The golden doors of the banquet hall on the sixteenth floor swung open, and out sauntered Fu Jichen, decked out in a three-piece suit, with a fresh cigarette between his fingers.
As he raised his hand, a glimpse of his pale wrist revealed a black woven bracelet, adorned with a lifelike sleeping lion charm at the end.
He rubbed his brow, trying to shake off the fatigue of the day.
Suddenly, the melodious strains of a cello poured out from the southern end of the banquet hall.
The music was crystal clear, thanks to the still-open doors of the hall.
Fu Jichen found himself drawn towards the sound, his footsteps silent on the light gray carpet, unnoticed except by the watchful waiters stationed at the entrance.
Tall, imposing, and dressed to the nines, Fu Jichen had greeted guests of all kinds, leading the waiters to assume he was someone important, greeting him with respectful nods as he passed by.
Ignoring them all, Fu Jichen peered through the open door, spotting the girl he had bumped into in the elevator.
She sat in a carved black lacquer chair, cradling a cello in her arms. Her half-tied black hair cascaded softly over her cheeks, brushing against the gentle curves of her chest. Clad in a starry blue bodice and skirt, she exuded an ethereal charm under the bright lights. With her head slightly tilted, her expression serene as she gazed towards the door, he could see her lips gently pursed.
The girl's arm moved gracefully with the motion of playing the cello, the whole dynamic scene seemingly filtered through a layer of soft beauty, like a dream.
Lost in the sight, Fu Jichen forgot about the cigarette burning between his fingers, the searing sensation reaching his fingertips. With a slight tremble, a long ash fell onto the expensive carpet.
Inside the banquet hall, whether knowledgeable about the cello or not, everyone was enchanted, either by the natural flow of the music or by Shen Jianian's beauty.
"Been looking all over for you, decided to hide out here for some peace and quiet, huh?"
A teasing voice sounded in his ear, but Fu Jichen didn't bother to turn around.
Lu Yanzhi strode over, peering into the banquet hall over Fu Jichen's shoulder, curious. "What's going on in there? Seems pretty fancy."
Fu Jichen remained silent, turning away indifferently. He casually extinguished the cigarette butt on the trash can lid in the corridor, leaving a faint scent of tobacco in the air.
With one hand in his pocket, Lu Yanzhi strolled along with Fu Jichen, his tone relaxed. "I remembered, today's Qin Zhongtian's mother's birthday celebration, right here in this hotel. Sent you an invitation half a month ago, but you didn't bother."
A hint of coldness flashed in Fu Jichen's eyes. "What an honor."
Lu Yanzhi chuckled. Compared to the Fu family, Qin Zhongtian's face might indeed not be worth much, but it wasn't something to be underestimated or disregarded. "You're quite the big shot in the northern city." He gave a thumbs up, then added casually, "But this Qin Zhongtian is practically a local emperor here in Yicheng. Since you're new in town, it's better to make friends than enemies."
Fu Jichen brushed off his words.
Lu Yanzhi shrugged, saying no more.
The Fu family had long held the top spot on the rich list, and the man before them ranked first among the younger generation of the Fu family, known as "Big Fu". Six months ago, upon returning to the country, he took over the Junshan Group as the general manager. He immediately began restructuring the company, initiating innovative projects, causing turmoil within the company and irritating the elders, who complained to the patriarch.
In a fit of anger, the patriarch dispatched Fu Jichen to Yicheng, putting him in charge of the subsidiary companies of the Junshan Group, to temper his character, intending to teach him that being a businessman required not only decisive action but also patience.
Such treatment was akin to exile in ancient times.
Therefore, after landing in Yicheng, many people from the northern city, both direct and collateral relatives, came to inquire. They simply wanted to see how the resolute and spirited Big Fu would tackle the challenges before him and perhaps gain an opportunity to return to headquarters.
No one expected that his first move would be to spend a whopping nine billion to purchase a garden villa, filled with roses, and spend his days sheltering stray cats and dogs, seemingly settling down in Yicheng for retirement.
No one could fathom what he was thinking.
YOU ARE READING
Rose manor（玫瑰庄园酒店）
RomanceOn a night of heavy rain, Shen Jianian's clothes were in tatters, and he knelt down under the man's suit pants in embarrassment. His raised face was as pale as paper, and his lips trembled as he begged: "Help me..." Under the black umbrella, the man...
