Chapter 123: Chapter 123

Shen Jianian, wearing four-centimeter high heels, walked slowly to his side.

Her natural height was 1.66 meters, and with heels, she reached exactly 1.7 meters. With her delicate frame, she wore a qipao that flowed gracefully as she walked.

Fu Jichen’s eyes deepened slightly as he grasped her wrist and pulled her into his embrace, making her stand between his legs.

He opened the dark blue velvet box, and the entire set of pearl jewelry shimmered with a lustrous glow under the light. Fu Jichen took out a necklace and looped it around her fair and delicate swan-like neck, fastening the clasp.

Then, picking up a pearl earring, Fu Jichen leaned in slightly, and the thin needle went through Shen Jianian’s earlobe.

Afraid of hurting her, he was especially meticulous and cautious with his movements.

A tingling sensation spread to Shen Jianian’s fingertips, making them curl slightly.

"Does it hurt?" Fu Jichen, doing this for the first time, was rather unfamiliar.

Shen Jianian held her breath for a moment, her voice light as a feather: "It doesn’t hurt."

Finally, after putting on one earring, Fu Jichen sighed in relief and picked up the other one. Shen Jianian’s heart was pounding, almost beyond her control. She lifted her hand, intending to take the earring from him: "Let me do it myself."

Fu Jichen dodged her hand and blocked it with his elbow: "Turn your head."

Shen Jianian had no choice but to lower her hand and turn her head, presenting her other ear to him.

Having gained some experience, Fu Jichen smoothly put on the second earring. His hands rested on her shoulders, carefully observing her, the qipao’s collar framing her delicate face, making her appear as exquisite as jade and snow.

After he had his fill of admiration, Shen Jianian sat in front of the dressing table to prepare.

Considering the presence of elders, she applied a light, barely-there makeup, only spending a bit more effort on her brows and lips. To match the qipao, she drew two fine willow-leaf eyebrows, and her lips were painted a pale peach.

Qu Mo was waiting in the car, and upon seeing the gate open, the light illuminated the porch, and two figures stepped out from the light—Fu Jichen and Shen Jianian.

Shen Jianian held onto Fu Jichen’s arm.

One wore a dark black suit, the other a simple and elegant qipao, perfectly matching, much like a movie poster from the Republic of China era.

Qu Mo snapped back to reality, got out of the car, and opened the back door.

Shen Jianian got in first, followed by Fu Jichen, who sat beside her. Something suddenly fell out of his suit pocket onto the leather seat with a "pop."

Fu Jichen glanced down, and upon picking it up, he remembered it was prepared for Shen Jianian. He then took her hand and placed it in her palm: "Put it on yourself."

Shen Jianian, seeing that she was holding a string of beads, noted that the main piece was green jade, adorned with four red agates, and the pendant was a butterfly-shaped jade piece with two strands ending in small millet beads.

"A dress clasp," Fu Jichen said, crossing his long legs and looking at her, "Hang it on the qipao’s fasteners."

Shen Jianian thought for a moment, recalling seeing decorations hung on fasteners when others wore qipaos. Looking closely at the string of beads, it indeed had a short string loop that could hang on the fasteners.

After putting it on, she turned to look at the man beside her.

He reached over to adjust the tassel hanging from the bottom of the butterfly pendant.

Shen Jianian asked him, "Did you plan this that night you ordered the qipao?"

Otherwise, he couldn’t have been so prepared, even the hairpin she used today was brought by him. It was a vintage silver hairpin, carved with auspicious cloud patterns and set with a peace lock style jade piece in the center.

Fu Jichen merely smiled without answering.

Shen Jianian took it as his silent consent.

Over half an hour later, the car left the bustling streets and entered a secluded road lined with tall maple trees. As spring arrived after winter, the trees sprouted new green leaves after a spring rain, barely visible in the twilight and encroaching dusk.

Driving further in, they reached the main gate of the Fu Family’s old house, displaying a classic elegance, heavily guarded.

Since it was Mr. Fu’s eightieth birthday today, the residence was brightly lit inside and out, as bright as day, relieving some of the eerie atmosphere of the sprawling estate filled with corridors and pavilions.

The car slowly came to a stop at the staircase just outside the main hall.

Throughout the journey, Shen Jianian’s thoughts wandered, not realizing her palms were moist.

In this moment, her anxious heart reached its peak.

Her hand was suddenly held, a cool sensation swept into her palm. Shen Jianian looked up at the hand’s owner, his features calm and reassuring, as he gave her an assuring glance: "Let’s get out."

Shen Jianian slightly lifted the hem of her qipao with one hand, her high heels touched the ground, and she got out of the car.

Fu Jichen placed her hand in the crook of his arm, leading her up the steps to the main hall. Opening the door, the laughter and chatter inside instantly filled their ears.

The lively atmosphere hit them in the face.

It was a family banquet, but not all were family members; a few families close to the Fu Family sent people to offer birthday greetings.

"Let me see who’s here." The speaker was Zhou Zhizhen, who adjusted the front of his suit and turned the corner, "Fu Da, how can you be later than me, the guest? This is unacceptable..."

The word "ah" dragged out a bit because he saw Fu Jichen had brought a woman back. That woman was Shen Jianian, whom he had met once, and he raised his glasses in surprise.

"Has Ah Zhen seen a ghost? Why did his voice change?" Fu Jianfang laughed, covering her mouth while munching on sunflower seeds.

As Fu Jichen and Shen Jianian came into the view of everyone, the hall suddenly quieted, and the atmosphere became subtle.

Wei Ronghua’s expression was beyond description, her heart nearly stopped. Fu Jichen went crazy; what day is today, yet he brought an outsider woman home!

Fu Yuling was even worse off, her carefully applied vibrant makeup appeared somewhat pale due to her unpleasant expression.

Fu Jianfang was the first to react; she tossed aside her sunflower seeds, stood up, twisted her waist around the coffee table, and approached the two, warmly grabbing Shen Jianian’s hand, smiling broadly: "Oh, let me see who this is. It’s Fu Da’s girlfriend, right? I’ve heard about you for a long time, but it’s the first time seeing you today. You’re so pretty, perfectly matched with our Fu Da!"

The smile on her face wasn’t fake; she was genuinely delighted.

That fool Fu Da, neglecting the heiress of the wealthy Xu Family, and bringing back such a fallen daughter with neither family background nor ability—how could she not secretly laugh?

Previously, she blamed the old man for being biased, choosing such a deeply connected family marriage for Fu Da, clearly to give him a boost.

But he didn’t care at all.

If the old man were in the living room now, upon seeing this scene, he’d probably be furious enough to end up in the hospital again.

She’s waiting to watch the drama!

Fu Jichen patted the small hand in the crook of his arm and introduced softly to Shen Jianian: "This is my aunt."

Shen Jianian smiled gently at Fu Jianfang.

Since she had come here, she naturally had to present herself gracefully to face whatever situation might arise: "Hello, Aunt."

She couldn’t call her Auntie, nor Fourth Miss, given there were even younger generations; she could only follow Fu Jichen’s lead and call her Aunt.

Fu Jichen was very pleased with her performance, a smile lifted at the corner of his lips as his eyes turned to Fu Jianfang, seemingly casually mentioning: "I remember Aunt said last time, it’s hard for me to get a girlfriend, and as an elder, you should express some gesture."

Fu Jianfang’s expression changed slightly.

Who would have thought, her offhand remark was remembered so clearly by him. For a moment, she felt a bit embarrassed.

"Don’t worry, Aunt keeps her word and never reneges. I’ll pick a decent meeting gift for your girlfriend later from my room."

Fu Jianfang wasn’t one to be easily defeated.

Compared to Fu Jichen angering the old man, what’s a little sacrifice from her?

Fu Jichen chuckled inwardly, not dwelling on the topic, and led Shen Jianian a few steps forward, introducing the rest of the people in the hall one by one.

Shen Jianian had already learned about his family members beforehand. The young men present today were all childhood friends of Fu Jichen, they had dined together before, so they weren’t strangers, allowing her to be composed and calm as she greeted them.

Fu Jichen’s father, Fu Zhengjun, the eldest son of the old man, had always balanced kindness and authority, appearing approachable when gentle, yet imposing when angry.

Apart from the old man, his words carried the most weight in the family.

Facing Shen Jianian, Fu Zhengjun didn’t show any unusual expression, accepting her peacefully and inviting her to sit and have some fruit.

Seeing his behavior, Fu Jianfang couldn’t help but secretly scorn him. Big brother sure knows how to act; he’s probably seething inside but still puts on a dignified front. In contrast, his wife Wei Ronghua didn’t have his steadiness; her expression was long.

Fu Jichen did not see today’s birthday elder and asked others: "Where’s Grandpa?"

"Ah Zhen gave him a pair of antique vases, and he’s in the study, examining the details with a magnifying glass, reluctant to let go," Fu Jianfang came up with an idea as she spoke, turning to go upstairs, "I’ll call the old man down, what’s an antique vase, his eldest grandson gave him a big gift!"

Fu Feibai rolled his eyes speechlessly, his aunt indeed feared the world wasn’t chaotic enough.

He glanced at Shen Jianian, who sat gracefully and quietly, and couldn’t help worrying for his big brother. Grandpa’s authority had never been challenged; his big brother playing this trick was too risky.