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

Su Yurou hadn't felt this kind of unjudgmental care in a long time.

Her expression shifted slightly, and she took the chopsticks, eating in small bites.

The rice was warm, and the dishes were light.

They were all made according to her usual tastes.

After eating about half a bowl, she put down her chopsticks.

With red and swollen eyes, she looked at Fu Xiao and said, "Today... Director Wang of the theater troupe came to see me."

She recounted the whole story.

Ji Xian and Chekaty are going back to China for auditions. The troupe wants to make connections, but Director Wang forces her to go to Fu Hua or invite the two masters herself.

"I know I shouldn't have taken my anger out on Aunt Liu... I couldn't control myself."

Su Yurou lowered her head, her voice growing softer and softer.

"But I... I really don't know what to do. Go to Fu Hua? I... I can't bring myself to say it."

Fu Xiao listened quietly without speaking immediately.

He picked up the glass of warm water and handed it to her: "Drink some water first."

After Su Yurou had taken a few sips, he finally spoke: "This matter has indeed put you in a difficult position."

Just this one sentence,

There was no blame, no lecturing.

He simply acknowledged her difficulties calmly.

Su Yurou's tears fell again, but this time it wasn't hysterical.

After releasing her pent-up frustration, her voice trembled with a hint of bitterness: "Fu Xiao...am I really that useless? I can't even handle something this simple..."

"It's not your problem."

Fu Xiao grasped her hand. "Director Wang is considering the troupe's interests, which is commendable, but for you, it's indeed asking the impossible."

He doesn't understand our family situation, nor does he understand Huahua's personality. Don't blame your supervisor.

He paused for a moment, then said, "I understand that you don't want to ask Huahua for help. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't be able to bring myself to do it either."

Su Yurou stared blankly at her husband.

This was the first time Fu Xiao had spoken from Fu Hua's perspective since she returned.

Instead of simply demanding that she "accept", "understand", and "compensate".

That feeling of being seen and understood,

Like a warm current, it quietly melted a corner of the ice that had been frozen in her heart for too long.

"Then... what about the theater troupe?"

She asked in a low voice.

"I'll think of a way."

Fu Xiao said in a relaxed tone, "I've met Mr. Ji Xian a few times when he performed for the troops. As for Mr. Cecquett... I'll ask around to see if I can get in touch with him. It might not work out, but I'll give it a try."

Su Yurou's eyes brightened, then dimmed again: "But...wouldn't that be too much trouble for you? You're so busy with work..."

"It's only right to be busy."

Fu Xiao looked at her with a serious expression. "Yu Rou, we are husband and wife. Your business is my business."

Yu Rou broke ties with her family for him.

He had laid a hand on Fu Chaochao and Huahua once because of their affair.

I was already filled with mortifying regret.

In the future, I need to be more understanding.

Fu Xiao's words were simple, yet they touched the heart more deeply than any sweet talk.

Su Yurou's tears finally broke free, but this time they were warm.

"sorry……"

She kept repeating, "I just...I just acted like a shrew..."

"It's all in the past, it's all in the past."

Fu Xiao wiped away her tears. "Let's eat, it's getting cold."

Su Yurou nodded and picked up her chopsticks again.

This time, she felt much more at ease.

The night outside the window was already deep.

Downstairs, Fu Songchuan and Fu Youchuan quietly cleared away the dishes, keeping the tap running at a low speed.

Aunt Liu's room door was closed, and the lights were off.

Fu Xiao looked at his wife's profile as she slowly ate her meal.

The tension that had been building up inside me for so long finally eased a little.

This home has been broken and shaken.

But with him around, the family will never truly be separated.

Want to repair

It takes time and patience.

It also needs... like tonight, for someone to bow their head first.

Offer an unconditional understanding.

…………

On Sunday morning, Fu Hua ate breakfast, picked up her bag, and went out.

First, I went to the department store and bought a walnut pastry, a favorite of my mother.

Zhang's father often drinks jasmine tea, and he also bought Leilei new sneakers.

Last time I went to the Zhang family's house, I saw that the little guy's shoes were all worn out.

Aunt Zhang said Leilei is too naughty and wears out shoes quickly, so she wants him to wear them for a while longer.

With everything prepared, she boarded the bus.

The early summer sun shone warmly through the car window, bathing me in its rays.

Looking at the familiar street scene outside the window, I felt a little emotional.

In the six months since she moved out of the Fu family home, the Zhang family home was probably the place that gave her the most warmth, apart from the Su family home.

Every few days, Zhang's mother would have Zhang Wen bring her food.

Sometimes it's freshly cooked dumplings, sometimes it's stewed beef and potatoes until they're very tender.

Zhang's father worked at the Cultural Bureau and knew that she needed materials for her research.

They always quietly helped with the collection, never uttering a single word of complaint.

Leilei, that kid, always calls her "sister" whenever she comes over, and he's never stingy with food.

He couldn't learn to play the harmonica from others, but Fu Hua taught him, and he learned diligently.

I've already learned many new songs, and every time I visit, I drag her along to listen to see if there are any inaccuracies.

These small acts of kindness are like the light shining through the clouds in autumn—not scorching, but very warm.

The bus has arrived at the station.

Fu Hua carried her things into the alley, familiar with the place, and arrived at the Zhang family's small courtyard house.

The courtyard gate was ajar, with a strange dent on it, as if someone had smashed it.

Fu Hua went straight in through the gate, walked through the second courtyard,

Today is Sunday, shouldn't Leilei be practicing the piano at this time?

It was quite quiet today.

The courtyard was quiet, with only the rustling of the wind through the grape leaves.

Fu Hua entered through the second gate and stood under the covered walkway.

The courtyard was deserted, and the door to the main house was ajar.

Just as she was about to call out for help, she suddenly heard hushed voices coming from inside the house.

His tone was hurried, filled with barely suppressed anxiety.

It was the voice of Zhang's father and mother.

"...What's the use of saying all this now? I advised you back then not to vouch for anyone! Wang Jianguo seems honest, who knew he could run off with the money abroad?"

Zhang's mother's voice was urgent and angry, and it even sounded like she was crying.

Zhang's father's voice was utterly exhausted: "I never expected this... We've been friends for twenty years. He said his business was having cash flow problems and asked me for help. How could I have imagined he'd dare to borrow money at exorbitant interest rates and then run away..."

"Now the creditors are knocking on our door! Our combined monthly salary is only a little over a hundred yuan. How are we going to pay back that much money over so many years? Huh?"

There was a few seconds of silence in the room.

Fu Hua stood under the veranda, and the things in her hands suddenly felt heavy.

"If all else fails..."

Mr. Zhang's voice was hoarse, "Let's sell this house. In this location, it should fetch a good price."

"Sell the house?"

Zhang's mother's voice suddenly rose, then abruptly fell back down, as if afraid of being overheard.

"This is the only property your parents left us! If we sell it, where will we live? Leilei is still young, and Wenwen is about to be a senior in high school. Are you going to make them sleep on the streets?"

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

Mr. Zhang's voice also became agitated, "The debt collectors come every day. Yesterday they even smashed a hole in the gate. If they don't pay back the money, are they going to attack people next time?"

"I……"

Zhang's mother choked up, "I'll go borrow money. I still have a few relatives on my mother's side..."

"We've borrowed from everyone—your brother, my sister, everyone we could! Now even our relatives avoid us. Who would dare lend us money?"

Just then, another voice broke in.

Zhang Wen said, "Dad, Mom... I'm not going to school. Please stop arguing. I'll go to work and earn money to pay off our debts."

"Nonsense!"

Mr. Zhang and Mrs. Zhang spoke in unison.