Cheng Xiangyun was speechless for a second before she retorted, jumping with rage, “You’re detestable! I can’t be bothered with you!”
Ning Ran had started in a bad mood today, but she felt better after the row with Cheng Xiangyun.
“We should not affect our solid friendship over that Poker Face. Let’s screw him. I’m going to video-call my kids now.”
Ning Ran was about to leave when Cheng Xiangyun called out to her, “Are you really going to be with that Feng Minsheng? You can’t be this foolish!”
“You’ve said it, I can’t be this foolish. Why do you still bother asking me then?”
“What exactly do you want to do? Why are you still involved with Feng Minsheng?”
“Auntie, please mind your language. What do you mean by ‘involved with Feng Minsheng’? I have gotten close to him on purpose. I’ve previously asked him to bring me to visit his family, but he kept stalling. This reaffirms my belief that there’s something wrong with him. I just want to know what he’s up to.”
“Fine, then you better be careful.”
“Rest assured. I was too careless last time. Now that I know he harbors ill intentions, I won’t fall for his tricks again.”
She went upstairs and checked the time. It’s almost time to video-call the kids.
The video call beeped up on her phone just when she took it out.
Two tiny, identical faces popped up on the screen together. They’re the cutest in the world.
Despite being identical twins, there were slight differences in their looks. Dabao’s jawline was getting sharper and more defined, while Erbao’s face remained chubby. Perhaps she is living too well now.
“Mommy.” Erbao broke out into a bright smile. She’s so fortunate to be born with a jovial, cheerful nature. She’s always happy no matter what the circumstances are.
Ning Ran’s mood lifted at the sight of Erbao’s smiling face.
“Darling, do you realize something is different about me today?”
The smart, savvy Erbao gave a diplomatic answer immediately. “You’ve become prettier.”
Dabao squinted to take a closer look at her. Ning Ran was stunned. He looks exactly like someone I know. Why does he pick up this bad habit- squinting his eyes- from Poker Face?
“Mommy, you have moved houses?” Dabao asked, correct as usual.
He was always so composed. His calm, analytical mind could discover stuff others could not, in an instant.
“My son is so clever. You realized it immediately.”
“I’ve also realized it,” claimed Erbao, reluctant to lose to her brother.
“You little glutton. Tell me, what did you have for dinner today?”
“A lot of delicious, yummy food! I love to eat them!”
It seems like Erbao can’t help herself in the face of the sumptuous meals specially prepared for the kids by the Nan family’s chef!
“What else did you do except eating?”
“The teacher taught us Chinese just now. There’s a music class scheduled tomorrow too.”
“There’s still class at night?’
“Third Uncle arranged a private tutor for us. He told us to find our interests and arranged for a private tutor to groom us in those areas,” explained Dabao.
I haven’t thought of engaging a private tutor for them before. But the kids are still so young. Is there a need to? Will this affect their happy childhood?
“Don’t worry, Mommy. It’s just an hour every day. It won’t affect us much.”
Dabao is so clever. He can tell I’m worried.
“Is the Chinese lesson fun?”
“Yes! The teacher told us many, many interesting stories about the ancient people long, long ago. I even learned to recite some poems. Let me recite it out loud to Mommy…”
Ning Ran was experiencing conflicted feelings now. She did not know whether she should be happy or worried.
The good news is that the Nan family has started to groom the kids after they have stayed with them for only a few days. They encourage the kids to find their interests and spare no effort to groom them in those areas. It will undoubtedly help the kids tremendously. They will win at the starting line compared to other kids their age. And these are things that I cannot afford to give them even if I want to.
“Mommy, why did you move houses? I feel that this house is much bigger.”
Dabao’s questions pulled Ning Ran back from her thoughts.
“Yes, it’s pretty big. Mommy intends to bring you back. Are you willing to come back?”
Ning Ran was touched when the kids chorused in unison without a moment’s hesitation, “Yes!”
No matter how kind the Nan family is to us, nothing can beat being with Mommy!
The three of them chatted for a while longer before Ning Ran asked Erbao to play on her own first, while she spoke to Dabao.
The video call mode was then switched to the audio call mode.
“Mommy, what is the matter?”
“Dabao, there’s an uncle who’s pestering me. He has caused me a lot of trouble. I know you are always online. Have you seen the news? If yes, don’t believe them or be affected by them.”
“Mommy, I saw them already. I believe in you.”
Ning Ran heaved a sigh of relief. Luckily I’ve taken the initiative to tell Dabao. Otherwise, I can’t imagine how stressed he would be. What’s worse, he would bear the burden of the stress himself without saying a word to anyone. If I haven’t raised the issue up, he would have pretended that everything is fine.
“Dabao is so sensible to believe in Mommy.” Suddenly, Ning Ran felt like crying.
She had found solace in her little, young and reliable son. I have no fear of going up against the whole world so long as the kids are on my side, supporting me.
“Mommy, don’t be sad. But if you don’t mind me asking, why were you with him?”
“Mommy wanted to find out his motive. I suspect he’s cooperating with someone to sabotage me.”
“I have a plan.”
“I was just about to tell you this. Dabao, your IT skills are fabulous. Is there a way for me to track his movements and read his phone messages?”
“It’s a basic hacker’s skill. I can do it easily.”
Ning Ran was exhilarated. Indeed, he has never disappointed me! My son is the best!
“That’s great. Dabao! Mommy needs you to support me in such IT matters!”
“But I need to have his phone and approximately twenty minutes to install certain stuff in it. Only then can we track his movements.”
“No problem. I’ve told him already, to treat you and Erbao to a meal. He has agreed to it. During the dinner, you only need to borrow his phone to play games. He can’t reject you. Twenty minutes should not be a problem.”
“Don’t worry, Mommy. This is simple. Leave it to me.”
“That’s great. Dabao is the truly best.”
At this moment, a man’s voice drifted in from the other side of the line, “Dabao, who are you talking to? Have you bathed?”
It’s Nan Chen! Isn’t he having dinner with some pretty lady? Why’s he back so early? Didn’t he bring the lady to some hotel after dinner? Gosh, don’t tell me he has brought her home! No, given Poker Face’s character, he won’t bring her home.
“Third Uncle is back. Mommy, do you need to talk to him?”
“No. We’re almost done. Remember to keep this matter confidential.”
“I understand.”
“That’s it then. Good night, darling. Sleep early, and don’t play games on your phone before sleeping.”
“Okay, Mommy.”
After hanging up the phone, Nan Chen walked over to his side and heard Dabao talking to his mommy.
Isn’t this woman involved with another man? Has the man returned home already? She couldn’t be that shameless to call the kids with the man by her side, was she?
As he thought of this, Nan Chen’s face turned eerily cold.
