Marrying for someone else and being a widow? Stepmothers open classes to raise children

Chapter 58 Accountability

Gu Zhiping's eyes widened. She couldn't accept what Gu Zhiyi said. She waved her arms angrily and shouted, "You...you...you are totally unreasonable!"

Gu Zhongyu looked at the two of them, and became more and more angry. He slammed the table heavily and shouted, "Enough! Zhiping, you are going too far! Zhiyi is your sister, how can you be so rude to her!"

Gu Zhiping was frightened by Gu Zhongyu's scolding. She widened her eyes and looked at Gu Zhongyu in disbelief.

She thought her father would stand on her side, but she didn't expect to be treated like this.

Gu Zhiyi looked at Gu Zhiping and said softly, "Father, forget it. Zhiping might just be in a bad mood, that's why she said such things."

Gu Zhongyu looked at Gu Zhiyi deeply, then he sighed and shook his head. He looked at Gu Zhiping and said in a serious tone: "Zhiping, you must remember that respecting others is the most basic principle no matter when and where. If you continue to be so rude, don't blame me for not being polite anymore."

Gu Zhiping's face turned pale. She looked at Gu Zhongyu with a hint of fear in her eyes. What her father said was true. She bit her lip and said nothing more.

Gu Zhiyi watched this scene and became more resolute in her decision. She stood up and said to Gu Zhongyu, "Father, I have something to deal with, so I'm leaving first. Enjoy your meal."

Gu Zhongyu nodded, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes. Gu Zhiyi's personality has always been like this, once she makes a decision, no one can change it.

"Zhiyi, wait a minute, I have something to say." Gu Zhongyu looked at his daughter, with a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

Zhiyi stopped and turned to look at her father.

Gu Zhongyu sighed deeply, with a look of indescribable complex emotions in his eyes. He spoke slowly, his voice low and serious: "Zhiyi, I have thought about your mother for a long time. Next month is the anniversary of her death. I think our family should go to pay tribute to her together, so that she can feel the warmth of her family in the afterlife."

Zhiyi was slightly stunned. She felt that this topic would come up sooner or later, but she didn't expect it to be so soon. She nodded gently, saying calmly, "I understand, father. I will go with you to worship mother when the time comes."

Gu Zhongyu looked at his daughter's reaction and felt a little moved. He understood her resistance, but he also understood that this was an opportunity to repair the father-daughter relationship. He continued, "Actually, I have another thing I want to talk to you about. Over the years, our relationship has become increasingly distant, and I'm sorry. I know that many things are my fault, but I really hope to have the opportunity to reestablish a good father-daughter relationship with you."

Zhiyi's eyes flickered with a wave. She looked at her father with mixed emotions in her heart. She did not answer immediately, but was silent for a while before she slowly spoke: "Father, I know you have been working hard, and I have been trying too. But some things cannot be changed overnight. I need time, and I also need your understanding."

Gu Zhongyu nodded, he understood what his daughter meant. He took a deep breath and said, "I'll give you time, but please give me a chance. During this worship, I want to be alone with you and have a good chat. Perhaps, this is an opportunity for us to get to know each other again."

Zhiyi was silent for a while, and finally nodded gently: "Okay, father. I will accompany you when the time is right."

Gu Zhongyu's face turned pale, his palm paused in the air for a moment, and then he swung it down without hesitation, a crisp slap echoing in the courtyard of the Duke's Mansion. A bright red slap mark immediately appeared on Gu Zhiping's face, and her eyes were instantly filled with tears.

Gu Zhongyu looked at her coldly, his voice full of unquestionable majesty: "What are you doing? Why are you so rude?"

Gu Zhiping covered her beaten face, tears welling up in her eyes, but she tried hard not to let them fall. She bit her lip, her voice trembling, "Father, I... I'm just not happy that she took the maids away. That was too much!"

Gu Zhongyu's eyes widened, anger flashing in his eyes: "Excessive? Do you know what you are talking about? Zhiyi is the mistress of the Duke's Mansion. Her status is far more noble than yours. What qualifications do you have to blame her?"

Gu Zhiping couldn't hold back her tears and she sobbed, "But...but she was so gentle and kind before, why did she become like this now?"

Gu Zhiping choked up and said, "I...I know I'm not as good as my sister, but after all, I was the one who proposed the marriage exchange first."

Gu Zhongyu snorted coldly: "Are you asking me to hold you accountable? What do you think marriage exchange is? That is your sister's lifelong happiness. What qualifications do you have to make the decision on your own?"

Gu Zhiping lowered her head and dared not to argue anymore.

Gu Zhongyu walked up to her, put his hands on his hips, and looked at her fiercely: "Do you think the Duke's Mansion will easily accept a woman like you? What do you think you have? Your sister's talent and character, in which aspect are you not even close to?"

Gu Zhiping's tears rolled down and she raised her head with unwillingness flashing in her eyes.

Shen Jilian's eyes were cold, full of disappointment and confusion. He looked at Gu Zhiping standing there, his tone firm and indifferent: "Gu Zhiping, do you think your little tricks can fool me? Do you think your lies can change everything? I tell you, it's impossible! Get out of here immediately, I don't want to see you again."

Gu Zhiping's face turned pale. She looked at Shen Jilian in panic, her lips trembling. She wanted to say something, but in the end she just bit her lips silently. At this moment, Shen Jilian no longer believed her. In his eyes, her explanation was just a weak excuse.

"Ji Lian, listen to my explanation. Things are not what you think. I..." Gu Zhiping tried to take a step forward, but Shen Ji Lian's cold gaze made her retreat.

Shen Jilian interrupted her coldly: "Gu Zhiping, do you think that I will be grateful to you for taking the initiative to exchange marriages? Do you think that what you have done can impress me? I tell you, you are wrong! You are just playing a game that you think is clever, and the ending of the game will only make you pay the price."

Gu Zhiping's tears welled up in her eyes. She looked at Shen Jilian painfully: "Jilian, I... I just hope to help you. I... I'm really not what you think."

Shen Jilian sneered: "Do you think you are helping me? You are wrong, you are just satisfying your own vanity. You think you can control everything, but in fact, you are just a chess piece being controlled by others."

Gu Zhiping's body trembled, and she finally understood that Shen Jilian no longer believed in her. All her explanations were just excuses in his eyes.

"Ji Lian, I..." Gu Zhiping wanted to say something, but Shen Ji Lian had turned around and no longer looked at her.

"Get out, I don't want to see you again." Shen Jilian's voice was cold and firm.