Nan Xing had made a habit of staying at a hotel since he was young. After all, staying at home wasn’t convenient for a man who liked to bring different women home like him.
Besides, those women were usually gold-diggers who approached him with the intent of being affiliated with the Nan family.
However, with the number of women after him, it was easier to hit the jackpot than to tie the knot with Nan Xing.
Therefore, he couldn’t simply bring any woman home, or else she might have the wrong impression that he was taking their relationship to the next level.
On the contrary, spending some money and bringing them to the hotel saved him the trouble of handling the unnecessary misunderstanding.
Most women would stop bothering him after getting some benefits from him, knowing that marrying into the Nan family was nearly impossible for them.
It only took a pretty face and a curvy figure to spend the night with Nan Xing, but much more was required to marry into the Nan family, including being from a notable family background. After all, marriage was often used as a tool for the benefit of the Nan family.
Upon his return, Nan Xing stayed at a hotel as well.
It’s been a while since I left Flower City. I must catch up with my friends and have some fun time. I won’t get to enjoy myself if I stay at home, so I’d rather stay in a presidential suite in a luxurious hotel.
After sending Nan Xing to the hotel, Ning Ran wanted to head home.
“Where are you going? Are you not going to let the kids eat with me?” Nan Xing protested.
“It’s getting late, and we have a banquet tonight. We’ll be too full for the banquet if we eat now,” she said.
“Oh my! Do you really think that you can eat much during the banquet? All the elites of Flower City will be there tonight, yet you have the nerve to pig out on the food? Your status has changed, so you must maintain a good image in public. Otherwise…”
Before Nan Xing could finish talking, however, Ning Ran’s phone vibrated in her bag.
She took it out and saw that it was a call from Nan Chen.
Feeling abashed to take the call in front of Nan Xing, she walked to the side before picking up the phone.
“We won’t be having the birthday banquet at home. The venue has been changed.”
“What? I thought Old Master dislike going out?” The news caught her by surprise.
“It’s someone else’s arrangement, so we have to go with the flow,” Nan Chen explained.
“I see. Then do I still need to go?”
“Of course. And bring the kids along too.”
“But you know that I can’t handle any overly grand and formal occasion.” Ning Ran sounded worried.
Truth be told, she didn’t want to attend the banquet because such an occasion was too tiresome for her.
“It doesn’t matter. You must learn to adapt, even if you don’t like it.” Nan Chen refused to give in.
“Fine.”
“Make sure you’re all decked out for it. Sunny will come over for an image consultation later. Send me a photo when you’re done,” Nan Chen said firmly.
His words made Ning Ran feel even more reluctant to go.
Just how important is tonight’s banquet that an image consultant is needed? And I even have to get his approval for my outfit?
“Isn’t that a bit over the top? Does it have to be this way?”
“We’ve changed to a much bigger venue, and the guest list expanded. It’ll be awkward if there’re too few guests, so it has to be this way,” Nan Chen explained.
Alright, I got it. This won’t be necessary if there are fewer guests. But now that the banquet had grown into a grand event, I have to glam up, not for myself but for the sake of courtesy and respect.
“Okay, I got it,” Ning ran replied.
“The kids’ clothes are done, and someone will send them over soon. Where are you now?” Nan Chen asked.
“I’m at the hotel where Nan Xing’s staying. He wants to have lunch with the kids,” she told him honestly.
Nan Chen fell silent for a short while. “Okay, there’s still enough time, but you must hurry. Go ahead and eat first, and call Sunny after lunch.”
“Alright,” Ning Ran agreed.
Afterward, they ate in the hotel since they were in a hurry.
It was a six-star hotel, and the restaurant served a variety of food.
“Uncle, It’s Great-Grandpa’s birthday today. Are you going to the banquet?”
After eating, Erbao started chatting with Nan Xing.
Ever since she realized that she was much chubbier than her peers, she began watching her weight and diet.
As the most gorgeous girl in the universe, I must take care of my image.
“What do you think? Do you want me to go?” Nan Xing threw the question back at his niece.
“I think you have to go. You’re Great-Grandpa’s grandson, after all. As his family, you must be there,” Erbao explained.
“If I’m his grandson, who are you to Great-Grandpa then?” the man asked with a smile.
At a loss for words, the little girl glanced at her brother with a pleading look.
“You’re his great-granddaughter.” Sure enough, Dabao knew the answer.
“Yes, I’m his great-granddaughter. I know the answer. It’s just that I forgot it earlier,” she emphasized.
Nan Xing chuckled at her words. “Yes, yes. Of course Erbao knows the answer.”
“So are you going?” The little girl seemed very concerned about this.
Hearing their conversation, Ning Ran was curious. Why is Erbao so concerned about whether Nan Xing will be there or not?
“I’ll go if you want me to.” Nan Xing teased his niece.
“That’s great. There’ll be a lot of delicious food at the banquet later, but I have to be polite and eat moderately. Can you take away some food for me?”
The two adults stared at her with their mouths agape.
In the next second, everyone burst out laughing.
The girl’s chubby face flushed red right away. “Stop laughing. I just don’t want to waste food.”
Ning Ran and Nan Xing tried their best to stifle their laughs, not wanting to embarrass the little girl.
“It’s fine. Just ignore what I said.” The little girl appeared dejected.
“Don’t worry, leave it to me. Erbao is so smart to know that there’ll be delicious food at the banquet. I didn’t even think of that. How clever!” Nan Xing gave her a thumbs up.
His encouragement lifted Erbao’s mood immediately.
“I know I’m a glutton, but I’m a child, so I must eat more to grow taller.”
Erbao came up with a brilliant new theory to justify her love for food, which was indisputable.
Even her brother supported her reasoning. “Erbao is right. She can’t grow tall if she eats too little.”
“Yes, of course, you’re right…” The two adults couldn’t agree more.
“By the way, what kind of gift have you prepared for Grandpa’s birthday?” Nan Xing asked as he thought of this important question.
“I’ve hired the famous calligrapher, Mr. Chen Yinli to draw a painting as a gift,” Ning Ran told him openly.
“That’s great. Grandpa really loves Mr. Chen’s painting. Is it brother’s idea?”
“Yes, it’s his idea.”
Listening to their conversation, Erbao felt troubled. “Oh no. I didn’t prepare any gift.”
“You’re a kid, so you don’t have to bring a gift. Your presence is the best gift to Grandpa,” Nan Xing consoled her.
“No. This won’t do. During my classmate’s birthday, every kid in the class must prepare a gift.” The little girl became anxious.
