Jiang Nan Fang did not accept his flowers.
Given their current relationship, accepting his roses in front of everyone would undoubtedly lead to misunderstandings.
But Zhan Bei Jue sounded so pitiful.
With everyone else staring intently at them, Jiang Nan Fang hesitated on what to do.
Fortunately, at that moment, the company's cleaning aunt was also leaving work and happened to pass by.
Jiang Nan Fang had a decent relationship with her, so she immediately called out to her.
"Auntie."
The aunt looked over.
Jiang Nan Fang took the flowers and handed them to her.
"I'm sorry for keeping you working so late, you've worked hard. I wanted to give you these flowers, not for any other reason, but to express my respect. Please don't mind."
The cleaning aunt was flattered and walked away with the flowers, expressing her gratitude with a smile.
In the car, Lu Ming Zhe saw this scene and, gripping the steering wheel, could barely contain his laughter.
Zhan Bei Jue, Zhan Bei Jue, karma indeed. You have days like these too.
Yet, even so, Zhan Bei Jue shamelessly wanted to accompany her.
Getting into the business van, the driver drove in front, and Jiang Nan Fang deliberately sat next to Director Zhang.
Zhan Bei Jue sat alone opposite them.
After a moment of silence, he took the initiative to ask everyone what they wanted to eat.
Everyone knew that President Zhan was rich and could afford anything.
But no one dared to voice their true desires.
So, after the question was asked, no one answered, and the atmosphere turned awkward.
Director Zhang quickly nudged Jiang Nan Fang beside him.
"You speak up, Engineer Jiang. Whatever you say we'll eat."
"You're the only woman here, ladies first. We'll listen to you."
Jiang Nan Fang didn't care about the awkwardness; it was all Zhan Bei Jue's own doing.
She looked out the window, completely unyielding.
"Take out your phone and search for somewhere nearby to eat. We have work tomorrow, so the sooner we eat, the sooner we can go home and rest."
Director Zhang, being jovial, pulled out his phone and browsed. He spotted an open seafood buffet.
"Since President Zhan is treating us, it has to be worthy of his status."
"This place looks good. Didn't someone say they wanted seafood at lunch? How about we go for seafood?"
Everyone perked up again.
Director Zhang was indeed eloquent and considerate of them. Seafood was great!
For people like them, working-class individuals, they could barely afford to eat it themselves once in a few months. But with President Zhan, they could eat to their hearts' content!
"No problem," Zhan Bei Jue agreed.
"Then let's go directly."
Hearing Zhan Bei Jue's immediate agreement, Jiang Nan Fang's lips parted, wanting to say something, but ultimately refraining.
Seafood was considered a "warming" food.
He had such serious injuries and had only been discharged from the hospital about ten days ago. He still wanted to eat seafood?
Was he tired of living?
But what did it have to do with her?
Ke Teng was still lying in the hospital ward.
He was injured because of her. If he didn't want to take care of himself and wanted to court death, then so be it.
This was a seafood buffet restaurant with an average consumption of around 3,000 yuan per person.
The decor was luxurious, and the variety was extensive.
Stepping inside felt like entering a dazzling seafood market, whetting everyone's appetite.
They had ordered takeout for dinner and eaten noodles. By this time, they were hungry again. Without further ado, everyone grabbed plates and began selecting their preferred dishes.
Jiang Nan Fang also took a plate and, seeing the oysters she liked piled high at the center of the buffet counter, walked directly towards it.
Zhan Bei Jue finally, finally got an opportunity to approach her alone.
Seeing her thin back struggling to reach for the top oysters, he directly reached out and grasped her wrist.
"Want to eat this? I'll help you."
A familiar voice suddenly sounded from above. Feeling her wrist held by a pair of distinctively jointed hands, Jiang Nan Fang quickly shook him off.
As they moved apart, she turned to glance at her colleagues, her eyebrows furrowed.
"What are you doing?"
"..."
Zhan Bei Jue felt a pang of sadness at her apparent fear of being seen and her extreme efforts to avoid contact.
"It's nothing, I just wanted to help you."
"Thank you. No need." Jiang Nan Fang took a step back with her plate and walked towards another section.
"Didn't you invite them to dinner? Why are you following me? Go find them."
Zhan Bei Jue, without even a plate, followed her forward. "Can you please not be like this?"
"Stop. Don't follow me. I don't want to talk to you. If you say any more, I'm not eating."
"..." Zhan Bei Jue had no choice but to stop.
Jiang Nan Fang was very hungry. Otherwise, she wouldn't have come out late at night to waste time with Zhan Bei Jue.
Ke Teng was still lying in bed; he was injured for her. Meeting Zhan Bei Jue behind his back at this time was no different from betrayal!
If it weren't for needing to fill her stomach, she would never betray Ke Teng.
Everyone picked a large plate of food and soon gathered around the dining table.
Only Zhan Bei Jue took nothing and sat at the outermost edge of the table.
People were busy cracking crab legs and slurping oysters. Seeing him not eating anything, they couldn't help but be curious.
"President Zhan, why aren't you getting any food?"
"Yes, why aren't you eating? Don't you like seafood?"
Zhan Bei Jue looked at Jiang Nan Fang sitting diagonally opposite him. She was intently eating a shrimp, her head bowed.
"It's fine, I'm not hungry. You all eat."
"...If you're not hungry, why did you invite us out so late at night?"
Everyone immediately felt a bit awkward.
"If we had known you didn't like it, we wouldn't have chosen this, President Zhan..."
"It's fine," Zhan Bei Jue patted Director Zhang's shoulder.
"Even if I don't eat, it doesn't stop you from enjoying yourselves. Come, let's switch seats."
Director Zhang, unsure of his intentions, obediently stood up and switched with him.
Zhan Bei Jue sat opposite Jiang Nan Fang and reached for a shrimp on her plate.
"I'll peel shrimp for Engineer Jiang. Everyone, please eat quickly."
"..."
Anyone with eyes could see that Zhan Bei Jue was actually there to see Jiang Nan Fang tonight.
They had just seen him give her flowers, and now he was treating them and peeling shrimp for her. Was he pursuing her?
An atmosphere of gossip instantly permeated the table. While they were hesitant to stare directly, they couldn't help but steal glances.
After Zhan Bei Jue took one shrimp, Jiang Nan Fang pulled her plate closer to herself.
"I'm not a pampered lady. I have hands, I don't need help."
"..."
Zhan Bei Jue seemed to ignore her words.
His hands continued peeling shrimp, and after finishing, he placed it on her plate, then stood up and pulled out a chair.
She thought he was angry, his pride hurt, and that he was going to leave in a huff.
To her surprise, he left his seat, limping, but instead of leaving, he grabbed a food tray and began to carefully select items from each buffet station.
Everyone looked at Jiang Nan Fang with confusion, surprise, and bewilderment.
"Engineer Jiang..."
"Not hungry anymore? Are you still going to eat? Why are you all looking at me?"
"President Zhan he..."
"I don't know. I'm not familiar with him, who knows what madness he's experiencing."
"..."
Director Zhang, not giving up, lowered his voice and asked Jiang Nan Fang again.
"President Zhan seems a bit off. What's wrong with his leg? Is he..."