Every dish was extremely delicious. It was the best home-cooked dinner Tang Jing had ever had.
A few of the more nutritious dishes were specially prepared for Ning Ran, as she had just been discharged from the hospital.
Tang Jing was green with envy. To her, Ning Ran had the perfect life every woman desired to have.
There was a popular saying, Not all that glitters is gold.
What Tang Jing saw were only the glitters which Ning Ran wore. However, she was not aware of those times when Ning Ran was left all alone in a foreign country. She had also brought up two young kids all on her own.
Although Ning Ran had given birth to two children of the Nan family, the family had not given her any official status nor even formally acknowledged her.
She was always on her toes, worried that the Nan family would snatch her kids away from her, leaving her with nothing.
Tang Jing did not know any of that.
What she saw was just the fine treatment the woman was currently enjoying, unbeknownst to the suffering which Ning Ran endured.
That was the way the world operated. It was always easier for people to envy the achievements of others, without taking into account the hard work and sacrifices they had to make along their paths to success.
Tang Jing was entirely immersed in the feeling of bliss throughout the meal.
She had caught a glimpse of the kind of life which she had been striving towards all along.
Being married to a handsome and wealthy man, having adorable kids, as well as a powerful family background.
She wanted to be respected, admired, and perhaps, even feared.
Standing at the top, overlooking everyone else.
However, it was still someone else’s life, and the woman had to snap out of her daydream once dinner was over.
It was time for Tang Jing to leave. She was just a visitor, after all.
“Thanks for your wonderful hospitality, Ding and Mr. Nan. It’s a great honor for me to be able to join your family for dinner tonight. I will always remember this wonderful night. Have a good rest, I shall make a move first.”
The woman indeed lived up to her name as being one of the most well-educated and beautiful actresses in the industry. She had a charming smile on her face and spoke eloquently.
However, there was an unnoticeable glint of disappointment in her eye. She had an inexplicable feeling, which could be akin to a feeling of loss.
It was as if she was awoken from an utterly blissful dream, and awaiting her was once again the harsh realities.
However, at the same time, her desire to live through the same delightful experience again grew more intense.
“We enjoyed your company too. Feel free to pop by again when you are free.” Ning Ran stood up as well, preparing to walk her co-worker to the door.
“I am making a trip back to the office as I have some work to complete. Ms. Tang, I’ll give you a lift,” Nan Chen offered.
Tang Jing felt ecstatic when the man said that. However, she kept a cool front and replied, “Would that be inconvenient for Mr. Nan?”
“Not at all, but the chauffeur will be dropping me at the office first before sending you home,” Nan Chen answered unemotionally.
“Sure then. Thank you so much, Mr. Nan.”
Tang Jing was overjoyed. If she could, she would be jumping for joy while letting out a few hearty laughs.
It was indeed her lucky day!
“If you’re going back to the office now, will you still be coming back here tonight?” Ning Ran asked Nan Chen.
“I’ll be back a bit later. You and the kids should rest first. Don’t wait up for me,” Nan Chen replied.
Tang Jing was almost dying of envy from the family’s display of affection towards each other.
Ning Ran was aware that Nan Chen usually had a busy schedule. She knew he had intentionally carved out time just to have dinner with her and the kids, before returning back to the office to settle his unfinished work.
In fact, it had to be something important for the man to rush back to the office at this time of the night to handle it. Otherwise, he would have left it till tomorrow.
Ning Ran had wanted to broach the subject of Zou Gang’s resignation, but since Nan Chen was occupied, she did not want to bother him. She decided that she would find another suitable opportunity to talk to him instead.
Nan Chen climbed into the back seat of the car after his chauffeur opened the car door for him.
Before Tang Jing could follow Nan Chen in, the chauffeur had already shut the door.
Every chauffeur who had worked for Nan Chen knew clearly that their boss would not allow a woman to join him at the back of the car. If there was a female passenger, she would have to take the front passenger seat.
It was the same for Luo Fei in the past as well. She had never sat with Nan Chen at the back of the car.
But of course, there was always an exception to anything, and the chauffeur had personally witnessed it. That exception was Ning Ran.
The other time when they were travelling back from the county, Ning Ran, who was drunk, sat with Nan Chen at the back of the car. She was singing, laughing and crying all at once. It was an entertaining sight for the chauffeur.
That incident stuck in the man’s memory for so long because he was of the opinion that Ning Ran was that one special woman who could influence his Young Master Chen.
As the chauffeur started the car engine, he took an unintentional glance at Tang Jing, who was seated next to him.
The woman was considered attractive and looked refined. However, she was still unable to match up to the drunken Young Mistress.
Tang Jing was so overwhelmed with excitement that her heart was almost thumping out of her chest.
However, the man seated at the back had not spoken a single word. He was sitting so still; he looked like he was asleep.
But that wasn’t the case. As Tang Jing peered through the rear-view mirror, she could vaguely make out Nan Chen’s unmatchable handsome face, which was cast upon by the city lights.
From his expressionless face, it was impossible to tell if he was happy or sad, or had any other emotions.
It was a stark contrast from the state Nan Chen was in when he was around his children. Looking at him now, it was hard to imagine that this man and that tender man back at the villa was the same person.
With such an imposing aura, Tang Jing could not pluck up the courage to strike a conversation with him.
However, knowing that it might be a once in a lifetime opportunity to be travelling in Sir Chen’s car, the woman would not let it go to waste.
“Mr. Nan, are you usually this busy?”
Tang Jing finally attempted to ask him a neutral question.
“Yup.”
Even though Nan Chen only gave her a one-word reply, it was already enough for Tang Jing to be thrilled.
At the same time, that gave her the courage to carry on the conversation.
“Mr. Nan is such a big shot and yet there’s so little that is known about you. I’m really curious to know what hobbies you usually engage in during your spare time?”
Tang Jing had already prepared a reply before she asked this question.
No matter what Nan Chen’s answer was, she was going to say that she liked the same thing too.
Thereafter, she would start learning whatever Nan Chen enjoyed doing, in order to please him. Be it classical music, chess, or even something of a harder nature, Tang Jing would make sure she mastered it.
She was able to attain her Master’s degree due to her aptitude to absorb new knowledge. The woman also considered that as her greatest advantage.
There wasn’t anything in the world that would stump her. If luck was also on her side, she was confident she would be able to marry into the purple and change her fate.
However, Nan Chen remained quiet.
His non-response was as if he had not heard Tang Jing’s question at all.
But Tang Jing had definitely spoken at an audible volume. In such an enclosed space in the car, it was impossible for Nan Chen not to have heard it.
The only explanation for Nan Chen’s silence was that he did not feel like talking. He was probably not interested in making small talk.
Tang Jing was grateful for the dim lighting in the car, as it made it possible for her to conceal the awkward look on her face.
She had thought that, since Nan Chen had replied to her initial question, she could ride on that tide to interact with him further. She did not expect Nan Chen to be the prove to the notion that not all men appreciated being hit on by a pretty lady.
Silence.
No one spoke after that.
Tang Jing did not dare to say another word. She needed to maintain her dignity and not give Nan Chen the impression that she was an easy woman.
Everyone kept quiet all the way to the Nanshi Corporation headquarters.
The building was right in front of her when Tang Jing lifted her head. However, as the Nanshi Corporation was a skyscraper, it was not possible for the woman to see the top of the building from her seat in the car.
Even if she tilted her head up, the highest floor of the building was still not within her sight.
After the chauffeur stopped the car, he opened the door deftly for his boss.
Nan Chen climbed out of the car wordlessly and smoothed out the creases on his suit.
“Mr. Nan.”
Tang Jing called out to the man, as she was not resigned for this to be the end of her lucky streak.
Nan Chen slowed down his footsteps.
“Thanks for the lift, I appreciate it very much,” Tang Jing grabbed hold of this last opportunity and tried to make it concise.
Nan Chen, who was back-facing the woman, did not turn around. However, he lifted his arm slightly, acknowledging her words.
Tang Jing was euphoric at this insignificant gesture from the man.
He had responded! He raised his arm! It’s such a rare moment!
