The two bought groceries and arrived home chatting and laughing. The children had already been picked up by Ah Zhong.
The family hugged each other and exchanged kisses. Jiang Nan Fang then busied herself in the kitchen.
Within an hour, a table full of delicious dishes was ready.
The family happily enjoyed the first reunion meal in their new home.
Meanwhile, at the Zhan residence, Gong Bei Bei and Mrs. Zhan were in a state of despair.
Gong Bei Bei knelt before Mrs. Zhan, weeping uncontrollably.
“I know I’ve disappointed you terribly. I’m sorry, Aunt Zhou, but what else could I have done?”
“I’m too ashamed to stay in Nan Cheng any longer. Ah Jue has played me for a fool, making me the laughingstock of everyone. I might as well die.”
“You can hit me or scold me as much as you want. When you’ve had enough, I’ll find a secluded place and end it all!”
Mrs. Zhan was initially furious with Gong Bei Bei for her rash and inconsiderate actions, failing to consider the bigger picture.
However, seeing her so heartbroken and despairing, she feared that further reprimand might push her over the edge and decided to let it go.
“This isn’t your fault. It’s our Zhan family who has wronged you. Don’t talk like that.”
“Don’t worry, even if you don’t get engaged to Ah Jue, you’ll always be my good child, Aunt Zhou. I won’t let anyone laugh at you.”
“I will definitely give you a proper explanation for all of this. Don’t overthink things. Go back to your father’s place and rest well. Give me two days, and Aunt Zhou will not let you down.”
The family spent a pleasant evening together. The next morning, after breakfast, Zhan Bei Jue personally drove Jiang Nan Fang to her studio.
They held hands along the way, neither speaking a word.
But simply feeling each other’s presence and enjoying the feeling of being in love was quite nice.
Upon arrival, Zhan Bei Jue parked the car. Jiang Nan Fang withdrew her hand from his and reached for the door to get out.
“Alright, I’m here. Drive carefully yourself. See you tonight.”
Zhan Bei Jue was reluctant to let go and pulled her back.
“I went to the trouble of being your driver early this morning. Are you just going to leave without giving me any token of appreciation?”
It was peak rush hour, with pedestrians constantly passing by outside the car.
Jiang Nan Fang knew what he meant but felt embarrassed to act.
“What kind of token do you want? Like this?”
She grabbed his hand and brought it to her lips, touching it with hers.
“A kiss? Is that good enough?”
“Perfunctory.”
Zhan Bei Jue looked at her smiling eyes, leaned in, cupped the back of her head, and pecked her lips.
“You always play dumb with me. I’ve realized you’re quite wicked.”
“…” Jiang Nan Fang blushed slightly and got out of the car with a playful glare.
“Alright, hurry up and go. You’ll be late for work.”
The breeze gently lifted the hem of her skirt and her hair, making her look like a fairy floating in the air.
Zhan Bei Jue watched her elegantly enter the lobby through the glass, then drove away with a smile.
Jiang Nan Fang entered the lobby and saw only one man standing in the elevator. The elevator doors were slowly closing.
Not wanting to wait for the next one, she quickened her pace and called out, “Please wait!”
Just as the doors were about to close, she handed over her bag, activating the sensor that opened the elevator doors.
To her surprise, upon entering, she discovered that there wasn't just a man inside, but also a Tibetan Mastiff, a meter tall, with a glossy coat, a robust build, and bared teeth.
It wasn't on a leash.
Startled by Jiang Nan Fang’s sudden entry, the dog, as if seeing a piece of meat tossed by its owner, excitedly stuck out its tongue, raised its front paws, and pounced towards Jiang Nan Fang with a low growl.
Due to a childhood quarrel with Jiang Xing Chen, that fellow had sought revenge by arranging for several ferocious dogs to attack Jiang Nan Fang.
Therefore, Jiang Nan Fang, having faced such ordeals, feared nothing in the world except dogs, especially such a large and terrifying Tibetan Mastiff.
Caught off guard by the pounce, she thought it was going to bite her.
Jiang Nan Fang screamed in fright, grabbed its ear with one hand, and kicked its belly with her foot, sending it crashing into the corner.
It all happened in a split second.
Seeing his Tibetan Mastiff kicked, the man immediately looked at Jiang Nan Fang with displeasure.
He was tall with long legs and wore a black tracksuit.
Although he was wearing large sunglasses and a mask in the elevator, he appeared to be a young man.
However, when he spoke, he was unreasonable.
“What are you doing? Are you looking to die?”
“Do you know what this is? Do you have any idea how precious it is? How much money I spend on it every year?”
“You dare to kick my precious daughter? Have you had enough of living?”
He was walking his dog without a leash, and his dog had lunged at someone else first, yet he was the one calling the other person suicidal?
How could a grown man be so unreasonable!
Jiang Nan Fang, her heart rate slowly returning to normal, glared back at him expressionlessly.
“You’re the one looking to die. Do you even know how to raise a dog in the city?”
“If your eyesight is bad, don’t wear sunglasses in broad daylight and try to act cool. Didn’t you see it nearly biting me? Am I not allowed to defend myself?”
“Which eye of yours saw this as a dog? This is a Tibetan Mastiff, do you understand what a Tibetan Mastiff is?”
The man tenderly picked up the dog and stroked it, retorting to Jiang Nan Fang.
“Do you see anyone leashing a Tibetan Mastiff? You say it bit you, but where did it bite you? Are you injured anywhere?”
“Besides, what’s the big deal if it bit you? I can afford to compensate you, so why did you hit it right away?”
Jiang Nan Fang was astonished by the man’s warped logic.
“Do I have to be bitten, have my arm or leg broken, before I can fight back? Your dog is clearly valued more than a human life!”
“If it’s that precious, and you’re afraid it will be hit or disliked by others, why don’t you just keep it at home and not bring it out? Why bring it to public places?”
“You must have sneaked it in behind the security guards’ backs. Otherwise, this thing would never be allowed here!”
The man was shamelessly defiant.
“I own it, and I can take it wherever I please. It’s none of your business.”
“In all my life, you’re the first person who dared to lay a hand on it. I’m taking it for a medical examination. I warn you, if the doctor says it has even a centimeter of a wound, you’ll regret it.”
Walking your dog without a leash, nearly injuring someone, and you still think you’re in the right?
You’ll make me regret it? What a big threat!
Jiang Nan Fang took out her phone.
“Fine, I’ll call the security department right now and have them come drag the dog away. Let’s see who will regret it!”
“How dare you!”
As she spoke, seeing her suddenly take out her phone to dial, the man reached out to snatch it.
“This is my pet, you have no right to boss me around! Don’t make that call, give me my phone!”
Jiang Nan Fang held onto it tightly.
“This is my phone, and I can call anyone I want. You can’t control that. Move aside!”
The man pointed his index finger at her nose.
“Don’t provoke me! If you weren’t a woman, would you believe I’d hit you?”
“If you point at me again, I’ll break your finger. Do you believe me?”