Rose Manor: Tycoon's Relentless Chase
Chapter 42 - 39: Apologize to Me

Chapter 42: Chapter 39: Apologize to Me

Yin Shuyao knew exactly how to hit where it hurt, she put Shen Jianian’s cello up for sale on a second-hand website.

A cello worth millions, she listed it for three hundred thousand, aimed at quickly attracting buyers to provoke Shen Jianian, to get the satisfaction of revenge.

The reason Yin Shuyao knew the original price of this cello was because it was a gift for Shen Jianian’s eighteenth birthday.

That day, she followed her parents to the Shen Family to celebrate Shen Jianian’s birthday. The grand banquet hall that could accommodate hundreds of people was resplendent, and she watched from the shadows as Shen Jianian was surrounded and praised. Those beautiful, expensive gifts piled up into a small mountain.

A seed named "jealousy" began to grow wildly at that moment.

Earlier today, in the luxury store, Shen Jianian upset her, so naturally, she wouldn’t make it easy for her.

What is this, at most an appetizer? If Shen Jianian refuses to yield, she has even more powerful moves in store, enough to destroy her.

After all, she gave Shen Jianian a chance, hoping she wouldn’t let it go to waste. Otherwise, she’s not sure what crazy things she might do.

Shen Jianian’s fingers trembled typed: "What do you really want?"

The night of Old Mrs. Qin’s birthday banquet, she was performing in the banquet hall, then was taken away in a daze, and the cello was left at the hotel. A few days later, when she went back to find it, the hotel staff told her that her family had already retrieved it.

She knew it was Yin Shuyao.

Her phone vibrated twice, Yin Shuyao had replied.

Yin Shuyao: "Apologize to me obediently, give me the dress willingly, and I’ll take down this product listing. Think it over carefully, I can’t guarantee your precious cello will still be there if you delay."

Shen Jianian used to be like a flower in a greenhouse, carefully protected and unaware of the depths of people’s hearts. She was too inexperienced to compete with her. Yin Shuyao didn’t believe she could remain calm seeing her beloved cello sold at a low price.

She probably went crazy the moment she received the message.

Shen Jianian stared at the words on the screen, feeling a block in her chest, she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t believe there could be such a shameless person in this world.

Yin Shuyao had done so many hurtful things to her, how could she have the face to demand an apology from her?

Yin Shuyao was still unsatisfied and continued to provoke her: "My dear cousin, have you decided? Let me remind you, someone has already inquired."

Yin Shuyao sent over a chat screenshot, proving she wasn’t lying to scare her. Indeed, someone showed interest in the cello and inquired for details.

Shen Jianian felt cold all over, even through the screen, she could imagine how smug Yin Shuyao was.

She couldn’t wait any longer, Yin Shuyao had no limits and could do anything, her mother’s keepsake was already destroyed, she didn’t want to lose the cello that had accompanied her for years.

Shen Jianian bit her lip, got up from the chair, and ran out.

In her haste, she forgot to knock. When she burst into Fu Jichen’s study, she heard a man’s voice from the computer, naturally fluent French, related to work.

Fu Jichen was in a video conference with people abroad.

Realizing this, Shen Jianian stopped, frozen a few steps from the desk, her eyes flustered and at a loss.

Fu Jichen looked up, revealing a stern face from behind the screen, his usual work demeanor, his voice calm and devoid of emotion: "What’s up?"

After asking, he turned off the microphone, leaving only the video.

In the video, there were four participants, all paused now, only able to see Fu Jichen’s slightly raised face, a small brown scab at the corner of his mouth, his voice inaudible.

Shen Jianian’s hand holding the phone tightened slightly, speaking a bit fast: "I’m sorry for bothering you. Can I ask you for a favor..."

Not wanting to take up more of his time, she briefly explained the whole matter.

"That’s it?" Fu Jichen asked, expressionless, "Anything else?"

Shen Jianian quickly shook her head: "Nothing else."

"Wait."

Fu Jichen left two words as light as feathers, with such a nonchalant tone, as if this matter was no difficulty for him, not worth considering for more than a few seconds.

She saw him pick up the phone on the desk and make a call, instructing his people in one sentence, then looked up at the woman standing still: "It’s done, go to sleep."

Shen Jianian heard her own relieved exhalation, and a low "thank you" like a mosquito hum.

"What?" Fu Jichen tilted his head slightly, ear towards her, as if he hadn’t heard clearly.

Shen Jianian drew a breath, repeating without minding: "Thank you for helping me."

Fu Jichen’s cold face cracked into a smile, speaking casually: "If you truly want to thank me, show some real action, don’t just say it."

Shen Jianian’s expression immediately changed, her tone stiff: "I won’t bother your work anymore."

As she turned around, Fu Jichen said: "Wait for me in my room."

As expected, he watched Shen Jianian’s fleeing back, his mood improved, the curve of his lips rising.

His gaze returned to the computer display, the smile at his lips fading, returning to the stern expression of a few minutes ago.

The people in the video watched a silent play, feeling puzzled yet without answers.

*

At eleven o’clock at night, Fu Jichen finished his work schedule for the day, rubbing his brow as he stepped out of his study.

In his own bedroom, he didn’t see Shen Jianian, only silence, the bed sheets neat. As expected, he smiled slightly and went to the bathroom.

In the guest room, Shen Jianian was not asleep, Fu Jichen’s words echoing over and over in her ears, like a spell.

Wait for me in my room.

The man’s low, ambiguous words echoed in her ears again, Shen Jianian pulled the covers over her head in irritation.

About twenty minutes later, as she was about to fall asleep, the mattress suddenly sank heavily beneath her, jolting her awake.

A scent unfamiliar to her invaded.

"Didn’t lock the door, waiting for me, huh?" In the dark, the man’s voice was amusedly teasing, just like the voice that had lingered in her ears before.

Shen Jianian was pulled into a warm, fresh embrace, every hair standing on end: "You’re lying, I clearly..."

Her voice cut off, she suddenly remembered, when she came back from the study, her mind was in chaos, and she only closed the door casually without locking it, which gave him a chance, making him misunderstand she left the door open for him.

"I didn’t." Shen Jianian awkwardly explained, "I forgot to lock it."

"Oh, forgot to lock it."

Fu Jichen repeated her words, a teasing smile lurking in his tone, very irritating.

"I’m serious," Shen Jianian emphasized.

Fu Jichen gave up arguing about whether she forgot to lock the door, his warm large hand lingering on her waist, his voice laced with a seductive quality: "Do you remember what I said?" Not hoping for her to respond, he was direct, "Thanking should come with real action."

Shen Jianian closed her eyes, mentally reciting that what was meant to happen couldn’t be avoided, she turned and voluntarily pressed her lips to his.

If the lights were on, Fu Jichen would surely see her expression of resigned determination, not like someone doing something intimate with another, more like she was preparing for mutual destruction with an enemy.

Shen Jianian, through this method, vented all the grievances pent up in her chest, like a small beast tearing into its prey.

Fu Jichen couldn’t handle the crazed Shen Jianian, pushed her away slightly, panting: "If you tear up my lips, how will I face anyone tomorrow?"

Shen Jianian cursed him shamelessly, whether she was cursing him or the even more shameless Yin Shuyao, her eyes red as she leaned in to bite him again.

Fu Jichen heard the tiny sobs in her voice, his long arm reaching out from under the covers, turning on a wall lamp.

The warm yellow light spilled down, leaving nothing to hide. Shen Jianian’s body stiffened, stopping completely, like a ghost caught under sunlight, hiding under the covers, not wanting to let anyone see her fierce, ugly appearance.

Fu Jichen dug her face out from under the covers, squinting to look closer for a moment: "Do you feel wronged?"

Shen Jianian sniffled, punching and kicking him, her emotions breaking down uncontrollably: "Why does everyone bully me, why, what did I do wrong... why treat me like this... why!"

Fu Jichen watched as the crystal-clear tears, highlighted by the light, flowed from her eyes and soaked into the pillow, his heart felt like it was being gripped by something.