Rebirth from the Ashes

Shen Xi ran into the living room. Of course, she would not have the nerve to ask for hugs on Shen Zhangqing's watch. Besides, the begrudging stare coming from him did not go unnoticed. She opened a packet of cod sausage and hand-delivered it to Li Yuan's mouth. "Brother, have you eaten?"      

Li Yuan pointed at the pink bear apron on him and answered with a smile, "I was cooking with Uncle Shen."      

Shen Zhangqing would be lying if he said he was not bitter about his daughter ignoring him. He acknowledged, "We're in the middle of cooking up a storm. We can also order some takeaways. Have you guys eaten?"      

"We had some snacks." Shen Xi grinned at Shen Zhangqing before poking the bear on Li Yuan's chest with intrigue. She bought these aprons for Old Shen and Madam Yun. One was pink while the other was blue. He wore the pink and Old Shen put on the blue apron.      

Song Wenye almost choked when she saw Li Yuan in an ill-fitted pink apron. Toffeecito's Dad sure looked the part of a househusband.      

With a look of concern, Yu Yuanxi gently patted her on the back. "What's wrong?"      

Song Wenye smiled mysteriously and shook her head before leaning in his ear to whisper, "Toffeecito's Dad is a good man."      

It was hard to imagine a big shot cooking in the kitchen with an apron on. Well, Song Wenye's grandpa and deadbeat father would never step into the kitchen for anyone.      

She never heard of her father ever cooking for his wife, despite claiming to love his current wife.      

That wife was so full of herself. As if splurging money was not enough, those ladies, labeling themselves as the upper crust, would compare their relationships and boast about whose husband would carry their bags for them.      

Yu Yuanxi grinned. "So long as Xixi likes it."      

For a man of status like Li Yuan, their family did not ask for much as all they wanted was his devotion toward Xixi.      

In the living room, Fu Qingli and Li Yuan indifferently greeted each other.      

Shen Xi pulled Li Yuan to the kitchen.      

Watching them leave, Fu Qingli was fixated on Shen Xi's arm over Li Yuan's as danger and forlorn flashed past his eyes.      

He knew that his sister would get married one day, but why did it have to be Li Yuan?      

Fu Qingli hated himself. Why did it take him so long to find her? It took eighteen years to get to this point. Would everything be different had he found her sooner?      

Placing the snacks on the coffee table, Song Wenye picked up the remote control to turn on the TV. She asked Fu Qingli, "Big Brother, what do you want to watch?"      

Fu Qingli said, "Anything is fine. You can watch whatever you want."      

"Oh." Song Wenye sneaked a glance at him and realized his occasional peek at the kitchen area. She looked over and handed the remote control to him. "Big Brother, you can pick a program you like. I'm going to help out in the kitchen."      

She then ran off.      

After a trip to the loo, Yu Yuanxi went to lend a hand in the kitchen.      

Meanwhile, the living room was left deserted with only Fu Qingli there. He put down the remote control and gazed at the snacks on the coffee table. He took another glance at the kitchen before getting up to make his way there.      

With Fu Qingli setting foot in the kitchen, Shen Zhangqing put down the knife and talked him into leaving. "Qingli, sit there and relax. We have enough people in the kitchen."      

There was no way he was going to allow a guest to help in the kitchen. It was simply improper.      

"I want to help too!" The words saw the horns of the green-eyed monster in Fu Qingli poking out. There seemed to be a difference in attitude toward guests and family. In Uncle Shen's eyes, Li Yuan was family while he was an outsider.      

"No, no, no." Shen Zhangqing refused repeatedly in reflection of his resolution. Wiping his hands, he looked at the lot in the kitchen before locking in on Li Yuan. "Lil' Li, go and sit with Qingli for a while."      

Li Yuan was such an eyesore. Did Li Yuan and Shen Xi think he was blind to notice them making eyes?      

Shen Xi jumped in before Li Yuan had a chance to speak. "Dad, he's cooking, so he can't leave now. You should go."      

"I'm slicing vegetables here." Shen Zhangqing felt bitter. His daughter was no longer daddy's little girl now that she was all grown up. It had not been long, yet she acted like he was getting in her way. Refusing to leave, Shen Zhangqing turned to his son. "Yuanxi, go and keep Qingli company."      

Yu Yuanxi, "…"     

In the end, Yu Yuanxi, the most empathetic of them all, stayed with Fu Qingli, the guest. By the time he carried a fruit platter out, the TV was showing a variety program. Yu Yuanxi gazed at the man sitting nearby. "Big Brother Fu, do you fancy watching a variety show?"      

Fu Qingli took notice that Glitzy Girls came on the screen. They were Mom's favorite girl group. Song Wenye was one of the members. Mr. Xixi was on the judging panel on their talent show.      

Mom was watching the live broadcast when he passed by the living room once. He recognized Shen Xi instantly then. Feeling down, he muttered, "Let's watch National Idol."      

At the time, Mom was hooked on the talent show. Not only did she look forward to each livestream, but she also participated in all kinds of events for fans and voted for her favorite contestants besides posting in her group chats and WeChat Moments to help out with the votes.      

Mom tried to pull him along to watch the talent show together. Since Fu Qingli knew that Shen Xi was on the show, he made up excuses to turn Mom down.      

He should have watched the show with Mom.      

Yu Yuanxi was dumbstruck for a moment as shock reflected in his eyes. Nevertheless, he picked up the remote control to find National Idol. Having found it, he inquired, "Do you want to start from the first episode?"      

Fu Qingli returned a question. "Is Mr. Xixi in the first episode?"      

Mom binged on the show every day with Aunt Junqiu while discussing the program incessantly. Mr. Xixi had been missing in action in quite a few episodes.      

As Yu Yuanxi had been keeping up with the livestreams, he remembered the episodes Mr. Xixi appeared in. "Yes."      

However, why was Big Brother Fu interested in watching Mr. Xixi? Was it possible that he had been an avid fan of Mr. Xixi's talent?      

Since the kitchen was not a far distance from the living, the people inside the kitchen could tell what they were watching by the theme song.      

Song Wenye looked at Shen Xi in confusion while hesitantly asking, "Are they watching National Idol?"      

Shen Xi could see the television in the living room from where she was standing. She nodded. "Yes."      

Song Wenye narcissistically smiled. "I guess I was charming on that show."      

Shen Xi insincerely curled her lips. She looked back again and met the eyes of Fu Qingli. Following the locked gazes, she quickly turned away.      

With a smile, Fu Qingli intriguingly looked at Yu Yuanxi. "Yuanxi, can you tell me a little more about Xixi?"      

Yu Yuanxi was not one to hide any information. "What do you want to know, Big Brother Fu?"      

"Anything and everything." Fu Qingli paused before adding. "Apart from Li Yuan."      

Yu Yuanxi gave a look of understanding.