It was unexpected that someone as stubborn as him would be willing to leave the village, and to realize they had made a grave mistake.
Although Zhan Jingchun had waited a long time for this apology, what good would it do now?
That memory would forever be etched into his bones, something he could never escape. He no longer cared about this apology.
She was merely stating facts, wanting to clarify the situation before leaving, to distance herself from Peng Fei again and never see him again.
"Alright, stop talking. I didn't come here to hear your apology, nor do I want to know why you're here. As long as you don't bother me again."
"Bothering you is useless. Do you know who Zhan Beijue is now? You can't afford to bother me."
Peng Fei knew, deeply realizing the vast difference between him and Zhan Jingchun.
He was a toad who, if not for those immoral people, would never have had a chance with the swan.
Now that the swan had returned to the heavens, he had no chance anymore.
But what else could he say besides "sorry"?
Zhan Jingchun didn't like apologies, so he stopped speaking, standing there with his head bowed, looking at her beautiful slippers.
Similarly, Zhan Jingchun was also observing his shoes, legs, and arms.
For some reason, she thought of him going to work in the mines when she left the village.
She couldn't help but imagine what he looked like while working, perhaps always covered in dust like he was now?
Then, she thought of his unfortunate sister.
Pale and skinny, barely able to get enough to eat, she wondered how she was doing now.
"Why aren't you talking? Don't you want to explain yourself to me?"
After a few seconds of silence, Zhan Jingchun spoke again. Peng Fei didn't understand her meaning at first and looked up at her with confusion.
Seeing her skin, so tender it looked like it could be squeezed to yield water, her large, watery eyes, and her vibrant red lips, he involuntarily found his gaze unable to move away. He swallowed quietly.
He mumbled, "Explain what?"
Meeting his sincere and lingering gaze, it felt as if they were still in the same relationship as before.
Zhan Jingchun felt inexplicably that she wanted to talk to him in that same manner again.
"Explain why your mother gave me away! Did you look down on me and instruct her to do it, or did you know nothing at all?"
This matter was Peng Fei's greatest concern. If it weren't for his mother's difficulty in raising the three of them, she would have been angry to death, but he couldn't bear it. Upon realizing she had given Zhan Jingchun away, he truly wanted to sever ties with her.
"No, no, how could I look down on you?"
"I love you. Everyone in our village knows I love you. I wish I could dig out my heart and give it to you to eat, just to make you happy. How could I possibly look down on you?"
"My mother... I'm sorry. I know, I shouldn't speak for her, but she's my mother after all, and I'm very angry. But what can I do to her?"
"That's why I came to find you, just to tell you that I absolutely, absolutely do not look down on you. If I were there, I wouldn't allow anyone to hurt you; I would fight for you at any time!"
He stood there alone, so tall and strong, so vibrantly youthful, exuding potent masculinity, like a leopard ready to pounce deep into the jungle.
Yet, when facing Zhan Jingchun, he was so dazed, awkward, and sincere. Zhan Jingchun suddenly perceived his charm.
She was so amused by his explanation that she felt a bit like laughing.
"Get real. In the end, your mother is more important. Every time you bullied me, you let it slide. Hmph!"
She wouldn't have added that "hmph" if it weren't for the fact that her unconsciously cute, drawn-out ending made Peng Fei almost collapse before her.
Her tenderness made his bones go soft, and his nose stung, his eyes immediately reddening.
The way Chun Chun spoke to him was just like before. He truly loved this feeling.
"In the end, it's all my fault. If not in this life, I'll repay you as a cow or a horse in the next."
Who wanted him to be a cow or a horse?
As a grown man, couldn't he have a bit more ambition?
Zhan Jingchun didn't want to continue this topic, so she waved her hand.
"If you leave, what about your sister? Your mother is so fierce; aren't you afraid she won't let her go to school?"
She still remembered Fangfang?
Peng Fei was so happy he wanted to cry, raising his hand to wipe his eyes.
"No, I've already spoken to my mother and sent her my wages. Fangfang must go to school. She shouldn't dare bother me anymore."
That was good. This way, Fangfang would have a chance to leave the mountains.
Zhan Jingchun no longer had any lingering thoughts about that place. She turned her gaze to the house.
But Peng Fei suddenly asked her, "Can I ask you a question?"
He actually had a question for her?
"What do you want to ask?"
"Zhang Wei."
Zhan Jingchun knew about Zhang Wei. After enduring countless hardships, her family had finally brought her back from that place.
They still kept in occasional contact, but Zhan Jingchun didn't want to say more.
"Your feudal and backward place will sooner or later be exposed to the light of day, and vulgar customs will eventually be stopped. In the future, countless Zhang Weis will escape. Don't you realize this?"
Peng Fei certainly realized it.
After leaving that isolated village, he understood how absurd the place he lived in was.
It was a pity that his power was too insignificant now. Otherwise, he truly wanted to do something to change those backward customs.
"I don't mean to blame you. I'm asking this because I think you're very good and loyal. I've said all I have to say."
She had said all she had to say?
Was that all?
For some reason, Zhan Jingchun was a little angry.
Her tone turned sharp as she pointed at the house, saying, "Do you know how much this house costs? Do you know who designed the interior decoration? How much did the design fee alone cost?"
"Now that it's been ruined like this due to your negligence, do you know what the consequences will be?"
Peng Fei didn't know, but he had a rough idea. He might have to work for this family for the next few years.
"I don't know, but I won't run. I accept my responsibility."
If you wanted to run, you wouldn't be able to escape! Zhan Jingchun thought to herself.
However, these words were still quite comforting, fitting his usual character.
This house had a total area of over 700 square meters, with a prime location. Including design and renovation, it cost over 50 million.
Zhan Jingchun knew that relying on Peng Fei would be impossible, even in the next lifetime.
It wasn't out of pity for him, but pity for Fangfang, who might not be able to attend school without financial support and would be buried in that small mountain village for the rest of her life.
Out of consideration for Fangfang, who had been kind to her in the past, she wanted to help Peng Fei.
"With your meager monthly salary, you wouldn't be able to pay it back even if you worked until the next lifetime. Your family still relies on you for money, and you'll need to get married and have children in the future. Are you really that rigid?"
Peng Fei: "..."
"Haven't you thought of any remedies? Are you just accepting it like this? Can't you have a bit more ambition?"
Peng Fei had indeed thought of solutions. If Zhan Jingchun hadn't arrived, he would have already called for someone to come in and clean up the mess.