The fake heiress loves to act? The max-level boss isn't interested in playing along.

"retreat."

Fu Xiao exhaled a puff of smoke.

His voice was tired but firm, "Your grandfather was right, forced relationships are never sweet."

Since the Qin family has this idea, even if a marriage is forced upon them, the couple will not be happy in the future.

He paused, looking into his son's eyes: "Songchuan, go to the Qin family. Tell them... the Fu family agrees to annul the engagement."

But the idea of ​​a marriage exchange is out of the question.

Fu Hua has her own future to pursue, which is beyond their control.

"Just pass on my words to them verbatim."

Fu Songchuan nodded: "Okay."

As he got up to leave, Fu Xiao called out to him again, "Wait."

"dad?"

"Tell your sister...tell Huahua."

Fu Xiao's voice was very soft, "Tell her not to overthink it, this has nothing to do with her."

Looking at his father's tired face, Fu Songchuan felt a pang of sadness: "Okay, I'll talk to my little sister."

Fu Songchuan stepped out of his house; the sun was shining brightly.

The sycamore leaves in the courtyard have turned yellow and fallen, making a rustling sound when stepped on.

In the distance, several neighbors saw him.

They immediately stopped talking and avoided eye contact.

Fu Songchuan straightened his back and walked forward without looking to the side.

From today onwards, the Fu family will face...

It's not just the embarrassment of breaking off an engagement.

And the strange looks from everyone in the compound.

And what about Chaochao? What would happen if she knew about the annulment of the engagement?

And... countless unknown variables.

He believed that the Fu family could pull through.

Because my family has my dad, him, and...

That little sister who was always calm as still water, yet more resilient than anyone else.

The road ahead is long.

This little bit of wind and rain is nothing.

The Qin family seemed to have known the outcome all along.

After Fu Songchuan relayed Fu Xiao's meaning,

Qin's parents sighed inwardly and subconsciously looked at Qin Che beside them.

His disappointment was undisguised.

However, this is already the best result his family could achieve for him.

He was still happy to be able to break off his engagement with Fu Chaochao.

It felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from my heart.

Fu Songchuan didn't stay long; he took his leave after finishing his conversation.

Qin Che personally saw him off at the door.

Before leaving, Fu Songchuan gave him a stern warning: "From now on, our two families will keep to ourselves. If you dare to mess with Huahua, don't blame me for not remembering our friendship of so many years."

"I……"

Qin Che was speechless.

He's about to graduate and will be transferred out of Beijing; he won't be back for another three years.

By then, she will be an adult.

He still has a chance, no rush.

Fu Songchuan gave Qin Che a deep look, then left the Qin family without looking back.

The door to Fu Chaochao's room on the second floor of the Fu family's house was tightly closed.

It hasn't been opened for three days.

In the room, Fu Chaochao was curled up on the bed.

The curtains were drawn tightly shut.

In the dim light, only a bulge of blankets could be seen.

Broken porcelain shards were scattered on the ground.

It was the chicken soup that Su Yurou had just brought over, which she had knocked over.

After Su Yurou entered the room, she first cleaned up the broken pieces of porcelain on the floor.

Then he sat down by Fu Chaochao's bedside and sighed helplessly.

She has already asked her supervisor for leave, partly to rest and partly to take care of Chaochao.

"Chao Chao, have something to eat..."

Su Yurou patted the blanket, her voice choked with sobs, "Mom begs you, just have a sip of porridge..."

no respond.

Only suppressed sobs could be heard.

It came out intermittently from under the covers.

Fu Xiao stood in the corridor, glancing at the situation inside the room, and felt a weight pressing on his heart.

He stepped into the house, went forward, and took the bowl of porridge from Su Yurou's hand.

He sighed softly, "Chaochao, it's Daddy. Can you have some porridge? You can't go without eating, no matter what."

The sobbing stopped for a moment, then turned into a louder wail: "I won't eat! I'll eat anything! Just let me die!"

After being rejected by the Qin family, how will she face people in the compound from now on?

What will others say about her?

Rather than be pointed at and gossiped about, she might as well go on a hunger strike.

Fu Youchuan rushed in from outside, his eyes red: "Dad, you want me to go and beat that kid up? How dare he bully Chaochao like that?"

"Nonsense! Recklessness!"

Fu Xiao snapped, "Go do what you're supposed to do. You don't need to worry about things at home."

"With things like this every day, how can I concentrate on my studies? Dad, Mom, please let me stay and take care of them..."

"What are you looking at?"

Fu Xiao frowned and snapped at You Chuan, "You're about to take the college entrance exam! What's the point of sitting here all day if you're not studying? Go back to school!"

"But every day—"

"Your mother and I will be here every day!"

Fu Xiao interrupted him, "Your most important task right now is to get into university, don't cause trouble here!"

"I understand, I'll be going now."

Fu Youchuan gritted his teeth, his fists clenched tightly.

He went back to his room to get his schoolbag, and just then he caught a glimpse of Fu Hua leaving with her schoolbag on her back.

Their steps were light, as if nothing had happened.

The strawberry hair tie in my hair,

In Fu Youchuan's eyes, the red was blinding.

An unnamed anger suddenly surged up.

Just then, Fu Xiao came out of Fu Chaochao's room carrying chicken soup.

"dad,"

Fu Youchuan pointed downstairs, "Look at Fu Hua, Chaochao is in such a state, and she doesn't even bother to ask about it? Can she even be considered a member of this family?"

Fu Xiao followed his finger and looked down.

Fu Hua was indeed about to go out. She was wearing her school uniform, her ponytail was neatly tied, and she was holding an English book in her hand.

She looked up, met her father's gaze, and nodded slightly as a greeting.

Then he turned around and walked out of the house.

So calm, so natural.

It's as if everything that happens in this house has nothing to do with her.

A complex mix of emotions welled up in Fu Xiao's heart.

Disappointment? Helplessness?

Or is it... some kind of inexplicable weariness?

Perhaps, something was wrong from the start.

"Alright."

Fu Xiao waved his hand, "Go to school."

After saying that, he returned to the doorway and whispered into the house, "Yu Rou, go back inside and rest for a while. I'll keep watch."

Su Yurou wanted to say something, but was stopped by Fu Xiao's gaze.

She wiped away her tears and went back to her room.

She didn't even have time to consider her second son's feelings.

Fu Youchuan glared at the empty entrance downstairs, grabbed his schoolbag, and rushed out the door.

Fu Hua pushed her brand-new Phoenix bicycle out of the compound.

Zhang Wen was already waiting at the door.

Upon seeing her, Zhang Wen's eyes lit up: "Wow! Is this the car your older brother gave you? It's beige, and it's so beautiful!"

The bicycle is indeed beautiful.

The bicycle has a cream-colored body and a silver bell.

The blue ribbon that Zhang Wen gave her last week was still tied to the handlebars.

It's a women's bicycle, which would suit her perfectly.

From now on, I won't have to squeeze into a car with Zhang Wen anymore.

"Oh, did you wear the strawberry hair tie I gave you?"

Fu Hua touched the rubber band and smiled, "Okay, let's go."

"Okay, off to school."

Zhang Wen chuckled, got into the car seat, and kept glancing at Fu Hua's hair.

She'll bring the strawberry hair tie tomorrow too.

That way, others can tell at a glance.

They are good friends.

As they approached the school gate, there were a lot of people, and the two of them pushed their bikes toward the school.

The autumn morning breeze was chilly, but the rising sun felt especially warm on people.

"Huahua,"

Zhang Wen hesitated for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "How is your family? I heard from my classmate that Fu Chaochao hasn't been to school for several days. He was dumped by his fiancé."

Are you asking me or her?

Fu Hua smiled sweetly.

"Of course I'm asking you; you're my best friend."

Zhang Wen looked worried: "I'm just afraid that because of her, you won't have a good time at home either."

"I'm fine."

Fu Hua's reply was brief and casual: "Eat when you're supposed to, sleep when you're supposed to."