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: TWOF Chapter 33\n
: TWOF Chapter 35\n
Fu Rong used the chopsticks to cut the dumpling in her bowl in half and picked up the shrimp inside to feed it to her younger brother. As she took the chopsticks back, she realized that her father was looking at her with a hesitant and worried expression. When she looked over, her father immediately smiled, âDonât only think of feeding him. You should also eat. If you are well fed at home, you wonât be so hungry outside, and wonât eat stall food that isnât clean.â\n
His worry for her was natural, so she probably was overthinking just now.\n
Fu Rong knew that her father was worried that the people he had arranged would make a mistake and accidentally hurt her. She couldnât remember how many times her father had reminded her today. She felt a little irritated that he didnât trust her, but also satisfied.\n
Before returning to Fuqu Courtyard, Fu Rong walked to her father, smiling as she asked him, âIf daddy is worried, then why not go with us?â\n
Fu Pinyan looked at her helplessly, âYou kids are going out to play, why should I follow?â\n
Fu Rong analyzed him from up to down, suppressing her laughs and saying, âYou can shave your beard. Then, who would know if you are my father or older brother?â\n
These words were flattery, but they were also true. Fu Pinyanâs face did not look old. He was 34 this year, a father of five children. There were no wrinkles on his face. He took good care of his skin, and he had a thin and lean figure, making him truly look like a man in his early twenties. Fu Pinyan knew that women may like appearances, but the officialdom was about seniority. People would easily underestimate him if he had a young face, so he grew his beard early to give himself maturity and stability points to match with his deep, refined, and wise eyes.\n
âStop flattering me.â Fu Pinyan had no time to joke around, and reminded her once again, âStay by your older brotherâs side. You are not allowed to take even one step away, do you understand?â From the very beginning, he did not plan to take action when his daughter and Qi Zhu were together, but Qi Zhu invited her, and his daughter also wanted to join in the fun.\n
âI know, I know, you always treat me like a child.â Fu Rong was annoyed and quickly tried to dismiss him.\n
Fu Pinyan his gaze to his eldest son. Fu Chenâs mouth lifted, âFather, donât worry, even if I lose my life, I will keep Nong Nong safe.â\n
He was clearly smiling, clearly promising to protect his younger sister, but there was a viciousness in his words that could not be concealed.\n
That person wanted to hurt his sister, so she will deserve it tonight.\n
Fu Pinyan nodded his head. He didnât say much and went to look for his wife.\n
Fu Chen went to the doorway to wait for his sister.\n
It was late at night, and the bright red lanterns hung in front of every house provided sources of light. There was the sound of horseshoes coming up the alley. Fu Chen turned his head to look back. It was the Qi familyâs carriage.\n
The carriage slowly stopped. Qi Ce jumped down first. Qi Zhu poked her head out and looked around. Seeing only Fu Chen outside, she smiled and said with a little embarrassment, âItâs cold outside, so I wonât go down. Iâll wait for Nong Nong inside the carriage. Please forgive me, Brother Fu.â\n
Fu Chen looked at the car in the carriage with unprecedented disgust.\n
He finally understood what a snake-scorpion beauty was. His mother was beautiful and had some small tricks up his sleeve. Fu Chen didnât think that it was bad for a woman to be a little scheming, but to use her schemes on innocent people, and for it to be his family, if it wasnât for Old Master Qi, there wouldnât be a need for them to use such secretive measures. They wouldâve gone up to their house and slashed the knife over her face a few times.\n
But he didnât show it, and rather just smiled as he would normally do. He said to Qi Ce, âItâs AâZhu who is thoughtful. When my three sisters go out, they never have a set time. They always cause me to wait a long time. To bother you guys to wait with me today, itâs reallyâŠâ\n
Qi Ce squinted at his familyâs carriage and said in a low voice, âI also waited outside for 15 minutes.â\n
He pretended to be close, and Fu Chen was more than happy to cooperate. The two looked at each other with a feeling of pity for some disease.\n
After laughing, Qi Ce looked towards the Fu manor, and asked with concern but not overly warmly, âBefore, Third Sister was seriously ill. It wasnât convenient for me to visit. I heard AâZhu say that she lost a lot of weight. Did the doctor give a definite diagnosis?â\n
After he mentioned this, Fu Chen immediately started reciting the doctors in Xindu City.\n
Qi Ce seemed to be listening carefully and occasionally echoed a few sentences, but her eyes were secretly fixed to the inside.\n
He missed Fu Rong a little.\n
At first, he didnât have this thought, but later, after not seeing her for a long time, things changed. At his grandmotherâs birthday banquet, she dumbly rushed out and hit him with embarrassment. She sat next to Fu Wan and stared at him with fierce eyes. And her pleased and delighted expression on the boat. Everything became clearer and clearer.\n
So after he learned that she wasnât eating or drinking and was sick in bed, he wanted to see her soon.\n
After overcoming a serious illness, she would probably be very happy with a few of his caring words, right?\n
When he finally saw the figure, Qi Ce couldnât help but straighten his back.\n
He wore a sky-blue round-collar brocade. In the night, the blue looked a little white, making his face seem like the moon and his figure like a lean tree. He looked like a scholar, but also had the air of a martial artist. He stood there like a fine young master, watching the approaching girl. His eyes were tender and affectionate. If it was any other girl, she would probably have flown to him already.\n
Even Fu Rong wanted to blame the Heavensâ blindness for putting such a leather bag on him.\n
They both were good-looking. Qi Ce was looking at Fu Rong with whole-hearted admirance.\n
The young girl was indeed thinner. She was quite taller than a year ago. She walked over wearing a plum-red embroidered cloak, her inner white skirt slightly visible. When she got close, he saw that her eyebrows were like curved bamboo leaves, her eyes were gleaming like stars, her vermillion lips were slightly plump and red, and her face was like beautiful jade, radiant and flawless.\n
The most striking thing was the fire phoenix ornament on her forehead with a bit of arrogant air. Although she was still recovering from her illness, she was clearly reborn from the fire.\n
Qi Ce quietly clenched his hands tightly, thinking for the first time that he was fortunate to not marry Fu Wan.\n
With such beauty, no matter how sensitive or bad she was, a man would be willing to spoil her.\n
âThird Sister, I havenât seen you in a long time.â\n
He slightly lowered his head, and reminded gently, âLook at how thin you are. You must take good care of yourself in the future. If this happens again, donât mention your parents and Zheng Tang. Even we wouldnât be able to bear this.â\n
Fu Rong had already figured out that Qi Ce was using honey-sweet words. She didnât shiver this time but only smiled back, âThank you, Brother Qi, for your concern. I have remembered everything. Alright, letâs set off now. I donât know if there will be anything new this year.â\n
Qi Zhu lifted the curtain and called to her, âNong Nong, letâs sit in the same carriage.â\n
âOkay.â Fu Rong replied with a smile. They were best friends, of course, they had to sit in the same carriage. \n
The coachman had set the wooden bench down long ago, and Fu Rong raised her skirt and stepped onto it. Fu Chen was just about to help his sister up when Qi Ce relied on his closer position. He held her hand before she could turn her head. âThird Sister, be careful. Donât step on air.â\n
His hands were big and warm, but Fu Rong was cold all over.\n
Because when his hands let go, Qi Ceâs index finger moved from her wrist all the way to her middle finger before lifting. When it passed by her palm, it caused a strange itch.\n
The seemingly provocative teases were the most attractive.\n
What exactly did Qi Ce want to do?\n
Forcibly resisting the urge to look back at him, Fu Rong pretended to not have noticed anything and quickly got into the carriage. She sat down firmly and rubbed her hands against her cloak twice.\n
Qi Zhu didnât pay attention to her small movements and looked at her enviously, âNong Nong, you are so beautiful. I donât need to look at the lanterns today, just looking at you is enough.â\n
Fu Rong scolded, âYou say this every time we meet. If you say this again, Iâll ignore you and only play with Yingfang.â\n
Qi Zhu smirked and hugged her arm, âYingfang has gone back to her hometown to spend the holidays. You canât find her even if you want to. You can only play with me.â\n
The two young girls talked and laughed, and the laughter floated outside. Qi Ce was about to get into the Fu familyâs carriage. When he heard the movement, he glanced sideways, thinking that it would be enough if the two girls could maintain such a superficial harmony after marriage.\n
Soon, the two carriages drove after the alley one after another.\n
From the start to the end, no one noticed that two people were standing in the darkness where the lights couldnât reach.\n
âYour highness, should we go?â\n
What responded to him were the unhurried footsteps of a man.\n
~\n
Whenever the curfew was lifted, Qiâan Street, which was full of shops, became the most attractive place in Xindu City. It seemed like most of the stalls put out riddles to add joy. Restaurants used the most expensive mats as prizes. Of course, the silk and satin shops had rare materials. Even the street sellers used a few steamed buns as prizes for children to guess riddles.\n
The nation was bustling and the civilians were at peace. In the busy light and shadow, everyone was smiling.\n
Fu Rong trusted her father very much. And with her experience in the previous life, she didnât try to distinguish what people in the crowd were her fatherâs subordinates, nor was she nervous as a girl who was scheming for the first time, but rather admired the lanterns with her older brother. The lanterns on both sides kept her a distance from Qi Zhu.\n
As for Qi Ce, when he talked to her, she replied with a smile, without avoiding him or responding to his meaningful eyes.\n
Did he really think that she would fall into his handsome boy trap with just a good appearance?\n
Xu Yan was much more handsome than him. The gentleness in his eyes was also real. She didnât even want Xu Yan, so how would she be tricked by him?\n
After dealing with Qi Ceâs boring tactics again, Fu Rong turned around without hesitation. She was just about to find an interesting stall to look around in when she suddenly stopped.\n
In front of the lantern shop opposite her, Xu Yan stood alone. Looking across the street, he was a little startled, then a little surprised, and strode over to greet Fu Chen and Qi Ce, âYou guys are out as well? Why didnât you guys call me?â\n
Fu Chen chuckled, wondering, havenât you come even though we didnât call you?\n
Qi Ce was much more polite. He only thought that Xu Yan was busy, but also secretly observed Fu Rongâs reaction.\n
Fu Rong didnât react at all. She looked as if she had discovered a treasure. She dragged Fu Chen to a stall, and her soft voice was still clear among the noisy crowd, âBrother, that lantern is pretty, buy it for me!â\n
Qi Ce felt helpless. It seemed that she really liked to play, and will probably not pay much attention to him tonight.\n
Xu Yan still remembered Fu Rongâs indifferent words the day before and was a little startled. Did she run away because she discovered that he had purposely bumped into them?\n
Both teenagers were thinking about Fu Rong, and their footsteps quickened as they tried to catch up with Fu Rong and her brother. Even Qi Ce ignored his sister for the time being, for his eyes never left the plum-red figure.\n
Qi Zhu wasnât stupid. How could she not see it through?\n
Her own brother was also bewildered by Fu Rong, and even Xu Yan didnât take a single glance at her.\n
With anger inside, her footsteps slowed down.\n
Suddenly, her shoulders were grabbed by someone. Before Qi Zhu could react, she was forcibly turned around.\n
âYou girl, I was out here desperately trying to make money for you, and you tried to steal from boys behind my back! He wonât like you even if you have a pretty face!â\n
With an uproar in the crowd, the man suddenly lifted the clay pot and threw it forward.\n
Qi Zhu screamed in despair, instinctively raising her hands to cover her face.\n
In the indescribable pain, she heard the sound of something frying in a pan. It was so close and so painful.  \n