Things suddenly spiraled out of control.
The two people who had navigated through the fog and admired each other finally walked openly together, 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 pick her up.
She had no choice but to text Zhan Bei Jue.
Zhan Bei Jue was also somewhat surprised.
A Zhong had been his assistant for so many years. While not achieving 100% in everything, he at least scored above 95%.
Punctuality was a fundamental aspect. How could he have been delayed?
Thinking something might have happened to him, Zhan Bei Jue called him.
The phone was in the living room, and he was in the bedroom. The two exhausted young people were embraced together, sleeping soundly, completely unable to hear anything.
The phone rang once, no answer. Twice, no answer.
Reluctantly, Zhan Bei Jue had to call the hotel.
Soon, the room door knocked.
A Zhong frowned, showing signs of waking up.
Zhou Jin Bei woke up before him.
Thinking he was exhausted from last night, she patted his back affectionately and coaxed A Zhong back to sleep.
Then, she put on a bathrobe and went to open the door herself.
The guest room manager was looking for a man. Upon seeing her, he reported back to Zhan Bei Jue.
"Mr. Zhan, I didn't see Mr. Zhong. A lady opened the door."
Mr. Zhan?
There weren't many people named Zhan in Nan Cheng. Coupled with the fact that A Zhong was staying in the room, Zhou Jin Bei instantly sobered up.
"Are you calling Zhan Bei Jue?"
Zhan Bei Jue heard a woman's voice on the phone? Wasn't that Zhou Jin Bei?
He ordered the guest room manager to hand the phone over to her.
Zhou Jin Bei wasn't mentally prepared to explain her relationship with A Zhong to Zhan Bei Jue.
Seeing the phone being handed over, she instinctively wanted to dodge.
As a result, Zhan Bei Jue roared on the phone.
"Zhou Jin Bei, why are you in A Zhong's room? What did you do last night?"
She had no choice but to take the phone, grit her teeth, and steel herself.
"We're both adults, you're unmarried, and I'm not married. What do you think we did?"
"..." Zhan Bei Jue was momentarily stunned by her retort.
"You're useless at anything important 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 A Zhong that he doesn't need to call me back later. First, sort out your own messy affairs. Give him a week off. Also, go and see his father. I have other arrangements on my end."
Zhou Jin Bei thought Zhan Bei Jue was only assigning A Zhong ordinary work, something anyone else could do.
She casually hung up the phone.
Since he knew, she felt even more relieved.
Immersed in her own happiness, she contentedly lay back on the bed, hugged A Zhong, and fell asleep again.
With the only person he could trust now occupied with personal matters, Zhan Bei Jue had to make other plans.
He thought A Zhong had also had a difficult time.
His previous girlfriend was a drama queen, the kind that even he couldn't stand.
Later, he met Zhou Jin Bei, which drove him mad.
After that, she went abroad but was always worried about her father back home.
Now that she was back, she was busy with work every day and didn't have time to accompany her father. She couldn't even be by his side when he was sick and hospitalized, despite being his son.
Forget it.
It was indeed time to give him a break to handle his personal matters.
Zhan Bei Jue didn't trust anyone else, so he had to go to Bei Cheng himself.
However, it was a sudden turn of events, and he had to ask Jiang Nan Fang for leave.
Jiang Nan Fang was someone who couldn't stay idle and was already up, sitting at the computer and handling work.
Pushing the door open and seeing her drawing, Zhan Bei Jue's first action was to scold her.
"Can't you delegate this work to others? The doctor told you to rest well during your confinement period, otherwise, you'll develop problems later. Are you deliberately going against 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 coax him.
"I designed the product, and others don't know where to start. Just this once, I promise I'll lie down obediently after finishing this."
Zhan Bei Jue pinched her nose.
"If you continue to be disobedient and not listen to me in the future, I'll have them drop out of school and stay home all day watching you."
Jiang Nan Fang pushed his hand away and reached out to hug his waist.
"Am I not enough to watch me alone, and you need four little devils? That's terrifying. I promise to be obedient from now on, alright?"
Zhan Bei Jue was completely helpless with her now.
He sighed and kissed her forehead.
"Something urgent has come up. I need to go to Bei Cheng, and I won't be able to watch over you at home for the next few days."
"Jiang Nan Fang, you are a mature adult now. Keep your word."
She had been in confinement for half a month, and Zhan Bei Jue watched her closely at home every day.
Besides eating, he just ordered her to sleep. Jiang Nan Fang was almost driven crazy.
Hearing that he was going on a business trip, she felt a little gleeful.
Even couples need to maintain some distance and give each other space from time to time.
Who else was as clingy as him, sticking to his wife 24/7?
Although she was overjoyed, Jiang Nan Fang feigned reluctance.
"You're going on a business trip? Why didn't you tell me in advance? How long will you be gone?"
Zhan Bei Jue was uncertain.
The doctors in Bei Cheng said that the brainstem damage was complex, and it might take three to five days just to get the reports.
Then, a treatment plan needed to be formulated, which would take at least ten days to half a month.
"I'm not sure, it might be several days. I'll return as soon as I finish my business. So, you must behave yourself."
"I understand, go with peace of mind. I promise you'll see a lively me when you return."
The phrase "lively me" was very amusing, and Zhan Bei Jue's thoughts immediately drifted elsewhere.
He hadn't touched Jiang Nan Fang for a long time. Thinking of that scene, he couldn't help but feel a surge of heat.
"When you're lively, I'm going to collect all the debt you owe me for this past month."
Zhan Bei Jue personally drove Melody and his mother on their way.
On the road, he chatted with Melody, blaming her for letting someone into their home without discussing it with him first.
"Be more discreet in your actions in the future. You haven't fully ascertained the other party'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.
"What use do I have for this phone besides you? I don't contact anyone all day."
"Now that you're sitting next to me, I need it even less. Since you don't trust me so 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 famously with that person? If you turn off your phone like this without explaining, don't blame me if it doesn't work out."
Melody sneered.
"Do you think I'm eighteen this year? Did I really seek him out for a romantic relationship?"
"I'm the boss once the contract is signed. Am I afraid of an employee?"