If she refused again, she would seem petty.
Jiang Nan Fang had no choice but to agree.
"Alright, since Mr. Zhan insists, I'll postpone my work."
"But we're competitors now. Are you sure you won't be gossiped about dining with me?"
"Do I look like someone who cares what others say?"
Zhan Bei Jue gestured for her to go ahead.
The three walked out side by side.
"What do you want to eat?"
He asked Jiang Nan Fang.
Mr. Li replied, "You're treating, you decide."
"Ladies first. Ms. Jiang, you choose."
Mr. Li: "..."
Are these two here to discuss the acquisition with me or to show off their affection?
They didn't appear intimate on the surface, but their words were full of hidden affection!
Mr. Li didn't want to be a third wheel and drove his own car.
Zhan Bei Jue invited Jiang Nan Fang to ride with him.
Since she had no other intentions towards him now, being evasive would only make it seem like she did.
To prove herself, Jiang Nan Fang got into his car.
It turned out Zhan Bei Jue insisted on treating her to a meal for a reason.
As the car started, he paused for a moment and then chatted with Jiang Nan Fang.
"Is Ke Jing Yu planning to shift his focus of work to South City?"
Jiang Nan Fang stated directly, "Yes. Do you feel threatened?"
"Not at all. It's just business, fair competition."
Zhan Bei Jue tilted his head slightly to look at her.
He felt she definitely hadn't been eating well lately. Her jawline was too prominent, and she seemed thinner than a few days ago.
"If I go all out to compete with you in this bid, and the outcome is not what you hope for, will you hate me?"
In the past, Jiang Nan Fang, blinded by hatred, certainly would have.
But after a trip to the small town and staying for two days, having received some favors from him, she suddenly became more open-minded.
Although Zhan Bei Jue was managing Zhan's, the group wasn't solely his.
Setting aside the shareholders, there were also countless employees.
She couldn't deny others a meal just because she wanted to eat.
As the company's boss, she wanted to seek benefits for herself, and naturally, Zhan Bei Jue had to consider his employees.
Moreover, Zhan Group was the culmination of three generations of the Zhan family's hard work.
Setting aside profit, he also didn't want the family legacy to be ruined under his watch.
Jiang Nan Fang understood his intentions and replied calmly.
"You said fair competition. I, Jiang Nan Fang, earn my living through my own abilities. I never cause trouble unreasonably."
"That's good."
Seeing that she seemed to be thinking of nothing but work, Zhan Bei Jue didn't know what else to say besides maintaining their distance.
In the hospital, a subordinate reported to Ke Jing Yu that he had just seen Zhan Bei Jue, Jiang Nan Fang, and Mr. Li at the restaurant.
"Actually, I never quite understood why you insisted on giving her such an important role?"
"Her relationship with Zhan Bei Jue is special. What if the two of them collude..."
Ke Jing Yu diligently peeled an apple, waiting for a moment before speaking.
"I believe Ah Teng's judgment. Consider this the final test for her."
"If the test is passed, she will forever be a member of the Ke family. If not,"
His gaze suddenly sharpened.
"If they collude to harm my son to this extent, I will absolutely not let them off lightly."
---
Zhou Jin Bei acted immediately. The next day, she went with Jiang Si Cheng to process their divorce.
As they exited the Civil Affairs Bureau, the two threatened each other.
Jiang Si Cheng said, "I haven't found a new position yet, and I'm not ready to confront my family. If you dare to reveal the divorce, I will make the Zhou family's life very difficult."
This was exactly what Zhou Jin Bei wanted.
She didn't want her parents to know she had divorced so soon after getting married.
"You'd better keep your word. If you reveal the news of our divorce before I do, I will let the whole world know what kind of man you are, Jiang Si Cheng."
Zhou Jin Bei left with nothing, driving Ah Zhong's car, and wandered the streets for a long time before knowing where to go.
After much thought, she had no choice but to gather her courage and call Zhan Bei Jue.
Zhan Bei Jue had just returned to the company from the restaurant. Seeing her call, he assumed it was for his mother and casually ignored it.
However, Zhou Jin Bei was quite persistent.
She called once and no one answered, then she called several more times.
Zhan Bei Jue, annoyed, picked up his phone again.
"What is it?"
Zhou Jin Bei humbled herself, "Second Brother, do you have time now? Can I come see you?"
"No."
With that, Zhan Bei Jue was about to hang up.
Zhou Jin Bei quickly called out to him pitifully.
"I need your help to save my life! I'm dying, please, Brother, save me!"
Zhan Bei Jue would never believe her nonsense.
Didn't she just get married?
Only a few days ago?
During their honeymoon, how could she be dying?
"Don't beat around the bush, speak directly."
Since she was asking for his help, she couldn't hide the truth.
Zhou Jin Bei knew his character well. He was very discreet and upright.
No one was more suitable for keeping secrets than him.
So, she steeled herself and told the truth.
"I got divorced, and I'm afraid to let my parents and my brother know. I have nowhere to go right now."
"Please, can you temporarily take me in?"
Although he didn't remember the day she got married, it shouldn't be this soon to divorce.
Because of her, Ah Zhong didn't even want to stay in South City.
Yet, he had just left dejectedly, and she followed right behind...
Did she have a screw loose?
"Zhou Jin Bei, are you playing house like a three-year-old? Divorcing after only a few days of marriage, is it fun?"
Zhou Jin Bei sighed, "You don't know, my situation is truly full of hardship. Can you give me some time to come see you? Let's talk face-to-face."
"No." Zhan Bei Jue, thoroughly annoyed by her frivolousness, directly refused.
"I'm busy, I don't have time for your trivial matters. Since you were so bold, daring to divorce, are you afraid of people knowing? Solve it yourself."
"Then you'll only have to collect my corpse!"
Zhou Jin Bei suddenly started crying pitifully.
"You know the situation of my family. My parents married me off to the Jiang family simply to leverage their resources."
"But it turned out to be completely unusable. Jiang Si Cheng doesn't like women at all, he's a complete gay! Even then, you still won't let me divorce?"
Is there such a thing?
The esteemed eldest daughter of the Zhou family was deceived into marriage and suffered such a silent loss?
Although Zhan Bei Jue didn't like this superficial and chattering cousin of his very much.
She was his sister after all.
He had watched her grow up. To stand by and watch her be bullied, what kind of person would that make him?
"Then come over. I'll give you half an hour."
Second Brother had relented.
Given his personality, Zhou Jin Bei knew very well that once they met, there was a possibility of winning him over.
At least half the battle was won.
Upon arriving at his office, Zhou Jin Bei dared not conceal anything. She recounted the entire story of her marriage to Zhan Bei Jue, omitting nothing.
Of course. She didn't dare to reveal a single word about Ah Zhong.
As expected, Zhan Bei Jue was filled with disdain.