Gu Shichuan’s brows drew together, his already cold and sharp features hardening further.
She dares to pull this trick on him?
Shen Zhaozhao blinked rapidly twice.
To be honest, he looked genuinely intimidating right now.
But who was she, Shen Zhaozhao? She’d even dared to proposition male models—how could she be scared…
Scared or not, there was no turning back now. She’d just have to brazen it out!
The knocking outside grew louder and heavier, the thin wooden door creaking as if it would be smashed open any second.
Gu Shichuan only glanced away for a moment, and when he looked back, Shen Zhaozhao had completely shifted her expression.
Her eyes were now bright red, glistening with unshed tears that shimmered with every blink. Her normally rosy lips were pressed so tight they’d turned pale.
Against her fair, snow-white skin, her face looked even paler—like she’d suffered some terrible injustice, ready to bring a snowstorm in June and stage a tragedy of wrongful suffering.
She looked like a frightened little deer that had wandered into the wrong place—utterly innocent and pitiful.
In Shen Zhaozhao’s own mind, she was practically radiating saccharine victimhood.
Anyone seeing her like this would surely think Gu Shichuan was bullying her.
Gu Shichuan’s temple throbbed sharply, his face darkening.
“Shen Zhaozhao, don’t push your luck.”
Shen Zhaozhao did exactly the opposite, letting out an exaggerated sob.
“Brother Gu… how could you do this to me?”
Her voice was pitched just right—soft enough to sound helpless, but loud enough for those outside to catch every word.
As she spoke, she ruffled her already messy hair until it fell in disarray over her forehead and shoulders, then tugged her collar slightly open to reveal a smooth, pale shoulder.
One glance and anyone would assume the two were up to something improper.
The knocking grew even more frantic, and her mother Luo Erfen’s shrill voice pierced through the wood:
“Gu Shichuan! What shameless, disgraceful thing are you doing in there? You’re bringing shame on this whole family!”
“Open this door right now, or don’t blame me for being ruthless!”
She gritted her teeth and snapped at her husband.
“Gu Guanghui—go get me a hammer!”
A hammer? This Luo Erfen really didn’t care about saving her son’s face—like she wanted the whole world to know.
Was she even more malicious than her, the so-called “vicious supporting character”?
Shen Zhaozhao scoffed inwardly, but outwardly raised an eyebrow at him with forced calm. She grabbed Gu Shichuan by the collar, pulled him close, and whispered slowly:
“Either we both sink… or we both sink. Your call.”
Gu Shichuan: ???
Was there even a choice?
He glanced around the room—barely furnished, nothing but a bed, a table, and stacks of books piled up. Not a proper wardrobe in sight. The window faced straight out into the yard—nowhere to hide, nowhere to run.
He took a deep breath, then hauled Shen Zhaozhao up like a kitten, snatched her coat off the floor and tossed it at her.
Outside, Gu Guanghui had already returned with an iron hammer.
Luo Erfen raised the hammer high and brought it crashing down with all her might.
CRACK. The wooden latch split, hanging precariously from the beam.
Just as it was about to give way completely, the door suddenly swung open from inside.
Luo Erfen was already mid-swing, and the sudden movement threw her off balance. She fumbled the hammer—only just managing to avoid dropping it on her foot, but it still ground hard against her little toe.
“AHHH—MY FOOT!!”
She looked up, gritting her teeth, to see Gu Shichuan leaning lazily against the frame, one hand pressed to his temple. He squinted against the bright daylight, yawned, and glanced over his parents, neighbors, and the crowd gathered outside with total nonchalance.
“Morning, Mom, Dad. Why all the noise so early?”
“Hmm… a hammer? Were you planning to fix my door for me?” He glanced at the door with feigned surprise. “Looks fine to me.”
Shen Zhaozhao, watching from inside, almost wanted to give him a standing ovation.
What an actor! One minute he was the cold, untouchable ice prince—the next, a laid-back, good-for-nothing playboy. If this were her era, he’d win an Oscar hands down!
Luo Erfen planted her hands on her hips, eyeing him suspiciously before letting out a cold snort.
“Don’t play dumb with me. Spit it out—what were you doing with that little… that Shen girl last night?”
As the village party secretary’s wife, she couldn’t afford to use language too vulgar.
A look of genuine confusion flickered across Gu Shichuan’s face.
“Me and Shen Zhaozhao?” He rubbed his temple harder, shaking his head like he was struggling to remember. “Can’t say for sure… I slept like a log. But I did go to see Zhaozhao last night—to talk about our marriage.”
“Marriage?”
Aunt Liu, who’d been watching with amusement, blinked in surprise and turned to Luo Erfen.
“What’s this about? Are you taking Shen Zhaozhao into the family?”
Luo Erfen and Gu Guanghui were stunned—they stared blankly at each other, then back at Gu Shichuan.
“What marriage?!”
Gu Shichuan slumped against the doorframe, rubbing the tip of his nose with his index finger as he spoke casually.
“I’ve liked Shen Zhaozhao for a long time. Naturally I want to marry her.”
“You two are always nagging me that I’m getting too old and still doing nothing useful. Isn’t settling down with a wife a proper thing to do?”
He narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze carrying a hint of meaning.
“Mom… you wouldn’t stop me from marrying, would you? Do you want me to waste away at home all my life?”
Luo Erfen fell silent, her eyes darting away as she craned her neck to peer inside.
Shen Zhaozhao, sitting at the table, looked up and caught her gaze. She gave an awkward chuckle and quickly ducked her head back down to the book in front of her.
Just before opening the door, Gu Shichuan had shoved a book in front of her and told her not to say a word—just keep her head down and read.
Shen Zhaozhao flipped open the well-worn cover and read the title:
Postpartum Care for Sows.
Shen Zhaozhao: ???
Luo Erfen seized on this as if she’d found proof of wrongdoing, pointing an accusing finger at her.
“Why is she in your room so early in the morning?”
Gu Shichuan glanced inside, his expression completely calm.
“Oh—she’s been teaching me English lately. Zhaozhao says you have to memorize words first thing in the morning—your mind’s clearer, so you learn faster and remember better.”
Luo Erfen looked even more bewildered.
“Why on earth do you need to learn English?”
Gu Shichuan answered without hesitation: “I want to be as capable as Fu Shixuan. That way Zhaozhao will like me more.”
Shen Zhaozhao, who’d been sneaking a sip of water, nearly choked to death.
She looked from Postpartum Care for Sows to him, her mind spinning with questions.
What a cunning man… he can lie through his teeth even better than I can!