The two bought groceries and arrived home chatting and laughing. The children had already been picked up by Ah Zhong.
The family embraced, kissing each other. Jiang Nan Fang then busied herself in the kitchen.
In less than an hour, a table full of delicious dishes was ready.
The family enjoyed their first reunion dinner in their new home, a warm and happy occasion.
Meanwhile, at the Zhan residence, Gong Bei Bei and Mrs. Zhan were enveloped in gloom.
Gong Bei Bei knelt before Mrs. Zhan, weeping uncontrollably.
"I know I've disappointed you terribly. I'm sorry, Aunt Zhou, but what else could I have done?"
"I have no face to stay in Nan Cheng any longer. Ah Jue toyed with me so much, making me a laughingstock to everyone. I might as well die."
"You can hit me or scold me as much as you want. When you're done venting, I'll find a secluded place to end it all!"
Mrs. Zhan had initially been furious with Gong Bei Bei for her rash and inconsiderate actions.
However, seeing her so heartbroken and desperate, she feared that further reprimands might push her over the edge and decided to let it go.
"This is not your fault. It's our Zhan family who has wronged you. Don't say such things."
"Don't worry, even if you're not engaged to Ah Jue, you'll always be my good child, Aunt Zhou. I won't let anyone mock you."
"I will definitely give you a proper explanation for this. Don't overthink it. Go back to your father's place and rest. Give me two days, and Aunt Zhou will not disappoint you."
The family spent a happy evening. The next day, after breakfast, Zhan Bei Jue personally drove Jiang Nan Fang to her studio.
They held hands all the way, neither speaking.
But simply feeling each other's presence and enjoying the romance was quite pleasant.
Upon arrival, Zhan Bei Jue parked the car. Jiang Nan Fang withdrew her hand from his and reached for the door to get out.
"Alright, I'm here. Drive carefully. See you tonight."
But Zhan Bei Jue was reluctant to let go and pulled her back.
"I drove all the way here early this morning to be your chauffeur. You can't just leave without giving me a token of appreciation, can you?"
It was rush hour, and pedestrians were bustling past outside the car.
Jiang Nan Fang knew what he wanted but felt shy about acting on it.
"What kind of token do you want? Like this?"
She grabbed his hand and brought it to her lips, brushing them against it.
"A kiss? Is that enough?"
"Perfunctory."
Zhan Bei Jue looked at her smiling eyes, leaned in, cupped the back of her head, and kissed her.
"You play dumb with me all day, but I've realized you're quite mischievous."
"..." Jiang Nan Fang's face flushed, and she got out of the car with a playful glare.
"Alright, hurry up and go. You'll be late for work."
A gentle breeze lifted the hem of her skirt and her hair, making her look like a fairy floating in the air.
Zhan Bei Jue watched through the glass as she entered the lobby with graceful poise, then smiled and drove away.
As Jiang Nan Fang entered the lobby, she saw only one man in the elevator, its doors slowly closing.
Not wanting to wait for the next one, she quickened her pace, "Please wait!"
Just as the doors were about to shut, she handed her bag forward, and the sensor opened the elevator doors.
To her surprise, when she stepped inside, she found not only a man but also a Tibetan Mastiff, standing a meter tall. It was well-fed, glistening, broad-waisted, and baring its teeth.
It wasn't on a leash.
Seeing Jiang Nan Fang rush in, it seemed to mistake her for a piece of meat thrown by its owner.
Excitedly, it stuck out its tongue, raised its front paws, and leaped towards Jiang Nan Fang with a growl.
Because of a childhood spat with Jiang Xing Chen, that guy had retaliated by having several mad dogs attack Jiang Nan Fang.
Therefore, Jiang Nan Fang, despite her bravery in all other aspects, had a deep-seated fear of dogs.
And this was a large, terrifying Tibetan Mastiff.
Caught off guard by its pounce, she thought it was going to bite her.
Jiang Nan Fang screamed, grabbed its ear with one hand, and kicked its belly with her foot, sending it crashing into the corner.
It all happened in an instant.
Seeing his Tibetan Mastiff kicked, the man immediately looked at Jiang Nan Fang with displeasure.
He was tall with long legs, dressed in a black tracksuit.
Although he wore large sunglasses and a mask in the elevator, it was clear he was a young man.
Unexpectedly, his words were unreasonable.
"What are you doing? Are you looking for death?"
"Do you know what this is? Do you know how precious it is? How much I spend on it every year?"
"How dare you kick my darling daughter? Are you tired of living?"
He was walking his dog without a leash, and his dog had lunged at someone first, yet he was calling the other person suicidal?
How could a grown man be so unreasonable!
Jiang Nan Fang's heart rate had just returned to normal when she glared back at him expressionlessly.
"You're the one looking for death. Do you even know how to keep a dog in the city?"
"If your eyesight is bad, don't wear sunglasses in broad daylight and pretend to be cool. Didn't you see it was about to bite me? Can't I even defend myself?"
"Which eye of yours saw it as a dog? This is a Tibetan Mastiff, do you understand what a Tibetan Mastiff is?"
The man lovingly pulled the dog up and petted it, retorting to Jiang Nan Fang.
"Do you see anyone leashing a Tibetan Mastiff? You say it bit you, but where did it bite you? Are you injured anywhere?"
"Besides, what's the big deal about being injured? It's not like I can't afford to compensate you. Why did you hit it right away?"
Jiang Nan Fang was exasperated by the man's flawed logic.
"Do I have to be bitten, have my arm or leg broken, before I can act? Your dog is clearly more precious than a person!"
"If it's so valuable, and you're afraid of people hitting it or disliking it, why bring it out in public?"
"You must have sneaked it in behind the security's back. Otherwise, this thing would never be here!"
The man was shameless.
"I own it, and I'll take it wherever I please. It's none of your business."
"In my entire life, you're the first person to dare lay a hand on it. I'm taking it for a medical examination. I warn you, if the doctor says it has even a centimeter of a wound, you'll regret this."
Walking the dog without a leash, nearly injuring someone, and you're still in the right?
You want me to regret this? What a big threat!
Jiang Nan Fang took out her phone.
"Fine, I'll call security right now and have them come drag the dog away. Let's see who will regret it!"
"How dare you!"
As she was speaking and about to dial, the man reached out to snatch her phone.
"This is my pet, you have no right to boss her around! Don't make that call, give me my phone!"
Jiang Nan Fang held onto it tightly.
"This is my phone, and I can call whoever I want. It's none of your business. Move aside!"
The man pointed his left index finger at her nose.
"Don't provoke me! If you were not a woman, would I hit you or not?"
"Poke me with your finger again, and I'll break it. Do you believe me?"