Melody felt a blush creep onto her cheeks.
Always so proud, unwilling to yield in love, she began to reflect on herself.
Did seeing Lu Qingxu suffer truly not pain you?
Could you guarantee you'd still be happy if you left him?
No, you couldn't. She couldn't be without Lu Qingxu anymore.
It was just that Lu Qingxu had spoiled her. He was always gentle and considerate, seemingly not needing her reflection, so she never reflected.
"Then what do you want? I'll listen to you, go through chemotherapy, have surgery, does that mean I love you?"
Zhan Bei Jue coldly interjected again.
"You're a smart person. If you insist on pretending to be oblivious when you know the truth, then no one can do anything about it."
"You're very right about one thing. There are plenty of beautiful women in this world, and Lu Qingxu has plenty of opportunities to choose from, he just doesn't want to."
"Do you really think he wouldn't fall in love with someone else again if you died? Impossible."
"Life is so long, and there are excellent people everywhere. Sooner or later, someone will replace you."
"You're just punishing yourself; you can't punish anyone."
"This is the last time I'll advise you to seek medical treatment. After this meal, give me your answer. If you're determined not to, then so be it."
"And I've decided, Lu Qingxu is not allowed to follow you anymore. It's not worth it to sacrifice for someone so heartless like you."
"Go to the United States and wait for death. I'll take him back to Nan City and introduce him to several more girlfriends, then we'll see who really can't do without whom."
After Zhan Bei Jue's ruthless barrage, Melody became compliant.
Although all three had their own thoughts, they were truly hungry, and lunch was silent.
Less than an hour later, everyone put down their chopsticks. It was time to give an answer.
Zhan Bei Jue looked at Melody with a very aggressive gaze, as if to say: Don't keep them in suspense with your indecisiveness. Give a clear answer now.
Lu Qingxu sat beside her, looking pitiful, like a wronged little wife.
Melody stared at the empty plates for a few seconds, then quietly took his hand under the table.
"I want to be the most beautiful cancer patient in the world. I will put on makeup every day, no matter what. You are not allowed to stop me."
Lu Qingxu was overjoyed and tearfully agreed to the treatment.
He grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms with a "bang," holding her head tightly.
"I promise you, I promise! I'll go learn makeup when we get back, and I'll help you with it then!"
Zhan Bei Jue escorted the mother and son back to Nan City, while they went to Hang City.
On the evening of their return to Nan City, Zhan Bei Jue asked Jiang Nan Fang to invite Mrs. Gao out for dinner.
"Invite her out for dinner? With what excuse?"
"Just say my sister is getting engaged and invite her and Director Gao to be witnesses. Make sure she graces us with her presence."
Jiang Nan Fang: "...Didn't you not want him to know about our relationship?"
"I gave her too much face before, and I overestimated them, not wanting direct confrontation. Now, it seems completely unnecessary."
"From today onwards, we will be as we were, as things should be."
"I want to openly expose the true faces of these two old foxes completely."
A private room was booked at a seven-star hotel. Zhan Bei Jue personally invited Director Gao, and the two men arrived first.
After sitting down and exchanging pleasantries, Jiang Nan Fang and Mrs. Gao also arrived.
Seeing that only the four of them were present, Mrs. Gao smiled and said.
"On the way here, I was telling Nan Fang that President Zhan has a sister, something even Baidu Encyclopedia doesn't know about."
"It is truly an honor for us to be invited to witness the engagement of such a reclusive Miss Zhan."
Zhan Bei Jue looked at Mrs. Gao with a forced smile.
"How could you not know? Although Baidu Encyclopedia doesn't, I believe Mrs. Gao has eyes everywhere and ears everywhere, so you must surely know about this."
"Don't be humble. Being well-connected is being well-connected; that's your ability. Many people envy it but can't achieve it, so why do you always package yourself as someone naive and inexperienced?"
Mrs. Gao, feigning "naivety," blinked her innocent big eyes.
"President Zhan, what do you mean by that? Old Gao, do you understand? I don't understand."
Director Gao also feigned ignorance as he looked at Zhan Bei Jue.
"President Zhan, what do you mean?"
"It seems your memories are not very good. Then I'll have someone come over to give you a reminder."
Zhan Bei Jue picked up his phone and made a call.
"Why aren't you here yet?"
"I was delayed by a sudden company matter, but I'll be there soon... If it has already started, I won't come up."
"Don't be like that; you're the eldest brother. What kind of situation is this if you don't come at a critical moment? We're waiting; we won't start without you."
Hu Jia Sheng hurriedly parked his car and was led upstairs by a waiter.
He pushed open the door and saw only four people sitting in the private room. While bewildered, he still had to greet everyone.
Then he sat down next to Zhan Bei Jue.
Zhan Bei Jue watched Mrs. Gao's face the entire time.
This woman is indeed an old fox.
Only Hu Jia Sheng's eyes showed a slight tremor the moment he entered, but he quickly regained his composure.
See now, acting as if uninvolved, as if they don't know each other, she's truly a good actress.
"Director Gao, Mrs. Gao, allow me to introduce. This is my half-brother, Hu Jia Sheng, also a person who cannot be found on Baidu Encyclopedia. But I believe you two are very familiar with him."
Hu Jia Sheng was taken aback and looked at Mrs. Gao.
He seemed to understand what Zhan Bei Jue was implying.
However, he had lost contact with his birth mother since he was a hundred days old. For so many years, he had never met her and dared not inquire.
He could hardly believe that the woman in front of him was his birth mother.
Seeing Zhan Bei Jue speaking increasingly outrageous things and being so disrespectful, Director Gao stopped acting.
His face fell, and he let out a cold snort.
"What is the meaning of calling us here tonight? Just say what you want to say directly."
"Have I not been direct enough? Then fine, I'll be more direct."
Zhan Bei Jue looked leisurely at Mrs. Gao.
"If I'm not mistaken, you are Hu Mei Ling, the saleswoman who had a son with my father thirty-three years ago, aren't you?"
"Although the years are long and I can't find definitive evidence to confirm your identity, DNA doesn't lie..."
Mrs. Gao still maintained an indifferent demeanor, quietly sipping the tea in front of her.
Director Gao, furious, slammed his hand on the table.
"You're spouting nonsense! My wife's surname is clearly Li, how did she become Hu Mei Ling?"
"Misattributing the name. And specifically organizing a reunion for them? What do you want to do? Zhan Bei Jue, don't go too far!"
Zhan Bei Jue looked calmly at the enraged man.
"Director Gao's reaction is so strong, I can guess there are only two possibilities."
"One, I hit the mark, and you're flustered with rage, using this to conceal your panic."
"Two, you were also deceived by this Hu Mei Ling and dare not believe what I'm saying."
"I believe that with your status and the experiences you've had over the years, undergoing scrutiny, you couldn't be unaware of her. Then it's the first case."
"We are all adults; no one is foolish. You've done so many bad things to me, do you think I can't find evidence? And you still want to deny it?"