“I do not wish to break up your discussion, but I want to ask you when you will be leaving?”
Nan Chen stared at Ning Ran, “When have I said that I want to leave?”
“You aren’t leaving?”
“Nope.”
“But…”
“I’m staying here. Why should I go?”
Ning Ran was hopping mad by now. I have only allowed you to stay for a few days! How dare you insist on staying forever! This is the house of Auntie’s friend! She has rented it to us cheaply! Why aren’t you staying in your big mansion instead of fighting with us to stay in this house!
“Auntie has just returned. You should move. It’s not convenient for us to have you around the house!”
Now Nan Chen finally understood. So, her ‘Auntie’ refers to Cheng Xiangyun, who is the one with cucumber slices on her face in the living room just now.
“She can stay in the guest room. I won’t cause her any inconvenience. I will get someone to find a new house for her tomorrow,” said Nan Chen.
“Why should she move? This is her friend’s house! Her friend has rented it to us cheaply because she’s overseas. It’s all because of her that we get to stay in this house. How can you chase her out!”
Nan Chen stared at Ning Ran without saying a word.
His stare made Ning Ran’s hair stand on end, “What?”
“Nothing. I’m leaving now.”
“That’s the way to go! How can you occupy other’s residence?”
“Is Daddy leaving?” Dabao was reluctant to let him go.
“Yes, do you want to follow me?” Nan Chen was reluctant to leave him too.
Dabao shook his head.
I rather stay with Mommy. She needs my company more than him.
When they came out of the study room, Cheng Xiangyun had changed her clothes and was about to leave the villa with her bag in her hands. She was too self-conscious to stay on after Nan Chen had seen her in the embarrassing state just now.
At the sight of Nan Chen, she turned around, not daring to meet Nan Chen’s gaze. I didn’t dare meet his gaze last time, much less now! Ning Ran is so irritating! How can she not tell me that Nan Chen is coming here! I feel like dying now that I have shown this embarrassing side of me to Flower City’s most handsome man!
“You don’t need to leave. He’s leaving,” said Ning Ran to Cheng Xiangyun.
“No, no. No. I don’t want to disturb your family. I didn’t know Mr. Nan was coming. Otherwise, I would have…”
“It’s okay, I’ll leave.” Nan Chen cut her off.
His tone was calm and emotionless; his typical fashion.
“There is really no need. I will leave. You are a family. I really didn’t know Mr. Nan was coming…”
“I’ve told you that you don’t need to leave. He should leave since he is the outsider. You don’t need to,” Ning Ran persuaded her.
I will feel bad, asking Auntie to leave in the middle of the night. Furthermore, Auntie was the one who found this house. Even if she didn’t, I can’t chase her out at this hour.
Nan Chen agreed with Ning Ran on this point.
Even if Nan Chen was domineering, he had his principles. He knew that it was not right of him to chase a woman out under these circumstances.
“Mr. Nan is not an outsider. He’s…”
“Okay, enough. I have other things to do in the office and will work till very late. I won’t be returning.”
With that, Nan Chen turned around and headed for the door.
Ning Ran felt a bit guilty at the sight of Nan Chen’s departure.
But there is no other choice. If someone has to leave, it has to be Nan Chen.
“Sir Chen…”
Cheng Xiangyun wanted to continue, but Nan Chen had already waved goodbye to her and left the house.
Ning Ran followed him out of the house, feeling guilty towards him.
“Why don’t you sleep in the room downstairs? In this way, it won’t be embarrassing.”
“There’s no need.” Nan Chen headed in the direction of the car.
“Then take your time.”
Nan Chen did not respond as he started the car engine, and drove out of the villa.
Ning Ran went upstairs again, only to be met with Cheng Xiangyun’s reprimand, “You stupid girl! You did not tell me Sir Chen was coming! You almost caused my death!”
“Gosh. I chased him away and let you stay on. Why are you scolding me now?” Ning Ran felt aggrieved.
“Then you should’ve warned me earlier. Don’t let me embarrass myself in front of Sir Chen again.”
“Why are you so embarrassed? Did he see you without clothes?” Ning Ran asked, panicked.
“Since when do I not wear clothes and walk around? He saw me with cucumber slices on my face. I was watching television and did not notice him coming in. It was so disgraceful of me, lying down on the sofa! Anyway, I was not prepared to let him see me just now! This is too embarrassing! How can I ever face him in the future!” Chen Xiangyun wailed loudly.
“If only that happened, I think it is fine. Anyway, you don’t have that good of an image either, so it doesn’t matter how embarrassing you look. Furthermore, Nan Chen may not see you because he does not look at people in their eyes. He doesn’t even look at me directly, much less you.” Ning Ran waved her hands dismissively.
Her words infuriated Cheng Xiangyun.
Words alone are not enough to convey my frustration. I must use my hands now!
Seeing that Cheng Xiangyun was about to hit her, Ning Ran sought refuge behind the soda, “Auntie, calm down! You’re a civilized person! You should use your words instead of your hands!”
“I’m not a civilized person! You embarrassed me in front of others! How dare you taunt me!” Cheng Xiangyun hollered at her.
“Yes, yes, yes. It’s all my fault. But I really didn’t know he would come.”
Suddenly, a question popped up in Cheng Xiangyun’s mind. She asked out of curiosity, “Has he been staying here when I wasn’t around?”
“Yes.”
“Wow! You guys are cohabiting now? Have you slept together?”
“Shhh, can you lower your volume? Don’t let the kids overhear you. Why are your thoughts so contaminated, and full of such things? No wonder you can’t get married!” Ning Ran cried out in disdain.
“As if you’re married,” retorted Cheng Xiangyun.
“I don’t want to marry. Otherwise, I will have endless suitors after me!”
“Enough of your pretense. I’m asking you if you’ve slept with him?”
“I refuse to answer this silly, low question. Anyway, I promise you that I will not let Nan Chen stay here while I am around. He is the outsider while you are the owner.”
“No, no, no, I’m not worthy of that sentence. Sir Chen is the owner of this house.” Cheng Xiangyun waved her hands frantically.
“Why are you so humble? This house is your friend’s. If not for you, would we have gotten such a cheap rental for this place? Furthermore, you’re the one paying for the rental. So, you’re the owner of this house!”
“What? Oh, there may be a misunderstanding between us. But actually, it is not a real misunderstanding.”
“What are you talking about? So is there a misunderstanding or not? I’m confused.”
“The owner of this place isn’t my friend. I have benefitted from my association from you too.” Cheng Xiangyun said, looking troubled.
“Are you telling me that this house, does in fact belong to Nan Chen?”
“Yes. Assistant Jiang lent this house to me and asked me to convince you to move in here, as this house was bigger. But at that time, there was some tension between both of you, so he knew that you would not accept and asked me to move in first. So I lied to you that this house belonged to my friend…”
