Chapter 696 Forms A Web
Wang Xiaoou wasn’t an indecisive person, so she immediately suggested, “The company doesn’t want you to contact that woman since we don’t have any evidence to prove she’s the one behind it. We’re not the police, so we can’t investigate the matter.
All we can do is be careful. I’m sure you’re aware that the negative impact not only affects you but also implicates the movie you’re filming right now. At the moment, we’ll pause filming for two days to stay out of the limelight.”
Wang Xiaoou’s advice filled Ning Ran with guilt. The production team is suffering losses again because of me. I didn’t want any of this to happen, but there’s nothing I can do about it.
“I’ll comply with the company’s arrangement. I’m sorry for the inconvenience I’ve caused everyone.” Wang Xiaoou assured, “Matters like these are unavoidable for celebrities. However, negative news is also a kind of publicity. You’ll feel better if you think of it that way.”
“All right. I’m sorry for the trouble, and thanks for helping, Ou,” Ning Ran said.
“Don’t be sad. It will pass. Stay at home for these two days and wait for my news regarding the solution. Get some rest in the meantime,” Wang Xiaoou comforted.
“All right, Ou.”
After hanging up the call, Ning Ran dialed Nan Chen’s number. She would rather confront him upfront than wait for him to find fault with her like a sitting duck.
Moreover, she preferred to confide in Nan Chen during her lows, despite knowing it was rare for him to console her.
To her surprise, Nan Chen picked up her call rather quickly. “Speak.”
“Are you still working?”
“Yes.”
“Am I disturbing you?”
“Yes, you are.”
Ning Ran was speechless at his straightforwardness. He’s doing it again! Well, it’s my fault for asking since I already knew he would say something like this.
Yet, Ning Ran kept her temper in check. “Can we have a serious discussion, Mr. Chen?”
“Sure,” Nan Chen agreed.
Ning Ran heard a furious tapping on the keyboard and figured Nan Chen must still be working.
She started picturing Nan Chen’s delectable looks as he focused on his work. He’s so handsome when he works. Fine! He’s eye candy all the time except when he’s arguing with me.
Ning Ran pulled her thoughts back to the issue at hand. “Something happened today, and it caused a lot of netizens to cuss me out. I’m innocent, though! Lu Jingyuan was the one who asked me to search for the hoodlum with her. I never thought someone would snap a photo of me and slander me.”
Nan Chen merely grunted an acknowledgment to imply he was listening.
Ning Ran continued, “Initially, Lu Jingyuan was in some of the photos, but suddenly, someone started removing them. With the removal of her photos, she was untangled from the mess. Hence, my company suspects she’s probably behind it. Ou called me earlier today, asking me to take a two-day break. I’ve caused trouble for the company again. I didn’t want this to happen—”
Ning Ran paused after prattling on for a while as she suddenly recalled that Nan Chen was the CEO, and he would’ve been aware of everything even if she hadn’t told him about it.
Yet, he stayed silent and let her babble on like an idiot. How infuriating!
“You already knew this, right?” Ning Ran asked.
“Mm-hmm,” Nan Chen admitted.
“Do you think Lu Jingyuan is behind this incident?”
“No,” Nan Chen answered.
Ning Ran felt a surge of happiness. After all, it was rare for Nan Chen to have the same opinion as she did.
“You don’t think Lu Jingyuan is a bad person?”
“I don’t know whether she’s a good or bad person, but that’s not the point. I’m saying there’s no reason for her to do so. You’re close to her. If she wants to give you a hard time, she doesn’t need to use such lowly means, so I’m sure it isn’t her. Well, it isn’t wrong for Star Entertainment to suspect her either since they don’t know Ms. Lu well. It’s only natural for them to arrive at that conclusion.”
Ning Ran agreed with him, “That’s right. They don’t understand Lu Jingyuan, so they don’t know she’s a nice person.”
“Childish! Don’t easily conclude if a person is good or bad. I’m just saying she isn’t the one behind it,” Nan Chen reprimanded.
“I don’t care! I’m adamant that she’s a nice person. She’s helped me before, so I’m sure of that. You said there would be a way to solve all the problems if I could find her, and I did, yet things turned out this way,” Ning Ran insisted.
“Whatever floats your boat. It’s fine as long as you’re happy. Childish,” Nan Chen said with amusement in his tone.
“Yes, I know I’m childish. I still think she’s not the one behind this despite it being a bit difficult to explain the actions of her removing her photos.”
“What is so difficult to explain about that?” Nan Chen asked.
“You know what her motive is?” Ning Ran questioned.
“Won’t you know the answer if you just ask her?”
Ning Ran contemplated his suggestion. Wait a second! The company asked me not to meet up with her, yet Nan Chen is asking me to ask her upfront? Shouldn’t he be in the same boat as his employees? Who should I listen to, then? The boss, of course!
After making up her mind, Ning Ran agreed, “Okay, I’ll ask her to meet me tomorrow.”
“She’ll help to solve this issue if she’s innocent. If she says she can’t help you with it, then there’s a problem with her. She’s smart, so I’m sure she’s aware that we’re suspecting her. If she’s innocent, she’ll find a way to clear her name,” Nan Chen said.
He still suspects Lu Jingyuan in the end. What a sly fox! He almost had me!
Ning Ran probed, “So you’re still suspicious of her?”
“No, I already said I don’t think she’s the one behind it,” Nan Chen clarified.
“Then why did you say she would try to clear her name?” Ning Ran argued.
“Well, she’s the only one who can clear her name. Is she expecting you to help her? Are you able to?” Nan Chen asked.
“I…”
Ning Ran mulled over it shortly and realized Nan Chen was right. She couldn’t clear Lu Jingyuan’s name.
There were already many who misunderstood Ning Ran, and no one would listen to her even if she told the truth. She was helpless in that sense. Thus, how could she clear another person’s name?
“Let’s leave it at that. How are the kids?” Nan Chen changed the topic.
“They’re doing good, but they’re not letting Nan Xing leave unless he plays with them for another two more days.” Ning Ran chuckled.
“Then have Nan Xing play with them for another two more days. He doesn’t need to be back until school starts.”
Ning Ran thought it was hilarious as she imagined Nan Xing’s expression when he heard about his brother selling him out.
“That won’t do. We can’t indulge the kids too much. Also, Nan Xing is not a nanny. He can’t just keep spending his time with them. I think Nan Xing is already on the verge of fleeing. You know as well that taking care of kids is tiring,” Ning Ran said.
“That’s because Nan Xing hasn’t found the enjoyable part of it. If he found it, he wouldn’t want to leave Livingsfill. I trust that he will find it since he always does.”
“All right. That’s about it. Get some rest soon, and don’t tire yourself out,” Ning Ran said gently.
By then, Nan Chen had already hung up.
What an insensitive brute! I rarely say anything nice, yet he doesn’t appreciate it and hangs up the phone instantly. Hmph! Ning Rang thought angrily.
Meanwhile, Nan Chen ended the call and reached for a piece of paper on his desk. He started scribbling a few names on it—Ding Fei, Rong Yi, Ouyang Li, and Lu Jingyuan. These four appeared out of the blue. Is there a connection between the four of them? Is their appearance a coincidence? If not, then will the lines that connect them form a web? Who are they planning to snare? Ning Ran or me?
Nan Chen slashed off Lu Jingyuan’s name after pondering briefly.
For now, Lu Jingyuan doesn’t seem connected to the others.
