She had been extremely pleasant before dinner, but during the meal, she wore a sullen face and remained silent the entire time.
Ah Zhong had no idea what he had done wrong this time.
The two of them finished their meal in an awkward silence.
Zhou Jinbei, filled with anger, dropped him at the hotel entrance and drove away in a huff.
On the road, the more she thought about it, the more upset she became.
After being away from the company for so long, and still being on such good terms with female colleagues, Zhong Jiaming, you really are quite the rogue! m..oΓg
To clear up her doubts and confirm if Ah Zhong had any relationship with that colleague.
Upon returning home, she scoured through various groups and finally found the colleague's contact information and added her.
The colleague was quite surprised to receive her friend request.
Zhou Jinbei chatted with her for a bit about work matters, then thanked her for introducing her to someone who sold luxury goods last time.
"It’s been so long since that happened, and I haven't had a chance to thank you properly. I feel quite embarrassed. Let me know when you're free, I'd like to treat you to a meal."
The colleague thought Zhou Jinbei was just being polite because she had encountered her at the dinner today and felt a little awkward.
She very sensibly said it was fine and then added,
"Actually, you should be thanking Zhong Jiaming. I was just the go-between. Seeing as your transaction was successful and your relationship is quite good, I'm relieved."
"As you know, the scariest thing for a go-between is if the connection doesn't work out, or if misunderstandings arise in the process."
Zhou Jinbei's mind went blank as she read the text message.
She read it again and again, and again.
What did it mean?
Thanking Zhong Jiaming?
She was the go-between?
Could it be that the luxury goods she sold were bought by Zhong Jiaming!
She jokingly asked the colleague if Zhong Jiaming had already treated her to a meal, which was why she felt awkward accepting a second invitation from her.
The colleague sent a funny emoji, "He bought me a coffee, does that count as a meal?"
"You really don't need to be so polite. We're all colleagues, and we might need your help with things in the future."
Zhou Jinbei's heart began to pound.
Many scenes combined in her mind, causing her to tremble uncontrollably.
So Ah Zhong knew about the difficulties she had faced before!
To help her through them, he had even sold his house and secretly asked a colleague to contact her, buying second-hand luxury goods that others no longer wanted, just to give her money…
Every time he saw her pretending to be indifferent, while doing all this behind her back, what did it mean?
Did he still like her?
Did he feel guilty towards her?
Then why was this coward afraid to say it!
Zhou Jinbei was a woman who dared to love and dare to hate. Previously, she hadn't been sure of Ah Zhong's feelings, so she hadn't dared to rush forward.
But now, with the evidence laid bare before her, she would despise herself if she didn't do something!
So, after a hurried exchange of pleasantries with the colleague, she put away her phone, grabbed her car keys, and sprinted downstairs.
She raced to the hotel entrance, dialing Ah Zhong's number as she rushed into the lobby.
Fortunately, Ah Zhong had already taken her number off the blacklist, and he answered quickly.
He was quite surprised to receive her call.
Unsure of what was happening, he hesitated for a long time before picking up.
As soon as he answered, Zhou Jinbei's rapid-fire questions came through.
"Where are you? Which floor? I'm in the hotel lobby, send me your room number, I'm coming up!"
"You're in the hotel lobby? What are you coming to find me for?"
"I don't have time to talk nonsense with you. Before I get angry, either come down to pick me up, or send me your room number!"
Zhou Jinbei was like an approaching creditor.
"Zhong Jiaming, I have a very important score to settle with you, hurry up!"
Not knowing what had made her so impatient, Ah Zhong had no choice but to hang up and send her his room number.
He waited by the room door, and soon, Zhou Jinbei arrived.
Their eyes met, one filled with confusion, the other with ferocity.
It was as if their roles had been reversed.
Without a word, Zhou Jinbei rushed forward, grabbed his shirt, pushed him into the room, and kicked the door shut with her heel.
Then she pinned him against the wall by the entrance.
"Zhong Jiaming, I'm asking you, why did you suddenly sell your house?"
Ah Zhong was completely bewildered by her series of actions. "What?"
"Was it for me? You knew I was in trouble and short of money, but you didn't dare to give it to me openly, so you sold all my second-hand items. Did you sell your house for me?!"
How did she suddenly know everything? Who told her?
A hint of embarrassment flickered across Ah Zhong's face.
After all, he hadn't intended for Zhou Jinbei to know when he did it, nor did he expect anything in return.
Before he could answer, Zhou Jinbei provided her own answer.
"Do you like me? Have you liked me for a long time? Have you never let me go?"
"Back then, when I married someone else, you went abroad out of anger. I angered you into leaving, didn't I?"
As she spoke, she suddenly released his collar, her eyes reddening.
Placing her hands on his chest, she began to cry pitifully.
"Why didn't you ever say anything, Zhong Jiaming? You clearly have so many thoughts in your heart, you clearly like me, why didn't you tell me?"
"Do you know that I actually liked you too? If you had told me earlier, I wouldn't have married that person. If you had told me earlier, our child…"
Ah Zhong's body stiffened, and he grabbed her wrist.
"Child? You're talking about that child back then…"
"That's right. I slept with you when you were drunk."
Zhou Jinbei cried profusely, but her answer was forthright.
"I was afraid you wouldn't like me, afraid you would reject me, but I wanted to leave a glimmer of hope for myself in my stagnant marriage, so I got pregnant with your child."
"Zhong Jiaming, do you know how heartbroken I was when the child was gone? How much I longed for your embrace? How much I wished you would tell me, it's okay, even if the child is gone, I still have you!"
"But you coward, you didn't dare to say anything. You just did things behind my back to move yourself. What would you have done if I never found out?"
That's right. Zhou Jinbei was right.
Ah Zhong admitted that he was insecure, not brave enough, and always hesitated at crucial moments.
Even when he was on the verge of discovering the truth, he lacked the courage to ask.
Ever since Zhou Jinbei got married, he had never thought about his future.
He only knew that his heart felt empty, and he couldn't muster interest in anything.
Apart from filling himself with frantic work, he didn't know what meaning life held.
Zhou Jinbei's sudden appearance today, and her words, were an immense surprise to him.
"Beibei, I…"
"Stop talking, don't say anything, kiss me."
Zhou Jinbei stood on tiptoe, reached out, grabbed his collar, and pulled his neck down.
"I told you to kiss me, hurry up."