Chapter 745: Chapter 745: Keeping Fu Shu
Old Master Jiang put down the teacup, casting a stern gaze at Lin Zhiyi.
"Lin Zhiyi, do you find this glorious?"
"Wh-what?"
Lin Zhiyi was confused, but her face flushed instinctively.
Ignoring Zhong Min’s warning look, Old Master Jiang spoke directly.
"Unmarried pregnancy, and now trailing ambiguous dealings with Gong Chen while bringing a child along— does this make you feel glorious? One must be honorable; overreaching ambition is self-destructive."
"..."
Lin Zhiyi was dumbfounded.
She couldn’t even process it at first.
Clearly, she and Old Master Jiang had reconciled before.
Why did his attitude change so drastically?
Old Master Jiang continued, "Fu Shu is someone Aunt trusts very much, ensuring that your scandalous affairs remain undisclosed. Otherwise, who could you turn to guarantee such a disgraceful matter remains a secret forever?"
Disgraceful matter?
Lin Zhiyi’s breath caught.
Her face tightened, as she refused to let anyone call Xingxing’s birth a disgraceful matter.
She sneered, "You’re absolutely right, it’s indeed a disgraceful matter!"
"How I got pregnant, you should know best. Could it be anything but disgraceful?"
"Why Third Young Master and I ended up like this, you know as well."
"Each and every incident, what does it have to do with me!"
Lin Zhiyi stood up and approached Old Master Jiang and Madam Jiang, speaking in a voice only they could hear.
"Old Master, I care for Third Young Master. What happened back then was unavoidable for him. If I didn’t love him, even now, if I accused him of rape, whose reputation would hit rock bottom?"
"What do you think?"
Old Master Jiang was shocked.
Incredulous that Lin Zhiyi would say such things to his face.
He angrily pointed at Lin Zhiyi.
"The Gong Family does not acknowledge you. What qualifications do you have to stand by Gong Chen’s side?"
The room fell silent.
Lin Zhiyi seemed to see a fleeting smile at the corners of Fu Shu’s mouth.
The anger had made it impossible for her to think clearly.
"She does."
A cool, warning voice broke in.
Gong Chen looked at Old Master Jiang, "As long as she’s willing, there’s always a place for her by my side. Even if she’s unwilling, I will still keep it for her. She doesn’t need qualifications; the one who needs qualifications is me."
"The one who hurt her is me."
Old Master Jiang breathed heavily, about to explode with anger, but was interrupted by Zhong Min.
"There, enough arguing! Gong Chen is an adult now, he knows what he’s doing."
Old Master Jiang thought of Lin Zhiyi’s earlier arrogant attitude towards Fu Shu in the kitchen.
He increasingly couldn’t accept someone like her staying with Gong Chen.
"Gong Chen, how can you ensure that the person you’ve found won’t reveal Xingxing’s lineage? You’re surrounded by dangers now, and your aunt recommended someone trustworthy for your sake. How do you expect us to accept this?"
Just as he finished speaking, Fu Shu’s teacup slipped from her hand.
She seemed startled and quickly stood up to bow.
"Old Master, please don’t, it’s my insistence. Even if I lose this job, it’s no big deal."
"No way, I can’t trust anyone else. Gong Chen, do you want both your daughter and leverage to fall into someone else’s hands?" Old Master Jiang questioned.
Gong Chen clenched his fists, silent for a long time.
Only then did Lin Zhiyi come back to herself from what he had just said.
She reached out to hold his hand, smiling faintly.
"Then I’ll rely on Teacher Fu."
"Miss Lin, you... agreed?"
Fu Shu stood frozen, clearly not expecting to persuade Lin Zhiyi so easily.
Lin Zhiyi straightened up, looking directly into Old Master Jiang’s eyes.
"It doesn’t matter if you look down on me, but think carefully, Xingxing is Third Young Master’s daughter. If you call her a disgrace, then what is Third Young Master?"
"My daughter is forever my treasure, just like you cherish both siblings. If everything in your eyes must be distinguished by nobility, status, and qualification."
"Then what do your children’s lives and deaths have to do with me? In the face of life and death, these are merely clouds; whether I save them or not, can you control that?"
Old Master Jiang: "..."
"Goodbye."
Lin Zhiyi turned to leave.
As she reached the door, the twins heard her and ran over.
"Auntie, where are you going? You just got here."
Lin Zhiyi immediately put on a smile, facing them, "Let’s meet again next time, okay? I want to go back and see Xingxing."
"Alright, it’s a promise."
They both extended their little pinky fingers.
Lin Zhiyi hooked one, then went downstairs.
Almost simultaneously, Gong Chen followed as well.
She stopped.
"Third Young Master, sorry, I was too harsh just now. You didn’t have to follow; it’s better to spend more time with them."
"Why apologize? You’re right; now, you and Xingxing are the most important in my heart."
Gong Chen pulled Lin Zhiyi into his arms.
He whispered near her ear, "If you’re sad, just cry."
Lin Zhiyi buried her face, not speaking for a long time.
Until she recovered, she pursed her lips with slightly red eyes.
"I’m okay now."
Gong Chen raised his hand to touch the corner of her eye and said in a low voice, "Were you doing that earlier to make it difficult for Fu Shu?"
Lin Zhiyi took a deep breath, "Yes. Since she’s so keen to stay, let her be in a dilemma. Madam Jiang values harmony, and she had already refused for our sake. The things she said just now clearly showed her dissatisfaction; now, even Madam Jiang might have something to say to her."
Gong Chen gently tapped her nose.
"Smart. Let’s go; let’s get you some of those snacks you missed."
"There’s no need."
"There is."
Gong Chen forcefully led her to the car.
...
Upstairs.
Zhong Min looked at Old Master Jiang with a sullen face.
"Are you satisfied now?"
"What kind of attitude does this Lin Zhiyi have? Is this how one talks to elders?" Old Master Jiang said angrily.
"Was she wrong? She loves Gong Chen, loves Xingxing, so she hopes they’re both okay. If she didn’t love, do you think Gong Chen could sit calmly in front of you? Why would she go through the hardship of having a child alone? You think having a child is like a hen laying an egg?"
Zhong Min was also angry.
Angry at the old man’s obstinacy.
Old Master Jiang flicked his sleeve, "Even if what you say is right, character is important too! Anyway, I can’t let Gong Chen’s reputation suffer."
After saying that, he gave Zhong Min no chance to speak and left the room directly.
In the end, only Zhong Min and Fu Shu were left in the room.
Zhong Min picked up the tea brewed by Lin Zhiyi, and as she drank, she lifted her eyelid.
"A Shu, I’ve always thought you knew when to advance and when to retreat."
"I apologize, Madam." Fu Shu bowed her head.
"You haven’t wronged me; I’m just curious if you insist on staying by Third Young Master’s side purely for Xingxing’s potential?"
Zhong Min deliberately asked.
Fu Shu stiffened her back, not daring to hesitate, "Yes. I genuinely like Xingxing. I want to nurture her; I have no other intentions, Miss Lin misunderstood."
Zhong Min chuckled lightly.
"Go back, and don’t come tomorrow. Focus on preparing for your own work."
Lin Zhiyi may have agreed to let her stay, but it wasn’t intended for her to work comfortably.
To speak of it, she still preferred Lin Zhiyi more.
Those few words earlier had even startled her.
Interesting.