There was no work today, so Zhu Yilan's attire was less corporate than usual.
A silk camisole in a smoky pink was paired with a lace half-skirt in a similar shade, slit on one side, occasionally revealing her smooth, fair calves as she walked. Over it, she wore a long trench coat, the belt loosely hanging on both sides. Nude high heels accentuated her gentle, ladylike charm and visually elongated the lines of her legs.
Upon entering, she changed into house slippers, glanced at the tea room, steadied her emotions, and walked over with a calm expression.
Zhu Yilan had gone to a hair salon earlier in the morning to style her hair. Her wavy curls were jet-black and glossy, casually tied in a low ponytail with two strands intentionally left out to frame her face. She wore a subtle makeup look that matched her outfit, softening her usually stern eyes and giving them a bright sheen.
"Long time no see, Lanlan, you're stunning today," Lu Yanzhi admired her with a teasing tone, "You look like a leading lady in a Korean drama."
Zhu Yilan forced a smile in response to him: "Long time no see, Young Master Lu."
"Tsk, so cold to me, yet I think of you often," Lu Yanzhi dramatically clutched his chest, feigning heartbreak, "It wounds my heart."
Zhu Yilan, though young, conducted herself with a maturity beyond her years, stern and proper both in private and in public. This was why she had become Fu Jichen's secretary. To Lu Yanzhi, she was like a female version of Qu Mo, strictly by the book. He found it amusing and always wanted to tease her a bit whenever they met.
Zhu Yilan maintained an indifferent demeanor, unaffected, and addressed him formally: "Please don't tease me."
Lu Yanzhi laughed heartily: "Are you here for your boss? I recall there's nothing serious on his schedule today in the afternoon."
It was precisely because he heard that Fu Jichen had no pressing tasks that he came over to unwind, to steal a moment of leisure, enjoy the scenery of the garden, savor some of his treasured tea, and then join for dinner.
Zhu Yilan turned her gaze towards the person who had yet to speak.
He was reclining in a wooden chair, one hand resting on his knee, fingers wrapped around several loops of a black string, a white jade carved piece dangling in the air. In private, he exuded an alluring laziness rarely seen in the business world.
Composing herself, Zhu Yilan stated calmly, "Mr. Chen, I brought the store clerks over, they are waiting outside."
"What store clerks?"
Fu Jichen adjusted his position, picked up the main cup on the coffee table.
He often forgot things. Zhu Yilan stepped forward to remind him: "Yesterday, you instructed me to procure some everyday women's clothing and accessories for Rose Manor. Today, I brought along clerks from several brand stores. It's more convenient if there's anything that needs to be exchanged immediately."
Fu Jichen pointed upwards: "Third floor, turn right to the third room, leave them there for her to choose."
Zhu Yilan was slightly stunned, that woman was staying on the third floor? The third floor was Mr. Chen's private living quarters, typically off-limits without explicit permission.
"Anything else?" Fu Jichen lifted his gaze slightly at her, then picked up the glass teapot and poured tea into the fair cup, refilling both his and Lu Yanzhi's cups.
"No, I'm heading up."
Zhu Yilan suppressed a hint of frustration, turned around, took a deep breath, and nearly lost her composure.
Behind her, Lu Yanzhi spat out his tea, shocked to the point that he didn't notice the tea's heat, the freshly poured cup was quite hot: "Are you serious?"
He directed this question at Fu Jichen. Zhu Yilan heard it, but didn't understand the meaning. What was serious or not?
Zhu Yilan was not in the mood for contemplation, leading six or seven female clerks in professional attire upstairs. Each held a variety of shopping bags in different sizes, practiced caution in their movements once inside, though their gazes couldn't resist surveying the mansion's decor, which was exquisitely luxurious, and yet an abundance of detail threatened to overwhelm the eyes.
The doors to the third room on the right of the third floor were open.
From Zhu Yilan's angle, the girl was curled up on the chaise by the window, hugging her knees, her chin resting on them, staring blankly outside.
The weather was clear, sunlight streamed in, enveloping her in a warm glow, elegantly captivating.
Fu Jichen was absent, and Zhu Yilan could hardly hide her envy. She discreetly took a breath, knocked on the open door frame out of formality, and spoke officially: "Hello miss, I am Zhu Yilan, Mr. Chen's secretary. He asked me to bring you some clothes and accessories."
Her drifting thoughts were pulled back, Shen Jianian turned aside, lightly furrowing her brow, feeling a bit awkward.
Yet she didn't say anything and pointed them to the wardrobe's location.
Zhu Yilan smiled as she asked, "Don't you want to try them on?"
Shen Jianian shook her head.
Zhu Yilan looked at her with a peculiar expression. Receiving so many expensive, beautiful clothes and accessories all at once, which girl wouldn't be excited? But her plain face showed no trace of delight.
*
A little while later, Fu Jichen went upstairs to find Shen Jianian daydreaming on the chaise. If Zhu Yilan were there, she'd notice that she hadn't changed position at all.
Fu Jichen softly cleared his throat.
Shen Jianian turned to look at him, slipped on her slippers, and stood up, speaking quietly, "Mr. Fu."
The luncheon conversation from the previous day had quickly moved on without further mention. Having broached the subject once was indeed difficult for her, so naturally she was embarrassed to bring it up a second time.
Fu Jichen handed her a new phone, already equipped with a SIM card.
Shen Jianian accepted it instinctively, the screen lighting up to reveal a paused video interface showing someone somewhat familiar, who seemed to be her cousin Yin Shuyao: "This is..."
Fu Jichen looked at her: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, don't you want to check it out?"
Shen Jianian opened the video, Yin Shuyao's wailing filled the silent room, matching the grotesque and embarrassed state she displayed in the video. Shen Jianian quickly turned it off after a few seconds.
Her intent was to teach Yin Shuyao a lesson, to let her personally experience the fear and humiliation of such an ordeal, not to ruin her reputation entirely.
The people hired by Fu Jichen were mindful of boundaries, only frightening her without causing actual harm.
Shen Jianian: "Thank you."
Fu Jichen acknowledged with a hum, glancing briefly toward the wardrobe, asking her: "Do the clothes fit?"
Shen Jianian was momentarily taken aback, not concealing from him: "I haven't tried them."
"Why not try them on?"
Shen Jianian didn't know how to describe her current feelings; she only needed a glance at the brands of those items to guess their prices. Any single piece of clothing could easily be worth tens of thousands. And the accessories and bags, all of them were luxury items. His kindness seemed overly generous to the point of being unreal.
Shen Jianian didn't answer for a long while, and Fu Jichen didn't insist on probing, naturally steering the conversation back: "Starting the day after tomorrow, you'll assume the role in Dongke as an assistant to the president. Can you manage?"
Her startled expression didn't escape him, and with a smile, he asked: "Not up to it?"
"No," Shen Jianian was dizzy from his circling words, "Why?"
Fu Jichen's tone lifted slightly with a hint of teasing: "Didn't you say you'd work tirelessly for me? The position of the assistant to the president is quite suitable, isn't it? Surely, Miss Shen's promises weren't merely lip service."
An unusually bright light sparked in Shen Jianian's eyes: "You agreed?!"
"Agree to what? Helping you reclaim Lingyue Group?" Fu Jichen chuckled softly, "I said to discuss the deal once you've made up your mind. Appointing you as an assistant is the compensation for sheltering you."
After speaking, Fu Jichen withdrew his gaze and left the room.
Shen Jianian's mind went blank for a few seconds, clutching the new phone. Once she regained her senses, she typed "Dongke" into the search bar. The information that popped up revealed Dongke as a subsidiary established in Yicheng by Beicheng Junshan Group, primarily dealing in medical equipment.
The chairman of Junshan Group has the surname Fu, with three sons and a daughter. The eldest son is Fu Zhengjun, who married into the Wei Family of Beicheng, wed while expecting, and they have a pair of twins followed by another son. Among the younger generation, the eldest grandson, Fu Jichen, stood out most prominently, likely to become the next heir.
Fu Jichen.
The owner of Rose Manor had the surname Fu, both the driver and secretary referred to him as "Mr. Chen." Could he be Fu Jichen?
If he was indeed one from Beicheng Fu Family, then there was hope that he might help her reclaim the company. Shen Jianian bit her lip, lost in thought.