Rebirth from the Ashes

Fu Qingxuan stood in a daze in a corner. With the argument progressing to this point, Fu Qingxuan finally understood the girl in question. He firmly stood by Fu Qingye and gazed at Fu Qingli before mustering up the courage to defy him for the first time. “You don’t scare me either.”

“What’s so good about her?” Sparks were flying in Fu Qingli’s eyes as he breathed heavily.

At this rate, they would be the death of Fu Qingli!

“Everything about her.” Fu Qingxuan stuck his neck out. Fu Qingli no longer posed a threat now that his rib was broken. “You don’t see the good in her but you’d regret it sooner or later!”

He had nothing to fear with Qingye at his back. In the worst-case scenario, they could just fight him again and break another rib of his!

Fu Qingli’s blood was boiling. Great, great. These sellouts!

“She’s here to see Mom, not because of you, but because Xuan called her the other night.” Fu Qingye smirked and taunted. “What do you think she’s up to? Is she here to face your jeers and threats?”

“Well, aren’t you a hoot? So, she has you guys wrapped around her fingers, huh?” Fu Qingli gradually gathered himself before fixating his still eyes on them. “Do what you want as long as you do right by our little sister.”

Fu Qingli could leave them be, but he would never allow anyone to take away anything that belonged to their little sister. Not even a little!

It never occurred to Fu Qingye that Fu Qingli would take a step back. Had he known, he would have started a fight early on and not waited to retaliate only when Shen Xi turned her back on them. “I’m not a child. I know what to do.”

He had never thought of Shen Xi as his little sister’s replacement. Whatever that was Qingxi’s remained hers and would forever be hers.

Fu Qingxuan wanted to advance but withdrew instead following a cold look from Fu Qingli. He hid behind Fu Qingye and held his arm. “I’m not a child either.”

“I’m not going to bother with whatever you do from now on.” Fu Qingli kept a flat tone but soon switched it up and gave them a threatening look. “But you can’t let Mom see her.”

He was done playing the cat and mouse game with the pair. Since they had gone rogue one after another, Fu Qingli had had enough and did not want to go on like this.

“Qingli, you know that Mom’s illness was largely related to meeting her. Why won’t you admit it?” Fu Qingye looked him in the eye. “Has it not crossed your mind that Mom is just trying to find comfort in her?”

“Why not say that Mom wouldn’t end up like this if it weren’t for her?” Fu Qingli could not believe that he would bring this up. “Mom only fell sick because of her!”

It made Fu Qingxuan hesitant to speak and refute. He was the one who brought Meanie to the lab where Mom ran into her.

Nevertheless, Fu Qingxuan was still of the opinion that it was unfair to Meanie. Clenching his fists, he stood up and said, “I’m the one to blame. I take full responsibility.”

“I haven’t gotten to you yet, but good for you to own up now!” Fu Qingli gritted his teeth.

At least he was smart enough to know he was the cause of this!

Picking up the grimacing look on Fu Qingli’s face, Fu Qingxuan took shelter behind Fu Qingye and offered a word of warning. “As a doctor, I should sternly advise you to refrain from moving, speaking aloud, sneezing, and breathing. Otherwise, don’t blame me if your rib grows sideways.”

Fu Qingli saw red. “…”

The calmest of them all was now Fu Qingye. The fight cleared away his unrest. Looking at the man leaning against the headboard, Fu Qingye finally asked the question that had been on his mind but never had the guts to put it forward. “Qingli, what if we never find our little sister?”

Indeed.

It was a reality no one was willing to think about and bring up, a pain they do not want to be reminded of.

They refused to admit the possibility that their little sister would never be found.

The Fu family had been on the hunt for seventeen years. Still, they were not even the least bit closer to finding her. It was a devastating and mortifying fact.

Fu Qingxuan quietly hung his head low, hiding the pain and tears in his eyes.

Fu Qingye pointed out the gruesome fact that they did not want to face yet they must.

Every time they were sure Fu Qingxi could be found, reality always shoved them to the ground. Who were they fooling?

The Fu family would never end their search for their sister. Never.

However, no one could deny this fact either.

Sure, they were not in denial, but actually talking about it was a different story.

Fu Qingli picked up a frame on his desk and smashed it at Fu Qingye. He exasperatedly yelled, “Get out!”

Nonsense!

Of course, their little sister would be found. Fu Qingli would spend his life looking for her, no matter where she was.

They were not to speak such discouraging words, not on his watch. Fu Qingxi would be found and there were no ifs in his book.

“Qingli.” Fu Qingxuan nervously gazed at him. “Your rib. Watch your ribs.”

With no intention to continue the conversation, Fu Qingye pulled Fu Qingxuan away to leave, also to give Fu Qingli the time and space to think and cool off.

While treading off, Fu Qingxuan happened to stumble on a frame, and on closer look, he reached out to grab it but was pulled away. He came apart. “Qingxi… Qingxi.”

Showing no concern, Fu Qingye quickly pulled him out and shut the door for Fu Qingli. He then turned to Fu Qingxuan and asked, “Are you with me?”

Since Fu Qingxuan was a flip-flopper, Fu Qingye had to get to the bottom of his thoughts. Otherwise, he would be the one stabbed in the back.

Fu Qingxuan solemnly nodded and raised three fingers in the air. “I swear that I am definitely with you.”

Fu Qingye threw another question, “Aren’t you afraid of him?”

Fu Qingxuan was certainly afraid. However, he realized that Qingli was not as scary as before during the earlier confrontation. He forcefully bobbed his head. “I’m not a child.”

Fu Qingye answered, “You better hold your ground.”

Fu Qingxuan quickly went after Fu Qingye who was about to take off. “What were you guys talking about? Did Meanie come to see Mom? When did she come? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Fu Qingye looked at him like he was an idiot without hiding his disdain for Fu Qingxuan’s IQ at all.

Fu Qingxuan replied, “Qingye, we’re united with a common ground. Why didn’t you tell me Meanie was here? That isn’t very nice of you.”