Zhan Bei Jue remained detached, observing the situation with an air of indifference.
"Why are you so resistant? Do you have someone you like?"
"Not having someone now doesn't mean I won't in the future. In any case, I will never accept this kind of arranged marriage."
Lu Mingzhe's rebellious spirit was thoroughly ignited, and he declared with conviction,
"If you insist on me marrying her, then fine, it'll be a marriage of convenience! Even after we're married, I won't touch her. Let's see who outlasts whom!"
"..."
Zhan Bei Jue knew he was infuriated and calmly tried to placate him.
"How about this, I happen to have something to discuss with Jiang Nan Fang. Bring her out, and we can have a meal together."
"Hmm?"
"Jiang Nan Fang lives alone, and she's very kind-hearted. She really likes to get involved in these kinds of trivial matters. Bring her out, and I'll find a way for her to help you handle this."
"Perhaps you won't have to die to prove your point, and you can resolve this easily?"
This was the first time in their many years of friendship that Zhan Bei Jue had proactively offered to help him.
His sincerity was truly touching.
Lu Mingzhe couldn't help but waver.
"Are you sure she can help me? Zhan Bei Jue, don't play me for a fool."
Zhan Bei Jue couldn't guarantee anything else.
But for this kind of matter… he was very confident that Jiang Nan Fang would step in.
He gave a restaurant address and said,
"If you trust me, come. If not, forget it."
Soon, Zhan Bei Jue drove to the restaurant.
A short while later, Jiang Nan Fang also arrived.
Upon seeing him, she went straight to the point, pouring out her complaints about Zhou Jin Bei's boring actions over the past three days and warning him not to do such things again.
While Zhou Jin Bei's other actions were less than satisfactory, Zhan Bei Jue found these past three days quite commendable.
"Bringing you meals and flowers isn't a crime that can't be forgiven. She was just showing concern for you, why the strong reaction?"
"Did you perhaps ask her to send them?"
Jiang Nan Fang asked with a hint of disdain.
"I really don't understand you more and more, Zhan Bei Jue. Don't you have any self-respect?"
"..."
Fearing he might pursue her, her words were quite harsh.
Zhan Bei Jue could only agree.
"Alright, no more sending them from now on. I won't let her do it anymore. Don't be angry."
"Have some water to calm down. What would you like to eat?"
Who had the appetite to eat with him?
She had only come to complain about Zhou Jin Bei.
After finishing her complaint, Jiang Nan Fang got up to leave.
Zhan Bei Jue quickly called out to her.
"Don't go, I need your help with something."
"You need my help with something?"
Jiang Nan Fang paused, turned back, and asked with a hint of doubt,
"What serious matter could you possibly need my help with?"
Her words were ambiguous, leading to other associations.
Seeing Zhan Bei Jue's eyebrows raise again, Jiang Nan Fang quickly amended her statement.
"I mean, is there something you can't handle that you're asking me for help with?"
Zhan Bei Jue motioned for her to sit down and explained Lu Mingzhe's situation: his childhood engagement, and how his fiancée was now forcing him into a corner.
"He'll be here soon. Lu Mingzhe isn't familiar with her, he doesn't even know her name clearly. It'll be too awkward."
"Just consider it a good deed for the day and stay to liven up the atmosphere."
Jiang Nan Fang didn't want to stay and liven up the atmosphere.
She rather wanted to stay and remind that girl to stay away from such scum.
Was the victim of an arranged marriage only the man?
What about the woman?
Lu Mingzhe might be unwilling, but perhaps the girl herself was also unwilling!
Making himself out to be so wronged and pitiful.
Jiang Nan Fang got angry hearing such talk.
Soon, Lu Mingzhe also arrived.
Seeing him dressed so refinedly, but harboring such thoughts, Jiang Nan Fang couldn't help but sarcastically remark,
"Gilded on the outside, rotten on the inside."
"What?"
"I mean some people are two-faced and pretentious."
Lu Mingzhe finally realized she was insulting him.
He looked at Zhan Bei Jue with a hint of grievance, pointing to his own nose.
"Is she referring to me?"
Zhan Bei Jue struggled to suppress a laugh.
"Just pretend you didn't hear anything."
Damn it. What kind of person is this?
I'm the victim of a feudal arranged marriage, okay?
He was already feeling miserable enough in his heart.
And now he had to endure insults when he sat down.
Lu Mingzhe felt incredibly down.
The three sat there with their own thoughts. After a cup of tea, Lu Qingxu finally called.
"She's at the door. Why aren't you coming out to meet her?"
Lu Mingzhe replied irritably,
"Go out and meet her? Should I go out and carry her? Doesn't she have eyes? Let her come in herself!"
"I'll say it again, brother. If you really don't like her, you can give her to me. There's no need to make it so difficult for yourself."
"Fine. After this meal, tell her clearly. When I get back, I'll tell Mom to transfer it to you."
Lu Mingzhe declared with conviction, "Ah Xu, it's good that we're brothers. You're still very loyal at critical moments."
As he spoke, a waiter led in a tall woman, dressed with a wild, fiery, and fashionable style, like a nightclub DJ.
The woman had long eyelashes, heavy eyeshadow, and bright red lips, with cascading wavy hair.
A quintessential European-style hot girl, so beautiful one couldn't look away.
Jiang Nan Fang glanced back and saw her.
"Is that the person you were talking about?"
Although he hadn't met his fiancée yet, Zhan Bei Jue was certain.
"It can't be her. If it were her, this guy would be grinning from ear to ear, eager to get married. Why would he run away from home?"
Lu Mingzhe also chimed in.
"His grandfather was a sent-down youth whom my grandfather met when he was working in the countryside in the Northwest."
"How could a peasant from Northern Shaanxi have such a beautiful granddaughter?"
"You're underestimating them too much."
Jiang Nan Fang couldn't help but retort.
"What's wrong with Northern Shaanxi? Although the economy isn't very developed in some areas, most of it is quite prosperous, isn't it?"
"Have you never been there? Is that why you have such regional prejudice?"
"Perhaps your grandfather's old friend started a coal mining business in Jincheng later? Coal bosses are very rich, so why couldn't they have such a beautiful granddaughter?"
Lu Mingzhe didn't dare to argue with her.
"I hope you're right. I wish it were her."
As he finished speaking, the waiter led the woman behind them.
"Hello, Miss. You've arrived at table six."
The girl's eyes swept back and forth between Zhan Bei Jue and Lu Mingzhe.
"May I ask who Lu Mingzhe is?"
Do you know what it feels like to have a windfall?
Do you know what it feels like to win a 500 million yuan lottery for no reason?
That was Lu Mingzhe's feeling at that moment.
This reversal and surprise were too great!
He had expected a simple country girl from the Loess Plateau with a thick Northern Shaanxi accent.
But then…
Lu Mingzhe was momentarily speechless, his face twitching as he stared for two seconds before standing up in surprise.
"I am Lu Mingzhe."
The girl's voice was sweet, "Hello. My name is Chen Jiaojiao."
It was her! What a rustic name!
It was precisely because of this unpolished name that Lu Mingzhe had assumed she was a country bumpkin!
Lu Mingzhe was blinded by her beauty and was too excited to speak.
Chen Jiaojiao sat in the empty seat next to Jiang Nan Fang and spoke proactively.
"I know you. I saw your profile before coming. You're my fiancé."