Chapter 164: Chapter 164

Lu Yanzhi didn’t disturb them and went ahead. Song Fang followed with a briefcase in hand, and the two men stopped about ten meters away to wait for Fu Jichen.

Fu Jichen turned and faced Shen Jianian, feeling the gentle grip of her small hand on his fingers. He smiled at her and said, "I’ll be back soon. Is there any gift you want? I’ll buy it for you once I’m free."

Shen Jianian said nothing; there was nothing she wanted.

Her fingers suddenly touched the string on his wrist. Shen Jianian lowered her eyelashes and saw the white jade hand piece he often played with between his fingers—a lifelike sculpture of a sleeping lion.

The more she thought about it, the more the sleeping lion seemed like the embodiment of Fu Jichen.

When he wasn’t angry, he was this gentle and harmless, yet when he was serious, he always inspired awe.

However, in front of her, he never used his presence to intimidate.

Shen Jianian held the hand piece with her other hand and asked him, "Can you give this to me?"

Fu Jichen lowered his eyes, looked at the item in her hand, and said with a faint smile, "You didn’t want it when I gave it to you before; why do you want it now?"

Once, when she was admiring the piece, he casually said she could take it if she liked, but she had refused.

Shen Jianian wanted to keep it as a memento. It was something he carried with him, already imprinted with his aura. Looking at it felt like he was always by her side.

These were words she could not express. Her clear eyes gazed at him earnestly as she asked, "Can’t you give it to me?"

Fu Jichen didn’t say yes or no, but his actions spoke for themselves. He untied the black cord from his wrist and placed the hand piece on Shen Jianian’s slender snow-white wrist.

The white jade complemented the girl’s fair skin, even making the lion seem tame.

Hearing the airport announcement for boarding, Shen Jianian knew she could not delay him any longer. Bit by bit, she loosened her hold on his hand until she completely let go, whispering as she fought back tears, "You should go now."

Fu Jichen placed both hands on her shoulders, gave them a gentle squeeze, "Go back and rest well." After a slight pause, he explained in advance, "This time I’ll be quite busy there, might not be able to call you often."

"Okay." Shen Jianian’s breathing was a bit unsteady, afraid that the next second she’d choke up, she tightly pressed her lips together.

Fu Jichen withdrew his hands and gave her a deep look, then turned and walked away swiftly.

Watching his distant figure, Shen Jianian could no longer suppress the urge in her heart and called out his name, "Fu Jichen!"

Passengers in the lounge turned their heads and saw a slender, exceptionally beautiful girl gazing longingly in one direction.

Fu Jichen stopped, turned back, and looked at her.

Shen Jianian didn’t care about the other’s gazes and ran towards him.

When she was about to reach him, Fu Jichen extended his arms, and Shen Jianian leaped into his embrace, hitting him with such force that he almost stumbled.

Shen Jianian wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on tiptoe to kiss his lips.

There were surprised exclamations all around.

The scene of a beautiful couple kissing goodbye at the airport was as mesmerizing as a drama, drawing onlookers to pause or glance back while walking away.

Out of breath from running, Shen Jianian kissed him in a disordered manner.

Fu Jichen paused for only a second, then cupped the back of her neck with his large hand and encircled her waist with the other, taking control and deepening the kiss.

Not far away, Lu Yanzhi and Song Fang exchanged awkward glances.

When they finally parted, Shen Jianian’s lips were rosy, and her face had gained more color than before. Her eyes were somewhat misty as she offered a flimsy explanation for her actions, "I just wanted to say goodbye, nothing else."

Fu Jichen chuckled and brushed his thumb over her moist lips, "Do you want more?"

Shen Jianian felt she was on the verge of tears, so she pushed him and hurriedly said, "Lu Yanzhi and Song Fang are waiting for you, you should go, don’t miss your flight."

Right then, Lu Yanzhi raised his voice with playful teasing, "Old Fu, if you don’t leave, they’re going to announce your name over the entire airport."

"I’ll be going," Fu Jichen said to Shen Jianian.

This time, he truly had to leave.

Standing there, Shen Jianian watched him walk away. Just as he was about to disappear from view, Fu Jichen turned back once, but unfortunately, the distance was too far for him to see the tears rolling down Shen Jianian’s face.

As soon as he vanished from view, Shen Jianian could no longer hold herself up. She squatted down, curled into a small ball, and covered her mouth with her hands as she sobbed hoarsely, letting tears cover her face.

It felt as if a piece of her heart had been ripped out, leaving her unable to breathe from the pain.

While boarding, Lu Yanzhi turned to look at the person next to him and couldn’t help but express, "That girl has changed significantly."

Fu Jichen was still savoring that kiss, feeling a swelling emotion when he was caught off guard by the comment. After a brief pause, he asked, "How so?"

"Back in Yicheng, she seemed so cool and indifferent, as if she cared about nothing, like a person in a painting. Beautiful, but without feelings." Lu Yanzhi said, unable to hold back a laugh, "But looking at her now, she’s completely immersed in love. It’s clear she’s taken a liking to you. A young girl in love can’t hide it; her eyes are full of you."

Especially the scene of Shen Jianian running over to kiss Fu Da felt so impactful it left quite an impression on Lu Yanzhi.

Fu Jichen’s lips curved into a small, satisfied smile. Even Lu Yanzhi could see Shen Jianian’s deep feelings for him, proving she truly liked him.

His past efforts had paid off.

"Alright, I know you’re feeling smug, but don’t show it so plainly." Once on the plane, Lu Yanzhi lowered his voice as he spoke, "What’s your plan, are you serious?"

Fu Jichen didn’t shy away from the question: "I just debated this with the old man at the ancestral home last night, made it clear that I won’t marry the one from the Xu Family."

Lu Yanzhi was so shocked his glasses almost fell off, and after a prolonged silence, he gave a thumbs-up, "That’s something."

He knew very well the ways of the Fu Family patriarch. Challenging him, Fu Da was truly choosing love over heritage.

Imagining Fu Da and the patriarch negotiating left Lu Yanzhi shivering, as if even bloodshed seemed trivial: "Didn’t the patriarch get angry enough to hit you with a cane?"

Fu Jichen chuckled self-deprecatingly: "He smashed a teacup, said he’ll change the heir."

"That’s quite a steep price to pay."

After seating themselves, the flight attendant came to check for any needs, which they both politely declined. Once she left, Lu Yanzhi resumed the earlier topic: "Probably not easy to settle with the patriarch, saying he’ll change the heir is just to make you submit, and if you refuse, he’ll think of other measures."

Fu Jichen said in a deep voice, "I’ll deal with it after this business trip."

He was well aware that the patriarch’s words were royal decrees, not to be defied, yet he had his own principles.

Later, past two in the morning, the cabin quieted down. Lu Yanzhi stopped talking, turned off his reading light, pulled over a blanket to catch some sleep. The flight was 11 hours and 20 minutes long; without getting some rest, he’d be too exhausted to function in Switzerland.

Just after putting on a sleep mask, Lu Yanzhi suddenly remembered something he had forgotten. He removed the mask, turned the light back on, and yelled across the aisle, "What did Shen Jianian eat earlier to upset her stomach?"

Certain things were difficult to discuss in front of girls, but there was no need to hold back in front of a buddy.

Though puzzled by this question, Fu Jichen figured it was no secret and replied, "Pickled cabbage and shredded pork noodles."

Lu Yanzhi was alarmed, "If she’s eating sour and feeling nauseous, could she be...?"

Fu Jichen hadn’t caught on instantly. Just as he prepared to ask what Lu Yanzhi meant, he paused and gazed at his friend, stunned for three or four seconds, before denying, "Impossible, I’ve always used..."

Except for the first time when unprepared, he had always been cautious about her health, using protection even when overwhelmed with passion, never failing once.

Lu Yanzhi shrugged, "Then consider it my mistake."

He had only spoken based on a guess, and he trusted the direct party would know better. Since he said impossible, then it must be so.

Lu Yanzhi turned off the light, put the sleep mask back on, adjusted his seat, and lay down to sleep.

Yet, despite his firm denial, a seed of doubt had taken root in Fu Jichen’s mind due to his friend’s words.

He couldn’t help but recall the first time Shen Jianian had felt queasy—it was the day returning from Tanfu Temple, and afterwards, she hadn’t shown any symptoms.

Perhaps work had kept him so busy, he’d missed having regular meals together, unaware of her situation.

No matter what, once back in the country, a hospital check-up was certainly in order.