The way the two were posturing, it was clear Chen Jiaojiao wasn't the one with the problem.
Was Zhou Jinbei pregnant?
That made sense.
Counting the time, she'd been married for three months. It would be strange if she weren't pregnant.
Feeling a pang of unease, Ah Zhong couldn't help but light a cigarette as he made a call.
While helping Zhou Jinbei out, Chen Jiaojiao tentatively told her that she had just seen Ah Zhong.
Zhou Jinbei seemed to have heard earth-shattering news.
"What? He's here too? What's he doing here? Did he see me? Does he know I'm here too?"
"Calm down. He didn't see you, nor did he see me. He was just visiting a friend and has already left."
Chen Jiaojiao couldn't help but tease her.
"You get so excited whenever he's mentioned. Since you like him so much..."
"Hey, don't think I'm meddling, but if I were to mediate and talk to you both, tell me honestly, do you two still have a chance?"
Zhou Jinbei remained silent.
"I'm talking to you..."
Chen Jiaojiao playfully punched her, then glanced at her face.
She noticed Zhou Jinbei's gaze was fixed somewhere. Following her line of sight, Chen Jiaojiao looked too.
At the lobby entrance, with his side facing them, the tall man smoking and on the phone – who else could it be but Ah Zhong?
"What a coincidence? You haven't left yet? It seems you two are fated."
"Zhou Jinbei, don't be a coward, go! Go tell him your current situation truthfully. Maybe he won't mind. Happiness is meant to be seized!"
Zhou Jinbei was pushed by Chen Jiaojiao towards the side entrance of the lobby.
"You guys talk. I'll go get the car!"
Zhou Jinbei stood in front of Ah Zhong. Ah Zhong glanced at her casually.
He first hung up the phone, then turned to look for a trash can and stubbed out his cigarette.
Not knowing what to say, Zhou Jinbei spoke first.
"Why are you here too?"
Ah Zhong didn't want to talk to her much; it was meaningless. He replied casually, "Visiting a friend."
"Oh. What's wrong?"
"...My leg is a bit uncomfortable."
"Are you hospitalized? In orthopedics?"
Ah Zhong looked at her again. He wanted to ask why she was asking so many questions, but he held back.
"Mm."
"I happen to know an orthopedic doctor..."
She was really something.
In the past, when she was in a bad mood, she would find him to vent, leading him to have the wrong impression. After that incident, she turned around and married someone else.
He was already feeling bad enough, already confused about their relationship, and now this...
What was she trying to do?
Distant and close, cold and warm, was she suffering from a split personality?
Did she think others had no feelings?
Ah Zhong coldly interrupted her, "Knowing a doctor is your connection, what does it have to do with me?"
"If I'm not mistaken, you're pregnant, Mrs. Jiang. Congratulations."
"In the future, worry more about yourself and less about others. Don't get too close to men when there's nothing going on; maintain some distance."
"Once you're married, you should act like it. Otherwise, your husband might not be happy if he sees you."
After saying that, he shoved his phone into his pocket, turned, and walked away.
Zhou Jinbei stood frozen, watching his tall, slender back and receding hairline.
She was so angry she didn't even know how to cry.
---
Today marked one month since Zhan Beijue's leg cast was applied. Damei said it could be removed, and he was ecstatic.
Finally, he could take a bath!
Damei had three children to look after, and Zhan Beijue didn't want to trouble her. He also felt a bit resistant to bothering her, so he waited for Min'er to return.
Min'er found him two discarded wooden sticks to use as crutches.
After a thorough wash, he changed into clean clothes and came out.
She was stunned.
He was this tall when he stood up.
His features, thinned by his ordeal, were as sharp as a Westerner's. His skin, due to prolonged lack of sun exposure, was so fair it seemed to glow.
If she hadn't personally taken care of him for over a month, looking at his face alone, she would have suspected he was no ordinary person.
With more ability to move independently, Zhan Beijue's spirits improved considerably.
Although still confined to the basement every day, he was eager to recover quickly and get out to investigate his true identity. Therefore, he exercised daily.
Being young and having a naturally good physique, he recovered very quickly.
Within a week of using crutches, he could already put them down and walk slowly.
One day, Min'er went back to bring him lunch. He eagerly showed her his progress.
"Look, I can walk now. I didn't use the crutches at all today. I'm almost better."
Min'er wasn't as excited as he was. She leaned against the wall, looking tired, as he walked back and forth twice.
She said coldly,
"It's good that you can walk. If you can walk, I won't have to support you anymore."
"Rest for a few more days, then leave. Go back to the person you should be with. I'm tired, and Meida has been troubled enough."
Zhan Beijue never expected that after waiting for her all day with great joy, she would say such things upon her return.
Leave?
Besides her and Meida, he knew no one else.
Moreover, he was penniless, without an ID card or any educational certificates.
Half-crippled, unable to find work, where could he go?
His heart sank immediately. While emotion made him unhappy, his reason also told him.
There was no reason to be unhappy.
She was in such difficult circumstances, a young girl, not related to him by blood or marriage, saved his life and had been supporting him for so long.
He had no way to repay her. Now that he was better, he was still lingering, causing her more trouble. Was that right?
"You're right, I should leave. I'll leave after this meal."
"Thank you for your care all this time. Don't worry, if I have the chance in the future, I will definitely come back to repay you."
Min'er's mood was terrible today.
No, to be precise, her mood had been very bad for the past few days.
As Zhan Beijue's health improved, the first thing he did every day was share his progress with her.
It was like a bird trapped in a cage. She had painstakingly fed it for so long, yet it thought of how to fly away every day.
He no longer needed her, and perhaps would never return. This made Min'er feel defeated.
She knew her feelings were wrong. He was a normal person, and it was normal for him to yearn to get out and see the daylight. It wasn't a betrayal.
But...
She couldn't describe that complex feeling.
She had said it out of spite, pretending to push him away with a "playing hard to get" tactic, hoping he would beg her to stay.
But when she told him to leave, he agreed without the slightest hesitation.
Min'er was almost furious.
"If you're so capable, why wait for lunch? Leave now. I'll eat the lunch myself."
"Because of you, how long have I not eaten enough? Leave now. I never want to see you again. Go!"
Zhan Beijue didn't realize he had dragged Min'er down so much.
Because of him, she hadn't eaten enough every day?
As a grown man...
He was overwhelmed with shame.
Damei was coaxing the children to eat in the living room when Zhan Beijue suddenly walked out.
She didn't have time to think and quickly grabbed him, pushing him out the door.
"Why did you come out suddenly? Do you know how dangerous that is?"
"The children wouldn't lie. What if someone sees you..."
"I'm sorry, Damei, and thank you. I'm all better now and don't need your care anymore. I'm leaving."