Pei Kexin, without having eaten a bite, pulled Zhan Jingchen away from the Pei family residence.
As they left the house, Pei Kexin shoved the car keys into Zhan Jingchen's hand and pulled her own away.
Unbidden tears streamed down her cheeks.
She always presented herself as a strong woman, never letting anyone see her weakness, and it was the same now.
Not wanting Zhan Jingchen to see her crying, she lowered her head, pulling her hair to the sides of her face to cover as much as possible.
Zhan Jingchen followed her diagonally behind. Even though he couldn't see directly, he could guess she was crying, and his heart felt heavy.
He just didn't understand why she still endured them, knowing they disliked her and were plotting against her, when she had the ability to start anew.
Thinking this, he couldn't help but want to advise her.
However, as soon as he reached her side, she dodged away another step.
Then she opened the car door, got into the passenger seat, and skillfully held out two fingers to him.
"Got a cigarette?"
Her gesture was practiced and commanding, clearly not the first time she'd done this. Zhan Jingchen found this woman increasingly interesting the more he learned about her.
Instead of giving her one, he flicked her hand.
"Smoking to relieve boredom? Really see yourself as a big shot? Who told you this stuff is useful?"
Pei Kexin retracted her fingers, glanced at him irritably, her voice muffled.
"If you have it, give it to me. If not, shut up. What's with all the nonsense?"
Her eyes and nose were red, looking somewhat pitiful, like a pear blossom in the rain.
Zhan Jingchen had intended to tease her a bit longer, but seeing her like this, he relented.
"I can't afford any fancy cigarettes, just this kind, ten yuan a pack. Do you find it acceptable?"
Pei Kexin fastened her seatbelt and turned her head again at his words.
Without even seeing clearly, she reached out to take it.
But Zhan Jingchen pulled his hand back again.
"Only one puff. You're a young lady, you'll get married and have children in the future. Smoke too much and you might not be able to have kids."
Pei Kexin was annoyed by his endless chatter. "Have children? With whom? You?"
"Me. What's wrong? Don't you think I'm handsome, with good genes? You can pay me for it."
"..."
Pei Kexin sighed, telling herself to let it go.
It wasn't worth wasting breath on a self-important man for a cigarette.
"We've only known each other for less than 48 hours, and I don't want to admit I've misjudged you so quickly."
"Mr. Jiang, please be quiet, don't make me think about terminating our contract."
Zhan Jingchen, "..."
The car finally started moving.
Pei Kexin closed her eyes and leaned back in the seat, feeling the steady speed of the car. She thought:
Although this guy is self-important and a bit of a goofball, I have to admit, bantering with him is quite stress-relieving.
Her earlier feelings of disappointment and anger were stirred up by his nonsensical jokes, and her mood improved significantly.
When the two entered the ward, the old man was having a tantrum.
For some reason, the caregiver had angered him greatly.
Tea cups, soup bowls, various pills – everything was scattered on the floor.
Although the old man couldn't speak, his limbs were quite strong.
Things were thrown everywhere. Two caregivers and a nurse stood opposite him, heads bowed, trembling.
Seeing Pei Kexin enter was like seeing a savior.
Pei Kexin understood the old man's temper. Upon entering, she didn't ask what happened, but looked at the caregivers.
"You haven't had dinner yet, have you? Make another meal according to the doctor's diet plan, and I'll feed him."
"After you finish cleaning up here, you can leave. I'll stay tonight."
The caregivers and the nurse, feeling as if they had been granted a great pardon, hurried out.
Pei Kexin pulled up a chair, sat by the bed, held the old man's hand, and met his gaze for a few seconds before speaking.
"As I said before, if anything happens to you, Dad, I won't live either."
Zhan Jingchen, "..."
"My life was given to me by you. You are the only one in this world who cares about me. You know very well what my situation would be without you. Life is too bitter without you, so if you're gone, I probably won't live long either."
"..."
"But if you live well, I will definitely be well too. Whatever you ask me to do, I will do it with all my might, just like always."
What outsiders might see as a few brief words of loyalty felt heavy as lead to the old man.
The Pei family now had over a dozen members, including sons, daughters, grandsons, and granddaughters. By all accounts, there shouldn't be a shortage of successors for the company.
But the reality was different.
The eldest son, now over fifty, had managed almost every department in the company, and each tenure was marked by significant, unignorable flaws.
He had been spoiled since he was young, his mind not on the company, prioritizing romantic relationships too much, and acting without stability. He was not someone to be entrusted with.
The second son, three years younger than the eldest, was more stable in temperament and had achieved good results managing the company. However, he was narrow-minded, selfish, and unfeeling. He had a strained relationship with his elder brother in private and did not value sibling bonds.
Now that he was still alive, he was mindful of family ties. But once he was gone, the old man worried that the eldest son's family would have no place to stand.
As for the two grandsons of the younger generation, don't even mention them...
When the foundation is rotten, the building will collapse. Overindulgent mothers often spoil their sons. Not a single one was presentable.
After a lifetime of hard work, on his deathbed, the old man finally realized he couldn't rely on anyone but Pei Kexin.
But Pei Kexin was not the biological daughter of the Pei family. While it was acceptable to temporarily entrust the company to her management, over time, especially when she eventually had her own family, her two elder brothers would surely object.
Therefore, while he could still think, the old man's greatest hope was that Pei Kexin would mentor his two nephews more.
After he was gone, the division of the Pei family would be inevitable.
He would write his will in advance.
As long as Pei Kexin brought up her nephews well and never actively betrayed the Pei family, she would receive an equitable share of the company's equity.
She was now the old man's greatest hope. Others' words might be ignored, but hers were not; the old man had to listen.
No one genuinely wished for his survival more than she did, the old man understood.
The caregiver quietly cleaned up the mess, and dinner was soon brought.
Pei Kexin said nothing more, taking the spoon and feeding the old man mouthful by mouthful. He swallowed everything.
How luxurious were the VIP rooms in a high-end nursing home?
A super-large LCD TV, a luxurious bedroom, an independent bathroom, a sofa, a kitchen – everything was complete.
After feeding the old man and giving him his medicine, Zhan Jingchen helped him to the restroom and then back to bed. Pei Kexin then told him about the significant matters of the company in the past two days.
Finally, she managed to coax him to sleep.
The exhausting day finally drew to a close. Checking the time, it was nine in the evening.
Pei Kexin tucked the old man in and planned to rest. Zhan Jingchen followed her to the inner bedroom.
The larger room was occupied by the old man, so they only had this one.
After entering and surveying the room, with nowhere else to go and no need to shower again, Zhan Jingchen sat on the bed.
"We're staying here tonight?"
"We?"
Who knew what he might be thinking. Pei Kexin couldn't help but remind him.