Returning from the restroom, the two seemed to have reached a tacit understanding of their spat. Peng Fei reached out to take Zhan Jingchun's hand, but she refused. He didn't insist.
They returned home, walking one after the other.
Unexpectedly, before they even reached the door, Peng Fei's mother appeared, holding a kitchen knife, anxiously scanning her surroundings.
Seeing them return, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Gritting her teeth, she retreated to the side, watching Peng Fei lead Zhan Jingchun back to the room and then lock it from the outside with a chain. Only then did she scold him.
"I think your brain is truly broken! Look at other families; who would let a pregnant woman out? You, on the other hand, haven't even secured her yet, and you're leaving the door unlocked and taking her out, as if you're afraid she might escape!"
"I'm telling you, even though I don't like her, after spending so much money, I absolutely won't allow any accidents!"
"You keep a close eye on her. If she gets lost, not only will I not be done with you, but I won't live either!"
Peng Fei remained silent. Zhan Jingchun finally understood.
In this household, he was merely a laborer with no say. To truly leave this place, she would still have to negotiate with his mother.
No wonder he hadn't been moved by the large sum of money offered yesterday.
She had originally planned to discuss it with them when the time was right. Feeling a bit uncomfortable at the moment, and with the opportunity presenting itself, Zhan Jingchun decided to call out to the door.
"Auntie, I have something to tell you. Could you come here for a moment?"
Oh, she had something to say to her?
Peng Fei's mother looked at her with confusion. Peng Fei knew what Zhan Jingchun was about to say and tried to stop his mother, pushing her towards the kitchen.
Peng Fei's mother refused, "Why are you pushing me? I'd like to hear what she has to say."
Peng Fei's mother insisted on going to the door. The two stood separated by the door.
"What do you want to say?"
Zhan Jingchun's tone was sincere, "I'm from Nancheng. Do you know Nancheng? There's a very famous businessman in Nancheng called Zhan Bei Jue. That's my daddy."
"My daddy is very wealthy. My mommy, my three older brothers, and my two older sisters are all very successful and very rich."
"I don't belong here. They will find me sooner or later. When they do, you will be in trouble. Why don't you let me go?"
"Before they find me, if you let me go, you will be my benefactors. Not only will I not cause you trouble, but I will also give you a large sum of money."
"Doesn't your family lack money? Tell me how much you need, and I'll give you whatever you want. As long as you let me go."
Unfortunately, no matter how clearly she explained, Peng Fei's mother, an uneducated woman who had never left the town and had spent most of her life dealing with the land, could not comprehend how untouchable Zhan Bei Jue truly was.
After Zhan Jingchun finished speaking, the only point she grasped was that this daughter-in-law was disobedient and needed to be disciplined.
Giving her son another stern glare, she ignored Zhan Jingchun and pulled Peng Fei into the kitchen.
The mother and son spoke in hushed tones.
Zhan Jingchun didn't know if Peng Fei's mother had been swayed. She waited anxiously in the room.
After an unknown amount of time, Peng Fei finally returned.
He carried a bowl of noodles similar to the previous night's, drizzled with sesame oil and topped with two eggs. They smelled fragrant. Although the presentation wasn't great, they smelled truly appetizing.
Zhan Jingchun looked at the noodles first, then asked him.
"What were you talking about just now? Did your mother agree?"
Peng Fei silently placed the noodles on the table and pulled out a chair for her.
"Eat first."
Zhan Jingchun was anxious, afraid they wouldn't agree.
"Tell me first if she agreed."
"She said she'll think about it and tell you tomorrow. Eat first."
Zhan Jingchun, with a look of innocence, asked, "Really?"
Peng Fei's family was short on money, and his mother constantly talked about money, valuing it so highly. She would likely agree.
Zhan Jingchun, in a good mood, finished the entire bowl of noodles, even drinking all the soup.
"Thank you, Peng Fei. You're actually a good person."
As it turned out, she was still too naive, defining "good person" too simply.
Not long after finishing her meal, she started feeling drowsy, uncontrollably wanting to sleep.
A few minutes later, she fell into a deep slumber.
In her dream, she felt her limbs being moved, a heavy, hot body pressing against her, followed by waves of strange sensations that enveloped her, as if she were drifting in the ocean.
She couldn't describe the feeling.
It was both painful and numb, yet irresistible.
She thought she was dreaming, having the same dream all night.
However, when she woke up the next day and saw the scene before her, she was stunned.
Everything that had happened last night was not a dream.
Peng Fei had assaulted her.
Now, they were both naked, and she was held in his arms. The floor by the bed was littered with trash, some tissues bearing traces of blood.
She had been…
Zhan Jingchun pushed Peng Fei away abruptly and sat up. The subsequent pain in a certain area made her gasp.
Realizing what had happened, as if struck by lightning, after a few moments of bewilderment, she broke down and cried.
"You… I… How could you do this?"
"Do you know this is illegal? You clearly promised to give me an answer today, so how could you go back on your word? I thought you were a good person, but you turned out to be…"
"I have a boyfriend! I love him very, very much! We are going to get married! I hate you!"
Peng Fei's face flushed and paled. He couldn't quite articulate how he felt.
But no matter what, the person was now his. After experiencing this, she would likely have children. With children, she would never leave.
As long as he could be with her forever, he didn't care what she said.
He still had to get up and work. Peng Fei silently grabbed his clothes and began to dress.
Seeing that he said nothing, Zhan Jingchun, feeling both ashamed and angry, wrapped herself in the bedsheet. Enduring the discomfort, she kicked and hit him, wishing she could bite him to death.
"Say something! Do you think you can just get away with this? Let me tell you, it's impossible! Even after this, I won't stay! I will never stay in this dump, and I will never be with you. Don't even dream about it!"
"My parents and siblings will find me sooner or later. You are no longer my benefactor. When that day comes, they will make sure you have nowhere to be buried!"
Peng Fei let her hit and curse him. He quickly put on his clothes and turned to look at her, who was crying uncontrollably. He spoke hesitantly.
"You must be hungry. I'll go make you something to eat."
At a time like this, he still had the appetite to eat?
Zhan Jingchun was almost driven to death by him.
"Who cares about your lousy food? It's disgusting! Let me go! If you don't let me go, I'm not done with you, you…"
Peng Fei didn't listen further. He turned and left the room, locking the door again.
It felt like punching cotton. Zhan Jingchun was close to spitting blood.
For the first time in her life, she understood why people wanted to smash things when they were angry. The frustration had nowhere to go. She jumped off the bed, pushed the broken table and chairs to the ground, and stomped on them fiercely.
"Let me out, let me out! You trash, you scum!"