Before killing Fu Xiaoya, Shen Nanhai wanted to ensure that she hadn't revealed his secret.
Shen Nanhai walked out of the factory gates, and not long after, the sound of an iron rod smashing a skull could be heard from inside the factory. Soon after, the sound subsided, and tranquillity returned.
...
Anning Village.
It was the second day since Fu Xiaoya's return. The village was not densely populated, and the people here lived a simple and pure life. They preferred to keep their distance from the outside world, so when a new person suddenly appeared in the village, the news quickly spread.
The Fu family was considered well-off in Anning Village. Although Fu Yuanjiang and Fu Hua didn't have jobs, Fu Yuanjiang enjoyed farming rice in the fields, while Fu Hua loved gardening and planting flowers. Both of their courtyards were filled with vibrant blooms. As for Fu Song, Fu Xiaoya had no idea what her brother did, but every time he came back home, he reeked of alcohol. Fu Xiaoya reasonably guessed that Fu Song's work must be related to sales.
In short, even though this family wasn't wealthy, the feeling of being together was warm and comforting, making Fu Xiaoya feel like she was in a dream.
Today was the first time Fu Xiaoya went out with Fu Hua. Fu Hua said she wanted to introduce her to the people in the village. Before leaving, Fu Hua carefully picked out an outfit for her—a peach-colored long dress paired with a pink cardigan, giving her a gentle and tender look.
Fu Xiaoya was naturally beautiful, and the simple outfit highlighted her elegance and figure. The more Fu Hua looked at her, the more satisfied she felt. "My baby daughter is so beautiful! Absolutely stunning!"
"It's because Mom and Dad are good-looking, so I'm good-looking too," Fu Xiaoya replied sweetly. The more time she spent with her family, the sweeter her words became.
Fu Hua pinched Fu Xiaoya's small cheek and felt that no matter how much she looked at her, it was never enough. "My daughter is truly adorable!"
On the way out, Fu Hua talked to Fu Xiaoya about many things in the village. Fu Xiaoya felt that her mother was a social butterfly because whenever they encountered someone on the road, Fu Hua would greet them and offer candies.
Fu Xiaoya was somewhat socially anxious and not used to greeting people. Whenever she saw someone, she would stick close to Fu Hua and smile obediently.
The villagers happily accepted the candies and looked at Fu Xiaoya with smiles. "Oh, this child is so beautiful, just like a celebrity on TV."
Hearing these compliments, Fu Hua's eyes narrowed with a big smile. "Indeed, I think my daughter is beautiful, even much more beautiful than any celebrity."
Fu Xiaoya felt a bit embarrassed by the praise. She thought her mother was exceptionally skilled in socializing, able to talk about anything with people, be it their daughter, investments, or even the farrowing of a pig. At that moment, Fu Xiaoya truly realized that Fu Hua was a woman that belonged to a village, a genuine person. Fu Hua usually enjoyed admiring flowers, watering them, and had no trace of worldly concerns. She seemed like a fairy.
Fu Xiaoya followed closely by Fu Hua's side, listening to her conversations with the people in the village. At first, it was interesting, but after a while, it became boring. That was when she noticed a poster on the side, advertising a talent search: "Due to a program's requirements, we are now hiring a sweet-looking and youthful artist, no prior experience necessary."
Fu Xiaoya thought to herself, "Oh, there's such an opportunity?"
She noted down the contact information on the poster. Although life in the village was peaceful and happy, they were financially struggling. Fu Xiaoya's parents had no stable income, and relying solely on her brother's efforts wouldn't be enough. She needed to work hard and earn money to provide a better life for her family. This advertisement seemed to be looking for a pretty face to fill a role, and she believed she fit the description perfectly. Besides, the original owner of the body had the potential to be an artist.
The original owner of the body had always been bullied, suppressing her emotions. Later, she found a way to vent her emotions by creating short music videos, portraying multiple characters, and singing. However, she never showed her face in the videos, didn't update them frequently, and had very few fans. When Fu Xiaoya gained those memories, she felt that the original owner of the body had wasted such a wonderful talent for singing and performing.
Fu Hua noticed Fu Xiaoya's attention gradually shifting. Since she had finally finished showing her daughter off, they could head home.
After dinner, the family sat in the pavilion, drinking tea and watching the sunset. Fu Hua, being attentive, noticed that Fu Xiaoya seemed to have something on her mind. She took the initiative and asked, "Xiaoya, what's wrong? Is there something you want to say?"
Fu Xiaoya shook her head and didn't reveal her plan to earn money. She was afraid of hurting her parents' pride.
"I want to visit Hai City tomorrow. A friend of mine is sick, and I want to go see them," Fu Xiaoya told a small lie.