Ning Ziqiang was stunned for a moment.
“Ran…”
“I have helped you today only because I don’t want to watch you die. Don’t think too much about the matter.”
Ning Ziqiang continued eating in silence.
He must be really hungry, given the amount he eats.
Not far from the eatery, a man in a white Honda was taking photographs of them.
He was sneaky and avoided the bodyguard’s detection.
“You can go if you are done with the food,” said Ning Ran.
“Ran, I don’t have a place to stay. My creditors will come knocking on my door very soon. I really have no place to go. Can you please take me in seeing that we are father and daughter? You can just assign a small room to me. If not, I can sleep on the sofa too. Just please don’t chase me out. I have nowhere to go now. Please, I beg you!” Ning Ziqiang started begging her again.
“Oh gosh, you’re thinking of staying in my house? Keep on dreaming! My mother’s house was forcibly occupied by you and Luo Yi. I have lost my home long ago and have been staying at other people’ houses all this while. How dare you ask me to make arrangements for your accommodation. Don’t you have any shame?” Ning Ran berated him.
“Aren’t you doing well? Now that I am down and out, can you take care of me please? After all, I am your father…”
“Shut up! Stop saying you are my father. You caused my mother’s death and did not care about me all this time. Why didn’t you think of me as your daughter at that time? It’s too late now! Ning Ziqiang, let me tell you. Don’t you think that I have acknowledged you as my father because I have saved you tonight! Let me tell you I will never, ever forgive you! Because you don’t deserve it.”
Ning Ziqiang bowed his head and was about to cry again.
“There’s no use for you to act pitiful. I won’t fall for it.”
“Then could you, at least, help to arrange accommodation for me tonight? Even a cheap motel will do. Take it as the last time you will help me. I will never bother you again. Haven’t I left you alone all this while? It’s a coincidence you have passed by tonight and saved me. I know you are doing well now. Setting aside our relationship, even if I was outsider, won’t you still help me out?”
Indeed, Ning Ran could not bear to leave him alone under his current situation. Furthermore, his words did carry a certain weight.
“Fine. I will make arrangements for you. Only this time.”
Ning Ran took her purse out and emptied all the cash in it. There were only three hundred in it.
“I will transfer five thousand to you as your capital to run away. You will then settle your troubles yourself. I repeat myself again. You and I have no relationship anymore. I will not forgive the murderer, who caused my mother’s death. Stop looking for me in the future, as I won’t care about your matters.”
Ning Ziqiang’s eyes lit up when he learned about the few thousand that would be coming his way, “Fine. I can solve immediate problems now. Thank you, Ran. I know you are kind, despite your tough words. I know you are always a good daughter…”
“I’m not.” Ning Ran cut him off. “Let’s go if you are done with the food.”
Both of them left the eatery together and boarded the car.
When they reached the hotel, Ning Ran alighted from the car and got a room for Ning Ziqiang.
She returned to the car and left afterwards.
It was already 10 p.m. by the time she was done.
Despite his curiosity, the bodyguard did not pry as he was well aware of the rules not to ask anything that he was not supposed to.
Ning Ran was feeling down. No doubt that Ning Ziqiang deserved what he got now but evidently, it still affected her mood.
After their return to the villa, Nan Chen was not in; Cheng Xiangyun was.
Nan Chen had been staying outside ever since Cheng Xiangyun returned. The latter had offered to move out, but Nan Chen declined her offer. He seemed to have other plans which he had yet to execute.
“You’re back? I did not fetch you today as I’m engaged in a meeting. There’s a piece of good news today. Do you want to hear it?” Cheng Xiangyun asked in exhilaration.
Judging by her body language, it must be really good news.
But Ning Ran was indifferent, “Just say it.”
“Oh, why do you look so gloomy? Have you fallen out of love? Have you quarreled with Sir Chen? Or have I disturbed your family reconciliation by staying here?”
“No, it has nothing to do with you.” Ning Ran was too lazy to explain what had happened to her.
“No, there must be something wrong. Why don’t you tell me first? I will then tell you the good news afterwards. Otherwise, it will be a damper if you are indifferent to my piece of good news.”
“I ran into Ning Ziqiang just now.”
“Oh, has he approached you for money again? Your father is such a pain. How can there be a father like him in this world? Oh gosh.”
“He isn’t my father. I ran into him on the road while he was being beaten up by his creditors. I could not bear to ignore his plight. I treated him to a meal and gave him 5 thousand. I even arranged for accommodation for him.”
“Then you have done what you are supposed to. So why are you so gloomy now?”
“I don’t know. I’m just very unhappy now,” Ning Ran sighed.
Cheng Xiangyun sat down and hugged Ning Ran, “You are just too kind. Although you claim his matters are none of your business, you are still worried about him. But he deserves all that he has gotten today. There is a limit to how much you can help him. Stop thinking about it. You can’t be helping him to clear all his debts. The debts are all because of him and that woman. Why should you pay for them? There must be a limit to your kindness. Otherwise, people will take you for granted.”
Cheng Xiangyun’s words sounded logical, so Ning Ran nodded fervently.
“I have the same thinking too. But I don’t know why it affects my mood. Maybe I’m too weak, and not decisive enough. I should ask the driver to step on the accelerator instead of the brakes when I saw Ning Ziqiang being beaten up just now.”
“You won’t do it. Don’t I know what kind of person you are? Stop talking about him. You have done enough. Let me pour you a glass of red wine. Maybe you will feel better after you drink it.”
“Okay, then I will go bathe now.”
After she was out of the bathroom, the glass of red wine was ready.
Maybe it is good to drink the wine. Otherwise, I will surely suffer from insomnia tonight.
“Isn’t this wine good?” Cheng Xiangyun asked Ning Ran.
“I don’t know much about wine. But I feel it is not bad.”
“Yes. Sir Chen bought this so how bad can this be?” Cheng Xiangyun smiled.
“Nan Chen bought the wine?”
“He put it in the wine rack. I thought it must be good so I have opened it. I have been eyeing it for some time. If he ever asks about it, remember to say that you are the one who has opened it. I’m only benefitting from my association with you.”
“Gosh, you are so sneaky. Now tell me, what’s the good news you’ve received today? Is a handsome guy wooing you?”
“The good news concerns you, not me.”
