Rose Manor: Tycoon's Relentless Chase-Chapter 377 - 353: Handwritten Invitations

Due to the box office success of "Western Palace Banquet," it got extended in theaters a month after its release, and the daily screenings remained high even after the extension.

This movie dominated major theaters for a full two months, with final box office earnings exceeding the 4 billion mark, precisely, it’s 4.6 billion.

When Bai Changxia saw this news online, she snapped a picture and sent it to Shen Jianian.

Bai Changxia: "4.6 billion box office! Impressive, not too far from the 5 billion boast I made initially." She casually mentioned wanting it to break 5 billion.

At that time, it was already mid-March, and Shen Jianian was in front of her computer communicating via FaceTime with an overseas bridal gown designer, discussing gown details. She expressed that she was very satisfied with each presented part, with no need for changes.

Upon receiving Bai Changxia’s WeChat message, Shen Jianian said goodbye to the designer, closed the video window, picked up her phone from the table, glanced at the screen, and typed a few words back.

Shen Jianian: "You’re a big prophet."

Bai Changxia sent a meme of a panda with its hands on its hips, then asked, "How’s your wedding preparation going?"

Initially, she planned to ask if Shen needed help but then remembered Fu Jichen would probably handle everything.

Shen Jianian: "Just finished communicating with the bridal gown designer; it’s not completed yet. The designer is manually embroidering the hem, and later there will be beading and other additions."

Bai Changxia enthusiastically sent a voice message: "Do you have any pictures? Let me have a look."

Shen Jianian found the semi-finished bridal gown photo that the designer sent her from her album and forwarded it to Bai Changxia.

Bai Changxia opened the picture and zoomed in to look at the details, taking a deep breath, her face full of disbelief that this is only a semi-finished product?

She excitedly sent a voice message: "The semi-finished product is so gorgeous; I can’t imagine how beautiful the completed gown will be! Jianian, your taste is impeccable."

Shen Jianian confessed: "Don’t you know me? I’m indecisive, and at the time, I was overwhelmed with choices. Eventually, Fu Jichen made the decision and chose this one."

Bai Changxia switched to typing: "Complimented the wrong person; turns out it’s Boss Fu’s impeccable taste. [Shrugging]"

At that moment, the study door suddenly opened, and the man praised for his impeccable taste entered with a cup of milk, placing it on the desk: "Still chatting with the designer?"

Earlier, Shen Jianian didn’t want to move her laptop to the bedroom, so she occupied the study. Fu Jichen went downstairs to heat milk for her, leaving her to chat with the designer.

"I’ve already finished the chat." Shen Jianian was holding her phone, responding to Bai Changxia’s messages, "I’m chatting with Xiaxia."

Leaning against the table edge, Fu Jichen reached out, took her phone away, picked up the milk and put it in her hand: "Drink it while it’s hot; it’s not good if it cools."

Shen Jianian sipped from the cup and heard Fu Jichen asking her: "How’s the bridal gown? Is it as you expected?" They chose from design drafts initially, and the final product was all up to imagination.

"It’s exquisite and ornate, even prettier than I imagined."

Shen Jianian finished the milk in the cup, and Fu Jichen took the cup back, placing it on the table. Shen Jianian licked her lips, took her phone back from him, and showed him the pictures.

"This is how it looks right now. It’s not completed yet, but I think it’s already very beautiful." Shen Jianian said.

Fu Jichen took the phone, swiping the screen to view more, examining the bridal gown’s detail pictures from all angles. His brows suddenly knitted, not sure which photo he saw.

Shen Jianian craned her neck to look at the screen; it was a picture of the gown’s back.

"Isn’t this backless design a bit too exposed?" Fu Jichen hadn’t realized from the design drafts how much it revealed, seeing it went from the neck to the waist.

Shen Jianian stood up to take a closer look: "It’s not as exaggerated as you say; it’s just half the back exposed, isn’t it? Furthermore, the exposed parts will be covered with diamond chains and beads."

Seeing she genuinely liked it, Fu Jichen didn’t say more, putting down the locked phone and wrapped his arms around her waist in front of him.

Shen Jianian leaned on his chest in this posture. The night was deep outside the window; the study was very quiet, and she could hear each other’s heartbeat, gradually sync.

After a moment of silence, she suddenly raised her head and said, "Let me write the wedding invitations."

"Hmm?" Fu Jichen was enjoying the warmth of their embrace, momentarily surprised, took two seconds to respond, "Where did that come from?"

Shen Jianian earnestly said, "You’ve been organizing all the wedding affairs; I need to contribute labor as well; I can’t bother you with everything."

His work is so busy, comparatively, when she doesn’t have recitals to prepare, her days are quite leisurely.

Fu Jichen smiled: "If you want to write them, go ahead."

"Then it’s settled." Shen Jianian made a pact with him, "Once the guest list is prepared, I’ll start writing the invitations in my spare time every day."

"Okay, deal sealed, stamped guarantee." Fu Jichen said, and after speaking, lightly kissed her lips, symbolizing the seal.

With just a single kiss, Shen Jianian felt a tingling sensation on her lips, she pursed her lips, suspecting it was her own illusion, then leaned in doubtfully to kiss him again.

Fu Jichen was unprepared for her actions, his brows moved slightly, his eyes reflected her silhouette, voice dropping low: "What’s this? You want to in the study?"

Shen Jianian’s pupils trembled slightly, what was he saying?

Fu Jichen acted on impulse, picked her up, and turned around, placing her on the desk. Without looking at the desk’s surface, he located the computer by memory, closed the lid, and pushed it away. He also moved aside some miscellaneous office supplies to make space.

"I never thought about doing it in the study..."

The last two words faded away, because the hand that Fu Jichen was using to tidy up came back, the palm pressed against her waist, pulling them closer together, their breaths entwined, and ambiguity burgeoned.

At this moment, the position changed to him standing in front of her, reversing their previous stance.

*

The wedding was set for June 23rd, the sixth day of the fifth month in the lunar calendar, an auspicious day for marriage.

A month before the wedding, Shen Jianian began to write the invitations.

The three-meter-long table in the study was covered with red invitations. Shen Jianian held a brush in one hand and, using the guest list as reference, wrote on each card one by one.

The invitations were also specially designed. When opened, they revealed lifelike paper cut-out figures of her and Fu Jichen.

Shen Jianian wrote diligently, paying attention to every stroke and line. After writing dozens in one afternoon, she felt a bit tired, rotating her slightly sore neck, and suddenly found her thoughts wandering, recalling the ridiculous things she and Fu Jichen did in the study a long time ago.

Her cheeks instantly flushed as if set on fire, and Shen Jianian couldn’t directly face the desk in front of her, unable to forget the scene of the man using his shirt as a cloth to wipe the desk.

Without her knowing, Fu Jichen came in. Because the study’s door was open, Shen Jianian hadn’t heard it and was still in a daze.

"What are you thinking about, your face is so red." Fu Jichen lifted his hand, the back of it touching her cheek, the coolness forming a contrast with her warmth.

Shen Jianian came to her senses, looking up to meet his gaze, her face turning even redder, trying to cover up by saying, "Nothing, I just... noticed there’s no ink in the inkstone."

Fu Jichen glanced at the inkstone on the desk, picked up a stick of ink lying beside it, and began grinding it for her.

The man’s posture was relaxed yet elegant.

Shen Jianian steadied herself, dipped the pen in ink, took an invitation, and wrote the guest’s name.

"How many are left?" Fu Jichen asked.

"A lot."

When Shen Jianian spoke, her eyes focused on the words under her pen, afraid of making mistakes. If she got it wrong, she’d waste an invitation card. The invitations were so beautiful, she couldn’t bear to waste them.

Fu Jichen, worried she’d tire herself, slowed his grinding motion, saying, "How about I help you write?" 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Shen Jianian shook her head, decisively refusing, "No need, we agreed I’d handle this. I can’t possibly not do this well. I don’t have much else going on lately, I can take my time writing them."

Fu Jichen let her do as she wished, only reminding, "Don’t over-tire yourself."

"I know," Shen Jianian looked up and smiled at him, "You underestimate me."

Fu Jichen’s thin lips curved slightly, and he smiled back at her, playfully teasing, "People usually say red sleeves add fragrance, why is it reversed with us?"

Shen Jianian paused, watching him grind ink. The man’s fingers were long and fair, like white jade, holding the ink stick, one hand propping up the table, slightly bent over, his shirt outlining his slender waist, gracefully and leisurely repeating a motion, refined and gentle, yet elegantly noble, truly pleasing to the eye.

She couldn’t help but chuckle, "The way you put it, it’s as if I’m the scholar rushing to the capital for exams, and you’re the seductive spirit enticing people."

Fu Jichen’s brow twitched, placing the ink stick back by the inkstone, looking directly at her, "You said I’m... what?"

"A spirit," Shen Jianian laughed, "Haven’t you read those fantasy stories? A scholar on his journey to the capital stops at a desolate temple, and at midnight a beautiful woman appears to grind ink for him, trim wicks, and accompany him intimately."

Fu Jichen bent his finger and lightly flicked her forehead, "What’s going on in that head of yours?"

Shen Jianian shrugged innocently, "You mentioned red sleeves adding fragrance first, that’s what made me think of these, blame you."

"Blame me?" Fu Jichen cupped her face, kneading it a few times, "Then why don’t you explain why your face was red when I came in? Were you thinking about..."

"Ah! Stop distracting me, I need to write these invitations!" Shen Jianian knew what he was about to say, she loudly interrupted him, and in a moment of carelessness, drew a line on him with the brush.

He happened to be wearing a white shirt today, looking clean and attractive, and Shen Jianian stared at the conspicuous black stain, "Now this time it’s your fault, isn’t it? This ink won’t wash out, your shirt is ruined."

Fu Jichen looked down at the shirt on him, unconcerned, "Didn’t I ruin one last time too? I remember that time it was because..."

"Fu Jichen!" Shen Jianian hurriedly went to cover his mouth, a mix of embarrassment and anger, "If you say more, I’m ignoring you."

This threat was very effective. Fu Jichen raised his hand, making a surrender gesture, promising not to mention it again.

Due to Fu Jichen’s interruption, Shen Jianian didn’t finish the amount of work she planned for the afternoon. After dinner, she worked a bit overtime before going back to her room to rest.