Rose Manor: Tycoon's Relentless Chase-Chapter 280 - 262: Secretly Jealous

Shen Jianian entered the banquet hall and indeed saw Fu Jichen sitting at the main table like a solemn statue.

That man didn’t look like he was attending a wedding; he seemed more like he was at a high-level forum meeting. His suit and shoes were handmade, of excellent material and tailored perfectly. He had his long legs crossed, leaning back on the chair, playing with a piece of jade carved into a lotus root. It was said that she had carved it herself in the past.

Shen Jianian thought to herself that he was dressed more like the groom than the actual groom.

Quite a few people recognized Fu Jichen at the scene. They exchanged glances, wanting to greet him, but hesitated, fearing he wouldn’t respond kindly. Someone mustered the courage to hand him a business card, and unexpectedly, Fu Jichen accepted it without any dismissiveness, glanced at it, and placed it on the table.

Once someone took the lead, others stepped forward to exchange pleasantries.

Bai Changxia tugged Shen Jianian’s elbow and whispered to her, "Do you want to switch seats?"

The situation couldn’t be avoided, and Shen Jianian didn’t want Bai Changxia to have to coordinate with others because of her; the seating for the wedding feast was decided in advance.

"It’s fine."

In front of the crowd, she didn’t believe Fu Jichen would act out of line. At most, she needed to overcome a mental barrier because the sight of his face reminded her of that night.

Shen Jianian walked steadily to the main table in her five-centimeter heels.

The reserved seat for her was right next to Fu Jichen. She quietly took a deep breath and sat down.

One of the groomsmen, Zheng Mingrui, who was also a business friend of Zhu Qisen, approached. Shen Jianian instinctively thought he was there for small talk with Fu Jichen, so she allowed room for them to speak.

Unexpectedly, the other person handed his phone toward her and asked, "May I have your contact information?"

Shen Jianian was taken aback, surprise evident in her eyes.

Not far away, Zhu Qisen took a glass of wine from the service tray, preparing to toast at the main table, but was startled by the scene, his heart nearly stopping.

Old Zheng, what are you doing?! Do you want more trouble?

Zhu Qisen reconsidered and didn’t blame Old Zheng; Old Zheng didn’t know the relationship between Shen Jianian and Fu Jichen.

Fu Jichen casually accepted another business card delivered by someone, his gaze swept over the man asking Shen Jianian for her contact information, his thin lips forming a straight line and his gaze as sharp as a knife.

Zheng Mingrui felt a chill at the back of his neck, unsure if it was due to air conditioning blowing in his direction.

Shen Jianian felt it wasn’t right to refuse directly, causing someone embarrassment, planning to deal with it later. She unlocked the magnetic clasp of her handbag, took out her phone, and opened WeChat: "Should I scan you, or you scan me?"

"I’ll scan you, I’ll scan you," Zheng Mingrui grinned warmly.

In the morning, while accompanying Zhu Qisen to Bai Changxia’s residence for the bride’s reception, he noticed this bridesmaid. She was beautiful, pleasant voiced, gentle and graceful, and he liked her very much. Initially, he planned to ask Zhu Qisen to have his wife inquire about the bridesmaid’s contact details after the wedding. However, he realized showing sincerity required personal initiative.

Shen Jianian pulled up the QR code.

Just as Zheng Mingrui approached with his phone, feeling a sudden chill on his leg, his hand shook—a nearby person accidentally spilled wine on his pants.

Fu Jichen glanced at him indifferently, unapologetically apologized, "Sorry, wasn’t paying attention." After drinking a big bowl of jealousy, his tone naturally wasn’t good.

Zheng Mingrui knew this bigwig and certainly believed he hadn’t done it intentionally. He didn’t mind and replied politely with a smile, "No need to worry, Mr. Chen, it’s no problem."

He casually wiped the wine stain on his trousers with a napkin, his phone’s screen dimmed. He turned it on again, smiling apologetically at Shen Jianian, "Sorry, I didn’t manage to scan it just now."

Shen Jianian fixed her gaze on Fu Jichen; due to the angle, Zheng Mingrui hadn’t seen it clearly before, but she did—Fu Jichen did it deliberately. He lifted the wine glass on the table, not blinking, fearlessly committing the act, his wrist turned, soaking the other man’s trousers with a full glass of wine.

She gained some wisdom today; someone could remain so composed after doing something despicable. His mental stamina was truly above average.

Zheng Mingrui was destined not to add Shen Jianian on WeChat—just as he was about to scan the QR code again, someone behind hooked his neck, moving his body backward out of control, nearly toppling.

After regaining his balance, Zheng Mingrui looked displeased, turned to see who pulled him—it was his good pal, today’s groom, Zhu Qisen.

"What are you doing? Can’t you see I’m handling serious business here?" Zheng Mingrui adjusted his collar.

Zhu Qisen winked exaggeratedly.

"Got a twitch in your eye?" Zheng Mingrui pointed at his own eye while addressing him.

Zhu Qisen felt if he didn’t clarify things, his friend wouldn’t know what hit him today. He dragged him to the hallway, lowered his voice to say, "Do you know who’s sitting next to you?"

"Of course, I’m not blind. Who doesn’t know Fu Jichen?" To be precise, ordinary people may not know Fu Jichen, but businesspeople certainly do.

"Do you know who you’re asking for on WeChat?"

"Your wife’s bestie."

"Well, do you know she’s Fu Jichen’s girlfriend?"

Zheng Mingrui was speechless, his eyes widened like copper bells, with "No way" written all over his face.

Zhu Qisen almost wanted to laugh: "Otherwise, did you really think your brother here has such big clout to invite the CEO of Jun Mountain?"

Zheng Mingrui shivered and pointed at the wet stain on his pants: "Then this is..."

"It wasn’t an accident at all; it was a warning for you to not think about things you shouldn’t." Zhu Qisen didn’t mind making it clearer, "If you don’t get it, next time it’ll be that dish of pickled fish poured over you."

Zheng Mingrui retreated, feeling a bit fearful inside.

Zhu Qisen patted his shoulder, leaving him to calm down alone, and took Bai Changxia to toast: "Mr. Chen, here’s to you. It’s an honor for me that you took the time out of your busy schedule to come to the wedding."

Though he knew Fu Jichen was here for someone, he still had to say the polite words.

"You’re too kind." Fu Jichen graciously drank a glass of baijiu.

Zhu Qisen smiled warmly and exchanged a few more pleasantries before taking Bai Changxia to toast other elders at the same table. As they left, Bai Changxia gently pressed Shen Jianian’s shoulder, signaling her to relax.

Fu Jichen put down his wine glass, looked at Shen Jianian, and said the first words since meeting her: "In the future, don’t randomly add strangers on WeChat."

Shen Jianian ignored him and picked up her chopsticks to eat.

Fu Jichen opened a new pair of chopsticks and picked up a piece of osmanthus lotus root for her: "It’s your favorite."

Shen Jianian looked at the attractive piece of osmanthus lotus root in her bowl, the holes filled with glutinous rice and dusted with tiny osmanthus flowers, suddenly feeling an inescapable sense of helplessness.

Now she believed that her encounter with Fu Jichen at the mall was not a coincidence.

Shen Jianian asked, "Did you have someone monitoring me?"

"What?" Fu Jichen leaned closer to her.

Shen Jianian stared at him, not wanting to ask anymore, as even if he denied it, his words might not be trustworthy. She changed the question: "Why did you come here today?"

Fu Jichen had a very good reason: "To attend the wedding."

"Are you a friend of the bride or the groom?" Shen Jianian asked sternly, using her chopsticks to poke out the glutinous rice from the osmanthus lotus root.

"I’m a friend of a friend of the bride." Fu Jichen spoke as if he was saying a tongue twister.

Shen Jianian knew he wouldn’t admit it, so she didn’t waste energy questioning him further, and focused on eating.

She ate that piece of osmanthus lotus root, not as a gesture of goodwill towards Fu Jichen, but because she didn’t want to waste food.

Fu Jichen’s mood seemed to shift from cloudy to clear, and he enthusiastically served her dishes, all her favorites.

The table included not just the two of them but also elders from the bride and groom’s families. Shen Jianian, feeling embarrassed, said a bit helplessly: "Stop serving me food."

Bai Changxia’s father, after two glasses of wine, his face as red as a monkey’s bottom, watched them with a smile. His daughter had told him countless times that the woman before him was Shen Jianian, but he still found it hard to believe: "Jianian, when can Uncle drink at your wedding? You and our Xiaxia have always been close. Now that she’s found her home, you should hurry up too."

Shen Jianian blushed, stammering in response: "I-I’m not in a rush."

"What about..." Bai Changxia’s father motioned with his chin towards Fu Jichen.

Shen Jianian knew he misunderstood and explained: "He’s not my boyfriend."

Fu Jichen’s wrist was resting on the edge of the table, and the bracelet typically hidden under his shirt sleeve slipped out.

Shen Jianian wore an off-the-shoulder dress, her entire arm exposed, naturally making the bracelet on her wrist prominent.

Bai Changxia’s father squinted: "You both are wearing matching couple bracelets, and you’re not a couple?"

Shen Jianian glanced at Fu Jichen’s wrist, feeling utterly unable to explain.

Bai Changxia’s father gestured playfully at her, smiling: "Uncle knows you’re shy, so I won’t say anymore."

Shen Jianian used the excuse of going to the bathroom to escape being pushed to marry; when she came out, she ran into Fu Jichen in the hallway. He was leaning against the dark golden wall, fiddling with a lighter.

The hallway carpeting muffled footsteps, and it was only when she reached him that Fu Jichen noticed her, stood upright with his back against the wall, and said: "I have to go on a business trip this afternoon, I need to leave now."

It seemed he had come just to have a meal with her, even in such a noisy environment like a banquet.

Shen Jianian was wearing a light pink long dress, her hair was up, her features completely revealed, standing under the not-so-bright light, silent and speechless.

Fu Jichen took her right hand, which was hanging by her side, and gave her the jade lion hand piece: "I gave it to you, so it’s yours. Keep it."