When Madam Zhou's letter arrived at the Bai residence, Old Master Bai frowned upon reading its contents and quickly wrote a reply, instructing her not to return home and to remain where she was.
The very next day, upon returning to his manor, he encountered his daughter, who greeted him with a cheerful smile. Having not seen her for years, he was suddenly struck by a disconcerting aura about her.
Seeing her father frozen, Madam Zhou hurried forward, looking up at him triumphantly. She pouted and said, "Father, why are you so stunned to see me? Are you overjoyed? Do you like the surprise I've brought you?"
Old Master Bai felt a pang in his chest, more like a shock. He quickly regained his composure and smiled, "Since you're back, spend more time with your mother."
Madam Zhou felt a deep sense of disappointment that her father didn't linger to speak with her, unlike in the past. She secretly wiped away tears where no one could see.
The Grand Imperial Son-in-Law was having dinner with some colleagues when he casually glanced out the window and was so startled that he almost dropped his chopsticks. He sheepishly addressed the group, "My apologies, everyone. I've just remembered a crucial matter I haven't attended to. The bill is on me, I must leave now."
Without waiting for their reactions, he made a hasty exit, leaving the others looking at each other in bewilderment.
Upon meeting, Madam Zhou remarked, "After so many years, your habits haven't changed. You always like to come here to eat. It seems you still can't forget me, you're not as heartless as you say."
The Grand Imperial Son-in-Law immediately interjected, "Stop, stop, stop. Where else would I eat if not here? The food here is the most famous in the capital. Didn't I tell you in my letter that we should no longer contact each other? If I'm not mistaken, you came here specifically to wait for me today, didn't you?"
"Of course, otherwise how could I see you?" Madam Zhou gazed at him tenderly. She had already noticed someone peeking from the private room where the Grand Imperial Son-in-Law had been dining. She deliberately took a step closer.
"What do you want with me? And please stop looking at me like that. I've investigated you, and I know you have many 'friends' in the south. Your current demeanor makes me nauseous." The Grand Imperial Son-in-Law, seeing that the woman seemed not to understand his words, tried to be as harsh as possible, hoping to sever ties with her completely.
Madam Zhou's body stiffened upon hearing this, but she then nonchalantly replied, "That was all a misunderstanding. I just felt they looked a bit like you. Seeing them was like seeing you. You know, when a woman meets a man several times, people start to speculate. Besides, we have children together. Though our son is gone, we still have our daughter. After more than a decade, my love for you has only grown."
"It is precisely because of our past that I am warning you to stay far away from me in the future, or I will not be polite. Isn't it better for us to live our own lives?" The Grand Imperial Son-in-Law, sensing she might cling to him, threatened.
"How can you be so heartless? Don't you know what I've been through these past years? How can you bear to treat me like this?" As she spoke, she feigned a stumble and fell into his arms.
The Grand Imperial Son-in-Law, fumbling to help her up, glanced around. Seeing that no one was paying them attention, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Madam Zhou inwardly sneered at his reaction. This was just the beginning; the real show was yet to come.
The Grand Imperial Son-in-Law felt that one cannot wake someone who is pretending to be asleep. If he continued talking to her, he feared he might get entangled himself. He tried to escape while warning her to keep her distance.
Unfortunately, his threats had no effect on the now fearless Madam Zhou. The next time he saw her, the Grand Imperial Son-in-Law felt his head start to ache. He then walked past her, pretending not to recognize her.
Madam Zhou wouldn't give him that chance. She loudly exclaimed, "Grand Imperial Son-in-Law, I've come to discuss our daughter's matters with you."
Without even looking, the Grand Imperial Son-in-Law knew that people around them would be looking at him with astonished eyes. He forced a smile and said, "Madam Zhou, you are truly joking. We haven't been in contact for over a decade. You don't care about your reputation, but I do."
As he spoke, he signaled to her. Madam Zhou shrugged indifferently and said, "The usual place."
With that, she made a graceful exit under the watchful eyes of the crowd. The Grand Imperial Son-in-Law, somewhat embarrassed, said to those around him, "I don't know what Madam Zhou is thinking, spouting such nonsense."
The servants quickly lowered their heads, trying to be inconspicuous. Initially, they had felt the situation was fabricated, but if their senses were correct, the Imperial Son-in-Law was explaining their relationship to them, which only seemed to be a case of protesting too much.
After walking a short distance, the Grand Imperial Son-in-Law seemed to remember something and said to the servant beside him, "Continue to the next shop to select a gift for the First Princess. I've just remembered I have many things to do."
Once he saw them enter the next shop, the Grand Imperial Son-in-Law quickly slipped away. He navigated through twists and turns to a small tavern. Upon entering, he saw Madam Zhou sitting there at her leisure.
He sat down with some anger, poured himself a cup of tea, and gulped it down, which somewhat soothed his irritation.
"Speak. How can I prevent you from disturbing my life?" The Grand Imperial Son-in-Law looked at her with disdain.
He had once admired her boldness and decisiveness, but now he felt she was no different from those vain women who sought to latch onto him.
"This is truly hurtful. How could you think I'm approaching you with ulterior motives? Can't it be that I wish to rekindle our old flame?" Madam Zhou clutched her chest, looking at him with feigned anguish.
"You haven't thought of rekindling our flame for all these years, and now you're saying this? Do you expect me to believe you?" The Grand Imperial Son-in-Law retorted sarcastically.
"I never imagined you would see me this way. I guess I misjudged you. I won't bother you again. Could you give me a farewell hug, just to mark a perfect end to our encounter?" Madam Zhou looked at him with expectant eyes.
The Grand Imperial Son-in-Law nervously glanced around. Discovering that they were the only patrons in the small tavern, he breathed a sigh of relief and gently refused, "It's enough to have our words clear. There's no need for actions that might cause misunderstandings."
Madam Zhou's tears immediately fell. With a wronged expression, she said, "We've done more intimate things than this before. What's one more time? From now on, we'll be strangers. Can't you even grant me this last wish?"