The Beautiful Older Sister I Picked Up Is Good at Flirting - Chapter 9

Chapter 9

The lingering scent of Qinan agarwood in the air gradually dissipated—faint to the point of barely detectable.

Fanzhen tried moving her legs—no problem. She could move freely.

“That’s good,” she smiled and pulled away from Fu Siyi’s embrace. Then she crouched down to clean up the broken glass.

Fu Siyi moved to stop her out of concern, but Fang Songxian was faster and grabbed Fanzhen’s wrist first. “Jiejie, don’t touch that—you’ll cut your hand.”

Fu Siyi subtly withdrew her hand and stuffed it into her pocket, speaking lightly, “Leave it. I’ll have Uncle Zhong clean it up later.”

Fanzhen didn’t insist. She got up, nodded gratefully to the others, and slowly walked out the door.

Once Fanzhen left, Fu Siyi’s emotions also settled down. She glanced at Ai Qing and said softly, “Ai Qing, I’m sorry for earlier—I overreacted.”

“No, no,” Ai Qing quickly took the blame, full of remorse. “It was my fault—I spoke without thinking.”

Everyone came over to smooth things over. The two of them exchanged a smile, clearly not holding onto the earlier unpleasantness.

But Fang Songxian seemed to take it quite seriously. She trailed after Fu Siyi and asked, “Fu Siyi, do you like Fanzhen?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Fu Siyi turned sideways to avoid her pestering.

Fang Songxian spread her arms, blocking her path. “If you don’t like Fanzhen, then let me have her.”

Fu Siyi gave her a cold sideways glance. “Is Fanzhen an object to be passed around?”

Fang Songxian lifted her chin. “Fine then. Go ask her if she’s willing to come with me.”

…

Fu Siyi thought Fang Songxian was just joking, but she didn’t expect her to keep calling relentlessly.

“Fu Siyi, did you ask her or not?”

“If you won’t ask, I’ll go talk to Fanzhen myself tomorrow.”

“What’s the point of you keeping her around if you won’t treat her like an honored guest? You should let me take care of her.”

“You should ask Fanzhen what she wants. Maybe she doesn’t want to be a maid—maybe she wants a better life.”

Fu Siyi was getting a headache from her incessant nagging. She didn’t want to respond, but her last sentence gave her pause.

Maybe…

Maybe Fanzhen did want a better life.

After all, the saying goes, “People strive upward, water flows downward.”

Fu Siyi paced twice in her study, then pressed the intercom: “Granny Ying, have Fanzhen come to the study.”

Fanzhen was in the garden, moving flowerpots. When she heard Fu Siyi was looking for her, she quickly put down her trowel and ran upstairs, panting.

The study was well-heated. Fanzhen blinked the water droplets off her long lashes and gave Fu Siyi a gentle smile. “Miss Fu, you were looking for me?”

Fu Siyi was momentarily dazed—maybe it was the snowflakes on her head, or maybe it was her radiant smile. She smiled like sunlight washed clean by a crystal-clear spring—warm and healing.

Fu Siyi awkwardly looked away, pretending to flip through documents, her tone casual: “Have a seat.”

Fanzhen looked a little uneasy. “We servants aren’t supposed to sit with the master. Granny Ying taught me that.”

Fu Siyi pressed her lips into a line. “What if I see you as a friend?”

Fanzhen looked startled. “That… that’s not appropriate.”

Fu Siyi’s irritation flared at her excessive caution. “I order you to sit down.”

Fanzhen obeyed, cautiously inching toward the chair and sitting with her back ramrod straight.

Fu Siyi closed the file and leaned on her elbow, looking as if making casual conversation: “Do you really want to stay with the Fu family?”

Fanzhen nodded. “Yes, Miss Fu.”

Fu Siyi added, “You want legal residency—so you can go wherever you want, not be trapped inside every day, cut off from the outside world.”

Fanzhen’s lips curved into a smile, and she nodded firmly. “Yes.”

Fu Siyi looked steadily at her. “But… I haven’t promised to help you get residency right away.”

“That’s okay. I’m willing to earn it through hard work.” Fanzhen smiled gently, not the slightest hint of disappointment or complaint. “Didn’t you say that if I perform well, you’ll try to help me apply? I believe in you.”

Fu Siyi’s eyes glimmered with approval. The corners of her pale lips lifted slightly—then quickly fell again.

Looking at Fanzhen, she continued, “Now, there’s a shortcut in front of you. You could get residency without doing any work. Would you take it?”

Fanzhen froze. “What?”

Fu Siyi was usually a straightforward person. She had originally planned to ask Fanzhen directly if she was willing to go with Fang Songxian. But somehow, the words came out roundabout.

She asked instead, “What do you think… of my classmates?”

Fanzhen was confused but answered earnestly, “They’re very nice.”

Fu Siyi lowered her gaze, hesitated a few seconds, and asked, “Then… what do you think of Miss Fang?”

“Miss Fang?” Fanzhen paused, seeming to think hard. Only after a moment did she respond, “Which one is Miss Fang?”

Fu Siyi: ???

Fang Songxian had been acting like a peacocking show-off all day, and Fanzhen hadn’t noticed her at all?

Fu Siyi’s beautiful peach blossom eyes held a hint of laughter. “Miss Fang was wearing a black velvet dress. She told you not to touch the glass. Do you remember now?”

Fanzhen thought again, then nodded mechanically.

Fu Siyi felt it was necessary for Fanzhen to understand before making a decision. “Miss Fang’s grandmother was a princess in Italy. Her family background is very prestigious. As for her looks… you’ve seen her. Personality-wise… she’s quite outgoing…”

Fanzhen finally sensed something was off. Her fingers clenched on her lap without realizing it. “She’s your friend. Her family, her appearance, her personality—what do they have to do with me?”

“Because…” Fu Siyi said as calmly as possible, “She wants to date you.”

Fanzhen shot up from the chair, her voice tightening. “Miss Fu, please don’t joke like that. Someone like me isn’t worthy of someone like Miss Fang. It’s impossible.”

“Fanzhen, Miss Fang can help you get residency, and you wouldn’t need to lift a finger.” Fu Siyi’s gaze dropped, her eyes carrying an emotion even she didn’t notice. “Here, you’re just a maid. But at her house, you’d be treated like a guest. She’d buy you a house, jewelry… anything you want.”

“But if you…”

Fu Siyi never got to finish her sentence—“if you don’t want to go, I can turn her down for you”—because Fanzhen interrupted her, visibly emotional: “Please stop, Miss Fu.”

She looked straight into Fu Siyi’s eyes. “Miss Fu, I know it’s hard to get legal residency without documents. I know staying here might cause you trouble. Don’t worry—I won’t stay long…”

Fu Siyi realized she had misunderstood and tried to explain, but the words that came out were, “Where will you go? Are you going with Fang Songxian?”

Fanzhen shook her head. Tears were already brimming in her eyes, though her face showed no vulnerability. “No. I won’t go with anyone.”

Fu Siyi’s voice trembled slightly. “Then… where will you go?”

“I… I don’t know.” Fanzhen’s lashes fluttered twice, her voice hoarse with a hint of choking. “Su Country is a big place. There must be somewhere I can go.”

She took a deep breath, pushing back the moisture in her eyes, and bowed deeply. “Miss Fu, thank you for everything you’ve done. I hope you’ll always be happy.”

With that, Fanzhen walked slowly toward the door. After a few steps, she stopped, turned to look at Fu Siyi one last time—then turned and ran.

Fu Siyi clearly saw the red rim of her eyes. Her fingers curled unconsciously in the shadow.

Did she say something wrong?

Why had Fanzhen reacted so strongly?

She didn’t want to go with Fang Songxian? Then fine—just stay here. She could stay as long as she liked.

Why leave?

Fu Siyi reopened her files, trying to distract herself with work, but she couldn’t focus at all. Eventually, she closed the folder and pressed her fingers to her temples in frustration.