The Beautiful Older Sister I Picked Up Is Good at Flirting - Chapter 3
Chapter 3
The car drove onto the bridge across the Heng River. Fu Siyi gripped the steering wheel, a vague sense of unease rising in her heart.
Where should she take the girl to eat?
A restaurant? No way.
The girl was disheveled, filthy, and didn’t even have any identification. Even a street stall could attract unwanted attention and lead to trouble.
Back to the Fu family estate? Even worse.
With the election coming up, bringing her home would only make things difficult with her Alpha mother.
After thinking it over, Fu Siyi decided to take her to her mother’s courtyard villa. After all, she had been living there herself recently.
The car stopped at the villa steps. Uniformed maids came forward to greet them. Fu Siyi stepped out and said to the housekeeper, Aunt Ying, “Take her inside.”
“Her? Ah!”
Aunt Ying paused in surprise and peered behind Fu Siyi. There stood a grimy girl with her head lowered, nervously twisting the hem of her clothes a good three meters away.
“Miss Siyi, she…”
Fu Siyi stepped up the stone stairs and entered the house. “Aunt Ying, help her take a bath and find some clean clothes. She said she hasn’t eaten in three days, so have the kitchen prepare some food…”
She walked straight toward the spiral staircase, her tone stiff. “Also… once she’s done eating, have the driver take her back to the commercial street. Anywhere will do.”
Aunt Ying bowed respectfully. “Yes, Miss Siyi.”
Fu Siyi had climbed two steps when she suddenly stopped and turned slightly to glance toward the door. The girl still had her head lowered, her hands anxiously wringing together.
Fu Siyi withdrew her gaze and added indifferently, “Give her some money before you drop her off.”
“Yes, Miss Siyi.”
“That’s all. I need to change for the Christmas party. Tell Uncle Zhong to get the car ready.” Fu Siyi’s footsteps echoed up the staircase, her figure disappearing around the corner.
Aunt Ying acknowledged the order 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 dirty, her manners carried the grace and etiquette of someone raised in a noble household. Aunt Ying paused momentarily before gently pushing her into the bathroom. “Take a bath first. I’ll get the food ready.”
After the girl went into the bathroom, Aunt Ying began arranging the food. She reheated the dishes and laid them out neatly on the table. Just as she bent down to fetch a soup ladle, she heard soft shuffling behind her.
She turned around and was met by the girl’s timid smile. For a moment, the sparkling lights outside seemed to pale in comparison.
Aunt Ying had lived a long life, but she had never seen someone so beautiful—ethereal and delicate, like a beauty stepping out of an ink painting.
She was momentarily dazed until a cool breeze across her cheek brought her back to herself.
She walked over and took the girl’s hand. “Who would’ve thought you’d be this pretty once you’re cleaned up… What’s your name?”
“I’m Huo…” The girl looked a bit shy. Her long lashes trembled before she softly said, “My surname is Fan. My name is Zhen—just one character.”
“Fan Zhen? What a lovely name.” Aunt Ying smiled warmly and led her to the table. “Come, come, have some food. I made sure everything was nice and hot.”
Seeing her sit but not eat, Aunt Ying placed chopsticks in her hand. “Go on! There’s fish, meat, even shrimp. Why aren’t you eating?”
Fan Zhen’s voice choked. “Granny… I can’t eat…”
Aunt Ying asked gently, “Didn’t you say you haven’t eaten in three days? Aren’t you hungry?”
“I am.” Fan Zhen looked up, eyes shimmering with helplessness. “But… if I eat this meal, there won’t be another one after.”
In Su Country, with its strong economy, it was rare to hear someone talk about not knowing where their next meal would come from. Aunt Ying’s heart ached, but her curiosity was also piqued. “Where are you from? Don’t you have any family?”
Fan Zhen’s nose tingled, and she lowered her lashes sorrowfully.
She thought of her father, who had always treated her like a treasure but had recently tried to force her into a political marriage with a scandal-ridden heiress just to save his failing company. Her eyes grew misty with tears.
She couldn’t let anyone know who she really was. If word got out, her father would find her and force her to marry Song Lan.
Song Lan was a notorious scumbag Alpha who treated Omega actresses like pets—used them and tossed them aside. A known degenerate from a wealthy family.
How could she possibly spend her life with someone like that?
Fan Zhen looked up at Aunt Ying, her eyes red. “I came from Yuan Country… I have no family left… Before my mother passed away, she told me to come to Su Country to find my grandaunt in the countryside…”
She had thought of saying her documents were stolen, but realized that would likely get her taken to the police to file for replacements.
She guessed her father had already tracked her travel records—otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent bodyguards after her.
Going to the police would be walking right into a trap.
Fan Zhen sniffled and went on, “I sold our house and came here through an agent without applying for proper documents. By the time I arrived, I found out my grandaunt had passed away two weeks ago… Her son kicked me out. I don’t have papers and can’t get a job. I’ve been hiding until now…”
Suddenly, she clutched Aunt Ying’s sleeve, her eyes full of pleading. “Granny, can I work here? I’ll do anything—just give me a place to stay and something to eat. I don’t care about pay…”
Aunt Ying sympathized, but she also didn’t want to bring trouble to the Fu family. Her expression was conflicted. “Child, I want to help you too… But without an ID… In Su Country, both Omegas and Alphas are legally protected. There are special shelters for Omegas. You can go there temporarily. I can’t let you stay here—it would bring trouble for Miss Siyi.”
Fan Zhen had grown up in an elite household in Yuan Country and had received a noble education. She knew the laws of different countries well. She was aware that harboring Omegas privately in Su Country was illegal.
But the rules for Betas were much looser. If they lost their ID, they could simply apply for a temporary residency permit—no need to go in person either.
Fan Zhen bit her lip, feeling a bit “guilty” as she corrected softly, “Granny, I’m a Beta, not an Omega.”
Aunt Ying looked at her in surprise, her eyes scanning her figure. With that delicate build, she certainly looked like an Omega. But then again, maybe she was just malnourished from poverty.
She asked again uncertainly, “You’re really a Beta?”
“Yes.” Fan Zhen subtly pressed a hand to the back of her neck, where she wore a strong suppression patch developed by Yuan Country’s Bio-Institute. It blocked not only pheromones but also suppressed an Omega’s heat cycle.
She stood and moved closer to Aunt Ying. “If you don’t believe me, you can check.”
Aunt Ying had lost her parents young and had lived through hardship herself. Seeing this girl cry tugged at her heartstrings.
In fact, the villa had many empty rooms and leftover food every day. Taking in one more person wouldn’t be hard, especially one willing to work.
“Don’t cry, child.” Aunt Ying handed her a handkerchief and patted her shoulder gently. “Eat first. I’ll go talk to the young lady.”
Fan Zhen took the handkerchief and wiped her tears. “Granny, you mean… the woman from before?”
“Yes.” Aunt Ying led her back to the table and handed her the chopsticks again. “Our young lady has a temper, but she’s got a kind heart. Don’t worry…”
…
Fu Siyi stood before the large mirror in the dressing room, now in a fitted white dress. It matched her temperament perfectly—cold and distant, like a snow lotus blooming high on a mountaintop: beautiful but unreachable.
Her maid pushed a row of high heels in front of her.
Fu Siyi pointed calmly at the silver pair studded with gems on the bottom row. Through the mirror, she glanced at Aunt Ying. “Aunt Ying, I sympathize with her too, but she doesn’t have an ID. You know how much trouble that could cause?”
Aunt Ying stood behind her, head bowed, speaking almost in supplication. “Miss Siyi, just let her stay and work as a maid. As long as she doesn’t go out, no one will check her papers…”
Fu Siyi said nothing as she adjusted her hair before the mirror, then unscrewed a lipstick tube and applied it carefully.
Aunt Ying watched her closely, gently adding, “Miss, aside from a few of your classmates, no one ever visits this villa. No one will find out.”
Fu Siyi’s hand paused. Her brows drew together in mild displeasure. “Aunt Ying, are you confused? You know what could happen if we secretly shelter an Omega?”
“She’s not an Omega—she’s a Beta,” Aunt Ying said quickly. “Once she washed up, she looked so fresh and lovely…”
Perhaps in her haste, Aunt Ying’s eyes even turned red. “Miss Siyi, I’ve served the Fu family for over fifty years. I’ve never asked you for anything… Please, just let her stay for my sake.”
Fu Siyi was a little surprised by Aunt Ying’s concern for the girl. She frowned and glanced at her watch—the party was about to start, and she had no time to argue. She threw on a chestnut-colored coat offered by the maid.
“Aunt Ying, she’s your responsibility now. Keep a close watch—do not let her leave the house. Also, tell her to follow the rules. If she makes a mistake, I’ll throw her out immediately. Now hurry and get the car ready.”
Aunt Ying’s eyes lit up, her face breaking into delighted relief. “Yes, Miss Siyi. I’ll thank you on her behalf.”