Chapter 473 - 463: Stay

"Sister-in-law, my dad’s out of town for the next few days. He won’t be back for a little while. Since he isn’t home, it’s not really appropriate for you to stay here. How about this—why don’t you come stay at my house for now? When my dad returns, I’ll bring you to see him. You can say what you need to say to him then."

Gu’er really had no other option but to placate Liu Fang for the time being. She needed to discuss this with Lin Shan and Sun Jiaming to come up with a plan. If her father, Lin Shan, didn’t hold the position he did, this would be simple to resolve. But given his status, they couldn’t afford any scandal.

Liu Fang stared at Gu’er, as if trying to figure out if she was being deceived.

She knew Lin Shan wasn’t in the city. She had already gone to the government building to look for him, but the gatekeeper told her he was away at a meeting. It was only after asking for directions that she finally found the Lin Family’s residence and made her way here.

But Gu’er was telling her to go over to her place... No, absolutely not. Liu Fang shook her head to herself. ’I’m not going anywhere. I’ll wait right here for Lin Shan to return. I don’t trust Gu’er. That Chen Fengjiao may not have a nice word to say to me, but I think she’s easy enough to handle. But this Gu’er... I’m afraid of her. She knows exactly what I’m implying, but she doesn’t get angry. On the contrary, she keeps trying to arrange things for me. Gu’er is a tough one. I can’t be alone with her. Who knows what kind of nasty trick she’s cooking up to screw me over.’

"No, thank you. I’ll just wait for Brother Lin right here."

Liu Fang shook her head at Gu’er.

"You really plan on mooching off our family, don’t you? You want to live in our house? I’ll tell you what, I’m not dead yet. Don’t even dream of moving in here."

Chen Fengjiao had never met anyone so shameless.

"I know you don’t like me, Ma’am. I... I won’t be a bother to you anymore. I’ll just take Chun Ya and find somewhere to get by for a couple of nights. As long as we don’t freeze to death, I’m sure we can wait for Brother Lin to return. By the way, on my way up, I believe I saw a bicycle shed downstairs."

Liu Fang’s meaning was perfectly clear: if they wouldn’t let her stay in the apartment, fine. She wasn’t going anywhere else. There was a bicycle shed downstairs, and she would take her child there. If people asked what was going on, or if her daughter got sick from the cold, she couldn’t promise she’d be able to keep her mouth shut. Then the gossip would be all about the Lin Family. She was betting that Chen Fengjiao and Lin Gu’er wouldn’t dare let her stay in a bicycle shed. And even if they truly didn’t care, she was willing to follow through. As long as she didn’t freeze to death, she would hold out until the very end.

"Go wherever the hell you want! What’s it to me? Just get out of my sight."

Chen Fengjiao retorted angrily.

Liu Fang said nothing in response. She simply stood up, took Chun Ya’s hand, and bowed to Chen Fengjiao. "Thank you for the porridge, Ma’am. We apologize for the trouble we’ve caused."

With that, she pulled Chun Ya toward the door.

"Mama, where are we going?"

Chun Ya asked, looking up at her mother.

"We can’t stay here. That auntie doesn’t like us. We’re going to stay in the bicycle shed downstairs. If they don’t let us stay there, we’ll just sleep on the bench outside. Don’t you worry, Yaya. We have a blanket. Mama won’t let you freeze."

Liu Fang knelt and answered her daughter with grave sincerity.

"But we only have one blanket. What about you, Mama? We don’t have any food, either. Can Yaya still come back here for that yummy porridge?"

Chun Ya asked her mother innocently. That bowl of porridge had clearly made a lasting impression.

"Yaya, it’s because Mama is useless. I’ve failed you. We have no money and nothing to eat, and now you have to go hungry and cold with me. It’s all my fault. Please don’t blame me."

Liu Fang pulled her daughter into a hug and burst into tears.

"Yaya doesn’t blame Mama."

The sensible little girl used her small hands to wipe away Liu Fang’s tears.

"You have such a good daughter. Are you sure you want to go down this path? Even if it ultimately hurts her?"

Gu’er watched them. ’This child is so understanding, it breaks your heart. She’s a hundred times better than Zhang Juan ever was. If Liu Fang were truly acting in her daughter’s best interest, I would genuinely be willing to help her find a job so she could raise the child. The girl is innocent, after all. But if Liu Fang is determined to see this through to the bitter end, no matter what, then whatever consequences she faces, she’ll have no one to blame but herself.’

Liu Fang glanced at Gu’er. She wiped her tears, stood up straight, and said, "She was born my daughter. Whatever happens, that is her fate. Everything I’m doing now is for her own good."

With that said, Liu Fang pulled Chun Ya toward the door where her luggage was waiting. It seemed she was really about to go make a bed for herself on the floor downstairs.

This woman was beyond listening to reason.

"Gu’er! Gu’er, what do we do? If she really goes downstairs and sets up camp with a blanket, what about the neighbors on our floor, upstairs, and downstairs? There are so many gossips! They’ll say all sorts of terrible things, and we’ll be too ashamed to show our faces! I’m worried this will cause trouble for your father, too."

As much as Chen Fengjiao despised Liu Fang, the sight of her actually about to camp out downstairs sent her into a panic. She couldn’t bear the humiliation.

Gu’er knew Liu Fang was capable of following through. For now, they had no choice but to let her stay. But she absolutely could not be allowed to remain in the house long-term. ’This has to be solved before Dad gets back.’

"Sister-in-law, wait."

Gu’er called out to stop Liu Fang.

Liu Fang had just reached the door and picked up her luggage. Hearing Gu’er, she let out an inward sigh of relief. While she had been fully prepared to go hungry and cold downstairs, she would much rather stay in the apartment if she could.

"Since you insist on waiting here for my dad, Sister-in-law, then please stay. It’s freezing out there; we can’t let you suffer in the cold. An adult might be able to handle it, but a child certainly can’t."

Gu’er spoke.

Chen Fengjiao opened her mouth to object, but no words came out.

"Mama, that auntie said we can stay. She’ll give us yummy porridge."

Chun Ya was overjoyed. She tugged at the corner of Liu Fang’s shirt and pointed at Gu’er, her small face alight with happiness.

"Yaya, you must call her Sister."

Liu Fang corrected Chun Ya’s term of address.

Chun Ya tilted her head in confusion. ’Shouldn’t a married woman Gu’er’s age be called Auntie? Why Sister?’

Gu’er understood what Liu Fang was doing. She just smiled, unconcerned. ’A relationship can’t be changed by a mere title,’ she thought. It was just like how Liu Fang insisted on calling Chen Fengjiao ’Ma’am,’ and wanted Chun Ya to call Gu’er ’Sister,’ while Gu’er, in turn, addressed Liu Fang as ’Sister-in-law.’

"Mom, why don’t you go rest for a while? Since Sister-in-law is staying, she can find a place to settle in herself. I’m sure she won’t cause any trouble. I have to head back home—Jiji is probably hungry. I’ll come back tonight after I feed him."

Gu’er stood up as she finished speaking.

Liu Fang looked at her but said nothing.

Gu’er called Sun Jiaming, and they went to the door together.

"Gu’er, I... I’m scared to be here alone with her."

Chen Fengjiao grabbed Gu’er’s hand, not wanting her to leave. She couldn’t bear the thought of facing Liu Fang alone.

"Mom, I need to go make arrangements. You don’t actually want her to stay here, do you? I have to call Dad, and I also need to have someone look into this Liu Fang’s background. We need to find a way to get her to leave. It’s not good for her to be here. I’ll come back once I’ve sorted things out."

Gu’er patted Chen Fengjiao’s hand, whispering.

"Right, right. You’d better go quickly, then."

Chen Fengjiao finally understood what Gu’er was planning. She released her daughter’s hand, gesturing for her to hurry and get things arranged.

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