"Besides, what I need for starting a business isn't just a little bit, your meager contribution won't make any difference."
Sister Wang was a smart woman.
Seeing how dashing Zhong was and how good his job was, she figured he was a man with potential and there was no need to worry about the house issue for now.
"Oh my. Look how well-spoken and filial the child is. Nowadays, it's rare to find young people who are obedient, capable, and filial!"
"Sister Wang thinks highly of you. What's a house or material things, we don't care about those."
"As long as the person is good, and the couple's feelings are strong, that's more important than anything. Uncle Zhou, don't you agree?"
Dad Zhong nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes."
Nurse Wang finally let go of Zhong and took out her phone.
"Let's exchange WeChat. I have many pretty nurses, I'll pick one with suitable conditions and personality to introduce to you later."
Zhong didn't want to add her.
He didn't understand the nursing profession, nor the people she wanted to introduce, and he had no expectation for a relationship that felt like being forced.
However, Dad Zhong was anxious.
"Look at your Sister Wang, she's not related to you by blood, yet she's worrying so much about you. She's already got her phone out, what are you still standing there for? Hurry up and add her!"
After all, his father had bragged about him.
It wouldn't be good to embarrass him in front of others.
At worst, he could add her and then not chat with her.
Zhong handed over his QR code.
Nurse Wang chattered on for a while longer before leaving.
Zhong felt thirsty and reached for his father's thermos to pour some water, only to find it empty.
"Dad, you sit here for a moment, I'll go get some water."
Zhou Jinbei slid off the accompanying bed and swayed over to him.
"I'll go with you, you don't know where it is."
As they went out together, Zhou Jinbei didn't hide her unhappiness and asked him with a grim expression.
She asked about his work now that he was back for a few days.
The basic framework had been done these past two days, and they were having professionals test the data, so he was resting for two days.
Zhong said he would leave the morning after tomorrow.
"From what you're saying, you're just visiting and don't plan to hire a caregiver for your dad."
Zhong hadn't actually thought about the caregiver issue, and was startled by her words.
"What do you mean?"
Zhou Jinbei said sarcastically.
"What do I mean? I'm not related to you, not your friend, not your subordinate, yet I've been taking care of your dad day and night for so many days for no reason."
"He's a man, and I'm a young woman, how long do you expect me to serve him?"
Perhaps it was because she had visited his home before and had a good relationship with his father.
Perhaps it was because the two of them had had that kind of relationship.
Subconsciously, Zhong still regarded her as someone close.
So when Zhou Jinbei offered to help take care of him, he agreed without a second thought.
He felt at ease, even a sense of relief.
He even added some other sentiments to it, all by himself.
But now, when Zhou Jinbei said such things, he felt ashamed of his own self-indulgence.
He tried to keep his expression calm.
"It's too late today. I'll start looking for a caregiver tomorrow. Thank you for your hard work during this time."
Damn it.
She was just being sarcastic because she saw him adding someone else on WeChat earlier.
This scumbag actually planned to hire a caregiver?
She had taken such good care of him with all her heart for so long, where had she served him poorly?
And now he said he would just cast her aside, preferring to find someone unrelated!
Fine, Zhong Jinming, you have money, you hire!
Go ahead and hire your fool of a money-bag!
"Since I've worked hard, aren't you going to treat me to a meal?"
She reeked of alcohol, clearly having already eaten, and it was past nine o'clock.
But Zhong owed her a favor and couldn't refuse, so he said.
"Okay, you find some time tomorrow, and I'll treat you."
"What tomorrow?" Zhou Jinbei pressed. "I'm starving now!"
She had returned to her demeanor from when they first met.
Her posture was loose, her expression was defiant, looking like a little delinquent.
Knowing how tiring the journey was, he felt like she was deliberately making things difficult for him.
Zhong couldn't help but get annoyed too.
"You reek of alcohol, shouldn't you have just eaten your fill? Still hungry?"
Is that so? Does my body reek of alcohol?
Feeling as embarrassed as if he had called her out for having body odor, Zhou Jinbei got angry and stomped her foot fiercely.
"It's none of your business! Who says you can't be hungry after drinking? I'm hungry now, and I want you to treat me to a meal. Are you going to or not!"
A few minutes later, the two of them were in Zhong's car.
Zhong asked her what she wanted to eat.
"Drive the car. I'll tell you when I see something I want to eat."
Alright. As expected of Miss Zhong.
When she was in Jincheng, she had no relatives and was living humbly, tail between her legs. He thought she had reformed.
Look, as soon as she returned to Nancheng, her true colors showed.
Zhong stopped talking and quietly focused on the road.
After driving around for a long time, Zhou Jinbei called out to him.
"Stop."
He looked out the window. It was a night market street with street food stalls, seemingly all selling seafood.
Even though it was this late, there were still quite a lot of people.
The crackling and sizzling sounds from the woks, the steaming oil fumes, coupled with the noisy crowd, made it feel very lively and full of life.
He had expected her to find some high-end restaurant to rip him off, but he didn't expect her to choose a place like this.
He parked the car, and they got out together, sitting at an empty small square table.
The proprietress, wiping her hands on her apron, hurried over.
"You're here, what would you like to have?"
Zhou Jinbei asked, "What's your specialty?"
"Autumn is coming soon, these are the last batches of plump seasonal crawfish. Would you like to try some?"
"Give me ten catties. And a dozen beers."
"Ten catties?"
The proprietress was a little surprised.
"Is it because your friends will be joining you later? Do you want us to change to a bigger table?"
"No, it's just the two of us. I can eat a lot."
"Alright. Then please wait a moment, we'll get it ready."
He didn't even bother about the price. Coming here and immediately asking for ten catties of crawfish, she clearly had ulterior motives.
Zhong sat quietly, thinking: Let's see if you can still be so demanding later.
Neither of them spoke to each other. After about ten minutes, the crawfish arrived.
On a large aluminum plate, there were three full portions.
The owner handed them a dozen disposable gloves.
Zhong put on a glove, broke one open, and took a bite. Zhou Jinbei sat still.
He raised an eyebrow, "Didn't you say you can eat a lot? And that you're hungry? Why aren't you eating?"
"Peel them for me."
"Hmm?"
"Your dad was hospitalized for so long, and he couldn't move when he was bedridden a while back. I fed him, cleaned up after him, and took care of him every day. Don't I deserve some reward? Peel them for me."
Fine. He owed her.
Zhong paused for a few seconds upon hearing this, then raised his hand and called out to the proprietress.
"Bring me a bowl."
"No need. Feed them directly into my mouth. I can't wait."
Zhou Jinbei nudged her plastic chair closer to him.
Although they weren't speaking to each other, their proximity was such that their arms occasionally brushed against each other.
Zhong was about to feed her a crawfish into her rosy little mouth, while she occasionally took a sip of beer.
Soon, an awkward and suppressed sense of intimacy began to build between them.