Chapter 258: Chapter 258

Shen Jianian was leaning on the sofa watching a historical documentary. At the sound of the door opening, she turned her head to glance over and saw Fu Jichen raising his hand to undo his suit buttons. Her face changed instantly.

The memories of last night, which she had deliberately sealed away, surged forward, making her feel uncomfortable all over.

Shen Jianian didn’t want to stay in the living room. She stood up to leave, only to find that a man followed Fu Jichen in. The man opened his mouth to stop her: "Shen Jianian?"

Shen Jianian paused and looked at him. The man was wearing a trendy white T-shirt, retro blue baggy jeans with clinking silver chains, and white and green sneakers, looking a few years younger than Fu Jichen.

His face was extremely handsome, and after a couple more glances, Shen Jianian recognized him. He was an actor named Fu Feibai. She had seen his movies, where he performed excellently, and her impression was that he seemed to have won a Best Actor award.

Shen Jianian didn’t remember having any dealings with Fu Feibai. Could it be someone she knew before she lost her memory?

Wait, Fu Feibai’s surname is Fu, and he came with Fu Jichen. Are the two of them family?

Shen Jianian turned her gaze to Fu Jichen, hoping he would take the initiative to answer her doubts.

Fu Jichen was even more surprised than Shen Jianian. He hadn’t told Fu Feibai that the person in front of them was Shen Jianian. This should have been Fu Feibai’s first time seeing Jianian’s face. How did he recognize her?

"You know she’s Shen Jianian?" Fu Jichen asked.

Fu Feibai kicked off the sneakers and changed into indoor slippers, walked into the living room, and first asked Shen Jianian: "You know Gu Chongli, right?"

Shen Jianian nodded. She had filmed with Gu Chongli for a few days and later exchanged contact details.

"Gu Chongli is my good buddy. He mentioned before that a new actress named Shen Jianian joined their crew, who also plays the cello, just like my brother’s girlfriend. He even sent me a photo of you..."

Fu Feibai reacted only towards the end of his speech, realizing that mentioning the previous Shen Jianian in front of this Shen Jianian was inappropriate. He glanced at his brother’s face in panic.

His brother had finally managed to move out from the shadows of the past and was trying to accept a new person. If Fu Feibai ruined it, he really would be guilty even in death.

Fu Feibai quickly changed the topic, extending a hand to introduce himself: "I’m Fu Feibai. You’ve probably heard of me, but you definitely didn’t know I’m my brother’s younger brother."

Fu Jichen glanced at him with a look that said, "Do you hear yourself?" and pushed down his hand, "No need for a handshake."

Fu Feibai’s eye twitched. He didn’t expect his brother to be so possessive.

Shen Jianian pondered Fu Feibai’s words, linking them with previous events. Gu Chongli had once secretly taken her photo on set. Later, Gu Chongli invited her and Zhao Shunyi out for a meal, finding an opportunity to explain that he had an industry friend whose brother’s girlfriend had the same name as her, so he took her photo to show his friend. In the end, his friend said he didn’t recognize her.

She hadn’t realized how small the world was. Gu Chongli’s industry friend was Fu Jichen’s brother, Fu Feibai. Going around in circles, the person they were discussing was her.

Due to her face being different from before, Fu Feibai hadn’t recognized her.

Having clarified the cause and effect, Shen Jianian understood in her heart.

Fu Jichen also understood. For a moment, he felt regretful. If Fu Feibai had told him earlier that there was a female actress named "Shen Jianian" in his friend’s crew, he would have sent someone to investigate, regardless of whether she was the person on his mind. Perhaps this way they could have been reunited sooner.

Only Fu Feibai remained in the fog, unaware of the truth.

Cheng Jin sliced some fruit and brought it over for Fu Feibai to eat. Fu Feibai didn’t stand on ceremony, holding the fruit plate and sitting boldly on the sofa. He speared a piece of watermelon with a fork and stuffed it into his mouth, taking advantage of Fu Jichen going upstairs to change clothes, and asked Shen Jianian: "When did you meet my brother? Besides filming ’Destined Melody,’ do you have other works? Are you and my brother in a relationship now? I saw the wound at the corner of his mouth. Did you do that?"

He threw a pile of questions at her. Shen Jianian didn’t know which one to answer first; none were easy to tackle, especially the last two questions, which sounded embarrassing.

Shen Jianian looked at him, pretending to be unaware: "Didn’t you just say your brother had a girlfriend?"

Fu Feibai froze, placing the fork back onto the fruit plate and forcing a smile at her: "Let’s not bring up past matters. That girl is no longer around. It’s more important for you to be well with my brother. Don’t be fooled by my brother’s eternally cold face. He’s more loving than anyone. Since he’s with you now, he definitely won’t be thinking of anyone else. Treat him well. He’s had a rough past three years."

The elevator doors opened, and Fu Jichen came out in casual home attire. The cold sharp aura around him had lessened considerably. He strolled over to the sofa and casually asked them: "What were you talking about?"

Fu Feibai quickly took control of the conversation: "Talking about you. Letting Miss Shen get to know you thoroughly."

"Oh?" Fu Jichen sat down next to Shen Jianian, his gaze sliding from her face to her hands. As expected, the ring he put on her last night had been taken off, "How’s the getting-to-know-me going?"

Shen Jianian looked up at him, unable to ignore the wound at the corner of his mouth. Whenever she saw it, she couldn’t help but think back to last night’s events.

Fu Feibai jumped in again, "Bro, are you two actually dating?"

If they weren’t, why would Miss Shen be at Fu Jichen’s private villa, dressed casually as if she lived there? But if they were, the atmosphere between them didn’t feel like that of a couple.

Fu Jichen deflected the question back, "What do you think?"

"If I knew, I wouldn’t need to ask." Fu Feibai looked at Shen Jianian, hoping for an answer.

Shen Jianian said, "No."

Fu Feibai pressed on, "Then is my brother courting you?"

Fu Jichen stopped feigning ignorance, saying, "We were boyfriend and girlfriend, but now she refuses to admit it. I’m trying to win her back. Her heart is as hard as stone; no matter what I do, she won’t relent."

As he spoke, Fu Jichen’s eyes were fixed on Shen Jianian, as if he was speaking directly to her.

Despite Fu Jichen’s lengthy explanation, Fu Feibai was left with a giant question mark in his mind. He understood every word individually, but together they made no sense.

Before Fu Feibai could ask more questions, the cook had already prepared dinner. Cheng Jin served it in the dining room and called the three of them to eat.

With Fu Feibai around, the atmosphere at the dinner table was particularly lively.

Fu Feibai flashed a friendly smile at Shen Jianian, "Are you planning to continue acting? I can introduce you. While I might lack some things, I’ve got plenty of contacts in the entertainment industry, more than my brother, I’m sure."

But with someone as influential as his brother, paving the way for Shen Jianian wasn’t hard. With substantial investments, people would definitely show respect.

Shen Jianian shook her head and, fearing that he might mistake this for modesty, explained, "My previous cameo was because the director had a good relationship with our orchestra’s manager. I couldn’t refuse because of that." Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs novel•fire.net

Fu Feibai nodded in understanding, glancing at Fu Jichen who was sipping water, "Bro, why aren’t you eating?"

"You eat more," Fu Jichen said, serving him food with public chopsticks. Eating more would keep his mouth too busy to talk.

The food on Fu Feibai’s plate piled into a small mountain. He quickly put up his hand to block Fu Jichen’s chopsticks, "Enough, that’s enough. I can’t eat any more."

Fu Jichen switched back to his own chopsticks and asked what he’d been busy with lately.

Fu Feibai sighed, "A director wants me to act, but with Mom’s situation, I can’t leave. She doesn’t want me in showbiz; just mentioning ’acting’ sends her into an emotional breakdown. She keeps urging me to join the company, but I’m not interested in management."

For the past three years, Wei Ronghua has seen him as her only support, indifferent to Fu Jichen and not too pleased to see Fu Yuling. Fu Feibai still doesn’t understand why, or why she stabbed Fu Jichen back then; no matter the mental strain, she shouldn’t have hurt her own son.

Fu Jichen didn’t interfere with Fu Feibai’s choices, merely suggesting, "It’s your life, make your own decisions. Don’t overthink it. If there’s a problem, talk to me."

The grudges of the previous generation should stay in the past. To him, Fu Feibai was his brother, and he never held Wei Ronghua’s sins against him.

Shen Jianian watched silently, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. Fu Jichen was steady and reliable towards his brother, yet only rough with her.

After they finished eating, Fu Feibai lingered to chat a while longer before preparing to leave. Fu Jichen told him to choose a car from the garage to drive home. Fu Feibai joked, "If I take one, I’m not bringing it back."

Fu Jichen was indifferent, seeing him out the door.

Fu Feibai drove away in a Porsche sports car, opening the top as soon as he left the villa gates. When his phone rang in his pocket, he slowed down and pulled over, fishing it out from his pants.

Fu Yuling’s name was flashing on the screen.

With one hand tapping the steering wheel, he felt buoyant, even his tone was upbeat.

In contrast, Fu Yuling’s voice was filled with gloom, "I went to the hospital to see Mom. The nurse said that in the evening, Brother came to take you out for dinner. Are you with him now?"