CHAPTER 50: CHAPTER 47: CHILDHOOD SWEETHEARTS (5 UPDATES)

"Don’t joke around."

Shen Jianian tilted her head back, freeing herself from his grip. Fu Jichen’s status was distinguished, allowing him to walk unhindered in Yicheng, but that didn’t mean he could freely disrupt the Qin Family’s wedding banquet.

There’s a saying, a mighty dragon cannot overpower a local serpent.

The Qin Family is akin to a local serpent in Yicheng.

"If you truly want to crash the party to vent, no one would dare utter a word against it." Fu Jichen handed the tie to her, slightly raising his chin, "Do you know how to tie it?"

Shen Jianian lifted her gaze, and the sight that greeted her was the man’s Adam’s apple, its contours sharp yet somewhat sexy, with a scratch mark just below it.

Her gaze paused, Shen Jianian recalled that it must have been a mark she accidentally made last night, quickly averting her eyes from the suggestive scar.

"Don’t you know?" Fu Jichen lowered his eyes, catching the fleeting odd expression on her face.

"No, I don’t."

Shen Jianian shoved the tie back into his hands and made to leave, but he seized her hand with interest, saying, "If you don’t know, I’ll teach you."

"I don’t want to learn," Shen Jianian replied.

Fu Jichen didn’t care whether she wanted to or not, forcibly holding onto her hand, and stuffed the tie back, guiding her hand around his own neck, pulling the ends of the tie forward, step by step teaching her how to make a knot.

"Did you get it?" Fu Jichen was a good teacher; he didn’t wait for her reply before saying, "If not, I’ll teach you again."

He undid the tied knot, ready to teach her again.

But he didn’t know that Shen Jianian had long known how to tie various tie knots.

She remembered a day when flipping through a fashion magazine, there was a page with illustrations showing how to tie different types of tie knots, and she eagerly picked up her father’s tie to practice. Pei Che came looking for her, his gaze resting on the tie she had just perfectly tied into a Windsor knot.

Pei Che asked, "Why are you learning this?"

"You came at just the right time, I happen to need a model!" Shen Jianian undid the Windsor knot, pulling Pei Che closer, wrapping the tie around his neck, she looked up, smiling warmly as she answered his previous question, "Of course, it’s for tying your ties in the future."

As she spoke, her hands quickly made a perfect Albert knot: "I think this style suits you especially well, and the name is lovely too, prince knot for a prince."

Back then, Pei Che’s smile surpassed hers, warmth spilling from his eyes touched by sunlight.

Shen Jianian couldn’t suppress the memory, her eyes misted, and suddenly felt a sharp pain in her hand as Fu Jichen sensed her distraction and squeezed her fingers tightly.

"Focus," Fu Jichen stared into her eyes, his voice neither happy nor angry, "What are you thinking about?"

Without realizing when, Fu Jichen had released her hand, and in her panic and confusion, Shen Jianian instinctively tied a perfect Albert knot.

"Didn’t you say you couldn’t tie a tie?" Fu Jichen glanced at the mirror, the knot she made was unique, overly delicate, mismatched with his black shirt.

Shen Jianian didn’t know how to explain, she lowered her eyes slightly, seemingly lost in the recent fleeting memory.

Fu Jichen lifted her chin with his fingers, his deep and dark eyes like a hook, tightly binding her: "Let me guess, you’re thinking about... Pei Che."

Shen Jianian’s eyelashes trembled, eyes filled with surprise. How terrifying he was to be able to discern someone’s thoughts.

Fu Jichen’s lips curved into a subtle smile, yet devoid of laughter: "Looks like I guessed right."

From the few words "Pei Che" she once mentioned, he kept it in mind, a simple investigation revealed it was the young master of the Beicheng Pei Family.

The Pei Family and Shen Family are family friends, naturally, the young master of the Pei Family and Miss Shen grew up as childhood friends, deeply bonded.

Sadly.

Family friends became feuds, beautiful unions turned to dust.

Shen Jianian remained silent, and Fu Jichen didn’t press further, he pulled off the tie, facing the full-body mirror and re-tied a common Windsor knot.

*

Two stylists arrived at Rose Manor to do makeup for Shen Jianian.

An hour later, Shen Jianian lifted her skirt as she descended from the third floor by elevator.

In the tea room on one side of the living room, Fu Jichen and Lu Yanzhi sat across from each other, tasting tea. Incense was burning on the sandalwood tea table, and the light scent of cedar floated in the air, slightly detectable even in the living room.

Lu Yanzhi picked up the teacup with two fingers, glanced over, paused, and the raised corner of his eye couldn’t hide his amazement. Then he smiled and said, "I told you the red mark on Fu Da’s neck doesn’t look like it’s from a cat scratch."

With his temperament, the cat that scratched him would have been driven out long ago, and wouldn’t come near him again.

Fu Jichen didn’t respond, his gaze lingered on Shen Jianian for a few seconds, as if he had forgotten the earlier unpleasantness in the cloakroom. He beckoned to her, "It’s still early, come over for a cup of tea."

Shen Jianian lifted her skirt and went over, sitting next to him.

Fu Jichen sat up slightly, picked up the teapot from the stove, rinsed a teacup clean, poured her a cup of tea, and handed it to her personally.

Lu Yanzhi’s gaze moved back and forth between the two, unable to hide his smile. He almost choked on his tea and, after a light cough, said to Fu Jichen, "I thought you attended the wedding banquet to give Qin Zhongtian face, but it turns out it was for Miss Shen."

Last time at Old Mrs. Qin’s birthday, the Qin Family sent Fu Jichen an invitation, but he refused to give face. This time, the Qin Family held a wedding, sent the invitation again, and according to Lu Yanzhi’s understanding of Fu Jichen, even if you invited him three times, it would be useless if he didn’t want to give face. So, when he heard Fu Jichen was going to the wedding banquet, Lu Yanzhi was indeed surprised, thinking he had changed his temper.

Now knowing that Shen Jianian accompanied him, Lu Yanzhi felt everything made sense. Yin Shuyao is Shen Jianian’s cousin, and someone was giving Miss Shen face.

Lu Yanzhi wasn’t aware of the grievances between Shen Jianian and Yin Shuyao, only assuming she was happily attending her cousin’s wedding banquet.

The time arrived, and the three of them sat in two separate cars heading to the Silver Sea Hotel.

In snowy weather, the car drove slowly, and by the time they arrived at the hotel entrance, it was already 11:30 a.m., with the wedding starting at noon.

The valet quickly came over to open the car door. Inside and outside the car seemed like two different seasons; Shen Jianian trembled from the cold as she got out, her bare shoulders and arms breaking out in goosebumps.

Fu Jichen spread his coat over her shoulders, wrapped an arm around her waist, and walked into the lobby.

With the warmth of the heater, Shen Jianian felt slightly better, and Fu Jichen released his hand, slightly bent his right arm, and signaled to her with his eyes.

Shen Jianian raised her hand to place it on his arm, making a gesture of holding him. The two were so close that the faint tea scent lingering on him seemed to swirl subtly at her nostrils.

Lu Yanzhi, who followed behind, witnessed the entire scene, hardly believing the person before him was the cold and indifferent Fu Da.

Fu Jichen’s behavior, whether driven by beauty or ulterior motives, made Lu Yanzhi feel it was too early to draw conclusions.

The attendant led them all the way to the tenth floor of the hotel, the largest and most luxurious banquet hall.

The groom at the door responsible for greeting guests seemed more like he was hosting a funeral than a wedding, with a gloomy face and taut lips, greeting guests with a dry, "Please come inside."

After another "Please come inside," Qin Fan looked up and saw Shen Jianian first.

She was even more dazzling than the night of the old lady’s birthday banquet, like a pure white camellia blooming in a snowy scene, easily distinguishable despite the similar color to the snow. The snow was scattered, while she was gentle and carried a subtle fragrance.

Qin Fan’s eyes widened, and his heart fluttered.

If there hadn’t been an accident that night, the one he should be marrying today was Shen Jianian.

If Shen Jianian were his bride, he wouldn’t bear such resentment.

The melancholic gaze was blocked by a tall and upright figure. Qin Fan annoyedly faced a cold and stern face. He didn’t recognize the person in front of him but couldn’t ignore the imposing aura emanating from him.

Qin Fan was slightly shaken, and before he could speak, Qin Zhongtian’s rich and hearty laughter sounded behind him, "Why didn’t Mr. Chen let someone inform us in advance of your arrival, so I could personally come down to greet you? My apologies for the inadequate hospitality, please come inside."

His father’s attitude was one Qin Fan had never seen before, especially given the Qin Family’s current status, which didn’t necessitate bowing and scraping to anyone, making it all the more surprising.

However, the situation at hand was not suitable for questions. Qin Fan watched helplessly as his father made a hand gesture of "please," all smiles, welcoming them in.

Upon seeing Qin Zhongtian, Shen Jianian became rigid, her fingertips cold, like a puppet without a soul, mechanically following Fu Jichen’s footsteps inside.

She unconsciously tightened her grip on whatever was within reach—it was Fu Jichen’s arm.

Feeling the pressure, Fu Jichen tilted his head to look at her, placing a hand over hers. It felt cold, so he slightly lowered his head and whispered next to her ear, "What’s wrong, still cold?"

Qin Zhongtian’s gaze subsequently shifted to Fu Jichen’s female companion.

Previously, all his attention was on Fu Jichen. His willingness to attend, even just to show his face, was an enormous honor for the entire Qin Family. The joy had overwhelmed Qin Zhongtian, keeping him from noticing anything else.

Now, seeing clearly the woman held carefully in Fu Jichen’s embrace, Qin Zhongtian was greatly shocked.