Chapter 54: Brother Ming Kisses Me

Tang Ran's parents and the room service attendant stood there, dumbfounded, watching Wei Hua and his father leave. Even after the door to the private room was closed, they still couldn't believe what had just happened.

Tang Ran's parents looked at Zhou Ming for a long time before cautiously asking, "Zhou Ming, we're really grateful for you standing up for Ranran, but could you tell us why they came to apologize?"

Hearing Tang Ran's parents ask this, the room service attendant also perked up his ears, listening attentively. After all, if someone were to say that Wei Hua and his father had a sudden change of heart and decided to apologize on their own, anyone with an IQ above three wouldn't believe it. Clearly, Zhou Ming had done something to force them to come and apologize.

Before Zhou Ming could answer, Tang Ran jumped in to answer for him, "Of course, it's because Brother Ming has money now."

Tang Ran's response left everyone baffled. Could it be that just because Zhou Ming has money, the Wei father and son came to apologize? That logic didn't quite add up!

Zhou Ming had no choice but to explain, "Uncle, Aunt, it's actually not that complicated. The money Wei Hua's family used to run their factory was all borrowed from the bank. Now, the loan has reached its term, and they've only managed to delay payment by buttering up and bribing the bank manager. But it so happens that I know that bank manager, so if they don't want the bank to sue and auction off their factory, they had to come and apologize to Ranran."

"Zhou Ming, you even know bank executives here in Nanjing? No wonder you're a big boss in Hong Kong! You really do come from a distinguished family," Lin Weixiu said in surprise. Judging by her and Tang Jun's expressions, they clearly held Zhou Ming in even higher regard now.

Zhou Ming just smiled at this because the reality was not exactly as Tang Ran's parents understood it. Zhou Ming wasn't particularly close with Director Yang of the Bank of China. The only reason Director Yang agreed to help him was that Zhou Ming had promised to help him secure a million-dollar deposit. However, Zhou Ming didn't see the need to explain all these details to Tang Ran's parents and just smiled it off.

Soon, they finished their meal. After paying the bill, Zhou Ming walked out of the hotel with Tang Ran and her parents. Tang Ran's parents had to return to work, so they headed back to the mall.

After seeing off Tang Ran's parents, Zhou Ming noticed Tang Ran looking down, seemingly preoccupied with something. He asked, "Ranran, what's wrong? Are you still upset about what happened with Wei Hua?"

"Of course not!" Tang Ran replied. "It's just... earlier, my mom pulled me aside and told me... told me to get along well with you."

"Get along? Get along how?"

No sooner had Zhou Ming asked this than he remembered that Tang Ran's parents thought he and Tang Ran were dating.

Zhou Ming glanced at Tang Ran, feeling a bit embarrassed. But when he saw Tang Ran's flushed face, and recalling her parents' earlier attitude towards her and Wei Hua, Zhou Ming realized that her parents were probably encouraging her to do more than just get along well with him...

Zhou Ming wanted to clarify to Tang Ran that they were just pretending in front of her parents, but seeing Tang Ran's current expression, he found himself unable to say the words.

As Zhou Ming hesitated, Tang Ran mustered the courage to look up and say, "Brother Ming, there's a park over there. How about we go for a walk?"

Zhou Ming nodded in agreement, and they walked into the park together. Neither of them spoke along the way. Although Tang Ran had previously said they were just pretending, Zhou Ming now felt like Tang Ran might be taking it seriously. He stole a few glances at her and saw her face flushed, clearly treating this as if they were on a real date.

This wasn't surprising, though. After all, Tang Ran had always admired him. Coupled with the recent series of events, her feelings might have changed.

But it was precisely because of this that Zhou Ming felt a bit guilty, as if he was deceiving an innocent girl. As they walked in silence, Zhou Ming struggled with what to say, feeling that no matter what he said, it wouldn't be appropriate.

As they walked further into the park, Zhou Ming, still racking his brain for a way to break the awkward silence, suddenly noticed tears streaming down Tang Ran's face. Startled, he quickly asked, "Ranran, what's wrong?"

Tang Ran looked at Zhou Ming, frustrated, and said, "I'm sorry, Brother Ming. I'm so stupid. I said I wanted to get along well with you, but I don't even know what to say."

"Ranran, what are you talking about? Isn't it supposed to be the guy's job to make the girl happy on a date?" Zhou Ming said.

"Really?" Tang Ran looked at Zhou Ming with her big, beautiful eyes, filled with confusion.

"Of course," Zhou Ming nodded confidently. Although he didn't know how other men treated their women, he felt that this was how it should be. Besides, Zhou Ming found Tang Ran so adorable that he couldn't understand how someone like Wei Hua could ever bear to hurt her.

Zhou Ming led Tang Ran to a bench, and they sat down. Zhou Ming thought for a moment and then tried to comfort her, "After what happened today, I don't think Wei Hua will dare bother you again. And your parents won't pressure you anymore either. You need to get over this and not let it weigh on you, okay?"

Tang Ran clenched her little fists and said firmly, "Don't worry, Brother Ming. Even though I'm a crybaby, I'm still a strong girl!"

Zhou Ming smiled and said, "That's the spirit!"

Tang Ran gazed at Zhou Ming, "Brother Ming, I really want to thank you for everything today. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have known what to do."

"You've been calling me Brother Ming, so isn't it natural for me to help you?" Zhou Ming said.

"But Brother Ming, you spent over a million yuan! I could work my whole life and never earn that much!" Tang Ran said anxiously.

"As long as I can help you, Ranran, it's worth it. Even if it were ten million, I'd do it," Zhou Ming said.

Tang Ran stared at Zhou Ming, clearly moved by his words. "Brother Ming, thank you for being so good to me. I really don't know how to repay you. How about... I offer myself to you?"

Her sudden suggestion caught Zhou Ming completely off guard. If he didn't know that Tang Ran was so innocent, he might have thought she was deliberately teasing him. But because she was serious, Zhou Ming felt even more troubled. He said to Tang Ran, "Ranran, you're still young. I'm not sure you understand what offering yourself means."

Tang Ran pouted, "I'm not young! And I do understand what it means. It means I want to stay with you, Brother Ming, and be your woman!"

"But what if I marry your sister, Muqing, in the future? What then?" Zhou Ming had no choice but to bring up Lin Muqing.

"It's okay; I can be your second wife! I can cook, take care of the kids, and help Sister Muqing take care of you," Tang Ran said earnestly.

Zhou Ming stared at Tang Ran, feeling completely defeated by her innocence. He didn't know what to say.

At this moment, Tang Ran added, "Brother Ming, do you not believe me? If you don't, I can let you kiss me. Once you kiss me, I'll be your woman."

"What kind of nonsense is that? Who told you that?" Zhou Ming asked in surprise.

Tang Ran hesitated but then decided to tell Zhou Ming, "Wei Hua said it."

Of course, it was that scumbag!

Zhou Ming cursed in his heart. He knew exactly why Wei Hua had said that. He was trying to deceive Tang Ran into being devoted to him for life. But since she refused to let him kiss her, and because of Zhou Ming's influence, Wei Hua lost control and hit Tang Ran.

"Brother Ming, you don't dislike me, do you? I swear, I have nothing to do with Wei Hua. I never let him kiss me. We only held hands, but I went home and washed them thoroughly with soap!" Tang Ran quickly explained.

Zhou Ming was taken aback at first but quickly realized that Tang Ran had misunderstood his silence, thinking he might dislike her.

Realizing this, Zhou Ming quickly reassured her, "Ranran, you've got it all wrong. I didn't mean that."

"Then will you kiss me, Brother Ming? Please?" Tang Ran pleaded.

Zhou Ming was at a loss for words. As someone who had never been popular with women in his previous life, he had never encountered a situation like this before. He glanced around, relieved to see no one else in the park. Otherwise, if anyone saw such a beautiful girl begging him for a kiss, their jaws would surely drop.

"Ranran, while Wei Hua is a jerk, he wasn't wrong about this. A kiss represents something very important, and you shouldn't let just any guy kiss you," Zhou Ming tried to reason with her.

But Tang Ran was insistent, "I know, but I want to be your woman, Brother Ming. Even if you

 try to push me away, I won't leave!"

Zhou Ming had no choice. He said, "Alright, but Ranran, you have to promise to be good from now on, okay?"

"Yay! Brother Ming finally agreed to kiss me!" Tang Ran cheered, then swore with determination, "Brother Ming, don't worry. I'll be a good girl and be the best woman for you."

"Then get ready. I'm going to kiss you now," Zhou Ming said.

Tang Ran nodded eagerly, then closed her eyes. Zhou Ming could feel her body tense up, her small fists clenched in front of her chest, her innocent face a mix of nervousness, fear, and anticipation.

Zhou Ming smiled softly at this, placing his hands gently on Tang Ran's shoulders and said in a gentle voice, "Ranran, don't be nervous. Just relax."

Whether it was Zhou Ming's reassurance or Tang Ran's ability to control herself, she soon relaxed. Zhou Ming then slowly leaned in and kissed Tang Ran's delicate lips.