“Don’t you know to stay away from the accident vehicle after a traffic accident? Standing behind the car, are you looking for death? Get out!”
He grabbed her by the armpits with both hands, easily lifted her up, and placed her over the guardrail.
Then he lifted his long legs and also stepped over the guardrail.
Under the scorching sun, they stood on the grass outside the highway guardrail. After a few seconds of silence, they both looked at the car tire.
It had such a big gash; it was miraculous they hadn't had an accident.
Jiang Nan Fang pretended to be regretful.
“I wish I had put a spare tire in the trunk.”
“What? Do you plan to change the tire yourself on the highway?”
“…”
Zhan Bei Jue glanced at her sideways: “Let’s call for roadside assistance.”
Jiang Nan Fang took out her phone, searched for the roadside assistance number, and nudged him with her arm.
“See? Your innate biological memory can’t lie. You’re Chinese, through and through. You even know professional terms like roadside assistance.”
“…”
It would take at least an hour for the tow truck to arrive.
The sun, past eleven in the morning, beat directly down on the ground. With nothing to block it, Jiang Nan Fang felt like she was about to melt.
She sat at first, then, unable to bear the heat, she stood.
She shielded her eyes with her left hand, then her right, but nothing could block the glare.
Zhan Bei Jue stood in front of her with his arms crossed, seemingly unaffected by the temperature, just standing there and watching the passing vehicles.
After watching him for a few minutes, Jiang Nan Fang couldn't stand it.
“Aren’t you hot?”
Zhan Bei Jue turned his head, seeing that her face had turned as red as a tomato in less than twenty minutes.
“Haven’t you been in the sun before?”
Jiang Nan Fang knew he was implying she was being dramatic.
“I have. You know that. When I was studying, I was often punished by teachers and had to run three kilometers under a sun like this.”
Three kilometers? Impressive.
No wonder he couldn’t shake her off like a stubborn patch in the morning.
“Then why can’t you do it now?”
“I’ve had too many children for you, and my physical functions have deteriorated.”
“…”
“On the other hand, you used to be a delicate flower in a greenhouse. How have you become so resilient now?”
“…Me? A delicate flower in a greenhouse?”
“Yes.” Jiang Nan Fang walked up to him with her phone, shaking it.
“There are many photos of your family and your past activities online, on Baidu Baike. Want to see?” m..oΓg
Since she had nothing else to do anyway, who wouldn’t be curious about their identity?
Zhan Bei Jue nodded.
Soon, Jiang Nan Fang handed him the Baidu page.
Looking at himself in the photos, dressed in a suit and exuding an elite aura.
Then looking at the family tree below.
The grandfather, who was a few years older than him but had a strikingly similar expression.
Zhan Bei Jue felt too complex to speak for a long time.
“Why aren’t you in here? Nor the children. As my ex-wife, you should also be in the family tree.”
“You should be the one asking that,” seeing that he was finally facing his identity squarely, Jiang Nan Fang felt even happier.
“We were married in secret.”
“Married in secret? Why the divorce? Was it because of incompatible personalities?”
“No. You even told me you’d liked me since you were seven.”
Zhan Bei Jue was confused: “Did you fall in love with someone else?”
“No.” Jiang Nan Fang shook her head.
This way of speaking, revealing only half the story, made Zhan Bei Jue uncomfortable.
“Can you just say it all at once?”
“It’s hard to explain in a few words… Our divorce back then was, to a considerable extent, driven by stubbornness.”
“…”
“Regardless of anything else, you just need to know that we both regretted it later. We got back together. I love you, and you love me.”
Zhan Bei Jue didn’t know how to respond to her words.
He also didn’t know how to face her affectionate gaze.
Because he knew clearly that he didn’t love this ex-wife anymore.
No matter how much he loved her before, his mind was now filled with the suffering Min’er.
Until Min’er was rescued from the fiery pit, his conscience would not be at peace.
How could he have the mood for any broken mirror mending?
“Is this grandfather doing well?”
“How could he be? Your Zhan family has few offspring, and you are his only grandson, and such an excellent one. And then you suddenly disappeared…”
“What about him now?”
“He’s being kept alive by medication. Do you want to go back and see him?”
Zhan Bei Jue didn’t know if he wanted to go back and see him.
From a humanitarian perspective, as his grandson, having caused his current state, he indeed should.
But psychologically, he didn’t want to force himself to feign affection for people he had no feelings for.
“I can’t leave right now. You know, I’m back to participate in the show. The show is about to start.”
Jiang Nan Fang’s confusion stemmed from this.
“Can you tell me what you went through alone in Switzerland?”
“Why did you have amnesia? Why did you change your name? Why are you back alone now? Why are you participating in this show? Are you desperate for money?”
Her dark hair glistened with tiny specks of light; Zhan Bei Jue knew it was sweat from the sun.
Her skin was so delicate; she shouldn’t have to endure such suffering.
Seeing that the rescue vehicle would not arrive anytime soon, he moved his hands, took off his T-shirt, and covered Jiang Nan Fang’s head with it.
“It’s a long story.”
He stood in the blazing sun, his body exposed with scars.
He recounted his entire experience to Jiang Nan Fang, from waking up in the basement, being treated by Da Mei and Min’er, washing dishes, to participating in the chase game for prize money.
Jiang Nan Fang was both shocked by his hardships and impressed by his gratitude and loyalty.
“So, you believe Min’er saved your life, you owe her, and you have the responsibility and obligation to rescue her from her difficult circumstances and ensure she lives a carefree life thereafter, right?”
“If it were you, would you think it’s not the right thing to do?”
“Of course, it’s the right thing to do. I think what you’re doing is great. However, you shouldn’t make promises to her so easily before you figure out your true feelings for her.”
“What do you mean?”
“Ah Jue, tell me honestly, besides gratitude and sympathy, do you have feelings of love for her?”
“Is it that uncontrollable urge to think of her, to miss her constantly, to want physical contact with her, to hug her, to kiss her, even to… do you have that kind of feeling?”
“No!” Zhan Bei Jue shook his head without hesitation.
“She’s too young, suffering so much every day, working so hard. In my eyes, she’s like the little match girl. I just feel sorry for her, but I’ve never had any physical thoughts of a romantic nature!”
“Then, I’m afraid you’ll have to go back and make things clear with her. You only see her as a sister. Brothers and sisters shouldn’t make such promises.”
“Go back and make things clear? What do you mean?”
At this moment, Jiang Nan Fang was like an overbearing CEO with deep pockets.
“You’ve just escaped from the wolf’s den; I won’t let you participate in such dangerous games again.”
“Moreover, with your intelligence, earning five million in 100 days is hardly a challenge.”
“I’ll talk to the TV station when we get back and have you withdraw from the show.”