Chapter 120: A Small Fan Meet-and-Greet

To Chen Nuo's surprise, when Janice Man (Wen Yongshan) dashed out of the car, he had expected her to give him a big hug.

Unexpectedly, she stopped when she was about a meter away from him.

Her figure was slender; she wore a simple black wool sweater and jeans, with a white down jacket over them. The jeans hugged her legs, which were long and straight, possessing a healthy, curved beauty.

Her hands were clasped behind her back, fingers gently intertwined, as if she were a little nervous.

Janice Man's cheeks were flushed with a faint blush, and she wore a shy smile that matched her age, yet her eyes met Chen Nuo's boldly.

Using her Cantonese-accented Mandarin, on the streets of Long'an, she said loudly to Chen Nuo: "You said if I came to Sichuan, you'd give me a giant panda!"

Chen Nuo couldn't help but laugh. Just as he was about to say something witty and humorous to his girlfriend from Hong Kong who had traveled so far, a familiar voice suddenly rang out from the side: "Chen Nuo, what are you doing here!"

Chen Nuo swallowed the words in his mouth instantly.

It was Pan Chengrong, wearing a mink coat and carrying a Dior bag, looking as if she were prepared to go play mahjong.

But now, she had clearly changed direction, walking over slowly, her eyes fixed on Janice Man, as she said, "Chen Nuo, your friend?"

Chen Nuo caught a glimpse of Qi Yuntian's amused expression out of the corner of his eye. He had no choice but to put on an award-winning smile and say, "Mom, yes, my friend. Her name is Janice Man. Janice, this is my mom, her surname is Pan; you can call her Auntie Pan."

Janice Man stiffened, her face turning bright red, not knowing where to put her hands. In a panic, she bowed ninety degrees and nervously said in her Cantonese-accented Mandarin: "Hello, Auntie Pan. I'm Janice Man. It's a pleasure to meet you. Happy New Year."

Pan Chengrong's initial expression had been quite serious. But seeing Janice Man bow, a hint of a smile appeared at the corners of her mouth. "Happy New Year. Judging by your accent, Xiao Wen, are you from Guangdong?"

Janice Man replied, "No, I'm from Hong Kong."

Pan Chengrong nodded and said, "Hong Kong, a big city."

Janice Man didn't know how to answer, but a sentence suddenly popped into her head, and she blurted it out: "Actually, I prefer smaller places."

The smile at the corners of Pan Chengrong's mouth deepened: "Xiao Wen really knows how to talk."

She then looked at Qi Yuntian and the suitcase he was carrying, saying, "Xiao Qi, did you come with Xiao Wen? Come on, let's go home with Auntie. Later, I'll have Chen Nuo's dad buy something good to eat. I'll cook tonight and let you all taste Auntie's craft."

Qi Yuntian looked at Chen Nuo, then at the red-faced Janice Man, his expression clearly showing he was holding back laughter. "Auntie Pan, then I'll be imposing."

Janice Man felt like her brain was oxygen-deprived. She had traveled thousands of miles, had just stepped onto this strange land, hadn't even exchanged a word with her sweetheart, and while she was still asking for a giant panda, she had actually met his mother?

Pan Chengrong and Qi Yuntian were talking about recent events a couple of steps ahead. Chen Nuo deliberately lagged behind, nudged Janice Man's stiff arm, and whispered comfortingly, "It's okay, don't be nervous."

That was a load of nonsense.

But since things had reached this point, what else could Chen Nuo do? He could only say these empty words and let things take their natural course, taking it one step at a time.

But Janice Man was clearly anxious. She whispered, "Darling, will your mommy be angry? I came so suddenly and didn't bring any gifts. Will she think I'm impolite?"

Chen Nuo comforted her: "Impossible, don't worry. My mom is quite easy to get along with."

Although Chen Nuo said so, how could Janice Man really set her mind at ease? She even took the initiative to distance herself from Chen Nuo, fearing that Pan Chengrong would think she was a frivolous girl.

Afterward, when she cautiously followed them upstairs and entered Chen Nuo's home...

Coming from a "pigeon cage" in Hong Kong, she had only heard of it, but she had truly never seen anyone put a pool table in their living room.

Seeing her staring blankly at the snooker table, Pan Chengrong walked to her side and asked, "Does Xiao Wen like playing pool?"

Janice Man turned around instantly, waving her hands with a red face: "I don't know how, Auntie."

Pan Chengrong chuckled: "Do you want me to teach you? Chen Nuo's dad didn't know what got into him a while ago; he wanted to learn how to play pool, so he bought one to play at home. I've been playing with him and learned a little."

Janice Man shook her head: "Thank you, Auntie, I don't like playing these."

Pan Chengrong nodded and smiled: "It's fine not to learn. How long have you known Chen Nuo?"

"Almost two months."

"How did you meet? Oh, was it last December when he went to Hong Kong?"

"Yes, Auntie."

Pan Chengrong shook her head: "This child, he never told us he was seeing someone. He really hides everything. As parents, we only wish the best for you young people in love, Xiao Wen, don't you think?"

Janice Man whispered an "um," but immediately remembered that outside of Hong Kong, she couldn't really be considered his girlfriend, so she gathered her courage and said, "Auntie, I'm not his girlfriend."

Even after getting the truth out, she still wanted to deny it. Pan Chengrong just acted as if she hadn't heard Janice Man's words and smiled: "Xiao Wen, how many people are in your family? What do your parents do?"

Janice Man, experiencing the style of mainland parents for the first time, answered the questions asked in Sichuan-accented Mandarin using her Cantonese-accented Mandarin, while Qi Yuntian and Chen Nuo chatted in low voices on the sofa on the other side.

Qi Yuntian frowned and squinted. Even though they were in the same living room, he stared intently for a long time but couldn't make out what expressions Pan Chengrong and Janice Man had now. He could only sigh at the sheer extravagance and give up.

He turned his head and asked, "What are you going to do now?"

Chen Nuo was very calm and said, "What can I do? Janice Man is my girlfriend anyway."

Qi Yuntian held back a laugh: "Really? Then why do I feel like you're breaking out in a cold sweat?"

Although he wasn't sweating, Chen Nuo was indeed a bit uncomfortable, even with his rebirth.

Because in his past life and this one, he had never brought any girlfriend to meet his parents.

However, in his memory, there was one scene that was deeply etched.

It was during the 2024 Spring Festival. At that time, when Pan Chengrong was having a physical exam in the United States, they found a shadow in her stomach, so she was hospitalized.

In a private hospital in LA, on New Year's Eve, the two of them watched the rebroadcast of the Spring Festival Gala on the international channel while Chen Nuo kept her company and chatted.

As they talked, Pan Chengrong suddenly stopped speaking.

That was the second time Chen Nuo had seen Pan Chengrong shed tears in his thirty-plus years of life.

The first time was when she was boarding at Tianfu Airport, preparing to go to LA and never return. Before she walked into the security gate, she turned back and looked at Chen Nuo.

This was the second time.

Chen Nuo had scrambled to comfort her for a long time, swearing to the heavens that the tumor must be benign.

But in the end, Pan Chengrong said that she was over sixty and actually wasn't afraid of death. She had been holding back a sentence for a long time; she hadn't wanted to say it because she hoped Chen Nuo would continue to live the life he wanted.

However, she had just suddenly seen a few white hairs on Chen Nuo's head.

Her exact words were: "You aren't young anymore either. If Mom is gone, what will you do all by yourself in the future?"

At that moment, Chen Nuo's tears fell instantly.

Later, the tumor was indeed benign, and after Pan Chengrong was discharged, Chen Nuo returned to the country with peace of mind.

Three days later, he was sent back 20 years by someone with a knife.

At this moment, watching the scene of Janice Man and Pan Chengrong talking, Chen Nuo suddenly recalled that conversation from his memory, and his previously anxious heart suddenly settled down.

It was true; no matter how much of a scumbag he was, no matter how much he loved freedom, he couldn't let his parents worry that he would grow old alone, right?

Although he was still young now, far from the age he was in his past life, his parents certainly hadn't thought about such problems.

However, he knew his own situation; the days ahead were clearly visible in his mind, so it was better to let them set their minds at ease sooner.

Janice Man, whether in this life or the last, had left a good impression on him. She didn't seem to be the same type as her best friend, and he didn't have to worry about having a "green hat" (being cheated on) one day.

Being the girlfriend he presented to his parents didn't seem like a bad thing.

With this mindset, Chen Nuo changed his tune with Qi Yuntian: "I think my mom seems to like her a bit. I'll talk to her later; if she's willing, she can stay in Long'an for a few more days. You go back to Beijing tomorrow. Go home and have a good New Year with Professor Li and Professor Qi. After the New Year, when the situation isn't so tense, my parents and I will go to your house to pay our respects and chat about what comes next."

Qi Yuntian was stunned: "Are you sure??" Chen Nuo nodded: "I'm sure, is there a problem?"

"Aren't you afraid the paparazzi will take photos?"

Chen Nuo laughed and said: "And then what? If the paparazzi catch me dating Janice Man, I lose a bunch of brainless fans, and then I die? Or are you saying that because I'm seeing someone, I won't get film offers? No one will ask me to film anymore?"

Qi Yuntian thought about it, and it was true.

He was in many QQ groups for agent communication, and there were plenty of agents for A-list stars, some even more popular and famous than Chen Nuo.

But when talking about their artists' love lives, many agents were quite envious, believing that among male artists from 20 to 50, the one least afraid of having his relationship exposed was the boss behind him.

The reason was simple: their studio didn't rely on fans to make a living.

He didn't release songs, didn't hold concerts, and the TV dramas and movies he filmed were none of them trashy films meant to exploit fans.

It could be said that not a single cent of the money Chen Nuo earned now had any necessary relationship with the number of his fans.

Except for the only diaper commercial he was currently running.

But how much money was that commercial worth?

At the time, a few hundred thousand for two years seemed like a lot, and it appeared Chen Nuo and the others had taken advantage of them, but now, a few months later?

That diaper CEO called his cell phone yesterday, asking if they should talk about renewing the two-year advertising contract a year and a half in advance.

Thinking of this, Qi Yuntian felt he had fallen into habitual thinking.

"Fine, you're the boss. Have you thought about how to tell Xia Yehe?"

Chen Nuo looked righteous as he prepared to be a scumbag: "What's hard to tell? I'll let them meet when it's convenient."

Qi Yuntian was surprised: "Really?"

Of course it was fake. At least for now, it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble. Let's get through the New Year first.

That night, Chen Bicheng returned, bringing back a proper second-class protected animal; it was simply lawless.

However, the soup stewed from that thing was so fragrant and rich, and the meat so fresh and tender, that Janice Man, born in the city of soup-making, Hong Kong, couldn't stop praising it. She even flattered them after the meal, saying she wanted to buy one to stew when she went back.

The Hong Kong girl didn't recognize the motherland's rare animals, and Chen Nuo was too embarrassed to say that the round, chubby thing couldn't really be considered a fish, that it couldn't be bought outside, and that eating it would 100% lead to jail time. Only in a backward and remote place like Long'an, if one were lucky, could one spend a large sum of money to buy a wild one for a taste. The price was so high that if it weren't for his son bringing a female friend home for the first time, Chen Bicheng probably wouldn't have been willing to part with it.

At night, Pan Chengrong's room arrangement was very interesting.

Originally, there were two floors with a total of eight rooms; the first floor was for guests, and the second floor was the master bedroom. She arranged for Qi Yuntian to stay on the first floor, but arranged for Janice Man to stay on the second floor, right next to Chen Nuo's room. There was a distance between their rooms where one couldn't even hear a chicken or dog.

Seeing this arrangement, Chen Nuo immediately understood that he hadn't misjudged; Pan Chengrong really had a very good impression of Janice Man.

At 10:30 PM, Chen Nuo walked into Janice Man's room, while Janice Man was still taking a shower in the bathroom.

Hearing the pattering sound of the shower in the bathroom, Chen Nuo also began to take off his clothes on tiptoe, then walked barefoot to the bathroom door. Through the frosted glass on the door, he could see a blurry, flesh-colored shadow under the golden glare of the bathroom heater.

He slowly pushed the door open. Before the girl inside, who was applying body wash, could react, he rushed over, pinned her fragrant, wet body against the wall, and covered her mouth with his hand.

He was about half a head taller than Janice Man. Janice Man clearly had anticipated this; she wasn't panicked at all. She reached down and grabbed him, giggling: "I knew you would come, you pervert."

Chen Nuo lowered his head and bit her ear, saying: "Then since you knew, why didn't you take a shower earlier?"

Janice Man's eyes were seductive as she said: "Because I just wanted to be in the bathroom."

Chen Nuo whispered: "Then besides the bathroom? Are there any other places?"

"Yes." Janice Man's legs began to tremble, and she subconsciously started speaking Cantonese again: "... Your hand, a little slower."

"Tell me quickly, where else?"

Janice Man stood on tiptoe, leaned into his ear, and whispered: "The kitchen, the living room, and in the car. Come in quickly, I can't take it anymore."

The water from the showerhead kept splashing onto the two of them. Chen Nuo and Janice Man faced each other, the warm light of the bathroom heater shining on Janice Man's face. She gritted her teeth and whimpered as her body trembled rhythmically.

The sound of the water was too loud, so Chen Nuo flipped her over.

The two didn't stay in the bathroom for long. When they came out, the expression on Janice Man's face was clearly one of holding back laughter.

Chen Nuo felt a bit embarrassed, coughed, and said: "Purely an accident."

Janice Man giggled: "Darling, I heard from Baby, it's been a long time since I've done it, it should be like this, this has nothing to do with you. I believe in you, you have no problem."

Chen Nuo chuckled: "Of course I have no problem, let me rest for ten minutes, and I'll prove it to you."

The imported central air conditioning in the room was truly powerful; even in the dead of winter, one wouldn't feel cold even without wearing any clothes.

Janice Man lay on the bed, spreading her legs, giggling: "Darling, do you really need ten minutes?"

Damn, she really is a succubus.

When he woke up the next morning, the room was still pitch black. He checked the time; it was already past 10:00 AM.

The blackout curtains were really effective. Janice Man was still sleeping soundly; the two of them had been tossing and turning until about 3:00 AM last night.

They had gone at it three times.

Although Chen Nuo had won back a round the second time, making it a 1:1 tie, in the third round, the two had actually fought to a draw.

Chen Nuo had to sigh; the quieter and softer a girl looked, the harder she was to conquer.

Perhaps this was exactly what that saying meant: "The highest good is like water; water benefits all things and does not contend, so the world cannot contend with it."

If Laozi knew Chen "Sun" was quoting the Tao Te Ching like this, he should throw a vajra to smash him to death.

Chen Nuo's movement of getting up to pee startled Janice Man awake.

"Darling, what time is it?"

She had asked in a lazy tone, but when she heard it was past ten, she shrieked and bounced up like a spring. Her pair of snow-white, long legs ran faster than Chen Nuo's, and she rushed into the bathroom, muttering: "It's over, it's over... Auntie will definitely think I'm lazy this time."

Chen Nuo couldn't help but laugh.

Janice Man stayed in Long'an for four days until the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month. When she left, it was the family of three—Chen Bicheng, Pan Chengrong, and Chen Nuo—who took her to the airport together.

Pan Chengrong bought her many Sichuan specialties, such as Zhangfei beef, spicy rabbit heads, sweet-skin duck, and the like, as well as a new mobile phone for her younger sister, a set of La Mer for Janice Man's mother, and two cartons of "Soft Zhonghua" cigarettes that Chen Bicheng had prepared for her father.

When Janice Man came, she only carried one bag, but when she left, she had an extra suitcase in her hand.

As a result, at the airport, she wasn't reluctant to part with Chen Nuo; on the contrary, she was tightly holding onto Pan Chengrong, which made Pan Chengrong quite emotional.

"Auntie, when I come back next time, my Mandarin will definitely be better."

Just this sentence made Pan Chengrong talk about it for nearly an hour on the way back to Long'an, saying that this girl Janice Man looked quiet, but was actually very sharp.

She had never said a word about not understanding Janice Man's Cantonese-accented Mandarin, but the girl had observed it herself.

Finally, Pan Chengrong's conclusion was:

"Nuonuo, this girl is really quite good. However, you two are still too young. What the future will be like is still unclear, so don't invest too deeply."

Then she sighed leisurely, "Sigh, you child, I know you. Your personality is like mine, too emotional, easily hurt."

"Chen Bicheng, don't you think so?" Pan Chengrong glanced sideways at Old Chen, who was driving, and said lightly.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 121 =====