Chapter 976 Why So Formal
Ning Ran woke up from a pleasant sleep and realized that it was already afternoon.
Lately, she was able to sleep well because she had been feeling quite exhausted.
Checking her phone, which she had put on silent mode, she noticed several missed calls.
Some of them were from Cheng Xiangyun, and there were a few from Nan Chen as well.
She decided to return Cheng Xiangyun's call first. Cheng Xiangyun, assuring her that there was nothing urgent, just
told her to take a good rest as they had some work to do the next day.
Then, Ning Ran called Nan Chen, who suggested that she dress up nicely because a driver would come to pick her
up for a meal.
Ning Ran felt curious and asked if there was any special occasion or reason for them to have a meal together.
Nan Chen replied, stating that there was no specific occasion. He simply wanted to have a meal together with her.
In addition, he informed her that she did not need to pick up the children, as they would be accompanying Feng
Wan at the Commoner Residence, and that they would fetch the children later in the evening.
Having many doubts in mind, Ning Ran wanted to inquire further, but Nan Chen told her he was occupied at the
moment and suggested discussing it later.
He also emphasized the importance of her dressing elegantly and preferably in a more formal attire since they
would be dining at a high-end restaurant.
Ning Ran was even more perplexed by his words, as she knew Nan Chen was not the kind of man who valued
ostentation and grand entrances. Given Nan Chen's status and the reputation of his family, there's truly no need for
extravagant displays to make their presence known, right?
She could not help but wonder what the occasion was that day that prompted Nan Chen to suddenly make a
reservation at a formal restaurant for their meal.
Despite her doubts, Ning Ran took the matter seriously and put a lot of thought into dressing for the occasion,
opting for a more formal dress.
Just as she finished getting ready, the driver arrived to escort her.
The driver's eyes lit up as he exclaimed, “Madam, you look absolutely stunning today!”
Ning Ran, known for her easygoing nature, did not have any airs about her. She quipped, “Are you saying I'm not
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtusually beautiful?”
“You've always been beautiful! It's just that today you look even more stunning!” the driver quickly explained.
Ning Ran chuckled. “I was just kidding. Is Nan Chen still busy?”
“Yeah, Mr. Chen has been in meetings all day, but they should all be wrapping up by now,” the driver informed as
he opened the car door for Ning Ran to step in.
They drove through the city and arrived at an upscale Ferropenian restaurant.
Ning Ran's curiosity deepened when she saw the place.
The restaurant was known to be the most expensive in the city, with reservations being hard to come by.
However, the exorbitant price alone could not guarantee the best dining experience, despite its prime location in
the heart of the city.
Nan Chen seldom took her to such extravagant dining establishments because they were primarily meant for show.
They would normally choose dining places like this to impress high-profile guests and create an atmosphere of
grandeur.
Ning Ran felt there was no need to dine in such a lavish place since it was just a simple meal. Why does it need to
be so extravagant? It's not even our first date.
A waiter escorted Ning Ran to a private suite, a spacious room spanning hundreds of square feet. A long table
adorned with flickering candles awaited them. Nan Chen, dressed in formal attire, sat at the opposite end of the
table.
Ning Ran could not help but burst into laughter.
The puzzled waiter asked, “Madam, is there something wrong?”
Ning Ran shook her head. “Nope.”
“I've ordered the food, and the wine is ready. I'm just waiting for you,” Nan Chen said.
“A candlelight dinner?” Ning Ran questioned.
Nan Chen nodded. “Do you like it?”
Ning Ran smiled. “I do, but it feels a bit dim.”
At that, the man knitted his brows. A candlelight dinner is meant to have that soft, romantic ambiance. Why would
it need to be bright?
Ning Ran was trying to hold her laughter. Why does it have to be so formal?
The table was excessively long, making it cumbersome to have a conversation from opposite ends. Nevertheless,
there was a sense of ceremony and an unexplainable distance between them.
Nan Chen raised his glass. “Here's to you!”
Ning Ran froze for a bit. What's with his tone? Why is he so formal all of a sudden?
“All right, Sir Chen. Please don't be too formal. You're making me uneasy!” Ning Ran exclaimed.
“Why would you feel uneasy? Today is a special day. Firstly, your movie has already surpassed two and a half billion
at the box office. The theaters are still showing it extensively, and it's expected to reach a total box office of over
three billion. This film, in which Star Entertainment invested, holds the record for the highest box office earnings,
without any competition. So, congratulations.” Nan Chen raised his glass.
That was quite a rare sight as he was not usually one to speak so much.
Ning Ran smiled warmly. “Thank you for your congratulations, and I also want to express my gratitude to you for
giving me, a newcomer, an opportunity. Without it, I wouldn't have achieved success.”
They raised their glasses across the table and took a sip.
“Now, onto the second matter, the movie has won the Best Foreign Film award at the prestigious Golden Silk Film
Festival abroad, and you have also received the Most Popular Newcomer award. All these awards are not
something money could buy. The company will arrange for you to personally attend the award ceremony. It's a
prestigious event in the international film industry, and many renowned directors and actors will be present. It'll
also be your first time walking the red carpet internationally, so you need to prepare well,” he added.
Ning Ran's emotions surged when she heard that. Me winning an international award?
She was aware that Golden Silk Award held great significance, known for its esteemed reputation.
Moreover, participating in this film festival required the film to not have had a global premiere yet.
The film “I Am You,” despite its domestic release, had deliberately refrained from its global premiere, strategically
aligning it with the prestigious Golden Silk Award.
If the film were to win the award and continued with its global premiere, its influence would undoubtedly be
amplified.
Ning Ran's status as a rising star would take yet another significant leap forward.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmShe could not help but feel a rush of nerves at the thought of walking the red carpet abroad.
“So, let's raise a toast to this second piece of good news!” Nan Chen raised his glass.
Ning Ran took a sip, her excitement growing.
That day truly was an extraordinary day, with two pieces of news that were exhilarating enough to keep her wide
awake.
“And there's one more thing,” Nan Chen added. “Today, Sunshine Corporation held an emergency board meeting
and voted to remove Ouyang Li from the position of Acting CEO. Ouyang Qi will be taking over as the new Acting
CEO. Additionally, the cross-shareholding plan between Prosperity Holdings and Sunshine Corporation has been
temporarily suspended. This means I won't have to confront Prosperity Holdings directly for the time being.”
Although this matter may not seem directly related to Ning Ran, it was still good news.
Indeed, as Ning Ran had been involved in the matter, the successful outcome, to her, was certainly a positive
result.
However, Ning Ran could not help but wonder how Nan Chen managed to influence Sunshine Corporation. If he had
such power, why didn't he do something like this during Ouyang Duo's reign?
Sensing Ning Ran's curiosity, Nan Chen said, “If you have any questions, feel free to ask.”
Thus, Ning Ran asked without hesitation, “How did you manage to shake the confidence of the Sunshine
Corporation?”
“I didn't.” Nan Chen shook his head.
Ning Ran's expression remained skeptical. “It can't be anyone else but you! I find it hard to believe that you weren't
involved when all the stores under Sunshine Corporation were simultaneously investigated.”
Nan Chen continued shaking his head. “It's not me, I assure you. It was their internal problem. They were too
consumed with their power struggles to notice, but I discovered those issues and had a discussion about their
irregular practices with a few acquaintances. Initially, I had no intention of using such methods to undermine them.
It was Ouyang Qi who approached me for help in seizing control. I didn't want to employ the financial resources of
the Nan family to interfere with another company's internal affairs, so I utilized some personal resources.”
Ning Ran nodded, grasping the situation.
“And what about Prosperity Holdings? Will you resort to similar tactics?” she asked all of a sudden.
Nan Chen paused, contemplating her question. “I'll consider your feelings when I'm dealing with Prosperity
Holdings.”