Chapter 207: Chapter 207

Fu Chan carefully carried Yunhui home. Fu Ruyun and Fu Ruhui both ran over, concerned.

Fu Ruyun asked, "What happened to Mom?"

Embarrassed to appear frail in front of her children, Yunhui said, "I carelessly fell while visiting Great-Grandma. Sister Fu Bing has already set my bone, and it will stop hurting soon."

Fu Ruhui, her eyes wide, asked, "Mom, is Sister Fu Bing as pretty as they look on TV?"

"Even more beautiful than on TV," Yunhui confirmed.

"Wow, I really want to meet Sister Fu Bing," Fu Ruhui said excitedly.

Fu Ruyun threw cold water on her excitement. "It’s your own fault for lazing in bed today and not wanting to accompany Mom to the sanatorium."

Fu Ruhui was speechless and wanted to say something to defend herself.

Fu Chan interrupted, "I’ll take Mom upstairs first. You’re in charge of meals today."

"Okay!" Both children were excited. They liked the feeling of being in charge and didn’t feel neglected by their parents at all.

Fu Chan helped Yunhui take off her heavy coat and shoes before carrying her upstairs.

Once in their room, Yunhui said, "Aren’t you planning to get closer to Fu Bing? Yesterday, I saw photographs of her and the people around her; none of them looked like they hadn’t experienced hardship. She’s had a tough time, with no family, only keeping company with a group of people who are also without family." As she spoke, Yunhui pulled up the photographs from her digital album. She had specially saved them when they were trending online the day before.

Fu Chan glanced at them only briefly before looking away. "Some people, once you miss the time to connect with them, that’s it; there’s no need to try and repair things. She’s just Fu Ya’s daughter. With Fu Ya gone, she has no connection to the Fu Family."

"You..." Yunhui was at a loss for words. "How can you say that?"

Fu Chan rubbed her face, which had puffed up a little from her anger. Simple, straightforward people probably seemed more endearing.

Fu Chan withdrew his hand, took out a small first-aid box to apply medicine for her, and said, "All these years, I’ve ignored Fu Ya and haven’t intervened in their affairs. Those were the times to build goodwill. Since we didn’t help out then, there’s no need to curry favor now that they’re doing well. Put yourself in Fu Bing’s shoes; could you accept our sudden closeness?"

Yunhui fell silent. She had indeed oversimplified things.

Knowing she would understand, Fu Chan didn’t say more.

Yunhui sighed. "I just think she looks quite pitiful, especially the people around her. They all seem to be just like her, with no place to call home, no family."

"Even so, it’s not our place to worry," Fu Chan said in a flat tone. "We didn’t help when they needed it most, so we should keep future interactions to a minimum."

He didn’t seek Fu Bing’s resources, nor did he scheme against her. They could simply remain acquaintances; why force their relationship any closer? It really wasn’t necessary!

Snow had been falling all day, but the villa was bustling with warmth and activity. Ren Ye and Ren Zhi had also come to celebrate the New Year with them.

In the evening, someone came into the yard: Han Hu.

Fu Bing looked at her in surprise. "I thought you..." She thought Han Hu would be spending New Year’s with Lian Yingting.

Han Hu smiled freely. "That’s no fun. Celebrating New Year’s with you all is much better."

"Come in, don’t catch a cold," Fu Bing said.

Han Hu went to the kitchen to help Aunt Ning.

Of course, others in the household were busy too, each with different tasks. Ren Zhi and Wu Shi were preparing the evening’s games, bustling about a room with an air of mystery, while Fu Bing embroidered red envelopes.

The New Year’s red envelopes should have been embroidered earlier, but she hadn’t had the time; she was busy with different things every day and simply wasn’t in the mood for embroidery. Her hands were quick, though, and she finished embroidering all the red envelopes needed for the evening in three hours. Next, all she had to do was put the cash inside. Fu Bing had already prepared the cash, putting 9,999 in each envelope to avoid any mix-ups.

At dusk, six o’clock, dinner started on time.

Fu Bing stood up, wine glass in hand. "Thank you all for celebrating the New Year with me. This is the liveliest New Year I’ve had since I can remember. I hope from now on, we all stay healthy and safe, and may we always have someone by our side."

Everyone clinked glasses.

Ren Ye said, "Coming back to Jiangnan for the New Year was the right choice. We’ll have many more New Years to celebrate together, so don’t use up all your good wishes at once!"

Ren Zhi said, "Let’s all stay well, especially Sister Bing and my Second Uncle. No more trouble, please! I don’t have enough lives for you two to scare out of me!"

Xiaomei chimed in, "I agree with Ren Zhi. Don’t scare us anymore!"

Fu Bing said, "Alright, I won’t scare you anymore. Hurry up and eat. Your little chubby face isn’t so round anymore."

Xiaomei quickly covered her face. "My baby fat is gone! How could I have baby fat forever?" she giggled.

After speaking, she playfully made a face.

Fu Bing said, "A round face is cute."

"Staying round all the time isn’t that cute, though," Xiaomei muttered under her breath.

"You’re cute no matter what," Fu Bing replied, serving her a large chicken drumstick and preparing a pair of disposable gloves for her.

Xiaomei happily put on the gloves and gnawed at her drumstick.

The whole table ate and chatted, the Spring Festival Gala playing unheeded in the background.

After dinner, Ren Zhi pulled Ren Ye, Wu Shi, and Xiaomei into a game of mahjong.

Aunt Ning and Uncle He stood by as substitutes, mainly to give Xiaomei pointers.

The girl didn’t know how to play, not even the rules, but she was very enthusiastic and insisted on joining. Aunt Ning and Uncle He, not wanting her to lose money, had no choice but to sit beside her to guide her.

Fu Bing and Han Hu nestled on the sofa, watching them laugh and play. Fu Bing held a glass of wine in her hand, a rare indulgence for her. In her glass was a fruit wine mixed by Aunt Ning; it tasted delicious and had a low alcohol content.

"I thought you would spend the New Year in Jiangcheng," Fu Bing said.

"It’s no fun over there," Han Hu replied. "The mess Lian Yingya stirred up has thrown the Lian Family into chaos. They’re a complete wreck right now, too preoccupied with their own problems to care about me."

After the incident involving Li Qing, Lian Yingya had been taken away for investigation. Though bailed out by the Lian Family, he was indignant every day, causing constant turmoil throughout the household. The entire Lian Family was plagued by headaches because of him.

"Didn’t they let President Lian handle it?" Fu Bing asked. "With his capabilities, resolving the matter wouldn’t have been difficult."

"That’s right. He and his wife moved out; now it’s just his parents at home," Han Hu said, equally puzzled.

Fu Bing pondered for a moment, then said, "One son is already a lost cause; they can’t afford to drag the other one down too. Lian Yingya will most likely be sent abroad after the New Year, completely cut off from the Lian family’s businesses."

Han Hu shook her head. "I don’t think they can bear to do that. Lian Yingya has gotten into similar trouble before, and the Lian Family never really did anything severe to him."

"His past troubles weren’t as disgraceful as this incident," Fu Bing said. "Besides, this time he dragged Qin Sheng down with him. The Qin Family won’t let him off easily."

"But wouldn’t sending him abroad make it easier for others to set traps and harm him?" Han Hu asked.

"Then that will be his own fate," Fu Bing replied. "This period is Lian Yingya’s chance to make the rest of the Lian family relent. If he doesn’t wake up and realize his mistakes during this time, he’ll either have to fend for himself or be destroyed by others."