The Beautiful Older Sister I Picked Up Is Good at Flirting - Chapter 2
Chapter 2
The car drove onto the bridge over the Hengjiang River. Fu Siyi gripped the steering wheel, a trace of hesitation surfacing in her heart.
Where should she take the girl to eat?
A restaurant? No, absolutely not!
The girl was disheveled and filthy, without any identification. Even a street stall might attract unwanted questioning and trouble.
Bring her back to the Fu family’s old residence? Out of the question!
At such a critical time during the elections, bringing this girl home would be like deliberately going against her Alpha mother.
After much thought, Fu Siyi decided to take her to the courtyard villa owned by her “Mami” — she had been living there lately anyway.
The car came to a stop in front of the villa’s stone steps. Uniformed maids came out to greet them. Fu Siyi got out and instructed the housekeeper, Aunt Ying, “Take her inside.”
“Her? Ah!”
Aunt Ying froze for a moment, then peered behind Fu Siyi. A girl stood there, filthy from head to toe, her head bowed and hands nervously wringing the hem of her clothes, standing three meters away.
“Miss Siyu, she…”
Fu Siyi stepped onto the stone steps and walked inside. “Aunt Ying, have her take a bath and find some clean clothes. She said she hasn’t eaten in three days. Tell the kitchen to prepare some food for her.”
She continued straight toward the spiral staircase, her tone cold and firm. “After she eats, have the driver take her back to the commercial district. Just drop her off somewhere.”
Aunt Ying bowed respectfully. “Yes, Miss Siyi.”
Fu Siyi climbed a couple of steps, then suddenly paused, glancing toward the doorway. The girl still had her head lowered, fingers tightly twisted together.
Retracting her gaze, Fu Siyu added flatly, “Give her some money before sending her off.”
“Yes, Miss Siyi.”
“That’s all. It’s getting late. I need to change for the Christmas party. Have Uncle Zhong prepare the car.” With the clicking of her heels, Fu Siyu disappeared up the spiral staircase.
Aunt Ying responded, “Alright,” and led the girl to the servant’s bathroom, handing her a few gently used clothes.
The girl nodded slightly in thanks. Though her face was still dirty, Aunt Ying noticed a kind of elegance in her posture and manners — the kind that only came from being raised in a noble family. She paused briefly before nudging her toward the bathroom. “Go wash up. I’ll get the food ready.”
After the girl entered the bathroom, Aunt Ying began preparing the meal. She reheated the dishes and laid them out on the table. Just as she bent down to get a spoon, she heard soft footsteps behind her.
Turning around, she was met with the girl’s bashful smile — a smile so delicate that even the glittering lights outside the window seemed to fade in comparison.
In all her years, Aunt Ying had never seen someone so stunning — ethereal and pure, like a beauty who had stepped out of an ink painting.
She stood there dazed until a breeze across her cheek snapped her out of it.
She stepped forward and took the girl’s hand. “Who would’ve thought you’d be so beautiful once cleaned up… What’s your name?”
“I’m Huo…” The girl seemed shy, her long lashes trembling. After a pause, she said, “My surname is Fan. My given name is just one word… Zhen.”
“Fan Zhen? That’s a lovely name.” Aunt Ying smiled warmly and guided her to the dining table. “Come, come. Eat first. I had the kitchen reheat everything for you.”
Seeing her hesitate, Aunt Ying directly placed chopsticks in her hand. “Eat! There’s fish, meat, and shrimp. Why aren’t you eating?”
Fan Zhen’s voice choked, “Auntie, I… I can’t eat.”
“You haven’t eaten in three days. Aren’t you hungry?”
“I am,” Fan Zhen lifted her tear-filled eyes, full of helplessness. “But… once I finish this meal, there won’t be another one…”
In Su Country, a prosperous nation, it was rare to hear of someone who didn’t know where their next meal would come from. Aunt Ying felt both sorrowful and puzzled. “Where are you from? Don’t you have any family?”
Fan Zhen’s nose tingled as tears welled up. She remembered her father, who had once cherished her like a treasure but was now forcing her into a political marriage to save his company — a marriage to the infamous, predatory heiress of a business empire.
She couldn’t let anyone know who she really was. Otherwise, her father would find her and drag her back, forcing her to marry Song Lan — that Alpha scum who treated Omega celebrities like playthings, discarding them at whim. A notorious, spoiled, second-generation rich kid.
How could she spend her life with someone like that?
Fan Zhen looked up at Aunt Ying, eyes red. “I’m from Yuan Country… I have no family left. Before my mother passed, she told me to come to Su Country and rely on my grandaunt in the countryside…”
She initially wanted to say her ID was stolen, but then realized that would likely get her sent to the police to reissue documents — which would expose her whereabouts.
Her father had probably already traced her exit records, otherwise he wouldn’t have sent bodyguards after her.
Going to the police would be like walking into a trap.
Sniffling, she continued, “I sold my family house and came here with an agency, didn’t have time to apply for proper documents. When I got here, I found out my grandaunt had passed away half a month ago. My uncle kicked me out… I don’t have ID, can’t get a job… I’ve been hiding and scraping by until now…”
Suddenly, Fan Zhen grabbed Aunt Ying’s sleeve, eyes full of pleading. “Please, Auntie… Can I stay here and work? I’ll do anything — as long as I have a place to sleep and food to eat, I don’t care how much I get paid…”
Aunt Ying, though moved by sympathy, still hesitated. “Child… I’d love to help you. But without any ID… In Su Country, both Omegas and Alphas are protected by law. There are Omega shelters where you can stay temporarily. I can’t keep you here — it might cause trouble for Miss Siyu.”
Fan Zhen, having grown up in Yuan Country’s upper class, was well-versed in international customs. She knew that harboring an undocumented Omega was illegal in Su Country — but not so for Betas. If a Beta lost their documents, they could apply for temporary residence permits, and even have others apply on their behalf.
Biting her lip, she corrected timidly, “Auntie… I’m a Beta, not an Omega.”
Aunt Ying looked at her in surprise, her eyes scanning her up and down again. Her slim figure certainly resembled that of an Omega, but then again, maybe malnutrition had made her appear more delicate.
“Are you really a Beta?”
“Yes.” Fan Zhen subtly pressed her hand to the back of her neck. A high-grade suppressor patch from Yuan’s bio institute was stuck to her gland — strong enough to block scent and suppress heat.
She stepped closer. “If you don’t believe me, you can check…”
Aunt Ying had lost her parents young and knew what it was like to grow up alone and homeless. Seeing this girl’s grief, she felt a pang of deep empathy.
The girl cried so bitterly it tugged at her heartstrings.
In truth, the villa had plenty of vacant rooms, and leftover food was thrown out daily. Taking in one more person was nothing — especially someone willing to work.
“Don’t cry, child.” Aunt Ying handed her a handkerchief and gently patted her shoulder. “Eat first. I’ll go speak to Miss Siyi.”
Fan Zhen accepted the handkerchief and wiped her tears. “Auntie… That lady from before — she’s Miss Siyi?”
“Yes.” Aunt Ying guided her back to the chair and handed her the chopsticks again. “Our young miss may have a temper, but she has a good heart. Don’t worry…”
…
Fu Siyi stood in front of the full-length mirror in her dressing room, changing into a white dress that perfectly matched her cool, aloof aura — like a flower on a high mountain, beautiful yet out of reach.
Her personal maid wheeled out a row of high heels. Fu Siyi pointed lazily to the pair of silver, gem-studded ones at the bottom. Then, looking into the mirror, she noticed Aunt Ying behind her.
“Aunt Ying, I sympathize with her too, but she doesn’t have ID — do you know how much trouble that could cause?”
Aunt Ying stood behind her, head lowered, tone almost pleading. “Miss Siyi, just let her work here as a maid. As long as she doesn’t go out, no one will check her documents…”
Fu Siyi didn’t respond. She slowly tucked her loose strands behind her ear, then picked up a lipstick and applied it in the mirror.
Aunt Ying carefully watched her expression. “Miss Siyi… Other than your classmates, no one ever visits the courtyard villa. No one will find out.”
Fu Siyi’s hand paused mid-application. Her brows knit with displeasure. “Aunt Ying… Are you forgetting what happens if we’re caught harboring an Omega?”
“She’s not an Omega,” Aunt Ying hurriedly said. “She’s a Beta. Once cleaned up, she’s so fair and delicate…”
Perhaps getting too emotional, Aunt Ying’s eyes reddened. “Miss Siyi… I’ve served the Fu family for over fifty years. I’ve never asked you for anything. Please, just this once…”
Fu Siyi was taken aback by Aunt Ying’s deep concern for this girl. She frowned and glanced at her watch — she was going to be late.
She had no time to argue.
Shrugging on the dark chestnut overcoat the maid handed her, she said curtly, “Aunt Ying, she’s your responsibility. Keep an eye on her. Don’t let her leave the house. And tell her — follow the rules. One mistake, and I’ll kick her out immediately. Now, have the driver get the car ready.”
Aunt Ying’s eyes lit up instantly, joy written all over her face. “Yes, Miss Siyi! I’ll thank you on her behalf.”