A Zhong's chauvinistic nature meant he would never do something as crass as asking his ex-girlfriend for money.
As they left and got into the car, Zhou Jinbei didn't mention what had just happened.
At this moment, he held a cigarette, his elbow resting on the car window, his face turned to the side, his eyes blankly staring into the distance.
It was as if he was only now realizing that the past three and a half years had been wasted, and he finally had time to grieve.
Zhou Jinbei wasn't good at comforting people, nor could she utter tender words to play the role of a sympathetic confidante.
After watching A Zhong for two seconds, she reached out and tapped the center console: "Hey."
A Zhong turned his head back, glanced at her, and started the car: "I'll take you back."
"Going back already? It's late at night, you made me come all this way to help you out, and we successfully solved the problem. After solving it, not even a thank you?"
A Zhong stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, reversed, and skillfully hit the road.
"I thought you didn't need it. Thank you."
"You're really that straightforward. I asked you to thank me, and two words did it?"
A Zhong finally realized she had an ulterior motive.
"Then what do you want?"
"Don't talk to me in that tone, as if I'm threatening you."
Zhou Jinbei took off her shoes, comfortably propped her feet on the center console, and rubbed her stomach.
"I'm starving and haven't eaten yet. You haven't eaten either, have you? Treat me to dinner."
A Zhong indeed hadn't eaten.
He was too busy earlier, and now he was in no mood.
But Zhou Jinbei had already eaten.
She just didn't want to see him hurting himself over a woman who wasn't worth it.
A Zhong glanced at the time; they had been out for forty minutes. If they ate dinner now...
He was afraid Jiang Nan Fang might need him for something.
But he couldn't refuse Zhou Jinbei: "What do you want to eat? I'll order for you. We'll make do with this for now and eat it when we get back. I'll treat you properly another day when I have time."
Zhou Jinbei pouted: "You're so busy, you don't even have time to treat someone to a proper meal."
"..."
"Fine, takeout it is. Drive first, I'll see what to eat."
A Zhong drove seriously, and she pretended to pick up her phone.
A moment later, as they passed a roasted sweet potato stall by the roadside, Zhou Jinbei screamed.
"Hey, stop, stop! It looks like they sell roasted sweet potatoes here!"
A Zhong stopped the car and looked; it was true.
In the past, they could only eat roasted sweet potatoes in winter, but now they were available in summer.
They got out, and Zhou Jinbei chose the largest one, which was fragrant and sticky, making it very appetizing.
Thinking he could also bring back a couple for the children, A Zhong bought four in total.
Back in the car, Zhou Jinbei asked him why he bought so many.
"To give away," A Zhong didn't want to say more.
Fortunately, Zhou Jinbei didn't ask either. She seriously peeled the sweet potato skin, then dug out a spoonful with a plastic spoon and immediately frowned.
"Hmm? It looks delicious, but it tastes so mediocre. I'm not eating it."
Saying that, she dug out another big spoonful and handed it to A Zhong.
"Ten yuan wasted. You try it, it's not sweet at all."
A Zhong didn't want to try it, not because he disliked her using the spoon, but because he was in no mood for jokes.
But Zhou Jinbei held it to his mouth, looking at him with a serious expression as if discussing an important matter. If he didn't try it, he would seem too pretentious.
After taking a bite, Zhou Jinbei blinked her big eyes and asked him, "How is it?"
A Zhong told the truth: "It's quite sweet. It's already very good for roasted sweet potatoes."
"Since your standards are so low, you eat it then."
Zhou Jinbei had achieved her goal and dug out another large spoonful for him.
"I'm not used to this kind of coarse food, and it's a waste to throw it away, so you finish it."
Miss Zhou fed him spoonful after spoonful, and A Zhong felt a bit embarrassed.
As they approached a red light, he wanted to take the sweet potato.
"No need. I'll eat the rest at the hospital..."
"What? You dislike how I'm feeding you?" Zhou Jinbei didn't give it to him.
"No complaining allowed. I've gotten so used to taking care of my aunt lately, I quite enjoy this feeling of being needed. Eat yours, and stop nagging."
Although her body was tired, Jiang Nan Fang couldn't sleep.
Looking at the sleeping faces of her adorable children, she was terrified of losing them, so she used her phone to search for information about heart disease online.
As she was reading, her heart felt heavy, and Ke Teng called.
Without even thinking, she knew why he was calling her.
Jiang Nan Fang was in no mood to joke with him, nor was she in the mood to accept his nonsensical pursuit. Without a second thought, she hung up.
Unexpectedly, Ke Teng was quite persistent.
After hanging up, he immediately called again.
With no other option, Jiang Nan Fang had to block him.
There was also WeChat.
Jiang Nan Fang set her messages to do not disturb.
After blocking his number, she looked at his messages; he had sent her a dense stream of messages all day.
She blocked him on WeChat too, to prevent him from calling her via video later.
As it turned out, her guess was correct.
Ke Teng had been thinking about her from morning till night, sending her a message every few minutes. He thought this fervent pursuit would eventually move her.
But... he was blocked.
Had he offended her somewhere?
It had only been a day, and she was willing to talk to him on the way back!
Having just finished work and returned to the hotel, he thought he could relax while chatting with Jiang Nan Fang.
Discovering he was blocked, the disappointment was too great, and Ke Teng was almost infuriated to death.
Without a word, he called Xu Yanchuan.
Xu Yanchuan was frustrated by his entrepreneurial setbacks, realizing he was too inexperienced without his family's support. He was feeling down.
When he received Ke Teng's call, he naturally replied with annoyance: "What does the great young master Ke want with me?"
Ke Teng knew he had been too presumptuous in front of his cousin a few days ago.
This was his first entrepreneurial venture, and his brother not only didn't support him but also dragged him down. He quickly apologized.
"I'm sorry, brother. I'm calling to apologize. I was wrong a few days ago."
"Forgive me, give me another chance, and I'll go back and help you film the movie..."
Xu Yanchuan interrupted him: "No need. You're too valuable, and I can't afford you. Besides, you're busy, so I won't trouble you."
"Don't, don't, don't, brother, my dear brother, I truly know I was wrong. Please, don't be angry, don't mock me, give me another chance."
"I promise! I promise I'll be obedient this time, film properly, and try to keep my time during the day. As long as you get Jiang Nan Fang back..."
"Why on earth would you suddenly come to your senses and apologize to me? It's all for her?"
Xu Yanchuan gritted his teeth in anger. "Don't you know her relationship with Zhan Bei Jue and you're still pursuing her? Have you no shame?"
"Besides, she already has two children. Even if she's willing to be with you, can your father accept it?"
"Haven't you been on Weibo lately?" Ke Teng chuckled. "My father likes her immensely; he's even personally posted on Weibo to confirm it."
"What?" Xu Yanchuan had been in a bad mood these past few days and hadn't checked Weibo.
"Oh, well, you don't need to worry. Your job is just to find her again; the rest is none of your concern."
Ke Teng said, "I know you've just started filming and are short on funds. How about this: let's arrange to have lunch together tomorrow."
"As long as you succeed in arranging it, I'll cover any funding shortfall you have afterward."