Chapter 66: Chapter 66

"Jianian, you..." Bai Changxia hesitated.

She had never dated anyone, but she could tell that the marks near her chest were different from ordinary abrasions; they must be kiss marks.

After sending a message to Fu Jichen, Shen Jianian looked up at her in confusion, "What’s wrong?"

Bai Changxia hadn’t figured out how to ask her yet.

Following her gaze, Shen Jianian glanced down, hurriedly covered her chest with her hand, then tightened the collar of her bathrobe, staring blankly at the carpet by the bed, feeling embarrassed.

"Did you break up with Pei Che?" Bai Changxia asked indirectly.

Shen Jianian looked at her, "Do you know why my family fell apart overnight?"

Bai Changxia shook her head. After the Shen Family incident, she saw some reports in the news, but they didn’t specify the reasons, only using the words "mismanagement" to summarize everything.

Her family background was average, and no matter how much she tried to inquire, she couldn’t reach the circle the Shen Family was in, so she remained unaware of the inside story.

"Someone from the Pei Family set up a trap for my dad." Shen Jianian sat on the bed hugging her knees, staring into space. "My dad was ensnared because he trusted a friend, and when the truth came to light, he was so infuriated that he had a heart attack and couldn’t be resuscitated at the hospital. He died clutching my mom’s hand. My mom couldn’t take the shock; whenever she closed her eyes, she saw my dad in his final moments. It was torturous for her, and she ultimately chose to join him."

It was the first time Bai Changxia had heard any of this. She covered her trembling lips with her hand, her eyes welling up with tears.

Shen Jianian turned away and quickly wiped the corner of her eye with her finger, taking a deep breath with her neck raised: "Xiaxia, tell me, with such hatred between us, how could I possibly stay with him?"

Bai Changxia leaned over to hug her, gently stroking her back as a silent comfort.

She had thought that Shen Jianian was hiding her whereabouts from Pei Che because she felt their identities were too different now and that she wasn’t worthy of him. Little did she know the hidden truth.

"Does Pei Che know?" After a long pause, Bai Changxia asked.

Shen Jianian didn’t answer.

The bond from knowing each other since childhood was genuine. The Pei Che she knew was upright and pure, just like his name. Before the Pei Family did all this, they must have hidden it well from Pei Che, who was overseas.

Even so, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s part of the Pei Family.

The two girls lay on the big bed, as close as when they used to share a dorm room.

Shen Jianian carefully considered her words and told Bai Changxia about what had happened since coming to Yicheng, including breaking ties with her relatives and making a deal with Fu Jichen.

Hearing this, Bai Changxia sat up in shock, "Jianian, what are you thinking? How can you make such a deal with the Fu Family?"

Shen Jianian had expected her to react strongly. She calmly looked up at the ceiling and said, "Once an arrow is released, there’s no turning back. I’ve already made this choice."

Bai Changxia got out of bed, picked up the handbag on the chair, pulled a bank card from the compartment, took Shen Jianian’s hand, and slapped the card into her palm: "Take this. There’s two million here, all my savings. I still have my parents to support me, so I don’t need this money right now. Take it, if it’s not enough, I’ll find a way. You need to stop the deal with Fu Jichen immediately."

Though also from Beicheng, and never having dealt with those wealthy families, Bai Changxia found the hearsay alone intimidating.

What Shen Jianian was doing was akin to seeking skin from a tiger.

"The Fu Family is full of cunning people, ones who would consume you completely. He desires your youth and beauty but may not fulfill his promises and for you, he would offend the entire Pei Group," Bai Changxia said with a heavy heart, "Jianian, you need to stay away from people like that."

Shen Jianian pushed the card back, "I don’t need money."

She wasn’t lying; the money she had reclaimed from Hu Yuzhi was enough for her to live worry-free after leaving Fu Jichen. Moreover, he had promised to help her regain Lingyue Group, and she intended to manage the family business well in the future.

"You won’t even listen to me?" Bai Changxia refused to take back the card, kneeling on the bed, her eyes earnest as she tried to persuade Shen Jianian, "You’re still so young; there’s no need to sacrifice yourself."

"Xiaxia, I have no other choice." Shen Jianian closed her eyes, her throat gulping, "I want the Pei Family to pay for what they did, to take back my parents’ legacy."

She couldn’t do it alone; seeking help from Fu Jichen was the result of careful consideration.

Bai Changxia suddenly couldn’t speak.

She sympathized with Shen Jianian’s plight, worried she might fall into a bottomless pit in the future, but she couldn’t change her thinking or live her life for her.

After a long silence, Bai Changxia weakly asked, "Is he good to you? I mean, Fu Jichen."

"He’s quite good." Shen Jianian tried to console her, as well as herself, "He’s good-looking, his temperament somewhat cold, but he doesn’t lose his temper without reason, and he has no bad habits. I’m not at a loss with him."

Bai Changxia lay down, turning away from her, biting her index finger hard to stifle any sobbing sounds, tears silently falling, soaking the pillow.

Shen Jianian really had changed; she could calmly say such things now.

How could giving oneself to someone not be a loss?

She could have had a brilliant life, pursuing music further, performing on stage with her cello, becoming a highly praised cellist...

"Xiaxia, everyone has their own path to follow. You can’t help me, nobody can." Shen Jianian said, watching her shoulders shake slightly, "I’m really glad you came to see me. Truly."

Bai Changxia tried to disguise her feelings but was still caught crying by Shen Jianian. She turned to face her with red eyes, "You’re annoying. You won’t take my money, and you won’t listen to my words."

Shen Jianian replied, "But you’re still my best friend."

Bai Changxia muttered "annoying" a few times and said all her tears for this life had been shed yesterday and today.

Shen Jianian said that was best because she wouldn’t cry anymore.

Bai Changxia called her a fool, enduring hardships, yet comforting her.

After washing her face in the bathroom, Bai Changxia returned to the bed, picked up her phone from the bedside table, and prepared to play a song to divert her attention.

Just as she opened the music app, a news alert from a browser popped up at the top of her screen.

[Pei Che, the only son of the Beicheng Pei Family, has returned home quietly. It’s unclear if this is related to the recent severe setbacks of Pei Group.]