The Scheming Ex-Husband's Courtship-Chapter 617 - 535 Quiet Night

Nan Zhan watched the legal channel out of boredom for a while until a set of steady footsteps came from upstairs, followed by Nan Hanzheng, suited and booted, descending from the second floor.

"Dad." Nan Zhan stood up and greeted.

"Hmm, you’re back." Nan Hanzheng nodded slightly, "When did you arrive?"

"Just got here."

"Hmm, let’s eat."

"Where’s mom?" Nan Zhan glanced behind him.

Nan Hanzheng’s expression was indifferent: "She’s on a conference call, no need to worry about her, let’s eat first."

Nan Zhan said nothing and followed Nan Hanzheng to the dining room where he pulled out a chair for Nan Hanzheng before sitting down opposite him.

Aunt Xian set the tableware, "Should I take some food to Madam?"

"No need." Nan Hanzheng said languidly.

Since the head of the family had spoken, Aunt Xian had no choice but to return to the kitchen, while casting a glance at Nan Zhan, who was bowing his head to eat, reaching first for the stir-fried lotus slices she had specially made for him, knowing his fondness for lotus roots.

Seeing him take a few big bites, Aunt Xian went to clean up the kitchen contentedly.

"Haven’t taken any cases recently?" Jian Hanzheng sipped some white liquor, speaking without ever looking at Nan Zhan.

Similarly, Nan Zhan was also looking down, focusing solely on the dish in front of him.

"Nothing interesting case-wise, I’m helping a friend with an investigation."

"Investigations again? What does Dad think I should be doing?"

"You’re Aus City’s top lawyer, you should be eloquently arguing in court, not obsessed with some reasoning." Nan Hanzheng put down his chopsticks, "The Nan Family has nurtured you from a young age so that you could climb to higher positions in the future, to stand at the pinnacle of the legal system. Look at yourself now, neglecting your main profession. Why don’t you just open a detective agency?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Seemingly accustomed to such lectures, Nan Zhan showed no reaction and reached over with his chopsticks for the lotus slices.

"Nan Zhan." His calm demeanor completely infuriated Nan Hanzheng, "What kind of attitude is this? Are you even listening to me?"

"Dad, I’ve never wanted to be a lawyer, it was you and mom who forced me to apply to Oxford Law School. You both already hold high positions. Can I not make my own decisions about what I want to do? I’m not young anymore; I don’t need you telling me what I should and shouldn’t do."

"You impudent wretch, is this how you talk to your elders? You will eventually compete for my position; neither you nor Nan Yu give me peace of mind, one is obsessed with reasoning and deducting cases, the other is always running around catching people. Men of the Nan Family should occupy high positions and look down upon the world."

"Dad, before you became a director, you were just a secretary at the police station, not an overnight success. Besides, I’m not interested in becoming any director. I like this life, doing what I want to do. Unlike you and mom, always so busy with work. Besides work, do you care about anything else?"

Although Aunt Xian was busy in the kitchen, she was always keeping an eye on the situation between father and son. Seeing the conflict escalating, she was so anxious she didn’t know what to do, but she was just a servant. Even though she had been working for the Nan Family for decades, it wasn’t her place to interject in such matters.

Just then, from upstairs near the stairs, someone spoke: "Being born into the Nan Family means you can’t have your own thoughts; give up those unrealistic dreams."

The eldest son complied with their wishes to attend Oxford University, but imperceptibly, he did not follow their path. Becoming a lawyer, he quickly made a name for himself, which pleased his parents greatly. However, now he barely took on cases; he spent most of his time helping friends in the police force with investigations.

This behavior greatly dissatisfied his parents. The family could meet once or twice a month, and aside from eating together, they would argue, inevitably ending in an unhappy parting.

"Mom." Nan Zhan called out, seemingly finding the topic dull, and hastily ate a few bites, "I’m heading back."

"Where are you going? Didn’t you promise to stay here tonight?" Helan Ying approached with poise, "It’s been so long since you last came back. Don’t you miss your mother?"

"If you’re going to continue giving me lectures, I might as well leave." Nan Zhan frowned, "I’m an adult, not a child. I have my own thoughts and no matter what you say, you can’t sway me."

"Nonsense! Your idea is cracking some damn cases." Nan Hanzheng glared over, furious.

Helan Ying snorted: "No matter what, our A Zhan is a top-notch lawyer, much better than Nan Yu who can only catch petty thieves in alleys."

When Nan Hanzheng heard her mention Nan Yu, it was as if someone had stuffed his mouth with cotton, turning his head awkwardly, with the angry resentment of someone holding on to a grudge, "I’ve lost my appetite."

Nan Yu was a mistake Nan Hanzheng had made, only his status did not allow for Nan Yu’s identity to be revealed. His mother had taken a large sum of money and gone abroad many years ago, and Nan Yu was raised by his grandmother.

Nan Hanzheng, besides giving him money, almost never met with him. Even during festivals and holidays, he would only symbolically have his secretary send some gifts to his grandmother’s house, and those gifts would appear, completely untouched, at the gate of the Nan Family’s residence the next day.

Nan Hanzheng was unwilling to acknowledge Nan Yu, and Nan Yu was likewise unwilling to acknowledge his father. In his eyes, the only one close to him was his older brother, Nan Zhan.

"Zhan, have you been keeping in touch with Bingbing lately?" Helan Ying didn’t bother with Nan Hanzheng, who had just left the table briskly, and sat down with grace while Aunt Xian hurriedly brought the hot dishes to her.

"Aunt Xian." Helan Ying suddenly called out dissatisfiedly, pointing disdainfully at the sliced lotus roots on the table with her chopsticks, "Why did you make lotus roots again, don’t you know I really hate this taste?"

Stammering, Aunt Xian said, "Madam, the eldest young master likes to eat lotus roots."

"Zhan likes to eat lotus roots?" Helan Ying was still somewhat skeptical and turned her head to look at Nan Zhan, "Is it true, do you like to eat lotus roots?"

"Yes, Aunt Xian made them especially for me." Nan Zhan responded expressionlessly, picking up a slice with his chopsticks.

"I see." Helan Ying pushed the plate towards him, "Then eat more."

Aunt Xian sighed again and turned away. Nan Zhan had liked eating lotus roots since he was a child, but as a mother, Helan Ying didn’t know that. She never had time to sit down and eat a home-cooked meal with her son, so how could she know what her son likes or dislikes?

Perhaps sensing guilt, Helan Ying’s tone softened, "Zhan, it’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other, mother and son. Don’t leave tonight, stay at home and chat with mom."

Nan Zhan nodded: "Okay."

~

Jian Si glanced at her phone; it was already past midnight. She had sung every song she knew once over, and yet Jian Chuan and Feng Piaopiao were still drinking and singing. The more they drank, the more they talked, reminiscing from middle school to the present, and even musing about the future.

Jian Si noticed that they were both drunk, so she walked over and suggested, "How about we go home? It’s almost one o’clock."

Holding her glass, Feng Piaopiao slurred, "Go home? Do you have a man at your place or what?"

Jian Si sighed, "Alright, that’s enough, don’t drink anymore. Anymore and it’ll be too much."

Jian Chuan seemed to be still conscious, just slightly tipsy, but upon hearing Jian Si’s words, he sobered up completely. He took the glass from Feng Piaopiao’s hand: "Stop drinking now, I’ll take you both home."

Feng Piaopiao didn’t seem to have had her fill, but since Jian Chuan had spoken, she did not insist, and the three of them collected their things and left.

"Sisi, I’ll take you home first," said Jian Chuan, "and then go to drop off Piaopiao."

"No need, big brother, Piaopiao and I live in opposite directions. I haven’t been drinking, I know my way home. I can just take a cab back. Take Piaopiao home," Jian Si said as she pulled out a thin jacket and draped it over Feng Piaopiao. Piaopiao was energetic while inside, but once they stepped out into the wind, the effects of alcohol began to surge, and at that moment, she was completely leaning on Jian Chuan, looking as if she could fall over at any moment.

Seeing Feng Piaopiao, who was barely conscious, Jian Chuan had no choice but to nod: "Alright, but call me when you get home."

"I know, I’m not a child." Jian Si put Feng Piaopiao’s bag in Jian Chuan’s hand, "I’m off now."

Jian Chuan watched her until she got into the cab and then lowered his head to tell the driver, "Driver, I’ve memorized your license plate number and face. You have to safely take my sister home."

The driver assured, "Don’t worry, this is not an unlicensed cab."

Jian Si waved goodbye to Jian Chuan: "Big brother, see you."

The dangling Feng Piaopiao suddenly grinned and pointed at Jian Si: "Goodbye,

Under the hazy night lights, the taxi carrying Jian Si gradually moved away. She looked back and saw Jian Chuan struggling to help Feng Piaopiao into another car. It seemed that Piaopiao had vomited. Before getting into the car, she crouched by the roadside and started throwing up. Jian Chuan hurriedly fetched tissues and water, his face showing not a hint of impatience, but rather a touch of tenderness.

Jian Si withdrew her gaze, silently sighing. If Piaopiao hadn’t given up on herself, perhaps they really could have made a good match.

After the car stopped at the entrance of the residential complex, Jian Si paid the fare, and the kind-hearted driver didn’t forget to remind her: "Miss, be careful."

After thanking the driver, Jian Si, with her backpack on, walked towards the building she lived in.

The night was deep and quiet, and in such a large residential complex, only a few households still had lights on. The surroundings were so quiet that only the chirping of crickets could be heard.

Jian Si hadn’t walked far when she felt like someone was following her the whole time.