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

The sunlight outside the window grew brighter and brighter, shining on her focused profile.

The Fu family's farce has finally come to an end.

Fu Chaochao will face trial before the law.

Fu Hua's path to the stars is extending towards an even wider sky.

Her world shouldn't consist only of family feuds and sisterly grudges.

She has scientific research to pursue and a career to build.

There are stars and seas to strive for.

Those who hurt her, those obstacles who tried to stop her from moving forward,

It will eventually become a stepping stone on her path to growth.

The fog of truth is still slowly dissipating in the distance.

Three months later, Fu Chaochao's case went to trial.

This time, there is no room for maneuver.

The evidence submitted in the acknowledgments was conclusive.

Forgery of judicial documents, instigation of intentional injury, and attempted murder are among the multiple offenses for which the perpetrators will be punished concurrently.

In court, Fu Chaochao wore prison clothes and looked gaunt.

When she heard the judge pronounce the sentence of "eight years in prison," she swayed, but did not cry.

She looked towards the audience seats.

Su Yurou had already fainted from crying in Fu Xiao's arms.

Fu Xiao's face was ashen, and Fu Youchuan kept his head down.

Only Fu Songchuan calmly observed all of this.

"I accept the verdict."

Fu Chaochao's voice was unexpectedly calm, "This is what I deserve."

Before being taken away by the bailiffs, she took one last look at Su Yurou.

His lips moved, and he said silently, "I'm sorry, Mom."

This time, it's truly over.

The day after the verdict was announced, Fu Hua received a call from Fu Xiao.

"Huahua, your mother... is in the hospital."

Fu Xiao's voice sounded much older.

"The doctor said it's severe neurasthenia and she needs long-term rest. She keeps saying she wants to see you..."

Fu Hua held the phone and remained silent for a long time.

"dad,"

She finally spoke, her voice calm and even.

"I need time, maybe a long time."

"I see."

Fu Xiao sighed deeply, "We've let you down."

"Huahua, from now on... just live according to your own heart. Dad can't help you anymore, and I won't be a burden to you."

After this phone call, Fu Hua completely severed ties with the Fu family.

She changed her phone number and moved out of the courtyard house in Shichahai.

I bought an apartment near the research institute.

Only Fu Songchuan and Xie Ci knew her new address, and they would occasionally come over for a visit.

Fu Hua accepted the snacks that Aunt Liu had made, as she had always thought about Aunt Liu.

"Huahua, are you really not going to see Mom?"

While drinking tea, Fu Songchuan asked softly.

Fu Hua put down her teacup and looked out the window: "Brother, the spoon broke when it fell on the ground. Even if we glue it back together, it won't be the same spoon anymore."

Some relationships...once broken, are broken. There's so much more to life than family, isn't there?

Looking at her calm profile, Fu Songchuan suddenly understood.

This younger sister was never an ordinary country girl.

She was his sister, and she wasn't.

Fu Hua doesn't need the Fu family's approval or anyone's protection.

Her world has long been so vast that she can soar alone.

I respect your choice.

Fu Songchuan sighed, "But remember, you'll always be my sister. I'll be there for you whenever you need me."

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year was already so strong it was almost palpable.

This is the first New Year that Fu Hua has spent since leaving the Fu family.

Fu Songchuan stood downstairs at Fu Hua's new apartment.

Looking up at the third-floor window, the light was still on.

He was carrying the New Year's goods that his father, Fu Xiao, had bought at the department store.

A box of Daoxiangcun pastries, two pieces of cured pork, and a bag of frozen dumplings.

The stairwell was deserted; most residents had already returned to their hometowns for the Chinese New Year.

Fu Songchuan raised his hand and knocked on the door, and light footsteps came from inside.

The door opened, and Fu Hua appeared, wearing a beige loungewear sweater.

Her long hair was loosely tied back, and she was holding a pen in her hand.

"Big brother?"

Fu Hua was somewhat surprised, as they hadn't been in contact for a while.

"Dad asked me to bring you some New Year's gifts."

Fu Songchuan held up what he was holding, smiling kindly: "Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, why don't you come home for a meal? Dad... misses you too."

Fu Hua was silent for a moment, then stepped aside to let him in.

The apartment isn't big, just over 80 square meters, but I feel very safe living here alone.

The house was very tidy, with only a bookcase and a desk in the living room.

The desk was piled high with documents and drawings.

On the small dining table next to it, there was a pot of jasmine, with several clusters of lovely white flowers.

"Huahua, what about going home that I mentioned earlier?"

Fu Songchuan, thinking about the task his father had entrusted to him, said with a serious expression, "This is your first year back home. Spending the holidays alone outside is never as lively as at home, don't you think?"

"I don't like crowds, brother, you know that."

Fu Hua poured him a glass of water. "Also, I have an appointment to discuss something tomorrow."

"Discussing business on New Year's Eve?"

Fu Songchuan frowned. "Huahua, no matter how busy you are, you must take care of your health. Don't overwork yourself when you need to rest. At home..."

"Having you all at home is enough."

Fu Hua interrupted him, her voice calm, "If I go back, everyone will feel uncomfortable."

Fu Songchuan looked at her calm profile.

Suddenly, I remembered how timid Fu Hua looked when she first returned to the Fu family.

When she looks at people, her eyes are filled with vulnerability and helplessness.

The Fu Hua of that time was not the real her.

She has never changed!

They just haven't seen her clearly.

Now, everything is too late.

She doesn't even want to go home anymore.

"Huahua, Mom..."

Fu Songchuan wanted to say a few words to smooth things over for Su Yurou: "She just can't get over it right now. You know, she raised Chaochao for seventeen years. These feelings can't just disappear in a short time."

"I know."

Fu Hua turned her head and looked directly into his eyes. "So I don't blame her, brother. Some things are in the past and that's it. When I moved out, I said that we should both be well from now on."

"Dad also said that he will no longer interfere with me doing what I like."

"But you're our little sister!"

Fu Songchuan raised his voice slightly: "Blood ties cannot be severed!"

"So what?"

Fu Hua asked softly, "Can blood ties erase harm? Brother, I'm not a saint. There are some harms I cannot forgive."

She has no right to forgive these people on behalf of the original owner.

Fu Songchuan was speechless.

"I'll accept the things. Please thank Dad for me."

Fu Hua stood up, already adopting a posture of seeing the guest off.

"I really have something to do on New Year's Eve, let's get together another day."

Fu Songchuan knew that further persuasion was useless, so he could only sigh and say, "Then... take care of yourself, and call home if anything happens."

"it is good."

After the door closed, Fu Hua stood in the entryway, looking at the bag of New Year's goods.

The frozen dumplings were packed in a plastic bag; you could tell through the thin plastic that they were filled with chives and eggs.

This is Aunt Liu's specialty dumpling filling.

She picked up the bag and walked into the kitchen, but stopped when she opened the refrigerator door.

The refrigerator was empty except for a few bottles of water and a few apples.

Actually, she didn't have any plans for tomorrow.

I simply don't want to see those people.

The Fu family, on New Year's Eve.

Eight dishes and a soup were laid out on the table; Aunt Liu had gone home for the Chinese New Year.

These are the results of Su Yurou's afternoon's work.

There were only four people sitting at the table; it was completely empty.

Neither Fu Songchuan nor Fu Youchuan touched their chopsticks.

Fu Xiao smoked a cigarette, his brows furrowed.