Chapter 798
Chapter 798
Ning Ran was silent on the way back to Raining Pavilion.
The kids were so exhausted from all the fun they had that they dozed off before they got home.
After tucking the children in, Ning Ran brought coffee to Nan Chen in the study room.
She felt sorry for Nan Chen because he still had to work extra hours after getting home.
Everyone only saw him shining on his throne, but only a few people knew the amount of effort and pressure he endured to maintain his position of power and success. This belongs to NôvelDrama.Org - ©.
Ning Ran placed the cup of coffee on the table and walked past the desk to massage Nan Chen's shoulders.
Nan Chen relaxed and turned over his shoulder to look at her. “Why are you being nice all of a sudden?”
Ning Ran punched him lightly. “I pity you because you're working so hard. Do you think I'm trying to ingratiate you?”
“Did my grandpa ask you to make a choice again?” Nan Chen asked nonchalantly.
“You knew why he invited us to dinner, didn't you?”
“I had a guess, but I wasn't sure. I only confirmed my guess when he summoned you to his study. He wanted to speak with you personally because he clearly holds you in high regard. He wouldn't have gotten involved in something so insignificant otherwise,” Nan Chen explained.
Ning Ran bobbed her head. “I know. I was grateful for his advice, but I can't give up my job now. I am still considering my options and am not ready to make a decision.”
“No worries. We can register our marriage first and hold the wedding when you've made up your mind.”
“Register our marriage?”
“Yes. I showed my sincerity by giving this house to you. If you reject my proposal, wouldn't that be a loss for me?” Nan Chen asked as he reached out to hug her.
“But I have yet to continue my studies to meet Mr. Nan's requirements. If he finds out—”
“He won't find out,” Nan Chen cut in.
Ning Ran got even more surprised. “You are planning on hiding it from him?”
“Getting married is my own business. His opinion might be important, but I am the one who decides in the end. You don't have to worry.”
“I still don't think it's right to make a decision without Mr. Nan's knowledge.”
“Don't worry. I'll let him know when the time is right. He won't blame us as he isn't overbearing at all,” Nan Chen assured her.
Ning Ran giggled. “But I have yet to decide whether I should marry you.”
“If you don't marry me, I won't allow you to marry another man,” Nan Chen said in a commanding manner.
“Why? You don't own me—”
“I won't allow my children to have a stepfather or call another man 'Daddy.' If you refuse to marry me, you can choose to become a nun and spend the rest of your life alone,” Nan Chen said.
Ning Ran gaped in disbelief. “How could you say that? This is ridiculous! If I refuse to marry you, I have to become a nun? Why should I?”
“That is just my proposal. If you choose not to accept it, you can remain single. However, if you choose to marry someone else, you will have to sever your relationship with my children as they will not be allowed to refer to another man as 'Daddy'.”
Ning Ran fumed. “If you marry another woman, my kids will have to call them 'Mommy' too! According to your logic, you'll have to become a monk and not marry another woman!”
“Sure.” To her surprise, Nan Chen agreed readily.
“What? Are you seriously going to be a monk?”
“That might happen. Don't you worry. Even if I marry another woman, I won't allow the kids to call her 'Mommy'.”
“Are you sure you can do it?” Ning Ran was doubtful.
Nan Chen replied firmly, “Of course. I am a man of my word.”
Hearing that, Ning Ran burst out laughing.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Nothing. I was just imagining you shaving your hair off. If you do, you'll be the most handsome monk in China. Women would flock to the temple where you stay, hoping to catch a glimpse of you.”
Nan Chen frowned. What nonsense is she talking about? I can't believe her imagination can run this wild.
“Will you visit me?” he teased.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you'll fall in love with me and break the precept!” Ning Ran declared. She couldn't help but giggle uncontrollably after saying that.
A smile tugged at Nan Chen's lips.
Seeing that, Ning Ran searched for her phone frantically. “Stay put and keep that smile on your face! I need to find my phone so I can capture this moment of you smiling.”
Alas, when she finally found her phone, Nan Chen's smile was long gone.
Ning Ran thumped her chest in fury. “Ah, what a pity. What a pity!”
Nan Chen was puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“Your smile! You smiled! I saw it with my own eyes! That was rare to see. I wanted to take a photo of your smile but didn't get to do so in time. It's now gone!” Ning Ran whined.
Nan Chen couldn't understand her at all. Why is she so insistent on capturing a photo of my smile? She seems quite disappointed that she wasn't able to get a good shot.
“Why do you want to take a photo of me?” he asked.
“I rarely see you smile, that's why I wanted to take a photo. Are you aware that you don't smile often? You have a poker face.”
“How could you say that about me?” Nan Chen frowned in displeasure.
Ning Ran quickly corrected herself. “I want to capture your smile as a reminder since it's a rare sight. I'll do the same if I see a rooster laying an egg—”
“Ning Ran!” Nan Chen roared angrily.
What kind of analogy is that? A rooster laying eggs? Can a rooster lay eggs? What an uncultured analogy!
Ning Ran held back her laughter upon seeing how livid the man was.
“I wasn't saying that you're a rooster—”
“Stop it!” Nan Chen snapped.
“No, listen to me. I mean your smile is unexpected and gorgeous like a shooting star. If I take a photo of it, I can make it my phone's wallpaper. That way, I can admire it anytime I want to commemorate—”
“Commemorate? Am I dead?”
“Oh, it was a slip of the tongue. Not commemorate. I want to memorialize—”
“That still means I'm dead!”
Ning Ran slapped her mouth. “Ah, your grandpa is right. I need to continue my studies as I am uncultured. Anyway, what I mean is that your smile is gorgeous. I want to take a photo as a keepsake. Keepsake is the right term, right?”
Nan Chen's facial expression relaxed a little. That's more like it.
“I have a request. I'm not sure if I should say it though.”
“No,” Nan Chen replied icily.
“Don't say that, Sir Chen. It's a beautiful night, so we should do something, right?” Ning Ran said coyly.
Nan Chen was not usually one to be swayed by seduction, but when Ning Ran began to act coy, he found himself unable to resist her advances.
“What do you want to do?” he questioned.
“Remember my request? Can you play along with me?”
Ning Ran settled on Nan Chen's lap and twisted her body.
Nan Chen's eyes blazed with desire. “How should I play along?”
“Can you smile for me so I can capture it—”
“Scram!” Nan Chen hissed in disappointment.
Ning Ran couldn't stop laughing at his reaction.