CHAPTER 246: CHAPTER 246: AN UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER WITH THE EVIL COUPLE WHO BOUGHT HER YEARS AGO

Fu Bing looked at him with a blank expression.

"Have you been possessed?"

Wu Shi looked somewhat annoyed. "I’m serious."

Fu Bing pursed her lips and said calmly, "If you’re thinking that way, I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to go out alone."

"Afraid I’ll suddenly kiss you? Hug you?"

"You wouldn’t force me, but I would feel uncomfortable." Fu Bing’s dark, bright eyes were clear and direct. "I don’t want someone to treat me romantically or profess their love for me when I’m not interested in a relationship. It would be a burden."

All the mischievous thoughts in Wu Shi’s mind were laid bare by her clear, sparkling eyes.

He gritted his teeth. "There’s no one in the entire world as foolish as you."

Fu Bing remained noncommittal.

Wu Shi couldn’t help but ruffle her hair. "Pack your things. I’m taking you out."

Meeting Fu Bing’s gaze, he added, "No confessions, no declarations of love."

"Alright."

After saying goodbye to Aunt Ning and Uncle He, Fu Bing left.

Aunt Ning and Uncle He also had travel plans. Uncle He had decided to take up painting again, which meant he needed to travel far and wide to see the world’s landscapes. Since Aunt Ning couldn’t walk, they planned to start with a short stay nearby.

Soon, Xiaomei was the only one left in the huge villa.

I want to go out with Sis, but I’m afraid I’ll be a third wheel, she thought. Even I can tell Wu Shi is interested in her. But Sis’s heart is still with the late Qin Jinhai. I need to create opportunities for those two to be alone. Maybe if they spend more time together, Sis will start to like Wu Shi.

Xiaomei called Jian Si. The two of them went shopping, delighted.

After an hour of shopping with Xiaomei, Jian Si was practically rolling her eyes. Xiaomei was buying everything for Fu Bing. Before long, she had purchased items worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Jian Si said, "Sister Bing will buy things herself if she wants them. If you buy a pile of stuff for her, she might not even use it."

"Whether she uses them or not isn’t important; it’s the thought that counts," Xiaomei said, her eyes crinkling into a smile. "Do you want anything? I have a lot of money, I can buy whatever you want."

Jian Si’s lips twitched. "No, thank you."

"Don’t be shy. Everyone likes receiving gifts."

Xiaomei had the salesgirl pick out a gold bracelet for Jian Si.

Jian Si was shocked by her taste. "Can you pick a different color?"

"Gold looks good, and it holds its value best."

Jian Si was rendered speechless by her comment. She’s actually quite a savvy shopper, Jian Si thought, even thinking about resale value.

Xiaomei happily asked the salesgirl to recommend other bracelets or bangles suitable for Jian Si. After her refusals proved ineffective, Jian Si ended up buying the same bracelet as Xiaomei.

Xiaomei asked, "Sister Jian Si, do you know kung fu?"

Jian Si glanced at her warily. "What are you up to?"

"Wu Shi and Mu He are men, so there are times when it’s inconvenient for them to be with my sister twenty-four seven. If you know kung fu, please protect my sister."

Jian Si poked her on the head. "Actually, I’ve been protecting your sister all along."

"Really? How come I never see you?"

"Would it still be protection if you could see me?"

"Oh, I see." Xiaomei breathed a sigh of relief. "With you protecting my sister, I feel much more at ease."

"Why is that?"

"Because your eyes are very pure. I think you’ll treat my sister well."

Jian Si had nothing to say.

Wu Shi drove for two hours and arrived at a homestay with a courtyard. The homestay was by a river, on a street that was over a hundred years old. The cobblestone road was very different from newly built tourist attractions, possessing a gentle glow from years of weathering.

Fu Bing had been feeling a bit tired, but seeing the surroundings, her fatigue vanished. She handed the car keys and luggage to the homestay owner and went for a walk.

When the owner saw it was Fu Bing, he cleared out the best room for her. He had originally planned to keep it for his parents, but that room was more suitable for Fu Bing, he thought.

The area was an open scenic spot, yet it lacked the commercialism of typical tourist traps, and many things there were quite interesting. The river stretched towards distant mountains that appeared like ink wash paintings. The water sparkled, sunlight dancing vibrantly on its surface.

Fu Bing and Wu Shi sampled the local delicacies and returned to the homestay, savoring the lingering enjoyment. There’s plenty of time, Fu Bing thought, we can slowly appreciate the beautiful scenery here. No need to rush.

As they were getting their room card at the front desk, a car pulled up in the front yard. The door opened, and a woman’s voice, speaking heavily accented Mandarin, began to scold, "I paid for your education, and this is what you do? Open a shabby little inn in this tiny place? How am I supposed to face everyone back in the village?"

Chen Dong quickly apologized to Fu Bing and Wu Shi before rushing towards his parents. "Mom, Dad, if you want to complain, please don’t do it out here. Wait until we’re in the room, then you can say whatever you want."

Lei Yuan continued to shout, "I’m not going in! It’s an embarrassment to me and your father! Book us a high-end hotel immediately! How is this place any different from our village? Trees, flowerpots, bricks! And to think I boasted about you back home. I can’t believe you’re such a disappointment!"

Many guests and tourists turned to look at the commotion.

Chen Dong, mortified, pleaded in a low voice, "Mom, please lower your voice. It’s not good if the guests hear you."

Chen Yuan, his face stern, added, "If you were in a big company, your mother and I could hold our heads high and gain some respect. Like this, how can we face anyone back in the village? We shouldn’t have given you money for so much schooling in the first place. All that education went to waste!"

Fu Bing initially had no interest in meddling in other people’s family matters. However, their accents were chillingly similar to those from the place in her nightmares. She turned her head to look.

When she saw Lei Yuan and Chen Yuan’s faces clearly, her own turned pale.

Lei Yuan, still fuming, saw Fu Bing looking and snapped, "What are you looking at?"

Chen Yuan stared at Fu Bing’s eyes. "Honey, look at her eyes. Don’t they look like that cheap wench we bought back then?"

Reminded by him, Lei Yuan also realized. No wonder I always felt I’d seen her eyes somewhere before, she thought.

Wu Shi noticed something was wrong with Fu Bing’s demeanor and was about to ask when Fu Bing strode towards Chen Yuan and Lei Yuan.

Two crisp slaps landed loudly on their faces.

"I’ve been looking for you for twenty years," Fu Bing said coldly. "I never thought you’d deliver yourselves right to me."

Struck with fury, Lei Yuan raised her hand to hit Fu Bing. Fu Bing tapped her arm. Instantly, Lei Yuan’s arm went numb and began to itch, the pain making her cry out.

Chen Yuan exclaimed, "It really is you! We spent so much money to buy you, and you ran off not long after! Now that you’re looking all respectable, hurry up and pay back the money!"

"Pay back?" Fu Bing scoffed. "I can send you to prison."

Chen Dong and the others were stunned by the sudden turn of events.

"Mom, Dad, what’s going on here?" Chen Dong asked, his voice trembling.

Ever since he was a child, Chen Dong had heard villagers say that his parents had bought a girl before he was born. The girl had stayed at their house for a while, and then his parents had him. The villagers had secretly speculated that his parents had killed the girl. But, as they were all from the same village, no one dared to report it, much less speak openly about it.

He had never imagined that girl was actually Sister Bing!