The sweet delighted smile on Xiao Yu’s face instantly vanished. She pouted and huffed, “Why do you say I’m talking nonsense? Your wife has a sharp tongue. I only suffer from her anger and gain nothing. She almost angered me to death. Can you control Ji You? And when are you divorcing? Forcing a loveless marriage is immoral.”
Fang Yi’s firm facial lines tightened. “My marriage with Ji You does not need outsiders interfering. Don’t talk nonsense in front of her.”
The words outsider sounded especially distant to Xiao Yu.
She felt extremely wronged and stomped while holding her bicycle handle. “I’m not talking nonsense. I’m telling the truth. Don’t you know how much Ji You dislikes you? In her eyes there is only Zou Wentao. Why are you defending her? Do you owe her from a past life?”
She looked around and, seeing no one nearby, continued, “Ji Yundou eloped with Zou Wentao. If Ji You hadn’t come to Lincheng, the one who married you would definitely be…”
She wanted to say it would have been her. Ji You stole her chance and still did not cherish it.
Ji You should have aborted the child and gone back to Binjiang City so everything could be set right.
Fang Yi did not want to waste words. He cut her off and ended the conversation decisively. “Don’t go to Ji You again, especially when I’m not home.”
After speaking he ignored her and rode his bicycle into the courtyard.
Watching his back, Xiao Yu stomped repeatedly until her foot went numb. She was furious at this inexplicable couple.
Ji You had been thinking these days about whether Fang Yi had secretly read her letter. The more she thought the more certain she became that he had.
She also devised a way to test him.
Sunday was her day off while Fang Yi still had to work.
On Saturday night Fang Yi read and drew blueprints while Ji You sat at the other end of the table writing a letter. After finishing she deliberately called out loudly, “Do we still have stamps?”
“Pass me the glue.”
Early the next morning when Fang Yi was about to leave she called, “Wait a moment. Help me mail a letter.”
Fang Yi’s heart tightened but he showed nothing. He naturally took the letter and put it in his jacket pocket. The pocket was small so part of the envelope remained visible.
“Thanks for mailing it. Don’t wrinkle it and don’t forget.”
To show its importance Ji You specially reminded him.
“Got it,” Fang Yi replied calmly.
After riding out of the courtyard and going some distance he glanced back. Once Ji You was out of sight he immediately took out the envelope. Seeing the recipient and address he let out a sneer.
Ji You really did not treat him as an outsider or rather did not treat him seriously. She even asked him to mail a letter to her former fiancé.
Planning reconciliation right under his nose.
That former fiancé was educated, a college student, fair and refined looking, but a weak pretty boy who eloped with her cousin. His character was despicable. Fang Yi could not understand what Ji You saw in him.
Fang Yi desperately wanted to know the content. There was a mailbox nearby but he squeezed the letter and put it back in his pocket, riding all the way to the agricultural machinery station.
All morning he struggled over whether to read it before mailing it. He had already read the previous letter so reading another would make little difference.
Yet reading others’ letters was morally low. He swore that except for Ji You’s letters he had never done anything unethical.
Putting morality aside he convinced himself from another angle. Ji You could correspond with her former fiancé despite being married, so why could he not read it? They were equally bad.
All morning two little voices argued in his head. By noon he had to decide.
Passing the mailbox he hardened his resolve. Read it.
After all, she might want another abortion and run away. As her legal husband he needed to understand her plans.
He stopped by the roadside, stepped onto the curb, took out the letter, looked around, and carefully opened the glued seal. It came apart easily without obvious traces.
He unfolded the paper. His chest rose violently, heart pounding from guilt and anticipation.
The paper contained only eight characters.
Fang Yi stared in disbelief, lifting the paper closer.
The eight characters read
Fang Sihuo is a big bastard.
Fang Yi pressed his lips together.
He could almost see Ji You’s beautiful face full of sly laughter teasing him.
His tense expression relaxed and the corners of his mouth lifted. He put the paper back into the envelope, folded it, slipped it into his pocket, and rode home through the flow of bicycles.
Usually he searched for Ji You after arriving home. This time she waited for him. As soon as he entered she asked, “Did you mail it?”
Fang Yi had already regained calmness. “No. You got the wrong letter. Look.”
He walked over, took the envelope from his pocket, and handed it to her.
Ji You saw the opened seal and immediately raised her voice. “You secretly read my letter.”
Fang Yi said calmly, “I read it openly. If I didn’t read it how would I know you were scolding me?”
Being scolded by his wife was better than being ignored.
Ji You widened her eyes. She now confirmed this man was not honest at all.
“Did you read the previous one too?” she asked.
He nodded frankly. “Yes.”
Ji You raised her voice further. “You read two letters and feel no shame?”
Fang Yi thought that she was plotting with her former fiancé while he only read letters. Their actions were equally bad.
“What did you think after reading?” Ji You asked.
He actually thought he would allow whatever she wanted, though deep inside he wanted to lock her away and keep her for himself. But that was only a thought.
He said instead, “That former fiancé isn’t a good person. Not worth your effort.”
Ji You looked at him seriously. “Fine. Since you like reading them, don’t sneak anymore. I will show you directly.”
Fang Yi thought she truly did not care about him, still entangled with the former fiancé openly.
Spring had just begun yet he felt as if green grass already covered his head.
Zhang Guilan entered carrying dishes and casually asked, “Who did Ji You write to?”
Fang Yi answered for her, “To a friend.”
Zhang Guilan saw through it but said nothing.
“Come eat. I made fish flavored shredded pork without pork and tofu puffs stewed with cabbage. Ji You, is that okay?”
“It’s good,” Ji You replied.
Zhang Guilan found it strange. Ji You have not been picky about food lately.
Fang Yi served rice. Seeing her bowl fuller than usual Ji You quickly said, “Less. I can’t eat that much.”
He set the bowl down gently. “Eat more so you have strength to write letters.”
Ji You opened her lips slightly. “Fang Sihuo. You read my letter and still tease me?”
She must reconsider this man.
She handed him a letter from Zou Wentao. “Look. He writes indirectly. He wants wild ginseng but won’t say it directly.”
Fang Yi was surprised she showed him openly. After reading he said disdainfully, “Tell him you don’t have any. Actually don’t reply at all.”
Ji You refused. She had already formed a plan.