Chapter 73: Chapter 73

Compared to a real distinguished family, it’s still far off.

She has an elder sister, six years older than her, who is already married. Because she married far away, she lives in another place and rarely comes home throughout the year.

"You should also take care of yourself and rest whenever possible," Shen Jianian advised.

"Okay, there’s a caregiver watching over, I’m heading out for lunch now. I’ll catch up on sleep when my sister arrives," Bai Changxia said as she walked out of the hospital.

A brand new black Bentley stopped in front of her, she was busy on a call and wasn’t paying attention, startled.

The car window lowered, Pei Che’s face appeared in the back seat, with a clear and bright voice: "Long time no see."

"Pei... Pei Che." Bai Changxia’s breath was unsteady.

Earlier, she learned from the news that Pei Che had returned to the country and taken over the Pei Group as President. Because of her connection with Shen Jianian, she hadn’t reached out, unexpectedly he found her here.

Bai Changxia was so shocked that she couldn’t gather her thoughts for a while.

Shen Jianian heard her call out that name, paused for a second, and hung up the call.

An hour later, Bai Changxia called Shen Jianian back.

"Pei Che came to see me, we talked for a long time in a café," Bai Changxia confessed everything, "After returning to the country, he used various connections to search for you, but there was no news. He is convinced that I must know your whereabouts and tried all means to get me to talk."

By that time, Shen Jianian had finished lunch and was sipping tea in a secluded room.

Snow fell the day before, not heavy, but it lasted a long time. The treetops, rockeries, and pavilion roofs accumulated a layer of white, resembling a fairy tale world inside a crystal ball.

Shen Jianian’s heart tightened: "Then you..."

"Rest assured." Bai Changxia knew what she was worried about, "I didn’t say anything. My acting skills are very good, I almost entered the entertainment industry back then, he probably believed it, and won’t come looking for me again."

She deliberately sounded relaxed, not wanting to make Shen Jianian upset.

But she overlooked one thing, with the Pei Family’s power, determined to find someone, they will eventually succeed. What will Shen Jianian do then?

A sound of a car stopping came from the front yard, Shen Jianian hung up the phone and walked out of the secluded room.

Fu Jichen happened to enter the house, black coat casually draped over him, outlining broad shoulders like mountain peaks, hem brushing against dress pants. His legs were long, making him appear tall and imposing, exuding an air of elegance different from ordinary.

A black cat jumped onto his foot, he frowned and gently kicked, the cat darted away, disappearing into some corner.

"Who let it in?" he demanded of the servants.

Zhou Rongzhen knew the backstory, ever since the cat scratched Mr. with its claws, drawing blood, he has been very displeased with such animals. Initially, he ordered people to throw the cat out of the estate. Later, the cat returned a few times on its own, even bringing companions to mooch food, Mr. had seen it but was too lazy to deal with it again.

She thought he wasn’t bothered by it anymore, didn’t know why he was in such a bad mood today.

Shen Jianian couldn’t bear it in her heart, casually put the phone on the table, walked over to remove Fu Jichen’s coat: "In this cold weather, stray cats have no food and nowhere to shelter, they’ll die."

Fu Jichen glanced at her, she had her own troubles, yet worried about the life and death of stray cats and dogs, was she naive?

However, he appreciated her gesture of goodwill, knowing she had more to say, he remained silent for now.

"About last night..." Shen Jianian scratched her face with her finger, faltering, "I might have said things I shouldn’t have while drunk, don’t mind it, I apologize."

She thought he was angry because of last night?

Fu Jichen didn’t expose her misunderstanding, let her be mistaken, gaze fell as he looked at her fair face with a tinge of rosy color, like a magical peach.

"How do you plan to apologize?" he lightly tugged at his lips, with hidden flames in his eyes.

Shen Jianian didn’t understand before, but through experiences, naturally, she understood. If it were any other time, she would go along with his wishes. After all, they’ve been intimate more than once, she’s grown numb to it.

But after hearing news of that person on the phone, she couldn’t muster any strength or interest to please.

"Can it wait another day?" Shen Jianian’s voice was light and soft, like a feather grazing the heart.

Whether he agreed or not, he had to agree.

"Alright, owe it for now," Fu Jichen pinched her cheek, the feel was so good he was reluctant to let go, "Just keep it in mind, don’t forget."

Shen Jianian’s eyes lowered, catching sight of his distinctly bony wrist adorned with a black woven string for hanging objects, and a thin gold chain.

Matching the chain on her wrist, hers had a gold lock, his a gold key.

When did Fu Jichen start wearing it? Last night? She even forgot.

There was no snow on New Year’s Day in Beicheng, just cold, a dry cold with a nighttime temperature of minus nine, the northern wind like a blade.

Pei Che returned home, carrying the mixed scent of various foreign liquors, the driver who brought him home supported him to the living room, turned and left.

The crystal chandelier dazzling and glaring, Pei Che collapsed on the sofa, raised his arm to cover his eyes.

He went to the hospital at noon to find Bai Changxia—Little Nian’s best friend—spent all afternoon saying good things at a nearby café, Bai Changxia still insisted she didn’t know where Little Nian was.

Who else could he turn to?

Zhou Ruo emerged from her room with a cloak, the smell of alcohol wafting from her son even at a distance, covering her chest in discomfort as she frowned.

"Ah Che? Ah Che? Go sleep in your room."

Pei Che removed his arm, sat up to look at his mother, he’d rather be drunk, at least he could temporarily forget the pain, but he knew he was sober at the moment.

He questioned his mother, "Why didn’t you stop Dad back then? You and Aunt Tong Shu were like sisters, Little Nian grew up under your eyes, you knew how much I love Little Nian, only her in this life, why did it turn out ?!"

Voicing this, Pei Che’s eyes reddened, bloodshot veins stretched across his eyeballs, desperate and helpless.