10
These two women—one of them was Ji Yan, Fu Qingheng’s half-sister from his father’s side.
The Fu family’s lineage was quite simple. The old master, Fu Huachao, had only one precious daughter, Fu Yinxi, whom he had cradled in his palm like a pearl since childhood.
Fu Huachao wanted nothing else but to find a good man for his daughter.
In her youth, Fu Yinxi met a poor young man named Ji Chuan.
Ji Chuan was good-looking in his younger days. Fu Yinxi, who had never really known men, fell for Ji Chuan at first sight and deeply loved him.
She was even willing to defy Fu Huachao’s wishes and insisted on marrying Ji Chuan.
Old Master Fu disagreed, but he couldn’t win against Fu Yinxi, who threatened to harm herself. After several episodes, the old man relented and allowed them to marry.
At first, it was a happy, enviable marriage—until Fu Yinxi, seven or eight months pregnant, caught Ji Chuan having an affair with another woman.
In her rage, she went into premature labor and gave birth to Fu Qingheng.
Soon after giving birth, Fu Yinxi, unmoved by Ji Chuan’s pleas on his knees, hardened her heart and divorced him.
She had intended to raise Fu Qingheng well, but he was born premature and had been weak and sickly since childhood. Doctors said he wouldn’t live past ten.
The childbirth had damaged Fu Yinxi’s health. Already unwell, she became depressed upon learning that her only son wouldn’t live long. Even nourished by expensive, precious medicines, she passed away just a few years later.
The other woman was Shi Jie, Ji Yan’s close friend.
Anyone with eyes could see that Shi Jie liked Fu Qingheng. She would coax Ji Yan into coming over every few days, purely as an excuse to see Fu Qingheng.
That morning, Fu Qingheng had left with a grave expression, and no one knew where he had gone.
Ji Yan and Shi Jie had indeed come all this way for nothing.
“Then we’ll just wait here for my big brother to come back!”
Ji Yan pulled Shi Jie down onto the sofa and glared at Yang Qing. “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and pour us some water, or believe it or not, I’ll tell my big brother you’re bullying me!”
Yang Qing rolled his eyes speechlessly, turned around, and brought two cups of tea over.
Ji Yan picked hers up, saw it was just plain boiled water, and slammed the cup heavily onto the coffee table. “I drink flower tea! What is this garbage you gave me?”
“There’s no flower tea, just plain boiled water,” Yang Qing replied calmly, restraining his temper.
Ji Yan crossed her arms. “I don’t care. Go buy some flower tea right now. I want to drink it!”
Where was he supposed to buy that this early in the morning?
Ji Yan had come early just to pick a fight. Yang Qing had a headache. “Miss Ji—”
“Miss Ji?”
Ji Yan’s temper flared. “Yang Qing, what do you mean by that? Are you looking down on me?”
Yang Qing denied it. “That’s not what I meant. It’s just a habit from calling you that before!”
He had always addressed her as “Miss Ji” in the past, and she had never gotten upset about it.
“You’re just bullying me! When my big brother gets back, I’m going to tell him and see how he deals with you!” Ji Yan’s temper was fully riled up. “I’ll make him fire you!”
This butler—every time she looked at him, he rubbed her the wrong way.
Yang Qing pressed his lips together and said nothing more.
Ji Yan had been spoiled since childhood and was willful by nature. If it weren’t for the fact that she had saved Fu Qingheng’s life when they were young, Yang Qing would never have allowed Ji Yan to act so unruly here.
All he could do now was hope Fu Qingheng would return soon. Only Fu Qingheng could keep Ji Yan in check.
Yun Li had been woken up by Ji Yan’s voice. Rubbing her eyes and yawning, she made her way downstairs.
Just awakened, Little Yun Li was still a bit dazed, her voice soft, hoarse, and sleepy.
Seeing Yang Qing, Yun Li’s eyes lit up, and she sweetly called out, “Uncle Yang!”
Hearing Yun Li’s voice, the three people downstairs all turned to look at her.
Ji Yan stared at the young girl standing at the staircase—her skin fair and delicate, her face extraordinarily beautiful, with a hint of charm in her pure and innocent look.
She was utterly stunned. How could there be such a ravishingly beautiful woman in this world?
Beside her, Shi Jie was equally dumbfounded.
Yun Li wasn’t interested in the two strangers who had suddenly appeared in the house.
Her gaze was fixed directly on Uncle Yang. “Uncle Yang, I’m hungry. I want some fat chicken.”
For a fox, the happiest thing in life was having big, fat chicken for all three meals.
Yang Qing looked at Yun Li. She was absolutely adorable just waking up—so much so that he wished he had a daughter this cute.
Truly, it was only by comparing people that you could see the difference.
Ji Yan was willful and unreasonable, throwing tantrums all day long just because she was Fu Qingheng’s sister. Little Yun Li, on the other hand, was far more endearing.
“Breakfast is already prepared. It’s chicken congee.”
“Chicken congee?” Another dish Yun Li had never heard of. “Is that made with chicken too? Is it delicious?”
In comparison, Yun Li was indeed far more likable.
The two of them completely ignored Ji Yan and Shi Jie sitting nearby. Yang Qing said, “Ah Li, I think you’ll really like it.”
“As long as it’s made with chicken, I’ll love it!” Yun Li said joyfully, already eager to eat.
Just as Yang Qing was about to lead Yun Li to the kitchen, the two who had been overlooked could no longer contain themselves.
Shi Jie’s first reaction upon seeing Yun Li was to be stunned by her beauty, followed immediately by a surge of crisis rising from the depths of her heart.
Fu Qingheng had always lived alone. How did such a beautiful woman end up in his house?
Shi Jie secretly sized up Yun Li. The girl was wearing loose, rumpled pajamas—clearly, she had slept there the night before.
Was she Fu Qingheng’s girlfriend?
No, impossible!
Fu Qingheng would never fall for such a flashy, fox-like vixen!
Shi Jie didn’t want to believe it, but she couldn’t control her thoughts. Anxiously, she jabbed Ji Yan’s elbow with her finger, urging her to ask and clarify things immediately.
Who was this woman, and what was her relationship with Fu Qingheng?
Shi Jie had had a crush on Fu Qingheng for so many years. She didn’t want the prize she’d been eyeing to be snatched away by someone else.
Shi Jie had spent years currying favor with Ji Yan and had clearly confided her maidenly feelings to her.
With just one look, Ji Yan understood what Shi Jie was thinking.
Shi Jie becoming her sister-in-law was better than anyone else becoming her sister-in-law.
Besides, this woman before her was far too beautiful—enviable and jealousy-inducing. Ji Yan hated it when others were good-looking.
“Stop right there!” Ji Yan shot up from her chair. “Yang Qing, who is this woman, and why is she here?”
It wasn’t just Shi Jie who was curious—she was, too.
Although Fu Qingheng wasn’t particularly close to her as a half-sister, Ji Yan still knew him somewhat.
For so many years, no girl had ever caught Fu Qingheng’s eye. How had a woman suddenly appeared out of nowhere?
And she had already moved in so quickly?
Ji Yan looked at Yun Li, and the more she looked, the more she found her displeasing.
Hearing the voice, Yun Li also turned her head to look at Ji Yan and Shi Jie.
These two humans were looking at her with unfriendly eyes. Especially the silent one—her gaze was downright venomous.
Yun Li was certain she was seeing them for the first time. Why were they glaring at her so fiercely?
She tilted her head and asked in return, “Uncle Yang, who are they?”
Yang Qing pointed at Ji Yan and introduced her. “This is the young master’s younger sister.”
Then, turning to Ji Yan, he said, “Miss Ji, this is the young master’s fiancée.”
“What? Fiancée?” Ji Yan shrieked in excitement, almost thinking she had misheard.
“Yes, Miss Ji. You heard correctly.” Yang Qing gave an affirmative answer.
Since the young master hadn’t rejected Ah Li’s “giving herself to him,” wasn’t that a tacit acknowledgment of their engagement?
“Ah Li, isn’t that right?”
She wasn’t wrong at all.
Fiancée?
Yun Li had a vague sense that something was off. But then Uncle Yang shot her a look, and she instinctively nodded, answering confidently, “That’s right. I’m Brother Fu’s fiancée!”
“Impossible!”
Shi Jie spoke without thinking. “Brother Fu would never fall for a fox spirit like you!”
This woman had a face capable of bewitching any man. She must have seduced Fu Qingheng.
Yun Li’s heart skipped a beat in fear. Her eyes widened in terror, and she instinctively looked down at her non-existent tail.
She—she had been found out?!
**