“Uncle Gu, Aunt Luo, I know that ever since I’ve been staying here, you’ve both looked after me so well—treated me like your own child, always making sure no one takes advantage of me.”
“But now that things have come to this… I have to take responsibility.”
He turned to look at Wang Yurou.
“Don’t worry. Now that we’ve… I will definitely marry you.”
Wang Yurou’s heart raced, yet her face remained clouded with worry as she frowned and probed carefully.
“But what if we get to go back to the city…?”
“Even if we do get the chance to return, nothing will change. No matter where we go, my promise stands.”
“Once we’re back, I’ll explain everything to my family—you have nothing to fear.”
Wang Yurou looked utterly moved, nodding slowly as tears spilled down her cheeks, as if she could barely believe her ears.
In truth, her heart was pounding so hard it felt ready to leap out of her chest.
Beneath her excitement, however, lay a flicker of unease.
The truth was, she hadn’t blacked out last night as she’d claimed. On the contrary—she’d been fully conscious. It was Fu Shixuan who’d been given too strong a dose of the drug, knocking him cold before anything had actually happened between them.
She’d been worried her plan had failed completely—yet all it had taken was a few carefully chosen words this morning, and Fu Shixuan had assumed the deed was done, swearing to make things right.
It was a lucky accident beyond her wildest dreams. She’d hit the jackpot!
Wang Yurou gloated inwardly.
Shen Zhaozhao would be green with envy now, wouldn’t she?
Probably burning with jealousy until her eyes were red enough to bleed!
She pressed her lips together to hide her grin, itching to catch a glimpse of Shen Zhaozhao’s stricken face.
But when she looked over, there was no sign of the furious jealousy she’d expected. Instead, Shen Zhaozhao stood perfectly still, staring straight at her, the corners of her mouth slowly curling into a faint, knowing half-smile.
As Wang Yurou stared in confusion, Shen Zhaozhao suddenly raised an eyebrow in open challenge.
Her gaze seemed to say—You dare set me up? Just you wait. I’ll make you pay for this, sooner or later.
The look in her eyes was sharp enough to cut—so fierce it felt like she was a different woman entirely.
It was as if a peerless blade had swept down from nowhere, not yet striking flesh, but glinting with a cold, bloodthirsty light that sent a jolt of alarm through her.
A bone-deep chill spread through her limbs in an instant.
Wang Yurou shivered from head to toe, trembling despite the bright sun beating down on her skin.
What had gotten into that fool Shen Zhaozhao all of a sudden?
She’d always been so empty-headed before—so easy to manipulate, so hopelessly infatuated with Fu Shixuan, or she never would have fallen for her tricks.
But now… if not for the identical face, she’d swear this wasn’t Shen Zhaozhao at all.
The girl was terrifying.
Fu Shixuan glanced at her, his expression calm.
“What’s wrong? Are you cold?”
Wang Yurou shook her head and sighed softly.
“No… I was just thinking—if this had happened with anyone else, I might have been left with nothing but a loss. You really are the kindest, most wonderful man in the world, Shixuan.”
“I’m so lucky to have met you.”
She wiped her eyes as she spoke, leaning closer to him.
“Though… I can’t help but wonder what’s gotten into Zhaozhao today. She looks… different somehow.”
She deliberately steered Fu Shixuan’s attention toward Shen Zhaozhao, hoping he’d see how intimidating she seemed.
Fu Shixuan was far from oblivious—he knew Shen Zhaozhao had feelings for him, and this whole affair was riddled with inconsistencies.
If he saw her looking so ready to tear her apart, he’d surely mistake it for jealousy, and grow only more disgusted with her.
They say the deeper you love, the deeper the wound. Shen Zhaozhao had pined after him for years—surely even a hint of coldness from him would break her heart.
At Wang Yurou’s words, Fu Shixuan’s gaze drifted unbidden to Shen Zhaozhao.
She truly was nothing like her usual self today.
Her cheeks were flushed pink, her skin glowing soft and luminous as if lit from within. Her eyes sparkled, their upturned corners seeming to hold a quiet allure—every glance carrying a subtle, captivating charm.
She reminded him of a vivid, bold flower in full bloom under the summer sun—impossible to ignore, drawing him closer with every glance, making him long to breathe in her scent.
He suddenly remembered the whispers he’d heard from the other young men sent down to the countryside.
They’d said Shen Zhaozhao had a fox-like air—too skilled at turning heads, always finding ways to make people feel soft and protective toward her.
It was true. Even with his lingering doubts about her, one look was enough to erase half his resentment. He found himself wondering if she had some hidden reason for all this.
Frowning sharply, he pushed the thought away, a sudden, unaccountable restlessness stirring in his chest.
He’d never wanted to get tangled up with any woman.
Coming to the countryside had never been his choice—just a formality he had to fulfill.
With his background and his family’s standing, his path back in the city was already set—bright and certain.
He’d never given marriage much thought. If he didn’t find someone he truly wanted, his family would arrange a match for him—a suitable girl from a respectable family, or the daughter of a high-ranking official.
Marry, start a family—follow the path laid out for him.
A life of ease stretching out ahead, no more hardships, no more worries.
But now…
Fu Shixuan’s expression darkened further, his thoughts in greater turmoil than ever before.
Luo Erfen had never approved of Wang Yurou—she’d always thought the girl was nowhere near good enough for Fu Shixuan. But seeing how he’d made up his mind, she held her tongue as long as she could, until her frustration finally spilled over.
“Wang Yurou, don’t take this the wrong way—you may be an educated youth too, but you’re worlds apart from Shixuan.”
“If he’s given his word, we won’t stand in your way. But you’re about to be a wife now—you can’t carry on like this anymore.”
“You need to behave yourself from now on. Stop chatting with every man you see. Wash Shixuan’s clothes properly, come over every day to clean his room and cook his meals.”
“You’re from the city too—maybe your parents never taught you these things. When I’ve got time, I’ll have to show you how to be a proper wife.”
“Yes, Auntie…” Wang Yurou murmured obediently, seething inwardly.
Just the wife of a village party secretary—who does she think she is? Sticking her nose into our business like she’s Shixuan’s own mother!