CHAPTER 554: CHAPTER 285: HEARTACHE (PART 2)

In this mansion, the only one who truly has some sincerity towards her is this elder sister-in-law before her eyes. Throughout these days, while she has been taking care of Shi Fengming, has he ever shown her the slightest concern? To be met with cold looks is already considered good; not to mention before, he was even cursing her as a "wicked woman" and a "poisonous woman," as if he couldn’t wait to kill her!

Comparing people like this, it’s genuinely impossible not to feel heartache and loss.

"Elder sister-in-law, thank you for being so kind to me! I will always remember your kindness!" Zhou Jingyi said with a smile.

"Why are you saying such silly things!" Sang Wan laughed: "We get along quite well, and we’re sisters-in-law; isn’t it natural for me to be good to you!"

"Yes! What elder sister-in-law said is right!" A surge of sourness rose in Zhou Jingyi’s heart straight to her nose, and her voice inadvertently carried a strong note of crying.

"What’s wrong with you!" Sang Wan was startled and couldn’t help raising her voice, which drew the attention of Shi Fengju and Shi Fengming.

"Nothing, nothing!" Zhou Jingyi was embarrassed, tears in her eyes unable to stop. She dared not lift her head or wipe them with her hand, hastily laughing: "It’s just, just that elder sister-in-law has been so kind to me, I feel grateful in my heart."

Despite Zhou Jingyi’s best efforts to hold back, the slight sob in her voice was still caught by the others. Shi Fengming was stunned, Shi Fengju frowned slightly, feeling it was better not to get involved, and turned to Sang Wan with a smile: "We have been here for a while, let’s go back! So as not to worry Second Master Shi!"

Sang Wan nodded with a smile, bade farewell to the two, and left with Shi Fengju.

Only then did Zhou Jingyi secretly let out a sigh of relief and turned to walk into the house.

"Hey," Shi Fengming stopped her, hesitating to say: "You, you’re alright, aren’t you?"

Zhou Jingyi was inwardly furious and said indifferently with her back to him: "What could possibly be wrong with me!"

Just keep being stubborn! As if everyone else around you is deaf!

"Then why are you—going into the house?" Shi Fengming couldn’t help but ask.

Zhou Jingyi angrily said: "I’m tired from standing, I want to sit inside for a while, is that not allowed?" With that, she stepped forward and quickly entered the house.

Shi Fengming curled his lips and felt wronged, thinking to himself: Why cry all of a sudden, it’s completely senseless! It’s not like I’ve provoked or offended you!

Each in their own space, one inside, one outside, they both became lost in their thoughts, and silence reigned both inside and outside.

What Shi Fengming didn’t know was that, just beyond the wall, in that room, Zhou Jingyi’s tears silently flowed, wetting her face entirely.

Master Zhou and Mrs. Zhou finally arrived at the Shi Mansion and met with Second Master Shi and his wife. On the surface, they were polite, but in reality, they harbored deep grievances against each other. Especially Mrs. Zhou and Second Madam Shi, their eyes occasionally met, almost igniting fiery sparks full of the smell of gunpowder.

"I really didn’t expect such a thing to happen! Alas, my Xiaoyi is truly unfortunate!" After some polite small talk, Mrs. Zhou sighed with a worried look, raising her handkerchief to her eyes.

Second Madam Shi’s expression instantly turned somewhat sullen, scoffing lightly: "The truly pitiable one is my son Fengming! Alas, if only my daughter-in-law had a bit of a way with him, to keep him in check, such a thing wouldn’t have happened today! It’s really, if anything untoward happens, how am I supposed to live!" After speaking, she too raised her handkerchief to dab her eyes.

Mrs. Zhou was outraged and faced her with a cold look, "What do you mean by that!"

Second Madam Shi stood her ground, "What I said is the truth!"

"You—"

"Alright, alright!" Seeing the situation, Master Zhou hurriedly intervened, sighing and asking: "How is my son-in-law now? Is he feeling any better?"

Mrs. Zhou gave him a dissatisfied side glance and then followed up: "And how about my daughter? How has she been these days?"

Second Master Shi hurriedly said with a smile: "Fengming’s condition is relatively stable now, he’s been taking his medicine every day! My daughter-in-law is caring for him; the couple’s relationship has improved quite a lot compared to before, I suppose—"

"What!" Mrs. Zhou exclaimed with wide eyes, "What are you saying, esteemed father-in-law? My Xiaoyi has been, been taking care of your son!"

"Yes..." Second Master Shi was taken aback by her reaction.

Second Madam Shi, however, scoffed unconvincedly: "What about it? Isn’t that how it should be? Your daughter is my son’s wife, if my son is ill, shouldn’t she be by his side serving him?" Completely overtaken by anger, Second Madam Shi began to argue, heedlessly forgetting her son’s original intention.

Mrs. Zhou, in a fury, stood up: "No, this won’t do! I have to see for myself! Can it be that your mansion has no maids or servants? If not, just say the word, and I can bring several people over from the Zhou family right away! My son-in-law has a contagious disease; how can you let my daughter take care of him! Humph! My daughter is his wife, but you are still parents. Why haven’t I seen you taking care of him! It’s clear you are bullying my daughter!"

As she spoke, Mrs. Zhou covered her face, wiped away tears, and started to cry, intending to storm out.

"Madam! Madam!" Master Zhou was also very displeased, yet still retained some sense, hurriedly pulling Mrs. Zhou back, "Madam, don’t be hasty, let’s talk things over slowly, okay?" After all, so many days have passed, a moment more or less won’t make a difference.

"How much clearer does it need to be! People are bullying us to the extreme! Your son’s life is a life, is my daughter’s life not a life? If anything happens to my daughter, I will headbutt myself to death at your Shi household!" Mrs. Zhou suddenly became emotional.

"What is this you’re saying, esteemed mother-in-law!" Second Master Shi exclaimed in surprise: "When the daughter-in-law returned that day, we also advised her that there was no need to go take care of him personally, but she insisted on doing so, even saying that you all agreed with it, how come—"

"How would we agree!" Mrs. Zhou shouted: "What use do I care for such a name of virtue at my age! Only if I were a fool would I exchange my daughter’s life for a worthless reputation! My daughter would definitely not say such things, I’m going to find her and ask her myself!"