Seeing his ill-intentioned demeanor, Chen Jiaojiao not only didn't close the door but took a step back.
"Considering we were once husband and wife, for me to enter your bedroom and close the door, aren't you afraid your current partner will get angry?"
"..."
Lu Mingzhe looked down at his arm and thought:
Even if I were willing and capable now, do you think I have any interest in you?
"Getting married again on impulse was a stain on my life I can never erase. Alright, alright, we are ex-spouses, so let's leave it at that. What's going on with you and Xiang Yang?"
Chen Jiaojiao, startled, quickly glanced back to see if Zhou Jinbei had followed.
"What's going on? Didn't I tell you we broke up? We haven't been in contact since. You haven't told Xiang Wan about this, have you?"
"Why so guilty? What did you do to him?"
"What did I do to him? What could I do to him? He's a man, and I'm a woman. I'm not older than him, and even though I've dated one more boyfriend than him, he's not at a disadvantage, is he?"
"Then why are you acting so shifty?"
Chen Jiaojiao lowered her voice and quickened her steps into the room.
"I haven't even told Zhou Jinbei about this. Besides you, no one else around knows. I'll try to interact less with you and Xiang Wan from now on, and avoid meeting Xiang Yang, so no one has to feel awkward."
"So, after this, I won't bring it up again, and you should also keep your mouth shut."
It was rare to see her so flustered and keeping something so secret. Lu Mingzhe nodded with a smile.
"I won't bring it up. Don't worry. I just wanted to ask you, how exactly did you break up with him?"
"As far as I know, you were Xiang Yang's first love. I was worried you might say something unpleasant and hurt him."
Chen Jiaojiao recalled that what she said that day was indeed unpleasant.
But, it's all in the past. What does it matter if he was hurt or not?
"It's none of your business how I said it."
"Seeing that you're doing well and are alive, I won't waste any more words. I'm going out to help. Remember to keep your mouth shut."
The three of them busied themselves in the kitchen for over two hours. Xiang Wan presented more than ten dishes, with a standard comparable to a five-star hotel chef.
Everyone was impressed and offered many compliments.
During this time, Xiang Wan and Lu Mingzhe's past romance became a topic of conversation.
They ate, drank, chatted, laughed, and it went on until past midnight before everyone dispersed.
Everyone had drunk alcohol, but they all had someone to pick them up, except for Chen Jiaojiao.
Xiang Wan offered to drive her home.
Chen Jiaojiao felt guilty and afraid of private contact with Xiang Wan, so she quickly refused.
However, Lu Mingzhe insisted.
"It's late, and you're a woman who has drunk so much. If anything happens, I'll be in big trouble. Let her take you."
Xiang Wan had already picked up the car keys and stood up. Chen Jiaojiao couldn't refuse any further and had to get into the car with her.
Xiang Wan felt that Chen Jiaojiao wasn't in high spirits today, seemingly preoccupied.
Xiang Wan was sensitive and emotionally intelligent, knowing not to say things she shouldn't or ask questions she shouldn't. She focused on driving.
Unexpectedly, after a moment of silence, Chen Jiaojiao initiated conversation, asking about her hometown, her family members, and childhood stories.
Xiang Wan mentioned that she had a younger brother named Xiang Yang. He was very mischievous as a child but became very sensible after their parents passed away.
He went to a boarding school very early. When he returned for holidays, he often accompanied their grandmother to sell vegetables on the street. In this life, besides Lu Mingzhe, she felt the person she owed the most was her brother.
Although Xiang Yang had mentioned some stories about his childhood before, hearing it from him versus from someone else felt entirely different.
Chen Jiaojiao felt both heartache and self-reproach as she listened, urging Xiang Wan to tell her more.
Though it seemed like reminiscing about childhood, she was actually trying to gather more information about Xiang Yang.
As they were talking, Xiang Wan's phone rang.
The phone was on the retractable bracket in the center console. As they both looked up, they saw the name on the screen: Xiang Yang.
Chen Jiaojiao's heart began to pound wildly.
Xiang Wan was also excited.
She hadn't contacted her brother for over a year. It was so late, and he was calling back. Had he just finished work?
The phone was connected to the car's Bluetooth. When answered, Xiang Yang's loud voice echoed around the car in a 360-degree surround.
"Sis, is that you?"
"It's me. Yang Yang, are you alright?"
Hearing his sister's familiar voice, Xiang Yang, who had been alone in a strange training camp for a week, suddenly felt a pang of sadness and homesickness.
His nose tingled, and he couldn't help but choke up, "Not really."
Hearing his trembling and choked voice, Xiang Wan's eyes immediately misted over.
She quickly squeezed her eyes hard to clear the blur and then apologized to Chen Jiaojiao.
"Stop for a moment. I'll pull over... What's wrong, Yang Yang? You're still awake so late. Have you just finished work? You must be exhausted, right?"
Xiang Yang didn't answer but asked her, "Are you calling me because you know I'm not going to school anymore?"
Xiang Wan also choked up, "I'm sorry. Actually, I wanted to call you much earlier, but I thought..."
"It all comes down to me owing you an apology. Quickly answer my question: Are you exhausted? If you're really tired, we can stop. Come back and finish school. I can still support you."
"You'll be able to work in two more years. We'll..."
Xiang Yang interrupted her, "But I don't want to go to school anymore."
"My major won't lead to much success. I want to earn money early and protect you in return."
Xiang Wan was annoyed. "Who says your major won't lead to success? You can't expect to get rich overnight. You're so young, don't be so impetuous."
"I'm not waiting for you to support me, and the family isn't struggling to put food on the table."
Xiang Yang insisted.
"Don't try to persuade me. I really don't want to go to school anymore. This is good. I've signed with a big company. My boss appreciates me, and my agent treats me very well. I'm going to earn a lot of money for you and Grandma."
"By the way, how is Grandma? And the baby? She's given birth already, right? A boy or a girl?"
Xiang Wan had intended to tell him about Grandma's illness and ask him to visit.
Knowing that he couldn't go now, she decided against it.
"Grandma is fine. She's in Hangzhou looking after my child. She's given birth, a daughter. I often show her your photos. When you have time, come and visit. Maybe she'll recognize you."
"A daughter, huh."
Xiang Yang's mood lifted from gloomy to cheerful, and his voice became bright again.
"Is she very much like you? She must be very beautiful. Send me a photo. I really want to hold her."
"I'll send it to you later. Where are you now?"
As they were talking, Chen Jiaojiao's phone received a spam call, its ringtone blaring loudly.
She quickly found her phone in her bag, hung up, and gestured for Xiang Wan to continue.
Xiang Yang keenly heard the commotion.
"Is there someone with you?"
"It's okay, just a female friend. You can speak freely."
Xiang Yang remarked, "It's rare to hear you making friends. You seem to have no friends all these years."