Knowing Zhong's chauvinistic nature, he definitely wouldn't ask his ex-girlfriend for money after breaking up.
Stepping outside and getting into the car, Zhou Jinbei didn't mention the recent incident to him.
At this moment, he held a cigarette in his hand, his elbow resting on the car window, his face turned to the side, his eyes blankly staring into the distance.
It was as if he was only now realizing that the past three and a half years had been wasted, and he finally had the time to grieve.
Zhou Jinbei wasn't good at comforting people, nor could she say sweet, gentle words to play the role of a sympathetic confidante.
After watching Zhong for two seconds, she reached out and tapped on the central console: "Hey."
Zhong turned his head back, glanced at her, and started the car: "I'll drive you back."
"Going back already? It's late, and you made me come all this way with you, and the problem is solved. After solving it, not even a thank you?"
Zhong stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, reversed, and skillfully merged onto the road.
"I thought you didn't need it. Thank you."
"You're really so straightforward. I told you to thank me, and two words did it?"
Zhong finally realized she had an implied meaning.
"Then what do you want?"
"Don't talk to me in that tone, as if I'm threatening you."
Zhou Jinbei kicked off her shoes, resting her feet comfortably on the central console and rubbing her stomach.
"I haven't eaten yet and I'm starving. Haven't you eaten either? Treat me to dinner."
Zhong indeed hadn't eaten.
He was busy before, and now he was in no mood.
But Zhou Jinbei had already eaten.
She just didn't want to see him so sad that he'd harm his own health over an unworthy woman.
Zhong glanced at the time; they had been out for forty minutes. If they ate dinner now...
He was worried that Jiang Nan Fang might need him.
But he couldn't refuse Zhou Jinbei: "What do you want to eat? I'll order for you. Let's make do with it for today and eat it back at the hospital. I'll treat you properly another day when I have time."
Zhou Jinbei pouted: "You're so busy, you don't even have time to properly treat someone to a meal."
"..."
"Forget it, takeout it is. You drive first, I'll see what to eat."
Zhong drove seriously, and she pretended to pick up her phone.
A moment later, as they passed a roasted sweet potato stall by the roadside, Zhou Jinbei shrieked.
"Hey, stop the car, stop the car! It looks like they sell roasted sweet potatoes here!"
Zhong pulled over and saw that it was indeed true.
In the past, roasted sweet potatoes were only available in winter, but now they were available in summer too.
The two of them got out. Zhou Jinbei chose the largest one, which was roasted to be fragrant and soft, looking very appetizing.
Thinking he could also bring back a couple for the children, Zhong bought four in total.
Back in the car, Zhou Jinbei asked him why he bought so many.
"To give away," Zhong didn't want to say more.
Fortunately, Zhou Jinbei didn't want to ask either. She seriously peeled the sweet potato skin, dug out a spoonful with a plastic spoon, and immediately frowned.
"Hmm? It looked pretty tasty, but it's actually quite ordinary. I'm not eating it anymore."
Saying that, she dug out another heaping spoonful and handed it to Zhong.
"Wasted ten yuan. Try it, it's not sweet at all."
Zhong didn't want to try it, not because he disliked her using the same spoon, but because he was in no mood for jokes.
But as Zhou Jinbei held it to his mouth, looking at him with the serious gaze of someone discussing a major event, if he didn't try it, he'd seem too fussy.
After taking a bite, Zhou Jinbei blinked her big eyes and asked him, "How is it?"
Zhong replied truthfully: "It's quite sweet. It's already very good that sweet potatoes can be roasted like this."
"Since your standards are so low, then you eat it."
Zhou Jinbei had achieved her goal and dug out another heaping spoonful for him.
"I'm not used to this kind of coarse grain, and it's a waste to throw it away. You finish it."
Miss Zhou kept feeding him mouthful after mouthful, and Zhong felt a little embarrassed.
When they stopped at a red light, he tried to take the sweet potato.
"No need. I'll eat the rest when I get back to the hospital..."
"What? You dislike how I'm feeding you?" Zhou Jinbei didn't hand it over.
"No complaining allowed. I've gotten used to taking care of my aunt lately and I quite enjoy this feeling of being needed. Eat yours, and stop nagging."
Despite feeling physically exhausted, Jiang Nan Fang couldn't sleep.
Looking at the sleeping faces of her adorable children, she was terrified of losing them, so she picked up her phone and searched for information about heart disease online.
As she was reading, her heart aching with distress, Ke Teng called.
Without even thinking, she knew why he was calling her.
Jiang Nan Fang was in no mood to joke with him, nor was she in the mood to accept his absurd pursuit. Without a second thought, she hung up.
She didn't expect Ke Teng to be so persistent.
After hanging up, he immediately called again.
With no other choice, Jiang Nan Fang had to block him.
There was also WeChat.
Jiang Nan Fang set her messages to do not disturb.
After blocking his number, she looked at his chat and saw that he had sent her messages all day long.
She blocked him on WeChat too, to prevent him from initiating a video call later.
As it turned out, her guess was right.
Ke Teng had been thinking about her from morning till night, sending her a message every few minutes. He thought this fervent pursuit would eventually move her.
But... he was blocked.
Had he offended her somewhere?
It had only been a day, and she was still willing to talk to him on the way back!
Having just finished work and returned to the hotel, he had expected to rest while chatting with Jiang Nan Fang.
Discovering he was blocked, the drop in his mood was too great, and Ke Teng was almost furious enough to die.
Without a word, he called Xu Yan Chuan.
Xu Yan Chuan was frustrated with his entrepreneurial setbacks, realizing he was still too inexperienced without his family's support, and was feeling rather dejected.
Upon receiving Ke Teng's call, he naturally responded irritably: "What business does the great young master Ke have with me?"
Ke Teng knew his attitude towards his cousin a few days ago had been a bit excessive.
It was his first time starting a business, and instead of being supported by his brother, he had been a hindrance. He quickly apologized.
"I'm sorry, brother. I'm calling to apologize. I was wrong the other day."
"Please forgive me, and give me another chance. I'll go back and help you shoot the movie..."
Xu Yan Chuan interrupted him: "No need. You're too expensive, I can't afford you, and you don't have time anyway. I won't trouble you."
"Don't, don't, don't, brother, my dearest brother, I really know I was wrong. Please, don't be angry, don't mock me, give me another chance."
"I promise! I promise I'll be obedient this time, shoot it properly, and try to schedule the shooting during the day. As long as you can get Jiang Nan Fang back..."
"I knew it. Why would you suddenly come to your senses and apologize to me if it wasn't for her?"
Xu Yan Chuan gritted his teeth in anger, "Don't you know her relationship with Zhan Bei Jue and you're still pursuing her? Have you no shame?"
"Besides, she already has two children. Even if she were willing to be with you, would your father accept it?"
"Haven't you been on Weibo these past few days?" Ke Teng chuckled. "My dad likes her immensely; he's even personally verified it on Weibo."
"What?" Xu Yan Chuan had been in a bad mood these past few days and hadn't checked Weibo.
"Oh, anyway, you don't need to worry. You just need to find her back. The rest is none of your business."
Ke Teng said, "I know you've just started filming and are short on funds. How about this, let's arrange to have lunch with her tomorrow noon."
"As long as you succeed in inviting her, I'll cover whatever funds you're short of afterward."