Rose Manor: Tycoon's Relentless Chase-Chapter 292 - 273: Return to the Rightful Owner (Part 2)
From his angle, he couldn’t see the door, only hearing a woman’s voice babbling a bunch of words. Her voice was so low he couldn’t make out what she was saying.
Of course, he didn’t spare the energy to listen carefully.
Shen Jianian placed a plate of pastries on his lap, "A lady from the 20th floor brought you pastries. She knocked on your door but there was no response, so she gave them to me. Now I’m returning them to you, don’t waste her kind gesture."
Fu Jichen removed the plate, leaned over to place it on the coffee table, and casually flicked off some ash, realizing only then that her place didn’t have something like an ashtray.
I’ll have to bring an ashtray next time, he thought.
Shen Jianian frowned again, "Can you not smoke in my place? It’s all smoky."
Fu Jichen paused, went to the kitchen to stub out the cigarette, came back, and took a cookie from the plate, "You didn’t tell that lady I was here?"
"Are you crazy..."
Before she could finish, the word hung as Shen Jianian was fed a cookie, its flavor rich and crispy. For a second, she was distracted, thinking the lady’s skill was remarkable.
"You should have told her," Fu Jichen suggested, watching her puffed-up cheeks trying to talk with the cookie still in her mouth. He found it cute, a smile tugging at his lips, "That way, she won’t come looking for me again. Unless you want her to look for me?"
Shen Jianian took the cookie from her mouth, lifted her head, cookie crumbs still on her lips, "What does it have to do with me?"
"Don’t look at me like that." Fu Jichen’s large hand supported the back of her head, lowering his own neck, his voice deepened slightly, "It makes me want to kiss you."
*
The last day of the year was Shen Jianian’s birthday.
Just after two in the afternoon, Bai Changxia came over, toured Shen Jianian’s new place, and pointed next door, "Does Fu Jichen really live there?"
"Mm." Shen Jianian sat cross-legged on the carpet, inflating balloons with a pump, "Ever since I caught him, he’s been shameless, coming to my place whenever he feels like it."
When Bai Changxia entered, she’d seen men’s slippers in the shoe cabinet; she noticed a black ashtray on the coffee table, signaling Boss Fu’s attempts to integrate into Shen Jianian’s life.
"And you? Do you have..." Bai Changxia sat down to inflate balloons with her, choosing her words carefully, whispering, "Any thoughts about him?"
"What kind of thoughts?"
"Playing dumb." Bai Changxia tapped her foot, winking.
Shen Jianian: "No thoughts."
"Liar." Bai Changxia didn’t believe she had no feelings, "When he gets close to you, doesn’t your heart race? Considering that night, you two did this and that."
Shen Jianian exclaimed "Ah," lying back on the carpet like a dead fish, "I’m begging you, stop talking."
Bai Changxia smiled mischievously, "Though I don’t meddle in your decisions, I have high hopes for Boss Fu."
"Whose side are you on, anyway?"
"Of course, yours." Bai Changxia replied without hesitation, "My purpose is to see you happy."
Shen Jianian glanced at her, wondering if Fu Jichen could indeed bring her happiness.
Bai Changxia poked her waist, a tone full of gossip, "Hey, isn’t Fu Jichen pursuing you? Has he made any moves recently? Tell me about it."
"Does making meals for me count?" Shen Jianian said casually.
Bai Changxia’s eyes widened, "He actually cooks for you? Fu Jichen? Cooking for you?!"
Still lying on the carpet, Shen Jianian listened to her growing exclamations, "Is it really so surprising?"
"You don’t realize how lucky you are! That’s Fu Jichen! The president of Jun Mountain dealing in billions!" Bai Changxia poked her in the waist, "Do you think he’s really that idle?"
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Shen Jianian got up to open it. It was Zhao Shunyi, carrying a large white gift bag, "Happy Birthday! I got you a bag; I hope you like it."
"Thank you, you shouldn’t have. You have great taste, I’m sure the bag’s lovely." Shen Jianian squatted down to find her slippers, "Come in, quick."
Bai Changxia knew Zhao Shunyi; she’d watched her shows. Jianian had mentioned a friend joining them for New Year’s, but she didn’t expect it to be a celebrity.
After Shen Jianian introduced them, things went as anticipated: both were open-hearted and quickly engaged in conversation.
Bai Changxia observed Zhao Shunyi for a long time, sincerely admiring, "Celebrities truly stand apart; you look much slimmer than on TV, and your skin is so tight and smooth. How do you do it?"
"My agent even scolds me for overeating and not managing my figure!" Zhao Shunyi held her face, generously sharing skincare tips. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
Soon enough, the groceries Shen Jianian ordered online arrived.
Seeing the groceries, Bai Changxia smacked her forehead, "I meant to bring two bottles of wine, but I forgot."
"It’s fine, we don’t need alcohol; I bought juice." Shen Jianian said.
After setting up the living room, they busied themselves in the kitchen. Zhao Shunyi’s cooking skills were mediocre, on par with Shen Jianian’s, both only proficient at eating, not cooking. Among the three, Bai Changxia was the best cook.
Bai Changxia sent the other two to wash vegetables, intending to handle the rest herself.
Shen Jianian had bought a whole chicken, and Bai Changxia planned to roast it, as she recalled Jianian mentioning how her mother used to make it for her birthday.
Around five o’clock, Fu Jichen appeared on the twenty-sixth floor. He first went home to get a gift and then knocked on the neighbor’s door.
At the same time, the elevator doors opened, revealing a woman with long curly hair. Seeing that tall figure, her eyes lit up instantly.
She finally saw him again.
Tomorrow was New Year’s, and she guessed he would come home early today. She had gambled right.
"Hi, do you remember me?"
The woman greeted, her lips slightly curling, suppressing the excitement in her heart, fearing he would disappear. She hastily approached, her steps laden with urgency.
