Nan Chen began walking up the stairs after she was done wiping him.
“Hey! Stop!” Ning Ran shouted at him, “Didn’t you say that you’re going to tell me a secret?”
“What secret?” Nan Chen asked without even looking back at her.
“Don’t play dumb with me! You said you were going to tell me a secret! How would I know what that secret is?”
Ning Ran after him, but he simply ignored her and went into the bathroom. After taking a shower and drying his hair, he came out dressed in a robe, only to find Ning Ran standing in the doorway.
It seemed like she had a lot to drink as her face was red, and she was still holding a glass of wine in her hand.
“You seem to be in a good mood.” Nan Chen shot her a glance as he walked past her.
“You could say that, but I’d be in a much better mood if you’d tell me that secret of yours!” Ning Ran said with a smile.
“What secret do you want to know?”
Nan Chen poured himself a glass of wine, clinked glasses with her, and took a sip.
“How would I know what that secret is? You’re the one who said you had a secret!”
“I did?”
“Yes, when you were downstairs by the pool.”
Nan Chen gave it some thought and shook his head. “I forgot.”
Ning Ran almost yelled at him in frustration. You forgot? Bullsh*t!
“Forget it, I know you’re just toying with me anyway! I heard that the new film will begin shooting soon. Thank you so much for that, Nan Chen! I wouldn’t have been able to make it this far without your help! Here’s to you, cheers!” Ning Ran raised her glass at him.
Nan Chen froze, thinking he had misheard her.
Is she actually being polite with me and thanking me?
“Say that again.” Nan Chen said.
“Huh?”
“Say that again.”
“Did I say something wrong or something? I was just being honest with you! Are you that much of a masochist that you only hear insults from me?”
“Repeat what you just said.” Nan Chen insisted.
He only nodded in satisfaction after she did as told. “All right, I heard you loud and clear.”
“Is the great Sir Chen suffering from hearing impairments? How did you not hear that?”
Nan Chen ignored her insults and strolled over to the balcony to look at the night sky.
Ning Ran walked up to him and looked out the window as well, but all she saw was a pitch-black sky.
“The Nan family and Ouyang family have been close friends for generations.” Nan Chen said all of a sudden.
Ning Ran tensed up a little. Why is he bringing that up now?
“As you know, both our families have a huge influence in this province. We work together and compete with each other at the same time. Despite the friendly facade we maintain in public, there are a lot of conflicts going on internally. Ouyang Duo isn’t content with staying in Pearl City. He wants to have Sunshine Corporation’s headquarters based in Flower City and be at the top of the food chain here. Because of my young age, he underestimates my capabilities and doesn’t see me as a threat at all. He waited a long time for me to make a mistake, but I never did. Eventually, his patience wore out, and he slipped up instead. I took advantage of that opportunity and made a huge amount of money out of him, so he’s been holding a grudge against me ever since.” Nan Chen stopped there.
Ning Ran figured he must have told her all that for a reason and waited for him to continue, but he didn’t.
“That’s the secret I was going to tell you.” Nan Chen added casually.
Ning Ran felt like he was toying with her, but doubted it at the same time as he had told her a lot.
“You call that a secret?” Ning Ran frowned.
“Of course, it’s a big secret.” Nan Chen replied.
“But what does that have to do with me?”
“I said I’d tell you a secret. I didn’t say it has anything to do with you.” Nan Chen poured himself another glass of wine.
Ning Ran nodded. “Fair enough, I guess. Thank you for letting me in on this secret, then.”
“You don’t think it’s a secret? Everyone thinks the Nan family and the Ouyang family are going to unite and form a highly profitable partnership, but that’s not the case. The two families will eventually have a showdown, and things are going to get ugly. All Ouyang Duo wants is to acquire everything the Nan family owns and dominate this province, and you’re the only one who knows about that. Still think that it’s not a big secret?” Nan Chen asked.
Ning Ran figured it was indeed a secret that he had been dying to get off his chest.
“And you have never told anyone about this?”
“Nope, you’re the first.”
“Why’d you tell me, then?”
“I don’t know. I just felt like it, I guess.” Nan Chen kept his reply short and simple.
“Why don’t you marry Ouyang Qing? The two families would then be in-laws, and you could put an end to the conflict!”
“You’re so stupid.” Nan Chen replied.
“What the hell is your problem? Why do you have to insult me like that? You were being nice just a moment ago!”
“I’m not insulting you. I’m just stating the facts, and you are stupid.” Nan Chen frowned.
“Okay, how so?”
“After all I’ve told you, you should understand why Ouyang Qing wants to marry into the Nan family. On top of that, you should also understand why Ouyang Duo supports that decision of hers. Given what you’ve just said, ‘stupid’ is the only word that I can describe you with.” Nan Chen shot her a disdainful look.
Ning Ran was confused by what he said and took quite a while to figure out what he meant.
“Oh, I get it! You mean it’s a part of Ouyang Duo’s plans to have Ouyang Qing marry into the Nan family! That way, he’ll be able to eventually acquire everything the Nan family owns! That’s what makes it a big secret!” Ning Ran exclaimed.
“You finally got it.”
“But why would he want that? If you become his son-in-law, the two families will become one!” Ning Ran was still somewhat confused.
“How childish… The two families will always remain two separate entities no matter what, and Ouyang Duo will make use of Ouyang Qing’s influence in the Nan family to get what he wants.” Nan Chen explained.
“So… What are you trying to say?”
“You’re asking me that after everything I’ve said?” Nan Chen was getting annoyed.
“You won’t marry Ouyang Qing because you’ve noticed that it’s a part of Ouyang Duo’s plans, right?”
“That’s hard to say. It could just be me overthinking things, as I don’t have any solid evidence to confirm my theory.”
Ning Ran was at a loss for words.
I thought he was reassuring me that he wouldn’t marry Ouyang Qing, but now he’s taken it back… I don’t understand him at all… Well, then again, he wouldn’t be the great Sir Chen if he were easily understood! Still, things sure are complicated in wealthy families! Who would’ve known that there were so many conflicts and conspiracies beneath the friendly facade? It must be rough on him, having to keep so many secrets to himself when he hardly talks at all!
“Regardless, I’m always on your side!” Ning Ran said while clenching her fist.
“Even if it means supporting my decision to marry Ouyang Qing?” Nan Chen stared intently at her.
Ning Ran found herself at a loss for words once again.
“We’ll talk about that when the time comes. It’s late, I’m going to bed.” She placed the glass down and went off to brush her teeth.
