Chapter 476 - 465: Wrong (Part 2)

Gu’er sighed.

"So what should we do? We can’t just let her live here, can we? If she really stays, Mom will go crazy sooner or later. That woman is nothing but trouble, and she’s very good at putting on an act. I’m afraid we’ll all be manipulated by her eventually. I don’t want her to tear our perfectly good family apart."

Lin Sui’er asked Gu’er.

"Of course she can’t stay. I’ve already thought of a plan, but I still need to discuss it with Dad and get his opinion. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it."

Gu’er reassured Sui’er.

"You’re the best, Sis. Okay, I’ll listen to you. I won’t make a fuss anymore. I’m going to see Jiji. I miss him so much. You have no idea—he smiled at me last time, and it was the most adorable thing."

Lin Sui’er immediately felt relieved upon hearing Gu’er had a plan.

"Go on."

Gu’er patted her, and she headed back out. In the living room, Liu Fang and Chun Ya were sitting, as was Chen Fengjiao. No one was talking, and the atmosphere was awkward.

BRRRING, BRRRING. Just then, the telephone suddenly rang.

Chen Fengjiao answered the phone.

"Lin Shan, is your meeting over? What is it? You ask what’s wrong? This is all your doing, you—"

As Chen Fengjiao spoke, she grew angrier, her voice rising until she was shouting at Lin Shan.

"Mom, give me the phone."

Gu’er couldn’t stand it any longer. ’What’s the use of shouting now?’ she thought, reaching for the phone. With red-rimmed eyes, Chen Fengjiao handed it over and sat back down on the sofa, seething. Her gaze swept across the room and landed on Liu Fang. The woman’s eyes were wide, fixed on the phone with a look of clear anticipation.

’Shameless woman. Does she really expect my husband to come back and let her stay? In her dreams. As long as I, Chen Fengjiao, am still breathing, Liu Fang can forget about being Lin Shan’s mistress. I’ll never allow it.’

"Dad, Mom’s fine, don’t worry. Is your meeting over? Oh, good. I needed to talk to you. Are you alone? Good. It’s about something... you know Sister-in-law Liu, Liu Fang, the woman you mentioned last time? She’s here at our house."

Gu’er spoke softly to Lin Shan, not shouting and screaming like Chen Fengjiao had.

On the other end of the line, Lin Shan frowned slightly. ’Liu Fang is at my house? How did she find out where I live?’ He sympathized with Liu Fang, knowing she’d had a difficult life. Plus, because her features bore a slight resemblance to Chen Fengjiao, he had come to see her as a sort of younger sister. Before he left, he had even instructed some people to look after her, just to make sure she and her child could get by. He truly had no other intentions.

"Here’s what happened. You know how it snowed heavily a few days ago? Well, Sister-in-law Liu’s house was damaged. She said she couldn’t make a living there anymore and needed to find a way to survive, so she came to the city. She doesn’t know anyone else here, and since she thinks you’re a good person, Dad, she brought her child and came to find us. I offered to find her a job and let her stay at my place, but she said she doesn’t trust me—that she only trusts you. She wants to stay at our house and do chores, to serve you and Mom. But as you know, our household is simple. There isn’t much to do, and we don’t need the help. So, Mom... well, she wanted me to call and ask for your opinion."

Gu’er couldn’t speak too plainly with Liu Fang present, but she trusted her father to read between the lines.

Lin Shan fell silent, mulling over the meaning behind his daughter’s words. ’If Liu Fang was in trouble, she should have gone to the village chief or the township officials for help. I’d made it clear back then that as long as she asked, someone would help her. So why did she come all the way to the city, and how did she find my house directly?’

’Gu’er said she had offered to find her a job, even to lend her an apartment, but Liu Fang didn’t trust Gu’er and insisted on staying at my house to work.’

’If I really let her stay and work for us, what would people say?’

’No, that’s not right. There was more to what Gu’er was saying. And Chen Fengjiao... she’d yelled at me, saying this was all "my doing." She was obviously furious. Does she think Liu Fang is some woman I’ve been seeing on the side? But there’s nothing between me and Liu Fang!’

"Gu’er, what exactly does Liu Fang want?"

Lin Shan asked.

"She says that you saved her life and she has no way to repay you. She says she doesn’t need any official status... that she’ll accept any arrangement."

Gu’er replied.

Lin Shan understood instantly, a fire of anger igniting in his chest. ’What on earth is Liu Fang saying? What kind of person does she take me, Lin Shan, for? I helped her for a few reasons. First, I felt sorry for her; she was pitiful and couldn’t get by. Second, her report provided the pretext I needed to start investigating You Erbaihua, so I felt a trace of both gratitude and guilt toward her. The guilt came from the fact that her life had become harder after the incident, which is why I went out of my way to help her. Of course, there was another reason: I am a public official, and it’s my duty to help my people to the best of my ability.’