Pei Kexin grabbed Zhan Jingchen and left the Pei family without eating a meal.
Outside the house, Pei Kexin shoved the car keys into Zhan Jingchen's hand and pulled her hand away from him.
The uncontrollable tears streamed down her cheeks.
She had always presented herself as a strong woman, never letting anyone see her weakness, and it was no different now.
Not wanting Zhan Jingchen to see her crying, she lowered her head, pulled her hair to the sides of her cheeks, and tried to cover herself as much as possible.
Zhan Jingchen followed diagonally behind her. Even though he couldn't see directly, he could guess she was crying, and his heart felt heavy.
He just didn't understand why, knowing they disliked her and were plotting against her, and having the ability to start anew, she still endured them.
Thinking this, he couldn't help but want to advise her a few words.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he walked up to her, she dodged a step to the side again.
Then she opened the car door, got into the passenger seat, and skillfully held out two fingers to him.
"Got a smoke?"
Her gesture was practiced and commanding, indicating this wasn't the first time. Zhan Jingchen found this woman more and more interesting the more he learned about her.
Instead of giving her one, he flicked her hand.
"Smoking to relieve your worries? Really see yourself as a boss? Who told you this stuff is useful?"
Pei Kexin withdrew her fingers, glared at him impatiently, her voice muffled.
"If you have it, give it to me. If not, shut up. What's with all the nonsense?"
Her eyes and nose were red, looking somewhat pathetic, like a willow in the rain.
Zhan Jingchen had intended to tease her a bit more, but seeing her like this, he relented.
"I can't afford any good cigarettes, just this kind, ten yuan a pack. Are you interested?"
Pei Kexin buckled her seatbelt and turned her head again upon hearing this.
Without even looking clearly, she reached out to take it.
Zhan Jingchen, however, pulled his hand back again.
"Only one puff. You're a young lady, and you'll get married and have children in the future. Smoke too much, and you might not be able to have children."
Pei Kexin was annoyed by his incessant chatter. "Have children? With whom? You?"
"Me. What's wrong? Don't you think I'm handsome, with good genes? Can't you pay to find me?"
"..."
Pei Kexin sighed deeply, telling herself to let it go.
It wasn't worth wasting words on an overconfident man for a puff of smoke.
"We've only known each other for less than 48 hours. I don't want to admit I've misjudged you so quickly."
"Mr. Jiang, please be quiet. Don't make me want to terminate our contract."
Zhan Jingchen, "..."
The car finally started moving.
Pei Kexin closed her eyes and leaned back in the seat, feeling the steady speed of the car, thinking:
Although this guy is overconfident and a bit silly, I have to admit, messing with him is quite stress-relieving.
His nonsensical jokes had churned up her recent feelings of disappointment and anger, making her feel much better.
The two entered the ward to find the old man throwing a tantrum.
It was unclear what the caregiver had done wrong, but he was furious.
Tea cups, soup bowls, various pills, and other items were scattered all over the floor.
Although the old man couldn't speak, his limbs were quite strong.
Things were thrown everywhere. Two caregivers and a nurse stood opposite him, heads bowed and trembling.
Seeing Pei Kexin enter was like seeing a savior.
Pei Kexin knew the old man's temper. Upon entering, she didn't ask what happened, but looked at the caregivers.
"You haven't eaten dinner yet, have you? According to the doctor's prescribed diet, make another meal, and I'll feed him."
"After you finish cleaning here, you can leave. I'll stay tonight."
The caregivers and nurse, feeling greatly relieved, hurried out.
Pei Kexin pulled up a chair, sat by the bed, held the old man's hand, met his gaze for a few seconds, and then spoke.
"It's the same as I said before. If anything happens to you, Dad, I won't live either."
Zhan Jingchen, "..."
"My life was given to me by you. You are the only one in this world who cares about me. You know very well what my situation would be without you. Life is too bitter without you, so if you're gone, I probably won't live long either."
"..."
"But if you live well, I will definitely be well too. Whatever you instruct, I will do my best, just as I always have."
What outsiders might see as a few simple words of loyalty carried immense weight for the old man.
The Pei family, large and small, comprised over a dozen people: sons, daughters, grandsons, and granddaughters. On the surface, there was no shortage of successors for the company.
But the reality was different.
The eldest son, over fifty, had managed almost every department in the company, and each of his tenures had seen significant, unignorable mistakes.
He had been spoiled in his youth, his focus not on the company but on romantic pursuits. He was impulsive and unreliable, not someone to entrust the business to.
The second son, three years younger than the eldest, was more composed. He had managed the company with good results, but he was narrow-minded, selfish, and heartless. He was at odds with his elder brother privately and did not value sibling relationships.
As long as the old man was present, he could manage the dynamics between his siblings. But once he was gone, the old man feared that the elder brother's family would have no place to stand.
As for the two grandsons of the younger generation, it was best not to mention them...
Like father, like son. A doting mother spoils her children. Not a single one was presentable.
After a lifetime of hard work, on his deathbed, the old man finally realized that he could count on no one but Pei Kexin.
However, Pei Kexin was not the biological daughter of the Pei family. While she could manage the company temporarily, in the long run, especially after she started her own family, her two elder brothers would surely object.
Therefore, while he could still think, the old man's greatest hope was that Pei Kexin would mentor his two nephews more.
After he was gone, the division of the Pei family was inevitable.
He would prepare his will in advance.
As long as Pei Kexin raised her nephews well and never actively betrayed the Pei family, she would receive an equity share equal to that of the others.
She was now the old man's greatest hope. Others might ignore his words, but he had to listen to her.
No one wished for his survival more sincerely than she did; the old man understood.
The caregiver quietly cleaned up, and dinner was soon served again.
Pei Kexin said nothing more. She took the spoon and fed the old man mouthfuls, which he swallowed entirely.
How luxurious were the VIP hospital rooms in a high-end nursing home?
A giant LCD TV, a luxurious bedroom, an en-suite bathroom, a sofa, a kitchen – everything was complete.
After feeding the old man and giving him his medicine, Zhan Jingchen helped him to the restroom and then back to bed. Pei Kexin recounted the major events of the company in the past two days.
Finally, she managed to coax him to sleep.
The exhausting day finally drew to a close. Checking the time, it was nine in the evening.
Pei Kexin tucked the old man in and was about to rest. Zhan Jingchen went with her to the inner bedroom.
The larger room outside was occupied by the old man, so they only had this one.
Upon entering and surveying the room, with nowhere else to go and no need to bathe again, Zhan Jingchen sat on the bed.
"We're staying here tonight?"
Us?
Who knew what he was thinking. Pei Kexin couldn't help but remind him.