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

Before getting on the bus, Fu Hua looked back once.

Lin Bei remained standing in the same spot, the winter sunset casting a long shadow over him.

"Let's go."

she says.

The car drove away from the horse farm.

Xie Ci glanced at her in the rearview mirror: "Are you happy today?"

"happy."

Fu Hua said honestly, "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Xie Ci looked ahead and said, "You can come riding anytime you want. I know the horse farm owner well."

Fu Hua didn't reply, but just looked at the scenery rushing past the window.

Her unique, subtle fragrance lingered in the carriage.

The scent of horses and hay clinging to his body was mixed in.

When I got home, I ran into Fu Songchuan as he was returning home.

He paused for a moment, then stepped forward and saluted.

Then he looked at Fu Hua: "Hua Hua, what's going on here...?"

"At the research station, Professor Yan asked Brother Xie Ci to drive me back."

Fu Hua explained, her tone somewhat urgent.

"That's right."

Xie Ci glanced at Fu Hua, did not deny it, and only said, "It's cold outside, let's go inside."

"Um,"

Fu Hua looked up: "Big brother, aren't you going in?"

Fu Songchuan's expression shifted slightly: "You go in first, I have some work to discuss with Deputy Division Xie."

"Oh well."

After returning to her room, Fu Hua kept her ears perked up, listening to the sounds coming from the hallway.

I wonder what the older brother and Xie Ci were talking about. Was it really work?

A dozen minutes later, the sound of a doorknob turning came from next door.

Fu Hua breathed a sigh of relief; her older brother probably hadn't misunderstood.

On Sunday morning, the aroma of fried eggs and bacon filled the Fu family's dining room.

Wearing an apron, Su Yurou brought the last few bowls of golden millet porridge to the table.

Today is Fu Youchuan's school basketball game.

So Su Yurou got up early to cook a sumptuous breakfast.

Fu Youchuan was dressed neatly in a red and white striped jersey.

Wearing a down jacket over his clothes, he ate his breakfast heartily.

Today he will represent Minghua Middle School against the No. 1 Middle School of the city.

This basketball game is about the honor of the school.

It also concerns his personal future. Insider information suggests that the selection officers from the Sports Commission will be present to watch the competition.

"Youchuan, eat more. The food Mom makes isn't greasy."

Su Yurou smiled broadly, reached out and picked up a fried egg for him, her eyes filled with pride.

"Mom's theater troupe has an important rehearsal today, and I really can't get away... I'm sorry I can't be there to cheer you on, you won't be mad at me, will you?"

Fu Youchuan waved his hand dismissively: "Mom, you go about your business. I'm all grown up now, not a child anymore. Why do you need to go to every single one of them?"

He looked at Fu Chaochao, who was quietly eating her porridge across from him, and smiled.

"Besides, isn't Chaochao going? I have my little sister, that's enough."

Fu Chaochao looked up and smiled sweetly: "Of course! I have to cheer for my second brother in his competition. I even organized a cheering squad of girls from our grade!"

"Yeah?"

Su Yurou's eyes softened: "How can we cheer each other on?"

Fu Chaochao glanced at Fu Hua, her eyes sparkling: "I had banners made, slogans written, and flower balls made to cheer us on. I guarantee that Second Brother will feel the momentum of Minghua High School as soon as he enters!"

Fu Youchuan smiled with satisfaction and ruffled Fu Chaochao's hair: "Chaochao is so thoughtful."

His gaze inadvertently swept over Fu Hua, who was quietly eating at the other end of the table.

Her tone became subtle, "We're both younger sisters, it's easy to tell whether someone is sincere or not."

These words caused the atmosphere at the dinner table to become somewhat tense.

Fu Xiao put down his chopsticks and said in a deep voice, "You Chuan, stop being sarcastic. Hua Hua went to the research station to study yesterday and was busy all day. She should get some rest today."

"study?"

Fu Youchuan raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with disdain, "Studying isn't physical labor, how tiring can it be?"

"Alright, it's just a basketball game."

Fu Xiao's tone was serious. "You still have to take the college entrance exam seriously in the future. Consider this a break. Do you think being an athlete is so easy?"

Fu Youchuan choked for a moment, then reluctantly shut his mouth.

But the indifference in his eyes was still obvious.

Fu Chaochao quickly smoothed things over: "Second brother, it's alright. Let Huahua rest at home. Even Professor Yan praised her as a genius. Her brain gets tired if she uses too much."

Her words sounded like praise; she emphasized the word "genius."

This only highlights Fu Hua's "uniqueness".

It sounds more like irony.

Fu Xiao and Su Yurou exchanged a glance, their expressions full of helplessness.

Fu Hua ate her breakfast quietly.

She suddenly looked up and calmly said, "I'll go watch the game."

The people at the table were all stunned for a moment.

Fu Youchuan scoffed: "Cheering for whom? Lin Bei?"

He said sarcastically, "Yeah, after all, they transferred to Class D for you."

"Wander through the river!"

Su Yurou frowned. "Didn't we say it was a rumor? Principal Gao already clarified it!"

Fu Xiao's face also darkened: "If even our own family believes this, what will outsiders say? This matter is not to be mentioned in the family again."

Fu Youchuan shut up sullenly, but the provocation in his eyes remained.

He finished his breakfast in a few bites, picked up his basketball, and said, "I'm off, Chaochao, see you at the gym later."

"Yeah! Go for it, Second Brother!"

Fu Chaochao waved her hand vigorously.

Fu Hua finished eating, got up and went back to her room to change into a light gray winter tracksuit.

I wore a beige down jacket over it.

She simply tied her hair into a ponytail in front of the mirror.

I used the osmanthus-patterned rubber band that Zhang Wen gave me.

As she was going downstairs, Su Yurou called out to her, "Huahua, are you really going to watch the game?"

"Um."

Fu Hua nodded.

"Then... cheer up your second brother."

Su Yurou's tone was somewhat complicated.

"Don't take it personally with him. That's just the kind of stubborn kid he is. He may not say it, but he still hopes his family will go."

Fu Hua didn't say anything, just nodded, and went out.

The winter mornings are very cold, and the white breath exhaled dissipates into the air.

As soon as she stepped out of the compound gate, she saw Zhang Wen stamping her feet and waiting for her at the intersection.

"You've finally come out!"

Zhang Wen jogged over, her face flushed from the cold.

"If I don't come out soon, I'll turn into an ice sculpture!"

Fu Hua took two hot roasted sweet potatoes out of her pocket.

He handed one over: "Freshly baked, warm your hands."

Wow! You're so kind!

Zhang Wen took it, peeled off the charred skin, and the golden sweet potato flesh was steaming hot.

The two ate as they walked, heading towards the school gymnasium.

"Let me tell you,"

With her mouth full of sweet potato, Zhang Wen mumbled, "The No. 1 Middle School of the city has come with ill intentions this time."

They almost made it to the national competition last year, and I heard they have some transfer students this year who are really good.

Fu Hua listened quietly.

"Our school has historically lost more games than it has won against the No. 1 High School in the city."

Zhang Wen sighed, "I watched that game last year, and we lost terribly, 72 to 48. Our school team collapsed in the second quarter and was completely dominated."

"Isn't Lin Bei involved this year?"

Fu Hua said.

"That's right!"

Zhang Wen's eyes lit up. "Since Lin Bei joined the school team this year, our strength has indeed improved a lot. If he and your second brother team up... uh..."

She suddenly paused, remembering the subtle relationship between the two.

Cooperate?

Just don't let them fight!

Fu Hua remained calm: "On the basketball court, winning or losing is the most important thing. They are not children; they know their limits."