CHAPTER 127: CHAPTER 127 XIAOBING, YOU CAN BE CAPRICIOUS, I WILL BEAR THE CONSEQUENCES

"Did you manage to achieve it back then?"

"No." Ren Ye shrugged. "I couldn’t do it myself, so I pinned my hopes on you."

"I’ll try."

"You should say, ’I’ll just be casual about it.’ You don’t need to live for anyone else. You only experience life once. Why spend most of your time and energy on others?" Ren Ye genuinely felt for her. "You don’t owe Fu Ya anything. When Fu Ya took you home years ago, you brought her much joy and warmth. You took meticulous care of her when she was ill, so you’ve already repaid her kindness. You don’t need to feel regret for her passing either. Countless parents in this world pass away without their children by their side, and you don’t see those children retracing their parents’ past paths, trying to live out some unfulfilled part of their parents’ lives for them."

"Xiaobing, Fu Ya died, Qin Jinhai died, your child died... The connections you had with these people were only meant for a certain stretch of your life’s journey. Time is like that; it slowly takes away the things you cherish, until you have nothing left. The people who tugged at your heartstrings the most are all gone. You should live the way you want to. We, the people still here, are your gifts, not your burdens. Understand?"

Ren Ye had wanted to tell her this for a long time, but he didn’t seek her out.

He waited for her to appear before him on her own.

He had always watched Fu Ya, and therefore, he had also kept Fu Bing in his sights, knowing her journey hadn’t been easy.

This hardship wouldn’t resonate with the general public.

In their eyes, Fu Bing already possessed so much; any further complaints would seem like affectation.

Who would choose to be an orphan, not knowing where they came from?

Who would want to be forced to bear the burden of making a living while still in high school?

Who would willingly venture into the entertainment industry without any backing, carving out their own era in that chaotic, mixed-up world?

Who would want to be imprisoned in their prime?

Any one of these events would be enough to crush an ordinary person.

She had endured them all.

She had overcome them all.

Yet, the result of enduring it all was that she knew how to love others, but not herself.

Fu Bing had never had a male elder figure in her life. For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond.

"I... I’ll be able to adjust soon."

"You don’t need to tell me that. Xiaobing, I can tell you clearly: you are as important to me as Ren Zhi. I consider you my daughter. You can be willful. You can be unsure about what to do in the future. You can have moments of helplessness, and I will do my best to walk with you on the path ahead. I have only one request for you: be happy. Make yourself happy. If there’s something you don’t want to do, you can refuse. I’ll bear the consequences of your refusal. Can you do that?"

Fu Bing shook her head.

At that moment, she seemed to regress to her childhood—naive, ignorant, only able to helplessly watch the world and the people she met.

Ren Ye reached out his large hand and gently placed it on her head.

"Silly child."

Those two simple words made Fu Bing’s eyes redden.

She lowered her gaze, sitting there obediently and quietly. She didn’t know what to say, nor did she want to speak.

Uncle Ren said she didn’t have to care about others’ opinions and judgments. She didn’t want to speak anymore. Was that okay?

Ren Ye withdrew his hand, looking at Fu Bing with eyes full of indulgent affection.

He felt his life had been quite worthwhile. So what if he didn’t have biological children? Ren Zhi and Fu Bing were enough. Biological children wouldn’t necessarily have been better than them.

Fu Bing had dinner with Ren Ye before heading back.

Ren Ye’s injuries were more severe than hers. He currently needed a wheelchair to get around and would likely require it for another two to three months, or perhaps even half a year, before he could manage without it.

On her way, Fu Bing encountered Zhang Man, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time.

Zhang Man was leaning against her fiery red sports car, smoking. Upon seeing Fu Bing, she blew out a perfect smoke ring, then tossed her cigarette butt into a nearby trash can before striding over.

"All better?"

"I can walk slowly now."

"That’s good."

Fu Bing glanced in the direction of Ren Ye’s villa. "You were here. Why didn’t you go in?"

"He absolutely doesn’t want me to see him," Zhang Man said, her voice laced with weariness and frustration. "Does he have no clue how charming he is? His current age, net worth, and experience are incredibly attractive, okay? Why does he think he’s some decrepit old man? Damn it, what kind of decrepit old man looks like him?"

Seeing Zhang Man on the verge of exploding, Fu Bing suddenly interjected, "I both hope you succeed and hope you don’t."

"What’s this got to do with you? Spit it out!"

"Uncle Ren treats me like a daughter. If you and Uncle Ren get together, I’ll have to call you Auntie."

Zhang Man’s expression flickered, then she suddenly burst out laughing. "Alright then! I never realized you had such a humorous side."

"Why not change your target? You could aim for Ren Zhi instead."

Zhang Man glared at her. "Do you think changing marriage partners is as simple as forcing a cow to eat grass?"

"Getting a cow to eat grass isn’t easy either, you know," Fu Bing muttered.

"Shut up!" Zhang Man unceremoniously clamped a hand over Fu Bing’s mouth, her eyes raking critically over her. "Can you drink alcohol now?"

"If I don’t want an earful from Aunt Ning, I technically still can."

"Forget it. I’ll drink; you stick to your medicine."

"I have a friend who can drink with you. She lives around here too, all by herself. It’s quite suitable."

"Why didn’t you say so earlier? I brought a whole trunk full of booze!" Zhang Man gestured for Fu Bing to get in the car.

Fu Bing now had a deep-seated fear of cars, especially convertibles.

She felt incredibly insecure.

Fu Bing called Han Hu.

Han Hu, of course, knew Zhang Man.

They had acted in a drama together in the past, with Han Hu playing the second female lead to Zhang Man’s main role.

Zhang Man was also the type who liked to suggest script changes. Not to add more scenes for herself, but to make the portrayal of female friendship more realistic and less about petty rivalries.

The drama they co-starred in became a huge hit, and the two of them forged a deep bond because of it.

After Han Hu’s death, Zhang Man even went looking for trouble with Su He.

But it was to no avail.

A person’s death is like a lamp going out; fighting for her wouldn’t bring her back to life.

Han Hu was waiting for them in the yard.

Naturally, Zhang Man didn’t recognize the current Han Hu.

Her name was Rong Jia now, a name she had chosen for herself.

Zhang Man studied Han Hu carefully and smiled. "Rong Jia, I’m Zhang Man. You remind me a lot of a dear friend I once had. I hope we can become friends in the future too."

The smile on Han Hu’s face nearly froze. She managed a strained smile. "It’s a pleasure to meet you. Dinner is ready. Please, come inside."

"Thanks! If you’re Fu Bing’s good friend, then you’re my friend too. I won’t stand on ceremony then. First, help me bring in the wine. Tonight, we’re not going home until we’re both drunk!"

"So, those of us on medication don’t get any rights, huh?" Fu Bing said gloomily.

"Letting you sit here and keep us company is already generous. You still want rights? Not a chance!" Zhang Man retorted, cold and merciless.

Just as the three of them had taken their seats, Aunt Ning personally delivered the medicine.

The message was quite clear.

Only after Fu Bing had finished the medicine in front of her and repeatedly assured Aunt Ning that she wouldn’t drink any alcohol did Aunt Ning leave, still looking unconvinced and reluctant.

Xiaobing was in a bad mood; having friends over was a good thing. But health was paramount, and she couldn’t afford to be reckless.