Zhan Bei Jue's phone call had barely ended when his mother, upon learning of Gong Bei Bei's suicide attempt, called him back in a fury.
"Zhan Bei Jue. Where are you? Get back here immediately!"
"You're getting engaged, and look at the mess you've made! Not a single one of you is worry-free. You've almost disgraced the Zhan family!"
"Are you with that vixen? Hurry back and figure out how to suppress this scandal! Do you know how much this will affect the company if it gets out?"
"Your grandfather worked so hard to build the company..."
He knew this would be her reaction upon seeing the news.
Everything she said was within the scope of his expectations and just annoying, with no real use.
Therefore, Zhan Bei Jue didn't want to hear another word.
"It's Gong Bei Bei who's disgraced herself, not me. At this point, don't you think you also bear some responsibility?"
"..."
"I'm not going back. Even if I did, I wouldn't go through with the engagement anymore, so don't say another word."
"I'll handle things, you don't need to worry. It's late, go to bed. That's all, don't call me again."
With that, he turned off his phone and drove back to the hotel.
Jiang Nan Fang, having washed up, leaned against the headboard, messaging Xu Yan Chuan about work the next day.
Zhan Bei Jue had returned.
He went to the side room first. Seeing she was still awake, he tossed his jacket aside before heading to the bathroom.
Within minutes, he returned to her side, wrapped in a towel, steam rising from his body.
It was so natural, so seamless.
As if they had remarried and were a couple, destined to sleep together.
Jiang Nan Fang subconsciously pointed at him, pulling the silk quilt up to her shoulders.
"Why are you so presumptuous? Who allowed you into my room?"
Zhan Bei Jue looked as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"If I'm not allowed, then who is? The children's stepfather?"
"..."
"Don't even think about it."
He grabbed the remote, turned off the light, and with a long reach, snatched Jiang Nan Fang's phone and tossed it onto the nightstand.
He cupped her chin, turning her face towards him.
"I won't allow the children to have a stepfather. In your room, any man other than me who enters will be crushed by me. Do you understand?"
Their faces were barely a centimeter apart, his lips mere moments from touching hers.
As their breaths mingled, listening to his deep, magnetic voice, Jiang Nan Fang's heart pounded.
But she refused to lose herself so easily.
"I'm not your wife, nor am I your girlfriend. Why do you get to do as you please?"
Zhan Bei Jue looked directly into her eyes.
After hearing her words, he suddenly curved his lips.
"So, are you asking me for a title?"
It was as if she was eager to remarry him.
Jiang Nan Fang turned her face away. "Who cares about a title from you!"
Zhan Bei Jue raised an eyebrow. "Besides you, I haven't touched any other woman. Doesn't that say something?"
As he spoke, he tightly clasped her fingers in his palm.
"I know you don't dislike me, and you're even expecting it. Stop talking, close your eyes."
His chest was firm and strong, and his features were handsome.
To be honest, as a straightforward woman, Jiang Nan Fang truly couldn't resist his masculine charm.
Since this wasn't the first or second time, there was no need to be coy.
"Then go down and get something before coming back up."
Zhan Bei Jue remembered that Jiang Nan Fang had just had surgery not long ago.
He wouldn't impulsively hurt her body again.
Very obediently, he searched the nightstand. After a rustling sound, he returned.
"You say you don't want it, but you've already prepared everything."
"I didn't..."
Unfortunately, Zhan Bei Jue deliberately cut off her protest.
Despite a night of exhaustion, they both woke up early the next morning, concerned about the children.
After helping the children get ready and dressed, they ate breakfast in the room. Zhan Bei Jue had Ah Zhong and Ah Cheng take them to school.
He personally drove Jiang Nan Fang to work.
"Don't leave after work, wait for me to pick you up."
Back at the company, Zhan Bei Jue instructed Ah Zhong to have someone tidy up the apartment at Tianfu International.
"I'm moving there tonight."
"You're moving to Tianfu International?"
"Yes. Vice President Gao's former unit, he hasn't moved in yet, right? Take it over, I'll use it too. Get him a new one."
Seeing Ah Zhong's puzzled expression, Zhan Bei Jue explained.
"Because of my broken engagement, the old lady is unhappy these past couple of days, and I don't want to listen to her nagging. Plus, I don't want to explain the children's matters to her."
"If she calls you, just say I'm busy. Don't say anything else."
Ah Zhong understood and turned to leave.
Zhan Bei Jue sent Jiang Nan Fang a message, giving her the address of Tianfu International and telling her to move in after work.
She felt their relationship was progressing too quickly.
Just a few days ago they were sworn enemies, and now they were reconciled.
They had slept together, and now they were moving in together.
Jiang Nan Fang couldn't help but sigh.
Once there was a physical connection and children between a man and a woman, it was truly easy for them to remain entangled.
As for Xu Yan Chuan.
Not wanting to listen to his mother's nagging, he ended up having a big argument with her and moved into his office.
His previous cards had been canceled, and now he had to self-finance the film preparations.
In the past few days, he had found friends to secure some investment, barely managing to finalize the basic crew.
However, the main creative team became a problem.
Hiring unknown newcomers as actors meant no box office appeal upon release.
Hiring popular idols was too expensive.
So, they compromised with the investors, allowing them to recommend a female lead to join the cast with her own funding.
Fortunately, among the popular new male idol groups, one of them was his cousin.
Xu Yan Chuan cajoled and persuaded him to be the male lead.
While Jiang Nan Fang wrote the script, he was busy making phone calls.
It wasn't until noon that he managed to convince his cousin to agree.
However, his cousin was in high demand, participating in variety shows and holding concerts, so he could only schedule him for evening shoots.
"I want the film to be released during the Spring Festival slot, so it must be filmed before October."
"We don't have much time left. We'll be writing and filming simultaneously, so you might need to be on set for adjustments and changes. Is it okay if you have to stay up late?"
Seeing Xu Yan Chuan struggling to manage the entire crew by himself, Jiang Nan Fang knew she had to overcome any difficulties.
Fortunately, the children were now being looked after by Zhan Bei Jue.
After a day of writing, she had produced five scenes, which Xu Yan Chuan was quite satisfied with.
At five in the afternoon, Zhan Bei Jue solicitously arrived downstairs to pick up Jiang Nan Fang.
Getting into the car, she was surprised to see Zhan Bei Jue himself driving.
Jiang Nan Fang found it strange.
Although she had been married, she had never been in a romantic relationship.
She had never experienced being picked up and dropped off by a man during a relationship.
This was her first time, being sent to work and then picked up to go home, and she felt an indescribable sense of elation.
In a good mood, even the familiar street scenes outside seemed exceptionally beautiful.
Zhan Bei Jue stole glances at her while driving.
Seeing her smiling and looking out the window, appearing to be in a good mood, he felt a secret happiness.