Rose Manor: Tycoon's Relentless Chase-Chapter 264 - 247: The Pursuit Phase
The private room fell silent for a few seconds. Shen Jianian could tell that they were curious about her, likely because of the man sitting beside her. Without Fu Jichen, they probably wouldn’t give her a second look.
Without having Fu Jichen speak for her, Shen Jianian took the initiative to say, "Hello, I’m Shen Jianian, pleased to meet you."
A simple self-introduction, without any unnecessary elaboration.
The women exchanged looks. Shen Jianian, why does this name sound so familiar?
Wait a moment, isn’t the fallen heiress of the Shen Family also named Shen Jianian? She used to be entangled with the late young master of the Pei Family and even made headlines with Fu Jichen.
There were rumors in the circle that Fu Jichen brought Shen Jianian back to the Fu Family’s old house to celebrate the patriarch’s birthday, indicating his great regard for her, but nothing followed after that. Then there were rumors about Fu Jichen’s marriage alliance with the Xu Family’s heiress, and Shen Jianian vanished from sight.
Some said Shen Jianian left for distant lands after things didn’t work out with Fu Jichen.
As for what actually happened, none of them were clear about it.
Now, another Shen Jianian has come up. How peculiar.
Shen Jianian’s gaze swept across their faces, each showing an odd expression. She smiled lightly, "What’s wrong?"
"Don’t overthink, Miss Shen. It’s nothing. My friend may have thought of someone she knows who shares your name. Used to be my brother’s..." Fu Yuling deliberately said only half before shaking her head, evasively saying, "It’s nothing, it’s all in the past."
With this explanation, Shen Jianian understood completely. She had experienced situations like this a few times, and was used to it. These people likely knew her in the past or recognized her, but because she had changed her face, they couldn’t recognize her and thought someone with the same name had appeared.
Shen Jianian was not familiar with them, and it was clear they weren’t warm towards her either. There was no need to spend time explaining the accident, disfigurement, and amnesia.
"Where is Miss Shen currently employed?" one of the women asked with a smile.
Fu Yuling gave her friend a glance, picked up the teapot to pour herself a cup of tea, using the act to hide a slight curl on her lips.
She had heard from Fu Feibai that this woman was an unremarkable actress, not worth mentioning compared to people like them.
Shen Jianian responded with calm dignity, "I play the cello in an orchestra called Shixin Orchestra. I’m not sure if you’ve heard of it."
They exchanged looks, not having paid attention to orchestral news and naturally hadn’t heard of it.
However, her introduction as an orchestra member indicated that was all she could present, suggesting her family background wasn’t great, lacking lineage and connections, relying on a bit of beauty and talent. Even if she clung to Fu Jichen, how could it last?
Perhaps she was just a stand-in for the previous Shen Jianian, same name, also able to play the cello. If not a stand-in, then what?
How pitiful.
Shen Jianian added, "Feel free to listen sometime. Our orchestra will have concerts in October and November, with likely performances in Beicheng."
They nodded in agreement, not taking it seriously, just polite perfunctory responses.
At this moment, a knock on the door sounded, and several waiters entered in sequence, serving the dishes previously ordered by Fu Jichen. The lead waiter said to them, "There are still some dishes being hastily prepared in the kitchen, sorry for the delay."
Fu Jichen was the first to pick up his chopsticks, but he did so to serve Shen Jianian, picking a boneless piece of rib and placing it in her small bowl in front of her, "You said you were hungry, eat more."
Shen Jianian was taken aback. When did she say she was hungry? Although she was indeed hungry, how did he know?
With others present, she didn’t ask further, quietly picking up her chopsticks to enjoy the meal.
Others were witnessing such a scene for the first time, with layers of shock piling up inside, forgetting to eat and having their eyes steadily fixated on the two main characters.
Fu Jichen himself didn’t eat much, frequently serving Shen Jianian dishes, ladling soup, meticulously skimming off floating oil, donning disposable gloves to dismantle a whole steamed chicken, giving her the drumstick.
Shen Jianian coughed lightly, whispering, "That’s enough."
Fu Yuling, sitting close, directly sensed Fu Jichen’s affection for that woman, surpassing and not inferior to how he treated the former Shen Jianian.
Fu Feibai’s descriptions weren’t exaggerated at all. Fu Jichen was indeed unlike any day in the past three years, no longer like a walking corpse. He was so gentle, with such warmth, but unfortunately, none of it belonged to her, occupied instead by another woman.
The food lost its original taste in Fu Yuling’s mouth, her teeth gripping tighter and tighter, the thumbnail on her left hand nearly digging into her index finger.
"Jichen, are you and this Miss Shen..." Fu Yuling’s sister hesitated for a moment before giving in to curiosity, "Are you a couple?"
Shen Jianian was drinking soup, and at these words, she choked.
Fu Yuling’s heart tightened for a moment. She had asked Fu Feibai this question before, but Fu Feibai was unreliable, answering without giving any answer. She was keen to know as well.
Fu Jichen removed the disposable gloves, placed them beside the plate, and lifted his eyelids to look at the woman who asked the question. The same question was asked by Fu Feibai before. After a moment of silence, he was not as serious as with Fu Feibai and simply said, "Still in the pursuit phase."
Everyone present was taken aback and didn’t understand the subject: who was pursuing whom?
Judging by Fu Jichen’s attentive manner, it seemed like he was pursuing Shen Jianian. Could it be possible for the dignified President Jun Shan to pursue someone? Let alone his family background, just his looks and aura were enough to make countless Beicheng socialites yearn for him.
Some of the women among them started to feel uneasy.
During a break in drinking soup, Shen Jianian glanced at Fu Jichen. Rarely did she not counter, as him telling others they were in the pursuit phase was better than saying they were dating.
"May I boldly ask if it’s Brother Jichen pursuing Miss Shen?" Someone, harboring unrealistic fantasies about him, persisted in asking.
A waiter happened to come in to serve dishes, interrupting the somewhat tense atmosphere in the private room.
Several pairs of eyes were fixed on Fu Jichen, waiting for his answer, even though they likely had already guessed it.
Shen Jianian pretended not to hear and focused on the newly served plate of shrimp, each one plump and neatly arranged in a circular formation on the white porcelain plate, with a dipping sauce bowl in the middle. She picked one up for her bowl but before she could peel it, it was picked up by chopsticks reaching over from the side.
"Avoid seafood as much as possible after getting vaccinated this morning; your constitution is not strong, and there is a chance of allergy," Fu Jichen said, then ate the shrimp himself.
Shen Jianian: "I’m not allergic to seafood."
"I know," Fu Jichen said, "Just temporarily abstain. If you like it, I’ll ask Aunt Cheng to buy some in a few days so you can enjoy it."
Shen Jianian did not want to argue with him over such trivial matters; it didn’t matter if she didn’t eat it, she could eat other dishes.
Fu Jichen did not answer that question or seemed as if he did.
*
This restaurant’s booming business was no coincidence; the food indeed tasted good, and Shen Jianian accidentally overate, unable to eat a single bite of dessert afterward. She thought of offering it to others, since there were many girls present, surely some liked sweets.
Before she could voice her suggestion, Fu Jichen completed the bill payment and told the waiter, "Please pack this dessert for us to take away."
Shen Jianian closed her mouth, swallowing back the words she was about to say.
The waiter replied, "Okay," and soon brought a takeout box, packaged it, and handed it to Shen Jianian. Fu Jichen helped her carry it, with a shopping bag in his other hand.
The people present were all familiar with that shopping bag; it was from a luxury brand store downstairs, where a dress could easily cost six figures.
"We’re leaving now, feel free to stay," Fu Jichen bid a polite farewell and gathered everything into one hand to free the other, taking Shen Jianian’s hand as they left.
Fu Yuling barely ate a few bites, feeling full of anger, watching every move Fu Jichen made toward that woman. Whether he was serious, she could tell.
Precisely because she knew he was serious did she become insanely jealous, wishing she could make that woman disappear right there.
How dare she think she’s worthy of being loved by my brother.
After they left, Fu Yuling’s friends swarmed around her, finally saying what they didn’t dare at the dinner table.
"Oh my god, never thought I’d see the gentle side of your brother in this life! The way he looks at that Shen Jianian could melt anyone. Sigh, I’m still not used to calling that woman Shen Jianian, it feels strange."
"No idea what tactics she used to capture your brother’s heart; I’d love for her to start classes!"
"Your brother said it’s the pursuit phase, though he didn’t clarify who’s pursuing whom. We’re not dumb, anyone could see he’s pursuing that woman. How much self-control must someone have to resist his pursuit? That woman is ruthless! But that’s Fu Jichen!"
"I don’t know if she’s ruthless, but she’s certainly cunning, knowing how to capture a man’s heart."
"I’m not afraid to admit, even I’m jealous of that woman."
In the midst of their chatter, Fu Yuling’s face gradually turned cold, she picked up her bag from her seat, and left.
"Hey, Yuling, where are you going? Didn’t we agree to continue shopping this afternoon?" The people in the private room were bewildered, not understanding why Fu Yuling was leaving so abruptly.
They were hoping this benefactor could continue covering their expenses in the afternoon; after all, the Fu Family’s wealth was vast, and this bit of money was a mere drop in the bucket for her.
Fu Yuling chased after them out of the restaurant, just in time to see the two entering an elevator. She was thankful she wore flat shoes so she wouldn’t worry about twisting an ankle while running.
However, she was still a step too late; the elevator doors closed before her eyes. She glanced at the display and saw they weren’t heading to the underground parking but to the sixth floor.
The sixth floor housed the arcade in the mall, and in her impression, only fun-loving youths frequented it.
