When men become shameless, women truly have no way to deal with them.
Zhan Jingchun didn't want their affairs to become a big fuss, so she only spoke her mind. Besides grabbing and biting him, she dared not make too much of a scene.
She made no sound, silently biting and scratching, and gave him a thorough beating. Peng Fei still didn't comply.
Her mind raced, and Zhan Jingchun grabbed his bathrobe tie and yanked it open.
Suddenly appearing naked before her was too shameful. Peng Fei quickly reached out to cover himself. Zhan Jingchun seized the moment he looked away, pulled open the door, and ran out.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she stepped out, the housekeeper, with water sloshing from her hands, hurried over.
"Chun Chun. I'm sorry, but I have to start my holiday early. My daughter-in-law is about to give birth. She just called saying she has stomach pains and is already on her way. You know, my husband passed away early, and my son is clueless about everything. I need to hurry over."
Zhan Jingchun knew the auntie's family situation. The auntie had already told her about needing leave at the end of the year, so she understood.
"Which hospital? I'll take you."
"No, no, it's fine. I'll just take a taxi myself."
"We're so familiar with each other, and you're still being polite? It's not convenient to get a taxi here. Let's go, I'll drive you."
Peng Fei tied his robe and followed them out. Seeing them about to leave, he quickly asked, "Where are you going?"
Zhan Jingchun ignored him and pushed the auntie towards the door.
The auntie turned back and explained the situation to him, instructing him.
"You stay home alone for now. Chun Chun will be back soon. Even if the clothes are dry, don't wear them immediately. Take them out to air first, and wear them tomorrow. If you're sleepy, go to bed..."
Zhan Jingchun scoffed, "You really treat him like your son? What's so good about him that you're so concerned?"
The auntie said, "He's even younger than my son, and I think he's had it tough. I can't help but overflow with motherly love."
The two hurried out, and unexpectedly, Peng Fei followed them too.
"I don't want to stay home alone, so I'm coming too."
Dressed like this, he wants to go to the hospital?
Before Zhan Jingchun could refuse, Peng Fei said,
"I know I'm not presentable going out like this, but at worst, I'll just sit in the car and not get out. I'm worried, so I have to follow. If you don't let me go, I'll follow behind the car dressed like this."
Truly shameless.
If it weren't for the auntie being in a hurry, Zhan Jingchun would have beaten him again.
Zhan Jingchun drove, the auntie sat in the passenger seat, and Peng Fei squeezed into the back.
On the way to the hospital, the auntie asked Zhan Jingchun,
"Tomorrow is the 29th, and the day after tomorrow is New Year. Are you really not going back? Now that I'm leaving, you'll be quite lonely here by yourself. Your elders are also worried. Why don't you just go back?"
Peng Fei only then belatedly realized that New Year was fast approaching.
Chun Chun doesn't want to go back and plans to spend it alone here? Why?
Before Peng Fei could ask, Zhan Jingchun glared at him from the rearview mirror.
"What does it have to do with you? Shut up."
Peng Fei had no choice but to stop asking.
An awkward silence filled the car. After another ten minutes, the auntie couldn't help but turn back and ask Peng Fei,
"Xiao Peng, are you going back for New Year?"
It didn't matter whether Peng Fei went back or not.
His mother had his sisters to accompany her. Now that the debts were cleared, he had returned not long ago, and there was nothing to worry about.
As long as Zhan Jingchun didn't kick him out, he actually wanted to stay.
Peng Fei hesitated and didn't answer. The auntie sighed.
"I left in such a hurry, I didn't leave much food for Chun Chun. I'm really worried she'll go hungry these few days."
"How about this, Chun Chun, I'll call Xiao Hui to come and keep you company for a few days. She's younger than me, and you'll have more fun together."
Zhan Jingchun absolutely refused.
Although the auntie was older, she was observant and never said what she shouldn't.
She quite liked their calm coexistence.
Xiao Hui was too smart and too good at reading people's minds, which she disliked.
"I'm not an idiot. Don't worry, I won't starve. It's only a month. Your daughter-in-law will be back after her confinement. If not, I'll eat out. It's fine."
The auntie had no choice but to stop talking.
Upon arriving at the hospital, there were no parking spaces. The auntie got out and waved to them, and Zhan Jingchun drove away.
The two returned home in silence. As the door closed, it was getting late. Zhan Jingchun said,
"Go to bed. We agreed you'd get up at six in the morning, don't let me see you again tomorrow."
But on the way back, Peng Fei had made up his mind.
Zhan Jingchun can't cook, and now there's no housekeeper. If she stays alone, wouldn't she just not eat and smoke all day?
He was worried and decided not to leave.
Peng Fei didn't argue with her face-to-face and obediently went into his room.
Zhan Jingchun pretended to go upstairs, but after less than ten minutes, she came back down.
Peng Fei's guess was exactly right. Her nicotine cravings were severe; she felt uncomfortable if she didn't smoke every few hours.
It was inconvenient and she had to sneak around when the housekeeper was there.
Now that she was gone, she was finally free. She wanted to go out and buy cigarettes. Many boxes.
Quietly tiptoeing to the living room downstairs, just as she was about to grab the keys to go out, Peng Fei's voice floated over leisurely.
"It's so late, where are you going?"
Zhan Jingchun jumped in fright, turned around, and saw him leaning in the doorway, wrapped in his bathrobe, staring at her.
"You're crazy!"
She cursed.
"What business is it of yours? Don't think that just because I picked you up and saved your life, you have the right to order me around. Understand your place. Don't meddle in things that don't concern you. One more word, and I'll kick you out right now!"
Since it was just the two of them, Peng Fei was not afraid of her being a paper tiger.
He walked straight towards her.
Looking at his expression, Zhan Jingchun felt he was about to... Her heart pounded.
"What are you doing? I'm warning you, there's a sensor alarm in the house. If I make any noise, it'll automatically report to the police. Don't provoke me."
Peng Fei walked directly up to her and grabbed her wrists.
"Then make your voice softer. Chun Chun, you really can't smoke anymore. Be good, I'll stay with you, and we'll quit together."
After all this time since showering, he still had a faint scent of shower gel on him.
When two people who had a past ambiguous relationship got so close, they could smell each other's fragrance, and even their breaths mingled.
Suddenly, the atmosphere changed.
However, this feeling didn't last long. Zhan Jingchun, afraid of falling back into it, started kicking him again.
"You're getting too bold, don't you know who you are? How dare you grab me? Let go! Don't force me to call for help!"
In that brief moment, Zhan Jingchun looked at him with bright eyes, her palms felt his warmth, and Peng Fei indeed had some unusual thoughts.
But he could control himself. Upon being cursed by Zhan Jingchun, he immediately returned to normal.
However, he still couldn't let go of her.
No matter how angry she got, he had to help her quit smoking.
Zhan Jingchun struggled and flailed, and Peng Fei suddenly scooped her up by the waist.
He slung her over his shoulder and carried her into his room.
He gently placed her on the bed, covered her with the quilt, and then lay down beside her.