“Why would I want to be here when I can spend the entire day at home?” Ning Ran asked rhetorically.
“We can drop by and pick up the kids together in the afternoon,” Nan Chen added.
“Is that what you have been up to all along? You should have told me earlier. Otherwise, I’m going to misperceive that you’re missing me,” Ning Ran blurted out the thing she had in mind.
Initially, it was an unintended joke, but the moment Ning Ran finished her sentence, she recalled that she was talking to Nan Chen.
She could fool around with others, but she should never behave in such a manner when she was around the man.
Similarly, Nan Chen was taken aback by Ning Ran’s unintended joke. He felt as though she had tried to hit on him.
As soon as Ning Ran caught a glimpse of Nan Chen’s gaze, she explained herself, “I-I didn’t mean it! I-It’s a joke!”
“Do you always pull others’ legs in a similar method?” Nan Chen probed callously.
“No! Who do you think I am? I’m trying to pull your leg because we’re close acquaintances!”
“Are you sure we’re closely acquainted with one another?”
Do I get to consider him a close acquaintance of mine?
She turned the idea in her mind and remarked, “I guess we’re halfway there?”
Frowning, Nan Chen asked, “What do you mean we’re halfway there? Are we heading somewhere?”
In return, Ning Ran chuckled, “I have no idea you’re such a funny guy! Is that an intended pun?”
As soon as she regained composure, she noticed she had gone overboard and embarrassed herself in front of him again.
Nan Chen couldn’t comprehend the reason Ning Ran laughed out loud in front of him.
Has she lost her mind? What’s so funny about an ordinary question?
“Please neglect my words and tend to the things you have on your plate. I’ll stay around until it’s time to pick them up.” Ning Ran waved at Nan Chen and beckoned him to leave her alone.
He felt irritated because she seemed to be delivering a command instead.
Nonetheless, he decided to pay no heed to her since she had always behaved as such.
Nan Chen returned to his table and started sorting out the things he had on his plate.
Meanwhile, Ning Ran started exploring the spacious office of Nan Chen. She sized up every single item and ran her fingers across the things she could get her hands on.
When she had had enough of exploring his office, she would head over to the window and enjoy the bustling scene of the city.
After a short while, Ning Ran was alone in Nan Chen’s office again as he had headed out once more because he had to attend another conference with the team from another region.
She walked towards Nan Chen’s workstation and took a seat.
Nanshi Corporation was a corporation capable of influencing other regions’ economies. Countless people desired to take over his position as the person in charge.
Hence, Ning Ran decided to take a seat on the most influential man’s chair. She wasn’t interested in the fame and wealth associated with the position. In short, she was merely there to check if Nan Chen’s seat was comfortable.
Indeed, it felt great as he had purchased himself an ergonomic chair.
It was the perfect height for Nan Chen since he had a pair of slender legs, but Ning Ran was relatively short as compared to him. Therefore, she couldn’t reach the ground with her feet.
She dared not adjust the chair to accommodate her height; she was afraid Nan Chen would notice she had been on his chair.
Suddenly, she heard the sound of a phone buzzing.
Nan Chen received a call through his personal phone. The particular phone of his had only been made known to a few of his close acquaintances.
In other words, the person on the other end of the call was an important figure. There must be some sort of emergency that required Nan Chen’s attention.
Ning Ran picked up the phone and noticed it was a call from Nan Chen’s mother.
Nan Chen’s mother?
Never had she ever encountered his mother before. He had never once brought up the existence of his mother in front of her as well.
The call lasted for a few minutes before it was hung up. A few seconds later, he received another call from the exact same person.
Could it be an emergency? Why is Nan Chen’s mother trying to get in touch with him desperately?
In spite of being a young parent, Ning Ran, was, after all, a parent of two. Therefore, she knew how anxious Nan Chen’s mother must have been.
She made up her mind and picked up the call. “Hello?”
“Who are you? Why do you have access to my son’s phone?” Bai Hua raised her volume, asking as soon as she heard Ning Ran’s voice.
Ning Ran thought the voice of Nan Chen’s mother sounded awfully familiar as though she had encountered her before.
A few seconds later, she ditched the idea behind and explained, “I-I’m his friend. He’s in the middle of a conference. Do you want to leave a message for him? I can deliver the message on your behalf.”
“Friend? What sort of friend?”
What do you mean what sort of friend? How many types of friends are there? We’re like friends.
Actually, we’re not really ordinary friends because we’re more than friends.
However, we’re not exactly in a relationship either. What should I tell her?
“Excuse me? Who are you? Can you please explain yourself?” Bai Hua had no intention to let Ning Ran off the hook just yet.
“Actually, I’m Mr. Chen’s personal assistant. He’s in the middle of a conference. I’ll get him to revert back to you once he’s back. Is that fine?” Ning Ran suggested.
“Nonsense! This is Chen’s personal handphone! He would never allow his assistant to pick up the call on his behalf! Who the hell are you?”
All of a sudden, Ning Ran regretted her decision. If she didn’t poke her nose into other’s business, she wouldn’t be caught up in such an odd situation.
“Mr. Chen is in the middle of a conference. He left his phone behind on his table. I noticed it was a call from you when I was in the middle of sorting out some documents. I decided to pick up the call because I was afraid it was an emergency that requires his immediate attention.”
“I’m fully aware it was a wrong decision to pick up the call. Therefore, allow me to express my utmost apology. Once Mr. Chen is back from the conference, I’ll definitely tell him you have called. That’s all I have to tell you. Goodbye, Aunt.”
Ning Ran hung up the call as soon as she made herself clear.
She had no choice but to lie because the situation would get increasingly messed up if she tried to explain herself further.
Once she hung up the call, she took a deep breath and warned herself to stay out of others’ businesses in the future.
A few seconds later, Bai Hua called again. However, Ning Ran dared not pick up the call anymore because she was afraid she would get herself into huge trouble.
She took a seat on the couch and got bored again.
It’s merely one o’clock. Am I supposed to stay around until he gets off work? That’s a few hours that we’re talking about. I’m afraid I’m going to die due to boredom.
She thought about it and decided to get herself a book to read, so she could kill the time.
The moment she reached the bookshelf, she regretted her decision. The only books that were available on the bookshelf were educational, financial magazines, and scientific journals.
Never had she been a fan of reading materials of sorts. She wouldn’t get to enjoy herself either.
In the end, she decided to surf the internet, browsing all sorts of entertaining videos. She got lucky and saw a few hilarious videos.
Coincidentally, Nan Chen made his way back since she started laughing in his office. The moment he walked into his office, he heard Ning Ran’s hysterical laugh.
He was shocked because he thought his office had been infiltrated by a maniac since no ordinary man would laugh on their own.
Meanwhile, Ning Ran had a great time, enjoying the entertaining videos she found on the internet. She wasn’t aware someone else was around in the office.
Jiang Zhe, who was behind Nan Chen, heard Ning Ran’s hysterical laugh as well. He got curious because he couldn’t figure out the sort of activity capable of entertaining her.
Throughout the years, Nan Chen’s office had always had a despairing tone to it. It was the first time in forever they heard such contagious laughter in his office.
Jiang Zhe craned his neck in an attempt to figure out the reason Ning Ran wouldn’t stop laughing. But Nan Chen glared at him the moment he caught a glimpse of his action.
Immediately, Jiang Zhe turned around and avoided his supervisor’s gaze because it was evident he didn’t want him to poke his nose into his business.
They had already stepped into the office, yet Ning Ran had no idea of their presence. At that moment, she was still laughing to her heart’s content on the couch.
