This was an extremely affirmative statement that she had come up with after tossing and turning sleeplessly for a long time.
Fu Xunzhi looked up, his eyes reddening, "I'm sorry..."
Gu Shuang got this expected answer, her throat felt as if it was blocked by a wad of cotton, stuffy and flustered.
She raised her head, blinked her slightly reddened eyes, and fiercely forced back the tears that were about to spill out of those eyes.
She had originally wanted to tell him the truth that she was still a virgin, but now she felt there was no need for that anymore.
"Actually..." she smiled, "you can tell me your thoughts straightforwardly. There is nothing in this world that cannot be discussed—"
"But I am the only descendant of the Fu family line, I cannot marry a defiled girl." Fu Xunzhi gently interrupted her.
Gu Shuang was stunned for a moment, suddenly feeling that this usually honest man was very unfamiliar.
"Do you know how much damage your evasion has caused to my reputation?"
"Fourth young lady, that night, I saw with my own eyes you lying naked on Mu Nanfeng's bed."
"So that night, when you took that step back, you had already demonstrated your attitude towards me. In your eyes, you already felt I was defiled and unworthy of you..."
"Yes..."
Gu Shuang parted her lips, and the last glimmer of light in her eyes was completely extinguished.
He didn't even bother to ask her if she was okay.
She was speechless for a long time, and finally looking at the man's unwavering gaze, she sighed and said, "I see..."
Her tone was unprecedentedly weak and powerless.
There was nothing more to say between them.
She picked up her skirt, preparing to leave this place.
When she reached the door, she thought of something again, turned her head to look at the man who was still standing in the shadows, smiled and said, "Let's end our engagement here. Tomorrow, I will have my mother go to the Fu family to cancel the engagement and return all the betrothal gifts sent by the Fu family. But there is one thing I still want to say. Young Master Fu, as a man, you should stand tall and upright. I don't want you to still be hiding at Miss Shang's home when we cancel the engagement tomorrow."
Fu Xunzhi suddenly felt extremely embarrassed.
"Oh right." Gu Shuang stretched out her fair and delicate little hand, and said softly again, "Young master, may I have my purse back?"
Fu Xunzhi's heart ached dully, and he looked at her pleadingly. "Shuang'er..."
Gu Shuang said helplessly, "Young master should call me Fourth Young Lady from now on."
Fu Xunzhi took down the purse, his heart writhing as if sliced by knives. His eyes were sore and swollen as he awkwardly explained, "Miss Shang and I are innocent. I just...didn't know how to face it, so I stayed here for a few days..."
"That is the young master's own business and is irrelevant to Gu Shuang." Gu Shuang took the purse and put it in her sleeve. She politely bowed, "We shall take our leave first. Please stay, Young Master."
Fu Xunzhi's expression was complicated as he chased forward a few steps.
But he was stopped by Yin Lan raising her hand. Yin Lan smiled and bowed politely, saying loudly, "Young Master Fu, please restrain yourself."
Fu Xunzhi froze as he watched Gu Shuang get into the carriage under Gu Ying's lead.
He desperately wanted to call Gu Shuang back...
To tell her not to cancel the engagement, that he did love her, and was willing to marry her.
But the sight of her bruised body that night surfaced in his mind again, unable to erase it from his head no matter what.
He hated Mu Nanfeng, and hated his own cowardice and uselessness!
But what else could he do?
He still couldn't get over it.
He loved Gu Shuang, but was also unable to accept the fact that she had lost her chastity. This matter was unsolvable from the start.
But if they really cancelled the engagement, how would she manage?
The gossip in Kaifeng alone could drown her. She wouldn't be able to marry anyone else in the future either. He suddenly became afraid, afraid that his Shuang'er would lose her life because of this.
The carriage left Chunyang Lane, and the originally bustling courtyard instantly quieted down again.
Fu Xunzhi stood in his original spot with his mind in turmoil. His eyes were bloodshot and he had a grieved and lost expression.
Shang Jiao walked over out of concern and held his trembling large hand. "Young Master Fu, actually I can see that you two are not suitable for each other."
Fu Xunzhi suddenly felt irritated. He angrily shook her hand off and evaded her touch like she was the plague. "It's none of your business."
After saying that, he left.
Shang Jiao didn't expect the usually even-tempered Fu Xunzhi to have such a tough side as well.
She was stunned for a moment, recalling what that man had told her, "Fu Xunzhi is your true destiny. You and him are a match made in heaven. As long as you marry him, you will definitely have a blissful life."
A blissful life?
Why didn't it seem that way now?
She could feel that Fu Xunzhi truly loved Gu Shuang, but was unable to marry her due to certain reasons.
Connecting that to his sorrowful and worried expression these days, and occasionally calling out in dreams...
Could it be... Gu Shuang really was violated and even pregnant like the rumors said?
Shang Jiao suddenly covered her mouth as her eyeballs rolled around rapidly in thought.
She actually didn't like Fu Xunzhi much. After all, this man was plain-looking and had no merits other than a gentle temperament.
Among all the talented scholars in Kaifeng, Fu Xunzhi couldn't even be considered outstanding, let alone the best.
And he was a stubborn bookworm too.
The only reason she paid attention to him was because of that young master surnamed Jiang. He told her, "With your status, you can only be a lowly merchant woman your whole life. If you can climb up the ranks to Fu Xunzhi, you will be a government official's wife. Fu Xunzhi has an easily manipulated personality, and he is also extremely fond of you. When you become the wife of an official, no one in Kaifeng will look down on you in the future. The Fu family is rich and can also help support your family."
She didn't care about love or affection. She was tempted by the convenience of marrying an official to do business.
Her dream was to become the richest woman in Eastern Liang, owning the biggest restaurant and becoming the wealthiest female boss.
In order to make Fu Xunzhi hopelessly devoted to her, she couldn't let his old feelings with Gu Shuang rekindle.
Thinking thus, she closed the room door and walked out cheerfully with high spirits.
Before long, the news of the Fourth Young Lady of the Earl of Dongping sneaking into Chunyang Lane to catch her lover having an affair spread swiftly as if growing wings.
...
All the way, Gu Shuang's eyes were red but she pressed her lips shut without speaking.
Gu Ying gazed at her pitiful aggrieved little face, her eyes flickering as she realized something. She held her hand with one hand while comforting her, "It's good to make things clear. This prevents lingering attachments and dissatisfaction in both your hearts. However, my fourth sister performed extremely well today. Second sister is truly impressed."
Although she spoke thus, she truly regretted playing matchmaker for her fourth sister and Fu Xunzhi initially.
She just never expected Fu Xunzhi to be this kind of person.
In their past life he was clearly an upright gentleman. Why had he now become such an unfaithful, irresponsible, gutless coward?
Where exactly had things gone wrong?
This was an extremely affirmative statement that she had come up with after tossing and turning sleeplessly for a long time.
Fu Xunzhi looked up, his eyes reddening, "I'm sorry..."
Gu Shuang got this expected answer, her throat felt as if it was blocked by a wad of cotton, stuffy and flustered.
She raised her head, blinked her slightly reddened eyes, and fiercely forced back the tears that were about to spill out of those eyes.
She had originally wanted to tell him the truth that she was still a virgin, but now she felt there was no need for that anymore.
"Actually..." she smiled, "you can tell me your thoughts straightforwardly. There is nothing in this world that cannot be discussed—"
"But I am the only descendant of the Fu family line, I cannot marry a defiled girl." Fu Xunzhi gently interrupted her.
Gu Shuang was stunned for a moment, suddenly feeling that this usually honest man was very unfamiliar.
"Do you know how much damage your evasion has caused to my reputation?"
"Fourth young lady, that night, I saw with my own eyes you lying naked on Mu Nanfeng's bed."
"So that night, when you took that step back, you had already demonstrated your attitude towards me. In your eyes, you already felt I was defiled and unworthy of you..."
"Yes..."
Gu Shuang parted her lips, and the last glimmer of light in her eyes was completely extinguished.
He didn't even bother to ask her if she was okay.
She was speechless for a long time, and finally looking at the man's unwavering gaze, she sighed and said, "I see..."
Her tone was unprecedentedly weak and powerless.
There was nothing more to say between them.
She picked up her skirt, preparing to leave this place.
When she reached the door, she thought of something again, turned her head to look at the man who was still standing in the shadows, smiled and said, "Let's end our engagement here. Tomorrow, I will have my mother go to the Fu family to cancel the engagement and return all the betrothal gifts sent by the Fu family. But there is one thing I still want to say. Young Master Fu, as a man, you should stand tall and upright. I don't want you to still be hiding at Miss Shang's home when we cancel the engagement tomorrow."
Fu Xunzhi suddenly felt extremely embarrassed.
"Oh right." Gu Shuang stretched out her fair and delicate little hand, and said softly again, "Young master, may I have my purse back?"
Fu Xunzhi's heart ached dully, and he looked at her pleadingly. "Shuang'er..."
Gu Shuang said helplessly, "Young master should call me Fourth Young Lady from now on."
Fu Xunzhi took down the purse, his heart writhing as if sliced by knives. His eyes were sore and swollen as he awkwardly explained, "Miss Shang and I are innocent. I just...didn't know how to face it, so I stayed here for a few days..."
"That is the young master's own business and is irrelevant to Gu Shuang." Gu Shuang took the purse and put it in her sleeve. She politely bowed, "We shall take our leave first. Please stay, Young Master."
Fu Xunzhi's expression was complicated as he chased forward a few steps.
But he was stopped by Yin Lan raising her hand. Yin Lan smiled and bowed politely, saying loudly, "Young Master Fu, please restrain yourself."
Fu Xunzhi froze as he watched Gu Shuang get into the carriage under Gu Ying's lead.
He desperately wanted to call Gu Shuang back...
To tell her not to cancel the engagement, that he did love her, and was willing to marry her.
But the sight of her bruised body that night surfaced in his mind again, unable to erase it from his head no matter what.
He hated Mu Nanfeng, and hated his own cowardice and uselessness!
But what else could he do?
He still couldn't get over it.
He loved Gu Shuang, but was also unable to accept the fact that she had lost her chastity. This matter was unsolvable from the start.
But if they really cancelled the engagement, how would she manage?
The gossip in Kaifeng alone could drown her. She wouldn't be able to marry anyone else in the future either. He suddenly became afraid, afraid that his Shuang'er would lose her life because of this.
The carriage left Chunyang Lane, and the originally bustling courtyard instantly quieted down again.
Fu Xunzhi stood in his original spot with his mind in turmoil. His eyes were bloodshot and he had a grieved and lost expression.
Shang Jiao walked over out of concern and held his trembling large hand. "Young Master Fu, actually I can see that you two are not suitable for each other."
Fu Xunzhi suddenly felt irritated. He angrily shook her hand off and evaded her touch like she was the plague. "It's none of your business."
After saying that, he left.
Shang Jiao didn't expect the usually even-tempered Fu Xunzhi to have such a tough side as well.
She was stunned for a moment, recalling what that man had told her, "Fu Xunzhi is your true destiny. You and him are a match made in heaven. As long as you marry him, you will definitely have a blissful life."
A blissful life?
Why didn't it seem that way now?
She could feel that Fu Xunzhi truly loved Gu Shuang, but was unable to marry her due to certain reasons.
Connecting that to his sorrowful and worried expression these days, and occasionally calling out in dreams...
Could it be... Gu Shuang really was violated and even pregnant like the rumors said?
Shang Jiao suddenly covered her mouth as her eyeballs rolled around rapidly in thought.
She actually didn't like Fu Xunzhi much. After all, this man was plain-looking and had no merits other than a gentle temperament.
Among all the talented scholars in Kaifeng, Fu Xunzhi couldn't even be considered outstanding, let alone the best.
And he was a stubborn bookworm too.
The only reason she paid attention to him was because of that young master surnamed Jiang. He told her, "With your status, you can only be a lowly merchant woman your whole life. If you can climb up the ranks to Fu Xunzhi, you will be a government official's wife. Fu Xunzhi has an easily manipulated personality, and he is also extremely fond of you. When you become the wife of an official, no one in Kaifeng will look down on you in the future. The Fu family is rich and can also help support your family."
She didn't care about love or affection. She was tempted by the convenience of marrying an official to do business.
Her dream was to become the richest woman in Eastern Liang, owning the biggest restaurant and becoming the wealthiest female boss.
In order to make Fu Xunzhi hopelessly devoted to her, she couldn't let his old feelings with Gu Shuang rekindle.
Thinking thus, she closed the room door and walked out cheerfully with high spirits.
Before long, the news of the Fourth Young Lady of the Earl of Dongping sneaking into Chunyang Lane to catch her lover having an affair spread swiftly as if growing wings.
...
All the way, Gu Shuang's eyes were red but she pressed her lips shut without speaking.
Gu Ying gazed at her pitiful aggrieved little face, her eyes flickering as she realized something. She held her hand with one hand while comforting her, "It's good to make things clear. This prevents lingering attachments and dissatisfaction in both your hearts. However, my fourth sister performed extremely well today. Second sister is truly impressed."
Although she spoke thus, she truly regretted playing matchmaker for her fourth sister and Fu Xunzhi initially.
She just never expected Fu Xunzhi to be this kind of person.
In their past life he was clearly an upright gentleman. Why had he now become such an unfaithful, irresponsible, gutless coward?
Where exactly had things gone wrong?
