Everyone chimed in, "I think so. It's only natural, isn't it? Him, trying to get close to Chun Chun? He should look at himself first."
The crowd watched Peng Fei with amusement, surprised he was still in the mood to go out.
Not long after Chun Chun left, he changed into a handsome outfit, threatened everyone to stay put, and then locked the door before leaving.
Although he wasn't in the mood to see Wang Li, he had already promised her and borrowed so much money; he had to give her some assurance.
After not seeing each other for months, Wang Li had become even more beautiful.
She had a new hairstyle, wore neat and clean clothes, and her eyes sparkled when she saw Peng Fei.
Thinking Peng Fei would definitely pay for the meal, Wang Li thoughtfully chose a reasonably priced restaurant.
They ordered one meat and one vegetable dish, each with a bowl of rice, and sat down.
Peng Fei had brought paper and pen beforehand. While waiting for the food, he wrote her an IOU and solemnly pressed his fingerprint on it.
Wang Li found it rather pointless. "We've known each other for so long, don't you trust my character? Do you need to write this?"
Peng Fei said, "Let's do things properly. No one can predict the future. Here, take it. I'll repay you as soon as possible."
Wang Li reluctantly took the IOU and asked with a smile, "Forty thousand yuan is not a small sum. How do you plan to repay me quickly?"
Her question stumped Peng Fei.
With only a few days left until the Lunar New Year, he hadn't even sent money home yet. Now he was heavily in debt, and he truly didn't know how he would repay her.
"After the New Year, I'll work hard to find a job. Don't worry, no matter what it is, even in installments, I'll repay you as soon as possible."
Wang Li said, "That's not what I meant. Why do you always overthink things? If I were worried you wouldn't repay, I wouldn't have lent you the money at all. I'm just trying to help you brainstorm since you seem to have no ideas."
"How about this, I'm in a lot of part-time job groups. I'll go back and pick a few good ones to recommend to you. You can start with those. It's like looking for a new job while keeping the old one, take your time, no rush."
Peng Fei was very grateful to her. Wang Li was truly a wonderful girl, but it was a pity he couldn't be with her.
Peng Fei knew Wang Li had feelings for him, and he didn't want to lead her on.
"Wang Li, I need to tell you something."
Wang Li drank her tea, looking at him with a smile. "Why so serious? Go ahead and speak."
"I found my wife."
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Wang Li choked on her tea. "You found her? When? Where? What is she doing now? Have you reconciled?"
Peng Fei found it inconvenient to reveal details. "All I can say is, I found her. I wanted to let you know that you are a very, very good person, and I don't deserve you. You should find a boy who is right for you and stop being so good to me."
The sparkle in Wang Li's eyes gradually faded. She understood why Peng Fei had come to see her today. "You came out just to tell me this? Alright, I understand."
Peng Fei apologized, "Don't be angry, I..."
Wang Li paused for a moment, then sighed. "I'm not angry. Actually, this is for the best, it proves in a way that you are a responsible person when it comes to relationships."
"But what you think is your business, and what I think is mine. I can't interfere with you, and you have no right to interfere with me."
"I think if your wife chose to leave you back then, she must have had her reasons. Given your current situation, she might not accept you again in the future. Anyway, I don't mind. If she doesn't want you, you can come to me, and I'll always welcome you."
Peng Fei was speechless and could only turn his head to look out the window in deep thought.
Throughout the meal, it was mostly Wang Li who spoke. After they finished, Peng Fei needed to go back.
Wang Li seemed reluctant to part. "I'm so bored staying home and sleeping all day during the holidays. If you have time in the future, can I still look for you?"
"I meant, if I find suitable part-time jobs, I'll recommend them to you. Do you have time to come out then?"
Peng Fei said, "If it doesn't take up too much time, like an hour or two today, then it's fine."
Wang Li smiled happily again. "Okay then, I'll try my best to help you find some, and I'll call you when I find them."
Back home, Peng Fei immediately retreated to his room and buried himself in work.
He resumed his cold and aloof demeanor, becoming quite irritable towards everyone. He would yell and curse like a tyrant at the slightest disagreement, making him utterly detestable.
Next door, Zhan Jingchun wasn't faring much better.
She hadn't expected Peng Fei to be the kind of man who changed his tune after getting what he wanted.
He had so confidently promised there was nothing between him and Wang Li, yet he had publicly humiliated her in front of her sister and brother-in-law.
She really wanted to confront him and demand an explanation, but her pride wouldn't allow it.
What happened between them the night before wasn't Peng Fei's initiative; it was her own foolishness, her desperate attempt to get close to him.
It seemed no man would refuse an offered piece of meat, and things that were cheaply offered weren't worth cherishing.
This was a lesson Peng Fei had taught her.
Zhan Jingchun had lost all hope in relationships, feeling she wasn't destined for love.
It seemed that while God had blessed her abundantly in family matters, He had destined her to suffer greatly in love.
Her ex-boyfriend and Peng Fei had thoroughly shattered her beautiful fantasies about men. She truly believed she would never love again.
Tiantian and Chen Dongyang felt sad seeing her dejected state.
However, when it came to emotions, no one could help another person truly understand unless they experienced it themselves.
The only thing Tiantian could do was suggest she see a therapist.
Zhan Jingchun felt she didn't need a therapist; she knew where her problem lay.
As the saying goes, "When the heart is free of love, one becomes divine." Now that she had given up on love, perhaps she wouldn't be so anxious or gain possession anymore.
Tiantian wanted to stay with her for a couple of days, but Zhan Jingchun didn't want that.
She needed solitude.
Tiantian suggested she move elsewhere, but Zhan Jingchun also refused.
The best way to solve a problem was to face it head-on.
Since she no longer harbored any illusions about Peng Fei, there was no need to avoid him.
Even if they saw each other every day, she wouldn't feel a ripple of emotion for him. That would be true strength.
Tiantian and Chen Dongyang had no choice but to leave Nanshan Villa. Before leaving, they told her to call them if she needed anything.
Zhan Jingchun took some melatonin, pulled the covers over her head, and went to sleep.
The next morning, she was woken by the still lively sounds from next door.
Was it already daylight?
She felt a sense of melancholy. It had only been a day, but it felt like half a lifetime had passed.
The training next door had started again. Judging by Peng Fei's voice, it seemed to be the same as usual, unaffected.
Zhan Jingchun neither wanted to laugh nor cry. She just thought indifferently.
People who are carefree live a truly happy life.
She got up to paint. Today, she felt inspired, and her strokes were clear.
She didn't know how long she had been painting when a woman's voice came from next door. It turned out Wang Li had arrived.
For Peng Fei, she had contacted many part-time jobs overnight and was eager to contact him early in the morning.
Peng Fei thought, "Might as well go all the way." To completely dispel any misunderstanding with Zhan Jingchun, let her come.