Chapter 162: Chapter 162

Shen Jianian put aside her organizing work and went to help Fu Jichen pack for his business trip.

She had checked the recent weather conditions in Switzerland on her phone. Besides the necessary business attire, the casual clothes were more suited to the local temperature.

Shen Jianian crouched beside the open suitcase and asked, "How long will you be staying there?"

"Depending on the circumstances." Fu Jichen couldn’t give an exact date for his return, but promised her, "I’ll handle things as quickly as possible and come back."

Holding a grey grid-patterned toiletry bag, Shen Jianian stood up and looked at him, "Is it very serious?"

She didn’t understand business matters, but judging from his emergency midnight departure overseas, it seemed to be quite tricky.

Fu Jichen reached out and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her into his embrace, his palm gently stroked her back a few times, "Don’t worry, no matter how big the problem is, there’s always a solution."

On this trip, he not only had to deal with business matters but perhaps some personal grievances as well.

Shen Jianian certainly didn’t doubt his ability. To be in his position, his means and intellect were unmatched.

Not asking further about his work, Shen Jianian switched topics, "I’ll take you to the airport."

Fu Jichen lowered his head, leisurely gazed at her for a moment, then suddenly smiled, "Can’t bear to let me go?"

In the past when he asked similar questions, Shen Jianian would either pretend not to hear or evade them carelessly, never answering directly. This time, she met his gaze and admitted, "Mm, I can’t bear to let you go."

Fu Jichen was prepared for her to deny with words contrary to her feelings. He didn’t expect her to acknowledge it so straightforwardly. For a moment, he was stunned, and then warmth filled his heart, slowly reflecting on his face—his eyebrows and eyes were full of smiles.

His hand around her waist tightened as if trying to embrace her into his body, his chin rubbing against her neck, his voice slow and soft, "It’s too late, stay home and rest."

The flight was around two in the morning, a time for deep sleep. After sending him to the airport and returning, it would be around three, not much time left to sleep before dawn.

"Tomorrow morning, don’t you have to go to Yan Qiusheng’s for piano lessons? Can you get up?" Fu Jichen added.

Shen Jianian slowly lifted her head in his arms, her chin resting on his chest, her tone unusually willful, "I can call Teacher Yan for a day’s leave."

After saying this, she thought of something, her eyes suddenly dimmed. Perhaps it’s not a day’s leave, but forever.

Since she had decided to leave, she definitely couldn’t go to Yan Qiusheng anymore. Thinking of failing him felt regretful, but she had no choice.

Fu Jichen cupped her small face with his hands and asked gently, "Are you sure you want to go?"

Shen Jianian raised both her hands to cover his broad hands, her eyes still full of attachment, no longer hiding her feelings for him, "If you don’t let me go, I’ll secretly follow by taxi."

Fu Jichen was amused by her teasing words, helplessly pinching her nose.

The two dawdled about finishing packing, sat on the sofa resting, watching TV shows. Shen Jianian couldn’t resist the attack of drowsiness, her eyelids gradually drooping.

She forced herself to stay awake, not letting herself fall asleep.

Fu Jichen secretly observed her for a while, his big hand wrapped around her shoulder, gently patting twice, speaking, "If you’re sleepy, go sleep; I’ll wake you later."

Shen Jianian didn’t quite trust him, thinking that he definitely planned to leave quietly once she fell asleep. She yawned and stubbornly said, "I’m not sleepy."

Watching her childish manner, Fu Jichen found it somewhat funny and exasperating, wondering how he hadn’t noticed her clinginess before, "I’m not lying, there’s more than an hour before departure, enough for a short nap."

Saying this, he picked up the remote and turned off the TV.

Without the noisy background sound, the villa felt expansive and quiet, especially at night.

However, because he was there, Shen Jianian felt incredibly assured.

After talking with Wei Ronghua in the afternoon, she had made a decision. Now looking back, she still felt a bit lost, unsure of where she’d go after leaving him.

The world was so big, seemingly without a place for her. Even if there was, it wouldn’t give her this sense of security.

Shen Jianian clutched at his clothes, gently closed her eyes, her mind a mess, thinking about the bits and pieces of her time with him...

They met for the first time in a hotel elevator, where Yin Shuyao pulled her, accidentally bumping into him. Back then, his dark eyes held amusement, and the first thing he said to her was: Miss, is this your attitude when apologizing?

At that time, how could she have predicted that she would develop such a deep bond with him in the near future?

He was strong, domineering, unreasonable, autocratic, but also gentle, patient, considerate, meticulous. Just such a person, silently walked into her heart, leaving her unable to forget.

The youthful excitement at eighteen was innocent and naive; the affection at twenty-two was etched in the heart.

On the night of Mr. Fu’s birthday banquet, Fu Jichen took her back to the old residence, and she learned from Fu Jianfang the purpose of him keeping her by his side. She once suspected him of having ulterior motives but never asked him.

She consoled herself that from the start it was a transaction, so whether the feelings were genuine or not didn’t matter much.

Later, during daily interactions, she became increasingly certain that Fu Jichen wasn’t pretending. He liked her. His feelings for her might be deeper than she had imagined.

Shen Jianian tightened her grasp on the piece of clothing in her palm. The more sincere he was to her, the less she could let him be torn on this matter.

Leaving was the best choice.

Fu Jichen felt the shirt around his waist tighten, looked down to see Shen Jianian’s faint pink lips slightly pursed, eyelashes trembling lightly. He thought she was asleep, but she wasn’t.

He gently stroked her face with his warm fingertips, thoughtfully gazing at her, not knowing why he felt an inexplicable strange feeling inside.

Around ten thirty, Qu Mo arrived at Yunding Palace to take Fu Jichen to the airport.

Shen Jianian fell asleep unknowingly amid her wild thoughts, her brow furrowed, dreams full of unease. Indeed, Fu Jichen thought of carrying her to bed while she was asleep, but as soon as he moved, she awoke instantly, muddily opening her eyes and murmuring, "Are you leaving?"

Fu Jichen encircled her waist, softly coaxing, "Why not stay home and sleep."

Shen Jianian sat up from his embrace, lifted a hand to rub her cheek, prompting herself to wake up quickly, "First, I’ll see you off to the airport, then I’ll come back and sleep."

Fu Jichen couldn’t argue with her and had to let her have her way.

He held her hand in one, and with the other, he lifted the silver-grey suitcase he often used for business trips, stepping into the elevator.

The suitcase handle was covered with tags, traces of previous trips, not torn off.

They went out together.

Qu Mo got out of the car to help with the suitcase, seeing Shen Jianian accompanying Fu Jichen was not too surprising. Last time the boss was heading overseas, she also went to the airport to see him off.

The car drove along the bustling street, still busy at night, not much different from countless past nights, but Shen Jianian knew it was different.

This might be the last night she and Fu Jichen spent together, every minute and second was exceedingly precious.

Shen Jianian turned to gaze at Fu Jichen’s profile, her sight moving from his exquisite brows and eyes to his high nose bridge, then to his thin lips, smooth jawline, and slightly protruding Adam’s apple.

She looked so focused, as if wanting to etch his image deeply into her heart.

Fu Jichen caught her gaze lingering on his face with his peripheral vision, turned to meet her eyes, a gentle smile spread across his handsome features, holding her hand on his leg, "Not sleepy?"

Shen Jianian shook her head, previously very sleepy, now not at all.

She withdrew her hand from his palm, Fu Jichen somewhat puzzled, and in the next moment, she leaned over, hugging his slender waist, her cheek pressed against his chest, feeling his warmth and heartbeat.

Fu Jichen was caught off guard, her affectionate gesture stunned him for a moment, his arm naturally wrapped around her body, "What’s gotten into you today, turned into rubber candy?"

As he spoke, his voice low, filled with endless, lingering emotions.

Shen Jianian didn’t deny it, just responded with a "Mm," acknowledging she was rubber candy, tightening her arms to hug him even more closely.

She hoped it would take a little longer to arrive at the airport, just a little longer.

But time doesn’t wait, it continues to pass, and they inevitably arrived at the airport.