"You still think I'm useless, that as a sister, I disgrace you, and that I'm a burden?"
Hearing her voice filled with grievance, tinged with a hint of tears, Zhan Bei Jue realized he had been rather harsh tonight.
He softened his tone and looked at her.
"Did I ever say you were a burden to me?"
"Then what do you mean now?"
"You know very well, Min'er, that Ke Teng is not a good person. He wouldn't approach you for no reason. You shouldn't be so close to him."
"But he's my boss. What can I do?"
"I've told you many times. If you encounter problems, you can always come to me."
"You're a smart person. The moment Ke Teng got close to you, you should have known he wanted to use you. Why did you deliberately fall into his trap?"
Min'er hit the nail on the head, and feeling guilty, she couldn't cry anymore.
"I didn't deliberately fall into his trap. I don't know what you mean."
Pretending to be ignorant was pointless.
Zhan Bei Jue averted his gaze, his patience wearing thin.
"Listen to me. Forget that meager salary. I'll find a school for you to attend. From now on, don't interact with Ke Teng anymore."
She was no match for Zhan Bei Jue and couldn't withstand his overbearing dominance.
Having not achieved her goal, she wouldn't give up easily. After a few seconds of silence, she said,
"You say you don't see me as a burden, yet I don't even have the freedom to choose my own job. You just think I'm useless and that I'm causing you trouble."
"I shouldn't have come to Nancheng."
They had been going in circles with the same conversation many times.
His attitude was clear. If Min'er insisted on saying this, Zhan Bei Jue could do nothing.
He could only resort to his most familiar domineering and cold stare.
"I'll say this one last time: that's not what I meant."
"Don't say any more nonsense. Now you only need to answer one question for me."
"Do you consider me your brother, or do you intend to listen to me?"
He kept mentioning the word "brother," and Min'er knew it was to draw a line between them.
Ke Teng still naively believed she could disrupt their marriage. He overestimated her abilities.
How ironic.
Just over two months ago in Switzerland, they were still relying on each other, sharing everything, the closest people in the world.
In the blink of an eye, they had become this distant.
Her illusions were completely shattered.
Suddenly, she felt lost, unsure of the meaning of her staying in Nancheng.
With the vast world before her, where should she go?
Thinking of her father, her mother, and her own ephemeral future, tears began to fall uncontrollably.
She no longer wanted to hide her true feelings.
Just like in Switzerland, Min'er looked back at Zhan Bei Jue, neither humble nor arrogant.
"I'll listen to you. I'll listen to anything you say. Even if you told me to die, I would have no complaints, but not in this kind of relationship."
"A'Shen, I don't want to be your sister anymore. I want to stay by your side."
"Even if I have no title, and can only stay by your side in the shadows, I'm willing."
"Besides my mother and you, I have no one else to care about in this world. If you insist on pushing me away, then I truly don't know what the meaning of my life is anymore."
Zhan Bei Jue had a headache.
He regretted his promise in Switzerland to protect her as her man.
Regardless, he bore responsibility for Min'er's emotional turmoil today.
"Don't say that, Min'er. I'm not worth you doing that for me."
"I have a wife and children now. Even if you don't want a title..."
"You are young, beautiful, and deserve someone who loves you wholeheartedly."
"There are many fine young men in Nancheng. If you wish, I will do my best..."
"Stop the car!" Min'er suddenly lost control, frantically pulling at the door handle.
"Don't say anymore! Stop the car! Let me out!"
The driver was startled by her and quickly sought Zhan Bei Jue's permission in the rearview mirror.
"Open the door. Open the door, I want to get out!"
Zhan Bei Jue tried to comfort her.
"Don't get agitated. Let me finish speaking."
"I won't listen! I won't listen! You know very well that this isn't what I want to hear!"
Her face streaked with tears, she flailed her arms, preventing Zhan Bei Jue from getting closer.
"Is it wrong to love someone, Zhan Bei Jue? Tell me!"
"I just love you. I haven't done anything wicked. Why do you look down on me so much, thinking you can arrange my life as you please?"
"Get lost! I won't bother you again! You don't need to play the good Samaritan!"
"Go back and live your life properly! Whoever contacts me again from now on is a dog!"
"Even if I, Shen Min'er, freeze or starve to death on the road, I don't need your pity! We are done!"
"Stop the car! Open the door! If you don't, I'll break the glass!"
She had reached a dead end, her emotions running high, unable to hear anything.
Zhan Bei Jue knew that at this moment, any further words would be futile.
He could only wait for her emotions to stabilize and proceed slowly...
"Stop the car. Let her out."
Min'er got out of the car in a state of agitation.
She then hailed a taxi by the roadside and sped away.
Zhan Bei Jue escorted her from behind, watching until she went upstairs before turning to leave.
He returned home, exhausted in body and mind.
Jiang Nan Fang was in the children's room, lying on the lower bunk with her two daughters, telling them a story.
The door was suddenly pushed open, and Zhan Bei Jue appeared in the doorway.
The children, dressed in their pajamas, immediately became excited and stood up.
"Daddy, you're back!"
Zhan Bei Jue entered, hugged and kissed each child, and then tucked them back into bed.
He then lay down beside Jiang Nan Fang, resting his head on her lap.
"What story are you telling?"
Jing Yu leaned down from the upper bunk.
"We've already read all the stories in the books ourselves. Now Mommy is telling her own original stories."
"Yesterday was a princess diary tailored for Ge'er, and today it's Tian Tian's turn, called Jiang Jing Tian's Adventure."
"Oh? Is it good?"
Everyone answered in unison.
"It's good! Daddy, come and listen too!"
It was really not easy for Jiang Nan Fang to create stories tailored to their wishes.
Zhan Bei Jue lifted his head, pouted his lips, and asked for a kiss.
He held Jiang Nan Fang's hand and squeezed it.
"You've worked hard, wife. Working during the day and then coaxing a bunch of little rascals at night."
Sensing his fatigue, Jiang Nan Fang took her hand out of his and gently massaged his temples.
"It's not hard. They're my own children. When they're happy, I'm happy too."
"Why are they still called Jiang Jing Tian? Ah Zhong is gone, and you don't have a capable assistant by your side. You should have changed their names long ago."
"Since you have some free time now, why don't I have Zhou Jin Bei run that errand tomorrow?"
Speaking of this, Jiang Nan Fang had her own thoughts.
"Can we not change them?"
"I'm used to them having my surname. If I change it now, it feels quite awkward."
"Who says they all have to have your surname? Two with yours, two with mine. It's quite fair. Isn't it good to keep it this way?"
So, Jiang Nan Fang had deliberately delayed changing them.
Zhan Bei Jue chuckled.
"So that's what you were thinking. You should have said so earlier. As long as you're happy, whatever you want is fine."