"Stop talking, Chen Jiaojiao. You're acting very strangely today, and I don't like it."
"Men like women who play hard to get, who keep them guessing, understand?"
"Please go back to your old self. Don't disappoint me. I'm leaving."
Watching Lu Mingzhe's car lights disappear into the bustling traffic, Chen Jiaojiao stood in a daze for a while before entering the residential compound.
After taking just two steps, her phone rang.
She pulled it out and saw it was an unsaved number.
Even though it was unsaved, she had memorized this number countless times before.
It was etched into her memory.
With just one glance, many memories flooded back.
She didn't know why Hu Jiasheng was calling now.
Was he calling to mock her, or to show concern?
Did he want to apologize and reconcile, or...
Chen Jiaojiao didn't know if she should answer.
After a long hesitation, the call was disconnected.
Seeing that she didn't answer, Hu Jiasheng immediately sent a text message.
"I heard about Mr. Chen's situation these past two days, and I feel partly responsible, so I wanted to talk to you."
"I'm sorry, Jiaojiao. My abilities are limited. I can't help you with anything else, only offer some financial support."
"Please give me your private bank account number, and I'll transfer two million to you."
"It's not a lot of money. But it's all I can manage right now. Use it for now. Let me know if you encounter any difficulties later."
Chen Jiaojiao read and reread the message, over and over again.
Finally, her nose stung, and two lines of tears streamed down her cheeks.
For so many days, she had been waiting for an explanation, an attitude from Hu Jiasheng.
She wanted to know why he had abandoned her at a crucial moment.
Although Hu Jiasheng hadn't said anything at this moment, she suddenly seemed to understand.
Everyone has their own circumstances they can't escape.
Especially someone in his awkward position.
Marrying Chen Jiaojiao at that time would have meant making enemies for himself.
Whether he could give her happiness was unknown, but it was certain that their lives together would not be peaceful.
Perhaps he had also considered it for a long time before making what he thought was a kind choice.
Chen Jiaojiao prided herself on her good judgment.
At this moment, her opinion was further solidified.
Hu Jiasheng was not someone who would abandon a woman after having his way with her, nor was he heartless.
He was just not confident enough and wanted her to have something better.
All the hatred and resentment that had accumulated in her heart over this period vanished with the two million yuan she hadn't even received yet.
Chen Jiaojiao didn't send him her account number; instead, she made a phone call.
Hu Jiasheng answered, his tone as deep as ever.
"Jiaojiao."
"Hu Jiasheng, I'm calling to tell you that I don't hate you anymore, really."
"I don't regret knowing you or having a relationship with you, but I also don't regret marrying Lu Mingzhe."
"With your attitude today, my first love was worth it."
"But you don't need to help me anymore. I don't need it. Let's both let go of everything and move forward."
"Take care and keep working hard. I hope you meet a girl who loves you more in the future. That's all. This time, it's my turn to block you."
Lu Mingzhe parked his car at the entrance of the compound and texted Xiang Wan, asking if she had arrived.
Xiang Wan replied that she was almost there.
"I drove the car away. How did you get back? Taxi?"
"No. Xiao Song from the studio drove me back. He's been driving me for several days. It's all your fault; I owe him a favor because of you."
Lu Mingzhe didn't reply. He opened the car door and stood by the car, watching the passing traffic.
A few minutes later, a black car with its turn signal on stopped in front of him.
Xiang Wan saw Lu Mingzhe waiting at the entrance of the compound and ran towards him with light steps.
"When did you get here? Why didn't you go up first?"
Lu Mingzhe reached out, pulled her into his arms, and pecked her lips.
"I wanted to wait for you to come back together. What's the point of me going up alone?"
Xiao Song got out of the car and greeted them.
"Brother Lu, you're back? Sister Wan, since Brother Lu is waiting for you, I won't escort you. You two should go back quickly. I'm leaving too."
"Okay. Then drive carefully, and thank you, Xiao Song."
"You're welcome. It was on the way. Why are you being so polite, Sister Wan?"
With that, Xiao Song got back into the car to leave.
Lu Mingzhe walked over.
"Wait."
He walked up to Xiao Song and patted his shoulder.
"Thank you for the trouble of picking up Sister Wan these past few days. I'll treat you to a meal another day."
Xiao Song felt uncomfortable under his gaze.
"Brother, you really don't need to be so polite."
"It's not politeness; I've always been like this. My wife is my world. Whoever helps me take care of her, I will take care of them in return."
"It's just a meal; it's a small matter. Brother knows many girls. I'll introduce a girlfriend to you another day."
As they drove into the compound, Xiang Wan looked at him meaningfully.
Lu Mingzhe grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it.
"Miss me that much? Can't get enough? Your eyes are practically glued to my face."
"Stop being so smug. Who misses you? I just realized today that you're really petty."
"What? You're unhappy because I said I'd introduce a girlfriend to Xiao Song?"
Xiang Wan pinched him.
"Hmph, even if I'm foolish, Xiao Song isn't. Introducing a girlfriend to him, don't you know what you're implying?"
"Making it seem like he's interested in me. Are you annoyed?"
Lu Mingzhe let her pinch him.
"He is interested in you. I did that deliberately to warn him."
"See, I told you you're petty. He's several years younger than me and calls me 'sister' all the time. Where do you see him interested in me?"
Lu Mingzhe said.
"You know, sometimes you're incredibly smart, and other times you're incredibly obtuse in certain areas."
"I'm a man, and I know what men are thinking better than you do. Xiang Wan, stay away from the young men in your studio from now on."
"You're mine now. It makes me uncomfortable to be looked at with those kinds of eyes by them all the time."
Xiang Wan wished she could pinch his mouth.
"You get a little sunshine and you're beaming. The more I call you petty, the more petty you become."
"What kind of eyes are they looking at me with? If you say that, then after I marry you, won't my studio be unable to have male employees?"
Lu Mingzhe laughed.
"It's not that they can't have them, it's that they can't be handsomer than me. I'm just petty. I want you to only look at me, so what?"
"Boring. Then your studio has no women? I'll go check out your studio another day and see what kind of eyes they look at you with!"
"Look all you want, none of them are prettier than you."
"What if they have good figures and are proactive towards you? People say men have no resistance to women who throw themselves at them."
"If what you say is true, I receive so many offers every day. How am I still alive?"
Lu Mingzhe kissed her hand again.
"Men don't like women who cling to them. They like women like you, who are feisty and don't take men seriously. Understand?"
Every woman loves to hear sweet words.
Xiang Wan was successfully appeased.
"You cheap thing."
Lu Mingzhe sighed.
"Indeed. I haven't seen you in two days, and I'm going crazy missing you. I admit I'm getting more and more pathetic."