Rebirth from the Ashes

“Mom.” Fu Qingli had to address the elephant in the room for Mama Fu to face reality despite knowing he would get a scolding and that she would be sad. “She’s Li Jingran’s daughter. She’s not my sister and not Fu Qingxi!”

A one-time pain was better than reliving the sorrow at every encounter with Shen Xi. Fu Qingli was convinced Mom would think about Lil’ Xi whenever she saw that face.

Fu Qingli felt he was a strong enough person. Yet, he could not help but be drawn to Shen Xi, thinking of her as Lil’ Xi every time they met.

Fu Qingxuan clenched his teeth in anger but had nothing to say about it because he knew Qingli was right.

He promised Qingli not to let Mom know about Meanie because he did not want to see Mom upset.

However, it was cruel of Qingli to say that to Mom. Qingli was so heartless to crush any glimpse of hope.

“Fu Qingli, I am your mother.” Mama Fu may be tearful, but her eyes reflected resolution. “Do you think a trivial matter like this can beat me down?”

The years of countless hope only brought about equal amounts of disappointment. However, the growing disappointment only added stillness to her mind.

She may not be impenetrable, but she was tough enough to handle this.

“Mom, I know what you’re about to say,” Fu Qingli remained unfazed and proceeded with biting remarks. “And I’m telling you now that I won’t agree to it. Ask yourselves. Are you only interested in her because of her looks?

“Will you still have the same fire in your belly if she had a different face?

“You may say that you don’t think of her as Lil’ Xi’s substitute, but the truth is, you still see Lil’ Xi in her. You’re only nice and care about her because of Lil’ Xi. This is very unfair to her and Lil’ Xi.”

Fu Qingli was never going to allow Mom to have contact with her. Otherwise, Mom would only be reminded of Lil’ Xi through her.

Although Fu Qingxuan did not want to admit to it, he was aware that he and Shen Xi would not cross paths in this life without that uncanny resemblance to his mother.

“Regardless, she’s still your cousin.” Mama Fu took a deep breath. Fu Qingli’s hostility towards Shen Xi became apparent to her. “Li, I don’t have to meet her. Don’t make any rash moves.”

It was not as though Mama Fu never met girls who looked like her in the past, but this was the first time she felt a rush in her blood. Shen Xi was the only one.

Perhaps she felt an affinity for Shen Xi because they were related.

Nevertheless, Li was right. Mama Fu had no way to guarantee that she would not think of Shen Xi as Lil’ Xi’s substitute. It was unfair to both her and Lil’ Xi.

Fu Qingxuan fell into deep thought, having been deemed speechless. He knew he should not see Shen Xi as Lil’ Xi, but he often wondered if Lil’ Xi would be just like her had she been found.

However, he was incapable of not meeting her, not contacting her, not speaking to her, and cutting all ties with her. Fu Qingxuan could not give up on her despite his brother’s harsh words.

Fu Qingxuan was clear that it would be unfair to Shen Xi, but he was willing to accept retribution for his actions.

Finally keeping quiet about Shen Xi, Mama Fu turned her head away and quietly observed the scenery outside the window. Why did she have to run into the girl?

…

Shen Xi felt that she should be happy to spend some time alone with Li Yuan. It was a cause for celebration.

Nevertheless, there was a pit in her stomach that would not go away. She felt uneasy to do anything at all.

All she could think of was Mrs. Fu’s face when she was laughing, sad, happy, and tearful.

The woman was different from Li Jingran. Shen Xi only saw warmth and not disgust in Mrs. Fu.

A person’s bearing was quite a philosophical subject. Two people with the same face and facial features were distinguishably different individuals because of their bearings.

Li Yuan could tell something was on Shen Xi’s mind since returning from the lab. He carried a fruit platter and placed it on the table. “Have some fruit before you hit the sack.”

Shen Xi complied and picked up a fork to help herself. However, the fruit came out bland in her mouth. Lifting her chin towards the man, she blurted, “Brother, did I go too far?”

Li Yuan gazed at the young lady. “What’s wrong?”

Shen Xi gave an account of her attitude towards Mrs. Fu in the afternoon. She might feel better talking about it rather than holding it in and obsessing over it. Seeking his approval, her eyes were fixated on him. “Was I too much?”

Li Yuan asked, “Do you like her?”

Shen Xi could not say for certain, but her lips suddenly curled. “I get a feeling that she’s a nice and warm person. She gave me a cake in the afternoon and pulled a sheet over me when I was asleep on the sofa.”

Nevertheless, despite being conscious that she should not have had further contact with them, her feelings would at times get the better of her.

“Don’t think about what others would think. They’re all opinions.” Looking intently into her eyes, Li Yuan pointed at her heart. “Dig deeper when you don’t have the answer. Does it bug you that they think of you as another person?”

It only took a quick investigation to get to the bottom of why the Fu brothers were interested in his fair lady.

Since Li Jingran and Mrs. Fu were twins, it was no surprise that his fair lady looked like Mrs. Fu. Hence the reason why the Fu family was so nice to her.

However, Li Yuan was not going to stand by and allow anyone to see her as someone else. It was the Fu family’s fault they could not find Fu Qingxi. Why did his girl have to be dragged into all of this!

From Fu Qingye, Fu Qingxuan, Fu Qingli, to now Mrs. Fu, could any one of them be sure that they never thought of her as a substitute?

Shen Xi nodded. She minded that fact for sure. Who would not? “I am me, not somebody’s replacement.”

It did not take long before she felt conflicted again. “I feel sorry for the Fu family. They hadn’t been able to find their sister.”

Li Yuan knew she still wavered in her decision. His fair lady may appear aloof towards outsiders, but she was in fact, a softie. “Do you pity them?”

Shen Xi shook his head. She could not put a finger on her feelings about the Fu family. It was too complicated. Sometimes, she was unbothered, yet at times, she would be hung up and angry thinking about it.

These emotions only emerged when she looked back but the unrest would quickly settle. After all, she did not spend every waking minute with the Fu family. They were only in contact once in a while.