Zhan Bei Jue's words grew increasingly out of line, making the atmosphere in the private room more and more awkward.
Everyone was watching him and Jiang Nan Fang, so when Jiang Nan Fang picked up the wine and splashed it on his face, their expressions were truly spectacular.
"..."
"??"
"!!"
"If your eyesight is bad, I don't mind helping you wash your eyes. Mind your own business."
Jiang Nan Fang dropped the wine glass amidst the astonished gazes of everyone and dragged Zhou Jin Bei away without a second thought.
Zhou Jin Bei hadn't expected their relationship to be this strained.
She had been invited out to relax, but now...
Not daring to say much, she followed beside Jiang Nan Fang, watching her somber face. After walking for a bit, she asked Jiang Nan Fang to pull over.
"I forgot my phone. I'll come to your room to get it later."
In the room, the four children were sitting around the sofa after dinner, reading storybooks together.
Seeing her return, they all rushed over to hug her affectionately.
As she hugged her soft, cute children, a wave of grievances and feelings of being unappreciated suddenly surged within her.
It was the first time Jiang Nan Fang had shed tears in front of her children.
She felt such regret.
Regret for irresponsibly bringing them into this world at that time.
This was the first time since the children had turned six that Jiang Nan Fang had had such a thought.
As a mother, it wasn't enough to just give children life; one had to be responsible for their entire lives.
As they grew older and understood more, and saw all sorts of unfavorable news about Zhan Bei Jue, they would feel disgusted and ashamed. How would she explain it to them?
Upon entering, the children sensed that their mother wasn't right. Now, they could feel her crying, and she smelled of alcohol. The little ones quickly asked her what was wrong.
Although Jiang Nan Fang had promised them before that they would speak their minds and not hide anything, she truly didn't know how to explain Zhan Bei Jue's behavior.
She could only lie.
"It's nothing, I just had a couple of extra drinks and remembered some past events, which made me feel a bit sad. Seeing you all makes me feel better."
"It's getting late. Mommy will read you a story and watch you sleep, okay?"
"I didn't spend time with you today, but Mommy will make it up to you tomorrow. We'll play together all day."
The children sensibly nodded, and Tian Tian went to the bathroom with her first.
Downstairs, Zhou Jin Bei walked alone to the lobby lounge area and, hiding behind the plants, angrily sent a message to Zhan Bei Jue.
She wanted to understand what was going on with him today.
He used to be so repulsed by his cousin getting close to him, but today he had brought two girls over!
What was he trying to do?
"You seemed to care a lot about Jiang Nan Fang a while ago. What's going on with you today?"
"Sister Nan Fang is angry, truly angry. I've never seen her so upset before. Second Brother, I'm very disappointed in you today."
How could Zhan Bei Jue not know that Jiang Nan Fang was angry and hated him to the core?
However, he couldn't explain it right now.
As people started to suggest going back to rest, Zhan Bei Jue, with a steady expression, said goodbye to everyone. Just as he was about to reply to Zhou Jin Bei's message, several more pictures came in via WeChat.
They were sent by Ge'er.
Jiang Nan Fang was crying.
From the angle of the photos, it was clear they were taken secretly.
Although she pretended to be busy with tasks to hide her tears, Ge'er had zoomed in the lens very close.
The glistening tears in her eyes were clearly visible.
Zhan Bei Jue's heart was once again seized, and he felt a sharp pain.
He truly wished he could rush to her room right now, hug her, and tell her the whole truth.
However, as soon as he thought of what his mother had done to her...
He first replied to Zhou Jin Bei, telling her to bring wine and snacks to the room and to get Jiang Nan Fang drunk no matter what tonight.
Then, he replied to Ge'er.
"Auntie will bring wine to the room to find Mommy later. Your mission tonight is to make her drink until she's drunk, and create an opportunity for me to apologize. Can you complete the mission?"
Zhou Jin Bei replied first with a question mark, clearly not understanding what he was thinking.
Zhan Bei Jue didn't explain further: "Do as I say, and stop talking nonsense. Where has your usual wit gone?"
Then, Ge'er replied with six words: "Mission guaranteed to be completed."
Although Zhou Jin Bei didn't know why Zhan Bei Jue was asking her to do this, she truly couldn't bear to see Jiang Nan Fang suffering.
Not knowing how to comfort her, she could only accompany her in drinking when she was feeling down.
So, she ordered three bottles of red wine and some food.
Upon entering, Jiang Nan Fang was in the bathroom bathing Tian Tian, while the other three children sat on the sofa looking dispirited.
Seeing her, their eyes finally lit up.
"Where's your mommy?"
"Shh~"
Ge'er made a shushing gesture to her, tiptoed in front of her, and whispered something to her.
Jiang Nan Fang carried Tian Tian, wrapped in a bath towel, into the room. Chen Jiaojiao also called.
With her good friend going through such a situation, she couldn't ignore it. Zhou Jin Bei took the opportunity to ask her to come over as well.
It wasn't appropriate to say too many bad things about Zhan Bei Jue in front of the children, so everyone held back.
After the four children were coaxed to sleep and the wine was ready, the three women sat on the floor and began to curse vehemently.
Hypocritical, shameless!
From Zhan Bei Jue to Lu Ming Zhe, to Hu Jia Sheng, to Jiang Si Cheng, and finally even Ah Zhong was dragged into their scolding.
"Not a single man is any good! Let's finish this glass of wine, and from now on, we'll all focus on making money and never bother with these scoundrels again. Cheers!"
The three drank one glass after another, and Zhou Jin Bei intentionally tried to get Jiang Nan Fang to drink more.
At 11:30 PM, the three bottles of red wine were empty, and Jiang Nan Fang was finally about eighty percent drunk.
She lay limply on the edge of the sofa, murmuring nonsense that Zhou Jin Bei couldn't understand.
She believed the time was right and secretly messaged Zhan Bei Jue.
"She's almost drunk. What are you planning to do?"
Zhan Bei Jue seemed to be waiting for her message and replied instantly.
"Okay. You can go back now, and leave the door for me."
"What do you mean, leave the door for you? Aren't you going to apologize over the phone while she's drunk and soft-hearted? Are you going to come over in person?"
"Who told you I was going to apologize over the phone?"
"... You two are already divorced, she's drunk, and you just had a conflict. Second Brother, you wouldn't..."
Zhan Bei Jue dismissively said, "Stop talking nonsense. If I tell you to leave, then leave."
"No!"
If she had known he intended to come over, Zhou Jin Bei would never have gotten Jiang Nan Fang drunk.
He wasn't the Zhan Bei Jue of the past anymore. What if...
"Unless you tell me what you plan to do to her, I won't let you come over even if I die!"
"Even if you're going to cut ties with me and fire Ah Zhong at the same time!"
Not smart when he should be, and foolishly smart when he shouldn't be.
Zhan Bei Jue was truly speechless with this girl.
"Zhou Jin Bei, you're utterly useless."
"Alright, alright, stop the nonsense. You go first, and I'll give you a reasonable explanation tomorrow."
"You just want to know why I've been like this lately? Just do as I say obediently, and I'll tell you everything tomorrow."