Rebirth of an abandoned woman

Chapter 6: The Self-Defeat of Enlightenment

"How could you say that?" Gu Fangzi had never expected him to respond in such a way. Even though he said it jokingly, her heart still experienced a wave of unspeakable grief. She felt both offended and uncomfortable. Crouching on the spot, she sobbed and hugged both her legs tightly.

"Why are you crying?" Shi Fengju had always liked teasing her, but this time, she might have taken the joke too seriously and cried. Panicky, he immediately tried to coax her, "Fang'er, Fang'er, don't cry. Please don't cry, ah. What I said was just to tease you. Why did you take it so seriously and cry? My good Fang'er, please don't put me on the spot! You know I'll never love anyone except you, so please don't cry."

Gu Fangzi grunted softly and turned away from Shi Fengju, refusing to look at him. Only after he had coaxed her for a long time did she finally reply. "How could you joke about that? You... you already know that she — how could you use that to tease me?"

Seeing that she was alright now, Shi Fengju chuckled. "Still angry at me? Wasn't it you who started it? Did you hear yourself when you said those unpleasant words before?"

She stared sternly at him and became silent. Then, with a grin on her face, she giggled softly. "You only know how to annoy and bully me! I'm so silly to let you bully me..." With that, her voice eventually became softer and her shyness was exposed as she turned her body towards him. The girl's coyness was indeed moving.

Shi Fengju's heart was overcame with warmth and he sighed softly, "Fang'er, I won't bully you anymore, so next time, don't say such silly words!"

Gu Fangzi's bittersweet heart couldn't help but feel discontent. You won't bully me? You marrying Sang Wan into the Shi family is equivalent to bullying me! If you really meant what you said, you would have disapproved of the marriage! Whether that will affect the Sang family's reputation or not, what does that have to do with you? What does it have to do with the Shi family?

Of course, those were only Gu Fangzi's thoughts. On the surface, however, her face displayed a sweet smile and she softly said, "En," to show that she agree with him. Looking directly at Shi Fengju, she said, "Cousin Fengju, hearing those words is enough for me. I am a very naive person, so I'll take your words and remember them for a lifetime!"

"Of course. Forever." Shi Fengju smiled and nodded.

Her eyes flickered and her once steady gaze wavered. Her gaze, which carried a trace of distrust and apprehension, revealed her emotions.

"Actually, Cousin-in-law Sang Wan really isn't that bad." Gu Fangzi understood what he was hinting at and added slyly, "Cousin Fengju, she must have scored a few points in your heart, am I right?"

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Astonished, Shi Fengju exclaimed, "How could you think that way?" His heart had always belonged to her. All these years, he had only had eyes for her and his heart had yearned for only her. Never had his eyes left her, so how could she say that to him?

"Okay, okay. Just take it as I'm wrong!" Seeing his cold face, she couldn't help but feel remorse as he was indeed angry. Gu Fangzi immediately apologized for being suspicious of him.

However, deep within, a shadow of doubt still remained. They had grown up together and thus she knew him all too well. The day when the marriage date had been set and especially the day before her cousin-in-law had married into the Shi family, Shi Fengju's expression had been unsightly and cold. But today, that cold expression had completely vanished! His eyes were calm and poised, which made her feel uneasy, as if something was very amiss.

Since the marriage had been arranged by the elders, the matter of Sang Wan marrying into the family was already decided. Gu Fangzi had already accepted that fact long ago. She was neither afraid nor worried, as she believed that Shi Fengju was not a heartless and unfaithful person. The bond that the both of them shared was not something that could be easily broken. The arrival of Sang Wan into the family was not something that could change that fact, even if she were an angel dispatched by heaven!