Zhan Jingchun knew it was wrong to associate with the people who had hurt her behind her parents' backs, so after everyone left, she looked at them guiltily and mumbled.
"Daddy, Mommy..."
Before she could apologize, Peng Fei stood up and knelt before the three of them with a thud.
"It has nothing to do with Chun Chun; it's all my fault. I'm sorry. Punish me, scold me, kill me, or flay me, it's all my fault. Don't blame her."
"Mr. Zhan, a few days ago, you kindly invited me home and bought me a plane ticket, but I didn't leave, betraying your good intentions. Knowing you didn't want me to contact Chun Chun again, I still came and pestered her. I'm shameless, please punish me."
"Auntie, although this is our first meeting, Chun Chun has mentioned you many times. I know you are a good person, and you raised Chun Chun so well. Yet, I trapped her in our remote village, not letting her leave. I was ignorant, foolish, and committed an unforgivable mistake. Please punish me too."
"I am willing to pay for my crimes. If you still feel it's not enough, you can send me back to prison. I have no regrets, but Chun Chun is innocent; she is a victim. I only beg you not to blame her."
He was clearly a bad person who had done wrong and caused Chun Chun immense suffering, yet he knelt there with an air of righteousness, as if he were a noble figure.
Jiang Nan Fang had been prepared to unleash a torrent of scolding on her way over, having learned that Chun Chun had been seeing him behind her back and that Zhan Bei Jue had also interacted with him without her knowledge.
However, his kneeling rendered her speechless.
After Peng Fei finished speaking, she stared at him for a long time before calming herself.
"Don't rush to apologize, lift your head and let me see you."
Peng Fei, pale with guilt and shame, tremblingly raised his head.
He dared not look at Jiang Nan Fang, his gaze fixed on an unknown spot.
Jiang Nan Fang meticulously examined his features, bone structure, from head to toe, and began to understand why Chun Chun and Zhan Mei Bei Jue had let him off the hook.
This young man, despite his unforgivable past mistakes, had a truly upright appearance, exuding an aura of integrity.
As the saying goes, "What the heart is like, so is the face." To have such features, his heart couldn't be entirely bad.
In recent years, Zhan Bei Jue had become more detached due to his children's romantic entanglements. He was no longer as sharp as he was in his youth and was willing to give people chances to reform.
Therefore, as long as Peng Fei showed remorse, and considering his youth, giving him a chance to start anew wouldn't be a bad idea.
She silently forgave her husband and daughter for their mistakes, but she couldn't let Peng Fei off the hook so easily.
"So you are Peng Fei."
"Yes."
Jiang Nan Fang had always disdained to pay attention to the entertainment industry, so she was unaware that Peng Fei had been in it or that he had issued an apology statement.
She did not understand Peng Fei's past or his inner thoughts about repentance and self-improvement.
She had her own views about him.
"Do you know what mistake you have truly made?"
At this point, Peng Fei admitted everything: "I know."
"You know?" Jiang Nan Fang looked at him with a hint of amusement.
"Since you know what mistake you've made, why do you dare to chase after me to Nancheng? What is going through your mind?"
Peng Fei himself couldn't explain.
To say he didn't want to be close to Zhan Jingchun, didn't want her to return with him, was impossible.
But to say he wanted to be close to Zhan Jingchun, wanted her to return with him, he didn't dare to think about it too much.
He didn't even know what he wanted anymore.
Just being by her side, looking at her, was enough.
But even this was harassment.
Peng Fei dared not speak, and seeing his silence, Jiang Nan Fang answered for him.
"If I'm not mistaken, Chun Chun is the kindest, most beautiful, and most fulfilling girl you've ever met in your life, isn't she? That's why you can't bear to let her go, because you know that once you let her go, you'll never meet anyone better, right?"
Peng Fei couldn't deny that he did have such thoughts, so he nodded.
"Do you think you truly love her?"
Peng Fei believed he did, so he nodded again.
Jiang Nan Fang said, "No, this isn't love. Let me tell you what it is: it's vanity."
"With Chun Chun's beauty, intelligence, family background, and all-around qualities, she can give you things other girls can't, greatly satisfying your vanity, which is why you can't let her go. In reality, you're not unwilling to let her go; when it comes to actual life, there are many girls suitable for you. You're just unwilling to give up the sense of vanity she brings you."
"For the sake of illusory vanity, you harass my daughter again and again, trapping her in past difficulties and causing her self-torment. Just for this, I can be certain that you don't love her."
Peng Fei felt that what she said made a lot of sense. From this perspective, he indeed did not love Chun Chun enough.
Because he knew she deserved better, yet he kept dragging her back.
He felt guilty, distressed, and looked at Zhan Jingchun, then at Jiang Nan Fang, unsure of what to do.
"I, I understand. I didn't do it on purpose. I won't do this again."
Jiang Nan Fang said, "The best compensation you can give her is to truly realize that you are wronging her, so I won't do anything to you."
"Peng Fei, you are still young, and your life holds infinite possibilities. Since you know this path is blocked, change it sooner rather than later. I wish you all the best in the future."
After Jiang Nan Fang's admonishment, Peng Fei seemed to truly understand how selfish his current actions were.
He thought he was helping Zhan Jingchun, but in reality, Zhan Jingchun had been helping him, helping him fulfill his inner fantasies, helping him calm his anxiety, and helping him delay the pain of not being able to have her.
But what had he given her?
No money, no status, no love, no sweetness, only repeated trouble.
He was truly selfish, so selfish.
Zhan Jingchun had never blamed him; she was truly good, so good.
He then realized the gap between them.
Mentally, he would never be worthy of Zhan Jingchun's stature.
Zhan Bei Jue and Jiang Nan Fang did not make things difficult for him, nor for their daughter, nor did they force her to return home with them for the New Year. It seemed they had just come for a visit.
After speaking, they reminded their daughter to be safe and to call them anytime if anything happened, and then they left as lightly as they had come.
Peng Fei was still kneeling on the ground, and Zhan Jingchun didn't ask him to get up. They looked at each other in silence.
After a long, long time, Peng Fei calmly spoke.
"I understand completely today and know what I need to do. I'm sorry, Chun Chun, for harassing you for so long."
"You deserve a better life, a better person. I won't bother you again."
"Are you hungry? I'll make you lunch before I leave. Do you still want to eat my cooking?"