Chapter 139: Chapter 139

Shen Jianian thought he was joking and cooperatively laughed: "I’ll be home soon."

"Don’t want to stay with me?" Fu Jichen looked at the canvas bag on the desk, the one she used during the day, which held two thermos flasks, and asked again, "Did you just come to deliver food?"

Shen Jianian bit her tongue; she didn’t know how to respond to that.

She indeed came because she wanted to see him, delivering food was just an excuse. She knew he would have his meals ordered by an assistant, perhaps miss normal meal times, but he wouldn’t be left hungry. The reason she decided not to see him was because she realized he was too busy and didn’t want to waste his time.

"I’ll probably be busy until eleven." Over the phone, Fu Jichen’s magnetic voice carried a hint of seduction, "If the project issues are resolved smoothly, I’ll fly to Switzerland tomorrow afternoon, not sure how long I’ll be staying there. You can still accompany me for a while if you come over now."

Within a short period, he had almost run through all the possible pleas to keep her there.

Shen Jianian stayed silent, her heart wavered, and her cheeks flushed as if entering a sultry summer early.

"Are you coming?" Fu Jichen asked softly.

Shen Jianian regretted leaving so quickly a moment ago. After hanging up, she pursed her lips, pondering for a moment, and then told the driver, "Xiao Zheng, I might have to trouble you to turn back to the office."

The car slowed down, and the driver looked in the rearview mirror: "Miss Shen, did you leave something behind?"

Shen Jianian didn’t want to lie, nor did she want to explain directly, so she vaguely said, "Just a small matter."

The driver didn’t ask further, it wasn’t his place to inquire, so he followed her instructions and turned the car around.

Feeling quite apologetic, Shen Jianian said with a tone of regret: "Sorry for causing you trouble."

The driver smiled and said it was no problem. He usually only drove for Shen Jianian, which made things simpler and the pay was generous, so such small issues didn’t bother him.

The car drove back to the Junshan Group headquarters, and before getting out, Shen Jianian told the driver, "You can go home now, get some rest early." She planned to ride home with Fu Jichen once he was done.

The driver agreed with an "Alright" and watched Shen Jianian walk into the building before driving away.

After a round-about trip, it was quite late. The building still had people coming and going, with employees picking up late-night takeout and hurrying to the elevator, returning to their posts for more overtime.

Worrying about how to get in, at this moment, a private elevator opened, and out came a figure, tall and striding towards her.

The man’s suit jacket was unbuttoned, walking with an air that caused the fabric to flutter; his deep-blue tie clung to his shirt, looking elegant and impressive.

Upon seeing her, Fu Jichen’s gaze softened. As he approached, he first grasped her hand: "Why did you not tell me you came by earlier?"

Although there were few people in the lobby, it was still a public place, and Shen Jianian felt a bit uneasy, trying gently to pull her hand away.

Noticing her intention, Fu Jichen glanced at her, tightened his grip, and held her hand firmly.

"I called but you didn’t pick up, then your assistant said you were in a meeting." Shen Jianian gave up resisting, letting him hold her hand.

Fu Jichen said, "Song Fang didn’t have the sense to keep you, I’ll speak to him about this."

Shen Jianian widened her eyes, never having seen such an unreasonable boss, and couldn’t help but speak for the innocent Song Fang: "What does Special Assistant Song have to do with it? It was my decision to leave. Don’t trouble him."

Fu Jichen gave a light hum: "You have so much concern for others, why don’t you concern for me?"

"Didn’t I come to bring you dinner?"

Fu Jichen led her to the private elevator, opening the glass door to the CEO’s office. After she entered, he turned around and pinned her against the door.

Only he knew how many times he had rehearsed this action in his mind to execute it so smoothly.

Before Shen Jianian could take in the office decor, her body was pressed against the cold glass door, a sudden darkness fell over her sight as the smell of tobacco first hit her senses, followed by a kiss on her lips.

The large hand at her lower back pulled down her knitted jacket, and the kiss moved from her lips to her ear.

Shen Jianian’s heart raced fiercely, her nerves tingling, fingers tightly clutching the fabric of his shirt as if grasping a piece of driftwood amid turbulent waves.

His warmth transferred from her fingertips to her heart, which trembled and grew hot.

Fu Jichen’s breath mingled with hers as he pressed his forehead against hers, drawing some spare energy to ask her, "What did you eat to make your mouth so sweet?"

Shen Jianian slightly turned her head, burying her face into his neck, her breathing rapid, on the verge of suffocation, her face flushed deeply, as was her body.

Just a kiss, and she felt as if thrown into a fire.

Recalling his question, she couldn’t help but lick her lips, indeed tasting a sweet flavor.

After a moment, she finally spoke, her breath still a bit erratic: "Aunt Cheng made sweet soup, poured it into a thermos, and told me to drink it on the way."

Cheng Jin noticed she didn’t eat much dinner, and while the chef prepared dinner for Fu Jichen, she cooked a small pot of silver ear and red date soup with rice wine and lots of rock sugar.

Fu Jichen laughed: "Kiss you once, and our mouths almost stick together."

Shen Jianian didn’t look at him, muttering in his embrace: "Then don’t kiss me."

Fu Jichen pinched her waist: "I refuse."

The desk phone rang inappropriately, the sweetness and tenderness in Fu Jichen’s brow quickly turned to annoyance as he held Shen Jianian close, pretending not to hear the irritating sound.

Shen Jianian pushed him away: "Someone’s looking for you."

Calls to his office phone usually came from within the company, possibly due to something urgent.

Fu Jichen sighed, reluctantly releasing her, tidied his tie, and walked back to his desk.

Shen Jianian bent to pick up her knitted sweater, putting it back on, not particularly listening to what Fu Jichen was discussing over the phone, as she looked around the office furnishings.

The first thing she noticed was the entire wall of books behind the set of black leather sofas in the reception area, the bookshelves extending from floor to ceiling, organized by category. Books on finance took up two-thirds, with the rest being famous literary works from home and abroad, including novels, essays, poetry, and also philosophy and psychology.

The wall facing the door was a whole floor-to-ceiling glass window, with dark gray curtains hanging on either side. Looking out through the window, rows of towering buildings were adorned with dense and dazzling lights at night.

Her figure was reflected in the glass, somewhat blurry.

Shen Jianian turned her head to look at the man by the desk answering the call. He was also looking at her, leaning against the desk, hands propped beside him.

Not sure what was said over the phone, his brow furrowed lightly, looking somewhat stern.

Shen Jianian attentively noticed the ashtray on the desk stuffed with cigarette butts, resembling a hedgehog.

After the call, Fu Jichen returned the receiver to its place, pressed between his brows, and said: "The technical department has encountered some problems, I need to go check it out."

Shen Jianian said: "Go ahead, don’t worry about me."

Fu Jichen picked up two documents from the desk, meticulously instructing her: "Stay here, if you get bored, you can find a book on the shelf to read, there are magazines under the coffee table. There’s a water dispenser if you’re thirsty, and if you want drinks, ask Song Fang to help you buy some; he’s at the secretary’s office. Do you know where the secretary’s office is? Once you leave, turn left..."

"You go ahead, I’ll be fine by myself." Shen Jianian interrupted him, amused yet helpless—did he think of her as an incapable child?

The matter couldn’t be delayed, and Fu Jichen couldn’t say more. Before leaving, he ruffled her hair.

After he left, Shen Jianian stood where she was, facing the direction of the glass door, gently smiling, reaching up to touch the top of her head where his hand had been, feeling a lingering warmth.

Shen Jianian wandered to the bookshelf, skipping over the financial books, selecting a translated foreign novel, but it was placed too high. Even on tiptoes with an outstretched arm, she couldn’t reach it.

Searching around the office, she didn’t find a step ladder.

Shen Jianian brought over a leather stool, took off her shoes, and stood on it, barely managing to reach the book.

Two knocks at the door sounded from outside, startling her in the quiet night. She almost stumbled, one foot slipping, and with a hand holding the shelf, she turned her head in confusion.

Logically, Fu Jichen returning to his office wouldn’t knock. Who would be coming at this hour?

Before she could cross to the door, the person outside entered without waiting for a response.

The click of high heels echoed crisply in her ears.