When Nan Chen heard Ning Ran’s words, he secretly praised her in his heart.
Despite being a klutz most of the time, her made a lot of sense when she spoke.
“No, you just owe me because you’re not my biological daughter, but Luo Fei is. Therefore, you’re indebted to me for bringing you up.”
Ning Ran was stunned.
Even Nan Chen, who was behind the partition, paused with his cue in mid-air before gradually putting it down.
“What did you say?”
“Didn’t I make myself clear enough? You are not my daughter while Luo Fei is! You always accuse me of being biased towards Fei. You’re right, I am. But that’s because she is my biological daughter, so isn’t it natural for me to do so? You are just a bastard. Hence, you should feel grateful that I tolerated you in my home. I kept this a secret all this while out of respect for you and your mom. But now, you leave me no choice but to reveal the truth. Therefore, you owe me and have to compensate me for that!” Ning Ziqiang launched a tirade against Ning Ran.
“No, that can’t be true. Although I am ashamed of having a person like you as my father, you cannot smear my mom’s reputation like that!” Ning Ran yelled back.
“I’m telling you the truth. You were never my daughter. When I married your mom, she was already pregnant with you! Her pregnancy had caused her to be willing to marry someone unknown like me. She just wanted to give you a father. And that’s how I became the person who shouldered the burden. So, why can’t I have an affair? Why must I bring up someone else’s child?” Ning Ziqiang retorted.
“The worst thing was ever since she had you, she wasn’t willing to get pregnant again. She was worried that another child would split the love we have for you. She was an extremely selfish woman. That’s why I hooked up with Luo Yi so that she could bear me a child. So, why am I at fault? The fault is not mine at all!”
Ning Ziqiang’s face was all red as he became very emotional.
Meanwhile, Qiao Zhan continued to stand close to them because he wanted to make sure Ning Ziqiang wouldn’t flee before the matter was resolved.
He was unintentionally listening in on their conversation, but quickly noticed that their topic became increasingly sensitive.
When he realized it was something that he shouldn’t be privy to, so he began to panic.
However, Ning Ran was not in the mood to care if anyone else had heard their discussion as she was rather shaken by her father’s revelation.
Ning Ziqiang’s words felt like a bomb had exploded in her heart. After the shockwave reverberated through her mind and she went blank for a while.
“I don’t believe it! You’re lying to me! I won’t allow you to speak of my Mom that way.” Ning Ran screamed.
“It doesn’t matter if you believe it or not. You can run a DNA test to be sure. The fact is both of us are not related by blood and I am not your father. Therefore, shouldn’t you compensate me for taking care of you all this while?”
“You said that it was your Mom that brought you up, but that doesn’t mean that I did nothing. Given how busy your mom was, how could she have brought you up without my help? Haven’t I done a lot for you? Now that I’m in trouble, shouldn’t you help me out?”
“I don’t believe it!”
“If you don’t, you can always get it verified!”
“Fine, it that’s what it take, I’ll do it!”
At that moment, there was a slight movement from behind the partition and someone was heard clearing his throat.
Qiao Zhan understood the cue immediately.
“Mr. Ning, let me make the arrangements for the test. As for now, please follow me. I will arrange for you to stay someplace comfortable for the time being. We will further discuss the matter once the test results are out,” Qiao Zhan instructed.
“Are you trying to imprison me?” Ning Ziqiang roared.
“No we’re not. I’m just providing you with accommodation. Don’t you have no place to stay now? Or do you prefer to sleep in the streets and be beaten up by your debt-collectors?” Qiao Zhan questioned him.
Ning Ziqiang’s gaze hesitated for a moment.
“Under our protection, no one in Flower City will dare touch you. So, are you coming or not?” Qiao Zhan repeated his question.
With that, Ning Ziqiang quickly stood up and followed Qiao Zhan out.
Meanwhile, Ning Ran squatted down with her head hung low. The next moment, tears began to flow.
The sound of the billiard balls from behind the partition stopped. Nan Chen stood there, deep in thought.
Based on his judgement, Ning Ziqiang was telling the truth.
Regardless of how shameless he was, Ning Ziqiang wasn’t going to lie about something like that.
The reason was such a lie would be easily exposed. The DNA test was now easily accessible and highly accurate.
Once the report was out, the truth would be revealed. Therefore, there was no point in him spewing such a lie.
In truth, Ning Ran too knew that it was true. Having grown up in that family, she was well aware of how Ning Ziqiang treated her. It wasn’t something she could easily forget.
Initially, she assumed the reason Ning Ziqiang didn’t like her was because she was a daughter instead of a son.
After all, it was still common in China for parents to favor boys over girls.
Now, it was clear that Ning Ziqiang would not have treated her better even if she was a boy.
However, given how kind Mom was, how is it possible that she got pregnant before marriage and then simply found someone else to be my father?
If it was an accident and the man wasn’t willing to marry her, she still had other choices. Why did she insist on giving birth to me?
Was it because she was reluctant or was there some other reason?
If Ning Ziqiang isn’t my biological father, the who is it? And where is he now?
As her Mom had passed on, there was no way Ning Ran could ask her. Therefore, she may never know who her real father was.
Given how complex the matter had become, Ning Ran felt confused and frustrated.
At that moment, Nan Chen emerged from behind the partition. Looking at Ning Ran who had curled up on the floor, he felt as if she was like an injured kitten.
As pity for her grew within him, he approached and helped her up.
After settling her down at the bar counter, he handed her a tissue.
Accepting it, Ning Ran wiped off her tears before forcing a smile at Nan Chen.
“I’m alright. After all, I never acknowledged him as my father. So, it doesn’t matter whether if he is my biological father or not.”
Nan Chen nodded slightly.
“We cannot choose how we are born, but we can still determine our own future.”
Ning Ran mumbled to herself as she felt she needed the encouragement.
“Qiao Zhan did some investigations and found out that someone had put him up to it,” Nan Chen explained.
“Who?”
“Cheng Xiangyun.”
“Impossible! That’s definitely not possible. Aunt is not that kind of a person. Why would she support Ning Ziqiang to hurt me? She doesn’t have much to gain by destroying my reputation. So why would she do such a thing?” Ning Ran ranted emotionally.
Nan Chen didn’t respond.
“Don’t tell me you believe it?”
“I’m not sure but this was what he said. How does he know Cheng Xiangyun? Furthermore, how does he know that she is your assistant?” Nan Chen asked.
“I don’t have the answer to that. But, it wouldn’t be hard for Ning Ziqiang to find out more about me. Therefore, he must be lying and can’t be trusted!”
Nan Chen didn’t comment.
He didn’t know Cheng Xiangyun well, hence he couldn’t tell what kind of person she was.
Despite being very close to Ning Ran, it didn’t mean that she wasn’t responsible for it.
In this world, everything changes including people. In fact, humans are the ones that are most prone to change.
Therefore, Nan Chen could only report what he heard. As to the veracity of the report, he needed Qiao Zhan to further investigate.
“I will arrange a DNA test for you. If what Ning Ziqiang claims is the truth, then we will just have to face it,” Nan Chen remarked.
“Alright, I also want to find out whether he is lying!”
