Rose Manor: Tycoon's Relentless Chase-Chapter 278 - 260: He’s in Her Heart

Shen Jianian didn’t expect to return to Beicheng so soon. Walking amongst the crowds at the airport, she felt a sense of disorientation, as if the events of the past few days weren’t real.

"Jianian! Over here!"

Bai Changxia had come to pick her up and was waving from the exit.

Shen Jianian was only carrying one bag with her and smiled at the person not far away.

Bai Changxia approached and linked arms with her, letting out a long sigh before launching into complaints: "I had no idea wedding preparations could be this exhausting. There’s a ton of things waiting for me to handle every day, like choosing invitation designs, wedding favors, candy, dresses—everything needs to be picked out."

Her mom was no longer around, and her dad, being a rough old guy, didn’t understand this stuff. Her in-laws helped quite a bit, but since they’re older, they’re worried the things they choose won’t appeal to young people, so she ends up making all the decisions.

After all, it’s a lifelong matter, and she doesn’t want to do a sloppy job.

"Aren’t I here now?" Shen Jianian patted her arm reassuringly. "I happen to be free recently, so if you need help, just let me know."

Bai Changxia leaned her head on her shoulder, exclaiming that sisters are indeed reliable.

The two of them first found a place to eat, and afterwards, Shen Jianian planned to book a hotel, but Bai Changxia dragged her to stay at her place without hesitation.

Bai Changxia’s place had been specially renovated for the wedding and was brighter and more comfortable than the last time she visited, especially her boudoir, which had all new sofas and bedding. The empty space was piled with delivery boxes of all sizes, her recent "trophies," like wedding bags, shoes, and morning robes.

As soon as Shen Jianian sat on the sofa, Bai Changxia handed her a box of assorted candies: "Try some and see which ones taste good. I’ll buy them in bulk to give as wedding candies for the guests."

Shen Jianian felt like it was a monumental task. She took a deep breath with the box in her hands and picked out a candy, unwrapped it—it was hazelnut chocolate, rich in flavor with a nutty scent. "This one’s pretty good."

Bai Changxia sat on the floor, trying on the three pairs of high heels she bought, and asked which pair Shen Jianian thought was best.

Shen Jianian pointed to one pair: "These make the arch of the foot look nice, and the heel isn’t too high. Considering all the walking around and toasting on the wedding day, comfort is important too."

"Then I’ll return the other two pairs." Bai Changxia happily chose her wedding shoes, chattering away, "That’s the good thing about having a sister. Those guys just say everything looks good, but can’t offer any constructive opinion."

Bai Changxia huffed as she packed the other two pairs and arranged for the courier to pick them up via her phone.

Shen Jianian helped her choose things while munching on candy, skipping the afternoon nap, and was left with an overpoweringly sweet taste in her mouth by the end.

Around three in the afternoon, they left the house to go to a brand store to pick out the dress for the wedding toast. Bai Changxia hadn’t found one she liked before and was determined to finalize it this time, not wanting to delay any further.

The sales associate greeted Bai Changxia enthusiastically, saying, "Miss Bai, you’re here at just the right time. We just got a new batch of dresses in today. You can have a good look; I’m sure you’ll find something you love."

The two were led by the sales associate to a line of newly arrived dresses, with various styles and colors that were dazzling and eye-catching.

Bai Changxia turned to Shen Jianian: "Let’s pick out your bridesmaid dress as well today, so we don’t have to come again."

Shen Jianian asked, "How many bridesmaids are you having?"

"Originally, if you hadn’t shown up, I was just going to find a few people to fill in, but now that you’re here, it’ll be just you." Bai Changxia placed her hands on her shoulders. "That way, your importance is highlighted."

Shen Jianian was very touched, but she had a concern: "Does your fiancé also have just one groomsman?"

"Four, actually. Three are his college roommates, and the other one is a friend he knows from business." Bai Changxia understood what she was implying and waved it off dismissively, "No worries, there’s no rule saying the number of groomsmen and bridesmaids has to be the same."

While looking at dresses, Bai Changxia joked with Shen Jianian: "Anyway, Fu Jichen and Pei Che are both out of the picture now. All my husband’s groomsmen are single. Just let me know if any of them catch your eye, and I’ll get their contact info for you." She winked.

Shen Jianian’s face was expressionless.

Bai Changxia laughed heartily, pulling out a dress from the rack and holding it against herself: "How does this one look?"

"The waistline is a bit low; it might make you look chubby. Why not try it on first, and I’ll see how it looks."

"You’re right. Then I won’t try it on." Bai Changxia sighed, feeling having someone to give advice makes things much easier.

After trying on several dresses, Bai Changxia finally chose a golden mermaid gown with a semi-sheer back and an eye-catching red velvet bow under the shoulder blades. The long tails hung down to match the hair accessories for the styling.

Shen Jianian’s bridesmaid dress was also chosen, a pink off-shoulder gown that was very pretty but not overpowering.

They wandered around the nearby area, and when they got tired, they went to a café on the mall’s first floor for a drink and to relax. Bai Changxia, her initial excitement faded, looked at Shen Jianian: "Accompanying me around must be pretty boring, huh?"

Shen Jianian lifted the coffee cup to her lips, paused at the question, and replied, "How could it be?"

"You seem a bit off, is there something on your mind?" Bai Changxia always asks directly.

Shen Jianian took a sip of coffee. If she said there was something on her mind, there certainly was, but when asked what she was thinking, she couldn’t say it, her chest felt stifled.

Bai Changxia supported her chin with one hand. What troubled Jianian was none other than those two men.

"Are you thinking about Fu Jichen or Pei Che?" Bai Changxia asked directly.

Shen Jianian replied quickly, "No."

Bai Changxia wrinkled her nose, recognizing she wasn’t being truthful. Bai Changxia leaned slightly forward, looking into her eyes like the cunning grandma wolf trying to trick Little Red Riding Hood: "Did something happen between you and Fu Jichen that I don’t know about?"

Shen Jianian blinked quickly twice, was she Sherlock Holmes? How come nothing could be hidden from her?

She always tried not to recall that night, yet couldn’t stop herself from thinking about it. Sometimes she really wondered whether the brain controlled the person or the person controlled the brain.

She felt restless.

She wanted that night to be nonexistent, but the images stored in her brain continually reminded her that it was real, not allowing her to deny it.

"What exactly happened?" Bai Changxia couldn’t guess, scratching her head anxiously, "Is there something you can’t tell me?"

Shen Jianian chugged some coffee, drinking it like it was liquor, opened her mouth, yet still couldn’t say it, her shoulders deflated in resignation.

Bai Changxia had prepared herself to listen, and her silence was like having a delicious spoonful brought to her lips, ready to catch it, then the spoon was drawn back—she was quite the tease!

"Hurry up and tell me, I’m dying here." Bai Changxia watched her, her hands clutching her pants under the table; she was genuinely anxious, no joke.

Shen Jianian covered her eyes with her hand, and spoke as if facing execution: "One night, Fu Jichen was drugged..."

"Ah?!" Bai Changxia exclaimed, attracting attention from others in the café, and she hurriedly covered her mouth and lowered her voice, "Was it the kind of drug I’m thinking?"

Though Shen Jianian didn’t know what kind of drug Bai was thinking about, she was probably right.

"He was acting strangely that night, in pain and distress, he begged me to help him..."

Bai Changxia couldn’t hold back, shocked again: "So, did you two do it?!" This time, she learned to control her volume, not attracting further attention.

Shen Jianian didn’t answer.

Bai Changxia felt like the spoonful of something tasty was taken away again, slapped her thigh in exasperation: "My goodness, why are you not speaking?"

"We didn’t go all the way." After a long pause, Shen Jianian managed to say just that.

But, apart from not going all the way, nothing was missing—their lips, his hands, his chest...

Shen Jianian self-reflected, "I also don’t know why I agreed." She shook her head, rambled incoherently, "Actually, I didn’t agree, he misunderstood, he thought I agreed, and then... This matter impacts me every day now, I really don’t know what to do."

The ancients often said, a single misstep can make you regret for eternity, probably describes her current feeling.

Shen Jianian stumbled through her story, folding her arms on the table, her entire face blushing crimson, buried in her arms. The coffee cup was right at the top of her head, steaming, making it seem like her head was smoking.

After a moment of regret, Shen Jianian raised her head, and met Bai Changxia’s silly smile. Shen Jianian glared, "I’m almost dying of frustration, and you’re laughing?"

Bai Changxia knew she was not being considerate, raised the coffee cup to hide the corner of her mouth.

Fu Jichen really knows how to play with people’s hearts. Poor Jianian, she stands no chance against that man.

Having laughed enough, Bai Changxia remembered she was the good sister, cleared her throat, and helped her analyze, "Even though you didn’t explicitly agree to him, you softened your heart, right?"

If not, Fu Jichen wouldn’t disregard her wishes and forcefully push forward.

Bai Changxia nailed it, Shen Jianian had no retort.

"Jianian, last time I went to Yunding Palace to find you, I told you, go with your heart, do what makes you comfortable." Bai Changxia, though her relationship experience was simple, being married to her first love, spoke wisely as if she were a seasoned advisor, "Even without memory, he still holds a place in your heart."

Having concluded, the two left the café, and after a few steps ran into the other person they were discussing.

Shen Jianian’s instinctive reaction was to turn around and hide, pulling Bai Changxia back. Bai Changxia was tugged back a few steps, then matched her pace.