Rose Manor: Tycoon's Relentless Chase-Chapter 299 - 280: Cold Face, Cold Heart

In an instant, the fine hairs on Shen Jianian’s back stood on end. Looking at Ni Yiqiong’s expression, as expected, her smile froze and gradually faded from her face.

"Mr. Fu is at your place?" Ni Yiqiong recognized the voice’s owner, too incredulous to believe, wanting to confirm once more.

"He..." For some reason, Shen Jianian’s mind recalled the ridiculous excuse Fu Jichen had given earlier, "His heating system broke down, so he came to my place to use the dining room for breakfast."

Ni Yiqiong’s brow slightly furrowed. Does she take others for fools?

Although this area isn’t luxurious, the management isn’t incompetent; they regularly have inspections for various pipes. How could such a mistake happen?

Shen Jianian also felt this reason was unconvincing, making her scalp tingle, so she simply invited Ni Yiqiong in: "Everything’s in the kitchen, I’ve tidied up a bit. Check to see if anything’s missing."

While making breakfast, she had also organized the kitchen. The things Ni Yiqiong had brought over, she packed into that four-tiered trolley.

Ni Yiqiong changed into slippers and entered, indeed seeing Fu Jichen in the living room.

Just like last night, the man had a laid-back, homely look, his black coat laid over the sofa back. He was wearing a dark gray cashmere turtleneck, the collar casually bunched around his slender neck with folds, looking ruggedly handsome, with deep-set eyes, not easy to approach.

Ni Yiqiong’s breath tightened slightly, as she greeted him: "Good morning, Mr. Fu."

"Hmm." Fu Jichen responded politely, offering no further conversation.

Shen Jianian pushed the trolley out from the kitchen. Ni Yiqiong snapped back to reality, checked over everything, and noted nothing was missing: "Thanks for organizing it so neatly for me."

"No need to thank me. You baked so many delicious pastries for everyone yesterday and even made me a birthday cake. I should be the one thanking you," Shen Jianian said, "I drank too much last night and didn’t take good care of you. Please don’t hold it against me."

"Not at all."

Hearing her mention the words "drank too much," Ni Yiqiong couldn’t help but remember the scene of Fu Jichen carrying her out of the kitchen last night, feeling a piercing sourness inside.

"Well... I should be going now." Ni Yiqiong smiled, her gaze lingering on Fu Jichen with reluctance, "Let’s stay in touch."

Shen Jianian saw her out, worrying the trolley might inconvenience her, walking her all the way to the elevator door.

Ni Yiqiong turned back to look at her, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Shen Jianian’s long black hair fell softly over her shoulders, her face pure and gentle, devoid of aggression, her emotions always calm, like a serene lake, neither fighting nor vying.

Yet, Ni Yiqiong felt she was very hypocritical, the type to hide a knife behind a smile: "Last night you said Mr. Fu didn’t have a girlfriend?"

Shen Jianian didn’t understand why she was suddenly asking this and paused: "Yes."

"Including you?"

"I’m not his girlfriend."

Ni Yiqiong let out a laugh, her meaning unclear: "So, is he pursuing you?"

Shen Jianian didn’t answer; she had spoken the truth, had nothing to explain, and didn’t want to lie again, feeling very tired.

"So that’s it." Ni Yiqiong nodded. She had thought a lot after returning last night. For someone as aloof as Fu Jichen to favor Shen Jianian repeatedly, she couldn’t think of another reason besides having feelings for her.

"Are you feeling smug?" Ni Yiqiong suddenly asked.

Shen Jianian’s brows lightly furrowed. She had never felt smug. In fact, she had been accommodating Ni Yiqiong’s emotions all night, afraid of awkwardness, afraid of the atmosphere turning cold. She even stopped Bai Changxia from standing up for her.

She was certain that she wouldn’t form a deeper connection with Ni Yiqiong in the future, so at the dining table, she treated her as a guest, maintaining a superficial peace was enough.

But the other party didn’t seem to appreciate it.

Shen Jianian: "Why would you think that?"

"Didn’t you all see my intentions?" With Fu Jichen not present, Ni Yiqiong no longer needed to play the role of a gentle and gracious lady, her face turning cold, her words edged, "You clearly know I like Fu Jichen, he’s pursuing you, and you watch me trying hard to please him, yet he responds to me coldly. Don’t you feel smug about it? I know you all are laughing at me."

"You’re overthinking. I’m not laughing at you." The corridor was quite cold, Shen Jianian came out without a coat and didn’t want to entangle with her much longer, "Who he wants to pursue is his business, I can’t control that, just as who you wish to pursue is your freedom and has nothing to do with me. Don’t project your dissatisfaction onto others. From start to finish, I haven’t been hostile to you. On the contrary, you’re targeting me. Haven’t you noticed?"

Shen Jianian’s expression wasn’t pleasant either: "If you think others are laughing at you, it means you know very well that your behavior is inappropriate."

Ni Yiqiong glared, speechless and at a loss.

How could she have thought Shen Jianian was an easy target last night? She completely misjudged her.

After a while, Ni Yiqiong sneered, like she had nothing left to lose: "You’d better really not like him, and not be with him."

Shen Jianian clearly felt she was being morally coerced: "Whether I will be with him seems unrelated to others."

"You shouldn’t..."

Ni Yiqiong abruptly stopped her angry curse when she saw Fu Jichen coming out of Shen Jianian’s house, holding a thick blanket, and walking straight over to wrap it around Shen Jianian.

"Aren’t you afraid of getting a cold, being out for so long?" Fu Jichen tugged her arm, leading her back inside.

Throughout, he didn’t spare Ni Yiqiong a glance.

Ni Yiqiong was so angry that her chest hurt. She pressed the elevator button and pushed the cart inside, but in her haste, the cart’s wheels got stuck in the elevator gap, causing it to topple over, scattering things everywhere.

She squatted to pick them up, and the elevator door started closing. Panicked, she pressed the open button, her carefully styled hair now a mess, making her look utterly disheveled.

Not far away, Shen Jianian’s door closed, and Fu Jichen rubbed Shen Jianian’s arm: "What were you chatting about, taking so long and not coming inside? Aren’t you cold?"

Shen Jianian turned her body to avoid his touch: "Your flirtations affecting others, don’t you realize?"

"What flirtations?" Fu Jichen thought for a moment, suddenly understanding, "You mean her? I believe my attitude has been quite obvious."

He hadn’t exchanged more than a few words with Miss Ni, nor even looked directly at her: anyone with brains should understand his intentions.

Shen Jianian knew she was taking her anger out on him: "But she doesn’t understand your meaning, now she probably hates me."

Fu Jichen motioned as if to leave, organizing his words: "Then I’ll go clarify with her, that I have no feelings for her. The one I like is the cold and aloof Miss Shen living next door. Unfortunately, she’s not interested in me, so what can I do but try my best to pursue her."

"Are you crazy! Running over to say that?"

Shen Jianian hurriedly grabbed his sleeve, afraid he’d actually go. He always acted spontaneously and without concern; Ni Yiqiong would be driven mad hearing those words.

Fu Jichen turned back following her tug, pulling her into his embrace: "If I don’t clarify, you blame me for my unclear attitude, she doesn’t understand my meaning. I go to clarify, and you stop me. What do you want me to do?"

Shen Jianian was enclosed completely within his chest and arms; a few seconds passed before she reacted: "Let go."

Fu Jichen: "Answer my question first."

Shen Jianian crumpled her face: "What question?"

"What do you want me to do?"

"Whatever, do what you want." Shen Jianian tugged at his sweater with both hands, "If you don’t let go, I’ll bite you."

Fu Jichen wasn’t threatened by her words, his eyes and brow filled with amusement: "Go ahead and bite." He lowered his voice, "It’s not like you didn’t bite last night."

Shen Jianian’s eyelashes trembled, clearly feeling her ears growing hot; he actually dared to mention last night. He took advantage of her when she was drunk and not clear-headed—did he feel proud about it?

"You remember?" Fu Jichen saw her ears turn red and her cheeks too, though she had just seemed normal. "I thought you had forgotten."

Since meeting at the flower beds this morning and then coming home, she had consistently acted indifferent, truly fooling him into thinking she had blanked out.

"I don’t understand what you’re talking about." Shen Jianian turned her face away, avoiding eye contact, afraid he’d see through her.

But she didn’t know he already had.

Fu Jichen held her face with his large hand, turning it back to face him: "I was wrong, you’re not a cold and aloof Miss Shen; you’re just pretending."

His words felt like a hammer, pounding away at the hard shell she had struggled to build.

Shen Jianian tried in vain to guard what shaky last layer remained of her shell, her tone with a hint of pleading: "Please stop talking, can you let me go?"

Having come this far, Fu Jichen didn’t want to retreat; he stared into her eyes, her evasive gaze fully captured.

"Admit you remember last night’s kiss, and I’ll let you go." Fu Jichen spoke softly, coaxing her, "I’m true to my word."

Utterly helpless, Shen Jianian closed her eyes: "I remember, I remember, okay? Can you let..."

Fu Jichen lowered his head and kissed her—this time while she was fully aware, feeling the warmth and pressure of his lips gently and slowly, making every nerve in her body tingle and lightly tremble.