"Stop talking, Chen Jiaojiao, you're acting very strangely today, and I don't like it."
"Don't you know men like women who play hard to get, who keep them guessing?"
"Please, go back to how you were. Don't disappoint me. I'm leaving."
Watching Lu Mingzhe's car lights merge into the bustling traffic, Chen Jiaojiao stood in a daze for a while before entering the residential complex.
After taking only a couple of steps, her phone rang.
She pulled it out to see a number she hadn't saved.
Though the name wasn't saved, she had memorized this number countless times before.
It was etched into her memory.
Just one glance brought back a flood of memories.
She didn't know why Hu Jiasheng was calling her now.
Was he calling to mock her, or to show concern?
Did he want to apologize and reconcile, or...
Chen Jiaojiao didn't know whether she should answer.
After a long hesitation, the other party hung up.
Seeing that she didn't answer, Hu Jiasheng immediately sent a text message.
"I heard about Mr. Chen's situation these past couple of days, and I feel partly responsible, so I wanted to talk to you."
"I'm sorry, Jiaojiao. My abilities are limited, and I can't do much else for you, but I can offer some financial support."
"Please give me your private account number, and I'll transfer two million to you."
"It's not a lot of money. But it's all I can manage to produce right now. Use it for now. Let me know if you need anything else in the future."
Chen Jiaojiao reread the message, over and over again.
Finally, her nose stung, and two streams of tears rolled down her cheeks.
For so many days, she had been waiting for an explanation, for Hu Jiasheng's attitude.
She wanted to know why he had abandoned her at such a crucial moment.
Although Hu Jiasheng hadn't said anything explicit at this moment, she suddenly seemed to understand.
Everyone has their own unavoidable circumstances.
Especially someone in his awkward position.
In that situation, marrying Chen Jiaojiao would have meant making countless enemies for himself.
Whether he could give her happiness was unknown, but their lives together would certainly not be peaceful.
Perhaps he had also given it considerable thought before making what he believed to be a kind choice.
Chen Jiaojiao prided herself on her good judgment.
At this moment, her opinion was further solidified.
Hu Jiasheng was not a heartless, ungrateful person who abandoned responsibilities.
He simply lacked confidence and wanted her to have something better.
All the hatred and resentment that had accumulated in her heart over this period vanished with the yet-to-be-received two million.
Instead of sending her account number, Chen Jiaojiao made a phone call.
Hu Jiasheng answered, his tone as deep as ever.
"Jiaojiao."
"Hu Jiasheng, I'm calling to tell you that I don't hate you anymore, really."
"I don't regret knowing you or having dated you, but I also don't regret marrying Lu Mingzhe."
"With your attitude today, my first love was worth it."
"But you don't need to help me anymore. I don't need it. Let's both let go of everything and move forward."
"Keep working hard. I hope you meet a girl who loves you more in the future. That's all. This time, it's my turn to block you."
Lu Mingzhe parked his car at the entrance of the residential complex and texted Xiang Wan, asking if she had arrived.
Xiang Wan replied that she was almost there.
"I drove the car away, how did you get back? Taxi?"
"No. Xiao Song from the studio drove me back, and he's been doing it for days. It's all your fault, now I owe him a favor."
Lu Mingzhe didn't reply. He opened the car door and stood by it, staring at the passing traffic.
A few minutes later, a black car with its turn signal on stopped in front of him.
Xiang Wan saw Lu Mingzhe waiting at the entrance of the complex and ran over with light steps.
"When did you get here? Why didn't you go up first?"
Lu Mingzhe reached out, pulled her into his arms, and pecked her on the lips.
"I was waiting for you to come back together. What's the point of me going up alone?"
Xiao Song emerged from the car and greeted them.
"Brother Lu, you're back? Sister Wan, since Brother Lu is waiting for you, I won't escort you any further. You two should head back quickly, and I'll be going too."
"Okay. Be careful on your way, and thank you, Xiao Song."
"You're welcome, it's on the way. Why are you being so polite, Sister Wan?"
With that, Xiao Song got back into his car to leave.
Lu Mingzhe walked over.
"Wait."
He walked up to Xiao Song and patted him on the shoulder.
"You've worked hard driving Sister Wan these past few days. I'll treat you to a meal another day."
Xiao Song felt uncomfortable under his gaze.
"Brother, you really don't have to be so polite."
"It's not politeness, it's just how I am. My wife is my everything, and I'll repay anyone who helps me take care of her."
"It's just a meal, a small thing. Brother knows a lot of girls, I'll introduce you to a girlfriend another day."
As they drove towards the residential complex, Xiang Wan looked at him with a meaningful gaze.
Lu Mingzhe grabbed her hand and kissed it.
"Miss me that much? Can't get enough? Your eyes are practically glued to my face."
"Stop being so smug. Who's missing you? I just realized today that you're really petty."
"What? You're upset because I said I'd introduce a girlfriend to Xiao Song?"
Xiang Wan pinched him.
"Hmph, even if I'm foolish, Xiao Song isn't. And introducing a girlfriend to him, can't you tell what your intentions are?"
"It's like you're implying he has feelings for me. Are you annoying or what?"
Lu Mingzhe let her pinch him.
"He does have feelings for you, and I'm deliberately sending him a warning."
"See, I told you you're petty. He's several years younger than me and calls me 'sister' all the time. How can you possibly think he has feelings for me?"
Lu Mingzhe said.
"You, sometimes you're incredibly smart, and other times you're incredibly obtuse in certain aspects."
"I'm a man, and I know what men are thinking better than you do. Xiang Wan, stay away from those young men in your studio from now on."
"You're mine now. It makes me uncomfortable to be looked at with those kinds of eyes all the time."
Xiang Wan wished she could pinch his mouth.
"Give you an inch and you'll take a mile. The more I say you're petty, the pettier you become."
"What kind of eyes are they looking at me with? If you say that, then after I marry you, will your studio not be allowed to have any male employees?"
Lu Mingzhe laughed.
"Not that they can't, but not any handsomer than me. I'm just petty. I want you to only look at me, what's wrong with that?"
"Boring. Then will your studio have no women? I'll go check out your studio one of these days and see what kind of eyes they're looking at you with!"
"Look all you want, none of them are prettier than you."
"Then what if they have good figures and are proactive towards you? They say men can't resist women who throw themselves at them."
"If what you're saying is true, then I must receive countless offers every day. How am I still alive?"
Lu Mingzhe kissed her hand again.
"Men don't like women who throw themselves at them, they like women like you, who are feisty and don't seem to care about men. Understand?"
Every woman likes to hear nice things.
Xiang Wan was successfully coaxed.
"You're a cheapskate."
Lu Mingzhe sighed.
"Indeed. I haven't seen you in two days, and I'm going crazy missing you. I admit I'm becoming more and more pathetic."