Zhan Bei Jue looked up, squinted, and frowned. The high intensity, overtime work made him look ferocious.
Before he could unleash his temper, Zhou Jinbei raised her hand in surrender, "I'm not here to disturb your work, I have something important to tell you!"
She obsequiously handed him her phone screen, "My sister-in-law sent this. She seems to be in a bad mood, take a look."
Jiang Nan Fang?
Zhan Bei Jue took the phone.
He heard she had been on a business trip these past few days, alone in another city. Drinking and cursing late at night, it seemed she had encountered difficulties.
Difficulties that could trouble her?
He returned the phone to Zhou Jinbei, "Ask her what's going on."
That day at Kangqiao Mountain Villa, unable to stand her fussing, Zhan Bei Jue had told her the truth of the matter.
Zhou Jinbei not only forgave Zhan Bei Jue but also felt they were particularly pathetic, destined to be a pair of ill-fated lovers even with a child.
His aunt, due to being betrayed in her youth, had a very strong personality and found it difficult to trust or like people.
Before knowing Jiang Nan Fang, she had heard many bad things about her from her aunt.
The issue between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law had always been a major problem. She herself hadn't experienced it, but poor Jiang Nan Fang had.
To not be with the person they loved during their prime years, alas!
Knowing Zhan Bei Jue missed Jiang Nan Fang, she deliberately sat in front of him and made a call on speakerphone. Soon, Jiang Nan Fang answered.
Her voice already carried a hint of intoxication.
"Sister Nan Fang, I saw your WeChat Moments. What's wrong? Where are you? You didn't even invite me for a drink."
Jiang Nan Fang laughed a few times with mixed emotions, "I would have invited you, but this is such a run-down place, you probably wouldn't come even if I did."
"I'm in Jiangcheng now, and I'm very upset. Can Zhan Bei Jue approve your leave?"
She feigned surprise, "You're in Jiangcheng? What are you doing there? Business trip?"
Jiang Nan Fang, with a belly full of pent-up frustration, rambled on to her.
When she spoke of being ignored day after day, and of a tire blowout on the highway today, Zhan Bei Jue's fingers, drumming on the desk, clenched fiercely.
He missed her so much. If she loved money and felt that a billion yuan wasn't enough to give her security, he wished he could sell off some real estate and give her more.
He didn't want her to work anymore, to suffer, or to face others' displeasure.
She clearly didn't have to endure this, so why make herself so miserable?
In a strange place, what if something really happened?
A wave of fear washed over him. He missed her, he longed to hold her.
Zhou Jinbei was still spewing platitudes to comfort her, but Zhan Bei Jue couldn't wait any longer.
He had to go see her, right now, this very moment.
If he couldn't confirm her safety with his own eyes, he wouldn't be able to sleep tonight!
A pen scribbled furiously on paper. Zhou Jinbei saw the white paper Zhan Bei Jue held up.
First surprised, then she obediently followed his instructions, "You said you're in a new place, drink less by yourself."
"Which hotel are you staying at? Tell me the name and room number. I'm really worried something might happen to you."
Jiang Nan Fang laughed, "Why? Worried about me, coming to see me overnight?"
"Overnight is impossible, but it's good to be prepared by asking. "
After hanging up the phone, Zhan Bei Jue grabbed his phone and car keys and stood up.
Zhou Jinbei looked at him, "I'll go with you."
"It's too far, and I'll be back tomorrow morning. It's not worth the trouble, don't mess around."
"Who's messing around? You haven't slept well for days, I'm afraid something might happen to you."
"I'll drive for you, or we can switch if needed. My sister-in-law's life is important, and so are you. You can't..."
Alright, Zhan Bei Jue had to admit that Zhou Jinbei's words at this moment were somewhat touching.
There wasn't much time, and the journey was long. No time for sentimentality, "Then let's go. Watch your mouth, and don't let anyone else know."
For the first leg of the journey, Zhou Jinbei drove. Zhan Bei Jue was exhausted and intended to sleep.
But he couldn't rest without lecturing Wang Lang. Before sleeping, he still called him.
Wang Lang answered instantly, his voice obsequious, "Mr. Zhan, aren't you resting this late?"
Zhan Bei Jue's voice was as cold as ice, "My person in Jiangcheng is almost being pushed to tears, how can I rest?"
Wang Lang was stunned and immediately understood, "Mr. Zhan, this isn't my fault. I didn't force Engineer Jiang to go on the business trip, she..."
"Knowing it's a tough nut to crack and you didn't accompany her, yet you say this. Fine, don't ask me for investment next time."
"..."
The distance from Nancheng to Jiangcheng is over 400 kilometers. There were fewer cars at night, and Zhou Jinbei was daring. She sped at 140 kilometers per hour and arrived in less than four hours.
Zhou Jinbei went to find another hotel, while Zhan Bei Jue entered the place where Jiang Nan Fang was staying.
At the front desk, Zhan Bei Jue showed them the marriage certificate he had prepared.
"My wife is not feeling well and called me to pick her up. Please take me up as soon as possible."
The staff, believing him, and fearing that a customer might have an accident in the hotel, quickly took him upstairs and swiped the card to open the door.
In the room, the dazed Jiang Nan Fang had just fallen asleep. She was dreaming.
In her dream, she finally met the damned Mr. Tang. They sat in a conference room discussing cooperation. Jiang Nan Fang threw money out, and her impassioned acquisition speech left him speechless, forcing him to kneel and submit.
As Jiang Nan Fang was feeling triumphant, Zhan Bei Jue arrived.
Like a madman, without a word, he hugged her, pressing her tightly in his arms.
"I'm sorry, wife, I'm sorry, I'm late, I made you suffer, it's all my fault, don't be sad."
Jiang Nan Fang: "??"
"I know you've been wronged these past few days, and you've been wronged all along. I'll make it up to you properly from now on. Don't play with your health, don't drink anymore, I'm begging you."
How did he know she had been drinking? How did he know she had been wronged?
"I'm begging you?"
When did he become so good?
Her head was dizzy, but she had to admit, even though he wasn't a good husband and had wronged her, being held by him felt truly comforting.
Anyway, it was a dream, and she didn't need to use him if she didn't want to. Jiang Nan Fang burrowed into him.
"You don't need me to teach you how to beg, do you? If you want me to listen to you, then beg properly."
Zhan Bei Jue looked at her, her eyes closed, her face flushed, but her speech still somewhat coherent. He doubted how drunk she really was.
"...What are your instructions? How do you want me to beg?"
The scene in Jiang Nan Fang's dream was vivid, "Pick me up and kiss me. Only kiss me, and if you dare to flirt with others again, I'll sew your mouth shut."
"..."
This is what you asked for.
Zhan Bei Jue missed her every day and wished for an opportunity to kiss and hug her. Now, he finally had his chance.
However, afraid of scaring her, he lowered his head and gently brushed her lips, "Is this okay?"
"No!"
Jiang Nan Fang was thirsty and anxious in her heart. She frowned, "This isn't okay!"
Zhan Bei Jue observed her expression, guessing that she might miss him and desire something more. He became bolder.
"This?"
Jiang Nan Fang didn't speak, only shook her head repeatedly.
Zhan Bei Jue became even bolder, "I know what to do now."