Ning Ran certainly didn’t expect to remain silent for almost half an hour with Nan Chen.
Neither of them said a word nor moved. They just stood there.
It was unclear if this was a silent battle or a form of non-verbal communication.
Just then, someone opened the door and entered.
“Mommy!” Erbao squealed as she dashed towards Ningran.
Only then did Ning Ran turn around. The smile on her face was so natural. It was as though nothing had happened at all.
“Darling, you’re back?”
Dabao studied the expression on his mother’s face as he approached her.
Only after seeing that she was all smiles did he stop worrying.
The smile on Ning Ran’s face, however, slowly slipped off her face as Ouyang Qing entered.
She could have faked a smile, but she didn’t want to do that.
Although she had superb acting skills, she didn’t want to use them on Ouyang Qing? After all, why should put on a performance for her?
“Ding, are you feeling better? Here is some dessert I brought along for you. I hope you’ll like it,” Ouyang Qing said with a friendly smile on her face.
She had, however, detected Ning Ran’s displeasure. This was because Ning Ran had made no attempt to conceal it. Her displeasure was clearly written all over her face.
When Ouyang Qing saw that, she felt as though she had won.
“Thanks a lot, but I don’t like dessert,” Ning Ran replied in a polite yet cold manner.
“Go on, take a bite. The store makes really good desserts. Come on, Ding. Try it.”
The colder Ning Ran was towards her, the more friendly she was towards Ning Ran.
“I don’t want to eat it,” Ning Ran insisted with a tinge of impatience in her voice.
“Have a bite…”
“She’s a patient. So she’s got to be very careful with what she eats,” Nan Chen suddenly interjected.
Both Ning Ran and Ouyang Qing were rather surprised that someone who rarely spoke would voice an opinion on something as trivial as this.
“Oh,” Ouyang Qing replied awkwardly as she packed up the desserts.
“Let’s go out so they can have a chat,” Nan Chen continued.
Ouyang Qing, however, remained rooted on the spot.
Nan Chen strode towards the door and came to a stop in front of it before turning around to glance at her.
Only then Ouyang Qing come to her senses. Oh, he meant that we should leave now so that they can have some space.
For some reason, she actually didn’t feel like leaving.
Perhaps it was because she had finally gotten under Ning Ran’s skin, therefore, she was a little reluctant to leave so soon.
However, no matter how reluctant she was, she didn’t have a say in this. If Nan Chen told her to go, she had to go.
“You two darlings have a nice chat with your Mommy, alright? I’ll head out first,” Ouyang Qing said as she waved goodbye to Dabao and Erbao.
Dabao waved back politely. Erbao, on the other hand, pretended not to have heard her and gave no response at all.
Ouyang Yang recalled how Erbao had addressed her back in the dessert store. She’s turning her back on me right after she’s had her dessert?
Wow, she has change so quickly. Are kids all like that these days?
Ouyang Qing and Nan Chen walked out of the ward and Nan Chen shut the door behind him.
“Mommy, the dessert is actually quite good. You can try some,” Erbao offered.
“You little traitor! Have you betrayed Mommy just for some food?” Ning Ran asked.
“Of course not. Dabao and I were just observing her to see if she would treat us well after she and Daddy had gotten married,” Erbao replied.
“What did you say? Get married? Who’s getting married to who?”
“Well, Daddy and Ouyang Qing, of course. She’s Daddy’s girlfriend, they’re bound to get married in the future. But don’t worry Mommy, we’ll stay by your side. We won’t be staying with Daddy,” Erbao assured her seriously.
“Who told you that both of them are getting married?” Ning Ran was beginning to panic a little.
“Why do I need to hear this from someone else? They are boyfriend and girlfriend. Once their relationship reaches a certain stage, they will naturally get married,” Erbao reasoned.
Ning Ran had pretty much gotten a hold on her emotions previously. But after hearing what Erbao had said, her heart plunged in terror.
“Don’t say such things to scare Mommy. She’s already upset,” Dabao reminded his sister.
“Who said that I’m upset? I’m not!” Ning Ran denied hastily.
“That’s right! Why should Mommy be upset? She doesn’t like Daddy anyway,” Erbao agreed.
“Are you really not upset, Mommy?” Dabao asked with a puzzled expression on his face.
“I’m not upset! Why should I? How does who Nan Chen marry concern me?” Ning Ran asked in return.
Dabao and Erbao exchanged a silent glance.
“Alright,” Erbao eventually conceded as she nodded her head.
“So if Daddy and Ouyang Qing were to get married, will you attend their wedding, Mommy?” Dabao asked.
“No, I won’t,” Ning Ran replied without hesitation.
“Why?” Erbao asked.
“Well, why should I attend? We are not friends! Could the two of you stop asking such silly questions?” Ning Ran suddenly flared up.
Dabao and Erbao exchanged another glance, too afraid to make another sound this time.
They could tell that their Mommy cared a lot more about this than she was willing to admit.
We have done enough and we should stop right here.
“Mommy, no matter who Daddy marries, we’ll always be by your side,” Dabao assured her.
“Well, of course you will! Who else would you be with?” Ning Ran snapped.
“That’s right! We have to stay together with Mommy,” Erbao said as she waved her little fists.
“And Mr. Qi too,” Dabao piped up.
“What did you say?”
“If Daddy and Miss Qing get married, then Mommy and Mr. Qi would be able to get married as well. That way, we would have two Daddys and two Mommys. There will be more people who love us,” Dabao explained the situation.
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Ning Ran blustered.
A nervous expression immediately flashed across Dabao’s face. “Did I say something wrong? Doesn’t Mr. Qi like you, Mommy? I think he’s a nice guy. Erbao and I definitely wouldn’t object the idea of both of you getting together.”
“There’s nothing between Ouyang Qi and me,” Ning Ran hastily clarified, “He was the one who started it. It has nothing to do with me. Can you kids not spout nonsense like that?”
“Alright,” Dabao conceded as he shook his head, “I thought that both of you were together.”
Smelling a rat, Ning Ran looked from Dabao to Erbao.
“Both of you are doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”
Dabao and Erbao exchanged glances once again. “What are you talking about, Mommy?” Erbao asked innocently, “Do what on purpose?”
“Are the both of you up to no good? What’s your purpose?” Ning Ran questioned.
Erbao shook his head profusely. “No! No!”
Ning Ran turned to Dabao. “This is your idea, isn’t it?”
“We were just worried about you and Daddy. We didn’t have any ill intentions. The two of you are the people Erbao and I love the most. How could we possibly harbor any ill intentions?” Dabao replied hastily.
“Well, that better be the case. Otherwise, the both of you will never hear the end of this!”
Erbao stuck out her tongue playfully. Looks like Mommy’s really angry. But it’s all Dabao’s fault anyway. I am only following his orders.
On the other hand, Dabao thought, Based on what we’ve seen so far, the plan actually works. As long as we continue, we’ll definitely be able to see some change.
