Chapter 86: Chapter 86

That night, Fu Jichen stayed in Shen Jianian’s room.

After Shen Jianian finished her bath and came out of the bathroom, seeing him lying on her bed, she knew nothing good would come of it. She sat down at her vanity, slowly applying skincare products, while he leaned against the bedhead flipping through a fashion magazine she had carelessly tossed on the bed.

By the time she dawdled through her entire skincare routine, Fu Jichen had gone through more than half of the magazine.

Shen Jianian glanced at him, then moved around to the other side of the bed.

Feeling the mattress slightly dip beside him, Fu Jichen closed the magazine and tossed it onto the bedside table, turning off the glaring overhead light and turning on a wall lamp.

Shen Jianian had a premonition, and when his arm reached around her waist, it was confirmed.

Without saying a word, Fu Jichen tore open her sleepwear and got straight to the point, flipping and tossing her around several times until she was too exhausted to resist, her thoughts utterly collapsed. Only then did he ask by her ear, "Do you really not want to go back to Beicheng with me?"

Shen Jianian’s mind was chaotic, but not to the point of losing her sense: "No, I don’t."

When Fu Jichen spoke, his thin lips seemed to casually brush the skin behind her ear and neck, making Shen Jianian’s breath unsteady, unable to speak normally.

After a while, Shen Jianian barely mustered the strength to speak, gasping, "Going back to Beicheng reminds me of my deceased parents. Is that reason enough?"

She knew she couldn’t stay here forever without returning to Beicheng. She needed to reclaim Lingyue Group and would return someday, but not now.

Right now, she just wanted to stay away from that place of sadness.

She wasn’t that strong, unable to revisit an old haunt just a few months later.

Fu Jichen paused, promising not to force her, yet couldn’t help but pressure her: "What if I want you to come back? Would you agree?"

Shen Jianian opened her eyes, looking at his face in the dim light, his handsome face unreadable, uncertain if he was joking or serious. She averted her gaze, saying lightly, "Forcing someone against their will is pointless."

"I think it’s interesting," Fu Jichen said, smiling ambiguously.

Shen Jianian’s breath hitched. Was he serious?

As she struggled between compromising or firmly expressing her reluctance, Fu Jichen’s hand on her lower back retreated an inch, conceding first: "Forget it; I’m afraid you’ll get so angry you’ll bite."

Shen Jianian was momentarily stunned, then retorted furiously: "When did I ever bite?"

"Never bitten?" Fu Jichen pulled a hand from under the covers, presenting the back of his thumb to her lips, "Does this help you remember?"

Shen Jianian remembered immediately and lost her assertiveness like a deflated balloon.

Fu Jichen chuckled, turning over to press her under him: "I was going to say, since you couldn’t remember, I would help jog your memory, but it seems your memory isn’t that bad."

Shen Jianian was covered in a thin layer of sweat, feeling uncomfortable, wanting to go to the bathroom to bathe, her hands resisting his teasing actions.

"Just once," Fu Jichen said as he kissed her, whispering sweet nothings in her ear, "consider it an advance payment."

His return to Beicheng this time would last at least a week, and if things went well, he might not return to Yicheng.

What to do? He couldn’t bear to leave her in Yicheng.

On the morning of the 29th of the lunar month, Fu Jichen set off for the airport.

Shen Jianian accompanied the car to see him off, a request from Fu Jichen. She was supposed to work, but he was the boss, and granting her leave was just a matter of words.

After watching Fu Jichen pass through security, Shen Jianian retraced her steps, planning to spend the next seven days alone during the holiday. No, including today, it would be eight days, feeling so relaxed and free.

Qu Mo waited outside the airport; he wasn’t accompanying Fu Jichen back to Beicheng this time, staying in Yicheng to be at her beck and call.

She got into the car, and Qu Mo asked where to go.

Looking out the window at the high sky and clouds, cold and lonely in the winter, she said faintly, "Let’s go back to Rose Manor."

Qu Mo started the car, driving along the bustling roads.

Shen Jianian tilted her head, watching the scenery outside, but the closer she got to Rose Manor, the more her spirits sank, and the initial sense of ease gradually disappeared.

Shen Jianian lowered her eyes, deep in thought. Was it because New Year’s Eve is a time for family reunions, and even someone as aloof as Fu Jichen had to rush back to Beicheng to be with his family, while she was spending it in a place that didn’t belong to her at all? Or was it because Rose Manor was so vast, it felt empty and lonely with one less person?

The car drove through the gates of Rose Manor, and Shen Jianian suddenly heard a dog’s bark. Looking out the window, she saw Lai Fu appear out of nowhere, recognizing the car, wagging its tail, running behind.

This was Shen Jianian’s first time seeing it wag its tail, a bit excited, telling Qu Mo, "Stop the car for a moment."

Qu Mo obediently stopped the car, and Shen Jianian opened the door, waving to the black dog outside, "Lai Fu, come on up."

Lai Fu wagged its tail even more happily upon seeing Shen Jianian, understanding her words, and leaped up with its front paws, jumping into the car.

Shen Jianian closed the door, tentatively petting the dog’s head. Seeing it had no adverse reaction, she brought it to the seat, petting it while talking, "So it wasn’t wasted on me following and feeding you every day. You’ve finally let me pet you."

Qu Mo’s brow twitched slightly, silently noting to himself that he needed to thoroughly clean the car inside and out before the boss returned.

If the boss found even a single dog hair, he’d be the one to take the fall, not Shen Jianian.

At 1:30 in the afternoon, the plane landed at Beicheng Airport. The Fu family’s driver had been waiting at the airport, picking him up and heading to the Fu Mansion.

It’s been a while since they met, and the driver discreetly glanced at the eldest young master in the back seat, who had his eyes closed resting.

Still as dignified and aloof as ever, giving off a distant vibe when silent. Raised under the personal guidance of the old master, he possessed a composure the family’s other young masters lacked. Sometime along the way, he developed an interest in jade, holding an exquisite white jade piece in his palm.

The drive was silent, the car winding through the deep paths of the Fu Mansion.

"We’re here." The driver politely and gently reminded him, then got out to open the back door.

Fu Jichen lazily opened his eyes, showing not a trace of fatigue, gracefully adjusting his coat’s hem, and got out of the car.

The front door was opened from the inside, and a woman in a gray cashmere shawl quickly descended the steps, standing before Fu Jichen, looking up at her son, tears shimmering in her eyes: "Finally back."

As she spoke, she patted Fu Jichen’s arm, carefully examining if he had lost weight, grown fatter, tanned, or paler.

Fu Jichen felt a bit uncomfortable, slightly sidestepping, his deep eyes holding a suppressive emotion others couldn’t understand, speaking softly: "It’s cold outside, let’s talk inside."

"Look at me, so happy to see you I forgot myself."

Wei Ronghua sniffled, holding back tears, wanting to take her son’s arm into the house with him, but he avoided her once more. She paused, catching up to his steps, and sighed silently.

He was still the same.

For some reason, no matter how well she treated her eldest son, his attitude toward her remained distant, lacking the closeness typical between mother and child. She didn’t expect him to confide in her about everything, but he never once spoke a heartfelt word to her as his mother. His personality was completely opposite to that of his younger brother.

Fu Jichen was unaware of his mother’s thoughts, and upon entering the house, before he could change his shoes, a figure rocketed towards him.

Fu Yuling threw open his arms, giving him a big hug, standing on tiptoe to offer a warm cheek kiss, but was pulled away by his arm, his face darkening as he sternly rebuked, "Stand properly! What do you look like!"

Following them inside, Wei Ronghua watched the siblings interact, revealing a mixed smile through the tears, feeling much more balanced in her heart.

The eldest son wasn’t displeased with her as a mother; he was with everyone, neither warm nor cold. Perhaps it’s his nature; as he grew older, he became disinclined to form close connections with people.