"So you're quite noble? For the sake of the children, you had to share a bed with a stranger?"
Jiang Nan Fang looked at him steadily.
"You don't understand the world of the poor. You don't understand how far some men will go to earn money, even selling themselves."
"I don't need to share a bed with him. Giving him eight thousand yuan is enough to buy a spot on his household registration book. You can ask some poor people if you don't believe me."
Zhan Bei Jue had lived in the clouds since childhood.
He couldn't imagine the transactions among the impoverished lower class.
The lawyer quickly came over and whispered to him.
He told him it was feasible. The marriages and household registration books of the poor were worth next to nothing.
Looking at Jiang Nan Fang, who was unhurried and composed, and then thinking of the lively and adorable children.
Zhan Bei Jue ultimately couldn't bear to see her last half of her life thus consigned to high walls.
In fact, he had already made his plans before coming.
Even if he no longer believed a word Jiang Nan Fang said, for the sake of the children not being an embarrassment, he would get her out.
However, he had conditions.
"You are still young, and you certainly wouldn't want to spend the rest of your life like this. I also don't want the children to be unable to hold their heads up when they ask about their mother in the future."
"So I will take you out today."
"But Jiang Nan Fang, you have to admit that you are not suitable to raise children. Although you've tried your best, the side effects you bring them are unavoidable."
He beckoned to the lawyer, who then produced a document.
Zhan Bei Jue pushed it towards her.
"Therefore, sign this agreement and give me custody of the children. Everything that happens within these twelve hours will vanish into thin air."
How pathetic.
After circling around for so long, Zhan Bei Jue still didn't trust her.
Jiang Nan Fang found it exasperating that he repeatedly tested her maternal love by asking for custody of the children.
But at the same time, she felt helpless.
To fall into someone's trap so unexpectedly, with no one to help, and without even the means to hire her own lawyer, relying only on the court-appointed one.
Under these circumstances, she was certain to lose the case.
If she lost, she would never see her children alive again, nor would she have another chance for revenge.
She was conflicted.
Accepting Zhan Bei Jue's terms meant admitting that all the wrongdoings were her fault.
Furthermore, being separated from her children for the rest of her life would be worse than death.
If she refused, she would be confined here forever, also unable to see her children, which would be worse than death.
So much failure, such heartache, she felt like crying.
But crying was useless.
Jiang Nan Fang knew clearly that she had to seize the time to weigh the pros and cons, and to fight for what she could before Zhan Bei Jue's patience ran out.
"It feels like we're two porcupines with incompatible fates. The slightest closeness makes us prick and chafe each other, giving each other no peace."
Jiang Nan Fang didn't look at the document, her gaze falling on Zhan Bei Jue with a gentle, mournful expression.
"Mr. Zhan, this is the last time I will call you that. I've never begged you before, but today, I implore you."
"Pretend that I never appeared during this time. Let's both return to our previous states. You continue to live with Rui Rui and Ge Er. I will take the two of them and leave."
"Please, show mercy and let us go."
"The two of them were just betrayed by Tang Xue Ying, whom they considered their own mother. If I abandon them at this time… they are innocent."
Zhan Bei Jue admitted that he was utterly pathetic in front of Jiang Nan Fang.
He couldn't stand her sparkling eyes.
He couldn't listen to her glib and cunning arguments.
Even though she had disappointed him repeatedly, at critical moments, he would still soften towards her.
Knowing that the children would not learn anything good from a mother like her, he still softened and compromised at her "persuasion."
"Then you must keep your word, and from now on, forever, until death, you are not allowed to appear in Nan Cheng again."
"Rui Rui and Ge Er cannot withstand your torment any longer."
And so, Jiang Nan Fang was brought out by Zhan Bei Jue.
Although it had been over ten hours, it felt like centuries.
The two sat on opposite sides, each looking out the window, with no more intimacy or sweetness between them.
Zhan Bei Jue took Jiang Nan Fang to Tian Fu International, allowing her to stay one more night to pack her belongings before picking up the children from summer camp the next day.
However, fate sometimes plays such cruel tricks.
As soon as she got out of the car and before entering the elevator, the sales vice president called.
"President Zhan, our five hundred million order with Ke Shi Electric in Shang Cheng has just been delivered. However, after using only one batch, they reported that the temperature rise was too high and the quality was not up to standard."
"Please arrange for a technician from the engineering department to handle the after-sales service. They are in a hurry to take the goods, so we need to go as soon as possible."
Zhan Bei Jue's expression turned cold: "Call Vice President Gao and have him arrange it. Do I have to personally handle trivial matters like after-sales service now?"
"... Isn't Vice President Gao's term over and he's already processing his resignation? I don't even know who the new head of the engineering department is."
Vice President Gao's term was already over?
He was already processing his resignation?
How did he not know?
Damn it.
And they say Ah Zhong is love-struck.
Ever since he became infatuated with Jiang Nan Fang, he, Zhan Bei Jue, was also close to "neglecting state affairs"!
"Vice President Gao is not leaving; there is no new leader. The company has decided to re-employ him. If there's anything, continue to find him."
The sales vice president hung up the phone.
Soon, Vice President Gao called him again.
"President Zhan, has Engineer Jiang contacted you recently?"
"There are some issues with the new product, and the other colleagues are not familiar with it. I wanted her to help with an after-sales service trip, but her phone is unreachable."
"Is the entire engineering department so incompetent that there's no one capable besides Jiang Nan Fang?"
"If you don't learn, you don't learn!"
"When problems arise, you immediately look for her, look for her. She's not even part of the Zhan Corporation anymore. If she leaves Nan Cheng in the future, do you plan for your engineering department to cease to exist?"
"..."
Why was President Zhan in such a temper today? He was being scolded as soon as he answered.
Vice President Gao dared not complain and patiently explained.
"That order in Shang Cheng was signed by her personally, and they specifically requested her for after-sales service..."
"It's just this once. Don't worry, President Zhan. From now on, even if I go myself, I won't bother Engineer Jiang again."
The order in Shang Cheng? She signed it personally?
Wouldn't that be Ke Jing Yu's five hundred million?
Considering Ke Teng's identity.
They specifically asked for her for after-sales service? Zhan Bei Jue was amused by his anger.
Was there a genuine problem, or was someone's intention not related to the wine?
Even in her current situation, someone was still thinking of her, and it was a young, rich, and handsome wolfdog. Her charm was extraordinary.
"Return to Tian Fu International."
He told the lawyer to turn the car around.
As soon as Jiang Nan Fang entered and plugged in her phone, Zhan Bei Jue returned.
Seeing him appear at the door, Jiang Nan Fang's heart pounded, thinking there might be a turning point in their relationship.
As a result, Zhan Bei Jue was all business.
"You're not going to the summer camp tomorrow. Pack your things, and you will immediately go to Shang Cheng with Vice President Gao."
"Ke Jing Yu specifically requested to see you. Go and clean up the mess of this five hundred million order before you leave."
"..."
"If you have time, also improve the product performance."
"If you cause me embarrassment with problems in the future, I will remove it from Zhan Corporation's product catalog."