A man, once he decides to be shameless, is truly something a woman can't handle.
Zhan Jingchun didn't want their affairs to become public knowledge, so her words were just that, words. Besides grabbing and hitting him, she dared not cause too much of a scene.
Without making a sound, she continued to grab and bite, beating him severely, but Peng Fei still wouldn't yield.
Her mind raced, and Zhan Jingchun grabbed the tie of his bathrobe and yanked it open.
Suddenly appearing naked before her, Peng Fei felt so ashamed he quickly reached to cover himself. Zhan Jingchun seized the moment he dodged, pulled open the door, and ran out.
Unexpectedly, just as she stepped out, the housekeeper came rushing over, shaking water from her hands.
"Chun Chun. I'm sorry, but I have to start my holiday early. My daughter-in-law is about to give birth. She just called saying she has stomach pains and is already on her way. You know, my husband passed away early, and my son is clueless about everything. I need to get there quickly to help."
Zhan Jingchun knew about the auntie's family situation. The auntie had already told her about needing time off at the end of the year, so she understood.
"Which hospital? I'll drive you."
"No, no, it's fine. I can take a taxi myself."
"We're so familiar with each other, and you're still being polite? It's not convenient to get a taxi here. Come on, I'll take you."
Peng Fei, having tied his robe, followed them out. Seeing them about to leave, he quickly asked, "Where are you two going?"
Zhan Jingchun ignored him and pushed the auntie towards the exit.
The auntie turned back to explain to him, instructing him.
"You stay home alone for now. Chun Chun will be back soon. Even after the clothes are dry, don't wear them immediately. Take them out to air first, and wear them tomorrow. If you're sleepy, just go to bed..."
Zhan Jingchun scoffed, "Do you really treat him like your son? What's so good about him that you're so concerned?"
The auntie replied, "He's even younger than my son, and I thought about how difficult it must be for him. I couldn't help but let my maternal instincts overflow."
The two hurried out, not expecting Peng Fei to follow.
"I don't want to stay home alone. I'm coming too."
Dressed like this, he wanted to go to the hospital?
Before Zhan Jingchun could refuse, Peng Fei said,
"I know I'm not presentable like this, but at worst, I'll just sit in the car and not get out. I'm worried, so I have to follow. If you don't let me go, I'll follow behind the car dressed like this."
Truly shameless.
If it weren't for the auntie being in a hurry, Zhan Jingchun would have beaten him up again.
Zhan Jingchun drove, the auntie in the passenger seat, and Peng Fei squeezed into the back.
On the way to the hospital, the auntie asked Zhan Jingchun,
"Tomorrow is the 29th, and the day after tomorrow is New Year's. Are you really not going back? With me gone, you'll be quite lonely here, and your family must be worried. Why don't you go back?"
Peng Fei only then belatedly realized that New Year was fast approaching.
Chun Chun doesn't want to go back and plans to spend it alone here? Why?
Before Peng Fei could ask, Zhan Jingchun glared at him through the rearview mirror.
"What business is it of yours? Shut up."
Peng Fei had no choice but to stop asking.
An awkward silence filled the car. After another ten minutes of driving, the auntie couldn't help but turn and ask Peng Fei,
"Little Peng, are you going back for New Year?"
Whether Peng Fei returned or not was of little consequence to her.
His mother had his sister and elder sister with her. Now that the debts were settled, he had only recently returned, so there was nothing to worry about.
As long as Zhan Jingchun didn't kick him out, he actually wanted to stay.
Peng Fei hesitated and didn't answer. The auntie sighed.
"I left in such a hurry that I didn't leave much food for Chun Chun. I'm really worried she'll go hungry these few days."
"How about this, Chun Chun? I'll call Xiao Hui and ask her to come and keep you company for a few days. She's younger than me, and it would be more fun for you two together."
Zhan Jingchun absolutely refused.
Although the auntie was older, she was perceptive and wouldn't say things she shouldn't.
She quite liked the calm way they interacted.
Xiao Hui was too smart, too good at reading people and situations. She didn't like that.
"I'm not an idiot. Don't worry, I won't starve. It's only a month. Your daughter-in-law will be back after her confinement. If not, I can eat out. It's fine."
The auntie had no choice but to stop speaking.
Upon entering the hospital, there were no parking spaces. The auntie got out and waved goodbye to them, and Zhan Jingchun drove away.
The two returned home in silence. Closing the door, it was late. Zhan Jingchun said,
"Go to sleep. We agreed you'd wake up at six tomorrow morning. Don't let me see you again tomorrow."
But on the way back, Peng Fei had made up his mind.
Zhan Jingchun couldn't cook, and now without the housekeeper, wouldn't she just not eat if she stayed alone, just smoking?
He was worried and decided not to leave.
Peng Fei didn't argue with her face-to-face and obediently went into his room.
Zhan Jingchun pretended to go upstairs, but after less than ten minutes, she came back down.
Peng Fei's guess was entirely correct. Her nicotine craving was severe, and she felt uncomfortable if she didn't smoke for several hours.
It was inconvenient and secretive when the housekeeper was around.
Now that she was gone, she was finally free. She wanted to go out and buy cigarettes. Several packs.
Quietly reaching the living room downstairs, just as she was about to grab the keys to go out, Peng Fei's voice drifted over leisurely.
"It's so late, where are you going?"
Zhan Jingchun jumped in surprise. She turned back to see him leaning in the doorway of his room, wrapped in his bathrobe, staring at her.
"You're crazy!"
She cursed.
"What business is it of yours? Don't think that just because I picked you up and saved your life, you have the right to boss me around. Understand your place. Don't meddle in things that don't concern you. Say one more word, and I'll kick you out right now!"
Since it was just the two of them, Peng Fei was not intimidated by her paper tiger persona.
He walked straight towards her.
Seeing his expression, Zhan Jingchun felt he was about to... Her heart pounded.
"What are you doing? I'm warning you, there's a motion sensor alarm in the house. If I raise my voice even slightly, it'll automatically report to the police. Don't provoke me."
Peng Fei walked directly up to her and grabbed her wrists.
"Then keep your voice down. Chun Chun, you really can't smoke anymore. Be good, I'll stay with you, and we'll quit together."
Even after showering so long ago, he still carried a faint scent of body wash.
When two people who had shared ambiguous moments got so close, they could smell each other's fragrance, even their breaths mingled.
Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted.
However, this feeling didn't last long. Zhan Jingchun, afraid of falling back into it, started kicking him again.
"You're getting too bold, don't you know who you are? How dare you grab me? Let go! Don't force me to call for help!"
In that brief moment, Zhan Jingchun looked at him with bright eyes, her palms felt his warmth, and Peng Fei did have some unusual thoughts.
But he could control himself. After Zhan Jingchun's scolding, he immediately returned to his senses.
However, he still couldn't let her go.
No matter how angry she got, he had to help her quit smoking.
Zhan Jingchun struggled and thrashed. Peng Fei suddenly scooped her up by the waist.
He slung her over his shoulder and carried her into his room.
Gently placing her on the bed, he covered her with the quilt, then lay down beside her.