Chapter 68: Chapter 68

This is the first time Fu Jichen called her Jianian. Compared to using her full name, the words "Jianian" from his mouth exerted much greater pressure.

Shen Jianian felt a chill, along with slight confusion.

What hatred and tears, did she cry?

Right, back then in the car, Fu Jichen pinched her chin and asked her what was wrong. Her eyes were uncomfortable with some sand, she rubbed them for a long time but couldn’t get it out, leaving her eyes aching and teary.

Fu Jichen probably misunderstood, thinking she cried over Pei Che’s photo, then cynically asking if it was hatred or sadness...

Shen Jianian didn’t want to explain and silently finished the noodles in the bowl: "Take your time eating, I’m going upstairs first."

She returned to her room and showered. Wearing soft pajamas, she lay down in bed. Lately, she always felt tired, and she fell sleepy shortly after closing her eyes.

Almost asleep in a daze, her waist was suddenly embraced, a body weight covering her.

The feeling of sleep vanished completely, Shen Jianian opened her eyes.

"You haven’t answered my question yet," Fu Jichen’s voice emerged from her shoulder crook, vague and soft, like drunken gibberish.

Yet he was distinctly sober, no trace of being drunk.

"What question?" Shen Jianian felt like a cabbage, having its outer leaves peeled away.

"Playing dumb with me?"

Fu Jichen let out a low hum, held her waist tighter, his arm like vines tightly wrapping, making her breathless, as if experiencing some kind of punishment.

Shen Jianian undoubtedly understood his meaning, took a breath and deliberately defied him: "What do you think?"

Chest pressed against her back, he wished to bite at her nape: "Defiant people meet bad ends."

Shen Jianian quickly learned the severity of his words, exhausted to the point of wishing death.

Days of busyness finally awaited the weekend, allowing two days’ rest.

Shen Jianian nestled in her room sleeping, informed Zhou Rongzhen beforehand that she wouldn’t have breakfast, slept until after ten, and upon awakening didn’t immediately rise, hugged the quilt while idly lying in bed.

Bai Changxia made a video call, Shen Jianian squinted and reached for the phone to answer: "Xiaxia."

Bai Changxia hesitated with her words, the video clearly showed several marks of kisses on Shen Jianian’s neck.

Not the marks from last time, newly added.

"Jianian, you still say Fu Jichen treats you well," Bai Changxia’s face sank, hinting criticism, "Is this considered treating you well? Even if it’s a willing transaction, he should cherish your body."

In her mind, Fu Jichen was already labeled as "worse than an animal," a "disgraceful scoundrel."

Shen Jianian listened in confusion.

Bai Changxia huffed, "Haven’t you looked in the mirror?"

Shen Jianian’s muddled brain regained clarity, knowing what Bai Changxia was referring to, she touched her neck with her fingers.

This was the night Bai Changxia left Yicheng, marks left from her and Fu Jichen’s tussle in bed, lingering for several days without fading.

In these few days going to work, she carefully concealed the marks on her neck with concealer, remained in bed today allowing them to be exposed, unexpectedly seen by Bai Changxia.

"Jianian, honestly tell me, is Fu Jichen tormenting you in that regard?" Bai Changxia frowned, visibly worried.

Shen Jianian knew she was overthinking and found it hard to explain the details, she simply said: "I’m not the type to suffer in silence, he isn’t much more decent than me."

Bai Changxia didn’t understand: "Huh?"

Shen Jianian chuckled, eyes subtly gleaming with pride.

Today was perfectly clear with no wind, even in winter it was suitable for outdoor activities.

Fu Jichen ate breakfast at home before heading out, attending a business partner’s invitation to the golf course at the outskirts of Yicheng.

Lu Yanzhi was also there and had finished a round when Fu Jichen arrived.

Fu Jichen wearing white sports gear, a baseball cap, and sunglasses approached, sitting under an umbrella drinking tea. He crossed his long legs, leaned back against a wooden chair, relaxing leisurely.

Lu Yanzhi carrying a golf club came over, his forehead covered with sweat, tugged at his shirt to wipe himself: "Fu Da, you can’t do that, sitting down as soon as you arrive."

He picked up a bottle of mineral water on the table, unscrewed it, gulped deeply, Fu Jichen took his sunglasses off, and Lu Yanzhi clearly saw his face, spraying out a mouthful of water.

"Cough cough, what’s with your face, marred?" Lu Yanzhi tut-tutted twice, gloating, "Such a perfect face ruined, that’s unacceptable."

"What’s ruined?" another young man hooked Lu Yanzhi’s shoulder, laughingly asked.

Lu Yanzhi gestured at the seated person: "You will know when looking at Fu Da’s face."

His voice loud, people from both nearby and afar heard his comment, dropping their golf clubs to come and watch.

Fu Jichen had faced a lot of such staring in the company these days, accustomed to these gazes, all thanks to Shen Jianian’s unruliness.

But upon giving her some punishment, she couldn’t bear it, retaliating just like the black cat with aggressive tendencies in the manor, either clawing or biting.

Especially in bed, he couldn’t argue with her.

Fu Jichen sat still as a mountain, raised the teacup sipping leisurely, calmly remarked: "This tea isn’t good."

"Knowing you’re particular, already sent someone for a tea-change," said the man next to Lu Yanzhi, "Fu Da, your heart’s too kind, letting the cats and dogs at home run amuck, why not toss them away?"

Fu Jichen’s god-like handsome face bore a mark, right on the cheekbone, conspicuous scratch clearly visible. Heard that his Rose Manor housed several stray cats and dogs, surely those less-than-human cats and dogs did it, who’d dare mess with Fu Da’s face?

Fu Jichen smirked with unclear meaning, switched hands holding the teacup.

Only then did people see, not only was his face scratched, but his left hand’s thumb area bore clear bite marks, neat teeth prints, evidently not from any cat or dog.

The earlier speaker who suggested discarding the marks awkwardly forced a smile.

Yicheng’s circles were abuzz, rumors of Fu Da having a girl, kept at Rose Manor. That girl was exquisite as a celestial beauty, her aura also uniquely transcendent, Fu Da showered her with favor, buying a million-dollar cello for her play, clothes and jewelry like money meant nothing as they flooded into Rose Manor for her. For her, he reprimanded the Qin family’s new daughter-in-law, humiliated President Wu of Zhenfeng Real Estate, tales without end.

Privately joked among those knowing Fu Da’s habits, his penchant for picking up but not patiently sustaining stray animals led to estimates that the girl was a brief novelty, wouldn’t last too long before cast away.

Unexpectedly, it had been a while, the two were still together, rather astonishing.

Fu Jichen set down the teacup and supported himself with a golf club to rise: "Nice weather, how about two rounds?"

The crowd chuckled, followed him onto the expansive golf course ahead.

Maintained by professionals, the green lawn stretched endlessly afar, as if spring came early.

Morning golf, afternoon card room, dinner resolved at leisure villa, heading back to Yi City Center was already past eight in the evening.

Fu Jichen and Lu Yanzhi rode the same car, chatted idly, and brought up Beicheng. Lu Yanzhi mentioned hearing something: "Have you heard about Beicheng Pei Family’s situation?"

Fu Jichen brushed the white jade handlepiece, didn’t reply.

Lu Yanzhi joked to him: "Pei Group lost an international project and offended a long-term client, preliminarily estimating losses of hundreds of billions. At least half a year to a year before recovery, what could Pei Group have done?"

"What do you think?" Fu Jichen glanced at him, nonchalantly tossed out three words.

Lu Yanzhi wasn’t foolish, knowing this tone carried undercurrents, pondered a moment, incredulously said: "Could it be... you intervened?"

To his knowledge, between Fu Family and Pei Family existed neither old grievances nor fresh animosity. In the same circle, whether business or privately, they were neither deep friends nor adversaries.

For Fu Jichen stationed in Yicheng to manipulate forces in Beicheng, should a hint escape, those covetous family members surely snatch the opportunity, handing his handle for grasp.

What on earth did he endeavor, Lu Yanzhi truly perplexed.