Rose Manor: Tycoon's Relentless Chase-Chapter 372 - 349: Making Things Difficult for a Pregnant Woman
On the day of the Little New Year in the north, the movie "Western Palace Banquet" held its premiere in Beicheng.
More than a month ago, the film was scheduled to be released in the Spring Festival period, and the promotion had also started.
The movie was labeled as "costume," "power struggle," "suspense," "martial arts," etc., but the current audience basically has no hope for "martial arts." It’s not that they’re not interested in this type of movie, but whether it’s technical limitations or aesthetic issues, martial arts films these days have regressed compared to over a decade ago, leading many viewers to scoff at "martial arts" and nostalgically remember the past.
Since "Western Palace Banquet" is directed by the top-tier director Wang Kelun, and it’s said that he personally handled every frame of editing and oversaw the postproduction himself, everyone is still willing to give him face, expressing that they will go to the cinema to support him and see if Wang Kelun can inject some fresh blood into martial arts films.
Some people started to badmouth the film online even before watching it, saying that not even Wang Kelun could save martial arts films, and that he might ruin his decades’ worth of reputation. It would be a shame if he ends up with the titles of "disgraced in later years" and "creatively exhausted," and he better not complain to netizens on Weibo when that happens. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞
Amidst various opinions, the premiere ceremony commenced. That evening, aside from the main creators of the film, several celebrity friends and influential bloggers from the film industry were invited to support, along with ordinary viewers who had won official tickets.
Shen Jianian received the invitation early on. Because she had to walk the red carpet, she hired a professional stylist to come to her home for styling.
It was below ten degrees Celsius at night in Beicheng. Shen Jianian had already arrived at the premiere venue. Her makeup was flawless, her long hair was curled into big waves with a curling iron by the stylist, and she was wearing a strapless dark green long dress, combining elegance and allure.
She was sitting in the business car and started to shiver before even getting out.
Fu Jichen, who accompanied her, was well-prepared. He grabbed a white down jacket from the back seat and wrapped it around her.
The dress’s hem was long enough, and Shen Jianian wore thick fleece thermal pants inside, so her legs weren’t cold, but her bare arms were the problem. When Fu Jichen draped the down jacket over her, her first reaction was to refuse: "Wearing it now is useless. I’ll still have to take it off later for the red carpet to pose for media photos."
"Is walking the red carpet more important, or is your health more important?" Fu Jichen said in an assertive tone that allowed no refusal, pulling the front of the down jacket tightly around her. "Don’t you know you can’t stand the cold? You’ve worked so hard to nurse your health; don’t take it lightly."
Shen Jianian was struggling in her mind. If she could, obviously, she didn’t want to endure the cold in sub-zero temperatures, but other actresses were dressing like that, and she couldn’t be the exception.
"No one wears a down jacket on the red carpet," she argued softly.
Fu Jichen wouldn’t back down an inch: "Then you can be the first."
"What if someone writes a hit piece tomorrow saying I’m being a diva, disrespectful, and not following the rules? I’m likely to get scolded again," Shen Jianian didn’t want to end up in the news, especially with negative coverage.
"Anyone who dares to criticize you, just be ready. They’ll receive a lawyer’s letter from me," Fu Jichen said domineeringly.
Shen Jianian couldn’t help but laugh: "Then your lawyer’s letters would keep going out for days on end." She paused, pouted, and said, "To be honest, I also want to wear a down jacket on the red carpet."
"Then wear it."
"But it’s the same problem. If I do that, people will definitely say something," Shen Jianian’s tone was mildly resentful, circling back to the original point.
Fu Jichen pondered for a moment, then said, "I’ll give you an idea. Later, if someone asks about this, just say you’re pregnant. Who would trouble a pregnant woman?"
Shen Jianian was stunned by his words, her eyes blinked with false lashes, and it took her a while to respond to him: "Are you giving a lousy suggestion?"
"How is it a lousy suggestion?" Fu Jichen sincerely inquired.
"You..." Shen Jianian was at a loss for words, her cheeks inexplicably blushing.
"Hmm?" Fu Jichen was still waiting for her follow-up.
Shen Jianian barely regained her composure, raising her voice by two degrees, and retorted, "Don’t you think about it, I have a public concert later, and if my belly doesn’t show, won’t I be exposed?"
Fu Jichen hadn’t thought that far, but after hearing her, he nodded in agreement: "You’re right."
"So that’s why I’m saying you’re giving a lousy suggestion," Shen Jianian finally scored a point.
As they were chatting, the business car’s door was pulled open from the outside, and a gust of biting cold wind blew in, making Shen Jianian shrink her neck. Then, a black silhouette popped in.
It was Fu Feibai.
He was wearing a haute couture suit from a luxury brand he endorsed, sporting an elegantly noble black bow tie, and his hairstyle was styled to be cool and chic. As soon as he got into the car, the whole cabin seemed brighter.
"It’s freezing," Fu Feibai rubbed his hands and breathed into them, "It’s warmer in the car."
Fu Jichen leaned against the back of the chair, playing with a metal lighter in his hand, adopting the demeanor of an elder brother: "Why are you not in your own car and came here instead?"
"It’s not like I wanted to come." Fu Feibai knew he was a major third wheel, intruding on their time as a couple. He sat down and got straight to the point, "Grandpa just called me, asking us to go back to the old house to celebrate the Little New Year after the event. You and sister-in-law haven’t been back in a while. The old man doesn’t say it, but he misses you."
Fu Jichen nodded: "Got it."
Not long after, the event began. Shen Jianian slid open the car door and eventually couldn’t resist the intrusion of the cold wind, wrapping herself in a down jacket as she stepped onto the red carpet.
But just as she took a step forward, someone shadowed her from behind and called to her gently: "Honey, you’re walking too fast."
Shen Jianian stopped in her tracks, looking at him in a daze, her eyes full of confusion. She had to walk the red carpet, why was he following her?
Fu Jichen didn’t explain the reason. The corners of his lips curled up in a slight smile as he took her small hand and placed it on his arm, leading her down the red carpet step by step.
Even before they got out of the car, the media on both sides of the red carpet had set up long guns and short cannons, taking pictures of them fiercely.
The president of Jun Mountain was rarely seen, and ever since Shen Jianian finished filming Wang Kelun’s movie, she hadn’t developed further into the entertainment industry, focusing entirely on her music career. Apart from buying tickets to see her performances, there was no other occasion to see her. The two of them appearing together in a public setting was indeed rare, and the media were eager, hoping they would provide some breaking news.
The two walked down the red carpet under the flashing lights and stopped at the signing board. Shen Jianian took the golden pen from the etiquette lady and left her name on the signing board.
After she finished writing, Fu Jichen took the pen and wrote his name next to hers. His handwriting was bold and vigorous, forming a stark contrast to Shen Jianian’s graceful script.
The host raised the microphone to interview Shen Jianian: "I heard that Miss Shen plays a killer in The Western Palace Banquet. How would you rate your performance in the film?"
Shen Jianian thought for a moment and answered earnestly: "Out of ten, I would say eight. I did my very best."
Host: "What’s your prediction for the box office of The Western Palace Banquet?"
Shen Jianian: "Of course, the more, the better."
The host gradually shifted the topic: "How does it feel to walk the red carpet with your husband tonight?"
Shen Jianian paused, glanced at Fu Jichen, and truthfully said: "It feels quite fresh."
The host knowingly smiled, turned the microphone to Fu Jichen, likely a bit intimidated by him, took a deep breath before daring to ask: "Mr. Fu, did you specifically walk the red carpet with your wife today?"
To everyone’s surprise, Fu Jichen appeared gentle, unlike the rumored image of being unapproachable, yet he remained concise, only saying one word: "Yes."
The host did not dare challenge his authority further, shifting his gaze back to Shen Jianian and asking a question he had been curious about: "Miss Shen, what made you think to... wear a down jacket on the red carpet?"
Indeed, he had asked this question! Shen Jianian once again looked at Fu Jichen. The moment their eyes met, they both smiled knowingly; they had just discussed this in the car.
Of course, Shen Jianian wouldn’t follow Fu Jichen’s unwise advice in her response. She spoke the truth: "I’m very afraid of the cold, and Beicheng is too cold tonight, so... I apologize."
Her gentle smile took on a trace of shyness, perhaps genuinely feeling apologetic, especially when she noticed the host standing in the icy wind in formal attire, covered in goosebumps, making her feel even less professional.
With the interview session over, Fu Jichen hugged Shen Jianian as they entered the venue.
Earlier, it was inconvenient to ask, but now, with no reservations, Shen Jianian voiced her confusion: "Why would you attend the premiere of The Western Palace Banquet? Did the director send you an invitation?"
But Fu Jichen was neither a media person in the film industry nor a celebrity, so why would they send him an invitation? She thought he would just accompany her there and then go off to do other things.
Fu Feibai, who had come inside the venue earlier, suddenly appeared out of nowhere and happened to hear Shen Jianian’s question, quickly speaking before Fu Jichen: "Didn’t big brother tell you that Jun Mountain invested in The Western Palace Banquet?"
Fu Jichen glanced at Fu Feibai calmly: "You and your many words."
Fu Feibai, like a child succeeding in a prank, blinked mischievously and slipped away, found the seat marked with his nameplate, and propped up his legs.
Shen Jianian looked at Fu Jichen, surprised: "Jun Mountain is one of the investors in The Western Palace Banquet?" After asking this, she couldn’t help but indulge in her own speculation, "You... did you invest in this movie because of me?"
She felt that this was something Fu Jichen would likely do.
