Rebirth from the Ashes

“Yes.” Shen Xi gave a good nod while a broken reflection shimmered in her eyes. She had a catch in her throat and her eyes were watery.

Fu Qingli watched the father and daughter with envy in his eyes. However, he soon suppressed the emotion. With Shen Zhangqing looking over, Fu Qingli politely bowed and greeted him. “Hello, Mr. Shen. I am Fu Qingli.”

This was Shen Zhangqing’s first time meeting Fu Qingli. He was a good-looking, dashing, and sharp young man. Shen Zhangqing nodded. “Hello, hello. You must be Xixi’s eldest brother.”

Shen Zhangqing had seen two younger sons of the Fu family – Fu Qingye and Fu Qingxuan. These three brothers had quite varied characters, albeit blessed with charming looks.

He was thankful, happy, and content that his daughter had such a family.

Shen Zhangqing had been questioning the injustice in the world. His darling daughter was outstanding, kind, and adorable to be the daughter of the Su family. He had secretly hoped Xixi was Madam Fu’s biological daughter ever since he witnessed the latter’s spitting image to Li Jingran.

Now that the truth was out that his daughter was indeed the Fu family’s daughter, Shen Zhangqing had nothing more to ask of life.

Fu Qingli glanced at Shen Xi before uttering in smiles. “Yes.”

“We can’t stay here. Xixi said that it’ll take your parents three to four hours to get here. Her mom is also on the flight. I’ll have to reach the airport by nine o’clock later. Since it’s getting late, let’s have dinner.” Shen Zhangqing looked at them. “What do you think?”

Having been meaning to leave, Shen Xi raised her hands in agreement.

Fu Qingli gave a nod. “We’ll go with your suggestion.”

Yu Yuanxi said, “Dad, Lil’ Ye will soon arrive at the airport in one hour. I need to get to the airport to pick her up.”

Shen Xi raised her hand. “I want to go too!”

She had no idea how she should act in Fu Qingli’s company. It was awkward and somewhat uncomfortable since she did not know what to say to him.

Shen Zhangqing was about to suggest taking them there when Fu Qingli came to mind. Letting out an embarrassed smile at Fu Qingli, Shen Zhangqing cleared his throat and glared at Shen Xi. “You kids.”

It was not very nice for her to leave her brother behind. Shen Xi should spend some time with her long-lost brother.

Fu Qingli thoughtfully grinned at Shen Zhangqing before turning to Shen Xi. “I’ll drive you guys there. Mr. Shen, please wait for us. Why don’t you take the time to rest? You must be tired from the flight.”

It put Shen Xi on the spot. Oh, gawd. Oh, gawd. Oh, gawd. It was quite unexpected for Fu Qingli to blurt so many words in one go. She had never heard Fu Qingli speak so politely.

She thought he was an arrogant tyrant that would never get off his high horse. Who would have thought he would say something decent for a change?

Shen Xi was about to turn down the offer.

Yu Yuanxi jumped in with a smile. “Thank you, Mr. Fu.”

Fu Qingli gave Yu Yuanxi a grateful look, knowing that the latter spoke for him. Yu Yuanxi was a smart and kind-hearted young man. Fu Qingli curled his lips. “No need to be polite. You can call me ‘Big Brother’ like Xixi.”

Yu Yuanxi paused for a moment before muttering, “Big Brother.”

Shen Xi thought to herself, ‘When did I ever call you that?’ She looked daggers at Yu Yuanxi and pinched his hand in secret. That was for going against her! Why did he let Fu Qingli tag along?

She was unconvinced that Yu Yuanxi had no clue that her going to pick Song Wenye was to avoid Fu Qingli.

Shen Zhangqing was ready to take the kids to try out a nearby restaurant that he went to before. Nevertheless, it seemed that that had to wait. “In that case, let’s eat at home. I’ll call for delivery.”

“Dad, mom and the rest are arriving about the same time. How about we get a quick bite so we can have a proper dinner when they’re here,” Shen Xi suggested.

“Sounds like a plan. Get something to eat along the way,” Shen Zhangqing urged.

With that out of the way, Shen Zhangqing headed home. The house needed some tidying up since it was left unoccupied for more than ten days. However, the Su family was still a concern.

Su Yi had died in a car crash and the eldest son Su Muxuan was in jail for murder, while the youngest son was in a coma. Hopefully, the second son Su Muyan would not find his way to the Shens’ home.

The remaining members of the Su family might still be at large, but the Shen family should not be kept from their own home. It was not like they could keep hiding forever.

Shen Xi and Yu Yuanxi, together with Fu Qingli set out to the airport to pick Song Wenye up.

Fu Qingli’s car was parked outside the dormitory. Xu Xu the assistant was waiting inside the vehicle.

It was dark outside as the heavy snowfall took over the land. Smiling at Fu Qingli, Yu Yuanxi opened the car door and climbed into the front passenger’s seat. Xixi kept a tough exterior but was a softie inside, so incessant pestering worked best on her. Still, by the looks of Fu Qingli’s character, he probably would not adopt that tactic.

Xixi had a problem with Fu Qingli. Unless he took the initiative, their relationship would not make a breakthrough. Shen Xi could never be expected to make the first move.

Burying her head in her phone, Shen Xi sent a text message to Yu Yuanxi. [Shen Xi: You did that on purpose.]

Yu Yuanxi replied to her with a stroking-head emoji.

Shen Xi, “…”

In the backseat, Shen Xi sat on the left end while Fu Qingli sat at the most right.

Leaning against the seat, Shen Xi closed her eyes and pretended to sleep.

Fu Qingli took a glance at her and the gap between them. He scooted a little over but decided to keep his back straight instead. Fu Qingli sent a message to Fu Qingye. [Fu Qingli: What’s her favorite food?]

Fu Qingye was quick to reply. [Fu Qingye: She likes everything delicious.]

Grinding his teeth, Fu Qingli could break the mobile screen with the force of his fingers. [Fu Qingli: Can you be any clearer!]

It was a deliberate payback on Fu Qingye’s side!

[Fu Qingye: I said she likes everything delicious.]

Fu Qingli reflected on his thoughts for a moment before deciding against blacklisting Fu Qingye. However, he ditched Fu Qingye for Fu Qingxuan. [Fu Qingli: What does our sister like to eat?”

[Fu Qingxuan: Everything.]

Fu Qingli turned blue in the face. Were they ganging up on him?

[Fu Qingli: Be specific!]

[Fu Qingxuan: She’ll eat whatever. She eats yummy and rejects the yucky.]

Fu Qingli was about to blow up.

[Fu Qingli: You two sure are just swell.]

Fu Qingxuan returned his text message with a question mark. Following the long absence of a response, he curled his lips in delight and gave Fu Handing the heads-up “Dad, ignore Qingli if he sends you a text later.”

Hmph!

He was angry!

The nerve of Qingli to hide the fact that he found their sister!

Fu Handing answered, “Your mom and I have turned off our phones.”

Fu Qingxuan guessed it right. Hitting a snag with his brothers, Fu Qingli tried his hand with Fu Handing, but even that came back empty. He swallowed his fury and asked for help from his aunt, Fu Junqiu. Fu Qingli worded his text cautiously in case of another snappy retort. [Fu Qingli: Aunt Junqiu, what do girls usually like to eat?]

[Fu Junqiu: I don’t know! Get lost!!!]