“Qiao Zhan has told me about what happened a while ago.”
Nan Chen was clearly speaking to Ning Ran, and not the children now.
Ning Ran did not reply him.
“Qiao Zhan has been incompetent, and I wanted him to apologize to you,” Nan Chen continued.
“What do you mean, Mr. Chen? I don’t quite understand you.” Ning Ran knew how to play dumb as well.
“You know very well what I mean.” Nan Chen was not giving her the opportunity to feign ignorance.
“I don’t understand it at all,” Ning Ran persisted.
“Qiao Zhan has misunderstood you. Luckily, the whole incident has been investigated thoroughly,” said Nan Chen.
Ning Ran sneered in her heart. Doesn’t Qiao Zhan just listen to your instructions? You are really quite amazing, how can you push all the responsibility to Qiao Zhan just like that!
“What truth? I really don’t get it.”
“Fine, forget it then.” Nan Chen began to be annoyed as well.
This woman is just too hard to please. I’ve already taken a step back, and she is still not playing along?
If you are not playing along, I am not either!
“Fine,” Ning Ran said coldly.
Erbao took a look at her mother and her uncle.
The atmosphere is a little strange, but why?
I really don’t know why it feels strange, so what can I say now?
All this tension in the room is just too much! I really don’t like it!
“Mommy, are you two fighting?” Erbao asked feebly.
“No, we’re not!” Nan Chen and Ning Ran said simultaneously in the same pace and tone.
It was the first time the two of them had so much cohesion, which was practically a miracle.
Ning Ran felt her face burning up inexplicably.
“If you are not fighting, then what are you doing?” Erbao asked.
This time, neither of them spoke.
Nan Chen thought Ning Ran would answer that, while Ning Ran thought Nan Chen would. In order to avoid an awkward situation, both of them did not respond to the question.
“There’s been some misunderstanding between Mommy and I, so I am explaining things to her,” Nan Chen said softly.
“Then have you explained yourself clearly?” Erbao asked.
“Ask Mommy,” Nan Chen said.
Erbao then looked at Ning Ran and asked, “Mommy, what’s going on? Did Third Uncle explain himself clearly?”
“Eat your dinner.” Ning Ran did not answer her directly.
“I’m full, and I shouldn’t eat too much in case I grow fat again,” Erbao smiled shyly.
Ning Ran laughed out loud.
“You are actually thinking of eating less? That’s rare.”
“I’ve always been very careful about that. I am the Most Beautiful Girl in the Entire Universe, remember?” Erbao smiled.
She sounded completely adorable as she said that, melting both Ning Ran and Nan Chen’s hearts.
“I have something to say to Mommy. I’ll get Qiao Zhan to send the both of you home first, all right?” Nan Chen suddenly said.
“All right,” Dabao and Erbao answered him together.
Both children understood the importance of giving adults space to talk.
Ning Ran could not say anything since Nan Chen had already put it that way.
This is strange. What would Poker Face want to talk to me about? What do I have to say with him?
Nan Chen called Qiao Zhan who appeared very quickly.
When the two children left with Qiao Zhan, Nan Chen and Ning Ran were left by themselves in the private room.
Recently, the two of them have spent more time alone, and Ning Ran was slowly getting used to the pressure Nan Chen brought with him.
Nan Chen did not say anything, and neither did Ning Ran.
Since Nan Chen mentioned he had things to say, Ning Ran wanted him to let him speak first.
However, Nan Chen was still thinking about it; he did not know where to begin.
This is really too important, where do I begin?
They remained like that and were silent for a few minutes, which made the atmosphere incredibly awkward.
Ning Ran finally could not bear it anymore and stood up to say, “If you are not going to say anything, I’m leaving.”
“Sit down.” These were the only two words Nan Chen said.
Ning Ran really did sit down.
That was the magical power Nan Chen possessed. One line from him wielded more power than many lines from other people.
However, Ning Ran felt that she had been way too obedient, so she immediately stood up again.
“Sit down.” Nan Chen commanded her again.
Ning Ran nearly sat down again but this time, she resisted him a little and did not do so immediately.
I am not sitting down, so what can you do to me? Kill me? I cannot appear to be too submissive!
Seeing Ning Ran refuse to sit down, he stood up as well.
He was so tall that when he stood up, Ning Ran could immediately feel his large presence looming over her.
This pressure made Ning Ran feel very uneasy, so she quickly sat down again.
Nan Chen took his seat when he saw Ning Ran finally sitting down.
Nan Chen then called the server to take away the leftover food. Then, he ordered several snacks and also a bottle of strong Maotai.
Ning Ran was stunned by his order. Are we drinking again?
Is he now addicted to making me drink now that he knows that I am a light drinker? All he wants is to see me embarrass myself after he gets me drunk?
What’s wrong with him? Is it really that fun to watch a woman go crazy when she is drunk?
“I’m not drinking,” Ning Ran said huffily.
Nan Chen poured out just one glass of wine, which meant that he hadn’t meant for it to be for Ning Ran at all.
What’s wrong with him? Is he so broken-hearted that he needs to drown his sorrows in alcohol?
Nan Chen was feeling very conflicted as well. Why am I drinking right now?
Am I celebrating the fact that Ning Ran is not the type of materialistic woman who doesn’t care about her father’s life and death?
Or am I trying to use the alcohol to embolden myself to tell her the truth?
Alcohol can make one braver, but Sir Chen was no ordinary person, would he need it?
“What are you doing?” Ning Ran looked at Nan Chen uneasily.
He looked like he was about to make a very important decision, and his grim face made Ning Ran feel more pressured than ever before.
Nan Chen did not say anything and continued to drink.
The wine was somehow smoother; it tasted better that night.
Ning Ran pointed at their snacks and said, “You should eat something, or else you’d get drunk very soon.”
It’s not like I care so much for him, but more because I won’t be able to carry him if he gets drunk!
More importantly, if he gets drunk and throws a tantrum, there’s no way I can handle him even if there were three of me.
The server then came in with some champagne, which Nan Chen had ordered for Ning Ran.
This hotel did not stock champagne, and he had specially gotten the staff to buy it at a nearby supermarket.
Ning Ran was more and more puzzled. What is he trying to do?
Nan Chen then poured some white wine for himself, and some champagne for Ning Ran.
“This is a toast to you. You’ve worked hard all these years,” Nan Chen said.
Ning Ran thought she had heard wrong.
Did Poker Face really say something so polite to her?
“Say that again?” Ning Ran could not help herself.
Nan Chen felt a little embarrassed. It was tough enough for him to utter those words, what more to repeat himself?
Nan Chen’s face changed. Of course, he did not repeat those words.
All he felt was that it had been difficult for Ning Ran to bring up the two children by herself all these years, and he just wanted to express some gratitude towards her.
However, he could not utter the two words, ‘thank you’, and could only acknowledge her hard work through that toast.
But Ning Ran was not satisfied and demanded him to say it again.
He definitely would not say it again.
Therefore, he poured and drank another glass of wine.
Normally, he rarely drank even during dinner parties, because he had a lot of work to do. However, he had already gotten drunk a few times with Ning Ran.
Somehow, he felt that he needed a few glasses in him before he could speak his mind without worry.
Ning Ran was suddenly amused by his antics. This was so unlike him.
“I’ve something really important to tell you.” Nan Chen put down his glass again and looked at Ning Ran.
Ning Ran felt rather worried as she couldn’t handle Poker Face’s grim attitude.
