CHAPTER 40: CHAPTER 20 SHE DOESN’T BELIEVE HIM_2

As she spoke, she touched something in her heart and couldn’t help bowing her head again to wipe her tears, sobbing quietly.

Shi Fengju was stunned, feeling an icy chill in his heart, and looked incredulously at the person before him, suddenly feeling a sense of strangeness, as if there was a layer between them, dim and fuzzy, making it difficult to see clearly.

He is Shi Fengju, her childhood sweetheart, the one who grew up with her— he is not just "someone." He had said so himself, yet she still refuses to believe him? Could it be that in her heart, he was this kind of person? To be indistinguishable from those disordered "someones"?

Then, what was the meaning of his persistence, his painstaking efforts? Shi Fengju suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion.

If he had been ready to tell Gu Fangzi before that he and Sang Wan had a year-long agreement, now he had lost the heart to do so.

Because he was sure that even if he explained it to her now, she still wouldn’t believe him! She might even get angrier, convinced that he was deceiving her! Convinced that he thought she was easy to fool!

Gu Fangzi did not really want to fall out with Shi Fengju. How could she give up the affection that she had painstakingly built and accumulated over many years? Her actions were nothing but a ploy to make Shi Fengju see and acknowledge her grievances, to make him feel guilty, to have a place in his heart, to regard her more highly.

Based on past experience, whenever she showed her grief and wept, Shi Fengju would always come back to coax her until she stopped crying and smiled.

Unexpectedly, after she had wept for a while, Shi Fengju just stood there in a daze, his mind wandering, as if he heard nothing.

Gu Fangzi was both shocked and angered, increasingly convinced that he had a change of heart. Jealousy surged to her head. She pushed Shi Fengju forcefully and cried out, "If you despise me so much, then why are you standing here in a daze! Go then, go back to Ningyuan, they are all waiting for you there!"

Tossed by a whirlwind of emotions in his heart, Shi Fengju almost stumbled and fell when she pushed him unexpectedly.

He wasn’t someone without temper; his expression immediately darkened, and he said coldly, "Since you think so, I have nothing else to say! We can talk again when you’ve calmed down!" With that, he turned and walked away with a swish of his sleeve.

Gu Fangzi was utterly stunned. How could this be? This wasn’t the outcome she wanted!

"Cousin! Cousin!" Gu Fangzi panicked for no reason, ran after him and hugged Shi Fengju tightly from behind, crying with her cheek against his back, "I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I won’t make a scene anymore, I won’t do it again! I believe you, I believe you, isn’t that enough! Cousin, don’t ignore me!"

Shi Fengju’s heart softened once again. Although he knew that her saying she believed him was only a perfunctory response, she was willing to try to trust him, wasn’t she? He sighed softly and turned around, gently patting her back and spoke tenderly, "Alright, no more crying, I was also at fault just now, let’s not talk about it, okay?"

Gu Fangzi, who always pushed her luck, saw Shi Fengju give in and began to sulk again, drooping her head and crying without responding. Shi Fengju was used to spoiling her and, despite feeling a trace of impatience, couldn’t bring himself to walk away and had to continue to coax her patiently.

After a while, Gu Fangzi gradually stopped crying, wiped away her tears, and put on a pose as she said to Shi Fengju, "It’s my fault for being bad-tempered, I shouldn’t have been like that. I should’ve listened to you, cousin!" In her heart, she was secretly triumphant, believing she was skilled in "managing her husband."

Shi Fengju couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, nodding eagerly, "That’s right for you to think so! When have I ever wronged you?"

Inwardly, Gu Fangzi definitely did not agree with this. It was through her own skill that she had avoided grievances.

Having him and her aunt make decisions on her behalf was also a skill she possessed!

Yet outwardly, she nodded gently and coquettishly with a "yes," accompanied by a shy and sweet smile.

"However, aunty wants me to manage the household affairs, and it won’t be proper in name or in words. I—" Gu Fangzi sighed faintly, looking at Shi Fengju, "Maybe it’s better if big sister-in-law takes care of it. She’s more learned and wise than I am, and it surely wouldn’t be too difficult for her."

That was indeed a problem. Shi Fengju unconsciously raised an eyebrow.

If Sang Wan were to manage the household affairs and set Fangzi aside, first of all, his mother’s objections would be a hurdle he couldn’t surpass! The old lady would undoubtedly make a huge scene! Why create unrest at home?

Moreover, after a year or half, Sang Wan would leave, and Fangzi would still have to manage everything!

"I think we’ll do this: we say that you’re assisting her in managing, but you will still be the one in charge. We’ll just hang her name as a front. How does that sound? After a year or half, once you’re officially part of the family, you’ll still be in charge!"

Gu Fangzi was pleased with the initial part of the plan, but upon hearing the last part, her heart sank again.

A year or half a year? What’s going on with Cousin? Is he really going to wait a year or half before welcoming me into the family?

She wanted to question the reason, but feeling that the timing wasn’t right, she held back and smiled gently, nodding lightly, "That way, it’s fine too. I’ll just follow aunty’s and cousin’s arrangements! What about big sister-in-law’s end—"

"I’ll talk to her about that, don’t worry."

Gu Fangzi finally relaxed completely, her brows unfolding as she let out a genuine smile.

A year or half a year? Hmph, it doesn’t necessarily have to wait that long! Who can say for sure that tomorrow, the day after, or next month, there won’t be a turn of events?

When Shi Fengju returned to Ningyuan and relayed the situation to Sang Wan, she inwardly breathed a sigh of relief and readily agreed. As long as Gu Fangzi did not come to provoke her, she had no opinion on whatever she wanted to do in the estate!

Believing she had won a battle, Gu Fangzi came the next day to Ningyuan in high spirits and generously sought out Sang Wan to talk.