A Twisted Love Affair-Chapter 148: Coming into my arms and embracing me in the middle of the night, you’ve led my Dao practice astray" _1
The typhoon arrived with a torrential downpour, its winds howling and slamming against the door panels as the temperature plummeted overnight. The Zhou Family naturally had ample provisions for living and traveling; even while observing a vegetarian diet to cultivate body and mind, they did not skimp on the care for their Crown Prince. There was no heating in the temple, and this lodging house had no fireplace for burning charcoal either. Shen Jing covered herself with two layers of blankets but still felt cold. Her constitution was truly poor; she was sensitive to the cold and couldn’t tolerate it well. She got up to search the cupboard but could only find thin autumn blankets. Sticking her head out the window, she saw the ginkgo trees swaying perilously, a particularly frightening sight. In the room next door, the lights were still on, even at two in the morning.
Then—BANG! The window in front of her was hit by a falling branch from a ginkgo tree, and the glass shattered. Startled, she quickly withdrew her hand. The entire window frame then crashed to the floor.
Shen Jing froze. Oh no, I shouldn’t have opened you to the typhoon’s abuse.
Hastily wrapping her coat tighter, she knocked on Zhou Luchen’s door.
The door opened. Zhuang Ming came out, and only then did Shen Jing see Zhou Luchen.
His tall, broad figure was silhouetted against the light from within, casting a long shadow. He wore a pure black silk shirt of a slightly thin material, his hand resting on the doorknob. "What is it?" he asked, his tone low and lazy.
"I’m freezing." Fearing he might misunderstand that she was coming to throw herself into his bed, she hurriedly explained in a trembling voice, "I need another blanket."
Zhou Luchen watched her, his long, thick eyelashes fluttering slightly as she spoke. She stood outside the door as the typhoon violently shook the old trees, their shadows pressing down oppressively. In such an environment, her shoulders looked exceptionally frail.
"Just a blanket?"
She obediently hummed in affirmation.
Zhou Luchen’s chest quivered with a soft chuckle. He took her hand, drawing her inside. Her delicate hand felt exceptionally icy in his palm.
He raised an eyebrow slightly. "Is it that cold?"
Lacking confidence, Shen Jing said, "Didn’t you check the weather forecast?"
He commanded with an air of indifference, "Close the door."
Shen Jing turned and, inexplicably, did as he said, closing the door.
Then, her body was suddenly lifted into the air. Zhou Luchen swept her into his arms and tossed her onto the bed.
A soft, pure white swan-feather duvet cushioned her, still holding the residual warmth of Second Master Zhou. It was indeed much warmer.
Zhou Luchen stood by the large bed, one long leg half-resting on it, his upper body leaning down to scrutinize her. Her beautiful hair fanned out as she curled up, slowly inching towards the pillow, her eyes timid and pitiful.
Zhou Luchen squinted, a playful smile on his face. "Climbing into my bed in the middle of the night? You’re disrupting my spiritual cultivation."
"I didn’t..." Shen Jing adamantly denied. "If I don’t sleep well, how can I copy scriptures for you tomorrow?"
Zhou Luchen listened with amusement, then playfully tugged her hair. She yelped, her pretty brows furrowing in pain.
He had patiently listened to Buddhist scriptures for days, but her simple "I’m cold" made him break his precepts.
He unbuttoned his shirt. "Lie properly."
Shen Jing burrowed into the duvet, obediently turning to face him.
The lamplight was dim and soft. The air was filled with the scent of his clothes and the sound of his breathing. In her mind, there was only Zhou Luchen, only those four words: sharing the same bed, the same pillow. He did not overstep any boundaries. Neither did Shen Jing. If either dared to take one step further, everything could collapse. Neither of them truly believed in Buddhism, but their upbringing prevented them from crossing that red line. She really had only come to borrow the warmth of his bed. Zhou Luchen’s body heat was scorching, more than warm enough.
They tussled for a bit under the duvet. She panicked and retreated to the edge of the bed, while Zhou Luchen insisted she sleep in his embrace. At an impasse, she relented and rested her head on his arm.
It had been months since they last saw each other. Aside from that accidental kiss that was discovered, it felt like a very long time since they had lain in the same bed. In the confined space of the feather duvet, their breathing grew ragged, mingling intimately.
Zhou Luchen turned, wrapping an arm around her and rubbing his forehead against hers. "Still cold?"
"Not anymore."
"Bring your feet over."
Shen Jing slowly lifted her head to look at him. In her hazy eyes, his features became especially blurred and mysterious. She nestled her cheek against the side of his neck. "My feet are really cold. Can I touch you?"
His voice was already incredibly hoarse. "I’m feeling hot."
Shen Jing’s lips curved. Curled up, she gently rubbed her small feet against the edge of his thigh, and he quickly clamped them between his legs.
His voice held a smile. "Every time I hold you, you feel so frail."
Under the white duvet, she was a small, soft bundle held against his chest.
"I’ve been eating vegetarian these past few days."
Zhou Luchen’s fingers lingered on her shoulder, gently caressing it. "Tomorrow, I’ll have Zhuang Ming order meals for you. From now on, I’ll raise you to be fair and plump." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺
"I don’t like rich food. Shredded carrots are quite fragrant," she demurred. She then added, "The little novice monk knows how to roast sweet potatoes. Last night, he dug up two from the vacant lot in the backyard. They were *this* big," she said, gesturing with her hands.
The size she indicated was right before Zhou Luchen’s eyes. His eyes darkened, becoming deep and unreadable. He said nothing.
Shen Jing faltered. "Did I say something wrong?"
Zhou Luchen pushed her away. "Sleep by yourself."
Shen Jing was silent for a long time, like a ten-year-old little monk roasting sweet potatoes. Second Master Zhou, accustomed to getting whatever he wanted, truly had a terrible temper.
She poked his firm, unyielding back. "Don’t be angry, Luchen. I’ll have them sent to the Buddha hall for you tomorrow, alright?"
「Breakfast: plain noodle soup.」
The main door was suddenly pushed open. Zhou Xiangqun stood there, holding an umbrella in one hand and a ring of keys in the other. He wore his usual year-round executive jacket, an image of dignified poise. It was rare for him to visit his younger brother on a rainy day, especially while he was being punished.
Shen Jing greeted him like an old acquaintance. "Eating noodles?"
Zhou Xiangqun, she felt, had the distinct aura of a cunning big boss, yet he was a high-ranking scion without airs, making him easy to be around.
He closed his umbrella, placed it aside, then picked up a bowl and chopsticks. He sat down with an air of entitlement, served himself some noodles, and began to eat.
Shen Jing pushed the soybean paste towards him. "Coming from the Zhou residence, no grand feast for you?"
"This is my second meal," Zhou Xiangqun said, aligning his chopsticks. "Where’s Achen?"
"He doesn’t eat noodles," Shen Jing replied.
"I put in a good word for you two," Zhou Xiangqun said, scooping some soybean paste. "You can return to the city as soon as you finish copying the scriptures."
His words clearly implied he assumed the scriptures were already finished.
Shen Jing didn’t dare to look up. "We haven’t finished."
It had been a case of all idleness and no work.
Zhou Xiangqun scrutinized her for a moment, then smiled. "You two, you got what you deserved."
"The last person who said that to me was angered away," Shen Jing smiled back. "What does his punishment have to do with me? It’s one million yuan for seven days of keeping him company."
Zhou Xiangqun gave her a sidelong glance. "Quite the businesswoman."
Shen Jing took a sip of water. "Unlike you, I’m not so detached from worldly fame and fortune."
Zhou Xiangqun ate his noodles leisurely, then wiped his mouth with a napkin. "If there’s something you want, why don’t you just ask him for it?"
This scion of an aristocratic family, who usually observed the rule of not speaking during meals, found himself quite talkative with Shen Jing now that their conversation flowed well.
"I wouldn’t dare ask for too much," Shen Jing said slowly. "I have what I should, and I don’t mind a little extra."
"Hurry up and eat. Your mouth is all oily, so unsightly," Zhou Xiangqun tsked, pushing a napkin towards her with unmistakable disdain.
This man must be blind, Shen Jing thought. There was no oil in the noodles, so how could her mouth be oily?
"You’re just like Luchen."
Zhou Xiangqun looked back at her. "How so?"
Shen Jing stirred her noodles. "Not a kind word ever comes out of either of your mouths."
They had become quite familiar, chatting like old friends.
Outside the window, Zhou Luchen silently watched the man and woman eating noodles inside.
