“If stabbing me twice will make you feel better, if it will make you forgive me, then I am more than willing.”
“I don’t wish for anything now, only that you’ll let me tell you my secret!”
“Nanfang…”
Jiang Nan Fang rushed to him, raising her wrist and bringing the knife down fiercely.
But a sliver of reason remained.
As the blade was about to pierce his shoulder, she trembled and held back.
“Don’t think I really won’t do it! Zhan Bei Jue, don’t push me!”
Seeing her reddened eyes and her face trembling slightly from suppressed rage, Zhan Bei Jue met her gaze without blinking.
“I’ll say it again, if stabbing me twice will vent your anger, I am more than willing.”
“Ah!”
Jiang Nan Fang closed her eyes, raised her arm again, and brought it down hard.
The fruit knife landed steadily in Zhan Bei Jue’s right shoulder.
“This stab is for your father’s affairs. I can keep silent about it.”
“But I must give Ke Teng the truth.”
“Leave. From now on, we are severed, with no relationship between us.”
“What I do from now on is none of your business, and I won’t interfere with what you do. We go our separate ways, owing nothing to each other!”
———
Zhou Jin Bei had the most comical New Year since turning twenty.
Because after returning home from her aunt’s on New Year’s Eve, her father dropped a bombshell on her at the dinner table.
He had already chosen a future husband for Zhou Jin Bei, and they would have their wedding after the New Year.
“What? Am I hallucinating?”
“Or did you suddenly get stimulated? I’m only 20, and who is this person you’re talking about? I don’t even know him, and you want me to marry him?!”
Father Zhou was clearly prepared and had already enlisted Mother’s help beforehand.
Although Mother was reluctant, she stepped forward to explain to Zhou Jin Bei.
“I used to think you were too young and didn’t understand things, so we didn’t tell you many family matters.”
“Now that you’ve grown up, and your father’s health is deteriorating, it’s time for you to know some things.”
“Business has become increasingly difficult these past few years, with more competitors and a richer variety of new products, as you know. It hasn’t been easy for the company to survive until today.”
“We lost several projects in a row in the past two years, and your father had already mortgaged the family’s properties and cars.”
“If we hadn’t made some money from two projects this year, we might have lost our home.”
“A while ago, your second brother, Zhan Bei Jue, joined one of our projects and provided your father with fifty million yuan in working capital. Now there’s a good opportunity he wants to seize, but this fifty million is not enough.”
“As a member of this family, it’s time for you to contribute.”
“As long as you marry into the Jiang family, we will form a family alliance, not only securing their investment but also saving a large sum on raw materials.”
“Once this project is revitalized, our family will surely recover to its former glory.”
“Your father is also planning for your and your brothers’ long-term future, you must understand him, Bei Bei.”
Zhou Jin Bei couldn’t understand.
If the family was so poor that they had to rely on their daughter’s arranged marriage to get by, why did her father still have the leisure to keep a woman on the side?
If she hadn’t been afraid that revealing that matter would cause a huge uproar at home.
And upset her mother.
Zhou Jin Bei really wanted to confront her father with the issue on the spot.
But for the sake of her innocent and pitiful mother, and for her brother who had just found some ambition, she could only grit her teeth and endure.
“Even if you’re desperate for money, you can’t sacrifice my future happiness.”
“Since the difficulty is temporary, if the money isn’t enough, can’t you ask my second brother to invest more? Or my brother has so many friends, he can borrow some.”
“Why must you force me to marry? I’m only 20, and I have no feelings for that person. Aren’t you afraid of ruining me?”
Her mother patiently explained.
“It won’t be like that. Do you think your parents are foolish? You are our precious pearl, raised in our hands since childhood. How could your parents harm you?”
“Although the second young master of the Jiang family is not old, he is well-known in the circle for his excellent character and academic achievements. I’ve been observing him for many years.”
“He is usually low-key and diligent in his work, and your parents are also known for their good character in the circle.”
“If it weren’t for my acquaintance with his aunt, this good opportunity wouldn’t have come to you. How could I harm you?”
Zhou Jin Bei didn’t believe such a good thing would happen to her.
If he is so young, handsome, and rich, with good character, and his parents have a good reputation in the circle, how could he not have a girlfriend?
“Have you confirmed? Perhaps he already has someone he’s dating behind his parents’ backs…”
Her mother interrupted her, “Oh dear. If he had someone he was dating, his parents wouldn’t be urging him to marry, and I wouldn’t have gotten this opportunity.”
“Silly girl, this is about your lifelong happiness. Your mother can’t be careful enough in looking out for you! His aunt said that he’s very clean in his social circle, rarely has women around him, and is guaranteed to be single!”
Zhou Jin Bei became even more disbelieving.
So handsome, good character, and rich, yet so clean that he has no women around him and is being pressured by his family to marry.
There must be something wrong.
“Do you have photos? Don’t just brag, show me.”
Mother took out her phone and found a few photos for her.
“Look, the boy is tall and slim, fair-skinned, handsome, and dresses with taste. He’s so suitable for you.”
Zhou Jin Bei took the phone, opened the pictures, and almost spat out a mouthful of blood.
This is suitable for her?
This is fair-skinned and dresses with taste?
He looks like a complete gay person, doesn’t he?
His hair is neatly combed, and his clothes are clean.
But the foundation on his face, the inner eyeliner, the lipstick on his mouth.
He looks like a good sister to her at first glance!
Zhou Jin Bei was truly impressed with her own mother.
At her age, how could she still be so naive and sweet?
Forcing her daughter into a fire pit, what could she say to her?
“Alright, alright. Since you say so, give me his contact information. I’ll try to get along with him first.”
“Let’s be clear beforehand. If we can get along, we’ll talk about marriage. If not, then forget it, and you can’t force me.”
“How could you not get along? Unless you deliberately don’t want to.”
Mother said with certainty.
“This boy is so good. He looks much more reliable than your brother. It’s definitely going to work out!”
After the meal, Zhou Jin Bei got the contact information of the second young master of the Jiang family, Jiang Si Cheng.
Back in her room, she proactively added him on WeChat.
Jiang Si Cheng quickly accepted.
Zhou Jin Bei didn’t beat around the bush and asked, “Do you want to get married?”
Jiang Si Cheng, not understanding, replied with a question mark.
Zhou Jin Bei continued, “Are you tired of being pressured by your family, so you’re planning to find a girl to marry? Does your boyfriend know about this?”
Jiang Si Cheng replied with another question mark.