Zhan Bei Jue did not answer her immediately.
He entered the room, surveyed it once, as if to confirm that no one else was present.
Only then did he sit down on the sofa.
He stretched his long legs out onto the coffee table and, taking the host's role, said, "Sit."
Jiang Nan Fang closed the door and sat down opposite him.
Zhan Bei Jue said, "You've performed well these past few months, and the products are indeed good."
"To be honest, Jiang Nan Fang, your work ability has impressed me."
Finally, he said something human.
Jiang Nan Fang thought they could part on good terms and nodded, "Thank you."
Who knew he would immediately change tack.
"But work ability is one thing, character is another. Good work ability doesn't mean good character."
"...What do you mean?"
"I believe you know exactly what I mean. A child's growth requires not only excellent material conditions but also a clean and pure spiritual environment."
He looked at her with disdain: "Jiang Nan Fang, with your character, do you really think I can entrust my child to you?"
Damn it!
She knew this scumbag wouldn't be so kind for no reason!
"What's wrong with my character? What heinous thing have I done for you to repeatedly say my character is problematic?"
Zhan Bei Jue remained composed, reaching out and tossing a stack of pre-prepared photos in front of her.
"Take a look yourself."
Jiang Nan Fang picked up the photos and glanced at them.
They were taken by someone else.
Although the angles were well-chosen, making her look beautiful, her expressions did seem a bit... off.
She was either embracing a beautiful woman or smiling at one.
There were even photos with Zhou Jin Xiu introducing her to a female reporter.
Hadn't she already explained this to Zhan Bei Jue?
The reason she was hugging and embracing these women was solely to shut Zhou Jin Xiu up!
And he was using this to negotiate with her?
Jiang Nan Fang almost laughed out loud in anger.
"Because of these few lousy photos, I'm not fit to raise the child?"
"It's not just because of this, there's more," Zhan Bei Jue glanced at her stomach.
"Women won't get you pregnant, but you have men. I'm very suspicious of your orientation now."
"..."
"While orientation is your personal freedom and I have no right to interfere, I hope my child is healthy and cheerful."
"Jiang Nan Fang, you wouldn't want your child to grow up to be as promiscuous as you in relationships, would you? I'm doing this for the child's own good."
"..."
Jiang Nan Fang was rendered speechless by his words.
The photos were indeed real.
She had given them the wrong impression, and it was her fault for not thinking things through.
She deserved to be misunderstood.
"Let me explain one last time. I don't like women. I just felt it was nothing, and I only did it to trick Zhou Jin Xiu..."
"I won't find a man or a woman for the rest of my life. So Zhan Bei Jue, don't use this as an excuse."
Zhan Bei Jue remained silent, giving her a look that said, "Do you think I believe you?"
She suddenly became angry.
"You know I'm perfectly healthy! Are you trying to go back on your word and deliberately using these photos to shut me up?"
"I'm not as despicable as you think," Zhan Bei Jue said calmly.
"Name your price. For your time and effort these past three months, just name it. I'll give you whatever you ask."
"The condition is that you leave immediately after receiving the money. You are never to mention my name again, nor my child's."
Suddenly offering her money, it seemed this scumbag had decided to renege on his promise and wouldn't give her the child.
Jiang Nan Fang felt a surge of furious indignation at being played.
"You think I'm so desperate for your measly money? You'd sell out your child for money?"
"There's no need to put on an act with me. Jiang Nan Fang, I know exactly what kind of person you are. Take the money while I still have patience. Know when to stop."
"Otherwise, if you push it too far and I lose my patience, you won't get a single cent."
There was a plate of apples on the coffee table in front of her.
After just having surgery, he not only didn't care about her but also wanted to snatch the child and say such heart-wrenching words!
Jiang Nan Fang was so angry she couldn't stand it any longer. She grabbed an apple and threw it at his face.
"Zhan Bei Jue, you are truly inhuman!"
Zhan Bei Jue slightly turned his head, dodging her attack.
Seeing her anger, he sneered.
"Can't get the child, can't get the money, so you're just lashing out in anger?"
Jiang Nan Fang continued to throw apples at him.
"Get out! Get out of here! I don't want to see your scummy face!"
"Your mind is filled with nothing but money, no humanity at all! How could I have been so blind to fall for such a scumbag! Get out! Never let me see you again!"
Heh.
How ironic.
Just moments ago, she was embracing Zhou Jin Xiu, and now she was professing her love to him.
Zhan Bei Jue sat there motionlessly.
"Since you're no longer part of Zhan Corporation, I assume you no longer have the right to use this property. Don't forget whose property this is."
"You want me to leave? It seems like you're the one who should be leaving."
Very good.
Lust is a double-edged sword.
Jiang Nan Fang, having fallen this far, it's not about pity; it's all your own doing due to your lust. You can't blame anyone!
Don't cry! Don't act pitiful!
No one will sympathize with you because you're stupid, and you don't deserve it!
Fine, I'll leave.
She swore that she would never have anything to do with this scoundrel again, and never see him again!
She didn't have much luggage.
After Zhan Bei Jue spoke, she furiously stood up, rushed into the bedroom, packed quickly, and walked out with her suitcase.
This woman has some backbone. She leaves as soon as she says so.
Perhaps she thinks she can still rely on Zhou Jin Xiu after leaving here?
Zhan Bei Jue continued to taunt her: "Your boyfriend, because he was messing around with too many girlfriends, is now under house arrest by his father and can't even save himself. Jiang Nan Fang, if you're planning to rely on him in the future, I advise you to wake up sooner rather than later."
Boyfriend? Under house arrest by his father?
Was he talking about Zhou Jin Xiu?
No wonder he left in such a hurry at the hospital.
But, Jiang Nan Fang thought, isn't Zhou Jin Xiu his cousin?
Why was he so happy when his cousin was in trouble?
"Zhan Bei Jue, you've opened my eyes to your depravity."
"Don't celebrate too soon. This world is fair. We won't always be weaker than you, and you won't always be stronger."
"There's plenty of time. I believe there will be a day when you cry."
With that, she opened the door and left, slamming it shut without looking back.
She was gone. Gone.
Zhan Bei Jue had achieved a great victory.
No matter who it was, those who betrayed him had been punished.
However, looking at the empty room, the door through which Jiang Nan Fang would never enter again, why did his heart feel so heavy?
Jiang Nan Fang had no time for sadness, no time for rest, no time for grief.
Because of her misplaced kindness, she had wasted three months, causing the separation of mother and child and Zhou Jin Xiu to be misunderstood by his family.
She now only wanted to quickly recover her losses, get revenge on Zhan Bei Jue, and then leave.
She booked a room at a hotel, sat down, and made a call: "Find out everything you can about a man named Zhou Jin Xiu for me. I want all his information within ten minutes."
Then she called her editor: "Let's move the signing preview event up to the day after tomorrow. I'll finish all the drafts in the next two days."
"I'll sell you the copyright outright then. I'm leaving Nan Cheng, so let's do this quickly."