Returning from the restroom, the two seemed to have a tacit understanding of their strained relationship. Peng Fei reached out to take Zhan Jingchun's hand, but she refused. He didn't insist.
They returned home, one behind the other.
Before they even reached the door, Peng Fei's mother appeared, wielding a kitchen knife, anxiously scanning the surroundings.
Seeing them return, she visibly relaxed. Clenching her teeth, she stepped aside, watching Peng Fei lead Zhan Jingchun back to her room and then lock it from the outside with a chain, before scolding him.
"Your brain must be completely broken! Look at other families; who would let a pregnant woman out? You, on the other hand, haven't even secured her yet, leaving the door unlocked and leading her out. Are you afraid she won't run away?"
"I'm telling you, even though I don't like her, after spending so much money, I absolutely won't tolerate any accidents!"
"You keep a close eye on her. If she gets lost, I won't just be done with you; I won't live anymore!"
Peng Fei remained silent. Zhan Jingchun realized then that in this household, he was merely a laborer with no say. If she truly wanted to leave, she had to negotiate with his mother. No wonder he hadn't budged even after she'd offered so much money yesterday.
She had originally planned to discuss it when the time was right, but now, feeling a pang of discomfort, the opportunity presented itself. Zhan Jingchun decided to call out towards the door.
"Auntie, I have something to tell you. Could you come over for a moment?"
Oh, she had something to say to her?
Peng Fei's mother looked at her, puzzled. Peng Fei knew what Zhan Jingchun was about to say and tried to stop his mother, pushing her towards the kitchen.
Peng Fei's mother refused to move. "Why are you pushing me? I'd like to hear what she has to say."
Peng Fei's mother insisted on going to the door. They spoke through the barrier.
"What do you want to say?"
Zhan Jingchun's tone was sincere. "I come from Nan Cheng. Do you know Nan Cheng? There's a very famous businessman in Nan Cheng named Zhan Bei Jue. He's my father."
"My father is extremely wealthy. My mother, my three older brothers, and my two older sisters are all very successful and very rich."
"I don't belong here, and they will find me sooner or later. When they do, you'll be in trouble. Wouldn't it be better to let me go?"
"Before they find me, if you let me go, you will be my benefactors. Not only will I not cause you trouble, but I will also give you a large sum of money."
"Doesn't your family lack money? Tell me how much you need, and I'll give it to you. Just let me go."
Unfortunately, no matter how clearly she explained, Peng Fei's mother, an uneducated woman who had never left their town and had spent most of her life working the land, couldn't comprehend how dangerous Zhan Bei Jue could be.
After Zhan Jingchun finished speaking, she only grasped one point: this daughter-in-law was unruly and needed to be taught a lesson.
She gave her son another fierce glare and, ignoring Zhan Jingchun, dragged Peng Fei into the kitchen.
The mother and son spoke in hushed tones.
Zhan Jingchun didn't know if Peng Fei's mother was tempted, and she waited anxiously in the room.
After an unknown period, Peng Fei finally returned.
He carried a bowl of noodles similar to what he had served the previous night, drizzled with sesame oil and topped with two poached eggs. Though the presentation wasn't great, it smelled appetizing.
Zhan Jingchun first glanced at the noodles, then asked him.
"What were you guys talking about just now? Did your mother agree?"
Peng Fei silently placed the noodles on the table and pulled a chair for her.
"Eat first."
Zhan Jingchun was anxious, fearing they wouldn't agree.
"Tell me first if she agreed."
"She said she needs to think about it and will tell you tomorrow. Eat first."
Zhan Jingchun's expression was innocent. "Really?"
Peng Fei's family was in debt, and his mother constantly talked about money, valuing it so highly. She figured his mother would agree.
Zhan Jingchun happily ate the entire bowl of noodles, even drinking all the soup.
"Thank you, Peng Fei. You're actually a good person."
As it turned out, she was still too naive, her definition of a good person too simple.
Not long after eating, she began to feel sleepy, her body succumbing to an uncontrollable urge to sleep.
Minutes later, she was fast asleep.
In her dream, she felt her limbs being moved, a heavy, heated body pressing against her. Then, a strange sensation enveloped her, as if she were drifting on waves.
She couldn't describe the feeling.
It was painful and numbing, yet irresistible.
She thought she was dreaming, experiencing the same dream all night.
But when she woke up the next day and saw the scene before her, she was stunned.
Everything that happened last night was not a dream.
Peng Fei had assaulted her.
Now, they were both bare, and she was held in his arms. The floor by the bed was littered with trash, and some tissues had bloodstains.
She...
Zhan Jingchun pushed Peng Fei away and sat up. The pain in a certain place made her gasp.
Realizing what had happened, it felt like a bolt from the blue. After a few moments of shock, she broke down and cried.
"You... I... How could you do this?"
"This is illegal, do you know that? You clearly promised to give me an answer today, how could you go back on your word? I thought you were a good person, but you..."
"I have a boyfriend! I love him very, very much! We're going to get married! I hate you!"
Peng Fei's face flushed and paled. He couldn't describe how he felt.
But no matter what, she was his now. After what they had been through, she would eventually have children. With children, she would never leave.
As long as he could be with her forever, he didn't care what she said.
He still had to get up and work. Peng Fei silently grabbed his clothes to put them on.
Seeing him say nothing, Zhan Jingchun, both ashamed and angry, wrapped herself in the sheet and, enduring the discomfort, kicked and hit him, wanting to bite him to death.
"Say something! You think you can just get away with this? Let me tell you, it's impossible! Even after this, I won't stay! I will never stay in this broken place, and I will never be with you. Don't dream!"
"My parents and siblings will find me sooner or later. You are no longer my benefactor. When that day comes, they will make sure you have no burial place!"
Peng Fei let her hit and curse him. He quickly put on his clothes and turned to look at her, who was crying inconsolably. He hesitantly spoke.
"You must be hungry. I'll make you something to eat."
At a time like this, he was still thinking about food?
Zhan Jingchun was about to be driven mad by him.
"Who cares about your lousy food, it tastes terrible! Let me go! If you don't let me go, I'll deal with you..."
Peng Fei didn't listen further. He turned and left the room, locking the door again.
It felt like punching cotton. Zhan Jingchun almost spat blood.
For the first time in her life, she understood why people wanted to smash things when they were angry. With nowhere to vent her fury, she jumped off the bed and pushed over the dilapidated tables and chairs, stomping on them fiercely.
"Let me out, let me out! You trash, scum!"