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

"Mom, please let me finish speaking."

Fu Chaochao raised her face,

Although his eyes were still red and swollen, his gaze was clear.

"I've thought about it carefully these past few days. The Qin family's decision to annul the engagement was my own fault."

Steinberg criticized me because I was less skilled than him.

These setbacks... I have to face them myself and overcome them on my own.

"And Huahua, I enjoyed the life that should have been hers. I shouldn't have been jealous. I won't be anymore."

She paused, then her voice became more determined: "Starting tomorrow, I will study hard, adjust my mindset, and continue practicing the piano."

Although I may not become Steinberg's student, music is something I love, and I won't give it up.

These words were spoken with both maturity and strength.

They were also frank and sincere.

Su Yurou's tears fell instantly.

She stepped forward and hugged her daughter tightly: "Chaochao... my dear Chaochao... it's good that you've figured it out, it's good that you've figured it out..."

Fu Xiao's eyes also reddened.

He stood up and patted his daughter on the shoulder: "Good girl, this is the daughter of the Fu family, worthy of being a child of the Fu family."

Fu Chaochao leaned against her mother's chest, her voice muffled: "Dad, Mom, thank you for being with me all this time."

From now on... I won't let you down again.

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

Su Yurou patted her back tenderly, "You've never let us down. Don't put too much pressure on yourself in the future, take it slow, okay?"

Fu Chaochao nodded, stepped back from her mother's embrace, and wiped away her tears.

She gave a tearful smile: "Yes. I will."

Seeing their daughter cheer up, Fu Xiao and Su Yurou finally felt relieved.

Fu Xiao immediately instructed, "Aunt Liu! Prepare several good dishes for lunch tomorrow! Chaochao hasn't been getting enough nutrition lately, she needs to be properly nourished!"

Aunt Liu poked her head out from the kitchen and smiled, "Okay! All done!"

Su Yurou suddenly remembered something and tugged at her husband's sleeve: "Old Fu, tomorrow... is the family gathering."

My eldest and third brothers will be coming, and all the children have to go too.

Fu Xiao's smile froze for a moment.

Family gathering,

The Fu family holds a ceremony every three months.

It was a rule set by Old Master Fu.

All three families had to go back to the old house for a meal.

This used to be the occasion that Fu Chaochao looked forward to the most.

She was the old man's most beloved granddaughter, even more so than his third uncle's youngest daughter.

Every time I go, I'm the center of attention.

It will also bring honor to the second wife's family!

But now...

Fu Xiao looked at Fu Chaochao, somewhat worried about her.

Fu Chaochao obviously remembered that she had just been jilted, and her face turned pale for a moment.

But things quickly returned to calm.

"Chaochao, if you don't want to go, Dad will give you..."

"Dad, Mom, I'll go."

Fu Chaochao's eyes and tone were urgent: "What needs to be faced must be faced. My grandparents love me, and I should give them an explanation."

Her forced strength made Fu Xiao, the head of the family, feel both sad and pained.

He patted his daughter's shoulder heavily: "Alright, Dad will take you tomorrow and show those people that the daughter of the Fu family isn't so easily defeated!"

Fu Chaochao nodded vigorously, her eyes regaining their light.

Although deep within that light lay a cold, unknown scheme.

Grandpa Fu and Grandma Fu control all the resources of this family.

If Fu Hua were to cultivate good relations with them,

Wouldn't that be a losing proposition?

She couldn't just stand by and watch her steal the spotlight.

Fu Hua, who had just returned to her room, was shocked by all of this.

Know nothing.

She sat at her desk and opened the confidential documents Professor Yan had given her.

The subject of deep space communication is complex and vast.

The formulas and charts were densely packed under the lamp.

The wooden bracelet on my wrist felt slightly warm.

The essence of the spiritual spring flowed quietly through my blood.

She took a sip of water, and her mind instantly cleared.

Moonlight streamed in through the windowpane.

A cool, clear light shone through her spread-out manuscript paper.

The Fu Family Restaurant was filled with warmth in the early morning.

Sunlight streamed in through the white sheer curtains.

Soft, shimmering light casts its glow on the gleaming mahogany dining table.

A plate of golden-brown pan-fried dumplings sat in the center of the table.

Fu Chaochao's favorite food

Thin crust, generous filling, pan-fried to perfection, with slightly crispy edges.

Next to it was a scallion pancake sprinkled with sesame seeds, cut into neat triangles, and smelled delicious.

There was also a small dish of sweet lotus root, stuffed full of glutinous rice and glistening with sugar syrup.

Fu Chaochao wore a light pink sweater and blue jeans today.

Her hair was styled into a single braid, hanging down her shoulder.

She looks as docile as a little white rabbit.

She sat next to Su Yurou, sipping her milk.

Occasionally, she would raise her head, her eyes curving into crescents.

She gave her parents a sweet smile, the corners of her mouth perfectly curved.

It looked as if he had practiced in front of the mirror a million times.

That's the kind of look that elders like the most.

Fu Hua sat on the other side of the dining table.

He looked at the candied lotus root that Su Yurou had placed on her plate with a deep gaze.

She is allergic to lotus root.

During the second week after arriving at the Fu family home, he developed a red rash all over his body.

They don't remember.

"Eat more every morning,"

Su Yurou kept piling food onto her plate, saying, "Fried dumplings should be eaten while they're hot, otherwise they won't be crispy."

"Thank you, Mom."

Fu Chaochao took a bite of the fried dumpling, squinting her eyes in satisfaction, "Aunt Liu's cooking is getting better and better."

Aunt Liu responded from the kitchen, but her gaze was fixed on Fu Hua.

She sighed heavily and continued stirring the spoon under her hand.

"Huahua, you eat too, don't just look."

Su Yurou greeted them with a smile.

Fu Hua nodded but didn't touch her chopsticks.

She quietly peeled the eggshells, her movements unhurried and deliberate.

The egg white is revealed little by little under the fingertip, completely smooth.

The table was full of her "favorites," but none of them were foods she liked.

None of it was prepared for her.

She didn't say anything.

After peeling the egg, cut it into four pieces with a small spoon and mix it into the porridge.

Eat each bite carefully.

Fu Xiao's gaze swept across the dining table.

It landed on the simple bowl of white porridge in front of Fu Hua.

His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and a hint of apology flashed in his eyes.

He cleared his throat and said gently, "Huahua, there's a family gathering at noon. I'll send a car to pick you up from school at twelve o'clock. Don't be late."

Fu Hua raised her head and swallowed the porridge in her mouth: "Okay, I understand."

"Every morning, I travel through the rivers and lakes."

Fu Xiao then looked at the two of them, "You two sit down too. Be on time, don't be late. Grandpa hates being late the most."

Fu Chaochao nodded obediently: "I know, Dad, we won't be late."

Fu Youchuan hummed in agreement, his eyes still fixed on the newspaper in his hand.

The sports section features reports on the National Basketball League.

This is something he's been focusing on lately.

others,

Apart from the morning and evening, nothing else matters.

Su Yurou picked up a piece of candied lotus root for her daughter.

He said casually, "Huahua, there's a gathering today..."

Your aunts and uncles will all be coming. If anyone asks about Steinberg's performance, just give a brief mention and don't make a big deal out of it.

That's a subtle way of putting it.

Is this telling her not to show off?

What is Su Yurou afraid of?

Does that make her seem blind and unable to recognize someone's true worth?

Fu Hua put down her spoon and looked at her mother: "Okay, if they don't ask, I won't bring it up."

"That's good."

Su Yurou breathed a sigh of relief, then added, "And about the Qin family's annulment of the engagement... If anyone asks, just say you don't know. Chaochao is already suffering enough, don't add to that..."

"mom."

Fu Chaochao gently tugged at her mother's sleeve, her eyes slightly red, "It's alright, it's all in the past. I don't care what others say."

Su Yurou hugged her daughter tenderly and stopped talking.

The atmosphere at the dining table subtly became heavy again.