Old Zhang blushed, looking a bit embarrassed: “A personal matter. My son ate the clay pot porridge you made last time, and he’s been crying to eat it these past few days. I bought many things, but he won’t eat them, insisting on the porridge the auntie made that day. What can I do? How can a three-year-old be so picky?”
An Ke laughed: “I thought it was something serious. I’ll cook the porridge after work today, and you can take it home for your son.”
“If it were only that simple,” Old Zhang was sweating, unsure how to continue.
“What else is there? As long as I can help, I’ll definitely try my best.” Zhang Ning remembered her kindness and was thinking about how to repay her.
“My son is crying for his mother, insisting that the auntie from last time is his mother. He cries every night and won’t go to sleep.” Zhang Ning didn’t dare look at An Ke’s expression.
“Okay, I’ll come to your home after work to see him.” An Ke readily agreed, understanding the child’s feelings as someone who had lost her mother from a young age.
For Zhang Ning, this meant something else entirely. A girl agreeing to this request proved she must have feelings for him, nurturing his budding emotions.
……………………………………….. 060 Jealousy
City A is a coastal city, economically developed, with endless traffic and blooming flowers.
Jun Hao gathered all his forces, police power, and underworld connections to find An Ke, but still had no news.
All of Jun’s servants were exceptionally cautious. Their master still wore his brilliant smile as always, but anyone who saw it would be chilled to the bone.
In the study, ten tall men stood with their heads lowered, waiting for Jun Hao’s questions.
Jun Hao sat behind the desk, his expression unchanged: “You’ve been searching for days and found nothing.”
The ten men didn’t dare breathe a word. His smile didn’t mean he wasn’t angry.
A knock at the door, and Cheng Hua quickly entered: “Boss, we have news.”
“You may leave.” These few short words made the ten men feel relieved.
Cheng Hua carefully explained: “We’ve checked all women named An Ke in the country, their hometown and current address. The one closest to Miss An Ke is currently working at a professional wedding company in Chengdu.” He handed Jun Hao a printed company address.
Jun Hao stood up and took the suit nearby: “Go to Chengdu immediately.” Cheng Hua followed closely behind, not daring to slow down.
Chengdu, also known as Rong City, was still cold despite being spring.
Four hours later, at exactly 6 PM, a black Mercedes-Benz stopped outside An Ke’s company. An Ke left with her colleagues, recently spending her after-work time at Zhang Ning’s home helping with his child, with Zhang Ning later taking her back to her rented room. An Ke didn’t think much of it, considering Zhang Ning a brother who had helped her, and helping him with his child was only natural. An Ke, still wearing a thick sweater and rubbing her hands in the cold, said goodbye to her colleagues and got into Zhang Ning’s QQ car.
“Immediately investigate that man’s background, including the company’s background. I want information on everyone around her,” Jun Hao instructed Cheng Hua. Cheng Hua followed the QQ car obediently.
The QQ car drove into a supermarket parking lot. The two got out happily and soon returned, each carrying a large bag. Zhang Ning thoughtfully took the bag from An Ke’s hands and put it in the trunk, then opened the passenger door for her.
Jun Hao watched from a distance, his eyes almost sparking with fire. Several times he wanted to rush over and drag An Ke back, but remembering her stubborn temper, he ultimately restrained himself.
The car drove onto the main road, with Jun Hao still following closely, muttering: “Damn woman, getting so close to everyone.”
The QQ car entered an ordinary residential complex, with the guard not stopping Jun Hao’s car.
An Ke got out and took a child from an elderly woman’s arms, hugging and touching him, making the child laugh and call her “Mommy”. Zhang Ning, carrying two bags, smiled and said to the elderly woman: “Mom, are you tired? Didn’t the child give you a hard time today?”
The elderly woman replied: “This child is strange. He likes An Ke and doesn’t let others touch him.”
An Ke laughed: “Maybe I just have a special connection with children.”
Zhang Ning urged: “Don’t stand in the cold wind. Let’s go inside and prepare food.”
“Mommy, Mommy!” The little boy kept calling happily, making everyone laugh.
A wind blew, and An Ke quickly handed the boy to the elderly woman and ran to the trash can to vomit, but nothing came out.
The elderly woman, seeing An Ke like this, was inwardly delighted: “She must be pregnant.” Zhang Ning put down the groceries and ran to support An Ke.
Jun Hao didn’t hear their previous conversation clearly, but he heard the old woman’s words clearly and couldn’t control his steps as he got off the car. When Jun Hao approached, the three of them noticed him. Without saying a word, he went forward to support An Ke, but An Ke forcefully pushed him away and said to Zhang Ning, “I’m fine, let’s go back.”
Zhang Ning had known An Ke for over two months and had never seen her cold towards anyone before, but the domineering aura this man exuded made people shiver.
Jun Hao reached out again to grab An Ke’s arm. Zhang Ning just stood there watching, and An Ke couldn’t shake off his grip no matter how hard she tried. She could only seek help from Zhang Ning, “Old Zhang, who is this thug in your neighborhood?”
Zhang Ning finally reacted and shouted at Jun Hao, “Let her go, or I’ll call the police.” He tried to pull Jun Hao away but couldn’t get close.
Jun Hao said domineeringly, “Are you done playing? When you’re done, come back with me.”
“Old Zhang, quickly call security. I really don’t know this madman,” An Ke was almost in tears.
Several security guards ran over after hearing her cry for help, but they stood far away, not daring to approach. Just one glance at the man would make them step back two paces.
Jun Hao lowered his head and whispered in An Ke’s ear, “You know I have many ways to make you submit. I’ll give you one night to consider.” He let her go and returned to his car, driving away. He was convinced of her weakness and believed she would submit this time. He had money, and he firmly believed money could do anything.
An Ke squatted back on the ground and started vomiting again, even more severely than before, but nothing came out.
…………………………………………………
061 State of Mind
At three in the morning, An Ke woke up from a dream. It had started raining, and the sound of rain prevented her from falling back asleep. With her head buried in the pillow, she thought about the past two months, always believing she could live well without Jun Hao. But he was like a nightmare, always appearing in her dreams, smiling at her, saying, “An Ke, I miss you.” She would reach out to grab him, but he would disappear like the wind. Each time she woke from her dream, she found herself in tears, realizing how much she missed him. She wouldn’t allow herself to think about him, using busy work to numb herself. Why did this man who had broken her heart, whom she both loved and hated, always so easily touch her heartstrings? Her heart was lost, and he could casually tell her to leave. Losing anything isn’t scary, but losing one’s heart is.
