Rose Manor: Tycoon's Relentless Chase-Chapter 313 - 294: Asking Her for an Autograph

On Valentine’s Day, which was a Monday, Bai Changxia’s husband indeed had no time. In the morning, he ordered a bouquet of flowers for her, and the gift was bought in advance, placed together with the bouquet on the table in the living room.

Bai Changxia woke up, saw the flowers and the gift, and smiled with her lips closed.

As early as a week ago, she had anticipated that Zhu Qisen wouldn’t have time to spend the day with her, so she wasn’t disappointed because work is important. He is the vice president of the company and has a lot of things to keep him busy.

Moreover, she isn’t someone who’s overly fixated on ceremonial feelings.

Bai Changxia found a vase, arranged the roses, and opened the gift, which turned out to be a necklace.

Previously, when Zhu Qisen accompanied her shopping, they saw an advertisement on a large screen in a mall, and she casually mentioned that the necklace was quite pretty. Unexpectedly, he remembered and bought it for her.

Bai Changxia tidied up the house and called Shen Jianian to set up a night out to watch the romance movie she was in, and to have dinner together.

"It won’t disrupt Fu Jichen’s plans, will it?" Bai Changxia had some concerns.

"No, it won’t." Shen Jianian was sitting on the sofa petting a cat, "He’s very busy today."

The man, described as being very busy, called right after she hung up the phone.

Fu Jichen left home for the company a little after seven in the morning, and now it’s ten thirty. Presumably, he finished a segment of work and took time to contact her.

"I have freed up the evening." Fu Jichen was indeed busy; as he made the call, he was also flipping through files on the desk, multitasking efficiently. "We can have dinner and watch a movie together."

Shen Jianian pressed her lips together and remained silent.

He had called too late; she had already agreed to go out with Bai Changxia and couldn’t cancel on her.

Even if Fu Jichen had called first, she probably would have chosen to be with Bai Changxia. After all, she and Fu Jichen were together every day, so whether or not they celebrated didn’t really matter.

"No time?"

The unusually silent moment in the call led Fu Jichen to guess her answer, and his tone rose slightly, seemingly not quite believing it since she didn’t have anything pressing lately.

"Xiaxia and I have plans to watch a movie and have dinner." Shen Jianian smiled apologetically.

Fu Jichen stayed silent for several seconds; on Valentine’s Day, she’s spending time with a friend?

Shen Jianian quickly added, "Isn’t there a saying that as long as people in love are together, every day is Valentine’s Day and not confined to just this day."

Fu Jichen instantly softened at her words "people in love," willingly compromising: "Remember to keep warm when you go out and avoid eating too much cold stuff. I’ll pick you up later."

"I know." Shen Jianian laughed, "You focus on your work. Xiaxia will drive me."

Around six in the evening, Bai Changxia drove to Shen Jianian’s apartment complex and sent her a message to let her know she had arrived.

After waiting for five or six minutes, Shen Jianian came down with her bag. She was wearing a plain black down jacket with a belt around the waist, a skirt edge showing under the hem, and a furry beret, with light makeup.

Shen Jianian sat in the passenger seat and heard Bai Changxia ask, "Should we eat first or watch the movie first?"

"I’m not very hungry yet, what about you?"

"I’m not hungry either."

Both agreed to see the movie first.

Shen Jianian booked two tickets on her phone and told Bai Changxia the address of the cinema.

On a weekday, the crowds are relatively less, but since "命中旋律" is a new release, the initial promotion and reviews were good. On the premiere day, there were many high-quality reviews online sparking discussions, and it continued to generate interest, resulting in a decent attendance rate.

Shen Jianian collected the tickets while Bai Changxia bought drinks and snacks, casually asking: "Why wasn’t the movie’s early promotion featuring you, and why weren’t you invited to the premiere? Although your role isn’t heavy, it is critical. What’s the team thinking?"

Shen Jianian sighed: "It’s a long story."

The director originally wanted to invite her, but reality didn’t allow it.

The two of them went into the screening room, waited for a while, and the movie began. Bai Changxia watched the big screen, anticipating Shen Jianian’s appearance.

Halfway through the movie, Shen Jianian appeared through a flashback of the male lead; she walked with a cello slung over one shoulder on a shaded campus path when the male lead suddenly jumped out from behind a big tree by the roadside, startling her. She kept a cold face and walked around him. The male lead, like a little tail, followed her, tilting his head and talking to her non-stop...

The screening room saw a small commotion, with eyes drawn to Shen Jianian’s appearance. In their imagination, the white moonlight should be like her, with long flowing hair, clean and fair skin, wearing a simple and elegant dress walking through lush green paths, cool and aloof, like a celestial being descended to earth.

No wonder the male lead couldn’t forget her for years.

Bai Changxia heard two girls whispering ahead, praising the director’s good eye for casting—that was also a compliment to Shen Jianian. Bai Changxia turned and winked at Shen Jianian.

Shen Jianian tossed a piece of popcorn into her mouth. Seeing herself on screen for the first time, performing in various ways, felt indescribably strange and a bit embarrassing.

The movie ended after an hour and a half, and Bai Changxia stood up, not quite finished, collecting the trash on the seats: "I thought it was an ordinary commercial film, but the plot was fascinating. The latter half was sweet and heart-wrenching, making my heart twist and turn. If I have time, I might drag my husband to watch it again."

Shen Jianian looped her arm with hers: "Thanks for supporting the box office."

Bai Changxia chuckled.

The girl walking ahead suddenly turned her head, glancing at Shen Jianian’s face for a second. At first, she showed no expression, but then, as if lightning had struck, she turned back again, her eyes widening and pointing at Shen Jianian, speaking excitedly and incoherently: "You—you—aren’t you the actress who played the male lead’s white moonlight in the movie?! Oh my god, I can’t believe I’ve actually seen you in person! Can I get your autograph?!"

Bai Changxia looked at Shen Jianian in surprise. She was recognized just like that? Was her friend about to become famous?

However, Shen Jianian calmly denied, "I’m not, you’ve got the wrong person; we just look quite similar."

The girl skeptically stared at her, recalling the face from the movie. The two faces overlapped; it was the same person, how could it not be?

"You’re tricking me!" The girl wasn’t that easy to fool, "You are her!"

Seeing that she couldn’t hide it, Shen Jianian placed her finger over her lips with a soft "shh," gesturing for her to keep it quiet, and lowered her voice as well: "You want an autograph, right? I’ll sign for you."

The girl covered her mouth, her eyes blinking rapidly—she knew she hadn’t mistaken!

Busy and flustered, she rummaged through her bag, but couldn’t find a pen and paper.

Shen Jianian, not in the habit of carrying a pen when going out, quickly thought on her feet and used an eyeliner to sign her name on the inside of the girl’s phone case.

This was the first time Shen Jianian, as a "celebrity," signed an autograph for a fan who liked her, and the experience felt incredibly refreshing.

After leaving the cinema, Bai Changxia couldn’t resist teasing: "Looks like you’ll need to wear a mask when you go out in the future, or else you’ll be recognized just like that, being asked for photos and autographs. Girl, you’ve made it big!"

"Can you stop joking? It was so embarrassing to be exposed after just lying."

Bai Changxia laughed, holding her stomach.

Shen Jianian silently raised her scarf to cover the lower half of her face. She hadn’t expected such a small role to make her face memorable enough for someone to recognize her in real life.

"Let’s go, eat." Bai Changxia, seeing Shen Jianian acting all sneaky, looking around as if she were a thief, couldn’t stop laughing and teasing more, "Oh no, we can’t eat with your face covered; you’ll get recognized again, huh?"

Shen Jianian squinted her eyes and slowly turned her head to look at her.

Bai Changxia let out a burst of laughter: "Hahaha."

They went to a Thai restaurant for dinner. Bai Changxia picked up the menu, and when she saw that Shen Jianian was unresponsive to the ringing phone display with Director Wu Heng’s name, she asked while glancing sideways: "Whose call is it? Why aren’t you answering?"

Shen Jianian pursed her lips and said, "It’s the director of the movie, Wu Heng. I haven’t been in contact with him for a while."

She hesitated for a few seconds but didn’t answer it right away. Bai Changxia saw her hesitation and asked, "Who called, why aren’t you picking up?"

"I’m about to eat, I’ve been told there’s no need for polite chatter, so what’s up?"

"Then I won’t beat around the bush." Wu Heng’s voice chuckled through the receiver, "Did you eat yet?"

"About to eat. What do you need?"

"I’ll get straight to the point." Wu Heng cleared his throat, switching to a serious tone. "Originally, I wanted to invite you to the premiere, but logistics didn’t allow it."

Bai Changxia felt grateful for Shen Jianian’s understanding, speaking to her more directly: "I know it wasn’t your doing." Shen Jianian said, "I won’t hold any resentment."

"Director Wang was there that day for the premiere as well." Wu Heng, appreciative of Shen Jianian’s understanding, continued speaking frankly, "He was hoping to have you invited, but it was a top executive’s decision, namely Mr. Dong’s."

The two of them entered the theater, waited a while, and the movie began. Bai Changxia watched the big screen, eagerly anticipating Shen Jianian’s appearance.

Halfway through the movie, Shen Jianian appeared in the form of a memory of the male lead; she walked with a single-shoulder slung cello on a tree-lined campus path. The male lead suddenly jumped out from behind a large tree and startled her. She kept a cold face, walked around him, and continued. He followed her like a little tail and kept talking...

The cinema was filled with a small uproar when Shen Jianian appeared on screen, her entrance catching their eyes. The audience imagined that the male lead’s first love must look just like her, long flowing hair, fair and clean skin, wearing a simple dress, walking through a green shaded road, looking cold yet like a fairy descending to the mortal world.

No wonder the male lead was smitten with her for years.

Bai Changxia heard two girls whispering in front, praising the director’s choice of actress—it was like complimenting Shen Jianian. Bai Changxia turned her head and winked at Shen Jianian.

Shen Jianian popped a piece of popcorn into her mouth. Seeing her own face performing various expressions on the screen for the first time felt oddly surreal, a little embarrassing even.

After the hour-and-a-half film ended, Bai Changxia stood up somewhat reluctantly, tidied up the trash on her seat, and said, "I thought it was an ordinary commercial movie, but the plot was quite interesting, sweet and heartbreaking in the second half; my heart went through some twists and turns. If I have time, I might drag my husband here to see it again."

Shen Jianian linked her arm with Bai Changxia’s: "Thanks for supporting the box office."

Bai Changxia chuckled.

The girl walking in front suddenly turned back, pausing as her eyes lingered on Shen Jianian’s face for a second, before turning back again. Then, as if realizing something, she turned back once more, her eyes widening gradually. She pointed at Shen Jianian, too excited to form a coherent sentence: "You—you...aren’t you the actress who played the male lead’s white moonlight in the movie?! Oh my god, I can’t believe I’m seeing you in person! Can I get your autograph?!"

Bai Changxia turned her head to look at Shen Jianian in surprise, stunned that she was recognized. Is her friend about to get famous?

However, Shen Jianian calmly denied it: "No, I’m not. You’ve mistaken me for someone else; we just look alike."

The girl skeptically peered at her; recounting the movie face, both faces overlapped, clearly the same person, how could it not be?

"You’re lying!" The girl wasn’t so easily fooled, "You are her!"

Seeing she couldn’t hide it, Shen Jianian held up a finger to her lips in a "shh" gesture, signaling her not to make a fuss, and lowered her voice: "You want an autograph, right? I’ll sign for you."

The girl covered her mouth, eyes fluttering—she knew she hadn’t made a mistake!

She fumbled through her bag, unable to find a pen and paper for the autograph.

Shen Jianian also didn’t have the habit of bringing a pen out, so she cleverly took out an eyeliner and signed her name on the inside of the girl’s phone case.

This was the first time Shen Jianian had seen her face on screen performing various expressions; it felt indescribably strange and a bit embarrassing to her.

After the hour-and-a-half long movie ended, Bai Changxia eagerly stood up, tidying the trash on the seat: "I thought it was just a regular commercial movie, but the plot was pretty good—sweet and heartrending in the second half. My heart was all twisted. If I have time, I might drag my husband here for a second watch."

Shen Jianian linked her arm with hers: "Thanks for supporting the box office."

Bai Changxia laughed softly.

As they exited, a girl in front suddenly turned her head around, her eyes lingering on Shen Jianian’s face for a second without much expression, then suddenly realizing, she turned back, her eyes widening, pointing at Shen Jianian, and stammering with excitement: "You- you- aren’t you the star who played the male lead’s white moonlight in the movie?! My God, to see you in person! Can I get an autograph?!"

Bai Changxia looked at Shen Jianian with surprise, was she already being recognized? Was her friend going to be famous?

However, Shen Jianian calmly denied, "I’m not her, you’ve got the wrong person; we just look similar."

The girl glanced at her skeptically, recalling the face from the movie, two faces overlapping; clearly the same person, how can it not be her?

"You’re tricking me!" The girl was not so easily convinced, "You are her!"

Seeing she couldn’t hide it, Shen Jianian put a finger to her lips and shushed her, indicating to keep quiet. She lowered her voice as she spoke, "You want an autograph, right? I’ll give you one."

The girl covered her mouth, her eyes blinking excitedly—she was sure she hadn’t mistaken!

She fumbled through her bag, unable to find a pen and paper for an autograph.

Shen Jianian, not in the habit of carrying a pen when going out, quickly thought to use an eye pencil to sign her name on the inside of the girl’s phone case.

This being Shen Jianian’s first time signing as a "celebrity" acting as a fan favorite, it felt incredibly new and refreshing.

When the two of them exited the cinema, Bai Changxia couldn’t help but tease, "Looks like you’ve got a fan there already. Are you going to be famous?"

"Can you quit joking? I just lied to someone’s face, and it was so awkward."

Bai Changxia laughed until she clutched her stomach.

Shen Jianian covered the lower part of her face with her forearm and scarf, feeling just as embarrassed as before. She could never have predicted she would be recognized with so little screen time.

"Let’s go get dinner," Bai Changxia said, seeing Shen Jianian, who was acting all secretive, glancing around as if expecting to be recognized once more. She couldn’t stop herself from teasing further: "Oops, you won’t be able to hide when eating, might get recognized again."

Shen Jianian squinted her eyes and gave her a slow side-eye glance.

Bai Changxia just laughed.