The Beautiful Older Sister I Picked Up Is Good at Flirting - Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Fu Siyi instinctively stepped forward to block Xia Yicheng’s aggressive glare at Fanzhen. However, Fang Songxian was one step ahead of her, pulling Fanzhen behind her protectively. She lifted her chin and snapped at Xia Yicheng, “Don’t you dare be mean to her!”
Xia Yicheng, seeing her in full protective mode, immediately understood. The dark cloud on her face faded a little. “Fang Songxian, don’t tell me she’s the… beautiful older sister you said you fell in love with at first sight?”
Xia Yicheng, used to ordering servants around at home, cast a jealous and disdainful look at Fanzhen. “A Beta, huh? Looks okay, I guess… but she’s from the countryside, uneducated… Can you really take someone like that out in public, Fang Songxian, hmm?”
As she spoke, she suddenly reached out toward Fanzhen’s face, her fingertips almost touching her cheek—when suddenly a hand darted out and forcefully yanked her wrist back.
Xia Yicheng yelped in pain and looked up, meeting Fu Siyi’s cold, cutting gaze.
Fu Siyi’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a biting sharpness: “Xia Yicheng, this isn’t the Xia household. If you’re looking to show off, you’ve come to the wrong place.”
Xia Yicheng knew well that Fu Siyi disliked arrogant, domineering Omegas. She bit her lip and tried to hold back, her tone laced with grievance: “Siyi, I just saw something dirty on her face… I wanted to help clean it.”
Fu Siyi didn’t respond to her, stepping around her coldly and handing a bowl to Fanzhen. “Fanzhen, is it time to mix the filling?”
Fanzhen’s lips curved into a warm smile. “Then you’d better watch carefully, Miss—don’t blink.”
Fang Songxian, hearing their cryptic banter and feeling the odd, harmonious air between them, frowned and asked with displeasure, “Fu Siyi, what are you two doing?”
Without even looking up, Fu Siyi replied, “Fanzhen’s making a traditional snack from her hometown.”
At the mention of a Yuanguo dish, Fang Songxian perked up instantly and sidled up to Fanzhen, her voice suddenly soft and coquettish: “Sister, you’re making hometown snacks? Then can I stay for dinner?”
Fu Siyi’s eyes dimmed almost imperceptibly. Before Fanzhen could answer, she cut in coldly, “There are a lot of people in the Fu household. No extra food.”
Fang Songxian was never one to miss a chance to tease. She deliberately dragged her words to sound more flirtatious: “Then I’ll just eat… sister’s food.”
Fanzhen wasn’t stupid. She could feel that Fang Songxian was trying to flirt with her. But for some reason, she simply didn’t like it. It made her uncomfortable.
She frowned slightly and said nothing. From the side, Xia Yicheng sneered mockingly, “What kind of backwater food is this… Country bumpkin stuff.”
Fu Siyi’s eyes swept coldly toward her. “If you don’t like it, Miss Xia, don’t eat it.”
Xia Yicheng had never been embarrassed like this before. But she liked Fu Siyi so much—enough to set aside her pride. Even if others laughed at her, she didn’t care.
“Siyi, I didn’t mean it like that… I just meant… maybe we won’t have time to eat dumplings.”
Fu Siyi frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”
“Because…” Xia Yicheng paused for effect, “I want to take you to see someone.”
“Who?”
Xia Yicheng enunciated clearly: “Aunt Wan.”
Fu Siyi’s expression changed instantly. “Aunt Wan? Where is she? She’s back? When did she return?”
A stream of urgent questions poured out toward Xia Yicheng. The latter smiled slyly. If anyone in the world could stir Fu Siyi’s heart, it would be—
Cen Wan.
Xia Yicheng replied calmly, “Our company is planning a party, so I stopped by Aunt Lisa’s candy shop. Who knew—I saw Aunt Wan there. I don’t know how long she’ll be in the country this time. I didn’t dare go up to her, afraid she’d leave. So I came straight to tell you.”
“She was still there half an hour ago. If we wait too long… I’m afraid…” Xia Yicheng trailed off, watching Fu Siyi’s reaction closely.
Fu Siyi was indeed anxious. She quickly walked to the sink, washed her hands, and was about to leave in a rush. But just as she reached the door, she turned back and stopped in front of Fanzhen. “Fanzhen, I have something urgent. I’m sorry… looks like you made those dumplings for nothing.”
Her enthusiasm doused, Fanzhen couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed. Still, her voice remained soft and gentle, without a trace of blame. “It’s okay, Miss. This is more important. The dumplings can be shared with the grannies.”
“Yes, go on then,” Fang Songxian chimed in, wrapping an arm around Fu Siyi’s shoulder and nudging her out. “I’ll eat your share for you.”
Fu Siyi shot her a glance, then turned back toward Fanzhen. Their eyes met in midair, lingering briefly before Fu Siyi finally looked away and left.
Fanzhen lowered her long lashes, hiding the faint sadness in her eyes.
Aunt Wan… Who was she?
The last time Fu Siyi mentioned “Aunt Wan” was when she gave Fanzhen a sewing kit. She said Aunt Wan was Lisa’s younger sister. But then, who was Lisa?
Fanzhen didn’t dare ask. But she could see that whenever Fu Siyi talked about Aunt Wan, she wore a rare smile.
She must be very happy to go see Aunt Wan.
The dumplings were supposed to make Fu Siyi happy. But now that she was going to see Aunt Wan, she seemed even happier.
If Miss was happy, then so was she.
Fanzhen suddenly smiled.
…
The giant LED screen outside the Candy House flashed with rainbow lights in the night.
Cen Wan stared at it in a daze. Only after Lisa called her name a few times did she turn around. She tucked a strand of her wavy hair behind her ear, revealing a dangling black pearl earring that swayed softly with her movement.
She forced a smile. “Sorry, sorry. I’ve been away from Su Country for too long—the city lights stunned me.”
Lisa exposed her without mercy. “You weren’t looking at the street. You were watching Fu Weirong’s interview on the screen. Seven or eight years out there and still no growth?”
“Third Sister, don’t talk nonsense. I wasn’t watching her,” Cen Wan said guiltily, pulling out a cigarette to cover her embarrassment.
It was a round peppermint-flavored one. She held it precisely at two-thirds down the stem. The sharp mint scent filled her nose.
Lisa waved her hand and half-covered her nose. “Didn’t you quit already? Why are you smoking again? You’re the heiress to a candy empire. This is disgraceful.”
Cen Wan smiled indifferently and leaned over to tap the ash into the tray. “There’s my eldest and second sister. If not, there’s you, Third Sister. Me? I’m just the disappointment.”
Lisa sighed heavily. “You’ve always been like this—rebellious since young. Gave up your bright future just to become a live-in tutor at the Fu family. No status, no name, stuck by Fu Weirong’s side for over a decade… completely wasting your youth. Wanwan, do you have any idea how much that broke your parents’ hearts?”
The LED screen blinked again. In the flickering light, Cen Wan turned once more to watch the giant screen.
On screen, Fu Weirong stood on stage in a white suit, speaking confidently. Her eyes were sharp, her red lips alluring. Every gesture exuded undeniable charisma.
Cen Wan blinked away the redness in her eyes and turned back. “I know…”
The cigarette burned halfway. A chill rose in her throat. Cen Wan crushed the menthol bead with a soft pop, and the icy sensation flooded her mouth, spreading to her core.
She lowered her head, voice dull: “That’s why… I don’t have the face to go home.”
The two fell into a long silence. Lisa cleared her throat. “Put the cigarette out. It’s bad for you.”
“Seriously, why won’t you listen? I don’t want to breathe your secondhand smoke.”
Cen Wan ignored her and lit another cigarette. Just as Lisa was about to grab it from her, Cen Wan suddenly stood up, staring intently at the door, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
Lisa followed her gaze and gasped: “Siyi…”
Fu Siyi stood at the entrance. Their eyes met—and both filled with moisture.