Chapter 248: Gossip Moment

Unbeknownst to Fang Zhou and Qiao Sisi, their tangled emotions were being observed by Fang Wenjing.

She quietly retreated a few steps, hiding back in the bathroom, instinct telling her it was best not to interrupt them now.

The fourth person in the house, Aunt Wei, was just as perceptive. She silently picked up the freshly washed dishes and began washing them again.

Who doesn’t like gossip? But years of experience working for her employers had taught her it was best to stay silent to avoid trouble.

Aunt Wei silently lit a candle for Fang Zhou in her heart, thinking he was in big trouble.

This woman, with her trendy clothes, exquisite makeup, and strong aura, was clearly not an easy person to deal with.

But Fang Zhou was handsome enough to match such a beauty.

Fang Zhou, however, felt deeply troubled. He recalled Li Siming’s words, “Surrounded by beautiful women, you’ve got it good, don’t you?”

Li Siming had no idea. Fang Zhou wasn’t just surrounded by beautiful women, but by psychopathic ex-girlfriends.

Qiao Sisi’s question hit like a hammer, resonating loudly, impossible to ignore.

Her gaze was piercing, as if trying to see into his soul.

Fang Zhou met her gaze without fear, his eyes just as sharp, as if probing her deepest thoughts.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze, their gazes locked, the world around them blurred.

In her deep eyes, Fang Zhou saw a mix of emotions—anger, dissatisfaction, and the pain of being misunderstood.

These emotions surged like a flood, threatening to burst free.

So intense were these feelings that they moved anyone who saw them.

“I… I’m sorry.”

The explanation that had reached his lips was swallowed back by Fang Zhou.

He hadn’t left without a word, but his exit was poorly handled, leaving Qiao Sisi upset.

If he could turn back time, he would properly say goodbye to Qiao Sisi.

But the world doesn’t offer many chances for “what if.”

“Now, words are useless. I believe you’re not lacking in material compensation, so please look forward and live well.”

“You have many more years ahead, three, four, even five.”

There was no need to waste time on him. Fang Zhou truly believed this.

Having escaped the quagmire and stepped onto a bright path, why did his ex-girlfriends keep looking back at those less-than-spectacular old times?

Especially at the less-than-stellar version of himself that lived in those old times.

Fang Zhou could already imagine the uproar if, someday, the internet exposed his ex-girlfriends as the four female guests from the dating show.

Netizens would harshly criticize him, calling him a fool, a dirty, smelly stone in a latrine.

While they would be seen as dazzling stars, unreachable high peaks.

Fang Zhou never underestimated the worst assumptions of netizens.

His only real fear was that if his private life were exposed, his sister might suffer online abuse.

So, Fang Zhou didn’t want that day to come.

Even though events often unfolded uncontrollably, like a tide.

You never know from which direction the flood will come, you can only prepare in advance and face it calmly.

Qiao Sisi listened, then laughed coldly.

Her face was almost pale—maybe from a sleepless night, or from Fang Zhou’s words.

She slowly let go of Fang Zhou, moving her hand to the table, tapping it repeatedly.

Her gaze wandered, lost in thought.

In reality, she felt an itch in her hands, wanting something to silence Fang Zhou.

If she could, she’d even make him take a vow of silence, so he couldn’t say such hurtful things.

But today’s timing and location were wrong; saying more would only make her a laughingstock.

Finally, Qiao Sisi lowered her gaze, picking up a piece of fruit with her long, slender fingers.

It seemed an instinctive action, done without hesitation.

She slowly bit into the fruit, the juice spreading through her mouth with a faint sweetness.

This sweetness seemed to pierce her inner darkness, offering some comfort.

Yet, the sudden emptiness inside her didn’t dissipate.

It was like a bottomless pit, impossible to fill no matter how hard she tried.

So, she chewed the fruit silently, trying to distract herself from her anxiety and loneliness.

She felt like she was back in her childhood hunger.

Back then, her mother was severely beaten, unable to cook.

Her father became a drunk, incapable of making meals.

So young Qiao Sisi could only cry for her mother by the bed, hungry.

When starvation became unbearable, she’d drink more water and fall asleep by her mother’s bedside.

Seeing Qiao Sisi quiet, Fang Zhou thought she had come to terms.

He relaxed, his body easing.

He even moved the fruit platter closer to her.

“The watermelon is good, have some.”

If possible, he wanted peace.

If they could just sit and talk calmly, that would be nice.

No more stabbings and stone throwings, too intense.

Qiao Sisi said nothing, lost in her world.

Her vacant gaze on the fruit platter played scenes of her mother’s cruel treatment in her mind.

Why did her mother stay despite such abuse?

Why couldn’t she give up on Fang Zhou despite his cruelty?

Does deep love always lead to betrayal?

Must deeply loved ones become immobile and silent to avoid rejection?