Rebirth from the Ashes

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Fu Qingli swept Fu Junqiu with a cold glance.

Fu Jungiu glared back at him, albeit without much confidence. She meekly added. “I didn’t mean it.”

Fu Qingli pulled a sour look. “Aunt Junqiu, it’s time to change that hasty behavior of yours.”

‘There was no point refuting since she was at fault. Clenching her fist, Fu Junqiu listened as Fu Qingli gave her a lecture. The nerve of him! She decided to let it go in respect of Xixi.

With everyone gathering around her instead of having their dinner, Shen Xi was put in an uncomfortable position. “I’m okay. Let’s have dinner.”

Everyone went back to their seats.

Fu Jungqiu looked at Li Yuan and kicked his chair. “My future in-law, move to the side.”

Li Yuan was in a good mood to be addressed as the future in-law, but sadly, that was not the case for the young masters of the Fu family. Yet, they had no say in it.

Fu Qingxuan wanted to clap back, saying that it was not a sure bet. On second thought, he would be jinxing his sister’s relationship, so he bit his tongue.

Fu Qingye enviously gazed at Li Yuan who was in delight. The couple’s relationship was a done deal, and there was no way around it. Fu Qingye could only console himself with the fact that Li Yuan was a good guy and treated his sister right.

Fu Qingli’s face was so long it could hit the ground. Nevertheless, it was a relief that he would be spared the public display of affection now that Li Yuan gave his seat to Aunt Junqiu.

Fu Junqiu might be sitting next to Shen Xi, but she became Li Yuan’s food runner, serving Shen Xi this and that on Li Yuan’s request. Still, she was flattered to be called aunty.

So much for Mr. Big Shot. Li Yuan may be a bad*ss, but he had to call her aunt.

Furrowing his brows, Fu Qingli’s eyes grew profound. Aunt Jungiu was shockingly naive to be happy over a form of address. They called her that all the time, yet they did not see her so happy. What made Li Yuan so special?

It was really late by the time the family finished dinner.

Fu Jundiu pulled Shen Xi and Shangguan Yanqiu for a shower together. She had a sleepover in mind after the shower.

“Xixi’s tired, so let her have a good rest tonight. Maybe you can share the bed with her tomorrow. She has the whole holidays to spend here.” Shangguan Yanqiu felt bad for her daughter.

Shangguan Yangiu slept together with her daughter last night, but her daughter did not get much sleep and woke up with swollen eyes. She heard from Jinping that the girl was used to her own bed. Xixi would be tossing and turning if they were to share her bed.

“Okay then.” Despite feeling disappointed, Fu Junqiu agreed to the idea. She made an advance arrangement with Shen Xi. “Promise me that you’ll sleep with me tomorrow.”

Nodding her head, Shen Xi gave her word. “Sure.”

Finally having the space to herself, Shen Xi turned off the lights and lay in bed.

The past two days had gone by like a dream. Although she did nothing, she was worn out mentally. Now that things had quieted down, she could not seem to doze off.

For some reason, her mind did not wander off when she slept with Mom last night. However, she struggled to fall asleep for a long time.

Whipping out her phone, she lay in bed and sent Li Yuan a text message. [Shen Xi: Brother, are you asleep?]

[Li Yuan: Can’t sleep?)

[Shen Xi: Yeah. I need my pillow.]

Since she could only sleep on her own bed, strange places only gave her sleepless nights. Oddly enough, she slept well if she had her human pillow.

[Li Yuan: The room on my left belongs to Fu Qingli while Fu Qingye’s in the room on my right.]1

[Shen Xi: I’m coming down to find you.)

[Li Yuan: Fu Qingli is watching National Idol in the living room right now.]

[Shen Xi: Your room is right beneath my parents’ room. I’m next door to my parents. I have an idea.]

[Li Yuan: Don’t climb the window!]

After sending off the message, Li Yuan got out of bed and approached the window for a look outside. The girl had jumped out the window and was clinging onto the window frame like a spiderman.

The girl froze in motion as her gaze fell on a spot. Li Yuan followed her line of vision to a flickering flame. It was a cigarette.

‘There stood none other than Fu Qingli.

It was a beyond awkward moment for Shen Xias if she was caught cheating by the family. There went her reputation. She just embarrassed herself in front of Fu Qingli, and of all people, why did it have to be him?

Did Li Yuan not say he was watching National Idol in the living room? Was it a tactic to mislead Li Yuan? Did Fu Qingli put the TV on and come here to catch her in the act?

Fu Qingli was absolutely capable of doing so since he was as sly as a fox.

Oh, gawd. Shen Xi could only pray for Fu Qingli to play blind and not tell anyone about it. Otherwise, how was she supposed to explain? Like, she jumped out of the window in the middle of the night to look at the view?! Who was she kidding!

Having turned black in the face, Fu Qingli shot a piercing look at Li Yuan who poked his head out before taking large strides over.

‘With Fu Qingli coming over, Shen Xi’s internal alarm bells were ringing as she was caught between climbing back into the room and jumping down.

She could climb back in and pretended nothing ever happened. However, the house was equipped with an anti-theft window. Her scrawny figure got her out but getting back in would be an issue.

Fu Qingli would be waiting for her if she were to jump.

So, she was stuck in the middle. Shen Xi sought Li Yuan with a cry of help.

As Fu Qingli was not far away, it only took him a few steps to draw close. He looked at the girl perching against the wall before catching a glimpse of Li Yuan trying to get out. Fu Qingli gave him the evil eye. “You better stay where you are if you don’t want to wake anyone else.”

With a dainty body like the girl’s, it was not strange for Shen Xi to climb out of the anti-theft window. Li Yuan could be sliced in half if he attempted the same. He would also be discovered if he walked out the door. Qingye and Qingxuan were watching him like a pack of wolves.

Shooting Fu Qingli a look, Li Yuan stopped in his tracks.

Fu Qingli spread his arms and looked at the girl suspended in the air. He solemnly uttered. “Jump.”

Shen Xi did not trust him one bit. Surely, he wanted her to die from the fall. Shaking her head, she spoke in hushed tones, “I wanted to come out and check the weather. The weather’s looking fine. I’m going back to sleep.”

“Tl catch you.” Fu Qingli looked into her eyes as a broken reflection swiftly flashed past his deep and narrow eyes. The hint of emotion went by unnoticed.

She did not trust him. Did she hate him that much? Was he not worth her trust? The realization hurt him..