Chapter 135: Chapter 135

Shen Jianian’s lips were pressed so tightly that they turned white, indicating her agreement.

Bai Changxia stopped in her tracks, turned to face her, and asked puzzledly, "Why do you think that way? It’s said that matters of the heart are outside one’s control. I’ve never been in love, so I don’t know, but I only know that liking someone is just liking them, there’s no should or shouldn’t."

Under the sun, people were frequently walking around outside the hall, and Fu Jichen was beyond another arched door, his figure unseen. Shen Jianian closed her eyes, "You don’t understand."

"I see that Fu Jichen is quite attentive to you," Bai Changxia paused, as if struck by a sudden insight, and hit the nail on the head, "Could it be because of his family’s situation?"

She guessed right for the most part, so Shen Jianian simply made it clear, "His grandfather arranged a marriage for him, with the Xu family’s daughter. Do you know the Xu family? That family has produced many high-ranking officials, quite compatible with his background. Their union would greatly benefit Fu Jichen’s career."

Bai Changxia’s throat moved slightly; she somewhat understood that a wealthy family like the Fu Family, which had been affluent for generations, emphasizes family background in marriage, striving to continue their prosperity.

Marriages of alliance are commonplace, true love is rare.

If the Shen Family hadn’t encountered any issues, they might not have reached the threshold of the Fu Family, let alone now...

However, one shouldn’t think of it that way. If there were no mishaps for the Shen Family, Shen Jianian probably wouldn’t have had the chance to meet Fu Jichen. She’d be with Pei Che, engaged after he returned to the country, married, and Pei Che wouldn’t have died.

It can only be said that everything is destiny’s arrangement.

"What about Fu Jichen? What’s his viewpoint?"

As she spoke, Bai Changxia glanced at the arched door; though there was a wall obscuring the view and she couldn’t see the person’s figure, she could imagine his tall and upright appearance, with everything around him serving as his backdrop.

Even if he existed amidst the mundane world, he had an air of nobility unmarred by dust.

"Jianian, you should sincerely ask his opinion; after all, it concerns his marriage." Matters in wealthy households are too distant from ordinary people’s lives. Bai Changxia felt her advice might not be very practical, but she still said it, "When things aren’t finalized, they mean there’s hope. Fu Jichen, after all, is a resourceful and strategic businessman. If he’s genuinely set on you, it’s impossible for him to have no way at all."

Fu Jichen had said that he wouldn’t marry the Xu family’s daughter; this Shen Jianian hadn’t told Bai Changxia. She pulled a slight smile, "I actually haven’t thought that far."

Fu Jichen is someone who accomplishes grand things; he’s unlikely to be confined by romantic entanglements, so why cause him worry?

Since he’s currently unwilling to let her go, she’ll accompany him a bit longer. When the time comes that he no longer needs her, she will leave gracefully.

"I need to use the restroom, do you want to come?" Bai Changxia changed the topic, her eyes scanning around, "Where’s the restroom? Why is there not even a sign?"

Shen Jianian exhaled lightly and didn’t bring up that somewhat heavy topic again, "Let’s ask some passerby."

Bai Changxia asked several passing people; they were all tourists from other places, unfamiliar with the location of the restroom on their first visit.

It was Shen Jianian who was reliable; she directly approached a Shami in robes to ask for directions.

The little monk had clear and delicate features, bowed towards her, and pointed out a direction.

Shen Jianian thanked him and, with Bai Changxia, passed through a side door, occasionally glancing outside, worried that Fu Jichen might become impatient from waiting too long.

However, there was a long queue at the restroom, leaving Shen Jianian with no choice but to continue waiting.

The two women in line ahead of them were of different ages: one was slightly older, around fifty, and the other somewhat younger, under forty.

They were huddled together, conversing mysteriously.

Their accent leaned towards the southern region, Shen Jianian could barely understand some of it, guessing the meaning of certain words from the context.

She didn’t intentionally eavesdrop, but the two women’s secretive and intriguing tone inevitably piqued one’s curiosity and urge to delve deeper.

The younger woman said, "A few years ago, my brother and sister-in-law died in a car accident, leaving behind a pair of children with nowhere to go. My husband, being kind-hearted, took them in. You know, my husband is a freelance worker on construction sites, earning just enough for daily expenses. We couldn’t afford to support two more children to study in Beicheng. During that time, the family was so poor that we almost couldn’t put food on the table. I considered sending the children to a welfare center but felt uneasy, so I went to pray to the gods. I encountered the temple’s abbot. That abbot was usually hard to meet, but that day by chance, I held the fortune stick I sought and asked the abbot how to interpret it. The abbot, after reviewing the stick, advised me to just do good deeds, saying that blessings would come in the future..."

Hearing this, Shen Jianian and Bai Changxia exchanged a glance.

Bai Changxia listened intently, her hands gripping Shen Jianian’s shoulders eagerly, stretching her neck to ask the woman in front, "And then?"

The storytelling woman turned around, seeing two young girls in their early twenties, pleasant-looking and well-behaved, gave a friendly smile and continued, "Later, my husband made a lot of money from an investment, and our family’s situation improved. My husband took us back to our hometown and rented a shop to sell snacks; the business was prosperous." She gently touched her abdomen, her eyes growing tenderer, "My husband and I have been married for over ten years, and due to a problem with my health, I’ve never had children. Last week, I went to the hospital for a check, and discovered I’m pregnant. So, we specifically booked tickets to come and fulfill our vow, donating a sum for incense money."

"The abbot is that powerful?" Bai Changxia’s eyes lit up.

The older woman said, "If you believe, there is; if you don’t, there isn’t. These things are not definite."

After using the restroom, Bai Changxia was tempted and shook Shen Jianian’s arm, suggesting, "Why don’t we go find the abbot for a fortune-telling too?"

"Didn’t you hear the woman say the abbot is generally hard to meet?"

"If you’re sincere, you’ll naturally get to see him!"

Bai Changxia eagerly tugged Shen Jianian towards the place for divination.

Shen Jianian saw she was somewhat obsessed and helplessly replied, "I can accompany you, but wait, we need to go tell Fu Jichen first; he’s been waiting outside for quite a while."

"Oh, right, right." Bai Changxia patted her forehead and laughed, "I was so happy that I forgot about Mr. Fu."

The temple’s paths were interconnecting, so they first detoured to the Great Hall before heading out the front door, where they saw the person waiting there.

As the sun rose, the temperature climbed gradually. Fu Jichen had removed his suit jacket, holding it in his hand. He wore a dark gray shirt and black trousers, his posture upright, his long legs and superior body proportions fully displayed.

Bai Changxia suddenly said, "Look at Mr. Fu’s waiting posture, doesn’t it remind you of a ’stone of waiting for the wife’?"

Shen Jianian was speechless, nudging her with an elbow to remind her not to talk nonsense.

Bai Changxia released her hold on Shen Jianian’s arm and let her go to Fu Jichen’s side.

"We went to the restroom, did you wait long?" Shen Jianian looked up at the man’s handsome face. Because of the hot weather, a fine sweat was on his forehead. She took a pack of tissues from her pocket, pulled one out, and handed it to him, "Wipe off your sweat."

Fu Jichen didn’t take it; like a young master, he bowed his head slightly, making his meaning all too clear.

Bai Changxia touched her nose, sensibly turned to gaze at the distant green mountains.

Shen Jianian raised her hand to wipe his sweat, and said in passing, "Xiaxia wants to go to the place for fortune-telling and divination. If you don’t want to go, you can find a place to sit for a while."

Fu Jichen asked her, "Are you going?"

"Yes, I’m accompanying her."

"I’ll accompany you."

Shen Jianian met his pitch-black eyes, a thought about her conversation with Xiaxia flashed in her mind: does she like Fu Jichen? The answer seemed to have already been in her heart.

Even she didn’t know when exactly he had found a place in her heart.

She clearly didn’t type of man.

In her early awakening of love, her understanding of liking only extended to Pei Che. She thought sunny, warm, outgoing, yet gentle guys would be the most comfortable to be with.

She didn’t like the serious and cold, didn’t like the deep-thinking, didn’t like the domineering and assertive.

Yet Fu Jichen had all these traits.

Shen Jianian withdrew her hand, balled up the used tissue, couldn’t find a place to throw it, so she tucked it back into her pocket, confirming with him, "Are you sure you want to go? It might seem boring to you."

Fu Jichen held her white wrist, smiled and said, "Waiting in a seat is also boring, might as well accompany you."

Bai Changxia pretended not to hear and quietly followed in their footsteps, having to admit, a mature and stable man speaking sweet words is more enchanting.

And they weren’t even sweet words filled with ambiguity, just a plain sentence "might as well accompany you," which was much more powerful than any flowery language.

They came to the fortune-telling place but unfortunately didn’t meet the abbot. Behind the stall sat a tender-looking little monk, making one feel unreliable.

One would have thought Fu Jichen wasn’t interested in these things, but surprisingly, he too sought a fortune stick—compared to others’ seriousness, he casually picked one from the bamboo tube.

He held the bamboo stick, saw the words on it, couldn’t understand the meaning, so he handed it to the little monk behind the wooden table and asked, "What does this mean?"

The little monk glanced at it, confusedly frowned, and asked, "What are you seeking, benefactor?"

Bai Changxia and Shen Jianian were still shaking the bamboo tube when they heard the man beside them said, "Seeking marriage."