Nan Chen was totally speechless.
Is this woman forcing me to admit that I have just gone through a breakup?
He decided to ignore her and stood up, striding to the study room.
Ning Ran froze for a while and also stood up and walked toward her bedroom, preparing to turn in.
Just as she reached her bedroom door, she was suddenly curious so she took a turn to the study room.
The door of the study room was closed but she could hear Nan Chen speaking on the phone.
Was he really experiencing a breakup? And is now making a call to salvage his relationship?
She was too inquisitive about it so she tried to open the door.
It was not locked and she pushed the door open gently with a little slit.
Nan Chen was speaking in English over the phone. Oh my goodness, so the girl who broke his heart is a Caucasian?
Ning Ran’s English fluency was not too bad so she could understand what Nan Chen was saying.
However, she failed to comprehend fully because there were too many jargons that confused her.
The call was over and there were no more voices from the study room.
Ning Ran was about to leave when the door was suddenly jerked open from within and Ning Ran who was leaning on the door immediately stumbled into the room.
Nan Chen reached out to catch her and a strong fragrance of orange blossom wafted into his nostrils, making his heart flutter.
“You’re eavesdropping?”
“No, I was standing there the entire time and did not sneak around, so it’s not eavesdropping,” Ning Ran retorted.
“Why aren’t you sleeping?”
“Aren’t you not sleeping as well?”
Their conversation ended and Nan Chen just stared at Ning Ran while she did the same thing to him.
“Come here.” Nan Chen took her into the study room and walked toward the desk, then he beckoned her to sit down.
“What are you doing?” Ning Ran wanted to know what he was up to.
“Sit down and listen to me. Don’t you want to know why I was so offbeat? I’ll tell you now.” Nan Chen pressed her on the chair.
“Alright, I’m all ears.” Ning Ran was willing to let him clear her doubts.
Nan Chen thought about it for a while before he continued, “But why should I tell you?”
This question rendered Ning Ran speechless. It was as though he was picking on her.
“Forget about it if you’re not going to tell me.” Ning Ran stood up to leave.
This time, Nan Chen did not stop her but watched as she left the study room.
Poker Face must have had a huge blow and has gone crazy.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have pulled me in and then without even a word, let me leave again. He must have gone mad.
So she returned to the study room again and asked, “Are you tricking me?”
“What?”
“Didn’t you have something to tell me? But why did you go back on your word and waste my time?” Ning Ran asked with discontent.
“I was trying to prove to you that I was really troubled and not having a breakup. But then, I thought about it again and felt that I don’t need to prove anything to you, so I did not say anything.” Nan Chen explained.
These words are really infuriating.
“Very well then. I had something to tell you, too. But I gave it another thought and maybe I didn’t need to prove anything to you as well, so let’s just forget about it!”
Splurting those words out soothed Ning Ran’s temper, so she turned around to leave.
But her hand was grabbed by Nan Chen. “What is it that you want to tell me?”
“Nothing. There’s no need for me to tell you,” Ning Ran returned.
“Say it!” Nan Chen commanded heartlessly.
“Why should I? You have chosen to not tell me when you don’t feel like it, then why can’t I do the same?”
“Speak!” Nan Chen could not care less about the hows and whys on her mind. She has to tell me if I want to know.
“Then you should tell me first. I’ll only tell you after you’ve finished telling yours.” Ning Ran raised her chin.
Nan Chen was amused by her smug attitude.
This woman is indeed unbridled. She’s nothing like the other women.
Well, this is interesting.
“Alright, I’ll tell you,” Nan Chen finally said.
“But I’m not interested anymore.” Ning Ran turned around to leave.
Nan Chen tightened his grip and pulled her back. “You’re playing hard to get, aren’t you?”
“I’m playing hard to get? Ha! You are thinking too much. I think you’re the one who’s playing hard to get.” Ning Ran snorted.
Nan Chen squinted with a dangerous aura wafting from him. This woman is saying that I’m playing hard to get?
Is she crazy? I can always get what I want easily; why should I play hard to get?
Hence, he pulled Ning Ran over, and pressed her against the wall.
You are pinning against the wall? What era are we in? Who still does this? Isn’t this childish?
“I can get you right now; I don’t need to play hard!”
The man came closer and his breathing could be clearly felt. Ning Ran turned her head on one side and pretended to be calm.
In actual fact, her heartbeat started racing.
Even though she was already the mother of two children, she had never really been in any romantic relationship.
There had been other men around her but she had always kept a safe distance from them; hence, it was very rare for her to be so close to a man physically.
With so little experience in romantic relationships, it was inevitable for her to panic and fluster like a youthful adolescent.
“You… you shouldn’t do this. It’s not appropriate!” Ning Ran was still putting on an act in keeping her cool.
“What is inappropriate?”
Nan Chen could feel himself grasping the upper hand so his tone started to sound like teasing.
“If you have something to say, just do it. Keep some distance. It’s not respectful this way.” Ning Ran could only make up some nonsense.
“Then tell me, what was that that you were going to say to me?” Nan Chen asked.
“Let go of me, then I’ll say,” Ning Ran replied clumsily.
“You speak first.”
“I’m not feeling comfortable with you grabbing my hand this way. How can I speak well then? So you let go of me first.” Ning Ran struggled.
Nan Chen did not let go as she told him to. Instead, he leaned in even closer. “You can just talk to me this way so I can hear you clearly.”
His breath was warm, and there was a faint smell of wine blended with a manly scent on him.
That made Ning Ran flustered even more.
Eyeing a close opportunity, Ning Ran lowered her head and escaped from Nan Chen’s arms.
Then, she quickly walked to the side and heaved a sigh of relief.
But then she began to feel flushed all over. What is happening?
“Don’t come here. I’ll shout if you do. There are still people in this house; my son and daughter are both here!” Ning Ran pointed at Nan Chen.
Nan Chen felt he was wronged. What did I do to deserve this treatment? Why do you have to shout?
“Alright, alright, I’m not coming over. Tell me now, what did you want to say to me?” Nan Chen stared at her cautiously.
“You tell me first. Why are you acting so unusual tonight?”
“One of my very important projects in Vietnam has encountered some problems. The other party has set me up in a predicament. I have been put in a pregnable situation whether I agree or not to cooperate with him.
Ning Ran was confused but she also seemed to be able to fathom a little about his situation.
“How pregnable?”
“If I don’t agree to cooperate with him, the project would fail and I might be questioned or even dismissed from my position by the board of directors. But if I agree to cooperate, the welfare of the corporation would be hampered and I would still be considered as incompetent by the directors, hence, my position is greatly compromised.”
“Which insidious man is it who set you up in such a predicament?” Ning Ran was beginning to feel anxious.
Nan Chen did not answer.
Even if he did tell her, Ning Ran might not know who Ouyang Duo was. Besides, looking at the situation right then, the real culprit behind might not be Ouyang Duo.
Even though he seemed to be the person with the biggest gain which, therefore, also made him the biggest suspect.
Ouyang Duo was as sly as a fox but wasn’t he worried about offending the Nan family by setting up a plot so openly?
Hence, this matter seemed strange to Nan Chen and he still had reservations before making a conclusion.
“That is what I encountered, a dilemma. But I’m not downhearted, neither am I giving in. Those behaviors of mine that seemed peculiar to you were because I was pondering.”
Ning Ran nodded. Alright, you’re fabulous. Even swimming after drinking is a legitimate way of pondering.
