"There's no need. If Mrs. Jiang is just here to say goodbye, her sentiment has been conveyed."
"I appreciate your kind intentions, thank you. You may leave now."
Seeing Ah Zhong's distant and aloof demeanor, hearing his cold, heartless words, Zhou Jinbei felt as if she had been shot by a thousand arrows.
But what else could she say?
Apart from playing to her strengths and stubbornly lingering, trying to spend as much time with him as possible, there was nothing she could do.
"After all, I came all this way. We were friends before. Now that I'm at your doorstep, it's not too much to ask for a cup of water, is it?"
"Why are you so stingy now? You don't even dare let me in. Are you hiding a woman at home?"
As she spoke, she made a move as if to peek inside.
Ah Zhong took a step back, maintaining his distance from her.
"What are you talking about? I'm about to leave Nancheng. Who would I be hiding?"
"Are you really thirsty? Then come in."
Most of the things in the room were covered by Ah Zhong.
Even the teacups had been put away and stored in the cupboard.
Ah Zhong went to get a teacup, while Zhou Jinbei went to his bedroom.
Her clothes were already packed into several suitcases on the floor.
He was truly a man who would leave at a moment's notice.
She walked out again and followed Ah Zhong, watching him boil water.
"Where are you planning to go? For how long? What are you going to do?"
"You're leaving now, and besides me, no one else is here to see you off?"
She felt that she was a bit strange today.
After that incident, she had also felt awkward.
When he went to find her, she had also tried to keep her distance.
Why had she come to his door today, acting like her old self?
Ah Zhong didn't understand, but he disliked seeing her like this.
She wasn't as pure as he had imagined. Zhou Jinbei was always Zhou Jinbei, more cunning than a fox.
She was like Huang Rong from Jin Yong's novels, even more mischievous and resourceful, able to play men who didn't know her well with effortless ease.
He didn't want to talk to her much like this.
"Drink up quickly, and then go back."
"You're already married, yet you're running to someone else's house on your first day. What if Mr. Jiang sees this? It won't look good."
She kept talking about being married, as if afraid he would forget.
Zhou Jinbei unhappily took the teacup and took a sip.
"Forget it, I won't beat around the bush. Actually, I came to see you today for something else."
Ah Zhong really couldn't imagine what she would need him for.
Zhou Jinbei said, "You're going abroad, so you won't be driving your car, right?"
"I left my previous car at home for my mom to use. I just came from their place and felt too awkward to ask for a new car, so I took a taxi here today."
"If you're not using it, can you lend it to me? Don't worry, my driving skills are excellent, I definitely won't crash it for you!"
"Even if I did crash it, when you return, I'll pay you back along with the depreciation fee."
Ah Zhong never in his wildest dreams expected her to travel all this way just to borrow his car.
Was this woman overly clever, or genuinely straightforward?
"It's not a great car. If I give it to you, it'll be like a used car. Aren't you afraid of losing face?"
"You're reluctant?" Hearing him say that, Zhou Jinbei pouted.
"Then how about you sell it to me? I'll pay you."
Ah Zhong didn't mean it that way.
He just felt that someone as smart and beautiful as her, married to a man of such good standing, wouldn't hesitate to get a new car.
Driving such a car that couldn't be presented publicly, he was simply embarrassed for her.
"No need to buy it. If you like it, take it. It's not worth much anyway. Should I go through the paperwork and gift it to you?"
"I don't know when I'll be back, or if I'll ever return. Even if I do, I won't want this car."
Ah Zhong had spoken his mind, leaving no room for doubt.
He didn't want to leave any openings for future meetings between them.
Zhou Jinbei felt even more heartbroken.
He wasn't coming back, and might never return.
She thought of that damned Jiang Sicheng, who was now engrossed with his boyfriend.
She couldn't even see the person she liked, what kind of suffering was she enduring?
"Since you're so generous and giving me the car, and you don't have anyone else to see you off, let me treat you to a meal!"
Zhou Jinbei suddenly made up her mind not to go home tonight.
She didn't care if it caused any gossip, or what Jiang Sicheng would think if he found out.
Her love was about to end, and the person she liked would be gone forever.
Wasn't she allowed to be willful just once?
"Should we eat out, or order takeout? My treat."
Ah Zhong would absolutely not have dinner with her.
He refused directly, "What kind of newlywed eats out on their first day of marriage?"
"I'm not eating, you don't need to treat me."
He handed her the car keys, looking as if he wanted to usher her out.
"Hurry back."
Zhou Jinbei took the car keys, put them in her bag, and then picked up her phone.
"It seems you don't want to go out. Then we'll eat at home. Eat whatever I order. Don't say it's not tasty."
Why was she so willful?
Her temper was flaring up again.
Didn't she know she was already married?
Ah Zhong was about to try and persuade her again, but Zhou Jinbei suddenly pulled a face and glared at him fiercely.
"Can you stop talking? Do you need to constantly remind me that I'm a married woman?"
"Does a married woman have no human rights, no freedom, no friends? Doesn't she even have the freedom to talk to people or share a meal?"
"Is it you who thinks Zhou Jinbei doesn't deserve respect, or are you Zhong Jiaming a male chauvinist? Do you think your wife should act the way you say after getting married?"
His good intentions had yielded no good results.
Ah Zhong was left speechless by her retort.
"Fine, fine, you have human rights."
"I won't say anything else. Do as you please. I haven't finished packing, I'm going to pack. Make yourself at home."
With that, he turned and went into the room.
Zhou Jinbei slumped onto the sofa like a deflated ball, ordered a spread of food, and two bottles of wine.
Then she called Jiang Sicheng.
"Don't come home tonight, and I won't be home either."
"A friend is heartbroken and wants someone to accompany her. I need to stay and keep her company."
Jiang Sicheng was happy not to go home and was quite pleased to hear this, though he was a little worried about Zhou Jinbei.
Afraid she might not be honest.
"What friend? Why haven't you mentioned her before? Send me a photo to see."
"Wait a moment."
The call ended. Zhou Jinbei went to scroll through her Moments and within half a minute found a picture of a beautiful, melancholic woman in distress.
She saved the picture and sent it to Jiang Sicheng.
Jiang Sicheng replied, "Alright, keep her company. Remember to come back early tomorrow, or Mother will be unhappy."
Zhou Jinbei subconsciously retorted, "What about you? Are you coming back tomorrow?"
Jiang Sicheng replied, "We'll see. Don't worry about me, just take care of yourself."
Since it would take a while for the takeout to arrive, Zhou Jinbei arranged things at home and then went to the room to find Ah Zhong.