Chapter 216: Chapter 216

Mu He nodded casually. "So, just lie down and recuperate. Don’t walk around looking so bitter and resentful every day. No matter how strong you are, you’re still just one person."

They had all once treated him like a god, forgetting he too could feel helpless and defeated.

Taking advantage of Qin Jinhai’s current weakness, Mu He used a medical solution to remove the fake scar, stripped off his clothes, wiped his body with warm water, and changed him into clean, dry pajamas.

Qin Jinhai couldn’t even be bothered to curse, so he just lay there passively while Mu He attended to him.

Mu He noticed something off about his reaction. "Jinhai, what’s wrong?"

"I forgot something very important."

"To completely block the news of Qin Sheng’s death. Fu Bing must know he’s dead by now."

Mu He’s expression changed upon hearing this. "I just saw Miss Fu, and she looked no different than usual."

"With her acting skills, what can’t she convincingly portray?" Qin Jinhai was particularly annoyed to be sick at such a crucial time.

He should have thought of suppressing the news of Qin Sheng’s death before his self-destructive behavior last night.

"Help me reapply the scar. I’m going to see her."

"No buts." Qin Jinhai’s eyes were sharp.

Mu He didn’t dare meet Qin Jinhai’s gaze at that moment.

After cleaning the prosthetic scar, he meticulously reapplied it, piece by piece, to Qin Jinhai’s face until that astonishingly handsome face was once again concealed by the ugly markings.

Qin Jinhai pursed his lips and only left the room once he felt some strength return.

As soon as he stepped out, he saw Xiaomei coming up from downstairs.

Xiaomei was startled. "Miss Fu said you were sick. Why are you out of bed?"

"She left by herself?"

"Yes, it looked like she was going on a date."

Qin Sheng is dead, and she’s in the mood for a date?

She must have gone off somewhere quiet to be alone.

Xiaomei blinked. "Miss Fu really did go out. She answered a call from a man before she left."

Qin Jinhai’s expression immediately turned very grim.

Mu He steadied him. "I’ll go check. You go back to your room and wait for news."

Mu He then firmly guided him back to the room and drove off to find her.

Fu Bing drove slowly; a past car accident had left her with a lingering fear of driving. She wanted to find a place to be alone for a while.

The pink car moved unhurriedly through the streets.

Suddenly, a jeep cut in front of her, blocking her way.

Fu Bing, showing no emotional fluctuation, stared at the vehicle.

A tall, slender man jumped out of the driver’s seat.

When Fu Bing recognized the man’s face, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Feng Yu frowned as he approached her. Fu Bing rolled down her window.

"You shouldn’t drive ; it’s not safe," Feng Yu said. "Let me drive you for a while."

He had actually tried to find her as soon as he got home last night but had been stopped by his mother. Having finally found a chance to slip away from home, he encountered her driving distractedly. Feng Yu was actually starting to believe in fate.

Fu Bing shook her head. "Sorry, I’m not in a good mood right now. I don’t feel like talking or dealing with anyone."

Feng Yu looked somewhat hurt. "Is being with me just ’dealing with someone’?"

"I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, but I’m really not in the mood for chatting right now. Please move your car. Any later and you’ll get a ticket."

Feng Yu said earnestly, "Can we find a place to talk properly? Jiangnan has tens of millions of people. I spend most of my time at the military base. For me to run into you right after coming out... I believe we’re not meant to be just strangers."

"I won’t force you. I consider myself an interesting person with a wealth of experience. Perhaps chatting with me could help resolve your issues?"

This was the first time Feng Yu had spoken to someone so humbly. He was always a man of action: if it worked, great; if not, he’d move on. Dawdling was definitely not his style.

After a moment of thought, Fu Bing nodded.

Unable to contain his excitement, Feng Yu broke into a broad smile, let out a whoop, and hurried to his car.

The tearoom Feng Yu took Fu Bing to was one he seldom visited. It was spacious with an excellent view. The windows overlooked a bustling downtown street, with pedestrians and traffic clearly visible through the massive floor-to-ceiling glass. Inside, however, not a sound could be heard, giving it the air of a hidden sanctuary in the heart of the city.

Feng Yu dismissed the tea master. The two of them sat on a soft couch, and Feng Yu leaned over to prepare the tea. His movements weren’t as polished or gentle as a tea master’s; they were broad and decisive, yet also brisk and efficient.

Feng Yu handed a cup of tea to Fu Bing. "Please."

Fu Bing thanked him and took a gentle sip.

"This tea has an inherent bitterness. I’ve had it a few times and find it quite good."

Fu Bing drank half a cup. "It’s very distinctive."

"Can you tell me why you’re unhappy?"

"Are you looking for gossip, or do you genuinely want to help me solve my problem?"

"Bringing me to such an interesting place is kind enough. You don’t need to worry about my other issues."

Feng Yu looked directly at Fu Bing. His gaze was like a torch; when he stared at someone without blinking, it exerted a strong pressure.

Fu Bing wasn’t particularly affected.

After observing her for a moment, Feng Yu spoke, his voice tinged with frustration, "You’ve been avoiding me since our blind date. Do I displease you that much?"

Fu Bing shook her head. "You misunderstand. I’m not avoiding you; I simply know my place. People like you, accustomed to being in high positions, are used to dominating relationships, whether friendships or romance. That feeling of control is certainly gratifying. As for the feelings of those being controlled, you might pay attention if you’re in a good mood, but otherwise, you’d casually ignore them."

"I’m not a suitable marriage partner for you, nor do I have the mental energy to change myself just to marry into the Feng Family."

"If I marry you, *you* can remain as you are, but *I* would have to change and adapt far too much. I’m not interested in trying."

Feng Yu was left speechless by her frank words.

"Did my mother and Yu Huo say something to you?"

"No, that’s not it. The gap between us is too vast. Even if I have many good qualities, in your family’s eyes, my most prominent identity is that of an actress. An actress with a tarnished reputation is simply too far beneath a family like yours."

"There’s a rumor in our circles that when a prominent family starts marrying actresses, it’s a sign of their decline. I’ve seen quite a few actresses who married into wealthy families, and their endings weren’t very good."

"I almost became one of them, but my fate was even worse."

Fu Bing spoke in a flat, emotionless tone.

"Even if I have no interest in you or your family, I’ll still be endlessly analyzed and schemed against by all of you."

She gave a slight smile. "In the eyes of people like you, someone who has clawed their way up from the bottom of society is no different from a dog."

After finishing, Fu Bing poured herself another cup of tea. "I’ve said my piece."

Feng Yu pursed his lips. "I don’t look down on you."

"And I would never trample on your dignity. I just like you and want to be closer to you." Feng Yu didn’t know what else to say.

He had never considered his family background a burden. Only in front of Fu Bing did he feel ashamed. If he didn’t have such a prominent family background, the distance between them wouldn’t be so vast.

Fu Bing wasn’t wrong. People in their circle rarely genuinely marry actresses. Even if they did marry someone in entertainment, they’d choose performers from military art troupes. In their eyes, actresses were synonymous with being glamorous, overly refined, and fickle.

However, Fu Bing was different from other actresses. This wasn’t just his opinion, but a widely held perception.

Fu Bing was Fu Bing; she had merely become famous as an actress.