The traffic policeman's expression finally eased upon hearing Zhan Bei Jue's explanation.
"I see. Since you're friends and it wasn't intentional, hurry along."
"Will you call for a tow truck yourself, or should we arrange one? The accident scene needs to be cleared quickly to avoid obstructing public traffic."
Zhan Bei Jue nodded humbly at the policeman, then walked to Jiang Nan Fang, took her wrist, and called Ah Zhong on his phone to handle the situation.
Cars started to weave through the spaces between them again.
Fearing Jiang Nan Fang would continue her mad rampage if he let her go, Zhan Bei Jue held her wrist and pulled her towards the side of the road.
His strength was immense. Jiang Nan Fang was forced to walk with him, all the while trying to wrench herself free.
"Let go of me! Don't touch me!"
"Who's your friend? Who asked you to speak up for me? Stay away from me! Who wants to be tangled up with you? Let go!"
Zhan Bei Jue only released her once they reached the sidewalk. He intended to turn back and scold her for being so reckless.
However, as he turned, he saw that the early winter wind had blown her loose hair into a mess, sticking to her face. While everyone else was bundled up in coats and windbreakers, she was only wearing a black sweater in the few degrees of cold.
Everything about her was black, as if she were in mourning. He wondered if she was deliberately trying to disgust him.
Her wrist ached from the tightness of his grip when he let her go.
Jiang Nan Fang looked down at her hand, seeing a clear imprint of his fingers. Without tidying her hair, she immediately raised her hand to slap him.
Zhan Bei Jue was quick, catching her wrist.
"What are you doing? Are you done? Jiang Nan Fang, do you know how much like a madwoman you look right now?"
Jiang Nan Fang tried to pull her hand away, struggling twice without success. She then kicked at his leg.
"You only just realized I'm crazy? I am a madwoman! I've been mad for a long time! You drove me to it!"
"It's good that I'm mad, Zhan Bei Jue. If I were to hack you to death on the street right now, no one could do anything to me!"
She kicked him with all her might. Zhan Bei Jue felt the pain in his leg but remained standing firm.
He used his other hand to gently brush the messy hair from her face.
"You look really terrible in black, like a widowed woman who's lost her family."
Jiang Nan Fang: "..."
"If you want to argue, change your clothes first. Your current appearance is affecting my mood."
Then, inexplicably, a taxi stopped in front of them, and the driver leaned out.
"Sharing a ride? Yinji Plaza, we need two more. Are you going?"
Zhan Bei Jue pulled Jiang Nan Fang over, opened the rear door, pushed her in, and then got into the passenger seat. "Yes."
Next, inexplicably, Jiang Nan Fang was dragged out of the car by him and taken to the women's fashion section of a department store.
Seeing a young, attractive couple enter, two sales assistants quickly rushed to greet them.
Zhan Bei Jue pushed Jiang Nan Fang towards them. "These are your new arrivals. Pick out two outfits for her, from top to bottom."
"Certainly, sir. May I ask..."
"No preferences, anything but black."
With that, Jiang Nan Fang was surrounded by the two assistants as they chattered and led her further inside.
Why was he suddenly bringing her to buy clothes?
Trying to win her over?
Although the brand he chose was well-known, and Jiang Nan Fang liked the designer, the prices weren't cheap. She did need new clothes.
However!
She wouldn't let a small favor like this make her give up her plan for revenge!
She had left in such a hurry that she didn't bring any extra clothes, and she didn't know how many more days she'd have to stay in Nancheng.
Since she was already at the clothing store, Jiang Nan Fang decided not to make things difficult for herself and unceremoniously picked out several outfits.
She was slender, and her features were beautiful; even a scrap of cloth would look good on her.
After trying them on, the sales assistants were full of praise.
"Miss, everything looks good on you. Each piece suits you perfectly. Our designer designed these precisely according to your body proportions."
"Why not buy them all? Although they are new arrivals, you can get an 8.5% discount if you spend over twenty thousand."
Since it wasn't her money, Jiang Nan Fang waved at them expansively.
"Pack them all. No discount needed. Find that gentleman to pay. He detests it when people give him discounts."
She bought six outfits, big and small, costing Zhan Bei Jue over two hundred thousand.
After swiping his card, the sales assistant very politely handed the bags to Zhan Bei Jue.
"Sir, you're so generous to your girlfriend. Would you like to sign up for a complimentary platinum membership card here?"
"We can call you when new arrivals or promotions are available. We also have complimentary gifts for Valentine's Day."
"No need." Zhan Bei Jue took the bags and walked out.
It was the first time in his life he had helped someone shop and carried their bags. Outside the store, Zhan Bei Jue threw the bags on the ground.
"Are you less angry now? Jiang Nan Fang, I really have something to do tonight. Can you stop following me?"
"Who's following you? You're the one who dragged me here."
Jiang Nan Fang picked up the bags.
"If you don't want me to follow you, return my car. Otherwise, how can I get back to the hotel with so many things?"
This was easy. Zhan Bei Jue could have someone pick her up and drop her off, as long as he could get rid of her.
After Jiang Nan Fang finished speaking, he reached for his phone to call a subordinate.
However, the moment he lowered his head to get his phone, Jiang Nan Fang's eyes flickered, and she suddenly spotted a familiar figure in a shop diagonally behind him.
Wasn't that Zhan Bei Jue's detestable mother, Mrs. Zhou Wanjun?
She had gone to their home today and hadn't seen her, thinking she'd truly stood her ground and left Nancheng after severing ties with Zhan Bei Jue.
To her surprise, she was here shopping, alive and well!
Two women, similar in age and with a similar demeanor and style, accompanied her on either side.
They were clearly her friends from the same circle.
A thought sparked in Jiang Nan Fang's mind. "Excellent!"
Finally, she had an opportunity to get revenge for the humiliation she had suffered. If she couldn't infuriate her today, she'd consider herself a failure!
Zhan Bei Jue was about to dial his phone when Jiang Nan Fang suddenly stepped forward and pressed his hand.
"I don't want anyone else to send me. I'm so frail, what if someone harbors ill intentions towards me and harms my personal safety?"
"If anyone is to send me, it should be you personally. You should take me back!"
"..."
Zhan Bei Jue was speechless.
*You're frail?*
*Physically, you do look quite delicate.*
*But to say that few men could harm you, Jiang Nan Fang, I truly don't believe it.*
However, disbelief aside, after such a major incident, she was in a bad mood.
If she were to do something extreme, Zhan Bei Jue still felt a pang of guilt.
He checked his watch; he still had time.
"Alright. Which hotel are you staying at? I'll take a taxi to send you there."
Jiang Nan Fang's scheme was working. She pouted and handed the bags she was holding to him.
"I'm so tired. I haven't eaten a meal all day, and I have no strength."
"Here, help me carry these."