Chapter 257: Both I and My Cat Like You
Yunjin Prime Manor…
s.h.i.+ Fang’s actions were swift, and he soon pa.s.sed all the information on Yan Shaochen’s life to Fu Chen.
“… This person lived overseas since he was a child. After acknowledging relatives with the Yan family, he goes back to visit during Lunar New Year and other festivities. Old Madam Yan likes him a lot.
“He has his own work studio and doesn’t rely on the Yan family. The studio is doing fairly well, and it has around forty employees.
“He even received an award some time ago, and he was named one of the top ten entrepreneurial youths of the year in Nanjiang. He’s humble, low-key, decent looking, and considered a rare young and handsome talent in recent years.”
Fu Chen narrowed his eyes and flipped through the information. Just by looking at the information on his life, he could see that Yan Shaochen was glamorous. “Young and handsome talent?”
He raised his eyebrows slightly, somewhat displeased with s.h.i.+ Fang’s description.
“Haha, he naturally can’t compare to you,” s.h.i.+ Fang hurriedly flattered.
“It’s not true that he doesn’t rely on the Yan family. How can they be completely separated?” Fu Chen sneered.
Even during the early days of his business, Fu Chen had also benefited from his family’s glory. Since everyone knew that Fu Chen founded this company, they would more or less give Old Master Fu some face. Moreover, the studio Yan Shaochen founded was a jewelry design studio, which was in the same industry as the Yan family.
“… Third Master?” Uncle Nian suddenly knocked on the door. “Is it convenient for me to come in?”
“Yes.” Fu Chen nodded. s.h.i.+ Fang immediately retreated to the side tactfully.
Uncle Nian looked slightly anxious. “I just heard the news from the old residence that Second Madam and Young Master Yuxiu aren’t coming back this year for Lunar New Year.”
Fu Chen casually picked up the prayer bead bracelet beside his hand and held it in his hand. The corners of his lips curled up slightly. “What about Second Brother?”
“Second Master will definitely come back. Second Madam said that she just arrived overseas and has a lot of things to deal with, so she really can’t come back. Old Madam is quite angry.” Uncle Nian sighed helplessly.
“Eldest Lady said that she couldn’t get through to you just now, so she called the landline and asked me to tell you not to mention Second Madam in front of Old Madam.”
Fu Chen nodded. His sister probably called when he was on the phone with Song Fengwan.
Sun Qionghua was a strong-minded person and also cared a lot about her reputation. After marrying into the Fu family for so many years, she had always been comparing herself to Fu Chen’s eldest brother’s family, afraid that she would be suppressed. Now that the Sun family was in trouble, she had lost all her face, and she had also been embarra.s.sed by Fu Chen and his sister at home, so she would definitely be too ashamed to come back this year.
She was indirectly telling the Fu family that she was angry.
After Uncle Nian left, s.h.i.+ Fang said, “Third Master, Sun Rui has been recuperating in the hospital since cutting her wrist. I heard that the Sun family plans to send her to Yuncheng to take refuge, and Second Madam specially got someone to clean up her house.”
Fu Chen’s fingers holding the prayer beads paused. “You said that Sun Rui went to Yuncheng?”
“She hasn’t left yet,” s.h.i.+ Fang hurriedly explained. “After Second Madam left, the house in Yuncheng was left empty, and even the servants were dismissed. But people have been cleaning it recently. That’s just my guess. After all, it’s almost the new year, and everyone has to move around. Sun Rui really doesn’t have the face to see anyone.
“Yuncheng isn’t like Beijing. There aren’t many people who really know Sun Rui there.” Even though she had been exposed previously in the news, her face was mosaiced.
Everyone in the capital knew the eldest miss of the Sun family, but things were different in Yuncheng.
“It might also be because it’s almost the new year, so Second Madam wants to tidy up the house.” After all, every family had to clean up their house during the Lunar New Year period because it was a tradition left behind by their ancestors[1].
Fu Chen pressed the tip of his tongue against his cheek and looked at s.h.i.+ Fang. “Keep a close eye on Sun Rui.”
After pondering for a moment, Fu Chen looked at the motionless person beside him. “Qian Jiang, go to Yuncheng…”
***
Soon, the entire Fu family knew that Sun Qionghua wasn’t coming home for Lunar New Year.
Fu Sinian was finis.h.i.+ng up his work before the year ended when he received a call from his mother. “h.e.l.lo, Mom.”
“Are you working?” The voice on the other end was gentle and delicate.
“Yes.”
“When your second aunt was at home that day, what exactly happened? Why isn’t she coming back for the new year?”
Fu Sinian didn’t mention what had happened at the old Fu residence that day to his parents, and the other members of the Fu family naturally didn’t gossip about it either.
“Because of the Sun family, she came to the house to question who was responsible for it and angered Third Uncle and Aunt.” His words were very concise.
“Forget it. Let’s not talk about her. Sinian, how have you been recently?”
“Same as usual.”
“Same as usual?” She was suspicious. “Is there nothing you want to tell me?”
“Tell you what?”
“Continue pretending. If you have the ability to, then pretend for the rest of your life.”
Before Fu Sinian could speak, she hung up. He stared at the phone without saying anything for a few seconds. What exactly am I pretending about?
He got up to make a cup of coffee, but he found that not only were there no coffee beans at home, but there was no instant coffee either. So he could only wear his clothes and go downstairs. There was a large supermarket chain at the entrance of the building complex. He only took his phone and left.
He took the elevator down to the first floor. He needed to swipe his card or enter a pa.s.sword when entering or leaving the building. Just as he was about to enter the pa.s.sword, the administrator called out to him.
“Mr. Fu, please wait a moment.”
Fu Sinian lowered his gaze and glanced at her. “What’s the matter?”
The middle-aged woman walked over with a smile, but she was caught off guard by his cold gaze and shrank her neck in fright.
She had been the administrator here for a few years and had always known that Mr. Fu on the 16th floor was difficult to interact with, but this was the first time he looked at her so sharply.
His tall figure loomed over her, giving off a domineering and sharp sense of oppression for no particular reason.
She smiled awkwardly and hesitated. “… It’s like this. Miss Yu, who lives opposite you, ordered takeout. Our building doesn’t allow takeout to be delivered to the residential floors, so it could only be left with me.
“I couldn’t get through to her on the phone, and I knocked on her door once, but no one answered.
“Logically speaking, if she ordered takeout, she should be at home.”
Fu Sinian asked in a low voice, “When was the delivery?”
“Noon, but it’s already night now. I saw you two go home together the other day. So if you two are on good terms, please help me to bring it up. I’m going home soon, and I have to lock the duty room,” the administrator pleaded tentatively.
“Where is it?” Fu Sinian didn’t go out but instead picked up the takeout and returned upstairs.
Only then did the administrator heave a long sigh of relief.
“Has Mr. Fu been having a bad time at work recently? He slammed the door on me before, and he didn’t have a good expression on his face toward me just now.
“If he wasn’t an owner, who could stand him?
“After interacting with him for so many years, I haven’t even spoken much with him. Miss Yu is really impressive. She actually hooked up with him just like that. Being young and pretty really means she has the capital.”
…
When Fu Sinian reached the 16th floor, he stood at Yu Manxi’s door and called her on WeChat, but no one answered.
He knocked on the door a few times, but there was still no response.
He looked at the takeout in his hand, tightened his grip on his phone, and sent her a message.
[Your takeout is with me.]
Just as he was planning to go back home, the door opposite his creaked open.
“Mr. Fu…”
As soon as Fu Sinian turned around, he saw Yu Manxi wearing fur pajamas with a rabbit design. Her face was flushed red, her lips were dry and pale, her eyes were bloodshot, and even her voice was weak.
Before he could speak, she abruptly covered her mouth and coughed. Her small face turned even redder, and her body was trembling.
Fu Sinian narrowed his eyes and walked toward her. “Are you sick?”
“My cold seems to have gotten worse.” Yu Manxi didn’t want to appear in front of him with this sickly appearance. Even she herself could tell how disheveled she was right now, and besides…
I haven’t washed my hair for the past two days. This situation is killing me.
“Your takeout. It was delivered at noon. I don’t think you can eat it anymore.” Fu Sinian stared fixedly at her little face as his brows furrowed tighter and tighter.
“I just ordered some rice and red dates from the supermarket. It’s not cooked food.” Yu Manxi’s voice was hoa.r.s.e, and she almost ran out of breath at the last word. “Thank you.”
She reached out to take the convenience bag, and their fingers inevitably intertwined…
Fu Sinian’s body was hot to begin with, so his fingers were always warm. The temperature of her fingertips was even higher than his, and they were even a little moist and hot.
Just as Yu Manxi’s fingertips touched his hand, the person in front of her suddenly reached out his hand toward her…
Yu Manxi was so frightened that she subconsciously moved back to avoid him, but he was even faster, and a warm hand covered her forehead.
Her breathing stagnated, and her breath became increasingly hotter. Her body was already on fire, and she was extremely nervous at this moment.
“Don’t move.” Fu Sinian furrowed his brows.
From Yu Manxi’s angle, she just happened to be able to see his Adam’s apple. His throat was moving slightly…
It was inexplicably s.e.xy and seductive.
“You have a fever.” Fu Sinian withdrew his hand.
“Yeah.” Yu Manxi nodded with a red face.
“Have you taken medicine?”
“Yes.”
Just as she finished speaking, the sound of a cat meowing came from inside the condo. As the cat was very young, its sound was weak and small.
“Maybe it heard your voice.” Yu Manxi covered her mouth and coughed twice. She hesitated before saying, “Erm… I’m sick. If you don’t mind, do you want to come in and have a seat? It likes…
“… you a lot.”
“The cat likes me?” Fu Sinian raised his eyebrows, and there was still a trace of the burning residual heat on his fingertips.
Yu Manxi bit her lip and didn’t say anything. Actually…
Both I and my cat like you.
[1] It represents a wish to put away old things, bid farewell to the old year, and welcome in the new year.