"Really not you?" Wu Zhenhai's brows furrowed so deeply they looked like they were trapping a fly. "Then who else could it be?"
Zhou Xu said coolly, "I only know it wasn't me, but how would I know who it was?"
She had an expression that said, "You actually doubt me? Ha, you idiot."
Wu Zhenhai was silent for a moment, then said, "Can you stop gloating? Help me think of something! I have a feeling there's something fishy about this."
Zhou Xu breathed a slight sigh of relief. "If I, a suspect, were to implicate someone else, wouldn't that be shifting the blame?"
"Speak properly!" Wu Zhenhai said, "I haven't slept for two nights."
She was busy with official business the night before last, and last night she was busy trying to sleep while scolding her son. Her mind is still foggy.
Zhou Xu: Was the person I made love to last night your stand-in?
"If you ask me," Zhou Xu said, "Everything is normal today. The most unusual thing is that girl from the Lu Family who's with Zhou Fu."
"She?"
To be honest, Wu Zhenhai couldn't even remember what Lady Lu looked like.
I only glanced at her twice and thought she was just average-looking and dull-witted.
Compared to her, Wu Zhenhai was more interested in the three thousand taels of silver that her family had "offered".
"I don't know," Zhou Xu said. "If you're asking me what's unusual, it's just this little bit."
She paused, then continued rambling.
"Zhou Fu is so arrogant, yet today he actually took the initiative to pull her to his side. I don't believe there's nothing fishy about it."
Wu Zhenhai wasn't stupid either, and said, "What benefit would she gain from scheming against me and Zhou Fu?"
Zhou Xu calmly replied, "I'm not her, how would I know what she's thinking? Smart people are all smart, but fools are foolish in their own way."
Wu Zhenhai frowned in thought.
Zhou Xu probed, "Why did my grandfather just let you go like that? Is the matter resolved?"
Wu Zhenhai narrowed his eyes and stared at her. "Why do I feel like you're waiting to see me make a fool of myself?"
Zhou Xu: "If I'm not going to watch a joke, am I supposed to get involved and make a fool of myself?"
Wu Zhenhai was speechless after being confronted by her.
He began to seriously consider the possibility that Zhou Fu and Lady Lu were behind it.
But something still feels off.
What a coincidence! It's such a coincidence.
Zhou Xu went to find him, and he fell for it.
He became a laughingstock, Zhou Xu became the "victim"?
Zhou Xu asked, "How did you settle things with Zhou Fu?"
She wanted to see how the Zhou Family would handle this situation.
Wu Zhenhai retorted irritably, "What could Zhou Fu and I possibly have? I'm her brother-in-law! It's just the two of us having a secret rendezvous; it has nothing to do with anyone else."
Zhou Xu was so angry she laughed.
So, in the end, the blame still fell on her?
"... The governor said that Zhou Fu was to be married off to someone from another region. I was unconscious, and nothing happened."
Zhou Xu sneered, "And what about me? I did nothing, so why should I bear the stigma of having an affair with you in broad daylight?"
You're not innocent either.
Zhou Xu: "..."
"Just kidding." Wu Zhenhai came over and hugged her. "Look how hot-tempered you are. Let me tell you, this is the only way for now. Otherwise, what will happen to the Zhou Family's reputation? What will happen to my reputation? At least our marriage has already been announced, so things are still a bit better..."
Zhou Xu sneered repeatedly, "Yes, Zhou Fu has always been a moral exemplar; her image can't be completely ruined. Someone like me has already taken so many blames; one more won't make a difference."
hehe.
"I know this is unfair to you, but it's the only way for now." Wu Zhenhai was also very frustrated.
Let him find out who plotted against him, and we'll skin the culprit alive!
Everyone says that your birth year brings bad luck, but he's already having a run of bad luck before his birth year has even started.
The year of calamity for my buttocks...
"I'm sorry you had to go through this, but I'll make it up to you in other ways," Wu Zhenhai said. "The Governor-General said he'd give you an extra ten thousand taels of silver as dowry; I'll also give you two shops. Don't be angry."
Zhou Xu remained silent.
Wu Zhenhai sighed, a hint of fatigue showing on his face, and his tone softened.
"Ruanruan, stop arguing with me, let's make up."
"Make peace? Make peace means both sides are evenly matched. Between you and me, isn't it all up to you to decide?"
These past few days, when I've been facing her, I've been blowing my beard and glaring at her; haven't I been quite imposing?
"I'm a bit tired," Wu Zhenhai said. "Some things happened, and I wasn't feeling well to begin with. Plus, I found out that Shao'er actually likes Zhou Fu, and no matter how much I scold him, he won't calm down..."
My children are all disappointing; none of them are easy to take care of.
He suddenly realized that everything he had so desperately sought and obtained was actually illusory.
"Just try a few more times," Zhou Xu said expressionlessly.
He's soft-hearted and can't bear to hurt his children, but he can vent his frustrations on her whenever he sees her.
Haha, thanks.
Thank you for strengthening my resolve.
"Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore," Wu Zhenhai said. "Although I suspect you were behind this, I didn't utter a single word in front of the Zhou Family."
"Isn't that because you're just overthinking things and have no evidence?" Zhou Xu said bluntly.
Wu Zhenhai: "..."
"You're stupid too," Zhou Xu continued with a sneer, "I wouldn't even take one more as a gift. Wouldn't it be better if you married me and Zhou Fu together?"
Wu Zhenhai said, "Do you think I'd take just anyone? You're the only one for me right now. Once you're married, you'd better hurry up and give me two sons!"
If the main account is ruined, the secondary account will have to struggle a bit more.
Zhou Xu paused for a moment, then spoke softly.
"I did not do what happened today."
"Huh?" Didn't we finish talking? Why are we bringing this up again?
"Although I hate Zhou Fu, I've really had enough of living in her shadow for the past ten years or so."
Zhou Xu's eyes glistened, and then she lowered her head.
"If I could have predicted that this would happen, I definitely would have tried to stop it."
A self-deprecating smile played on her lips. "Because you see, no matter what happens, I'm always the one who ends up suffering."
Wu Zhenhai felt a pang of sympathy.
She was right; that's exactly it.
"I know you're fickle," Zhou Xu said, "And I know you have multiple wives and concubines, but you were able to pull me out of this misery, and I'm actually grateful to you."
No matter how clear-headed she was, she still felt a longing for the only warmth she could grasp.
Nothing in this world is ever done in vain.
Just like the meals and snacks he cooked for her, they all left traces in her memory.
Fortunately, she remained conscious throughout.
Even when he wasn't so clear-headed, he always made her understand her place.
"Wu Zhenhai, you are my hope for the rest of my life. I don't want Zhou Fu to interfere again."
"So, I didn't do it."
It was half true and half false, and even Zhou Xu herself was moved.
Not only could Wu Zhenhai not tell the difference between the real and the fake, but she herself couldn't either.
Wu Zhenhai sighed, put his arm around her shoulder, and said, "I know you're upset, give me some more time. As long as you didn't do it, I'm not that bothered about who the other person was."
It may be embarrassing, but Wu Shao should finally give up completely this time.
Wu Zhenhai worked his way up from the bottom to achieve everything he has today. For him, appearances are not that important; substance is what matters most.
He was willing to accept the embarrassment if it could make his son realize his mistake and abandon his illusions about Zhou Fu.
"Don't worry, our marriage is still on." he said.