Rebirth from the Ashes

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Of course, Fu Qingli wanted a scarf knitted by his sister.

However, he could not bring himself to ask one from her. Hence, he was left to marinate in his jealousy.

Shen Xi’s voice once again traveled from behind the partition. “Mom, I’ll knit one for you and Dad, okay?”

Shangguan Yangiu felt sorry that Shen Xi might be tired out. Nevertheless, she was not going to tum down a handmade gift from her daughter. Shangguan Yanqiu affectionately murmured, “Take your time. We’re not in a hurry. Just knit when you have the time. Don’t strain yourself.”

Shen Xi responded warmly to her concern.

Fu Qingli pricked his ears as he anxiously waited for what was to come. Qingye and Qingxuan managed to get a gift, so did his parents. He should be next, right?

Alas, he waited and waited, only for the conversation to shift direction. No one even brought his name up as though Fu Qingli did not exist. With bitterness taking over his being, his eyes alighted with a fleeting disappointment.

His sister must still be cross to give him any attention.

“Let’s go over there.” Fu Handing got up.

Li Yuan stood up and glanced at Fu Qingli who was down in the dumps. With Fu Qingli shooting him a cold look, Li Yuan nodded at him. “You should head on over, Mr. Fu. I’ll move the chairs.”

Bobbing his head, Fu Handing made his way to the other side of the partition and sat on the armchair next to Shangguan Yanqiu. He listened in on the conversation with a kind look.

Li Yuan carried the chair there to find everyone had ditched the chairs to cram into the sofa. There were three on a two-seater sofa – Shen Xi was in between Shangguan Yanqiu and Fu Qingxuan. The remaining two, Fu Handing and Fu Qingye, sat on the armchair by the sofa. With a smile, Li Yuan moved

the chair to sit opposite them.

It was a stark contrast on both sides of the partition. There was a lively and warm scene of laughter and chatter on one end while the other side was a bleak and lonely sight.

Left alone, the forgotten Fu Qingli stared at the clouds outside the window and waited for people to notice and call him over. It was perfect if his sister called him over.

Although the friendly chat went on for a long time, no one came looking for him. It was as though he was abandoned by the whole world, and the feeling was hard to swallow.

It was time to get off the plane and still not a peep.

Sitting by the window, Fu Qingli watched them carry their luggage down the plane. They walked further and further away, but no one seemed to realize one person was missing among them. Clenching his fists, Fu Qingli’s eyes were burning with a fiery glow.

Soon, Shen Xi turned around and ran back to the plane. Struck with glee, Fu Qingli curled his lips into a smile. His sister still cared about him. She must have noticed he was not around, so she came back to call him.

Fu Qingli picked up the document and looked down on his papers, pretending to be hard at work, the moment Shen Xi reappeared in the plane. With his heart in his throat, Fu Qingli looked forward to the magic word – Brother.

Looking around, Shen Xi tiptoed inside so as not to disturb the man at work. She whispered, “Toffeecito.”

Fu Qingli nearly choked in his fury.

Was he lesser than Toffeecito? Was Toffeecito more important than him, a living and breathing human being?

Fast asleep right by Fu Qingli, Toffeecito had no idea when they left. The cat could not find anyone by the time it woke up. Hence, Toffeecito stayed by Fu Qingli’s side without going around anywhere in case it might be abandoned. Now that Shen Xi was back for it, Toffeecito zipped toward her and

hurtfully meowed.

Shen Xi cheerfully held Toffeecito before creeping away.

Fu Qingli clutched the paperwork in hand, nearly drawing blood from the tight grip. With a frown, he watched the girl’s receding figure while a mix of emotions overwhelmed him.

The temperature on the plane quickly dropped to freezing point with tension rising to an all-time high. With the flight crew holding their breaths, no one had the guts to step forth and disturb him.

Young Master Qingli was a poor soul for his family left without him. It was not their place to guess whether it was a simple slip of the mind or a deliberate act.

At the airport, Shangguan Yangiu got into the car and looked at Fu Qingye. It finally hit her that one person was unaccounted for. “Ye, where’s your brother?”

Putting on a serious face, Fu Qingye answered, “I don’t know. He might have work to deal with.”

Fu Qingli could play hard to get all he wanted. He probably did not know that the way to their sister’s heart was to cling to her like a piece of gum stuck to the shoe. Playing hard to get and being reserved would get him nowhere as their sister would not buy it.

Fu Qingxuan nodded in agreement. “Qingli is a workaholic. You know that, Mom.”

Apart from Shangguan Yangiu who was escorted and distracted by Fu Qingye and Fu Qingxuan’s discussion about Shen Xi’s welcome party when getting off the plane, everyone was aware that Fu Qingli did not come along with them. They had their own thoughts in mind. Fu Qingye and Fu Qingxuan, for

example, decided to leave Fu Qingli high and dry because they were mad at him.

Fu Handing did not think much about it, knowing that his eldest son was the most independent and often acted on his own accord.

As for Shen Xi, she stayed away from each other’s corners.

Since Li Yuan had an issue with Fu Qingli, he was happy to witness the latter’s fall from grace. It was about time Fu Qingli thought about his behavior and character.

They soon arrived at the Fu family’s estate. The brilliantly lit European architecture was a sight to behold from afar.

Shen Xi was filled with emotions to step foot back into Fu residence. This was her second time here. She visited for the first time as a doctor to examine Mom.

At the time, it never crossed Shen Xi’s mind that she would ever have a chance to come back, nor did she imagine in her wildest dreams that she was the daughter of the Fu family. Not only did she come back, but the place was also her home.

Mama Fu and Fu Qingxuan locked each of her arms while Fu Qingye watched on with envy. Not the type to fight over affection, he could only stand there and watch.

The sweet talker of the family who always got his way was Qingxuan. His tricks worked without fail with Mom and Aunt Jungiu, and now their sister was added to the mix.

Li Yuan and Fu Handing strolled and chatted in the back. Their relationship was like father and son as they knew each other for over a decade. Thus, they had a lot to talk about, be it business or Shen Xi.

Nevertheless, their attention was not on the conversation but on the person ahead..