Xiao Ci, You Don't Want to Be (23)

Xue Ci hadn't expected Fu Zhouxuan to make such a request.

The other party seems to have forgotten one thing...

"I'm still your uncle's canary." Under the streetlight, Xue Ci's long, curled eyelashes were tinged with gold, and her shadow fell on her fair under-eye area.

Her cheeks had just the right curve, and her lips were slightly puffed out; every feature was pleasing to the eye.

It is indeed a beautiful, fragile little bird that needs emotional nurturing.

Fu Zhouxuan stared blankly until Xue Ci waved her hand in front of him before he reacted.

Are you listening?

Fu Zhouxuan, caught red-handed, looked away and said, "... Here."

Xue Ci: "What did I just say?"

Fu Zhouxuan remained silent.

Xue Ci, unconvinced, said, "I told you I'm your uncle's kept woman now, so you can't just kiss me like you did before."

Unexpectedly, Fu Zhouxuan quickly replied, "Then can you kiss me whenever you want? I can be kissed anytime."

Xue Ci: "..."

He frowned. "Aren't they the same?"

"No, you can't."

Fu Zhouxuan looked disappointed, but still obediently replied, "I understand."

He really wanted to ask, "If you and your uncle separate in the future, can you still teach him?"

Fearing that Xue Ci, he swallowed his words.

The boy bent down and picked up the toys from the ground Yiyi, brushing off the dust, before the two of them entered the villa.

The living room was brightly lit. The other two men of the Fu Family were sitting upright on the sofa and lounging in their chairs. The television was off, and neither of them was on their phones, as if they were waiting for someone.

Xue Ci and Fu Zhouxuan entered the entrance hall one after the other.

Xue Ci was holding a large brown teddy bear with a bow in her arms, while Fu Zhouxuan was carrying the remaining small items. The two of them really looked like a young couple who had just returned from a date.

This makes the two people in the living room look no different from empty-nest elderly people.

Xue Ci, unaware that the two had witnessed Fu Zhouxuan kissing her from the second floor, asked innocently, "Aren't you two asleep yet?"

Fu Yang stood up, his tone sarcastic. "It's only eight o'clock, and you're only just getting back from your date? What am I supposed to sleep?"

Xue Ci a correction. "It's not a date."

Then he secretly glanced in Fu Qingxiao's direction.

Fu Qingxiao noticed Xue Ci's subtle movements, got up and walked towards him, leaning down to whisper in his ear.

Fu Yang saw the man's intimate actions towards Xue Ci, a faint smile playing on his lips, his eyes turning cold.

After listening to Fu Qingxiao's words, Xue Ci placed the bear she was holding on the sofa and instructed Fu Zhouxuan, "Make sure to dust off those that fell on the ground."

Fu Zhouxuan obediently hummed in agreement.

Xue Ci was relieved and was led by Fu Qingxiao to the bedroom on the second floor.

As soon as they entered the room, the man easily lifted him onto the table, Xue Ci's slippers almost fell to the ground.

He looked up, his gaze meeting the man's just barely.

Even in the bedroom where only the two of them were, Fu Qingxiao wanted to whisper intimately to Xue Ci. He rested his knee against Xue Ci's and leaned close to her ear.

Support yourself with your hands at your sides.

To draw people into one's own domain with an attitude of absolute possession.

However, he put on a serious demeanor and said in a calm tone, "I'd like to discuss the engagement banquet with you."

Upon hearing this, Xue Ci pursed her lips.

Back in April or May, Fu Qingxiao had mentioned this matter to him—however, the engagement between the sugar daddy and the canary was completely contrary to the original plot, so he kept delaying it by using the excuse that someone in his family was taking the college entrance examination.

Fu Zhouxuan has now finished his college entrance exams, but he doesn't have many days left before he's about to meet his end.

Xue Ci used the same trick again, grabbing Fu Qingxiao's shirt with her fingers. "It's so hot in summer, can we wait a little longer?"

His deliberately provocative manner was awkward, but it was quite appealing to men.

Fu Qingxiao indeed didn't bring it up again.

However, they didn't retreat.

He nuzzled Xue Ci's neck intimately, then took her sensitive earlobe into his mouth. Only after hearing Xue Ci's soft, trembling voice did Fu Qingxiao release her with pleasure.

What did you do with Fu Zhouxuan today?

Xue Ci rubbed her ears to shake off the tingling itch.

He honestly replied, "Eating, watching movies, and shopping."

Fu Qingxiao narrowed his eyes.

Isn't this just the dating process?

Remembering that his bodyguard had recently taken photos of suspicious individuals, he advised, "It's hot, don't go out too often lately."

"I see."

After Xue Ci, she noticed his phone vibrating, so she pushed him away and jumped off the table.

It was probably a work message. Fu Qingxiao, holding his phone, said, "I'm going to the study."

Xue Ci.

Why does everyone like to lift him onto the table?

Because the baby is very light.

[And soft.]

[She smells wonderful.]

[Like a marshmallow.]

Xue Ci thought it was too exaggerated. Although he wasn't the strong type, he couldn't possibly be as light as a marshmallow.

He retorted, "I have flesh on my body too."

The Fragment was silent for a moment: [How come I didn't see it?]

Xue Ci:?

Is it true or false?

He sat on the bed, raised his legs, arched his knees, and placed his toes on the edge of the bed.

Next, pinch a small amount of soft flesh on the inside of your thigh with your fingers.

It rippled like water.

[Look.]

Xue Ci, completely unaware that she had been tricked, even spoke with a hint of smugness, determined to prove it to the other person. "[What is this?]"

Fragment: [Want to lick it.]

Xue Ci: "?"

[It's pink inside.]

Realizing that he seemed to be deliberately showing off something, Xue Ci's face instantly turned bright red. Unwilling to listen to the other person's nonsense, he simply covered his ears.

The other person teased her, saying, "Baby, you're so silly, covering your ears won't block it."

His cheeks puffed up with anger, and he hid under the covers, ignoring everyone.

*

"These things are all new, where did all this dust come from?" Fu Yang said with a sneer, picking up a doll from the pile and tossing it back and forth in the air, then tossing it again.

They seem to be doing nothing.

He watched Fu Zhouxuan diligently dusting off the doll and said, "You're as obedient as a dog."

"If you do that, he'll teach you how to kiss?"

"I dream quite quickly."

Fu Yang said all this to provoke Fu Zhouxuan. If Fu Zhouxuan responded, no matter what it was, he would make a big deal out of it and vent his jealousy from the whole day.

Unfortunately, Fu Zhouxuan was born with the potential to be a dog; he silently tidied up the dolls and went upstairs.

They completely disregarded him, their elder.

After Xue Ci becomes his wife, will this stray dog still kiss his sister-in-law in public?

Fu Yang's knuckles cracked as he squeezed them.

Out of sheer curiosity, I pinched the bear's ear next to me, and suddenly there was a commotion in the upstairs hallway.

Having spent a winter break living in the villa, he could already distinguish Xue Ci's footsteps, so this one was clearly not hers.

Looking up, I saw Fu Qingxiao coming downstairs.

The man's expression was grave. He lowered his voice after entering the living room and said, "Song Tanhai had someone call me from inside."

Upon hearing this name, Fu Yang's face immediately turned cold. "What does he want? Does he think his sentence isn't long enough and wants to serve a few more years?"

Fu Qingxiao: "He said he wanted to reveal something about Xue Ci's background to me."

Fu Yang was taken aback. "Background? Xue Ci's... biological parents?"

In response to Song Tanhai's accusations, Fu Qingxiao not only hired a legal team but also followed up on the matter himself.

Some time ago, he went to the orphanage where Song Tanhai adopted Xue Ci, wanting to take away Xue Ci's information. He wanted to see if there was any hope of helping Xue Ci find her biological parents.

However, there were no records in the orphanage. The director only knew that Xue Ci had been abandoned at the door. Conditions were poor back then, there were no surveillance cameras, and it was impossible to know who had abandoned her. A few years later, when she reached school age, Xue Ci was adopted by Song Tanhai and his wife.

"Perhaps he really does know Xue Ci's background," Fu Qingxiao said.

Fu Yang raised an eyebrow. "What good will knowing do? Xue Ci is fine as he is now. What if his biological parents aren't good people and will only drag him down like Song Tanhai did?"

After he finished speaking, seeing Fu Qingxiao's expression, he suddenly realized. "You know who Xue Ci's parents are?"

Fu Qingxiao was silent for a moment, then said, "Song Tanhai only revealed one thing: that the family also has the surname Song, and we know each other."

If the surname is Song... Fu Yang was stunned. "You mean the Song Family? But Song Ran never mentioned that any children in her family have gone missing! If that were true, wouldn't it be common knowledge by now?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Fu Qingxiao handed him a stack of photos.

Fu Yang flipped through the papers one by one and discovered that this person was doing the same thing as him—surveillance.

Fu Qingxiao noticed the sarcasm on Fu Yang's face but didn't care. "Recently, the same person has been appearing around him a lot."

The other party was well hidden; Fu Yang didn't see any obvious suspicious persons on the first look.

Upon further searching, he noticed that a car appeared in several of the photos.

Fu Qingxiao: "This car has been checked; it belongs to the Song Family."

"The Song Family knows about Xue Ci too?" Fu Yang thought of Song Ran, "Didn't Song Ran add Xue Ci's contact information?"

It shouldn't be him.

Song Tanhai kept everyone in suspense, not revealing who it was or what the truth was behind it. Fu Qingxiao had a rough idea. "Are you free lately?"

"Why didn't you think of putting my name on the engagement banquet?" Fu Yang instantly understood that this meant they were working together. He picked up his phone, scoffed, and said sarcastically, "Aren't you quite capable on your own? You found the medical records and stuffed them in the TV cabinet, and you pretended to have a memory lapse to make Xue Ci your fiancée."

Fu Qingxiao only answered the first part of the sentence: "These are just small favors, no need to exert yourself."

Fu Yang, unusually calm, returned to the main topic.

Judging by his appearance alone, Xue Ci does indeed seem like a pampered young master.

Perhaps, he is a true young master.

*

The July sun was scorching, Xue Ci lazily hid at home.

Time seemed to have turned back to winter vacation. Fu Qingxiao and Fu Yang went to work during the day, while Fu Zhouxuan stayed home to study.

Xue Ci, on the other hand, still didn't have much to do. She would wake up naturally every day, eat lunch, play games, and play games with Fu Zhouxuan.

However, he didn't feel guilty this time, since there were only three days left before he was killed off.

If a player dies in the small world before the progress bar reaches 100%, they will be in a state of suspended animation, essentially leaving an empty data shell in the small world. Their real body will return to the Quick Transmigration Bureau and wait for the progress bar to fill up.

This time, excluding the protagonist's growth timeline, after returning to the Quick Transmigration Bureau, 11 will accelerate the timeline of the small world.

In other words, he can take a week off.

"Brother Xue Ci, be careful," Fu Zhouxuan reminded him from the side.

Xue Ci snapped out of her thoughts, turned to the side, and saw the boy smile at her.

He paused, then his mood turned somber.

The Fu Family will be sad after I leave.

After all, they usually get along like family.

11 noticed the host's sadness and comforted him, saying, "[They're just a string of data, and they'll be recycled soon.]"

Xue Ci lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

He knew.

He knew this from the very first world.

But... I still can't help feeling sad for them.

Xue Ci played the game absentmindedly for a while, then threw down the controller and picked up his phone. He checked his bank account balance and pondered something to himself.

After everyone finished dinner that day, Xue Ci gave each person a wish list.

Is there anything you want? I'm a little flush lately and can help you get it.

He put aside his sadness and still smiled in front of them.

The group exchanged glances.

The things that children would like are far too naive for the Fu Family's leaders.

But everyone looked like they were enjoying themselves.

Listening to the rustling sound of pens on paper, Xue Ci reminded him, "Write a lot, I'm very rich."

As if realizing that everyone had enough money, he added, "But it's still too expensive to write."

Fu Yang had finished writing and stared at Xue Ci: "What should we do? What I wrote here is priceless."

Xue Ci took it and found that his name was the only one on the wish list.

He paused, stunned.

The remaining two photos still only show his name.

Xue Ci bit her lip, staring at the three identical wish lists.

How could he be so stupid...?

Perhaps they lack nothing.

All I wanted was for him to be by my side.

*

Unable to say goodbye to everyone, Xue Ci instead gave them gifts: Fu Qingxiao's watch, Fu Yang's blood pressure monitor, and Fu Zhouxuan's camera.

The secret stash is almost gone.

The day finally arrived for them to be killed off.

Xue Ci suggested going shopping at the mall in the evening, and Fu Zhouxuan, thinking it was a rare date, got ready quickly.

He, who usually wears dark-colored clothes, was carrying something this time... Xue Ci noticed that he had stuffed the photo booth pictures they took together last time into a transparent plastic box.

11: [This is an itabag, it's very popular!]

Xue Ci felt that she was already out of touch at such a young age, and discussed with 11 about going back to take a vacation and catching up on popular culture in the next few days.

The two didn't go too far.

Xue Ci got out of the car at the location of the car accident as described in the original plot, and had the driver stop near a street about a 20-minute drive away.

There were many cars nearby, so the driver left to park.

Xue Ci gripped Fu Zhouxuan's sleeve tightly, pretending to wander around aimlessly.

Time is almost up.

Ten seconds left, nine seconds left...

Xue Ci's heart pounded in her chest as she silently counted down the days.

However, at the last second, the imagined car accident did not happen—instead, police sirens sounded in the distance, as if a traffic accident had occurred.

Before Xue Ci could even look around, a black minivan slowly drove up beside her.

As soon as the car door opened, a pair of hands with distinct knuckles reached out to him, grabbed his waist, and forcibly carried him into the car.

What happened?

Car accident turns into hostage situation?

Fu Zhouxuan, who was standing to the side, suddenly stopped breathing. He had just made a quick attack when he saw a familiar figure.

Although he didn't understand what was going on, he still squeezed into the car.

Fu Qingxiao's embrace was all too familiar, and Xue Ci quickly realized who had carried her into the car. Originally, there was plenty of space sitting side by side, but after Fu Zhouxuan squeezed in, he was left sandwiched in the middle.

Xue Ci was confused, partly because of the plot and partly because of the person sitting across from him.

It was Song Ran!

Xue Ci and Song Ran had only met a few times. She only knew that the other was an old-fashioned person who liked to collect calligraphy and paintings, a hobby similar to that of the elderly.

--These are all things Fu Qingxiao said.

The two had each other's contact information, but Song Ran was a very conscious person and would only occasionally send him information about art exhibitions and invitations; otherwise, they didn't chat casually.

At that moment, the man he had only met a few times and knew absolutely nothing about was sitting opposite him, staring intently at him.

Unable to ignore the gaze, Xue Ci had no choice but to greet him, "Hello, Brother Song."

The refined, mature man's breathing became noticeably rapid. He opened his lips as if to say something, but hesitated for a moment before closing them again.

Xue Ci completely confused by his hesitant manner.

Fu Qingxiao, who was standing nearby, explained, "Xiao Ci, from now on, listen carefully to what I have to say."

*

Fu Qingxiao brought a wealth of information.

Xue Ci never expected that she, a mere cannon fodder, would be involved in such a melodramatic plot of a cat replacing the crown prince.

His wide-eyed, dazed expression made him look like a dazed kitten to Song Ran across from him.

Unable to control her emotions any longer, Song Ran grabbed Xue Ci's wrist. "I might be your brother."

A man's palms are very warm; the heat is transferred through his skin.

Xue Ci dumbfounded: [11, What... what exactly is going on?]

The CPU of the 11 was almost burned out, emitting a buzzing sound: [Host--You have triggered a hidden plot!]

[Your true identity is the young master of the Song Family!!!]

The hidden plot mentioned in episode 11, the so-called power struggle within the wealthy family, is not aimed at Fu Zhouxuan, but at him!

The truth of the matter was similar to what Fu Qingxiao and his team found in their investigation.

Twenty years ago, Song's mother gave birth Xue Ci. Because it was so far from her due date, only the driver and housekeeper were at home. Before she was taken to the hospital, Song's mother was already unconscious.

After painstakingly giving birth to Xue Ci, she never expected that the driver would have malicious intentions.

His wife had recently given birth to a baby boy, also at this hospital. At this time, the heads of the Song Family had not yet arrived, and the hospital was a small, nearby facility for monitoring and evacuation.

The driver secretly went to discuss it with his wife, and unexpectedly, the couple both wanted their child to enjoy a life of luxury. So, when no one was looking, they secretly switched the two children.

They were both boys, born at the same month, and it was impossible to tell if they were a few days apart or not.

The Song Family treated the driver's child like their own flesh and blood, but the child was unruly by nature, loved to cause trouble everywhere, and his filial piety was only superficial; he would only say a few nice words when he was short of money.

Song's parents were very disappointed in him and no longer hoped that he would grow up to be an outstanding person. They only hoped that he would not cause trouble outside. As for Song Ran, after seeing her younger brother push his friend into the water when she was very young, she was extremely disappointed in her brother and now they were like strangers. Even her doting parents were unwilling to get close to her.

While indulging their fake son's arrogant and pleasure-seeking behavior, they were unaware that their own biological child was being raised away in exile.

The culprits behind all this were their driver, who had worked for them for over a decade, and the nanny who came later.

After processing all of this, the incredulous expression on Xue Ci's face lessened.

I never imagined he had this kind of background.

The temperature on his wrist was rising, Xue Ci pulled herself together, saying tactfully to Song Ran, who was holding his wrist and convinced that he was the real young master, "We haven't done the DNA test yet, so we can't be sure."

After saying that, he realized that what he had said was really discouraging for someone who had just found his younger brother.

However, Song Ran didn't show any disappointment; in fact, she agreed with his thoughts, "I'll do those things, but my parents have heard about it and really want to see you now."

"Xue Ci, can we go to their place first?"

Under Fu Qingxiao's investigation, it was now an undeniable fact that Xue Ci was his younger brother. For the first time Song Ran worried that Xue Ci might have reservations. "Don't worry, the three of them have already been kicked out of the house and will be held legally responsible."

You will never see those three again in your life.

The three people Song Ran mentioned were the driver, the nanny, and the fake young master.

After the driver's wife was discharged from the hospital, she raised Xue Ci in the countryside for several years. She missed her son very much and finally found an opportunity to work as a nanny for the Song Family. So she abandoned Xue Ci at the gate of the orphanage.

This scene was witnessed by Song Tanhai, who happened to be passing by. He knew the driver's family and, feeling suspicious, took the opportunity to get the driver drunk, only to overhear a huge secret.

He did not reveal the secret to the Song Family, and it is unknown what his mindset was when he adopted Song Xueci.

He later started gambling and used this secret to blackmail the driver for money.

The two, who had always believed Xue Ci was dead, were surprised to learn that the child was not only alive but also living so close to the Song Family.

The two remained on tenterhooks, but did nothing until Song Ran began to contact Xue Ci.

With their secret discovered by a third party, and Xue Ci constantly lurking around the Song Family, they felt guilty and began to stalk and scout the place—until today, when they planned to stage a car accident.

From then on, all their actions were under Fu Qingxiao's control.

Therefore, the car accident was stopped in time.

11 sadly leaned on Xue Ci's shoulder: [Luckily, you were already grown up when we came over.]

[Otherwise, I don't know how much suffering I would have endured, sob sob.]

Seeing that Xue Ci silent, Song Ran said, "If you feel awkward about suddenly recognizing your family, we can do a DNA test first, and then meet again after the results are in."

After saying that, he took a deep breath.

Then he felt Xue Ci pat his hand.

The warm fingers were incredibly soothing, and Song Ran's heart stirred.

He suddenly realized that Xue Ci was sandwiched between the two men from the Fu Family, their thighs pressed tightly together.

His expression instantly turned cold; he found the two of them particularly irritating and immediately made Xue Ci sit next to him.

*

Xue Ci ultimately waited for the DNA results before going to the Song Family to acknowledge her relatives.

Mr. and Mrs. Song seemed much more amiable than he had imagined, befitting elders of a prominent family. Upon their first meeting, they gave him money and gifts, and talked to him at length.

When asked how she had been all these years, Song's mother finally couldn't hold back her tears.

Xue Ci is a very lovable child, but the gentler and more sensible he is, the more the Song Family feels sorry for him.

They desperately wanted to make up for all the years they had wronged him, but they were afraid that Xue Ci would not see it as love, so they cautiously tested the line of balance.

Xue Ci was also a little confused; he had suddenly become a young master.

This plot point is beyond repair, but 11 said it's still within control—because the protagonist's growth trajectory has indeed undergone a major change.

Xue Ci, puzzled: [Hmm?]

11: [Now that you've become a young master, he needs to work twice as hard to be worthy of pursuing you.]

Xue Ci seemed thoughtful: [So that's how it is.]

The Fu Family also knew that Xue Ci had a difficult past and had recently been reunited with her family, so they no longer wanted to take up Xue Ci's time with her family.

After spending some time together, the Song Family wanted to bring Xue Ci back. Knowing that he was still living in the Fu Family, they began to hesitate about his engagement to Fu Qingxiao.

Song's mother hesitated, "Young Fu... isn't he getting any younger?"

Mr. Song agreed, "I'd say he's middle-aged."

Song Ran was even more opposed. "Xiao Ci is only a freshman this year, how can she be engaged already? I think we should think about it some more."

He was the pillar of the Song Family, used to being a dictator. Realizing he was making decisions for his younger brother, he immediately tried to smooth things over. "Xiao Ci, what do you think?"

Do you... like Fu Qingxiao?

Seeing the worried looks on the Song Family' faces, Xue Ci took the initiative to tell them about how she helped Fu Qingxiao was suffering from memory loss, mistake him for his fiancée.

Song's parents had a fairly good impression of Fu Qingxiao, but they felt that there was too much of an age gap between him and Xue Ci, and they might not be able to have much in common. Besides, Xiao Ci was so young; she should date more and enjoy life more.

Song Ran, who was Fu Qingxiao's friend, immediately knew that Fu Qingxiao, that old fox, was trying to trick a pure and pretty young man into coming home as his wife.

He would never allow anyone to lie to his brother.

*

When Song Ran brought Xue Ci to announce that the engagement was invalid, Fu Qingxiao was about to say something to salvage the situation.

Fu Yang, who was standing nearby, took out his phone and played a recording.

First, Fu Yang's own voice. "He'll pretend to have memory loss and make Xue Ci your fiancée."

Then came Fu Qingxiao's voice. "These are just small favors, no need to exert yourself."

Upon hearing this, Song Ran's expression froze instantly, her tall figure blocking Fu Qingxiao's view of Xue Ci.

"No effort required?"

He sneered, "What do you take my brother for?"

Song Ran has recently taken to using the word "younger brother." When Xue Ci heard this, her expression showed a hint of dependence, and she nestled closer to him.

Fu Qingxiao pressed his temples.

He knew Fu Yang was taking things out of context, but it was true that he had lied to Xue Ci.

"Xiao Ci."

He called out in a low voice.

Song Ran looked disgusted and turned around. "Xiao Ci, look how bad the men outside are."

Don't listen to them.

"It's not too late for us to look after we turn 30."

Before Xue Ci could say anything, Fu Yang asked anxiously, "Thirty years old?"

If Xue Ci thirty, then he's thirty-six!

At thirty-six, can he still maintain his peak performance? If that's not enough, what else does he have left to attract Xue Ci?

Author's Note:

you guess.

I even gave you a blood pressure monitor, guess why?

But this world is indeed Fu Yang's.