Chapter 80: Chapter 80

The words "fiancée" echoed in Shen Jianian’s mind.

She had never seriously tried to understand Fu Jichen’s romantic life, nor had he ever actively mentioned it. She had previously misunderstood his relationship with Zhu Yilan, and later Zhu Yilan had personally clarified that it was merely her own wishful thinking towards Fu Jichen.

Since meeting in mid-October till now, it was nearly three months. According to Shen Jianian’s observations, Fu Jichen really didn’t have any other women besides her.

To take a step back, even if he really had other women, she wasn’t in a position to express discontent given her identity. But the truth was, he didn’t.

The phone call tonight reminded her of a point she’d overlooked; not in Yicheng, but what about in Beicheng?

After all, the Fu Family headquarters was in Beicheng.

Fu Jichen was the eldest of his generation, at the prime of his life, born into such a prominent family; surely the family would have long prepared a suitable match for marriage.

Just like her past arrangement with Pei Che, planning to get engaged once he graduated and returned home...

Shen Jianian tightly gripped Fu Jichen’s phone, her mind racing with thoughts.

Would Fu Jichen’s fiancée come to Yicheng to confront her now that she knew about her existence? When the time came, how would she handle it? She would be seen as the homewrecker, the most detested third party by society...

Fu Jichen came out from the bathroom and saw Shen Jianian standing like a wooden stake outside the door, her brows furrowed, lips tightly sealed, looking troubled.

Passing by her, Fu Jichen intentionally scared her by patting her shoulder.

Shen Jianian indeed shuddered a little in fright, then returned to her senses and glared at him in resentment, slamming his phone onto his chest. "Your phone, take it back."

As Fu Jichen reached out to catch the phone, Shen Jianian turned and lay down in bed, pulling the quilt over herself, preparing to sleep, forgetting to rinse her mouth.

She felt weak all over, her head a bit hot, not sure if it was a reaction after getting the rabies vaccine.

"What did you talk to her about?" Fu Jichen sat on the bed edge, patting her leg through the quilt to signal her to move in as he had no place to lie down.

Shen Jianian refused to give up space, her tone unkind, "Can’t you sleep in your own room? I can’t serve you when I’m hurt ."

"Shen Jianian, did you take gunpowder?" Fu Jichen leaned down, his palms on either side of her head, glaring daggers at her, "I wonder if I’m too lenient with you? If I really didn’t care about you, regardless of whether you were hurt, I would focus only on my own pleasure."

Shen Jianian was left speechless by his blunt words, her face flushed red.

"What, don’t believe me?" Fu Jichen pulled open her collar, revealing the smooth shoulder, delicate collarbone, and a large area of skin on her chest, his lowered voice like a hook, "If you don’t believe, just try it. It’s just a matter of limited movement, no need for you to exert any effort."

"Fu Jichen, you’ve got no shame!"

"Is that all you can swear by?" Fu Jichen chuckled lightly, "No novelty at all."

Shen Jianian pushed him away with both hands against his chest, sitting up from the bed; otherwise lying down while he’s sitting would make her seem much less imposing.

"If you really have a fiancée, then you shouldn’t have proposed such a deal to me in the beginning, disrespecting your fiancée while also humiliating me."

Fu Jichen didn’t explain the first part, he only posed a question, "If I remember correctly, you were the one who proposed this deal first."

He was changing the subject, Shen Jianian corrected him angrily, "What I proposed initially was to be your servant!"

Fu Jichen’s lips curled up, "What kind of talent do I lack that I would need you to serve me as a servant?"

"Arguing with me at night just over this?" Fu Jichen saw her face alternating between pale and red due to anger, stopped teasing her, "You believed Fu Yuling when she told you she’s my fiancée?"

Shen Jianian stared at him blankly.

What did he say Miss Yuling’s last name was?

Fu Jichen read her thoughts through her expression, tapping his long fingers right at the center of her forehead, "Fu Yuling, my full-blooded younger sister."

"She said she’s your fiancée..."

Which sister calls herself her brother’s fiancée? Was Fu Jichen trying to fool her?

Just then Fu Yuling called again, the ringtone went off on the bed.

Fu Jichen picked up the phone from the quilt, answered openly and activated the speakerphone.

Unlike the arrogance from moments earlier, the voice over the phone was sweet and coquettish, "Brother, you’ve finally answered my call! What are you doing? Guess what, a woman answered your call just now; she said you were taking a shower. I immediately exposed her lie and scolded her fiercely."

Fu Jichen pressed his brow, "I really was showering."

"Ah?" Fu Yuling’s voice changed tone, no longer coquettish, asking seriously, "What do you mean, have you found a girlfriend in Yicheng?"

Fu Jichen replied faintly, "Yes."

The phone remained silent for a while; Fu Jichen almost hung up when suddenly Fu Yuling delightedly said, "Oh my god, is it true? Can I come to Yicheng to see you and meet my sister-in-law? You don’t have to worry about my safety, I’ll ask Fei Bai to accompany me. He just returned from the film set yesterday and started his vacation."

"I’m not worried about your safety." Fu Jichen said emotionlessly, "Don’t come, I don’t want to see you, nor do I have the time to look after you. Stay home if you don’t want to end up in the hospital."

Fu Yuling’s whining words were cut short as Fu Jichen ended the call, looking at the stunned Shen Jianian, raising his eyebrow, "Believe me now?"

Shen Jianian felt embarrassed. She had self-righteously accused him of disrespect before, and now she wanted to crawl into a hole knowing she was talking about his younger sister.

Fu Jichen chuckled and tossed the phone onto the bedside table, pulling her into his arms for rest.

He and Fu Yuling were twins; Fu Yuling had congenital heart disease, spending her early years abroad getting treatment, which cultivated an open yet spoiled personality. Because her heart condition couldn’t bear any stimulation, everyone in the family pampered her, treating her like a child to coax. She spent her days indulging herself, without a care for anything, often acting recklessly, which was quite headache-inducing.

Despite being siblings, they didn’t see each other often and didn’t have a deep bond.

He also had a younger brother, four years his junior, who pursued a career in showbiz against the family’s wishes, winning an actor award at the end of last year, which finally earned him the family’s recognition.

Fu Jichen had started talking about family matters, Shen Jianian hadn’t intended to interrupt, but hearing up to this point, she reflexively mentioned the name from hearing Fu Yuling say "Fei Bai" on the phone.

"Yes." Fu Jichen confirmed.

"He turned out to be your brother, quite well hidden."

Fu Feibai was very famous, a hot actor among the younger generation.

Even someone like Shen Jianian who didn’t follow entertainment knew him, having seen a New Year’s film he starred in before but never heard he was from the Fu Family, indicating he really hid his identity.

"He broke into the industry on his own instead of relying on family influence." Fu Jichen’s words confirmed her suspicion.

Shen Jianian lightly responded, giving affirmation, but after that, she lacked the energy to continue listening as sleepiness overtook her and she closed her eyes, drifting off.

What she didn’t hear was Fu Jichen asking her whether she was willing to return to Beicheng with him for the New Year.

Upon waking the next morning, Shen Jianian found the person beside her gone. She tapped her phone to check the time; it was already nine-thirty. Shocked, she sat up, holding her head in distress.

She didn’t hear the alarm, nor did Fu Jichen wake her up—she was late for work.

Feeling a bit flustered, Shen Jianian noticed a light yellow note stuck to the bedside, recognized as Fu Jichen’s handwriting, bold and powerful.

[I’ve already asked for leave on your behalf, rest at home for a day.]

Shen Jianian leaned against the bedhead, staring at the note for a few moments, her nerves gradually easing.

Despite Fu Jichen saying he’d ask for her leave, she still sent Zhu Yilan a message, saying she felt a bit unwell post-vaccine and wished to rest for half a day, would go to the office in the afternoon.

Zhu Yilan replied: "Got it."

Shen Jianian relaxed her grip, letting her phone slip down onto the quilt, hugging her knees in a daze, still finding yesterday’s events surreal even in retrospect.

Wondering if Pei Che returned to Beicheng.

According to the agreement between her and Fu Jichen, he would act against the Pei Family, reclaiming parts belonging to the Lingyue Group. Eventually, Pei Che would come to know the truth.

They were destined to be enemies, a situation with no solution.

With these thoughts weighing heavily on her, Shen Jianian gradually curled up, akin to a shrimp in the quilt.

The phone suddenly rang; she closed her eyes for a moment, detaching herself from brooding thoughts, fingers groping to grasp the phone and bringing it to her face.

Pei Che’s number hadn’t changed over the years; it’s the one he always used domestically.