It was only natural, after not being home for so long, that the first night back should be spent with the old man.
However, Zhan Bei Jue couldn't bear to keep Lu Ming Zhe waiting any longer. So, as dinner time approached, he took his family out.
Jiang Nan Fang was still driving.
His two daughters, as if they had forgotten how to walk, sat on his lap the entire time, clinging to his neck.
Each cradling one side of his face, they treated him as if he were their own, chattering away and asking endless questions, talking to him.
The two sons, having lost their initial excitement about being close to Zhan Bei Jue, huddled together, heads bowed, engrossed in their electronic devices.
With the back seat so lively, Jiang Nan Fang felt like a chauffeur.
"Tian Tian, Ge Er, aren't you two going a little too far?"
"When you see Daddy, you forget all about Mommy? Always clinging to him and talking to him. Can you bear to see me all alone and lonely?"
Ge Er placated her half-heartedly.
"We just haven't seen Daddy for so long, we miss him, and we want to be close to him for a while. Mommy, don't be jealous."
"When Daddy goes on a business trip in a couple of days, we'll be close to you then."
Tian Tian also chimed in, "Exactly. I finally have a Daddy, and he's so handsome, we have to be close to him more."
"Mommy, didn't you promise to have more babies for us? When are you going to have them?"
"When the younger siblings are born, we'll have new toys and won't cling to Daddy anymore. Hurry up and have them."
Jiang Nan Fang was truly impressed by them.
Knowing that Zhan Bei Jue was bringing the children, Zhou Jin Bei had chosen a private dining restaurant for their gathering.
Lu Ming Zhe hadn't arrived yet, so she was confirming the menu with the staff at the reception.
After a few minutes, she was about to head upstairs, her mood buoyant.
A man and a woman walked towards her.
The woman was smiling charmingly, leaning against the man. They walked and teased each other as if they had no eyes, heading straight for her.
Zhou Jin Bei tried to dodge, but couldn't, and the three collided.
It was a minor incident, and it didn't hurt, so she didn't intend to make a fuss.
However, the other party was relentless.
"Oh, what are you doing? Don't you have eyes when you walk? You bumped my stomach!"
The woman raised her hand and shoved her.
Zhou Jin Bei stumbled but regained her balance, her anger rising.
Just as she was about to argue with the woman, she caught sight of the man beside her.
He looked so familiar. Who else could it be but her ex-husband, Jiang Si Cheng?
This man, who only liked men, was actually holding a woman in his arms?
Jiang Si Cheng had clearly recognized her too.
Their eyes met, and his eyebrows shot up. With a mocking expression, he reached out and pushed her again.
"I was wondering who was so careless, but it turns out to be my ex-wife, my little darling!"
"Still as reckless as ever. No wonder you couldn't keep a child. You've been in the hospital for so long and still haven't learned your lesson?"
Due to their divorce and the miscarriage, the Zhou and Jiang families had been in a bitter dispute.
Zhou Jin Bei and Jiang Si Cheng had clearly become sworn enemies.
She had wished to never see him again, but Nan Cheng was too small a place.
How unlucky. To run into such a scumbag just trying to have a meal!
"Are your hands itching? You bumped into me without looking, and now you have the nerve to push me? Do you think you're the only ones with hands?"
Zhou Jin Bei was not one to be bullied.
Even though the other party had two people, she would definitely be outnumbered in a fight, but she wouldn't back down in spirit!
After cursing them out, she nimbly extended her hands and shoved them both fiercely.
"Get out of the way! I don't like talking to dogs! Who the hell are you calling your ex-wife? Who knows a dog! Humph!"
She sidestepped them, intending to leave.
Jiang Si Cheng grabbed her arm.
"Spewing vulgarities, who the hell are you talking to like that? You think you can get away with this, Zhou Jin Bei?"
This was never-ending.
You push me, I push you. We're even. Why are you looking at me like this?
Zhou Jin Bei stopped. First, she glanced at the hand gripping her arm, then her gaze shifted back to Jiang Si Cheng's face, her expression icy.
"You have two seconds to take your hand off me. Otherwise, I'll make you regret being named Jiang."
"You said you didn't know me? Now you know my name? And you want me to take my hand off in two seconds? What can I do to you if I don't?"
"Hey, not only will I not take it off, but I'll touch you a couple more times. What can you do to me?"
Saying that, he reached out and pinched Zhou Jin Bei's face twice.
She had never met such a despicable man!
Zhou Jin Bei gritted her teeth, slapped his hand away, and sneered.
"Did you break up with your boyfriend? Is this your new fling? Or a new wife you tricked?"
"Did you tell her about your sexual orientation? How much money did you get this time? You can't perform with women and still have to pretend to be happy. That's just like you."
"What can I do to you? Nothing. But I can tell everyone what I know and make you famous."
"Mr. Jiang, you don't mind if everyone gets to know the real you, do you?"
Zhou Jin Bei thought she had found his weakness and could at least make him fear her a little in front of others.
Who would have thought Jiang Si Cheng was so shameless.
"Spreading rumors? Slandering me? Zhou Jin Bei, do you still have feelings for me?"
"You think you can get my attention this way and come back to me? Let me tell you, you're dreaming."
"That's right, this is my new girlfriend, and we're about to get married. And she's pregnant too."
"If you want to know if I can perform, ask her."
The woman beside him chuckled, a smug look on her face.
"So you weren't lying to me, A Cheng. You really aren't interested in this woman. You were married for so long, you never touched her!"
"Why would I lie to you? My parents wanted me to marry her, and I never liked her. Do you believe me now?"
"That's hilarious. I've never heard anything so funny. Getting married, pregnant, and the man never touched her, hahahaha!"
The two seemed to be talking about something glorious, their excitement growing with every word. They even burst into laughter, completely ignoring their surroundings.
Zhou Jin Bei couldn't stand seeing the wicked triumph, and she flew into a rage, reaching out and slapping the woman across the face.
"What right do you have to laugh at me?"
"Do you think you're any better than me? You're just a breeding machine for him! Pregnant, are you? Think you're so great? Just wait until the baby is born!"
"If he can still perform for you then, I'll write my surname backward!"
Caught off guard by the slap, the woman was furious.
She stomped her foot hard, clutching her face as if about to cry, and glared at Jiang Si Cheng.
"You! She..."
"I don't care! You have to get revenge for me! Hit her back, beat her to death, A Cheng!"
Jiang Si Cheng was also angered.
"You caused so much trouble and made me unhappy before. Because you're a woman, I didn't want to lay hands on you, but you took that for granted!"
"You dare lay hands on my wife? Zhou Jin Bei, believe it or not, I'll beat you until you're spitting teeth!"
"Just you? I'm so scared."
Zhou Jin Bei looked at him, neither subservient nor arrogant.
"I'm standing right here today, and I'm not moving an inch. If you dare to hit me, and you don't break an arm, then I'll take your surname."