Rose Manor: Tycoon's Relentless Chase
Chapter 47 - 44: Driven to Desperation (2 Updates)

Chapter 47: Chapter 44: Driven to Desperation (2 Updates)

Putting down the phone, Shen Jianian sat quietly in front of the computer for a while, got up, and went to the closet to change out of her loungewear. She put on a warm wool sweater and coat, black jeans, and a pair of flat mid-calf boots.

Without putting on makeup, Shen Jianian only took her phone and scarf as she left.

In the living room, she ran into Zhou Rongzhen, who had just come out of the kitchen. Shen Jianian greeted her, saying, "I’m heading out for a while, I’ll be back soon."

"Make sure to keep warm, even though it looks sunny outside, it’s really cold," Zhou Rongzhen reminded her while seeing her to the door. "I just made a pot of winter melon and duck soup. It’ll be just right for when you get back."

"Okay, sure."

Shen Jianian pressed her lips together, revealing a faint smile.

Leaving Rose Manor, she waited by the roadside. As Zhou Rongzhen had mentioned, the temperature was indeed low. Shen Jianian wrapped her scarf tightly, burying her pale chin into it to block the wind.

The car she booked arrived five minutes later. She opened the door and got in, stating an address.

In the coffee shop, sitting by the window was Hu Yuzhi, looking haggard. She cradled a hot latte in her hands, frequently glancing outside through the floor-to-ceiling windows, her eyes filled with anxiety, indicating she was waiting for someone.

A taxi stopped at the entrance. From the back seat, a tall, slender woman emerged. Her dark gray coat did not seem heavy; instead, it accentuated her cool restraint.

Shen Jianian stepped into the café, her gaze sweeping the inside for a moment before walking toward a round wooden table by the window and sitting opposite Hu Yuzhi.

Placing her phone on the table, she removed her scarf and held it in her arms, raising her eyes to look at the person in front of her, quietly waiting for her to speak first.

Seeing her calm demeanor, Hu Yuzhi felt a surge of emotions but restrained herself. She hadn’t forgotten the purpose of meeting Shen Jianian today and patiently asked, "Would you like something to drink?"

Shen Jianian politely told the approaching waiter, "A hazelnut latte, please. Thank you."

After the waiter left, Hu Yuzhi impatiently got straight to the point, "So, what do you want in return for granting your forgiveness and letting your cousin go? She’s about to get married! Do you really care so little about family ties?"

Shen Jianian slightly curled her lips, her smile seemingly faint, "You’re not claiming I framed Yin Shuyao anymore?"

Hu Yuzhi’s tightly held muscles twitched slightly, momentarily speechless. She had already learned the full story from the police—her daughter secretly took Shen Jianian’s private photos to threaten her into leaving Yicheng.

What foolishness!

If she had known her daughter was using such a tactic, she would have stopped her no matter what.

Moments later, the waiter brought Shen Jianian’s hazelnut latte, the rich aroma wafting through the air. Shen Jianian leisurely took a sip.

"Don’t you think talking to me about family ties is rather ironic? When you plotted to send me to Qin Zhongtian’s bed, did you think about family ties? When Yin Shuyao smashed my mother’s relic, did she consider me her cousin?" Shen Jianian’s tone was calm but tinged with hatred, "What was even on your mind when you installed a camera in my bathroom? In all these instances, where was any regard for family ties?"

Hu Yuzhi was speechless, her fingers tightly clutching the coffee cup’s rim.

"Dear Auntie, why are you silent?" Shen Jianian mocked with a sneer, "Weren’t we going to have a conversation?"

Hu Yuzhi closed her eyes briefly, never realizing Shen Jianian was so sharp-tongued.

When her parents were alive, she was a lively and cheerful little princess, innocent and pure, unaware of worldly matters. After the family upheaval, she became quiet and reserved, yet sensible and obedient, never aggressive.

But the person in front of her seemed unrecognizable.

As if guessing what she was thinking, Shen Jianian lowered her eyes to stare at the coffee, "People change. If I stayed the same as before, wouldn’t I be bullied to death by you all."

"Shen Jianian!" Hu Yuzhi furrowed her brows, almost ready to argue with her again, but she held back, saying blandly, "Why be so aggressive?"

"I’ll be straightforward with you." Shen Jianian looked at her, her eyes cold and resolute, "I can issue a letter of forgiveness and let Yin Shuyao off the hook—"

Hu Yuzhi’s eyes lit up.

"But I have conditions." Shen Jianian intended to douse her rising hope with a bucket of cold water, "The money your family took from my mother when buying a house, return it all now, and I’ll let her go. This demand isn’t excessive, is it?"

She had seriously thought about it. Ultimately, this matter could only result in Yin Shuyao being detained for a few days and having to compensate her for some emotional damages. Hu Yuzhi cherished Yin Shuyao’s reputation, fearing that if the issue prolonged, it might affect her marriage prospects once it became known. This was undoubtedly the best time for her to negotiate.

Hu Yuzhi’s expression stiffened, and her voice was hoarse as she hissed, "We can’t come up with that much money!"

Currently, the company’s performance was significantly declining, with the capital chain on the brink of breaking. They were relying on Yin Shuyao to marry into the Qin Family and receive their support to weather this crisis. Shen Jianian’s demand for such a large sum was akin to forcing their family to a dead end.

"That’s my only condition; think it over." Shen Jianian put down the coffee she had only sipped once, picked up her phone and scarf, left her seat, and threw a piercing remark, "I can afford to wait; I wonder if Yin Shuyao can afford to wait."

Just as she took a step away, Hu Yuzhi gritted her teeth and agreed, "Fine!"

Shen Jianian did not show the triumphant expression that Hu Yuzhi had anticipated. She turned slightly, her clear eyes briefly glancing over an ashen-faced Hu Yuzhi and left her bank card number behind.

*

The taxi stopped not far from Rose Manor. Shen Jianian walked alone, hugging her arms on the tranquil road. Two rows of tall trees swayed their branches in the wind, adding a touch of bleakness.

The driver refused to drive further in, saying it would be difficult to turn around ahead, and she didn’t want to argue, so she simply got out of the car.

The air she breathed was cold, clearing her mind.

As she was deep in thought, the sound of a car horn suddenly startled her, causing her to jump aside instinctively. Qu Mo, who was driving, was quite helpless, and accelerated to catch up to her and stopped the car.

"Get in." Fu Jichen, sitting in the back seat, rolled down the window.

Shen Jianian glanced at the iron gates in front of her, realizing she would have to walk quite a distance to the main building once inside, so she opened the car door and got in.

The car moved forward again. Fu Jichen glanced at her downcast expression, not bothering to ask what she had been doing outside, and from the seat beside him, he retrieved something and handed it to her.

A sandalwood box suddenly appeared in front of her, and Shen Jianian was startled, asking, "What is it?"

Fu Jichen: "Open it and see."

Unenthusiastically, Shen Jianian took it and opened it. Seeing what was inside, her breath caught sharply. She brought it close and repeatedly looked at and touched it; it was indeed her jade bracelet.

The bracelet had been shattered into four pieces, which she had wrapped in a handkerchief and tucked away in the bottom drawer of her bedside cabinet. Now it appeared restored to its original form, without a trace of flaw from the breakage.

How did Fu Jichen manage this?

Shen Jianian raised her eyes, unexpectedly looking at the man beside her. His eyelids were partly lowered, his jawline sharp and fierce, playing with the familiar white jade lion between his fingers.

It seemed there was nothing he couldn’t do.

The car stopped under the porch of the main building. Qu Mo got out, leaving the two of them in the car.

Fu Jichen slightly raised his eyelids, casually glancing over her face, unable to discern how delighted she was: "Not satisfied?" He took the bracelet back from her hands, flipped it over a couple of times and looked at it, "If you’re not satisfied, I’ll buy another one for you. No matter how well restored, it’s still a defective product."

"No."

Shen Jianian lunged forward to snatch back the bracelet, fearing he might accidentally break it again. Fu Jichen took advantage of the moment to pull her into his arm, squinting with a faint smile: "No, meaning satisfied or not satisfied?"

"I’m very satisfied." Shen Jianian answered clearly, retreating from his embrace.

She put the bracelet back into the sandalwood box, closed the lid, and held it tightly in her hand. The previous heaviness in her heart dissipated somewhat, with warm currents flowing in.

Shen Jianian took a gentle breath, lowered her head, and said, "Thank you."

She had thanked him many times, but right now, besides these two words, she didn’t know what else to say. She was truly grateful to him; her cello, her jade bracelet - if not for him, she wouldn’t have anything comforting left around her.

Fu Jichen patted her head: "Planning to sit here forever? Get out."

Shen Jianian pursed her lips, pushed open the car door, holding the sandalwood box, and got out. In the place where Fu Jichen couldn’t see, a trace of joy sparkled in her eyes.

Lunch was ready, and Zhou Rongzhen placed it on the dining table. Shen Jianian went upstairs to put away the jade bracelet, washed her hands, and went to the dining hall to eat.

Fu Jichen received a phone call, stood up, and went to the floor-to-ceiling window to answer it. Shen Jianian didn’t touch her utensils, sitting quietly waiting for him.

"Why aren’t you eating?" Fu Jichen returned, holding the phone, casually placed it on the table, and pulled out a chair to sit down.

Shen Jianian remained silent and served a bowl of soup for him first.

Fu Jichen raised his eyebrows, was this her making peace with him?

After he swallowed a mouthful of soup, Shen Jianian said: "Previously, you spent over six million for me, I remember it, and I’ll repay you soon." Hu Yuzhi would spare no effort in gathering the money in the shortest possible time for her daughter.

Fu Jichen’s throat moved, swallowing the hot soup, his face darkened, he thought she had finally understood, but her words were still so annoying.

"No need."

Fu Jichen’s hand loosened, and the spoon fell into the soup bowl with a crisp sound, splashing a few drops of soup.