Chapter 158: Chapter 158

The next day, all the news on the internet disappeared, whether positive or negative, as long as it mentioned Fu Jichen’s name, it all vanished like smoke.

Shen Jianian didn’t ask Fu Jichen if he sent someone to handle it, but she felt it wasn’t his style. His attitude yesterday clearly showed he didn’t care about these things.

After spending the day studying music at Yan Qiusheng’s villa, Shen Jianian headed back to the city center around 5 p.m.

The journey was long, and she would usually take a short nap in the car.

Shortly after closing her eyes, her phone rang in her bag; it was a call ringtone.

Shen Jianian found her phone, and the screen was flashing a series of unremarked numbers. She didn’t recognize these numbers. Seeing it was from Beicheng, she hesitated for a few seconds and didn’t pick up.

The moment she pressed the reject button, the phone rang again, still with that same number.

This time, Shen Jianian answered it. Before she could speak, a familiar female voice came from the other side, with a courteous yet distant tone: "Miss Shen, I am Fu Jichen’s mother. We’ve met before."

The last meeting was in the CEO’s office at the Junshan Group Building and it was rather unpleasant.

Not sure how to respond, Shen Jianian stayed silent for a long time before calmly asking, "What do you need from me?"

She had a vague premonition that it might be related to the scandal posted online yesterday.

Wei Ronghua didn’t state it explicitly over the phone: "We need to meet face to face. Some things are better discussed in person rather than over the phone. Don’t you agree?"

Shen Jianian didn’t want to meet her alone, gently declining: "Sorry, it might not be convenient for me..."

Before she could finish speaking, the other party, expecting her rejection, snorted coldly: "Miss Shen, it seems that talking nicely to you doesn’t work. Your uncle is called Yin Chengde, right? He blocked the entrance to the Junshan Group Building and told people from the Fu Family that his niece was the daughter-in-law of the Fu Family, demanding fifty million yuan. Do you think after spending the fifty million, he’ll come back?"

Shen Jianian felt her throat tighten, the feeling of suffocation quickly following.

"Now, are you willing to meet me?" Wei Ronghua’s tone was assured and confident.

Shen Jianian was utterly powerless, listening to Wei Ronghua as she gave an address, warning her not to let anyone know, especially Fu Jichen.

After hanging up, Shen Jianian felt as if her strength was drained away, collapsing into the seat with a pallid face.

The last time Yin Chengde had found her outside Yunding Palace, stopping the car to ask her for money, she didn’t give any. She had a premonition that he would come looking for her again, but she waited for a long time, with no news from him.

She thought Yin Chengde had given up, who would have thought he’d go to the Junshan Group Building instead.

When did this happen?

Did Fu Jichen know? Why didn’t he mention it?

Shen Jianian had many questions and knew that meeting Wei Ronghua in private wasn’t a good idea, but she had no choice.

Clutching her phone tightly, as the car entered the city, she hurriedly told the driver Xiao Zheng not to go back to Yunding Palace and gave him another address.

Wei Ronghua had arranged a meeting at a private restaurant. It seemed she didn’t want anyone around her to get suspicious.

The driver saw that she was going to a dining place and indeed didn’t ask any questions, driving straight there.

Once the car stopped, Shen Jianian took her coat and bag, telling the driver, "It might take a while, go find a place to have something to eat yourself, no need to wait for me."

Xiao Zheng responded with an "Alright," and watched her walk into the private restaurant.

Following the instructions in the text message, Shen Jianian arrived outside a private room. She raised her hand and knocked on the door.

"Come in," came Wei Ronghua’s voice from inside.

Shen Jianian’s hand on the doorknob paused for two seconds before pressing down firmly, pushing the door open.

Before her eyes was a classically styled setup, with screens, a tea table, a dining table, and antique shelves, all exuding a simple yet elegant vibe. A dignified and composed lady sat by the tea table near the window.

This was Fu Jichen’s mother, maintaining her appearance and figure so well that without asking her age, one might think she was only in her thirties.

She wore a deep-blue long-sleeved dress with a crossed collar, adorned with intricate handmade embroidery around the collar and cuffs, elevating her noble and elegant temperament.

Wei Ronghua held a small teacup with her fingertips, and upon seeing the person coming in, she curved her mouth into a friendly smile, as if she wasn’t the person who issued cold threats over the phone to Shen Jianian.

"You’re here?" Wei Ronghua gestured to the opposite side, "Have a seat."

With a coat draped in the crook of her arm, Shen Jianian wore a thin knitted dress that outlined her graceful curves, her feet in flat shoes, as she walked slowly to the tea table and sat down before her.

It was the third meeting, and Wei Ronghua still couldn’t resist scrutinizing her.

Undeniably, Shen Jianian was indeed very beautiful, with a face that would catch people’s attention at first glance, possessing enough allure to captivate men.

But that man was her son, how could she stand idly by?

Wei Ronghua poured her a cup of tea, speaking in a casual tone: "Your uncle, he’s truly outrageous, not worried about embarrassing himself in front of thousands of employees at the group. He blocked the entrance one day and ran into the fourth aunt, who’s always up to no good, always looking for ways to catch the first wife at fault. Your uncle walked right into her trap, asking her for money, and she immediately wrote a fifty million check, only to bring it up at the dining table at the Fu Family’s old house, making the entire family laugh at the first wife, thus causing dissatisfaction from the old man towards Jichen later on."

Shen Jianian knew the "fourth aunt" mentioned was Fu Jichen’s aunt, Fu Jianfang.

She had dealt with Fu Jianfang at the Fu Family’s old house before, and understood she indeed had an unforgiving nature and was very articulate.

"Jichen ended up filling in the fifty million for the fourth aunt." Speaking of it, Wei Ronghua was utterly frustrated at heart, casting a cold smile at Shen Jianian, blaming her for it, "The fourth aunt’s move was truly skillful, not costing her a cent and making the first wife suffer in silence."

The hand resting on Shen Jianian’s lap suddenly clenched, with surprise flashing in her eyes.

On her way over, she was still pondering whether Fu Jichen knew about this matter, now receiving the truth from Wei Ronghua.

Wei Ronghua didn’t overlook her fleetingly surprised expression, blurting out: "Jichen didn’t tell you about this?"

Shen Jianian didn’t respond, which was equivalent to a silent admission.

Wei Ronghua felt even more that this woman couldn’t stay by her son’s side any longer; she was just trouble. Who knew what kind of earth-shattering thing Jichen would do for her next?

"The last time I encountered you in Jichen’s office, my stance was already clear." Wei Ronghua took a sip of tea, looking indifferently towards her through the swirling tea smoke, "I remember saying that you cling tightly to Jichen, merely for his family background, and you argued righteously with me, making it seem like I was wronging you—so what do you have to say now? Your uncle took the fifty million, what’s the difference from you taking it? Once or twice doesn’t matter, the Fu Family has plenty of money, just treating it as charity to a beggar. But too many times, and the nature changes; having money doesn’t mean we’re willing to be an ATM machine."

Since Yin Chengde took money from the Fu Family, Shen Jianian found herself at a disadvantage in front of her, unable to argue like last time.

Wei Ronghua rotated her teacup, elegantly watching the floating tea leaves in the tea: "The news online was suppressed by the Fu Family, otherwise, who knows how far it would have gone. The Xu Family reacted strongly to the matter, Xu Qinian... that is, Jichen’s future father-in-law, specifically came over today to ask what the Fu Family meant. To express a position, the old man decided on the marriage between the two families on the spot. Once Jichen finishes his work, the old man will have him return to the old house and explain the matter to him."

Shen Jianian tensed up inside.

At that moment, her phone rang; looking at who it was, it was a call from Fu Jichen.

Seated across, Wei Ronghua also saw the caller ID on her phone screen, not showing any displeasure on her face as she said lightly, "Go ahead and take it."

Shen Jianian pressed her lips, hesitated for a moment, and answered the call.

Fu Jichen’s voice was gently low, not different from usual, actively reporting his schedule to her: "Later, I have to go back to the old house, I can’t have dinner with you."

Sitting close by, Wei Ronghua heard what her son said on the phone, her face turning grim instantly, since when had she seen him speak so gently to the family?

Shen Jianian curved her lips, softly and tenderly replying, "Got it."

Without letting the person on the line sense anything unusual.

After the call ended, Shen Jianian returned the phone to her bag, at which point the door of the private room was knocked on twice.