Shi Hai was not putting on an act this time; he had indeed given his behavior serious thought and reflection.
"You're right; I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions."
Human arrogance lies in the belief that one is always correct and the dismissal of anyone else's opinion.
This trait can be seen as having a strong will, but in reality, it is simply narrow-mindedness.
Shi Hai, like many, exhibited this tendency to some degree.
However, his greatest strength was his self-awareness.
Therefore, he admitted his mistake and turned to apologize to Zhu Lingjie, bowing his head.
"I'm sorry. It was arrogant of me to dismiss your ideas without fully understanding them."
This sudden apology left Zhu Lingjie flustered.
Having always followed Shi Hai's lead, she subconsciously believed that everything he said was right.
No matter what he said, she would comply.
The notion of him ever being wrong in any way was something that had never crossed her mind, much less him admitting his wrong and apologizing about it.
Thus, Zhu Lingjie found herself in a state of confusion, her eyes spinning in circles.
"No, no, no—! You don't need to apologize! It's my own fault—"
At this moment, Jian Sichun squeezed Zhu Lingjie's hand, prompting her to stop speaking.
Zhu Lingjie, slightly calmer now, turned to look at Jian Sichun, who puffed up her cheeks, clearly expressing her thoughts.
In moments like this, it's crucial not to back down too quickly.
When a boy apologizes first, a girl mustn't immediately forgive him.
Otherwise, he might think, 'This woman is so easy to please,' and gradually become more perfunctory, eventually ceasing to care.
Even though Shi Hai was unlikely to be that inconsiderate, it was important not to make him feel forgiveness was easily won.
Hence, Zhu Lingjie kept her lips tightly shut.
Seeing her silence, Shi Hai continued.
"So, I will think it over more carefully... And Zhu Lingjie, you should do the same."
"Me?"
She pointed to herself in bewilderment.
"Yes, we both need to think things through. Although we've known each other for over ten years, we've never truly gotten to know each other."
"Right..."
Zhu Lingjie's expression darkened.
This was an undeniable truth and one of her greatest regrets.
She had countless opportunities before her, which she never cherished...
"So, don't rush into seeing only me. Because of your androphobia, you can't yet see the whole picture, so try overcoming your fear of men first."
"Okay... I will try my best."
"I'll help you too. Let's start as friends, okay?"
"Okay... I'll follow your lead."
Zhu Lingjie couldn't refuse.
She also felt this was the best outcome.
In her past life, Shi Hai had always taken care of her, coming to her aid whenever she was in trouble, offering comfort and support.
But this time was different... He wasn't only focused on her.
Zhu Lingjie understood that now she was the one pursuing him.
However, she couldn't rush into confessing her feelings... She wasn't even qualified to do so yet.
At the very least, she needed to become a normal person who wouldn't cause him trouble and then rebuild their close relationship before expressing her feelings.
By then, he would surely give her a sincere response...
With this realization, Zhu Lingjie felt a sense of clarity.
Finally, she had taken her first step in this reborn life.
"Alright then, let's start by opening your door."
"Huh?"
"Did you forget? We agreed yesterday to continue cleaning your house."
"Really, it's not necessary. I can do it myself... I'm not as afraid of dirt anymore."
"Let's do it together. It's more fun working with a partner."
"...Okay!"
With Shi Hai's invitation, Zhu Lingjie followed him with a sweet smile, like a little wife, back home to clean.
Jian Sichun watched them leave the living room and exit the house, like a newlywed couple entering their new home, feeling a pang of discomfort.
She desperately wanted to follow them, but reason told her they needed some alone time and she shouldn't interrupt.
Resting her face in her hands, Jian Sichun sat pouting for a while, then frustratedly scratched her head.
"Ahhh... This is so annoying!" Still feeling unsatisfied, she lay unladylike on the sofa, burying her head in a pillow, and complained in a muffled voice.
"This is so annoying! So annoying! So annoying!"
After kicking the sofa a few times, she finally went limp, resembling a dried fish.
"So annoying... So annoying...! Ugh... Huff..."
Struggling to breathe, she turned her head to inhale deeply, exhaling a long breath of stale air.
Yet, her frustration remained...
Jian Sichun, on the verge of tears, pouted and complained.
"I wish it were nine years later already..."
Having been reborn and returned to the past, Jian Sichun felt she couldn't endure even a second longer in this time.
...
Meanwhile, Shi Hai and Zhu Lingjie were busy cleaning a room together.
Working alongside Shi Hai gave Zhu Lingjie a sweet, nostalgic feeling.
After their marriage, Zhu Lingjie had quit her job, leaving her with plenty of free time.
To keep herself busy, she always tried to do things for him.
Cooking, cleaning, doing laundry—these were just the basics.
Beyond that, she would help Shi Hai bathe, feed him, play games with him, and even warm his bed with her body heat...
This went far beyond what a 'wife' should do.
She had essentially become a 'maid.'
Yet, she couldn't stop wanting to take care of him, driven by a sense of compensation.
Since Shi Hai rarely made requests, whenever he did, she felt elated, though such occasions were rare.
Thus, she always felt she wasn't doing enough, never satisfying her urge to serve him completely.
To put it simply, Zhu Lingjie had a strong 'service heart.'
However, Shi Hai wouldn't let her do all the work alone; he always helped out...
This left her feeling both helpless and happy.
Perhaps because of the familiar feeling, Zhu Lingjie felt calm and no longer anxious, able to speak normally with Shi Hai.
At this moment, she brought up the person who had stood up for her.
"I'm sorry for causing a fight between you two."
"Hmm? Oh, Jian Sichun? That wasn't a fight."
"But she slapped you. You must have felt a bit angry, right?... Please don't blame her. She did it for me..."
"I know, and I'm not angry. I don't have that kind of male ego."
"Really?"
"Really. It didn't even hurt much; it just surprised me. My mom never hit me before."
"Mom, I mean, Aunt Liu, um, mom..."
Zhu Lingjie instinctively called out the term she was most used to but quickly corrected herself. She couldn't call her mom just yet, but then remembered Liu Zhen said she could.
This simple term threw her into confusion again.
Seeing her struggle, Shi Hai found it amusing and said,
"If you're used to calling her mom, just call her mom. She said it's okay."
Blushing, Zhu Lingjie rephrased.
"Yes... It's just that mom couldn't bear to hit you..."
"When I was little, she pinched my cheeks often enough."
"That doesn't count; it's just playful teasing... It's different from today."
Zhu Lingjie felt she needed to speak up for Jian Sichun.
"Sichun really feels bad about hurting you. She told me she wants to apologize. Even if you're not angry, she still feels guilty..."
Though Zhu Lingjie envied Jian Sichun's ability to approach Shi Hai naturally, she didn't want to see her friend upset or distant from Shi Hai.
She had accepted Jian Sichun as a good sister.
And sisters should help each other.
That's what true sisterhood means.
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