The Beautiful Older Sister I Picked Up Is Good at Flirting - Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Fu Siyi’s ears turned red. She blinked mechanically, her gaze falling on Fan Zhen’s bright smile. For some reason, the corners of her lips also lifted uncontrollably into a soft smile. “Which one should we catch next?”
“That one… the one blowing bubbles…” Fan Zhen pointed to the right with her slender finger. As she turned her head, she happened to meet Fu Siyi’s gaze. Only then did she realize she had been holding onto Fu Siyi’s arm. She quickly let go, averted her eyes, and obediently stepped behind Cen Wan.
Fang Songxian happened to catch this scene and felt something strange between them—something she couldn’t quite put her finger on.
She moved next to Fu Siyi and hissed in a low, disgruntled voice, “Fu Siyi, what are you doing? You know I like Fan Zhen, yet you’re showing off in front of her!”
Fu Siyi smiled innocently, the picture of a harmless little white lotus. “It’s not like I wanted to, but…”
“But the fish in my pond just don’t listen,” she mimicked Fang Songxian’s tone perfectly. “Look, they insist on swimming into my net.”
Fang Songxian’s expression twisted in frustration. She’d tried so hard and hadn’t caught a single fish, ending up soaked and humiliated. Yet Fu Siyi caught fish effortlessly, as if they were lining up for her. Compared to her, Fang Songxian looked like a fool.
Losing face, Fang Songxian was about to lash out when Fu Siyi beat her to it. She shoved the bowl of goldfish she had caught into Fang Songxian’s arms. “Songxian, these goldfish are for you. Take good care of them.”
Fang Songxian angrily pushed it back. “I don’t want them.”
Fu Siyi smiled as she pushed it back into her arms. “But… you like them, don’t you?”
Fang Songxian: ???
Why did that sound so familiar?
It was exactly what she had said to Fan Zhen earlier!
Fang Songxian’s fair face darkened instantly. “Take them back. I don’t like them.”
Fu Siyi tilted her head, her long lashes fluttering. She was still smiling sweetly and innocently, but her hands were firm, forcefully pushing the bowl of fish into Fang Songxian’s arms.
In the struggle, water splashed out and wet Fang Songxian’s sweater. Her anger surged. “Fu Siyi, what’s your problem? I said I don’t like them—why are you forcing me?”
“Oh?” Fu Siyi’s smile faded, her eyes flickering with hidden flames. “So you do know what it means to force someone? Then why are you forcing Fan Zhen?”
“I…”
Fang Songxian was momentarily speechless. She admitted she had been a bit pushy, but isn’t that how chasing girls works? Besides, she never needed more than a week to win over someone. Things were always smooth—why was Fan Zhen so difficult?
She couldn’t accept it!
Fang Songxian stared at Fu Siyi, trying to read her expression. “Fu Siyi, you once said you’d never like Fan Zhen. Why are you standing up for her now? Isn’t she just a maid in your house?”
Fu Siyi retorted without hesitation, “So what if she’s a maid? She’s still a person, isn’t she? Just because she’s a maid, she’s somehow beneath you? Does being a maid mean she has to do things she doesn’t want to do? Fang Songxian, learn to respect people before talking about anything else.”
Fu Siyi didn’t want to argue any longer. She raised her voice. “Uncle Zhong, please send Miss Fang home.”
Fan Zhen stood silently at the side. When she heard Fu Siyi say, “Does being a maid mean she has to do things she doesn’t want to do?”, her eyes lowered softly, long lashes misting with emotion.
She had been born into a wealthy family and had never lacked material things. She had countless suitors, yet no one had ever sincerely asked her, “Is this what you want?” Even her own father tried to force her into marriage, into a life she didn’t choose.
Fu Siyi’s words were like a warm breeze that gently soothed the wounds left by broken family ties in Fan Zhen’s heart.
Still basking in that warmth, Fan Zhen suddenly felt her arm gripped tightly by Fang Songxian. She frowned in discomfort, trying several times to pull away but couldn’t break free.
Her patience had reached its limit. Just as she was about to stomp hard on Fang Songxian’s foot, a loud yelp cut through the air.
She looked up in surprise and saw Cen Wan pulling Fang Songxian’s ear, twisting it hard. “Eat dumplings? Your mommy wants you home for dinner!”
Fang Songxian cried out in pain and instinctively let go of Fan Zhen’s arm to shield her ear. “Ouch, ouch, ouch! Aunt Wan…”
Cen Wan finally let go. Fang Songxian rubbed her ear, uncertain. “Is my mommy really back?”
Cen Wan tried to suppress her smirk and put on a serious face. “Would I lie to you? She was on the same flight as me. She should be home any minute now.”
Fang Songxian instantly stiffened like facing a dire threat.
A few days ago, there had been a black market enhancer deal happening at her bar. Though the police cleared the bar of involvement, it still affected the Fang Group’s stock.
She guessed that her mother had returned early after catching wind of the news.
Hurriedly, she shoved the bowl of fish back at Fan Zhen. “Sister, I’m heading home now. I’ll come back for your dumplings next time!”
“Sure,” Fan Zhen replied, secretly relieved to see her go.
Fang Songxian glanced back longingly. Cen Wan stepped in front of Fan Zhen, blocking her line of sight and cheerfully waved. “Bye, Songxian! Tell your mommy I’ll invite her to tea soon.”
“Got it!” Fang Songxian’s voice drifted farther and farther away.
Cen Wan turned to Fan Zhen, her gaze teasing and a little gossipy. “Xiao Yi says your Yuan Country snacks are amazing. I can’t wait to try them.”
Fan Zhen glanced at Fu Siyi. The alpha stood tall, her gaze warm and soft when it met hers.
Fan Zhen’s heart skipped uncontrollably again. She quickly looked down, her cheeks blushing. “They’re not that great. Just… just ordinary homemade snacks.”
Cen Wan shrugged playfully. “Well, we’ll know once we try them.”
Fan Zhen smiled and walked toward the kitchen with Cen Wan, chatting closely along the way.
As they passed through the front hall, they suddenly heard someone call out:
“Fan Zhen…”
It was Ying Nanny’s voice.
Fan Zhen didn’t notice anything strange and greeted her cheerfully. “Nanny, you said the young miss would come back for dumplings, and told me to wait at the door. She really came back—and even brought Miss Cen!”
Ying Nanny’s face was stern, her tone harsher than ever before. “You’ve finished all your tasks? From now on, just do what I assign you. Don’t concern yourself with irrelevant people.”
Ying Nanny had always doted on Fan Zhen, never once speaking to her harshly. This was the first time she’d ever raised her voice, and Fan Zhen, unsure what she had done wrong, stood frozen, upset and confused.
Seeing Fan Zhen’s discomfort, Cen Wan patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t be sad. Nanny Ying isn’t upset with you. She’s mad at me.”
Sure enough, as soon as Cen Wan said that, Ying Nanny’s face grew even colder. She spat out two icy words: “Temptress.”
But Cen Wan didn’t mind at all. She sashayed over, smiling charmingly. “Nanny Ying, long time no see.”
Ying Nanny turned away without a word, refusing to look at her.
Fan Zhen looked at Cen Wan, then back at Ying Nanny, completely unable to make sense of the situation. Her heart felt like it was hanging in limbo.
Just then, a gentle hand patted her shoulder. Fan Zhen looked up and met Fu Siyi’s warm, reassuring gaze.
“Fan Zhen, take Aunt Wan inside. I’ll handle things here.”
Fan Zhen nodded. She was grateful that Fu Siyi stepped in to help. For one brief moment, she felt safe—like her unsettled heart had finally found calm.
In the side hallway, only Fu Siyi and Ying Nanny were left in silent confrontation.
Before Fu Siyi could say anything, Ying Nanny’s eyes reddened first. “Miss, why did you bring her back? This is Madam and the Lady’s home.”
Fu Siyi froze. The words she wanted to say stuck in her throat.
Ying Nanny had no children of her own. She had devoted her life to the Fu family and was fiercely loyal. Her unusual reaction today could only mean one thing—she was upset that Fu Siyi brought Cen Wan home.
Cen Wan had been with Fu Weirong, and in Ying Nanny’s eyes, she was the homewrecker who stole the lady of the house’s place.
Ying Nanny… was standing up for Fu Siyi’s Omega mother.
So then, what right did Fu Siyi have to scold her?