Chapter 502 Rude
In order to avoid any element of bias, Qiao Zhan arranged for a professional journalist to conduct the interview.
The journalist in question was the same lady who questioned Ning Ran’s integrity openly. She was known for her directness and harsh methods of journalism. Besides, she was well-received in the eyes of the public.
That was why Qiao Zhan contacted her for Zhang Xiaoman’s interview. Unsurprisingly, she accepted the gig unhesitatingly.
There was no way she would let such an opportunity slide.
However, Qiao Zhan had a special request. He was adamant about being present at the interview. Furthermore, he’d vet the script prior to being published. The journalist accepted all his terms and conditions.
As soon as they were done setting up the camera equipment, Zhang Xiaoman showed up nervously.
The journalist adjusted her glasses and started the interview. “Ms. Zhang, thank you for meeting us for this exclusive interview. Are you feeling better now?”
“Yes. I didn’t have a skin allergy in the first place,” Zhang Xiaoman replied.
“Okay. We shall cut to the chase. Are you retracting your comments regarding the problems you had with Beauty Cosmetics’ products?”
“Yes. I’ve lied about it. I’d like to apologize for my actions.” Zhang Xiaoman lowered her head in guilt.
“Why are you doing so? Are you under any pressure from Beauty Cosmetics? Are they forcing you to do so?”
“No.”
“Did you finally come to your senses? Have you only found your conscience?” Indeed, the journalist didn’t hold back on her methods of questioning.
Zhang Xiaoman fell silent, and she hung her head lower.
The journalist adjusted her glasses and paused for a few seconds. She then changed her tone.
“Since you’ve admitted to lying, what do you have to say to Beauty Cosmetics?” the journalist queried.
“I’d like to apologize to them.”
“Is that all?”
Zhang Xiaoman fell silent once again upon hearing that.
“How about Ding Mi? Do you have anything to say to her?” the journalist asked.
“I’d like to tell her I’m sorry. I shouldn’t defame her. To be honest, I’m a huge fan of her shows. I hope she’d be big-hearted enough to forgive me. I’ll never repeat my mistakes.”
“Do you think she’ll forgive you?”
“I have no idea. Although I don’t think she’s obliged to do so, I sincerely hope that she could forgive me.”
The interview went on.
Ning Ran was in Nan Chen’s office when she watched the interview.
Since she didn’t know Zhang Xiaoman personally, she didn’t hold grudges against her. It’s all in the past. My forgiveness is irrelevant because life has to go on.
Ning Ran still had other matters to attend to in her life.
That afternoon, she had to fetch her kids from school earlier than usual before attending a parent-teacher conference. That was the last parent-teacher conference of the semester before winter break.
Although she felt uneasy showing up in public amid the controversies, Nan Chen felt otherwise. He insisted on her attending the conference and listening to what the school had to say.
What annoyed Ning Ran the most was the fact that Nan Chen himself wasn’t going to be there to accompany her. Coincidentally, he had important matters to attend to that day.
Jiang Zhe entered at that moment and said, “Mr. Chen, the videoconference is starting soon.”
Nan Chen stood up and gazed at Ning Ran. “Remember to attend the parent-teacher conference, okay? Please take it seriously. Note down everything the teacher has to say and tell me all about it tonight.”
Ning Ran rolled her eyes at him and grumbled, “Why aren’t you going instead? I hate parent-teacher conferences the most!”
“As the mother to the kids, you’ve never attended once. You’re shirking your responsibilities! Hence, I’m giving you the opportunity to redeem yourself. Please do it right,” Nan Chen advised.
Ning Ran ignored him in response.
After Nan Chen stepped out of the office, Jiang Zhe said, “Ms. Ding, your car is ready. You can go anytime now.”
“So he asked me here for nothing? All he wanted from me was to sit here for an hour?” Ning Ran complained.
“I’m not too sure about that. Perhaps that’s all he wanted.” Jiang Zhe couldn’t help but smile.
“He’s out of his mind!” Ning Ran fumed.
“Ms. Ding, it’s better not to talk bad about Mr. Chen at the office. It wouldn’t be nice if the other employees hear it,” Jiang Zhe reminded with a smile on his face.
“Fine, then. I’ll go now.”
Twenty minutes later, Ning Ran arrived at the school’s entrance.
There were still around ten minutes till the parent-teacher conference.
The driver parked the car at the school’s parking lot to wait for Ning Ran while she walked into the school on her own.
“Isn’t that her? Isn’t that her?”
As she was walking toward the school, the parents were murmuring amongst themselves.
“That’s her! She was nothing until she got into bed with the young master of the Nan family and gave birth to his kids.”
“Is she attending the parent-teacher conference? Does she think she’s one of us? What gives her that right?”
“She earned it when she gave birth, of course!” someone mocked.
“She’s not even married to him yet. Perhaps one day, the young master of the Nan family would get tired of her and dump her! She’d be left with nothing!” a woman in the crowd commented.
“That’s bound to happen, no? I bet she knows it as well.”
Ning Ran heard all the remarks because they didn’t bother to dish the dirt on her softly.
However, she pretended as though she couldn’t hear them and kept walking.
Since the school was only attended by all the influential people, Ning Ran knew she couldn’t afford to mess with any of them.
Some of the women there were dressed in expensive clothes and wore a lot of jewelry.
Although Ning Ran didn’t look too shabby herself, she was not as flamboyant as them.
“Make way for the junkie! Watch out, she bites!” someone sneered loudly.
Suddenly, everyone took a step back and distanced themselves from Ning Ran.
Needless to say, they were all making fun of her.
Despite the provocations, Ning Ran kept her composure and ignored them.
“How rude! Is she just going to walk straight in without greeting anyone? No wonder her kids are rude as well! I heard her kid got into a fight a couple of days ago!”
“Well, you can’t blame her. She only knows how to have kids. She’s clueless when it comes to disciplining them.”
Initially, Ning Ran didn’t give a hoot about the mockeries aimed at her. However, she lost her cool when they started talking badly about her kids. Why did you all have to drag my kids into this?
Hence, she turned around and asked, “What did you guys say? Are you calling my kids rude?”
“Aren’t the parents supposed to teach them manners? After seeing how rude you are, it’s no surprise how your kids behave themselves!” someone taunted.
Ning Ran whipped out her phone and took a photo of the person who taunted her.
“What are you doing?” the person asked in shock.
“Since I don’t know who you are, I have to take a photo of you and show Nan Chen. I’ll tell him how badly this person talked about his kids. I’ll make sure Nan Chen finds you personally. By then, perhaps you could teach him how to discipline his kids!” Ning Ran exclaimed.
Upon hearing those words, the crowd fell silent instantly.
As they were having the time of their lives taking a swipe at Ning Ran, they had forgotten about Nan Chen and the Nan family.
That prestigious family wasn’t one to be messed with.
