As soon as they woke up, Zhan Beijue and Jiang Nan Fang's social media feeds exploded.
Zhou Jinbei and Chen Jiaojiao, in particular, reacted the most fiercely.
In the group chat for the three of them, they bombarded Jiang Nan Fang with messages, asking what was going on, if the couple had reconciled, and if they had remarried. However, Zhan Beijue had pulled Jiang Nan Fang into bed for a long sleep, and they didn't reply until much later.
Zhou Jinbei and Chen Jiaojiao then started chatting privately.
Zhou Jinbei: "I knew these two couldn't stay apart. Besides my sister-in-law, who else in this life could put up with my second brother?"
"My second brother is quiet unless he's showing off, and when he does, it's astonishing. This is just too romantic! They've gone through ups and downs, and now they're acting like newlyweds. I'm so envious..."
Chen Jiaojiao was thoroughly provoked by her.
"You have your husband by your side, and you're living like a lovebird every day, yet you're envious of others? How am I supposed to live?"
Speaking of which, Zhou Jinbei had something to say to her.
"You've only been single for a few days and you're already finding life difficult? You deserve it."
"You didn't even tell me you were dating someone. You really don't consider me a sister. Speaking of which, I'm angry."
"Who is it? You were so heartbroken after the breakup. If you're truly unwilling to part, I'll help you deal with him. What a scumbag!"
Chen Jiaojiao certainly wasn't going to reveal who it was.
"Forget it. It's all in the past. I wasn't taking it seriously anyway. Stop talking nonsense."
As they were chatting, Chen Jiaojiao's phone rang.
"I have to go, I'm taking a call."
It was actually Man Jie, Xiang Yang's agent, calling her.
Since Xiang Yang had become Man Jie's client, they hadn't been in touch much. Why was she suddenly calling her? Could something have happened to Xiang Yang?
Chen Jiaojiao, full of suspicion, answered the call, only to find Man Jie asking for her help.
"I know you know a lot of influential people in Nancheng. Can you do me a favor?"
Come to think of it, their previous interaction hadn't ended on good terms. How dare she ask her for help?
Man Jie indeed felt embarrassed. "Actually, I feel quite awkward asking you, but you know me. I've been struggling alone from Jincheng to here, and I really don't have many other friends..."
"My mother is in the late stages of kidney failure. The hospitals in Jincheng can no longer do anything. I want to bring her to Nancheng."
Chen Jiaojiao knew about Man Jie's family; she was also someone who had a difficult life.
Although there was a slight rift between them because of Xiang Yang, since it involved her mother's life, Chen Jiaojiao couldn't stand by and do nothing.
Chen Jiaojiao had many influential clients, even people in the health department. Therefore, after a busy afternoon, Man Jie's mother was admitted to a deluxe room in a specialized hospital.
Man Jie was filled with gratitude and wanted to treat her to dinner, but Chen Jiaojiao declined.
"I still have things to do. I don't have that much time to waste with you. Don't call me unless it's important in the future."
"Are you still mad at me? I'm sorry, I was just telling the truth about you and Xiang Yang."
"Alright, it's all in the past. Don't bring it up again. You don't need to thank me. You two should keep your distance in the future. That's all, I'm leaving."
She reached for the door to leave, but someone was pushing it open from the outside, and they collided unexpectedly.
Chen Jiaojiao's nose hit the person's chin directly, causing her to gasp in pain. She opened her mouth to curse, but as she lifted her eyelids, she saw Xiang Yang.
Hadn't he joined some talent show and gone into intensive training? Why would she run into him at the hospital?
Thinking about their phone conversation from two days ago, Chen Jiaojiao felt incredibly awkward.
She turned and gave Man Jie a resentful look. Man Jie quickly came over.
"Didn't I tell you not to come unless it was something important? Why did you take leave? You made your own decision."
Xiang Yang was holding a fruit basket and a bouquet of flowers.
He first lowered his head and looked at Chen Jiaojiao expressionlessly, then looked at Man Jie.
"I'm not here to see you. Take this."
"I just finished filming the first performance. I have half a day off, so I came out to get some air. What's wrong with that?"
Man Jie was speechless and had to accept the items. Chen Jiaojiao seized the opportunity to slip away.
As Xiang Yang turned around, he stood behind her. "Where are you going?"
Chen Jiaojiao looked back. Was he talking to her? They hadn't seen each other for that long, but why did she feel like this kid had become more assertive?
He was acting like an older brother who was several years her senior. How dare he!
Chen Jiaojiao was a bit displeased. "Going home. What is it? Do you have any orders, Mr. Xiang?"
"Let's have dinner together. I heard from Man Jie that you helped Auntie. I'd like to treat you."
What was this? What was his relationship with Man Jie? They were just colleagues working together! He wanted to treat her to dinner on her behalf. Anyone who didn't know would think they were a couple!
Why did he seem so annoying in every way after not seeing him for a while?
Chen Jiaojiao was full of anger. Just as she was about to refuse, Man Jie caught up. "Yes, yes, we should have dinner. You've worked hard for me all day and haven't even had a sip of water. I feel too bad. Don't refuse, let's all three of us go. We can clear the air."
Chen Jiaojiao was cornered by the two of them and went to a roadside food stall near the hospital.
Man Jie ordered a case of beer. It was the season for crayfish, so she also ordered five catties of crayfish.
While eating and drinking, Man Jie started talking to Xiang Yang about how she and Chen Jiaojiao met back in the day.
Man Jie was two years older than Chen Jiaojiao. She was a bit of a troublemaker in school. At that time, someone was unhappy with Chen Jiaojiao and arranged to block her after school to teach her a lesson. By chance, Man Jie ran into them and helped Chen Jiaojiao out of trouble, thus they got to know each other.
Later, Man Jie graduated early and stopped studying. She started making a living in Nancheng and lost contact with Chen Jiaojiao completely.
It wasn't until she went for a beauty treatment a while ago and saw her photo displayed in the beauty salon's lobby that she reconnected with her.
These were all unsavory past events, but Xiang Yang listened with great interest. As he spoke, he drank two bottles of beer, his eyes constantly glancing at Chen Jiaojiao's face.
Chen Jiaojiao wasn't stupid. With him staring at her, she was afraid Man Jie would mention any more shady dealings between them. She couldn't sit still any longer and decided to use the excuse of going to the restroom to leave early.
She grabbed her bag and walked in the direction of the restroom. Just as she was about to turn, her wrist was grabbed.
Before she could break free, she was pulled into the men's restroom by a powerful force.
Xiang Yang closed the door of the toilet cubicle without a word and blocked Chen Jiaojiao in the corner.
She never expected this kid to be so bold, pulling her into the men's restroom in public.
"Are you crazy? What are you doing?"
Due to the alcohol, Xiang Yang's eyes were a little misty, and his neck and cheeks were flushed red.
He looked at Chen Jiaojiao with a gaze that was neither fully drunk nor sober, both innocent and wicked, with his arms encircling her shoulders.
"I missed you."
Chen Jiaojiao hadn't expected him to say that and didn't know how to respond for a moment.
She looked at his young, handsome face for two seconds, resisted the urge to reach out and touch it, and lowered her eyelids.
"Do you forget everything when you're drunk? We've broken up, don't you remember?"
"I don't forget, but I just missed you."
"I don't miss you. I have to go, please move aside."