The journey back was a lonely one.
Before getting involved with Zhan Bei Jue, she was used to being alone and didn't feel lonely.
It had only been two days, and suddenly being apart, the air around her felt lonely.
Her heart felt hollow and adrift.
Jiang Nan Fang didn't want to stay home alone, so she bought a dozen beers and went to find Chen Jiao Jiao.
Chen Jiao Jiao and Zhou Jin Bei hit it off immediately. Despite it being their first meeting, they were chatting animatedly.
One had no classes today, and the other didn't need to go to work. Both were showered and dressed in loungewear, chatting about everything under the sun.
Upon receiving Jiang Nan Fang's call and hearing she was coming, Chen Jiao Jiao jumped for joy.
"Great, great! I'll send you the address right away, come quickly!"
Zhou Jin Bei was quite displeased.
It was rare to make a friend, and this one was Jiang Nan Fang's best friend. What a buzzkill.
Why did she have to be everywhere?
Soon, Jiang Nan Fang arrived.
The moment she entered, Chen Jiao Jiao pulled her into a hug.
"You're not working today, why didn't you say so earlier? Come on, come on, Bei Bei and I were having a great chat, join us."
"Phones off, no one is allowed to answer calls from men. Today is a girlfriends' gathering, no talking about men, let them cool their heels."
She took the beers and happily placed them on the coffee table, then nudged Jiang Nan Fang to sit down.
Zhou Jin Bei turned her head and glanced at Jiang Nan Fang indifferently, "My second brother is gone?"
"Gone."
Jiang Nan Fang casually opened a bottle of beer.
"He's gone, so you don't have to go to work? That's great?"
"Nonsense, I'm his assistant. If he's gone, who am I supposed to serve?"
Chen Jiao Jiao, sitting opposite, popped open two bottles of beer and chided them both.
"I said no talking about men, why are you two still mentioning them? Drink up, no more talk about them!"
"Today we're having a party, we won't stop until we're drunk!"
Jiang Nan Fang didn't mind; she wasn't working anyway, so getting drunk was fine.
However, Zhou Jin Bei acted unusually.
She was enthusiastic about other activities, but when it came to drinking, she immediately waved her hand.
"You guys drink, I won't."
"Why won't you drink? Don't you like us, don't you want to party with us?"
Chen Jiao Jiao was also displeased.
"I notice you seem a bit hostile towards Sister Nan Fang. Did you two have some past conflict?"
"Who's hostile towards her? I'm just not feeling well and don't want to drink."
Zhou Jin Bei instinctively used a pillow to cover her stomach.
"Besides, she and I aren't related, we don't work in the same company, and we don't fight over men. What conflict could there be?"
Jiang Nan Fang exposed her.
"Who says there isn't? Forgotten what good things you did to me before?"
She pushed a bottle of beer towards her. "Drink it. I'm not petty, drink this bottle and all past grievances are settled."
"What good things did I do to you? Locked you and my second brother together, letting you two reconcile for a whole night?"
Zhou Jin Bei retorted.
"Don't act like a saint after getting the benefits. With my second brother's looks and physique, how many women would kill for a chance, but if we weren't related, would it be your turn?"
That was the honest truth.
Jiang Nan Fang was amused by her words.
"Actually, I think you're quite interesting. Even though your second brother always scolds you, he actually likes you quite a bit."
"I think we can be friends, can't you give me a chance?"
She said it as if Jiang Nan Fang was really targeting her.
Zhou Jin Bei had no choice but to say,
"I haven't done anything to you. Who isn't giving you a chance? If you want to be friends, be friends, there's no need to drink."
"Don't you love drinking? I remember the first time I saw you was because of drinking."
"What, gone straight now?"
Zhou Jin Bei said, "Yes, gone straight. I missed too many things and got scolded too much because of drinking in the past. I don't dare anymore."
Chen Jiao Jiao cast a displeased glance at her and pushed the beer towards Jiang Nan Fang.
"She won't drink, we will. I dislike people who are indecisive and petty the most."
"Who is indecisive and petty?"
Zhou Jin Bei hated that kind of person. "I just..."
"Just what? Are you pregnant? Will drinking harm your unborn child?"
Chen Jiao Jiao said it casually.
Unexpectedly, it hit Zhou Jin Bei's weak spot, and her face instantly turned red.
Jiang Nan Fang, sensing something unusual, gasped.
"Are you really pregnant? I haven't seen you with a boyfriend. Pregnant before marriage?"
"Do you think everyone is like you? Likes being pregnant before marriage."
Zhou Jin Bei realized her slip of the tongue after saying it. Then, gritting her teeth, she generously admitted.
"Fine, fine, I'm just like you, pregnant after divorce, alright?"
The two ladies beside her gaped in astonishment.
"You're divorced? When did you get married?"
Since the words were already out, there was no point in hiding it any longer.
Zhou Jin Bei recounted her marriage and divorce from Jiang Si Cheng to them.
This news was explosive. Fortunately, Jiang Nan Fang could empathize with her.
"You did the right thing. The child is innocent, an angel sent by heaven to its mother. I support you doing this."
"Does your second brother know about this?"
"My second brother not only knows, but he also dealt with that scoundrel for me."
Jiang Nan Fang smacked her forehead, finally remembering Zhan Bei Jue's strange behavior at the bar that day.
"So it was him. I've met your ex-husband."
"Met him? When did you meet him?"
Jiang Nan Fang then recounted the incident where Jiang Si Cheng was dealt with at the bar that night.
Zhou Jin Bei felt incredibly satisfied hearing it.
"That's great! My second brother truly lived up to his name, so satisfying!"
"I only regret not being there at the time. Otherwise, I would have poured a few bottles over his head. Why didn't you tell me sooner!"
"If I had known my second brother loved me so much, I would have argued with him less and angered him less."
Jiang Nan Fang knew she was also someone with a tough exterior but a soft heart. She reached out and patted her.
"It's not difficult. Your second brother will be back in a couple of days. When he returns, just humble yourself and apologize."
"This man, he's tough-mouthed, but actually softer-hearted than anyone else."
"You finally see it. Besides you, my second brother hasn't had any other women all these years; all his thoughts have been on you."
"Sometimes I watch him secretly thinking of you, doing things for you, and I feel it's not worth it for him."
"But thankfully, you've now seen the light and returned to righteousness, so my second brother's efforts have paid off. Live well from now on, and try to have a couple more fat babies for him!"
Jiang Nan Fang felt a warmth spread through her heart at her words.
"Okay, when he comes back, I will definitely live well with him."
Who knew that the simplest wish would be so difficult to fulfill?
As Jiang Nan Fang chatted with Chen Jiao Jiao and the others, she drank too much and ended up lying down to sleep at noon.
She woke up at eight in the evening.
Thinking that Zhan Bei Jue had already landed, she hurriedly grabbed her phone to check.
There wasn't a single message.
She took the initiative to call Zhan Bei Jue.
She called several times, but no one answered.