In the backseat, Nan Chen closed his eyes and recalled what Ouyang Duo just said.
âYoung Master, are we heading to the office or go home?â the chauffeur asked.
âGo home,â replied Nan Chen briefly.
âSure, Young Master.â
âWhere are the kids?â Nan Chen asked.
âTheyâre in the Red Maple City.â
âLetâs go see the kids then,â Nan Chen added.
Meanwhile, Ning Ran had just tucked the children in and was putting on a facial mask when Nan Chen came in.
Ning Ran saw the flush on his face. He must have been drinking. From his appearance, it seems he has even drunk quite a lot.
Nan Chen did not see the kids so he raised his wrist to look at the time and he reckoned that they must have slept.
Ning Ran was applying her mask so she did not talk to Nan Chen, but in fact, it was also because she had nothing to talk to him about.
Then, Nan Chen tip-toed into the childrenâs bedroom to see his sleeping kids.
Owing to his hushed movements, even Dabao was not aware of his entrance.
After coming out of the childrenâs bedroom, Nan Chen walked to the wine rack and took a bottle of wine.
He opened the bottle cap, poured some wine out, and gulped a mouthful.
Ning Ran watched as he drank. What has this man encountered tonight? Was it something good or something bad? Why is he still drinking?
Nan Chen took his wine glass and walked to the balcony.
And then, he just stood there without a word but the figure of his back suggested that something was weighing on his mind.
Ning Ran seldom saw him behaving this way. Hence, she believed that he had met with troubles.
Troubles that were not trivial.
However, Ning Ran did not plan to console him because from the moment he stepped into the house, he had not spoken to her.
After a while, Nan Chen came back in from the balcony.
The wine in his glass had been emptied, and he did not pour anymore.
After that, he left.
He had come and gone without acknowledging Ning Ran.
He has completely ignored me, how rude is that!
Nevertheless, Ning Ran was used to it because it was not Nan Chenâs first time treating her this way.
But Ning Ran was still curious. What happened to Poker Face tonight? He was behaving so strangely.
She walked over to the window to see if Nan Chen had left but to her surprise, Nan Chen had changed into his swimming trunks and was taking a dip in the swimming pool.
What the h*ll is he doing?
Nan Chen was a top student graduating from an elite school; doesnât he have the basic knowledge that one should not go swimming after drinking?
Initially, she had no intention to interfere with his matters but looking at the current situation, she had to.
Ning Ran rushed downstairs to the swimming pool and said, âHey you, come up now!â
It was unknown to her if Nan Chen really didnât hear her or pretended to not hear her.
He did not respond nonetheless and continued swimming.
âIâm asking you to come up. Do you hear me?â Ning Ran raised her volume.
He heard her this time because he had turned around to look at her.
But still, he did not leave the swimming pool, and it did not seem like he intended to.
âYouâve been drinking. Hence, you should not swim now. Come up quickly, I donât want to scream and wake the children.â Ning Ran lowered her voice.
Nan Chen looked at her again, still not preparing to come up.
âYouâre not coming up, are you?â Ning Ran was frustrated. âSwimming after drinking could get you killed!â
Nan Chen responded quite clearly this time. He waved for her to leave.
âIâm asking you to come up!â
Nan Chen was ignoring her again. He seemed bothered and was even a little impatient.
âAre you not going to come up? If youâre not then Iâll jump in,â said Ning Ran.
Nan Chen was still ignoring her.
âI have just been discharged from the hospital and you knew that. If you donât come up, Iâll dive in and if anything happens to me, youâll bear the responsibility!â Ning Ran shouted.
Nan Chen looked at her again and still remained quiet.
âAlright, you donât believe in me, right? Iâm jumping in this second.â
Ning Ran was taking off her clothes and preparing to dive in.
However, realization suddenly dawned on her. If I take off everything now, there would be nothing left underneath, isnât this a littleâ¦
As she hesitated, Nan Chen swam to the pool deck.
And then, he lifted his body out of the swimming pool and walked toward Ning Ran.
âI wasnât threatening you. If you really didnât come up soon, Iâd definitely dive in.â Ning Ran exaggerated.
Nan Chen gave her a look before taking the towel to dry himself.
After wiping his front body, he handed the towel to Ning Ran.
He then turned around with his back facing Ning Ran, beckoning her to help dry the water off his back.
What a pretentious man. It would dry off after a little while but he just has to get me to help.
But she asked him to come up, so she had to do as he asked.
Otherwise, if this master really dives in again, do I also dive in together?
So she wiped off the water from Nan Chenâs back very servilely.
âWhy did you ask me to come up?â It was only then that Nan Chen asked.
âI was scared youâll die. Swimming after having drinking could kill!â
âYouâre so loud.â He splurted these words.
âWhat the heck? I was caring for you and youâre not even appreciating? What an ungrateful rascal.â
Ning Ran was annoyed.
âI didnât ask for you to care for me,â Nan Chen replied dispassionately.
âIâ¦â Ning Ran was so offended she was speechless.
What an obnoxious jack*ss. This man is getting more and more mean!
With a snort, Ning Ran turned around and went upstairs.
This man was too irritating that she did not even want to talk to him.
After a while, Nan Chen also came upstairs.
He went to the bedroom and changed into his casual outfit.
After that, he filled his glass with wine again.
Ning Ran watched apathetically from the side without speaking.
Youâd better drink some more and go swimming again. If I go down and stop you again, Iâm an idiot!
However, Nan Chen did not seem to be going for another swim. He drank slowly and turned the television channel to the soccer channel.
Ning Ran would not accompany him to watch soccer so she stood up, getting ready to return to her room and sleep.
âSit down,â said Nan Chen.
âDo you think Iâll just sit as you asked?â Ning Ran asked coldly.
âYes,â Nan Chen answered curtly.
âWhy should I?â Ning Ran was even more annoyed.
âDidnât I come up as you asked just now?â Nan Chen returned.
Ning Ran was tongue-tied. What kind of a reason is this? This man is really something else.
But as she thought about it again, she guessed it was fair since he did come up from the pool.
Alright. Iâll save him some face. Let me stay for a while and see what heâs up to.
And they sat in silence together. This was their usual way of get along with each other.
âWhy donât you have some drink as well?â Nan Chen asked.
âIâm not having a breaking up; why should I drink?â Ning Ran replied.
Nan Chen frowned. âWho was having a breakup again?â
âI didnât mention anyone in particular. You donât need to pigeonhole yourself. I was simply making a statement,â Ning Ran returned.
âI didnât break up with anyone. Iâm not drinking because of that!â Nan Chen defended.
âThen what are you drinking for?â
Nan Chen opened his mouth but he was startled. Did I just get tricked? She was fishing for my words.
âWhy should I tell you?â Nan Chen got around it immediately.
âWell. You donât have to tell me why you broke up because even if you tell me, I canât help you,â said Ning Ran.
âI told you I was not experiencing a breakup!â Nan Chen was starting to feel agitated.
âWhy are you acting so offbeat if youâre not suffering from a split-up? Thereâs nothing to be ashamed of so you donât need to conceal it.â Ning Ran gave Nan Chen a sympathetic look.
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