Chapter 541 A Useless Sparrow
Nan Xing had never dropped his guard toward Ouyang Duo. While he was unaware of the Ouyang family’s designs on their family, he knew Ouyang Duo was hardly a gentleman.
Ouyang Duo had forced the Nan family into a corner over the Vietnam project. If not for Nan Chen’s help, Nan Xing would have been in hot soup as the actual manager of that project.
I’m not as shrewd as Chen when it comes to business, but I’m hardly naïve in the ways of the world.
Nan Xing could sense that something was amiss from the minute he set foot in the room.
Ouyang Duo had met Nan Xing several times as their families ran in the same circles. Nan Xing would bet money that his private meeting with Ouyang Duo today was far more complicated than an interview for a future son-in-law.
Consequently, he politely refused the liquor that Ouyang Duo offered and cautioned himself to think carefully before answering any questions.
Ouyang Duo took a puff of his cigar and frowned. He asked, “Is my question so difficult to answer?”
Nan Xing scrunched his nose at the offending smell of the cigar.
Feigning ignorance, he countered, “What do you mean?”
“I asked you about your plans. It’s a simple question,” Ouyang Duo repeated himself.
Letting out a smile, Nan Xing replied, “I don’t plan that far ahead into the future. You know me; I’m just winging it one step at a time.”
Ouyang Duo began to sound impatient as he questioned, “You’re a member of the Nan family. Nan Chen can’t possibly take charge of your family’s entire business alone. Aren’t you helping him to shoulder the burden?”
An ambitious man himself, Ouyang Duo held no little contempt for unambitious good-for-nothings like his son, Ouyang Qi.
Hearing about Nan Xing’s ambiguous plans disappointed him immensely.
I guess the similarity between Nan Xing and Nan Chen ends in their looks.
Nan Xing sensed Ouyang Duo’s disdain and was secretly pleased.
Looking down upon me now, I see. Great! Ask your daughter to leave me alone from now on!
He decided then and there that playing dumb was the best strategy in his arsenal.
Nan Xing piped up, “I don’t need to share any burdens. Chen can manage Nanshi Corporation on his own.”
At his words, Ouyang Duo’s heart sank even further.
Nan Xing may not have a plan, but I have plenty in mind. All he needs to do is to sign up for the ride.
Ouyang Duo tried to hide his contempt as he advised, “You are a descendant of the Nan family. Surely, you must have the ambition to match your family’s great name.”
Waving his hand dismissively, Nan Xing drawled, “What ambition? I want to have fun all day instead of working. Our family is stinking rich. I can swim in money without working a day in my life, so what’s the point of having lofty ambitions?”
Upon hearing that, Ouyang Duo was rendered speechless.
They share the same face, for heaven’s sake! Why is Nan Chen soaring like an eagle while his brother is nothing but a useless sparrow?
“Is that what you truly think?” Ouyang Duo did not even bother to hide his disappointment.
He had been hoping that it would be easier to convince Nan Xing to join forces, but he hardly wished to find a lazy bum who could ruin everything out of sheer laziness.
Nan Xing observed Ouyang Duo closely and witnessed the disappointment and scorn in his eyes.
Internally, he was cackling in glee over the success of his strategy.
“Of course!” Nan Xing tossed out. “I’ve lived like this my whole life, and I don’t see anything wrong with it. Chen, bless his soul, has been encouraging me to join the family business, but it’s so boring. My eyes start drooping before I can even get through a line on those financial reports and business proposals.”
He continued lamenting, “Life is too short to stress myself out, you know? Why should I work myself to death when my family can give me all the money I’ll ever need? Even if I were hard-pressed to name an ambition, I guess I’d stick to booze and hotties— I mean drowning myself in booze all day long!”
The mention of “hotties” was the final nail in the coffin.
Ouyang Duo’s expression soured immediately.
God, he’s even worse than I imagined. My daughter will be humiliated in the Nan family if she marries someone like this! She’s practically signing away her dignity.
Exasperated, Ouyang Duo forgot to control his temper as he bellowed at Nan Xing, “How can you behave like a lazy bum at your age? You should be stepping up to bear more responsibility and power!”
Shocked at his outburst, Nan Xing muttered, “Why are you so angry?”
Ouyang Duo realized then that he had overstepped. After all, he was still talking to someone from the Nan family, even if Nan Xing was a good-for-nothing.
Plus, he might be my son-in-law in the future. I can’t scare him off before he’s even at the altar.
“Nothing, I was just worried for you. What if Nan Chen’s gone one day? How will you fill his shoes and lead the company?” Ouyang Duo said placatingly.
His words unsettled Nan Xing. What do you mean when Chen’s gone? We’re the same age and perfectly healthy men. What is he implying?
“My brother is fine. I doubt he will be gone so soon, though I thank you for your kind concern,” came Nan Xing’s cold reply.
Ouyang Duo realized with a start that he had unknowingly offended Nan Xing by losing his temper.
He tried to appease Nan Xing by explaining, “All I meant to say was that Nan Chen could be exhausted from managing the business alone. He might wish for you to share his burden, and what will you do then if you don’t buck up and learn the ropes now?”
“My brother is the strongest person I know. He doesn’t need my help. Plus, I’m really not interested in the business. I just want to have fun and enjoy my life,” Nan Xing responded.
Once again, Ouyang Duo found himself at a loss for words.
He had planned to gauge Nan Xing’s ambitions before offering the Ouyang family’s resources to strengthen the latter’s position in the Nan family.
It was a small price to pay to build Nan Xing’s power and set Ouyang Duo’s next plan in motion.
However, Nan Xing’s laziness had derailed his plans.
If it was merely a question of capability, Ouyang Duo had more than enough resources to fix the issue, but the lack of ambition truly wrecked the older man’s plans.
Suddenly exhausted, Ouyang Duo uttered, “Let’s end our discussion here. I’m a bit tired.”
Nan Xing felt as though a boulder had been lifted off his shoulders as he replied, “All right. I hope you have a good rest. I shall take my leave now.”
“Goodbye.” Ouyang Duo waved at the young man, gazing at the latter’s departing figure in dejection.
Nan Xing returned to Ouyang Qing’s group, only to realize that they were still heavily imbibing.
They had moved on to drunken gossip.
An heiress stated tipsily, “Nan Chen fell for some C-list actress. We don’t even know when she gave him two kids, which allowed her to weasel her way into the family. Hmm, that’s not quite right. She got some nice benefits, I guess, but it’s not like she married into the Nan family. He’ll ditch her sooner or later.”
She was obviously comforting Ouyang Qing over her failure to capture Nan Chen’s affections.
Ouyang Qing’s tone dripped with vile as she spat, “I don’t want to talk about that woman. She’s as gross as a cockroach. I can stomp her out too easily; I just don’t want to soil my heels.”
Hearing that, Nan Xing was disgusted by her scornful words. You’re the gross cockroach! You’re just slandering Ning Ran because you’re jealous of her!
Putting on an innocent smile, he chimed in, “Are you talking about my sister-in-law? She and my brother love each other very much. Your concerns are appreciated but unnecessary.”
