Chapter 859
Chapter 859
After leaving the clubhouse, neither Ning Ran nor Nan Chen uttered a single word.
The driver opened the car door, upon which Nan Chen gestured for Ning Ran to get into the vehicle first.
However, Ning Ran didn't climb into the back seat, for she didn't want to sit with the man. Instead, she walked over to the passenger seat, opened the car door, and got in.
Naturally, Nan Chen understood her silent protest. Without commenting on it, he signaled the driver to set off.
And so, silence reigned the entire journey back to Raining Pavilion.
It was still early, so Dabao and Erbao were still awake, finishing the homework assigned by their teacher.
They were presently studying in the best kindergarten in Flower City. The educational institute demanded a lot from their students and always gave them homework to be completed under the supervision of their parents.
Unfortunately, both Ning Ran and Nan Chen were too busy. As they rarely had time to help the twins with homework, the housekeeper took over the duty most of the time.
Yet, her knowledge was often limited. Thus, Nan Chen and Ning Ran had been discussing plans to hire a qualified tutor to guide the twins with their homework exclusively.
Nonetheless, they had been busy, and the twins were still young, so that matter had been temporarily put on hold.
It went without saying that Nan Chen still had work to do. When they arrived home, he went straight to the study room. Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
Ning Ran, on the other hand, kept the children company for a while. When they had gone to bed, she took out a book about performing arts and started reading it on the couch.
Despite being talented, she didn't graduate from a performing arts academy and lacked theoretical knowledge. For that reason, she would read books on the topic whenever she was free to improve her skills.
As she read, her eyes kept darting to the study room upstairs. She felt that Nan Chen was in the wrong that night, so he should take the initiative to seek her out and clarify things.
Alas, the man remained busy and stayed in the room perpetually.
At this time, she would usually brew a cup of coffee and bring it to him. But today, she made no move to do so. She was mad at him and wasn't in the mood to make him a drink.
Aware that he was in the habit of drinking coffee while working at night, she knew that he would certainly snap and come out.
Sure enough, Nan Chen stepped out of the study room.
“I need a cup of coffee,” he stated from upstairs.
Ning Ran remained motionless, her mind running wild inwardly. Hah! Are you ordering a maidservant or a server at a coffee shop around?
Seeing that, Nan Chen knew that she was still fuming.
“A thousand for a cup of coffee,” he added.
A thousand? Oh no, I find myself rather tempted. Gosh, I must be really scared of poverty that I'm still enticed by the offer of a thousand though I'm already a celebrity now.
Ning Ran then proceeded to lambast herself. Look at you! What a typical loser mentality! You're going to admit defeat just because of a thousand?
Therefore, she remained sitting without showing signs of moving anytime soon.
“Two thousand.”
Knowing that she was stingy and money-minded, Nan Chen continued raising the offer.
At that, Ning Ran grew even more tempted. Back when I was abroad, I couldn't even earn this much by doing the dishes for the entire day!
“Ten thousand,” Nan Chen offered, jacking up the price once more.
Ning Ran could no longer remain impassive. She was most annoyed by others throwing money at her since it was utterly irresistible.
“Eleven thousand!” Falling prey to him, she demanded another thousand.
“Epean currency!” Nan Chen swiftly promised.
The current exchange rate of Epean currency to China currency is one to eight. Won't that be equivalent to eighty-eight thousand in China currency? Ah, I like this figure!
“Transfer me the money via WeChat immediately!” Ning Ran urged.
“I want two cups, and I'll pay upon delivery.” After saying that, he whirled around and returned to the study room to continue working.
While Ning Ran was brewing coffee, she started musing about the matter. Hmm, I can't make him coffee for free anymore henceforth. The price has to be stated clearly. I'll be a fool not to make money when it's such a profitable deal. Besides, he's the one acting rich and generous. In that case, I'll help him with it and save up some money in the process. If I were to have a falling out with him in the future, I wouldn't need to go back to my destitute days in the past. This isn't me being a cheapskate. Instead, it's me being smart and far-sighted!
At that thought, Ning Ran's mood improved by leaps and bounds. She felt complacent about her shrewdness.
Meanwhile, Nan Chen wanted to use that method to make her happy. He knew she was afraid of being poor and loved money, thereby fond of making easy money. Bluntly put, she coveted petty gains for psychological pleasure.
However, if he were to give her millions, she would be hesitant to accept. On the whole, she was the kind of person who loved money yet adamant about acquiring it ethically.
When Ning Ran had made the coffee, she brought it to the study room. But then, she didn't give it to Nan Chen, indicating that she couldn't hand him the goods since payment hadn't been made.
Nan Chen rarely spent money in his daily life. Consequently, there was insufficient balance in his WeChat.
Hence, he phoned Jiang Zhe and had the man transfer him a million.
Regretfully, that exceeded the transfer limit. The most he could transfer was fifty thousand.
“I'll pay you the rest later.” Nan Chen reached out to take the coffee.
“Transfer from a different card. I don't accept credit,” Ning Ran asserted with a stony expression.
At once, Nan Chen was taken aback. Whoa! She's a fanatic about money. Is she afraid I won't pay her the remaining tens of thousands?
Having no other choice, he could only use another card and pay her in full. It wasn't until after doing that did he get to drink the coffee.
By the time Ning Ran received the money, her leftover fury from the clubhouse that night had dissipated for the most part.
She wanted to talk to the man but was too embarrassed after her insistence on demanding payment earlier.
Nan Chen took a sip of the coffee before lifting his eyes to her. “Were you born with a bill in your mouth?”
Ning Ran could tell that he was making fun of her for being money-minded.
“Yeah. It wasn't only a bill but several bills! What's with it? Is it against the law?” She jerked her chin up.
In response, Nan Chen shook his head. “No, of course not. By the way, there's a lead on Frosty Warrior, who gave your mother a piece of calligraphy work. The investigation is still ongoing, but the results should be out soon. How much are you planning to pay for this lead?”
Ning Ran was wholly stunned.
I sold coffee, yet he's planning on selling information! He's taking his revenge so quickly? Is he really a man?
“What does that mean? Are you trying to recover the money you spent to buy coffee? In your dreams!” Ning Ran snapped.
“No. I'm not the kind of person who likes paltry amounts. If I sell something, the starting price would be a million at the very least,” Nan Chen retorted disdainfully.
“What? A million? You're selling a piece of information for a million? This is daylight robbery!” Ning Ran grew increasingly emotional.
“Finding someone without knowing his true name in this vast world is as difficult as looking for a needle in a haystack. A million is just the cost price. If I want some profits, it would have to be two million.” Nan Chen's expression remained unchanged.
“D-Dream on! This is blackmail, and I'm not going to buy it!” Ning Ran snarled.
“Suit yourself.” Lowering his head, Nan Chen resumed his work.
Although Ning Ran declared that she was never buying it, she knew deep within her heart that it was information regarding her biological father at the end of the day.
Indeed, I want to know about him, but I'd never fork out the money, not in my entire lifetime!
Slowly inching over to the man, she placed her hands on his shoulders and massaged them gently. “You've worked hard, Mr. Chen. Here, I'll help you to relax. I know you were merely joking with me. You're rolling in money, so you don't lack a million or two. That aside, you're an exceedingly responsible and trustworthy person. Back then, you promised to figure out a way to help me investigate Frosty Warrior's identity. Now that there's a lead, you'll never ask me to pay for it. Instead, you'd supply it to me for free. As the saying goes, relationships are ruined by monetary issues. Why is it that you enjoy such high prestige? It's because you're honest, a man of your word, and generous. You've always been a role model for the kids and me. You'll never let us down! Isn't that right?”
The corners of Nan Chen's mouth turned up a fraction. Verily, she's not the least bit ashamed of flattering me!