It suddenly spiraled out of control.
The two people who had navigated through the mist and admired each other finally came together openly, able to express their longing, regrets, remorse, and unwillingness without reservation.
Today was destined to be an extraordinary day…
At eight o'clock the next morning, Melody had everything prepared, but no one came to meet her.
With no other choice, she sent a message to Zhan Bei Jue.
Zhan Bei Jue was also somewhat surprised.
Ah Zhong had been his assistant for so many years. While not achieving 100% in everything, he at least managed above 95%.
Punctuality was a fundamental matter. How could he have been delayed?
Thinking something had happened to him, Zhan Bei Jue called him.
His phone was in the living room, and he was in the bedroom. The two exhausted young people were embraced together, sleeping soundly, completely oblivious to the ringing.
It rang once, no answer; twice, no answer.
As a last resort, Zhan Bei Jue called the hotel.
Soon, the room door chimed.
Ah Zhong frowned slightly, showing signs of waking.
Zhou Jin Bei woke up before him.
Thinking he was exhausted from the previous night, she patted his back considerately and coaxed Ah Zhong back to sleep.
Then, she put on a bathrobe and went to open the door herself.
The room manager was looking for a man. Upon seeing her, he relayed the message to Zhan Bei Jue.
"Mr. Zhan, I haven't seen Mr. Zhong. A lady opened the door."
Mr. Zhan?
There weren't many people surnamed Zhan in Nancheng. Coupled with Ah Zhong staying in the room, Zhou Jin Bei instantly became alert.
"Are you calling Zhan Bei Jue?"
Zhan Bei Jue heard the woman's voice on the phone? Wasn't that Zhou Jin Bei?
He ordered the room manager to hand the phone to her.
Zhou Jin Bei wasn't psychologically prepared to explain her relationship with Ah Zhong to Zhan Bei Jue.
Seeing the phone being handed to her, she instinctively wanted to dodge.
However, Zhan Bei Jue shouted into the phone.
"Zhou Jin Bei, why are you in Ah Zhong's room? What did you two do last night?"
She had no choice but to take the phone. Gritting her teeth, she steeled herself.
"We're both adults, you're unmarried, and I'm unwed. What do you think we did?"
"..." Zhan Bei Jue was momentarily stunned by her retort.
"You're useless at achieving anything but good at messing things up. I can't be bothered with you. Alright, I don't have time to ask about your messy affairs."
"Tell Ah Zhong he doesn't need to call me back later. Sort out your own messy affairs first. Give him a week off. Also, tell him to visit his father. I have other arrangements here."
Zhou Jin Bei assumed Zhan Bei Jue was merely arranging ordinary work for Ah Zhong, something anyone else could do.
She casually hung up the phone.
Since he already knew, she felt even more relieved.
Immersed in her own happiness, she contentedly lay back on the bed, hugged Ah Zhong, and fell asleep again.
With the only person he could trust now having personal matters to attend to, Zhan Bei Jue had to make other plans.
He thought Ah Zhong had also had a tough time.
His previous girlfriend was a drama queen, the kind even he couldn't stand.
Later, he met Zhou Jin Bei, which drove him to the brink of madness.
Afterward, she went abroad but always worried about her father back home.
Now that she had returned, she was busy with work and had no time to accompany her father. As a son, he couldn't even be at his father's bedside during his illness and hospitalization.
Forget it.
He really should give him some time off to handle his personal affairs.
Zhan Bei Jue couldn't trust anyone else, so he had to go to Bei Cheng himself.
However, it was a sudden matter, and he needed to ask Jiang Nan Fang for leave.
Jiang Nan Fang, being someone who couldn't stay idle, was already up and sitting at the computer, processing work.
Pushing the door open, he saw her drawing. Zhan Bei Jue's first action was to scold her.
"Can't you delegate this work to someone else? The doctor said you need to rest well during the postpartum period, otherwise, you'll develop problems later. Are you deliberately trying to oppose me?"
Jiang Nan Fang knew she would be scolded if he caught her working. She quickly raised her head and blinked her innocent big eyes, trying to cajole him.
"I designed the product, and others don't know where to start. Just this once, I promise to lie down obediently after I finish this."
Zhan Bei Jue pinched her nose.
"If you ever try to be cunning or disobey me again, I'll have them drop out of school and stay home watching you all day."
Jiang Nan Fang pushed his hand away and reached out to hug his waist.
"Is watching me alone not enough for you? Do you need the four little devils too? That's terrifying. I promise to be obedient from now on, alright?"
Zhan Bei Jue was completely helpless against her now.
He sighed and kissed her forehead.
"Something has come up temporarily. I need to go to Bei Cheng, and I won't be able to watch you at home for the next few days."
"Jiang Nan Fang, you're already a mature adult. You need to keep your word."
She had already been in confinement for half a month, with Zhan Bei Jue watching her at home every day.
Besides eating, he just ordered her to sleep. Jiang Nan Fang was getting annoyed.
Upon hearing that he had to go on a business trip, she felt a little delighted.
Even married couples need some distance and space from each other from time to time.
Who else was as clingy as him, sticking to his wife 24 hours a day?
Though she was overjoyed, Jiang Nan Fang feigned reluctance.
"You have to go on a business trip? Why didn't you tell me in advance? How long will you be gone?"
Zhan Bei Jue wasn't sure.
The doctors in Bei Cheng said that the brainstem injury was very complex, and just getting the reports might take three to five days.
Then, they would need to formulate a treatment plan, which would take at least ten days to half a month.
"I'm not sure, probably several days. I'll rush back as soon as my work is done. So, you must behave yourself."
"I understand, go with peace of mind. I promise you'll see a lively me when you return."
The words "lively" were quite amusing, and Zhan Bei Jue's mind immediately wandered to other thoughts.
He hadn't touched Jiang Nan Fang in a long time. Imagining that scene, he couldn't help but feel a surge of heat.
"When you're lively again, I'm going to collect all the debts you owe me from this past month."
Zhan Bei Jue personally drove Melody and her mother on their way.
On the road, he chatted with Melody, blaming her for letting someone come to their home without consulting him.
"In the future, be more discreet in your actions. You haven't fully assessed the other person's character. Avoid unclear relationships."
"As long as nothing is exposed, it's fine. But if it is, both you and I will be in big trouble."
Melody was annoyed by his scolding, so she immediately turned off her phone and threw it onto the center console.
"Besides you, what use do I have for this phone? I don't contact anyone all day."
"Now that you're sitting next to me, you have even less need for it. Since you don't trust me that much, turning it off is fine, isn't it?"
Zhan Bei Jue thought she was being petulant and glanced at her sideways.
"Weren't you just getting along swimmingly with that person? If you turn off your phone like this without explaining, don't blame me if it doesn't work out."
Melody let out a scornful laugh.
"Do you think I'm eighteen this year? Did I really find him to date?"
"I'm the boss after signing the contract. Am I afraid of an employee?"