The Beautiful Older Sister I Picked Up Is Good at Flirting - Chapter 56

Chapter 56

 

As night fell, the guests had nearly all arrived. The garden was laid with artificial turf, and as tiny lights began to twinkle across the area, it created a dreamy atmosphere, like a sky full of stars.

 

Ai Qing swayed over with a wine glass in hand, twisting her waist flirtatiously as she leaned toward Fu Siyi. “The dinner party is about to start. Why aren’t you inside greeting the guests?”

 

Fu Siyi’s gaze remained fixed on the pale figure not far away, her tone tinged with dissatisfaction. “Ai Qing, can’t you do something about your wife? She’s been monopolizing my wife for over three hours. When do I get her back?”

 

Ai Qing chuckled slyly. “Oh, can’t stand even a little separation? It’s rare for my wife to hit it off so well with someone—I’m not about to ruin that vibe.”

 

Fu Siyi’s red lips curved slightly downward. “Fan Zhen gets cold easily. Ask Yuqing to stop keeping her outside so long, or she’ll catch a cold.”

 

“Got it. I’ll let her know in a bit.”

 

Ai Qing rolled her eyes as Fu Siyi remained glued to Fan Zhen. “Fu Siyi, I know your wife is drop-dead gorgeous, but could you at least look at me when you’re talking?”

 

No response.

 

Clearly, she wasn’t listening.

 

Finally losing her patience, Ai Qing nudged her in the arm. “Am I talking to the air or—”

 

Her words cut off abruptly.

 

She gave a dry cough. “Hey, Fu Siyi. Your love rival’s here.”

 

Fu Siyi turned at the mention and saw Fang Songxian approaching, cheerfully lugging two heavy boxes.

 

Leaning in toward Ai Qing, she murmured, “Do me a favor… Have your wife—”

 

“I already messaged Yuqing to take Fan Zhen away,” Ai Qing replied knowingly. “Don’t worry, I’m on it.”

 

Fu Siyi smiled. “Thanks.”

 

Before they could say more, Fang Songxian had reached them. With a smile, she held out the box in her right hand to Fu Siyi and said, “Happy birthday.”

 

Fu Siyi smiled politely and thanked her.

 

Fang Songxian’s sharp eyes immediately noticed Fu Siyi’s traditional Chinese dress and looked her up and down.

 

The outfit, a pale lavender blouse that faded to white, was modest yet elegant, hugging Fu Siyi’s slim waist. The matching skirt flowed down to her ankles, accentuating her tall, graceful figure. She looked like a piece of fine jade from the southeast—subtly radiant.

 

Fang Songxian’s eyes lit up. “Fu Siyi, where did you get this dress? Is it custom-made? It fits so perfectly. Oh! I bet Aunt Wan bought it for you, didn’t she?”

 

Fu Siyi found Fang Songxian’s attempt at showing off childish and simply smiled without responding.

 

Suddenly, Ai Qing interjected, “She didn’t buy it—Fan Zhen made it for her.”

 

“Fan Zhen?” Fang Songxian’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You mean that Fan Zhen—the one living at Fu Siyi’s place?”

 

Ai Qing shrugged. “Who else would it be?”

 

Fang Songxian’s expression darkened. “Why would Fan Zhen make clothes for Fu Siyi?”

 

Ai Qing shot back bluntly, “Fu Siyi gave her a place to stay and food to eat. Isn’t it natural for her to want to repay the favor?”

 

Hearing this, Fang Songxian’s face instantly brightened. She circled Fu Siyi admiringly, a mix of envy and jealousy flashing in her eyes. “Tsk tsk! Who would’ve thought a country Beta could have such taste and skill? I want her to make me one too… It looks amazing… Fan Zhen, she…”

 

Fu Siyi cut her off coldly. “Fang Songxian, could you stop saying ‘from the countryside’? Do you think that makes her inferior?”

 

“I didn’t mean it like that.” Flustered, Fang Songxian quickly offered the second box to change the subject. “Here, this is a birthday gift from Xia Yicheng. She asked me to bring it to you.”

 

Fu Siyi, already annoyed at hearing Xia Yicheng’s name, grew even more irritable. “I don’t want it. Return it the way you received it.”

 

Fang Songxian was baffled. “Wait, what happened between you and Yicheng? One minute you’re best friends, the next you’re not even speaking. She’s been crying at home—Aunt Xia is worried sick.”

 

“Don’t mention her to me again.” Fu Siyi nodded indifferently. “I need to greet the guests now. Excuse me.”

 

Fang Songxian stood there stunned and turned to Ai Qing. “What’s going on with Fu Siyi lately? One second she’s smiling, the next she’s flipping out. And seriously, she’s being such a bad friend. She knows I’m trying to win over Fan Zhen and need private time with her, but wherever I go with Fan Zhen, she follows and wedges herself between us. How am I supposed to build a connection with her?”

 

Ai Qing rubbed her brow and instinctively defended Fu Siyi. “This is her house. What, is she supposed to hide in her own home?”

 

“She could go out and find something else to do.” Fang Songxian kept grumbling. “So many people chase after her—don’t tell me she can’t find other entertainment?”

 

Ai Qing tried to soothe her. “You know Fu Siyi—she’s as aloof as a paper cutout. She doesn’t go out seeking fun.”

 

That left Fang Songxian speechless. She sighed helplessly. “Fine, I’m going to find my Fan Zhen.”

 

Ai Qing quickly hooked an arm around her shoulders and dragged her back. “Come on, come with me to say hi to Professor Su. Back in school, she always liked you best…”

 

“Hey! Let go—I want to see my sister.”

 

“Say hi to the professor first, then you can go.”

 

…

 

In the Fu family’s small kitchen, Sun Yuqing giggled playfully. “Sister, is that dish ‘Mother and Son Reunion’ really just mung beans stir-fried with bean sprouts? I can’t believe it—hahaha! I’m going to that restaurant tomorrow to find out.”

 

Fan Zhen’s soft red lips curved into a gentle smile. “I’m guessing it’s either mung beans or soybeans—should be close enough.”

 

“What are you two laughing about?” a husky, slightly raspy female voice called from behind them.

 

Sun Yuqing beamed and dashed over to Ai Qing, striking a playful pose like a sweet little wife. “Just now, Fan Zhen-jie said the Yuan country restaurant’s new dish ‘Mother and Son Reunion’ is just mung beans with bean sprouts. But I don’t buy it! That’s so ridiculous…”

 

Just as Fan Zhen was about to respond, she suddenly felt a cold, damp touch on her cheek.

 

Startled, she instinctively recoiled and covered her face, then looked up—only to meet Fang Songxian’s half-smiling gaze.

 

“What… What are you doing?” Fan Zhen snapped, both angry and flustered. She turned her face away, her voice turning icy. “Miss Fang, please show some respect.”

 

Fang Songxian, seeing the clear disgust and wariness in Fan Zhen’s eyes, looked hurt. “Sister, you misunderstood.”

 

She brought a milky white puppy up to Fan Zhen. “It kissed you…”

 

Realizing her mistake, Fan Zhen curled her fingers uncomfortably, though the caution in her eyes didn’t lessen. “Miss Fang, there are snacks and tea in the front hall. You can take your pet there.”

 

“It’s not mine. I found it at the gate of the Fu residence,” Fang Songxian said, her eyes glued to Fan Zhen’s delicately made-up face. “Poor thing—someone abandoned it, and it’s hurt.”

 

“Injured?” Fan Zhen finally turned to look at the dog. “Where?”

 

Fang Songxian’s eyes lit up with delight as she grabbed the puppy’s hind leg and thrust it forward, making the dog yelp in pain. “Look, its leg’s bleeding.”

 

“Stop pulling—put it down,” Fan Zhen said, frowning as she noticed the fresh wound. “Wait here. I’ll go get some medicine.”

 

“Sister, I’ll go with you,” Fang Songxian chirped and quickly followed, disappearing through the kitchen door.

 

Sun Yuqing and Ai Qing exchanged glances. Sun Yuqing growled, “Why did you bring her here?”

 

Ai Qing looked innocent. “I didn’t! She brought me, okay? Honestly, I think she’s got a radar—she finds Fan Zhen no matter where she hides.”

 

Sun Yuqing rolled her eyes. “Was that dog really found at the Fu house gate?”

 

Ai Qing shot her wife a meaningful look. “The Fu estate’s halfway up a mountain, accessible only by artificial tunnels. You think a stray dog made it all the way up here?”

 

Sun Yuqing furrowed her brows. “Didn’t expect Fang Songxian to be so crafty—using Fan Zhen’s compassion to get close to her.”

 

She sighed. “Now Fan Zhen’s been lured away. Let’s see how you explain that to Fu Siyi later.”

 

Ai Qing didn’t look worried. “Fan Zhen knows her boundaries. She’s just applying medicine—she won’t give Fang Songxian the time of day.”

 

Sun Yuqing nodded in agreement, then suddenly seemed to remember something, her face turning serious. “That… thing. Did you tell Fu Siyi?”

 

Ai Qing looked troubled. “She and Fan Zhen are so close right now—I just couldn’t bring myself to ruin it.”

 

“But…” Sun Yuqing’s brows furrowed deeper and deeper. “The second Miss Jiang will eventually find Fan Zhen.”

 

“That day in the study, she said Fan Zhen was her fiancée… But didn’t we hear it was the eldest daughter of the Song family? Wasn’t she supposed to be the one engaged to Fan Zhen?”

 

Ai Qing rubbed her forehead in frustration. “How would I know? Honestly… I don’t even think Fan Zhen herself knows what’s going on. The only thing we can do now is to make sure Jiang Mingxiao doesn’t find her. Otherwise, Xiao Yi will…”

 

Sun Yuqing hummed in agreement. “I’ll go check on Fan Zhen.”

 

She got up to leave but paused at the door and suddenly asked, “Why were you looking for me?”

 

Ai Qing, caught between laughter and tears, pointed at the two wine glasses on the table.
“You two were in the kitchen for so long—I thought you’d be thirsty, so I brought you some peach juice.”

 

Sun Yuqing smiled, “Baby, you’re the sweetest,” and turned back to the table. With a bold tilt of her head, she drank more than half the glass in one go.

 

She had always loved peaches—so fragrant, so sweet. After another big gulp, the glass was empty. Feeling satisfied, she licked her lips and picked up the other glass.
“Fan Zhen must be thirsty too. I’ll bring this to her.”

 

…

 

The dispensary was located in the back courtyard of the Fu residence—more remote than even the servants’ quarters. Normally it wasn’t locked; people would come by for medicine when they had minor ailments.

 

Fan Zhen turned on the light in the dark room, found some iodine, gauze, and antiseptic ointment. Just as she turned around, a large shadow loomed over her.

 

Fan Zhen looked up, startled, and saw Fang Songxian’s radiant smile.
“Why did you follow me here?”

 

Fang Songxian raised the puppy to eye level.
“It wouldn’t stop crying—it’s in pain.”

 

“Give it to me.” Fan Zhen didn’t think much and took the puppy onto her lap to treat the wound.

 

She carefully trimmed the fur around the injury, disinfected it with iodine, applied ointment, and gently wrapped it up.

 

Fang Songxian sat next to her on the bench, almost mesmerized, staring intently at Fan Zhen.

 

Focused on what she was doing, Fan Zhen didn’t notice the burning gaze above her.

 

Her head was slightly bowed, revealing her long neck. A wisp of hair hung near her cheek. The pale-blue dress made her look soft and gentle like flowing water.

 

Strictly speaking, the dress wasn’t revealing at all. But when Fan Zhen wore it, she exuded a mature allure—like a ripe peach hanging on a branch, tempting one to pluck it.

 

Fang Songxian’s heart itched unbearably. As if under a spell, her hand slowly reached toward Fan Zhen’s lower back.

 

Just as her fingers hesitated close, Fan Zhen lifted her head. Fang Songxian quickly pulled her hand back, pretending nothing had happened.

 

Fan Zhen looked at her blankly.
“I’ve only wrapped the wound temporarily. I don’t know if there’s any bone injury. You’d better have its owner take it to a vet.”

 

Fang Songxian gave an awkward smile.
“Sis, this puppy doesn’t have an owner. I found it in the bushes—probably abandoned.”

 

Fan Zhen’s eyes dimmed slightly. She gently stroked the puppy’s soft back and murmured,
“You don’t have a home either?”

 

The puppy, comforted, wagged its tail and burrowed into her arms, letting out soft whimpers.

 

Fan Zhen rubbed its damp nose with her thumb, and her mind involuntarily drifted to thoughts of her late grandmother.

 

Whenever she was upset, her grandmother would gently tap her little nose and say,
“Who made my little daffodil cry? Grandma will go scold them for you.”

 

Once the feeling of homesickness stirred, it was impossible to suppress. Fan Zhen’s eyes began to heat up, her eyes reddening at the corners.

 

Fang Songxian had tried so hard to please her, only to be rejected every time. She hadn’t expected that this stray puppy would be the one to break through.

 

Her heart suddenly leapt wildly, beating so fast it made her actions frantic. Emboldened, she leaned closer—so close that her nose nearly touched Fan Zhen’s cheek.

 

At that instant, Fan Zhen felt something was off. She stood up abruptly, pulling away to put distance between them.

 

The small room fell completely silent, with only the wind and the rustling trees outside, and her tense breathing inside.

 

“I—I’m going back. Miss Sun is waiting for me…”

 

“Sis…” Fang Songxian looked around the dim space, the corners of her mouth curling faintly.

 

This place was far from the main building, rarely visited even on normal days. And right now, during the height of the banquet, no one would come here.

 

Fang Songxian didn’t even know what she was trying to do. She had never been this close to Fan Zhen before. Her feet moved uncontrollably, step by step toward her.

 

Fan Zhen cautiously backed away, her eyes wide with fear and alertness. Her voice was icy:
“Miss Fang, don’t come any closer.”

 

Fang Songxian stopped, stung by the guarded look in her eyes.
“Sis, why don’t you like me?”

 

Fan Zhen hugged the puppy tighter, trying to steady her voice.
“I already like someone else.”

 

“You’re lying!” Fang Songxian suddenly snapped. All sense of decorum and poise vanished. She closed in, towering over Fan Zhen.
“Last time I asked, you said there wasn’t anyone!”

 

In the dim space, only Fang Songxian’s eyes gleamed—feral, like a wild beast.

 

Fan Zhen’s face turned pale with fear. Seeing Fang Songxian’s arms about to close around her, she quickly held the puppy up in front of her. The puppy barked sharply, causing Fang Songxian to freeze.

 

Seizing the moment, Fan Zhen shoved her away and ran out the door.

 

The wind roared past her ears. Her feet felt like they were sinking into mud, not touching solid ground. Her hair flew wildly as she sprinted toward the lights of the main building.

 

As she reached the corridor steps, she crashed directly into Sun Yuqing, who was holding the peach juice.

 

“Ow!” Sun Yuqing instinctively caught the glass, then looked up in surprise.
“Fan Zhen? Why are you running like that—what happened?”

 

“Miss… Miss Fang…” Fan Zhen clutched her chest, panting so hard she couldn’t speak. Suddenly, a fit of coughing hit her.

 

Sun Yuqing quickly patted her back to help her breathe, and handed her the glass.
“Don’t panic—have some water and tell me slowly.”

 

Still shaken and parched from running, Fan Zhen took the glass and drank it all down in one gulp.

 

Because peaches would trigger her unexpected heat, she had only eaten them once—after which she was diagnosed with a stress-induced reaction.

 

Though she’d only had them that once, the flavor was etched into her taste memory. The moment she realized something was wrong, the glass was already empty.

 

Staring at the empty glass in her hand, her heart sank in panic.
“Yuqing… That drink you gave me just now… was it peach juice?”

 

Sun Yuqing smiled and nodded, her voice soft and sweet.
“Yeah! Tasted good, right? Want another? Let’s go to the front hall.”

 

Just as she turned around, a hand suddenly clutched her arm tightly. The grip was so firm that her knuckles turned pale. Looking closely, Fan Zhen’s whole body was trembling.

 

Following the arm upward, she saw Fan Zhen biting her lip, eyes misty. Even under the dim hallway light, she could see the unnatural flush spreading on her cheeks. Her lips moved, gasping short, shallow breaths.

 

Sun Yuqing immediately sensed something was wrong and bent down to check her.
“Fan Zhen, what’s wrong?”

 

Fan Zhen was weak all over, her breath soft and shaky, a trace of tears in her voice.
“Yuqing… I… I don’t feel good. Please go find the young miss… quickly… please…”