Rose Manor: Tycoon's Relentless Chase-Chapter 305 - 286: Marrying Her and Bringing Her Home

Chapter 305: Chapter 286: Marrying Her and Bringing Her Home

Shen Jianian didn’t specifically search for news related to Ni Yiqiong on Weibo. Since the matter had been perfectly resolved, there was no need to spend time on irrelevant people.

After breakfast, Fu Jichen personally drove her to the Pei Family’s villa, agreeing to pick her up in the afternoon.

On the way, Fu Jichen didn’t mention Ni Yiqiong, and Shen Jianian didn’t bring it up either, pretending not to know.

The car stopped in front of the Pei Family villa’s gate, Fu Jichen tapped on the steering wheel with one hand and patted Shen Jianian’s head with the other: "Call me in the afternoon."

The sky was overcast, it might snow again.

A timely snow promises a good harvest, and snow on New Year’s Eve seems to enhance the festive spirit.

"Oh." Shen Jianian stirred the charm on her bag with her fingers, responding with lowered eyes.

She dressed festively today, in a retro red knit outfit, paired with white leather boots. The car had heating, so she held her down jacket folded in her arms, her long black hair draped freely, pearl earrings on her earlobes occasionally peeked through her hair, her makeup slightly heavier than usual, looking bright and lively.

Shen Jianian unbuckled her seatbelt, waited for a moment, saw that he had nothing more to say, and pushed the car door to get off.

Fu Jichen grabbed her forearm, raised his chin, reminding her, "Put on the down jacket before getting off, don’t catch a cold."

Today’s highest temperature was minus three degrees, very cold outside. Shen Jianian obediently put on the down jacket, knowing she’d have to take it off indoors later, she didn’t zip it up.

Fu Jichen leaned over and zipped it up for her, looking at her radiant face, his eyes deep.

Shen Jianian felt a blush at the back of her ears as he stared at her, wondering why it felt so reluctant and close when they wouldn’t be apart for long. She decided to break this sticky atmosphere: "I’m off, take care on the road, see you in the afternoon!"

She quickly finished speaking, turned around, but before stepping out, Fu Jichen pulled her back.

"What are you up to, any more dawdling and you might miss the reunion dinner at the old house." Shen Jianian was somewhat deflated, slumping in the passenger seat, looking helpless.

Fu Jichen tilted his face: "Did you forget something?"

"What?" Shen Jianian checked her belongings, the bag was on her, phone in the bag, nothing missing, no other items.

Fu Jichen, still with his face tilted, thought he’d hinted obviously enough; she might be truly oblivious or feigning ignorance.

Shen Jianian asked again: "What is it?"

Fu Jichen now confirmed she truly didn’t understand, he sighed, holding her neck, pulled her closer and kissed her: "Do you understand now?"

Shen Jianian’s expression froze, only her eyelashes fluttering.

"Get going." Fu Jichen got what he wanted and started urging her, "Call me once you’ve finished eating."

Shen Jianian seemed to have her soul dragged away, slowly got off the car, stumbling as she walked, forgetting to shut the door.

"Watch your step."

Fu Jichen lowered the car window to remind her, watched her back with a smile. Suddenly, he caught sight of Pei Che watching from inside the gate.

Unsure when he came out or how long he’d been watching, Fu Jichen casually looked away, shut the car door Shen Jianian forgot, raised the window, and drove off.

Shen Jianian wandered into the gate, met Pei Che’s gaze, paused: "Why did you come out?"

Before leaving, Shen Jianian had messaged him, he calculated the time to come out to greet her, not expecting to witness that scene.

After confessing everything to Shen Jianian and going abroad with Zhou Ruo, he had expected her and Fu Jichen to be together, but didn’t anticipate it would happen so quickly. He thought he’d adjusted his mindset, felt at peace, yet seeing them together stirred an undeniable bitterness.

It was a closeness he and Little Nian had never had in the past three years.

"Just calculated you’d be arriving soon, came out to check." Pei Che feigned calmness, "Let’s go in. My mom’s frying spring rolls, perfect timing to try them fresh."

Shen Jianian followed his steps slowly, thinking for a long time, decided to tell Pei Che. Though it was difficult to speak, she clearly expressed: "I’m with Fu Jichen now."

Pei Che’s hand tightened in his pocket, after a while, he calmly replied: "Mm."

He asked: "Did you remember anything from the past?"

Shen Jianian shook her head; still occasional fragments flashed through her mind, too brief to grasp, never recalling a complete event.

Pei Che smiled bitterly; he rather wished Little Nian would regain her memories.

What does this mean? Even if she forgot that person, she still ends up liking him again, right?

From time to time, he couldn’t help but think, just where did he lose to Fu Jichen, a man who wasn’t gentlemanly, one with uncompromising methods.

*

Fu Family’s old house was quieter than previous years.

Fu Jichen parked the car, picked up his keys, came out. The yard had been tidied, looking organized yet solemn, lacking festive cheer.

The butler heard the noise, hurried over, cheerfully greeted him, helped carry in the gifts he brought.

Fu Jichen stepped inside, sensed a bit of liveliness because Fu Jianfang was scolding her son, who just broke the old man’s teacup.

"Fu Da, you returned, last to arrive today." Fu Jianfang with her usual forced smile, "Holding onto so much work, probably too busy to even eat during normal days. You’re no longer young, should take care of your health, don’t work yourself to exhaustion, or no one will be there to support the Fu Family."

Fu Jichen hung up his coat, smiling faintly: "No need for you to worry."

Fu Jianfang frustrated by her diminished company authority, her resentment was understandable. Should she not throw some sarcastic remarks, Fu Jichen would actually be concerned about any bad intentions she’s holding.

"I lack the qualification to worry about your matters, but as an elder, I must remind you, leave some leeway, don’t go to extremes."

"Exactly, Aunt." Fu Jichen’s demeanor remained indifferent, "I’ll go see Grandpa."

Fu Jianfang suddenly said: "Do you know your mother is back from the hospital?"

Increasingly unable to comprehend this mother-son duo, ever since Wei Ronghua was diagnosed with cancer and hospitalized, Fu Jichen, the son Wei Ronghua once doted on like her jewel, had visited only rarely throughout the year. Wei Ronghua’s attitude toward him became indescribable; mentioning his name made her cough until nearly passing out, eyes full of resentment.

Fu Jichen: "What do you want to say, Aunt?"

"Nothing." Fu Jianfang observed his expression, "Seems you didn’t know she was back. I’m advising you to spare some time to be filial, her lung cancer gives her barely five years, over three have passed already, not much time left."

Fu Jichen didn’t continue the conversation, headed to the old man’s room.

Since winter began, the old man’s health hadn’t been as robust, frequently staying at home, like a withered tree with no chance of spring.

Grandfather and grandson chatted briefly, soon leading to the subject of marriage.

"You’re turning thirty-four after the New Year; your father and uncles by your age already had grown children." The old man half-leans in his chair, tea smoke curling from the table, "Grandpa doesn’t ask much of you, seeing you marry and have children before closing my eyes would leave me without regrets."

"Grandpa, don’t say that, the fortune teller said you’re destined for longevity." Fu Jichen leisurely refilled the old man’s tea.

The old man laughed softly: "The fortune teller’s words are flattery, you actually believed them?"

Fu Jichen chuckled, didn’t respond.

"Tell me honestly, do you have someone?" The old man squints, eyes not as sharp as years ago, still authoritative, "Fei Bai accidentally mentioned you have a girlfriend."

The old man nearly spelled it out, so Fu Jichen stopped beating around the bush; he’d planned to bring Shen Jianian today, she just wasn’t ready.

"Is what Fei Bai said true?" The old man watched him, asking.

Fu Jichen raised his eyes, his eyebrows and eyes didn’t resemble the Fu Family, taking after his biological mother from the Xiao Family, though his mother was strikingly handsome, Fu Jichen bore no feminine features.

"It’s true." Fu Jichen set down the teacup, sincerity filling his expression, "I might disappoint Grandpa; she isn’t some noble heiress nor a lady from a prestigious family, but I like her. As soon as she agrees, I’ll marry her."

His mind was made up long ago; no one and nothing could change it.

What happened back then would never be repeated.