Chapter 71: Chapter 71

Up until the cake cutting, Fu Jichen’s face was dark, and Zhou Rongzhen was on pins and needles, not daring to say a word.

The dishes in the center of the dining table were moved to the side to make room for the cake. Zhou Rongzhen took a pack of candles from a bag, found two number "2" candles, placed them on the cake, and lit them with a lighter.

"Jianian, make a wish."

Zhou Rongzhen glanced at Fu Jichen, her voice soft, afraid of displeasing him.

A few lights in the living room were turned off, making it less bright. The flickering candlelight reflected on Shen Jianian’s flushed cheeks; her face always turned very red after drinking a little alcohol.

She stared at the candles on the cake, unsure of what wish to make.

This year’s birthday lacked a grand party, the company and blessings of her parents. However, there was an aunt unrelated to her by blood who treated her sincerely, and a man who inexplicably got angry but could do nothing to her.

All in all, it was still bearable.

People should be content; having someone care about you is better than millions in the world who suffer alone.

Shen Jianian gently closed her eyelids, clasped her fingers into a fist, resting it against her chin, and earnestly thought of three wishes: First, for her parents to reunite and be well in another world; second, to successfully regain Lingyue Group and make the Pei Family pay the price; third, to leave Fu Jichen soon and live the life she desires.

Although she has yet to determine what kind of life she wants.

Shen Jianian’s eyelashes slightly quivered, tears threatening to fall at the corners of her eyes. She quickly opened her eyes, took a deep breath, leaned forward, and blew out the candles.

The surrounding lights dimmed a bit more, and her gaze became gloomier.

"Let’s eat cake. It looks delicious." Shen Jianian tried hard to curl her lips, not wanting others to notice her strangeness.

She grasped the long plastic knife to cut a piece of cake, placed it in a small dish, and served it to Zhou Rongzhen first.

Zhou Rongzhen hurriedly said, "Give it to Mr. Fu."

Shen Jianian’s arm shifted direction, extending it toward Fu Jichen.

"Not a fan, it’s too cloying." Fu Jichen leaned back in his chair, lit a cigarette, perched it between his fingers, and let his gaze linger on Shen Jianian’s face without showing any emotion.

"He doesn’t want it." Shen Jianian repeated to Aunt Zhen, giving her the cake. "We’ll eat it."

Zhou Rongzhen accepted it with both hands, unable to sit still, and found an excuse to leave the dining room: "I’ll go check the kitchen."

Shen Jianian cut a piece for herself, sat down to eat with a spoon, the cream smooth with a hint of sweetness, a texture like ice cream, her favorite flavor.

She ate it bite by bite, quickly but gracefully, without getting any cream on the corners of her mouth, a habit cultivated over many years.

Fu Jichen watched her, quietly finishing a cigarette.

She had drunk alcohol, whether happy or sad, there was a faint joy in her eyes, looking closely, there was a shimmering tear, arousing pity.

"If you can’t finish it, don’t force yourself; eating too much at night is hard to digest." Fu Jichen stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray, stood up, and took away her spoon, "If you like it, we can buy it later."

She had eaten quite a bit tonight; any more and she’d be bursting at the seams.

Fu Jichen took her hand and pulled her up from the chair, leading her toward the elevator, casually instructing the maids in the living room: "Clean up the dining table."

Shen Jianian didn’t protest, letting him have his way. The alcohol’s aftereffects were setting in, causing her brain to react sluggishly: "Where are you taking me?"

Fu Jichen was now sure she was drunk, a faint smile on his lips, somewhat mischievous: "To sleep."

He easily scooped her up in his arms, stepped into the elevator, startling Shen Jianian, who hurriedly raised her arms to encircle his neck, conveniently freeing one of his hands to press the elevator button.

"I... I don’t want to sleep." Shen Jianian’s mind was gradually slowing, her speech slurred, "I slept for... four hours this afternoon."

Maybe it was more than four hours; she couldn’t remember, only knowing she had slept for a long time.

Fu Jichen’s lips remained curled, enjoying conversing with a drunk: "Then don’t sleep, let me show you your gift."

"What gift?" She felt a bit dizzy, not the kind of tiredness that makes one want to sleep.

"Your birthday present."

The elevator arrived directly at the third floor. Fu Jichen stepped out, the corridor quiet and dimly lit. He didn’t head to Shen Jianian’s room but took her to his own bedroom.

Shen Jianian was placed on a dark blue bed, lying as if she were in an ocean, the waves gently rocking her. A light scent of clary sage filled her nose.

Fu Jichen pulled a flat square box from the pocket of his trousers, opened the latch, and inside, on a light gray velvet cloth, lay a thin gold chain.

It was a delicately crafted bracelet.

The bracelet hung a small golden lock pendant, intricately engraved on the front, with a diamond embedded in the center, and the initials of Shen Jianian’s name engraved on the back.

The letters SJN were so tiny that they were almost undetectable unless looked at closely.

Fu Jichen took the bracelet and fastened it around Shen Jianian’s wrist. Her fair wrist was slender, easily encircled by two fingers, her wrist bone delicate, adorned by the thin golden chain like gilded porcelain, elegant and exquisite.

Shen Jianian lifted her wrist high and squinted at it under the light, admiring it. The golden lock pendant swayed before her eyes, the small diamond reflecting flashes of light.

"Why is there only a lock, no key?" Shen Jianian’s eyes gradually grew hazy, her lips mumbling, "How can I open it without a key?"

Fu Jichen enveloped her hand in his palm and put it down: "The key is with me."

Like a conjurer, Fu Jichen produced another bracelet, identical to the one on her wrist, except the pendant was different—it was a delicate key.

Shen Jianian widened her eyes in amazement: "There’s really a key."

"Yeah." Fu Jichen smiled, curling his fingers to put the bracelet back, "When have I ever lied to you."

"Aren’t you going to wear it?"

"Do you want me to wear it?"

Shen Jianian thought seriously for a moment, then shook her head. She didn’t want to wear matching bracelets with him, and she’d never seen a man wear such a delicate gold chain.

As she pondered, Fu Jichen hooked the end of the bracelet around his own wrist and fastened the clasp.

Shen Jianian lightly pursed her lips, accidentally voicing her thoughts: "I’ve never seen a man wear this kind of bracelet."

Fu Jichen was indifferent. He never followed the rules, being the exception in the whole Fu Family. Outside, it was the same; no one dared to tell him what to do or not to do.

"You’ve seen it now."

"Oh." To be honest, it looked rather good on him.

His wrist’s lines were defined, his skin a cold white, and because of his inherent noble elegance, wearing the delicate gold chain didn’t appear feminine; instead, it was somewhat... captivating.

Shen Jianian was absentmindedly thinking, her eyes nearly closed, her face buried into the blanket, feeling a hand pressed against her body, helping her remove her knit cardigan.

Underneath was a form-fitting undershirt, cream-colored, in a very soft texture, closely fitting the girl’s graceful curves, outlining beautiful, tantalizing lines.

In the past, when he helped her undress, it would lead to him teasing her incessantly until she begged for mercy. Sometimes even begging didn’t help; it would only provoke him more.

"I don’t want it." Shen Jianian, eyes closed, instinctively pushed his hand away.

However, he flipped her over like a pancake, pulling her arm to turn over, removing the other sleeve, and with a flick, tossed the light gray cardigan to the foot of the bed.

Shen Jianian frowned, her head spinning now: "Fu Jichen, I... I’ve been drinking, I’m about to pass out, don’t bully me."

And with that, she really seemed like she’d been knocked out, her head listed to the side as she fell asleep.

The rumpled sheets gave the illusion that something intimate had occurred, but in reality, nothing happened, all thanks to the effects of the alcohol.

Fu Jichen looked on helplessly and irritably, realizing he brought this trouble on himself, fully aware she was drunk yet still insisted on bringing her to his bedroom.

"Shen Jianian, you’re going to sleep without a bath, all smelly." He poked her face with his index finger, leaving a dimple with each poke, trying to rouse her, "Shen Jianian, are you listening to me?"

The person who had drifted off to sleep couldn’t hear what he was saying; she wasn’t dreaming of him either.

Fu Jichen muttered about how "really smelly" it was with the mix of food and alcohol smell assaulting his bed, unbearable, yet his body instinctively moved closer to her.

He nestled his face into the crook of her neck, absorbing her scent, kisses as fine as raindrops falling.

His fingers pinched her chin, applying slight pressure to part her slightly pursed lips, which were stained red from the wine, as vivid as fresh, plump berries, tempting to be tasted.

He leaned in, kissing her softly for a while, until she could barely breathe and let out a protesting whimper, then he released her, the emotions and desire in his eyes receding, leaving a calm like still water.

Fu Jichen lifted her from the bed, carrying her to the bathroom to help her undress and bathe.

Never had he served anyone before, and it’s unlikely he ever would again.