"Please, my beloved husband, could you please take me off your blacklist? Thank you so much!"
"Thanks, boss!"
"Such generosity, dear boss!"
"Hubby, muah muah!"
"Heart emoji!"
These messages were filled with colorful emojis and playful texts, capturing a lively spirit that almost leaped off the screen.
Fu Hanniang felt the corners of his tightly pressed lips twitching upwards, an involuntary response he couldn't suppress.
He tossed his phone onto the seat beside him, having no intention of replying.
Ding-dong, ding-dong.
The incessant notification sound was starting to grate on his nerves.
Curious, Li Feng, who was driving, glanced back at Fu Hanniang and asked, "Young Master, who keeps bothering you like this?"
"Who do you think would dare be this bothersome in my presence?" Fu Hanniang replied, arms crossed, his expression neutral yet hinting at a faint amusement.
In general, anyone would think twice before bombarding Fu Hanniang with messages. Even sending a couple of texts could lead to an immediate block.
Realizing the identity of the persistent messenger, Li Feng couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. "It must be the Young Mistress, right?"
"Who else could it possibly be?" he mused, a hint of pride in his tone.
"Why don't you just temporarily block her if it's bothering you? I can see she's unable to reach you by phone and is resorting to WeChat instead," Li Feng suggested playfully, hoping to provoke a reaction from his master.
"When did it become your place to make decisions for me?" Fu Hanniang shot him a cold glare, and Li Feng promptly closed his mouth, returning his focus to the road.
Fu Hanniang picked up his phone again, noticing a few voice messages had come in.
He didn't bother listening to them and opted to convert them into text instead. He scanned through the messages quickly:
"Please, dear husband. Pull me out of the blacklist. I know I was wrong. I promise to wash up and make it up to you tonight, okay?"
"Did you find out that Zhao Yiran was behind my kidnapping yesterday? Did you make sure she got punished by the principal?"
"Husband, I only have two classes this afternoon. Once I'm done, I'll come find you. Since tomorrow is Saturday, if you're not working, shall we find a place to nurture our relationship?"
...
Overnight, it seemed that Gu Yining had unlocked some emotional channel, becoming incredibly straightforward and sincere in her approach.
Gu Yining clutched her phone, waiting eagerly for a response, but after a long pause, there was still no reply from Fu Hanniang.
Yet, the absence of a red exclamation mark on her screen suggested he hadn't blocked her, which was a small consolation.
Ding-dong.
Finally, Fu Hanniang had replied, and Gu Yining felt a rush of excitement so intense that she nearly dropped her phone.
"Mm."
Just one word—a stingy, miserly response that felt almost comical in its brevity. It was as if he'd withheld an entire feast, serving her just a crumb.
But what did this "Mm" refer to? Was it an acknowledgment of her first message, the second, the third, or perhaps a collective affirmation of all her sentiments?
Quickly, Gu Yining dialed his number, her heart racing with anticipation.
Beep...
To her surprise, the call went through. She had successfully clawed her way back from Fu Hanniang's blacklist!
As the line connected, his cool voice came through, dripping with formality. "Remember to come back early tonight for your treatment."
If it weren't for that treatment, he wouldn't have bothered to even speak with her.
"Oh, okay! So about our date tomorrow, do you agree to it?" she asked, her voice laced with hope.
"I'm very busy," Fu Hanniang replied, his tone as icy as ever.
"Alright then." Gu Yining felt a twinge of disappointment wash over her.
"Next time," Fu Hanniang added, almost as an afterthought.
Suddenly, Gu Yining's heart ignited with hope again. "Alright, it all depends on your schedule then! I have to go to class now. Muah muah, hubby! Bye!"
Fu Hanniang hung up abruptly with a soft click, the sound echoing in the car.
Though he was undeniably cold, Gu Yining couldn't shake the feeling that there were signs of his icy demeanor starting to thaw just a little under her warmth.
After hanging up, the atmosphere in the car shifted, almost as if it had become more comfortable. Li Feng noticed the subtle change, sensing that the air felt lighter.
Ding...
Just as he placed his phone down, a message notification pinged from an unfamiliar number.
Fu Hanniang, with a flick of his thumb, opened the text, curious about who could be reaching out to him now.