“What’s with that expression? After doing something so extreme to little brother Zichen, you don’t feel any remorse? You know he has a terminal illness!”
Fu Xinling instinctively felt that Fu Chuan seemed a little different today.
When Fu Chuan first returned to the Fu family, though timid, he fawned over all seven sisters and treated Fu Zichen like his own. After learning of Zichen’s terminal illness, he went out of his way to care for him.
The seven sisters had privately suspected Fu Chuan of ulterior motives.
He grew up in a rural orphanage, received a low-quality education, and might have picked up all sorts of bad habits. If their parents hadn’t insisted on bringing him back, they wouldn’t have wanted him in the Fu family at all!
What if Fu Zichen thought they brought Fu Chuan back to replace him, the sickly fake younger brother, and his condition worsened?
The more Fu Chuan tried to please the sisters, the more they suspected him of scheming against Zichen.
Sure enough, today Fu Chuan couldn’t hold back—his true nature showed.
“Sorry, second sister. I’ve already apologized to eldest sister and little brother Zichen.”
Fu Chuan said calmly.
There was none of the old sentiment.
It was as if he were speaking to a stranger.
Unexpectedly, his apology was so sincere that Fu Xinling had no reason to vent her anger on Zichen’s behalf.
Even though she wanted to slap Fu Chuan to remind him of his place in the family—always inferior to Zichen—she couldn’t.
Fu Xinling was the educated second daughter of the Fu family. She couldn’t stoop to such a loss of dignity.
“Next time, I won’t let you off! Now go eat!”
She glared fiercely at Fu Chuan and turned to go downstairs.
In the air, Fu Chuan’s calm voice seemed to drift:
“There won’t be a next time…”
In Fu Chuan’s heart, the Fu family no longer mattered.
Completely meaningless.
Who cares about anger or joy for someone irrelevant?
Fu Xinling’s heart skipped a beat. She turned sharply to see Fu Chuan, who was obediently following.
Strange… what did he just say? Or did she mishear?
Once downstairs, Fu Zichen immediately approached, carefully placing the photo frame before Fu Chuan:
“Fu Chuan, I’m really sorry… I accidentally broke your frame, but I’ve done my best to repair it. Please don’t be angry anymore, I’m really scared… cough cough!”
“Little brother Zichen, why did you repair it yourself? Don’t you know you need to rest because of your health?”
Fu Xinling spoke, feeling both pity and annoyance toward Fu Chuan.
Fu Zichen shook his head earnestly: “Second sister, it’s fine. It’s my fault, I should take responsibility.”
“…Green tea bitch.”
Three words flashed through Fu Chuan’s mind. He muttered wryly, “Turns out when men play the victim, it’s really no different from women.”
Perhaps Fu Zichen never truly respected Fu Chuan.
He only needed to play pitiful, and the family would fight for him.
They even sent their real son, their true brother, to the police station!
Gifts meant for Fu Chuan, even the childhood engagement, could easily be snatched by Zichen!
The absurdity of it all—small events blown out of proportion. The sisters painted Fu Chuan as the villain, Zichen as the innocent lamb. Fu Chuan supposedly would devour Zichen whole, triggering his terminal illness.
It made Fu Chuan realize he would never be treated as the true younger brother by the sisters in this life.
“Fine.”
Fu Chuan took the frame, keeping a measured distance from Fu Zichen.
Fu Xinling frowned sharply: “Little brother Zichen repaired a broken frame for you, and you act like this? Fu Chuan, don’t forget you’re the older brother! Don’t forget Zichen is fragile—what if something happens?”
“Second sister, please…”
Fu Zichen spoke softly.
“Thanks, little brother Zichen.”
Fu Chuan set the frame aside, head lowered.
“Hmph!”
Fu Xinling snorted coldly. If not for Zichen pleading for him, she wouldn’t have let Fu Chuan off so easily.
At the dinner table, only eldest sister Fu Linger, the company president, second sister Fu Xinling, a lawyer, Fu Chuan in senior year, and Fu Zichen in junior year were present.
Fu Chuan ate quietly, keeping a low profile.
Say nothing, do nothing, make no mistakes.
Fu Linger and Fu Xinling discussed company matters.
With their parents abroad, busy with overseas business, the company relied on eldest sister Fu Linger to maintain control.
Seeing Fu Chuan ignoring everything, Fu Xinling was annoyed.
He even played the innocent victim—unbearable.
So she deliberately asked, “Little brother Zichen, how are your grades lately? Are you enjoying school?”
“I’m happy, second sister. I got first in the entire grade!”
Fu Zichen smiled brightly.
“Wow! Amazing! I guess second sister owes you a big red envelope!”
Fu Xinling ruffled his hair, glancing proudly at Fu Chuan.
This was the difference between Fu Chuan and Fu Zichen!
Fu Chuan had average grades. He only got into the top high school’s special art class because of his skill in painting and the family’s connections.
Fu Zichen got in on his own merit.
With this contrast, who wouldn’t favor the clever, obedient, smart, and capable Zichen?
Fu Chuan didn’t react.
He kept his head down, eating quietly.
“Fu Chuan, little brother Zichen is so outstanding, shouldn’t you praise him as his older brother?”
Fu Xinling couldn’t stand his indifference and deliberately provoked him.
People are strange. Before, Fu Chuan had fawned over her, and she had thought he had ulterior motives. She had angrily warned him not to get close. She would never admit Fu Chuan was her blood brother.
Now he seemed like a different person: quiet, obedient, not causing trouble, not flattering her. Fu Xinling felt unsettled, like something was missing.
She wouldn’t admit it, but Fu Chuan’s attitude, as if the family owed him something, irritated her.
Even Fu Zichen looked at Fu Chuan thoughtfully.
This was not the Fu Chuan of the previous life.
What was going on?
Fu Linger furrowed her brows subtly but said nothing.
“Second sister, don’t worry. Fu Chuan is impressive—he got into senior year’s special art class at City No.1 High because of his painting…”
“Painting skills aside, how can that compare to overall excellence in virtue, intelligence, sports, and arts? Right, Fu Chuan?”
Fu Xinling’s eyes fixed on Fu Chuan, hoping to see him embarrassed.
To make him realize he had no right to act high and mighty in the Fu family!
“Little brother Zichen is amazing. I’m full. I’ll go back to my room.”
Fu Chuan complimented Zichen as implied, set the dishes aside, and returned to his room.
Fu Xinling felt like her punch hit cotton—soft, unsatisfying, and frustrating.
She was still fuming through dinner.
“Second sister, what’s wrong with you today?”
Fu Linger noticed Fu Xinling was unusually agitated.
“Isn’t it all Fu Chuan’s fault! If he hadn’t been sulking, why would I be so angry? It’s clearly his fault, and now it’s like the whole family owes him—who does he think he is!”
Fu Xinling vented nonstop.
“Fu Chuan has already been educated by the police. That’s enough. Do you want little brother Zichen to suffer further?”
Fu Linger spoke coldly.
Fu Xinling paused, seeing Zichen’s pitiful look, and didn’t continue.
She secretly marked Fu Chuan in her mind for future reckoning.
Ah! So infuriating!
After dinner, Fu Xinling saw the frame Fu Chuan had carelessly set aside. She immediately flew into a rage.
She grabbed the frame and stormed to his room, knocking forcefully as if to vent her anger.
The door opened, revealing Fu Chuan’s handsome face: “Yes?”
“Little brother Zichen repaired the frame for you. Why did you leave it aside? Did you intentionally get mad at him? This frame means nothing to you!”
“Forgot.”
Fu Chuan ignored her and reached to take back the frame.
“Fu Chuan, nice! You can’t hide it! You deliberately targeted little brother Zichen today! You deserve the police station! You should be locked up a few days for a lesson!”