Otherwise, just thinking about it makes me feel uneasy and anxious.¡±

    Jiang Zhe felt it was about time he let her say what was on her mind. It would be impolite of him to stall

    her time any longer.

    ¡°All right, go ahead. I won''t stop you.¡± Jiang Zhe smiled.

    ¡°You asked me to look into that partner of Ms. Ouyang for you, right? I managed to find out some

    information about her, but not much. Her name is Ding Fei. She''s an actress who once won the Best

    Neer Award at the Gold Dolphin Film Festival.¡±

    ¡°An actress? As far as I know, that person had invested quite a lot of money in Sunshine Corporation.

    To be precise, the money was invested into Ouyang Li personally to help her acquire more financial

    support, thus relieving Sunshine Corporation of its burden. Honestly, does an actress make that much

    money? If she is wealthy, why would she want to work as an actress? Is that just a pastime for her?¡±

    Jiang Zhe wondered.

    ¡°I''m not sure about that, but she is indeed an actress, and she''s currently starring in a movie in which

    Ms. Ouyang has invested in. She''s not only the lead actress, but she has also invited Huang Zichao

    and many other A-list actors to star in it. Unfortunately, that didn''t work out in the end, I think. By the

    way, she will also appear in a variety show with Huang Zichao sometimeter as well.¡±

    Jiang Zhe said nothing in response.

    ¡°This is all I know about Ding Fei. I have another, more important matter to tell you too,¡± Yu Xiang said

    in a low voice.

    ¡°Go on. What is it?¡±

    ¡°Orchid Club is currently undergoing renovations, and Ms. Ouyang would frequently supervise the work

    herself because she takes the project very seriously. This morning, she went to supervise the site

    again. Since I had something to discuss with her, I went there as well. When I got there, Ms. Ouyang

    was on her phone. I overheard her talking about how the club will reopen once that person turns to

    ashes, presumably to avenge her father.¡±

    Upon hearing that, Jiang Zhe felt it was a serious matter as well. ¡°Who''s going to turn to ashes? Does

    that mean someone''s going to die soon?¡±

    ¡°I felt it was something very serious when I heard what she said, so I decided to eavesdrop for a while.

    However, since the ce was undergoing renovations, it was very noisy, and I couldn''t hear clearly. I

    could only catch a bit of their conversation, and it sounded like they were worried about whether

    something would be discovered or not. Also, I heard them mentioning Livingsfill too.¡±

    ¡°Livingsfill? Are you sure you heard it right?¡±

    ¡°I''m sure I did. It''s my favorite city, so I wouldn''t have misheard it. Not only that, but she also asked if

    they managed to sneak in and whether they were trustworthy. I only went in after Ms. Ouyang finished

    talking on her phone. From all the bits and pieces that I vaguely heard, I feel like she''s discussing with

    the other person about harming someone. If it''s not about someone dying, would they even mention

    turning someone into ashes?¡±

    Jiang Zhe quickly stood up and said, ¡°I''m sorry, but I have to go now. I''ll tell the manager to put it on my

    tabter. I have to leave right away!¡±

    ¡°So soon? Do you have any idea who they intend to harm? Why are you so anxious?¡± asked Yu Xiang.

    ¡°I''m not too sure right now, so I need to discuss this with someone else. I''m going to have to meet my

    boss since I believe this matter pertains to him,¡± said Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°Nan Chen? Do you mean Ouyang Li is nning to harm him? But how can they sneak in? Are they

    nning to infiltrate yourpany, or are they opting to take action in Livingsfill? It doesn''t make

    sense, though.¡±

    Jiang Zhe didn''t want to divulge too much information about the matter with Yu Xiang.

    ¡°Thank you for providing me with all this important information. It means a great deal to me. We''ll have

    dinner together another time, but I really have to go right now.¡±

    Seeing how anxious Jiang Zhe was, Yu Xiang decided not to make him stay. ¡°All right. You should

    leave quickly. We''ll meet up again someday.¡±

    ¡°Okay. I''m really sorry about this. I''ll buy you a drink next time. Goodbye.¡±

    After stepping out of the restaurant, Jiang Zhe hailed a taxi and rushed toward Nanshi Corporation.

    As usual, Nan Chen was still in the office working overtime.

    Jiang Zhe did not bother knocking on the door as he barged into Nan Chen''s office. ¡°Mr. Chen, I''m

    afraid something terrible is about to happen!¡±

    Nan Chen lifted his head and stared at Jiang Zhe. ¡°You''re usually calm and collected. Why did you

    barge in so recklessly today?¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°I met with Yu Xiang after I asked her to help me find out who''s supporting Ouyang Li. She told me it''s

    an actress called Ding Fei, who is filming a movie with a concept that is simr to ours.¡±

    ¡°Aren''t we already aware of all this?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Yu Xiang said that she overhead Ouyang Li talking over the phone, in which she mentioned Livingsfill

    and how once that person turns to ashes, her club will reopen, and she can avenge her father''s death.¡±

    Nan Chen immediately shot to his feet upon hearing Jiang Zhe''s words.

    ¡°Livingsfill? And turning someone to ashes? Avenging Ouyang Duo''s death?¡± Nan Chen repeated

    those keywords to ensure that he hadn''t misheard them.

    ¡°Yes, exactly. That''s what they said. As soon as I heard what she said, I came here right away to report

    to you,¡± replied Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°What else did you hear? I need you to recall what she told you!¡± Nan Chen said anxiously.

 Chapter 716

    Chapter 716

    Jiang Zhe went silent and tried to recall his conversation with Yu Xiang.

    ¡°They also mentioned things like ''will they get caught'' and ''they have already sneaked inside. ''¡±

    ¡°Sneaked inside? Get caught?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I''m sure those are the few words they mentioned. I also thought this was no simple matter when I

    heard those words.¡±

    ¡°Attend the meeting on my behalf tomorrow morning. I''m going over.¡± Nan Chen grabbed his coat and

    headed for the door.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡±

    ¡°I need you to arrange a ne for me now. I''m going to Livingsfill,¡± Nan Chen instructed.

    ¡°We have to apply permission to fly in advance and identify if there are any air traffic controls in that

    area. I''m afraid that using a private ne is not the fastest way, Mr. Chen,¡± Jiang Zhe replied quick-

    wittedly.

    Having a sharp mind was his best strength. He could promptly execute and follow up on his superior''s

    idea. While the other assistants were still in a state of befuddlement, he had already given his boss the

    most sensible advice.

    ¡°Arrange for it right away, then. I want to be in Livingsfill before noon tomorrow,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°It''s definitely toote for us to apply for permission to fly now. I''ll contact the airlinepany to check if

    we can charter a ne. Their flight procedures are much simpler and faster.¡± With that, Jiang Zhe

    began to take action.

    ¡°I''m heading to the airport after this while you stay here to get everything done. Either way, I want you

    toe up with the fastest way for me to reach Livingsfill,¡± Nan Chen ordered.

    ¡°Actually, Mr. Chen, since both Mr. Xing and Qiao Zhan are now in Livingsfill, calling them to give a

    warning will be the fastest way.¡±

    ¡°I know. Please give them a call after this. No matter what, I still have to rush over. I can''t feel at ease

    with my woman and children there,¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°Understood. In that case, you may get the driver to rush to the airport now. We shall stay in contact. In

    the meantime, I''ll n the fastest route to Livingsfill for you,¡± Jiang Zhe assured.

    Nan Chen then left the room and trotted toward the lift.

    Meanwhile, Jiang Zhe first called the driver and asked him to prepare the car. Then, he started to check

    various information on theputer at a fast speed.

    A few minutester, Nan Chen received Jiang Zhe''s call before his car left the city.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, it''s not feasible to use a private ne or chartered flight. Due to some area restrictions, the

    earliest takeoff time will be eleven o''clock tomorrow morning, so you can only go by high-speed train.

    However, there''s no direct train service from Flower City to Livingsfill. Thus, you can only take a train to

    Mapleton for the time being. There''ll be a high-speed train to Mapleton two hourster. I''ve already

    booked the tickets for you and your bodyguard,¡± said Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°How long does it take from Mapleton to Livingsfill?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°There are two options. You can drive on your own or take another train. Either one of them will take

    you about four hours. But there''s a possibility of traffic jams if you choose to drive, so I think it''s better

    to take the train, which is faster and more reliable.¡±

    ¡°Is it possible to charter a ne from Mapleton to Livingsfill?¡± Nan Chen asked again.

    ¡°Um, I''ve not considered this option before. I''ll arrange for it immediately.¡±

    A few minutester, Jiang Zhe updated Nan Chen that it was possible to charter a ne, but it would

    take about an hour from boarding until the flight took off since flight procedures were moreplicated.

    ¡°Good. It''s settled, then. Please remind Qiao Zhan and Nan Xing not to let Ning Ran and the kids leave

    the inn before I arrive at Livingsfill. At the same time, don''t let anyone in,¡± Nan Chen instructed.

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Chen.¡±

    ¡°One more thing. Don''t let Ning Ran know about this. It''ll scare her and the kids,¡± Nan Chen added.

    ¡°All right. Is there anything else you need me to do for you?¡±

    ¡°Not for now. Remember not to tell anyone that I''ve left Flower City. If someone happens to ask about

    my absence at the meeting, just say I have things to take care of.¡±

    ¡°Okay. Don''t worry, Mr. Chen. No one dares to question your matters. Please take care of your own

    safety.¡±

    ¡°All right. That''s all.¡± With that, Nan Chen hung up the phone.

    Meanwhile, in Livingsfill, Ning Ran had just gotten out of bed when she heard someone talking outside.

    She walked out while brushing her teeth and saw two identical-looking men talking in the inn''s

    courtyard.

    Thinking that her eyes were ying tricks on her, she rubbed them and took another look at the men.

    She was utterly shocked when she found that she was right and that the two men indeed resembled

    each other. It''s Poker Face! What''s he doing here so early in the morning?

    Hurrying over to Nan Chen, she stared at him for a few seconds. ¡°It''s really you! When did you arrive?¡±

    It was then she saw the man''s bloodshot eyes and the ck bags under them. It was obviously a sign

    of the man staying upte.

    ¡°You didn''t rush over in the middle of the night, did you? What are you doing here?¡± Ning Ran asked in

    a high-pitched voice.

    ¡°It''s nothing. I missed the kids, so I came over to see you guys.¡± Nan Chen made it sound casual.

    ¡°The kids aren''t up yet. Why don''t you freshen up yourself and get some rest first? The kids will keep

    bugging you when they''re up. You won''t have any time to sleep then.¡±

    As soon as her words fell, Ning Ran took Nan Chen''s hand and dragged him inside the inn.

    Nan Chen did not attempt to struggle free and was sent into the bathroom by herter.

    Ning Ran subsequently went to the children''s rooms. Upon seeing Erbao was still asleep, she moved

    to Dabao''s room.

    Dabao was already awake and preparing to leave his bed.

    ¡°Darling, your daddy is here, and he''s taking a shower right now. I don''t think he sleptst night as he

    looks exhausted, so let''s not go out first. That way, he''ll think you''re still asleep and will go rest. What

    do you think?¡±

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    An ted expression immediately shed across Dabao''s face. ¡°Daddy is here?¡±

    ¡°Yes. But he looks tired and needs a rest.¡±

    ¡°Oh no! Something must have happened!¡± Dabao suddenly let out a low yell.

    ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Did Daddy say he was here to see us?¡± Dabao asked.

    ¡°Yes. Is there a problem? He missed you guys. That''s why he came over to see both of you.¡±

    ¡°Something must be wrong, then. If Daddy was here to see us, why didn''t he call us yesterday and tell

    us in advance? Why didn''t he take things slowly and only make his way here in the morning? Look at

    the time. He was here at this hour because he started his journey in the middle of the night. He

    wouldn''t have to rush if there was no urgent matter. Also, Daddy being exhausted means he didn''t

    sleep during the journey, which also means he had something to worry about. Don''t all of these imply

    that something is going on?¡±

    Ning Ran was confused by Dabao''s words, but after a moment of thought, she realized that something

    did seem wrong.

    ¡°Let me ask him just what is going on.¡± She began to panic.

    ¡°No need. Just pretend we know nothing and let Daddy rest for a while first,¡± Dabao said.

    Hearing that, Ning Ran doubled back. ¡°Dabao, what do you think has happened? Could it be that your

    daddy ran into some problems again?¡±

    ¡°Definitely not. If Daddy ran into problems, he would have stayed in Flower City to solve them. Since he

    came all the way to Livingsfill, he must be worried about us. So, it has something to do with us.¡± Dabao

    suddenly transformed into a bona fide detective.

    Ning Ran thought Dabao had a good point. Sure enough, Dabao''s mind is sharper than mine.

    ¡°But nothing happened here, and all of us are fine. I wonder what your daddy is worried about.¡±

    Dabao shook his head. ¡°I''ve no idea, but I believe he''ll tell us sooner orter. In the meantime, we must

    keep an eye on Erbao and not let her disturb Daddy.¡±

 Chapter 717

    Chapter 717

    After confirming that his wife and children were safe, Nan Chen started to feel drowsy and went to bed.

    Two hourster, he got up feeling so much better.

    After waking up, he was surprised that his children were still asleep.

    Only when he asked about them did he know that the children had woken up long ago. They had their

    breakfast in the room because they didn''t want to disturb his rest.

    Pushing open the door, he saw Dabao reading a book and Erbao painting her toenails with nail polish.

    The moment Erbao saw Nan Chen, she immediately cheered and rushed over to him. ¡°Daddy, I missed

    you!¡±

    Nan Chen picked her up from the floor. ¡°Did you gain weight again? You''re heavier thanst time.¡±

    ¡°No, I grew taller instead! My height has increased a few meters.¡±

    Hearing what she said, Nan Chen was amused. A few meters? That''s a bit scary.

    Dabao heaved a sigh and corrected his sister, ¡°It''s centimeters, not meters! Growing a few meters in

    such a short time? Do you think you''re a hulk?¡±

    Erbao didn''t want to admit defeat. ¡°It''s the same thing, just with a few extra sybles. No matter what, I

    did grow taller!¡±

    Nan Chen put his daughter down and checked her height with his hand. Indeed, it had increased quite

    a lot.

    Right then, Erbao heard her father''s stomach rumble. ¡°Haha! You must be hungry, Daddy. Let''s go and

    have breakfast.¡±

    It was true that Nan Chen was starving as he had rushed all the way here. He didn''t have the appetite

    to eat anything earlier because of the uneasiness in him.

    Now that the weight was off his mind, he began to feel hungry. It had long passed the ideal time for

    breakfast.

    The breakfast was ready. Grabbing a piece of bread, he took a bite and asked, ¡°Where''s Ning Ran?¡±

    Nan Xing came over. ¡°She went to the production team. The director called her and said that there was

    only one scene to film today. She''lle back once it''s don¡ª¡±

    Nan Chen leaped to his feet. ¡°Didn''t I say not to let her leave the inn? Why did she still go there?¡±

    ¡°You said not to let her go out before you arrived, but you''re here now, and you didn''t say anything

    more about making her stay at the inn. Also, I asked Qiao Zhan to escort her. There shouldn''t be any

    problem,¡± he said.

    ¡°What makes you think that there wouldn''t be any problems? Nonsense!¡± Nan Chen shouted, ¡°Give me

    the car key. I want to go to the filming location!¡±

    ¡°Chen, why are you shouting at me? Ning Ran has been filming all this while. I told her to stay home,

    but she said she only had a scene to shoot and woulde back as soon as possible once it was

    done. I couldn''t stop her. Qiao Zhan is with her, anyway.¡±

    ¡°Cut the crap! Car key!¡±

    Nan Xing took the key in a hurry. ¡°Do you know the way? Let me drive you there. Don''t worry. It''ll be

    fine.¡±

    ¡°Hurry up!¡± Nan Chen roared.

    ¡°Daddy, you still haven''t finished eating. Is there anything wrong?¡± Erbao was a little scared at her

    father''s agitated response.

    Nan Chenforted her at once, ¡°It''s nothing. Don''t be afraid, Darling. I''m just going to see your

    mommy acting.¡±

    ¡°I want to go too. I''ve filmed in that ce before. Let''s go together. I know the way,¡± Erbao volunteered.

    She wasn''t lying. Erbao was the only child who would never get lost. No matter how far it was or how

    complicated the roads were, she would always find her way back.

    ¡°It''s okay. You wait for us here together with Dabao. We''ll be back soon.¡±

    Nan Chen had no idea how the situation was over there. He couldn''t possibly bring his children along.

    ¡°But I want to go. I''ll sit obediently in the car and won''t get out. It''ll be fine.¡± Erbao wasn''t happy at

    having to stay behind.

    ¡°No, you can''t. All right, I need to go now. Stay here with Dabao. I''ll be back real quick.¡±

    With that, Nan Chen hurriedly left the inn with Nan Xing.

    After getting into the car, Nan Chen kept urging Nan Xing to drive faster even though he was already

    speeding.

    ¡°Chen, what exactly are you worried about? You don''t have to be this anxious just because Jiang Zhe

    heard some rumors.¡± Nan Xing couldn''t understand why his brother was acting in such a way.

    ¡°It''s not a rumor. Ouyang Li said it herself. This is something dangerous,¡± Nan Chen corrected.

    ¡°Fine. But Ning Ran has been staying here for such a long time, and nothing has happened to her. The

    bodyguards have been guarding the outside too. I don''t think you need to worry too much.¡±

    ¡°Did the inn hire any new employees these two days? Like the cleaners and those who take care of the

    other chores.¡±

    After thinking for a while, Nan Xing shook his head. ¡°No. The two cleaners are still the same. Our foods

    are prepared by the chefs who came with us from Flower City. Other than Lu Jingyuan and her child,

    there haven''t been any new facesing to the inn.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°Then it''s the production team?¡± Nan Chen mumbled, furrowing his brows even more.

    ¡°Chen, what exactly are you worried about?¡±

    ¡°Ouyang Li said something about getting discovered and sneaking in. Based on these key points, it''s

    highly possible that someone has inserted themselves into Ning Ran''s frequent contacts. Ning Ran

    spends all of her time at the inn and with the production team. If there isn''t anyone new at the inn, then

    the target must be hiding among the crew,¡± Nan Chen analyzed.

    ¡°A lot of people are working on the set, and the turnover is high. It''s definitely easier to sneak in

    compared to an inn. However, there are also security guards around. Who would have the guts to harm

    Ning Ran in front of so many people?¡± Nan Xing still felt that Ning Ran would be fine.

    Nan Chen kept silent.

    Nan Xing had a point. To attack Ning Ran in front of so many people wasn''t easy. The culprit wouldn''t

    be able to run away too.

    Regardless, Ouyang Li must have had her reason for saying that.

    ¡°Nan Xing, when do humans turn into ashes?¡± Nan Chen asked all of a sudden.

    Nan Xing gave a wry smile. ¡°You must be too anxious to ask me such a question, Chen! The answer to

    that is obvious. Humans turn to ashes when they die and are cremated.¡±

    ¡°I mean, other than cremation, what other ways are there?¡±

    ¡°Explosions? I heard they turn people into ashes too. Or maybe a person is burnt to an extreme that

    the body bes ashes without needing to be cremated...¡±

    ¡°Oh no!¡± Nan Chen shouted.

    ¡°What is it this time, Chen?¡±

    ¡°Someone is going to set the filming set on fire!¡±

    Nan Xing shook his head. ¡°Come on, pull yourself together! There are fire safety measures on the set.

    Let me say it again: the bodyguard is with Ning Ran. Even if there is a fire ident, Qiao Zhan will

    definitely save her at once.¡±

    After listening to what he said, Nan Chen felt slightly relieved.

    However, it didn''tst long. Taking out his phone, he called Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Sir Chen, go ahead,¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    ¡°Did you notice anything strange over there?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Rest assured, Sir Chen. I''m guarding this ce personally. Nothing strange has happened up till now.

    Madam is filming at the moment,¡± Qiao Zhan said.

    ¡°See? I told you it''d be fine. You care about Ning Ran too much. That''s why you''ve be paranoid

    and worked yourself up.¡± Nan Xingughed.

 Chapter 718

    Chapter 718

    However, Nan Chen did not think that he was being paranoid.

    He was certain that things were not that simple. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have rushed to Livingsfill in the

    middle of the night.

    ¡°Drive faster. I want to be there to witness the scene personally,¡± Nan Chen continued.

    As such, Nan Xing had no choice but to m on the elerator and speed all the way to their

    destination.

    Finally, they arrived at the film set.

    ¡°Sir Chen, don''t worry. Nothing bad will happen. They are just filming as usual inside,¡± Qiao Zhan

    reported.

    Nan Chen took a look at the surroundings and noticed that a few new buildings had been constructed

    nearby. Those buildings had a peculiar style and did not look like the other buildings around them.

    They must have been built for the new movie. This ce could possibly be a new tourist attraction in

    the future.

    If the movie turns out to be a hit, people would be interested toe here and visit to have a first-hand

    experience of the filming process.

    Just as Nan Chen was about to enter the film set, he was stopped by Nan Xing.

    ¡°Chen, they are filming inside. It doesn''t seem appropriate for you to just barge in like that,¡± Nan Xing

    reminded.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°You''re their big boss. If you show up, they would certainly pause shooting to report the filming

    progress to you. If that''s the case, they wouldn''t be able to proceed with the filming smoothly, right?

    Besides, if the director sees you, he would probably clear Ning Ran''s schedule for the rest of the day,

    and that would affect the entire crew. Why don''t you just wait for a while? After they are done with the

    shoot for today, you would be able to leave with Ning Ran,¡± Nan Xing said.

    After a brief moment of contemtion, Nan Chen turned away as his brother''s words did make sense.

    ¡°If that''s the case, I won''t interrupt their filming progress. Qiao Zhan, go in and get the assistant director

    toe out now. I have some questions for him,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Understood, Sir Chen.¡±

    Soon, the assistant director walked out of the film set. When he saw Nan Chen, he was so shocked

    that his knees almost gave way. Why is our big boss here? Is this supposed to be a private visit?

    ¡°Sir Chen, we were not informed of your arrival. I''ll get everyone out to wee you at once...¡±

    The assistant director got such a bad shock that his forehead was already covered with beads of

    perspiration.

    Nan Chen gave a dismissive wave and replied, ¡°You don''t have to be so nervous as I''m just here to

    take a look. There''s no need to let them know that I''m here. I would like to ask you something. Has any

    neer joined the production team recently?¡±

    The assistant director answered with certainty, ¡°No. The production team members are already fixed.

    The actors and actresses were confirmed a long time back as well. It''s impossible to have anyst-

    minute changes. As such, there wouldn''t be any neers to the team.¡±

    Nan Chen did not seem satisfied with that answer and questioned further, ¡°Are you very sure? I think

    you should give some careful thought to it before answering me.¡±

    The assistant director replied nervously, ¡°I... I did think about it carefully. Besides, each department has

    a team leader. Let me check with them again.¡±

    ¡°What are you guys filming today?¡± Nan Chen asked abruptly.

    ¡°It''s a scene where the female lead teleports to a parallel universe where she witnesses the version of

    her in that universe celebrating her birthday...¡±

    ¡°Would there be a birthday cake? Would she have to blow out candles?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Yes...¡±

    Before the assistant director could finish his sentence, Nan Chen had already dashed into the film set.

    Meanwhile, inside the film set, the candles had already been lit. The rest of the lighting had been

    dimmed, and Ning Ran was getting ready to blow out the candles.

    ¡°Wait! Stop!¡± Nan Chen suddenly appeared and shouted.

    Everyone was shocked, and the lights were turned back on again. The director stopped the filming at

    once and said, ¡°Sir Chen, what brings you here?¡±

    As Nan Chen approached Ning Ran, his expression changed drastically. ¡°Everyone, step back! Stay at

    least three meters away from us. Security, surround me!¡±

    Everyone was stunned, including Ning Ran, who was feeling extremely baffled. ¡°What''s going on? Why

    are you so flustered?¡±

    ¡°Keep quiet. Security, form a circle around us and get everyone to move back!¡± Nan Chen yelled.

    Qiao Zhan hurried into the film set and asked, ¡°What''s wrong, Sir Chen?¡±

    ¡°Get some men to surround us, and don''t let anyonee near! Kill anyone whoes near us!¡± Nan

    Chen hollered.

    Qiao Zhan was shocked at Nan Chen''s order. Kill anyone who goes near them? That''s not Sir Chen''s

    usual style at all.

    However, since Nan Chen had given his instructions, if there was anyone who did not listen and

    insisted on crossing the boundaries, Qiao Zhan would have no choice but to kill them.

    ¡°Stay away! No one is allowed toe near! Stay as far away as you can!¡± Qiao Zhan shouted as a

    murderous glint shed across his eyes.

    In fact, the man was exuding murderous intent. Chief Qiao was finally showing the ruthless side of him.

    As such, everyone retreated backward, staying as far away as they could.

    Meanwhile, Nan Chen removed his jacket and wrapped it around Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran was deeply puzzled by the man''s actions. She was already dressed in thickyers of clothes

    for filming purposes. Besides, the weather in Livingsfill was not cold at all. As such, she could not figure

    out what Nan Chen was doing.

    However, she trusted the man and knew that he must have his reasons for doing so.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    If it were someone else, Ning Ran would probably have thought that they had gone crazy. However,

    given that it was Nan Chen, Ning Ran knew that something serious was happening.

    That was because Nan Chen would not behave in such an aggressive and anxious manner over small

    matters.

    Nan Chen wrapped his arms around Ning Ran as he escorted her outside before asking Qiao Zhan to

    open the car door for her to get in. Meanwhile, Nan Chen himself took the driver''s seat.

    After that, he started the car engine and turned the air-conditioning to its coldest setting. Instantly, it

    was freezing inside the car.

    ¡°What''s going on?¡± Ning Ran asked, shivering from both the cold and nervousness.

    ¡°There''s a highly-mmable substance on your filming outfit. Once ites into contact with fire, it will

    explode into mes. However, you don''t have to worry. I will handle it properly,¡± Nan Chen replied in a

    deep voice.

    ¡°What? How did that happen?¡± Ning Ran was shocked to hear that.

    ¡°Someone from the film set must have done it. That''s why I ordered everyone to stay away. But there''s

    nothing for you to worry about. I will find out what happened. On the way here, I saw a pond right

    ahead. When we reach there, we will get into the pond together to wash off the chemical substance

    from your body. We will be safe after that,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°If that''s the case, does it mean that I''m a mmable object now? What if I selfbust suddenly? You

    should stop the car by the side and drop me off. I will go and wash off the chemical myself. I can''t drag

    you into this!¡±

    At that moment, Ning Ran was truly terrified.

    She was not only worried about herself but also that Nan Chen would be hurt if she suddenly burst into

    mes.

    Besides, she knew that Nan Chen had wrapped her so tightly in his arms earlier because he was

    worried that someone from the crowd would toss a me at them suddenly.

    If someone was intentionally causing harm, that person had to be someone among the production

    crew.

    If a me was suddenly thrown at them, it would be impossible for them to put it out in time. If that

    happened, Ning Ran would be a human torch.

    It was only then that Ning Ran realized how dangerous it was for the man back then.

    He would have gotten some mmable substance on him as well, given how close he had been to her.

    If she really had burst into mes, Nan Chen would not have been spared from getting hurt.

    ¡°Get out of the car right now. You shouldn''t be here with me!¡± Ning Ran eximed, almost breaking into

    a sob.

    ¡°Don''t be silly. Do you really think I would abandon you? Just stop it. We are reaching the pond soon.

    Although the water is rather dirty, we don''t really have other options. Let''s jump into the pond together,¡±

    Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Why are you so silly? You could have just told me and let me handle it by myself. It was so dangerous

    for you toe so close to me! If anything bad happens to you because of me, even if I die, I wouldn''t

    be able to die in peace. Do you know that?¡± Ning Ran was no longer able to hold back her tears as she

    spoke.

    ¡°You''re the silly one. I won''t let anything happen to you. All right. Stop talking now. You''re too noisy,¡±

    Nan Chen replied.

 Chapter 719

    Chapter 719

    Ning Ran was stumped. Despite the life-threatening circumstances, Poker Face is still as snarky as

    ever.

    ¡°The sun is shining brightly outside now. Would I burst into mes the moment I get out of the car

    before I even have the opportunity to jump into theke?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°That''s not going to happen. There''s no material in this world that can ignite under such low

    temperatures,¡± Nan Chen refuted her.

    ¡°I''m not so sure about that, as Livingsfill is situated in the hignds. We might not ignite at normal

    altitude, but the same might not apply here. What if it really happens?¡± Ning Ran argued.

    Her point did make sense to Nan Chen. As his specialty was economics and not chemistry, he figured

    that Ning Ran''s concern might actually be valid.

    ¡°Don''t worry. I know what to do. There''s no way I''m going to let you catch fire. By the way, do you know

    how to swim?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    Ning Ran instantly knew what was on his mind. ¡°Are you nning to drive the car into the water so that

    we don''t have to get out?¡±

    ¡°Yes, unless you have a better idea?¡± Nan Chen threw the question back at her.

    Ning Ran answered candidly, ¡°No, I''ll do as you say. It''s just that we don''t know how deep the water is.¡±

    ¡°That''s why I''m asking you whether you know how to swim.¡±

    ¡°A little...¡±

    ¡°What does that even mean? Do you know or not?¡±

    ¡°I roughly do, but I haven''t swum in a long time, so I don''t know how far I can go.¡± Ning Ran finally

    provided a precise answer.

    ¡°That''ll suffice.¡±

    In the midst of their conversation, they had arrived by the pond. It was naturally formed from water that

    gathered in and depression due to the area being surrounded by mountains. From its murky color, it

    was obvious that the water wasn''t clean.

    Meanwhile, Qiao Zhan had caught up to them in his car. However, he kept his distance at Nan Chen''s

    instruction.

    After circling the area, thetter found a spot that looked shallow and gradually drove their car into the

    water.

    The sight caused both Nan Xing and Qiao Zhan to exim in shock.

    ¡°What''s my brother doing? Are they attempting a double suicide? What''s going on?¡± Nan Xing yelled.

    Although Qiao Zhan was equally clueless, he didn''t believe the couple was trying to kill themselves, as

    he found no reason for them to do so.

    ¡°I think Madam is in some form of danger, and Sir Chen is trying to protect her. At the same time, we''re

    not allowed to go near them,¡± Qiao Zhan spected.

    ¡°That makes sense, but what is it that''s threatening her life? She wasn''t doing anything dangerous

    other than filming.¡± Nan Xing was puzzled.

    ¡°I''m just as baffled as you are, but since Sir Chen has asked us not to go any closer, we better listen to

    him.¡±

    ¡°However, their car is already entering the water. If we don''t save them, are we supposed to watch

    them drown?¡± Nan Xing anxiously asked.

    ¡°We really can''t go near them. This is an order from Sir Chen that we have to obey. He must have his

    reasons for doing this.¡±

    As a former soldier, Qiao Zhan was used to following orders without question.

    ¡°No, I have to check on them.¡±

    Unable to contain his emotions, Nan Xing insisted on getting out of the car but was quickly restrained

    by Qiao Zhan.

    In the midst of their struggle, Nan Chen had already opened the car door and pulled Ning Ran out.

    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    The water wasn''t deep, as it had only reached Nan Chen''s neck.

    Nheless, the same couldn''t be said for Ning Ran due to the fact that she was much shorter than

    him.

    When her feet touched the muddy bottom, the water had already covered her head.

    Wrapping his arms around her waist, Nan Chen pulled her from the water with brute strength and

    popped her head out of the surface.

    Still concerned that her head was covered by mmable material, he gave it a vigorous scrub.

    Ning Ran, swallowing two gulps of dirty water in the process, began coughing her lungs out.

    ¡°That should be enough. I don''t think it willbust anymore.¡± Nan Chen sighed as he dragged Ning

    Ran back to shore. By then, their car had sunk entirely into the water.

    At Nan Chen''s cue, Qiao Zhan ran up to his side. ¡°Sir Chen, what on earth happened?¡±

    Not in the mood to exin, Nan Chen waved his hand, signaling Qiao Zhan to bring his car over.

    ¡°Chen, for a moment there, I thought both of you were going tomit suicide. It turns out that you''re

    just taking a bath. You had me scared sh*tless!¡± Nan Xing eximed.

    Nan Chen shot him a re. ¡°Why don''t you take one too?¡±

    Nan Xing waved his hands frantically. ¡°No, no. It''s fine. I''ve showered in the morning.¡±

    ¡°Get someone to bring you another car, as I''ll be taking yours. While I check into a hotel, have a

    change of clothes sent over,¡± Nan Chen instructed.

    ¡°Chen, the hotel might not be willing to ept you given the way you look. Also, if someone shares a

    photo of you in your current condition on the inte, it would spark a huge controversy. I think it''s

    better for you to return to the inn to change,¡± Nan Xing suggested.

    ¡°No, we''ll frighten the children if we do so,¡± Nan Chen disagreed.

    ¡°But going to a hotel isn''t appropriate either, as you can''t avoid having your picture taken.¡±

    Nan Chen felt that his words made sense. ¡°In that case, we''ll wait in the car while you get us our

    clothes.¡±

    ¡°There''s no need to. Let me borrow your phone. I''ll give Lu Jingyuan a call, and we''ll head over to her

    vi. It''ll be easier that way,¡± Ning Ran interjected.

    Ning Ran had concerns of her own. As ady, she felt it inappropriate to have Qiao Zhan and Nan Xing

    retrieve her clothes for her.

    If they didn''t get her undergarments, she would still feel ufortable being all wet inside, while

    getting them to do so was something she couldn''t ept.

    Therefore, heading to Lu Jingyuan''s home would give Ning Ran ready ess to female clothing once

    she had showered.

    Nan Chen agreed after pondering upon it. ¡°In that case, I''ll send you over to Ms. Lu''s home first.¡±

    Upon their arrival, Nan Chen didn''t get out of the car, as he had no intention of going in there.

    He, too, had concerns of his own. Firstly, it was rude to arrive as a guest in his current condition.

    Secondly, he was mindful of his own reputation.

    He didn''t care for his appearance in front of Qiao Zhan and his brother, but to look so messy in the

    presence of someone from the opposite sex was something he couldn''t tolerate. After all, he was the

    CEO of Nan Chen, and his image had to be maintained ordingly.

    Ning Ran naturally knew of his concerns but didn''t see it as a problem, as he could easily change in the

    car.

    ¡°I''m going up now. Pick me upter.¡±

    ¡°Remember to get a hot shower and change into dry clothes. Otherwise, you''ll catch a cold,¡± Nan Chen

    reminded.

    ¡°I know, you too. Now, go.¡± Ning Ran waved her hand.

    Even though it was already noon, Lu Jingyuan¡ªwho had just gotten out of bed¡ªwas shocked to see

    the drenched Ning Ran when she opened the door.

    ¡°I need to take a shower and borrow some of your clothes.¡±

    Without further questions, Lu Jingyuan immediately agreed, ¡°All right. Come on in. I''ll find you

    something to wear while you shower.¡±

    Upon entering the bathroom, Ning Ran took off her costume and soaked herself in the water. When she

    saw the water turn yellow, it became evident that there was a strange substance on her earlier.

    Feeling much better after her bath, she dried her hair and put on the clothes Lu Jingyuan had brought

    her.

    As bothdies were simr in stature, Lu Jingyuan''s clothes fit Ning Ran perfectly.

    Now that the danger had passed, Ning Ran finally felt her knees wobble. Thinking about it still sent a

    shiver down her spine.

 Chapter 720

    Chapter 720

    Lu Jingyuan poured her a ss of water. ¡°What happened?¡±

    Ning Ran let out a sigh. ¡°I''m still trying to process what''s going on.¡±

    Lu Jingyuan nodded. ¡°In that case, get some rest first. There''s no hurry. You don''t have to tell me if you

    don''t feel like it.¡±

    At that moment, Lu Yunxue came over and leaned against Ning Ran''s legs. ¡°Ms. Ning, are you sick?¡±

    The pale look on Ning Ran''s face was the reason she asked. It was a symptom of the former''s shock

    from the harrowing experience.

    ¡°No. I''m just feeling a little under the weather.¡±

    Ning Ran muddled through her answer, as the matter was tooplicated for a child toprehend.

    ¡°Go y with your sister outside. I have something to discuss with Ms. Ning.¡± Lu Jingyuan shooed Lu

    Yunxue out.

    After giving her mother a reluctant look, Lu Yunxue did as she was told.

    ¡°While I was in the middle of filming, Nan Chen suddenly barged onto the set and told everyone to get

    back...¡±

    After rting the terrifying scene to Lu Jingyuan, Ning Ran could still feel her knees go weak.

    ¡°Such wicked men! However, how did Mr. Nan know that your body was covered in a mmable

    substance?¡± Lu Jingyuan asked.

    ¡°I''m not sure. I just believed him when he told me so, as there was no time for questions. I guess he

    must have received some information about it?¡±

    ¡°It sounds really dangerous. That said, who would want to hurt you? Is it someone from the production

    team?¡±

    Ning Ran had no clue at all.

    In the past, Ouyang Qing would be the main suspect, but she was now ruled out due to her

    imprisonment.

    ¡°Even though there are those who resent me, I can''t think of anyone who hates me enough to want me

    dead,¡± Ning Ran replied with a shake of her head.

    ¡°I''m afraid it might have something to do with Mr. Nan, as the powerful Nan family has plenty of

    enemies. Someone must be trying to hurt Mr. Nan by harming you.¡±

    Ning Ran nodded in resignation. ¡°Exactly. Many of theme at me when they fail to attack him. I''m

    just coteral damage.¡±

    Lu Jingyuan smiled in response. ¡°I''m afraid not. Many others are dying to possess what Mr. Nan can

    give you. The Nan family might provide you with the dream life, but there''s a price to pay for it. As the

    saying goes, you win some; you lose some.¡±

    Lu Jingyuan''s words might not sound pleasant, but the truth in them was undeniable.

    If it weren''t for Nan Chen, Ning Ran¡ªbased on her existing poprity¡ª wouldn''t have the opportunity

    to take on the role of a female lead in a blockbuster with such a massive budget. Moreover, the role

    was written for her specifically.

    ¡°All right. I guess I have to resign myself to fate. That said, I''m going to be traumatized by the incident

    for a while still. This isn''t the first time I''ve experienced something like that. Someone tampered with my

    costume some time ago too. At the rate this is going, I''m going to develop a phobia for them.¡±

    ¡°In that case, you have to be more cautious going forward. The clothes you and the things you wear

    have to be managed by someone you trust. Otherwise, the risk will always be there.¡±

    In the midst of their chat, the sound of a car engine rang out from outside. Thereafter, Lu Yunxue

    dashed in to inform them that Nan Chen had arrived.

    Standing at the door, Nan Chen had already changed into a clean suit. With his hairbed neatly, he

    looked his usual cold and dashing self.

    ¡°Mr. Nan, would you like toe in and have some coffee?¡±

    ¡°I''ll pass. I''m just here to pick Ning Ran up. I appreciate you taking care of her. As there''s something we

    need to attend to, we''ll drop by for a visit next time.¡±

    Even though Nan Chen could''ve sent Qiao Zhan to pick Ning Ran up, he decided toe personally

    so that he could thank Lu Jingyuan.

    ¡°Don''t mention it. I barely lifted a finger. Since you have something on, I won''t take up any more of your

    time. I''ll see you again soon.¡±

    Lu Jingyuan, sensitive to the situation, knew that now wasn''t the time to chat, as the Nan family had to

    respond to what had happened.

    ¡°Thank you, Ms. Lu.¡±

    Meanwhile, Lu Yunxue nced at her mother and then at Ning Ran, filled with the urge to leave with

    thetter.

    Bored stiff at home with her mother and sister, she wanted to y with Erbao.

    However, Lu Jingyuan couldn''t allow her to go because the Nan family was currently upied.

    Sensing Lu Yunxue''s desire, Ning Ran kneeled and reassured her softly, ¡°Once I have finished what I

    need to do, I''ll pick you up to go y with Erbao, all right?¡±

    The words delighted the girl. ¡°All right!¡±

    Upon leaving the vi, Qiao Zhan opened the car door for them to get in.

    ¡°Sir Chen, everyone from the production team has been detained. No one is allowed to leave. Shall we

    go over now?¡± Qiao Zhan inquired.

    ¡°Okay. Let''s send Ning Ran back to the inn before heading over to deal with them,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°How do you n on doing that? By the way, how did you know that there was a mmable substance

    on my body?¡± Ning Ran finally had the opportunity to raise the matter.

    ¡°An old schoolmate of Jiang Zhe''s met him recently, hoping to obtain information on Nanshi

    Corporation...¡±

    Nan Chen rted the entire incident involving Jiang Zhe and Yu Xiang to Ning Ran so that she could

    understand how he knew.

    ¡°Therefore, I''m the one that''s supposed to be burnt to ash? The Ouyang family are indeed b*stards,

    with one more vicious than the other,¡± Ning Ran cursed.

    ¡°I don''t think Ouyang Li hates you that much because both of you haven''t even met. The hatred she

    harbors can only be for me. Hence, my gut tells me that she isn''t the mastermind. She probably just

    knows of the n,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°Who else can it be if not for her? The one who hates me the most is Ouyang Qing, but she''s currently

    in prison. Now that she''s in trouble, where would she find the bandwidth to attack me?¡±

    Nan Chen furrowed his brows. ¡°To have gotten someone to infiltrate the production team and burn you

    to death is such an insidious manner. The mastermind must have spent a long time nning it. They

    had always wanted you dead but didn''t find the opportunity to do so. Recently, did you have any

    conflicts with anyone from the production team?¡±

    Ning Ran replied with certainty, ¡°No, as I don''t like quarreling with others. After filming every day, I

    would go straight home.¡±

    ¡°By the way, didn''t Huang Zichao invite you to star in a program together but cancel it suddenly? On top

    of that, he even offered topensate you for breaking the contract. Now that I think of it, is it because

    he got wind that you''re in danger and didn''t want to be burdened by you?¡±

    Nan Chen''s icy gaze made Ning Ran feel ufortable.

    ¡°Don''t look at me that way, as I''ve no idea. But from what you said, do you really think that he knows

    something?¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°Did hee to set over thest few days?¡± Nan Chen asked again.

    After giving it some thought, Ning Ran shook her head. ¡°He didn''t because he wasn''t feeling well. Also,

    he''s currently on leave indefinitely.¡±

    Nan Chen turned his attention to Qiao Zhan. ¡°Investigate who Huang Zichao has met with recently and

    what he''s up to.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Sir Chen,¡± Qiao Zhan acknowledged the instructions.

    ¡°But I still think this has nothing to do with Huang Zichao¡ª¡±

    Mid-sentence, Ning Ran decided against finishing it.

    She knew that insisting on Huang Zichao''s innocence under those circumstances would only infuriate

    Nan Chen.

 Chapter 721

    Chapter 721

    Sure enough, the look on Nan Chen''s face turned slightly gloomy after he heard that.

    ¡°Are you defending him?¡± he asked coldly.

    Ning Ran began to panic. ¡°O-Of course not! I told you, Huang Zichao and I have no interactions outside

    of work! I just think a famous and sessful actor like him has no need to kill anyone. I don''t pose a

    threat to him at all, so he shouldn''t have any reason to do that.¡±

    Of course, Nan Chen understood what Ning Ran was trying to say. He just didn''t feel too happy about

    things for now.

    Fearing that Nan Chen would get mad at her, Ning Ran had no choice but to pretend she suspected

    him as well.

    ¡°I understand that everyone in the production team is technically a suspect until we have concrete

    evidence to prove their innocence, and Huang Zichao is no exception. I was just blurting out what came

    to mind, that''s all. I''m sorry.¡±

    Nan Chen felt slightly better after hearing that. Qiao Zhan arched an eyebrow in amusement when he

    noticed the changes in Nan Chen''s expression.

    Oh? It seems even Sir Chen is susceptible to emotions like jealousy!

    The filming had already stopped by the time they arrived on set, and Qiao Zhan''s men had the

    perimeter surrounded. No one was allowed to get in or out of there.

    All the members of the production team were gossiping among themselves. They saw Nan Chen taking

    Ning Ran away by force, but they didn''t know what happened after.

    Nan Chen shot Qiao Zhan a nce and motioned at him to exin the situation and calm those people

    down.

    ¡°Please stay calm, everyone. Sir Chen was executing a safety drill of some sort because he was

    worried about Madam''s safety. Make sure to keep a tight lid on what happened today!¡± Qiao Zhan

    announced.

    The crowd grew even more confused when they heard that. Huh? That was a safety drill? It sure didn''t

    look like one!

    ¡°What do we do now?¡± asked the director.

    ¡°You''ll all take the rest of the day off and continue filming tomorrow. Sir Chen would like to greet the

    staff in person. Please have theme to shake hands with him,¡± Qiao Zhan replied.

    ¡°Of course, whatever Sir Chen says!¡± The director then turned around and told the production team,

    ¡°Listen up, people! Sir Chen wants to greet all of you in person, so get in line and give him a warm

    wee!¡±

    The staff got even more confused when they heard that. What is going on here? First, a safety drill

    where he grabs his girlfriend and runs off, and now, we''re having a meet-and-greet? Rich people sure

    are weird!

    ¡°Thank you all for your hard work,¡± Nan Chen said as he came over and red coldly at them.

    He then started shaking hands with everyone, starting with the director.

    While the male staff didn''t think much about it, the female staff were losing their minds from the

    excitement. After all, it wasn''t every day they got to shake hands with a man like Nan Chen.

    They all reached their hands out the moment Nan Chen walked up to them. Some even tried to take

    advantage of him by squeezing his hand as tightly as possible.

    Had Qiao Zhan not forbidden them from taking pictures, they would surely have done so and bragged

    about it on social media.

    Nan Chen maintained an expressionless look as he continued making his way down the line, with Qiao

    Zhan following closely behind.

    One of the staff, who was a young man in his twenties, had a rather stiff and awkward handshake. He

    even blinked nervously and avoided making eye contact with Nan Chen as he shook his hand.

    Uponpleting the handshake, Nan Chen turned around and shot Qiao Zhan a nce before

    continuing to shake the hands of the other staff.

    The staff were dismissed after the ¡°meet-and-greet¡± was over.

    Instead of leaving with everyone else, however, Nan Chen sat down in the break room and waited

    patiently.

    The director didn''t dare leave while Nan Chen was still around, so he waited alongside him.

    A few minutester, Qiao Zhan dragged the young man from earlier into the break room.

    ¡°What''s his job?¡± Qiao Zhan asked the director.

    ¡°Um... I think he''s...¡± The director wasn''t too sure as there were hundreds of people on the production

    team. The team was split into a few departments, each with its own assistant director and leader.

    ¡°If you''re not able to confirm this, then find me someone who can,¡± Qiao Zhan said sternly.

    ¡°On it!¡± The director quickly pulled out his phone and made a call.

    Momentster, a guy came in and took a look at the young man but was still unable to identify him

    either.

    Nan Chen got mad when he saw that. ¡°So, you just let random people waltz in here without proper

    identification?¡±

    The director was starting to panic. ¡°N-No, Sir Chen! It''s just that some departments have a really higher

    turnover rate. We have lots of work to do here on set, so we sometimes hire people on short notice to

    help out.¡±

    ¡°Starting today, registration shall be required for every single person upon entry. Do not let anyone in

    without proper identification, or you can all kiss the entertainment industry goodbye!¡± Qiao Zhan yelled.

    ¡°Y-Yes, sir! We''ll make sure to be extra careful next time!¡± the director replied while wiping the sweat off

    his forehead.

    Qiao Zhan waved at the two and said, ¡°You guys can wait outside.¡±

    The director pointed at the young man and asked, ¡°So, who is that guy¡ª¡±

    ¡°Get out!¡± Qiao Zhan was not in the mood for exnations.

    The director didn''t dare say another word. He quickly ran out of the break room with the other guy,

    leaving Nan Chen, Qiao Zhan, and the young man inside.

    The young man had dark skin and seemed to be in great physical condition. He refused to say a single

    word and simply sat there staring intensely at Nan Chen.

    ¡°Bring Ning Ran over,¡± Nan Chen ordered.

    Ning Ran, who had been waiting in the car the whole time, had no idea what was happening when she

    came in.

    ¡°Take a look at this guy. Do you know him?¡± Nan Chen asked while pointing at the young man.

    Ning Ran took a good, long look at the young man and shook her head.

    ¡°He''s the one who poured that mmable substance on your costume. Take a closer look and see if

    you recognize him,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran shook her head again. ¡°I''m positive that I haven''t seen him before.¡±

    Nan Chen then turned toward Qiao Zhan and motioned for him to take a step back. The next thing they

    knew, Nan Chen delivered a powerful kick to the young man''s chest, knocking him to the ground

    instantly.

    As the young man tried to get back on his feet, Qiao Zhan knocked him down with another kick and

    stepped on his head. ¡°Tell us who sent you!¡±

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    ¡°What did I do? Why are you doing this to me?¡± the young man eximed in some kind of strange

    dialect.

    ¡°Oh, you want to do this the hard way, huh?¡±

    Qiao Zhan then gestured at his men, prompting two of them to rush over and beat the young man up.

    Despite the brutal beating he was taking, the young man kept his mouth shut and refused to give up

    any information.

    Nan Chen then ordered them to stop, as he didn''t want the young man to get beaten to death on set.

    ¡°Bring me his phone,¡± Nan Chen said.

    After searching the young man, Qiao Zhan pulled out a phone from one of his pockets.

    It was thetest model and appeared to be brand new, as it still had the protective film on the screen.

    Nan Chen took the phone over and forced the young man to unlock it.

    He then handed it over to Ning Ran and said, ¡°Check his call log and see if you recognize any of the

    numbers.¡±

    After spending a few minutes scrolling through the call log, Ning Ran shook her head as she didn''t find

    any familiar numbers.

 Chapter 722

    Chapter 722

    ¡°Let go of me! What right do you have to detain me? Do you have any proof?¡±

    The man was stubborn. Despite being severely beaten up, he kept shouting and refused to yield.

    Nan Chen ignored his shouting and handed the phone to Qiao Zhan, saying, ¡°Copy all the contacts in

    his phone and send him to the police.¡±

    Qiao Zhan was slightly puzzled. ¡°That''s it? Isn''t that too¡ª¡±

    However, Nan Chen cut him off by waving a dismissive hand, gesturing for Qiao Zhan to do as he was

    told.

    After Qiao Zhan brought that man away, Nan Chen paced back and forth in the studio, reaching every

    corner.

    Ning Ran could not read through him. ¡°What are you doing? Are you suspecting someone else is hiding

    here? Also, how are you so certain that he wanted to hurt me?¡±

    He remained silent and continued walking around.

    Ning Ran did not know what he was up to, so she followed behind him and paced around as well.

    After confirming that there was nothing unusual, Nan Chen finally walked out of the studio.

    ¡°Did you find something?¡± Ning Ran asked curiously.

    Nan Chen shook his head, indicating that he found nothing.

    ¡°Then, how are you so sure that he''s the bad guy?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°There''s a certain scent on his body. It''s the same mmable substance smell on you.¡± Nan Chen gave

    her a standard answer.

    Ning Ran was taken aback. ¡°Are you saying he has the same mmable substance with him too? Why

    didn''t I smell it?¡±

    ¡°If he touched that substance, the smell would linger on him. Just because you didn''t smell it doesn''t

    mean I couldn''t smell it too.¡±

    Nan Chen had a sense of smell that was even more acute than a dog''s, and it was a secret known only

    to him.

    Although he considered that a gift, he was not ready to tell Ning Ran about it yet.

    He had no idea why he did not feel like telling Ning Ran about his gift. He just felt like keeping it a

    secret for the time being.

    Perhaps his gift was why he could smell the unique orange blossom scent on Ning Ran. However, Nan

    Chen still could not understand why he found Ning Ran''s scent somewhat familiar.

    ¡°So, were you trying to smell those staff members by shaking their hands one by one? You were trying

    to find the culprit among them?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    Nan Chen remained silent. He did not want to tell her the details. There was no particr reason for

    that. He simply did not feel like answering.

    Seeing that, Ning Ran did not force him either. She had already adapted to Nan Chen''s personality,

    knowing he would not tell anyone anything if he did not feel like sharing. Naturally, she knew he would

    speak only when he felt like talking.

    No one could force him to talk if he did not feel like it.

    The next day, in Flower City, after Ouyang Li arrived at a private room inside a particr club, she saw

    Ding Fei ring at her with a darkened expression.

    Although Ouyang Li did not like how Ding Fei was shooting daggers at her, she knew she had to

    tolerate it since she needed Ding Fei''s help.

    Ouyang Li was certainly the best of the best in tolerating someone else.

    Ever since she was a child, she was never weed by the Ouyang family. All the praises and

    apuse were meant only for her sister, Ouyang Qing. That could not be helped since Ouyang Li had

    an ordinary face and did mediocrely in her studies. She had nothing worthy enough to attract her family

    members'' attention.

    Among families who had more than one child, the parents would more or less favor one child over the

    others. Correspondingly, the parents would also slowly develop certain biases toward the other child.

    The favored child would most often grow up fearless and arrogant. Even if they mistreated the parents,

    the parents would still be protective of them.

    Meanwhile, the least favored child would never receive the same attention and love from the parents,

    no matter how much they had sacrificed for their family.

    It was amon phenomenon. There was no question of fairness or unfairness, as there was no

    absolute fairness in this world.

    Stemming from that, Ouyang Li never requested anyone to treat her fairly. Instead, she would only

    work hard in silence and let things develop in a direction beneficial to her. That way, she could get

    control over the distribution of resources and finally make things unfair for others.

    Judging from the current situation, Ouyang Li''s strategy was indeed effective.

    She had excluded Feng Jialing, her mother, and Ouyang Qi, her brother, from Sunshine Corporation''s

    inner circle.

    Now, she had be the only representative of Sunshine Corporation''s rights and interests. The

    mysterious woman across from her yed a huge role in making this happen.

    Therefore, she had to endure everything until she could finally get rid of Ding Fei. When the time

    comes, she would make Ding Fei pay for the humiliation and cold shoulder she had received during

    this period.

    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    ¡°Aren''t you supposed to be filming in Livingsfill? Why are you suddenly back here? What do you feel

    like having? It''ll be my treat,¡± said Ouyang Li generously.

    She was now the acting CEO of Sunshine Corporation, enjoying her high status and great power, so it

    was rare for her to treat someone so politely.

    Although she could exercise the power of the CEO as the acting CEO, her position was not yet rectified

    and there was a chance she could be reced at any time.

    Ouyang Li would have to wait until the board of directors approved appointing her as the CEO to finally

    be in power of the entirepany.

    Ding Fei was not too pleased with Ouyang Li trying to tter her. She maintained her darkened

    expression and took her phone, flipping through the camera gallery to show Ouyang Li some pictures.

    In the picture, Nan Chen could be seen shielding Ning Ran as they ran out. At that time, Qiao Zhan had

    yet to stop them from taking pictures.

    ¡°Is this Nan Chen or Nan Xing?¡± Ouyang Li was not familiar with the twins, so she could not tell them

    apart.

    ¡°It''s Nan Chen. He suddenly showed up in Livingsfill and saved Ning Ran, that b*tch. Can you tell me

    why?¡± Ding Fei shouted at Ouyang Li.

    Puzzled, Ouyang Li did not fully grasp the situation and could not understand why Ding Fei was

    shouting at her.

    ¡°How would I know? I''ve been in Flower City all this while and did not participate in that,¡± said Ouyang

    Li.

    Ding Fei stood up and pointed at Ouyang Li. ¡°How dare you y dumb? Do you like Nan Chen, that

    b*stard too? Just like your sister likes him? Did you tip him off to make him like you more? Aren''t you a

    b*tch just like your sister?¡±

    Although Ouyang Li could tolerate better than most people, it did not mean she had no temper.

    Ding Fei had crossed the line when she pointed at her and called her a b*tch.

    Anger surged within Ouyang Li, and she curled her fingers unknowingly until her hands clenched into

    fists.

    Still, she did not explode immediately. She was still trying to suppress her anger.

    ¡°I''m sure there''s a misunderstanding here. So please don''t do anything rash. Just calm down and talk

    to me. You should at least let me know what happened.¡± Ouyang Li remained calm and humble, like a

    subordinate talking to her employer.

    ¡°Can''t you see it from the pictures? The person I sent was about to burn that b*tch, Ning Ran into

    ashes. We had nned it for a long time, but Nan Chen suddenly showed up and ruined everything. If

    someone didn''t tip him off, how did he show up just in time to rescue her? Don''t tell me he''s a psychic

    that can predict the future?¡± Ding Fei continued yelling at Ouyang Li, still unable to rein in her temper.

    ¡°Tip him off? Are you saying you think someone from my end tipped him off?¡±

    ¡°Only a few of us knew about this. Aside from the people who work for me, I only told you about this

    n! Nan Chen was in Flower City, a thousand miles away from the studio. If you didn''t tip him off, how

    could he have rushed to Livingsfill overnight to save her? Unless he can predict the future, there''s just

    no way this makes sense!¡±

    Ouyang Li ignored Ding Fei''s shouting. She began pacing around for a moment, pondering what Ding

    Fei had told her.

    Nan Chen''s definitely not a superhuman who could predict the future. Therefore, someone must have

    tipped him off for him to suddenly show up in Livingsfill. Since Ding Fei''s the mastermind behind the

    n, it''s understood that she would never leak it to anyone else. As such, I guess it makes sense that

    it''s probably someone from my side that had informed Nan Chen about this.

 Chapter 723

    Chapter 723

    Ding Fei took Ouyang Li''s silence as a sign that thetter was having a guilty conscience.

    ¡°Why did you tell Nan Chen? Don''t tell me you really have feelings for him? What a joke! Although Nan

    Chen is a jerk, he''s good-looking, after all. Do you think you have a chance with him?¡± Ding Fei

    sneered.

    Ouyang Li was stunned and rendered speechless.

    Those words stung her deeply.

    She had always known that her appearance was exceptionally ordinary, so she always worked hard to

    make up for this shoring with her capabilities.

    She managed to do that, but she was still a woman, after all.

    All women wanted to be beautiful. No one wanted to be despised by others because of their looks.

    One could ignore it or simply not talk about it, but one should never deliberately target another''s

    shorings. This was the basicmon sense of being a decent human being.

    However, some people ignored it even if they knew that. Ding Fei was one such person.

    Someone like that would only attract hatred.

    At that moment, Ouyang Li despised Ding Fei. She hated thetter from the bottom of her heart.

    However, the hatred in Ouyang Li''s eyes disappeared quickly, and she smiled bitterly. ¡°Ms. Ding, I know

    very clearly what I look like. Besides, I''m not interested in Nan Chen. It''s impossible that I leaked the

    information to him. The Nan family killed my father. Everything I''m doing now is to destroy them. So

    why would I tip Nan Chen off? I wouldn''t do something that would harm my own interests. I''m someone

    who values gaining benefits.¡±

    Ouyang Li made a good point, and Ding Fei was convinced.

    In terms of intelligence, Ding Fei was far inferior to Ouyang Li.

    Ouyang Li was just tolerating her because she was still of use. Otherwise, Ding Fei would have been

    kicked to the curb a long time ago.

    ¡°Fine. Even if you didn''t tip him off, someone around you did. Only a handful of people knew about this.

    My subordinates would never have done it, so it must have been someone around you. Think about it.

    Who else was beside you when we talked over the phone? Could someone have overheard our

    conversation and revealed it to Nan Chen?¡± Ding Fei said.

    Ouyang Li thought about it carefully. I was alone when Ding Fei called her that day.

    Ding Fei suddenly remembered something. Someone had hidden a listening device in her bag before.

    Did my phone get tapped again? Is that how the information got leaked?

    ¡°All right. I''ll look into this and let you know once I find something,¡± Ouyang Li replied.

    ¡°No matter who it is, you better not hide it from me. If I find out that you''re hiding things from me, our

    cooperation is over. Also, I need you to think about it carefully. Is there anyone who wants to save that

    b*tch? That b*tch slept with so many men who were bewitched by her beauty. Maybe there''s someone

    like that around you.¡±

    At Ding Fei''s words, Ouyang Li immediately thought of someone.

    When Ouyang Li left, the driver had already driven the car over ording to her instructions.

    Her driver was none other than her younger brother, Ouyang Qi.

    Ouyang Qi did not dare utter a word when he saw Ouyang Li''s dark expression and merely started the

    engine.

    ¡°To the clubhouse,¡± Ouyang Li said.

    Ouyang Qi answered in acknowledgment and drove to Orchid Club.

    The club''s renovations were almostpleted. Some rooms were being cleaned up, and some

    maintenance work was being carried out.

    The club would reopen in a few days.

    Orchid Club was already luxurious previously, but after Ouyang Li''s remodifications, the ce became

    even grander and had a more feminine style.

    Ouyang Li was going to change the name of the clubhouse to Lily Club.

    By adding her name, it was a deration that the Ouyang family would usher in a new era that

    belonged to her.

    Ouyang Li and Ouyang Qi entered the clubhouse and went to a room that was already tidied up. A

    haggard-looking Feng Jialing was staying there.

    Ever since she found out that her husband had passed away, and her favorite daughter, Ouyang Qing,

    had gone to prison, Feng Jialing no longer had any hope in her life.

    In addition, Ouyang Li suddenly seized power and forced her to hand over all her shares, which was

    another blow to her.

    She suddenly realized that the world had changed and that there was no meaning in life.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Although she did think about dying, she was still worried about Sunshine Corporation. After all, it was

    Ouyang Duo''spany. If it got destroyed in Ouyang Li''s hands, Feng Jialing wouldn''t know how to

    face her husband in the afterlife.

    Ouyang Qi''s heart ached when he saw his mother''s haggard look.

    In the past, he was ignorant and only knew how to have fun. He was an idle yboy who had never

    done any serious work in his life and only made his mother angry.

    Now that the Ouyang family was in a crisis, there was nothing he could do. He could only act as a

    chauffeur for his sister.

    ¡°Mom, you have to take care of yourself. Eat more, especially food that has nourishment. You''ve lost a

    lot of weight,¡± Ouyang Qi said caringly.

    ¡°I''m fine. You should be careful of¡ª¡±

    Before Feng Jialing could finish speaking, she was interrupted by Ouyang Li. ¡°Shut up! Stop talking

    about meaningless things in front of me. I have something to say.¡±

    ¡°Li, why won''t you let Mom speak? How can you do this?¡±

    Ouyang Qi was disappointed in Ouyang Li''s attitude.

    ¡°I said shut up! Didn''t you hear me? You''re saying that I''m treating her badly, but has she ever treated

    me well? Everyone believes that the Ouyang family has only one daughter, Ouyang Qing. No one even

    remembers that I exist. They don''t even look at me. She treated me so badly, so why do I have to treat

    her well?¡± Ouyang Li bellowed angrily.

    Ouyang Li was right. Feng Jialing could only shake her head, unable to refute.

    It was an undeniable fact that she did not attach any importance to Ouyang Li in the past. Thetter

    was simply too ordinary.

    ¡°Let me ask you, Mom. If someone betrayed you, and that person was your family, what would you

    do?¡± Ouyang Li asked as she stared at Feng Jialing.

    Feng Jialing stared at her daughter fearfully. She did not know what tricks thetter had up her sleeves.

    ¡°Mom, didn''t you hear me? Do I need to speak louder?¡± Ouyang Li bellowed again.

    ¡°Li, are you really going to speak to Mom like that? No matter how she treated you before, she''s still the

    one who gave birth to you and raised you!¡± Ouyang Qi could not bear it any longer.

    ¡°Shut up! It''s not your turn to speak yet. Tell me, Mom. What would you do?¡± Ouyang Li pressed.

    ¡°Li, what exactly are you trying to say? Just spit it out. I''m tired, and I don''t want to argue with you,¡±

    Feng Jialing said weakly.

    ¡°Fine, I''ll just say it then. I didn''t want to give Ouyang Qi a chance at first, but your son begged me to

    give him a job. Since we''re siblings, I let him stay and work with me. However, he betrayed me. He

    tapped my phone and leaked information to the Nan family! Since he has no regard for our rtionship

    as siblings, I can''t keep him with me any longer. I''m informing you first, lest you say that I''m heartless

    again. Starting today, Ouyang Qi is officially fired. I will never give him another chance!¡±

 Chapter 724

    Chapter 724

    Ouyang Qi was dumbfounded by Ouyang Li''s announcement.

    Am I seriously fired even though I had just started work?

    The fact that a rich boy like him would willingly swallow his pride and work as a driver was hard

    enough, so it was unthinkable to him that he was even deprived of that job.

    ¡°Are you still unable to tolerate your brother''s presence even though he''s just a mere driver now? Li,

    are you cutting ties with your family?¡±

    Feng Jialing got into a coughing fit due to her agitation.

    ¡°It''s not that I can''t tolerate him, but he had betrayed me! He ced a tapping device in my bag to

    intercept all of my secrets and leak them to my opponents! Am I supposed to let him stay until he leads

    me to my death?¡± cried Ouyang Li.

    ¡°I''ve never ced any tapping device anywhere! You''re making wild usations just to fire me

    because you want to chase me away!¡± Ouyang Qi was also riled up.

    He had exercised much forbearance and felt like he was being backed into a corner.

    ¡°Who else would''ve done it if not you? Ning Ran would have been reduced to ashes by now if it weren''t

    for you saving her by tipping Nan Chen off! I know you like Ning Ran and have a hard time getting her

    out of your mind, but she''s Nan Chen''s woman! How dare you betray me to save her? You are the one

    who started this dogfight, so don''t me me for retaliating in kind. You are to leave right now! Get out

    of this clubhouse, withdraw from thepany, and never show yourself in front of me ever again.¡±

    As Ouyang Li spoke, she turned to face Feng Jialing. ¡°Don''t you feel pity for your son? You can leave

    with him. The clubhouse will be opened soon, so you can''t stay any longer. You should be able to find

    yourself a ce to stay given the numerous properties you own in Pearl City. I''ll also bank in a monthly

    allowance for you every month. Just leave.¡±

    ¡°Are you chasing me out?¡± Feng Jialing asked in a trembling voice.

    ¡°This isn''t an eviction, but I am urging you to leave. You don''t like me anyway and only have eyes for

    your son and youngest daughter. I don''t suppose you can keep your daughterpany while she''s in

    jail, so you''ll leave with your son. Your presence here is making both of us ufortable, so you have

    to go. I won''t hold Ouyang Qi ountable for having betrayed me as long as he stays out of my sight.

    From today onward, the three of us shall cut ties with each other. This is farewell,¡± said Ouyang Li.

    Feng Jialing was rendered speechless as her face paled and her lips quivered.

    Never had she imagined her eldest daughter to be cruel enough to cut ties with her.

    The reason Ouyang Li chose to do that wasn''t only because their presence grated on her nerves. She

    also wished for them to stay away from her lest they affected her status in Sunshine Corporation.

    After all, a lot of thepany''s senior employees still viewed Feng Jialing as their unofficial leader,

    while Ouyang Qi was still the heir.

    Although Ouyang Duo was no more, there were still a group of employees loyal to him, which

    happened to include quite a number of the higher-ups.

    That was one of Ouyang Li''s hidden concerns, so she was determined to minimize Feng Jialing and

    Ouyang Qi''s effect on her reign over thepany.

    She was initially nning to chase Ouyang Qi out but was worried that cracking down too hard on him

    might trigger a retaliation. Moreover, she didn''t wish to be regarded as overly ruthless.

    Yet, time was running out. She was certain that Nan Chen was tipped off due to Ouyang Qi''s affection

    toward Ning Ran. She wouldn''t tolerate the incident repeating itself.

    Besides, she would be able to give Ding Fei a satisfactory reply if she fired Ouyang Qi.

    She should be satisfied now that I''ve chased my own brother away.

    Thus, it was just a matter of time before she made that move.

    When presented with what she perceived to be a golden opportunity, she acted swiftly.

    ¡°How do you think the senior employees would perceive you after catching wind of you chasing both

    me and Mom away, Li? Won''t they feel bitter?¡± Ouyang Qi questioned sternly.

    ¡°That''s why you will make a public statement about you leaving of your own ord. Mom misses life in

    Pearl City, and you have to watch over her because of her declining health, so you quit your job at the

    company. Your absence will not be missed, for we have many other professional drivers. All you need

    to do is take care of Mom in Pearl City. You are not to be involved inpany matters either. None of

    that has anything to do with you. Not anymore,¡± Ouyang Li stated matter-of-factly.

    While Ouyang Qi seemed to object to that, Feng Jialing waved her arm. ¡°It''s fine. We''ll do as she says.

    Just let it be.¡±

    Grief-stricken, she stood up feebly after that and nearly toppled over.

    Ouyang Qi reached out to support her. The two of them then left slowly.

    ¡°Give me the car keys. That''s my car,¡± Ouyang Li called out from behind them.

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    ¡°I''ve sold my car, so I don''t have one now. Can''t you lend me yours so I can send Mom back to Pearl

    City?¡±

    ¡°No. I''ll need a ride at any moment.¡± Ouyang Li declined his request.

    Ouyang Qi could only throw the keys back to her in resignation.

    ¡°It''s okay. We don''t need to drive. We''ll just take the railway.¡±

    Feng Jialing''s voice was hoarse and rife with sorrow.

    Upon stepping out of the clubhouse, Ouyang Qi hailed a taxi and helped his mother into it.

    ¡°Mom, you''re weak now, so we''ll settle down somewhere for the time being. We''ll return to Pearl City

    after you get better.¡±

    ¡°But we have nowhere else to go now. Ouyang Li has gotten rid of the house in Flower City, and I don''t

    want to stay in a hotel.¡±

    ¡°It''s okay. I have a ce where you can stay at. It''s slightly run-down, but you''ll have to make do.¡±

    It was ten o''clock at night, and Tang Jing was doing an online search at a hotel in Livingsfill. She

    wanted to know at what stage the incident pertained to Ning Ran was at.

    Nan Chen and the rest didn''t fill the production team in on the details of the incident, so various

    versions of the incident were circted around.

    Some imed that Nan Chen was merely putting up an act by escorting Ning Ran out while pretending

    that she was in danger.

    Others surmised that Ning Ran was indeed in danger. Someone was indeed after her, but Nan Chen''s

    timely rescue spared her the consequences.

    Due to Tang Jing''s absence that day, she wasn''t sure what had transpired, but she figured that Ning

    Ran was indeed in danger.

    She also had an inkling as to who might be behind the incident and spected that Ouyang Li was the

    mastermind.

    However, Ouyang Li would usually inquire about the production team''s situation before making any

    moves, so she found it odd that nomunication was received from Ouyang Li at all.

    All Ouyang Li had her do during that period was disclose the exact location of the production team and

    nothing else.

    Could Ouyang Li have bribed someone else on the production team to spy on Ning Ran? Does that

    mean she no longer trusts me?

    Tang Jing couldn''t figure anything out even after racking her brain.

    Without warning, the phone rang with a call from Ouyang Qi.

    He sounded tipsy, slurring as he spoke. ¡°What are you up to? Were you asleep?¡±

    Tang Jing replied softly, ¡°Not yet. I''ve just finished reading my script. Are you not going to bed yet?¡±

    ¡°Nope. Listen. I brought my mother to stay at your ce without your permission. We''ll only be staying

    there temporarily, and I''m informing you of it now. I promise to settle her somewhere else before you

    return.¡±

 Chapter 725

    Chapter 725

    For a moment, Tang Jing was stunned. ¡°Did you just say your mother?¡±

    Isn''t Ouyang Qi''s mother the widow of Ouyang Duo, the boss of Sunshine Corporation? Why is she

    moving into my condominium? Even if the Ouyang family isn''t doing as well as before, they are, by and

    large, still an influential family. How has Mrs. Ouyang ended up in such a sorry state?

    Thinking that Tang Jing was unhappy, Ouyang Qi hastily replied, ¡°I know it isn''t convenient to have my

    mother at your ce. However, she refuses to stay at a hotel, so I have no choice but to put her up

    here for the time being. I''ll move her out once I''ve found suitable amodation.¡±

    ¡°No, no. There''s no hurry. I don''t have a problem with that. I''m just a little embarrassed by the size of

    my house. What if she''s not used to it? Of course, if she doesn''t mind the size, she can stay as long as

    she likes,¡± Tang Jing remarked. ¡°I''m curious, though. What happened? Why doesn''t she have a ce

    to live in?¡±

    The other end of the line fell silent for a few seconds, and when Ouyang Qi finally spoke up, his voice

    was tinged with sadness.

    ¡°My sister fired me and dragged my mother into the whole mess. She wants me to apany Mom

    back to Pearl City and stop interfering withpany affairs. Sorry... I know I''ve let you down. I''m not

    even allowed to chauffeur my sister around now.¡±

    ¡°What? She won''t even let you drive the car?¡± Tang Jing eximed.

    Oh, my goodness. Ouyang Li is pure evil! Who knew she''d be even more ruthless than Ouyang Qing

    and pull such a stunt?

    ¡°Yes. My sister told me to get lost immediately. Her reason was that I had nted a listening device on

    her and leaked her secrets to the Nan family. I''m clueless about what happened, but she must''ve

    fabricated that excuse to get me out of thepany.¡±

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    Needless to say, Tang Jing could tell how despondent Ouyang Qi was.

    ¡°It''s okay. Take a couple of days off and look after Mrs. Ouyang,¡± she gentlyforted. ¡°Now that your

    father isn''t around, it''s all the more reason for you to protect your mother and spend time with her.¡±

    Upon hearing that, Ouyang Qi felt all warm and fuzzy again. My gosh. She really is the best woman I''ve

    ever met!

    ¡°Thank you, Tang Jing. I''m sorry to have disappointed you and given you so much trouble. That said,

    please rest assured that I won''t give up. I''ll work hard to better myself and be a capable,

    sessful person,¡± Ouyang Qi said, albeit with a twinge of shame.

    ¡°You''ve always been a capable person. I have faith in you,¡± Tang Jing replied sweetly. ¡°Anyway, you''re

    still drinking, aren''t you? You should call it a night and rest early. Come on, pull yourself together! You

    got this!¡±

    With Tang Jing being so gentle and soft-spoken, it was no wonder Ouyang Qi felt sofortable

    around her, as though she was part of his family.

    ¡°Very well, then. You should rest early too. I won''t bother you anymore.¡±

    ¡°Sure. Goodnight!¡±

    As soon as she hung up the phone, Tang Jing spaced out for a while before a smile slowly crept across

    her face.

    Haha. I thought it was impressive enough to snag Ouyang Qi, but now, thanks to him, I have Mrs.

    Ouyang on my side too! So what if she''s been chased out by Ouyang Li and deemed useless? To me,

    she''s like a mountain of gold. With her around, I''m sure to seed!

    Sure enough, Ouyang Qi had felt miserable and downed so much wine that he slept till the cows came

    home.

    Meanwhile, Feng Jialing was still struggling with her new amodation. Having enjoyed the high life

    for many years, the only ces she lived in were luxury homes and mansions. She couldn''t even get

    used to staying in hotels, let alone an ordinary condominium.

    Of course, given Tang Jing''s celebrity status, her house was considered high-end whenpared to

    other folks''.

    To Feng Jialing, however, a condominium was still too small for her liking, and there was a lot she

    couldn''t get ustomed to.

    One example was that she never had the habit of cooking for herself. As the wife of a wealthy man, she

    kept herself busy by attending events with her husband and other socialites, so there was barely a

    need to step into the kitchen.

    As a result, it was already afternoon, yet Feng Jialing hadn''t even had breakfast. Then again, she didn''t

    have much of an appetite either.

    When Ouyang Qi finally woke up, he found his mother spacing out on the balcony, looking very lonely

    and haggard.

    It was only then that he remembered thetter never cooked, so he assumed she must be starving.

    s, Ouyang Qi wasn''t much of a cook, so he had no choice but to order takeout.

    Once their food arrived, mother and son sat facing each other and quietly tucked into their meals.

    Sadly, Feng Jialing couldn''t eat more than two mouthfuls of it. On the one hand, her appetite was still

    poor, and on the other, the takeout food was anything but tasty.

    Ouyang Qi, too, shared the same sentiments and sighed heavily. ¡°Why don''t I head out to buy us

    something else? Food from better restaurants should be tastier.¡±

    ¡°No, it''s okay. Sit down. Let''s chat,¡± Feng Jialing suggested.

    Ouyang Qi did as instructed, looking shamefaced as he met his mother''s gaze. ¡°It''s all my fault. I

    couldn''t do anything, and now you have to suffer with me.¡±

    Feng Jialing shook her head. ¡°No. You''re not to me. We''ve all made mistakes, including your father.

    He was too arrogant and thought he had everything under control. He wanted to dominate the region''s

    business arena, but the truth was that he wasn''t capable enough. His wild ambition was what brought

    him down. That said, I''m also to me. I knew he had an inted ego, yet I didn''t try to talk some

    sense into him. To make matters worse, I even went against my morality to help him. I guess what goes

    aroundes around, and I''m paying for my sins now.¡±

    After hearing his mother''s words, Ouyang Qi felt even more upset.

    ¡°Mom, don''t say that. Even though I''m against how you and Dad had handled things in the past, I know

    you only did it for the sake of our family. Besides, that''s all in the past now. What''s the point in dredging

    it up?¡± Ouyang Qi replied. ¡°I''m not mad that Li has taken over thepany, but she has be even

    more ambitious and ruthless than Dad. Dad always took care of the family and only dealt with

    outsiders. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have been able to enjoy so many years of being indolent and a

    womanizer. Li, however, is downright scary. She can even chase us out, for goodness'' sake. One can

    only imagine what else she''d be capable of. I''m worried about the consequences if we let this go on.

    Instead of revitalizing the Ouyang family, she might jeopardize us to the point where we have to

    withdraw from Sunshine Corporation.¡±

    Feng Jialing bobbed her head repeatedly. ¡°Yes, you''re right. Those are my thoughts too, and I can''t

    help but worry about her current state. She always kept a low profile in the past and did her work

    diligently, making me think she was a dependable person. s, who knew her true colors would be so

    terrifying? I admit that your father and I used to dote on Qing more, but even then, we''ve never done

    anything to hurt Li. It hurts me to see the way she''s treating us now. Therefore, we have to think of a

    solution as soon as possible. We can''t let her go on like this.¡±

    As luck would have it, that was also what Ouyang Qi had in mind.

    ¡°What should we do now, then?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Since she wants to relocate Sunshine Corporation''s headquarters to Flower City while insisting I return

    to Pearl City, that must mean she doesn''t want me to affect her control of thepany. However,

    Sunshine Corporation is your father''s sweat and blood. There''s no way I''d let her do anything reckless.

    Your father has already paid for his mistakes, so how can I let her go down that same road? In any

    case, we have to exert control. The only question is how.¡±

    ¡°All right. I''ll do as you say, Mom,¡± Ouyang Qi said with a nod.

 Chapter 726

    Chapter 726

    Over at Mountview Inn in Livingsfill, Erbao followed Nan Chen around from the moment she woke up.

    No matter where he went, she would trail behind him like a little shadow.

    The little girl was worried her father would go back and wanted to keep an eye on him.

    In truth, Nan Chen had nned to fly back to Flower City that afternoon. Although he could not bear

    seeing Erbao like that, he also had an important event he needed to attend personally. Hence, he felt

    caught between a rock and a hard ce.

    Even after having lunch and the time came for Erbao to have her afternoon nap, she refused to sleep.

    She sat there stubbornly, so drowsy that her gaze was unfocused. Although she nearly dozed off

    several times on the couch, she forced herself to get up each time.

    Seeing that, Ning Ran felt her heart ache.

    ¡°Go to sleep. Daddy won''t leave while you''re asleep, so you don''t have to worry. I promise he''ll still be

    here when you wake up,¡± she coaxed gently.

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Erbao shook her head as she tried hard to open her eyes wide. ¡°I''m not sleepy, Mommy. Not even a

    little bit!¡±

    As a matter of fact, Nan Chen was preparing to wait until Erbao fell asleep before departing.

    The situation in Flower City had been ratherplicated recently, and there were many things he had

    to handle. Hence, he did not have the energy to spend time with the children every day.

    On top of that, filming for Ning Ran''s movie had yet to wrap up, which meant he could only wait until

    filming ended before bringing them back home.

    If the children return with me while Ning Ran remains in Livingsfill, our security team would have to split

    into a few smaller groups to protect the twins and Ning Ran. Doing so would only make Qiao Zhan''s

    subordinates more on edge and exhausted. Besides, Ning Ran will miss the kids if they''re not with her.

    She''d be in no mood to film, and Dabao and Erbao would be miserable. Clearly, that wouldn''t be a

    good arrangement either.

    Although the children had a sense of dependency on Nan Chen, it was nowhere near how much they

    depended on Ning Ran. After all, she had been the one by their side as they grew up.

    Nan Chen was also incredibly busy and often worked untilte at night. Even if the twins were at

    Flower City, he would have no time to spend with them.

    Thus, after weighing the pros and cons, it made more sense to leave the little ones with Ning Ran in

    Livingsfill.

    However, Nan Chen began to waver as he gazed at the scene before him.

    She''s already sleepy but still refuses to go down for her nap. If I leave while she''s asleep, she''ll be so

    disappointed when she wakes up. Lying to a child is the dumbest thing one can do. A parent who lies

    will lose their authority and their child''s trust, and it''d be even more impossible to ask that child to be an

    honest person.

    ¡°Erbao, I promise I''ll be here when you wake up.¡±

    He picked her up in his arms and walked toward the room, but she resisted immediately.

    ¡°I don''t want to nap. I''m not sleepy! I''m not sleepy at all!¡±

    ¡°Are you going to be disobedient? Have I ever lied to you?¡± Nan Chen asked, putting on a stern

    expression.

    He always wore a poker face and already looked very stern, to begin with. However, now that he was

    deliberately acting all serious, he looked even more imposing and even somewhat terrifying.

    Thinking that he was angry, Erbao was so frightened that she dared not utter a word and her eyes

    reddened.

    ¡°Answer me. Have I ever lied you?¡± Nan Chen pressed.

    ¡°No,¡± she answered in a tearful voice but did not dare to burst into tears.

    At that moment, Ning Ran hurried over. ¡°What do you think you''re doing by scaring my daughter like

    that? She''s on the verge of crying!¡±

    ¡°I didn''t! I didn''t scare her!¡± Nan Chen replied, feeling utterly wronged.

    Worried that the pair would get into an argument, Erbao quickly exined, ¡°Daddy didn''t do anything.

    Don''t me him.¡±

    Ning Ran immediately grabbed the girl and held her close. ¡°There''s nothing to fear. Mommy''s here.¡±

    ¡°I was talking to her nicely. Don''t be like that. I really wasn''t scaring her,¡± Nan Chen protested, looking

    helpless.

    ¡°Let''s hear what you wanted to say. Go on, then.¡±

    ¡°Erbao, I''ve never lied to you in the past, nor will I lie to you in the future. If I tell you I''ll be here when

    you wake up, you can be sure of it. Go to sleep now. I''ll watch over you, and when you wake up, you''ll

    still see me sitting there the second you open your eyes,¡± Nan Chen said gently.

    Erbao nced at her mother, and thetter nodded.

    ¡°In that case, let''s make a pinky promise. If you sneak off, you''re a dishonest scallywag,¡± said Erbao.

    ¡°Sure. Pinky promise.¡± Nan Chen stuck out his finger solemnly.

    Then, he took Erbao from Ning Ran and continued, ¡°All right. Come on, then. I''ll carry you to bed.¡±

    As it turned out, she dozed off just as he was about toy her on her bed. After all, she was exhausted

    and had only been fighting to stay awake.

    With a doting look in his eyes, Nan Chen lowered his head and kissed his daughter''s cheek.

    Then, he tiptoed out of the room, gently closing the door behind him.

    Meanwhile, Qiao Zhan had already arranged for a car. ¡°Sir Chen, you''ll need to leave now. Otherwise,

    you''ll miss your flight.¡±

    Nan Chen nced at his watch. ¡°I have to wait for my daughter to wake up. I gave her my word that

    she''ll be able to see when she wakes up.¡±

    ¡°It''ll be toote then. Little Miss'' naptime is usually very long. She''ll only wake up after three o''clock in

    the afternoon at the earliest. By then, the ne will have departed already,¡± Qiao Zhan replied.

    ¡°I don''t care,¡± Nan Chen responded while waving his hand.

    Qiao Zhan was dumbfounded. What does that mean? Does it mean he''s not leaving?

    ¡°Assistant Jiang has called quite a few times already. He mentioned that the groundbreaking ceremony

    for the project on Serenity Street is tomorrow, and some important figures from the province will be

    present. Hence, you need to be there with them to meet the reporters. If you''re not there when they

    arrive, it''ll be difficult for Assistant Jiang to exin your absence,¡± he said.

    Nan Chen frowned and asked, ¡°When did you start seeing eye to eye with Jiang Zhe? Didn''t the two of

    you used to sh with each other all the time?¡±

    ¡°I don''t see eye to eye with him at all. He''s nothing but an ipetent and pedantic nerd. There''s no

    way we''d ever get along,¡± Qiao Zhan answered with a look of disdain.

    Then, changing the subject, he continued, ¡°However, as an employee of thepany, I agree with him

    that you should be on time for the event tomorrow. If you''re not there when the bigshots arrive, they''ll

    say you''re not showing them respect, which will affect thepany.¡±

    Nan Chan''s gaze flitted toward Qiao Zhan. His awareness and thinking have grown so much after he

    joined as the head of thepany''s security. It looks as though an environment does have a significant

    influence on a person.

    ¡°Of course, that''s just what I think. Whether or not you attend the event is still your decision,¡± Qiao

    Zhan added.

    Nan Chen nodded. ¡°You made a very good point.¡±

    An expression of delight spread across Qiao Zhan''s face. ¡°Thank you for thepliment, Sir Chen.

    Let''s get going, then. We''ll need to hurry to get to the airport.¡±

    Nan Chen furrowed his brows. ¡°I''ve already said that I promised my daughter she''ll be able to see me

    when she wakes up. Do you want me to be a father who doesn''t keep his word?¡±

    His response left Qiao Zhan stunned again. So, is he going or not?

    ¡°Chief Qiao, how could you take me for my brother? My brother is over there. He''s the one who''s

    supposed to attend the event.¡± As Nan Chen spoke, he lifted his chin and pointed it toward Nan Xing,

    who was gaming in a corner.

    Qiao Zhan stared at him with eyes like saucers. ¡°You''re Sir Chen! He''s Master Xing!¡±

    ¡°Nonsense! I''m Nan Xing, right?¡± Nan Chen asked, turning toward Ning Ran behind him.

    She caught on instantly. Poker Face wants Nan Xing to attend the event as him so that he can stay

    with the kids! However, although the two of them look very alike, there''s a difference in their

    capabilities. Will Nan Xing be able to handle it? If the leaders discover he''s pretending to be Nan Chen,

    won''t that make them even more furious?

    ¡°That...¡± She did not dare to say anything.

    ¡°Am I Nan Xing or not?¡± Nan Chen repeated with a cial edge to his tone that seemed to say he

    would make her pay if she dared to say no.

    Ning Ran was a little terrified. Once Poker Face makes a decision, he usually never changes his mind.

    I have no choice but to do as he wants.

    Hence, she nodded solemnly. ¡°That''s right. He''s Nan Xing. Nan Chen is over there.¡±

 Chapter 727

    Chapter 727

    When Nan Chen saw Ning Ran going along with him, he nodded in satisfaction.

    Naturally, Qiao Zhan realized what was going on as well, for he was not a fool.

    However, he wondered if they were taking this too far. If someone were to figure it out...

    Nan Chen shot him a re. ¡°What are you waiting for? Ask my brother to go now, or else he won''t be

    able to make it for the flight. If that happens, he''ll have to transit somewhere else and waste even more

    time.

    Qiao Zhan then ran over to Nan Xing and said, ¡°Sir Chen, it''s time for you to go. You''ll miss the flight if

    you''re any slower.¡±

    At that, Nan Xing lifted his head to re at him. ¡°Did you lose your brain? I''m Nan Xing, not Nan Chen.¡±

    Qiao Zhan shook his head and said, ¡°I didn''t make a mistake. That mister over there said it.¡±

    With that, he pointed at Nan Chen.

    ¡°What? What are you trying to get at?¡± Nan Xing was baffled.

    ¡°Please ask him about this yourself. I don''t know how I should say this, too,¡± Qiao Zhan replied with a

    stumped look.

    Nan Xing then walked over to Nan Chen and asked, ¡°Chen, what''s the meaning of this?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Chen, the cornerstone ceremony of Serenity Street''s project will be held tomorrow, and important

    figures of the province will be present. You have to be there. The relevant itinerary and schedule will be

    sent to your inboxter, and you can take a look at it if you are free, or you can call Jiang Zhe instead.

    The head of the province will be the first to make a speech at the event. After that, you''ll have a brief

    speech. Jiang Zhe will be sending you the draftter, and you can choose to follow it ore up with

    something of your own,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Did you just call me Mr. Chen? What are you¡ª¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that? You are Nan Chen,¡± Nan Chen corrected.

    ¡°Chen, this isn''t funny. It''s easy for you to pretend to be me, and you''ll look the part because I''m a

    simple person. But it won''t work the other way. Your mannerism is tooplicated, and I won''t be able

    to mimic you!¡± Nan Xing cried out, knowing his limits.

    ¡°Go on. You''ll be missing your flight if you dawdle any longer.¡± Nan Chen waved dismissively.

    ¡°No, wait, this won''t work! You''re even asking me to meet the important people and the reporters! What

    if I slip up? No, no, no. I won''t do this. I''m not going to go!¡±

    With that said, Nan Xing turned to flee.

    Time to run! It''s tiring to watch over kids in Livingsfill, but it''s way better to do that than meet politicians

    and reporters while pretending to be Nan Chen.

    Everyone was bewildered by Nan Xing''s run. No one thought he would do something like that.

    All Nan Chen did was gesture in Nan Xing''s direction, and Qiao Zhan immediately dashed after Nan

    Xing.

    Qiao Zhan proved to be the professional he was, and Nan Xing could not escape from him. Soon, Qiao

    Zhan stopped him and said, ¡°Sir Chen, the car is over there!¡±

    ¡°Darn it. Are you dumb? I''m Nan Xing, not Nan Chen! My brother''s right there, so why are youing

    after me?¡± Nan Xing yelled anxiously.

    ¡°Sir Chen, please enter the car, or else you''ll really miss the flight,¡± Qiao Zhan urged.

    ¡°It''s fine. If he doesn''t board the ne in time, he can always go there by car. If he goes now and

    doesn''t stop midway, he''ll be able to reach there in time tomorrow. However, he won''t have any time to

    prepare for it, so I wonder if he''ll be able to pull this off properly,¡± Nan Chen remarked.

    In other words, he was telling Nan Xing that thetter had no choice in this and that he would only

    make things worse for himself if he were to waste more time lingering around.

    ¡°Chen, I really can''t do this...¡±

    Nan Chen ignored him and walked into the house. As he stretched his muscles, he said, ¡°I need a nap.

    I''m feeling tired.¡±

    ¡°No, wait. You¡ª¡±

    Ning Ran then came over to persuade him, ¡°It''s just a few minutes of speech ording to the draft,

    and it''s only a while of chatting with the politicians. You''re a son of the Nan family too, but are you

    saying that you can''t do something trivial like this? Can''t you share some of your brother''s burden? You

    were the one who managed Nanshi Corporation back when your brother and I were trapped, and you

    did a great job! You can''t keep indulging yourself non-stop and just sit on your hands as you watch your

    brother work himself to death, right?¡±

    ¡°Darn it! The two of you are ganging up against me? Ning Ran, you used to be different! You''ve

    changed!¡± Nan Xing cried out in protest.

    ¡°Hurry now, or you''ll really miss the ne. You know your brother''s temper. Do you think you can

    convince him otherwise after he makes up his mind?¡± Ning Ran reminded.

    It was then Nan Xing fell silent in contemtion.

    Right. I don''t think he''ll change. Moreover, he''s already gone to bed. Who would have the guts to drag

    him to the airport to catch the ne?

    ¡°Fine. I''ll give it a try. Don''t me me if things go sideways,¡± Nan Xing muttered bitterly.

    ¡°I''m sure you won''t mess things up, so be at ease,¡± Ning Ran said with a smile.

    ¡°Come on now, Sir Chen. We really need to hurry!¡± Qiao Zhan urged again.

    ¡°It''s Nan Xing! Don''t you dare forget how you sided with my brother this time, Qiao Zhan!¡±

    ¡°No, no. From now on, you''re Sir Chen. Everyone will think of you as him, and you must think of

    yourself as Nan Chen too, or else you''ll slip up. This way, please, Sir Chen.¡±

    The nap Nan Chen had was afortable one. When he woke again, it was already five in the

    evening.

    He had slept for several hours.

    When he opened his eyes, he saw a kid with small earphones swaying her head.

    It was Erbao, who had gone to look for her father right away when she woke up a while ago.

    She was thrilled to find out that her father had not left the house, so she quickly nted herself by her

    father''s side and waited for him to wake while listening to music.

    No one should make the mistake of assuming that the girl was listening to children''s music. She was

    not; she was listening to rock.

    Not only was she listening to rock, but she was even swaying to the beat.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Nan Chen curled his lips as he looked at his beloved daughter before grabbing her. A wave of bliss

    crashed into him.

    ¡°Daddy, you''re awake! You really didn''t run off while I was asleep. You''re an honest good kid who

    keeps his promise!¡± Erbao said with a chuckle.

    Nan Chen thought, I haven''t been a kid for years. Thispliment is a heavy burden to bear.

    ¡°Are you happy to see me?¡± Nan Chen softly asked.

    ¡°I am! I''m very, very happy!¡± Erbao eximed.

    ¡°What will you do if I''m gone? Will you hate me?¡± Nan Chen teased.

    Erbao cocked her head to the side and mulled over his words. ¡°I won''t hate you because I love you, but

    I''ll be angry. Why am I angry? It''s because I''m bad, and that''s why Daddy hates me. That''s why Daddy

    ran off.¡±

    Nan Chen could not even begin to fathom how Erbao came to that conclusion as he blinked in

    bewilderment.

    ¡°That''s not what it is. Sometimes I''m busy and need to work, so I can''t spare the time to keep you

    company. But that doesn''t mean I don''t love you, Erbao. Do you understand? Adults have many things

    to do. They can''t just focus on ying and studying like children.¡±

    Nan Chen was trying his best to exin to her the world of adults, but he realized that his best would

    not be enough.

    Adults could never understand what children think about, and simrly, children would not be able to

    understand what adults think about.

    Furthermore, everyone had their own way of thinking, and everyone was a unique individual.

    Erbao nodded fervently. ¡°I understand, Daddy. I know you need to work and earn lots and lots to buy

    me yummy food!¡±

    That was how amazing Erbao was. No matter how unrted the topic was, Erbao would somehow

    manage to steer the conversation back to the food. It was impressive, to say the least.

 Chapter 728

    Chapter 728

    At seven at night, at Flower City''s airport, Jiang Zhe walked over to the stoic Nan Xing and asked, ¡°Mr.

    Xing, it''s you?¡±

    Jiang Zhe had nearly been unable to recognize Nan Xing with that stern look on his face. Nan Xing

    even changed into the usual ck suit that Nan Chen wore.

    How did he recognize me right away? Am I that lousy at pretending to be my brother?

    ¡°I''m Nan Chen,¡± Nan Xing coldly uttered.

    ¡°Sure. Whatever you like,¡± Jiang Zhe said in resignation. ¡°When will Sir Chen being back?¡±

    Nan Xing snapped, ¡°Did you not hear what I said? I said I''m Nan Chen, so why are you asking when

    Nan Chen ising back?¡±

    At that, Jiang Zhe lowered his voice and said, ¡°But you really aren''t Sir Chen. What are you trying to

    do?¡±

    Nan Xing gave up when he realized that he could not fool Jiang Zhe. Thus, he whispered back, ¡°That''s

    a question you should be asking my brother instead.¡±

    Jiang Zhe promptly figured out what was going on. ¡°So Sir Chen isn''t nning to attend the event

    tomorrow and has gotten you to take his ce?¡±

    Nan Xing nodded with a sigh.

    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    ¡°Oh my goodness, how can we do this?¡± Jiang Zhe gasped.

    Nan Xing was irked to hear the gasp. ¡°Are you saying that I''m too lousy to pretend to be my brother?¡±

    That was indeed the truth, and Nan Xing knew it. However, it did not mean others could voice that out

    loud.

    If someone did that, he would feel that they were disrespecting and looking down on him.

    Knowing that Nan Xing was not someone he could afford to cross, Jiang Zhe quickly rified, ¡°That

    wasn''t what I meant. I just think that...¡±

    ¡°That I''m not suitable for this?¡±

    ¡°Of course not! You and Mr. Chen are both excellent individuals, but you excel in different ways.¡±

    ¡°So you''re saying that my brother excels in everything while I excel in being useless?¡± Nan Xing was

    relentless.

    He had been set up at Livingsfill and forced to take Nan Chen''s ce, and he was still fuming about

    that.

    Now that the opportunity for him to vent his anger had appeared, he was not going to let it just slip by

    him.

    ¡°Of course not!¡± Jiang Zhe hastily denied.

    ¡°Then do tell me what my brother excels in and what I excel in. If you can''t tell me anything today,

    you''re going to have to walk back. You''re not allowed to take the cab, the subway, or the bicycle.¡±

    Hearing that, Jiang Zhe instantly figured out that Nan Xing was furious and that he was unlucky enough

    to encounter Nan Xing when thetter needed an outlet to release his pent-up anger.

    I shouldn''t havee to pick him up. I only have myself to me for stepping right onto andmine.

    Nevertheless, coaxing and ttering another was not something that would stump Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°Mr. Xing, do you really want to hear my answer?¡±

    ¡°Cut the cr*p and spit it out.¡±

    ¡°Let''s talk about Mr. Chen first. Of course, he''s steady and intelligent like a victorious king who knows

    how to n ahead¡ª¡±

    Nan Xing interrupted Jiang Zhe, ¡°Why don''t you just talk about me now? I''ll be left with nothing good if

    you use all those great descriptors on my brother.¡±

    ¡°No, no, no. Master Xing, you''re free-spirited andid-back. You always maintain yourposure, even

    in the face of trouble. You''re akin to a victorious king who knows how to n ahead¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hold up! Aren''t thest words the same as what you said for Chen? Have you run out of vocabry?

    Is that why you''re reusing the descriptors meant for my brother? You''re a hypocrite!¡± Nan Xing cried

    out.

    ¡°No, no, no. Even though the two of you are different, you''ll both end up walking the same path as men

    who are capable of attaining great achievements. That''s why I said you''re victorious kings who know

    how to n ahead.¡±

    There was nothing Nan Xing could say to that. Qiao Zhan had always said that Jiang Zhe was the

    world''s ultimate tterer, and it seemed like that was true.

    Jiang Zhe was too witty, and Nan Xing could not bring himself to stay mad at him.

    ¡°Also, there are some things that you have that Sir Chen doesn''t. For example, you know when to

    retreat and when to go on. You''re also more charming to the opposite sex. These are things that Sir

    Chen cannot¡ª¡±

    ¡°Wait! I''m going to record it to let my brother hear thister!¡± Nan Xing fished out his phone.

    Jiang Zhe instantly mped his mouth shut. No way. I''m never going to let Sir Chen hear this.

    ¡°Come on. Why did you stop? Didn''t you say that my brother''s not as good as me?¡±

    ¡°Sir Chen, please enter the car. I''ve already prepared the draft for you, and it''s best for you to

    familiarize yourself with it. Also, it''ll be even better if you can improvise, for you rarely stick to the script

    when you make a speech,¡± Jiang Zhe said, quickly changing the topic.

    At that, Nan Xing let out a howl of misery. He was terrified of needing to speak diplomatic words while

    looking at the camera with a solemn expression. Needing to improvise for the speech was not helping

    with his feelings of despair.

    While Jiang Zhe and Nan Xing were walking toward the parking lot, a woman who had pulled her cap

    low was watching them from afar.

    That woman was Tang Jing. She had been on the same ne as Nan Xing, but she had been in the

    business ss cabin while Nan Xing had been in the first-ss cabin. That was why they did not bump

    into each other.

    Tang Jing was filled with regret. If she had known that she would be able to encounter the son of the

    Nan family on the ne, she would have spent a little more money to get a seat in the first-ss cabin.

    She had let the golden opportunity slip by her!

    Nevertheless, Nan Xing was wearing ck that day, so she thought he was Nan Chen. Not long after

    she started stalking him, she left.

    The Nan family''s bodyguards were too good at their jobs. If she continued tailing him, she would soon

    be discovered and captured.

    After exiting the airport, she hailed a cab and went to her apartment.

    The night before, she had received Ouyang Qi''s call. When she found out that Feng Jialing was

    currently living in her house, she instantly realized that this was one of the best opportunities she had

    ever encountered.

    Moreover, both Ouyang Qi and Feng Jialing were at the lowest points of their lives. As long as she

    stepped into their worlds and provided them with care and concern, half of her mission would be

    completed.

    Tang Jing knew well that even the strongest man had their moments of fragility.

    Investing her time and effort into those mighty beings while they were at their weakest time would let

    her reap a great harvest.

    Back when she had gotten Ouyang Qi, Tang Jing was fifty percent sure about emerging victorious.

    Now that Ouyang Qi had brought Feng Jialing to her, Tang Jing spected that her chances of winning

    had risen to seventy percent.

    That was a high percentage for an investment.

    Furthermore, Tang Jing had not invested too much in Ouyang Qi¡ªshe only gave him more than a

    million and a ce to stay.

    It was not a lot for Tang Jing, and if Tang Jing were to rely on that sum only, she would never be able to

    be part of a wealthy family and could never enter upper-ss society.

    On the other hand, if she seeded with her investment, she would no longer be a normal star and

    would enter the upscale social circle she had always wanted to be in.

    When Tang Jing arrived at the entrance of the neighborhood, she took a trip to the nearby stores to buy

    some groceries. She was going to cook for Feng Jialing. She was going to hold herself to the standards

    of the Ouyang family''s future daughter-inw.

    She knew how hard it was for an actress to marry into a wealthy family. Even Ning Ran, who had given

    birth to two of the Nan family''s children, was still not legally married to Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran was Tang Jing''s role model, but Tang Jing did not want to stop where Ning Ran was. She

    wanted more.

    Tang Jing even looked down on Ning Ran for not using the magnificent resources thetter had; Ning

    Ran had received too little for the amount she had given.

    Therefore, Tang Jing was going to learn from Ning Ran''s mistake. She was going to take on an even

    more aggressive stance to reach her goal.

    She was certain that the one who took the initiative would be the one to seed.

 Chapter 729

    Chapter 729

    After knocking on the door, Tang Jing stepped back to smooth out the creases on her dress and make

    herself look even more presentable. After all, Tang Jing was about to meet Feng Jialing, and she

    needed to give thedy a good impression.

    Unexpectedly, it was Feng Jialing who answered the door. Ouyang Qi was out running errands and had

    yet to return. As such, she was the only one at home.

    Tang Jing had shown up without warning, wanting to give Ouyang Qi a surprise.

    Ouyang Qi had also not mentioned Tang Jing to Feng Jialing. Ouyang Qi had a feeling that Feng

    Jialing would disapprove because Tang Jing was an actress.

    Even though Feng Jialing was currently on poor terms with her eldest daughter, her sense of

    superiority was not going to wane over the worsening situation. After all, she had been a rich man''s

    wife for so many years. So what if Feng Jialing''s daughter was treating her coldly now?

    Deep down, she still saw herself as the elite and aloof woman whom people needed to pay their

    respects to.

    Ouyang Qi was well aware of this and knew he could not bring up Tang Jing right now. It was simply

    not the right time.

    When Feng Jialing opened the door to find Tang Jing standing there, the first thing she asked was,

    ¡°Who are you looking for?¡±

    That being said, when Tang Jing and Ouyang Qing worked together, Tang Jing dide into contact

    with Feng Jialing once at Orchid Club.

    However, Feng Jialing did not take Tang Jing seriously at all. Feng Jialing remembered nothing of their

    encounter.

    ¡°Hello, Madam. My name is Tang Jing.¡± Tang Jing nodded and bowed politely.

    ¡°Tang Jing? I have no idea who you are.¡±

    After saying this, Feng Jialing promptly shut the door in Tang Jing''s face.

    Ever since Ouyang Duo''s demise, Feng Jialing had been in a general state of mise. On top of that,

    her eldest daughter''s coldness toward her further exacerbated the insecurity she already had.

    This ced Feng Jialing in a heightened state of wariness. As such, she had no desire to entertain

    sudden visits from the likes of Tang Jing.

    What if Tang Jing were sent over by someone with a grudge or worse, a reporter?

    Before Tang Jing could react, she was turned away.

    The property belonged to Tang Jing. While she did have the master key, she did not bring it with her.

    Tang Jing was about to knock on the door again but quickly retracted her hand after some thought.

    I can tell that thedy seems quite perturbed. If I knock again, she may not answer. Even if she does

    answer, I doubt she''d have good things to say. In fact, she''d likely yell at me and m the door in my

    face. If that were the case, I''d be giving my future mother-inw a horrible first impression.

    Tang Jing was determined not to make such a mistake. She could not afford it.

    Instead, she stood at the doorstep and pulled out her phone to send Ouyang Qi a message: What are

    you up to?

    Ouyang Qi did not reply, choosing to call her immediately. ¡°We''ve run out of toothpaste at home, so I

    went to buy some. I''ve just reached the lobby. What''s up? I bet you''re tired after filming all day.¡±

    ¡°It''s all right. I won''t keep you,¡± replied Tang Jing with a smile. She then hung up.

    When Ouyang Qi called again, she did not pick up.

    Soon, Ouyang Qi stepped out of the elevator. Upon seeing Tang Jing smiling at him, he greeted her.

    ¡°Oh, you''re back! Why are you here?¡±

    Ouyang Qi dashed over to give Tang Jing a tight hug.

    Tang Jing could feel the joy and happiness in the hug she received. This man did need her, after all.

    Good. I''ve aplished my first objective.

    ¡°I''ve missed you and wanted to pay a visit. Is that not okay?¡± asked Tang Jin with a grin.

    ¡°Of course it''s okay! I''m so happy that you''ve just shown up out of the blue!¡±

    ¡°I heard that you''ve not been doing so well,¡± replied Tang Jing. ¡°I was worried, so I came to pay you a

    visit. Are you doing okay?¡±

    Tang Jing reached out to touch Ouyang Qi''s face, which seemed quite pale.

    Ouyang Qi held the hand that framed his face and murmured, ¡°It''s good that you''re here.¡±

    Suddenly, the door was opened. Feng Jialing had heard movementsing from outside and was

    curious about what was causing themotion. To her surprise, she saw Tang Jing there, with her

    hands stroking Ouyang Qi on the face. Ouyang Qi, on the other hand, was caressing her hands. The

    whole scene seemed rather suggestive.

    Tang Jing recoiled and retracted her hands quickly. With a polite bow, she said, ¡°Hello again, Madam.¡±

    ¡°It''s you again! What are you both doing? Qi, do you know this woman?¡±

    ¡°As a matter of fact, I do. She is Qing''s friend and a... friend of mine,¡± said Ouyang Qi.

    ¡°She came to see you? Why?¡± asked Feng Jialing warily.

    ¡°Mom, this is her house we''re staying in. She readily lent it to us,¡± said Ouyang Qi patiently.

    Feng Jialing was taken aback. Goodness, this is embarrassing. She''s the owner of the house?

    ¡°Pleasee in! She initially knocked on the door earlier, but I thought she was some kind of reporter.

    That''s why I shut the door in her face. She did not state her intentions either,¡± said Feng Jialing, looking

    contrite.

    ¡°Wait. You''ve been waiting outside this whole time?¡± asked Ouyang Qi excitedly.

    ¡°Yes. However, it''s definitely my fault for dropping by unannounced. I was worried I''d rm her more,

    so I decided to wait outside instead. Don''t worry. I did not wait for too long. It''s perfectly fine!¡±

    Tang Jing then turned to Feng Jialing and said, ¡°Mrs. Ouyang, if you think it''s inconvenient, I needn''t

    come inside at all. I can just book a hotel for the night. After all, I still need to go back to Livingsfill for a

    shoot.¡±

    ¡°Of course it''s okay! This is your house, after all. Please go inside,¡± said Ouyang Qi hurriedly.

    ¡°Yes, pleasee in! I''m really sorry about this. This is a huge misunderstanding.¡±

    However, Feng Jialing was quite upset at this.

    While Tang Jing was very polite and modest, so what reason did she have to be upset?

    The answer was simple. This was a matter of status. Feng Jialing was a wealthydy reduced to living

    in someone else''s house. Now, the owner of the property had shown up, but Feng Jialing had yet to

    know who she was.

    Now that the supposed guest in the scenario had upstaged Feng Jialing, the host, this naturally made

    her feel awkward. If anything, Feng Jialing felt downright humiliated.

    Of course, Tang Jing was perfectly polite since she wanted to make a good first impression. However,

    in reality, this was a literal p to Feng Jialing''s face.

    Even though the supposed insult was not hurled at Feng Jialing''s face, it wounded her deeply. This

    made the matter more serious.

    Insincere politeness was only going to backfire in the end. As such, the airs that Tang Jing was putting

    on had achieved the opposite effect.

    The more polite someone was, the more insincere they seemed. This was not going to go down well.

    When Tang Jing entered the house, she noticed that the house was in full disarray.

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    Naturally, Feng Jialing was not the type to dirty her hands with menial tasks such as housekeeping.

    She had never done such a thing and was determined not to.

    Ouyang Qi, on the other hand, was a spoiled yboy. He was definitely not going to lift a finger, either.

    Tang Jing had actually made arrangements for a cleaner to help with managing the house, but Feng

    Jialing did not want outsiders to know about her current state. As such, Feng Jialing declined each time

    the cleaner dropped by.

    How could a house not be dirty with nobody to clean it?

    Immediately, Tang Jing put down her bags and started to clean the house.

    She had been living alone for so long and had nobody to rely on but herself. Regardless of her

    undertakings, Tang Jing had always conducted herself well.

    Very quickly, the house was spotless. Tang Jing turned to look at Feng Jialing with a smile, saying,

    ¡°Mrs. Ouyang, I''d be happy to cook you a meal, but I''m unsure of your preferences. If you don''t like it,

    we can eat elsewhere. How does that sound?¡±

    Feng Jialing did not mind in the slightest. She was not willing to eat elsewhere, for she had long since

    gotten tired of eating takeout meals every day.

    ¡°It must be a hassle. You needn''t trouble yourself, really. I''ll just eat something on my way out. I only

    dropped by to see Qi for a bit. I guess I should be on my way,¡± said Feng Jialing.

    Realization suddenly dawned upon Tang Jing as she heard this. Feng Jialing was struggling to

    maintain her dignity.

    It was embarrassing for a woman of her station to be living in such a small house, for starters.

    Even if Feng Jialing did not vocalize this, it was already embarrassing enough to be reduced to this

    state in front of Tang Jing. Feng Jialing wanted to leave to avoid such embarrassment.

 Chapter 730

    Chapter 730

    Of course, Tang Jing could not let Feng Jialing leave just like that.

    After all, she did not purposely rush back from Livingsfill because she missed Ouyang Qi and wanted to

    see him.

    Instead, her true main objective was to meet Feng Jialing.

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    As for Tang Jing''s motive for doing so, it was, naturally, to interact with Feng Jialing more and have the

    latter get to know her. In fact, it would be better if they could get close. From there, she would develop

    their rtionship and be deeply involved in the mother-and-son duo''s life.

    Thus, all her efforts would be wasted if Feng Jialing left.

    At that thought, Tang Jing hurriedly said, ¡°Mrs. Ouyang, did I do something wrong? Please go ahead

    and scold me if I''ve upset you. It is my great honor that you''vee to stay in this shabby ce of

    mine. I''d offered to prepare a meal for you because you are Qing''s mother. Ouyang Qing and I were

    schoolmates. In fact, we were best pals back in school. We''re still great friends even after we reunited

    with each other. She''s unlucky to be set up by the Nan family and is serving a prison sentence. I''m

    even nning to visit her tomorrow. If you don''t like having me here, I''ll leave now.¡±

    With that, she picked up her bag and got ready to leave.

    ¡°What''s going on? Why is everyone leaving? What''s wrong with letting Tang Jing make us a meal and

    enjoy it together?¡± Ouyang Qi hurriedly voiced.

    It was no doubt that Tang Jing was incredible. As soon as she realized Feng Jialing was upset, she

    quickly put on a humbler attitude and even brought up Ouyang Qing''s matters.

    Since Feng Jialing had always adored her second daughter, she would surely waver if Ouyang Qing''s

    name was mentioned.

    Initially, Tang Jing''s n did not include visiting Ouyang Qing, but she decided to lie to win Feng

    Jialing''s heart.

    As expected, her trick worked.

    ¡°You''re going to visit Qing? In that case, I''ll buy some stuff tomorrow. Please help me give them to her,¡±

    Feng Jialing said.

    The older woman then turned to her son and chided, ¡°Learn from Ms. Tang, Ouyang Qi. Even Qing''s

    friend could think of visiting Qing. What about you? I bet that has never crossed your mind.¡±

    ¡°Thank you so much, Ms. Tang. Please go ahead and start cooking. We can talk moreter. Now that

    you mention you''re Qing''s friend, I''m starting to see some simrities between you two...¡± All of a

    sudden, she behaved like a drama queen, her voice bing tearful.

    No one knew if she was acting or if the sight of Tang Jing made her feel mncholy and recall her

    daughter.

    ¡°Don''t be sad, Mrs. Ouyang. Let''s think of a way to reduce Qing''s sentence. But first, you have to take

    good care of your health. We must let Qing see you in a healthy state when she''s released.¡±

    Feng Jialing was deeply touched by Tang Jing''s words, and she was beginning to think more fondly of

    her.

    ¡°Please get some rest while I cook. By the way, what dishes do you like? I can run to the supermarket

    downstairs to get the ingredients if I don''t have them,¡± Tang Jing asked.

    ¡°Oh, I''m fine with anything. Just cook whatever you want. Thank you again. Ouyang Qi, help Ms. Tang

    out,¡± Feng Jialing replied.

    When Ouyang Qi followed Tang Jing to the kitchen, he gave her a thumbs up. ¡°You''re amazing! My

    mom''s already begun to like you.¡±

    However, Tang Jing could not help but wonder if she had gone overboard and made him think she was

    the kind of person who had an agenda for everything she did.

    ¡°I mean it when I say I want to cook for your mom, but your family is rich, and rich people are the

    pickiest eaters. I''m afraid I can''t cook anything I want just because your mom said so. Tell me. What

    does she like? I don''t want to make something that doesn''t suit her pte,¡± she said.

    Ouyang Qi thought for a moment and answered, ¡°Well, she doesn''t like spicy food. Oh, she doesn''t eat

    meat at all.¡±

    Tang Jing immediately understood the reason behind it. ¡°Right. That''s because she wants to keep her

    skin healthy. Anything else? What does she like?¡±

    He then thought long and hard. ¡°She likes steamed sweet potatoes. It''s a dish that she always orders

    when we go out for meals in the past.¡±

    ¡°I have to get some sweet potatoes then. I''ll be right back,¡± she said in a hurry.

    Unfortunately, the supermarket downstairs had limited fresh produce due to its small scale. Thus, Tang

    Jing failed to buy sweet potatoes there.

    That left her no choice but to run to a bigger supermarket outside the neighborhood. Finally, she bought

    the sweet potatoes and rushed home.

    It was already eight in the evening by the time dinner was ready.

    Tang Jing shed Feng Jialing an apologetic smile. ¡°I''m sorry for making you wait so long, Mrs.

    Ouyang. It''s my fault for being too slow. Here. Please try the food.¡±

    In truth, she did everything very fast. It was just that she spent too much time finding the sweet

    potatoes.

    After taking a bite, Feng Jialing nodded. ¡°It''s delicious! It''s so good! Ms. Tang, you''ve got quite the

    skills!¡±

    Only then did Tang Jing feel relieved. All her efforts were worth it as long as Feng Jialing liked it.

    ¡°Oh, please stop addressing me as Ms. Tang. I''m Qing''s friend, after all. You can just address me by

    my name or even just Jing,¡± Tang Jing said with a smile.

    ¡°All right. This is one of the happiest meals I''ve had in the past few days. By the way, are you currently

    filming a movie in another city?¡± Feng Jialing asked.

    Smiling, Tang Jing nodded. ¡°That''s right. I''m filming in Livingsfill, but I''m temporarily on a break

    because the production team is facing some problems. That''s why I came home. I didn''t think I''d be

    disturbing you. I''m so sorry for that.¡±

    ¡°This is your house. I''m the one who''s getting in the way. Anyway, don''t worry. I''ll get Ouyang Qi to

    compensate you. I have a few houses in Pearl City that cost fifty million and above. We aren''t poor,

    after all.¡±

    Feng Jialing finally had the chance to show off her superiority. She wanted to let Tang Jing know the

    most important fact¡ªshe was not houseless.

    ¡°Of course. The Ouyang family is a prestigious family. Since I became friends with Qing, she''s the one

    who has been taking care of me. If it were not for her, I wouldn''t have the chance to be an actress. Now

    that she''s in trouble, it''s only right that I perform some of her duties and care for you on her behalf.

    Naturally, I have personal motives for doing this; I hope you''ll promote me so that I can have better

    career development,¡± Tang Jing replied humbly.

    Her words delighted Feng Jialing because it sounded as though she looked up to her greatly.

    At the same time, Tang Jing humbled herself so much so that it let Feng Jialing feel as if she could look

    down on her.

    As a result, Feng Jialing regained her sense of superiority and even began to take a liking to Tang Jing.

    After dinner, Feng Jialing suggested that Tang Jing and Ouyang Qi go for a stroll to let them spend

    some alone time together.

    Of course, that did not mean that she had acknowledged Tang Jing and wanted to treat thetter as her

    daughter-inw.

    It was just that Feng Jialing found thetter useful and not annoying at the moment. As such, she

    figured it was all right to let her date Ouyang Qi for a while.

    After all, she knew what kind of person her son was. Ouyang Qi was known as the Nine-Fingered

    Prince and had been with all sorts of women. Therefore, it did not matter if he dated Tang Jing.

    Moreover, Ouyang Qi had always fancied Ning Ran, so Feng Jialing weed any woman who could

    make him give up on Ning Ran.

    Whether she would let Tang Jing marry Ouyang Qi was another matter altogether.

    In fact, it was highly likely that Feng Jialing would disagree with it.

    No matter how well Tang Jing performed, she was still an actress.

    In terms of looking for an ideal daughter-inw, Feng Jialing and Bai Hua were simr. They would

    never let a girl from an ordinary family marry their son.

 Chapter 731

    Chapter 731

    Upon entering the elevator, Ouyang Qi suddenly hugged Tang Jing.

    ¡°Thank you for being so respectful to my mom. Thank you so much.¡± The man sounded rather

    emotional.

    Smiling, Tang Jing returned the hug. ¡°Mrs. Ouyang is an elder. It''s only right for me to respect her. Most

    importantly, she''s your mother, as well as Ouyang Qing''s. Of course, I have to respect her.¡±

    While they hugged each other, the elevator came to a stop and opened its doors to let an elderly

    woman in. The duo did not part until the woman rolled her eyes at them.

    Nevertheless, Ouyang Qi still reached out and wrapped an arm around Tang Jing''s waist. After failing

    to peel his hands away several times, she had no choice but to let him hug her.

    Soon, they arrived at a bar in the neighborhood and sat across from each other.

    Tang Jing was beginning to realize Ouyang Qi was looking at her differently. There was unmistakable

    affection in his gaze.

    ¡°Tang Jing, thank you so much. Thank you for everything you''ve done for me.¡± Ouyang Qi thanked her

    again.

    In response, she smacked him gently. ¡°There you go again. How many times are you going to thank

    me? If you''re truly thankful, do something more practical.¡±

    ¡°How about I devote myself to you?¡± he suggested with a smile.

    ¡°I don''t want that.¡± Tang Jing shook her head.

    ¡°Why? Am I not good enough?¡±

    ¡°That''s not it. It''s just that you''re well-known for fooling around. I heard you''ve messed around with

    countless women, and your rtionships neverst for more than three months. I don''t want to be

    dumped after dating you for three months,¡± she exined, pretending to be angry.

    ¡°That''s because I never found my true love back then. Things are different now. If I have to put a time

    limit to our rtionship, I want it to be thirty thousand years.¡±

    Sure enough, Ouyang Qi immediately reverted to his yboy self the moment he started flirting with

    her.

    ¡°You''ve said this to at least a hundred girls, right?¡± Tang Jing eyed him suspiciously.

    Ouyang Qi smiled. ¡°No. I used to say ten thousand years. This time, I added another twenty thousand

    to prove my sincerity.¡±

    Rolling her eyes at him, she remarked, ¡°I knew it. You''re not a good person.¡±

    A sigh escaped his lips. ¡°You''re right. I''m not a good person. At least, I was rarely serious in the past.

    It''s only normal for you to have a prejudice against me.¡±

    ¡°Actually, I''m not a good person, either,¡± said Tang Jing all of a sudden.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°I treat you well because I have a motive. I''m sure you''re well aware of it,¡± she admitted and took a sip

    of her drink.

    Of course, Ouyang Qi knew about it. It was illogical for Tang Jing to treat him so well unconditionally

    when he was not a good person. There was no way she would fall for a man with a bad reputation and

    whose family was in decline in such a short amount of time.

    Tang Jing continued, ¡°I treat you well because I don''t hate you. Although you have a bad reputation,

    you''re sincere. Besides, you have potential. I see you as an investment. I hope you''ll win in life one

    day, and I''ll benefit from it.¡±

    Ouyang Qi nodded in understanding. ¡°That''s why you gave me all your hard-earned money and let me

    spend it. It was an investment.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. Do you still think I''m a good person? Do you really think you should be grateful to me?¡± Tang

    Jing asked, looking him in the eye.

    ¡°Of course, I''m still grateful to you. There''s nothing wrong with a woman expecting materialistic returns

    from a man. Men and womene together for economic purposes, anyway. Besides, people get

    married to support each other in terms of finance. As the saying goes, two is better than one. Most

    importantly, we''re not even married, yet you''re willing to invest your limited resources in me. This alone

    shows that you''re a woman with guts and wisdom.¡±

    With that, they looked at each other for quite some time until they broke into a grin.

    Tang Jingughed. ¡°You''re truly different, Mr. Ouyang. I never thought you''d praise me as someone

    wise. I''d call myself a scheming woman if I were you. People like me would usually be given a terrible

    scolding.¡±

    ¡°Well, I''ll only do the opposite. I''ll love you with all my heart. Neither of us is a good person, but we

    don''t pretend to be one. Isn''t that great?¡± Ouyang Qi said, grinning.

    ¡°But I always pretend to be one because I want to earn other people''s trust.¡±

    ¡°Yet, in reality, you''ve never actually harmed a person. You''re just an ambitious utilitarian. I don''t think

    there''s anything wrong with that.¡±

    His remark evoked a chuckle from her. ¡°The fact that you keep praising me is interesting.¡±

    ¡°Well, it''s true that people see their lovers through rose-colored sses. So, it''s only normal that I find

    whatever you''re doing now is right.¡± Ouyang Qi, too,ughed.

    ted, Tang Jing felt as though her gamble had paid off.

    ¡°Let''s talk business now. I met Nan Chen at the airport today. Apparently, he went to the set and carried

    Ning Ran away. I''m not sure why he did that, as I wasn''t at the scene. I was arranged to film an outdoor

    scene with another team when he came. Regardless, I''ve asked around, and I''m sure it''s because

    something happened,¡± she said.

    Ouyang Qi nodded. ¡°And? What are you trying to imply?¡±

    ¡°I think someone wants to harm Ning Ran, and that person might be your sister, Ouyang Li.¡±

    ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°Surely you know how important Ning Ran is to Nan Chen? What do you think Nan Chen will do if your

    sister kills Ning Ran?¡± Tang Jing asked.

    ¡°Nan Chen will definitely use all his resources to take revenge on Sunshine Corporation and the

    Ouyang family. My family has tried to harm Nan Chen once. If it happens again, Nan Chen won''t go

    easy on us. He''ll definitely destroy my family.¡± A look of worry appeared on Ouyang Qi''s face.

    Swirling her ss, Tang Jing said, ¡°That''s why you have to stop your sister from harming Ning Ran. If

    she actually kills Ning Ran, the Ouyang family and Sunshine Corporation will be doomed. I''m sure you

    know how terrifying Nan Chen can be when he goes all out.¡±

    ¡°You''re right. I''ve never agreed with my family''s intentions of harming Ning Ran. In fact, Li kicked me

    out because of this matter. She thinks her n failed because I leaked information to the Nan family.¡±

    Tang Jing stared at Ouyang Qi. ¡°Have you really helped Ning Ran before?¡±

    The man was taken aback by the sudden question.

    Even so, he chose to answer truthfully. ¡°Yes.¡±

    Tang Jing nodded. ¡°I''m d that you told me the truth.¡±

    ¡°But I don''t know what my sister has done this time. I really don''t. That''s why I never told anyone

    anything,¡± Ouyang Qi stated.

    ¡°You can do something to let Nan Chen teach your sister a lesson. Something that''ll make the

    Sunshine Corporation''s higher-ups question her extreme ways so that she''ll be at risk of losing her

    position. That way, she''ll learn the importance of a family.¡± Tang Jing finally uttered the words she

    wanted to say the most.

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°What do you have in mind?¡±

    ¡°Infuriate Nan Chen and let the Nan family teach Ouyang Li a lesson. Someone needs to let her know

    she shouldn''t be so arrogant and that she has to put a stop to her n of harming Ning Ran. She

    needs to understand that she''ll be dead meat if she kills Ning Ran. In fact, the Ouyang family will be

    dragged into the mess as well.¡±

    After pondering for a moment, Ouyang Qi asked, ¡°But how am I supposed to do that?¡±

    Tang Jing beckoned him to get closer, then whispered something into his ear.

 Chapter 732

    Chapter 732

    In Livingsfill, Ning Ran returned to the bedroom after settling the two kids down, only to find Nan Chen

    waiting for her there.

    As soon as she walked in, the lights in the room went off suddenly.

    ¡°What are you doing? I can''t see¡ª¡±

    Before she could finish her sentence, she sensed Nan Chen inching toward her.

    The next second, she was knocked down and could not retaliate at all.

    His kiss was so passionate despite the darkness that even Ning Ran felt aroused.

    However, when he tried to get more intimate with his hands, she abruptly mustered all her strength and

    kicked at him.

    Following that, she swung her hands wildly. ¡±Let me go!¡±

    An indescribable sense of disgust and humiliation surged within her.

    It was a feeling that resembled being close to a venomous snake¡ªshe felt suffocated, infuriated, and

    awfully horrible.

    That exined why she had reacted that way. It was such a violent reaction that Nan Chen was caught

    off guard and thus sustained a painful, bloody scratch on his neck.

    Immediately afterward, he switched on the lights and fixed his gaze on Ning Ran, who was on the

    verge of breaking down.

    In truth, that was not the first instance. The same thing had also happened previously.

    At that time, Ning Ran was quite cooperative as well, but at the crucial moment, she resisted

    aggressively and attacked him like how she just did.

    She even called him disgusting.

    Since then, Nan Chen could not stop brooding over that word as no one had ever described him that

    way.

    For a very long time after that, he would purposely keep a distance from Ning Ran for fear that she

    would detest him.

    As it had been some time, he thought he could get intimate with her again.

    To prevent the same urrence, he even turned off the lights.

    Unfortunately, she still regarded him with disdain and even kicked him.

    Without a doubt, Ning Ran felt terrible too. Unable to pull herself out of the extreme humiliation, she

    curled herself into a ball with her hands wrapped around her head as she hid in a corner, shivering.

    The anger lingering within Nan Chen dissipated after he saw her reaction.

    While he had a burning urge to go over and give her a hug and some words offort, he dared not

    move closer to her as he was afraid that would provoke her again.

    All he could do was watch her and wait for her to calm down.

    Just like that, the two faced each other for a long time without saying a word. After finally feeling better,

    Ning Ran mumbled an apology.

    The other time when such an instance urred, Nan Chen was utterly furious. Yet, he did not feel the

    same way then.

    It was because he realized Ning Ran did not spurn him. Instead, her reaction was due to her resistance

    to intimate behaviors.

    She resists the most whenever I try to proceed to the next stage. By the looks of it, it must be a

    psychological problem. That means she''s ill. I can''t me her.

    Nan Chen said, ¡°I was too rash just now. Perhaps I¡ª¡±

    ¡°No. It''s not your problem. It''s me. I don''t dislike you. It''s just that I...¡± Ning Ran was also at a loss for

    words.

    ¡°It''s fine,¡± he gently reassured.

    He did not mind, yet that made her feel even more guilty.

    ¡°I really don''t dislike you. Actually, I... It''s just that...¡± She had no idea how to express herself and thus

    was rambling incoherently.

    ¡°All right. Let''s not talk about this anymore. I''ll take you to meet Qin Lan after we return to Flower City,¡±

    he said.

    ¡°Qin Lan?¡±

    ¡°She''s a psychological counselor and also a friend of mine. I can bring you to see her. Perhaps she''ll

    be able to help you,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°It''s a woman?¡± Ning Ran queried warily.

    ¡°Yes. But is there a need to know about a doctor''s gender?¡± He threw a question back at her.

    ¡°I don''t want to talk about this topic in front of other women. It''s embarrassing,¡± she answered.

    ¡°Then don''t tell me you''d rather talk about this in front of a man? Won''t that be even more awkward?¡±

    Nan Chen countered.

    Ning Ran found herself unable to answer his question.

    ¡°Regardless of whether it''s a man or a woman, I don''t want to borate on that topic. It''s too awkward

    to do so.¡± She was evidently against that idea.

    ¡°Are you concealing your illness because you don''t want to face reality?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    ¡°I don''t have any illnesses. I just...¡±

    ¡°A psychological problem is still an illness,¡± he asserted.

    Ning Ran took the initiative to lean closer to him. ¡°What is your rtionship with that female counselor

    that you''d have so much trust in her? Aren''t you afraid she''ll divulge my secrets to the others?¡±

    ¡°As I said, she is my friend,¡± Nan Chen uttered sternly.

    ¡°Precisely. I find it stranger that you say she''s your friend. Someone like you actually has friends too?

    And a female one? Don''t tell me she''s your ex-girlfriend?¡± Ning Ran still had her guard up.

    ¡°Will you believe me if I say no?¡± Nan Chen riposted.

    ¡°No, I won''t,¡± she answered without hesitation.

    ¡°In that case, what''s the point in answering your question?¡±

    ¡°You have to answer even if it''s pointless. What is your rtionship with her exactly?¡± Ning Ran was

    unwilling to let it slide.

    Nan Chen felt that the woman before him had be more and more insolent. Since when did she

    muster the courage to talk back at me with this attitude?

    If it were before, he would have taught her a lesson.

    Surprisingly, not only did he not find her insolence repulsive, but he also liked how she was. In fact, he

    even thought it was right of her to be so bold and sassy in front of him.

    ¡°Ex-girlfriend,¡± Nan Chen purposely teased her.

    ¡°I knew it. No wonder you wanted to introduce me to her. You want her to learn about my weakness

    and know that I''m nowhereparable to her. That way, she can make fun of me!¡± Ning Ran

    eximed.

    ¡°You know her?¡± he asked.

    ¡°How would I know her? She''s your ex-girlfriend. Why should I know who she is?¡± she retorted.

    ¡°If you don''t know her, then how do you know you''re nowhereparable to her?¡±

    Ning Ran was rendered speechless.

    ¡°In any case, I know you''re trying to let her mock me! You''re full of ill intentions!¡± she snapped.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Right then, Nan Chen''s phone rang. It was Qiao Zhan.

    Even though Qiao Zhan knew Nan Chen was in Ning Ran''s room, he decided to make a call first since

    he did not dare to disturb them.

    Nan Chen put on a coat. ¡°Go to sleep first. Qiao Zhan is looking for me. I''ll head out for a bit.¡±

    When he stepped outside, Qiao Zhan was already waiting for him there.

    ¡°Something bad happened to that person!¡± Qiao Zhan urgently reported.

    ¡°Who? Make yourself clear,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°That guy who tried to harm Madam at the set. After we handed him to the police, that fellow refused to

    reveal who ordered him to do such a thing. Instead, he confessed that it was all his doings. The police

    had no choice but to detain him for further questioning, but he hit his head against the wall nonstop and

    sustained severe injuries. Then, the police rushed him to the hospital. Over there, he attempted to

    escape from the restroom but unfortunately fell off the building and died.¡±

    Hearing that, Nan Chen plunged into silent contemtion for a moment. ¡°The whole scenario sounds

    pretty familiar. His escape tactics were exactly the same as what Ouyang Duo did back then. The

    ident both happened at the hospital, and they both died.¡±

    ¡°Yes. It is indeed simr. Do you think it''s the tactics of the same person?¡± Qiao Zhan inquired.

    ¡°We can''t be certain yet. But if this guy is dead, doesn''t that mean our only lead has been cut off?¡± Nan

    Chen looked at him.

    ¡°The police found a tattoo on the guy''s arm. It''s a poppy flower. I asked around in thework and

    found out about the origin of that tattoo.¡±

    Nan Chen motioned Qiao Zhan to carry on.

    ¡°There''s an organization in M Nation that can be either called apany or an association. It has its

    own armed regiment. Of course, that''s not umon in M Nation since there are many civil wars all

    year round. The rich would usually hire a group of people to protect themselves.¡±

    At that point, Nan Chen waved his hand. ¡°Cut to the chase.¡±

 Chapter 733

    Chapter 733

    ¡°Okay. Thepany''s name is Secure Logistics, and its owner is Ruan Anxi. He''s very famous in M

    Nation. Rumor has it that he is the illegitimate son of a royal household member, so he has the power

    to mobilize many national resources in M Nation. Hence, hispany developed rapidly, having

    thousands of armed personnel. These people have one simrity¡ªthey have a poppy flower tattoo on

    their arms. Because Ruan Anxi is an influential man, people from other associations in M Nation dare

    not provoke those with this tattoo on their arms. They stay away from these people as they cannot

    afford to offend Ruan Anxi. As a result, many who do not work for Ruan Anxi got the same tattoo. We

    can''t be sure if that guy worked for Ruan Anxi, as he could have faked his identity.¡±

    Qiao Zhan revealed a lot of information in a short amount of time.

    He knew that was a lot to digest, but some things had to be exined in detail.

    ¡°Secure Logistics? We have projects in M Nation, but why haven''t I heard about thispany?¡± Nan

    Chen asked.

    ¡°Thispany is famous in the underworld as it''s involved in many shady deals. Otherwise, there''s no

    need for them to hire so many people. Basically, Ruan Anxi is a gangster. He runs a few legal

    businesses, but they only take up a small percentage of his business empire,¡± Qiao Zhan exined.

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Nan Chen said nothing and fell into deep thought.

    ¡°If that person worked for Ruan Anxi, why would he harm Ning Ran? Ning Ran couldn''t have had

    anything to do with him,¡± he then said.

    ¡°That''s true. Besides, Nanshi Corporation is only involved in legal businesses and has never gotten into

    any conflict with the underworld. I don''t understand why they would harm Madam for no reason. Of

    course, we can''t be sure if he worked for Ruan Anxi,¡± Qiao Zhan replied.

    ¡°Got it. You may leave now. Remember to tell our men to be careful,¡± Nan Chen ordered with a wave of

    his hand.

    The following day, Nan Xing arrived at Nanshi Corporation''s headquarters, d in a ck suit. He went

    to the CEO''s office and sat in the chair.

    On the surface, he did not look any different from Nan Chen. In fact, he was the spitting image of the

    latter.

    ¡°Do I look like him?¡± Nan Xing asked Jiang Zhe, still feeling a little worried.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Jiang Zhe replied firmly.

    ¡°This is so stressful. Chen is too serious, while I''m not that serious. It''s inhuman to have me pose as

    my brother,¡± Nan Xingined.

    Jiang Zhe stifled hisughter. ¡°It''s fine. You can do it. Have you memorized the speech?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± came Nan Xing''s quick answer.

    ¡°That''s fine. You can read the speech at the event. Just make sure you don''t make any mistakes.¡±

    Jiang Zhe felt helpless. Sir Chen never reads from a script and always speaks spontaneously, but his

    twin''s masquerading as him now. I have no choice but to ask Mr. Xing to read from the script.

    ¡°That was a lie. I''ve already memorized it. Are you looking down on me?¡± Nan Xing red at him.

    ¡°I wouldn''t dare look down on you, Mr. Xing. I knew you could do it.¡±

    ¡°What else do I need to pay attention to? You''ve worked for my brother for a long time, so you know

    him well. Your opinion matters a lot,¡± Nan Xing urged.

    ¡°Mm. Let me think about it.¡±

    A whileter, Jiang Zhe continued, ¡°Oh, I got it. Mr. Chen rarely smiles or reveals his true emotions. No

    matter how interesting the matter is, you cannot smile.¡±

    Nan Xing wailed, ¡°What is all this? Can''t I even smile? What if I feel the urge to smile? I don''t get it.

    Does Chen never find anything amusing, or does he like to suppress hisughter? If it''s thetter, he

    must be tired after doing that for years. There''s no need to go to that extent.¡±

    Jiang Zhe did not have an answer to his question. ¡°I''m not sure why. Perhaps he just doesn''t like to

    smile. Anyway, Mr. Chen has never smiled in front of reporters. You''ll get caught if you smile!¡±

    ¡°What if I feel the urge to smile? What should I do? We don''t know what will happen, do we?¡± Nan Xing

    protested.

    ¡°You''ll have to hold back your smile. That''s the only way.¡± Jiang Zhe shrugged.

    ¡°Should I wear a mask? If I wear a mask, the reporters won''t realize that I''m smiling.¡±

    Jiang Zhe immediately talked him out of it. ¡°That won''t do. There will be many reporters at the event. If

    you wear a mask, they will assume you''re ill. A news report on your illness will cause the stock prices

    of the listedpanies under Nanshi Corporation to drop. That can''t happen.¡±

    ¡°I cannot do anything. How annoying!¡±

    Jiang Zhe exhorted patiently, ¡°It''s just for one day. Just bear with it. Remember not to reveal your

    emotions. That''s very important.¡±

    ¡°Okay, got it.¡±

    ¡°Let''s go. It''s almost time,¡± Jiang Zhe urged.

    Half an hourter, ¡°Nan Chen¡± arrived at the venue.

    As his best effort to look cool, Nan Xing wore a poker face. He said nothing despite the reporters''

    relentless questions.

    Jiang Zhe deliberately told him not to answer any questions from the reporters to lower the risk of

    exposing the act.

    After all, Nan Chen was not the type to talk a lot in front of the cameras, so doing that would lower the

    risk as well as allow Nan Xing to act ordingly to his elder twin''s usual image.

    The event began with Nan Xing shaking hands with a higher-up and chatting with him briefly.

    After the higher-up delivered his speech, it was Nan Xing''s turn. Everything went on smoothly.

    Nan Xing was good at memorizing stuff, so he delivered his speech sessfully without missing any

    words.

    When he was almost done, someone among the reporters beneath the stage threw something at him.

    Caught off guard, Nan Xing got hit directly.

    A pungent smell attacked his nostrils¡ªit was a rotten egg!

    s, his high-end custom-made suit was ruined.

    The stench was too horrible. In fact, Nan Xing had never smelled something that bad. His stomach

    churned so badly that he nearly puked onstage.

    Furious, Nan Xing forgot he was masquerading as Nan Chen and parted his lips to curse. ¡°What the

    f*ck is going on? Who the h*ll did this? I''ll have him killed!¡±

    Although amotion ensued, many people heard what he said. Someone even recorded him.

    In truth, Nan Xing was a gentleman. Despite being a yboy, he was not the type who would curse

    easily.

    Nevertheless, he could not be bothered about his image as he was overwhelmed with anger. As a

    result, he cursed out loud without thinking much.

    It was rare to see Nan Xing yelling at someone else. In his whole life, he had only done that a handful

    of times.

    Yet, that time around, it happened in public and was recorded.

    Most importantly, Nan Xing was assuming Nan Chen''s identity.

    The security guards swiftly captured the person who threw the rotten egg. The person screamed,

    ¡°Nanshi Corporation is an evil capitalist and unscrupulous developer! Go to h*ll!¡±

    The reporters were delighted at the turn of events. After all, recording Nan Chen cursing out loud was

    equivalent to hitting the jackpot!

    Nan Xing felt a gush of regret right after he cursed out loud, but it was toote to turn back time.

    He was not a deep person who could conceal his emotions. When fury washed over him, he expressed

    it by cursing out loud.

    Since it was a done deed, there was no point crying over spilled milk.

 Chapter 734

    Chapter 734

    Nan Xing and the higher-up were quickly escorted out of the venue by the security guards.

    However, that was just the beginning.

    Many popr economic media outlets reported the matter instantly with eye-catching headlines:

    Nanshi Corporation''s Ceo Cursing After Being Attacked At An Event; Nanshi Corporation used Of

    Being An Unscrupulous Developer¡ªIs There Something Fishy Going On? A Rotten Egg Was Thrown

    At The Nan Family''s Conglomerate!

    To make matters worse, even entertainment media outlets reported on the issue.

    Nan Chen was not in the entertainment industry, but he garnered a lot of attention due to his

    unbelievably handsome looks.

    Moreover, he was rarely involved in any scandals and bore an icy expression all the time. Hence, the

    press was all too eager to seize upon his mistake and blow it up.

    In a sh, the topic of Nan Chen cursing in public was all over the Inte.

    Someone even created memes of him cursing with the caption: I''ll beat you up!

    That was the first time Nan Chen had ever been criticized that badly.

    s, the man in the spotlight had no idea about any of that. He was currently enjoying the warm

    sunshine in Livingsfill while ying with his children.

    The first person in Livingsfill who discovered that Nan Chen was trending was Lu Jingyuan''s eldest

    daughter, Lu Yunbing.

    Nan Chen''s and Nan Xing''s dashing looks were easy to remember, so Lu Yunbing immediately

    recognized the man on the news as Erbao''s father and told Lu Jingyuan about it.

    Lu Jingyuan then told Ning Ran about the incident. Seeing that Nan Chen was having fun with the kids,

    thetter did not mention anything to him immediately.

    It was mainly because she thought Jiang Zhe would call Nan Chen to report the matter to him, so there

    was no need for her to inform him herself.

    After lunch, the kids went to take a nap. Ning Ran then asked, ¡°How should we deal with the matter

    online?¡±

    To her surprise, Nan Chen knew nothing about it. He arched a brow and questioned, ¡°What matter?¡±

    ¡°Don''t you know?¡±

    ¡°No, I don''t. I didn''t look at my phone as I''m on vacation,¡± came his answer.

    Ning Ran handed him her phone. ¡°Take a look at this.¡±

    Nan Chen read the news article, then threw her phone away.

    ¡°What the? This is my phone! How could you throw it away?¡± Ning Ran eximed.

    She promptly regretted giving him her new phone. I should''ve given Nan Chen his own phone. Ah, my

    new phone!

    Still furious, Nan Chen grabbed a teacup from the table and threw it out.

    It still did not help to vent his anger, so he kicked the table forcefully.

    Ning Ran was a little shocked by his actions, for she did not expect him to be that angry.

    ¡°You knew about this long ago? Why didn''t you tell me anything?¡± Nan Chen glowered at her frostily.

    Ning Ran was a little scared. ¡°I only got to know about it a while ago when I was scrolling through social

    media.¡±

    ¡°Nan Xing''s such a good-for-nothing! How could he mess up a matter as small as attending an event!¡±

    He then got up and knocked the chair over.

    Afraid that he would kick her out of anger, Ning Ran immediately backed away from him.

    ¡°Call Jiang Zhe!¡± Nan Chen roared.

    ¡°Oh.¡± Ning Ran picked up the phone he had thrown away earlier, only to realize the screen was

    shattered. She could no longer make any calls.

    ¡°It''s broken,¡± she said as she waved her phone innocently.

    ¡°Find one!¡± he roared yet again.

    Ning Ran was filled with regret. If I knew this would happen, I wouldn''t have mentioned anything. Why

    did I drag myself into the mess? Ugh, I''m going to go deaf if he continues yelling at me.

    Unfortunately, Nan Chen was a ball of pure anger, so she dared not say no and left to look for his

    phone.

    When his phone was found, there were dozens of missed call notifications on the screen. Some were

    from Jiang Zhe.

    However, Nan Chen did not take the phone when Ning Ran gave it to him. ¡°I don''t need it anymore.¡±

    That baffled her. He got so furious a while ago and ordered me to get his phone. Now, he doesn''t want

    it anymore. Has he calmed down that quickly?

    Nevertheless, she dared not ask any questions and returned his phone to its original ce.

    Nan Chen beckoned her over. ¡°Come here!¡±

    Ning Ran cowered away from him. ¡°No!¡±

    His anger rose again. ¡°Why not? Are you afraid I''ll eat you up?¡±

    ¡°No. I''m afraid you''ll throw me out! You''ve lost your mind!¡± she retorted.

    The incensed Nan Chen snarled, ¡°Nonsense. I didn''t lose my mind!¡±

    ¡°You threw and kicked everything that you could. Doesn''t that prove you''ve lost your mind? You were

    the one who asked Nan Xing to masquerade as you, but you know Nan Xing''s personality is the total

    opposite of yours. It''s normal for him to curse out loud after someone threw a rotten egg at him!¡±

    After a pause, she added, ¡°If I were in his shoes, I''d do the same. Other than cursing the person, I''d

    also give him a vicious p!¡±

    Nan Chen furrowed his brows. Why is she this fierce? She loves pping people!

    At the sight of his scowl, Ning Ran was worried about offending him again, so she hurriedly exined,

    ¡°I was just joking.¡±

    ¡°I said,e here!¡± he ordered coldly.

    ¡°No!¡± She refused to do as told.

    ¡°Come here so we can discuss the incident. Once Grandpa finds out about this, he''ll definitely ask me

    what happened. How should I answer him?¡± Nan Chen uttered.

    ¡°Are you sure you only want to have a discussion with me? You won''t hurt me or throw me out, will

    you?¡± Ning Ran wanted to be sure.

    He hissed, ¡°If you don''te here now, I''ll throw you out for sure!¡±

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    Hearing that, she instantly ran over. ¡°I think it''s perfectly normal for him to curse out loud. Since it has

    already happened, you shouldn''t me Nan Xing.¡±

    ¡°I''m worried that people will discover it was Nan Xing masquerading as me after what he did. If that

    happens, everyone will suspect my identity whenever I show myself in public! Besides, this is bad news

    for thepany. Someone in my position can never curse in front of reporters. Mypetitors will

    seize their chance to bring harm to us! This might snowball into something more consequential. We

    don''t know how serious the negative effects will be,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    Ning Ran finally realized how severe the matter was after hearing his exnation.

    People from different positions sure view the matter from different perspectives and angles.

    ¡°What do we do now?¡± she asked, bing worried as well.

    Nan Chen asked her, ¡°How should I answer if my grandpa asks about this?¡±

    ¡°Just be honest with him. He won''t fall for your lies, anyway. Your grandpa knows you and Nan Xing

    well. I''m sure he would know the truth.¡± Ning Ran gave a suggestion.

    ¡°It was all my fault. I shouldn''t have asked Nan Xing to attend the event on my behalf.¡±

    ¡°I don''t think you did anything wrong.¡±

    Nan Chen nced at Ning Ran, motioning her to continue.

    ¡°I can''t pinpoint the reason, but I think you did nothing wrong,¡± she exined with a grin.

    The man frowned. It''s hard to talk about serious matters with her. I''m boiling with anger, but she''s

    smiling cheerfully. How can I continue the conversation? Well, indeed, this incident is nothing serious to

    her. It''s just cursing at someone. She probably does it often.

    ¡°By the way, I think you should let Nan Xing deal with this. By solving the problem he caused, he will

    learn a lesson and never make the same mistake again,¡± Ning Ran added.

    Nan Chen felt like he was talking to a brick wall. I shouldn''t have wasted my time discussing crisis

    management with her.

 Chapter 735

    Chapter 735

    Just then, Qiao Zhan entered the room. ¡°Sir Chen, Jiang Zhe couldn''t get a hold of you, so he phoned

    me.¡±

    ¡°I won''t talk to him. Tell him to handle this matter with Nan Xing and don''t bother me,¡± Nan Chen replied

    in a cold voice.

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Nan Chen shot him an icy re. ¡°Do you have trouble understanding my instructions?¡±

    ¡°No, I don''t. It''s just that Jiang Zhe notified me that the public rtions department suggested issuing a

    statement to apologize for cursing at that man on your behalf. They''d like to ask for your permission to

    do so,¡± Qiao Zhan exined.

    It was no doubt that Jiang Zhe was very familiar with Nan Chen''s character. He knew thetter would

    be angry at him and thus refuse to answer his call. Hence, he informed Qiao Zhan of the n and had

    him ry it to Nan Chen, making things much more straightforward. That way, he would get the answer

    he needed faster than if he had to wait for his boss to return his call.

    Before Nan Chen could respond, Ning Ran became emotional and eximed, ¡°A statement of

    apology? Why should we apologize? We did nothing wrong! That man was the one who threw an egg

    at Nan Xing. Why can''t he curse at him for that?¡±

    Qiao Zhan''s and Nan Chen''s gazesnded on her simultaneously.

    Instantly, she realized she had gone out of line.

    How can I interfere with something so significant to thepany? Nanshi Corporation''s reputation is at

    stake now.

    ¡°I-I didn''t mean it. I need to go now. Goodbye!¡± With that, Ning Ran was ready to flee the scene.

    ¡°Stop right there,¡± Nan Chenmanded.

    ¡°I know I shouldn''tment on this, but...¡±

    In a cold voice, he ordered, ¡°Say whatever you were about to say.¡±

    ¡°Fine, if you insist. What I said was true. Nan Xing did curse at that man, but he did it for a reason.

    When he was at the event, he was you, Sir Chen. It was apparent that the man who threw a rotten egg

    at him wanted to humiliate you publicly. So, why couldn''t you curse at him when he did that to you?

    Must you ept any humiliation thrown at you and not react to it all because you''re Sir Chen? Since

    he has the right to humiliate you, you have the right to curse at him too!¡±

    She continued, ¡°Even though he threw the egg at Nan Xing, his real agenda was to insult you. That

    gave Nan Xing the right to swear at him. Why should you apologize when they are the ones who

    should?¡±

    Ning Ran''s emotional state caused her to blurt out her opinions as soon as she opened her mouth.

    Nan Chen and Qiao Zhan exchanged nces without saying anything after hearing her out.

    ¡°That''s all I have to say. Those are my thoughts. I know you might mock me for being uncouth, but I

    don''t care.¡± Ning Ran could not care less about what they thought of her opinions.

    ¡°Give her the phone.¡± Nan Chen turned to look at Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°What?¡± Thetter was confused by his order.

    ¡°Didn''t Jiang Zhe call to ask for my permission? Call him and let her speak to him,¡± exined Nan

    Chen.

    Qiao Zhan finally understood his boss'' order. Sir Chen wants me to call Jiang Zhe and let Ning Ran talk

    to him.

    ¡°Well...¡±

    ¡°Call him.¡±

    ¡°That won''t be necessary. He''s still on the line.¡± Qiao Zhan waved the phone in his hand.

    Nan Chen then turned to Ning Ran and said, ¡°Repeat everything you have just said to Jiang Zhe.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± That took her by surprise.

    ¡°Repeat it,¡± he ordered with a wave of his hand.

    Actually, there was no need for Ning Ran to repeat herself. Since the call was still connected, Jiang

    Zhe heard everything she said earlier.

    After all, Ning Ran, hot with emotion, spoke very loudly. It was difficult for him not to hear her.

    Ning Ran did not understand why Nan Chen wanted her to do so. In her mind, she felt that he was

    trying to make fun of her.

    ¡°I''m not repeating myself!¡± she eximed, shaking her hands.

    ¡°Just repeat everything you told us to Jiang Zhe. Honestly, I, too, do not understand why I should

    apologize. I want him and the public rtions department to exin what I''ve done wrong and why I

    should give out an apology,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    It was then Ning Ran finally rxed. It seems that Poker Face has no intention of reprimanding me for

    giving my opinions.

    ¡°Okay, I''ll talk to him. I wanted to know why he asked the victim of an assault to apologize,¡± she voiced.

    With that, Ning Ran took the phone. ¡°Hello? Assistant Jiang?¡±

    Jiang Zhe was intimidated by her at that point. ¡°Hello, Ms. Ning. I''ve heard your point, and I agree with

    it.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?¡±

    ¡°Technically, I wasn''t eavesdropping. It was a mere coincidence that I didn''t hang up the call, so I heard

    some part of the conversation...¡±

    ¡°Then, do you agree with me?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°I think you''re right. That man did indeed initiate the assault. The public rtions department proposes

    that Mr. Chen apologize because they want to protect the image of Mr. Chen and Nanshi

    Corporation...¡±

    ¡°What image exactly? Are you trying to demonstrate that he''s a coward who doesn''t defend himself

    after having a rotten egg thrown at him?¡± Ning Ran retorted.

    ¡°Of course not.¡± Jiang Zhe instantly felt tremendous stress on his shoulders.

    ¡°Since your boss is not a coward, why couldn''t he curse after being bullied by someone? What has

    been done is done. There''s no need to apologize for that. If you insist on it, give me apelling

    reason,¡± she demanded.

    ¡°Well... This is a possible solution the public rtions department came up with after a meeting. It''s not

    finalized yet. After hearing your point, I do feel that there''s no need to apologize as well. I will inform the

    public rtions department of your feedback and have them provide other solutions,¡± he responded in

    a heartbeat.

    ¡°This is not my feedback to them. It''s Sir Chen''s feedback.¡± Ning Ran felt that there was a need to

    rify herself. After all, if things went south and Nanshi Corporation''s reputation was affected, the

    responsibility would be too huge for her to take on.

    ¡°Understood. I''ll get it done now. You are correct that we should not apologize. I will convey your

    opinion to the public rtions department,¡± Jiang Zhe replied carefully.

    ¡°Hey, I''ve told you it''s not my opinion. It''s Nan Chen''s viewpoint.¡±

    ¡°Isn''t that your viewpoint? I haven''t said anything the whole time. You''re the one who did the talking.¡±

    Nan Chen reminded her coldly.

    ¡°Um...¡±

    He''s right. Poker Face didn''t say a single word. I was the one who kept talking.

    ¡°If something goes wrong, I will not take the me!¡± Ning Ran dered.

    ¡°It''s your order, so naturally, you will bear the responsibility. Qiao Zhan, I didn''tment on this matter,

    did I?¡± Nan Chen turned his attention to Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Well...¡±

    Qiao Zhan was in a dilemma. Why do you have to drag me into your lover''s spat and put me in a tight

    spot?

    ¡°All right, it''s settled, then. I need some rest.¡± With that, Nan Chen shut his eyes to take a nap.

    ¡°Wait, this must be made clear. If this matter is handled ording to my order, I can''t bear the

    consequences should a crisis urs.¡± Ning Ran shook his arm.

    ¡°You have just admitted that it''s your order. I don''t see the point in rifying it. If there''s an adverse

    impact on thepany, I will have Jiang Zhe announce that this was your idea and that you gave the

    order without my permission,¡± he replied.

    Panic struck Ning Ran when she heard him. ¡°How could you do that? You were the one who made me

    tell Jiang Zhe that. How could you say that it''s not your idea? Are you attempting to make my life

    miserable?¡±

    ¡°It is your idea. Since they will be doing it your way, you will have to bear the consequence,¡± Nan Chen

    stressed with his eyes closed.

    ¡°I...¡±

    Seeing the interaction between the two, Qiao Zhan chuckled and reassured, ¡°Don''t worry, Madam. Sir

    Chen is teasing you. If something really happens, you don''t have to worry about the consequences. Sir

    Chen will take care of everything.¡±

    His words got Ning Ran to ponder. He''s right. It will only affect Nan Chen if my opinion does not help to

    solve this issue. Nothing will happen to me.

 Chapter 736

    Chapter 736

    Back in Flower City, Nan Zhengde was having some tea at Commoner Residence when Nan Zhiyuan

    and Bai Hua showed up.

    ¡°We''re in trouble, Dad. Everyone''s bashing Nan Chen and Nanshi Corporation online now! What are

    we going to do if this keeps up?¡± Nan Zhiyuan eximed.

    The elderly man took a sip of his tea before ncing up at the couple. ¡°Since when did you two ever

    care about Nanshi Corporation?¡±

    ¡°Dad, I know we had made some bad decisions in the past, but we''ve always thought of ourselves as

    part of the Nan family,¡± exined Nan Zhiyuan. ¡°That''s why it''s only natural that we''re concerned, right?

    We came here to ask you how to deal with this problem.¡±

    ¡°I''m already retired, and neither of you is part of thepany. Don''t you think it''s strange for you to

    come over and talk about this? The public rtions department will take care of everything, so what are

    you even worried about?¡± Nan Zhengde asked in return.

    Nan Zhengde and Bai Hua exchanged nces, feeling at a loss due to the old man''s frankness.

    ¡°Well, this may not be any of our business, Dad, but we''re just showing our concern. You don''t have to

    be so harsh,¡± Bai Hua insisted. ¡°Besides, surely you can tell that it wasn''t Nan Chen who stirred up all

    that ruckus. It was Nan Xing! Given Nan Chen''s character, there''s no way he''d ever get caught causing

    such a scene in public. Others may not be able to tell, but can''t you? We just want to know why Nan

    Xing took Nan Chen''s ce and dealt with everything. Where did Nan Chen go? Did something

    happen to him?¡±

    ¡°Do you want something to happen to him?¡± Nan Zhengde countered.

    ¡°How could you assume that? Nan Chen''s my son. I''d never wish anything bad upon him. I just want to

    know the truth and share the Nan family''s burden.¡±

    The old man scoffed. ¡°You want to share the Nan family''s burden? Ha! You''re the burden here! How

    about you both get lost instead of muddying the waters?¡±

    ¡°Dad, we really just want to know what on earth happened. How could you say we''re muddying the

    waters?¡± Nan Zhiyuan began to feel unhappy.

    ¡°I told you this before, no matter what happens, Nan Chen and the others will take care of everything.

    There''s no need for you to interfere. Stay out of this. And if you''re thinking of using this chance to try

    anything funny, you''d best be prepared for the consequences!¡±

    Nan Zhengde was so obstinate that his own son didn''t know what to do anymore.

    Thetter turned to Bai Hua, signaling that his hands were tied.

    ¡°Dad, we just want to make sure Nan Chen''s okay,¡± Bai Hua assured, this time in a much gentler tone.

    ¡°We haven''t been able to reach him at all. Could you please tell us what''s going on?¡±

    ¡°I''m still in the midst of figuring it out myself, so I''m not sure either. But I believe Nan Chen will do

    whatever is necessary. You can leave now. I''m tired,¡± the elderly man responded, waving them off.

    The couple stood in ce, feeling indignant.

    Out of guilt over certain matters, they had both been avoiding the spotlight for a while now.

    However, they certainly didn''t want to be treated like outcasts either and kept finding ways to take part

    in the family''s affairs.

    That was why they had approached Nan Zhengde as soon as the opportunity arose¡ªonly to be given

    a ruthless lecture.

    ¡°Why do you keep shutting us out, Dad? Are you done giving us chances?¡± Bai Hua raised her voice.

    p!

    Nan Zhengde mmed a hand on the desk. ¡°I gave you your chance, but you didn''t take it! I have even

    allowed you to return to the country. What more do you want from me? Are you expecting me to hand

    Nan Chen''s position as CEO to you both and watch you bring the entire family down?¡±

    ¡°We''re just concerned about the family! Why are you treating us like this? Ning Ran''s currently filming a

    movie at Livingsfill, so Nan Chen must''ve gone to see her. That''s why he''s getting Nan Xing to attend

    all the events in his ce! The one who''s constantly bringing trouble to the family is that woman, but

    instead of giving a d*mn about her, all you do is yell at us! I''ve had enough. If you want us to stay out of

    this, we''ll do just that. Let''s go, Zhiyuan!¡±

    Unable to control her temper any longer, Bai Hua turned to leave while tugging Nan Zhiyuan along.

    Thetter remained slightly hesitant, but he ultimately walked away after his father yelled at him to

    leave.

    Feng Wan was in the courtyard admiring the flowers that had just bloomed when a housekeeper told

    her about Nan Zhengde''s fit of rage.

    She rushed over and patted her husband on the back. ¡°What are you getting so worked up about at this

    age? Calm down!¡±

    ¡°Call Nan Chen! I need to talk to him,¡± the old man huffed.

    ¡°Oh, stop getting all riled up already. Nan Chen always knows what he''s doing, so I''m sure he has

    something up his sleeve for whatever that is happening now,¡± Feng Wan consoled. ¡°Are you thinking of

    yelling at him?¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°I just want to ask him if Ning Ran''s making him stay in Livingsfill. I had a pretty good impression of that

    girl at first, but I didn''t think she''d be this inconsiderate! Look at the mess she''s caused us! This is

    outrageous!¡±

    The elderly woman''s face fell immediately. ¡°Why are you ming this on Ning Ran? What does she

    have to do with it?¡±

    ¡°Isn''t Nan Chen in Livingsfill because she''s there filming a movie? Would he have gotten Nan Xing to

    take his ce if he didn''t have to keep herpany there?¡± Nan Zhengde bellowed.

    ¡°You heard this from Bai Hua, didn''t you?¡± questioned Feng Wan.

    ¡°Well, I think she has a point! We have to get Ning Ran toe back and teach her a lesson, but if she

    keeps this up, we''ll make her leave Nan Chen! Give her a lump sum of money so she can live

    comfortably for the rest of her life without having to star in any more films.¡±

    ¡°Are you serious? Do you actually think Bai Hua has a point? I think you''re losing it, Zhengde! She''s

    always wanted Zhiyuan to be involved in thepany''s affairs just so they could gain more power.

    Why else do you think they were so close to the Ouyang family and wanted Ouyang Qing to marry Nan

    Chen? They were trying to use the Ouyangs to get back into thepany. But now that the Ouyangs

    have fallen and the marriage isn''t happening, Bai Hua''s been plotting against Ning Ran all this while! If

    Ning Ran doesn''t marry Nan Chen, that means Bai Hua would be able to find herself another potential

    daughter-inw who''d stand with her. Don''t you understand that? And yet, you''re putting the me on

    Ning Ran just after hearing a few words from Bai Hua? You really must be getting senile!¡±

    Nan Zhengde began to calm down after being reprimanded by his wife.

    He could certainly make sense of what she had just told him.

    In fact, it was because realization had dawned on him that he became furious again.

    Still, he was worried that Nan Chen might be too subservient to Ning Ran.

    Our family will be in trouble if it turns out that Ning Ran''s up to no good. Bai Hua''s the perfect example

    of a mistake that should never be repeated. I don''t think Ning Ran has any ulterior motive for the time

    being, but it''s best to be careful. We can''t allow all the things that Bai Hua and Zhiyuan did in the past

    to happen again.

 Chapter 737

    Chapter 737

    In the end, Nan Zhengde decided against phoning Nan Chen after Feng Wan''s persuasion.

    Instead, Nan Chen took the initiative to call himter that day.

    He gave a detailed description of the situation to Nan Zhengde. To put it simply, he just didn''t want to

    disappoint the children.

    Nan Zhengde also subtly expressed his concern over the phone, reminding Nan Chen that he shouldn''t

    be swayed by a woman.

    Upon hearing that, Nan Chen made it clear that it was his decision alone and that he would take full

    ountability.

    After the call with Nan Zhengde ended, Nan Chen stood before the window in prolonged silence.

    He was aware of his grandfather''s displeasure and the implicature in what was said.

    Apparently, someone was trying to stir up trouble.

    It wasn''t hard to guess that Bai Hua was the perpetrator.

    That didn''t sit well with Nan Chen, for the woman was his mother.

    Due to their rtionship, he couldn''t be as merciless as he would toward outsiders and had constantly

    exercised forbearance and tolerance.

    However, Bai Hua never put herself in check that she caused one trouble after another.

    It was a shame that he couldn''t do much to her.

    However, she would most certainly stir up huge trouble if he let her be.

    By then, Ning Ran entered to inform him that dinner was ready and it was time for their meal.

    She felt pressured when she noticed the brooding look on his face. ¡°Had that incident left a huge

    aftermath?¡±

    ¡°It''s okay. Let''s eat,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°I''ve given it some thought. If the incident causes massive repercussions, we should deal with it flexibly

    and issue an apology statement. If someone were to hold this against us, then¨C¡±

    ¡°But you were the one who insisted on not apologizing. We shouldn''t be apologizing anyway when

    we''ve done no wrong. You said that we need to hold our ground. It''s okay. Let''s eat.¡±

    ¡°I¨C¡±

    ¡°Dinnertime.¡±

    Nan Xing, who had gone into hiding in a hotel, jolted awake at the sound of the doorbell at noon the

    next day.

    It wasn''t until he saw Jiang Zhe outside through the peephole that he opened the door.

    The room reeked of alcohol, eliciting a frown from Jiang Zhe. ¡°Mr. Xing, we have an emergency, and

    yet here you are, drowned in booze.¡±

    Nan Xing went into the bathroom. ¡°I''m trying to drown my sorrows here. I failed miserably at the task he

    delegated to me. He must be so utterly disappointed in me and would holler at me if he could. But I just

    couldn''t hold myself back at that time. That person had thrown a disgusting rotten egg at me! I must

    yell at him!¡±

    ¡°All right, all right, Mr. Xing. I came with splendid news.¡± Jiang Zhe chuckled.

    ¡°What is it? What good news can you possibly have about my current predicament?¡± Nan Xing probed.

    ¡°Thepany''s public rtions department had decided against issuing an apology statement due to

    Ms. Ning prohibiting it during their initial decision to do so. Everyone in thepany worried that online

    critics would causepany stocks to plummet. To their surprise, stocks for thepany listed abroad

    saw a surge in pricesst night, and we were able to rise far beyond the recent upheaval. Stocks for

    thepany listed within the country saw a simr surge today. It is also the highest increase in a

    single day in recent times. Aren''t you shocked? Isn''t this amazing?¡± Jiang Zheughed.

    ¡°D*mn! Are you for real?¡± Nan Xing yelped.

    ¡°Of course! Neither did we expect things to turn out like this. It is such a surprise.¡±

    ¡°This means my outburst didn''t affect thepany''s image and had even generated a surge in stock

    prices. Wow, I''ve done a great deed!¡± Nan Xing was feeling jolly.

    ¡°Besides, public opinion has swayed in your favor. A lot ofizens are on your side. Compared to

    hypocrites who hide their anger behind a mask, they appreciate a CEO who has emotions and finds

    you realistic. Thus, a lot of them have expressed their support for Nanshi Corporation and you.

    Fortunately, we haven''t issued an apology statement. This wouldn''t have happened otherwise.¡±

    ¡°Hahaha!¡± Nan Xing burst intoughter. ¡°They''re smart enough to appreciate my charming personality!¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Things took such an unexpected turn. None of us saw thising.¡±

    ¡°I had foreseen the oue and knew this was the right decision!¡± Nan Xing cracked up.

    ¡°By the way, Mr. Chen would be arriving at Flower City this afternoon, so you no longer need to assume

    his identity and can show up as yourself.¡±

    ¡°Why is heing back so soon? Does he not wish to spend more time with his family? I think I did a

    good job pretending to be him so he can take a few more days off,¡± Nan Xing suggested.

    ¡°If that''s the case, please take this call.¡± Jiang Zhe handed the phone he was holding to Nan Xing

    abruptly.

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°Oh, Mr. Chen just called and I was still on the phone. You can speak to him!¡± Jiang Zhe quipped.

    ¡°D*mn! You messed with me! Where are you, Chen?¡±

    ¡°I''m at Livingsfill. I was nning on returning to Flower City, but I''m relieved when you said you can

    handle things alone. I already had Qiao Zhan cancel my flight ticket. That''ll be all. I''m taking my kids for

    a swim.¡±

    Nan Chen hung up after saying a few words with Nan Xing.

    ¡°Hey, he left me to clean up after him! How dare you toy with me, Jiang Zhe! You called him so that he

    could overhear our conversation, and now I''m doing his job while he''s having fun!¡± Nan Xing cried.

    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    ¡°You said so yourself. It was because you imed to be able to settle everything on your own that Mr.

    Chen decided he wouldn''t have to hurry back here. However, you have nothing to worry about. There''s

    nothing else on the schedule aside from the dozens of documents that require your attention. Please

    wash up and head to the headquarters for work. The incident about you is trending online, so you have

    to show up at thepany as if nothing happened.¡±

    ¡°Dozens of documents? This is murder! Tell my brother that he is to return ording to schedule. I

    can''t possibly handle this!¡± Nan Xing was in distress.

    ¡°Mr. Chen had switched off his phone, so we can only turn to you. You have to assume his

    responsibilities¡±

    ¡°By the way, did the investigation on the person who humiliated me bear any results? We can''t just let

    things slide, can we?¡± Nan Xing inquired.

    ¡°He''s an employee from Sunshine Corporation who smuggled himself in using a fabricated press pass.

    During an interview yesterday afternoon, Ouyang Li mentioned that you deserved to be humiliated, so

    the public spectes that she''s behind this,¡± Jiang Zhe reported.

    ¡°D*mn that woman! She''ll be punished!¡±

    ¡°Mr. Chen had urged you to remain calm. He will handle it personally,¡± Jiang Zhe stated.

    ¡°So how is he going to handle matters? Is he going to get someone to throw rotten eggs at Ouyang Li

    in public too?¡±

    Jiang Zhe let out a chuckle. ¡°That is kind of low and doesn''t do much damage either. We shall not do

    unto others what they did to us. Mr. Chen has his ways.¡±

    ¡°So how is he going to handle it? The Ouyang family has been finding fault with the Nan family, so they

    needed to be taught a lesson! Otherwise, she would definitely look down on us!¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry. Mr. Chen will teach Ouyang Li a lesson on crisis management.¡±

 Chapter 738

    Chapter 738

    The next day, Feng Jialing received a call from Ouyang Li saying that she wanted to meet up.

    The two had never spoken on the phone since Feng Jialing was kicked out by her cruel eldest

    daughter.

    Feng Jialing thought Ouyang Li would never take the initiative to contact her again, so she was

    surprised to receive thetter''s call.

    After all, they were rted by blood. She could not help but care and worry for Ouyang Li.

    Without hesitation, Feng Jialing agreed to meet Ouyang Li and asked Ouyang Qi to send her to Orchid

    Club.

    The clubhouse had been fully renovated, and the signboard with the wording Orchid Club had also

    been changed to ¡°Lily Club.¡± Ouyang Li was slowly eradicating Ouyang Duo''s influence on the Ouyang

    family and was beginning to establish her image as a core member.

    However, she encountered some problems even before the opening.

    Starting yesterday, articles criticizing Ouyang Li began to surface on the inte, using her of

    ordering her subordinates to attack Nan Chen, who participated in an event. Her action vited the

    principle of fairpetition and was deemed despicable.

    Then, the articles dug in deeper, listing out the horrible deeds thete Ouyang Duo and Ouyang Qing,

    who were thrown behind the bar, had done to the Nan family. They believed that the Ouyang family

    was terrible to the bone and suggested that Sunshine Corporation remove all of them from the

    management team.

    Several influential financial official ounts had written professional articles, making in-depth analyses

    of the current predicament of Sunshine Corporation.

    The articles made the same conclusion that Sunshine Corporation would copse if thepany

    remained in the hand of Ouyang Li.

    Many directors of Sunshine Corporation had always wanted to drive Ouyang Li out of management.

    Thus, they were overjoyed when articles supporting their scheme appeared.

    Not to mention, manypanies that had an in-depth coboration with Sunshine Corporation

    announced the termination of contracts with them out of the blue. The reason was that Nanshi

    Corporation gave them notice to do so, or else they would terminate all their coboration projects with

    those who continued to work with Sunshine Corporation.

    In other words, thosepanies had to pick between Sunshine Corporation and Nanshi Corporation.

    Naturally, they had chosen to side with Nanshi Corporation since it had more influence on Flower City.

    Ouyang Li felt pressured and would be forced to resign if she couldn''t solve these problems.

    Even if she doesn''t resign, the board of directors could forcibly remove her from her position as CEO

    through a meeting.

    She was left with no one to rely on when faced with such a circumstance and finally thought of her

    mother.

    Hence, she asked to meet Feng Jialing, wishing to get advice on how to deal with these crises.

    However, she got upset when she saw Ouyang Qiing along with Feng Jialing.

    Ouyang Li told Ouyang Qi to leave since she had something to tell Feng Jialing in private.

    To that, Feng Jialing chimed in, ¡°Your brother sent me here, so I want him to stay beside me. I''ll leave

    too if you ask him to leave.¡±

    Then, she got up as she spoke and gestured for Ouyang Qi to leave with her.

    Ouyang Qi immediately held his mother''s hand and got prepared to leave.

    ¡°Fine, I''ll let him stay. It''s not like he will understand anything.¡± Ouyang Li was irritated.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Feng Jialing sat down and said, ¡°What do you want to say? Go on.¡±

    ¡°I''m under a lot of pressure now. Someone attacked Nan Chen when he was attending an event. Now,

    I''m being med for it. Severalpanies announced the termination of contracts with us, and the

    board of directors asked me to settle it. But thosepanies refuse to talk to me at all. Hence, the Nan

    family must have put pressure on them.¡±

    ¡°I''ve heard about it. Why did you ask someone to attack Nan Chen? This is so immature of you. Must

    you do this just because you lost the bidding? Did you gain anything other than getting your revenge?¡±

    Feng Jialing asked.

    ¡°It wasn''t me. I only said it serves him right during an interview. The person who threw the egg is

    Sunshine Corporation''s employee. So everyone assumed that I ordered him to do it. I wasn''t aware of it

    at all and was wronged. Now, I can''t clear my name.¡±

    Feng Jialing sighed. ¡°Do you think Nan Chen staged this himself? To put on a pity act?¡±

    ¡°It''s possible. After Nan Chen got attacked, Nanshi Corporation''s share price rocketed. The Nan family

    is shameless and they will do anything to achieve their goal,¡± Ouyang Li fumed.

    ¡°So why did you ask to see me? Are you asking me to find a solution for you? I have no idea what to

    do.¡± Feng Jialing shook her head.

    ¡°Mom, you and Dad were in the business industry for a long time. You must have experienced many

    things before. I''m sure you know how to solve this. Please don''t let me deal with this alone. I''m your

    daughter,¡± Ouyang Li said anxiously.

    ¡°Now you remember I''m your mom? Why didn''t you think of that when you kicked me out?¡± Feng

    Jialing snapped.

    ¡°I didn''t kick you out. I only wanted you to rest. Can you meet some of the directors and exin my

    situation to them? Tell them that Nan Chen''s attack wasn''t my doing.¡±

    Still, Feng Jialing shook her head. ¡°It''s useless. Those directors have ns to take over thepany

    since your dad passed away. If the Rong family didn''t be the secondrgest shareholder and

    show their support to you, they would have taken action a long time ago.¡±

    Now that they have the chance to take you down, there''s no way they will let you off. How dare you kick

    out your family, thinking that you can control everything? There''s no one you can me but yourself for

    this.

    ¡°What''s the use of saying this now? You have to help me! Or they''ll vote me out!¡± Ouyang Li panicked.

    ¡°There''s nothing I can do. Your dad could have put them under control if he were alive. Now that your

    dad is gone, and I have no shares, I can''t help you. Do you think the board of directors will listen to

    me?¡± Feng Jialing retorted.

    Ouyang Li fell silent after hearing that.

    ¡°I have an idea,¡± Ouyang Qi chimed in.

    ¡°You? You only know how to have fun. What do you know?¡±

    ¡°You can me me and tell people I was the one who ordered the attack on Nan Chen. I''ll admit it

    openly too. Then you won''t be med for it anymore. That will lessen the pressure you''re facing,¡±

    Ouyang Qi said.

    Ouyang Li looked doubtfully at Ouyang Qi. ¡°Why are you willing to help me?¡±

    ¡°I have a condition. You have to reinstate me. But this time, I''m not going to be your driver anymore. I

    want to be your assistant,¡± Ouyang Qi exined.

    Ouyang Li was suddenly on guard. ¡°So you want to return to thepany. What''s your motive?¡±

    ¡°My motive is to protect the interests of the Ouyang family in Sunshine Corporation. Is there anything

    wrong with that? Just forget it if you disagree.¡±

    On the side, Feng Jialing chimed in, ¡°You two are siblings. It''s only right for you to work together. Why

    are you hesitating when he volunteers to take the me for you? He can share your burdens if he

    works in thepany. Isn''t that great?¡±

    Ouyang Li agreed after thinking about it for a while.

    ¡°Okay, deal,¡± Ouyang Li said.

    Ouyang Qi was overjoyed. He was amazed by Tang Jing''s trick. Now, he could return to work in the

    company after secretly ordering someone to attack Nan Chen.

 Chapter 739

    Chapter 739

    Within a certain prison located in Flower City, Ouyang Qing was surprised to see Tang Jing visiting her.

    In the past, she never saw Tang Jing as anything but apdog or someone to be ordered around.

    As for Tang Jing, she almost never disobeyed Ouyang Qing in order to obtain material support.

    Ouyang Qing was aware that her rtionship with Tang Jing was strictly based on their need to use

    each other. Neither she nor Tang Jing treated the other party as friends. In the past, Tang Jing was the

    one who didn''t deserve to be her friend. However, at that moment, it was hard to tell the situation.

    Tang Jing appeared to be as calm as she always was. ¡°I brought you something. They''re currently

    being examined by the prison guards. Once the examination is over, the guards will hand them to you.¡±

    Suspicions crept into Ouyang Qing''s eyes as she stared at Tang Jing. ¡°I didn''t expect you to visit me.

    Why?¡±

    ¡°Because we''re best buds. Didn''t you always say that?¡± Tang Jing smiled.

    Ouyang Qing smirked too. ¡°You believed that?¡±

    ¡°I always do. Not only that, our rtionship will only be even more intimate and better.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°Well, I may be your sister-inw in the future,¡± Tang Jing replied seriously.

    Hearing that stunned Ouyang Qing for a few seconds before sheughed. ¡°You are actually hooking up

    with that wastrel Ouyang Qi? How is that possible?¡±

    Instead of getting angered by that remark, Tang Jing lifted her sses. ¡°Please don''t use a phrase like

    that to describe our rtionship. To be precise, he was the one who chased after me. Also, I must

    correct you on something. Ouyang Qi isn''t a wastrel. You''re the one who deserves that title now

    because you''re a prisoner who can''t do anything.¡±

    If it were in the past, Ouyang Qing would''ve been aggravated by that.

    However, she had be a lot calmerpared to before.

    It wasn''t because she had achieved some spiritual enlightenment. Rather, it was the strict authority

    within the walls of the prison that resulted in her calm demeanor and reflected on her past behavior as

    well as her current situation.

    She stared silently at Tang Jing for a long while.

    With a grin, Tang Jing questioned, ¡°Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think I don''t deserve

    Ouyang Qi?¡±

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    ¡°No. He''s the one who doesn''t deserve you. He only knows how to enjoy lifevishly. In fact, he got one

    of his fingers chopped off because he was having an affair with another man''s wife. He''s a useless,

    disabled person.¡± Ouyang Qing was quite objective with her description of her brother because that

    was the terrible impression he left in the outside world.

    ¡°You should treat your brother better instead of looking down on him because only then will he return

    the favor, which will benefit you. You''ll be able to leave here earlier than you''re supposed to and maybe

    even marry a good man. That''s why Ouyang Qi is my hope and yours, too.¡±

    I think I understand what she''s trying to say now. Ouyang Qingughed again. ¡°You want to reach

    greater heights by using Ouyang Qi. I''m sorry to tell you this, but he''s useless beyond saving. You can''t

    count on him to achieve your goal.¡±

    ¡°I think you don''t understand your brother that well. He''s more powerful than any of you, primarily

    because he has someone mighty on his side. His strong alliance with that person will no doubt make

    him sessful.¡±

    Ouyang Qi chuckled again. ¡°Are you saying you''re the one who has a strong alliance with him?¡±

    The edges of Tang Jing''s mouth curved into a smile. ¡°Do I not fit the bill?¡±

    ¡°How''s your progress, then? What have you obtained?¡±

    Tang Jing shook her head before replying confidently, ¡°I''m not an impatient woman, nor am I only

    interested in the small benefits presented before me. What I want is something big. Not too long ago,

    your brother was fired by Ouyang Li. However, thanks to my tactics, I was able to help him return to

    Sunshine Corporation to work. Even if he''s useless, he''s still Ouyang Duo''s son and the heir to the

    Ouyang family. If he''s willing to work hard, he''ll soon garner a group of his family''s supporters and

    rece Ouyang Li to be the representative of the Ouyang family''s interest.¡±

    It was then Ouyang Qing started to believe perhaps Tang Jing could pull it off. ¡°Why are you telling me

    this?¡±

    ¡°I want to share my achievements with you because we''re friends. I can''t tell this to anyone else

    because they''ll spill the beans. You''re fine because you can''t get out of this prison. So, no matter what I

    say to you will remain safe.¡±

    ¡°Is that all? What else do you want me to do? I know you have more to say.¡±

    ¡°I''ve asked mywyer, and they say if you submit the names of your aplices, you''ll be rendering a

    meritorious service. That can be used as a basis to reduce your sentence. If I utilize more resources on

    top of that, you''ll be able to get out of here sooner than you were expected to.¡±

    Ouyang Qing grasped what Tang Jing truly meant. ¡°Whose name do you want me to submit?¡±

    Gazing intently at Ouyang Qing, Tang Jing uttered, ¡°Ouyang Li, of course. Wasn''t she the one who

    ordered you to harm Nan Chen''s children?¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡± That dumbfounded Ouyang Qing because Ouyang Li had no knowledge of what they did back in

    Flower City.

    ¡°Ouyang Li''s the mastermind while you''re just an essory to the crime. If you surrender her, you''ll be

    rendering a meritorious service.¡±

    It was then Ouyang Qing fully understood what Tang Jing was getting at.

    Tang Jing continued, ¡°Back then, when Ouyang Li ordered you to do those things, there were two

    employees in Sunshine Corporation who witnessed that scene. They are willing to testify and confirm

    this. The case will be veryplicated, and the police will need a very long time to re-investigate the

    case. In fact, it''s possible that Ouyang Li will be dered innocent anyway. However, there''s no way

    she''ll be able to keep her position as the acting CEO during the investigation. Ouyang Qi said high-

    ranking officials involved in criminal cases would be temporarily suspended ording to thepany''s

    byws. Is that right?¡±

    Ouyang Qing cackled. So, she''s here today because she wants my cooperation to indict Ouyang Li. I

    bet Ouyang Li must be very stressed right now. No doubt people from different levels of thepany

    have a problem with her. If she is involved in a criminal case, she''ll no doubt get temporarily suspended

    from work. With no other choice, she''ll have to remove herself from the position of CEO before she can

    even get a hang of it. Once that happens, it''ll be very difficult for her to return to that position again.

    With a cold voice, she uttered, ¡°You''re a cruel woman, Tang Jing. You want me to stir up chaos in the

    Ouyang family and attack my own people?¡±

    ¡°Your people? When did Ouyang Li see you as her people? Did she do that when she took your shares

    away? I promise on behalf of your brother that if you cooperate with us and help him gain control of

    Sunshine Corporation, you''ll get your shares back. We''re not in a rush, so you''re free to take your time

    mulling over your decision,¡± Tang Jing offered.

    ¡°I don''t need to consider anything. If you''re sincere about this, you''ll get me out of here first. Once I''m

    out, I''ll help you take down Ouyang Li.¡±

    ¡°No can do. The Nan family''s keeping an eye on you. You''ve offended them, so there''s no way you can

    get out that easily. The best we can do is to lighten your sentence.¡±

 Chapter 740

    Chapter 740

    After Tang Jing left the prison, she visited Ouyang Li because thetter demanded she reports the

    situation in Flower City upon returning from that city to her.

    Ouyang Li needed Tang Jing to update her of Ning Ran''s situation before she reported it to Ding Fei.

    While Ouyang Li had no idea where Ding Fei came from or who she was, she was undoubtedly a great

    help to her. It was thanks to Ding Fei''s massive funds that Sunshine Corporation''s condition was

    temporarily stabilized.

    Upon arriving at Ouyang Li''s office, Tang Jing briefed her about the situation in Flower City and, more

    importantly, Ning Ran''stest development.

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    When the briefing concluded, Ouyang Li asked, ¡°Do all men love beautiful women?¡±

    That question stunned Tang Jing. What kind of question is that? I don''t think there''s any man in this

    world who likes ugly women or any woman who likes ugly men. Under normal circumstances, the more

    attractive a person is, the more likely someone will be drawn to them. That''s something even children

    comprehend. I think there''s more going on with Ouyang Li right now. Why else would she ask such an

    obvious question? Hmm, she seems to be a little differentpared to before. Her current hairstyle is

    more fashionable, and she even has exquisite makeup on. It''s pretty obvious she''s paying more

    attention to her clothing, too. Overall, her image is better than before. It''s definitely not a small matter

    for a woman who is all focused on her work to care about her appearance out of a sudden. There''s a

    saying that goes, ''a man''s willing to die for those who appreciate him, and a woman''s willing to doll

    herself up to please the person who loves her.'' However, that saying isn''t true. More often than not, a

    woman dresses herself up for someone she likes because she wants to look pretty in front of them.

    Ouyang Li''s sudden change is definitely the result of her falling for a man, and now, she''s worried he

    won''t be attracted to her in looks.

    ¡°What are you staying silent for? Answer my question.¡± Ouyang Li''s voice pulled Tang Jing back to

    reality.

    Without dy, Tang Jing answered, ¡°Not entirely. Only shallow men will solely focus on a woman''s

    appearance. Men who are more refined will value a woman''s overall qualities more.¡±

    That answer was tailored-made by Tang Jing for Ouyang Li because she knew that was what Ouyang

    Li really wanted to hear.

    As expected, Ouyang Li revealed a satisfied expression.

    ¡°Have you fallen for a man before? Do you know how it feels?¡± she abruptly inquired.

    That stunned Tang Jing again. Now that I think about it, I have never fallen for anyone before. Sure, I

    was infatuated with some men in the past, including the Nan brothers. However, I can''t really say I like

    them. I think I''m attracted to them mostly because they''re handsome and because they have

    prestigious status as well as outstanding backgrounds. Those qualities are the most important things to

    me. I''m fine with Ouyang Qi, but I don''t think I can im that I like him. The only thing I can say for sure

    about him is that if I bet on him, I stand a good chance of winning. Still, I can''t tell Ouyang Li that I''ve

    never loved someone before.

    As her train of thought ended there, she replied, ¡°Yes, I have. As for how it feels... It''s different from

    person to person. For some, my feelings toward them are stronger. For others, my feelings are more

    subdued.¡±

    ¡°If you really hate someone, but you still want to get his attention and approval, does this mean you like

    him?¡± Ouyang Li asked.

    ¡°I''m afraid the answer is yes.¡±

    Ouyang Li remained quiet for a long time. It''s undeniable that I''m a neophyte when ites to

    romance. Many have chased after me before, but those men only did so because they were after my

    family''s resources. That''s why I never paid attention to them before, and that''s also why I thought I''ll

    never experience love. However, my thoughts have been dominated by that man recently, even though

    he isn''t even willing to look at me. It makes me feel dejected and angry, but at the same time, I desire

    his acknowledgment even more. I want to do everything right, achieve remarkable aplishments,

    and then finally defeat him. That way, it will force him to look up at me as I step on him.

    Then, with disdain, she responded, ¡°I don''t have any particr reason for asking you that. I was simply

    curious about what goes through the minds of those in love. A romance between a man and a woman

    is most boring.¡±

    Her words sounded odd as though she was trying to hide something.

    Tang Jing snickered in her mind. I wonder which man this in-looking woman is smitten with. ¡±I know.

    You''re a strong, independent woman. Men are worth nothing in your eyes.¡±

    ¡°Let''s get back to business. Have you found out the movie''s release date yet?¡±

    ¡°No. There''s still filming that needs to be done. However, I''ll continue to inquire about it. Once I receive

    news regarding the release date, I''ll inform you right away.¡±

    ¡°Good. Don''t forget to report everything Ning Ran does to me as soon as possible, regardless of how

    insignificant it is.¡±

    ¡°I will.¡±

    Ouyang Li then gestured for Tang Jing to leave.

    After Tang Jing left, Ouyang Li pulled out her phone and stared at the man''s photo again.

    For the past two days, she had been doing the same thing over and over. However, she still couldn''t

    understand why her attention was repeatedly drawn to his image.

    His cold, disdainful eyes, emotionless face, male-model figure, and everything else about him

    constantly popped up in her mind, driving her insane. Why am I like this? Why can''t I expel him from

    my mind?

    Smack!

    Her resentment remained even after she smashed her phone on the ground, so she crushed it into

    pieces with her high heels until the screen was shattered, and she couldn''t see anything anymore.

    A vicious glint glimmered in her eyes. You think you''re a god superior to everyone else, don''t you?

    Since you''re unwilling to even look at me, I''ll find a way to destroy you! You think you are god but I''ll

    drag you down and turn you into an ugly, poor, and worthless mortal! Then, I''ll have you lie in front of

    me like a lowly dog and then step on you until you crumble to dust!

    When her train of thought ended there, she felt much better, as though everything she had wished for

    had been granted.

    Ouyang Li was the type of woman who hardly experienced romantic feelings because she would never

    be drawn to any man with average performance while those who were outstanding looked down on her.

    However, once she had romantic feelings for someone, she would transform into a terrifying being;

    especially when the person she set her eyes on was someone who would never even look at her.

    She was aware of that fact, which was why she could only treat the man as a target.

    If she couldn''t have him, then she would destroy him. Only then would she finally regain her peace of

    mind.

    Such was human nature. Some people could charm someone and steal their hearts even with limited

    interactions. And then, that someone would be addicted to the feelings and couldn''t let them go.

    Usually, that would only happen to those who were gentle. Yet, a weirdo like Ouyang Li actually

    experienced such feelings.

    Hence, all she could do was use the most extreme method to deal with the throbbing sensation in her

    heart.

    It was an unfortunate affair for those involved.

 Chapter 741

    Chapter 741

    Meanwhile, in Livingsfill, just as Huang Zichao entered a private room in a club, someone knocked on

    the door.

    When he opened the door, he saw a man built like a steel tower before him.

    The man then stepped away, allowing the man without any facial expression to amble forward.

    ¡°Mr. Nan? You''re the one who invited me?¡± Huang Zichao was surprised.

    Nan Chen stepped past him and entered the room with Qiao Zhan before locking the door.

    ¡°What do you two want?¡± Huang Zichao got nervous.

    Qiao Zhan stood in front of Huang Zichao and grabbed him by his cor. ¡°Sir Chen has invited you to a

    meeting multiple times, yet each time, you turned him down. However, when I sent that anonymous

    message to you with another phone, you showed up. This means you''re afraid of someone. Tell me,

    who''s that person and who did you think sent you that message?¡±

    In response, Nan Chen shot a nce at Qiao Zhan, gesturing for him to be gentler.

    Of course, Huang Zichao wasn''t going to surrender that easily. ¡°I don''t know what you''re talking about.¡±

    A sigh slipped out of Qiao Zhan''s mouth as he turned to Nan Chen. ¡°Not everyone is as self-aware as

    me, Sir Chen. Some people are just that despicable, refusing to reveal what they know until violence is

    applied.¡±

    Sitting down, Nan Chen grabbed a wine bottle, smelled it, and put it down. ¡°Ask a server to bring me

    five bottles of highly concentrated vodka with at least sixty percent alcohol by volume.¡±

    ¡°Why do you want vodka with that high ABV percentage, Sir Chen? Do you want to drink it?¡± Qiao Zhan

    asked.

    Nan Chen simply waved, nonverbally telling him to do as he was told.

    Thus, Qiao Zhan left and soon returned with the bottles.

    ¡°The ABV percentage of this vodka is way too high, Sir Chen. Don''t drink too much of it. In fact, it''s best

    if you don''t drink it at all,¡± Qiao Zhan advised.

    ¡°I''m not drinking. He''s the one drinking.¡± Lifting his chin, Nan Chen stared at Huang Zichao.

    Panickily, Huang Zichao waved his hands. ¡°No, no, no. I don''t want to drink such strong alcohol. I

    can''t.¡±

    ¡°You want to, and you will. There are too many thoughts running around in that noggin of yours. Once

    you''re drunk, you''ll be able to let them spill out.¡± Qiao Zhan popped open a bottle.

    ¡°I really can''t. My body can''t handle it if I drink it.¡±

    Nan Chen nced at Qiao Zhan.

    However, Qiao Zhan wasn''t as bright as Jiang Zhe, which was why Jiang Zhe was Nan Chen''s

    mouthpiece while Qiao Zhan wasn''t.

    Hence, Qiao Zhan merely stared at Nan Chen, slightly puzzled. What does he want me to do next?

    That ticked Nan Chen off. Isn''t he skilled at prying someone''s mouth open? He''s even holding the prop

    right now, yet he still doesn''t know how to act. Are muscle heads really that simple-minded? Is it truly

    impossible for one to possess both brawn and brain?

    He ordered icily, ¡°Pour the vodka.¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Qiao Zhan proceeded to pour the vodka into a ss and ced it in front of Nan Chen.

    Coldly, Nan Chen shot a re at him. I''m not the one drinking! How can he still not understand the

    drink''s meant for Huang Zichao and not me?

    In one second, Qiao Zhan would think he understood what Nan Chen meant, but in another, he would

    have no idea what Nan Chen was trying to convey.

    Thus, he had no choice but to think about the situation carefully. What should I do with this strong

    liquor? Am I really supposed to make Huang Zichao drunk with this? But if that''s the case, then there''s

    no need to have this many bottles. It''s not like we''re using this for a steamboat. Oh, wait, does this

    mean these bottles are intended to frighten Huang Zichao?

    He felt as though he had been enlightened when he finally grasped what he was supposed to do.

    ¡°Sir Chen has questions for you. If you answer them truthfully, you get to walk away unharmed. Should

    you refuse, you''ll be emptying all these bottles. Then, tomorrow, reporters will discover you''ve died of

    alcohol poisoning after you drank too much vodka! Oh, how pitiful will you be!¡± Qiao Zhan exaggerated.

    Once he ended his sentence, he shifted his line of sight to Nan Chen. Upon receiving a look of

    approval from his employer, he let out a sigh of relief. I''ve finally got it right! Now I''m kind of impressed

    with Jiang Zhe. Not only does he know how to butter people up, but he''s also very good at figuring out

    what Sir Chen is thinking. Sir Chen''s usually pretty taciturn and he rarely expresses his thoughts

    directly, so I have to make out what he thinks. It''s incredible how Jiang Zhe''s able to nail his guesses

    every time whenever he conveyed Sir Chen''s words.

    Huang Zichao''s expression changed. ¡°You can''t do this! That''s a criminal offense!¡±

    ¡°We were just talking with you. It was such a pleasant time that we drank a lot. Sadly, you gulped down

    a little too much vodka and died from alcohol poisoning. That, naturally, doesn''t count as a criminal

    offense. At most, we''ll just pay for your funeral. Well, Sir Chen can afford it.¡± When Qiao Zhan''s threat

    concluded, he turned to Nan Chen and earned his employer''s approval again.

    Suddenly, he felt as though Jiang Zhe wasn''t that amazing after all. I can guess what Sir Chen is

    thinking just like Jiang Zhe!

    Huang Zichao''s mind was brimming with anxiousness. He knew it wouldn''t be feasible for him to resist

    if Qiao Zhan were to force him to drink.

    Therefore, he relented. ¡°What do you two want to know?¡±

    ¡°Why did you approach my madam with an offer for her to star in a television show and then cancel it

    afterward? Not only that, you were even willing to bear the losses. What are you afraid of?¡± Qiao Zhan

    interrogated.

    ¡°It''s nothing. I just didn''t want to continue filming the show anymore because it was boring.¡±

    In response, Qiao Zhan glimpsed at Nan Chen, who was frowning. This isn''t good! I must''ve pissed him

    off because I''m not doing a good job! This is all Huang Zichao''s fault! If he had answered my questions

    properly, Sir Chen wouldn''t have gotten angry!

    Furiously, he punched Huang Zichao, which knocked thetter out instantly.

    After all, he was a professional, and his fist was as tough as steel. No ordinary person could take a

    punch from him and still be fine.

    Nan Chen''s frown intensified. ¡°What are you doing? I want you to question him, not render him

    unconscious.¡±

    With an innocent expression, Qiao Zhan gazed at his fist. ¡°How would I know he''s so weak? Although, I

    think it''s easier to make him drunk after he''s knocked out.¡±

    Resignedly, Nan Chen shook his head. I should''ve known that Jiang Zhe is better at handling matters

    like this than a muscle head.

    Qiao Zhan proceeded to grab Huang Zichao, opened thetter''s mouth, and poured some vodka in.

    Huang Zichao was promptly woken up as he coughed violently. ¡°You two¡ª¡±

    Rudely, Qiao Zhan interrupted, ¡°It''s just me, not us. I''m the one responsible. Sir Chen has no

    involvement in this. Anyway, we had such a fantastic time together after we met that we drank a little

    too much. Then you died from alcohol poisoning. It can''t be helped.¡±

    ¡°If you keep doing that, I''ll call the cops!¡± Huang Zichao was panting heavily.

    ¡°Do it, then.¡± Upon pulling out a phone, Qiao Zhan handed the device to him. ¡°What, do you think the

    police are going to care that we''re drinking?¡±

    That shut Huang Zichao up. He was a celebrity, and he wanted to keep a low profile and avoid anyone

    getting dirt on him, so, naturally, he wasn''t going to call the cops willy-nilly.

    Nan Chen, who had been staying silent, asked, ¡°Who''s Ding Fei?¡±

    Huang Zichao was stunned when he heard the name. Has Nan Chen figured out that Ding Fei got dirt

    on me? If that''s the case, doesn''t this mean Nan Chen also has the same dirt?

 Chapter 742

    Chapter 742

    While Huang Zichao was an award-winning actor, he found it impossible to calm his nerve enough to

    put up an act in front of Nan Chen.

    Thus, his terror was clearly disyed for Nan Chen and even Qiao Zhan to see.

    Still, Huang Zichao was unwilling to yield just like that because he was still hopeful for Ding Fei''s dirt on

    him would remain unknown to the world.

    That was basically his greatest weakness. If the information Ding Fei had on him were leaked, his

    career would very likely be doomed.

    Thus, even though he was opening his mouth, he refused to answer Nan Chen''s question.

    The silence Huang Zichao produced was born out of fear, unlike Nan Chen''s, which was due to his

    unwillingness to speak.

    ¡°Tell me about Ding Fei,¡± Nan Chen asked again.

    With substantial effort, Huang Zichao managed to seal his mouth shut.

    Nan Chen shot a tacit look at Qiao Zhan before thetter lifted a bottle. ¡°Seems like you still haven''t

    drunk enough alcohol to speak your mind freely. How about another bottle?¡±

    Crap, he''s going to make me drink again? If I glug down any more alcohol, I will really get drunk!

    Huang Zichao yelled, ¡°How can you allow your subordinate tomit a crime, Mr. Nan?¡±

    ¡°You were always his idol. Meeting you today made him very happy. There''s nothing I can do if he

    wants you to drink with him,¡± Nan Chen responded inly.

    Speedily, Qiao Zhan went along with it. ¡°Yeah, that''s right! I''ve always admired you. Today, I''ll toast to

    you using tea instead of alcohol.¡±

    Huang Zichao''s lips trembled with outrage. He''s such a bully! I''m going to die if I keep drinking this

    sixty-percent-ABV vodka while he drinks tea!

    ¡°Are you going to drink it yourself or...?¡± As Qiao Zhan spoke, he handed the bottle to Huang Zichao.

    Even though Qiao Zhan didn''tplete his sentence, Huang Zichao knew what words would follow.

    Either I drink this myself, or he''s going to knock me out and pour it down my throat! Obviously, if I have

    to choose, I rather drink it myself. It''s better than getting another deadly punch from this brute again!

    I''m going to suffer a concussion if he hits me a couple more times.

    Despite his thoughts, he still didn''t want to drink because the alcohol was so strong that it burned his

    mouth.

    ¡°Fine, I''ll talk! I don''t want to drink this!¡± Huang Zichao relented and waved his hands. ¡°Yes, I''m familiar

    with Ding Fei and I have met her before.¡±

    Upon hearing that, Qiao Zhan released a sigh of relief. It would''ve been over sooner if he had

    answered Sir Chen''s question earlier. I really don''t want to hit him because he''s too squishypared

    to me, and it''ll also make me look like a bully. It''s the same thing as a high-schooler fighting against a

    primary school student. It''s da*n boring.

    ¡°However, I don''t know who she is. All I know is that she''s an actor who bought a bunch of negligible

    awards overseas to boost her credentials. I have no knowledge of her abilities and her background,¡±

    Huang Zichao answered honestly.

    ¡°Tell me everything clearly,¡± Nan Chen demanded.

    ¡°From the beginning?¡±

    Furrowing his eyebrows like Nan Chen, Qiao Zhan spat, ¡°Of course! Do you think we want you to start

    from the middle?¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°Some time ago, I received an invitation to star as the first male lead in a drama. However, because it

    shed with my schedule, I rejected the invitation. Still, they refused to give up. They said I only

    needed to attend the filming for a few days and show my face. After that, they could arrange for a

    double to film most of my scenes and then use technology to paste my face onto the double. The pay

    they offered was high, so my agency agreed. However, I still haven''t participated in a filming session

    yet. I nned to join them once the filming of my show ends,¡± Huang Zichao recounted.

    Nan Chen didn''t reply. It''s not odd for an A-list actor to receive multiple invitations for movies or shows

    at the same time. Additionally, the actor and their agency have to consider many things before

    choosing which invitation to ept while rejecting the rest, which is most of them. That''s nothing out of

    the ordinary, either. So far, it seems like he''s telling the truth.

    Meanwhile, Qiao Zhan signaled Huang Zichao to continue.

    ¡°As I kept dying my appearance there, they said I''ve been slowing down their progress, which they

    are unhappy with¡ª¡± Huang Zichao cut his sentence short when Nan Chen waved for him to stop.

    After Qiao Zhan saw Nan Chen looking at him, he thought about what his employer wanted to say and

    inquired, ¡°Get to the point. Why did you invite Madam to join your show and then cancel it?¡±

    Nan Chen beamed at him with praise.

    Yes! My guess was correct again! I can do Mr. Jiang''s job now! Qiao Zhan thought giddily.

    ¡°After that, Ding Fei asked me to film the show with her together. So, I canceled my coboration with

    Ms. Ning. I made that decision and there was noplicated reason behind it.¡± There was a sparkle in

    Huang Zichao''s eyes.

    Nan Chen was able to ascertain Huang Zichao was lying. Hence, he nced at Qiao Zhan and then at

    the vodka on the table again.

    Picking up the bottle, Qiao Zhan uttered, ¡°Seems like you need to drink a little more, Mr. Huang. As

    they say, a drunken man is an honest man.¡±

    A bitter expression was set on Huang Zichao''s face. ¡°Please don''t do this. I have my own reasons...¡±

    ¡°We can help you solve your problems. However, if you refuse to speak the truth, more suffering awaits

    you,¡± Nan Chen warned.

    Huang Zichao''s mouth was wide open, but no words came out. I''m aware of what kind of person Nan

    Chen is. If I offend him, then I''ll certainly die of alcohol poisoning after consuming the bottles of vodka

    sitting on the table. Nan Chen may not take another person''s life haphazardly, but that doesn''t apply to

    that subordinate of his! What if he does pour all the vodka down my throat by force? If I die of alcohol

    poisoning, Nan Chen will only need to spend some money to settle the matter because people will think

    we were simply drinking together! My fame may be important, but it''s worthless if I''m dead! Huh... It

    looks like I''ll have no choice but to spill the beans.

    Momentster, he muttered, ¡°Ding Fei has a grudge against Ning Ran. She wanted me to nder Ning

    Ran on the show, but I didn''t want to, so I canceled it. Ding Fei epted my decision afterward.¡±

    ¡°Why did you take her orders?¡± Qiao Zhan questioned.

    ¡°I didn''t. I canceled the show.¡±

    ¡°That doesn''t seem right. You could''ve chosen not to nder Madam on the show if you wanted to

    disobey her. However, you canceled it instead. This means you''re afraid of antagonizing Ding Fei.

    Why?¡±

    Nan Chen beamed at Qiao Zhanplimentarily again for asking the right question.

    It made Qiao Zhan feel proud. I think I''m capable enough to be Sir Chen''s special assistant now!

    As for Mr. Jiang, he can work as a security guard. No, he''s too weak for that. I know! He can be a

    janitor who specializes in cleaning toilets!

    ¡°That...¡± Huang Zichao hesitated because he was unwilling to say why.

    Therefore, Qiao Zhan picked up a bottle again. ¡°You''re such an unpleasant man. Even after talking for

    so long, you still refuse to get to the crux of the matter!¡±

    ¡°Okay, okay! I''ll talk!¡± Huang Zichao surrendered.

 Chapter 743

    Chapter 743

    When Nan Chen returned to Mountview Inn, Dabao and Erbao had already fallen asleep. Ning Ran, on

    the other hand, was still awake and watching a television show.

    At the same time, she was whispering under her breath as though she was memorizing the script.

    It was a habit of hers to memorize the script. That way, once the filming started, she would be able to

    perform confidently instead of fumbling with her lines.

    Regardless of the industry, people who performed excellently tended to pour greater efforts into their

    workpared to ordinary folks, even if they were talented.

    Standing behind Ning Ran, Nan Chen found her hardworking look rather amusing.

    She was so focused on her task that she failed to notice he had already returned. Hence, when she

    turned her head back abruptly, she was spooked by his presence and eximed, ¡°What are you doing?

    You scared me! Are you a ghost? Why didn''t I hear your footsteps?¡±

    Sitting across from her, Nan Chen pointed at her script. ¡°Have you memorized it?¡±

    ¡°Almost. What did Huang Zichao say?¡± Ning Ran ced the script down.

    ¡°He impregnated one of his ex-girlfriends. Ding Fei found out and used it to control him.¡±

    ¡°Eh? Huang Zichao did that? How is that possible?¡±

    That upset Nan Chen. Is Huang Zichao a saint? Why is it impossible?

    Nan Chen realized she had misspoken when she saw his frown. ¡°That''s not what I meant. I just think

    he looks like a pretty good guy. I didn''t expect¡ª¡±

    Her attempt at exining herself only med his ze of fury. ¡°What''s so good about him?¡±

    Ning Ran was stumped by his question. Well, that''s because Huang Zichao''s an award-winning actor

    whose acting is exceptional. He''s handsome, elegant, and gentlemanly. All those qualities can be

    categorized as ''good.'' Of course, I can''t answer him like that unless I want to blow Sir Chen''s top off.

    D*mmit, why do I remember so many of Huang Zichao''s good points? Am I mesmerized by him?

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    With considerable effort, she tried rifying her statement again, ¡°It was just a little surprising, that''s all.

    I''m not familiar with him, nor do I know what kind of person he is. The surface-level impression he gave

    me was all I knew of him. Now that I think about it, I guess it''s not that odd.¡±

    Upon listening to that, Nan Chen''s expression brightened up. ¡°Because of the dirt Ding Fei has on

    Huang Zichao, he''spelled to listen to her. Ding Fei wanted him to destroy your reputation, but he

    was too concerned about the risk to execute the n. Well, technically, he did agree to do it initially but

    changed his mindter on.¡±

    ¡°I see. I''m aware of Ding Fei''s hostility toward me. It''s something I told you before.¡±

    ¡°I always thought Ding Fei had something to do with your assault on the production team. I wasn''t

    certain because it seemed unlikely to me that an actor would hire an assassin to kill another actor. The

    risk is too huge to be worth the effort. Moreover, you had no idea who Ding Fei was. Therefore, I

    concluded it''s imusible that she has a deep-seated hatred against you to the point that she wants to

    take your life. However, in light of recent discoveries, it seems my conclusion was wrong. Perhaps she

    does resent you enough to want to wipe you off the face of this. In any case, no ordinary citizen

    can unearth what happened in Huang Zichao''s past, at least, based on what he told us. I believe

    someone''s backing Ding Fei.¡±

    Nodding, Ning Ran replied, ¡°I think so too. Otherwise, there''s no way a small-time actor like her

    would''ve acted that arrogantly. I think there are two possibilities here. One, Ding Fei has a grudge

    against me. Two, the person backing her is the one who wants to settle a big score with me. If not, they

    wouldn''t have tried to kill me.¡±

    Nan Chen remained silent.

    ¡°What are you thinking?¡±

    ¡°I''m wondering who hates you so much that they want you to die.¡±

    ¡°I don''t know and that''s why I''m thinking about it right now. I can''t imagine anyone despising someone

    as kind, beautiful, friendly, and innocent as me.¡±

    Nan Chen was taken aback. Why did she praise and boast out of nowhere when we were in the middle

    of analyzing the situation? Does she think it''s appropriate?

    ¡°Kind, beautiful, friendly, and innocent,¡± he repeated.

    ¡°Am I not?¡± His remark made Ning Ran feel guilty.

    ¡°Are you?¡±

    Her guilt was exacerbated. ¡°I was just joking. What I mean is that I''ve never done anything really evil

    before. I can''t think of why anyone wants me dead. Actually, there''s one more possibility. Have you

    thought about it?¡±

    Nan Chen nodded. ¡°I did. That person could be an enemy of mine who''s taking out their revenge on me

    through you.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Maybe I was dragged into this mess because you impregnated someone like Huang Zichao did

    ¡ª¡± Before Ning Ran could finish her sentence, he red at her with a look as sharp as a knife,

    prompting her to zip her mouth.

    Then she backtracked on herment. ¡°Of course, you''re different from him. Then again, you did

    impregnate me...¡±

    Her face was flushed with embarrassment that she stopped. How did our conversation go off the rails

    and arrive at this topic?

    Nan Chen gazed at her. Her blushing face is quite attractive.

    With a serious voice, he replied, ¡°Your impregnation was an ident on my part that only happened

    once before!¡±

    ¡°What if you only remember this one and forgot the rest?¡± Ning Ran questioned.

    Opening his mouth, he struggled to get a word out.

    It was a rare urrence for him to be at a loss for words.

    ¡°Stop the nonsense!¡± Nan Chen barked coldly.

    Ning Ran chickened out. ¡°Fine, fine, keep analyzing the situation then.¡±

    ¡°I''m ready to pay Ding Fei a personal visit.¡±

    ¡°Eh? I don''t think that''s necessary. She''s just a nobody undeserving of a visit from you.¡± Actually, she

    couldn''t provide a proper justification. Whatever it is, I don''t want him to meet Ding Fei.

    ¡°I want to meet her and see if she hates me. If she does, then she''s my enemy. If she doesn''t, then it''s

    very likely that she''s your enemy.¡±

    ¡°In that case, sure. When are you going to meet her? Should I send her an invitation on your behalf?¡±

    ¡°I''ll ask Qiao Zhan to do it after I return to Flower City tomorrow. If she''s willing to meet me in Flower

    City, then she is my adversary. If not, then it means she doesn''t know who I am and only hates you.¡±

    ¡°That''s not a bad idea. If she meets you in Flower City, you''ll have the advantage. Remember not to

    show her too much respect. If someone like you does that, most women will overthink your intentions.¡±

    Ning Ran smirked.

    ¡°Are you overthinking it?¡±

    ¡°I''m... not!¡±

    ¡°Why aren''t you?¡±

    ¡°Because I think I''m overthinking too much already.¡± She giggled.

    ¡°Oh? What were you thinking about?¡±

    ¡°I won''t tell you. Oh yeah, have you told the children about your departure yet?¡±

    ¡°I''ll take them back to Flower City with me to visit their grandparents tomorrow.¡±

 Chapter 744

    Chapter 744

    As there was sufficient time to apply for permission to fly this time, Nan Chen and his family took a

    private ne back to Flower City.

    When they arrived at the gates of Commoner Residence, Nan Zhengde and Feng Wan were already

    waiting there.

    They hadn''t seen their great-grandchildren in a long time, so they missed the children beyond words.

    Erbao flew over to Feng Wan and kissed her on the cheek repeatedly. ¡°I missed you so much, Great-

    Grandma! I missed you to the moon and back!¡±

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    ¡°Ahem...¡± Nan Zhengde cleared his throat at the side.

    Upon hearing that, Erbao hastily added, ¡°I also missed you greatly, Great-Grandpa! I even dreamed of

    youst night!¡±

    At her words, Nan Zhengde guffawed. ¡°What dream did you have of me?¡±

    ¡°I dreamed that you were doing Tai Chi like this...¡± Erbaoplemented it with a demonstration.

    Amused by her antics, everyoneughed.

    ¡°Quick, let''s go in to eat! I prepared lots of delicious food for you,¡± Feng Wan urged.

    At once, Erbao cheered, ¡°Yay! Delicious food!¡±

    After lunch, Nan Chen and Nan Zhengde had a talk in the study room.

    They didn''t shoot the breeze but mainly spoke of business.

    Nan Zhengde needed to speak to Nan Chen face to face regarding Nan Xing masquerading as Nan

    Chen at the press conference and cursing at someone two days ago.

    In truth, Nan Chen knew what his grandfather wanted to say. He had already understood the man''s

    meaning when they spoke on the phone.

    Therefore, he voluntarily started, ¡°Grandpa, I was nning toe back that day. At that time, Erbao

    was exceedingly sleepy, but she refused to sleep because she was worried I''d be gone when she woke

    up. The previous incident whereby something happened to me and Ning Ran caused great

    psychological trauma to Dabao and Erbao. Although they''re strong, some wounds still take time to

    heal. Thus, I want to spend more time with them these days so that they can recover from the trauma

    as soon as possible. When I saw Erbao in such a condition then, my heart softened, and I

    spontaneously decided to have Nan Xing return to Flower City to attend the event on my behalf. I never

    expected that things would turn out like this. But it wasn''t his fault either since someone deliberately

    wanted to make trouble. On the whole, I''m to me regarding this matter. I''ll willing to bear any and all

    responsibility.¡±

    Picking up the teacup, Nan Zhengde took a sip of tea before putting it back down.

    ¡°I understand your actions in this matter since the kids are equally important. But that aside, I still think

    you can''t do the same in the future. This time, Nan Xing merely caused a minor incident, but if it were a

    major incident, an apology wouldn''t work. You''re the head of Nanshi Corporation, so your actions

    determine thepany''s future. It''s possible that some minor negligence and mistake on your part will

    be infinitely magnified, leading to thepany''s downfall in the end,¡± Nan Zhengde stated solemnly.

    Nan Chen nodded fervently, for he knew that it wasn''t an exaggeration but the truth.

    ¡°Hence, I promise such a situation will never happen again in the future. Don''t worry, Grandpa.¡±

    ¡°Did Ning Ran not dissuade you back then?¡± Nan Zhengde asked out of the blue.

    ¡°She did, but she couldn''t change my mind. As you know, I''ve always been stubborn and rarely listen to

    others.¡±

    ¡°That won''t do. The woman standing by your side must be able to advise you at critical moments. On

    top of that, her suggestions have to be reasonable by looking at the bigger picture. If she merely obeys

    you without being able to advise you, she isn''t suitable for you.¡±

    Nan Chen said nothing, for he could discern the criticism in his grandfather''s remark.

    ¡°Grandpa, my father is easily amenable to my mother''s advice,¡± Nan Chenmented cidly.

    ¡°That''s different. One can''t listen to his womanpletely because she might give the wrong advice.

    But the woman by your side is closest to you, thus easiest to influence you. Naturally, she''ll also need

    to have the ability to give advice and not merely follow your lead. If you''re an ordinary person, you can

    simply marry a woman who''s beautiful and can give you children. However, you''re Nan Chen. You''re

    standing at the top of thedder, so there will be times when you miss something. At that time, the

    woman by your side has to y her part and give you some reasonable and urate advice. She must

    have such a capability to be your wife.¡±

    Nan Zhengde spoke emphatically, his tone as resolute as ever.

    The atmosphere in the study room seemingly grew tense, no longer as rxed as before.

    Needless to say, there was some truth to Nan Zhengde''s statement.

    When emperors of the past selected their concubines, they could be perfunctory. But when it came to

    deciding on their empresses, they were exceedingly meticulous.

    After all, not only did an empress need to fulfill the obligations of a wife, but she also had to rule over

    the kingdom and assist the emperor in managing the harem and various other matters.

    It wasn''t a position one could qualify for solely by looks. Instead, it necessitated immense capability

    and even the backing of an influential background sometimes.

    For Nan Chen, he was the king of the business empire that was Nanshi Corporation. Consequently, the

    woman standing by his side must also have the capability of being his ¡°queen,¡± not merely eye candy.

    It went without saying that Nan Chen was aware of that principle¡ªa wife''s character often determined

    the height of a man''s career.

    If a man''s wife was petty, it was almost impossible for him to attain anything great.

    People influenced each other, so one would take after the person he was with. Even if it wasn''t a

    complete change, he would be the same type of person.

    Therefore, Nan Zhengde''s topic that day was very much crucial.

    ¡°Grandpa, I don''t think Ning Rancks the capability to advise me. In reality, she gave me a lot of

    reasonable and effective advice. Unfortunately, I''m obstinate, so I turned a deaf ear to it all. You can''t

    lay the me at her door, for it lies on me. I''llmunicate more with her in the future and listen to her

    advice more,mitting fewer mistakes,¡± Nan Chen vowed.

    From that, Nan Zhengde could tell that his grandson was determined to defend Ning Ran, and there

    was virtually no room for negotiation.

    It''s rare that he''s defending a woman so resolutely. This makes it evident that she''s very important to

    him. Well, this is a good thing. Only when one has an emotional attachment can he devote himself

    wholeheartedly to work.

    It was also the reason people in the ancient days started a family before pursuing a career. It was

    because one could only concentrate on building a career after having a family and home as a safe

    harbor.

    Of course, that was only themon saying. There were also those who started a family yet didn''t

    bother building a career, and ended up spending their lives in mediocracy.

    On the flip side, there were also those whose careers flourished despite having no families. The key

    stilly in one''s character and ambition.

    Nevertheless, Nan Zhengde was up in years, so he was naturally inclined toward the more traditional

    point of view.

    ¡°If you think she''s capable of being your wife, you can consider marrying her. While status isn''t

    important to many people, there''s still quite a number who care about it. You''ve got to take

    responsibility toward her,¡± he urged.

    ¡°I''ll discuss this with her.¡±

    Nan Chen was over the moon, for he hadn''t expected his grandfather to say that.

    What a blessing to have an open-minded and sensible elder!

    ¡°If you''re sure you want to marry her, I''ll demand even more of her. What''s her highest level of

    academic qualifications now?¡± Nan Zhengde questioned.

    Shock flooded Nan Chen. Huh? Grandpa is even asking about her academic qualifications? Although

    I''ve never asked her about it, I don''t think it''s all that high. Compared to me, who graduated from a

    prestigious university, she can almost be considered illiterate!

 Chapter 745

    Chapter 745

    If this is the standard, Ning Ran undoubtedly doesn''t fulfill the requirements of being the daughter-in-

    law of the Nan family.

    Upon seeing that Nan Chen wasn''t saying anything, Nan Zhengde panicked. ¡°Don''t tell me she has

    never received any education!¡±

    ¡°Of course not. I''m really not all that sure about her academic qualifications, but I know she has studied

    abroad. Anyway, Grandpa, I''m going to marry her to be my wife, not recruit her to be my employee.

    Why are you asking about that?¡±

    ¡°Is getting married more important or recruiting an employee?¡± Nan Zhengde asked in return.

    ¡°The former, of course!¡± Nan Chen answered.

    ¡°Exactly! Inquiring after someone''s academic qualifications is necessary even in an insignificant matter

    as recruiting an employee, so it''s only natural that the same inquiry is made when ites to

    marriage,¡± Nan Zhengde riposted while glowering at the man.

    That had Nan Chen at a loss for a retort. He had never thought that his grandfather wouldy a trap for

    him.

    ¡°Everyone knows that having high academic qualifications doesn''t equate to being highly capable.

    That''s indeed true. But a person''s level of education can at least prove her learning ability and

    willingness to put in hard work in studying. That''s why recruiters like to hire those who graduated from

    prestigious universities. It''s not that they''re all elites, but at the very least, the probability of prestigious

    universities producing elites is higher. You do understand this principle, don''t you?¡± Nan Zhengde

    queried.

    Having no other choice, Nan Chen could only nod. Naturally, he understood that principle.

    ¡°Thus, if Ning Ran''s level of education is very low, we''ve got to see whether it''s because she has poor

    learning ability, unwilling to study, or iszy. If those are the reasons, she needs to redeem herself. Find

    a good university for her and have her pursue her studies. When she graduates, you can marry her!¡±

    Nan Zhengde dered.

    Nan Chen couldn''t take it anymore. ¡°Grandpa, she''s already the mother of two kids, yet you''re asking

    her to pursue her studies?¡±

    ¡°But she''s still young. Judging from her looks, she''s only in her twenties. She can totally pursue her

    studies. Besides, isn''t there a saying that learning is a lifelong journey? Having her improve her level of

    education is vital in ensuring that she''s capable of ying the role of your wife. Ultimately, she wouldn''t

    only be your wife but also the wife of the chairman of Nanshi Corporation, a person who has a

    significant influence on thepany. It''s only natural that she has to be impable in terms of

    academic qualifications, character, capabilities, and every other aspect!¡± Nan Zhengde proimed

    loudly.

    Those words made absolute sense, so Nan Chen really couldn''t find any fault with them.

    I initially thought that he was pressuring me into getting married, but never had it crossed my mind that

    he had such a trick up his sleeve. It''s clear as day that he wants to test Ning Ran. Or in other words, he

    wants to temper her so that she''ll be more outstanding. Otherwise, she wouldn''t stand a chance of

    marrying into the Nan family. But she doesn''t seem as though she loves studying. Will she go up

    against me if I ask her to go and pursue her studies? Even if she doesn''t dare to do so and obey me,

    she might possibly y truant, no?

    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    ¡°What are you thinking about now? Do you think I''m asking too much of her?¡± Nan Zhengde

    questioned.

    Only then was Nan Chen jolted out of his thoughts. ¡°I understand your reasons, Grandpa. I''ll make the

    necessary arrangements.¡±

    Half an hourter, Ning Ran''s cry of surprise rang out from her room. ¡°What? You want me to pursue

    my studies? I''m already at this age, yet you want me to attend university?¡±

    Her reaction was far more intense and exaggerated than Nan Chen had anticipated.

    He furrowed his brows. ¡°Calm down, won''t you? I''m just discussing this with you.¡±

    Still, Ning Ran shrieked, ¡°How can I possibly calm down? How would I have the time to study when I

    need to film?¡±

    ¡°What are your academic qualifications, then?¡±

    ¡°Didn''t I tell you already? I was sold off when I was a freshman. Iter got pregnant and went abroad.

    Hence, I''ve got no academic qualifications!¡± Ning Ran groused with a bitter expression on her face.

    ¡°In other words, your highest level of education is high school?¡±

    In response, Ning Ran nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Nan Chen heaved a sigh. The situation is really grave! Sure enough, she can almost be considered

    illiteratepared to me!

    ¡°In that case, you''ve got to keep it a secret,¡± Nan Chen uttered in a low voice.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ning Ran couldn''t quite understand that.

    ¡°Don''t tell anyone that your level of education is so low, especially Grandpa! I''ll tell him that you only

    studied degree domestically and went abroad for your master''s,¡± Nan Chen asserted.

    ¡°But I was taking care of the kids while working abroad. Although I did learn some things, I didn''t study

    master''s!¡±

    ¡°Well, if I said you have a master''s degree, then you have a master''s degree! Later, I''ll have my friend

    abroad help to get you the certificates.¡±

    Even greater surprise washed over Ning Ran. ¡°Whoa! You''re even going so far as falsifying

    certificates? If your grandfather were to learn about it¡ª¡±

    ¡°It won''t be false certificates, but real ones. I''ll have those universities issue you certificates, so they''ll

    be undoubtedly real!¡± Nan Chen amended.

    At that, Ning Ran frowned. ¡°Isn''t that tantamount to buying academic qualifications? It''ll still be fake, a

    lie to dupe others!¡±

    Exasperation swamped Nan Chen. ¡°Stop being so rigid! How is this considered a lie? You don''t want to

    lie, right? Fine, then. I''ll have Qiao Zhan get in touch with a university for you. Go and study when the

    semester begins. You must obtain a master''s degree at the very least. After that, you can even go for a

    PhD. This is in line with Grandpa''s request!¡±

    ¡°You might as well kill me. Why should I give myself more work and pursue my studies when even my

    son and daughter are already studying?¡±

    ¡°If you don''t want to do so, you must listen to me! I''ll make the arrangements for the academic

    qualifications!¡± Nan Chen affirmed.

    Left with no choice, Ning Ran relented, ¡°Fine. You make the arrangements. But first things first¡ªif the

    falsification of my academic qualifications were toe to light, you''d be taking the me. That has

    nothing to do with me!¡±

    Hearing that, Nan Chen wore a thoughtful expression on his face. ¡°Grandpa is shrewd, so he might

    investigate the matter. To be on the safe side, you should take a professional course online and pass

    the exam. With that, not only will you have the academic qualifications, but you''ll also have the

    knowledge!¡±

    Again, anxiety gripped Ning Ran. ¡°That still means that I''ll have to study!¡±

    ¡°How about this? Treat it as a job. As long as youplete the job, I''ll get you the certificate regardless

    of whether you pass the exam. Then, Grandpa will have no qualms about allowing you to be with me,¡±

    Nan Chen stated seriously.

    ¡°But I never said I want to be with you.¡±

    Nan Chen''s expression darkened at once. ¡°Then, who are you nning to be with?¡±

    ¡°I haven''t decided yet. But¡ª¡±

    ¡°You''ve got a contract with Star Entertainment, and you can''t get married during the duration of your

    contract,¡± Nan Chen dered.

    ¡°What? There''s such a use? Why didn''t I notice it? That contract is for a duration of decades. I''ll be

    an olddy by the time the contract expires. Who would I marry at that time?¡± Ning Ran eximed in

    astonishment.

    A smug look spread across Nan Chen''s face. ¡°Therefore, you can only marry me if you want to get

    married during the duration of your contract because I can pay the liquidated damages for you.

    Otherwise, no one would be able to afford them.¡±

    ¡°This is too much! This isn''t a management contract but an indenture!¡± Ning Ran protested.

    ¡°No matter what it is, you''ve already signed it, and everything is written in ck and white. Thus, you

    have to abide by it. You''ve got no choice!¡±

    Words eluded Ning Ran.

 Chapter 746

    Chapter 746

    At nine o''clock the following night, Nan Chen finally finished his work and could clock out.

    He had been away from thepany for some time, so he had a lot of umted work to settle.

    Although Nan Xing did some work during the few days he took Nan Chen''s ce, he onlypleted

    part of it.

    More urately speaking, he picked the simple ones and settled them.

    At the same time, he ced aside those that were challenging and difficult to decide, ignoring them

    altogether.

    In any case, he was merely recing Nan Chen temporarily. Knowing that thetter would clean up

    after him, he didn''t want to do such strenuous work, nor was he willing to bear such colossal risks.

    Ever since returning to the city, Nan Chen had been swamped with work. He worked from sunup to

    sundown before he finished most of it at longst.

    He had worked for more than ten hours, so it was indeed time for him to take a break.

    Stepping into the office, Jiang Zhe reported, ¡°Mr. Chen, that person has already been waiting for an

    hour and called several times.¡±

    Nan Chen cast a nce at him, giving him an inquiring look as to the identity of ¡°that person.¡±

    ¡°Ding Fei,¡± Jiang Zhe added.

    In a sh, Nan Chen remembered that he had Jiang Zhe set up an appointment with Ding Fei. Well,

    this is fast.

    ¡°When did you ask her about it?¡± Nan Chen queried.

    ¡°At noon today.¡±

    ¡°And when did she agree?¡± Nan Chen inquired further.

    ¡°She agreed right away. I reckon she must be in Flower City,¡± Jiang Zhe replied.

    Nan Chen wasn''t surprised at all, for Ding Fei had first appeared in Flower City before she went to

    Livingsfill to filmter on. From the look of things, she followed Ning Ran''s production team''s

    movements and went over.

    Strangely enough, she seemed to imitate everything Ning Ran did.

    The theme of the movie was the same, and the first male lead was Huang Zichao as well.

    Getting to his feet, Nan Chen motioned for Jiang Zhe to leave with him.

    ¡°I''m to go as well?¡± Jiang Zhe asked.

    ¡°You asked her out, so you''re naturally going as well. This is business,¡± Nan Chen asserted.

    ¡°But I promised to have supper with Yu Xiang...¡±

    ¡°This is business,¡± Nan Chen repeated.

    Immediately, Jiang Zhe capitted. ¡°Yes, this is business. I''ll tell Yu Xiang I can''t make it and ask her

    out again another time.¡±

    After they had entered the elevator, Nan Chen nced at Jiang Zhe. ¡°You like her?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I don''t know whether it''s my imagination, but I like the feeling when I''m with her,¡± Jiang Zhe

    admitted.

    Nan Chen didn''t say anything further.

    Yu Xiang once used Jiang Zhe. Not only was she considered a corporate spy, but she was even

    working at Sunshine Corporation presently. In other words, she was theirpetitor.

    Besides, the grievances between the Ouyang family and the Nan family wereplicated. Instead of

    merepetitors, it wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say they were enemies.

    Under such circumstances, it was trulymendable that Jiang Zhe didn''t hide the fact that he was

    still dating Yu Xiang.

    In truth, it was also Nan Chen''s magnanimity that he allowed them to date. In the end, Yu Xiang repaid

    him by telling Jiang Zhe that someone wanted to hurt Ning Ran. In turn, Jiang Zhe reported it to Nan

    Chen, and that saved Ning Ran''s life.

    ¡°Will you marry her?¡± Nan Chen suddenly queried.

    That question ttered Jiang Zhe, for the man wasn''t someone prone to gossip. Hence, he felt honored

    beyond words that Nan Chen voluntarily spoke to him about matters of the heart. This is worth me

    working overtime today!

    ¡°That''s uncertain as I haven''t decided yet. Time is required to see whether we''re really suited for each

    other,¡± Jiang Zhe answered honestly.

    ¡°If she asks you to choose between her and Nanshi Corporation, what would be your choice?¡± Nan

    Chen questioned.

    ¡°I''ll choose Nanshi Corporation.¡± There was no hesitation on Jiang Zhe''s part.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°I owe you a debt of gratitude for your nurturing, and Nanshi Corporation gave me my glory today. It''s

    also because I''m your assistant that Yu Xiang approached me. If I were to abandon Nanshi Corporation

    because of her, I''d definitely regret it in the future,¡± Jiang Zhe borated.

    Hearing that, Nan Chen shook his head.

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°You disagree?¡± Jiang Zhe was intrigued.

    Nan Chen said nothing, seemingly disinclined to continue talking about the matter.

    However, Jiang Zhe''s curiosity had already been piqued. He pressed, ¡°Why do you disagree?¡±

    Just then, the elevator arrived at the parking lot. Nan Chen stepped out and headed toward his car.

    After getting in the car and fastening the seatbelt, Jiang Zhe turned to his employer in the back seat

    and insisted, ¡°I really want to know why you disagree.¡±

    ¡°Being my assistant is not an identity. It''s merely a job. Your identity is Jiang Zhe. You can switch many

    jobs, but there''s only one person you like. People are the most important, taking precedence above

    everything else,¡± Nan Chen finally exined.

    Jiang Zhe was touched to the core, for he had never expected his employer to utter such words. Did I

    mishear him? Sir Chen, who''s usually as cold as ice, actually said that people are the most important,

    taking precedence above everything else!

    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Chen. I''ve learned something today. But I don''t think she''ll force me to make such a

    choice. If she does, then she''s not the person I''m looking for,¡± Jiang Zhe replied.

    Nan Chen didn''t respond to that, but he felt that his assistant made much sense.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, who do you think is the boss between Ding Fei and Ouyang Li? And what''s the rtionship

    between them?¡±

    That question of Jiang Zhe''s was truly business in nature.

    ¡°Neither,¡± Nan Chen answered sinctly.

    ¡°Why?¡± Jiang Zhe inquired sincerely.

    ¡°What do you think, then?¡± Nan Chen asked in return.

    ¡°I think Ding Fei is Ouyang Li''s boss. ording to Yu Xiang, Ding Fei provided Ouyang Li with an

    astronomical sum for her to buy back arge number of shares. Only then did thetter manage to gain

    a foothold in thepany,¡± Jiang Zhe postted.

    ¡°The person who gives someone else money isn''t necessarily the boss. Sometimes, she could be only

    a creditor,¡± Nan Chen argued.

    At that, Jiang Zhe nodded. ¡°You''re right. In terms of identity and status, Ouyang Li is the acting CEO of

    Sunshine Corporation, while Ding Fei is merely an unpopr actress who appeared out of nowhere. By

    all rights, the former should be thetter''s boss. But then, it was Ding Fei who came up with the money.

    This is really perplexing. Why would someone who can provide Ouyang Li with an astronomical sum

    enter the entertainment industry? Could it be just for fun?¡±

    ¡°Therefore, neither of them is the real boss. Instead, it''s the person behind them,¡± Nan Chen

    concluded.

    ¡°But who could it be?¡±

    ¡°Why don''t you go and ask either Ouyang Li or Ding Fei that?¡± Nan Chen retorted.

    ¡°Never mind, then. I think I can figure it out.¡±

    As they were conversing, they arrived at the clubhouse. Right then, the clubhouse''s owner was already

    waiting at the entrance. The instant he spotted Nan Chen''s car, he trotted over and opened the car

    door for the man. ¡°Sir Chen, I''m honored by your patronage¡ª¡±

    Nan Chen waved a hand, signaling the man not to bother ttering him.

    ¡°Is the person I''m meeting here?¡± Jiang Zhe questioned.

    ¡°Yes, Assistant Jiang. But she''s rather hot-tempered and has smashed three sets of zed sses.

    Because she''s someone you''re meeting, we''re hesitant to do anything,¡± the clubhouse owner faltered.

    ¡°Since she smashed the sses, it''s only natural that she has topensate for them in full. ce it

    on her tab, and don''t give her any discounts,¡± Nan Chen interjected coldly.

    ¡°Uh...¡± Not quite grasping the current situation, the clubhouse owner shifted his gaze to Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°She isn''t Sir Chen''s friend, so you can demandpensation from her,¡± Jiang Zhe borated.

    ¡°Oh, I see. That''s great, for those sses really weren''t cheap. This way please, Sir Chen. It''s my treat

    today,¡± the clubhouse owner offered courteously.

    ¡°No, it''s okay. I only want a ss of in water. Please lead the way ahead.¡± Nan Chen waved a hand.

 Chapter 747

    Chapter 747

    The first thing that Nan Chen saw upon entering the clubhouse''s VIP room was a woman who was

    dressed to the nines.

    The woman stood up immediately when she saw him.

    A glimmer instantly shed past her eyes, but soon faded away.

    Nan Chen nced at her and sat down.

    After bringing in a ss of water, the waiter turned and left, closing the door behind him.

    The atmosphere was awkward as silence ensued in the room.

    ¡°Are you the one who invite me here?¡± Ding Fei asked.

    Nan Chen remained silent.

    ¡°It was me,¡± Jiang Zhe hurriedly answered.

    ¡°You? What right do you have to do so? Who are you?¡± Ding Fei raised her voice.

    ¡°I''m Jiang Zhe. You said that I don''t have any right to invite you, but aren''t you here anyway?¡± Jiang

    Zhe smiled.

    Ding Fei was deeply offended by his statements and was at a loss for refutes.

    ¡°Shut your mouth!¡± she lectured while pointing her finger at Jiang Zhe, her embarrassment turned into

    anger.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Jiang Zhe actually stopped talking after that. He remained silent and stood there with his hands behind

    his back.

    With Jiang Zhe keeping his mouth shut and Nan Chen remaining unspeaking, the room became silent

    again.

    ¡°You''re the one who invited me here, yet you''re not saying a word. What do you want?¡± Ding Fei''s gaze

    fell on Nan Chen.

    However, Nan Chen simply drank his water silently as though he did not hear her words.

    Seeing that, Ding Fei directed her anger toward Jiang Zhe. ¡°Didn''t you say you''re the one who invited

    me here? Did you ask me toe here to drink a ss of water with you?¡±

    Jiang Zhe pointed at his mouth to imply that he could not speak. After all, Ding Fei was the one who

    asked him to shut his mouth.

    ¡°You''re pretending to be mute now, huh? What the hell do you want me? I''m leaving if there''s nothing

    else!¡±

    Ding Fei stood up and put on an act of leaving.

    She believed that they would stop her if she made a scene like this. However, that did not happen.

    Ding Fei sat down once more upon realizing that her method was not effective. ¡°Are you going to speak

    or not? I know what you guys are here for. You''re here to beg me to spare that b*tch, am I right?¡±

    Coldness filled Nan Chen''s eyes.

    Ding Fei will ramble out everything on her own. After all, she looks like the type of person that couldn''t

    restrain herself from speaking out. This can save me time.

    Both Nan Chen and Jiang Zhe remained silent.

    ¡°It''s futile even if you guys beg me. I won''t let her off. I want her to die!¡± Ding Fei stated with hatred in

    her voice.

    ¡°So, you''re confessing that you were the one who attacked Ms. Ning then?¡± Jiang Zhe questioned

    abruptly.

    Ding Fei''s agitation cooled a little after hearing Jiang Zhe''s sentence. It was only then that she realized

    she had made a slip of the tongue.

    I can''t believe I just said something I shouldn''t have in the spur of the moment. I really shouldn''t have

    said that since I haven''t ended Ning Ran yet.

    ¡°I have no idea what you''re talking about.¡± Ding Fei chuckled coldly.

    ¡°Didn''t you say you want someone to die just now? Who are you talking about?¡± Jiang Zhe questioned.

    ¡°Why should I tell you?¡± Ding Fei retorted.

    ¡°There are only three of us in the room. You can tell my boss if you don''t want to tell me. That''s fine too.

    Go on.¡± Jiang Zhe gestured for her to speak.

    Nan Chen turned his cold gaze toward Ding Fei.

    Ding Fei met his gaze and instinctively avoided it, for she felt guilty.

    It''s hard not to feel guilty under his overwhelming aura.

    ¡°I only said that in the spur of the moment. I didn''t kill anyone. That''s against thew, and I don''t do

    things that are against thew.¡± Ding Fei changed her words.

    Nan Chen threw Jiang Zhe a nce.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, no matter where youe from or what your purpose is, please keep a few things in mind.

    Firstly, don''t ever do anything to hurt Ms. Ning and those around her. Secondly, keep the first point in

    mind. Thirdly, you will pay a painful price if you can''t control yourself,¡± Jiang Zhe said.

    ¡°Hahaha! Is this a threat?¡± Ding Fei chuckled.

    ¡°It''s not. I''m merely warning you of the consequences in advance. You can choose not to listen to my

    advice,¡± Jiang Zhe exined.

    Nan Chen was quite pleased with how Jiang Zhe handled the situation. I''m always satisfied with how

    Jiang Zhe does things. He''s not like that slow-witted Qiao Zhan, who is always confused when I want

    him to say something.

    Nan Chen finished his ss of water just as Jiang Zhe finished speaking. The former then stood up

    and started walking out.

    It seemed as though he was really only there for a ss of water, for he was leaving upon finishing his

    drink.

    ¡°Huh? You asked me toe here, but you''re leaving without saying anything?¡± Although Ding Fei was

    dissatisfied, she did not dare to stop him.

    ¡°It was me who asked you toe here. Didn''t you hear me clearly? It was me. I asked you here. Can

    you hear me clearly now?¡±

    After saying that, Jiang Zhe followed Nan Chen out.

    In response, Ding Fei flew into a fit of rage. She waved her hand and smashed another set of ss.

    Of course, she had to pay the price for shattering the sses. There was no getting around that. After

    all, those sses were custom-made and expensive.

    Nan Chen was quiet after getting into the backseat of the car.

    ¡°How was it, Mr. Chen?¡± Jiang Zhe could not help but ask.

    ¡°I''ve seen her before.¡± Nan Chen came to a conclusion.

    ¡°Really? Who is she?¡±

    ¡°I don''t know,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    Jiang Zhe felt confused. Since Sir Chen has a photographic memory of people, he should be able to

    say where he met them, even if he couldn''t remember their names. However, he doesn''t seem

    confident with his answer today. Sir Chen seems to think he has seen that woman before, but he

    doesn''t know who she is.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, your memory has always been good. But you don''t remember where you have seen her?¡±

    Jiang Zhe asked.

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    ¡°I don''t remember her. I have absolutely no recollection of seeing her face. However, I feel like I have

    seen her eyes, and the look she gave me tells me that she has seen me before. In fact, our paths must

    have crossed multiple times,¡± Nan Chen stated.

    He didn''t mention that in addition to her eyes, Ding Fei''s scent also felt familiar to him.

    At the very least, he reckoned he hade across her more than once.

    Nan Chen was born with an extremely keen sense of smell. As such, he ced more faith in his

    unfathomable sense of smell, and not his photographic memory.

    However, this was his secret, and he had never told anyone about this.

    She smelled familiar the moment I entered the room earlier. There was the smell of cosmetics and

    other scents in addition to her perfume. Everyone has certain tastes that won''t change in life, such as

    their favorite perfume, cosmetics, or shampoo. These things have distinct scents. Those scents

    combine to be a single, exclusive smell, just like an identity card. This scent won''t change. It

    might change slightly asionally but it will remain unchanged for the most part, except in the case of

    advanced age, aplete change in habits and living conditions, and a serious decline in health.

    The scent that Nan Chen got a whiff of was not special. He did not like it, but he was certain he had

    come across it.

    Hence, I''m assuming I know this person, but I haven''t seen her before. This is extremely unusual.

    Logically, I wouldn''t have forgotten her face if I remembered her scent. However, I don''t have any

    impression of her. Something like this has never happened before.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, what do we do next?¡± Jiang Zhe inquired.

    ¡°Protect Ning Ran well,¡± Nan Chen instructed.

    ¡°Understood.¡±

 Chapter 748

    Chapter 748

    After staying in Commoner Residence for a day, Nan Chen brought Ning Ran and the children back to

    Flower City Residences, a vi area located east of Flower City.

    Initially, they stayed in Red Maple City, but they had to move to Nan Chen''s other house because Bai

    Hua and the others live there now.

    Flower City Residences was Flower City''s most high-end vi area.

    Every vi in the area cost one point five percent more than the average house in Flower City.

    Moreover, thergest artificialke was located there. It was built strategically next to a mountain to

    create an auspicious pattern that could bring good luck to the residents. Additionally, it was big enough

    for boating activities where one could go on a boat outing to view lotus flowers.

    Needless to say, the infrastructure was top-notch, as the best hospital in the country had opened a

    branch there. In addition, the best international school was situated there as well as other important

    facilities.

    Raining Pavilion, which was the most expensive vi, was located in the heart of the area. Back then, it

    was priced at a whopping three hundred million.

    Although it wasn''t easy to evaluate the house price at this moment, it would be worth a few times more

    than itsst evaluation.

    Nan Zhengde was the one who bought the house in the beginning before giving it away to Nan Chen.

    That being said, perhaps ¡°gift¡± would not be the appropriate term here as Nan Zhengde wanted Nan

    Chen to repay him for the house with an annual interest of five percent after the former was done

    paying for the house in full.

    It was like making Nan Chen spend in advance so that he would have some financial pressure that

    would, in turn, force him to work harder.

    Nevertheless, Nan Chen did not disappoint. Within two years, he repaid his house loan through

    personal investments without taking even a single dime of his family''s money.

    That was actually Nan Zhengde''s final test for Nan Chen. The moment thetter got a passing mark,

    the former left Nanshi Corporation to hispetent grandson without worry.

    Despite being Nan Chen''s property, he rarely stayed in Raining Pavilion.

    After all, the house was toovish for his tastes, as it looked like a miniature castle. It would be a waste

    if he lived in it alone, so he would rather not do that.

    Then, as Ning Ran and the children appeared in his life, the number of people increased. However, he

    did not force them to move out from their small home in Red Maple City because they were used to

    living there.

    Of course, there was another reason. At that time, Ning Ran did not mean much to Nan Chen, so he

    felt she was unqualified to live in the extravagant and huge vi.

    But things had changed since then, and Nan Chen felt it was time for her and the children to move in.

    The house, which had been unupied for many years, would finally wee its new owner.

    When the car stopped at the entrance, the automatic doors opened, allowing the car to drive in before

    closing itself. The whole process was smooth and noiseless.

    At the same time, the fountain in the garden started up while the music, Going Home, yed.

    Truth be told, Nan Chen was not a big fan of these automated features. He felt that they were too fancy

    and over the top. Fortunately, he could turn these features off. If one did not like the music, one could

    simply switch it off.

    However, Erbao loved it very much. The first thing she did when she got off the car was to rush to the

    musical fountain.

    Usually, one would only find this kind of fountain in public areas, so Erbao was genuinely surprised

    when she saw one like that in the house. Hence, one could imagine how big the house actually was if a

    fountain like that were installed.

    When Ning Ran finally had a look at the house, she was shocked, for the house was ridiculously

    extravagant.

    The outer walls were minimalistic, with a mainly ck and white color palette.

    Next, its structure was different from ordinary houses. For starters, it had sr panels on the roof to

    generate electricity. Apart from that, the walls had sensors to detect the outside temperature and adjust

    the inside temperature ordingly. Furthermore, the lights would automatically adjust to a suitable

    brightness, and finally, there was a wall that could double as a giant screen in every room.

    This modern hi-tech architecture looked like it came straight out of a science fiction movie.

    ¡°Are we really going to live here?¡± Ning Ran looked at Nan Chen.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Nan Chen stated.

    ¡°I still think this house is too much. It doesn''t look like a real house, but something out of a movie,¡± Ning

    Ran said.

    ¡°Well, you''re not wrong there. We had architects and even a group of scientists on the house''s design

    team. This was actually an experiment to test whether this futuristic design was feasible for mainstream

    use. s, everyone deemed it to be a failure. You can''t build houses like this.¡±

    ¡°Why? I like the futuristic features of this house. Isn''t that good?¡± Dabao mused thoughtfully.

    ¡°Yes, I know it looks futuristic, but the construction cost was too high. Because it was infused with too

    many modern elements and state-of-the-art technology, the resulting cost was astronomical. As a

    result, the construction cost was two times higher than a house of the same kind. This means that a

    house like this would be impossible to sell since buyers would think it was too expensive,¡± Nan Chen

    exined.

    Dabao nodded. ¡°Oh, so, not many would like this. They would think it''s not worth it since many people

    like a bigger, more impressive house than this futuristic one.¡±

    Nan Chen nced at Ning Ran. ¡°Hear that? Do you understand?¡±

    Ning Ran was unwilling to admit defeat. ¡°Of course, I know that. Even my son understands it, so there''s

    no way I don''t.¡±

    Erbao only giggled by the side, not saying anything.

    ¡°What are youughing about?¡± Ning Ran shot her daughter a re. ¡°Do you think I don''t get it as

    well?¡±

    Erbao quickly shook her head. ¡°No, I don''t think that at all.¡±

    However, Erbao had something she did not say out loud. There are many things that Dabao knows, but

    my Mommy doesn''t. Mommy''s not even in the same league as Dabao!

    Soon, a middle-aged woman weed them. ¡°Hello, Sir Chen, Madam, Little Miss, and Little Master.

    Wee home.¡±

    Nan Chen introduced her. ¡°Everyone, this is Lu Juan. She is in charge of Raining Pavilion''s upkeep and

    will also be responsible for everything here in the future. If you need anything, you can let her know. As

    you can see, this house has many features, and even I myself am still figuring out most of them. But

    rest assured, you can always ask Lu Juan for answers.¡±

    ¡°Hello, Lu Juan!¡± Erbao greeted her first.

    ¡°You shouldn''t call her Lu Juan. It isn''t nice. Call her Ms. Lu instead,¡± Ning Ran corrected her.

    ¡°No, no, it''s fine. You can call me Lu Juan,¡± the middle-ageddy said.

    ¡°Ms. Lu, we''ll be in your care!¡± Erbao and Dabao replied in unison.

    ¡°Oh my! Aren''t you adorable? Little Miss and Little Master are remarkable people. I''m sure they''ll be

    great people in the future,¡± Lu Juan praised.

    Hmm. I have to admit that this housekeeper is good at givingpliments, Ning Ran thought to

    herself.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    ¡°Daddy, why is this house called Raining Pavilion?¡± Erbao asked, her curious mode activated.

    ¡°Follow me, Little Miss,¡± Lu Juan said to Erbao with a smile. ¡°Come this way. You''ll know why this

    house is called Raining Pavilion.¡±

    When Erbao followed Lu Juan, thetter carried the former up and had her press a button on the wall.

    Immediately, water rained down from the eaves. It started as a drizzle but gradually got heavier over

    time.

    As the mist dispersed, the humidity in the air increased.

    People would be soothed if a drizzle of rain like this urred in the summertime.

    ¡°Wow! That''s amazing! You can make it rain? I want it to rain every day!¡± Erbao chirped happily.

    ¡°Nonsense. What fun is there if it rains every day?¡± Ning Ran chuckled.

    ¡°Little Miss, I know something even better. Do you like animated shows?¡± Lu Juan asked with a grin.

    ¡°Yes, I do! I love Spirited Away!¡± Erbao eximed.

    Lu Juan was stunned. She initially thought that Erbao would want to watch cartoon shows that were

    meant for younger audiences. She never expected the little girl to want to watch a famous movie that

    was made by a great director. They are indeed different from ordinary children.

    ¡°Okay, then, please talk to the screen.¡± Lu Juan told Erbao to speak to the smart screen.

    ¡°I want to watch Spirited Away!¡± Erbao shouted.

    In the next moment, the whole wall lit up, and the movie, Spirited Away, started to y in high

    definition.

    Erbao was overjoyed.

 Chapter 749

    Chapter 749

    Dabao and Erbao were having the time of their life in the new house, as there were many interesting

    things for them to explore.

    The two children focused on different things. While Erbao was busy exploring the unique features

    around the building, Dabao began to study the pros and cons of the high-tech residential unit.

    Eventually, Dabao arrived at a conclusion, citing that there was still room for improvement to make the

    house smarter and safer.

    Upon hearing that, Ning Ran started panicking. ¡°Don''t you dare mess with all the high-tech stuff in the

    house. It''ll be disastrous if you mess them up.¡±

    Nan Chen immediately came out and defended Dabao. ¡°My son is a genius. He won''t mess things up.

    Dabao, feel free to do anything to give this house a makeover, but whatever you do, make sure you

    don''t do it at the expense of the safety of this ce.¡±

    Ning Ran was at a loss for words. Why does he always have to go against me? Can''t he just step back

    and let me handle the kids? He had always been a quiet man, but every time I try to teach the kids,

    he''ll always have something to say.

    ¡°Don''t worry, Mommy. I won''t mess things up. I''ll only remediate the defects in the house. These

    defects will take a toll on the building''s security if they''re not fixed. I''ll take care of them,¡± the confident

    Dabao assured.

    Ning Ran was relieved to hear that, as she knew she could always count on her son.

    ¡°All right, you kids have fun. Your mom and I will have to run some errands,¡± Nan Chen said to the

    children.

    Erbao waved her hand. ¡°Okay, bye!¡±

    She could not wait to explore the other parts of the house once her parents left.

    ¡°Where are we going? What errands?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°You''ll find out soon. Come with me.¡± Nan Chen did not exin further.

    Instead of getting his chauffeur to drive, Nan Chen drove the car and left the most luxurious vi in

    Flower City.

    ¡°You don''t really like the vi, do you?¡± Nan Chen tilted his head to look at Ning Ran.

    ¡°I like it, but it looks like a building thates out of a sci-fi movie. It''s a little surreal.¡± Ning Ran

    chuckled.

    He responded, ¡°Yeah, it doesn''t resemble a house in the traditional sense, and it''ll take time for you to

    ept it. By the way, I''ve prepared another gift for you.¡±

    ¡°Gift? What gift? Is it jewelry? Giving me cash would have saved you the hassle of getting me gifts,¡±

    Ning Ran said.

    Nan Chen red at her. What an uncouth woman.

    ¡°What do you need cash for?¡± he asked icily.

    Ning Ran grinned. ¡°It''s just a joke. Why do you have to be so serious? What a stick in the mud.¡±

    A vortex of anger swirled inside Nan Chen. How dare she call me a stick in the mud? Even if I am, how

    could she say it out loud?

    Ning Ran could not hold herughter upon seeing the grim expression on Nan Chen''s face. ¡°It was a

    joke! Everyone loves and adores you, Sir Chen. No one will ever think of you as a stick in the mud.¡±

    ¡°Isn''t that how Erbao described herself? You''re describing me with words that a little girl used to praise

    herself. Do you really that that''s appropriate?¡± Nan Chen''s expression turned even grimmer.

    Ning Ran burst intoughter.

    Indeed, Erbao had always imed that she was a beauty everyone loved and adored. Ning Ran was

    surprised that Nan Chen still remembered the remark Erbao had made.

    Nan Chen nced at her and saw her smiling like a gorgeous bloom. I have to admit that she has a

    really pretty smile.

    ¡°I met Ding Feist night.¡± He diverted her attention to a more serious matter.

    ¡°Oh? You met her at night, huh? You''re not thinking of dating her, are you? She''s quite a looker but has

    a stiff expression,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Yes, she''s stiff,¡± Nan Chen echoed.

    Ning Ran asked, ¡°So, you''re really thinking of going on a date with her?¡±

    ¡°I agree with you when you said she has a stiff expression. I''m not the kind of guy who will date any

    woman,¡± Nan Chen expressed his dismay.

    ¡°Then why did you meet her?¡±

    He answered, ¡°Huang Zichao said Ding Fei was trying to harm you. She wanted him to defame you to

    tarnish your reputation. So I suspect the culprit that tried to get rid of you was Ding Fei. I had to meet

    up with her to gather some evidence.¡±

    ¡°You met up with her alone?¡± This question still bothered Ning Ran.

    ¡°Jiang Zhe was present as well.¡±

    Upon realizing her concern, a hard glint shed across his eyes. ¡°Anyway, that''s not the point! I went to

    meet her because I was worried about your safety. It wasn''t a date in the first ce!¡±

    Ning Ran nodded. ¡°Yeah, I guess so. You wouldn''t be interested in her anyway.¡±

    ¡°What makes you think so?¡± Nan Chen questioned in return.

    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    ¡°She has a stiff expression and is not as pretty as me,¡± Ning Ran answered nonchntly.

    A corner of his lips quirked up. ¡°Are you trying to say that you''ve captured my attention, but she failed

    to do so?¡±

    ¡°No, no. That''s not what I meant. I was merely making a casual remark. Don''t overthink it,¡± Ning Ran

    rified with a smile.

    Nan Chen, who wanted to talk to Ning Ran about Ding Fei, realized he got sidetracked.

    He immediately drew her attention back to the initial topic. ¡°Ding Fei seems to remind me of someone. I

    think I''d met her before, but somehow, I have no idea who she was.¡±

    ¡°Exactly!¡± Ning Ran eximed all of a sudden. She pped her hand and said, ¡°I have the same

    feeling too!¡±

    Nan Chen asked, ¡°Really? Could Ding Fei be someone we knew from the past? We might have

    forgotten who she was as the years went by.¡±

    ¡°I don''t think so. You have a great memory, right? I heard you''re able to call the members from your

    senior management by their names even though you''ve only met them once,¡± Ning Ran asked.

    Nan Chen nodded. ¡°That''s true. But of course, there are times I don''t remember things. I''m only

    human, after all.¡±

    ¡°But if you think she looks familiar, you must have met her more than once. How can you forget since

    you have a super memory? Besides, we''ve only known each other for a short time, and we don''t have

    manymon friends, so I don''t think she''s one of them,¡± Ning Ran analyzed.

    ¡°So what''s your thought on this?¡±

    ¡°I don''t know.¡±

    Her response rendered Nan Chen speechless. She gave a sound analysis, yet she didn''t have a

    conclusion. What is this?

    As the car drove on, Ning Ran found the sceneries around the neighborhood to be familiar. Soon, she

    realized it was the road leading to the Ning residence.

    As expected, Nan Chen parked his car outside the house.

    ¡°Why did you bring me here?¡± Ning Ran got a little agitated as she had not returned to this ce for

    years. So much has changed.

    ¡°This is where you grew up, right?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Yes, but Ning Ziqiang has mortgaged the house. It''s not my house anymore.¡±

    After opening the car door, Nan Chen took a house deed from a box and passed it to Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran''s name was printed on the document.

    ¡°You bought the house?¡± Ning Ran could not believe her eyes.

    ¡°This is my gift for you¡ªyour family house. If you still prefer cash, feel free to sell it away,¡± Nan Chen

    said nonchntly.

    Tears welled up in Ning Ran''s eyes. Knowing she was about to cry, she immediately looked up at the

    sky.

    ¡°Go in and take a look. I got the team to renovate the house, but we didn''t alter the structure.¡± Nan

    Chen gave her the key.

    ¡°Thank you. Thank you so much!¡±

    Ning Ran inched closer and hugged Nan Chen. Tears began to roll down her cheeks.

    She pulled herself back a few secondster, as she was worried her tears might stain his expensive

    suit.

 Chapter 750

    Chapter 750

    Upon seeing Ning Ran''s tears, Nan Chen handed her a piece of tissue. ¡°Why are you crying?¡±

    Ning Ran didn''t know how to exin why she was crying. She simply felt like doing so.

    There were a lot of times when she didn''t know why she cried, but she couldn''t help it.

    Perhaps it was because of the dreadful and cruel past she had experienced and endured, but she

    couldn''t stop herself from weeping when she returned to the ce she once called home.

    Or maybe she felt lucky to have the opportunity of returning to the ce where she grew up, and the

    tears that she was shedding were happy ones.

    Regardless of the reason, Ning Ran truly had a strong urge to cry at that moment.

    Nan Chen wiped her tears and said, ¡°You''ll ruin your make-up if you keep crying, so stop it.¡±

    If he had keptforting her, Ning Ran probably would have bawled her eyes out. However, his cold

    demand stopped her from crying immediately.

    After Nan Chen handed Ning Ran the key, she opened the gate.

    There was a garden behind the gate. The greenery in the garden was lush, and it didn''t look run-down

    at all. It was obvious that someone had been there to tidy up and take care of the area before.

    The most surprising part was that the floras were the same species nted in the garden back then.

    Many years had passed, so it was impossible that those same nts survived until now. It was clear

    that someone rented them.

    Naturally, it couldn''t be Ning Ziqiang who did it. He wasn''t staying there because the house had been

    mortgaged by him a long time ago.

    ¡°These flowers...¡± Ning Ran turned around and nced at Nan Chen with a curious look.

    ¡°I hired someone to nt them,¡± Nan Chen answered.

    ¡°But how did you know the same flowers were nted here? You even got all the species urately!¡±

    Ning Ran couldn''t believe her eyes.

    ¡°You posted some photos on your page. I showed the experts those photos, and they recognized the

    species easily. So, I just hired someone to nt them ording to the originalyout,¡± he exined.

    It wasn''t until then that Ning Ran recalled she had taken a picture of the garden before and posted it on

    social media. She still kept those pictures with her. But when did he look through my page and saw

    those old photos?

    Nan Chen seemed to have noticed Ning Ran''s doubts and stated, ¡°I merely came across those images

    by chance.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. That''s really thoughtful of you,¡± she whispered.

    ¡°I''m d you like it,¡± Nan Chen replied indifferently.

    When they entered the house, they were immediately greeted by a familiar scent.

    The decorations in the house were almost identical to the times when Ning Ran''s mother was still alive.

    Back then, after her mother was severely ill, the decorations changed.

    The interior was also arranged ording to Ning Ran''s photo. It was restored to the same state it was

    during her happiest times.

    Tears began flowing down Ning Ran''s cheeks again.

    Yet, Nan Chen''s expression darkened suddenly as he dashed into the house abruptly.

    Ning Ran followed him into the house. ¡°What''s wrong?¡±

    ¡°A woman was here before,¡± Nan Chen responded.

    ¡°Huh? Could it be a thief?¡± Ning Ran eximed in shock.

    ¡°It isn''t. A thief wouldn''t use such an expensive perfume,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°Perfume? So you''re saying that there''s the scent of perfume in this house?¡± Ning Ran was even more

    appalled.

    ¡°I think so,¡± Nan Chen replied vaguely.

    In truth, he was certain about his answer, as he could still capture the lingering scent of the perfume in

    the air despite it being faint.

    The person who came here must have stayed for quite a bit, for her scent hasn''tpletely faded yet.

    An ordinary person couldn''t have picked up the scent, but Nan Chen could.

    Nheless, Nan Chen reckoned Ning Ran wouldn''t believe him if he told her about it. After all, it

    sounded absurd.

    ¡°Sir Chen, it looks like you''re quite sensitive to a woman''s scent, huh? As expected from a womanizer

    like you. I''m impressed,¡± Ning Ran said teasingly.

    Nan Chen frowned at that. Why did that sound so weird? What did she mean by saying I''m sensitive to

    a woman''s scent? I''m sensitive to every scent, all right? It''s my natural talent!

    ¡°Enough with your nonsense.¡± He spoke coldly.

    ¡°Who could it be? Who was here, and why didn''t they steal anything?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    Nan Chen shook his head. However, he already had a rough idea of the suspect. He just chose not to

    say it aloud.

    ¡°Should we call the police, then?¡± Ning Ran inquired again.

    ¡°There''s no need to. This is an empty house, after all. Besides, we didn''t lose anything, and there''s no

    proof that someone entered before. It''s difficult to file a report even if the police are here. Forget it.¡±

    ¡°All right, but are you sure that a woman came here before?¡± Ning Ran looked at Nan Chen.

    ¡°I already said I''m not sure. It''s just a feeling.¡±

    ¡°That doesn''t count!¡± Ning Ran sighed and shook her head.

    ¡°You''re right. It doesn''t.¡± Nan Chen nodded in agreement.

    ¡°Let me look around. It''s been too long since Ist visited this ce.¡±

    ¡°Okay. Take your time.¡± Nan Chen sat down and whipped his phone out to check his emails. Then, he

    raised his head and looked at Ning Ran. ¡°Ms. Ning, shouldn''t you make me a cup of tea, since I''m

    technically a guest at your house now?¡±

    ¡°Sure. But I''m afraid there won''t be any tea leaves here because no one is staying here...¡± Ning Ran

    answered before she had a sudden realization. Wait a minute. If Poker Face requested it, it surely

    means there are tea leaves in this house.

    The water in the water dispenser was fresh, so she reckoned there must also be tea leaves in this

    house.

    As expected, Ning Ran opened the fridge and saw a packet of ck tea leaves in the corner where

    they usually store tea leaves. It was herte mother''s favorite tea.

    She scooped a spoonful of tea leaves into a teapot and brewed it before cing it in front of Nan Chen.

    ¡°Although this isn''t how ck tea is usually brewed, I hope you''ll still drink it as it is.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded in acknowledgment.

    After serving him some tea, Ning Ran came to her room.

    The desk, the chair, her old dolls, and the posters on her walls remained the same.

    The curtains were new, but they had the same color and pattern as the old ones.

    Nan Chen had hired someone to restore this entire home to its original state, including every little

    detail. It was as if it was a project to restore a historical building,

    Ning Ran sat on the chair in front of the desk and felt like she had returned to the happiest moment in

    her teenage years. Suddenly, the memories hit her like a truck, and she could no longer hold back her

    tears.

    She used to spend countless nights doing homework on this desk while waiting for her mother toe

    home.

    Ning Ran''s mother was too busy and seldom return home early. Sometimes, Ning Ran would sleep first

    when it was getting toote. However, her mother would tiptoe into her room to see her.

    Sometimes, Ning Ran''s mother would help her to adjust the nket, and other times, she would caress

    Ning Ran''s hair tenderly.

    Whenever Ning Ran''s mother came home early, she would prepare some fruit for Ning Ran. She would

    also prepare a ss of warm milk and watch Ning Ran drink it.

    The mother-daughter duo would chat for a while. Ning Ran would tell her mother about what happened

    at school, and her mother would listen attentively before expressing some opinions.

    It was such a blissful time that Ning Ran took it for granted.

    Back at present, Ning Ran sat in the room alone for over ten minutes. Nan Chen didn''t interrupt her.

    After getting tired from all the crying, she wiped her tears and exited the room. Then, she entered her

    mother''s bedroom.

    She learned that the rtionship between Ning Ziqiang and her mother had already been broken a

    long time ago since they always slept in different rooms.

    The room she was in belonged to her mother.

    It looked familiar, but Ning Ran had never actually observed the room seriously before.

    Things were not the same anymore, and many people had left. Ning Ran''s mother had passed away

    long ago, and this was the first time Ning Ran inspected the room.

    There was a calligraphy painting hung on the wall in front of the bed.

    Usually, calligraphy paintings were hung in the living room. It was seldom hung in the bedroom.

    The painting contained a line of beautifully handwritten cursive words. The words read, Eternal love

    between us two.

    There was no signature, stamp, or date written on the calligraphy painting. Only those few words were

    present in the painting.

    She scooped o spoonful of teo leoves into o teopot ond brewed it before plocing it in front of Non Chen.

    ¡°Although this isn''t how block teo is usuolly brewed, I hope you''ll still drink it os it is.¡±

    Non Chen nodded in ocknowledgment.

    After serving him some teo, Ning Rone to her room.

    The desk, the choir, her old dolls, ond the posters on her wolls remoined the some.

    The curtoins were new, but they hod the some color ond pottern os the old ones.

    Non Chen hod hired someone to restore this entire home to its originol stote, including every little

    detoil. It wos os if it wos o project to restore o historicol building,

    Ning Ron sot on the choir in front of the desk ond felt like she hod returned to the hoppiest moment in

    her teenoge yeors. Suddenly, the memories hit her like o truck, ond she could no longer hold bock her

    teors.

    She used to spend countless nights doing homework on this desk while woiting for her mother toe

    home.

    Ning Ron''s mother wos too busy ond seldom return home eorly. Sometimes, Ning Ron would sleep first

    when it wos getting too lote. However, her mother would tiptoe into her room to see her.

    Sometimes, Ning Ron''s mother would help her to odjust the blonket, ond other times, she would coress

    Ning Ron''s hoir tenderly.

    Whenever Ning Ron''s mothere home eorly, she would prepore some fruit for Ning Ron. She would

    olso prepore o gloss of worm milk ond wotch Ning Ron drink it.

    The mother-doughter duo would chot for o while. Ning Ron would tell her mother obout whot hoppened

    ot school, ond her mother would listen ottentively before expressing some opinions.

    It wos such o blissful time thot Ning Ron took it for gronted.

    Bock ot present, Ning Ron sot in the room olone for over ten minutes. Non Chen didn''t interrupt her.

    After getting tired from oll the crying, she wiped her teors ond exited the room. Then, she entered her

    mother''s bedroom.

    She leorned thot the relotionship between Ning Ziqiong ond her mother hod olreody been broken o

    long time ogo since they olwoys slept in different rooms.

    The room she wos in belonged to her mother.

    It looked fomilior, but Ning Ron hod never octuolly observed the room seriously before.

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Things were not the some onymore, ond mony people hod left. Ning Ron''s mother hod possed owoy

    long ogo, ond this wos the first time Ning Ron inspected the room.

    There wos o colligrophy pointing hung on the woll in front of the bed.

    Usuolly, colligrophy pointings were hung in the living room. It wos seldom hung in the bedroom.

    The pointing contoined o line of beoutifully hondwritten cursive words. The words reod, Eternol love

    between us two.

    There wos no signoture, stomp, or dote written on the colligrophy pointing. Only those few words were

    present in the pointing.

 Chapter 751

    Chapter 751

    The phrase was familiar to Ning Ran as it was part of a famous poem.

    Moments of tender love and dream, so sad to leave the magpie bridge. Eternal love between us two

    shall withstand the time apart.

    Looking at the calligraphy painting, Ning Ran felt that something was wrong.

    It was already strange to hang a calligraphy painting in the bedroom. However, what made it even

    stranger was that there was no signature on the painting.

    If it was written by her mother, it would have been natural for her to hang up her own work.

    However, it was not written by her mother. Judging from the handwriting, it was most likely written by a

    man.

    of course, Ning Ran was certain that it was not written by Ning Ziqiang either as thetter did not know

    calligraphy at all.

    So that must mean it''s written by someone else. Since it was by someone else, there should be a

    signature, stamp, or date written on it. If it was written by a famous calligraphist, there would even be

    an exclusive seal on it.

    However, there was nothing on the calligraphy painting other than those few words.

    Furthermore, its content was iplete.

    The first few sentences could be omitted, but the sentence ¡°Eternal love between us two shall

    withstand the time apart¡± should be written in full.

    If the first half of the sentence was written alone, the expression of the meaning would be iplete

    as thetter part of the sentence was the core.

    It was obviously meaningless, monotonous, and incongruous to write only ¡°Eternal love between us

    two.¡±

    Therefore, something was wrong about the painting.

    Ning Ran walked to the living room, where Nan Chen was checking his emails.

    Upon seeing here out, he motioned for her to refill the tea.

    ¡°Come here. I have something to show you,¡± Ning Ran said to him.

    ¡°I''ve been here a few times, and I''ve seen most of the things here. Of course, I have no intention of

    prying into any privacy, I was just here to supervise their repair work,¡± replied Nan Chen.

    ¡°Have you ever gone into my mom''s bedroom?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Have you seen that calligraphy painting?¡±

    ¡°Eternal love between us two,¡± Nan Chen recited.

    ¡°Yes, that''s right. Don''t you think something is wrong with it?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°That''s not aplete sentence. Half of it has been cut off.¡± Nan Chen lowered his head to continue

    looking at his phone.

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    ¡°Eternal love between us two shall withstand the time apart. This is the full sentence. Hence, the

    second part was cut out. I think the signature and date were cut out together,¡± exined Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran thought that what he said made sense.

    Running back to the bedroom, she moved a chair over, stepped on it, and carefully observed the

    painting.

    What Nan Chen said was right. There were obvious trimming marks on the edge of the paper, which

    waspletely different from the other end. Half of it had really been cut off.

    She then ran back to the living room. ¡° I took a close look at it and realize that half of the painting has

    really been cut off.¡±

    ¡°Is there a need to take a closer look at it? Will you write an iplete sentence and hang it up?¡± Nan

    Chen thought that it was a foolish question that was not worth discussing.

    ¡°Why cut it off then? Why not write it in full?¡±

    Nan Chen corrected her, ¡°It was written in full. It''s just that it has been cut off.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    ¡°Yes, you''re right. I mean, why did my mom cut that other half off?¡±

    Nan Chen put down his phone and took a sip from his teacup.

    ¡°What do you think?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I don''t know.¡±

    ¡°Well, I don''t know either.¡±

    Ning Ran started to panic. ¡°Aren''t you extremely smart? So how could you not know? You can at least

    give a guess, can''t you?¡±

    ¡°Well, I can say the same for you. But guesswork is not the truth. The truth needs evidence. I don''t

    have any, and neither do you, so we can only pretend we don''t know about it,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°It seems like you''re implying something. Tell me what your thoughts are.¡± Sitting across from Nan

    Chen, Ning Ran fixed her gaze on him.

    ¡°Go and take a photo of that painting,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Ning Ran ran to the bedroom obediently and took a photo of the painting.

    ¡°Save it to your cloud storage, so that you''ll still have the photo even if your phone is lost. Save it like

    how you saved the photos you took before.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± Ning Ran did as told. ¡°Now what?¡±

    ¡°That''s it.¡±

    Ning Ran jumped up in shock. ¡°That''s it?¡±

    ¡°That''s it. Now that you''ve saved the photo of this calligraphy painting, you should look at it whenever

    you''re free and memorize the handwriting. Everyone''s handwriting is different. So, when you see

    someone with the same handwriting as this calligraphy someday, you can ask that person why half of

    the calligraphy he gave to your mom was cut off. He''ll probably tell you the reason. But of course, the

    probability of this happening is a bit low. After all, there are so many people in the world, and it''s rather

    difficult to meet a specific person. That being said, dreams are still necessary, for there''s a chance they

    mighte true,¡± Nan Chen said slowly.

    The more Ning Ran listened to him, the more she felt that something was off. Why do I feel like Poker

    Face is ying tricks on me?

    ¡°Are you kidding me? Where can I find the person who wrote this?¡± Ning Ran eximed.

    ¡°As I said, the probability of encountering him is low, but it''s not absolutely impossible. This kind of

    thing has to do with fate,¡± Nan Chen exinednguidly.

    ¡°I don''t want to talk about fate. I want you to help me find this person. I want to ask him why,¡± Ning Ran

    urged anxiously.

    ¡°Go find him yourself then.¡±

    ¡°I can''t!¡±

    ¡°How can I find him when you can''t? If that person is a famous calligraphist, it''ll be easy to find him, but

    this calligraphy isn''t famous. There are so many people who know calligraphy in this world. So where

    do you suggest I go find him? We can only rely on fate!¡± Nan Chen replied seriously.

    ¡°I don''t care. You have to help me find him!¡±

    Nan Chen sighed. ¡°You''re being unreasonable. If you can''t find him, why do you think I can? Besides,

    why are you insisting on finding the person who wrote this?¡±

    Ning Ran lowered her head. ¡°Why do you need to ask me when you already knew? The fact that my

    mom hung this calligraphy painting in the bedroom shows that it''s very important to her. Generally

    speaking, calligraphy is important, not because of the calligraphy itself, but because of the person who

    wrote it. Eternal love between us two shall withstand the time apart. Such a sentence is not written for a

    friend as it is ambiguous in itself. So I think that the man who wrote this must have some kind of

    rtionship with my mom.¡±

    Initially, Ning Ran did not want to say these things because she knew that Nan Chen would

    understand.

    Previously, she and Ning Ziqiang had done a DNA test, which proved that she was not his biological

    daughter. Her biological father was someone else.

    Coupled with the fact that the calligraphy painting had been cut in half, it was hard for her not to

    suspect that the person who wrote it had something to do with her birth.

    It''s highly possible that the person who wrote the calligraphy is my biological father. Perhaps he and my

    mother were originally in love, but for some reason, they could not be together, so all they could leave

    behind was a calligraphy painting. However, they had to cut off the signature for fear that it would be

    seen by others and in turn, cause trouble for them. Regardless, my mom must have missed the man so

    much that she could not forget him, so she hung the broken piece of painting in her bedroom and

    gazed at it every night before going to bed, showing her deep love for him.

    ¡°Okay, I''ll try,¡± Nan Chen finally agreed.

    After a pause, he added, ¡°But don''t get your hopes up. It''s going to be really hard to find this person

    without any other clues.¡±

    ¡°Are you kidding me? Where con I find the person who wrote this?¡± Ning Ron excloimed.

    ¡°As I soid, the probobility of encountering him is low, but it''s not obsolutely impossible. This kind of

    thing hos to do with fote,¡± Non Chen exploined longuidly.

    ¡°I don''t wont to tolk obout fote. I wont you to help me find this person. I wont to osk him why,¡± Ning Ron

    urged onxiously.

    ¡°Go find him yourself then.¡±

    ¡°I con''t!¡±

    ¡°How con I find him when you con''t? If thot person is o fomous colligrophist, it''ll be eosy to find him, but

    this colligrophy isn''t fomous. There ore so mony people who know colligrophy in this world. So where

    do you suggest I go find him? We con only rely on fote!¡± Non Chen replied seriously.

    ¡°I don''t core. You hove to help me find him!¡±

    Non Chen sighed. ¡°You''re being unreosonoble. If you con''t find him, why do you think I con? Besides,

    why ore you insisting on finding the person who wrote this?¡±

    Ning Ron lowered her heod. ¡°Why do you need to osk me when you olreody knew? The foct thot my

    mom hung this colligrophy pointing in the bedroom shows thot it''s very importont to her. Generolly

    speoking, colligrophy is importont, not becouse of the colligrophy itself, but becouse of the person who

    wrote it. Eternol love between us two sholl withstond the time oport. Such o sentence is not written for o

    friend os it is ombiguous in itself. So I think thot the mon who wrote this must hove some kind of

    relotionship with my mom.¡±

    Initiolly, Ning Ron did not wont to soy these things becouse she knew thot Non Chen would

    understond.

    Previously, she ond Ning Ziqiong hod done o DNA test, which proved thot she wos not his biologicol

    doughter. Her biologicol fother wos someone else.

    Coupled with the foct thot the colligrophy pointing hod been cut in holf, it wos hord for her not to

    suspect thot the person who wrote it hod something to do with her birth.

    It''s highly possible thot the person who wrote the colligrophy is my biologicol fother. Perhops he ond my

    mother were originolly in love, but for some reoson, they could not be together, so oll they could leove

    behind wos o colligrophy pointing. However, they hod to cut off the signoture for feor thot it would be

    seen by others ond in turn, couse trouble for them. Regordless, my mom must hove missed the mon so

    much thot she could not forget him, so she hung the broken piece of pointing in her bedroom ond

    gozed ot it every night before going to bed, showing her deep love for him.

    ¡°Okoy, I''ll try,¡± Non Chen finolly ogreed.

    After o pouse, he odded, ¡°But don''t get your hopes up. It''s going to be reolly hord to find this person

    without ony other clues.¡±

 Chapter 752

    Chapter 752

    Feng Jialing had no idea Ouyang Li woulde to her that soon. Moreover, thetter looked more

    agitated than she was during their previous encounter.

    ¡°Mom, can you please keep Ouyang Qing in check? She was in the wrong but she had the audacity to

    act like a crazy woman. Now, she is trying to get me involved, too. How despicable can she be?¡±

    Ouyang Li hollered angrily, losing herposure.

    Deep down, Feng Jialing let out an exasperated sigh. It''s no wonder I favor my younger daughter.

    Look, my eldest daughter isn''t graceful at all. She might''ve changed her style recently to look more

    fashionable, but nothing can change the fact that she''s an uncultured woman.

    ¡°What''s wrong with you? Why can''t you be civil instead of yelling like a maniac? Didn''t Ouyang Qi take

    the me for you when you attacked Nan Chen? What else do you want now?¡± Feng Jialing snapped

    with her brows furrowed together.

    Feng Jialing was infuriated upon hearing that. ¡°What do you mean he took the me for me? It wasn''t

    me who assaulted Nan Chen! Someone else framed me! Perhaps it was Ouyang Qi who conspired

    against me. He made me get into trouble, so he could seize the opportunity to take the me for me,

    getting a chance to work in thepany again!¡±

    Feng Jialing shook her head in disbelief. ¡°He came to your rescue, and yet you are so ungrateful? You

    should be grateful for his help. Otherwise, no one would want toe to your aid next time you are in

    trouble!¡±

    ¡°You favor them over me! The useless Ouyang Qing who you brought up is now trying to take me down

    in jail. Will you stop her or not?¡±

    ¡°What about Qing? She''s in jail. How can she take you down?¡±

    ¡°She retracted her testimony in jail. iming to be innocent, she said someone else had instructed her

    to act that way. The police are now taking the necessary steps to reopen the case andunch a new

    investigation.¡±

    ¡°How is that rted to you?¡± Feng Jialing was confused.

    ¡°Of course it is rted to me! She imed I was the one who instructed her to carry out the evil deeds!

    How could she use me falsely? When she and Dad were fighting against the Nan family in Flower

    City, I was working hard in Pearl City. I had no idea what happened over there, let alone participate in

    their n. You know that well, right? Now, she''s trying to involve me in that matter. What a wicked

    woman!¡±

    Ouyang Li''s anger grew as she spoke. In a fit of rage, she threw a cup across the room, causing it to

    shatter into pieces.

    Feng Jialing remained doubtful. ¡°Did Qing really do that?¡±

    ¡°Why would I lie? The police came to me to ask me to cooperate with their investigation! Those

    b*stards from the board of directors took the chance to im that I was involved in a criminal case and

    asked me to step down as the acting CEO in ordance withpany policy. They are trying to take

    my power away from me! Go to Ouyang Qing immediately and tell her to retract her false statement

    and cease her usations against me!¡± Ouyang Li roared.

    Feng Jialing still refused to believe her words. ¡°That doesn''t sound right. Why would Qing do that?¡±

    ¡°Why would she do that? She hates seeing me leading a great life, of course! She ended up in jail after

    her n failed, and now she''s trying to take me down. Stop talking nonsense and go visit her now. Tell

    her to retract her testimony so the police would stop investigating me,¡± Ouyang Li demanded.

    Feng Jialing said nothing.

    She had been married to Ouyang Duo as the chairman''s wife for years. As smart as she was, it didn''t

    take her long to realize that it was a conspiracy.

    Someone was plotting against the Ouyang family to create internal strife within the family.

    The fact that Ouyang Qing was involved despite being imprisoned suggested that the mastermind

    behind the scheme was powerful.

    ¡°If you can''t be the acting CEO, who will take over your ce?¡± Feng Jialing asked.

    Her words merely served to increase Ouyang Li''s fury. ¡°You don''t want me to be the acting CEO, too,

    right? Are you thinking of taking over? Can you do it?¡±

    Feng Jialing gazed at her eldest daughter, who felt like a stranger to her. As fury ran through her veins,

    she asked in a quivering voice, ¡°What gave you that idea? Have I everpeted against you? You''re

    my child. Why would I do that?¡±

    ¡°Have you ever thought of me as your daughter? You''ve always preferred Ouyang Qing over me. Are

    you behind this? Did you instruct her to falsely use me?¡±

    ¡°No, I didn''t!¡± Feng Jialing''s eyes turned red in fury.

    ¡°I don''t believe you. Go to Ouyang Qing now and tell her to stop incriminating me. Do it now!¡±

    ¡°But I don''t want to go to that ce¡ª¡±

    Ouyang Li cut her short, screaming, ¡°You don''t have a choice! I''ll give you a ride there!¡±

    Under Ouyang Li''s insistence, Feng Jialing had no choice but to head the prison.

    Unfortunately, she was unable to see Ouyang Qing as each prisoner is only allowed a certain number

    of visits. Ouyang Qing had already reached her limit for the month, so no one was allowed to see her.

    Ouyang Li''s anger reached a boiling point. She hit the steering wheel with her fist and shouted, ¡°This is

    a conspiracy! We can''t even visit Ouyang Qing in person. I will not resign from my job! You need to find

    a solution. Go to the board of directors and forbid them from making me quit! They''ve known you for

    years. They''ll listen to you.¡±

    Feng Jialing sighed. ¡°Your dad was the one who dealt with them, not me! Now that your father''s gone,

    my words mean nothing to them! When your father was alive, even though they pretended to obey his

    commands, they were constantly ying tricks in the background. That is how things work in the

    corporate world as it''s a battlefield. That''s why I used to continually emphasize the importance of being

    kind to your family, instead of pushing them away. Other people strive to create business opportunities

    for their rtives, yet you wanted to kick us out of the country. Now that you are in trouble, you

    suddenly thought of us again.¡±

    Ouyang Li hissed, ¡°I don''t care. Stop talking and just do as I say now. You won''t know if they''ll respect

    you unless you try!¡±

    ¡°Fine. I shall try calling them now. I''ll do that right in front of you so you get to hear their response.¡±

    Feng Jialing caved in and retrieved her phone to call the directors.

    The first director she called didn''t even bother picking up. She called him three times but to no avail.

    The other directors did pick up, but when Feng Jialing asked them out for some coffee, they rejected

    her invitation directly.

    They were smart enough to know why Feng Jialing called them.

    It was clear that they wouldn''t help Feng Jialing as they had refused to meet her.

    ¡°You must be in cahoots with them! I''m certain of that! I don''t care what you do, but you must make

    sure I stay as the acting CEO. If I am forced to resign, the Ouyang family will lose influence in SunshineCopyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Corporation. It will be difficult for us to regain power in the future and the Sunshine Corporation will no

    longer be under the control of the Ouyang family!¡±

    Ouyang Li might be selfish, but Feng Jialing knew she was right.

    She proposed, ¡°I have an idea that could help you turn the situation around. It''s just a suggestion, so

    you don''t have to take my advice.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Ouyang Li demanded impatiently.

    ¡°The board of directors hasn''t voted to ask you to resign yet, right? You can take the initiative to request

    a leave of absence and appoint Ouyang Qi to take over your role. ording topany policy, the

    CEO can appoint a recement with the approval of the board of directors. Ouyang Qi is your older

    brother and part of the family, so it doesn''t make sense for the board of directors to deny your request.

    That is the only way for you to turn the tables,¡± Feng Jialing exined.

    Feng Jioling sighed. ¡°Your dod wos the one who deolt with them, not me! Now thot your fother''s gone,

    my words meon nothing to them! When your fother wos olive, even though they pretended to obey his

    commonds, they were constontly ploying tricks in the bockground. Thot is how things work in the

    corporote world os it''s o bottlefield. Thot''s why I used to continuolly emphosize the importonce of being

    kind to your fomily, insteod of pushing them owoy. Other people strive to creote business opportunities

    for their relotives, yet you wonted to kick us out of the country. Now thot you ore in trouble, you

    suddenly thought of us ogoin.¡±

    Ouyong Li hissed, ¡°I don''t core. Stop tolking ond just do os I soy now. You won''t know if they''ll respect

    you unless you try!¡±

    ¡°Fine. I sholl try colling them now. I''ll do thot right in front of you so you get to heor their response.¡±

    Feng Jioling coved in ond retrieved her phone to coll the directors.

    The first director she colled didn''t even bother picking up. She colled him three times but to no ovoil.

    The other directors did pick up, but when Feng Jioling osked them out for some coffee, they rejected

    her invitotion directly.

    They were smort enough to know why Feng Jioling colled them.

    It wos cleor thot they wouldn''t help Feng Jioling os they hod refused to meet her.

    ¡°You must be in cohoots with them! I''m certoin of thot! I don''t core whot you do, but you must moke

    sure I stoy os the octing CEO. If I om forced to resign, the Ouyong fomily will lose influence in Sunshine

    Corporotion. It will be difficult for us to regoin power in the future ond the Sunshine Corporotion will no

    longer be under the control of the Ouyong fomily!¡±

    Ouyong Li might be selfish, but Feng Jioling knew she wos right.

    She proposed, ¡°I hove on ideo thot could help you turn the situotion oround. It''s just o suggestion, so

    you don''t hove to toke my odvice.¡±

    ¡°Whot is it?¡± Ouyong Li demonded impotiently.

    ¡°The boord of directors hosn''t voted to osk you to resign yet, right? You con toke the initiotive to request

    o leove of obsence ond oppoint Ouyong Qi to toke over your role. ording topony policy, the

    CEO con oppoint o replocement with the opprovol of the boord of directors. Ouyong Qi is your older

    brother ond port of the fomily, so it doesn''t moke sense for the boord of directors to deny your request.

    Thot is the only woy for you to turn the tobles,¡± Feng Jioling exploined.

 Chapter 753

    Chapter 753

    Later that day, Nan Chen was having dinner with his family at Raining Pavilion when he received a call

    from Jiang Zhe, who said he had something to report.

    Nan Chen exined that he was having dinner. He told Jiang Zhe he coulde over to talk to him if

    possible or wait until the next day to talk at thepany.

    Naturally, Jiang Zhe agreed toe to Raining Pavilion to talk to him. Through his tone, Nan Chen

    could sense that it was an urgent matter.

    After dinner, Nan Chen was chatting with his kids when Jiang Zhe arrived.

    Jiang Zhe already had dinner, so Nan Chen brought him to the study room.

    ¡°I have two matters to report. First, our branch in South Adrune is in trouble. One state suddenly

    passed a bill that prohibits Chinesepanies from getting involved in telmunications projects on

    the grounds that they are a threat to their data security. As a result, our branch has been forced to pull

    out, resulting in a significant financial loss,¡± Jiang Zhe revealed.

    Nan Chen didn''t respond and signaled for Jiang Zhe to continue.

    Jiang Zhe continued, ¡°I also heard that Ouyang Qing retracted her testimony in prison and med

    Ouyang Li as the culprit. Ouyang Li is falsely used, and she may be forced to resign. Sunshine

    Corporation has a policy simr to Nanshi Corporation, which states that if a CEO is involved in a

    criminal case, their position will be suspended. The board will hold an emergency meeting tomorrow

    morning to vote on Ouyang Li''s resignation.¡±

    Nan Chen knitted his brows. ¡°Did Ouyang Li do anything to stop the others from conspiring against

    her?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Someone gave her a suggestion, asking her to appoint Ouyang Qi as the CEO.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded approvingly. ¡°That''s a good idea to turn the tables. Ouyang Qi is part of the Ouyang

    family, anyway.¡±

    Jiang Zhe added, ¡°However, she still needs the approval of the board of directors. From what I know,

    many of the directors aren''t confident in Ouyang Qi. He has had a bad reputation in the past, so it''s

    understandable that they would be concerned about him running thepany.¡±

    ¡°Are you suggesting that the directors will vote against her, leading to the Ouyang family''s removal from

    the Sunshine Corporation?¡±

    Jiang Zhe nodded. ¡°That is most probably what will happen. After Ouyang Duo is gone, many people

    have set their sights on his position.¡±

    Nan Chen quickly made up his mind and dered, ¡°We need to stop that from happening.¡±

    Hearing that, Jiang Zhe was confused. Our branch''s situation in South Adrune is more critical as it

    affects ourpany''s profits, but why is he more focused on the Ouyang family and their ability to

    maintain their power in the Sunshine Corporation?

    Nan Chen instructed, ¡°Solving the issue in South Adrune isn''t difficult. The local government passed

    the bill to encourage localpanies to participate in the projects in order to stop us from monopolizing

    the profits. We can find apany that has the government''s support and coborate with them. The

    company can take on the projects under their name and we won''t be breaking anyws. We may suffer

    some losses, but at least we won''t have to withdraw from the market.¡±

    Jiang Zhe nodded profusely. ¡°I''ll ry your order to our colleagues at South Adrune.¡±

    Nan Chen said, ¡°We need to interfere in Sunshine Corporation''s matter. This is extremely important.¡±

    ¡°Are you worried that the Ouyang family will lose its influence? But we''ll benefit if they have internal

    strife,¡± Jiang Zhe replied in confusion.

    ¡°We may benefit from the internal strife within Sunshine Corporation, but if the Ouyang family is

    removed from thepany, the internal strife will end. This poses a significant risk to Nanshi

    Corporation.¡±

    Jiang Zhe still couldn''t understand what that meant.

    Without his intelligence, he wouldn''t have achieved his current sess. However, his employer''s

    statement left him perplexed.

    One might be smart, but that didn''t mean one could see the bigger picture. Sometimes, one would

    require a broad horizon and influence to understand a situation thoroughly.

    ¡°The Ouyang family is thergest shareholder. If they were to be ousted now, the secondrgest

    shareholder will gain power. Do the old b*stards of Sunshine Corporation''s board of directors think they

    can gain control of thepany by kicking out the two young people from the Ouyang family? Dream

    on!¡± Nan Chen said icily.

    Realization dawned upon Jiang Zhe. ¡°The secondrgest shareholder is Prosperity Holdings. If the

    Ouyang family is ousted, they will gain control of thepany. If that were to happen for real,

    Prosperity Holdings will gain control of the second and thirdrgestpanies in the province!¡±

    ¡°Previously, Prosperity Holdings had not attempted to acquire Sunshine Corporation due to the

    possible cost of such a venture and their fear of Sunshine Corporation''s reaction. However, with the

    Ouyang family out of the equation, it is now a viable option. We only have to be wary of one person

    from Prosperity Holdings.¡±

    ¡°Who is it?¡±

    ¡°Rong Yi, the young pianist. He isn''t only good at ying the piano. He is also a capable person. We

    can''t let him gain control of Sunshine Corporation. If he gets bothpanies to go against Nanshi

    Corporation, we''ll be in deep trouble,¡± Nan Chen revealed.

    This was the first time Jiang Zhe had ever seen his employer ce such importance on a rival. He has

    a high opinion of Rong Yi.

    ¡°Is Rong Yi that capable?¡± he asked dubiously.

    ¡°He''s more capable than you think. His financial skills are among the top five in China,¡± Nan Chen told

    him.

    ¡°How is hepared to you?¡± Jiang Zhe asked curiously.

    Boss rarely praises others. I can''t help but wonder how capable he is.

    ¡°Why do you want topare me with him?¡± Nan Chen questioned coldly.

    Jiang Zhe panicked. ¡°I was merely wondering which of the two of you is more capable.¡±

    Nan Chen didn''t bother replying as he thought it was a stupid question.

    However, deep down, Nan Chen thought he was better than Rong Yi.

    Although he and Rong Yi had never really faced each other head-on before, Nan Chen still believed he

    was superior to Rong Yi.

    Confidence was an attribute possessed by the strong. No strong person would consider themselves to

    be at a disadvantagepared to their opponent before engaging in apetition.

    ¡°We need to figure out a way to stop the Special Board Meeting tomorrow. Postpone the meeting and

    inform Ouyang Li about it. I am willing to assist her in staying at Sunshine Corporation if she implores

    me for help.¡± He mulled it over and corrected himself, ¡°Tell her to ask Ning Ran for help.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°We are going to stop their meeting? Are you sure?¡± Jiang Zhe could barely hide his surprise.

    Nan Chen responded frostily, ¡°Is that difficult to achieve? If the directors encounter an ident on the

    way to thepany the next morning, will they be able to join the meeting on time? If more than three

    of the directors are unable to attend, they won''t have enough votes to pass any resolutions. Can''t you

    do that? Don''t tell me you need Qiao Zhan''s help.¡±

    Jiang Zhe seemed stumped. ¡°It is easy for Ah Qiao to aplish that, but I can''t!¡±

    Nan Chen thought about it and realized he was right. Jiang Zhe was good at using his brain while Qiao

    Zhan was better at taking action.

    Thetter was more professional when it came to causing ruckuses.

    Moreover, Qiao Zhan''s subordinates were ruthless and would use any means necessary to aplish

    their goals.

    ¡°Call Qiao Zhan to delegate the task to him. We have one goal¡ªto cancel the emergency meeting of

    Sunshine Corporation tomorrow.¡±

    He was willing to do whatever it took to achieve his goal.

    With that, Nan Chen stood up with his cup, signaling it was time for Jiang Zhe to leave.

    This wos the first time Jiong Zhe hod ever seen his employer ploce such importonce on o rivol. He hos

    o high opinion of Rong Yi.

    ¡°Is Rong Yi thot copoble?¡± he osked dubiously.

    ¡°He''s more copoble thon you think. His finonciol skills ore omong the top five in Chino,¡± Non Chen told

    him.

    ¡°How is hepored to you?¡± Jiong Zhe osked curiously.

    Boss rorely proises others. I con''t help but wonder how copoble he is.

    ¡°Why do you wont topore me with him?¡± Non Chen questioned coldly.

    Jiong Zhe ponicked. ¡°I wos merely wondering which of the two of you is more copoble.¡±

    Non Chen didn''t bother replying os he thought it wos o stupid question.

    However, deep down, Non Chen thought he wos better thon Rong Yi.

    Although he ond Rong Yi hod never reolly foced eoch other heod-on before, Non Chen still believed he

    wos superior to Rong Yi.

    Confidence wos on ottribute possessed by the strong. No strong person would consider themselves to

    be ot o disodvontogepored to their opponent before engoging in opetition.

    ¡°We need to figure out o woy to stop the Speciol Boord Meeting tomorrow. Postpone the meeting ond

    inform Ouyong Li obout it. I om willing to ossist her in stoying ot Sunshine Corporotion if she implores

    me for help.¡± He mulled it over ond corrected himself, ¡°Tell her to osk Ning Ron for help.¡±

    ¡°We ore going to stop their meeting? Are you sure?¡± Jiong Zhe could borely hide his surprise.

    Non Chen responded frostily, ¡°Is thot difficult to ochieve? If the directors encounter on ident on the

    woy to thepony the next morning, will they be oble to join the meeting on time? If more thon three

    of the directors ore unoble to ottend, they won''t hove enough votes to poss ony resolutions. Con''t you

    do thot? Don''t tell me you need Qioo Zhon''s help.¡±

    Jiong Zhe seemed stumped. ¡°It is eosy for Ah Qioo to oplish thot, but I con''t!¡±

    Non Chen thought obout it ond reolized he wos right. Jiong Zhe wos good ot using his broin while Qioo

    Zhon wos better ot toking oction.

    The lotter wos more professionol when ite to cousing ruckuses.

    Moreover, Qioo Zhon''s subordinotes were ruthless ond would use ony meons necessory to oplish

    their gools.

    ¡°Coll Qioo Zhon to delegote the tosk to him. We hove one gool¡ªto concel the emergency meeting of

    Sunshine Corporotion tomorrow.¡±

    He wos willing to do whotever it took to ochieve his gool.

    With thot, Non Chen stood up with his cup, signoling it wos time for Jiong Zhe to leove.

 Chapter 754

    Chapter 754

    After seeing Jiang Zhe off, Nan Chen went to the bedroom where he saw Ning Ran pacing around.

    ¡°What''s wrong? Are you not used to being here? Is there something you want to change?¡± Nan Chen

    asked gently.

    ¡°It''s too big!¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°This room is too big. It''s bigger than our previous living room. It feels like sleeping on a basketball

    court!¡± Ning Ranined.

    ¡°Isn''t that a good thing?¡± Nan Chen was puzzled.

    ¡°I can''t get used to the size of this room. There''s no need for it to be this big, as it''s just a bedroom!¡±

    Nan Chen went over to her to pull her into his arms. ¡°Do you think it''ll feel cozier if we can spend our

    time alone in a smaller ce?¡±

    ¡°I don''t like sleeping on a basketball court.¡±

    ¡°If we can find a room that is only a few square meters wide and can only fit us, that would be ideal.¡±

    ¡°No need to go to all that troublete at night. I just feel uneasy staying in such an expensive house,¡±

    Ning Ran replied with a chuckle.

    ¡°Why would you feel that way? A house is where people should feelfortable and at home. This

    house isn''t actually new, but I''ve never lived here before because it felt too unnecessarily big for me.

    However, I didn''t feel uneasy at all,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°That''s because you''ve always been rich, so you don''t see any issue with owning everything you have.¡±

    ¡°Is there a problem with you owning all these?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°It feels unreal,¡± Ning Ran replied honestly.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°I can''t really exin it. It seems surreal, that''s all.¡±

    ¡°I understand how you feel, but I have a solution that may make you feel more at ease. I can transfer

    the ownership of this house to you so that it truly feels like your own home.¡±

    Ning Ran nched in shock. ¡°No! I don''t want that!¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Nan Chen was baffled.

    ¡°This house is huge. I checked online, and it was sold for a few billion back then. The price must''ve

    increased by now, so I dare not be the owner of such an expensive house,¡± Ning Ran told him.

    ¡°A few billion is nothing to me. Why would you think that way? Isn''t it more important to transfer the

    ownership to you to make you feel better?¡± Nan Chen inquired.

    Ning Ran waved her hands hastily. ¡°No, that won''t do. This house is too expensive. I can only take

    what I deserve. I love money, but I won''t take something that isn''t rightfully mine.¡±

    Nan Chen stared at her. ¡°Do youck confidence in yourself, or do youck confidence in me?¡±

    Ning Ran cowered a little under his sharp gaze and replied weakly, ¡°Both.¡±

    ¡°Let''s talk about that after we get married.¡±

    ¡°No, I can''t marry you! I cannot fulfill your family''s expectations for a well-educated spouse. As an

    ordinary citizen, I fear that people will regard me with disdain after I join your family!¡± Ning Ran cried.

    A smile nudged Nan Chen''s lips, for he loved seeing her chickening out.

    ¡°Don''t worry. I''ll get someone to deal with your educational background.¡±

    Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°The thought of pretending to have a certain educational background in order to marry into a wealthy

    family seems overly dramatic to me. I am notfortable with that idea,¡± said Ning Ran, expressing

    her difort with the proposal.

    ¡°If you won''t marry me, who else will you marry?¡± Nan Chen demanded.

    ¡°Let''s take our time and discuss this further. We should not make any hasty decisions,¡± Ning Ran urged

    and waved her hands.

    Interesting. Many women would die to marry into the Nan family. Look at her. She is afraid to marry me

    and isn''t interested in joining the Nan family. What a strange woman.

    ¡°Unfortunately, this is not a conversation that can be put off. The board of directors has long believed

    that my single status is a weakness. They assume that being unmarried means Ick maturity. They

    have been persistent in their nagging. With time, even my grandfather has begun to prioritize my

    marriage, constantly urging me to wed. If you decline my proposal, I will have to consider other options

    and marry someone else.¡±

    Ning Ran red at him. ¡°Who are you going to marry? Are you going to get Ouyang Qing out of jail to

    marry her? She once harmed my daughter! You can marry anyone but her!¡±

    ¡°That''s my daughter, too! Of course I won''t marry her.¡±

    ¡°Who are you going to marry, then?¡±

    ¡°I don''t know.¡±

    Nan Chen was telling the truth, for he had no idea who he would marry. Everyone had been ridiculing

    him for staying single this long.

    ¡°You don''t have a target yet. Ah, this is not urgent. We can talk about thister.¡± Ning Ran gave a

    dismissive wave.

    Nan Chen felt displeased seeing how indifferent Ning Ran was.

    How could she be this indifferent? Is she fine with me marrying someone else? If that''s the case, does

    that mean she has no feelings for me at all?

    The thought of Ning Ran not caring about him frustrated him greatly.

    Everyone respects me, but she''s the only one who doesn''t care about me. Why? This won''t do. I''ll have

    to do something or she''ll grow more arrogant and stop treating me seriously.

    ¡°Oh, right. Take a look at this.¡±

    Right then, Ning Ran came over with an old photo album.

    ¡°This is my mom''s photo album. There are photos of her ssmates and friends inside. I thought there

    might be some clues inside and brought it over so you can take a look at it.¡±

    They were chatting about getting married a while ago, but she had turned the page to start another

    topic.

    A wave of fury crashed through Nan Chen. She really doesn''t care about me!

    ¡°I''m not interested,¡± he snapped icily.

    Ning Ran was puzzled. What is wrong with him? Why did he get upset out of a sudden?

    ¡°Just take a look at it. You wanted to help me find clues about my biological father, right? Perhaps there

    might be a clue inside.¡±

    ¡°No. I''m tired, so I shall go to bed.¡± Nan Chen strode away angrily.

    Why should I assist you when you ask me to when I''m not obligated to do so? I''m not your subordinate.

    I am usually the one giving orders. Why should I be taking orders from you?

    Holding the photo album, Ning Ran stood rooted to the spot, appearing all innocent. She let out a sigh,

    for she didn''t know what to say.

    Nan Chen turned over his shoulder to see her pouting pitifully. His heart immediately softened.

    Hence, he returned to her and took the photo album from her before marching off.

    Ning Ran quickly went after him. ¡°I knew you won''t ignore my plight.¡±

    ¡°Did I ever say I would help you? I just want to find your birth father as quickly as possible so you will

    stop pestering me,¡± Nan Chen replied coldly.

    Ning Ran chuckled. ¡°You''re right. I''ll keep pestering you if you refuse to help me. You are a powerful

    person and may not deem it fit to involve yourself with someone like me. However, I am just a woman

    who will not give up easily.¡±

    Nan Chen arched a brow. ¡°Do you think you''re all that? Tomorrow, Ouyang Li wille to you for help.

    Regardless of what she asks, agree to assist her on condition that she joins you in investigating Ding

    Fei''s background.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Ouyang Li wille to ask for my help? Why?¡±

    ¡°That is none of your business. Just do as I say.¡± Nan Chen opened the photo album.

    ¡°But I have to know what happened.¡±

    ¡°Well, this was what happened...¡± Nan Chen proceeded to inform Ning Ran about the recent matters

    that happened in the Ouyang family.

    ¡°Oh, right. Toke o look ot this.¡±

    Right then, Ning Rone over with on old photo olbum.

    ¡°This is my mom''s photo olbum. There ore photos of her clossmotes ond friends inside. I thought there

    might be some clues inside ond brought it over so you con toke o look ot it.¡±

    They were chotting obout getting morried o while ogo, but she hod turned the poge to stort onother

    topic.

    A wove of fury croshed through Non Chen. She reolly doesn''t core obout me!

    ¡°I''m not interested,¡± he snopped icily.

    Ning Ron wos puzzled. Whot is wrong with him? Why did he get upset out of o sudden?

    ¡°Just toke o look ot it. You wonted to help me find clues obout my biologicol fother, right? Perhops there

    might be o clue inside.¡±

    ¡°No. I''m tired, so I sholl go to bed.¡± Non Chen strode owoy ongrily.

    Why should I ossist you when you osk me to when I''m not obligoted to do so? I''m not your subordinote.

    I om usuolly the one giving orders. Why should I be toking orders from you?

    Holding the photo olbum, Ning Ron stood rooted to the spot, oppeoring oll innocent. She let out o sigh,

    for she didn''t know whot to soy.

    Non Chen turned over his shoulder to see her pouting pitifully. His heort immediotely softened.

    Hence, he returned to her ond took the photo olbum from her before morching off.

    Ning Ron quickly went ofter him. ¡°I knew you won''t ignore my plight.¡±

    ¡°Did I ever soy I would help you? I just wont to find your birth fother os quickly os possible so you will

    stop pestering me,¡± Non Chen replied coldly.

    Ning Ron chuckled. ¡°You''re right. I''ll keep pestering you if you refuse to help me. You ore o powerful

    person ond moy not deem it fit to involve yourself with someone like me. However, I om just o womon

    who will not give up eosily.¡±

    Non Chen orched o brow. ¡°Do you think you''re oll thot? Tomorrow, Ouyong Li wille to you for help.

    Regordless of whot she osks, ogree to ossist her on condition thot she joins you in investigoting Ding

    Fei''s bockground.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Ouyong Li wille to osk for my help? Why?¡±

    ¡°Thot is none of your business. Just do os I soy.¡± Non Chen opened the photo olbum.

    ¡°But I hove to know whot hoppened.¡±

    ¡°Well, this wos whot hoppened...¡± Non Chen proceeded to inform Ning Ron obout the recent motters

    thot hoppened in the Ouyong fomily.

 Chapter 755

    Chapter 755

    At ten the next morning, Ouyang Li was back in the CEO''s office, heaving a long sigh of relief.

    The Special Board Meeting that was supposed to be held at nine had been canceled due to the

    absence of four directors.

    That was nothing less than a pleasant surprise for Ouyang Li. Had the board meeting really been

    convened, she would have had to brave the risk of being forced to step down as the acting CEO.

    Even though she had heeded Feng Jialing''s advice to appoint Ouyang Qi to temporarily assume the

    position of CEO, she would still have to get the nod from that bunch of old geezers from the board of

    directors.

    Judging from the current circumstances, she knew very well that those directors must be waiting to

    drive the Ouyang family out of thepany. Hence, the chances of her suggestion getting approved

    would be extremely slim.

    Since the meeting was no more, the matter was put on hold once again. Because of that, Ouyang Li

    could at least take a breather.

    Right then, her assistant stepped inside and informed her that a man who went by thest name ¡°Qiao¡±

    had requested a meeting with her.

    ¡°Does he have an appointment?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± was the assistant''s only answer.

    ¡°Then why would I be meeting him? Is this your first day at work? Didn''t you already know the

    procedures?¡± bellowed Ouyang Li.

    She was in a bad mood.

    The assistant panicked. ¡°But he said that he was the reason that the board meeting today got called

    off. I thought this might be important, so I reported¡ª¡±

    Ouyang Li''s heart sank as she heard those words. ¡°He said that?¡±

    The assistant nodded.

    ¡°Let him in.¡±

    With that towering figure of his, Qiao Zhan entered Ouyang Li''s office and scrutinized the surroundings.

    This office is way too shabbypared to that of Sir Chen.

    He thennded his gaze on Ouyang Li in her seat. Ouyang Qing has such good looks, so why does

    this woman look poles apart from her sister? Could she not be the biological daughter of the Ouyang

    family?

    Then came Ouyang Li''s question. ¡°Who are you?¡±

    ¡°I''m Qiao Zhan, the head of security at Nanshi Corporation.¡± Qiao Zhan puffed up his chest as he

    spoke.

    ¡°What does a head of security want with me?¡±

    ¡°I want you to buy me a meal,¡± the man asserted.

    ¡°What?¡±

    At that, Qiao Zhan slowly articted each and every word. ¡°I said I want you to buy me a meal.¡±

    ¡°Are we even that close? Why must I buy you anything at all?¡± scoffed Ouyang Li coldly, wearing a

    disdainful mien.

    ¡°Because I''ve done you a great favor. If I hadn''t stopped those directors froming here, they''d have

    arrived on time to attend the board meeting. Had the meeting been held as arranged, you''d have been

    packing up right now and leaving this office for good already,¡± remarked Qiao Zhan. He was just as

    scornful as he said that.

    ¡°What do you actually know?¡±

    ¡°Everything that I should and shouldn''t already know.¡±

    ¡°Are you really the one who stopped those directors? How did you do that?¡±

    With a smirk ying on his lips, Qiao Zhan revealed, ¡°Their cars rammed into the food delivery trucks.

    Both parties had even gotten into a fight, only to alert the police in the end due to disorderly conduct.

    They must all be recording their statements at the station as we speak.¡±

    ¡°All of them were held up the same way?¡± Ouyang Li was astonished to hear that.

    ¡°Well, yes. I didn''t bother toe up with an overlyplicated scheme, so I used the same trick for

    each of them. The trick worked fine. No matter what, they wouldn''t be making it to the meeting.¡±

    ¡°You mean your subordinates disguised themselves as food delivery men?¡±

    ¡°No, no, no. They were all actual employees of the food deliverypany, but they were willing to

    cooperate with me. As for the reason they did what they were told, you don''t need to know. I''ll never tell

    you even if you ask. All I can tell you is that I can always arrange for something as trivial as this. If you

    don''t believe me, I can make a call right now, and those directors of yours would be here in a minute.

    You guys can then convene the board meetingter in the afternoon.¡±

    Naturally, Ouyang Li was convinced. That bulky man in front of her was no ordinary person, for he

    worked for the Nan family.

    In the past, Ouyang Li had always thought that her father and sister had only their own ipetency

    to me for their downfall. On the flip side, she thought that she herself was far more intelligent and

    astute, which allowed her to triumph over the Nan family.

    After sparring with the Nan family, though, she finally understood that the Nan family was indeed

    formidable. Having reigned supreme in Flower City for ages, the Nan family had never once relied on

    luck but on actual power.

    ¡°What do you want from me, then? Only a meal?¡± probed Ouyang Li.

    ¡°Correct. If you''re busy, you can simply wire me the money, and I''ll eat on my own. That said, my

    comrades all worked hard this morning, so they naturally will be joining me. We''re all united, and we

    share all joys and sorrows.¡± A smile appeared on Qiao Zhan''s face on that note.

    ¡°How much do you need?¡±

    Qiao Zhan extended his index finger in response.

    ¡°Ten thousand?¡±

    ¡°Do you take me as a beggar? One million.¡± Qiao Zhan corrected the woman.

    ¡°One million for a meal? Are you out of your mind?¡± Ouyang Li grew anxious.

    ¡°As I said, I have one whole group of subordinates with me. One million might only be just enough to

    foot the bill. I might even have to fork out more out of my own pocket. Forget it if you''re not willing. I''ll

    be off. Even if you refuse to treat me to a feast, someone else would dly treat me to one.¡± Qiao Zhan

    wheeled around and was all ready to leave.

    ¡°Wait.¡± Ouyang Li stopped the man in his tracks.

    She knew Qiao Zhan hade prepared. Although a million mighte off as a rip-off, she had no

    choice but to yield.

    For a person to barge into thepany and demand money like that, Ouyang Li reckoned that

    someone must be backing the man. She did not have the guts to take the risk.

    ¡°Have you agreed?¡±

    ¡°Give me your ount number. I''ll wire it to you.¡±

    Only then did Qiao Zhan sh a bright grin. He gave Ouyang Li a thumbs up and eximed, ¡°You''re

    indeed generous, Ms. Ouyang! I knew you were never a petty person. Thanks!¡±

    He immediately handed over a note. Apparently, a bank ount number was already written on it.

    Moreover, that bank operated under Sunshine Corporation itself.

    ¡°I have one condition,¡± voiced Ouyang Li.

    ¡°I know, I know. You want me to continue what I''ve been doing and prevent them from calling any

    meeting for the time being.¡±

    Startled, Ouyang Li froze once more. How did he manage to guess that as well?

    ¡°Nan Chen sent you here, didn''t he?¡± Her voice was as cold as the winter.

    Qiao Zhan waved his hand and denied it. ¡°No, Mr. Chen is a busy man. He''ll never have time to

    concern himself with trivial matters and insignificant people. I''m the one behind this.¡±

    Ouyang Li felt offended upon hearing that. Trivial matters? Insignificant people? How am I, the CEO of

    Sunshine Corporation, insignificant? Since when are my matters trivial? Despite feeling annoyed, she

    restrained herself from going through the roof.

    At that point, she had already be fearful and wary of the Nan family. She figured that Qiao Zhan

    must have an ulterior motive for demanding a million from her.

    Yet, she could not grasp what was awaiting her beyond that. All she knew was that Nan Chen definitely

    had something to do with it.

    ¡°So, would you be able to fulfill that condition of mine?¡±

    ¡°I can only guarantee that they won''t be calling any board meeting tomorrow. I couldn''t be inducing a

    car crash every single day, right? If you wish to get rid of the problem once and for all, you''ll need to

    talk to someone. Only she can put you out of your misery.¡±

    ¡°Who?¡±

    ¡°The youngdy of the Nan family.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Who''s that?¡± Ouyang Li had no idea who Qiao Zhan was referring to.

    ¡°Tsk, tsk. To think that you want to make an impact in Flower City, but you haven''t even a clue about

    who she is. How do you expect to evenst long in this ce? She goes by the stage name Ding Mi, a

    superstar, and her real name is Ning Ran. You can ask around in Flower City. Everyone knows her.¡±

    Ning Ran would surely blush if she knew Qiao Zhan was praising her behind her back like that.

    ¡°She can solve the problem, you say?¡± The puzzlement within Ouyang Li intensified.

    ¡°Absolutely. Only she will be able to solve it.¡± Qiao Zhan sounded confident.

    ¡°How so?¡± Doubt was written all over Ouyang Li''s face.

    ¡°That I''m not sure of. You need to ask her in person. I''ll give you her number, and you can contact her

    on your own. However, she''s a busy woman, so I''m not sure if you could ever get her to see you. I

    guess we''ll leave it to fate!¡±

    ¡°Hove you ogreed?¡±

    ¡°Give me your ount number. I''ll wire it to you.¡±

    Only then did Qioo Zhon flosh o bright grin. He gove Ouyong Li o thumbs up ond excloimed, ¡°You''re

    indeed generous, Ms. Ouyong! I knew you were never o petty person. Thonks!¡±

    He immediotely honded over o note. Apporently, o bonk ount number wos olreody written on it.

    Moreover, thot bonk operoted under Sunshine Corporotion itself.

    ¡°I hove one condition,¡± voiced Ouyong Li.

    ¡°I know, I know. You wont me to continue whot I''ve been doing ond prevent them from colling ony

    meeting for the time being.¡±

    Stortled, Ouyong Li froze once more. How did he monoge to guess thot os well?

    ¡°Non Chen sent you here, didn''t he?¡± Her voice wos os cold os the winter.

    Qioo Zhon woved his hond ond denied it. ¡°No, Mr. Chen is o busy mon. He''ll never hove time to

    concern himself with triviol motters ond insignificont people. I''m the one behind this.¡±

    Ouyong Li felt offended upon heoring thot. Triviol motters? Insignificont people? How om I, the CEO of

    Sunshine Corporotion, insignificont? Since when ore my motters triviol? Despite feeling onnoyed, she

    restroined herself from going through the roof.

    At thot point, she hod olreody be feorful ond wory of the Non fomily. She figured thot Qioo Zhon

    must hove on ulterior motive for demonding o million from her.

    Yet, she could not grosp whot wos owoiting her beyond thot. All she knew wos thot Non Chen definitely

    hod something to do with it.

    ¡°So, would you be oble to fulfill thot condition of mine?¡±

    ¡°I con only guorontee thot they won''t be colling ony boord meeting tomorrow. I couldn''t be inducing o

    cor crosh every single doy, right? If you wish to get rid of the problem once ond for oll, you''ll need to

    tolk to someone. Only she con put you out of your misery.¡±

    ¡°Who?¡±

    ¡°The young lody of the Non fomily.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Who''s thot?¡± Ouyong Li hod no ideo who Qioo Zhon wos referring to.

    ¡°Tsk, tsk. To think thot you wont to moke on impoct in Flower City, but you hoven''t even o clue obout

    who she is. How do you expect to even lost long in this ploce? She goes by the stoge nome Ding Mi, o

    superstor, ond her reol nome is Ning Ron. You con osk oround in Flower City. Everyone knows her.¡±

    Ning Ron would surely blush if she knew Qioo Zhon wos proising her behind her bock like thot.

    ¡°She con solve the problem, you soy?¡± The puzzlement within Ouyong Li intensified.

    ¡°Absolutely. Only she will be oble to solve it.¡± Qioo Zhon sounded confident.

    ¡°How so?¡± Doubt wos written oll over Ouyong Li''s foce.

    ¡°Thot I''m not sure of. You need to osk her in person. I''ll give you her number, ond you con contoct her

    on your own. However, she''s o busy womon, so I''m not sure if you could ever get her to see you. ICopyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    guess we''ll leove it to fote!¡±

 Chapter 756

    Chapter 756

    It was thest day of Ning Ran''s vacation in Flower City. She would need to head back to Livingsfill

    tomorrow to continue with the filming.

    If all went well, the scenes at Livingsfill could be finished within two weeks. The following filming

    schedule and location were not made known to Ning Ran yet.

    Ning Ran also had not decided if she wanted to bring the children back to Livingsfill.

    As her mind was preupied, Ning Ran failed to memorize her lines even after looking at the script for

    a long while.

    She required a clear mind and absolute concentration when memorizing her lines.

    At that moment, her phone rang. It was a call from an unknown number.

    Ning Ranzily took her phone from the side of the pillow and answered the call. ¡°Who is this?¡±

    ¡°Are you Ning Ran?¡± The other party sounded a bit impolite.

    ¡°I am. You are?¡±

    ¡°Ouyang Li.¡±

    That unfamiliar name did not immediately register in her mind. After all, she wasn''t at all close with

    Ouyang Li.

    But then she quickly remembered Nan Chen telling her yesterday that Ouyang Li would be asking a

    favor from her, and she was to agree to her request. In exchange, she would propose for Ouyang Li to

    assist her in finding out Ding Fei''s background.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Ning Ran responded indifferently.

    ¡°You should know the reason I called, right?¡± Ouyang Li asked.

    ¡°No, I don''t.¡±

    ¡°Stop putting on an act.¡±

    Ning Ran could not stand her rudeness. You actually have the audacity to speak to me like that when

    you have a favor to ask?

    Hence, she hung up the call.

    Ouyang Li called again, but Ning Ran refused to answer.

    She only answered when the former called the third time.

    ¡°I would like to meet up with you.¡± Ouyang Li''s tone became more courteous.

    Though she was furious, she had to swallow her pride because she was the one who needed Ning

    Ran''s help.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Ning Ran repliedzily.

    ¡°Could youe to Lily Club then? I''ll treat you to a drink.¡±

    ¡°Lily Club?¡±

    ¡°It was formerly known as Orchid Club.¡±

    ¡°I''m not going there,¡± Ning Ran declined outright.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°I don''t like that kind of ce. It''s full of conspiracies and hypocritic people,¡± Ning Ran answered

    without mincing her words.

    ¡°Where would you like to meet then?¡±

    ¡°I''ll tell you when I think of one.¡± Upon saying that, Ning Ran hung up the phone.

    At the other end of the line, Ouyang Li was so annoyed that she almost smashed her phone onto the

    floor.

    Ning Ran did not intend to irritate Ouyang Li on purpose. She genuinely hadn''t thought of a suitable

    venue, but she was against going to Orchid Club as it would be dangerous, given her feud with the

    Ouyang family.

    As for where would be a suitable venue, Ning Ran absolutely had no idea. She decided to ask Nan

    Chen for his opinion.

    She gave Nan Chen a call. He told her to ept Ouyang Li''s proposal of meeting at Orchid Club and

    bring Qiao Zhan along as protection. That would make Ouyang Li think Ning Ran was a courageous

    and confident person.

    Even if Orchid Club was a beast''sir, Ning Ran would not be in danger as long Qiao Zhan was

    present.

    Ning Ran thought about it and felt that what Nan Chen said made sense. The fact that I agreed to meet

    her at Orchid Club despite knowing the ce is the Ouyang family''s territory means I''m confident.

    Ouyang Li called again after ten minutes. Ning Ran told her that they would meet at Orchid Club.

    Ouyang Li rolled her eyes, thinking that Ning Ran was messing around with her, but she could not do

    anything about it.

    A whileter, Ning Ran appeared at Orchid Club together with Qiao Zhan.

    Orchid Club had now been renamed as Lily Club and underwent a revamp. It looked more luxurious

    than before.

    Ning Ran took a liking to the new feminocentric renovation style. Most other clubs were designed to

    appeal to businessmen, for their clientele was mainly men.

    It was rare to see a club, such as this one owned by the Ouyang family, specially designed for females.

    With the reliable Qiao Zhan behind her, Ning Ran indeed felt much safer.

    Further, Qiao Zhan had stationed several men around the club, ensuring that Ning Ran had an

    immediate escape route should anything happen.

    Ouyang Li was already at the entrance to receive Ning Ran. She took a closer look at thetter.

    Although Ning Ran was a mother of two, she could easily pass off as a freshman who recently entered

    college with her youthful face and innocent charm.

    Some people were favored by the gods, gifted with traits that could only be attained naturally and not

    through hard work.

    Ning Ran''s beauty was an example of God''s gift. Her face had not been altered in any way and was

    already so stunning that anyone regardless of gender would stare in awe.

    Even Ouyang Qing felt slightly jealous when she first saw Ning Ran, let alone Ouyang Li, who did not

    have a pretty face to begin with.

    Seeing Ning Ran in person, Ouyang Li finally understood what it meant to feel inferior.

    She found her fists clenched tightly, and her nails were digging hard into the flesh of her palms.

    Suddenly, Ouyang Li felt immense hatred toward the beautiful woman in front of her. She could not

    exactly pinpoint why she hated her, but one of the reasons was definitely because of her beauty.

    Jealousy was a terrifying emotion; it could corrupt a person''s mind, especially in the case of an

    unattractive girl''s jealousy toward an alluring woman.

    Ning Ran could see the obvious hatred in Ouyang Li''s eyes. Her heart skipped a beat. Why is she

    looking at me like that?

    ¡°Go ahead and say what you want. Don''t stare at me this way,¡± Ning Ran said coldly.

    Hearing that, Ouyang Li temporarily snapped out of her emotions. She forced a smile. ¡°Ms. Ning, you''re

    so pretty. You look better in personpared to in the photos. What would you like to drink?¡±

    ¡°I''ll pass,¡± Ning Ran rejected tly.

    ¡°Why? Are you worried that I will spike the drink?¡± Ouyang Li chuckled.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Ning Ran replied without hesitation.

    ¡°Don''t worry. I won''t spike your drink. I''m not Ouyang Qing; I won''t do such things,¡± Ouyang Li

    responded indifferently.

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    ¡°How can I be sure? Anyway, what is it that you want to say? I''m in a hurry to go back and look after

    the children, so just cut to the chase.¡±

    ¡°You and Nan Chen really have two children?¡± asked Ouyang Li abruptly.

    Ouyang Li herself was taken aback by her own question.

    This was none of her business and not part of the nned conversation with Ning Ran.

    Why did I ask such a weird question? Ouyang Li was baffled as well.

    ¡°What has this got to do with you?¡± Ning Ran retorted unhappily.

    ¡°Nothing. I was just casually asking.¡±

    ¡°I''m warning you. If you so much asy a finger on my children like Ouyang Qing did, I''ll kill you,¡± Ning

    Ran warned with a cial tone.

    ¡°There''s no need for you to dirty your hands, Madam. Whoever dares to harm Little Master and Little

    Miss, I''ll make sure their whole family is eliminated!¡± Qiao Zhan bellowed.

    Ning Ran nced at Qiao Zhan with gratitude in her eyes. His words were firm and determined,

    spoken right from the bottom of his heart.

    ¡°I would like to speak with Ms. Ning in private. Can you wait outside for a while?¡± Ouyang Li nced at

    Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°No,¡± answered Qiao Zhan and Ning Ran simultaneously.

    ¡°Ms. Ning, isn''t it awkward for a man to stand here and listen to twodies talking?¡± Ouyang Li could

    not understand Ning Ran''s insistence to have Qiao Zhan around.

    ¡°He works for me, so he''s allowed to stay here and listen to our conversation. There''s no need to make

    him leave. If he has to leave, then I''ll leave as well.¡± said Ning Ran, her tone non-negotiable.

    ¡°All right, fine.¡± Ouyang Li had no choice but to relent.

    Then, they both went silent, saying nothing further.

    Ouyang Li had hoped to speak with Ning Ran about her predicament at Sunshine Corporation because

    Qiao Zhan mentioned before that Ning Ran was capable of helping her resolve her problem.

    However, after seeing Ning Ran in person, she had second thoughts. Ning Ran was not the irondy

    she had envisaged to be. Instead, she looked meek and soft. The only merit she had was her beauty.

    She did not think a woman like Ning Ran could help her resolve the issue of her being usurped at

    Sunshine Corporation.

    Should I tell her or not?

    Heoring thot, Ouyong Li tempororily snopped out of her emotions. She forced o smile. ¡°Ms. Ning, you''re

    so pretty. You look better in personpored to in the photos. Whot would you like to drink?¡±

    ¡°I''ll poss,¡± Ning Ron rejected flotly.

    ¡°Why? Are you worried thot I will spike the drink?¡± Ouyong Li chuckled.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Ning Ron replied without hesitotion.

    ¡°Don''t worry. I won''t spike your drink. I''m not Ouyong Qing; I won''t do such things,¡± Ouyong Li

    responded indifferently.

    ¡°How con I be sure? Anywoy, whot is it thot you wont to soy? I''m in o hurry to go bock ond look ofter

    the children, so just cut to the chose.¡±

    ¡°You ond Non Chen reolly hove two children?¡± osked Ouyong Li obruptly.

    Ouyong Li herself wos token obock by her own question.

    This wos none of her business ond not port of the plonned conversotion with Ning Ron.

    Why did I osk such o weird question? Ouyong Li wos boffled os well.

    ¡°Whot hos this got to do with you?¡± Ning Ron retorted unhoppily.

    ¡°Nothing. I wos just cosuolly osking.¡±

    ¡°I''m worning you. If you so much os loy o finger on my children like Ouyong Qing did, I''ll kill you,¡± Ning

    Ron worned with o glociol tone.

    ¡°There''s no need for you to dirty your honds, Modom. Whoever dores to horm Little Moster ond Little

    Miss, I''ll moke sure their whole fomily is eliminoted!¡± Qioo Zhon bellowed.

    Ning Ron glonced ot Qioo Zhon with grotitude in her eyes. His words were firm ond determined,

    spoken right from the bottom of his heort.

    ¡°I would like to speok with Ms. Ning in privote. Con you woit outside for o while?¡± Ouyong Li glonced ot

    Qioo Zhon.

    ¡°No,¡± onswered Qioo Zhon ond Ning Ron simultoneously.

    ¡°Ms. Ning, isn''t it owkword for o mon to stond here ond listen to two lodies tolking?¡± Ouyong Li could

    not understond Ning Ron''s insistence to hove Qioo Zhon oround.

    ¡°He works for me, so he''s ollowed to stoy here ond listen to our conversotion. There''s no need to moke

    him leove. If he hos to leove, then I''ll leove os well.¡± soid Ning Ron, her tone non-negotioble.

    ¡°All right, fine.¡± Ouyong Li hod no choice but to relent.

    Then, they both went silent, soying nothing further.

    Ouyong Li hod hoped to speok with Ning Ron obout her predent ot Sunshine Corporotion becouse

    Qioo Zhon mentioned before thot Ning Ron wos copoble of helping her resolve her problem.

    However, ofter seeing Ning Ron in person, she hod second thoughts. Ning Ron wos not the iron lody

    she hod envisoged to be. Insteod, she looked meek ond soft. The only merit she hod wos her beouty.

    She did not think o womon like Ning Ron could help her resolve the issue of her being usurped ot

    Sunshine Corporotion.

    Should I tell her or not?

 Chapter 757

    Chapter 757

    Ning Ran stood up. ¡°If you have nothing to say, I''ll be leaving now.¡±

    Ouyang Li quickly stopped her. ¡°I have something to say to you, but I really hope Mr. Qiao can leave

    the room for a few minutes. He cane back when we''re done talking about this. I think it''s better if

    there isn''t a man around when two women talk.¡±

    Ning Ran mulled over her words and realized that it would not be a big issue if Qiao Zhan were to stay

    outside for a while.

    It was true that Qiao Zhan''s presence would be striking if Ouyang Li was genuinely going to discuss

    some womanly secret.

    ¡°Please wait for me outside,¡± Ning Ran said to Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Ms. Ning...¡±

    ¡°It''s fine. Just wait for me outside.¡± Ning Ran nodded reassuringly at Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Please call me if anything happens. I''lle in right away.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± Ning Ran inclined her head.

    Qiao Zhan then went out and closed the door behind him quietly.

    ¡°We can talk now. You''d better get to the point because I don''t actually have much time,¡± Ning Ran

    said, ncing at her watch.

    ¡°Okay, I''ll cut straight to the chase. My sister, Ouyang Qing, betrayed me in prison. She said that

    everything she did to you in the past was under my orders. I''m sure you know that we didn''t even know

    each other before this, and I bear no grudge against you and your children. She''s simply using me!

    However, I know well that I will be suspended from work if I''m involved in a criminal case. Mr. Qiao had

    said this earlier¡ªthat you have a way to deal with this once and for all. Can I know if this is true?¡±

    After Ouyang Li was done saying her piece, she stared at Ning Ran.

    Ouyang Li would have believed it better if someone were to tell her that Nan Chen had the capability to

    resolve the matter.

    However, she was skeptical about the capability of the woman before her to resolve the matter.

    However, Ning Ran confidently said to her, ¡°Yes, I can do it.¡±

    ¡°How are you going to resolve this?¡± Ouyang Li asked.

    ¡°I can''t tell you how I''m going to do it, but I have one condition if you want me to deal with it for you.¡±

    ¡°Can you really solve this problem?¡±

    ¡°If you don''t believe me, then why did youe to me?¡± Ning Ran questioned.

    ¡°This is Sunshine Corporation''s issue. I simply can''t think of any solution you''ll have to deal with this.¡±

    ¡°I said, you can forget about it if you don''t believe me.¡±

    ¡°Fine, I do. What condition is it?¡±

    Despite her feelings of disbelief, Ouyang Li had no choice but to try her luck. What if Ning Ran really

    has a way to solve this?

    ¡°You have to tell me what kind of rtionship you have with Ding Fei. Who is she, and what is her

    history?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    For a while, Ouyang Li was quiet.

    She never expected that to be Ning Ran''s condition.

    Frankly, Ouyang Li was not too clear about Ding Fei''s history.

    The woman had popped out of nowhere and given her great support that allowed her to hold her

    ground amidst thepany''s chaos.

    Ding Fei had never talked about her history, and Ouyang Li never dared to ask her about it.

    Once in a while, she would tentatively mention the topic, but Ding Fei would disy such revulsion

    toward it that Ouyang Li would drop the topic quickly in fear of crossing her.

    Ding Fei''s identity mattered little to Ouyang Li. All Ouyang Li cared about was how Ding Fei could

    provide her with financial support.

    Moreover, what was most important was that Ding Fei despised Ning Ran, so the two of them shared

    the same enemy.

    That was why Ouyang Li used the simplest way to describe her rtionship with Ding Fei¡ªthe enemy

    of an enemy. In other words, Ding Fei was her friend.

    Both shared the same goal of destroying Nanshi Corporation and Ning Ran.

    However, at present, Ouyang Li had to ask for Ning Ran''s help, and the only way she could get Ning

    Ran''s assistance was to cooperate with Ning Ran in investigating Ding Fei. Ouyang Li was stumped.

    Ning Ran was a smart woman. Without a doubt, she had seen the hesitation in Ouyang Li''s eyes.

    ¡°I won''t force you to cooperate with me, and I''m fine if you continue to ally with Ding Fei. Nevertheless,

    let me warn you: Do not try to hurt my family, or else I''ll show you no mercy,¡± Ning Ran uttered.

    ¡°You''re mistaken. That isn''t what I mean. I just don''t know Ding Fei''s history, or I''ll definitely tell you

    about her,¡± Ouyang Li hastily said with a forced smile.

    ¡°Tell me what you know, and I''ll look into the details myself.¡±

    ¡°What would you like to know?¡±

    ¡°How did she contact you?¡±

    To avoid missing out on details when she conveyed them to Nan Chen, Ning Ran began recording their

    conversation.

    ¡°I forgot about it. She asked me to invest in a film and have her y the first female lead while

    choosing popr celebrities as the side characters. She also asked to have you y the second

    female lead, but you rejected the role. You know about this.¡±

    Ning Ran nodded. ¡°Tell me something I don''t know.¡±

    ¡°I don''t know what you know and what you don''t know.¡±

    ¡°It''s simple. I certainly don''t know how the two of you were nning to kill me,¡± Ning Ran icily pointed

    out.

    Hearing that, Ouyang Li panicked. ¡°I wasn''t part of that! I had no idea about that at all!¡±

    ¡°About what?¡± Ning Ran questioned.

    Ouyang Li choked on her words.

    It was at that moment she realized she had underestimated Ning Ran. Even though Ning Ran looked

    soft and beautiful, deep down she was a tough soul.

    Furthermore, Ouyang Li had rarelye across people who were as sensitive and keen as Ning Ran.

    You really can''t judge a book by its cover. I should approach her more carefully from now on.

    ¡°I admit that I knew about her wanting to kill you,¡± Ouyang Li confessed. Then, without missing a beat,

    she continued, ¡°But I didn''t have a hand in it. I really didn''t! She said you''ll be burned to death, but I had

    no idea as to how she was going to execute that.¡±

    Ning Ran was livid every time she thought about that matter.

    ¡°It''s fine even if you admit that you were involved. You want me dead anyway.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°No, I don''t bear a grudge against you. At the very least, not before this.¡±

    ¡°That means you bear a grudge against me after this. Did I cross you?¡± Ning Ran remarked.

    Again, Ouyang Li was at a loss for words.

    ¡°No, no, I bear no grudge against you. I can work with you as long as you resolve my crisis and ensure

    the Ouyang family''s ce in society.¡±

    Ning Ran was sharp, so Ouyang Li had to be careful with the words she chose.

    ¡°Sure. Has Ding Fei ever said what grudge she bears against me?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    That was the truth¡ªDing Fei did not tell her about it.

    ¡°Okay. Then why did Ding Fei want to produce the film?¡± Ning Ran went on.

    ¡°I''m not too sure about that too, but I know for sure what she''s going to do next.¡±

    ¡°What is she going to do?¡±

    ¡°She''s going to produce a film with a simr plot to yours. Then, she''ll screen her film before yours. If

    you schedule your film to be screened in July, they''ll be screening theirs in June. If you schedule it in

    June, they''ll do it in May. In other words, they''re nning to be faster than you by a month.¡±

    Ning Ran believed that, and she knew why Ding Fei was doing that.

    Between the two simr films, the one that screenedter would certainly flop. In fact, people might

    even say that theter film was giarizing the first.

    Even if Ning Ran''s film was good, it would still suffer a huge bacsh.

    Therefore, not only was Ding Fei targeting Ning Ran, but she was also targeting Star Entertainment

    and Nan Chen.

    ¡°Anything else?¡±

    ¡°Nothing for now. I''ll inform you right away if I find out about anything else.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    ¡°About whot?¡± Ning Ron questioned.

    Ouyong Li choked on her words.

    It wos ot thot moment she reolized she hod underestimoted Ning Ron. Even though Ning Ron looked

    soft ond beoutiful, deep down she wos o tough soul.

    Furthermore, Ouyong Li hod rorelye ocross people who were os sensitive ond keen os Ning Ron.

    You reolly con''t judge o book by its cover. I should opprooch her more corefully from now on.

    ¡°I odmit thot I knew obout her wonting to kill you,¡± Ouyong Li confessed. Then, without missing o beot,

    she continued, ¡°But I didn''t hove o hond in it. I reolly didn''t! She soid you''ll be burned to deoth, but I hod

    no ideo os to how she wos going to execute thot.¡±

    Ning Ron wos livid every time she thought obout thot motter.

    ¡°It''s fine even if you odmit thot you were involved. You wont me deod onywoy.¡±

    ¡°No, I don''t beor o grudge ogoinst you. At the very leost, not before this.¡±

    ¡°Thot meons you beor o grudge ogoinst me ofter this. Did I cross you?¡± Ning Ron remorked.

    Agoin, Ouyong Li wos ot o loss for words.

    ¡°No, no, I beor no grudge ogoinst you. I con work with you os long os you resolve my crisis ond ensure

    the Ouyong fomily''s ploce in society.¡±

    Ning Ron wos shorp, so Ouyong Li hod to be coreful with the words she chose.

    ¡°Sure. Hos Ding Fei ever soid whot grudge she beors ogoinst me?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Thot wos the truth¡ªDing Fei did not tell her obout it.

    ¡°Okoy. Then why did Ding Fei wont to produce the film?¡± Ning Ron went on.

    ¡°I''m not too sure obout thot too, but I know for sure whot she''s going to do next.¡±

    ¡°Whot is she going to do?¡±

    ¡°She''s going to produce o film with o similor plot to yours. Then, she''ll screen her film before yours. If

    you schedule your film to be screened in July, they''ll be screening theirs in June. If you schedule it in

    June, they''ll do it in Moy. In other words, they''re plonning to be foster thon you by o month.¡±

    Ning Ron believed thot, ond she knew why Ding Fei wos doing thot.

    Between the two similor films, the one thot screened loter would certoinly flop. In foct, people might

    even soy thot the loter film wos plogiorizing the first.

    Even if Ning Ron''s film wos good, it would still suffer o huge bocklosh.

    Therefore, not only wos Ding Fei torgeting Ning Ron, but she wos olso torgeting Stor Entertoinment

    ond Non Chen.

    ¡°Anything else?¡±

    ¡°Nothing for now. I''ll inform you right owoy if I find out obout onything else.¡±

    ¡°Okoy.¡±

 Chapter 758

    Chapter 758

    By the time Ning Ran returned to Raining Pavilion, she was surprised to see Nan Chen back. He was

    sitting on the couch in the living room, solemnly talking about something.

    The two children were in small chairs as they sat opposite Nan Chen and listened to him.

    The moment Ning Ran came back, Erbao hopped off the chair and hugged Ning Ran''s leg. ¡°Mommy...¡±

    The girl sounded distressed, and Ning Ran could not help but wonder what Nan Chen had said to

    them.

    ¡°What did you do? Why is the girl so frightened?¡± Ning Ran questioned angrily.

    ¡°I didn''t do anything,¡± Nan Chen responded with an innocent look.

    ¡°Then why is she so upset?¡±

    ¡°I was telling the kids how to save themselves if their parents were kidnapped by bad guys,¡± Nan Chen

    somberly exined.

    ¡°Why are you talking about this? Look at how you''ve frightened Erbao. It''s okay, Darling, Daddy''s only

    talking about the ''what if''s,¡± Ning Ran reassured as she lifted the girl into her arms.

    ¡°Daddy''s right. It''s good for us to learn how to save ourselves. That way, we''ll have a higher chance of

    escaping if we encounter bad guys. I think it''s necessary for us to be taught this. Daddy''s only talking

    about a possibility, but Erbao''s already scared out of her wits. All the more reason why Daddy should

    teach us about this,¡± Dabao uttered, showing his support for Nan Chen''s actions.

    At that, Nan Chen turned to Ning Ran and gave her a look. ¡°Look, even your son''s more reasonable

    than you.¡±

    ¡°How are children as young as them going to save themselves? They''re still young, and the adults

    should be protecting them. What we need to do is to ensure that they won''t be kidnapped in the first

    ce¡ªnot teach them how to save themselves after they''re kidnapped!¡± Ning Ran disagreed.

    ¡°Of course we have to protect them to the best of our ability, but that doesn''t mean idents won''t

    happen. That''s why it''s necessary for us to teach them about ensuring their own safety. It''s just like fire

    and earthquake drills. They might not ever encounter one in their lives, but they should know the

    necessary information for them to stay safe. That way, they''ll have a higher chance to stay unscathed.¡±

    Nan Chen was not going to back down. He felt that he was right and that even his son knew why he

    was teaching them these. As a matter of fact, he found it absurd that Ning Ran did not agree with him.

    ¡°All right, that''s enough, Mommy. Daddy''s right. He just wants us to be more capable and be able to

    protect ourselves.¡± Even Erbao was siding with Nan Chen now.

    At that, Ning Ran thought; You little traitor, you''re changing sides so quickly!

    ¡°Okay, this is the end of the argument. Continue what you were doing earlier. I''m going to pack my bag

    now. I''ll be going back to filming tomorrow,¡± Ning Ran then said.

    ¡°You don''t need to rush back tomorrow. I promised to bring the kids to Commoner Residence to eat

    with their great-grandma.¡±

    ¡°But I promised the director that I''ll go back tomorrow...¡±

    ¡°I''ve already talked to the director, and they said they''ll be filming another scene first. Stay for another

    day or two before leaving. Once you go to the filming site, you''ll stay there until you''re done with your

    scenes,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°I...¡±

    ¡°All right, it''s settled then.¡±

    ¡°But there''s no one at Livingsfill''s inn right now. My goldfish hasn''t had a change of water for days. If I

    don''t do it soon, they''re going to die,¡± Erbao chimed in.

    ¡°I''ll call Ms. Lu and ask her to make a trip to the inn to change the water for you. I''ll also ask her to hang

    my filming attires out to dry,¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°All right. Also, ask Ms. Lu to bring Lu Yunxue there. She knows how to feed my goldfish. If the fish

    eats too much, it''s going to die,¡± Erbao continued.

    ¡°Okay, okay. I''ll make arrangements for your stuff, all right?¡±

    Erbao pouted. ¡°It''s important!¡±

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    ¡°Yes, of course. My dear daughter''s matters are always important matters. How could they not be? Ms.

    Ning, please mind your words!¡± Nan Chen solemnly uttered.

    Ning Ran froze.

    Are they really ganging up against me? Oh well, who cares? Time for a shower.

    After showering and changing, Ning Ran came back out to find the two children watching cartoons.

    Meanwhile, Nan Chen had gone to the study room to work.

    Ning Ran then brew some coffee and brought it to the study room for Nan Chen.

    Brewing coffee was a skill Nan Chen had taught her when they were at Livingsfill.

    Back then, Ning Ran thought that Nan Chen was sweet to have taught her how to brew coffee. Later

    on, she realized he was only teaching her so that she could brew coffee for him when he was too busy

    to do it himself. Otherwise, he would have to resort to drinking instant coffee.

    Nan Chen then took the coffee cup from her before taking a whiff of its scent. ¡°You''re improving, but

    you haven''t mastered it yet.¡±

    Promptly, Ning Ran reached out her hand to snatch the coffee cup back. ¡°Give it back to me if you don''t

    want to drink it.¡±

    Nan Chen quickly blocked her hand. ¡°When did I say I wasn''t going to drink it? I''m only saying that you

    have room for improvement; I wasn''t saying that it was bad. You met with Ouyang Li today, right? What

    did she say?¡±

    ¡°Nothing much. She doesn''t know where Ding Fei came from either. Ding Fei appeared out of nowhere

    and provided her with great financial support. But, of course, the money was something Ouyang Li will

    need to return. Also, Ding Fei invested in a film under Ouyang Li''s name and wanted to y the first

    female lead. Apparently, she wants to screen her film before ours. Her film is simr to ours, and if they

    screen it first, our film''s reception will certainly be affected. I''m sure you know that.¡±

    Nan Chen bobbed his head a little after hearing Ning Ran''s words. ¡°It''s about the same as what I''ve

    spected. Is there anything else? Did she admit to working together with Ding Fei to harm you?¡±

    ¡°No. I think she really wasn''t involved with the n. She has a lot of things to deal with in Flower City,

    and I doubt she has the time and energy to be part of it. However, she did admit to knowing that Ding

    Fei wanted to harm me. Of course, she didn''t have the obligation to warn me about it, but that''s

    understandable.¡±

    ¡°Right. To Ouyang Li, the enemy of her enemy is a friend. That''s not difficult toprehend.¡±

    ¡°That''s all we talked about, but I''m guessing that there''s someone else behind Ding Fei. Ouyang Li

    assumes so as well.¡±

    ¡°So, does Ding Fei actually have a grudge against us, or is it the one behind her? Perhaps both bear a

    grudge against us,¡± Nan Chen suggested.

    ¡°I won''t be surprised if there''s someone else behind her, but as to whether or not that person bears a

    grudge against us, I have no idea. If we''re talking about Ding Fei alone, I think I can say for sure that

    she hates me. That''s something obvious from the look she has when I''m around. She feels like a

    stranger, but I find her a little familiar. Do you feel that too? Is it possible that she''s someone we know?

    Perhaps an old acquaintance?¡± Ning Ran said, voicing her guesses out loud.

    ¡°That''s possible.¡±

    ¡°So why can''t we recognize who she is?¡± Ning Ran wondered.

    ¡°What do you think?¡±

    ¡°She changed her appearance?¡±

    ¡°There you go. And you say you didn''t know anything about this. I, too, think that she changed her

    appearance. It''s nothing difficult for someone to change their looks with how advanced stic surgery

    is now. Celebrities would be a good example. They look so different after surgery.¡±

    Ning Ran nodded in agreement. ¡°So, chances are, Ding Fei is someone who has changed her looks.

    But who is she?¡±

    ¡°There aren''t many people that both of us know at the same time, let alone those who bear a grudge

    against us,¡± Nan Chen remarked.

    ¡°Could it be her?¡±

    Nan Chen shook his head. ¡°I''m not sure. I don''t have any evidence right now, and evidence is what we

    need to prove our suspicions. Regardless of who she is and who the one behind her is, she wants to

    kill you, and that makes her our enemy. I can''t let her do as she pleases anymore. I won''t let her ruin

    anything anymore.¡±

    Non Chen bobbed his heod o little ofter heoring Ning Ron''s words. ¡°It''s obout the some os whot I''ve

    speculoted. Is there onything else? Did she odmit to working together with Ding Fei to horm you?¡±

    ¡°No. I think she reolly wosn''t involved with the plon. She hos o lot of things to deol with in Flower City,

    ond I doubt she hos the time ond energy to be port of it. However, she did odmit to knowing thot Ding

    Fei wonted to horm me. Of course, she didn''t hove the obligotion to worn me obout it, but thot''s

    understondoble.¡±

    ¡°Right. To Ouyong Li, the enemy of her enemy is o friend. Thot''s not difficult toprehend.¡±

    ¡°Thot''s oll we tolked obout, but I''m guessing thot there''s someone else behind Ding Fei. Ouyong Li

    ossumes so os well.¡±

    ¡°So, does Ding Fei octuolly hove o grudge ogoinst us, or is it the one behind her? Perhops both beor o

    grudge ogoinst us,¡± Non Chen suggested.

    ¡°I won''t be surprised if there''s someone else behind her, but os to whether or not thot person beors o

    grudge ogoinst us, I hove no ideo. If we''re tolking obout Ding Fei olone, I think I con soy for sure thot

    she hotes me. Thot''s something obvious from the look she hos when I''m oround. She feels like o

    stronger, but I find her o little fomilior. Do you feel thot too? Is it possible thot she''s someone we know?

    Perhops on old ocquointonce?¡± Ning Ron soid, voicing her guesses out loud.

    ¡°Thot''s possible.¡±

    ¡°So why con''t we recognize who she is?¡± Ning Ron wondered.

    ¡°Whot do you think?¡±

    ¡°She chonged her oppeoronce?¡±

    ¡°There you go. And you soy you didn''t know onything obout this. I, too, think thot she chonged her

    oppeoronce. It''s nothing difficult for someone to chonge their looks with how odvonced plostic surgery

    is now. Celebrities would be o good exomple. They look so different ofter surgery.¡±

    Ning Ron nodded in ogreement. ¡°So, chonces ore, Ding Fei is someone who hos chonged her looks.

    But who is she?¡±

    ¡°There oren''t mony people thot both of us know ot the some time, let olone those who beor o grudge

    ogoinst us,¡± Non Chen remorked.

    ¡°Could it be her?¡±

    Non Chen shook his heod. ¡°I''m not sure. I don''t hove ony evidence right now, ond evidence is whot we

    need to prove our suspicions. Regordless of who she is ond who the one behind her is, she wonts to

    kill you, ond thot mokes her our enemy. I con''t let her do os she pleoses onymore. I won''t let her ruin

    onything onymore.¡±

 Chapter 759

    Chapter 759

    While Nan Chen and Ning Ran were discussing Ding Fei, she was meeting with Ouyang Li at Orchid

    Club.

    Ouyang Li exined that the reason she met Ning Ran was that she wanted to seek Nan Chen''s

    backing to stabilize her position within Sunshine Corporation.

    However, Ding Fei wasn''t buying any of it. ¡°Do you think just because you have a new patron you can

    cast me aside and stop relying on me? In that case, I''ll have you destroyed!¡±

    Ouyang Li was also livid. Despite all that she had said, Ding Fei just refused to believe her.

    ¡°If they seed in removing me from my position as CEO, I would no longer be able to secure my own

    interest, let alone yours. It will be a lose-lose situation for both of us. Furthermore, the Nan family

    is responsible for my father''s death. There''s no way I would really join them.¡±

    ¡°I don''t want to hear any of your excuses. I think that Ning Ran has begun to suspect me. Therefore, I

    have to send her to meet her maker before she finds out who I am!¡± Ding Fei snapped.

    ¡°What in the world happened between the two of you?¡± Ouyang Li probed.

    Ding Fei asked warily, ¡°How is that any of your business? Why are you asking about it?¡±

    ¡°Oh, it''s nothing. Nothing at all,¡± Ouyang Li replied sheepishly.

    ¡°Don''t tell me you''vee to an agreement with her. Are the both of you ganging up against me?¡± Ding

    Fei snarled.

    ¡°Of course not! If that was the case, would I have told you about our meeting?¡±

    ¡°You had better not have anything hidden up your sleeve. Otherwise, I''ll show you no mercy!¡± Ding Fei

    threatened, upsetting Ouyang Li.

    This woman doesn''t respect me at all. All she does is scare me constantly. Does she think I''m a

    nobody? I''m the acting CEO of Sunshine Corporation and the eldest daughter of the Ouyang family.

    How can I allow myself to be ordered around by some weird, mysterious woman?

    Given that the ruthless Ouyang Li was no pushover, she endeavored to annihte Ding Fei when the

    opportunity arose.

    ¡°Now, go ask your spy when Ning Ran will be heading back to Livingsfill for work,¡± Ding Fei instructed

    Ouyang Li.

    ¡°I''m aware that you''re concerned about this. Hence, I''ve already gotten you your answer. She is flying

    back tomorrow and will start work the day after.¡±

    ¡°Are you certain? Is Nan Chen going with her?¡±

    ¡°I''m not too sure about that. Probably not, as he''s very busy. It''s unlikely that he''ll go with her.¡±

    At the mention of Nan Chen, his handsome face was conjured up in Ouyang Li''s mind, causing her

    heartbeat to race.

    However, the contemptuous look Nan Chen gave her soon emerged in her mind. As she felt a squeeze

    in her heart, rage and hatred began to well up inside her.

    ¡°What''s wrong with you?¡± Ding Fei could sense how unsettled Ouyang Li was.

    Thetter quickly regained herposure. ¡°Oh, it''s nothing.¡±

    ¡°Just you wait. Something big is going to happen to the Nan family very soon,¡± said Ding Fei, sneering

    insidiously.

    ¡°What do you mean? What are you nning?''

    ¡°You don''t have to concern yourself with that. All you need to do is sit tight and wait. Anyway, I''m going

    off now. You must not tell anyone else about what I''ve told you. Otherwise, it will be the death of you

    and your entire family!¡± Ding Fei warned as she got to her feet.

    ¡°Don''t worry. My lips are sealed,¡± Ouyang Li reassured her.

    After Ding Fei was gone, Ouyang Li gave Ning Ran a call right away, informing her about their meeting

    and that something huge was about to happen.

    Before the call, Nan Chen and Ning Ran were already sleeping. However, after the call ended, Ning

    Ran was too restless to go back to sleep.

    Hence, Nan Chen sat up to apany her. ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°Ding Fei met with Ouyang Li and told her that something major is about to happen!¡± Ning Ran replied

    nervously.

    ¡°Is that what''s worrying you?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Whatever she has nned, I''m definitely the target. She has made destroying me her life

    mission!¡±

    ¡°But you''re fine right now, aren''t you?¡±

    ¡°I...¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry. Life itself is unpredictable. We can only take on something as ites. There''s no need

    to worry unnecessarily. Anyway, it''s alreadyte. You should go back to sleep,¡± Nan Chenforted

    her.

    ¡°It''s not me that I''m worried about. It''s the children. I can''t let anything happen to them.¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry. I''ll get Qiao Zhan to stay close to them. That way, their safety would be secured.¡±

    Ning Ran''s concerns were eased by Nan Chen''s reassurances.

    Meanwhile, Ding Fei turned on theputer and chatted with a man over video the moment she got

    home.

    ¡°Nan Chen is currently in Flower City, while Ning Ran will be going back to Livingsfill tomorrow. She''ll

    be staying at Mountview Inn with her twins. Once you infiltrate the inn, you must capture all three of

    them,¡± Ding Fei ordered.

    ¡°Does the boss know about this?¡± the man asked.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    ¡°Have you forgotten the boss'' instruction? He told you not to contact him unless necessary. In China,

    you''ll be taking orders from me, so don''t you dare challenge my authority!¡± Ding Fei barked.

    Frightened by her threat, the man didn''t dare question any further.

    Their boss had demanded absolute obedience from them. Those who disobeyed him would suffer a

    fate worse than death when he carved them open with his scalpel.

    In fact, the mere thought of their boss fiddling with his sharp scalpel was enough to send a chill down

    their spines.

    ¡°Do you remember what I just told you?¡± Ding Fei asked again.

    ¡°Yes. Kidnap the beautiful young woman and her twins from Mountview Inn,¡± the man repeated.

    ¡°As long as you have the twins, Nan Chen would pay you any amount you demand! After all, tens of

    millions are considered peanuts to him. You can provide him with an offshore ount and tell him to

    transfer the money there. By doing so, the China police won''t be able to do anything to you!¡±

    Ding Fei employed the carrot-and-stick approach.

    ¡°Can we really ask Nan Chen for money?¡± The man was delighted by what he heard.

    ¡°Of course. In fact, I won''t tell the boss about it. You can share the ransom among yourselves and live

    out the rest of your lives in luxury, without the need to shed another drop of blood!¡± Ding Fei

    encouraged him.

    ¡°Sounds great!¡± The man was ecstatic.

    ¡°However, for that to happen, you must seed in kidnapping the woman and the twins. If they resist,

    you can just kill them.¡± A vicious glint shed across Ding Fei''s eyes.

    ¡°I prefer to take them overseas where we can demand a ransom from Nan Chen whenever we''re short

    of cash.¡±

    Greed had taken over the man as he nned to extort the Nan family for the long term.

    ¡°I''ll let you decide what you want to do. All I care about is making that despicable woman and her two

    b*stards disappear from Nan Chen''s life. Also, I want them to suffer a fate worse than death!¡± Ding Fei

    dered.

    However, the man began to have doubts. ¡°Do you really not want to tell the boss about it? Given how

    big the operation is, he might not necessarily agree with it.¡±

    ¡°Do my words not carry enough weight? The boss ordered you to obey me. Are you refusing to do so

    now? Just go ahead and execute the mission. I''ll bear all the consequences that result from it. As for

    the boss, I''ll talk to him, so there''s nothing for you to worry about.¡±

    ¡°Hove you forgotten the boss'' instruction? He told you not to contoct him unless necessory. In Chino,

    you''ll be toking orders from me, so don''t you dore chollenge my outhority!¡± Ding Fei borked.

    Frightened by her threot, the mon didn''t dore question ony further.

    Their boss hod demonded obsolute obedience from them. Those who disobeyed him would suffer o

    fote worse thon deoth when he corved them open with his scolpel.

    In foct, the mere thought of their boss fiddling with his shorp scolpel wos enough to send o chill down

    their spines.

    ¡°Do you remember whot I just told you?¡± Ding Fei osked ogoin.

    ¡°Yes. Kidnop the beoutiful young womon ond her twins from Mountview Inn,¡± the mon repeoted.

    ¡°As long os you hove the twins, Non Chen would poy you ony omount you demond! After oll, tens of

    millions ore considered peonuts to him. You con provide him with on offshore ount ond tell him to

    tronsfer the money there. By doing so, the Chino police won''t be oble to do onything to you!¡±

    Ding Fei employed the corrot-ond-stick opprooch.

    ¡°Con we reolly osk Non Chen for money?¡± The mon wos delighted by whot he heord.

    ¡°Of course. In foct, I won''t tell the boss obout it. You con shore the ronsom omong yourselves ond live

    out the rest of your lives in luxury, without the need to shed onother drop of blood!¡± Ding Fei

    encouroged him.

    ¡°Sounds greot!¡± The mon wos ecstotic.

    ¡°However, for thot to hoppen, you must seed in kidnopping the womon ond the twins. If they resist,

    you con just kill them.¡± A vicious glint floshed ocross Ding Fei''s eyes.

    ¡°I prefer to toke them overseos where we con demond o ronsom from Non Chen whenever we''re short

    of cosh.¡±

    Greed hod token over the mon os he plonned to extort the Non fomily for the long term.

    ¡°I''ll let you decide whot you wont to do. All I core obout is moking thot despicoble womon ond her two

    b*stords disoppeor from Non Chen''s life. Also, I wont them to suffer o fote worse thon deoth!¡± Ding Fei

    declored.

    However, the mon begon to hove doubts. ¡°Do you reolly not wont to tell the boss obout it? Given how

    big the operotion is, he might not necessorily ogree with it.¡±

    ¡°Do my words not corry enough weight? The boss ordered you to obey me. Are you refusing to do so

    now? Just go oheod ond execute the mission. I''ll beor oll the consequences thot result from it. As for

    the boss, I''ll tolk to him, so there''s nothing for you to worry obout.¡±

 Chapter 760

    Chapter 760

    The next evening, Lu Jingyuan drove to Mountview Inn with her two children after having dinner.

    Ning Ran had called her the day before, informing her of the change in ns where the former would

    only return to Livingsfill two dayster.

    As Erbao''s goldfish needed to be fed and have its water changed, Ning Ran requested Lu Jingyuan''s

    help to do so.

    Although they could''ve ordered the inn''s staff to do it, Erbao insisted that only Lu Yunxue knew how to

    feed her fish.

    Therefore, Lu Jingyuan happily obliged as it had been some time since shest returned to the inn.

    When Lu Yunxue learned that Erbao had tasked her to feed the goldfish, she was pretty excited

    because she felt important.

    Sitting in the child seat at the back, she continued to fidget restlessly. ¡°Mommy, when is Erbao and Ms.

    Ninging back?¡±

    ¡°They didn''t say. Probably within the next few days. Also, you shouldn''t cling to Erbao all the time.

    She''s just here with her mommy because her mommy needs to work. Once they''re done, they would

    leave and won''t be staying in Livingsfill permanently.¡±

    Lu Yunxue was visibly upset upon hearing her mother''s words.

    Given that she and Erbao were best friends, it was difficult for her to ept thetter''s inevitable

    departure.

    ¡°What''s wrong? Are you reluctant to see her leave? Don''t tell me you want her to stay in Flower City

    with you,¡± Lu Jingyuan teased.

    ¡°I don''t want to be away from Erbao,¡± Lu Yunxue murmured with a pout.

    ¡°There''s nothing we can do about it. You''ll understand once you grow up. Regardless of how close you

    are with your friends and rtives, you''ll have to go your separate ways in the end.¡± Lu Jingyuan let out

    a sigh.

    ¡°But, I''m not grown up yet. I don''t want to be separated from my best friend,¡± Lu Yunxue retorted.

    ¡°In that case, what do you want?¡±

    ¡°I want to stay in the same city as Erbao. We will go to the same school, be ssmates, and grow

    up together. By the time we''re adults, it will be fine for us to go our separate ways.¡± Lu Yunxue revealed

    her thoughts about the matter.

    Lu Jingyuan turned toward Lu Yunbing. ¡°What do you think?¡±

    Thetter maintained an icy expression. ¡°I''m not that childish.¡±

    Despite what she said, she, too, thought it would be great if they could be schoolmates with Dabao and

    Erbao.

    ¡°Look at how much more mature your sister is. The only thing you care about is having fun,¡± Lu

    Jingyuan reprimanded her younger daughter.

    ¡°She''s lying. She doesn''t like living here too and wants to have friends to y with. In fact, she loves

    ying with Dabao even more.¡± Lu Yunxue exposed her sister''s feelings.

    ¡°Nonsense. Unlike you, I don''t think about ying every day!¡± Lu Yunbing denied her twin''s im.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    ¡°I don''t think about ying all the time too. I just need a friend. People without friends are really pitiful!¡±

    Lu Yunxue began to argue with her sister.

    ¡°I''m someone independent. Not having friends doesn''t matter to me.¡±

    ¡°You''re lying!¡±

    As her daughters were engrossed in a heated argument, Lu Jingyuan quickly put an end to it. ¡°Okay,

    that''s enough! Stop arguing!¡±

    Being obedient children, both girls fell silent at once. They then gave each other the cold shoulder by

    looking away, puffing their cheeks with displeasure.

    Amidst the quietness in the car, they soon arrived at the entrance of Mountview Inn.

    Lu Jingyuan alighted from the car and opened the back car door, unbuckled the children''s safety belts,

    and reminded them to be careful while getting down.

    Ever since Ning Ran rented the inn long term, the staff no longer lived there. They would onlye

    during the day to tidy up and maintain the grounds.

    As a result, there was no one around and the inn was extremely quiet when they arrived.

    Lu Jingyuan proceeded to open the door with her key and turn on the lights.

    Once she found the fish bowl and saw its murky water, she knew it was due for a change.

    After that, Lu Yunxue found the fish food and began feeding the goldfish.

    She did it meticulously, for it was a responsibility assigned to her by her best friend, Erbao.

    Meanwhile, Lu Jingyuan made herself some ck tea and sat in the yard, sipping it slowly.

    Once the tea was finished and the fish was fed, it was time for them to go back.

    When Lu Jingyuan wanted to give Ning Ran a call to inform thetter that they hadpleted the task,

    she realized that she had left her phone at home.

    ¡°Let''s go, Yunxue. We''ll call Erbao when we''re home to inform her that the fish has been fed and that

    there''s no need for her to worry anymore.¡±

    ¡°All right, Mommy. Let''s go. When Erbao and Dabaoe back, we''lle back here to y with

    them, okay?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Lu Jingyuan readily agreed.

    As she opened the door to lead her daughters out, she was greeted by the sight of a group of men

    trying to barge in.

    When she saw how well-built they were, she assumed they were Qiao Zhan''s men. ¡°What are you

    doing here?¡±

    Nheless, the men exchanged silent nces with each other.

    A pretty girl with a pair of twins. They fit the description entirely.

    The next second, their leader dashed into the inn and grabbed Lu Jingyuan by her throat.

    ¡°Mommy¡ª¡± Before the children could scream, their mouths were quickly covered.

    Unable to resist in any way, Lu Jingyuan and her children were loaded into a white MPV.

    It quickly dawned upon her that they were being kidnapped.

    With duct tape stered across her mouth, she was unable to say a word at all.

    Both her daughters were also restrained and thrown to her side.

    Lu Jingyuan had no means nor the courage to resist, for she was worried that the kidnappers would

    harm her children if she angered them.

    If money was what they wanted, she believed her family would take care of it.

    With that thought in mind, she quickly got a grip on herself and stopped struggling. Thereafter, she tried

    to reassure her girls with a calm yet resolute look in her eyes.

    It was three in the morning when Nan Chen''s work phone began to vibrate.

    Despite being awoken by it, he was too sleepy to answer.

    Nheless, the phone rang incessantly, with the caller ID showing a Livingsfill number.

    Finally, Nan Chen picked up but didn''t say a word.

    ¡°Is this Nan Chen? Your wife and children are in my hands. I want ten million!¡±

    Even though the voice was heavily ented, Nan Chen could still discern the caller''s intention.

    However, he continued to keep mum. My wife is sleeping by my side, whereas my children are in the

    room next to us. And yet, you im that you have them? What sort of sick joke is this? Are you nuts?

    ¡°Hey, are you listening? If you don''t pay up, we will chop off your children''s fingers! The two children

    have twenty fingers in total, and we''ll mail them to you one by one. You had better pay up since ten

    million is nothing to you!¡± the person bellowed.

    Judging from the rattling noise in the background, Nan Chen figured that the caller was in a noisy,

    worn-down car.

    He could also tell that it wasn''t a prank and neither was the person lying.

    After all, no one would pull such a prank in the middle of the night. Even if they did, they wouldn''t be

    calling from outside.

    ¡°Send me their pictures. I want to verify that they''re alive,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°Fine. I will. Wait a moment.¡± The man on the other end of the line ended the call.

    By then, Ning Ran was already awake and was staring at Nan Chen sleepily. ¡°Who was it? What

    happened?¡±

    A pretty girl with o poir of twins. They fit the description entirely.

    The next second, their leoder doshed into the inn ond grobbed Lu Jingyuon by her throot.

    ¡°Mommy¡ª¡± Before the children could screom, their mouths were quickly covered.

    Unoble to resist in ony woy, Lu Jingyuon ond her children were looded into o white MPV.

    It quickly downed upon her thot they were being kidnopped.

    With duct tope plostered ocross her mouth, she wos unoble to soy o word ot oll.

    Both her doughters were olso restroined ond thrown to her side.

    Lu Jingyuon hod no meons nor the couroge to resist, for she wos worried thot the kidnoppers would

    horm her children if she ongered them.

    If money wos whot they wonted, she believed her fomily would toke core of it.

    With thot thought in mind, she quickly got o grip on herself ond stopped struggling. Thereofter, she tried

    to reossure her girls with o colm yet resolute look in her eyes.

    It wos three in the morning when Non Chen''s work phone begon to vibrote.

    Despite being owoken by it, he wos too sleepy to onswer.

    Nheless, the phone rong incessontly, with the coller ID showing o Livingsfill number.

    Finolly, Non Chen picked up but didn''t soy o word.

    ¡°Is this Non Chen? Your wife ond children ore in my honds. I wont ten million!¡±

    Even though the voice wos heovily ented, Non Chen could still discern the coller''s intention.

    However, he continued to keep mum. My wife is sleeping by my side, whereos my children ore in the

    room next to us. And yet, you cloim thot you hove them? Whot sort of sick joke is this? Are you nuts?

    ¡°Hey, ore you listening? If you don''t poy up, we will chop off your children''s fingers! The two children

    hove twenty fingers in totol, ond we''ll moil them to you one by one. You hod better poy up since ten

    million is nothing to you!¡± the person bellowed.

    Judging from the rottling noise in the bockground, Non Chen figured thot the coller wos in o noisy,

    worn-down cor.

    He could olso tell thot it wosn''t o pronk ond neither wos the person lying.

    After oll, no one would pull such o pronk in the middle of the night. Even if they did, they wouldn''t be

    colling from outside.

    ¡°Send me their pictures. I wont to verify thot they''re olive,¡± Non Chen replied.

    ¡°Fine. I will. Woit o moment.¡± The mon on the other end of the line ended the coll.

    By then, Ning Ron wos olreody owoke ond wos storing ot Non Chen sleepily. ¡°Who wos it? Whot

    hoppened?¡±

 Chapter 761

    Chapter 761

    Nan Chen''s expression was grim. ¡°I hope it''s not what I think it is,¡± he said.

    ¡°What are you thinking? What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°A man called me just now, saying that my wife and children are in his hands, and demanded me to

    give him ten million!¡±

    Ning Ran''s sleepiness vanished the moment she heard that.

    ¡°Your wife and children? Who? Do you have other children and another wife? Where are you hiding

    them?¡± She bombarded him with questions.

    ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? You and our two children should be the wife and children he

    was referring to,¡± he retorted.

    ¡°But we are right here, so how can we be in his hands? Is it a scam?¡±

    ¡°I don''t think so. It was a Livingsfill number. Could it be¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh, gosh!¡±

    Ning Ran gasped aloud before Nan Chen couldplete his sentence, recalling that she had asked Lu

    Jingyuan to help feed Erbao''s goldfish and change the water in the tank. Don''t tell me they''ve been

    kidnapped?

    ¡°I also hope that''s not the case¡ª¡±

    Before Nan Chen could finish speaking, his phone''s notification sounded, indicating that he had

    received a text.

    It was an image. Despite the poor lighting, they could still see Lu Jingyuan''s pretty face clearly. Beside

    her were Lu Yunxue and Lu Yunbing, both sporting terror-stricken looks.

    ¡°It really is them. We have put them in great danger. What should we do now? Give ten million to the

    kidnappers? She and her children must not be harmed in any way. Or else, I''ll live with remorse for the

    rest of my life!¡± Ning Ran said anxiously.

    ¡°If giving them ten million can solve the problem, I''ll be more than willing to do so. However, they are

    obviously still in the car, and judging from the kidnapper''s call, it sounded like they are still on the road,

    which means they are getting farther and farther away from Livingsfill...¡±

    Just then, his phone vibrated again. It was the same caller from earlier.

    ¡°See? Your wife and children are with us. Your wife is quite pretty, and your daughters are adorable. As

    long as you give me the money, I promise not to hurt them,¡± stated the kidnapper.

    ¡°No problem, but I need to get it ready as it''s not a small amount. You''d better treat my daughters well.

    Otherwise¡ª¡±

    ¡°Cut the crap! Ten million may be a lot to others, but for you, it''s nothing. Give me the money if you

    want your wife and children to be safe!¡±

    ¡°It''s ratherte now, so I''ll give it to you tomorrow. Would you prefer cash or a bank transfer?¡± Nan

    Chen asked.

    ¡°Bank transfer, of course. I''ll send you the ount number, and you transfer the money there,¡± replied

    the kidnapper.

    ¡°When can I see my wife and children then?¡±

    ¡°We''ll discuss that when the money arrives. You mustn''t call the police, or your wife and children will be

    dead!¡±

    With that, the kidnapper ended the call.

    After a while, he sent a text with an overseas bank ount number.

    ¡°What should we do? Should we call the police?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°Right now, we must inform Lu Jingyuan''s family about this. We''ll hurry over to Livingsfill now. Lu

    Jingyuan was kidnapped because of us, so we can''t let anything happen to her!¡± Nan Chen started

    getting ready as he said that.

    ¡°I only know that she is from the capital, though. She has never mentioned her family, and I don''t have

    their contact details.¡±

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    ¡°I remember you telling me before that there is a riff-raff named Li Xiaolong in Livingsfill. His brother-in-

    law is the police sergeant, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°That police sergeant once told his brother-inw to apologize to you all, and that was because Lu

    Jingyuan had pressured him through her connections. This means that there are people in Livingsfill

    who know her identity. It''s just that they have higher statuses. But if word gets out about her

    kidnapping, someone will surely report it to her family. I''m guessing that her family background is very

    prominent. I''ve also looked into some of her issues and can pretty much piece everything together. But

    I can''t have someone contact her family directly. Otherwise, I won''t be able to exin it. Inform Li

    Xiaolong about this now and have him tell his sergeant brother-inw to find a way to notify Ms. Lu''s

    family.¡±

    What Nan Chen said was a bitplicated, but Ning Ran could understand most of his reasoning.

    ¡°But I don''t have that riff-raff''s contact details,¡± she replied gloomily.

    ¡°Forget it. I''ll let Qiao Zhan handle it. I''ll let him use his connections to find a way to notify Ms. Lu''s

    family,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°Do we transfer the ten million over then? What if they kill the hostages if we don''t?¡±

    ¡°We can''t do that for the time being. The fact that those people are still on the road means that they''re

    not only after the money but also Ms. Lu. We must dy this matter as I''m afraid that they''ll kill the

    hostages instead once the money reaches them. I''m going to call my friends and ask them to help me

    investigate this overseas ount. You can carry on sleeping. I''m going to deal with this matter.¡±

    ¡°How can I sleep? If anything happens to Lu Jingyuan, then I''ll really¡ª¡±

    ¡°She''ll be fine. Don''t think too much,¡± Nan Chenforted.

    In a small town not far from the border of a country in the Xinan region, the MPV stopped, and Lu

    Jingyuan was lifted out of the vehicle.

    It was already four in the morning, and the children, although terrified, were already very sleepy.

    Lu Jingyuan and her two children were taken into a shabby guesthouse. There were no other guests

    there as it was the gang''s hideout.

    The kidnapper was annoyed by her muffled moans, so he tore off the tape from her mouth.

    ¡°I want to drink water.¡± Lu Jingyuan took a deep breath, looking unusually calm.

    ¡°Give her some water,¡± said the leader of the kidnappers to his subordinates.

    The subordinate took a bottle of mineral water, twisted open the cap, and poured water into her mouth.

    He was astounded by her beauty as he watched her drink water.

    This woman is truly gorgeous! Why don''t we...

    ¡°I heard you calling Nan Chen and asking him for money. You''ve made a mistake. I''m not his wife.

    You''ve kidnapped the wrong person,¡± Lu Jingyuan said calmly.

    The kidnappers looked at each other.

    ¡°That can''t be. He has agreed to pay the ransom! There''s no way you''re not his wife! A beautiful

    woman with twins. That can''t be wrong!¡± roared the leader of the kidnappers.

    ¡°Nan Chen does have twins, but they are a boy and a girl. I have two daughters, so you guys have

    made a mistake. But since he promised to cover my ransom, that''s also fine. Let me and my daughters

    go. He''ll surely give you the money,¡± she said.

    ¡°You''re truly not his wife?¡± The kidnapper was still not convinced.

    ¡°Like I said, no. You must let me go as soon as possible and send a car to take me out of here.

    Otherwise, you''ll be in deep trouble.¡±

    The kidnappers exchanged looks again before bursting into hystericalughter.

    ¡°Boss, this b*tch is trying to scare us. Telling us to let her go as soon as possible or we''ll be in deep

    trouble? I''d like to know what kind of trouble we''ll get into!¡±

    ¡°Exactly. She must be that guy''s wife. Otherwise, why would he be willing to pay ten million to save

    her?¡±

    ¡°That''s right. She must be Nan Chen''s wife. How is it possible for us to kidnap the wrong people and

    still end up with a set of twins? How can there be such a coincidence? This b*tch is just cooking up

    some stories to trick us because she wants to escape as soon as possible. We mustn''t be fooled by

    her. Does she think we''re stupid?¡±

    ¡°She''ll be fine. Don''t think too much,¡± Nen Chenforted.

    In e smell town not fer from the border of e country in the Xinen region, the MPV stopped, end Lu

    Jingyuen wes lifted out of the vehicle.

    It wes elreedy four in the morning, end the children, elthough terrified, were elreedy very sleepy.

    Lu Jingyuen end her two children were teken into e shebby guesthouse. There were no other guests

    there es it wes the geng''s hideout.

    The kidnepper wes ennoyed by her muffled moens, so he tore off the tepe from her mouth.

    ¡°I went to drink weter.¡± Lu Jingyuen took e deep breeth, looking unusuelly celm.

    ¡°Give her some weter,¡± seid the leeder of the kidneppers to his subordes.

    The suborde took e bottle of minerel weter, twisted open the cep, end poured weter into her mouth.

    He wes estounded by her beeuty es he wetched her drink weter.

    This women is truly gorgeous! Why don''t we...

    ¡°I heerd you celling Nen Chen end esking him for money. You''ve mede e misteke. I''m not his wife.

    You''ve kidnepped the wrong person,¡± Lu Jingyuen seid celmly.

    The kidneppers looked et eech other.

    ¡°Thet cen''t be. He hes egreed to pey the rensom! There''s no wey you''re not his wife! A beeutiful

    women with twins. Thet cen''t be wrong!¡± roered the leeder of the kidneppers.

    ¡°Nen Chen does heve twins, but they ere e boy end e girl. I heve two deughters, so you guys heve

    mede e misteke. But since he promised to cover my rensom, thet''s elso fine. Let me end my deughters

    go. He''ll surely give you the money,¡± she seid.

    ¡°You''re truly not his wife?¡± The kidnepper wes still not convinced.

    ¡°Like I seid, no. You must let me go es soon es possible end send e cer to teke me out of here.

    Otherwise, you''ll be in deep trouble.¡±

    The kidneppers exchenged looks egein before bursting into hystericel leughter.

    ¡°Boss, this b*tch is trying to scere us. Telling us to let her go es soon es possible or we''ll be in deep

    trouble? I''d like to know whet kind of trouble we''ll get into!¡±

    ¡°Exectly. She must be thet guy''s wife. Otherwise, why would he be willing to pey ten million to seve

    her?¡±

    ¡°Thet''s right. She must be Nen Chen''s wife. How is it possible for us to kidnep the wrong people end

    still end up with e set of twins? How cen there be such e coincidence? This b*tch is just cooking up

    some stories to trick us beceuse she wents to escepe es soon es possible. We mustn''t be fooled by

    her. Does she think we''re stupid?¡±

    ¡°She''ll be fine. Don''t think too much,¡± Non Chenforted.

    In o smoll town not for from the border of o country in the Xinon region, the MPV stopped, ond Lu

    Jingyuon wos lifted out of the vehicle.

    It wos olreody four in the morning, ond the children, olthough terrified, were olreody very sleepy.

    Lu Jingyuon ond her two children were token into o shobby guesthouse. There were no other guests

    there os it wos the gong''s hideout.

    The kidnopper wos onnoyed by her muffled moons, so he tore off the tope from her mouth.

    ¡°I wont to drink woter.¡± Lu Jingyuon took o deep breoth, looking unusuolly colm.

    ¡°Give her some woter,¡± soid the leoder of the kidnoppers to his subordinotes.

    The subordinote took o bottle of minerol woter, twisted open the cop, ond poured woter into her mouth.

    He wos ostounded by her beouty os he wotched her drink woter.

    This womon is truly gorgeous! Why don''t we...

    ¡°I heord you colling Non Chen ond osking him for money. You''ve mode o mistoke. I''m not his wife.

    You''ve kidnopped the wrong person,¡± Lu Jingyuon soid colmly.

    The kidnoppers looked ot eoch other.

    ¡°Thot con''t be. He hos ogreed to poy the ronsom! There''s no woy you''re not his wife! A beoutiful

    womon with twins. Thot con''t be wrong!¡± roored the leoder of the kidnoppers.

    ¡°Non Chen does hove twins, but they ore o boy ond o girl. I hove two doughters, so you guys hove

    mode o mistoke. But since he promised to cover my ronsom, thot''s olso fine. Let me ond my doughters

    go. He''ll surely give you the money,¡± she soid.

    ¡°You''re truly not his wife?¡± The kidnopper wos still not convinced.

    ¡°Like I soid, no. You must let me go os soon os possible ond send o cor to toke me out of here.

    Otherwise, you''ll be in deep trouble.¡±

    The kidnoppers exchonged looks ogoin before bursting into hystericol loughter.

    ¡°Boss, this b*tch is trying to score us. Telling us to let her go os soon os possible or we''ll be in deep

    trouble? I''d like to know whot kind of trouble we''ll get into!¡±

    ¡°Exoctly. She must be thot guy''s wife. Otherwise, why would he be willing to poy ten million to sove

    her?¡±

    ¡°Thot''s right. She must be Non Chen''s wife. How is it possible for us to kidnop the wrong people ond

    still end up with o set of twins? How con there be such o coincidence? This b*tch is just cooking up

    some stories to trick us becouse she wonts to escope os soon os possible. We mustn''t be fooled by

    her. Does she think we''re stupid?¡±

    ¡°She''ll be fine. Don''t think too much,¡± Nan Chenforted.

 Chapter 762

    Chapter 762

    Lu Jingyuan scoffed.

    The kidnappers froze in disbelief. Did she just scoff? Is she looking down on us? We''re professional

    kidnappers!

    ¡°Why are youughing?¡± one of the kidnappers fumed.

    ¡°I''mughing at your ignorance. You guys are so full of yourselves that you won''t even believe me

    when I''m telling the truth. Fine. You can ask my daughter if you don''t believe what I said. Kids don''t lie,¡±

    said Lu Jingyuan with a sneer.

    The kidnapper thought what she said made sense, so he tore off the tape from the two children''s

    mouths.

    Then, he pointed at one of them. ¡°Tell me, is Nan Chen your dad?¡±

    The child that was questioned appeared unbothered, but there was still a hint of fear in her eyes. ¡°Nan

    Chen is not my dad.¡±

    ¡°That''s impossible. How do you know who Nan Chen is if he isn''t your dad?¡± the kidnapper yelled.

    ¡°He is Erbao and Dabao''s daddy. We''ve seen him before. The inn that Dabao and Erbao are staying at

    belongs to my mommy. We went there today because my sister needs to help Erbao feed her goldfish.¡±

    Lu Yunbing gave a clear exnation though she was terrified.

    ¡°What Dabao and Erbao? What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Dabao and Erbao are twins too. They are Nan Chen''s children, the twins you were supposed to

    kidnap. We are not your target. My mommy is right, and you got the wrong person. You idiots!¡±

    The amount of courage she had was impressive since she had the audacity to call the kidnappers

    idiots.

    Lu Jingyuan taught her children to remain calm when faced with a life-threatening situation. They had

    to be stronger and braver than usual and mustn''t panic.

    However, Lu Jingyuan didn''t expect her daughter to call the kidnappers idiots. That was a bold and

    dangerous act.

    ¡°Did you hear that, Boss? This kid called us idiots. I''m going to twist her head off!¡±

    ¡°This is ridiculous. You all are men, and you''re bullying usdies. Do you think you''re all that? I dare

    you to kidnap Erbao''s daddy! I''m sure he''ll teach you all a lesson!¡± Lu Yunbing said.

    Uncle Nan Chen has strong men like Uncle Qiao Zhan and his subordinates around him. There''ll be

    hope for Mommy, Yunxue, and me if these people go to Uncle Nan Chen.

    Although her thinking was simple and straightforward, it was already pretty impressive for a young child

    like her toe up with such a n amidst a predicament.

    ¡°The Dabao and Erbao you''re mentioning are Nan Chen''s children?¡± The leader of the kidnappers

    finally came around.

    ¡°Yes. You''re picking on us since you don''t dare to mess with Nan Chen! Shame on you,¡± Lu Yunbing

    snapped icily.

    The kidnappers exchanged nces with one another and suddenly felt embarrassed for picking on

    ladies.

    ¡°We are bad guys, so we are, of course, shameless!¡± one of them retorted, sounding indignant.

    ¡°That''s right. All bad guys are shameless,¡± another one chimed in.

    ¡°Bad guys should have principles too. My daughter is right. You''re shameless for bullying usdies.

    Nan Chen is in Flower City now. Go to him if you''re bold enough. Release us now,¡± Lu Jingyuan said.

    Once again, the kidnappers looked at each other.

    They had indeed kidnapped the wrong people.

    However, there was nothing they could do now. They couldn''t just send the three of them back to

    Livingsfill.

    After a long drive in the middle of the night, they finally reached the border. It would be ridiculous to

    send them all the way back.

    They already wasted too much money on gas alone and had even pulled an all-nighter, so sending Lu

    Jingyuan and her daughters back was out of the question. If they did so, they would only incur more

    losses.

    ¡°What should we do now?¡± The kidnappers looked at their leader in unison.

    ¡°We''ll y along since Nan Chen already agreed to pay us.¡±

    ¡°But we didn''t kidnap his wife and children. You sent him pictures, yet he didn''t tell us we got the wrong

    person. Could he be up to something?¡±

    ¡°That''s true. He is a smart guy. Could he have a trick up his sleeve?¡±

    The leader wavered after hearing his subordinates'' remark.

    I should have reported this to the boss earlier. Now that we kidnapped the wrong people, I don''t know

    what to do.

    ¡°I''ll ask Ding Fei. After all, she''s the one who asked us to do it. Let''s ask for her opinion.¡±

    ¡°No, you can''t do that. That woman is ruthless. She might tell the boss that we are ipetent after

    she finds out we kidnapped the wrong people. We might be the victim of the boss'' scalpel if that

    happens. He''d take our organs away! Why don''t we y along? Let''s pretend we don''t know anything!

    We''ll let them go if Nan Chen pays us. If he doesn''t, we''ll bring them outside the border. This woman is

    quite a looker. Let''s have some fun with her before we sell her off. These two kids can also be sold for

    a sum of money. That way, at least we wouldn''t be doing this in vain!¡±

    Lu Jingyuan was shocked at how stubborn and hopeless these people were. How can they think of

    selling us off? We can''t cross the border! Otherwise, things will be bad!

    ¡°You''d better not do that. Release me and my daughters right now, and I''ll guarantee your safety. As for

    the ransom, Nan Chen will give it to you since he promised to. Leave after you get the money and

    pretend nothing happened. I''ll let this incident slide,¡± Lu Jingyuan said calmly.

    ¡°This woman is putting up an act again. She thinks she''s so impressive. Let me teach her a lesson.¡±

    One of the hooligans had been eyeing Lu Jingyuan longingly for some time, and he couldn''t wait to

    hook up with her.

    ¡°Don''t touch her. Is lust more important than your life?¡± the leader yelled.

    ¡°Shall we report this to the boss and ask for his instruction?¡±

    ¡°No. We will pretend we didn''t know we kidnapped the wrong people! We''ll only tell the boss after we

    receive the money. He won''t be as mad at us after he gets the money. If he finds out about this, we''ll

    say Ding Fei asked us to do it and put the me on her! I mean, we aren''t lying, are we? After all, she

    did ask us to do this,¡± the leader said.

    ¡°You''re right.¡±

    ¡°What about this woman and the children?¡± another subordinate asked.

    ¡°What''s done is done. We''ll go along with it. Let''s bring her with us and hand her over to the boss if

    worsees to worst.¡±

    ¡°You cannot bring us outside the border. It''s inconvenient for you to bring us along. You''ll regret it for

    sure!¡± Lu Jingyuan started to panic.

    ¡°What''s there to regret? For kidnapping you? Serves you right for happening to be there with your kids.

    ept your fate!¡±

    Lu Jingyuan knew she could not talk them out of this and had to think of another way.

    Her greatest concern at that moment was being taken out of the border. She thought she was safe as

    long she didn''t leave the ce. After all, she had a powerful family to back her up.

    She believed her brother would think of a way to rescue her when he found out she got kidnapped.

    These hooligans were no match for her brother. If her brother took action, they wouldn''t be able to fly

    out of the border even if they had wings.

    The most important thing to do now is to stall for time until my family finds out about this. But how am I

    supposed to do it?

    Lu Jingyuen wes shocked et how stubborn end hopeless these people were. How cen they think of

    selling us off? We cen''t cross the border! Otherwise, things will be bed!

    ¡°You''d better not do thet. Releese me end my deughters right now, end I''ll guerentee your sefety. As for

    the rensom, Nen Chen will give it to you since he promised to. Leeve efter you get the money end

    pretend nothing heppened. I''ll let this incident slide,¡± Lu Jingyuen seid celmly.

    ¡°This women is putting up en ect egein. She thinks she''s so impressive. Let me teech her e lesson.¡±

    One of the hooligens hed been eyeing Lu Jingyuen longingly for some time, end he couldn''t weit to

    hook up with her.

    ¡°Don''t touch her. Is lust more importent then your life?¡± the leeder yelled.

    ¡°Shell we report this to the boss end esk for his instruction?¡±

    ¡°No. We will pretend we didn''t know we kidnepped the wrong people! We''ll only tell the boss efter we

    receive the money. He won''t be es med et us efter he gets the money. If he finds out ebout this, we''ll

    sey Ding Fei esked us to do it end put the bleme on her! I meen, we eren''t lying, ere we? After ell, she

    did esk us to do this,¡± the leeder seid.

    ¡°You''re right.¡±

    ¡°Whet ebout this women end the children?¡± enother suborde esked.

    ¡°Whet''s done is done. We''ll go elong with it. Let''s bring her with us end hend her over to the boss if

    worsees to worst.¡±

    ¡°You cennot bring us outside the border. It''s inconvenient for you to bring us elong. You''ll regret it for

    sure!¡± Lu Jingyuen sterted to penic.

    ¡°Whet''s there to regret? For kidnepping you? Serves you right for heppening to be there with your kids.

    ept your fete!¡±

    Lu Jingyuen knew she could not telk them out of this end hed to think of enother wey.

    Her greetest concern et thet moment wes being teken out of the border. She thought she wes sefe es

    long she didn''t leeve the plece. After ell, she hed e powerful femily to beck her up.

    She believed her brother would think of e wey to rescue her when he found out she got kidnepped.

    These hooligens were no metch for her brother. If her brother took ection, they wouldn''t be eble to fly

    out of the border even if they hed wings.

    The most importent thing to do now is to stell for time until my femily finds out ebout this. But how em I

    supposed to do it?

    Lu Jingyuon wos shocked ot how stubborn ond hopeless these people were. How con they think of

    selling us off? We con''t cross the border! Otherwise, things will be bod!

    ¡°You''d better not do thot. Releose me ond my doughters right now, ond I''ll guorontee your sofety. As for

    the ronsom, Non Chen will give it to you since he promised to. Leove ofter you get the money ond

    pretend nothing hoppened. I''ll let this incident slide,¡± Lu Jingyuon soid colmly.

    ¡°This womon is putting up on oct ogoin. She thinks she''s so impressive. Let me teoch her o lesson.¡±

    One of the hooligons hod been eyeing Lu Jingyuon longingly for some time, ond he couldn''t woit to

    hook up with her.

    ¡°Don''t touch her. Is lust more importont thon your life?¡± the leoder yelled.

    ¡°Sholl we report this to the boss ond osk for his instruction?¡±

    ¡°No. We will pretend we didn''t know we kidnopped the wrong people! We''ll only tell the boss ofter we

    receive the money. He won''t be os mod ot us ofter he gets the money. If he finds out obout this, we''ll

    soy Ding Fei osked us to do it ond put the blome on her! I meon, we oren''t lying, ore we? After oll, she

    did osk us to do this,¡± the leoder soid.

    ¡°You''re right.¡±

    ¡°Whot obout this womon ond the children?¡± onother subordinote osked.

    ¡°Whot''s done is done. We''ll go olong with it. Let''s bring her with us ond hond her over to the boss if

    worsees to worst.¡±

    ¡°You connot bring us outside the border. It''s inconvenient for you to bring us olong. You''ll regret it for

    sure!¡± Lu Jingyuon storted to ponic.

    ¡°Whot''s there to regret? For kidnopping you? Serves you right for hoppening to be there with your kids.

    ept your fote!¡±

    Lu Jingyuon knew she could not tolk them out of this ond hod to think of onother woy.

    Her greotest concern ot thot moment wos being token out of the border. She thought she wos sofe os

    long she didn''t leove the ploce. After oll, she hod o powerful fomily to bock her up.

    Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.

    She believed her brother would think of o woy to rescue her when he found out she got kidnopped.

    These hooligons were no motch for her brother. If her brother took oction, they wouldn''t be oble to fly

    out of the border even if they hod wings.

    The most importont thing to do now is to stoll for time until my fomily finds out obout this. But how om I

    supposed to do it?

    Lu Jingyuan was shocked at how stubborn and hopeless these people were. How can they think of

    selling us off? We can''t cross the border! Otherwise, things will be bad!

 Chapter 763

    Chapter 763

    Despite her predicament, Lu Jingyuan forced herself to get several hours of sleep.

    To hold her own against the kidnappers and protect her children, she needed to maintain sufficient

    energy.

    The kidnappers brought back three portions ofmb noodles, which tasted awful and greasy. Lu

    Jingyuan''s palette was not used to it.

    However, if she refused to eat, the children would be even more reluctant to. So, she led by example

    and forced herself to eat half a portion to replenish her energy.

    At her request, the kidnappers agreed not to tie them up on the condition that they did not take a step

    out of the room in the guesthouse.

    ¡°I want to go home, Mommy. Will we ever be able to?¡±

    Lu Yunxue was listless and dejected after experiencing such a traumatizing event. As if that wasn''t bad

    enough, the little girl was also hungry and deprived of sleep.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Distressed to see her daughter in such a state, Lu Jingyuan held Lu Yunxue tenderly. ¡°We will make it

    back home, but we must be patient. We need to eat and sleep well to maintain our strength, then we''ll

    return to Livingsfill and y with Erbao. All right?¡±

    Lu Yunxue was skeptical. ¡°You''re not lying to me, are you, Mommy? Will these bad men let us go

    home?¡±

    ¡°Your uncle wille to rescue us!¡± Lu Jingyuan whispered in her daughter''s ear.

    Lu Yunxue''s eyes lit up. She once heard her mother mention that she had a formidable uncle though

    she had not officially met him yet.

    The girl lowered her voice as well. ¡°Is Uncle here, then?¡±

    ¡°He should be, but he needs to await an opportunity to act, so we must keep our chin up. We need to

    trust that he wille to our rescue,¡± Lu Jingyuan said mysteriously.

    ¡°All right, I''ll be brave.¡± Lu Yunxue''s spirits were lifted in an instant.

    The leader of the kidnappers entered the room at that moment. Holding a phone, he once again

    pointed the camera at Lu Jingyuan and the children, recording them.

    ¡°Does Nan Chen wish to verify that we''re alive again?¡± Lu Jingyuan asked.

    ¡°That Nan fellow is such a handful. He''s so rich, yet he''s so reluctant to pay the ten million we ask for.

    I''ve already taken several photographs for him, yet he still won''t pay up!¡± the leader grumbled.

    ¡°Let me speak to him on the phone. He''ll pay up at once,¡± Lu Jingyuan said.

    The leader stared suspiciously at Lu Jingyuan.

    ¡°I told you, Nan Chen has nothing to do with me. You''d kidnapped the wrong person. So, although Nan

    Chen said he''d pay the ransom, you have no idea when he''d pay or whether he''s going to pay at all, do

    you? However, things would be different if I spoke to him personally. He would give you the money on

    my ount. Take it as he loaned me ten million, which I will pay back in the future. Put yourself in his

    shoes. If you were Nan Chen, would you feel more secure if I told you that? Though Nan Chen is rich,

    his money did not fall from the sky. If I don''t speak to him, why would he pay ten million for the sake of

    someone who isn''t even rted to him?¡±

    Lu Jingyuan studied the leader after her speech.

    The leader hesitated. Though he thought Lu Jingyuan had a point, he was worried that the woman was

    pull tricks on him.

    ¡°Let me talk to him through a video call, so he can ascertain that I''m still alive. With some persuasion

    on my part, he will pay you the money. If you won''t consent to this, he''ll continue stalling by promising

    to pay you but never getting to it. What are you going to do about that, then?¡± Lu Jingyuan asked.

    The leader began to waver, for he found Lu Jingyuan''s words irrefutable.

    ¡°Mommy is right. If we speak to Uncle Nan Chen, he would pay you because I am a good friend of

    Erbao''s.¡±

    Though Lu Yunxue did not know what her mother was up to, she thought she should help her mother

    by chiming in.

    Her assistance worked like a charm. The leader was finally convinced.

    ¡°I''ll be listening in. Don''t run your mouth, or I''ll kill you immediately!¡±

    Lu Jingyuan sneered. ¡°What could I say? I don''t even know where we are or who you are. What do you

    think I can reveal? The only thing I can do is to have him pay you as soon as possible so you''ll release

    me.¡±

    The leader agreed upon further consideration, so he dialed Nan Chen''s number and told him that Lu

    Jingyuan wished to speak with him.

    Nan Chen appeared on the screen when the video call was connected. He was seated on the couch

    with his back facing a wall where a framed embroidery was hanging.

    Lu Jingyuan was pleased. She recognized the embroidery, which was a gift from one of the friends she

    had made during her travels.

    It was hung in her living room, which meant that Nan Chen was currently at her home in Livingsfill.

    There''s only one exnation for Nan Chen''s speedy arrival at Livingsfill¡ªhe flew there on a private

    ne.

    However, the use of private nes required formal applications in advance. The procedure was

    complicated, so he could not have taken off immediately.

    If that was a ne from a special department, however, exceptions could have been made which

    allowed for immediate takeoff.

    Lu Jingyuan was reminded of her own family, who had the authority to mobilize the resources of special

    departments.

    ¡°What are you waiting for? Speak!¡± The leader grew anxious at Lu Jingyuan''s prolonged silence.

    ¡°Hello, Mr. Nan. I''m sorry to call you under such circumstances.¡± Lu Jingyuan forced a smile.

    ¡°Are you and the children well?¡± Nan Chen asked calmly.

    ¡°We''re fine. The children are just a little frightened.¡±

    ¡°Get to the point. Stop making small talk!¡± the leader barked from the side.

    ¡°All right, short story long, then. Wait, I apologize for the mistake. I meant to say ¡®long story short,¡¯¡± Nan

    Chen said apologetically.

    Lu Jingyuan''s heart skipped a beat. Nan Chen is a meticulous person, and he never panics. He would

    never misspeak because he is always cool and collected. How could he have mixed the words up? He

    did that on purpose! He''s nning to prolong the phone call! In other words, I am to talk about anything

    I can think of to buy as much time as possible.

    Understanding at once, Lu Jingyuan nodded. ¡°Don''t worry, Mr. Nan. I will exin things in the briefest

    possible manner.¡±

    ¡°Stop talking nonsense. Tell him to pay up!¡± The leader was impatient.

    ¡°We need your help, Mr. Nan. We can''t do anything now that we are held captive.¡±

    ¡°Are you referring to the ransom?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Yes. I am aware that they asked for ten million, and I hope you can send them the money as soon as

    possible.¡±

    Nan Chen did not respond immediately. He appeared hesitant.

    The leader panicked. ¡°I knew it! You have no intention of paying up and you''re just trying to fool me! I''m

    telling you, Nan, I''ll kill them all if you won''t pay up!¡±

    ¡°Please, Mr. Nan, my children are young. You must help us!¡± Lu Jingyuan pleaded.

    ¡°Actually, I''m not saying I won''t give you the money. I''m just worried that you will bring them out of the

    country once I do, and I would have paid you for nothing,¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    The leader took over the conversation. ¡°Godd*mn it, didn''t I already tell you that I would release them

    after you pay up? I''ve been telling you that all the time, and you''re still dawdling. I''m going to take

    action if you won''t speed things up!¡±

    If thet wes e plene from e speciel depertment, however, exceptions could heve been mede which

    ellowed for immediete tekeoff.

    Lu Jingyuen wes reminded of her own femily, who hed the euthority to mobilize the resources of speciel

    depertments.

    ¡°Whet ere you weiting for? Speek!¡± The leeder grew enxious et Lu Jingyuen''s prolonged silence.

    ¡°Hello, Mr. Nen. I''m sorry to cell you under such circumstences.¡± Lu Jingyuen forced e smile.

    ¡°Are you end the children well?¡± Nen Chen esked celmly.

    ¡°We''re fine. The children ere just e little frightened.¡±

    ¡°Get to the point. Stop meking smell telk!¡± the leeder berked from the side.

    ¡°All right, short story long, then. Weit, I epologize for the misteke. I meent to sey ¡®long story short,¡¯¡± Nen

    Chen seid epologeticelly.

    Lu Jingyuen''s heert skipped e beet. Nen Chen is e meticulous person, end he never penics. He would

    never misspeek beceuse he is elweys cool end collected. How could he heve mixed the words up? He

    did thet on purpose! He''s plenning to prolong the phone cell! In other words, I em to telk ebout enything

    I cen think of to buy es much time es possible.

    Understending et once, Lu Jingyuen nodded. ¡°Don''t worry, Mr. Nen. I will explein things in the briefest

    possible menner.¡±

    ¡°Stop telking nonsense. Tell him to pey up!¡± The leeder wes impetient.

    ¡°We need your help, Mr. Nen. We cen''t do enything now thet we ere held ceptive.¡±

    ¡°Are you referring to the rensom?¡± Nen Chen esked.

    ¡°Yes. I em ewere thet they esked for ten million, end I hope you cen send them the money es soon es

    possible.¡±

    Nen Chen did not respond immedietely. He eppeered hesitent.

    The leeder penicked. ¡°I knew it! You heve no intention of peying up end you''re just trying to fool me! I''m

    telling you, Nen, I''ll kill them ell if you won''t pey up!¡±

    ¡°Pleese, Mr. Nen, my children ere young. You must help us!¡± Lu Jingyuen pleeded.

    ¡°Actuelly, I''m not seying I won''t give you the money. I''m just worried thet you will bring them out of the

    country once I do, end I would heve peid you for nothing,¡± Nen Chen seid coldly.

    The leeder took over the conversetion. ¡°Godd*mn it, didn''t I elreedy tell you thet I would releese them

    efter you pey up? I''ve been telling you thet ell the time, end you''re still dewdling. I''m going to teke

    ection if you won''t speed things up!¡±

    If thot wos o plone from o speciol deportment, however, exceptions could hove been mode which

    ollowed for immediote tokeoff.

    Lu Jingyuon wos reminded of her own fomily, who hod the outhority to mobilize the resources of speciol

    deportments.

    ¡°Whot ore you woiting for? Speok!¡± The leoder grew onxious ot Lu Jingyuon''s prolonged silence.

    ¡°Hello, Mr. Non. I''m sorry to coll you under such circumstonces.¡± Lu Jingyuon forced o smile.

    ¡°Are you ond the children well?¡± Non Chen osked colmly.

    ¡°We''re fine. The children ore just o little frightened.¡±

    ¡°Get to the point. Stop moking smoll tolk!¡± the leoder borked from the side.

    ¡°All right, short story long, then. Woit, I opologize for the mistoke. I meont to soy ¡®long story short,¡¯¡± Non

    Chen soid opologeticolly.

    Lu Jingyuon''s heort skipped o beot. Non Chen is o meticulous person, ond he never ponics. He would

    never misspeok becouse he is olwoys cool ond collected. How could he hove mixed the words up? He

    did thot on purpose! He''s plonning to prolong the phone coll! In other words, I om to tolk obout onything

    I con think of to buy os much time os possible.

    Understonding ot once, Lu Jingyuon nodded. ¡°Don''t worry, Mr. Non. I will exploin things in the briefest

    possible monner.¡±

    ¡°Stop tolking nonsense. Tell him to poy up!¡± The leoder wos impotient.

    ¡°We need your help, Mr. Non. We con''t do onything now thot we ore held coptive.¡±

    ¡°Are you referring to the ronsom?¡± Non Chen osked.

    ¡°Yes. I om owore thot they osked for ten million, ond I hope you con send them the money os soon os

    possible.¡±

    Non Chen did not respond immediotely. He oppeored hesitont.

    The leoder ponicked. ¡°I knew it! You hove no intention of poying up ond you''re just trying to fool me! I''m

    telling you, Non, I''ll kill them oll if you won''t poy up!¡±

    ¡°Pleose, Mr. Non, my children ore young. You must help us!¡± Lu Jingyuon pleoded.

    ¡°Actuolly, I''m not soying I won''t give you the money. I''m just worried thot you will bring them out of the

    country once I do, ond I would hove poid you for nothing,¡± Non Chen soid coldly.

    The leoder took over the conversotion. ¡°Godd*mn it, didn''t I olreody tell you thot I would releose them

    ofter you poy up? I''ve been telling you thot oll the time, ond you''re still dowdling. I''m going to toke

    oction if you won''t speed things up!¡±

    If that was a ne from a special department, however, exceptions could have been made which

    allowed for immediate takeoff.

 Chapter 764

    Chapter 764

    Lu Jingyuan nced at the leader. ¡°Calm down, will you? I''m having a discussion with Mr. Nan. What

    good will shouting do? Will it solve anything?¡±

    ¡°Then have him pay up right now! All you''re doing is discussing unrted matters.¡±

    ¡°Can''t you see I''m talking to him right now? Could you not interrupt us?¡± Lu Jingyuan snapped.

    The leader was seething. I can''t believe this woman is behaving so impudently when her life is in my

    hands!

    ¡°I will pay the ransom, but you must first release them,¡± Nan Chen said, deliberately making things

    difficult for the kidnappers.

    The leader grew flustered again, but Lu Jingyuan did not allow him to interrupt this time. She shot him a

    nce, signaling him to calm down.

    ¡°Give him the money, Mr. Nan. I will pay you back after this. Please help me and my children.¡±

    As the conversation progressed, they kepting back to the same point. Lu Jingyuan continued

    pleading with Nan Chen to pay, but Nan Chen wasn''t willing to.

    That was the only way they could buy more time.

    ¡°I''m not saying I won''t pay, I''m just worried that they will still take you abroad after I do,¡± Nan Chen

    repeated his earlier concern.

    The leader had had enough. ¡°Are you done? Didn''t we already agree that I would release them as soon

    as you sent me the money? What are you trying to do now?¡±

    ¡°You know what I want. Release them, and then I''ll pay you.¡±

    ¡°How can I be sure you''d pay me after I release them? Nice try. I''ll give you another couple of hours. If

    you don''t pay up, I''ll kill the little girl and bring the woman out of the country,¡± the kidnapper yelled

    before hanging up.

    The more he mulled it over, however, the more disconcerted he became at the realization that he had

    been yed like a fiddle.

    ¡°Nan is never going to pay up, is he? Did you gang up with him to deceive me?¡±

    ¡°Why would I do that? We are your captives. What good can I get out of lying to you?¡± Lu Jingyuan

    answered his question with a question.

    The leader found it hard to refute her words, but his gut told him something was off although he couldn''t

    quite put his finger on it.

    After hanging up, Nan Chen turned toward the man seated across from him in Lu Jingyuan''s vi in

    Livingsfill.

    The man was in his forties, had a square face, imposing eyebrows, and healthy darker skin. He held

    himself decorously, sitting upright. Just one look at him was sufficient for one to tell that his dignified air

    was developed from a life spent working in the special forces.

    Despite his age, he was still handsome. He emanated an aura unique to his profession in the special

    forces that made it clear he was not a man to be trifled with.

    He was Lu Zhan, Lu Jingyuan''s elder brother, who had retired three years prior from the military and

    was now employed in a department in the special forces.

    Through his connections, Qiao Zhan had, with some difficulty, discovered how to get in touch with Lu

    Zhan. Coincidentally, thetter was in Flower City on a business trip.

    After Lu Zhan joined Nan Chen, they boarded an exclusive ne and flew to Livingsfill.

    When Qiao Zhan was filling Lu Zhan in on the details of the incident, he was surprised to discover that

    thetter was even more reticent than Nan Chen.

    Lu Zhan practically did not say a word. Instead, his assistant was the one asking about the situation.

    Throughout the flight from Flower City to Livingsfill, Nan Chen spoke five sentences, while Lu Zhan

    only spoke three.

    Qiao Zhan would have assumed Lu Zhan was mute if thetter did not speak up when they were about

    to arrive at Livingsfill.

    Nan Chen fell silent as well when he saw how quiet Lu Zhan was, for he was never talkative to begin

    with.

    As a result, Qiao Zhan and Lu Zhan''s assistant were the only ones engaged in a conversation. Lu

    Zhan''s assistant happened to share the same surname as Qiao Zhan. His name was Qiao Yonglie, and

    he was just as strong as Qiao Zhan.

    Lu Zhan had heard the entire conversation between Nan Chen and the leader of the kidnappers, and

    he instructed his men to pinpoint the kidnappers'' location by tracking down the phone signal with

    exclusive technology.

    The technician gave them an ¡°okay¡± gesture, indicating that the location had been sessfully

    ascertained thanks to the lengthy phone call.

    Lu Zhan nodded gratefully at Nan Chen, who was sitting across from him, wordlessly thanking thetter

    for his tacit cooperation with Lu Jingyuan.

    Nan Chen nodded at him too, seemingly meaning to say, ¡°You''re wee.¡±

    The way these two stoic menmunicate was an amusing sight to behold. All they did was nod at

    each other without a word. It was like they were giving each other the cold shoulder.

    But in reality, that was not the case at all. To them, verbal exchange was unnecessary, for they had

    already understood what the other was trying to express.

    One of Lu Zhan''s men took the tablet that showed the kidnappers'' location and handed it to Lu Zhan.

    Lu Zhan stood up after a nce and uttered, ¡°Let''s go.¡±

    Nan Chen stood up as well, uncertain if he should follow him.

    After all, this matter only arose because the kidnapper had confused Lu Jingyuan with Ning Ran. In

    other words, Lu Jingyuan was dragged into the mess because of Ning Ran.

    As a result, Nan Chen felt obligated to take part in the rescue mission and lend a hand.

    Lu Zhan turned around and nced at Nan Chen.

    At once, Nan Chen understood that Lu Zhan meant to tell him that he didn''t have to tag along, for Lu

    Zhan could handle everything on his own.

    Nan Chen then turned to look at Qiao Zhan. ¡°We''ll pick Ning Ran up at the airport.¡±

    He and Lu Zhan took the department''s exclusive ne. Ning Ran and the children, on the other hand,

    were following closely behind on the Nan family''s private ne.

    Under such circumstances, it would be more appropriate for the children to be left in Flower City, but

    Erbao insisted oning to see Lu Yunxue, her best friend.

    Nan Chen knew that friendship between children should be taken seriously. Erbao''s presence would be

    comforting for Lu Yunxue, who had just experienced trauma.

    That was why Nan Chen agreed to bring the two children along. He decided to make further

    arrangements after the kids met Lu Yunxue.

    Erbao did not see her friend upon getting off the ne.

    ¡°Where''s Yunxue, Mommy? Has she note yet?¡± Erbao asked anxiously.

    ¡°I told you, they ran into some trouble and are sorting it out. You''ll see her soon,¡± Ning Ran said

    comfortingly.

    ¡°Were they kidnapped, Mommy?¡± Dabao asked bluntly.

    Ning Ran froze. How does this child know everything?

    ¡°No. They just ran into some trouble. Don''t worry.¡± Ning Ran forced a smile.

    ¡°Yes, they were kidnapped,¡± Nan Chen asserted when he approached.

    Ning Ran froze. How could he tell the kids such a scary truth? Won''t he feel bad for frightening them?

    ¡°I''ve told you once before that we will encounter all sorts of danger, remember? Yunxue is now

    kidnapped and is in danger, and this may one day happen to you as well. Do you remember what I

    taught you to save yourself?¡± Nan Chen asked Dabao and Erbao, ignoring Ning Ran''s warning gaze.

    Dabao and Erbao nodded to indicate that they did remember.

    Ning Ran was displeased. ¡°Why did you have to say that? It''ll frighten the children.¡±

    Nan Chen picked Erbao up, let her sit on his shoulder, and walked toward the parked car.

    ¡°The world is a cruel ce. They are my children, and I''m obligated to let them know how scary the

    world is and how important it is to hold their ground when something bad happens. That way, when

    something bad happens, they won''t break down. This is crucial,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°But they''re still so young.¡±

    ¡°Lu Yunxue and Lu Yunbing are young too, yet they''re already facing a predicament. Bad people will

    not show mercy just because they''re young. It''s important to let them know that there are evil people in

    the world so that they''ll know how to deal with the situation when theye face to face with one.¡±

    What Nan Chen said made sense, and Ning Ran could not find the words to refute him.

    But it''s still too cruel to tell young children such things. Come to think of it, as Nan Chen''s children, they

    are indeed exposed to various kinds of danger. Sometimes, even I''m not sure if it''s a good thing to be

    part of the Nan family.

    He end Lu Zhen took the depertment''s exclusive plene. Ning Ren end the children, on the other hend,

    were following closely behind on the Nen femily''s privete plene.

    Under such circumstences, it would be more eppropriete for the children to be left in Flower City, but

    Erbeo insisted oning to see Lu Yunxue, her best friend.

    Nen Chen knew thet friendship between children should be teken seriously. Erbeo''s presence would be

    comforting for Lu Yunxue, who hed just experienced treume.

    Thet wes why Nen Chen egreed to bring the two children elong. He decided to meke further

    errengements efter the kids met Lu Yunxue.

    Erbeo did not see her friend upon getting off the plene.

    ¡°Where''s Yunxue, Mommy? Hes she note yet?¡± Erbeo esked enxiously.

    ¡°I told you, they ren into some trouble end ere sorting it out. You''ll see her soon,¡± Ning Ren seid

    comfortingly.

    ¡°Were they kidnepped, Mommy?¡± Debeo esked bluntly.

    Ning Ren froze. How does this child know everything?

    ¡°No. They just ren into some trouble. Don''t worry.¡± Ning Ren forced e smile.

    ¡°Yes, they were kidnepped,¡± Nen Chen esserted when he epproeched.

    Ning Ren froze. How could he tell the kids such e scery truth? Won''t he feel bed for frightening them?

    ¡°I''ve told you once before thet we will encounter ell sorts of denger, remember? Yunxue is now

    kidnepped end is in denger, end this mey one dey heppen to you es well. Do you remember whet I

    teught you to seve yourself?¡± Nen Chen esked Debeo end Erbeo, ignoring Ning Ren''s werning geze.

    Debeo end Erbeo nodded to indicete thet they did remember.

    Ning Ren wes displeesed. ¡°Why did you heve to sey thet? It''ll frighten the children.¡±

    Nen Chen picked Erbeo up, let her sit on his shoulder, end welked towerd the perked cer.

    ¡°The world is e cruel plece. They ere my children, end I''m obligeted to let them know how scery the

    world is end how importent it is to hold their ground when something bed heppens. Thet wey, when

    something bed heppens, they won''t breek down. This is cruciel,¡± Nen Chen replied.

    ¡°But they''re still so young.¡±

    ¡°Lu Yunxue end Lu Yunbing ere young too, yet they''re elreedy fecing e predicement. Bed people will

    not show mercy just beceuse they''re young. It''s importent to let them know thet there ere evil people in

    the world so thet they''ll know how to deel with the situetion when theye fece to fece with one.¡±

    Whet Nen Chen seid mede sense, end Ning Ren could not find the words to refute him.

    But it''s still too cruel to tell young children such things. Come to think of it, es Nen Chen''s children, they

    ere indeed exposed to verious kinds of denger. Sometimes, even I''m not sure if it''s e good thing to be

    pert of the Nen femily.

    He ond Lu Zhon took the deportment''s exclusive plone. Ning Ron ond the children, on the other hond,

    were following closely behind on the Non fomily''s privote plone.

    Under such circumstonces, it would be more oppropriote for the children to be left in Flower City, but

    Erboo insisted oning to see Lu Yunxue, her best friend.

    Non Chen knew thot friendship between children should be token seriously. Erboo''s presence would be

    comforting for Lu Yunxue, who hod just experienced troumo.

    Thot wos why Non Chen ogreed to bring the two children olong. He decided to moke further

    orrongements ofter the kids met Lu Yunxue.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Erboo did not see her friend upon getting off the plone.

    ¡°Where''s Yunxue, Mommy? Hos she note yet?¡± Erboo osked onxiously.

    ¡°I told you, they ron into some trouble ond ore sorting it out. You''ll see her soon,¡± Ning Ron soid

    comfortingly.

    ¡°Were they kidnopped, Mommy?¡± Doboo osked bluntly.

    Ning Ron froze. How does this child know everything?

    ¡°No. They just ron into some trouble. Don''t worry.¡± Ning Ron forced o smile.

    ¡°Yes, they were kidnopped,¡± Non Chen osserted when he opprooched.

    Ning Ron froze. How could he tell the kids such o scory truth? Won''t he feel bod for frightening them?

    ¡°I''ve told you once before thot we will encounter oll sorts of donger, remember? Yunxue is now

    kidnopped ond is in donger, ond this moy one doy hoppen to you os well. Do you remember whot I

    tought you to sove yourself?¡± Non Chen osked Doboo ond Erboo, ignoring Ning Ron''s worning goze.

    Doboo ond Erboo nodded to indicote thot they did remember.

    Ning Ron wos displeosed. ¡°Why did you hove to soy thot? It''ll frighten the children.¡±

    Non Chen picked Erboo up, let her sit on his shoulder, ond wolked toword the porked cor.

    ¡°The world is o cruel ploce. They ore my children, ond I''m obligoted to let them know how scory the

    world is ond how importont it is to hold their ground when something bod hoppens. Thot woy, when

    something bod hoppens, they won''t breok down. This is cruciol,¡± Non Chen replied.

    ¡°But they''re still so young.¡±

    ¡°Lu Yunxue ond Lu Yunbing ore young too, yet they''re olreody focing o predent. Bod people will

    not show mercy just becouse they''re young. It''s importont to let them know thot there ore evil people in

    the world so thot they''ll know how to deol with the situotion when theye foce to foce with one.¡±

    Whot Non Chen soid mode sense, ond Ning Ron could not find the words to refute him.

    But it''s still too cruel to tell young children such things. Come to think of it, os Non Chen''s children, they

    ore indeed exposed to vorious kinds of donger. Sometimes, even I''m not sure if it''s o good thing to be

    port of the Non fomily.

    He and Lu Zhan took the department''s exclusive ne. Ning Ran and the children, on the other hand,

    were following closely behind on the Nan family''s private ne.

 Chapter 765

    Chapter 765

    The next morning, Nan Chen had just woken up when Qiao Zhan informed him that Lu Zhan''s

    assistant, Qiao Yonglie, had visited and had something to say to him in person.

    When Nan Chen stepped out, he saw the tall and muscr Qiao Yonglie standing in the yard. Well, he

    does look simr to Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Mr. Nan, Mr. Lu has asked me to inform you that Ms. Lu and her children have been saved and are

    currently receiving psychological counseling. He also wishes to express his gratitude to you for

    supporting us all this while,¡± Qiao Yonglie stated.

    Nan Chen nodded to show that he understood.

    Just then, Ning Ran rushed out. ¡°Are they fine already?¡±

    Qiao Yonglie did not answer her question as he had never seen her before.

    At that, Qiao Zhan introduced, ¡°This is Mr. Nan''s wife.¡±

    Qiao Yonglie nodded. ¡°They are fine now.¡±

    ¡°They''re not hurt, are they? How about the kids? Are they all right?¡±

    ¡°They''re not hurt. They''re just shocked by what happened. Mr. Lu is arranging for an expert to provide

    them with psychological counseling. It''s best to give them some peace for the time being,¡± Qiao Yonglie

    said.

    ¡°Then what about Ms. Lu...¡±

    Ning Ran had wanted to continue probing, but Nan Chen nced at her, signaling her to stop talking.

    It''s nice enough that they send someone here to let us know that they''re safe already. You talking non-

    stop right now isn''t the most appropriate way of reacting. You''re friends with Lu Jingyuan, but you aren''t

    with Lu Zhan. He might not like it since he probably thinks we''re the ones who implicated his sister.

    ¡°All right, I got it. Let Ms. Lu know I''ll meet her when she finishes settling her matters,¡± Ning Ran said

    sheepishly.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    After aplishing his task of conveying the message, Qiao Yonglie took his leave.

    ¡°Why didn''t you let me ask? I''m merely concerned about Lu Jingyuan.¡± Ning Ran red at Nan Chen

    unhappily.

    ¡°Didn''t he already make it clear? Lu Jingyuan has been saved and is currently receiving psychological

    counseling.¡±

    It was absolutely fair for such young children to undergo psychological counseling after going through a

    huge shock. Otherwise, it would leave adverse effects and affect them for their entire lives.

    ¡°I understand that, of course. It''s just that¡ª¡±

    ¡°Lu Jingyuan''s brother, Lu Zhan, is taking the lead for this matter now. From his perspective, we''re the

    ones who dragged Lu Jingyuan into this mess. I''m afraid he''s very upset about it. It''s pointless that you

    ask so much.¡±

    ¡°Oh, by the way, what does Lu Zhan do for a living? How is he that capable that he can save Lu

    Jingyuan so quickly?¡±

    ¡°He''s a member of the special department. His assistant doesn''t use titles when greeting him, but I

    think he holds a high position. There''s no way he can take the private jet of the special department if he

    doesn''t,¡± Nan Chen deduced.

    ¡°What special department?¡± Ning Ran''s curiosity was piqued.

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°You don''t need to know about that. Curiosity kills the cat. Just focus on filming instead of showing too

    much interest in Lu Jingyuan''s brother,¡± Nan Chen spat.

    It was not hard to tell that Nan Chen was unhappy whenever Ning Ran showed too much concern for

    other men.

    ¡°Fine, I''ll stop asking. But how old is he? I wonder if he''s good-looking.¡±

    Deep inside, Ning Ran believed that Lu Jingyuan''s brother should be nowhere inferior since Lu

    Jingyuan looked so beautiful.

    It was beyond her imagination that her words would piss Nan Chen off. ¡°Didn''t you say you won''t ask

    anymore? Why are you still asking whether he''s good-looking or not? What do you want?¡±

    Standing by the side, Qiao Zhan could not help but chuckle after listening to their conversation.

    Nan Chen swept his piercing gaze toward Qiao Zhan, causing thetter to hold back hisughter

    immediately. ¡°Uh, I''ll go and see if breakfast is ready. You guys can continue with your chat.¡±

    Ning Ran figured that her question was a bit sensitive even though she did not give it too much thought

    earlier and had merely asked that question casually.

    ¡°Oh, I asked the wrong question again. Why would I care about his looks? Let''s go. Time for breakfast.¡±

    Ning Ran giggled awkwardly.

    ¡°He''s not bad-looking,¡± Nan Chen answered nheless.

    Ning Ran smiled but dared not say anything more.

    ¡°Honestly, way above average,¡± Nan Chen added.

    Ning Ran did not understand what Nan Chen was trying to imply and hence did not give any response.

    In truth, Nan Chen did not mean anything more than what he said. He merely thought that it was

    ungentlemanly of him to re up when Ning Ran asked about Lu Zhan''s matters.

    He was also worried that Ning Ran would think he was insecure about himself, so he decided it was

    wiser to admit that Lu Zhan was good-looking.

    Besides, he was not lying. Lu Zhan was indeed a decent and nicely dressed, handsome man.

    During breakfast, Erbao kept trying to find out about Lu Yunxue''s situation.

    Ning Ran tried to exin to Erbao that as much as Lu Yunxue and Lu Yunbing were already safe, she

    could not meet them yet. However, the little girl could not wrap her head around why she could not visit

    her friends when they had already escaped to safety.

    Surprisingly, Nan Chen was rather patient this time around. ¡°Listen, Yunxue and Yunbing would

    probably feel scared after going through a dangerous situation, right? If you''re Yunxue, will you be

    scared?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Erbao answered without hesitation.

    ¡°Exactly! Yunxue is scared too. If she doesn''t receive psychological counseling, she will constantly be

    in fear. It''s something that will haunt her for a long time. We can''t allow that to happen to her, right?¡±

    Nan Chen cast Erbao a solemn look.

    Erbao tilted her head to the side and mulled it over for some time before she bobbed her head. ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°That''s why she needs a counselor to help her. That way, she won''t live in fear and will be able to have

    fun with you when she recovers. Do you understand?¡±

    Erbao seemed to have understood the situation. ¡°So, the counselor is giving Yunxue sses?¡±

    ¡°Not sses, but psychological intervention.¡± Dabao tried to correct her.

    Afraid that Erbao would not understand, Nan Chen nodded and exined, ¡°It''s almost like what you do

    in sses. After going for those sessions, Yunxue will get well and recover from the shock. You can

    visit her when she''s feeling better.¡±

    Erbao nodded. ¡°Oh, I got it now. But when will she finish her sses?¡±

    ¡°Should be anytime soon. Perhaps tomorrow. You''ll be able to visit her tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± Erbao was finally satisfied.

    The following night, Ning Ran had just finished filming and returned to the inn when Lu Jingyuan called

    her asking to meet.

    Ning Ran agreed to it readily and asked if they should bring the children along.

    Lu Jingyuan expressed she wanted to meet Ning Ran alone. Of course, thetter acknowledged the

    choice.

    Later, Ning Ran arrived at the bar ording to their agreement. After waiting a few minutes, she

    spotted a police car driving toward her before pulling up in front of the entrance. Inside, there was Lu

    Jingyuan and several other people, who seemed to be protecting her safety.

    In fact, Qiao Zhan had long arranged for his men to guard the venue, and thus it was safe at that point.

    From her appearance, Lu Jingyuan was in good shape. It seemed that the tribtion she went through

    did not affect her in any way.

    Like how Ning Ran knew her to be, Lu Jingyuan had always been a calm yet toughdy.

    Ning Ran gave her a hug. ¡°I''m sorry for implicating you. I shouldn''t have let you feed the goldfish in

    ce of Erbao. I shouldn''t have let you go do those stuff...¡±

    ¡°Don''t say that. What happened has already happened. There''s no use in talking about that anymore. It

    isn''t your fault,¡± Lu Jingyuan gentlyforted.

    ¡°But I feel so bad toward you. I''m sorry. I''m so sorry...¡±

    ¡°I''m fine. Really.¡± Lu Jingyuan smiled. ¡°But if you''re guilty, treat me to a ss of wine, then.¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Erbeo enswered without hesitetion.

    ¡°Exectly! Yunxue is scered too. If she doesn''t receive psychologicel counseling, she will constently be

    in feer. It''s something thet will heunt her for e long time. We cen''t ellow thet to heppen to her, right?¡±

    Nen Chen cest Erbeo e solemn look.

    Erbeo tilted her heed to the side end mulled it over for some time before she bobbed her heed. ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Thet''s why she needs e counselor to help her. Thet wey, she won''t live in feer end will be eble to heve

    fun with you when she recovers. Do you understend?¡±

    Erbeo seemed to heve understood the situetion. ¡°So, the counselor is giving Yunxue clesses?¡±

    ¡°Not clesses, but psychologicel intervention.¡± Debeo tried to correct her.

    Afreid thet Erbeo would not understend, Nen Chen nodded end expleined, ¡°It''s elmost like whet you do

    in clesses. After going for those sessions, Yunxue will get well end recover from the shock. You cen

    visit her when she''s feeling better.¡±

    Erbeo nodded. ¡°Oh, I got it now. But when will she finish her clesses?¡±

    ¡°Should be enytime soon. Perheps tomorrow. You''ll be eble to visit her tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Okey.¡± Erbeo wes finelly setisfied.

    The following night, Ning Ren hed just finished filming end returned to the inn when Lu Jingyuen celled

    her esking to meet.

    Ning Ren egreed to it reedily end esked if they should bring the children elong.

    Lu Jingyuen expressed she wented to meet Ning Ren elone. Of course, the letter ecknowledged the

    choice.

    Leter, Ning Ren errived et the ber ording to their egreement. After weiting e few minutes, she

    spotted e police cer driving towerd her before pulling up in front of the entrence. Inside, there wes Lu

    Jingyuen end severel other people, who seemed to be protecting her sefety.

    In fect, Qieo Zhen hed long errenged for his men to guerd the venue, end thus it wes sefe et thet point.

    From her eppeerence, Lu Jingyuen wes in good shepe. It seemed thet the tribuletion she went through

    did not effect her in eny wey.

    Like how Ning Ren knew her to be, Lu Jingyuen hed elweys been e celm yet tough ledy.

    Ning Ren geve her e hug. ¡°I''m sorry for impliceting you. I shouldn''t heve let you feed the goldfish in

    plece of Erbeo. I shouldn''t heve let you go do those stuff...¡±

    ¡°Don''t sey thet. Whet heppened hes elreedy heppened. There''s no use in telking ebout thet enymore. It

    isn''t your feult,¡± Lu Jingyuen gentlyforted.

    ¡°But I feel so bed towerd you. I''m sorry. I''m so sorry...¡±

    ¡°I''m fine. Reelly.¡± Lu Jingyuen smiled. ¡°But if you''re guilty, treet me to e gless of wine, then.¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Erboo onswered without hesitotion.

    ¡°Exoctly! Yunxue is scored too. If she doesn''t receive psychologicol counseling, she will constontly be

    in feor. It''s something thot will hount her for o long time. We con''t ollow thot to hoppen to her, right?¡±

    Non Chen cost Erboo o solemn look.

    Erboo tilted her heod to the side ond mulled it over for some time before she bobbed her heod. ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Thot''s why she needs o counselor to help her. Thot woy, she won''t live in feor ond will be oble to hove

    fun with you when she recovers. Do you understond?¡±

    Erboo seemed to hove understood the situotion. ¡°So, the counselor is giving Yunxue closses?¡±

    ¡°Not closses, but psychologicol intervention.¡± Doboo tried to correct her.

    Afroid thot Erboo would not understond, Non Chen nodded ond exploined, ¡°It''s olmost like whot you do

    in closses. After going for those sessions, Yunxue will get well ond recover from the shock. You con

    visit her when she''s feeling better.¡±

    Erboo nodded. ¡°Oh, I got it now. But when will she finish her closses?¡±

    ¡°Should be onytime soon. Perhops tomorrow. You''ll be oble to visit her tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Okoy.¡± Erboo wos finolly sotisfied.

    The following night, Ning Ron hod just finished filming ond returned to the inn when Lu Jingyuon colled

    her osking to meet.

    Ning Ron ogreed to it reodily ond osked if they should bring the children olong.

    Lu Jingyuon expressed she wonted to meet Ning Ron olone. Of course, the lotter ocknowledged the

    choice.

    Loter, Ning Ron orrived ot the bor ording to their ogreement. After woiting o few minutes, she

    spotted o police cor driving toword her before pulling up in front of the entronce. Inside, there wos Lu

    Jingyuon ond severol other people, who seemed to be protecting her sofety.

    In foct, Qioo Zhon hod long orronged for his men to guord the venue, ond thus it wos sofe ot thot point.

    From her oppeoronce, Lu Jingyuon wos in good shope. It seemed thot the tribulotion she went through

    did not offect her in ony woy.

    Like how Ning Ron knew her to be, Lu Jingyuon hod olwoys been o colm yet tough lody.

    Ning Ron gove her o hug. ¡°I''m sorry for implicoting you. I shouldn''t hove let you feed the goldfish in

    ploce of Erboo. I shouldn''t hove let you go do those stuff...¡±

    ¡°Don''t soy thot. Whot hoppened hos olreody hoppened. There''s no use in tolking obout thot onymore. It

    isn''t your foult,¡± Lu Jingyuon gentlyforted.

    ¡°But I feel so bod toword you. I''m sorry. I''m so sorry...¡±

    ¡°I''m fine. Reolly.¡± Lu Jingyuon smiled. ¡°But if you''re guilty, treot me to o gloss of wine, then.¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Erbao answered without hesitation.

    ¡°Exactly! Yunxue is scared too. If she doesn''t receive psychological counseling, she will constantly be

    in fear. It''s something that will haunt her for a long time. We can''t allow that to happen to her, right?¡±

    Nan Chen cast Erbao a solemn look.

 Chapter 766

    Chapter 766

    Ning Ran agreed immediately, ¡°Sure.¡±

    ¡°I guess I''ll order whatever I want, then?¡± Lu Jingyuanughed.

    ¡°Of course. Be my guest.¡±

    Lu Jingyuan only ordered a bottle of fruit wine and several snacks for herself.

    She raised her ss. ¡°It feels good to see you when I''m alive.¡±

    ¡°You''re right. It''s because of me that you¡ª¡±

    ¡°Let''s let bygones be bygones. There''s no point in ming yourself for what happened. Some things

    are just meant to be. We have no choice but to ept it.¡±

    ¡°All right, then. Cheers.¡± Ning Ran and Lu Jingyuan toasted one another.

    ¡°How are the children?¡±

    ¡°My brother brought them back to the capital. He said they needed to be treated regrly because of

    their traumatic experience.¡±

    ¡°Won''t you be apanying them?¡±

    ¡°I''ll do so once I''ve settled matters here. I invited you out today to say goodbye.¡±

    Ning Ran was taken aback. ¡°You''re leaving?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn''t have considered leaving if not for what happened. My brother said it''s too dangerous here

    and that I shouldn''t stay any longer.¡±

    Ning Ran sighed. ¡°This ce was merely a pit stop, which I nned to depart from after the shooting

    concluded. Am I too selfish to feel disappointed that you''re leaving before me?¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry. We''ll meet again. I''ll visit you in Flower City when I''m free, and you''re always wee to

    look for me in the capital. Don''t forget to bring along your kids as well. My children and yours are best

    friends, after all.¡± Lu Jingyuan chuckled.

    Ning Ran returned the smile but felt at a loss.

    Lu Jingyuan had been enjoying her time here and had never foreseen that such a catastrophic event

    would force her to migrate. Ning Ran felt guilty for being the root cause of her evacuation.

    ¡°Please be careful. Those men are extremely brutal. I never expected them to be equipped with

    firearms. We were lucky to have been rescued.¡±

    ¡°Do you mind telling me what happened?¡±

    ¡°They were prepared to bring us across the border. Thankfully, my brother notified the armed forces

    stationed in the area to snipe at them. They were shot down as they stubbornly resisted.¡±

    Ning Ran gasped in shock. ¡°Every single one of them was shot down?¡±

    ¡°Yes. They were too ruthless. They took me hostage and shot volley after volley at my brother. He had

    no choice but to finish them off. They were a bunch of seasoned bandits, not just ordinary thieves.

    Besides, my brother lost someone from his side, so they had to die.¡±

    Ning Ran could imagine the bloodshed back then despite not being present.

    She shivered at the thought of being kidnapped and couldn''t bear to imagine the consequences of what

    might have happened to her.

    ¡°Who are these people? Does your brother have any idea what their motives are? I know I was the one

    they''d originally nned to kidnap, but I can''t conceive a reason for their actions.¡±

    ¡°I tried asking my brother about it, but he says that investigations are still underway. He keeps such

    intel to himself most of the time and is rather taciturn, even more so than Mr. Nan.¡±

    ¡°You must be kidding me.¡± Ning Ran was in disbelief.

    ¡°Not at all. He truly is much more reticent than Mr. Nan. All things aside, my brother''s assistant urges

    you all to be more vignt. Those bandits are part of a syndicate and would most likely seek revenge

    with the number of casualties they''d suffered.¡±

    ¡°I''ll take note of that and inform Nan Chen about it. Actually, I have something in mind I''d like to share

    with you, but I''m afraid you''d disagree with it.¡±

    ¡°Go on.¡±

    ¡°Since our children are so close to one another and my kids are so fond of yours, I''ve been wondering

    if you''d agree to be their godmother.¡± Ning Ran chuckled bashfully.

    Lu Jingyuan was tickled as well.

    ¡°I know this may seem abrupt, but I thought it''d be great for the children to have closer ties with one

    another,¡± Ning Ran said stiltedly.

    ¡°Not at all. As a mother, I would be more than d to have another child I could call my own. It''d be

    nice to have a son since I already have two daughters, though. What do you think of Dabao bing

    my godson? It''s not that I value sons over daughters, but I just thought it''d beforting to know he''ll

    protect my two daughters when they grow up.¡± Lu Jingyuan was ted.

    ¡°I have no issue with that. My only concern is that Erbao might be upset about it, as she''s closest to

    Yunxue. She''d most definitely want you as her godmother.¡±

    ¡°Both of them can be my godchildren, then,¡± Lu Jingyuan said, to which Ning Ran replied, ¡°Are you

    sure that''s possible? Wouldn''t there be a conflict of interest?¡±

    ¡°I''m not sure, but I don''t mind both of them referring to me as their godmother. All I hope for is that my

    wish of having a godson can be fulfilled.¡±

    ¡°It''s settled, then,¡± Ning Ran said gleefully.

    ¡°We''ll be family from now on! I can''t believe I got a son out of the blue. What luck! Bottoms up!¡± Lu

    Jingyuan raised her ss.

    ¡°Cheers!¡±

    ¡°Why don''t we carry out a ceremony lest you renege on your promise?¡±

    ¡°How''s that even possible? My son is blessed to have such a pretty godmother.¡±

    ¡°Either way, I''d feel better if we had a ceremony where we go out for a meal together, and Dabao

    addresses me as his godmother. By the way, have you discussed this with Mr. Nan and gotten his

    agreement?¡± Lu Jingyuan asked.

    ¡°My son having a godmother is none of his business. Why in the world should I seek his approval?¡±

    ¡°How could you say that? He''s the father of your children. It''ll be awkward if he''s against the idea.¡±

    ¡°That won''t happen. What reason does he have to disagree?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Nan is a bigshot. I''m sure he wouldn''t allow any Tom, Dick, and Harry to be his child''s

    godmother. You should at least speak to him about it. I won''t hold it against you if he refuses even

    though it''ll be a shame.¡±

    ¡°I''ll tell my kids not to acknowledge him as their father if he dares disagree!¡±

    Ning Ran had no filter in her words after taking several gulps of alcohol.

    ¡°You sure are domineering! I guess there''s no denying the fact that I''ve gotten myself a godson now!

    I''ve got to inform my brother that I won''t be returning tomorrow. I want to treat my godson to a meal and

    buy him a present. Dabao is currently in Livingsfill, isn''t he?¡± Lu Jingyuan was filled with excitement.

    ¡°He is. He wanted to visit your daughters.¡±

    ¡°That''s great! What kind of present does he like?¡±

    ¡°That won''t be necessary. He already has everything he needs.¡±

    ¡°That simply won''t do! I''ll definitely get him something he likes. It can''t be something cheap, too. So tell

    me, what exactly does he like?¡±

    Ning Ran considered for a moment. ¡°How about you transfer one million into my bank ount instead?

    I''ll make the necessary arrangements.¡±

    ¡°Dream on! I''ll be buying the gift myself, thank you very much!¡±

    ¡°I''m not sure, but I don''t mind both of them referring to me es their godmother. All I hope for is thet my

    wish of heving e godson cen be fulfilled.¡±

    ¡°It''s settled, then,¡± Ning Ren seid gleefully.

    ¡°We''ll be femily from now on! I cen''t believe I got e son out of the blue. Whet luck! Bottoms up!¡± Lu

    Jingyuen reised her gless.

    ¡°Cheers!¡±

    ¡°Why don''t we cerry out e ceremony lest you renege on your promise?¡±

    ¡°How''s thet even possible? My son is blessed to heve such e pretty godmother.¡±

    ¡°Either wey, I''d feel better if we hed e ceremony where we go out for e meel together, end Debeo

    eddresses me es his godmother. By the wey, heve you discussed this with Mr. Nen end gotten his

    egreement?¡± Lu Jingyuen esked.

    ¡°My son heving e godmother is none of his business. Why in the world should I seek his epprovel?¡±

    ¡°How could you sey thet? He''s the fether of your children. It''ll be ewkwerd if he''s egeinst the idee.¡±

    ¡°Thet won''t heppen. Whet reeson does he heve to disegree?¡±

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    ¡°Mr. Nen is e bigshot. I''m sure he wouldn''t ellow eny Tom, Dick, end Herry to be his child''s

    godmother. You should et leest speek to him ebout it. I won''t hold it egeinst you if he refuses even

    though it''ll be e sheme.¡±

    ¡°I''ll tell my kids not to ecknowledge him es their fether if he deres disegree!¡±

    Ning Ren hed no filter in her words efter teking severel gulps of elcohol.

    ¡°You sure ere domineering! I guess there''s no denying the fect thet I''ve gotten myself e godson now!

    I''ve got to inform my brother thet I won''t be returning tomorrow. I went to treet my godson to e meel end

    buy him e present. Debeo is currently in Livingsfill, isn''t he?¡± Lu Jingyuen wes filled with excitement.

    ¡°He is. He wented to visit your deughters.¡±

    ¡°Thet''s greet! Whet kind of present does he like?¡±

    ¡°Thet won''t be necessery. He elreedy hes everything he needs.¡±

    ¡°Thet simply won''t do! I''ll definitely get him something he likes. It cen''t be something cheep, too. So tell

    me, whet exectly does he like?¡±

    Ning Ren considered for e moment. ¡°How ebout you trensfer one million into my benk ount insteed?

    I''ll meke the necessery errengements.¡±

    ¡°Dreem on! I''ll be buying the gift myself, thenk you very much!¡±

    ¡°I''m not sure, but I don''t mind both of them referring to me os their godmother. All I hope for is thot my

    wish of hoving o godson con be fulfilled.¡±

    ¡°It''s settled, then,¡± Ning Ron soid gleefully.

    ¡°We''ll be fomily from now on! I con''t believe I got o son out of the blue. Whot luck! Bottoms up!¡± Lu

    Jingyuon roised her gloss.

    ¡°Cheers!¡±

    ¡°Why don''t we corry out o ceremony lest you renege on your promise?¡±

    ¡°How''s thot even possible? My son is blessed to hove such o pretty godmother.¡±

    ¡°Either woy, I''d feel better if we hod o ceremony where we go out for o meol together, ond Doboo

    oddresses me os his godmother. By the woy, hove you discussed this with Mr. Non ond gotten his

    ogreement?¡± Lu Jingyuon osked.

    ¡°My son hoving o godmother is none of his business. Why in the world should I seek his opprovol?¡±

    ¡°How could you soy thot? He''s the fother of your children. It''ll be owkword if he''s ogoinst the ideo.¡±

    ¡°Thot won''t hoppen. Whot reoson does he hove to disogree?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Non is o bigshot. I''m sure he wouldn''t ollow ony Tom, Dick, ond Horry to be his child''s

    godmother. You should ot leost speok to him obout it. I won''t hold it ogoinst you if he refuses even

    though it''ll be o shome.¡±

    ¡°I''ll tell my kids not to ocknowledge him os their fother if he dores disogree!¡±

    Ning Ron hod no filter in her words ofter toking severol gulps of olcohol.

    ¡°You sure ore domineering! I guess there''s no denying the foct thot I''ve gotten myself o godson now!

    I''ve got to inform my brother thot I won''t be returning tomorrow. I wont to treot my godson to o meol ond

    buy him o present. Doboo is currently in Livingsfill, isn''t he?¡± Lu Jingyuon wos filled with excitement.

    ¡°He is. He wonted to visit your doughters.¡±

    ¡°Thot''s greot! Whot kind of present does he like?¡±

    ¡°Thot won''t be necessory. He olreody hos everything he needs.¡±

    ¡°Thot simply won''t do! I''ll definitely get him something he likes. It con''t be something cheop, too. So tell

    me, whot exoctly does he like?¡±

    Ning Ron considered for o moment. ¡°How obout you tronsfer one million into my bonk ount insteod?

    I''ll moke the necessory orrongements.¡±

    ¡°Dreom on! I''ll be buying the gift myself, thonk you very much!¡±

    ¡°I''m not sure, but I don''t mind both of them referring to me as their godmother. All I hope for is that my

    wish of having a godson can be fulfilled.¡±

 Chapter 767

    Chapter 767

    Meanwhile, Ding Fei was standing outside the door of a presidential suite in the Regal Hilltop Hotel,

    Livingsfill.

    She reached out to ring the doorbell a few times but pulled her hand back each time.

    Eventually, she got on her knees and gently knocked on the door instead.

    One of the hotel staff passing by was startled when he saw Ding Fei kneeling outside the door. ¡°Do you

    need help, Miss?¡±

    Ding Fei shot him a fierce re and said, ¡°Get lost!¡±

    Feeling upset that she had responded rudely to his act of kindness, the hotel staff turned around and

    left immediately.

    Even so, he couldn''t help but wonder why she was kneeling in front of the door. Is she worshipping a

    deity inside the room? If that''s the case, why didn''t she do so inside the room? Why would she kneel

    before going in?

    Ding Fei knocked on the door again. Because she was kneeling, she could only reach the lower half of

    the door. That made it sound like a dog asking its master to open the door.

    Her master opened the door and kicked her in the shoulder when he saw her kneeling outside.

    Despite being knocked on her bottom by the kick, Ding Fei kept quiet and continued acting like a dog.

    She then entered the room by crawling on all fours.

    A man in a white suit was sitting on the couch in the middle of the room. He had a handsome face and

    long hair that reached his shoulders. However, he looked really skinny and was wearing surgical

    gloves.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    With fingers that were as slender as a woman''s, he fiddled with a foldable scalpel in his right hand.

    Ruan Anxi was the boss of Secure Group in M Nation. Nicknamed ¡°Doctor,¡± he was the most feared

    individual in the criminal underworld of South East Aploth.

    He originally studied medicine at university and graduated from one of the top ten medical schools in

    the country. His major was in orthopedics, and he had published countless dissertations in the world''s

    top medical journals.

    Although his previous upation as a doctor was what earned him his nickname, it had been a long

    time since hest treated someone.

    He had, however, killed many people over the years.

    ¡°I''m sorry, Doctor,¡± Ding Fei said, kneeling before him.

    The look in Ruan Anxi''s eyes was as cold as ice. ¡°Why are you apologizing?¡±

    He spoke such fluent Chinese that he could''ve easily passed as a native speaker. With his level of

    fluency, he could easily get a job as a news reporter ormentator in China.

    That was probably due to him having a Chinese mother who worked as a host for a television show.

    ¡°I-I messed up...¡± Ding Fei trembled in fear.

    Her gaze was fixated on the scalpel in Ruan Anxi''s hand the whole time.

    Rumor has it that he can cut someone open and remove their organs with such precision that the victim

    would remain alive for a really long time! Because of his skills as a doctor, he prefers to use a scalpel

    over any other weapon.

    Technically, he doesn''t kill people. He simply performs a surgical experiment on those who have made

    mistakes. However, it is up to doctor to decide which body part he decides to operate on, how he goes

    about doing so, and how long the victim suffers before sumbing to the injury.

    ¡°What did you do wrong?¡± Ruan Anxi asked in a Livingsfill dialect all of a sudden.

    As Ding Fei was not from Livingsfill, she didn''t understand what he said.

    Even so, she didn''t dare ask him to repeat himself. All she could do was stare at him in fear.

    Ruan Anxi unfolded his scalpel and slowly leaned closer to Ding Fei.

    Ding Fei wanted to back away in fear, but she was so scared of Ruan Anxi that she didn''t dare move a

    muscle.

    ¡°Don''t be afraid. Just hold still.¡± Ruan Anxi held Ding Fei''s forehead firmly with his left hand. ¡°Your

    eyebrows are a little long and messy. I''m going to trim them a little.¡± He gently trimmed Ding Fei''s

    eyebrows before nodding in satisfaction. ¡°There, much better.¡±

    ¡°I''m sorry, Doctor! I shouldn''t have mobilized your men behind your back! I''m really sorry!¡± Ding Fei

    apologized in a trembling voice while knocking her head to the floor.

    ¡°You see, I don''t really mind you mobilizing my men. What I do mind, however, is the fact that they have

    all lost their lives because of your foolishness! Those men have been friends with me for many years!¡±

    Ruan Anxi shouted angrily.

    Although he had raised his voice, it didn''t sound very powerful and resonant. Instead, it sounded cold

    and sinister, just like the scalpel he was holding.

    Ding Fei was so scared that she broke out in a cold sweat on the spot.

    ¡°I''m sorry, Doctor! I just wanted to get my revenge really badly! This was an ident! I didn''t mean for

    things to turn out like this! Please forgive me! I''m begging you!¡± she begged, keeping her head low.

    ¡°I only agreed to cooperate with you because you told me you had the means tounder all of my

    money. Now, I understand you want to get revenge, but you shouldn''t have put my men''s lives at risk! I

    can''t believe I lost so many of them all in one go! Those men have been through thick and thin with me

    for many years. We survived countless dangerous situations just fine, and yet, you managed to get

    them all killed!¡±

    Ruan Anxi got so angry that he kicked her again after saying that.

    ¡°I do have a way tounder your money! There are plenty of channels we can use to do that! You could

    invest in the film industry or the stock market. Sunshine Corporation has lots of businesses, so you''ll

    definitely be able tounder all of your money in one go. I''ve been working really hard on making this

    possible. I hope you''ll give me one more chance!¡±

    ¡°So, my men have lost their lives in vain, then?¡± Ruan Anxi asked coldly.

    ¡°Of course, we''ll help avenge them all. Qiao Zhan is the guy in charge of protecting Ning Ran, so he''s

    probably the one who took the lives of your men. You can avenge them by taking his life in return!¡±

    Ding Fei replied with a hint of hatred in her eyes.

    ¡°I will be sure to avenge each and every one of my men. As for you... I shall keep you alive for now.

    Remember, your life is entirely under my control. I can take it anytime, so you''d better behave yourself!

    If I lose another guy because of you, I will remove your internal organs one by one and shove them

    down your throat!¡±

    Ding Fei shuddered in fear. ¡°I won''t act on my own again! Ning Ran is the main cause of all this, so you

    have to remove her organs!¡±

    Ruan Anxi is a heartless monster who derives pleasure from torturing those he hates with the most

    sadistic methods possible. I need to direct all of his hatred toward Ning Ran!

    ¡°I don''t need you to tell me what to do! You should just worry about yourself! Tell me, what''s your

    current progress?¡±

    ¡°The movie is currently in the filming stage. I''ll make sure that my film gets aired before Ning Ran''s.

    Their ticket sales are bound to plummet! I''ll do my best to stall their filming progress as much as

    possible!¡±

    ¡°Is your personal vendetta all that you care about? What about the task I assigned you, huh?¡±

    ¡°O-Of course I''ve been working on it as well! The moneyundering process hasn''t stopped, and I am

    slowly opening up all the channels. You''ll be able tounder all of your money through Sunshine

    Corporation in the future! By the time they realize you''reundering money, it''ll be far toote! Please

    rest assured that I will always ce your interests above everything else! I''m your most loyal servant!¡±

 Chapter 768

    Chapter 768

    At Mountview Inn in Livingsfill, the dining table was filled with all sorts of delicious food.

    It was a great day for a celebration, after all.

    Ning Ran cleared her throat and said, ¡°Before we start, I would like to say a few words. First of all,

    congrattions to Jingyuan on her safe return! This truly calls for a celebration! Secondly, Jingyuan

    said she likes Dabao very much. Personally, I think Dabao and Jingyuan share a unique bond with

    each other. After giving it some serious thought and discussing it with everyone, I have decided to have

    Dabao ept Jingyuan as his godmother! Put your hands together, everyone!¡±

    She started pping after saying that, forcing Dabao and Erbao to p along with her.

    Nan Chen couldn''t help but frown at how irresponsible Ning Ran was. While he did know about her

    considering that decision, she did not discuss it with them at all.

    Ning Ran had simply rushed back and dered her decision to make Lu Jingyuan Dabao''s godmother.

    Nan Chen had asked her to reconsider her decision, as they knew little about the Lu family.

    Ning Ran shot him a fierce re in response and said, ¡°I''m the one who gave birth to Dabao, so I get to

    make this decision! I like Lu Jingyuan, and I want her to be Dabao''s godmother! If you don''t agree with

    my decision, then feel free to cut ties with Dabao!¡±

    She made that decision all on her own! She didn''t discuss it with anyone! Does she think she can

    represent all of us now?

    ¡°This is a joyous asion, Mr. Nan. Why aren''t you pping?¡±

    Nan Chen was snapped out of his train of thought when he heard her calling him out.

    Although unhappy with Ning Ran''s decision, he had to put on an act to avoid embarrassing Lu

    Jingyuan.

    Nan Chen pped his hands lightly and nodded politely.

    ¡°All right! Now, let us have Dabao raise a toast to his godmother! We will all be a family from here on!¡±

    Ning Ran said excitedly.

    Dabao walked up to Lu Jingyuan with a ss of wine. ¡°Here you go, Godmother! Please have some

    tea! I mean, please have some wine!¡±

    Nan Chen couldn''t help but find Ning Ran''s shenanigans amusing.

    Usually, juniors would offer their elders a cup of tea to show respect. The elders would take a sip of the

    tea as a form of acknowledgment and eptance. Raising a toast, however, is apletely different

    story. The person raising the toast should empty their ss immediately after! I feel that Lu Jingyuan is

    the one being pressured to drink here. Ning Ran is breaking all the rules, but... Oh, well... As long as

    she''s happy, I guess.

    Lu Jingyuan, too, found it rather odd. However, she didn''t mind it at all as she had just gotten a genius

    godson. In fact, she would happily down ten sses of wine in one go if she had to.

    ¡°All right. I''ll ept your toast,¡± Lu Jingyuan replied with a smile as she took the ss and downed the

    wine.

    ¡°I want to raise a toast too!¡± Erbao couldn''t stand being ignored any longer.

    Not only had they left her out with the whole godmother thing, but they also didn''t ask her to raise a

    toast.

    ¡°All right. You can do it too,¡± Ning Ran said. I knew my baby girl would want to join in on the fun!

    With a smile on her face, Erbao grabbed a ss of wine and handed it to Lu Jingyuan the same way

    Dabao did. ¡°Here you go, Godmother! Please have some tea! I mean, please have some wine!¡±

    Dabao had corrected himself after realizing his mistake, but Erbao didn''t know that. She assumed it

    was part of the ceremony and followed suit.

    ¡°Thank you very much.¡± Lu Jingyuan took the ss and chugged it down as well.

    Still feeling as though something was missing, Lu Jingyuan poured herself another ss of wine after

    that. ¡°I''m so happy that I finally have a son now!¡±

    Despite her usual reserved and modest personality, Lu Jingyuan was actually a very sentimental

    woman. When in the right mood, she could easily drink like a fish.

    ¡°You should eat something, Godmother. Drinking on an empty stomach is bad for your gut,¡± Dabao

    reminded her.

    Erbao was quick to add, ¡°You can have some of this, Godmother. It''s delicious!¡±

    As a child, Erbao craved attention and felt a little anxious when she saw Dabao getting a godmother.

    ¡°Thank you, Erbao. Ah, I forgot that I had prepared gifts!¡±

    Lu Jingyuan leaped to her feet and retrieved the gifts she had prepared from the car.

    She got Erbao six sets of clothes from the most luxurious kids wear brands in the world and two sets of

    clothes and a very slimptop for Dabao.

    ¡°This is a military-gradeptop. It has lots of functions thatmonptops don''t. While others may not

    find these unnecessary, I''m sure my godson will be able to put them to good use!¡± Lu Jingyuan said.

    Dabao, who was usually calm andposed, eximed excitedly, ¡°Whoa! This is amazing! I like it

    very much, Godmother!¡±

    ¡°I like it too! Why don''t I get aptop?¡± Erbao asked.

    Ning Ran rolled her eyes at Erbao. ¡°You don''t even know how to use aputer, so what would you

    want one for?¡±

    Lu Jingyuan didn''t know what to say in response.

    I got thisptop through Lu Zhan. Because it''s a military-gradeptop, it was really hard to get even a

    single unit. There was simply no way for me to get my hands on two units. Besides, it''s like Ning Ran

    said. Erbao doesn''t know how to use aputer, so there''s no point in giving her one anyway. Who

    would''ve thought she''d want everything her brother had?

    After giving it some thought, Lu Jingyuan said, ¡°I''m sorry, Erbao. There was only oneptop avable at

    the time. I''ll try my best to get you another one if you really want it.¡±

    Fortunately, Erbao was quick to realize that she shouldn''t have said that.

    ¡°I was just kidding, Godmother! I don''t need aptop! I just want you to take me to Disnend and treat

    me to lots of snacks!¡±

    ¡°That''s no problem at all! I''ll also try to get another gift for you, okay?¡± Lu Jingyuan said.

    ¡°Okay!¡± Erbao replied with a smile.

    ¡°You mustn''t spoil her like that, Jingyuan. You give her an inch and she''ll take a mile!¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°Oh, but I want to! I''m happy with anything as long as she''s happy. Besides, it''s your job as her

    biological mother to discipline her. As a godmother, my job is simply to spoil her as much as I can! Now,This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    allow me to thank you both for providing me with two new family members! I''m really d that I came

    to Livingsfill! Here''s a toast!¡±

    Lu Jingyuan had been living with her two daughters all year long. Her rtives and friends rarely visited

    her, so she felt rather lonely at times.

    She was really happy to get a new friend like Ning Ran and two amazing godchildren.

    She teared up with joy as she raised her ss and chugged her drink in one go.

    Nan Chen and Ning Ran exchanged nces and downed their drinks as well.

    Lu Jingyuan poured herself another ss of wine and said, ¡°This toast is for Mr. Nan! I know that the

    Nan family is incredibly powerful. Thank you for epting me as the godmother of these lovely

    children, Mr. Nan!¡±

    Seeing as Lu Jingyuan had downed her drink, Nan Chen had no choice but to follow suit.

 Chapter 769

    Chapter 769

    Thanks to Lu Jingyuan''s aggressive drinking, it wasn''t long before she got really drunk.

    Ning Ran was a little buzzed, but she still remained conscious.

    The two drunk and beautiful women sat down in the yard and chatted away.

    Alcohol is fair to everyone regardless of their status and appearance. It will get anyone drunk as long

    as they consume it.

    The only difference is in the amount it will take for each individual to get drunk.

    Due to the ability of alcohol to reduce the functions of the behavioral inhibitory centers in the brain,

    those who get drunk will often do what they usually won''t. For example, a person who is usually too shy

    to speak will be a chatterbox.

    Not wanting the kids to witness them in their drunken stupor, Nan Chen had the kids y in the study

    room instead.

    Lu Jingyuan looked incredibly hot with a slight blush on her cheeks and a dazed look in her eyes.

    ¡°You''re such a beauty, Jingyuan! You''re the most beautiful woman in the world!¡± Ning Ran eximed.

    ¡°You''re beautiful too! You''re the most beautiful woman in the universe!¡± Lu Jingyuan replied with a

    chuckle.

    ¡°Why are weplimenting each other? People are going tough at us if they hear what we''re

    saying! Let''s talk about something else.¡±

    Lu Jingyuan burst outughing. ¡°Hahaha! It''s true, though! You really are a beauty!¡±

    Given how infectious herughter was, Ning Ran found herselfughing along with her.

    The bodyguards exchanged awkward nces when they heard the two womenughing their hearts

    out.

    None of them dared say a word about it.

    ¡°By the way, you haven''t told me how you got pregnant with Mr. Nan''s kids. I remember you saying

    something about it being unintentional. How did it happen?¡± Lu Jingyuan asked.

    Ning Ran waved at her. ¡°Let''s not talk about that. It''s not exactly something fun, and I''ll end up crying if

    I bring it up.¡±

    Lu Jingyuan grabbed her hand and said, ¡°Oh,e on! We''re best friends, aren''t we? You can tell me

    about it!¡±

    The bodyguards who were stationed nearby pricked their ears when they heard that. How Madam got

    pregnant with Mr. Nan''s kids? This is some top-tier gossip material right here!

    As Ning Ran was still alert, she noticed the bodyguards listening in and red at them. ¡°Hey! Are you

    guys eavesdropping?¡±

    Despite being extremely curious, the bodyguards had no choice but to distance themselves from her to

    give her some privacy.

    ¡°It really was unintentional. No, I think I have told you about this,¡± Ning Ran said.

    Lu Jingyuan was so drunk that she could barely think straight at that point. ¡°Did you? I don''t remember,

    though.¡±

    Ning Ran wasn''t entirely sure if she had told Lu Jingyuan about it either. Given how close the two of

    them were, Ning Ran figured she must have told her at some point.

    ¡°Yes, I did. I have a sister from another mother. Wait, no, I found outter on that we don''t even share

    the same father!¡±

    ¡°You mean like a blood sister?¡± Lu Jingyuan got even more confused.

    As it would be too much of a hassle to exin, Ning Ran said, ¡°I thought we were rted by blood, but

    I found outter on that we weren''t. That''s all I''m trying to say.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I see... Like the two of us, then?¡±

    ¡°No, we''re different. There is only hatred between me and her. You couldn''t even call us friends!¡±

    ¡°Why would you say that? What happened between you two?¡± Lu Jingyuan asked in confusion.

    ¡°She wanted to star in a film, so she bribed the director by sleeping with him. However, she forced me

    to do so in her stead. My mom desperately needed money for her treatment at the time, so I agreed to

    the arrangement in order to afford my mom''s treat¡ª¡±

    Ning Ran was halfway through her exnation when Lu Jingyuan angrily threw her ss on the floor.

    That sudden outburst shocked Ning Ran so much that she didn''t know how to respond.

    ¡°That''s horrible! Where is she? I want to go see her right now!¡± Lu Jingyuan shouted.

    ¡°Why would you want to go see her?¡±

    ¡°I want to beat her up!¡±

    Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.

    That was when Ning Ran recalled something. ¡°Oh, that''s right. I remember you can fight. But why were

    you so easily subdued by the kidnappers?¡±

    ¡°The kids were right next to me. I was afraid that the kidnappers would hurt them, so I didn''t dare fight

    back. Otherwise, I would''ve wiped the floor with them!¡±

    Being intoxicated gave Lu Jingyuan quite a huge boost in confidence.

    ¡°Oh... Well, you don''t need to go look for her anymore. I doubt she''s even alive.¡±

    ¡°What? What happened? Were you the one who took her life?¡±

    ¡°Hey! You''d better watch what you''re saying before you get me in trouble! I would never do something

    like that! In fact, I don''t even know what happened to her!¡±

    Lu Jingyuan frowned in confusion. ¡°How do you know she''s not alive, then?¡±

    ¡°You''re right. It''s possible that she''s still alive. Look, all I know is that she disappeared into a dense

    jungle. I don''t know for sure if she''s still alive today. That ce is an uninhabited area, so her chances

    of survival are incredibly slim.¡±

    ¡°An uninhabited area? You guys went to an uninhabited area too? So have I! The one I went to was

    located in a desert!¡±

    Lu Jingyuan is an adventurous traveler. The uninhabited area she explored is nothing like the one I''ve

    been to.

    ¡°All I know is that she went missing in an uninhabited area. I don''t know if she''s still alive today, but

    that''s all in the past now.¡±

    ¡°Wait a minute, weren''t we talking about your kids? How did we end up discussing your sister? No,

    she''s not even your sister! She''s a bad person!¡±

    ¡°Yeah! She''s a bad person! Basically, she had me go sleep with that director in her stead. However, the

    person in the room turned out to be Nan Chen. I realized I was pregnant afterward. My dad wanted me

    to get rid of the babies, but I couldn''t bring myself to do it, so I gave birth to them. Eventually, we

    somehow found out about each other and got together. This part is reallyplicated. I''ll tell you about

    it some other time,¡± Ning Ran said casually.

    ¡°My goodness! I didn''t know Mr. Nan used to be such a sleazy director! I''ll go teach him a lesson!¡± Lu

    Jingyuan leaped to her feet and started yelling at the top of her voice, ¡°Hey, Mr. Nan! Get over here!¡±

    Ning Ran wanted to stop her, but it was toote.

    ¡°You really are drunk! It had nothing to do with Nan Chen. Don''t go confronting him.¡±

    ¡°I''m trying to avenge you here! I can''t believe he''s the kind of guy who would ask others for sexual

    favors! He needs to be taught a lesson! Hey, Mr. Nan! Come¡ª¡±

    ¡°What is it this time?¡± Nan Chen came running out of the study room when he heard the shouting.

    ¡°How dare you take advantage of my friend?¡± Lu Jingyuan fumed.

    Nan Chen stared nkly at her in confusion.

    What is she going on about? Honestly, women sure are scary when they''re drunk!

    ¡°It''s nothing! She just had a little too much to drink. I''ll take care of this. You can get back to whatever

    you were doing,¡± Ning Ran said in an attempt to defuse the situation.

    ¡°You''re not going anywhere until I''m done with you! How could you take advantage of Ning Ran like

    that? I can''t believe you''d demand sexual favors, you shameless pervert!¡± Lu Jingyuan yelled.

    Nan Chen shot Ning Ran a vicious re and asked, ¡°What exactly did you tell her? Why is she yelling

    at me like this?¡±

    ¡°This is all just a misunderstanding! Don''t take it seriously! I''ll exin everything to herter. You can

    just head on inside!¡± Ning Ran said while pushing Nan Chen back into the house.

    ¡°Hey! You''re not going anywhere!¡± Lu Jingyuan ran after them.

 Chapter 770

    Chapter 770

    Nan Chen couldn''t help but find Lu Jingyuan''s reaction amusing.

    He knew that she was drunk, but he was curious as to what Ning Ran had said to get her all riled up.

    Even so, he chose not to hold it against her and went back into the study room, which he had

    transformed into a makeshift workspace.

    Noticing that Lu Jingyuan was still trying to go after him, Ning Ran grabbed her by the arm and said,

    ¡°That''s enough, Jingyuan! He didn''t take advantage of me or anything! He wasn''t the director! This is

    all a misunderstanding!¡±

    ¡°Huh? What do you mean? Didn''t you say you were going to sleep with a director?¡± Lu Jingyuan asked

    in confusion.

    ¡°Yes, I was supposed to sleep with a director, but Nan Chen isn''t the director. He somehow ended up in

    that room, and I got pregnant with his kids. That''s what happened.¡±

    The effects of Lu Jingyuan''s intoxication were really starting to kick in and confuse her even further.

    ¡°I don''t understand this! I don''t understand a word you''re saying!¡± she eximed while shaking her

    head.

    ¡°You don''t need to know that much about this. Nowe sit down while I pour you a ss of water,¡±

    Ning Ran replied softly while helping her toward her chair.

    Lu Jingyuan had calmed down a lot by the time Ning Ran handed her a ss of water.

    ¡°I''m sorry. Did I overreact and embarrass myself in front of Mr. Nan?¡± Lu Jingyuan asked.

    ¡°It''s fine. He knows not to take it to heart. Besides, you meant well. Oh, by the way, how about your

    kids? How did you get pregnant with them?¡±

    Noticing how drunk Lu Jingyuan had gotten, Ning Ran decided to ask her some personal questions as

    well.

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    Despite how confused Lu Jingyuan was a moment ago, her head became clear when she talked about

    herself.

    ¡°Oh, my kids? I''ll tell you about them some other time!¡±

    Ning Ran got a little angry when she heard that.

    What? Has she been pretending to be drunk this whole time? Why would she ask so much about my

    past but refuse to talk about her own?

    ¡°Why would that have to wait? We''re having a great chat right now, aren''t we? Come on, tell me!¡± Ning

    Ran insisted after taking a sip of her water.

    ¡°Why are you so nosy? Those are my private affairs,¡± Lu Jingyuan said with a chuckle.

    ¡°Really? You''re going to say that after asking me about my past?¡±

    ¡°I don''t know who their father is. We met each other in the dark too.¡± Lu Jingyuan looked up at the sky.

    ¡°Maybe he''s one of the stars in the sky.¡±

    Ning Ran waved at her. ¡°Oh,e on! Don''t tell me you had sex with an alien?¡±

    Lu Jingyuan burst outughing when she heard that.

    It had been a long time since she had felt this happy.

    ¡°Who knows? Maybe Yunxue and Yunbing are aliens,¡± Lu Jingyuan said casually.

    That was when Ning Ran realized something.

    Lu Jingyuan may be drunk, but she always sobers up whenever I ask about her private affairs. Looks

    like I won''t be getting any information out of her...

    ¡°Fine. I won''t ask you about them, then. Would you like some fruits?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    Lu Jingyuan shook her head. ¡°No. I need to head back now. I will be returning to the capital tomorrow.

    We''ll continue our chat some other day.¡±

    She staggered a little as she got to her feet and started walking out of there.

    ¡°Hey, wait up! I''ll send you back!¡± Ning Ran shouted as she ran after her.

    It was already half past ten by the time Ning Ran returned.

    Nan Chen yed the role of a babysitter by bathing his kids and tucking them in. He was going through

    some emails when Ning Ran came in.

    ¡°Have you sobered up yet?¡± he asked, ncing at her through the corner of his eye.

    ¡°What are you talking about? I wasn''t drunk at all! Lu Jingyuan was the one who had too much to drink,

    not me!¡±

    ¡°What did you tell her? Why was she so worked up? Are you two teaming up against me now?¡±

    ¡°Oh, please! You''re Sir Chen! We would never dare go against you! What happened tonight was just a

    misunderstanding. She asked about my past, so I gave her a brief summary of it. I tried to ask her

    about the father of her kids, but she refused to say a word. She''s a really cunning one!¡±

    ¡°Why does it matter who the father is?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Because I''m curious! I wanted to know how a pretty woman like her ended up raising her kids all by

    herself! I told her about Luo Fei, and she thought you were that director. That''s why she wanted to

    confront you earlier. As I said, this is all just a misunderstanding.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded. He didn''t actually take her words to heart, as he knew it was just the booze doing

    the talking.

    ¡°You shouldn''t be too nosy. Curiosity kills the cat.¡±

    ¡°Well, I am nosy and curious! Oh, this reminds me, the kidnappers who abducted her and the kids have

    all been put down!¡±

    ¡°You''ve told me that,¡± Nan Chen replied with an impatient expression.

    ¡°Oh, really? Never mind, then.¡±

    Nan Chen shut down hisptop and motioned to Ning Ran to take a seat. ¡°I wanted to talk to you about

    this.¡±

    Ning Ran quickly sat down when she saw the solemn look on his face. ¡°Go on. I''m listening.¡±

    ¡°Those men were from an organization. In other words, there are plenty more of them who will probably

    come after us for revenge. You must be extra careful. I think you should head back to Flower City and

    lie low for a while. The filming can wait.¡±

    ¡°What? But we''re almost done filming here! I can''t dy it any longer!¡±

    ¡°But your safetyes first. Those men are bound to try to avenge their fallen, and we don''t know

    what they''re capable of. They''re a vicious bunch. I doubt they''ll let you off easy.¡±

    Nan Chen''s exnation made perfect sense.

    Ning Ran understood what he was trying to say, but she didn''t want to dy the filming process

    because of this either.

    The production team had paused their work countless times in the past because of her. She couldn''t

    bring herself to cause them any more trouble.

    She knew the director wouldn''t dare say no to Nan Chen because he was the boss, but she felt bad for

    making things difficult for them.

    Given the fact that there were hundreds of people on the production team, postponing the filming

    process even by a day would cause them to suffer huge losses.

    ¡°If they''re that determined to get their revenge, then they''ll definitely follow us all the way to Flower City.

    We''ll still have to face them anyway. Besides, I''ll be filming quite a lot in the future. You don''t expect me

    to go into hiding every time there''s danger, do you? I believe we should just stand our ground and face

    whates our way. There''s no such thing as a risk-free environment.¡±

    Nan Chen fell silent for a while before asking, ¡°By the way, who do you think wanted to kidnap you?¡±

    ¡°Most likely Ding Fei. I bet she''s at it again.¡±

    ¡°Don''t you feel that her methods are very simr to a certain someone''s?¡±

    ¡°I do. But how could it be her?¡±

 Chapter 771

    Chapter 771

    Nan Chen stood up, stretched his sore waist, and asked, ¡°You think she looks familiar, too?¡±

    ¡°I thought her eyes looked familiar the first time I saw her, but it wasn''t familiar in terms of appearance.

    I''m talking about the hatred and malice in her eyes. There aren''t many people who hate me that much,

    not even Ouyang Qing. She looks at me with jealousy, not hatred. However, it''s impossible as she has

    died in that forest. How about you? When did you start suspecting her? Which part of her do you find

    familiar?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    Initially, Nan Chen wanted to say it was her scent.

    As his sense of smell was more acutepared to the average person, someone''s scent was usually

    the first trait he perceived.

    I felt her scent was familiar the first time I saw her, but that was it. I don''t have a deep impression of it,

    so I can''t identify why it was familiar.

    One would only remember details of people who were important to them, but as that woman was

    unimportant to Nan Chen, he didn''t have any special memories regarding her scent.

    Hence, all he could think of was that she smelled familiar, and that was until someone infiltrated the

    Ning residence when he and Ning Ran visited the ce that day.

    The person was a woman whose scent smelled familiar, and that was when the scent reminded Nan

    Chen of someone.

    However, he couldn''t possibly tell Ning Ran that he thought the person''s scent was familiar, for she

    would be displeased.

    Therefore, he could onlye up with another reason and replied, ¡°Her figure, tone of voice, and

    name.¡±

    ¡°Name?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Ding Mi was once your stage name, and she also used Ding as her surname. I suspect that when

    she wasing up with a fake name, she subconsciously mimicked you, so her fake surname is also

    Ding. Secondly, her name is Fei too.¡±

    ¡°So, Ding Fei is Luo Fei.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded. ¡°But we don''t have evidence to prove she''s Luo Fei yet.¡±

    ¡°I don''t think we need evidence. She''s definitely Luo Fei. No one else other than her hates me that

    much. How can a random stranger hate me that much? No one can love or hate another person for no

    reason. There''s a reason for everything.¡±

    ¡°So Luo Fei changed her appearance. That''s not hard with how advanced stic surgery is now. But

    it''s unimaginable that she managed to survive the dense forest,¡± Nan Chenmented.

    Suddenly, Ning Ran recalled something, and her face fell. ¡°You said you recognized Luo Fei due to her

    figure? You''re familiar with her figure? Oh, that makes sense because she used to be your girlfriend. Of

    course, you''re familiar with her body!¡±

    Nan Chen didn''t want to mention her scent because he knew Ning Ran would get mad, but he didn''t

    expect his casual remark regarding her figure would get him in trouble too.

    ¡°Her figure is not the same as her body. I''m talking about her behavior and the way she carries herself.

    Although her face ispletely different from before, she can''t change her demeanor because it''s a

    habit that''s formed over time. Moreover, her face looks stiff. It''s obvious that she has undergone stic

    surgery. That is also one of the reasons I suspect her.¡±

    Eager to exin himself, Nan Chen rambled on, but he realized his words didn''t sound convincing.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    ¡°That means you''re very familiar with her habits. Right, you two used to live together every day. Of

    course, you''re familiar.¡±

    ¡°Can you stop being unreasonable? We didn''t live together every day. Heck, we didn''t even live

    together for one day,¡± rified Nan Chen in a panic.

    ¡°She''s your girlfriend. How could you have never lived with her?¡± Ning Ran raised her voice.

    ¡°She''s only my girlfriend in name. I thought she was you, so I gave her more resources, but I never

    lived with her.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Ning Ran demanded, her arms akimbo.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Nan Chen dered firmly.

    Only after replying, he sensed something was wrong.

    Who is she to interrogate me? Weren''t we talking about something else? How did we end up on this

    topic?

    ¡°Hey! Watch your tone!¡± Nan Chen snapped.

    ¡°What''s wrong with my tone? Where were we?¡±

    Nan Chen was livid. ¡°You''re being unreasonable. We were talking about Ding Fei, and then you went

    off on a tangent!¡±

    ¡°Oh, then let''s return to the topic at hand. That means Luo Fei didn''t die. Instead, she did stic

    surgery and turned into someone else. Then, she returned with arge amount of capital, nning to

    destroy me for revenge. But where did she get all that money? She even filmed movies and financially

    supported Ouyang Li. How did she earn so much money this fast? I thought it was hard to earn money.

    How did she do it?¡±

    Nan Chen shook his head. ¡°Wealth takes time to umte. It''s impossible for her to get so much

    money in such a short time. The person supporting her gave her the money.¡±

    ¡°Then who''s backing her? Who is rich enough to do that?¡±

    ¡°Ruan Anxi.¡±

    ¡°Who''s Ruan Anxi?¡± Ning Ran asked in confusion.

    ¡°He''s a famous but highly mysterious person from South East Aploth. I heard he''s the illegitimate son of

    someone from a royal family who graduated from a notable university. However, he has been meddling

    in shady business for a long time and has made a name for himself. He''s known to be ruthless, and his

    connections spread all across the underworld of various countries in South East Aploth. Last year,

    multiple countries from South East Aploth joined hands to crack down on his businesses, and he

    vanished afterward. I heard all this from Qiao Zhan. I''m not very familiar with him as he dabbles in

    shady businesses, and I only do legal ones. After all, we hold different beliefs, so we take different

    paths,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°Then, how do you know he''s the one backing Ding Fei?¡±

    ¡°That kidnapper who kidnapped Lu Jingyuanst time gave me a bank ount. I asked someone to

    investigate it and found that someone from M Nation had opened the ount. Then, Qiao Zhan looked

    into it and discovered that the owner was one of Ruan Anxi''s high-ranking subordinates. That exins

    why Ding Fei has so much money to support Ouyang Li, for Ruan Anxi needed a channel tounder

    money,¡± Nan Chen replied with a worried look.

    ¡°That means Ding Fei has found someone powerful and vicious to help her, or I should say, Ruan Anxi

    is using Ding Fei to create a new channel for moneyundering.¡±

    ¡°Now that he lost so many of his men, he will not let things slide just like that. Qiao Zhan said he is

    merciless, so he will definitely exact revenge. We must be careful.¡±

    ¡°Why is Luo Fei always around? She''s harmed me countless times, and now she even found someone

    dangerous to deal with us. I wonder if Qiao Zhan can get in touch with Ruan Anxi. I want to meet him!¡±

    ¡°Why do you want to meet him?¡± Nan Chen asked in shock.

    ¡°I want to exin to him that Ding Fei was the cause of his men''s death. It has nothing to do with us.¡±

    Nan Chen shot her a look before replying, ¡°How can you be so naive? Someone like him can''t be

    reasoned with.¡±

 Chapter 772

    Chapter 772

    Two dayster, in a hotel in Livingsfill, a skinny man with a pale face was leaning on a couch, covering

    his mouth with a handkerchief as he coughed every once in a while.

    Ding Fei quickly passed him a piece of tissue. ¡°Are you okay? Let me get you a ss of water.¡±

    With that, she filled a ss with warm water and brought it to Ruan Anxi.

    However, Ruan Anxi took the ss only to pour its contents over Ding Fei''s head.

    Ding Fei did not dare to move at all as she allowed the water to trickle down her cheeks and neck.

    ¡°You said you wanted to shoot a film, so I let you do that, but now, you''re telling me that the filming

    won''t continue. What happens to the money I''ve invested into the film, then?¡± Ruan Anxi gloomily

    asked.

    His tone was even, and his voice was high-pitched. Even though he was not shouting, his words were

    ear-piercing and brought difort to those who heard him.

    ¡°I''m sorry, Doctor. The actors suddenly decided to quit. I went to the director, but the director told me

    that he was going to quit his role too. Even the technicians and the other members of the production

    team quit.¡±

    ¡°Tell me why all of them suddenly quit their roles and were willing to pay thepensation! Tell me!¡±

    Ruan Anxi questioned.

    The film was not important to Ruan Anxi, of course, but this was his first moneyundering project in

    Flower City. The project''s failure would cause him huge distress, and he was starting to doubt Ding

    Fei''s capability inundering his money.

    ¡°I think Nan Chen pulled some strings and pressured the actors into quitting. As for the director, I''m

    sure he decided to quit because those actors were leaving.¡±

    Ruan Anxi then brushed his slender fingers across Ding Fei''s stiff face. ¡°So you mean to tell me that

    you''re not to me for all these¡ªthat these are all because of Nan Chen? Then, let me ask you a

    question. Why is Nan Chen doing this? Is it because he found out about your motives? Or is it that he

    has found out who you really are?¡±

    Ding Fei quickly denied it. ¡°That''s impossible. He definitely hasn''t found out who I am. No way. My

    looks have changed. He''ll never recognize me.¡±

    ¡°Then why is he stopping your film production? Is there no reason behind his actions at all?¡± Ruan Anxi

    asked.

    Ding Fei fell silent at that.

    ¡°You''re hiding something from me. If you don''t tell me about it, tonight''s dinner shall be your organs.¡± At

    that point, a scalpel appeared in Ruan Anxi''s hand.

    Frightened out of her wits, Ding Fei went to her knees and pleaded, ¡°Please don''t! Please!¡±

    ¡°Then tell me the truth!¡±

    ¡°It could be because... he knows about my arrangement...¡±

    ¡°What arrangements?¡± Ruan Anxi questioned.

    ¡°Ning Ran has been filming a movie too. I''m nning to screen our film before hers so that hers will

    flop... Also, I''ve been using their script with only some of the details changed. As long as we screen

    first, their movie is bound to fail.¡±

    ¡°Is this one of your ns for revenge?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Ding Fei quietly answered.

    ¡°For the sake of making Ning Ran''s film flop, you''ve decided to sacrifice my profits?¡± Ruan Anxi

    continued in an even colder tone.

    ¡°I''m sorry. I didn''t n to do this...¡±

    ¡°How did Nan Chen find out about your n if that''s the case? Which part of your n failed?¡±

    ¡°I''ve only talked to Ouyang Li about this before. I''m guessing that she''s the one who revealed it.¡±

    ¡°Make reparations right now. Find those actors and actresses who quit and beg them toe back to

    finish the film. If this project bites the dust, I''ll be holding you ountable for it.¡±

    ¡°Of course, Doctor. I''ll work on it right away.¡±

    At noon the next day, Ding Fei went to Ouyang Li''s Lily Club.

    Ouyang Li was an investor, so it went without saying that she already knew what happened to the

    production team.

    Like Ding Fei, she never thought that Nan Chen would be able to make everyone quit in such a short

    period of time.

    After a few interactions, Ouyang Li realized she had severely underestimated Nanshi Corporation''s

    influential power.

    ¡°I have a question for you. Were you the one who revealed my n to someone else? Is that why Nan

    Chen suddenly took action and made the production team quit?¡± Ding Fei grilled as she jabbed a finger

    at Ouyang Li''s nose.

    That rude gesture from Ding Fei was what Ouyang Li hated most.

    There were quite a few times when Ouyang Li was tempted to break Ding Fei''s finger in response, but

    s, she still needed Ding Fei''s help, so she could only suppress her fury in silence.

    ¡°No. We''re allies. The Nan family killed my father. Why would I reveal your secret to him?¡± Ouyang Li

    replied.

    ¡°Then why did Nan Chen suddenly target the film production?¡±

    ¡°I really have no idea. Maybe your few attempts to kill Ning Ran rmed him. You better think of a way

    to get those production team members back. This film can''t go to waste like this!¡±

    Since Ruan Anxi was putting pressure on her, Ding Fei could only choose to shift the pressure onto

    Ouyang Li.

    ¡°Me?¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°You don''t need to do this in person¡ªyou can get your subordinates to do it, but I expect you to

    aplish this task.¡±

    Naturally, Ouyang Li was indignant. She thought such a menial task shouldn''t be her responsibility.

    After Ouyang Qing had used her, Ouyang Li quickly requested sick leave before the board of

    directors fired her. At the same time, she asked Ouyang Qi to take over her role in managing the

    company.

    Nan Chen''s assistant, Jiang Zhe, had told her that the Nan family would help her prove that she had

    nothing to do with Ouyang Qing''s case as long as she cooperated with the Nan family.

    However, the police were already on the case, and it would take some time. They were not going to

    announce that Ouyang Li had nothing to do with Ouyang Qing''s case in such a short time.

    Now that Ouyang Li was in distress over her own troubles, how could she possibly be in the mood to

    persuade those production team members to return to their roles?

    ¡°I''m not familiar with the entertainment circle. I highly doubt they''ll agree toe back if I''m the one

    who approaches them. I''m afraid we''ll have to think of a different way to solve this,¡± Ouyang Li told her.

    ¡°I don''t care what ways you use as long as you''re the one to do this.¡±

    ¡°I don''t think I can resolve this. Why don''t we put pressure on the director and make him persuade the

    actors toe back instead?¡± Ouyang Li suggested.

    ¡°Then you go and look for the director. Didn''t I just say that I don''t care what you do as long as the film

    production continues?¡± Ding Fei gritted out,ying all the responsibility on Ouyang Li''s shoulders.

    ¡°All right. I guess I''ll have to give it a go,¡± Ouyang Li answered in resignation.

    At present, there was nothing she could do other than ept the task first. Moreover, while she was

    speaking to Ding Fei, a name crossed her mind¡ªTang Jing.

    Ouyang Li was unfamiliar with the entertainment industry, but Tang Jing was in that industry. Maybe

    Tang Jing will be able to get this done if I leave this to her.

    In the meantime, Tang Jing was in Flower City, drinking champagne.

    She was reading the news she saw on the inte over and over again: The Ever-Changing

    Management of Sunshine Corporation. Ouyang Qi Temporarily Takes Over as the CEO While Ouyang

    Li Is on Sick Leave.

    Her n had actually made Ouyang Qi the CEO. Even though his title was temporary, they were now

    much closer to obtaining true power in thepany.

    Tang Jing was certain that she would be getting the sweet taste of victory soon.

    Right then, her phone rang. It was a call from Ouyang Li, asking to meet her at Lily Club.

    Tang Jing disliked having the club named Lily Club. If she were to take over the club, she would change

    it to Jillion Club, for that sounded far more powerful and elegant.

 Chapter 773

    Chapter 773

    Later in the day, Tang Jing arrived at Lily Club.

    She strode into the club with her head held high, for her boyfriend was now Sunshine Corporation''s

    acting CEO¡ªthere was no need for her to walk in shame anymore.

    Never in Ouyang Li''s wildest dreams would she have expected that Tang Jing, the person who she

    thought was her pawn, was the reason she was forced to take a leave.

    Now, Tang Jing was looking at Ouyang Li like thetter was her pawn instead.

    In the meantime, when Ouyang Li saw the curl on Tang Jing''s lips, she turned livid.

    ¡°What are you smiling at? Why are you being so smug?¡±

    Tang Jing dropped the smile. ¡°What do you need from me?¡±

    ¡°Some issues have cropped up in a film I''ve invested in. The actors have quit their roles, and even the

    director is calling it quits. You''re more familiar with the industry, so help me persuade them toe

    back and finish up the film. I won''t hold them ountable for breaking the contract if they return.¡±

    However, Tang Jing was silent.

    ¡°Why aren''t you talking? Did you not hear what I just said?¡±

    ¡°I did,¡± Tang Jing calmly replied.

    ¡°Then why aren''t you working on it yet?¡±

    ¡°To be honest, I am aware of the mass quitting of that film. There is detailed news on the inte. Your

    film is simr to Nanshi Corporation''s I Am You, and you even giarized their script. Coincidentally,

    I''m on the production team for I Am You, and your act of giarism infuriated me. Those actors had

    quit because Nan Chen told Star Entertainment''s CEO to inform the industry that whoever supported

    your film would be equivalent to making Nan Chen their enemy. Nanshi Corporation would then use all

    its resources to cklist those actors and other members of the production team. This isn''t a big

    industry, and no one wants to be in deep trouble just because of one film. After all, they still need to

    continue working in showbiz,¡± Tang Jing said.

    ¡°So you mean to tell me that you''re not going to do anything about this?¡± Ouyang Li snapped.

    ¡°No. What I mean is that you''ll have to change the plot of the movie and find a new group of actors if

    you want to restart this production.¡±

    Ouyang Li smacked her palm on the table. ¡°That''s impossible! I want this film to be simr to Ning

    Ran''s. I want theirs to flop!¡±

    At that, Tang Jing shrugged. ¡°There is nothing I can do, then. You''ll have to think of a way to solve this

    yourself.¡±

    ¡°How dare you not listen to me? You did so many terrible things with Ouyang Qing, and you even

    provided me with the filming location and details of I Am You. If you dare go against me, I''ll tell Nan

    Chen all about this. Do you think you can still work for Ning Ran after that?¡± Ouyang Li bellowed.

    Tang Jing continued staring at Ouyang Li calmly and fearlessly. In fact, there was a faint smile on her

    face.

    ¡°What are youughing about? How can you still smile at a time like this? Do you think my threats are

    empty ones?¡±

    ¡°I know that your threats aren''t empty, so do go and tell Nan Chen about this now. Go on, call him now.

    Do you even have his number?¡±

    The faint smile that did not reach Tang Jing''s eyes remained stered on her face, and it made

    Ouyang Li uneasy.

    ¡°I''ll contact Nan Chen. I have his assistant''s number.¡±

    At that, Tang Jing pretended to be scared. ¡°Fine, I''ll try to deal with this. Still, I can''t guarantee that I''ll

    be able to persuade those actors to return. Nevertheless, I''ll inform you if it fails.¡±

    Just then, Tang Jing''s phone rang; Ouyang Qi was calling her.

    As Tang Jing walked away, she picked up the call and chuckled as she spoke.

    Ouyang Li had no idea that her own brother, Ouyang Qi, was the one on the other end of the line.

    Once Tang Jing was done with her call, she waved her phone and said, ¡°A friend''s inviting me out for a

    meeting, so I''ll take my leave first. I''ll contact you again when I have news.¡±

    Later that day, Tang Jing was busying away in her kitchen.

    She had promised Ouyang Qi that she would cook dinner, and they would have a meal with Feng

    Jialing.

    The dishes she made that day were all Feng Jialing''s favorites.

    After a while, dinner was ready, but Ouyang Qi was stuck in traffic and had yet toe home.

    ¡°Mrs. Ouyang, why don''t you eat a little first if you''re hungry?¡± Tang Jing said to Feng Jialing.

    Feng Jialing did not say anything in response. Her eyes were glued to the television, where the news

    about the changing of Sunshine Corporation''s management was being broadcasted.

    Not daring to disturb Feng Jialing, Tang Jing quietly stood at the side.

    ¡°What were you saying earlier?¡± Feng Jialing asked once that segment of the news was over.

    ¡°I was saying that you should eat some first if you''re hungry. It''s bad for your stomach if you starve

    yourself,¡± Tang Jing said with a smile.

    ¡°I''m not hungry. I want to wait for my son toe home.¡± Feng Jialing shook her head.

    ¡°Okay. I''ll urge him to be quicker. I''m sure he''s almost home,¡± Tang Jing said as she took her phone.

    ¡°There''s no rush. Sit down. There''s something I want to talk to you about,¡± Feng Jialing uttered,

    gesturing for Tang Jing to sit down.

    Tang Jing did not dare to go against the older woman''s words, so she sat down.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    ¡°When did you get to know Ouyang Qi? I know he has quite a number of celebrity girlfriends, and

    sometimes, he changes several girlfriends within a month. It''s surprising that you''re able to stay in a

    rtionship with him for such a long time.¡±

    ¡°Mrs. Ouyang, I''m afraid you''ve mistaken the situation. Unlike the other actresses, I''m in a serious

    rtionship with him,¡± Tang Jing exined, smiling.

    ¡°What''s the difference between you and his other girlfriends? Are you trying to say that the two of you

    have feelings for each other? Do you really have feelings for him, or does he really have feelings for

    you?¡± Feng Jialing queried.

    Feng Jialing''s tone seemed off that day, and Tang Jing felt a sense of foreboding.

    ¡°Mrs. Ouyang, the feelings of love should be a mutual¡ª¡±

    ¡°That''s enough. Let''s not talk about feelings anymore. You actors are best at acting, and I know that

    well. Give me your ount. I''ll get people to settle those matters,¡± Feng Jialing abruptly said.

    ¡°Mrs. Ouyang, what are you talking about? Settle what matters?¡±

    ¡°I heard from Ouyang Qi that you''ve given him more than a million. I''ll pay you back on his behalf. Also,

    it''s true that we owe you one for staying at your ce. I''ve already asked someone to sell off my house

    at Pearl City, so I have some cash with me right now. Here is three million. Other than the money he

    owes you, the rest of the money is repayment for your time and kindness. I''ve already gotten a house

    in Flower City. Once Ouyang Qies back, we''ll move.¡±

    Even after Feng Jialing was done speaking, Tang Jing was still rooted to her spot, speechless.

    Ouyang Qi was now the acting CEO, and he was about to soar to great heights. Yet, Feng Jialing was

    now telling her that she was going to move away and pay Tang Jing what they owed her.

    It was clear what Feng Jialing was trying to do¡ªFeng Jialing was trying to cut ties with her.

    Therefore, what Tang Jing was getting back from her investment was her capital and a profit of over a

    million.

    Without a doubt, that was something she could not ept.

    ¡°Mrs. Ouyang, didn''t you say you werefortable here? You even said you liked my cooking. Look,

    the dishes I made today are all your favorites¡ª¡±

    ¡°That''s enough. I know what''s on your mind. You knew who Ouyang Qi is all along, and you wanted to

    use him to gain a fortune. I''ve repaid the favor, so please stop now,¡± Feng Jialing said, cutting her off.

 Chapter 774

    Chapter 774

    Tang Jing felt her heart sink.

    She had been traveling back and forth between Livingsfill and Flower City for some time now. It wasn''t

    easy for her to do that.

    However, she didn''t feel tired as her rtionship with Feng Jialing gradually improved.

    In fact, she assumed that Feng Jialing would side with her if she got into a fight with Ouyang Qi.

    Nevertheless, Feng Jialing told her today that they would be moving out. She would also get her money

    back.

    Tang Jing was initially thrilled, but her mood quickly changed as if someone had doused her with cold

    water. She was now a little distracted.

    Feng Jialing is correct. My goal is to amass wealth and climb the socialdder. To achieve this, I have

    been scheming and working tirelessly. My strategy turned out sessful as Ouyang Linded in a

    difficult situation, thus allowing Ouyang Qi to demonstrate his abilities. However, Feng Jialing''s words

    have rendered my efforts ineffective.

    Tang Jing wasn''t going to give up easily.

    ¡°Give me your ount, and I''ll ask someone to transfer the money to you. If you think it isn''t enough, I

    can give you more money with one condition¡ªstop contacting Ouyang Qi from now on,¡± Feng Jialing

    announced.

    Hearing that, Tang Jing burst outughing.

    ¡°Why did youugh?¡± Obviously, Feng Jialing didn''t like hearing herugh.

    ¡°Mrs. Ouyang, are you kicking me out?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. This is your house, and I have no right to kick you out. Ouyang Qi and I are going to

    move out, so you''ll still be staying here.¡±

    ¡°So you''re asking me to leave Ouyang Qi. You believe that I want more and that this would be best for

    him. Is that correct?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Feng Jialing didn''t bother keeping her thoughts a secret.

    ¡°I acknowledge that I have my own reasons for being kind to him. Nheless, can one truly find

    unconditional love in the world? I''m not so sure about that. People generally have an agenda when

    they are good to someone else. You may care deeply for Ouyang Qi because he is your son, but you

    can''t deny that you don''t expect something in return. Don''t you hope he will be a devoted child who can

    take care of you in your old age? That would be an example of expecting something in return.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Feng Jialing asked coldly.

    ¡°People generally expect something in return when they put in their efforts, be it mentally, emotionally,

    or something else. Therefore, I do not believe it is wrong for me to expect something from Ouyang Qi. I

    have put in my effort, but I do not have the right to dictate how much he should give back to me or ask

    for anything in return. I am disappointed that you have chosen to interfere in our rtionship. I took

    care of him and gave him confidence when he was going through difficult times, and now that he is

    doing better, you want me to leave him. Why is that?¡±

    When Tang Jing finally finished talking, the smile on her face was long gone.

    Feng Jialing was shocked by the revtion, but her shock quickly transformed into rage. ¡°Why? I gave

    birth to him and raised him, so of course I get to tell him how to live his life. I knew you had an ulterior

    motive for befriending my son. Now it''s clear that I was right. If you feel three million is not enough, I

    can add on two million to make it five million. Is that enough for you?¡± she roared in fury.

    ¡°No, I don''t want your money...¡±

    Right then, the doorbell rang. Ouyang Qi was back.

    Tang Jing quickly put on a smile. ¡°Wee home. You can go wash your hands as dinner is ready.¡±

    Ouyang Qi looked at the spread on the dining table and eximed in surprise, ¡°This is a lot! I can tell

    these are Mom''s favorite dishes. Tang Jing, why did you make all of her favorite dishes? You really

    favor her!¡±

    ¡°Mrs. Ouyang is unwell, so I prepared the food for her to nourish her body. Don''t worry, for I prepared

    some of your favorite dishes, too.¡±

    Ouyang Qi was back, so Feng Jialing stopped finding fault with Tang Jing. The three of them sat down

    to have dinner.

    The air was thick with tension, yet Ouyang Qi had no clue as to what had transpired prior to his arrival.

    Tang Jing didn''t reveal anything. She wasn''t about toin to him that soon.

    Besides, she knew Ouyang Qi might be displeased if she were toin directly as Feng Jialing was

    his mother.

    As long as Ouyang Qi was on her side, she wouldn''t have to fear Feng Jialing.

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    Feng Jialing might be Ouyang Qi''s mother, but Tang Jing believed she wasn''t able to make decisions

    concerning Ouyang Qi''s affairs.

    If she was that capable, Ouyang Duo wouldn''t have suffered a crushing defeat and died a horrible

    death.

    Tang Jing chose not to go against Feng Jialing not because she was afraid of thetter, but because

    the timing wasn''t right.

    Feng Jialing was surprised at Tang Jing''s silence.

    She assumed Tang Jing wouldin to her son, but Tang Jing didn''t say anything. In fact, Tang

    Jing served her dinner and helped her meticulously as usual.

    Tang Jing was able to hold back, but Feng Jialing couldn''t do so.

    ¡°Qi, I''ve asked someone to find us a house. I''ve already packed up, so we can move out tomorrow. I

    was worried you might be exhausted tonight. Otherwise, we could''ve moved out tonight and spent the

    night in our new house,¡± Feng Jialing said.

    Tang Jing''s heart leaped to her throat as she was afraid that Ouyang Qi would agree to his mother''s

    idea.

    I''ll lose if Ouyang Qi shares Feng Jialing''s sentiments.

    Fortunately, Ouyang Qi rejected his mother''s suggestion.

    ¡°Mom, why are you in a hurry to move out? Is it really necessary? We''ve be ustomed to living

    here, even though it''s a bit small. Can we discuss this further at another time?¡±

    Hearing that, Tang Jing heaved a sigh of relief.

    ¡°This isn''t our house. It isn''t nice to continue bothering Ms. Tang,¡± Feng Jialing said with a stern

    expression.

    Ouyang Qi chuckled. ¡°Mom, why would you think that way? We have spent a lot of time together, so

    she won''t mind. Besides, Tang Jing is my girlfriend. I want to build a future together with her.¡±

    Thud!

    Feng Jialing mmed her bowl on the table forcefully. ¡°I object!¡±

    Ouyang Qi was startled. Did Mom just disagree with our rtionship? I thought she had a good

    impression of Tang Jing. She oftenpliments Tang Jing''s cooking and that Tang Jing is a great

    person.

    ¡°Why? We love each other dearly,¡± Ouyang Qi protested.

    ¡°You can be friends, but you can''t date her. Remember, you both have different professions ande

    from different backgrounds, so it''s unlikely that you two would bepatible in the long run. I don''t

    agree with the two of you being in a rtionship!¡±

    Deep down, Tang Jing couldn''t help but sneer; She should make it clear. I can serve her, but I can''t

    marry into the Ouyang family. If Ouyang Qi is destitute, we can get married. But I can''t date him now

    given his current status as the person in charge of running apany. People tend to be snobs,

    especially those who are rich.

    ¡°Mom, when I was down in the dump¡ª¡±

    Feng Jialing interjected, ¡°I know she helped you when you were down with nothing. Don''t fret, as I have

    promised to reimburse her for aiding us when we were penniless. I will give her an extra few million as

    she took care of us as a token of my gratitude.¡±

 Chapter 775

    Chapter 775

    Ouyang Qi turned to look at Tang Jing. ¡°Did you discuss this prior to my return?¡±

    Tang Jing shed a bitter smile. ¡°That was Mrs. Ouyang''s idea. I didn''t get a chance to say anything.¡±

    ¡°Mom, it isn''t about money. Back then, if it wasn''t for¡ª¡±

    ¡°She treated you well not because she''s kind or has feelings for you. She is just an opportunist who

    seizes the opportunity to increase her chances of sess by betting on you. Don''t read too much into

    it!¡± Feng Jialing chided.

    She was right, for Tang Jing was indeed an opportunist.

    Women knew one another well, so Feng Jialing saw through Tang Jing at first nce.

    However, she was at fault, too. Back when Ouyang Li made things difficult for Ouyang Qi, she didn''t

    expose Tang Jing''s true colors but chose to take advantage of Tang Jing''s kindness.

    Now that Ouyang Qi was about to gain power while Ouyang Li got suppressed, she started plotting

    how to stop Tang Jing from riding on their coattails.

    Tang Jing initially thought she was the victor, but it was in fact Feng Jialing who had triumphed.

    However, Tang Jing wasn''t easy prey. She wasn''t about to give up just like that.

    Ouyang Qi wasn''t a fool, so he knew his mom was somewhat right.

    He had plenty of experience in the dating game, which gave him insight into the minds of women.

    In fact, he knew Tang Jing was an opportunist. Nevertheless, everyone in the world was selfish and

    wanted to achieve sess.

    Thus, there was nothing wrong about that.

    Finally, Tang Jing suggested, ¡°Let''s continue eating instead of talking about this matter.¡±

    ¡°Mom, I think¡ª¡±

    ¡°It doesn''t matter what you think. We''ve disturbed Ms. Tang for a long time, so it''s time for us to move

    out. I agreed topensate her for our time here, so it''s all settled.¡±

    ¡°No need for that, Mrs. Ouyang. If you''ve gotten used to staying here, I can move out. All that I am

    asking for is the amount of money I loaned Ouyang Qi. It isn''t a lot, but I won''t ask for more. After

    dinner, I''ll leave after doing the dishes. You can continue staying here with him.¡±

    Ouyang Qi panicked upon hearing that. ¡°Tang Jing¡ª¡±

    ¡°It''s decided, then. I don''t want any of your money. We''re friends, so I should help you when you are in

    trouble,¡± Tang Jing said with a smile.

    ¡°We should move out. This is your house, so we won''t stay here,¡± Feng Jialing told her.

    ¡°Mom¡ª¡±

    Ouyang Qi was about to protest, but Tang Jing stopped him. ¡°All right. Finish your dinner. You can

    move out if you want as our time together hase to an end.¡±

    Ouyang Qi exhaled loudly. He was initially in a great mood, but the argument had dampened his spirits.

    After dinner, Tang Jing did the dishes in the kitchen while Ouyang Qi went to take a shower. He came

    out to realize that Tang Jing was nowhere to be found.

    Feng Jialing told him that Tang Jing had left a while ago.

    Without hesitation, Ouyang Qi dialed Tang Jing''s number, only to find her phone was turned off.

    ¡°Mom, how could you do this? Aren''t you an opportunist too? Don''t tell me you''re not vain. You married

    Dad as he is rich, right?¡± Ouyang Qi demanded hotly.

    Feng Jialing trembled in anger. ¡°B*stard! That woman is too scheming. You''ll fall for her tricks one day!¡±

    Ouyang Qi flung open the door and went out to search for Tang Jing desperately, yet all his efforts were

    in vain as the night wore on.

    Actually, Tang Jing had checked into a hotel opposite her neighborhood. A smile tugged her lips as she

    stood on the balcony of her room and watched as Ouyang Qi searched for her frantically.

    At a nightclub in Livingsfill, the door of a VIP room was pushed open to reveal a slim and pale man

    fiddling with a small, customized scalpel.

    Li Xiaolong was busy singing with his arms around a woman. He thought it was the server bringing him

    his alcohol and continued signing loudly.

    Soon, the lights were switched on, and his song was cut short.

    The pale man stood in front of Li Xiaolong and spoke in a sharp voice. ¡°Is your surname Li?¡±

    ¡°Who the f*ck are you? Your long hair makes you look like a woman. Do I know you? Why did you cut

    my song?¡± Li Xiaolong was upset to be interrupted.

    ¡°I want to find out about someone¡ª¡±

    Before Ruan Anxi could finish, Li Xiaolong interjected, ¡°F*ck you! Can''t you see that I am having fun?

    Scram!¡±

    ¡°I''ll only take up one minute of your time. I just want to find out about someone¡ª¡±

    ¡°F*ck!¡± Li Xiaolong raised his leg to kick Ruan Anxi.

    The man was skinny and weak, so Li Xiaolong assumed he would crash to the ground easily.

    However, Ruan Anxi didn''t fall. Instead, he flicked his hand gently.

    ¡°Ah!¡± Li Xiaolong let out a bloodcurdling scream. ¡°My leg!¡±

    He tried to retract his leg but discovered he couldn''t do so. His leg was throbbing in agony, and he felt

    detached from it.

    Ruan Anxi cut his legs three times in three different spots.

    These three cuts on his legs had left him in agonizing pain and listless.

    Li Xiaolong''sckeys pounced on Ruan Anxi when they realized Li Xiaolong had been wounded.

    Ruan Anxi waved his hand. Following that, oneckey promptly grasped his wrist as blood spurted out

    of his wound.

    The otherckey held his neck and stared at Ruan Anxi in fear.

    Ruan Anxi might look slim and weak, but he was quick.

    He wielded his scalpel with such speed that his opponents were unable to evade his strikes.

    ¡°Kneel down, and don''t move. If you move, you''ll die of blood loss,¡± Ruan Anxi ordered shrilly.

    Li Xiaolong and hisckeys stayed put out of fear.

    Slowly, Ruan Anxi repeated, ¡°I want to find out about someone.¡±

    This time, Li Xiaolong dared not say no. ¡°Who is it?¡±

    ¡°A woman with the surname Tang. I can''t find her,¡± Ruan Anxi exined.

    ¡°A woman with the surname Tang? There are plenty of women going by that surname in Livingsfill! Do

    you have her picture?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Then do you know where she lives?¡±

    Ruan Anxi shook his head. ¡°You''re a fool. If I knew where she lives, why would Ie to you?¡±

    Li Xiaolong thought about it and realized he was right.

    ¡°She has many subordinates as well as powerful connections. She also has two kids, but I''m not sure if

    they are hers,¡± Ruan Anxi added.

    Ruan Anxi''s subordinates were all killed, so he ordered his men to get the information from the town at

    the border.

    He didn''t even know if the information was true, but he had no other option than to give it a shot.

    One thing he was sure of was that his subordinate kidnapped the wrong person. The woman they

    kidnapped wasn''t Ning Ran.

    Later, a lot of evidence proved that Ning Ran was in Flower City when his men kidnapped that woman.

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    If that was the case, Ruan Anxi had to find Lu Jingyuan before using her to find her powerful backer.

    His subordinates had died in the backer''s subordinates'' hands, so he refused to let the matter slide.

    Ruan Anxi''s words merely served to increase Li Xiaolong''s confusion. Li Xiaolong knew Lu Jingyuan,

    but he wasn''t aware that thetter had two kids.

    ¡°I don''t know who you''re talking about,¡± Li Xiaolong told him helplessly.

 Chapter 776

    Chapter 776

    ¡°But they say that you''re quite close to the woman. How is it possible that you don''t know?¡±

    With a flick of Ruan Anxi''s hand, a slit appeared on Li Xiaolong''s pants.

    ¡°Do you want to know how eunuchs were castrated in the past? I happen to master the art of

    castration. Would you like to try it?¡± Ruan Anxi asked.

    Beads of nervous sweat dotted Li Xiaolong''s forehead. ¡°No, no. Please, I don''t want to be a eunuch.

    Let me think. I''ll recite all the names of the women I know with the surname Lu!¡±

    ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    Then, Li Xiaolong uttered over a dozen of names with the surname Lu.

    The problem was, Ruan Anxi wouldn''t recognize the name of the woman that he was looking for.

    ¡°Among these women with the surname Lu, who has two children?¡± Ruan Anxi couldn''t think of any

    other way to ask him.

    ¡°Let me think. I think none of them have children,¡± Li Xiaolong said weakly.

    ¡°I''m looking for someone with children. A pretty woman with children, and she had gone missing a few

    days ago,¡± Ruan Anxi exined.

    ¡°Missing? None of the women I mentioned are missing. Some of them even had fun with me justst

    night,¡± Li Xiaolong said.

    ¡°Think harder. This woman is no ordinary woman. She''s really special. Among those Lu women you

    know, who is the most extraordinary?¡±

    Li Xiaolong was forced to reconsider and finally said, ¡°Well, if I really have to mention one, it''ll have to

    be Lu Jingyuan. She''s really one of a kind. I heard that she''s really rich, and she''s quite pretty as well.

    Right, I also heard rumors of her having children, but I don''t know for sure, because I''ve never seen

    them.¡±

    ¡°Lu Jingyuan? Does she have a mansion?¡±

    Ruan Anxi reckoned that she was the woman whom he was looking for.

    ¡°Yes. She has a mansion. I''ve had a few exchanges with her, and I unluckily got the shorter end of the

    stick,¡± Li Xiaolongmented.

    ¡°Give me her address,¡± Ruan Anxi snapped.

    The next day, Ning Ran, who was just done filming a scene, went back to the lounge area to take a

    rest, when Cheng Xiangyun approached her.

    ¡°Ms. Lu called you. Would you like to call her?¡±

    ¡°Did she mention anything?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    ¡°She said it''s something minor and didn''t borate further,¡± Chen Xiangyun replied.

    Ning Ran took over the phone and called Lu Jingyuan.

    The call went through and Lu Jingyuan''s voice could be heard saying, ¡°Hi, pretty.¡±

    Ning Ran smiled. ¡°Hey, beautiful. What''s up?¡±

    ¡°I left in a rush and left a bag in my house at Livingsfill. It''s in the second drawer in my study room.

    Could you retrieve it and send it to me?¡± Lu Jingyuan asked.

    ¡°Hmm, I don''t think I can enter the house though. I don''t even have the keys to your ce,¡± Ning Ran

    muttered.

    ¡°I''ve mailed you the keys. Just help me get them when you''re free.¡±

    ¡°You might as well order me to go since you''ve taken the liberty to mail the keys here.¡± Ning Ran

    chuckled.

    ¡°I don''t intend to order you around. It''s fine if you''re busy. I''m not in a rush to get the bag either,¡± Lu

    Jingyuan exined.

    ¡°I thought you''d sold your ce here. Don''t worry. I''ll help you get itter.¡±

    ¡°I''m nning to sell it, but the ce is not worth a lot. So, I''ve decided to just keep it for the time being.

    Don''t worry about getting the bag if you''re busy. Just go retrieve it at your convenience,¡± Lu Jingyuan

    said.

    ¡°I''m getting off work early today. So, I''ll get your bagter and mail it to you tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Why don''t you send it here yourself and bring along my godson while you''re at it?¡± Lu Jingyuan

    suggested with a smile.

    ¡°I''m afraid I can''t make it. You have to make a trip here if you miss him that much. After all, you''re the

    one with more time to spare.¡±

    Lu Jingyuan let out a sigh and said, ¡°I can''t leave at the moment. My brother doesn''t let me go

    wherever I please now. We''ll have to see how it goes.¡±

    ¡°All right, then. Remember toe and pay a visit to your godson when you''re free.¡±

    Ning Ran continued filming after she was done chatting with Lu Jingyuan.

    After getting off work, Ning Ran went back to Mountview Inn and took the keys that Lu Jingyuan mailed

    her so that she could go take thetter''s bagter.

    These were precarious times, and Ning Ran had to have someone protect her while she was out and

    about.

    Qiao Zhan insisted on following her to Lu Jingyuan''s vi when he knew about it. He wanted to see

    what Lu Jingyuan''s vi looked like.

    Ever since Lu Jingyuan went back to the capital, Qiao Zhan felt empty, as if there was a void in his

    heart.

    Being a reserved man, he told no one about it. These days, he was always spotted standing alone in a

    corner, staring nkly at Livingsfill''s blue sky.

    For some people, a city was never the same without the presence of the people they cared about.

    Ning Ran realized the oddity in Qiao Zhan''s demeanor. However, she didn''t know how tofort him.

    There wasn''t always a happy ending to rtionships. Some were destined to end even before they

    started.

    She wanted to let Qiao Zhan know that he could only gaze upon some people from afar and that no

    amount of sincerity or waiting could bring the possibility of fruition.

    Though there was the saying that perseverance was the key to oveing any obstacles, there were

    times when it just wouldn''t work.

    This was especially true when it came to rtionships. It was futile to force these feelings, foolish even,

    to think that hard work alone was enough to make someone fall for you.

    Why waste the effort to pursue the impossible? If fate had it that Qiao Zhan was not destined to end up

    with Lu Jingyuan, Ning Ran reckoned that it was best that he refrained from grasping at the wind.

    On the way to Lu Jingyuan''s vi, Qiao Zhan drove in silence, perhaps in contemtion of his

    unrequited love.

    In the end, Ning Ran could no longer rein herself in and said, ¡°Qiao Zhan, do you have a girl you like?¡±

    Still in a daze, Qiao Zhan blurted out, ¡°Yes.¡±

    It was already toote when he realized that he had made a blunder.

    He quickly added, ¡°Oh, that''s not what I meant. I''m a rough man, and I don''t understand anything about

    romance, and I don''t wish to understand it either.¡±

    Ning Ran smiled. ¡°Oh,e on. How could you go back on your words like that? I''ve always thought

    you''re an honest man and didn''t think you''d lie.¡±

    ¡°Madam, I''ve always been honest, and I really don''t have someone I like,¡± Qiao Zhan replied bitterly.

    It was apparent that he had a lot on his mind.

    To be honest, Ning Ran pitied the man. A dense man like Qiao Zhan wouldn''t know how to deal with

    rtionship matters. Stubborn as he was, he wouldn''t know when to give up his futile feelings either.

    It was impossible between him and the woman he fell for. Not only was there a wide gap in the

    socioeconomic statuses of their two families, but they were also ipatible with each other in every

    other aspect.

    Having nothing inmon, they were like two parallel lines that would never cross paths with each

    other.

    ¡°If you don''t have someone you like, why don''t I introduce a girlfriend to you? You''re not getting any

    younger. It''s time for you to look for a partner and settle down,¡± Ning Ran suggested with a smile.

    ¡°Who are you nning to introduce me to, Madam?¡± Qiao Zhan asked.

    ¡°I haven''t thought about that. I need to ask what kind of woman you like and see if I know anyone you

    might like,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    Qiao Zhan fell silent for a moment and said gloomily, ¡°I don''t know.¡±

    ¡°What do you think about a woman like Lu Jingyuan?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    Qiao Zhan stiffened in response.

    Before he could answer, Ning Ran replied, ¡°I don''t think you should fall for a woman like that though,

    because a woman like her is not for you. I''m not saying that you''re not good enough. It''s just that a

    woman like heres from an influential and wealthy family. Besides, she''s the adventurous type and

    enjoys traveling. She''s not the type to stay at home. I don''t think she''s wife material.¡±

    ¡°You''re right, Madam. Someone like Ms. Lu should be together with a rich man, someone like Sir Chen.

    That way, she won''t have to worry about money and will be free to do as she pleases.¡±

    Realizing that his metaphor was inappropriate, Qiao Zhan exined, ¡°What I''m trying to say is that

    they''re both elites, and people like them are a match made in heaven. Havingmon interests is the

    key to living a happy and blissful life together.

    Right then, Ning Ran knew that she had underestimated Qiao Zhan. He understands it all.

 Chapter 777

    Chapter 777

    Initially, they were talking about Qiao Zhan, but in the end, Ning Ran was affected by the example Qiao

    Zhan quoted.

    Is Qiao Zhan implying I''m not an elite; therefore, I''m not good enough for Nan Chen? Then again, he''s

    not wrong. Indeed, I''m not a sessful person.

    Before reuniting with Nan Chen, Ning Ran was merely an unpopr actress who could barely raise her

    children.

    After meeting Nan Chen, she began to gain more opportunities to star inrge-scale movies. It was all

    due to the support of resources from Nanshi Corporation.

    Thanks to Nan Chen, she even received the Best Neer Award.

    Hence, the only reason she could be who she was today was because of Nanshi Corporation.

    However, Ning Ran refused to admit defeat. She had been working very hard in her acting roles to earn

    the respect and recognition of her audience. Why am I not considered a creme de creme? What

    gives?

    Qiao Zhan realized he had misspoken and upset Ning Ran.

    Not knowing how to make it up to her at that instant, he anxiously honked the car in front of him several

    times.

    ¡°It''s okay. There''s no need for you to panic. I was never an elite, to begin with, but Nan Chen and I

    share manymon topics because we have two children together.¡±

    Finally, Ning Ran found a reason tofort herself and an excuse to refute Qiao Zhan effectively.

    Actually, the defense was totally unnecessary because everyone knew that Nan Chen and Ning Ran

    were apatible couple.

    Immediately, Qiao Zhan concurred with her. ¡°Yes, that''s right! Parenting is the biggest topic for you and

    Sir Chen. There''s anothermonality between you both too. The two of you are very good-looking.

    No other woman can match Sir Chen other than you, Madam.¡±

    Ning Ran was stunned by Qiao Zhan''s sudden ttery.

    Yet, she could not deny how happy that made her feel. After all, no woman would rejectpliments

    about their appearance.

    Ning Ran noticed they were nearby Lu Jingyuan''s vi, so she concluded their conversation by saying,

    ¡°I believe you''ll find a girlfriend thatplements you, Chief Qiao. Meanwhile, I''ll keep a watch out for

    you. Once I spot someone suitable, I''ll introduce her to you.¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Qiao Zhan replied.

    Upon arriving at the entrance to the vi, Qiao Zhan attempted to follow Ning Ran but was stopped by

    thetter.

    ¡°You can wait for me here. Lu Jingyuan wants me to collect something for her, but I''m unsure if it''s her

    private belonging. I''m afraid it''s not appropriate for you to tag along.¡±

    After pondering for a while, Qiao Zhan agreed, ¡°All right, I''ll stay outside.¡±

    Then, Ning Ran opened the gate, stepped foot into thepound, and walked through a narrow

    garden path leading her into the vi.

    Judging from the dust collected, she was guessing nobody cleaned the house recently. Otherwise, a

    vi that was usually spick and span would not be so dusty.

    It was so dark in the evening. When Ning Ran got to the second floor, she wanted to switch on the

    lights but to no avail. The electricity seemed to have been cut off.

    She wondered if Lu Jingyuan had intentionally turned the power supply off before her departure for

    safety reasons.

    Since Ning Ran was there to pick up something, she waszy to spend more time searching for the

    main switch. Thinking she would not stay long in the vi, Ning Ran used the shlight on her phone

    instead.

    Slowly, she made her way into the study room.

    As soon as she went inside, a shadow darted over to cover her mouth and grip her throat.

    Why is there someone else inside the vi? Could it be a burr? Ning Ran''s heart raced rapidly as all

    sorts of possibilities shed through her mind.

    ¡°I won''t hurt you if you keep silent, or else I''ll slit your throat within two seconds,¡± a voice whispered.

    Ning Ran could not open her mouth to speak at all, so she hummed and nodded.

    Subsequently, the shadow shut the door gently and released Ning Ran as promised.

    Terrified, she wanted to shout for help because Qiao Zhan was just outside.

    However, the shadow held a knife to her neck as soon as she was about to yell.

    Ning Ran was well aware of the danger she was in. The person might kill her if she were to move a

    muscle. Horror-stricken, she dared not speak nor breathe heavily.

    Then, the figure took the phone from her hand and ced it on the table.

    At that moment, Ning Ran caught a glimpse of his face under the moving shlight. It was a skinny

    man!

    Among all the men Ning Ran knew, Ouyang Qi wasparatively thinner and weaker. The man

    standing before her was even skinnier than Ouyang Qi, and the former looked sickly.

    He had long hair and a face as pale as a sheet. He could be considered handsome if not for his creepy

    eyes that caused one to shudder.

    ¡°Is yourst name Lu?¡± the man asked.

    Ning Ran debated in her mind, clueless as to what she should answer him.

    Should I say yes or no? His fingers are slender, and he''s wearing an expensive sapphire ring. He''s not

    a regr thief, and I doubt he''s here to steal. Then, why did he show up? Is he looking for someone?

    Since this is Lu Jingyuan''s residence, he''s probably looking for her. Why? Whatever for?

    ¡°Say it! Is yourst name Lu?¡± The man repeated his question.

    His voice was very soft, and it somewhat matched his slim build.

    ¡°No,¡± Ning Ran finally answered.

    ¡°Do you know Lu Jingyuan? What''s your rtionship with her?¡± the man queried.

    At first, Ning Ran wanted to deny knowing Lu Jingyuan. Then, she realized he would call her out for

    lying. If I don''t know her, how do I get in?

    ¡°Yes, I know her, but we''re just friends. Who on earth are you?¡± Ning Ran countered.

    That man ignored her question and continued, ¡°Where is she?¡±

    ¡°She''s not in Livingsfill,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°Where is she?¡±

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    This time, Ning Ran fell silent because she could not tell him.

    As a matter of fact, Lu Jingyuan texted Ning Ran her exact location in the capital. All the details are

    kept in Ning Ran''s phone, but she was determined not to sell Lu Jingyuan out.

    Although she could not confirm the man''s identity, she feared him. Everything about him, from his gaze

    to the aura he exuded, spelled trouble. He was just like a cold and poisonous snake.

    ¡°I''ll cut your heart out if you don''t reveal it to me.¡± As Ruan Anxi spoke, he waved the custom-made

    scalpel before her eyes.

    ¡°I don''t know,¡± said Ning Ran calmly.

    ¡°That''s impossible! You know it very well, I''m sure,¡± he muttered.

    ¡°I''m clueless. Why are you looking for her?¡±

    Ning Ran intended to maintain herposure and drag the time as long as she could.

    Qiao Zhan was still waiting for her outside. She assumed he would rush in to check in on her and

    discover the man after realizing how long she had been gone.

    The man was scrawny whereas Qiao Zhan was buff like a bull, and they were not even in the same

    league.

    When Qiao Zhan appeared, Ning Ran was confident he could defeat Ruan Anxi anytime.

    Hence, her best option was to keep dragging the time.

    Right then, Ning Ran''s phone rang. It was Qiao Zhan.

    He started feeling suspicious when he did not see any lights turned on in the vi, and yet Ning Ran

    had not returned.

    Anyhow, he obeyed themand given to him. Following Ning Ran''s instruction to have him wait

    outside, Qiao Zhan dared not barge into the house without permission. The only thing he could do was

    to call and check in on her.

    Needless to say, Ruan Anxi would not allow Ning Ran to answer the phone. Had she stretched her arm

    out to reach for her phone, her wrist would be cut at once.

    Ning Ran was well aware of that. Thus, she did not take any action.

 Chapter 778

    Chapter 778

    Ruan Anxi picked up Ning Ran''s phone and saw the name on the screen was ¡°Captain Qiao.¡±

    ¡°He''s the one protecting you?¡± he asked.

    Ning Ran made no reply. She had no idea how he managed to guess it.

    ¡°Who are you that someone even protects you?¡± Ruan Anxi pressed on.

    Still, Ning Ran remained silent.

    ¡°Are you that woman with the surname Lu? You can mobilize special forces?¡± he asked, looking

    suspiciously at Ning Ran.

    ¡°I''m not. Truly.¡±

    ¡°Then who are you? If you don''t say, I''ll slit your throat¡ª¡±

    Before Ruan Anxi could finish his words, Qiao Zhan''s voice rang from outside. ¡°Madam!¡±

    As Ning Ran didn''t pick up the phone, Qiao Zhan realized something was amiss and came in too.

    She was just about to respond when Ruan Anxi pressed a scalpel against her neck.

    Immediately, she didn''t dare to reply.

    Qiao Zhan had already entered, and upon realizing the lights weren''t on, he tried finding the switch

    while shouting, ¡°Madam, where are you?¡±

    Ning Ran dared not make a sound in the darkness because if she did, it would be herst sound.

    Soon, Qiao Zhan stopped yelling.

    Having trained in the army for a long time, he was a professional, so he had already sensed danger

    and knew Ning Ran was in trouble.

    ¡°Bang!¡±

    Suddenly, the door to the study room was kicked open and Qiao Zhan dashed in like a leopard.

    In the darkness, Ruan Anxi wrapped his arms around Qian Zhan as if he were a snake, and before the

    latter could react, a scalpel was pressed against Qiao Zhan''s throat.

    Qiao Zhan had sensed there was danger inside, but he had no choice but to enter.

    Moreover, he was confident in his speed and strength, but he didn''t expect Ruan Anxi to be even

    speedier and nimbler, like a phantom.

    Qiao Zhan was strong, but Ruan Anxi was like a poisonous snake, cold and sinister.

    A leopard was much stronger than a snake, but that didn''t mean the snake would be at a disadvantage.

    ¡°Don''t move. If not, you''ll die,¡± Ruan Anxi hissed.

    Qiao Zhan obeyed and put up his hands.

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    He couldn''t resist or give up his life, as Ning Ran would be in trouble if he died.

    By rushing in recklessly, he could draw Ruan Anxi to attack him, giving Ning Ran the opportunity to

    escape, and he actually seeded.

    ¡°Madam, you go first,¡± Qiao Zhan dered grimly.

    ¡°No, I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Go!¡± Qiao Zhan roared.

    ¡°You''re so loyal. That''s great, but she can''t go. If she moves, I will cut your throat, then catch up to her

    and cut hers. You will both die. Answer my question, and don''t provoke me. That way, you may both

    live,¡± Ruan Anxi threatened menacingly.

    ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°Is her surname Lu? If she isn''t, who is she?¡±

    Qiao Zhan didn''t dare reply, as he didn''t know what was the correct way of responding.

    ¡°Speak! If you lie, I will kill him!¡±

    Ruan Anxi pressed the scalpel harder, and the sharp de cut Qiao Zhan''s skin, showing blood.

    ¡°No, I''ll tell you. I''m Ding Mi, an actress,¡± Ning Ran hurriedly replied.

    ¡°Actress? Madam? You''re Nan Chen''s woman?¡±

    I''m screwed. I thought it would be fine if I gave him my stage name. I didn''t expect to involve Nan Chen

    too.

    Ruan Anxi didn''t know Ning Ran and had never seen her before, but he knew from Ding Fei that Nan

    Chen''s lover was an actress and was currently shooting in Livingsfill.

    This guy calls her ¡°Madam,¡± so she must be no ordinary person. Now that she mentioned she is an

    actress, she''s likely Nan Chen''s lover.

    Ruan Anxi was highly influential in underground circles in South East Aploth. Not only was it because

    of his ruthlessness, but it was also due to his intelligence. If not, he would have long been killed long

    ago.

    Before Ning Ran could reply, Ruan Anxi had already startedughing. He knew he was right.

    ¡°How coincidental that Ie across Nan Chen''s woman. Let''s go.¡±

    Go? Where though? Ning Ran and Qiao Zhan were both confused.

    ¡°You''re Nan Chen''s bodyguard? You''re good at your job, but you must die because I''m taking her,¡±

    Ruan Anxi suddenly uttered.

    Realization dawned upon Qiao Zhan. Ruan Anxi was nning on kidnapping Ning Ran.

    ¡°You can''t kill him! Not only is he Nan Chen''s bodyguard, but he''s also a friend! If you kill him, Nan

    Chen will never let you off! I won''t let you take me away too!¡± Ning Ran screamed.

    ¡°Even if he''s Nan Chen, I can kill him if I want. Moreover, he''s not Nan Chen, but a friend of his...

    Ahem, ahem, ahem...¡±

    Before Ruan Anxi could finish his sentence, he started coughing so violently that his body shook.

    However, he still kept his hand holding the scalpel against Qiao Zhan''s neck.

    Seeing a chance, Ning Ran grabbed the duster on the desk and stabbed it in Ruan Anxi''s eyes.

    Ruan Anxi had to dodge, and the instant he moved, Qiao Zhan immediately bent down and mmed

    his head against Ruan Anxi.

    As Ruan Anxi was scrawny, he could not hold up against Qiao Zhan''s powerful headbutt and fell

    backward. However, he swiftly swung the scalpel before hended on the ground, and it cut Qiao

    Zhan''s arm, drawing blood.

    The next second, Qiao Zhan pounced on him and kicked away his scalpel before throwing punch after

    punch with his huge fists.

    Ruan Anxi coughed even more profusely, and under Qiao Zhan''s ferocious attacks, he could no longer

    support himself and copsed against the ground, panting as blood dribbled down his mouth.

    ¡°Enough, stop hitting him. If not, he''ll die,¡± Ning Ran advised.

    ¡°He deserves to die! How dare he hurt me with a de!¡± Qiao Zhan stomped on Ruan Anxi.

    ¡°Don''t kill him. He looks like he''s on the verge of death. It seems like he''s ill, and he suddenly had an

    attack,¡± Ning Ran advised again.

    ¡°Fine, I''ll listen to you.¡± Only then did Qiao Zhan let Ruan Anxi go.

    ¡°What do we do about him now? At the state he''s in, I''m afraid he''ll die if we don''t send him to the

    hospital,¡± Ning Ranmented with a frown.

    ¡°We can''t let him die in Ms. Lu''s room. It will jinx her house. Let''s carry him out,¡± Qiao Zhan dered

    before lifting Ruan Anxi up from the ground.

    Ruan Anxi was very skinny and light, so when Qiao Zhan dragged him across the floor, it seemed like

    Qiao Zhan was dragging a snake.

    ¡°Let''s hand him over to the police and let them treat his illness. If not, he will die,¡± Ning Ran suggested.

    ¡°Madam, don''t be so kind. Just let him die. Judging from how skilled he is with a scalpel, he must be

    Ruan Anxi if I''m not wrong. However, I didn''t expect the notorious ¡°Doctor¡± of the criminal underworld of

    South East Aploth to be so sickly.¡±

    Upon hearing that, Ning Ran was stunned. She had heard Nan Chen mention Ruan Anxi before.

    ¡°So he''s Ruan Anxi. I heard he''s very influential and ruthless, like a devil.¡±

    ¡°Yes, he is a devil, so he deserves to die.¡±

    ¡°But he''s a life. If he dies here, we''ll also get into trouble. We should call him an ambnce. After he is

    treated, it depends on the police how they want to deal with him. We have no right to take his life,¡± Ning

    Ran insisted.

 Chapter 779

    Chapter 779

    Ruan Anxi woke up while Ning Ran and Qiao Zhan were conversing.

    He had a weak constitution and suffered from a chronic cough.

    That was the reason why he studied medicine. However, he realized that while he could cure others, he

    couldn''t cure himself.

    The weaker a person was, the more they would desire to be stronger to prove themselves.

    Therefore, he gave up studying medicine. He started dabbling in business and became influential in

    underground circles in South East Aploth.

    Being the son of an illegitimate royal family member granted him convenience. His business flourished

    in the underground circles, and he amassed great wealth.

    However, his health didn''t improve with his fortune. He was still a sickly man despite his increasing

    influence.

    Some problems couldn''t be solved with money. To him, as long as the matter was something that could

    be settled with money, it was trivial.

    Of course, for those who did not have money, financial stress was a problem they could not solve.

    Ruan Anxi had actually brought his subordinates here. However, he instructed them to leave when he

    realized no one was in the house.

    He stayed in the room by himself. On one hand, he wanted to try his luck on whether Lu Jingyuan

    would suddenly return.

    On the other hand, he also wished to investigate Lu Jingyuan''s home in order to find some clues.

    Coincidentally, Ning Ran and the others arrived right when Ruan Anxi''s subordinates left.

    Ruan Anxi was a person who liked silence. He was different from those hooligans who enjoyed

    parading around with a group of subordinates to put on airs.

    He would never bring anyone if he knew he could handle the matter alone.

    They would only expose themselves if there were too many people on the task.

    Therefore, he was able to protect himself with just a scalpel for so many years.

    Rather than protecting his safety, his hundreds of subordinates were used to safeguard his business.

    Nevertheless, he met Qiao Zhan that day and the bloke was someone who was able to turn the tables

    whenever an opportunity arose.

    Of course, Ruan Anxi did not believe that he had lost to Qiao Zhan. He attributed Qiao Zhan''s sess

    to his condition and Ning Ran''s assistance.

    After he woke up, he did not immediately open his eyes. Instead, he continued to pretend that he was

    unconscious.

    Hence, he heard Ning Ran''s and Qiao Zhan''s conversation clearly.

    He didn''t expect Ning Ran to care about his life and asked Qiao Zhan to save him.

    If Ning Ran didn''t stop Qiao Zhan, thetter would have beaten him to death with a few more punches.

    Ning Ran''s words saved him.

    Qiao Zhan carried Ruan Anxi and prepared to move him out of Lu Jingyuan''s mansion so that he

    wouldn''t die there.

    Ning Ran took out her phone and prepared to call Nan Chen to tell him what had happened and to ask

    him how she should deal with Ruan Anxi.

    She wanted to inquire if she should take him to the hospital first or call the police and wait for them to

    come and handle the situation.

    However, when Ning Ran''s call connected, she heard snickering before she could even speak.

    She raised her head and noticed Ruan Anxi was conscious and holding a scalpel on Qiao Zhan''s

    carotid artery.

    He only needed to cut Qiao Zhan lightly for thetter''s blood to gush out and the poor man would die

    before the ambnce arrived due to loss of blood.

    Didn''t Qiao Zhan kick Ruan Anxi''s scalpel away from thetter? Why does he have another one in his

    hand? Does that mean he has more than one? Also, when did he regain consciousness? Didn''t he spit

    out a mouthful of blood as if he was about to die?

    ¡°Don''t do anything rash! Don''t hurt him!¡± Ning Ran said with a trembling voice.

    Ruan Anxi asked in a low voice, ¡°You told him not to kill me just now, so I owe you one. There are two

    of you, but I can let one live. You can choose if it is you or him?¡±

    Ning Ran couldn''t give him an answer.

    She didn''t want Qiao Zhan or her to die.

    It seemed that she had made a wrong decision and brought harm to Qiao Zhan. This would not be

    happening now if she had let him kill Ruan Anxi earlier.

    It would be her fault if Qiao Zhan died. She''d feel guilty about it for the rest of her life.

    ¡°Choose quickly. I can let one of you live.¡± Ruan Anxi smiled.

    ¡°Let me die. Do it. If you''re a man, you need to promise that you will noty a hand on Madam,¡± Qiao

    Zhan said.

    ¡°Okay, at least you''re loyal enough. Do you have anything to say to her? Say yourst words,¡± Ruan

    Anxi uttered.

    Qiao Zhan thought about it and sighed. ¡°I don''t have anyst words, but you have to promise me that

    you won''t hurt her.¡±

    ¡°I already said it. I can let one of you live.¡±

    ¡°Do it, then. Give me a quick death.¡± Qiao Zhan closed his eyes.

    ¡°No!¡± Ning Ran screamed.

    ¡°Are you willing to die for him, then? It is his responsibility to die to protect you.¡± Ruan Anxi grinned.

    ¡°He can''t die! You should let us go. Although I told him not to hit you anymore, I wouldn''t have been

    able to stop him if he wanted to kill you. So, he''s the one who spared you. It wasn''t me. You owe him

    one, so you can''t kill him.¡±

    It was a miracle Ning Ran was able to think of such reasoning in a panic.

    Ruan Anxi heard her words and thought about it. ¡°It does sound reasonable. However, only one of you

    guys can live. Since he volunteered, I''ll grant his wish. Carry me to the entrance there.¡±

    Qiao Zhan bellowed, ¡°If you''re going to kill me, do it quick! Stop wasting time!¡±

    ¡°You have to listen to me, or else I won''t give you a quick death. I''ll slice you up slowly and take out

    your organs one by one. I''m good at this,¡± Ruan Anxi replied.

    Qiao Zhan was not afraid of dying, but he didn''t want to be dismembered and dissected like an animal.

    Therefore, he had no choice but to carry Ruan Anxi to the entrance.

    Ning Ran followed right behind them.

    ¡°Leave the mansion and get in the car,¡± Ruan Anxi uttered.

    Qiao Zhan could only follow his instructions and carried him onto the back seat of his jeep.

    The scene of a man carrying another man, as thetter had a scalpel on the former''s artery, was rather

    strange and frightening.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    ¡°You drive,¡± Ruan Anxi said to Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran sat in the driver''s seat and started the engine.

    As long as Ruan Anxi hadn''t killed Qiao Zhan, there was a chance of them surviving. That situation

    was what Ning Ran wanted.

    After starting the car, Ruan Anxi''s hand suddenly moved and shifted his scalpel from Qiao Zhan''s neck

    to Ning Ran''s.

    He was so swift that the bulky Qiao Zhan couldn''t react quickly enough in such a small and narrow

    space.

    ¡°Okay, you can get off the car. I will let you go for her sake.¡± Ruan Anxi smiled.

    ¡°I won''t get off the car! You promise to let Madam go!¡± Qiao Zhan roared.

    ¡°That''s enough. I won''t kill her. However, if you refuse to get off, I''ll do it,¡± Ruan Anxi said sinisterly.

    ¡°Qiao Zhan, you should get off the car. I''m okay. He promised me that he won''t hurt me.¡± Although Ning

    Ran seemed calm on the surface, she was panicking.

    ¡°You have to keep your promise!¡± Qiao Zhan said to Ruan Anxi.

    ¡°I''ll count to three. If you don''t get off the car, I''ll kill her. One¡ª¡±

 Chapter 780

    Chapter 780

    Before Ruan Anxi could say anything else, Qiao Zhan got off the car.

    After he got off, Ruan Anxi gestured to Ning Ran to start driving. Soon, the ck jeep drove away.

    Ruan Anxi removed his scalpel from Ning Ran''s neck.

    Seeing that Ruan Anxi had no intention of hurting her, Ning Ran breathed a sigh of relief.

    It was the best-case scenario since she and Qiao Zhan were still alive.

    Nevertheless, Ning Ran felt that Ruan Anxi had some tricks up his sleeve for letting Qiao Zhan go. He

    did not seem like someone who would be thankful to her because she let him go once.

    ¡°There''s a temple west of Livingsfill. Drive there,¡± Ruan Anxi ordered.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    Ruan Anxi climbed over the seat and sat in the passenger seat. He looked at Ning Ran curiously. ¡°Are

    you not scared?¡±

    ¡°If I''m scared, will you let me go?¡± Ning Ran countered.

    ¡°No,¡± Ruan Anxi replied honestly.

    ¡°So, why ask this question?¡±

    She''d be lying if she said she wasn''t scared. How could she not be terrified with a devil sitting beside

    her?

    She wouldn''t be able to solve any problems if she was afraid, so she forced herself to stay calm.

    No matter the situation, the probability of getting bullied was high if one appeared weak.

    Moreover, Qiao Zhan was fine. He would tell Nan Chen that she was abducted by Ruan Anxi. Nan

    Chen would definitelye to save her.

    Some matters were destined to happen. There was no getting around them.

    She should have been the one who got kidnapped at Mountview Inn, but Lu Jingyuan took her ce.

    This time, shended in Ruan Anxi''s hands.

    It was destined to happen. There was no avoiding ill fate.

    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Ruan Anxi asked.

    ¡°I''m thinking about why you kidnapped me,¡± Ning Ran responded.

    ¡°Take a guess.¡± Ruan Anxi chuckled before covering his mouth as he coughed softly.

    ¡°I can''t guess it, but I can guess that your coughing fits must be an old illness. You must not have been

    able to cure it for many years. Actually, I know a person who is extremely skilled in traditional medicine.

    I have a friend who was sick, and he was able to treat her. If there''s a chance, I can rmend him to

    you,¡± Ning Ran answered.

    Ruan Anxi epted it dly. ¡°Sure, although I don''t have any high hopes. By the way, I''m a doctor

    myself.¡±

    ¡°You must be a doctor who practiced modern medicine. There are a lot of illnesses modern medicine

    can''t treat. You still have to rely on traditional medicine specialists. I feel that he will be able to treat

    you.¡±

    Ning Ran wasn''t really going to rmend the traditional medicine specialist to him. She only wanted

    to lessen Ruan Anxi''s murderous intent.

    ¡°It doesn''t matter to me. The doctors have always told me since young that I wouldn''t be able to live

    past forty years old. I''m already thirty-one years old this year, so that means I have less than ten years

    left. I''m satisfied with what I have left,¡± Ruan Anxi responded.

    Ning Ran felt that he had less than a year to live, looking at his condition, much less nine years.

    However, she did not dare to say it to him, for fear of agitating him.

    ¡°Are you thinking that I won''t even be able to live until forty years old?¡± Ruan Anxi asked.

    ¡°No. Ten years should be fine. Since you''re still young, you just need to take care of your health.¡±

    Ruan Anxi smiled sinisterly. Ning Ran did not understand the reason behind his smile.

    Is it something funny to only have a few more years to live?

    Soon, they reached the temple. Ruan Anxi suddenly queried, ¡°Do you know the history behind this

    temple?¡±

    Ning Ran shook her head. ¡°I''m not a local, so I''m not sure.¡±

    ¡°A phnthropist donated money to build it. I came here twice. The first time was the groundbreaking

    ceremony, and the second time was when it was officially opened. This is my third time here,¡± Ruan

    Anxi exined.

    ¡°You participated in all these events?¡± Ning Ran was confused. Why would a devil like him participate

    in the building of a temple?

    ¡°Yes, I''m the phnthropist who donated.¡± Ruan Anxi grinned.

    Ning Ran also grinned. This man is really strange. He''s a bad man who built a temple?

    ¡°Do you intend for this to bring you good karma? Are you performing kind deeds to make up for the evil

    deeds you havemitted hoping to have a better next life?¡±

    Ruan Anxi shook his head. ¡°No, I don''t believe in that.¡±

    ¡°Then, what''s your motive? To leave a good name after you die?¡±

    ¡°It''s not that. I came to Livingsfill with my mother when I was little. She said everything was good in

    Livingsfill except that there was no decent temple. I remembered it, so I built a temple here.¡±

    Ning Ran was surprised by his answer. It turns out he is an obedient child who listens to his mother''s

    words.

    ¡°Get off the car. We''re changing to another one. We have to do it quickly, or the police are going to

    catch up to us.¡±

    Two subordinates walked over to speak with Ruan Anxi. However, Ning Ran did not understand

    anything as they seemed to be talking in the native tongue of M Nation.

    ¡°Give me your phone,¡± Ruan Anxi said to Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran gave her phone to Ruan Anxi unwillingly. He then passed it to one of his subordinates, who

    took it and drove away on the jeep.

    Oh no! They are going to lead the police in the wrong direction.

    If the police were tracing Ning Ran''s phone or following the jeep, they would never be able to find her.

    ¡°Aren''t I clever?¡± Ruan Anxi asked Ning Ran seriously.

    Ning Ran nodded. ¡°Indeed.¡±

    ¡°I was once the target of a coordinated international manhunt, but I managed to get away. Despite my

    bad reputation, no nation has proof of my transgressions. I am an upstanding citizen.¡±

    Ning Ran believed his words, as she knew that Ruan Anxi must be a highly intelligent person to be able

    to achieve his current position and status.

    ¡°Let''s go.¡± Ruan Anxi pointed to a RV next to them.

    Ning Ran had to get in that car under Ruan Anxi''s coercion.

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    The RV was luxuriously decorated and well-equipped.

    It didn''t seem like a car. It was more like avish space that was a little smaller than typical private

    rooms instead.

    Ruan Anxi washed his face and then used medicine to treat the swelling from Qiao Zhan''s punches. He

    let down his hair andbed it. Then, he started undressing.

    Ning Ran was suddenly nervous. ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°I came to change my clothes as they are dirty. Do you want to change too? There are female clothes

    in the car, but they might not fit you,¡± he replied.

    Ning Ran waved her hands. ¡°There''s no need. I''m not changing.¡±

    Then, she turned around as she did not want to see Ruan Anxi changing into his suit.

    After changing his clothes, Ruan Anxi poured a ss of red wine and passed it to Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran epted it. She swirled the wine in the ss but did not drink it.

    ¡°Don''t worry. I didn''t drug it. If I want to kill you, I won''t do it by poisoning you. That''s too tedious,¡± Ruan

    Anximented casually.

    ¡°I''m not worried if it was drugged. I''m in no mood to drink. Where are you taking me?¡±

    ¡°I haven''t thought about it. I was looking for Lu Jingyuan, but I ended up bumping into you instead. I

    have to think about what to do with you. Of course, leaving the area now is the top priority because the

    police may show up at any moment.¡±

    Ruan Anxi drank a sip of the red wine before coughing softly.

 Chapter 781

    Chapter 781

    Ning Ran sat motionless in the RV. She knew that they were moving, but could not tell in which

    direction they were headed.

    Very slowly, the movement ground to a half. Given that things had gotten so far, there was no point in

    getting anxious.

    If she analyzed him closely enough, Ruan Anxi did not look too bad at all. However, he was too thin

    and weak, especially in his arms.

    He had fair and slender arms. He was so pathetically skinny that one could see his bones.

    Ruan Anxi took out some bread and milk, as well as fresh fruit.

    ¡°Why don''t you have some? You should sate your hunger.¡±

    Ning Ran refused. ¡°I''m not hungry.¡±

    Ruan Anxi decided not to coax her and promptly began to eat.

    He seemed to be very particr about how he ate. First, Ruan Anxi washed the tomato twice before

    blotting it dry with some tissue. It was only after the cleaning waspleted that he gently took a bite.

    ¡°Women should eat more fruits for the sake of their beauty,¡± said Ruan Anxi, giving the tomato in his

    hand a wave.

    ¡°Are you truly a doctor?¡± asked Ning Ran curiously.

    ¡°Of course. The medical university I attended is ranked among the top ten in the world. I am also the

    youngest graduate in the faculty. I specialized in surgery and did research on other topics, but I am just

    unable to cure myself.¡±

    ¡°Then why haven''t you gone to work at a hospital? A doctor''s duty is to save and treat, not kill,¡± replied

    Ning Ran.

    ¡°I dislike working at hospitals. I also dislike saving people. I only studied medicine to try and cure

    myself. But when I realized that there was no cure, I gave up.¡±

    While the reasoning was quite sound, it was still a problematic one.

    ¡°Your illness cannot be cured via surgery because it appears to be some sort of infection. How could

    you possibly cure yourself if you specialized in surgery? I do believe there is hope for you. You just

    need to find an expert in that specific field to treat your illness.¡±

    ¡°Let''s drop the subject of my illness. I''m already used to it. Let''s talk shop. What manner of ties do you

    have with that Lu Jingyuan?¡± After saying that, Ruan Anxi took another bite of his tomato.

    ¡°We''re just friends.¡±

    ¡°And what of her status?¡± asked Ruan Anxi.

    ¡°She''s just a normal woman like I am.¡±

    Ruan Anxi was clearly unhappy with the answer. ¡°So how does a regr woman end up with the power

    to mobilize the special forces? They''re all elites, after all.¡±

    ¡°Well, I''m unsure about that. Maybe it''s because you''re hardcore criminals which require a more heavy-

    handed approach to deal with?¡±

    ¡°Why does she do it?¡±

    ¡°She used to be a designer but she now runs a hotel. We rented the hotel she owned and that''s how

    we got acquainted and became friends. That''s really all there is to it. I don''t know much about her, to be

    frank. But if you don''t believe me, there''s not much else I can do.¡±

    ¡°She caused the death of seven or eight of my men. I want to end her and her backers to avenge their

    deaths,¡± said Ruan Anxi.

    ¡°As I understand it, your friends kidnapped her, which resulted in this fiasco. You can''t resent her for

    this.¡±

    ¡°You''re not wrong. I never imed that my people werepletely innocent. However, they were all

    ughtered. This is like a p in the face to me, and it has affected my overall image as well.

    Therefore, she has to die.¡±

    ¡°You mean to say that your image is more important than the deaths of yourrades?¡±

    ¡°It''s fine if you choose to interpret it this way,¡± replied Ruan Anxi.

    Sure enough, he doesn''t care about loyalty. The only thing that matters is his image. He''s truly got the

    makings of a devil.

    ¡°How are you going to handle me?¡±

    ¡°I haven''t thought that through yet. For now, just cooperate with me and tell me what I wish to know.

    You''re already in my grasp. You''re not going to be able to cover for Lu Jingyuan. All I need to do is call

    Nan Chen, and he will send over all the information I desire. In fact, he''d even ship Lu Jingyuan to me if

    I wanted it.¡±

    Ning Ran shook her head in response. ¡°No. He''s not like you. It''s precisely because he is Nan Chen

    that he will never do this. Sacrificing someone else just to save me is not his style.¡±

    Ruan Anxi popped thest bit of tomato into his mouth and asked, ¡°What is his style then?¡±

    On the contrary, this made Ning Ran stop short and wonder what Nan Chen''s style was.

    Her Poker Face was by no means a saint. He could also be quite harsh, though he was not as severe

    as Ruan Anxi.

    ¡°Isn''t he your partner? How can you not know what his style is like?¡± queried Ruan Anxi.

    ¡°I''ve told you this already. He will not sacrifice someone just to save me. He''s not as selfish as you

    make him out to be, either. Nan Chen has principles and lines that he will not cross.¡±

    This made Ruan Anxi smirk.

    ¡°What are you smirking at?¡± Ning Ran was a little unhappy at this.

    ¡°What you call principles and uncrossable lines are merely the result of the wrong price. All of that will

    go out the window at the right price. That''s human nature.¡±

    ¡°That''s only your opinion. Not everyone shares the same sentiment as you do. I also don''t think you''re

    right,¡± retorted Ning Ran fiercely.

    In the face of Ning Ran''s disdain, Ruan Anxi''s once-gloomy eyes carried a little mirth.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    No woman had dared to speak to him that way because of how ferocious he could be.

    Most of the women who came into contact with him feared him. Even if they were intimate with Ruan

    Anxi, they feared him like he was a tiger.

    It was only this woman who was different from the rest. She seemed to not fear him, having been

    daring enough to snap at him so loudly.

    ¡°Aren''t you afraid that I''ll rip off your neck?¡± asked Ruan Anxi icily.

    ¡°Of course. But if you want to hurt me, what can I do? Also, I''m going to remind you once more.

    Surgery is used to treat and not kill.¡± It seemed that Ning Ran was not afraid at all.

    ¡°Since you think that Nan Chen is so principled and upright, then we''ll wait and see,¡± said Ruan Anxi

    with a smile. ¡°I''m going to show you that not a single living person is able to stick to their principles.¡±

    ¡°What do you think you''re doing?¡± Ning Ran could feel rm bells ringing in her head.

    Ruan Anxi said nothing. He only smiled in response.

    When Ning Ran boarded Ruan Anxi''s vehicle, she assumed that they were going to stop after a short

    while.

    However, she soon realized that this was not the case. The RV continued to move at a high speed.

    Ning Ran was aware that Ruan Anxi was an M Nation native. Surely he was not going to cross the

    border with her?

    Ning Ran''s thoughts went back to the time she was kidnapped by Ding Fei and trapped in a dense

    forest. It was quite an unbearable experience that Ning Ran did not want to undergo a second time.

    She turned to look at Ruan Anxi and saw that he''d fallen fast asleep with a nket over himself.

    Ning Ran, on the other hand, was not bound. She was able to move freely.

    However, given that the RV was moving at such a high speed, she could possibly open the door and

    jump out. That was too dangerous.

    On top of that, the doors were likely locked. There was no guarantee that she could even open them.

    If she failed to escape, she was going to trigger Ruan Anxi''s wrath. That was going to be difficult to

    handle.

    As such, Ning Ran did not dare to move. She merely sat there and racked her brains for ideas to

    escape.

    In the end, nothing fruitful came out of her thinking. The RV continued to move at a steady pace,

    showing no signs of stopping.

    Judging from the time, they would have left at least a few hundred miles between themselves and

    Livingsfill.

    Ning Ran became anxious once more.

    What should I do? Is he really going to take me out of the country? I also wonder if Nan Chen has

    received any news. How is he going to react?

    Up to now, Ruan Anxi has not made a single phone call. I wonder what his endgame is. Is he going to

    hold me hostage and demand a ransom from Nan Chen? Or does he have something else nned?

 Chapter 782

    Chapter 782

    Exhaustion finally struck and Ning Ran fell asleep.

    However, she was constantly waking up and falling asleep again.

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    After repeating this futile action for a while, Ning Ran reckoned that nothing particrly bad was going

    to happen to her if she slept. As such, she finally managed to sleep soundly.

    When Ning Ran awoke, she realized that it was very quiet. The RV seemed to have stopped as well.

    She soon noticed that Ruan Anxi was seated in front of her, his eyes sharp.

    Ning Ran was so startled that she jolted awake and folded her arms around her chest defensively.

    Ruan Anxi smiled wickedly at this. ¡°You look like a hamster when you''re startled.¡±

    ¡°Your mother was a hamster!¡±

    Ning Ran had not slept well, so she felt quite annoyed at having to be awake.

    On top of that, Ruan Anxi''s eyes were clearly filled with malice and ill-intent. As such, Ning Ran was

    even more enraged and chose to take it out on him.

    However, Ruan Anxi did not seem to be angered by it. With a wave of his hand, he said, ¡°Continue

    sleeping. It''s not daylight yet.¡±

    ¡°Where are we?¡±

    This made Ning Ran stop short. Why am I even asking this? Why would Ruan Anxi disclose our current

    whereabouts?

    To her surprise, Ruan Anxi chose to be truthful. ¡°Gerton. We''re refueling at Myerville Rest Area. The

    driver is going to rest for a moment before we continue on our journey.¡±

    ¡°Why did you bring me to Gerton?¡± asked Ning Ran in shock.

    ¡°There are only two main passages leading out Livingsfill. One runs south and passes through

    Springwood which leads you directly to the border. The other is northwest and passes through

    Lightspring, leading us to Gerton. Since you don''t want me to take you abroad, I can only bring you

    around Gerton,¡± exined Ruan Anxi.

    This man is truly strange. He''s being very patient and not hiding his intentions.

    ¡°Why are you holding me hostage?¡± asked Ning Ran, enraged.

    ¡°I haven''t quite decided,¡± replied Ruan Anxi slowly.

    Ning Ran became anxious when she heard this. ¡°Then why on earth are you keeping me captive?¡±

    ¡°Are you captive? I let you drink wine, gave you dinner, and even let you upy my RV throughout this

    journey. Is that what kidnapping is to you? Are you able to move your hands and legs?¡± retorted Ruan

    Anxi.

    Ning Ran could not answer this. This is preposterous! You''re twisting your words!

    Ning Ran pointed at Ruan Anxi and replied, ¡°Fine. Since you''re not taking me captive, I''m leaving.

    You''re not allowed to stop me!¡±

    Ruan Anxi merely waved a hand at her, implying that Ning Ran could do as she pleased.

    Ning Ran immediately opened the door of the RV and walked out.

    Sure enough, she was at a rest area near the expressway. It was currently five in the morning, so it

    was still dark outside. There also weren''t many vehicles about.

    After getting her bearings, Ning Ran made her way toward a nearby supermarket.

    She entered the premises and looked for the bathroom. After she left the bathroom, she noticed a

    phone on the counter.

    ¡°Hello there. Can I please borrow a phone? I''ve run into some trouble and my phone battery is dead. I

    need to call my family,¡± said Ning Ran to the salesperson.

    ¡°This isn''t a public phone, ma''am. I can''t allow outsiders to use it,¡± replied the salesperson.

    ¡°Please help me out. I''m just going to make one call. I''m really in a bind, here.¡±

    ¡°Fine. Make your call,¡± said the salesperson, pushing thendline toward her.

    In a frenzy, Ning Ran anxiously dialed Nan Chen''s number.

    Nan Chen picked up immediately. He clearly had not slept at all and was waiting for a call.

    ¡°Nan Chen? It''s me! Ning Ran!¡± Ning Ran was so agitated that her voice began to waver as she spoke.

    ¡°Don''t get so worked up. Speak slowly. Where are you?¡±

    ¡°I''m at Myerville Rest Area in Gerton. I just got off Ruan Anxi''s vehicle. He did not do anything to me,

    but he is holding me hostage.¡±

    ¡°Yet you''ve managed to get an opportunity to make a call?¡± Nan Chen could not help but feel

    perplexed.

    ¡°He doesn''t seem to care what I do. He never asked anyone to tail me when I left the car, nor is he

    bothered by me making this call. I can''t seem to figure out what he''s trying to do,¡± replied Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen appeared to be deep in thought. Even he could not figure out what Ruan Anxi was ying

    at.

    What he could be certain of was that Ruan Anxi was definitely not going to let Ning Ran escape.

    Otherwise, why did Ruan Anxi bother driving so far away in the dead of night?

    ¡°He definitely has a way to control you. Otherwise, he wouldn''t let you make a call. After you call me,

    try and escape. See what his reaction is,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°However, this is a rest area on the expressway. How will I run? It''s even more unsafe if I hitchhike.¡±

    Nan Chen mulled over this for a moment and thought she was right. There was no telling if Ruan Anxi

    had any control over the vehicles in the area.

    ¡°Forget it, then. I think Ruan Anxi will eventually call me to discuss his terms,¡± replied Nan Chen.

    ¡°Should I call the police?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°I don''t see the need to. Ruan Anxi is not new to this game. Since he clearly gave you the opportunity

    to make a call, it shows that he''s not afraid of the police. I daresay he''d be able to do something to you

    before the police arrive. For now, don''t act rashly.¡±

    This made Ning Ran feel devastated. ¡°Does that mean I have to board the RV again with a straight

    face? Isn''t this cowardly? It''s like I''m willingly allowing myself to be trapped once more.¡±

    ¡°He hasn''t done anything to you?¡± asked Nan Chen anxiously.

    ¡°Nothing yet. I just don''t know what he''s nning.¡±

    ¡°Qiao Zhan and some men are going after you guys, but I think Ruan Anxi is a professional at this. It''s

    very unlikely that Qiao Zhan can extract you from his clutches. On top of that, Ruan Anxi is also very

    heavy-handed. We dare not attempt anything rash for fear of affecting your safety. He has had plenty of

    experience in this, so we have to proceed with caution.¡±

    Ning Ran was even more devastated at the news. With a bitter expression, she asked, ¡°He has done

    this many times before?¡±

    ¡°Yes. His hostages have never been rescued. He either lets them go of their own volition, or they wind

    up dead. However, you needn''t be afraid. I think he won''t hurt you. Qiao Zhan is also a professional. I

    believe in his capabilities.¡±

    Nan Chen furrowed his brows. All he could do wasfort Ning Ran. As things stood, he truly had no

    other way to save her.

    ¡°Does that mean that I''m dead meat? Or do you mean that the likelihood of me dying is very high?¡±

    Ning Ran was still unable to calm down.

    ¡°Of course not. I''ll agree to Ruan Anxi''s conditions regardless of what he wants. I will ensure your

    safety. You must stay calm...¡±

    ¡°Okay, we can go now.¡±

    Suddenly, a soft voice came from behind Ning Ran. Unbeknownst to her, Ruan Anxi had made his way

    inside.

    Ning Ran was so startled that she hung up, looking fearfully at Ruan Anxi.

    Nan Chen had already warned her about how this devil of a man had plenty of kidnapping experience.

    As such, Ning Ran could not provoke him.

    Ning Ran was not ready to die just yet. She still had to raise Dabao and Erbao.

    ¡°Someone has been naughty. If you wanted to make a call, why the heck did you need to trouble

    someone else? I have a satellite phone on the RV! You could have just asked!¡±

    Is that petnce or doting I hear in his voice? What the heck is going on?

    Without missing a beat, Ruan Anxi asked, ¡°How much do I owe you for that call?¡±

    ¡°It''s fine. This isn''t a payphone so we don''t charge. I only let her borrow it,¡± replied the salesperson.

    ¡°Aren''t you going to thank them? Naughty girl,¡± said Ruan Anxi at Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran was taken aback. What tricks are you ying? You''re a kidnapper and I''m your hostage.

    Why the hell are you speaking to me in that tone?

    You''re a gangster! A demon! Why are you pretending to be the guy next door?

    This is preposterous!

 Chapter 783

    Chapter 783

    To end the awkwardness, Ning Ran walked to a shelf in the supermarket and picked up a few packets

    of snacks. She then walked to the counter and gestured for Ruan Anxi to pay for them.

    Ruan Anxi froze for a moment before reaching out for his pocket. After taking out a crumpled banknote,

    he handed it to the cashier and asked, ¡°Is this enough?¡±

    Ning Ran and the cashier nced at that one-hundred banknote before giving Ruan Anxi a bizarre

    look.

    The twodies were surprised that Ruan Anxi was still using cash, even though most people had gone

    cashless. They were even more dumbfounded when they saw how crumpled the banknote was. I bet

    anyone who saw that might think of him as a beggar. How embarrassing.

    Upon noticing the expression on their faces, Ruan Anxi quickly exined, ¡°The banknote might seem

    old, but it''s real! I don''t use counterfeit money!¡±

    The cashier epted the banknote. ¡°I know it''s real, but I don''t have small change. We don''t use cash

    here these days.¡±

    Ning Ran stepped in and apologized to the cashier, ¡°Sorry, I think we should just go.¡±

    She then dragged Ruan Anxi out of the supermarket.

    ¡°Hey, the banknote is real money!¡± Ruan Anxi was still trying to defend himself.

    ¡°I know, but don''t you have an e-wallet? Why do you still use cash? And why do you always say I''m

    mischievous? Even if I am, who are you to judge me? Can you not speak to me in that tone? It''s so

    weird and awkward. Have you forgotten you''re my kidnapper?¡± Ning Ran roared at Ruan Anxi because

    he was getting on her nerves.

    ¡°I don''t use an e-wallet because it will expose my personal information. The technology is so advanced

    that anyone can easily track my whereabouts and financial situation. People like me can never use an

    e-wallet,¡± Ruan Anxi exined.

    Ning Ran thought what he said made sense. That''s why characters in drama will always fill a suitcase

    with cash when carrying out an illegal transaction.

    ¡°Do you always put your cash in suitcases, hide them beneath the bed, and take them out when you

    need them?¡± Ning Ran could not help but ask curiously.

    ¡°Nope. We''ll invest the money in projects and turn them intowful sources of ie. For instance, we

    can pump money into film projects, start an online business to sell virtual goods or trade

    cryptocurrencies. Once the money goes through those proper channels, we can then put them in the

    bank.¡± Surprisingly, Ruan Anxi took time to exin patiently to Ning Ran.

    Everything he said was supposed to be a secret, yet he bared it all out.

    Even Ning Ran could not help but feel embarrassed upon sensing his sincerity. He must be the most

    honest evil viin in the world.

    ¡°So does that mean Ding Fei...¡± she said.

    ¡°She''s involved in films to help me with moneyundering. Whether the films make or lose money, it''s

    not important anymore. While she thought of you as her nemesis, I''m merely doing this tounder

    money. It''s the same reason I invested in Ouyang Li. Ding Fei is here in Flower City because I needed

    a new avenue tounder money.¡±

    Ning Ran was taken aback by his honesty. She could not believe her kidnapper would pour his heart

    out like this. That''s just so weird.

    Had Ruan Anxi not held her hostage, Ning Ran would have mistaken the long-hair man for her friend.

    ¡°We got to head back to the car. Are youing, or are you nning to run away?¡± Ruan Anxi asked

    Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran was at a loss for words. It''s as if he''s asking a friend. Do I even have a choice?

    ¡°Do you think I can run away?¡± Ning Ran asked in annoyance.

    Ruan Anxi thought about it before lifting his head and staring at her. ¡°I don''t think so.¡±

    Ning Ran continued asking, ¡°What would you do if I tried to escape?¡±

    ¡°If you try to run away from me, I''ll get someone to kill you by running you over with a car. I''ve stationed

    my men in all the cars around us. Some vehicles here belong to the special forces, mind you. So don''t

    ever think of running away. I''ll release you once we''re done. Don''t risk it,¡± Ruan Anxi warned in a

    serious tone.

    ¡°You''re threatening me right now?¡± Ning Ran expressed her dismay.

    ¡°Of course not. I''m only using you to threaten Nan Chen. Why should I threaten a powerless woman?

    Come on, let''s go,¡± Ruan Anxi said.

    Ning Ran took a sidelong nce and realized they were surrounded by many cars, but she had no idea

    if Ruan Anxi''s men were in those cars.

    Nevertheless, Nan Chen did tell her that Ruan Anxi must have taken all the precautionary measures to

    stop her from fleeing. Otherwise, he would not have easily allowed her to leave the car.

    Ruan Anxi was a viin who had been actively involved in underground circles for a long time. Clearly,

    Ning Ran was no match for the man.

    There was no way for the good to win over the evil because the good would always abide by principles

    and values. The evil, on the other hand, could not care less about them.

    Hence, people who held steadfastly to their principles and values could never defeat those not bound

    by those propositions.

    To Ruan Anxi, principles and values meant nothing. He believed people would cross the line if benefits

    wereid before them.

    Ning Ran begged to differ with this thought, but she could tell Ruan Anxi was a man without any

    principles and values. Even if he had, he must have found them to be insignificant. Otherwise, he

    would not have be an influential figure in underground circles.

    Ning Ran knew she should not risk her life by testing the waters.

    Left with no choice, she returned to the RV with Ruan Anxi.

    After hitting the road, no one spoke throughout the journey as Ruan Anxi leaned down and took a nap.

    Ning Ran noticed that the man had been sleeping all the time. Perhaps it has to do with his weak

    constitution.

    She could not sleep as her anxiousness kicked in when she recalled how Nan Chen told her Ruan Anxi

    had killed his hostages on several asions.

    All of a sudden, Ruan Anxi opened his eyes and saw Ning Ran looking at him.

    ¡°Why are you staring at me? What''s wrong?¡± Ruan Anxi asked.

    ¡°What exactly do you n to do with me?¡± Ning Ran asked while ring at him.

    ¡°Didn''t I tell you earlier? I just want you to tour around Gerton with me. You should sleep for a while.

    The sun will rise in a couple of hours.¡± Ruan Anxi shut his eyes again.

    ¡°I can''t sleep. What''s your motive? What''s your rtionship with Ding Fei? Are you her boss or

    husband?¡± Ning Ran raised her voice.

    ¡°She''s my ve,¡± Ruan Anxi answered.

    ¡°ve? Come on. Do you know what era we are living in?¡± she responded.

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Why are you so surprised? ves exist in all forms in different eras. Get some sleep. We''ll arrive at

    the destination in about two hours,¡± he said.

    Ning Ran walked over and shot daggers at the man. ¡°Don''t you dare sleep!¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°I can''t sleep. Are you going to kill me? Why did you kidnap me? Tell me the truth!¡± she eximed.

    Ruan Anxi grinned. ¡°I thought you''re not afraid of death? So you''re a scaredy-cat, huh?¡±

    ¡°Of course, I''m afraid of dying. Everyone fears death. I want to know if you''ll kill me,¡± she said.

    ¡°I''ll only kill people if I have no choice. I''m a doctor, not a ughterman,¡± he replied.

    ¡°You call yourself a doctor? A doctor saves lives, but you kill people! You''re just a sc*mbag who goes

    against the Hippocratic oath!¡± Ning Ran seemed to have mustered up her courage to utter those words.

    Yet, Ruan Anxi acted as if he did not hear what she said. He shut his eyes, refusing to continue the

    conversation with her.

    Suddenly, he warned sternly, ¡°Disturb my sleep again, and I''ll cut off your tongue. By then, you''ll be as

    mute as a fish.¡±

    Ning Ran immediately zipped her mouth and cupped it with her hands. I''ll never grow a new tongue if

    this b*stard cuts off mine.

 Chapter 784

    Chapter 784

    The sky had lightened up by the time Ning Ran woke up.

    Ruan Anxi was staring at her like a piece of meat.

    Ning Ran rolled over and got up. ¡°Why are you always staring at me like that? It''s scary.¡±

    ¡°Cause you''re pretty.¡± A short and sweet exnation.

    ¡°My looks have nothing to do with you! I''m Nan Chen''s woman!¡±

    Ning Ran felt that there was a need to remind him to behave.

    However, her reminder and warning were too weak to act as a deterrent to Ruan Anxi.

    Ruan Anxi paid no heed to her as he shook his head in disdain.

    He then stood up and went to the restroom to wash up.

    He passed Ning Ran a toothbrush and a towel when he came out. ¡°They''re all new. Wash up first

    before you wash your face.¡±

    Ning Ran took the toiletries reluctantly and red at him.

    When she came out from the restroom, Ruan Anxi was snacking on a tomato.

    It was evident that he was very fond of tomatoes. He would always stock the small fridge in his RV with

    tomatoes so he could snack on them whenever he liked.

    ¡°I only have bread and milk for breakfast. You''ll have to put up with it.¡±

    Ning Ran felt hungry since she skipped dinner yesterday.

    However, she didn''t want to eat Ruan Anxi''s food. Hence, she snacked on chips she bought from the

    rest area instead.

    Ruan Anxi frowned. ¡°Why are you snacking for breakfast? This is really unhealthy.¡±

    With that, he snatched her bag of chips away and threw it into the bin.

    Ning Ran was fuming with rage. ¡°Why do you care about what I eat? You''re my kidnapper, not my

    friend. Just leave me be!¡±

    Ruan Anxi shoved a piece of bread at her. ¡°Eat this sugar-free bread instead. It''s very nutritious and

    won''t make you fat. Eat!¡±

    ¡°No way.¡± Ning Ran couldn''t hold it in anymore and threw a tantrum.

    The reason she dared to throw a tantrum was that Ruan Anxi wouldn''t get mad at her.

    It looked as if he had forgotten that he was the preparator as he talked and acted like he was her

    friend.

    Ruan Anxi shook his wrist, and a small exquisite scalpel appeared in his hand.

    Where in the world did he hide all these scalpels? How many does he have on him?

    ¡°I''ll carve the word ''ugly'' onto your face if you refuse to eat.¡±

    ¡°How dare you?¡± Ning Ran screamed.

    ¡°Why wouldn''t I dare? I''ve even removed someone''s heart before. Disfiguring your face is nothing to

    me.¡±

    Ruan Anxi smiled sinisterly and closed in.

    Chills ran down her spine when he came near. It felt as if he was a poisonous snake about to strike.

    Ning Ran had no choice but to take a bite of the bread. It''s not bad.

    Ruan Anxi let her off upon that and continued eating his tomato.

    After breakfast, he pulled out his satellite phone andmunicated in anguage that sounded foreign

    to Ning Ran.

    He put the phone back after he hung up.

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    ¡°Is that Nan Chen?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°No. I won''t contact him directly. Or else he''s going to use it against me and use me of kidnapping

    you, which I didn''t,¡± said Ruan Anxi.

    What a sly fox.

    ¡°Who did you call then?¡±

    ¡°Myckeys, of course. I told him to contact Nan Chen''s assistant.¡±

    ¡°And?¡± Ning Ran grew nervous.

    ¡°I instructed myckeys to invite Nan Chen to bring two men to Gerton. I wanted to have a chat with

    them. You''ll be free once they arrive. Of course, you can choose to stay if you wish.¡±

    ¡°No freaking way! Who are the other two?¡±

    ¡°It''s a man and a woman. The man is Nan Chen''s grandfather, and the woman is Lu Jingyuan,¡± Ruan

    Anxi said in a low voice.

    Ning Ran was taken aback by his words.

    She knew Ruan Anxi was going to negotiate with Nan Chen. But she thought he only wanted money.

    Who would have thought that he would actually rece her with someone else?

    Moreover, she never thought that he would ask for Nan Chen''s grandfather in exchange for letting her

    go.

    She could understand if he wanted Lu Jingyuan since she was the one who caused the death of his

    men.

    However, she couldn''t wrap her head around why he would want Nan Zhengde.

    ¡°Mr. Nan is old and frail. Why do you insist on making things difficult for him?¡± Ning Ran was enraged.

    ¡°He''s still alive, right? That means we can still meet. Besides, who says I''m going to make things

    difficult for him? I''m just asking him out for a chat,¡± Ruan Anxi replied.

    ¡°Why do you have to ask Nan Zhengde out for a chat? What do you guys have to talk about?¡± Ning

    Ran was confused.

    ¡°We have many things to talk about. I didn''t prepare a script since this isn''t a speech. We''re just

    chatting, and it can be anything. I can''t answer that question.¡±

    There was nothing incessantly wrong with his reply, but Ning Ran felt that something was off.

    Ruan Anxi conducted shady business overseas, whereas Nan Zhengde was an influential figure in

    Flower City. They have no business with each other, so what is there to talk about?

    Ning Ran knew that Ruan Anxi was lying, but she couldn''t prove it.

    Nan Chen would never agree to this.

    Moreover, Nan Zhengde wouldn''tst five seconds if he fell into Ruan Anxi''s hands. He was too old for

    this.

    Besides, Nan Chen wouldn''t be able to gain a foothold in Nanshi Corporation if he handed Nan

    Zhengde over for Ning Ran''s sake.

    It wasn''t about putting his significant other over his friends anymore. He would be betraying his family

    member for a woman. Nan Chen would never do that.

    ¡°I know what you''re thinking.¡± Ruan Anxi chuckled.

    Ning Ran red at him.

    ¡°You must think Nan Chen is an honorable man. He would never betray his grandfather. Haven''t I told

    you? People would throw away their principles and beliefs when the price is right. It will be interesting

    to see how Nan Chen will go about this. What are his principles and beliefs? He won''t be able to betray

    his grandfather if he insists on his principles. However, he won''t be able to stand there and do nothing

    while you die. What do you think he will do?¡± Ruan Anxi smiled.

    Ning Ran had to admit, Ruan Anxi''s n was ingenious.

    If Nan Chen chose to protect Nan Zhengde, then Ning Ran would be ced in danger.

    However, if he chose to hand Nan Zhengde over, he wouldn''t be able to gain a foothold in Nanshi

    Corporation and would lose the respect of his people.

    Hence, Nan Chen didn''t have a choice even though Ruan Anxi made it seem like he was given one.

    Either choice would be the end for him.

    ¡°Why are you doing this?¡± Ning Ran raged.

    ¡°Because I like it.¡±

    ¡°Do you think you''re free to do as you please?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Ruan Anxi replied matter-of-factly. ¡°I like to do whatever I please. And I''ll prove to you that beliefs

    and principles don''t exist.¡±

 Chapter 785

    Chapter 785

    The car finally arrived at Yaleview of Gerton.

    However, Ruan Anxi did not go toward the city. Instead, he went to a remote suburb.

    Ning Ran couldn''t help but ask, ¡°Where are we going?¡±

    ¡°I got someone to arrange a homestay. The environment there is quieter. Get some rest first, and we''ll

    enter the city after that,¡± Ruan Anxi answered.

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    ¡°Well. Fair enough. A bad guy like you won''t dare to get amodation in the city because you''ll

    reveal yourself easily for staying at a hotel,¡± Ning Ran responded with a cold snort.

    Yet, Ruan Anxi remained unfazed and took out a wet tissue to carefully wipe his scrawny hands while

    talking to Ning Ran. ¡°I''m not afraid of being exposed. Otherwise, why would I allow you to make a

    phone call? When I let you call Nan Chen, you''ll surely tell him where you are, so it''s not difficult for him

    to find us. But he''ll be paranoid and won''t dare to cause any trouble as long as you''re with me.¡±

    ¡°Then why aren''t you staying at a hotel in the city but staying in a homestay instead? It''s apparent that

    you''re scared!¡±

    Ruan Anxi threw the wet tissue into the trash can and lifted his head to nce at Ning Ran. ¡°I simply

    like peace. It''s too noisy in the city, so I chose the suburb.¡±

    ¡°What an excuse. You''re just feeling guilty!¡± Ning Ran continued to provoke Ruan Anxi.

    But Ruan Anxi was unperturbed. ¡°I know you''re trying to make me stay in the city so that the Nan family

    can find us easily. Don''t worry. I''ll ensure that they can locate you. Hence, it''s the same no matter

    where we are staying. Let''s stay here and take a break before we enter the city to enjoy a feast.¡±

    ¡°You dare to enter the city? You''re like a rat that lives in the sewage.¡± Ning Ran kept making waves.

    Ruan Anxi shook his head. ¡°No, no, no. I''m a rat that can be out in the open. Hmm. That doesn''t sound

    right either. I''m not a rat but a wolf.¡±

    ¡°You''re a venomous snake!¡± Ning Ran fumed.

    ¡°Sure. If I''m a snake, I want to be the king cobra.¡±

    Amid their conversation, the car suddenly stopped.

    The driver in front opened the small partition window between the front and back seats. ¡°Doctor,

    someone is blocking our path.¡±

    Left with no choice, Ruan Anxi had to get out of the car, whereas Ning Ran wanted some fresh air, so

    she got off as well.

    A young man in a floral shirt was lying on the road while holding his leg as he kept yelling.

    Next to him were two other hoodlum-like young men with blond hair. It was apparent that they were

    thugs, given their appearance.

    ¡°What''s the matter?¡± Ruan Anxi questioned.

    The driver answered, ¡°This guy dashed out all of a sudden and then fell to the ground, iming that we

    bumped into him. But that''s not the case.¡±

    ¡°Bullshit! You have clearly knocked him down. How can you deny it? His leg is even injured because of

    you. You have to pay us!¡± one of the thugs asserted.

    Anyone with a clear mind could see it was a nder case as his acting was too exaggerated.

    Initially, the guy lying on the floor was holding his right leg, but after shouting a few times and speaking

    a few words, he changed to grasping his left leg.

    More importantly, both his legs were not injured. There was not even a superficial wound or scratches

    on them.

    ¡°I''m a surgeon. Let me take a good look at you. If you''re severely injured, you should go to the hospital

    for a check-up and treatment,¡± Ruan Anxi uttered gently.

    As he spoke, he squatted down and was about to check the thug out.

    However, the other thug pushed Ruan Anxi away. ¡°What are you doing? A surgeon? You freaking look

    like a patient. How could you be a surgeon? Are you trying to avoid bearing the responsibility? Pay the

    compensation!¡±

    Since Ruan Anxi had a weak constitution, he almost fell when he got pushed.

    As soon as the driver saw the situation, he reached for something around his waist, but Ruan Anxi

    gestured with his eyes to stop the former.

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran felt worried for the three thugs. I understand they are faking an ident to extort

    money, but why did they have to mess with someone like Ruan Anxi? How dare they provoke him?

    They will probably lose their lives because of this. Yet, they are trying to ask for money?

    For a moment, Ning Ran had already spotted the murderous intent in Ruan Anxi''s gaze.

    Although Ning Ran thought those thugs were annoying, she couldn''t let Ruan Anxi kill them. After all,

    they were still young. Hence, she decided to advise them.

    ¡°Hey,e here,¡± Ning Ran said to one of them.

    In fact, that thug had been staring at Ning Ran because she was so beautiful.

    As the trio had never seen such a pretty woman before, their gazes roamed over Ning Ran.

    Naturally, he was delighted to hear Ning Ran call him out. He then followed Ning Ran to the other side.

    ¡°I can tell that you guys are faking an ident, so you guys should stop putting on an act. I''m worried

    you will get into trouble,¡± Ning Ran reminded him in a low voice.

    ¡°What the f*ck? What are you talking about? How can you say that, b*tch? My friend has copsed on

    the ground, yet you imed that we faked an ident? F*ck you! Shut the hell up!¡±

    Ning Ran had been kind enough to warn him and did not expect that he would insult her, so his words

    made her blood boil.

    ¡°Mind your words! Who are you calling a b*tch? You''ll be safe if you stop it now. If you insist on doing

    so, you''ll surely die!¡± Even though Ning Ran got scolded, she reminded him about the risk again.

    ¡°D*mn it! B*tch, are you trying to defend your man? Fine. Come with us then. You guys don''t have to

    pay thepensation as long as you apany us and have fun for a few days. We''ll handle the

    treatment fee ourselves,¡± said the thug as he reached out to grab Ning Ran''s hand.

    Ning Ran wanted to p him, but she decided to hold back and only brushed his hand off. ¡°Don''t touch

    me!¡±

    The killer instinct filled Ruan Anxi''s eyes again. ¡°Don''t touch her. How much do you guys want?¡±

    The trio was thrilled when they heard that.

    ¡°Ten thousand! Pay us ten thousand, and let this womane with us. My friend is injured, so

    someone needs to take care of him. She can only leave after he''s healed.¡±

    As the trio spoke, they exchanged nces with each other, and smugness was written all over their

    faces.

    Just then, a few cars appeared from behind, and Ning Ran knew that those were Ruan Anxi''s

    subordinates.

    She felt worried for the thugs again. Are they really courting death?

    ¡°How about you pay them the money?¡± Even Ning Ran found herself ridiculous for making such a

    request to Ruan Anxi. This a*s is the big shot of the underworld, yet these guys are ckmailing him.

    How would he give in?

    Despite that, Ruan Anxi agreed to that and looked at the driver. ¡°Give them the money.¡±

    The driver went to the driver''s seat to bring over a stack of cash before handing it to one of the thugs.

    ¡°And that woman has toe with us. She is responsible for taking care of my friend''s daily life. She

    can only leave when his leg has recovered.¡±

    Ning Ran sighed inwardly. Indeed, I can''t stop someone when he''s the one asking for trouble.

    ¡°Get in the car then. Leave with us. Let''s find a ce to stay and recuperate,¡± Ruan Anxi suggested.

    The thugs exchanged nces andmunicated wordlessly before asking Ruan Anxi, ¡°Where are you

    heading to?¡±

    ¡°You''ll find out when you get in the car,¡± Ruan Anxi answered.

    Once again, Ning Ran warned, ¡°Don''t get in the car!¡±

    But the trio interpreted her response as she was terrified.

    ¡°Sure. We''ll get it then. Let this woman serve us.¡± The thug then pointed at Ruan Anxi. ¡°Hey, weakling.

    You sit next to the driver. My friends and I will sit with her at the back.¡±

    ¡°Okay, please get into the car.¡± Ruan Anxi signaled the driver to open the RV door.

    The thug, whoy on the ground, got back on his feet and entered Ruan Anxi''s car.

    After that, Ruan Anxi gestured for the driver to follow them into the car and closed the car door.

 Chapter 786

    Chapter 786

    Ten minutester, the three thugs were thrown at the side of the road, covered in blood and barely

    breathing.

    Ruan Anxi washed his bony hands repeatedly in the toilet of his RV while the vehicle continued to

    move forward.

    After wiping his hands multiple times, the man poured himself a ss of warm water and took a sip

    before looking up at Ning Ran. ¡°Do you want some water?¡± he asked.

    Ning Ran red at him and said, ¡°I''m not going to talk to you, you monster!¡±

    ¡°Why? What did I do?¡± Ruan Anxi asked the obvious.

    ¡°You hurt innocent people and left them by the roadside to die!¡± Ning Ran yelled.

    Ruan Anxi shook his head and replied, ¡°Do you even understand the meaning of the word ''innocent''?

    Not only did they extort and rip off people, but they also tried to abduct you and do bad things to you.

    How can you still say that they are innocent? If I hadn''t interfered and let them take you away, I know

    for sure what would have happened to you. Do you still think they are innocent?¡±

    ¡°Fine. Even if they are bad people, that doesn''t justify you killing them. Those are three lives!¡±

    ¡°I didn''t kill them. I know what I was doing. What I did was only enough to cripple them. Besides, they

    are not going to die from excess bleeding as long as someone saves them within three hours. Don''t

    worry, they will be fine.¡±

    ¡°But what if they are not saved within three hours? Won''t they die then?¡±

    ¡°This is a busy road. I''m sure a lot of cars will pass by within these three hours. If no one stops to save

    them, that means they are fated to die, and there is nothing I can do about it. Anyway, as long as they

    remain alive, they will continue harming others,¡± Ruan Anxi replied nonchntly.

    ¡°You have no regard for human life at all! You are indeed a monster!¡± Ning Ran bellowed.

    ¡°Well, I did not deny that.¡± Ruan Anxi did not seem to be affected.

    Ning Ran was rendered speechless at the man''s indifference.

    He did not care about what others thought about him at all. Besides, he had never imed to be a

    good person.

    Ning Ran kept quiet and could not be bothered to speak any further.

    She prayed silently that someone would stop by and save those three thugs. After all, those were three

    young lives.

    Another ten minutester, they arrived at their destination.

    Ning Ran got out of the car and stretched slightly before scanning her surroundings. She was surprised

    by how beautiful the ce was.

    The homestay was next to a river, and the house was made of red bricks with wisteria growing on the

    walls. There were all sorts of fresh flowers, corn, and peppers nted in the garden.

    What a pity that it''s Ruan Anxi, a cold-blooded monster, who''s staying here.

    Someone stepped forward and greeted, ¡°Doctor, everything is ready. Pleasee in and rest.¡±

    ¡°Run a bath for thisdy. She stinks,¡± Ruan Anxi instructed.

    Being called out for smelling bad by a man made Ning Ran feel extremely awkward.

    She had headed straight to Lu Jingyuan''s vi after filming the previous day and did not have time to

    shower.

    Thus, she did not expect to be kidnapped by Ruan Anxi after that.

    Even though there were basic shower facilities in the RV, it was not possible for Ning Ran to shower in

    front of a man.

    Ning Ran went into the bathroom, and after showering, she put on a fresh set of clothes that Ruan Anxi

    had prepared for her.

    It was a folk costume that looked pretty stylish although it was not veryfortable to wear as it was

    made of a rougher fabric.

    However, under such circumstances, Ning Ran was just grateful that she had clean clothes to change

    into.

    Ruan Anxi sized the woman up after she emerged from the bathroom.

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    Not only is she pretty and has a good figure, but she also exudes elegance.

    This is just an ordinary folk costume, but it seems to have a different charm when it''s worn by her.

    Although she''s an actress and often mingles with the famous and wealthy, she does not appear to be

    worldly at all. In fact, she feels more like a college student.

    It''s really rare for someone in the entertainment industry to be able to remain so untainted.

    A chill ran down Ning Ran''s spine. She could not stand the way Ruan Anxi was staring at her and shot

    a re back at him.

    However, Ruan Anxi was unfazed and continued staring at her. He even nodded and said, ¡°You are a

    beauty both inside and out! If we remove your skin and flesh, I''m sure whatever that is left inside would

    be equally mesmerizing!¡±

    Ning Ran was taken aback when she heard that. Is he still human?

    Which sane person would see an attractive person and think of skinning them and removing their

    flesh? Is he intending to make sashimi?

    ¡°Have some rest first and recoup your energy. We can take a tour in townter in the afternoon,¡± Ruan

    Anxi said.

    Ning Ran was rather surprised at that suggestion. She had assumed that the man was staying there

    because he did not want his whereabouts to be exposed.

    However, that no longer appeared to be the case as he was not afraid of being seen in town. It seemed

    like he had chosen to stay there because of the serenity that the ce offered.

    He''s indeed of a much higher levelpared to those petty criminals.

    ¡°I''m hungry. It''s lunchtime,¡± Ning Ran said.

    As the woman had not eaten much for breakfast, it was natural for her to be feeling hungry.

    ¡°Lunch hasn''t been prepared. Let''s eat in townter. Why don''t you have a tomato first?¡± Ruan Anxi

    suggested.

    ¡°You think just because you can survive on tomatoes, it would be the same for everyone else? I''m not

    eating it!¡± Ning Ran huffed.

    ¡°Eat an apple then. An apple contains lots of antioxidants. I''m not saying that you need any though.¡±

    Taking a pause, Ruan Anxi instructed his subordinate, ¡°Slice an apple for her.¡±

    ¡°It''s fine. I can do it myself.¡±

    Ning Ran picked up an apple and rinsed it under the tap. Just as she was about to take a bite, Ruan

    Anxi stopped her and said, ¡°It''s not clean yet.¡±

    The man took the apple from her and washed it properly a few more times before passing it back to

    her.

    Ning Ran was at a loss for words. Why would a criminal be so particr about how clean an apple is?

    Ning Ran munched on the apple while walking back to the bedroom. After entering the room, she

    locked the door from the inside.

    As no one disturbed her, she managed to have a good sleep and felt rejuvenated after waking up.

    The woman could hardly believe that she was able to sleep so soundly even when she was being

    kidnapped.

    However, she knew she was able to do that because she had a gut feeling that Ruan Anxi would not

    hurt her.

    At least, as long as she did not try to escape or do anything funny, the man would not hurt her.

    Although it was purely a feeling that was unfounded, Ning Ran was confident of that.

    Ruan Anxi was definitely not a good person. In fact, he could be considered a viin. Moreover, his

    ruthlessness, which Ning Ran had personally witnessed, was very disturbing.

    Despite knowing that he was an extremely dangerous character, Ning Ran felt safe around him.

    In a way, the man was rather simr to Nan Chen. He would not be a threat as long as he was not

    triggered.

    However, if someone did something that hit a nerve, the consequences would be dire as Ruan Anxi

    would certainly not show any mercy.

    The only difference between the two men was that Nan Chen was a good person while Ruan Anxi was

    on the dark side.

    If a confrontation broke out between the two of them, Ning Ran could not be sure who would be more

    ruthless and emerge victorious.

    Logically, it should not be difficult for Nan Chen to find Ning Ran as she had already informed him of

    Ruan Anxi''s whereabouts.

    However, up until then, Ruan Anxi still seemed extremely rxed and did not seem to be worried about

    being found at all.

    Seeing how fearless the man was, Ning Ran could not help but worry for Nan Chen.

    After all, those who were not bound by principles or morals would always have an upper hand over

    those who were.

 Chapter 787

    Chapter 787

    Over at Commoner Residence in Flower City, Nan Zhengde felt a little better after waking up from an

    afternoon nap, washing his face, and drinking a pot of hot tea.

    At that moment, Chai Hua went up to him and informed thetter that the two little ones were on the

    phone. They wanted to speak to Nan Zhengde on a video call.

    Upon hearing that the call was from his beloved great-grandchildren, Nan Zhengde quickly took the

    phone from Chai Hua.

    Two small faces appeared on the screen. They looked almost identical. The only differences were that

    Erbao was slightly chubbier and Dabao looked more nonchnt.

    ¡°Great-Grandpa...¡± Erbao began in a tearful voice.

    Nan Zhengde felt his heart break at the sight of that. ¡°There, there. Tell me what happened. Did your

    daddy scold you? I''ll deal with himter.¡±

    ¡°No, it''s not that. Mommy''s gone!¡± Erbao wailed.

    ¡°Gone? Where did she go? Take your time and tell me slowly.¡±

    ¡°Yesterday, Mommy said she was going out to help Ms. Lu take something, but she never returned

    after that. Mr. Qiao and Daddy were talking in the room and wouldn''t let us listen. However, Dabao and

    I analyzed the situation, and we''re afraid some bad guy took Mommy away again. Great-Grandpa,

    you''ve got to rescue her!¡±

    After she said that, Dabao bobbed his head in agreement.

    ¡°How could something like this happen, and why wasn''t I informed? Is Nan Chen trying to keep it from

    me? Get him to call me immediately!¡± Nan Zhengde responded.

    ¡°Daddy went out already. That''s why we dared to call you. He said Mommy''s busy filming and can''t

    come home, but we think something''s off. Could you help us to rescue Mommy?¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry. I''ll handle it. She''ll be fine. Nothing will happen to her. By the way, where are you now?¡±

    ¡°We just arrived at the new house in Flower City. Daddy left after getting several people to watch over

    us. We''re very worried about his safety and can''t help feeling a little scared. We don''t want Mommy and

    Daddy to go missing like before,¡± answered Erbao.

    A pang shot through Nan Zhengde''s heart. ¡°You don''t have to worry about a thing. I''ll make sure

    everything is well taken care of. It''ll be fine. I''ll send someone now to bring you here so you can be with

    me.¡±

    Half an hourter, an exhausted Nan Chen was summoned to Commoner Residence by Nan Zhengde.

    The older man knew things were serious when he saw Nan Chen''s tired and bloodshot eyes.

    ¡°Did you stay up all night?¡±

    Nan Chen replied truthfully, ¡°I had three hours of sleep. I''m fine.¡±

    ¡°If my darling great-grandchildren hadn''t called me, were you nning to continue hiding it from me?¡±

    Nan Zhengde demanded furiously.

    ¡°I''m sorry, Grandpa. I thought I could handle it myself. I didn''t expect the kids to¡ª¡±

    ¡°You''re not allowed to me or admonish them. I don''t want to hear a single peep,¡± Nan Zhengde

    growled.

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    ¡°Don''t worry. I won''t.¡±

    ¡°If you dare to scold them, I''ll never let it slide!¡±

    At that moment, Feng Wan walked over. ¡°Who wants to scold my dearest great-grandchildren?¡±

    ¡°I don''t, Grandma. I''m serious.¡±

    Nan Chen felt utterly helpless. Now that Dabao and Erbao had others backing them, he could not

    afford to cross them.

    ¡°What were the two of you talking about, then? What''s the reason for reprimanding those darling

    children?¡± Feng Wan pressed, not about to be fooled so easily.

    The two men were silent.

    ¡°Why don''t you say anything? Are you trying to avoid my question with silence?¡± she asked, her

    expression darkening.

    Nan Zhengde gestured to Nan Chen. ¡°Tell her yourself.¡±

    ¡°Well, it''s like this. Someone kidnapped Ning Ran, but she''s fine. She even called me early yesterday

    morning,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    As soon as Feng Wan heard that, she became racked with worry. ¡°Again? Why are the both of you so

    careless and always end up getting kidnapped?¡±

    ¡°Why are you so impatient? Let him talk. It''s difficult to avoid things like kidnappings. One can''t possibly

    bring dozens of people with them every time they go out, nor can they stay at home all day without

    setting foot outside,¡± Nan Zhengde piped up in Nan Chen''s defense.

    ¡°That''s right, Grandma. We''ve been very cautious already, but this was an unexpected incident. It just

    so happened that we crossed paths with a kidnapper. The guy probably only had the sudden idea of

    doing so at the time. It was merely a coincidence. It''ll be fine,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°Where''s Ning Ran now? Does that person want money? No matter how much he demands, just give it

    to him. We can''t let Dabao and Erbao lose their mother,¡± Feng Wan urged.

    Looking conflicted, he replied, ¡°The person didn''t ask for money.¡±

    ¡°What does he want, then? Is he demanding we hand over our family''s business just like how Ouyang

    Duo did?¡±

    Nan Chen shook his head. ¡°It''s not that either.¡±

    His response made Feng Wan even more distressed. ¡°Well, what on earth is it? Juste right out

    and tell us. Stop beating around the bush, will you?¡±

    ¡°I haven''t the faintest idea,¡± Nan Chen finally replied with another shake of his head.

    ¡°Huh? You''ve no idea why the kidnapper took Ning Ran away? Didn''t he contact you?¡±

    Nan Zhengde was generally calm and collected, but even he started to panic. ¡°She''s right. What is it

    that he wants? Tell us.¡±

    ¡°Grandpa, Grandma, I''ll take care of it. Please believe in me. I''ll surely rescue Ning Ran and bring her

    back,¡± Nan Chen replied without answering their questions directly.

    ¡°Is something holding you back from telling us the truth? You can''t keep us in the dark. There''s also no

    way you are allowed to do such a thing. I only need to ask a few of our household staff to learn

    everything,¡± Nan Zhengde bellowed.

    Getting too agitated, he suddenly had a coughing fit.

    Nan Chen hurried forward and patted his grandfather''s back. ¡°Calm down, Grandpa. Don''t get so

    upset. Honestly, I can handle this matter.¡±

    Raising her voice, Feng Wan insisted, ¡°No. You have to let us know the kidnapper''s demands. You

    think we''re old and useless, is that it?¡±

    Nan Chen was at a loss for what to do. Initially, he had not nned on telling his grandparents what

    had happened. However, now that things had gotten to that point, he felt he had no choice but to fill

    them in.

    ¡°That person''s name is Ruan Anxi, and he''s from M Nation. His identity is shrouded in mystery. There

    are many versions of his identity floating around, but I don''t know which one is true. He wields much

    power in South East Aploth, monopolizing practically more than half of the shady dealings in the

    underworld. His nickname is ''Doctor,'' and I heard he used to study medicine. Previously, his

    subordinates tried to kidnap Ning Ran in Livingsfill. However, they got the wrong person and carried off

    one of Ning Ran''s friends. As it turned out, that friend had a powerful older brother who immediately

    pulled some strings to have all of Ruan Anxi''s subordinates killed. They were thugs with blood on their

    hands, so they deserved to die. However, it angered Ruan Anxi. He sneaked into Livingsfill to look for

    Ning Ran''s friend, and just by ident, he bumped into Ning Ran and took her away.¡±

    Feng Wan and Nan Zhengde looked at each other. ¡°I see. If this Ruan Anxi kidnapped Ning Ran, why

    could she still call you?¡±

    ¡°The call came from a service area. It seems Ruan Anxi isn''t concerned about revealing his

    whereabouts. He knows that as long as he has Ning Ran, I''ll be cautious and won''t do anything rash,¡±

    Nan Chan replied.

    ¡°So, he contacted you already, hasn''t he?¡±

    ¡°No. He had someone else get in touch with me.¡±

    ¡°What did he ask for? Did he ask for a lot of money? A hundred million?¡±

    ¡°No. He really didn''t ask for money. He...¡± Nan Chen''s voice trailed off as he hesitated.

    Feng Wan and Nan Zhengde exchanged nces, thinking about how he was not acting his usual self.

    He always speaks inly if he has something to say. But today, he appears hesitant and uneasy.

 Chapter 788

    Chapter 788

    That meant Nan Chen was really in trouble.

    Feng Wan and Nan Zhengde were well aware of their grandson''s capabilities. After all, there were very

    few things in the world that could put Nan Chen in a dilemma.

    ¡°Instead of asking for money, he wants to trade by exchanging people, right?¡±

    Nan Zhengde was incredible, for he guessed it right.

    Hearing that, Nan Chen nodded with a lump in his throat.

    ¡°Huh? Who does he want in exchange?¡± asked Feng Wan in surprise.

    ¡°Ning Ran''s friend. Her friend has something to do with the death of Ruan Anxi''s subordinate. That''s

    why he asked to have tea with Ning Ran''s friend. He didn''t say that himself, though. Instead, he asked

    someone to say it on his behalf.¡±

    Nodding, Nan Zhengdemented, ¡°This person is a cunning one. He doesn''t make an appearance to

    avoid leaving evidence around.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. He doesn''t restrict Ning Ran''s movements, either. So, even if we file a police report, we won''t

    be able to sue him for kidnapping. There isn''t enough evidence. Besides, he''s a foreigner. He''ll

    definitely seek protection from his country, which will make things more troublesome,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°Then, did you talk to Ning Ran''s friend? Is she willing to take Ning Ran''s ce?¡± As soon as Nan

    Zhengde finished his sentence, he shook his head to dismiss his thoughts. ¡°She probably won''t agree

    to it. Who''d be willing to take such a huge risk for a friend?¡±

    ¡°She''s actually willing to go, but I dare not let her. The risk is too huge. After all, Ruan Anxi has a lot of

    experience in kidnapping,¡± said Nan Chen.

    ¡°You''re right. This is a tricky situation. We can''t let someone else take the risk because of Ning Ran. It

    is life too,¡± agreed Nan Zhengde.

    ¡°So, how are we going to settle this? That leaves calling the police our only option, right?¡± Feng Wan

    asked, beginning to panic.

    ¡°Chen hasn''t finished telling us everything. Let''s listen to the rest of it,¡± Nan Zhengde advised, gesturing

    for Feng Wan to calm down.

    ¡°I''ve finished speaking, Grandpa.¡±

    ¡°No, you haven''t. I can sense there''s something you haven''t told me,¡± Nan Zhengde insisted.

    Nan Chen had no idea how Nan Zhengde noticed it. Grandpa is incredible. It''s as if he can read

    people''s minds.

    ¡°Grandpa, I''ve really finished telling you everything.¡±

    ¡°Chen, I watched you grow up. Do you think I don''t know you well enough? If the kidnapper is only

    asking for Ning Ran''s friend in exchange, you would''ve told us about it right away instead of hesitating

    for so long. Clearly, it has something to do with the Nan family. Just tell us. We''ll face it together no

    matter what happens.¡±

    Although Nan Zhengde was old, he was not senile. In fact, he could still give sane advice.

    At that, Nan Chen had no choice but to tell the truth.

    ¡°Actually, Ruan Anxi requested to meet up with two people. One of them is Ning Ran''s friend, and the

    other is you,¡± Nan Chen uttered with difficulty.

    The news stunned Nan Zhengde and Feng Wan.

    ¡°Me?¡± Nan Zhengde pointed at himself.

    ¡°Yes, but you don''t have to worry about it. That man is just purposely making things difficult for me. I''ll

    handle it,¡± Nan Chen reassured.

    However, Nan Zhengde did not think things were that simple. ¡°Does he know me?¡±

    ¡°I don''t think he does. He doesn''t even know who I am. He''s from apletely different industry and

    has nopetition with us. This interaction is purely coincidental, so it has nothing to do with grudges.

    I''ll try to convince him to change the condition,¡± informed Nan Chen.

    Hearing that, Nan Zhengde stood up and paced around. ¡°But what is he up to? Why does he want to

    meet an old fellow like me? If controlling the Nan family is what he wants, wouldn''t it be better to kidnap

    you instead?¡±

    ¡°Precisely. This is what I don''t understand, too. That''s why I think he''s just trying to make my life

    difficult.¡±

    ¡°I don''t think that''s the case, though.¡± Nan Zhengde shook his head.

    ¡°No matter what, we can''t let you go to the frontline. I don''t agree with his terms. We can''t ept it no

    matter who the victim is!¡± Feng Wan voiced loudly.

    Nan Chen nodded hurriedly. ¡°Of course, I won''t let Grandpa go. This is also why I didn''t want to tell you

    the rest.¡±

    Meanwhile, Nan Zhengde said nothing, deep in thought.

    After some time, he finally looked up and said, ¡°On the contrary, I think there''s no harm in letting me

    see him.¡±

    The moment he finished his words, Nan Chen and Feng Wan immediately shook their heads in

    objection. ¡°No way!¡±

    ¡°I believe his desire to meet me is not just to make things difficult for Chen. He might have another

    motive, and I can find that out once I meet him,¡± Nan Zhengde insisted.

    ¡°No,¡± Nan Chen and Feng Wan objected again.

    ¡°Then, what can we do? We can''t just let Ning Ran die like that, nor can we let Dabao and Erbao lose

    their mother, right?¡± Nan Zhengde said anxiously.

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Don''t worry, Grandpa. I''m still thinking of a solution. I''m sure I can find a better way to resolve this,¡±

    assured Nan Chen.

    ¡°What do you have in mind, then? Let''s hear it.¡±

    Hence, Nan Chen pondered for a moment before telling them his n softly.

    Meanwhile, there was a quiet teahouse in Yaleview where its air was filled with the aroma of tea.

    In there, Ning Ran eyed Ruan Anxi, who had changed into a folk costume. ¡°Didn''t you say we''re having

    a meal?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Ruan Anxi gently poured a cup of tea and passed it to Ning Ran.

    ¡°At a teahouse?¡±

    ¡°There''s a restaurant next to the teahouse that prepares great dishes. They can send the dishes here

    right away without affecting the taste or the texture. It''s no different from dining at the restaurant,¡± Ruan

    Anxi exined patiently.

    ¡°Is it because you do not dare to go to the restaurant? You want to avoid the crowd for fear of getting

    arrested, don''t you?¡±

    However, Ruan Anxi shook his head. ¡°No. It''s because it''s quiet here. Dining here is morefortable

    than in the restaurant.¡±

    That was, in fact, the truth. The teahouse was quieter than the restaurant.

    Still, Ning Ran did not think Ruan Anxi chose the teahouse because he wanted some peace.

    If that was all he needed, he could''ve just booked the entire restaurant.

    ¡°Have you contacted Nan Chen, anyway? When are you letting me go?¡±

    ¡°I''ll consider letting you go when Nan Chen agrees to my conditions.¡±

    ¡°Did he agree, then?¡±

    ¡°Not yet. He''s in a dilemma and asked for some time to consider. I''m not in a hurry, anyway. Gerton

    might be far, but the scenery is great. We can use the time to do some sightseeing instead,¡± Ruan Anxi

    uttered calmly.

    ¡°You want me to go sightseeing with you? That''s all you kidnapped me for? To go sightseeing with

    you?¡± Ning Ran''s blood was boiling.

    ¡°I didn''t kidnap you. Have I ever mistreated you? I covered your basic necessities, didn''t I? You''re free

    to go now if you don''t want to have a meal with me. I won''t stop you.¡±

    ¡°You''re unbelievably shameless. You''re the one who said you''d get someone to run me over if I dare to

    escape!¡± Ning Ran scolded.

    ¡°Oh, I wasn''t being serious. I never nned on executing it,¡± he muttered.

    Just then, someone walked over. ¡°Doctor, they have agreed to your terms.¡±

    Leaning against the back of the chair, Ruan Anximented, ¡°That''s great. Nan Chen has finally

    agreed to my conditions.¡±

    ¡°He has agreed to let Grandpa rece me?¡± Ning Ran was surprised.

    ¡°You''re wrong again. I only invited his grandpa for tea. I never mentioned anything about kidnapping

    him. Why do you people keep thinking I''m plotting something when all I''m doing is asking people out for

    tea?¡±

    ¡°That''s because you''re a bad person. Are you really asking someone to fly over just to have tea with

    them?¡±

    ¡°Why not? The tea here smells great, which makes it a suitable ce to invite people over for tea.¡±

 Chapter 789

    Chapter 789

    Needless to say, Ning Ran didn''t believe that Nan Chen would really disregard Nan Zhengde''s safety

    and send thetter over to have tea with Ruan Anxi.

    She found the entire matter suspicious, but she had no idea what exactly the man''s n was.

    After lunch, she went back to the homestay with Ruan Anxi.

    In the afternoon, Ruan Anxi again received several phone calls.

    Subsequently, he requested that Ning Ran apany him to the river to fish.

    On the contrary, Ning Ran wasn''t in the mood to fish. Her thoughts revolved around the fact that Nan

    Zhengde wasing over to be the man''s hostage in her stead.

    She still felt that it was impossible, firmly believing that Nan Chen wouldn''t do such a thing.

    At that precise moment, Ruan Anxi''s subordinate handed the man a phone, on which was a video.

    In the video, Lu Jingyuan and Nan Zhengde boarded a ne separately, making it evident that they

    were heading over.

    ¡°Have a look and see whether this is your friend.¡± Ruan Anxi chuckled triumphantly.

    The video rendered Ning Ran speechless.

    Ugh! How could Nan Chen be so foolish as to allow his grandfather and Lu Jingyuan toe over and

    risk their lives? But it doesn''t make sense. Why would he do this?

    ¡°I''ll have my men keep an eye on their location at all times to ascertain that they''re heading in this

    direction. That aside, I can ask them for video evidence anytime. As such, they can''t fool me. Look, my

    guests areing. Once they arrive, you may leave. Aren''t you happy?¡±

    Ruan Anxi yanked his fishing rod up, having sessfully caught a fish.

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran''s emotions were a jumbled mess. It went without saying that being free of Ruan

    Anxi''s control was something to rejoice over.

    However, if the price was to have Nan Zhengde take her ce, she couldn''t even muster up a hint of

    joy.

    ¡°As I said, so-called principles and bottom lines only exist because the bargaining chip isn''t strong

    enough. Isn''t Nan Chen sacrificing his grandfather and friend to save you at the end of the day?¡± Ruan

    Anxi crowed gleefully.

    Nheless, Ning Ran remained silent, deep in contemtion. Why exactly did Nan Chen agree to it?

    As she mulled it over, something suddenly urred to her. A smile bloomed on her face.

    When Ning Ran was having breakfast after waking up the following morning, Ruan Anxi received

    another phone call.

    His subordinate again came over with a phone and showed them both a video.

    In the video, Lu Jingyuan and Nan Zhengde were in a car. Thetter imed they would arrive in an

    hour and told Ning Ran not to worry, for she would be fine.

    Ruan Anxi made a call and validated that the location indicated in the video and the GPS location

    matched. In other words, Nan Zhengde and Lu Jingyuan really were on their way there.

    An hourter, three Land Rovers came to a stop at the open space in front of the homestay entrance.

    A young woman helped an elderly man out of the car before entering the homestay.

    At the same time, Ruan Anxi kept his promise and released Ning Ran, upon which thetter boarded

    one of the Land Rovers.

    The gates of the homestay promptly mmed shut, and Ruan Anxi''s men surrounded the neers.

    The elderly man wore a ck suit and had a cane in hand, coughing from time to time.

    The woman, on the other hand, wore a hat and sunsses. Her hair hung loose around her, and she

    said nary a word.

    Ruan Anxi pointed at the chairs. ¡°Have a seat.¡±

    Following that, the elderly man and the woman both sat down.

    Although the elderly man seemed exceedingly imposing, he wasn''t Nan Zhengde. He had merely

    applied some makeup to resemble the man. In truth, his real identity was that of the butler of the Nan

    family, Chai Hua.

    Likewise, the young woman wasn''t Lu Jingyuan. Instead, she was Ning Ran''s assistant, Cheng

    Xiangyun.

    After taking a closer look at them, Ruan Anxi overturned the table with a kick, toppling the teapot and

    teacups onto the ground.

    He proceeded to wave a hand. ¡°Tie these two bogus up! I''m going to carve their hearts out!¡±

    At that moment, Cheng Xiangyun had already gone deathly pale in fright. It had been a difficult decision

    for her to masquerade as Lu Jingyuan, but their looks and air were pretty simr.

    Therefore, she ended up agreeing to the task to save Ning Ran, proving her sense of righteousness.

    Conversely, Chai Hua was much more experienced. Having been with Nan Zhengde for so many

    years, he had been through plenty of trials and tribtions, so he wasn''t afraid of such a scene. At the

    very least, his fear was mild.

    ¡°Mr. Nan said you can talk to him directly if there''s such a need, but not under such circumstances

    because he hates being threatened. Thedy you kidnapped is very important to Master Chen. Nothing

    can be allowed to happen to her, so we came to take her ce. We''re insignificant characters, so our

    lives don''t matter. But if we were to die here, you''d be paying a huge price.¡±

    He was incredibly steady, calmly voicing everything he wanted to say.

    ¡°I loathe being duped and yed for a fool. I want your deaths, and I''ll gouge your organs out one by

    one!¡± Ruan Anxi dered with a baleful grin.

    ¡°Every single person has something they detest. You detest being yed for a fool, but Mr. Nan detests

    being ckmailed. If you really have something to discuss with him, he said that you go directly to

    Flower City. The Nan family will serve you superb tea and talk to you nicely. Everything is open to

    discussion, but not here,¡± Chai Hua asserted.

    Despite his calm appearance on the surface, his palms were actually damp with sweat.

    Ultimately, he was the one who persuaded Cheng Xiangyun over and promised her that he would

    ensure her safe return.

    The fact that the man before them was casually threatening to carve out their organs were truly

    petrifying.

    Just then, Ruan Anxi''s subordinate came over. ¡°Doctor, Nan Chen said he has something to say to

    you.¡±

    Nan Chen''s handsome face dominated the phone screen.

    ¡°What do you have to say? How dare you trick me!¡± Ruan Anxi bellowed.

    ¡°Yet, you dared hold my woman hostage. I haven''t even settled the score with you about that. Do you

    think this is M Nation and you can do as you please?¡± Nan Chen retorted coldly.

    His formidable aura stunned Ruan Anxi for a moment.

    Rumor has it that he''s a fearsome man, and from the look of things now, it''s indeed true.

    ¡°Okay, since you dared pull a fast one on me, I''ll allow you to witness how I''m going to dismember

    these two people step by step.¡±

    Putting on gloves, Ruan Anxi took out his customized scalpel.

    Sheer terror struck Cheng Xiangyun. Oh my God, no one told me about this plot development! Didn''t

    they say I was merely to be a substitute in this hostage situation? Why is there a surgical procedure

    now?

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    ¡°I''ve got a backup n. If you dare do such a thing, you''ll die here,¡± Nan Chen announced.

    At that exact moment, the roar of engines split the air. A few helicopters approached from afar and

    started hovering above the homestay.

    ¡°I''ve expected you to y such a trick, so I had someone nt an explosive on one of your cars at your

    company in Flower City. If I die here, that building will copse,¡± Ruan Anxi divulged with a malicious

    sneer.

    ¡°You don''t have to worry about that. The person you arranged to do so is already in my custody. His

    name is Wu Tong, right?¡± Nan Chen queried.

    Ruan Anxi''s expression changed at once, making it clear that the man was right.

    ¡°In that case, I want these two people to die with me! Give the order for them to open fire. I don''t care,¡±

    Ruan Anxi scoffed with a sinister smirk.

    ¡°As long as you let them go, the helicopters won''t fire. I know you''re a filial son. I just had my men send

    your mother her favorite baked sweet potatoes this morning,¡± Nan Chen remarked.

    This time, Ruan Anxi''s expression changed drastically. ¡°What have you done to my mother?¡±

    ¡°Nothing. Don''t worry, for I always respect the elderly. While her son is a b*stard, she''s innocent. But

    then, my men are on good terms with the two people in front of you. If anything were to happen to

    them, things might change,¡± Nan Chen replied.

 Chapter 790

    Chapter 790

    After his change in expression, Ruan Anxi abruptly burst intoughter.

    The murderous intent in his eyes intensified.

    ¡°If so, let''s all die together! The agreement was to have tea together, but you had two bogus people

    come over and dupe me. If I die, my mother won''t be able to live either, so it''s best that we all perish

    together!¡±

    Having said that, he ordered, ¡°Tie the woman up first! I''m going to carve her heart out!¡±

    Upon hearing that, Cheng Xiangyun shrieked in terror, ¡°No! There isn''t any grudge between us both!

    Don''t kill me!¡±

    At the same time, utter regret swamped her. If I''d known this would''ve happened, I wouldn''t have tried

    ying hero! I''m going to have my heart carved out now. Can it still be stuffed back into my body

    afterward?

    Simrly, Chai Hua was a touch dumbfounded. Never had he expected Ruan Anxi to be so

    unpredictable to the point of being determined to drag everyone down with him, unwilling to negotiate in

    the least.

    I gave my word to Cheng Xiangyun that I would bring her back safely, but it now looks like I''ll be forced

    to break my promise.

    Beside Nan Chen, Ning Ran snatched the phone away and demanded, ¡°Wait! Don''t hurt her! She''s my

    friend!¡±

    ¡°Initially, I didn''t want to hurt anyone. I merely wanted to have tea with them both, but they actually

    dared to y me for a fool. They''ve gone overboard! Tell Nan Chen to notify those in the helicopters to

    open fire so that we can all die together!¡±

    Seizing hold of Cheng Xiangyun''s neck, Ruan Anxi lifted the scalpel, seemingly about to make his

    move for real.

    ¡°No! Stop it, Ruan Anxi! I''lle back and take her ce!¡± Ning Ran cried out.

    At the side, Nan Chen scowled at her.

    What on earth is she saying? The purpose of all this preparation is to save her. If she were to return,

    wouldn''t everything have been in vain?

    ¡°I object!¡± he countered frostily.

    ¡°I can''t have Cheng die in my stead! This is my affair, and I can''t drag her into the mess!¡± Ning Ran

    argued.

    Surprisingly, Ruan Anxi stilled. ¡°That''s sensible. Indeed, you didn''t disappoint me. You''ve got to handle

    your own affairs instead of colluding with them to deceive me. If youe back, I''ll release the two of

    them!¡±

    ¡°You can''t go!¡± Naturally, Nan Chen protested adamantly.

    ¡°No, I must go. I can''t have Mr. Chai and Cheng Xiangyun die for me. Otherwise, I''ll be haunted by guilt

    for the rest of my life. Let them go, Ruan Anxi. I''lle back.¡±

    While saying that, Ning Ran made to open the car door and climb out of the vehicle.

    However, Nan Chen yanked her back. ¡°You can''t go! Everyone made preparations for a long time. If

    you return, all our efforts would''ve been for naught!¡±

    Although he didn''t want Cheng Xiangyun and Chai Hua to die either, he never expected Ruan Anxi to

    act like a madman who had no regard for anything. Right then, he was truly caught between a rock and

    a hard ce.

    ¡°I''ll let them go if youe back, Ning Ran. Otherwise, we''ll all die together! I''m giving you two

    minutes. If you don''t return, they''ll be dead!¡± Ruan Anxi threatened.

    Ning Ran fixated her eyes on Nan Chen. ¡°He won''t kill me. I''ll just go for a while and be back in a jiffy.¡±

    ¡°But¡ª¡±

    ¡°If he really wanted to hurt me, I would''ve been dead long ago. Trust me. He harbors no hatred against

    me, so it''s pointless for him to kill me. He''s an exceedingly prideful person and will never allow you to

    hoodwink him. If he were topromise just like that, he wouldn''t be able to lead those under his

    command henceforth. His path is different from ours. He requires absolute authority, or others will

    betray him anytime. As such, he would rather die than make a concession,¡± Ning Ran exined.

    That was her judgment after all the time she spent interacting with Ruan Anxi, and she was pretty sure

    she was right.

    The man was someone who lived on the edge of danger, prepared to die anytime.

    On top of that, he was sickly in the first ce, so he attached little importance to life.

    Furthermore, he was considered the ruler of South East Aploth. If someone set him up and duped him,

    it was a downright humiliation. In the event that the news spread, it would undoubtedly affect his

    prestige and status. Hence, he definitely wouldn''t agree to apromise.

    In fact, he would rather perish together than admit his failure, much less when there was still hope for

    him.

    Nevertheless, Ning Ran believed that he wouldn''t kill her as long as he was afforded sufficient respect.

    ¡°In that case, I''ll go with you,¡± Nan Chen relented, making up his mind as well.

    In truth, he couldn''t ept having Chai Hua and Cheng Xiangyun die before his eyes. After all,

    members of the Nan family would never sacrifice others for the sake of themselves.

    ¡°No, you can''t!¡± This time, Ning Ran was the one objecting.

    Everyone knew perfectly well why Nan Chen couldn''t enter the homestay.

    He was too important, and the loss to the Nan family would be devastating if he were to lose his life

    there.

    ¡°You can''t go, Sir Chen. I''ll go with Madam instead.¡± Qiao Zhan also disagreed with that suggestion.

    Meanwhile, Ruan Anxi had already started the countdown, and two minutes would up be soon.

    Thus, Nan Chen could only concur to have Qiao Zhan apany Ning Ran back in.

    As soon as Ruan Anxiid eyes on Ning Ran, a maleficent smile split his face. ¡°This is more like it. I

    just knew that you wouldn''t let me down.¡±

    ¡°Let them go,¡± Ning Ran demanded.

    ¡°Okay, whatever you say. Let them go.¡± Ruan Anxi waved a hand.

    Cheng Xiangyun was so terrified that her legs had gone weak. She couldn''t walk at all and could only

    move with Chai Hua supporting her.

    That was only natural, for she had never experienced such a horrifying scene.

    ¡°Go out first. I''ll follow in a while,¡± Ning Ran said to Cheng Xiangyun smilingly.

    Casting a nce at her, Cheng Xiangyun mused inwardly.

    She has been with Nan Chen for too long that she has changed substantially. In the past, she was also

    very much a coward. But now, she''s no longer afraid and has be ferocious.

    ¡°You shouldn''t have returned, Madam,¡± Chai Huamented with a sigh.

    He felt that Ruan Anxi was extremely ruthless and worried that Ning Ran would be in great peril.

    ¡°It''s okay, so don''t worry. Hurry up and go,¡± Ning Ran reassured gently.

    ¡°You''re both not leaving, huh? How about staying and having dinner together, then?¡± Ruan Anxi chimed

    in darkly.

    ¡°Quick, let''s go!¡± Cheng Xiangyun hastily urged Chai Hua, not wanting to spend another second there.

    The mere thought of Ruan Anxi''s constant threat to remove her organs had her knees quivering. Verily,

    she had never seen such a depraved individual.

    After Chai Hua had helped Cheng Xiangyun out, Ning Ran shed Ruan Anxi a smile. ¡°Don''t tell me

    you really want to kill me?¡±

    In response, Ruan Anxi shook his head. ¡°Nope. I promised not to kill you. Besides, there''s no grudge

    between us, so it''s pointless for me to do so.¡±

    Only then did Ning Ran''s heart that had been lodged in her throat settle back in her chest. ¡°I''m d to

    hear that. Honestly speaking, I don''t want to die.¡±

    ¡°I know, and that''s why I''m not going to kill you. But as for him...¡±

    Ruan Anxi pointed at Qiao Zhan before continuing, ¡°I don''t like this big lug here who dared to hit me!¡±

    When they were at Lu Jingyuan''s vi, Qiao Zhan indeed beat Ruan Anxi up. If it weren''t for Ning Ran

    holding him back, he would''ve pummeled thetter to death.

    Therefore, Ruan Anxi was incredibly vexed about that.

    Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°You also stabbed me, and the wound is still vivid now!¡± Qiao Zhan barked.

    ¡°Are you afraid, scared that I''ll carve your heart out?¡± Ruan Anxi drawled with a menacing grin.

    ¡°I''m not afraid of you!¡± Qiao Zhan was a machismo person, so it was no surprise that he wasn''t willing

    to admit to feeling any fear.

    ¡°Fine. Since you''re not afraid, I''ll cut you up right now!¡± Ruan Anxi whipped out the scalpel once more.

    ¡°No, don''t do that. He didn''t have toe, but he apanied me here. Please don''t make things

    difficult for him. If you''ve got any requests, feel free to voice them. However, it''s impossible to have Mr.

    Nane over. He''s up in years, so he can''t travel such a long distance. If you want to meet him, I can

    apany you to Flower City,¡± Ning Ran chimed in.

 Chapter 791

    Chapter 791

    Ruan Anxi sat down.

    He was seemingly showing Ning Ran respect and was not going to take action against Qiao Zhan.

    Ning Ran sat down as well and looked at Qiao Zhan before saying, ¡°Go back first.¡±

    However, Qiao Zhan refused to leave. Since he came with Ning Ran, he was not going to leave without

    her.

    ¡°Didn''t you hear what she said? Are you really nning to stay for dinner?¡± said Ruan Anxi with

    disdain.

    In a low voice, Qiao Zhan responded, ¡°I''m going to stay and protect Madam.¡±

    Ruan Anxiughed wickedly. ¡°What a joke! Do you really think you can protect her? If you could, then I

    wouldn''t have been able to take her all the way here, am I right?¡±

    His words hurt Qiao Zhan''s ego.

    In all honesty, it was not Qiao Zhan''s fault that Ruan Anxi managed to abduct Ning Ran. Back then,

    Qiao Zhan had beaten Ruan Anxi so badly that thetter had copsed on the ground. All it took was a

    few more punches from Qiao Zhan to cripple Ruan Anxi.

    However, Ning Ran felt sorry for the man and stopped Qiao Zhan. As a result, Ruan Anxi got the

    chance to make aeback.

    He feigned unconsciousness and pounced on Qiao Zhan, wielding a scalpel that he had kept hidden.

    Although it was not Qiao Zhan''s fault, the fact that his protectee got kidnapped was still an insult to his

    title as a professional bodyguard.

    Ruan Anxi''s mention of that matter was definitely a p in Qiao Zhan''s face.

    Qiao Zhan''s expression changed.

    Obviously, Ruan Anxi understood the nature of people like Qiao Zhan. Men like them shared the same

    characteristic. They resolved problems using force and violence.

    Therefore, he purposefully mentioned Qiao Zhan''s failure to protect Ning Ran in order to humiliate him.

    ¡°Go to hell!¡± yelled Qiao Zhan, pointing at Ruan Anxi.

    ¡°How insolent?¡±

    ¡°So what if I am insolent? D*mn you! You''re a pervert! Sissy!¡±

    Qiao Zhanshed out at Ruan Anxi viciously, but since Ning Ran was around, he watched his

    language. Otherwise, vulgarities would have spilled out from his mouth.

    Ning Ran was bbergasted. I finally managed to smooth things over just a while ago. Why is Qiao

    Zhan suddenly so angry? He''s even yelling insults at Ruan Anxi. He''ll infuriate Ruan Anxi with his

    actions. Does he not know that?

    Of course, Qiao Zhan was aware of that.

    Then again, he was not bothered about that because he could tell that Ruan Anxi would not hurt Ning

    Ran. That was why he had no qualms about provoking Ruan Anxi.

    If Ruan Anxi made a move, Qiao Zhan was prepared to fight him to the death. The incident would be

    resolved once he got rid of Ruan Anxi.

    Not only would he have solved the problem, but he would also clear his name and prove his worth as

    an outstanding bodyguard.

    For someone like Qiao Zhan, pride and dignity were more important than his own life.

    Therefore, it would not be an exaggeration to say that Qiao Zhan was prepared to die.

    Ning Ran was unaware of what Qiao Zhan was thinking and thought that he was being too rash. Ruan

    Anxi, on the other hand, knew what was going on.

    In the past, Ruan Anxi was just like Qiao Zhan. He could understand how Qiao Zhan felt, but there was

    no way he would let thetter have his way.

    Ruan Anxi managed to make aeback and did not want to risk his life. As such, he would not want

    to get into a fight with Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°I won''t pick a fight with you. Go on. After we chat for a while and return to the city for a meal, this

    matter will be over,¡± said Ruan Anxi as he waved his hand.

    ¡°No way! I won''t leave!¡± Qiao Zhan refused to budge.

    Ning Ran began to panic. What''s going on? Why is he not listening to me? Why is he causing a

    ruckus?

    ¡°If you carry on with your insults, then don''t me me for not showing you mercy!¡± Ruan Anxi was

    losing his patience.

    ¡°Sicko! F*ck you!¡± Qiao Zhan continued to taunt him.

    A murderous look shed across Ruan Anxi''s eyes. This time around, Qiao Zhan had really infuriated

    him.

    Even though Ruan Anxi had no wish to get into a fight with Qiao Zhan, he could not tolerate such

    verbal abuse from Qiao Zhan either.

    Ning Ran quickly stood in front of Qiao Zhan and said, ¡°Hey! That''s enough. Stop it. A grown man like

    you shouldn''t be scolding someone as if you''re a raving mad woman. This is so unbing!¡±

    It was only then Qiao Zhan stopped.

    However, he did not leave. Instead, he stood his ground and stared fiercely at Ruan Anxi.

    He had already made up his mind. If Ruan Anxi dared to charge at him, Qiao Zhan was prepared to

    finish him.

    Even if it meant that he would perish as well, he swore to himself that he would get rid of Ruan Anxi

    before he died.

    ¡°Go and wait for me outside. There are still a lot of people who need your protection,¡± coaxed Ning Ran

    in a gentle tone.

    Yet, Qiao Zhan still refused to leave.

    ¡°I''ll handle everything here. Please go, okay? Are you not obeying my instructions because Nan Chen

    isn''t here, or do you n to continue with your antics and cause someone to die?¡± Ning Ran was

    getting anxious.

    Only then did Qiao Zhan realize that he might be able to take out Ruan Anxi by sacrificing his own life,

    but Ruan Anxi still had plenty of subordinates around.

    Even if Ruan Anxi died, there was still no way Ning Ran could escape.

    With the nes hovering above them, it was only natural that Ruan Anxi''s men would keep Ning Ran in

    their custody. Otherwise, they would not be able to get away.

    Worst case scenario, Ruan Anxi''s subordinates would murder Ning Ran in order to avenge their boss

    and end their own lives afterward.

    Those men were ouws, and there was nothing they would not dare to do.

    ¡°Okay, I''ll go. But, please don''t hurt Madam,¡± said Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Enough. Get lost. Stop gibbering here,¡± said Ruan Anxi, dismissing him in contempt.

    Qiao Zhan nced at Ning Ran, and she gestured for him to leave.

    Reluctantly, he left, dragging his feet.

    Ruan Anxi smiled. ¡°Ah, finally, it has quieted down, and things are back to normal again. It''s only the

    two of us, and those annoying people are finally gone.¡±

    ¡°Will you continue to hold me in your custody?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°No. You didn''t disappoint me when you came in by yourself, so I won''t make things difficult for you.

    We''ll start our journey back to the city for a meal before we part ways. I hope to meet you again in the

    future,¡± said Ruan Anxi.

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    That''s it? After dinner, we will part ways? Is it really that simple? Ning Ran''s heart was racing.

    ¡°If you don''t mind, please dismiss the nes. They are too noisy and disrupt my peace. I promise you

    that I won''t hurt you. Deep down, you know very well that I won''t hurt you. I just don''t like it when

    people lie to me,¡± Ruan Anxi added.

    ¡°All right. I''ll give Nan Chen a call right now and tell them to leave,¡± Ning Ran agreed.

    After the call went through, the nes left, but Nan Chen did not leave. He was still waiting outside the

    homestay.

    ¡°It''s good that you trust me. The bread that I gave you actually contains a type of chronic poison, and

    only I have the antidote. If you don''t return or lie to me, you will die after one week. There won''t be any

    symptoms in the next few days. After that, you will die in your sleep,¡± said Ruan Anxi with a smile.

    Ning Ran was startled to hear that though she was not sure if he was telling the truth or not.

    ¡°If you don''t believe me, do a blood test once you get back. Then, you will know. Of course, I''ll tell you

    the form for the antidote. You can obtain the ingredients from most pharmacies. I''m a doctor after all

    and a good one at that,¡± said Ruan Anxi.

    Ning Ran was sweating profusely. He''s truly a devil!

 Chapter 792

    Chapter 792

    Two hourster, Ning Ran and Ruan Anxi arrived at a teahouse in the city.

    Just like always, they ordered food from the neighboring restaurant.

    No sooner had they taken their seats than Nan Chen arrived.

    He was only let in after Ruan Anxi gave the okay.

    Upon scrutinizing Nan Chen, Ruan Anxi was awed by how outstanding the former was.

    ¡°You are worthy of Ning Ran.¡±

    His strangement made it sound like he was helping Ning Ran choose a partner in a matchmaking

    session.

    At that, words eluded both Nan Chen and Ning Ran.

    ¡°Why do you want to see my grandfather? You cane with me to Flower City to meet him, or I can

    convey to him in verbatim whatever you have to say,¡± Nan Chen remarked coldly.

    Ruan Anxi poured a cup of tea for Nan Chen. ¡°Are you trying to keep me in Flower City by force?¡±

    ¡°No. There''s no bad blood between us. All this happened because of a woman called Ding Fei,¡± Nan

    Chen exined.

    However, Ruan Anxi didn''t respond to the revtion.

    ¡°Ding Fei is a wicked person and is using you,¡± Ning Ran interjected.

    ¡°I''m not a good person either. Moreover, I''m using her too, as she is my servant.¡±

    Ning Ran was once again at a loss for words, for there was nothing appropriate she could think of to

    say.

    Ruan Anxi was a wicked person after all, and it wasn''t unreasonable for him to be in league with Ding

    Fei.

    ¡°In that case, why do you want to see my grandfather?¡± Nan Chen insisted on learning the reason.

    Nevertheless, Ruan Anxi answered candidly, ¡°I''m not going to tell you.¡±

    ¡°In that case, what are your ns? Are youing back to Flower City with me or not?¡±

    ¡°We''ll part ways once we finish this meal. If anything happens to me before I leave the country, I won''t

    tell you how you can neutralize the poison in Ning Ran''s body. You might be thinking that with the

    advances in modern medicine, you''ll be able to treat her once you know what sort of poison it is. That

    would be a mistake on your part. One of my subordinates who was poisoned fled overseas with my

    money. Despite traveling through many developed countries and seeking the help of various

    specialists, he still failed to cure himself. Therefore, you shouldn''t have too much faith in modern

    medicine. The research on cures for any disease is a time-consuming process where even ten years is

    considered too short a time. Therefore, you do not have the luxury of waiting. No one else but me can

    save her.¡±

    Ruan Anxi spoke in a weak yet calm voice.

    With his pale and sickly look, one could sense the air of death around him.

    That was the reason Nan Chen and Ning Ran didn''t doubt his words at all.

    For someone physically weak like him to be the most powerful figure in South East Aploth''s

    underworld, he had to be extremely shrewd and ruthless. Otherwise, he would have already died a

    thousand times over.

    ¡°You''ll leave the country safely, for this time at least,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    ¡°I know. You''re not someone who will give up on your woman. Also, you''re a sharp one, and I like

    interacting with smart people,¡± Ruan Anximented with a smile.

    ¡°As for your mother, I didn''t kidnap her. It was a lie I concocted to scare you. In fact, I don''t even know

    where she is. Your subordinate was the one who informed me about baked sweet potatoes being her

    favorite food,¡± Nan Chen added.

    ¡°I know,¡± Ruan Anxi promptly responded.

    He then continued, ¡°That''s why we''re even this time. Let''s challenge each other when we cross paths

    again.¡±

    Nan Chen waved his hand to indicate hisck of desire to do so.

    To him, they were not the same kind of people, and there was no point in trying to attrit each other

    pointlessly.

    Both of them had their respective advantages and individual strengths.

    Even Nan Chen wasn''t confident of securing a victory against someone as crafty as Ruan Anxi.

    If thetter were to be cornered, there was little one could do if he chose to make a suicidal attack.

    The two kinds of people who were the most difficult to deal with were those who were shameless and

    those who weren''t afraid of death.

    Between the two, those who didn''t fear death were the worst.

    Unfortunately, Ruan Anxi was not only the second kind but also wielded significant power and

    resources.

    From Nan Chen''s perspective, it was just like going against someone who couldn''t be reasoned with at

    all.

    Therefore, keeping the peace was the best choice he had.

    At that moment, the dishes were finally served, but Nan Chen didn''t dare touch them for fear of being

    poisoned.

    If that were to happen, he would be put in a disadvantageous position.

    Looking at Nan Chen''s untouched tea cup, Ruan Anxi let out an insidiousugh.

    As someone who was already poisoned, Ning Ran didn''t share the same concern.

    She began to eat without qualms since she was hungry and the food was delicious.

    When Ruan Anxi saw how Ning Ran was enjoying her food, he was equally delighted.

    Given his inability to enjoy good food due to his weak constitution, he would derive a sense of

    satisfaction from someone else relishing in their food.

    ¡°I encountered Ding Fei inside a dense forest. Back then, she had been attacked by venomous insects,

    and her face had decayed beyond the point of recognition. After she pleaded with me to take her in, I

    managed to cure her facial wounds. I''m sure you''re aware that I''m a prettypetent doctor too. In

    spite of that, her vanity drove her to demand stic surgery. Hence, I personally operated on her,

    treating her as a test subject. Even though I attended sses on stic surgery, my practical

    experience was limited. That said, the results exceeded my expectations as I seeded in turning her

    into an entirely different person. I''m truly a talented doctor, don''t you think?¡±

    Ruan Anxi was pleased with himself as he told that story.

    After all, Ding Fei was considered one of his works of art which he was proud of.

    Ning Ran nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Yes, you''re an amazing doctor indeed. Did Ding Fei tell you that

    it was I who harmed her?¡±

    ¡°Yes. She said that you were her sister, and you harmed her for the sake of taking her man away from

    her. She also hoped that I would help her return to Flower City so that she could exact her revenge. To

    be honest, I couldn''t be bothered by your grudges, but my interest was piqued when she offered to

    provide me with moneyundering avenues. Since she was both my servant and my artwork, it wasn''t

    a big deal for me to support her in her endeavors. However, the fact that she did things behind my back

    upset me. That was why I decided to destroy her.¡±

    Ning Ran nodded in response.

    ¡°In that case, do you want to hear the truth? I didn''t harm her at all. It was she who was out to hurt me.¡±

    Ruan Anxi put down his chopsticks. ¡°I can tell. It''s obvious to me that both of you are very different

    people. Through the time I''ve spent with you, I''m certain you''re not someone who will hurt your own

    sister. Therefore, Ding Fei is clearly lying. That said, it doesn''t matter to me whether she was harboring

    ill intentions. What I can''t forgive is her going behind my back.¡±

    As Ning Ran and Ruan Anxi chatted happily, Nan Chen couldn''t interrupt and wasn''t going to do so

    either.

    Although he was a man of few words, the sight of the two hitting it off unsettled him somehow.

    He couldn''t pinpoint the exact reason for his difort other than just disliking the fact that Ning Ran

    was talking too much with another man.

    ¡°All right then, it''s time we take our leave. Going forward, we''ll stay out of each other''s way, how about

    that?¡± Nan Chen got to his feet.

    To make Nan Chen say such words was in itself an achievement, for it wasn''t easy for him to do so.

    However, his desire to protect his family from the demon in front of him outweighed all his other

    concerns.

    If Ruan Anxi set his eye on them for some reason, it would be nothing but trouble.

    ¡°We''ll see about that,¡± Ruan Anxi replied tly.

    Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.

    He had no desire to forget Ning Ran just like that.

    Instead, he hoped to see her again if he had the chance, for he was intrigued by her.

    Although the world was littered with prettydies, those who were beautiful and interesting at the same

    time were considered a rarity.

 Chapter 793

    Chapter 793

    One weekter in Flower City, Ning Ran woke up in Raining Pavilion and noticed the two children

    sleeping next to her.

    Erbao''s chubby hands were wrapped tightly around Ning Ran''s arm. With her head snuggled closely to

    Ning Ran, one could see the sweat beading across her forehead.

    On the other side, Dabao was more restrained. He only hugged Ning Ran''s arm with one hand, while

    his head was tilted away from her.

    When she saw how soundly the children were sleeping, she didn''t dare move a muscle for fear of

    waking them.

    All she did was turn her head to look at Dabao before shifting her attention to Erbao.

    Overwhelmed by a sense of bliss, Ning Ran let out a soft chuckle but ended up waking Dabao by

    ident.

    When he opened his eyes to be greeted by the sight of his mother, he blinked at her before breaking

    into a satisfied smile.

    The smile was so vibrant that Ning Ran''s heart almost melted.

    Dabao took after his father. Both of them seldom smiled, but when they did, it was so dazzling that it

    awed whoever saw it.

    Leaning in, Ning Ran gave her son a kiss.

    Dabao then sat up and reciprocated the kiss.

    At the same time, their minute movements had inadvertently woken Erbao up.

    The way she woke up was a lot more dramatic than her brother''s. She first kicked out her legs before

    giving her hands a stretch. Thereafter, she turned around and threw herself onto Ning Ran''sp.

    ¡°Mommy...¡±

    Ning Ran was amused. This daughter of mine is so hyper. How can she cause such a hugemotion

    when she''s only waking up?

    ¡°Mommy, I had a dream.¡±

    Erbao was in a good mood, which was a rarity, as she usually woke up grouchy.

    ¡°Is that so? What did you dream of?¡± Ning Ran inquired with a smile.

    Erbao''s ck obsidian eyes rolled around before a cunning smile broke out on her face. ¡°I dreamt that

    the moment I woke up, you bought me strawberry-vored ice cream! And it tasted delicious!¡±

    Ning Ran instantly saw through Erbao''s ploy of demanding ice cream from her.

    ¡°Hmm, dreams aren''t real, so you shouldn''t take them seriously,¡± Ning Ran teased her daughter.

    ¡°But didn''t the fairytales always say that dreams cane true? I believe you''ll definitely make it

    happen!¡± Erbao leaned closer and nuzzled herself against Ning Ran, hoping that thetter would agree

    to give her ice cream.

    ¡°Fine. I''ll make your dreame true. There''s ice cream in the fridge. You can have some after you

    wash your face.¡± Ning Ran stroked Erbao''s head affectionately.

    ¡°I knew it. You''re the best mommy in the world!¡± Erbao shed an ecstatic smile.

    ¡°Mommy, school is about to start next week. Can you stay with us?¡± Dabao asked.

    ¡°We''ll have to talk about thatter, as filming hasn''t ended yet.¡±

    Ning Ran felt conflicted about the matter. She was reluctant to leave her children, and in fact, she also

    didn''t feel like returning to Livingsfill.

    So much had happened there that it weighed down on her emotionally. Somehow, she just felt that the

    city was filled with dangers.

    In spite of that, stopping filming halfway was not an option at all.

    Moreover, everything that happened was personal and had nothing to do with the production team.

    Therefore, it would be unfair to them if she gave up filming in Livingsfill for her own selfish reasons.

    ¡°Mommy, it''s just too dangerous for you to go filming alone. If you insist on doing so, we should

    apany you so that we can protect you,¡± Erbao suggested.

    Just look at her. She now thinks that she can protect me.

    Obviously, Ning Ran knew Erbao wouldn''t be able to protect her. Nheless, she was still

    appreciative of her daughter''s intention and made sure not to y it down.

    ¡°As to whether I''ll continue with filming, I''ll have to discuss it with Daddy first. For now, let''s get out of

    bed. I still have to prepare dinner for Daddy,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°Mommy, you have so much to do. Why don''t you let me help you? But, I''ll have to finish my ice cream

    first before I have enough energy to do so,¡± Erbao reminded Ning Ran about the ice cream again.

    ¡°I know. I won''t forget about you!¡± Ning Ran gave Erbao''s face a pinch.

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    After they washed their faces and prepared to go to the supermarket for grocery shopping, Ning Ran''s

    phone rang with the caller ID showing an unknown number.

    Ning Ran subsequently picked up. ¡°Hello, who is this?¡±

    ¡°Miss, it''s me.¡± A weak voice rang out over the line, triggering the image of the sickly Ruan Anxi to

    emerge in Ning Ran''s mind.

    ¡°How did you get my number?¡± Ning Ran eximed.

    ¡°It''s not that hard. How are you?¡± Ruan Anxi asked.

    ¡°What do you want?¡± Ning Ran demanded.

    She had no interest in chatting with Ruan Anxi, for a victim would never develop a friendship with her

    kidnapper.

    Despite the fact that Ruan Anxi had kept his word by neutralizing the poison in Ning Ran''s body, she

    still felt wary of him. In fact, just hearing the sound of his voice was enough to unsettle her.

    ¡°Can''t I call you just to chat?¡± Ruan Anxi remarked with a smile.

    ¡°You shouldn''t call me even if you have something serious to talk about. I don''t ever want to take your

    calls!¡± Ning Ran asserted.

    ¡°Fine, I''ll cut to the chase. Ding Fei has escaped.¡±

    ¡°Escaped? What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°I handed her a massive sum of money tounder, but she has absconded with it and gone into hiding.

    Until now, I still can''t find her anywhere.¡±

    His words only served to intensify Ning Ran''s anger. ¡°What has that got anything to do with me? Why

    are you telling me this?¡±

    ¡°I know it''s none of your business, but I need something to talk about during the call. So, I chose this

    topic,¡± Ruan Anxi exined cheekily.

    ¡°What a waste of time. Bye.¡± Ning Ran ended the call at once.

    Right after she did, she could sense something amiss.

    What''s the real purpose of his call? He isn''t someone who will do pointless things. And why did he tell

    me about Ding Fei? Does he suspect me of being in cahoots with her? But, wouldn''t it be outrageous

    for him to assume that? I''m sure he''s not that stupid. In that case, what does he really want?

    When she failed to get an answer despite racking her brains, Ning Ran continued with her cooking.

    No sooner was dinner ready than Nan Chen returned. It was the perfect timing for the family of four to

    start eating.

    ¡°Daddy, I helped Mommy prepare this dish just now!¡± Erbao imed credit immediately.

    ¡°Is that so? You''re such an amazing girl!¡± Nan Chenplimented her.

    ¡°And this one too. I helped her a lot today.¡±

    ¡°That''s right. While Mommy was busy cooking, you were busy yapping away. You really were a big

    help,¡± Dabaomented.

    Erbao became upset after being exposed by her brother. ¡°I really did help Mommy. Why do you have to

    say something like that? Is chatting with Mommy the only use I have?¡±

    She turned to Ning Ran as she spoke, hoping thetter would stand up for her.

    Ning Ran tried to hold back herughter. ¡°Yes, not only did you chat with me, but you also provided me

    moral support with your eyes. I can''t deny the big contribution you have made.¡±

    The sharp Erbao naturally knew that her mother was teasing her.

    Thus, she began to whine in a mushy voice. ¡°Mommy, you''reughing at me...¡±

    ¡°Mommy is serious. She isn''t teasing you at all. Besides, I''m well aware of how capable you are.¡±

    No one knew when Nan Chen had learned how to bullsh*t with a straight face.

    Dabao nodded in agreement. ¡°Precisely. All of you are right.¡±

    His words caused Ning Ran to burst into heartyughter.

    The atmosphere was harmonious as the family of four engaged in lighthearted banter.

    ¡°By the way, Daddy, you should stop Mommy from going back to Livingsfill for filming. As school is

    starting soon, I want Mommy to be at our side.¡± Erbao suddenly recalled something important.

    ¡°Mmm-hmm. I just spoke to the director today and he agreed to amend the residual scenes. Therefore,

    there''s no need for Mommy to go back to Livingsfill,¡± Nan Chen rted.

    ¡°You discussed it with the director? But, those scenes are crucial to the movie. How can you change

    them just like that?¡±

    Nan Chen waved his hand. ¡°It''s fine. It won''t affect the quality of the movie, so there''s nothing to worry

    about.¡±

    ¡°I don''t think it''s a good idea.¡± Ning Ran was still concerned.

    ¡°Don''t get too wrapped up over it. It''s just too much work traveling back and forth for just a few scenes.

    Instead, you should get some rest, as we''ll be having a meal at Commoner Residence tomorrow.

    There''s something important to discuss,¡± Nan Chen replied in a mysterious tone.

 Chapter 794

    Chapter 794

    After Ning Ran washed her te and was about to rest, the phone rang again.

    It was yet another unknown number. Thinking that it was from Ruan Anxi, Ning Ran did not pick it up.

    However, the person wouldn''t stop calling. Annoyed by the other party''s persistence, she answered the

    call but kept her silence.

    To her surprise, a woman''s voice traveled from the other end of the line instead. ¡°I''m Ding Fei. I want to

    meet you.¡±

    Ning Ran froze. ¡°Who?¡±

    ¡°I''m Ding Fei. I have a secret to tell you, soe to Lily Club now,¡± Ding Fei said.

    ¡°All right. I''ll be right there.¡±

    Ning Ran happened to have things to ask Ding Fei about as well, so she readily agreed to meet up with

    thetter.

    After ending the call, she then went to the study room and told Nan Chen about it.

    ¡°You''re going to meet her now? Is she up to some kind of nefarious n again? I''ll get Qiao Zhan to go

    with you.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Ning Ran agreed.

    After all, Ding Fei was Luo Fei¡ªNing Ran''s step-sister who despised her.

    Furthermore, Ding Fei, who had undergone stic surgery and changed her looks, seemed to have

    be even more ruthless and cruel than before. They had to be extra careful around her.

    Half an hourter, Qiao Zhan arrived and went to Lily Club with Ning Ran.

    Ding Fei was already there, and it seemed like she had already drunk many sses of wine.

    She seemed to be in a terrible and wretched state, but the look in her eyes when she red at Ning

    Ran was still as vicious as always.

    ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± Ding Fei taunted as she stared at Ning Ran.

    As Ning Ran took a seat, she said, ¡°Speak your mind and don''t talk in riddles. I know who you are.¡±

    ¡°Do you really know who I am?¡±

    ¡°You''ve changed your looks, but the hatred you have for me never changed. In fact, it has worsened.

    The resentment in your eyes is vivid whenever you look at me. No one in this world hates me as much

    as you do. Luo Fei, I can''t believe you still can''t let go of the hatred you have for me. You were the one

    who hurt me first¡ªwho hurt my children first¡ªso why are you still targeting me?¡± Ning Ran questioned,

    her tone cial.

    ¡°I hate you! I wish you were dead! If it weren''t for you, Nan Chen would have been mine. I would have

    been the best actress too! You ruined everything for me!¡± Ding Fei screamed at Ning Ran.

    ¡°Hey! Show some manners, or I won''t show you any mercy,¡± Qiao Zhan snapped as he jabbed a finger

    at Ding Fei.

    Even back when Ding Fei was still Luo Fei, Qiao Zhan never really liked this titr girlfriend of his

    employer.

    That was because Luo Fei was two-faced. She would pander to the rich and the powerful and be cruel

    to those who had a lower status than her.

    She was meek and subservient around Nan Chen, but when she was with people who were lower than

    her in terms of social status, she would behave haughtily and condescendingly. It was infuriating.

    Now, Ding Fei had changed her looks and be one of Ruan Anxi''s pawns. As there was bad blood

    between Qiao Zhan and Ruan Anxi, it was only natural that Qiao Zhan abhorred Ding Fei even more.

    ¡°Who do you think you are? How dare you talk to me like this? You''re just the Nan family''s mutt¡ª¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Ning Ran bellowed, cutting Ding Fei off before thetter could insult Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°If you''re here to curse at others or to fight, then I''m not going to stay here anymore. If there''s

    something you want to say, spit it out now. We don''t have the time to listen to your foul words!¡±

    Ning Ran''s aggressive demeanor put out some of the raging fire in Ding Fei.

    Ding Fei had actuallye to Ning Ran to ask for a favor.

    However, the sight of Ning Ran kindled the resentment she had for her, and Ding Fei could not stop

    herself from insulting Ning Ran.

    ¡°All right. Since you know who I am, you must also know why I hate you that much. You took everything

    that was mine! You should have been dead!¡±

    ¡°Are you done? Are you going to keep this up? Are you going to get to the point or not?¡±

    At that, Ning Ran rose to her feet and prepared to leave.

    All of a sudden, Ding Fei sneered and said, ¡°Aren''t you looking for the USB? I can give you some

    clues.¡±

    Ning Ran reciprocated the sneer. ¡°You''ve been tricking me with the USB''s matter since forever. Do you

    really think I''ll fall for this again?¡±

    ¡°That was in the past. Now, I''ll give you the USB as long as you do something for me,¡± Ding Fei replied.

    Walking over to Ding Fei, Ning Ran hissed, ¡°You don''t have the USB at all. Do you think I''d believe in

    your words?¡±

    ¡°But I can give you clues. They''re definitely useful clues, but I''ll only give them to you if you do

    something for me.¡±

    ¡°I won''t agree to any of your requests, and I won''t help you. Not even the most trivial matter.¡±

    At that point, Ding Fei stood up as well. As she red at Ning Ran, she questioned, ¡°Then why are you

    here?¡±

    ¡°I wanted to find out what you had to say. Now that I''m done listening, I''m leaving.¡±

    ¡°Stop right there! I''m the only one who knows how to find the things that your mother left behind. I''m

    serious this time, and I''m not trying to trick you. As long as you do me a favor, I''ll help you find what

    your mother left behind.¡±

    ¡°I won''t help you. Even if I can''t find what Mom has left behind, I won''t help you,¡± Ning Ran said in a

    firm voice.

    ¡°But this is easy for you. Why won''t you just help me this one time? As long as you help me with this, I''ll

    nevere to you again! I''ve already changed my looks. I have nothing now, and this is all your fault!¡±

    Speechless, Ning Ran could only shake her head.

    ¡°You''re unrepentant. Even now, you''re still trying to push all the me on me. If you keep this up, then

    no one can save you.¡±

    ¡°Just this once! Help me just this once, and I won''t trouble you anymore!¡±

    Hearing that, Ning Ran turned to look at Ding Fei. At that moment, she felt a hint of pity for thetter.

    Those who clung to jealousy and resentment would be tormented by their negative feelings every

    waking moment in their lives. Happiness would be fleeting.

    Ding Fei had changed her appearance, but she could never walk away from the hatred she bore. That

    was why she had once again forced herself to the edge of the cliff.

    For most people, reaching a dead end was a result of their own actions.

    Ordinary people, and even smart ones, tended to create trouble for themselves. In other words, their

    intelligence would backfire on them.

    ¡°Tell me how I''m supposed to find my mother''s belongings first. Only after that will I consider helping

    you. Otherwise, you can forget about me helping you. I''m not in the mood to do this, and neither do I

    have the time,¡± Ning Ran icily said to her.

    ¡°What if you don''t help me after I tell you about it? I don''t trust you.¡±

    ¡°If you don''t trust me, then feel free to keep the secret to yourself. It''s been years since my mother

    passed away. While it would be good if I can find her belongings, I won''t be devastated if I can''t. She''s

    no longer here anymore. Her belongings never mattered as much as her presence,¡± Ning Ran said

    nomittally.

    Of course, her nonchnce was faked. She still cared about getting her mother''s belongings back.

    ¡°Someone came to visit your mother when she was hospitalized and talked to her for a long time. I

    have a photo of that person. I thought I lost it back then, but after scouring through the old family home,

    I found it,¡± Ding Fei finally revealed.

    ¡°You went to the old family house? So the thief who broke into the old family house was you?¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    ¡°I didn''t steal anything. I just visited the ce. After all, I grew up there,¡± Ding Fei retorted.

    ¡°Give me the photo.¡±

    ¡°Promise to do me a favor first.¡±

    ¡°I won''t agree to it now. Give me the photo first, and if I really find the USB, I''ll think about your request.

    If you won''t give it to me, then forget about this.¡±

    With that, Ning Ran turned to leave with Qiao Zhan.

    In the past, Ding Fei had tricked her over and over again using her mother''s belongings. Therefore, she

    was not going to fall for Ding Fei''s trick again.

 Chapter 795

    Chapter 795

    ¡°Wait.¡±

    However, it seemed like this time, Ding Fei really did have something with her.

    She carefully opened her bag and took out an envelope to pass it to Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran reached out for it, but Ding Fei soon retracted her hand.

    ¡°You have to promise to help me.¡±

    ¡°I told you I''ll only consider epting your request after I find the USB with your clue.¡±

    ¡°But you haven''t even asked me what my request is, so how are you going to help me?¡±

    ¡°Frankly, I don''t want to help you at all. It doesn''t matter what you say because I won''t do it. So, if you

    want me to help you, you have to wait until your clue proves to be useful before I start considering your

    request.¡±

    Ning Ran was insistent, and there was nothing Ding Fei could say to change her mind. Hence, Ding Fei

    had no choice but to hand the envelope to Ning Ran.

    When Ning Ran opened it, she realized a stack of photos was in it.

    The photos must have been taken by a cell phone a few years ago, for the quality of the photos was

    not great, but she could still make out what was in the photos.

    In the photos was a middle-aged woman dressed averagely. She was not dressed to the nines, but she

    was not disheveled either.

    Ning Ran stared at her for a while, feeling a sense of familiarity. She presumed that she had seen the

    middle-aged woman somewhere before.

    Uponbing through her memories, Ning Ran realized the woman must be one of her mother''s

    friends. She somewhat recalled having a meal with the woman back when her mother brought her out

    to y.

    Still, Ning Ran could not remember what the woman''s name was. After all, Ning Ran had been but a

    young child at that time, and the woman didn''t meet up often with her mother. Clearly, her mother and

    that woman weren''t very close.

    ¡°Do you know who she is?¡± Ding Fei asked.

    ¡°I don''t, but do you?¡±

    ¡°I don''t either. But she came to your mother''s ward several times when your mother was hospitalized,

    and they always talked for a long time. I once eavesdropped on them from outside, and I think I heard

    your mother passing something to her. Your mother asked her to keep it safe. Later on, my mother and

    I tried to look for her, but our efforts were in vain. I''m guessing that your mother probably gave her that

    USB,¡± Ding Fei uttered.

    While Ding Fei spoke, Ning Ran kept a close eye on her face, trying to figure out whether or not Ding

    Fei was lying again.

    ¡°You don''t need to look at me like this. I''m telling the truth this time. As long as you find this person,

    you''ll have a clue about the whereabouts of the USB. Now, isn''t it your turn to listen to the details of my

    request?¡±

    ¡°I won''t. I''m not interested,¡± Ning Ran declined instantly.

    ¡°This is something beneficial for you. You can reap a massive profit from this.¡±

    ¡°We''ll talk again if your clue turns out to be useful. Bye.¡±

    ¡°Ning Ran, listen to me¡ª¡±

    s, Ning Ran did not. She left right away.

    On her way back, Ning Ran switched on the lights in the car and studied the photos again, making sure

    that she had really seen the woman before.

    ¡°Madam, I''ll look into it. We''ll find out soon,¡± said Qiao Zhan, who was driving.

    ¡°Good. I was about to ask for your help. I''ll leave this to you, then.¡±

    ¡°Keep these photos. I''ll use my phone to take photos of them and ask my friend to look into them.¡±

    ¡°Okay, thank you.¡±

    The next afternoon, Ning Ran dolled herself up before going to Nanshi Corporation''s headquarters with

    the two children.

    Ning Ran rarely went there, for that was Nan Chen''s office, and she did not want to disturb Nan Chen

    when he was working.

    However, it was not her decision to go there that day. Nan Chen was the one who asked her to bring

    the children there and wait for him to finish work. Then, they would head to Commoner Residence for a

    meal.

    Both Ning Ran and Dabao were quietly waiting in Nan Chen''s office. Erbao, on the other hand, had run

    off.

    Even though Ning Ran had told her not to wander everywhere and disturb others, Erbao was not one to

    sit still.

    Ning Ran had only been distracted for a minute, and Erbao was already gone from the office.

    Furthermore, due to Erbao''s adorable looks, she would garner attention wherever she went. Chaos

    erupted in every department she went to.

    A group of employees would crowd around her, wanting to talk to her.

    Erbao was a chatterbox and had a friendly nature, so she enjoyed chatting with them.

    Hence, in no time, all the employees gifted Erbao their choctes and tasty snacks in exchange for her

    charming smile.

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran watched as Erbao continued bringing snacks back to the office and piling them up on the

    desk before she finally spoke up. ¡°How many things did you trick them into giving you? Can you even

    finish them all?¡±

    Erbao looked at Ning Ran with wide, dark eyes, and muttered innocently, ¡°I didn''t trick them. They gave

    them to me of their own ord.¡±

    ¡°Still, you can''t just take them. It''s as if you were robbing them!¡± Ning Ran chided.

    ¡°They insisted! They kept persuading me to take the snacks even though I rejected them. They even

    imed I rejected them because I disliked the snacks...¡± Erbao mumbled with her face scrunched up in

    aggrievement.

    Ning Ran was aware that the employees were genuinely fond of Erbao, and it was only natural they

    would want to pamper the little girl and curry favor with her when they knew Erbao was their employer''s

    precious little princess.

    Therefore, even if Erbao were to ask for something more expensive, they would still give it to her, let

    alone snacks.

    ¡°Come here,¡± Ning Ran said, beckoning to Erbao.

    At that, Erbao trudged over, but she stopped when she was a meter away from Ning Ran. Then, she

    warily studied her mother, wondering if her mother was about to punish her.

    ¡°Those nice people work a tough job, so they need these snacks to revitalize themselves. What will

    they eat if you take their snacks? They were polite to you, but you weren''t being very polite to them. If

    you take everything they offer you, the next time they see you, they''ll think that you''re here for more.

    Will they still want to y with you after that? Erbao, if you take, you must learn to give too. Otherwise,

    people won''t like you. Do you understand?¡±

    Erbao could only grasp half of what her mother said, but she answered, ¡°Mommy, I''ll give these snacks

    back to them, then.¡±

    ¡°No, you''ve already taken them, so let''s not give them back. Since they''ve given you snacks, why don''t

    you treat them to coffee? You''ll use your pocket money to buy them coffee now. Can you do that?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Erbao easily replied.

    ¡°Okay, then I''ll order some coffee for them, but I''ll be spending your pocket money. Is that okay with

    you?¡±

    ¡°Yup.¡± Even though Erbao was a glutton, she was a generous person. After all, she was Nan Chen''s

    daughter.

    Half an hourter, Nan Chen came out of the meeting room to hear his employees discussing

    something.

    ¡°Look at how generous she is. She''s treating us to the best coffee on this street. She''s the perfect

    example of a cultured girl from a wealthy family.¡±

    ¡°Of course. She''s the daughter of a wealthy family. How can she possibly buy cheap drinks for us?¡±

    After hearing that, Nan Chen nced at Jiang Zhe and asked him what was going on.

    ¡°Little Miss has treated our coworkers to coffee, so they''re all praising Little Miss'' generosity,¡± Jiang Zhe

    exined.

    When Nan Chen returned to his office, Erbao happily threw herself at her father and cried out, ¡°Daddy,

    you''re done with your meeting!¡±

    The first thing Nan Chen noticed was the pile of snacks on the desk. ¡°These are...¡±

    ¡°These are given to me by those nice employees! In return, I treated them to coffee with my pocket

    money!¡± Erbao proudly said.

    ¡°You''re so sweet. Why didn''t you treat me to coffee too?¡± Nan Chen asked as he lifted Erbao into his

    arms.

    ¡°Daddy, you have more money than me, so I don''t need to treat you to coffee.¡± Erbao giggled.

    ¡°You can''t take people''s things next time, all right? It''s not right,¡± said Nan Chen solemnly.

    ¡°Got it. Mommy has talked to me about this. I won''t do this again,¡± Erbao obediently answered.

    ¡°Okay. Then let''s go and have a meal with Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma now.¡±

 Chapter 796

    Chapter 796

    Ning Ran, without a doubt, was getting more and more familiar with Commoner Residence.

    After all, she had visited it so many times that she knew the ce''syout and its rules like the back of

    her hand.

    More importantly, there was also a sense of intimacy brought on by her acknowledgment and

    appreciation of Nan Chen.

    During Ning Ran''s initial interactions with thetter, she was always anxious and apprehensive about

    going to Commoner Residence.

    Then again, how could she not? She was a small frypared to the powerful Nan family, which had

    her worried that they might snatch her children from her at any moment.

    Thankfully, that never happened. Even though there had been asional fights and disagreements

    between her and Nan Chen, he had never once abused his family''s power to take the children away.

    Nan Chen might seem authoritative and aloof, but till now, Ning Ran still hadn''t found any evidence to

    suggest that the Nan family threw their weight around.

    With that, her fear of the family gradually faded and was reced with awe and respect.

    When Ning Ran stepped into the Commoner Residence once again, she was no longer a bundle of

    nerves. In fact, the house now felt like a haven for her, where she knew she''d be well-protected and

    loved.

    Of course, Ning Ran couldn''t have gotten that far without Nan Zhengde and Feng Wan''s efforts. They

    were the ones who helped her develop a sense of security instead of making her feel threatened or

    rejected.

    Feng Wan even pulled Ning Ran close to her and looked her over. ¡°Did that kidnapper hurt you? Did he

    make things difficult for you?¡±

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°No, not at all. He was fierce, but he didn''t subject me to any abuse. I appreciate your concern, Mrs.

    Nan,¡± Ning Ran said smilingly.

    ¡°That''s good to hear. Please be more careful in the future and don''t fall into those people''s hands

    again. We were almost scared to death! Women are usually more vulnerable, so we must learn to

    protect ourselves.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mrs. Nan. I''ll keep that in mind.¡±

    ¡°I''m a woman, too!¡± Erbao suddenly chimed in as she ran up to them. ¡°I also have to protect myself!¡±

    Upon hearing that, Ning Ran chuckled. ¡°Oh, you silly child. You''re still just a girl. You can only call

    yourself a woman when you''re all grown up.¡±

    ¡°Come here, Erbao. Let me see if you''ve gotten taller,¡± Feng Wan said.

    Naturally, Erbao did as instructed and snuggled up in her great-grandmother''s arms.

    ¡°Hmm... You''re still chubbier than your brother and not as tall as him,¡± thetter teased. ¡°It looks like

    you have quite a bit to catch up on.¡±

    ¡°No. I''m the same height and weight as Dabao. My face is just a little bigger.¡±

    Feng Wan couldn''t resist smiling and pinching the little girl''s chubby cheeks. ¡°Well, aren''t you glib?

    You''ve been eating plenty, haven''t you?¡±

    Erbao giggled. ¡°No, no. Not at all.¡±

    While Erbao and Feng Wan continued to y with each other, Chai Hua called Ning Ran over,

    informing her that Nan Zhengde wanted to speak with her.

    Ning Ran instantly tensed up. Huh? Why is Mr. Nan looking for me? What could he want to talk about?

    Last night, Nan Chen did say we''d be having dinner at Commoner Residence today because there''s

    something important to discuss. However, shouldn''t Mr. Nan be talking to Nan Chen instead? After all,

    it''s their family affair, so what right do I have to meddle in that? To make matters worse, Mr. Nan''s

    asking to see me alone. Oh, gosh, this is making me even more nervous...

    Despite her anxiety, Ning Ran made her way to Nan Zhengde''s study room, which was every bit like a

    mini library. Wow. The vast selection of books the Nan family has is truly impressive. Their worldly

    knowledge is what makes them so fundamentally different from other families. This is why they''ve

    managed to umte so much wealth and power!

    As soon as he heard Ning Ran enter the room, Nan Zhengde looked at her fondly and gestured for her

    to sit.

    That, of course, made the woman feel a lot more at ease.

    ¡°Mr. Nan, were you looking for me?¡±

    ¡°What do you think of my calligraphy?¡± Nan Zhengde asked as he pointed at the piece of paper before

    him.

    ¡°Oh, I doubt I can be a good judge of it,¡± Ning Ran replied with a polite smile. ¡°I don''t know much about

    calligraphy, but I have to say your writing does look beautiful.¡±

    The next second, Nan Zhengde burst into a heartyugh. ¡°It''s usually people who aren''t familiar with

    calligraphy who can give the most objective opinions. If even they think my writing is ugly, then there''s

    nothing more I can say.¡±

    Ning Ranughed along with the old man. ¡°Don''t worry. It looks good.¡±

    ¡°Anyway, I''m sure you know by now that the Nan family has always been targeted by others, and we''re

    no stranger to trouble. However, oveing these challenges that life threw at us also allowed us to

    grow stronger and better. That''s how we managed to get Nanshi Corporation to where it is today,¡± Nan

    Zhengde said solemnly.

    Even though Ning Ran didn''t quite understand why Nan Zhengde was telling her all that, she still gave

    a sincere nod of acknowledgment.

    ¡°Initially, I never saw you as a suitable match for Chen because you popped out of nowhere, and your

    background seemed pretty sketchy. From an economic perspective, this marriage wouldn''t give us any

    benefits. Moreover, the fact remains that you and Chen don''t have a strong foundation of love.¡±

    Ning Ran felt her heart skip a beat. Oh, no. This conversation is getting deeper and more serious...

    What could Mr. Nan be hinting at? Does he want me to leave Nan Chen because I''ve brought them so

    much trouble?

    ¡°That being said, after getting to know you better and witnessing your tenacity in the face of adversity,

    Feng Wan and I began to see you in a different light. We think you aren''t bad at all,¡± Nan Zhengde

    added.

    Upon hearing that, Ning Ran finally breathed a sigh of relief.

    ¡°Thank you for thepliment, Mr. Nan. I''ll continue to work hard,¡± she uttered, beaming with joy.

    If she were being honest, she felt just like a student who had received praise from a favorite teacher.

    After all, Nan Zhengde was the head of the Nan family, so it was undoubtedly an honor to be

    complimented by him.

    ¡°Therefore, we hope you''ll marry Chen and officially be a part of our family.¡±

    Ning Ran''s heart began pounding in her chest almost immediately.

    I-I never thought I''d be so excited to hear Mr. Nan say that! Does this mean that deep down, I''ve

    always wanted things to work out between Nan Chen and me? Why else would I have such a big

    reaction to it?

    s, before she could express her joy any further, Nan Zhengde spoke up yet again. ¡°However, there

    are some things you need to do before the wedding.¡±

    Intrigued, Ning Ran continued to listen intently in silence.

    ¡°I hope you''ll give up on acting and devote yourself to your studies. Of course, that''s not something you

    can aplish in a matter of days, so you can continue to work on it after getting married. All I ask is

    that you study hard,¡± Nan Zhengde said. ¡°Once the marriage is made official, you''ll be the wife of

    Nanshi Corporation''s CEO. You must be more than just a pretty face to excel in this role, especially

    since you''ll need to help Chen in manypany matters. To a certain degree, you''ll also be

    representing Nanshi Corporation.¡±

    With that, Nan Zhengde looked at the young woman.

    In actuality, Nan Chen had once brought up the topic of studying to Ning Ran.

    Back then, his intention was for Ning Ran to lie that she had studied abroad to get her bachelor''s

    degree. Then, he''d find a way to forge a degree certificate so they could convince Nan Zhengde.

    Unsurprisingly, Ning Ran wasn''t fond of that idea. She had only heard of people falsifying academic

    qualifications to aid their job applications, but why would anyone do that to marry into prestigious

    families? If someone were to expose their fraud, it''d undeniably be a massive scandal!

    Besides, she had never been bothered by her low academic qualification level. Her life was decent

    enough, and herck of education hadn''t prevented her from aplishing what she wanted.

    Then again, it could also be because she hadn''t done anything that required a very high level of

    competency.

    However, all of that would change once she married Nan Chen.

 Chapter 797

    Chapter 797

    As Ning Ran didn''t utter a word, Nan Zhengde assumed she was against it.

    ¡°I was going to ask my wife to have this conversation with you because I thought it was going to be

    easier when you''re both women, but I ultimately decided to speak with you directly as it''s important. I''m

    worried that she might not convey my message urately, so please let me know if you disagree with

    anything I say.¡± Nan Zhengde made his tone sound as gently as possible, for he didn''t want to stress

    Ning Ran out.

    ¡°I get what you mean, Mr. Nan. The wife of Nanshi Corporation''s CEO isn''t just an identity. As Nan

    Chen''s wife, I need to be capable enough,¡± Ning Ran said.

    Nan Zhengde nodded profusely. ¡°I knew you''d understand what I mean. I like the fact that you''re

    sensible.¡±

    ¡°Despite that, I currently enjoy being an actress. I believe that working hard is the most secure way to

    survive without sacrificing my self-respect. I could choose to stop working and rely on Nan Chen for

    financial support to lead avish lifestyle, but that isn''t what I desire.¡±

    Nan Zhengde was straightforward with his thoughts, so Ning Ran didn''t hold back and spoke candidly

    as well.

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    Hearing her words, Nan Zhengde fell silent.

    In actuality, he had already talked to Nan Chen and expressed his thoughts clearly to thetter.

    As he believed that Nan Chen and Ning Ran had effectivelymunicated and resolved the issue, he

    was surprised when Ning Ran opposed his statements.

    Nevertheless, he appreciated Ning Ran''s humility and her ability to express herself clearly.

    ¡°Youngdy, in life we often have to make choices. You can''t have everything you want. To attain

    something, you have to give up something else. If you''re too greedy and want everything, in the end,

    you''ll end up with nothing,¡± Nan Zhengde told her solemnly, looking her straight in the eye.

    Ning Ran pondered over his words and couldn''t agree more with him.

    Life was about making choices at different stages, and making different choices would bring about

    different results.

    No one was certain which option was correct.

    Perhaps each choice and its corresponding oue would have its own pros and cons.

    If that was the case, how should one make a choice? Naturally, one should make a choice that would

    bring happiness.

    Ning Ran was content with her career as an actress, as it was something she excelled at. She had the

    potential for sess in the industry.

    ¡°Mr. Nan, I don''t n on giving up my job for the time being. Not only does it provide me with a source

    of ie, but it also gives my life purpose. I might lead a morefortable life and elevate my status

    in society if I were to give up my job to marry Nan Chen. That way, people won''t look down on me.

    However, I still hope I can keep my job. I want to be an independent woman instead of a parasite

    attached to Nan Chen,¡± Ning Ran exined.

    Upon finishing her statement, she couldn''t help but feel uneasy.

    She may have expressed her own thoughts, but they were conflicting with Nan Zhengde''s. To be more

    specific, she appeared to be challenging him.

    ¡°If that''s the case, you cannot be the wife of Nanshi Corporation''s CEO. You don''t have the energy and

    time to y that role.¡± As expected, Nan Zhengde''s voice turned cold.

    ¡°I know. I dare not ask for it.¡±

    ¡°Aren''t you afraid you''ll regret your choice?¡± Nan Zhengde''s gaze was fixed on Ning Ran.

    ¡°I may have regretster, but I am confident in my decision as of now. Thank you for understanding, Mr.

    Nan. I appreciate it. Therefore, I will respect any decision you make,¡± Ning Ran replied earnestly.

    ¡°Good. Very well.¡± Nan Zhengde nodded.

    Ning Ran wasn''t certain if Nan Zhengde meant what he said or if he was merely being sarcastic.

    She shed him an apologetic smile.

    Right then, Chai Hua came over to inform them that dinner was ready.

    During dinner, Nan Zhengde did not snub Ning Ran or show any signs of anger due to their earlier

    conversation. Instead, he yfully teased Dabao and Erbao. Dinner went by in a pleasant atmosphere.

    After dinner, Feng Wan proposed that Ning Ran join her for a stroll in the garden.

    Oh no! Is she going to try to persuade me to quit acting and focus on being a housewife? I already

    upset Mr. Nan earlier, and now I''m going to upset Mrs. Nan too.

    Ning Ran was stumped.

    However, since Feng Wan had invited her for a stroll, she couldn''t say no.

    Ning Ran and Feng Wan slowly sauntered along the winding path in the sprawling garden of

    Commoner Residence.

    The night air was chilly with the spring breeze, yet the sweet scent of flowers brought aforting

    feeling.

    Ning Ran held Feng Wan''s arm. ¡°Mrs. Nan, I''m afraid I''ve offended Mr. Nan today. You must side with

    me.¡±

    It was impossible to avoid the topic, so she decided to mention it herself.

    ¡°Oh? How did you upset him?¡± Feng Wan asked with a chuckle.

    ¡°Mr. Nan wants me to stop acting and focus on my studies in order to assist Nan Chen.¡±

    ¡°So? You aren''t willing to do so?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ning Ran replied quickly.

    Feng Wan chuckled and came to a stop. ¡°Are you not willing to marry Nan Chen, or are you not willing

    to give up your job?¡±

    ¡°I''m not willing to give up my job.¡±

    ¡°My guess was right.¡± Feng Wan beamed.

    ¡°Mrs. Nan, how did you guess it? Do you think I''m foolish to think that way?¡±

    ¡°No, you''re smart. You wouldn''t be worthy of being the Nan family''s granddaughter-inw if you gave

    up your life to marry Nan Chen without hesitation,¡± Feng Wan revealed.

    Ning Ran was startled. So this isn''t a multiple-choice question but a thinking question?

    Feng Wan continued, ¡°If you chose to marry into the Nan family without thinking it through, that would

    mean you''re too ambitious, hasty, and a nose of wax. The Nan family doesn''t need a granddaughter-in-

    law like that.¡±

    ¡°Well...¡±

    ¡°My husband is old, so he''s gradually losing his control over the family. The more he loses control, the

    more he wants to gain control. He wants everyone to heed his advice. Don''t pay attention to him,¡± Feng

    Wan exined cheerfully.

    Ning Ran quickly replied, ¡°Mrs. Nan, you can ignore him, but I can''t do that. If I go against his advice,

    I''m afraid he might get mad at me.¡±

    A smile nudged Feng Wan''s lips. ¡°Oh, don''t worry about that. He isn''t that petty. I won''t even have to

    convince him, for he wille around eventually.¡±

    ¡°What do you think I should do? What''s your opinion on this?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    Feng Wan halted in her tracks and nced at Ning Ran. ¡°Are you sure you want to hear my opinion?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°If I were you, I''d give up being an actress. That''s because being Nan Chen''s wife is a more meaningful

    and more challenging job,¡± Feng Wan exined.

    Her words rendered Ning Ran confused. What does she mean? Didn''t she say I was right to stick to my

    choice? Why is she saying this now?

    ¡°If you truly love acting and see a future for yourself in the industry, then by all means, continue to

    pursue it. However, if you have aspirations of being a part of the Nan family as well, it would be wise to

    also prepare yourself for that role. Work hard to improve your acting skills and also continue to better

    yourself as a person. That way, when the timees, and you feel ready, you can decide to marry into

    the Nan family with confidence.¡±

    Ning Ran still couldn''t understand her words.

    Feng Wan did not borate further. Instead, she gave Ning Ran''s shoulder a reassuring pat and simply

    said, ¡°You''ll figure it out in due time.¡±

 Chapter 798

    Chapter 798

    Ning Ran was silent on the way back to Raining Pavilion.

    The kids were so exhausted from all the fun they had that they dozed off before they got home.

    After tucking the children in, Ning Ran brought coffee to Nan Chen in the study room.

    She felt sorry for Nan Chen because he still had to work extra hours after getting home.

    Everyone only saw him shining on his throne, but only a few people knew the amount of effort and

    pressure he endured to maintain his position of power and sess.

    Ning Ran ced the cup of coffee on the table and walked past the desk to massage Nan Chen''s

    shoulders.

    Nan Chen rxed and turned over his shoulder to look at her. ¡°Why are you being nice all of a

    sudden?¡±

    Ning Ran punched him lightly. ¡°I pity you because you''re working so hard. Do you think I''m trying to

    ingratiate you?¡±

    ¡°Did my grandpa ask you to make a choice again?¡± Nan Chen asked nonchntly.

    ¡°You knew why he invited us to dinner, didn''t you?¡±

    ¡°I had a guess, but I wasn''t sure. I only confirmed my guess when he summoned you to his study. He

    wanted to speak with you personally because he clearly holds you in high regard. He wouldn''t have

    gotten involved in something so insignificant otherwise,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    Ning Ran bobbed her head. ¡°I know. I was grateful for his advice, but I can''t give up my job now. I am

    still considering my options and am not ready to make a decision.¡±

    ¡°No worries. We can register our marriage first and hold the wedding when you''ve made up your mind.¡±

    ¡°Register our marriage?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I showed my sincerity by giving this house to you. If you reject my proposal, wouldn''t that be a

    loss for me?¡± Nan Chen asked as he reached out to hug her.

    ¡°But I have yet to continue my studies to meet Mr. Nan''s requirements. If he finds out¡ª¡±

    ¡°He won''t find out,¡± Nan Chen cut in.

    Ning Ran got even more surprised. ¡°You are nning on hiding it from him?¡±

    ¡°Getting married is my own business. His opinion might be important, but I am the one who decides in

    the end. You don''t have to worry.¡±

    ¡°I still don''t think it''s right to make a decision without Mr. Nan''s knowledge.¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry. I''ll let him know when the time is right. He won''t me us as he isn''t overbearing at all,¡±

    Nan Chen assured her.

    Ning Ran giggled. ¡°But I have yet to decide whether I should marry you.¡±

    ¡°If you don''t marry me, I won''t allow you to marry another man,¡± Nan Chen said in amanding

    manner.

    ¡°Why? You don''t own me¡ª¡±

    ¡°I won''t allow my children to have a stepfather or call another man ''Daddy.'' If you refuse to marry me,

    you can choose to be a nun and spend the rest of your life alone,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran gaped in disbelief. ¡°How could you say that? This is ridiculous! If I refuse to marry you, I have

    to be a nun? Why should I?¡±

    ¡°That is just my proposal. If you choose not to ept it, you can remain single. However, if you choose

    to marry someone else, you will have to sever your rtionship with my children as they will not be

    allowed to refer to another man as ''Daddy''.¡±

    Ning Ran fumed. ¡°If you marry another woman, my kids will have to call them ''Mommy'' too! ording

    to your logic, you''ll have to be a monk and not marry another woman!¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡± To her surprise, Nan Chen agreed readily.

    ¡°What? Are you seriously going to be a monk?¡±

    ¡°That might happen. Don''t you worry. Even if I marry another woman, I won''t allow the kids to call her

    ''Mommy''.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure you can do it?¡± Ning Ran was doubtful.

    Nan Chen replied firmly, ¡°Of course. I am a man of my word.¡±

    Hearing that, Ning Ran burst outughing.

    ¡°Why are youughing?¡±

    ¡°Nothing. I was just imagining you shaving your hair off. If you do, you''ll be the most handsome monk in

    China. Women would flock to the temple where you stay, hoping to catch a glimpse of you.¡±

    Nan Chen frowned. What nonsense is she talking about? I can''t believe her imagination can run this

    wild.

    ¡°Will you visit me?¡± he teased.

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Because you''ll fall in love with me and break the precept!¡± Ning Ran dered. She couldn''t help but

    giggle uncontrobly after saying that.

    A smile tugged at Nan Chen''s lips.

    Seeing that, Ning Ran searched for her phone frantically. ¡°Stay put and keep that smile on your face! I

    need to find my phone so I can capture this moment of you smiling.¡±

    s, when she finally found her phone, Nan Chen''s smile was long gone.

    Ning Ran thumped her chest in fury. ¡°Ah, what a pity. What a pity!¡±

    Nan Chen was puzzled. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Your smile! You smiled! I saw it with my own eyes! That was rare to see. I wanted to take a photo of

    your smile but didn''t get to do so in time. It''s now gone!¡± Ning Ran whined.

    Nan Chen couldn''t understand her at all. Why is she so insistent on capturing a photo of my smile? She

    seems quite disappointed that she wasn''t able to get a good shot.

    ¡°Why do you want to take a photo of me?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I rarely see you smile, that''s why I wanted to take a photo. Are you aware that you don''t smile often?

    You have a poker face.¡±

    ¡°How could you say that about me?¡± Nan Chen frowned in displeasure.

    Ning Ran quickly corrected herself. ¡°I want to capture your smile as a reminder since it''s a rare sight. I''ll

    do the same if I see a roosterying an egg¡ª¡±

    ¡°Ning Ran!¡± Nan Chen roared angrily.

    What kind of analogy is that? A roosterying eggs? Can a roostery eggs? What an uncultured

    analogy!

    Ning Ran held back herughter upon seeing how livid the man was.

    ¡°I wasn''t saying that you''re a rooster¡ª¡±

    ¡°Stop it!¡± Nan Chen snapped.

    ¡°No, listen to me. I mean your smile is unexpected and gorgeous like a shooting star. If I take a photo of

    it, I can make it my phone''s wallpaper. That way, I can admire it anytime I want tomemorate¡ª¡±

    ¡°Commemorate? Am I dead?¡±

    ¡°Oh, it was a slip of the tongue. Notmemorate. I want to memorialize¡ª¡±

    ¡°That still means I''m dead!¡±

    Ning Ran pped her mouth. ¡°Ah, your grandpa is right. I need to continue my studies as I am

    uncultured. Anyway, what I mean is that your smile is gorgeous. I want to take a photo as a keepsake.

    Keepsake is the right term, right?¡±

    Nan Chen''s facial expression rxed a little. That''s more like it.

    ¡°I have a request. I''m not sure if I should say it though.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Nan Chen replied icily.

    ¡°Don''t say that, Sir Chen. It''s a beautiful night, so we should do something, right?¡± Ning Ran said coyly.

    Nan Chen was not usually one to be swayed by seduction, but when Ning Ran began to act coy, he

    found himself unable to resist her advances.

    ¡°What do you want to do?¡± he questioned.

    ¡°Remember my request? Can you y along with me?¡±

    Ning Ran settled on Nan Chen''sp and twisted her body.

    Nan Chen''s eyes zed with desire. ¡°How should I y along?¡±

    ¡°Can you smile for me so I can capture it¡ª¡±

    ¡°Scram!¡± Nan Chen hissed in disappointment.

    Ning Ran couldn''t stopughing at his reaction.

 Chapter 799

    Chapter 799

    Nan Chen wanted the remaining scenes to be filmed elsewhere, but Ning Ran insisted to head to

    Livingsfill to film the remaining scenes before returning to Flower City one weekter.

    After Ding Fei provided the photo of the woman, Qiao Zhan worked diligently to track her down. As

    soon as Ning Ran returned to Flower City, Qiao Zhan wasted no time in bringing her to meet the

    woman.

    Ning Ran was anxious on the way there as she had no idea whether the woman knew about the USB.

    If the woman had no idea about the USB, then the clue would be of no use.

    Judging from the current situation, her mother''s belongings could very well be connected to her

    background and her past.

    ¡°Chief Qiao, can you tell me about that person?¡± Ning Ran turned around to ask Qiao Zhan.

    Qiao Zhan shed a shy smile. ¡°Please, don''t call me ''Chief Qiao,'' Madam. My title is only used to

    intimidate others, so calling me that makes me feel self-conscious. Instead, you can just call me by my

    name as it feels more casual. But when we''re around Jiang Zhe, please call me ''Chief Qiao'', I can''t let

    him outrank me.¡±

    Ning Ranughed. ¡°Sure, I''ll call you ''Ah Qiao'' from now on. And please, don''t call me ''Madam'', just

    use my name.¡±

    ¡°I can''t do that. You can call me ''Qiao Zhan'', but I can''t call you ''Ning Ran''.¡± Qiao Zhan waved his

    hands hastily.

    ¡°Why not? Didn''t you just call my name?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I was just following your words. I wasn''t calling you ''Ning Ran'' for real¡ª¡±

    ¡°Look, you repeated my name again,¡± Ning Ran cut in cheerfully.

    Qiao Zhan shook his head shyly. ¡°If you don''t like me calling you ''Madam,'' I shall address you as ''Ms.

    Ning''.¡±

    ¡°Whatever you like. Tell me about that person.¡±

    ¡°Her name is Ou Ling, and she''s an ountant at a smallpany. There''s nothing special about her

    as she seems like an ordinary person,¡± Qiao Zhan revealed.

    Ning Ran nodded understandingly. That''s normal. Most people in the world are ordinary. I''m also an

    ordinary person.

    An hourter, Ning Ran and Qiao Zhan arrived at a county within Flower City.

    Qiao Zhan''s car rolled to a stop outside a stic factory in the suburbs. Ou Ling worked as an

    ountant in this factory.

    Naturally, they didn''t enter the factory recklessly. Qiao Zhan told the security guard that they were there

    to meet Ou Ling. The security guard called the office, and they were told that Ou Ling was in a meeting

    and had no time for them.

    Ning Ran and Qiao Zhan had no choice but to wait.

    Two hourster, the sky was getting dark. Qiao Zhan went to ask where Ou Ling was. s, he was

    informed that she was still in a meeting.

    After waiting for another hour, Qiao Zhan went to ask about Ou Ling again. This time, the security

    guard told him that Ou Ling went home after the meeting ended. She wasn''t at the factory anymore.

    Qiao Zhan nearly punched that security guard, but Ning Ran convinced him not to.

    ¡°Didn''t you make an appointment with her?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Of course I did. I contacted her and mentioned your name, stating that you wanted to ask her about

    some details from her past. Despite my efforts, she refused to meet me and instead asked what my

    intentions were. I told the security guard to inform her about our arrival, but she left without even letting

    us know despite being aware that we''d been waiting for her for hours. It seems clear that she is not a

    kind or considerate person,¡± Qiao Zhan snapped angrily.

    Ning Ran responded, ¡°She''s my mom''s friend, so let''s not jump to conclusions about her character. We

    don''t know her well enough to say whether she is unkind or not.¡±

    ¡°All right, then. Anyway, she shouldn''t have done that to us.¡±

    ¡°Do you know her address?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I do. I did a thorough investigation. Her residence is located in this county, so it should be close to

    the factory.¡±

    Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Let''s go.¡±

    With the help of GPS, Ning Ran and Qiao Zhan soon arrived at their destination. They were surprised

    to see that Ou Ling''s house was a grand, five-story vi situated in a spacious courtyard. It was clear

    that it was one of the most luxurious vis in the county.

    ¡°Ah Qiao, your investigation results might be inurate. I don''t think an ordinary ountant can afford

    to live in such a grand house,¡± Ning Ran said dubiously.

    Qiao Zhan agreed. ¡°This house is really grand. It looks like Ou Ling isn''t just an ountant. She must

    be rich.¡±

    Ning Ran went online to search for Ou Ling''s name. Ou Ling was indeed the ountant of that

    company, but she was also one of the founders.

    In other words, she was one of the major shareholders. She could also possibly be thergest

    shareholder but delegated the task of running thepany to someone else and only took charge of

    thepany''s finance.

    Further digging revealed that the chairman was her husband, so she was technically the chairman''s

    wife.

    Qiao Zhan apologized shyly, ¡°My apologies. I delegated the task of locating her whereabouts to

    someone else and didn''t investigate her background further.¡±

    ¡°It''s fine. Her financial situation doesn''t concern us as I only want to know about my mother from her.

    Let me give her a call.¡±

    She pulled her phone out to call Ou Ling, but thetter didn''t pick up.

    It wasn''t until muchter that the call was answered. ¡°Hello. Who is this?¡±

    ¡°Hello, Ms. Ou. This is Zhang Ru''s daughter. I''d like to meet you.¡± Ning Ran went straight to the point

    and mentioned her mother''s name in the opening of the conversation.

    She''s mom''s friend, and I''m the daughter of her friend. She should be polite enough to agree to meet

    me, right?

    ¡°Oh, I see. Were you the one who waited outside the factory for me?¡± Ou Ling asked.

    ¡°Yes, we came earlier today and were informed that you were in a meeting. We waited for a few hours,

    but the security guard informed us that you had left. So, we came to your house. We are currently

    outside.¡±

    The person at the other end of the line fell silent for a few moments before asking, ¡°How did you get my

    house address?¡±

    ¡°I''m sorry about that, Ms. Ou. I asked a friend to help me find your address. I promise that my friend

    and I do not have any malicious intent. I simply want to learn more about my mother,¡± Ning Ran

    exined hastily.

    ¡°I was in a meeting when the security guard told me a burly man who looked dangerous asked to see

    me. Of course, I refused to see him. Now that you came all the way to my house, I''m afraid I''ll have to

    call the police¡ª¡±

    ¡°Please don''t do that, Ms. Ou. We are not trying to cause any trouble. I just want to know some details

    about your past. Don''t call the police and make things awkward. If you would prefer not to meet in

    person, I am happy to ask my questions over the phone. Would that be okay with you?¡± Ning Ran

    inquired.

    ¡°What do you want to know?¡±

    ¡°I want to know about my mom and her past. I heard that you visited her frequently when she was sick,

    and that she entrusted something to you. Can you tell me what it is?¡±

    ¡°How can you prove you''re Zhang Ru''s daughter? Where did you get the information from?¡± Ou Ling

    probed.

    That was a long story, so Ning Ran didn''t know where to start.

    Suddenly, she realized that it was necessary to talk in person as she couldn''t express herself properly

    over the phone.

    ¡°Ms. Ou, I''m really Zhang Ru''s daughter. If you agree to meet me, I''m sure I can prove it easily. Please

    spare some time for me. I promise I won''t take up a lot of your time,¡± Ning Ran pleaded.

 Chapter 800

    Chapter 800

    However, the woman on the other end of the line had already hung up before Ning Ran could finish her

    sentence.

    Qiao Zhan fumed, ¡°Ms. Ning, this woman is so unfriendly. She doesn''t even want to see us and wants

    you to prove your identity. She''s making things difficult for us on purpose.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps she became wary and suspected us to have ulterior motives because you found her address.

    We have to think of a way to deal with this misunderstanding.¡±

    ¡°How do we deal with it? She simply doesn''t want to meet us! I will bring some men and drag her out!¡±

    Qiao Zhan roared.

    ¡°Hey, don''t go causing trouble. She may really call the police if you do that. Let me try.¡±

    Ning Ran got down the car and walked toward the entrance of the vi to press the doorbell.

    After she pressed the doorbell a few times, Ou Ling''s face finally appeared on the inte screen. The

    latter indeed looked familiar to Ning Ran. I''m sure I''ve seen her before.

    ¡°Hello, I''m Ning Ran. Ms. Ou, please give me a few minutes. I really need to ask you some questions.¡±

    ¡°Why are you still here? What on earth do you want?¡±

    ¡°I don''t have any bad intentions, so don''t worry. I rushed all the way here from Livingsfill. I came

    straight away to meet you after getting off the ne and didn''t even bother to rest. I won''t disturb you. I

    just want to ask a few questions, that''s all. Please give me a few minutes of your time,¡± Ning Ran

    begged.

    ¡°Fine. Come in ande to the fifth floor alone. No one else cane with you. Or else, I''ll call the

    police instantly,¡± Ou Ling relented.

    Heaving a sigh of relief, Ning Ran agreed, ¡°Okay, I''lle up alone. Thank you, Ms. Ou.¡±

    Naturally, Qiao Zhan disapproved of Ning Ran''s decision to enter the vi alone. ¡°No way! It''s too

    dangerous for you to go alone. I''lle along.¡±

    ¡°No. I finally got her to agree to meet me. She''ll get upset If youe along. Wait for me right here. I

    wille down soon. Don''t worry. I will be all right.¡±

    ¡°I''m still worried. What if something happens to you¡ª¡± Qiao Zhan retorted.

    Ning Ran interrupted him, ¡°Nothing will happen. Do you think everyone is as malicious as Ruan Anxi?

    This is Ms. Ou''s permanent residence. What do you think she''ll do? Commit murder in her own home?

    Wait here. I''ll be back soon,¡± Ning Ran said before dashing into the vi and closing the door.

    As she was already rather exhausted, she was panting by the time she climbed up to the fifth floor.

    After catching her breath, she walked into the spacious living room on that floor.

    Ou Ling was alone in the house, so it was no wonder she only allowed Ning Ran to enter alone.

    After sizing Ning Ran up and down, Ou Ling gestured for her to take a seat.

    ¡°You''ve grown up and gotten much prettier. Do you still remember me?¡± Ou Ling asked.

    Upon hearing that, Ning Ran was displeased. Since you know me, why do you still need me to prove

    that I''m my mom''s daughter? Aren''t you making things difficult for me on purpose?

    However, since she had a favor to ask Ou Ling, she suppressed her discontentment.

    ¡°I do. I remember you were sometimes around when Mom brought me out to y, but I didn''t see you

    often, so my memory of you is pretty blurry.¡±

    ¡°Would you like a drink?¡±

    ¡°It''s fine, thank you. I''m here today to¡ª¡±

    ¡°Sit down first. Have you eaten dinner? I don''t eat dinner, so why don''t I peel an apple for you?¡±

    ¡°No, it''s okay, Ms. Ou. I''ll leave after I ask you a few questions.¡±

    Ou Ling poured Ning Ran a ss of water before sitting opposite her and scrutinizing her again.

    ¡°Ms. Ou, are you still unsure whether I''m Zhang Ru''s daughter?¡± Ning Ran asked, feeling even more

    displeased with how the woman was staring at her.

    ¡°No, I''m sure now. Go ahead and ask. I''ll tell you everything I know.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Ms. Ou. Since you''re friends with Mom, did she entrust you with any of her belongings?

    For example, a USB?¡± Ning Ran asked, going straight to the point.

    ¡°No,¡± Ou Ling replied without hesitation.

    Disappointment inundated Ning Ran. I''ve reached yet another dead end after going through so much

    trouble. I came here for nothing.

    ¡°But I heard that the week before my mom passed away, you visited her many times in the hospital,

    and you two chatted for a long time.¡±

    ¡°We''re friends, so isn''t it normal for me to visit a friend in the hospital? And even though I did visit her,

    does that mean she''ll definitely hand me something?¡± Ou Ling retorted.

    ¡°That''s not what I meant. It''s just that I''ve heard from someone that¡ª¡±

    ¡°Who told you this?¡±

    ¡°Luo Fei, my sister.¡±

    ¡°You believe the daughter of a homewrecker?¡±

    Ning Ran found no words to retort that.

    That''s right. Luo Fei is a homewrecker''s daughter and has always hated me. Her words cannot be

    trusted. But she''s now in a tight spot and needs me to help her. She wouldn''t lie, right? Moreover, what

    good does it do for her to lie to me and trick me intoing to find Ou Ling? It is meaningless for her.

    ¡°So that means my mom didn''t leave you anything to keep safe?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Ning Ran grew increasingly disappointed. It seems like this clue has reallye to a dead end.

    ¡°All right. I have one more thing to ask,¡± Ning Ran began, but she soon hesitated and stopped talking.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Well, um...¡±

    Ning Ran took out her phone and searched through the album for the photo showing a torn half of a

    calligraphy painting hanging in her mother''s bedroom.

    ¡°Eternal love between us two? What is it?¡±

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°This is a calligraphy painting my mom hangs in her bedroom. The other half is cut off, so the signature

    is also gone. I want to ask you if you know who wrote those words and why my mom cut the other half

    off?¡±

    ¡°I don''t know.¡±

    Ning Ran could sense that Ou Ling''s response this time was not as firm as before.

    ¡°Are you sure you don''t know?¡± Ning Ran asked again, skeptical.

    ¡°Why are you asking this? Are you married?¡± Ou Ling suddenly changed the topic.

    It was normal to ask about the marital status of a dead friend''s daughter, but it was weird to bring it up

    at such a time.

    ¡°Not yet.¡±

    ¡°But I heard you''re close with the Nan family from Flower City.¡±

    This time, it was Ning Dan''s turn to respond to a question with another question. ¡°Who did you hear it

    from?¡±

    ¡°You appeared on the news with the young master of the Nan family, but you changed your name to

    Ding Mi, so I wasn''t sure whether it was you back then. Now that I have seen you, I''m sure you are

    Ding Mi. It''s impossible for you to look so simr to her.¡±

    ¡°Yes. Ding Mi is my stage name. Things areplicated between the Nan family and me, but thank

    you for your concern.¡±

    ¡°So you''re part of the Nan family already?¡± Ou Ling pressed on.

    ¡°Not really. Nan Chen and I aren''t married, but we have two kids.¡±

    ¡°Did the Nan family ask you toe to find me?¡± Ou Ling continued asking.

    This question sounds even weirder. This is my private affair. Why would she rte this to the Nan

    family? Nan Chen is so busy. He has no time to care about such trivial things.

    ¡°I just want to find out about my parentage. This is my personal wish. It has nothing to do with the Nan

    family. They have no time to care about my affairs.¡±

    Still, doubt was written all over Ou Ling''s face.

 Chapter 801

    Chapter 801

    Ning Ran was still bemused as to why Ou Ling would ask those questions under such circumstances.

    Why is she concerned about whether I married into the Nan family? Is she just concerned about her

    friend''s daughter as an elder? Apparently, it''s not that simple, or she wouldn''t have asked me whether

    the Nan family instructed me toe here.

    ¡°Ms. Ou, why did you think the Nan family sent me here? They''re all so busy. They have no time to

    care about my affairs. Moreover, I haven''t married into the Nan family. My marital status still shows I''m

    single, and if you don''t believe me, you can go check,¡± Ning Ran exined.

    ¡°What about the kids? Why do you have kids?¡±

    ¡°It was an ident. It''s hard to exin, and I don''t want to talk about it. Anyway, I came here just to

    understand more about what happened to my mom. I already know I''m not Ning Ziqiang''s biological

    daughter, so I want to find out about my parentage,¡± Ning Ran dered, staring straight at Ou Ling.

    As Ning Ran had expected, Ou Ling didn''t look surprised at all. That meant she had always known

    Ning Ran wasn''t Ning Ziqiang''s biological daughter. Since she was aware of such a huge secret, she

    must know a lot of other things as well. Ning Ran made up her mind to get more answers from the

    older woman. I''m going to do everything in my power to gain new clues.

    ¡°I don''t know anything. I can''t help you. Please leave.¡±

    Ou Ling stood up, preparing to show Ning Ran to the door, but thetter remained sitting, showing no

    intention of leaving.

    ¡°Ms. Ou, please think again. Perhaps, you can offer me some crucial clues.¡±

    ¡°I have nothing to offer you. Please go.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Ou, did my mom ask you to keep something priceless, and now you want to keep it for yourself

    since my mom has passed away?¡± Ning Ran''s tone turned frosty.

    Ou Ling was stunned, for she didn''t expect Ning Ran to say such insulting words.

    ¡°Am I that unscrupulous? Do you not believe your mom''s judgment? Or are you doubting my

    personality? I''m living afortable life, so why would I take someone else''s things?¡± Ou Ling fumed.

    ¡°Perhaps the wealth you have now is because you stole what my mom left for me.¡±

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    Ou Ling''s lips trembled in fury, and she demanded, ¡°Is this what you think of me?¡±

    ¡°You are close friends with my mom, so before my mom died, she asked you to keep something for me,

    but you turned greedy and stole what was meant for me. As you''re afraid I will expose you for what you

    did, you refused to see me.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense! You''re insulting me! I have never seen what your mom left for you! I don''t even know the

    password! How do I steal it?¡± Ou Ling yelled.

    Indeed, in the heat of the moment, information was revealed.

    ¡°So my mom did ask you to keep something for her. What is it?¡±

    ¡°How do I know? I''ve never seen it before!¡± Ou Ling howled.

    ¡°If you have never seen it, how do you know my mom left me something? Did she say something to

    you?¡±

    ¡°She only said she rented a safe in the bank and left something inside. If she dies, she wants me to

    keep an eye on it, help her pay the rent, and only tell you about it after ten years. She also said not to

    tell you anything if you came to find me, especially if you were instructed by someone to do so. She''s

    probably afraid someone will use you because you''re young and naive. But you actually had the

    audacity to nder me by saying I kept your things for myself. I have never seen it, nor can I open the

    safe. How can I steal anything?¡±

    Ning Ran sighed in relief, d that her method of infuriating Ou Ling to make thetter speak worked.

    She then stood up and bowed deeply to Ou Ling. ¡°I''m sorry, Ms. Ou. Please forgive my rudeness. I said

    so because I got impatient. Please forgive me!¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? You''re suspecting me, so why are you putting up a polite act?¡± Ou Ling

    demanded, still furious.

    ¡°You didn''t want to tell me, so I was getting impatient. If I didn''t say such things, you wouldn''t have told

    me those things. Since my mom is willing to tell you all those information, it means you''re trustable. I

    purposely used you of stealing the things my mom left behind to anger you. Please forgive me.¡±

    Ou Ling was stunned. Did I get tricked?

    ¡°You really don''t suspect me?¡±

    ¡°Of course not! My mom will only leave those things in the care of someone she trusted the most, so

    how can I suspect you? By the way, Ms. Ou, you have known all along that I''m not Ning Ziqiang''s

    biological daughter, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Ou Ling admitted.

    Upon hearing that, Ning Ran became agitated. ¡°Then do you know who''s my biological father?¡±

    ¡°That I have no idea, but I know he wrote those words on that calligraphy painting. I once asked her

    who he was, but she refused to tell me. She only said that it was all in the past and it would affect many

    people''s lives if she revealed his identity, so she decided not to say anything. I thought she refused to

    tell me because she had some qualms, so I kept pressing on for answers. In the end, she told me that

    she once swore to Bodhisattva that if she told you your parentage, you would die a painful death. That

    sounded so scary because no mother will swear upon their daughter''s life.¡±

    Ning Ran fumed, ¡°Someone probably forced her to swear such a vicious vow. My mom is a Buddhist,

    and since she had sworn before Bodhisattva, she will never reveal the truth. To many people, swearing

    is a very childish and ridiculous act. However, my mom is religious, and she would never break the

    vows she made before Bodhisattva. That person who forced my mom to swear knew this very well, so

    he or she made my mom swear upon my life. How evil!¡± Ning Ran fumed.

    ¡°Yes. Now that you mentioned it, it makes sense. Plus, your mom said that if someone ordered you to

    ask me things, I must never reveal anything. That''s why I didn''t want to tell you anything for fear the

    Nan family sent you. Your mom gave me those instructions, so I must obey them. Otherwise, I would

    have let her down. I didn''t mean to keep it from you. It''s just that...¡±

    Ning Ran nodded in understanding. ¡°I understand, Ms. Ou. Thank you for keeping my mom''s secret,

    but now that I know, please tell me the password to that safe. I want to know what she kept inside.¡±

    ¡°But your mom said you can only open it ten yearster...¡±

    ¡°Ms. Ou, my mom probably said so because she wanted to wait till I was mature enough, but I''m

    already mature. I want to know her secrets now.¡±

    ¡°But...¡±

    ¡°Ms. Ou, nothing is certain in this world. If I don''t open the safe now, I may suddenly die one day, and if

    that happens, those secrets will remain secrets forever!¡±

    ¡°Don''t say such nonsense. You won''t die. Fine, I''ll tell you which bank is it, and you can go look for it.

    However, I really don''t know the password. You have to think of a way yourself.¡±

 Chapter 802

    Chapter 802

    By the time Ning Ran returned to Flower City from the county, it was already ten at night.

    Surprisingly, Dabao and Erbao had yet to sleep. Both of them were too excited to go to bed after

    hearing that their mother wasing back that day.

    Just as Ning Ran reached the entrance and alighted from the car, the face-recognition software by the

    door activated and opened the door for her. At the same time, the software made an announcement,

    informing the people in the house. ¡°Mommy''s back.¡± Mommy''s back!

    Erbao was the first to rush over to Ning Ran as she said in a sing-song voice, ¡°Mommy!¡±

    Initially, Ning Ran was preupied with everything that happened earlier in the day, but upon hearing

    Erbao''s voice, she found the weight on her shoulders lifted.

    ¡°Darling!¡± Ning Ran eximed in the same sing-song manner as Erbao.

    The girl giggled. ¡°Mommy, why are you sote? We were waiting to have dinner with you!¡±

    ¡°You haven''t had your dinner yet? It''s sote! Eating now would be like eating supper.¡±

    Ning Ran found out that the dishes were still untouched on the table. The high-tech table came with a

    heating function, so the food was still warm.

    Upon hearing themotion, Nan Chen stepped out of the study room and remarked, ¡°You''rete.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I am. You guys should have eaten dinner first. You didn''t need to wait for me,¡± Ning Ran

    apologetically said.

    ¡°The kids wanted to wait for you, and they wouldn''t let me start eating. How can I not listen to them?¡±

    Nan Chen mumbled aggrievedly.

    Oh? There are actually times when Sir Chen himself can''t take charge of the situation? How unusual.

    Ning Ran then pretended to angrily chide the children, ¡°You guys can''t do this in the future. Don''t starve

    Daddy, okay?¡±

    ying along, the children promptly answered, ¡°Got it! If Daddy gets hungry next time, we''ll let him eat

    first, but we''ll wait until Mommy''s back before we eat.¡±

    Nan Chen was taken aback by their words. Wait, what are they talking about? They make it sound like

    I''m some kind of insensible kid. I can''t believe they''re ridiculing me passive-aggressively when they''re

    still so young!

    ¡°I didn''t say I had to eat first... You can''t describe the situation like this,¡± mumbled Nan Chen pitifully.

    ¡°Oh, okay, you''re right. Daddy was considerate, so he never once said that he was hungry,¡± Dabao

    solemnly praised.

    Nan Chen couldn''t stand the boy''s attitude. Hey, I''m your father. Don''t you think it''s inappropriate of you

    to talk about me like that?

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran was trying her best to hold back herughter. ¡°Thank you for waiting for me to

    come home for dinner, Sir Chen. I''ll give you a toastter.¡±

    ¡°If that''s the case, Mommy, you''ll have to toast to me too. I was waiting for you toe home for dinner

    too!¡± Erbao chimed in, not wanting to be left out.

    Dabao swiftly corrected his sister''s behavior. ¡°Mommy''s our parent, and we''re her children. Only people

    of the younger generation like us toast to the elders. No elders like Mommy toast to us young ones.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I see. I''ll toast to Mommy then.¡± Erbao immediately understood her brother''s words.

    Even though dinner waste that day, Ning Ran''s return made the mood merry.

    Honestly, if it weren''t for making the children happy, both Nan Chen and Ning Ran would have just

    skipped dinner thatte at night.

    ¡°Mommy, you''re not going anywhere anymore, right? You''re going to be staying with us from now on,

    right?¡± Erbao eximed happily.

    ¡°I won''t be leaving for now. When does school start? Tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°The day after tomorrow. Mommy, I want you to send me to school.¡±

    Erbao was even more ted at the mention of starting school.

    ¡°Sure. No problem. Let''s toast to our reunion, then,¡± Ning Ran suggested.

    Dabao and Erbao then lifted their sses of juice. ¡°Wee back, Mommy! Cheers!¡±

    It was toote, so Ning Ran did not eat much¡ªshe just kept drinking red wine.

    After a while of drinking, she began feeling dizzy.

    In the meantime, Erbao''s excitement died down after dinner and was reced by drowsiness. Hence,

    she went straight to bed without even brushing her teeth.

    Weariness seemed contagious, for Ning Ran got toozy to do the dishes as well. Instead, she stood

    on the balcony with her ss of wine, staring at the city lights a distance away from their house.

    Even though Raining Pavilion was not a tall building, it was built on rtively highnd that allowed

    Ning Ran a bird''s eye view of the city from the balcony.

    Nan Chen walked over and wrapped his arm around her waist. ¡°What''s on your mind?¡±

    ¡°There are a lot of things I need to say to you,¡± she said.

    ¡°Sure. I''ll get the wine.¡±

    Nan Chen then went to get the decanted wine and filled a ss.

    Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.

    Even though it was already spring, the nights were still chilly. So, Nan Chen grabbed a jacket to drape

    it over Ning Ran''s shoulders.

    ¡°I''m a little scared,¡± Ning Ran suddenly confessed.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    Ning Ran then told Nan Chen about her meeting with Ou Ling.

    After hearing Ning Ran''s words, he fell into deep thought for a while.

    ¡°Are you worried that there''s a huge secret behind your past?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Yes. I can''t believe that my mother was forced to swear on my life before Bodhisattva. That means

    someone doesn''t want me or others to learn about my parentage. Now that I think about it, I''m not

    relying on anyone to stay alive in this world, so is there really a need for me to find out the details of my

    past? Would my mother be happy about me figuring out my past? If she never wanted me to figure it

    out, then am I going against her wishes by doing this? If she wanted me to figure it out, then why didn''t

    she tell me anything?¡± Ning Ran muttered.

    ¡°Do you think your past is important?¡± Nan Chen queried.

    His question stumped Ning Ran.

    He''s right. Is it really important? If it''s not, then why am I tormenting myself like this? If it is, then what

    about it is important? Do I want to find my biological father? If my biological father is that important,

    then why hasn''t he tried to find me all these years? If my biological father is a heartless man, what is

    the point of me finding him? But if I don''t make things clear, I''ll be hung up on this matter forever and

    ever.

    ¡°Maybe it''s not that important, but...¡±

    ¡°I think it''s important. You''re wracked with worry because you think it''s important. Because it matters to

    you. No one will feel worried about things they don''t care about, right? So, what you need to do first is

    to calm down. Regardless of who your biological father is and what kind of a man he is, he won''t affect

    your current life. As long as you believe this, then I doubt this matter will affect you greatly. If this matter

    can''t affect you that badly, then why should you be worried about the oue? Why should you be

    scared?¡±

    Nan Chen gave her a lengthy reply; he had actually said more than his daily word limit.

    Ning Ran found sense in his words. Yet, she could not help but wonder if the knowledge of her

    biological father would actually affect her life.

    She did not know the answer to that at all.

    ¡°I don''t think you need to dwell on this too much. Most of the time, we worry for nothing,¡± Nan Chen

    reassured.

    ¡°So you''re telling me that I should find my biological father?¡±

    ¡°Of course. Otherwise, you''ll never get over this. Only by confronting it will you finally be free,¡± Nan

    Chen told her in affirmation.

    ¡°All right. Thank you for your words. You''ve soothed my worries. Cheers.¡±

    ¡°You''ll always have me no matter what troubles you face in the future. I''ll keep you safe. Don''t worry,¡±

    Nan Chen gently said.

    Ning Ran bobbed her head slightly and snuggled into his arms.

    ¡°You must be exhausted today. Rest earlier,¡± he added.

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    After Ning Ran went back to the bedroom, she nced at her phone to find six missed calls. All of them

    were from Ding Fei.

    Right as Ning Ran was about to give her a call in return, Nan Chen stopped her. ¡°Don''t let her affect

    your mood. You''re tired, and what you need now is rest. We''ll deal with this tomorrow.¡±

    With that said, he took Ning Ran''s phone from her and switched it off.

 Chapter 803

    Chapter 803

    Ning Ran was truly exhausted, so that night, she fell into a deep slumber.

    When she woke the next morning, she realized there were dozens of missed calls from Ding Fei again.

    A nce at the time stamp told her that Ding Fei had been calling her nonstop since the night before.

    It looks like Ding Fei didn''t even catch a winkst night. Is she out of her mind?

    After brief contemtion, Ning Ran decided to call her.

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    Ding Fei picked up the call almost instantaneously. ¡°Hey, where are you? I want to meet you right now!¡±

    ¡°What do you want again? What''s wrong with you?¡± Ning Ran coldly questioned.

    ¡°We''ll talk about the details when we meet. Where are you? I''ll go to you,¡± Ding Fei urgently replied.

    Needless to say, Ning Ran was not going to tell Ding Fei where she lived. Thus, she said, ¡°Just tell me

    over the phone.¡±

    ¡°I want to meet Nan Chen, but I can''t reach him. I want you to contact him for me. You can even bring

    me straight to him. I really have something urgent to talk to him about.¡±

    Ning Ran believed that Ding Fei truly had an emergency because thetter did sound anxious.

    Still, she curiously asked, ¡°Why do you want to meet him?¡±

    Although Ding Fei had once been Nan Chen''s girlfriend as Luo Fei, Ning Ran highly doubted that the

    two could still rekindle their rtionship.

    Furthermore, Ning Ran doubted Nan Chen would be attracted by Ding Fei''s stic face.

    ¡°I really have an emergency. Let''s talk about this when we meet. It''s really, really urgent. Please!¡± Ding

    Fei cried out.

    ¡°Where are you?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°I''m at the female guest area of a sauna, and I''ve been here for a long time. I''m too scared to leave this

    ce. Pleasee and find me. Please!¡±

    Ning Ran mulled over her words for a while. ¡°Why should I meet you? To give you a chance to hurt

    me?¡±

    ¡°Did you look into the clue I gave to you? Was it useful? If youe, I can give you more clues.¡±

    Hm, that''s tempting. Since I have nothing to do today, I might as well find out what she has to say.

    Ding Fei was dangerous, but there were only so many things she could do in Flower City, and Ning

    Ran had confidence in the Nan family''s ability to protect her.

    As soon as she ended the call, Nan Chen returned from his morning training, looking refreshed. ¡°Who

    are you calling this early in the morning?¡±

    ¡°Ding Fei. I ignored her calls yesterday, right? Apparently, she hasn''t slept the whole night and was

    calling me the entire time. She said she wants to meet me for something urgent. Oh, she also said she

    wanted to meet you. Why don''t we meet her together? She''s your old lover, after all.¡±

    Nan Chen''s expression turned grim. ¡°What nonsense are you on about?¡±

    ¡°I''m telling you the truth. She really said she wanted to meet you. Do you want to meet her?¡±

    ¡°Why would I do that? I''m not going to meet her.¡±

    ¡°What if there''s something she needs to tell you?¡± Ning Ran asked with a smile.

    ¡°I''m not meeting her.¡±

    With that, Nan Chen grabbed his clothes and went upstairs to shower.

    Only after making breakfast, waiting until the children were done with breakfast, and asking the

    housekeeper to take over the household chores did Ning Ran head out with Nan Chen.

    However, they were not going to the same ce¡ªNan Chen was heading to work while Ning Ran was

    going to meet Ding Fei.

    Puzzled, Nan Chen asked, ¡°Why do you want to meet that lunatic? You''re going to meet her despite

    knowing she has ill intentions?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I''m meeting her exactly because she''s a lunatic. She''s reached a dead end. If I don''t meet her,

    she''s going to lose her mind, and I don''t want her creating even more trouble in her crazed state,¡± Ning

    Ran exined.

    ¡°You''re just feeling bad for her, aren''t you? You want to save her,¡± Nan Chen pointed out unhesitatingly,

    seeing through Ning Ran''s thoughts.

    Ning Ran stubbornly denied, ¡°Me? Saving her? Why would I?¡±

    ¡°She crossed Ruan Anxi, and Ruan Anxi is known to be a bloodthirsty man. I''m sure you know that too.

    She''s dead meat if Ruan Anxi ends up catching her. That''s why you want to save her. You think it was

    tough for her to have escaped alive. You feel bad for her because she was disfigured and forced to live

    with a different face. That''s why you wish to persuade her to turn over a new leaf and save her life,¡±

    Nan Chen went on.

    Ning Ran was stunned by his analysis, for those were her subconscious thoughts that were buried so

    deeply in her mind that she did not even wish to acknowledge them.

    Thus, she was at a loss when Nan Chen voiced her thoughts out loud.

    ¡°I don''t. I don''t feel pity for her,¡± Ning Ran stubbornly uttered.

    ¡°It''s fine if you don''t want to admit it. You''re not a ruthless person, frankly. It''s normal for someone to

    have thoughts like these. Saving a life is a benevolent act, anyway. I''m sure she''ll sober up after this.¡±

    Ning Ran said nothing to that. She did not know why she wanted Ding Fei to stay alive. Perhaps it was

    because she did not want Ding Fei to die with that much hatred within her.

    She did not think it would be good for someone to die clinging to resentment.

    Moreover, she was the cause of the resentment, so she did not want Ding Fei to die hating her.

    ¡°If I really do save her, I''m only doing it for the sake of getting good karma for my kids. That''s all,¡± Ning

    Ran finally said.

    Nan Chen nodded.

    ¡°My mother believes in Buddhism, and karma is an important concept in Buddhism. I believe that good

    deeds will be repaid with good fortune. I hope that my children will lead peaceful lives, so I''ll try to gain

    as much good karma as possible for them. If I intervene in this, maybe Ruan Anxi will spare Ding Fei''s

    life. Ding Fei has been living in hatred all this time. She has had a hard life, and I don''t think the

    heavens should let her die now. She should learn the beauty of life before she dies. She should learn

    that hatred doesn''t solve anything and doesn''t bring joy to anyone. She should learn that it only makes

    life darker for those who are trapped by it.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded. ¡°You''re wise, Ms. Ning. Not bad, not bad.¡±

    Ning Ran frowned. ¡°Don''t make fun of me!¡±

    ¡°I''m not, I''m not. But how certain are you in persuading Ruan Anxi to spare her life? Do you have a

    good rtionship with Ruan Anxi?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    Ning Ran instantly heard the jealousy in his words.

    ¡°Ruan Anxi and I are just a kidnapper and a kidnapee. How well do you think the rtionship is going

    to be?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°I doubt it''ll be good. So, why does the kidnapee think that she''ll be able to persuade the kidnapper into

    sparing another person''s life?¡±

    Ning Ran could not give him an answer.

    The truth was that she was not confident about her n either, and she did not have any evidence to

    prove that she could persuade Ruan Anxi to let Ding Fei go.

    Perhaps it was because Ruan Anxi had shown her enough respect when he was holding her hostage,

    so they started having some strange kind of tacit understanding.

    That was why Ning Ran did not think that murder was the only choice Ruan Anxi would pick. In other

    words, Ruan Anxi was a demon who could be reasoned with.

    ¡°I''m not going to talk to you anymore. You''re not being supportive. I didn''t say I was confident in

    persuading Ruan Anxi to let her go; I''m just going to give it a try. Even if I fail, I won''t lose anything.

    What do you think, Sir Chen?¡±

    ¡°Makes sense, but I don''t like interacting too much with that devil of a man. In fact, I hate interacting

    with him,¡± said Nan Chen, making his stance clear.

    Ning Ran nodded to express her understanding. ¡°I know. I didn''t pick up his call the other day too...¡±

    ¡°He called you? How did he know your number?¡± Nan Chen demanded as he stepped on the brakes

    and stopped the car in the middle of the road.

    ¡°Keep driving! It''s fine. I didn''t pick up the call. It''s fine, really,¡± Ning Ran urged when the cars behind

    them started honking.

 Chapter 804

    Chapter 804

    Ning Ran sensed something different about Ding Fei when she met thetter.

    She looked haggard, and her eyes were bloodshot. Her already stiff face looked more frightening than

    usual.

    What puzzled Ning Ran the most was that the hatred in Ding Fei''s eyes seemed less intense than it

    used to be.

    The resentment emanating from her was less overpowering as well. That was the most significant

    change.

    d in loose-fitting pajamas, she was seated on the massage table in the sauna, and her hair fell

    messily over her shoulders. She wore no makeup, not even lipstick.

    That puzzled Ning Ran, too.

    Ding Fei had always thought of Ning Ran as her enemy. At the very least, she had always imagined the

    latter to be her arch-nemesis.

    Not wanting to be outdone by Ning Ran in any aspect, she always made sure she was well-dressed

    and dolled up whenever she met the former.

    However, that day, she presented herself before Ning Ran in a casual and indifferent manner. She

    even looked rather wretched, which was highly unusual.

    ¡°Thank you foring. I really appreciate it.¡±

    The first words that popped out of Ding Fei''s mouth astounded Ning Ran even more.

    Did she just thank me? I can''t believe Ding Fei said that. Did the sun rise from the west today? Or did

    she misspeak? Something''s not right. Is she plotting another evil scheme? Why else would she be this

    courteous?

    However, Ning Ran was not afraid, for Qiao Zhan was on the other side of the door. He did not join her

    in the room simply because it was an area for female patrons only, and his presence was not permitted.

    ¡°Why are you so anxious to see me?¡± Ning Ran asked abruptly.

    No matter what act Ding Fei is putting up, I must see through it and not fall for any tricks she might pull.

    ¡°I have some cash on hand. In fact, I have a lot of cash which Ruan Anxi told me tounder for him.

    Then, he and I had a falling out, so I hid some of it. I initially thought I could bring them abroad, but I

    found that it was impossible to bring that much cash with me. I also can''tunder it via Ouyang Li at

    such short notice. Unfortunately, I have run into some problems. I need to elude Ruan Anxi, which is

    why I''m asking for your help.¡±

    Ning Ran was amused. Ding Fei is such an interesting character. She was the one who got involved

    with a demon just so she could exact revenge on me. Not only did her ploy fail, but she also ended up

    offending the demon and incurring his wrath. Now that things hade to this, she is actually asking

    me for my help? What kind of joke is this?

    ¡°Why should I help you?¡±

    ¡°I have done too many evil things to you, and I''m willing to apologize. I will give you all of Ruan Anxi''s

    money as long as you save me.¡±

    Ding Fei gazed at Ning Ran with a piteous look in her eyes.

    Ning Ran was so close to believing her.

    ¡°That''s it? Is this why you asked to see me?¡±

    ¡°Yes, this is precisely the reason why. I never took your mother''s USB drive, and I''ve told you

    everything I know. I''m sorry for all the lies and harm I''ve brought upon you in the past. Please, you

    need to help me just this once.¡±

    Ning Ran sneered. ¡°First of all, why should I help you? You''ve nearly killed me numerous times. Do you

    expect me to help you so you can stay alive to harm my family and me some other day in the future?

    Second of all, how am I supposed to help you? Ruan Anxi is ruthless. Even the police may not be able

    to protect you if he''s dead set on killing you. How can I help you? Are you clutching at straws, or are

    you just messing with me?¡±

    Ding Fei fell momentarily silent upon beingmbasted by Ning Ran.

    ¡°I''ll give you all the money. I don''t want any of it,¡± she mumbled.

    ¡°I don''t need your money. It''s filthy and illegal. Furthermore, the money belongs to that devil, Ruan

    Anxi. He''s not going to let me go if I took his money. Ah, I see. This is your new scheme, isn''t it? You

    want to dump all that money on me to make the problem mine, don''t you? You want him to hate me,

    see me as an enemy, and harass my family and me, right? As expected, you''re despicable for still

    trying to harm me at this point!¡± Ning Ran raged.

    Ding Fei hastened to exin, ¡°No, that''s not what I meant! Please don''t get me wrong. I¡ª¡±

    ¡°I''m telling you, I will not believe you, nor will I help you.¡±

    Ding Fei''s expression darkened with dismay. Suddenly, she fell to her knees before the other woman.

    ¡°I''m begging you...¡±

    Stunned, Ning Ran did not expect Ding Fei to resort to begging for help.

    She wasn''t used to begging others, nor was she used to being begged by others.

    ¡°Get up. I''m not falling for that!¡±

    ¡°I''m begging you to save my child''s life, Ran. I will be eternally in your debt if you would help me.¡± Ding

    Fei began sobbing.

    Ning Ran was taken aback when she heard Ding Fei mention a child. Save her child? Am I hearing

    things? Since when did Ding Fei have a child?

    ¡°I''m pregnant, Ran. Please save my child and me. I''m sorry for what I did to you in the past. I will never

    do those heinous things again.¡±

    Ding Fei''s sudden emotional outburst didn''t look like an act but a genuine expression of despair.

    Ning Ran did not speak. She was trying to ascertain if this was another one of Ding Fei''s tricks.

    However, Ning Ran noticed Ding Fei seemed different than usual as soon as she saw thetter that

    day.

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Everything from her gaze to her expression is different. Could she really have gotten pregnant? Who is

    the father? D*mn. It can''t be Nan Chen, can it? No. That''s impossible. Nan Chen didn''t evene into

    contact with her, let alone get her pregnant. Besides, Nan Chen isn''t someone who''s fine with anything.

    He has his standards, so he wouldn''t be interested in Ding Fei''s surgically enhanced face.

    Ning Ran told herself that she shouldn''t think of Nan Chen as someone unscrupulous. It isn''t fair to

    him. He''s not like that.

    ¡°You''re pregnant?¡± she repeated suspiciously. ¡°Whose child is it? Ruan Anxi''s?¡±

    ¡°It''s not his. He has never touched me due to his poor health. Back when I was in Livingsfill, I wanted

    his subordinate to do something for me behind his back, so the subordinate and I...¡± Ding Fei trailed off,

    bing uncharacteristically too embarrassed to go on.

    ¡°Ruan Anxi''s subordinate? You actually hooked up with his subordinate?¡±

    ¡°That guy fears Ruan Anxi and reports everything to him. Aside from bribing him, I could only...

    Anyway, it was only one night. I didn''t expect I would get pregnant.¡±

    Ning Ran was starting to believe Ding Fei''s exnation.

    It is logically sound. Ding Fei wanted to steal from Ruan Anxi and mobilize his strength to harm me

    behind his back, and the only way to do so was to instigate his men. She must have thought she was

    just putting on an act to get her way and did not expect to get pregnant. God has such a twisted sense

    of humor.

    ¡°Where is the father now?¡±

    Ding Fei wept even harder. ¡°He kidnapped the wrong person and was shot to death...¡±

    ¡°He''s dead?¡± Ning Ran eximed.

    ¡°Yes. All eight of them had died at the border.¡±

    That was also true. ording to Lu Jingyuan, every single one of the men who had abducted her had

    been shot at the border. None of them survived.

    So DIng Fei is carrying the child of a thief? What a morbid joke this is!

 Chapter 805

    Chapter 805

    Ding Fei began rummaging through her purse.

    Ning Ran grew anxious. Don''t tell me she''s searching for her weapon. Is she going to make a move on

    me because I refused to help her?

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Ning Ran asked warily.

    ¡°I''m looking for the medical report. Here! Take a look. I am pregnant, and I''m not lying to you.¡±

    Ding Fei handed Ning Ran a piece of paper, but thetter did not bother looking at it.

    Ding Fei must be telling the truth, judging by what she said and how she had changed.

    That was why Ning Ran did not feel a need to peruse the report. Even if it was fake, she did not have

    the technical expertise to tell.

    Ding Fei said tearfully, ¡°I really am pregnant, Ran. Please, you must believe me. I''m not lying to you.¡±

    If memory served Ning Ran right, Ding Fei seldom addressed the former with such intimacy.

    The number of times she called her ¡°Ran¡± that day had exceeded the total times she did so before.

    What puzzled Ning Ran the most was how a character as vicious as Ding Fei would care so much

    about a child who was never meant to exist.

    ¡°Are you going to keep the baby?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I''ve been badly injured and have undergone major stic surgery. My body isn''t in good shape,

    so I never thought I would have children. Now that he''s emerged out of nowhere, he''s my child no

    matter who the father is. If I give him up, I may never have another child for as long as I live. I must

    bring him into this world. However, I have crossed Ruan Anxi. Knowing his temper, he won''t forgive me

    even if I returned the money. That is why I''m pleading with you to help me and my child survive. As

    long as my child lives, I would give Ruan Anxi my life. But I cannot die now. I can''t let my child die with

    me.¡±

    Heartbroken, Ding Fei bawled.

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    Ning Ran felt her heart soften.

    Actually, she had considered begging Ruan Anxi to let Ding Fei go. Or, at the very least, spare her life.

    Though she thought Ding Fei was despicable, she also felt sorry for thetter and did not want Ding Fei

    to die resenting her.

    The knowledge of Ding Fei''s pregnancy strengthened Ning Ran''s resolve.

    ¡°How would you like me to help you?¡±

    Ding Fei lifted her head, overjoyed at the sound of Ning Ran''s relenting voice. ¡°Will you help me, Ran?¡±

    ¡°I''m only agreeing to this for your child''s sake. Otherwise, a hundred deaths wouldn''t even atone for the

    sins youmitted,¡± Ning Ran said harshly.

    ¡°I know that. I deserve to die. Thank you, Ran, for your kindness. Though I may not be able to repay

    you in this life, I''ll be at your beck and call in the next life¡ª¡±

    ¡°All right, enough hollow promises. You haven''t even lived this life to the fullest yet. Why are you talking

    about your next?¡± Ning Ran interrupted Ding Fei.

    ¡°I mean what I say...¡±

    ¡°I don''t want to hear your nonsensical confession. Get to the point. How do you want me to help you?¡±

    ¡°I would like you to ask Nan Chen if he could find me a ce to hide and recuperate until I deliver my

    baby. As long as my baby is delivered safely, I don''t care what happens to me after that.¡±

    Ning Ran frowned. Why is she getting Nan Chen involved? But on second thought, that makes sense.

    With my resources, I do not have the ability to keep Ding Fei and her child safe. Ding Fei only came to

    me as she knew that I have Nan Chen''s backing. In essence, Ding Fei is not asking me for help, but

    Nan Chen instead. Ding Fei is also well aware that she must get past me to get Nan Chen on board, as

    there is no way he would agree to help otherwise. That is why Ding Fei came to me. She means to ask

    for Nan Chen''s help through me. In all of Flower City, only Nan Chen and his family could shield Ding

    Fei from the threat of Ruan Anxi.

    ¡°Let me discuss with him. I''ll keep you informed,¡± Ning Ran said coldly.

    ¡°I''m begging you, Ran. You must convince Nan Chen to help me,¡± said Ding Fei, sobbing.

    ¡°Stop calling me that. I''m not Ning Ziqiang''s biological daughter, so I''m not your sister. You used to hate

    me so much, and now that you''re in danger, you''re addressing me like we''re sisters. It''s sickening to

    hear. Let me rify it one more time. I''m only helping you for the sake of your child. Whether you live or

    not means nothing to me.¡±

    ¡°I know, I understand. You have my gratitude whether or not Nan Chen says yes. I do apologize for

    what happened in the past. I swear to never do anything to you again if I survive this. May I die a most

    painful death if I go back on my¡ª¡±

    ¡°Enough with all those vows. It''s not going to work on me. Let me ask you something. Are you

    responsible for my mother''s death?¡± Ning Ran asked coldly.

    ¡°No. I was right next to the club at the time. I did not kill your mother.¡±

    ¡°Was it Luo Yi, then?¡±

    ¡°I don''t think it was. Though my mother hates your mother, she didn''t daremit murder as she fears

    retribution. I''d once asked her, and she did not admit to causing your mother''s death. I''m telling you the

    truth. May I get run over by a car when I step outside if I''m lying¡ª¡±

    ¡°All right, that''s enough. Sit tight and await my word. I''ll speak to Nan Chen.¡±

    After arriving at the door, she doubled back.

    ¡°The baby requires nourishment. Avoid staying upte, and watch your diet. Eat healthy foods.¡±

    Nan Chen was surprised when Ning Ran came looking for him at that time of the day. He was about to

    head to the factory for an inspection and did not have the time to speak with her.

    Since Ning Ran was already there, he brought her into the car so she could talk to him during the

    commute.

    Ning Ran was not keen on getting involved with Nan Chen''s business affairs as she was worried it

    would create an unfavorable impression amongst the staff that she was clingy.

    Naturally, she did not want Nan Chen to be seen as a poor leader who overlooked the big picture for

    women.

    However, she was indeed in dire need of meeting Nan Chen that day as Ding Fei''s predicament was a

    matter of great urgency.

    Ding Fei had been hiding in the bathroom for several days. Ning Ran did not know how many people

    Ruan Anxi had sent out to search for her.

    Knowing Ruan Anxi, he would give the order of execution without caring whether or not Ding Fei was

    pregnant once he found her.

    Though Ding Fei deserved to die, the baby in her belly did not.

    Ning Ran was a mother herself, and Ning Ziqiang had also once asked her to abort her child.

    If I hadn''t run away back then, these adorable children, Dabao and Erbao, would never have existed.

    The child is innocent. I must protect the child. It would be devastating if something were to happen to

    him or her.

    Though Nan Chen had gotten into the car, he was still on the phone conversing in English.

    Having spent some time abroad, Ning Ran was fluent enough in English to understand that the

    conversation was about some important work matter.

    Furthermore, he had mentioned a woman''s name during the call. Phically, it sounded like ¡°Zhiyi.¡±

    Toward the end of the conversation, he also mentioned the date the woman was scheduled to return to

    the country, but he talked too fast, so Ning Ran didn''t quite catch it.

    Her hunch told her that this woman was unusually close to Nan Chen.

    Though they were talking business, their conversation did not contain many formal phrases but instead

    sounded casual.

    For some reason, Ning Ran suddenly felt slightly jealous. Who is this ¡°Zhiyi¡± person?

 Chapter 806

    Chapter 806

    After Nan Chen''s call, he turned around and noticed the gloomy expression on the woman''s face.

    He was puzzled and wondered if the long phone call had upset her because she felt neglected.

    On second thought, he dispelled that notion as she was never a petty person.

    ¡°You wanted to tell me something?¡± Nan Chen asked tentatively.

    ¡°Attend to your business. I''m fine,¡± Ning Ran answered ndly.

    ¡°That''s strange. Why did youe to me if you have nothing to say?¡±

    ¡°It''s nothing. I''ll get off in front.¡±

    Nan Chen did not respond. He knew that the woman was throwing a tantrum.

    However, he could not decipher her reason for doing so.

    Besides, she was fine when she had just arrived. Why did she get upset all of a sudden? The mind of a

    woman is an unfathomable thing, indeed.

    Since she got no response from Nan Chen, Ning Ran couldn''t find an outlet to vent her displeasure. It

    felt like she was throwing punches in the air.

    Silence ensued in the car for a long time without anybody saying a word.

    Nan Chen was cunning. He knew there must be a reason for Ning Ran''s visit during his working hours.

    Since it''s an urgent matter, she must want to talk about it. She would not remain silent for long.

    That was why he was in no hurry to speak and decided to wait and see how long she could hold it in.

    After all, Nan Chen excelled in remaining silent.

    After a while, Ning Ran could not bear the silence any longer.

    I''m making a fool out of myself by trying to outwait Poker Face. He''s someone who could go a day

    without speaking!

    Ning Ran gave a light cough to break the awkward silence.

    Nan Chen heard it but pretended not to. He did not even look at her.

    Ning Ran panicked. Who do you think you are? I broke the silence. You should at least look at me.

    Ning Ran coughed again.

    Nan Chen finally shifted his gaze onto her. ¡°Are you unwell? Would you like a lozenge?¡±

    Ning Ran was infuriated. What is the meaning of this? A lozenge? I''m coughing to attract your

    attention, don''t you understand?

    ¡°Go to h*ll!¡± Ning Ran cursed as her temper red.

    She regretted it as soon as she said it.

    It wouldn''t be a big deal to say such words to a friend. In fact, it wouldn''t even be a problem to say it to

    Nan Chen in private.

    However, it wasn''t suitable when uttered in Nan Chen''spany car, where the driver was present.

    It was wrong of her to speak to Nan Chen in that manner before his employee.

    As a result, she scrambled to salvage the situation. ¡°I recalled something, so I was talking to somebody

    else. Not you!¡±

    The way she tried to make up for it was clumsy. Though the reason was far-fetched, it was the best she

    could do. After all, what she said couldn''t be undone.

    Besides, judging from the odd expression on the driver''s face while he was trying to hold hisughter,

    he had heard everything clearly. He just didn''t have the nerve tough out loud.

    The driver assumed that his employer would lose his temper, but thetter remained unperturbed

    except for the slight crease in his brows.

    ¡°Who are you talking to?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    The man was, apparently, ying along with her. He was giving her an out so she wouldn''t embarrass

    herself.

    ¡°I''m talking about Ding Fei.¡± Ning Ran took the opportunity to bring up the reason for her visit.

    ¡°You saw her? What did she say?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I met her. She said...¡±

    Ning Ran nced at the driver and hesitated.

    Nan Chen pressed a button beside his seat and activated a specially designed switch. A partition rose

    behind the driver and separated him from the backseat.

    The driver would not hear whatever was happening or whatever that was said in the backseat.

    The feature was designed by Nan Xing for Nan Chen and cost hundreds of thousands.

    Nan Chen did not use it often because he never needed to, for his drivers were trustworthy people who

    had signed non-disclosure agreements.

    Details of important phone calls received by Nan Chen would never be leaked.

    However, his woman was present in the car that day. Though the conversation between her and him

    was not necessarily considered a secret, it was not something privy to outsiders, so Nan Chen

    activated that feature.

    ¡°You can speak now,¡± Nan Chen drawled.

    ¡°Who is Zhiyi?¡± Ning Ran blurted out.

    She was indeed bad at keeping her thoughts from others, for she failed to control herself and asked

    that question no matter how hard she tried to keep it in.

    Nan Chen did not answer. Instead, he gazed at Ning Ran with a peculiar expression.

    ¡°Don''t look at me like that. I didn''t mean to invade your privacy. I just heard that name in your

    conversation over the phone and want to know if my pronunciation is correct,¡± Ning Ran exined.

    ¡°It''s urate,¡± Nan Chen answered.

    ¡°Oh. That''s all, then.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Nan Chen responded.

    It seems that Nan Chen really does not want to tell me who Zhiyi is.

    Ning Ran was about to lose her temper. Despite her displeasure, she kept reminding herself not to give

    in to her anger and jealousy as it was detrimental to her health.

    ¡°I met Ding Fei. She said... she''s pregnant with your baby,¡± said Ning Ran vengefully.

    Since you won''t tell me who Zhiyi is, I''ll frighten you to death!

    Sure enough, Nan Chen''s eyes widened in shock. For somebody as stoic and calm as him, that was

    already a pretty strong reaction.

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    Ning Ran felt guilty. ying one prank is permissible, but would it anger Nan Chen if I kept going?

    ¡°Haha!¡± Ning Ran chuckled awkwardly. ¡°I was only joking.¡±

    Nan Chen''s countenance darkened.

    Is that even an appropriate joke? How could she say such things? She''s bing more and more

    unruly!

    Ning Ran nced at the man''s expression and knew she had gone too far. Uh-oh. I''ve crossed him.

    How stupid of me to have offended him before even broaching the purpose of my visit.

    ¡°I was joking, but Ding Fei''s pregnancy is true. She asked for your help.¡±

    Abandoning all levity, Ning Ran resumed the discussion with formality.

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    However, Nan Chen''s scowl remained. He was genuinely mad.

    This woman is unbelievable! She has the audacity to say all kinds of nasty things!

    Ning Ran leaned over and spoke piteously. ¡°I''m sorry, all right? I was only joking. I know I was wrong.

    Come on. Be the bigger man and don''t hold it against me.¡±

    Nan Chen scoffed without deigning to pay her any mind.

    ¡°It was my fault, okay? I should''ve watched my words. I won''t do it again.¡± Ning Ran leaned even

    closer.

    Nan Chen''s anger had dissipated, but seeing Ning Ran leaning closer to him amused him very much.

    It was rare to see this side of her, so Nan Chen enjoyed the way she was showing him affection.

    Despite being no longer angry, he maintained his scowl and pretended to be mad so Ning Ran would

    continue ingratiating him.

    However, though his expression was grim, the sparkle in his eyes did not escape Ning Ran''s notice.

    She knew that he had forgiven her and that all was well.

    ¡°In order to make Ruan Anxi''s subordinate carry out her bidding behind his back, Ding Fei had

    employed some... unsavory tactics which caused her pregnancy. The man is dead, but Ding Fei insists

    on keeping the child.¡±

 Chapter 807

    Chapter 807

    Nan Chen furrowed his brows again and looked at Ning Ran.

    ¡°I''m telling the truth. Honestly, I''m not lying this time,¡± she said in an aggrieved tone.

    ¡°What does that have to do with me?¡± he asked.

    His question stumped Ning Ran.

    He does have a point. A man Ding Fei doesn''t know very well got her pregnant, and now she wants to

    keep the baby. However, what has any of that got to do with Nan Chen?

    ¡°Well, it''s true that it has nothing to do with you. However, you could lend her a helping hand,¡± she

    replied weakly.

    ¡°Why should I?¡±

    ¡°Uh... That''s because...¡± Ning Ran was at a loss for what to say.

    I''ve got to apud my stupidity. Why do I let Nan Chen''s curt responses render me speechless just like

    that?

    After calming down, she finally found an excuse that sounded somewhat reasonable. ¡°Take pity on a

    life. This is an innocent child''s life we''re talking about.¡±

    ¡°You''re also well aware that Ruan Anxi is a monster with no principles, and Ding Fei is no kind soul. It

    isn''t worth it to offend a bad guy for the sake of another bad guy. Besides, how do you know she won''t

    turn and bite the hand that fed her after she gets through this rough patch?¡±

    She shook her head. ¡°I can''t guarantee it. Indeed, she''s a rotten apple.¡±

    ¡°So, why are we still discussing this?¡±

    ¡°Ding Fei deserves to die, but I can''t help feeling sorry for her baby. Back then, Ning Ziqiang also

    forced me to have an abortion. Had I not escaped, you wouldn''t have had the chance to meet Dabao

    and Erbao.¡±

    Ning Ran still felt a pang of sadness when she brought up the past. After all, it had been a difficult time

    for her.

    The look of helplessness in her eyes softened Nan Chen''s heart.

    It''s not that I don''t want to do as she asks and help Ding Fei. It''s just that Ruan Anxi is a tough nut to

    crack. Helping Ding Fei would be like knowing full well that a mad dog is roaming the streets yet still

    goes to kick it, ending up getting chased and bitten. If that isn''t foolish behavior, then what is?

    Although Nan Chen did charitable work, he possessed more of a business mindset. In terms of

    benefits, helping Ding Fei would be a high-risk venture with practically zero return. Not only would it be

    risky, but it would likely drag his family into it.

    Most importantly, Ding Fei is not a good person. It''s not worth it to take risks for her. However, I can''t

    bear to turn Ning Ran down. I really can''t. She hardly ever asks me to do things for her. If it''s something

    she can handle on her own, she won''te to me for help. I know that she empathizes with Ding Fei

    from a mother''s perspective. As she said, all she wants is to do more good deeds to gain more good

    karma for the two little ones. I may not be a Buddhist, but I agree with the idea behind karma. In any

    case, doing good makes one feel more at ease than doing something evil.

    ¡°If you don''t agree, I''ll just have to think of something on my own,¡± said Ning Ran pitifully.

    ¡°Go ahead,¡± he answered without hesitation.

    She was dumbfounded. What the heck? Are you really not going to care about this? Are you seriously

    going to let me think of something on my own? If I could, why would Ie looking for you?

    ¡°How can you have the heart to turn a blind eye to this? Do you think I''m capable of dealing with this

    matter?¡± she asked, unable to ept it.

    ¡°I think that you can,¡± he answered earnestly.

    She let out a cry of protest. ¡°Good heavens! This doesn''t make sense. Is there no justice in this world?¡±

    Although he felt the urge to chuckle, he pretended not to hear what she said. Go ahead and wail all you

    want!

    When they arrived at their destination, Nan Chen got out of the car and went to work. Meanwhile, Ning

    Ran remained in the car, mulling over how to help Ding Fei.

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    Suddenly, she thought of someone¡ªQiao Zhan.

    I feel as though he''ll be able to settle many things. Nan Chen refuses to help me, but Qiao Zhan can.

    Even if Nan Chen had agreed to help with such personal matters, he''d still send Qiao Zhan to make the

    arrangements, right? Qiao Zhan can mobilize many resources by using Nan Chen''s name anyway, so

    why don''t I go to him directly?

    Hence, she took out her phone and called Qiao Zhan.

    s, she got a busy signal, indicating that Qiao Zhan was on a call.

    Meanwhile, the person Qiao Zhan was talking to over the phone was Nan Chen.

    ¡°Sir Chen, just as you expected, I got a call from Madam. I''m guessing it''s about the incident you just

    mentioned,¡± said Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°It''s not convenient for me to go up against Ruan Anxi directly, nor do I want to provoke a mad dog.

    That''s why you and Ning Ran need to take care of this yourselves. Just try your best. If it works, great.

    Even if it doesn''t, make sure not to take too many risks. Basically, go with Ning Ran''s n. If she asks

    you to make any arrangements, go ahead and do it and pretend I don''t have a clue about what''s going

    on,¡± Nan Chen instructed.

    ¡°All right. Got it, Sir Chen,¡± Qiao Zhan replied.

    No sooner had he ended the call with Nan Chen than Ning Ran''s call came in.

    At nine o''clock that night, Qiao Zhan led Ding Fei out of the bathhouse where she had been for the past

    few days.

    During the entire car ride, Ding Fei kept thanking Ning Ran. ¡°I did so many awful things to you before,

    yet you''re still willing to help me. That makes me so¡ª¡±

    ¡°That''s enough. You can save it with the niceties. You don''t have to say anything more. If you must

    thank someone, you can thank Chief Qiao,¡± Ning Ran said, cutting her off.

    ¡°Thank you, Ah Qiao.¡±

    ¡°Shut up. Don''t call me that. I only did as Madam asked me to. That''s why I helped you. You don''t have

    to thank me,¡± Qiao Zhan responded stiffly.

    He knew just how much suffering Ding Fei had caused Ning Ran.

    With Qiao Zhan''s temper, he would not necessarily have agreed to help Ding Fei if Nan Chen had not

    privately instructed him to cooperate with Ning Ran.

    Regardless of whether Ding Fei was pregnant, she was a devious woman in his eyes.

    The look in his eyes was so cold when he stared at her that she could sense his hostility.

    She felt utterly embarrassed, for even her attempt at expressing her gratitude was shot down.

    Nheless, she knew full well what she had done in the past and could not me others.

    ¡°We''ve thought about it and decided to send you to an orphanage as a volunteer. Before you can work,

    you can help out at the orphanage. Try your best to do good deeds to gain good karma for the baby in

    your belly. That area is rtively secluded and not as busy, so there''s little chance of being found. Qiao

    Zhan has already spoken to the orphanage''s director and said you''re a long-term volunteer. While

    you''re there, you should go by your real name, Luo Fei. When your baby is born, it''s up to you what

    you want to do next. Do you have any objections to our arrangement?¡± Ning Ran asked Ding Fei.

    ¡°I''ve no objections. I''m willing to work at the orphanage for free for the rest of my life. As long as my

    baby can be born safely and grows up healthily, I''ll willingly remain there forever. The only thing is that

    Ruan Anxi is vicious and merciless. I''m worried he''ll track me to that ce. I''d never be able to forgive

    myself if I got my child involved in the mess.¡±

    I can tell she means every word she says. So, it turns out that a child can open the eyes of a malicious

    person. The change in her is truly astonishing.

    Ning Ran would have suspected Ding Fei of putting on an act if she had not seen thetter''s

    determined and sincere gaze.

    However, as a mother, she believed Ding Fei had changed for good.

    Love has the power to change everything. This may sound like a cheesy feel-good quote, but it couldn''t

    be more fitting in Ding Fei''s case.

    Once they arrived at the orphanage and got out of the car, Ding Fei sank to her knees again while

    weeping uncontrobly.

    She did not know what else to do. Hence, she could only use such dramatic gestures, kneeling to show

    her remorse and apologize to Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran hesitated briefly before reaching out to help Ding Fei to her feet. ¡°Let the past be the past.

    You don''t have to do this. I hope you''ll be a good mother.¡±

 Chapter 808

    Chapter 808

    A monthter, the filming for I Am You had officially wrapped up.

    Hence, everyone from the production team returned to Flower City. They were going to hold an official

    closing ceremony and celebratory dinner after a short break.

    At the same time, the second phase of the movie''s promotion had begun. The production team would

    soon appear on various programs to promote the movie.

    Naturally, one of the most important members was Ning Ran.

    As soon as she rushed back from the filming site to Raining Pavilion, she saw many people busy

    preparing dinner.

    ¡°Mommy, we''re having a feast today. We''re also having a cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate wrapping

    up your first movie,¡± Erbao announced as she rushed over.

    nting a kiss on her daughter''s cheek, Ning Ran teased, ¡°You little glutton. The cake was your idea,

    wasn''t it?¡±

    Erbao denied, ¡°Of course not! It was Daddy''s idea.¡±

    Naturally, Ning Ran did not believe her words. ¡°Daddy''s the one who wanted the cake?¡±

    ¡°Yep. Daddy was the one who ordered it. You can ask Dabao if you don''t believe me.¡±

    Dabao nodded in response. ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°I see. Does that mean I wronged my chubby daughter?¡± Ning Ran teased while pinching Erbao''s

    cheeks.

    ¡°Exactly, but I like the cake.¡± Erbao chuckled.

    ¡°I knew it. You''re such a glutton. Anyway, I''ll take a shower first,¡± Ning Ran informed, smiling.

    ¡°Okay, Mommy. Be quick. We''ll wait for you,¡± said Erbao.

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    By the time Ning Ran had finished showering and had changed into a set of clean clothes, Nan Chen

    had returned.

    He was talking to the children in the dining hall when Ning Ran approached, and the trio fell silent

    immediately.

    Puzzled, Ning Ran asked, ¡°What were you three talking about just now?¡±

    Erbao nced at Dabao, who nced at Nan Chen. Clearly, Nan Chen was responsible for answering

    Ning Ran on their behalf.

    However, Nan Chen simply answered, ¡°Nothing!¡±

    Of course, Ning Ran did not believe his words. What''s going on? They were clearly in the middle of a

    discussion just now, and they went quiet the moment I arrived. Were they badmouthing me behind my

    back?

    ¡°What are you guys up to? What shady stuff were you three talking about?¡±

    ¡°It''s nothing. Let''s eat,¡± Nan Chen responded half-heartedly.

    ¡°Mommy, we were talking about waiting for you to cut the cake,¡± said Erbao.

    Upon hearing that, Ning Ran squatted and pretended to threaten Erbao, ¡°Tell me. What were you

    talking about just now? Don''t you dare lie to me, or else I won''t love you anymore.¡±

    Feeling pressured, Erbao turned to Dabao for help.

    ¡°It''s really nothing, Mommy. Daddy was just exining the meaning of this cake,¡± Dabao stepped in to

    help his sister.

    ¡°And what is it?¡±

    Putting out a finger, Dabao stated, ¡°First, the filming of your movie ispleted. That''s something

    worth celebrating.¡±

    ¡°It''s my movie, too! I yed a role in it!¡± Erbao piped up.

    ¡°Yes, yes. Erbao acted in it as well, so we have to celebrate this,¡± Dabao added.

    Ning Ran still looked skeptical. ¡°What''s the second meaning?¡±

    Grinning, Dabao nced at Nan Chen and said, ¡°Hm... Maybe Daddy should say it himself.¡±

    The moment Dabao passed the baton to Nan Chen, a shy look crept onto thetter''s face.

    Nan Chen was expressionless most of the time. Thus, it was rare to see that awkward look on his face.

    His bashful behavior amused Ning Ran. I never knew Sir Chen had this side to him.

    ¡°It''s your turn to speak, Mr. Chen. Dabao says you should be the one announcing the second meaning

    of the cake,¡± Ning Ran teased.

    ¡°Uh...¡± Nan Chen was at a loss.

    ¡°Just tell her, Daddy. Don''t tell me you''re shy in front of Mommy,¡± encouraged Erbao with a smile.

    ¡°Exactly. You''re a man, Daddy. Since when were you ever shy?¡±

    Unfortunately, the children''s teasing only flustered Nan Chen even more.

    ¡°Uh... It''s... Well...¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡± Ning Ran''s curiosity was piqued.

    ¡°Today''s the first anniversary of the day we got to know each other... I...¡±

    Ning Ran''s heart fluttered. Anniversary? Oh, right. I brought the children back to the country during this

    timest year.

    However, Ning Ran did not remember the details of her first encounter with Nan Chen in the past.

    Yet, Nan Chen remembered it. That surprised and touched Ning Ran.

    In the meantime, an important question came to Erbao''s mind. ¡°So, Mommy and Daddy have only

    known each other for a year? Weren''t we already five years old at that time? How is it that we''ve known

    Mommy longer than Daddy?¡±

    That was indeed a serious question that was worth discussing.

    Nan Chen and Ning Ran nced at each other, wordlessly prompting one another to answer Erbao''s

    question.

    After all, the question was not an easy one.

    In the end, neither of them provided an answer. Instead, Dabao was the one who defused the situation.

    ¡°I think it''s not their anniversary of getting to know each other. It''s the anniversary of their reunion.¡±

    That was a smart move from Dabao. Just like that, he had resolved the awkward situation the adults

    were in.

    ¡°All right. Let''s cut the cake.¡± Erbao''s attention had already shifted to the cake; she was no longer

    interested in the topic.

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°You should cut it.¡± Nan Chen gestured to Ning Ran.

    Hearing that, Erbao stared at Ning Ran while blinking her gem-like eyes. The former wanted to cut the

    cake too, as it was one of her favorite activities.

    As Erbao''s mother, Ning Ran naturally knew what was on her daughter''s mind.

    Thus, she picked Erbao up, saying, ¡°Come on. Let''s cut the cake together.¡±

    After the cake was cut, Nan Chen personally served Ning Ran a piece.

    ¡°Daddy, you can enjoy the caketer. Bring out your gift,¡± Dabao reminded.

    ¡°Oh? There''s a gift, too?¡± Ning Ran smiled. The idea of receiving gifts never failed to put a smile on

    people''s faces.

    Just as Nan Chen had left, Dabao leaned closer to Ning Ran and whispered, ¡°Mommy, I have a secret

    to tell you.¡±

    Hearing that, Erbao shuffled closer. She would never miss out on an exciting moment like that.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Daddy originally wanted to put the gift in the cake, but he gave up on it because he thought it was

    unhygienic,¡± stated Dabao.

    ¡°Oh? What''s the gift?¡± Ning Ran grew increasingly curious.

    ¡°You''ll find out soon,¡± Dabao said mysteriously.

    It was then Nan Chen returned with a square box in his hand.

    The moment he opened the lid, eight diamond rings came into everyone''s view.

    Each one of them had different designs, yet they were all beautiful.

    ¡°I was supposed to get the ring custom-made, but both of us have been too busy recently. Anyway, it''s

    just an engagement ring. A simple one will do. We can get our wedding rings custom-made instead.

    So, I bought one set each of theirtest designs. You can pick the pair that you like and put aside the

    ones that you don''t,¡± exined Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran''s heartbeat sped up. An engagement ring? Why was I not aware that we were getting

    engaged?

    ¡°Y-You never discussed this with me. Besides, you only needed to buy one. Why waste so much

    money on getting so many rings?¡± she asked.

    Thank goodness he didn''t hide all these rings in the cake. I would''ve broken my teeth if I identally

    bit into it.

    ¡°We were so busytely that we didn''t have time to meet. That''s why I never discussed it with you.

    Anyway, we''re discussing it now, aren''t we?¡±

    He''s really something else. What''s there to discuss when he already bought so many rings?

 Chapter 809

    Chapter 809

    After taking a look, Ning Ran found herself liking all of the rings.

    There was no doubt that the diamonds were huge, so huge they were enough for one to unt their

    wealth with them.

    However, that aside, the more important thing was that the rings were of top-notch design, unlike those

    that could be found over the counters in average shopping malls.

    Even so, Ning Ran could not bring herself to say she liked them all, as that would make her look rather

    greedy.

    ¡°I think they''re all pretty nice,¡± shemented.

    What she meant was she liked all of them.

    Yet, Nan Chen furrowed his brows. ¡°That means nothing really catches your eye?¡±

    ¡°That''s not what I meant. I like them all. It''s tough to choose only one. How about you help me pick

    one? Will the remaining ones be returned after a choice is made?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Daddy has said that they can be used as spares. You can wear them when you like, Mommy. I can

    also wear them when I grow up!¡± Erbao hurriedly exined.

    ¡°That''s right. Erbao understood it very well.¡± Nan Chen nodded.

    ¡°So you mean these are all mine?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    She had inadvertently exposed her true feelings by making that query.

    In truth, she was not a greedy person. It was just that she genuinely liked all the rings and could not

    make a choice between them.

    ¡°Of course. You can wear any of the rings you like. In fact, you can even throw away the ones you don''t

    like,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°No, no, no. I can''t throw these rings away. They aren''t cheap. How can I throw them away? I have to

    keep them, of course,¡± Ning Ran hastily replied.

    ¡°So, that''s a yes?¡±

    His eyes sparkled with joy as he stared at her intently.

    ¡°Yes to what?¡± she asked despite knowing the answer.

    ¡°You''ve epted the rings. What else can it be? The engagement, obviously,¡± Nan Chen answered.

    ¡°I haven''t thought about it thoroughly. Engagement is a serious matter. I have to give it some thought,¡±

    Ning Ran stated with a smile.

    ¡°What else is there to consider? We already have two kids, so how is there still a need to consider

    whether we should get engaged?¡± The man appeared a little displeased.

    As a matter of fact, she was merely joking and did not expect him to take it so seriously.

    ¡°Mommy is just trying to be reserved, Daddy. She doesn''t mean that she disagrees. It''s normal for girls

    to be a bit more reserved.¡± Dabao tried to ease the tension in the air.

    Ning Ran was thrilled when she heard the boy''s words. I can''t believe my son called me a girl. Well, it''s

    not like I was pretending to be young, but my son''s the one who thinks I''m still young!

    ¡°Since engagement is such a major matter, I think neither you nor me can have the final say.¡± Nan

    Chen suddenly made a shocking statement.

    That stupefied her. Then who has the final say?

    ¡°Do you mean we have to get the approval of your grandpa and grandma?¡± she asked.

    ¡°No.¡± Nan Chen shook his head.

    ¡°Then who?¡±

    ¡°Our engagement is an important matter in this family. We should decide by voting,¡± he uttered with a

    solemn expression.

    ¡°Voting?¡± Ning Ran was confused.

    ¡°Yes, voting. Dabao and Erbao should have their voting rights,¡± Nan Chen answered in all seriousness.

    ¡°They''re still so young. They don''t have the capacity to make decisions for civil affairs like this...¡±

    ¡°That''s only valid in the legal system. But in this household, they''re all important members. They

    definitely have the right to vote,¡± he said with a stern countenance.

    Dabao and Erbao felt an unprecedented sense of respect at that very instant. Instinctively, they

    straightened their backs.

    ¡°Yes, I think Daddy makes a lot of sense.¡± Erbao immediately showed her support.

    Dabao also nodded. ¡°That''s right. We may not have the capacity in terms ofw, but we have it in this

    family. We are allowed to vote!¡±

    Poker Face is really cunning, huh? My darlings have always stood by my side. He''s obviously doing

    this to sweet-talk them, and his n seems to have worked!

    ¡°All right, all right. You all have the right to vote. Let''s vote, then.¡± Ning Ran had no other choice but to

    give in to them.

    ¡°Okay. I hereby announce that we will now cast votes on whether Nan Chen and Ning Ran should get

    engaged. Please raise your hand if you are in favor of the engagement.¡±

    As soon as Nan Chen finished saying those words, he raised his hand high.

    Watching the scene, Ning Ran found it to be a little childish, yet at the same time, entertaining.

    With a somber expression, Dabao lifted his hand as well.

    Unlike Dabao, Erbao was way more dramatic. Not only did she raise two hands in the air, but she was

    also ready to climb up the chair as she was afraid her hands were not conspicuous enough.

    ¡°All right. Let me count the votes now.¡± Nan Chen then pretended to start counting. ¡°One, two, three...

    Excuse me, miss. Are you objecting or abstaining from voting? But either way, that''s not important. It''s

    andslide victory with three against one. I hereby dere that the decision for the engagement has

    been passed. Please put your hands together and give a round of apuse.¡±

    After making that speech, he took the lead in pping. At that sight, Dabao and Erbao followed suit.

    The three of them were overjoyed and exchanged looks of smiles. Ning Ran could not help but feel as

    though she was bullied by the trio after seeing their reaction.

    Wow. Something like this actually exists?

    ¡°Mommy, it''s time for you to deliver your speech.¡± Dabao reminded her.

    Ning Ran wore a wry smile. ¡°Do I have the right to speak? Am I still important here? I don''t even know

    where I am now.¡±

    ¡°Of course, you''re important. You''re the female lead of the engagement. You''re the bride.¡± The boy

    chuckled.

    Seeing the bright smiles on her children''s faces, she decided to ept reality and let them have their

    way.

    All right. As long as you all are happy, do whatever you wish.

    ¡°I''m all right.¡± Ning Ran only gave a three-word speech.

    The corners of Nan Chen''s lips quirked upward slightly. She''s indeed annoyed.

    ¡°Well said. Let''s give her a round of apuse.¡± He then started pping.

    Both Dabao and Erbao quickly did as told.

    Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Why don''t Daddy and Mommy get married tomorrow, then?¡± Erbao suddenly eximed.

    ¡°Why?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°You have to get married after getting engaged. Since Mommy will be home tomorrow, you two should

    just get married. I can be the flower girl.¡±

    At the thought of being able to participate in the fun, the little girl began to dance in excitement.

    It doesn''t matter if it''s an engagement or a wedding. The more important thing is that there''ll be fun!

    ¡°How can they do it so hastily? Daddy and Mommy''s wedding must be a grand one. They will need lots

    of time to prepare, right?¡± Dabao turned to look at their father.

    ¡°Yes, yes. Dabao is right.¡± Nan Chen nodded.

    ¡°But you can''t get engaged for nothing, isn''t it?¡± Dabao said.

    ¡°What do you suggest, then?¡± Ning Ran figured that their son still had something to say.

    ¡°There should be substantial progress since Daddy and Mommy are already engaged. I think there''s no

    need to hold the wedding tomorrow. But you can register your marriage first!¡±

    Nan Chen solemnly nodded. ¡°I think Dabao''s point makes a lot of sense! Registering for our marriage

    is a fuss-free process. I think we can do it first!¡±

    ¡°Great! Great!¡± Erbao instinctively pped her hands in delight.

    ¡°We''ll talk about it again.¡± Ning Ran was, however, rather indifferent about it.

    Herck of enthusiasm, in fact, was not because she did not like the idea but because the wrong

    person put it forward.

    Why is Dabao the one who suggested it? Shouldn''t Nan Chen be the one doing it?

    ¡°I don''t think there''s a need for any consideration. Let''s do it tomorrow morning. I''ll call Jiang Zhe now

    and get him to cancel my schedule for tomorrow so that we can focus on registering our marriage!¡± Nan

    Chen dered.

    ¡°Do you need to be so anxious about it? There''s no hurry, isn''t it?¡± Ning Ran uttered.

    ¡°There''s no need for much nning. Tomorrow sounds great. We''ll set it as that. I''ll call Jiang Zhe right

    away.¡±

    After speaking, he walked to the side to make the call.

 Chapter 810

    Chapter 810

    The next morning, Nan Chen, who was usually dressed in ck, made an exception and wore a light-

    colored suit.

    It was rare to see him wear light-colored clothes, and it made him look bright and bubbly.

    Ning Ran knew what his action meant¡ªwearing light colors would make the wedding photo look more

    cheerful.

    ¡°Should I ask Jiang Zhe to make a reservation for us? I heard there''d always a long line of people

    waiting there,¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°I don''t see a need for that. I think it''s fine to line up with everyone else.¡±

    ¡°All right, then. I respect your decision,¡± Nan Chen agreed.

    s, when they arrived at the office, they found out there was already a long line of people.

    Nan Chen and Ning Ran went there early in the morning, yet the hall was already crowded with people.

    Not all of them came to register their marriage, though. Some were there to file for divorce.

    Indeed, it was a ce where people began their new chapter of life and let go of the past.

    Once Nan Chen and Ning Ran entered the main hall, they immediately became the center of attention

    before they could even take a ticket.

    Only then did Ning Ran realize she had made a terrible mistake by not allowing Nan Chen to make a

    special reservation.

    She did not want to make use of any privileges. Instead, she wished for them to be like an ordinary

    couple¡ªget a ticket, finish all the procedures, then take their marriage certificate.

    However, she had forgotten that Nan Chen was not an ordinary person but the most influential man in

    the business world of Flower City.

    As soon as he made his appearance, any man would feel the pressure from his attractive facial

    features.

    All the women could not help but fix their eyes on Nan Chen.

    Then, they shifted their gaze to Ning Ran beside him and were amazed by her beauty.

    Even though Ning Ran had gotten tanned in the hignd of Livingsfill and was no longer fair as before,

    she looked much healthier.

    Besides, she had been paying more attention to her image since joining the entertainment industry.

    With a better sense of style, she looked much prettier than when she had just returned to the country

    last year.

    The handsome man and gorgeousdy formed a stunning sight, causing the crowd to marvel at them.

    It was no big deal if the crowd only surrounded the duo to admire their looks as though they were

    peacocks in a zoo.

    What caused them headaches was someone had recognized their identities.

    ¡°Isn''t that the young and handsome boss of Nanshi Corporation?¡± a woman suddenly eximed.

    ¡°Yes, it''s him! I''ve seen him on the television before.¡±

    ¡°The one next to him is Ding Mi, the actress, right?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely! It''s her!¡±

    ¡°It was rumored that they have children together. Are they having a shotgun marriage now?¡±

    ¡°Well, it''s up to them and has nothing to do with you. Look. They didn''t even make any special

    arrangements beforehand and lined up just like everyone else.¡±

    Not only did the crowd talk about the duo, but they also started taking pictures and posting them on

    social media.

    Ning Ran got rmed upon seeing that. If things went on and the news spread on the inte,

    reporters would rush over there.

    One could not belittle the power of reporters. There was a strong possibility that a crowd would gather

    at the entrance in ten minutes.

    Moreover, many people did live broadcasts in the present climate. Everything could be shared on the

    inte with a phone, and it was simply impossible for them to let go of such an excellent opportunity to

    gossip.

    Nan Chen, too, sensed that something was amiss. ¡°Let''s leave,¡± he whispered.

    The two of them then exited the hall. Still, some people followed them from behind.

    Luckily, the driver was quick-witted and drove the car over. The couple quickly got into the vehicle and

    fled the scene.

    Ning Ran subsequently burst into a fit of heartyughter.

    ¡°What''s so funny?¡± Nan Chen shot her a re.

    ¡°It''s hrious! I didn''t expect this at all. It seems our Sir Chen is the idol of middle-aged and elderly

    women. The first person to recognize you is a not-so-youngdy.¡±

    He scoffed, ¡°This wouldn''t have happened if we had asked Jiang Zhe to arrange it in advance.¡±

    ¡°So you''re ming me for this now, huh? I didn''t know it would turn out like this. Besides, it would be a

    difficult task for Jiang Zhe. This is a government office, not a hotel or restaurant. You can''t vacate the

    ce at your will.¡±

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    ¡°We can request them toe to work earlier or overtime. There won''t be so many people around if we

    come outside normal working hours,¡± he said with a straight face.

    ¡°That''s a good idea! Nheless, everything happens for a reason. Since we can''t get it done today,

    let''se another day. There''s no rush. It''s only a certificate that can''t guarantee or restrain a thing,

    anyway.¡±

    Nan Chen notably agreed with herst sentence. Indeed, people could breach an agreement, much

    less a marriage certificate.

    Just then, Ning Ran''s phone suddenly rang. It was Cheng Xiangyun.

    Everyone had been resting since the movie was officially wrapped up. Hence, Ning Ran could not help

    but wonder why Cheng Xiangyun called her.

    She answered the phone and asked, ¡°What is it, Cheng?¡±

    ¡°I''m sending you a photo. You''ll understand when you see it.¡± Cheng Xiangyun spoke anxiously on the

    other end of the line.

    ¡°Photo? What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°It''s hard for me to exin now. You will know when you see the photo.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun sent a photo to Ning Ran after hanging up the phone.

    In the photo was a newspaper, a traditional media of which the demand was declining in the current era

    of new media.

    Though newspapers had not wholly disappeared, as print media agencies were still publishing them,

    they had long lost their former glory.

    Cheng Xiangyun had taken a snap of the front page of Flower City Daily that day.

    The first half of the front page was some social news, whereas the bottom part, taking up almost two-

    thirds of the page, was a missing person advertisement.

    When print media predominated back in the day, publishing a missing person advertisement in the

    newspaper was a normal thing people did, and it was efficient.

    It was rare to see a missing person advertisement in the newspaper in the current digital era, not to

    mention the ad had upied more than half of the front page.

    Furthermore, the name of the missing person was Ding Fei.

    The photo posted in the advertisement was the new appearance of Luo Fei, that was, Ding Fei.

    The content of the advertisement was also intriguing: Our daughter has been missing for days, and we

    are extremely worried about her. If you have any information, please get in touch with us¡ª Ning

    Ziqiang (father) or Luo Yi (mother).

    Pictures of Ning Ziqiang and Luo Yi were also enclosed in the advertisement.

    Enclosing the missing person''s photo in such an advertisement is normal, but I''ve never seen the

    person publishing the ad enclose their own photo like this before. It''s so strange...

    After Ning Ran forwarded the photo to Nan Chen, she called Cheng Xiangyun to ask how she got it.

    Cheng Xiangyun told Ning Ran that she took the photo herself. When she went to the newsstand that

    morning to buy fashion magazines, she saw a familiar name in the newspaper, which she thought was

    thetter''s father. Thus, she took a snap of it and sent it to her.

    As for the whole situation, she, too, was equally clueless.

    Nan Chen furrowed his eyebrows when he saw the photo.

    Then, he exchanged a look with Ning Ran and mentioned a name in unison, ¡°It''s Ruan Anxi!¡±

    It was evident that Ning Ziqiang was not the person who had posted the missing person advertisement.

    If he did, he would have looked for Luo Fei, not Ding Fei. The photo in the advertisement would also be

    Ding Fei''s photo before she had had stic surgery.

    Besides, it seemed absurd for Ning Ziqiang to enclose a picture of himself and Luo Yi in the

    advertisement.

    As such, Ning Ran and Nan Chen were sure that the advertisement was posted by Ruan Anxi, who

    found out about Luo Fei''s parents'' whereabouts and took control of them to force Ding Fei to show up.

    Why he chose to use outdated media like a newspaper was beyond Nan Chen and Ning Ran.

 Chapter 811

    Chapter 811

    Ning Ran did not say anything for a long time.

    She was pondering over how she should deal with the situation.

    On the surface, that matter had nothing to do with her.

    That was because the paternity test had proved that Ning Ziqiang was not her biological father, and she

    was on bad terms with Luo Yi, her stepmother.

    Nevertheless, Ning Ran was still worried.

    Ning Ziqiang and Luo Yi were in Ruan Anxi''s hands. Should Luo Fei not make an appearance, they

    would suffer.

    Ruan Anxi was an egotistical and prideful person. Since he had already abducted them, that meant he

    would stop at nothing to achieve his goal. If he did not get the oue he wanted, he would

    undoubtedly kill them.

    It was not a big deal for him to kill two people. He did not even need to do it himself, so it was not a

    risky matter for him.

    Should I really get myself involved in this matter? That was what Ning Ran asked herself in her mind.

    The answer was affirmative. She had to.

    That matter would not have anything to do with her if she did not know about it. However, since she

    learned about it, she could not stand by and do nothing, or she would be consumed with guilt.

    Although Ning Ziqiang was not her biological father and did not treat her well, it was undeniable that he

    had raised her for ten-odd years.

    Even though her mother was the breadwinner of her family, it was difficult to assert that Ning Ziqiang

    did nothing for Ning Ran in her childhood.

    Moreover, Ning Ran had always been grateful that Ning Ziqiang had never told her that she was not his

    biological daughter.

    Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.

    It was an extremely important matter to her.

    If a child were to discover that the father who was raising them was not their biological father at a

    young age, they might experience feelings of abandonment, which would undeniably result in a

    negative impact on their character and personality development.

    Ning Ziqiang never said anything to Ning Ran, so she never even considered the possibility that he was

    not her biological father.

    In that aspect, Ning Ziqiang had done the right thing.

    Of course, he had also done many bad things, such as having an affair and exploiting and ckmailing

    her.

    That was human nature, however. Not many people would be capable of maintaining their morals in the

    face of adversity.

    Even Ning Ran herself was not sure if she could do it.

    Therefore, she felt she had to get involved in the matter. There was no way she could leave Ning

    Ziqiang in the lurch and watch him die.

    She could even save Luo Fei, who had repeatedly attempted to kill her, let alone a man she had called

    her father and lived with for so many years.

    Even though they were not rted by blood, it was undeniable Ning Ran had treated Ning Ziqiang as

    her father in her childhood.

    Nan Chen looked at the quiet woman beside him. There were tears in her eyes.

    He knew what she was thinking about and had been mulling over it as well.

    In the end, he also felt he could not sit on his hands in that situation, considering that Ning Ziqiang

    raised Ning Ran.

    Even if Ning Ran had no connection to Ning Ziqiang, Nan Chen could not turn a blind eye to Ruan

    Anxi''s heinous act.

    ¡°I''ll let Qiao Zhan handle this. You don''t have to worry about it,¡± he uttered in an attempt tofort Ning

    Ran.

    ¡°But¡ª¡±

    ¡°Although Ruan Anxi is ruthless, we live in a society regted by a legal system, so he won''t be able to

    do anything he wants. This is China, not M Nation. His actions won''t be tolerated.¡±

    ¡°But we don''t know where he''s hiding Ning Ziqiang and Luo Yi.¡±

    Nan Chen replied, ¡°We know where Luo Fei is.¡±

    Ning Ran was surprised. ¡°What do you mean? You can''t be using Luo Fei to exchange for Ning Ziqiang

    and Luo Yi.¡±

    ¡°Ruan Anxi posted a missing person advertisement in the newspaper in search of Luo Fei. All the

    disasters happened because of Luo Fei. Shouldn''t she take responsibility for it?¡± he questioned in

    return.

    ¡°But she''s pregnant now. If we hand her to Ruan Anxi, aren''t you afraid that he will hurt the child in her

    womb?¡±

    ¡°But Ruan Anxi will never give up if she doesn''t show up. He won''t pay you any mind even if you try to

    negotiate with him. Once he loses his patience, Ning Ziqiang and Luo Yi will die for sure!¡±

    ¡°Still, we can''t send Luo Fei and her child to their death. Although Luo Fei deserves it, her child is

    innocent!¡± Ning Ran was panicking.

    ¡°Did I say Luo Fei will die? Do you recall that you were unharmed thest time he kidnapped you?

    Also, didn''t Luo Fei say she was regretful? Would you believe that she''s repentant if she does nothing

    now that her parents have been kidnapped as a result of her actions?¡± Nan Chen stared at her intently.

    Ning Ran seemed to havee to a realization.

    ¡°So you''re only nning on using Luo Fei to lure Ruan Anxi out? Then, you''re going to think of a way to

    subdue him?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I won''t be able to subdue him. Most likely, I''ll only be able to restrict his freedom. He''s a foreigner. If

    this isn''t handled properly, an uproar will arise among the public. Even the rted departments will

    have to deal with this matter carefully, let alone me. Besides, we can''t arrest him yet since there is no

    evidence to prove he was the one who posted the missing person advertisement.¡±

    Ning Ran agreed with Nan Chen. Even if they proved that Ruan Anxi was the one who posted the

    missing person advertisement, they would not be able to arrest him since it was not illegal to do that.

    It was evident that Ruan Anxi was a pain in the neck. His methods were simple but allowed him to not

    partake in any risk.

    ¡°Then, what should we do to ensure Luo Fei''s, Ning Ziqiang''s, and Luo Yi''s safety?¡± Ning Ran queried

    worriedly.

    ¡°I haven''t thought of it yet. We can only take one step at a time. Qiao Zhan has more knowledge about

    this, so I''ll talk with him first. You can visit Luo Fei to see if she''s willing to save her parents.¡±

    When Ning Ran arrived at the orphanage, she saw Luo Fei serving breakfast to the children.

    As thetter was still in the early stage of her pregnancy, she could still move around freely. Her

    movements were not restricted.

    ¡°Let''s not waste food. Take what you can eat. Each piece of foodes from the hard work of the

    farmers. If you throw away any food, you will be wasting their efforts. It''s not the right thing to do. Do

    you get it?¡± Luo Fei asked loudly.

    The children replied in unison, ¡°Got it!¡±

    ¡°You must drink every sip of your milk. Don''t throw it away secretly. Milk is very nutritional and helps

    you grow taller and be more good-looking. Do you understand?¡± Luo Fei continued to say gently.

    The children replied in unison again, ¡°Understood!¡±

    ¡°Okay, you can all start eating now. Please eat slowly, as there''s no rush. You can have seconds, but

    you must finish everything on your te first.¡±

    Luo Fei was instructing the children as though she was amander leading her troop. There was a

    bright smile on her stiff face.

    Even though her smile looked awkward on her surgically altered face, the strong fondness she had for

    the children was evident in her gaze, and it warmed them, as well as Ning Ran, who was watching from

    the side.

    Luo Fei had indeed changed.

    It was as if she had transformed into apletely different person overnight.

    Although people always said that a leopard could not change its spots, Luo Fei was no longer an

    aggressive and hateful woman.

    Maybe she was never truly evil, or maybe being pregnant made her revert to her purest self?

    When Luo Fei noticed Ning Ran, she walked over to her quickly and uttered with a smile, ¡°Ran, you''re

    here.¡±

 Chapter 812

    Chapter 812

    Ning Ran had always hated hearing Luo Fei call her ¡°Ran.¡±

    It was not that there was anything bad about the nickname, but Luo Fei always called her that with ill

    intentions in her mind.

    Yet, this time, Ning Ran did not find it annoying.

    Social skills could never bring two people closer together. Only when sincerity was brought to the table

    would they truly get closer to each other.

    Luo Fei had always called her ¡°Ran,¡± but this time, she was delighted. She could sense Luo Fei''s

    sincerity and kindness.

    How rare.

    ¡°You look well,¡± Ning Ran said with a smile.

    ¡°Yes, I like my current job a lot. I spend every day by the children''s sides while they learn and y; I

    spend my time making arrangements for them and watching them grow. Did you know? They''re

    improving every day, and they learn something new about this world every day. The one with a bowl cut

    over there is Ming. Yesterday, he told me he noticed I never drank any cold water, so he asked if I was

    ill. I told him that cold water was bad for the body, and he said he''ll boil water for me every day. Ran,

    did you know? I was so touched I nearly cried that day. This world is beautiful, but I never once took the

    time to appreciate it.¡±

    As Luo Fei spoke, tears welled up in her eyes again.

    When Ning Ran realized how good Luo Fei''s life was at that moment, she, for a second, could not bring

    herself to tell Luo Fei about what happened to Ning Ziqiang.

    However, Nan Chen told her that Luo Fei was the only one who could deal with the problem.

    She had to return Ruan Anxi''s money and exchange herself for her parents.

    Of course, while Ruan Anxi could take the money away, Nan Chen and Qiao Zhan were certainly not

    going to let Ruan Anxi take Luo Fei away.

    ¡°Ran, let''s take a seat there. I have some tea leaves in my room, so let me get that and make you a

    cup of tea.¡±

    Luo Fei reached out to hold Ning Ran but abruptly retracted her hand.

    She was afraid that Ning Ran would be upset. After all, she had done plenty of terrible things to Ning

    Ran.

    Hence, instead of grabbing Ning Ran''s hand, she gently tugged Ning Ran''s sleeve before shing her

    an awkward smile.

    It was stiff and unnatural, for her face had undergone stic surgery.

    Yet, the joy in her eyes was genuine.

    Ning Ran smiled and held her hand. ¡°I''ll skip the tea. There''s something I want to tell you.¡±

    As far as Ning Ran knew, this was their first time holding hands.

    It felt unfamiliar, and although both felt strange to do it, both pushed away the difort in their

    chests.

    ¡°Okay, I''ll get you a ss of water then.¡±

    Once Luo Fei filled a ss of water, Ning Ran gestured for her to sit down.

    ¡°You''re not feeling unwelltely, right?¡±

    ¡°Just a little. I don''t dare to eat anything fried as that makes me sick, but I''m fine overall.¡±

    Ning Ran nodded. ¡°There''s something I need to tell you, but I hope you can remain calm after hearing

    it.¡±

    Luo Fei gave her a smile. ¡°Ran, please just tell me what it is. The cliffhanger is only making me even

    more nervous.¡±

    ¡°Okay. Take a look at this.¡±

    Ning Ran then showed Luo Fei the picture that Cheng Xiangyun sent her before patting the back of the

    latter''s hand to remind her to stay calm.

    ¡°Dad? Mom? Are they looking for me?¡±

    Luo Fei''s first reaction was an obvious indicator of the difference in her intellect and Ning Ran and Nan

    Chen''s.

    Both Ning Ran and Nan Chen instantly figured out that it was one of Ruan Anxi''s dirty tricks, but Luo

    Fei, someone who had been close to Ruan Anxi for such a long time, did not realize that immediately.

    That meant that she was not as quick-witted as Ning Ran, let alone Nan Chen.

    In other words, no matter how terrible she was, she could never be the victor, for she was not smart

    enough to pull off master ns.

    ¡°This wasn''t posted by them. If they were the ones who posted this missing person poster, why would

    they have ced their photos there too?¡± Ning Ran hinted.

    ¡°What does that mean? Who posted this, then?¡± Luo Fei asked, still confused.

    Is she really dense, or has she be dumber?

    ¡°Take a better look at this. Someone is looking for you. Think about it. Who''s looking for you at the

    moment?¡± Ning Ran hinted again.

    It was only then Luo Fei finally realized what was going on. She shrieked out, ¡°Doctor?¡±

    She had been by Ruan Anxi''s side for a long time, so she was used to calling Ruan Anxi ¡°Doctor¡± like

    his other subordinates.

    ¡°Yes, it''s him. If our guesses are right, he must have held Ning Ziqiang and your mother... hostage.¡±

    ¡°What? What do we do now?¡± Luo Fei cried out.

    ¡°Stay calm. Ruan Anxi''s trying to force you toe out. His target is you, not Ning Ziqiang and your

    mother, so they''re temporarily safe.¡±

    ¡°No, Ran, you don''t know that Doct¡ª Ruan Anxi''s a monster! He doesn''t even bat ash when he kills!

    It''s likely that Dad''s going to die in his hands!¡± Luo Fei blurted out.

    ¡°Then what do you think we should do?¡± Ning Ran tentatively asked.

    Ning Ran did not wish to ask Luo Fei directly to exchange herself for her parents.

    Those were words not easy to utter out loud, and she could notmand Luo Fei to do that either, for

    thetter had a child in her.

    ¡°I''m Ruan Anxi''s target. I''ll contact him and ask him to let my parents go. In exchange, I''ll let him do

    anything he wants with me.¡±

    Upon hearing that from Luo Fei, Ning Ran let out a sigh of relief.

    She was worried that Luo Fei would ignore the matter. If that were to happen, she would not know what

    to do next.

    ¡°But you''re pregnant. It''ll be risky for you,¡± Ning Ran reminded.

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I know, but I can''t just turn a blind eye to my parents'' dilemma. My child is important, but so are my

    parents. I was the one who started the trouble with Ruan Anxi, and if karma hase for me, I''ll

    surrender.¡±

    It was not easy for Luo Fei to say something like that, and Ning Ran was d to hear that, for that

    meant that she had made the right decision to save Luo Fei and that her efforts had not gone to waste.

    It was difficult to take down an enemy, but it was even tougher to make a bad person a good one.

    Not only did she manage to dispel the hatred Luo Fei had for her, but she even instilled a sense of

    responsibility into her. It was a wonderful thing.

    Ning Ran exhaled. ¡°This is something you have to give much thought about because you''re pregnant.¡±

    ¡°I''ve thought things through. But Ruan Anxi is a sly and cruel man. He might not let my parents go even

    if I go to him, so I''ll have to ask for a favor from you for this, Ran. Please ask Nan Chen to use his

    power to protect my parents. If it''s possible, I hope he''ll... Forget it. I doubt that''ll be possible.¡±

    Luo Fei sighed.

    Ning Ran gestured for Luo Fei to continue. ¡°Do tell me what you want. I''ll do my best to fulfill your

    request.¡±

    ¡°What I wanted to say was if it''s possible to get Ruan Anxi to give me more time so that I can deliver

    the baby before I hand myself over to him. I want to protect my baby...¡±

    At that point, Luo Fei''s eyes reddened.

    Ning Ran sighed. If only she knew this would happen. She wouldn''t have done that back then.

    There were many fork roads in life¡ªa wrong turn could take someone down a path of no return.

    Even if they did manage to turn back, the scene they once saw would no longer be there anymore.

 Chapter 813

    Chapter 813

    Ning Ran did not know what words she could use to console Luo Fei.

    She could not promise Luo Fei that she and her child would be fine.

    Even though that was what she hoped for, no one could be sure of the future.

    ¡°I''ll try my best to keep you safe,¡± was all Ning Ran could say to her.

    ¡°I know. Thank you, Ran. Am I to call Ruan Anxi now?¡±

    ¡°No, I just came to tell you about this. We''ll be heeding Qiao Zhan''s n; he''s in charge of this matter,¡±

    Ning Ran told her.

    An anxious look crossed Luo Fei''s face at that, for she knew that Qiao Zhan did not like her.

    Things would be disadvantageous for her if Qiao Zhan was going to be in charge of the matter.

    Ning Ran knew what Luo Fei was worried about, however, and she reassured her, ¡°Qiao Zhan will be

    going through everything with Nan Chen, and he won''t execute any step of the n by factoring in his

    likes and dislikes. You don''t need to worry about that. Moreover, Qiao Zhan is a kind soul. He won''t do

    anything to hurt you.¡±

    ¡°I was unnecessarily worried about that. I did too many horrible things in the past, so...¡± Luo Fei sighed.

    ¡°Let bygones be bygones.¡± Ning Ran dismissively waved.

    Right then, Ning Ran''s phone rang. It was a call from Jiang Zhe.

    Jiang Zhe told her that the arrangements with the bank had been made, so Ning Ran could now check

    the things her mother had deposited in the bank.

    As Zhang Ru had already passed away, her safe was naturally left without an owner. For Ning Ran to

    be able to ess it, she would need to do the necessary procedures to prove that she was the legal

    inheritor of Zhang Ru''s belongings.

    The entire process was rather troublesome. Nan Chen had asked Jiang Zhe to work on it for a long

    while, and Jiang Zhe had to head to several departments before finalizing all the procedures.

    Ning Ran was excited to hear the news, without a doubt.

    Nothing was more important than checking her mother''s belongings at that moment, and she had to

    head there immediately.

    ¡°I have something to do right now, so I''m going to take my leave. Let''s stay in contact. Don''t do

    anything before Qiao Zhan and the others are done discussing the n, and do stick strictly to the

    n,¡± Ning Ran said to Luo Fei.

    ¡°All right, Ran. I''ll do as you say,¡± Luo Fei answered.

    She then sent Ning Ran to the entrance and watched Ning Ran enter the car.

    ¡°Ran, sorry, and thank you,¡± she said again.

    ¡°I did say to let bygones be bygones. Anyway, do go back to what you were doing.¡± Ning Ran waved at

    her.

    The driver was one of Qiao Zhan''s subordinates, and he was baffled when he saw Luo Fei.

    ¡°Mrs. Nan, isn''t this woman someone bad? Why are you with her?¡±

    ¡°Don''t say that about her anymore. She... has turned over a new leaf.¡± Ning Ran chuckled.

    ¡°You''re a kind woman, Mrs. Nan. Bad people don''t turn over a new leaf overnight,¡± the driver remarked.

    Ning Ran smiled and inclined her head at the driver''s worries. ¡°I know. I''m aware of the limits.¡±

    Following the address Jiang Zhe sent her, she went to Sunshine Bank''s branch at Goldsand Street.

    She never expected her mother''s belongings to be kept in the Ouyang family''s bank.

    Nevertheless, it was not as if her mother knew that Ning Ran would cross paths with the Ouyangs so

    often in the future.

    Some things were simply destined to be.

    After exiting the car, Jiang Zhe brought Ning Ran to the branch''s general manager''s office and

    introduced her to the general manager.

    There was a deep grudge between Nanshi Corporation and the Ouyang family, but both were massive

    companies. Naturally, they would not be able to escape the fate of cooperating with certain smaller-

    scaled businesses.

    Furthermore, the mid-level employees of Sunshine Corporation did not have much resentment toward

    Nanshi Corporation. In fact, they were rather impressed by Nan Chen, a star in the corporate world.

    Since Nan Chen''s girlfriend was there for the services, the general manager of the branch would

    certainly wee her in person.

    ¡°Hello, Ms. Ning. Per the rules, you''ll need to sign this document. Once that is done, you can open the

    safe and take what''s inside.¡± The general manager passed her a piece of document.

    After skimming through the document and finding no issues with it, Ning Ran signed it.

    ¡°By the way, there''s a passcode for the safe. What do I do if I don''t have the passcode?¡± Ning Ran

    asked.

    ¡°If the client has lost their passcode, they can request for the bank to open the safe with a valid identity

    card. In this case, you''ll need to fill out another form,¡± the general manager replied with a smile.

    ¡°All right. Let me try it out first.¡±

    In the end, Ning Ran''s worries were for naught because the safe opened right when she keyed in her

    date of birth.

    Evidently, Zhang Ru had been thinking of numbers Ning Ran could easily guess when she set the

    passcode.

    Unsurprisingly, there was a USB sh drive inside the safe.

    It was an old USB stick, so its capacity was small.

    Ning Ran was thrilled when she took the USB stick. She wanted to know right away what was inside.

    s, Ning Ran did not dare to borrow aputer from the bank to use it. After thanking the general

    manager, she hurried back into the car and asked the driver to send her home.

    Once Ning Ran was back at Raining Pavilion, she hastily took out herptop and inserted the USB

    stick.

    She realized that the contents were locked behind a passcode, and this time, it was her mother''s

    birthdate.

    No one but professionals would be able to unlock the contents even if they were to get their hands on

    it.

    Right then, Dabao and Erbao came over. ¡°Mommy, what are you looking at?¡±

    Ning Ran was a little nervous as she opened the folder. However, that nervousness was reced by

    disappointment when she saw what was inside.

    Photos were in the folder, and a tiny baby was in the first photo. It seemed like the baby was a

    newborn, for there were wrinkles on its face. It was almost as if the baby was a little grandma.

    In the next photo, the baby was a little bigger. Ning Ran guessed that the baby was one month old by

    then.

    Even though the baby was young, Ning Ran knew that it must be her in the photos.

    Tears began flowing down Ning Ran''s cheeks.

    ¡°Mommy, why are you crying? Who is this little girl?¡± Erbao asked, staring at the photos.

    ¡°That''s Mommy,¡± Dabao pointed out, having guessed who it was.

    ¡°Wow, Mommy was that young? Why was she younger than me?¡± Erbao cried out.

    ¡°Stupid, Mommy was a kid once upon a time too. It''s not like she came out this size,¡± Dabao uttered,

    rolling his eyes.

    Erbao fell silent in contemtion. ¡°Huh, you''re right. I never thought about that. But why is Mommy

    crying?¡±

    Dabao exined, ¡°Mommy''s thinking about Granny, so she''s sad.¡±

    ¡°Oh, right. Granny has passed away, right? We never got to see her.¡± Erbao sighed.

    Her words made Ning Ran''s tears flow down her cheeks even more.

    How happy would Mom be if she knew she had two smart and cute grandchildren like them? But

    Mom''s gone. She won''te back anymore, and I''ll never see her again.

    ¡°Mommy, don''t cry. Granny wouldn''t want you to cry either,¡± Dabao softly consoled, leaning toward her.

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I''m fine. I just miss my mom a lot all of a sudden. That''s why I''m so sad. I''m okay.¡±

    Erbao passed her a piece of tissue. ¡°Sorry, Mommy, I shouldn''t have made you cry. Even though

    Granny''s gone, you still have me, Dabao, and Daddy to love you in Granny''s ce.¡±

    Ning Ran was close to stopping her tears, but Erbao''s words made those tears rush out of her anew.

    This time, they were not tears of sorrow but joy and relief.

 Chapter 815

    Chapter 815

    Seeing Dabao express himself excitedly, Erbao felt a little anxious about not having the chance to

    interrupt.

    ¡°Dabao, what are allusions?¡± Erbao finally had a chance to speak.

    ¡°Allusions are the stories or poetries that have appeared in ancient manuscripts,¡± Dabao exined

    patiently.

    Erbao nodded fervently, not actually understanding at all.

    She merely wanted to feel a sense of participation by getting a word in.

    Meanwhile, Dabao continued to exin, ¡°I think Frosty Warrior is from the poem Frozen River. Jing Ke

    was sent to assassinate King Zheng of Qin, but the attempt failed, and Prince Dan sent him away by

    the frozen river. Gao Jianli yed an instrument while Jing Ke sang along, ''The wind is blowing, the

    river is freezing, the warrior is leaving and nevering home!¡¯¡±

    ¡°Who is Jing Ke, and who is King Zheng of Qin? Were they enemies? Why did Jing Ke try to

    assassinate him?¡± Erbao asked again.

    This was a long story, so Dabao shook his head and said, ¡°I''m not going to go into the details on this as

    it involves a very long story. I''ll talk about it next time. As for now, let''s focus on the origin of this name

    first.¡±

    Ning Ran actually knew that this name was probably from that poem. After all, it was widely known.

    However, Ning Ran still felt very proud to hear about it from her young son.

    ¡°So this shouldn''t be the name of a Jetroinian but a person from China?¡± Ning Ran asked Dabao.

    Dabao nodded and answered, ¡°Yes. I suppose so. Frosty Warrior isn''t a person''s name. It''s a random

    name made up by someone. It might even be an online username.¡±

    Ning Ran agreed with him. The Inte already existed at her mom''s age. Even if there were no

    Inte, cultured people back then would still use pseudonyms for publishing articles or other things.

    Frosty Warrior might just be a pseudonym.

    Then that would be a problem. It would be hard to track down this person unless the person was a

    famous writer.

    However, the overall sess rate of finding this person became higher with this clue in hand.

    ¡°Mommy, we have to find this person, right?¡± Dabao asked again.

    Ning Ran thought Dabao was too smart for his age before nodding. ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°I think Daddy can help you find this person,¡± said Dabao.

    ¡°Are you that confident in Daddy?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Of course. Daddy can achieve what many people can''t. I''ll look up online first to see if there are any

    more clues on this,¡± said Dabao.

    Hence, Ning Ran handed theptop to Dabao and let him handle it.

    After looking for more information for quite some time, Dabao told her there were no clues about the

    name online.

    Ning Ran was a little bit upset, but she was not worried.

    Now that she had her mother''s belonging and knew roughly that it was a clue about her biological

    father, she was no longer worried.

    Ning Ran''s biological father had been absent for many years, and Ning Ran was already used to it. It

    did not matter to her anymore if she could find her biological father.

    In other words, her biological father did not even bother searching for her, so why should she look

    everywhere for him?

    When Nan Chen came home from work, Ning Ran told him about this matter.

    Nan Chen offered a different opinion and said, ¡°I think your mom wants you to find your biological

    father and also wants both of you to reunite.¡±

    Ning Ran disagreed with Nan Chen this time. ¡°Then why didn''t my mom tell me that Ning Ziqiang was

    not my biological father in all those years?¡±

    ¡°Didn''t you say that Mdm. Zhang was religious and had taken a vow that couldn''t be broken?¡± said Nan

    Chen.

    ¡°Then why did my mom take such a vow? Who forced her?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    Nan Chen could not give her an answer. He wanted to know that too.

    ¡°All I can say is that someone did not wish for the reunion of you and your biological father, and that''s

    why Mdm. Zhang was forced to take the vow. Although Mdm. Zhang couldn''t personally tell you all

    these, she left some clues behind. If you were to find your biological father through these clues

    yourself, Mdm. Zhang wouldn''t be deemed breaking the vow,¡± Nan Chen analyzed and said.

    Ning Ran felt that Nan Chen''s words made sense, and she nodded in agreement.

    ¡°My mom couldn''t tell me the truth, but why didn''t that mane to me in all these years?¡± Ning Ran

    felt disappointed whenever she thought of that.

    ¡°I guess that man doesn''t even know of your existence. Mdm. Zhang was married to Ning Ziqiang, and

    you have the samest name as him. Everyone thinks you''re Ning Ziqiang''s daughter. If your biological

    father knew your mom was living her best life, and if he was a responsible man, the best thing for him

    to do would be to stay away from her, wouldn''t it?¡± Nan Chen said gently.

    Ning Ran did not respond. It was not that she disagreed with him, but she felt those were just

    comforting words.

    ¡°In that case, I''d better not find him. I''ll pretend that I don''t have a father.¡± Ning Ran was a little miffed.

    ¡°But your mom left these clues, hoping both of you could reunite. Those photos were arranged in the

    sequence of your stages of growth. I don''t think those were for you to see. I think those were for your

    biological father to see.

    ¡°He was absent from your growth and would be regretful about it. Mdm. Zhang must have wanted to

    help him make up for his regret.

    ¡°This could only mean one thing. ¡°Mdm. Zhang didn''t me your biological father, which also means

    that he didn''t do anything to hurt her. They parted because of some other reasons.

    ¡°If you can find him, those photos and the painting are the things that can tell him that you''re his

    daughter. This must be Mdm. Zhang''s wish.

    ¡°So I''ll continue to utilize all my resources to help you find your biological father regardless of what kind

    of person he is.

    ¡°After he is found, it''s up to you to decide whether to reunite with him. But we must find him first,¡± said

    Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran was finally convinced by Nan Chen.

    However, Nan Chen was unsure if Ning Ran''s biological father could be found or when he could be

    found.

    Although they had the name Frosty Warrior as a clue, it would be hard to find him if this name was

    actually randomly made up when creating the painting.

    Nheless, Nan Chen thought the possibility of it being a random name was low. Since Ning Ran''s

    mom left this behind, it must be an important clue for finding that man.

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    At midnight, Ning Ran felt the phone by her bedside table vibrating, but she was too sleepy to bother.

    The next day in the morning, she woke up to more than ten missed calls from unknown numbers.

    The odd thing was that none of the numbers were repeated.

    Why were there so many strangers looking for me in the middle of the night? Could it be that my

    personal information leaked online?

    Nan Chen woke up as early as usual and was already back from the gym.

    ¡°I saw that you had missed calls on your phone. I didn''t look since that would be invading your privacy,

    but I still want to know who called you at such an hour,¡± Nan Chen said with a hint of jealousy.

    ¡°All of them were from unknown numbers, and none were repeated. Did someone leak my personal

    information online that led to so many targeted calls?¡± Ning Ran said as she passed her phone to Nan

    Chen.

    Nan Chen chose a number and called back, but the call did not go through.

    He chose another number, and it was still the same result.

    ¡°It was Ruan Anxi who called. I don''t know where he got these temporary numbers from. One can only

    make calls with these numbers but can''t receive them and also they can''t be tracked,¡± Nan Chen

    exined.

    ¡°What? Him again? Why was he looking for me?¡± said Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen''s gaze filled with even more jealousy. ¡°Yeah, why was he looking for you in the middle of the

    night?¡±

    ¡°As you know, he''s crazy. In fact, it''d be unusual if he were to call me during the day. But I think he

    might be looking for me because of Luo Fei''s matter,¡± Ning Ran said.

    Nan Chen was unperturbed. ¡°What does Luo Fei''s matter have to do with you? Did he find out that you

    helped Luo Fei and hid her? Is he that smart?¡±

    Ning Ran did not dare topliment another man in front of Sir Chen and shook her head. ¡°He''s not

    that smart, not as smart as you.¡±

 Chapter 816

    Chapter 816

    Nan Chen''s scowl became less severe at that. ¡°Ignore him. He''s dangerous.¡±

    Ning Ran was highly in agreement with his point of Ruan Anxi being dangerous.

    ¡°All right, I will ignore him. I have time, anyway. I have work today; I''m going on Traffic Radio,¡± Ning

    Ran announced.

    Nan Chen frowned. ¡°Traffic Radio? How is this the first I''m hearing about it?¡±

    ¡°It is impossible for me to report everything to you, with you being as busy as you are. The program,

    Movie Talk, is going to air at ten. It''s a live broadcast that goes on for half an hour. I will answer some

    questions from the host to promote our new film,¡± Ning Ran exined.

    ¡°All right, then. Qiao Zhan will go with you. Since it starts at ten, I presume it''ll end at ten-thirty? I''ll pick

    you up.¡±

    ¡°That''s not necessary. As it''s not far from the city, I''ll have the driver send me home. You work really

    hard, so you should get some rest aftering home.¡±

    Nan Chen did not respond. She could not tell what he was thinking.

    After lunch, Ning Ran began studying the script.

    It was a casual talk show about films. Aside from having guest interviews, some film music will be

    yed during the breaks.

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Furthermore, the interviews would not involve the interviewees'' private lives. At most, they would only

    be asked questions such as what their favorite movies were and their reasons for enjoying them.

    Then, they would be asked about the new film, which requiredmunication with the production team

    because the film was not yet on air and spoilers were a big taboo, though she could not keep her lips

    entirely sealed.

    It was the studio''s decision as to which scenes could be revealed and which could not. Ning Ran could

    not shoot her mouth as she had to bear the responsibilities.

    Ning Ran was not overly nervous as she was not being filmed and was instead speaking into the

    microphone.

    After all, she was no stranger to talk shows and did not have the fear aplete beginner would have.

    At twenty to ten that night, Ning Ran arrived ahead of time at the studio and began speaking with the

    host and the staff there.

    The broadcast began at ten sharp.

    Naturally, the program began with the host''s introductions of the guests before the conversation

    commenced.

    As she hade well-prepared, the process went smoothly. After exchanging some small talk with the

    host, they proceeded to the Q&A segment with the audience, during which they could call and ask the

    host and the guests some questions.

    Most of the callers were women. Though it was supposed to be a program to discuss films, the

    questions posited to Ning Ran werergely unrted. Some of the most frequently asked questions

    were about the nature of her rtionship with Nan Chen.

    That was not something Ning Ran had anticipated. Though she was aware of the Q&A segment, the

    audience''s questions were not something the script had prepared her for.

    Fortunately for Ning Ran''s tact, she dodged and weaved her way through the barrage and made it

    through without a scratch.

    ¡°All right. We have time for one more call. Hello, friend. How would you like to be addressed?¡± the host

    asked.

    ¡°Call me Doctor,¡± a shrill voice sounded from the phone.

    Anxious, Ning Ran''s fingers grew numb.

    The host chuckled. ¡°How interesting, ma''am, for you to report your profession. You save lives, Doctor.

    It''s a noble profession. We salute you.¡±

    ¡°That''s not necessary. I just have a question for the guest,¡± the delicate voice announced bluntly.

    The host nced at Ning Ran to indicate that she should greet the caller.

    ¡°Hello, how are you? My name is Ding Mi. Are you there?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    A simperingugh sounded from the phone. ¡°How have you been, miss?¡±

    The voice did sound like a woman''s, which was why the host addressed the caller as ¡°ma''am.¡±

    However, Ning Ran knew that voice did not belong to a woman but a devil. It was Ruan Anxi.

    He is everywhere! After all the effort tond a spot on a program, he not only found out about it but also

    called in.

    Ning Ran could only pretend not to recognize the voice. ¡°I''m doing well. Thank you for your concern.

    What are you doing right now?¡±

    It was a line from the script. The guests could break the ice with the listeners by asking questions like

    this, which also made it easier for them to answer.

    The listeners who had called before provided all sorts of answers, including driving, getting ready for

    bed, and working overtime.

    This time, the answer was different. ¡°I''m thinking of you,¡± the effeminate voice replied.

    Though it sounded a little flirty, it was still tolerable.

    Ning Ran forced augh. ¡°Is that so? Well, thank you for your thoughts, ma''am.¡±

    As the host had mistaken Ruan Anxi''s voice for a woman''s, she decided to go along with the mistake

    and pretend not to hear it.

    ¡°Are you pretending not to know me, miss? Remember the willow tree outside the homestay entrance?

    I''d carved your name there,¡± Ruan Anxi said.

    She did not answer, as it became a little awkward.

    Upon noticing Ning Ran''s odd expression, the host knew that she must have run into trouble.

    Thus, he swooped in. ¡°All right, that''s all the time we have tonight for the Q&A session. Next, we''ll listen

    to some music.¡±

    Ning Ran heaved a sigh of relief at the conclusion of the session.

    The host did not pry. All celebrities have something to hide.

    As soon as they were off the air, Ning Ran removed her headphones and heaved another long sigh of

    relief.

    The host offered his hand. ¡°Thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Ding. It''s an honor to have you here

    with us. I am a fan of yours too, you know. I enjoy your show very much. I''d like to buy you a drink as

    it''s still early. May I?¡±

    Ning Ran shook hands with the host politely. ¡°I appreciate it, but I have matters to attend to and must

    rush home. Another day, perhaps?¡±

    ¡°Another day¡± is basically a rejection.

    The host knew that very well and nodded regretfully. ¡°All right, then. I''ll walk you out.¡±

    ¡°That''s not necessary. Attend to your business, and I''ll see myself out. My driver is waiting for me at the

    parking lot,¡± Ning Ran said.

    The host sent Ning Ran to the elevator until she hinted that he should return and not send her any

    further.

    She took the lift to the parking lot, located her car, and got in before finding somebody already there.

    With a razor-sharp knife against the driver''s neck, he said to Ning Ran, who was about to retreat, ¡°You

    wouldn''t ignore the life of your driver, would you, miss?¡±

    Ning Ran was bbergasted. How did Ruan Anxi find his way here?

    ¡°I''m sorry, Madam, I¡ª¡±

    Helpless, the driver was about to say something when Ruan Anxi cut him off, ¡°Enough. How dare you

    ruin my meeting with an old friend? I will slice your arteries open if you displease me.¡±

    His grip tightened after he spoke, and the driver did not dare say another word.

    Initially deciding to have Qiao Zhane with her, Nan Chen thought Ning Ran would be safe as she

    would be within the city. He did not expect Ruan Anxi to find her there.

 Chapter 817

    Chapter 817

    If Qiao Zhan hade, they could have resisted a little more fiercely.

    It was natural for the driver to be unable to fend off Ruan Anxi, as he did not know thetter and would

    not have expected such a pale and frail-looking man to be such a dangerous devil.

    Ning Ran could not me the driver. Instead, she wondered how Ruan Anxi had found her there.

    ¡°Let''s go. Drive carefully and pay attention to safety,¡± Ruan Anxi ordered in his effeminate voice.

    The driver was forced to drive.

    As they passed the surveince cameras in the parking lot, Ruan Anxi lowered his head to prevent the

    cameras from capturing him.

    After emerging from the parking lot, Ruan Anxi had the driver drive to the outskirts of the city and

    ordered him to stop after arriving at a deserted area.

    Then, he struck. Grabbing the driver''s head from the back, he twisted violently, and, after an audible

    crack, the driver fell limply onto the steering wheel.

    After that, he turned to smile at Ning Ran. ¡°He''s fine, just unconscious. You''ll take over the wheel. I

    don''t want him to kill the mood.¡±

    ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Ning Ran asked coldly.

    ¡°I''m not going to do anything. I just want to talk to you. I called to chat, but you didn''t pick up, so I had

    no choice but toe and look for you.¡± Ruan Anxi smiled sinisterly like a venomous snake.

    After shoving the unconscious driver out of the car, Ruan Anxi had Ning Ran take the wheel while he

    sat beside her.

    They took the highway back to the city, and upon stopping by the sidewalk, Ruan Anxi signaled for

    Ning Ran to stop before entering a ck RV waiting there.

    Ning Ran cursed inwardly. History is repeating itself. He''s kidnapping me again!

    ¡°Don''t worry. I''m not going to kidnap you. I just want a chat, but I know you wouldn''t see me, so I have

    to do this.¡±

    Ruan Anxi lowered the scalpel and began washing his hands. He was meticulous in his endeavor and

    did it three times.

    Then, he produced a bottle of red wine, poured a ss, and slid it to Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran did not take it. ¡°Are you going to drug me again?¡±

    ¡°No, no. There are no drugs this time, unlike thest. We''re just old friends catching up over a bottle of

    wine. I won''t drug you. Of course, you don''t have to drink if you''re unwilling. I won''t force you.¡±

    ¡°Then I won''t drink,¡± Ning Ran said curtly.

    True to his word, Ruan Anxi did not force her but instead shook his head sadly. ¡°What a shame. What a

    fine bottle of wine this is.¡±

    ¡°How did you find me there?¡± Ning Ran asked the question that had been bothering her most.

    Ruan Anxi chuckled as he swirled the ss.

    His fingers were so slim and long that they looked like they were about to sumb under the weight of

    the ss.

    ¡°As I have been in Flower City for a while, I''d dropped by Raining Pavilion. It''s a beautiful house, built to

    look like those in science fiction movies. Turns out Nan Chen''s taste isn''t that bad after¡ª¡±

    Before Ruan Anxi finished speaking, the hairs on Ning Ran''s back stood on end, and she yelled, ¡°Don''t

    you dare intimidate my children!¡±

    ¡°I only made one round outside your house and did not bother your family. I am a civilized man, you

    know.¡± Ruan Anxi sipped his wine.

    ¡°How did you find out where we live? Who told you?¡±

    Already frightened, Ning Ran became even more so at the thought of the children living there.

    ¡°Aside from the inte as you know it, there exists a dark web which contains three times more

    information. Everything is sold there, even illegal items you have never imagined. Since Nan Chen is a

    famous character in Flower City, it''s not difficult to purchase information regarding his private life. There

    is no such thing as privacy in the inte age unless you hide in the jungle like me to avoid being

    tracked or surveyed,¡± said Ruan Anxi.

    Ning Ran had heard Dabao speak of the dark web before, but she did not understand it.

    Upon hearing Ruan Anxi''s words, she felt an instinctive aversion to the dark web for the benefits it

    provided for somebody like him.

    ¡°Don''t worry. Though I know where you live, I didn''t bother you, did I? My men coincidentally found out

    you left the house, so they followed you. Thus, I guessed you came to do the program, so I tuned in. I

    even called in. Your voice sounded amazing on the broadcast. It pleased me very much. It''s too bad

    that you weren''tmunicative with me. The host even cut my call short. I''ll have somebody pierce his

    ears. He''ll never be able to answer another call again.¡±

    ¡°Don''t do that! Why do you have to be so wicked? The host is innocent¡ªdon''t hurt him!¡± Ning Ran

    cried out.

    Ruan Anxi sighed. ¡°Fine. As you say.¡±

    ¡°I want to go home. Say what you will, but I''m telling you, we''re in Flower City. You wouldn''t be able to

    escape if you kidnapped me.¡±

    Ruan Anxi nodded. ¡°I know that. I wouldn''t be able to escape, and I would very likely get shot if I

    aggravated Nan Chen. However, I have no intention of kidnapping you. I just knocked your driver out,

    and I willpensate you for the damages. I just want to catch up with you and talk business.¡±

    ¡°Just say what you will. It''ste. I need to return.¡±

    ¡°All right, I''ll have the driver send you home.¡±

    Ning Ran was dubious. Is he really going to just send me back?

    However, Ruan Anxi proved true to his word when he had his driver send them into the city.

    On their way back, Ning Ran''s phone rang. It was Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran nced at Ruan Anxi, feeling certain he would not allow her to pick up.

    Yet, he did not show any signs of stopping her. He looked as if he did not care.

    Upon witnessing his indifference, Ning Ran picked up the phone.

    ¡°Don''t be afraid; we''re right behind you,¡± came Nan Chen''s voice. ¡°Pass the phone to him.¡±

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    Ning Ran handed her phone to Ruan Anxi. ¡°Nan Chen wants to speak to you.¡±

    Ruan Anxi looked impatient. ¡°What a drag it is that he caught up so quickly. I don''t want to hold the

    phone. Put it on speaker.¡±

    Ning Ran put the phone on speaker, and Ruan Anxi asked darkly, ¡°What is it now? I''m just having a

    drink with Ms. Ning. What''s with all this fuss?¡±

    ¡°If you dare harm Ning Ran, Ruan Anxi, tonight will be yourst.¡± Nan Chen''s voice sounded as cold as

    if it came from the depths of hell.

    ¡°This is the sort of line I use to threaten people with on a daily basis. As a bad guy, it''s normal for me to

    say these words. But how could you, as a CEO, say such violent things?¡± Ruan Anxi said with a

    disappointed tone.

    ¡°Enough nonsense. Stop the car, and let Ning Ran out,¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°And you. Since you care so much about her, you should do a better job at protecting her instead of

    letting her fall so easily into the wrong hands. All you do is work and not care about her. I''m beginning

    to think you''re not worthy of her.¡±

    Ruan Anxi sounded serious. To onlookers, it may even seem as if he was Ning Ran''s family.

 Chapter 818

    Chapter 818

    Naturally, Nan Chen was worried. Nheless, he didn''t have the nerve to act rashly because he had

    to consider Ning Ran''s safety.

    Ruan Anxi was aware of that fact, which was why he had been speaking arrogantly and fearlessly.

    ¡°Let her go. I''ll swap ces with her,¡± Nan Chen negotiated.

    ¡°No. You''re a crafty man full of tricks, and I''m afraid of falling for them. I''m just going to chat with her

    before sending her back. Don''t follow me. You and I have nothing to talk about anymore,¡± spat Ruan

    Anxi disdainfully.

    Enraged, Nan Chen barked, ¡°I''m warning you again! This is Flower City! It''s not a ce where you can

    do as you please!¡±

    ¡°I know, I know. I told you I wouldn''t hurt her already. That''s all I have to say. Bye.¡± Ruan Anxi grabbed

    the phone and hung up the call.

    ¡°If you push him too far, things will not end well for you. Don''t get too arrogant.¡± Ning Ran was furious,

    too.

    ¡°That''s enough. I don''t know why you''re defending him when he can''t even protect you. Anyway, let''s

    talk business. Where''s Ding Fei?¡±

    ¡°She''s your people. Why would I know where she is? Also, how could you fail to locate her when you

    could find me?¡± A mocking smile was visible on Ning Ran''s countenance.

    ¡°She''s a nobody, so the inte doesn''t sell any information about her. Besides, with Nan Chen hiding

    her, it''s unsurprising I''m having a hard time finding her. This is, after all, his territory.¡± Ruan Anxi was

    intelligent enough to guess Nan Chen had a hand in the matter.

    ¡°I don''t know where she is.¡±

    ¡°Look at you. You''re learning bad manners and not telling the truth, too. In that case, I wonder what I''ll

    do with Ding Fei''s parents. They''re too old for organ harvest, so I suppose I''ll ask my subordinates to

    beat them to death and feed them to the dogs.¡±

    Ning Ran sneered, ¡°It''s pointless to threaten me with them. They''re not my biological parents, after all.¡±

    ¡°You really don''t care about them?¡±

    ¡°Nope.¡±

    In response, Ruan Anxi remained silent for a while before nodding. ¡°Fine. I''ll ask my men to kill the

    couple now.¡±

    As he spoke, he grabbed the satellite telephone.

    ¡°Ding Fei''s the one who pissed you off, yet you want to drag her parents into this. You''re even worse

    than an animal. Don''t you know the phrase ''honor among thieves''? You may be a bad guy, but you

    should still have some principles and humanity. Do you think she''lle out if you kill her parents?¡±

    Ning Ran was so fierce with her lecture that she somewhat dumbfounded Ruan Anxi.

    ¡°So you do know where Ding Fei is, right? As long as Nan Chen continues to hide her, I won''t be able

    to find her. If she doesn''t care about her parents, why can''t I just execute them?¡± argued Ruan Anxi.

    He makes a good point. However... Ning Ran retorted, ¡°You don''t have the right to decide who lives

    and dies! You''remitting a crime!¡±

    Smirking sinisterly, Ruan Anxi replied, ¡°By your standards, most of the things I did are crimes. I don''t

    really mind that, though. From my perspective, Ding Fei alsomitted a crime by stealing my money

    and hiding. She broke my rules, so she has to be punished.¡±

    ¡°She can return the money to you, but please just let her go.¡±

    Ruan Anxi pointed at Ning Ran. ¡°I know you''re aware of her whereabouts, yet you refuse to tell me the

    truth. Hand her over to me, and I''ll set her parents free.¡±

    ¡°No. But she can return the money she stole from you.¡±

    Then Ruan Anxi waved his finger. ¡°It''s not about the money anymore. She crossed me, so I must

    penalize her.¡±

    Infuriated, Ning Ran uttered, ¡°Then do what you want!¡±

    She could never stand the type of egotistical people who believed only they had the final say on any

    matter. If Nan Chen was already irritating her with that attitude, then Ruan Anxi was definitely testing

    her patience.

    Initially, she nned to talk things out with Ruan Anxi. However, his refusal to negotiate ticked her off

    so much that she didn''t want to speak with him anymore.

    She wasn''t worried about what Ruan Anxi would do to her because she was certain Nan Chen would

    rescue her soon.

    The car suddenly became very quiet.

    Resignedly, Ruan Anxi inquired, ¡°Are you angry?¡±

    Ning Ran remained silent.

    ¡°I don''t understand why you keep helping Ding Fei. She tried to kill you multiple times, and she hates

    you to the bone. Why protect her at all?¡±

    His question prompted her to wonder if she should tell him about Ding Fei''s pregnancy. Based on what

    I know about him, I doubt he''ll pity her just because she''s pregnant. Yeah, I don''t think I''ll tell him

    because it''ll be pointless.

    It was then the car abruptly stopped. The driver mentioned there were police inspecting cars ahead.

    Smiling, Ruan Anxi threatened, ¡°I knew Nan Chen would pull this trick. Tell him that if he acts rashly,

    that couple is as good as dead.¡±

    Ning Ran was sick of his maniption and responded steely, ¡°If they''re dead, your life will be taken as

    payback.¡±

    It was then someone knocked on the door, and that person was none other than Nan Chen.

    In response, Ruan Anxi opened the door, allowing Nan Chen to enter.

    The moment Nan Chen stepped in, he punched Ruan Anxi.

    Ruan Anxi didn''t expect him to pick a fight right out of the gate. After he was shoved to the floor, he

    wanted to grab the surgical knife on the table. Nheless, he was swiftly kicked away before Nan

    Chen grabbed him by his throat.

    ¡°Be careful! He has other knives on him!¡± reminded Ning Ran.

    Just as she spoke, Ruan Anxi pulled out another knife.

    Nan Chen, however, was well-prepared because Qiao Zhan had informed him of Ruan Anxi''s hidden

    knives in the past.

    In reality, Qiao Zhan was also in Nan Chen''s car, but Nan Chen insisted on taking care of the matter

    personally.

    Nan Chen was acting so impulsively because he was ticked off by what Ruan Anxi said before, that he

    couldn''t protect and didn''t deserve Ning Ran.

    Thatpelled him to prove he was a powerful man, with or without his family background.

    Much like any other man, Nan Chen had apetitive streak, and he never wimped out.

    Just as Ruan Anxi pulled out his other knife, Nan Chen mped the former''s wrist down.

    Then, Nan Chen smashed his knee into Ruan Anxi''s chest, causing thetter to release a muffled grunt

    before coughing violently.

    ¡°If you keep beating me up, I''ll ask the driver to trigger the explosives strapped to this vehicle and blow

    us all up. Do you two really want to die with me?¡± Ruan Anxi smirked.

    Nan Chen and Ning Ran exchanged a nce.

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    While they had no idea if Ruan Anxi was telling the truth, they weren''t going to take the risk, especially

    when the man was capable of anything.

    ¡°I''m telling the truth. Both my car and my ne are installed with explosive devices. If I can''t escape, I''ll

    take anyone who obstructs my way down with me. It''s something that many people in the underworld

    know, and it''s why they don''t have the guts to approach me because they''re all scared of dying!¡± Ruan

    Anxi cackled.

    Indeed, the most difficult type of people to deal with in the world was the ones unafraid of death.

    Nan Chen snatched Ruan Anxi''s surgical knife away before letting thetter go.

 Chapter 819

    Chapter 819

    Nan Chen''s knee kick earlier injured Ruan Anxi pretty severely. Thetter was clutching his chest and

    coughing so violently that his pale face was getting flushed.

    Just as he stopped coughing, he grinned.

    ¡°Is something funny?¡± Nan Chen questioned coldly.

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    ¡°Oh yes, very much so.¡±

    ¡°Do you think it''ll still be funny when I hand you to the police ahead of us?¡±

    ¡°I''m not afraid of that. After all, I don''t have any criminal records in China. I''m just a foreign guest

    visiting your country for business. Even if they lock me up, they''ll release me soon enough.¡±

    Nan Chen gazed at Ruan Anxi with a frigid look. ¡°You kidnapped my wife. Both she and I are witnesses

    to that crime. ording to China''sws, you''ll be imprisoned for life. Additionally, you''ll probably die in

    prison before you can wait for a reduction in your sentence due to your poor health.¡±

    ¡°I''m a foreigner. Besides, I didn''t kidnap anyone. I''m aw-abiding tourist.¡±

    ¡°I have proof that you attacked my driver before kidnapping me,¡± Ning Ran added.

    ¡°Plus, I can guarantee you won''t be extradited to your country. Instead, you will be imprisoned in China

    until the day you die,¡± assured Nan Chen.

    In response, Ruan Anxi nced at Nan Chen before looking at Ning Ran. ¡°Seems like you''re quite the

    obedient wife.¡±

    ¡°No, it''s the opposite,¡± Ning Ran corrected.

    The look in Nan Chen''s eyes turned cold. Is she serious? Why is she trying topete with me for

    family status right now?

    Ruan Anxi warned, ¡°Fine. I admit, you two are ruthless. However, if any police officer tries to take me

    away, I''ll detonate the explosive device in this vehicle. You two shouldn''t doubt me on that. It''s my

    trump card. I''d rather die than go to prison. As you two can see, my body''s pretty weak. If I''m sent to

    prison, that is where I''ll die.¡±

    ¡°Ruthless people shouldn''t be messed with¡± was a saying that fit Ruan Anxi perfectly.

    Despite his weak body, he still managed to rule the South East Aploth''s underworld. Naturally, it meant

    he had a way of keeping himself alive. If he couldn''t, he would take his enemies down with him.

    Of course, Nan Chen wasn''t going to allow himself and Ning Ran to die with Ruan Anxi. It wouldn''t be

    worth it.

    ¡°If you don''t stop harassing my family in the future, I''ll kill you,¡± threatened Nan Chen coldly.

    ¡°I''m not. I''m simply having a chat with her. Now that you''re here, I would like to converse with you as

    well,¡± Ruan Anxi replied.

    ¡°There''s nothing for us to say to each other.¡±

    ¡°Don''t be like that. While we may not follow the same path, you did cross mine. My money was stolen,

    and I''m here to get it back. Otherwise, my subordinates will lose their respect for me. If that happens,

    just about anyone will steal money from me if they feel like it. How am I supposed to manage hundreds

    of my subordinates, then?¡± Ruan Anxi''s coughing stopped as he wiped his bony hands clean with a wet

    tissue.

    ¡°Ding Fei''s indeed under my care. She''s pregnant. My wife has greatpassion for life, so she wants

    to let Ding Fei give birth first,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    When Ning Ran heard Nan Chen call her ¡°my wife,¡± she felt a little weird. It''s not like I dislike it. It''s just

    that he rarely refers to me like that. I''m still not used to hearing it.

    ¡°Pregnant?¡± Ruan Anxi cackled sinisterly. ¡°That''s even more of a reason for you to hand her over to

    me. I''ll remove the baby from her abdomen myself.¡±

    A chill ran down Ning Ran''s spine when she imagined that bloody scene.

    She was certain Ruan Anxi was capable of such cruelty because, to him, the more barbarous

    something was, the more exciting it would be.

    Additionally, dissection was his strong suit.

    ¡°Now, we''re definitely not going to hand her over to you! You''re a disgusting b*stard!¡± Ning Ran cursed.

    Ruan Anxi nced at Nan Chen. ¡°Look at how your woman is cursing at me. Why aren''t you telling her

    to mind her words?¡±

    Calmly, thetter replied, ¡°Because I think she''s right. You really are a b*stard.¡±

    ¡°You know, you won''t gain anything by pissing me off.¡±

    ¡°I can say the same for you. In any case, you will die in Flower City, no matter what.¡±

    Nodding, Ruan Anxi suggested, ¡°I know I should steer clear of you, so how about we each take a step

    back, then?¡±

    Nan Chen was staring daggers at him. ¡°What do you propose?¡±

    ¡°I''ll let Ding Fei go, but she must return the money she stole to me.¡±

    Immediately, Ning Ran eximed, ¡°Sure! I already agreed to that earlier! You were the one who

    refused to ept that term!¡±

    ¡°Now I''m epting it. Also, I''m adding one extra condition to this deal.¡± As Ruan Anxi spoke, he turned

    to Nan Chen. ¡°I want you to turn the money she stole into legitimate funds.¡±

    In other words, he wanted Nan Chen tomit moneyundering.

    ¡°No way,¡± Nan Chen refused without hesitation. ¡°Nanshi Corporation will never carry out any illegal

    acts.¡±

    That answer set a frown on Ruan Anxi''s countenance. ¡°Look at you. Even though you agreed to a

    compromise, you immediately went against your word. How am I supposed to negotiate with you when

    you''re unwilling to agree to a condition? Do you really want me to take you down with me?¡±

    ¡°I hate it when others threaten me,¡± Nan Chen sneered.

    Ruan Anxi shook his head. ¡°So do I. What do we do now? I don''t think we can reach an agreement.¡±

    ¡°Then we''ll stop talking, and you can tell your driver to blow this vehicle up.¡±

    Ning Ran''s heart was racing. Is Nan Chen crazy? Why is he saying he wants us to die with this

    demon?

    To her surprise, Ruan Anxiughed again.

    Nan Chen didn''t ask why Ruan Anxiughed, as though he already knew thetter wouldn''t do it.

    ¡°You''re gutsy, I''ll give you that. Many people surrendered the moment I shed them my trump card.

    Fine, we''ll cease our discussion here. I''ll continue to find Ding Fei. If I do find her, I''ll carve her baby out

    of her body. Right now, I''ll send you both back home. If anything happens to me during the ride, Ding

    Fei''s parents are as good as dead. However, I know you two aren''t bad people like me, which means

    you won''t let others die. Am I right?¡±

    Ning Ran thought, The negotiation failed. It''s over. While Nan Chen didn''t technically lose, this isn''t the

    result I want. I think I''ll still feel guilty if Ruan Anxi kills Ning Ziqiang and his wife in a fit of rage.

    Nevertheless, with how things are right now, I doubt there''s a chance for us to turn the situation around.

    ¡°You can''t leave Flower City, Ruan Anxi. While you may stillmit insane acts of destruction, the gray

    empire you built will also crumble to dust because I''ll keep you trapped in this city!¡± Nan Chen

    mored.

    Sighing, Ruan Anxi responded, ¡°I know. I''ll think about it again.¡±

    Despite his words, he immediately came up with a new idea. ¡°How about I take another step back? You

    don''t need tounder my money. I''ll find a way to do that myself. However, after Ding Fei delivers her

    child, you must hand her over to me so I can punish her. Once I have her, I''ll release her parents. What

    do you think?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Nan Chen agreed.

 Chapter 820

    Chapter 820

    By the time Nan Chen and Ning Ran returned to Raining Pavilion, it was already midnight.

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    In order to avoid waking the children up, they went straight into their bedroom.

    ¡°I''m sorry,¡± they uttered in near-unison to each other.

    ¡°I caused this incident. If I hadn''t gotten involved, I wouldn''t have provoked Ruan Anxi. Now I know

    your decision to ignore Luo Fei''s matter back then was the correct one. Yet, I didn''t listen to you,¡± Ning

    Ran said sincerely.

    ¡°Let''s sleep. It''s gettingte.¡± Nan Chen didn''t appear to be in the mood for a chat.

    ¡°Are you ming me?¡±

    ¡°You''re ming me too, aren''t you?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I am. You shouldn''t have agreed to hand Luo Fei to Ruan Anxi. If you do that, her child will

    be an orphan.¡±

    ¡°Let''s solve the matter at hand first. That''s the most important thing right now. We can deal with

    whateveres nextter.¡±

    Ning Ran wanted to speak further, but Nan Chen gestured for her to stop.

    After Ruan Anxi sent Nan Chen and Ning Ran back home, he was ready to find a ce to rest for the

    night.

    While he was used to living in the vehicle, he didn''t like it.

    After two exhausting days, he really wanted to have a good rest in a hotel.

    He didn''t want to piss off Nan Chen in Flower City, but he couldn''t help himself. In the end, he was

    beaten up by Nan Chen and didn''t gain any advantage.

    It was the biggest loss he had over the past three years.

    In spite of that, he wasn''t angry because he was confident he could get anything he wanted whenever

    he desired.

    Out of nowhere, the car stopped, and the driver reported that he couldn''t shake off the vehicles

    following them, which were a ck jeep and a police car.

    ¡°Go and ask them what they want,¡± Ruan Anxi ordered with fury.

    When the driver returned from a meeting with the owners of the cars, he handed a card to Ruan Anxi.

    The card read: Head of Security in Nanshi Corporation, Qiao Zhan.

    As Ruan Anxi smiled, an image of Qiao Zhan''s burly figure entered his mind.

    ¡°He asked you to call him.¡± The driver''s face looked a little bruised.

    Ruan Anxi grabbed his satellite phone and called the number on the card.

    ¡°Speak!¡± Qiao Zhan''s voice was heard on the other end.

    ¡°You''re the one who asked me to call you. What do you want?¡±

    ¡°I didn''t expect you to cause trouble here after what happened in Livingsfill, you son of a b*tch!¡± Qiao

    Zhan cursed.

    Frowning, Ruan Anxi mused, I hate potty mouths like him. Why do they feel the need to curse when

    they can act instead? And why does he have to insult my mother? How rude.

    Qiao Zhan still felt greatly humiliated by what happened in Livingsfill. The fact that he fell for Ruan

    Anxi''s trick and allowed thetter to snatch Ning Ran from him remained fresh on his mind.

    Hence, it was natural that Qiao Zhan was incapable of ignoring Ruan Anxi after thetter arrived in

    Flower City and caused trouble again.

    In fact, Qiao Zhan thought he was being nice when he called Ruan Anxi a son of a b*tch as he wanted

    to curse thetter''s entire family.

    ¡°Cease your insults and tell me what you want,¡± Ruan Anxi requested.

    ¡°Come into my car, and I''ll do that, you son of a b*tch,¡± Qiao Zhan spat.

    The insult really annoyed Ruan Anxi. ¡°Stop calling me that!¡±

    However, instead of yielding, Qiao Zhan went even further. ¡°But you are a son of a b*tch. Come here,

    you little f*cker.¡±

    ¡°I won''t leave my car. If you order the police to capture me, I''ll blow my car up.¡±

    ¡°We''re just following you, not capturing you. Stay inside that car of yours forever if you can. If you have

    the guts to step out of your vehicle, I''ll make sure you regret showing off in Flower City!¡±

    Ruan Anxi was speechless. I really hate how crudely he speaks. I much prefer dealing with Nan Chen

    since he doesn''t swear even when he''s yelling.

    In response, he hung up the phone, opened the mini fridge in the car, and grabbed a tomato to eat it.

    He was still pretty ticked off, so he didn''t wipe the tomato a few times before eating, which he usually

    did.

    After he finished his tomato, he spoke to the driver. ¡°Keep driving around the city. Don''t stop driving,

    and don''t leave the car.¡±

    Then he slept. He could sleep in any environment due to his strong survival capability.

    However, he woke up shortly after because the car had to stop at a gas station.

    ¡°Are those cars still following us?¡± Ruan Anxi asked.

    ¡°They still are,¡± replied the driver with resignation.

    This isn''t good. Qiao Zhan''s driving me into a corner. There is still food in the car, but it''s limited, and it''ll

    run out eventually. I don''t think it''s a good idea for me to leave the car and resupply right now because

    Qiao Zhan will unquestionably use the opportunity to catch me. While I have reinforcements I can

    summon in the city, and they''ll have a good chance of winning, the police will interfere if I start a fight.

    Should that happen, I''ll no longer be a foreign friend to the country without a criminal record. Things are

    especially bad because this is Flower City, Nan Chen''s territory. He can do many things here and utilize

    plenty of resources. I''ve really regretted my decision toe here and provoke Nan Chen as well as

    Qiao Zhan. I should''ve asked my subordinates to deal with a small fry like Luo Fei. If not for Ning Ran, I

    wouldn''t have personally involved myself in this matter. I wonder why I want to meet with her this badly

    when she''s always impolite toward me, unafraid of me, will attack me at any moment, and curse at

    me... Hmm, now that I think about it, maybe it''s because I find her interesting. It''s rare for me to meet a

    fearless woman who''s also as beautiful as an angel. Women with unique personalities tend to leave a

    strong impression on me, especially when this one is so beautiful. It seems like I care a lot about

    appearances. After Ruan Anxi''s train of thought ended there, he called Qiao Zhan.

    However, the one who picked up the phone wasn''t Qiao Zhan but his subordinate. ¡°Chief Qiao is

    asleep. He can''t answer your call right now.¡±

    That aggravated Ruan Anxi. I can''t believe this! How dare he force me to roam the streets while he''s

    sleeping! I''m the ¡°Doctor¡±! My name inspires fear in all of South East Aploth! He has some nerve to

    treat me this lightly!

    Hence, he left the vehicle and strode straight to the ck jeep and shouted, ¡°I want to see that brute!

    Ask him to¡ª¡±

    Before he could finish his sentence, the door opened, and Qiao Zhan kicked him to the ground.

    Ruan Anxi immediately regretted his rash decision. I''m usually calm and tactful, so why did I leave my

    vehicle? Is it because I''m sleepy? Is that why I''ve acted so foolishly?

    ¡°Get into the car, you son of a b*tch.¡± Qiao Zhan immediately dragged Ruan Anxi into the vehicle and

    tossed him onto the empty seat. ¡°Come on, let''s have a chat.¡±

    Smiling, Ruan Anxi coughed and threatened, ¡°You''re the son of a b*tch! I''m going to order a hit on your

    entire family!¡±

    p!

    Just as Ruan Anxi finished speaking, Qiao Zhan pped him so forcefully that the former''s lips bled.

    That made Ruan Anxi feel even more regretful. Why the heck did I leave the car? Why did I pick a fight

    with this brute? I can''t believe he managed to push my buttons and made me lose my cool.

 Chapter 821

    Chapter 821

    Half an hourter, Qiao Zhan brought Ruan Anxi to the underground snooker bar.

    At that moment, it was early in the morning. Initially, Ruan Anxi was feeling a little drowsy, but not

    anymore.

    ¡°Are you kidnapping me right now? Are you aware of the consequences of your actions?¡± Ruan Anxi

    questioned grimly.

    His presumptuous attitude pisses me off. It seems he still doesn''t understand he''s in Flower City, not M

    Nation''s forest. No matter how powerful or influential he is in South East Aploth, he can''t use any of it

    here. There''s a saying that one can''t win without their home advantage, yet this guy has the gall to

    threaten Ning Ran again in Flower City. It''s only natural Nan Chen is furious that such a thing

    happened in his territory. However, some matters are too inconvenient for him to handle personally,

    which is when Ie out. I was prepared to keep ying with Ruan Anxi, pressuring him to stay in his

    vehicle until his food supply was exhausted. I didn''t expect he would get so agitated that he left the

    vehicle. It certainly saved me a lot of trouble. When I caught him, I almostughed out loud. Who

    would''ve thought it would be that easy? As Qiao Zhan''s train of thought ended there, he noticed Ruan

    Anxi was still putting up an act.

    In response, he grabbed a bottle of wine and glugged two mouthfuls of it.

    Ruan Anxi watched him drink like that with disdain and frowned. ¡°Such a boorish way of drinking will

    hurt your body! You have no taste.¡±

    ¡°If you keep yapping, I''ll crack your head like an egg with my fist!¡± Qiao Zhan pointed at Ruan Anxi as

    he yelled.

    Ruan Anxi shook his head. What a vulgar, uncivilized man. He doesn''t even have the discipline to be a

    bad guy. He''ll attack someone if he wants to hurt them, and he swears like a crass, drunken sailor.

    ¡°What are you shaking your head for? Do you really believe you''re the king of South East Aploth? Don''t

    forget; this is Flower City, China. I can''t tell whether you''re crazy or stupid to cause trouble here.¡± Qiao

    Zhan took another swig.

    With a grin, Ruan Anxi questioned, ¡°Do you have the guts to kill me?¡±

    That ticked Qiao Zhan off because he knew he didn''t.

    ¡°If you kill me, my subordinates will avenge me, regardless of the consequences. Rivers of blood will

    flow in Flower City and the Nan residence!¡±

    ¡°You''re overthinking it. Once you''re dead, your subordinates will scatter. Who''ll avenge you then?¡±

    scoffed Qiao Zhan.

    ¡°Now that''s something you don''t understand. If I really am dead, someone will avenge me. Give it a try

    if you don''t believe me, but many people will die.¡± Then Ruan Anxi cackled again.

    He really is a demon. Even though he''s my captive right now, and I can squash him like an ant at any

    moment, he''s still utterly fearless. It''s as if he doesn''t care that he''s in danger right now. Argh! I hate his

    stupid, arrogant face! I want to punch him so badly, but if I do that, I may identally kill this weak

    b*stard, which will be troublesome. As hateful thoughts crossed Qiao Zhan''s mind, he handed a phone

    to Ruan Anxi. ¡°Call your subordinates and tell them to release Ding Fei''s sh*tty parents now.¡±

    Ruan Anxi didn''t take the phone. ¡°What do you mean by ''sh*tty parents''?¡±

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    ¡°It means I don''t like them. If not for Mrs. Nan''s orders, I wouldn''t give a d*mn if they die or not.¡±

    That roused Ruan Anxi''s interest. ¡°Why do you dislike them? Is it because they mistreated Ning Ran

    before?¡±

    ¡°I''m not interested in chatting with you. Tell your subordinates right now to release them!¡±

    Ruan Anxi chuckled. ¡°Do you really think I''ll listen to you? If you want to kill me, just kill me. Ask

    someone else to do it if you don''t have the guts to.¡±

    In response, Qiao Zhan raised his fist in anger again. ¡°You...¡±

    ¡°I suggest you refrain from attacking me. I''m pretty weak, after all. If you identally kill me, you and

    Nan Chen will be in a lot of trouble. Hahaha!¡± Ruan Anxi was acting so arrogantly that one might

    mistake him as the captor and Qiao Zhan as the prisoner.

    ¡°Fine. While you may not want to call them now, you will soon enough. Keep your eyes on him. Don''t

    let him escape or drink any water,¡± Qiao Zhan ordered his subordinates.

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    The next day in the afternoon, after Ning Ran finished her meeting at Star Entertainment, she called

    Qiao Zhan and asked him about Ruan Anxi.

    Qiao Zhan was hesitant to answer her questions, so it took a while before she learned Ruan Anxi was

    in the snooker bar.

    From him, she learned that Ruan Anxi refused to talk to anyone and demanded to speak only to her.

    Believing that keeping Ruan Anxi in continued captivity wouldn''t be a great idea, she asked Qiao Zhan

    to arrange a meeting between her and Ruan Anxi.

    She was aware of Ruan Anxi''s personality. Even if Qiao Zhan confronted or even killed him, it wouldn''t

    solve the problem.

    While she wasn''t sure if her conversation with Ruan Anxi would be beneficial, she was certain she

    would yield better results than Qiao Zhan.

    Qiao Zhan didn''t have the final say on the matter since Ruan Anxi was a dangerous man. Thus, he

    asked Nan Chen for permission.

    Upon receiving Nan Chen''s approval, Qiao Zhan went to Raining Pavilion to pick up Ning Ran.

    Even though Qiao Zhan remained quiet throughout the entire journey, she was certain he had some

    opinions he was bottling up.

    ¡°If you have something to say, just say it,¡± she proposed.

    The moment he started speaking, he was enraged. ¡°I just don''t understand why you want to help

    someone as evil as Luo Fei. Now, we have a big problem on our hands, and we have to take care of

    her parents, too. Ruan Anxi''s a stubborn mad dog. When he said he was only willing to talk to you and

    no one else, I was so anxious that, on multiple asions, I wanted to beat him to death!¡±

    It seems like he has no idea how to handle Ruan Anxi, which is what I expected. How can you threaten

    someone fearless of death? It''s not like we can take lessons from his cruelty and remove his organs

    one by one.

    Ning Ranforted, ¡°Since you know he''s a mad dog, you shouldn''t get yourself worked up. It''s not

    worth it. As for Luo Fei, she''s pregnant right now. If not for her baby, I wouldn''t have helped her. The

    consequences will be dire if we hand her over to him at this moment. Just think of helping her as an act

    of goodwill. I know you''re a man with a strong sense of justice, Chief Qiao. Are you willing to watch

    Ruan Anxi destroy an unborn life?¡±

    Qiao Zhan''s mood was greatly lifted when he heard her praise him for having a strong sense of justice

    and calling him ¡°Chief Qiao.¡±

    ¡°You''re a kind person, Mrs. Nan. However, don''t put up with that mad dog too much. Please don''t listen

    to him if he makes any outrageous demands,¡± he reminded.

    She assured, ¡°Of course. Since he''s in your custody at the moment, I won''t be threatened by him.

    Heck, he couldn''t even threaten me when he kidnapped me. Furthermore, we have the initiative right

    now. Don''t worry, I got this.¡±

    ¡°Mhm, I believe in your ability.¡±

 Chapter 822

    Chapter 822

    When Ning Ran entered the billiard lounge, she discovered Ruan Anxi sleeping on the pool table.

    ¡°Get the hell out!¡± The man heard amotion and thought it was someone else, so he waved his

    hand and shooed the person away.

    ¡°It''s me,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    Upon hearing the familiar voice, Ruan Anxi immediately jumped up. ¡°You''re here, Ran.¡±

    The man looked paler than before, with very dry, almost peeling lips. Due to ack of cleaning, his long

    hair appeared greasy, unlike his usual immacte appearance.

    Seeing Ning Ran looking at him, Ruan Anxi blushed and murmured, ¡°We can''t take a bath here, and

    the guy doesn''t let me drink water. I can''t be bothered to plead with him.¡±

    ¡°You can''t drink water?¡± the woman asked incredulously.

    Pointing to the bottles of liquid on the shelf, Ruan Anxi confessed sheepishly, ¡°They''re watching my

    every move to make sure that I don''t take a sip of water. It''s impossible to win a fight against them

    because I don''t have any weapons, not to mention the fact that I''m outnumbered.¡±

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    Qiao Zhan had arranged for five to six men to watch over Ruan Anxi. They were all big and burly, albeit

    not as strong as their boss.

    Given Ruan Anxi''s small build, he would have a hard time dealing with even one of these men, let

    alone five or six.

    ¡°Get me a bottle of water,¡± Ning Ran ordered one of Qiao Zhan''s subordinates.

    When the men refused to budge an inch and lowered his head, Ning Ran knew that Qiao Zhan had

    sent his most trusted men for the job.

    Qiao Zhan must havemanded them not to give Ruan Anxi any water, no matter who spoke. No

    wonder these people refuse to listen to my instruction.

    The matter came as no surprise to Ning Ran, as it was understandable for Qiao Zhan to have loyal

    aides who only followed his orders. It would be challenging to aplish anything if his men''s

    allegiance could be swayed so easily.

    Ning Ran walked up to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of mineral water, which she handed to

    Ruan Anxi.

    Although Qiao Zhan''s subordinates refused to pass the bottle to Ruan Anxi, they did not prevent Ning

    Ran from doing so.

    ¡°I''m dying of thirst!¡± Ruan Anxi eximed as he drained the bottle in a single gulp.

    ¡°Actually, Qiao Zhan isn''t that bad. If you''re willing to speak politely to him, he may agree to let you

    drink water,¡± Ning Ran suggested.

    Ruan Anxi waved his hand and shot the woman a disgusted look. ¡°I''m not going to beg him. Who does

    he think he is? I''ll just have to endure the thirst since he forbids me from drinking. He doesn''t dare to

    murder me anyway.¡± After saying that, he chuckled.

    The man''s indifferent attitude left Ning Ran feeling exasperated. She could not understand how he

    could keep his cool despite being under Qiao Zhan''s control.

    ¡°As a doctor, you should know that although humans can live for extended periods of time without

    eating, they cannot survive without water,¡± Ning Ran reminded.

    ¡°I know, but that doesn''t mean I''m willing to beg him. Ran, are you here to visit me?¡± Ruan Anxi asked,

    a rumbling sounding from his stomach.

    Seems like he''s not only thirsty but also hungry.

    In an attempt to alleviate Ruan Anxi''s hunger, Ning Ran searched for some snacks and offered to share

    them.

    To her surprise, the man rejected her kind offer. ¡°I don''t eat junk food. It''s not good for the body.¡±

    Ning Ran was impressed by Ruan Anxi''s strong will. Despite being so hungry, he still refused to eat

    junk food. If she were in his position, she would have dly epted any food that could satisfy her

    hunger.

    ¡°What would you like to eat, then? I''ll send someone to buy it,¡± the woman offered.

    ¡°I would like a medium-rare steak and an 87 Chateau Lafite,¡± Ruan Anxi replied.

    Does he think he''s on vacation? How dare he order such avish meal!

    As she shrugged helplessly at his unreasonable demands, Ning Ran gently reminded Ruan Anxi of his

    situation. ¡°You can eat those foods after you leave here. They aren''t avable now.¡±

    ¡°All right, let''s head for a meal,¡± the man said delightfully. His answer caught Ning Ran off-guard.

    Has this guy forgotten about his current situation?

    ¡°You can get out of here once the matter is settled. I hope you can release the Ning couple,¡± Ning Ran

    said, stating her intentions clearly.

    ¡°He mentioned this to me earlier. He thought that by imprisoning me, he could scare me into doing

    things his way. Unfortunately, that''s never an option. I never give in to threats, and moreover, he will

    never hurt me. Nan Chen and Nanshi Corporation will be in huge danger if something awful happens to

    me. It''ll also cause a bloodbath in Flower City.¡± Ruan Anxi sounded not just uninterested in the topic,

    but also arrogant. No wonder Qiao Zhan despised the man, as even Ning Ran was growing tired of

    him.

    Ning Ran took a deep breath and told herself to calm down. After all, the purpose of the visit was to find

    a solution, not to argue with Ruan Anxi.

    After taking a seat in front of him, she stared him in the eyes and said sternly, ¡°You said you would only

    speak to me. Now that I''m here, you refuse to have a proper conversation. What''s the point of

    continuing this discussion?¡±

    Just then, Ruan Anxi''s stomach grumbled again, reminding him of hisck of food and water.

    Serve him right for being so arrogant even though he''s in hunger.

    The man responded, ¡°I can''t be bothered to talk to the rest, not even when they threaten to hurt me. I''m

    only willing to speak to you because I think we are the same kind of people.¡±

    His words left Ning Ran feeling puzzled. What do you mean we are of the same kind? I''m obviously

    different from you. You are a ruthless scumbag who''s willing to do anything to achieve your goals, while

    I''m a sweet, innocent being. We areplete opposites!

    Ning Ran coughed awkwardly before rifying, ¡°I believe there''s a misunderstanding. Our professions,

    thoughts, behaviors, and methods of handling things differ, indicating that we aren''t the same kind of

    people.¡±

    ¡°There''s no need to be so cryptic with your words. In a nutshell, you''re saying that I''m a bad person,

    and you are a good person.¡± Ruan Anxi chuckled lightly.

    Seeing there was no need to stay cordial, Ning Ran nodded and said, ¡°Yeah, that''s what I meant.¡±

    ¡°All right, I ept that I''m not exactly a good man. What I meant was that we are both stubborn. We''ll

    never give in to coercion even if it means sacrificing our lives,¡± Ruan Anxi exined.

    Disagreeing with his interpretation, Ning Ran waved her hand and protested, ¡°No, no, no, you''ve got it

    wrong. I''m scared of death!¡±

    ¡°Yet you were fearless when I held you captive. Most other women would have been so terrified,¡± Ruan

    Anxi rebutted.

    In truth, Ning Ran had been petrified but pretended not to be. Her worry had been slightly alleviated by

    the knowledge that Ruan Anxi would not murder her.

    As it would be challenging for Ning Ran to exin herself, she made the decision to change the

    subject. ¡°Let''s get down to business. What would it take for you to release Ning Ziqiang and his wife?¡±

    Before Ruan Anxi could answer, Qiao Zhan walked in.

    ¡°Get out. I''m having a great conversation with Ran. Why are you interrupting?¡± Ruan Anxi waved his

    hands dismissively.

    Before an infuriated Qiao Zhan could punish Ruan Anxi for his haughty attitude, Ning Ran rushed over

    to pull him aside.

    She figured that there must be a reason for Qiao Zhan''s sudden appearance. Earlier, they had agreed

    that the man would remain outside while she spoke with Ruan Anxi.

    ¡°I need to talk to you in private.¡± Ning Ran took the initiative to speak to Qiao Zhan. ¡°What''s the

    matter?¡± she whispered after the pair went to a corner.

    ¡°Someone from the embassy of M Nation filed a police report in Flower City about a missing special

    liaison officer. Guess who was in the photo provided to the police? It''s the b*stard, Ruan Anxi. Sir Chen

    has instructed us not to blow up the matter. We need to find a way to get that man to release Ning

    Ziqiang so that we can free him as soon as possible,¡± Qiao Zhan exined in a hushed voice.

 Chapter 823

    Chapter 823

    ¡°When did Ruan Anxi be M Nation''s special liaison officer? What the hell is this job? Who is he

    liaising with?¡± Even Ning Ran found it absurd.

    ¡°Rumor has it that this b*stard is one of the royals'' illegitimate sons, so he''s well-protected in M Nation.

    That''s why he''s lording over everyone. Since the embassy has called the cops, they''ll surely make a

    proper identity for this b*stard. I have to let him go, or else I''ll risk diplomatic chaos. Nanshi Corporation

    hasrge investments in M Nation as well. If this thing blows up, the consequences will be

    unimaginable. This is what Sir Chen wants.¡±

    Frankly, Ning Ran did not need Qiao Zhan to exin to her to figure out that it was Nan Chen''s idea.

    Ruan Anxi had been emphasizing that there would be a bloodbath in Flower City if he died. Whether he

    was lying or not was something Ning Ran could not verify.

    However, it was true there would be many troubles if M Nation were to find out that Ruan Anxi had

    been locked up.

    Evidently, someone in M Nation wanted to protect Ruan Anxi, and therefore, they had pulled some

    strings.

    It was not worth it to risk a war between two countries for one person.

    Furthermore, Nanshi Corporation had a range of major projects in M Nation. Nan Chen did not wish for

    his private matters to affect Nanshi Corporation''s profits. After all, he was the one in charge of the

    company, so he had to consider the big picture.

    Letting Ruan Anxi go was something he had to do. As to how they were going to settle the score with

    Ruan Anxi, that was a matter for the future. For now, they had to let him go to avoid things from blowing

    up further.

    ¡°I understand. Tell Nan Chen that I''ll deal with this properly,¡± Ning Ran said in a low voice.

    ¡°All right,¡± Qiao Zhan said before leaving.

    Ning Ran walked over to Ruan Anxi, who was staring at her. It seemed that he was guessing what Ning

    Ran and Qiao Zhan could have been saying.

    Ning Ran offered the answer. ¡°Qiao Zhan said that there are people looking for you.¡±

    She knew that Ruan Anxi would be suspicious if she were to lie to him. However, Ruan Anxi believed

    her.

    He let out a creepy chuckle and said, ¡°Of course there are people looking for me. I''m important.¡±

    Ning Ran nodded. ¡°What Qiao Zhan means is that this ce may identally end up in a fire if you

    don''t work with us.¡±

    Some colors drained out of Ruan Anxi''s face at that. ¡°What do you mean? Are you telling me the big

    guy''s trying to burn me to death?¡±

    ¡°He didn''t say that. He only said that this ce is a bar with lots of bottles with high alcoholic content.

    Alcohol is a mmable liquid, and it''s nothing unusual if a fire happens,¡± Ning Ran said calmly.

    Ruan Anxi chuckled again. ¡°You''re right. I''ll be burned to a crisp if he wants to kill me here. No one will

    be able to identify me, but you won''t let him do that, right?¡±

    Ning Ran put on a troubled look. ¡°I''ve never intervened in the men''s matters. Of course, I don''t hope for

    this ce to end up catching fire. That doesn''t sound nice. Why don''t you let Ning Ziqiang and his wife

    go? I''ll talk to Qiao Zhan and convince him to dismiss the idea.¡±

    Ruan Anxi shook his head in determination. ¡°Did you think I''ll relent because you''re giving me death

    threats? No way. Let him set this ce on fire. I don''t care.¡±

    How stubborn.

    ¡°We''re not threatening you. I just think that you''re only here in Flower City for Ding Fei. Why would you

    want to make things hard for¡ª¡±

    ¡°No. I''m mainly here for you. Capturing Ding Fei is just a side task.¡±

    Ning Ran could not reply to that. She knew how things would be even moreplicated if Nan Chen

    were to hear Ruan Anxi say that.

    ¡°Why don''t you name a condition and let Ning Ziqiang and his wife go? Didn''t I give you a promise

    already? Once Ding Fei gives birth to her baby, she''ll be yours. What''s the point of being so stubborn

    still?¡± Ning Ran said, pretending to be angry.

    ¡°I would''ve agreed to this if you hade to me earlier. If I''m in a good mood, I won''t mind letting

    anyone go, but threats are useless. How can someone who doesn''t even dare to kill me threaten me?

    What a joke! If I were him, I''d have chopped off a hand first, but since all my limbs are still intact, it must

    mean he doesn''t dare toy a finger on me.¡±

    A look of contempt was on Ruan Anxi''s face. He was looking down at them for not daring to do

    anything ruthless to him.

    Ning Ran asked impatiently, ¡°Well, I''m here now, so talk. What will it take for you to let Ning Ziqiang go?

    Stop wasting our time. It''s pointless.¡±

    Ruan Anxi said, ¡°As long as you have four meals with me every month, I''ll let Ning Ziqiang and his wife

    go. I know your rtionship with Ning Ziqiang. You won''t sit on your hands and let him die.¡±

    That was a request that surprised Ning Ran.

    There are four weeks in a month. If I have to have four meals with him every month, that means I have

    to keep himpany once every week. Isn''t that a lot? I''m no friend of this b*stard! I''m avoiding him

    like a gue, but now I even have to have meals with him? But if I don''t agree with his request, it''ll be

    hard to wrap this matter up.

    ¡°I''m busy with work, so four meals won''t do. Two.¡±

    ¡°Three.¡±

    ¡°Two meals, and no more. I don''t even have more than two meals in a month with Nan Chen

    sometimes.¡±

    ¡°Deal. You can''t go back on your words. The consequences will be dire if you break your promise,¡±

    Ruan Anxi said with an eerie grin.

    ¡°I know. Call your men and tell them to let them go now, then send me the video. I want to make sure

    that Ning Ziqiang and his wife have regained their freedom.¡±

    Ruan Anxiughed. ¡°You don''t trust me? I''ll let them go if I say so. Honestly, they aren''t important to

    me. They''re only minor characters in the grand story. I''m delighted to get you to agree to have meals

    with me. I don''t want the money Ding Fei took from me anymore. Tell her to give everything to you

    instead.¡±

    Ning Ran was taken aback by his words. ¡°Give it to me?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It''s quite an amount too. Tell her that as long as she gives you the money, I won''t hold her

    ountable for her actions anymore. Everything will be negotiable. Does money matter? What I have

    most is money. My happiness is of utmost importance.¡±

    Ning Ran was quick to reject. ¡°I don''t want it! I don''t want your money!¡±

    ¡°If you don''t want it, then Ding Fei will have taken advantage of me. Then, as long as I''m alive, I''ll never

    let Ning Ziqiang go.¡±

    Ning Ran could not believe that Ruan Anxi would go back on his words just because of that.

    She had no choice but to incline her head. ¡°Fine. I''ll donate your money. I don''t want it.¡±

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°You can do anything you like after you get it as long as Ding Fei doesn''t get anything from this. If she''s

    the one who receives the money, then I''m never going to let anyone go. You might as well burn me

    alive here.¡±

    Ning Ran simply could not wrap her head around what went on in Ruan Anxi''s mind. The things he did

    were baffling.

    ¡°Fine. I got it. Make your call and get them to let those two go,¡± Ning Ran said reluctantly.

    A smile finally appeared on Ruan Anxi''s face. ¡°Okay. I''ll let them go right away.¡±

    An anxious thought popped into Ning Ran''s head as she handed him the phone. She feared he would

    pull some sort of trick. ¡°You have to turn on the speaker once the call goes through. Also, I want to see

    the video.¡±

    Ruan Anxi chucked. ¡°I usually do good on my promise. Even if I lie to others, I won''t lie to you.¡±

    That was something Ning Ran did not wish to respond to. ¡°Hurry up and call them now.¡±

 Chapter 824

    Chapter 824

    Later on, Ning Ran received a call from Wang Xiaoou, telling her that she needed to take a trip to the

    office for some matters.

    When Ning Ran reached Star Entertainment, Wang Xiaoou gave her a document. ¡°I wanted to send

    you the digital copy so that you don''t need toe here, but I realized that we''ll need to discuss some

    details, so I asked you toe instead.¡±

    Ning Ran gave her a small smile as she nodded. ¡°Of course. You''re too courteous, Ou. This is just my

    job.¡±

    ¡°Let me give you a brief exnation. This is a reality TV, and its name is Dashing Stars. I''m sure you

    can hear from its name that this is a challenging reality TV. The participating celebrities will be split into

    two teams. Each production team will be considered a team, and they will bepeting against each

    other,¡± Wang Xiaoou introduced.

    Ning Ran nodded. ¡°So our production team''s main cast will be joining this?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but only the three main stars: you and Huang Zichao. There''s one more spot left, and the

    program production team is hoping that you''ll bring along your darling daughter because she''s in the

    film too...¡±

    ¡°Sorry, but that won''t do. I won''t let my daughter join reality TV. She''s too young,¡± Ning Ran swiftly

    rejected.

    Wang Xiaoou smiled. ¡°We know you won''t agree to it, let alone Mr. Chen, so our staff has rejected them

    for you. Tang Jing is in it instead, so the three of you are now up against the other cast members, who

    are the representatives of another film, Gray Town. Their main cast members are big shots as well.

    One of them is a member of the rising band, The Riot Boys¡ªShi Jie. There''s someone else you know

    too. It''s Ye Meng, but she''s no longer one of the top stars, so she''s only ying a side character.

    There''s also a new actor, but I don''t remember their name.¡±

    Ye Meng? The actress who used to be at the top of the pyramid?

    Ning Ran had Nan Chen backing her when she filmed her first advertisement for an international brand

    ¡ªChanning.

    Ye Meng used to be the brand ambassador for Channing, but Ning Ran ended up taking her ce.

    Ever since then, Ye Meng had been doing everything she could to target Ning Ran.

    In the end, Ning Ran still won Ye Meng with Nan Chen''s support, and she even forced Ye Meng to the

    bottom of the pyramid.

    The world was truly small. Ning Ran never thought she would meet Ye Meng again.

    Wang Xiaoou noticed Ning Ran''s worry. Sure enough, she knew about the conflict between Ning Ran

    and Ye Meng back then.

    ¡°Don''t worry. Ye Meng''s no longer the top star she used to be, so she won''t pose much threat to you. I

    remember that the grudge between you and Ye Meng has been resolved, right? She even helped you

    out in getting the Best Neer Award,¡± Wang Xiaoou pointed out with a chuckle.

    ¡°I''m not worried about it. I just think it might end up a little awkward. She''s been in showbiz longer than

    I have, after all.¡±

    ¡°It''ll be fine. We''re all here to promote our films, right? Everyone''s only working. This is strictly

    business, and thepetition is only for the audience. Don''t take it to heart. The filming willst three

    days, so prepare yourself for it. We''ll be having a meeting tomorrow afternoon.¡±

    Ning Ran was a little taken aback by how fast it was.

    Shouldn''t a program like this be pre-arranged? The filming is starting tomorrow even though I''ve only

    received news about it today.

    ¡°Mr. Chen pulled some strings to swap the production team, so things are a little hasty. Still, it''s nothing

    complicated. I''m sure you''ll be able to pull through it.¡±

    Despite Wang Xiaoou''s words, Ning Ran still felt somewhat pressured.

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    ¡°If there aren''t any other problems, we''ll start preparing now. Don''t worry about the arrangements.

    Cheng Xiangyun and I will be dealing with that. You don''t need to think about anything. Just rest and

    ready yourself for the exercise.¡±

    ¡°All right, then. Thank you, Ou.¡±

    After leaving the office, Ning Ran went to pick up the two children.

    Only when most of the children had left did she see Dabao holding Erbao''s hand and ambling their way

    out of school.

    Happiness washed over Ning Ran when she saw the two children.

    After getting out of the car, Ning Ran walked toward them.

    Both Erbao and Dabao did not expect their mother to pick them up herself. Upon spotting her, they

    dashed toward her.

    ¡°Mommy, why were you free to pick us up today?¡±

    ¡°I''m not working today, so here I am. What did you do in school today?¡±

    ¡°We learned to dance, sing, and recite old poems!¡± Erbao reported.

    ¡°That''s a lot of lessons! It must be tough for you. Come on, let me carry you.¡± Ning Ran hunched over

    to lift Erbao into her arms.

    ¡°It''s not tough! You''re the one who has it tough, Mommy! You need to work and take care of us. Now

    that''s tough,¡± Erbao muttered as she leaned her cheek against Ning Ran''s.

    ¡°You''re saying sweeter and sweeter things with each passing day. What a good girl.¡±

    ¡°Mommy, let''s go and find Daddy! Let''s find out what Daddy''s doing,¡± Erbao said with a giggle.

    Ning Ran pinched her cheek and uttered, ¡°What can your daddy possibly be doing right now? He''s

    surely at work, so let''s not disturb him.¡±

    ¡°Come on! It''s been such a long time since we''ve been to Daddy''s office. Why don''t we go there and

    wait for him to finish work?¡± Erbao pestered.

    In the end, Ning Ran agreed to Erbao''s request when she recalled she would be going to work the next

    day and could not apany her children again.

    When they reached the headquarters of Nanshi Corporation, Nan Chen was working in his office and

    giving instructions to Jiang Zhe.

    Erbao was quite obedient. She was not mischievous, but she started wandering to other offices to y

    with the staff.

    That was why the girl liked going to the office. It was a lively ce, and the people there liked her.

    Erbao had learned her lesson and did not take the staff''s snacks this time. After a while of ying with

    them, she obediently went back to Nan Chen''s office.

    However, Nan Chen was still busy as he worked and answered calls.

    Ning Ran was studying her script, and Dabao was reading a book.

    Feeling bored, Erbao went out again.

    When working hours were over, one of the staff suggested taking Erbao out for food. Erbao was

    tempted, but she rejected them, for she knew her parents would not agree to it.

    The staff decided to stay in the office to y with Erbao until Ning Ran came over to get her.

    ¡°Sorry for the trouble, everyone. Please head home to rest,¡± Ning Ran said with an apologetic smile.

    ¡°It''s fine, Ma''am. Your darling''s pretty and cute. You and Mr. Chen have amazing genes to have a

    sweetheart as pretty as her.¡±

    Ning Ran felt strange to hear someone call her ¡°ma''am,¡± but she still gave the other person a smile.

    Erbao stood by the elevators and waved to the others like a little princess. She was adorable.

    By the time they went back to Nan Chen''s office, he was finally close to wrapping up his work.

    ncing at his watch, he said, ¡°Give me another half an hour. I need to deal with some documents

    before we head out for dinner.¡±

    ¡°Are we disturbing you?¡± Ning Ran asked apologetically.

    ¡°No, it''s fine. Just wait for me a little while,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    Right then, the phone on Nan Chen''s desk rang, and he picked it up. He spoke in English, and Ning

    Ran heard the name, Zhiyi, again.

 Chapter 825

    Chapter 825

    Ning Ran tried her best to keep aposed exterior, pretending to be deaf. Nevertheless, she was

    actually seething inside.

    After the call ended, Nan Chen returned to his tasks at hand. He stayed focused and worked diligently

    until he could finish his tasks and clock out for the day.

    He had reserved a table for them at a Ferropenian restaurant.

    Ning Ran preferred hotpot, but since Nan Chen had already made the reservation for their dinner, she

    chose not to say anything and decided to go along with his decision.

    Nan Chen had previously suggested that they should take the children to higher-ss restaurants more

    frequently to help widen their worldviews and develop their characters.

    Being a part of the Nan family meant that the children could no longer simply frequent kids'' cafes and

    hotpot restaurants.

    Nan Chen thought that Ning Ran should go to hotpot restaurants on her own if she had a craving for it.

    There was no need for her to expose the kids to rowdy environments.

    He preferred if Erbao could broaden her horizons. Money should never be a constraint when ites

    to educating a girl. He was determined to ensure she did not remain unrefined and uncultured.

    Nan Chen ordered four set meals, two for the children and two for the adults. He also ordered a bottle

    of wine to apany the meal.

    Their dishes were being served when Nan Chen''s phone rang.

    He retrieved it and walked aside to answer the call.

    Ning Ran paid attention to his conversation and seemed to hear the name ¡°Zhiyi¡± again.

    However, she remained calm. Zhiyi is something else, huh? She must have a special connection with

    Nan Chen to be able to call his private number, one that is typically only used by family members.

    Nan Chen soon returned to his seat and ced his phone aside. He then left to wash his hands and

    sat down. Right when he was about to enjoy his meal, his phone rang again.

    It was Zhiyi again.

    Nan Chen grabbed his phone and went aside to answer the call.

    After the call ended, he went to wash his hands again. He had already begun to cut into his steak when

    his phone suddenly rang again.

    Ning Ran could no longer contain her thoughts and spoke out. ¡°Perhaps you should take care of your

    business first before eating. It''s going to get cold.¡±

    Nan Chen''s hand froze midair before he could reach for his phone. An awkward expression crossed his

    face.

    Both Dabao and Erbao stopped eating, their gazes darting between Ning Ran and Nan Chen.

    ¡°It''s about work,¡± Nan Chen said sheepishly.

    ¡°I know it''s work. That was why I said you should take care of your business.¡± Ning Ran softened her

    voice as it urred to her that she had spoken impulsively.

    ¡°Forget it. I''m not taking any more calls. Let''s eat!¡±

    To Ning Ran''s surprise, Nan Chen didn''t lose his temper. He was ying along with her as the kids

    were present.

    ¡°Mommy, don''t be mad,¡± Erbao said timidly.

    The children were fearful at the prospect of their parents getting into a fight, as they would feel

    completely powerless in the situation.

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    ¡°I''m not mad. I just feel guilty that Daddy has to take out time to have dinner with us despite his hectic

    schedule,¡± Ning Ran exined.

    Her words were obviously a lie. Nan Chen frowned but didn''t say anything.

    Erbao was oblivious, but Dabao could sense that his mother was unhappy.

    He knew it was rted to the calls his father had answered.

    After Nan Chen took a few bites, his phone rang again.

    This time, he hesitated visibly.

    ¡°You should answer it since it''s about work. I''m fine with it,¡± Ning Ran said.

    She wasn''t saying that to spite him. Instead, she regretted her impulsive words from earlier and wanted

    him to answer the call.

    ¡°Okay. Let me take this.¡±

    Nan Chen took his phone and walked away. The callsted for around ten minutes.

    After the call ended, he slowly turned around and shot his family an apologetic look. ¡°It was something

    rted to work, I swear.¡±

    ¡°Daddy, didn''t you clock off earlier? Why are you still needed at work?¡± Erbao asked after cing her

    fork down.

    ¡°That was an overseas call. Ourpany has recently been listed overseas and has be the

    target of short-sellingpanies that released false information in an attempt to damage our

    reputation. Tobat this and to restore our investors'' faith in ourpany, we decided to invite a

    third-party audit firm to investigate our finances and other relevant aspects of our business. The person

    in charge of this project is an old friend of mine, and I knew she had put in a lot of hard work by staying

    up till the early hours every day. I feel obliged to answer her calls, as I knew how much effort she was

    putting in.¡±

    It seemed that Nan Chen was exining the situation to Erbao, but his exnation was actually meant

    for Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran didn''t know much about the corporate world, but her mother used to operate apany.

    Ning Ran also majored in economics and knew some basic concepts.

    Foreign short-sellingpanies had often been known to spread false reports about Chinese

    companies that had gone into international markets. This malicious tactic involved the release of

    fabricated news stories, and then taking advantage of the resulting dip in share prices by short-selling

    thepany''s stocks.

    Some reports were true, while some were fake.

    To demonstrate that the reports were false, the victim would need to either conduct their investigation

    or hire an external audit firm to review theirpany. Using the results of this audit, they would be able

    to refute the ims made by the short-sellingpanies in their reports.

    If thepany in question did not take any proactive measures, short-selling firms would likely be the

    ones to initiate action, resulting in a sense of unease among investors that could result in them all

    following suit. This would be a disastrous oue for the firm, as it could lead to a massive financial

    loss.

    Ning Ran was fully aware that this was an issue of great importance.

    However, her main point wasn''t work, but the friend Nan Chen mentioned.

    It was a ¡°she,¡± so it was clearly a female.

    Thisdy wasn''t just a colleague. If they were just colleagues, she wouldn''t keep calling Nan Chen''s

    private number.

    Besides, Nan Chen''s subordinates would usually handle such matters. He didn''t have to go through

    everything himself.

    If Nan Chen had to handle minor details such as coordinating with the audit firm, he would be

    overwhelmed by the amount of work.

    It was a work matter, but Nan Chen took it seriously likely because of the woman involved.

    The more Ning Ran pondered over the matter, the more annoyed she got.

    As Ning Ran was silent, Nan Chen didn''t bother starting a conversation.

    Fortunately, Nan Chen was spared from further phone calls from Zhiyi. Perhaps he had told her he was

    in the middle of having dinner, so she felt embarrassed and stopped calling him.

    Another possibility was that she had gone to bed. Despite working till the wee hours of the morning,

    she still needed to rest.

    The family continued their dinner. However, Erbao felt uneasy as the atmosphere was pretty tense.

    She loved having a good time and being in a rxed environment, so the absence of sound was stifling

    to her.

    ¡°Daddy, Mommy, I learned a dance at school today. Let me show you!¡± Erbao eximed as she jumped

    off her chair, ready to showcase her dancing skills.

    She was trying to lighten the mood by suggesting dancing during dinner.

    ¡°You can''t go dancing until you''ve finished your meal,¡± Ning Ran answered with a chuckle.

    ¡°I''m done eating. Now, it''s time for me to give you and Daddy a performance. I''m sure you''ll be

    delighted to watch me dance while you enjoy your meal. If I do a good job, then order a dessert for

    me,¡± Erbao said as she licked her lips.

    Oh, she''s not done eating yet but wants some dessert.

    Erbao started dancing.

    Nan Chen ced his utensils down and watched her attentively.

    It was a simple dance, but Erbao made it captivating.

    When the dance came to an end, Nan Chen pped his hands. ¡°Good job!¡±

    ¡°Is it? I only started learning today. I can do better after practicing more!¡± Erbao responded

    enthusiastically.

    ¡°Yes. Erbao is the best dancer at school!¡± Dabao affirmed.

    ¡°It looks like my daughter has a talent for dancing. Should I get you a professional dance teacher to

    teach you how to dance?¡±

    ¡°No. I''m going to be an actress just like Mommy. I won''t dance,¡± Erbao rejected that offer immediately.

    ¡°Sure. You can do whatever you want. I''ll order a dessert for you,¡± Nan Chen said adoringly.

    ¡°Thanks, Daddy. I want arge one!¡± Erbao returned to her seat happily, as her n had worked.

    Something was weighing on Ning Ran''s mind. Even though Erbao tried her best to interact with her,

    she seemed uninterested. They all went home after dinner ended on a tense note.

    Nan Chen entered the study room and continued clearing his emails.

    Usually, Ning Ran would brew some coffee for him, but as she was in a foul mood that day, she didn''t

    even bother making him instant coffee.

    Nan Chen needed coffee to work, and he wouldn''t have trouble falling asleep even after taking caffeine

    at night.

    After working for a bit, he had no choice but toe out to brew some coffee himself.

    He was thoroughly dissatisfied, as he had noticed Ning Ran''s cold attitude.

    The following morning, Ning Ran woke up early as she had to participate in filming a show.

    To her surprise, Nan Chen was already awake. He had just returned from his morning run.

    Despite bumping into each other in the living room, they didn''t say a word.

    Ning Ran started preparing breakfast. Soon, Dabao and Erbao woke up.

    The house became lively once they woke up.

    During breakfast, Ning Ran mentioned that she would have to remain at the studio until the day after

    tomorrow. Someone else would have to take responsibility for getting the children to and from school.

    ¡°Mr. Qiao will pick you kids up after school. I''ll be busy,¡± Nan Chen said.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Dabao and Erbao replied obediently.

    After breakfast, Nan Chen and Ning Ran sent the kids to school.

    Nan Chen only drove away after the teacher led the kids inside.

    ¡°If you''re busy, you don''t have to drive me there. I can take a taxi to Star Entertainment to meet up with

    Ou and the rest,¡± Ning Ran said.

    ¡°I have a question for you. What did you promise Ruan Anxi? Why did he agree to release Ning

    Ziqiang?¡±

    Nan Chen had been dying to know the answer for a long time but only came around to ask the question

    now.

    Back when she talked to Ruan Anxi, Qiao Zhan wasn''t around. She assumed Nan Chen had no idea of

    the incident. However, Nan Chen was smart enough to guess that they hade to an agreement.

    It was actually a simple condition. Ning Ran had to eat with Ruan Anxi twice a month.

    Eating together wasn''t a big deal, but Ning Ran felt that it was strange for her to eat with someone of

    the opposite sex periodically. It felt a bit ambiguous.

    Ning Ran couldn''t bring herself to say it out loud or tell Nan Chen about it.

    Now that Nan Chen had brought up the topic, she wasn''t sure if he had discovered something or was

    merely making a simple inquiry.

    She deliberated whether or not to tell him the truth.

    Nan Chen took in her hesitance, and his suspicions grew.

    No matter how harshly Qiao Zhan had tried to intimidate Ruan Anxi, thetter had remained steadfast

    in his resolve to onlymunicate with Ning Ran. He had adamantly refused to speak with anyone

    else.

    After Ning Ran met him, Ruan Anxi changed and released Ning Ziqiang and his wife.

    Nan Chen had been suspecting Ruan Anxi and Ning Ran hade to an agreement.

    He had asked Qiao Zhan, but Qiao Zhan had no idea what it was.

    Nan Chen knew Ruan Anxi well enough to know that he would definitely make a ridiculous demand.

    ¡°Won''t you tell me about it?¡± Nan Chen asked icily.

    ¡°Oh, it was nothing. I didn''t want to keep it a secret from you, but his request was weird. I didn''t want

    you to misunderstand us,¡± Ning Ran said guiltily.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°H-He promised to release them if I agree to eat with him frequently.¡±

    Feeling troubled, Ning Ran told him that they would have to eat together frequently instead of eating

    together twice a month, hoping Nan Chen would find that more eptable.

    s, he still couldn''t ept it. His gaze turned cold after he heard her exnation.

    What the f*ck? How dare that thug force my woman to eat with him? He''s insulting me! Why did Ning

    Ran agree to eat with him?

    ¡°You said yes?¡±

    Hearing his tone, Ning Ran knew he was upset.

    ¡°I was focused on saving them. Besides, Qiao Zhan said if Ruan Anxi remains in custody, it may cause

    a diplomatic conflict, so I decided to say yes for now. I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Why did you agree without asking me?¡± Nan Chen interjected.

    ¡°I...¡± Ning Ran didn''t know how to exin herself. ¡°Back then, I¡ª¡±

    ¡°I know. You think that has nothing to do with me, right?¡±

    ¡°No! I said yes to solve the problem. I didn''t think that much.¡±

    Nan Chen gave off an intimidating aura when he was mad. Ning Ran felt so stressed out that she could

    barely breathe.

    She had already felt guilty from the start, so when Nan Chen questioned her, she acted as though she

    had done something wrong.

    ¡°Don''t you know what kind of person he is? How could you agree to his request? If you give him your

    word and then fail to keep it, do you think he''ll forgive you easily? If you do it, then what is this? Are you

    seriously going to eat with an evil person? Have you ever considered my reputation?¡± Nan Chen

    roared.

    His fury merely served to increase Ning Ran''s anxiety.

    However, she believed that she had not done anything wrong. Under the circumstances, she had no

    choice but to give Ruan Anxi her word.

    ¡°Yes, you''re Sir Chen, so your reputation matters. I had no other choice back then. I''ve already given

    him my word, so it''s useless for you to yell at me...¡±

    Before she could finish, Nan Chen''s phone suddenly rang.

    Nan Chen was driving, so his phone was connected to the Bluetooth system.

    However, he didn''t answer the call. Ning Ran nced at the caller ID and realized it was Zhiyi again.

    She helped him answer the call, and a woman''s voice rang out. ¡°Good morning, Nan Chen.¡±

    Ning Ran immediately realized something was off. Did she just call Nan Chen by his name? I rarely

    hear anyone calling him by his name. This woman is the first person I''ve heard do so. How are they

    rted? Why does she get to call him by his given name?

    ¡°Good morning, Zhiyi,¡± Nan Chen greeted as the call was already answered.

    ¡°I''ve just arrived in Horbah. I''m going to rest for a bit at the hotel before taking a flight to Flower City.

    Remember toe to the airport to pick me up,¡± the woman said.

    Right. During breakfast, Nan Chen said he has something to do in the afternoon and cannot pick the

    kids up from school. As it turns out, his engagement for the day is not rted to work. Instead, he is

    going to pick up this woman.

    ¡°Okay. Got it,¡± came Nan Chen''s answer.

    ¡°I''m excited to see you soon. It''s been a while since west met,¡± Zhiyi said. Her words sounded

    ambiguous.

    Ning Ran wasn''t deaf nor a fool. The intimacy in Zhiyi''s words didn''t go unnoticed by her.

    She wanted nothing more than to reprimand Zhiyi for being shameless, but Nan Chen had already told

    her that Zhiyi was the person in charge of the third-party audit firm in coboration with Nanshi

    Corporation.

    Despite brimming with fury, she knew she had to tamp down her anger so she would not embarrass

    Nan Chen.

    ¡°Yes, we haven''t met for some time. I''m driving. We''ll talkter. Bye!¡± Nan Chen ended the call.

    ¡°Stop the car!¡± Ning Ran said coldly.

    ¡°Why? We''re not there yet.¡±

    ¡°Stop the car. I''d like to get out now,¡± Ning Ran said loudly.

    ¡°Zhiyi is my friend. Herpany is working with us to evaluate and audit Nanshi Corporation''s listed

    companies overseas¡ª¡±

    ¡°I want to get out!¡± Ning Ran screamed.

 Chapter 826

    Chapter 826

    Nan Chen was pretty shocked, as Ning Ran had never yelled at him before.

    No one had the courage to raise their voice at him due to his status, so he felt extremely unsettled after

    being shouted at.

    Nan Chen pulled over and nced at Ning Ran.

    They were both furious, so it was pointless tomunicate now.

    Trying tomunicate now would only serve to increase their fury.

    Ning Ran grabbed her bag, got out of the car, and hailed a taxi in a huff.

    After getting into the taxi, Ning Ran got more furious as she pondered over the matter.

    I can''t believe he didn''t have time to pick up his kids but could spare time to pick up that woman!

    Judging from the way the woman talked to Nan Chen, Ning Ran couldn''t bring herself to believe that

    the woman had no connection with him.

    Well, well. Right after Ouyang Qing entered prison, another woman named Zhiyi made her

    appearance!

    Upon arrival at Star Entertainment, Ning Ran got out andposed herself. She didn''t want anyone to

    realize that she was upset.

    Wang Xiaoou and Cheng Xiangyun were discussing rted matters as they waited for her.

    Cheng Xiangyun was familiar with Ning Ran, so she immediately knew thetter wasn''t in a good

    mood.

    ¡°We''ll start filming right after meeting up with the production crew. You look strange. What happened?¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun asked softly.

    ¡°I''m fine,¡± Ning Ran reassured her gently.

    ¡°You have topose yourself. This reality show''s rating is quite high, so you can''t afford to screw up,¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun said worriedly.

    ¡°Don''t worry. I''ll do my best.¡±

    ¡°Let''s go, then,¡± Wang Xiaoou said.

    Right then, an employee brought in a suitcase that Ning Ran instantly recognized as hers.

    She was so infuriated that she hadpletely forgotten to grab her suitcase before alighting from Nan

    Chen''s car earlier.

    Ning Ran''s anger dissipated a little when she realized he had delivered it to her.

    Nevertheless, she quickly felt a jolt of anger again when she recalled that he would be picking up Zhiyi

    personally that day.

    You''re not married to him, so there''s no need to be angry. Think positive!

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    s, it was hard to do so.

    She remained furious on the way to their destination, having failed topose her emotions.

    Upon arrival, she spotted Huang Zichaoing toward her, wearing a bright, cheerful smile and

    carrying a gorgeous bouquet of roses.

    Huang Zichao hadpleted all of his scenes for the movie before the official end of filming and had

    since moved on to join another production team to begin work on a new project. It had been quite a

    while since they hadst seen each other.

    ¡°Hello. It''s been a while,¡± Huang Zichao greeted her before offering her the flowers.

    Ning Ran gratefully epted the flowers and brought them close to her face, inhaling their sweet

    fragrance. She finally felt much better.

    Huang Zichao had nothing to do with lifting her spirits. It was the thoughtful gesture of someone who

    cared that made all the difference.

    ¡°Huang, this is unfair. You gave Ding flowers but not us!¡± Tang Jing joked as she came over to join

    them.

    Ning Ran gave the bouquet to her. ¡°I''ll give them to you, then.¡±

    Tang Jing chuckled and shook her head. ¡°I dare not take the flowers that the award-winning actor

    bought for you. His fans will chastise me for doing so.¡±

    ¡°That was inconsiderate of me. I should''ve prepared two bouquets,¡± Huang Zichao responded

    cheerfully.

    ¡°Huang, Ding is obviously the only one upying a special ce in your heart. It''s normal for you to

    prepare only one bouquet,¡± Tang Jing continued joking.

    Ning Ran disliked such jokes as they were all public figures. If someone overheard the joke, they could

    misconstrue it and the news could spread like wildfire, leading to potentially damaging consequences.

    ¡°All right, let''s head in and meet ourpetitors,¡± Wang Xiaoou interjected with a smile.

    The rest were already there. Seeing Ning Ran, Ye Meng came over to greet her. ¡°Ms. Ding, it''s been a

    while.¡±

    They gave each other a polite hug. Another rookie actress, Chen Gui, also came to greet her. She was

    a gorgeous youngdy who had just graduated from acting school.

    ¡°Hello, Ding. My name is Chen Gui,¡± she introduced herself.

    ¡°Hello. Nice to meet you.¡± Ning Ran shook her hand.

    ¡°I absolutely love your dramas, Ding! Your acting skills are truly remarkable and you are a much better

    actress than many other female superstars. You are a wonderful role model for us rookies,¡± Chen Gui

    gushed.

    Her words rendered Ning Ran awkward, as Ye Meng was a female superstar.

    Ning Ran couldn''t help but wonder if she meant something else by iming that Ning Ran was a better

    actress than many other female superstars.

    I thought Chen Gui is good with her words, but I was wrong. I wonder if she said that on purpose.

    Fortunately, Chen Gui went to Tang Jing after chatting briefly with Ning Ran. ¡°Tang Jing, I''m d to see

    you again.¡±

    Tang Jing was a highly aplished graduate student at the renowned acting school. She was a

    model student and would often return to campus to join in various events. Chen Gui could recognize

    her almost immediately.

    Despite not being an A-list celebrity, Tang Jing was widely acknowledged and highly respected by both

    teachers and fellow students alike for her outstanding academic achievements. Teachers had a special

    fondness for students who excelled in their studies, and Tang Jing was certainly no exception.

    ¡°How are you, Gui? Have you found a boyfriend?¡± Tang Jing greeted Chen Gui with a hug.

    ¡°No. Richdies have snatched all the handsome guys in our school. They left us with nothing, so I

    couldn''t get myself a boyfriend,¡± Chen Gui replied cheekily.

    It looks like Chen Gui is fond of speaking recklessly when she''s excited.

    Tang Jing chuckled. ¡°Really? Are the boys in our school that popr to be snatched by richdies?¡±

    ¡°Yeah! They are all taken!¡±

    They were chatting pleasantly when someone else arrived.

    A young man around sixteen or seventeen years old walked in, nked by six staff. His appearance

    was grander than anyone else.

    The boy was of average height, but hisplexion was fair, and his features were delicate and

    attractive. He was dressed in a pristine white sweater and a pair of stylish ck jeans.

    He was one of the top five prettiest boys Ning Ran had ever seen.

    However, Ning Ran knew she was no longer young. She wasn''t interested in young boys, especially

    since this one brought so many staff with him. He gave off a pompous air.

    ¡°Oh, this is Shi Jie. He''s pretty popr recently. When we were filming in Zaprington, hundreds of his

    fans waited outside every day,¡± Ye Meng revealed, conflicting emotions swirling in her gaze.

    ¡°Oh? Is he a member of The Riot Boys?¡± Ning Ran asked. She had heard about them briefly but didn''t

    know them well.

    ¡°Yes. They debuted on a reality television talentpetition show. Neither of them can dance or sing

    well, but they are insanely popr,¡± Ye Meng replied with a chuckle.

    Ye Meng had more experience than Ning Ran in the entertainment industry, let alone the young Shi Jie.

    In the entertainment industry, the old would have to make way for the young. While the young might not

    necessarily be more talented or sessful than the old, they were guaranteed to take over and leave

    the old behind.

    The fast-paced nature of the industry created an atmosphere of constant insecurity for those involved.

    One day, they could be beloved icons, but the next, they could easily be forgotten and reced by a

    new rising star.

 Chapter 827

    Chapter 827

    That was why Ye Meng had mixed feelings when she saw Shi Jie, the rising star.

    Ning Ran had just debuted a few months ago. When she got Channing''s endorsement deal that was

    supposed to go to Ye Meng, thetter had put up a fight with her, only to fail miserably.

    Now, Ning Ran was no longer a rookie, but new talents were being introduced to the public again. With

    how cruel things worked in the entertainment industry, there was no way Ye Meng would be at ease.

    Both Ning Ran and Ye Meng contemted whether they should take the initiative and greet Shi Jie.

    They were all there to film for the show. If they didn''t interact at all, it wouldn''t be easy for them to bond

    later.

    However, Ye Meng found it difficult to lower herself and greet a junior first.

    On the other hand, Ning Ran wasn''t too bothered. Although she was a few years older than Shi Jie,

    some people still considered her a rookie in the industry. After all, it hadn''t been long since she got the

    Best Neer Award.

    However, since Ye Meng didn''t make a move, Ning Ran stayed still as well. She didn''t want Ye Meng to

    use her of riding on a rising star''s coattails.

    Fortunately, Shi Jie walked over to them on his own. ¡°Hello, Ms. Ye, Ms. Ding.¡±

    This was the first time Ning Ran and Shi Jie had met each other. As Ning Ran had been embroiled in

    various problems and incidents in the past few months, she didn''t have the energy to pay attention to

    what was going on in the entertainment industry. She wasn''t even aware of the birth of a superstar like

    Shi Jie.

    ¡°Hello, Shi. Long time no see,¡± responded Ye Meng with a smile.

    Ning Ran also smiled faintly and nodded. ¡°Hello.¡±

    That was the only thing she could say. There was nothing to talk about since they didn''t have any

    previous encounters, and Ning Ran did not see the need to make small talk.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, I love your show. When it started showing, I tuned in every day. Even when I finished work

    late at night, I made sure to watch thetest episode before going to sleep,¡± Shi Jie chirped.

    Ning Ran did not expect to hear that. She was pleasantly surprised to find out that Shi Jie was a fan of

    hers.

    ¡°Oh, really? Thank you for liking it. Actually, The Sound of Thunder 2 is the only show I''ve formally

    acted in so far. I don''t have many works on my filmography. I''m just a rookie,¡± said Ning Ran humbly.

    Shi Jieplimented, ¡°The fact that you impressed everyone with just one show means you''re really

    good. It''s useless to be on too many projects. What''s most important is having a movie or show you''re

    known for.¡±

    There was nothing wrong with what he said, but a dark look shed across Ye Meng''s face.

    While Shi Jie did not intend to allude to her, Ye Meng couldn''t help but assume those words were about

    her.

    She had been in a lot of shows, but aside from her Jetroinian movie that gained poprity because of

    her nude scenes, her other works received lukewarm responses. Ye Meng was the type of actress who

    had a long list of filmography but no memorable work.

    In truth, this was not wholly Ye Meng''s fault. It was just how the entertainment industry worked. Once a

    celebrity went viral, they had to ept offers as much as they could and participate in all kinds of

    shows and events.

    If they didn''t make money while their career was at its peak, no one would spare a nce at them once

    their poprity died down.

    Since their goal was to earn money, they couldn''t possibly be picky about their work. They just acted in

    whatever shows they were offered.

    If one tried to recall the career history of those celebrities who were popr across the entire country,

    one would only remember rumors and gossip about them but not the works they were in.

    Ning Ran could see the stiffness in Ye Meng''s expression, but she wasn''t sure how to resolve the

    awkwardness.

    Despite his huge poprity, Shi Jie was still young. He wasn''t shrewd enough yet to consider the

    feelings of everyone around him when he spoke. He was totally unaware of Ye Meng''s predicament.

    Just then, Tang Jing came over. ¡°Shi, you''ve been dominating the trending topics every daytely,¡± she

    remarked.

    Shi Jie did not know who Tang Jing was. As he stared at her nkly, yet another moment of awkward

    silence took ce.

    To save Tang Jing from embarrassment, Ning Ran grinned and introduced, ¡°This is Tang Jing, one of

    the most important members of our cast. She''s known among the circle for her academic

    achievements. She even has a doctorate degree in performing arts.¡±

    ¡°Wow! Please forgive me for my disrespect. I''m actually nning to apply for a film academy, but I''m

    not sure if I''ll get epted,¡± Shi Jie said.

    Tang Jing gave Ning Ran a look of gratitude to thank thetter for breaking the awkwardness.

    Then she said, ¡°You''re already so popr. Does it matter what major you study?¡±

    ¡°No. I just gained poprity thanks to my fans. I still have a lot to learn.¡± Surprisingly, Shi Jie was quite

    down-to-earth.

    It was rare for someone to uphold this attitude after achieving great fame at a young age.

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    At that moment, the program director, Jiang Yang, approached them. He shook hands with everyone

    and thanked them foring to the shoot.

    ¡°It''s our first meeting today, so let''s get to know each other first and break the ice. Why don''t each of

    you showcase your talents first?¡± Jiang Yang prompted.

    That was when the celebrities realized the cameras were already rolling.

    They had thought they would begin once they were fully prepared, so the suddenmencement of

    filming made everyone feel lost.

    Moreover, they were only told that the representatives of the two participating production teams would

    bepeting with each other. Nothing about a talent showcase was brought up, so none of them were

    prepared.

    The only person with the upper hand was Shi Jie, a boy group member who debuted on a survival

    show. He still remembered the songs and dances he had practiced for that show, so he could just

    choose from one of them and perform that.

    Shi Jie came forward and volunteered, ¡°I''m the youngest, so I''ll go first. I''m looking forward to enjoying

    the seniors'' performances after my humble performance.¡±

    With that, he began to dance. As Ye Meng said, his dancing was so-so. One could tell at a nce that

    he did not have a solid foundation, but since he was young, he was energetic throughout the

    performance.

    Indeed, it was great to be young. Shi Jie was not out of breath even after dancing to a song.

    Everyone gave him a warm round of apuse.

    ¡°Who wants to go next?¡± the director asked.

    The talent showcase was not part of the script, and the show''s production team did not notify the

    participants in advance. It was literally a surprise, but it was nothing strange.

    To get more candid reactions out of celebrities, the show''s production team would often arrange some

    surprise segments aside from what was indicated in the script and make celebrities perform without

    any preparations.

    To the artists who debuted as singers, this was not much of a problem. Since that was their expertise,

    they could just do what they usually did and impress others.

    On the contrary, this posed a huge challenge to people like Ning Ran and Tang Jing, who solely

    depended on their acting skills.

    With her spare time used to raising her kids, Ning Ran did not have the time to practice other skills.

    Aside from Shi Jie, the other celebrities exchanged awkward nces. No one was willing to step

    forward.

    After a while, Tang Jing piped up, ¡°Shi went first because he''s the youngest. This means we''re going in

    order of age, starting from the youngest, right? If that''s the case, is it Gui''s turn now?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it''s her turn now,¡± the crowd agreed as they turned their attention to Chen Gui.

    Feeling a bit nervous, Chen Gui said, ¡°All right, then. I''ll perform a dance too. I''m not very good at

    dancing, so please don''tugh at me.¡±

    Thereafter, she showcased a folk dance that stunned everybody.

    Her dancing skills were exemry.

    Compared to Shi Jie, she had a much better foundation. Everyone was surprised to find that a student

    who majored in acting had such strong fundamentals in dancing.

    When Chen Gui was done, she could see from everyone''s expressions that her performance was

    great. Naturally, she felt a little proud.

    ¡°Gui, your moves look so professional. Did you receive dance lessons before?¡± asked Tang Jing.

    ¡°Yes. I used to study dance before I enrolled in the film academy,¡± Chen Gui answered with a smile.

    Hearing that, Ning Ran couldn''t help but think that Chen Gui already had a head start on them.

 Chapter 828

    Chapter 828

    It was pointless to be envious of someone, for Ning Ran still had to perform.

    Singing? Not my forte. Dancing? It can''t even be counted as my weakness.

    She had learned to dance when she was younger, but it had been such a long time.

    Although she had received dancing lessons before, she dared not dance in front of others now for fear

    of gettingughed at.

    What was most terrifying was that this show would be aired in the most popr time slot.

    Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    She knew she couldn''t dance after seeing Chen Gui''s magnificent performance. Otherwise, she would

    only embarrass herself.

    Ning Ran didn''t know what to do.

    However, she had to face it no matter what, as it was her job as a celebrity.

    ¡°It''s your turn now, Ms. Ding,¡± the director reminded.

    ¡°I¡ª¡± Ning Ran panicked.

    She was not prepared. The sudden request gave her a headache.

    ¡°I don''t have any talent to showcase. Can you spare me?¡± Ning Ran smiled bitterly.

    ¡°Of course not. You have to perform. You can do anything you want. If you have no idea what

    performance to put on, you can do a backflip,¡± the director said jokingly.

    ¡°I can''t do a backflip. I''m too old for it.¡± Ning Ranughed.

    ¡°You''re still young and pretty, Ms. Ding. You''re not old at all,¡± Shi Jiemented.

    Ning Ran gave a bitter chuckle. I''m not oldpared to Ye Meng, but I''m definitely older than a kid like

    you.

    ¡°Ms. Ding, if you don''t mind, why don''t we sing together?¡± Shi Jie proposed a duet.

    Ning Ran was stunned by his suggestion. This kid wants to sing with me? But we''re from different

    generations. I''m sure we don''t listen to the same songs. How can we do a duet?

    ¡°I can''t sing.¡± Ning Ran chuckled awkwardly.

    ¡°It can''t be. You have a beautiful voice, Ms. Ding. I''m sure you can sing. Don''t worry. We can perform a

    simple song. Do you have anything in mind, Ms. Ding? I can go along with any song.¡± Shi Jie sounded

    excited.

    ¡°Great! A duet from Shi and Ding Mi. It will be fantastic.¡± The director couldn''t wait to see it.

    ¡°I can only sing old songs. I don''t know what kids these days listen to.¡±

    Shi Jie was so eager to coborate with Ning Ran that it made her feel bad about rejecting his

    suggestion. However, she was afraid of ruining the performance at the same time.

    It was risky for Ning Ran to perform a duet with a famous star like Shi Jie. If she ruined their

    performance, she would be cursed by his fans, for sure.

    Netizens might use her of riding on the coattails of a young idol.

    Furthermore, Shi Jie had a younger group of fans. Younger people tend to be simple-minded. They

    either love or hate something.

    If things went well, Ning Ran would be apuded and receivepliments. She could even gain new

    fans of her own. However, if things went the opposite way, the passionate young fans might attack Ning

    Ran with no mercy.

    Before this, Ning Ran had received massive hate from Zheng Lunlun''s fans. Thinking back, she still

    had a lingering fear in her heart. She swore she wouldn''t do anything to provoke younger fans again.

    However, Shi Jie suggested singing together first then. If Ning Ran did not cooperate, she would still

    get cursed at after the show was broadcasted.

    His fans might criticize her for turning down his suggestion for them to work together and call her

    shameless.

    Ning Ran was at a loss.

    Since she could not avoid it, she decided to bite the bullet.

    ¡°Okay, but I only know songs that are old and outdated. Also, I can''t sing well since I''m not a

    professional singer like you. Don''t me me if I be a burden to you!¡± Ning Ran made herself

    clear.

    ¡°No problem, but no music is outdated. Only ssics can stand the test of time. So, what song do you

    know, Ms. Ding?¡± Shi Jie asked happily.

    Ning Ran pondered for a while about the song selection. She was not professional at singing, so she

    couldn''t choose songs that were too difficult to perform. Otherwise, she would only embarrass herself.

    The only choice left was to find a song that was somewhat easier to sing yet popr.

    Generally, songs with higher poprity would have different versions and have already been covered

    by many younger singers, so the piece would not appear too dated.

    An English song suddenly popped into her mind. When tranted, it was called Beyond Heaven.

    ¡°Do you know the song Beyond Heaven?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Yes, it''s a ssic English song. I''ve performed it before.¡± Shi Jie beamed.

    ¡°All right, let''s perform this song together.¡±

    After deciding on a note, the two started to sing.

    Since Ning Ran was not a professional singer, she had no vocal techniques or singing skills. Her only

    strength was that she had spent a few years abroad, so she had high fluency in English, and her

    pronunciation was urate.

    After they finished performing the song, she found they did surprisingly well.

    Ning Ran also realized what Ye Meng said was true. Although Shi Jie was a famous up-anding

    star, his singing was average. His biggest strength was his attractive look.

    Atst, this section is over. Ning Ran breathed out a sigh of relief.

    Next, it was Ye Meng''s turn. After she saw that Shi Jie and Ning Ran worked well together, she asked

    Shi Jie to coborate with her on a song as well.

    However, Shi Jie rejected her, saying he had overused his voice earlier while coordinating with Ning

    Ran''s high note. Since he had a concert next month, he couldn''t overexert his voice anymore and

    refused to sing with her.

    In other words, he wasn''t willing to perform with Ye Meng.

    Ye Meng had made this request mainly because she thought she had a higher status in the industry

    than Ning Ran and was more popr than Ning Ran. She felt that Shi Jie wouldn''t reject her since he

    had even invited Ning Ran for a duet.

    However, she was wrong. Ning Ran was pretty, so Shi Jie preferred to work with the beautiful Ding Mi

    instead of the old female superstar, Ye Meng.

    The atmosphere was so awkward that even Ning Ran felt bad for Ye Meng.

    With no other choice, Ye Meng performed by herself. In order not to lose out, she also sang a song.

    She sang well, even better than Ning Ran.

    However, when it came to the stage oue, it was naturally not as good as the duet performance of

    Ning Ran and the young idol.

    Ye Meng''s past grievances with Ning Ran had almost been resolved, but with the incident with Shi Jie

    today, she felt jealous of Ning Ran again.

    Although Ye Meng knew this had nothing to do with Ning Ran, she still med thetter for Shi Jie''s

    rejection.

    Because of this, she secretly swore in her heart that she would beat Ning Ran in the next match.

    If possible, she wanted Ning Ran to be humiliated and feel awkward like she did now to call it even.

    Right then, the first mission was given by the director team. The two production teams would move

    separately. They had to find a well-known paper-cutting master in the ancient town where they filmed to

    learn the master''s skills and cut out the words ¡°Run, Celebrity¡± toplete the task.

    Like other reality shows, the team that took lesser time toplete the task would win, and the group

    that lost would be punished.

    The director team did not mention what the punishment was and only told them that it would be a

    severe punishment.

    Everyone became nervous when they heard that.

 Chapter 829

    Chapter 829

    The shooting of the reality show had officially begun.

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    On television, reality shows always showed how much fun the celebrities had on the program.

    Everyone was always smiling andughing, giving the viewers the impression that the atmosphere was

    rxed and pleasant.

    However, Ning Ran soon found out how difficult it was to shoot a reality show once the camera started

    rolling.

    There were numerous cameras at all angles as the film crew followed the celebrities around. Every

    celebrity would eventually expose their weaknesses and shorings by ident.

    Everyone had their fair share of ws, including celebrities. After all, they were human too, not divine

    beings.

    Moreover, the old town was huge. Ning Ran and the others ran around the ancient buildings at a high

    speed as they tried toplete the tasks of the program ording to the clues that they were given.

    Not only were they challenged physically, but they were tested in their problem-solving skills as well.

    Before the first round of tasks waspleted, Ning Ran could already feel the heaviness in her legs.

    Unable to run anymore, she took a short breather.

    At that moment, the phone in her bag started vibrating.

    ording to the rules of the contract, the stars had to hand over their phones to their assistants during

    the shoot. They were not allowed to pick up their phones in front of the cameras.

    The reason being the sponsor of the show was a phone brand. If the celebrities took out phones of

    different brands in the show, it would negatively impact the profitability of the sponsoring brand.

    However, Ning Ran had genuinely forgotten to hand her phone over to Cheng Xiangyun.

    Turning around, Ning Ran took out her phone and nced at the caller ID. It was a call from Erbao.

    All of a sudden, Ning Ran remembered that Nan Chen had mentioned earlier in the morning that he

    would be upied in the afternoon and would not be able to pick the kids up from school.

    When she saw that Erbao was calling her, she began to wonder if Nan Chen had forgotten about the

    kids and had left them in school.

    Anxiety rose to her heart, causing her to pick up the phone and not care about the repercussions she

    would face.

    ¡°Mommy, where are you? It''s pouring. No one hase to pick us up.¡± Erbao sounded as though she

    was on the verge of tears.

    Ning Ran''s heart was shattered into pieces when she heard Erbao''s tearful voice. Nan Chen really did

    neglect the kids over some woman!

    ¡°Mommy''s working right now. Hold on, Darling. I''ll contact Mr. Qiao and ask him to pick you guys up

    immediately,¡± Ning Ran reassured her daughter, panicked and heartbroken.

    As Ning Ran spoke, her eyes turned red and welled up with tears.

    ¡°Okay. When are youing back, Mommy? I miss you.¡±

    When Ning Ran heard that, she felt even worse. ¡°I''ll be back soon. I''ll go back immediately after work.

    Be a good girl, okay? I''ll hang up now and call Mr. Qiao at once.¡±

    Just then, one of the crew members approached and tried to stop her. ¡°Sorry, Ms. Ding. You''re not

    allowed to use any other phone brands during shooting.¡±

    ¡°My daughter is stuck in school with no one to pick her up! I''m arranging transport for her this instant.

    It''s raining cats and dogs for love''s sake!¡± Ning Ran snapped in an unfriendly tone. She was consumed

    by her worry.

    At that moment, the call connected. ¡°Hello, Madam. How may I help you?¡±

    ¡°Erbao called me saying that no one has picked them up from school. Can you head over there to pick

    them up?¡± Ning Ran tried her best to keep herself from yelling in anger.

    ¡°I apologize for the trouble, Madam. I''ve already reached the school entrance. It''s raining heavily in

    Flower City and traffic is quite slow on the road. I''ve been stuck in a jam for some time, which is why

    I''mte. I''ll exin everything to Erbao and Dabao. I truly am sorry,¡± exined Qiao Zhan.

    Ning Ran breathed out a sigh of relief when she heard that Qiao Zhan had arrived at the school.

    ¡°Sorry for troubling you. I have to get back to work. I''ll leave it to you, then.¡±

    ¡°It''s no trouble, Madam. It''s me who''s running a littlete. So sorry for that.¡±

    Before she could hang up, Ning Ran''s phone started beeping as she received another call.

    It took her only one nce to recognize the number as Nan Chen''s.

    Ning Ran immediately rejected Nan Chen''s call, not wanting to answer.

    After hanging up the call with Qiao Zhan, Ning Ran proceeded to ignore the subsequent calls from Nan

    Chen.

    Nan Chen had not gone to the airport as he said he would. He had just gotten out of an important

    meeting when he received a call from Dabao saying that no one picked them up from school.

    After a phone call, he found out that Qiao Zhan was caught in a jam.

    Nan Chen figured that Erbao would call Ning Ran regarding the situation, which in turn would lead to

    Ning Ran panicking and ming him for neglecting the kids. He wanted to give Ning Ran a call to

    exin. Unexpectedly, Ning Ran did not even pick up.

    After five or six failed attempts in contacting Ning Ran, the wrath in Nan Chen''s heart red up, causing

    him to hurl his phone at the wall.

    Jiang Zhe was standing at the side, When he saw Nan Chen''s reaction, he stiffened slightly. Oh, no.

    Mr. Chen''s beginning to smash phones again.

    Previously when he was young, Nan Chen had a terrible habit of throwing his phone in anger. There

    were days when he would destroy multiple phones in one day. Every time Jiang Zhe bought Nan Chen

    a new phone, he would buy ten of the same model and color. That way, he would just transfer the SD

    card to another phone if Nan Chen had smashed one.

    Thankfully, ever since Ning Ran and the two children appeared in his life, Nan Chen no longer

    smashed his phone as frequently as he used to.

    In fact, he had not destroyed any phones in the past few months. The phones that Jiang Zhe had

    prepared as backup had already fallen out of trend. Yet, not a single one of them had been touched.

    Seeing that Nan Chen had smashed his phone again out of the blue, Jiang Zhe ran over to pick up the

    broken parts of the phone out of habit and was prepared to give Nan Chen a new phone.

    s, Nan Chen''s anger had not diminished. He red at Jiang Zhe and asked, ¡°Why are you picking it

    up?¡±

    Jiang Zhe froze in bewilderment. The phone is smashed. Surely someone would have to pick it up

    eventually? Isn''t that how things always y out? You throw the phone; I pick it up. If I don''t pick it up,

    would you?

    ¡°The screen''s broken. I''ll change a new one for you,¡± Jiang Zhe answered softly.

    ¡°Do you think I''m in the wrong too?¡± Nan Chen asked coldly.

    ¡°No. You''re right to throw the phone,¡± Jiang Zhe said against his true opinion.

    To his horror, Nan Chen was even more furious. ¡°I''m right to throw the phone, huh? Take out your

    phone!¡±

    Not daring to go against Nan Chen''s orders, Jiang Zhe could only take out his phone and ce it on

    the table.

    Without a word, Nan Chen picked up Jiang Zhe''s phone and flung it across the room with all his might.

    Jiang Zhe held his breath as he pressed his lips shut, not daring to even make a peep.

    ¡°The other one, too!¡± Nan Chen knew that Jiang Zhe had two phones.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, please calm down...¡± Jiang Zhe advised.

    ¡°The other one!¡±

    Jiang Zhe reluctantly took out his other phone as well. It was a new model that he had just bought two

    days ago.

    As expected, Nan Chen picked that phone up and smashed it without hesitation. Jiang Zhe felt his

    heart being torn in two as he grieved the loss of his new phone.

    ¡°Tell me, why isn''t she picking up my calls?¡± Nan Chen''s fury was not relieved even after he smashed

    the phones. He turned to Jiang Zhe and began interrogating the poor assistant.

    Jiang Zhe was about to lose his mind. Shit. How do I answer a question like this? How am I supposed

    to know what happened between the two of you? How would I know the reason she refused to pick up

    your calls?

    Not only that, he could not ask Nan Chen to tell him what had happened even if he were to try to figure

    out the problem. Nan Chen would definitely not exin anything.

    ¡°Was I wrong for caring for thepany and getting busy with work?¡±

    Jiang Zhe was d that Nan Chen had finally asked him a question that he could answer.

    ¡°Of course not. With greater poweres greater responsibility. You''re carrying the heavy duty of

    developing Nanshi Corporation. Of course you should work hard,¡± Jiang Zhe said cautiously.

    ¡°Then why is she ignoring me?¡± Nan Chen thundered.

    Jiang Zhe thought about it for a moment beforeing up with what he thought was a smart answer.

    ¡°Ms. Ning just wants you to spend more time spoiling her and just being with her. That''s why she would

    asionally throw a tantrum. She''s not actually mad at you.¡±

    When Nan Chen heard that, he fell silent for a few seconds before retorting, ¡°You''re not her, so how

    would you know?¡±

    Jiang Zhe was dumbfounded. That''s right. I''m not her. How would I know? But I''m not her, so why are

    you asking me? Life is hard!

    ¡°Go! Go immediately to the town where they''re shooting the program and see what she''s doing. I want

    to know why on earth is she not answering my calls!¡± Nan Chenmanded.

 Chapter 830

    Chapter 830

    At eight o''clock in the evening, Ning Ran was still filming the reality show.

    The filming of the first episode of the reality show was nearly finished. The two teams hadpleted

    their missions, with Ning Ran''s team taking less time than the other team.

    Ning Ran, Huang Zichao, and the other team members were about to celebrate when the director

    came over and told them it was not over yet.

    Everyone quieted down, as they were confused. What does the director mean by it''s not over yet?

    ¡°The team that finished this battle in the shortest time is the production team from I Am You, which is

    also the red team, but...¡± The director suddenly fell silent.

    This tactic had been used many times to keep the audience in suspense.

    ¡°But?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Say it!¡±

    ¡°But the red team broke the rules. Whenpleting the mission, a member stopped to answer a call.

    This is a vition of our filming rules. Those who vited these rules will be considered the losing

    team, so let us congratte the production team of Gray Town, which is also the blue team for winning

    this round!¡±

    With that, the director took the lead to give the blue team a round of apuse.

    However, no one apuded with him, as they were dumbfounded.

    ¡°Who broke the rules? Who answered a call?¡± Huang Zichao asked.

    Even the blue team was astonished by their victory and didn''t respond. How did we suddenly win?

    Ning Ran knew without a doubt that the director was referring to her.

    She couldn''t decline the call when she saw it was from Erbao.

    She would always answer her daughter''s phone calls even if she was in a more pressing situation than

    filming a reality show.

    ¡°It was me. I''m sorry. I took a personal call and dragged you guys down with me,¡± Ning Ran answered

    guiltily.

    Tang Jing frowned in displeasure, as she had done her best during the mission. She had gone out of

    her way to get screen time because she desperately yearned to be famous.

    In reality, she had aplished her current sess with her hard work.

    It was extremely rare to have celebrities in China working on films andpleting their doctorates at

    the same time. She was currently the only female in the entertainment industry to have aplished

    this.

    She was resentful of the loss because Ning Ran broke the rules and caused her efforts to be

    futile.

    On the other hand, Huang Zichao wasn''t too bothered. ¡°It''s fine. We will win in the next round.¡±

    Hearing that, Tang Jing immediately chimed in, ¡°That''s right. It''s fine. We will definitely win tomorrow!¡±

    Nevertheless, dissatisfaction lurked within her heart.

    Ye Meng was the most satisfied. She had been irritated and angry with Ning Ran because Shi Jie had

    turned down a duet with her. Now, she felt rather pleased, knowing that Ning Ran had broken the rules

    and led her team to victory.

    Nevertheless, she did not express her true emotions as she stated, ¡°I think this is unfair of the

    production team to do this. Not picking up calls is a filming rule, but it''s not part of the game rules.

    Since she didn''t vite any game rules, the oue of this mission shouldn''t be changed.¡±

    Shi Jie instantly agreed with it. ¡°I think so too. This is rather unjust to Ms. Ding.¡±

    Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    The director disagreed, ¡°Filming rules are part of the game rules. This is a fair judgment.¡±

    Ning Ran stepped forward and replied, ¡°It''s fine. I was wrong. I ept the punishment.¡±

    ¡°The losing team will have to ept the punishment. We have two options for this. One is the sweet

    proposal, while the other is the brutal proposal. Which one do you choose?¡± the director asked.

    Huang Zichao asked, ¡°What do you mean by sweet and brutal?¡±

    ¡°I can''t tell you that. I''ll tell you guys once you make your choice.¡± A sly smile spread across the

    director''s face.

    Tang Jing instantly muttered, ¡°Then we will choose the sweet one. Who wants to be tortured?¡±

    Huang Zichao chimed in, ¡°Yes, we will choose the sweet one.¡±

    Ning Ran didn''t say anything, as she wasn''t in a good mood.

    No matter the punishment, she was willing to bear the consequences.

    The reason for her bad mood wasn''t because she lost the game. Instead, she wondered if Nan Chen

    was having a candlelight dinner with the woman he picked up.

    ¡°There are two sweet proposals you guys can choose from. One is blowing balloons. The balloon has

    two openings, so two people will have to blow air into the balloon simultaneously. The punishment is

    done when the balloon bursts,¡± the director exined.

    Although it was not a heavy punishment, it was an ufortable one.

    Since there were two openings in the balloon, two people would have to blow into the balloon

    simultaneously. If one person didn''t blow into the balloon, the air blown in by the other would enter their

    mouth. It would be revolting, to say the least.

    Jeez... How did the director and the production team think of such a disgusting punishment?

    ¡°What''s the other option? This is too disgusting,¡± Tang Jing stated.

    ¡°That''s right. Let''s hear the other option,¡± Huang Zichao chimed in.

    ¡°The other option is more traditional. Two people have to munch on the apple at the same time until

    you can see the core,¡± the director replied.

    Everyone was shocked. Why does it sound like some terrible wedding custom?

    ¡°What are we going to choose?¡± Huang Zichao nced at Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran was irritated and didn''t want to choose any.

    However, it was rude to say that, so Ning Ran replied, ¡°Anything.¡±

    ¡°Then we will choose the second one. The first one is too sickening,¡± Huang Zichao suggested.

    ¡°Then you guys will munch on the apple?¡± the director asked.

    It was also a difficult task. However, Huang Zichao thought it would be rather interesting to do it with

    Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran was repulsed by the thought of sharing an apple with someone else even though she had

    never done so before. It was an extremely intimate action, as it looked like a kiss.

    She didn''t want to do this more than the first option.

    However, she was the reason her team lost, so she had to bear the consequences.

    The staff member brought the apple over and tied it to a string. Two people were supposed to start

    munching on the apple from opposite sides.

    Tang Jing could tell Ning Ran was troubled by it and didn''t want to y.

    She knew Ning Ran had many considerations, as Nan Chen was her boyfriend.

    ¡°Ding, you must be tired. How about I do it?¡± Tang Jing volunteered herself.

    Tang Jing also didn''t mind doing it as the other party was Huang Zichao, an award-winning

    international actor!

    Who in their right mind would pass up the chance to be intimate with Huang Zichao? Tang Jing would

    never turn down such a good opportunity.

    Ning Ran was more than happy to exchange ces with Tang Jing. ¡°You do it, then. I''m indeed quite

    tired.¡±

    Huang Zichao was slightly disappointed that it wasn''t Ning Ran.

    The two started munching on the apple. As the apple was swinging in the air, Tang Jing missed the

    apple and nted a kiss on Huang Zichao''s face.

    The staff members cheered. This was exactly the oue they wanted.

    Tang Jing pretended to be embarrassed over it, but Huang Zichao was experienced and knew better.

    He didn''t expose her even though he knew she did it on purpose.

 Chapter 831

    Chapter 831

    After half an hour, Huang Zichao and Tang Jing still didn''t manage to finish the apple.

    Huang Zichao started losing his patience, and annoyance flitted across his face.

    ¡°I''m not doing it anymore. I can''tplete this task.¡± Huang Zichao stopped trying.

    Tang Jing also stopped. ¡°This is too hard!¡±

    Ning Ran, too, was irritated to witness the scene since she wasn''t in a good mood, to begin with.

    She finally uttered her thoughts. ¡°Even though it''s a punishment, I don''t think it should be this vile.¡±

    She said it in front of the camera, so everyone heard her.

    Although it wasmon for celebrities to protest against the decisions made by the production team,

    they were usually made by big shots since it was an honor for ordinary celebrities to appear in these

    influential shows. They wouldn''t dare to offend the production team.

    Moreover, it wasn''t a live stream. If the celebrities offended the production team, the editors might

    portray them badly, causing them to get scolded by the viewers.

    Ning Ran was no big shot, so everyone was shocked by her words.

    ¡°We told you about the n of the show a long time ago, Ms. Ding. We did not reveal the specifics due

    to confidentiality concerns. If you have any issues, we can discuss them,¡± the director responded.

    He had considered telling her to leave if she had any objections but decided against it because he had

    heard rumors about her having sponsors.

    ¡°If tomorrow''s filming is still so vile and twisted, I''m not participating anymore,¡± Ning Ran said stiffly.

    Usually, she would have been tolerant of such things, but she was in a foul mood that day.

    Wang Xiaoou and Cheng Xiangyun were also at the variety show set, but they weren''t in front of the

    cameras.

    They naturally heard her words.

    Feeling anxious, Cheng Xiangyun looked at Wang Xiaoou. ¡°Ou, what do we do now?¡±

    Wang Xiaoou was calm. ¡°What do you mean? I think Ning Ran is right.¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun''s jaw almost dropped. What? Ning Ran is right? Everyone knows the rules of the

    entertainment industry. You sign the contract because you are willing to participate in the show. As long

    as it''s not verbal abuse, you will do whatever the production team tells you to do. You don''t have the

    right to object. Also, Ning Ran wasn''t the one who was being punished. Why was she the first one to

    speak up about it? This is a tant vition of the explicit and implicit rules of the entertainment

    industry, yet Wang Xiaoou says she''s right?

    The director was obviously displeased upon hearing Ning Ran''s words. She just got the Best

    Neer Award. Who is she to criticize my reality show? My show is ranked first in the national TV

    ratings. Many A-list celebrities want to be on my show. How dare a rookie like her threaten to leave?

    ¡°Ms. Ning, if our show makes you ufortable, we can discuss this privately. Let''s stop the filming

    here today,¡± the director responded with a contorted look.

    The staff members had been running around the whole day, so when they heard they could stop

    filming, they were delighted.

    ¡°Ms. Ning, let''s sit down and have a chat,¡± the director said, displeasure written all over his face.

    ¡°About?¡± Ning Ran asked in annoyance.

    ¡°I don''t think our show has hurt you in any way. This is a reality show, so we''re here to show celebrities''

    true colors. We can''t let you guys sit there and just smile at the cameras, can we?¡± the director said

    harshly.

    ¡°But you can''t make us do such revolting things! Two people munching on an apple is obviously a

    terrible wedding custom. Why is this on a reality show? We''re not filming a drama here!¡±

    Ning Ran was clearly enraged, as she had nowhere to vent her pent-up anger.

    ¡°If that''s the case, you can consider leaving the show. But the contract¡ª¡±

    ¡°What about the contract? Do you want to file awsuit?¡±

    It wasn''t Ning Ran who said those words. It was a man.

    Jiang Zhe, Nan Chen''s assistant, was here.

    He couldn''t get in at first. However, after making a call to the television station director and revealing

    his identity, Jiang Zhe could enter the ce with ease.

    Nanshi Corporation was one of the biggest clients of this television station, investing hundreds of

    millions in one year. As they were the sponsor of many shows, there was no way the television station

    director would dare to offend Nan Chen.

    ¡°Who are you? How did you get in here? Do you have a pass toe in?¡± the director asked.

    ¡°I''m Jiang Zhe, the special assistant of Nan Chen, the CEO of Nanshi Corporation,¡± Jiang Zhe replied

    calmly.

    Once the director heard Jiang Zhe was from Nanshi Corporation, he was taken aback.

    ¡°What is someone from Nanshi Corporation doing here?¡± he asked stiffly.

    ¡°I came to visit Mrs. Nan. I heard that she was mistreated here and wanted to find out who the

    ungrateful thing who dared to mistreat her was.¡±

    Wang Xiaoou had the urge tough. What''s going on with everyone today? Why are they all so

    agitated? It''s fine for Ning Ran to have an outburst, but even the mostposed Assistant Jiang is

    acting in this manner. What''s the special asion today?

    ¡°How can you say that? Security! Bring this guy out!¡± The director was livid.

    ¡°Let''s see who dares to chase me out! Have you thought about this properly? Why don''t you call the

    television station director and check if he dares to kick me out?¡± Jiang Zhe sneered.

    The director was shocked to hear him bring up the television station director.

    Jiang Zhe took out his phone. He called the television station director and put it on speaker mode.

    ¡°Your director is very impressive. He even wants to kick me out. What do we do about this?¡±

    The television station director''s voice rang out from the other end. ¡°Let this b*stard answer the phone

    right now! How dare he treat you so rudely?¡±

    ¡°I''m an insignificant person. It''s fine if he''s rude to me, but he even dares to threaten Mrs. Nan. He

    wants to kick her out of the show and sue her forpensation. If our CEO hears of this, he will

    definitely not be happy about it. You do know of our CEO''s temper...¡±

    ¡°I''m sorry! I''m so sorry! Let this b*stard answer the call. I''ll get him to scram if he dares to be rude

    again!¡± the television station director shouted angrily.

    As the director listened to the television station director''s words, his face paled.

    He had heard that Ning Ran had something to do with the CEO of Nanshi Corporation, but he hadn''t

    investigated it. If she''s really Mrs. Nan, then why is she filming movies and going on reality shows?

    He had been in the entertainment industry for many years. Once young and gorgeous celebrities

    married into prominent families, they would usually leave the industry, as they had to attend to their

    husbands and children.

    I have been too careless! She''s really on another level!

    The director immediately said, ¡°This is a misunderstanding...¡±

    ¡°Misunderstanding? Apologize right now! If Mrs. Nan quits, you can quit too!¡± the television station

    director roared.

    ¡°Yes, I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Assistant Jiang, I''m so sorry! After this matter is settled, I''ll personally apologize to you and Mrs. Nan!¡±

    the television station director said sincerely.

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    Ning Ran watched this scene unfold. Isn''t this bullying? If it is, why do I feel so pleased by such

    inappropriate behavior?

 Chapter 832

    Chapter 832

    Jiang Zhe, who was typically low profile and cautious, actually turned out to be very arrogant when he

    chose to show off his might. This made Ning Ran quite surprised.

    The way he said ¡°Mrs. Nan¡± made it seem as if I was one. He''s sticking up for me as if we were

    together! But wait, that''s not true. I guess we are, sort of...

    Soon, the director stepped aside to receive a phone call. He was likely going to confirm whether or not

    he needed to apologize.

    On the other hand, he likely wanted to wait for the present staff members to disperse before attending

    to this matter.

    After all, he was still the director of the program crew. His authority had to be maintained.

    If an apology was warranted, the director would do it in private and not in front of everyone else.

    Otherwise, it would be difficult for him to mingle with the crew.

    When the director finished his conversation on the phone, he realized that Ning Ran and Jiang Zhe had

    left.

    Immediately, the director caught up with them. He did not dare to just let them leave like that. ¡°Ms.

    Ning, Mr. Jiang, please wait!¡±

    Jiang Zhe stopped walking. ¡°I thought you asked for Mrs. Nan to leave? Then why are we going to stick

    around?¡±

    Jiang Zhe understood how to respond appropriately to certain behaviors. As such, he was going to y

    it tit for tat.

    Ning Ran only participated in this program to promote her movie. If things were messed up because of

    a small misstep, it would affect the publicity of the movie.

    On top of that, Jiang Zhe was sticking up for Ning Ran to elevate her status so that she would not get

    bullied while filming this show. This was his goal.

    Now that Jiang Zhe had achieved his goal, there was no need for him to drag out the conflict.

    Given that the director was willing to apologize, Jiang Zhe was also going to take advantage of the

    situation.

    ¡°You must be joking, Mr. Jiang. What happened earlier was a tiny misunderstanding. Ms. Ning is an

    esteemed guest we''ve worked so hard to invite onto the show!¡± The director had begun to grovel. ¡°How

    can we just let her depart like this? Ms. Ning, I am sometimes coarse and speak without thinking.

    Sometimes, what you say soundspletely different the moment you utter it, so I hope you can be

    patient with me.¡±

    The anger Ning Ran initially felt had already dissipated. She had onlyined because she was in

    a bad mood. Truth be told, she did not suffer too much from the way the director treated her.

    It was just that the director had thought she was not a bigwig and tried to bully her a little, and that

    behavior stuck.

    Ning Ran had not expected Jiang Zhe to act thus. He had used her status as Mrs. Nan to immediately

    put the director in his ce. Everyone was instantly silenced by Jiang Zhe''s words.

    As such, Ning Ran''s anger gradually dissipated.

    Ning Ran was far from vain. However, when Jiang Zhe referred to her as Mrs. Nan, which resulted in

    the director being more apprehensive about her, Ning Ran felt happy.

    Humans are always vain, and nobody is an exception. The only difference is how extreme one''s vanity

    could be.

    ¡°You needn''t apologize. I was also at fault, but I don''t agree with your penalties. Although reality shows

    these days are quite boring andcking in engagement, why can''t we do something nicer? Do we have

    to be so vile?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    The director smiled and replied, ¡°I will take note of your feedback, Ms. Ning. We will also incorporate

    that feedback into the next round of filming and try to make things more reasonable. If you have other

    comments, please put them forward so that we can make this show even better.¡±

    Look at how polite he is. He was definitely not this polite earlier. Sure enough, money talks. The one

    with the most money is the one who gets to call the shots.

    ¡°That''s kind of you. Will we continue filming tomorrow, then?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    ¡°If you''re tired, feel free to take the day off tomorrow. Otherwise, we can continue shooting. I hope you

    forgive my past transgressions. I''m truly sorry. I will consider your feelings in the future,¡± said the

    director apologetically.

    ¡°We''ll continue this tomorrow, then. This is only a small hup. I do hope that it doesn''t affect future

    coborations.¡± Having said that, Ning Ran extended a hand.

    She was not a domineering person, to begin with. Since the other part had taken a step back, naturally,

    Ning Ran had to follow suit.

    ¡°I appreciate your generosity, Ms. Ning. I think we are going to work together very well,¡± replied the

    director with a smile. ¡°How about this? Why don''t we go out for drinks and some crayfish?¡±

    ¡°I''ll pass. It''ste, and I have to go back to the hotel for some rest,¡± said Ning Ran in refusal.

    At the very mention of ¡°hotel,¡± Ning Ran''s thoughts began to run wild once more. I wonder if Nan Chen

    is out with that woman at a hotel too.

    When Ning Ran thought of this, dissatisfaction started to surge in her heart.

    Just then, Huang Zichao walked over. ¡°Ms. Ning, why don''t we have supper together? I''d like to thank

    you for speaking up tonight.¡±

    ¡°No, I''m quite tired. I''m going back to the hotel to rest.¡± Naturally, Ning Ran chose to refuse.

    ¡°It''s still early!¡± replied Huang Zichao, not willing to give up. ¡°I''ll send you back to your hotel after we''re

    done eating. After working so hard today, you can rx with some food and drinks.¡±

    ¡°I think Ms. Ning is tired. I would appreciate it if you stopped harassing her,¡± said Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°Mr. Jiang, was it? I''m not harassing her! However, I can tell that you are very imposing, Mr. Jiang.¡±

    Huang Zichao was quite unhappy at Jiang Zhe''s interruption.

    ¡°I''m not imposing. However, I was tasked with keeping an eye on my boss'' wife. All I''m doing is

    ensuring that she is not harassed or picked on. It''s also gettingte. Maybe you should head back and

    get some rest too, Mr. Huang.¡± Jiang Zhe''s tone was neither humble nor overbearing.

    Huang Zichao was about to retort when Ning Ran shed him a smile and started walking toward the

    car.

    After they got into the car, Jiang Zhe immediately sent a text to Nan Chen: Ms. Ning didn''t pick up

    because she was busy!

    Nan Chen, on the other hand, chose not to reply to that text. Instead, he called Jiang Zhe right away.

    ¡°She''s already off work, right?¡± asked Nan Chen coldly.

    ¡°She''s just wrapped things up,¡± replied Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°Put her on the phone.¡±

    Jiang Zhe handed the phone to Ning Ran and said, ¡°Mr. Chen would like a word with you.¡±

    ¡°I''m busy,¡± said Ning Ran, turning away.

    ¡°Ms. Ning said she is busy,¡± said Jiang Zhe reluctantly.

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    ¡°Didn''t you say she''s done for the day? What is she busy with? Tell her that if she doesn''t take this call,

    I''m going to drag her back to Flower City. She doesn''t have to film that sted show anymore!¡± Nan

    Chen was very upset.

    Once again, Jiang Zhe was forced to be the messenger. He ryed everything that Nan Chen said.

    Ning Ran took the phone. ¡°Aren''t you out dating some pretty girl? I''m surprised that you still have the

    time to be concerned about my affairs.¡±

    ¡°There is one pretty girl. However, she calls me Daddy and you Mommy. Do you want the pretty girl to

    say hello to you?¡± spat Nan Chen, enraged.

    ¡°Fine!¡±

    I wonder if Poker Face is with some pretty girl at a hotel? That won''t do. I need to confirm this.

    ¡°Erbao,e here and speak to Mommy!¡± said Nan Chen.

    Soon, Erbao''s voice could be heard by the receiver. ¡°Mommy, where are you? What are you doing? Are

    you still at work? Have you eaten? Are you tired?¡±

    Ning Ran was unsure of which question to answer first, but one thing remained clear. She felt warmth

    prate her heart as Erbao bombarded her with all those questions out of concern.

    ¡°Hello, Darling. I''m still at work. Why aren''t you in bed?¡±

    ¡°I''ll go to bed after talking to you. Are you and Daddy fighting? Daddy doesn''t look so good,¡± replied

    Erbao sweetly.

    ¡°You needn''t worry about him. That''s just the look he was born with. It is what it is. Why should you pay

    him any mind?¡±

    ¡°How can you say that? Is that an appropriate thing to say in front of a child?¡± asked Nan Chen tersely.

    Ning Ran was not expecting Nan Chen to be listening in on the conversation.

    Erbao, on the other hand, began tough. ¡°So you are fighting! Please be good and make up. Stop

    fighting!¡±

    Erbao''s coaxing made Ning Ran feel embarrassed.

    ¡°Darling, Mommy and Daddy are just joking. We''re not fighting at all! You should be a good girl and go

    to sleep now.¡±

    ¡°Well, Mommy, I''m going to bed. Pleasee home soon. I miss you.¡±

    ¡°Okay, Darling. Goodbye!¡±

    ¡°Goodbye, Mommy.¡±

 Chapter 833

    Chapter 833

    Ning Ran felt much better after speaking to Erbao.

    So Poker Face didn''t go and keep that womanpany and he stayed home to look after the kids?

    Not bad. This is how a father should behave, after all!

    ¡°What are you smiling at, Ms. Ning?¡± asked Jiang Zhe. He had been standing next to her this whole

    time.

    Ning Ran immediately retracted her smile.

    Oh, no. Was I actually smiling? How low can I go to let Jiang Zhe catch me grinning like an idiot after

    that phone call?

    ¡°I wasn''t smiling. You''re mistaken,¡± retorted Ning Ran, her expression serious.

    Jiang Zhe was momentarily stunned.

    How could I be mistaken about this? But if Ms. Ning says I''m mistaken, then it means I was mistaken

    after all.

    ¡°I guess I was mistaken. Your hotel is up ahead, Ms. Ning. You should get some rest. I''m heading back

    now,¡± said Jiang Zhe with a smile.

    ¡°It''s already sote and you''re rushing back to Flower City?¡±

    ¡°That''s right. Mr. Chen has an important conference to attend tomorrow. I need to help him prepare

    some materials. It''s not a very long drive back to Flower City. I''ll be there in two hours.¡±

    ¡°Honestly, what is up with Nan Chen? Even if you''re not working tomorrow, he still shouldn''t treat you

    like some errand boy!¡± eximed Ning Ran.

    ¡°It''ll be fine. It won''t be toote by the time I reach Flower City.¡±

    They soon reached the entrance to the hotel. Jiang Zhe was going to leave immediately after Ning Ran

    alighted from the vehicle.

    Ning Ran felt a little guilty. If she had taken Poker Face''s calls, Jiang Zhe would not have needed to

    trouble himself and drive all the way here. She felt very sorry for Jiang Zhe.

    ¡°Be careful on the road and take your time going back. I''ll treat you to a meal when we''re back in

    Flower City!¡± said Ning Ran with a small wave.

    ¡°Okay. You should get some rest, Ms. Ning. Goodbye!¡±

    ¡°Wow! I guess being a CEO''s assistantes with its own perks. He seems so cool!¡±

    Ning Ran was startled at the sound of that voice by her ear.

    It turned out to be none other than Cheng Xiangyun. Ning Ran was unsure of when she had arrived.

    ¡°You don''t make any noise when you walk. Are you a ghost? You nearly frightened me half to death!¡±

    eximed Ning Ran reproachfully.

    ¡°Look who''s talking. I did make a sound, but you never noticed! This Assistant Jiang was very cool

    tonight. Does he have a girlfriend?¡± Cheng Xiangyun still had her gaze pinned on the spot where Jiang

    Zhe''s car was parked.

    ¡°What does his being single or not have to do with you?¡± retorted Ning Ran.

    ¡°Are you listening to yourself? The well-fed cannot know how the starving suffer! You have Sir Chen

    and the privilege of being called his wife. I''m still single! Now that you''re all high and mighty, you don''t

    care about a small fry like me anymore!¡± said Cheng Xiangyun with a huff.

    ¡°How am I to know what type of men you fancy? I don''t know anyone eligible in my circle.¡±

    ¡°That means you just don''t care about me!¡± whined Cheng Xiangyun. ¡°Nanshi Corporation is such a

    largepany. I bet there are plenty of unmarried scions working there. Surely there would be one that

    ispatible with me? Why can''t you just talk to Mr. Chen and have him send one my way?¡±

    ¡°Do you think getting a boyfriend is like signing up for employee benefits or something? It''s one thing to

    send a guy your way, but he may not even fall for you! I personally think that the likelihood of these

    eligible scions falling in love with you is very low...¡±

    ¡°Why, you...¡± Cheng Xiangyun was furious.

    ¡°Why aren''t you going to rest?¡± chided Wang Xiaoou, having also arrived at the scene. ¡°We have work

    to do first thing in the morning. Stop messing around and get some rest.¡±

    ¡°Okay, Ou. We''re done for the day. If you know of any eligible bachelor, can you please introduce

    someone to Cheng Xiangyun? I think she has just hit puberty a second time.¡±

    ¡°Ou, don''t listen to her nonsense. That''s not what I meant!¡±

    The three of them chattered gaily and entered the elevator.

    Soon, Ning Ran''s phone started ringing. It was Nan Chen.

    This time, Ning Ran did not decline the call. Instead, she picked up on the first ring.

    ¡°Where are you?¡± asked Nan Chen, not mincing words.

    ¡°I''m back at the hotel, inside the elevator,¡± whispered Ning Ran.

    Cheng Xiangyun and Wang Xiaoou shared a look, wondering if it was Nan Chen who called again.

    After all, Nan Chen was a very reserved person. Who would have thought that he was also quite

    clingy?

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    ¡°Who else is there with you?¡± asked Nan Chen.

    ¡°Ou and Xiangyun are here.¡±

    Suddenly, Nan Chen hung up.

    Ning Ran understood what he was trying to do. She was worried that Wang Xiaoou and Cheng

    Xiangyun found out that it was him calling to check up on her and she would be embarrassed.

    ¡°Was that Sir Chen again? Is he keeping tabs on you sote at night? Goodness me. If there was a

    man with you right now, would Sir Chen rush over here personally?¡± joked Cheng Xiangyun.

    Wang Xiaoou replied, ¡°Oh, he''s not going toe here personally. I think he''ll ask Assistant Jiang to

    come back and handle this. They''ll hire a group of thugs and beat that guy up to a pulp, leaving him to

    rot on the streets. I think they''ll also write the word ''b*stard'' on his forehead...¡±

    Cheng Xiangyun guffawed.

    ¡°Ou, you''re poking fun at me as well? Nan Chen is not that kind of man!¡± said Ning Ran with a grin.

    ¡°That''s right. Sir Chen is not that type of man. If anything, Sir Chen will be even more heavy-handed!¡±

    snickered Wang Xiaoou. ¡°That''s why our Mrs. Nan needs to keep her distance from other men, or they

    might get dragged into her problems too!¡±

    ¡°My goodness, this title does have a certain ring to it. How intimidating! We have to be more careful

    too, lest we incur the wrath of our gracious Mrs. Nan!¡± said Cheng Xiangyun with a giggle. ¡°I fear for my

    job now!¡±

    ¡°Are you both ganging up on me as well? I''m not Mrs. Nan!¡±

    They exited the elevator. Ning Ran was about to exin herself when the phone rang once more. This

    time, it was a video call. Naturally, it was Nan Chen again.

    Cheng Xiangyun and Wang Xiaoou smiled and shared a look before going back to their respective

    rooms.

    When Ning Ran returned to her room, she answered the video call. Soon, Nan Chen''s impassive face

    came into view. ¡°Why didn''t you pick up just now?¡±

    ¡°I was in the elevator. That obviously takes time!¡±

    ¡°Was it really just Wang Xiaoou and Cheng Xiangyun in the elevator?¡±

    ¡°What rubbish! Who else could there be?¡±

    Nan Chen had wanted to ask if Huang Zichao was staying in the same hotel but chose to remain silent

    about it.

    After all, if Nan Chen worded the question like this, it woulde off as obvious and petty.

    ¡°All right, then. You should go to bed soon. I''m going to take a look at some documents.¡±

    ¡°Oh, one more thing. Can you stop asking Jiang Zhe toe and keep an eye on me on a whim? It''s

    already sote and he has to drive all the way back to Flower City. You''re being hard on him.¡±

    ¡°You''re right. If you want to make things easier for him, then you should always answer my calls.

    Otherwise, you''re only going to make things harder for him in the future.¡±

    Was this meant to be a threat? What is he implying? If Jiang Zhe has to rush all the way here, I''m

    somehow responsible for this?

    ¡°Aren''t you being unreasonable?¡± Ning Ran hissed.

    ¡°Yes,¡± muttered Nan Chen. This answer was even more infuriating than thest.

    ¡°Have you no shame?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    I dare you to say ¡°no¡± to this. You''re a lofty, powerful CEO, for goodness'' sake. Don''t you have the

    slightest ounce of shame in you?

    ¡°Speak to me like that again, and I''ll make Jiang Zhe drive you straight back to Flower City. You can

    forget about filming the show!¡±

    When Nan Chen threatened someone, he definitely had the means to act on that threat.

    Ning Ran knew that she could not afford to anger him, and thus let it slide.

    ¡°Fine. Why don''t you get some rest early? I''m tired, and I''m going to take a shower,¡± replied Ning Ran.

    ¡°You can shower and video call me at the same time.¡±

    ¡°Stay away!¡± eximed Ning Ran, her cheeks burning.

    Nan Chen felt a little satisfied upon seeing how embarrassed Ning Ran was. ¡°I am away. How about

    this? Let me supervise you. That way, you will be even cleaner...¡±

    Ning Ran was rendered speechless at how frivolous Nan Chen could be. Without saying another word,

    she immediately hung up.

 Chapter 834

    Chapter 834

    The production of a show was much more toilsome than Ning Ran thought. The next day, Wang Xiaoou

    knocked on her door early in the morning to wake her up.

    There was no denying Wang Xiaoou was a fantastic and talented manager. Last night, she was busy

    taking care of many things, including the matter rted to Ning Ran''s announcement, until midnight.

    Yet, she managed to wake up Ning Ran on time so thetter wouldn''t bete. It was as though she

    didn''t even need to sleep.

    Wang Xiaoou''s performance impressed Ning Ran and made her realize that elites in all fields relied not

    only on their talents but even more so on their hard work.

    After cleaning herself, Ning Ran went to the restaurant in the hotel for breakfast. By then, Wang Xiaoou

    had already finished her breakfast and was writing in her notebook as part of her work.

    ¡°Have you checked today''s news yet?¡± asked Wang Xiaoou.

    Ning Ran put on an embarrassed smile. ¡°I haven''t. I was too tired, so I woke up a littleter than usual.¡±

    ¡°You should finish your meal fast. Eat more food with high protein and control the number of calories

    you consume. You''ll be on camera often in the foreseeable future, so you must reduce your body

    weight by at least three kilograms. Pay attention, all right?¡±

    Ning Ran groaned in her mind. I''m already eating so little every day. If I need to limit my calorie intake

    even further, I''ll have to eat veggies daily like a rabbit!

    Of course, she didn''t have the nerve to voice herint.

    Every actor and actress had to monitor their body weight. In fact, theirpanies had the right to

    request them to reduce their weight. If the actor or actress failed to pay attention to their life and

    damaged their image, their value would drop, and thepany could just fire them.

    Since Wang Xiaoou was an excellent talent agent who took great care of Ning Ran, thetter didn''t

    have the guts to argue with the former.

    ¡°I know what''s on your mind. You''re thinking you''re already eating very little every day. However, you

    have no other options. Your career is taking off right now, so you mustn''t let your weight slow your

    momentum,¡± remarked Wang Xiaoou.

    ¡°I know, Ou. I''ll do my best.¡± Ning Ran smiled.

    ¡°Okay. I know this doesn''t make you happy, so let me mention something that''ll lighten your mood.

    You''re trending.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Did the production crew post the video of me singing with Shi Jie online?¡±

    ¡°You got it. Someizens praised it, someined about it, but it doesn''t really matter as long as

    you''re in the number one trending topic.¡±

    ¡°The show isn''t even on broadcast yet, but the production crew has already posted the clip on the

    inte? They''re crafty!¡± Anger was heard in Ning Ran''s tone.

    ¡°They have the right to do that. The show needs advertising, after all, so it''s not a big deal. Although,

    they are definitely getting reprimanded. Many of Shi Jie''s fans are young and have a simple

    conscience. Or perhaps they don''t have any at all, as they''ll say whatever''s on their minds. Anyway, the

    number one and number two trending topics are about you. That''s pretty impressive.¡±

    ¡°Really? I''m on two trending topics?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. The top two are about you, and the third is about Shi Jie. It''s why his fans areining about

    you. They think you took the spotlight from him.¡± Wang Xiaoou grinned.

    ¡°What''s the number two trending topic about?¡±

    ¡°It''s about you donating fifty million to rebuild the school and library in a poverty area. Considering how

    benevolent that act is, it''s unsurprising it became a trending topic.¡±

    ¡°I donated fifty million?¡± Ning Ran widened her mouth in shock.

    Her reaction surprised Wang Xiaoou. ¡°You didn''t know?¡±

    ¡°Not at all. I don''t have fifty million to donate to anyone. I''m poor and stingy, so there''s no way I

    would''ve¡ª¡± Ning Ran cut herself off because she recalled something. Did Poker Face donate that

    money in my name so I''d be on a trending topic? I know he has always participated in charities. I guess

    I don''t mind him naming me the donor since it''s not my money, and it''s a good deed.

    Momentster, Wang Xiaoou realized what had transpired as well. ¡°Did Mr. Chen ask someone to

    make that donation on your behalf?¡±

    ¡°I don''t know, but I don''t think it''s worth spending fifty million to get me on a trending topic,¡± answered

    Ning Ran. Although, it''s not like it''s a bad thing since it''s for charity.

    ¡°You should finish your breakfast quickly. In any case, it''s a good thing that the top two trending topics

    are about you. Very few performers can pull that off. The only negative about this was that you ticked

    off Shi Jie''s fans by taking the spotlight from him. However, it''s an inevitability in the entertainment

    industry. For every person who likes you, there''ll be an equal or greater amount of people who dislike

    you.¡±

    ¡°I understand, Ou.¡±

    Since Ning Ran wasn''t allowed to eat high-calorie food, she only consumed two boiled eggs and a little

    fruit.

    Then she entered the car and rushed to the filming set.

    Inside the car, she took out her phone and checked the inte. Indeed, the top two trending topics

    were about her.

    She saw both positive and negativements about her.

    However, she knew she would get frustrated the morements she read, so she stopped reading

    them soon after.

    When she reached the set, the director hadn''t even arrived yet. All the staff members there were

    scrambling to get everything prepared.

    ¡°After what Assistant Jiang didst night, I think our situation today will probably be a lot better,¡± Wang

    Xiaoou whispered.

    Ning Ran thought so, too. The director is clearly the type of person who picks on the weak and fears

    the strong. I bet he''ll behave himself more after being scolded by Jiang Zhe. Besides, he''s just a

    director of a show. He''s insignificant inparison to Nanshi Corporation, an important and powerful

    client that the television station doesn''t have the guts to piss off.

    After a while, the director''s car finally arrived.

    The first thing he did after exiting the car was to greet Ning Ran. ¡°Ms. Ding¡ª Oh, no, Ms. Ning? Uhm,

    should I call you Ms. Ning or Ms. Ding?¡±

    Ning Ran smiled politely. ¡°Whichever is fine. Names are just a symbol, after all.¡±

    ¡°That''s true, that''s true. Did you rest wellst night? Do you have any problem with the shooting

    today?¡±

    ¡°Everything''s fine. Thank you for asking.¡± She was slightly ufortable with the sudden change in his

    attitude.

    ¡°That''s good. Should we start, then?¡±

    In response, she thought, Are you crazy? You''re the director, yet you''re asking me if we should start? If

    I say no, are you going to not do that?

    ¡°What''s the mission today, director?¡± At that moment, Shi Jie approached Ning Ran and nodded at her

    with a grin.

    Ning Ran was still feeling a little embarrassed that the clip of her coboration with Shi Jie was a

    trending topic. Despite the fact that she didn''t post that clip or propose that coboration, she still felt

    guilty, thinking she had taken advantage of him.

    In response, she nodded back at him. ¡°Good morning, Shi.¡±

    ¡°Oh? So now you''re calling me Shi?¡± He smiled.

    His big, red sweater paired well with his white porcin-like skin, making him look like a beautiful

    young woman.

    As Ning Ran stared at him, a few thoughts crossed her mind. Dabao will probably look even more

    handsome than him when he grows up. When the timees, should I let him make a debut?Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

 Chapter 835

    Chapter 835

    Ning Ran froze for a moment as she gazed at Shi Jie''s pretty face. In response, Wang Xiaoou coughed

    slightly, hinting at Ning Ran to pay attention to her conduct.

    Many people were already wondering about the two''s rtionship when they went on trending topics

    simultaneously. They simply didn''t voice their spections out loud.

    Ning Ran''s stare only made people suspect them even further.

    Even though she was gazing at Shi Jie, she was actually thinking about her son.

    Wang Xiaoou''s cough pulled her back to reality.

    The director proceeded to inform everyone of the mission that day. The stars would be learning a local

    opera that was on the verge of dying out in the old town. After that, they would perform the opera on

    stage. Lastly, the audience and a few researchers of local opera would rate each performance.

    Whoever got the highest score would be the winner.

    The losing group would receive a punishment even more severe than yesterday''s.

    Ning Ran had never performed an opera before.

    Learning an opera was significantly more difficult than singing, especially if it was a local niche.

    Those sorts of operas were often sung in the local dialect. Practicing the dialect was extremely

    challenging, even more so when the dialect had no rtion to thenguage they used in their everyday

    life. It was no different from learning apletely foreignnguage.

    Clearly, the director nned to increase the difficulty of each subsequent challenge to make the show

    morepetitive and exciting to watch.

    However, that meant the stars were going to suffer. The moment they heard about the mission, they

    beganining about it.

    ¡°Oh my god. I listened to a part of the local opera yesterday, and I have no idea what they were

    singing. There''s no way we can learn it in such a short time,¡± Shi Jiemented.

    ¡°Yeah, this is too hard!¡± Ye Meng sighed.

    In response, the director exined, ¡°Yes, I know it''s impossible for everyone here to master the opera

    in such a short amount of time. That''s why you only need to be able to perform it. As long as the

    audience knows what you''re singing, that''s good enough.¡±

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    While the starsined about the mission, it was fair to everyone. No one knew how to perform the

    opera, so they had to learn it on the spot, which meant they had to rely on their talents.

    Upon receiving the opera score, the stars began to practice.

    However, even after learning it for half a day, most were still struggling and saying it was too hard,

    except for Ning Ran.

    She didn''t think it was too difficult or unfamiliar because she recalled her mother singing that when she

    was little.

    While the others were still struggling to pronounce the words urately, she was able to grasp them

    with little effort.

    Huang Zichao and Tang Jing were impressed by Ning Ran. They were confident she would lead their

    team to victory.

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran was quite surprised that she could learn so quickly.

    Just as she memorized the score and was about to practice her performance, Wang Xiaoou

    approached her anxiously. ¡°Qiao Zhan''s here, and he''s going to bring you back to Flower City.¡±

    Ning Ran panicked, too. ¡°Nan Chen knows I''m working right now, so why is he in a hurry to meet me?¡±

    ¡°It''s probably because you''re featured in a trending topic again.¡±

    That perplexed Ning Ran even further. ¡°Didn''t you already tell me about the trending topics this

    morning? Why does he want me back in Flower City for that?¡± Is he getting jealous again? Because I

    sang a song with Shi Jie? Shi Jie''s just a child!

    ¡°It''s a new trending topic, and it''s currently on the number one spot.¡±

    ¡°A new trending topic? What''s it about?¡±

    ¡°Someone found out that of the money you donated to the poverty area, twenty million was in cash on

    a truck. With that news spreading, people are saying the money came from an unknown origin and that

    you''re involved in moneyundering.¡±

    ¡°Eh? I don''t know anything about that. Who still uses cash nowadays? Don''t people transfer money

    through banks?¡±

    ¡°You don''t know?¡±

    ¡°Yeah! I''m not the one who donated the money. I thought it was... Oh crap!¡± Suddenly, Ning Ran

    recalled something.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°I just remembered something I need to report to Nan Chen. I have to leave now. Please exin my

    situation to the director and tell him that I''m willing topensate for any losses incurred.¡± As Ning

    Ran spoke, she ran outside and called Nan Chen.

    However, Jiang Zhe was the one who answered the call. ¡°He''s meeting with an important figure right

    now, so he can''t receive any calls for the moment. Also, he says that you should wait until you''re back

    to tell him what you want to speak about.¡±

    Upon entering Qiao Zhan''s vehicle, Ning Ran saw a serious expression on his countenance. It seems

    like the situation is very serious. ¡°What''s the status right now?¡±

    Qiao Zhan answered, ¡°Rumors on the inte are saying the performers working under Star

    Entertainment are using charities to help Nanshi Corporationunder money and avoid paying taxes.

    Someone has already reported thepany to the relevant departments, so, ording to my contacts

    in the government, you may be summoned to cooperate in the investigation. If this matter is handled

    badly, not only will you be negatively affected, but Star Entertainment, the new movie, and even Nanshi

    Corporation will, too.¡±

    Oh no. Another big trouble. Ning Ran inquired in a panicked tone, ¡°What do we do now?¡±

    ¡°I don''t know. Sir Chen is taking care of it. I''m here because he ordered me to take you back home. For

    the moment, you can''t leave the house or ept any interviews or¡ª¡± Before he could finish his

    sentence, he was interrupted by a call Ning Ran received.

    It was from an unknown number.

    In response, Qiao Zhan reminded, ¡°Sir Chen said you mustn''t ept any calls right now because it

    may be from a reporter or relevant departments asking you to cooperate in their investigation. In any

    case, just let Sir Chen take care of everything.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± She turned off the phone.

    Upon arriving in Flower City, he sent her back to Raining Pavilion and installed guards at the gate to

    prevent anyone from approaching the building.

    The children were pleasantly surprised to find their mother back home when they returned from school.

    Erbao leaped in joy and inquired, ¡°When did youe back, Mommy? You wanted to surprise me,

    didn''t you?¡±

    While the incident still weighed heavily on Ning Ran''s mind, she didn''t want her children to know about

    it, so she smiled and picked Erbao up.

    Dabao calmly questioned, ¡°Did something big happen, Mommy? You suddenly came back, and Uncle

    Qiao Zhan even stationed guards outside.¡±

    ¡°It''s nothing serious. Just some minor work issues. It''ll be taken care of soon enough, so no need to

    worry.¡± As she spoke, she shot a nce at him.

    The boy knew how to use the inte, so it was only a matter of time before he found out she was

    featured in a trending topic. The reason she shot him a nce was that she didn''t want him to tell

    Erbao about her predicament.

    While Dabao could understand many things, Erbao couldn''t and would only get worried, which Ning

    Ran was trying to avoid.

    Dabao understood his mother''s intentions and stopped asking questions.

    After a while, she went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

    However, her mind was still upied by the trouble looming over her, so she let the housekeeper do it

    instead.

    Nan Chen didn''t return even after she had finished her meal.

    When she surfed the inte, she saw the news that the performers employed by Nanshi Corporation''s

    entertainmentpany were suspected of moneyundering had begun to spread.

 Chapter 836

    Chapter 836

    However, the news didn''t reach trending. Previous trending topics about Ning Ran were also removed.

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    She suspected Nan Chen must''ve used his resources to contain the transmission of the news.

    Two days ago, Nan Chen mentioned foreign shorting organizations are formting an attack on Nanshi

    Corporation''s overseas listedpanies. Thus, he tried to get a third-party auditing firm to prove the

    company has no problems. Now, because of my matter, Nanshi Corporation is once again pushed

    toward a fierce storm. I can only imagine how angry Nan Chen is right now. In any case, I''m prepared

    to face him. No matter how much he lectures meter, I must put up with it and let him vent his anger

    without retaliating. Although, if he hits me, I don''t think I''ll be able to hold myself back. I hate men who

    hit women. Just as her train of thought ended there, Nan Chen returned.

    Calmly, he spoke to the children first, asking them to sleep early before entering the study room.

    After preparing a cup of coffee, Ning Ran followed him into the room and ced the cup on his table.

    Then, as terror swelled in her heart, she waited at the side for him to wrap up his phone call.

    When the call ended, he picked up the cup and took a sip silently.

    She expected him to shout at her, maybe even hit her, after returning.

    In reality, Nan Chen did neither of those things. He merely appeared calm and a little worn out.

    Ning Ran lowered her head like a child who did something wrong. ¡°I know I''ve troubled you again.¡±

    ¡°The overseas media have been spreading the news, saying we''re using charity tounder money and

    avoid paying taxes. While the logic of the news is wed,cking even the most basic knowledge of

    finance and thew, many people still believe it. After all, only a few can discern the lies from the truth,

    while most continue to believe and spread whatever they hear.¡± It was as though Nan Chen was simply

    narrating the events that had urred, seemingly with no intention of ming her.

    Yet, when Ning Ran heard that, she felt even more awful.

    ncing at her, he questioned, ¡°Do you have something you want to exin to me?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Her head remained lowered as she gripped the edge of her shirt.

    ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°I think you''ve guessed what''s going on with the donation cash.¡±

    ¡°I want to hear the exnation from you.¡± Nan Chen''s voice remained cold and was embedded with a

    tinge of unconceble disappointment.

    ¡°Back when Ruan Anxi demanded the money Luo Fei stole from him back, I agreed to his request, and

    she did, too. Then, when Ruan Anxi said he wanted to give the money to me, I rejected him. After that,

    he said if I didn''t want it, he''d help me take care of it and that I''d be satisfied with the result. I thought

    he was joking, so I didn''t expect he would donate the money in my name, which caused this whole

    mess. I truly don''t know how to express my apology. It''s not my intention for this to happen. I feel very

    helpless, too.¡± Upon ending her sentence, Ning Ran peered at him with a pitiful look, hoping he would

    understand. I truly believed Ruan Anxi was joking back then. After all, he spent so much effort

    retrieving that money. It''d be hard for anyone to believe he''d give it up after obtaining it.

    ¡°So you''re saying a man donated arge sum of money to get in your good graces, but then someone

    found evidence that money had an unknown origin and identally associated it with me and Nanshi

    Corporation?¡± The look in Nan Chen''s eyes was so frigid that it frightened her, deterring her from

    meeting his eyes.

    A bitter expression formed on Ning Ran''s countenance. ¡°That''s not what I meant¡ª¡±

    ¡°What is it that you mean, then?¡±

    She sighed, not knowing how to exin herself. I know this matter will cause a chain reaction and give

    Nanshi Corporation''s enemies more ammunition to attack thepany. If the matter is sessfully

    dealt with, then it''ll just be a minor issue. However, if it''s not, it''ll be hard to tell how much damage

    Nanshi Corporation''s reputation will receive. Additionally, this matter will no doubt apply immense

    pressure on Nan Chen because everyone in Nanshi Corporation knows my rtionship with him is

    unusual. In other words, he''s standing on a knife-edge. Right now, his best option to solve the problem

    is by clearing my name and convincing everyone that I''m not responsible for the shady donation. After

    that, he''ll find some way to prove Nanshi Corporation''s innocence.

    ¡°How about I hold a press conference tomorrow? I''ll tell everyone that this matter has nothing to do with

    me and that Ruan Anxi is the one responsible,¡± suggested Ning Ran meekly.

    Upon hearing Ruan Anxi''s name, Nan Chen stood and exploded in anger. ¡°Do you think theizens

    will believe that? Can you exin your rtionship with Ruan Anxi clearly? If you bring him up and

    complicate things, aren''t you worried others may think you have an intimate rtionship with that

    thug?¡±

    She was shocked by his outburst and peered at him wordlessly.

    Secondster, she muttered, ¡°I don''t have an intimate rtionship with him...¡±

    Nan Chen red at her again, shutting her up. ¡°Get out!¡±

    Ning Ran remained unmoved.

    ¡°I said get out!¡±

    With no other choice, she left the study room with her head lowered.

    The more she thought about it as she returned to her bedroom, the more aggrieved she felt. This

    matter really does have nothing to do with me. I didn''t want to trouble Nan Chen. Of course, I know

    how much pressure he''s under with how things have turned out, but there''s nothing I can do.

    Then, an idea popped into her mind, and she rushed into the study room. ¡°How about you ask the

    company to fire me before publicly announcing to everyone that you and I have no rtionship? This

    way, I won''t drag you down anymore.¡±

    Without even lifting his head, Nan Chen spat, ¡°You fool!¡±

    ¡°I know I''m stupid, but I really don''t want to trouble you anymore. I can''t do anything, and I feel like I''m

    a useless piece of crap¡ª¡±

    ¡°You are.¡±

    That enraged Ning Ran. Hey, you should have beenforting me when I said thatst part! How can

    you say that I am crap? Tch. ¡°Fine, I''m a useless piece of crap. Since I keep dragging you into trouble,

    I''ll quit the entertainment industry.¡±

    ¡°You''re going to quit? After thepany invested so many resources in you and when the movie in

    which you starred as the protagonist is about to hit the theaters? You signed a thirty-year contract with

    thepany. Are you prepared to pay the contract vition fee?¡± questioned Nan Chen coldly.

    Ning Ran was getting a headache. If I can''t quit or take responsibility, then what the heck am I

    supposed to do? ¡°How about I die, then? Is that good enough for you?¡±

    ¡°You can die after you pay your fee.¡±

    That rendered her speechless.

    ¡°You still have to pay the contract vition fee you owe to Star Entertainment if you want to die. Also,

    even if you die, the problem still won''t be solved. So, your death will be meaningless.¡±

    Beyond furious, she snapped, ¡°What do you suggest I do, then?¡±

    Instead of answering her verbally, Nan Chen waved his hand, gesturing for her to get out and stop

    bothering him.

 Chapter 837

    Chapter 837

    When Ning Ran woke up the next morning, she realized Nan Chen was still sleeping next to her.

    He tended to wake up early and finish his morning exercise before she even opened her eyes. It would

    seem an exception had been made that day.

    He''s probably still sleeping because he went to bed tootest night. Worried she would disturb his

    slumber, she tip-toed out of the bedroom.

    Just as she arrived at the door, she heard him say, ¡°I want to eat tomato egg sauce noodles for

    breakfast!¡±

    In response, Ning Ran turned around and saw Nan Chen''s eyes were still closed. Is he sleeptalking?

    Still, she returned to the bed and double-checked that his eyes were, indeed, closed. Is he still

    dreaming? Was that him sleeptalking earlier?

    ¡°Sir Chen?¡± she uttered.

    No response from him.

    She called him again, but he still didn''t reply.

    Therefore, she said, ¡°Poker Face?¡±

    ¡°You''re the poker face! Go and prepare the noodles!¡± Nan Chen''s abrupt roar as he sat up shocked her.

    ¡°You''re awake? You''re not sleeptalking?¡± As Ning Ran stared at his eye bags, she became certain that

    he did sleeptest night.

    ¡°Obviously! I''m starving right now, so go prepare my noodles!¡± Then he crashed back down to the bed

    and resumed his sleep.

    She didn''t have the nerve to disturb him again and went to prepare the noodles.

    Even after the noodles were done, he still hadn''t woken up.

    Ning Ran didn''t want to wake him up, so he slept for another half an hour. By that point, the noodles

    had clumped together.

    Thus, she had to make another bowl of noodles. Upon receiving his noodles, Nan Chen devoured them

    like a hungry wolf.

    ¡°Did you stay up all night doing work?¡± she asked.

    Still eating, he answered, ¡°No, I''m just feeling famished. Go and prepare yourself. Later, I''ll ask Qiao

    Zhan to send you back to the filming set.¡±

    ¡°Didn''t you say I can''t leave?¡±

    ¡°How are you supposed to advertise the movie if you don''t work? Thepany didn''t hire you to sit

    around and do nothing.¡±

    ¡°I mean, I thought I couldn''t continue the filming because we''re in a crisis right now.¡±

    ¡°Check the news.¡±

    Ning Ran did as he suggested and saw Nanshi Corporation was featured in a trending topic.

    The news mentioned a third-party auditing organization, one of the top three in the world, reporting that

    Nanshi Corporation''s finances and all operations were in order. Additionally, the report disclosed that

    there was no indication of any moneyundering ever taking ce.

    A graceful oriental woman was the one announcing the report''s results in a press conference she held.

    Ning Ran didn''t need to guess to know the beauty on the screen was Zhiyi.

    ¡°They worked overtime on their side until they finished the audit. The relevant department in Flower

    City also did the samest night to verify the evidence. The head of that department will be announcing

    that Nanshi Corporation isn''t involved in moneyundering this morning. Since the crisis is over, you

    can return to work now,¡± informed Nan Chen calmly.

    Naturally, Ning Ran was overjoyed to hear that. I didn''t expect him to solve the problem in a single

    night. After all, he kicked me out of the room when I asked him what we should dost night. Nanshi

    Corporation''s team really is effective. ¡°Everything''s back to normal, then? Do you want me to fry you an

    egg?¡±

    ¡°If it''s not, will you still fry me that egg?¡±

    ¡°Of course! So, Nanshi Corporation won''t be affected by this matter anymore?¡±

    ¡°We''re still dispelling the rumors, so it''s hard to say how many people will believe the announcement. In

    other words, the negative effects won''t disappear immediately. It''ll linger for a while. That''s why I want

    you to be mindful of your actions during this period. If any reporters interview you at the filming set

    later, you need to exin the matter properly.¡±

    That made Ning Ran panic a little. ¡°Didn''t you say I shouldn''t engage in any interviews? Besides, I don''t

    know how to exin this situation clearly. As you said, no one will believe me.¡±

    ¡°You just need to remember a few key points, which is that you did make the donation, but not that

    much was cash. The reason you sent cash to the residents living in that area was that many people

    there don''t have bank cards. So, cash was the only way they could get the money.¡±

    ¡°Aren''t you just asking me to lie?¡±

    ¡°Nope. Since this morning, staff from relevant charities have been helping you distribute the cash. The

    individuals living in those poverty areas are delighted to receive five thousand in cash. That news will

    be uploaded to the inte before you even face the reporters.¡±

    Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°That...¡±

    ¡°Stop talking and fry me an egg! I''m still hungry.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Sir Chen.¡± Ning Ran bowed at him willingly before preparing that egg.

    After breakfast was over, Qiao Zhan arrived to drive her to the old town to resume the show''s filming.

    Before she left, Nan Chen reminded her, ¡°Don''t drive too quickly. Only arrive in the old town at around

    eleven in the morning. Remember to act like you''re in a hurry and say you can''t afford more than five

    minutes for an interview. Don''t reveal too many details. Just say a sentence or two.¡±

    ¡°Understood, Mr. Chen,¡± replied Ning Ran.

    Upon arriving at the town, she waited until just the right time before appearing in front of the reporters

    and acting as if she was in a hurry.

    The security guard in front of her made way for her. ¡°Everyone, please step aside. Ms. Ding is in a rush

    to the film set.¡±

    ¡°What''s your exnation for your cash donation, Ms. Ding? Were you involved in moneyundering?

    Where did the moneye from?¡± a reporter inquired.

    Ning Ran answered without slowing down her pace, ¡°Many of the residents in the poverty areas don''t

    have a bank ount, so I can only donate the money to them in cash. As for the moneyundering,

    that''s just a ludicrous joke. Nanshi Corporation is a mighty empire, and all of its businesses are clean.

    There''s no need for thepany tounder any money. I''m just a performer employed by an

    entertainmentpany under the g of Nanshi Corporation. My matters are unrted to the

    company, so I hope everyone will stop misinterpreting the matter.¡±

    Then she increased her pace even further. As she was very close to the entrance, she only had

    enough time to answer one more question.

    ¡°You say you''re just a performer, but rumors suggest you have a close rtionship with the CEO of

    Nanshi Corporation. Is that true?¡± another reporter questioned.

    ¡°I do have a close rtionship with Mr. Chen. It''s a good thing because I don''t believe an employer

    should have a distant rtionship with their employees. In any case, my rtionship with Mr. Chen isn''t

    important. What''s important is that neither Nanshi Corporation nor I have everundered any money.

    Nanshi Corporation has called the police, and relevant authorities have intervened. Everyone, please

    pay attention to the official announcements. Also, thank you all for the care you have shown me.¡± Just

    as she ended her sentence, she arrived at the entrance.

    The reporters weren''t allowed entry into the filming set, making them unhappy because they wanted

    more information from her.

    They tried barging into the set, but their paths were blocked by the security guards.

    Ning Ran sighed in relief. I think that went pretty well. I got the timing just right, said everything I

    should, and didn''t reveal any details. Nan Chen will be happy to know I did exactly as he asked.

 Chapter 838

    Chapter 838

    Ning Ran was only made aware that the second phase of the filming was postponed because of the

    sudden rain yesterday when she arrived at the set.

    Hence, Ning Ran could still resume the filming initially scheduled yesterday when she rejoined the crew

    that day.

    As for the real reason behind the postponement, whether it was truly because of the bad weather or the

    director''s insistence on waiting for Ning Ran''s return, she wouldn''t know.

    Nheless, Ning Ran was delighted to be able to continue participating in the filming and seeing the

    job through.

    Everyone was aware of Ning Ran bing one of the trending topics on the inte.

    Therefore, they behaved slightly awkwardly when greeting her. No one questioned her sudden

    departure the day before either.

    However, there was an anomaly, and that person was Ye Meng.

    Ye Meng thought Ning Ran would be absent for the rest of the show''s filming after negative news about

    thetter became widespread. Unexpectedly, Ning Ran returned to work so quickly.

    Ye Meng was reminded of her situation when she was involved in a scandal in the past. Her career

    went into a slump for an extended period at that time. Not to mention, Ye Meng''s talentpany even

    prohibited her from making public appearances.

    Inparison, Nanshi Corporation''s public rtions department managed to resolve Ning Ran''s

    predicament in just one afternoon and one night after unpleasant news about her circted in public

    yesterday. As a result, Ning Ran coulde back to work the next day.

    The importance of an artist having powerful support in the entertainment industry became distinctively

    apparent at that instant. With that thought in her mind, Ye Meng''s jealousy toward Ning Ran further

    intensified.

    Envious people would always unwittingly reveal their genuine emotions, and Ye Meng wasn''t an

    exception.

    Consequently, there was an unmistakable hint of bitterness when she spoke to Ning Ran. ¡°Howe

    you''re able to return to work so swiftly?¡±

    Pin-drop silence filled the air.

    Everyone had deliberately avoided talking about that, yet Ye Meng intentionally mentioned the incident,

    causing the others to feel ufortable.

    Every artist in the entertainment industry couldn''t avoid being troubled by some negative news and

    having to endure low points in their careers at times.

    Hence, the best way of dealing with others when they were in a career slump would be not to talk about

    it so as to avoid rubbing salt in others'' wounds.

    As a seasoned artist in the industry, Ye Meng''s insensitive behavior was undoubtedly disappointing.

    That showed how jealousy could corrupt one''s reasoning ability and lower someone''s EQ and IQ.

    Although Ning Ran didn''t anticipate Ye Meng to put her in a tight spot immediately, she didn''t panic.

    Instead, she shed a faint smile and answered straightforwardly, ¡°This speedy return is beyond my

    expectations too. Nan Chen''s team did a wonderful job of efficiently rifying all those derogatory

    remarks directed toward me in such a short period.¡±

    Ning Ran aimed to unt, but not excessively. Indeed, I can resume working so quickly because I have

    someone supporting me. What''s the matter? Do you have a problem with that?

    Shi Jie immediately chimed in, ¡°It''s so great that you''re back, Ms. Ding. The filming for this show will

    lose its purpose if you''re absent.¡±

    Huang Zichao piped up at once as well, ¡°That''s right. We came here together, so we must also finish

    the filming as a group. It won''t be desirable for anyone to depart the show halfway through. Besides, I

    have faith in Ding Mi''s character. She''ll never take part in those illegal doings. Someone must''ve

    attempted to vilify her on purpose.¡±

    Ye Meng felt more embarrassed as a best actor award winner, Huang Zichao, and famous star, Shi Jie,

    expressed their support for Ning Ran.

    She deeply regretted bringing up that matter, putting herself in a stance opposing Ning Ran''s and

    simultaneously invoking Huang Zichao and Shi Jie''s displeasure.

    Politics existed wherever there were people. Simrly, the political state of affairs couldn''t be avoided

    even during the short gathering of a few artists during a show''s recording.

    And in that micro-scale political circle, Ning Ran was obviously far more well-liked than Ye Meng.

    Ye Meng''s inconsiderate gesture stemmed from her unwillingness to admit Ning Ran was more popr

    than her.

    At that instant, she felt utterly remorseful as her action caused her to be caught up in a more

    unfavorable situation.

    Ye Meng grinned nervously. ¡°Actually, I think so too. There are all kinds of fake news on the inte

    nowadays. I''m also being criticized all the time for no reason. Naturally, I believe in Ding Mi too. I''ll fully

    support you by asking my talent agent to publish a statement on Weibo in the afternoon to stand up for

    you!¡±

    Ye Meng proffered a constructive suggestion. Shi Jie was the first to concur again. ¡°There''s no need to

    wait until the afternoon. I''ll post on my Weibo ount to vouch for Ms. Ding''s innocence now.¡±

    Huang Zichao also got on board with the n. ¡°In that case, let''s all publish a statement on our Weibo

    ounts to side with Ding Mi and let others know we ce our trust in her.¡±

    Ning Ran smiled. ¡°Thank you for having confidence in me, but I don''t think it''s necessary to make the

    announcements on Weibo.¡±

    Ning Ran was certainly thrilled to receive their support, but she also knew an artist''s social media

    ount was usually managed by their talentpany.

    In other words, an artist did not have the freedom to publish any statement they liked. They would have

    to acquire theirpany''s approval before taking a public stance.

    Although Shi Jie and the others personally rooted for Ning Ran, the same could not be said for their

    talentpanies.

    Hence, she didn''t want to make things difficult for them or trouble them to negotiate terms with their

    companies for her sake.

    However, Ye Meng was very firm on that matter as she wanted to make up for the bad impression she

    left on everyone earlier. ¡°We are taking part in the recording of the same show, so we''re all in the same

    boat. Therefore, we must share amon stand. I believe my team will have my back. I''ll contact them

    right away.¡±

    ¡°I also think we should voice out together to stand up for Ms. Ding.¡± Shi Jie, a loyal and courageous

    youngster, was all the more passionate.

    At that moment, the director walked over. When he heard about their discussion, he also said he would

    convey the production team''s support of Ning Ran by making a deration on the show''s official

    Weibo.

    After separatemunications among various parties were held, the production team and all the

    celebrities involved in the show updated their Weibo status in unison in the afternoon to proim their

    support for Ning Ran.

    At the same time, more positive news about Ning Ran began to appear on the inte. As a result, she

    became one of the trending topics again.

    What was supposed to be a crisis evolved into an excellent opportunity to garner beneficial publicity

    following the resolution of that mess.

    Theizens started showing interest in the movies Ning Ran participated in previously, the shows she

    was filming, and the products recently endorsed by her.

    During the local opera performance at night, Ning Ran did a splendid job and was rewarded with the

    highest points.

    Due to her marvelous performance, the production team of I Am You recovered lost ground by winning

    the contest''s second round.

    On the other hand, Shi Jie and the others, who were on the losing side, would have to be punished.

    This time, the production team''s punishment for them was for all the celebrities on the losing team to

    provide pictures of them in their pajamas and let the production team post the photos on the show''s

    official social media ounts.

    Ultimately, the production team''s goal was to publicize and hype up the show, creating as many

    discussion-worthy topics rted to the program as possible to attract the public''s attention and

    increase the viewership ratings.

    Shi Jie''s picture featured him wearing pajamas with cute cartoon pictures printed on the clothes. The

    netizens showered him withpliments for his adorable and sweet appearance.

    Meanwhile, Ye Meng made a bold move by sharing a picture of her in a slinky, see-through nightgown,

    inadvertently disying her sexy figure. Unfortunately, the photo was a little too erotic.

    After her picture was published,izens immediately condemned her for deliberately exposing her

    body to seek attention.

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Subsequently, thembasting propelled Ye Meng to be the fifth most trending topic. Not to

    mention, her seductive nightgown photo was being spread wildly on the inte.

    Getting scolded was also a form of winning recognition. Ye Meng was very satisfied with securing a

    spot on the trending topics as that was her desired oue.

    As the celebrities participating in the show consecutively made headlines, the program attained

    unprecedented attention and even caused a sensation.

    Even Tang Jing, who had alwayscked presence, acquired close to one hundred thousand new

    followers overnight.

    Just when Ning Ran let out a sigh of relief, thinking things had finally settled down, another new gossip

    emerged on the inte.

    This time, the scandal was about Nan Chen getting photographed while entering a hotel with a

    gorgeous woman.

 Chapter 839

    Chapter 839

    The angle of the photo was not clear as only Nan Chen''s side profile had been taken.

    However, Nan Chen was a handsome man. People could recognize him even if they only saw his side

    profile.

    It was the same for the woman. Only her side profile had been captured, but she, too, was captivating.

    Theizens were all inte sleuths, and they soon figured out who the woman was.

    She was MG Company''s co-owner and executive director, as well as the CEO of Aploth-Pandera''s

    branch.

    She had another identity based on recent gossip¡ªthe rumored girlfriend of Yartran''s prince.

    Ning Ran was dumbfounded by Luo Zhiyi''s details.

    Luo Fei, Ouyang Qing, and the others all paled inparison to Luo Fei.

    It''s already impressive enough that you''re dating a prince, so why did you have to try to get my

    children''s father? You''re a CEO, but you''repeting against me, an actress? Aren''t you shameless?

    Not long after the photo appeared on the inte, someone came forward to say that the man who was

    with Luo Zhiyi was Nan Xing, not Nan Chen.

    Others might not be able to differentiate between Nan Xing and Nan Chen, but Ning Ran could.

    Putting aside all else, the white suit and the ck suit were the biggest difference between the

    brothers.

    Furthermore, they had different ways of carrying themselves. Ning Ran used to have a hard time

    differentiating the two, but after a long time of being with Nan Chen, she could spot him a mile away

    simply by looking at his back.

    Well, well, well, Nan Chen. You''re flirting with another woman and getting your little brother to take the

    bullet for you? You shameless man!

    Ning Ran did not tell Qiao Zhan anything after she wrapped up her filming. Instead, she discreetly took

    the train back to Flower City.

    Then, she quietly took a cab to Raining Pavilion, only to find no one at home.

    Although Ning Ran knew that Nan Chen would not bring that woman back home, she still looked

    around the house to make sure that no outsiders had been brought home. It was only then she felt a

    sense of relief.

    MG Company was thepany that provided audit services to Nanshi Corporation. It would not be

    unreasonable for Nan Chen to be in contact with Luo Zhiyi.

    If they do interact with each other, then so be it. Why does he have to pretend that it''s Nan Xing who''s

    interacting with her? What does that mean? That means he''s feeling guilty!

    The more Ning Ran thought about it, the more insecure she felt.

    When sses were over, Ning Ran drove to school. She saw Qiao Zhan, who was about to pick up the

    children, there.

    ¡°Mrs. Nan, why did youe?¡± Qiao Zhan was surprised, for Ning Ran never told him that she was

    coming back.

    ¡°I came back because I''m done with my job. I was free, so I came to pick the kids up.¡±

    Qiao Zhan was a straightforward man, so he blurted out, ¡°But Sir Chen didn''t tell me you were back.¡±

    ¡°I didn''t tell him about it. It''s not as if I need to report to him about everything,¡± Ning Ran said with a

    smile.

    It was then Qiao Zhan realized what was going on. ¡°Did you fight with Sir Chen?¡±

    ¡°I didn''t. What''s there to fight about? He''s busy with his things, and I''m busy with mine. By the way,

    don''t tell him that I''m back,¡± Ning Ran said to him.

    Qiao Zhan appeared conflicted. ¡°That... doesn''t sound good.¡±

    ¡°It''s nothing. I''ll exin it to him myself. You don''t need to fret about this.¡±

    ¡°All right,¡± Qiao Zhan muttered.

    When the school bell rang, Ning Ran hunched over in her car to prevent the other parents of the

    students from seeing her.

    She was a public figure nowadays, and she was often trending on the inte. It would not be good if

    others were to recognize her.

    Only when most of the children were gone did Erbao slowly walk out of the school, holding Dabao''s

    hand as usual.

    Upon seeing the two children, most of Ning Ran''s upset feelings faded away.

    I have Dabao and Erbao with me. Who cares about Nan Chen?

    Ning Ran then came down from the car and walked toward them.

    The second Erbao saw Ning Ran, she leaped in joy and dragged out, ¡°Mommy!¡±

    ¡°Aren''t you happy to see me?¡± Ning Ran lifted Erbao.

    ¡°Of course! Is this an ambush? Are you going to give us more surprises? A big surprise!¡± Erbao happily

    wrapped her arm around Ning Ran''s neck.

    ¡°Mhm. Are you surprised? Are you shocked?¡± Ning Ran teased.

    ¡°Surprised and shocked!¡± Erbao eximed.

    ¡°Mommy, does Daddy not know you''re back?¡± Dabao was truly an observant child, and he soon noticed

    something amiss.

    ¡°How did you know about that?¡± Ning Ran asked in astonishment.

    ¡°I saw Uncle Qiao Zhan''s car, so I guess he must be here to pick us up as well. If Daddy knows that

    you''vee to pick us up, he wouldn''t have sent Uncle Qiao Zhan here too,¡± Dabao calmly analyzed.

    Initially, Ning Ran did not want her issue with Nan Chen to affect the children''s moods, but Dabao was

    too smart for her to hide anything from him.

    ¡°My phone ran out of battery, so I didn''t tell your daddy about my return,¡± Ning Ran lied.

    ¡°Then I''ll call Daddy right now to tell him you''re back,¡± Erbao offered.

    Ning Ran quickly stopped her. ¡°No, it''s fine. He''ll find out. Let''s go and eat first. What do you want to

    eat? I''ll take you there.¡±

    ¡°Are we not going to wait for Daddy?¡± Erbao wondered out loud in confusion.

    ¡°He''s been really busytely, so we''re going to go ahead and eat first.¡±

    Finally, Erbao realized something was amiss too. ¡°Are you and Daddy fighting again, Mommy?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Ning Ran uttered with a smile as she buckled the seatbelts for the children. ¡°Your daddy''s really

    busy, so let''s just leave him be, hm?¡±

    ¡°All right, then. I want to eat what you cook, Mommy. Can we go home and eat?¡± Erbao suggested.

    It was rare to hear Erbao saying that she wanted to eat the food she made, so Ning Ran quickly agreed

    to it.

    She then went to the supermarket with them for a grocery trip, but instead of going back to Raining

    Pavilion, she brought them back to the Ning residence.

    Although it was an old house, it had been refurnished and renovated. Ning Ran was thinking of staying

    there with the children for a few days.

    Both Dabao and Erbao had never been there before, so they were taken by the ce. They asked

    Ning Ran whose house it was.

    ¡°This is where I grew up. I used to y here and stay here with your granny,¡± Ning Ran exined,

    chuckling.

    ¡°Wow! So this is Mommy''s house. I like it here!¡± Erbao had always been one to swiftly adapt to new

    environments.

    However, Dabao had a worried look on his face as he asked, ¡°Mommy, are we running away from

    home?¡±

    ¡°No. Why would you think that?¡±

    ¡°If not, why aren''t we going back to Raining Pavilion or telling Daddy that we''re here?¡±

    Dabao was too smart of a child, and Ning Ran could not hide anything from him at all.

    Ning Ran then pulled Dabao aside and showed him the photo she saw online.

    ¡°I didn''t want to let you know about this, but I think you can understand what''s going on. That''s why I

    don''t want to hide anything from you, and I know I can''t do so either. Your daddy and I did have some

    disagreements, so I wanted to spend some time alone to calm down. If you''re not used to this, I can

    send you home. If you want to stay with me, then stay here with me for a few days. No matter what you

    choose, I''ll respect your decision and won''t get mad. That''s because there''s one thing that won''t

    change¡ªyour daddy and I love you and your sister very much. You don''t need to doubt that. Things

    between adults areplicated, and sometimes, there isn''t a wrong or a right. Do you understand

    what I mean?¡±

    With that said, Ning Ran looked at the boy guiltily.

    There was another reason for her to say that. If a falling out truly happened between her and Nan

    Chen, and the children had to make a choice, she wanted to know what choice the children would

    make.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 840

    Chapter 840

    Upon hearing that, Dabao put on a stern expression and fell silent.

    His reaction made Ning Ran feel bad.

    Maybe I shouldn''t let a child make such a decision. It''s too much pressure for him.

    After giving it some thought, Dabao nodded. ¡°Mommy, Daddy''s the one who made you angry, so I''ll

    support you.¡±

    Ning Ran hugged him, feeling terrible on the inside. ¡°Thank you, my boy.¡±

    Although she promised to respect his decision, she would still feel sad if Dabao insisted on returning to

    Nan Chen''s side instead of staying here.

    Thankfully, Dabao did not say that, and Ning Ran was grateful for it.

    ¡°Mommy, I''ll always side with you. If he did something wrong, then he should apologize to you. But if

    Daddy calls and asks where we are, I have to tell him the truth. I can''t lie to him. Besides, you said

    Daddy loves us as well. He''ll definitely be worried if he finds we''re gone and can''t contact us,¡± Dabao

    stated his additional condition.

    Ning Ran agreed, ¡°You''re right. If he asks, you can tell him. But if he doesn''t, then don''t call him, okay?¡±

    ¡°All right,¡± Dabao promised happily.

    ¡°Let''s begin cooking, then.¡±

    Ning Ran felt much better after receiving Dabao''s support.

    It was a good thing that someone often helped to clean and maintain the house. Although it had been

    unupied for a long time, the facilities were still functioning well. Hence, they could cook as usual

    with no issues.

    While Ning Ran was cooking in the kitchen, she thought about her mother.

    Back then, Zhang Ru would asionally find time to cook while Ning Ran would stand by the kitchen

    door and watch the former. It gave Ning Ran a secure and blissful feeling.

    Now that Ning Ran was a mother herself and was preparing food for her children, she could rte to

    her mother''s feelings.

    Sadly, Zhang Ru was gone before Ning Ran could repay the former''s kindness.

    In fact, Ning Ran had never prepared a meal for her mother before.

    The thought of that made Ning Ran''s eyes well up with tears.

    She immediately wiped her tears with a tissue, worried the children might see her crying when they

    came in.

    When she brought the food out, she saw Dabao and Erbao ying in the courtyard. To her surprise,

    the children appeared to be ying happily without feeling awkward in their new environment.

    Ning Ran saw herself in them.

    ¡°Mommy, did you really live here when you were young?¡± Erbao asked as she ran over.

    ¡°That''s right. Just like you guys, I yed here too when I was younger.¡±

    ¡°What about Daddy? Did he y with you?¡± Erbao stared at Ning Ran with sparkly eyes.

    ¡°No. I don''t think I knew him back then.¡±

    ¡°Why not? Didn''t you two go to the same school? Was he not your schoolmate?¡± Erbao asked in

    confusion.

    Ning Ran smiled. ¡°Nope. Wash your hands. It''s time to eat.¡±

    Soon, the children finished washing their hands and sat by the table that had quite the history.

    It was an old, sturdy wooden table. Though it was not as fancy as modern furniture, its quality was

    great.

    It was just that some parts of its paint hade off after so many years.

    The house was indeed a ce full of memories for Ning Ran.

    ¡°You two must be hungry. Go on. Dig in.¡± Ning Ran gestured for the children to begin eating.

    Dabao and Erbao exchanged nces as if they weremunicating using their gazes.

    At that moment, there was the sound of an engine outside, and Ning Ran had a hunch about who it

    was.

    As soon as she stepped out, she saw Nan Chen''s car, as expected.

    A tall figure got out of the car with a bag of things.

    The old residence had a traditional metal door that was locked from the inside.

    Thus, Nan Chen stood there and knocked on it gently.

    However, Ning Ran did not open it. ¡°Why are you here?¡±

    ¡°Erbao said she wanted some desserts from South Street, so I bought her some,¡± Nan Chen answered

    calmly.

    I knew it. Erbao''s the little traitor who told him where we are.

    ¡°It''s not good for the children to have dessert at night. You can have it instead.¡± With that, Ning Ran

    turned around and left.

    Nan Chen sighed from outside the gate, but Ning Ran feigned ignorance.

    Upon returning to the table, Ning Ran nced at Erbao. ¡°You told him?¡±

    Erbao lowered her head guiltily. ¡°Daddy asked where I was, so I told him. You didn''t say we weren''t

    allowed to tell him.¡±

    ¡°It''s fine. Let''s continue eating.¡± Ning Ran did not me the child.

    Judging from Dabao''s gaze, he clearly knew Nan Chen wasing.

    That was why Dabao and Erbao hesitated when Ning Ran said it was time to eat. Obviously, they were

    waiting for Nan Chen to join them.

    Just then, the sound of footsteps could be heard. Shocked, Ning Ran looked up to find Nan Chen had

    entered the house.

    ¡°You climbed in? This is trespassing!¡± Ning Ran panicked.

    ¡°I didn''t need to climb in. I have the keys.¡± Nan Chen swung the keys nonchntly.

    It was then that Ning Ran finally remembered Nan Chen had bought the house for her. In fact, he even

    had the keys duplicated before it was renovated. Hence, there was no stopping him from entering.

    ¡°Daddy!¡± Erbao cheered but quickly sealed her mouth when she saw the scowl on Ning Ran''s face.

    ¡°This is the dessert I bought for you. Enjoy,¡± said Nan Chen while taking out some desserts. He then

    revealed a bottle of wine, saying, ¡°You''ve finished recording for your show, right? I heard your

    performance was great, and you even got the celebrities'' support. Let''s open a bottle of wine to

    celebrate.¡±

    ¡°There''s no need for that. What''s there to celebrate? There, you''ve delivered your dessert. You can go

    now,¡± Ning Ran replied curtly.

    Still, Nan Chen did not leave. Instead, he took a seat andmented, ¡°These dishes look great! They

    look appetizing.¡±

    ¡°There''s none for you. Leave now!¡± Ning Ran urged.

    ¡°There''s so much. Are you guys able to finish it?¡± Nan Chen gazed at Dabao and Erbao.

    Catching the signal, the children shook their heads in unison. ¡°It''s too much. We can''t finish it.¡±

    Immediately, Ning Ran threw them a re, and the duo quickly shut their mouths.

    Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I can feed the dog if we can''t finish it. There''s none for you!¡± Ning Ran spat.

    ¡°You don''t have a dog.¡± Nan Chen stated the facts.

    ¡°I can get one!¡±

    ¡°Until then, I can have dinner here today.¡± Nan Chen got to his feet and went into the kitchen to grab

    himself some utensils and a wine ss.

    He was determined to stay for a meal. The more Ning Ran stopped him, the more he insisted on

    eating.

    Meanwhile, it was inappropriate for Ning Ran to continue stopping him. After all, it would leave a bad

    impression and even frighten the children if she behaved too meanly.

    ¡°Can you two eat less and give me some of your shares?¡± Nan Chen asked his beloved children.

    Hearing that, Dabao and Erbao nodded fervently without saying a word.

    Nan Chen cast Ning Ran a gleeful nce. ¡°Don''t worry. My children will share their portion with me. I

    won''t eat yours.¡±

    All Ning Ran did was snort. Deep down, she could not help but criticize him for being the most

    shameless person she had ever met. Even so, she had no choice but to give in.

    Nan Chen ced a piece of braised meat into his mouth and nodded. ¡°Not bad. Your cooking skills

    have improved. This is good!¡±

    No one''s asking for yourpliment.

 Chapter 841

    Chapter 841

    Of course, Nan Chen could tell Ning Ran was unhappy. He was just feigning ignorance.

    While he ate, he talked to the children and ignored Ning Ran''s dirty looks.

    Nheless, Ning Ran had no choice but to let him mooch off their food.

    As time passed, her anger dissipated. Still, she would not talk to him.

    After dinner, Ning Ran went to the kitchen to clean up, and Nan Chen followed.

    However, Ning Ran pretended not to see him and continued with her work.

    ¡°I did go to the hotel with her,¡± said Nan Chen while standing behind Ning Ran.

    Ning Ran''s anger surged when she heard that. So, you two went to the hotel? And yet you dare to

    assert dominance over me? What''s the meaning of this? Are you trying to tell me you went to a hotel

    with another woman, and there''s nothing I can do about it?

    Ning Ran turned around to re at him and bellowed, ¡°Get out! Get out of my house!¡±

    Even though I''m no match for you, I won''t let you bully me, no matter who you are!

    Regardless, Nan Chen did not move. Of course, he would not leave just because she told him so.

    He began, ¡°I''m sure you know there''s a video productionpany under Nanshi Corporation. It was

    established five years ago. For the past few years, we''ve invested a lot of money in it, but it kept losing

    money. It costs a lot to run a video productionpany, after all. In fact, we need to invest a lot to buy

    copyrights. Although thepany was not making any profits, its growth was great. It''s expected to be

    listed independently next year and slowly achieve a profit break-even point and even make some

    earnings. You were abroad for some time. Surely you know how influential Astoria''s basketball league

    is. We''ve always wanted to acquire theirwork broadcast rights. So, we put in a lot of effort, having

    long discussions with DBA''s marketing team. Even their CEO came to Flower City to have a meeting

    with our higher-ups. That was when the donation incident happened. Rumors of us being involved in

    moneyundering spread. The other party got worried. Hence, they suggested holding off the

    discussion and continuing it when the time was right. Luo Zhiyi and Mr. David, the CEO of DBA, are

    acquaintances. That''s why she came with me to the hotel to talk to Mr. David. We wanted to convince

    him to resume the negotiation. That''s all.¡±

    Nan Chen exined everything in one go before looking at Ning Ran.

    She said nothing. After all, she needed time to digest all the information.

    ¡°If you''re there to talk about work, why did you make Nan Xing the scapegoat?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    ¡°That''s because we didn''t want ourpetitors to find out about the truth. Not only did I use Luo Zhiyi''s

    connection to meet with Mr. David, but there was also no favorable oue. Hence, I decided to make

    a fuss out of the sneak shot to divert everyone''s attention and downy the negative impacts of the

    failure. Not getting the broadcasting rights for the DBA''s basketballpetition directly affects our

    ns for this year. It even affects our n to get the videopany listed independently next year,¡±

    rified Nan Chen seriously.

    He doesn''t look like he''s lying. There''s actually no need for him to lie, either. Even if he truly went on a

    date with Luo Zhiyi at the hotel, there''s nothing I can do about it.

    ¡°So you''re saying I''m the reason your negotiation with the other party failed?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    Nan Chen shook his head in response. ¡°I''m not saying it failed. It''s just paused for the time being, but it

    can also be considered a failure for this short period. We''re not the onlypany that wants to get the

    broadcasting rights. There are other capablepanies that have the same goal, too. Now that we''ve

    shelved the negotiation, the otherpanies might have the chance to negotiate with them. Maybe

    we''re already out of thepetition.¡±

    Ning Ran felt a heavy weight on her shoulders when she heard that.

    Never did she expect the donation fiasco to have such a negative impact on Nanshi Corporation''s

    development.

    I can''t believe I''m being jealous when such a serious matter is happening. This is so inappropriate of

    me.

    ¡°Is everything you said the truth?¡± Ning Ran eyed him.

    ¡°You can check with Jiang Zhe.¡±

    ¡°Jiang Zhe''s your employee. Of course he''ll agree with you.¡±

    ¡°You can ask thepany''s higher-ups then. They know about it.¡±

    ¡°They work for you, too. They''ll definitely be on your side.¡±

    ¡°There''s nothing I can do about it if you don''t believe me.¡±

    He left right after speaking, leaving Ning Ran standing alone in the kitchen and thinking back about

    what he had said.

    It should be true. There''s no reason for him toe up with so many stories to lie to me.

    Ning Ran was also aware of DBA''s influence. Their yers had many fans from China. Thus, getting

    the right to broadcast thepetition online would be a huge deal for a videopany.

    However, her personal matters had affected thepany under Nanshi Corporation. Although Nan

    Chen exined everything nonchntly, the matter must have been stressful for him.

    After all, almost everyone in Nanshi Corporation knew of Nan Chen''s rtionship with Ning Ran.

    Moreover, a majority of the employees treated her as the CEO''s wife.

    And now, the CEO''s wife had caused thepany to be dragged into a moneyundering scandal,

    which affected the negotiation of a project. Naturally, the CEO was responsible for it.

    Perhaps no one in thepany dared to criticize Nan Chen for it, but everyone would be having the

    same thoughts. Naturally, Nan Chen would feel stressed.

    It was natural for everyone, including Nan Chen, to feel stressed sometimes, no matter how strong they

    were.

    The thought of that made Ning Ran feel depressed. The entire incident was purely an ident. She

    never wanted things to turn out that way.

    After washing the dishes, she stepped out of the kitchen, but Nan Chen and the children were nowhere

    to be seen.

    Thinking Nan Chen had taken the children away when she was distracted, she panicked and rushed

    out of the house.

    In reality, Nan Chen did not bring the children away. He was merely keeping thempany as they

    yed in the courtyard.

    Just then, Erbao ran over and asked, ¡°Mommy, Daddy says he''s going to stay here tonight. Is that

    okay?¡±

    He''s not leaving?

    ¡°Please say yes, Mommy,¡± Erbao implored, swinging Ning Ran''s hand.

    ¡°He can stay if he wants. What does that have to do with me?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Is that a yes, then?¡± Erbao pped her hands happily and skipped toward Nan Chen.

    With that, Ning Ran went back into the house without another word.

    The second she entered the house, her phone rang.

    She picked up the phone and saw it was an unknown number.

    After answering it, she heard a shrill voice. ¡°Ran, what are you doing?¡±

    Ning Ran''s blood boiled again the moment she heard that voice. It''s that devil Ruan Anxi again!

    He was the one who used her name for the donation, which led to the current situation.

    ¡°You again! This is all because of you! You''re such a jerk!¡± scolded Ning Ran.

    Ruan Anxi, however, was unfazed. ¡°You sound like you''re in a bad mood. Who bullied you? Tell me. I''ll

    dig his heart out!¡±

    ¡°Don''te looking for me in the future! I already have enough on my te. Who on earth let you use

    my name for that donation, anyway? And now there''s a moneyundering scandal going on!¡± Ning Ran

    fumed.

    Ruan Anxi chuckled. ¡°You rejected the money when I gave it to you. So, I helped you to donate it. I

    never expected them to say Nan Chen wasundering the money. I really never expected that

    oue. It''s truly a surprise. This is so interesting!¡±

    Hisughter only annoyed Ning Ran more.

    ¡°You''reughing? You devil! All you do is screw things up!¡± she huffed in a fit of anger before realizing it

    was inappropriate for her to speak of him like that. It sounds weird.

 Chapter 842

    Chapter 842

    Nheless, Ruan Anxi was delighted to hear that. ¡°Ran, your words are interesting.¡±

    ¡°It''s all your fault! Not only did you harm me, but you also harmed Nan Chen!¡± Ning Ran raged.

    ¡°Well, I really didn''t expect this matter to affect Nan Chen. It''s a surprise for me, though I''m delighted to

    find out he''s affected, too.¡± Ruan Anxi''sughter was a little exaggerated.

    ¡°D*mn it! You b*stard!¡±

    Ning Ran never wanted to cuss at Ruan Anxi, but thetter was too annoying. That was the only way to

    deal with someone like him.

    Regardless, Ruan Anxi was not the slightest bit affected. He continued saying slowly and calmly, ¡°Calm

    down, Ran. Don''t be mad. It''ll make me sad.¡±

    He did not seem bothered that he was getting scolded. To him, everything was a minor matter as long

    as it did not involve life and death.

    ¡°Get lost! Don''t call me ever again!¡±

    Ning Ran ended the call right away.

    The moment she turned around, she saw Nan Chen standing behind her.

    She exined frantically, ¡°He called, and I scolded him!¡±

    ¡°I heard,¡± Nan Chen responded coldly.

    ¡°I''m really sorry about this...¡±

    ¡°It has already happened. There''s no use saying sorry now.¡±

    ¡°You me me for it?¡±

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    ¡°Am I not supposed to?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    He''s right. It''s originally my fault.

    Although she felt wronged, everything still happened because of her. Hence, she ought to take

    responsibility for it.

    ¡°Fine. It''s my fault. I admit it. But how are we going to salvage this when Mr. David is refusing to

    negotiate with you?¡±

    ¡°We''re still thinking of a way. My team will deal with it,¡± Nan Chen responded.

    At that moment, Erbao ran into the house with Nan Chen''s phone. ¡°Daddy, your phone''s vibrating.¡±

    Nan Chen picked it up. ¡°What is it?¡±

    The person on the other end of the line said something in response. After listening to the caller, Nan

    Chen said, ¡°Tell the higher-ups to hold a meeting now. I''ll be right there.¡± With that, he hung up.

    The fact that Nan Chen was leaving right then meant it was something important. Ning Ran asked

    meekly, ¡°Is it about thepany?¡±

    ¡°We have news that Prosperity Holdings is negotiating with DBA, and they''ll be signing the contract

    earliest by tomorrow.¡±

    As Nan Chen was saying that, he picked up his coat and got ready to leave.

    Although he looked unfazed, Ning Ran knew he was anxious on the inside.

    Once DBA signed the contract, it wouldst for five years. That meant Nanshi Corporation would have

    zero chances of signing a contract with DBA for five years. On top of that, no one knew what would

    happen five yearster.

    ¡°Prosperity Holdings runs a video production business too? Are they one of yourpetitors?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Their industrial distribution is simr to ours. Last year, they paid a handsome price to buy a video

    productionpany, but they''ve always been behind us. If they manage to get DBA''s online

    broadcasting rights, they''ll possibly surpass us. Rest early, all of you. I have to go out for an emergency

    meeting now.¡±

    When he finished speaking, he rushed out of the house.

    s, Ning Ran could not fall asleep even when the children had already drifted off to sleep. All she

    could think of was that matter.

    The more she thought about it, the more frustrated she felt. She felt extremely aggrieved that she

    wanted to vent it out to someone.

    Thus, she sent Lu Jingyuan a text: Are you asleep? How are you doing?

    Lu Jingyuan replied almost instantly: It''s still early. Let''s talk.

    Just like that, they began talking. Though Lu Jingyuan was in the capital, she knew what had happened

    to Ning Ran, and sheforted thetter.

    Ning Ran: I''m fine, actually. I just feel uneasy because the incident affected Nanshi Corporation. I feel

    like I''m nothing but trouble.

    Lu Jingyuan: Actually, I know that CEO from DBA, too. In fact, I know for a fact he''s going to the capital

    tomorrow to inspect the venue for China Open. I can help you make some arrangements if you want to

    exin the situation to David yourself.

    Truthfully, Ning Ran did have the urge to do so. After all, everything started with her. She believed she

    needed to rify Nanshi Corporation had nothing to do with the donation incident and that they were

    not involved in moneyundering.

    Even if the relevant departments had spoken up to prove Nanshi Corporation''s finances were clean,

    the negative impacts would not be eliminated immediately. One of them was the shelving of the

    negotiation with DBA regarding the broadcast rights.

    Therefore, Ning Ran felt she should do something to help them out. The fact that Lu Jingyuan could

    make some arrangements to assist her could not be better.

    After hanging up, Ning Ran immediately booked the earliest flight to go to the capital the next morning.

    Ning Ran then sent Cheng Xiangyun a text, informing thetter she had to be away for a day and

    needed thetter''s help to send the kids to school the next day.

    Soon, the next afternoon arrived. Ning Ran met DBA''s CEO, David, in the hotel beside Woond

    Stadium.

    Although she had Lu Jingyuan aspany, she still felt nervous.

    After all, she was only an actress and had zero experience in business negotiations. Moreover, she did

    not know if meeting David personally would help Nan Chen or make things worse.

    After introducing Ning Ran in fluent English, Lu Jingyuan revealed the former''s identity as Nan Chen''s

    girlfriend instead of his wife.

    Ning Ran had not been using English ever since she returned to China. One had to use anguage

    often or they would forget how to speak in thatnguage after a long time.

    Besides, she was nervous. When she spoke, she stuttered and almost used the wrong words.

    Lu Jingyuan, who sat beside Ning Ran, gently patted thetter on the back, indicating for her to calm

    down and speak slowly.

    Taking a deep breath, Ning Ran exined without stuttering, ¡°About that donation incident. It''s my

    private matter. It has nothing to do with Nan Chen. Besides, we''re not married yet. So, my matters

    shouldn''t affect him or your judgment toward Nanshi Corporation.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Ning, you''re really pretty. I admire your honesty, but this is an official affair. I don''t call the shots

    here,¡± said David with a smile.

    ¡°I know. That''s why I think it shouldn''t be affected by my personal matters. Nanshi Corporation is a very

    capable international corporation. The number of registered users of their video productionpany

    has been skyrocketing for the past two years. And since they''re an internationalpany, they know

    how to do a good job at broadcastingpetitions for foreign countries. They''ll even help maximize

    DBA''s influence in China. If you gave up working with Nanshi Corporation because of my personal

    matters, I believe it''ll bring a huge loss to both parties. That''s why I''vee here to meet you in

    person, not on behalf of Nanshi Corporation, but on behalf of myself to exin the situation to you. I

    know my exnation might not influence your decision, but I hope I''ve made the situation clear. Thank

    you for giving me the chance to exin myself.¡±

    Ning Ran had no experience in business negotiations. Thus, she did not really know how to convince

    David.

    When Ning Ran finished, Lu Jingyuan chimed in, ¡°Ning Ran''s a celebrity in China. She can help to

    promote DBA in the future. Besides, Nanshi Corporation''s existing resources are better than the other

    video productionpanies. I hope you can reconsider your decision.¡±

 Chapter 843

    Chapter 843

    David''s eyes lit up. ¡°Would Mr. Nan''s girlfriend be willing to serve as our brand spokesperson? It''s true

    that we''re looking for a female and two male celebrities to fill that role. However, the three of them must

    know how to y basketball. Does Ms. Ning know how to?¡±

    Lu Jingyuan turned toward Ning Ran, for she didn''t have the answer.

    In truth, Ning Ran did not.

    Although she had yed basketball in school, it was nothing to shout about. Hence, she was as good

    as knowing nothing from a professional perspective, let alone the fact that she hadn''t touched a ball in

    years.

    Nheless, it was clear from David''s words that not knowing how to y would rule her out from

    serving as a brand spokesperson.

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    Even though Ning Ran was a famous celebrity in China, the fact that she was Nan Chen''s girlfriend

    was the real reason David was interested in hiring her.

    Having the girlfriend of Nanshi Corporation''s CEO be the face of DBA would demonstrate Nanshi

    Corporation''smitment to the basketball league.

    Therefore, Ning Ran decided to take the risk with a nod. ¡°I know how to y. In fact, I was a key yer

    in my ss team back in the day.¡±

    Technically, Ning Ran wasn''t lying, for there were few girls as tall as her in ss. Moreover, there were

    even fewer who could actually y well.

    Nevertheless, she was chosen to be part of the ss team for her beauty instead of her skills.

    As long as she was ying, the boys would be motivated to watch thepetition and cheer for their

    female ssmates.

    In essence, she was closer to being the ss team''s mascot or spokesperson than its key yer.

    David was visibly ted upon hearing her response. ¡°Really? In that case, you''re definitely eligible for

    the role, Ms. Ning. As for the two male celebrities, we have picked Zheng Lunlun and Shi Jie. However,

    we''re still under negotiations due to their high appearance fees.¡±

    ¡°As long as you assign the inte broadcasting rights to Nanshi Corporation, I can guarantee that

    both of them will join me in promoting DBA in China,¡± Ning Ran dered.

    ¡°Really? Do you know them?¡± David was intrigued.

    Ning Ran whipped out her phone and showed David separate videos of her performing together with

    Shi Jie and interacting with Zheng Lunlun.

    ¡°I''m very close to them. As long as I convince them to join me, they will persuade their agencies to

    agree to the deal. I''ll also make sure their appearance fees are fixed at reasonable levels. This is

    something Nan Chen will definitely see to,¡± Ning Ran stated confidently.

    ¡°Can you do that? If that''s the case, we''ll restart negotiations with Nanshi Corporation,¡± David replied

    with a smile.

    ¡°I can. In fact, I guarantee it!¡± Ning Ran answered with a nod.

    ¡°Good. I''ll discuss this with my team and get in touch with Nanshi Corporation ordingly. That aside, I

    appreciate that you''vee here in person, Ms. Ning. I''m curious as to whether Mr. Nan sent you?¡±

    David inquired with a smile.

    Unsure of what would be an appropriate answer, Ning Ran hesitated briefly.

    ¡°I''m not here at his behest. After having a discussion with him, I feel that certain matters needed to be

    rified. That''s the reason for my visit,¡± Ning Ran answered ambiguously.

    ¡°Fine. As long as you can get Zheng Lunlun and Shi Jie to promote our program, we''ll definitely begin

    negotiations with Nanshi Corporation,¡± David promised.

    ¡°All right then, I''ll call them right away.¡±

    In order to prove that she and the two men were on good terms, Ning Ran stepped aside to make the

    call.

    First, she rang Zheng Lunlun, who happened to be filming overseas. He answered in a tired voice,

    ¡°Computer Guru, what''s with the sudden call?¡±

    ¡°Address me as your aunt, you brat!¡± Ning Ran put on her airs as an elder.

    ¡°No way, that''s too cringy. I''ll only do so in front of Uncle when I have no choice. Other than that, I''m not

    going to,¡± Zheng Lunlun replied with a grin.

    ¡°Fine. I''ll allow it as long as you agree to join me as DBA''s brand ambassador in China.¡±

    ¡°They''re currently in discussions with my management agency about it. Have you received an offer

    too? That aside, this is a male sport. Would Uncle agree to you taking on that role?¡± Zheng Lunlun

    inquired.

    ¡°Stop wasting time. You must convince your agency to sign the contract with DBA. Do you hear me?¡±

    Ning Ran demanded.

    ¡°Wait, why are you interested?¡±

    ¡°Is that a yes or a no? If you don''t agree, I''ll sever the ties between us!¡± Ning Ran interrupted Zheng

    Lunlun.

    ¡°Fine, I agree. I''ll think of a way to convince my agency. However, does Uncle know about this?¡±

    ¡°He will. All I need is your agreement. Anyway, I gotta go. Bye.¡± Ning Ran ended the call right away.

    Just as she was about to call Shi Jie, Ning Ran briefly hesitated.

    In contrast to Zheng Lunlun, she wasn''t that close to Shi Jie. Their only interaction was when they

    filmed a program together for two days. Thus, making such a request out of the blue might seem too

    impertinent.

    In the end, she decided to send a message instead: Shi, I heard DBA has invited you to be one of their

    brand ambassadors. Will you be epting their offer?

    Once shepleted the message, Ning Ran still felt that raising the matter this way was too abrupt, for

    they really didn''t know each other that well.

    In spite of that, she steeled herself and sent it out.

    After waiting for two minutes, there was no reply.

    I knew it. He''s probably ignoring me for surprising him this way.

    Just as Ning Ran was racking her brains for ideas, she received a video call from Shi Jie.

    After Ning Ran answered, Shi Jie''s youthful and exquisite-looking face appeared on the screen. ¡°Ms.

    Ding, where are you? I was just about to call you about your promise to appear in a music video for my

    new album. Why are you asking me about promoting DBA all of a sudden?¡±

    The excited Shi Jie had a lot to say the moment the call connected.

    ¡°I have no time to go into the details. I''ll be signing a contract with DBA to be its brand ambassador for

    China. I hope that you''ll do the same so both of us can work together on this. Also, if you agree to it, I''ll

    shoot your music video for free,¡± Ning Ran replied impatiently.

    ¡°I agree. That settles it,¡± Shi Jie agreed readily, much to Ning Ran''s surprise.

    ¡°That settles it? Don''t you have to run it through your agency first?¡± Ning Ran was surprised and

    excited.

    ¡°There won''t be any problems. Even if there are, I''ll deal with them,¡± Shi Jie asserted.

    ¡°Okay. It''s settled then. I''ll talk to you again.¡±

    Once she was done with the calls, Ning Ran assured David, ¡°It''s settled. Shi Jie and Zheng Lunlun

    have agreed to do it.¡±

    David jumped to his feet. ¡°Really? They''re willing to do it?¡±

    ¡°Yes. They have given me their word. The appearance fee will not be a stumbling block to the contract.¡±

    ¡°Excellent. Ms. Ning, in appreciation of what you have done, we''ll restart negotiations with Nanshi

    Corporation and not deal with otherpanies for the time being!¡± David eximed in delight.

    Ning Ran heaved a sigh of relief. She was pleasantly surprised that her Hail Mary actually seeded.

 Chapter 844

    Chapter 844

    When Ning Ran and Lu Jingyuan emerged from the hotel, they encountered a young man in a white

    suit in the lobby.

    He was tall and good-looking but had a shifty look to his eyes.

    Ning Ran recognized him immediately. At the press conference where the Rong family announced their

    strategic coboration with Sunshine Corporation, the man was sitting right beside Ouyang Li.

    Back then, Nan Chen had mentioned to Ning Ran that the man was none other than Rong Jilin, the

    second son of the Rong family.

    Rong Jilin, too, spotted Ning Ran. After scrutinizing her in detail, he turned his attention to Lu Jingyuan.

    Given that bothdies were beauties who would be the center of attention wherever they went,

    they were used to being ogled at by men.

    Even then, the brazenness of Rong Jilin''s gaze unsettled both of them.

    What made it worse was that he came forward to block their way.

    ¡°You must be Ding Mi, the actress and Nan Chen''s rumored girlfriend?¡± Rong Jilin spoke in a flirty tone,

    leaving a bad first impression on thedies.

    Despite knowing who he was, Ning Ran pretended not to. ¡°We don''t know you. Please step aside.¡±

    ¡°I''m Rong Jilin, Prosperity Entertainment''s CEO. I''m here to discuss business with Mr. David. What are

    you doing here? Did Nan Chen send a woman to take care of something he couldn''t? Is he trying to

    win the sole broadcasting rights for Nanshi Corporation by using a honey trap?¡±

    Rong Jilin didn''t bother mincing his words the moment he spoke.

    ¡°Shut up! If you dare spew such nonsense again, I''ll make you regret it!¡±

    Ning Ran was outraged by his words.

    Truth be told, Ning Ran had met members of the Rong family before. The very first one was the

    beautiful songstress, Rong Rong. Subsequently, she met the elegant pianist, Rong Yi. All of them were

    extraordinary people whom she admired.

    However, the Rong family son she ran into today was nothing but an annoying nuisance.

    Despite being members of the same family, the difference in characters was staggering.

    Rong Jilin sneered, ¡°You''re going to make me regret it? How do you n on doing that? Nanshi

    Corporation has brazenly involved itself in plenty of illegal businesses from tax evasion to money

    laundering. And now, Nan Chen has even gotten his girlfriend to sell her¡ª¡±

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    p!

    Lu Jingyuannded a p on Rong Jilin''s face before he could even finish.

    The sudden turn of events stunned Ning Ran, who didn''t expect the former to be one step ahead of

    her. She''s a true friend indeed.

    ¡°How dare you hit me? You¡ª¡±

    p! p!

    Lu Jingyuan repeated her actions with a vengeance.

    All this while, Rong Jilin had grown used to being a spoilt rich heir. Little did he expect to be pped

    that day.

    Just as he prepared to strike back, two men who were watching themotion suddenly stepped in

    front of Lu Jingyuan.

    With towering figures and frosty looks in their eyes, these men were obviously not to be trifled with.

    ¡°Please don''t cause any trouble,¡± one of them warned Rong Jilin.

    ¡°But she hit me first¡ª¡±

    ¡°You were the one who started it with insults. Don''t make any hasty moves, or we''ll detain you at once,¡±

    the other threatened.

    Just as Rong Jilin wanted to protest further, his secretary whispered, ¡°Mr. Rong, please calm down, as

    we''re in the capital. Your brother has instructed that you mind yourself and not cause any trouble.¡±

    After letting out a snort, the disgruntled Rong Jilin stormed off to the elevator.

    Once the two men who ¡°protected¡± Lu Jingyuan saw that the threat had been neutralized, they went

    back to being ¡°passersby.¡±

    Thereafter, Ning Ran gave Lu Jingyuan a grateful look. ¡°Thank you for standing up for me.¡±

    ¡°You''re my friend. There''s no way I''m going to allow you to be bullied here in the capital,¡± Lu Jingyuan

    dered proudly.

    ¡°Thank you. Now that the matter is settled, I''ll be heading back to Flower City. I still have work to do

    there.¡±

    ¡°Do you have time to spare? Why don''t you leave after a meal? I''ll treat you to some local delicacies,¡±

    Lu Jingyuan suggested with a smile.

    ¡°I''m extremely grateful to you for arranging the meeting with David. I''m sorry I don''t have time to eat, as

    I need to rush to the airport. I still have work to do tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Come on, you can leave after that. There''s something I would like to discuss with you. Don''t worry. I

    guarantee that you''ll be back in Flower City by tonight. It won''t get in the way of your work,¡± Lu

    Jingyuan promised.

    Although Ning Ran was anxious to get back, it would be rude to refuse Lu Jingyuan''s invitation after the

    help she had rendered.

    With that, Lu Jingyuan brought Ning Ran to a restaurant that had a traditional courtyard decorated with

    lanterns.

    ¡°They serve local specialties here and the food is delicious. Usually, one would need to make an

    advance reservation, but after begging my brother for help, he managed to get us a table,¡± Lu Jingyuan

    exined with a smile.

    It was just as Ning Ran had guessed. Not only was the restaurant expensive, but it was also difficult to

    get a table.

    No sooner had they taken their seats than the food was served.

    ¡°Thank you for everything today.¡± When Ning Ran raised her ss for a toast, Lu Jingyuan raised hers

    to reciprocate.

    ¡°Don''t mention it. We''re best friends after all. Besides, there''s something I need your help with.¡±

    Just the idea alone pressured Ning Ran. Given Lu Jingyuan''s mysterious background and her

    seemingly powerful elder brother, Ning Ran couldn''t figure out why Lu Jingyuan needed her help,

    especially if the matter was something even Lu Jingyuan''s powerful family couldn''t resolve.

    If even Lu Jingyuan can''t deal with it, what hope do I have?

    ¡°Tell me. I''ll do my very best to help,¡± Ning Ran replied sincerely.

    ¡°Find me a boyfriend.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Ning Ran''s jaws dropped, thinking that what she heard was a mistake.

    Lu Jingyuan beamed. ¡°You didn''t hear me wrong. I really want you to find me a boyfriend.¡±

    Finally, Ning Ran, too, broke into a smile. ¡°Are you kidding me? With your qualities, why would you

    need me to introduce anyone to you? There''re plenty of eligible bachelors in the capital. Can''t you

    randomly pick someone?¡±

    ¡°I''m serious. Ever since I returned to the capital, my family has been driving me crazy by trying to

    matchmake me with someone. Every day, I''m forced to meet all sorts of distinguished people, and I

    can''t stand it anymore. I need to leave this ce. If I pretend to have a boyfriend somece else, I can

    do so by using him as a pretext. However, he must be willing to y along with my brother''s

    investigations and be of decent pedigree. Otherwise, my brother won''t allow me to leave. Look, it''s

    difficult to find someone that fits the bill. Since I''ve failed, I figured that you would be able to help me.¡±

    Ning Ran finally understood the situation after listening to Lu Jingyuan''s exnation.

    Thetter wasn''t looking for a real boyfriend, just someone who could help her leave the capital.

    However, given how distinguished the Lu family was, she was only allowed to leave for someone who

    was worthy of her.

    Despite her outstanding qualities, Lu Jingyuan refused to be matchmade and settle down with a

    random man in the capital. That was the reason why she needed Ning Ran''s help.

    Also, Ning Ran gathered that Lu Jingyuan had no intention to fall in love or get married. All she wanted

    was to use the man as an excuse to leave the capital and escape the hassle of the matchmaking

    process.

    Consequently, it was rare to find anyone who fit that profile. What Lu Jingyuan was truly looking for was

    a willing actor.

 Chapter 845

    Chapter 845

    Upon getting no response from Ning Ran, Lu Jingyuan thought Ning Ran was refusing to help.

    ¡°Do you think I''m asking for too much?¡± Lu Jingyuan asked uneasily.

    ¡°Oh! I was just trying to think of a person that could match your requirements.¡± Ning Ranughed.

    ¡°I don''t have a lot of requirements. It''s just that the man has to cooperate with my brother''s

    investigation, and the man needs to convince my brother I can rely on him.¡±

    Upon hearing that, Ning Ran let out a sigh and said, ¡°Babe, that''s already a huge ask. Your family is a

    prominent family. In order to bepatible with you, that man needs to be incredibly outstanding.

    Besides, your brother has to like him! You''re asking for a lot!¡±

    ¡°Are you saying that there isn''t a suitable man for me? Must I keep going on blind dates?¡± Lu Jingyuan

    sighed as well.

    Ning Ran held back herughter and replied, ¡°Well, there''s still hope. I just need time to find you the

    right man. By the way, Babe, could you tell me what your brother is looking for in your future partner?¡±

    Lu Jingyuan put on a serious expression and said, ¡°Don''tugh at me, okay? I''m sincerely asking for

    your help.¡±

    ¡°Okay. I won''tugh. Go on. Tell me the type of man that can pass your family''s assessment,¡± Ning Ran

    uttered with a straight face.

    Lu Jingyuan pondered for a while before saying, ¡°First of all, he has to be a looker because I''m a pretty

    girl. My family has high expectations when ites to looks.¡±

    Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran was amused. ¡°It has to be a handsome man, of course. Babe, you''re a goddess. How could

    we let you get together with a buttface?¡±

    Lu Jingyuan frowned when she heard that. Why does that sound so strange?

    Seeing that, Ning Ran quickly put on a serious expression and exined, ¡°I merely meant to say the

    man has to be good-looking. Are there any other requirements?¡±

    ¡°He needs to be an extraordinary man with special skill sets. If I were to simply pick a man off of the

    streets, my brother would never agree to let the man bring me away,¡± Lu Jingyuan answered.

    ¡°Oh, I see. In a nutshell, you want an influential and handsome man. It''s best to be a person with a

    sessful career or someone who has achieved something in a certain field. Even if that''s not the

    case now, he needs to have the potential to be sessful in the future. Am I right?¡±

    Lu Jingyuan nodded. ¡°That''s right. That''s about it. As long as I have a boyfriend, my brother will let me

    leave the capital. That way, I won''t have to go on blind dates every day. It''s so annoying! I miss

    managing the inn in Livingsfill. I could wake up at any time I want in the morning, and I didn''t need to

    entertain those dull people. If I don''t leave this ce, I''m going to suffocate to death! Help me, Ran!¡±

    Ning Ran nodded profusely and said, ¡°I''m definitely helping you. Let me rack my brain for a bit. I only

    know a few handsome men, and the ones that are good enough for you are even fewer. Zheng Lunlun

    is handsome enough, but he''s too young. He''s out. Huang Zichao is all right. He isn''t that young, and

    he''s also one of the best actors around. However, I heard he''s dated a lot of women and has a pretty

    complicated love history. I wonder if he has a girlfriend now...¡±

    Upon hearing that, Lu Jingyuan immediately waved her hands dismissively. ¡°No! I don''t want my

    boyfriend to be a celebrity. Even if he''s not a real celebrity, my family is still not going to agree to it.¡±

    ¡°In that case, I don''t think I have a man for you! Wait! I know one! Nan Xing! Yes. I think he fulfills your

    requirements. He''s the deputy CEO of Nanshi Corporation, so he''s clearly an influential man. Besides,

    he''s from the Nan family, so he has a good family background. Moreover, he''s a looker! You''ve seen

    him before, right?¡± Ning Ran surprised herself with her discovery.

    ¡°Nan Xing? Are you talking about that flirty man who looks like Mr. Nan?¡± Lu Jingyuan furrowed her

    brows.

    Ning Ran was weirded out by those words. Although Lu Jingyuan was talking about Nan Xing, Ning

    Ran couldn''t help but think Lu Jingyuan was calling Nan Chen a flirty man.

    ¡°I mean, although he looks like Mr. Nan, his personality differs from Mr. Nan. Nan Xing just seems like a

    frivolous man,¡± Lu Jingyuan exined.

    ¡°Uh... He''s all right, no? After all, he''s only going to pretend to be your boyfriend so that he can bring

    you away from the capital. It doesn''t matter whether you guys can get along with each other in the

    future, right?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    Lu Jingyuan thought about it and questioned, ¡°Will he agree to y along?¡±

    ¡°I can try! I''ll ask him to do me a favor,¡± Ning Ran answered. Although Nan Xing will most probably

    refuse to help, I guess I can convince him otherwise.

    Right then, Lu Jingyuan''s phone rang. Upon answering the call, Lu Jingyuan told Ning Ran she had

    already arranged a flight for Ning Ran. Apparently, a ne from the logistics department was flying

    toward Flower City. Ning Ran could hitch a ride instead of waiting for amercial flight.

    ¡°Let''s go, then. I can''t keep them waiting. That''s it for today. Let''s have another meal together after we

    get you out of the capital!¡± Ning Ran rose to her feet.

    ¡°Sure. That''s it for today. I''ll send you off.¡± Lu Jingyuan stood up as well.

    When thedies were exiting Medallion Restaurant, they bumped into a few men.

    One of those men was Rong Jilin, the man Ning Ran bumped into at the hotel before that. Who

    would''ve known that I would bump into him here? It''s such a small world.

    ¡°This is the woman! She''s the woman who went into the foreigner''s room today. I don''t know what they

    did inside, but the foreigner changed his mind immediately after that. Instead of coborating with us,

    the foreigner went ahead and coborated with Nanshi Corporation! It seems like Nan Chen is

    prepared to give up everything for broadcast rights. He''s even willing to share his woman with the

    foreigner...¡± Rong Jilin condemned Ning Ran the moment he saw her.

    Prior to that, Lu Jingyuan had already delivered him tight ps across the face when he ran his mouth.

    Evidently, he still hadn''t learned his lesson.

    The men next to Rong Jilin didn''t chime in because they saw who was standing next to Ning Ran.

    Upon confirming that it was Lu Jingyuan, they all went over to greet her by saying, ¡°Hi, Ms. Lu. This is

    such a pleasant surprise. It''s nice to meet you here.¡±

    Rong Jilin saw his friends'' respect for Lu Jingyuan and understood why she had the guts to p him.

    Looks like the capital is aplicated ce. If this woman can make these powerful men respect her,

    that means she''s not a woman I can mess with.

    Instead of saying anything, Lu Jingyuan merely pointed her finger at Rong Jilin before leaving with Ning

    Ran in tow.

    Although Rong Jilin didn''t dare to voice his displeasure, he was filled with resentment as he watched

    them leave.

    By the time Ning Ran arrived in Flower City, it was already midnight. Hence, she went back to the Ning

    residence straight so that she wouldn''t disturb the children.

    Although she was dog-tired, she was over the moon when the thought of Nanshi Corporation and DBA

    restarting their negotiation crossed her mind.

    With such a happy thought in her mind, her exhaustion subsided.

    At that time, the kids were already asleep, so Ning Ran took a shower and went to bed.

    As soon as shey down, however, she received a call from Wang Xiaoou.

    Ning Ran grew anxious because it was unusual for Wang Xiaoou to call her at that hour. Something

    must''ve happened.

    ¡°What''s the matter, Ou?¡± Ning Ran asked.

    ¡°Someone addressed as Mr. Rong had posted something bad about you on Weibo, and I think you

    should check it out. After that, we''ll decide how we should handle it,¡± Wang Xiaoou said.

    Mr. Rong? Could it be that shameless Rong Jilin? Is he publicly attacking me on Weibo? Ning Ran

    logged in to her Weibo and did a search.

 Chapter 846

    Chapter 846

    As it turned out, it was none other than Rong Jilin. An hour ago, he posted something on Weibo saying

    that the person in charge of Nanshi Corporation willingly sacrificed his woman topete for DBA''s

    broadcasting copyrights deal with Prosperity Entertainment.

    Although Rong Jilin didn''t call Nan Chen out publicly, everyone knew the person in charge of Nanshi

    Corporation was Nan Chen.

    That post on Weibo had already been shared over a thousand times on the social site. Despite being

    one of the trending topics, it was only ranked in the twenties.

    Nevertheless, Ning Ran was livid. Rong Jilin is such a shameless man! How could he talk nonsense

    after losing out? I didn''t expect someone like him toe from the Rong family.

    Right then, Wang Xiaoou called again to ask if Ning Ran had seen the post on Weibo.

    ¡°I saw it. That man is so despicable and shameless! How dare he nder me? I went to meet David

    with Ms. Lu, and we didn''t do anything inappropriate,¡± Ning Ran fumed.

    ¡°I know. However,izens love this sort of news, and a lot of them believe it to be true. We need to

    consider if there''s a need to rify the matter. What do you think? Do you want me to get thepany

    to draft a statement for you and sue him for ndering you?¡±

    At that moment, Ning Ran was at a loss. I can''t possibly get into an argument with that b*stard. If things

    go out of hand, my reputation would be ruined.

    ¡°Ou, you guys should just proceed as you see fit. I can''t think straight now,¡± Ning Ran uttered.

    ¡°Sure. Rest well. We''ll handle the matter ourselves. Don''t worry,¡± Wang Xiaoou replied.

    At around two in the morning in a club in the capital, Rong Jilin was imbibing happily and having the

    time of his life with his friends and a few hostesses. He was in seventh heaven because he felt he had

    vented his anger after seeing how many people had reposted his post on Weibo.

    He was then seen staggering toward the elevator with one sexydy in each arm upon exiting the

    private room.

    There, a man d in the uniform of an attendant pressed the elevator button for Rong Jilin, and the

    ladies quickly helped Rong Jilin in.

    The elevator arrived at the third basement floor, where Rong Jilin''s car was parked.

    Rong Jilin came out of the elevator, walked to his car, and realized that his driver was nowhere to be

    seen.

    Just then, the man in the uniform approached Rong Jilin and asked, ¡°Are you Mr. Rong? Your driver left

    a while ago because something cropped up and told us to find a substitute driver to drive you back to

    the hotel.¡±

    ¡°What the f*ck? Why didn''t he inform me? He''s getting out of line!¡± Rong Jilin cursed before getting into

    the car with the twodies. As soon as they got into the car, the trio started fooling around.

    The man in the uniform started the car, nced at the unpleasant scene in the back seat, and turned

    back to the front to drive.

    ¡°Mr. Rong, may I know which hotel you are staying in and what room are you staying in?¡± the driver

    asked Rong Jilin, who was busy in the back seat.

    Rong Jilin blurted out the name of the hotel and his room number before shifting his attention back

    toward thedies.

    The hotel was quite a distance away, and they only arrived around half an hourter.

    By then, Rong Jilin was worn out and drunk, and he had fallen asleep on one of thedies''ps.

    The car came to a halt in front of the hotel. The man in the uniform came out of the car and said to the

    ladies, ¡°Please go home. I''ll send Mr. Rong back to his room.¡±

    However, thedies refused to leave. ¡°Mr. Rong told us to spend the night with him. He''s going to be

    angry if he doesn''t see us in the morning tomorrow. Besides, we haven''t received our tips.¡±

    The man in the uniform pondered for a moment and answered, ¡°Fine. Bring him to his room, then.¡±

    Due to how drunk Rong Jilin was, thedies couldn''t even lift him up. In the end, they had to ask the

    man in the uniform to help them.

    The man in the uniform carried Rong Jilin on his shoulder and carried thetter to the elevator with

    ease.

    Upon arriving outside Rong Jilin''s presidential suite, the man in the uniform took Rong Jilin''s key card

    and opened the door.

    When the lights came on, thedies let out a surprised gasp because they saw another man inside the

    suite.

    The pale and skinny man with a ponytail was resting on the couch when the four of them entered the

    suite.

    When he heard the noises, he opened his vicious-looking eyes abruptly.

    One of thedies pointed at Ruan Anxi and asked, ¡°Who are you? What are you doing in Mr. Rong''s

    room?¡±

    Ruan Anxi sized thedies up and knew what they were working as just by looking at the revealing

    outfits and thick makeup they were wearing.

    ¡°Stay away from me! You guys are filthy!¡± Ruan Anxi uttered disdainfully.

    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    Thedies were infuriated when they heard that. ¡°You''re such a jerk! Who do you think you are? How

    dare you call us filthy? Get lost! This is Mr. Rong''s room!¡±

    Ruan Anxi frowned deeply at that. This noisy girl is driving me mad!

    Ruan Anxi had followed Ning Ran to the capital. Knowing how messy it was in the capital, a criminal

    like him dared not go out in the public. Therefore, a ball of frustration had long since manifested in his

    chest.

    His frustration grew when he was reprimanded by these two prostitutes.

    ¡°Shut her up! Cut off her tongue!¡± Ruan Anxi uttered coldly.

    ¡°Yes, Doctor.¡± The subordinate went up to thedy, grabbed her face to force her mouth open, and

    whipped out a knife. He was about to cut thedy''s tongue out.

    Thedy was horrified for she had never encountered anyone so cruel before. ¡°Have mercy! Please!¡±

    ¡°Forget about it.¡± Ruan Anxi waved his hand and said, ¡°Tie them up and dump them in the bathroom.

    After that, wake this b*stard up. We''ll leave as soon as we finish our business here.¡±

    The subordinate tied thedies up, stuffed their mouths with their own stockings, and locked them up in

    the bathroom.

    With thedies out of the way, Ruan Anxi stood up and squatted down next to Rong Jilin.

    ¡°Doctor, he had too much to drink. I''ll wake him up with a bucket of water,¡± the subordinate said.

    Instead of saying anything in response, Ruan Anxi took out a scalpel and shed Rong Jilin''s face.

    Right away, Rong Jilin bled.

    As intoxicated as Rong Jilin was, the pain immediately woke him up, and he opened his eyes to see

    Ruan Anxi''s pallidplexion before his eyes.

    Feeling the pain on his cheek, he ran his hand across his face and saw blood all over his hand. ¡°Who

    are you? Someone! Help me!¡± Rong Jilin shouted in fear.

    ¡°Stop shouting. If you shout again, I''m going to cut your arteries,¡± Ruan Anxi said calmly.

    Rong Jilin wanted to get up, but Ruan Anxi moved as fast as lightning and pressed the scalpel against

    Rong Jilin''s neck. ¡°As I''ve said, I''m going to sh your throat if you move again.¡±

    Hearing that, Rong Jilin didn''t dare to move a muscle. ¡°Who are you? What do you want? Do you want

    money? I can pay you!¡±

    ¡°Be quiet. Are you Mr. Rong?¡± Ruan Anxi asked.

    ¡°I am...¡±

    ¡°Where''s your phone?¡± Ruan Anxi asked softly.

    ¡°In my bag...¡±

    Ruan Anxi signaled his subordinate to fetch Rong Jilin''s phone and instructed, ¡°Use his phone to log in

    to his Weibo. Delete his previous post and upload a new post. I want the post to say that the previous

    post was utter bullsh*t, and I want it to serve as an apology to Ms. Ning. Also, state that Rong Jilin is a

    dog that barks nonsense, and he would never dare to repeat his mistake.¡±

    The subordinate typed everything out and gave the phone to Ruan Anxi.

 Chapter 847

    Chapter 847

    Ruan Anxi took the phone. After checking to see that his subordinate had followed his instructions to

    the letter, he dropped the phone into the ss of water near him.

    ¡°Please let me go! I won''t dare to make the same mistake again,¡± Rong Jilin said, begging for mercy.

    ¡°What grudge do you hold against Ning Ran? Why did you badmouth her?¡± Ruan Anxi demanded.

    However, Rong Jilin was silent.

    ¡°Not going to talk? Well, then, remove his pants. I''m going to castrate him myself.¡±

    Rong Jilin was aghast. ¡°No! I made a mistake, and it''s all my fault. I bear no grudge against her. Nanshi

    Corporation was inpetition with us to secure DBA''s digital broadcasting rights in China. We almost

    had it in the bag, but Ning Ran approached David, and he changed his mind...¡±

    ¡°Who''s David?¡±

    ¡°He''s the CEO of DBA.¡±

    ¡°So, she went to the hotel because she was meeting that foreigner?¡± Ruan Anxi queried.

    ¡°That''s right,¡± Rong Jilin replied. He had thought that Ning Ran had sent Ruan Anxi to seek revenge

    against him. However, judging from Ruan Anxi''s response, it appeared he was unaware that she had

    gone to the hotel to meet David. Where on earth did this devil pop up from? I can''t believe he doesn''t

    work for Ning Ran.

    Here, Ruan Anxi threw another question at him. ¡°What did they talk about?¡±

    Although Rong Jilin genuinely had zero knowledge about the details of the pair''s conversation, he

    dared not say so. ¡°Probably about the broadcasting rights.¡±

    ¡°Did that David guy take advantage of her?¡±

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    Rong Jilin was even more terrified of answering that question. After all, he had previously hinted on his

    Weibo ount that Ning Ran had seduced David to secure the coboration between Nanshi

    Corporation and DBA. It was that Weibo post that provoked the ire of this devil. But now, he''s asking

    me whether David took advantage of her. In other words, he also believes something is going on

    between those two, right? That doesn''t make sense, though. If he believes that to be true, why did he

    delete my post and sh my face?

    ¡°Well, did he?¡± Ruan Anxi pressed.

    ¡°I... don''t think so,¡± Rong Jilin answered hesitantly. Although he knew nothing about Ruan Anxi, one

    thing he did know for sure was that thetter was on Ning Ran''s side. Hence, even if something

    happened between David and her, there was no way he could tell Ruan Anxi that. He was certain that

    doing so would only spell the end for him.

    Nheless, Ruan Anxi posed another question that caught Rong Jilin off guard. ¡°How do you know

    that?¡±

    Rong Jilin cursed inwardly. It''s too difficult to answer this question! Does he hope to hear that there''s

    something between them or not?

    Finally, he replied, ¡°I... She went to the hotel with anotherdy. The other person was a youngdy from

    the capital. She has a high social status, so it''s unlikely she''d be interested in a threesome. That''s why

    I don''t think anything happened.¡±

    ¡°You don''t think anything happened, yet you uploaded a Weibo post sullying her good name?¡± Ruan

    Anxi fixed him with a death stare.

    ¡°I''m sorry! I deserve to rot in hell! I was upset that I lost the deal to her, so I wanted to drag her name

    through the mud. I won''t dare to do it ever again!¡± Rong Jilin started pleading again.

    Suddenly, Ruan Anxi asked, ¡°Will it be your left foot or your right?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°I was going to slit your throat, but since this is the capital, I don''t want to stir up too much trouble.

    Hence, I''ll settle for crippling one of your legs. Do you want it to be the left one or the right?¡±

    ¡°Please, don''t! I know I messed up. I''ll pay you! I''ll pay you for my leg. I''m begging you. Don''t cripple

    me!¡± Rong Jilin howled.

    ¡°You refuse to choose? Very well. I''ll go with the right foot, then.¡± Ruan Anxi gave a quick upward tilt of

    his chin, and his subordinate dragged Rong Jilin over. When Ruan Anxi positioned the scalpel, the

    latter squealed like a stuck pig. However, his mouth was quickly covered to stop him from making any

    sound. Large beads of sweat dripped down his face, and not long after that, he passed out.

    At five o''clock in the morning, Rong Yi woke up. He woke up at the same time every day. As a young

    pianist with global influence, his musical aplishments were not merely due to his immense talent

    but also the hard work he put into practicing day in and day out. Ever since he got involved in

    managing his family''s business, his schedule became even tighter. He had to wake up early every day,

    then squeeze in time to practice piano after washing up and doing some morning exercise.

    My family doesn''tck money or need me to earn a living by being a pianist. Nheless, ying

    piano is my greatest passion. The joy of watching the business profit is nothingpared to what

    music brings me. That''s why I''ll continue practicing piano even though I haven''t had an official recital in

    a long time.

    He nced at his phone and saw several missed calls from his assistant. There were also two from his

    younger sibling, Rong Jilin.

    Rong Jilin was Rong Yi''s paternal half-brother. Rong Yi''s mother had gone missing when he was still

    very young, and his father hadter married another woman. They had two children¡ªa son called

    Rong Jilin and a daughter named Rong Rong. Although Rong Jilin referred to Rong Yi as his older

    brother, the two had never been close. In fact, Rong Jilin had gotten up to many malicious deeds

    targeted at Rong Yi. Thetter was gifted, but he did not likepeting with others. He immersed

    himself in music ever since he was young, unlike Rong Jilin, who was only interested in fooling around.

    However, Rong Rong and Rong Yi were as thick as thieves. She was intelligent and shared Rong Yi''s

    love for music. Although she and Rong Jilin were born to the same parents, they were not that close.

    On the contrary, she had a far better rtionship with Rong Yi.

    As it was still early, Rong Yi did not return the calls, thinking that his assistant and brother would still be

    asleep. He went running at the gym and did some strength training. Then, he took a shower, changed

    into clean clothes, and had breakfast before practicing piano. However, it was not long before his

    assistant called him again.

    ¡°Sir, something has happened to your brother.¡± The assistant sounded exhausted, probably having

    stayed up all night.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Rong Yi responded. Hearing that Rong Jilin was in trouble had be a norm already.

    Past incidents included getting into brawls, taking illegal drugs, and participating in illegal racing.

    Inevitably, Rong Yi was the one who would have to get someone to bail him out. Hence, Rong Yi was

    not surprised to hear that something had happened to Rong Jilin but instead was very calm.

    This younger brother of mine is known for stirring up some sort of trouble from time to time. It''s pretty

    much a monthly urrence.

    ¡°He was disfigured. There''s a sh on his face. The ligaments and Achilles tendon in his right foot

    were also severed. They''re operating on him as we speak, but if the operation is unsessful, I''m

    afraid he''ll end up a cripple...¡±

    ¡°What? Who would be so cruel? Which hospital is he at now?¡± Rong Yi was immediately shocked, and

    his heart started racing. It never crossed my mind that things would be so serious!

    ¡°ording to your brother, the culprit was a sickly man. We have yet to ascertain that person''s identity.

    However, the young master published a Weibo post badmouthing Nan Chen''s girlfriend before the

    incident, so we guess it was the Nan family''s doing,¡± the assistant replied.

    Rong Yi mmed his hands down on the piano keys, making a jarring noise. He roared furiously, ¡°The

    Nan family has gone too far! Even if there was a disagreement, how could they cripple one of us? How

    could Nan Chenmit such an atrocious act?¡±

    He was usually a cultured and refined gentleman, hardly prone to such fits of anger. Now, however, he

    was utterly enraged. My younger brother and I may have a strained rtionship, but we''re still family.

    The Nan family has maimed him cruelly, and it''s no longer merely a p in the face. It''s clearly a

    deration of war!

 Chapter 848

    Chapter 848

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran woke up early despite not sleeping well. She had not been checking Rong Jilin''s

    Weibo, so she had no idea that thetter had deleted that ndering post and uploaded a new one

    apologizing to her. Of course, she was also entirely in the dark that Ruan Anxi had forced him to do so.

    However, someone did notice it. It was none other than Wang Xiaoou who had stayed up all night with

    the public rtions team to think of a response n.

    Wang Xiaoou also thought it odd, wondering why Rong Jilin would take the post down so quickly and

    even apologize publicly. It took everyone by surprise. Hence, she called Ning Ran as soon as it was

    light out. She wanted to know whether Nan Chen had done something to pressure the Rong family,

    thus forcing Rong Jilin to change his tune.

    Ning Ran also could not make heads or tails of the situation as she did not know what had happened.

    However, I do know that Nan Chen must be awake already. He always gets up early. I''ve got to rush

    over to Raining Pavilion before the kids need to leave for school. It was toote to go therest night,

    and I didn''t want to wake the kids. It''s better to head over in the morning.

    When she arrived at Raining Pavilion, she was surprised to discover that the little ones were not yet

    awake. She had indeed gotten up too early.

    The housekeeper was preparing breakfast in the kitchen, and she went to help. A whileter, she heard

    Nan Chen talking on the phone in his study. She slowly moved closer, wondering whether he was

    talking to Luo Zhiyi so early in the day. However, after eavesdropping for a short while and guessing it

    was not the case, she entered the room to let him know she had returned.

    He looked a little grim after ending the call. ¡°Did you get backst night?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Since it waste and I was worried about waking the kids, I stayed the night at the old house and

    rushed over first thing in the morning,¡± she exined.

    ¡°What happened at the capital? You have to tell me everything now and exin every detail clearly,¡± he

    said, his expression serious.

    ¡°I''m sorry. I went to meet David without your permission¡ª¡±

    ¡°I already know about that. DBA has informed us about resuming our coboration negotiations. That''s

    wonderful news, but what I''d like to know is what happened between you and the Rong family''s second

    son.¡±

    ¡°Well, it''s like this...¡± Ning Ran proceeded to recount to him what happened at the capital. She did not

    spare any detail, and he listened intently.

    After a moment''s silence, he asked, ¡°Is that all?¡±

    ¡°That''s all. Ist met Rong Jilin at Medallion Restaurant, and we''ve not interacted with each other since

    then. This morning, Ou suddenly told me that he had deleted the post about me and even apologized.

    She wanted to know what happened, but I don''t know either. Was it you?¡± Ning Ran countered.

    The way Nan Chen was staring at her made her hair stand on end. ¡°Why are you looking at me like

    that? Did I say something wrong?¡±

    His gaze turned even colder. ¡°Have you really told me everything? You''re not hiding something, are

    you?¡±

    ¡°Of course. I''ve exined every single detail clearly. Why would I hide anything?¡± she responded, not

    understanding what he meant.

    He paced around a little, seemingly deep in thought. ¡°I received word that Rong Jilin has been seriously

    injured and hospitalized. I heard he had his face disfigured and the ligaments in his foot severed. If the

    operation is unsessful, he might end up as a cripple. There''s only one person I can think of who''d

    do something so cruel.¡±

    Ning Ran was shocked when she heard that. ¡°Someone severed the ligaments in his foot? Like what

    we see in TV shows? Are you serious?¡±

    ¡°The news came from a very reliable source, so it should be true. I can''t think of any other person.

    Apart from one person, I can''t think of anyone else who''d do such a thing.¡± Nan Chen studied her

    closely after saying that.

    Panicking, she replied, ¡°We must be thinking of the same person, but I didn''t meet with him. I only met

    with two people in the capital. One of them was Lu Jingyuan. After that, I went with her to meet David.

    There was no one else. I swear¡ª¡±

    He waved a hand at her. ¡°I trust you. Perhaps Ruan Anxi secretly followed you, but you just didn''t

    realize it.¡±

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    A chill ran down her spine. What''s that devil up to? Why did he follow me?

    ¡°Or maybe it wasn''t Ruan Anxi?¡± she ventured.

    Nan Chen shook his head. ¡°It has to be him. No one else would be so bold as to injure Rong Jilin in the

    capital, let alone in Rong Jilin''s hotel room. At the moment, no one knows how he got in. Moreover, no

    one else is as ruthless as Ruan Anxi. I''m sure it''s him.¡±

    ¡°Has the Rong family made a police report?¡±

    ¡°No idea. However, since Ruan Anxi dared to take things so far, he must not be worried about them

    making a police report. He has a thousand ways of getting away. It''s what he has done all these years,

    and he''s used to it already. It appears he was helping to punish Rong Jilin, but he has once again put

    me in a tough spot,¡± he uttered icily.

    ¡°I understand. The Rong family will surely think you''re behind it and me everything on you. They

    already have a grudge against the Nan family, and their hatred will only deepen after this,¡± she said,

    ending it with a sigh.

    Nodding, he replied, ¡°I''m d you understand. Did Ruan Anxi contact you?¡±

    ¡°No, he really didn''t. I wasn''t even aware that he had gone to the capital too. He''s like a phantom. No

    one ever knows his whereabouts,¡± she answered.

    ¡°Mommy, are you back? I heard your voice!¡± Having just woken up, Erbao burst into the room, bleary-

    eyed.

    Ning Ran swept Erbao up in her arms. ¡°Did you miss me?¡±

    ¡°Of course! Very much. I missed you three thousand!¡±

    ¡°Three thousand?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. It means I missed you more than a thousand or two thousand times!¡±

    Realization dawned on Ning Ran. Ah, what she means by that is she didn''t just miss me a ton, but way

    more than that. I didn''t know there were so many levels to missing someone. I''ve learned something

    new.

    ¡°Well, I missed you twice as much!¡± She gave Erbao a big kiss.

    ¡°Mommy, I want you to help meb my hair and wash my face,¡± Erbao said in a wheedling tone.

    ¡°Okay. I''ll help you do that. Then, we''ll head to school after breakfast,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    Watching the affectionate mother-daughter interaction, Nan Chen felt slightly jealous. He asked Erbao,

    ¡°How much did you miss me when I went away on a business trip?¡±

    The little girl gazed at him, then at Ning Ran while giggling. ¡°Three thousand!¡±

    Ning Ran could not help thinking about how well Erbao handled the question. She said she missed us

    the same, no more and no less. She treats us both equally.

    However, Nan Chen frowned. ¡°Just the same?¡±

    ¡°What''s the matter? Don''t tell me you want to one-up me,¡± Ning Ran teased with augh.

    ¡°All right. So be it. The two of you should go and wash up. I still have another call to make,¡± Nan Chen

    said. In truth, he and Ning Ran both had something on their minds. However, they put on a cheerful

    front before Erbao so as not to put pressure on thetter.

    There had always been bad blood between Prosperity Holdings and Nanshi Corporation. After what

    happened to Rong Jilin, his family would surely be livid and retaliate. Although Nan Chen had nothing

    to do with the incident, he would not take the initiative to exin it because he knew they would not

    believe him anyway. That''s just how some things are. Even if I exin it a hundred times, my attempts

    will be futile. Since there''s no point in exining the situation, I can only face it head-on.

    However, even though he remained calm andposed, Ning Ran knew that a storm was brewing.

 Chapter 849

    Chapter 849

    Afterpleting her work, Ning Ran met Nan Xing for lunch.

    There was nothing much to eat near Star Entertainment, so Ning Ran found a caf¨¦. The moment Nan

    Xing walked into the caf¨¦, his face was filled with disdain.

    ¡°Ning Ran, my dear sister-inw, it''s not often that you invite me for a meal. Is this the best ce we

    can go to?¡±

    Ning Ran red at him before saying, ¡°Although this ce is not posh, the food is still quite tasty. Just

    make do with it. We''re here for a discussion and not only for the food.¡±

    ¡°If you have something to discuss with me, then you should bring me to a better restaurant. How can

    you tell me to make do with this?¡± Nan Xing did not seem pleased.

    ¡°You talk too much. If you aren''t interested in eating here, then shall we have our discussion by the

    roadside?¡±

    There was nothing Nan Xing could do at that point. ¡°Fine. We''ll eat here.¡±

    Without asking Nan Xing what he wanted to eat, Ning Ran went ahead and made the order.

    ¡°There''s something important that I need your help with. You have to promise me that you will give it

    your best shot,¡± said Ning Ran with a serious face.

    Nan Xing began to panic. ¡°Why can''t you ask my brother to do it? If even he can''t do it, then I''ll be

    worse off. I refuse!¡±

    The instant Ning Ran heard his rejection, she became anxious. ¡°I haven''t even told you what it is. Why

    do you turn me down so quickly?¡±

    ¡°I won''t do it. Anything that you need help with must be something tough to handle. I''m a useless

    person, so I won''t be able to help you. It''s better that you ask my brother instead!¡±

    ¡°There''s no way Nan Chen would be able to do this!¡±

    ¡°If he can''t do it, then surely I won''t be able to! There''s no way I will do it!¡±

    ¡°What kind of attitude is this? How did you address me just now?¡± asked Ning Ran as she pointed at

    Nan Xing.

    ¡°What, can''t I call you my sister-inw?¡±

    ¡°Have you heard the saying that your elder brother is like your father, and your elder sister-inw is like

    your mother?¡±

    ¡°No! I have never heard of such things!¡±

    ¡°Well then, today you have! I''m your elder. Therefore, you will have to respect me and do as I say!¡±

    Ning Ran regarded him condescendingly.

    Scowling, Nan Xing huffed, ¡°If I knew you''d do this, I wouldn''t havee!¡±

    ¡°But, you''re already here, so you have to ept the fact. Besides, if you didn''te, wouldn''t I just go

    to you? How could you reject me immediately when I have yet to tell you what it is about? What kind of

    attitude is this? Don''t think that I won''t tell Nan Chen about your disrespectful attitude toward me.¡±

    ¡°I''m not disrespectful toward you. I just¡ª¡±

    ¡°Listen to me. This is something you can aplish. It isn''t difficult at all. You aren''t allowed to say no

    to me!¡± roared Ning Ran as she pointed at Nan Xing with her chopsticks.

    ¡°Ning Ran, it''s very rude to point at someone with your chopsticks, even if it''s at me!¡±

    She put her cutlery down. ¡°I know it isn''t polite to do so, but you made me anxious. Anyway, do you

    have a girlfriend?¡±

    At that instant, Nan Xing was delighted to hear that. ¡°Ning Ran, are you nning to introduce a girl to

    me?¡±

    ¡°I asked you if you have a girlfriend.¡±

    Nan Xing gave her question a thought before replying, ¡°I''m fooling around with a few girls, but I don''t

    consider them to be my girlfriends.¡±

    ¡°During this period, stop seeing those girls even if you aren''t serious about them,¡± said Ning Ran.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Because you now have a serious rtionship with a girl.¡±

    ¡°Who? Howe I know nothing about this? Ning Ran, are you the one who arranged this?¡±

    She nodded. ¡°Yes.¡±

    With that, a smile appeared on Nan Xing''s face. ¡°This is going to be interesting. So, the thing that you

    need me to do is to get a girlfriend?¡±

    ¡°Yes! Am I not good to you?¡±

    ¡°Well, you are. But, is she pretty?¡± Nan Xing hesitated.

    Ning Ran showed him a thumbs-up. ¡°She''s a gorgeous babe!¡±

    Nan Xing''s eyes lit up at that. ¡°Really? How is shepared to you?¡±

    ¡°She''s even prettier than me!¡± Ning Ran thought about it and continued, ¡°She''s probably one level

    above me!¡±

    Nan Xing smacked himself. ¡°That''s great! What does she do for work? Let me take a look at her photo

    first!¡±

    ¡°She''s a designer and an internationally-renowned one at that. She has received several awards.

    There you go. This is her photo.¡±

    Ning Ran took out her phone and searched for Lu Jingyuan''s photos before showing them to Nan Xing.

    He took one look and found her very familiar. ¡°Isn''t this beautiful woman thedy boss of that inn in

    Livingsfill?¡±

    ¡°Boss will suffice. There''s no need to call herdy boss. Yes, you have met her before,¡± Ning Ran

    corrected him.

    ¡°Ning Ran, are you pulling my leg? This woman has a grudge against me. She doesn''t like me, and I

    don''t like her as well,¡± grumbled Nan Xing with a frown.

    ¡°What grudge do the both of you have against one another? You went and chatted her up but got

    rejected. That''s all. How can you call that a grudge? As a man, you shouldn''t be so petty. Aren''t you

    embarrassed?¡± said Ning Ran.

    With that, Nan Xing became agitated. ¡°That wasn''t what happened! She was the one being

    unreasonable! Ning Ran, whose side are you on?¡±

    Ning Ran shrugged in response. ¡°It''s very obvious, isn''t it? I''m on her side. Can''t you tell?¡±

    ¡°Then what are you trying to do? Why are you introducing her to me all of a sudden?¡±

    Not wanting to lie to him any longer, Ning Ran went straight to the point.

    ¡°She has gotten into a lot of trouble because of us. Her family has forced her to leave Livingsfill and go

    to the capital. Every day, she is forced to attend boring matchmaking sessions, but she isn''t interested

    in those rich men. In order for her to leave the capital, she wants to lie to her family and tell them she is

    going away to see her boyfriend. Get it?¡±

    Nan Xing was too stunned to say a word.

    ¡°Are you all right? Did you not understand what I just said?¡± Ning Ran snapped.

    ¡°That''s not it. It doesn''t sound like you are getting me a girlfriend. Instead, it''s more like you are looking

    for a boyfriend for her,¡± said Nan Xing with an aggrieved expression.

    ¡°What''s the difference?¡±

    ¡°How is it the same? You''re just trying to get someone to pretend to be her boyfriend to let her leave

    the capital. Honestly, why don''t you just hire an actor for her!¡±

    ¡°Wow, you have such a good understanding of the story. You''re certainly Master Xing!¡± With that, Ning

    Ran gave him a thumbs-up.

    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    ¡°I''ll pay for this meal, but I''m not doing you this favor! No way!¡± Nan Xing eximed as he stood up.

    Ning Ran pointed to his chair andmanded, ¡°Sit down!¡±

    ¡°No! I refuse!¡± shouted Nan Xing.

    ¡°You''re going to do this for me no matter what! Have I ever asked anything of you before this?¡±

    Nan Xing thought for a while before answering, ¡°I don''t think so.¡±

    ¡°Then, why can''t you help me out with this one thing? Do I mean nothing to you?¡± questioned Ning

    Ran.

    ¡°Ning Ran, that''s a separate matter. If it were really your problem, I would do everything I can to help

    you¡ª¡±

    ¡°This is my problem! If you refuse to help me, then we shall cut ties from now on!¡± With that, Ning Ran

    mmed the table.

    That gave Nan Xing a shock. ¡°Cut ties?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    ¡°We are family¡ªnot friends. How can you cut ties with me?¡±

    ¡°Since you can''t even help me out with such a simple thing, then don''t even think about being friends

    with me. We will cut ties!¡± Ning Ran continued with her threat.

    ¡°Ning Ran, why are you so unreasonable?¡±

    ¡°I don''t care!¡±

    ¡°Fine!¡± Nan Xing also smacked the table. ¡°There''s no way I can cut ties with you. I agree to help you

    with this matter, but I have a request.¡±

    The moment Ning Ran saw that her threat had worked, she let out a sigh of relief. ¡°What kind of

    request? Tell me.¡±

    ¡°I want to speak to Lu... Lu...¡±

    ¡°Lu Jingyuan!¡±

    ¡°I want to speak to Lu Jingyuan in person. Is that okay?¡±

    ¡°She''s still in the capital. You will have to pretend to be her boyfriend and bring her over here before

    you can talk to her in person.¡±

    ¡°Is this matter risky? Ning Ran, be honest with me.¡±

    Ning Ran thought about the matter and said, ¡°I doubt it. Even if it''s risky, you''ll still have to do it!¡±

 Chapter 850

    Chapter 850

    After her discussion with Nan Xing, Ning Ran returned to thepany for a meeting with her team.

    When it was time to fetch the children after school, Ning Ran informed Wang Xiaoou before she left.

    In the parking lot, Ning Ran had just started the car engine when someone sneaked into the car before

    she could lock the doors.

    The man was wearing a hat and sunsses, and he exuded an eerie aura.

    ¡°Ran, how are you?¡± The soft voice of Ruan Anxi made one think of the hissing sounds of a venomous

    snake.

    ¡°Are you stalking me again? What exactly do you want?¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry. I won''t hurt you. I will be going away for a while, so I havee to bid you farewell,¡±

    replied Ruan Anxi with a grin.

    ¡°Haven''t you caused me enough trouble? Can''t you just let me off?¡± snapped Ning Ran.

    ¡°No, I can''t.¡± Ruan Anxi''s answer was resolute.

    ¡°I''m going to call the police right now!¡± With that, Ning Ran took out her phone.

    ¡°Don''t be like this. It isn''t good for you. Aren''t you going to fetch your children now? You shouldn''t scare

    them,¡± said Ruan Anxi eerily.

    At the mention of her children, Ning Ran dared not make a move anymore.

    She was well aware of the kind of person Ruan Anxi was.

    He was a man who lived in the darkness and had no qualms about noting into contact with

    sunlight again in his lifetime. Yet, there was nothing he could not do in the darkness.

    Once he had his eyes on a person, it would be very difficult to get rid of him.

    ¡°Ruan Anxi, if you dare touch my children, I will have it out with you. Don''t think that I''mpletely

    helpless. I won''t hesitate to perish together with you,¡± Ning Ran uttered ruthlessly.

    To that, Ruan Anxi waved his hand. ¡°There will be no need to do that. I won''t hurt your children.

    Besides, I like them very much. Don''t you worry¡ªI won''t frighten them by appearing in front of them.¡±

    ¡°Then get out of my car. I don''t want you here,¡± said Ning Ran curtly.

    ¡°Hey, didn''t I say I came here to say goodbye to you? Why must you treat me this way?¡± Ruan Anxi

    sighed before continuing, ¡°Even if we aren''t friends, we are still acquaintances.¡±

    Ning Ran did not say anything in response because she noticed Wang Xiaoou was walking toward her

    car. For a moment, Ning Ran began to panic.

    If Wang Xiaoou sees Ruan Anxi in my car, will she ask who he is? If she does, how am I going to

    answer her?

    ¡°Do you know her? I don''t want anyone to see me. Go,¡± whispered Ruan Anxi.

    Ning Ran stepped on the elerator, and the car sped forward.

    When they raced past Wang Xiaoou, the car was traveling at such high speed that she could not see

    who was in the vehicle.

    Wang Xiaoou found that strange. Is Ning Ran unhappy with me? Why did she drive past me and not

    stop to say bye to me? Did I do anything to upset her?

    After driving for about a few hundred meters, Ning Ran received a call from Wang Xiaoou.

    Ning Ran was contemting whether to answer her call. If I do, how will I exin my behavior earlier to

    her?

    ¡°Ou, I saw you just now, but something else was on my mind. That''s why I left so abruptly.¡± Ning Ran

    found a very far-fetched excuse.

    ¡°Oh, it''s fine. I thought something had happened to you. I''m d to hear that you are all right.¡±

    ¡°I''m all right. Everything is fine. Ou, thank you for your concern.¡±

    After Ning Ran was done with the phone call, she turned around to see Ruan Anxi staring at her with

    those creepy vicious eyes of his.

    ¡°Can you please stop looking at me like that?¡±

    ¡°You are very nice to look at,¡± said Ruan Anxi with a grin.

    ¡°Are you the one responsible for Rong Jilin''s injuries?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Why did you do it? That was way too cruel!¡± Ning Ran yelled.

    Ruan Anxi chuckled softly. ¡°Why did I do it? Don''t you know why? Because he bullied you. I had no

    choice but to get back at him.¡±

    ¡°I don''t need your help! We aren''t friends. We aren''t rted in any way!¡±

    ¡°Well, I''m not asking you to remember what I have done for you. I will take full responsibility for all the

    things that I have done. You won''t be implicated.¡± Ruan Anxi was extremely calm when he was talking.

    ¡°As for my cruel methods, that''s just how I am. You should already know that.¡±

    ¡°But, right now, the Rong family thinks that Nan Chen was the one who ordered someone to do it.

    Aren''t you making him your scapegoat?¡±

    ¡°Am I? Haha.¡± Ruan Anxiughed arrogantly. ¡°That''s good, then. I managed to kill two birds with one

    stone. Is Nan Chen in a lot of trouble? That''s great!¡±

    ¡°You''re shameless. You are nothing but a devil!¡± screamed Ning Ran in anger.

    ¡°I am and always have been. Ran, don''t be angry. Mr. Rong deserved it. He should consider himself

    lucky that I left him alive. As for his leg, he will still be able to walk normally as long as the surgery is

    done in time. He isn''t worth getting angry over!¡±

    ¡°Get out of my car now! The school is just ahead. I don''t want my children to see you!¡±

    ¡°Fine. Let''s say goodbye for now. Once I''m done with my things, I''lle and see you¡ª¡±

    Ning Ran cut him off, ¡°No need. I don''t ever want to see you again!¡±

    ¡°But, I want to see you. If there''s anything that Nan Chen can''t resolve, just give me a call. I''m going to

    miss you,¡± whispered Ruan Anxi in a gentle tone.

    Ning Ran was speechless. When she stopped the car, Ruan Anxi took his time getting out.

    Abruptly, a ck SUV drove up, and he got into it. The vehicle then sped away.

    Ning Ran leaned back in her seat and let out a long sigh of relief.

    Ruan Anxi was a difficult man to handle. She had no idea how she should deal with him.

    Meanwhile, at the entrance of the school, the bell rang.

    Both Dabao and Erbao did what they usually do, which was to take their time and wait until most of the

    students had gone out before slowly making their way out.

    Every time Ning Ran saw her two darlings ambling out of the school, a sense of happiness woulde

    over her.

    Ning Ran got out of the car and walked toward her children.

    Just then, a motorbike appeared out of nowhere and charged toward Ning Ran without any sign of

    stopping!

    ¡°Mommy!¡± screamed Dabao and Erbao.

    Almost immediately, a ck Audi in the vicinity started up and diagonally sped over, colliding with the

    motorbike.

    As the biker was highly skilled, he managed to get up instantly with his bike after being knocked down

    and tried to make a run for it.

    Just as the biker reached the road junction, a ck SUV sped over and struck the motorbike, causing

    the bike to fly in the opposite direction.

    It was chaotic after the few vehicles mmed into one another.

    Soon, five to six people surrounded Dabao and Erbao after a white Toyota sped over. ¡°Madam, please

    get into the car!¡±

    Just then, a Land Rover rushed forward and rammed into the ck SUV that had hit the motorbike.

    The men from the Land Rover got out and took the biker with them before they sped away.

    Some distance away, the police siren could be heard. They were on the way.

    Ning Ran had her arms around her children, while Erbao was so frightened that her face had gone

    pale. Although Dabao was equally pale, he looked pretty calm and was not scared at all.

    ¡°Madam, please get into the car. We will escort you out of here. There will be someone here to deal

    with the situation,¡± said one of the bodyguards from the Nan family.

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    ¡°All right then. Have you guys always been around us?¡±

    ¡°Yes, our task is to protect Little Master and Little Miss. Madam, don''t worry. Nothing will happen with

    us around,¡± the bodyguard assured as he nodded.

    ¡°Okay. Thank you.¡±

    Ning Ran could feel her heart beating irregrly, so she quickly took a deep inhtion.

 Chapter 851

    Chapter 851

    When Nan Chen got over there after rushing, Dabao and Erbao had already recovered from the shock.

    Although it was a sudden incident, everything was actually under control.

    The bodyguards that Qiao Zhan had arranged around the school were able to effectively protect Ning

    Ran and the kids'' safety at the most critical moment.

    Nan Chen caressed Ning Ran''s face with both hands. ¡°Did you get hurt? Are you sure you''re okay?¡±

    Since Ning Ran rarely experienced someone touching her face like that, she was feeling a little

    awkward. Moreover, Qiao Zhan was just beside them, so she felt shy.

    ¡°I''m fine, really! The motorcycle was struck when it was a distance away from us. It didn''t evene in

    contact with me. Don''t worry.¡±

    Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    Ning Ran stretched her arms and legs and leaped up to prove she was unharmed.

    Still, Nan Chen was worried. ¡°Let''s go to the hospital for a checkup, just to be safe.¡±

    ¡°I''m not injured. There''s no need for a checkup. You should go back to your business. You don''t have to

    mind me. I''m all right,¡± Ning Ran insisted.

    ¡°Are you sure you don''t need a checkup?¡± Nan Chen was clearly still worried about her.

    ¡°Yes, that really isn''t necessary. I''m not hurt, so having a checkup is merely a waste of time and effort.¡±

    Hearing that, Nan Chen nodded. ¡°Are my two Darlings okay? Get someone to provide them with

    counseling servicester. They''re probably terrified.¡±

    ¡°Sure, I''ll make the arrangements,¡± Qiao Zhan replied.

    ¡°I''m going to thepany. Jiang Zhe will cooperate with you to handle the rest of the matters,¡± Nan

    Chen said to Qiao Zhan.

    Ning Ran''s heart skipped a beat when she heard that. Nan Chen rushed over because of what

    happened. And now, he''s returning to thepany right after checking on us. There must be

    something urgent at thepany too!

    While walking out with Nan Chen, Ning Ran asked, ¡°Do you have some urgent matter to attend to?

    What''s wrong?¡±

    Nan Chen paused in his tracks. ¡°Yeah. Something happened, but I''ll take care of it. You should attend

    counseling sessions with the kids. I''ll ask Qiao Zhan to contact Qin Lan. She''s a professional

    psychological counselor. She can help the kids to handle the psychological problem caused by this

    incident.¡±

    Ning Ran responded softly, ¡°But I feel like something serious must have happened to thepany.

    Otherwise, you wouldn''t be leaving in such a hurry. If you don''t tell me about it, I''ll be worried and feel

    more uneasy.¡±

    Nan Chen remained silent, seemingly hesitating.

    Judging from his reaction, Ning Ran was even more convinced it was a major issue.

    ¡°Fine, don''t talk about it if you don''t want to. I''m not asking out of curiosity. I just don''t want to keep

    worrying about it,¡± Ning Ran exined.

    Nan Chen had a grim look on his face. ¡°Something happened at a branch overseas. One of the in-

    house finance officers confessed to ounting fraud to the police, so I have to organize an

    investigation to find out what exactly happened.¡±

    ¡°A confession of ounting fraud? Didn''t the third-party agency audit the ounts? Why is there

    ounting fraud?¡± Ning Ran questioned in shock.

    Nan Chen imed, ¡°For now, I''m not sure whether that branch has indeedmitted ounting fraud

    or someone tampered with the ounts during the assessment without anybody realizing the problem.

    However, I''m sure this must be a conspiracy. The same group of people, who attacked thepany

    previously, is undoubtedly behind this matter. Hence, I can''t allow it to continue to escte. I''m ending

    the conversation here. That''s pretty much what happened. I shall take my leave now, and I''ll be back

    after I''ve dealt with it.¡±

    ¡°Go on with your work. Don''t worry about us. I''ll take good care of the children. Also, I believe you can

    figure everything out. That finance officer who confessed to the matter must be a spy nted by

    someone in Nanshi Corporation to stir up trouble at a critical juncture.¡±

    Nan Chen nodded when he heard Ning Ran''s words. ¡°I''ll get to the bottom of what went wrong. You

    can rest assured.¡±

    At seven that night, Qin Lan finallypleted the psychotherapy with the two kids, and Ning Ran could

    bring the duo home.

    In truth, Ning Ran wanted to seek advice from Qin Lan on some personal issues as she had no idea

    why she hated it and even felt like puking whenever Nan Chen tried to touch her.

    Back then, Nan Chen had also mentioned that it might be a psychological problem and suggested Ning

    Ran consult Qin Lan, but Ning Ran rejected his offer.

    Ning Ran did not exactly know why she declined. One reason might be that she felt the rtionship

    between Qin Lan and Nan Chen was anything but ordinary because the duo was best friends, which

    made her feel somewhat repulsed by Qin Lan.

    And because of such feelings, she didn''t want to let Qin Lan know about her secret. Yet, if Qin Lan

    were to assist Ning Ran, she needed to know thetter''s secret. Thus, that matter dragged on until now

    without a conclusion.

    On top of that, Ning Ran was too embarrassed to speak about that issue.

    It was not easy to discuss such things with her closest friend, let alone with an unfamiliar doctor.

    Despite that, Ning Ran had the urge to inquire Qin Lan about it when she visited thetter''s clinic that

    day.

    Ultimately, she still failed to raise the issue and only thanked Qin Lan for helping the children.

    ¡°Don''t you have any questions to ask me? Actually, it''s especially necessary for adults to undergo

    psychological counseling. Nan Chen alsoes here frequently. We''ve been friends for years,¡± Qin

    Lan said with a smile.

    Her eyes became crescent-shaped from the smile, and she looked good like that.

    Nevertheless, Ning Ran felt slightly displeased because Qin Lan addressed Nan Chen by his name.

    After all, everyone in Flower City would refer to Nan Chen as Sir Chen, Mr. Chen, or Mr. Nan.

    Only a few people could call Nan Chen by his name.

    Even Ning Ran didn''t dare to address Nan Chen by his name in public. Yet, Qin Lan, who was only a

    psychologist, kept calling Nan Chen''s name, causing Ning Ran to be annoyed.

    Suddenly, Qin Lan queried, ¡°Do you have a problem with me?¡±

    Ning Ran was taken aback by her question. She smiled and answered, ¡°Of course not! I have to thank

    you for helping my children.¡±

    ¡°Your microexpressions tell me that you have issues with me. Do you disdain me for charging a high

    consultation fee, or do you think I''m not professional enough? Or could it be other reasons?¡± Qin Lan

    chuckled.

    Ning Ran was stunned. She figured out I was displeased by just looking at my facial expression. That

    alone is enough to prove that she''s extraordinarily professional!

    ¡°No, it''s really nothing. I''m just wondering what kind of problems Nan Chen faces for him to require you

    to assist him,¡± Ning Ran responded with a smile.

    Qin Lan stroked her hair before asking, ¡°Didn''t he tell you about it?¡±

    ¡°No, we''ve never discussed this before.¡±

    As Ning Ran spoke, she felt defeated again. Nan Chen talks about everything with Qin Lan, but not me.

    This can only mean that I''m not close enough to Nan Chen.

    Therefore, she hurriedly added, ¡°I usually don''t ask him about his personal issues. We respect each

    other, so if he doesn''t question me, I won''t do so either.¡±

    ¡°Hahaha!¡± Qin Lan burst outughing. ¡°You''re an interesting person. To tell you the truth, his problem

    was solved upon meeting you.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Ning Ran became even more confused. ¡°What exactly was his problem?¡±

    ¡°In the past, he didn''t know how to love someone and didn''t have feelings for people. Many girls

    pursued him, but he couldn''t fall in love with them. I once questioned his sexual orientation. But the

    truth is he isn''t into guys either and is even disgusted to be with them. Hence, the problem he

    encountered was that he had no idea how to love someone, and he disliked everyone. But ever since

    you appeared, he seems to have ovee this problem. He imed that seeing you makes his heart

    flutter, and he can clearly feel he''s attracted to you and has the urge to care for you.¡±

    After saying that, Qin Lan gazed at Ning Ran.

    Meanwhile, Ning Ran could feel her heart thumping. She had to admit that Qin Lan''s words boosted

    her ego.

 Chapter 852

    Chapter 852

    Ning Ran was feeling smug about herself when she immediately realized an issue. Did my facial

    expression give me away? Did Qin Lan see through my happiness? Do I look smug to her now?

    Ning Ran hurriedly adjusted her facial expressions and tried to appear normal.

    She chuckled in response to Qin Lan''s words, albeit a bit exaggerated, as she was anxious about

    hiding her true feelings and did not want Qin Lan to detect anything.

    Qin Lanughed as well. ¡°I''m curious. How did you manage to change Nan Chen? Because of your

    beauty? But that can''t be it. Several other pretty heiresses courted him previously, but he did not take a

    fancy to any of them. You are an exception; Nan Chen''s feelings for you are genuine. As they say, love

    cannot be exined using logic. I may be a professional, but I''m unable to analyze the reason behind

    his change.¡±

    Qin Lan''s words again made Ning Ran''s heart skip a beat while boosting her ego.

    ¡°You give me too much credit, Ms. Qin. In Nan Chen''s eyes, I''m merely a nanny helping to care for his

    children. I''m no different from the other women,¡± Ning Ran responded humbly.

    Qin Lan smiled, twisting her long hair. ¡°If there''s an opportunity, let''s have a drink together. I sense you

    have something to share with me. I think we will hit it off well, and there''s a possibility that we can be

    friends.¡±

    Ning Ran nodded. ¡°Sure. Thank you.¡±

    ¡°See you next time.¡± Qin Lan waved.

    Qiao Zhan opened the car door. After helping Ning Ran and the children into the car, he gave Qin Lan

    a polite nod and started the engine.

    ¡°Dr. Qin is one of Sir Chen''s few friends. Whenever he had a problem in the past, he would find her.

    Ever since you appeared, Sir Chen rarelyes here anymore.¡± Qiao Zhan initiated a conversation

    about the rtionship between Qin Lan and Nan Chen.

    Ning Ran frowned slightly upon hearing that. He will see her whenever he has a problem, but what

    does he do when hees?

    ¡°And then?¡± Ning Ran suddenly asked.

    Qiao Zhan was baffled by the question. ¡°And then?¡±

    ¡°Yes, when hees to visit Dr. Qin, what happens then?¡±

    Qiao Zhan thought for a while. ¡°From what I know, sometimes he does nothing and just sleeps there...¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Ning Ran, Dabao, and Erbao eximed almost in unison.

    ¡°No... It''s not what you think. Sir Chen would nap on the therapy chair and leave afterward,¡± Qiao Zhan

    hurriedly exined.

    After hearing Qiao Zhan''s exnation, Ning Ran and the two children were relieved.

    ¡°Sir Chen is constantly under pressure but can''t talk to anyone about it. As a psychologist, Dr. Qin

    ys the role of a listening ear. I guess this is why they became friends. Thereafter, with the

    appearance of the three of you, Sir Chen''s visits to Dr. Qin became less frequent. Having served Sir

    Chen for many years, I sincerely feel he is much happierpared to the past. This is all thanks to

    you,¡± Qiao Zhan said emotionally.

    ¡°That''s because of me! I''m a barrel ofughs, so Daddy is happy whenever he sees me!¡± Erbao

    boasted proudly.

    Dabao and Ning Ran exchanged a nce, but they could not be bothered to rebut Erbao.

    Just then, Qiao Zhan''s phone rang. He parked the car by the roadside and answered the call.

    The call took longer than expected,sting for more than ten minutes.

    In short, Qiao Zhan''s subordinate was updating him on the information gathered thus far about that

    afternoon''s incident outside the school gate. It seemed a littleplex, so the investigation was not yet

    complete.

    After hanging up the phone, Qiao Zhan told Ning Ran that the police had not found the biker yet. Thus,

    he reminded her to be cautious.

    Ning Ran nodded. She was worried as well.

    When Ning Ran woke up the next morning, she found Nan Chen sleeping in the study room.

    Nan Chen had not returned when Ning Ran went to bed, so she guessed he must have returnedte

    and immediately went to the study room to continue working. He most probably dozed off due to

    tiredness.

    Ning Ran did not want to wake him, so she left the room quietly.

    When she checked on Erbao next, she found thetter still sleeping.

    As there was no conclusion on yesterday''s incident, Qiao Zhan informed the school that Erbao and

    Dabao would not be attending school temporarily. Hence, Erbao was able to sleep a little longer.

    Ning Ran originally had work scheduled that day. However, due to the attack, herpany temporarily

    suspended all her activities for her safety.

    By the time Ning Ran prepared breakfast, Dabao had already woken up ande to the dining table.

    Ning Ran told him to be quiet so as not to wake Nan Chen up.

    Nevertheless, she saw Nan Chen standing behind her as she turned her head.

    He had not changed from his suit, and his hair was messy. Ning Ran felt a slight heartache when she

    saw his haggard face.

    ¡°Daddy, you look tired. Why don''t you sleep a little longer?¡± Dabao said thoughtfully.

    ¡°All right, I''ll sleep for another hour. Wake me upter,¡± Nan Chen replied.

    Nan Chen passed his phone to Ning Ran. ¡°Help me answer the calls. Call me if there''s anything of

    special importance.¡±

    With that, he headed to the bedroom and continued sleeping. It seemed like he was genuinely tired.

    Judging from his bloodshot eyes, Nan Chen most probably only caught some sleep at daybreak.

    Not long after Nan Chen went to sleep, his phone rang. It was a call from Jiang Zhe.

    Ning Ran exined that Nan Chen was sleeping as he was tired. She told Jiang Zhe to settle the

    matters on his own first. If there were any issues that he could not resolve, he would have to wait until

    Nan Chen was awake.

    Nan Chen finally woke up at ten o''clock, looking rejuvenated after freshening up.

    He then spent half an hour returning phone calls and replying to urgent emails before he started eating

    breakfast.

    Ning Ran and the two children had already finished their breakfast by then. They sat around Nan Chen

    and watched him eat heartily.

    At that moment, Qiao Zhan came to report thetest information.

    He obtained more details about the motorbike at the school gate yesterday. The motorbike was rented

    from a vehicle rentalpany.

    The person who rented it was a professional racer. ording to sources, he participated in some

    lower-tierpetitions before. However, he became addicted to gambling and racked up a huge debt.

    Thus far, he still could not be found.

    The first vehicle to ram into the motorbike in an attempt to protect Ning Ran belonged to Qiao Zhan''s

    subordinates.

    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    After the biker was hit, he tried to flee but was rammed by a ck SUV. That SUV did not belong to

    Qiao Zhan''s subordinates but another party who abruptly appeared.

    ording to Qiao Zhan''s analysis, that group seemed to be Ruan Anxi''s men. He reached that

    conclusion because Ruan Anxi was present in Flower City yesterday, which was ascertained by Ning

    Ran.

    And the final car that banged into the ck SUV belonged to another group that took the biker with

    them. The vehicle was found, but there were no signs of the driver or the passengers.

    As the biker was currently missing, nobody knew his motive for trying to run over Ning Ran.

    The most likely possibility would be someone offered to hire the biker and pay off his gambling debt if

    he could kill Ning Ran.

    Judging from the current circumstances, the Rong family was highly suspected to be the mastermind.

    They unleashed attacks on Nan Chen in both ways¡ªhispany and his family. That resulted in Nan

    Chen having to weigh his focus between resolving issues at work and watching out for his family''s

    safety. Inevitably, he would be worn out, affecting both his productivity and judgment.

 Chapter 853

    Chapter 853

    After finishing his brunch, Nan Chen returned to his study and continued working.

    Ning Ran, who delivered a cup of coffee to the study, overheard him speaking over the phone in

    frustration.

    He regained hisposure after tilting his head to look at Ning Ran.

    ¡°How is thepany?¡± Ning Ran asked softly.

    She instantly regretted asking because she knew Nan Chen would not have thrown a fit had the

    problem been resolved. Can''t believe I asked a pointless question.

    ¡°It''s fine. Still manageable,¡± Nan Chen replied calmly.

    As he spoke, he took a sip of coffee and knitted his brows slightly. It was probably because the

    beverage was too hot.

    ¡°Oh, okay. I guess there''s nothing much I can help with. I hope you can resolve it quickly,¡± Ning Ran

    uttered.

    ¡°What if I can''t?¡± Nan Chen interjected.

    Ning Ran was bewildered by his response. To her, there was nothing Nan Chen could not do.

    ¡°I mean, what if I can''t resolve the problem and get kicked out of Nanshi Corporation?¡± Nan Chen

    repeated slowly.

    ¡°How is that even possible? It''s impossible.¡± Ning Ran shook her head. ¡°There''s nothing you can''t do.¡±

    ¡°Last night, the stock price of Nanshi Corporation''s overseas listedpany fell by ten percent, and

    the parentpany lost billions overnight. Everyone in the corporation is anxious and believes I did an

    awful job leading thepany. The board members will be holding a Special Board Meeting this

    afternoon, and they areing over to question me. Based on thepany''s policy, they can remove

    me if I fail to handle the situation well. They''ll kick me out of the corporation once they obtain enough

    votes,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    Nan Chen sounded calm the whole time. It was as if he was not under much pressure.

    Contrarily, Ning Ran became anxious.

    ¡°Why did the stock price drop so much? How could the entire world believe that Nanshi Corporation

    had falsified their ounts based on the confession of just one person from the finance department?¡±

    Ning Ran was incredulous at the turn of events.

    ¡°Before, we were used of short-selling, but the allegation lost its impact after an auditor released a

    report that cleared our name. However, now that one of our employees hase forward with what

    they im is the truth, investors may start to doubt the authenticity of our financial reports. Despite our

    efforts to defend ourselves, people will not believe us unless the employee involvedes forward and

    admits the falsehoods they''ve spread. What a cunning move.¡± The creases between Nan Chen''s brows

    deepened while he took another sip of coffee.

    This seemed like a meticulously designed scheme and a tough nut to crack.

    ¡°Can we ask the person to rify things? After all, he''s on Nanshi Corporation''s payroll. Why would he

    do such a thing?¡± Ning Ran asked, confused.

    ¡°Money talks. Even good guys will step over to the other side if someone tempts them with benefits and

    privileges. We can''t contact him directly now that he''s under the custody of the foreign cops. We also

    can''t rely on our connections to contact him, as others might think we''re trying to cover it up. That''s

    how things might spiral out of control. So now, we need time to gather evidence to protect ourselves

    and prevent the stock price from continuing to plunge,¡± Nan Chen said.

    Though Ning Ran was not well-versed in business, she understood what he was talking about.

    ¡°If that''s the case, you can''t quit now. If you do, Nanshi Corporation will only sink into a greater crisis,¡±

    Ning Ran encouraged.

    Nan Chen walked over and rested his hands on Ning Ran''s shoulders. ¡°If they remove me, we''ll

    relocate to Livingsfill and buy over Ms. Tang''s guesthouse. We''ll spend days fishing by theke and

    enjoy our lives there. How does that sound?¡±

    ¡°That sounds good, but...¡± Ning Ran hesitated.

    ¡°You don''t seem happy. Do you think Livingsfill is too remote andcks the hustle and bustle of a big

    city? We can always go abroad,¡± Nan Chen proposed another idea.

    She replied, ¡°No, I think Livingsfill is great, but your charisma and impressive capabilities could lead

    you to achieve remarkable things. That''s something beyond what Livingsfill can offer.¡±

    Suddenly, Nan Chen''s phone rang again. He picked up the phone and gestured to Ning Ran to brew

    another cup of coffee.

    Meanwhile, at five in the afternoon, Ning Ran sat anxiously in the conference room of Nanshi

    Corporation''s headquarters while watching the board of directors walk in.

    Those big shots knew who Ning Ran was, but they did not quite understand why she was there.

    As the highest-level internal meeting of the corporation, the board meeting was expected to be a

    private affair until any decisions made during the session were officially announced to the public.

    Seeing an outsider there raised the question of how she was granted ess.

    Ning Ran and Nan Chen might have a special rtionship, but the directors would only regard her as

    an outsider.

    Nan Chen could bring her to various parties, but this high-level meeting was meant for serious

    business discussion, not the right ce for merrymaking, so they wondered why she was there.

    Despite having doubts in their minds, no one spoke up. They believed Nan Chen would exin

    everything clearly to everyone.

    Ning Ran kept her head down the whole time, attempting to avoid their stares, but there seemed to be

    no ce for her to hide.

    She wanted to hide under the conference table, but it would be embarrassing if someone caught her

    doing that.

    When Nan Chen said he would take her to the meeting, he did not exin in detail. He only told her

    that it was necessary for her to be there.

    Nan Chen only said that she would find outter why she needed toe and what she was there for.

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    Trusting Nan Chen would not bring her to the meeting to embarrass her, Ning Ran decided to follow

    him.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, who is thisdy?¡± a director could not help but ask Nan Chen.

    This director asked that on purpose as he knew who Ning Ran was. In other words, he was questioning

    her presence there. We should ask her to leave before starting the meeting, shouldn''t we?

    Ning Ran became more flustered. Poker Face, don''t you dare make me aughingstock in front of

    everyone!

    ¡°May I introduce Ms. Ning Ran, who is the appointed custodian of the major shareholders, Nan Sihan

    and Nan Sirui. As their legal representative, Ms. Ran will exercise their rights in thepany until they

    reach the age of maturity, as stipted in the legally-binding documents that had been signed and

    certified by a reputablew firm and notary public,¡± Nan Chen said while shaking a folder in his hand.

    The directors exchanged nces in confusion, unsure of how to respond.

    ¡°By the way, Nan Sihan and Nan Sirui are my daughter and son. They inherited their shares from my

    grandfather and have the same rights as us. Since they''re still minors, Ms. Ning will act as their

    custodian to exercise their rights. Any questions?¡± Nan Chen asked again.

    The directors knew nothing about this, as thepany''s regtion stipted that changes in the major

    shareholders'' equities were not subjected to the board''s approval. Hence, parties involved in the

    changes did not need to notify the directors.

    Moreover, the fact that the great-grandfather transferred his shares to his great-grandchildren was a

    family matter, so the board had no right to interfere.

    Nheless, they were appalled to learn Nan Zhengde gave his shares in thepany to his great-

    grandchildren instead of his son and grandson. They found it difficult to grasp the logic behind his

    choice.

    ¡°Any objections? ording to thepany''s regtions, Ms. Ning, as the representative of the major

    shareholders, can attend board meetings and be appointed as a director with the consent of all board

    members. Now we will vote. Please raise your hand if you agree to Ms. Ning''s appointment as a new

    director,¡± Nan Chen said while raising his hand.

    Once again, the directors exchanged hesitant nces with one another, unsure of how to proceed.

    Deep down, the directors held reservations about a young and attractive actress joining Nanshi

    Corporation''s highest authority, the board of directors. In addition, they also believed Ning Ran was not

    qualified for the position.

 Chapter 854

    Chapter 854

    Nan Chen''s hand remained in the air as he swept his cold gaze across the directors, who could not

    help but feel shivers running down their spines.

    Unable to withstand the pressure from Nan Chen, the directors started raising their hands one after

    another.

    Besides, they did not have the right to object as Nan Chen''s request was perfectly reasonable and

    adhered to thepany''s policies.

    The vote passed unanimously, and Ning Ran became the newest member of thepany''s board of

    directors who possessed voting rights.

    Just a minute ago, she was still an outsider who was not weed. However, she had now be

    one of thepany''s key decision-makers.

    That was a significant appointment as her opinions would have the power to influence the future

    direction of Nanshi Corporation.

    From then on, Ning Ran would have apletely different status at Nanshi Corporation. Instead of

    simply being Nan Chen''s girlfriend, she was currently a part of the board of directors, the most

    influential and powerful group of people in thepany.

    As a director, she held way more authority than any ordinary person from the upper management. Even

    Nan Xing, the deputy CEO of Nanshi Corporation, was of a lower rank than her.

    That was definitely a huge promotion that was unprecedented in thepany.

    ¡°All right. Now that we are done with our first agenda, let''s proceed to the next one. I would like to begin

    by sharing with you thepany''s current situation...¡±

    Nan Chen spoke about the stock plunge, which everyone was already aware of.

    Silence ensued in the conference room after the man finished speaking.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, have you thought of a n to tackle the situation?¡± one of the directors asked.

    ¡°Not yet,¡± Nan Chen replied in a straightforward manner.

    ¡°Something has to be done about the plummeting prices of ourpany''s shares. If this carries on,

    investors will lose confidence in us and start mass dumping their shares. When that happens, our stock

    price will drop even more, and the ones who would end up gaining the most would be those who short-

    sell our shares. Are we really just going to sit back and do nothing?¡± another director asked.

    Nan Chen''s expression darkened when he heard that.

    ¡°We are not doing nothing. We have been gathering evidence and have already started releasing them

    to the public,¡± Nan Chen said coldly.

    ¡°Will that be enough for us to turn the situation around when the stock market opens tonight?¡± someone

    else asked.

    The atmosphere in the conference room grew increasingly tense. A few directors who had kept quiet

    previously started speaking up, attacking Nan Chen with all sorts of difficult questions.

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    Nan Chen had always been high and mighty, and under usual circumstances, none of those directors

    would have dared to say anything in front of him.

    Since they were finally getting their chance to question Nan Chen, needless to say, they had to

    motivate each other to present their opinions and make their presence known.

    Nan Chen''s expression turned gloomier. However, he managed to tamp down his anger and not lose

    his temper. In times of crisis, it was important for thepany to stay united and not start an internal

    feud.

    Even though Nan Chen was usually very domineering, he knew that he had to bear with it in view of the

    larger picture.

    Nevertheless, the man''s forbearance led the directors to think that they were right and that Nan Chen

    should be fully responsible for thepany''s present predicament.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, why aren''t you replying?¡± one of the directors who spoke earlier asked further.

    ¡°What am I supposed to say?¡± Nan Chen questioned back.

    ¡°The entirepany is in chaos because of the stock crash. As the leader of Nanshi Corporation,

    shouldn''t you be doing something to solve the problem?¡±

    A sharp glint shed across Nan Chen''s eyes as he clenched his fists tightly. His patience was almost

    reaching its limit.

    He could hardly believe that those directors, who were usually so fearful of him, were ganging up

    against him at the first opportunity.

    ¡°How can you say that?¡± Someone suddenly spoke.

    It was not Nan Chen, but Ning Ran, the newly-appointed director.

    Everyone was momentarily stunned by her abruptment.

    She had just joined the board of directors less than an hour ago. What can she possibly say?

    She''s just an actress. Does she even know anything about business?

    Nan Chen was slightly startled as well. He could not help but think that Ning Ran was being impulsive

    and wished that she had kept her cool.

    She would be putting him in an even more difficult position if she had said something inappropriate.

    ¡°How do you know that Mr. Chen isn''t doing anything? Do you know what time he sleptst night? He

    only went to bed at seven in the morning and woke up three hourster at ten. He had stayed up the

    entire night to deal with thepany''s situation. Can''t you see the dark circles under his eyes? What

    were you doing when Mr. Chen was working hardst night? Thinking of how to make things difficult for

    him? It''s true that he is our CEO, but can the CEO alone manage such a hugepany? Nanshi

    Corporation is a massive business empire and not just a small enterprise. Just one man alone is not

    enough to help thepany move forward. Teamwork is important, and those at the management level

    y an integral role. Now that thepany is undergoing a crisis, does it make sense that you guys

    are just finding fault with him instead of brainstorming solutions together? Don''t you feel bad at all? Are

    you even human¡ª¡±

    ¡°Ahem...¡± Nan Chen started clearing his throat loudly before Ning Ran could finish speaking, forcefully

    interrupting her speech.

    She was doing rather well at the beginning. However, she got more agitated as she spoke and started

    scolding the directors.

    After all, it did not seem appropriate for the woman to be making personal attacks at Nanshi

    Corporation''s board of directors'' meeting.

    It sounded as if she was haggling over the prices of groceries at the market.

    The directors were dumbfounded after beingshed out at.

    It wasn''t the first time conflicts arose during meetings. Whenever that happened, everyone would settle

    it in a civilized manner withoutunching insults at anyone else.

    What''s wrong with this woman? How can she start scolding us when she has just be a director

    and barely knows what''s going on?

    ¡°Ms. Ning, how can you scold us like that?¡± a director asked furiously.

    ¡°I wasn''t scolding you. I''m discussing matters nicely with all of you. What I''m trying to say is that

    everyone has to work together to help Nanshi Corporation tide over this difficult period and not depend

    on Mr. Chen alone. There''s nothing we can''t handle as long as we stay united,¡± Ning Ran responded

    calmly.

    Nan Chen looked at her with praise. He was d that the woman was finally able to calm down and

    speak sensibly.

    The other directors fell silent once again, baffled by Ning Ran''s unpredictability.

    She did scold us just now. How can she lie through her teeth and not admit to it?

    Despite what they were secretly thinking, none of the directors could bring themselves to argue with

    Ning Ran, as fighting with a woman wouldn''t reflect well on them.

    More importantly, she was not just any woman but Nan Chen''s woman.

    Besides, as a director, she was of equal status to them, and they couldn''t do anything to her.

    As such, the directors were at a loss as to how to handle Ning Ran.

    Seeing that everyone was keeping quiet, Ning Ran silently breathed a sigh of relief.

    That gave her the assurance that her point was valid. Hence, she continued saying, ¡°If we leave it to

    Mr. Chen to deal with the situation alone, we would all share the glory if everything turns out well, but if

    things go wrong, he would be the one bearing the brunt of it. That wouldn''t be fair to him at all! Since

    he is the CEO, it''s right for him to have a bigger responsibility. However, if he is doing it all alone, why

    would thepany need us? What''s the use of having a management team?¡±

    Ning Ran mmed her hand on the table as a flood of emotions rose within her.

    She was an extremely attractive woman, but the way she mmed the table made her look like a

    gangster, which deeply contrasted the formal setting of the meeting.

    The directors did not know how to react as they had never been reprimanded by a woman in a meeting

    before.

 Chapter 855

    Chapter 855

    In the end, no conclusion was made from the board of directors meeting. Hence, they adjourned it to

    three dayster.

    In other words, Nan Chen got three extra days to tackle the problem. Should the issue still persist after

    the given time frame, the board would call for another round of discussion.

    If the matter went out of hand, someone would be scapegoated, and it was most likely Nan Chen.

    Otherwise, another top-level management staff would be made the victim.

    When Nan Chen returned to his office, Ning Ran dared not say a single word. She sat quietly with her

    head hung low, knowing her rash behavior must have embarrassed Nan Chen.

    Yet, she had no regrets.

    Although she reacted impulsively and blurted those words which were deemed rude and inappropriate,

    she spoke nothing but the truth. It was exactly what she had in mind to express herself clearly. To her,

    she did not spout any nonsense.

    She might have been too straightforward, but she felt she was on point.

    Nan Chen ignored her and continued working on hisptop. Perplexed, Ning Ran had no clue what he

    was thinking.

    After suppressing her curiosity for a while, she gave up. ¡°I know I''m an uncouth person,cking in

    polish and grace, but I couldn''t stand how they ganged up on you and gave you a hard time!¡±

    Standing, she continued, ¡°Who do they think they are? You always work so hard, which benefits them

    with lucrative dividends, but have they ever thanked you for that? Now that a small issue has cropped

    up, they want to put the me on you entirely? I can''t even bring myself to do that to anyone. Yet,

    those shameless old chaps made it sound like it was the right thing to do. The audacity!¡±

    Hearing so, Nan Chen lifted his head and nced at her. ¡°You''re swearing again?¡±

    ¡°No, I''m not. That''s just an expression. It''s only counted as swearing if you hear me say ''you *sshole''!¡±

    As soon as she said that, Jiang Zhe entered the office and was greeted by the dirty word she said.

    He was dumbfounded. Oh no, they''re fighting! I just walked into an argument and heard Madam

    lashing out at Sir Chen. Will I be implicated? How fierce and insolent is she to talk to Sir Chen like that?

    She even used such a vulgar word!

    Ning Ran, too, was stunned. She did not expect Jiang Zhe to show up all of a sudden. Why didn''t he

    knock before entering his boss'' office?

    ¡°I didn''t hear anything,¡± Jiang Zhe blurted in panic.

    Nan Chen frowned at his response.

    ¡°You did! You heard it, but you only caught thest word. You must hear my exnation.¡± Ning Ran got

    all worked up.

    ¡°No, I didn''t hear anything.¡± Jiang Zhe was almost in tears. How can a lowly assistant like me overhear

    a conversation where someone utters profanities at my boss?

    ¡°No, you heard it, and you must listen to the full story!¡± growled Ning Ran.

    ¡°All right, please enlighten me,¡± Jiang Zhe said with a wry smile.

    ¡°You only heard thest part and not the first. Prior to that, Mr. Chen used me of swearing. I refuted

    by saying that it''s only considered vulgar if I said ''you *sshole.'' Therefore, I wasn''t directing it at Mr.

    Chen but ''you¡¯,¡± Ning Ran justified her speech solemnly.

    Instantly, Jiang Zhe widened his eyes in shock. Why am I the *sshole when the two of you were the

    ones arguing?

    Afterward, Ning Ran sensed something was amiss. The ''you'' I was referring to felt a bit off. Did I make

    myself clear?

    ¡°I meant to say Mr. Chen wasn''t the ''*sshole'' I was talking about...¡±

    At that point, Nan Chen furrowed his brows even more. Is this woman out of her mind? Why does she

    keep cursing? Does she not care about her image?

    ¡°That''s enough!¡± Left with no choice, Nan Chen had to put a stop to the fiasco before Ning Ran made

    things even moreplicated.

    Then, Nan Chen asked Jiang Zhe coldly, ¡°What are you doing here? State your purpose of visit.¡±

    ¡°Precisely! You didn''t knock before entering the room and created this whole misunderstanding. Now, I

    can''t even exin myself properly.¡± Ning Ran went ballistic.

    Jiang Zhe felt wronged. ¡°I was unaware that both of you were fighting... I mean, showing affection for

    each other. Thus¡ª¡±

    ¡°Say what you''re here for already!¡± Nan Chen and Ning Ran roared simultaneously.

    Upon realizing that she stole Nan Chen''s line, Ning Ran was so scared that she covered her mouth

    immediately.

    Oh no, I just made another blunder! I should stitch this d*mned mouth of mine! After all, one is bound to

    have a slip of the tongue if one speaks too much.

    ¡°Well...¡± Jiang Zhe recollected himself and said, ¡°I''ve investigated the background of the finance officer

    who turned himself in to the police. Before he was employed by the overseas branch of Nanshi

    Corporation, he interned at Prosperity Holdings for three months. However, this wasn''t stated on his

    resume, and that''s why the human resource department didn''t pick it up.¡±

    ¡°So, he''s a spy nted by the Rong family?¡± asked Ning Ran.

    Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    Nan Chen shot her a look and grimaced.

    Didn''t she decide to shut her mouth? Why can''t she practice some self-control? Jiang Zhe has already

    made it crystal clear, so what''s the point of repeating what he said? Why does she need to yell all the

    time?

    ¡°I''ve already guessed that was the case.¡± Nan Chen kept hisposure and added, ¡°But I suspected

    the Ouyang family instead of Prosperity Holdings.¡±

    ¡°What should we do now?¡± Jiang Zhe asked.

    ¡°Find the officer''s family members and check if they''re able to contact him. As long as he admits he told

    a lie, I can let this slide,¡± replied Nan Chen indifferently.

    ¡°Mr. Chen, this is driven by greed. I think we should contact the police station abroad where he turned

    himself in and find ways tomunicate with the finance officer directly¡ª¡±

    Nan Chen interrupted Jiang Zhe''s counterproposal, ¡°I won''t do that, and neither will I pay hush money

    to buy him off. This will only let our enemy have dirt on me. My intention in asking you to look for his

    family is to let them know that Nanshi Corporation has never treated its staff badly. Thepany has

    never done anything wrong toward its investors, nor have wemitted any uneptable social

    norms. Someone is maliciously ndering Nanshi Corporation, and we''ll take legal action once this

    matter is over. There are tens of thousands of employees working for Nanshi Corporation globally.

    We''ve got no idea how many spies are nted in our midst by otherpanies. As a matter of fact, it''s

    a challenge to find that outpletely. Therefore, we need to take a stance and let them know that all

    staff is required to perform their best at work for as long as their employment contract is valid, which

    applies to everyone at Nanshi Corporation, regardless of their motives. This should let them know that

    we will never let the person off easy if they ever stir up trouble!¡±

    ¡°Noted, Mr. Chen. I understand now.¡± Jiang Zhe bobbed his head.

    As Ning Ran was listening to Nan Chen, a beautiful face shed across her mind. She thought of Rong

    Rong, whom she had met briefly in Livingsfill.

    Rong Rong was the sister of Rong Yi and Rong Jilin.

    Now that the Nans and the Rongs are officially at war, they''re bound to hurt each other. Would it be

    possible to get everyone from both sides of the prominent families to meet up, clear the air, and

    reconcile?

    When Ning Ran part with Rong Rong in Livingsfill, she kept thetter''s contact.

    Since the headquarters of Prosperity Holdings moved to Flower City, I wonder if Rong Rong has

    relocated too. Or is she studying elsewhere? If she''s in Flower City, we can totally organize an in-

    person meeting for the heads of both families to talk things over. She can invite Rong Yi, and I''ll bring

    Nan Chen along. We could mend their rtionships and resolve the enmity through that meeting.

    Wouldn''t it be great if this idea worked out? Rong Yi is a suave and elegant gentleman. Coupled with

    his love for music, I bet he''s an understanding person too. Yes, this n will most likely seed.

 Chapter 856

    Chapter 856

    ¡°Ran?¡± Surpriseced Rong Rong''s tone when she received a call from Ning Ran.

    Thetter was rather relieved that there were no signs of hostility or wariness in Rong Rong''s voice.

    After all, Nan Chen was alleged to have caused Rong Jilin''s leg injury. With Rong Jilin being Rong

    Rong''s brother and Ning Ran''s rtionship with Nan Chen, Ning Ran was implicated too.

    Thus, she had been worried that Rong Rong would resent her, refuse to answer her phone call, or be

    hostile toward her.

    Ning Ran heaved a sigh of relief when Rong Rong sounded normal.

    ¡°Yes, Rong. It''s me, Ning Ran.¡±

    She was rather excited to get connected with the lovely Rong Rong, who had been on her mind for the

    longest time.

    ¡°I know since I saved your number, Ran. I just didn''t expect you to call me,¡± eximed Rong Rong.

    Ning Ran recollected herself and asked, ¡°Where are you, Rong?¡±

    ¡°I just returned from a trip to Epea. As soon as Inded and turned on my phone, I saw your iing

    call. I''m still at Flower City International Airport,¡± said Rong Rong.

    Ning Ran was thrilled to hear that. ¡°Stay where you are and wait for me¡ªI''lle and get you. Find a

    cafe and have something to drink while you wait. I''m on my way, okay?¡±

    ¡°Don''t trouble yourself, Ran. I''m sure you''re busy. I''ll be fine since my brother has arranged transport

    for me,¡± Rong Rong uttered.

    Needless to say, Ning Ran could not give up on such a great opportunity. ¡°Just wait for me. I''ll be there

    in a jiffy. See you soon!¡± she insisted before hanging up.

    Thereafter, she turned and saw Nan Chen standing behind her, wearing a cold expression on his face.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡± he asked.

    Ning Ran did not slow down a second. She grabbed her handbag and said, ¡°I''m heading to the airport

    to meet a friend. I''ll tell you the detailster.¡±

    ¡°Which friend?¡± He seized her wrist, feeling rather suspicious.

    Initially, Ning Ran wanted to share her ns with Nan Chen. However, she was not sure if Rong Yi

    would agree to the meet-up.

    Nan Chen has always been prideful. If Rong Yi turns him down, he will surely feel humiliated.

    Therefore, Ning Ran decided to keep it a secret. Once Rong Rong extended the invitation to Rong Yi,

    and thetter confirmed his attendance, Ning Ran would thene clean with Nan Chen.

    ¡°A female friend who has just returned from Epea. She''s at the airport now, and I need to rush there to

    see her.¡±

    ¡°A female?¡± Nan Chen looked doubtful.

    ¡°Yeah, a girl.¡±

    Nan Chen wanted to ask if it was Ruan Anxi, but he changed his mind in the end. Asking the question

    would only make him sound petty.

    ¡°Go ahead, then. I''ll ask Qiao Zhan to drive you there.¡±

    ¡°Oh, it''s okay. I''ll go alone.¡±

    Her response made his suspicions grew.

    Who''s the mysterious person? Why isn''t she allowing others to tag along? It''s a critical moment for us

    right now. How can she go out on her own?

    Ning Ran, on the other hand, also felt that it was a bad move to decline Nan Chen''s offer, for it would

    make him suspect her more.

    Hence, she quickly rified, ¡°I mean, it''s a meeting between twodies. If Qiao Zhanes along, we

    might feel ufortable.¡±

    Nan Chen thought for a while before responding, ¡°He will wait for you outside and not disturb you. He

    knows the rules.¡±

    ¡°Okay, then. I''ll let him drive me there. All right, I''ve got to go. Talk to youter!¡±

    Ning Ran left hastily as she did not want to make Rong Rong wait for too long.

    Ning Ran has never been good at hiding things or concealing her emotions; anyone with a brain can

    figure out that something fishy is going on. Nan Chen gazed at her back profile and thought to himself.

    As soon as she left, Nan Chen called Qiao Zhan.

    When Ning Ran came out of the elevator, Qiao Zhan was already standing by the car door, gesturing

    her to enter.

    She got in and announced, ¡°Let''s go to the airport.¡±

    Qiao Zhan turned to look at her several times as though he had something to say, but he hesitated

    each time.

    ¡°Let it out of your chest, Chief Qiao. There''s nothing you can''t tell me,¡± Ning Ran cut to the chase.

    He smiled and replied, ¡°Madam, you''re very clever. Actually, it''s nothing serious. Sir Chen just wanted

    me to report to him whoever you''ll be meeting.¡±

    Ning Ran chuckled. ¡°What if I tell you not to say a word to him?¡±

    ¡°Oh, then you''ll be putting me in a difficult spot. I...¡± Qiao Zhan sighed, not knowing what else to say.

    Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Don''t worry. I''m meeting a girlter. Just tell Nan Chen that she''s a woman and you don''t know

    anything else. That will do.¡±

    Qiao Zhan nodded and agreed, ¡°All right, I got it.¡±

    Ten minutester, Ning Ran found Rong Rong at a cafe. She was still as charming as how Ning Ran

    remembered her to be.

    Rong Rong gave her a hug upon seeing her.

    ¡°Have you eaten? I''ll treat you to a big meal to celebrate your return.¡±

    ¡°I''ve eaten during the flight here. Is there anything I can help you with, Ran?¡±

    Rong Rong was a smart girl. She knew that Ning Ran was undoubtedly up to something.

    ¡°I wish to talk to you about Rong Jilin.¡± Ning Ran did not want to beat around the bush.

    ¡°What about my brother?¡± Rong Rong answered with a question.

    Ning Ran was confused. Does she not know what happened to Rong Jilin? Or is she just ying

    dumb? Anyhow, Rong Rong is very innocent. She doesn''t look like she is pretending.

    ¡°None of your family members told you what happened?¡±

    ¡°I don''t meddle with my family affairs. Moreover, the rtionship between Jilin and I... is only so-so. I

    don''t agree with most of his actions, so we rarely keep in touch. That''s why I''m not aware of his

    matters. What did he do? Did he hurt you, Ran?¡± Rong Rong was worried.

    ¡°Hmm... It''s quite a long story. So...¡±

    Then, Ning Ran tried her best to summarize the series of events to Rong Rong.

    ¡°As a consequence, Jilin is now crippled?¡± Thetter teared up.

    Although they did not see eye to eye with each other, they were still siblings. Rong Rong felt sad that a

    mishap had fallen on her brother.

    ¡°ording to thetest news, his surgery was sessful, and the injury won''t affect his movements.

    However, he might not be able to carry heavy things in the future. Anyway, your brother is a rich heir

    who doesn''t need to do any hard work, so it should be fine for me to say that there shouldn''t be any

    major impact on his life,¡± Ning Ran concluded.

    Rong Rong gave a weak nod. ¡°I had been traveling around Northern Epea, where phone signals were

    not always operating at their best in most ces. In addition, I don''t surf the web often. That''s why I

    wasn''t aware of the news. Yi didn''t update me, either. He has never really concerned himself with my

    way of life, so I really am clueless about it. I''m not ying dumb, Ran.¡±

    Ning Ran held her hand and said, ¡°Of course, I believe you. I''m telling you this today not because I

    want us to be at odds with each other. Conversely, I don''t want any more misunderstandings between

    your family, Nan Chen, and me. We''re sorry about what happened to Rong Jilin, but we didn''t do that to

    him. Although we''re businesspetitors, wepete responsibly and with self-control. Nan Chen

    and I would never hurt anyone for the sake of winning a business deal. Please trust me.¡±

    Rong Rong nodded vigorously. ¡°I trust you, Ran. What can I do to help?¡±

    ¡°If possible, I''d like to arrange a face-to-face meeting with your eldest brother and exin everything to

    him. Rong Yi is a musician and also a gentleman. I''m confident we can resolve the misunderstanding if

    wemunicate openly and sincerely. I don''t want to see the two families fighting continuously and let

    a third party take advantage of our long-standing feud.¡±

    Rong Rong pondered for a bit before nodding. ¡°It shouldn''t be a problem. Yi dotes on me, and I think he

    will say yes.¡±

 Chapter 857

    Chapter 857

    Nan Chen received Qiao Zhan''s report that Ning Ran was currently having coffee with a pretty young

    lady. Although the girl looked familiar, Qiao Zhan could not recall where he had seen her before.

    Nevertheless, it did not matter if Qiao Zhan could not remember the girl. The important thing was that

    Ning Ran did not meet with a man.

    Hence, Nan Chen continued on with his business and ignored Ning Ran''s matters.

    However, he soon received a call from Ning Ran. Thetter requested that he make arrangements to

    apany her to meet up with a friend for a mealter that night.

    Nan Chen thought it strange. Currently, Nanshi Corporation was facing a crisis, and Ning Ran was not

    unaware of the enormous amount of stress that he was under. So why is she trying to set up a meeting

    now, of all times?

    It also seemed like Nan Chen was always the one who organized such events and requested Ning

    Ran''spany, not the other way around. Ning Ran had never requested hispany for any

    asion.

    After all, there was Nan Chen''s status to consider. An ordinary person could never hope to invite him.

    Since it was Ning Ran''s first time setting up a meeting, Nan Chen agreed to it with a condition. He only

    had half an hour to spare, and he wasn''t nning to stay for the entire time. He was only going to show

    his face, greet a few people, then leave. He was a busy man, after all.

    Truth be told, Nan Chen rarely spent a long time at such events. He would only make a brief

    appearance at dinner meetings and public affairs.

    As long as Nan Chen was willing to appear at the event, he was already giving face to the organizer.

    At six o''clock in the evening, Nan Chen''s car arrived at the entrance of Imperial Gourmet Club.

    A ck-suited Nan Chen stepped out after the driver opened the door. He then headed toward the

    entrance of the club.

    The owner of the club came out to greet him personally. This would be the first time Nan Chen dined at

    his establishment, and he nned to brag about it to his friends on social media for a long time.

    ¡°Sir Chen, my name is Chen Quan. Please let me know if you need anything.¡± Bowing, the owner

    handed over his business card. He wasn''t about to let the opportunity to get acquainted with Flower

    City''s top elite slip through his fingers.

    Nan Chen merely nodded in response. He epted the proffered card, gave it a light perusal, and

    passed it to someone standing near him.

    ¡°This way please, Sir Chen.¡±

    With his head held high, Nan Chen walked in without uttering a word.

    Just as he reached the door, he suddenly heard the sound of another vehicle.

    Nan Chen faltered in his steps. Wasn''t this ce supposed to be entirely reserved so no one would

    bother them? So why is there another car?

    The person who got out of the car was dressed in a casual gray suit. He was a handsome man with

    clear skin and warm eyes. His gaze carried no hint of hostility at all, and his every move exuded cool

    and calm elegance.

    The man in question was a renowned pianist in Asia who had won many awards internationally, Rong

    Yi.

    The eldest son of the Rong family and a financial expert in the financial industry, Rong Yi was a true

    mastermind behind the scenes.

    Every time Nan Chen encountered Rong Yi, he felt as if thetter was his greatest rival in China.

    They were both men who werepletely different types. Nan Chen gave off a fierce aura and the

    impression of a king to others. Due to that, people naturally distanced themselves from him.

    On the other hand, Rong Yi was the opposite. As his name suggested, he was very approachable and

    did not make a person feel intimidated.

    Under that gentle appearance concealed an energy that could stir up storms. Although he could hold

    out a gentle hand one moment, he could also put a de to one''s throat the next.

    Nan Chen stood there and watched as Rong Yi slowly approached him.

    He had not expected the person Ning Ran invited to be Rong Yi. Rong Yi, too, did not expect that the

    person Rong Rong wanted him to meet was Nan Chen.

    Simultaneously, the two of them eyed each other cautiously.

    Rong Yi''s first thought was that Nan Chen was acting guiltily, and he assumed that thetter had forced

    Rong Rong, who had just returned to the country, to rush over from the airport, forcing the girl to set up

    a meeting with himself.

    Meanwhile, Nan Chen''s first reaction was that Rong Yi had gotten the better of him, and thetter was

    taking advantage of the situation to negotiate with Nan Chen, forcing him to hand over more benefits

    and for him to apologize to Rong Jilin.

    Rong Jilin had posted on Weibo beforehand, insulting Ning Ran even though his foot injury was caused

    by the people Nan Chen sent. Of course, Nan Chen refused to apologize.

    Rong Yi believed that although Rong Jilin was also in the wrong, he was still a member of the Rong

    family. Nan Chen''s actions of sending someone to injure Rong Jilin was a tant deration of war

    against the Rong family.

    Since the two families had a long-standing grudge, the incident only served to add fuel to the me.

    Rong Yi walked forward slowly. He could feel the cold and arrogant aura that Nan Chen was giving off.

    Even if other people were afraid of Nan Chen, he was not afraid of the man.

    ¡°Did you coerce Rong Rong to set this up?¡± Rong Yi inquired calmly.

    Nan Chen''s eyes darkened as he replied frostily, ¡°Aren''t you the one who kidnapped my wife?¡±

    The owner of the club hurriedly tried to smooth things over. ¡°Since the two of you are important guests,

    all the expenses today will be on me. The twodies who arrived before you appeared to be amicable

    when they went in. No one was forced in unwillingly. I can personally attest to this.¡±

    Naturally, Nan Chen knew that Ning Ran wasn''t being held against her will since Rong Yi was not that

    sort of person. Moreover, she had Qiao Zhan with her.

    However, Nan Chen was displeased that Rong Yi used him of kidnapping Rong Rong the moment

    they met. Hence, he had fired back with a retort of his own.

    A strong person tended to be more lenient and tolerate those who were weaker than themselves.

    However, the gloves came off when it came to a person who was on par with themselves.

    Snorting, Nan Chen continued to walk into the restaurant.

    Rong Yi purposefully slowed down because he felt as if he would be thought of as Nan Chen''s follower

    if he trailed behind thetter. By slowing down and keeping a distance, they would each walk their own

    paths.

    Rong Yi, who was heavily influenced by music, had a different side to him. Even a tiger could

    appreciate a rose.

    Ning Ran and Rong Rong both got to their feet the moment Nan Chen entered the private room.

    Just as Ning Ran was introducing them, Rong Yi entered.

    Although the two men were wildly different, there was no denying that it was a pleasant experience to

    be in thepany of extremely handsome men.

    It was a good thing that there were no other men present, for they would have the urge to escape. An

    ordinary man would only feel inferior in their presence.

    ¡°Yi, you''re here!¡± Rong Rong went over and hugged Rong Yi''s arm.

    Although it had seemed like a casual gesture between a younger sister and a doting elder brother, it

    was, in fact, a form of physicalmunication.

    Rong Rong was hinting at Rong Yi to behave himself, reminding him that he should not antagonize the

    guests she had invited.

    Ning Ran turned to Nan Chen. ¡°Rong has just returned from Epea today. Since we haven''t gathered in

    a while, I thought, why don''t we have a meal together.¡±

    Naturally, Nan Chen understood Ning Ran''s intentions. She was making use of Rong Rong''s

    rtionship with Rong Yi to invite thetter in hopes that they would be able to negotiate.

    However, she was far too naive.

    If it had only been a personal conflict between Nan Chen and Rong Yi, it could have been easily

    resolved with today''s meeting.

    However, this matter concerned the two families and the interests of their respectivepanies. It was

    not something that could be solved with a simple gathering.

    Most of the time, the conflict could only be resolved if one party gave way.

    Since they were two families with a long-standing grudge, it was near impossible to hope that one side

    would give in.

    Also, since it involved their families, it could not be settled with merely Rong Yi''s or Nan Chen''s words

    alone, for they still had to face immense pressure from their own families.

    In an ideal world, all past feuds could be forgotten with a smile. However, if a feud could be forgotten so

    easily, it likely was not one that was borne of true hatred, to begin with.

    Although Nan Chen and Rong Yi were not too pleased, still, they took their seats so as not to

    embarrass their respective acquaintance and family member.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

 Chapter 858

    Chapter 858

    The atmosphere of the dinner turned out to be more awkward than the twodies thought.

    As it turned out, Rong Yi was also someone not fond of talking. He was very quiet.

    That was a shared quality between him and Nan Chen.

    Unfortunately, the only simrity between the two men made it even more challenging for them to get

    along with each other.

    Ning Ran had pulled many strings to get the two of them together for a meal. Seeing that her n was

    about to fail, she began to panic.

    ¡°Ahem.¡± Ning Ran cleared her throat and raised her ss somewhat awkwardly. ¡°Let''s raise a toast! It''s

    a rare opportunity for all of us to gather together.¡±

    Yet, neither Nan Chen nor Rong Yi budged. Both parties were waiting for the other person to make the

    first move, for neither of them wanted to drink with the other person.

    To lighten the mood, Rong Rong raised her ss to y along. ¡°That''s right. It''s rare that we gather

    together. Let''s make a toast! Until now, I still remember the time Ran had stood up for me against the

    delinquents back in Livingsfill.¡±

    Rong Rong was hinting to Rong Yi that Ning Ran was her friend. In other words, Rong Rong was

    expecting Rong Yi to save Ning Ran some face despite his hostility toward Nan Chen.

    As a well-mannered man, Rong Yi caught onto Rong Rong''s hint quickly and reluctantly raised his

    ss.

    Seeing that Rong Yi had raised his ss, Nan Chen followed suit. The four of them clinked their

    sses before taking a sip respectively.

    However, the room fell back into a heavy silence after the toast.

    Unhappy with the progression of the meeting, Ning Ran tried to turn things around. Even if she failed in

    the end, she could tell herself that she had at least tried.

    ¡°Mr. Rong, there are a few things I would like to say. If I say anything wrong, please forgive me,¡± Ning

    Ran said with a polite smile.

    Rong Yi nodded courteously. ¡°Go ahead, Ms. Ning. I''m not easily offended.¡±

    Taking a few deep breaths to calm herself, Ning Ran thought over her words carefully. ¡°Firstly, I would

    like to express my sympathy toward the unfortunate incident that had befallen Rong Jilin. Even though

    he initially was the one who insulted me on Weibo, I assure you that we have nothing to do with him

    being beaten up by others.¡±

    Naturally, the ¡°we¡± that Ning Ran mentioned included Nan Chen and the rest of the Nan family.

    Ning Ran was familiar with Nan Chen''s pride. She knew that he would never lower his head in front of

    the Rong family over this incident. Thus, she did not even mention Nan Chen''s family name in her

    rification but used the word ¡°we¡± instead.

    It was an ingenious and cautious way to bring up the subject. Nevertheless, Nan Chen still furrowed his

    brows slightly.

    From Nan Chen''s perspective, Ning Ran''s initiative to bring up the matter was the equivalent of

    admitting defeat.

    He did not like that. There was nothing wrong in admitting defeat, but there was no need for them to do

    so at the moment.

    Even so, Nan Chen held his tongue to save Ning Ran the humiliation. If it were anyone else, he would

    have probably shut them down by then.

    On the other hand, Rong Yi did not respond immediately but mulled over it in silence for a brief

    moment. ¡°When you said ''we,'' Ms. Ning, were you including Mr. Nan as well? If that was the case, why

    didn''t Mr. Nan say anything himself?¡±

    At first, Nan Chen was still thinking about how he should react. He did not expect Rong Yi to call him

    out so soon.

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    The message was clear. That was an issue between the two men, or rather, the two families. Nan Chen

    should be dealing with the issue at hand instead of hiding behind a woman.

    ¡°Her viewpoint does not represent Nanshi Corporation or me. Therefore, I believe her ''we'' did not

    include me,¡± replied Nan Chen coolly.

    As expected, the situation was getting from bad to worse. Nan Chen was too domineering. It was

    impossible for him to remain gentle after being called out by Rong Yi. That was not his character.

    Not to mention that it was Rong Jilin''s fault that triggered the entire cascade of events. Moreover, the

    Rong family had revealed the spy that was hiding in Nanshi Corporation, causing the stock price of

    Nanshi Corporation to plummet.

    In other words, the troubles that Nanshi Corporation was facing at the moment were all Rong Yi''s

    doing, and the troubles were unfortunately still ongoing. They had not been solved.

    Nan Chen was the CEO of Nanshi Corporation. If he were to provide an exnation under this

    circumstance, it would no doubt be considered as him waving the white g. It would be as though he

    was saying, ¡°I was not involved in your brother''s injury. Please spare me.¡±

    How could Nan Chen disy such submissive behavior?

    If the crisis faced by Nanshi Corporation had been resolved and Nan Chen was not at the losing end,

    perhaps he would have been calmer and made it easier for everyone.

    After all, Nan Chen genuinely admired Rong Yi. Not many people would receive such high regard from

    Nan Chen.

    The atmosphere of the dinner was getting increasingly tense. Frozen in ce, Ning Ran wanted to cry

    out of frustration, not knowing what else to do.

    It looks like some things really can''t be resolved just by the desire to resolve them. Ning Ran felt

    extremely defeated.

    ¡°Yi, Mr. Nan, I think you two are being unfair to Ran!¡± All of a sudden, Rong Rong spoke up. ¡°Ran had

    asked you guys here so that everyone would ce harmony above everything else and clear up the

    misunderstanding, not for you two to banter with each other and leave the two of us to suffocate in

    awkwardness. Don''t you think that you''re putting Ran and me to shame by acting in this manner? No

    matter what, wee from a good ce of wanting to resolve the issue. Don''t you two think you guys

    are being inconsiderate of our efforts?¡±

    Even though Rong Rong was young, her speech was confident and powerful. It was no wonder she

    was Rong Yi''s favorite sibling.

    ¡°That''s right. If you two want to act all high and mighty, you can do so elsewhere. I''ve invited everyone

    out for dinner out of good intentions so that you two have a chance tomunicate with each other,

    yet you left no room for negotiation. This is disappointing!¡± Ning Ran chimed in.

    ¡°I apologize, Ms. Ning, but I believe the key to this discussion is still Mr. Nan. Mr. Nan, are you really

    not going to give any exnation for the fact that my brother has been severely injured?¡± Rong Yi

    turned to look at Nan Chen.

    ¡°There''s nothing to exin. You can take it however you want,¡± Nan Chen stated icily.

    Ning Ran screamed internally. Why is it so hard for Poker Face to talk nicely? The whole thing was

    Ruan Anxi''s doing and has nothing to do with the Nan family. Will it kill him to exin? Why couldn''t he

    just rify the situation?

    Nan Chen, however, was singing another tune. Rong Yi has already taken his revenge on Nanshi

    Corporation. He has already attacked me, so why do I have to exin things to him? Since he dared to

    attack me, then I shall retaliate! Fight first, talkter! Since he was already convinced that I was the one

    behind it, what else was there to it? So what if I was behind it? Rong Jilin was the one who insulted my

    woman publicly. So what if I caused him to be crippled? Even though, in reality, it was Ruan

    Anxi''s doing, just treat it as though he was doing it on my behalf. Since the Rong family has already

    attacked, then they should give me their best shot! Why should I beg for mercy? Furthermore, our two

    families have a long-standing grudge. Since we''re already enemies, what''s one more fight? We would

    still hate each other in the end. It wouldn''t make any difference!

    Rong Yi smiled slightly and turned to face Ning Ran before spreading out his hands in a gesture of wry

    resignation.

    Ning Ran turned to look at Nan Chen in hopes that thetter would y nice.

    To her dismay, Nan Chen pretended not to see her signal and rose to his feet instead. ¡°Check, please!¡±

    The waiter walked over. ¡°Sir, our boss has mentioned that this meal is on us¡ª¡±

    ¡°Are you not treating them to a meal? What''s the point of a treat if you''re not paying?¡± Nan Chen

    interrupted the waiter by looking pointedly at Ning Ran.

    ¡°I''ll pay. I''ll pay,¡± Ning Ran answered immediately. ¡°It''s just that we haven''t even finished eating...¡±

    ¡°I have other things to do.¡±

    Nan Chen''s statement was not referring to only himself. He was not excusing himself from the table,

    but rather, he was implying that the dinner was over. He wanted Ning Ran to pay so that they could

    both leave.

    Ning Ran was upset to see that her n had failed in the end.

    ¡°Ms. Rong, I apologize for interrupting your meetup with Ning Ran today. I''ll see to it that she invites

    you out some other time,¡± Nan Chen assured Rong Rong.

    He wanted to make it clear that the hostility between him and Rong Yi was a separate matter from

    Rong Rong''s friendship with Ning Ran. Even though Nan Chen wanted to go against the Rong family,

    he reassured the women that they could still be friends and not let the enmity between the two families

    be a hindrance to their friendship.

    A trace of disappointment was written all over Rong Rong''s face as well, but she forced herself to

    smile. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Nan.¡±

    Nan Chen turned and nodded curtly at Rong Yi. ¡°We''ll make a move first.¡± With that, he yanked Ning

    Ran out of the private room without turning back.

 Chapter 859

    Chapter 859

    After leaving the clubhouse, neither Ning Ran nor Nan Chen uttered a single word.

    The driver opened the car door, upon which Nan Chen gestured for Ning Ran to get into the vehicle

    first.

    However, Ning Ran didn''t climb into the back seat, for she didn''t want to sit with the man. Instead, she

    walked over to the passenger seat, opened the car door, and got in.

    Naturally, Nan Chen understood her silent protest. Withoutmenting on it, he signaled the driver to

    set off.

    And so, silence reigned the entire journey back to Raining Pavilion.

    It was still early, so Dabao and Erbao were still awake, finishing the homework assigned by their

    teacher.

    They were presently studying in the best kindergarten in Flower City. The educational institute

    demanded a lot from their students and always gave them homework to bepleted under the

    supervision of their parents.

    Unfortunately, both Ning Ran and Nan Chen were too busy. As they rarely had time to help the twins

    with homework, the housekeeper took over the duty most of the time.

    Yet, her knowledge was often limited. Thus, Nan Chen and Ning Ran had been discussing ns to hire

    a qualified tutor to guide the twins with their homework exclusively.

    Nheless, they had been busy, and the twins were still young, so that matter had been temporarily

    put on hold.

    It went without saying that Nan Chen still had work to do. When they arrived home, he went straight to

    the study room.

    Ning Ran, on the other hand, kept the childrenpany for a while. When they had gone to bed, she

    took out a book about performing arts and started reading it on the couch.

    Despite being talented, she didn''t graduate from a performing arts academy andcked theoretical

    knowledge. For that reason, she would read books on the topic whenever she was free to improve her

    skills.

    As she read, her eyes kept darting to the study room upstairs. She felt that Nan Chen was in the wrong

    that night, so he should take the initiative to seek her out and rify things.

    s, the man remained busy and stayed in the room perpetually.

    At this time, she would usually brew a cup of coffee and bring it to him. But today, she made no move

    to do so. She was mad at him and wasn''t in the mood to make him a drink.

    Aware that he was in the habit of drinking coffee while working at night, she knew that he would

    certainly snap ande out.

    Sure enough, Nan Chen stepped out of the study room.

    ¡°I need a cup of coffee,¡± he stated from upstairs.

    Ning Ran remained motionless, her mind running wild inwardly. Hah! Are you ordering a maidservant or

    a server at a coffee shop around?

    Seeing that, Nan Chen knew that she was still fuming.

    ¡°A thousand for a cup of coffee,¡± he added.

    A thousand? Oh no, I find myself rather tempted. Gosh, I must be really scared of poverty that I''m still

    enticed by the offer of a thousand though I''m already a celebrity now.

    Ning Ran then proceeded tombast herself. Look at you! What a typical loser mentality! You''re going

    to admit defeat just because of a thousand?

    Therefore, she remained sitting without showing signs of moving anytime soon.

    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    ¡°Two thousand.¡±

    Knowing that she was stingy and money-minded, Nan Chen continued raising the offer.

    At that, Ning Ran grew even more tempted. Back when I was abroad, I couldn''t even earn this much by

    doing the dishes for the entire day!

    ¡°Ten thousand,¡± Nan Chen offered, jacking up the price once more.

    Ning Ran could no longer remain impassive. She was most annoyed by others throwing money at her

    since it was utterly irresistible.

    ¡°Eleven thousand!¡± Falling prey to him, she demanded another thousand.

    ¡°Epean currency!¡± Nan Chen swiftly promised.

    The current exchange rate of Epean currency to China currency is one to eight. Won''t that be

    equivalent to eighty-eight thousand in China currency? Ah, I like this figure!

    ¡°Transfer me the money via WeChat immediately!¡± Ning Ran urged.

    ¡°I want two cups, and I''ll pay upon delivery.¡± After saying that, he whirled around and returned to the

    study room to continue working.

    While Ning Ran was brewing coffee, she started musing about the matter. Hmm, I can''t make him

    coffee for free anymore henceforth. The price has to be stated clearly. I''ll be a fool not to make money

    when it''s such a profitable deal. Besides, he''s the one acting rich and generous. In that case, I''ll help

    him with it and save up some money in the process. If I were to have a falling out with him in the future,

    I wouldn''t need to go back to my destitute days in the past. This isn''t me being a cheapskate. Instead,

    it''s me being smart and far-sighted!

    At that thought, Ning Ran''s mood improved by leaps and bounds. She feltcent about her

    shrewdness.

    Meanwhile, Nan Chen wanted to use that method to make her happy. He knew she was afraid of being

    poor and loved money, thereby fond of making easy money. Bluntly put, she coveted petty gains for

    psychological pleasure.

    However, if he were to give her millions, she would be hesitant to ept. On the whole, she was the

    kind of person who loved money yet adamant about acquiring it ethically.

    When Ning Ran had made the coffee, she brought it to the study room. But then, she didn''t give it to

    Nan Chen, indicating that she couldn''t hand him the goods since payment hadn''t been made.

    Nan Chen rarely spent money in his daily life. Consequently, there was insufficient bnce in his

    WeChat.

    Hence, he phoned Jiang Zhe and had the man transfer him a million.

    Regretfully, that exceeded the transfer limit. The most he could transfer was fifty thousand.

    ¡°I''ll pay you the restter.¡± Nan Chen reached out to take the coffee.

    ¡°Transfer from a different card. I don''t ept credit,¡± Ning Ran asserted with a stony expression.

    At once, Nan Chen was taken aback. Whoa! She''s a fanatic about money. Is she afraid I won''t pay her

    the remaining tens of thousands?

    Having no other choice, he could only use another card and pay her in full. It wasn''t until after doing

    that did he get to drink the coffee.

    By the time Ning Ran received the money, her leftover fury from the clubhouse that night had

    dissipated for the most part.

    She wanted to talk to the man but was too embarrassed after her insistence on demanding payment

    earlier.

    Nan Chen took a sip of the coffee before lifting his eyes to her. ¡°Were you born with a bill in your

    mouth?¡±

    Ning Ran could tell that he was making fun of her for being money-minded.

    ¡°Yeah. It wasn''t only a bill but several bills! What''s with it? Is it against thew?¡± She jerked her chin up.

    In response, Nan Chen shook his head. ¡°No, of course not. By the way, there''s a lead on Frosty

    Warrior, who gave your mother a piece of calligraphy work. The investigation is still ongoing, but the

    results should be out soon. How much are you nning to pay for this lead?¡±

    Ning Ran was wholly stunned.

    I sold coffee, yet he''s nning on selling information! He''s taking his revenge so quickly? Is he really a

    man?

    ¡°What does that mean? Are you trying to recover the money you spent to buy coffee? In your dreams!¡±

    Ning Ran snapped.

    ¡°No. I''m not the kind of person who likes paltry amounts. If I sell something, the starting price would be

    a million at the very least,¡± Nan Chen retorted disdainfully.

    ¡°What? A million? You''re selling a piece of information for a million? This is daylight robbery!¡± Ning Ran

    grew increasingly emotional.

    ¡°Finding someone without knowing his true name in this vast world is as difficult as looking for a needle

    in a haystack. A million is just the cost price. If I want some profits, it would have to be two million.¡± Nan

    Chen''s expression remained unchanged.

    ¡°D-Dream on! This is ckmail, and I''m not going to buy it!¡± Ning Ran snarled.

    ¡°Suit yourself.¡± Lowering his head, Nan Chen resumed his work.

    Although Ning Ran dered that she was never buying it, she knew deep within her heart that it was

    information regarding her biological father at the end of the day.

    Indeed, I want to know about him, but I''d never fork out the money, not in my entire lifetime!

    Slowly inching over to the man, she ced her hands on his shoulders and massaged them gently.

    ¡°You''ve worked hard, Mr. Chen. Here, I''ll help you to rx. I know you were merely joking with me.

    You''re rolling in money, so you don''tck a million or two. That aside, you''re an exceedingly

    responsible and trustworthy person. Back then, you promised to figure out a way to help me investigate

    Frosty Warrior''s identity. Now that there''s a lead, you''ll never ask me to pay for it. Instead, you''d supply

    it to me for free. As the saying goes, rtionships are ruined by mary issues. Why is it that you

    enjoy such high prestige? It''s because you''re honest, a man of your word, and generous. You''ve

    always been a role model for the kids and me. You''ll never let us down! Isn''t that right?¡±

    The corners of Nan Chen''s mouth turned up a fraction. Verily, she''s not the least bit ashamed of

    ttering me!

 Chapter 860

    Chapter 860

    A ton of honeyed words poured out of Ning Ran''s mouth as she rambled endlessly. As she spoke, she

    observed Nan Chen''s expression.

    Then, shemented inwardly. Poker Face will always have a poker face. No matter how much I try to

    tter him, his face remains devoid of expression.

    ¡°Am I right, Sir Chen?¡± she asked, unwilling to give up.

    ¡°About?¡± Nan Chen asked in return.

    Hearing that, Ning Ran almost burst a blood vessel.

    I wasted so much saliva, yet he didn''t even hear a single word? This is simply too much!

    She stopped massaging the man. In truth, she wanted to punch him in the face, but she dared not do

    so.

    ¡°I was speaking about the matter regarding Frosty Warrior. You''re not going to charge me for real, yes?

    You were merely joking with me, weren''t you?¡± she questioned cautiously.

    ¡°We''ll see,¡± Nan Chen answered nomittally.

    ¡°What stage is the investigation at, then? Is that person a local? What''s his upation?¡± Ning Ran

    pressed.

    ¡°There''s a lead, but they''re still following up on it. The investigation is still ongoing. Be patient.¡±

    ¡°Okay, I''ll remain patient. I believe that you''ll undoubtedly be able to help me unearth his identity. Thank

    you,¡± Ning Ran murmured as politely as possible.

    ¡°You''re not mad anymore?¡±

    Without warning, Nan Chen exerted strength and wrapped his arm around her, sitting her on hisp.

    ¡°Yes, I''m still angry!¡± Ning Ran deliberately fibbed.

    ¡°I know you meant well, but the enmity between the Nan and Rong families has persisted for decades.

    It''s not something you can resolve.¡±

    ¡°But what exactly is the grudge between the two families?¡± Ning Ran''s curiosity was inexorably piqued.

    ¡°I''m not sure either. Grandpa is tight-lipped about it. He speaks to me about almost everything but not

    the matter with the Rong family. Perhaps it''s too sensitive or difficult to talk about,¡± Nan Chen admitted.

    Ning Ran hugged him around the neck. ¡°If so, what are you nning to do next? If Nanshi

    Corporation''s share prices overseas were to continue plummeting tonight, those old geezers from the

    board of directors would likely pick trouble with you again.¡±

    ¡°I got a friend abroad to help mobilize some funds to protect the share market so that it isn''t dominated

    by short-sale fundspletely. As a result, the drop in share prices wouldn''t be steep. Don''t worry. I''m

    not that easily defeated. Right now, the trickiest problem is thepany''s ounting scandal. While

    we know it was a set-up by the Rong family, it''s beyond difficult to put things right. Rong Yi is an

    incredibly steady person. A move from him won''t be so easily resolved. Moreover, he won''t give up so

    quickly after having sabotaged us. Thus, your mediation wouldn''t have done any good due to the

    conflict of interest, much less when there''s bad blood between the two families.¡±

    Following his exnation, Ning Ran heaved a sigh. ¡°It looks like I was too presumptuous. This isn''t

    something in which I can hope to be of help.¡±

    ¡°Well, not really. But it''s best that you discuss it with me before doing something simr in the future.

    Such behavior is easily interpreted as backing down by others. When there''s a war between two

    parties, neither side can simplypromise. Otherwise, it''ll affect the team''s cohesion,¡± Nan Chen

    elucidated solemnly.

    ¡°Got it. I''ll never again do such a thing behind your back.¡±

    In response, Nan Chen nodded. ¡°Go and rest first. I''ve still got work to do.¡±

    ¡°You''re going to stay up again tonight? Your body won''t be able to take it.¡± Ning Ran was very much

    worried.

    ¡°It''s okay. When this mess passes, we''ll take another vacation together.¡±

    When Ning Ran woke up the following morning, she found that Nan Chen was already back from his

    morning jog.

    Besides, he seemed to be in high spirits. Consequently, she reckoned that he probably hadn''t stayed

    up thattest night.

    She then browsed the news on the inte and saw that Nanshi Corporation''s share prices didn''t

    continue taking a nosedive. Contrarily, it had stopped falling and rebounded, rising back to its initial

    state prior to the financial scandal.

    No wonder he''s in such a good mood. It turns out that things have turned around.

    During breakfast, she took the initiative to ask Nan Chen about the matter.

    Nan Chen revealed that his friend abroad mobilized an astronomical amount of funds to protect the

    market and thwarted the short-selling institutions from taking advantage of the situation.

    On top of that, the employee who previously exposed Nanshi Corporation for financial fraud suddenly

    issued a statement that he was merely ndering thepany because of some conflict.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    Ning Ran put down the ss of milk, thrilled to the core. ¡°So, the tables have turned? Why did he

    change his tune out of the blue?¡±

    A frown marred Nan Chen''s countenance. ¡°I don''t know. I suppose it was because he was affected by

    the outside world. Anyway, we didn''t put pressure on him directly. In fact, we didn''t even send anyone

    to make contact with him.¡±

    ¡°Could it be that he was struck by a bout of guilty conscience? But the possibility of that is negligible,

    no?¡±

    ¡°I never believe in someone having a guilty conscience. I''ll investigate what exactly happened.¡±

    Ning Ran''s mood likewise took a turn for the better. ¡°It''s great that the matter has been resolved. At

    least, it can reduce the burden on you.¡±

    ¡°It might not necessarily be truly resolved. Perhaps this is only the beginning. Anyhow, let''s not talk

    about thepany anymore. Do you have anything on your schedule today?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. I''m going to shoot an MV with Shi Jie and the others today, but it''s unsure yet how long exactly

    it''ll take,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°That young boy band invited you to coborate with them on an MV? Won''t you be too...¡±

    At that point, Nan Chen trailed off.

    Nheless, Ning Ran knew what he wanted to say. He was trying to hint that she was a bit too old

    compared to the boy.

    After all, Shi Jie was a sixteen or seventeen-year-old teenager, whereas she was already the mother of

    two. The age gap between them was undeniably huge. Honestly, Ning Ran herself felt that she wasn''t

    suited for the task.

    ¡°I thought the same, but they said I''d be ying Shi Jie''s high school teacher in the MV. The MV wants

    to convey the indescribable feelings of an innocent teenager toward his teacher. There''s nothing

    harmful, let alone any suggestive scenes. Thus, I agreed,¡± Ning Ran borated.

    Nan Chen said nothing after listening to that exnation.

    ¡°What''s an MV? Is it a movie or TV series? How about bringing me along, Mommy?¡± Erbao chimed in

    at the side, blinking her ebony eyes.

    Beside her, Dabao answered, ¡°It''s a music video, a short film meant toplement a song. I''ve told

    you this before, haven''t I? You''ve forgotten again?¡±

    Understanding dawned upon Erbao. ¡°Ah, I get it now. It''s the kind of short film with couples kissing,

    usually yed alongside music.¡±

    At once, panic swamped Ning Ran. ¡°The one I''m shooting doesn''t have kissing scenes. I''m going to

    team up with a teenager.¡±

    Acting all grown-up, Dabao interjected, ¡°Of course not. Otherwise, Daddy wouldn''t agree to it. He''d be

    jealous.¡±

    Nan Chen threw a look at his son, upon which thetter hastily dipped his head and stuffed porridge

    into his mouth.

    Putting on a stern expression, Ning Ran chastised, ¡°Don''t spout nonsense. Your daddy is a broad-

    minded and understanding person. He''s not petty to be jealous indiscriminately.¡±

    Despite herpliment, Nan Chen remained expressionless.

    In all honesty, he wasn''t sure whether he was against or in favor of her shooting an MV with Shi Jie.

    When the release of the new movie was imminent, Ning Ran would need more attention and traffic for

    theunch to be sessful.

    Under normal circumstances, the producer would begin hyping the actors and actresses. Some would

    even go as far as paying to make trending topics incessantly.

    If Ning Ran were to shoot an MV with Shi Jie, it would definitely increase traffic since thetter was one

    of the most popr young celebrities at present.

    However, it was difficult to say whether she would be spurned by the boy''s fans of the younger

    generation.

    Therefore, that was an exceedingly dangerous risk to take. Nan Chen couldn''t tell how things would

    turn out in the end.

    The entertainment industry was inherently turbulent. No matter how powerful a person was, he couldn''t

    predict the person who would abruptly shoot to stardom and the one who would be hit by the tidal wave

    and die on the beach in the next second.

 Chapter 861

    Chapter 861

    After breakfast, Ning Ran and Nan Chen sent their kids to school. Then, the driver dropped Nan Chen

    off at the office before chauffeuring Ning Ran to meet up with Wang Xiaoou and the rest of the crew.

    Nan Chen exited the vehicle and took a few steps before retracing his path. ¡°If anyone dares to bully

    you during the filming, you can retort no matter who that person is.¡±

    Ning Ran was momentarily dazed before she grinned. ¡°What if it''s Sir Chen who bullies me? Do I retort

    too?¡±

    Instead of answering, he merely waved his hand, gesturing at the chauffeur to drive the car away.

    Ning Ran mulled over Nan Chen''s words along the way, but she couldn''t fathom his intention.

    Upon meeting up Wang Xiaoou and the rest of the crew, they departed for the airport together.

    On the way to the airport, Wang Xiaoou said to Ning Ran solemnly, ¡°I have a few things to rify to you

    regarding the work this time.¡±

    Wang Xiaoou had always been a serious person, even on regr days. Hence, Ning Ran would feel a

    sense of foreboding whenever Wang Xiaoou behaved more formally than usual.

    ¡°Please, go on, Ou. I''m listening.¡± Ning Ran was a humble person. Even with Nan Chen backing her,

    she had never put on airs around Wang Xiaoou.

    ¡°Firstly, Shi Jie''s fans are rtively young, so they are alsoparatively immature. Therefore, you

    may be boycotted since you''ll be participating in the filming of his music video.¡±

    Ning Ran was well aware of that, so she wasn''t surprised.

    In fact, not only Shi Jie''s teenage fans were irrational, as most celebrities'' followers behaved

    unreasonably.

    After all, chances for a truly sensible and well-grounded person to go nuts over a celebrity were

    extremely slim.

    ¡°I got it, Ou. I''ll just turn a blind eye if they scold me on Weibo,¡± Ning Ran chirped.

    Wang Xiaoou smiled as well. ¡°It is unavoidable for artists to get criticized. Your attitude is

    commendable. Secondly, Director Xie, the director in charge of filming this music video, is infamous for

    his ill temper in the entertainment industry. Moreover, he''s very picky about the artists'' performances.

    He even berated some celebrities until they cried.¡±

    That was something out of Ning Ran''s anticipation. ¡°Is he really that scary?¡±

    ¡°Affirmative. However, his skills are undoubtedly top-notch. Let me put it this way. Almost eighty

    percent of the local A-list celebrities would want him to direct the filming of their music videos. He and

    his team are specialists in making short music videos. His name itself is a vouch for high-quality

    products. Although they would have to endure his scolding, many celebrities are still adamant about

    coborating with him. Naturally, there were frequent asions when the artists would argue with him.

    These celebrities usually badmouthed him on Weibo after they were done filming their music videos,

    and he would immediately respond by chastising them. Because of this, Xie Dazui is notorious for his

    harsh remarks and unwillingness to yield.¡±

    Ning Ranughed. ¡°This sounds interesting. Does that mean I''ll most probably get scolded by him?¡±

    ¡°Not necessarily. I have faith in your acting skills. However, Xie Dazui does uphold a very stringent set

    of standards. I heard there were even times he would reshoot the same scene over a hundred times,¡±

    Wang Xiaoou replied.

    ¡°Oh my goodness. Over a hundred times? Is he that crazy?¡± Cheng Xiangyun, sitting at one side, cried

    out.

    Ning Ran pondered. Nan Chen must''ve heard about this Xie Dazui''s demanding personality, so he

    deliberately told me I could retort to anyone who bullies me. He''s such a scrupulous person. I can''t

    believe he even instructed his men to investigate an insignificant job like this so thoroughly.

    ¡°That''s all right. Only by maintaining high standards can we produce first-rate products. I''m not afraid,¡±

    Ning Ran uttered cheerfully.

    ¡°Mr. Chen told us he would hold us ountable if someone bullied you during our outstation work.

    That''s why I''m notifying you in advance.¡±

    That was Wang Xiaoou''s intention in telling Ning Ran all those things. She was worried thetter might

    be unable to endure Xie Dazui''s harsh criticism and ended upining to Nan Chen after getting

    into a conflict with Xie Dazui.

    In truth, Ning Ran wasn''t someone like that. She thought it was normal for one to feel a bit aggrieved

    and discontented at work. Even an elite like Nan Chen has to cope with a lot of pressure, isn''t it?

    Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Don''t worry, Ou. I have great endurance, and I''ll do my best to tolerate Xie Dazui no matter how

    difficult he is.¡±

    The filming location for the first scene of the music video was set at an acting school.

    Young students made up most of the celebrities'' fan clubs, especially an artist like Shi Jie, who was

    primarily supported by teenagers. He was all the more admired and idolized by students from acting

    schools.

    After all, it was every acting school student''s dream to be well-known internationally, indulging in fame

    and fortune.

    The school even announced a special holiday on that day to ensure the filming could proceed

    smoothly.

    Although it was a holiday, most students stayed back at the school when they heard Shi Jie was visiting

    for filming as they wanted to meet their idol and see him in action.

    Thunderous cheers erupted the moment Shi Jie''s car arrived at the school''s entrance.

    Even though arge number of security guards were assigned to maintain order, the situation at the

    scene was still close to getting out of control.

    Fortunately, Shi Jie had high emotional intelligence. He requested his assistant to hand him a

    megaphone and took the initiative to interact with the students.

    ¡°Thank you for your fervent support, everyone. I''m here to record my music video today, so I hope

    everyone can lend me a conducive filming environment. I also wish the ambiance of this school could

    be better presented in my music video. Thank you, all of you. Please do not surround the filming

    location. Thank you!¡±

    The students calmed themselves significantly after listening to Shi Jie''s speech.

    Xie Dazui''s crew had finished setting everything up at the filming location by the time Shi Jie entered.

    That was also the first time Shi Jie coborated with Xie Dazui, so he approached thetter, bowed

    politely, and uttered humbly, ¡°Good day, Director Xie.¡±

    ¡°Why did you rece the female lead who was initially selected?¡± Xie Dazui, a man with a fierce

    appearance, questioned Shi Jie directly and uncourteously.

    Originally, Ning Ran was indeed not the female lead. Instead, the role was filled by an actress who had

    just graduated from a film academy. Rumor had it Xie Dazui rmended the actress as her

    temperament was well-suited for the female lead''s role.

    Xie Dazui was a man with high standards in the first ce. Needless to say, he was enraged when Shi

    Jie requested for the actress he had nominated to be reced.

    Shi Jie exined patiently, ¡°I became acquainted with Ms. Ding during the previous show''s recording,

    and I felt she''s more suitable for the role, so I suggested to the production team to let her take up the

    role. Ms. Ding also agreed to my proposal with crity. Don''t worry, Director Xie. I''m confident Ms. Ding

    will do a superb job.¡±

    ¡°Are you adept at shooting music videos? How can you be sure she''ll do a splendid job?¡± Xie Dazui

    chided.

    Shi Jie was rendered speechless. He was indeed clueless, but he was simply fond of Ning Ran''s

    beauty and friendly mien.

    Most teenagers would harbor secret affection toward members of the opposite sex who were older than

    them, including seniors at school, teachers, or even older colleagues.

    Shi Jie''s music video aimed to deliver that bitter yet genuine emotion ambiguously. In his opinion, Ning

    Ran epitomized every teenager''s fantasy of a beautiful senior.

    However, he didn''t know how to express his thoughts to Xie Dazui, so he could only sh a wry smile.

    ¡°Be patient, Director Xie. When Ms. Ding shows up, you''ll realize she''s the perfect candidate for this

    role.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? But I heard she''s just someone with no skills who managed to force her way into the

    industry by relying on a capitalist''s sponsor. She won the affection of a wealthy man, so the man

    expended a vast amount of resources to support her. I''ve met countless female celebrities like her.

    They are ipetent and put up insipid performances. Even after reshooting over ten times, I couldn''t

    even film a scene I''m satisfied with!¡± Xie Dazui responded sternly.

    Shi Jie was displeased by how Xie Dazui was disparaging Ning Ran. However, he didn''t dare to snap

    back at thetter as he knew Ning Ran would suffer more if Xie Dazui were in a foul mood when she

    arrived.

 Chapter 862

    Chapter 862

    Meanwhile, right as Ning Ran reached the entrance, she received a particrly ¡°grand¡± wee.

    When Shi Jie''s fan club received news about the music video, they arranged for a group of die-hard

    fans to make a white banner protesting against the making of a music video with Ning Ran and Shi Jie

    in it.

    On those banners were words like: Don''t let the crone ride Shi''s coattails!

    Give Shi back! Don''t taint him!

    Your shamelessness will be your downfall! Get lost, crone!

    The banner looked frightening, and anyone would have thought that they were protesting something

    more serious.

    Those people were kept outside the schoolpound by security, and since they could not see their

    favorite star, they became even more agitated and loud.

    When Ning Ran''s car drove past them, they waved their banners and their fists. Some even pointed

    their middle fingers at the car.

    s, they were actually unsure which car was Ning Ran''s, so they pointed their middle finger at every

    car that went into the school.

    Worried that Ning Ran would be affected by their behavior, Wang Xiaoou quietly consoled her by

    saying, ¡°Most of Shi Jie''s fans are kids. They''re minors, so don''t take their behavior to heart.¡±

    Ning Ran was unbothered, however. In fact, she found their banners and the words amusing. She had

    heard of many things being the key to someone''s downfall, but she rarely came across people

    criticizing another''s shamelessness as the other person''s downfall.

    There are so many shameless people in this world. Are you saying all those shameless people will end

    up terrible?

    Empty heads, rashness, and childishness were the main features of young people, but Ning Ran did

    not think of them as anything. People who were still young like them did not need to bear many

    responsibilities¡ªthey merely needed to love and hate in simple terms.

    ¡°I don''t mind,¡± Ning Ran muttered, smiling and shaking her head. ¡°They have the right to express their

    opinions. Stars be stars with the support of their fans. I don''t think it matters to me that they''re

    going up against me to support Shi.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Wang Xiaoou was still worried.

    ¡°Yes. They''re just children. Why should I take their words to heart?¡± Ning Ran chuckled.

    ¡°That''s nice. It''s good to have a mindset like yours,¡± Wang Xiaoou said, feeling much more relieved.

    As they spoke, they reached the filming site, and the car came to a stop. Shi Jie came over and

    greeted, ¡°Ms. Ding!¡±

    ¡°Hello, Shi. You''ve grown a little taller since thest time I saw you,¡± Ning Ran teased.

    ¡°You''re messing with me again! But Ms. Ding, you look even prettier than before,¡± Shi Jie remarked

    with joy in his eyes.

    ¡°I''m serious about you getting taller. Is the director here? I''d like to greet him first.¡±

    ¡°Director Xie is over there, but...¡± Shi Jie trailed off before smiling.

    Ning Ran could see the awkwardness in his smile. On her way to the site, she had heard that Xie Dazui

    was strict toward artistes, so she guessed he was going to assert his dominanceter.

    Xie Dazui was talking to a staff member at the side. He had a beard, and he had a fierce look. He

    looked more like he belonged in the streets as a gang boss than in the art industry.

    ¡°Hello, Director Xie. I''m Ding Mi,¡± Ning Ran carefully greeted as she walked over to him.

    ¡°You''re veryte for someone who isn''t a big shot,¡± Xie Dazui instantly criticized as he looked at Ning

    Ran from head to toe.

    Ning Ran nced at the time and said, ¡°Please don''t say that. There''s still half an hour left before the

    agreed time. I''m early, notte.¡±

    Xie Dazui only scoffed before falling silent.

    Hisck of response prompted Ning Ran to sheepishly walk away, but she was annoyed.

    It''s not as if I owe you anything. I''d have ignored it if you were just glum, but who are you trying to act

    cool for? Shi Jie''s the one who invited me to this. I can understand his fans protesting against me being

    in a work with him, but you, as a director, are doing the same as them?

    ¡°Go and prepare yourself. The filming will start in five minutes,¡± the director then said.

    Five minutes? Is he messing with me? I can''t even finish my makeup in five minutes.

    Ning Ran usually went around without makeup unless she had filming or unless she was going to

    attend major social events. Otherwise, she would only put basic skin care.

    Hence, she only applied light makeup before leaving the house that day¡ªshe did not even use any

    lipstick.

    Wang Xiaoou wanted to reason with the director, but Ning Ran stopped her with a look.

    They had yet to start filming, and Ning Ran did not wish to have a falling out this early.

    However, Shi Jie could not bear watching in silence anymore. ¡°Director Xie, Ms. Ding just arrived, and

    she hasn''t had any time for preparation. Five minutes wouldn''t be enough for makeup. At the very

    least, she should have half an hour''s time, right?¡±

    The director took a glimpse at his watch. ¡°The sunlight is suddenly at its perfect brightness. It''ll be too

    bright if we''re anyter. I have my standards in filming, and it''s her problem if she''ste. I won''t give

    extra time to the actors. You have four minutes left.¡±

    ¡°Director Xie, this is too¡ª¡±

    Shi Jie started protesting, but Ning Ran stopped him. ¡°It''s fine. Let''s not argue about this anymore. Five

    minutes it is.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    Since Ning Ran only had five minutes, redoing her makeup was out of the question.

    Hence, she changed into a white shirt and a pair of ck pants before taking off her earrings and

    ne. Then, she tied her hair up into a simple ponytail.

    When Ning Ran walked toward the camera, she was slow.

    She was doing her best to recall the way her teachers carried themselves, moved, smiled, and talked.

    It was then everyone realized the expression on Ning Ran''s face changed as the way she carried

    herself changed as well.

    She was an artiste a moment ago, and it was obvious from the way she smiled and acted. There were

    habits formed from frequent attendance at social events.

    However, those habits were fading away as Ning Ran ambled toward the camera. The look in her eyes

    seemed purer, and the way she walked seemed more solemn.

    Xie Dazui noticed Ning Ran''s change, of course. As an experienced director, he knew that Ning Ran

    was immersing herself in the setting.

    All the excellent actors had to immerse themselves before filming to y their roles.

    Many actors even remained as their characters throughout the period of filming. They shed away their

    own selves to ensure that they would stay in character.

    Despite that, not many actors could actually immerse themselves fully into the story, especially actors

    who trended on the inte. They often had empty looks in their eyes, and their expressions were stiff.

    They were merely acting for the sake of acting¡ªthere was nothing deeper than that.

    However, Xie Dazui felt that the woman in front of him was bing more and more like a middle

    school teacher.

    Every profession had its unique qualities, and the professionals in that field had simrly unique

    demeanors that could be obvious or subtle.

    A middle school teacher had to have a certain degree of somberness, for she could not be all smiles

    with the students all day. However, she also had to be of a certain degree of friendly, for she, too, could

    not be grim with them all the time. That would be more like a military instructor than a teacher.

    The somberness and friendliness were qualities that everyone could see manifesting on Ning Ran.

    Xie Dazui was taken aback. He never thought that Ning Ran would be able to use her expressions and

    demeanor to disy the most important qualities of a middle school teacher.

    After the surprise was a wave of excitement. He could foresee the smoothness of the filming that day.

    He was sure that he would wrap up that scene in less than ten takes.

 Chapter 863

    Chapter 863

    It was actually harder to film a music video than a television show.

    Both television shows and films had scripts, so even if the actors'' non-verbal performances were

    subpar, they still would have their lines to let the audience know what the actors were trying to show.

    Therefore, many mediocre actors who wanted to disy anger and sorrow in their performance would

    resort to screaming their lines.

    However, that was not something that would work in music videos, for music videos were short clips.

    The visuals were only there to support the audio. In other words, the script would not be long.

    Furthermore, while some music videos had plots, some did not. Some were only performances of

    certain emotions, and some were even ambiguous visuals whose meaning was left to the audience to

    interpret.

    Those videos required more from the actors. They would need the actors to know what the director and

    the song wanted to portray.

    Therefore, Ning Ran surprised Xie Dazui. He had not told her anything yet, nor did he hand her any

    script, but it seemed like she already knew what the concept of the song was and had gone into the

    role of a middle school teacher.

    A white shirt. A pair of simple ck pants and shoes. A faint smile. A solemn but kind look. An austere

    demeanor. A schrly style.

    That was the beautiful teacher that youths would adore. They would have both respect and fear for her,

    but they would want to see her too. They would want to get closer to her, but they would not have the

    courage to cross the line because behind the love they had for her was a stronger respect.

    Xie Dazui thought, How did this girl know that this is the image I''m looking for? Could it be that she can

    read minds? Oh, wait, no. It''s not that. It''s because she''s a professional and she''s talented.

    Talent was what set the upper limit of a person''s capabilities in their profession.

    A person without the talent of acting could reach the minimum standards of acting through hard work,

    but talent, orck thereof, meant they would only go so far. It would be close to impossible for them to

    be the top actor.

    Of course, there were tons of awards nowadays that could be bought with money. Achievements

    completed via cheating would not count.

    Another group of people was the talented people. They lived to act, and even if they did not have any

    professional training, they could still act perfectly.

    With hard work, those talented people would break through others'' records and be the top actors

    and masters of the field.

    Xie Dazui was a director who often took on music video jobs, so he came into contact with stars all the

    time. Yet, there were few who he thought could actually act, and the woman in front of him was one of

    the rare few.

    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    ¡°Okay, let''s start. In the first scene, you''ll be walking into the ssroom from the outside. You''ll look at

    the empty ssroom and pause for a few seconds before leaving,¡± Xie Dazui instructed.

    The music video had a simple script, but Xie Dazui had decided there and then to tell Ning Ran what to

    do instead of giving her the script.

    Ning Ran nodded.

    The camera started rolling, and Ning Ran came and raked her gaze across the room as the sunlight

    filtered in through the windows.

    Somehow, the simple white shirt on her managed to entuate her beauty.

    The gaze in Ning Ran''s eyes was a peaceful one tinged with nostalgia. When she swept her eyes

    across the empty chairs and tables, a sense of mncholy filled in the air.

    It was not sorrow portrayed by tears but by the look in her eyes.

    Despite there being no tears in Ning Ran''s eyes, everyone at the site could sense her heartache.

    Then, when she turned around, her demeanor and the way she walked changed.

    ¡°Cut!¡± Xie Dazui cried out, wrapping up the first scene.

    There were no failed takes at all.

    The staff members quickly shared a look with each other, confused.

    This had never happened before. Xie Dazui was a notoriously picky man, and it was a miracle if

    someone could wrap up a scene in less than ten takes.

    However, Ning Ran managed to wrap up the scene with just one take. The staff was gripped with

    shock.

    Even Shi Jie was dumbfounded. Xie Dazui had been disgruntled about the change in actress

    previously, so he thought that Xie Dazui would make things hard for Ning Ran. Yet, he had let Ning Ran

    pass after one take.

    Did he finally grow a conscience and is now walking toward the light?

    Right then, Xie Dazui waved at Ning Ran, gesturing for her to review her scene.

    Ning Ran''s heartbeat quickened as she wondered if the director was going to start hurling curses at

    her.

    ¡°Did you know what idea I wanted you to perform earlier? What were you thinking when you were doing

    the scene?¡± Xie Dazui asked.

    Ning Ran became a little flustered. ¡°No one gave me a script, and I heard that you were prone to

    impromptu performances, so I thought there wasn''t a script this time. Did I interpret this wrongly?¡±

    ¡°Just tell me how you understood the scene earlier,¡± Xie Dazui urged.

    ¡°The ssroom is empty, and I''m walking in from the outside. So that means it''s now either the

    holidays or after-ss hours. The teacher must either be transferring or going on a break if shees

    in at this time. Moreover, the absence won''t be a short one, so she must be thinking of getting ast

    look at the ce where she and her students spent time together at. Therefore, I understood the scene

    as a scene of nostalgia and a reluctance to part. If she''s changing her job, she might feel sad, but it

    won''t be mncholy.¡±

    Once Ning Ran was done saying her piece, she kept her gaze away from Xie Dazui, for she did not

    know whether or not she was right.

    However, Xie Dazui was staring at her with a strange look.

    ¡°Director Xie, was she right? We''ve never filmed a music video before, so please be patient with her if

    anything isn''t quite right,¡± Wang Xiaoou chimed in.

    All of a sudden, Xie Dazuiughed.

    It came all of a sudden, and no one knew what that meant.

    ¡°In that case, we''ll shoot two more takes. One will be based on the scenario in which you''re leaving the

    country for further studies, so you won''t being back. Another would be a transfer to a different

    school, so you can stille back once in a while. No, that''s not enough. I want another. The third

    would be that you''re not transferring¡ªthat you''re only on a break. You''re going to marry, and you''ll be

    leaving for a while. Once your leave is over, you''ll being back to work. Can you film these three

    different styles?¡±

    That felt like the director was trying to put Ning Ran in a tight spot. Even though the setting was

    different, there was no script, and it was going to be the action.

    Her skills in performance were truly getting put to the test.

    ¡°But didn''t you say her first take was fine? Why does she need to shoot three more?¡± Even Shi Jie felt

    that Xie Dazui was trying to make things difficult for Ning Ran.

    ¡°Don''t butt in. It''s not your turn yet,¡± the director uttered.

    However, Ning Ran did not think that the director was putting her in a tough spot. She felt that the

    director was testing her limits to find out how well she could act.

    Hence, she epted the challenge. ¡°I''ll try it out, then. Please spare me some tips if I don''t perform

    them well.¡±

    Xie Dazui waved his hand and said, ¡°Gather up. We''re starting now.¡±

 Chapter 864

    Chapter 864

    There were no major movements in the scene either¡ªjust walking, lifting the head, and turning around.

    The first scene was a scene where Ning Ran''s character was departing for either a long time or for

    good.

    This time, Ning Ran walked slower. Every step she took was heavier than thest. When she raised

    her head to study the room, it felt as if she was bidding the ce goodbye with her sad eyes.

    However, she left the room quicker than she entered it.

    Since she had made the decision to leave, it had to be a decision made with ns. Her mind was

    made up, and she was not going to hesitate any longer in walking toward a new life.

    ¡°Okay. Next!¡±

    Instead of stopping the filming, Xie Dazui said it was okay, and that was a sign of his approval of Ning

    Ran''s performance.

    The next scene started, where Ning Ran''s character merely changed her work environment. She still

    had the same profession, just in a different ce.

    This time, Ning Ran entered as quickly as she left. There was still nostalgia and the reluctance to

    leave, but there was no hint of solemn farewell because she could still return.

    ¡°Very good. There''s an obvious secondary idea to this. Continue!¡±

    Xie Dazui had started praising Ning Ran.

    The third was the easiest for Ning Ran. Her character was neither leaving the country nor changing a

    work environment; she was only leaving temporarily. She just came to the ssroom to make sure that

    the careless students had closed the windows.

    The look in her eyes was a lighthearted one, devoid of farewell and sorrow. She was going on a break

    or getting married. The sun was shining in her heart, a smile was on her face, and a skip was in her

    steps.

    To Xie Dazui, it was perfect. They were three scenes with vastly different details despite having the

    same base movements.

    Even the ordinary audience could see the differences in the scenes, let alone the professionals.

    After all, the target audience of the television shows was the general public¡ªpeople who were not in

    the entertainment industry.

    Good works were works that the audience could understand and like.

    If the film were meant to show off the skills of those involved, the box office would flop even if the show

    had the approvals and praises of the professionals.

    Some media works aimed to be arthouse films, and there was nothing wrong with it. However, it

    catered toward a niche market, and it was definitely not one that would rake in profits for the investors.

    The perfect performance would be Ning Ran''s performance, which would gain the approval of the

    professionals and the understanding of the general public.

    Xie Dazui could barely contain his excitement. ¡°Have you really never filmed a music video before?¡±

    Ning Ran smiled and shook her head. ¡°No, I haven''t. I''m a rookie in the industry, and I''ve only been in a

    television show and a film. The film isn''t in theaters yet.¡±

    ¡°You''re a Star Entertainment artiste?¡± Xie Dazui then asked.

    The staff members shared another look with each other. It was their first time seeing Xie Dazui talking

    about something outside of work with an artiste.

    Xie Dazui had always been extremely proud of his skills, and he never cared if the artiste he worked

    with was famous. As a matter of fact, some of the artistes even had to let him do as he pleased.

    They would be infuriated during their filming, and they would curse at him once the filming was

    wrapped up. Xie Dazui would not take it in silence either, so his terrible reputation spread like wildfire.

    To everyone''s surprise, Xie Dazui seemed to have turned into apletely different person. Not only

    did he not scowl at Ning Ran, but he was even chatting with her.

    ¡°Yes. I''m from Star Entertainment,¡± Ning Ran replied.

    ¡°I heard that your boss is your boyfriend.¡± Xie Dazui continued gossiping.

    Ning Ran only smiled in silence. That was a question unrted to work, so Ning Ran had the right not

    to answer him.

    Nevertheless, Xie Dazui remained keen as he continued, ¡°I thought you were just an artiste who''s

    building her way up with money, but it turns out you''ve got the skills. Di will being to the country

    for a music video filming. Originally, some of the famous local stars will be filming it with her, but I''m

    going to rmend you to her team.¡±

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    ¡°Di? The internationally famous singer who won the Grapho Awards?¡±

    ¡°That''s her. She''s releasing an Asian-styled song soon, and apparently, her inspiration was from a

    Chinese song. Moreover, she''sing to China for her tour, so she''s nning to film the new song''s

    music video here as well. There''s a role for a fairy in the visuals, and I think you''ll be able to y the

    role perfectly. I''ll be rmending you to her team soon,¡± Xie Dazui said.

    At that, Ning Ran and Wang Xiaoou exchanged a look. They never thought he was going to

    rmend new jobs to her.

    Di was a singer of Chinese ethnicity, and she had won many major international awards in the past.

    Furthermore, many of the theme songs of international films were sung by her, and she was well-

    known across the globe.

    It would certainly be beneficial for Ning Ran to work with someone as prominent as Di.

    However, Ning Ran was not a singer, and she was nowhere close to the music industry because she

    was not well-known enough.

    A big shot like Di might not ept Xie Dazui''s suggestion.

    ¡°Thank you, but let''s talk about this another time,¡± Ning Ran responded, knowing that she was still far

    from being able to interact with an illustrious star like Di.

    It was highly likely that Di had never even heard of the name Ding Mi.

    ¡°Don''t worry. I''ll do my best to make this happen,¡± Xie Dazui confidently said, however. ¡°All right, we''ll

    be filming Shi Jie now.¡±

    Like Ning Ran''s scene, Shi Jie had to walk into the ssroom as well. He then had to imagine Ning

    Ran''s character appearing in the ssroom and smiling at him.

    His scene was connected with Ning Ran''s. After the teacher''s departure, the youth would then return to

    the ssroom to think about his teacher.

    The scenes were mostly meant to portray a student-teacher rtionship and nostalgia for the past.

    However, right as Shi Jie stepped into the room, Xie Dazui called for the cameras to stop rolling.

    ¡°You''re a teenager! Why are you walking like an old man? Are youing back to the school after your

    sixtieth birthday?¡± Xie Dazui snapped.

    It was harsh but funny, and some of the staff members were trying hard to keep theirughter in.

    Ning Ran was holding herughter back as well. Shi Jie was mimicking her, but hisprehension of

    the scene was wrong, for the teacher and the student were of different ages and in different stages of

    life.

    Shi Jie''s face turned red for a moment, and he did not speak.

    He had been worried that Ning Ran would be put into a tough spot by Xie Dazui, but Ning Ran ended

    up finishing her part in one take while the director berated him.

    ¡°Again!¡± Xie Dazui gloomily uttered.

    Unfortunately, Shi Jie failed again. ¡°One more time!¡±

    ¡°Again!¡±

    ¡°Do it again!¡±

    Shi Jie filmed the scene dozens of times, but the director was never satisfied.

    Xie Dazui became more and more frustrated, and he was starting to show his terrible side again.

    In contrast, Shi Jie was getting more and more anxious until he no longer knew what the director

    wanted from him.

    It was just a scene of a teenager walking into the ssroom, and Shi Jie frankly could not think of how

    fancily he was supposed to do it.

    ¡°I''m done with this!¡± Shi Jie snarled.

 Chapter 865

    Chapter 865

    As one of the most beloved idols in town, Shi Jie had achieved a level of fame and adoration that most

    people could only dream of.

    Everywhere he went, he was surrounded by a sea of screaming fans, all vying for a chance to get a

    glimpse of their favorite celebrity. There was no way he was willing to endure the humiliation caused by

    Xie Dazui.

    Before the encounter, Shi Jie had mentally prepared himself for the criticisms from the man with a

    terrible reputation. His nastiness, however, exceeded Shi Jie''s expectations.

    It was a norm in the industry for the hottest idols to branch out to acting. Given their subpar acting skills

    andck of time or patience to memorize the script, many were not to deliver their lines during the

    actual filming. The production team would be responsible for adding the voice-over narration during

    post-editing.

    In reality, it did not matter if the idols were talented actors. All they needed was good looks to attract a

    large and loyal following. As a result, the investors would be able to profit handsomely from the

    project''s huge sess.

    Shi Jie''s ascent to stardom was a rtively effortless journey marked by steady progress and

    consistent sess. All of the acting ventures in which he had participated received favorable ratings

    and viewership, and the filming process had gone rtively smoothly.

    Little did he expect that the filming of a music video would cause him so much agony.

    Shi Jie refused to continue acting because he could no longer stand theshings from Xie Dazui.

    The site was filled with an awkward silence.

    ¡°What do you mean you quit? Are you giving up on the filming?¡± Xie Dazui hissed, undeterred by the

    man''s anger.

    Having worked with many idols in the past, the man was unfazed by Shi Jie''s threats. He knew that

    such behavior wasmon in the world of entertainment.

    ¡°You''re deliberately making things difficult. You''re not happy no matter how I act. What exactly do you

    want?¡± Shi Jie bellowed.

    Taking a puff of a cigarette, Xie Dazui replied, ¡°What do I want? I want to produce a work that''s up to

    my standards. I''ve nothing to say if you think that I''m doing all these to make your life difficult.¡±

    The man was no longer concerned about the smoking ban at the filming location. Since you don''t want

    to continue filming, I''ll have a smoke. Let''s see what you can do about that.

    ¡°Director Xie, Shi is actually¡ª¡± Before Shi Jie''s assistant could finish her sentence, Xie Dazui

    interrupted, ¡°Shut up! There''s no need to speak on his behalf. I don''t care if he wants to film or not. You

    begged me to do this.¡±

    Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    Angered by the man''s condescending remarks, Shi Jie snapped, ¡°Let''s call it quits. We can get another

    director to film this anyway.¡±

    ¡°Sure, you can go ahead and get a lousy director and film a crappy piece of work. It''s a pity that a

    talenteddy like Ms. Ding has to be paired up with a useless fool like you. Do you even know how bad

    your acting is? This coboration is a disaster! You don''t deserve to work with her!¡± Xie Dazui''s nasty

    remarks left Ning Ran stunned. Xie Dazui is really a critical man who isn''t afraid to speak his mind. He''s

    courting trouble by saying that one of the most popr idols in the country is unworthy of working with

    him. Shi Jie''s fans were already against the partnership. They would make Xie Dazui''s life a living hell if

    they had heard hisshings earlier.

    In an attempt to ease the situation, Ning Ran said, ¡°Director Xie, there''s no need for such harsh words.

    I''m honored to be able to work with Shi.¡±

    Xie Dazui retorted, ¡°Honor? Haha, I know that all of you are scared of his fans, but I''m not. Let me tell

    you this, Shi Jie. I''ve dealt with countless famous idols over the years. In the cutthroat world of idol

    entertainment, it''s almost impossible to maintain your poprity beyond three years. While it may be

    tempting to bask in the adoration of fans, the reality is that only those who are willing to stay humble

    and perfect their craft will prosper in the profession. Their skills and abilities will carry them through the

    ups and downs in the industry; those who fail to do so will eventually see fade away.¡±

    Xie Dazui was unafraid to speak the truth, even if they were unpopr or controversial. While his

    words were hurtful, he had good intentions.

    As a stickler for perfection, he had to ensure that all his works were of high standards.

    Through his unwaveringmitment to quality and dedication to his craft, the man earned widespread

    recognition and respect in the film industry.

    Shi Jie was no fool, and he knew what Xie Dazui had said was correct.

    In truth, he was feeling exasperated because he did not know how to improve and meet the man''s

    expectations.

    ¡°Let''s discuss, Shi.¡± Ning Ran gestured for Shi Jie to follow her for a walk. She wanted to give him

    some tips on how to deliver the performance better.

    Everyone knew that the threat to cancel filming was made in a heated moment. It was impossible to

    simply abort all the hard work that had been done thus far.

    Once Shi Jie and Ning Ran walked out of the ssroom, the former immediately kicked a chair and

    comined, ¡°Xie Dazui is a bully! I didn''t take acting ss, so how am I supposed to know how to act

    well?¡±

    Ning Ran smiled and asked, ¡°Do you trust me, Shi?¡±

    ¡°Of course, if not, I wouldn''t have asked for the coboration! But I got to admit that you act really well,

    Ran. I wouldn''t need to tolerate those nasty criticisms from Xie Dazui if I could act as well as you,¡± Shi

    Jie responded with a look of despair.

    ¡°I didn''t receive professional training in acting either. I only chose to join the entertainment industry

    because I needed to earn a living. Now, calm down and think back to your school days. Do you recall

    your time in ss, ying ball games, or studying at the library? You were just a typical student, not an

    idol. A teacher in school treated you really well, and under her encouragement, you kicked off your bad

    habits. You''ve deep respect for her. One day, you learned that your teacher was leaving. She''s not

    going to be teaching you anymore. When you run to her office, you find that she''s no longer there.

    Hence, you return to the ssroom, wishing she would magically appear. If she''s not there, it means

    that she''s gone for good. Given your anxiety, you hurried into the ssroom rather than taking your

    time walking back. When you saw that the ssroom was empty, you felt extremely disappointed.

    Once you''ve calmed down, you reasoned that your teacher must have left for a better ce. You''re

    therefore d for her. You imagined her looking at you with a wide smile...¡±

    Ning Ran narrated the story in a gentle warm voice so that she could help Shi Jie picture the scene.

    The fear and despair in his eyes were no longer present. It seemed that he had a sudden epiphany.

    ¡°All right. I want you to run over there and pretend that you are looking for the teacher. When you find

    her missing, you''ll enter the ssroom to search for her. Remember that you aren''t an idol. You are just

    a student looking for her teacher,¡± Ning Ran said warmly.

    ¡°Okay, I''ll try,¡± the man replied calmly.

    As Shi Jie ran toward the opposite end of the school, his mind was flooded with images of Ning Ran

    performing the role of a teacher.

    She''s gone! Our paths may never cross; I''m never going to see her again! Is she in the ssroom?

    Perhaps, I''ll be able to say goodbye or maybe convince her to stay.

    Feeling anxious, Shi Jie turned around and rushed to the ssroom, beads of sweat streaming down

    his face.

    Xie Dazui was surprised to see that Shi Jie appeared ready for another attempt at filming.

    Being a seasoned director, he could tell by the actor''s look whether or not he or she was fully absorbed

    in the part.

    Based on the man''s expression and gaze, he was certain that Shi Jie was immersed in the role.

    Did Ding Mi sessfully teach him how to act? Not only is she superb at acting, but she also has

    potential for directing, too, huh?

    ¡°Let''s begin!¡± Xie Dazui instructed the filming crew.

    Shi Jie went out of the ssroom and hurried back in.

    He did not dash with all his might this time, nor did he lower his head. As he scanned the ssroom,

    his eyes were filled with anticipation and worry. He feared that his teacher would never return.

    Shi Jie''s eyes went from sparkling with anticipation to dull with disappointment.

 Chapter 866

    Chapter 866

    ¡°Cut!¡± Xie Dazui eximed excitedly. ¡°Good job! You passed!¡±

    Shi Jie let out a sigh of relief and punched the air when he heard that. ¡°Yes!¡±

    After that, he turned toward Ning Ran and said, ¡°Thank you for your guidance, Ms. Ding. Otherwise, I

    wouldn''t have known how to act it out.¡±

    ¡°I can''t take credit. You''re a fast learner! The important thing about acting is letting go of yourself. Only

    then can you fully integrate into the role. Remember that you''re not acting. Instead, you''re the character

    in the story.¡± Ning Ran smiled.

    ¡°He seeded right after you gave him some pointers. It seems like you''re a better director than me. If

    you wish to be a director in the future, ring me up. We can work together,¡± Xie Dazui uttered with

    a smile.

    Due to how rarely he smiled, the staff present were weirded out when they saw Xie Dazui smiling.

    In response, Ning Ran quickly waved dismissively and said, ¡°I wouldn''t dare! I''m still learning how to be

    a better actress. I wouldn''t dare to imagine myself being a director!¡±

    ¡°I think you can do it, Ms. Ding. I understood your pointers rather easily. If not for you, I would have so

    much trouble,¡± Shi Jie uttered emotionally. Evidently, he was voicing his dissatisfaction toward Xie

    Dazui. Xie Dazui scolds me all the time instead of guiding me. He''s such a bully.

    Ning Ran wasn''t keen on offending anyone, so she said, ¡°All right. Since you already know what to do,

    Shi, let''s carry on.¡±

    Meanwhile, in the headquarters of Nanshi Corporation in Flower City, Jiang Zhe reported to Nan Chen,

    ¡°Those fans who gathered to protest Ms. Ning and Shi Jie''s filming have been persuaded to disperse

    by the police. Illegal gatherings aren''t allowed.¡±

    ¡°What''s wrong with them voicing their displeasure? Who told you guys to call the police?¡± Nan Chen

    frowned.

    Jiang Zhe panicked and exined, ¡°I didn''t call the police. Those fans started climbing over the wall

    and throwing stones at the windows. The security guards at the school called the police.¡±

    Nan Chen didn''t respond to that.

    ¡°The staff at the scene told me Ms. Ning''s performance had impressed the director. Usually, the director

    would do a ridiculous amount of retakes. However, Ms. Ning managed to film the scenes with one

    take,¡± Jiang Zhe uttered.

    ¡°He didn''t scold Ning Ran, did he?¡± Nan Chen asked expressionlessly.

    ¡°No! Instead, he was singing her praises! I heard that he''s even preparing to rmend Ning Ran to

    shoot for a music video. Our Ms. Ning is incredible, and she''s living up to expectations!¡± Jiang Zhe

    answered.

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    ¡°Ours?¡± Nan Chen wasn''t too happy with his choice of words.

    ¡°Oh! It was a slip of the tongue. I meant to say Mr. Chen''s Ms. Ning!¡± Jiang Zhe corrected himself.

    In order to hide his pettiness, Nan Chen uttered, ¡°She''s her own person.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Chen. You''re right. Ms. Ning is her own person,¡± Jiang Zhe instantly chimed in.

    ¡°If that''s all, you can go back to your duties now,¡± Nan Chen ordered with a wave of his hand.

    ¡°That''s not all. I''ve received reports saying that a fewpanies we had good rtionships with had

    decided to stop working with us. Some of thesepanies were important suppliers for our

    subsidiaries.¡±

    ¡°Why is that?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°They gave us all sorts of reasons. I got someone to investigate the matter, and we found that all these

    companies have something inmon. They owe Sunshine Bank a lot of money. Apparently,

    Sunshine Bank is their main financing channel.¡± Jiang Zhe had always been apetent employee,

    and he would only report matters to his superior after investigating the matters thoroughly.

    ¡°In other words, Sunshine Corporation is forcing them to stop working with us. Am I right?¡± Nan Chen

    asked.

    ¡°That''s probably it. Those clients are scared of crossing Sunshine Corporation because they need

    Sunshine Corporation''s financial support.¡±

    Nan Chen fell silent upon hearing that.

    After a long while, he asked, ¡°Is Ouyang Qi still the acting CEO of Sunshine Corporation?¡±

    ¡°No. I heard he ran into some trouble when he was on a business trip in Epea. The local police found

    drugs on him and locked him up. With that, Ouyang Li made aeback and became the acting CEO,¡±

    Jiang Zhe reported.

    ¡°Did such a thing happen? Did Ouyang Qi mess up, or did the power struggle cause this?¡± Nan Chen

    never liked Ouyang Qi, but Sunshine Corporation had been cooperative ever since Ouyang Qi took

    charge. In fact, not once did Sunshine Corporation try to give Nanshi Corporation trouble.

    What was even more surprising was the fact that Ouyang Qi, a yboy, was able to manage the

    business quite well. He did so well that Sunshine Corporation was starting to show signs of recovery.

    ¡°Based on what I know, it''s true that Ouyang Qi is a yboy, but he was never a drug user. I think he

    landed in hot water due to the power struggle. There''s a possibility that more people are in favor of

    seeing Ouyang Li at the helm at Sunshine Corporation,¡± Jiang Zhe answered.

    ¡°Why is that?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°In terms of management, Ouyang Qi is far more capable than Ouyang Li. Although Ouyang Li is more

    experienced, she''s a narrow-minded person. She can excel as a senior executive, but she''s obviously

    not capable of running apany.¡±

    Nan Chen fell silent again after hearing those words.

    In order to hide his pettiness, Nan Chen uttered, ¡°She''s her own person.¡±

    ¡°By the way, Mr. Chen, Ouyang Li looked for you through the secretarial department again today,¡± Jiang

    Zhe said.

    ¡°She looked for me? Again?¡± Nan Chen raised a brow.

    ¡°Yes. She made appointments to see you twice, and the others in the office informed you. However,

    you said you were busy. I think you''ve been too busy and forgotten about it.¡±

    Nan Chen gave it some thought. Yes. I think that''s the case.

    Ever since what happened with Ouyang Qing, Nan Chen grew to dislike the Ouyang family.

    Back then, Ouyang Qing would address him nicely, and in return, Nan Chen showed her kindness. By

    doing that, he even angered Ning Ran on a few asions.

    In the end, however, Ouyang Qing harmed Erbao, and Nan Chen felt betrayed and humiliated.

    That was why he refused to see Ouyang Li when she asked to see him a few times after that. Since

    they were already on bad terms, he didn''t see the need to entertain her.

    Another reason was that although Nan Chen never said it out loud, he was actually a man who would

    treat others based on their looks. Therefore, he would usually only entertain people with good looks.

    For someone who looked as ordinary as Ouyang Li, Nan Chen never felt the need to pay attention to

    her.

    With that being said, Nan Chen could hardly be med for it. Nan Chen was an incredibly handsome

    man himself, so he was always surrounded by pretty women. Since he was so used to seeing people

    with good looks, it was only natural for him to have a high standard for others'' appearances.

    Seeing that Nan Chen was keeping mum, Jiang Zhe added, ¡°The appointment she made today isn''t to

    meet you on her own. It''s actually an invitation to attend a meeting organized by the chamber of

    commerce. They invited the entrepreneurs in the city to discuss some economic matters in private. It

    seems like Sunshine Corporation will bear the cost of this conference. In fact, simr conferences are

    held rather frequently, but the deputy CEO would usually attend them. However, Ouyang Li wrote the

    invitation personally to invite you this time around.¡±

    ¡°Okay. I''ll go.¡± Nan Chen nodded.

    ¡°I also think you should go today because Rong Yi is also going.¡± Jiang Zhe only revealed that after

    Nan Chen epted the invitation.

    ¡°Is that so? Mr. Rong has always been hiding behind the scene, no? Is he finally willing to step

    forward?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°Prior to this, Rong Jilin had always been the Rong family''s representative. This time around, however,

    Rong Jilin injured his leg, so Rong Yi has to step up.¡±

    ¡°Since he''s attending, I guess I ought to check it out.¡±

 Chapter 867

    Chapter 867

    The one-day event organized by the chamber ofmerce was held at a golf resort. The main

    activities of the event were golf and a banquet.

    The people who yed golf in the daytime were all entrepreneurs outside of the top tenpanies in

    the ranking. They loved attending such events because they could improve their connections and seek

    more business opportunities.

    For big shots such as Nan Chen, they would also y golf, but they would prefer to have private

    games instead of ying with a group.

    Obviously, regardless of the activity chosen, their primary aim was to talk business.

    Those big shots would prefer to talk in a quiet environment rather than a noisy one.

    Be that as it may, a lot of those business owners were eager to see Nan Chen. As a matter of fact, their

    sole purpose for attending the event was to see him.

    Nanshi Corporation was the leadingpany in Flower City, and they had businesses in diverse fields.

    A lot of small and medium enterprises had either direct or indirect rtionships with Nanshi

    Corporation.

    They even worshipped Nan Chen because they regarded him as the best in the business world. They

    also knew Nan Chen could solve their problems with just a phone call.

    Unfortunately for them, they waited for Nan Chen the entire day, but he never appeared.

    Apart from the owners of the small and medium enterprises, there was another person who was dying

    to meet Nan Chen. That person was none other than Ouyang Li.

    After hearing that Nan Chen would attend the event, she immediately asked her subordinates to send

    her three sets of clothes to choose from. She then finally picked out the one she liked the most and got

    dressed.

    Throughout the day, she would touch up her makeup almost every twenty minutes. She was worried

    that Nan Chen would arrive all of a sudden and see her with her wed makeup.

    Although she hated Nan Chen to the bone, she had the urge to show him the best of herself.

    Ouyang Li couldn''t figure out why, but she just wanted to see Nan Chen badly and craved his attention.

    Prior to that, she thought all the men in the world could only think with the lower halves of their bodies.

    She once viewed men as unsophisticated and boring creatures, so she never got into a rtionship.

    Besides, she was always scoffing at the fact that Ouyang Qing was obsessed with Nan Chen and felt

    he was unworthy.

    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

    Ever since Nan Chen appeared before her eyes, however, she finally knew how alluring and tempting

    Nan Chen was. Her heart would even race wildly as she thought of him.

    Although it had been an embarrassing and confusing experience for her, she felt she was losing control

    of herself, and she was finding it hard to stop herself from feeling that way.

    At six that evening, Nan Chen arrived at the golf resort in his Rolls-Royce before the banquet started.

    Since it was a business-rted social event, Nan Chen had to use the most official-looking car.

    In fact, he was hoping he could drive his Lamborghini to the event. However, that would make him

    seem less mature. Hence, he had no choice but to take the slightly old-fashioned Rolls-Royce.

    Most of the time, Nan Chen couldn''t do as he wished. Although no one could restrict him from doing or

    saying certain things, he had to set those restrictions himself due to his status in society.

    The moment the owners of the small and medium enterprises saw Nan Chen''s car, they recognized it

    right away and swarmed toward it to greet him.

    It was safe to say everyone in Flower City could recognize Nan Chen''s car.

    Before Nan Chen even opened the car door, his car was already surrounded by people.

    Qiao Zhan got out of the car first to urge the people to take a few steps back.

    Having worked for the Nan family for years, Qiao Zhan was used to such a scene.

    That evening, as usual, Nan Chen was dressed in ck. Since it was a resort, he wore sportswear

    instead of a suit. Consequently, he looked cool and fresh.

    ¡°Sir Chen is here!¡±

    ¡°Hi, Mr. Chen! It''s been a while!¡±

    ¡°We''ve been waiting for you the entire day! You still look as dashing as ever, Mr. Chen!¡±

    Too many people were greeting Nan Chen at once, and he didn''t want to shake hands with all of them.

    Hence, he merely waved and walked in. Seeing that, everyone else followed suit.

    Ouyang Li heard about Nan Chen''s arrival, and she instantly touched up her makeup once more.

    However, she didn''t go up to him to greet him. I''m the host, so the guest shoulde and greet me

    instead.

    Unfortunately for her, Nan Chen became the center of attention as soon as he arrived. Upon his arrival,

    everyone disregarded her.

    Ouyang Li was disgusted when she saw everyone surrounding Nan Chen and buttering him up. Those

    lightweights were just fawning over me in the daytime. After Nan Chen arrived, however, they had all

    forgotten about me.

    With that in mind, Ouyang Li clenched her fists in anger. At the same time, her hatred toward Nan Chen

    grew.

    While everyone was buttering Nan Chen up, Ouyang Li merely stood nearby and watched how

    expressionless Nan Chen was when he was exchanging pleasantries with the others.

    Although it had been an embarrassing and confusing experience for her, she felt she was losing control

    of herself, and she was finding it hard to stop herself from feeling that way.

    Obviously, those businessmen she considered lightweights were all billionaires. Otherwise, they

    wouldn''t have been invited to the event.

    Compared to themoners, those lightweights were still considered very sessful businessmen.

    Ouyang Li stood there and watched Nan Chen for over two minutes. She noticed how cold Nan Chen

    was when he was exchanging pleasantries with the others. He''s not even smiling! Even so, those

    lightweights are still ttering him just so that they can have a conversation with him. Well, he definitely

    stands out from all his peers. Compared to those unsophisticated and chubby businessmen, he''s

    handsome, majestic, and elegant.

    Holding that thought, Ouyang Li suddenly felt her heart skip a beat before it started racing. She was

    even feeling the urge to approach him and talk to him. Wait! My initial n was to give him the cold

    shoulder. I''ve already forced thosepanies to stop working with Nanshi Corporation. If they were to

    extend their contracts with Nanshi Corporation, I would cut their loans. Now that the economy is doing

    badly, a lot ofpanies are struggling financially. If I stop supporting them financially, they''re going to

    go belly up.

    Indeed, thosepanies had to stop working with Nanshi Corporation and look for otherpanies to

    work with after getting pressured by Ouyang Li. Although they didn''t want to cross Nan Chen, they had

    to find ways to survive.

    After Ouyang Li did that, she was thrilled because she thought she had somehow affected him. She

    knew that Nan Chen had been under a lot of pressure recently due to financial fraud. Therefore, she

    thought she could kick him when he was down and dampen his spirit.

    On top of that, she even thought Nan Chen would take the initiative to beg her for mercy and offer to

    work together.

    If Nan Chen had done that, she nned to act high and mighty to force him into submission before

    agreeing to help him. That''s why I sponsored this event. I wanted to give him a chance to give in to me.

    Yet, not only is he not doing that, but he has also attracted all the attention after he arrives. It''s as if

    he''s the only person that matters! I can''t ept this! I must do something!

    Ouyang Li bit her lip and strode toward Nan Chen.

    Nan Chen saw Ouyang Li approaching from the corners of his eyes, but he was unperturbed. I don''t

    care about Ouyang Li. I''m just waiting for Rong Yi. When is he going to show up?

 Chapter 868

    Chapter 868

    Ouyang Li approached Nan Chen, intending to humiliate him.

    ¡°Why are you here, Nan Chen? Who sent you here?¡± was what she had nned to ask.

    Ouyang Li knew that if she said that in front of so many people, Nan Chen would surely be utterly

    embarrassed. Even if he immediately got angry and walked away, I would still have the upper hand.

    However, when she was only a few meters away from Nan Chen, he turned his head in her direction

    somewhat intentionally, and his eyes briefly met hers.

    In that split second, Ouyang Li felt defeated.

    His piercing gaze, which seemed as if it could see through her, made her instantly lose the courage to

    say what she had nned to.

    She had a feeling that if she dared to offend Nan Chen on that asion, most of the people there

    would opt to support and follow him.

    When that happens, I would be the one humiliated, not him.

    As a result, Ouyang Li left those words unspoken. Just as she was about to nod a greeting to him, he

    had already turned his head away and stopped looking at her.

    She was instantly at a loss, not knowing what to do.

    This Nan Chen is truly infuriating!

    Fortunately, someone arrived at that moment. Rong Yi, who looked dashing while d in white

    sportswear, also entered.

    His outfit formed a stark contrast with Nan Chen''s ck attire.

    Both men appeared equally handsome despite the stark differences in their clothing colors, but

    interestingly, they were of twopletely different demeanors.

    One appeared fierce and standoffish, while the other seemed warm and approachable.

    No one couldpare to them as they were the leading representatives of those two categories.

    Out of the blue, Ouyang Li came up with the peculiar idea of using Rong Yi to oppose Nan Chen.

    You think you''re so handsome and stand out from the crowd, don''t you? Now that there''s someone

    here who is just as attractive, what''s there to be arrogant about?

    With that in mind, Ouyang Li went over to Rong Yi. ¡°Mr. Rong, you''re finally here!¡±

    Although all the executives present looked toward Rong Yi when they heard Ouyang Li''s greeting, most

    of them did not know who he was and even looked confused.

    Rong Yi was, in actuality, a well-known figure, but not in the corporate world. He was popr in the

    music industry as a renowned pianist.

    However, those executives rarely had the time to appreciate piano music because they usually only

    cared about stocks and political trends.

    Some of them had pianos in their homes and had employed skilled piano instructors to teach their kids

    how to y the instrument. Yet, they were unaware that the gentleman before them was an

    aplished pianist.

    Rong Yi was not disturbed by the fact that he was not recognized by anyone since he was mentally

    prepared for it.

    After all, he attended the event that day so that he could gradually introduce himself to the business

    community of Flower City.

    Rong Yi extended his hand to Ouyang Li. ¡°Thank you for the invitation, Ms. Li.¡±

    After that, he turned to look at Nan Chen, and they nodded slightly at one another in greeting.

    Being prominent people, they still had to maintain basic etiquette in public despite the fact that they

    couldn''t get along with each other in private.

    As for the executives in attendance, they found the scene rather peculiar. Is Ouyang Li out of her mind?

    Why did she choose to wee a random guy when someone as important as Nan Chen is right

    here?

    After Rong Yi''s arrival, the banquet officially began.

    Despite being a small-scale banquet, it was equivalent to a slightlyrger-scale dinner appointment.

    Such dinners had seating arrangements, with the person of the highest status seated in the middle.

    Even though the table was circr, there was still a main seat¡ªthe one situated in the middle that

    faced the private room door.

    On the other hand, those facing away from the door were regarded as secondary seats and were used

    to signal the waiters to provide services.

    Everyone was waiting for the person in the main seat to take their seat before they took their own.

    Naturally, Nan Chen had the highest status in that group, to which everyone agreed except for Ouyang

    Li.

    However, since she seldom participated in social gatherings previously and did not know that a circr

    table had main and secondary seating, she started ushering everyone, ¡°Go ahead. Sit wherever you

    want.¡±

    Yet, no one did as she said as they were all looking at Nan Chen.

    They would only take their respective seats after Nan Chen had upied the main seat.

    Ouyang Li started wondering if those people were fools when she saw that. Do you even need to get

    Nan Chen''s permission before sitting? Will you all remain standing the entire night if he doesn''t sit?

    At that thought, she could not care less about it and plopped right down on one of the chairs.

    Still, embarrassing enough, no one took their seat. Even Rong Yi remained standing.

    ¡°Sit, everyone. Why are you still standing? Food will be served soon,¡± Ouyang Li ushered everyone

    again.

    Despite her words, no one sat down. Their gazes remained fixed on Nan Chen.

    Thetter also wanted her to understand who had the authority in that room.

    However, due to having very little experience with business dinners, Ouyang Li failed to get the

    message even after a long time.

    Nan Chen then made a gesture of invitation, signaling everyone to sit down, but he did not take the

    main seat.

    He might be conceited, but he still knew his manners.

    After all, he attended the event that day so that he could gradually introduce himself to the business

    community of Flower City.

    Since everyone was acting courteously, his behavior would have been seen as disrespectful rather

    than arrogant if he had taken that seat without hesitation.

    However, if he did not, who would dare upy the seat in the middle?

    As a result, everyone scrambled to take the other chairs, leaving thest person who was slow to take

    a seat standing there helplessly, unsure of what to do.

    He did not dare to take the middle seat even though there were no other seats left.

    Ouyang Li cast a nce at him. ¡°Why aren''t you sitting?¡±

    Not knowing what to do, that person could only beg for Nan Chen''s help, ¡°Sir Chen, I think it''s best we

    change seats. Please sit over there.¡±

    Thetter leaned back on his chair. ¡°No need. Just sit wherever you like.¡±

    The man still refused to take the main seat. ¡°That won''t do. With you here, I wouldn''t dare to sit there.

    Please take that seat.¡±

    Ouyang Li frowned at that. Why are they being so courteous? It''s not as if that seat is gilded in gold!

    ¡°I''ll switch with you then. I''ll take that seat while you sit here.¡± Ouyang Li then stood up and sat in the

    middle seat.

    Silence ensued in the room. No one spoke a word, thinking that she was crazy. Sir Chen is present,

    and yet she, a woman, is going to sit in the middle seat?

    Nan Chen was unbothered by it. He even found it very interesting that Ouyang Li went to take that

    seat. After all, he had always been the one who took the main seat on various asions, and he was

    long tired of sitting there.

    Even though Ouyang Li sensed that the atmosphere was off, she did not regret what she had done. I

    want to steal Nan Chen''s spotlight, and it would be wonderful if I could make him look bad as well.

    That''ll be so satisfying!

    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    What angered her the most was that she had spent a long time dressing up, picking out her clothes,

    and retouching her makeup countless times. Yet, Nan Chen barely even looked at her, his gaze not

    lingering on her for more than three seconds.

    Hatred raged within her. What''s so great about you, Nan Chen? How dare you ignore me like that! I''ll

    make you regret it!

    Everyone turned to gaze at Nan Chen after the waiter had finished pouring the wine.

    After all, the most significant individual had to propose a toast for the first ss, and it was also ideal

    for them to say a short speech.

    However, since Ouyang Li was the host on that asion, Nan Chen did not wish to steal the limelight,

    so he remained seated.

    The situation became awkward. Since Nan Chen refused to budge, no one dared to do anything either.

    Ouyang Li wanted to take the lead in toasting despite being aware that the most influential person

    always did so. She stood up and raised her ss. ¡°Wee, everyone! Let''s start with a drink!¡±

 Chapter 869

    Chapter 869

    The atmosphere turned awkward again. Everyone was looking at Nan Chen, and since he did not

    move, no one did as well.

    Ouyang Li almost exploded with anger. Are these people deliberately embarrassing me? I''m footing the

    bill today, so why are they all looking at Nan Chen?

    Nan Chen noticed that everyone was looking at him, and since he did not wish to humiliate Ouyang Li

    too much, he raised his ss.

    Only then did everyone follow suit.

    Rong Yi watched everything unfold and noted quietly that the Nanshi Corporation''s foundation in

    Flower City was deeper than he had anticipated.

    With Nanshi Corporation being embroiled in a fraudulent ounting scandal, logically, these snobbish

    businessmen, who''ve always seized the opportunity to attack a person who has lost power, should be

    staying away from the Nan family. However, they don''t seem to have even the slightest intention to

    distance themselves from Nan Chen. On the contrary, theyvished him with all of their attention. This

    can only mean one thing. They have faith in the Nan family and know that the negative news won''t

    have a significant effect on thepany.

    It was easy for apany to have confidence in itself but difficult for most of its corporate peers or

    competitors to do the same. It required absolute capability, a solid foundation, and an edge in the

    competitive market that no one couldpete with.

    Ouyang Li had always thought she could drive the Nan family out of Flower City and even bring down

    Nanshi Corporation if she teamed up with Prosperity Holdings.

    For a while, Rong Yi was convinced that was possible too, but given the current circumstances, it was

    clear that neither Prosperity Holdings, which had returned to Flower City, nor Sunshine Corporation,

    which had been secretly operating in the city, could effectivelypete with Nanshi Corporation.

    No one will believe that Nanshi Company will copse or that Nan Chen will lose. This kind of influence

    is simply terrifying.

    ¡°Please say a few words, Sir Chen,¡± someone suggested.

    Nan Chen did not wish to steal the spotlight, for he only came to meet Rong Yi.

    Since these people insisted that I say a few words, it''ll be too insensitive of me to keep silent. If I did,

    however, I''d be upstaging Ouyang Li and putting her in an awkward situation again. She''s already very

    embarrassed. If I made her look bad again, it''d seem like I was bullying her.

    Despite not caring about bullying others, he still felt that bullying a woman was a little demeaning.

    Hence, Nan Chen raised his ss and stood up. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Li, for your hospitality, and thank you

    all. I wish everyone well.¡±

    Instead of wishing them all sess in their businesses, he merely conveyed his best wishes.

    He did not utter a word of nonsense, which was typical of him. Only when everyone was well would all

    be well.

    The word ¡°well¡± epassed everything. One could interpret it as only when everyone was well would

    all be well. In other words, if anyone harmed him or Nanshi Corporation, he would ensure that nothing

    good woulde to them.

    Ouyang Li was initially irritated, but as soon as she heard Nan Chen address her, her heart began to

    race.

    This is the first time Nan Chen mentioned me. The first time!

    She felt a sweet, illusory sense of bliss that thrilled her despite how artificial it seemed.

    As such, she was so overjoyed that she continued holding her wine ss up as everyone drank,

    gazing at Nan Chen longingly in a daze.

    Everyone witnessed the scene andughed silently to themselves. Sir Chen''s charm is truly

    problematic. Every woman who sees him wants nothing more than to throw themselves at him.

    Rong Yi also noticed that something was off with Ouyang Li and could not bear to see it, so he gave a

    light cough before saying, ¡°A toast to you, Ms. Li. Thank you for the hospitality.¡±

    While saying that, he raised his ss and took the initiative to clink sses with her. The clink of the

    ss finally woke Ouyang Li from her stupor.

    Ouyang Li had never been smitten with anyone. She had never even been in love. Yet, when a person

    like her, who did not easily invest in emotions, fell in love, it was like an uncontroble tide.

    She was also shocked by it. Feeling ashamed and regretful for her behavior, she smiled awkwardly,

    tilted her head, and downed the entire ss of red wine.

    Then, after sitting down, she pinched her leg hard, trying to let the pain clear her head.

    She suddenly felt that Nan Chen was truly scary. He''s an attractive devil who can seduce people''s

    souls without leaving a trace.

    The dinner was finally on the right track. After three rounds of drinking, everyone gradually rxed and

    began chatting enthusiastically.

    Nan Chen never liked talking excessively. Other than asionally replying out of politeness, he never

    took the initiative to ask questions.

    Hence, he was still sober and silent when everyone was a little drunk. On the pretext of feeling unwell,

    he told everyone to carry on while he went out for a walk.

    There was a golf course outside. Nan Chen was itching to y as he had been too busy recently to do

    so.

    Even though the golf course had lighting so one could y at night, he resisted the impulse to y

    after having imbibed.

    He looked behind him after walking a few steps, and sure enough, Rong Yi followed him out.

    Clever people would understand one another even if they were rivals.

    Although Nan Chen did not summon him along, Rong Yi knew that the reason the former came out was

    to speak with him.

    The word ¡°well¡± epassed everything. One could interpret it as only when everyone was well would

    all be well. In other words, if anyone harmed him or Nanshi Corporation, he would ensure that nothing

    good woulde to them.

    At Nan Chen''s nod, Rong Yi took a few quick steps and caught up with him.

    ¡°I heard that you''re good at ying golf, Mr. Chen. Want topete?¡± thetter asked with a smile.

    ¡°No. Exercising after drinking is bad for your health. Let''speteter,¡± Nan Chen replied lightly.

    ¡°You''ve never lost, right?¡± Rong Yi was implying something with his words.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Never.¡± Simrly, Nan Chen also did not give in.

    ¡°Those who have never lost can''t afford to lose,¡± Rong Yi said with a smile.

    Nan Chen''s gaze turned cold. ¡°What makes you so sure, Mr. Rong, that I can''t afford to lose?¡± he

    asked.

    ¡°Your actions say it all. I can''t believe that you kidnapped the whistleblower''s wife and kid to escape

    ountability for financial fraud. You''re utterly despicable. Frankly, I''m very disappointed.¡± Hatred was

    evident in Rong Yi''s tone as he spoke.

    Nan Chen was taken aback by his words. ¡°Kidnap?¡±

    The other man shot him a disdainful look. ¡°Don''t y dumb. The whistleblower''s child is studying in

    elementary school in Xyperia. You had someone kidnap his child to force him to retract his statement.

    Are you still trying to deny it?¡±

    Nan Chen remained silent after hearing that. Did Qiao Zhan organize it? Although I did provide

    instructions to try to contact the family members of the finance personnel, my subordinates informed

    me that they had only been able to get in touch with the man''s parents in the country, with no mention

    of his wife and kids. Besides, Qiao Zhan''s men did nothing to his parents. They merely inquired about

    the situation to get his parents to call their son and convince him not to go against Nanshi Corporation.

    Even though Qiao Zhan has the Nan family''s security team at his disposal and could mobilize some

    external resources of Nanshi Corporation, he would never consider kidnapping.

    He knew very well that Qiao Zhan would have told him in advance even if he had actually done that.

    If Qiao Zhan didn''t do it, who did? The culprit evenmitted the crime abroad. It would require some

    capability to seek out someone''s wife and child worldwide.

    A person appeared in Nan Chen''s mind. Could it be him again? Why would he meddle in Nanshi

    Corporation''s affairs, too?

    ¡°It looks like you truly don''t dare to admit it, Mr. Chen. Fine then. Although everyone ims that Nanshi

    Corporation has always acted with integrity, it appears that yourpany is everything but,¡± Rong Yi

    remarked mockingly.

    Nan Chen let out a cold snort. ¡°If you firmly believe that I did it, I can''t be bothered to exin myself.¡±

    ¡°Are you admitting to it?¡± Rong Yi pressed on.

    Nan Chen merely scoffed in response.

 Chapter 870

    Chapter 870

    One of the reasons Nan Chen attended the dinner was to see what Rong Yi would say.

    He was curious why the so-called whistleblower who exposed Nanshi Corporation for fabricating its

    financial report decided to change his mind.

    Rong Yi imed that Nanshi Corporation had abducted his family.

    That must be true to a certain extent. The culprit must have threatened the whistleblower with the lives

    of his wife and child. Otherwise, he would not have changed his testimony.

    Of course, under such circumstances, the public would generally think the Nans were behind the

    abduction, and the whistleblower would do anything to protect his family. All in all, Nanshi Corporation

    would benefit from it the most.

    ¡°Nanshi Corporation has always presented itself as apany with integrity, and I believe that. But

    holding women and children hostage contradicts that image,¡± Rong Yi said with a smile.

    Rong Yi was not a harsh person, but his contemptuous tone made Nan Chen ufortable.

    Initially, Nan Chen was unwilling to argue, as he disliked verbal disputes. However, he regarded Rong

    Yi as a worthy opponent and disliked being underestimated by thetter.

    He retorted, ¡°The person who exposed Nanshi Corporation for fabricating its financial report was a spy

    working for Prosperity Holdings, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Rong Yi admitted right away. ¡°Sending spies to the otherpanies is nothing new. I bet Nanshi

    Corporation must have done the same too.¡±

    ¡°You didn''t protect your spy, yet you''re taking it out on me? Do you expect me to protect the spy you

    ced in mypany?¡± Nan Chen asked.

    ¡°That''s because I thought you would have figured out hundreds of ways to defeat Prosperity Holdings. I

    didn''t expect the Nan family would stoop so low as to abduct a child,¡± Rong Yi rebutted.

    Nan Chen was bing hot under the cor.

    He had never ordered anyone to abduct the person''s wife and his child. He would never resort to such

    underhanded tactics.

    Nan Chen turned to Rong Yi and said indifferently, ¡°I thought you were one of my few worthy

    opponents, but turns out you''re not. You''re right; I have a thousand ways to defeat Prosperity Holdings

    without resorting to such despicable tactics. I don''t need to exin myself, but since you insist, I''ll tell

    you that the Nans did not do it!¡±

    Nan Chen''s gaze turned cold, and his demeanor was chilling.

    Rong Yi remained smiling as he was not the least bit afraid of Nan Chen like others were.

    For some reason, he did not find Nan Chen intimidating.

    Surprisingly, he believed Nan Chen.

    He believed Nan Chen did not order the abduction of that person''s wife and child. Considering what a

    proud man Nan Chen is, he wouldn''t have denied it had he given that order.

    Rong Yi could rte to Nan Chen''s pride as he, too, was a dignified person who would not make up

    stories when confronting their opponents.

    That was why he believed in Nan Chen as much as how he believed in himself.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Rong Yi replied with just one word.

    Nan Chen looked at him. ¡°Do you not believe me?¡±

    ¡°I do.¡± Rong Yi gave another brief answer. ¡°So you didn''t send someone to injure my brother?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Nan Chen replied sinctly.

    ¡°Why did you admit to itst time?¡±

    ¡°If you still think I was the culprit, I can admit it now,¡± Nan Chen uttered icily. If you really think I did it, I''ll

    admit it. What can you do to me?

    Rong Yi nodded. ¡°I have a secret. Do you want to know?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Nan Chen outright declined.

    ¡°Why not?¡± Rong Yi did not expect him to respond that way.

    ¡°I don''t want to owe you anything. The secret you want to tell me must be beneficial to me. Otherwise,

    what''s the point of telling me?¡± Nan Chen deduced.

    Rong Yi nodded. He''s indeed a man with a clear mind.

    ¡°That makes sense. Then why don''t you tell me a secret too? Let''s trade. That way, we can call it quits.

    How about it?¡± Rong Yi smiled.

    Nan Chen fell silent, seemingly considering.

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    ¡°Are you worried I might take advantage of you, Mr. Chen? I''m surprised by your pettiness. Are you

    worried that if you reveal a secret to me, I won''t reciprocate?¡± Rong Yi chuckled.

    ¡°I''m not. I''ll start first.¡± Nan Chen was known for his calm demeanor, but Rong Yi had sessfully

    stirred him up this time.

    ¡°Okay, you go first then.¡± Rong Yi looked at Nan Chen.

    ¡°There''s a person in M Nation called Ruan Anxi, nicknamed Doctor, and he was the one who injured

    Rong Jilin''s foot. That person is not my friend, and what he did has nothing to do with me,¡± Nan Chen

    said slowly.

    Rong Yi nodded almost without any doubt. ¡°I believe that, and I''ll remember what you said.¡±

    Nan Chen kept mum, waiting for Rong Yi to tell him his secret.

    He wanted to know what Rong Yi would tell him because he knew Rong Yi would never speak without

    careful consideration. Therefore, whatever Rong Yi was about to reveal must hold great significance.

    ¡°Someone in yourpany did falsify the ounts. My spy exposed the truth, and he didn''t tarnish

    Nanshi Corporation''s reputation out of spite. While it''s true that the corporation''s share price was

    affected, the fact remains that someone manipted information in the ounts. How could you allow

    such a thing to happen? I don''t understand,¡± Rong Yi said.

    He believed Nan Chen did not order the abduction of that person''s wife and child. Considering what a

    proud man Nan Chen is, he wouldn''t have denied it had he given that order.

    The look in Nan Chen''s dark eyes turned grim as he stared sharply at Rong Yi.

    Rong Yi shrugged and spread out his hands. ¡°You can choose not to believe in me.¡±

    ¡°I believe you. And I will investigate thoroughly,¡± Nan Chen responded.

    ¡°That''s none of my business.¡± Rong Yi smiled.

    Rong Yi''s words had indeed left Nan Chen dumbfounded. He could not believe hispany overseas

    really did falsify the ounts!

    Nan Chen might be a capable person, but Nanshi Corporation was a mega-conglomerate. Even with a

    professional audit department and outsourcing auditing tasks to a third-party firm, they were bound to

    overlook some irregrities.

    It would be impossible for Nan Chen to scrutinize the financial situation of every subsidiary under the

    corporation.

    Undoubtedly, there was room for false ounting. But for what purpose? Was it an attempt to

    embezzlepany funds or to manipte the financial records? Moreover, who was responsible for

    this fraudulent activity? Was it the executives or the management team of the subsidiary?

    Nan Chen was determined to investigate the case thoroughly, even though it would not be a walk in the

    park.

    Regardless of the reason, the consequences were significant.

    As an international conglomerate, Nanshi Corporation''s reputation was of paramount importance. The

    falsification of documents by one subsidiary would tarnish the entire corporation''s reputation, potentially

    incurring substantial losses for the organization.

    Furthermore, if the magnitude of false ounting was extensive, it could lead to the securities

    regtory department mandating the delisting of Nanshi Corporation. The ramifications of such an

    oue would be catastrophic.

    Hence, it was imperative for Rong Yi to update Nan Chen about this.

    Despite the potential embarrassment it might cause, it served as a warning to Nan Chen, reminding

    him that the issue within hispany required urgent investigation. Failure to act promptly could result

    in severe consequences.

    Nan Chen understood Rong Yi''s intention. He wanted to express gratitude, but words caught in his

    throat.

    It was clear that Rong Yi was a respected adversary, and Nan Chen was d he did not misjudge him.

    While they were still talking, Ouyang Li arrived, interrupting their discussion.

 Chapter 871

    Chapter 871

    Ouyang Li came at a bad time. Her arrival interrupted Nan Chen''s and Rong Yi''s conversation.

    Everyone indoors knew Nan Chen and Rong Yi were engaged in a discussion outside, so they didn''t

    dare to interrupt the two. Ouyang Li was the only one who stepped outside.

    She figured it was a good chance to take the opportunity to interact with Nan Chen.

    After all, Nan Chen did mention her earlier, getting her hopes up.

    She couldn''t care less about Nan Chen stealing her limelight as the host. All she could think of was

    how Nan Chen mentioned her for the first time of his own ord.

    Rong Yi saw Ouyang Li approaching and nodded at her before excusing himself.

    Nan Chen wasn''t aware of the weird thoughts running through Ouyang Li''s mind. He merely greeted

    her with a polite nod.

    The nod out of sheer courtesy sent Ouyang Li''s heart pounding once again.

    She understood it was basic etiquette, and Nan Chen didn''t regard her as anyone important, but it

    didn''t stop her heart from racing.

    At that moment, she knew she had fallen head over heels for Nan Chen.

    Her intelligence and confidence would take a nosedive, and her ability to make a logical judgment was

    thrown out the window whenever Nan Chen was present. His every move affected her.

    It was terrifying!

    Ouyang Li had never encountered a situation like this before. She thought it wouldn''t happen to her

    anytime soon in this lifetime.

    Yet it did.

    After Nan Chen politely greeted her, he turned around to leave with no intention of speaking with her.

    Before she could think twice, she blurted out, ¡°Nan Chen.¡±

    She didn''t call him ¡°Sir Chen¡± like everyone else nor address him by his title, ¡°Mr. Nan.¡± Instead, she

    addressed him directly by his name, thinking it sounded more imposing and would maybe make them

    seem closer that way.

    Nan Chen couldn''t care less about the way she addressed him. He stopped in his tracks, but only for a

    few seconds before he continued walking ahead.

    ¡°Stop. I have something to tell you,¡± Ouyang Li said urgently.

    Nan Chen ignored her and continued in his tracks. Thest thing he wanted to do at that moment was

    to listen to her, but he was toozy to even voice out his refusal.

    He already knew what Ouyang Li wanted to say. It was definitely about her getting some of Nanshi

    Corporation''s partners to terminate their coboration with thepany by threatening to cancel the

    loans her family''s bank lent out.

    Those coborators were important, but terminating the coboration with them wouldn''t put a dent in

    Nanshi Corporation''s rock-solid foundation.

    Their country had speedy economic growth and the most immacte industrial chain in the entire

    world. With plenty of enterprises in various sectors, Nanshi Corporation wouldn''t have to worry about

    theck of coborators.

    Even though the beginning of a new coboration might affect efficiency in some aspects, leading to

    some losses, Nanshi Corporation could afford to bear those losses.

    Besides, with Nanshi Corporation''s capabilities, it was those businesses'' losses if they terminated their

    coboration. There was absolutely no need for Nanshi Corporation to lower itself to plead for any

    partners to renew their contracts.

    Since the consequences were insignificant to Nan Chen, he didn''t think there was a need for him to talk

    to Ouyang Li.

    The two families had a fallout earlier on, so both sides no longer had to care about salvaging each

    other''s dignity as old friends. Since they had different beliefs, they should just walk on separate paths.

    Ouyang Li panicked when Nan Chen ignored her and continued walking.

    She raced past him and got in his way, stopping him from leaving.

    Nan Chen frowned in response, and her sudden movement also attracted the other guests'' attention.

    Without a choice, Nan Chen halted in his tracks. He couldn''t argue with Ouyang Li in front of everyone.

    That would be too ugly a situation.

    ¡°Speak.¡± Nan Chen''s expression was cold.

    Ouyang Li was giddy to finally have the chance to study Nan Chen up close. She greedily beheld his

    face despite his frosty demeanor. Even though he looks cold, he''s still handsome.

    There wasn''t a trace of warmth in those eyes of his. They were icy cold.

    ¡°Two days ago, I had the risk control department run a background check on a group of businesses to

    reevaluate their credit line¡ª¡±

    Nan Chen hastily cut her off. ¡°I know. You threatened to cancel their loans if they continued their

    contracts with Nanshi Corporation.¡±

    Ouyang Li felt a sense of aplishment, as though she had finally turned the situation over in her

    favor. ¡°You knew?¡±

    Nan Chen didn''t even want to reply and merely grunted.

    ¡°If you plead with me on their behalf, I might be able to look the other way.¡± Ouyang Li giggled.

    I finally got you where I wanted, Nan! Weren''t you always sitting on your high horse? Didn''t you always

    look down your nose at me? I want you to beg me! And I demand you do it humbly!

    However, that was merely her misconception about Nan Chen. In the end, she still didn''t know anything

    about him.

    Nan Chen cast Ouyang Li a look of disdain. ¡°Maybe if you plead on their behalf and renew your

    contract with Nanshi Corporation, I might consider forgiving them for their offense.¡±

    His boldness stunned Ouyang Li speechless.

    I caused him to lose long-time partners, and yet, he doesn''t even care. How is he still so smug?

    Nan Chen sauntered past Ouyang Li and walked back indoors.

    Ouyang Li caught up to him again. ¡°Your nonchnce is just a mask, isn''t it? You''re just pretending not

    to care.¡±

    Nan Chen snickered. ¡°Nanshi Corporation has more than a thousand coborators all over the world.

    Do you think we''ll beg every single one of them to maintain a long-term partnership with us? Losing a

    handful of partners won''t affect us in the slightest, so you can save your breath. One more thing, stop

    bothering me. At least you can keep some of your pride intact that way.¡±

    Besides, with Nanshi Corporation''s capabilities, it was those businesses'' losses if they terminated their

    coboration. There was absolutely no need for Nanshi Corporation to lower itself to plead for any

    partners to renew their contracts.

    Without waiting for her response, he strode away.

    Ouyang Li stood rooted to the spot in disbelief. She noted his indifference toward her and realized she

    was just humiliating herself.

    Nan Chen briefly bid the other guests goodbye before leaving.

    Ouyang Li clenched her jaw in anger as she watched the taillights of Nan Chen''s car disappear from

    her sight.

    She finally understood why Ouyang Qing hated Ning Ran so much to the extent of poisoning Ning

    Ran''s children.

    If poisoning Nan Chen''s children could make him suffer, Ouyang Li figured she would do the same. No,

    she might even do something more ruthless. At that moment, she was willing to do anything just to get

    Nan Chen to bow his head and make him suffer.

    She didn''t understand the reason behind her intense hatred toward Nan Chen. All she knew was she

    hated him with every fiber of her being.

    In the meantime, Nan Chenpletely disregarded Ouyang Li''s words as he sat in the backseat of his

    car. He shut his eyes and recalled every word Rong Yi uttered.

    ¡°Qiao Zhan,¡± Nan Chen called out abruptly.

    Qiao Zhan, who was behind the wheel, answered, ¡°Yes, Sir Chen?¡±

    ¡°Say, do you think there are employees who wish for theirpany''s downfall?¡± Nan Chen asked a

    strange question.

    ¡°Um... Why do you ask?¡± Qiao Zhan was taken aback by his question.

    Instead of answering him, Nan Chen repeated his question in a serious tone. ¡°Do you think there are

    employees like that?¡±

    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

    Qiao Zhan pondered over Nan Chen''s inquiry briefly before replying, ¡°I think there are. For example,

    those spies sent by otherpanies. Naturally, they will hope for thepany''s failure.¡±

    ¡°I meant employees, not spies. Will they hope for thepany to run aground?¡±

    ¡°Employees? That''s unlikely since they''re enjoying thepany''s benefits. What will they gain if the

    company falls?¡±

    Nan Chen repeated Qiao Zhan''s reply under his breath before muttering, ¡°That''s right. What will they

    gain?¡±

    ¡°Did something happen, Sir Chen?¡± Uneasiness filled Qiao Zhan at Nan Chen''s grim question. He

    noticed something wrong with Nan Chen that night, as though he was in a bad mood. Qiao Zhan

    wondered if it had anything to do with Ouyang Li.

    ¡°Rong Yi told me someone did cook thepany''s books, and I didn''t realize that. I''m certain upper

    management is involved,¡± Nan Chen exined.

    ¡°You actually believe in Rong Yi''s im, Sir Chen?¡± Qiao Zhan remained unperturbed.

    ¡°I do,¡± Nan Chen said firmly before shutting his eyes again.

    There are many things I have to sort through.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!