Rose Manor: Tycoon's Relentless Chase-Chapter 380 - 355: A Secret

Shen Jianian was startled, thinking she had imagined things in a daze. How could Yin Shuyao appear here?

She turned around full of astonishment, seeing Yin Shuyao walking towards her step by step, like a vengeful ghost.

"Seeing me, you seem quite surprised?" Yin Shuyao lifted the corner of her mouth, her voice very low, echoing in the empty room, "Jianian, how could you not invite me, your cousin, to your wedding? We are family after all. The Fu Family has so many relatives, yet you have none by your side. Don’t you feel lonely?"

Shen Jianian intuitively sensed malice from the visitor, her heart tightening abruptly.

She hadn’t forgotten Yin Shuyao instigating Wen Ran to poison her. If her scheme had succeeded, she wouldn’t be standing here today unscathed.

"Yin Shuyao, what do you want?" Shen Jianian grasped her skirt, her gaze swiftly locating where her phone was placed, forcing herself to stay calm, "You failed to poison me before, haven’t you given up yet?"

Yin Shuyao’s face slightly changed: "So you knew it was me."

Shen Jianian stood up from her chair. Even in slippers, she was still taller than Yin Shuyao. Yin Shuyao had returned to her downtrodden and desolate state, wearing a semi-old black long dress, looking more haggard than when she last saw her, with fine lines appearing at the corners of her eyes.

"Yin Shuyao, I never thought you hated me so much that you wished I were dead." Shen Jianian’s lips curled into a faint smile, laced with sarcasm, "This is the family you talk about? I’d rather not have family like that."

Yin Shuyao’s eyes suddenly turned cold, stepping forward: "Why don’t you talk about what you’ve done? I pleaded with you to help our family through the crisis, but you wouldn’t. As you wished, our family’s factory closed down, and I became a wreck. Isn’t this what you wanted? If you’d helped, would our family have suffered so much? Tell me, should I hate you, Shen Jianian?"

Shen Jianian only wanted to laugh upon hearing this. She shouldn’t waste her energy and time talking to Yin Shuyao. In Yin Shuyao’s eyes, the whole world owed her, especially Shen Jianian. As if the downfall of the Yin Family was all her doing.

"Get out." Shen Jianian pointed to the door, her tone resolute, "I have nothing to say to you."

"Don’t worry, I’ll leave." Yin Shuyao hugged her arms, looking around the room. The decor was vintage and luxurious, making anyone feel like a princess. Her tone was faint, "Don’t be so afraid of me. Rest assured, I didn’t come all this way to settle scores with you. I came...to tell you a secret."

Shen Jianian was not interested in any secrets. Anything coming from Yin Shuyao’s mouth was not to be trusted.

"I know my credibility with you is very low, but what I’m about to say is the truth. Whether you believe it or not is up to you." Yin Shuyao spoke as she approached Shen Jianian, the smile on her lips hiding daggers in her eyes, "You indeed lost your memory, and have long forgotten how tragically your parents died. Back then, Lingyue Group was schemed against, leading to your father’s heart attack. He was rushed to the hospital, but was beyond saving and declared dead. Your mother, that delicate woman, couldn’t bear the blow and chose to leave this world with your father. Do you know who caused all of this?"

Shen Jianian’s expression grew grave.

She indeed lost her memory, but she knew about this; Pei Che had told her.

She couldn’t understand why Yin Shuyao brought it up suddenly.

"The Pei Family—" Yin Shuyao paused, her eyes fixed on Shen Jianian’s face, unwilling to miss any change in expression, "was just a scapegoat. The real manipulator behind the scenes was the Fu Family. It was the Fu Family that wanted to swallow the Shen Family, using the Pei Family as a cover."

Shen Jianian’s expression didn’t change, but her fingertips trembled slightly, a chill rising.

Yin Shuyao was dissatisfied with her reaction. She had gone to great lengths to choose today to meet Shen Jianian, how could she return empty-handed.

"Yes, the same Fu Family you’re marrying into today." Yin Shuyao spoke each word like a curse, determined to make her listener feel devastating pain, "You thought it was the Pei Family back then, hated them deeply, and spared no effort in seducing Fu Jichen, using his influence against the Pei Family, even breaking ties with your childhood sweetheart, causing him to lose half his life for you. In the end, you end up marrying your parents’ killer. Shen Jianian, should I say you’re pitiful, or should I say you’re ridiculous, or should I call you tragic!"

The chill from Shen Jianian’s fingertips spread through her body, causing her to sway slightly.

Seeing her like this, Yin Shuyao finally revealed a pleased expression. She wanted Shen Jianian to collapse, suffer, fall into a condition worse than death.

Killing Shen Jianian meant nothing. Torturing her was the only way to balance the suffering she endured.

Why should Shen Jianian be elevated, enjoying wealth and admiration from so many when she, in contrast, was beaten by President Qian’s wife, causing her mother to spend half a month in the hospital, and was sabotaged by President Qian’s wife, resulting in the factory’s collapse and loss of the only source of income.

"Do you think I’d believe your words?" Shen Jianian’s red lips barely moved, squeezing out a few words through her teeth.

"I said, it’s up to you whether you believe it or not. You can verify it yourself or simply ask your husband." Yin Shuyao’s voice was light, "Just ask him whether the Shen Family’s downfall was indeed caused by the Pei Family, see how he answers you."

Footsteps sounded in the corridor outside. Yin Shuyao knew someone was coming and couldn’t stay long. She finally said, "Shen Jianian, you’re the biggest fool in the world. Your happiness and prosperity were bought with your parents’ blood. If your parents knew from below, they would surely scold you for being unfilial!"

Throwing harsh words, Yin Shuyao had no reluctance and turned around to leave.

After she left, Shen Jianian’s body trembled violently, and then she stared blankly into the air, with Yin Shuyao’s words echoing in her ears.

She knew that the reason Yin Shuyao said those words to her was to make her uncomfortable. She shouldn’t believe them, but she was still affected.

Bai Changxia approached in high heels, looking outside as she walked: "Did someone come by just now? I think I saw a figure leaving your room and entering the elevator when I came over."

Receiving no response, Bai Changxia looked towards Shen Jianian and found her staring blankly at a spot, as if she hadn’t heard her words.

"Jianian?" Bai Changxia walked up to her and saw her face pale, devoid of blood, and immediately grew a bit nervous, "What’s wrong with you?"

Shen Jianian’s mind gradually cleared from a state of chaos. She looked at Bai Changxia, then after a moment, her gaze swept around the room, finding it no different from before. The vintage and luxurious room was empty, as if Yin Shuyao’s appearance had been just an illusion.

"Has the stylist not arrived yet?"

Just as Bai Changxia finished speaking, a hurried footstep sound came from the door. The stylist and assistant entered, panting and sweating, apologizing profusely: "Sorry, this place is too confusing, we got lost and went to the wrong place."

Once they caught their breath, the stylist began to redo Shen Jianian’s look.

Before long, Zhao Shunyi also arrived, holding the bouquet she had caught at the wedding. She had just met an old acquaintance at the scene and chatted for a while.

Dressed in a pre-prepared gown, Shen Jianian put on a halter-neck gold-pink long dress, featuring a V-shaped design at the chest, which was both elegant and subtly sexy. The gold rectangular sequins on the dress were all hand-sewn and irregularly distributed, sparkling when light hit from any direction.

"Jianian, it’s about time, shall we go out?"

Bai Changxia reminded Shen Jianian twice, yet she had no response, remained seated in the chair, seemingly looking at herself in the mirror, but upon closer inspection, her gaze was unfocused.

"Jianian, are you tired?" Zhao Shunyi also noticed something was off with her and bent down to ask with concern.

Shen Jianian forced a smile and said, "I’m okay," supporting herself on the dressing table to stand up. As she took a step, her foot was caught by the chair leg, causing her to stumble forward. Luckily, Zhao Shunyi, who was closest, reached out to steady her just in time.

"Did you twist your ankle?" Zhao Shunyi asked worriedly.

Shen Jianian shook her head, still a little shaken. Once she steadied herself, she moved towards the door with mechanical motions.

"Wait, you haven’t changed your shoes." Bai Changxia saw she was still wearing the hotel’s white slippers and quickly stopped her.

She then glanced around, found where the high heels were placed, picked them up, and set them down by Shen Jianian’s feet: "Don’t rush, there’s plenty of time, going a bit later is okay."

Shen Jianian thanked her and slipped her feet into the high heels.

Worried she might fall again, Bai Changxia held her by one arm, while Zhao Shunyi supported her from the other side.

Shen Jianian lifted both her arms, stopping them from helping: "It’s okay, the heels aren’t that high, I can manage on my own."

On the lawn beside the castle, dozens of rectangular dining tables were set, covered with white lace tablecloths. A variety of delicious foods were supplied in unlimited quantities, and several champagne towers were stacked as well, creating a setting unlike a typical wedding banquet with round tables and formal dining. The event felt more like a large party, with guests feeling relaxed and at ease.

The night hadn’t fallen yet, but strings of lights were already lit around the castle, making it look like a fairytale world from afar.

When Shen Jianian appeared at the wedding banquet, everyone’s eyes turned to her, unable to hide their amazement.

Fu Jichen put down his champagne glass, walked towards her, wrapped his arm around her soft waist, his voice low and drawn-out, as if slightly intoxicated: "Why did you take so long? You left me here all by myself."

Looking at his face, Shen Jianian felt a surge of indescribable panic.