Jiang Nan Fang opened the door and stepped aside to let Zhan Bei Jue in.
Seeing the children's clothes in his hand, she thought: He's quite proactive. After being a father for a few days, he's gained experience and even knows to bring clothes for the children.
"Don't worry. It's so late, I won't run away with them in the middle of the night."
"It's getting late, go see them quickly. Then go back. I need to rest."
She stood by the door, seeing Zhan Bei Jue out.
Zhan Bei Jue had eaten only half his dinner because of Gong Bei Bei, and had gotten into a fight upon arrival.
After being sent home, he was lectured by his mother, making his entire evening frustrating.
Unexpectedly, he was being rushed out by Jiang Nan Fang as soon as he entered.
Are all women incompatible with him?
He shot her an annoyed glance, placed the clothes on the coffee table, and sat down on the sofa.
"If I'm not mistaken, the house was provided by Zhan Shi for you. You're living in my house, and you're telling me to leave. What gives you the nerve?"
Jiang Nan Fang: "...Although the house was provided by Zhan Shi, once it's given to me, I have the right to speak."
"As a single woman, isn't it appropriate for me to ask a man to leave late at night?"
She was indeed a single woman. However, they were already so familiar with each other in that regard that there was no need for pretense.
Was it necessary to hide it from him and pretend to be pure?
Zhan Bei Jue glanced at her sideways, took out his cigarette case, shook out a cigarette, and put it in his mouth.
"Do you have a lighter? Give me one."
He patted his pocket; the lighter had been knocked out of his hand during the fight.
He was wearing his usual black shirt.
The sleeves were neatly folded up to his elbows.
As he reached for the cigarette, Jiang Nan Fang clearly saw a dried bloodstain winding along his forearm.
Seeing that he seemed indifferent, as if he didn't even know it was there.
Jiang Nan Fang instinctively asked, "Did you get into a fight? Doesn't your arm hurt?"
With the cigarette in his mouth, Zhan Bei Jue lowered his gaze and looked at his arm.
His appearance was roguishly handsome, somewhat resembling Andy Lau in Hong Kong dramas.
"It's just a small injury, it's nothing. Where's the lighter?"
Jiang Nan Fang felt a pang of something inexplicable: "After playing the hero and saving the day, you can't even provide a lighter for yourself and came all this way to ask me?"
"I don't smoke. Why would I keep a lighter at home?"
This damn woman. She never spoke to him properly.
She always acted so arrogant, as if she were a big shot. Did her dictionary not contain the words 'gentle' and 'considerate'?
Zhan Bei Jue's mood soured completely, and he shot her a cold look.
"If you don't have one, go buy one. Do you still want to see the children in the future?"
"..." She knew he would always use the children to threaten her.
Jiang Nan Fang cursed him inwardly for being classless, but outwardly, for the sake of peaceful coexistence, she turned and left the door.
Zhan Bei Jue sat idly on the sofa for a few seconds, took out the cigarette, pushed open the door, and entered the room.
A dim floor lamp was left on in the room. In the dim light, he could see the two little ones lying in clean, soft quilts, sleeping peacefully and sweetly.
Their features were so soft, their skin so smooth, their sleeping postures so adorable. The children were so cute that Zhan Bei Jue's heart softened just by looking at them.
He stood by the bed, gazing for a few seconds, then couldn't help but lean down and kiss each of them.
He wasn't sure if his stubble was a bit prickly, but to his surprise, one kiss woke up the little girl.
"Daddy." Ge'er opened her eyes and softly hugged his neck with her little hands.
"Is it you, Daddy?"
Zhan Bei Jue gently patted her, whispering an apology, "It's me, my darling. I'm sorry I woke you up."
"Where did you go just now? I couldn't find you, and I was so worried."
"Daddy, don't go. Don't ever leave me and brother again, okay?"
He hadn't expected that his brief absence would worry the two children so much.
Seeing his children still thinking of him while groggy from sleep, Zhan Bei Jue felt a mix of bitterness and sweetness.
"Okay, darling, be good, go back to sleep. Daddy isn't leaving, I'll stay here with you."
"Mommy shouldn't leave either. We like it when Daddy and Mommy are together. Don't let Mommy go."
Ge'er was so soft and vulnerable at this moment, seeming extremely insecure. How could Zhan Bei Jue refuse her?
"Okay. I'll do as you say, I won't leave, and I won't let Mommy leave either."
"Daddy is so good." Ge'er pouted her lips and kissed his face again.
"Then I'll go back to sleep. You be good and go find Mommy."
When Jiang Nan Fang returned, Zhan Bei Jue was standing by the window, facing the wind.
Lost in thought, his tall back was enveloped by the black shirt, his silhouette subtly swaying in the night breeze.
In the quiet of the night, it unexpectedly gave off a sense of loneliness.
Jiang Nan Fang stared at his handsome back for a moment longer before walking over.
"Here, the lighter you wanted."
Zhan Bei Jue didn't take it. With the cigarette in his mouth, he turned his head, as if expecting her to light it for him.
Hmph, he was too accustomed to being a master, thinking everyone was his servant.
Did someone else have to light his cigarette?
Jiang Nan Fang rolled her eyes at him and flicked her lighter.
The cigarette was lit, and Zhan Bei Jue slowly turned his head, exhaling the smoke towards the window.
His handsome profile, set against the distant city lights, made Jiang Nan Fang suddenly want to take a picture of him with her phone.
No!
Why was she looking at his face so much today?
Was this guy heartbroken? Why was he so strange from head to toe?
To prevent herself from overthinking, Jiang Nan Fang tucked the lighter into his trouser pocket.
"I'm going to tidy up and go to bed. When do you plan on leaving?"
"How is Jiang Zhen Jun's situation being handled?"
She asked him when he was leaving, and he countered by asking about Jiang Zhen Jun?
Didn't he say he wouldn't get involved?
She guessed he had forgotten to close the computer when he went out earlier, and he had seen the news report.
Jiang Nan Fang turned and walked to the table, closing the computer.
"It's none of your business. The matter will be handled without you. You don't need to ask."
"I'm going to take a shower. Remember to close the door when you leave."
With that, she carried the computer to the guest bedroom.
A moment later, the sound of running water could be heard from the bathroom.
Having finished his cigarette, Zhan Bei Jue closed the window and also walked to the bathroom door.
The door was unlocked, and it opened with a gentle push.
Jiang Nan Fang was pouring water on herself when she felt a gust of wind. She opened her eyes and saw him.
"Ah! You're going to kill me, Zhan Bei Jue! Knowing I'm showering, you come in. What do you want?"
"The door isn't locked, aren't you hinting for me to come in and join you?"
Zhan Bei Jue extended his arm in front of her and rinsed the bloodstain on his arm with warm water.
"To prevent you from plotting against my children while I'm away, I'm not leaving tonight."
Jiang Nan Fang awkwardly covered herself, "What are you doing?"
"Showering. I'm tired. If you think I'm unnecessary here, you can leave."
"...You are indeed unnecessary! Have some dignity! Even if you have to wash, at least wait until I leave..."
"No." He unbuttoned his shirt. "If you want dignity, you can leave now. I won't stop you."
Jiang Nan Fang still had body wash on her. Otherwise, in such a situation, she would have turned and run.
She had no choice.
Even with him watching her, she could only close her eyes and speed up.
"Zhan Bei Jue, you, a dignified group president, repeatedly act shamelessly in front of your ex-wife. You have no demeanor whatsoever."
Zhan Bei Jue: "Demeanor is shown to ladies. Are you a lady?"
"..."