The next day, Jiang Zhe sent a driver to Ning Ran’s workplace to fetch her and bring her to Nan Chen’s office.
Nan Chen was wearing a black tuxedo in his office when Ning Ran opened the door and walked in. He was momentarily stunned.
He had assumed Nan Xing’s identity and had put on a white tuxedo to meet Ning Ran twice. Those interactions felt different from the one he was having at that time.
The only consistency had been that sweet tangerine scent.
Nan Chen had tried to run away from that scent for years, but he never succeeded.
Ning Ran scanned Nan Chen. For some reason, she found Nan Chen to be less distant that day.
It must’ve been my misconception. Ning Ran thought.
Jiang Zhe was as polite as ever and asked, “Please take a seat, Ms. Ding. Would you like tea or coffee?”
“She doesn’t like either,” said Nan Chen.
Ning Ran was stunned. I didn’t even answer. How would you know if I like it?
Or are you implying that I am not worthy of the coffee you serve?
“Coffee,” said Ning Ran, “Two large cups of coffee, please. I’m parched.”
Nan Chen was startled. So this is what the legendary saying ‘drinking like a cow’ meant. Two large cups of coffee?
Jiang Zhe was also flabbergasted. Does she really want to drink so much coffee or was she just being angry?
That being said, an employee of Nan Chen knew how to deal with it either way. He prepared a cup of coffee for Ning Ran and said, “Please enjoy this coffee one cup at a time.”
If you want more, I can refill it for you. That’ll solve the problem!
Nan Chen cleared his throat.
“Oh yes. Ms. Ding, we invite you over today to ask you about your wedding preferences. I am the person in charge of planning the wedding so if you have any requests, please do let me know.”
Ning Ran had just taken a sip of coffee. Upon hearing that, she almost spat everything out.
“What wedding?”
Jiang Zhe turned to Nan Chen as he thought Darn, the bride has no idea what’s going on? Isn’t that a little extreme?
“The wedding between you and Young Master Nan Xing, of course,” replied Jiang Zhe.
“Who said I’m marrying him?”
Jiang Zhe was terrified as he though Whoa! Your wedding has nothing to do with me. This is all Mr. Nan Chen’s orders!
“I did,” said Nan Chen.
“You said so?”
“Yes”
“As if you get to decide who I marry?” demanded Ning Ran angrily.
“Yes, I do,” said Nan Chen with a straight face.
“Who do you think you are? You’re mistaken if you think that you get to decide who I marry!”
“No mistakes,” said Nan Chen frankly, “It is my decision to make.”
Ning Ran felt like she was going crazy with anger.
Even if we do live in a feudal society, my wedding would still be managed by my parents, not you!
“I refuse to!”
“So you mean you have no preference? Alright then, they’ll make all the decisions and arrangements,” said Nan Chen as he waved his hand, “You may leave now.”
“That is not what I mean!” shouted Ning Ran, “I meant I refuse to get married!”
“If you refuse to get married, I’ll go to the lawyer’s office tomorrow and request for the custody of the children,” said Nan Chen harshly, “The kids will move into the Nan Family while you are locked out.”
There it is! The Killer Move!
That was the real Nan Chen, the way he had always been.
“I…”
“I didn’t like the idea of Nan Xing marrying you either, but I have to think of the kids.” “This is the one and only chance I will give you.” “I won’t let you think about it. If you refuse to do as I say, if you leave this room, you will lose your children.”
Nan Chen spoke slowly. He rarely spoke that much, and the words from his lips were like ice stakes – cold, harsh, and deadly.
Ning Ran felt the intense urge to kick that man, but she knew she couldn’t.
Ning Ran could only enjoy activities like kicking Nan Chen’s butt in her mind because it was difficult and dangerous to carry it out in the real world.
Hence, Ning Ran glared at Nan Chen with her beautiful eyes and was kicking him in her mind.
Nan Chen’s sharp eyes returned the favor and glared at Ning Ran.
Their eyes met, and Ning Ran had to admit defeat immediately.
She had no choice but to admit that she couldn’t beat his aura.
“I’ll think about it,” said Ning Ran who was defeated.
“Mr. Nan Chen said that you won’t be allowed that…” reminded Jiang Zhe.
“You shut your mouth!”
Ning Ran shouted at Jiang Zhe instantly. She thought I may not be a match against Nan Chen, but I sure as hell can beat you!
“Yes, ma’am,” replied Jiang Zhe before he kept his mouth shut.
“I did say that you aren’t allowed to leave,” said Nan Chen who then added, “But you may weigh your options right here and now. I’ll wait.”
After Nan Chen finished speaking, he turned to his documents and acted like Ning Ran wasn’t there.
The office became quiet then with no one uttering a single word.
Ning Ran started to think about what she could do.
It was plain to see that Nan Chen wasn’t bluffing.
Ning Ran refusing to get married would prompt Nan Chen’s team of lawyers to take actions.
Assuming that the judge would be fair and remain unaffected by the Nan Family’s powers, Ning Ran would still lose from a financial point of view.
After all, she was homeless and was living with her friend. No judge would let her keep her children under those circumstances.
Moreover, the Nan Family’s wealth was immense so she would still lose the case even if she was financially stable.
Nan Chen could win the case easily and take the kids away anytime he wanted so she didn’t really have a choice.
The Poker Face knew that she didn’t really have a choice so he didn’t even bother giving her any time to find an excuse and made her think right then and there.
He is such a bully! However, there was nothing Ning Ran could do.
Jiang Zhe stood there and watched Ning Ran and Nan Chen interacting with one another.
It was weird, but he found those two to be better suited for one another.
When the two of them fought, they were strangely synchronized like they knew exactly what the other party’s weaknesses were. If that wasn’t a sign that they knew one another perfectly, what was?
“I agree with your terms,” said Ning Ran.
Nan Chen didn’t look up because he had expected that answer.
After all, that was the only choice he had given her. He would’ve denied and declined everything else.
“Then do you have any requests for the wedding?” asked Jiang Zhe nicely.
“Yes,” said Ning Ran.
Nan Chen frowned as he thought, This woman sure do change quickly. She was just fighting like there was no tomorrow a minute ago, and now she’s actively planning the wedding.
“Please do clarify.”
Jiang Zhe fished out a notebook and was prepared to list everything down.
“First of all, I won’t be signing any prenups.”
Nan Chen looked up immediately. His eyes were shooting daggers when they looked at Ning Ran.
That woman sure knows how to make a deal. Her very first request was that she won’t be signing a prenup!
Ning Ran’s request was a bull’s eyes to the heart of the problem.
Almost every woman who was married into a wealthy family must sign a prenup. How dare she refuse it?
The relationships within a wealthy family had always been complicated because it involved the distribution of company shares and power. Those shares, in turn, could influence the company’s actual performance and operations.
Moreover, wealth was accumulated over a couple of generations so most families would, understandably, refuse to let an outsider barge in and claim a portion of that wealth.
That being said, the prenup won’t affect the bride’s ability to live a wealthy life so most women were willing to sign it. Yet, Ning Ran’s condition was that she won’t be signing it.
How greedy can this woman be?
One look at Nan Chen’s face told Ning Ran that he won’t agree to that term.
That was what she wanted all along.
