Chapter 243: Chapter 243

Fu Jichen watched as the jade piece was held in her hand, his gaze gentle. He had to thank this piece of jade for guiding him to find the person before him.

Perhaps the saying "the cycle of cause and effect" holds some truth. Back when they separated at the airport, Jianian took this piece of jade from him, and now it brought her back to his side.

"A friend of mine is involved in the aviation business and while visiting the airport for work, happened to see the lost and found section, recognized this as my item, and called me to retrieve it." Fu Jichen said, "I followed this Jade Lion to find you."

Shen Jianian found it hard to believe: "You say this is your item?"

This piece of jade, along with a golden bracelet, was found by her while cleaning a villa in Jiang City, in the study room. She had asked Pei Che, and he said both items were hers.

Now Fu Jichen said it was his.

"Yes." Fu Jichen nodded, adding, "I gave it to you back then, to be precise, it is yours."

Shen Jianian rolled up her sleeve, revealing slender white wrist, stubbornly asked, "What about this bracelet then?"

"I gave that to you as well." Fu Jichen showed her the bracelet on his wrist that he never takes off, "It’s a pair with the one I’m wearing."

Shen Jianian’s heart skipped a beat, what else does she not know?

Fu Jichen waited for a while, and seeing she had no more questions, lifted his hand to lightly stroke the top of her head, saying: "It’s still early, you can sleep again, lie down."

Shen Jianian’s mind was muddled as she lay under the quilt, unable to sleep, flipping and turning until daylight broke.

She held tightly the jade lion piece in her hand, a voice in her ear repeatedly telling her: This item belongs to Fu Jichen.

Shen Jianian closed her dry eyes, took a deep breath, as if a stone blocked her chest, unable to move it, that stone pressed and made it hard for her to breathe. Original content can be found at novｅlfire.net

The door was pushed open, she did not open her eyes, judged from footsteps it was Fu Jichen coming.

Seeing she was still asleep, Fu Jichen did not make a sound to wake her, first measuring her temperature, confirmed she wasn’t having fever anymore, slightly relieved, then left the room.

At the moment the door closed, Shen Jianian opened her eyes, stared at the ceiling, never before had she been so eager to see Pei Che, she wanted to seek confirmation from Pei Che, wanted to hear Pei Che tell her personally that what Fu Jichen said was not true.

A new day arrived, Cheng Jin came to bring Shen Jianian breakfast, half an hour after the meal, reminded her to take medicine.

"Sir had left for some work at the company, before leaving he told me if you feel suffocated in the room, you can go for a walk, but should not leave the villa." Cheng Jin opened the window to ventilate, suggested to her, "Since morning weather isn’t hot, do you want to take a walk in the garden? Sun will be strong later."

Shen Jianian had long been tired of staying in, and upon hearing she could go out, she nodded without hesitation.

She spent yesterday lying in bed all day, rather than take the elevator, she chose to walk down the stairs.

Cheng Jin followed her unhurriedly, reminded her to watch her step, as the floor had been mopped half an hour ago, some areas where the water had not dried could be slippery.

Shen Jianian with one hand on the stair railing, smiled at her: "I feel much better, not so weak, won’t fall."

Cheng Jin casually said: "Previously Miss Jianian fell on the stairs, injured her knee, can’t be careless."

Shen Jianian thought she was immune to Aunt’s mention of "Miss Jianian", hearing it still tied a knot in her heart, unable to be indifferent.

She absent-mindedly replied: "Is that so?"

Cheng Jin nodded earnestly, remembering sir told her, if this lady wanted to know about Jianian’s past do tell honestly, no need to hide.

"Therefore sir later asked someone to smash the tiles and re-lay them." Cheng Jin said.

Shen Jianian’s expression was hard to describe, surprised: "Just because of one fall the stair tiles were removed?" It’s a bit excessive.

Cheng Jin smiled: "Yes indeed. Sir always cherished Jianian very much."

Arriving at the living room, few dogs that were eating saw a stranger in the house barked fiercely at Shen Jianian, startling her, a dog lover, kept retreating, hiding behind Cheng Jin.

Cheng Jin faced those dogs, feigned anger: "No mischief, go eat!"

The most mischievous one was the black dog, sneaked behind Cheng Jin to bite Shen Jianian’s pant leg. Cheng Jin thought Shen Jianian was scared, told her: "They just look fierce, don’t bite, try calling its name, it will be obedient."

Shen Jianian relaxed, asked Cheng Jin: "What is this dog’s name?"

Shen Jianian called out "Lai Fu," and the big black dog suddenly released her pant leg and tilted its head at her, as if trying to recognize something.

"Lai Fu?" Shen Jianian called again and saw the big black dog with a silly expression, smiled and gently tried to pat its head, "Who gave you such a tacky name?"

Cheng Jin said from beside her, "I heard sir mention, it was Jianian who chose it."

Shen Jianian choked a bit.

The big black dog seemed to react, its tail wagged like a propeller, its forelegs kept pawing at Shen Jianian, its long snout nudging her palm, making whining sounds. With its fierce appearance, the way it was acting spoiled seeking affection looked quite humorous.

Watching this scene, Cheng Jin secretly marveled; though Lai Fu was gentle, it had never behaved towards anyone other than Jianian. Maybe the voice of this lady resembled Jianian too much; it thought it saw its previous owner.

Shen Jianian stroked the furry dog head repeatedly, and the other two dogs seemed jealous, squeezed over, and used their butts to push Lai Fu out, wanting Shen Jianian to pet them.

After a while, the cat sleeping on the floor also joined in the fun.

Cheng Jin watched a swarm of cats and dogs mingling with the person in front, feeling more convinced by sir’s words; she looked at Shen Jianian’s unfamiliar face and murmured, "Are you really Jianian?"

Accidentally letting her thoughts slip, Cheng Jin felt some embarrassment.

Shen Jianian heard her, but didn’t directly admit she was the "Jianian" Cheng Jin knew, she said, "I am indeed called Shen Jianian."

Yesterday, Cheng Jin heard her say she was Shen Jianian, didn’t believe it, thinking it was sir’s idea; hearing it today she believed that was her name.

Sir said she changed her appearance and lost her memory. Cheng Jin clasped her hands together, her tone cautious, probing: "So do you...remember me?"

Shen Jianian shook her head, only felt she was kind, didn’t recognize her.

Cheng Jin recalled that morning three years ago, when cleaning at home, she heard the news broadcast on TV about a major car accident in Jiang City, wanting to ask if she was injured in that accident, hurting her head and appearance, she paused but ultimately didn’t ask, not wanting to bring up sad matters.

The two walked to the garden, the roses and briars were blooming beautifully, under the trellis was an irregular lotus pond, white water lilies blossomed, red dragonflies perched on the lotus leaves.

The gentle breeze was very comfortable and pleasant, Shen Jianian sat in a wicker chair by the lotus pond, observing the surroundings of the villa, seeing where would be suitable for climbing over the wall to escape.

The inside of the courtyard wall was fine, maybe a chair could be used to climb to the top; the outside was not easy, a bit high, she didn’t dare jump for fear of breaking an arm or a leg.

She didn’t want to stay here, couldn’t reason with Fu Jichen, Pei Che didn’t come to find her, she could only think of a way to escape herself.

After sitting for a while, the sun rose higher, even staying in the shade under the trellis was hot, Shen Jianian hadn’t applied sunscreen, chose to go inside.

A week passed, Shen Jianian’s illness long recovered, Pei Che still hadn’t come.

She specifically asked Aunt Cheng if anyone messaged or called her. Aunt Cheng said truthfully, no one contacted her, no messages received.

Shen Jianian suspected she was too flustered the other day, entered the wrong number, Pei Che hadn’t received her message.

She borrowed Aunt Cheng’s phone, intending to call Pei Che again.

Cheng Jin recalled Fu Jichen’s reminder, "No next time," dared not sidestep. Fu Jichen appeared respectful to her, but that was his courtesy, not meaning he was easy to talk to.

She had to gently refuse Shen Jianian, indicating she had difficulties.

Shen Jianian understood, didn’t insist.

Since she fell ill, Fu Jichen relaxed her activity range, but only within the villa. She attempted the other day, when Aunt Cheng went to the kitchen to cut fruit, she snuck around to the main entrance, the villa guards likely instructed by Fu Jichen, didn’t let her out.

Shen Jianian felt she was nearly going mad.

Fu Jichen spent half the day at home with her, other times at the company. Sometimes he brought unfinished work home, sat beside her, continued working, even held video meetings in front of her.

Monday the 23rd, Fu Jichen had several meetings, yesterday afternoon the assistant came to the villa to report work, reminded him of today’s schedule, Shen Jianian heard.

Shortly after Fu Jichen left, Shen Jianian came out of the room and went downstairs to stroll.

Except during illness, when Cheng Jin worried about her health, staying with her, she later didn’t follow during walks, giving her some free space.

Shen Jianian moved the wicker chair placed under the trellis to the wall below, stepped on it, both arms leaning over the wall, looking outside. It was flat ground, so that made it easier.