"Where are the children? I heard they're alright. I miss them so much. Have they thought of me again? When do you plan to bring them to see me? I've prepared gifts for them."
Ke Teng had to admit he was a love-struck fool.
The moment he saw Jiang Nan Fang's face, all the resentment he'd heard about her from others vanished.
In front of her, he could be without principles.
He could overlook everything she did and find perfect excuses to deceive himself.
Love, when it exists, is so blind, so unreasonable.
As long as she could offer him a smile, a hint of affection, he would be content.
Looking at his ardent gaze, listening to his sincere words, seeing his young face.
Jiang Nan Fang felt so guilty she couldn't speak.
She didn't know what to say, other than to call herself worthless.
Seeing her silence, Ke Teng, with tender affection, reached out to touch her face.
"Why aren't you speaking? Are you too happy to speak? Don't worry, take your time. We have plenty of time in the future."
Jiang Nan Fang dodged his hand.
He wasn't angry. He pulled her a few steps forward, towards the sofa, wanting her to sit down.
For a heart-to-heart talk.
Jiang Nan Fang really couldn't sit down.
"Ke Teng, please sit down first, calm yourself, and let me explain slowly."
She knelt in front of him, looking at him with sincere eyes.
"First of all, I must apologize again. I'm sorry that my appearance has made your once simple and happy life less blissful."
"I am not someone who can bring you luck. I..."
Ke Teng interrupted her.
"Don't you dare say that about yourself. I told you, I never minded that you were divorced or had children. I love you for who you are, for all your excellent qualities, not for external factors."
"I'm very grateful that you can say such things. Being appreciated feels wonderful. But this doesn't mean we are compatible."
"Perhaps I didn't make myself clear before. I'll tell you again today. The reason I divorced Zhan Bei Jue back then wasn't because I didn't like him..."
Ke Teng's face turned pale.
The self-deceptive illusion he had carefully constructed was shattered by Jiang Nan Fang without mercy.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't want to lie to you, Ke Teng. From beginning to end, I never truly hated Zhan Bei Jue. He wasn't as bad as you thought, and he didn't force me into anything."
"Our remarriage was partly for the children, but a larger part was because of love."
As if hearing an earth-shattering joke, Ke Teng's facial muscles twitched involuntarily.
He looked at Jiang Nan Fang with the eyes one would give a lunatic.
"Are you sure you're not joking with me? Zhan Bei Jue's mother tried to kill you."
"If it wasn't for me that day, you would be dead by now. Jiang Nan Fang, you still love him after that?"
Jiang Nan Fang tried to explain.
"I know this sounds absurd, but that's the truth. His mother's actions had nothing to do with him. I love him for who he is."
"I am very grateful that you stepped forward that day. If time could turn back, I would rather die myself than see you get hurt."
"I can never repay your kindness, but I will remember it forever. When you need my help in the future, no matter what happens, I will step forward."
But no matter how sincerely she spoke, Ke Teng couldn't hear her.
"So you came today specifically to tell me that you never liked me, and that I'm a complete idiot?"
"Why must you think that way? Is it that in your world, there are only lovers and enemies? Can't we be friends who appreciate each other?"
Ke Teng shoved Jiang Nan Fang off his lap.
"There are plenty of people willing to be friends with me, Ke Teng. Who do you think you are?"
"If I was just looking for friends, would I have risked my life?"
"That's right. With me, you have only two options: husband and wife, or enemies."
"Jiang Nan Fang, think carefully. I'm giving you one last chance. What do you want to do with me?"
"..."
Jiang Nan Fang was speechless.
Husband and wife, or enemies? So stubborn?
"Ke Teng, you are excellent, and I am not worthy..."
Ke Teng's eyes turned completely cold.
"Stop talking. I understand."
"Because of you, my pride has been trampled on again and again. I've truly had enough."
"From now on, Jiang Nan Fang, I retract my love for you, and I promise you, from now on, only I will be the one to trample on you."
At five o'clock, Zhan Bei Jue arrived on time to pick up Jiang Nan Fang.
As they got into the car, her expression was gloomy.
Zhan Bei Jue held the steering wheel with one hand and held her hand with the other. She didn't, as usual, pretend to be proper and shake him off.
Sensing her unusual mood, Zhan Bei Jue brought her hand to his lips and kissed it.
"What's wrong?"
Jiang Nan Fang sighed.
"I went to Huatai today and saw Ke Teng."
Zhan Bei Jue wasn't surprised, knowing they would meet eventually.
"It seems this reunion wasn't very pleasant."
"You still have the nerve to say that? Isn't it all because of you?"
Jiang Nan Fang pulled her hand away.
"He said that from now on, we'll be enemies when we meet again, knowing I've remarried you. I don't want things to turn out this way."
Either friends, or enemies.
So stubborn, just like something Ke Teng would do.
Zhan Bei Jue chuckled.
"See, you chose me over him, and that's the right choice."
"A man with such a simple mind and violent temper can't achieve great things, and will eventually get into trouble. Unlike me."
Jiang Nan Fang: "..."
"You, you have a heart as small as a needle's tip. How old is he? He's just a bit childish, isn't he? Besides liking me, he hasn't committed any heinous crimes. Do you have to speak of him so poorly?"
"What? Are you feeling sorry for him?"
"Of course. If I were to belittle Shen Min Er like this, I believe you wouldn't agree either."
"..."
Zhan Bei Jue was rendered speechless by her retort.
Because of Shen Min Er, he and Jiang Nan Fang were now on equal footing.
Neither of them had the right to criticize the other.
"So, what do you plan to do from now on?"
"I don't know. I told him that I will always remember his kindness, and if there's ever a time I can help him, I will step forward."
They walked and talked.
The traffic was smooth, and Zhan Bei Jue's attention was entirely on Jiang Nan Fang, so he wasn't paying particular attention to the vehicles around them.
Suddenly, a loud roar echoed.
A red sports car zipped past them, brushing against their car, and cut in front of Zhan Bei Jue's vehicle.
Fortunately, the speed wasn't too high, and Zhan Bei Jue braked sharply, narrowly avoiding a collision.
However, the suddenness of the event startled both him and Jiang Nan Fang.
"Damn it, are you trying to die? Can't you drive? Are you alright?"
With the sudden braking, Jiang Nan Fang lurched forward slightly but wasn't injured.
"I'm fine. Ignore this lunatic. Let's change lanes."
Zhan Bei Jue signaled to change lanes to avoid the crazy driver.
However, the moment he activated his turn signal, the car in front immediately changed lanes as well, blocking him precisely.