The Sickly Villainous Cannon Fodder Becomes Everyone's Favorite - Chapter 4

I continued chatting with Nan Yuan.

It was no longer limited to daily greetings. I began cautiously asking him questions, hoping to get to know him better.

【What do you usually like to do?】

【Maybe we have some interests in common.】

His reply was:

【Extreme sports.】

“…”

I suspected he was doing it on purpose, but had no proof.

After thinking, I wrote:

【Then I can take pictures of you.】

He replied:

【I like taking selfies.】

Me: 【O.0】

【All right, then.】

Perhaps he realized how much his words had killed the conversation, because his next reply was finally more even-tempered:

【I occasionally let people take pictures of me.】

We chatted in this halting way for a while.

I guessed it was about time we met, so I invited him to a meal.

I was already prepared for him to refuse.

Unexpectedly, he agreed without hesitation.

After staying home for so many days, this was a rare outing for me. Since I wanted to make a good impression, I carefully chose an outfit and tidied myself up.

I nodded in satisfaction at the handsome young man in the mirror, then left home.

Since I had invited him, I chose the time and place.

I arrived half an hour early and waited in the private room I had reserved.

I went to the bathroom while I waited. On my way back toward the room, I happened to see a figure in the lobby.

From where I stood, he was in profile.

He was tall, with long legs and a straight back.

Although I could not see his whole face, I recognized him by that impossibly perfect profile.

It was Nan Yuan. Mom had shown me a picture of him before.

I was about to walk over and greet him when I noticed someone else beside him.

“President Nan, should we postpone the afternoon meeting?” the person asked.

Nan Yuan glanced at him and said flatly, “Who wants to eat with a raging psycho?”

“I’ll show my face, say a few words, and leave. No need to waste time.”

I froze. The foot I had just lifted slowly retreated, and I hid behind the wall.

What… a raging psycho…?

Was he… talking about me…?

The man beside him was probably his assistant. Confused, the assistant asked, “If that’s the case, why did you agree to marry him?”

The man’s tone did not change. “Marrying one person or another is still marriage. Besides, the time will come when we have to divorce anyway.”

Oh. So that was what he thought.

I turned around and slunk back to the private room by another route.

The anticipation in my heart deflated all at once.

I lowered my eyes and stared blankly at the table, thoroughly depressed.

Ha. Fine. If he didn’t want to eat, so be it.

Then I would eat by myself.

I had spent so long choosing this beautiful restaurant.

Nan Yuan arrived exactly on time. By then, I had already comforted myself.

It was a business marriage. It was normal for us to have no feelings, and given the original’s bad reputation, I could understand why Nan Yuan disliked me.

I would behave myself, cause no trouble, and continue staying home to take care of my health.

Nan Yuan was so rich that perhaps, after the divorce, I would receive a huge sum of money and be able to lie around without a care for the rest of my life.

When he pushed open the door and entered, I was a little dazed.

His full face was even more strikingly handsome, the kind without a single flaw.

I quickly recovered.

I stood up and gave him a faint smile in greeting. “Hello, I’m Jiang Zhining.”

Seeing that someone had indeed followed him in, I greeted that person too. “Hello.”

“Hello.” His voice was clear and magnetic. Nan Yuan nodded at me. “Nan Yuan.”

Perhaps because he was closer now, his voice did not seem as cold as it had from a distance.

His assistant quickly said, “Mr. Jiang, I’m sorry. Our president has an important meeting to attend later, so…”

Nan Yuan interrupted him. “Food comes first. We need a full stomach to have the strength to work.”

He walked farther into the room and said to me, “Sit down. You haven’t ordered yet, have you?”

“Mm.” I nodded blankly. “Not yet.”

When he sat down naturally, I sat too.

I sat as straight as a student.

Nan Yuan looked at his assistant. “Go back first. I’ll send you the work arrangements later.”

And just like that, the assistant who had arrived for no apparent reason left for no apparent reason.

Soon, only the two of us remained in the room.

We sat facing each other, so I could see him whenever I looked up.

Nan Yuan was looking at me too. He said, “Sorry. My assistant is a little too devoted to his work.”

“He insisted on coming along.”

I shook my head to show that it was fine.

Curious, I asked, “You seemed to have work to deal with. Did I interrupt you?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“You didn’t. We had already made plans.” Nan Yuan did not change expression. “He was mistaken. The meeting isn’t for a while yet.”

“Oh, good.”

Nan Yuan’s manner in person was much better than in our online conversations.

When we ordered, he was even gentlemanly enough to let me choose first.

I thought it over and suggested, “How about we each order three dishes?”

“All right.”

The meal passed in a harmonious and pleasant atmosphere.

At first, I had expected awkward silence.

Unexpectedly, Nan Yuan remained gentle from beginning to end.

He answered every question, responded to everything I said, and even took the initiative to start topics.

He was probably the sort of person who was aloof online but lively in person.

I also noticed that he kept looking at me.

It made me wonder whether there was something on my face. While pretending to check my phone, I secretly examined myself.

There was nothing.

Time passed quickly.

After the meal, we walked out of the restaurant together.

At the entrance, I was debating whether to message Uncle Chen to pick me up or wander around nearby.

Then Nan Yuan asked beside me, “Are you going home?”

Two muffled claps of thunder suddenly sounded overhead.

I looked up and saw the sky had filled with dark clouds. The weather had changed.

“Mm,” I answered. “Then we’ll…”

Part ways here?

Before I could finish, he suggested, “You didn’t drive, did you? I’ll take you home.”

I was flattered. “It’s fine, really. I don’t want to trouble you. I’ll ask the driver to come get me.”

Nan Yuan insisted. “It’s no trouble. I’m going that way anyway. Come on.”

Since he put it that way, I did not refuse.

I followed him into the car and fastened my seat belt.

“By the way, where do you live?” he asked.

“!”

So he did not even know my address. Then how was it on his way?