Chapter 223 - Winning Someone Over (1/2)

After exchanging a few words, Gu Fangzi could somewhat understand what kind of person Li Shi was. She chuckled to herself. How could she let this opportunity go? She hurriedly said with a smile, “Second Old Mistress Sang, you flatter me. Miss Gu this, Miss Gu that, don’t you find that too distant? My name is Gu Fangzi. If you don’t mind, you can just call me Fangzi! Please be merciful and forgive my servant!” She then gave another round of praise again.

“Alright, alright. Then I won’t be polite! Fangzi, hehe! This is much better. We sound more like relatives now! You don’t have to call me Second Old Mistress Sang as well. Just call me Aunt-in-law Sang!” When Gu Fangzi spoke highly of her, her body was itching with joy and it felt so light that she could fly to the sky.

Gu Fangzi grinned with her lips closed lightly and replied, “Aunt-in-law Sang still doesn’t sound intimate enough! I’ll call you Aunt Sang instead! And this is——”

“That will be good too!” Since Li Shi had lost herself in joy, why would she refuse? She felt that Gu Fangzi was simply a good person. When she saw her looking at Sang Yan, she hurriedly pushed Sang Yan forward and said with a smile, “This is my daughter, Sang Yan. She’s also the Young Mistress’s cousin! Ah Yan, quickly greet your cousin!”

Sang Yan had long been at a loss of what to do from being flustered. In front of Gu Fangzi who was resplendent, she felt a sense of inferiority and her hands and legs were stumped. When she was pushed forward by her mother, she became even more flustered and she fidgeted for a long while before greeting her cousin as softly as a mosquito.

Li Shi was unsatisfied with Sang Yan’s performance as she felt that she was simply disgraceful for being overcautious. As a result, Li Shi frowned and pinched Sang Yan’s wrist. Sang Yan clenched her teeth and tightened her fists in pain, and her eyes turned red from grievance as well.

“It’s fine!” Gu Fangzi smiled and held Sang Yan’s hand. She then observed her from head to toe before saying, “You don’t have to be nervous. I get along well with your cousin, so I’ll definitely get along well with you too! You look lovely and dotable. Since our first meeting came so suddenly, I wasn’t able to prepare anything nice for you. So please, accept this golden hibiscus hairpin. It’s a little gift from me!”

Once that was said, she took down her hairpin which was made of gold, the petals made of ruby, and the stamen made of pearls. She then intimately helped Sang Yan put it on.

Sang Yan wanted to refuse but no words could leave her mouth. Her body was stiff and she let Gu Fangzi put it on for her.

Li Shi’s eyes flickered at the sight of the sparkling golden hairpin. Its gems were flawless, bright and beautiful. She quietly guessed that the golden hairpin must be made with at least 50g of gold and wondered how much it must be worth. Since it was worn by Gu Fangzi, Li Shi was certain it wasn’t cheap!

Her smile was like a blooming flower and she repeatedly blurted how undeserving she was before she poked Sang Yan on the forehead using her finger. “What a silly girl. Quickly say your thanks!”

Sang Yan was deeply embarrassed and wished she could turn around and run off immediately. She hung her head and said timidly, “Thank you…”

“Aunt Sang and Sister Sang Yan, you don’t have to be so courteous!” Gu Fangzi said with a smile, “Since Aunt Sang seldom makes a trip here, it’s a pity that Sang Wan has gone out with my aunt to be a guest in another household. Who knows when they’ll be back! If Aunt Sang doesn’t mind, why don’t you come over to my place? Oh, right, has Aunt Sang had anything to eat yet?”

Li Shi accepted the invitation without a second thought. When Gu Fangzi asked whether she had eaten, she suddenly realized how hungry she was and promptly replied, “I was in a hurry and left early in the morning without having the time to eat yet!”

“I can’t possibly let Aunt Sang and Sister Sang Yan go hungry! Let’s hurry then. I’ll ask someone to prepare the food!” Gu Fangzi said as she went to hold onto Li Shi’s arm.

“Fangzi, what a nice person you are! Then we’ll be troubling you!”

“We’re relatives, there’s no trouble at all!” Gu Fangzi pursed her lips and smiled.

Gu Fangzi and Li Shi got along well so quickly that Liu Ya could not find any opportunity to interrupt them. Now that Gu Fangzi wanted to take Li Shi away, Liu Ya became anxious.

One was unscrupulous while the other was devious. If Gu Fangzi brought Li Shi to Peony Park2, who knew what they would talk about!

Liu Ya could not care less about her own image anymore. She hurried forth to stop them and said with a smile, “Second Old Mistress, Young Mistress might return soon. It’s best for you to follow me back to Ning Garden1 to wait for her!”

Li Shi never had a good impression of Liu Ya. Not only Liu Ya, even Gu Fangzi whom she fawned over as well. She envied and hated her. That ironic feeling of hers was unexplainable. She had met a rich young woman who respected and flattered her, and her vanity finally hit its peak. She loved and enjoyed such a feeling very much! How could she be willing to let it rest? As such, she replied, “Sang Wan still isn’t back yet, right? Since Fangzi has invited me, I’ll go over to her place for a while. Tell Sang Wan to fetch us when she’s back!”

Li Shi deliberately wanted to display her power as Sang Wan’s elder before Gu Fangzi and she immediately ordered Liu Ya loftily.